bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Upregulation of Na+/Ca2+exchanger and TRPC6 contributes to abnormal Ca2+homeostasis in arterial smooth muscle cells from Milan hypertensive rats
Authors: Zulian Alessandra , Baryshnikov Sergey G. , Linde Cristina I. , Hamlyn John M. , Ferrari Patrizia , Golovina Vera A.
Published: July 2010

The Milan hypertensive strain (MHS) of rats is a model for hypertension in humans. Inherited defects in renal function have been well studied in MHS rats, but the mechanisms that underlie the elevated vascular resistance are unclear. Altered Ca2+signaling plays a key role in the vascular dysfunction associated with arterial hypertension. Here we compared Ca2+signaling in mesenteric artery smooth muscle cells from MHS rats and its normotensive counterpart (MNS). Systolic blood pressure was higher in MHS than in MNS rats (144 ± 2 vs. 113 ± 1 mmHg, P < 0.05). Resting cytosolic free Ca2+concentration (measured with fura-2) and ATP-induced Ca2+transients were augmented in freshly dissociated arterial myocytes from MHS rats. Ba2+entry activated by the diacylglycerol analog 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl- sn-glycerol (a measure of receptor-operated channel activity) was much greater in MHS than MNS arterial myocytes. This correlated with a threefold upregulation of transient receptor potential canonical 6 (TRPC6) protein. TRPC3, the other component of receptor-operated channels, was marginally, but not significantly, upregulated. The expression of TRPC1/5, components of store-operated channels, was not altered in MHS mesenteric artery smooth muscle. Immunoblots also revealed that the Na+/Ca2+exchanger-1 (NCX1) was greatly upregulated in MHS mesenteric artery (by ∼13-fold), whereas the expression of plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase was not altered. Ca2+entry via the reverse mode of NCX1 evoked by the removal of extracellular Na+induced a rapid increase in cytosolic free Ca2+concentration that was significantly larger in MHS arterial myocytes. The expression of α1/α2Na+pumps in MHS mesenteric arteries was not changed. Immunocytochemical observations showed that NCX1 and TRPC6 are clustered in plasma membrane microdomains adjacent to the underlying sarcoplasmic reticulum. In summary, MHS arteries exhibit upregulated TRPC6 and NCX1 and augmented Ca2+signaling. We suggest that the increased Ca2+signaling contributes to the enhanced vasoconstriction and elevated blood pressure in MHS rats.
Control of HIF-1α and vascular signaling in fetal lung involves cross talk between mTORC1 and the FGF-10/FGFR2b/Spry2 airway branching periodicity clock
Authors: Scott C. L. , Walker D. J. , Cwiklinski E. , Tait C. , Tee A. R. , Land S. C.
Published: July 2010

Lung development requires coordinated signaling between airway and vascular growth, but the link between these processes remains unclear. Mammalian target of rapamycin complex-1 (mTORC1) can amplify hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) vasculogenic activity through an NH2-terminal mTOR binding (TOS) motif. We hypothesized that this mechanism coordinates vasculogenesis with the fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-10/FGF-receptor2b/Spry2 regulator of airway branching. First, we tested if the HIF-1α TOS motif participated in epithelial-mesenchymal vascular signaling. mTORC1 activation by insulin significantly amplified HIF-1α activity at fetal Po2(23 mmHg) in human bronchial epithelium (16HBE14o-) and induced vascular traits (Flk1, sprouting) in cocultured human embryonic lung mesenchyme (HEL-12469). This enhanced activation of HIF-1α by mTORC1 was abolished on expression of a HIF-1α (F99A) TOS-mutant and also suppressed vascular differentiation of HEL-12469 cocultures. Next, we determined if vasculogenesis in fetal lung involved regulation of mTORC1 by the FGF-10/FGFR2b/Spry2 pathway. Fetal airway epithelium displayed distinct mTORC1 activity in situ, and its hyperactivation by TSC1−/−knockout induced widespread VEGF expression and disaggregation of Tie2-positive vascular bundles. FGF-10-coated beads grafted into fetal lung explants from Tie2-LacZ transgenic mice induced localized vascular differentiation in the peripheral mesenchyme. In rat fetal distal lung epithelial (FDLE) cells cultured at fetal Po2, FGF-10 induced mTORC1 and amplified HIF-1α activity and VEGF secretion without induction of ERK1/2. This was accompanied by the formation of a complex between Spry2, the cCBL ubiquitin ligase, and the mTOR repressor, TSC2, which abolished GTPase activity directed against Rheb, the G protein inducer of mTORC1. Thus, mTORC1 links HIF-1α-driven vasculogenesis with the FGF-10/FGFR2b/Spry2 airway branching periodicity regulator.
Early infection during burn-induced inflammatory response results in increased mortality and p38-mediated neutrophil dysfunction
Authors: Adediran Samuel G. , Dauplaise Derrick J. , Kasten Kevin R. , Tschöp Johannes , Dattilo Jonathan , Goetzman Holly S. , England Lisa G. , Cave Cindy M. , Robinson Chad T. , Caldwell Charles C.
Published: July 2010

