bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Guidelines for the Early Management of Adults With Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Adams Harold P. , del Zoppo Gregory , Alberts Mark J. , Bhatt Deepak L. , Brass Lawrence , Furlan Anthony , Grubb Robert L. , Higashida Randall T. , Jauch Edward C. , Kidwell Chelsea , Lyden Patrick D. , Morgenstern Lewis B. , Qureshi Adnan I. , Rosenwasser Robert H. , Scott Phillip A. , Wijdicks Eelco F.M.
Published: April 2007

Purpose—

Our goal is to provide an overview of the current evidence about components of the evaluation and treatment of adults with acute ischemic stroke. The intended audience is physicians and other emergency healthcare providers who treat patients within the first 48 hours after stroke. In addition, information for healthcare policy makers is included.

Methods—

Members of the panel were appointed by the American Heart Association Stroke Council’s Scientific Statement Oversight Committee and represented different areas of expertise. The panel reviewed the relevant literature with an emphasis on reports published since 2003 and used the American Heart Association Stroke Council’s Levels of Evidence grading algorithm to rate the evidence and to make recommendations. After approval of the statement by the panel, it underwent peer review and approval by the American Heart Association Science Advisory and Coordinating Committee. It is intended that this guideline be fully updated in 3 years.

Results—

Management of patients with acute ischemic stroke remains multifaceted and includes several aspects of care that have not been tested in clinical trials. This statement includes recommendations for management from the first contact by emergency medical services personnel through initial admission to the hospital. Intravenous administration of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator remains the most beneficial proven intervention for emergency treatment of stroke. Several interventions, including intra-arterial administration of thrombolytic agents and mechanical interventions, show promise. Because many of the recommendations are based on limited data, additional research on treatment of acute ischemic stroke is needed.
Dynamics of the Southern Tsuchiya Jet*
Authors: Furue Ryo , McCreary Julian P. , Yu Zuojun , Wang Dailin
Published: April 2007

The Tsuchiya jets (TJs) are narrow eastward currents, located a few degrees on either side of the equator at depths from 200 to 500 m in the Pacific Ocean. In this study, non-eddy-resolving, oceanic general circulation models (OGCMs) are used to investigate the dynamics of the southern TJ. Most solutions are found in a rectangular basin extending 100° zonally and from 40°S to 10°N. They are forced by idealized zonal and meridional winds representing the trades and the southerly winds near the South American coast, by a prescribed interocean circulation (IOC) that enters the basin through the southern boundary and exits through the western boundary from 2° to 6°N (the model’s Indonesian passages), and by surface heating that warms the ocean in the Tropics. A suite of solutions is presented to isolate effects of each forcing and mixing process. A few solutions are also found to a global OGCM driven by realistic forcings. Solutions forced by all of the aforementioned processes and with minimal diffusion resemble the observed flow field in the tropical South Pacific. A narrow eastward current, the model southern TJ, flows across the basin along the southern edge of a thick equatorial thermostad, and upwells at the eastern boundary. Its deeper part is supplied by water that leaves the western boundary current somewhat south of the equator. Its shallower part originates from water that diverges from the deep portion of the Equatorial Undercurrent (EUC); as a result, the TJ transport increases to the east and the TJ warms as it flows across the basin. A major part of the water that upwells at the eastern boundary is supplied by the TJ with a minor contribution from the southern boundary region. In idealized-basin solutions without forcing either by the IOC or meridional wind, the TJ is weak or absent. These, and other, properties suggest that the dynamics of the model’s TJ are those of an arrested front, which in a 2½-layer model are generated when characteristics of the flow merge or intersect. When diffusivity is increased to commonly used values, the thermostad is less well defined or even absent and the TJ is weak, suggesting that excessive diffusion is the reason why TJs are not present in many previous OGCMs. In the solution to a global OGCM, the southern TJ still exists without the IOC, although it is warmed by 1°C, indicating that much of its water is supplied by an overturning cell confined within the Pacific basin.
Approaching Worldview Structure with Ultimate Meanings Technique
Authors: Leontiev Dmitry A.
Published: April 2007

A person's worldview as a system of subjective generalizations about reality is an important though nearly neglected focus of study. The ultimate meanings technique (UMT) elaborated by the author during the last decade is presented as a research and clinical instrument that makes it possible to reconstruct the system of a person's beliefs about the goals and meanings of human life. Structural and content analytical indices applicable to UMT, along with qualitative phenomenological analysis, make it a helpful research instrument. The results of different age and clinical groups (normal, mentally deficient, alcoholic, and somatically troubled adults and normal and delinquent adolescents) are discussed.
The Contradictory State of Giorgio Agamben
Authors: Passavant Paul A.
Published: April 2007

