bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of AngiogenesisIn Vitroby Chebulagic Acid: A COX-LOX Dual Inhibitor
Authors: Athira A. P. , Helen A. , Saja K. , Reddanna P. , Sudhakaran P. R.
Published: October 2013

Angiogenesis is a crucial step in the growth of cancer and its metastasis. It is regulated by several endogenous factors which may stimulate or inhibit the new blood vessel growth. Besides these endogenous factors, several exogenous factors including some natural compounds are known to modulate angiogenesis. Angiogenesis being a potential target for drugs against a number of pathological conditions, search for compounds from natural sources that can affect angiogenesis is of great interest. The objective of our present study was to understand the effect of chebulagic acid, a COX-LOX dual inhibitor isolated from the fruits ofTerminalia chebulaRetz., on angiogenesis. The model systems used were rat aortic rings and human umbilical vein endothelial cells. The results showed that chebulagic acid exerts an antiangiogenic effect. This was evidenced from decreased sprouting in rat aortic rings and decrease in biochemical markers in endothelial cells treated with chebulagic acid. It downregulated the production of CD31, E-selectin, and vascular endothelial growth factor in human umbilical vein endothelial cells in culture (HUVEC). Further studies to understand the molecular mechanism of action of chebulagic acid revealed that CA exerts its anti angiogenic effect by modulating VE cadherin-βcatenin signalling in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.
Performance Evaluation and Microstructure Characterization of Metakaolin‐Based Geopolymer Containing Oil Palm Ash
Authors: Hawa Abideng , Tonnayopas Danupon , Prachasaree Woraphot
Published: October 2013

This study reports on the microstructure, compressive strength, and drying shrinkage of metakaolin (MK) based geopolymers produced by partially replacing MK by oil palm ash (OPA). The OPA was used as raw material producing different molar ratios of SiO2/Al2O3 and CaO/SiO2. The geopolymer samples were cured at 80°C for 1, 2, or 4 hours and kept at ambient temperature until testing. The compressive strength was measured after 2, 6, and 24 hours and 7 and 28 days. The testing results revealed that the geopolymer with 5% OPA (SiO2 : Al2O3 = 2.88 : 1) gave the highest compressive strength. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated that the 5% OPA sample had a dense‐compact matrix and less unreacted raw materials which contributed to the higher compressive strength. In the X‐ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, the change of the crystalline phase after heat curing for 4 hours was easily detectable compared to the samples subjected to a shorter period of heat curing.
The Contribution of Resting State Networks to the Study of Cortical Reorganization in MS
Authors: Sacco Rosaria , Bonavita Simona , Esposito Fabrizio , Tedeschi Gioacchino , Gallo Antonio
Published: October 2013

Resting State fMRI (RS-fMRI) represents an emerging and powerful tool to explore brain functional connectivity (FC) changes associated with neurologic disorders. Compared to activation/task-related fMRI, RS-fMRI has the advantages that (i) BOLD fMRI signals are self-generated and independent of subject’s performance during the task and (ii) a single dataset is sufficient to extract a set of RS networks (RSNs) that allows to explore whole brain FC. According to these features RS-fMRI appears particularly suitable for the study of FC changes related to multiple sclerosis (MS). In the present review we will first give a brief description of RS-fMRI methodology and then an overview of most relevant studies conducted so far in MS by using this approach. The most interesting results, in particular, regard the default-mode network (DMN), whose FC changes have been correlated with cognitive status of MS patients, and the visual RSN (V-RSN) whose FC changes have been correlated with visual recovery after optic neuritis. The executive control network (ECN), the lateralized frontoparietal network (FPN), and the sensory motor network (SMN) have also been investigated in MS, showing significant FC rearrangements. All together, RS-fMRI studies conducted so far in MS suggest that prominent RS-FC changes can be detected in many RSNs and correlate with clinical and/or structural MRI measures. Future RS-fMRI studies will further clarify the dynamics and clinical impact of RSNs changes in MS.
Exact Solutions of Generalized Modified Boussinesq, Kuramoto-Sivashinsky, and Camassa-Holm Equations via Double Reduction Theory
Authors: Ali Zulfiqar , Husnine Syed , Naeem Imran
Published: October 2013

We find exact solutions of the Generalized Modified Boussinesq (GMB) equation, the Kuromoto-Sivashinsky (KS) equation the and, Camassa-Holm (CH) equation by utilizing the double reduction theory related to conserved vectors. The fourth order GMB equation involves the arbitrary function and mixed derivative terms in highest derivative. The partial Noether’s approach yields seven conserved vectors for GMB equation and one conserved for vector KS equation. Due to presence of mixed derivative term the conserved vectors for GMB equation derived by the Noether like theorem do not satisfy the divergence relationship. The extra terms that constitute the trivial part of conserved vectors are adjusted and the resulting conserved vectors satisfy the divergence property. The double reduction theory yields two independent solutions and one reduction for GMB equation and one solution for KS equation. For CH equation two independent solutions are obtained elsewhere by double reduction theory with the help of conserved Vectors.
Pedestrian Exposure to Air Pollution in Cities: Modeling the Effect of Roadside Trees
Authors: Amorim Jorge Humberto , Valente Joana , Cascão Pedro , Rodrigues Vera , Pimentel Cláudia , Miranda Ana I. , Borrego Carlos
Published: October 2013

