bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Blood-Based Gene Expression Signatures in Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Zander Thomas , Hofmann Andrea , Staratschek-Jox Andrea , Classen Sabine , Debey-Pascher Svenja , Maisel Daniela , Ansén Sascha , Hahn Moritz , Beyer Marc , Thomas Roman K. , Gathof Birgit , Mauch Cornelia , Delank Karl-Stefan , Engel-Riedel Walburga , Wichmann H.-Erich , Stoelben Erich , Schultze Joachim L. , Wolf Jürgen
Published: May 2011

Purpose: Blood-based surrogate markers would be attractive biomarkers for early detection, diagnosis, prognosis, and prediction of therapeutic outcome in cancer. Disease-associated gene expression signatures in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) have been described for several cancer types. However, RNA-stabilized whole blood–based technologies would be clinically more applicable and robust. We evaluated the applicability of whole blood–based gene expression profiling for the detection of non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Experimental Design: Expression profiles were generated from PAXgene-stabilized blood samples from three independent groups consisting of NSCLC cases and controls (n = 77, 54, and 102), using the Illumina WG6-VS2 system.

Results: Several genes are consistently differentially expressed in whole blood of NSCLC patients and controls. These expression profiles were used to build a diagnostic classifier for NSCLC, which was validated in an independent validation set of NSCLC patients (stages I–IV) and hospital-based controls. The area under the receiver operator curve was calculated to be 0.824 (P < 0.001). In a further independent dataset of stage I NSCLC patients and healthy controls the AUC was 0.977 (P < 0.001). Specificity of the classifier was validated by permutation analysis in both validation cohorts. Genes within the classifier are enriched in immune-associated genes and show specificity for NSCLC.

Conclusions: Our results show that gene expression profiles of whole blood allow for detection of manifest NSCLC. These results prompt further development of gene expression–based biomarker tests in peripheral blood for the diagnosis and early detection of NSCLC. Clin Cancer Res; 17(10); 3360–7. ©2011 AACR.
Biomarkers for Cetuximab-Based Neoadjuvant Radiochemotherapy in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer
Authors: Grimminger Peter P. , Danenberg Peter , Dellas Kathrin , Arnold Dirk , Rödel Claus , Machiels Jean-Pascal , Haustermans Karin , Debucquoy Annelies , Velenik Vaneja , Sempoux Christine , Bracko Matej , Hölscher Arnulf H. , Semrau Robert , Yang Dongyun , Danenberg Kathleen , Lenz Heinz-Josef , Vallböhmer Daniel
Published: May 2011

Purpose: Phase II trials in locally advanced rectal cancer have shown that cetuximab-based neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy is feasible but without an improvement in complete pathologic response rates. Our goal was to identify patients who would benefit from cetuximab-based neoadjuvant chemoradiation measuring gene expression levels of proteins involved in tumor growth [endothelial growth factor receptor (EGFR)], angiogenesis [VEGF, VEGF receptors 1 and 2 (VEGFR1, VEGFR2)], DNA repair [excision repair cross-complementing 1 (ERCC1)], and drug metabolism [thymidylate synthetase (TS)]. We also determined mutation status of KRAS and BRAF.

Experimental Design: This study was carried out on 130 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who were enrolled in 4 different phase II clinical trials, using cetuximab-based chemoradiation. Tumor tissues were obtained before neoadjuvant and at surgical therapy. After microdissection, intratumoral gene expression levels and KRAS/BRAF mutation status were analyzed.

Results: A significant decrease of TS, VEGFR1, and VEGFR2 gene expression was seen following neoadjuvant therapy (P < 0.03). High pretreatment VEGF gene expression levels were associated with nonresponse (P = 0.070). KRAS mutations were found in 42% and mutant KRAS (KRAS mt) was significantly associated with pathologic nonresponse (P = 0.037). In patients with wild-type KRAS (KRAS wt), low EGFR was significantly associated with higher nonresponse and VEGF mRNA expressions were associated with complete pathologic response (P = 0.012; P = 0.06). KRAS transversion (KRAS tv) was associated with tumor regression: nonresponse was more common in patients with KRAS tv than with KRAS wt (P = 0.007). BRAF V600E mutations were not detected in any of the patients.

Conclusion: This study suggests that pretreatment intratumoral EGFR and VEGF mRNA expression levels as well as KRAS mutation status are predictive markers of pathologic response to neoadjuvant cetuximab-based chemoradiation in locally advanced rectal cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 17(10); 3469–77. ©2011 AACR.
CTLA4 Blockade Induces Frequent Tumor Infiltration by Activated Lymphocytes Regardless of Clinical Responses in Humans
Authors: Huang Rong Rong , Jalil Jason , Economou James S. , Chmielowski Bartosz , Koya Richard C. , Mok Stephen , Sazegar Hooman , Seja Elizabeth , Villanueva Arturo , Gomez-Navarro Jesus , Glaspy John A. , Cochran Alistair J. , Ribas Antoni
Published: May 2011

Background: CTLA4 blocking monoclonal antibodies provide durable clinical benefit in a subset of patients with advanced melanoma mediated by intratumoral lymphocytic infiltrates. A key question is defining whether the intratumoral infiltration (ITI) is a differentiating factor between patients with and without tumor responses.

