bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Circulating CD4
+
CD25
hi
CD127
lo
Regulatory T-Cell Levels Do Not Reflect the Extent or Severity of Carotid and Coronary Atherosclerosis
Authors: Ammirati Enrico , Cianflone Domenico , Banfi Michela , Vecchio Viviana , Palini Alessio , De Metrio Monica , Marenzi Giancarlo , Panciroli Claudio , Tumminello Gabriele , Anzuini Angelo , Palloshi Altin , Grigore Liliana , Garlaschelli Katia , Tramontana Simona , Tavano Davide , Airoldi Flavio , Manfredi Angelo A. , Catapano Alberico Luigi , Norata Giuseppe Danilo
Published: June 2010

Objective—

Regulatory T (Treg) cells play a protective role in experimental atherosclerosis. In the present study, we investigated whether the levels of circulating Treg cells relate to the degree of atherosclerosis in carotid and coronary arteries.

Methods and Results—

We studied 2 distinct populations: (1) 113 subjects, selected from a free-living population (carotid study), in which we measured the intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery, as a surrogate marker of initial atherosclerosis; and (2) 75 controls and 125 patients with coronary artery disease (coronary study): 36 with chronic stable angina, 50 with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome, 39 with ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction. Treg-cell levels were evaluated by flow cytometry (Treg cells identified as CD3
+
CD4
+
CD25
high
CD127
low
) and by mRNA expression of forkhead box P3 or of Treg-associated cytokine interleukin 10. In the carotid study, no correlation was observed between Treg-cell levels and intima-media thickness. No differences in Treg-cell levels were observed comparing rapid versus slow intima-media thickness progressors from a subgroup of patients (n=65), in which prospective data on 6-year intima-media thickness progression were available. In the coronary group, Treg-cell levels were not altered in chronic stable angina patients. In contrast, nonunivocal variations were observed in patients suffering an acute coronary syndrome (with a Treg-cell increase in ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction and a Treg-cell decrease in non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome patients).

Conclusion—

The results suggest that determination of circulating Treg-cell levels based on flow cytometry or mRNA assessment is not a useful indicator of the extent or severity of atherosclerosis.
VEGF Blockade Inhibits Lymphocyte Recruitment and Ameliorates Immune-Mediated Vascular Remodeling
Authors: Zhang Jiasheng , Silva Teresa , Yarovinsky Timur , Manes Thomas D. , Tavakoli Sina , Nie Lei , Tellides George , Pober Jordan S. , Bender Jeffrey R. , Sadeghi Mehran M.
Published: June 2010

Rationale:

There are conflicting data on the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in vascular remodeling. Furthermore, there are species-specific differences in leukocyte and vascular cell biology and little is known about the role of VEGF in remodeling of human arteries.

Objective:

We sought to address the role of VEGF blockade on remodeling of human arteries in vivo.

Methods and Results:

We used an anti-VEGF antibody, bevacizumab, to study the effect of VEGF blockade on remodeling of human coronary artery transplants in severe combined immunodeficient mice. Bevacizumab ameliorated peripheral blood mononuclear cell–induced but not interferon-γ–induced neointimal formation. This inhibitory effect was associated with a reduction in graft T-cell accumulation without affecting T-cell activation. VEGF enhanced T-cell capture by activated endothelium under flow conditions. The VEGF effect could be recapitulated when a combination of recombinant intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 rather than endothelial cells was used to capture T cells. A subpopulation of CD3+ T cells expressed VEGF receptor (VEGFR)-1 by immunostaining and FACS analysis. VEGFR-1 mRNA was also detectable in purified CD4+ T cells and Jurkat and HSB-2 T-cell lines. Stimulation of HSB-2 and T cells with VEGF triggered downstream ERK phosphorylation, demonstrating the functionality of VEGFR-1 in human T cells.

Conclusions:

VEGF contributes to vascular remodeling in human arteries through a direct effect on human T cells that enhances their recruitment to the vessel. These findings raise the possibility of novel therapeutic approaches to vascular remodeling based on inhibition of VEGF signaling.
Loss of Enigma Homolog Protein Results in Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Cheng Hongqiang , Kimura Kensuke , Peter Angela K. , Cui Li , Ouyang Kunfu , Shen Tao , Liu Yujie , Gu Yusu , Dalton Nancy D. , Evans Sylvia M. , Knowlton Kirk U. , Peterson Kirk L. , Chen Ju
Published: June 2010

Rationale:

The Z-line, alternatively termed the Z-band or Z-disc, is a highly ordered structure at the border between 2 sarcomeres. Enigma subfamily proteins (Enigma, Enigma homolog protein, and Cypher) of the PDZ-LIM domain protein family are Z-line proteins. Among the Enigma subfamily, Cypher has been demonstrated to play a pivotal role in the structure and function of striated muscle, whereas the role of Enigma homolog protein (ENH) in muscle remains largely unknown.

Objective:

We studied the role of Enigma homolog protein in the heart using global and cardiac-specific ENH knockout mouse models.

