bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Central Nervous System Does Not Minimize Energy Cost in Arm Movements
Authors: Kistemaker Dinant A. , Wong Jeremy D. , Gribble Paul L.
Published: September 2010

It has been widely suggested that the many degrees of freedom of the musculoskeletal system may be exploited by the CNS to minimize energy cost. We tested this idea by having subjects making point-to-point movements while grasping a robotic manipulandum. The robot created a force field chosen such that the minimal energy hand path for reaching movements differed substantially from those observed in a null field. The results show that after extended exposure to the force field, subjects continued to move exactly as they did in the null field and thus used substantially more energy than needed. Even after practicing to move along the minimal energy path, subjects did not adapt their freely chosen hand paths to reduce energy expenditure. The results of this study indicate that for point-to-point arm movements minimization of energy cost is not a dominant factor that influences how the CNS arrives at kinematics and associated muscle activation patterns.
Embelin Suppresses Osteoclastogenesis Induced by Receptor Activator of NF-κB Ligand and Tumor CellsIn vitrothrough Inhibition of the NF-κB Cell Signaling Pathway
Authors: Reuter Simone , Prasad Sahdeo , Phromnoi Kanokkarn , Kannappan Ramaswamy , Yadav Vivek R. , Aggarwal Bharat B.
Published: September 2010

Most patients with cancer die not because of the tumor in the primary site, but because it has spread to other sites. Common tumors, such as breast, multiple myeloma, and prostate tumors, frequently metastasize to the bone. It is now well recognized that osteoclasts are responsible for the osteolysis observed in bone metastases of the tumor. Receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL), a member of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily and an activator of the NF-κB signaling pathway, has emerged as a major mediator of bone loss, commonly associated with cancer and other chronic inflammatory diseases. Embelin (2,5-dihydroxy-3-undecyl-1,4-benzoquinone), derived from the Ayurvedic medicinal plant Embelia ribes, has been shown to bind and inhibit X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein and inhibit inflammatory pathways. We investigated whether embelin could inhibit osteoclastogenesis-associated bone loss induced by RANKL and by tumor cells in vitro. We found that embelin suppressed the RANKL-induced differentiation of monocytes into osteoclasts. This benzoquinone also suppressed the osteoclastogenesis induced by multiple myeloma and by breast cancer cells. This effect of embelin correlated with the suppression of NF-κB activation and inhibition of IκBα phosphorylation and IκBα degradation. Inhibition of IκBα phosphorylation was due to the inhibition of IκBα kinase (IKK) activation. Furthermore, by using an inhibitor of the IKKγ or NF-κB essential modulator (NEMO), the regulatory component of the IKK complex, we showed that the NF-κB signaling pathway is mandatory for RAW 264.7 cell differentiation into osteoclasts. Thus, embelin, an inhibitor of RANKL-induced NF-κB activation has great potential as a therapeutic agent for osteoporosis and cancer-linked bone loss. Mol Cancer Res; 8(10); 1425–36. ©2010 AACR.
Dobutamine-Induced Improvement in Inferior Myocardial Contractile Function Predicts Reduction in Functional Mitral Regurgitation
Authors: Tatsumi Kazuhiro , Kawai Hiroya , Sugiyama Daisuke , Norisada Kazuko , Kataoka Toshiya , Onishi Tetsuari , Tanaka Hidekazu , Hirata Ken-ichi
Published: September 2010

Background—

Left ventricular (LV) remodeling can increase tethering force to mitral valve and functional mitral regurgitation (FMR). Because the relationship between FMR and regional myocardial function has not been quantitatively evaluated, we conducted a quantitative investigation of this association.

Methods and Results—

The effective regurgitant orifice (ERO) of FMR in 51 patients with depressed LV ejection fraction (32±9%) secondary to ischemic or nonischemic cardiomyopathy was compared with mitral deformation (valve and annulus), global LV remodeling (volume indices, function, and sphericity), and regional myocardial contractile function, as assessed by longitudinal peak systolic strain rate (Ssr) in LV anterior, anteroseptal, inferoseptal, inferior, inferolateral, and anterolateral segments at rest. Low-dose dobutamine (10 μg/kg per minute)-induced changes in ERO were compared with changes in the variables. Multivariable analysis identified the predictors of ERO at rest as mitral valvular tenting (β=0.062;
P
<0.001), Ssr in the inferior segment (inferior Ssr) (β=−0.178;
P
<0.001), and LV sphericity (β=0.414;
P
=0.001) and the predictors of valvular tenting at rest as inferior Ssr (β=−1.680;
P
<0.001), LV end-systolic volume index (β=0.022;
P
=0.001), and LV sphericity (β=3.886;
P
=0.012). Furthermore, dobutamine-induced reduction in ERO was predicted by reduction in valvular tenting (β=0.087;
P
<0.001) and increase in inferior Ssr (β=−0.082;
P
<0.001), and dobutamine-induced reduction in valvular tenting was predicted by increase in inferior Ssr (β=−0.860;
P
<0.001).

