bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High neuroticism at age 20 predicts history of mental disorders and low self‐esteem at age 35
Authors: Lönnqvist Jan‐Erik , Verkasalo Markku , Mäkinen Seppo , Henriksson Markus
Published: March 2009

The authors assessed whether neuroticism in emerging adulthood predicts mental disorders and self‐esteem in early adulthood after controlling for possible confounding variables. A sample of 69 male military conscripts was initially assessed at age 20 and again as civilians at age 35. The initial assessment included a psychiatric interview, objective indicators of conscript competence, an intellectual performance test, and neuroticism questionnaires. The follow‐up assessment included a Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐IV (SCID; First, Spitzer, Gibbon, & Williams, 1996) and the Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965). Neuroticism predicted future mental disorders and low self‐esteem beyond more objective indicators of adjustment. The results support the use of neuroticism as a predictor of future mental disorders, even over periods of time when personality is subject to change. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 65: 1–10, 2009.
Efficient assessment of social problem‐solving abilities in medical and rehabilitation settings: a rasch analysis of the social problem‐solving inventory‐revised
Authors: Dreer Laura E. , Berry Jack , Rivera Patricia , Snow Marsha , Elliott Timothy R. , Miller Doreen , Little Todd D.
Published: March 2009

The Social Problem Solving Inventory‐Revised Scale (SPSI‐R) has been shown to be a reliable and valid self‐report measure of social problem‐solving abilities. In busy medical and rehabilitation settings, a brief and efficient screening version with psychometric properties similar to the SPSI‐R would have numerous benefits including decreased patient and caregiver assessment burden and administration/scoring time. Thus, the aim of the current study was to identify items from the SPSI‐R that would provide for a more efficient assessment of global social problem‐solving abilities. This study consisted of three independent samples: 121 persons in low‐vision rehabilitation (M age=71 years old, SD=15.53), 301 persons living with diabetes mellitus (M age=58, and SD=14.85), and 131 family caregivers of persons with severe disabilities (M age=56 years old, SD=12.15). All persons completed a version of the SPSI‐R, Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES‐D), and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Using Rasch scaling of the SPSI‐R short‐form, we identified a subset of 10 items that reflected the five‐component model of social problem solving. The 10 items were separately validated on the sample of persons living with diabetes mellitus and the sample of family caregivers of persons with severe disabilities. Results indicate that the efficient 10‐item version, analyzed separately for all three samples, demonstrated good reliability and validity characteristics similar to the established SPSI‐R short form. The 10‐item version of the SPSI‐R represents a brief, effective way in which clinicians and researchers in busy health care settings can quickly assess global problem‐solving abilities and identify those persons at‐risk for complicated adjustment. Implications for the assessment of social problem‐solving abilities are discussed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 65: 1–15, 2009.
An empirical study of the mechanisms of mindfulness in a mindfulness‐based stress reduction program
Authors: Carmody James , Baer Ruth A. , L. B. Lykins Emily , Olendzki Nicholas
Published: March 2009

S. L. Shapiro and colleagues (2006) have described a testable theory of the mechanisms of mindfulness and how it affects positive change. They describe a model in which mindfulness training leads to a fundamental change in relationship to experience (reperceiving), which leads to changes in self‐regulation, values clarification, cognitive and behavioral flexibility, and exposure. These four variables, in turn, result in salutogenic outcomes. Analyses of responses from participants in a mindfulness‐based stress‐reduction program did not support the mediating effect of changes in reperceiving on the relationship of mindfulness with those four variables. However, when mindfulness and reperceiving scores were combined, partial support was found for the mediating effect of the four variables on measures of psychological distress. Issues arising in attempts to test the proposed theory are discussed, including the description of the model variables and the challenges to their assessment. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 65: 1–14, 2009.
Purification of glycerol/water solutions from biodiesel synthesis by ion exchange: sodium and chloride removal. Part II
Authors: Carmona Manuel , Lech Anna , de Lucas Antonio , Pérez Angel , Rodriguez Juan F.
Published: March 2009

BACKGROUND: Equilibrium studies were carried out with the aim of finding the basic design parameters for ion exchange plants using a glycerol phase obtained from biodiesel production. The uptake of sodium and potassium ions on a strongly acidic ion exchanger, Amberlite IR‐120, in the proton form from glycerol/water mixtures has been studied. The effect on the selectivity towards sodium of the percentage of water in glycerine/water mixtures on the macroporous resin Amberlite 252 has been analyzed. Finally, chloride removal by a strongly basic anionic‐exchange resin Amberlite IRA‐420 at three different temperatures has been studied.

RESULTS: The strongly acidic ion exchanger Amberlite IR‐120 exhibits higher selectivity for potassium versus sodium ions. The ideal mass action law model was able to fit the experimental equilibrium data. The equilibrium data obtained at different percentages of water in the glycerine/water mixture indicate that as the water content increased the resin selectivity for sodium uptake is reduced. The selectivity of the anion exchange resin Amberlite IRA‐420 for chloride ions decreases with temperature. The ideal mass action law was accurate enough to fit the equilibrium data of the three systems and allowed the equilibrium thermodynamic properties to be obtained.

CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm that macroporous resin Amberlite 252 could be a good choice to remove sodium ions from glycerol/water solutions with a high salt concentration and also that a strongly basic anionic‐exchange resin could be used for chloride removal. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry
Circuit decompositions of join‐covered graphs
Authors: de Carvalho Marcelo H. , Little C. H. C.
Published: March 2009

In this paper, we focus our attention on join‐covered graphs, that is, ±1‐weighted graphs, without negative circuits, in which every edge lies in a zero‐weight circuit. Join covered graphs are a natural generalization of matching‐covered graphs. Many important properties of matching covered graphs, such as the existence of a canonical partition, tight cut decomposition and ear decomposition, have been generalized to join covered graphs by A. Sebő [5]. In this paper we prove that any two edges of a join‐covered graph lie on a zero‐weight circuit (under an equivalent weighting), generalize this statement to an arbitrary number of edges, and characterize minimal bipartite join‐covered graphs. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 62, 220–233, 2009
Intensity of GABA‐evoked responses is modified by nitric oxide‐active compounds in the subthalamic nucleus of the rat: A microiontophoretic study
Authors: Sardo Pierangelo , Carletti Fabio , D'Agostino Stefania , Rizzo Valerio , La Grutta Vittorio , Ferraro Giuseppe
Published: March 2009

We have previously described modulatory effects of nitric oxide (NO)–active drugs on subthalamic nucleus (STN) neurons. In this study, the effects of microiontophoretically applied NO‐active compounds on GABA‐evoked responses were investigated in subthalamic neurons extracellularly recorded from anesthetized rats: 45 of 62 cells were excited by S‐nitroso‐glutathione (SNOG), an NO donor, whereas 28 of 43 neurons were inhibited byNω‐nitro‐L‐arginine methyl ester (L‐NAME), a NOS inhibitor. Nearly all neurons responding to SNOG and/or L‐NAME showed significant inhibitory responses to the administration of iontophoretic GABA. In these cells, the changes induced by NO‐active drugs in the magnitude of GABA‐evoked responses were used as indicators of NO modulation. In fact, when an NO‐active drug was co‐iontophoresed with GABA, significant changes in GABA‐induced responses were observed: generally, decreased magnitudes of GABA‐evoked responses were observed during continuous SNOG ejection, whereas the administration of L‐NAME enhanced GABA responses. In contrast, glutamate‐evoked responses were enhanced by SNOG and dampened by L‐NAME co‐iontophoresis. Furthermore, the iontophoretic administration of bicuculline (a GABAAreceptor antagonist) completely abolished the GABA‐evoked inhibitory responses and reduced the magnitude of both the SNOG‐ and L‐NAME‐induced effects. The results suggest that the NO‐mediated modulation of subthalamic neurons could also be a result of an interaction between NO and GABAAneurotransmission. Increased NOS activity has been shown in the hyperactive STN neurons of parkinsonian patients; on the basis of our observations about the influence of NO‐active drugs on the baseline and GABA‐evoked activity of subthalamic cells, such hyperactivity suggests the involvement of increased NO levels and reduced sensitivity to GABA. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Protective effect of a synapsin peptide genetically fused to the B subunit of Escherichia coli heat‐labile enterotoxin in rat autoimmune encephalomyelitis
Authors: Scerbo M. Julia , Rupil Lucia L. , Bibolini Mario J. , Roth German A. , Monferran Clara G.
Published: March 2009

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease with similarities to multiple sclerosis that requires the activation of auto reactive T cells that infiltrate the central nervous system. In previous studies we have shown that intraperitoneal administration of synaptosomal antigens could suppress EAE. Herein we examined the effect in this animal model of a fusion protein comprising the C domain of synapsin Ia and the B subunit of Escherichia coli heat‐labile enterotoxin (LTBSC). Oral administration to rats of low amounts of LTBSC induced immunological systemic tolerance to the encephalitogenic myelin basic protein. Treatment with LTBSC prior to EAE induction diminished disease incidence, DTH reaction to myelin basic protein, and central nervous system inflammation. LTBSC treatment also reduced the specific T‐cell proliferative response to myelin basic protein, decreased nitric oxide production, and augmented arginase activity by peritoneal macrophages. All animals challenged for EAE developed antibody response specific for myelin basic protein, but rats treated with LTBSC showed a lower IgG2b/IgG1 ratio, indicating a shift to a Th2‐type milieu. The data presented here suggest that well‐conserved synapsin peptides conjugated to the B subunit of enterotoxins from the cholera toxin family have a protective role and provide a potential therapeutic tool for intervention in EAE as well as in multiple sclerosis. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Nadir CA‐125 level is an independent prognostic factor in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer
Authors: Kang Sokbom , Seo Sang‐Soo , Park Sang‐Yoon
Published: March 2009

Background

The purpose of this study was to determine the independency of a nadir CA‐125 level as a prognostic factor in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).

Methods

Among the 153 women with advanced EOC who had surgery in our hospital between January 2001 and June 2007, 121 women underwent retrospective chart review.