Methods: Paired baseline and postdosing tumor biopsy specimens were prospectively collected from 19 patients with metastatic melanoma, including 3 patients with an objective tumor response, receiving the anti-CTLA4 antibody tremelimumab within a clinical trial with primary endpoint of quantitating CD8+ cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) infiltration in tumors. Samples were analyzed for cell density by automated imaging capture and further characterized for functional lymphocyte properties by assessing the cell activation markers HLA-DR and CD45RO, the cell proliferation marker Ki67, and the regulatory T-cell marker FOXP3.

Results: There was a highly significant increase in ITI by CD8+ cells in biopsy samples taken after tremelimumab treatment. This included increases between 1-fold and 100-fold changes in 14 of 18 evaluable cases regardless of clinical tumor response or progression. There was no difference between the absolute number, location, or cell density of infiltrating cells between clinical responders and patients with nonresponding lesions that showed acquired intratumoral infiltrates. There were similar levels of expression of T-cell activation markers (CD45RO, HLA-DR) in both groups and no difference in markers for cell replication (Ki67) or the suppressor cell marker FOXP3.

Conclusion: CTLA4 blockade induces frequent increases in ITI by T cells despite which only a minority of patients have objective tumor responses. Clin Cancer Res; 17(12); 4101–9. ©2011 AACR.
Distinguishing Inflammation from Tumor and Peritumoral Edema by Myeloperoxidase Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Kleijn Anne , Chen John W. , Buhrman Jason S. , Wojtkiewicz Gregory R. , Iwamoto Yoshiko , Lamfers Martine L. , Stemmer-Rachamimov Anat O. , Rabkin Samuel D. , Weissleder Ralph , Martuza Robert L. , Fulci Giulia
Published: May 2011

Purpose: Inflammation occurs routinely when managing gliomas and is not easily distinguishable from tumor regrowth by current MRI methods. The lack of noninvasive technologies that monitor inflammation prevents us to understand whether it is beneficial or detrimental for the patient, and current therapies do not take this host response in consideration. We aim to establish whether a gadolinium (Gd)-based agent targeting the inflammatory enzyme myeloperoxidase (MPO) can selectively detect intra- and peritumoral inflammation as well as glioma response to treatment by MRI.

Methods: We carried out serial Gd-bis-5-HT-DTPA (MPO-Gd) MRI before and after treating rodent gliomas with different doses of oncolytic virus (OV) and analyzed animal survival. The imaging results were compared with histopathologic and molecular analyses of the tumors for macrophage/microglia infiltration, virus persistence, and MPO levels.

Results: Elevated MPO activity was observed by MRI inside the tumor and in the peritumoral cerebrum at day 1 post–OV injection, which corresponded with activation/infiltration of myeloid cells inhibiting OV intratumoral persistence. MPO activity decreased, whereas tumor size increased, as the virus and the immune cells were cleared (days 1–7 post–OV injection). A 10-fold increase in viral dose temporally decreased tumor size, but augmented MPO activity, thus preventing extension of viral intratumoral persistence.

Conclusions: MPO-Gd MRI can distinguish enhancement patterns that reflect treatment-induced spatiotemporal changes of intratumoral and intracerebral inflammation from those indicating tumor and peritumoral edema. This technology improves the posttreatment diagnosis of gliomas and will increase our understanding of the role of inflammation in cancer therapy. Clin Cancer Res; 17(13); 4484–93. ©2011 AACR.
NID2 and HOXA9 Promoter Hypermethylation as Biomarkers for Prevention and Early Detection in Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma Tissues and Saliva
Authors: Guerrero-Preston R. , Soudry E. , Acero J. , Orera M. , Moreno-López L. , Macía-Colón G. , Jaffe A. , Berdasco M. , Ili-Gangas C. , Brebi-Mieville P. , Fu Y. , Engstrom C. , Irizarry R.A. , Esteller M. , Westra W. , Koch W. , Califano J. , Sidransky D.
Published: May 2011

Differentially methylated oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) biomarkers, identified in vitro and validated in well-characterized surgical specimens, have shown poor clinical correlation in cohorts with different risk profiles.

To overcome this lack of relevance, we used the HumanMethylation27 BeadChip, publicly available methylation and expression array data, and quantitative methylation specific PCR to uncover differential methylation in OSCC clinical samples with heterogeneous risk profiles.

A two stage design consisting of discovery and prevalence screens was used to identify differential promoter methylation and deregulated pathways in patients diagnosed with OSCC and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Promoter methylation of KIF1A (κ = 0.64), HOXA9 (κ = 0.60), NID2 (κ = 0.60), and EDNRB (κ = 0.60) had a moderate to substantial agreement with clinical diagnosis in the discovery screen. HOXA9 had 68% sensitivity, 100% specificity, and a 0.81 Area Under the Curve (AUC). NID2 had 71% sensitivity, 100% specificity, and a 0.79 AUC. In the prevalence screen, HOXA9 (κ = 0.82) and NID2 (κ = 0.80) had an almost perfect agreement with histologic diagnosis. HOXA9 had 85% sensitivity, 97% specificity, and a 0.95 AUC. NID2 had 87% sensitivity, 95% specificity, and a 0.91 AUC. A HOXA9 and NID2 gene panel had 94% sensitivity, 97% specificity, and a 0.97 AUC. In saliva, from OSCC cases and controls, HOXA9 had 75% sensitivity, 53% specificity, and a 0.75 AUC. NID2 had 87% sensitivity, 21% specificity, and a 0.73 AUC.