Conclusions—

Inferior regional myocardial dysfunction was quantitatively associated with mitral valvular tenting and FMR. Moreover, improvement with dobutamine of inferior myocardial contractile function attenuated valvular tenting and FMR. Inferior myocardial contractile function can affect the configuration of the mitral apparatus and predict FMR severity.
Remote Ischemic Conditioning in Patients With Myocardial Infarction Treated With Primary Angioplasty
Authors: Munk Kim , Andersen Niels Holmark , Schmidt Michael Rahbek , Nielsen Soren Steen , Terkelsen Christian Juhl , Sloth Erik , Bøtker Hans Erik , Nielsen Torsten Toftegaard , Poulsen Steen Hvitfeldt
Published: September 2010

Background—

We have found that remote ischemic conditioning (rIC), adjunctive to primary angioplasty, increases myocardial salvage in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and extensive myocardial area at risk (AAR). The present substudy aimed to evaluate the short-term effects of rIC on left ventricular (LV) function.

Methods and Results—

Patients with a first STEMI were randomized to rIC (4 cycles of 5 minutes upper-limb ischemia) during transfer to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) (n=123) versus pPCI alone (n=119). Ejection fraction (EF), LV volumes, (2D and 3D echocardiography and myocardial perfusion imaging), and speckle-tracking global longitudinal strain were compared between treatment groups. There was no significant difference in LV function at day 1 (EF-2D, 0.51±0.10 versus 0.49±0.10;
P
=0.22) and after 30 days (EF-2D, 0.54±0.08 versus 0.53±0.10) between the rIC and the pPCI-alone groups. In patients with extensive AAR ≥35% of LV (n=53), EF after 30 days was higher after rIC than after pPCI alone (EF-2D, 0.51±0.07 versus 0.46±0.09;
P
=0.05). In patients with anterior infarction (n=97), rIC preserved LV function on day 1 (EF-2D, 0.51±0.11 versus 0.46±0.11;
P
=0.03) and persistently after 30 days (EF-2D, 0.55±0.08 versus 0.50±0.11;
P
=0.04; EF-myocardial perfusion imaging, 0.55±0.10 versus 0.49±0.12;
P
=0.02). These patients had similar AAR, whereas rIC reduced infarct size from 16% to 7% of LV (
P
=0.01).

Conclusions—

Although no significant overall effect was observed, rIC seemed to result in modest improvement in LV function in high-risk patients prone to develop large myocardial infarcts. These results need to be confirmed in larger trials.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00435266.
Using a Criminally Involved Population to Examine the Relationship Between Race/Ethnicity, Structural Disadvantage, and Methamphetamine Use
Authors: Fox Andrew M. , Rodriguez Nancy
Published: September 2010

Limited empirical focus has been given to identifying individual and structural correlates of methamphetamine use. Although race (i.e., being White) is one of the most distinguishing characteristics of methamphetamine users, few studies have examined whether race/ethnicity is a significant predictor of such illicit drug use. Research has also shown that cocaine and opiate use is associated with disadvantage; however, studies have yet to examine the relationship between structural disadvantage and methamphetamine use. Using national data from the Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring program, this study examines the prevalence of methamphetamine and explores the relationship between race/ethnicity, structural disadvantage, and methamphetamine use. Findings reveal that race/ethnicity and structural disadvantage are significant predictors of methamphetamine use. Additionally, findings show an interactive effect between race/ethnicity, structural disadvantage, and methamphetamine use. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.
Community and Campus Crime
Authors: Nobles Matt R. , Fox Kathleen A. , Khey David N. , Lizotte Alan J.
Published: September 2010

Despite the provisions of the Clery Act, which requires institutional reporting of crime on college campuses, patterns of campus crime have received surprisingly little research attention to date. Furthermore, few studies have described the extent to which college students engage in criminal behaviors. This study examines the criminality of students and nonstudents on the campus of a large southeastern university. To assess the effectiveness of the Clery Act, the data were mapped to identify geospatial patterns of offending on and off campus. Results illustrate important patterns of crime both on and off campus, involving both students and nonstudents. Also, multivariate analyses suggest that several factors are consistently predictive of on-campus and student arrests. Policy implications and suggestions for future research based on these findings are discussed.
Reactive Versus Proactive Attitudes Toward Domestic Violence
Authors: Chu Doris C. , Sun Ivan Y.
Published: September 2010

Although there has been a growing research interest in examining factors associated with police arrest decisions and victims’ perceptions of the police in handling domestic violence, very few studies have empirically assessed female and male officers’ attitudes toward domestic violence. Using survey data collected from 272 male and female officers from two metropolitan police departments in Taiwan, this research compared male and female police officers’ reactive and proactive attitudes toward handling domestic violence incidents. The findings indicated that male officers were more likely than female officers to support minimum police involvement and to tolerate domestic violence. With regard to proactive attitudes, there was no significant gender difference in officers’ endorsement of proarrest policy and the importance of domestic violence in police work. Implications for future research and policy are discussed.
A Shovel With a Perforated Blade Reduces Energy Expenditure Required for Digging Wet Clay
Authors: Harivanam Sridhar , Marklin Richard W. , Papanek Paula E. , Cariapa Vikram
Published: September 2010

Objective: A shovel with a blade perforated with small holes was tested to see whether a worker would use less whole-body energy to dig wet clay than with a shovel with an opaque blade.

