bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Current Role of Surgery in Treatment of Early Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Resection versus Liver Transplantation
Authors: Yi Nam-Joon , Suh Kyung-Suk , Kim Taehoon , Kim Joohyun , Shin Woo Young , Lee Kuhn-Uk
Published: December 2008

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common malignancy of the liver and is most commonly associated with hepatitis B infection in Korea. Although liver resection is regarded as a potentially curative treatment option, it is only feasible in less than 20% of patients. The reason for this is that HCC arises in cirrhotic livers and is often multicentric. Liver transplantation (LT) which could be used in the treatment both of the tumor and background liver seems to be a rational approach for early stage patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis. Current good selection criteria of LT for HCC are the Milan criteria: 1 HCC nodule ≤5 cm in diameter or 3 nodules ≤3 cm. By restricting LT to patients within the Milan criteria, the 4-year disease-free survival rate was more than 80%, which is comparable to that of a transplant candidate without HCC. However, there are serious limitations for the wider application of LT for HCC: (1) organ shortage, (2) risk to a live donor, (3) high cost, and (4) lifelong immunosuppression. For this reason, for a patient with early stage HCC and with Child A cirrhosis in whom partial hepatectomy is possible, the choice of primary treatment with curative intent is still under debate.
Understanding Symptoms in Patients with Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease Managed without Dialysis: Use of a Short Patient-Completed Assessment Tool
Authors: Murphy Emma L. , Murtagh Fliss E.M. , Carey Irene , Sheerin Neil S.
Published: December 2008

Background: It is often believed that patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 4–5 have few symptoms, and that dying with renal disease is relatively symptom-free. But the symptom burden of patients managed conservatively (without dialysis), with potentially high levels of comorbidity and poor functional status, is unknown. This clinical audit evaluated the prevalence and severity of symptoms in conservatively managed CKD stage 4–5 patients. Methods: Symptom data was collected from all conservatively managed patients from 2 renal units referred to a new renal palliative care service over a 10-month period between April 2005 and January 2006. Data on symptom prevalence and severity was collected as part of their routine clinical care, using a modified version of the Patient Outcome Scale – symptom module (POSs). This patient-completed instrument identifies the presence and severity of 17 symptoms. Demographic data was also collected, including estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using the MDRD formula, primary renal diagnosis and comorbidity. Results: Symptoms were evaluated in 55 patients, with a mean age of 82 years (SD 5.5, range 66–96). eGFR ranged from 3 to 30 ml/min (median 11, mean 12.75). In patients with CKD stage 4–5, managed without dialysis, the symptom burden is high. The most prevalent symptoms reported were weakness (75%), poor mobility (75%), poor appetite (58%), pain (56%), pruritus (56%) and dyspnoea (49%). The total number of symptoms each individual patient experienced ranged from 1 to 14 (median 7, mean 6.8). Symptoms were frequently reported as moderate, severe, or overwhelming; in 54% of patients with poor mobility, 48% with weakness, 30% with itching, 31% with anorexia and 27% with pain. No significant association was demonstrated between the number of symptoms experienced and either severity of renal disease or comorbidity score. Conclusions: This structured clinical evaluation demonstrates the extent and severity of symptom burden in conservatively managed patients with CKD stage 4–5, and demonstrates the use of an appropriate clinical tool that can be used to assess the efficacy of treatment.
Corrected and Uncorrected Near and Distance Vision with ReSTOR® Compared to Monofocal Intraocular Lens Implantation after Cataract Surgery: A Pooled Analysis
Authors: Cochener Béatrice , Arnould Benoit , Viala Muriel , Roborel de Climens Aude , Berdeaux Gilles
Published: December 2008

Background/Aim: To evaluate distance and near vision-related benefit after implantation of ReSTOR® multifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) following cataract surgery. Methods: Two prospective open-labeled nonrandomized studies were pooled. Patients’ perception of benefit was assessed with the TyPE, administered at baseline and after each eye surgery. Results: A total of 499 patients received ReSTOR IOLs, and 173 received monofocal IOLs. The distance vision of monofocal and ReSTOR patients improved equally with and without glasses. A greater improvement in near vision without glasses was reported by ReSTOR-implanted patients as early as after the 1st eye surgery (p < 0.0001). More ReSTOR patients than monofocal patients reported independence from glasses after the 1st eye surgery (64 vs. 52%; p = 0.0002). This difference had increased after the 2nd eye surgery (85 vs. 51%; p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The improvement in near vision without glasses was significantly more evident in ReSTOR patients, allowing the majority of them to be free of glasses.
Preclinical Toxicokinetic Evaluation of Phortress [2-(4-Amino-3-Methylphenyl)-5-Fluorobenzothiazole Lysylamide Dihydrochloride] in Two Rodent Species
Authors: Bradshaw T.D. , Wren J.E. , Bruce M. , Barrett D.A. , Leong C.-O. , Gaskell M. , Wright E.K. , Farmer P.B. , Henderson C.J. , Wolf R. , Stevens M.F.G.
Published: December 2008

