bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Game, Not Fight
Authors: Ahamer Gilbert
Published: January 2013

This article argues that in the long run gaming (i.e., managing unstable equilibria while maintaining societal sustainability) serves better as a strategy against the undesired effects of global change (GC) than fighting (i.e., understanding only one’s own standpoint, but not the standpoint of one’s adversaries). GC is believed to be driven by a bundle of drivers, some of which are global long-term trends that are almost impossible to change. Climate change is only one component of this syndrome. GC exerts a bundle of effects on society. Given this interlinked and systemic character of GC, an explorative, reflexive, dialogue-driven strategy allowing for continuous adaptation, rather than a theory-driven predesigned solution, is advocated. Taking roles allows actors to perceive the paradigms and perspectives of adversaries. Hence, game-based (but structured) procedures allow the taking of adversarial positions without being compromised. As an example of such procedural structuration, the negotiation game SURFING GLOBAL CHANGE (SGC, © Gilbert Ahamer) published earlier in this journal is recommended. The social dynamics of SGC is graphically analyzed. SGC was implemented three dozen times with students within several university curricula such as Environmental Systems Science or Global Studies training developmental cooperation. Through changing roles, SGC allows one to walk through the complex argumentative landscape while gaming. This article proposes several conclusions to the way in which gaming should respond to the complex patterns of GC.
Task Analysis for Developing Maintenance and Assembly VR Training Simulators
Authors: Yuviler-Gavish Nirit , Krupenia Stas , Gopher Daniel
Published: January 2013

Task analysis for the development of a virtual reality (VR) training system requires analysis and identification of the operator’s interactions with the real-world system and of the objectives of training and the trainee’s skill acquisition requirements. A task analysis approach for developing VR training simulators is presented that is based on analyzing the technology and training requirements concurrently. This approach is compared with traditional approaches for system development, with examples provided from the development of a VR training simulator for industrial maintenance and assembly tasks.
Measuring Surgeons’ Mental Workload With a Time-Based Secondary Task
Authors: Grant Russell C. , Carswell C. Melody , Lio Cindy H. , Seales W. Brent
Published: January 2013

The use of secondary task performance to assess mental workload in a primary task is appealing because the method clearly reflects a central goal of workload assessment – to determine what other functions an operator can undertake while satisfactorily performing the ongoing (primary) technical challenges of a job. For example, does a surgeon performing a suturing task have the cognitive reserves to maintain situation awareness, deal with unanticipated events, or coordinate the efforts of other team members? Unfortunately, secondary task measures have a reputation for being intrusive, artificial, and difficult to use. In the current article, we describe procedures to minimize these concerns, specifically when using an interval production secondary task. Although our suggestions for implementing interval production are based on experience in surgical training environments, the method is grounded in workload assessment research from a variety of other contexts over the past two decades. The methodology appears to be highly adaptable.
How Family Resources Affect Materialism and Compulsive Buying
Authors: Baker Andrew M. , Moschis George P. , Benmoyal-Bouzaglo Sarah , Pizzutti dos Santos Cristiane
Published: January 2013

We test a theoretical model that explains the development of materialistic beliefs and compulsive buying. The model uses the life course framework, a paradigm that has recently been given attention in the marketing literature. To address the calls of prior consumer researchers, we investigate how these consumption orientations develop in 3 country contexts: the United States, France, and Brazil. We assess the level of measurement invariance and evaluate the model. Findings support family resources playing a mediating role between childhood family disruptions and young adulthood consumption orientations; they are relatively consistent across countries and suggest that some life course explanation of the two consumption orientations may be similar across diverse cultural settings.
Recovery
Authors: Anderson Kim M. , Renner Lynette M. , Danis Fran S.
Published: January 2013

This mixed-methods study explored the recovery process and outcomes for 37 women formerly in an abusive intimate partner relationship. Standardized measures of current psychosocial functioning indicated participants were largely asymptomatic for posttraumatic stress disorder and had relatively strong resilience. Qualitative analysis revealed how social and spiritual support was instrumental to participants’ recovery, growth, and resilience. Implications for helping professionals include gaining a more comprehensive understanding of recovery from domestic violence. This type of knowledge may contribute to interventions that build on women’s strengths and resourcefulness.
Two-dimensional model for the combined bending, stretching and shearing of shells: A general approach and application to laminated cylindrical shells derived from three-dimensional elasticity
Authors: Pruchnicki Erick
Published: January 2013

For laminated shells, the displacement field can be approximated in each layer by a third-order Taylor–Young expansion in thickness. Then we are motivated to consider a simplified theory based on the thickness-wise expansion of the potential energy truncated at third-order in thickness. The equilibrium equations imply local constraints on the through-thickness derivatives of the zero-order displacement field in each layer. These lead to an analytical expression for the two-dimensional potential energy of cylindrical shells in terms of the zero-order displacement field, and its derivatives, that includes non-standard transverse shearing and normal stress energy. As a consequence this potential energy satisfies the stability condition of Legendre–Hadamard which is necessary for the existence of a minimizer.
Constructing Soldiers from Boys in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
Authors: Trenholm Jill , Olsson Pia , Blomqvist Martha , Ahlberg Beth Maina
Published: January 2013

