bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Towards a dynamic approach to reconversions
Authors: Martin Monique de Saint
Published: September 2011

Although they are often analysed as forms of reproduction, reconversions have been characterized as forms of mobility in a number of works. Both options are not strictly contradictory and can equally be justified. However, trying to better circumscribe this notion seems utterly necessary today. Although not pretending to offer a precise definition, the author mainly leans on research on the élite conducted in different geographical (France, Hungary, Russia) and historical contexts, and proposes a better-grounded and more heuristic approach to reconversions that would also permit them to be clearly distinguished from conversions.
How can we capture the subject’s perspective? An evidence-based approach for the social scientist
Authors: Lahlou Saadi
Published: September 2011

This paper addresses the methodological gap that impedes the collection of empirical data on subjective experience. It describes a new family of methods for social science research (Subjective Evidence-Based Ethnography: SEBE). The methods are based on: first-person audio-visual recording with a miniature video-camera worn at eye-level (‘subcam’); confronting subjects with these first-person recordings to collect their subjective experience; formulating the findings and discussing the final interpretation with the subjects. These procedures enable subjects to reconstruct and describe their psychological state at the moment of action, especially their goals, by reviewing films of their own activity recorded from their own perspective with subcams. These films provide situated records of actual activity in natural environments, without the need of an external observer. This approach, by providing both detailed records of actual activity and evidence-based accounts of the subject’s own mental processes, supports grounded progress in ethnography, psychology, ergonomics, sociology and the social sciences in general. There are also applications for training and cross-cultural contacts. The techniques are described in sufficient detail for the reader to make use of them. Examples of applications are provided and limitations are discussed.
Commensality, society and culture
Authors: Fischler Claude
Published: September 2011

The founding fathers of the social sciences recognized commensality as a major issue but considered it mostly in a religious, sacrificial, ritualistic context. The notion of commensality is examined in its various dimensions and operations. Empirical data are used to examine cultural variability in attitudes about food, commensality and its correlates among countries usually categorized as ‘Western’ and ‘modern’. Clear-cut differences are identified, hinting at possible relationships between, on the one hand, cultural attachment to commensality and, on the other hand, a lower prevalence of obesity and associated health problems involving nutrition.
Congenital Myotubular Myopathy With a Novel MTM1 Gene Mutation in a Premature Infant Presenting With Ventilator Dependency and Intrahepatic Cholestasis
Authors: Lee Inn-Chi , Su Pen-Hua , Chen Jia-Yuh , Hu Jui-Ming , Lu Jang-Jih , Ng Yan-Yan
Published: September 2011

Myotubular myopathy is a rare congenital disease characterized by hypotonia and respiratory compromise at birth in affected males. It causes high neonatal mortality. Most surviving newborns need prolonged ventilation and have significantly delayed motor development. Although all patients with congenital myotubular myopathy have respiratory problems such as atelectasis and recurrent lung infections, concurrent neonatal intrahepatic cholestasis is rare. We report a newborn with a myotubular myopathy, ventilator dependency, recurrent lung infections and pleural effusion, facial diplegia, ophthalmoplegia, and progressive intrahepatic cholestasis. A genetic study showed a novel mutation of the MTM1gene: c.1142 G>A (R381Q). We suggest that physicians consider probable concurrent disorders of other organs in neonates with congenital myotubular myopathy.
Interictal Encephalography Can Influence Patient Selection for Methylprednisolone Therapy in Pediatric Refractory Epilepsy
Authors: Heyman Eli , Lahat Eli , Gandelman-Marton Revital
Published: September 2011

We describe our experience with intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy in older children with refractory epilepsy. Patients with refractory epilepsy, who were treated with steroids between 2005 and 2010, were retrospectively selected from the database of the pediatric epilepsy clinic at Assaf Harofeh Medical Center. Eight patients (5 boys) aged 1.1 to 9 years (5.2 ± 2.6) were identified. Intravenous methylprednisolone 30 mg/kg/d was given to all patients for 5 days in addition to a stable dosage of the regular antiepileptic drugs. Transient side effects were reported in 4 of the patients during pulse therapy. Significant clinical improvement was noted in 4 patients, accompanied by a significant reduction of the amplitude of the spike–slow wave discharges on the electroencephalogram (EEG). Children with refractory epilepsy, abnormal EEG background, and high-amplitude spike–slow wave discharges appear to be the best candidates for intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy.
Psychopathic Traits and Preattentive Threat Processing in Children
Authors: Sylvers Patrick D. , Brennan Patricia A. , Lilienfeld Scott O.
Published: September 2011