Background and Aims: The 2-(4-amino-3-methylphenyl)-5-fluorobenzothiazole prodrug Phortress exerts potent and selective antitumour activity in vitro and in vivo. Preclinical toxicokinetic studies in 2 rodent species were undertaken to determine Phortress’ maximum tolerated dose and advise a safe starting dose for clinical evaluation. Methods: Plasma pharmacokinetic parameters were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection following Phortress administration to mice (10 mg/kg, intravenously on days 1 and 8). Phortress (20 mg/kg, on days 1 and 8) was administered to CYP1A1/βGAL reporter mice; tissues were examined macro- and microscopically. Toxicological and pharmacodynamic endpoints were examined in organs of rodents receiving Phortress (10 mg/kg or 20 mg/kg, on days 1 and 8). CYP1A1 expression and Phortress-derived DNA adducts were determined in lungs and livers (on days 11 and 36). Results: No accumulation of Phortress was detected in murine plasma. β-Galactosidase activity inferred Phortress-derived induction of cyp1a1 transcription in the livers of transgenic mice; no total body weight loss was encountered in these animals. However, a fall in lung:body weight and kidney:body weight ratios, raised serum alkaline phosphatase levels and hepatic histopathological disturbances in animals receiving 20 mg/kg Phortress indicate organ sites of potential toxicity. CYP1A1 protein was induced transiently in the lungs of both species and in the livers of rats. Elimination of hepatic DNA adducts and rat pulmonary adducts was evident; however, murine pulmonary adducts persisted. Conclusion: Rodent preclinical toxicology established that mice represent the more sensitive rodent species, resolving a maximum tolerated dose of 10 mg/kg Phortress.
Short-Chain Ceramides Decrease Skin Barrier Properties
Authors: Novotný J. , Janůšová B. , Novotný M. , Hrabálek A. , Vávrová K.
Published: December 2008

Stratum corneum ceramides are major determinants of skin barrier function. Although their physiological and pathological role has been widely investigated, to date no structure-activity relationships have been established. In this study, a series of short-chain ceramide analogues with polar head structure identical to ceramide NS, a sphingosine length of 12 carbons and an acyl chain length of 2–12 carbons was synthesized. Their effect on skin permeability was evaluated using porcine skin and two model drugs, theophylline and indomethacin, and compared to that of a physiological ceramide NS. The results showed that the ceramide chain length was crucial for their barrier properties. Ceramides with a 4- to 8-carbon acyl chain were able to increase skin permeability for both drugs up to 10.8 times with maximum effect at a 6-carbon acyl chain. No increase in permeability was found for ceramide analogues with 2- and 12-carbon acyl chains and ceramide NS. The same relationships were obtained for skin concentrations of the model drugs. The relationship between ceramide acyl chain length and its ability to perturb skin barrier showed striking similarity to the behavior of short-chain ceramides in sphingomyelin/phospholipid membranes and confirmed that short-chain ceramides do not act as natural ceramides and their use as experimental tools should be cautious.
Comparison of Two Headgear Systems for Sleep Apnea Treatment of Stroke Patients
Authors: Brown Devin L. , Concannon Maryann , Kaye Aaron B. , Zupancic Michael , Lisabeth Lynda D.
Published: December 2008

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea is a very common condition after stroke, and it predicts poor outcomes. Unfortunately, stroke patients often do not tolerate continuous positive airway pressure. We hypothesized that a 1-piece head frame headgear would be easier and quicker to use than a traditional strap headgear. Methods: A convenience sample of ischemic stroke patients was taught to use 2 different headgear systems, a head frame and straps. Subjects were timed while putting on and taking off the 2 headgears, and they were queried about their ease of use. Results: All the 30 enrolled subjects found the head frame to be easier to apply and to remove than the straps. The patients took longer to put on (p < 0.01) and to remove (p < 0.01) the straps than the head frame. Conclusions: Headgear selection should be considered when fitting a stroke patient with a continuous positive airway pressure mask.
Patterns of Influenza Vaccination among Stroke Survivors
Authors: Sanossian Nerses , Gatto Nicole M. , Ovbiagele Bruce
Published: December 2008

Background: Influenza remains a leading cause of vaccine-preventable death in the USA. Vaccination rates in the eligible general population are well below targets, and rates in stroke survivors are unknown. Methods: We assessed the prevalence and independent predictors of influenza vaccination among stroke survivors using the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) 2006 survey. Results: There were a total of 706 self-reported strokes (3%) out of a total of 24,275 adults completing the survey (mean age 67 ± 15 years). The prevalence of influenza vaccination over the previous year among stroke survivors was 54.3%. Factors independently associated with vaccination were increasing age (odds ratio = 1.04 per year, 95% CI: 1.02–1.06), Black race (odds ratio = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.33–0.82 compared to white race), and health insurance coverage (odds ratio = 3.5, 95% CI: 1.37–9.05). Conclusions: In 2006, only about half the stroke survivors in the USA received influenza vaccinations, leaving substantial room for improvement. Targeting stroke survivors in minority groups or without health insurance coverage may help bridge this gap.
Controlled-Release Oxycodone and Pregabalin in the Treatment of Neuropathic Pain: Results of a Multicenter Italian Study
Authors: Gatti Antonio , Sabato Alessandro Fabrizio , Occhioni Roberto , Colini Baldeschi Gianni , Reale Carlo
Published: December 2008

