bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Observational Error Estimation of FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC GPS Radio Occultation Data
Authors: Chen Shu-Ya , Huang Ching-Yuang , Kuo Ying-Hwa , Sokolovskiy Sergey
Published: October 2010

The Global Positioning System (GPS) radio occultation (RO) technique is becoming a robust global observing system. GPS RO refractivity is typically modeled at the ray perigee point by a “local refractivity operator” in a data assimilation system. Such modeling does not take into account the horizontal gradients that affect the GPS RO refractivity. A new observable (linear excess phase), defined as an integral of the refractivity along some fixed ray path within the model domain, has been developed in earlier studies to account for the effect of horizontal gradients.

In this study, the error statistics of both observables (refractivity and linear excess phase) are estimated using the GPS RO data from the Formosa Satellite 3–Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere and Climate (FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC) mission. The National Meteorological Center (NMC) method, which is based on lagged forecast differences, is applied for evaluation of the model forecast errors that are used for estimation of the GPS RO observational errors. Also used are Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model forecasts in the East Asia region at 45-km resolution for one winter month (mid-January to mid-February) and one summer month (mid-August to mid-September) in 2007.

Fractional standard deviations of the observational errors of refractivity and linear excess phase both show an approximately linear decrease with height in the troposphere and a slight increase above the tropopause; their maximum magnitude is about 2.2% (2.5%) for refractivity and 1.1% (1.3%) for linear excess phase in the lowest 2 km for the winter (summer) month. An increase of both fractional observational errors near the surface in the summer month is attributed mainly to a larger amount of water vapor. The results indicate that the fractional observational error of refractivity is about twice as large as that of linear excess phase, regardless of season. The observational errors of both linear excess phase and refractivity are much less latitude dependent for summer than for winter. This difference is attributed to larger latitudinal variations of the specific humidity in winter.
Objective Bias Correction for Improved Skill in Forecasting Diurnal Cycles of Temperature over Multiple Locations: The Summer Case
Authors: Goswami P. , Mallick S.
Published: October 2010

One factor that limits skill of the numerical models is the bias in the model forecasts with respect to observations. Similarly, while the mesoscale models today can support horizontal grid spacing down to a few kilometers or fewer, downscaling of model forecasts to arrive at station-scale values will remain a necessary step for many applications. While generic improvement in model skill requires parallel and comprehensive development in model and other forecast methodology, one way of achieving skill in station-scale forecasts without (intensive effort) calibration of the model is to implement an objective bias correction (referred to as debiasing). This study shows that a nonlinear objective debiasing can transform zero-skill forecasts from a mesoscale model [fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesoscale Model (MM5)] to forecasts with significant skill. Twelve locations over India, representing urban sites in different geographical conditions, during May–August 2009 were considered. The model MM5 was integrated for 24 h with initial conditions from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction Global Forecast System (final) global gridded analysis (FNL) for each of the days of May–August 2009 in a completely operational setting (without assuming any observed information on dynamics beyond the time of the initial condition). It is shown that for all the locations and the four months, the skill of the debiased forecast is significant against essentially zero skill of raw forecasts. The procedure provides an applicable forecast strategy to attain realizable significant skill in station-scale forecasts. Potential skill, derived using in-sample data for calibrating the debiasing parameters, shows promise of further improvement with large samples.
Elevated Oxidative Stress Markers and its Relationship With Endothelial Dysfunction in Behçet Disease
Authors: Acikgoz Nusret , Ermiş Necip , Yağmur Jülide , Cansel Mehmet , Karincaoğlu Yelda , Ataş Halil , Cuglan Bilal , Barutcu İrfan , Pekdemir Hasan , Özdemir Ramazan
Published: October 2010

Behçet’s disease (BD) is a multisystemic disorder characterized by endothelial dysfunction. However, the relationship between oxidative stress and endothelial function has not been clearly shown. We investigated the relationship between oxidative stress markers and endothelial function in patients with BD. Patients with BD (n = 40) having active disease and sex- and age-matched 40 controls were included. Endothelial function was assessed by flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) technique. Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and high-sensitive C-reactive protein levels (hsCRP) were measured in all participants. Brachial artery FMD was significantly lower in patients with BD than in controls. Gamma-glutamyltransferase and hsCRP levels were higher in patients with BD than in controls. Also, GGT and hsCRP levels were inversely correlated with endothelial function. Oxidative stress markers are elevated in patients with BD having active disease. This may be one of the reasons behind the vasculitis in active BD.
When You Accept Me for Me: The Relational Benefits of Intrinsic Affirmations From One’s Relationship Partner
Authors: Gordon Amie M. , Chen Serena
Published: October 2010