The exposure of students to traffic-emitted carbon monoxide (CO) in their daily walk to school is evaluated, with a particular emphasis on the effect of trees and route choice. The study is focused on the city centre of Aveiro, in central Portugal. Time evolution of the georeferenced location of an individual is tracked with a GPS for different alternative walking routes to a school. Spatial distribution of CO concentration is simulated with a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model. An exposure model is developed that associates the georeferenced location of the student with the computed air quality levels (at an average breathing height) for that specific grid cell. For each individual, the model calculates the instantaneous exposure at each time frame and the mean value for a given period. Results show a general benefit induced by the trees over the mean exposure of the student in each route. However, in the case of instantaneous exposure values, this is not consistent along the entire period. Also, the variability of the estimated exposure values indicates the potential error that can be committed when using a single value of air quality as a surrogate of air pollution exposure.
Hyperchaos Numerical Simulation and Control in a 4D Hyperchaotic System
Authors: Ma Junhai , Yang Yujing
Published: October 2013

A hyperchaotic system is introduced, and the complex dynamical behaviors of such system are investigated by means of numerical simulations. The bifurcation diagrams, Lyapunov exponents, hyperchaotic attractors, the power spectrums, and time charts are mapped out through the theory analysis and dynamic simulations. The chaotic and hyper-chaotic attractors exist and alter over a wide range of parameters according to the variety of Lyapunov exponents and bifurcation diagrams. Furthermore, linear feedback controllers are designed for stabilizing the hyperchaos to the unstable equilibrium points; thus, we achieve the goal of a second control which is more useful in application.
Communication and the Emergence of Collective Behavior in Living Organisms: A Quantum Approach
Authors: Bischof Marco , Del Giudice Emilio
Published: October 2013

Intermolecular interactions within living organisms have been found to occur not as individual independent events but as a part of a collective array of interconnected events. The problem of the emergence of this collective dynamics and of the correlated biocommunication therefore arises. In the present paper we review the proposals given within the paradigm of modern molecular biology and those given by some holistic approaches to biology. In recent times, the collective behavior of ensembles of microscopic units (atoms/molecules) has been addressed in the conceptual framework of Quantum Field Theory. The possibility of producing physical states where all the components of the ensemble move in unison has been recognized. In such cases, electromagnetic fields trapped within the ensemble appear. In the present paper we present a scheme based on Quantum Field Theory where molecules are able to move in phase-correlated unison among them and with a self-produced electromagnetic field. Experimental corroboration of this scheme is presented. Some consequences for future biological developments are discussed.
PKCι Maintains a Tumor-initiating Cell Phenotype That Is Required for Ovarian Tumorigenesis
Authors: Wang Yin , Hill Kristen S. , Fields Alan P.
Published: October 2013

Protein kinase Cι (PKCι) has oncogenic potential and is an attractive therapeutic target for treatment of lung cancer, particularly those tumors that express elevated PKCι. However, whether PKCι is a viable target in ovarian cancer is unknown, and virtually nothing is known about the mechanism by which PKCι drives ovarian tumorigenesis. Here, it is demonstrated that PKCι maintains a tumor-initiating cell (TIC) phenotype that drives ovarian tumorigenesis. A highly tumorigenic population of cells from human ovarian cancer cell lines exhibit cancer stem-like TIC properties, including self-renewal, clonal expansion, expression of stem-related genes, enhanced transformed growth in vitro, and aggressive tumor-initiating activity in vivo. Genetic disruption of PKCι inhibits the proliferation, clonal expansion, anchorage-independent growth, and enhanced tumorigenic properties of ovarian TICs. Biochemical analysis demonstrates that PKCι acts through its oncogenic partner Ect2 to activate a MEK/ERK signaling axis that drives the ovarian TIC phenotype. Genomic analysis reveals that PKCι and Ect2 are coordinately amplified and overexpressed in the majority of primary ovarian serous tumors, and these tumors exhibit evidence of an active PKCι-Ect2 signaling axis in vivo. Finally, this study reveals that auranofin, a potent and selective inhibitor of oncogenic PKCι signaling, inhibits the tumorigenic properties of ovarian TIC cells in vitro and in vivo. These data demonstrate that PKCι is required for a TIC phenotype in ovarian cancer, and that auranofin is an attractive therapeutic option to target deadly ovarian TICs in ovarian cancer patients.