Aims: The aim of our study was to compare the efficacy, safety, and quality of life of combination therapy with controlled-release (CR) oxycodone plus pregabalin versus monotherapy with either CR oxycodone or pregabalin in patients with neuropathic pain. Materials and Methods: Patients with moderate to severe neuropathic pain, despite the use of various pharmacologic treatments prior to study entry, were enrolled (n = 409) and treated with CR oxycodone plus pregabalin (n = 169), CR oxycodone (n = 106), and pregabalin (n = 134). Pain intensity was rated on an 11-point numerical rating scale (NRS). Results: The combination of CR oxycodone plus pregabalin and CR oxycodone monotherapy were both more effective for alleviating neuropathic pain than pregabalin monotherapy (reduction in NRS value: 80, 76, and 46%, respectively; p ≤ 0.003). Significantly greater improvements from baseline in quality of life were reported with combination therapy than with monotherapy (p = 0.0009). At the end of treatment, the majority (91.2%) of patients receiving CR oxycodone plus pregabalin found that the treatment had been ‘effective’ or ‘very effective’. Combination therapy also allowed a dose reduction of both agents (22% for CR oxycodone and 51% for pregabalin) compared with the dosages of the respective monotherapies. Combination therapy had a superior safety profile compared with pregabalin monotherapy. Conclusions: The combination of CR oxycodone plus pregabalin may represent a valuable addition to the existing pharmacotherapy for neuropathic pain and warrants further investigation.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Presenting with Kikuchi-Fujimoto’s Disease as a Long-Term Sequela of Drug-Induced Hypersensitivity Syndrome
Authors: Aota N. , Hirahara K. , Kano Y. , Fukuoka T. , Yamada A. , Shiohara T.
Published: December 2008

Drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DIHS) is a severe form of drug eruptions associated with viral reactivations. Autoimmune diseases have been reported to develop several months or years after the resolution of DIHS. We describe a 36-year-old man with cervical lymphadenopathy and an erythematous eruption affecting the face and neck, which evolved into clinically evident systemic lupus erythematosus. He had had an episode of DIHS 4 years previously, in which human herpesvirus-6 and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) were reactivated. Expression of EBV-encoded RNA was detected in the lymph node. On the basis of findings in this patient, we suggest that EBV is pathogenically important in the sequence of events leading to the onset of systemic lupus erythematosus and that patients with a history of DIHS may be at a risk of eventually developing autoimmune diseases.
Accuracy of Transcutaneous Carbon Dioxide Tension Measurements during Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing
Authors: Stege Gerben , van den Elshout Frank J.J. , Heijdra Yvonne F. , van de Ven Marjo J.T. , Dekhuijzen P.N. Richard , Vos Petra J.E.
Published: December 2008

Background: Measurements of transcutaneous carbon dioxide tension (PtcCO2) with current devices are proven to provide clinically acceptable agreement with measurements of partial arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) in several settings but not during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to investigate the agreement between PaCO2 and PtcCO2 measurements (using a Tosca 500 with a Tosca sensor 92) during CPET. A secondary objective was to investigate the agreement between arterial and transcutaneous oxygen saturation (SaO2, SpO2) as measured with this sensor during CPET. Methods: In patients with various pulmonary diseases, PtcCO2 and SpO2 were continuously measured and compared with arterial blood gas samples during CPET. A maximum bias of 0.5 kPa and 95% limits of agreement (LOA) of 1 kPa between carbon dioxide pressure (PCO2) measurements were determined as clinically acceptable. Results: In total 101 ‘paired’ arterial and transcutaneous measurements were obtained from 21 patients. Bias between PaCO2 and PtcCO2 was –0.03 kPa with LOA from –0.78 to 0.71 kPa. Bias between SaO2 and SpO2 was –1.0% with LOA from –2.83 to 0.83%. Conclusions: Transcutaneous estimations of PCO2 and SpO2 are accurate and can be used in CPET, circumvening the need for arterial cannulation.
In vitro Differentiation of Human Cord Blood-Derived Unrestricted Somatic Stem Cells into Hepatocyte-Like Cells on Poly(ε-Caprolactone) Nanofiber Scaffolds
Authors: Hashemi Seyed Mahmoud , Soleimani Masoud , Zargarian Seyed Shahrooz , Haddadi-Asl Vahid , Ahmadbeigi Naser , Soudi Sara , Gheisari Yousof , Hajarizadeh Athena , Mohammadi Yousef
Published: December 2008

Tissue engineering of implantable cellular constructs is an emerging cellular therapy for hepatic disease. In this study, we tested the ability of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) nanofiber scaffold to support and maintain hepatic differentiation of human cord blood-derived unrestricted somatic stem cells (USSCs) in vitro. USSCs, self-renewing pluripotent cells, were isolated from human cord blood. The electrospun PCL nanofiber porous scaffold was constructed of uniform, randomly oriented nanofibers. USSCs were seeded onto PCL nanofiber scaffolds, and were induced to differentiate into hepatogenic lineages by culturing with differentiation factors for 6 weeks. RT-PCR analysis of endoderm and hepatic-specific gene expression, immunohistochemical detection of cytokeratin 18 (CK-18), α-fetoprotein, albumin, glycogen storage and indocyanine green uptake confirmed the differentiation of USSCs into endoderm and hepatocyte-like cells. In the present study, we show that hepatocyte-like cells differentiated from USSCs on the PCL nanofiber scaffold can be candidate for tissue engineering and cell therapy of hepatic tissues.
Microarray-Based Characterization of a Colony Assay Used to Investigate Endothelial Progenitor Cells and Relevance to Endothelial Function in Humans
Authors: Desai Aditi , Glaser Alexander , Liu Delong , Raghavachari Nalini , Blum Arnon , Zalos Gloria , Lippincott Margaret , McCoy J. Philip , Munson Peter J. , Solomon Michael A. , Danner Robert L. , Cannon Richard O.
Published: December 2008

Objective—

An assay proposed to quantify endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) colonies in humans was investigated to determine the phenotype of recovered cells and their relevance to in vivo endothelial function.