Research suggests that not all affirmations of self-worth are created equal—affirming intrinsic aspects of the self (i.e., a person’s stable, intrinsic qualities) leads to better outcomes for the individual compared to affirming extrinsic aspects (i.e., a person’s deeds and accomplishments). Extending this research to the domain of romantic relationships, the current research compared the relational benefits of recalling intrinsic versus extrinsic affirmations from a romantic partner among people high versus low in baseline relationship satisfaction. Across three experiments, as predicted, people low but not high in baseline satisfaction reported higher relationship quality and more pro-relationship responses after recalling a time of intrinsic compared to extrinsic affirmation from a romantic partner. Together, these experiments suggest that affirmations from relationship partners may be important for enhancing relationships, but only if they emphasize intrinsic qualities of the self.
Are Two Narcissists Better Than One? The Link Between Narcissism, Perceived Creativity, and Creative Performance
Authors: Goncalo Jack A. , Flynn Francis J. , Kim Sharon H.
Published: October 2010

The current research examines the link between narcissism and creativity at the individual, relational, and group levels of analysis. It finds that narcissists are not necessarily more creative than others, but they think they are, and they are adept at persuading others to agree with them. In the first study, narcissism was positively associated with self-rated creativity, despite the fact that blind coders saw no difference between the creative products offered by those low and high on narcissism. In a second study, more narcissistic individuals asked to pitch creative ideas to a target person were judged by the targets as being more creative than were less narcissistic individuals, in part because narcissists were more enthusiastic. Finally, a study of group creativity finds evidence of a curvilinear effect: Having more narcissists is better for generating creative outcomes (but having too many provides diminishing returns).
Moral Credentialing by Association: The Importance of Choice and Relationship Closeness
Authors: Bradley-Geist Jill C. , King Eden B. , Skorinko Jeanine , Hebl Michelle R. , McKenna Casey
Published: October 2010

People express more prejudice if they have established their “moral credentials.” Five studies explored the acquisition of moral credentials through associations with racial minorities, particularly close relationships that are personally chosen. Participants choosing to write about a positive experience with a Black person (Study 1) or Hispanic person (Study 2) subsequently expressed more preference for Whites and tolerance of prejudice than did other participants. In Study 3, the credentialing effect of choice was diminished when participants were given an incentive for that choice. Participants in Study 4 who wrote about a Black friend were more credentialed than those who wrote about a Black acquaintance, regardless of whether the experience was positive or negative. Study 5 suggested that participants strategically referred to close associations with minorities when warned of a future situation in which they might appear prejudiced.
The Cultural Dynamics of Rewarding Honesty and Punishing Deception
Authors: Wang Cynthia S. , Leung Angela K.-y.
Published: October 2010

Recent research suggests that individuals reward honesty more than they punish deception. Five experiments showed that different patterns of rewards and punishments emerge for North American and East Asian cultures. Experiment 1 demonstrated that Americans rewarded more than they punished, whereas East Asians rewarded and punished in equivalent amounts. Experiments 2 and 3 revealed that these divergent patterns by culture could be explained by greater social mobility experienced by Americans. Experiments 4 and 5 examined how certain consequences of social mobility, approach—avoidance behavioral motivations and trust and felt obligation, can lead to disparate reward and punishment decisions within the two cultures. Moreover, Experiment 4 revealed that Americans exhibited stronger evaluative reactions toward deception but stronger behavioral intentions toward honesty; East Asians did not exhibit this evaluative—behavioral asymmetry. The cross-cultural implications for understanding rewards and punishments in an increasingly globalized world are discussed.
Empowering or Oppressing? Development and Exploration of the Enjoyment of Sexualization Scale
Authors: Liss Miriam , Erchull Mindy J. , Ramsey Laura R.
Published: October 2010

Sexualization of girls and women in America is rampant and has many negative consequences. Women, however, often report enjoying being sexually admired by men. Given this paradox, it is unclear whether such enjoyment represents an authentic empowerment of women’s sexuality or is related to traditional feminine norms and sexist beliefs. In Studies 1 and 2, the authors developed and tested the eight-item Enjoyment of Sexualization Scale (ESS). It had good reliability and was differentiated from related constructs including body surveillance, body shame, self-sexualizing behaviors, and appearance-contingent self-esteem. In Study 3, endorsement of traditional gender norms, endorsement of benevolent sexism, and endorsement of hostile sexism were all positively related to the ESS. Moreover, women who both enjoyed sexualization and engaged in self-objectification reported more negative eating attitudes. Overall, there was little support for positive effects of enjoying sexualization. The extent to which enjoying sexualization actually empowers women or contributes to their oppression is discussed.
Predictors of Psychosocial Adjustment During the Postradiation Treatment Transition
Authors: Mazanec Susan R. , Daly Barbara J. , Douglas Sara , Musil Carol
Published: October 2010