Implications: PKCι drives a tumor-initiating cell phenotype in ovarian cancer cells that can be therapeutically targeted with auranofin, a small molecule inhibitor of PKCι signaling. Mol Cancer Res; 11(12); 1624–35. ©2013 AACR.
Matched-Pair Analysis Comparing the Outcomes of T Cell/Histiocyte-Rich Large B Cell Lymphoma and Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma in Patients Treated with Rituximab-CHOP
Authors: Kim Young Saing , Ji Jun Ho , Ko Young Hyeh , Kim Seok Jin , Kim Won Seog
Published: October 2013

Background: T cell/histiocyte-rich large B cell lymphoma (THRLBCL) is a rare morphological variant of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), accounting for 1-3% of all DLBCLs. However, its impact on treatment outcome and prognosis is still not clearly defined. Methods: We compared the clinical outcomes between THRLBCL and DLBCL, not otherwise specified (NOS), in patients treated with rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone (R-CHOP). Results: Data from 11 patients with THRLBCL were matched to 33 patients with DLBCL-NOS. Patients were matched by five established prognostic factors of the International Prognostic Index, including age, Ann Arbor stage, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, serum lactate dehydrogenase level and the number of extranodal involvement. There was no significant difference in the complete response rate to R-CHOP between THRLBCL (91%, 10/11) and DLBCL-NOS (97%, 32/33; p = 0.442). The 3-year event-free survival rate was 81% for both THRLBCL and DLBCL-NOS (p = 0.813). The 3-year overall survival rates were 75 and 81%, respectively (p = 0.719). Conclusions: The treatment outcomes of THRLBCL are similar to those of DLBCL-NOS. The addition of rituximab to CHOP seems to be helpful for the management of THRLBCL, as it is for DLBCL-NOS.
Self-Reported Psychotic-Like Experiences Are a Poor Estimate of Clinician-Rated Attenuated and Frank Delusions and Hallucinations
Authors: Schultze-Lutter Frauke , Renner Fritz , Paruch Julia , Julkowski Dominika , Klosterkötter Joachim , Ruhrmann Stephan
Published: October 2013

Background: One reason for the decision to delay the introduction of an Attenuated Psychosis Syndrome in the main text of the fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders was the concern that attenuated psychotic symptoms (APS) might in fact be common features in adolescents and young adults from the general population of no psychopathological significance in themselves. This concern was based on reports of high prevalence rates of psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) in the general population and the assumption that PLEs are a good estimate of APS. Although the criterion validity of self-reported PLEs had already been studied with respect to clinician-rated psychotic symptoms and found insufficient, it had been argued that PLEs might in fact be more comparable with mild, subclinical expressions of psychotic symptoms and, therefore, with APS. The present paper is the first to specifically study this assumption. Sampling and Methods: The sample consisted of 123 persons seeking help at a service for the early detection of psychosis, of whom 54 had an at-risk mental state or psychosis, 55 had a nonpsychotic mental disorder and 14 had no full-blown mental disorder. PLEs were assessed with the Peters Delusion Inventory and the revised Launay-Slade Hallucination Scale, and psychotic symptoms and APS were assessed with the Structured Interview for Prodromal Syndromes. Results: At a level of agreement between the presence of any PLE (in 98.4% of patients) and any APS (in 40.7%) just exceeding chance (κ = 0.022), the criterion validity of PLEs for APS was insufficient. Even if additional qualifiers (high agreement or distress, preoccupation and conviction) were considered, PLEs (in 52.8%) still tended to significantly overestimate APS, and agreement was only fair (κ = 0.340). Furthermore, the group effect on PLE prevalence was, at most, moderate (Cramer's V = 0.382). Conclusions: The prevalence of APS cannot be deduced from studies of PLEs. Thus, the high population prevalence rate of PLEs does not allow the conclusion that APS are common features of no pathological significance and would lack clinical validity as an Attenuated Psychosis Syndrome in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition. Rather, the population prevalence rate of APS has to be assumed to be largely unknown at present but is likely lower than indicated by epidemiological studies of PLEs. Therefore, dedicated studies are warranted, in which APS are assessed in a way that equates to their clinical evaluation.
Use of Placebos and Nonspecific and Complementary Treatments by German Physicians - Rationale and Development of a Questionnaire for a Nationwide Survey
Authors: Linde Klaus , Friedrichs Clara , Alscher Anna , Blank Wolfgang A. , Schneider Antonius , Fässler Margrit , Meissner Karin
Published: October 2013

Background: We are performing a nationwide survey in a random sample of German general practitioners (GPs), orthopedists, and internists on the use of placebos and nonspecific as well as complementary treatments and their association with basic professional attitudes. In this article we explain the theoretical considerations behind the study approach and the development of the questionnaire. Methods: Based on a systematic review of published surveys, own surveys on the topic, and on theoretical considerations we developed a preliminary version of a 4-page questionnaire that was tested for feasibility in a convenience sample of 80 participants of a general medical education event. We also performed cognitive interviews with 8 physicians to investigate whether the questions were understood adequately. Results: The questions on typical placebos and complementary treatments were well understood and easy to answer for participants. Discussions about the phrasing of questions on nonspecific treatments during interview reflected the vagueness of this concept; but this did not seem to create major problems when answering the related questions. The original questions regarding basic professional attitudes partly were not understood in the manner intended. The relevant questions were modified but the interviews suggest that these issues are difficult to grasp in a quantitative survey. Conclusion: Our testing procedures suggest that our questionnaire is well-suited to investigate our questions with some limitations regarding the issue of basic professional attitudes.
Assessment of apixaban plasma levels by laboratory tests: suitability of three anti-Xa assays
Authors: Flaujac Claire , Delavenne Xavier , Quenet Sara , Horellou Marie-Hélenè , Laporte Silvy , Siguret Virginie , Lecompte Thomas , Gouin-Thibault Isabelle
Published: October 2013