I argue that Giorgio Agamben employs two, contradictory theories of the state in his works. Earlier works, such as The Coming Community and Means without End, suggest that the state today functions as an aspect of the society of the spectacle where spectacle is the logical extension of the commodity form under late capitalism. This part of Agamben's work attributes a determined character to the state and a determining power to the economic forces of capitalism that conditions particular forms of the state. Later work, such as Homo Sacer: Sovereign Power and Bare Life and State of Exception, are preoccupied with the logic of juridical sovereignty and the increased frequency of states of emergency. This part of Agamben's work attributes a determining strength to the state under current conditions. Although his earlier work provides a more coherent narrative of how it is possible to move from contemporary society to ideal community, it does not provide the theory of political action necessary to overcome the power of the state he describes when he theorizes the state in Homo Sacer and State of Exception. None of the three possibilities of political action present in his later works provides passage beyond state sovereignty without violating his philosophical commitments.
The Rights of the Guilty
Authors: Brettschneider Corey
Published: April 2007

In this essay I develop and defend a theory of state punishment within a wider conception of political legitimacy. While many moral theories of punishment focus on what is deserved by criminals, I theorize punishment within the specific context of the state's relationship to its citizens. Central to my account is Rawls's “liberal principle of legitimacy,” which requires that all state coercion be justifiable to all citizens. I extend this idea to the justification of political coercion to criminals qua citizens. I argue that the liberal principle of legitimacy implicitly requires states to respect the basic political rights of those who are guilty of committing crimes, thus prohibiting capital punishment.
Parallels in Academic and Nonacademic Discursive Styles
Authors: Barajas E. Domínguez
Published: April 2007

This article presents a rhetorical analysis of a Mexican woman's oral narrative performance using a discourse studies and interactional sociolinguistics framework. The results of the analysis suggest that the discursive practice of the oral narrative and that of academic discourse share certain rhetorical features. These features are (a) the fashioning of an authoritative voice, (b) the presentation of evidence for support of a claim, (c) the allusion to authorities for support of claims, and (d) the reaching of a general statement concerning the significance of the account. Given the parallels drawn out between this particular nonmainstream oral performance and the discourse of the academy, the assumptions concerning the link between form of expression and cognition must be reassessed to better understand the nature of constrative rhetorics, especially as this affects students of nonmainstream linguistic backgrounds in mainstream writing classrooms.
Validating the General Sleep Disturbance Scale Among Chinese American Parents With Hospitalized Infants
Authors: Lee Shih-Yu
Published: April 2007

The purpose of this cross-sectional descriptive study was to assess the reliability and validity of the English and Chinese versions of the General Sleep Disturbance Scale (GSDS) among Chinese American parents with hospitalized infants. A convenience sample of 22 mothers and 22 fathers in the San Francisco area participated in this study. Cronbach alpha coefficients were .85 and .81 for the English and Chinese versions, respectively. Concurrent validity was demonstrated through correlations with wrist actigraphy readings. Although results of the study indicate that the GSDS is an acceptable instrument to measure parents' sleep disturbance among the Chinese American population, a need for further work was identified.
It's a Long Way From the Office to the Creek Bed
Authors: O'Brien Louise M. , Jackson Debra
Published: April 2007

Mental health nursing in remote Australian Aboriginal communities provides opportunities and challenges unique from other experiences of nursing. The purpose of this article was to explore how mental health nurses experience working in remote communities and how they developed relevant knowledge and skills. Six remote area mental health nurses participated in audiotaped conversational style interviews. Narratives were transcribed and analyzed thematically. Themes identified were being focused on relationships, adapting to the culture, struggling with two contexts, being enraptured by place, and being transformed. The participants adapted and developed ways of working at the interface of another culture and also derived personal and professional benefit from the experience.
The Benefits of Justice for Temporary Workers
Authors: Camerman Julie , Cropanzano Russell , Vandenberghe Christian
Published: April 2007

This study tested a multidimensional model of organizational justice in the context of contingent employment. Based on previous conceptual and empirical research, the authors generated the following predictions. First, they predicted that the data would be consistent with a four-factor model of organizational justice, including distributive, procedural, interpersonal, and informational justice. Second, distributive justice was expected to predict outcome satisfaction. Third, procedural justice was expected to predict commitment to the temporary organization, though the authors anticipated that this relationship would be mediated by perceived organizational support. Finally, informational and interpersonal justice were thought to predict commitment to one's staffing agent, but this effect was expected to be mediated by trust. These predictions were tested on a sample of 162 employees of a temporary staffing agency. Findings generally supported the predictions, though there were also some unexpected results.
Threats of Workplace Violence and the Buffering Effect of Social Support
Authors: van Emmerik IJ. Hetty , Euwema Martin C. , Bakker Arnold B.
Published: April 2007

Based on the perspective of the psychological contract, this study among 2,782 constabulary officers tested the hypothesis that threats of workplace violence lead to reduced job investments (i.e., affective organizational commitment and dedication). Multilevel analyses showed negative relationships between threats of workplace violence (individually experienced and as expressed in an unsafe climate) and job investments. Peer support was related to more job investments and buffered an unsafe climate, that is, the negative relationship between an unsafe climate and reduced job investments was stronger for employees with low levels of peer support. Experiencing an unsafe climate at the aggregate level by the cumulative experience of threat by employees can perhaps be thought of as facing a common enemy, and it has been shown that this has consequences for employees' attitudes that can be buffered by peer support.
The Dyadic Complexity Formula
Authors: Canfield Brian S.
Published: April 2007