Methods and Results—

Twelve sedentary subjects participating in a worksite wellness program underwent endothelial flow-mediated dilation (FMD) testing of the brachial artery and blood sampling for EPC colony assay. Microarray-based genotypic characterization of colonies showed surface markers consistent with T lymphocyte phenotype, but not with an EPC (CD34, CD133, VEGFR-2) or endothelial (CD146) phenotype. Gene expression patterns more closely matched T lymphocytes (
r
=0.87) than endothelial cells (
r
=0.66) in our microarray database. Flow cytometry of colonies confirmed large populations of CD3+CD45+ T cells (>75%) and few CD146+CD45− endothelial cells (<1%). Further, there was no correlation between colony number and the magnitude of FMD (
r
=−0.1512,
P
=0.6389). After exercise training, subjects improved FMD, from 6.7±2.0 to 8.7±1.9% (
P
=0.0043). Colonies also increased (
P
=0.0210), but without relation to FMD (
r
=0.1074,
P
=0.7396). T lymphocyte phenotype persisted after exercise (
r
=0.87).

Conclusions—

Cells in a commonly used EPC colony assay have a gene expression and cell surface marker profile consistent with a predominance of T lymphocytes and have an unclear relevance to endothelial function, either before or after exercise training.
Impact of Bifurcation Technique on 2-Year Clinical Outcomes in 773 Patients With Distal Unprotected Left Main Coronary Artery Stenosis Treated With Drug-Eluting Stents
Authors: Palmerini Tullio , Marzocchi Antonio , Tamburino Corrado , Sheiban Imad , Margheri Massimo , Vecchi Giuseppe , Sangiorgi Giuseppe , Santarelli Andrea , Bartorelli Antonio , Briguori Carlo , Vignali Luigi , Di Pede Francesco , Ramondo Angelo , Inglese Luigi , De Carlo Marco , Falsini Giovanni , Benassi Alberto , Palmieri Cataldo , Filippone Vincenzo , Sangiorgi Diego , Barlocco Fabio , De Servi Stefano
Published: December 2008

Background—

Distal unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) stenosis represents a technical challenge for interventional cardiologists. In this study, we compared 2-year clinical outcomes of different stenting strategies in patients with distal ULMCA stenosis treated with drug-eluting stents.

Methods and Results—

The survey promoted by the Italian Society of Invasive Cardiology on ULMCA stenosis was an observational study on patients with ULMCA stenosis treated with percutaneous coronary intervention. In this study, we selected patients with distal ULMCA stenosis treated with drug-eluting stents. Seven hundred seventy-three patients were eligible for this study: 456 were treated with 1 stent (group 1) and 317 with 2 stents (group 2). The primary end point of the study was the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs), defined as the occurrence of mortality, myocardial infarction, and target lesion revascularization. During a 2-year follow-up, risk-adjusted survival free from MACE was significantly higher in patients in group 1 than in patients in group 2. The propensity-adjusted hazard ratio for the risk of 2-year MACE in patients in group 1 versus group 2 was 0.53 (95% CI, 0.37 to 0.76). The propensity-adjusted hazard ratio for the risk of 2-year cardiac mortality and myocardial infarction in patients in group 1 versus group 2 was 0.38 (95% CI, 0.17 to 0.85).

Conclusions—

Compared with the 2-stent technique, the 1-stent technique is associated with a better 2-year MACE-free survival. The stenting strategy is a prognostic factor that should be taken into account when deciding the optimal revascularization treatment.
Inhibition of Apoptosis Through Localized Delivery of Rapamycin-Loaded Nanoparticles Prevented Neointimal Hyperplasia and Reendothelialized Injured Artery
Authors: Reddy Maram K. , Vasir Jaspreet K. , Sahoo Sanjeeb K. , Jain Tapan K. , Yallapu Murali M. , Labhasetwar Vinod
Published: December 2008

Background—

A significant fraction of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) undergo rapid apoptosis after balloon angioplasty. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that protecting VSMCs from undergoing apoptosis prevents the cascade of events that lead to intimal hyperplasia.

Methods and Results—

Rapamycin-loaded gel-like nanoparticles (mean diameter, 54�5 nm) were infused locally in a rat carotid artery model of vascular injury. The drug has both antiapoptotic and antiproliferative effects on VSMCs and hence was selected for the current study. Localized delivery of nanoparticles sustained the drug level in the target artery for >2 weeks; demonstrated significant inhibition of hyperplasia (intima/media ratio, 1.5�0.02 versus 2.7�0.6;
P
<0.01); and most importantly, reendothelialized the injured artery (endothelium coverage: treated 82% versus control 28%). We also demonstrated inhibition of activation of caspase-3/7 enzymes in the treated artery, preventing VSMCs from undergoing apoptosis and subsequent infiltration of macrophages.

