bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Why Does R. Akiba Acclaim Bar Kokhba as Messiah?
Authors: Novenson Matthew
Published: September 2009

Peter Schäfer has argued that the name of R. Akiba is secondary to y. Ta'an. 4:8/27, in which R. Akiba is said to have acclaimed Bar Kokhba as messiah. Some interpreters have countered, however, that rabbinic haggadah would not attribute such an embarrassing position to R. Akiba if he had not held it. In response to both these arguments, I propose that the R. Akiba-Bar Kokhba tradition fits a pattern of talmudic stories about the Second Revolt in which the rabbis are anachronistically cast in a position of influence. This tradition is an example of a late antique literary topos attested in Jewish, Christian, and pagan sources in which a founder of a minority movement is remembered as having conversed with a contemporary world leader. In short, both Schäfer and his critics are right: R. Akiba was not originally part of the tradition preserved in y. Ta'an. 4:8/27, but there is a compelling tradition-historical rationale for inserting him there.
The Syntax of Violence. Between Hegel and Marx
Authors: Morfino Vittorio
Published: September 2009

This article aims to show that the theory of violence in Marx and Engels is driven by a conceptual syntax which can be found in two important chapters of Hegel's Science of Logic ('Actuality' and 'Teleology'). These categories are the timeless schemata of the appearance of historical violence in Hegel's Outlines of the Philosophy of Right. However it is possible to find in Marx's writing on violence a sort of counter-movement that cannot be inscribed in the process of the becoming-subject of substance.
Urbane Revolutionary: C.L.R. James and the Struggle for a New Society Rethinking Race, Politics, and Poetics: C.L.R. James' Critique of Modernity
Authors: Høgsbjerg Christian
Published: September 2009

This review-essay examines two recent works of scholarship on the life and work of the late Trinidadian intellectual and activist C.L.R. James (1901–89). While recognising the respective merits of Frank Rosengarten's Urbane Revolutionary; C.L.R. James and the Struggle for a New Society (2008) and Brett St Louis's Rethinking Race, Politics, and Poetics: C.L.R. James' Critique of Modernity (2007) the essay argues that a critical weakness of both works is their problematic discussion of James's Marxism. This review will aim not simply to defend the central importance of Marxism for James, but will also suggest that, as much as anything, it is precisely this that gives so much of his work a rare urgency and critical relevance in the twenty-first century.
Editorial Introduction to Paul Levi, Our Path and What Is the Crime?
Authors: Fernbach David
Published: September 2009

These two key texts of German Communism appear in English for the first time. Paul Levi's Our Path and What Is the Crime? were the response of the KPD leader to the disastrous 'March Action' of 1921. Over two years, Levi had succeeded in building a mass revolutionary party that drew on the traditions of both Luxemburg and Lenin; this was now over-ridden by a stereotyped Bolshevism enforced by the Comintern's emissaries. In the first text, subtitled 'Against Putschism' and written within days of the attempted coup, Levi criticised the attempt to seize power without the majority-backing of the working class, which had decimated the Party's membership. Its publication led to Levi's exclusion from the Party for breach of discipline, even though his critique of the March Action was shared by Lenin. The second text was delivered verbally to the Central Committee, as an unsuccessful appeal against his expulsion, and the transcript gives a unique flavour of the atmosphere in the KPD leadership at this crucial moment.
The Architectural Metamorphosis of the Israeli-Arab Kitchen: Social Structures, Cultural Patterns, and Gender Identities in a Spatial Perspective
Authors: Peled Kobi
Published: September 2009

This essay focuses on the relationship between form and culture. It demonstrates how architectural evidence can be used in the historical reconstruction of social and cultural processes. In this research, the architectural metamorphosis of the kitchen in the Palestinian Arab society in Israel is outlined from the end of the Ottoman rule to the late twentieth century. Beginning in late nineteenth-century rural Palestine, when preparation of food was an integral part of the agricultural way of life, this essay traces the kitchen's departure from the interior space during the period of the British Mandate in Palestine and the early years of the State of Israel; its return to the house in the sixties; and the subsequent changes in the design of the kitchen during the last quarter of the previous century. This socio-architectural analysis seeks to examine forms of life in a broad historical context of social, economic, and political transformations, and to carefully draw significant insights about the status of women in the domestic sphere from the architectural history of the kitchen.
The Use of Eschatological Lists within the Targumim of the Megilloth
Authors: Brady Christian
Published: September 2009

Several of the Targumim of the Megilloth contain lists (songs, famines, kings, etc.) that culminate in the future Messianic age. For example, Tg. Song opens with the list of Ten Songs and Tg. Ruth opens with the list of Ten Famines. Such lists are well known from other midrashic texts and this article will consider how and why these lists are used in the Targumim of the Megilloth and will propose that these additions are not merely the result of an opportunity presented by the Hebrew text but are being used specifically to further the overarching exegetical agenda of the Targum in question.
Aramaic Tombstones from Zoar and Jewish Conceptions of the Afterlife
Authors: Wilfand Yael
Published: September 2009