We tested the fearlessness hypothesis of psychopathy in an at-risk sample of 88 preadolescent children. Psychopathy was measured using combined child- and parent-reported scores on the Antisocial Process Screening Device (APSD). Using a continuous-flash-suppression paradigm, we evaluated threat processing at the preattentive level for the first time in a study of psychopathy. Scores for the APSD Callous/Unemotional factor, which assesses the core affective deficits of psychopathy, predicted preattentive face-recognition deficits for fearful faces and, to a lesser extent, for disgusted faces. This finding contradicts recent suggestions that the fearlessness associated with psychopathy is solely a consequence of overt attentional artifacts. Future research should focus on preattentive processing of fear in individuals with callous-unemotional traits, and on the implications of preattentive-processing deficits for treatment and theory development.
How to compare the social foundations of science culture: A trial with five cities in Korea
Authors: Song Jinwoong , Chung Minkyung , Choi Eunjeong , Kim Leekyoung , Cho Sook-Kyoung
Published: September 2011

Though there have been several indicator systems to monitor the status quo of science and technology and of scientific literacy, few are especially designed for science culture, especially for its social dimension. Furthermore there is little agreement on how to measure it. In a previous study, an indicator system, SCI (Science Culture Indicators), had been developed to monitor the status quo of the science culture of a nation at both individual and social dimensions. The purpose of this study was to explore a practical way to measure and compare local cities’ social foundation of science culture by revising and standardizing the social dimension of SCI and by applying it to five metropolitan cities in Korea. Despite some limits, the results of this study appear not only to reflect the cities’ current situations but also to show the strength and weakness of their social foundation of science culture.
Individual differences in the leader categorization to openness to influence relationship
Authors: van Quaquebeke Niels , van Knippenberg Daan , Eckloff Tilman
Published: September 2011

Contemporary so called follower-centric leadership theories often argue that “good leadership is in the eye of the beholder”. Leader categorization theory, for instance, suggests that subordinates use their cognitive representation of an ideal leader (ideal leader prototype) as an implicit “benchmark” to determine their openness towards the target’s leadership, i.e., influence. With the present study, we extend this rationale by hypothesizing that such benchmarking processes are subject to follower individual differences. In particular, we argue that the process of leader categorization plays a bigger role for subordinates who perceive themselves as ideal (potential) leaders. Moreover, this two-way moderation is proposed to be further qualified by subordinates’ disposition to engage in social comparison orientation. Results of two field samples with employees ( N = 140; N = 287) confirm our hypotheses. In integrating the leader categorization perspective with an individual difference perspective, we not only expand the scope of follower-centric theorizing on social influence, but also support its validity.
Social-norms interventions for light and nondrinking students
Authors: Neighbors Clayton , Jensen Megan , Tidwell Judy , Walter Theresa , Fossos Nicole , Lewis Melissa A.
Published: September 2011

Social-norms approaches to alcohol prevention are based on consistent findings that most students overestimate the prevalence of drinking among their peers. Most interventions have been developed for heavy-drinking students, and the applicability of social-norms approaches among abstaining or light-drinking students has yet to be evaluated. The present research aimed to evaluate the impact of two types of online social-norms interventions developed for abstaining or light-drinking students. Identification with other students was evaluated as a moderator. Participants included 423 freshmen and sophomore college students who reported never or rarely drinking at screening. Students were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: (a) personalized-norms feedback, (b) social-norms marketing ads, or (c) attention control. Data were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models. Results provided some support for both interventions but were stronger for social-norms marketing ads, particularly among participants who identified more closely with other students.
Distinguishing the sources of normative influence on proenvironmental behaviors
Authors: Fornara Ferdinando , Carrus Giuseppe , Passafaro Paola , Bonnes Mirilia
Published: September 2011

The aim of this study was to assess whether different kinds of social norms make a distinct contribution and are differently associated to a place-related behavior, such as household waste recycling. The construct of “local norms” is introduced to identify the normative influence that derives from people sharing the same spatial-physical setting. This kind of influence is expected to hold particular relevance when dealing with individual behaviors that have spatially defined collective implications. Participants were 452 residents of various Italian cities, who filled in a questionnaire measuring intentions to recycle, attitudes towards recycling, perceived behavioral control, and 4 kinds of norms stemming from a 2 x 2 combination (i.e., injunctive vs. descriptive, and subjective vs. local norms). Structural equation modelling analyses confirmed the empirical distinction of the 4 kinds of norms, and showed their independent effects on recycling intentions. In particular, descriptive norms (both subjective and local) emerged as powerful predictors of the target proenvironmental behavior, both directly and indirectly through their influence on perceived behavioral control. The implications of the distinction among different kinds of social norms and their relationship with the other dimensions are discussed.
Formative Research on HPV Vaccine Acceptability Among Latina Farmworkers
Authors: Luque John S. , Castañeda Heide , Tyson Dinorah Martinez , Vargas Natalia , Meade Cathy D.
Published: September 2011