This study is part of an ethnography focusing on war rape in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo where child soldiers are both victims and perpetrators of violence. Twelve ex-child soldier boys, aged thirteen to eighteen years, from a reintegration facility were interviewed about their soldiering experiences and their perspectives on sexual violence. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. Conceptual frameworks of militarized masculine identity and gender-based violence guided the process. Results revealed the systematic and violent construction of children into soldiers, inculcating a “militarized masculinity”; a rigid set of stereotypical hypermasculinized behaviors promoting dominance by violating, sexually and otherwise, the subordinate “other.” This was achieved through terrorizing/coercing, use of indigenous preparations, substance abuse, and forbidden reflection. This article presents a more contextualized complex view of the violent perpetrator whose behaviors are a manifestation of the modes and mechanisms in which society has constructed/reconstructed gender, ethnicity, and class, and the power dynamics therein.
Context, Challenges, and Tensions in Global Efforts to Engage Men in the Prevention of Violence against Women
Authors: Casey Erin A. , Carlson Juliana , Fraguela-Rios Cathlyn , Kimball Ericka , Neugut Tova B. , Tolman Richard M. , Edleson Jeffrey L.
Published: January 2013

As gender-based violence prevention programs around the world increasingly include efforts to engage men and boys as antiviolence allies, both the profound benefits and the inherent complexities of these efforts are emerging. Acknowledging and exploring tensions associated with engaging men is an important element of thoughtfully fostering men’s antiviolence ally movements so as to both respectfully invite men into antiviolence work and create effective, gender-equitable prevention programming. To this end, this study presents descriptive findings regarding challenges associated with men’s engagement programming from in-depth interviews with twenty-nine representatives of organizations that engage men and boys in preventing violence against women and girls in Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, and North and South America. Programs reported negotiating complex issues related to gender, the intersectional nature of men’s identities, and establishing legitimacy and sustainability within communities while maintaining ideological focus and consistency. Additionally, programs reported that these tensions manifest across ecological layers of analysis, and impact both the participation of individual men and the programs’ experiences in community and national contexts.
Prevalence of faecal-borne parasites in colony stray cats in northern Italy
Authors: Spada Eva , Proverbio Daniela , Della Pepa Alessandra , Domenichini Giulia , Bagnagatti De Giorgi Giada , Traldi Giorgio , Ferro Elisabetta
Published: January 2013

Endoparasitic infections are common in stray cats. Many of these parasites are responsible for zoonoses, and stray cats can be a source of environmental contamination. The prevalence of parasites in 139 stray colony cats in the city of Milan, northern Italy, was investigated by faecal examination. The overall prevalence of endoparasites was 50.4%, with 11 different parasites found. Parasites with zoonotic potential were detected in 49.6% of cats. Concurrent infections with two or more zoonotic parasites were recorded in 14.3% of cats. Among the parasites found, the most common was Toxocara cati (33.1%; P <0.0001). The other species found by coproscopic examination were: Ancylostoma tubaeformae (7.2%), Isospora species (4.3%), Trichuris vulpis (2.9%), Dipylidium caninum (2.9%), Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (2.9%), Eucoleus aerophilus (syn Capillaria aerophila) (1.4%), Spirometra species (1.4%), Taenia pisiformis (0.7%) and Hymenolepis nana (0.7%). Coproantigen specific for Giardia duodenalis was detected in 2.9% of the samples. Pseudoparasites (eggs of mites) were found in 4.3% of the samples. No sample contained Toxoplasma gondii oocysts, despite the fact that 70 cats tested positive for T gondii-specific IgG antibodies, and none of the diarrhoetic samples tested positive for Cryptosporidium species oocysts. Variables linked to infection were body condition score (BCS), the presence of diarrhoea and infection with G duodenalis. Cats infected with G duodenalis were more likely to have a low BCS (odds ratio (OR) = 11.5, P = 0.02) and diarrhoea (OR = 30.7, P = 0.0007). The results of the present study confirm that endoparasitic infections, most of which have zoonotic potential, are distributed in stray colony cats of Milan.
Hegel, unhappy consciousness and endogenous cultural change
Authors: Bholat David
Published: January 2013

How and why does culture change? Very often, our meaningful priorities change as a result of accidental circumstances and external factors. But what about endogenous cultural change, when the values that matter to us are reinterpreted from our mulling them over? In these instances, our beliefs may not change randomly but in a progressively patterned way, as we gain greater clarity on the character of our primary commitments and search for coherence in their empirical application. This article outlines one model of endogenous cultural change, using Hegel’s discussion of the dialectical dynamism of liberal culture as an example. In the process, I argue Hegel’s endogenous model can enrich the meaning of reflexivity in anthropology. For Hegel, reflexivity is less about loosening our attachment to our initially contingent ideals as it is about perfecting them.
Anthropology, autonomy and the art of cultural revolution
Authors: Houston Christopher
Published: January 2013