Background: A perforated shovel is hypothesized to require less whole-body energy on the basis of adhesion theory; a smaller surface area would require less physical effort to dig and release soil from the blade.

Method: The study involved 13 workers from an electric utility who dug wet clay with two 1.5-m long-handled point shovels, which differed only in blade design (perforated and opaque). Oxygen consumption was measured with a portable system while each worker dug wet clay at a self-regulated pace for 10 min.

Results: There was no significant difference in number of scoops dug during the 10-min sessions, but workers dug 9.5% more weight of clay with the perforated shovel than with the conventional shovel (404 kg vs. 369 kg, respectively). Furthermore, stable oxygen uptake normalized to weight of participant and to the weight of clay dug revealed that participants expended 11.7% less relative energy per kilogram of clay dug with the perforated shovel.

Conclusion: A point shovel with a perforated blade is recommended for digging and shoveling wet clay. However, the extra weight that workers chose to dig with the perforated shovel may increase the loading on the spine and may offset the metabolic advantages.

Application: Manual shoveling is a common task, and workers may experience less whole-body and muscle fatigue when using a perforated shovel.
Prison Programs and Services for Incarcerated Parents and Their Underage Children: Results From a National Survey of Correctional Facilities
Authors: Hoffmann Heath C. , Byrd Amy L. , Kightlinger Alex M.
Published: September 2010

In 2007, approximately 810,000 men and women in state and federal prisons were parents to more than 1.7 million children under the age of 18, one third of whom will turn 18 while their parent(s) is incarcerated. Parental incarceration increases the risk that children will experience later behavioral and emotional problems, have troubles in school, and become involved in the juvenile and criminal justice systems. Parenting-related prison programming offers some promise in lessening the negative consequences of parental incarceration, both for children and the incarcerated parent. This study presents the results from a national survey of wardens from male and female correctional facilities to measure the prevalence of programs and services for incarcerated parents and their underage children.
Trajectory control of a dual-arm planar space robot with little attitude disturbance
Authors: Patolia Haresh , Mani Pathak Pushparaj , Jain Satish C
Published: September 2010

This work presents a trajectory planning strategy for a dual-arm planar space robot in workspace that is intended to minimize vehicle attitude disturbance that may occur due to dynamic coupling between the arms and the vehicle of the space robot. The strategy is based on the principle of dynamic coupling between the tip motion and the vehicle motion of the space robot. The strategy uses the two arms of manipulator. One arm, called the mission arm, achieves the trajectory control task while the other arm, called the balance arm, moves in such a way as to reduce the attitude of the vehicle. A robust overwhelming controller is used for trajectory control of the tip of the mission arm. The balance arm first-joint rotation is based on the mission arm first-joint rotation, whereas the balance arm second-joint rotation is carried out such that a small attitude disturbance of the vehicle takes place. An example of the two degrees of freedom planar space robot is considered to illustrate the methodology. A bond graph has been adopted as the modeling tool, as it facilitates the system modeling from the physical paradigm itself and it is easy to develop various control strategies by modifying the physical paradigm.
Analysis of the CIE whiteness and whiteness tint of optically whitened cellulosic fabrics
Authors: Tutak Mustafa , Demiryürek Oğuz , Bulut Şüeda , Haroğlu Derya
Published: September 2010

In this study, the CIE whiteness (CIE WI) and whiteness tint (Tw) of optically whitened woven or knitted cellulosic fabrics (cotton, viscose, modal and tencel) irradiated with xenon arc light was investigated. The fabrics were whitened with four concentrations of eight different commercial optical whitening agents and these fabrics were irradiated with xenon arc light under specific conditions between 0—100 hours at 10-hour intervals. The reflectance of the optical whitened fabrics was measured by using spectrophotometry, while CIE WI and the Tw values were calculated using computer software. The results were investigated by statistical methods using ANOVA and regression curves in which CIE WI of optically whitened cellulosic fabrics were found to decrease seriously depending on irradiation time and Tw was also affected by xenon arc light.
Absorption and swelling characteristics of silver (I) antimicrobial wound dressings
Authors: Parikh Dharnidhar V , Fink Tom , DeLucca Anthony J , Parikh Ashish D
Published: September 2010

