bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Apolipoprotein E in VLDL and LDL With Apolipoprotein C‐III is Associated With a Lower Risk of Coronary Heart Disease
Authors: Mendivil Carlos O. , Rimm Eric B. , Furtado Jeremy , Sacks Frank M.
Published: May 2013

Background

Low‐density lipoprotein (
LDL
) with apolipoprotein C‐
III
(apoC‐
III
) is the lipoprotein species that most strongly predicts initial and recurring coronary heart disease (
CHD
) events in several cohorts. Thus, a large portion of the
CHD
risk conferred by
LDL
may be attributable to
LDL
that contains apoC‐
III
. Very‐low‐density lipoprotein (
VLDL
) and
LDL
with apoC‐
III
have varying amounts of apoE. We hypothesized that a high content of apoE lessens the adverse influence of apoC‐
III
on the risk of
CHD
because it promotes the clearance of
VLDL
and
LDL
from plasma.

Methods and Results

We studied 2 independent cohorts, the Nurses' Health Study, composed of women, and the Health Professionals Follow‐up Study, composed of men. These cohorts contributed to this study 322 women and 418 men initially free of
CVD
who developed a fatal or nonfatal myocardial infarction during 10 to 14 years of follow‐up and matched controls who remained free of
CHD
. The apoE content of
LDL
with apoC‐
III
was inversely associated with
CHD
after multivariable adjustment (relative risk for top versus bottom quintile 0.53, 95%
CI
0.35 to 0.80). The apoE content of
VLDL
with apoC‐
III
had a similar inverse association with
CHD
. The highest risks were associated with a high apoB concentration and a low apoE content of LDL with apoC‐III or of VLDL+LDL with apoC‐III. The observed associations were in both male and female cohorts and independent of traditional
CHD
risk factors and of C‐reactive protein.

Conclusions

An increased apoE content in
VLDL
and
LDL
with apoC‐
III
was associated with a lower risk of
CHD
. Strategies to enrich
VLDL
and
LDL
in apoE are worth exploring for the prevention of
CHD
.
Durable Scar Size Reduction Due to Allogeneic Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy Regulates Whole‐Chamber Remodeling
Authors: Williams Adam R. , Suncion Viky Y. , McCall Frederic , Guerra Danny , Mather Jacques , Zambrano Juan P. , Heldman Alan W. , Hare Joshua M.
Published: May 2013

Background

Intramyocardial injection of mesenchymal stem cells (
MSC
s) in chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy is associated with reverse remodeling in experimental models and humans. Here, we tested the hypothesis that allogeneic
MSC
therapy drives ventricular remodeling by producing durable and progressive scar size reduction in ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Methods and Results

Gottingen swine (n=12) underwent left anterior descending coronary artery myocardial infarction (
MI
), and 3 months post‐
MI
animals received either intramyocardial allogeneic
MSC
injection (200 mol/L cells; n=6) or left ventricle (
LV
) catheterization without injection (n=6). Swine were followed with serial cardiac magnetic resonance imaging for 9 months to assess structural and functional changes of the
LV
. Intramyocardial injection was performed using an integrated imaging platform combining electroanatomical mapping unipolar voltage and 3‐dimensional cardiac magnetic resonance imaging angiography–derived anatomy to accurately target infarct border zone injections.
MSC
‐treated animals had a 19.62±2.86% reduction in scar size at 3 months postinjection, which progressed to 28.09±2.31% from 3 to 6 months postinjection (
P
<0.0001).
MSC
‐treated animals had unchanged end‐diastolic volume (
EDV
;
P
=0.08) and end‐systolic volume (
ESV
;
P
=0.28) from preinjection to 6 months postinjection, whereas controls had progressive dilatation in both
EDV
(
P
=0.0002) and
ESV
(
P
=0.0002). In addition,
MSC
‐treated animals had improved
LV
sphericity index. Percentage change in infarct size correlated with percentage change in
EDV
(
r
=0.68;
P
=0.01) and
ESV
(
r
=0.77;
P
=0.001). Ejection fraction increased from 29.69±1.68% to 35.85±2.74% at 3 months post‐
MSC
injection and progressed to 39.02±2.42% 6 months postinjection (
P
=0.0001), whereas controls had a persistently depressed ejection fraction during follow‐up (
P
=0.33).

Conclusion

Intramyocardial injection of allogeneic
MSCs
leads to a sustained and progressive reduction in infarct size, which in turn drives reverse remodeling and increases in ejection fraction. These findings support ongoing biological activity of cell therapy for substantial periods and suggest optimal end points for future clinical trials.
ROS‐Mediated PARP Activity Undermines Mitochondrial Function After Permeability Transition Pore Opening During Myocardial Ischemia–Reperfusion
Authors: Schriewer Jacqueline M. , Peek Clara Bien , Bass Joseph , Schumacker Paul T.
Published: May 2013

Background

Ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) studies have implicated oxidant stress, the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (
mPTP
), and poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase (
PARP
) as contributing factors in myocardial cell death. However, the interdependence of these factors in the intact, blood‐perfused heart is not known. We therefore wanted to determine whether oxidant stress,
mPTP
opening, and
PARP
activity contribute to the same death pathway after myocardial I/R.

