bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Insulin-like Growth Factor I Receptor/Insulin Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor PQIP Exhibits Enhanced Antitumor Effects in Combination with Chemotherapy Against Colorectal Cancer Models
Authors: Flanigan Sara A. , Pitts Todd M. , Eckhardt S. Gail , Tentler John J. , Tan Aik Choon , Thorburn Andrew , Leong Stephen
Published: October 2010

Purpose: There is growing evidence implicating the importance of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) pathway in colorectal cancer based upon the results of population studies and preclinical experiments. However, the combination of an IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) inhibitor with standard colorectal cancer chemotherapies has not yet been evaluated. In this study, we investigated the interaction between PQIP, the dual IGF-IR/insulin receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and standard chemotherapies in colorectal cancer cell line models.

Experimental Design: The antiproliferative effects of PQIP, as a single agent and in combination with 5-fluorouracil, oxaliplatin, or SN38, were analyzed against four colorectal cancer cell lines. Downstream effector proteins, apoptosis, and cell cycle were also assessed in the combination of PQIP and SN-38. Lastly, the efficacy of OSI-906 (a derivative of PQIP) combined with irinotecan was further tested using a human colorectal cancer xenograft model.

Results: Treatment with the combination of PQIP and each of three chemotherapies resulted in an enhanced decrease in proliferation of all four colorectal cancer cell lines compared with single-agent treatment. This inhibition was not associated with a significant induction of apoptosis, but was accompanied by cell cycle arrest and changes in phosphorylation of Akt. Interestingly, antitumor activity between PQIP and SN-38 in vitro was also reflected in the human colorectal cancer xenograft model.

Conclusions: Combination treatment with PQIP, the dual IGF-IR/insulin receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and standard colorectal cancer chemotherapy resulted in enhanced antiproliferative effects against colorectal cancer cell line models, providing a scientific rationale for the testing of OSI-906 and standard colorectal cancer treatment regimens. Clin Cancer Res; 16(22); 5436–46. ©2010 AACR.
Low Ultraviolet B and Increased Risk of Brain Cancer: An Ecological Study of 175 Countries
Authors: Mohr Sharif B. , Gorham Edward D. , Garland Cedric F. , Grant William B. , Garland Frank C.
Published: October 2010

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine whether an inverse association exists between latitude, solar ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiance, modeled 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and incidence rates of cancer of the brain. Methods: Associations of latitude and UVB irradiance with age-standardized incidence rates of cancer of the brain were analyzed for 175 countries while controlling for proportion of population overweight, energy from animal sources, fish consumption, cigarette and alcohol consumption and per capita health expenditures, using multiple regression. Serum 25(OH)D levels were modeled for each country, and their association with brain cancer also was determined. Results: The incidence rates of brain cancer were higher at higher latitudes (R2 for males = 0.45, p ≤ 0.0001; R2 for females = 0.35, p < 0.0001). After adjustment for potential confounders, UVB irradiance (p ≤ 0.0001) and modeled serum 25(OH)D were inversely associated with incidence rates. Conclusions: Countries with low solar UVB irradiance and estimated mean serum 25(OH)D levels generally had higher age-standardized incidence rates of brain cancer. Since this was an ecological study, further research would be worthwhile on the association of prediagnostic serum 25(OH)D with incidence rate in studies of cohorts of individuals.
Pathophysiological Response to Experimental Diffuse Brain Trauma Differs as a Function of Developmental Age
Authors: Cernak Ibolja , Chang Taeun , Ahmed Farid A. , Cruz Maria I. , Vink Robert , Stoica Bogdan , Faden Alan I.
Published: October 2010

The purpose of experimental models of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is to reproduce selected aspects of human head injury such as brain edema, contusion or concussion, and functional deficits, among others. As the immature brain may be particularly vulnerable to injury during critical periods of development, and pediatric TBI may cause neurobehavioral deficits, our aim was to develop and characterize as a function of developmental age a model of diffuse TBI (DTBI) with quantifiable functional deficits. We modified a DTBI rat model initially developed by us in adult animals to study the graded response to injury as a function of developmental age – 7-, 14- and 21-day-old rats compared to young adult (3-month-old) animals. Our model caused motor deficits that persisted even after the pups reached adulthood, as well as reduced cognitive performance 2 weeks after injury. Moreover, our model induced prominent edema often seen in pediatric TBI, particularly evident in 7- and 14-day-old animals, as measured by both the wet weight/dry weight method and diffusion-weighted MRI. Blood-brain barrier permeability, as measured by the Evans blue dye technique, peaked at 20 min after trauma in all age groups, with a second peak found only in adult animals at 24 h after injury. Phosphorus MR spectroscopy showed no significant changes in the brain energy metabolism of immature rats with moderate DTBI, in contrast to significant decreases previously identified in adult animals.
Uromodulin and Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Lhotta Karl
Published: October 2010