While laboratory monitoring is not required in patients treated with apixaban, a direct factor-Xa inhibitor, assessment of its concentration is useful in some critical situations. However, few data are available on its effect on coagulation tests and on the suitability of anti-Xa assays for its quantification. It was the objective of this study to identify laboratory tests suitable for apixaban concentration assessment. Coagulation tests – PT and aPTT- and anti-Xa assays were performed in apixaban-spiked plasma samples. To evaluate the sensitivity of PT and aPTT to apixaban, we conducted a first monocenter part, with a wide range of concentrations (50–1,000 ng/ml), a large panel of reagents (20 reagents), and two coagulometers (STAR®, Stago and ACL TOP®, IL), and a second multicenter part involving 13 laboratories using either a common PT reagent (RecombiPlastin2G®) or the local PT and aPTT reagents. In the multicentre part, five blinded apixaban-spiked plasma samples (0/100/200/400/800 ng/ml – checked by HPLC-MS/MS) were used; apixaban concentrations were measured with three anti-Xa assays, apixaban calibrators and controls (Stago). PT and aPTT tests using a large panel of reagents displayed a low sensitivity to a wide range of apixaban concentrations. The concentrations to double PT ranged from 400 to >1,000 ng/ml with the 10 reagents. With the three anti-Xa assays, interlaboratory precision and accuracy were below 11% and 12%, respectively. In conclusion, whereas PT and aPTT tests were not sensitive enough to detect apixaban, the three anti-Xa assays tested using lyophilised apixaban calibrators and controls allowed to reliably quantify a wide range of apixaban concentrations.
Changes in Right Ventricular Function Measured by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients Receiving Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension–Targeted Therapy
Authors: Peacock Andrew J. , Crawley Stephen , McLure Lindsey , Blyth Kevin G. , Vizza Carmine Dario , Poscia Roberto , Francone Marco , Iacucci Ilaria , Olschewski Horst , Kovacs Gabor , vonk Noordegraaf Anton , Marcus J. Tim , van de Veerdonk Marielle C. , Oosterveer Frank P.T.
Published: October 2013

Background—

Most measures that predict survival in pulmonary hypertension (PH) relate directly to, or correlate with, right ventricular (RV) function. Direct assessment of RV function using noninvasive techniques such as cardiac MRI may therefore be an appropriate way of determining response to therapy and monitoring disease progression in PH.

Methods and Results—

In this pan-European study, 91 patients with PH (mean pulmonary arterial pressure 46±15 mm Hg) underwent clinical and cardiac MRI assessments at baseline and after 12 months of disease-targeted therapy (predominantly endothelin receptor antagonists [47.3%] or phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors [25.3%]). At month 12, functional class had improved in 21 patients, was unchanged in 63 patients, and had deteriorated in 7 patients. Significant improvements were achieved in RV and left ventricular ejection fraction (
P
<0.001 and
P
=0.0007, respectively), RV stroke volume index (
P
<0.0001), and left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (
P
=0.0015). Increases in 6-minute walk distance were significant (
P
<0.0001) and correlated with change in RV ejection fraction and left ventricular end-diastolic volume, although correlation coefficients were low (r=0.28,
P
=0.01 and r=0.26,
P
=0.02, respectively).

Conclusions—

On-treatment changes in cardiac MRI–derived variables from left and right sides of the heart reflected changes in functional class and survival in patients with PH. Direct measurement of RV function using cardiac MRI can fully assess potential benefits of treatment in PH.
c-Kit–Positive Cardiac Stem Cells Nested in Hypoxic Niches Are Activated by Stem Cell Factor Reversing the Aging Myopathy
Authors: Sanada Fumihiro , Kim Junghyun , Czarna Anna , Chan Noel Yan-Ki , Signore Sergio , Ogórek Barbara , Isobe Kazuya , Wybieralska Ewa , Borghetti Giulia , Pesapane Ada , Sorrentino Andrea , Mangano Emily , Cappetta Donato , Mangiaracina Chiara , Ricciardi Mario , Cimini Maria , Ifedigbo Emeka , Perrella Mark A. , Goichberg Polina , Choi Augustine M. , Kajstura Jan , Hosoda Toru , Rota Marcello , Anversa Piero , Leri Annarosa
Published: October 2013

Rationale:

Hypoxia favors stem cell quiescence, whereas normoxia is required for stem cell activation, but whether cardiac stem cell (CSC) function is regulated by the hypoxic/normoxic state of the cell is currently unknown.

Objective:

A balance between hypoxic and normoxic CSCs may be present in the young heart, although this homeostatic control may be disrupted with aging. Defects in tissue oxygenation occur in the old myocardium, and this phenomenon may expand the pool of hypoxic CSCs, which are no longer involved in myocyte renewal.

Methods and Results:

Here, we show that the senescent heart is characterized by an increased number of quiescent CSCs with intact telomeres that cannot re-enter the cell cycle and form a differentiated progeny. Conversely, myocyte replacement is controlled only by frequently dividing CSCs with shortened telomeres; these CSCs generate a myocyte population that is chronologically young but phenotypically old. Telomere dysfunction dictates their actual age and mechanical behavior. However, the residual subset of quiescent young CSCs can be stimulated in situ by stem cell factor reversing the aging myopathy.