Methods and Results

A murine left anterior descending coronary artery (
LAD
) occlusion (30 minutes) and release (1 to 4 hours) model was employed. Experimental groups included controls and antioxidant‐treated,
mPTP
‐inhibited, or
PARP
‐inhibited hearts. Antioxidant treatment prevented oxidative damage,
mPTP
opening,
ATP
depletion, and
PARP
activity, placing oxidant stress as the proximal death trigger. Genetic deletion of cyclophilin D (CypD
−/−
) prevented loss of total
NAD
+
and
PARP
activity, and
mPTP
‐mediated loss of mitochondrial function. Control hearts showed progressive mitochondrial depolarization and loss of
ATP
from 1.5 to 4 hours of reperfusion, but not outer mitochondrial membrane rupture. Neither genetic deletion of
PARP
‐1 nor its pharmacological inhibition prevented the initial
mPTP
‐mediated depolarization or loss of
ATP
, but
PARP
ablation did allow mitochondrial recovery by 4 hours of reperfusion.

Conclusions

These results indicate that oxidant stress, the
mPTP
, and
PARP
activity contribute to a single death pathway after I/R in the heart.
PARP
activation undermines cell survival by preventing mitochondrial recovery after
mPTP
opening early in reperfusion. This suggests that
PARP
‐mediated prolongation of mitochondrial depolarization contributes significantly to cell death via an energetic crisis rather than by mitochondrial outer membrane rupture.
Cathepsin‐L Ameliorates Cardiac Hypertrophy Through Activation of the Autophagy–Lysosomal Dependent Protein Processing Pathways
Authors: Sun Mei , Ouzounian Maral , de Couto Geoffrey , Chen Manyin , Yan Ran , Fukuoka Masahiro , Li Guohua , Moon Mark , Liu Youan , Gramolini Anthony , Wells George J. , Liu Peter P.
Published: May 2013

Background

Autophagy is critical in the maintenance of cellular protein quality control, the final step of which involves the fusion of autophagosomes with lysosomes. Cathepsin‐L (
CTSL
) is a key member of the lysosomal protease family that is expressed in the murine and human heart, and it may play an important role in protein turnover. We hypothesized that
CTSL
is important in regulating protein processing in the heart, particularly under pathological stress.

Methods and Results

Phenylephrine‐induced cardiac hypertrophy in vitro was more pronounced in
CTSL
‐deficient neonatal cardiomyocytes than in in controls. This was accompanied by a significant accumulation of autophagosomes, increased levels of ubiquitin‐conjugated protein, as well as impaired protein degradation and decreased cell viability. These effects were partially rescued with

CTSL
1

replacement via adeno‐associated virus–mediated gene transfer. In the in vivo murine model of aortic banding (
AB
), a deficiency in
CTSL
markedly exacerbated cardiac hypertrophy, worsened cardiac function, and increased mortality.
Ctsl
−/−
AB
mice demonstrated significantly decreased lysosomal activity and increased sarcomere‐associated protein aggregation. Homeostasis of the endoplasmic reticulum was also altered by
CTSL
deficiency, with increases in Bip and
GRP
94 proteins, accompanied by increased ubiquitin–proteasome system activity and higher levels of ubiquitinated proteins in response to
AB
. These changes ultimately led to a decrease in cellular
ATP
production, enhanced oxidative stress, and increased cellular apoptosis.

Conclusions

Lysosomal CTSL attenuates cardiac hypertrophy and preserves cardiac function through facilitation of autophagy and proteasomal protein processing.
Angiopoietin‐Like 2 Promotes Atherogenesis in Mice
Authors: Farhat Nada , Thorin‐Trescases Nathalie , Mamarbachi Maya , Villeneuve Louis , Yu Carol , Martel Cécile , Duquette Natacha , Gayda Mathieu , Nigam Anil , Juneau Martin , Allen Bruce G. , Thorin Eric
Published: May 2013

Background

Angiopoietin like‐2 (angptl2), a proinflammatory protein, is overexpressed in endothelial cells (
EC
s) from patients with coronary artery disease (
CAD
). Whether angptl2 contributes to atherogenesis is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that angptl2 promotes inflammation and leukocyte adhesion onto ECs, thereby accelerating atherogenesis in preatherosclerotic dyslipidemic mice.

Methods and Results

In
EC
s freshly isolated from the aorta, basal expression of
TNF
‐α and
IL
‐6
mRNA
was higher in 3‐month‐old severely dyslipidemic mice (
LDL
r
−/−
; hApoB
100
+/+
[
ATX
]) than in control healthy wild‐type (
WT
) mice (
P
<0.05) and was increased in both groups by exogenous angptl2 (100 nmol/L). Angptl2 stimulated the adhesion of leukocytes
ex vivo
on the native aortic endothelium of
ATX
, but not
WT
mice, in association with higher expression of
ICAM
‐1 and P‐selectin in
EC
s (
P
<0.05). Antibodies against these endothelial adhesion molecules prevented leukocyte adhesion. Intravenous administration of angptl2 for 1 month in preatherosclerotic 3‐month‐old
ATX
mice increased (
P
<0.05) total cholesterol and
LDL
‐cholesterol levels, strongly induced (
P
<0.05) the expression of endothelial proinflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecules while accelerating atherosclerotic lesion formation by 10‐fold (
P
<0.05). Plasma and aortic tissue levels of angptl2 increased (
P
<0.05) with age and were higher in 6‐ and 12‐month‐old
ATX
mice than in age‐matched
WT
mice. Angptl2 accumulated to high levels in the atherosclerotic lesions (
P
<0.05). Finally, angptl2 was greatly expressed (
P
<0.05) in
EC
s cultured from
CAD
patients, and circulating angptl2 levels were 6‐fold higher in
CAD
patients compared with age‐matched healthy volunteers.