Following burn injury, the host is susceptible to bacterial infections normally cleared by healthy patients. We hypothesized that during the systemic immune response that follows scald injury, the host's altered immune status increases infection susceptibility. Using a murine model of scald injury under inhaled anesthesia followed by intraperitoneal infection, we observed increased neutrophil numbers and function at postburn day (PBD) 1 compared with sham-burned and PBD4 mice. Further, increased mortality, bacteremia, and serum IL-6 were observed in PBD1 mice after Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) infection compared with sham-burned and PBD4 mice infected with PA. To examine these disparate responses, we investigated neutrophils isolated at 5 and 24 h following PA infection from PBD1 and sham-burned mice. Five hours after infection, there was no significant difference in number of recruited neutrophils; however, neutrophils from injured mice had decreased activation, active-p38, and oxidative burst compared with sham-burned mice. In direct contrast, 24 h after infection, we observed increased numbers, active-p38, and oxidative burst of neutrophils from PBD1 mice. Finally, we demonstrated that in neutrophils isolated from PBD1 mice, the observed increase in oxidative burst was p38 dependent. Altogether, neutrophil activation and function from thermally injured mice are initially delayed and later exacerbated by a p38-dependent mechanism. This mechanism is likely key to the observed increase in bacterial load and mortality of PBD1 mice infected with PA.
Internalization of the opioid growth factor, [Met5]-enkephalin, is dependent on clathrin-mediated endocytosis for downregulation of cell proliferation
Authors: Cheng Fan , McLaughlin Patricia J. , Banks William A. , Zagon Ian S.
Published: July 2010

The opioid growth factor (OGF; [Met5]-enkephalin), a constitutively expressed and tonically active inhibitory peptide, interacts with the OGF receptor (OGFr) to form an endogenous growth-regulating pathway in homeostasis. Amplification of OGF-OGFr interfacing in animal and clinical studies depresses development, neoplasia, angiogenesis, and immunity. Disruption of the OGF-OGFr axis accelerates cell proliferation and has been particularly important in wound repair. To investigate how OGF enters cells, OGF was labeled with 5,6-tetramethylrhodamine OGF (RhoOGF) to study its uptake in live cells. African green monkey kidney cells (COS-7) incubated with RhoOGF exhibited a temperature-dependent course of entry, being internalized at 37°C but not at 4°C. RhoOGF was detected in the cytoplasm 15 min after initial exposure, observed in both cytoplasm and nucleus within 30 min, and remained in the cells for as long as 5 h. A 100-fold excess of OGF or the opioid antagonist naltrexone, but not other opioid ligands (some selective for classic opioid receptors), markedly reduced entry of RhoOGF into cells. RhoOGF was functional because DNA synthesis in cells incubated with RhoOGF (10−5to 10−8M) was decreased 24–36%, and was comparable to cells treated with unlabeled OGF (reductions of 26–39%). OGF internalization was dependent on clathrin-mediated endocytosis, with addition of clathrin siRNA diminishing the uptake of RhoOGF and upregulating DNA synthesis. RhoOGF clathrin-mediated endocytosis was unrelated to endosomal or Golgi pathways. Taken together, these results suggest that OGF enters cells by active transport in a saturable manner that requires clathrin-mediated endocytosis.
Lateralization of the central circadian pacemaker output: a test of neural control of peripheral oscillator phase
Authors: Mahoney Carrie E. , Brewer Daniel , Costello Mary K. , Brewer Judy McKinley , Bittman Eric L.
Published: July 2010

To evaluate the contribution of neural pathways to the determination of the circadian oscillator phase in peripheral organs, we assessed lateralization of clock gene expression in Syrian hamsters induced to split rhythms of locomotor activity by exposure to constant light. We measured the ratio of haPer1, haPer2, and haBmal1 mRNA on the high vs. low (H/L) side at 3-h intervals prior to the predicted activity onset (pAO). We also calculated expression on the sides ipsilateral vs. contralateral (I/C) to the side of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) expressing higher haPer1. The extent of asymmetry in split hamsters varied between specific genes, phases, and organs. Although the magnitude of asymmetry in peripheral organs was never as great as that in the SCN, we observed significantly greater lateralization of clock gene expression in the adrenal medulla and cortex, lung, and skeletal muscle, but not in liver or kidney, of split hamsters than of unsplit controls. We observed fivefold lateralization of expression of the clock-controlled gene, albumin site D-element binding protein ( Dbp), in skeletal muscle (H/L: 10.7 ± 3.7 at 3 h vs. 2.2 ± 0.3 at 0 h pAO; P = 0.03). Furthermore, tyrosine hydroxylase expression was asymmetrical in the adrenal medulla of split (H/L: 1.9 ± 0.5 at 0 h) vs. unsplit hamsters (1.2 ± 0.04; P < 0.05). Consistent with a model of neurally controlled gene expression, we found significant correlations between the phase angle between morning and evening components (ψme) and the level of asymmetry (H/L or I/C). Our results indicate that neural pathways contribute to, but cannot completely account for, SCN regulation of the phase of peripheral oscillators.
Short-Term Effects of Single Repetitive TMS Sessions on Auditory Evoked Activity in Patients With Chronic Tinnitus
Authors: Lorenz Isabel , Müller Nadia , Schlee Winfried , Langguth Berthold , Weisz Nathan
Published: July 2010