The purpose of this study was to identify the barriers and benefits to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in a low-income, Latina farmworker population in central Florida. This study reports on formative qualitative research conducted on perceptions of benefits, barriers, costs, place, and promotion related to the HPV vaccine from surveys and interviews with a sample of 46 low-income, Latina farm workers and 19 health care workers serving this population. It was found that Latina farmworkers hold many misperceptions about the HPV vaccine and the potential links between HPV infection and cervical cancer. In addition, it was observed that HPV vaccination intention was inversely related to concerns about adolescent sexual behavior and low perceived risk of infection but might be positively influenced by belief in illness prevention and physician recommendation. These findings add to the growing research on HPV vaccine acceptability among Latina subgroups to inform intervention development, marketing materials, education, and policy.
New Labour, communitarianism and citizenship education in England and Wales
Authors: Dunn Andrew , Burton Diana
Published: September 2011

This article posits a connection between the influence of communitarianism on New Labour’s ideology and the content of citizenship education in England and Wales. We first describe and problematize communitarianism, drawing on both UK and US thinkers, and then relate our findings to literature on citizenship education. We conclude by suggesting that the influence of communitarianism could be researched with teachers of citizenship to illuminate the extent of its practical manifestation.
The utility of plasma vascular endothelial growth factor levels in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with POEMS syndrome
Authors: D'Souza Anita , Hayman Suzanne R. , Buadi Francis , Mauermann Michelle , Lacy Martha Q. , Gertz Morie A. , Kyle Robert A. , Kumar Shaji , Greipp Philip R. , Lust John A. , Russell Stephen J. , Zeldenrust Steven , Dingli David , Witzig Thomas E. , Rajkumar S. Vincent , Dispenzieri Angela
Published: September 2011

The POEMS syndrome is associated with elevated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels. Several studies have compared serum VEGF levels between POEMS patients and other disease entities showing higher serum VEGF in POEMS syndrome; however, it is unknown whether serum levels are reliable and reproducible given variable platelet release of VEGF. We therefore compared plasma levels of VEGF in 29 patients with POEMS syndrome with those of other disorders (n = 76). We demonstrated that plasma VEGF levels are useful in differentiating POEMS from other plasma cell dyscrasias, neuropathic processes, and multisystem illnesses. Plasma VEGF is also useful in monitoring disease activity after treatment and correlates with clinical improvements better than hematologic response.
Evidence for maintenance of sex determinants but not of sexual stages in red yeasts, a group of early diverged basidiomycetes
Authors: Coelho Marco A , Gonçalves Paula , Sampaio José P
Published: September 2011

Background

The red yeasts are an early diverged group of basidiomycetes comprising sexual and asexual species. Sexuality is based on two compatible mating types and sexual identity is determined by MAT loci that encode homeodomain transcription factors, peptide pheromones and their receptors. The objective of the present study was to investigate the presence and integrity of MAT genes throughout the phylogenetic diversity of red yeasts belonging to the order Sporidiobolales.

Results

We surveyed 18 sexual heterothallic and self-fertile species and 16 asexual species. Functional pheromone receptor homologues (STE3.A1 and STE3.A2) were found in multiple isolates of most of the sexual and asexual species. For each of the two mating types, sequence comparisons with whole-genome data indicated that synteny tended to be conserved along the pheromone receptor region. For the homeodomain transcription factor, likelihood methods suggested that diversifying selection acting on the self/non-self recognition region promotes diversity in sexual species, while rapid evolution seems to be due to relaxed selection in asexual strains.

Conclusions

The majority of both sexual and asexual species of red yeasts have functional pheromone receptors and homeodomain homologues. This and the frequent existence of asexual strains within sexual species, makes the separation between sexual and asexual species imprecise. Events of loss of sexuality seem to be recent and frequent, but not uniformly distributed within the Sporidiobolales. Loss of sex could promote speciation by fostering the emergence of asexual lineages from an ancestral sexual stock, but does not seem to contribute to the generation of exclusively asexual lineages that persist for a long time.
Metabolic and Kinetic analyses of influenza production in perfusion HEK293 cell culture
Authors: Petiot Emma , Jacob Danielle , Lanthier Stephane , Lohr Verena , Ansorge Sven , Kamen Amine A
Published: September 2011

Background

Cell culture-based production of influenza vaccine remains an attractive alternative to egg-based production. Short response time and high production yields are the key success factors for the broader adoption of cell culture technology for industrial manufacturing of pandemic and seasonal influenza vaccines. Recently, HEK293SF cells have been successfully used to produce influenza viruses, achieving hemagglutinin (HA) and infectious viral particle (IVP) titers in the highest ranges reported to date. In the same study, it was suggested that beyond 4 × 106 cells/mL, viral production was limited by a lack of nutrients or an accumulation of toxic products.