Conclusions:

Our findings support the notion that strategies targeting CSC activation and growth interfere with the manifestations of myocardial aging in an animal model. Although caution has to be exercised in the translation of animal studies to human beings, our data strongly suggest that a pool of functionally competent CSCs persists in the senescent heart and that this stem cell compartment can promote myocyte regeneration effectively, partly correcting the aging myopathy.
Brush Sign on 3-T T2*-Weighted MRI as a Potential Predictor of Hemorrhagic Transformation After Tissue Plasminogen Activator Therapy
Authors: Terasawa Yuka , Yamamoto Nobuaki , Morigaki Ryoma , Fujita Koji , Izumi Yuishin , Satomi Junichiro , Harada Masafumi , Nagahiro Shinji , Kaji Ryuji
Published: October 2013

Background and Purpose—

The brush sign (BS) is the enlargement of medullary veins on 3-T T2*-weighted MRI seen in patients with ischemic stroke because of major cerebral artery occlusion. However, the clinical relevance of BS in patients with acute stroke remains unclear. We assessed the correlation between detecting BS with the development of hemorrhagic transformation after intravenous thrombolysis.

Methods—

We enrolled consecutive patients with M1 or M2 occlusion treated with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator. We classified the patients into 2 groups: the group positive for BS (P-BS) and the group negative for BS (N-BS). We investigated the differences in MRI findings and the clinical outcome between the 2 groups.

Results—

The subjects consisted of 36 patients (19 men; mean age, 74.7 years). Twenty-one patients (58%) had M1 occlusion, and 15 (42%) had M2 occlusion. Twenty-five patients (69%) were classified into the P-BS group and 11 (31%) into the N-BS group. Recanalization was observed in 15 (60%) and 10 (90%) patients in the P-BS and N-BS groups, respectively (
P
=0.116). Hemorrhagic transformation on MRI was observed more frequently in the P-BS group than in the N-BS group (64% versus 18%;
P
=0.027). A good outcome (mRS, 0–1) at discharge was found in 24% of patients in the P-BS group and in 45% of patients in the N-BS group (
P
=0.152). A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the presence of BS (odds ratio, 9.08; 95% confidence interval, 1.4–59.8;
P
=0.022) was independently associated with hemorrhagic transformation.

Conclusions—

BS may predict the development of hemorrhagic transformation in patients with acute stroke treated with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator.
Does Sex Influence the Response to Intravenous Thrombolysis in Ischemic Stroke?
Authors: Lorenzano Svetlana , Ahmed Niaz , Falcou Anne , Mikulik Robert , Tatlisumak Turgut , Roffe Christine , Wahlgren Nils , Toni Danilo
Published: October 2013

Background and Purpose—

Women are more likely to have a worse outcome after an acute stroke than men. Some studies have suggested that women also benefit less from intravenous thrombolysis after an acute ischemic stroke, but others found no sex differences in safety and efficacy. We aimed to evaluate differences in 3-month outcome between sexes in intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator–treated patients registered in the Safe Implementation of Treatments in Stroke-International Stroke Thrombolysis Register.

Methods—

A total of 45 079 patients treated with intravenous alteplase were recorded from 2002 to 2011. Main outcome measures were symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage, functional independence (modified Rankin Scale score, 0–2), and mortality at 3 months.

Results—

Among 25 777 (57.2%) men and 19 302 (42.8%) women, we found no difference in the rate of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (
P
=0.13), a significantly higher likelihood of functional independence at 3 months in men (
P
<0.0001) and a higher mortality in women when compared with men (
P
<0.00001). After adjustment for confounding variables, we did not observe any difference between sexes in functional outcome (odds ratio, 1.03; 95% confidence interval, 0.97–1.09;
P
=0.39), whereas male sex was related to a higher risk of mortality (odds ratio, 1.19; 95% confidence interval, 1.10–1.29;
P
=0.00003) and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (odds ratio, 1.25, 95% confidence interval, 1.04
–
1.51;
P
=0.02).

Conclusions—

Data from Safe Implementation of Treatments in Stroke-International Stroke Thrombolysis Register suggest that intravenous thrombolysis may modify the observed survival and recovery advantage for men expected in the natural course of an ischemic stroke, with a possible larger beneficial treatment effect in women when compared with men.
First record of the genus Ctenipocoris (Heteroptera: Naucoridae) in Central America, with a preliminary key to the American species and description of a new species
Authors: HERRERA FEDERICO
Published: October 2013

A new naucorid species, Ctenipocoris oscari Herrera NEW SPECIES, is herein described for Costa Rica. It is the first species to be described in Central America and the sixth American species. Comparative notes are provided to differentiate this species from the others. Type material is deposited at the Zoological Museum of the University of Costa Rica (MZUCR), San José, Costa Rica. A preliminary key to the American species of the genus is provided.
A new species of the Stenus cephalotes group (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) from Guangxi, South China
Authors: LI WEN-RONG , TANG LIANG , LI LI-ZHEN
Published: October 2013