Results

Sixty‐six patients (57.9%) had nadir CA‐125 values ≤10 U/ml. The CA‐125 levels at the time of diagnosis was associated with the nadir CA‐125 (P = 0.018). The median progression‐free survival (PFS) in patients with nadir CA‐125 levels ≤10 and 10–35 U/ml was 32.4 and 16.8 months, respectively (P = 0.0001). A multivariate Cox hazard model revealed that the nadir CA‐125 value and the residual tumor size ≥0.5 cm were independently associated with the PFS (P = 0.001 and 0.014). Within the subgroup who underwent primary debulking surgery, the significant association between the PFS and the nadir CA‐125 value was preserved (P = 0.001).

Conclusions

The prognostic role of the nadir CA‐125 is independent of residual tumor size in the patients with advanced EOC. However, it is still unclear whether maximal surgical effort can affect the nadir CA‐125 levels. J. Surg. Oncol. 2009;100:244–247. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Interventional sialendoscopy for treatment of radioiodine‐induced sialadenitis
Authors: Bomeli Steven R. , Schaitkin Barry , Carrau Ricardo L. , Walvekar Rohan R.
Published: March 2009

Objectives/Hypothesis:

The purpose of this study is to review our experience with sialendoscopy for the management of radioiodine‐induced sialadenitis.

Methods:

Retrospective chart review of all patients with radioiodine‐induced sialadenitis treated with interventional sialendoscopy.

Results:

Twelve female patients with a mean age of 46.5 years (range, 25–77 years) underwent interventional sialendoscopy for the treatment of recalcitrant sialadenitis from radioiodine‐induced damage to the major salivary glands. Symptoms arising from the parotid gland were seen in 75% of patients, whereas symptoms arising from the submandibular gland were seen in 50%. Three patients (25%) presented symptoms in both the parotids and the submandibular glands. The mean dose of radioiodine was 143 mCi (range, 101.9–185.7 mCi) received as a single dose prior to their referral. The mean duration from radioiodine ablation therapy to sialendoscopy was 10.4 months (range, 5–16 months). Thirty‐two glands (20 parotid, 12 submandibular) were taken to the operating room, with complete endoscopy successful in 27 glands (84.4%). Ductal stenosis (30%) and mucus plugs (44%) were the most common types of ductal pathology. Sialendoscopy improved the symptoms in 75% (9/12) of patients, with no serious complications reported in follow‐up ranging from 2 weeks to 33 months (median, 6 months).

Conclusions:

Interventional sialendoscopy is an effective tool for the management of patients with radioiodine‐induced sialadenitis that is unresponsive to medical management. Laryngoscope, 2009
Exploring the phonatory effects of external superior laryngeal nerve paralysis: An In vivo model
Authors: Roy Nelson , Smith Marshall E. , Dromey Christopher , Redd Jonathan , Neff Skylee , Grennan Doug
Published: March 2009

Objectives/Hypothesis:

Little is known regarding the phonatory consequences of unilateral external superior laryngeal nerve (ESLN) paralysis. By selectively blocking the ESLN with lidocaine HCl (with laryngeal electromyography verification), we modeled acute, unilateral cricothyroid (CT) muscle dysfunction to explore possible acoustic, aerodynamic, auditory‐perceptual and auto‐perceptive effects.

Study Design:

Prospective, repeated measures, experimental design.

Methods:

Ten, vocally‐normal adult males underwent lidocaine block of the right ESLN. Multiple measures of phonatory function across a variety of vocal tasks/conditions were acquired before and during the block using standard data acquisition and analysis protocols.

Results:

During ESLN block, phonatory frequency range was significantly reduced with compression of both upper and lowermost regions of the pitch range. Mean speaking fundamental frequency increased significantly during oral reading. Acoustic analysis, aerodynamic assessment, and auditory‐ perceptual evaluation by blinded listeners revealed modest increases in phonatory instability (jitter), increased laryngeal airway resistance with no objective evidence of glottic insufficiency, and mild deterioration in voice quality most evident during high pitched voice productions, respectively. Participants uniformly rated their speaking and singing voices as worse during the block with significant weakness, effort, and tightness that they perceived as a mild level of impairment.

Conclusions:

These data support generally mild changes to the speaking voice, which extend beyond reductions in pitch range only, and shed light on the potential untoward phonatory effects of acute, unilateral CT dysfunction. Laryngoscope, 2009
Four years of accreditation council of graduate medical education duty hour regulations: Have they made a difference?
Authors: Shonka David C. , Ghanem Tamer A. , Hubbard Matthew A. , Barker Daniel A. , Kesser Bradley W.
Published: March 2009

Objectives/Hypothesis:

Measure compliance with the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) residents' work hour regulations and evaluate their impact on patient care and residents' performance on the Otolaryngology Training Examination (OTE).

Study Design:

Retrospective review of an otolaryngology residency program's resident duty hours violations and OTE scores, and review of the associated hospital's benchmark patient data.

Methods:

Residents' duty hour violations were compiled and analyzed for individual violation, postgraduate year (PGY), and service in the program. Annual OTE scores and the department's hospital benchmark measures (inpatient mortality, inpatient length of stay, 30‐day readmission rate) were compared before and after the institution of the ACGME duty hours mandate.