The aim of this study was to examine the role of cognitive appraisal in predicting psychosocial adjustment during the postradiation treatment transition. A predictive correlational design was used in a convenience sample of 80 patients with breast, lung, and prostate cancer who were receiving radiation therapy. Two weeks prior to completion of treatment, participants completed instruments to measure symptom distress, uncertainty, cognitive appraisal, social support, and self-efficacy for coping. The Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale was administered 1 month after therapy. Adjustment was significantly correlated with all independent variables, age, and comorbidity. Young age and high amounts of threat appraisal, harm/loss appraisal, uncertainty, and symptom distress were significantly associated with poor adjustment. The model predicted 52% of the variability in adjustment. Cognitive appraisal was not a significant explanatory variable for adjustment when controlling for uncertainty, cancer stage, age, and symptom distress. Symptom distress was the only significant predictor of adjustment.
Corrections to: ‘‘Age distribution of cancer in mice’’
Authors: Harding Charles , Pompei Francesco , Wilson Richard
Published: October 2010

We found a crucial error in an earlier paper on cancer in elderly mice, Age distribution of cancer in mice: the incidence turnover at old age (Pompei et al., 2001). That paper’s principal data set, the ED01 records, was scrambled when read and analyzed with a statistical software package. Having done our best to correct the error, and having subjected the data to a more exact extension of originally published methods, we arrive at conclusions significantly different from those proposed in the original article. What appeared to be a dramatic fall off of the cancer mortality rate in mice over 2 years of age is now found to be a continuation or flattening of approximately exponential growth. This new finding is entirely at odds with the old, and does not support our later work on humans. Two of this paper’s authors, F Pompei and R Wilson, contributed to the original article. We are informing authors who have cited our paper in the past and apologize deeply for any wasted time or lost work. We should have subjected the ED01 records to more error checks. We thank Jennifer Blank for helping us discover and correct this error. The ED01 records and our earlier research are available http://physics.harvard.edu/∼wilson/cancer&chemicals/ED01.
Neurotoxic and immunotoxic effects of fenthion and omethoate on frogs at acute exposure
Authors: Celik Ismail , Isik Ismail , Ozok Necati , Salih Kaya M.
Published: October 2010

The study was carried out to investigate the neurotoxic and immunotoxic effects of fenthion- and omethoate-used agricultural areas on frogs (Rana ridibunda) at acute exposure. The neurotoxic effects of the chemicals were evaluated by measuring the activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). Biomarkers selected for immunotoxic monitoring were the activities of adenosine deaminase (ADA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in various tissues of frogs exposed to 10 or 20 parts per million (ppm) dosages of fenthion and omethoate for 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours. Results showed that the administrations of chemicals fluctuated AChE and BChE activities in some tissues of frogs treated with both dosages at all the periods. With regard to the immunotoxic effects, MPO activity was increased in almost all the tissues of frogs after 10 and 20 ppm dosages and for 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours exposure of fenthion and omethoate as compared to those of control whereas ADA activity did not change in all the tissues. This may reflect the potential role of these parameters as useful biomarkers for toxicity of fenthion and omethoate.
Making Sense of the Waves: Wipeout or Still Riding High?
Authors: Gray Mel , Boddy Jennifer
Published: October 2010

This article argues for feminism’s enduring importance in light of social workers’ daily experience of women’s abuse and oppression. Although cognizant of the many ways in which feminist theories can be understood, the authors examine the successive waves of feminism and apply Fraser’s theory of recognition and redistribution to examine contemporary feminist movements and point to future directions for feminist social work. They argue that postcolonial feminism, with its awareness of culture and context, is most useful for social work. They see new forms of third-wave feminism, including integrative and postfeminism, as fueling neoliberal consumerist inequality, intensifying the need for feminist social work critique, scholarship, and activism.
What Makes it Feminist?: Mapping the Landscape of Feminist Social Work Research
Authors: Gringeri Christina E. , Wahab Stéphanie , Anderson-Nathe Ben
Published: October 2010

Social work as an academic discipline has long included women and gender as central categories of analysis; the social work profession, started and maintained largely by women, has been home to several generations of feminists. Yet, social work is curiously and strikingly absent from broader multidisciplinary discussions of feminist research. This article explores contemporary feminist social work research by examining 50 randomly selected research-based articles that claimed feminism within their work. The analysis focused on the authors’ treatment of the gender binary, their grounding in theory, their treatment of methodology, and their feminist claims. Feminist social work researchers are invited to reconceptualize feminisms to include third-wave feminist thought and more explicitly engage theory and reflexivity in their work.
Feminisms and Social Work in the United States: An Intertwined History
Authors: Kemp Susan P. , Brandwein Ruth
Published: October 2010

This article explores the interlocking historical trajectories of feminisms and the social work profession in the United States. Bringing these two histories together, the article examines the ideas, practices, and people that have shaped the complicated organism that is ‘‘feminist social work,’’ from the civic involvement of 19th- and early 20th-century women to 21st-century efforts to craft more global, fluid, and inclusive feminist theories and practices. Structured around the three ‘‘waves’’ of feminist activism and theory building, it focuses in particular on changes and continuities in U.S. feminist social work theorizing.
allgo Speaks: Reflections on Intersectional Organizing
Authors: Pulliam Rose M. , Mott Michelle
Published: October 2010