This study utilizes thirty epitaphs, found near the Dead Sea shore, to explore afterlife concepts within the Jewish community of Zoar. The interpretation of these late antiquity epitaphs reveals a comprehensive view regarding the afterlife. This view contains an expectation for the resurrection of the dead that will occur when the “announcer of peace,” i.e., the anointed king, arrives. At that time, the Temple will be rebuilt and priests will return to their work. In the meantime, it was hoped that the deceased would have a peaceful rest. The tombstones articulate these expectations also through the use of the word “shalom” which conveys two meanings: (1) it is the symbol of the deliverance, and (2) it is also the symbol of the condition of the dead while waiting for the resurrection.
Piano Students’ Conceptions of Musical Scores as External Representations: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Bautista Alfredo , Pérez Echeverría Ma del Puy , Pozo J. Ignacio , Brizuela Bárbara M.
Published: September 2009

Musical scores are some of the most important learning tools for musicians’ acquisition of musical knowledge. However, despite their educational relevance, very little is known about how music students conceive of these cultural external representations. Given that these conceptions might act as mediators of students’ learning approaches, the importance of knowing these conceptions seems evident in order to eventually change them. The general aim of this investigation was to study the conceptions of piano students at Spanish music conservatories by adopting a developmental-instructional perspective. The participants were 215 students at intermediate and tertiary degree levels, representing three levels of the collapsed variable age— level of instruction. Data were collected by means of a written open-ended task and analyzed by means of descriptive, parametric, and nonparametric statistical methods.The findings suggested that (a) students’ conceptions were more sophisticated at higher age and education levels, (b) each developmental-instructional group typically focused on different musical aspects, which reflected an inclusive and hierarchical logic, and (c) five increasingly sophisticated conceptions could be identified among these students.
An Analysis of Tonal Patterns Used for Sight-Singing Instruction in Second-Grade General Music Class
Authors: Reifinger James L.
Published: September 2009

This research examined characteristics of a select group of tonal patterns to identify features that may affect the initial acquisition of skill in sight-singing pitch. Second graders ( N = 193) individually read and sang 25 tonal patterns on a sight-singing pretest, posttest, and retention test. Between the pre- and posttest, the students practiced 15 of the patterns during general music classes, with one new pattern introduced and all previously presented patterns reviewed each session.Ten patterns not included in the instruction were read and sung only during tests. No pattern practice occurred for 8 weeks between the posttest and retention test. Sight-singing performance was assessed for pitch accuracy and contour accuracy. Pattern difficulty indices and difficulty rankings were determined on the basis of the results. Specific pattern features are considered in relation to these data, with some characteristics affecting accuracy with pitch and contour differently.
The Effects of Score Use on Musicians’ Ratings of Choral Performances
Authors: Napoles Jessica
Published: September 2009

The purpose of this study was to determine whether viewing a musical score while listening (as opposed to not viewing the score) would affect musicians’ ratings of choral performance excerpts. University musicians ( N = 240) listened to four excerpts of choral music (from Vivaldi’s Gloria) and rated them on a 10-point Likert-type scale for overall impression. Some of the participants heard a professional chorus and orchestra recording, and others heard a high school group recording. For both of the recordings, participants were divided into four groups in a counterbalanced design, with one group viewing the score for all four excerpts, another group never viewing the score,and the other two groups viewing the score for two of the excerpts but not the other two. Results of a three-way ANOVA with repeated measures indicated significant differences among groups. The group that never saw the scores gave significantly lower ratings than the group that saw all of the scores.The excerpts performed by the professional group were rated significantly higher than the excerpts performed by the high school group.
Effects of Early and Late Rest Intervals on Performance and Overnight Consolidation of a Keyboard Sequence
Authors: Cash Carla Davis
Published: September 2009

Thirty-six nonmusicians practiced a five-element key-press sequence on a digital piano, repeating the sequence as quickly and accurately as possible during twelve 30-s practice blocks alternating with 30-s pauses. Twelve learners rested for 5 min between Blocks 3 and 4, another 12 learners rested for 5 min between Blocks 9 and 10, and the remaining 12 participants performed 12 blocks without an extended rest interval. All were retested following a night of sleep in six 30-s blocks with a 5-min rest interval between Blocks 3 and 4. Results show that the introduction of extended rest in the early and late stages of practice significantly affected rates of learning within and between sessions. Immediately following the 5-min rest intervals, participants showed large gains in performance, but only following early rest did participants continue to show improvements during training. Participants who rested early in practice also demonstrated the greatest overnight gains. Findings suggest that the temporal placement of rest in practice affected subsequent motor sequence learning and memory consolidation processes.
Development and Validation of a Rating Scale for Wind Jazz Improvisation Performance
Authors: Smith Derek T.
Published: September 2009