An important characteristic of moist wound dressings is their ability to swell and absorb exudates from the wound, while maintaining a moist atmosphere at the wound site. At the SRRC, we have previously developed antimicrobial silversodium-carboxymethylated (CM)-cotton printcloth from the sodium salt of CM-cotton, and silver-Ca-Na alginates from four commercially available alginate moist wound dressings. As part of ongoing research on silver antimicrobials, this report delineates the swellabilty of these silver antimicrobial dressings compared to commercially available calcium-sodium alginate dressings and printcloth (controls) in water and in 0.9% sodium chloride solution (saline) after 8 hours and after one week of immersion. Additionally, the swelling characteristics are correlated with the absorption of saline g/g of the dressing. Silver treated Sorbsan, Kaltostat, Curasorb, Algisite, and cotton-CM-printcloth showed a very significant increase in diameter of the fibers: NaCl 8 hr > water 8 hr > dry, albeit slightly less than the control alginate dressings. The majority of the swelling took place in the first eight hours of wetting, and continued wetting for one week caused little additional uptake of the solution. Fibers swell only in diameter and not in length. All the fibers had greater swelling in saline as compared with those in water. The proven swellabilty of these silver dressings, taken together with the known absorptive and antimicrobial properties of the dressings should make them suitable for treatment of exudative wounds that are at risk for infection. As more is learned about these dressings, clinical trials may be warranted to evaluate their efficacy.
Diversity and Dissent in the Social Sciences
Authors: Rolin Kristina
Published: September 2010

I introduce a case study from organization studies to argue that social epistemologists’ recommendation to cultivate diversity and dissent in science is unlikely to be welcomed in the social sciences unless it is coupled with another epistemic ideal: the norm of epistemic responsibility. The norm of epistemic responsibility enables me to show that organization scholars’ concern with the fragmentation of their discipline is generated by false assumptions: the assumption that a diversity of theoretical approaches will lead to fragmentation and the assumption that an imposed consensus on a theoretical approach is needed to maintain the unity of the discipline.
Effect of Ozone, Thermo, and Thermo-oxidative Aging on the Physical Property of Styrene Butadiene Rubber-Organoclay Nanocomposites
Authors: Chakraborty Sugata , Kar Saptarshi , Dasgupta Saikat , Mukhopadhyay Rabindra , Chauhan Narendra P.S. , Ameta Suresh C. , Bandyopadhyay Samar
Published: September 2010

The present study describes the effect of thermo, thermo-oxidative, and ozone exposure on the retention of physical property of organoclay nanocomposites. Accelerated thermal aging is carried out at 130°C for 30 h. Accelerated thermo-oxidative aging is carried out at 105°C for 7 days. Samples are exposed to 50 pphm ozone atmosphere for 24 and 48 h. The result indicates that the retention of physical property is better in nanocomposites compared to carbon black-filled compounds under thermal and thermo-oxidative aging. Besides, ozone resistance is also relatively superior for nanocomposites. The superior barrier property of the nanocomposites is attributed to the better retention of the physical property after aging.
Thermal and Mechanical Characterization of a Terpolymer Mixture of Devulcanized Recycled Ethylene-Propylene-Diene and Low-density Polyethylene
Authors: Pistor Vinícius , Ornaghi Felipe G. , Fiorio Rudinei , Zattera Ademir J.
Published: September 2010

In this study, mixtures of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and the recycled elastomeric terpolymer ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM-r) were obtained. The EPDM-r was incorporated as obtained by the manufacturer (vulcanized) and also after being submitted to a devulcanization process using microwaves. The mixtures were obtained with the use of bis(α, α-dimethylbenzyl) peroxide. The elastomeric residue was characterized by gel content and scanning electron microscopy, before and after the devulcanization process. The mixtures obtained were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and mechanical tests for resistance to traction and impact. The results of the analysis of the residues showed that the devulcanization process reduced significantly the gel content of the elastomer. The mixtures obtained demonstrated that the incorporation of vulcanized EPDM-r reduced the crystallization and fusion enthalpies, while conserving the crystallization and fusion characteristics of the thermoplastic. The mixtures showed a reduction in the deformation and traction strength; however, the incorporation of devulcanized EPDM-r led to a significant increase in the elasticity modulus values and the resistance to impact in relation to the pure LDPE.
Nations and Territorial Identities in Europe: Transnational Reflections
Authors: Núñez Xosé-Manoel
Published: September 2010

This essay aims to explore the question of the difference between ‘Eastern’ and ‘Western’ European nationalism in historical terms, and to inquire whether it makes sense to refer to a dichotomy between ethnic and civic nationalism intrinsically related to that divide, ascribing them to certain areas of Europe according to historians’ own ‘mental maps’. Taking into account the existing links between nationalism, national history and the emergence of history as an academic discipline, an exploration of the ‘territorial entanglements’ still evident in a large part of the scholarly literature will attempt to highlight the key issue as to whether it is possible to identify a ‘European way’ of studying nationalism and territorial identities, or whether it is more convenient to proceed to a ‘reprovincialization’ of European nationalism(s).
What is European History? Reflections of a Cosmopolitan Islander
Authors: Evans Richard J.
Published: September 2010

There have been many attempts to define ‘European History’. The concept did not exist until the emergence of the idea of ‘Europe’ itself, which can be dated to the Early Modern period, when ‘Christendom’ no longer seemed a viable geographical concept in view of the religious wars of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and the expansion of Christian missions overseas. By the late eighteenth century, the reforms of Peter the Great had led to the expansion of the idea of ‘Europe’ beyond the area imagined by Ancient geographers to include a large part of Russia. More recently, attempts to equate European history with the history of the member states of the European Union have met with little favour. In the UK, European history conventionally means the history of the European Continent, not including the British Isles. Argument about the cultural parameters of European history continues, and forms an essential part of any study of the subject.
Global Trends: Gender Studies in Europe and the US
Authors: Calvi Giulia
Published: September 2010

