bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The role of magnetic resonance imaging in the breast cancer patient.
Authors: Morrow M
Published: December 2010

Abstract #P3-1

Breast conserving therapy (BCT) is well established. Using standard guidelines, most patients are eligible, and those who are not can be identified with a high degree of accuracy with clinical evaluation and mammography. Local recurrence rates have decreased since the initial trials of BCT. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) identifies cancer not found by clinical exam or mammography. Improved definition of the extent of carcinoma in the breast has the potential to improve patient outcomes in the short term by decreasing the number of patients requiring conversion from BCT to mastectomy, or decreasing the number of excisions needed to obtain negative margins. Elimination of patients with extensive disease would be expected to decrease the rate of local recurrence of BCT in the long term.  We examined the effect of MRI on short term outcomes in 577 patients seen between 2004-2006. MRI did not decrease positive margins at initial lumpectomy (21.6% MRI vs 14% no MRI) or conversion from BCT to mastectomy (9.8%MRI vs 5.9% no MRI). MRI was associated with a 19-day delay in surgery, and after controlling for stage, the odds ratio of mastectomy was 1.8 in the MRI group (p= .024). Solin et al (JCO, 2008) examined the effect of MRI on local recurrence in 756 patients. After adjustment for patient and tumor features, 8-year local recurrence rates were 3% and 4% in the MRI and no-MRI groups, and contralateral cancer rates did not differ. A meta-analysis of 2763 breast cancers found that MRI detected additional disease in 16% of cases, a rate significantly higher than the 5-8% 10-year rates of local recurrence observed in most modern studies of BCT. These observations raise important questions regarding unnecessarily radical surgery performed for MRI findings which may not result in improved outcomes.  MRI is of benefit in selected, relatively uncommon circumstances including:  a) Axillary adenopathy with occult primary tumor  b) Paget's disease without evidence of tumor  c) Assessing response to neoadjuvant therapy in patients desiring BCT  d) Major discrepancy among clinical and conventional imaging findings  Conclusion: Breast cancer is well documented by pathologic studies to be a multifocal /centric disease. This occult disease has been successfully treated with RT. MRI is a technology capable of finding some of this disease, but how this benefits patients is unclear. In the absence of this information, MRI should not be a part of routine pre-surgical evaluation.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-1.
Breast tumor evolution.
Authors: Polyak K , Shipitsin M , Campbell L , Yao J
Published: December 2010

Abstract #PD1-1

Breast tumors are heterogeneous and composed of a variety of cell types with distinct genetic, epigenetic, and phenotypic profiles. However, the molecular basis underlying this intra-tumoral heterogeneity has not been defined. Models that attempt to explain this include the malignant stem cell hypothesis and the genetic diversity combined with clonal selection models. Both of these ideas have been investigated for a long time both in human tumors and in various model systems, leading to the accumulation of numerous findings that are used to support one or the other. Although the two models share some similarities, they explain tumor progression, therapeutic resistance, and recurrence in fundamentally different ways. Increasing data suggest that the cancer stem cell phenotype may just be a consequence of genetic and epigenetic events that occur in tumor cells and that it may change as tumors evolve. Furthermore, there may be differences among tumor types regarding the applicability of the cancer stem cell and clonal evolution models.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr PD1-1.
High-Sensitivity ST2 for Prediction of Adverse Outcomes in Chronic Heart Failure
Authors: Ky Bonnie , French Benjamin , McCloskey Kristin , Rame J. Eduardo , McIntosh Erin , Shahi Puja , Dries Daniel L. , Tang W.H. Wilson , Wu Alan H.B. , Fang James C. , Boxer Rebecca , Sweitzer Nancy K. , Levy Wayne C. , Goldberg Lee R. , Jessup Mariell , Cappola Thomas P.
Published: December 2010

Background—

Soluble ST2 reflects activity of an interleukin-33–dependent cardioprotective signaling axis and is a diagnostic and prognostic marker in acute heart failure. The use of ST2 in chronic heart failure has not been well defined. Our objective was to determine whether plasma ST2 levels predict adverse outcomes in chronic heart failure in the context of current approaches.

Methods and Results—

We determined the association between ST2 level and risk of death or transplantation in a multicenter, prospective cohort of 1141 chronic heart failure outpatients. Adjusted Cox models, receiver operating characteristic analyses, and risk reclassification metrics were used to assess the value of ST2 in predicting risk beyond currently used factors. After a median of 2.8 years, 267 patients (23%) died or underwent heart transplantation. Patients in the highest ST2 tertile (ST2 >36.3 ng/mL) had a markedly increased risk of adverse outcomes compared with the lowest tertile (ST2 ≤22.3 ng/mL), with an unadjusted hazard ratio of 3.2 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.2 to 4.7;
P
<0.0001) that remained significant after multivariable adjustment (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.3 to 2.9;
P
=0.002). In receiver operating characteristic analyses, the area under the curve for ST2 was 0.75 (95% CI, 0.69 to 0.79), which was similar to N-terminal pro-B–type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) (area under the curve, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.72 to 0.81;
P
=0.24 versus ST2) but lower than the Seattle Heart Failure Model (area under the curve, 0.81 (95% CI, 0.77 to 0.85;
P
=0.014 versus ST2). Addition of ST2 and NT-proBNP to the Seattle Heart Failure Model reclassified 14.9% of patients into more appropriate risk categories (
P
=0.017).