Results

To further improve viral titers at high cell densities, perfusion culture mode was evaluated. Productivities of both perfusion and batch culture modes were compared at an infection cell density of 6 × 106 cells/mL. The metabolism, including glycolysis, glutaminolysis and amino acids utilization as well as physiological indicators such as viability and apoptosis were extensively documented for the two modes of culture before and after viral infection to identify potential metabolic limitations. A 3 L bioreactor with a perfusion rate of 0.5 vol/day allowed us to reach maximal titers of 3.3 × 1011 IVP/mL and 4.0 logHA units/mL, corresponding to a total production of 1.0 × 1015 IVP and 7.8 logHA units after 3 days post-infection. Overall, perfusion mode titers were higher by almost one order of magnitude over the batch culture mode of production. This improvement was associated with an activation of the cell metabolism as seen by a 1.5-fold and 4-fold higher consumption rates of glucose and glutamine respectively. A shift in the viral production kinetics was also observed leading to an accumulation of more viable cells with a higher specific production and causing an increase in the total volumetric production of infectious influenza particles.

Conclusions

These results confirm that the HEK293SF cell is an excellent substrate for high yield production of influenza virus. Furthermore, there is great potential in further improving the production yields through better control of the cell culture environment and viral production kinetics. Once accomplished, this cell line can be promoted as an industrial platform for cost-effective manufacturing of the influenza seasonal vaccine as well as for periods of peak demand during pandemics.
A cost comparison of electronic and hybrid data collection systems in Ontario during pandemic and seasonal influenza vaccination campaigns
Authors: Pereira Jennifer A , Foisy Julie , Kwong Jeffrey C , Heidebrecht Christine L , Quach Susan , Quan Sherman D , Guay Maryse , Sander Beate ,   the Public Health Agency of Canada/Canadian Institutes of Health Research Influenza Research Network (PCIRN) Vaccine Coverage Theme Group
Published: September 2011

Background

During the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza vaccination campaign, health regions in Canada collected client-level immunization data using fully electronic or hybrid systems, with the latter comprising both electronic and paper-based elements. The objective of our evaluation was to compare projected five-year costs associated with implementing these systems in Ontario public health units (PHUs) during pandemic and seasonal influenza vaccination campaigns.

Methods

Six PHUs provided equipment and staffing costs during the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza vaccination campaign and staffing algorithms for seasonal campaigns. We standardized resources to population sizes 100,000, 500,000 and 1,000,000, assuming equipment lifetime of five years and public health vaccine administration rates of 18% and 2.5% for H1N1 and seasonal campaigns, respectively. Two scenarios were considered: Year 1 pandemic and Year 1 seasonal campaigns, each followed by four regular influenza seasons. Costs were discounted at 5%.

Results

Assuming a Year 1 pandemic, the five-year costs per capita for the electronic system decrease as PHU population size increases, becoming increasingly less costly than hybrid systems ($4.33 vs. $4.34 [100,000], $4.17 vs. $4.34 [500,000], $4.12 vs. $4.34 [1,000, 000]). The same trend is observed for the scenario reflecting five seasonal campaigns, with the electronic system being less expensive per capita than the hybrid system for all population sizes ($1.93 vs. $1.95 [100,000], $1.91 vs. $1.94 [500,000], $1.87 vs. $1.94 [1,000, 000]). Sensitivity analyses identified factors related to nurse hours as affecting the direction and magnitude of the results.

Conclusions

Five-year cost projections for electronic systems were comparable or less expensive than for hybrid systems, at all PHU population sizes. An intangible benefit of the electronic system is having data rapidly available for reporting.
Changes in Holstein cow milk and serum proteins during intramammary infection with three different strains of Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Kim Yunee , Atalla Heba , Mallard Bonnie , Robert Claude , Karrow Niel
Published: September 2011

Background

Staphylococcus aureusis one of the most prevalent pathogens to cause mastitis in dairy cattle. Intramammary infection of dairy cows withS. aureusis often subclinical, due to the pathogen's ability to evade the innate defense mechanisms, but this can lead to chronic infection. A sub-population ofS. aureus, known as small colony variant (SCV), displays atypical phenotypic characteristics, causes persistent infections, and is more resistant to antibiotics than parent strains. Therefore, it was hypothesized that the host immune response will be different for SCV than its parental or typical strains ofS. aureus. In this study, the local and systemic immune protein responses to intramammary infection with three strains ofS. aureus, including a naturally occurring bovine SCV strain (SCV Heba3231), were characterized. Serum and casein-depleted milk cytokine levels (interleukin-8, interferon-γ, and transforming growth factor-β1), as well as serum haptoglobin concentrations were monitored over time after intramammary infection with each of the threeS. aureusstrains. Furthermore, comparative proteomics was used to evaluate milk proteome profiles during acute and chronic phases ofS. aureusintramammary infection.

Results

Serum IL-8, IFN-γ, and TGF-β1 responses differed in dairy cows challenged with different strains ofS. aureus. Changes in overall serum haptoglobin concentrations were observed for eachS. aureuschallenge group, but there were no significant differences observed between groups. In casein-depleted milk, strain-specific differences in the host IFN-γ response were observed, but inducible IL-8 and TGF-β1 concentrations were not different between groups. Proteomic analysis of the milk following intramammary infection revealed unique host protein expression profiles that were dependent on the infecting strain as well as phase of infection. Notably, the protein, component-3 of the proteose peptone (CPP3), was differentially expressed between theS. aureustreatment groups, implicating it as a potential antimicrobial peptide involved in host defense againstS. aureusintramammary infection.