Uromodulin (Tamm-Horsfall protein) is produced in the kidney by cells of the thick ascending limb and distal tubule. Recent genetic studies suggest a role of uromodulin in chronic kidney disease. Mutations in the UMOD gene cause uromodulin storage disease. They code for amino acid substitutions that lead to misfolding of the molecule and its retention in the endoplasmic reticulum. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the region of the UMOD gene have been shown to be associated with chronic kidney disease and reduced glomerular filtration rate. These polymorphisms affect uromodulin concentration in the urine, and lower genetically determined urinary uromodulin concentrations seem to protect against renal disease. Chronic kidney disease is associated with higher serum levels of uromodulin. From animal experiments and human studies it is hypothesized that uromodulin entering the renal interstitium either by basolateral secretion or urinary back-leakage in damaged tubuli interacts with and stimulates cells of the immune system and thereby causes inflammation and progression of chronic kidney disease.
The Role of Wnt Signaling in Physiological and Pathological Angiogenesis
Authors: Dejana Elisabetta
Published: October 2010

Early stages of vascular development include endothelial cell differentiation in a network of arteries, veins, and lymphatics. Subsequently, to respond to the specific needs of the organs, endothelial cells acquire specialized properties such as permeability control, expression of specific transcellular transport systems, membrane adhesive molecules, and others. Endothelial cell differentiation depends on communication between the surrounding tissues, which is mediated by growth and differentiation factors able to activate specific gene expression programs. Recent reports underline the important role of the Wnt system in vascular morphogenesis in the embryo and in organ-specific endothelial differentiation. Wnt signaling regulates fundamental aspects of development, including cell fate specification, proliferation, and survival, and may use different receptors and signaling pathways. Both loss- and gain-of-function experiments of members of the Wnt signaling pathway were found to cause marked alterations of vascular development and endothelial cell specification. Furthermore, altered Wnt signaling in the endothelium may contribute to pathological conditions such as retinopathies, pulmonary arterial hypertension, stroke, and others. Continued progress in this field holds the potential to identify novel therapeutics for the treatment of these diseases.
An Asymptotic Model for the English Hapax/Vocabulary Ratio
Authors: Fengxiang Fan
Published: October 2010

In the known literature, hapax legomena in an English text or a collection of texts roughly account for about 50% of the vocabulary. This sort of constancy is baffling. The 100-million-word British National Corpus was used to study this phenomenon. The result reveals that the hapax/vocabulary ratio follows a U-shaped pattern. Initially, as the size of text increases, the hapax/vocabulary ratio decreases; however, after the text size reaches about 3,000,000 words, the hapax/vocabulary ratio starts to increase steadily. A computer simulation shows that as the text size continues to increase, the hapax/vocabulary ratio would approach 1.
A Flexible, Corpus-Driven Model of Regular and Inverse Selectional Preferences
Authors: Erk Katrin , Padó Sebastian , Padó Ulrike
Published: October 2010

We present a vector space–based model for selectional preferences that predicts plausibility scores for argument headwords. It does not require any lexical resources (such as WordNet). It can be trained either on one corpus with syntactic annotation, or on a combination of a small semantically annotated primary corpus and a large, syntactically analyzed generalization corpus. Our model is able to predict inverse selectional preferences, that is, plausibility scores for predicates given argument heads.

We evaluate our model on one NLP task (pseudo-disambiguation) and one cognitive task (prediction of human plausibility judgments), gauging the influence of different parameters and comparing our model against other model classes. We obtain consistent benefits from using the disambiguation and semantic role information provided by a semantically tagged primary corpus. As for parameters, we identify settings that yield good performance across a range of experimental conditions. However, frequency remains a major influence of prediction quality, and we also identify more robust parameter settings suitable for applications with many infrequent items.
Dissociable Neural Systems Supporting Knowledge about Human Character and Appearance in Ourselves and Others
Authors: Moran Joseph M. , Lee Su Mei , Gabrieli John D. E.
Published: October 2010

Functional neuroimaging has identified a neural system comprising posterior cingulate (pCC) and medial prefrontal (mPFC) cortices that appears to mediate self-referential thought. It is unclear whether the two components of this system mediate similar or different psychological processes, and how specific this system is for self relative to others. In an fMRI study, we compared brain responses for evaluation of character (e.g., honest) versus appearance (e.g., svelte) for oneself, one's mother (a close other), and President Bush (a distant other). There was a double dissociation between dorsal mPFC, which was more engaged for character than appearance judgments, and pCC, which was more engaged for appearance than character judgments. A ventral region of mPFC was engaged for judgments involving one's own character and appearance, and one's mother's character, but not her appearance. A follow-up behavioral study indicated that participants rate their own character and appearance, and their mother's character, but not her appearance, as important in their self-concept. This suggests that ventral mPFC activation reflects its role in processing information relevant to the self, but not limited to the self. Thus, specific neural systems mediate specific aspects of thinking about character and appearance in oneself and in others.
Effects of Emotional Preferences on Value-based Decision-making Are Mediated by Mentalizing and Not Reward Networks
Authors: Evans Simon , Fleming Stephen M. , Dolan Raymond J. , Averbeck Bruno B.
Published: October 2010