Conclusions—

ST2 is a potent marker of risk in chronic heart failure and when used in combination with NT-proBNP offers moderate improvement in assessing prognosis beyond clinical risk scores.
The scent of the others: chemical recognition in two distinct populations of the European whip snake, Hierophis viridiflavus
Authors: Fornasiero Sara , Dendi Federica , Bresciani Elisa , Cecchinelli Elena , Zuffi Marco
Published: December 2010

Isolated populations of a given species may diverge from conspecifics for a
certain series of traits. It is of particular interest when this divergence
involves the signals and the related responses used by sexually reproducing
animals to identify prospective mating partners. Using behavioural trials
during reproductive season, we studied pheromone-mediated response between
insular and mainland European whip snakes, Hierophis viridiflavus. Our
results revealed that both insular and mainland males can utilise both
homotypic and heterotypic chemical cues. However, while insular snakes did
not show any preference between the two types of chemical cues, mainland
males preferred homotypic odours. These results, though preliminarly, show
the existence of asymmetry in the displayed behavioural patterns and support
the idea that isolated populations may evolve differences in communication
systems.
Courtship behaviour, mating season and male sexual interference in Salamandrina perspicillata (Savi, 1821)
Authors: Bruni Giacomo , Romano Antonio
Published: December 2010

The knowledge of reproductive behaviour of Salamandrina perspicillata, an endemic Italian salamander, is still fragmented and not exhaustive; and the only detailed observations were made just once in a terrarium. We describe many aspects of the terrestrial courtship behaviour such as male alert posture, substrate marking trail, approach and pursuit, tail undulation and vent swinging, and spermatophore deposition and pick-up. The courting pair follows an ellipsoidal track during this manoeuvre a spermatophore is deposited by the male just in front of the female who will reach the spermatophore as she continues to circle. No body contacts were observed during the courtship. Tail movements play a key role in the communication between sexes as well as between antagonistic males. Male-male combat involves biting as the main deterrent. We found that the mating season in wild populations is in the spring, differing from that reported previously for mating in captivity (winter) or extrapolated from the beginning of sperm storage (autumn). Each of these points is discussed in light of available information on social communication, sexual dimorphism, courtship evolution, and sperm storage.
Stability and annual return rates in amphibian populations
Authors: Salvidio Sebastiano
Published: December 2010

Amphibians are declining worldwide and different ecological traits, such as population growth rate and demographic stochasticity have been associated with their risk of extinction. However the population annual return rate, a parameter that gives information on the rapidity at which a population returns to equilibrium after an external perturbation, has never been analysed. In this study the annual return rates of 21 amphibian time series, belonging to 16 species, were estimated through non-linear (theta) logistic modelling. Annual return rates of salamanders (0.73) did not differ from those of frogs (0.79) and all return rate values were below the threshold for chaos. These results show that, in general, amphibian populations are regulated and do not differ in their dynamics from other vertebrate taxa.
Intraspecific variation in the egg-wrapping behaviour of female smooth newts, Lissotriton vulgaris
Authors: Tóth Zoltán , Hoi Herbert , Hettyey Attila
Published: December 2010

In many species of the Salamandridae family, females provide parental care by carefully wrapping plant material around their eggs. As this behaviour has been shown to have a large effect on offspring survival, variation in this trait is expected to be low. Detailed investigations are, however, lacking. In the present study, we analyzed the consistency of egg-wrapping behaviour in two time periods within a breeding season in female smooth newts (Lissotriton vulgaris). We found a surprisingly low proportion of wrapped eggs of around 47% during the first period (when males were present) and an almost doubled ratio of around 92% in the second period (when males were absent). Also, the variation between individuals was significantly lower in the second period than in the first one. Furthermore, the bigger the females were, the more the proportion of wrapped eggs increased day by day within the first period; however, this relationship did not fully explain the observed difference between the two periods. Our results suggest that parental care in smooth newts can be influenced by the presence of mating partners and body size, and provide the first empirical evidence for within-individual variation in egg-wrapping in a salamandrid species.
Comparisons between Model Forecast and Observed Boundary Layer Profiles and Related Comments on Cloud Prediction
Authors: Price J. D. , Bush M. R.
Published: December 2010

In this study comparisons are made between Met Office mesoscale model boundary layer profiles, and radiosonde data collected in the central United Kingdom during three intensive boundary layer cloud experiments. Significant differences between forecast and observed profiles were found. An assessment of whether these differences are dominated by sonde random error or model error is performed. Results suggest that sonde random errors are insignificant for stratocumulus fields, but not for cumulus ones.