This article presents a formula for calculating dyadic complexity in groups, families, and other organizations and relational systems. Illustrations of increased dyadic complexity as a function of the increase in organization size are presented as well as a discussion of the dyadic concept as the foundational unit of communication within systems. The article concludes with a discussion of the utility of the dyadic complexity formula as a research tool.
Second Marriages: Challenges and Risks
Authors: McCarthy Barry W. , Ginsberg Rebecca L.
Published: April 2007

Paradoxically, although second marriages have a significantly higher divorce rate than first marriages, the couples in functional and stable second marriages take greater pride and report higher satisfaction in their marriage than couples in their first marriage. This article presents an assessment/treatment program for second marriages to help couples “beat the odds” and establish a satisfying, stable marital bond of respect, trust, and intimacy. A case example presents a positive model of learning from the past and taking pride and satisfaction in the second marriage and stepfamily.
Gendered Racial Socialization of African American Mothers and Daughters
Authors: Thomas Anita Jones , King Constance T.
Published: April 2007

African American girls face unique challenges in identity development, and African American mothers have the unique task of preparing them to face racism and sexism. This study examines specific socialization messages given to African American daughters by mothers and the relationship between gendered racial socialization and communication. Results suggest that mothers give a variety of messages, including self-determination, self-pride, and religion. Correlations are found between reports of communication patterns. Communication is found to be positively related to self-esteem in daughters. Socialization messages on embracing mainstream values are negatively related to self-esteem.
The Effectiveness of Communication Skills Training With Married Couples: Does the Issue Discussed Matter?
Authors: Cornelius Tara L. , Alessi Galen , Shorey Ryan C.
Published: April 2007

This study experimentally examines the speaker-listener technique on marital satisfaction and communication behaviors when couples (N = 30) were instructed to either discuss an issue within or outside the marriage on marital satisfaction and communication behaviors. This study was based the Gottman et al. hypothesis that the speaker-listener technique would lead to improved marital satisfaction when the couple is discussing a third-party issue, but discussing an issue about each other would weaken the marital relationship. A series of analyses of covariance were conducted on these data, and no differences were found between the two groups on their self-reported marital satisfaction or communication skills behaviors, which were not support the Gottman et al. hypothesis. Possible interpretations of these data and areas for further investigation are suggested.
Dealing with the Spiritual Issues of Chronically Ill Clients in the Context of Couples Counseling: A Unique Application of Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP)
Authors: Sperry Len
Published: April 2007

Spiritual issues routinely surface in doing individual and couples therapy when chronic illness is present. In fact, there is a predictive pattern of spiritual and life meaning issues that clients face in coming to terms with chronic illness. These issues can be effectively processed in therapy with a modified form of Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP). The article describes this pattern of spiritual issues and then illustrates this therapeutic intervention with a case study including a session transcription.
The Cultural Framing Hypothesis: Attributes of Cultural Alliances and Conflicts
Authors: Bantimaroudis Philemon , Kampanellou Eleni
Published: April 2007

The “clash of civilizations” theory states that “culture and cultural identities, which at the broadest level are civilization identities, are shaping the patterns of cohesion, disintegration, and conflict in the post—cold war world.” This notion of cultural conflict promoted initially by political scientist Samuel Huntington stirred a discussion among journalists, academics, and other intellectuals around the world. In the current project, the authors investigate whether the media reinforce Huntington's conception. Using the war in Kosovo as a case study, a quantitative content analysis of coverage in The New York Times and Ta Nea was completed. Two research questions are explored: (1) Were there references to cultural alliances based on distinct cultural traits? and (2) Was the conflict between Serbs and Albanians portrayed as a cultural conflict? The study concluded there is some preliminary evidence of cultural framing.
Congressional Candidates' Issue Agendas On- and Off-line
Authors: Sulkin Tracy , Moriarty Cortney M. , Hefner Veronica
Published: April 2007

We explore differences in House candidates' campaign agendas across Web sites and televised ads, comparing the size and scope of their online and off-line issue priorities, their patterns of partisan issue ownership and issue trespassing, and the extent of issue convergence with the agendas of their opponents. Our results, based on a sample of 129 candidates in the 2000 election, indicate that Web and ad agendas are similar in a number of ways but that differences do exist across the venues. These differences have important theoretical implications for our understanding of candidate behavior and campaign effects as well as important practical implications for political communication researchers choosing venues for study.
Economic Deprivation and Environmental Inequality in Postindustrial Detroit
Authors: Smith Chad L.
Published: April 2007