Anthropologists (amongst others) have noted how some theorists of the Occident, in order to explicate their analyses of Western modernity, have conceptualized an oppositional category of non-Western, pre-modern or traditional societies, understood to be negatively unified by their lack of particular social capacities (despite other vast dissimilarities between them). One such absent elemental capacity is reflexivity, whose existence or nonexistence is posited as defining Western European and non-Western formations respectively. This article explores one expression of the reflexivity/naivety dichotomy, the distinction between autonomous and heteronomous societies, worked out as a central feature in the social theory of Cornelius Castoriadis (and as a sub-theme in the writings of Charles Taylor and Louis Dumont). My core argument is that Castoriadis’ reservation of the project of autonomy to the West is empirically wrong, and I use the example of the cultural revolution in Turkey in the early 1930s to demonstrate why. Nevertheless, I argue also that Castoriadis’ work not only casts a revealing light on the experience and project of modernity in Turkey, but also provides a suggestive comparative programme for the discipline of anthropology.
Virtual Christianity in an age of nominalist anthropology
Authors: Bialecki Jon
Published: January 2013

This article claims that the collective object of an anthropology of Christianity should be Christianity as a virtual object, in the sense used by Gilles Deleuze: a field of multiplicitous potential with effects on the formation of the actual. This position is necessitated by the recurrent inability/refusal/demurral of the anthropology of Christianity to define what its exact object is. This inability/refusal/demurral is a symptom that can be traced back to a larger anthropological shift towards a nominalist ontology, a disciplinary tendency which is exemplified in the recent anthropological interest in Deleuzian-derived assemblage theory. After showing how current anthropological uses of Deleuze have neglected his concept of the virtual due to the same nominalist tendency, this article then argues that taking up Deleuze’s virtual realism would reconfigure assemblage theory in such a way that it would make the project of an anthropology of Christianity substantially more intelligible, as well as undoing what appear to be points of contestation internal to the sub-field.
Opening up possibilities through team research: an investigation of infants’ lives in early childhood education settings
Authors: Sumsion Jennifer
Published: January 2013

This article contributes to the still small corpus of scholarship about team research through a brief literature review and a case study that aims to provide insights into knowledge production within the context of a research team. In mapping theoretical–methodological shifts in the author’s understandings of the (im)possibilities of an investigation of infants’ lives in early education settings, it describes a form of ‘becoming’ that offers possibilities for transcending the often instrumentalist drivers of team research.
Using diagrams to support the research process: examples from grounded theory
Authors: Buckley Charles A , Waring Michael J
Published: January 2013

Despite their potential for yielding an understanding of the conceptualisation being developed, diagrams remain one of the least utilised tools in the analytical process. They have been used by interpretive investigators at various stages of the research process, for example, as artefacts to stimulate discussion in interviews, assisting the researcher in formulating ideas, refining conceptualisations in the process of theory building and communicating ideas to others. This article has two main objectives: first, to begin to explore some of the intricacies associated with the use of diagrams in grounded theory, and second, to use case study material from two separate projects, which adopted individual approaches to grounded theory, to investigate young peoples’ attitudes towards physical activity; it outlines the ways in which diagrams and drawings were used differently by researchers at various stages to support the research process and ongoing analysis of data.
An Oncology Mind-Body Medicine Day Care Clinic
Authors: Paul Anna , Cramer Holger , Lauche Romy , Altner Nils , Langhorst Jost , Dobos Gustav J.
Published: January 2013

Introduction. Cancer diagnosis and treatment are often associated with physical and psychosocial impairments. Many cancer patients request complementary and alternative therapies such as mind-body medicine. Concept. The department of internal and integrative medicine at the Essen-Mitte Clinics offer a mind-body medicine day care clinic for cancer patients that is based on the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program and the mind-body medicine cancer program of the Harvard Mind/Body Medical Institute. The program encompasses mindfulness training, yoga, mindful exercise, nutrition, naturopathic self-help strategies, and cognitive restructuring. Cases. Two patients who had participated in the day care clinic program are presented here. One patient presented with anxiety and depression after recently diagnosed breast cancer and the other with psychological impairments as a result of multiple nevi excision after malignant melanoma surgery. Both patients improved in terms of anxiety and further psychological symptoms. Conclusions. The Essen-Mitte Clinics mind-body medicine day care clinic appears to alleviate psychological consequences of cancer and its treatment. Further studies and randomized controlled trials are necessary to confirm these results.
Pathways Through the Juvenile Justice System
Authors: Caudill Jonathan W. , Morris Robert G. , Sayed Sarah El , Yun Minwoo , DeLisi Matt
Published: January 2013

Previous scholarship on juvenile case dispositions has suggested a complex relationship between legal and extra-legal factors. Previous studies, however, have suffered from methodological limitations of cross-sectional data that potentially overstated the salience of extra-legal factors. This study addressed that limitation using longitudinal case-management system data from a large southern state. The findings suggested a distinction between the first referral and subsequent referrals. Extra-legal factors, such as age, gender, and race contributed to formal case disposition in the first referral, but waned in referrals two through six. Legal factors significantly and robustly predicted formal case disposition in the first and subsequent referrals. Felony offense significantly increased the likelihood of a formal disposition across all referrals and previous case disposition significantly increased the likelihood of formal disposition in subsequent referrals. Concluding remarks focus on implications and future research.
Committed to Transformative Inquiry
Authors: Tanaka Michele T. D. , Nicholson Diana , Farish Maureen
Published: January 2013