This phase I Biomarker Development Trial identified a panel of differentially methylated genes in normal and OSCC clinical samples from patients with heterogeneous risk profiles. This panel may be useful for early detection and cancer prevention studies. Cancer Prev Res; 4(7); 1061–72. ©2011 AACR.
MRI-Based Neuroanatomical Predictors of Dysphagia after Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Flowers Heather L. , Skoretz Stacey A. , Streiner David L. , Silver Frank L. , Martino Rosemary
Published: May 2011

Background: Considering that the incidence of dysphagia is as high as 55% following acute stroke, we undertook a systematic review of the literature to identify lesion sites that predict its presence after acute ischemic stroke. Methods: We searched 14 databases, 17 journals, 3 conference proceedings and the grey literature using the Cochrane Stroke Group search strategy and terms for MRI and dysphagia. We evaluated study quality using the Cochrane Collaboration’s risk of bias tool and extracted individual-level data. We calculated relative risks in order to model dysphagia according to neuroanatomical lesion sites. Results: Of 964 abstracts, 84 articles met the criteria for full review. Of these 84 articles, 17 met the quality criteria. These 17 articles dealt exclusively with dysphagia after infratentorial stroke and provided MRI correlates of dysphagia for 656 patients. The incidence of dysphagia according to stroke region was 0% in the cerebellum, 6% in the midbrain, 43% in the pons, 40% in the medial medulla and 57% in the lateral medulla. Within these regions, pontine (relative risk 3.7, 95% confidence interval 1.5–7.7), medial medullary (relative risk 6.9, 95% confidence interval 3.4–10.9) and lateral medullary lesions (relative risk 9.6, 95% confidence interval 5.9–12.8) predicted an increased risk of dysphagia. Conclusions: We sought to develop a neuroanatomical model of dysphagia throughout the whole brain. However, the literature that met our quality criteria addressed the MRI correlates of dysphagia exclusively within the infratentorium. Although not surprising, these findings are a first step toward establishing a neuroanatomical model of dysphagia after infratentorial ischemic stroke and provide insight into the assessment of individuals at risk for dysphagia.
First Experiences with a New Device for Mechanical Thrombectomy in Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion
Authors: Roth C. , Mielke A. , Siekmann R. , Ferbert A.
Published: May 2011

Background and Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate our first results using a new device for mechanical thrombectomy in patients with acute basilar artery occlusion. Methods: Between May 2009 and September 2010 a new device for aspiration thrombectomy (The Penumbra System™; Penumbra Inc., Alameda, Calif., USA) was used in 12 patients with acute basilar artery occlusion. We performed a retrospective review of these patients’ medical records. Results: One patient received endovascular treatment without intravenous (IV) thrombolysis because of infarction on the initial CT scan. Eleven of 12 patients received IV thrombolysis with rtPA followed by endovascular thrombectomy according to a bridging concept. After thrombolysis, the basilar artery was patent in 1 patient (9%), partially recanalized in 3 (27%) and still occluded in 7 (64%). The endovascular device could not access in 2 patients (17%). Among the remaining 10 patients, the patency rate after thrombectomy was 100%. The overall patency rate after treatment was 9 of 12 (75%) at the time of discharge. National Institute of Health Stroke Scale improved from a median of 27 to a median of 18 after treatment. Four patients died (33%). The survivors had a mean modified Rankin Scale before discharge of 2.3 (range 0–4). Conclusions: A bridging therapy with the combination of IV thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator and continuous aspiration thrombectomy seems to be a promising therapy strategy for acute basilar artery occlusion. Furthermore, our results confirm the advantage of the additional use of this new thrombectomy device, working with thrombus aspiration, with a satisfactory patency rate and a good clinical outcome.
Successful Surgical Drainage and Aggressive Medical Therapy in a Preterm Neonate with Bacillus cereus Meningitis
Authors: Drazin Doniel , Lehman Deborah , Danielpour Moise
Published: May 2011

Bacillus cereus meningitis is a rare disease with a very high mortality rate in neonates. The authors present the rare case of a premature infant with B. cereus bacteremia and subsequent intracranial abscesses. In addition to aggressive medical therapy, surgical drainage was performed via a left frontal mini-craniotomy. At 15 months of age, the patient had mild developmental delay, cortical blindness, and sensorineural hearing loss. The clinical case is described and difficulties in the management of B. cereus meningoencephalitis in infants are discussed.
Objectively Measuring Route-To-Park Walkability in Atlanta, Georgia
Authors: Dills James E. , Rutt Candace D. , Mumford Karen G.
Published: May 2011