Conclusions—

It may be postulated that the localized delivery of rapamycin inhibited apoptosis of VSMCs, minimizing the inflammatory response to the injury and, thus, creating conditions conducive to vascular repair (reendothelialization). Unlike stenting, which can lead to thrombosis and increased risk for in-stent restenosis, our approach could eliminate or minimize long-term complications because the injured artery undergoes a natural process of reendothelialization.
Trade-Offs between Measurement Accuracy and Resolutions in Configuring Phased-Array Radar Velocity Scans for Ensemble-Based Storm-Scale Data Assimilation
Authors: Lu Huijuan , Xu Qin
Published: December 2008

Assimilation experiments are carried out with simulated radar radial-velocity observations to examine the impacts of observation accuracy and resolutions on storm-scale wind assimilation with an ensemble square root filter (EnSRF) on a storm-resolving grid (Δx = 2 km). In this EnSRF, the background covariance is estimated from an ensemble of 40 imperfect-model predictions. The observation error includes both measurement error and representativeness error, and the error variance is estimated from the simulated observations against the simulated “truth.” The results show that the analysis is not significantly improved when the measurement error is overly reduced (from 4 to 1 m s−1) and becomes smaller than the representativeness error. The analysis can be improved by properly coarsening the observation resolution (to 2 km in the radial direction) with an increase in measurement accuracy and further improved by properly enhancing the temporal resolution of radar volume scans (from every 5 to 2 or 1 min) with a decrease in measurement accuracy. There can be an optimal balance or trade-off between measurement accuracy and resolutions (in space and time) for configuring radar scans, especially phased-array radar scans, to improve storm-scale radar wind analysis and assimilation.
Internal Waves at an Interface between Two Layers of Differing Stability
Authors: McHugh John
Published: December 2008

Internal waves in a two-layer fluid are considered. The layers have different values of the buoyancy frequency, assumed to be constant in each layer. The density profile is chosen to be continuous across the interface and the flow is Boussinesq. The solution is an expansion in the wave amplitude, similar to a Stokes expansion for free surface waves. The results show that the nonlinear terms in the interfacial boundary conditions require higher harmonics and result in nonlinear wave steepening at the interface. The first few harmonics are scattered by the interface, whereas the higher harmonics are evanescent in the vertical. The second-order correction to the wave speed is negative, similar to previous results with a rigid upper boundary.
Variations in the Three-Dimensional Structure of the Atmospheric Circulation with Different Flavors of El Niño
Authors: Trenberth Kevin E. , Smith Lesley
Published: December 2008

Two rather different flavors of El Niño are revealed when the full three-dimensional spatial structure of the temperature field and atmospheric circulation monthly mean anomalies is analyzed using the Japanese Reanalysis (JRA-25) temperatures from 1979 through 2004 for a core region of the tropics from 30°N to 30°S, with results projected globally onto various other fields. The first two empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs) both have primary relationships to El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) but feature rather different vertical and spatial structures. By construction the two patterns are orthogonal, but their signatures in sea level pressure, precipitation, outgoing longwave radiation (OLR), and tropospheric diabatic heating are quite similar. Moreover, they are significantly related, with EOF-2 leading EOF-1 by about 4–6 months, indicating that they play complementary roles in the evolution of ENSO events, and with each mode playing greater or lesser roles in different events and seasons.

The dominant pattern (EOF-1) in its positive sign features highly coherent zonal mean warming throughout the tropical troposphere from 30°N to 30°S that increases in magnitude with height to 200 hPa, drops to zero about 100 hPa at the tropopause, and has reverse sign to 30 hPa with peak values at 70 hPa. It correlates strongly with global mean surface temperatures. EOF-2 emphasizes off-equatorial centers of action and strong Rossby wave temperature signatures that are coherent throughout the troposphere, with the strongest values in the Pacific that extend into the extratropics and a sign reversal at and above 150 hPa. Near the surface, both patterns feature boomerang-shaped opposite temperatures in the western tropical and subtropical Pacific, with similar sea level pressure patterns, but with EOF-1 more focused in equatorial regions. Both patterns are strongest during the boreal winter half-year when anomalous precipitation in the tropics and associated latent heating drive teleconnections throughout the world. For El Niño in northern winter EOF-1 has more precipitation in the eastern tropical Pacific, while EOF-2 has much drier conditions over northern Australia and the Indian Ocean. In northern summer, the main differences are in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean. Differences in teleconnections suggest great sensitivity to small changes in forcings in association with seasonal variations in the mean state.
Spray Deposition of Metals over Circular CFRP Core Shafts
Authors: Kim Wonsuk , Argento Alan , Mohanty Pravansu S.
Published: December 2008

It was theoretically shown by the authors in a previous article that by adding a layer of metal on the outside of a carbon fiber-reinforced composite shaft, the bending natural frequencies of the shaft could be increased in some cases due to reduction of the effects of shear deformation by the metal layer. In the present study, composite shafts having a metal casing have been manufactured by spray deposition process over filament wound, fiber reinforced polymeric shafts. The natural frequencies of the spray deposited composite shafts have been measured and found to compare well to theoretically calculated values. The experiments also confirm the shear deformation effect described above. Some manufacturing issues on the spray deposition of metals over carbon fiber-reinforced plastics are addressed.
Interaction Between Phonological and Grammatical Processing in Single Word Production in Kiswahili
Authors: Alcock K.J. , Ngorosho D.
Published: December 2008