Results show that model fields do not represent the fine vertical structure seen in the observations. The impact of this result for cloud prediction is discussed, and an estimate for the vertical resolution required to adequately parameterize the cloud field is provided.
A Comparison of Precipitation Estimation Techniques over Lake Okeechobee, Florida
Authors: Dyer Jamie L. , Garza Reggina Cabrera
Published: December 2010

Lake Okeechobee, located in southern Florida, is an important component in the regional hydrologic system. Currently, the Southeast River Forecast Center (SERFC) is setting up a forecasting scheme for Lake Okeechobee and its major inflows. An important aspect in calibrating the system is estimating the depth of direct precipitation over the water surface. Within this project, National Weather Service (NWS) and South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) surface gauges, along with stage III multisensor precipitation estimates, are used to create time series of mean areal precipitation (MAP). The computed MAP values are compared in order to find the relative differences between them, and to determine the utility of using each data source for calibration and in future operations. It was found that the SFWMD gauge-based MAP was the most useful data source, because it had a suitable period of record and the SFWMD gauges had a better spatial sampling of precipitation over the lake surface. The radar-based stage III estimates were not found to be a useful source of data, despite the superior spatial sampling resolution, because they had too short a period of record and a number of changes in the processing algorithms made the associated MAP nonhomogeneous and inappropriate for model calibration.
A Comparison of Two Banded, Heavy Snowstorms with Very Different Synoptic Settings
Authors: Jurewicz Michael L. , Evans Michael S.
Published: December 2010

Two banded, heavy snowstorms that occurred over the northern mid-Atlantic region are compared and contrasted. On 6–7 January 2002, a narrow, intense band of heavy snow was observed, along with several other weaker bands, embedded within a large area of moderate snow. On 19–20 January 2002, a single, broader band of heavy snow was observed, embedded within a broken area of light snow.

The synoptic-scale settings associated with these two storms were strikingly dissimilar. In the first case, strong quasigeostrophic (QG) forcing for ascent was present just to the south of the heavy snowfall area. A highly amplified longwave trough was located over the Mississippi River valley, while a compact shortwave trough moved northward, up the east side of the longwave trough. The result was robust cyclogenesis off of the mid-Atlantic coast. In the second case, the relatively weaker QG forcing for ascent was located much farther southwest of the snowband. The flow aloft was much less amplified, with weaker cyclogenesis occurring off of the mid-Atlantic coast.

Analysis of the frontal scale environments for both cases indicated that the snowbands were each associated with the collocation of midtropospheric frontogenesis and reduced stability. In the first case, evidence is shown that a layer of potential symmetric instability (PSI) was located just above a deep, sloping zone of frontogenesis, in the presence of deep near-saturated conditions. In the second case, evidence is shown that a layer of potential instability (PI), associated with rapidly decreasing relative humidity with height, was located just above a shallow, sloping zone of frontogenesis. In addition, it is shown that a particularly favorable thermal environment for snowflake growth and accumulation became collocated with the heavy snowband. It is hypothesized that the differences in the intensity and horizontal extent of the bands observed with these two events resulted from differing atmospheric responses associated with the areal extent of large-scale and frontogenetical forcing, moisture availability, degree of instability, and specific thermal profiles.
White Dialectics: A New Framework for Theory, Research, and Practice With White Students 1Ψ7
Authors: Todd Nathan R. , Abrams Elizabeth M.
Published: December 2010

This article presents White dialectics, or the tensions that White students experience as dominant group members in the United States, as a new framework to understand and intervene with White students and counselor trainees. Developed from and supported by our qualitative analysis, the authors present the six dialectics of (a) Whiteness and self, (b) connection in multiracial relationships, (c) color blindness, (d) minimization of racism, (e) structural inequality, and (f) White privilege. They demonstrate that White students exhibited dialectical movement, shifting along these dialectics as they reflected on their race. Moreover, they identified their dialectical tensions as investigators that may parallel tensions experienced by those working with White students. They conclude by discussing White authenticity, or the continual struggle with the White dialectics as an educational goal, with suggestions for intervention. A focus on White dialectics holds promise for the field of counseling psychology and the multicultural education of White students and counselor trainees.
Dentin Hypersensitivity and Oxalates
Authors: Cunha-Cruz J. , Stout J.R. , Heaton L.J. , Wataha J.C. ,   for Northwest PRECEDENT
Published: December 2010

Treatment of dentin hypersensitivity with oxalates is common, but oxalate efficacy remains unclear. Our objective was to systematically review clinical trials reporting an oxalate treatment compared with no treatment or placebo with a dentin hypersensitivity outcome. Risk-of-bias assessment and data extraction were performed independently by two reviewers. Standardized mean differences (SMD) were estimated by random-effects meta-analysis. Of 677 unique citations, 12 studies with high risk-of-bias were included. The summary SMD for 3% monohydrogen-monopotassium oxalate (n = 8 studies) was -0.71 [95% Confidence Interval: -1.48, 0.06]. Other treatments, including 30% dipotassium oxalate (n = 1), 30% dipotassium oxalate plus 3% monohydrogen monopotassium oxalate (n = 3), 6% monohydrogen monopotassium oxalate (n = 1), 6.8% ferric oxalate (n = 1), and oxalate-containing resin (n = 1), also were not statistically significantly different from placebo treatments. With the possible exception of 3% monohydrogen monopotassium oxalate, available evidence currently does not support the recommendation of dentin hypersensitivity treatment with oxalates.
Characteristics, Job Satisfaction, and Workplace Perceptions of Foreign-Born Faculty at Public 2-Year Institutions
Authors: Mamiseishvili Ketevan
Published: December 2010