A new species of the Stenus cephalotes group, S. mawenliae sp. n. from Guangxi, South China, is described and illustrated. The latest key to Chinese species of the group is modified to include the new species.
Associations of maternal and adolescent religiosity and spirituality with adolescent alcohol use in Chile: Implications for social work practice
Authors: Delva Jorge , Andrade Fernando H. , Sanhueza Guillermo , Han Yoonsun
Published: October 2013

To inform social work practice with adolescents who may consume alcohol, we examined if alcohol use among Chilean adolescents varied as a function of their mothers’ and their own religiosity and spirituality. Data were from 787 Chilean adolescents and their mothers. Adolescent spirituality was a protective factor against more deleterious alcohol use. Parental monitoring and alcohol using opportunities mediated the associations. The practice of religious behaviors by themselves without meaningful faith were not associated with alcohol use among adolescents. Implications for social work practice are discussed.
Grievances, economic wealth, and civil conflict
Authors: Koubi Vally , Böhmelt Tobias
Published: October 2013

One of the most robust findings in the literature on civil conflicts is that high income levels are associated with a lower risk of conflict onset. This article addresses the wealth-conflict link and discusses it in relation to the dominating `greed vs. grievance' dichotomy. It is further argued that the effect on conflict of grievances, in the form of horizontal inequalities, is conditioned on national wealth. More specifically, there may be a higher risk of civil war in those countries that have much wealth, but where a large share of the population is potentially excluded from accessing it. The empirical analyses testing this argument employ time-series cross-section data for 1951–2004 and find support for the theory. The authors also show that taking this conditional relationship into account improves our ability to predict the onset of civil conflict.
The Relative Impact of Gang Status Transitions
Authors: Melde Chris , Esbensen Finn-Aage
Published: October 2013

Objectives:

Explore the relative impact of transitions into and out of gangs on adolescent involvement in delinquency and determine the mechanisms associated with these changes in deviant behavior.

Method:

Hierarchical discontinuous regression models are utilized to examine changes in elevation and slope in outcomes associated with gang membership status transitions using six waves of panel data from a school-based sample of 512 gang-involved youth.

Result:

Results reveal the potential for gang membership to have an enduring impact on involvement in delinquent activity, but also on attitudes, emotions, and unstructured activities associated with a higher risk of offending. Heightened elevation in proximate postgang membership observations of offending was mediated by the mechanisms associated with a turning point.

Conclusions:

Gang membership, however brief, can have an impact on adolescent development after self-reported membership ends. While desistance from gang membership is a good first step in promoting better outcomes, youth remain more at risk of antisocial behavior after leaving the gang than they were prior to joining such groups. Research on the enduring impact of gang membership is needed, as well as programs and policies that might lessen the severity of the impact of gang membership on later life outcomes.
The Cult of Jesús Malverde
Authors: Gómez Michel Gerardo , Park Jungwon
Published: October 2013

The legend of Jesús Malverde articulates the myth of a late-nineteenth-century social bandit in Sinaloa, Mexico. Beatified at the grassroots, Malverde became known decades later as the patron saint of narcos (drug traffickers). In the past few years, this anticanonical figure has provoked controversy because of his supposed association with the criminal world. An examination of the meanings of sanctity and criminality in the Malverde cult in various cultural productions suggests that the worship of this bandit-saint originally reflected the asymmetrical power relationships in Sinaloa during the Porfirian modernizing period. His recent transformation into a “narco-saint” points to the integration into the global market of this region’s contraband. The conflictive image of criminal and redeeming saint illustrates a form of emerging modernity in Sinaloa that represents the intimate desires of those worst affected by illegality and calls into question the unjust and exclusive official system. Beyond his role as a folk religious symbol, Malverde has acquired transnational influence as a laic saint identified with the vulnerability of the human condition under globalization.

La leyenda de Jesús Malverde articula el mito de un bandido social sinaloense de fines del siglo 19. Beatificado por el pueblo, Malverde conocido décadas más tarde como el santo patrón de los narcos. En los últimos años esta figura anti-canónica ha provocado controversia por su supuesta asociación con el mundo criminal. Un examen del significado de la santidad y la criminalidad en el culto a Malverde en varias producciones culturales sugiere que la adoración a este bandido-santo en su origen refleja las relaciones asimétricas del poder en la Sinaloa porfiriana. Su transformación en “narco-santo” apunta hacia la integración del contrabando de droga de esta región al mercado global. La imagen conflictiva como criminal y santo redentor ilustra una forma de modernidad emergente en Sinaloa que representa los deseos más íntimos de los más afectados por la ilegalidad y pone en tela de juicio el injusto y excluyente sistema oficial. Más allá de su papel como símbolo religioso popular, Malverde ha llegado a tener influencia trasnacional como santo láico identificado con la vulnerabilidad de la condición humana bajo la globalización.
Biopolitics and Disposable Bodies
Authors: Reyes-Zaga Héctor A.
Published: October 2013

Until now, little has been said about Mexican literature’s relationship with drug trafficking. While the literature influenced by drug trafficking may be seen as opportunistic and as promoting the dissolution of society and advocating crime, it not only contributes to the reproduction of the current violent Mexican imaginary but also appears to question the political and economic decentralization of neoliberalism and its role in making human beings disposable. Examining an example of this genre, Alejandro Almazán’s Entre perros (2009), in terms of the concept of biopolitics developed by Michel Foucault and others reveals it to be a denunciation of the effects of drug trafficking on Mexican society. The narconarrative raises the possibility of thinking about a state in which ethics and human rights are attainable.