Working for social change in the intersections of multiple oppressions requires innovate approaches. In this article, two women offer their reflections on working in an organization that is organized by, for, and about queer people of color (POC) and prioritizes issues that affect them. The women also form the collectively constructed voice of the organization to describe the organization, its mission, models, and principles. They discuss working under the influences of racism, classism, and homphobia while attempting to work against racism, classism, and homophobia; working in a collective; and the challenges of and strategies for working in collaboration and with a diverse constituency.
Older Adults’ Preferences for Independent or Delegated End-of-Life Medical Decision Making
Authors: Moorman Sara M.
Published: October 2010

Objectives: This study assesses the proportions of participants who prefer independent or delegated medical decision making at the end of life and examines the relationships of personal beliefs, affiliative beliefs, and end-of-life planning behaviors to decision-making preference. Method: Data are drawn from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, a sample of nearly 4,500 healthy White Midwestern high school graduates in their mid-60s. Results: Four fifths of participants wanted to make decisions independently. Valuing independence, being less avoidant of thoughts of death, and valuing quality of life over length of life had strong associations with a preference for independent decision making. Those concerned about burdening a caregiver wanted to make independent decisions. Persons who both executed a living will and appointed a durable power of attorney for health care preferred independent decision making. Discussion: Older adults cite personal and affiliative beliefs, not lack of autonomy, as reasons for their choice to decide independently or delegate.
Do Babies Learn From Baby Media?
Authors: DeLoache Judy S. , Chiong Cynthia , Sherman Kathleen , Islam Nadia , Vanderborght Mieke , Troseth Georgene L. , Strouse Gabrielle A. , O’Doherty Katherine
Published: October 2010

In recent years, parents in the United States and worldwide have purchased enormous numbers of videos and DVDs designed and marketed for infants, many assuming that their children would benefit from watching them. We examined how many new words 12- to 18-month-old children learned from viewing a popular DVD several times a week for 4 weeks at home. The most important result was that children who viewed the DVD did not learn any more words from their monthlong exposure to it than did a control group. The highest level of learning occurred in a no-video condition in which parents tried to teach their children the same target words during everyday activities. Another important result was that parents who liked the DVD tended to overestimate how much their children had learned from it. We conclude that infants learn relatively little from infant media and that their parents sometimes overestimate what they do learn.
Why Women Apologize More Than Men
Authors: Schumann Karina , Ross Michael
Published: October 2010

Despite wide acceptance of the stereotype that women apologize more readily than men, there is little systematic evidence to support this stereotype or its supposed bases (e.g., men’s fragile egos). We designed two studies to examine whether gender differences in apology behavior exist and, if so, why. In Study 1, participants reported in daily diaries all offenses they committed or experienced and whether an apology had been offered. Women reported offering more apologies than men, but they also reported committing more offenses. There was no gender difference in the proportion of offenses that prompted apologies. This finding suggests that men apologize less frequently than women because they have a higher threshold for what constitutes offensive behavior. In Study 2, we tested this threshold hypothesis by asking participants to evaluate both imaginary and recalled offenses. As predicted, men rated the offenses as less severe than women did. These different ratings of severity predicted both judgments of whether an apology was deserved and actual apology behavior.
In Blind Pursuit of Racial Equality?
Authors: Apfelbaum Evan P. , Pauker Kristin , Sommers Samuel R. , Ambady Nalini
Published: October 2010

Despite receiving little empirical assessment, the color-blind approach to managing diversity has become a leading institutional strategy for promoting racial equality, across domains and scales of practice. We gauged the utility of color blindness as a means to eliminating future racial inequity—its central objective—by assessing its impact on a sample of elementary-school students. Results demonstrated that students exposed to a color-blind mind-set, as opposed to a value-diversity mind-set, were actually less likely both to detect overt instances of racial discrimination and to describe such events in a manner that would prompt intervention by certified teachers. Institutional messages of color blindness may therefore artificially depress formal reporting of racial injustice. Color-blind messages may thus appear to function effectively on the surface even as they allow explicit forms of bias to persist.
On “Feeling Right” in Cultural Contexts
Authors: Fulmer C. Ashley , Gelfand Michele J. , Kruglanski Arie W. , Kim-Prieto Chu , Diener Ed , Pierro Antonio , Higgins E. Tory
Published: October 2010

