bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The IP
3
Receptor Regulates Cardiac Hypertrophy in Response to Select Stimuli
Authors: Nakayama Hiroyuki , Bodi Ilona , Maillet Marjorie , DeSantiago Jaime , Domeier Timothy L. , Mikoshiba Katsuhiko , Lorenz John N. , Blatter Lothar A. , Bers Donald M. , Molkentin Jeffery D.
Published: July 2010

Rationale:

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP
3
) is a second messenger that regulates intracellular Ca
2+
release through IP
3
receptors located in the sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum of cardiac myocytes. Many prohypertrophic G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling events lead to IP
3
liberation, although its importance in transducing the hypertrophic response has not been established in vivo.

Objective:

Here, we generated conditional, heart-specific transgenic mice with both gain- and loss-of-function for IP
3
receptor signaling to examine its hypertrophic growth effects following pathological and physiological stimulation.

Methods and Results:

Overexpression of the mouse type-2 IP
3
receptor (IP
3
R2) in the heart generated mild baseline cardiac hypertrophy at 3 months of age. Isolated myocytes from overexpressing lines showed increased Ca
2+
transients and arrhythmias in response to endothelin-1 stimulation. Although low levels of IP
3
R2 overexpression failed to augment/synergize cardiac hypertrophy following 2 weeks of pressure-overload stimulation, such levels did enhance hypertrophy following 2 weeks of isoproterenol infusion, in response to Gαq overexpression, and/or in response to exercise stimulation. To inhibit IP
3
signaling in vivo, we generated transgenic mice expressing an IP
3
chelating protein (IP
3
-sponge). IP
3
-sponge transgenic mice abrogated cardiac hypertrophy in response to isoproterenol and angiotensin II infusion but not pressure-overload stimulation. Mechanistically, IP
3
R2-enhanced cardiac hypertrophy following isoproterenol infusion was significantly reduced in the calcineurin-Aβ–null background.

Conclusion:

These results indicate that IP
3
-mediated Ca
2+
release plays a central role in regulating cardiac hypertrophy downstream of GPCR signaling, in part, through a calcineurin-dependent mechanism.
High-Profile Flow Diverter (Silk) Implantation in the Basilar Artery
Authors: Kulcsár Zsolt , Ernemann Ulrike , Wetzel Stephan G. , Bock Alexander , Goericke Sophia , Panagiotopoulos Vasilis , Forsting Michael , Ruefenacht Daniel A. , Wanke Isabel
Published: July 2010

Background and Purpose—

The introduction of flow diverters (FDs) has expanded the possibilities for reconstructive treatment of difficult intracranial aneurysms. Concern remains as to the long-term patency of the perforating arteries and side branches covered during stent placement. Our purpose was to evaluate the performance of and early effect on covered branches after implantation of the Silk FD in the treatment of basilar artery aneurysms.

Methods—

Twelve patients with an aneurysm of the basilar artery that was treated by implantation of the Silk FD were included in our retrospective study. Both unruptured and previously ruptured, formerly untreated, and recurrent aneurysms were treated. During follow-up, patients were monitored for clinical evolution, patency of the covered vessels, and aneurysmal obliteration.

Results—

Of the 2 ruptured aneurysms, 1 was initially treated by FD implantation. The FD covered the basilar bifurcation and the origin of a P1 segment of the posterior cerebral artery in 9 cases, the origin of the superior cerebellar artery in 9, and of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery in 3. There was 1 acute basilar artery occlusion a few hours after FD implantation. During a mean follow-up of 16 weeks, 3 patients experienced a symptomatic neurologic event.

Conclusions—

Implantation of the Silk FD in the basilar artery was feasible and well tolerated in most cases to date. However, late ischemic events affecting perforating arteries may occur after FD implantation, suggesting that the indication should be restricted to otherwise untreatable aneurysms in this location.
Improved Cognitive Outcomes With Endovascular Coiling of Ruptured Intracranial Aneurysms
Authors: Scott Richard B. , Eccles Fiona , Molyneux Andrew J. , Kerr Richard S.C. , Rothwell Peter M. , Carpenter Katherine
Published: July 2010

Background and Purpose—

The International Subarachnoid Aneurysm Trial (ISAT) reported lower rates of death and disability with endovascular versus neurosurgical treatment of ruptured intracranial aneurysms. However, assessment of functional outcome was limited to the modified Rankin Scale, which is known to be insensitive to cognitive function. A neuropsychological substudy (N-ISAT) was therefore done in all recruits from 8 ISAT centers in the United Kingdom.

Methods—

Detailed neuropsychological assessment was performed at a 12-month follow-up visit. Impairment was defined as performance below the 5th percentile of the study population on at least 2 tests in ≥2 major cognitive domains. Analysis was restricted to patients who were not known to be otherwise disabled according to the modified Rankin Scale (ie, modified Rankin Scale 0 to 2).