Conclusions

Intramammary infection of dairy cattle withS. aureuscauses an up-regulation of serum and milk immune-related proteins, and these responses vary depending on the infecting strain.
Long-term results after Boston brace treatment in late-onset juvenile and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
Authors: Lange Johan Emil , Steen Harald , Gunderson Ragnhild , Brox Jens Ivar
Published: September 2011

Background

It is recommended that research in patients with idiopathic scoliosis should focus on short- and long-term patient-centred outcome. The aim of the present study was to evaluate outcome in patients with late-onset juvenile or adolescent idiopathic scoliosis 16 years or more after Boston brace treatment.

Methods

272 (78%) of 360 patients, 251 (92%) women, responded to follow-up examination at a mean of 24.7 (range 16 - 32) years after Boston brace treatment. Fifty-eight (21%) patients had late-onset juvenile and 214 had adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. All patients had clinical and radiological examination and answered a standardised questionnaire including work status, demographics, General Function Score (GFS) (100 - worst possible) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) (100 - worst possible), EuroQol (EQ-5D) (1 - best possible), EQ-VAS (100 - best possible), and Scoliosis Research Society - 22 (SRS - 22) (5 - best possible).

Results

The mean age at follow-up was 40.4 (31-48) years. The prebrace major curve was in average 33.2 (20 - 57)°. At weaning and at the last follow-up the corresponding values were 28.3 (1 - 58)° and 32.5 (7 - 80)°, respectively. Curve development was similar in patients with late-onset juvenile and adolescent start. The prebrace curve increased > 5° in 31% and decreased > 5° in 26%. Twenty-five patients had surgery. Those who did not attend follow-up (n = 88) had a lower mean curve at weaning: 25.4 (6-53)°. Work status was 76% full-time and 10% part-time. Eighty-seven percent had delivered a baby, 50% had pain in pregnancy. The mean (SD) GFS was 7.4 (10.8), ODI 9.3 (11.0), EQ-5D 0.82 (0.2), EQ-VAS 77.6 (17.8), SRS-22: pain 4.1 (0.8), mental health 4.1 (0.6), self-image 3.7 (0.7), function 4.0 (0.6), satisfaction with treatment 3.7 (1.0). Surgical patients had significantly reduced scores for SRS-physical function and self-image, and patients with curves ≥ 45° had reduced self-image.

Conclusion

Long-term results were satisfactory in most braced patients and similar in late-onset juvenile and idiopathic adolescent scoliosis.
Integrated safety in tocilizumab clinical trials
Authors: Schiff Michael H , Kremer Joel M , Jahreis Angelika , Vernon Emma , Isaacs John D , van Vollenhoven Ronald F
Published: September 2011

Introduction

The efficacy and safety of tocilizumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis have been evaluated in a comprehensive phase 3 program. Patients from these randomized trials could receive tocilizumab treatment in open-label extension trials. Here, the long-term safety profile of tocilizumab, using pooled data from all of these trials, is reported.

Methods

Cumulative safety data (as of February 6, 2009) from five core phase 3 trials, two ongoing extension trials, and one clinical pharmacology study were analyzed. Two patient populations were evaluated: an all-control population (n = 4,199), which included all patients randomly assigned in the placebo-controlled portions of the five core studies, and an all-exposed population (n = 4,009), which included patients from any of the eight studies who received at least one dose of tocilizumab.

Results

Total exposure to tocilizumab was 8,580 patient years (PY), and total duration of observation was 9,414 PY. Overall adverse event (AE) and serious AE (SAE) rates were 278.2/100 PY and 14.4/100 PY, respectively. These events included serious infections (4.7/100 PY), opportunistic infections (0.23/100 PY), gastrointestinal perforations (0.28/100 PY), malignancy (1.1/100 PY), myocardial infarction (0.25/100 PY), and stroke (0.19/100 PY). The rates of SAEs and serious infections were stable over time; no increase with prolonged exposure was noted.