Whether one is in one’s native culture or abroad, one’s personality can differ markedly from the personalities of the majority, thus failing to match the “cultural norm.” Our studies examined how the interaction of individual- and cultural-level personality affects people’s self-esteem and well-being. We propose a person-culture match hypothesis that predicts that when a person’s personality matches the prevalent personalities of other people in a culture, culture functions as an important amplifier of the positive effect of personality on self-esteem and subjective well-being at the individual level. Across two studies, using data from more than 7,000 individuals from 28 societies, multilevel random-coefficient analyses showed that when a relation between a given personality trait and well-being or self-esteem exists at the individual level, the relation is stronger in cultures characterized by high levels of that personality dimension. Results were replicated across extraversion, promotion focus, and locomotive regulatory mode. Our research has practical implications for the well-being of both cultural natives and migrants.
Ego Depletion—Is It All in Your Head?
Authors: Job Veronika , Dweck Carol S. , Walton Gregory M.
Published: October 2010

Much recent research suggests that willpower—the capacity to exert self-control—is a limited resource that is depleted after exertion. We propose that whether depletion takes place or not depends on a person’s belief about whether willpower is a limited resource. Study 1 found that individual differences in lay theories about willpower moderate ego-depletion effects: People who viewed the capacity for self-control as not limited did not show diminished self-control after a depleting experience. Study 2 replicated the effect, manipulating lay theories about willpower. Study 3 addressed questions about the mechanism underlying the effect. Study 4, a longitudinal field study, found that theories about willpower predict change in eating behavior, procrastination, and self-regulated goal striving in depleting circumstances. Taken together, the findings suggest that reduced self-control after a depleting task or during demanding periods may reflect people’s beliefs about the availability of willpower rather than true resource depletion.
The Role of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Genotype, Parental Depression, and Relationship Discord in Predicting Early-Emerging Negative Emotionality
Authors: Hayden Elizabeth P. , Klein Daniel N. , Dougherty Lea R. , Olino Thomas M. , Dyson Margaret W. , Durbin C. Emily , Sheikh Haroon I. , Singh Shiva M.
Published: October 2010

The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene is a plausible candidate for early-emerging negative emotionality (NE), and evidence suggests that the effects of this gene may be especially salient in the context of familial risk for child maladjustment. We therefore examined whether the single-nucleotide polymorphism producing a valine-to-methionine substitution at codon 66 (val66met) of the BDNF gene was associated with childhood NE, in the context of parental depression and relationship discord. A sample of 413 three-year-old children was assessed for NE using standardized laboratory measures. The children’s parents completed clinical interviews as well as a measure of marital satisfaction. Children with at least one BDNF methionine (met) allele exhibited elevated NE when a parent had a history of depressive disorder or when relationship discord was reported by a parent. In contrast, this allele was associated with especially low NE when parental depression was absent and when the parental relationship was not discordant. Our findings suggest that the BDNF met allele confers increased child sensitivity to both positive and negative familial influences.
Scene Memory Is More Detailed Than You Think
Authors: Konkle Talia , Brady Timothy F. , Alvarez George A. , Oliva Aude
Published: October 2010

Observers can store thousands of object images in visual long-term memory with high fidelity, but the fidelity of scene representations in long-term memory is not known. Here, we probed scene-representation fidelity by varying the number of studied exemplars in different scene categories and testing memory using exemplar-level foils. Observers viewed thousands of scenes over 5.5 hr and then completed a series of forced-choice tests. Memory performance was high, even with up to 64 scenes from the same category in memory. Moreover, there was only a 2% decrease in accuracy for each doubling of the number of studied scene exemplars. Surprisingly, this degree of categorical interference was similar to the degree previously demonstrated for object memory. Thus, although scenes have often been defined as a superset of objects, our results suggest that scenes and objects may be entities at a similar level of abstraction in visual long-term memory.
Border Bias
Authors: Mishra Arul , Mishra Himanshu
Published: October 2010

In this research, we documented a bias in which people underestimate the potential risk of a disaster to a target location when the disaster spreads from a different state, but not when it spreads from an equally distant location within the same state. We term this the border bias. Following research on categorization, we propose that people consider locations within a state to be part of the same superordinate category, but consider locations in two different states to be parts of different superordinate categories. The border bias occurs because people apply state-based categorization to events that are not governed by human-made boundaries. Such categorization results in state borders being considered physical barriers that can keep disasters at bay. We demonstrated the border bias for different types of disasters (earthquake, environmental risk) and tested the underlying process in three studies.
When in Doubt, Shout!
Authors: Gal David , Rucker Derek D.
Published: October 2010

A seminal case study by Festinger found, paradoxically, that evidence that disconfirmed religious beliefs increased individuals’ tendency to proselytize to others. Although this finding is renowned, surprisingly, it has never been subjected to experimental scrutiny and is open to multiple interpretations. We examined a general form of the question first posed by Festinger, namely, how does shaken confidence influence advocacy? Across three experiments, people whose confidence in closely held beliefs was undermined engaged in more advocacy of their beliefs (as measured by both advocacy effort and intention to advocate) than did people whose confidence was not undermined. The effect was attenuated when individuals affirmed their beliefs, and was moderated by both importance of the belief and open-mindedness of a message recipient. These findings not only have implications for the results of Festinger’s seminal study, but also offer new insights into people’s motives for advocating their beliefs.
Pregnancy outcome in 396 pregnancies in patients with SLE in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Al Arfaj AS , Khalil N.
Published: October 2010