Results—

Of 836 patients randomized in ISAT in the 8 UK centers (411 allocated endovascular treatment versus 425 neurosurgery), 224 were dead or disabled before 12-month follow-up (78 allocated endovascular treatment versus 135 neurosurgery). Of the remaining 612 patients eligible for neuropsychological assessment, 137 (65 allocated endovascular treatment versus 72 neurosurgery) did not attend. Of the 474 nondisabled patients who were assessed, 152 (32.1%) had cognitive impairment. Patients with cognitive impairment had reduced self-reported health-related quality of life (
P
<0.001) in both treatment groups, but cognitive impairment was less common in those allocated endovascular treatment (70 of 262 versus 82 of 212 allocated neurosurgery, OR=0.58, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.87,
P
=0.0055). The incidence of epilepsy was also lower in the N-ISAT endovascular group (7 versus 18, OR=0.30, 0.11 to 0.77,
P
=0.005) but was independent of the effect on cognitive function.

Conclusions—

Cognitive impairment occurred in approximately one third of patients who were not otherwise disabled according to the modified Rankin Scale in N-ISAT and was more frequent in the neurosurgery group. These results have implications for management of ruptured intracranial aneurysms and more generally for interpretation of the outcomes of clinical trials that use the modified Rankin Scale.
Neglect Is More Common and Severe at Extreme Hemoglobin Levels in Right Hemispheric Stroke
Authors: Gottesman Rebecca F. , Bahrainwala Zainab , Wityk Robert J. , Hillis Argye E.
Published: July 2010

Background and Purpose—

Anemia is 1 potential mechanism by which the brain receives inadequate oxygenation. The purpose of this study was to determine in acute stroke patients whether lower hemoglobin values were associated with worse hemispatial neglect.

Methods—

In 203 subjects, neglect testing batteries were administered within 24 hours of admission for acute right hemispheric stroke. We analyzed the error rate on each test as well as “any neglect” (
z
score ≥2 on any of 3 selected tests compared with normal controls), as predicted by hemoglobin level, with adjustment for infarct size, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, age, and sex.

Results—

The association between hemoglobin and neglect varied on the basis of hemoglobin level. At lower hemoglobin levels (<12 g/dL), each 1-point higher hemoglobin value was protective (adjusted odds ratio=0.56; 95% CI, 0.35 to 0.89) from having “any neglect.” However, for a hemoglobin value >14 g/dL, each 1-point higher hemoglobin value was associated with higher odds of having neglect (adjusted odds ratio=1.67; 95% CI, 1.09 to 2.57). Similar relations were found for predicted error rate on the horizontal line bisection, line cancellation, and copy Ogden scene neglect tests. These relations seemed to be more pronounced in individuals who had a diffusion/perfusion mismatch.

Conclusions—

Lower and higher hemoglobin levels were each associated with increased odds of neglect and with worse severity of neglect, independent of stroke size and severity. Higher hemoglobin values may represent dehydration or hyperviscosity. The importance of the extremes of hemoglobin in identifying individuals at risk for worse functional consequences of stroke warrants further study.
Mechanisms of Osteopontin-Induced Stabilization of Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Rats
Authors: Suzuki Hidenori , Hasegawa Yu , Kanamaru Kenji , Zhang John H.
Published: July 2010

Background and Purpose—

Osteopontin (OPN) is an inducible, multifunctional, extracellular matrix protein that may be protective against blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). However, the protective mechanisms remain unclear.

Methods—

We produced the endovascular perforation model of SAH in rats and studied the time course of OPN induction in brains by Western blotting and immunofluorescence (n=50). Then, 34 rats were randomly assigned to sham (n=3), sham+OPN small interfering RNA (siRNA, n=3), SAH+negative control siRNA (n=14), and SAH+OPN siRNA (n=14) groups, and 109 rats were allocated to sham+vehicle (n=17), sham+recombinant OPN (n=17), SAH+vehicle (n=33), SAH+recombinant OPN (n=31), and SAH+recombinant OPN+
l
-arginyl-glycyl-
l
-aspartate motif–containing hexapeptide (n=11) groups. The effects of OPN siRNA or recombinant OPN on BBB disruption and related proteins were studied.

Results—

OPN was significantly induced in reactive astrocytes and capillary endothelial cells, peaking at 72 hours after SAH, during the recovery phase of BBB disruption. Blockage of endogenous OPN induction exacerbated BBB disruption and was associated with a reduction of angiopoietin-1 and mitogen-activated protein kinase
(
MAPK) phosphatase-1 (an endogenous MAPK inhibitor), activation of MAPKs, and induction of vascular endothelial growth factor-A at 72 hours after SAH, whereas recombinant OPN treatment improved it and was associated with MAPK phosphatase-1 induction, MAPK inactivation, and vascular endothelial growth factor-A reduction, which was blocked by
l
-arginyl-glycyl-
l
-aspartate motif–containing hexapeptide at 24 hours after SAH. Vascular endothelial growth factor-B and angiopoietin-2 levels were unchanged.