Many people fail to achieve recommended levels of physical activity. Neighborhood parks serve as locations in which physical activity often occurs, and walking to parks provides added opportunity for leisure-time activity. The authors examine environmental characteristics of shortest pedestrian routes to parks to determine how route walkability affects park use. Using an objective environmental audit, the authors found that routes of park users were measurably more walkable than those of nonpark users and that each unit increase in total walkability score associated with a 20% increase in the likelihood of walking to the park, controlling for education and route length (odds ratio = 1.20; 95% confidence interval = [1.07, 1.34]). The most significant elements measured included route distance, traffic, neighborhood maintenance, street maintenance, safety, and aesthetics. Pedestrian scale environmental characteristics are associated with individuals’ use of neighborhoods for physical activity. Understanding these relationships can contribute to evidence-based design interventions to increase physical activity.
The current and future trends of composite materials: an experimental study
Authors: Enamul Hossain M.
Published: May 2011

The usages of the composite materials range from simple household to light-to-heavy industrial purposes including oilfield applications. The objective of this study is to evaluate current and potential uses of composite materials for the petroleum industry. This article gathered all the available composite materials that are normally used specially in oilfield and surface pipeline applications. Out of those, four fiberglass-reinforced plastic materials (i.e., AR-glass, boron-free E-glass, C-glass, and E-glass) were selected to conduct an experiment in acidic and alkaline environments. The results show that AR-glass is corrosion resistant at high temperature and high acidic and alkaline environments. The weight loss due to corrosion is less than the other three materials. Boron-free E-glass is also better than C-glass and E-glass, especially in acidic environment. Another aspect of this research is to find out a research gateway toward the development of sustainable composites. When toxic components are used during the development of new materials, nowadays, this becomes an issue for environmental groups. Therefore, this study suggests the researchers to look for an environment-friendly, sustainable composite material that can be widely used in the petroleum industry. Finally, the trend of future research has been outlined and an indication of sustainable composite material choice has been proposed for oilfield applications.
Hybrid composites of oil palm empty fruit bunches/woven jute fiber: chemical resistance, physical, and impact properties
Authors: Jawaid M. , Khalil H.P.S. Abdul , Bakar A. Abu
Published: May 2011

Natural fiber-based hybrid composites with oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) and woven jute (Jw) fibers were prepared by hand lay-up method. Epoxy resin was used as matrix and tri-layer hybrid composites of EFB/ woven jute /EFB and woven jute /EFB/ woven jute were prepared by keeping the EFB/ woven jute fiber weight ratio constant at 4:1. The chemical resistance properties of the EFB/ woven jute/EFB and woven jute /EFB/ woven jute fiber-reinforced hybrid composites were studied by using three acids, three alkalies, and three solvents. It was found from the chemical resistance test that all the composites are resistance to various chemicals. It was observed that marked reduction in void content of composites with hybridization of oil palm EFB with woven jute fiber. Density and moisture content study demonstrated that density and moisture content property was enhanced in hybrid composites. The hybrid composites showed lower impact properties than pure EFB composite. Izod impact strength of EFB/woven jute/EFB and woven jute/EFB/woven jute hybrid was found to be 72.4 and 57.9 J/m, respectively. Impact fracture surface of the composites was studied with the help of scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
Phase behaviour, microstructure, and percolation of poly(ethylene glycol) filled by multiwalled carbon nanotubes and organophilic montmorillonite
Authors: Lebovka N.I. , Lysenkov E.A. , Goncharuk A.I. , Gomza Yu.P. , Klepko V.V. , Boiko Yu.P.
Published: May 2011

This work studies phase behavior, microstructure and percolation of the poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), filled by multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), organo-modified montmorillonite (OMMT), and their mixtures, using differential scanning calorimentry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), electrical conductivity, and analysis of microscopic images. The DSC and XRD data showed a noticeable decrease of PEG crystallinity with increase of nanofiller content. Filling of PEG by MWCNTs was accompanied by a percolation threshold at ≈0.1 wt%, and the estimated electrical conductivity exponent ( t = 1.77 ± 0.07) was typical for the random percolation networks. The similar threshold behavior, but with higher percolation threshold ≈0.5–1.0 wt%, was observed for PEG filled by OMMT. The observed effect of OMMT-enhanced dispersion of MWCNTS in PEG at a high level of loading by nanoparticles offers good prospects for simultaneous improvement of the electrical and mechanical properties of PEG-based composites.
A comparative study of nonwoven fabrics made with two distinctly different forms of greige cotton lint
Authors: Sawhney Paul , Reynolds Michael , Condon Brian , Slopek Ryan , Allen Chuck
Published: May 2011

Two sets of nonwoven fabrics of nominal density, 80 g/m2, have been produced on the pilot plant equipment comparable to that used in commercial production, using two different forms of greige (non-bleached) cotton lint. One was regular cotton taken from a randomly picked classical bale and the other was mechanically pre-cleaned cotton produced by a well known US cotton producer and ginner. The fabrics were produced by using a pre-needling, needlepunch system and a hydroentanglement system. Some of the fabric in each set was scoured only and some was both scoured and bleached. All the fabrics were tested for a comparison of their typical physical and mechanical properties, which, along with the fiber and fabric processing metrics, are discussed in this article. The information obtained from this comparative study has shown that although both the regular and the pre-cleaned greige cottons can be satisfactorily processed on the conventional cotton opening, cleaning and carding equipment to ultimately produce acceptable nonwoven fabrics, the pre-cleaned cotton may be processed without the traditional cotton cleaning/carding equipment that is not available at almost all nonwovens manufacturing entities today. A ‘nonwovens card’ (i.e., without the revolving flats) should be adequate to efficiently card the pre-cleaned greige cotton, since the latter is indeed very clean to start with.
Antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of chitosan-based viscose fibres enzymatically functionalized with flavonoids
Authors: Fras-Zemljič Lidija , Kokol Vanja , Čakara Duško
Published: May 2011