The new interpretive turn in gender studies is disseminated and discussed particularly in North American scholarly journals, and is situated at the intersection between the historiographies of family, women and gender (including men’s studies) and world history. This has displaced in the direction of ‘world’ or ‘global history’ a practice of writing European history which has traditionally privileged circumscribed, ‘particular’ areas of enquiry, located within the boundaries of communities, regions and nations. To avoid becoming passive latecomers in a new master narrative, where imbalances of power and unequal distribution of academic, linguistic and financial resources tend to marginalize large areas of the world, the tradition of women’s history/gender historiography should seek to develop transcultural cooperation with critical historiographies in non-Western areas, with the aim of constructing an ecumenical narrative of world history.
Effects on prolongation of Bazett’s corrected QT interval of seven second-generation antipsychotics in the treatment of schizophrenia: a meta-analysis
Authors: Chung Albert KK , Chua Siew-eng
Published: September 2010

The use of second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) for the treatment of schizophrenia has surged worldwide. Amisulpride, aripiprazole, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone, sertindole and ziprasidone have now been commonly prescribed. Their effects on QT interval differ but evidence remains sparse and mostly inconclusive. Since prolongation of heart-rate corrected QT interval has been implicated as an useful surrogate marker to predict drug-related cardiac mortality and pro-arrhythmic potentials, it is timely and necessary to compare the effects of Bazett’s corrected QT interval (QTBc) prolongation for the commonly prescribed SGAs. A meta-analysis was conducted according to suggestions by the Quality of Reporting of Meta-analysis group with literature identified using various databases and augmented with hand-searching to assess the magnitude and risk on QTBc prolongation by these seven SGAs for treatments in adult subjects with schizophrenia. Because of incomplete QTBc data reporting, quetiapine could not be assessed by the meta-analytical approach in this study. Aripiprazole was the only SGA associated with both statistically significant lower risk and mean change in QTBc, with sertindole giving a statistically significant worsening effect on mean QTBc. Other analyses did not demonstrate any statistically significant pooled effects for the studied SGAs, neither on the magnitude over mean or mean change, nor the risk on QTBc prolongation.
Canine Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors
Authors: Gillespie V. , Baer K. , Farrelly J. , Craft D. , Luong R.
Published: September 2010

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), leiomyomas, and leiomyosarcomas are common mesenchymal neoplasms in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of dogs. As previously diagnosed smooth muscle tumors of the canine GI tract are increasingly reclassified as GISTs, it becomes important to identify additional criteria that may assist in the diagnosis of these neoplasms, provide prognostic information, and offer targets for therapy. Examination of cluster of differentiation (CD), molecule expression (such as KIT [CD117] and CD34) as well as gross, histologic, and immunohistochemical features (such as tumor size, tumor location, mitotic index, AgNOR, and Ki67 labeling) in human GISTs has revealed new and valuable prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic information. In this study, GISTs were examined for the gross, histologic, and immunohistochemical features listed above. Forty-nine cases of canine gastrointestinal mesenchymal neoplasms from the Animal Medical Center (New York, NY) were categorized as GISTs (KIT positive), leiomyosarcoma/leiomyoma (KIT negative, smooth muscle actin [SMA], and/or desmin positive), or other (KIT, SMA, and desmin negative). A proportion (55%) of canine cases previously diagnosed as smooth muscle tumors were reclassified as GISTs according to KIT immunoreactivity. Statistical correlations with survival data were not possible because of insufficient follow-up data. However, there was a significant difference between mitotic index, AgNOR, and Ki67 scores depending on the location of the tumor (small vs large intestine). This study represents the first time CD34 immunoreactivity has been demonstrated in canine GISTs.
Cranial Malformations in Related White Lions (Panthera leo krugeri)
Authors: Scaglione F. E. , Schröder C. , Degiorgi G. , Zeira O. , Bollo E.
Published: September 2010

White lions ( Panthera leo krugeri) have never been common in the wild, and at present, the greatest population is kept in zoos where they are bred for biological and biodiversity conservation. During the years 2003 to 2008 in a zoological garden in northern Italy, 19 white lions were born to the same parents, who were in turn paternally consanguineous. Out of the 19 lions, 4 (21%) were stillborn, 13 (69%) died within 1 month, and 1 (5%) was euthanatized after 6 months because of difficulty with prehension of food. Six lions (32%) showed malformations involving the head (jaw, tongue, throat, teeth, and cranial bones). One lion (5%) still alive at 30 months revealed an Arnold–Chiari malformation upon submission for neurological evaluation of postural and gait abnormalities. Paternal consanguinity of the parents, along with inbreeding among white lions in general, could account for the high incidence of congenital malformations of the head in this pride of white lions.
Multiplicity adjustments in trials with two correlated comparisons of interest
Authors: Fernandes Nikki , Stone Andrew
Published: September 2010