Methods and Results:

We identified new exons and splice isoforms for ENH in the mouse heart. Impaired cardiac contraction and dilated cardiomyopathy were observed in ENH null mice. Mice with cardiac specific ENH deletion developed a similar dilated cardiomyopathy. Like Cypher, ENH interacted with Calsarcin-1, another Z-line protein. Moreover, biochemical studies showed that ENH, Cypher short isoform and Calsarcin-1 are within the same protein complex at the Z-line. Cypher short isoform and Calsarcin-1 proteins are specifically downregulated in ENH null hearts.

Conclusions:

We have identified an ENH-CypherS-Calsarcin protein complex at the Z-line. Ablation of ENH leads to destabilization of this protein complex and dilated cardiomyopathy.
Systemic and Intraplaque Mediators of Inflammation Are Increased in Patients Symptomatic for Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Montecucco Fabrizio , Lenglet Sébastien , Gayet-Ageron Angèle , Bertolotto Maria , Pelli Graziano , Palombo Domenico , Pane Bianca , Spinella Giovanni , Steffens Sabine , Raffaghello Lizzia , Pistoia Vito , Ottonello Luciano , Pende Aldo , Dallegri Franco , Mach François
Published: June 2010

Background and Purpose—

The concept of “vulnerable plaque” has been extended to the more recent definition of the “cardiovascular vulnerable patient,” in which “intraplaque” and “systemic” factors contribute to the cumulative risk of acute cardiovascular events. Thus, we investigated the possible role of systemic and intraplaque inflammation in patients asymptomatic versus symptomatic for ischemic stroke.

Methods—

Regions upstream and downstream the blood flow were isolated from internal carotid plaques of patients asymptomatic (n=63) or symptomatic (n=18) for ischemic stroke. Specimens were analyzed for lipid, collagen, macrophage, lymphocyte, neutrophil, mast cell and smooth muscle cell content, and chemokine and cytokine mRNA expression. Chemokine receptors and adhesion molecules were assessed on circulating leukocytes by flow cytometry. Systemic inflammatory markers and biochemical parameters were measured on total blood, plasma, and serum.

Results—

Tumor necrosis factor-α and CCL5 serum levels as well as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression on circulating neutrophils were increased in symptomatic as compared with asymptomatic patients. Collagen content and smooth muscle cell infiltration were decreased in symptomatic plaques. In upstream regions of symptomatic plaques, lipid content and lymphocyte infiltration were increased. In downstream regions of symptomatic plaques, macrophage, neutrophil, and mast cell infiltration were increased. Intraplaque collagen content was positively correlated with smooth muscle cell infiltration and inversely correlated with macrophages, neutrophils, or serum tumor necrosis factor-α. Collagen reduction in downstream regions and serum tumor necrosis factor-α were independently associated with the likelihood of being symptomatic.

Conclusions—

Inflammatory mediators are increased in ischemic stroke. Despite statistically significant, the correlation between tumor necrosis factor-α serum level and intraplaque vulnerability was weak and probably of limited biological importance.
Childbearing, Child-Rearing, Cardiovascular Risk Factors, and Progression of Carotid Intima-Media Thickness
Authors: Skilton Michael R. , Bonnet Fabrice , Begg Lisa M. , Juonala Markus , Kähönen Mika , Lehtimäki Terho , Viikari Jorma S. A. , Raitakari Olli T.
Published: June 2010

Background and Purpose—

Parity is associated with the risk of clinical cardiovascular events and the severity of preclinical atherosclerosis in older subjects. We sought to determine whether childbearing is associated with concurrent changes in cardiovascular risk factors and the progression of carotid intima-media thickness.

Methods—

We examined the association between the number of children born during a 6-year period and concurrent changes in cardiovascular risk factors and progression of carotid intima-media thickness in men and women of reproductive age from the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns study. Complete data for parity and carotid intima-media thickness were available for 1786 subjects (1005 females, 781 males).

Results—

For females, childbirth during the 6-year follow-up was associated with concurrent reductions in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (

P
trend

<0.0001), apolipoprotein A-I (

P
trend

<0.0001), and apolipoprotein B (

P
trend

=0.01); a redistribution of adiposity to abdominal deposits; and increased progression of carotid intima-media thickness (7.5±3.2 μm/birth [mean±SEM],
P
=0.02). The association of childbirth with carotid intima-media thickness progression was not greatly modified by adjustment for concurrent changes in cardiovascular risk factors (fully adjusted:
P
=0.05). This association was significantly stronger in females than males (

P
heterogeneity

=0.001), who served as a control group exposed to the social and lifestyle influences of child-rearing but not the biological influences of childbearing.

Conclusions—

The progression of carotid atherosclerosis over a 6-year period is increased in females who gave birth during the same period, independent of traditional risk factors. Mechanisms that underlie this observation possibly include parity-induced changes in nontraditional risk factors or an acute influence of pregnancy itself.
Gender Differences in Acute Stroke Treatment
Authors: Tafreshi Gilda M. , Raman Rema , Ernstrom Karin , Meyer Brett C. , Hemmen Thomas M.
Published: June 2010

Background and Purpose—

To assess the gender differences in patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with and without tissue plasminogen activator. The primary purpose is to evaluate for differences in baseline risk factors, treatment times, and 90-day outcomes. Data regarding gender differences in acute stroke treatment shows a delayed treatment and evaluation in women with stroke, associated with poorer outcome.