Conclusions

Angptl2 contributes to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
Clinical Outcomes Strongly Associated With the Degree of Reperfusion Achieved in Target Mismatch Patients
Authors: Inoue Manabu , Mlynash Michael , Straka Matus , Kemp Stephanie , Jovin Tudor G. , Tipirneni Aaryani , Hamilton Scott A. , Marks Michael P. , Bammer Roland , Lansberg Maarten G. , Albers Gregory W.
Published: May 2013

Background and Purpose—

To investigate relationships between the degree of early reperfusion achieved on perfusion-weighted imaging and clinical outcomes in the Diffusion and Perfusion Imaging Evaluation for Understanding Stroke Evolution studies. We hypothesized that there would be a strong correlation between the degree of reperfusion achieved and clinical outcomes in target mismatch (TMM) patients.

Methods—

The degree of reperfusion was calculated on the basis of the difference in perfusion-weighted imaging volumes (time to maximum of tissue residue function [Tmax]>6 s) between the baseline MRI and the early post-treatment follow-up scan. Patients were grouped into quartiles, on the basis of degree of reperfusion achieved, and the association between the degree of reperfusion and clinical outcomes in TMM and no TMM patients was assessed. Favorable clinical response was determined at day 30 on the basis of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and good functional outcome was defined as a modified Rankin Scale score ≤2 at day 90.

Results—

This study included 121 patients; 98 of these had TMM. The median degree of reperfusion achieved was not different in TMM patients (60%) versus No TMM patients (64%;
P
=0.604). The degree of reperfusion was strongly correlated with both favorable clinical response (
P
<0.001) and good functional outcome (
P
=0.001) in TMM patients; no correlation was present in no TMM. The frequency of achieving favorable clinical response or good functional outcome was significantly higher in TMM patients in the highest reperfusion quartile versus the lower 3 quartiles (88% versus 41% as odds ratio, 10.3; 95% confidence interval, 2.8–37.5; and 75% versus 34% as odds ratio, 5.9; 95% confidence interval, 2.1–16.7, respectively). A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis identified 90% as the optimal reperfusion threshold for predicting good functional outcomes.

Conclusion—

The degree of reperfusion documented on perfusion-weighted imaging after reperfusion therapies corresponds closely with clinical outcomes in TMM patients. Reperfusion of ≥90% of the perfusion lesion is an appropriate goal for reperfusion therapies to aspire to.
Low Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate is Associated With Increased Risk of Ischemic Stroke Among Women
Authors: Jiménez Monik C. , Sun Qi , Schürks Markus , Chiuve Stephanie , Hu Frank B. , Manson JoAnn E. , Rexrode Kathryn M.
Published: May 2013

Background and Purpose—

Previous research suggests greater risk of coronary heart disease with lower levels of the adrenal steroid dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS). No studies have examined the association between DHEAS and risk of ischemic stroke. DHEAS may influence ischemic stroke risk through atherosclerotic-related mechanisms (endothelial function and smooth muscle cell proliferation) or insulin resistance.

Methods—

Between 1989 and 1990, 32 826 women without prior stroke in the Nurses’ Health Study, an observational cohort, provided blood samples and were followed up for cardiovascular events. Among this sample, using a nested case–control design, 461 ischemic strokes were confirmed by medical records by 2006. Cases were matched to controls free of stroke at the time of the index case and by age, race, menopausal status, postmenopausal hormone use, smoking status, and date of sample collection. Multivariable conditional logistic regression was used.

Results—

Median DHEAS levels did not differ between cases (median=58.7) and controls (median=66.0;
P
=0.10). Conditional on matching factors, the lowest DHEAS quartile exhibited a relative risk of 1.30 for ischemic stroke (95% confidence interval, 0.88–1.94), compared with the highest quartile and marginally unchanged when adjusted for confounders (relative risk=1.33; 95% confidence interval, 0.87–2.02). When modeled as a binary variable dichotomized at the lowest quartile, women with low DHEAS (≤the lowest quartile) had a significantly increased multivariable adjusted risk of ischemic stroke compared with those with higher levels (relative risk=1.41; 95% confidence interval, 1.03–1.92).

Conclusions—

Lower DHEAS levels were associated with a greater risk of ischemic stroke, even after adjustment for potential confounders. These novel observations warrant confirmation in other populations.
MicroRNA-124–Mediated Regulation of Inhibitory Member of Apoptosis-Stimulating Protein of p53 Family in Experimental Stroke
Authors: Liu Xiangrong , Li Fang , Zhao Shangfeng , Luo Yumin , Kang Jun , Zhao Haiping , Yan Feng , Li Sijie , Ji Xunming
Published: May 2013

Background and Purpose—

p53-mediated neuronal death is a central pathway of stroke pathophysiology, but its mechanistic details remain unclear. Here, we identified a novel microRNA mechanism that downregulation of inhibitory member of the apoptosis-stimulating proteins of p53 family (iASPP) by the brain-specific microRNA-124 (miR-124) promotes neuronal death after cerebral ischemia.