The aim of this study was to examine the pregnancy outcomes in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and the effect of SLE flare and treatment on pregnancy outcomes. We performed a retrospective evaluation of all pregnancies occurring in patients with SLE during the 27-year period from 1980 to 2006. Of the 319 women with SLE planning pregnancy after SLE onset, 176 (55.2%) conceived resulting in 396 pregnancies. Live births were significantly lower in proportion (70.2% vs. 85.7%) and more likely to end in fetal deaths (29.7% vs. 14.2%) and preterm births (26.7% vs. 5.8 %) in pregnancies occurring after SLE onset than in pregnancies occurring before SLE onset (p < 0.0001). With respect to different disease manifestations, we found that fetal loss was significantly higher in patients with antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies than without (p < 0.001). Preterm deliveries were significantly more frequent in patients with lupus nephritis, anti-Ro/SSA antibodies, hypertension, history of intravenous cyclophosphamide treatment and aPL than those without these features (p < 0.05). Neonates with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) neonates were more common in hypertensive and Raynaud’s-positive pregnancies (p < 0.05). SLE flares occurred in 30.8% pregnancies. There was increased risk of fetal loss, preterm births and IUGR in pregnancies with SLE exacerbations than without (p < 0.05). Prednisolone was found to improve the rate of live births, although it was also a predictor of prematurity. The predictors of pregnancy loss were lupus nephritis (odds ratio (OR) 7.3), aPL (OR 3.9), and SLE flares in pregnancy (OR 1.9). There was higher risk of preterm deliveries in patients with lupus nephritis (OR 18.9), anti-Ro antibodies (OR 13.9), hypertension (OR 15.7) and SLE flares (OR 2.5). IUGR was found to be associated with hypertension (OR 37.7), Raynaud’s (OR 12.3), and SLE flares (OR 4.2). In conclusion, pregnancies in SLE patients with active lupus nephritis, anti-Ro/SSA antibodies, aPL, hypertension, Raynaud’s phenomenon, active disease at conception and SLE exacerbations are at a higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. It is important to carefully plan pregnancy, and experienced rheumatologists and obstetricians should monitor SLE patients in pregnancy and postpartum.
Advanced Clinical Interpretation of the WAIS-IV and WMS-IV: Prevalence of Low Scores Varies by Level of Intelligence and Years of Education
Authors: Brooks Brian L. , Holdnack James A. , Iverson Grant L.
Published: October 2010

Clinicians can use the base rates of low scores in healthy people to reduce the likelihood of misdiagnosing cognitive impairment. In the present study, base rates were developed for the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) and Wechsler Memory Scale—Fourth Edition (WMS-IV) using 900 healthy adults and validated on 28 patients with moderate or severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Results indicated that healthy people obtain some low scores on the WAIS-IV/WMS-IV, with prevalence rates increasing with fewer years of education and lower predicted intelligence. When applying the base rates information to the clinical sample, the TBI patients were 13 times more likely to be identified as having a low cognitive profile compared with the controls. Using the base rates information is a psychometrically advanced method for establishing criteria to determine low cognitive abilities on the WAIS-IV/WMS-IV.
Therapist Awareness and Responsibility in Working With Sexual Offenders
Authors: Moulden Heather M. , Firestone Philip
Published: October 2010

The article aims to address the ethical implications of therapist reactions to sexual offender treatment and, in doing so, increase awareness and understanding of the interaction between the clinician and the challenges of working with sexual offenders. The effects of providing psychological services in general, and to sexual offenders specifically, are reviewed, including the impact on services provided. Practice implications are also discussed as the authors consider the negative effects (e.g., burnout) that therapists experience due to treatment quality and the ethical issues and responsibilities surrounding clinical reactions. Finally, the authors summarize research on self-care and practice recommendations for effectively and ethically working with sexual offenders.
An Exploratory Study of Internet-Initiated Sexual Offenses and the Chat Room Sex Offender: Has the Internet Enabled a New Typology of Sex Offender?
Authors: Briggs Peter , Simon Walter T. , Simonsen Stacy
Published: October 2010