The purpose of this study was to construct and validate a rating scale for collegiate wind jazz improvisation performance. The 14-item Wind Jazz Improvisation Evaluation Scale (WJIES) was constructed and refined through a facet-rational approach to scale development. Five wind jazz students and one professional jazz educator were asked to record two improvisations accompanied by an Aebersold play-along compact disc . Sixty-three adjudicators evaluated the 12 improvisations using the WJIES and the Instrumental Jazz Improvisation Evaluation Measure. Reliability was good,with alpha values ranging from .87 to .95. Construct validity for the WJIES was confirmed through the analysis of a multitrait-multimethod matrix.The results of this study indicate that the facet-rational approach is an effective method of developing a rating scale for collegiate wind jazz improvisation performance.
Effective Use of Paired Testing in Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Parkin Christopher G. , Hinnen Deborah , Campbell R. Keith , Geil Patricia , Tetrick David L. , Polonsky William H.
Published: September 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to discuss practical approaches to the use of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) in clinical practice using paired glucose testing. A rationale for SMBG use and innovative tools for data collection and analysis are presented.

Method

Health care professionals from various medical specialties collaborated to review current evidence regarding the value and utility of SMBG and to formulate professional opinions regarding use of SMBG. The literature review included key SMBG studies from 2002 through 2009. Established guidelines, position papers, and other evidence were also reviewed for this report. Reference Manager Software was used to search ISI Web of Science, PubMed, and Z39.50 site databases.

Results

Although the utility of SMBG in non—insulin-treated type 2 diabetes remains controversial, a recent report from the International Diabetes Federation recommends SMBG use in this population if it is used to educate/ motivate individuals and/or monitor and adjust therapy. Health care providers must develop strategies to use SMBG in ways that address these criteria.

Conclusions

Paired SMBG (testing before/after specific events) promotes diabetes knowledge and self-management skills and facilitates assessment of the impact of behavioral changes, medical nutrition therapy, and pharmacologic interventions on glycemic levels. New tools have been developed to assist in using paired testing in clinical practice.
Shared Responsibility and Student Learning
Authors: Sierra Jeremy J.
Published: September 2009

In academia, interdependence or shared responsibility between instructor and student is an essential part of the educational process, yet research examining its effect on student responses toward their learning experience is scant. To offer insight into this context, two studies are developed. Study 1 finds that perceptions of shared responsibility for student learning are positively related to attitudinal, emotional, and behavioral responses toward the marketing education experience. Study 2 finds that shared responsibility relates positively to grade earned in the course. Implications for marketing academicians are discussed.
Incidence, Risk, and Protective Factors of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in a Cohort of Australian Nonprofessional Male Rugby Players
Authors: Hollis Stephanie J. , Stevenson Mark R. , McIntosh Andrew S. , Shores E. Arthur , Collins Michael W. , Taylor Colman B.
Published: September 2009

Background

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is an emerging public health issue in high-contact sports. Understanding the incidence along with the risk and protective factors of mTBI in high-contact sports such as rugby is paramount if appropriate preventive strategies are to be developed.

Purpose

To estimate the incidence and identify the risk and protective factors of mTBI in Australian nonprofessional rugby players.

Study Design

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

Methods

A cohort of 3207 male nonprofessional rugby players from Sydney, Australia, was recruited and followed over 1 or more playing seasons. Demographic information, history of recent concussion, and information on risk and protective factors were collected. The incidence of mTBI was estimated and the putative risk and protective factors were modeled in relation to mTBI.

Results

The incidence of mTBI was 7.97 per 1000 player game hours, with 313 players (9.8%) sustaining 1 or more mTBIs during the study. Players who reported always wearing protective headgear during games were at a reduced risk (incident rate ratio [IRR], 0.57; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.40–0.82) of sustaining an mTBI. In contrast, the likelihood of mTBI was almost 2 times higher among players who reported having sustained either 1 (IRR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.11–2.76) or more mTBIs (IRR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.11–2.45) within the 12 months before recruitment.

Conclusion

Nonprofessional rugby has a high incidence of mTBI, with the absence of headgear and a recent history of mTBI associated with an increased risk of subsequent mTBI. These findings highlight that both use of headgear and the management of prior concussion would likely be beneficial in reducing the likelihood of mTBI among nonprofessional rugby players, who compose more than 99% of rugby union players in Australia.
Modeling and Analysis of Machinability Characteristics in PA6 and PA66 GF30 Polyamides through Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Gaitonde V.N. , Karnik S.R. , Mata Francisco , Davim J. Paulo
Published: September 2009