Real-world decision-making often involves social considerations. Consequently, the social value of stimuli can induce preferences in choice behavior. However, it is unknown how financial and social values are integrated in the brain. Here, we investigated how smiling and angry face stimuli interacted with financial reward feedback in a stochastically rewarded decision-making task. Subjects reliably preferred the smiling faces despite equivalent reward feedback, demonstrating a socially driven bias. We fit a Bayesian reinforcement learning model to factor the effects of financial rewards and emotion preferences in individual subjects, and regressed model predictions on the trial-by-trial fMRI signal. Activity in the subcallosal cingulate and the ventral striatum, both involved in reward learning, correlated with financial reward feedback, whereas the differential contribution of social value activated dorsal temporo-parietal junction and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, previously proposed as components of a mentalizing network. We conclude that the impact of social stimuli on value-based decision processes is mediated by effects in brain regions partially separable from classical reward circuitry.
The Corollary Discharge in Humans Is Related to Synchronous Neural Oscillations
Authors: Chen Chi-Ming A. , Mathalon Daniel H. , Roach Brian J. , Cavus Idil , Spencer Dennis D. , Ford Judith M.
Published: October 2010

How do animals distinguish between sensations coming from external sources and those resulting from their own actions? A corollary discharge system has evolved that involves the transmission of a copy of motor commands to sensory cortex, where the expected sensation is generated. Through this mechanism, sensations are tagged as coming from self, and responsiveness to them is minimized. The present study investigated whether neural phase synchrony between motor command and auditory cortical areas is related to the suppression of the auditory cortical response. We recorded electrocorticograms from the human brain during a vocalizing/listening task. Neural phase synchrony between Broca's area and auditory cortex in the gamma band (35 to ∼50 Hz) in the 50-msec time window preceding speech onset was greater during vocalizing than during listening to a playback of the same spoken sounds. Because prespeech neural synchrony was correlated (r = −.83, p = .006), with the subsequent suppression of the auditory cortical response to the spoken sound, we hypothesize that phase synchrony in the gamma band between Broca's area and auditory cortex is the neural instantiation of the transmission of a copy of motor commands. We suggest that neural phase synchrony of gamma frequencies may contribute to transmission of corollary discharges in humans.
Harming Kin to Save Strangers: Further Evidence for Abnormally Utilitarian Moral Judgments after Ventromedial Prefrontal Damage
Authors: Thomas Bradley C. , Croft Katie E. , Tranel Daniel
Published: October 2010

The ventromedial PFC (vmPFC) has been implicated as a critical neural substrate mediating the influence of emotion on moral reasoning. It has been shown that the vmPFC is especially important for making moral judgments about “high-conflict” moral dilemmas involving direct personal actions, that is, scenarios that pit compelling utilitarian considerations of aggregate welfare against the highly emotionally aversive act of directly causing harm to others [Koenigs, M., Young, L., Adolphs, R., Tranel, D., Cushman, F., Hauser, M., et al. Damage to the prefrontal cortex increases utilitarian moral judgments. Nature, 446, 908–911, 2007]. The current study was designed to elucidate further the role of the vmPFC in high-conflict moral judgments, including those that involve indirect personal actions, such as indirectly causing harm to one's kin to save a group of strangers. We found that patients with vmPFC lesions were more likely than brain-damaged and healthy comparison participants to endorse utilitarian outcomes on high-conflict dilemmas regardless of whether the dilemmas (1) entailed direct versus indirect personal harms and (2) were presented from the Self versus Other perspective. In addition, all groups were more likely to endorse utilitarian outcomes in the Other perspective as compared with the Self perspective. These results provide important extensions of previous work, and the findings align with the proposal that the vmPFC is critical for reasoning about moral dilemmas in which anticipating the social-emotional consequences of an action (e.g., guilt or remorse) is crucial for normal moral judgments [Greene, J. D. Why are VMPFC patients more utilitarian?: A dual-process theory of moral judgment explains. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 11, 322–323, 2007; Koenigs, M., Young, L., Adolphs, R., Tranel, D., Cushman, F., Hauser, M., et al. Damage to the prefrontal cortex increases utilitarian moral judgments. Nature, 446, 908–911, 2007].
Handling Relations with Myanmar in a Chinese Way: A Personal Reflection
Authors: Ruisheng Cheng
Published: October 2010

During the political storm in Myanmar (Burma) in 1988, China adhered to a policy of non-interference, non-involvement and keeping aloof, in conformity with the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, which has been jointly initiated by China, India and Myanmar in 1954. This enabled China to restore gradually its traditional friendly relations with Myanmar when the situation became stable again after the military takeover in September 1988. At the same time, China kept friendly contacts with the opposition party led by Aung San Suu Kyi until she was placed under house arrest in 1989. Cheng Ruisheng served as China’s Ambassador to Myanmar from 1987 to 1991 and is now the only person in the Chinese Foreign Ministry who is personally acquainted with Aung San Suu Kyi. By sharing recollections of his time in Yangon, Cheng Ruisheng provides valuable insights into the principles and practice of China’s diplomacy.
Impact of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy and Cardiovascular Events by Serum Cystatin C in Renal Insufficiency Patients Undergoing Cardiac Catheterization
Authors: Ishibashi Yuki , Yamauchi Masahiro , Musha Haruki , Mikami Taishi , Kawasaki Kensuke , Miyake Fumihiko
Published: October 2010