Results:

The 10‐hour rule was most frequently violated; residents on the oncology service and PGY‐2 year were most commonly in violation. There was no difference before and after institution of the ACGME duty hours mandate in 30‐day hospital readmission rates (P = .42), hospital mortality index (P = .55), length of stay (P = .55), OTE scores (P = .11, Student's t test), and graduating resident's operative volume.

Conclusions:

Institution of the ACGME duty hour regulations did not improve patient care as measured by the 30‐day readmission rate, inhospital mortality, and patient's length of stay. Residents' performance on the OTE did not change after implementation of the ACGME rules. Further studies are warranted to assess the impact of the ACGME work hour regulations on patient care and resident‐physicians' training. Laryngoscope, 2009
The influence of source credibility on attitude certainty: Exploring the moderating effects of timing of source identification and individual need for cognition
Authors: Nan Xiaoli
Published: March 2009

This research investigates the influence of source credibility on attitude certainty, referring to an individual's subjective confidence in his/her attitude. Results of a laboratory experiment (N = 220) show that low source credibility, compared with high source credi‐bility, leads to greater attitude certainty. This relationship, however, only holds when the source is identified before message exposure and for people who are low in need for cognition. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed. ©2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Buckminsterfullerene cations: New dimensions in gas‐phase ion chemistry
Authors: Bohme Diethard K.
Published: March 2009

The author provides a brief overview, and shares the extraordinary excitement, of the years of unprecedented discoveries in ion chemistry that followed the first production of fullerene powder in 1990. Various charge states of the buckminsterfullerene cation became available by conventional electron‐impact ionization of the vapor of this powder and so for mass‐spectrometric measurements of ion reactivity. The emphasis here will be on fullerene‐ion research performed in the author's own laboratory at York University using electron ionization flow‐tube mass spectrometry techniques. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., Mass Spec Rev 28:672–693, 2009
SEMAC: Slice encoding for metal artifact correction in MRI
Authors: Lu Wenmiao , Pauly Kim Butts , Gold Garry E. , Pauly John M. , Hargreaves Brian A.
Published: March 2009

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) near metallic implants remains an unmet need because of severe artifacts, which mainly stem from large metal‐induced field inhomogeneities. This work addresses MRI near metallic implants with an innovative imaging technique called “Slice Encoding for Metal Artifact Correction” (SEMAC). The SEMAC technique corrects metal artifacts via robust encoding of each excited slice against metal‐induced field inhomogeneities. The robust slice encoding is achieved by extending a view‐angle‐tilting (VAT) spin‐echo sequence with additional z‐phase encoding. Although the VAT compensation gradient suppresses most in‐plane distortions, the z‐phase encoding fully resolves distorted excitation profiles that cause through‐plane distortions. By positioning all spins in a region‐of‐interest to their actual spatial locations, the through‐plane distortions can be corrected by summing up the resolved spins in each voxel. The SEMAC technique does not require additional hardware and can be deployed to the large installed base of whole‐body MRI systems. The efficacy of the SEMAC technique in eliminating metal‐induced distortions with feasible scan times is validated in phantom and in vivo spine and knee studies. Magn Reson Med 62:66–76, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Alterations in bladder function associated with urothelial defects in uroplakin II and IIIa knockout mice
Authors: Aboushwareb Tamer , Zhou Ge , Deng Fang‐Ming , Turner Chanda , Andersson Karl‐Erik , Tar Moses , Zhao Weixin , Melman Arnold , D'Agostino Ralph , Sun Tung‐Tien , Christ George J.
Published: March 2009

Aims

The effects of deleting genes encoding uroplakins II (UPII) and III (UPIIIa) on mouse bladder physiology/dysfunction were studied in male and female wild type and knockout (KO) mice.

Methods

UPII, UPIIIa, and WT mice were catheterized using previously described techniques. Continuous cystometry was conducted in conscious, freely moving animals. Bladder strips were harvested after animal sacrifice and pharmacological studies and EFS were conducted in an organ chamber. Histological studies were also carried on with H&E staining to identify differences among the three mouse types.

Results

These studies have revealed numerous alterations, some of which were apparently gender‐specific. Nonvoiding contractions were common in both UPII and UPIIIa KO mice, although more severe in the former. In particular, the increased bladder capacity, micturition pressure and demonstrable nonvoiding contractions observed in the male UPII KO's, were reminiscent of an obstruction‐like syndrome accompanied by evidence of emerging bladder decompensation, as reflected by an increased residual volume. Pharmacological studies revealed a modest, gender‐specific reduction in sensitivity of isolated detrusor strips from UPII KO female mice to carbachol‐induced contractions. A similar reduction was observed in UPIIIa KO female mice. Histological investigation showed urothelial hyperplasia in both UPII KO and UPIIIa KO mice, although again, apparently more severe in the former.

