bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sulfated Polysaccharide Fucoidan Ameliorates Experimental Autoimmune Myocarditis in Rats
Authors: Tanaka Komei , Ito Masahiro , Kodama Makoto , Tomita Makoto , Kimura Shinpei , Hoyano Makoto , Mitsuma Wataru , Hirono Satoru , Hanawa Haruo , Aizawa Yoshifusa
Published: December 2010

Homing of cardiac myosin-specific CD4-positive T cells into the myocardium is the initial pathologic event of experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM). Subsequently, various bystander inflammatory cells are recruited into the myocardium crossing vascular endothelial cell walls. Sulfated polysaccharide fucoidan binds selectin nonselectively and blocks its function. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate whether in vivo fucoidan treatment can improve EAM. A 21-day infusion of physiological saline or fucoidan was administrated intraperitoneally to the rats with sham operation (sham-saline, n = 5; sham-fucoidan, n = 6) or those with cardiac myosin injection (EAM-saline, n = 10; EAM-fucoidan, n = 10). After 3 weeks, fucoidan treatment improved left ventricular ejection fraction (79.04 ± 2.81 vs 65.94% ± 3.22%; P < .01 vs EAM-saline) with a reduced ratio of heart weight to body weight (4.016 ± 0.239 vs 4.975 ± 0.252 mg/g; P < .05 vs EAM-saline) in EAM. Furthermore, fucoidan treatment decreased serum levels of BNP (292.0 ± 53.4 vs 507.4 ± 89.2 ng/mL; P < .05 vs EAM-saline) and the myocarditis area (31.66 ± 1.53 vs 42.51% ± 3.24%; P < .01 vs EAM-saline) in EAM. These beneficial effects of fucoidan were accompanied by inhibition of both macrophage and CD4-positive T-cell infiltration into the myocardium. Fucoidan, a nonselective selectin blocker, attenuates the progression of EAM. This observation may be explained, at least in part, by blocking the extravasation of inflammatory cells into the myocardium.
First Direct Comparison of the Late Sodium Current Blocker Ranolazine to Established Antiarrhythmic Agents in an Ischemia/Reperfusion Model
Authors: Kloner Robert A. , Dow Joan S. , Bhandari Anil
Published: December 2010

Introduction: There are few safe antiarrhythmics for ischemic heart disease. Whereas ranolazine is a promising late INa blocker with antiarrhythmic effects, and devoid of pro-arrhythmic properties, there are no direct comparisons between ranolazine and other antiarrhythmic agents in an ischemia/reperfusion setting. Hypothesis and methods: To determine whether ranolazine was as effective as sotalol and lidocaine to reduce ischemia/reperfusion-induced arrhythmias, anesthetized rats were subjected to 5 minutes of proximal left coronary artery occlusion plus 5 minutes of reperfusion, which causes severe ventricular arrhythmias. At 21 minutes prior to coronary occlusion, rats (n = 20 per group) were randomized to receive either sotalol (intravenous [IV] bolus 5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg per hour infusion), lidocaine (IV bolus 2.5 mg/kg, 2.5 mg/kg/hr infusion), ranolazine (IV bolus 3.3 mg/kg, 3.2 mg/kg per hour infusion), or saline (control). Results: The incidence of ventricular arrhythmias in the sotalol (S), lidocaine (L), ranolazine (R), and control (C) groups was 7/20, 10/20, 9/20, and 16/20, respectively (P = .01 S vs C, P = .10 L vs C, and P = .048 R vs C). Duration of ventricular tachycardia (VT) episodes was reduced from 15.5 seconds (mean) in C to 1.3 seconds in S, 1.4 sec in L and 0.09 sec in R (P < .05 for S vs C and R vs C by Wilcoxon test). The number of rats with any (≥10 seconds) sustained VT was 3 in C versus 1, 0, and 0 in the S, L, and R groups, respectively. Two rats in C had reversible ventricular fibrillation versus 0 in the S, L, and R groups. The number of ventricular premature beats (VPBs) per rat was 10.9 in C, 2.3 in S, 4.9 in L, and 5.7 in R (P < .05 for S, L, or R vs C). P = NS for R versus L or S for all analyses. Conclusion: In this first head-to-head comparison of R vs other antiarrhythmic agents at therapeutic doses in an ischemia/reperfusion model, ranolazine (which lacks pro-arrhythmic effects) was as effective as either sotalol or lidocaine to reduce reperfusion-induced ventricular arrhythmias.
The Need for Increased Utilization of Statins After Occlusive Stroke
Authors: Hebert Patricia R. , Evans Denis , Schneider Wendy R. , Rodriquez-Paz Enrique , Hennekens Charles H.
Published: December 2010