The research presented here directly engages the issues of environmental inequality by testing the empirical merits of two sociological explanations of urban inequality by comparing landfill and Superfund locations in postindustrial (1970 to 1990) Detroit, Michigan. The results indicate that economic deprivation supercedes race in predicting the location of both landfill and Superfund sites; furthermore, both landfill and Superfund sites tend to be located in census tracts located near to industrial districts contiguous to navigable waterways in Detroit. Using Geographic Information Systems and logistic regression, the results indicate that the probability of living near a landfill is highest among the economically deprived and those least able to “escape” the urban center of Detroit. Substantively, the findings suggest that the process of deindustrialization is decisive in understanding environmental inequality, whereas methodologically, the results underscore the subtle nuances posed by different types of environmental threats.
Recombinant ST2 boosts hepatic Th2 response in vivo
Authors: Amatucci Aldo , Novobrantseva Tatiana , Gilbride Kevin , Brickelmaier Margot , Hochman Paula , Ibraghimov Alexander
Published: April 2007

Excessive scarring or fibrosis is a common feature of a wide spectrum of diseases characterized by an exaggerated Th2 response. The TLR/IL-1 receptor (IL-1R)-related protein ST2 is expressed in a membrane-bound form selectively by Th2 cells and was shown to be indispensable for some in vivo Th2 responses. ST2 was also found to block TLR signaling. We addressed the impact of the ST2 pathway on fibrogenesis using a mouse model of hepatic injury and fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). We showed that cytokine production by intrahepatic lymphocytes from CCl4-injured liver is abrogated in the absence of TLR-4. Interfering with the ST2 pathway using an ST2-Fc fusion protein accelerated and enhanced hepatic fibrosis, paralleled by the increasing ex vivo secretion of Th2 cytokines IL-4, -5, -10, and -13 by intrahepatic lymphocytes of ST2-Fc-treated, CCl4-gavaged mice. Absence of IL-4/13 signaling in IL-4Rα-deficient mice obliterated this ST2-Fc effect on fibrogenesis. Moreover, depletion of CD4+ T cells abrogated ST2-Fc-enhanced Th2 cytokines and accelerated fibrosis. Thus, ST2-Fc caused overproduction of Th2 cytokines by intrahepatic CD4+ T cells, possibly by modifying TLR-4 signaling in injured liver. This ST2-Fc-driven Th2 response exacerbated CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis.
A Novel Caries Risk Test
Authors: DENNY PAUL C. , DENNY PATRICIA A. , TAKASHIMA JONA , GALLIGAN JOYCE , NAVAZESH MAHVASH
Published: April 2007

Abstract:  A diagnostic test is particularly beneficial if it reveals the level of susceptibility prior to onset of a disease process. In the case of childhood caries, such a diagnostic test affords the opportunity for preventive measures to be implemented before caries begins. Salivary glycoproteins contain a wealth of individually specific oligosaccharide motifs. Depending on microbial compatibilities and individual genotypes, the glycoproteins that form the pellicle coating of teeth may provide attachment sites that foster colonization leading to cariogenesis. Alternatively, certain oligosaccharides, when present in nonpellicle glycoproteins, can interact with planktonic bacteria and lower their ability to interact with the tooth surface. We have found that in young adults the ratio of the two classes of oligosaccharides present in resting saliva exhibits a strong correlation with caries history (DFT: number of decayed and filled teeth). Oligosaccharide moieties associated with the test are quantitated in dried spots of whole saliva on nitrocellulose using commercially available biotinylated lectins with a variety of reporters. A combination of multiple linear regression and neural net analyses were used to develop the algorithms that describe the relationship between oligosaccharide patterns and DFT. During test development several different groups of adults and children have been studied. The correlation algorithms routinely exceed an R2 (coefficient of determination) of 0.96. When the test is applied to the saliva of children, it yields a projection of their future caries history. Modifying the test result metric to reflect the groups of teeth with caries in young adults, the test identifies those teeth at risk for future caries in children. This test outcome can then be accompanied with suggested specific preventive measures for each tooth group–based risk level.
Salivary Protein/Peptide Profiling with SELDI‐TOF‐MS
Authors: SCHIPPER RAYMOND , LOOF ARNOUD , De GROOT JOLAN , HARTHOORN LUCIEN , Van HEERDE WAANDER , DRANSFIELD ERIC
Published: April 2007

Abstract:  In this study, large‐scale profiling of salivary proteins and peptides ranging from 2 to 100 kDa was demonstrated using surface‐enhanced laser desorption/ionization–time of flight–mass spectrometry (SELDI‐TOF‐MS). Results show that chip surface type and sample type critically affect the amount and composition of detected salivary proteins. Delayed processing time resulted in both increase and decrease of peak numbers consistent with proteolysis. SELDI‐TOF‐MS profiles also changed, depending on storage temperature, although sample processing by centrifugation and numbers of freeze–thaw cycles had a minimal impact. In conclusion, SELDI‐TOF‐MS offers a simple, rapid, high‐throughput technique for profiling low‐mass (<10 kDa) saliva proteins/peptides. We wish to use this technique to gain insight into the human saliva proteome composition and its changes over time in response to food consumption.
Immunoassay‐Based Diagnostic Point‐of‐Care Technology for Oral Specimen
Authors: MUNJAL SARVAN , MIETHE PETER , NETUSCHIL LUTZ , STRUCK FRIEDHELM , MAIER KURT , BAUERMEISTER CLAUS
Published: April 2007