Subjective tinnitus is the perception of a sound without any external source. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been examined as a treatment tool for chronic tinnitus for several years trying to target hyperactivity/abnormal synchronization within the auditory cortex putatively underlying the auditory phantom percept. However, its exact impact on auditory cortical activity remains largely unknown. This study's objective was to systematically examine changes in auditory responses (N1, auditory steady-state response [aSSR]) measured by means of magnetoencephalography after single sessions of stimulation with different TMS paradigms. Subjects with chronic tinnitus ( n = 10) underwent five sessions of rTMS in which they received one of five different stimulation protocols (1 Hz, individual alpha frequency, continuous theta burst stimulation [cTBS], intermittent theta burst stimulation [iTBS], and sham) in randomized order using a single-blind study design. Cortical steady-state responses to 40 Hz amplitude-modulated tones were measured before and after each magnetic stimulation protocol. The results demonstrate a reduction of the cortical response to the auditory steady-state stimulus after magnetic stimulation, whereas the N1 response was slightly enhanced or remained unchanged. Furthermore, reduction of the aSSR was driven by effects of iTBS, cTBS, and 1 Hz stimulation. Correspondingly, behavioral measures demonstrated the greatest reduction of tinnitus loudness after the respective rTMS protocols. The current study offers an interesting insight into the effects of rTMS on auditory cortical activity. The results of the study are discussed in the context of current limitations of TMS for the treatment of chronic tinnitus.
Persistent Currents and Discharge Patterns in Rat Hindlimb Motoneurons
Authors: Hamm Thomas M. , Turkin Vladimir V. , Bandekar Neha K. , O'Neill Derek , Jung Ranu
Published: July 2010

We report here the first direct measurements of persistent inward currents (PICs) in rat hindlimb motoneurons, obtained from ketamine–xylazine anesthetized rats during slow voltage ramps performed by single-electrode somatic voltage clamp. Most motoneurons expressed PICs and current–voltage ( I– V) relations often contained a negative-slope region (NSR; 13/19 cells). PICs activated at −52.7 ± 3.89 mV, 9 mV negative to spike threshold. NSR onset was −44.2 ± 4.1 mV. PIC amplitudes were assessed by maximum inward currents measured relative to extrapolated leak current and to NSR-onset current. PIC conductance at potentials just positive to activation was assessed by the relative change in slope conductance ( gin/ gleak). PIC amplitudes varied widely; some exceeded 5 and 10 nA relative to current at NSR onset or leak current, respectively. PIC amplitudes did not vary significantly with input conductance, but PIC amplitudes normalized by recruitment current decreased with increasing input conductance. Similarly, gin/ gleak decreased with increasing input conductance. Currents near resting potential on descending limbs of I– V relations were often outward, relative to ascending-limb currents. This residual outward current was correlated with increases in leak conductance on the descending limb and with input conductance. Excluding responses with accommodation, residual outward currents matched differences between recruitment and derecruitment currents, suggesting a role for residual outward current in frequency adaptation. Comparison of potentials for PIC activation and NSR onset with interspike trajectories during discharge demonstrated correspondence between PIC activation and frequency–current ( f– I) range boundaries. Contributions of persistent inward and outward currents to motoneuron discharge characteristics are discussed.
On the Complex Zeros of Some Families of Orthogonal Polynomials
Authors: Petropoulou Eugenia N.
Published: July 2010

The complex zeros of the orthogonal Laguerre polynomials for a < −n, ultraspherical polynomials for λ < −n, Jacobi polynomials for a < −n, β < −n, a + β < −2(n + 1), orthonormal Al‐Salam‐Carlitz II polynomials for a < 0, 0 < q < 1, and q ‐Laguerre polynomials for a < −n, 0 < q < 1 are studied. Several inequalities regarding the real and imaginary properties of these zeros are given, which help locating their position. Moreover, a few limit relations regarding the asymptotic behavior of these zeros are proved. The method used is a functional analytic one. The obtained results complement and improve previously known results.
The Caries Phenomenon: A Timeline from Witchcraft and Superstition to Opinions of the 1500s to Today's Science
Authors: Ruby John D. , Cox Charles F. , Akimoto Naotake , Meada Nobuko , Momoi Yasuko
Published: July 2010

This historical treatise follows the documented timeline of tooth decay into today's understanding, treatment, and teaching of caries biology. Caries has been attributed to many different causes for several millennia, however, only since the late 1900s has research revealed its complex multifactorial nature. European writers of the 1600s to 1700s held views that general health, mechanical injuries, trauma, and sudden temperature changes all caused caries—holding a common belief that decay was due to chemical agents, faulty saliva, and food particles. Until the early 1800s most writers believed that caries was due to inflammation from surrounding diseased alveolar bone. Today's science has demonstrated that caries is caused by indigenous oral microorganisms becoming a dynamic biofilm, that in the presence of fermentable sugars produce organic acids capable of dissolving inorganic enamel and dentin followed by the proteolytic destruction of collagen leaving soft infected dentin. As bacteria enter the pulp, infection follows.
Effects of Assisted Reproduction Technology on Placental Imprinted Gene Expression
Authors: Katagiri Yukiko , Aoki Chizu , Tamaki-Ishihara Yuko , Fukuda Yusuke , Kitamura Mamoru , Matsue Yoichi , So Akiko , Morita Mineto
Published: July 2010

