bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cardiopulmonary Fitness Is Associated with Cognitive Performance in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Swardfager Walter , Herrmann Nathan , Marzolini Susan , Saleem Mahwesh , Kiss Alexander , Shammi Prathiba , Oh Paul I. , Lanctôt Krista L.
Published: July 2010

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between cardiopulmonary fitness and cognitive performance in subjects with coronary artery disease (CAD).

DESIGN: Cross‐sectional observational study.

SETTING: Outpatient cardiac rehabilitation.

PARTICIPANTS: Eighty‐one subjects with CAD.

MEASUREMENTS: Cardiopulmonary fitness was assessed by measuring peak oxygen uptake (VO2Peak) in a standardized exercise stress test. The fraction of the predicted age and sex norm for VO2Peak was computed for each patient. A battery of neuropsychological tests including the Stroop, Trail‐Making Test Part B, Digit Symbol Coding, Revised Brief Visuospatial Memory Test, California Verbal Learning Test 2nd Edition, and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) was administered, from which composite Z‐scores were computed for tasks involving executive function and memory.

RESULTS: Executive function, memory, and MMSE scores were correlated with VO2Peak, but only performance in the executive domain was independently associated with VO2Peak in multiple linear regression. In a multiple linear regression model controlling for potential clinical confounders, VO2Peak (β=.666, P<.001) and covariates accounted for 36% of the variance in executive function scores.

CONCLUSION: Poorer VO2Peak is associated with poorer cognition, particularly executive function, in subjects with CAD independent of other cardiac risk factors. Cardiopulmonary fitness may be a protective factor for cognition in patients with CAD.
The Growth of Hospice Care in U.S. Nursing Homes
Authors: Miller Susan C. , Lima Julie , Gozalo Pedro L. , Mor Vincent
Published: July 2010

OBJECTIVES: To inform efforts aimed at reducing Medicare hospice expenditures by describing the longitudinal use of hospice care in nursing homes (NHs) and examining how hospice provider growth is associated with use.

DESIGN: Longitudinal study using NH resident assessment (Minimum Data Set) and Medicare denominator and claims data for 1999 through 2006.

SETTING: NHs in the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.

PARTICIPANTS: Persons dying in U.S. NHs.

MEASUREMENTS: Medicare beneficiaries dying in NHs, receipt of NH hospice, and lengths of hospice stay were identified. The number of hospices providing care in NHs was also identified, and a panel data fixed‐effect (within) regression analysis was used to examine how growth in providers affected hospice use.

RESULTS: Between 1999 and 2006, the number of hospices providing care in NHs rose from 1,850 to 2,768, and rates of NH hospice use more than doubled (from 14% to 33%). With this growth came a doubling of mean lengths of stay (from 46 to 93 days) and a 14% increase in the proportion of NH hospice decedents with noncancer diagnoses (69% in 1999 to 83% in 2006). Controlling for time trends, for every 10 new hospice providers within a state, there was an average state increase of 0.58% (95% confidence interval=0.383–0.782) in NH hospice use. Much state variation in NH hospice use and growth was observed.

CONCLUSION: Policy efforts to curb Medicare hospice expenditures (driven in part by provider growth) must consider the potentially negative effect of changes on access for dying (mostly noncancer) NH residents.
The Cross‐Sectional Relationship Between Body Mass Index, Waist–Hip Ratio, and Cognitive Performance in Postmenopausal Women Enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative
Authors: Kerwin Diana R. , Zhang Yinghua , Kotchen Jane Morley , Espeland Mark A. , Van Horn Linda , McTigue Kathleen M. , Robinson Jennifer G. , Powell Lynda , Kooperberg Charles , Coker Laura H. , Hoffmann Raymond
Published: July 2010

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether body mass index (BMI) is independently associated with cognitive function in postmenopausal women and the relationship between body fat distribution as estimated by waist‐hip ratio (WHR).

DESIGN: Cross‐sectional data analysis.

SETTING: Baseline data from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) hormone trials.

PARTICIPANTS: Eight thousand seven hundred forty‐five postmenopausal women aged 65 to 79 free of clinical evidence of dementia who completed the baseline evaluation in the WHI hormone trials.

MEASUREMENTS: Participants completed a Modified Mini‐Mental State Examination (3MSE), health and lifestyle questionnaires, and standardized measurements of height, weight, body circumference, and blood pressure. Statistical analysis was performed of associations between 3MSE score, BMI, and WHR after controlling for known confounders.

RESULTS: With the exception of smoking and exercise, vascular disease risk factors, including hypertension, waist measurement, heart disease, and diabetes mellitus, were significantly associated with 3MSE score and were included as covariables in subsequent analyses. BMI was inversely related to 3MSE score; for every 1‐unit increase in BMI, 3MSE score decreased 0.988 points (P<.001) after adjusting for age, education, and vascular disease risk factors. BMI had the most pronounced association with poorer cognitive functioning scores in women with smaller waist measurements. In women with the highest WHR, cognitive scores increased with BMI.