Methods—

In a mouse model of focal permanent cerebral ischemia, the expression of iASPP and miR-124 was quantified by reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescence staining, and Western blot. Luciferase reporter assay was used to validate whether miR-124 can directly bind to the 3′-untranslated region of iASPP mRNA. To evaluate the role of miR-124, miR-124 mimic and its inhibitor were transfected into Neuro-2a cells and C57 mice.

Results—

There was no change in the iASPP mRNA level in cerebral ischemia. However, iASPP protein was remarkably decreased, with a concurrent elevation in miR-124 level. Furthermore, miR-124 can bind to the 3′-untranslated region of iASPP in 293T cells and downregulate its protein levels in Neuro-2a cells. In vivo, infusion of miR-124 decreased brain levels of iASPP, whereas inhibition of miR-124 enhanced iASPP levels and significantly reduced infarction in mouse focal cerebral ischemia.

Conclusions—

These data demonstrate that p53-mediated neuronal cell death after stroke can be nontranscriptionally regulated by a novel mechanism involving suppression of endogenous cell death inhibitors by miR-124. Further dissection of microRNA regulatory mechanisms may lead to new therapeutic opportunities for preventing neuronal death after stroke.
Diabetes Mellitus, Admission Glucose, and Outcomes After Stroke Thrombolysis
Authors: Desilles Jean-Philippe , Meseguer Elena , Labreuche Julien , Lapergue Bertrand , Sirimarco Gaia , Gonzalez-Valcarcel Jaime , Lavallée Philippa , Cabrejo Lucie , Guidoux Celine , Klein Isabelle , Amarenco Pierre , Mazighi Mikael
Published: May 2013

Background and Purpose—

The potential detrimental effect of diabetes mellitus and admission glucose level (AGL) on outcomes after stroke thrombolysis is unclear. We evaluated outcomes of patients treated by intravenous and/or intra-arterial therapy, according to diabetes mellitus and AGL.

Methods—

We analyzed data from a patient registry (n=704) and conducted a systematic review of previous observational studies. The primary study outcome was the percentage of patients who achieved a favorable outcome (modified Rankin score ≤2 at 3 months).

Results—

We identified 54 previous reports that evaluated the effect of diabetes mellitus or AGL on outcomes after thrombolysis. In an unadjusted meta-analysis that included our registry data and previous available observational data, diabetes mellitus was associated with less favorable outcome (odds ratio [OR], 0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.73–0.79) and more symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (OR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.21–1.56). However, in multivariable analysis, diabetes mellitus remained associated with less favorable outcome (OR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.69–0.87) but not with symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.83–1.48). In unadjusted and in adjusted meta-analysis, higher AGL was associated with less favorable outcome and more symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage; the adjusted OR (95% CI) per 1 mmol/L increase in AGL was 0.92 (0.90–0.94) for favorable outcome, and 1.09 (1.04–1.14) for symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage.

Conclusions—

These results confirm that AGL and history of diabetes mellitus are associated with poor clinical outcome after thrombolysis. AGL may be a surrogate marker of brain infarction severity rather than a causal factor. However, randomized controlled evidences are needed to address the significance of a tight glucose control during thrombolysis on clinical outcome.
Hematoma Volume Measurement in Gradient Echo MRI Using Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping
Authors: Wang Shuo , Lou Min , Liu Tian , Cui Deqi , Chen Xiaomei , Wang Yi
Published: May 2013

Background and Purpose—

A novel quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) processing technology has been developed to map tissue susceptibility property without blooming artifacts. We hypothesize that hematoma volume measurement on QSM is independent of imaging parameters, eliminating its echo time dependence on gradient echo MRI.

Methods—

Gradient echo MRI of 16 patients with intracerebral hemorrhage was processed with susceptibility-weighted imaging,
R
2
* (=1/T2*) mapping, and QSM at various echo times. Hematoma volumes were measured from these images.

Results—

Linear regression of hematoma volume versus echo time showed substantial slopes for gradient echo magnitude (0.45±0.31 L/s), susceptibility-weighted imaging (0.52±0.46), and
R
2
* (0.39±0.30) but nearly zero slope for QSM (0.01±0.05). At echo time=20 ms, hematoma volume on QSM was 0.80× that on gradient echo magnitude image (
R
2
=0.99).

Conclusions—

QSM can provide reliable measurement of hematoma volume, which can be performed rapidly and accurately using a semiautomated segmentation tool.
Funding Special Education by Total District Enrollment: Advantages, Disadvantages, and Policy Considerations
Authors: Dhuey Elizabeth , Lipscomb Stephen
Published: May 2013

Several states and the federal government distribute aid for special education programs based primarily on total district enrollment and a fixed aid amount per student, a method called census funding. In this policy brief, we address three questions to help policy makers, educators, and researchers better understand census-funding models and special education finance policies in general. The first question is, what are the key advantages and disadvantages of census-funding models? The second and third questions relate to aspects of policy implementation, in the event a state legislature should choose to adopt the approach. First, we examine what options are available to mitigate concerns about the equity of funding under a census funding model. Second, we examine what other options exist for helping states and districts to contain special education costs while maintaining a high level of quality.
Undocumented College Students in the United States: In-State Tuition Not Enough to Ensure Four-Year Degree Completion
Authors: Conger Dylan , Chellman Colin C.
Published: May 2013