Teacher educators often wonder about how best to prepare teachers for practice within a complex rather than a mechanistic system. As teacher educators, we facilitate a transformative inquiry (TI) course in which students investigate personally meaningful topics reflexively and relationally within larger educational and sociocultural contexts. This braided piece explores our own significant experiences with TI and how these experiences inform what we do as we mentor students through their own experience. By describing our personal entry points, we foreground some of the ways in which we work together to collaboratively and continuously revision the course. By making explicit our entry points into TI, we aim to reaffirm what matters to us as educators to improve our ability to deliberately engage in effective mentoring and to affirm our connections to the passions that sustain us amidst the many challenges and pressures that we face in our practice.
Not All Group Exchange Structures Are Created Equal
Authors: Cogliser Claudia C. , Gardner William , Trank Christine Quinn , Gavin Mark , Halbesleben Jonathon , Seers Anson
Published: January 2013

Electronic communications collected from 233 undergraduate business students in 50 virtual teams were coded to identify group exchange structures. Results revealed four types of structures: unified generalized (characterized by high-quality exchange relationships among group members and high information sharing and cooperation; n = 10), unified generalized with isolates (high-quality exchange among most members, with negative exchange among some isolated members; n = 16), unified balanced (characterized by low-quality exchange relationships among members and low trust and concern for others; n = 8), and unified balanced with isolates (low-quality exchange among most members and negative exchange with some isolated members; n = 16). Contrary to expectations, virtual teams with unified generalized as opposed to unified balanced exchange structures did not experience higher levels of performance and member satisfaction. However, when isolates were present, adverse effects on performance and satisfaction were observed, but only for teams with balanced as opposed to generalized structures, as expected. The findings reveal the importance of promoting generalized exchange structures to avoid the potentially detrimental effects of group isolates on virtual team performance and member satisfaction. The implication for organizations planning to adopt virtual teams is that concerted efforts to foster positive social exchanges characterized by high levels of trust, cooperation, information sharing and coordination, and thereby avoid the creation of group isolates, may produce dividends in member satisfaction and team productivity.
Clinical and economic outcomes associated with amlodipine/renin–angiotensin system blocker combinations
Authors: Ferrario Carlos M. , Panjabi Sumeet , Buzinec Paul , Swindle Jason P.
Published: January 2013

Objectives:

Since treatment regimen type can influence adherence and other outcomes, this study examined adherence, cardiovascular events, and economic outcomes in patients with hypertension treated with fixed-dose combination (FDC) amlodipine/olmesartan (AML/OM), FDC AML/benazepril (AML/BEN), and loose-dose combination AML plus angiotensin II receptor blockers (LDC AML/ARBs).

Methods:

Commercial health plan enrolees aged at least 18 years with index claim(s) for AML/OM, AML/BEN, or LDC AML/ARB were identified. Absence of study drug 6 months pre index, and continuous enrolment for at least 12 months post index were required. Descriptive analyses were executed to make comparisons between treatments, as well as multivariate models adjusting for baseline demographic and clinical characteristics, including propensity for assignment to study drug.

Results:

Descriptive results suggested mean follow-up adherence was higher in the AML/OM cohort [proportion of days covered (PDC) = 0.63] compared with the AML/BEN (PDC = 0.55; p < 0.001) and LDC AML/ARB cohorts (PDC = 0.34; p < 0.001). The proportion of individuals with an incident follow-up cardiovascular event composite was lower in the AML/OM cohort versus the AML/BEN and LDC AML/ARB cohorts (5.94% versus 7.85% and 16.89% respectively). Adjusted Cox models suggested that patients initiated on LDC AML/ARB (hazard ratio 1.35; p < 0.001), but not on AML/BEN, were at greater risk of a follow-up cardiovascular event (composite) compared with AML/OM. Adjusted generalized linear models suggested that mean follow-up per-member-per-month overall costs were higher in the AML/BEN (cost ratio = 1.169; p < 0.001; unadjusted mean cost US$780) and LDC AML/ARB cohorts (cost ratio = 1.286; p < 0.001; unadjusted mean cost US$1394) compared with the AML/OM cohort (unadjusted mean cost US$740).

Conclusion:

The results suggested that treatment with FDC AML/OM was associated with greater likelihood of adherence and lower overall costs than with FDC AML/BEN and LDC AML/ARB, and lower risk of cardiovascular event composite versus LDC AML/ARB.
Angiotensin II receptor blockade and insulin sensitivity in overweight and obese adults with elevated blood pressure
Authors: Marinik Elaina L. , Frisard Madlyn I. , Hulver Matthew W. , Davy Brenda M. , Rivero Jose M. , Savla Jyoti S. , Davy Kevin P.
Published: January 2013