Clinical trials investigating the efficacy of two or more doses of an experimental treatment compared to a single reference arm are not uncommon. In such situations, if each dose is compared to the reference arm using an un-adjusted significance level, consideration of the Type I familywise error is likely to be required. Furthermore, in trials where two or more comparisons are performed using the same reference arm, the comparisons are inherently correlated. The correlation between comparisons can be utilised to remove some of the conservativeness of some commonly used procedures. This article is intended as a practical guide that should enable calculation of significance levels that fully conserve Type I error and provides graphical presentation that could facilitate their description to non-statisticians.
Balancing a Changed Life Situation: The Lived Experience From Next of Kin to Persons With Inoperable Lung Cancer
Authors: Steinvall Karin , Johansson Helena , Berterö Carina
Published: September 2010

The purpose of this study was to identify and describe the experiences of quality of life/life situation among those who were next of kin to persons with inoperable lung cancer. Data were collected in qualitative interviews, where 11 next of kin articulated their lived experiences, and were interpreted through interpretive phenomenology. Four themes were identified: changed life situation, experiences of uncertainty due to awareness of the ill person’s changed health status, interpersonal relationships, and false hopes due to health care professionals’ treatment. These four themes gave a structure presenting the essence: balancing a changed life situation. The findings of the study point out the importance of promoting support for the next of kin, because they are significantly affected by the changed life situation. There is a need to identify their needs and to support them.
Mathematics Reform Curricula and Special Education: Identifying Intersections and Implications for Practice
Authors: Sayeski Kristin L. , Paulsen Kim J.
Published: September 2010

In many general education classrooms today, teachers are using “reform” mathematics curricula. These curricula emphasize the application of mathematics in real-life contexts and include such practices as collaborative, group problem solving and student-generated algorithms. Students with learning disabilities in the area of mathematics can experience challenges with these curricula due to lack of content knowledge and requisite skills along with processing and strategy deficits. The purpose of this article is to present information on strategies that can be used to complement math reform curricula to meet the needs of students with math learning disabilities.
Making Rules about Rulemaking
Authors: Jensen Christian B. , McGrath Robert J.
Published: September 2010

The authors examine the administrative procedures acts (APAs) of separation of powers and parliamentary systems. They examine sixteen national APAs (thirteen parliamentary and three presidential) and forty-eight APAs from the U.S. states that have institutional structures analogous to the presidential systems. They identify a very stark difference between the parliamentary and presidential APAs. While all of the presidential system APAs place constraints on both adjudicative and rulemaking activities, only two of the parliamentary APAs make any reference to rulemaking at all. The authors present an institutional explanation for this observation based on recent work on veto players and delegated discretion to administrative agents. They argue that the presence of partisan veto players discourages focus on rulemaking in APAs.
Casting Votes
Authors: Ragsdale Lyn , Rusk Jerrold G.
Published: September 2010

This study examines voter turnout in the American states in U.S. presidential and House elections from 1920 through 2008. A model predicts turnout as the sum of the national campaign context, state autonomy, and electoral continuity. The national campaign context encompasses conditions that prompt turnout to shift similarly across states. State autonomy involves state-specific factors that prompt turnout to vary across states. Electoral continuity involves people voting in successive elections, regardless of other influences. Testing the model finds that national campaign context effects have increased, but they vary by year, election type, and region and have been mixed since the 1970s.
Augmenting the Core Battery With Supplementary Subtests: Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—IV Measurement Invariance Across the United States and Canada
Authors: Bowden Stephen C. , Saklofske Donald H. , Weiss Lawrence G.
Published: September 2010

Examination of measurement invariance provides a powerful method to evaluate the hypothesis that the same set of psychological constructs underlies a set of test scores in different populations. If measurement invariance is observed, then the same psychological meaning can be ascribed to scores in both populations. In this study, the measurement model including core and supplementary subtests of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Fourth edition (WAIS-IV) were compared across the U.S. and Canadian standardization samples. Populations were compared on the 15 subtest version of the test in people aged 70 and younger and on the 12 subtest version in people aged 70 or older. Results indicated that a slightly modified version of the four-factor model reported in the WAIS-IV technical manual provided the best fit in both populations and in both age groups. The null hypothesis of measurement invariance across populations was not rejected, and the results provide direct evidence for the generalizability of convergent and discriminant validity studies with the WAIS-IV across populations. Small to medium differences in latent means favoring Canadians highlight the value of local norms.
A Comparison of Three Strategies for Scale Construction to Predict a Specific Behavioral Outcome
Authors: Garb Howard N. , Wood James M. , Fiedler Edna R.
Published: September 2010