Methods—

Review of the University of California San Diego Specialized Program for Translational Research in Acute Stroke (SPOTRIAS) database from 2001 to 2009. All “code stroke” patients with the admitting diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke were classified based on gender and tissue plasminogen activator treatment (group 1 with tissue plasminogen activator, group 2 without).

Results—

A total of 848 patients were included, group 1: 294 patients, baseline median NIHSS and mean age in men was 10 and 67.6±16.5 years, in women 13 and 72.4±16.5 years. group 2: 554 patients, baseline median NIHSS and mean age in men was 4 and 68.4±14.0 years, in women 5 and 72.2±14.0 years. Women and men had a similar tissue plasminogen activator treatment rate (women=38%, men=32%). Men were more likely to use tobacco and have a history of coronary artery disease and less likely to have a history of atrial fibrillation. In both groups, men had higher rates of a 90-day modified Rankin scale score of 0 to 1 compared to women (group 1 35.5% vs 22.6%; group 2 57.3% vs 47.3%). Multivariable analysis adjusting for observed confounders, namely admission NIHSS, coronary artery disease/myocardial infarction, and atrial fibrillation, indicate that this difference was not statistically significant. We found no significant difference between genders when assessing for treatment times in either group.

Conclusions—

Treatment times and patient outcomes after treatment for acute ischemic stroke were similar between genders. Previously identified gender differences in stroke treatment times and outcome were not found in our sample.
Mechanical Thrombectomy With the Solitaire AB Device in Large Artery Occlusions of the Anterior Circulation
Authors: Castaño Carlos , Dorado Laura , Guerrero Cristina , Millán Monica , Gomis Meritxell , Perez de la Ossa Natalia , Castellanos Mar , García M. Rosa , Domenech Sira , Dávalos Antoni
Published: June 2010

Background and Purpose—

To describe the safety and effectiveness of a self-expanding and fully retrievable stent (Solitaire AB; ev3 Inc, Plymouth, MN) in revascularization of patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Methods—

Prospective, single-center study of 20 patients with an acute ischemic stroke attributable to a large artery occlusion of the anterior circulation within the first 8 hours from symptoms onset (median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, 19 [interquartile range, 15–23]). The occlusion site was middle cerebral artery in 12 patients, proximal internal carotid artery/middle cerebral artery tandem occlusion in 3 patients, and terminus internal carotid artery in 5 patients. Thrombectomy was used as rescue therapy in 2 patients who were refractory to intra-arterial plasminogen activator, and in 3 patients in whom successful recanalization with the MERCI retriever was not achieved.

Results—

Successful revascularization defined as thrombosis in cerebral ischemia grade 2b or 3 was achieved in 18 of 20 (90%) treated vessels, and 16 patients showed immediate restoration of flow after stent deployment. The mean number of passes for maximal recanalization was 1.4, and the median (quartiles) time from groin puncture to recanalization was 50 (38–71) minutes. No case required adjuvant therapy after deployment of the embolectomy device. No significant procedural events occurred. Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage was found in 2 (10%) patients, 4 (20%) patients died during the 90-day follow-up period, and 45% of patients showed good functional outcome at 3 months (modified Rankin Scale score ≤2).

Conclusions—

These results suggest that the Solitaire AB device can rapidly, safely, and effectively retrieve clots from the middle cerebral artery and terminus internal carotid artery within 8 hours from symptoms onset.
Variability and Trends of High Temperature, High Humidity, and Sultry Weather in the Warm Season in China during the Period 1961–2004
Authors: Shi Xiaohui , Lu Chungu , Xu Xiangde
Published: June 2010

Using the daily maximum air temperature and mean humidity observations at 394 surface weather stations across China, the changes in the annual number of days of high temperature weather (HTW), high humidity weather (HHW), and sultry weather (STW) in China over the period 1961–2004 are studied. The results indicate that there were considerable spatial differences and temporal variability of HTW, HHW, and STW across China. Under a climatic mean condition, a notable feature is that southeastern China is the region of collocation of high values of the annual number of days of HTW, HHW, and STW, as well as the region of the most significant variabilities of these parameters. About 55% of the stations in China have increasing trends of the annual number of days of HTW. Most stations in China show decreasing trends of the annual number of days of HHW and are mainly located either in the area south of 30°N or in northern and northeastern China. The stations with increasing trends of the annual number of days of STW are mainly located in northern China, while the stations that have decreasing trends are primarily located in southern China. The analysis results suggest that the variability of the annual number of days of STW corresponds mainly to HTW, and less to HHW. The change in the East Asian monsoon may be responsible for the changes of these statistics in extreme weather in China.
Seasonal Variability of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation at 26.5°N
Authors: Kanzow T. , Cunningham S. A. , Johns W. E. , Hirschi J. J-M. , Marotzke J. , Baringer M. O. , Meinen C. S. , Chidichimo M. P. , Atkinson C. , Beal L. M. , Bryden H. L. , Collins J.
Published: June 2010

The Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) makes the strongest oceanic contribution to the meridional redistribution of heat. Here, an observation-based, 48-month-long time series of the vertical structure and strength of the AMOC at 26.5°N is presented. From April 2004 to April 2008, the AMOC had a mean strength of 18.7 ± 2.1 Sv (1 Sv ≡ 106 m3 s−1) with fluctuations of 4.8 Sv rms. The best guess of the peak-to-peak amplitude of the AMOC seasonal cycle is 6.7 Sv, with a maximum strength in autumn and a minimum in spring. While seasonality in the AMOC was commonly thought to be dominated by the northward Ekman transport, this study reveals that fluctuations of the geostrophic midocean and Gulf Stream transports of 2.2 and 1.7 Sv rms, respectively, are substantially larger than those of the Ekman component (1.2 Sv rms). A simple model based on linear dynamics suggests that the seasonal cycle is dominated by wind stress curl forcing at the eastern boundary of the Atlantic. Seasonal geostrophic AMOC anomalies might represent an important and previously underestimated component of meridional transport and storage of heat in the subtropical North Atlantic. There is evidence that the seasonal cycle observed here is representative of much longer intervals. Previously, hydrographic snapshot estimates between 1957 and 2004 had suggested a long-term decline of the AMOC by 8 Sv. This study suggests that aliasing of seasonal AMOC anomalies might have accounted for a large part of the inferred slowdown.
Parameterization of Lakes and Wetlands for Energy and Water Balance Studies in the Great Lakes Region*
Authors: Mishra Vimal , Cherkauer Keith A. , Bowling Laura C.
Published: June 2010

Lakes and wetlands are prevalent around the Great Lakes and play an important role in the regional water and energy cycle. However, simulating their impacts on regional-scale hydrology is still a major challenge and not widely attempted. In the present study, the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) model is applied and evaluated with a physically based lake and wetland algorithm, which can simulate the effect of lakes and wetlands on the grid cell energy and water balance. The VIC model was calibrated at 10 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) stream gauging stations against daily streamflow records for the period of 1985–95, and successfully evaluated for the period of 1996–2005. Single-grid sensitivity experiments showed that runoff, baseflow, and inundation area were sensitive to the lake model parameters. Simulations were also conducted to analyze the spatial and temporal variability of inundation area for the period of 1985–2005. Results indicated that water and energy fluxes were substantially affected when lakes and wetlands were included in model simulations. Domain-averaged annual mean evapotranspiration (ET) was increased by 5% while annual mean total runoff was decreased by 12% with lakes and wetlands. Latent heat flux increased while sensible heat flux decreased because of the inclusion of lakes and wetlands.
An Evaluation of Satellite Remote Sensing Data Products for Land Surface Hydrology: Atmospheric Infrared Sounder*
Authors: Ferguson Craig R. , Wood Eric F.
Published: June 2010

The skill of instantaneous Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) retrieved near-surface meteorology, including surface skin temperature (Ts), air temperature (Ta), specific humidity (q), and relative humidity (RH), as well as model-derived surface pressure (Psurf) and 10-m wind speed (w), is evaluated using collocated National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) in situ observations, offline data from the North American Land Data Assimilation System (NLDAS), and geostationary remote sensing (RS) data from the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI). Such data are needed for RS-based water cycle monitoring in areas without readily available in situ data. The study is conducted over the continental United States and Africa for a period of more than 6 years (2002–08). For both regions, it provides for the first time the geographic distribution of AIRS retrieval performance. Through conditional sampling, attribution of retrieval errors to scene atmospheric and surface conditions is performed. The findings support previous assertions that performance degrades with cloud fraction and that (positive) bias enhances with altitude. In general AIRS is biased warm and dry. In certain regions, strong AIRS–NCDC correlation suggests that bias-driven errors, which can be substantial, are correctable. The utility of the error characteristics for prescribing the input-induced uncertainty of RS retrieval models is demonstrated through two applications: a microwave soil moisture retrieval algorithm and the Penman–Monteith evapotranspiration model. An important side benefit of this study is the verification of NLDAS forcing.
Polarimetric Radar Observations of Convection in Northwestern Mexico during the North American Monsoon Experiment
Authors: Lang Timothy J. , Rutledge Steven A. , Cifelli Robert
Published: June 2010