We assessed the usefulness of serum cystatin C for predicting contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in patients (n = 100) undergoing coronary catheterization. After a 12-month follow-up, the incidence of CIN was 8.3% (n = 5) in patients with mild renal insufficiency (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] 60-89 mL/min per 1.73 m2), 34.4% (n = 10) in those with moderate renal insufficiency (eGFR 30-59 mL/min per 1.73 m2), and 100% (n = 3) in those with severe renal insufficiency (eGFR 15-29 mL/min per 1.73 m2). The sensitivity was 81.8% and specificity was 90.9% at the cutoff level of serum cystatin C >1.18 mg/L. Serum cystatin C levels were significantly ( P < .001) higher in the patients with moderate renal insufficiency in the CIN group than those in the non-CIN group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that baseline serum cystatin C independently predicted short-term mortality (odds ratio [OR], 0.311; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.058-0.538; P = .026). Baseline serum cystatin C significantly predicted the occurrence of CIN in the patients with moderate renal insufficiency.
Comparison of Anthropometry of U.S. Electric Utility Field-Workers With North American General Populations
Authors: Marklin Richard W. , Saginus Kyle A. , Seeley Patricia , Freier Stephen H.
Published: October 2010

Objective: The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether conventional anthropometric databases of the U.S. general population are applicable to the population of U.S. electric utility field-workers.

Background: On the basis of anecdotal observations, field-workers for electric power utilities were thought to be generally taller and larger than the general population. However, there were no anthropometric data available on this population, and it was not known whether the conventional anthropometric databases could be used to design for this population.

Method: For this study, 3 standing and 11 sitting anthropometric measurements were taken from 187 male field-workers from three electric power utilities located in the upper Midwest of the United States and Southern California. The mean and percentile anthropometric data from field-workers were compared with seven well-known conventional anthropometric databases for North American males (United States, Canada, and Mexico).

Results: In general, the male field-workers were taller and heavier than the people in the reference databases for U.S. males.The field-workers were up to 2.3 cm taller and 10 kg to 18 kg heavier than the averages of the reference databases.

Conclusion: This study was justified, as it showed that the conventional anthropometric databases of the general population underestimated the size of electric utility field-workers, particularly with respect to weight.

Application: When designing vehicles and tools for electric utility field-workers, designers and ergonomists should consider the population being designed for and the data from this study to maximize safety, minimize risk of injuries, and optimize performance.
The Cognitive Perspective in Strategy: An Integrative Review
Authors: Narayanan V.K. , Zane Lee J. , Kemmerer Benedict
Published: October 2010

This article integrates the literature on strategic cognition (SC) within a framework that links the antecedents, structure, and process of SC with outcomes. Reviewing the literature from 1993 (two years prior to Walsh’s review of managerial and organizational cognition) until 2007, this article identifies three elements of SC structure (organizational identity, strategy frames, and organizational routines) and four SC processes (strategy formulation, strategy implementation, strategic change, and organizational learning). The literature portrays strategy formulation as a complex activity consisting of scanning, sensemaking, and decision making. Strategy implementation is composed of sensegiving, sensemaking, and issue selling. This review identifies five streams of empirical research with three well-developed themes (the antecedents and outcomes of strategy frames, determinants and consequences of strategy formulation, and cognitive construction of competitive/industry dynamics) and two emerging themes (the determinants and consequences of strategy implementation and the antecedents and outcomes of organizational identity). This review identifies several opportunities to extend the literature and outlines key methodological implications. Finally, the review addresses the need to build linkages to the ongoing theoretical conversations within strategic management literature.
When Policy meets Practice: Colliding Logics and the Challenges of ‘Mode 2’ Initiatives in the Translation of Academic Knowledge
Authors: Swan Jacky , Bresnen Mike , Robertson Maxine , Newell Sue , Dopson Sue
Published: October 2010

Institutional change has been characterized as the outcome of a dialectical process whereby different constituent communities within an organizational field promote competing institutional logics (Seo and Creed 2002). However, the dynamics of this dialectical process are poorly understood. In this paper, we examine this dialectical process by drawing upon a longitudinal study of a policy intervention in the UK aimed at promoting a logic of knowledge production in genetics science (termed here as ‘Mode 2’; cf. Nowotny et al. 2001) that was co-present, and competing, with the dominant logic surrounding the production of academic science (‘Mode 1’). We highlight the tensions and interplays that occurred between these competing institutional logics by examining the rhetoric that was propounded, and the actions incurred, and their effects, amongst constituent communities of policy makers and scientists. Our findings demonstrate, first, that tensions can exist within as well as across constituent communities within the organizational field; and, second, how mobilizing a new institutional logic related to knowledge production may produce its own contradictions that can, paradoxically, lead to the simultaneous resurrection (and reinforcement) of the old logic. We discuss the implications for managing projects where these different logics are co-mingled.
Which treatment approach is better for hemiplegic shoulder pain in stroke patients: intra-articular steroid or suprascapular nerve block? A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Yasar Evren , Vural Dilek , Safaz Ismail , Balaban Birol , Yilmaz Bilge , Goktepe Ahmet Salim , Alaca Ridvan
Published: October 2010

Objective: To determine which injection technique was effective for patients with hemiplegic shoulder pain.