CONCLUSION: Higher BMI was associated with poorer cognitive function in women with smaller WHR. Higher WHR, estimating central fat mass, was associated with higher cognitive function in this cross‐sectional study. Further research is needed to clarify the mechanism for this association.
Timepass: Youth, class, and time among unemployed young men in India
Authors: JEFFREY CRAIG
Published: July 2010

Unemployment among educated young men has become a central feature of globalization. In this article, I examine the experiences and strategies of unemployed young men in the north Indian city of Meerut. Many of these men complain that they are “just passing time” (doing “timepass”) in run‐down government universities. But they also use this idea of themselves in limbo to fashion novel cultures of masculinity that partially bridge caste divides. I use a discussion of these young men's predicament to argue for an ethnographically sensitive political‐economy approach to the study of youth, culture, and neoliberal transformation, one attuned to both the durability of social inequalities and counterintuitive cultural practice.
The making and muting of an indigenous media activist: Imagination and ideology in Charles Round Low Cloud's “Indian News”
Authors: ARNDT GRANT
Published: July 2010

In this article, I examine an example of American Indian activism through the once‐dominant mass medium of the newspaper. I focus on Ho‐Chunk author Charles Round Low Cloud and his development of an “Indian News” column into a vehicle for activism against everyday forms of racial oppression in the 1930s and on the ways others involved in publishing his column used the medium to subvert his message. The analysis shows how nonindigenous actors can mute activist messages through practices designed to celebrate indigenous voices. I argue that both indigenous media activism and reactions against such activism rely on the “mediated imagination”: the mediation of the use and reception of media messages by cultural ideologies and by individual creativity. Recognition of the mediated imagination, therefore, complements efforts to understand how language and other semiotic ideologies shape interpretations of social reality. It also facilitates analysis of the potentials and limitations of indigenous activism that uses existing media technologies.
Building sustainable societies: A Swedish case study on the limits of reflexive modernization
Authors: ISENHOUR CINDY
Published: July 2010

Environmental problems have inspired a wide range of responses from citizens and states alike. My research focuses on Swedish individuals’ attempts to minimize perceived environmental risks via consumption practice. The growth of “sustainable consumerism” is often explained by generalized theories of reflexive modernization, but the Swedish case illustrates that many citizen‐consumers acting in the interest of sustainability are misunderstood by these popular explanations. Their perspectives and actions support the need for a more historically and locally grounded approach to sustainable consumerism in Sweden and elsewhere, one that not only recognizes individual choice but also takes into account considerations of power and history.
Swinging within the iron cage: Modernity, creativity, and embodied practice in American postsecondary jazz education
Authors: WILF EITAN
Published: July 2010

In this article, I seek to contribute to the anthropology of embodied practice by asking, what would embodied practical mastery that mandates constant differentiation look like, and what would be its cultural and social determinants? In doing so, I draw on ethnographic fieldwork I conducted in a postsecondary jazz school in the United States. Through an exploration of how jazz educators cope with the paradoxical task of training the body and liberating it, I inquire into the challenge of negotiating the tension between the two key modernist ideas of rationalized schooling and Romantic creativity in contemporary institutional contexts.
An Estimate of the Proportion of Drug‐Facilitation of Sexual Assault in Four U.S. Localities*
Authors: Juhascik Matthew P. , Negrusz Adam , Faugno Diana , Ledray Linda , Greene Pam , Lindner Alice , Haner Barbara , Gaensslen R.E.
Published: July 2010

Abstract:  In recent years, drugs including flunitrazepam, gamma‐hydroxybutyrate, ketamine, and ethanol, have become popularly associated with drug‐facilitated sexual assault. Other drugs are also candidates as factors in “drug facilitated sexual assault” (DFSA). The true extent of DFSA is not known, and is difficult to estimate. We recruited sexual assault complainants at four clinics in different parts of the U.S. to anonymously provide urine and hair specimens, and to answer questions about suspected drugging, drug use, and the sexual assault incident. Urine and hair specimens were tested for 45 drugs, including ethanol, and those pharmacologically capable of inducing sedation, amnesia, or impairment of judgment. Analytical test results were used to estimate the proportion of subjects, and the proportion of all complainants to the clinic in the same time period, who were victims of DFSA. Overall, cases of 43% of 144 subjects, and 7% of 859 complainants, were characterized as DFSA. Subjects underreported their use of drugs. The role of toxicological results and history in characterizing DFSA cases is discussed.
NTDS — A PAGE IN NAVAL HISTORY
Authors: SWENSON ERICK N. , MAHINSKE EDMUND B. , STOUTENBURGH JOSEPH S.
Published: July 2010

A little over thirty years ago, a group of naval engineers were assembled by the Bureau of Ships to develop a new system approach to the combat information center (CIC). The CIC of World War II, with its “grease pencil” plots and voice telling of tactical information from sensors and other ships, could no longer provide the timely, coordinated reaction to postwar threats. This project group led the Navy into the new world of large‐scale, high‐speed digital electronics and into a new mode of conducting naval warfare as well. There were no off‐the‐shelf computers of the requisite capability, size and reliability; what were available were monstrous vacuum tube computers. There were no display equipments that were “conversant” in both the digital language of the computer and the analog language of the sensors and the weapon systems. Who ever heard, at that time, of a computer running a tactical communication net automatically? It was hard enough to find sufficient numbers of engineers who knew what a digital computer was. This paper, by three naval engineers in the implementing engineering office, depicts the evolvement of the Naval Tactical Data Systems (NTDS) as they saw it. It discusses the problems that stemmed from the transition from the old world of analog into the new digital world, the system concepts that steered the development; the key decisions that were made; new electronic equipment and processes that became necessary; and the need of the mangagement to face the real world of deadlines, ship schedules and operational requirements.
Advanced SiC Power Modules for 13.8 kV Power Distribution
Authors: McNUTT TY , SHERWIN MARC , VAN CAMPEN STEVE , HOWELL ROBERT , WALKER ANDY , HA KATHY , HEARNE HAROLD , MOTTO KEVIN , ROETTGER THOMAS , GUTSHALL DUSTIN , NECHAY BETTINA , SINGH RANBIR , LESLIE SCOTT , LAI JASON
Published: July 2010