Foreign-born faculty members in community colleges can serve as a valuable resource to their institutions’ growing internationalization efforts. This study uses the data from the 2004 National Study of Postsecondary Faculty to examine the characteristics, job satisfaction, and workplace perceptions of the foreign-born group of the professoriate at public 2-year institutions relative to their U.S.-born peers. Together with other minority faculty groups, foreign-born faculty members, with their diverse cultural and language backgrounds, can be instrumental in serving increasingly diverse student populations in community colleges nationwide. The findings of this study may help 2-year institutions more effectively attract and retain foreign-born faculty members and provide them with a rewarding and supportive workplace.
Secondary Airway Lesions in Laryngomalacia
Authors: Rifai Hani A. , Benoit Marc , El‐Hakim Hamdy
Published: December 2010

Objective

To document the prevalence of secondary airway lesions (SALs) among children with laryngomalacia (LM).

Study Design

A cross‐sectional observational study.

Setting

Single practice in a tertiary care pediatric facility.

Subjects and Methods

Patients diagnosed with LM were initially identified from a prospectively kept surgical database. Patients with cardiac/large‐vessel malformations, prematurity, repeated or prolonged intubations, acute infections, or prior airway surgery were excluded. Only children who had a full examination of the airway were included. Other associated diagnoses along with demographics, surgical intervention, and type of LM were included.

Results

Over an 8‐year period, 1112 patients underwent laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy. A total of 108 consecutive cases were diagnosed with LM (78 primary diagnosis and 30 secondary diagnosis). After excluding 17 with disorders associated with large airway disease, 91 LM patients were included. The mean age was 553.23 days (ranging between 5 days and 15 years); 60 were boys and 31 were girls. The prevalence of SALs was 7.7% (95% confidence interval, 7.65‐7.76; 7 children; 4 subglottic stenosis, 4 tracheomalacia, 1 bronchomalacia, and 1 choanal atresia). Fifty‐nine patients underwent supraglottoplasties, while 1 patient had a tracheostomy.

Conclusions

After accounting for conditions known to be associated with large airway lesions, the prevalence of SALs associated with laryngomalacia was much less than previously reported. The authors hypothesize that the upper‐end figures are a reflection of highly select cohorts and the inclusion of patients with other pathology known to be associated with subglottic stenosis, tracheomalacia, and bronchomalacia and low thresholds for diagnosing mild subglottic stenosis.
Penetrating Neck Trauma in Operation Iraqi Freedom
Authors: Brennan Joseph , Lopez Manuel , Gibbons Mark D. , Hayes David , Faulkner Jeffrey , Dorlac Warren C. , Barton Chester
Published: December 2010

Objectives

To examine the surgical outcomes of penetrating neck trauma patients in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and compare treatment and perioperative survival to historical data with low‐velocity penetrating neck trauma seen in a noncombat clinical setting.

Study Design

Case series with chart review.

Setting

Air Force Theater Hospital at Balad Air Base, Iraq.

Subjects and Methods

The surgical management of penetrating neck trauma by 6 otolaryngologists deployed over a 30‐month period at the United States Air Force Theater Hospital in Balad, Iraq, was retrospectively reviewed. The presenting signs and symptoms, operative findings, and outcomes of patients who underwent neck exploration for high‐velocity penetrating neck trauma were determined. A treatment algorithm defining the management of both high‐velocity and low‐velocity penetrating neck trauma is recommended.

Results

One hundred and twelve neck explorations for penetrating neck trauma were performed in OIF over 30 months. Ninety‐eight percent of these neck injuries were due to high‐velocity projectiles. In patients, zone 1 injuries occurred in 10%, zone 2 injuries in 77%, zone 3 injuries in 5%, combined zone 1/2 injuries in 5%, and combined zone 2/3 injuries in 3%. The positive exploration rate (patients with intraoperative findings necessitating surgical repair) was 69% (77/112). The mortality of patients undergoing neck exploration for high‐velocity penetrating neck trauma was 3.7%.