Design: Randomized prospective double-blind study.

Setting: Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit.

Intervention: Patients with hemiplegic shoulder pain were recruited over a 12-month period and all were hospitalized in our clinic. Intra-articular steroid injection or suprascapular nerve block was performed on all patients.

Main measures: Range of motion values at the moment that pain started (range of motion A) and passive maximum range of motion values (range of motion B) were recorded. Pain intensity levels (visual analogue scale) at these two range of motion values (pain A and pain B) were also taken. Evaluations were made before the injection, and 1 hour, one week and one month after the injection.

Results: Twenty-six patients were enrolled in the study, the mean age was 61.53 ± 10.30 years. The mean time since injury was 8.69 ± 15.71 months. The aetiology was ischaemic in 16 (61%) patients. Intra-articular steroid injection was performed in 11 (42 %) patients, and suprascapular nerve block in 15 (57%) patients. Range of motion A and range of motion B were changed statistically in repeated measures. There were important differences in repeated measures of pain intensity levels at these two range of motion values ( P < 0.05). However, no significant differences were determined in all measurements between intra-articular steroid injection and suprascapular nerve block groups ( P > 0.05).

Conclusions: Our results showed that neither injection technique was superior to the other. Both injection procedures are safe and have a similar effect in stroke patients with hemiplegic shoulder pain.
The effectiveness of continuous passive motion on range of motion, pain and muscle strength following rotator cuff repair: a systematic review
Authors: Du Plessis M , Eksteen E , Jenneker A , Kriel E , Mentoor C , Stucky T , van Staden D , Morris LD
Published: October 2010

Objective: To systematically review the evidence on the effect of continuous passive motion, combined with usual physiotherapy management, on increasing shoulder joint range of motion and muscle strength, and reducing shoulder pain in adults following rotator cuff repair, compared with standard physiotherapy.

Data sources: A comprehensive search in available bibliographic electronic databases was undertaken to locate eligible studies. Reference tracing was also used to locate studies.

Review methods: Randomized controlled trials reporting on the effect of continuous passive motion on increasing shoulder joint range of motion and muscle strength and reducing shoulder pain in adults following rotator cuff repair were included in the review. The PEDro scale was used to determine the methodological quality of the studies. Data were summarized in a narrative form because of their heterogeneity.

Results: Four randomized controlled trials were eligible for this review. One Japanese article was excluded as the text was unavailable in English. The methodological quality of the included studies averaged 7.67. Continuous passive motion was found to improve shoulder range of motion in two studies. One study found a decrease in pain in the intervention group and one study found that continuous passive motion improves muscle strength.

Conclusion: Continuous passive motion is safe to use with physiotherapy treatment following rotator cuff repair surgery. It may help to prevent secondary complications post operatively.
Psychometric validation of the Multidimensional Acceptance of Loss Scale
Authors: Ferrin James M , Fong Chan  , Chronister Julie , Chiu Chung-Yi
Published: October 2010

Objective: To develop and field test the Multidimensional Acceptance of Loss Scale to measure disability acceptance based on the four value changes identified by Beatrice Wright.

Design: Quantitative descriptive design using exploratory factor analysis to determine the factorial validity of the Multidimensional Acceptance of Loss Scale.

Setting: The Canadian Paraplegic Association.

Subjects: One hundred and sixty-one members of the Alberta, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and Manitoba chapters of the Canadian Paraplegic Association were recruited for the current study.

Results: A four-factor structure accounting for 50% of the total variance was found for the Multidimensional Acceptance of Loss Scale. The internal consistency reliability coefficients (Cronbach’s alpha) for the four factors ranged from 0.80 to 0.88. Three clusters of participants with high, moderate and low disability acceptance were identified based on their profiles of Multidimensional Acceptance of Loss Scale subscale scores using cluster analysis. MANOVA results indicated that participants in the three clusters significantly differed on self-esteem, F(2, 154) = 19.78, P<0.001 and quality of life, F(8, 236) = 5.16, P<0.001. Participants with high Multidimensional Acceptance of Loss Scale scores have higher self-esteem and quality of life scores than those with lower scores.