Abstract:  We have outlined our progress in developing a novel point‐of‐care platform to quantify micro‐organisms causing dental infections and/or inflammatory markers reflecting an oral disease status. This system is based on a sandwich immunoassay technology known as ABICAP (Antibody Immuno Column for Analytical Processes) using poly‐horseradish peroxidase conjugates. This assay enabled us to quantify 500 colony‐forming units of Streptococcus sobrinus per milliliter of saliva. The platform allows rapid and convenient performance chairside of such tests by a dentist or dental hygienist within 20 minutes at the dental office.
A Microfluidic System for Saliva‐Based Detection of Infectious Diseases
Authors: CHEN ZONGYUAN , MAUK MICHAEL G. , WANG JING , ABRAMS WILLIAM R. , CORSTJENS PAUL L. A. M. , NIEDBALA R. SAM , MALAMUD DANIEL , BAU HAIM H.
Published: April 2007

Abstract:  A “lab‐on‐a‐chip” system for detecting bacterial pathogens in oral fluid samples is described. The system comprises: (1) an oral fluid sample collector; (2) a disposable, plastic microfluidic cassette (“chip”) for sample processing including immunochromatographic assay with a nitrocellulose lateral flow strip; (3) a platform that controls the cassette operation by providing metered quantities of reagents, temperature regulation, valve actuation; and (4) a laser scanner to interrogate the lateral flow strip. The microfluidic chip hosts a fluidic network for cell lysis, nucleic acid extraction and isolation, PCR, and labeling of the PCR product with bioconjugated, upconverting phosphor particles for detection on the lateral flow strip.
Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease Markers Applicable to Studies of Oral Health
Authors: JACOBS DAVID R. , CROW RICHARD S.
Published: April 2007

Abstract:  Recent findings associate periodontal disease with established coronary heart disease (CHD) and with disorders of the carotid artery. Besides measures of the carotid artery, a number of other noninvasive subclinical markers of cardiovascular disease exist and are summarized here. Included are computed tomography (CT) of the coronary arteries, ultrasound of the carotid arteries, echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ankle–brachial index, microalbuminuria, and other biochemical measures of kidney dysfunction, flow‐mediated dilation in the brachial artery, and pulse wave form analysis. Use of these measures may simplify and add depth to studies of oral health and cardiovascular disease. However, it is noted that the measures are not highly correlated with each other (based on 6,814 persons in the Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, Pearson correlations among the above subclinical measures, range from about 0.1–0.4), do not include propensity for the important atherosclerotic phase of plaque rupture, and do not fully substitute for studies of clinical cardiovascular disease endpoints.
Identification of Angiogenesis/Metastases Genes Predicting Chemoradiotherapy Response in Patients With Laryngopharyngeal Carcinoma
Authors: Ganly Ian , Talbot Simon , Carlson Diane , Viale Agnes , Maghami Ellie , Osman Iman , Sherman Eric , Pfister David , Chuai Shaokun , Shaha Ashok R. , Kraus Dennis , Shah Jatin P. , Socci Nicholas D. , Singh Bhuvanesh
Published: April 2007

Purpose

To identify genes related to angiogenesis/metastasis that predict locoregional failure in patients with laryngopharyngeal cancer (LPC) undergoing chemoradiotherapy (CRT) treatment.

Methods

Tumor tissue was collected and snap-frozen from 35 sequential patients with histologically confirmed LPC being treated with CRT. Gene expression analysis was performed using a novel cDNA array consisting of 277 genes functionally associated with angiogenesis (n = 152) and/or metastasis (n = 125). Locoregional response was correlated to the gene expression profiles to identify genes associated with outcome. These genes were internally validated by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and validated externally by immunohistochemistry analysis on an independent set of patients.

Results

Locoregional failure occurred in nine of 35 patients. Seventeen genes from the cDNA microarray correlated with locoregional failure (two-sample t test, P < .05). Seven genes were chosen for additional analysis based on the availability of antibodies for immunohistochemistry. Of these seven genes, real-time RT-PCR validated four genes: MDM2, VCAM-1, erbB2, and H-ras (Wilcoxon rank sum test, P = .008, .02, .04, and .04, respectively). External validation by immunohistochemistry confirmed MDM2 and erbB2 as being predictive of locoregional response. Controlling for stage of disease, positivity for MDM2 or erbB2 was an independent negative predictor of locoregional disease-free survival.