This exploratory study examined 51 participants convicted of an Internet-initiated sex offense in which they attempted to entice an adolescent into a sexual relationship using an Internet chat room. All participants were convicted of a sex offense and subject to an evaluation as a part of sentencing requirements in Colorado. Clinical and behavioral data were obtained from each subject’s offense-specific evaluation and chat room transcripts. The results of the study found that 90% of the participants were apprehended as a result of an Internet sex sting. The authors conclude that Internet chat room sex offenders constitute a separate group characterized by less severe criminogenic factors than other sex offenders (rapists, child molesters). It can be hypothesized that chat room sex offenders avoid relationships and spend a significant amount of time in online chat rooms as a primary social and sexual outlet, and engage in other sexually compulsive behaviors. Within this offender group, it was discovered that two subgroups exist: a contact-driven group motivated to engage in offline sexual behavior with an adolescent and a fantasy-driven group motivated to engage an adolescent in online cybersex without an express intent to meet offline. The chat room sex offender presents a significant clinical issue to treatment providers as a live victim does not exist. Thus, it is unclear if Internet sex stings prevent incidents of child sexual exploitation and may result in convictions of individuals who may never have abused a child. The data suggest a tentative sex offender typology, including subtypes, which need to be replicated in future studies.
Randomized Trial of Distributed Constraint-Induced Therapy Versus Bilateral Arm Training for the Rehabilitation of Upper-Limb Motor Control and Function After Stroke
Authors: Wu Ching-yi , Chuang Li-ling , Lin Keh-chung , Chen Hsieh-ching , Tsay Pei-kwei
Published: October 2010

Background and Objective. This study compared the efficacy of distributed constraint-induced therapy (dCIT), bilateral arm training (BAT), and control treatment (CT) on motor control and functional performance of the upper limb in stroke patients. Methods. A total of 66 patients with mean stroke onset of 16.20 months and mild to moderate motor impairment were randomized to dCIT, BAT, or CT groups. Each group received treatment for 2 h/d and 5 d/wk for 3 weeks. Pretreatment and posttreatment measures included reaching kinematic variables in unilateral and bilateral tasks, the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT), and the Motor Activity Log (MAL). Results. The dCIT and BAT groups had smoother reaching trajectories in the unilateral and bilateral tasks than the CT group. The BAT group, but not the dCIT group, generated greater force at movement initiation than the CT group during the unilateral and bilateral tasks. The dCIT patients had decreased WMFT time and higher functional ability scores than the CT patients. MAL results pointed to better performance in the amount and quality of use of the affected arm than BAT and CT patients. Conclusions. BAT and dCIT exhibited similar beneficial effects on movement smoothness but differential effects on force at movement initiation and functional performance. Therefore, BAT is a better option if improvement of force generation is the treatment goal, and dCIT is more appropriate for improving functional ability and use of the affected arm in daily life. These findings may assist in the planning of individually tailored rehabilitation therapies.
Assessing the Streamlined Wolf Motor Function Test as an Outcome Measure for Stroke Rehabilitation
Authors: Wu Ching-yi , Fu Tiffany , Lin Keh-chung , Feng Chi-tzu , Hsieh Kuang-ping , Yu Hung-wen , Lin Chia-huang , Hsieh Ching-ju , Ota Hisaaki
Published: October 2010

Objective. This study investigates the clinimetric properties of the streamlined Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT), a 6-item version of the performance time scale of the WMFT. Methods. The streamlined WMFT, along with 2 criterion measures, the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) and the Stroke Impact Scale (SIS), were administered to 64 stroke patients before and after a 3-week intervention. Responsiveness was examined using the Wilcoxon signed rank test and standardized response mean (SRM). Criterion-related validity was investigated using the Spearman correlation coefficient (ρ). Results. The mean score on the baseline FMA upper extremity of the patients was 44.84 (standard deviation = 12.77). The streamlined WMFT and the original performance time scale showed comparable responsiveness (SRM = 0.29 and 0.37, respectively). The concurrent validity of the streamlined WMFT was good (ρ = 0.57-0.69). For predictive validity, the streamlined WMFT showed slightly better association with the criterion measures (ρ = 0.60-0.68) than did the original scale (ρ = 0.56-0.64). Conclusions. Compared with the original scale, the streamlined WMFT showed improved clinical utility.
Routine screening for eosinophilic esophagitis in patients presenting with dysphagia
Authors: Ricker Jonathan , McNear Scott , Cassidy Timothy , Plott Eric , Arnold Hays , Kendall Brian , Franklin Kevin
Published: October 2010

Background: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a clinicopathologic disorder first described in 1978 which has gained significant recognition over the past 10 years. Numerous prevalence studies have been performed around the globe, both in pediatric and adult populations documenting a prevalence between 0.002% and 6.5%. The aim of this study is to assess the utility of routinely screening for EoE in patients with dysphagia.

Methods: A prospective, observational study in which adult patients with a complaint of esophageal dysphagia were enrolled.

Results: Of the 135 patients enrolled, 122 completed the study; 100 patients had nonobstructive dysphagia, while 22 patients had a luminal finding which could explain their dysphagia. The prevalence of EoE in the nonobstructive dysphagia group was 22% (95% CI: 13.9–30.1%); 32.7% of male patients with nonobstructive dysphagia were found to have EoE compared with 8.9% of females ( p = 0.004). The mean age of nonobstructive patients found to have EoE was 37.8 years. White patients with nonobstructive dysphagia were found to have a 25.9% prevalence of EoE, compared with 0% of African Americans, 0% of Asians, and 14.3% of Hispanics. When comparing Whites with non-Whites, the prevalence of EoE was noted to be 25.9% versus 5.3%, respectively ( p = 0.050).