Conclusions

These results confirm and extend previous work to indicate that urothelial defects due to uroplakin deficiency are associated with significant alterations in bladder function and further highlight the importance of the urothelium to bladder physiology/dysfunction. Neurourol. Urodynam. 28:1028–1033, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Solving high‐order linear differential equations by a Legendre matrix method based on hybrid Legendre and Taylor polynomials
Authors: Sezer Mehmet , Gülsu Mustafa
Published: March 2009

A numerical method for solving the high‐order linear differential equations with variable coefficients under the mixed conditions is presented. The method is based on the hybrid Legendre and Taylor polynomials. The solution is obtained in terms of Legendre polynomials. Comparison of the present solution is made with the existing solution and excellent agreement is noted. Illustrative examples are included to demonstrate the validity and applicability of the technique. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2010
Toward an understanding of thrift store donors
Authors: Mitchell Mark , Montgomery Robert , Rauch Dennis
Published: March 2009

An increasing number of service organizations are developing thrift stores (or, second hand stores, charity shops) to raise resources to support their mission‐directed activities. Such stores seek donated merchandize…sell it …and use the proceeds to support their service efforts. The purpose of the study is to examine the processes by which thrift store donors: (a) determine that donation of pre‐owned merchandize is desirable, (b) get information about competing donation outlets, and (c) select which organization(s) are appropriate for their particular merchandize donation. A web survey was administered to assess these processes. The results will allow organizations to critically evaluate their existing thrift store practices against donor preferences in the interest of continuous improvement.

Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Presidential address: From the Great Society to continuous improvement government: Shifting from “does it work?” to “what would make it better?”
Authors: Besharov Douglas J.
Published: March 2009

In the 1960s, various social programs were started (like Head Start) or dramatically expanded (like AFDC). Loosely, this period of expansion is called the Great Society. Too many Great Society social programs, unfortunately, have been disappointments—at least when compared to the high hopes of the '60s. Even if they “work,” most of us wish that they worked much better. Some people take such statements to mean that the Great Society's social programs should be defunded. Most Great Society programs, however, are surely here to stay, for they serve important social functions. How many of us really think there could be an America without a social safety net? It is now time to do the difficult and unglamorous work of systematic program improvement. Instead of testing program efficacy over and over again, we should engage in ongoing and evidence‐based efforts to increase program effectiveness (in both large and small ways). © 2009 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.
Designing state aid formulas
Authors: Zhao Bo , Bradbury Katharine
Published: March 2009

This paper designs a new equalization‐aid formula based on fiscal gaps of local communities. When states are in transition to a new local aid formula, the issue of whether and how to hold existing aid harmless poses a challenge. The authors show that some previous studies and the formulas derived from them give differential weights to existing and new aid in filling the gap and hence effectively treat communities receiving greater amounts of existing aid more favorably than communities receiving less or no existing aid. As a fairer alternative, the authors propose a new approach that considers existing and new aid as completely equivalent in filling the gap by focusing on the equalizing impact of combined (new and existing) aid. In addition, unlike most previous research that focuses only on a single year's new aid distribution, the authors simulate the dynamics of aid distributions over multiple years using Massachusetts data. They further provide and compare several possible methods by which state policymakers could direct extra aid dollars to communities with larger unfilled gaps in dollar terms. Although the proposed aid formula is designed for municipal aid and tailored to Massachusetts, the authors note that foundation aid formulas for education implicitly treat existing aid in the same way and suggest that the framework, principles, and policy recommendations might also be applicable to other states. © 2009 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.
No renters in my suburban backyard: Land use regulation and rental housing
Authors: Schuetz Jenny
Published: March 2009

Academics and policymakers have argued that the ability of low‐ and moderate‐income families to move into desirable suburban areas is constrained by the high cost of housing. Local zoning and other forms of land use regulation are believed to contribute to increased housing prices by reducing supply and increasing the size of new housing. Suburban restrictions on rental housing are particularly likely to reduce mobility for low‐income families. In this paper, I employ an instrumental variables approach to examine the effects of zoning on the quantity and price of rental housing in Massachusetts, using historical municipal characteristics to instrument for current regulations. Results suggest that communities with more restrictive zoning issue significantly fewer building permits for multifamily housing but provide only weak evidence of the effects of regulations on rents. The lack of effects on rents may reflect the low level of multifamily development, while analysis is complicated by development of subsidized housing under the state's affordable housing law. © 2009 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.
Obestatin in human neuroendocrine tissues and tumours: expression and effect on tumour growth
Authors: Volante Marco , Rosas Rosj , Ceppi Paolo , Rapa Ida , Cassoni Paola , Wiedenmann Bertram , Settanni Fabio , Granata Riccarda , Papotti Mauro
Published: March 2009

The hormone obestatin, which is derived from the same precursor as ghrelin and whose receptor(s) is still unrecognized, possesses a variety of metabolic/modulatory functions mostly related to food intake suppression and reduction of gastrointestinal motility. The distribution of obestatin in normal and neoplastic human tissues is poorly understoood. We report that in fetal tissue samples, obestatin peptide was detected in the thyroid, pituitary, lung, pancreas and gastrointestinal tract, usually being co‐localized with chromogranin A. In adult tissues, obestatin protein expression was restricted to pituitary, lung, pancreas and gastrointestinal tract and was co‐localized strictly with ghrelin. By contrast, in endocrine tumours obestatin was expressed in a small fraction of thyroid, parathyroid, gastrointestinal and pancreatic neoplasms, in most cases with a focal immunoreactivity and co‐localized with ghrelin. Messenger RNA levels of the specific fragments of ghrelin and obestatin were comparable in both normal and tumour samples, confirming that post‐translational mechanisms rather than alternative splicing events lead to ghrelin/obestatin production. Finally, in TT and BON‐1 cell lines obestatin induced antiproliferative effects at pharmacological doses, opposite to those observed with ghrelin. In summary, our data demonstrate that obestatin is produced by the same endocrine cells that express ghrelin in normal tissues from fetal to adult life, whereas, as compared to ghrelin, in neoplastic conditions it is down‐regulated by post‐translational modulation and shows potential antiproliferative properties in vitro. Copyright © 2008 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Treatment non‐adherence in teenage and young adult cancer patients: a preliminary study of patient perceptions
Authors: Kondryn Helena J. , Edmondson Claire L. , Hill Jonathan W. , Eden Tim O.B.
Published: March 2009