Grammatical priming of picture naming was investigated in Kiswahili, which has a complex grammatical noun class system (a system like grammatical gender), with up to 15 noun classes that have obligatory agreements on adjectives, verbs, pronouns and other parts of speech. Participants heard a grammatically agreeing (concordant), nonagreeing (discordant) or neutral prime before seeing a picture of a common object and being asked to name the object. Priming was found, with naming following concordant primes being faster than naming following the neutral prime (`say'). However, more interestingly, effects were found such that where two noun classes share a prefix, the grammatical prime from each of these two noun classes also primed words that have the same prefix but are not in the same noun class, and hence for which the prime was not grammatical. It is concluded that the prime appears to be facilitating the phonological form of the prefix rather than the syntacto-semantic group of words that are known as a noun class, and that the phonological form associated with a grammatical entity may be more significant in its processing than has previously been supposed.
Tonal Alignment in Irish Dialects
Authors: Dalton Martha , Ní Chasaide Ailbhe
Published: December 2008

A comparison of the contour alignment of nuclear and initial prenuclear accents was carried out for the Irish dialects of Gaoth Dobhair in Ulster (GD-U) and Cois Fharraige in Connaught (CF-C). This was done across conditions where the number of unstressed syllables following the nuclear and preceding the initial prenuclear accents was varied from 2− 0. This tests a variable peak hypothesis prompted by findings for other languages, that peak timing drifts as a function of the number of syllables preceding (the prenuclear) and following (the nuclear) accent. These data also test a second hypothesis that the L*+H dominant accent of GD-U might be viewed as being underlyingly the same as the dominant H* or H*+L accent of the CF-C dialect. According to this realignment hypothesis , the difference between these Ulster and Connaught dialects lies in the way that the melodic tier is aligned to the segmental tier: GD-U would be viewed as having a delayed realization of the peak relative to the Connaught dialect. Results do not support the variable peak hypothesis for Irish, as in either dialect, the peak appeared to be rather fixed across the three conditions examined (though not necessarily identical for prenuclear and nuclear positions). The results also militate against the realignment hypothesis, which rather than providing a more simple unifying account, would greatly complicate it. One reason is that there is a peak timing difference between the nuclear and prenuclear accents of CF-C, not mirrored in GD-U. Furthermore, even if one were to limit consideration to a single (e.g., prenuclear) context, a simple realignment of the accents in one dialect does not generate the appropriate contour in the other.
Age-Related Impairments in the Revision of Syntactic Misanalyses: Effects of Prosody
Authors: Titone Debra A. , Koh Christine K. , Kjelgaard Margaret M. , Bruce Stephanie , Speer Shari R. , Wingfield Arthur
Published: December 2008

Two experiments examined whether young and older adults differ in comprehending sentences that contain temporary syntactic closure ambiguities. Experiment 1 examined age-related differences using the Auditory Moving Window (AMW) task, in which sentences were presented in a segment-by-segment self-paced fashion. Experiment 2 examined age-related differences using a sentence recall task, in which sentences were presented in their entirety. Sentences were constructed to have cooperating prosody (i.e., where prosody is consistent with the syntactic boundaries), baseline prosody (i.e., where prosody is ambiguous in the syntactically ambiguous region), and conflicting prosody (i.e., where cross-splicing relocates the prosodic phrase break at a misleading point in syntactic structure). The results showed that both young and older adults make comparable use of prosodic information to interpret temporary syntactic ambiguities, although younger adults may make use of this information more quickly than older adults. In addition, older adults appeared to be less able than young adults to revise initial syntactic misinterpretations caused by conflicting prosodic information. These results are interpreted with respect to age-related impairments in the allocation of working memory resources and inefficient inhibitory function during spoken language processing.
The Acoustic Correlates of Perceived Masculinity, Perceived Femininity, and Perceived Sexual Orientation
Authors: Munson Benjamin
Published: December 2008

Previous studies have shown that a subset of gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) and heterosexual adults produce distinctive patterns of phonetic variation that allow listeners to detect their sexual orientation from audio-only samples of read speech. The current investigation examined the extent to which judgments of sexual orientation from speech are related to judgments of masculinity or femininity made by an independent group of listeners. It also examined the acoustic measures that predict perceived sexual orientation and perceived masculinity/femininity. Ten listeners judged the perceived masculinity or femininity of 44 talkers (11 heterosexual men, 11 heterosexual women, 11 gay men, and 11 lesbian or bisexual women). These were compared to measures of the talkers' perceived sexual orientation, and to acoustic measures of the talker's speech. Listeners judged gay men to sound less masculine than heterosexual men, and lesbian/bisexual women to sound less feminine than heterosexual women. These measures were significantly correlated with measures of perceived sexual orientation. Regression analyses showed that different sets of acoustic measures predicated perceived sexual orientation and perceived masculinity/femininity, and that some acoustic measures were more strongly correlated with one perceptual measure than the other. Results suggest that perceived sexual orientation, perceived masculinity, and perceived femininity are distinct but correlated perceptual parameters.
Tone Features, Tone Perception, and Peak Alignment in Thai
Authors: Zsiga Elizabeth , Nitisaroj Rattima
Published: December 2008