Hasta ahora poco se ha dicho de la relación entre la literatura mexicana y el narcotráfico. Mientras se puede ver la literatura influenciada por el narcotráfico como oportunista y promotora de la disolución social y alendador del crimen, no solo contribuye a la reproducción del imaginario violento mexicano, sino parece cuestionar la decentralización política y económica del neoliberalismo y su rol en hacer desechables a los seres humanos. Examinando un ejemplo de este genero, Entre Perros de Alejandro Almazán (2009), en términos del concepto de biopolítica desarrollada por Michel Foucault y otros lo revela como una denuncia del efecto del narcotráfico en la sociedad mexicana. La narconarrativa plantea la posibilidad de pensar en un estado en donde son alcanzables la ética y los derechos humanos.
Investigation of strontium ferrite activity in different rubber matrices
Authors: Kruželák Ján , Hudec Ivan , Dosoudil Rastislav , Sýkora Richard
Published: October 2013

The goal of the present work was to study the preparation and properties of rubber magnetic composites and investigation of strontium ferrite activity in examined materials. Three types of rubber matrices, namely butadiene rubber as non-polar elastomeric matrix, nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) and NBR/poly(vinyl chloride) blend as polar elastomeric matrices, were compounded with strontium ferrite and other additives in order to prepare rubber magnetic composites. Ferrite dosage was given in modified and unmodified forms in concentration scale ranging from 0 to 100 phr. The influence of magnetic filler content on the mechanical properties of composites was investigated. Correlation between Wolf activity coefficient and Payne effect in relation to the mechanical properties of tested systems was discussed. The results revealed that the observed characteristics are dependent on the type of rubber matrix and also on the type of ferrite.
Tourism as Catalyst for Quality of Life in Transitioning Subsistence Marketplaces
Authors: Mai Nguyen Thi Tuyet , Rahtz Don R. , Shultz Clifford J.
Published: October 2013

Tourism is a potential catalyst for transforming subsistence marketplaces, and the quality of life (QOL) for people who live in them. The authors share findings from a study on tourism development in Ha Long, Vietnam, a community transitioning from central economic planning and a focus on heavy and extractive industries, to one that is increasingly dominated by tourism and the industries, goods and services that support it. The authors used multiple methods to gain insights into QOL in Ha Long; those methods included site observations, depth interviews and data collection via an instrument designed and developed by the authors that quantifies perceptions of the evolution of residents’ well-being, including anticipated QOL. Findings indicate that a large majority of citizen-stakeholders in Ha Long generally feel life-quality has improved because of policy changes and subsequent tourism development. Concern is growing, however, that some environmental and societal degradation has accompanied positive economic outcomes. Marketing and policy implications, and opportunities for further research are discussed – not only for Ha Long, but for other actual or hopeful transitioning subsistence marketplaces whose leaders see tourism as a catalyst from economic hardship and subsistence-living toward enhanced QOL.
A Review of Environmental Contributions to Childhood Motor Skills
Authors: Golding Jean , Emmett Pauline , Iles-Caven Yasmin , Steer Colin , Lingam Raghu
Published: October 2013

Although much of children’s motor skills have a heredity component, at least half of the variance is likely to be influenced by the environment. It is important to ascertain features of the environment that are responsible so that toxins can be avoided, children at risk can be identified, and beneficial interventions initiated. This review outlines the results of published studies and recommends the areas where further research is required. We found much confusion with little comparability concerning the ages or measures used. Few studies had sufficient power and few allowed for confounders. We found that research to date implicates associations with prenatal drinking ≥4 drinks of alcohol per day; diabetes; taking antidepressant drugs; being deficient in iodine or iron; dietary fish; and postnatal depression. The child appearing to be most at risk was born of low birth weight (but not due to preterm delivery) or with neonatal problems.
From a Certain Point of View
Authors: Allen-Collinson Jacquelyn , Hockey John
Published: October 2013

The precise ways in which we go about the mundane, repetitive, social actions of everyday life are central concerns of ethnographers and theorists working within the traditions of the sociology of the mundane and sociological phenomenology. In this article, we utilize insights derived from sociological phenomenology and the newly developing field of sensory sociology to investigate a particular, mundane, and embodied social practice, that of training for distance running in specific places: our favored running routes. For, despite a growing body of ethnographic studies of particular sports, little analytic attention has been devoted to the actual, concrete practices of “doing” or “producing” sporting activity, particularly from a sensory ethnographic perspective. Drawing upon data from a 2-year joint autoethnographic research project, here we explore the visual dimension, focusing upon three key themes in relation to our runners’ visualization of, respectively, (1) hazardous places, (2) performance places, (3) the time–space–place nexus.
Damping and mechanical properties of polyol cross-linked polyurethane/epoxy interpenetrating polymer networks
Authors: Wang Chao , Jia Jinrong
Published: October 2013