Conclusions—

OPN may increase MAPK phosphatase-1 that inactivates MAPKs, upstream and downstream of vascular endothelial growth factor-A, by binding to
l
-arginyl-glycyl-
l
-aspartate–dependent integrin receptors, suggesting a novel mechanism of OPN-induced post-SAH BBB protection.
A Comparison of Computed Tomography Perfusion-Guided and Time-Guided Endovascular Treatments for Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Hassan Ameer E. , Zacharatos Haralabos , Rodriguez Gustavo J. , Vazquez Gabriela , Miley Jefferson T. , Tummala Ramachandra P. , Suri M. Fareed K. , Taylor Robert A. , Qureshi Adnan I.
Published: July 2010

Background and Purpose—

The role of CT perfusion (CT-P) imaging for the selection of patients with acute ischemic stroke who may benefit from endovascular treatment is not defined. The objective of this study was to determine whether CT-P-guided endovascular treatment improves clinical outcomes compared with standard endovascular treatment based on the time interval between symptom onset and presentation and noncontrast cranial CT imaging.

Methods—

A retrospective study was performed comparing the clinical characteristics, complications, and clinical outcomes of patients with acute ischemic stroke who were treated using endovascular modalities based on either CT-P imaging (CT-P-guided) or time interval between symptom onset and presentation and absence of intracerebral hemorrhage or extensive ischemic changes on noncontrast cranial CT scan (time-guided).

Results—

The rates of partial and complete recanalization were similar between the CT-P- and time-guided treatment groups (n=61 [88%] versus n=103 [81%];
P
=0.52) regardless of whether they received intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator before endovascular treatment. Comparing the CT-P-guided with the time-guided patients, favorable discharge outcome (modified Rankin Scale 0 to 2) was observed in 23 (32%) versus 41 (33%) of the patients, respectively (
P
=0.9). In-hospital mortality was observed in 15 (21%) of CT-P- and 29 (23%) of time-guided patients (
P
=0.74).

Conclusion—

CT-P-guided endovascular treatment did not increase the rate of short-term favorable outcomes among patients with acute ischemic stroke. Prospective studies are required to validate the CT-P criteria and protocols currently in use before incorporating CT-P as a routine modality for patient selection for endovascular treatment.
Hypothermia Reduces Perihemorrhagic Edema After Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Authors: Kollmar Rainer , Staykov Dimitre , Dörfler Arnd , Schellinger Peter D. , Schwab Stefan , Bardutzky Jürgen
Published: July 2010

Background and Purpose—

The prognosis of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) is poor because of the mass effect arising from the hematoma and the associated peri-hemorrhagic edema, leading to increased intracranial pressure. Because the efficacy of surgical and anti-edematous treatment strategies is limited, we investigated the effects of mild induced hypothermia in patients with large sICH.

Methods—

Twelve patients with supratentorial sICH >25 mL were treated by hypothermia of 35°C for 10 days. Evolution of hematoma volume and perifocal edema was measured by cranial CT. Functional outcome was assessed after 90 days. These patients were compared to patients (n=25; inclusion criteria: sICH volume >25 mL, no acute restriction of medical therapy on admission) from the local hemorrhage data bank (n=312). Side effects of hypothermia were analyzed.

Results—

All patients from both groups needed mechanical ventilation and were treated in a neurocritical care unit. All hypothermic patients (mean age, 60±10 years) survived until day 90, whereas 7 patients died in the control group (mean age, 67±7 years). Absolute hematoma size on admission was 58±29 mL (hypothermia) compared to 57±31 mL (control). In the hypothermia group, edema volume remained stable during 14 days (day 1, 53±43 mL; day 14, 57±45 mL), whereas edema significantly increased in the control group from 40±28 mL (day 1) to 88±47 mL (day 14). ICH continuously dissolved in both groups. Pneumonia rate was 100% in the hypothermia group and 76% in controls (
P
=0.08). No significant side effects of hypothermia were observed.

Conclusions—

Hypothermia prevented the increase of peri-hemorrhagic edema in patients with large sICH.
The Role of Broca's Area in Sentence Comprehension
Authors: Rogalsky Corianne , Hickok Gregory
Published: July 2010

The role of Broca's area in sentence processing has been debated for the last 30 years. A central and still unresolved issue is whether Broca's area plays a specific role in some aspect of syntactic processing (e.g., syntactic movement, hierarchical structure building) or whether it serves a more general function on which sentence processing relies (e.g., working memory). This review examines the functional organization of Broca's area in regard to its contributions to sentence comprehension, verbal working memory, and other multimodal cognitive processes. We suggest that the data are consistent with the view that at least a portion of the contribution of Broca's area to sentence comprehension can be attributed to its role as a phonological short-term memory resource. Furthermore, our review leads us to conclude that there is no compelling evidence that there are sentence-specific processing regions within Broca's area.
Mechanisms Underlying Age- and Performance-related Differences in Working Memory
Authors: Daffner Kirk R. , Chong Hyemi , Sun Xue , Tarbi Elise C. , Riis Jenna L. , McGinnis Scott M. , Holcomb Phillip J.
Published: July 2010