The main purpose of this research was to qualitatively and quantitatively identify chitosan-based viscose fibre functional group surfaces as modified by two chemically-similar phenolics, namely fisetin and quercetin. Potentiometric titration was used to determine fibre-dissociable weak acids as a consequence of the presence of chitosan and deposited flavonoids. In addition, a conventional spectrophotometric method using C.I. Acid Orange 7 dye was used for determining the amino groups only. Finally, the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of the fibres were evaluated, respectively. It has been clearly shown that the introduction of flavonoid onto the fibres introduces a significant amount of anionic phenolic hydroxyl groups, leading to fibre antioxidant activity and a decrease in fibre antimicrobial efficiency.
Off the Books in Salvador
Authors: Jackson John Andrew Carey
Published: May 2011

Informal economic activity has been increasing in Brazil in the midst of neoliberal reforms, skyrocketing unemployment, and business strategies designed to cut labor costs. Today half of the Brazilian economically active population works informally, as do 40 percent of private-sector employees, now the largest group of informal workers. In both Salvador and Brazil there are more informal salaried workers than there are informal self-employed entrepreneurs, contrary to what most theories of informality would predict. The state is not adequately enforcing its labor legislation, and employers increasingly contract their employees informally. Outsourcing (subcontracting to smaller firms) also contributes to informality, since micro-enterprises are less likely to formalize their employees’ status. Theories of informality need to recognize that there is no such thing as a separate “informal sector” of the economy and that informality increasingly extends to employees of formal firms.
The null-subject parameter at the interface between syntax and pragmatics: Evidence from bilingual German–Italian, German–French and Italian–French children
Authors: Schmitz Katrin , Patuto Marisa , Müller Natascha
Published: May 2011

This article investigates subject realizations and omissions in bilingual German–Italian, German–French and Italian–French children. The German–Italian children realize too many subjects in Italian, unlike the French–Italian child. The authors modify the criteria for cross-linguistic influence: this occurs if the vulnerable grammatical phenomenon is an interface property and if the surface strings of the two languages are analysable with the syntactic derivation of one language. All children produce target-deviant subject omissions in French and German. Odd omissions of subjects in French and German and odd realizations in Italian are all syntactically 3rd person. The authors argue for one explanation for all observations, namely the misinterpretation of the deictic nature of 1st and 2nd person as the anaphoric 3rd person. Odd realized and omitted subject pronouns are of the NP-type, independent from licensing via agreement and realized as default 3rd person.
The contribution of part-word phonological factors to the production of regular noun plural –s by children with and without specific language impairment
Authors: Polite Elgustus J.
Published: May 2011

Potential phonological contributions to the inconsistent use of regular noun plural – s were examined in two groups of children who were inconsistent in their use of plural – s: 26 children with specific language impairment and 26 younger, typically developing children with comparable mean lengths of utterance. The children’s degree of plural – s use in spontaneous speech was examined according to the stem-final phoneme type (vowel, consonant, or consonant cluster), and the type of context that immediately followed the obligatory context for – s in the child’s utterance (vowel-initial word, consonant-initial word). Both groups of children had greater inflection accuracy when noun stems ended in a vowel as compared to a consonant or in a consonant cluster.
The Dark Side of Forgiveness: The Tendency to Forgive Predicts Continued Psychological and Physical Aggression in Marriage
Authors: McNulty James K.
Published: May 2011

Despite a burgeoning literature that documents numerous positive implications of forgiveness, scholars know very little about the potential negative implications of forgiveness. In particular, the tendency to express forgiveness may lead offenders to feel free to offend again by removing unwanted consequences for their behavior (e.g., anger, criticism, rejection, loneliness) that would otherwise discourage reoffending. Consistent with this possibility, the current longitudinal study of newlywed couples revealed a positive association between spouses’ reports of their tendencies to express forgiveness to their partners and those partners’ reports of psychological and physical aggression. Specifically, although spouses who reported being relatively more forgiving experienced psychological and physical aggression that remained stable over the first 4 years of marriage, spouses who reported being relatively less forgiving experienced declines in both forms of aggression over time. These findings join just a few others in demonstrating that forgiveness is not a panacea.
Analysis of Unbiased Histopathology Data from Rodent Toxicity Studies (or, Are These Groups Different Enough to Ascribe It to Treatment?)
Authors: Holland Tom , Holland Christopher
Published: May 2011