We used placental tissue to compare the imprinted gene expression of IGF2, H19, KCNQ1OT1, and CDKN1C of singletons conceived via assisted reproduction technology (ART) with that of spontaneously conceived (SC) singletons. Of 989 singletons examined (ART n = 65; SC n = 924), neonatal weight was significantly lower (P < .001) in the ART group than in the SC group, but placental weight showed no significant difference. Gene expression analyzed by real‐time PCR was similar for both groups with appropriate‐for‐date (AFD) birth weight. H19 expression was suppressed in fetal growth retardation (FGR) cases in the ART and SC groups compared with AFD cases (P < .02 and P < .05, resp.). In contrast, CDKN1C expression was suppressed in FGR cases in the ART group (P < .01), while KCNQ1OT1 expression was hyperexpressed in FGR cases in the SC group (P < .05). As imprinted gene expression patterns differed between the ART and SC groups, we speculate that ART modifies epigenetic status even though the possibilities always exist.
Objectively Measured Physical Activity and Body Mass Index in Preschool Children
Authors: Vale Susana Maria Coelho Guimarães , Santos Rute Marina Roberto , Soares-Miranda Luísa Maria da Cruz , Moreira Carla Marisa Maia , Ruiz Jonatan R. , Mota Jorge Augusto Silva
Published: July 2010

Aim. To examine the association between objectively measured physical activity (PA) and body mass index (BMI) in preschool children.Methods. The study comprised 281 children (55.9% boys) aged from 4 to 6 years. PA was measured by accelerometer. Children were categorized as non-overweight (NOW) and overweight/obese (OW) according to the sex-adjusted BMI z-score (<1 and≥1, resp.).Results. Total and moderate intensity PA were not associated with BMI. We observed that a higher proportion of OW children were classified as low-vigorous PA compared to their NOW peers (43.9 versus 32.1%, resp.,P>.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that children with low-vigorous PA had higher odds ratio (OR) to be classified as OW compared to those with high-vigorous PA (OR=4.4; 95% CI: 1.4–13.4;P=.008) after adjusting for BMI at first and second years of life and other potential confounders.Conclusion. The data suggests that vigorous PA may play a key role in the obesity development already at pre-school age.
The Influence of Fiber Length and Concentration on the Physical Properties of Wheat Husk Fibers Rubber Composites
Authors: Sobhy Maged S. , Tammam M. T.
Published: July 2010

Ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM)/wheat husk fibers (WHFs) composites were prepared using a laboratory size two-roll mill. Cure characteristics and some physical properties such as swelling, mechanical, and thermal properties of the vulcanizates were studied. The adhesion status between the WHF and rubber matrix is lacked in general, but it started to reinforce the matrix at higher WHF contents where a higher restriction to molecular motion of the macromolecules with uniformed stress distribution of the fibers is produced. From the TGA analysis, a thermally stable property is exhibited, which in turn partially enhanced the reinforcement of the WHF-EPDM composites due to the natural adhesion during vulcanization.
Saviors and Survivors: Darfur, Politics, and the War on Terror
Authors: Mickler David
Published: July 2010

David Mickler reviews Mahmood Mamdani, Saviors and Survivors: Darfur, Politics, and the War on Terror (New York: Pantheon, 2009). ISBN 978-0-307-37723-4.
Flat-pressed Wood Plastic Composite as an Alternative to Conventional Wood-based Panels
Authors: Ayrilmis Nadir , Jarusombuti Songklod
Published: July 2010

This study evaluated physical and mechanical properties of the wood plastic composite panels made from dry-blended rubberwood fiber-polypropylene (PP) powder formulations using a conventional flat-press process under laboratory conditions. Three levels of rubberwood fibers (Hevea brasiliensis), 40%, 50%, and 60% based on the composition by weight, were mixed with the PP powder without and with 3% (based on weight) maleic anhydride grafted PP (MAPP) as a coupling agent. Water resistance of the panels was negatively influenced by the increasing wood fiber content. The modulus of rupture of the panels significantly increased with the increase in the wood fiber content from 40 to 50 wt% and then decreased as the fiber content reached 60 wt% but this decrease was not significant. The modulus of elasticity of the panels increased with the increase in fiber content from 40 to 60 wt%. Internal bond strength and screw withdrawal resistance declined with the increase in fiber content from 40% to 60 wt%. The formulations with MAPP were found to have higher strength and better water resistance.
Exploiting grid technologies for the simulation of clinical trials: the paradigm of in silico radiation oncology
Authors: Athanaileas Theodoros , Menychtas Andreas , Dionysiou Dimitra , Kyriazis Dimosthenis , Kaklamani Dimitra , Varvarigou Theodora , Uzunoglu Nikolaos , Stamatakos Georgios
Published: July 2010