Objectives: Non‐adherence (NA) by adolescents receiving cancer treatment is believed to be a major problem. However, adequate measures of NA have not been developed. The purpose of this study was to (1) assess the internal reliability of a new scale reflecting low‐risk NA behaviours, (2) examine whether the scores on this scale were associated with high‐risk NA behaviours and (3) assess the relationship between NA behaviours and patient attitudes towards stopping treatment.

Methods: Thirty‐three patients (16–24 years) with solid tumours reported on their previous adherence with treatment. Low‐risk NA behaviours were assessed on a 0–40 scale derived from the sum of 10 items. High‐risk NA behaviours and attitudes towards stopping treatment were assessed by questions with yes/no response options.

Results: Internal reliability of the low‐risk NA scale was α=0.73. Patients not seeking help for pyrexia had higher total low‐risk NA scores than those who sought help (mean 7.4, SD 5.3 vs mean 3.5, SD 3.6, t=2.1, p=0.03). There was also a trend for individuals who ignored pyrexia to be more likely to have contemplated stopping treatment than those who sought medical assistance (Fisher's Exact=0.09).

Conclusions: A scale reflecting low‐risk NA behaviour had good internal reliability and was associated with not seeking help when pyrexic. Ignoring a temperature was also associated with contemplating stopping treatment. We are now conducting a prospective study using the measure to assess validity against a range of information regarding NA. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Electron Backscatter Diffraction Study of Brachiopod Shell Calcite – Microscale Phase and Texture Analysis of a Polycrystalline Biomaterial
Authors: Schmahl Wolfgang W. , Griesshaber Erika , Neuser Rolf D. , Goetz Andreas , Lüter Carsten
Published: March 2009

Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) is an easy to use and highly automated microdiffraction method suitable for the determination of crystallographic phase and crystallite orientation. The high level of hierarchical structural organization in the shells of marine organisms was studied. Calcite brachiopod shell materials were found to belong to three types of microstructure: nano‐ to microcrystalline layers of acicular crystals, fiber composites with calcite single crystal fibers with [uv0] morphological axes, and material formed by columnar crystals with [001] morphological axes selected by competitive growth.
Purine‐rich element binding protein (PUR) α induces endoplasmic reticulum stress response, and cell differentiation pathways in prostate cancer cells
Authors: Inoue Takahiro , Maeno Atsushi , Talbot Conover , Zeng Yu , Yeater David B. , Leman Eddy S. , Kulkarni Prakash , Ogawa Osamu , Getzenberg Robert H.
Published: March 2009

BACKGROUND

Following androgen ablation treatment for advanced prostate cancer, almost all men relapse after a period of initial response to therapy, which eventually is life threatening. We have previously found that purine‐rich element binding protein, PURα, was significantly repressed in androgen‐independent prostate cancer cell lines in comparison to an androgen‐dependent line. Moreover, over‐expressing PURα in androgen‐independent prostate cancer cells attenuated their cell proliferation. The aim of the studies described here was to uncover some of the mechanisms by which over‐expression of PURα attenuates cell proliferation.

METHODS

A set of common genes induced by over‐expressing PURα both in PC3 and LNCaP cells was analyzed by DNA microarray. The results were then validated utilizing quantitative reverse transcription‐PCR. Using a 5.3‐kb region of the PSA promoter containing androgen response elements, the participation of PURα in androgen regulated gene expression was determined.

RESULTS

Genes involved in stress response and cell differentiation were induced in cells over‐expressing PURα. Some of the genes that are targets of androgen regulation are also induced. Most strikingly, ectopic expression of PURα induced transcriptional activity of the 5.3‐kb PSA promoter containing androgen response elements, without androgen stimulation.

CONCLUSION

Based upon the consideration that some of the genes involved in cell stress and differentiation are also regulated by androgens our data suggest that PURα shares some common pathways regulated by the androgen receptor. These findings suggest that regulation of PURα expression in prostate cancer cells may serve as a therapeutic target for hormone refractory prostate cancer. Prostate 69: 861–873, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A broader role for 5ARIs in prostate disease? Existing evidence and emerging benefits
Authors: Montorsi Francesco , Alcaraz Antonio , Desgrandchamps François , Hammerer Peter , Schröder Fritz , Castro Ramiro
Published: March 2009