Conclusions

The longer-term safety profile of tocilizumab (mean treatment duration, 2.4 years) is consistent with that observed in the phase 3 studies (duration up to 1 year).
Are Comic Books an Effective Way to Engage Nonmajors in Learning and Appreciating Science?1
Authors: Hosler Jay , Boomer K. B.
Published: September 2011

Comic books employ a complex interplay of text and images that gives them the potential to effectively convey concepts and motivate student engagement. This makes comics an appealing option for educators trying to improve science literacy about pressing societal issues involving science and technology. Here, we report results from the first systematic assessment of how a science comic book can affect student learning and attitudes about biology. We used pre- and postinstruction instruments to measure students’ attitudes about biology, attitudes about comics, and content knowledge about evolution before and after using the science comic book Optical Allusions in their classes. On the preinstruction instrument, nonmajors reported the lowest scores on the content test and attitude surveys relative to the other groups. However, on the postinstruction instrument, nonmajors’ content scores and attitudes showed a statistically significant improvement after using the comic book, particularly among those with lower content knowledge at the start of the semester. The improvement in attitudes about biology was correlated to attitudes about comics, suggesting that the comic may have played a role in engaging and shaping student attitudes in a positive way.
A Comprehensive Analysis of High School Genetics Standards: Are States Keeping Pace with Modern Genetics?
Authors: Dougherty M.J. , Pleasants C. , Solow L. , Wong A. , Zhang H.
Published: September 2011

Science education in the United States will increasingly be driven by testing and accountability requirements, such as those mandated by the No Child Left Behind Act, which rely heavily on learning outcomes, or “standards,” that are currently developed on a state-by-state basis. Those standards, in turn, drive curriculum and instruction. Given the importance of standards to teaching and learning, we investigated the quality of life sciences/biology standards with respect to genetics for all 50 states and the District of Columbia, using core concepts developed by the American Society of Human Genetics as normative benchmarks. Our results indicate that the states’ genetics standards, in general, are poor, with more than 85% of the states receiving overall scores of Inadequate. In particular, the standards in virtually every state have failed to keep pace with changes in the discipline as it has become genomic in scope, omitting concepts related to genetic complexity, the importance of environment to phenotypic variation, differential gene expression, and the differences between inherited and somatic genetic disease. Clearer, more comprehensive genetics standards are likely to benefit genetics instruction and learning, help prepare future genetics researchers, and contribute to the genetic literacy of the U.S. citizenry.
Improving Graduate Education to Support a Branching Career Pipeline: Recommendations Based on a Survey of Doctoral Students in the Basic Biomedical Sciences
Authors: Fuhrmann C. N. , Halme D. G. , O’Sullivan P. S. , Lindstaedt B.
Published: September 2011

Today's doctoral programs continue to prepare students for a traditional academic career path despite the inadequate supply of research-focused faculty positions. We advocate for a broader doctoral curriculum that prepares trainees for a wide range of science-related career paths. In support of this argument, we describe data from our survey of doctoral students in the basic biomedical sciences at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Midway through graduate training, UCSF students are already considering a broad range of career options, with one-third intending to pursue a non–research career path. To better support this branching career pipeline, we recommend that national standards for training and mentoring include emphasis on career planning and professional skills development to ensure the success of PhD-level scientists as they contribute to a broadly defined global scientific enterprise.
Judgements about deprivation of liberty made by various professionals: comparison study
Authors: Cairns Ruth , Brown Penelope , Grant-Peterkin Hugh , Khondoker Mizanur R. , Owen Gareth S. , Richardson Genevra , Szmukler George , Hotopf Matthew
Published: September 2011

Aims and method

A group of lawyers, psychiatrists, best interest assessors and independent mental capacity advocates were asked to make binary judgements about whether real-life situations in 12 vignettes amounted to deprivation of liberty. Kappa coefficients were calculated to describe the level of agreement within each professional group and for the total group of professionals.

Results

There was total agreement between all professionals about deprivation of liberty in only 1 of the 12 cases. The overall level of agreement for judgements made by all professionals was ‘slight’ (κ=0.16, P < 0.01).

Clinical implications

There are practical difficulties involved in making reliable deprivation of liberty judgements within the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) legislation. A clear interpretation of deprivation of liberty is necessary to facilitate professionals' decision-making in this area.
Preoperative Insulin Resistance and the Impact of Feeding on Postoperative Protein Balance: A Stable Isotope Study
Authors: Donatelli Francesco , Corbella Davide , Di Nicola Marta , Carli Franco , Lorini Luca , Fumagalli Roberto , Biolo Gianni
Published: September 2011

Context:

Major surgery induces a catabolic state resulting in a net loss of body protein.

Objectives:

Our objective was to compare protein metabolism before and after surgery in nondiabetic patients with and without preoperative insulin resistance (IR). It was hypothesized that the anabolic response to feeding would be significantly impaired in those patients with preoperative insulin resistance.

Design:

A hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp has been used to identify two groups of patients: IR and insulin sensitive (IS). A tracer kinetics technique has been used to evaluate the metabolic response to food intake in both groups.

Setting:

Patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass participated.

Patients or Other Participants:

Ten IS patients and 10 IR patients were enrolled in the study.

Intervention:

After an overnight fasting, a 3-h infusion of a solution composed of 20% glucose and of amino acids at a rate of 0.67 and 0.44 kcal/kg · h, respectively, was started in each group. Phenylalanine kinetics were studied at the end of fasting and feeding.