We tested the hypothesis that olmesartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) devoid of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ agonist activity, would improve whole-body insulin sensitivity in overweight and obese individuals with elevated blood pressure (BP). Sixteen individuals (8 women, 8 men; age=49.5 ± 2.9 years; body mass index=33.0 ± 1.7 kg/m2) were randomly assigned in a crossover manner to control and ARB interventions. Insulin sensitivity was determined from intravenous glucose tolerances tests before and after each 8-week intervention. BP, body weight, body fat, lipid and lipoprotein concentrations, and insulin sensitivity were similar at baseline for both treatments (all p > 0.05). Diastolic BP and triglyceride concentrations were higher ( p = 0.007 and 0.042 respectively) at baseline for the ARB compared with the control intervention. Systolic (−11.7 mmHg; p = 0.008) and diastolic (−12.1 mmHg; p = 0.0001) BP decreased, however insulin sensitivity did not change ( p > 0.05) following ARB treatment. Furthermore, there were no significant correlates of changes in insulin sensitivity following the ARB intervention. In summary, our findings indicate that short-term ARB treatment did not affect whole-body insulin sensitivity in overweight or obese individuals with elevated BP. Future studies are needed to clarify the effect of individual ARBs on insulin sensitivity in obesity.
Incidence and Injury Characteristics of Medial Collateral Ligament Injuries in Male Collegiate Ice Hockey Players
Authors: Grant John A. , Bedi Asheesh , Kurz Jennifer , Bancroft Richard , Miller Bruce S.
Published: January 2013

Background:

Medial collateral ligament (MCL) injuries are the second most common injury resulting in player lost time in elite-level ice hockey.

Purpose:

To determine the incidence and injury characteristics of knee MCL sprain in male collegiate ice hockey players.

Study Design:

Case control.

Methods:

Athlete exposure data demographics, mechanism of injury, player position, time of injury occurrence (game vs practice), grade of MCL sprain, concomitant injuries, and lost time for cases were extracted from a computerized injury database of 8 college hockey seasons at 1 university. MCL injury rates were calculated. Injury characteristics were descriptively summarized. Simple linear regression was utilized to determine the relationship between the grade of MCL injury and player lost time.

Results:

There were 13 MCL injuries in 10 players. The overall incidence rate was 0.44 injuries per 1000 athlete exposures. Two players suffered reinjuries. Defensemen and forwards were equally represented. Contact with another player or the ice was the mechanism of injury in 77% of players. Grade 2 injuries were most common. The grade of injury predicted time lost from play ( P < 0.01).

Conclusion and Clinical Relevance:

The lost time relates directly to the severity of injury.
Integration of Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery in the Cardiovascular Intensive Unit
Authors: Wagner Chad E. , Fredi Joseph , McPherson John , Parmley Clifford L.
Published: January 2013

Background. In 2006, the Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute significantly expanded its clinical operations, in part through the acquisition of cardiology, cardiac surgical, and vascular surgical practices. This article will describe the integration that has taken place since clinical expansion, the outcomes achieved, and discussion of key drivers of success. Results. In 2011, Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) data show 3863 cardiology cases in addition to 1201 patients who underwent cardiac surgery. Compared with 2005, the 2011 cardiac surgical volume increased by 267%. Among the cardiology/cardiac surgical patients, the UHC mean ICU days were 2.9/3.37 in 2008 and 2.72/3.05 days in 2011. The UHC mortality index was .95/.90 in 2008 and .72/.53 in 2011 for cardiology and cardiac surgery, respectively. Key benchmarks for blood stream infections, ventilator-associated pneumonia, and urinary tract infections have all improved since September 2006. Quality improvement initiatives included vent bundle, identification of high-risk ventilator-associated pneumonia, glucose control, falls, Foley catheter education, and central line maintenance education to name a few. Conclusion. The Vanderbilt experience shows one way to integrate practices that can help in improving patient outcomes and therefore increase value. Future work will need to address how this relates to institutional cost and translates into the bundled payment world.
Cultural imagination in public relations education
Authors: Hodges Caroline E.M.
Published: January 2013

Public relations (PR) academics can sometimes experience difficulty in applying interdisciplinary and critical cultural pedagogy within the classroom; while critical cultural approaches are regarded as appealing in theory, the transition to praxis can be challenging. One reason for this is that few published case studies of best practice exist. In this article, I draw on my own experiences within a UK university to explore the value of teaching culture within PR degree programmes before critically evaluating curricular developments in multicultural/intercultural communication and their value for PR theory and practice. I then discuss a framework for (1) teaching a final year undergraduate optional module in ‘multi(inter)cultural communication’ grounded in ethnography and critical pedagogy and (2) designing formative and summative assessment activity that encourages students to develop ‘cultural imagination’ – self-reflection drawn from the study of others’ stories/experiences, and the ethnographic knowledge, skills and competences necessary to embrace their professional practice as culturally sensitive, reflective practitioners.
MASL1 induces erythroid differentiation in human erythropoietin-dependent CD34+ cells through the Raf/MEK/ERK pathway
Authors: Kumkhaek Chutima , Aerbajinai Wulin , Liu Wenli , Zhu Jianqiong , Uchida Naoya , Kurlander Roger , Hsieh Matthew M. , Tisdale John F. , Rodgers Griffin P.
Published: January 2013