In silico (on the computer) oncology is a complex and multiscale combination of sciences and technologies that focuses on the study and modelling of biological mechanisms related to the phenomenon of cancer at all levels of biocomplexity. In silico oncology simulation models may be used for evaluating and comparing different therapeutic schemes, while at the same time considering different values of critical parameters which present substantial inter-patient variability. As the number of the involved parameters characterizing both the complex tumour biosystem and possible treatment schemes increases, the resulting exponential increase in computational requirements makes the use of a grid environment for the execution of the simulations a particularly attractive solution. In this paper, a grid-enabled simulation environment for the execution of in silico oncology radiotherapy simulations on grid infrastructures is presented and implementation details are discussed. The environment provides a web portal as the end-user interface and contains advanced features that facilitate the execution of in silico oncology simulations in grid environments. Special consideration has been given during the development of the environment in order to simplify the maintenance and extension of the application, while additional services for Quality of Service provisioning have been applied. The simulation environment has been employed in order to perform several scenarios of glioblastoma multiforme radiotherapy simulations on the Enabling Grids for E-sciencE (EGEE) grid infrastructure. Indicative simulation results, as well as statistics regarding execution times on the grid, are presented.
Unfinished Proletarianization: Self, Anger, and Class Action among the Second Generation of Peasant-Workers in Present-Day China
Authors: Ngai Pun , Lu Huilin
Published: July 2010

As a result of its open-door policies and 30 years of reform, China has become the “world’s factory” and given rise to a new working class of rural migrant workers. This process has underlain a path of (semi-)proletarianization of Chinese peasant-workers: now the second generation is experiencing dagong, working for a boss, in industrialized towns and cities. What is the process of proletarianization of peasant-workers in China today? In what way does the path of proletarianization shape the new Chinese working class? Drawing on workers’ narratives and our ethnographic studies in Shenzhen and Dongguan between 2005 and 2008, this study focuses on the subjective experiences of the second generation of dagongmei/zai, female migrant workers/male migrant workers, who have developed new forms of power and resistance unknown to the previous generation of workers. Did the pain and trauma experienced by the first generation of dagong subjects gradually evolve into the anger and resentment that has conditioned the labor strikes and class actions of the second generation? In short, what continuity and change can we observe in the life struggles of this new working class? Is the second generation of dagong subjects compelled to take action as a result of long-endured pain and anger? Self, anger, and collective action among the new working class propel the narrative described in this article.
Daily family interactions among young adults in the United States from Latin American, Filipino, East Asian, and European backgrounds
Authors: Fuligni Andrew , Masten Carrie L.
Published: July 2010

In contrast to the abundant research on family relationships during adolescence, the nature of family interactions during young adulthood remains comparatively unexamined. The current study explored ethnic differences in young adults’ interactions with parents and siblings, the role of other activities in young adults’ family interactions, and the association of family interactions with young adults’ psychological distress and well-being. A total of 220 young adults (Mage = 25.5 years) from Latin American, East Asian, Filipino, and European backgrounds in the United States reported their family interactions, daily activities, and psychological distress and well-being using daily diaries for 14 days. As expected, time spent in work, school, and other relationships was found to conflict with time spent being with, and helping, family members. Leisure time and conflict with parents and siblings had significance for psychological distress and well-being. Other findings suggested a potentially higher level of family importance and connectedness among young adults from Filipino backgrounds as compared to their peers.
Dominant language transfer in adult second language learners and heritage speakers
Authors: Montrul Silvina
Published: July 2010

The effects of language transfer have been amply documented in second language (L2) acquisition and, to a lesser extent, in the language contact/loss literature (Cook, 2003). In both cases, the stronger and often dominant language encroaches into the structure of the less dominant language in systematic ways. But are transfer effects in these two situations comparable: is first language (L1) influence in adult L2 learners similar to L2 influence in the L1 of early bilinguals? The current study addresses this question by investigating knowledge of Spanish clitics, clitic left dislocations, and differential object marking (DOM) in 72 L2 learners and 67 Spanish heritage speakers. The contact language, English, is assumed to not instantiate these syntactic properties. Results of an oral production task and a written acceptability judgment task indicated overall advantages for the heritage speakers in some areas, but similar effects of transfer from English in the two groups. Transfer effects were less pronounced with core aspects of grammar (syntax proper in the case of clitics) than with aspects of grammar that lie at the interfaces of syntax and semantics/pragmatics, as in the case of clitic left dislocations and DOM. These findings have implications for current views on the vulnerability of certain linguistic interfaces in language development (Sorace, 2004; Serratrice et al., 2004; Tsimpli and Sorace, 2006; White, 2009) and for theories that stress the role of age in L2 acquisition and permanent transfer effects.
Deriving meaning through context: Interpreting bare nominals in second language Japanese
Authors: Gabriele Alison
Published: July 2010