This paper investigates the relationship between the phonological features of tone and tone perception in Thai. Specifically, it tests the hypothesis (proposed by Morén & Zsiga, 2006) that the principle perceptual cues to the five-way tonal contrast in Thai are high and low pitch targets aligned to moras. Results of four perception studies, one using natural speech and three using digitally-altered speech, are presented in support of the hypothesis. It is argued that, by associating tones to moras, a straightforward mapping from the abstract autosegmental features H and L to the production and perception of Thai tones, a heretofore elusive goal, can be accomplished. This result has consequences for theories of contour tone perception, the distinctive features of tone, and the alignment of pitch targets to the segmental string.
Phonological Specificity of Vowel Contrasts at 18-months
Authors: Mani Nivedita , Coleman John , Plunkett Kim
Published: December 2008

Previous research has shown that English infants are sensitive to mispronunciations of vowels in familiar words by as early as 15-months of age. These results suggest that not only are infants sensitive to large mispronunciations of the vowels in words, but also sensitive to smaller mispronunciations, involving changes to only one dimension of the vowel. The current study broadens this research by comparing infants' sensitivity to the different types of changes involved in the mispronunciations. These included changes to the backness, height, and roundedness of the vowel. Our results confirm that 18-month-olds are sensitive to small changes to the vowels in familiar words. Our results also indicate a differential sensitivity of vocalic specification, with infants being more sensitive to changes in vowel height and vowel backness than vowel roundedness. Taken together, the results provide clear evidence for specificity of vowels and vocalic features such as vowel height and backness in infants' lexical representations.
Couple Support Schemata in Couples With and Without Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Gilad Dvorit , Lavee Yoav
Published: December 2008

This article describes the cognitive schemata of couples’ support relationships among 65 couples in which the husband had a long-term spinal cord injury and 65 couples without disability. The structure of the support relations schemata were examined by means of smallest-space analysis. Similarities between men and women in couples with and without disability reflect common themes in schemata of interpersonal support in couples, whereas disparities between the groups reflect differences in the life circumstances of the men with disability and their wives. It appears that in couples who are living with disability, the support needs contribute to the shaping of the cognitive representation of support in accordance with the situation.
A Political Economy of Regulatory Failure in US Packaged Food Markets
Authors: Redmond William H.
Published: December 2008

An increasing number of consumers are seeking to lead healthier lives by eating more healthful foods. In the United States, however, some are unknowingly consuming foods that are less healthful and wholesome than they expect. Through information on packages, food marketers draw attention to apparently healthful aspects of foods, while minimizing attention to the less desirable properties. A salient aspect of this situation is that such marketing practices are permissible under rules established by the relevant regulatory agency, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In this sense, the situation constitutes a market failure, which is enabled by a regulatory failure. The political economy framework is used to examine the regulatory failure. The article takes a critical view of certain food marketing practices and argues that, for at least some customers, consumer interests are being subordinated to food firm's interests.
``To guide, help and hearten millions''
Authors: Clampin David
Published: December 2008

This paper examines the cultural representations of commercial advertising. Based on a case study of the British home front during the Second World War, it explores the efforts of commercial advertisers to speak in the idiom of the time, charting their reactions to the dramatic events being played out around them. Alongside this, it draws on a variety of sources to characterize the nature of the people's interaction with the war and thereby examines whether the more down-to-earth language of advertisers proved to be more appropriate than the lofty rhetoric of government propaganda. The conclusion suggests that commercial advertising offers an important insight to the historian in characterizing past cultures and societies.
Varus Alignment Leads to Increased Forces in the Anterior Cruciate Ligament
Authors: Jan van de Pol Gerrit , Arnold Markus P. , Verdonschot Nico , van Kampen Albert
Published: December 2008

Background

Varus thrust of the knee is a dynamic increase of an often preexisting varus angle and it is suspected to be a major reason for failure of anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions. However, it is not known if a direct relationship exists between varus thrust and forces in the anterior cruciate ligament.

Hypothesis

Forces in the anterior cruciate ligament increase with increasing varus alignment, and consequently an anterior cruciate ligament deficiency in a varus-aligned leg leads to more lateral tibiofemoral joint opening.

Study Design

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods

Six human cadaver legs were axially loaded with 3 different weightbearing lines—a neutral weightbearing line, a weightbearing line that passes through the middle of the medial tibial plateau (50% varus), and a line passing the edge of the medial tibial plateau (100% varus)—that were used to create a varus moment. The resulting lateral tibiofemoral joint opening and corresponding anterior cruciate ligament tension were measured. The tests were repeated with and without the anterior cruciate ligament in place.

Results

In the neutral aligned legs, there was no apparent lateral joint opening, and no anterior cruciate ligament tension change was noted. The lateral joint opening increased when the weightbearing line increased from 0% to 50% to 100%. The lateral joint opening was significantly higher in 10° of knee flexion compared with knee extension. In the 100% varus weightbearing line, the anterior cruciate ligament tension was significantly higher (53.9 N) compared with neutral (31 N) or the 50% weightbearing line (37.9 N). A thrust could only be observed in the 100% weightbearing line tests. In the absence of an anterior cruciate ligament, there was more lateral joint opening, although this was only significant in the 100% weightbearing line.