It is a common problem to distinguish a minor treatment change from background variation, especially when establishing no observed effect levels. Toxicological histopathologists use a wide range of methods at the microscope for comparing groups to help them form their opinions. Although the data produced by these methods can be subjective, all of these methods produce data that can be formally analyzed to give an objective, probabilistic result, provided the observations are unbiased. Other important experimental disciplines make extensive use of completely subjective data to produce objective results, for example, clinical trials using patients' symptoms. It is argued here that pathological experimental data too should be analyzed before an expert opinion (along with the objective evidence for that opinion) is formally reported. The Ordering Method, based on ranking the severity of a putative toxic change, is the most sensitive, robust, and analytically flexible method currently available.
Is the ACT two minutes after heparin injection reliable?
Authors: Bellaiche AL , Nielsen PF , Kirkegaard H.
Published: May 2011

Background: Blood for activated clotting time (ACT) measurement to verify the effect of the initial dose of heparin before cannulation in heart surgery has traditionally been drawn 5 minutes (min) after injection of the heparin. However, there has been an increasing demand to reduce the waiting time. The aim of this study was to investigate if ACT measured 1, 2, 3 and 4 min after heparin injection is as reliable as ACT measured 5 min after heparin injection.

Materials and methods: Fifty adult patients undergoing routine cardiac surgery with a heart-lung machine. Heparinization was obtained with unfractioned porcine heparin. The ACT was measured with 5 Hemochron® Jr. machines 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 min after the heparin injection. Full heparinization was defined as an ACT >400 seconds.

Results: At 1 and 2 min, 94% (n=47) of the ACTs were > 400. All ACTs >400 seconds after 2 min remained >400 seconds at 3, 4 and 5 min. Mean values declined from 533 to 498. ANOVA analysis showed statistically significantly higher values at 1, 2 and 3 min, compared to 5 min, but not at 4 min. However, the estimated differences were small: 3.7-36 seconds. There was no significant difference between variances for the five sample times. Standard deviation declined from 123 to 100. Values at 2 min correlated as well as those at 5 min with mean 1-5 min values.

Conclusion: The range of the ACT values tends to diminish over time and, consequently, the reliability of the results increases. However, the difference is small and has little or no clinical relevance. Giving time for the circulation to distribute the heparin in the bloodstream, we recommend measuring the ACT two min after heparin administration.
Recognition of persistent left superior vena cava in non-congenital patients undergoing cardiac surgery
Authors: Lentini S. , Recupero A.
Published: May 2011

Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) represents the most frequent congenital malformation of the thoracic venous drainage system. In adults referred to surgery for an acquired cardiac disease, abnormal venous drainage may be missed if not carefully researched. Discovering a previously undiagnosed PLSVC during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) may present some inconvenience for both the perfusionist and the surgeon, especially during a minimally invasive approach. The authors believe PLSVC probably may represent an under-reported condition. A careful screening of patients undergoing cardiac surgery may prove helpful. In particular, a complete echocardiographic study may help to better diagnose this condition before surgery.

Different signs may raise the suspicion of PLSVC and should be carefully researched during preoperative patient work-up.
First application of a new portable, miniaturized system for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
Authors: Müller T. , Philipp A. , Lubnow M. , Weingart C. , Pfeifer M. , Riegger GAJ , Schmid C.
Published: May 2011

Extracorporeal assist systems for respiratory and circulatory failure are increasingly used in intensive care medicine. Important technical innovations over the past years have resulted in improved biocompatibility and, consequently, reduced complication rates. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) technology experienced a surge of use during the influenza A (H1N1) pandemic, but transport of unstable patients with life-threatening ARDS is still hazardous. We describe the first successful application of a newly developed, compact and easily portable ECMO device in a patient with severe ARDS due to influenza A (H1N1). Support with the miniaturized ECMO resulted in immediate improvement of gas exchange and a highly protective ventilation. Inspiratory pressure was decreased from 40 to 29 cmH2O and tidal volume per kilogram of predicted bodyweight could be reduced from 6.5 to 3.3 mL.

Small and efficient heart-lung assist systems will become a tool of growing importance in intensive care medicine, both for profound respiratory and cardiac failure in the future. The reduced weight and compact design of the device greatly facilitates transport and handling of unstable patients on ECMO.
Space, social theory and peripheral imagination: Brazilian intellectual history and de-colonial debates
Authors: Ehlert Maia João Marcelo
Published: May 2011

The spatial turn is a much discussed theme in social theory. However, it is still based on a Eurocentric perspective that excludes other forms of reflection about space. In this article the author addresses the spatial turn from a perspective with a basis in Brazilian intellectual history, so as to argue that the Brazilian case presents a classical tradition of geographical thinking that provides a different framework for global spatial imagination. The author looks to de-colonial critiques in order to analyse this tradition from a contemporary point of view. The aim is to argue that this perspective helps to de-center social theory by providing new spatial images that diverge from those related both to the language of the city and the Eurocentric perspective that still characterizes the spatial turn.
Neoliberal communitarian citizenship: Current trends towards ‘earned citizenship’ in the United Kingdom, France and the Netherlands
Authors: van Houdt Friso , Suvarierol Semin , Schinkel Willem
Published: May 2011