Previous studies on the second language acquisition of telicity have suggested that learners can use morphosyntactic cues to interpret sentences as telic or atelic even in cases where the cues differ in the first language (L1) and second language (L2) (Slabakova, 2001, 2005; Gabriele, 2008; Kaku et al., 2008a, 2008b). The present study extends this line of research by focusing on a case in which learners cannot rely on morphosyntactic cues in order to reach the appropriate aspectual interpretation. We examine the acquisition of telicity by English-speaking learners of Japanese, focusing on how learners interpret bare count nouns such as kaado ‘card’ that obligatorily display count noun morphosyntax in English. In Japanese, a bare noun such as kaado is ambiguous with respect to number and therefore a verb phrase such as kaado-o kakimashita ‘wrote card’ can be interpreted as either telic ‘wrote the cards’ or atelic ‘wrote cards’ depending on the context. The results of two studies with both intermediate (Study 1: n = 38; Study 2: n = 38) and advanced (Study 1: n = 7; Study 2: n = 10) learners of Japanese show that there are learners at both levels of proficiency that have difficulty with the interpretation of bare count nouns and assign an exclusively telic reading to a verb phrase such as kaado-o kakimashita ‘wrote card’. We argue that this interpretation is due to the boundedness of count nouns in L1 English and propose that a retreat from negative transfer is difficult when there is variability in the native speaker input and when meaning has to be derived from context in the absence of morphosyntactic cues.
Recovery from first-language transfer: The second language acquisition of English double objects by Korean speakers
Authors: Oh Eunjeong
Published: July 2010

Previous studies on second language (L2) acquisition of English dative alternation by Korean speakers (Oh and Zubizarreta, 2003, 2006a, 2006b) have shown that the acquisition of English benefactive double object (DO) (e.g. John baked Mary a cake) lags behind that of its counterpart goal double object (e.g. John sent Mary the letter). This asymmetry was attributed to grammatical differences between English and Korean benefactive DOs; goal DOs in the two languages have similar grammatical properties. Given the negative first language (L1) influence attested in the acquisition of English DOs by Korean speakers, this article examines the recovery process from these negative effects of L1 transfer and the triggering factors in such a process by investigating L2 learners’ knowledge of semantic properties pertinent to English DOs, using an Acceptability Judgment task with contexts. The present study found that most advanced learners are indeed capable of acquiring semantic properties of both types of English DOs, restructuring their interlanguage grammar in such a way that both types of DOs denote prospective possession. This article suggests that acquisition of the semantics of goal DOs, possibly attributed to L1 transfer, bootstraps acquisition of the semantics of benefactive DOs, and that this generalization from goal DOs to benefactive DOs is made possible by the surface generalization hypothesis (Goldberg, 2002), which states that argument structure patterns sharing the surface forms should be analysed on their own as a class. Furthermore, this article argues that this recovery process can be interpreted as evidence of a tie between syntax and semantics: developing sensitivity to the semantics of English DOs is indispensable for acquiring the syntax of English DOs (compare Lardiere, 2000; Slabakova, 2006). On this view, learning a construction essentially means learning its associated semantics, and acquisition of the syntax of a construction is a consequence of acquisition of the semantics of the construction.
Factors Associated With Treatment Acceptance and Compliance Among Incarcerated Male Sex Offenders
Authors: Clegg Carl , Fremouw William , Horacek Thomas , Cole Angel , Schwartz Rebecca
Published: July 2010

The files of sex offenders who had been offered treatment at a medium-security state prison were divided into three groups: treatment refusal ( n = 59), treatment noncompliance ( n = 61), and treatment compliance ( n = 36). Demographic, offense-related, clinical, and psychological assessment data were collected. Significant differences were found between groups on years to parole eligibility; plea; relation to victim; childhood sexual victimization; and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–2 Variable Response Inconsistency (VRIN), Lie (L), and Masculinity–Femininity (Mf) scale scores. Logistic regression analyses revealed that significant predictors of treatment refusal include increased time until parole eligibility and lower VRIN and Mf scores (vs. noncompliant) as well as no history of childhood sexual victimization and higher L scores (vs. compliant). Having entered a not-guilty plea was the only significant predictor of noncompliance among those who initially accepted treatment. These findings are discussed in relation to previous studies of sex offender treatment compliance and directions for future research.
Behavioral Discriminators of Sexual Sadism and Paraphilia Nonconsent in a Sample of Civilly Committed Sexual Offenders
Authors: Richards Henry , Jackson Rebecca L.
Published: July 2010

Sexual sadism continues to be a diagnosis fraught with controversy concerning its reliability and validity. The current study examined the offense behavior of 39 civilly committed sexual offenders diagnosed with sexual sadism compared to a group of similarly committed individual diagnoses with Paraphilia Not Otherwise Specified (NOS)— Nonconsent. In addition, offense elements common across studies of sadism were identified. Specifically, offense behaviors including victim abduction and confinement, beating the victim during a sexual assault, and using restraints were indicative of sexual sadism across studies. In addition, this study found the use of noncontingent threats as well as gestures of mutuality to be more common among sadists. Results overall suggest that sadistic acts may be more characterized by humiliation of the victim through the exercise of power and control than by the use of violence. Differential diagnosis between Sexual Sadism and Paraphilia NOS—Nonconsent, may be aided by close inspection of offense behavior.
Case Series: Tension Pneumothorax Complicating Narrow-Bore Enteral Feeding Tube Placement
Authors: Freeberg Sheldon Y. , Carrigan Thomas P. , Culver Daniel A. , Guzman Jorge A.
Published: July 2010