Conclusion

There is a direct relationship between varus alignment and anterior cruciate ligament tension. In the absence of an anterior cruciate ligament, the amount of lateral opening tends to increase. With increasing lateral opening, a thrust can sometimes be experimentally observed.

Clinical Relevance

A varus alignment in an anterior cruciate ligament—deficient knee does not necessarily lead to a varus thrust and therefore does not always need operative varus alignment correction. However, in an unstable anterior cruciate ligament—deficient knee with a varus thrust, it might be safer to perform a high valgus tibial osteotomy to minimize the risk of an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction failure.
Studies on Bamboo/Glass Fiber Reinforced USP and VE Resin
Authors: Mandal Subhash , Alam S. , Varma I.K. , Maiti S.N.
Published: December 2008

The effects of weight fraction and length of short bamboo and glass fibers on flexural strength and inter-laminar shear strength (ILSS) of vinyl ester resin and unsaturated polyester (USP) resins were investigated. The bamboo fibers were isolated from the bamboo plant by treating them with dilute solution of sodium hydroxide (0.1 and 1 N NaOH) for 72 h and then boiling them in a pressure cooker for 30 min. The fibers were separated, dried, and cut into 5 or 10 mm lengths. Composites were fabricated using vinyl ester resin or USP resin as binders. The flexural properties of glass/bamboo fiber reinforced vinyl ester resins were higher than those based on USP resins. This may be due to better wetting of the fibers by VE resins due to their low viscosity and possibility of hydrogen bond formation with hydroxyl group on bamboo fibers. Hybrid composites were fabricated using 50 wt% of fibers. The wt% of bamboo fibers in these hybrid composites was varied as 25, 50, and 75 wt% of chopped glass fibers (5 mm). Replacement of 25 wt% of glass fibers did not affect the flexural modulus and a marginal increase in ILSS was observed. However, replacement of 75% glass fibers by bamboo fibers resulted in a significant decrease in flexural strength, modulus and ILSS.
Evaluation of Lactation Support in the Workplace or School Environment on 6-Month Breastfeeding Outcomes in Yolo County, California
Authors: Dabritz Haydee A. , Hinton Bette G. , Babb Jan
Published: December 2008

Six-month breastfeeding outcomes (almost exclusive breastfeeding, partial breastfeeding, and not breastfeeding) were analyzed for 201 infants born to Yolo County, California, mothers who returned to work or school. Twenty-two percent of workplaces and 17% of schools did not provide a lactation room. Although part- or full-time status, knowledge of breastfeeding rules, and support from colleagues were independently associated with the outcome, they were not significant in the multivariate analysis. In the selected model, maternal age (odds ratio [OR] = 2.3; 1.3-3.9 for a 10-year difference), college or above versus ≤ high school education (OR = 9.1; 4.2-19.6), and exclusive breast milk feeding in the hospital (OR = 2.1; 1.1-4.0) were associated with better breastfeeding outcomes at 6 months postpartum. Receipt of discharge gift packs containing formula (OR = 0.5; 0.3-1.0) was inversely associated with the degree of breastfeeding exclusivity. The 2 latter findings underscore the importance of hospitals adhering to specific guidelines of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative. J Hum Lact. 25(2):182-193
Progressive Social Movements and Educational Equity
Authors: Anyon Jean
Published: December 2008

This article places policy development in the context of progressive social movements. It describes how social movements develop, and delineates some of the accomplishments of such contestation in U.S. history as well as in changes of education policy. The article closes by considering the possibilities and challenges of current social movement building efforts for equity in U.S. education policies.
Politicization of Evidence
Authors: Henig Jeffrey R.
Published: December 2008

Public presentations of research about charter schools have been politicized, polarized, and personalized, fueling cynicism about whether research can generate objective knowledge and promote the collective good. This article draws two distinctions: between politics as a corrupting force and politics as a healthy and necessary component of democratic decision making, and between politicization that permeates the research itself and politicization of the ways in which research is communicated to the policy world. Using charter school research as a window into broader issues relating to democracy and societal learning, it identifies factors behind politicization, some of which are particular to the way that issue has evolved, some of which have to do with exacerbating factors in the broader political environment. Based on this analysis, it outlines what steps might be taken to strengthen institutions and practices that do not so much seek to buffer research from politics as to improve the ways in which research is used in a political world.
Is There a “Consensus” on School Choice and Achievement?
Authors: Lubienski Christopher , Weitzel Peter , Lubienski Sarah Theule
Published: December 2008

A number of school choice advocates claim that there is a research consensus indicating that vouchers for private schools lead to higher academic achievement. The authors review and critique these local studies of voucher programs, contrasting them with findings from larger-scale analyses of nationally representative samples of public and private schools, which illuminate patterns that appear to undercut the assumption of superior private school performance that is a premise of voucher programs. The authors note limitations inherent in different methodological approaches to this question, focusing on the shortcomings of randomization as an exclusive “gold standard” for research on the issue of achievement in school choice plans. The concluding discussion reconsiders the question of a consensus, highlighting the emerging research environment that bypasses traditional review processes and emphasizes instead the promotion of ideas to support policy agendas.