The traditional metallic materials are replaced by some applications for turning process in PA6 and PA66 GF30 polyamides due to excellent properties such as high specific strength and stiffness, wear resistance, dimensional stability, low weight and directional properties. The addition of short fibers to the polyamides improves the properties over the unreinforced polyamides. As a result of these improved properties and potential applications in several fields of engineering, there is a need to understand the machining of unreinforced and reinforced polyamides. Selection of cutting tool and process parameters is important in machining of these composites. This article presents the application of artificial neural network (ANN) modeling to assess the machinability characteristics of unreinforced polyamide (PA6) and reinforced polyamide with 30% of glass fibers (PA66 GF30). The effects of process parameters such as work material, tool material, cutting speed, and feed rate on three aspects of machinability, namely, machining force, power, and specific cutting force have been analyzed through a multilayer feed forward ANN. The input—output patterns required for training are obtained through turning experiments planned as per full factorial design. The model analysis revealed that the minimum machining force results at low feed rate and independent of cutting speed, whereas the power is minimal when both the cutting speed and feed rate are at low levels for PA6 and PA66 GF30 polyamides machining irrespective of the cutting tool. On the other hand, the specific cutting force is minimal at low cutting speed and high feed rate in case of PA6 material, whereas high values of cutting speed and feed rate are essential for minimizing the specific cutting force for PA66 GF30 polyamide machining.
Managing Urban Security: City Walls and Urban Metis
Authors: Shapiro Michael J.
Published: September 2009

This article locates the contemporary security climate of the city of Los Angeles within a historical trajectory of modes of securitization. While some of the analysis treats the material and technological aspects of cities in general, and Los Angeles in particular, much of my emphasis, articulated in readings of both literary and film versions of police procedurals, is on discursive barriers. Ultimately, I suggest that, materially and discursively, urban America features class and ethnic fault lines that serve as the primary bases of security management.
The Visibility of (In)security: The Aesthetics of Planning Urban Defences Against Terrorism
Authors: Coaffee Jon , O'Hare Paul , Hawkesworth Marian
Published: September 2009

Urban defences against terrorism have traditionally been based on territorial interventions that sought to seal off and surveil certain public and private spaces considered targets. Lately, though, a much wider range of crowded and public spaces have been viewed as potential targets and thus have been identified as requiring additional security. This has immense implications for the experience of the ‘everyday’ urban landscape. Drawing on contemporary notions that incorporate the study of aesthetics and emotions within critical security and terrorism studies, this article discusses the visual impact of counter-terrorism security measures. It analyses the ‘transmission’ of symbolic messages, as well as the variety of ways in which security might be ‘received’ by various stakeholders. The analysis takes place against the backdrop of concern that obtrusive security measures have the capacity to radically alter public experiences of space and in some cases lead to (intended and unintended) exclusionary practices or a range of negative emotional responses. The article concludes by outlining a ‘spectrum of visible security’ ranging between traditional obtrusive fortified approaches and approaches that embed security features seamlessly or even ‘invisibly’ into the urban fabric.
Operation Princess in Rio de Janeiro: Policing ‘Sex Trafficking’, Strengthening Worker Citizenship, and the Urban Geopolitics of Security in Brazil
Authors: Amar Paul
Published: September 2009

This article develops new insights into the gendered insecurities of the neoliberal state in Latin America by exploring the militarization of public security in Rio de Janeiro during 2003—08 around campaigns to stop the ‘trafficking’ of sex workers. Findings illuminate the intersection of three neoliberal governance logics: (1) a moralistic humanitarian-rescue agenda promoted by evangelical populists and police groups; (2) a juridical ‘law and rights’ logic promoted by justice-sector actors and human-rights NGOs; (3) a worker-empowerment logic articulated by the governing Workers’ Party (PT) in alliance with social-justice movements, police reformers, and prostitutes’ rights groups. Gender and race analyses map the antagonisms between these three logics of neoliberal governance, and how their incommensurabilities generate crisis in the arena of security policy. By exploring Brazil’s fraught efforts to attain the status of ‘human security superpower’ through these interventions, the article challenges the view that the reordering of security politics in the global south is inevitably linked to desecularization, disempowerment, and militarization.
The Dialectic of ‘Junctions’ and ‘Bases’: Youth, ‘Securo-Commerce’ and the Crises of Order in Downtown Lagos
Authors: Ismail Olawale
Published: September 2009

This article examines the involvement of youth — constructed as ‘area boys’ and ‘area girls’ — in crises of order in downtown Lagos. It explores the emergence of ‘bases’ and ‘junctions’ as modes of organization and differentiation between and among youth in urban Lagos. A ‘base’ is a neighbourhood meeting place where youths gather to relax, recreate, and discuss sports and politics. A ‘junction’ is where social miscreants, street marauders and touts congregate to exploit money-making opportunities. It is my argument that bases and junctions embody distinct, yet connected, forms of subcultures that are simultaneously imbibed and projected by members. Moreover, they constitute emergent forms of territoriality constructed around spaces of leisure, residence and commerce, manifested in extrastate regimes of (dis)order in downtown Lagos. The article unpacks the involvement of members of junctions and bases in the provision of (dis)order as ‘securo-commerce’ — payment of different kinds of fees and levies to purchase security or forestall insecurity in downtown Lagos.
Informal Cairo: Between Islamist Insurgency and the Neglectful State?
Authors: Dorman W.J.
Published: September 2009