Main Outcome Measure:

Effect of feeding on protein balance before and after surgery was evaluated. Protein balance has been measured as the net difference of protein breakdown minus protein synthesis.

Results:

Protein balance increase after postoperative feeding was blunted only in the IR group. In contrast, in the IS group, the postoperative anabolic effect of feeding was the same as before surgery.

Conclusions:

These findings propose a link between insulin resistance and protein metabolism. When non-IR patients are fed, a significant anabolic effect in the postoperative period is demonstrated. In contrast, IR patients are less able to use feeding for synthetic purposes.
The September 11 Digital Archive
Authors: Brier Stephen , Brown Joshua
Published: September 2011

This article focuses on the creation and subsequent development of the September 11 Digital Archive (www.911digitalarchive.org), currently one of the largest digital repositories of historical materials on the September 11 attacks. The article reflects on archival and methodological questions and on issues raised by the efforts of staff members at the Center for History and New Media (CHNM) at George Mason University and at the American Social History Project/Center for Media and Learning (ASHP) at the City University of New York Graduate Center to preserve and present via the Internet digital resources related to the epochal events of a decade ago. The authors, two of the project's three executive producers (the third being the late Roy Rosenzweig), discuss various collecting and organizational issues involved in building a digital archive. They also discuss the effort to balance the development and deployment of an open and accessible Web interface for individual online submissions of digital materials with targeted outreach to and solicitation of contributions from members of underrepresented communities, including the Arab, Chinese, and Latino communities. The article proposes that historians must also function as archivists and preservationists in an era of fragile and ephemeral digital communications.
ApoE is required for maintenance of the dentate gyrus neural progenitor pool
Authors: Yang Cui-Ping , Gilley Jennifer A. , Zhang Gui , Kernie Steven G.
Published: September 2011

Many genes regulating adult neurogenesis have been identified and are known to play similar roles during early neuronal development. We recently identified apolipoprotein E (ApoE) as a gene the expression of which is essentially absent in early brain progenitors but becomes markedly upregulated in adult dentate gyrus stem/progenitor cells. Here, we demonstrate that ApoE deficiency impairs adult dentate gyrus development by affecting the neural progenitor pool over time. We utilized ApoE-deficient mice crossed to a nestin-GFP reporter to demonstrate that dentate gyrus progenitor cells proliferate more rapidly at early ages, which is subsequently accompanied by an overall decrease in neural progenitor cell number at later time points. This appears to be secondary to over-proliferation early in life and ultimate depletion of the Type 1 nestin- and GFAP-expressing neural stem cells. We also rescue the proliferation phenotype with an ApoE-expressing retrovirus, demonstrating that ApoE works directly in this regard. These data provide novel insight into late hippocampal development and suggest a possible role for ApoE in neurodegenerative diseases.
The Breast Screening Programme and misinforming the public
Authors: Gøtzsche Peter C , Jørgensen Karsten Juhl
Published: September 2011

The information provided to the public by the NHS Breast Screening Programme has been criticized for lack of balance, omission of information on harms and substantially exaggerated estimates of benefit. These shortcomings have been particularly evident in the various invitation leaflets for breast screening and in the Programme's own 2008 Annual Review, which celebrated 20 years of screening. The debate on screening has been heated after new data published in the last two years questioned the benefit and documented substantial harm. We therefore analysed whether the recent debate and new pivotal data about breast screening has had any impact on the contents of the new 2010 leaflet and on the 2010 Annual Review. We conclude that spokespeople for the Programme have stuck to the beliefs about benefit that prevailed 25 years ago. Concerns about over-diagnosis have not been addressed either and official documents still downplay this most important harm of breast cancer screening.
Measuring NHS performance 1990–2009 using amenable mortality: interpret with care
Authors: Desai Monica , Nolte Ellen , Karanikolos Marina , Khoshaba Bernadette , McKee Martin
Published: September 2011

Objectives

The new performance framework for the NHS in England will assess how well health services are preventing people from dying prematurely, based on the concept of mortality amenable to healthcare. We ask how the different parts of the UK would be assessed had this measure been in use over the past two decades, a period that began with somewhat lower levels of health expenditure in England and Wales than in Scotland and Northern Ireland but which, after 1999, saw the gap closing.

Design

We assessed the change in age-standardized death rates in England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland in two time periods: 1990–1999 and 1999–2009. Mortality data by five-year age group, sex and cause of death for the years 1990 to 2009 were analysed using age-standardized death rates from causes considered amenable to healthcare. The absolute change was assessed by fitting linear regression and the relative change was estimated as the average annual percent decline for the two periods.

Setting

United Kingdom.

Participants

Not applicable.

Main outcome measures

Mortality from causes amenable to healthcare.

Results

Between 1990 and 1999 deaths amenable to medical care had been falling more slowly in England and Wales than in Scotland and Northern Ireland. However the rate of decline in England and Wales increased after 1999 when funding of the NHS there increased. Examination of individual causes of death reveals a complex picture, with some improvements, such as in breast cancer deaths, occurring simultaneously across the UK, reflecting changes in diagnosis and treatment that took place in each nation at the same time, while others varied.