This study took advantage of the subsecond temporal resolution of ERPs to investigate mechanisms underlying age- and performance-related differences in working memory. Young and old subjects participated in a verbal n-back task with three levels of difficulty. Each group was divided into high and low performers based on accuracy under the 2-back condition. Both old subjects and low-performing young subjects exhibited impairments in preliminary mismatch/match detection operations (indexed by the anterior N2 component). This may have undermined the quality of information available for the subsequent decision-making process (indexed by the P3 component), necessitating the appropriation of more resources. Additional anterior and right hemisphere activity was recruited by old subjects. Neural efficiency and the capacity to allocate more resources to decision-making differed between high and low performers in both age groups. Under low demand conditions, high performers executed the task utilizing fewer resources than low performers (indexed by the P3 amplitude). As task requirements increased, high-performing young and old subjects were able to appropriate additional resources to decision-making, whereas their low-performing counterparts allocated fewer resources. Higher task demands increased utilization of processing capacity for operations other than decision-making (e.g., sustained attention) that depend upon a shared pool of limited resources. As demands increased, all groups allocated additional resources to the process of sustaining attention (indexed by the posterior slow wave). Demands appeared to have exceeded capacity in low performers, leading to a reduction of resources available to the decision-making process, which likely contributed to a decline in performance.
Assessing the Neural Basis of Uncertainty in Perceptual Category Learning through Varying Levels of Distortion
Authors: Daniel Reka , Wagner Gerd , Koch Kathrin , Reichenbach Jürgen R. , Sauer Heinrich , Schlösser Ralf G. M.
Published: July 2010

The formation of new perceptual categories involves learning to extract that information from a wide range of often noisy sensory inputs, which is critical for selecting between a limited number of responses. To identify brain regions involved in visual classification learning under noisy conditions, we developed a task on the basis of the classical dot pattern prototype distortion task [M. I. Posner, Journal of Experimental Psychology, 68, 113–118, 1964]. Twenty-seven healthy young adults were required to assign distorted patterns of dots into one of two categories, each defined by its prototype. Categorization uncertainty was modulated parametrically by means of Shannon's entropy formula and set to the levels of 3, 7, and 8.5 bits/dot within subsets of the stimuli. Feedback was presented after each trial, and two parallel versions of the task were developed to contrast practiced and unpracticed performance within a single session. Using event-related fMRI, areas showing increasing activation with categorization uncertainty and decreasing activation with training were identified. Both networks largely overlapped and included areas involved in visuospatial processing (inferior temporal and posterior parietal areas), areas involved in cognitive processes requiring a high amount of cognitive control (posterior medial wall), and a cortico-striatal–thalamic loop through the body of the caudate nucleus. Activity in the medial prefrontal wall was increased when subjects received negative as compared with positive feedback, providing further evidence for its important role in mediating the error signal. This study characterizes the cortico-striatal network underlying the classification of distorted visual patterns that is directly related to decision uncertainty.
The Evolution of Meaning: Spatio-temporal Dynamics of Visual Object Recognition
Authors: Clarke Alex , Taylor Kirsten I. , Tyler Lorraine K.
Published: July 2010

Research on the spatio-temporal dynamics of visual object recognition suggests a recurrent, interactive model whereby an initial feedforward sweep through the ventral stream to prefrontal cortex is followed by recurrent interactions. However, critical questions remain regarding the factors that mediate the degree of recurrent interactions necessary for meaningful object recognition. The novel prediction we test here is that recurrent interactivity is driven by increasing semantic integration demands as defined by the complexity of semantic information required by the task and driven by the stimuli. To test this prediction, we recorded magnetoencephalography data while participants named living and nonliving objects during two naming tasks. We found that the spatio-temporal dynamics of neural activity were modulated by the level of semantic integration required. Specifically, source reconstructed time courses and phase synchronization measures showed increased recurrent interactions as a function of semantic integration demands. These findings demonstrate that the cortical dynamics of object processing are modulated by the complexity of semantic information required from the visual input.
Potential Temperature and Potential Vorticity Inversion: Complementary Approaches
Authors: Egger Joseph , Hoinka Klaus-Peter
Published: July 2010

Given the distribution of one atmospheric variable, that of nearly all others can be derived in balanced flow. In particular, potential vorticity inversion (PVI) selects potential vorticity (PV) to derive pressure, winds, and potential temperature θ. Potential temperature inversion (PTI) starts from available θ fields to derive pressure, winds, and PV. While PVI has been applied extensively, PTI has hardly been used as a research tool although the related technical steps are well known and simpler than those needed in PVI. Two idealized examples of PTI and PVI are compared. The 40-yr European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Re-Analysis (ERA-40) datasets are used to determine typical anomalies of PV and θ in the North Atlantic storm-track region. Statistical forms of PVI and PTI are applied to these anomalies. The inversions are equivalent but the results of PTI are generally easier to understand than those of PVI. The issues of attribution and piecewise inversion are discussed.
Long-Range Dependence and Climate Noise Characteristics of Antarctic Temperature Data
Authors: Franzke Christian
Published: July 2010