From the late 1980s, Islamist militants established a ‘state within the state’ in the Egyptian capital Cairo, situated in ‘informal’ neighbourhoods developed without official authorization, planning or public services. After government security forces in late 1992 crushed these efforts in the neighbourhood of Munira Gharbiyya, informal Cairo became pathologized in public discourse as ashwa’iyyat (‘random’ or ‘haphazard’ areas), a zone of socio-spatial disorder threatening Egypt as a whole and demanding state intervention. However, this securitizing move did not lead to heavy-handed intervention against informal Cairo more generally. Following the suppression of the militants, the Mubarak government instead returned to long-term patterns of indifference and neglect that had allowed informal neighbourhoods to flourish since the 1960s. In part, the absence of intervention can be explained in terms of resource constraints and risk avoidance. More profoundly, however, it reflects numerous linkages between informal urbanization and the Egyptian state. The ashwa’iyyat are, to a significant degree, both a consequence of an authoritarian political order and embedded in the informal control stratagems used by Egyptian governments to bolster their rule. Informal Cairo should thus not be understood as a disorderly zone of subaltern dissidence. Rather, the Egyptian state is best seen as facing its own oblique reflection.
Personal Values and Performance in Teams: An Individual and Team-Level Analysis
Authors: Glew David J.
Published: September 2009

Two studies involving 107 undergraduate and 54 MBA teams were conducted to examine the effects of personal values on the performance of individual team members and on the performance of the team as a whole. Values with clear relevance to teams and to work were selected for the studies. To capture the relative importance of these values, they were measured within the context of a broader set of personal values. At the individual level, the importance students ascribed a sense of accomplishment had a significant, but unexpected negative, relationship with individual peer-evaluated performance. Students’ prior performance outside their teams had a stronger positive relationship with in-team performance than did their personal values. At the team level, the average importance team members assigned the value of equality had a positive relationship with team performance.The average level of students’ prior performance was also related to team performance, but the average importance given to the value equality was a stronger predictor of this fundamental team outcome. Implications of these results and directions for future research are discussed.
The Diversity Education Dilemma: Exposing Status Hierarchies Without Reinforcing Them
Authors: Amoroso Lisa M. , Loyd Denise Lewin , Hoobler Jenny M.
Published: September 2009

A diversity education dilemma occurs when exposure to information concerning status hierarchies, related to demographic and other socially salient identity groups, reinforces those hierarchies in the classroom. Discussions of diversity-related issues in a variety of management courses (e.g., immigrant issues in labor relations, the composition of executive leadership teams in strategy, workplace compliance issues in human resource management) may highlight or draw attention to status differences as individuals identify with—and are identified by others as belonging to—higher or lower status groups (e.g., based on race/ethnicity, gender, or physical disability). As a consequence, the “real world” status hierarchy is strengthened within the classroom with negative consequences for student learning. This study uses status characteristics theory to provide a framework for understanding ways in which one’s best-intended practices may be undermining student learning. The authors also propose a series of practical ways that instructors can mitigate the status hierarchy to create a more equitable learning environment while simultaneously tackling issues related to diversity.
Generational Status and Mexican American Political Participation: The Benefits and Limitations of Assimilation
Authors: Santoro Wayne A. , Segura Gary M.
Published: September 2009

The authors investigate self-reported voter turnout and ethnic political activity across four-plus generations of Mexican Americans. Using a 1999 national survey, multivariate results indicate that the likelihood of Mexican American voting increases largely in a monotonic manner across generations while participation in ethnic political activity begins to decline after having one parent born in the United States. These results raise the question of whether disadvantaged ethnic populations necessarily benefit politically from assimilating given that gains in voting that accrue across generations are accompanied by declines in ethnic political activity among later generations.
A Different Kind of Representation: Black and Latino Descriptive Representation and the Role of Ideological Cuing
Authors: Preuhs Robert R. , Hero Rodney E.
Published: September 2009

Most scholarship on minority descriptive representation focuses on whether minority legislators are “more” supportive of minority concerns than white legislators but does not address how descriptive representatives differ in the use of decision-making cues when advocating for minority interests. Drawing on data from four Congresses and comparing two sets of minority group representatives with their white counterparts and each other, the authors show that an important effect of descriptive representation is that racial/ethnic minority representatives are uniquely influenced in their advocacy of minority interests by cues that stand apart from the conventional liberal/conservative political ideological frame.
Political Pluralism and the Information Search: Determinants of Group Opinionation
Authors: Djupe Paul A.
Published: September 2009

It is a necessary condition that people have an opinion about groups before they can use groups to help make sense of the political world. Beyond individual resources and motivation, the strength of social ties and amount of agreement within networks situated within more or less supportive social contexts affect whether individuals seek out and receive information about groups sufficient to form an opinion of them. The author tests this argument with a sample of Republican primary voters in order to address the implications for the place of interest groups in society and the study of social interaction.
Effect of Sweeteners on Radical Formation in Starch Studied by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Authors: Łabanowska M. , Dyrek K. , Bidzińska E. , Fortuna T. , Pietrzyk S. , Przetaczek I. , Rożnowski J. , Socha R.C.
Published: September 2009