Northrop Grumman Corporation has been developing 10 kV SiC MOSFETs and Junction Barrier Schottky diodes for application to a 13.8 kV 2.7 MVA solid‐state power substation. The design of half‐bridge power modules has extensively used simulation, from electron‐level device simulations to the system‐level trade studies, to develop the most efficient module for use in the SSPS.
On the Parametric Resonance of Tumblehome Hullforms in a Longitudinal Seaway
Authors: McCUE LEIGH S. , CAMPBELL BRADLEY L. , BELKNAP WILLIAM F.
Published: July 2010

This work presents a numerical study of the influence of topside shape on parametric roll in longitudinal seas. The ONR 3 Topsides hulls are used to compare the single degree‐of‐freedom rolling response of a destroyer‐sized vessel with flared (model 5613), tumblehome (model 5613‐1), and wallsided (model 5613‐2) shapes above the waterline. Through this relative comparison, the key aspects of parametric resonance of a tumblehome hullform are highlighted, namely the reduction in head seas forward speed required to encounter parametric roll. A variant on the Mathieu equation is used to simulate roll motions.
Improvement of Propeller Hydrodynamic Drag and Efficiency on USCG Cutters Operating in Trailshaft Mode
Authors: SCHOCK JAMES J. , TAYLOR TODD
Published: July 2010

Large US Coast Guard cutters spend much of their underway time with only one of two propellers operating. The offline propeller is “trailed,” often creating a significant amount of hydrodynamic drag. Operators from the fleet do not appear to have any specific guidance on how best to reduce this drag. Using the propeller analysis tools PSF‐3 and PSF‐10, propeller thrust coefficient values versus advance coefficient values were created for the propellers of the USCG 270′ cutters. These values—and the associated drag—vary significantly in magnitude based on the trailed propeller pitch. Based upon sea trial measurements, expected magnitudes of this drag versus pitch setting were predicted. Minimum drag pitch settings were identified for an operational 270′ cutter at 8 knots. RPM and pitch settings for maximum hydrodynamic efficiency for the online shaft are sometimes developed during ship acquisition. In the current work, a methodology for conducting such a study is discussed to demonstrate to ship operators the relative ease with which they could perform this analysis on board, if effective power and propeller thrust coefficient values are available. Consideration of prime mover specific fuel consumption rates together with propeller hydrodynamic efficiencies is discussed.
Bulging Merchant Ships
Authors: SIMS PHILIP
Published: July 2010

Bulging is the process of adding a new skin to an existing ship to regain strength, reduce draft, and increase stability. A previous 1989 ASNE paper was entitled “Bulging Warships” and by its very name announced that it would not deal with applying bulges to non‐military ships. This paper reviews the history of bulges being applied to merchant vessels. Bulges are most often applied to merchant vessels when the traffic is better than expected requiring a quick increase in carrying capacity or when regulatory authorities demand an increase in the stability standard to allow continued service. Rather than enduring the long and expensive process of buying a new vessel, the owner will send an existing ship into the yard to be cut and lengthened or, in the case of ferries, have more passenger spaces added topside. Such modifications cause weight and stability growth that requires additional hull strength, buoyancy, and waterplane area that only a larger dimensions hull can provide. The paper includes an appendix updating the 1987 warship bulge history and a second appendix on the post‐1987 attempts to bulge modern US Navy ships.
Application of Models in the Design of Underwater Electromagnetic Signature Reduction Systems
Authors: HOLMES JOHN J.
Published: July 2010

The susceptibilities of surface ships and submarines to electromagnetic influence mines and detection systems are generally determined with the aid of mathematical and physical scale models of the vessel's underwater field signatures. In addition, they are the primary tools used in the design of signature reduction systems. However, limitations of model accuracy need to be recognized and identified through verification and validation, and they should not be used blindly as a substitute for critical engineering analysis. The proper use of underwater electromagnetic field models of naval vessels in designing signature reduction systems will be presented.
Seladin‐1/DHCR24 protects neuroblastoma cells against Aβ toxicity by increasing membrane cholesterol content
Authors: Cecchi C. , Rosati F. , Pensalfini A. , Formigli L. , Nosi D. , Liguri G. , Dichiara F. , Morello M. , Danza G. , Pieraccini G. , Peri A. , Serio M. , Stefani M.
Published: July 2010