This study examines the long-range dependency, climate noise characteristics, and nonlinear temperature trends of eight Antarctic stations from the Reference Antarctic Data for Environmental Research (READER) dataset. Evidence is shown that Antarctic temperatures are long-range dependent. To identify possible nonlinear trends, the ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) method is used, and then the question of whether the observed trends can arise from internal atmospheric fluctuations is examined. To answer this question, surrogate data are generated from two paradigmatic null models: a standard first-order autoregressive process representing a short-range dependent process and a fractional integrated process representing a long-range dependent process. It is found that three of the eight stations show statistically significant trends when tested against the short-range dependent process while only the Faraday–Vernadsky station temperature time series shows a significant trend when tested against the long-range dependent null model. All other considered stations show no trends that are statistically significant against the two null models, and thus they can be explained by internal atmospheric variability. These results imply that more attention should be given to assessing the correlation structure of climate time series.
A Consensus Model for Seasonal Hurricane Prediction
Authors: Jagger Thomas H. , Elsner James B.
Published: July 2010

The authors apply a procedure called Bayesian model averaging (BMA) for examining the utility of a set of covariates for predicting the distribution of U.S. hurricane counts and demonstrating a consensus model for seasonal prediction. Hurricane counts are derived from near-coastal tropical cyclones over the period 1866–2008. The covariate set consists of the May–October monthly averages of the Atlantic SST, North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index, Southern Oscillation index (SOI), and sunspot number (SSN). BMA produces posterior probabilities indicating the likelihood of the model given the set of annual hurricane counts and covariates. The September SSN covariate appears most often in the higher-probability models. The sign of the September SSN parameter is negative indicating that the probability of a U.S. hurricane decreases with more sunspots. A consensus hindcast for the 2007 and 2008 season is made by averaging forecasts from a large subset of models weighted by their corresponding posterior probability. A cross-validation exercise confirms that BMA can provide more accurate forecasts compared to methods that select a single “best” model. More importantly, the BMA procedure incorporates more of the uncertainty associated with making a prediction of this year’s hurricane activity from data.
Perceptions of Electoral Fairness and Voter Turnout
Authors: Birch Sarah
Published: July 2010

Previous research has established a link between turnout and the extent to which voters are faced with a “meaningful” partisan choice in elections; this study extends the logic of this argument to perceptions of the “meaningfulness” of electoral conduct. It hypothesizes that perceptions of electoral integrity are positively related to turnout. The empirical analysis to test this hypothesis is based on aggregate-level data from 31 countries, combined with survey results from Module 1 of the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems survey project, which includes new and established democracies. Multilevel modeling is employed to control for a variety of individual- and election-level variables that have been found in previous research to influence turnout. The results of the analysis show that perceptions of electoral integrity are indeed positively associated with propensity to vote.
The Interest Convergence Principle and the Integration of Major League Baseball
Authors: DeLorme Joshua , Singer John N.
Published: July 2010

The integration of Major League Baseball (MLB) in 1947 has long been considered a triumph in America’s ongoing battle with racism and racial discrimination. An undeniably significant accomplishment, Branch Rickey’s signing of Jackie Robinson to the Brooklyn Dodgers organization in 1946 indubitably evokes altruistic feelings of racial progress in America. However, Bell’s interest convergence principle argues that elite Whites in America will not further the status of Black Americans without receiving equal or greater benefit in return for their so-called altruism. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to provide readers with a worthwhile and critical new perspective regarding the integration of MLB by analyzing it through the lens of the interest convergence principle.
Support Systems for Poor Readers: Empirical Data From Six EU Member States
Authors: Ise Elena , Blomert Leo , Bertrand Daisy , Faísca Luís , Puolakanaho Anne , Saine Nina L. , Surányi Zsuzsanna , Vaessen Anniek , Csépe Valeria , Lyytinen Heikki , Reis Alexandra , Ziegler Johannes C. , Schulte-Körne Gerd
Published: July 2010

This study surveyed and compared support systems for poor readers in six member states of the European Union (EU). The goal was to identify features of effective support systems. A large-scale questionnaire survey was conducted among mainstream teachers ( n = 4,210) and remedial teachers ( n = 2,395). Results indicate that the six support systems differed substantially, with effective support systems showing high performance on all variables measured. More specifically, effective support systems were characterized by (a) high levels of both teacher and student support and (b) frequent interactions between teachers and remedial teachers as well as between remedial teachers and diagnosticians. The high prevalence of poor reading ability in the current EU member states demonstrates that educational reforms are critically needed. The results of this study provide concrete starting points for improving support systems for poor readers.
Neuropsychological Profile on the WISC-IV of French Children With Dyslexia
Authors: De Clercq-Quaegebeur Maryse , Casalis Séverine , Lemaitre Marie-Pierre , Bourgois Béatrice , Getto Marie , Vallée Louis
Published: July 2010