Conclusions

The perioperative mortality and the positive exploration rate for high‐velocity penetrating neck trauma by deployed surgeons in OIF are very comparable to those rates seen in civilian centers managing low‐velocity penetrating neck trauma.
Dispositional attachment and relationship-specific attachment as predictors of compassionate love for a partner
Authors: Sprecher Susan , Fehr Beverley
Published: December 2010

This study examined attachment security as a possible contributor to compassionate love for a romantic partner among young adults. Attachment was assessed dispositionally and to a specific romantic partner. A secure dispositional attachment style was associated positively with compassionate love for partner, whereas an avoidant— dismissing attachment style was associated negatively with compassionate love. In addition, relationship-specific attachment avoidance was strongly (negatively) associated with compassionate love and mediated the association between dispositional attachment avoidance and compassionate love. Although relationship-specific attachment anxiety was not associated with compassionate love in the total sample or for the subsample in a serious relationship, it was a positive predictor of compassionate love for those in a casual relationship. Attachment may play a role in compassionate love by activating the caregiving system.
Improving intimate relationships: Targeting the partner versus changing the self
Authors: Hira Shreena N. , Overall Nickola C.
Published: December 2010

This research examined the consequences of targeting the self versus the partner when trying to improve intimate relationships. As predicted, when participants ( N = 160) focused their relationship improvement attempts on changing the partner, individuals reported more negative improvement strategies, lower improvement success, and, in turn, more negative relationship evaluations. Self-focused improvement attempts and participants’ own self-regulation efforts, however, were not associated with more positive relationship evaluations or improvement. Instead, individuals reported more improvement and greater relationship quality when partners were perceived to be engaging in successful self-regulation efforts. The results suggest that targeting the partner may do more harm than good despite that relationship evaluations pivot on whether the partner produces change.
Measuring love in romantic relationships: A meta-analysis
Authors: Graham James M.
Published: December 2010

The present study identifies the higher-order factors underlying the most popular measures of love in use today through meta-analytic factor analysis. Eighty-one studies representing 103 samples and 19,387 individuals provided data for the meta-analysis. The reported correlations between several commonly-used measures of love were aggregated across studies to form a meta-analytic correlation matrix, which was then subjected to principle components analysis. Factors suggesting general love, romantic obsession, and practical friendship emerged. Love was positively and obsession was negatively associated with relationship satisfaction and length.The results corroborate recent conceptualizations of love and point toward the need for measurement methods other than global self-report in the field of love research.
Ready, Set, Go
Authors: Miller Kim S. , Fasula Amy M. , Lin Carol Y. , Levin Martin L. , Wyckoff Sarah C. , Forehand Rex
Published: December 2010

Understanding of preadolescent sexuality is limited. To help fill this gap, we calculated frequencies, percentages, and confidence intervals for 1,096 preadolescents’ reports of sexual thoughts, intentions, and sexual behavior. Cochran-Armitage trend tests accounted for age effects. Findings show that 9-year-olds are readying for sexual activity, with sexual readiness increasing between ages of 9 and 12. Sexual thoughts increased with age ( p < .001): 46% of 9-year-olds and 70% of 12-year-olds were ready to learn about sex, and 14% of 9-year-olds and 41% of 12-year-olds thought about having sex. Few 9-year-olds anticipated sexual debut, but this increased with age ( p < .05): 25% of 12-year-olds were ready for sex, and 20% anticipated initiating sex within a year. Our results indicate that preadolescents are initiating dating relationships and anticipating intercourse, and some have engaged in risk behaviors. Thus preadolescence is a critical time to implement prevention programs.
Trends in Medical End-of-Life Decision Making in Flanders, Belgium 1998–2001–2007
Authors: Chambaere Kenneth , Bilsen Johan , Cohen Joachim , Onwuteaka-Philipsen Bregje D. , Mortier Freddy , Deliens Luc
Published: December 2010

In 2002, Belgium saw the enactment of 3 laws concerning euthanasia, palliative care, and patient rights that are likely to affect end-of-life decision making. This report examines trends in the occurrence and decision-making process of end-of-life practices in different patient groups since these legal changes. A large-scale retrospective survey in Flanders, Belgium, previously conducted in 1998 and 2001, was repeated in 2007. Questionnaires regarding end-of-life practices and the preceding decision-making process were mailed to physicians who certified a representative sample (N = 6927) of death certificates. The 2007 response rate was 58.4%. In patient groups in which the prevalence of life-ending drug use without explicit patient request has dropped, performance of euthanasia and assisted suicide has increased. The consistent increase in intensified pain and symptom alleviation was found in all patient groups except cancer patients. In 2007, competent patients were slightly more often involved in the discussion of end-of-life practices than in previous years. Over the years, involvement of the patient in decision making was consistently more likely among younger patients, cancer patients, and those dying at home. Physicians consulted their colleagues more often than in previous years for euthanasia and nontreatment decisions. The euthanasia law and emerging palliative care culture have substantially affected the occurrence and decision making for end-of-life practices in Belgium. Efforts are still needed to encourage shared end-of-life decision making, as some patients would benefit from advance care planning.
Real-time Hybrid Test on a Semi-actively Controlled Building Structure Equipped with Full-scale MR Dampers
Authors: Park Eunchurn , Min Kyung-Won , Lee Sung-Kyung , Lee Sang-Hyun , Lee Heon-Jae , Moon Seok-Jun , Jung Hyung-Jo
Published: December 2010