Using restricted-access data from one of the largest urban public university systems in the United States—where many undocumented students are eligible for in-state tuition—we review the literature on undocumented college students in the United States and provide a comparison of the performance of undocumented students to that of U.S. citizens and other legal migrants. Overall, undocumented students perform well in the short-term, earning higher grades and higher rates of course and associate degree completion than their U.S. citizen counterparts. But undocumented students are less likely to earn their bachelor's degrees within four years. This finding suggests that, despite their earlier college successes and their access to in-state tuition rates, at some point after enrollment, undocumented students experience higher costs to completing their bachelor's degrees than they had anticipated upon enrollment. We offer a number of policy considerations for university officials and policy makers who aim to help undocumented college students succeed in postsecondary institutions.
The Rules of Matn Criticism: There Are No Rules
Authors: Brown Jonathan A.C.
Published: May 2013

In an effort to avoid the subjectivity of individual reason, Sunni Islam elaborated a method of hadīth criticism that subordinated evaluating the meaning of a report to an examination of its chain of transmission. With the fourth/tenth-century epistemological compromise of Ash'arism, however, Sunni hadīth scholars adopted rationalist criteria of content criticism that included explicit rules for rejecting hadīths because of their meaning. This resulted in a strong internal tension within Sunni hadīth criticism from the fifth/eleventh century onwards, with one and the same scholar upholding rigid rules of content criticism but not employing them or even rejecting them in application. The inherent subjectivity of content criticism resulted in different Muslim scholars either rejecting or affirming the same hadīths. Some scholars were much more inclined to reject a hadīth out of hand because of its meaning, while others were willing to extend a hadīth more interpretive charity. The tension created by the subjectivity of content criticism emerged in unprecedented relief in the modern period, when 'science' and modern social norms presented an unmatched challenge to the interpretive awe in which pre-modern (and Traditionalist scholars today) held attributions to the Prophet.
A note on Conchodytes kempi Bruce 1989 (Crustacea, Palaemonidae, Pontoniinae), with the designation of C. kempoides sp. nov.
Authors: BRUCE A. J.
Published: May 2013

Bruce (1989) reported on a pair of specimens of the pontoniine shrimp Conchodytes kempi from the Philippine Islands. These were subsequently referred to by Fransen (1994) as a junior synonym of C. biunguiculatus (Paulson), but these specimens may well represent a distinct species and deserve further examination. In general, Conchodytes species are of considerable size, with CLs of about 8.7 and 9.2 for males and females, respectively of C. biunguiculatus from the Andaman Islands and are generally found in association with larger bivalve hosts, such as Pinna and Atrina (Bruce 1989). The Philippine specimens are adult, as the female is ovigerous, but of very small size with CLs of only 2.5 and 3.75 mm. They were also found in association with a specimen of Isognomon, a host species not reported as a host for C. biunguiculatus
Quantifying the Local Economic Growth Impact of Hurricane Strikes: An Analysis from Outer Space for the Caribbean
Authors: Bertinelli Luisito , Strobl Eric
Published: May 2013

Studies of the impact of hurricanes on economic activity typically are restricted to a very aggregate level of analysis because of the lack of spatially disaggregated data. In this paper nightlight satellite imagery is employed as a measure of local economic activity in conjunction with a local proxy for potential hurricane destruction generated from a wind field model to statistically assess the impact of hurricane strikes on local economic growth. The regression results suggest that on average hurricane strikes reduce income growth by around 1.5% at the local level, with no effect beyond the year of the strike. This estimated impact from localized data is more than 2 times that implied by aggregate analyses.
Impact of Environmental Instability on Convective Precipitation Uncertainty Associated with the Nature of the Rimed Ice Species in a Bulk Microphysics Scheme
Authors: Van Weverberg Kwinten
Published: May 2013

Despite a number of studies dedicated to the sensitivity of deep convection simulations to the properties of the rimed ice species in microphysics schemes, no consensus has been achieved on the nature of the impact. Considering the need for improved quantitative precipitation forecasts, it is crucial that the cloud modeling community better understands the reasons for these differing conclusions and knows the relevance of these sensitivities for the numerical weather prediction. This study examines the role of environmental conditions and storm type on the sensitivity of precipitation simulations to the nature of the rimed ice species (graupel or hail). Idealized 3D simulations of supercells/multicells and squall lines have been performed in varying thermodynamic environments. It has been shown that for simulation periods of sufficient length (>2 h), graupel-containing and hail-containing storms produce domain-averaged surface precipitation that is more similar than many earlier studies suggest. While graupel is lofted to higher altitudes and has a longer residence time aloft than hail, these simulations suggest that most of this graupel eventually reaches the surface and the surface precipitation rates of hail- and graupel-containing storms converge. However, environmental conditions play an important role in the magnitude of this sensitivity. Storms in large-CAPE environments (typical of storms in the U.S. Midwest) are more sensitive than their low-CAPE counterparts (typical of storms in Europe) to the nature of the rimed ice species in terms of domain-average surface precipitation. Supercells/multicells are more sensitive than squall lines to the nature of the rimed ice species in terms of spatial precipitation distribution and peak precipitation, disregarding of the amount of CAPE.
Evaluation of Various Surface Wind Products with OceanSITES Buoy Measurements
Authors: Peng Ge , Zhang Huai-Min , Frank Helmut P. , Bidlot Jean-Raymond , Higaki Masakazu , Stevens Scott , Hankins William R.
Published: May 2013