The spatial and temporal variability of convection during the North American Monsoon Experiment (NAME) was examined via analysis of three-dimensional polarimetric radar data. Terrain bands were defined as the Gulf of California (over water) and elevations of 0–500 m above mean sea level (MSL; coastal plain), 500–1500 m MSL, and >1500 m MSL. Convective rainfall over the Gulf typically featured the smallest values of median volume diameter (D0) regardless of rain rate. Gulf convection also contained reduced precipitation-sized ice water mass but proportionally more liquid water mass compared to convection over land. These maritime characteristics were magnified during disturbed meteorological regimes, which typically featured increased precipitation over the Gulf and adjacent coastal plain. Overall, the results suggest increased reliance on warm-rain collision and coalescence at the expense of ice-based precipitation growth processes for convective rainfall over the Gulf, relative to the land. Over land D0, ice, and liquid water mass all increased with decreasing terrain elevation, suggesting intensification of convection as it moved off the Sierra Madre Occidental. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that both warm-rain and ice-based rainfall processes play important roles in precipitation formation over land. Coastal-plain convection underwent microphysical modifications during disturbed meteorological regimes that were similar to Gulf convection, but the changes were less dramatic. High-terrain convection experienced little microphysical variability regardless of meteorological regime.
To Read - Or Not to Read - Ezekiel as Christian Scripture
Authors: Tiemeyer Lena-Sofia
Published: June 2010

This article focuses on the difficulty today to read the book of Ezekiel canonically. In Ezekiel, God’s destruction of Jerusalem is vindicated by the people’s utter sinfulness. Many earlier Christian readings of Ezekiel have tended to focus on how, through Jesus, human sin is finally conquered. I contend that such a reading does injustice to the message of the book of Ezekiel as a whole, as it enables the readers to quickly dismiss the horror of the destruction of Jerusalem and to focus solely on the future restoration. Moreover, many modern readers regard such a reading as unacceptable as it puts all the guilt on the victims. I shall therefore suggest another way of reading Ezekiel canonically, namely through the lens of the books of Lamentations and Job.
Reticence, Reason and Rhetoric: Some Responses to Richard Dawkins’ The God Delusion
Authors: Fuller Michael
Published: June 2010

The God Delusion has been a popular best-seller. It launches a no-holds-barred attack on religious belief, particularly Christian theistic belief, by an author celebrated as a scientific populariser. It has attracted a number of rebuttals from theologically-informed writers drawing attention to deficiencies in its arguments, yet none of these appears to have achieved the same level of public attention. This article compares and contrasts five such responses, and offers some comments on the effectiveness of this kind of response to Dawkins’ polemics.
The Evolution of Human Warfare
Authors: Pitman George R.
Published: June 2010

Here we propose a new theory for the origins and evolution of human warfare as a complex social phenomenon involving several behavioral traits, including aggression, risk taking, male bonding, ingroup altruism, outgroup xenophobia, dominance and subordination, and territoriality, all of which are encoded in the human genome. Among the family of great apes only chimpanzees and humans engage in war; consequently, warfare emerged in their immediate common ancestor that lived in patrilocal groups who fought one another for females. The reasons for warfare changed when the common ancestor females began to immigrate into the groups of their choice, and again, during the agricultural revolution.
Going for Goals
Authors: Humphrey Neil , Kalambouka Afroditi , Wigelsworth Michael , Lendrum Ann
Published: June 2010

We report on an effectiveness trial of a short, social—emotional intervention called ‘Going for Goals’, developed as part of the primary social and emotional aspects of learning (SEAL) programme in England. Our aim was to investigate the impact of Going for Goals on childrens’ social and emotional skills, behaviour and emotional well-being. The sample comprised 182 children (aged 6—11) attending 22 primary schools across England. Data were collected using child self-report, and parent- and teacher-informant report questionnaires in a pre-test—post-test control group design at the beginning of the intervention, at the end of the intervention, and at eight-week follow-up. One hundred and two children took part in the intervention, and 80 acted as a comparison group. Those who took part in the intervention attended weekly 45 minute small group sessions for eight weeks. Child self-report and teacher informant report data indicated that the intervention had a positive impact on the social and emotional skills of children selected for extra support. Teacher informant report data also indicated that the intervention was successful in reducing the behavioural and emotional difficulties of these children. Analysis of follow-up data suggested that the positive impacts had been sustained following the end of the intervention. Parental informant report data yielded null results. Our findings suggest that Going for Goals is successful in promoting social and emotional skills and reducing behavioural and emotional difficulties of children in need of extra support. However, future iterations may need to consider activities beyond the school setting in order to produce changes that are salient to parents.
School Psychology in Egypt
Authors: Jimerson Shane R. , Alghorani Mohammad Adnan , Darweish Abdel-Hameed , Abdelaziz Mahmoud
Published: June 2010

The International School Psychology Survey (ISPS) was used to gather information about the characteristics, training, roles, activities, preferences, research interests and the challenges experienced by school psychology specialists in Egypt. To the degree that the data are representative of the school psychology specialists Egypt, it appears that the vast majority of school psychology specialists have bachelor degrees. The greatest proportion of their work involved counselling students, providing direct services to students, and providing primary prevention programs. The results from this survey were considered in relation to the social and cultural context of school psychology practice in Egypt and were compared with the findings from ISPS surveys in other countries.
Children’s perceptions of maternal hostility as a mediator of the link between discipline and children’s adjustment in four countries
Authors: Lansford Jennifer E. , Malone Patrick S. , Dodge Kenneth A. , Lei Chang  , Chaudhary Nandita , Tapanya Sombat , Oburu Paul , Deater-Deckard Kirby
Published: June 2010