The real-time hybrid testing method (RT-HYTEM) is a structural testing technique in which the numerical integration of the equation of motion for a numerical substructure and the physical testing for an experimental substructure are performed simultaneously in real-time. This article presents the quantitative evaluation of the seismic performance of a building structure installed with a magnetorheological (MR) damper using RT-HYTEM. A building model is identified from the force-vibration testing results of a full-scale five-story building and is used as the numerical substructure, and an MR damper corresponding to an experimental substructure is physically tested using a universal testing machine (UTM). First, the force required to drive the displacement of the story, at which the MR damper is located, is measured from the load cell attached to the UTM. The measured force is then returned to a control computer to calculate the response of the numerical substructure. Finally, the experimental substructure is excited by the UTM with the calculated response of the numerical substructure. The RT-HYTEM implemented in this study is validated because the real-time hybrid testing results obtained by application of sinusoidal and earthquake excitations and the corresponding analytical results obtained using the Bouc-Wen model as the control force of the MR damper with respect to input currents are in good agreement. Also, the results from RT-HYTEM for the passive -on and -off control show that the structural responses did not decrease further by the excessive control force, but decreased due to the increase of the current applied to the MR damper. Also, two semi-active control algorithms (modulated homogeneous friction and the clipped-optimal control algorithms) are applied to the MR damper in order to optimally control the structural responses. To compare the RT-HYTEM and numerical results, Bouc-Wen model parameters are identified for each input current. The results of the comparison of experimental and numerical responses show that it is more practical to use RT-HYTEM in semi-active devices such as MR dampers. The test results show that a control algorithm can be experimentally applied to the MR damper using RT-HYTEM. This article provides a discussion on each algorithm with respect to the seismic performances.
Design of a 2DOF Vibrational Energy Harvesting Device
Authors: Jang S.-J. , Rustighi E. , Brennan M.J. , Lee Y.P. , Jung H.-J.
Published: December 2010

A novel design method for a 2DOF energy harvesting device is studied. The energy harvesting device is modeled as a rigid body supported by two parallel sets of springs and dampers. The impedance expression for the model has been developed by utilizing the concept of the inerter. The proposed design method deals with tuning two resonant peaks and equalizing the harvested power at those frequencies. As a result, the proposed energy harvesting device is particularly effective at two frequencies and has increased bandwidth as well as reduced size and weight in comparison with previous SDOF devices. A numerical design example is provided to show effectiveness of the proposed method.
Cross-Cultural Communication and Use of the Family Meeting in Palliative Care
Authors: Sharma Rashmi K. , Dy Sydney M.
Published: December 2010

Terminally-ill patients and their families often report poor communication and limited understanding of the patient’s diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment plan; these deficits can be exacerbated by cross-cultural issues. Although family meetings are frequently recommended to facilitate provider–family communication, a more structured, evidence-based approach to their use may improve outcomes. Drawing on research and guidelines from critical care, palliative care, and cross-cultural communication, we propose a framework for conducting family meetings with consideration for cross-cultural issues.
Cardioprotective Effect of Nerium oleander Flower Against Isoproterenol-Induced Myocardial Oxidative Stress in Experimental Rats
Authors: Gayathri Veeraraghavan , Ananthi Subhash , Chandronitha Chandranayagam , Ramakrishnan Ganapathy , Sundaram Raman Lakshmi , Vasanthi Hannah R.
Published: December 2010

Nerium oleander Linn (NOL) an evergreen shrub belonging to the Apocynaceae family has been reported to have a wide spectrum of bioactivities. In in vitro study, the free radical scavenging potential of the hydroethanolic extract of N oleander Linn (ENO) flower and its fractions (glycosidic and nonglycosidic) were studied using 2, 2'-azino-di [3-ethylbenzthiazoline sulphonate] (ABTS*+ ) and 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH*) scavenging assay. ENO exhibited better radical scavenging activities than its fractions. Furthermore, the cardioprotective role of ENO (10, 30, 100 mg/kg, per oral [po]) was tested against isoproterenol-induced myocardial toxicity (ISO, 120 mg/kg per day, subcutaneously [sc], for 2 days at 48 hours interval) in experimental rats when compared to propranolol (5 mg/kg, po) which was the standard. Pretreatment with ENO (10, 30, and 100 mg/kg) and propranolol for 2 weeks followed by ISO challenge in rats prevented the elevation of marker enzymes such as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT), creatine kinase (CK-MB and creatine phosphokinase [CPK]), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in plasma. In addition, pretreatment with ENO and propranolol significantly attenuated the lipid peroxidation by maintaining the levels of enzymatic (superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) and nonenzymatic antioxidants (reduced glutathione and nitrite), which was also confirmed histologically. Taken together, the current study indicates that the hydroalcoholic extract of N oleander Linn flowers aid in cardioprotection probably by improving the antioxidant defense system during experimental myocardial necrosis.
Efficacy of Alveolar Recruitment Maneuvers in Patients With Complicated Thoracic Trauma
Authors: Marchenkov Yury V. , Moroz Victor V. , Izmajlov Vladimir V. , Rodionov Evgeny P.
Published: December 2010