The role of brain cholesterol in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is currently a matter of debate. Experimental evidence suggests that reducing circulating and brain cholesterol protects against AD, however recent data indicate that low membrane cholesterol results in neurode‐generation and that the cholesterol synthesis catalyst seladin‐1 is down‐regulated in AD‐affected brain regions. We previously reported a significant correlation between resistance to amyloid toxicity and content of membrane cholesterol in differing cultured cell types. Here we provide evidence that Aβ42 pre‐fibrillar aggregates accumulate more slowly and in reduced amount at the plasma membrane of human SH‐SY5Y neuroblastoma cells overexpressing seladin‐1 or treated with PEG‐cholesterol than at the membrane of control cells. The accumulation was significantly increased in cholesterol‐depleted cells following treatment with the specific seladin‐1 inhibitor 5,22E‐cholestadien‐3‐ol or with methyl‐β‐cyclodextrin. The resistance to amyloid toxicity and the early cytosolic Ca2+ rise following exposure to Aβ42 aggregates were increased and prevented, respectively, by increasing membrane cholesterol whereas the opposite effects were found in cholesterol‐depleted cells. These results suggest that seladin‐1‐dependent cholesterol synthesis reduces membrane‐aggregate interaction and cell damage associated to amyloid‐induced imbalance of cytosolic Ca2+. Our findings extend recently reported data indicating that seladin‐1 overexpression directly enhances the resistance to Aβ toxicity featuring seladin‐1/DHCR 24 as a possible new susceptibility gene for sporadic AD.
Cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma cells are sensitive to rapamycin
Authors: Kremer Melanie , Sliva Katja , Klemke Claus‐Detlev , Schnierle Barbara S.
Published: July 2010

Please cite this paper as: Cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma cells are sensitive to rapamycin. Experimental Dermatology 2010; 19: 800–805.

Abstract:  Cutaneous T‐cell lymphomas (CTCL) are characterised by clonal expansion of helper T lymphocytes that infiltrate the skin. Only a small number of cell lines exist to study cellular pathways leading to T‐cell transformation and to identify new targets for intervention. We wanted to investigate the inhibition of mTOR as a possible therapeutic target in CTCL. Primary cells of patients with Sézary syndrome (SS) and conventional CTCL cell lines were analysed. Constitutive activation of mTOR was found, and concomitantly, we could show that rapamycin, a specific inhibitor of mTOR, inhibits CTCL cell growth in vitro by induction of cell cycle arrest. Using a previously established animal model for CTCL, we additionally observed upon rapamycin treatment tumor growth inhibition in vivo. In summary, primary cells from patients with SS as well as CTCL cell lines allowed us to identify mTOR as an important target for intervention.
Skin‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (S‐MSCs) induce endothelial cell activation by paracrine mechanisms
Authors: Salvolini Eleonora , Orciani Monia , Vignini Arianna , Mattioli‐Belmonte Monica , Mazzanti Laura , Di Primio Roberto
Published: July 2010

Please cite this paper as: Skin‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (S‐MSCs) induce endothelial cell activation by paracrine mechanisms. Experimental Dermatology 2010; 19: 848–850.

Abstract:  The mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are able to accumulate at the site of tissue damage. For this reason, they must transmigrate across the endothelium. In this study, we focused on skin‐derived MSCs (S‐MSCs), because the skin represents a useful stem cell source, and we analysed the VEGF released by S‐MSCs, because it is known to promote endothelial cell proliferation and vascular permeability. Moreover, we evaluated the influence of S‐MSC‐conditioned medium on human aortic endothelial cell intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) and nitric oxide (NO) production, given their important role in endothelial permeability modulation. Our results suggest that human S‐MSCs may interact with the endothelium via paracrine mechanisms, probably leading to an alteration of the endothelial barrier. Consequently, we could hypothesize that a therapeutic approach based on human skin‐derived MSCs may have a positive effect on tissue repair.
The biology of burn injury
Authors: Evers Lars H. , Bhavsar Dhaval , Mailänder Peter
Published: July 2010

Please cite this paper as: The biology of burn injury. Experimental Dermatology 2010; 19: 777–783.

Abstract:  Burn injury is a complex traumatic event with various local and systemic effects, affecting several organ systems beyond the skin. The pathophysiology of the burn patient shows the full spectrum of the complexity of inflammatory response reactions. In the acute phase, inflammation mechanism may have negative effects because of capillary leak, the propagation of inhalation injury and the development of multiple organ failure. Attempts to mediate these processes remain a central subject of burn care research. Conversely, inflammation is a necessary prologue and component in the later‐stage processes of wound healing. In this review, we are attempting to present the current science of burn wound pathophysiology and wound healing. We also describe the evolution of innovative strategies for burn management.
Genetic analysis of three important genes in pigmentation and melanoma susceptibility: CDKN2A, MC1R and HERC2/OCA2
Authors: Ibarrola‐Villava Maider , Fernandez Lara P. , Pita Guillermo , Bravo Jerónimo , Floristan Uxua , Sendagorta Elena , Feito Marta , Avilés José A. , Martin‐Gonzalez Manuel , Lázaro Pablo , Benítez Javier , Ribas Gloria
Published: July 2010

Please cite this paper as: Genetic analysis of three important genes in pigmentation and melanoma susceptibility: CDKN2A, MC1R and HERC2/OCA2. Experimental Dermatology 2010; 19: 836–844.