This study examined the pattern of results on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV; French version) for 60 French children with dyslexia, from 8 to 16 years of age. Although use of WISC-III failed to clearly identify typical profiles and cognitive deficits in dyslexia, WISC-IV offers an opportunity to reach these objectives with new indexes and subtests. The mean performance analysis showed a Working Memory Index (WMI) at a limit level, significantly lower compared to the three other indexes. The WMI was the lowest index for 68% of the population studied and was significantly weaker for children with phonological dyslexia compared to children with surface dyslexia. WISC-IV evidenced preserved language and reasoning abilities in contrast to limited verbal working memory efficiency. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.
Gender Identity Disorders in Prisons: What Are the Legal Implications for Prison Mental Health Professionals and Administrators?
Authors: Alexander Rudolph , Meshelemiah Jacquelyn C. A.
Published: July 2010

In 2009, two Idaho prisoners with gender identity disorders (GIDs) settled lawsuits against the Department of Corrections for failing to treat properly their conditions. Prisoners in other states have also sued prison officials for failing to treat their GIDs. Initially, the courts held that prisoners with GIDs did not have a serious mental disorder and thus were not entitled to treatment. However, later courts have held that a GID is a serious medical problem, which implicates the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that requires treatment for prisoners’ serious medical problems. No court, however, has ordered sex-reassignment surgery for any transsexual prisoner, despite holding that GID is a serious medical problem. This issue presents an interesting dilemma for the law and has implications for prison mental health professionals and prison administrators. The authors elaborate on these issues and discuss policy implications.
Civic Ideals, Mass Culture, and the Public: Reconsidering the 1909 Plan of Chicago
Authors: Baker Laura E.
Published: July 2010

The centennial anniversary of the publication of the 1909 Plan of Chicago has sparked renewed interest in this landmark of Progressive Era urbanism. This essay examines an often neglected legacy of the Plan: its influence on civic discourse. Best known for its City Beautiful vision of Chicago, the Plan and its implementation campaign also provided a powerful object lesson in the effectiveness of new media and techniques of mass communication for constructing a collective civic identity. Even as the Plan promoted a spatial approach to this problem, its promotion advanced a vision of civic unity enacted not through the building arts but through the new arts of selling.
The Talk of the Town: Kit Manufacturers Negotiate the Building Industry, 1905-1929
Authors: Harris Richard
Published: July 2010

Urban historical scholars have neglected smaller urban centers, including their residential environments and the forces that shaped them. For a time, one of these forces was the mail-order kit home. Kit manufacturers sold houses to families throughout the United States and Canada but enjoyed their greatest success in small towns where detached single-family homes were the norm. They worked to insert themselves into local building industries: They challenged lumber dealers and ignored architects but strove to mollify the contractors on whom they and their customers depended. They attracted considerable attention and met with initial success: Emerging rapidly after 1905, they had hit their stride by 1914 and enjoyed a heyday in the 1920s. They were stricken by, and failed to recover from, the Depression in large part because lumber dealers had learned how to compete with them.
‘Global corporate cultural capital’ as a drag on glocalization: Disneyland’s promotion of the Halloween Festival
Authors: Lam Sunny S.K.
Published: July 2010

Three teenagers enter the lobby of a nostalgic American-style, castle-like haunted hotel when its front entrance opens up for their adventure. Suddenly the two naughty boys slip out of the hotel, lock the door and shut the girl inside alone. She is frightened and shouts to them to open the door until she hears creepy noises from a piano that is being played though the piano stool is empty. She is too scared to scream and runs upstairs to the dark corridor while the two naughty boys laugh unstoppably outside. The girl is scared again by a bed that floats in the air, swinging gently, and a flying tap that runs water by itself in front of a leaking bath. Finally, she comes out of the hotel unscathed, but with her head turned through 180 degrees. The two naughty boys, still rejoicing over their prank, are scared by her incredibly ghostlike appearance.
Differences in Effects on Myocardium and Mitochondria by Angiogenic Inhibitors Suggest Separate Mechanisms of Cardiotoxicity
Authors: French Kevin J. , Coatney Robert W. , Renninger Jon P. , Hu Catherine X. , Gales Tracy L. , Zhao Shufang , Storck Laura M. , Davis Charles B. , McSurdy-Freed Jeanelle , Chen Emile , Frazier Kendall S.
Published: July 2010