Conclusions: EoE is a common cause of nonobstructive dysphagia. We believe that the high prevalence of EoE in patients with nonobstructive dysphagia supports the practice of routine biopsies to screen for the presence of abnormally high numbers of eosinophils in this subgroup.
Cellular context-dependent effects of H2ax and p53 deletion on the development of thymic lymphoma
Authors: Yin Bu , Yang-Iott Katherine S. , Chao Linda H. , Bassing Craig H.
Published: October 2010

H2AX and Artemis each cooperate with p53 to suppress lymphoma. Germline H2ax−/−p53−/− mice die of T-cell receptor-β− (TCR-β−) thymic lymphomas with translocations and other lesions characteristic of human T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Here, we demonstrate that mice with inactivation of H2ax and p53 in thymocytes die at later ages to TCR-β− or TCR-β+ thymic lymphomas containing a similar pattern of translocations as H2ax−/−p53−/− tumors. Germline Artemis−/−p53−/− mice die of lymphomas with antigen receptor locus translocations, whereas Artemis−/−H2ax−/−p53−/− mice die at earlier ages from multiple malignancies. We show here that Artemis−/− mice with p53 deletion in thymocytes die of TCR-β− tumors containing Tcrα/δ translocations, other clonal translocations, or aneuploidy, as well as Notch1 mutations. Strikingly, Artemis−/− mice with H2ax and p53 deletion in thymocytes exhibited a lower rate of mortality from TCR-β− tumors, which harbored significantly elevated levels of genomic instability. Our data reveal that the cellular origin of H2ax and p53 loss impacts the rate of mortality from and developmental stage of thymic lymphomas, and suggest that conditional deletion of tumor suppressor genes may provide more physiologic models for human lymphoid malignancies than germline inactivation.
Spontaneous pneumothorax and tuberculosis: long-term follow-up
Authors: Freixinet J.L. , Caminero J.A. , Marchena J. , Rodríguez P.M. , Casimiro J.A. , Hussein M.
Published: October 2010

Though spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) is a well-known complication of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), there are very few reports addressing this topic. For this reason, we retrospectively analysed the experience of SP in patients diagnosed with TB in our hospital between 1989 and 2010.

Out of 872 patients treated for SP during this period, 47 (5.4%) had TB antecedents, 21 with active TB (0.95% of the 2,089 TB cases diagnosed during this period) and 26 with residual inactive TB. 46 cases were treated with pleural drainage (PD): 40 (85%) with only one PD, two with two, and four with three. The mean±sdlength of PD treatment was 12.9±11.3 days. In 11 (23%) cases, a relapse of SP occurred, with no statistical relationship between the different studied variables. In 13 (28%) cases, it became necessary to carry out a resection (atypical segmentectomy in all cases) for persistent air leaks with PD. Survival statistics were unfavourable only in elderly patients and those infected with HIV.

We conclude that the treatment of SP secondary to TB with PD is usually a sound response, with a good general prognosis and a low percentage of cases that require another PD and surgical treatment.
Data structures and compression algorithms for high-throughput sequencing technologies
Authors: Daily Kenny , Rigor Paul , Christley Scott , Xie Xiaohui , Baldi Pierre
Published: October 2010

Background

High-throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies play important roles in the life sciences by allowing the rapid parallel sequencing of very large numbers of relatively short nucleotide sequences, in applications ranging from genome sequencing and resequencing to digital microarrays and ChIP-Seq experiments. As experiments scale up, HTS technologies create new bioinformatics challenges for the storage and sharing of HTS data.

Results

We develop data structures and compression algorithms for HTS data. A processing stage maps short sequences to a reference genome or a large table of sequences. Then the integers representing the short sequence absolute or relative addresses, their length, and the substitutions they may contain are compressed and stored using various entropy coding algorithms, including both old and new fixed codes (e.g Golomb, Elias Gamma, MOV) and variable codes (e.g. Huffman). The general methodology is illustrated and applied to several HTS data sets. Results show that the information contained in HTS files can be compressed by a factor of 10 or more, depending on the statistical properties of the data sets and various other choices and constraints. Our algorithms fair well against general purpose compression programs such as gzip, bzip2 and 7zip; timing results show that our algorithms are consistently faster than the best general purpose compression programs.

Conclusions

It is not likely that exactly one encoding strategy will be optimal for all types of HTS data. Different experimental conditions are going to generate various data distributions whereby one encoding strategy can be more effective than another. We have implemented some of our encoding algorithms into the software package GenCompress which is available upon request from the authors. With the advent of HTS technology and increasingly new experimental protocols for using the technology, sequence databases are expected to continue rising in size. The methodology we have proposed is general, and these advanced compression techniques should allow researchers to manage and share their HTS data in a more timely fashion.