In registry data, among patients who have survived an occlusive stroke, only about half are treated with statins despite a large and persuasive totality of evidence, which includes large-scale randomized trials. In a comprehensive worldwide meta-analysis of 90 056 participants, statins conferred statistically significant and clinically important reductions in stroke and myocardial infarction, as well as cardiovascular and total mortality. In the Stroke Prevention by Aggressive Reduction in Cholesterol Levels (SPARCL) trial of patients with prior stroke or transient ischemic attack, high-potency statins decreased risks of recurrent stroke and major cardiovascular events. In a nonrandomized subgroup analysis, patients who achieved a 50% or greater reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) compared to those who achieved <50% had a statistically significant 31% reduction in risk of stroke. Finally, in a comprehensive, worldwide meta-analysis of all trials of cardiovascular disease, patients treated with intensive compared with conventional statin therapy had significantly reduced risks of stroke and myocardial infarction as well as any cardiovascular event or death. Based on this totality of evidence the US federal guidelines as well as those of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association have been revised to recommend that patients with a prior occlusive stroke should have an optional goal for LDL of 70 mg/dL. All these considerations pose important and timely clinical and public health challenges concerning the need for wider utilization of statins in the treatment of patients with stroke.
Meta-Analysis of Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone Blockade for Heart Failure in Presence of Preserved Left Ventricular Function
Authors: Meune Christophe , Wahbi Karim , Duboc Denis , Weber Simon
Published: December 2010

Background: Heart failure (HF) with a preserved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) is the leading cause of hospitalization after 65 years of age. Individual randomized trials have not shown benefits conferred by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin-II receptor blockers (ARB) in these patients. To overcome this limitation, we performed a meta-analysis of the randomized trials of ACE inhibitors or ARB in patients with HF and preserved LVEF. Methods: Our search identified 4 randomized trials, comprising a total of 8152 patients, that investigated the effects of ACE inhibitors (n = 1), ARB (n = 2), or both treatments (n = 1). Risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a fixed-effect estimate method in the randomised trials. Results: Compared with placebo or no treatment, treatment with ACE inhibition or ARB was associated with lower rates of hospitalization for HF (RR 0.90; 95% CI 0.81-0.99, P = .032), though not cardiovascular mortality (RR 1.01; 95% CI 0.90-1.13, P = 0.858). In 3 studies where these endpoints were combined, the 1-year incidence of cardiovascular death or hospitalization for HF was lowered by ACE inhibition or ARB (RR 0.74; 95% CI 0.58-0.94, P = .014). Conclusion: Compared with placebo, ACE inhibition or ARB significantly lowered risks of (a) hospitalization for HF and (b) the combined endpoint of cardiovascular mortality and hospitalization for HF at 1 year, in patients with HF and preserved LVEF. However, they have no significant effect on mortality during more prolonged follow-up; the width of the 95% confidence limits is compatible with a benefit as big as 10% or a hazard as large as 13%.
Crikey! Overstating the Conservation Influence of the Crocodile Hunter
Authors: Northfield Jesse K. , McMahon Clive R.
Published: December 2010

As humans recognise their environmental responsibilities, it is timely to investigate the influence celebrities have on social causes, including conservation. Recently, Brown explored the conservation influence of Steve Irwin. In our commentary, we argue that Irwin was not a conservation champion but an environmental celebrity. His style, while entertaining, was intrusive and his knowledge of biodiversity limited. Nonetheless, his effects to conserve wildlife through land acquisition and popularise conservation will be long lasting. Awareness is key to conservation, and Irwin brought issues to the fore. However, his role in imparting knowledge and respect for animals is debateable.
I Am ALL Woma[e]n!
Authors: Lahman Maria K. E.
Published: December 2010

These research poems were created through a process the author describes as artifact or archival poetry. As part of an ethnographic study of a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Questioning, Ally university student center, the author conducted an Internet search of the local newspaper for all references to Angie Zapata’s murder, a transgendered woman. Over 100 references were analyzed, including primarily news articles and other newspaper commentaries such as blogs and editorials. The author sought to retain the voice of the media with the only deliberate change being references to Angie Zapata as ‘Angie’ rather than using the media convention of calling her ‘Zapata’. Similar to transcription poetry, the poems seem to emerge completely from the data set. However, it is important to acknowledge the powerful role of the poet as one who arranges and rearranges data quotations, forming intention and meaning. The author attempts to evoke and provoke with poetry a larger critical inquiry message and at the same time honor Angie and her family as members of the community of Greeley, Colorado and of all humanity.
“I Should’ve Done Target Practice”: Why Valerie Solanas Missed
Authors: Rowe Desireé D.
Published: December 2010