Using data from 195 dyads of mothers and children (age range = 8—12 years; M = 10.63) in four countries (China, India, the Philippines, and Thailand), this study examined children’s perceptions of maternal hostility as a mediator of the links between physical discipline and harsh verbal discipline and children’s adjustment. Both physical discipline and harsh verbal discipline had direct effects on mothers’ reports of children’s anxiety and aggression; three of these four links were mediated by children’s perceptions of maternal hostility. In contrast, there were no significant direct effects of physical discipline and harsh verbal discipline on children’s reports of their own anxiety and aggression. Instead, both physical discipline and harsh verbal discipline had indirect effects on the outcomes through children’s perceptions of maternal hostility. We identified a significant interaction between perceived normativeness and use of harsh verbal discipline on children’s perception of maternal hostility, but children’s perception of the normativeness of physical discipline did not moderate the relation between physical discipline and perceived maternal hostility. The effects of harsh verbal discipline were more adverse when children perceived that form of discipline as being nonnormative than when children perceived that form of discipline as being normative. Results are largely consistent with a theoretical model positing that the meaning children attach to parents’ discipline strategies is important in understanding associations between discipline and children’s adjustment, and that cultural context is associated with children’s interpretations of their parents’ behavior.
Do the associations between exuberance and emotion regulation depend on effortful control?
Authors: Dennis Tracy A. , Hong Melanie , Solomon Beylul
Published: June 2010

Temperamentally exuberant children may be at risk for emotion regulation problems, but this may also depend on their capacity for effortful control. To examine this issue, we assessed 72 typically-developing 3- to 5-year-olds. Child exuberance, effortful control, and emotion regulation were assessed via maternal report and observations of child behavior. Emotion regulation problems were elevated among children showing high exuberance and among children showing low effortful control. However, during a disappointing task, children with high exuberance showed stable, elevated levels of organized emotion regulation regardless of effortful control; for children with low exuberance, only those who also showed high effortful control showed comparable levels of organized emotion regulation. Implications for understanding risk and resilience associated with exuberance are discussed.
Special Education Litigation Update: Implications for School Administrators
Authors: Wagner Jennifer Y. , Katsiyannis Antonis
Published: June 2010

The participation and inclusion of students with disabilities in the general education setting has steadily increased over the past several years, facilitated in part by the amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Providing students with disabilities a free appropriate public education in this setting has proved to be challenging. In this article we provide an overview of recent case law in the areas of discipline, residential placements, parental rights, and compensatory education. Implications for practice are also provided.
Design and Kinematic Modeling of Constant Curvature Continuum Robots: A Review
Authors: Webster Robert J. , Jones Bryan A.
Published: June 2010

Continuum robotics has rapidly become a rich and diverse area of research, with many designs and applications demonstrated. Despite this diversity in form and purpose, there exists remarkable similarity in the fundamental simplified kinematic models that have been applied to continuum robots. However, this can easily be obscured, especially to a newcomer to the field, by the different applications, coordinate frame choices, and analytical formalisms employed. In this paper we review several modeling approaches in a common frame and notational convention, illustrating that for piecewise constant curvature, they produce identical results. This discussion elucidates what has been articulated in different ways by a number of researchers in the past several years, namely that constant-curvature kinematics can be considered as consisting of two separate submappings: one that is general and applies to all continuum robots, and another that is robot-specific. These mappings are then developed both for the single-section and for the multi-section case. Similarly, we discuss the decomposition of differential kinematics (the robot’s Jacobian) into robot-specific and robot-independent portions. The paper concludes with a perspective on several of the themes of current research that are shaping the future of continuum robotics.
Body, time, space and relationship in the music listening experiences of women with chronic illness
Authors: Nicol Jennifer J.
Published: June 2010

The meanings and experience of everyday music listening for women living with chronic physical illness were investigated. Multiple, in-depth interviews with six women, living with a diagnosed illness and identifying music listening as important in their life, provided a primary source of data. Analysis included a guided existential reflection and engagement in phenomenological writing. A key finding was the suggestion that to listen to music was to be in the company of a long-time companion who ultimately aided in coping with the unanticipated arrival of chronic illness. Further findings identified music listening as strongly embodied, ‘timeless’, ‘time-full’, ‘timetabled’, ‘time-encored’, and spatially freeing and comforting, which had positive experiential meanings in terms of living with chronic illness. These findings reveal something new about the phenomenon of listening to music in a particular context and invite further phenomenological inquiry, as well as investigation of music listening as a social process and the body’s role in identifying the ‘right’ music.
Musicians’ memory for verbal and tonal materials under conditions of irrelevant sound
Authors: Williamson Victoria J. , Mitchell Tom , Hitch Graham J. , Baddeley Alan D.
Published: June 2010