As Western European nation-states adapt to the challenges posed to the nation-state by globalization and immigration, adjusting citizenship criteria for immigrants has been one of the responses to these developments. This article compares the current changes in citizenship policies of three Western European states: the United Kingdom, France and the Netherlands. The main concern of the article is to shed light on the emerging development of a form of neoliberal communitarian citizenship that involves an increased emphasis on the need to earn one’s citizenship. While many have signalled a shift towards neoliberal citizenship, this study assesses to what extent such a shift is characterized by a contractual view that sees citizenship no longer primarily as a prima facie right but as a prized possession that is to be earned and can be lost if not properly cultivated. At the same time, the study analyses the content of citizenship criteria to see how the nation-state in these three countries is sacralized by an emphasis on the national community. These two trends of earned citizenship are conceptualized in the study as neoliberal communitarianism.
Altered tight junctions and fence function in NRK-52E cells induced by aristolochic acid
Authors: Liu Mei , Yang Xiao , Fan Jinjin , Zhang Rui , Wu Jun , Zeng Youjia , Nie Jing , Yu Xueqing
Published: May 2011

Aristolochic acid (AA) can accumulate in the tubulointerstitium and cause kidney-specific injuries. However, the mechanism by which AA induces nephropathy remains largely unknown. This study explored the effect of AA-I on tight junctions (TJs), and the fence function in a renal epithelial cell (REC). NRK-52E cells were exposed to different concentrations of AA-I for 4 h or 25 μM AA-I for different time. Cell viability was detected by MTT, cell apoptosis by flow cytometric analysis, the expression of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), E-cadherin and polarity scaffold (Par3) by western blot and immunofluorescence, cell membrane permeability by transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER). It was found that AA-I reduced the expression of ZO-1, E-cadherin, and Par3 in a concentration- and time-dependent fashion, and altered the distribution of ZO-1 and Par3 from cell membrane to cell plasma. In parallel to the reduced expression of TJ proteins, TEER exhibited a significant reduction in response to AA-I treatment in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Meanwhile, α-SMA expression in cells was increased following AA-I treatment. In contrast, cell viability and apoptosis were unaltered with the doses of AA-I tested. Our findings show for the first time that AA-I treatment in cultured RECs induced a rapid disruption of TJ and the fence function preceding apoptosis, which indicated that aberrant expression of TJ proteins within RECs may be involved in initiating the renal tubulointerstitial disorders.
Genotoxicity in agricultural farmers from Guntur district of South India—A case study
Authors: Jonnalagadda P R , Jahan P , Venkatasubramanian S , Khan I A , Prasad AYE , Reddy K A , Rao M V , Venkaiah K , Hasan Q
Published: May 2011

Background: Pesticides play an important role in controlling the pests on agricultural crops and thereby to increase the yield of agricultural produce. Farmers occupationally exposed to pesticides during spraying activities are more prone to genotoxicity than unexposed. Aim: To assess the genotoxicity in farmers, engaged in spraying complex mixture of pesticides in the cultivation of cotton crops. Material and methods: A total number of 152 male subjects were selected randomly from Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh (AP), South India. The demographic particulars viz., personal habits, duration of exposure to pesticides, types of pesticides used were collected from the study subjects using an interview schedule. Among them 76 subjects were farmers and the remaining individuals served as unexposed or controls. Blood samples from these subjects were collected for assessing the genetic damage by chromosomal aberrations (CAs) test and micronucleus test (MNT). Results: The results of the study indicated that CA was significantly higher with 2.8% in farmers who were exposed to pesticides when compared to unexposed (0.72%). However, there was a minor difference in MN with 0.13% and 0.12% between exposed and unexposed which was not statistically significant ( p < 0.05). Conclusion: A correlation between CA frequency and exposure to benzene hexachloride (BHC) pesticide residue was observed.
Public engagement with information on renewable energy developments: The case of single, semi-urban wind turbines
Authors: Parks J. M. , Theobald K. S.
Published: May 2011

This paper explores perceptions of public engagement with information on renewable energy developments. It draws on a case study of proposals by a major supermarket chain to construct single wind turbines in two semi-urban locations in the UK, analysing data from interviews with key actors in the planning process and focus groups with local residents. The paper concludes that key actors often had high expectations of how local people should engage with information, and sometimes implied that members of the public who were incapable of filtering or processing information in an organised or targeted fashion had no productive role to play in the planning process. It shows how the specific nature of the proposals (single wind turbines in semi-urban locations proposed by a commercial private sector developer) shaped local residents’ information needs and concerns in a way that challenged key actors’ expectations of how the public should engage with information.
Radial Glia: Progenitor, Pathway, and Partner
Authors: Sild Mari , Ruthazer Edward S.
Published: May 2011

Radial glia (RG) are a glial cell type that can be found from the earliest stages of CNS development. They are clearly identifiable by their unique morphology, having a periventricular cell soma and a long process extending all the way to the opposite pial surface. Due to this striking morphology, RG have long been thought of as a transient substrate for neuron migration in the developing brain. In fact, RG cells, far from exclusively serving as a passive scaffold for cell migration, have a remarkably diverse range of critical functions in CNS development and function. These include serving as progenitors of neurons and glia both during development as well as in response to injury, helping to direct axonal and dendritic process outgrowth, and regulating synaptic development and function. RG also engage in extensive bidirectional signaling both with neurons and one another. This review describes the diversity of RG cell types in the CNS and discusses their many important activities.
Worldwide Behavioral Research on Major Global Causes of Mortality
Authors: Dal-Ré Rafael
Published: May 2011