Key Points

A new molecular pathway involving the MASL1 gene during erythroid differentiation has been identified.
Activity of a heptad of transcription factors is associated with stem cell programs and clinical outcome in acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Diffner Eva , Beck Dominik , Gudgin Emma , Thoms Julie A. I. , Knezevic Kathy , Pridans Clare , Foster Sam , Goode Debbie , Lim Weng Khong , Boelen Lies , Metzeler Klaus H. , Micklem Gos , Bohlander Stefan K. , Buske Christian , Burnett Alan , Ottersbach Katrin , Vassiliou George S. , Olivier Jake , Wong Jason W. H. , Göttgens Berthold , Huntly Brian J. , Pimanda John E.
Published: January 2013

Key Points

The ERG stem cell enhancer is active in acute myeloid leukemia and is regulated by a heptad of transcription factors. Expression signatures derived from ERG promoter–enhancer activity and heptad expression are associated with clinical outcome.
Dosage-dependent tumor suppression by histone deacetylases 1 and 2 through regulation of c-Myc collaborating genes and p53 function
Authors: Heideman Marinus R. , Wilting Roel H. , Yanover Eva , Velds Arno , de Jong Johann , Kerkhoven Ron M. , Jacobs Heinz , Wessels Lodewyk F. , Dannenberg Jan-Hermen
Published: January 2013

Key Points

Hdac1 and Hdac2 are dosage-dependent tumor suppressors. Hdac1 and Hdac2 regulate p53-modulating genes as a barrier to prevent Myc-driven tumorigenesis.
Glypican-3–mediated inhibition of CD26 by TFPI: a novel mechanism in hematopoietic stem cell homing and maintenance
Authors: Khurana Satish , Margamuljana Lia , Joseph Chacko , Schouteden Sarah , Buckley Shannon M. , Verfaillie Catherine M.
Published: January 2013

Key Points

TFPI inhibits CD26 activity in murine and human HSPCs via GPC3 resulting in better transwell migration as well as BM homing. GPC3−/− mice show increased CD26 activity that leads to poor HSC retention in BM and increased circulating HSPCs.
MICAN : a protein structure alignment algorithm that can handle Multiple-chains, Inverse alignments, C
α
only models, Alternative alignments, and Non-sequential alignments
Authors: Minami Shintaro , Sawada Kengo , Chikenji George
Published: January 2013

Background

Protein pairs that have the same secondary structure packing arrangement but have different topologies have attracted much attention in terms of both evolution and physical chemistry of protein structures. Further investigation of such protein relationships would give us a hint as to how proteins can change their fold in the course of evolution, as well as a insight into physico-chemical properties of secondary structure packing. For this purpose, highly accurate sequence order independent structure comparison methods are needed.

Results

We have developed a novel protein structure alignment algorithm, MICAN (a structure alignment algorithm that can handle M ultiple-chain complexes, I nverse direction of secondary structures, C

α
only models, A lternative alignments, and N on-sequential alignments). The algorithm was designed so as to identify the best structural alignment between protein pairs by disregarding the connectivity between secondary structure elements (SSE). One of the key feature of the algorithm is utilizing the multiple vector representation for each SSE, which enables us to correctly treat bent or twisted nature of long SSE. We compared MICAN with other 9 publicly available structure alignment programs, using both reference-dependent and reference-independent evaluation methods on a variety of benchmark test sets which include both sequential and non-sequential alignments. We show that MICAN outperforms the other existing methods for reproducing reference alignments of non-sequential test sets. Further, although MICAN does not specialize in sequential structure alignment, it showed the top level performance on the sequential test sets. We also show that MICAN program is the fastest non-sequential structure alignment program among all the programs we examined here.

Conclusions

MICAN is the fastest and the most accurate program among non-sequential alignment programs we examined here. These results suggest that MICAN is a highly effective tool for automatically detecting non-trivial structural relationships of proteins, such as circular permutations and segment-swapping, many of which have been identified manually by human experts so far. The source code of MICAN is freely download-able at http://www.tbp.cse.nagoya-u.ac.jp/MICAN.
Use of somatic mutations to quantify random contributions to mouse development
Authors: Zhou Wenyu , Tan Yunbing , Anderson Donovan J , Crist Eva M , Ruohola-Baker Hannele , Salipante Stephen J , Horwitz Marshall S
Published: January 2013

Background

The C. elegans cell fate map, in which the lineage of its approximately 1000 cells is visibly charted beginning from the zygote, represents a developmental biology milestone. Nematode development is invariant from one specimen to the next, whereas in mammals, aspects of development are probabilistic, and development exhibits variation between even genetically identical individuals. Consequently, a single defined cell fate map applicable to all individuals cannot exist.

Results

To determine the extent to which patterns of cell lineage are conserved between different mice, we have employed the recently developed method of “phylogenetic fate mapping” to compare cell fate maps in siblings. In this approach, somatic mutations arising in individual cells are used to retrospectively deduce lineage relationships through phylogenetic and—as newly investigated here—related analytical approaches based on genetic distance. We have cataloged genomic mutations at an average of 110 mutation-prone polyguanine (polyG) tracts for about 100 cells clonally isolated from various corresponding tissues of each of two littermates of a hypermutable mouse strain.