Conclusion: The Multidimensional Acceptance of Loss Scale was found to measure the four value changes in Beatrice Wright’s disability acceptance theory in a sample of Canadians with spinal cord injuries. It demonstrated good internal consistency reliability and construct validity.
Comparison of different treatment protocols in the treatment of idiopathic detrusor overactivity: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Kaya Serap , Akbayrak Türkan , Beksaç Sinan
Published: October 2010

Objective: To investigate and compare the effectiveness of various treatment protocols for the treatment of women with idiopathic detrusor overactivity.

Design: Prospective, randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Departments of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation and Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hacettepe University.

Subjects: Forty-six subjects were randomized to three groups.

Interventions: The first group received only pharmacotherapy, the second group received only physiotherapy and in the third group pharmacotherapy was combined with physiotherapy (combined therapy group).

Main measures: All patients were evaluated at the beginning and at the end of treatment. Assessment parameters were maximum cystometric capacity, electromyographic activity of pelvic floor muscles, voiding diary parameters, the amount of urine leakage and the quality of life score.

Results: The maximum cystometric capacity and the electromyographic activity of pelvic floor muscles increased significantly and the number of voids/day and incontinence episodes/day, and the amount of urine leakage reduced significantly ( P < 0.05) in both physiotherapy and combined therapy groups while there was no significant difference in the pharmacotherapy group. After treatment, the number of voids/day increased by 0.3 ± 3.4 in the pharmacotherapy group ( P > 0.05) and decreased by 5.1 ± 5.5 and 4.7 ± 5.6 in the physiotherapy and combined therapy groups, respectively ( P < 0.05). Statistically significant improvements were observed in all groups according to the number of voids/night and the quality of life scores at the end of the treatment.

Conclusion: The physiotherapy protocol we introduced in the present study with or without anticholinergic therapy has a substantial positive impact on the treatment of female patients with idiopathic detrusor overactivity.
Waalbot II: Adhesion Recovery and Improved Performance of a Climbing Robot using Fibrillar Adhesives
Authors: Murphy Michael P. , Kute Casey , Mengüç Yiğit , Sitti Metin
Published: October 2010

This paper presents the design and optimization of a wall-climbing robot along with the incorporation of autonomous adhesion recovery and a motion planning implementation. The result is Waalbot II, an untethered 85 g robot able to climb on smooth vertical surfaces with up to a 100 g payload (117% body mass) or, when unburdened, on planar surfaces of any orientation at speeds up to 5 cm/s. Bio-inspired climbing mechanisms, such as Waalbot II’s gecko-like fibrillar adhesives, passive peeling, and force sensing, improve the overall climbing capabilities compared with initial versions, resulting in the ability to climb on non-smooth surfaces as well as on inverted smooth surfaces. Robot length scale optimization reveals and quantifies trends in the theoretical factor of safety and payload carrying capabilities. Autonomous adhesion recovery behavior provides additional climbing robustness without additional mechanical complexity to mitigate degradation and contamination. An implementation of a motion planner, designed to take into account Waalbot II’s kinematic constraints, results in the ability to navigate to a goal in complex three-dimensional environments while properly planning plane-to-plane transitions and avoiding obstacles. Experiments verified the improved climbing capabilities of Waalbot II as well as its novel semi-autonomous adhesion recovery behavior and motion planning.
Bringing the benefits of information technology to underserved populations: An introduction to ICTD for the library community
Authors: Coward Christopher T.
Published: October 2010

Information and communication technologies and development (ICTD) is a field that has grown largely outside the purview of public libraries. In bringing information access and services to communities with fewer economic and social resources, the organizations and innovations emanating from the ICTD community have much to offer libraries. While libraries, too, offer a largely untapped vehicle for those in the ICTD community, the aim of this article is to introduce the defining features, tenets, and focus areas of ICTD, and to provide examples of how partnering with ICTD could benefit libraries. ICTD actors include government, development agencies, foundations, the private sector, nongovernmental organizations, and academic institutions. ICTD activities encompass research and development, national and community-based deployments, policy engagement, and social activism. The article concludes with a discussion of the overlap with telecenters, with its attendant opportunities and risks, and other suggestions for libraries when partnering with ICTD.
Twice-Exceptional Learners: Effects of Teacher Preparation and Disability Labels on Gifted Referrals
Authors: Bianco Margarita , Leech Nancy L.
Published: October 2010

The goal of this mixed methods study was to explore differences among teachers ( n = 52 special education teachers, n = 195 general education teachers, and n = 30 gifted education teachers) on their perceptions of students with disabilities and their willingness to refer them to a gifted and talented program. In this follow-up to an earlier work, data reveal that teachers’ decisions for referral are significantly influenced by their teaching credentials and by the presence or absence of a disability label. When compared to teachers of gifted students and general education teachers, special education teachers are least likely to refer students to a gifted program, with disabilities and without. Results further indicate that all teachers are much less willing to refer students with disability labels to gifted programs than identically described students with no disability labels.
What can we learn from genetic studies of systemic lupus erythematosus? Implications of genetic heterogeneity among populations in SLE
Authors: Lee H-S. , Bae S-C.
Published: October 2010