Abstract:  The CDKN2A gene is regarded as the major familial malignant melanoma (MM) susceptibility gene. Human pigmentation is one of the main modulators of individual risk of developing MM. Therefore, the genes involved in the determination of skin colour and tanning response are potentially implicated in MM predisposition and may be useful predictors of MM risk in the general population. The human melanocortin‐1 receptor gene (MC1R) plays a crucial role in pigmentation and also appears to be important in MM. The OCA2 gene has emerged as a new and significant determinant of human iris colour variation. We present a case–control study in Spanish population including 390 consecutive patients with melanoma and 254 control subjects. Sequence analysis of the entire coding region and genotyping of 5 tag‐SNPs in the genomic region of MC1R was performed. We identified 27 variants, two reaching statistical significance [R160W (OR: 4.18, 95% CI: 1.24–14.04, P = 0.02) and D294H (OR: 3.10, 95% CI: 1.37–7.01, P = 0.01)] and we detected two novel non‐synonymous changes: V92L and T308M. Odds ratio for carrying two functional variants was 4.25 (95% CI: 2.30–7.84, P = 3.63 × 10−6). Haplotypes of the entire MC1R region have been established, and we observed an enrichment of a rare European haplotype similar to African values carrying variants V92M and I155T. In addition, three potentially functional SNPs were selected in p16/CDKN2A and in the promoter region of OCA2/HERC2. Our data for CDKN2A gene did not reach statistically significant results for any of the two studied alleles. We found that the variant allele A > G of OCA2/HERC2 (rs12913832) was associated with pigmentation features: eye, hair and skin colour; P‐values = 1.8 × 10−29, 9.2 × 10−16, 1.1 × 10−3, respectively, validating previous results.
Effect of habitual exercise on the structural and mechanical properties of human tendon, in vivo, in men and women
Authors: Westh E. , Kongsgaard M. , Bojsen‐Moller J. , Aagaard P. , Hansen M. , Kjaer M. , Magnusson S. P.
Published: July 2010

We examined whether long‐term habitual training (a) was associated with differences in structural and mechanical properties in tendon in women and (b) yielded different tendon properties in men and women. Ten male runners, 10 female runners and 10 female non‐runners were tested. Tendon cross‐sectional area (CSA) and length of the patellar and Achilles tendon were determined with MRI. Ultrasonography‐based measurement of tendon elongation and force during isometric contractions provided mechanical properties. Distal patellar and Achilles tendon CSAs were greater than the proximal part in all three groups (P<0.05). Weight‐normalized Achilles tendon CSA were similar in trained (2.78±0.17 mm2/kg3/4) and untrained women (2.60±0.13 mm2/kg3/4), while that in trained men (3.77±0.27 mm2/kg3/4) was greater compared with trained women (P<0.01). Patellar tendon CSA were comparable in trained and untrained women, while that in trained men was greater compared with trained women (P<0.01). Patellar tendon stiffness was greater in male runners (3528±773 N/mm) compared with female runners (2069±666 N/mm) and non‐runners (2477±381 N/mm), (P<0.01), but patellar tendon deformation, stress, strain and modulus were similar. These data indirectly suggest that the ability of Achilles and patellar tendons to adapt in response to habitual loading such as running is attenuated in women.
Associations of physical activity and inactivity with low back pain in adolescents
Authors: Auvinen J. , Tammelin T. , Taimela S. , Zitting P. , Karppinen J.
Published: July 2010

Low back pain (LBP) is a common health problem already in adolescence. Physical activity has been suggested as a risk factor for LBP in adolescents, but the current evidence is conflicting. This study examined the association of physical activity and amount of sitting with LBP. The study population consisted of 5999 boy and girl members of the Northern Finland 1986 birth cohort who responded to mailed questions at the age of 15–16 years. LBP during the past 6 months was classified as “no LBP,”“reporting LBP” (not seeking medical help), or “consultation for LBP.” Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals obtained by multinomial logistic regression were adjusted for smoking and body mass index. Being physically very active (more than 6 h of brisk physical activity per week) was associated with increased prevalence of “consultation for LBP” in both sexes, and with “reporting LBP” in girls, compared with being moderately active (2–3 h of brisk physical activity per week). High amount of sitting associated with “consultation for LBP” and “reporting LBP” in girls, but not in boys. We conclude that very active participation in physical activities in both sexes and a high amount of sitting in girls are related to self‐reported LBP.
The practice of physical and sporting activity in teenagers with idiopathic scoliosis is related to the curve type
Authors: Meyer C. , Haumont T. , Gauchard G. C. , Leheup B. , Lascombes P. , Perrin Ph. P.
Published: July 2010

Idiopathic scoliosis (IS) is correlated with a muscular disequilibrium of the spine and an alteration of balance control, efficient performance of the latter being necessary for physical and sporting activities (PSA). However, the type of the IS curve has different effects on muscle and on balance control according to the primary curve location. This study aimed to determine the relationships between IS type and PSA practice. One hundred and sixty‐nine girl adolescents with IS [double major curve (DMC) scoliosis: n=74; single major curve (SMC) scoliosis: n=95] and 100 age‐matched control girl adolescents completed an epidemiological questionnaire informing on curricular and extracurricular PSA. Adolescents with DMC scoliosis practised more PSA than those with SMC scoliosis. Moreover, among all PSA referenced, gymnastic activities are the most practiced PSA both in IS teenagers, whatever the curve type, and in controls. Besides, teenagers practising gymnastics were more numerous in those with DMC scoliosis than those with SMC scoliosis and controls. The highest proportion of adolescents with DMC scoliosis practising PSA, especially gymnastics, could be linked to the fact that they are less subject to scoliosis‐related biomechanical repercussions leading to a better balance control, which is essential in these PSA.
A review of research on the mechanical stiffness in running and jumping: methodology and implications
Authors: Brughelli M. , Cronin J.
Published: July 2010