To facilitate evaluation and monitoring of numerical weather prediction model forecasts and satellite-based products against high-quality in situ observations, a data repository for collocated model forecasts, a satellite product, and in situ observations has been created under the support of various World Climate Research Program (WCRP) working groups. Daily measurements from 11 OceanSITES buoys are used as the reference dataset to evaluate five ocean surface wind products (three short-range forecasts, one reanalysis, and one satellite based) over a 1-yr intensive analysis period, using the WCRP community weather prediction model evaluation metrics. All five wind products correlate well with the buoy winds with correlations above 0.76 for all 11 buoy stations except the meridional wind at four stations, where the satellite and model performances are weakest in estimating the meridional wind (or wind direction). The reanalysis has higher cross-correlation coefficients (above 0.83) and smaller root-mean-square (RMS) errors than others. The satellite wind shows larger variability than that observed by buoys; contrarily, the models underestimate the variability. For the zonal and meridional winds, although the magnitude of biases averaged over all the stations are mostly <0.12 m s−1 for each product, the magnitude of biases at individual stations can be >1.2 m s−1, confirming the need for regional/site analysis when characterizing any wind product. On wind direction, systematic negative (positive) biases are found in the central (east central) Pacific Ocean. Wind speed and direction errors could induce erroneous ocean currents and states from ocean models driven by these products. The deficiencies revealed here are useful for product and model improvement.
Dimensions of Rural-to-Urban Migration and Premarital Pregnancy in Kenya
Authors: Xu Hongwei , Mberu Blessing U. , Goldberg Rachel E. , Luke Nancy
Published: May 2013

Rural-to-urban migration is increasingly common among youths in developing countries and could affect sexual activities with consequences for premarital pregnancies. We use life history data collected in Kisumu, Kenya, to investigate how the timing and number of rural-to-urban moves are associated with premarital pregnancy. Among sexually experienced young women aged 18 to 24 ( N = 226), 60 percent had moved at least once in the past 10 years and 38 percent had experienced a premarital pregnancy. Results of the event history analysis show that those who experienced one or two moves were at increased risk for premarital pregnancy compared to nonmovers. Also at increased risk were movers whose most recent move occurred in the past 7 to 12 months. Finally, those whose last move occurred at age 13 or younger were also at an elevated risk. Migration brings about specific risks and needs for youths, including the need for sexual and reproductive health education and services, which should be made available and accessible to new urban residents.
Youth Mobility in an Isolated Sahelian Population of Mali
Authors: Sauvain-Dugerdil Claudine
Published: May 2013

This article uses fieldwork collected in four villages of the Sarnyéré Dogon in Mali between 2002 and 2010 to explore the impact of unprecedented individual youth mobility. This small Sahelian population has been challenged by declining natural resources and an opening up to the outside world. Temporary migration of families before each rainy season or harvest has always been part of this population’s adaptation to an arid environment, but youth mobility, especially among girls, is new. Although migration is short term and over relatively short distances, it is an increasingly prevalent alternative to agricultural subsistence strategies. Whereas economic reasons underpin boys’ mobility, for young unmarried girls, the predominant driving force is the discovery of the outside world. Broadly speaking, youth migration in this population is one part of changing intergenerational and gender relations and is especially related to youths’ more individual choices of spouse.
Strategic Uses of Mediated Public Diplomacy
Authors: Fullerton Jami A. , Kendrick Alice
Published: May 2013

Using a newly launched U.S. tourism commercial as a stimulus, this pre/post quasi-experimental study empirically tests the bleed-over effect of tourism advertising on public diplomacy measures. Metrics for both tourism and public diplomacy objectives were obtained after the commercial was viewed by a large, nationally representative sample of Australian adults. Confirmation of the bleed-over effect was found. Subgroup analysis further explains how the commercial affected various audience segments. Practical and theoretical implications for the use of tourism advertising as a tool for mediated public diplomacy are explored.
Youth sex offending, recidivism and restorative justice: Comparing court and conference cases
Authors: Daly Kathleen , Bouhours Brigitte , Broadhurst Roderic , Loh Nini
Published: May 2013

Our aim was to determine the overall rates of general and sexual re-offending of youth (i.e. aged under 18 at the time of offence) charged with sexual offences, ranging from indecent exposure to rape, over 6.5 years in South Australia and whose cases were finalised in court, by conference and by formal caution ( N = 365). Controlling for previous offending, we examined if re-offending varied by site of finalisation or by referral to Mary Street, a specialist treatment program. Follow-up times ranged from six to 84 months. We applied a parametric form of survival analysis by fitting the Weibull ‘mixture model’ to the Kaplan-Meier cumulative distribution of failure times (time to re-offend). Covariates, such as prior offending or referral to Mary Street, were introduced to test for differences in survival rates, immune proportions or both between groups. By the cut-off date, 54% of youth had been charged with new non-sexual offences but only 9% with new sexual offences. Court youth had a higher rate of re-offending than conference youth, but these differences were largely explained by prior offending. For the subgroup with no previous offending, however, a significantly slower rate of re-offending was observed for conference youth and for those who were referred to Mary Street. We were able to control for the main effect of prior offending, but complex interactions between co-variates such as offence types, early admissions to offending and legal and therapeutic responses could not be disentangled in our small sample, and we could not explore factors linked specifically to sexual re-offending. Future research should examine the enmeshment of key factors that set youth on differing legal pathways; this phenomenon affects studies comparing conference and court outcomes, whether in naturalistic settings or in randomised field experiments.
When the Stakes Are High
Authors: Walter Annemarie S. , van der Brug Wouter , van Praag Philip
Published: May 2013