Recent progress in genetics has expanded the number of the genes associated with SLE to more than 20 in the past 2 years. One might assign these candidate genetic factors into several pre-existing biological pathways: (i) innate immune response including TLR/interferon signaling pathways (IRF5, STAT4, TNFAIP3, and TREX1); (ii) adaptive immune response (HLA-DR, PTPN22, PDCD1, STAT4, LYN, BLK, and BANK1) including B, T cells, and antigen-presenting cells; and (iii) immune complex clearance mechanism (FCGRs, CRP, and ITGAM). In addition, there are also several genes and loci that could not be assigned into previous known pathways (KIAA1542, PXK, XKR6, ATG5, etc), providing possible novel mechanisms in SLE. It has also been evident that there are similarities and differences in SLE susceptibility loci across ethnic groups. Here we categorize the susceptible genes into four groups. The first group is the consistently associated genes with similar risk allele frequency between multiple ethnic populations such as STAT4, TNFAIP3, BANK1, and IRAK1/MECP2. The second group is the genes that are consistently associated but show marked difference in risk allele frequency (BLK, IRF5). The third group is the genes in which different risk variants exist within a gene or genetic loci (allelic heterogeneity) such as HLA-DR, FCGRs, and IRF5. The fourth group is the genes that show consistently discrepancy between populations such as PTPN22 and possibly ITGAM, PXK, and LYN (genetic heterogeneity). The possible explanations for differences of susceptible genetic factors between populations could be different genetic backgrounds, contribution of gene—gene or gene—environment interaction, and the relation between marker and causal variants. Therefore, efforts to identify ethnic-specific genetic factors or disease causing variants should be necessary for individualized therapy for SLE in future.
The future of lupus therapy modulating autoantigen recognition
Authors: Okamoto A. , Fujio K. , Yamamoto K.
Published: October 2010

The mainstay of the current treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus consists of steroids and immunosuppressants. However, these non-specific immunosuppressive therapies can cause infection and other serious adverse events. The regulation of the autoantigen-specific immune response is a promising therapeutic approach with maximal efficacy and minimal adverse effects. T cells are essential components of antigen-specificity in the immune system. At present, we do not have a sufficient strategy for manipulating the responses of antigen-specific T cells. In this review, we describe the efficacy of two therapeutic approaches involving the modulation of autoantigen recognition by T cells in lupus model mice: (1) therapy involving engineered autoantigen-specific regulatory T cells generated by the gene transfer of autoantigen-specific TCR genes and appropriate regulatory genes into self lymphocytes; (2) therapy involving selective depletion of autoantigen presenting phagocytes. These selective immunosuppressive approaches could be useful strategies for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus.
Cardiovascular co-morbidity in Asians with lupus: theoretical concern or clinical reality?
Authors: Handa R.
Published: October 2010

Immuno-inflammatory diseases like lupus are associated with premature atherosclerosis. With improved survival, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease has emerged as an important late complication of systemic lupus erythematosus. The burden of this co-morbidity in Asian patients is not fully known but is likely to be high. We review the literature available and draw attention to this oft overlooked problem.
The economic burden of systemic lupus erythematosus in Asia: the current state
Authors: Mak A.
Published: October 2010

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic systemic inflammatory disorder which imposes considerable negative impact on patients’ function and quality of life, and it appears to entail substantial loss of work productivity and healthcare cost. Although much has been studied regarding the epidemiology, pathogenesis, disease activity, disease damage and pharmacological treatment of SLE, publications on the economic burden of lupus are scarce. As the majority of lupus patients are residing in the Asia Pacific region where many are financially and socially deprived, and, from what we know from the current literature, work disability of lupus patients in Asia is substantial, cost-of-illness studies on SLE are thus particularly relevant in countries around the region. Reliable data from properly conducted prospective SLE cost studies are imperative for policymakers to efficiently distribute healthcare resources, especially in Asia where limited resources are unable to cope with the huge population. In this paper, we review the current state of cost-of-illness research on lupus in Asia and analyze the reasons why such studies are urgently required in the Asia Pacific region.
Infections in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Navarra SV , Leynes MSN
Published: October 2010

Infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Survival rates for SLE patients in developing countries are comparatively lower than those reported in industrialized countries, with early death from infection and active disease. In addition to the role of immunosuppressive agents in enhancing susceptibility to infection, infectious agents are also known to trigger lupus disease expression and activity. The endemicity of certain infections like tuberculosis further poses a special health issue in developing countries.
Major lupus organ involvement: severe lupus nephritis
Authors: Avihingsanon Y. , Hirankarn N.
Published: October 2010