Mechanical stiffness (vertical, leg and joint stiffness) can be calculated during normal human movements, such as running and hopping. Mechanical stiffness is thought to influence several athletic variables, including rate of force development, elastic energy storage and utilization and sprint kinematics. Consequently, the relationship between mechanical stiffness and athletic performance is of great interest to the sport and research communities. Unfortunately, these relationships are relatively unexplored by researchers. For example, there are no longitudinal studies that have investigated the effects of strength or power training on mechanical stiffness levels (calculated during human running). In addition to reviewing the available literature on the relationships between mechanical stiffness (calculated during human running) and functional performance, this review focuses its discussion on the various equipment and methods used to calculate leg‐spring stiffness during human running. Furthermore, future implications are presented for practitioners and researchers based on both the limitations and the gaps in the literature reviewed. It is our hope that a better understanding of mechanical stiffness will aid in improving the methodological quality of research in this area and its subsequent effect on athletic performance.
Is there a secular decline in motor skills in preschool children?
Authors: Roth K. , Ruf K. , Obinger M. , Mauer S. , Ahnert J. , Schneider W. , Graf C. , Hebestreit H.
Published: July 2010

Current research seems to confirm a secular decline in movement skills in school children. Only few data are available for preschool children and no clear trend can be identified. In the year 2007, height, weight, and motor performance were determined in 726 preschool children [Prevention through Activity in Kindergarten Trial (PAKT)] and compared with historical samples from 1973, 1985, and 1989. There was no difference in height and weight between the samples of 1973 and 2007. Older boys of today were smaller and lighter than those of 1989. Regardless of age, PAKT children fared significantly better in standing long jump than those assessed in 1989. Compared with the sample of 1973, PAKT children did equally well in this task. There were no differences in performance in an obstacle course between children of 1989 and 2007. In balancing backwards, PAKT children performed significantly worse than those in 1985. Regarding target throwing only the PAKT 4‐year‐olds achieved significantly worse results than those in 1985.Therefore, in preschool children, a secular decline is only evident in some, but not all, motor skills, which may indicate a change in behavior activity over the last decades.
Development and validation of the French Self‐Regulatory Eating Attitude in Sports Scale
Authors: Scoffier S. , Paquet Y. , Corrion K. , D'Arripe‐Longueville F.
Published: July 2010

In this study, the French Self‐Regulatory Eating Attitude in Sports Scale (SREASS) was developed and then validated. Five subscales measure the control of eating attitude in contexts of: (a) food temptation, (b) negative affects, (c) social interaction, (d) lack of compensatory strategy, and (e) lack of anticipation of consequences on performance. The validation procedure required the participation of 527 student athletes and four successive studies to develop and present a preliminary scale and assess the clarity of the items (study 1), evaluate the factorial structure validity of the scale and test the invariance across gender (study 2), assess the time stability (study 3), and assess the external validity of the instrument (study 4). The present results provide preliminary evidence for the appropriateness of the SREASS for French student athletes. Nevertheless, further evaluation of this instrument is warranted to establish the robustness of the present findings.
An index for breathlessness and leg fatigue
Authors: Borg E. , Borg G. , Larsson K. , Letzter M. , Sundblad B.‐M.
Published: July 2010

The features of perceived symptoms causing discontinuation of strenuous exercise have been scarcely studied. The aim was to characterize the two main symptoms causing the discontinuation of heavy work in healthy persons as well as describe the growth of symptoms during exercise. Breathlessness (b) and leg fatigue (l) were assessed using the Borg CR10 Scale®and the Borg CR100 (centiMax) Scale®, during a standardized exercise test in 38 healthy subjects (24–71 years). The b/l‐relationships were calculated for terminal perceptions (ERIb/l), and the growth of symptoms determined by power functions for the whole test, as well as by growth response indexes (GRI). This latter index was constructed as a ratio between power levels corresponding to a very strong and a moderate perception. In the majority (71%) of the test subjects, leg fatigue was the dominant symptom at the conclusion of exercise (P<0.001) and the b/l ratio was 0.77 (CR10) and 0.75 (CR100), respectively. The GRI for breathlessness and leg fatigue was similar, with good correlations between GRI and the power function exponent (P<0.005). In healthy subjects, leg fatigue is the most common cause for discontinuing an incremental exercise test. The growth functions for breathlessness and leg fatigue during work are, however, almost parallel.
Study of the effectiveness of propolis extract as a storage medium for avulsed teeth
Authors: Casaroto Ana Regina , Hidalgo Mirian Marubayashi , Sell Ana Maria , Franco Selma Lucy , Cuman Roberto Kenji Nakamura , Moreschi Eduardo , Victorino Fausto Rodrigo , Steffens Vânia Antunes , Bersani‐Amado Ciomar Aparecida
Published: July 2010