The process of radical generation occurring upon thermal treatment of potato and corn starch containing sweeteners: saccharose, acesulfam K, aspartame, and sorbitol was investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, using Cu2+ ions as a paramagnetic probe. It was found that the influence of acesulfam K and sorbitol on radical formation is stronger than that of other additives. Acesulfam K increased the amount of radicals in the starch compared to native starch, whereas sorbitol significantly decreased their concentration. The influence of sweeteners on radical processes in the starch is because of differences in their molecular structures and presence or absence of OH groups.
Health-Related Quality of Life of Parents of Children With High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Lee Gloria K. , Lopata Christopher , Volker Martin A. , Thomeer Marcus L. , Nida Robert E. , Toomey Jennifer A. , Chow Sabrina Y. , Smerbeck Audrey M.
Published: September 2009

The physical and mental health-related quality of life (QOL) of 89 parents of children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders (HFASDs) was compared to the health-related QOL of 46 parents of children without disabilities. Parents completed a packet of surveys measuring demographics, parenting stress, coping, resources, and QOL. Results of t tests showed significant differences between the two groups for all variables. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that for parents of children with HFASDs, demographics and psychosocial variables accounted for a significant amount of variance for physical health-related QOL, with income, number of children, and stress being significant variables. Demographics and psychosocial variables also accounted for a significant amount of variance for parents’ mental health-related QOL, with income and stress being significant variables.
Perspectives on Cumulative Risks and Impacts
Authors: Faust John B.
Published: September 2009

Cumulative risks and impacts have taken on different meanings in different regulatory and programmatic contexts at federal and state government levels. Traditional risk assessment methodologies, with considerable limitations, can provide a framework for the evaluation of cumulative risks from chemicals. Under an environmental justice program in California, cumulative impacts are defined to include exposures, public health effects, or environmental effects in a geographic area from the emission or discharge of environmental pollution from all sources, through all media. Furthermore, the evaluation of these effects should take into account sensitive populations and socioeconomic factors where possible and to the extent data are available. Key aspects to this potential approach include the consideration of exposures (versus risk), socioeconomic factors, the geographic or community-level assessment scale, and the inclusion of not only health effects but also environmental effects as contributors to impact. Assessments of this type extend the boundaries of the types of information that toxicologists generally provide for risk management decisions.
Structural Damage Detection Based on a Fiber Bragg Grating Sensing Array and a Back Propagation Neural Network: An Experimental Study
Authors: Pei Luo  , Dongsheng Zhang  , Lixin Wang  , Desheng Jiang
Published: September 2009

This study presents an experimental verification of a structural damage recognition technique based on a fiber Bragg grating array and a back propagation neural network. A flat plate was designed and fabricated for these experiments. The plate structure was loaded using a lever and a weight, and damage was introduced by putting a hole in the plate. Data was collected for the healthy and damaged cases when the load was applied at different positions on the plate. The neural network was able to identify damage to the plate. This approach for damage detection is useful when a static load can be applied at multiple points on a structure.
Endoscopic resection with ligation using a multi-band mucosectomy system in Barrett’s esophagus with high-grade dysplasia and intramucosal carcinoma
Authors: Bhat Yasser M. , Furth Emma E. , Brensinger Colleen M. , Ginsberg Gregory G.
Published: September 2009

Background: Endoscopic therapy for early neoplasia in Barrett’s esophagus (BE) is evolving. Endoscopic resection has an increasing role. We wanted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of multi-band ligation/resection [ER-L] without pre-injection in BE with high-grade dysplasia [HGD] and intramucosal carcinoma [IMCA].

Methods: A cohort of 65 consecutive patients from a single academic medical center, who underwent ER-L as part of endoscopic eradication therapy for BE with HGD/IMCA were studied. ER-L was performed after endoscopic mapping and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). Subsequently, adjunctive ablative therapies including photodynamic therapy, argon plasma coagulation and radiofrequency ablation were applied to achieve complete eradication of all BE. Thereafter biopsy surveillance was performed per protocol. All patients were prescribed a proton-pump inhibitor. Main outcome measurements: Change in histopathological stage; eradication of BE and HGD/IMCA; adverse events.

Results: The median number of ER-L applications in each session was 4 (range 1-6) and the mean total number of ER-L sessions was 1.5. Compared with prior forceps biopsy, histopathology from the ER-L specimen changed in 24 (37.5%, p =<0.0001). With median follow-up of 15 months (range 8-42), complete and durable BE eradication was achieved with ER-L alone in 36 (60%) and the remainder with adjunctive ablation therapies. There were nine complications (four (6%) acute bleeding, five (7.5%) strictures, zero perforations).