Using 65 items from a mental health screening questionnaire, the History Opinion Inventory–Revised (HOI-R), the present study compared three strategies of scale construction—(1) internal (based on factor analysis), (2) external (based on empirical performance) and (3) intuitive (based on clinicians’ opinion)—to predict whether 203,595 U.S. Air Force trainees would be discharged early for mental health or behavior-related reasons within a 4-year follow-up period. The external strategy significantly outperformed the internal strategy, which in turn outperformed the intuitive strategy. For all strategies, predictive accuracy was consistently higher when items and scales were scored using empirically derived weights rather than unit weights. These findings suggest that the external strategy of scale construction provides the highest accuracy when sample sizes are large and the aim is to predict a specific behavioral event. However, the internal strategy also yields valid results and can be a reasonable choice when outcome data are unavailable.
The Power of Self-Efficacy Change During Service Provision: Making Your Customers Feel Better About Themselves Pays Off
Authors: van Beuningen Jacqueline , de Ruyter Ko , Wetzels Martin
Published: September 2010

The study focuses on a new service benefit derived from service usage, that is, self-efficacy increase, rather than self-efficacy evaluations as such. The authors propose that this benefit, which refers to feeling better about oneself while consuming a service, will reflect positively on service outcomes. The authors argue that self-efficacy can develop differently over time and this should be investigated to explain service evaluations more fully. Therefore, the authors separate effects related to self-efficacy level and change on value. Results show that the increase of customers’ self-beliefs in their capabilities during information search positively affects perceived value irrespective of self-efficacy levels or other costs and benefits. Self-efficacy increase is predicted by a firm’s strategic choice to help customers learn, the firm’s tactic to provide high-quality information, and the customers’ level of cognitive effort. In sum, the authors show that by fostering customers’ self-efficacy build up, firms can provide a more valuable and satisfying service experience.
Measures of Program Effectiveness Based on Retrospective Pretest Data: Are All Created Equal?
Authors: Nimon Kim , Zigarmi Drea , Allen Jeff
Published: September 2010

This study analyzed data from four evaluation designs incorporating the retrospective pretest (i.e., thentest), analyzing the effects of self-report pretesting and post-program survey format on a set of self-report measures. Validity of self-report data was assessed by comparing the criterion validity of then ratings to established benchmarks and by including a control condition. This study found that designs incorporating separate posttest and thentest surveys yielded the most comparable levels of criterion validity for then ratings and the least biased measures of program effectiveness. Conversely, designs that incorporated a single post-program survey, with adjacent post and then items, yielded the least comparable levels of criterion validity for then ratings and the most biased measures of program effectiveness. This study also found a slight interaction between the effects of self-report pretesting and post-program survey format. Implications for program evaluation are discussed.
Health-Related Quality of Life in Caregivers of Individuals With Dementia From Colombia
Authors: Arango-Lasprilla Juan Carlos , Lehan Tara , Drew Allison , Moreno Alexander , Xiaoyan Deng  , Lemos Mariantonia
Published: September 2010

The purpose of this study was to compare the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of 99 caregivers of individuals with dementia and 95 healthy individuals from the general population in Colombia. The 36-item short-form (SF-36), a self-report measure composed of 8 component areas (physical function, role-physical, bodily pain, general health, energy/vitality, social function, role-emotional, and mental health), was used to measure HRQoL. Results indicated that the healthy control group had a higher level of education, socioeconomic status (SES), and number of male participants. After adjusting for education, SES, and gender, the caregivers of individuals with dementia scored significantly lower on all of the SF-36 subscales than the healthy controls. These findings suggest the need for rehabilitation health professionals to develop and implement culturally appropriate interventions to improve the HRQoL of caregivers of individuals with dementia in Colombia.
Transferrin receptor 2 is a component of the erythropoietin receptor complex and is required for efficient erythropoiesis
Authors: Forejtnikovà Hana , Vieillevoye Maud , Zermati Yael , Lambert Mireille , Pellegrino Rosa Maria , Guihard Soizic , Gaudry Muriel , Camaschella Clara , Lacombe Catherine , Roetto Antonella , Mayeux Patrick , Verdier Frédérique
Published: September 2010

Erythropoietin (Epo) is required for erythroid progenitor differentiation. Although Epo crosslinking experiments have revealed the presence of Epo receptor (EpoR)–associated proteins that could never be identified, EpoR is considered to be a paradigm for homodimeric cytokine receptors. We purified EpoR-binding partners and identified the type 2 transferrin receptor (TfR2) as a component of the EpoR complex corresponding to proteins previously detected in cross-linking experiments. TfR2 is involved in iron metabolism by regulating hepcidin production in liver cells. We show that TfR2 and EpoR are synchronously coexpressed during the differentiation of erythroid progenitors. TfR2 associates with EpoR in the endoplasmic reticulum and is required for the efficient transport of this receptor to the cell surface. Erythroid progenitors from TfR2−/−mice show a decreased sensitivity to Epo and increased circulating Epo levels. In human erythroid progenitors, TfR2 knockdown delays the terminal differentiation. Erythroid cells produce growth differentiation factor-15, a cytokine that suppresses hepatic hepcidin production in certain erythroid diseases such as thalassemia. We show that the production of growth differentiation factor-15 by erythroid cells is dependent on both Epo and TfR2. Taken together, our results show that TfR2 exhibits a non hepatic function as a component of the EpoR complex and is required for efficient erythropoiesis.
On the Choice and Number of Microarrays for Transcriptional Regulatory Network Inference
Authors: Cosgrove Elissa J , Gardner Timothy S , Kolaczyk Eric D
Published: September 2010