Conclusion

Genomic screening by cDNA microarray and validation internally by real-time RT-PCR and externally by immunohistochemistry have identified two genes (MDM2 and erbB2) as predictors of locoregional failure in LPC patients treated with CRT. The role of these genes in treatment selection and the functional basis for their activity in CRT response merit additional consideration.
Estrogen Actions on Lactotroph Proliferation Are Independent of a Paracrine Interaction with Other Pituitary Cell Types: A Study Using Lactotroph-Enriched Cells
Authors: Ishida Maho , Takahashi Wakaba , Itoh Susumu , Shimodaira Shigetaka , Maeda Shuichiro , Arita Jun
Published: April 2007

The mitogenic action of estrogen on estrogen-responsive tissues is suggested to be mediated by paracrine growth factors secreted from neighboring estrogen receptor-positive cells. Using pituitary lactotrophs in primary culture, on which estrogen exerts both mitogenic and antimitogenic actions in a cell context-dependent manner, we investigated whether a paracrine cell-to-cell interaction with other pituitary cell types was required for estrogen action. In pituitary cells, enriched for lactotrophs by 85% using differential sedimentation on a discontinuous Percoll gradient, 17β-estradiol (E2) showed an antimitogenic action on lactotrophs in the presence of IGF-I, which was similar to that in control unenriched cells. Mitogenic actions were also seen in lactotroph-enriched cells when E2 was administered alone, in combination with serum, or in combination with the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin. Similar results were obtained in 90% lactotroph-enriched cells collected by fluorescence-activated cell sorting from transgenic rats expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein under the control of the prolactin promoter. The putative role of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) as a paracrine factor mediating the mitogenic action of estrogen was not supported by the results that: 1) bFGF inhibited lactotroph proliferation; 2) immunoneutralization of bFGF failed to block E2-induced proliferation; and 3) cellular bFGF levels were not altered by E2 treatment. These results suggest that the antimitogenic and mitogenic actions of estrogen on lactotrophs do not require paracrine signals from other pituitary cell types and that estrogen directly influences lactotroph proliferation.
Bfk, a Novel Member of the Bcl2 Gene Family, Is Highly Expressed in Principal Cells of the Mouse Epididymis and Demonstrates a Predominant Nuclear Localization
Authors: Pujianto Dwi Ari , Damdimopoulos Anastasios E. , Sipilä Petra , Jalkanen Jenni , Huhtaniemi Ilpo , Poutanen Matti
Published: April 2007

B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) family kin (BFK) is a recently identified novel protein that is similar to proteins of the BCL2 family. In the present study, we discovered that the mouse Bfk transcript is expressed at the highest level in the epididymis. Two transcripts of 0.9 and 2.6 kb in size were identified, with alternative exon 4 structures, resulting in a difference in the last three to five amino acids of the variants. However, the 0.9-kb transcript was found to be the predominant form in the epididymis and mammary gland, another tissue with strong Bfk expression. Epididymal Bfk expression was regulated both by androgens and other testicular factors. It is thus one of the few initial-segment enriched genes under androgen control, the majority of them being regulated by other testicular factors. BFK protein was expressed specifically in the principal cells of the epididymis. Its nuclear localization was evident in the initial segment and caput epididymis and in the epithelium of pregnant female mammary gland. The expression of BFK-enhanced green fluorescent protein recombinant protein in epididymal cells further confirmed the predominant nuclear localization of BFK with nucleo-cytoplasmic shuttling. Overexpressing BFK in epididymal cells did not induce apoptosis. However, enhanced caspase 3 activation was observed in the presence of BFK upon staurosporine-induced apoptosis. This suggests that BFK may have a proapoptotic role only after the process has been initiated by other mechanisms. Being exceptionally highly expressed in the initial segment, Bfk is suggested to have a role in the differentiation of this segment of the epididymis.
Effect of Continuous Intravenous Administration of Human Metastin 45–54 on the Neuroendocrine Activity of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Testicular Axis in the Adult Male Rhesus Monkey (Macaca mulatta)
Authors: Ramaswamy Suresh , Seminara Stephanie B. , Pohl Clifford R. , DiPietro Meloni J. , Crowley William F. , Plant Tony M.
Published: April 2007

In agonadal juvenile male monkeys, continuous administration of human metastin 45–54 (hu metastin 45–54) leads to desensitization of its receptor, G protein-coupled receptor 54 (GPR54), and decreased LH. The present study extended this observation to the adult male monkey, a more preclinically relevant model in which robust activity in the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis is present. Continuous iv infusion of hu metastin 45–54 at either 200 or 400 μg/h elicited a marked rise in circulating LH that peaked 2–3 h after initiation of treatment. Thereafter, levels declined, and by 24 h, LH in metastin 45–54-infused animals was similar to control. LH release in response to an iv bolus of hu metastin 45–54 (10–30 μg) during the final 3 h of continuous infusion was truncated or abolished (low and high peptide dose, respectively). GPR54 desensitization by the high-dose metastin 45–54 infusion was associated with compromised pituitary response to a bolus GnRH injection (0.3 μg). LH pulse amplitude and pulse frequency were markedly suppressed during high-dose metastin 45–54 treatment. Surprisingly, the fidelity of the relationship between circulating testosterone (T) and LH was distorted during the high-dose peptide infusion. Thus, for a given concentration of LH, T levels were invariably higher during the high-dose metastin 45–54 infusion than during vehicle, suggesting that the peptide may exert direct actions on the testis to amplify T production. These findings support the notion that GPR54 is desensitized by continuous exposure to ligand, and they raise the possibility of an intratesticular role of GPR54.
The integration of images into architecture presentations: a semiotic analysis
Authors: Morton Janne
Published: April 2007