Conclusions

We find that during mouse development, muscle and fat arise from a mixed progenitor cell pool in the germ layer, but, contrastingly, vascular endothelium in brain derives from a smaller source of progenitor cells. Additionally, formation of tissue primordia is marked by establishment of left and right lateral compartments, with restricted cell migration between divisions. We quantitatively demonstrate that development represents a combination of stochastic and deterministic events, offering insight into how chance influences normal development and may give rise to birth defects.
Prediction of components of the sporopollenin synthesis pathway in peach by genomic and expression analyses
Authors: Ríos Gabino , Tadeo Francisco R , Leida Carmen , Badenes María L
Published: January 2013

Background

The outer cell wall of the pollen grain (exine) is an extremely resistant structure containing sporopollenin, a mixed polymer made up of fatty acids and phenolic compounds. The synthesis of sporopollenin in the tapetal cells and its proper deposition on the pollen surface are essential for the development of viable pollen. The beginning of microsporogenesis and pollen maturation in perennial plants from temperate climates, such as peach, is conditioned by the duration of flower bud dormancy. In order to identify putative genes involved in these processes, we analyzed the results of previous genomic experiments studying the dormancy-dependent gene expression in different peach cultivars.

Results

The expression of 50 genes induced in flower buds after the endodormancy period (flower-bud late genes) was compared in ten cultivars of peach with different dormancy behaviour. We found two co-expression clusters enriched in putative orthologs of sporopollenin synthesis and deposition factors in Arabidopsis. Flower-bud late genes were transiently expressed in anthers coincidently with microsporogenesis and pollen maturation processes. We postulated the participation of some flower-bud late genes in the sporopollenin synthesis pathway and the transcriptional regulation of late anther development in peach.

Conclusions

Peach and the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana show multiple elements in common within the essential sporopollenin synthesis pathway and gene expression regulatory mechanisms affecting anther development. The transcriptomic analysis of dormancy-released flower buds proved to be an efficient procedure for the identification of anther and pollen development genes in perennial plants showing seasonal dormancy.
Cost-effectiveness of supported self-management for CFS/ME patients in primary care
Authors: Richardson Gerry , Epstein David , Chew-Graham Carolyn , Dowrick Christopher , Bentall Richard P , Morriss Richard K , Peters Sarah , Riste Lisa , Lovell Karina , Dunn Graham , Wearden Alison J ,   the FINE Trial Writing group on behalf of the FINE Trial group
Published: January 2013

Background

Nurse led self-help treatments for people with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalitis (CFS/ME) have been shown to be effective in reducing fatigue but their cost-effectiveness is unknown.

Methods

Cost-effectiveness analysis conducted alongside a single blind randomised controlled trial comparing pragmatic rehabilitation (PR) and supportive listening (SL) delivered by primary care nurses, and treatment as usual (TAU) delivered by the general practitioner (GP) in North West England. A within trial analysis was conducted comparing the costs and quality adjusted life years (QALYs) measured within the time frame of the trial. 296 patients aged 18 and over with CFS/ME diagnosed using the Oxford criteria were included in the cost-effectiveness analysis.

Results

Treatment as usual is less expensive and leads to better patient outcomes compared with Supportive Listening. Treatment as usual is also less expensive than Pragmatic Rehabilitation. PR was effective at reducing fatigue in the short term, but the impact of the intervention on QALYs was uncertain. However, based on the results of this trial, PR is unlikely to be cost-effective in this patient population.

Conclusions

This analysis does not support the introduction of SL. Any benefits generated by PR are unlikely to be of sufficient magnitude to warrant recommending PR for this patient group on cost-effectiveness grounds alone. However, dissatisfaction with current treatment options means simply continuing with ‘treatment as usual’ in primary care is unlikely to be acceptable to patients and practitioners.

Trial registration

The trial registration number is IRCTN74156610
Co-culture of primary human tumor hepatocytes from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma with autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells: study of their in vitro immunological interactions
Authors: Doumba Polyxeni P , Nikolopoulou Marilena , Gomatos Ilias P , Konstadoulakis Manousos M , Koskinas John
Published: January 2013

Background

Many studies have suggested that the immune response may play a crucial role in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Therefore, our aim was to establish a (i) functional culture of primary human tumor hepatocytes and non-tumor from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and (ii) a co-culture system of HCC and non-HCC hepatocytes with autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in order to study in vitro cell-to-cell interactions.

Methods

Tumor (HCC) and non-tumor (non-HCC) hepatocytes were isolated from the liver resection specimens of 11 patients operated for HCC, while PBMCs were retrieved immediately prior to surgery. Four biopsies were obtained from patients with no liver disease who had surgery for non malignant tumor (normal hepatocytes). Hepatocytes were either cultured alone (monoculture) or co-cultured with PBMCs. Flow cytometry measurements for MHC class II expression, apoptosis, necrosis and viability (7AAD) were performed 24 h, 48 h and 72 h in co-culture and monocultures.