Abstract –  The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of propolis extract in maintaining the viability of human periodontal ligament (PDL) cells, and to radiographically analyze tooth replantation and the adjacent periodontium in dogs after storage in this extract. Human PDL cells were incubated with the experimental media propolis, milk, saliva, Hank’s balanced salt solution (HBSS), and Dulbecco’s modified Eagles medium (DMEM, positive controls), and distilled water (negative control). Cell viability was determined 0, 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h later by colorimetric MTT assay. Thirty incisors from dogs were divided into two storage time blocks (1 and 3 h) and were maintained in the experimental media. HBSS served as a positive control, and dry teeth (on gauze) as a negative control. The replanted teeth were radiographed once per month for 6 months. The radiographic images were standardized by the shortening/lengthening factor, and were both qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. The in vitro results showed that the efficacy of propolis in maintaining functional viability of PDL cells was similar to that of milk. Propolis and milk were significantly better than controls from the 6‐h time period. The in vivo results showed that teeth maintained in propolis medium exhibited replacement resorption with significant reduction in tooth length, similar to teeth maintained in saliva and dried teeth. This resorption was less intense with the 3‐h storage time than the 1‐h storage time. Conditions close to normal were found in teeth maintained in milk, similar to the HBSS control. Therefore, although propolis was effective in maintaining the viability of human PDL cells, resorption of the tooth replantation in dogs occurred under these experimental conditions.
Positional cloning of a quantitative trait locus contributing to pain sensitivity: possible mediation by Tyrp1
Authors: Fortin A. , Diez E. , Ritchie J. , Sotocinal S. G. , Dube M.‐P. , Gagne M. , Paquette O. , Skamene E. , Mogil J. S.
Published: July 2010

To identify novel pain‐relevant genes, a set of 35 recombinant congenic strains derived from the sensitive C57BL/6 and resistant A/J strains were tested for their sensitivity to noxious heat on the radiant heat paw‐withdrawal test. Nine strains were found to display differential sensitivity, and the two most extreme responders were used to generate independent secondary crosses for quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping. From these genetic analyses, a QTL, which we call Tpnr5, was mapped to a 14‐Mb interval of mouse chromosome 4 containing 39 genes. In addition to the paw‐withdrawal test phenotype, Tpnr5 may be relevant to mechanical and inflammatory nociception. A series of strategies – including in silico analyses, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) in multiple tissues and exonic DNA sequencing – were used to generate a list of six prioritized candidate genes. One of these, tyrosinase‐related protein 1 (Tyrp1), displayed enriched expression in the dorsal root ganglia, an inactivating (C110Y) mutation in the resistant A/J strain, and a null mutant found to be more resistant to thermal nociception compared to its wild‐type counterpart. Although other genes cannot be definitively ruled out, existing data are supportive of the candidacy of Tyrp1 as representing the Tpnr5 QTL. Tyrosinase‐related protein 1 is the rate‐limiting enzyme in the production of eumelanin, and possible relationships between eumelanin‐expressing cells and thermal nociception are discussed. The positional cloning of Tpnr5 is also considered in light of the heuristic value but continuing challenges of QTL mapping in the mouse.
Bringing Candidacies in from the Cold: Mainstreaming Minority Candidates, 1960 and 2008
Authors: STUCKEY MARY E. , CURRY KRISTINA E. , BARNES ANDREW D.
Published: July 2010

Sometimes, nontraditional candidates enter the electoral fray. Because of their minority status, these candidates can be seen as threatening and unsuitable for the presidency. Our analysis shows that the political context of such candidacies is an important factor in candidates' ability to break down the barriers to entry. Ironically, the ability to overcome minority status is greatest when that status is least relevant to the campaign.
Hope, Tropes, and Dopes: Hispanic and White Racial Animus in the 2008 Election
Authors: SEGURA GARY M. , VALENZUELA ALI A.
Published: July 2010

One of the central questions surrounding the 2008 presidential election is the role of race in shaping electoral choice among non‐Hispanic whites, and whether race played an equivalent role among Hispanics, whose willingness to vote for an African American candidate was raised as an uncertainty during the primary campaign. The authors argue that, beyond the usual association of racial sentiment with party preference, the effect of Obama's race on the 2008 election is significant, but substantially smaller among Latinos than among non‐Hispanic whites. Although Latino voters often express racial sentiments that are indistinguishable from whites, there was a significant disconnect between those racial sentiments and Latinos' vote choice and evaluations of candidate Obama. The authors explore the explanatory power of explicit, indirect, and implicit measures of racial sentiment and find that an indirect measurement—the Racial Resentment Index—retains the greatest predictive validity, notwithstanding its conceptual challenges.
The Contemporary Presidency Explaining Presidential Greatness: The Roles of Peace and Prosperity?
Authors: CURRY JILL L. , MORRIS IRWIN L.
Published: July 2010

Research on presidential greatness has a long history in the study of the American presidency. A prominent aspect of this literature is the study of presidential ratings generated from surveys of both experts and average Americans. A considerable body of research suggests that a relatively small number of factors—such as time in office, intellectual brilliance, and whether a president was assassinated—explain a great deal of the variation in the ratings. However, this list of variables includes no indicators of policy performance. We propose two such measures—one focusing on economic outcomes and one focusing on the outcomes of military conflict—and provide rationales for the hypothesized relationships between these measures of policy performance and presidential ratings. We find evidence of a substantial relationship between economic policy success and presidential ratings. However, there is no evidence of a relationship between foreign policy success and presidential ratings.
The Law Presidential Power and Foreign Affairs in the Bush Administration: The Use and Abuse of Alexander Hamilton
Authors: ADLER DAVID GRAY
Published: July 2010