This article examines the conditions under which different kinds of parties resort to negative campaigning in three Western European countries: the Netherlands, Britain, and Germany in the period between 1980 and 2006. Data were collected for 27 parties, participating in 23 elections, yielding a total of 129 cases. The study uses a cross-nested multilevel model to estimate the effects of party characteristics as well as the electoral context in which these parties operate. It contributes to the state of the art on negative campaigning in two ways. First, being the first comparative and across-time study on negative campaigning, it compares negative campaigning across 23 elections, which is more than in any other study so far. It therefore contributes to the development of a more general theory on this type of campaign strategy. Second, it is the first study outside the American context to empirically estimate the effect of the electoral context on the use of negative campaigning. The results show that party characteristics are much more important than the electoral context in explaining when parties go negative.
Bounded autonomy and behavioral ethics: Deonance and reactance as competing motives
Authors: Folger Robert , Ganegoda Deshani B , Rice Darryl B , Taylor Regina , Wo David XH
Published: May 2013

We analyze business behavioral ethics in terms of bounded autonomy, namely the result of tensions between the countervailing motivations of reactance (tendencies that involve the freedom of behaving in certain ways as a right) versus deonance (tendencies that involve the appropriateness of behaving in certain ways as an obligation). We focus in particular on how the resolution of such tensions (i.e. establishment of a boundary between rights and duties—“free” behaviors versus “non-free” behaviors—in a state of dynamic equilibrium) can cause behavior to be seen as ethical by the person performing the behavior (the actor), but seen as unethical by impartial observers. That discrepancy comes from the actor’s assessment of the behavior in question as having either an inherent status (the type of behavior it is) or an instrumental status (what it does). This analysis leads us to a discussion of the following four types of situations involving unethical behavior: freedom expansion based on a behavior’s inherent status or on its instrumental status; and freedom contraction based on a behavior’s inherent status or on its instrumental status. We outline propositions consistent with those distinctions and conclude with theoretical implications.
From conqueror to connoisseur: Kalhaṇa’s account of Jayāpīḍa and the fashioning of Kashmir as a Kingdom of learning
Authors: Bronner Yigal
Published: May 2013

This article is primarily concerned with asking how we can read Kalhaṇa’s Rājataraṅgiṇī as historians, other than by mining it for facts and names or using it as a proof of some South Asian given. I conduct my investigation on a relatively small sample, a well-defined narrative sequence of about 100 verses from the fourth chapter, or ‘wave’, of the River of Kings (4.402–502), which narrates King Jayāpīḍa’s first military campaign. I try to demonstrate that this section depicts a dramatic shift in Kashmir’s investment in learning and the arts. Thus I argue that the Rājataraṅgiṇī, despite its unifying poetic and moralistic framework, is acutely attuned to changes in Kashmir’s history, including this region’s special cultural and intellectual history, a topic that is clearly dear to Kalhaṇa’s heart.
Śāntarasa in the Rājataraṅgiṇī: History, epic, and moral decay
Authors: McCrea Lawrence
Published: May 2013

This article considers the implications of Kalhaṇa’s statement that in his great poetic history ‘śāntarasa rules supreme’. Kalhaṇa’s identification of the emotional mood he seeks to cultivate has often been noted, but its implications for Kalhaṇa’s historical vision have seldom been discussed in depth. In framing the aesthetic content of his work in terms of śāntarasa, the aestheticised emotion of ‘quiescence’, Kalhaṇa links it with the only śāntarasa poem acknowledged by the poeticians of Kashmir at the time—the Mahābhārata . The Mahābhārata is the great canonical example of such a poem, first discussed as such by Ānandavardhana in his Dhvanyāloka . On Ānandavardhana’s reading, the Mahābhārata is to be seen as a śāntarasa text because, through the lamentable ends to which even the ‘victors’ in its cataclysmic war are reduced, it inculcates despair with all worldly endeavour, inducing readers to turn instead to the path of renunciation. By explicitly invoking śāntarasa, Kalhaṇa places both the Mahābhārata and Kashmiri aestheticians’ discourse on it in the background of his own narrative, particularly his treatment of moral decay—the way even ‘good’ kings regularly go bad and the most promising political endeavours lead only to decay, loss and despair.
Measurement: Past, Present and Future: Part 3 Measurement Innovation and Impact
Authors: Jones Barry E
Published: May 2013

The reported performances of the UK and German measurement industries are compared. It seems that during the past 30 years, the German measurement industry has grown and has been more innovative and commercially successful in the field of measurement instrumentation and sensors. Examples of measurement innovation from around the world and in various application sectors are cited to illustrate the strongly growing new global markets for novel measurement systems. There is a serious lack of measurement skills in the United Kingdom.
Rasch analysis of the SAMHSA Recovery Inventory for Chinese (SAMHSA-RIC)
Authors: Chiu Marcus Yu Lung , Wong Frank Ho Ting , Ho Winnie Wing Nan
Published: May 2013

Aims:

To generate a short version of a newly developed inventory that adopted the conceptual framework of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) consensus statement on recovery.

Methods:

Through Rasch analysis, this paper presents how this recovery inventory (SAMHSA-RIC), with its original 111 items, can be reduced to a much shorter version with only 41 items.