5ARIs are recommended for men who have moderate‐to‐severe lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and benign prostatic enlargement (BPE) secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia. Studies have confirmed the utility of combining 5ARIs with alpha‐blockers; the MTOPS study showed that risk of overall clinical progression was significantly reduced after 4.5 years with combination therapy (finasteride/doxazosin) in comparison with either monotherapy, while the ongoing CombAT trial (dutasteride/tamsulosin) has for the first time shown benefit in improving symptoms for combination therapy over monotherapies within 12 months of treatment. Data also suggest roles for 5ARIs in prostate cancer. Several studies indicate that treatment with a 5ARI improves the performance of PSA testing for identifying men with prostate cancer, while the PCPT showed a significant reduction in the risk of developing prostate cancer with finasteride. However, widespread use of finasteride in this setting has been tempered by an apparent increase in high‐grade disease observed in the study. The ongoing REDUCE study will provide further insight into prostate cancer prevention with 5ARIs. 5ARI‐containing regimens may have utility as less aggressive treatment options for patients who only have rising PSA after definitive local therapy, and in patients with disease resistant to androgen deprivation therapy who have PSA progression. Current evidence therefore shows that 5ARIs are effective in treating LUTS/BPE and preventing disease progression, and may also have a role in the prevention of prostate cancer. The overlap between BPE and prostate cancer may allow a more unified approach to managing these conditions, with 5ARIs having a central role. Prostate 69: 895–907, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Vaccination with recombinant adenoviruses and dendritic cells expressing prostate‐specific antigens is effective in eliciting CTL and suppresses tumor growth in the experimental prostate cancer
Authors: Kim Sol , Lee Jee‐Boong , Lee Geon Kook , Chang Jun
Published: March 2009

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer is currently the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and the second leading cause of cancer‐related death in men in the US. Immunological approaches may provide an alternative option for prevention and treatment of prostate cancer.

METHODS

To develop vaccine against prostate cancer using mouse model, we constructed three recombinant adenoviruses expressing prostate‐specific membrane antigen (rAd/PSMA), prostate stem cell antigen (rAd/PSCA) and six‐transmembrane epithelial antigen of the prostate (rAd/STEAP), that were specifically up‐regulated in the transgenic murine prostate cancer.

RESULTS

Male C57BL/6 mice were immunized by intravenous injection of these recombinant adenoviruses and subsequently by subcutaneous injection of dendritic cells pulsed with TRAMP‐C1 tumor lysate. After subcutaneous challenge with TRAMP‐C1 cells, tumor growth was significantly delayed in the immunized mice compared to the control group. Surprisingly, significant numbers of STEAP‐specific CD8 T cells were detected in the peripheral blood and the spleen of immune mice using MHC I tetramers, and injection of rAd/STEAP alone followed by pulsed DC was sufficient to inhibit tumor growth. Therapeutic vaccination also significantly delayed the growth of pre‐established tumors.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that STEAP is a good immunologic target antigen against prostate cancer and our vaccination regimen successfully elicits anti‐tumor CTL responses and suppresses tumor growth. More studies will expedite the development of this vaccine toward clinical application. Prostate 69: 938–948, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Tumor‐promoting phenotype of CD90hi prostate cancer‐associated fibroblasts
Authors: Zhao Hongjuan , Peehl Donna M.
Published: March 2009

BACKGROUND

Cancer‐associated stroma contributes to the malignant behavior of adenocarcinomas of the prostate and other organs. CD90 is a marker of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and its expression is higher in prostate cancer stroma compared to normal tissue. Cultured prostate cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs) expressing high versus low levels of CD90 were analyzed for an MSC‐like or tumor‐promoting phenotype.

METHODS

CD90hi and CD90lo cells were collected by fluorescence‐activated cell sorting (FACS). Expression of genes associated with MSCs and/or tumor‐promoting activities was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Effects of stromal cell co‐culture or conditioned media were tested on BPH‐1 epithelial cells.

RESULTS

The pattern of gene expression did not support the hypothesis that CD90hi cells were MSCs. However, CD90hi cells expressed higher levels of many genes associated with tumor promotion, including cytokines, angiogenic factors, hedgehog signaling components, and transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β. Co‐culture or conditioned medium from CD90hi cells increased CXCR4 expression in BPH‐1 cells, at least in part due to TGF‐β, and protected BPH‐1 cells from apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that the elevated expression of CD90 previously observed in the cancer‐associated stroma of the human prostate is biologically significant. Although our results do not support the idea that CD90hi cells cultured from the cancer stroma are MSCs, our findings suggest that the phenotype of these cells is more tumor‐promoting than that of cells expressing low CD90. Prostate 69: 991–1000, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Minimum altered regions in early prostate cancer progression identified by high resolution whole genome tiling path BAC array comparative hybridization
Authors: Watson Spencer K. , Woolcock Bruce W. , Fee John N. , Bainbridge Terry C. , Webber Douglas , Kinahan Thomas J. , Lam Wan L. , Vielkind Juergen R.
Published: March 2009

BACKGROUND

Carcinoma of the prostate (CaP) is a serious health problem. The altered molecular mechanisms that lead to this disease are poorly understood.