Conclusions

Amenable mortality is a useful indicator of health system performance but there are many methodological issues that must be taken into account when interpreting it once it is adopted for routine use in England.
Drug-Induced Exanthem Following Dabigatran
Authors: Whitehead Heather , Boyd J Michael , Blais Danielle M , Hummel John
Published: September 2011

Objective:

To report an incident of a drug-induced exanthem during treatment with dabigatran in a patient without prior exposure to the drug.

Case Summary:

A 20-year-old white male was prescribed oral dabigatran 150 mg twice daily for thromboembolic prevention because of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. After 2 weeks of dabigatran therapy, a raised, pruritic, erythematous rash developed on the patient's inner thigh and forearm. Upon discontinuation of dabigatran and initiation of oral corticosteroid treatment, the rash resolved. Dabigatran therapy was not readministered and thromboembolic prevention therapy with warfarin was instituted.

Discussion:

The clinical evidence for efficacy of dabigatran was derived largely from the RE-LY trial, which provided an open-label comparison with warfarin for the reduction of stroke and systemic embolism in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. The most frequent adverse reactions leading to discontinuation of dabigatran were bleeding and gastrointestinal events. In the RE-LY study, drug hypersensitivity, allergic edema, anaphylactic reaction, and anaphylactic shock were reported in <0.1% of patients receiving dabigatran. Despite the low incidence of hypersensitivity reported in the RE-LY trial, the use of the Naranjo probability scale indicated a probable relationship between the rash and dabigatran therapy in this patient.

Conclusions:

Upon initiation of dabigatran therapy, surveillance for hypersensitivity reactions should be included as part of routine drug monitoring.
Dissociable Effects of Top-Down and Bottom-Up Attention during Episodic Encoding
Authors: Uncapher Melina R. , Hutchinson J. Benjamin , Wagner Anthony D.
Published: September 2011

It is well established that the formation of memories for life's experiences—episodic memory—is influenced by how we attend to those experiences, yet the neural mechanisms by which attention shapes episodic encoding are still unclear. We investigated how top-down and bottom-up attention contribute to memory encoding of visual objects in humans by manipulating both types of attention during fMRI of episodic memory formation. We show that dorsal parietal cortex—specifically, intraparietal sulcus (IPS)—was engaged during top-down attention and was also recruited during the successful formation of episodic memories. By contrast, bottom-up attention engaged ventral parietal cortex—specifically, temporoparietal junction (TPJ)—and was also more active during encoding failure. Functional connectivity analyses revealed further dissociations in how top-down and bottom-up attention influenced encoding: while both IPS and TPJ influenced activity in perceptual cortices thought to represent the information being encoded (fusiform/lateral occipital cortex), they each exerted opposite effects on memory encoding. Specifically, during a preparatory period preceding stimulus presentation, a stronger drive from IPS was associated with a higher likelihood that the subsequently attended stimulus would be encoded. By contrast, during stimulus processing, stronger connectivity with TPJ was associated with a lower likelihood the stimulus would be successfully encoded. These findings suggest that during encoding of visual objects into episodic memory, top-down and bottom-up attention can have opposite influences on perceptual areas that subserve visual object representation, suggesting that one manner in which attention modulates memory is by altering the perceptual processing of to-be-encoded stimuli.
Inhibitory Dendrite Dynamics as a General Feature of the Adult Cortical Microcircuit
Authors: Chen Jerry L. , Flanders Genevieve H. , Lee Wei-Chung Allen , Lin Walter C. , Nedivi Elly
Published: September 2011

The mammalian neocortex is functionally subdivided into architectonically distinct regions that process various types of information based on their source of afferent input. Yet, the modularity of neocortical organization in terms of cell type and intrinsic circuitry allows afferent drive to continuously reassign cortical map space. New aspects of cortical map plasticity include dynamic turnover of dendritic spines on pyramidal neurons and remodeling of interneuron dendritic arbors. While spine remodeling occurs in multiple cortical regions, it is not yet known whether interneuron dendrite remodeling is common across primary sensory and higher-level cortices. It is also unknown whether, like pyramidal dendrites, inhibitory dendrites respect functional domain boundaries. Given the importance of the inhibitory circuitry to adult cortical plasticity and the reorganization of cortical maps, we sought to address these questions by using two-photon microscopy to monitor interneuron dendritic arbors ofthy1-GFP-S transgenic mice expressing GFP in neurons sparsely distributed across the superficial layers of the neocortex. We find that interneuron dendritic branch tip remodeling is a general feature of the adult cortical microcircuit, and that remodeling rates are similar across primary sensory regions of different modalities, but may differ in magnitude between primary sensory versus higher cortical areas. We also show that branch tip remodeling occurs in bursts and respects functional domain boundaries.