Results:

Although internal consistency is slightly lowered because of item reduction, the short version maintains satisfactory and significant correlations with quality of life measures. Overall, the canonical correlation between the scale and WHOQOL-BREF was virtually the same, with only a 0.2% decrease.

Conclusions:

SAMHSA-RIC (short version) has strong potential to become a general tool for evaluating rehabilitative services for persons with persistent and severe mental illness. A validation study of the short version with clinical samples is warranted.
Pathways to psychiatric care of patients from rural regions: A general-hospital-based study
Authors: Li Xuemei , Zhang Weijun , Lin Yan , Zhang Xiulan , Qu Zhiyong , Wang Xiaohua , Zhang Yurong , Xu Huiwen , Zhao Shuliang , Li Yafang , Tian Donghua
Published: May 2013

Background:

Pathway studies highlight the help-seeking behaviours of patients with physical and mental illness. A number of these studies have been completed in other countries, but there have been few reports from China. Therefore, this study was planned to explore the characteristics of the help-seeking pathways of patients with mental illness from rural regions of China through the mental health professionals and treatment at the General Hospital of the People’s Liberation Army (PLAGH).

Methods:

The pathway diagrams were documented for 203 subjects with various mental disorders using the translated version of the World Health Organization (WHO) pathway encounter form. The patterns of help-seeking and durations were analysed, and the χ2 test and Mann-Whitney U test were employed as needed.

Results:

On average, each patient consulted 3.6 caregivers. The vast majority of patients first visited local secondary general hospitals (SGHs) (35.5%, χ2 = 41.93, p < .0001) or local tertiary general hospitals (TGHs) (32%, χ2 = 36.21, p < .0001); however, 75.4% of them had not received professional diagnosis and treatment. The patients who first contacted the psychiatric service, finally reached the PLAGH, because of poor treatment or the high cost of medical care.

Conclusion:

The subjects first seek the help of various sources before attending PLAGH due to a lack of awareness of the treatment services and the fear of the stigma associated with mental disorders. The primary care, even the local general hospital, did not act as a gatekeeper to psychiatric services.
Experimental correlation of wear parameters in Al-Si-Fe alloy/breadfruit seed hull ash particulate composites
Authors: Atuanya CU , Onukwuli OD , Aigbodion VS
Published: May 2013

An attempt has been made to study the influence of wear parameters like applied load, sliding speed, sliding distance and weight percentage of breadfruit seed husk ash particles on the dry sliding wear of the Al-Si-Fe alloy composites. A plan of experiments, based on factorial design of four factors–two levels (42) techniques was performed to acquire data in controlled way. Analysis of variance and linear regression were employed to investigate the influence of process parameters on the wear of the composites. The results show that applied load has the highest effect followed by sliding distance. The comparison was made between actual values and predicted values, showing an error associated with dry sliding wear of the composites to be about 2%. The results showed that the addition of breadfruit seed hull ash as reinforcing materials in Al-Si-Fe alloy composites can be used for increasing wear resistance of the composite greatly.
A Serial Cross-sectional Study of Pediatric Inpatient Hospitalizations for Non-traumatic Dental Conditions
Authors: Chi D.L. , Masterson E.E.
Published: May 2013

Investigators have examined children’s dental utilization in various settings ( e.g., dental offices, emergency departments, operating rooms), but no studies have examined inpatient hospitalizations for non-traumatic dental conditions (NTDCs). The authors examined NTDC-related hospitalization trends in the United States and identified the relationship between complex chronic condition (CCCs) and NTDC-related inpatient hospitalizations. We analyzed data from the U.S. Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2000-2010) for children ages 3 to 17 years (N = 3,030,970). The predictor variable was number of CCCs (0/1/2+). The outcome variable was whether the child had a NTDC-related hospitalization (no/yes). Covariate-adjusted multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate prevalence odds ratios (PORs). From 2000 to 2010, there were 17,993 NTDC-related hospitalizations (0.59%) and a slight increase in NTDC-related hospitalizations ( p = .049). This increase was not significant in the final regression model. There was no difference in odds of NTDCs for children with 0 or 1 CCCs (POR = 1.08; 95%CI = 0.99, 1.18), but children with 2+ CCCs had significantly greater odds (POR = 1.61; 95%CI = 1.42, 1.83), as did non-White, publicly insured, and lower income children. NTDC-related hospitalizations for children did not increase from 2000 to 2010. Children with 2+ CCCs had the greatest odds of being hospitalized for NTDCs, which highlights the need to develop preventive interventions targeting children with 2+ CCCs.
A new framework for the simulation of equation-based models with variable structure
Authors: Zimmer Dirk
Published: May 2013

Many modern models contain changes that affect the structure of their underlying equation system, e.g. the breaking of mechanical devices or the switching of ideal diodes. The modeling and simulation of such systems in current equation-based languages frequently poses serious difficulties. In order to improve the handling of variable-structure systems, a new modeling language has been designed for research purposes. It is called Sol and it caters to the special demands of variable-structure systems while still representing a general modeling language. This language is processed by a new translation scheme that handles the differential-algebraic equations in a highly dynamic fashion. In this way, almost arbitrary structural changes can be processed. In order to minimize the computational effort, each change is processed as locally as possible, preserving the existing computational structure as much as possible. Given this methodology, truly object-oriented modeling and simulation of variable-structure systems is made possible. The corresponding process of modeling and simulation is illustrated by two examples from different domains.