Through performative writing, this article seeks to tell the story of Valerie Solanas. Solanas, the woman most notoriously known as the shooter of Andy Warhol, has had little media exposure that does not frame her outside of the violent female assassin trope. (Auto)ethnographic writing, coupled with theoretical interludes via footnotes, works to retell Solanas’ story. In this way this article is telling three stories: the main narrative of Solanas, the footnoted theoretical narrative, and the author’s relationship to Solanas.
4/16: Public Tragedy Collides With Personal Trauma
Authors: Tilley-Lubbs Gresilda A.
Published: December 2010

When the massacre of 32 students plus the suicide of the shooter occurred at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007, this author watched the external events from the relative safety of her office located directly across the Drillfield from Norris Hall, where the shootings occurred. Subsequently, the author fell into a deep state of depression following the day now known as 4/16. Throughout the numbness of the day, the author scribbled poems on post-it notes, later tucked into the journals where she chronicled the depression that held her captive for almost 3 years. In this article, the author performed the journey that helped her survive the collision of public tragedy and personal trauma by connecting the autoethnographic to the public. The author narrated a scene, to tell her story, connecting life and art, writing as inquiry to understand her journey from depression to wholeness.
Poststructural Analysis: Analyzing Empirical Matter for New Meanings
Authors: Kaufmann Jodi
Published: December 2010

How one makes meaning differs according to the theoretical perspective one employs. Aligning with a poststructural theoretical perspective, the author understands that meaning is stabilized by being organized according to the concepts available. By using the same concepts to stabilize meaning, qualitative researchers have the propensity to limit the possibilities of experience and knowledge. One way qualitative researchers can consciously work toward creating new meaning is to experiment with applying alternate concepts when analyzing empirical matter. Such an analysis is an ethical move, for it seeks “better” ways to live and understand. In this article, the author illustrates how empirical matter might be analyzed through three different concepts—reading the self through Foucault, reading the self as a hacceity, and reading the participant through territory. The author concludes with an ethics of a poststructural analysis of empirical matter.
Mixed Methods, Mixed Causes?
Authors: Howe Kenneth R.
Published: December 2010

This article investigates the relationship between research methods and conceptions of causation in mixed-methods research. It begins by distinguishing the natural conception of causation from the intentional conception. Natural causation construes causal explanation as establishing and accounting for ordered patterns of human behavior on the model of the natural sciences and is associated with quantitative methods. Intentional causation construes causal explanation as establishing and accounting for ordered patterns of human behavior in terms of norm-governed institutions and practices and is associated with qualitative methods. The article then argues that both conceptions of causation have a role in social research but that the two conceptions do not map on to quantitative versus qualitative methods. Rather the relationship is crisscrossing—quantitative methods can be used to investigate intentional causation and qualitative methods can be used to investigate natural causation—within an overarching framework of mixed-methods interpretivism in which intentional causation is primary.
Considering Eventfulness as an Explanation for Locally Mediated Peak Oil Narratives
Authors: Pruit John C.
Published: December 2010

Social location is typically thought to shape narratives, but in this article, I provide evidence that events and narrative environment make a difference. I analyze peak oil accounts from two Internet blogs for evidence of continuity and disruption. I identify six types of narratives that mediate bloggers’ interpretations and add to the complex conditions of narrativity.
Swimming is Never Without Risk: Opening Up on Learning Through Activism and Research
Authors: De Schauwer Elisabeth , Van Hove Geert
Published: December 2010

This article examines my own becoming as Elisabeth and as a researcher. It is about working as a support worker, coaching teams that are trying to realize inclusive education for a child, and my PhD process, which relies on these practices. My intention here is to unfold several aspects, blockages, possibilities, and tensions that can make sense of my messy struggle. The never-ending learning through working with people, listening to their stories, and taking responsibility are important ingredients of my engagement. It is necessary to provide insights and justify my multiple positions to avoid falling into a narcissistic trap. In doing so, I will seek help from Levinas and in concepts of Deleuze and Guattari to (re-)construct my own understanding.
The Acculturation Processes: The Strategies and Factors Affecting the Degree of Acculturation
Authors: Dow Helena D.
Published: January 2011

This article addresses the acculturation process immigrants and refugees go through when immigrating to the United States, and the various factors that impact the process of acculturation for both the individual and the family as a whole. The nature of the acculturative stress, which groups of immigrants are mostly affected by it, and the psychological disorders caused as a result of going through this process have been discussed. Four strategies of coping with the acculturative stress process and the factors that impact the choice of a certain strategy have also been described.
Narratives of Wildfire: Coverage in Four U.S. Newspapers, 1999-2003
Authors: Morehouse Barbara J. , Sonnett John
Published: December 2010