METHODS

Specimens from radical prostatectomies and blood were collected from 18 CaP surgery patients. For CGH studies, 20 CaP‐related samples (16 Gleason grade 3, 3 higher grades, 1 BPH sample) and 18 samples of patient‐matched normal epithelial cells were obtained by laser‐assisted microdissection from frozen sections of the 18 prostatectomy specimens. High resolution SMRT aCGH was used to compare genomic profiles of prostatic samples to patient‐matched blood and pooled female DNA. TMPRSS2‐ERG fusion transcript analysis was performed by RT‐PCR in relation to alterations detected at the TMPRSS2 locus.

RESULTS

Our comprehensive aCGH approach allowed us to define 35 regions of recurrent alterations while excluding germline copy number polymorphisms. Novel regions identified include 2q14.2, containing INHBB, and 17q21.31. The TMPRSS2 locus at 21q22.3 may be a hotspot for rearrangements with 75% of the alterations resulting in the expression of a TMPRSS2‐ERG fusion transcript. Differences in fusion expression in different areas in an individual tumor focus and expression in adjacent normal epithelium supported intrafocal heterogeneity and field cancerization, respectively. Both features challenge our efforts to develop more objective markers for diagnosis and prediction of the severity of CaP.

CONCLUSION

The high‐density array enabled precise mapping of genomic alterations and consequently definition of minimum altered regions smaller than previously reported thus facilitating identification of those genes that contribute to the cancer transformation process. Prostate 69: 961–975, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Conventions on multioperator sites: An efficient risk management tool
Authors: Gaucher R. , Dolladille O.
Published: March 2009

Until the end of the 20th century, single user sites were the norm in Europe, but in the last 10 years the situation has changed. Today, especially in the chemical industry, sites are operated by several companies with facilities close to one another.

Beyond business interests, multioperator sites can offer great advantages to deal with environment, safety, security, and emergency management. But, this change generates new risks because of the interdependence between different companies and calls for a new organization of risk management at site scale.

For managing overall risk, it is necessary to define a minimum of common rules. In particular, companies should be encouraged to conclude clear and efficient contracts between themselves. These contracts under private law are very flexible and can be easily updated to accompany the development of sites.

The aim of this article is to highlight the main issues brought by this new kind of organization and to present INERIS' conclusions on appropriate contracts between operators (conventions) and efficient risk management on each site. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog 2010
Recommended management of steroid‐induced osteoporosis
Authors: Shukla Santwana , Tuck Stephen
Published: March 2009

Glucocorticoids are responsible for a quarter of osteoporosis cases and doses as low as 2.5mg prednisolone daily increase the risk of bone loss. Here the authors discuss the pathogenesis and recommended management of glucocorticoid‐induced osteoporosis. Copyright © 2009 Wiley Interface Ltd
The optical properties of Cd1–xMnxTe (0 < x < 0.55) solid solutions in monocrystals and thin polycrystalline films
Authors: Caraman Iuliana , Bibire Gabriel Lazar Luminita , Lazar Iuliana , Stamate Marius , Rusu Dragos
Published: March 2009

The optical absorption spectra at the fundamental absorption edge of Cd1–xMnxTe (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) at 78‐300 K have been studied. Single crystals were grown by Bridgman method. At 293 K, the fundamental absorption red edge in crystals with x ≤ 0.5 is determined by the exciton absorption. The fundamental absorption edge has the specific shape of crystals with high impurity levels density. The absorption spectra in the domain of the fundamental absorption band of Cd1–xMnxTe solid solutions in thin films prepared by discrete (“flash”) evaporation of synthesized single crystals and by physical vapor deposition (using Cd0.5Mn0.5Te as source material) are investigated. The optical gap of Cd1–xMnxTe films prepared by discrete evaporation is equal to ∼2.0 eV and 2.13 eV at temperatures 293 K and 78 K, respectively. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Analysis of the co‐doping effect of manganese and lanthanide elements in SrGa2S4 by the relativistic DV‐Xα calculation
Authors: Nomura Shigetaka , Takizawa Takeo , Kai Munenori , Ando Shizutoshi
Published: March 2009

The electronic states of manganese and lanthanide elements in SrGa2S4 are calculated by the relativistic discrete variational Xα method using a FORTRAN program of DVSCATR in order to investigate the mechanism allowing the 3d‐3d transition of Mn in SrGa2S4 by co‐doping a lanthanide element. We use a spherical cluster model of the D2 symmetry which consists of 45 atoms of Sr9Ga12S24, representing SrGa2S4, in our calculation. Doping a lanthanide to SrGa2S4 is represented by substituting a Sr atom with a lanthanide atom (indicated by ‘Ln’) at the cluster centre as (LnSr8)Ga12S24. Two types of co‐doping models are prepared as (LnMn2Sr6)Ga12S24 for MnSr and (LnSr8)(Mn4Ga8)S24 for MnGa with keeping the D2 symmetry. As a result of the self‐consistent charge (SCC) calculation, the averaged distance between a lanthanide atom at the cluster centre and surrounding eight sulphur atoms has to be set as 70 to 80% of that between the original Sr‐S combinations. Calculated electronic states show that the Ln(5d) and Mn(4s,4p) atomic orbitals are highly mixed, and in the lower energy range, the Mn(4s,4p) and Mn(3d) are also highly mixed. This hybridization cascade can explain the co‐doping effect as that the electrons optically excited to the unoccupied states relating to the Ln(5d) would finaly relax to the 3d‐3d transition of Mn. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)