Conclusions: ER-L without submucosal (SM) pre-injection is safe and effective when applied selectively for eradication of BE with HGD/IMCA. There is significant change in pathological stage after ER-L conferring a diagnostic and staging advantage. ER-L may be used adjunctively with ablation therapies.
Soluble lymphotoxin is an important effector molecule in GVHD and GVL
Authors: Markey Kate A. , Burman Angela C. , Banovic Tatjana , Kuns Rachel D. , Raffelt Neil C. , Rowe Vanessa , Olver Stuart D. , Don Alistair L. J. , Morris Edward S. , Pettit Allison R. , Wilson Yana A. , Robb Renee J. , Randall Louise M. , Korner Heinrich , Engwerda Christian R. , Clouston Andrew D. , MacDonald Kelli P. A. , Hill Geoffrey R.
Published: September 2009

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a key cytokine in the effector phase of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after bone marrow transplantation, and TNF inhibitors have shown efficacy in clinical and experimental GVHD. TNF signals through the TNF receptors (TNFR), which also bind soluble lymphotoxin (LTα3), a TNF family member with a previously unexamined role in GVHD pathogenesis. We have used preclinical models to investigate the role of LT in GVHD. We confirm that grafts deficient in LTα have an attenuated capacity to induce GVHD equal to that seen when grafts lack TNF. This is not associated with other defects in cytokine production or T-cell function, suggesting that LTα3 exerts its pathogenic activity directly via TNFR signaling. We confirm that donor-derived LTα is required for graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effects, with equal impairment in leukemic clearance seen in recipients of LTα- and TNF-deficient grafts. Further impairment in tumor clearance was seen using Tnf/Lta−/− donors, suggesting that these molecules play nonredundant roles in GVL. Importantly, donor TNF/LTα were only required for GVL where the recipient leukemia was susceptible to apoptosis via p55 TNFR signaling. These data suggest that antagonists neutralizing both TNF and LTα3 may be effective for treatment of GVHD, particularly if residual leukemia lacks the p55 TNFR.
The effects of BAFF and BAFF-R-Fc fusion protein in immune thrombocytopenia
Authors: Zhu Xiao-juan , Shi Yan , Peng Jun , Guo Cheng-shan , Shan Ning-ning , Qin Ping , Ji Xue-bin , Hou Ming
Published: September 2009

Elevated level of B-cell activating factor (BAFF) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of some autoimmune diseases. Blockade of receptor and ligand binding by decoy receptor has demonstrated a clinical benefit in both oncologic and immunologic diseases. In this report, we have detected plasma BAFF and BAFF mRNA expression in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) patients by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real-time quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The effects of recombinant human BAFF (rhBAFF) and BAFF-R-Fc fusion protein (BR3-Fc) on B cells, T cells, platelets, secretion of interferon γ (IFNγ), and interleukin-4 (IL-4) were measured by flow cytometry and ELISA. Patients with active disease had higher levels of plasma BAFF and BAFF mRNA than patients in remission and controls. In in vitro assays, rhBAFF promoted the survival of CD19+ and CD8+ cells, and increased the apoptosis of platelets and the secretion of IFN-γ. BR3-Fc successfully corrected the effects of rhBAFF on lymphocytes, platelets, and cytokines. These findings suggest that BAFF may play a pathogenic role in ITP by promoting the survival of CD19+ and CD8+ cells, and increasing the apoptosis of platelets and the secretion of IFN-γ. Blockade of BAFF by BR3-Fc might be a promising therapeutic approach for ITP.
In vivo intraclonal and interclonal kinetic heterogeneity in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Calissano Carlo , Damle Rajendra N. , Hayes Gregory , Murphy Elizabeth J. , Hellerstein Marc K. , Moreno Carol , Sison Cristina , Kaufman Matthew S. , Kolitz Jonathan E. , Allen Steven L. , Rai Kanti R. , Chiorazzi Nicholas
Published: September 2009

Clonal evolution and outgrowth of cellular variants with additional chromosomal abnormalities are major causes of disease progression in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Because new DNA lesions occur during S phase, proliferating cells are at the core of this problem. In this study, we used in vivo deuterium (2H) labeling of CLL cells to better understand the phenotype of proliferating cells in 13 leukemic clones. In each case, there was heterogeneity in cellular proliferation, with a higher fraction of newly produced CD38+ cells compared with CD38− counterparts. On average, there were 2-fold higher percentages of newly born cells in the CD38+ fraction than in CD38− cells; when analyzed on an individual patient basis, CD38+2H-labeled cells ranged from 6.6% to 73%. Based on distinct kinetic patterns, interclonal heterogeneity was also observed. Specifically, 4 patients exhibited a delayed appearance of newly produced CD38+ cells in the blood, higher leukemic cell CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) levels, and increased risk for lymphoid organ infiltration and poor outcome. Our data refine the proliferative compartment in CLL based on CD38 expression and suggest a relationship between in vivo kinetics, expression of a protein involved in CLL cell retention and trafficking to solid tissues, and clinical outcome.
Modifiers of von Willebrand factor identified by natural variation in inbred strains of mice
Authors: Shavit Jordan A. , Manichaikul Ani , Lemmerhirt Heidi L. , Broman Karl W. , Ginsburg David
Published: September 2009