Alexander Hamilton's writings, virtually alone among the framers, were invoked by President George W. Bush and his legal advisors as the cornerstone of the administration's assertions of sweeping executive powers in the areas of war and peace and national security. The Bush administration's conscription of Hamilton to justify its soaring claims of presidential power, however, represents a distortion and abuse of his views of the latter president's views, particularly those expressed in The Federalist Papers. With the loss of Hamilton as an intellectual pillar, President Bush's theory of a plenary executive power finds no support among the framers. Analysis of Hamilton's writings will repair his undeserved reputation as an apologist for expansive executive powers.
Polls and Elections Using Approval of the President's Handling of the Economy to Understand Who Polarizes and Why
Authors: MCAVOY GREGORY E. , ENNS PETER K.
Published: July 2010

The authors utilize data from nearly 200 surveys conducted during the Bill Clinton and George W. Bush administrations to evaluate whose presidential evaluations polarize and why. Specifically, assessments of the president's handling of the economy among high‐, middle‐, and low‐education Democrats, independents, and Republicans are considered. The authors find only weak evidence that education moderates partisan evaluations of the president. Throughout the period of analysis, there are more similarities across partisan groups than differences. However, midway through Bush's first term in office, polarization becomes pronounced. Statistical analysis suggests that this pattern arises because Republicans no longer incorporated economic information into their evaluations, as they did during the Clinton presidency.
Puerarin Inhibits C‐Reactive Protein Expression via Suppression of Nuclear Factor κB Activation in Lipopolysaccharide‐Induced Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Patients with Stable Angina Pectoris
Authors: Yang Xiangjun , Hu Wenzhi , Zhang Qin , Wang Yueying , Sun Lie
Published: July 2010

Abstract:  Puerarin (4′‐7‐dihydroxy‐8‐β‐d‐glucosylisoflavone), the most abundant isoflavone‐C‐glucoside extracted from the root of the plant Pueraria lobata, has demonstrated anti‐inflammatory activity in cellular models of inflammation. In this report, we examined the ability of puerarin to modulate C‐reactive protein (CRP) expression and key molecules in the nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB) pathway to determine its molecular target. The protein and mRNA levels of CRP were determined in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with unstable angina pectoris. Also, we detected the I‐κBα phosphorylation and the p65NF‐κB expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells under our experimental condition. The results indicated that puerarin inhibited the expression of the protein and mRNA levels of CRP in LPS‐induced peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Subsequently, we determined that the inhibition of CRP expression was because of a dose‐dependent inhibition of phosphorylation and degradation of inhibitor kappaB(I‐κB), which resulted in a reduction of p65NF‐κB nuclear translocation. We conclude that puerarin acts as an anti‐inflammatory agent by blocking NF‐κB signalling, and may possibly be developed as a useful agent for the chemoprevention of atherosclerosis.
Antinociceptive Synergism of MD‐354 and Clonidine. Part II. The α2‐Adrenoceptor Component
Authors: Young Shawquia , Vainio Minna , Scheinin Mika , Dukat Małgorzata
Published: July 2010

Abstract: Previously, we reported that antinociceptive synergism of a 5‐HT3/α2‐adrenoceptor ligand MD‐354 (m‐chlorophenylguanidine) and clonidine combination occurs, in part, through a 5‐HT3receptor antagonist mechanism. In the present investigation, a possible role for α2‐adrenoceptors was examined. Mechanistic studies using yohimbine (a subtype non‐selective α2‐adrenoceptor antagonist), BRL 44408 (a preferential α2A‐adrenoceptor antagonist) and imiloxan (a preferential α2B/C‐adrenoceptor antagonist) on the antinociceptive actions of a MD‐354/clonidine combination were conducted. Subcutaneous pre‐treatment with all three antagonists inhibited the antinociceptive synergism of MD‐354 and clonidine in the mouse tail‐flick assay in a dose‐dependent manner (AD50 = 0.33, 2.1, and 0.17 mg/kg, respectively). Enhancement of clonidine antinociception by MD‐354 did not potentiate clonidine’s locomotor suppressant activity in a mouse locomotor assay. When [ethyl‐3H]RS‐79948‐197 was used as radioligand, MD‐354 displayed almost equal affinity to α2A‐ and α2B‐adrenoceptors (Ki = 110 and 220 nM) and showed lower affinity at α2C‐adrenoceptors (Ki = 4,700 nM). MD‐354 had no subtype‐selectivity for the α2‐adrenoceptor subtypes as an antagonist in functional [35S]GTPγS binding assays. MD‐354 was a weak partial agonist at α2A‐adrenoceptors. Overall, in addition to the 5‐HT3receptor component, the present investigation found MD‐354 to be a weak partial α2A‐adrenoceptor agonist that enhances clonidine’s thermal antinociceptive actions through an α2‐adrenoceptor‐mediated mechanism without augmenting sedation.