Results

HCC and non-HCC hepatocytes exhibited increased MHC-II expression at 48h and 72h in co-culture with PBMCs as compared to monoculture, with MHC II-expressing HCC hepatocytes showing increased viability at 72 h. PBMCs showed increased MHC-II expression (activation) in co-culture with HCC as compared to non-HCC hepatocytes at all time points. Moreover, CD8+ T cells had significantly increased apoptosis and necrosis at 48h in co-culture with HCC hepatocytes as compared to monocultures.Interestingly, MHC-II expression on both HCC and non-HCC hepatocytes in co-culture was positively correlated with the respective activated CD8+ T cells.

Conclusions

We have established an in vitro co-culture model to study interactions between autologous PBMCs and primary HCC and non-HCC hepatocytes. This direct interaction leads to increased antigen presenting ability of HCC hepatocytes, activation of PBMCs with a concomitant apoptosis of activated CD8+ T cells. Although, a partially effective immune response against HCC exists, still tumor hepatocytes manage to escape.
Frequency and antimicrobial resistance patterns of bacteria implicated in community urinary tract infections: a ten-year surveillance study (2000–2009)
Authors: Linhares Inês , Raposo Teresa , Rodrigues António , Almeida Adelaide
Published: January 2013

Background

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common infectious diseases at the community level. In order to assess the adequacy of the empirical therapy, the prevalence and the resistance pattern of the main bacteria responsible for UTI in the community (in Aveiro, Portugal) was evaluated throughout a ten-year period.

Methods

In this retrospective study, all urine samples from patients of the District of Aveiro, in ambulatory regime, collected at the Clinical Analysis Laboratory Avelab during the period 2000–2009 were analysed. Samples with more than 105 CFU/mL bacteria were considered positive and, for these samples, the bacteria were identified and the profile of antibiotic susceptibility was characterized.

Results

From the 155597 samples analysed, 18797 (12.1%) were positive for bacterial infection. UTI was more frequent in women (78.5%) and its incidence varied with age, affecting more the elderly patients (38.6%). Although E. coli was, as usual, the most common pathogen implicated in UTI, it were observed differences related to the other bacteria more implicated in UTI relatively to previous studies. The bacteria implicated in the UTI varied with the sex of the patient, being P. aeruginosa a more important cause of infection in men than in women. The incidence of the main bacteria changed over the study period (P. aeruginosa, Klebsiella spp and Providencia spp increased and Enterobacter spp decreased). Although E. coli was responsible for more than an half of UTI, its resistance to antibiotics was low when compared with other pathogens implicated in UTI, showing also the lowest percentage of multidrug resistant (MDR) isolates (17%). Bacteria isolated from females were less resistant than those isolated from males and this difference increased with the patient age.

Conclusions

The differences in sex and age must be taken into account at the moment of empirical prescription of antimicrobials. From the recommended antimicrobials by the European Association of Urology guidelines, the first line drugs (pivmecillinam and nitrofurantoin) and the alternative antibiotic amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (AMX-CLA) are appropriate to treat community-acquired UTI, but the fluoroquinolones should not be suitable to treat male infections and the trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (SXT) shall not be used in the treatment of UTI at this level.
In situ molecular identification of the Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Neuraminidase in patients with severe and fatal infections during a pandemic in Mexico City
Authors: Ocadiz-Delgado Rodolfo , Albino-Sanchez Martha Estela , Garcia-Villa Enrique , Aguilar-Gonzalez Maria Guadalupe , Cabello Carlos , Rosete Dora , Mejia Fidencio , Manjarrez-Zavala Maria Eugenia , Ondarza-Aguilera Carmen , Rivera-Rosales Rosa Ma , Gariglio Patricio
Published: January 2013

Background

In April 2009, public health surveillance detected an increased number of influenza-like illnesses in Mexico City’s hospitals. The etiological agent was subsequently determined to be a spread of a worldwide novel influenza A (H1N1) triple reassortant. The purpose of the present study was to demonstrate that molecular detection of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 strains is possible in archival material such as paraffin-embedded lung samples.

Methods

In order to detect A (H1N1) virus sequences in archived biological samples, eight paraffin-embedded lung samples from patients who died of pneumonia and respiratory failure were tested for influenza A (H1N1) Neuraminidase (NA) RNA using in situ RT-PCR.

Results

We detected NA transcripts in 100% of the previously diagnosed A (H1N1)-positive samples as a cytoplasmic signal. No expression was detected by in situ RT-PCR in two Influenza-like Illness A (H1N1)-negative patients using standard protocols nor in a non-related cervical cell line. In situ relative transcription levels correlated with those obtained when in vitro RT-PCR assays were performed. Partial sequences of the NA gene from A (H1N1)-positive patients were obtained by the in situ RT-PCR-sequencing method. Sequence analysis showed 98% similarity with influenza viruses reported previously in other places.

Conclusions

We have successfully amplified specific influenza A (H1N1) NA sequences using stored clinical material; results suggest that this strategy could be useful when clinical RNA samples are quantity limited, or when poor quality is obtained. Here, we provide a very sensitive method that specifically detects the neuraminidase viral RNA in lung samples from patients who died from pneumonia caused by Influenza A (H1N1) outbreak in Mexico City.