Background. Researchers willing to publish their interventional studies’ results must register their studies before starting enrollment. This study aimed to describe all “open” (i.e., recruiting or not yet recruiting) behavioral studies in 16 of 20 top worldwide leading causes of death. Method. Search on Clinicaltrials.gov database (March 2010). Results. Of 204 studies, 66% accounted for the following diseases: diabetes (26%), colon and rectum cancers (16%), cerebrovascular diseases (14%), and HIV/AIDS (11%). Less than 3% were on tuberculosis, stomach cancer, cirrhosis of the liver, and lower respiratory infections combined; no study was open on malaria, nephrosis and nephritis, and diarrheal diseases. A total of 81% of the studies were interventional, and 19% were observational. Fifty-nine percent were conducted in the United States. A total of 79%, 35%, and 5% were sponsored by universities, U.S. federal agencies, and industry, respectively. Twenty-one percent of studies were cofunded. A typical interventional study had a two-arm prospective parallel design, lasting approximately 3 years and involving 100 to 400 subjects. Conclusions. Increasing the number of trials and participating countries (including developing ones) is necessary to make available behavioral interventions in different settings in the future.
Root/affix asymmetries in contact and transfer: case studies from the Andes
Authors: Muysken Pieter
Published: May 2011

This article aims to explore the psycholinguistic processing issues, in terms of the type of transfer that they exemplify, needed to account for in the emergence of two mixed languages and a mixed register with a Quechua structure: Media Lengua (Ecuador) and Kallawaya (Bolivia), both relexified varieties within the Quechua language family, and bilingual mixed songs in Peru, waynos. The two issues that require most attention are (1) the mental status of roots vs affixes in the transfer process; (2) the possibility of manipulating lexical access in transfer. The languages and the register share a number of structural features, but are sociolinguistically totally different. In Media Lengua the lexicon comes from a ‘new’ language (Spanish), and in Kallawaya from an ‘old’ language (Puquina). Media Lengua is an informal community language, while Kallawaya is a ritual healing language only used by male adults. Waynos are a very popular musical genre in large parts of the southern Andes in Peru. The root/suffix asymmetries in the mixed languages are confronted with the mirror phenomenon of Spanish suffixes that occur in Quechua, to help us further understand the processing issues involved.
Transfer and language contact: the case of Pirahã
Authors: Sakel Jeanette
Published: May 2011

In this article the author argues that the language contact situation between Pirahã (Muran) and Portuguese can best be explained in a framework combining the theoretical approaches to language contact and transfer. In this contact situation, Portuguese elements are readily incorporated into Pirahã, while the society remains largely monolingual. Only some speakers have a limited command of Portuguese, which they employ when communicating with outsiders. The author refers to these speakers as gatekeepers, usually middle-aged men taking over the communication with the outside world. Their speech is lexically Portuguese, but shows considerable interference from Pirahã. This could be due to their limited proficiency in Portuguese, forcing the speakers to draw heavily on the structures of their L1 (the transfer perspective). On the other hand, it could also be analysed as heavy borrowing of Portuguese lexical elements into a Pirahã frame (the language contact perspective). The result of both perspectives is an interlingual variety, used for the purpose of communicating with outsiders. Focusing on expressions of quantities in the language of the gatekeepers, the author argues for a combination of the borrowing or transfer frameworks in the analysis of this contact situation.
The tweet smell of celebrity success: Explaining variation in Twitter adoption among a diverse group of young adults
Authors: Hargittai Eszter , Litt Eden
Published: May 2011

What motivates young adults to start using the popular microblogging site Twitter? Can we identify any systematic patterns of adoption or is use of the service randomly distributed among internet users of this demographic? Drawing on unique longitudinal data surveying 505 diverse young American adults about their internet uses at two points in time (2009, 2010), this article looks at what explains the uptake of Twitter during the year when the site saw considerable increase in use. We find that African Americans are more likely to use the service as are those with higher internet skills. Results also suggest that interest in celebrity and entertainment news is a significant predictor of Twitter use mediating the effect of race among a diverse group of young adults. In contrast, interest in local and national news, international news, and politics shows no relationship to Twitter adoption in this population segment.
Buying support and regime change: the evolution of Polish attitudes towards the EU and voting between accession and 2008
Authors: Jackson John E. , Mach Bogdan W. , Miller-Gonzalez Jennifer L.
Published: May 2011

Positive assessments of what entry to the European Union (EU) meant for Poland and for Poles increased after the 2003 vote to join and dramatically so after accession. Analysis of panel data from 2003 and 2008 shows the increase in positive assessments is related to the size of EU transfers and to increases in personal income, particularly for assessments of personal benefits. The attitude changes are also related to variables associated with individuals mostly likely to benefit from greater access to the larger Europe. The positive EU attitudes on both dimensions are related to votes for the pro-EU party that came into office in the 2007 election. In this way, the benefits from entry ‘bought’ more favorable attitudes and a more favorable government for the EU.