Several multikinase angiogenesis inhibitors demonstrate mitochondrial and/or cardiovascular toxicity, suggesting an on-target pharmacologic effect. To evaluate whether cardiotoxicity is directly related to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor inhibition, we investigated the effects of sunitinib, sorafenib, and pazopanib on myocardial function and structure. We used a rat model to assess myocardial effects of the inhibitors concurrently exposed to the cardiac stressor dobutamine. Echocardiographic abnormalities including premature ventricular contractions, decreases in heart rate, circumferential strain, and radial and circumferential strain rates were noted with sorafenib, but not with sunitinib or pazopanib. Ultrastructural analysis of ventricular cardiomyocytes by transmission electron microscopy revealed mitochondrial swelling, dense deposits, and matrix cavitation in rats given sunitinib and disrupted mitochondrial cristae in rats given sorafenib, but there were no effects with pazopanib. Effects on neonatal rat cardiomyocyte cultures were assessed, which identified decreases in mitochondrial membrane potential with sunitinib treatment, but not with sorafenib or pazopanib. Intracellular adenosine triphosphate depletion was observed with sunitinib and sorafenib, but not pazopanib. Our results show that cardiotoxicity is not necessarily related to a pharmacologic classwide effect of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor inhibition, and the rat myocardial structural and functional changes identified in this study may be instead a result of inhibition of other kinase pathways, the mechanism of which may be associated with mitochondrial toxicity.
Hepatic Drug-Metabolizing Enzyme Induction and Implications for Preclinical and Clinical Risk Assessment
Authors: Mohutsky Michael A. , Romeike Annette , Meador Vince , Lee William M. , Fowler John , Francke-Carroll Sabine
Published: July 2010

Hepatic drug metabolizing enzyme (DME) induction complicates the development of new drugs owing to altered efficacy of concomitant treatments, reduction in exposure resulting from autoinduction, and potential generation of toxic metabolites. Risk assessment of DME induction during clinical evaluation is confounded by several uncertainties pertaining to hazard identification and dose response analysis. Hepatic DME induction rarely leads to clinical evidence of altered metabolism and toxicity in the patient, which typically occur only if the DME induction is relatively severe. High drug doses are associated with a greater likelihood of hepatic DME induction and downstream effects; therefore, drugs of low potency requiring higher dosing tend to lead to a greater risk of drug–drug interactions. Vigilance in clinical trials for increased or diminished drug effect and, specifically, pharmacokinetic studies in the presence of other drugs and concomitant diseases are necessary for a drug risk assessment profile.

Efforts to remove hepatic DME-inducing drugs from development can be facilitated with current in vitro and in vivo assessments and will improve with the development of newer technologies. A carefully tailored case-by-case approach will lead to the development of efficacious drugs with an acceptable risk/benefit profile available to patients.
Use of tree-based regression in the analyses of L2 reading test items
Authors: Lingyun Gao  , Rogers W. Todd
Published: July 2010

The purpose of this study was to explore whether the results of Tree Based Regression (TBR) analyses, informed by a validated cognitive model, would enhance the interpretation of item difficulties in terms of the cognitive processes involved in answering the reading items included in two forms of the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB). A cognitive model was first generated to explain the performance of the MELAB reading items, and then validated by expert judgment and student verbal protocols. Next, the validated model was used in the TBR analyses to obtain the final trees for each form. Finally, the cognitive processes (i.e., reading processes and testing strategies) measured by each item were traced back for each item in the terminal nodes of each tree. The results revealed that TBR, informed by a supportable cognitive theory, appears to be a promising addition to statistical item analysis that can be effectively used to enhance the interpretation of item analyses results.
EduSpeak®: A speech recognition and pronunciation scoring toolkit for computer-aided language learning applications
Authors: Franco Horacio , Bratt Harry , Rossier Romain , Rao Gadde Venkata , Shriberg Elizabeth , Abrash Victor , Precoda Kristin
Published: July 2010

SRI International’s EduSpeak® system is a software development toolkit that enables developers of interactive language education software to use state-of-the-art speech recognition and pronunciation scoring technology. Automatic pronunciation scoring allows the computer to provide feedback on the overall quality of pronunciation and to point to specific production problems. We review our approach to pronunciation scoring, where our aim is to estimate the grade that a human expert would assign to the pronunciation quality of a paragraph or a phrase. Using databases of nonnative speech and corresponding human ratings at the sentence level, we evaluate different machine scores that can be used as predictor variables to estimate pronunciation quality. For more specific feedback on pronunciation, the EduSpeak toolkit supports a phone-level mispronunciation detection functionality that automatically flags specific phone segments that have been mispronounced. Phone-level information makes it possible to provide the student with feedback about specific pronunciation mistakes.Two approaches to mispronunciation detection were evaluated in a phonetically transcribed database of 130,000 phones uttered in continuous speech sentences by 206 nonnative speakers. Results show that classification error of the best system, for the phones that can be reliably transcribed, is only slightly higher than the average pairwise disagreement between the human transcribers.
Towards a computer-delivered test of productive grammatical ability
Authors: Chapelle Carol A. , Chung Yoo-Ree , Hegelheimer Volker , Pendar Nick , Xu Jing
Published: July 2010