Studying short-term memory within the framework of the working memory model and its associated paradigms (Baddeley, 2000; Baddeley & Hitch, 1974) offers the chance to compare similarities and differences between the way that verbal and tonal materials are processed. This study examined amateur musicians’ short-term memory using a newly adapted version of the visual-auditory (V-A) recognition method (Schendel & Palmer, 2007) within the framework of an irrelevant sound paradigm. We report evidence for a modality specific irrelevant sound effect: irrelevant tones disrupted memory for sequences of tones, whilst only irrelevant speech disrupted memory for sequences of letters. These preliminary results suggest that the adapted V-A recognition method will be useful for future parallel investigations of short-term memory for verbal and tonal materials.
21st century conceptions of musical ability
Authors: Hallam Susan
Published: June 2010

This study explored conceptions of musical ability using an inventory derived from previous qualitative research. Participants included 102 musicians, 95 educators, 132 adult amateur musicians, 60 adults who were not actively engaged in making music, 193 children actively engaged in making music in addition to their engagement with the school curriculum and 71 children with no engagement with music outside of the school curriculum. Overall, musical ability was most strongly perceived as relating to a sense of rhythm, followed by the ability to understand and interpret the music, express thoughts and feelings through sound, being able to communicate through sound, motivation to engage with music, personal commitment to music, and being able to successfully engage musically with others. Least important were having technical skills, being able to compose or improvise, being able to read music, and understanding musical concepts and musical structures. Factor analysis revealed six factors which differentiated between the six sample groups, with the musicians (professional, amateur and children) and non-musicians demonstrating that musical ability is perceived in complex ways which depend on the environment within which individuals are located, and their particular musical experiences or lack of them.
Rethinking Philosophy: The Power of the Word
Authors: Kemp Peter
Published: June 2010

The author discusses the limits, the power and the dangers of speech, seen as the essential mode of all philosophical ‘acts’. The place of speech in the public sphere is mentioned in relation to the politico-religious debates that have taken place in Denmark in the last few years. The paper returns to and develops the inaugural speech at the World Philosophy Conference in Seoul, South Korea, in July 2008.
Imaginaries of Cultural Diversity and the Permanence of the Religious
Authors: Mancini Silvia
Published: June 2010

The author starts by noting a discourse that is widespread but more or less diffuse in the media and certain contemporary political and intellectual quarters, and which has to do with ‘the permanence of the religious’: according to an idea now current, the religious might be resistant to the process of secularization of civil society, because of its psychological and existential implications, or if seen as a universal, irreducible component of human culture. The author analyses the different aspects of this discourse, puts them into perspective in order to draw out their intellectual and political elements and attempts to reconstruct their historical and cultural origins and show how the refusal to historicize ‘religion’ is expressed today through various types of scientific argument coming out of the human and social sciences (arguments which appeal, for example, to the Latin concept of ‘civilization’, or the Germanic one of ‘Kultur’).
Religion, Faith and Toleration
Authors: Ndiaye Aloyse Raymond
Published: June 2010

The religious intolerance that nowadays feeds a number of current conflicts leads us to rethink our modern conception of toleration, which emerged from the theological and philosophical debates accompanying or thrown up by the doctrinal controversies and politico-religious wars of the 16th and 17th centuries. It is defined by respect for distinct orders: that of conscience and that of the law, private and public, faith and reason. It bears the mark of religion and theology and relates to the idea of human dignity which was given its ethical foundation in the 18th century by Kant's doctrine of autonomy. Current events teach us that still today people kill and persecute in the name of faith, in the name of God, in the name of religion, because they have a different opinion or belief. If toleration, child of the Enlightenment and critical reason, has not definitively gained the upper hand in a rational, technical world, we need to ask whether it is not because we have neglected faith. To conclude from the distinction between reason and faith that they are antagonistic has not led to uprooting the human spirit's intolerance. Might we have forgotten that peace is also the business of religion? What should we expect, what should we hope for from dialogue between religions? Could faith be the antidote to intolerance?
Vitamins A and E reverse gasoline vapors-induced hematotoxicity and weight loss in female rats
Authors: Uboh FE , Eteng MU , Ebong PE , Umoh IB
Published: June 2010

In this study, gasoline vapors-induced hematotoxicity, growth-depression and weight-loss reversal effect of vitamins A (retinol) and E (α-tocopherol) was assessed in female Wistar albino rats. The rats were exposed to gasoline vapors (17.8 2.6 cm 3/h/m3/day), 6 hours/day, 6 days/week, for 20 weeks. Vitamins A and E at prophylactic dosage (400 and 200 IU/kg/day, respectively) were orally administered to the rats, separately, in the last 2 weeks of exposure. The levels of hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit or packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cells (RBC), growth rate and weight gain in the rats exposed to the vapors were significantly lower (p < 0.05) compared, respectively, to the levels obtained for control rats. On the other hand, the levels of white blood cells (WBCs) in the test rats were significantly higher (p < 0.05) compared, respectively, with the level obtained for female control rats. These observations indicated that exposure to gasoline vapors may cause hematotoxicity, growth depression and weight loss in female rats. However, administration of vitamins A and E was observed to produce a significant recovery (p < 0.05) in hematotoxicity, growth depression and weight loss observed to be associated with exposure to gasoline vapors, although the rats administered with vitamin E were noted to respond more favorably than those administered with vitamin A. This suggests that although retinol and α-tocopherol may be used to reverse or prevent hematotoxicity, growth depression and weight loss in subjects exposed to gasoline vapors, the reversal potency of α-tocopherol is higher than that of retinol.
Low internal radiation alters innate immune status in children with clinical symptom of irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Sheikh Sajjadieh MR , Kuznetsova LV , Bojenko VB
Published: June 2010