Lupus nephritis is a common and severe complication of systemic lupus erythematosus. A number of patients have nephritis as a presenting feature that, in its severe form, can shortly lead to end-stage renal disease and/or death. Renal flare usually occurs a few years after the first episode and is remarkably predominant in the Asian population. Frequent monitoring for renal flare enhances early recognition and timely treatment. The mainstay therapy continues to be the prolonged use of cytotoxic/immunosuppressive drugs that have a number of undesirable effects, particularly ovarian failure and development of opportunistic infections. This review will focus on the pathogenesis and the unique genetic factors found in Asian patients with lupus nephritis. Here, we propose an appropriate management scheme for the treatment of lupus nephritis in Asian patients.
Current advances in lupus genetic and genomic studies in Asia
Authors: Yuan YJ , Luo XB , Shen N.
Published: October 2010

The genetic components in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have long been established, however, it has been unclear for many years whether the same genetic risk factors for SLE are shared across different ethnic groups. Over the past few years, a number of genetic and genomic studies have been conducted in Asian populations to address this question. These studies have demonstrated that genetic heterogeneity does exist in SLE across different ethnic groups. With these studies, it has been established that a number of genes associated with SLE in Caucasians are also risk factors in Asians: HLA class II genes, STAT4, BANK1, BLK, IRF5, TNFSF4, ITGAM, etc., while there are also novel genetic risk factors identified by these studies in Asians, for instance, the ETS1 and WDFY4 in Chinese. For the genomic studies, the interferon signature has been confirmed as a major lupus molecular phenotype in Asians the same as in Caucasians; microRNA expression profiling and its novel role in regulating the interferon pathway has been first revealed in Asians. Further understanding of the function of lupus disease genes and delineating the key molecular pathway(s) will enhance the development of novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers for individualized clinical management for lupus patients.
Security That Matters: Critical Infrastructure and Objects of Protection
Authors: Aradau Claudia
Published: October 2010

Critical infrastructure protection is prominently concerned with objects that appear indispensable for the functioning of social and political life. However, the analysis of material objects in discussions of critical infrastructure protection has remained largely within the remit of managerial responses, which see matter as simply passive, a blank slate. In security studies, critical approaches have focused on social and cultural values, forms of life, technologies of risk or structures of neoliberal globalization. This article engages with the role of ‘things’ or of materiality for theories of securitization. Drawing on the materialist feminism of Karen Barad, it shows how critical infrastructure in Europe neither is an empty receptacle of discourse nor has ‘essential’ characteristics; rather, it emerges out of material-discursive practices. Understanding the securitization of critical infrastructure protection as a process of materialization allows for a reconceptualization of how security matters and its effects.
Foaming and Emulsifying Properties of Porcine Red Cell Protein Concentrate
Authors: Salvador P. , Saguer E. , Parés D. , Carretero C. , Toldrà M.
Published: October 2010

This work focuses on studying the effects of pH (7.0 and 4.5) and protein concentration on the foaming and emulsifying properties of fresh (F) and spray-dried (SD) porcine red cell protein (RCP) concentrates in order to evaluate the proper use of this blood protein as a functional food ingredient. Also, protein solubility is measured through the pH range from 3.0 to 8.0. In each case, all concentrates show a high solubility, although this is significantly affected by pH. Spray drying slightly reduces the solubility at mild acid and neutral conditions. The foaming capacity is found to be dependent on pH as well as on the drying treatment. SD-RCP concentrates show better foaming capacity than F-RCP. The minimum protein concentration required to attain the highest foaming capacity is found under acid pH for the spray-dried concentrates. Although F-RCP shows low foam stability at acid and neutral pH, spray drying and protein content enhance the stability of foams. Emulsifying properties show dependence on pH as well as on protein content. Furthermore, spray drying affects the emulsifying properties but in different ways, depending on pH and protein concentration.
Evolving Nurses into Home Health Care Practice
Authors: Al-Mazrooa Adnan A.
Published: October 2010

Home health care (HHC) is a regulated program of care delivered by a multidisciplinary team in the patient’s home. It is of high demand in Saudi Arabia; however there are shortages in health care personnel. Moreover, current internship programs do not address the concepts and unique skills involved in HHC practice. The purpose of this article is to present a HHC training program for registered nurses in Saudi Arabia, which aims at qualifying 60 nurses with high standards of knowledge, technical and communication skills, empowering them to overcome all the challenges faced during home visits. The training program consists of three sections provided over 2 months followed by an advanced course. It was designed based on the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation model. This program will be the cornerstone of HHC subspecialty in the nursing colleges of Saudi Arabia, as a skill-based training program with outcomes that can be measured and evaluated. It will enable the HHC centers in Saudi Arabia to adequately address the shortages of qualified nurses.
Low-velocity impact strength of sandwich materials
Authors: Crupi V. , Epasto G. , Guglielmino E.
Published: October 2010

Sandwich materials have been widely used in weight-sensitive structures in many fields, especially in the transport industry. There are different classes of sandwiches with a wide range of materials and properties within each type. The aim of this article is the comparison of the impact strength between polymeric and aluminum sandwich structures. Impact tests were carried out by a drop test machine in order to investigate the structural response of the following different topologies of sandwich structures: PVC foam sandwiches and AFS panels. The failure mode and damage have been investigated using two experimental techniques: thermography and 3D Computed Tomography.