The objective of this study was to measure the efficacy of biphasic positive airway pressure (BIPAP) and synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation (SIMV) with alveolar recruitment maneuvers (ARMs) in patients with acute lung injury (ALI) and concomitant pneumothorax. Seventy-four patients with ALI and concomitant pneumothorax secondary to blunt thoracic injury were studied. All patients fulfilled criteria for the first stage of acute respiratory distress syndrome, which consisted of acute onset dyspnea, isolated rales, an extravascular lung water index >7 mL/kg, and an oxygenation index <300 mm Hg in the absence of left-ventricular dysfunction. After evacuation of the pneumothorax, ARMs were performed using BIPAP or SIMV 3 to 5 times a day with a peak pressure of 33.4 ± 0.2 cm H2O and a positive end-expiratory pressure of 16.1 ± 0.2 cm H2O. The use of BIPAP in patients with ALI and concomitant pneumothorax reduced the time to resolution of the air leak allowing application of earlier ARMs. ARMs with peak pressures of 35 to 40 cm H2O effectively improved oxygenation and biomechanical properties of the lungs and did not cause pneumothorax relapse. In conclusion, BIPAP allowed for spontaneous ventilation during the breathing cycle and limited Ppeak. Its use was associated with more rapid sealing of air leaks with the ability to conduct earlier ARMs. The use of BIPAP compared with SIMV improved outcome in the presence of complex thoracic trauma.
Influences of organizational features of healthcare settings on clinical decision making: Qualitative results from a cross-national factorial experiment
Authors: Lutfey Karen E. , Campbell Stephen M. , Marceau Lisa D. , Roland Martin O. , McKinlay John B.
Published: December 2010

A proliferating literature documents cross-national variation in medical practice and seeks to explain observed differences in terms of the presence of certain kinds of healthcare systems, economic, and cultural differences between countries. Less is known about how providers themselves understand these influences and perceive them as relevant to their clinical work. Using qualitative data from a cross-national factorial experiment in the United States and United Kingdom, we analyze 244 primary care physicians’ explanations of how organizational features of their respective healthcare settings influence the treatment decisions they made for a vignette patient, including affordability of care; within-system quality deficits; and constraints due to patient behavior. While many differences are attributed to financial constraints deriving from two very differently structured healthcare systems, in other ways they are reflections of cultural and historical expectations regarding medical care, or interactions between the two. Implications, including possible challenges to the implementation of universal care in the USA, are discussed.
Tourism and the commodification of Cubanidad
Authors: Kaifa Roland L.
Published: December 2010

The article seeks to analyze the contradictions involved with the commoditization in Cuba’s revitalized tourism industry during the post-Soviet Special Period vis-a-vis the revolution’s Marxist— Leninist ideology. The paper provides an agent-based interpretation of cultural commodification by using ethnographic data to argue that the Cuban hosts to tourism empower themselves amidst the industry’s commodifying nature by manipulating and performing images of ‘Cuba’ to fit the international imagination based in prior epochs. The current article contributes to discussions about authenticity and the commodification of culture in tourism by considering the gendered, sexualized, racial, and nationalist dynamics promoted by (re)constructions of Cuban identity for tourist consumption.
Studying meaning in children’s drawings
Authors: Hopperstad Marit Holm
Published: December 2010

This paper reports on an ethnographic study conducted with two Year 1 classes in two different Norwegian schools. In total, 35 five- and six-year-old children were involved in the study and were observed over a two-month period as they engaged in learning activities that involved drawing. Building on Kress and Van Leeuwen’s (1996) theory of a visual ‘grammar’, this study draws attention to the ways that visual features in drawings made by the children in their first year in school can be found to carry ideational, interpersonal and textual meaning. This paper discusses the similarities and variations in the types of meaning the children make and the interests that seem to have motivated the children. It argues that a focus on drawing can help practitioners support and promote children’s visual literacy, and suggests pedagogical implications in light of the study. To begin, the research topic is related to a definition of literacy that encompasses multiple semiotic systems.
The SANTA Project (Students Against Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction): Using community-based participatory research to reduce smoking in a high-risk young adult population
Authors: Mendenhall Tai , Harper Peter , Stephenson Heather , Santo Haas G.
Published: December 2010

Students Against Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction (SANTA) is an action research project that engages local medical and mental health providers in partnership with students, teachers, and administrators in the Minneapolis/St Paul Job Corps community to reduce on-campus smoking. In this article, we describe how the initiative has endeavored to better understand the causes of students’ smoking behaviors; changed the campus environment in ways facilitative to stress-management and boredom-reduction; revised the manners in which smoking cessation and support services are conducted; and sustained the project following the discontinuation of its start-up grant. Evaluative efforts across several cohorts of students in time show that smoking rates decrease significantly with prolonged exposure to SANTA interventions.
Action research methodology to reconcile product standardization and diversity of agricultural practices: A case of farmers’ organizations in Costa Rica
Authors: Faure Guy , Hocdé Henri , Chia Eduardo
Published: December 2010