Frequently, narrow-bore feeding tubes are placed in critically ill hospitalized patients without difficulty. However, due to the simplicity and relative ease of bedside placement of feeding tubes, complications, including life threatening, are often minimized. We report 3 cases of severe pleuropulmonary complications after routine bedside placement of a narrow-bore enteral feeding tubes and a review of the literature. These episodes have not only prompted our adoption of a new policy specifying the routine use of ultrasound to guide feeding tube placement in obtunded or mechanically ventilated patients but also offer recommendations post-removal of misplaced feeding tubes.
Empiric Therapy for Gram-Negative Pathogens in Nosocomial and Health Care-Associated Pneumonia: Starting With the End in Mind
Authors: Arnold Amy , Brouse Sara D. , Pitcher William D. , Hall Ronald G.
Published: July 2010

Nosocomial pneumonia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality for hospitalized patients. Antimicrobial resistance is increasing, creating a strain between ensuring the provision of adequate empiric therapy and slowing the development of antimicrobial resistance. Excessive antimicrobial therapy places patients are at greater risk of drug interactions, adverse events, and superinfections. Ways to maximize adequate empiric therapy include (1) categorizing each patient’s risk of being infected with a multidrug-resistant pathogen and knowledge of local susceptibility patterns, (2) de-escalating antimicrobial therapy to decrease the rates of superinfections such as Clostridium difficile, and (3) limiting the duration of therapy to decrease the likelihood of adverse events, drug interactions, and antimicrobial resistance. Pharmacodynamically enhanced dosing regimens also have the potential to improve clinical outcomes and slow the development of antimicrobial resistance. Drugs whose killing is optimized by the percentage time above the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), such as β-lactams, can be given by continuous or extended infusion to provide superior pharmacodynamic (PD) target attainment rates compared with traditional regimens. Drugs whose killing is optimized with a high-peak plasma concentration to MIC ratio (eg, aminoglycosides) should be administered once daily to maximize the likelihood of achieve optimal target attainment rates. Drugs whose killing is optimized by the ratio of the area under the curve (AUC) to MIC ratio (eg, fluoroquinolones) depend on the total daily dose as opposed to the dosing schedule or infusion time. Determining the optimal drug dosing schedules for obese patients remains critical because these patients have may have significantly increased volumes of distribution and clearance rates compared to normal weight patients. Optimizing the use of current antimicrobials is paramount to ensure quality treatment options are available, given the lack of gram-negative antimicrobials in the pipeline.
Lesbian Adoptive Couples: Responding to Shifting Identities and Social Relationships
Authors: Woodford Michael R. , Sheets Katharine , Scherrer Kristin , d'Eon-Blemings Roxanne , Tenkate Ingrid , Addams Blair
Published: July 2010

Lesbian families are marginalized in contemporary society. Yet, shifting social mores and recent policy changes enable some lesbian couples to adopt children as a couple. Research is lacking about these unique families. The qualitative study presented here extends knowledge about lesbian couples’ internal and social experiences as they become adoptive parents. The findings indicate that these couples face unique challenges to internally held identities and in social relationships. They use, often simultaneously, normalizing and resisting strategies to address the challenges they face. The employment of strategies varies over time and across social contexts, adding to the complexity of tactics that lesbian families use to address heterosexism.
Feminist Perspectives in Development: Implications for Women and Microcredit
Authors: Drolet Julie
Published: July 2010

This article critically explores how feminist theories continue to affect development paradigms and discourses by focusing on women’s experiences in microcredit programs. It locates the ideological roots of key concepts in development theories and feminist thinking about women’s role in development and improving women’s status. Over the past three decades, feminist theories and perspectives have influenced the debates on development across disciplines. Learning from the historical trajectory of development theories and feminist perspectives allows social workers to consider the centrality of gender in shaping every aspect of social life.
Strategies of powerful self-presentations in the discourse of female tennis players
Authors: Sznycer Karolina
Published: July 2010

The major focus of this article is on the transformative effects of the positioning of feminine identities of tennis players within the adversarial framework of the genre of a post-match press conference. What is investigated is how female tennis players discursively construct their identities through continual face work and a multitude of persuasive strategies of self-presentation. Furthermore, articulations of a variety of discourses are foregrounded as contributing to the construction of players’ communicative styles. Preponderant emphasis in the characterization of players’ identities is on the dimension of power. The article draws upon the tools of pragmatic analysis coupled with critical discourse analysis. The major strategies of positive self-presentation are discursively realized in a variety of ways which encompass semantic, formal and interactional structures (Van Dijk, 2000), each comprising multifarious analytical categories pertinent for the present study.
LolliPop for learning resources: Information literacy staff training within further education
Authors: Appleton Leo
Published: July 2010

This paper looks at how the provision of information literacy training is supported in the further education sector. Using a case study, the results demonstrate how an online information literacy programme can be used as a staff development tool, in order that Learning Resources staff are better equipped to support students in their information literacy needs. The online programme was also used so that staff could become familiar with the institutional virtual learning environment (VLE), again in order that they are able to better support students.
From racial exclusions to new inclusions: Black and minority ethnic participation in football clubs in the East Midlands of England
Authors: Bradbury Steven
Published: July 2010