This study piloted test items that will be used in a computer-delivered and scored test of productive grammatical ability in English as a second language (ESL). Findings from research on learners’ development of morphosyntactic, syntactic, and functional knowledge were synthesized to create a framework of grammatical features. We outline the interpretive argument and present results from four pilot test administrations in terms of (a) reliability, (b) relationships between item difficulties and developmental stages, (c) correlations with other English tests, and (d) predictability of test scores in relation to proficiency levels. The results support the potential of assessing productive ESL grammatical ability by targeting areas identified in SLA research, and the plausibility of moving forward with computer delivery and scoring.
A preliminary investigation into communication in the special needs classroom during Key Stage 3 English lessons
Authors: Bunning Karen , Ellis Martina
Published: July 2010

A preliminary study was conducted to investigate the communicative roles performed by teacher and pupil during Key Stage 3 (KS3) English lessons. Two classes of a special school were involved in the study. Data collection employed video capture of teacher—pupil communication during timetabled English lessons. The data were transcribed and analysed in terms of interaction structure, communicative functions and modes. Significant differences between teachers and pupils were observed with regard to interactional structure: the teachers occupied more turns and used a higher number of initiating and follow-up moves than the pupils; the pupils used more response moves than the teachers. Analysis of communicative functions revealed significant differences between teachers and pupils, with teachers using more requestives and feedbacks. The exception was the informative function, which showed no significant difference between the groups. In terms of communicative modes, teachers used significantly more speech, although no significant differences were recorded on the measures of sign and gesture. This small-scale study illustrates the use of the initiation—response—follow-up sequence in communication within the classroom. Teacher use of multi-modal communication appears to reflect those used by the pupils in the study. Implications for future research and practice are considered.
Support required for primary and secondary students with communication disorders and/or other learning needs
Authors: McLeod Sharynne , McKinnon David H.
Published: July 2010

Prioritization of school students with additional learning needs is a reality due to a finite resource base. Limited evidence exists regarding teachers’ prioritization of primary and secondary school students with additional learning needs. The aim of the present article was to differentiate teachers’ perceptions of the level of support required by and provided to students with respect to nine additional learning needs. Teachers of 14,533 students in an Australian school district (in 37 primary schools and 7 secondary schools) identified students’ required and actual level of support. Teachers identified 4,845 students with additional learning needs: 34.71% of primary students and 30.14% of secondary students. Of the nine areas of additional learning need, presence of a communication disorder was the most important predictive factor of teachers’ recommendation that primary or secondary students required a high level of support at school. Students were more likely to be identified with communication disorder if they were in grades 1, 2, 7, 8 or 10; that is, at the time of transition to different levels of schooling. Students with communication disorder + behavioural/ emotional disorder + intellectual disability were identified by teachers as requiring the highest level of support at school. Overall, students received limited additional support at school; however, those with communication disorder + intellectual disability received the highest level of learning support within the educational setting. In contrast, students who received the greatest curriculum adaptations were those with intellectual disability + physical/medical disability.Those with intellectual disability + communication disorder were most likely to have an individual education plan, and those with communication disorder + intellectual disability + physical/medical disability were most likely to receive long-term support from agencies outside of the school system. Socio-economic status (specifically, being in a middle-class school) was the most predictive demographic variable for higher levels of support for students with communication disorder, followed by being male.
‘I don’t come out with big words like other people’: Interviewing adolescents as part of communication profiling
Authors: Spencer Sarah , Clegg Judy , Stackhouse Joy
Published: July 2010

Assessing adolescent language skills poses significant challenges due to the subtle nature of language proficiency at this age, along with the high linguistic demands both academically and socially. As with young children, the current range of language assessments designed specifically for adolescents mostly includes standardized tests. This article explores how interviews can contribute to the assessment of adolescents’ language and communication skills. Two case studies of adolescents with previously undetected language difficulties are presented. The case studies show how the adolescents were able to reflect upon their language skills in an interview situation. Case studies also compare adolescents’ comments with the outcomes of standardized assessments. The interview allowed consideration of adolescent’s perceptions of strengths and difficulties, and identified possible barriers for these adolescents to both language intervention and education. Relationships between assessment and interview data are discussed and implications for assessment procedures are highlighted.
Dynamic capabilities and trans-generational value creation in family firms: The role of organizational culture
Authors: Chirico Francesco , Nordqvist Mattias
Published: July 2010

While some research on entrepreneurship in family businesses has focused on transgenerational value creation, a gap exists in understanding how such value is generated across generations. The present research offers insights through the lens of dynamic capabilities, which are created by knowledge and in turn generate entrepreneurial performance and value creation. A model is built based on literature and case research. The crucial role of the organizational culture emerges through the empirical study. Family inertia is considered to be a factor preventing the creation of dynamic capabilities. We find that family inertia depends on characteristics of the family business culture, where paternalism and entrepreneurial orientation influence family inertia positively and negatively, respectively. Family firms from Switzerland and Italy active in the beverage industry represent the empirical context. Theoretical and practical implications are offered.