Adverse health effect of low radiation is clear. The aim of this study was to determine effect of internal low radiation on innate immune status in Ukrainian children with spastic colitis as a result of Chernobyl disaster. The test population consisted of 95 participants: 75 rural participants with clinical symptom of irritable bowel syndrome, aged 4 to 18, who lived in a contaminated area exposed to radio nucleotide due to the disaster in reactor in Chernobyl nuclear power plant (categorized in three groups) and 20 healthy urban participants from Kiev, aged 5 to 15, as the control group. Internal radiation activity has been measured by γ-ray spectrometry. Peripheral blood leukocytes were analyzed for CD16+ subset, serum concentration of circulation immune complex was measured by the polyethylene glycol method. Phagocytic activity function was assessed by using latex article and phagocytic index were calculated. p < 0.05 was considered significant. Percent of CD16 + cell in groups II and III increased significantly in comparison to control group (p < 0.05). Concentration of circulating immune complexes increased significantly in all study groups compared to control group (p < 0.001). Phagocytes activity and phagocyte index decreased significantly in all study groups in comparison to control group (p < 0.001). The innate immune status of study groups has changed. Our data have demonstrated that this change may be related to radioactivity from technogenic pollution due to the disaster in reactor in Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
The Relationship Between Education Level and Mini-Mental State Examination Domains Among Older Mexican Americans
Authors: Matallana Diana , de Santacruz Cecilia , Cano Carlos , Reyes Pablo , Samper-Ternent Rafael , Markides Kyriakos S. , Ottenbacher Kenneth J. , Reyes-Ortiz Carlos A.
Published: June 2010

To study the effect of education and language of response at the interview on performance in the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) domains, we studied 2861 Mexican Americans aged 65 and older from the Hispanic Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (EPESE) followed from 1993 to 1994 until 2004 to 2005. The MMSE was examined as total score (0-30) or divided into 2 global domains: (1) no-memory (score 0-24): Orientation, attention, and language; and (2) memory (score 0-6): working and delayed memory. Mean age and total MMSE were 72.7 years and 24.6 at baseline, and 81.7 years and 20.5 at 11 years of follow-up. Spanish-speaking participants had less education (4.1 vs 7.4 years, P < .0001), they had significantly higher adjusted mean scores for memory, no-memory, and total MMSE compared with English-speaking participants. In multivariate longitudinal analyses, participants with more years of education performed better than those with less education, especially in total MMSE and no-memory domain. Spanish-speaking participants with 4 to 6 years of education had higher memory scores than those speaking English (estimate 0.40, standard error [SE] = 0.14, P < .001), 7 to 11 (estimate 0.27, standard error = 0.13, P < .01) or 12+ (estimate 0.44, standard error = 0.13, P < .001). Results suggest that cultural factors and variables related to preferred language use determined variations in MMSE performance. Because the memory domain of the MMSE is less affected by education, it may be used along with other cognitive tests for early detection of cognitive decline in older populations with low education.
Why Japanese Support the Death Penalty?
Authors: Shanhe Jiang  , Pilot Rebecca , Saito Toyoji
Published: June 2010

Japan is the only industrial country other than the United States, which still retains the death penalty. Although the death penalty has been a hotly contested topic in the West, there is a lack of interest and research on it in Japan. Accordingly, there is little empirical research on capital punishment in Japan. This study was undertaken to overcome this flaw. Using the data collected from 267 college students in 2005 in Japan, this study investigated the respondents’ support level of capital punishment and examined why they supported or opposed it. Findings from this study revealed that the majority of the respondents in Japan supported their country’s capital punishment. Deterrence, retribution, the barbarity of killing, beliefs in wrongful conviction, and rehabilitation were major predictors of their death penalty views.
Energy Drinks
Authors: Pennington Nicole , Johnson Molly , Delaney Elizabeth , Blankenship Mary Beth
Published: June 2010

A new hazard for adolescents is the negative health effects of energy drink consumption. Adolescents are consuming these types of drinks at an alarming amount and rate. Specific effects that have been reported by adolescents include jitteriness, nervousness, dizziness, the inability to focus, difficulty concentrating, gastrointestinal upset, and insomnia. Health care providers report that they have seen the following effects from the consumption of energy drinks: dehydration, accelerated heart rates, anxiety, seizures, acute mania, and strokes. This article is a comprehensive literature review on the health effects of energy drinks. Findings from this article indicate the need for educational intervention to inform adolescents of the consequences of consuming these popular drinks. School nurses are in a unique position to teach adolescents about the side effects and possible health issues that can occur when energy drinks are consumed.