This article reports on survey and interview data from a two-phase study examining the shape and scope of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) participation in amateur football clubs in Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England. Survey results identified strongly differentiated patterns of participation and a concentration of BME (male) players, coaches and management committee members at a small number of clubs in the city of Leicester. Interview data contextualized the socio-historical development and ongoing reality of these BME clubs as a consequence of — and as active resistance to — racisms and exclusions within pre-existing and homogeneously White local football networks. BME clubs also had distinct social, cultural and religious attachments and had historically operated as symbolic and practical sites of community mobilization and cultural identity production for specific BME communities. Survey and interview data indicated that BME clubs and newer ‘multi-ethnic’ clubs increasingly featured a strong focus on the provision of valuable participation opportunities to younger players from a range of culturally and religiously diverse backgrounds and from communities experiencing disproportionate levels of social and economic deprivation. The article concludes by examining the role of BME clubs and newer ‘multi-ethnic’ clubs as facilitators of new inclusions and positive multi-cultural leisure spaces for young footballers within the context of the changing local cultural landscape of Leicester and with reference to wider debates around racial integration and multiculturalism in late modern Britain.
Impact of Measurement Invariance on Construct Correlations, Mean Differences, and Relations With External Correlates
Authors: Schmitt Neal , Golubovich Juliya , Leong Frederick T. L.
Published: July 2010

The impact of measurement invariance and the provision for partial invariance in confirmatory factor analytic models on factor intercorrelations, latent mean differences, and estimates of relations with external variables is investigated for measures of two sets of widely assessed constructs: Big Five personality and the six Holland interests (RIASEC). In comparing models that include provisions for partial invariance with models that do not, the results indicate quite small differences in parameter estimates involving the relations between factors, one relatively large standardized mean difference in factors between the subgroups compared and relatively small differences in the regression coefficients when the factors are used to predict external variables. The results provide support for the use of partially invariant models, but there does not seem to be a great deal of difference between structural coefficients when the measurement model does or does not include separate estimates of subgroup parameters that differ across subgroups. Future research should include simulations in which the impact of various factors related to invariance is estimated.
High-shear, Jet-cooking, and Alkali Treatment of Corn Distillers’ Dried Grains to Obtain Products with Enhanced Protein, Oil and Phenolic Antioxidants
Authors: Inglett G.E. , Chen D. , Rose D.J. , Berhow M.
Published: July 2010

Distillers dried grains (DDG) have potential to be a nutritionally important source of protein, oil and phenolic antioxidants. DDG was subjected to high-shear and jet-cooking, with or without alkaline pH adjustment and autoclaving. Soluble and insoluble fractions were analyzed for protein, oil and ash. Extracts were analyzed for phenolic acids and antioxidant activity. Protein contents were significantly elevated in the insoluble fractions after treatment and the oil content was drastically increased in the insoluble fraction after high-shear and jet-cooking without pH adjustment. Alkaline pH adjustment resulted in a soluble fraction that was highest in phenolic acids, but not antioxidant activity. The highest antioxidant activity was found in the 50% ethanol extract from DDG that had been subjected to high-shear and jet-cooking. These results suggest that high-shear and jet-cooking may be useful processing treatments to increase the value of DDG by producing fractions high in protein, oil and extractable phenolic acids with high antioxidant activity. The DDG fractions and extracts described herein may be useful as food and nutraceutical ingredients, and, if used for these applications, will increase the value of DDG and ease economic burdens on ethanol producers, allowing them to compete in the bio-fuel marketplace.
Canna edulis Ker By-product: Chemical Composition and Characteristics of the Dietary Fiber
Authors: Juan Zhang  , Wang Zheng-Wu , Shi Xian-Ming
Published: July 2010

Canna edulis Ker by-product was recycled and utilized after starch extraction. The chemical composition, physical properties and antioxidant activity of the by-product were investigated. The by-product was mainly composed of dietary fiber (54.84% measured by AOAC method), and the insoluble dietary fiber constituted the major fraction. Then, the chemical composition of dietary fiber was tested using modified AOAC and Englyst methods. The results showed that dietary fiber was comprised of cellulose, hemicelluloses (including xyloglucans, arabinoxylans and glucuronoxylans), pectin and lignin. Moreover, the by-product contained relatively high content of phenolic compounds and exhibited a moderate antioxidant activity. In addition, the by-product showed both high water-holding capacity (12.5 mL/g) and oil-holding capacity (14 mL/g), and its suspension exhibited controllable viscosity. Therefore, the by-product from C. edulis is not only a source of dietary fiber but also a functional ingredient for food industry.
Choosing an executive coach: The influence of gender on the coach-coachee matching process
Authors: Gray David E. , Goregaokar Harshita
Published: July 2010

Coaching has enjoyed substantial commercial growth, but empirical support for its effectiveness is limited. Nowhere is this more so than in the matching process between coach and coachee. This study describes the results from a coaching programme in which coachees were asked to reflect on and justify their choice of coach. Initial, qualitative results suggested that female coachees favoured the choice of female coaches, partly as a role model of business success. Male coachees tended to justify the selection of a female coach as more approachable for the discussion of sensitive, personal issues. A minority of male respondents also displayed sexist attitudes in their comments on the selection process. Subsequent quantitative analysis of the data, however, revealed no bias towards the choice of either female or male coaches. While the results show no statistical significance in gender choices, for a minority of coachees, gender is a rather surprising factor in the selection process.