A series of glycerol cross-linked polyurethane (g-PU)/epoxy (EP) interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) were prepared by sequential method. The functional group change, mechanical properties, morphology, thermal stability, and damping properties were studied. Thermogravimetric analysis result reveals that the thermal stability of these IPNs is enhanced with the increase in the content of g-PU. The result of dynamic mechanical analysis shows that the effective damping temperature range is broadened and (tan δ)max is increased through the introduction of g-PU into EP to form IPNs. Mechanical measurement indicates that the tensile and impact strength of these IPNs reaches the maximum value at the g-PU content of 10%.
Hunger Games
Authors: Aarøe Lene , Petersen Michael Bang
Published: October 2013

Social-welfare policies are a modern instantiation of a phenomenon that has pervaded human evolutionary history: resource sharing. Ancestrally, food was a key shared resource in situations of temporary hunger. If evolved human psychology continues to shape how individuals think about current, evolutionarily novel conditions, this invites the prediction that attitudes regarding welfare politics are influenced by short-term fluctuations in hunger. Using blood glucose levels as a physiological indicator of hunger, we tested this prediction in a study in which participants were randomly assigned to conditions in which they consumed soft drinks containing either carbohydrates or an artificial sweetener. Analyses showed that participants with experimentally induced low blood glucose levels expressed stronger support for social welfare. Using an incentivized measure of actual sharing behavior (the dictator game), we further demonstrated that this increased support for social welfare does not translate into genuinely increased sharing motivations. Rather, we suggest that it is “cheap talk” aimed at increasing the sharing efforts of other individuals.
Kinesthesis Can Make an Invisible Hand Visible
Authors: Dieter Kevin C. , Hu Bo , Knill David C. , Blake Randolph , Tadin Duje
Published: October 2013

Self-generated body movements have reliable visual consequences. This predictive association between vision and action likely underlies modulatory effects of action on visual processing. However, it is unknown whether actions can have generative effects on visual perception. We asked whether, in total darkness, self-generated body movements are sufficient to evoke normally concomitant visual perceptions. Using a deceptive experimental design, we discovered that waving one’s own hand in front of one’s covered eyes can cause visual sensations of motion. Conjecturing that these visual sensations arise from multisensory connectivity, we showed that grapheme-color synesthetes experience substantially stronger kinesthesis-induced visual sensations than nonsynesthetes do. Finally, we found that the perceived vividness of kinesthesis-induced visual sensations predicted participants’ ability to smoothly track self-generated hand movements with their eyes in darkness, which indicates that these sensations function like typical retinally driven visual sensations. Evidently, even in the complete absence of external visual input, the brain predicts visual consequences of actions.
Germany: The public sector in the financial and debt crisis
Authors: Keller Berndt
Published: October 2013

In this article I analyse the changing contours of public sector employment relations in Germany during and after the financial and debt crisis. In order to understand what is distinctive in German experience and what is similar with that elsewhere, I provide a comparative perspective of selected EU member states, especially Austria. First, I describe in some detail the impact of various austerity measures on public sector employees. Second, I analyse collective consequences and challenges for corporate actors and labour market institutions, especially unions and collective bargaining. Third, I offer a brief prognosis for future developments.
Effects of a Year-Long Pedometer-Based Walking Program on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Active Older People
Authors: Miyazaki Ryo , Kotani Kazuhiko , Tsuzaki Kokoro , Sakane Naoki , Yonei Yoshikazu , Ishii Kojiro
Published: October 2013

We assessed the relationship between the number of daily steps and changes in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in a year-long pedometer-based walking program for physically active older people. A total of 36 physically active older people (68.3 ± 5.8 years) completed this 59-week program. The CVD risk parameters were measured at baseline and at weeks 21 and 59. The mean number of steps increased by week 21 and was maintained at week 59 (approximately 10 000 steps, increase in 1500 steps from the baseline; P < .05). Following a significant reduction in body mass index at week 21, systolic blood pressure levels were significantly reduced, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were significantly increased at week 59 ( P < .05). In summary, even active older people can achieve further protection against CVD risks by minor, but sustained, physical activity using pedometers for a period of more than 1 year.
Adolescent sport participation and alcohol use: The importance of sport organization and the wider social context
Authors: Halldorsson Vidar , Thorlindsson Thorolfur , Sigfusdottir Inga Dora
Published: October 2013

This paper investigates the relationship between adolescent sport participation and alcohol use, focusing on differences in sport contexts. We also include the wider social context, the role of peers and parents as key variables in our analysis. Our sample consists of a nationally representative sample of 10,992 Icelandic adolescents. The findings indicate that adolescents that participate in formally organized sport clubs are less likely to use alcohol than those that do not. The results obtained for participation in informal sport are in the reverse direction, indicating that adolescents that do only informal sport are more likely to use alcohol than those that do not. Moreover, it was found that the well-known relationship between adolescent alcohol use and having alcohol-using friends was contingent on formal sport participation. We also find that the influence of low parental monitoring and time spent with parents and broken family structure on alcohol use becomes significantly weaker with greater involvement in formal sport. In other words, sport participation in formal sport is more relevant for those groups of adolescents that are at most risk for using alcohol, since it buffers the effects of known risk factors on alcohol use. Participation in informal sport does not, however, show such buffering effects. The findings further highlight the need to consider the wider social context as well as differences in sport organization and sport contexts while studying the potential effects of sports on adolescent alcohol use.