To continue exporting in competitive markets small producers need to sell products which meet increasingly strict standards. However, the diversity of agricultural practices followed by small farmers raises issues regarding how farmers may coordinate to produce a product that meets clients’ requirements. An action research methodology was designed in Costa Rica with two farmers’ organizations, one exporting fresh pineapple and the other ornamental plants, to identify socio-technical and organizational innovations that could help their members meet the standards imposed on their respective products. The article analyses the methodology that was used to address this topic and the participation of the farmers and farmers’ organizations in the whole research process in order to collectively obtain results in line with farmers’ demands. The article concludes by emphasizing: i) the special role of the technical specifications in the innovation process; ii) the learning process within the action research stakeholders group; iii) the effect of a partnership dimension on action research.
DNA retention after arrest: Balancing privacy interests and public protection
Authors: Tseloni Andromachi , Pease Ken
Published: December 2010

The S & Marper judgment of the European Court of Human Rights addresses the question of DNA profile retention in the absence of conviction or admission of guilt. It casts the problem as a question of balancing the principles of individual privacy and public protection. In the Court’s view there is a level of public protection conferred by retention of DNA from arrestees against whom no further action is taken that would justify retention, yet relevant data do not exist to determine the level of public protection gained by such retention. A pilot study is reported here showing that a group against whom arrest is followed by no further action exhibits levels of subsequent criminality (measured by frequency, latency and most severe outcome) similar to those of people officially processed by sentence or caution. Survival and count regression analyses suggest statistical approaches to be taken using larger and better samples. A research programme is outlined that would allow evidence-based policy on DNA profile retention.
Trust in the police, generalized trust and reporting crime
Authors: Kääriäinen Juha , Sirén Reino
Published: December 2010

Many researchers have assumed that trust in the police increases victims’ willingness to report crimes. This question has rarely been considered empirically, but most of the available research suggests a surprising conclusion: trust in the police does not appear to increase the likelihood of people reporting crime. The seriousness of the crime and, in particular, the relationship between the victim and the perpetrator do have a significant impact on willingness to report. An especially interesting and influential factor may be mutual trust between citizens, which researchers of social capital have named ‘generalized trust’. Does a high level of generalized trust reduce citizens’ desire to rely on official control? This article examines the links between generalized trust and trust in the police, and their interactive effect on the willingness to report violent and property crimes. The research data are based on Finnish national crime victim survey data collected in 2006.
Knowledge of Antioxidants and Breast Cancer Risk Among Women Attending Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Clinics
Authors: Burris Lilisha , Paisley Judy , Greenberg Marlene
Published: December 2010

This qualitative study used semistructured interviews to examine the accuracy of knowledge concerning antioxidants and health among a convenience sample of 79 women attending a breast cancer risk assessment clinic. Despite a high level of familiarity (98%) with the word antioxidant, few participants could name more than one of these compounds and most relied on print media (41.6%) and radio/TV (22.2%) for antioxidant information. Thematic content analysis revealed participants’ beliefs that antioxidants were strongly linked to reduced breast cancer risk and improved health. They described antioxidant functions that take place before (e.g., “Prevention . . . a best defense mechanism” and “To boost strength and good health”) or after (e.g., “Fights diseases, free radicals, and cancer,” “Acts as a cleanser or purifier,” and “Undoes the harm that I am consciously or unconsciously doing to my body”) a health threat. Participants’ understandings of the links between antioxidant intake and breast cancer risk did not accurately reflect the scientific evidence. This large priority population group needs tailored, evidence-based nutrition communications to address inaccurate understandings about antioxidant intake and breast cancer risk.
A Translational Research Evaluation of the Stay Active and Independent for Life (SAIL) Community-Based Fall Prevention Exercise and Education Program
Authors: York Sally C. , Shumway-Cook Anne , Silver Ilene F. , Morrison A. Clare
Published: December 2010

Falls in older adults are the leading cause of injury hospitalizations and fatalities in the United States; primary risk factors are muscle weakness, impaired mobility, and balance deficits. This article describes the 12-month translational research evaluation of the Stay Active and Independent for Life (SAIL) community-based public health, public domain fall prevention exercise and education program. Recruitment reached the target goal by 154%; 331 adults (mean age = 74.6) attended more than one class (mean classes attended = 24.8, SD = 26.6, range = 1-120) at nine community sites in one county in the 12-month period; 173 completed health and demographic forms, 132 completed program surveys, and 91 completed baseline and follow-up physical function tests. Physical function test results showed significant improvements in strength, balance, and mobility in those who were below normal limits at baseline, and in those who attended classes twice a week or more for more than 2 months. Survey results found that 93% of respondents reported improved performance of daily activities; 92% reported improved strength, balance, fitness, or flexibility; and 80% found the SAIL information guide education component helpful.