In the discipline of architecture, images are central in the development of ideas and the communication of designs. This article focuses on the role of visual communication in a spoken academic genre the architecture presentation. A set of analytical techniques drawn from linguistics
(Kress and van Leeuwen, 1996) was used to investigate ten first-year architecture presentations in an attempt to understand first, the role of images and second, how novice students cope with the demands of a multimodal semiosis, namely the integrating of images, words and actions into a unified
speech. The analysis was focused on three areas: the conventions and rhetorical effects of individual images; the composition of simultaneously displayed images; and the interaction between speakers and their images. The third stage was pivotal in distinguishing successful from unsuccessful
presentations. It is argued that a semiotic analysis of architectural presentations can contribute to improved pedagogical practice in the architecture studio, and has broader implications for an understanding of visual-oriented discourses.
Assessing creativity in an unhelpful climate
Authors: Elton Lewis
Published: April 2007

The increasing audit culture of quality in universities based on simplistic quantitative performance indicators of quality is the enemy of creativity. Hence issues of quality assessment are important, particularly in the face of the traditionalism of university teaching and examining,
but in practice quality assessment has had little, if any, effect on this traditionalism. Instead it has led to a shift from unjustified total trust to equally unjustified total lack of trust and a corresponding shift from collegial to top down management. The latter is now so firmly entrenched
in universities that the first step towards the general introduction of a component of creativity into university curricula (isolated examples of creativity can readily be found) may well require an academic revolt.

There have been aspects of creativity in the most traditional curricula
even in the sciences for a long time, but really hopeful signs pointing to the introduction of aspects of creativity into whole curricula are in:

The move from teacher-centred to student-centred learning

The
expression of this move in the form of problem-based and enquiry-based curricula

A move from positivist to interpretivist assessment and, in particular, assessment in general from unseen papers to portfolios 
Dare to Dada: an argument for visual and verbal avant-garde poetry in the nursery
Authors: Rijke Victoria de , Sinker Rebecca
Published: April 2007

This article reports on our ongoing exploration of children's responses to working with contemporary and avant-garde art and ideas. Our research began with the development of two CD-ROMs in collaboration with artists, pupils and teachers. Building on this collaborative research material,
this article focuses on our use of one small element of each CD-ROM, featuring Takehiko Iimura's performance video art and Dada poetry as a teaching and learning trigger. We worked with a culturally diverse group of predominantly English and Bengali early years children in the nursery unit
of an East London school, exploring relationships between sound, feeling and meaning in young children's playful uses of language in the interdisciplinary modus operandi of the Dada movement. A positive finding was that working in a multilingual context and avoiding treating the letter as
a phonic imperative gave some EAL children a sense of freedom and confidence to some EAL children, but a lack of confidence and scepticism about what counts as poetry seems to exist among the adults.
Combined therapy of somatostatin analogues and dopamine agonists in the treatment of pituitary tumours
Authors: Colao Annamaria , Filippella Mariagiovanna , Pivonello Rosario , Di Somma Carolina , Faggiano Antongiulio , Lombardi Gaetano
Published: April 2007

Pituitary tumours express both somatostatin and dopamine receptors. Medical treatment with somatostatin analogues is a cornerstone of GH- and TSH-secreting tumours, while treatment with dopamine agonists is a cornerstone of prolactin-secreting tumours. Dopamine agonists have also demonstrated some efficacy in patients with GH- and TSH-secreting adenomas. Neither ACTH-secreting nor clinically non-functioning tumours have a well-established medical treatment. Nevertheless, some recent results have indicated a potential usefulness of the dopamine agonist cabergoline in patients with pituitary-dependent Cushing’s disease. Combination treatment with both somatostatin analogues and dopamine agonists has been poorly investigated. Some studies conducted in small series have documented an additive effect of both drugs in patients with GH-secreting adenomas. Of mention is that none of the studies were randomised and cross-sectional so that the results should be confirmed by other well-designed studies. No data are available in other pituitary tumour histotypes. Preliminary observations in patients with clinically non-functioning adenomas are very promising.
Diagnostic imaging of dopamine receptors in pituitary adenomas
Authors: de Herder Wouter W , Reijs Ambroos E M , Feelders Richard A , van Aken Maarten O , Krenning Eric P , van der Lely Aart-Jan , Kwekkeboom Dik J
Published: April 2007