Type 1 von Willebrand disease (VWD) is the most common inherited human bleeding disorder. However, diagnosis is complicated by incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity, as well as wide variation in von Willebrand factor (VWF) levels among the normal population. Previous work has exploited the highly variable plasma VWF levels among inbred strains of mice to identify 2 major regulators, Mvwf1 and Mvwf2 (modifier of VWF). Mvwf1 is a glycosyltransferase and Mvwf2 is a natural variant in Vwf that alters biosynthesis. We report the identification of an additional alteration at the Vwf locus (Mvwf5), as well as 2 loci unlinked to Vwf (Mvwf6-7) using a backcross approach with the inbred mouse strains WSB/EiJ and C57BL/6J. Through positional cloning, we show that Mvwf5 is a cis-regulatory variant that alters Vwf mRNA expression. A similar mechanism could potentially explain a significant percentage of human VWD cases, especially those with no detectable mutation in the VWF coding sequence. Mvwf6 displays conservation of synteny with potential VWF modifier loci identified in human pedigrees, suggesting that its ortholog may modify VWF in human populations.
Di-(2 ethylhexyl) phthalate and flutamide alter gene expression in the testis of immature male rats
Authors: Vo Thuy TB , Jung Eui-Man , Dang Vu Hoang , Yoo Yeong-Min , Choi Kyung-Chul , Yu Frank H , Jeung Eui-Bae
Published: September 2009

We previously demonstrated that the androgenic and anti-androgenic effects of endocrine disruptors (EDs) alter reproductive function and exert distinct effects on developing male reproductive organs. To further investigate these effects, we used an immature rat model to examine the effects of di-(2 ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and flutamide (Flu) on the male reproductive system. Immature male SD rats were treated daily with DEHP and Flu on postnatal days (PNDs) 21 to 35, in a dose-dependent manner. As results, the weights of the testes, prostate, and seminal vesicle and anogenital distances (AGD) decreased significantly in response to high doses of DEHP or Flu. Testosterone (T) levels significantly decreased in all DEHP- treated groups, whereas luteinizing hormone (LH) plasma levels were not altered by any of the two treatments at PND 36. However, treatment with DEHP or Flu induced histopathological changes in the testes, wherein degeneration and disorders of Leydig cells, germ cells and dilatation of tubular lumen were observed in a dose-dependent manner. Conversely, hyperplasia and denseness of Leydig, Sertoli and germ cells were observed in rats given with high doses of Flu. The results by cDNA microarray analysis indicated that 1,272 genes were up-regulated by more than two-fold, and 1,969 genes were down-regulated in response to DEHP, Flu or both EDs. These genes were selected based on their markedly increased or decreased expression levels. These genes have been also classified on the basis of gene ontology (e.g., steroid hormone biosynthetic process, regulation of transcription, signal transduction, metabolic process, biosynthetic process...). Significant decreases in gene expression were observed in steroidogenic genes (i.e., Star, Cyp11a1 and Hsd3b). In addition, the expression of a common set of target genes, including CaBP1, Vav2, Plcd1, Lhx1 and Isoc1, was altered following exposure to EDs, suggesting that they may be marker genes to screen for the anti-androgenic or androgenic effects of EDs. Overall, our results demonstrated that exposure to DEHP, Flu or both EDs resulted in a alteration of gene expression in the testes of immature male rats. Furthermore, the toxicological effects of these EDs on the male reproductive system resulted from their anti-androgenic effects. Taken together, these results provide a new insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the detrimental impacts of EDs, in regards to anti-androgenic effects in humans and wildlife.
Effect of age at onset of schizophrenia on white matter abnormalities
Authors: Kyriakopoulos Marinos , Perez-Iglesias Rocio , Woolley James B. , Kanaan Richard A. A. , Vyas Nora S. , Barker Gareth J. , Frangou Sophia , McGuire Philip K.
Published: September 2009

Background

The pattern of brain morphological changes at the early stages of schizophrenia may depend on the age at onset of illness; in children and adolescents with schizophrenia, grey matter deficits are seen in the parietal lobe whereas in individuals with adult onset these are more widespread.

Aims

To examine whether white matter is similarly affected.

Method

Diffusion tensor imaging was used to compare fractional anisotropy measures in individuals with adolescent-onset (n = 17) and adult-onset schizophrenia (n = 17) with those in age- and gender-matched controls.

Results

Compared with their respective controls, individuals with adolescent-onset schizophrenia showed fractional anisotropy decrease in parietal regions; individuals with adult onset showed additional fractional anisotropy reductions in frontal, temporal and cerebellar regions. A differential effect of age at onset (adolescent v. adult) was noted bilaterally in medial prefrontal white matter.

Conclusions

White matter abnormalities in frontal regions in schizophrenia may depend on developmental stage at the time of illness onset.