Background

Transcriptional regulatory network inference (TRNI) from large compendia of DNA microarrays has become a fundamental approach for discovering transcription factor (TF)-gene interactions at the genome-wide level. In correlation-based TRNI, network edges can in principle be evaluated using standard statistical tests. However, while such tests nominally assume independent microarray experiments, we expect dependency between the experiments in microarray compendia, due to both project-specific factors (e.g., microarray preparation, environmental effects) in the multi-project compendium setting and effective dependency induced by gene-gene correlations. Herein, we characterize the nature of dependency in anEscherichia colimicroarray compendium and explore its consequences on the problem of determining which and how many arrays to use in correlation-based TRNI.

Results

We present evidence of substantial effective dependency among microarrays in this compendium, and characterize that dependency with respect to experimental condition factors. We then introduce a measureneffof the effective number of experiments in a compendium, and find that corresponding to the dependency observed in this particular compendium there is a huge reduction in effective sample size i.e.,neff= 14.7 versusn= 376. Furthermore, we found that theneffof select subsets of experiments actually exceededneffof the full compendium, suggesting that the adage 'less is more' applies here. Consistent with this latter result, we observed improved performance in TRNI using subsets of the data compared to results using the full compendium. We identified experimental condition factors that trend with changes in TRNI performance andneff, including growth phase and media type. Finally, using the set of known E. coli genetic regulatory interactions from RegulonDB, we demonstrated that false discovery rates (FDR) derived fromneff-adjusted p-values were well-matched to FDR based on the RegulonDB truth set.

Conclusions

These results support utilization ofneffas a potent descriptor of microarray compendia. In addition, they highlight a straightforward correlation-based method for TRNI with demonstrated meaningful statistical testing for significant edges, readily applicable to compendia from any species, even when a truth set is not available. This work facilitates a more refined approach to construction and utilization of mRNA expression compendia in TRNI.
Effects of F/G-actin ratio and actin turn-over rate on NADPH oxidase activity in microglia
Authors: Rasmussen Izabela , Pedersen Line H , Byg Luise , Suzuki Kazuhiro , Sumimoto Hideki , Vilhardt Frederik
Published: September 2010

Background

Most in vivo studies that have addressed the role of actin dynamics in NADPH oxidase function in phagocytes have used toxins to modulate the polymerization state of actin and mostly effects on actin has been evaluated by end point measurements of filamentous actin, which says little about actin dynamics, and without consideration for the subcellular distribution of the perturbed actin cytoskeleton.

Results

Here, we in addition to toxins use conditional expression of the major actin regulatory protein LIM kinase-1 (LIMK1), and shRNA knock-down of cofilin to modulate the cellular F/G-actin ratio in the Ra2 microglia cell line, and we use Fluorescence Recovery after Photobleaching (FRAP) in β-actin-YFP-transduced cells to obtain a dynamic measure of actin recovery rates (actin turn-over rates) in different F/G-actin states of the actin cytoskeleton. Our data demonstrate that stimulated NADPH oxidase function was severely impaired only at extreme actin recovery rates and F/G-actin ratios, and surprisingly, that any moderate changes of these parameters of the actin cytoskeleton invariably resulted in an increased NADPH oxidase activity.

Conclusion

moderate actin polymerization and depolymerization both increase the FMLP and PMA-stimulated NADPH oxidase activity of microglia, which is directly correlated with neither actin recovery rate nor F/G- actin ratio. Our results indicate that NADPH oxidase functions in an enhanced state of activity in stimulated phagocytes despite widely different states of the actin cytoskeleton.
Prevention of post-surgical abdominal adhesions by a novel biodegradable thermosensitive PECE hydrogel.
Authors: Yang Bing , Gong ChangYang , Qian ZhiYong , Zhao Xia , Li ZhengYu , Qi XiaoRong , Zhou ShengTao , Zhong Qian , Luo Feng , Wei YuQuan
Published: September 2010

Background

Post-operative peritoneal adhesions are common and serious complications for modern medicine. We aim to prevent post-surgical adhesions using biodegradable and thermosensitive poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(ε-caprolactone)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-PCL-PEG, PECE) hydrogel. In this work, we investigated the effect of PECE hydrogel on preventing post-surgical abdominal adhesions in mouse and rat models.

Results

The PECE hydrogel in sol state could be transformed into gel in less than 20 s at 37°C. In addition, the PECE hydrogel could be easily adhered to the damaged peritoneal surfaces, and be gradually degraded and absorbed by the body within 14 days along with the healing of peritoneal wounds. A notable efficacy of the PECE hydrogel in preventing peritoneal adhesions was demonstrated in the animal models. In contrast, all untreated animals developed adhesions requiring sharp dissection. Furthermore, no significant histopathological changes were observed in main organs of the hydrogel-treated animals.

Conclusion

Our results suggested that the thermosensitive PECE hydrogel was an effective, safe, and convenient agent on preventing post-surgical intro-abdominal adhesions.