Dopamine D2 receptor scintigraphy of pituitary adenomas is feasible by single-photon emission computed tomography using 123I-S-(−)-N-[(1-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)methyl]-2-hydroxy-3-iodo-6-methoxybenzamide (123I-IBZM) and 123I-epidepride. 123I-epidepride is generally superior to 123I-IBZM for the visualization of D2 receptors on pituitary macroadenomas. However, 123I-IBZM and 123I-epidepride scintigraphy are generally not useful to predict the response to dopaminergic treatment in pituitary tumour patients. These techniques might allow discrimination of non-functioning pituitary macroadenomas from other non-tumour pathologies in the sellar region. Dopamine D2 receptors on pituitary tumours can also be studied using positron emission tomography with 11C-N-raclopride and 11C-N-methylspiperone.
Control of pituitary adenoma cell proliferation by somatostatin analogs, dopamine agonists and novel chimeric compounds
Authors: Zatelli Maria Chiara , Ambrosio Maria Rosaria , Bondanelli Marta , Uberti Ettore C degli
Published: April 2007

The antisecretory effects of somatostatin (SRIH) and its analogs are widely recognized and provide the basis for treatment of hormonal hypersecretion in patients with pituitary adenomas, especially in the settings of acromegaly. Dopamine (DA) agonists have also been used for medical treatment of prolactin and/or GH hypersecretion, and recent evidence points to an even greater antisecretory effect for a chimeric molecule, having high affinity for both SRIH and DA receptors. Evidence for an antiproliferative effect of these compounds has also been provided. This review focuses on the antiproliferative effects of SRIH and its analogs, of DA and chimeric compounds on pituitary adenomas, and on the clinical consequences on tumor volume of pharmacological treatment of pituitary adenomas with these drugs.
Ethics in a Pandemic: A Survey of the State Pandemic Influenza Plans
Authors: Thomas James C. , Dasgupta Nabarun , Martinot Amanda
Published: April 2007

A pandemic of highly pathogenic influenza would threaten the lives of hundreds of thousands in the United States and confront governments and organizations, with ethical issues having wide-ranging implications. The Department of Health and Human Services and all states have published pandemic influenza plans.

We analyzed the federal and state plans, available on the Internet, for evidence of ethical guidance as judged by the presence of ethical terms. The most striking finding was an absence of ethical language. Although some states acknowledged the need for ethical decisionmaking, very few prescribed how it should happen. If faced by a pandemic in the near future, we stand the risk of making many unjust and regrettable decisions.
Household Water Disinfection in Hurricane-Affected Communities of Louisiana: Implications for Disaster Preparedness for the General Public
Authors: Ram Pavani K. , Blanton Elizabeth , Klinghoffer Debra , Platek Mary , Piper Janet , Straif-Bourgeois Susanne , Bonner Matthew R. , Mintz Eric D.
Published: April 2007

Objectives. Thousands of Louisiana residents were asked to boil water because of widespread disruptions in electricity and natural gas services after Hurricane Rita. We sought to assess awareness of boil water orders and familiarity with household water disinfection techniques other than boiling.

Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional survey in randomly selected mobile home communities in Louisiana.

Results. We interviewed 196 respondents from 8 communities, which had boil water orders instituted. Of 97 who were home while communities were still under orders to boil water, 30 (31%) were aware of the orders and, of those, 24 (80%) said the orders were active while they were living at home; of the 24, 10 (42%) reported boiling water. Overall, 163 (83%) respondents were aware of a method of water disinfection at the household level: boiling (78%), chlorination (27%), and filtration (25%); 87% had a container of chlorine bleach at home.

Conclusions. Few hurricane-affected respondents were aware of boil water orders and of alternate water disinfection techniques. Most had access to chlorine and could have practiced household chlorination if disruption in natural gas and electricity made boiling impossible.
Public Health Investigation After the Discovery of Ricin in a South Carolina Postal Facility
Authors: Schier Joshua G. , Patel Manish M. , Belson Martin G. , Patel Amee , Schwartz Michael , Fitzpatrick Nicole , Drociuk Dan , Deitchman Scott , Meyer Richard , Litovitz Toby , Watson William A. , Rubin Carol H. , Kiefer Max
Published: April 2007

Objectives. In October 2003, a package containing ricin and a note threatening to poison water supplies was discovered in a South Carolina postal facility, becoming the first potential chemical terrorism event involving ricin in the United States. We examined the comprehensive public health investigation that followed and discuss the lessons learned from it.

Methods. An investigation consisting primarily of environmental sampling for ricin contamination, performance of health assessments on affected personnel, and local, regional, and national surveillance for ricin-associated illness.

Results. Laboratory analysis of 75 environmental sampling specimens revealed no ricin contamination. Health assessments of 36 affected employees were completed. Local surveillance initially identified 3 suspected cases, and national surveillance identified 399 outliers during the 2-week period after the incident. No confirmed cases of ricin-associated illness were identified.

Conclusions. A multifaceted and multidisciplinary approach is required for an effective public health response to a chemical threat such as ricin. The results of all of the described activities were used to determine that the facility was safe to reopen and that no public health threat existed.