The years 1999 through 2003 were marked by intense episodes of wildland fire in the United States and an increased interest in covering fire policy and practice in the media. Analysis of articles published in four newspapers over this time period reveals important differences in reporting emphases, as reflected in the narrative story lines that defined coverage. Identification of how these narratives came to be similarly and differentially constituted as story lines may be useful for fostering better decisions and strengthening public awareness of serious risks as well as willingness to address those risks.
Do Conservation Organizations Influence the Production of Natural Resource Violations?
Authors: Stretesky Paul B. , O'Connor Shelley Tara , Crow Matthew S.
Published: December 2010

This research extends the study of natural resource violations by examining the association between conservation organizations and the enforcement of natural resource violations across 67 Florida counties in 2006. Specifically, the authors look at natural resource violations as an organizational outcome that is influenced by perceived community organization around environmental conservation. To do this, they examine the association between the number of conservation organizations and the level of enforcement for natural resource violations. The results suggest that even while controlling for organizational capacity (i.e., number of officers), offenders and targets, proportion rural population, and economic benefits from natural resource use, a positive association exits between conservation organizations and natural resource enforcement levels. This relationship is not replicated in the case of animal rights and hunting and fishing organizations. Although issues related to environmental justice are always a concern in studies of environmental enforcement, the authors find no evidence of an association between social and economic disadvantage and community organizing. Finally, a post hoc examination of the data suggests that the association between conservation organizations and the level of natural resource enforcement is stronger for those counties where more officers enforce natural resource violations than for those counties where fewer officers enforce violations.
Natural Resource Extraction, Armed Violence, and Environmental Degradation
Authors: Downey Liam , Bonds Eric , Clark Katherine
Published: December 2010

The goal of this article is to demonstrate that environmental sociologists cannot fully explain the relationship between humans and the natural world without theorizing a link between natural resource extraction, armed violence, and environmental degradation. The authors begin by arguing that armed violence is one of several overlapping mechanisms that provide powerful actors with the means to (a) prevail over others in conflicts over natural resources and (b) ensure that natural resources critical to industrial production and state power continue to be extracted and sold in sufficient quantities to promote capital accumulation, state power, and ecological unequal exchange. The authors then identify 10 minerals that are critical to the functioning of the U.S. economy and/or military and demonstrate that the extraction of these minerals often involves the use of armed violence. They further demonstrate that armed violence is associated with the activities of the world’s three largest mining companies, with African mines that receive World Bank funding, and with petroleum and rainforest timber extraction. The authors conclude that the natural resource base on which industrial societies stand is constructed in large part through the use and threatened use of armed violence. As a result, armed violence plays a critical role in fostering environmental degradation and ecological unequal exchange.
Challenges of Professional Development: Balancing the Demands of Employers and Professions in Federal Natural Resource Agencies
Authors: Lauber T. Bruce , Taylor Eric J. , Decker Daniel J. , Knuth Barbara A.
Published: December 2010

Effectiveness of government natural resource agencies depends on the capabilities of their employees. These capabilities may be maintained or enhanced through professional development activities, including involvement in scientific societies. The authors studied factors that influence whether U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Geological Survey biologists participate in a variety of professional development activities. Previous research has indicated that a tension sometimes exists between employees’ commitment to their professions (professional commitment) and their commitment to their employing organizations (organizational commitment). The authors explored how these two orientations related to professional development. The authors found that increases in engagement in a number of types of professional development activities were associated with increases in professional commitment and education. Decreases in engagement in some types of professional development were associated with increases in organizational commitment, however, suggesting that engaging in professional development may involve a trade-off between meeting one’s professional needs and satisfying obligations to one’s agency.
The New Corporate Environmentalism and The Ecology of Commerce
Authors: Forbes Linda C. , Jermier John M.
Published: December 2010

This article identifies Paul Hawken’s The Ecology of Commerce ( TEoC) as a foundational work for scholars interested in the greening of business, sustainable enterprise, and environmental policy. TEoC was published in the early 1990s and was instrumental in launching and amplifying a social movement we refer to as the New Corporate Environmentalism (NCE). It also influenced research on organizations and the natural environment, which today is a vibrant field addressing major themes in business strategy, organizational change and development, organizational sociology, and other timely areas of study. In addition, TEoC provokes thinking about one of the most debated environmental questions of our time: How far can we go with green capitalism? Hawken sets his sights on ending industrialism as we know it and on developing a restorative economy based on technological innovation, sweeping structural reform, and radical process redesign. Although TEoC is replete with reverence for nature, in concert with other sympathetic critics of green capitalism, we raise a question about the balance it strikes between environmental ethics and ecological economics.
Understanding the Impact of Convergent Validity on Research Results
Authors: Carlson Kevin D. , Herdman Andrew O.
Published: December 2010

Using different measures of constructs in research to develop robust evidence of relationships and effects is seen as good methodological practice. This assumes these measures possess high convergent validity. However, proxies—alternative measures of the same construct—are rarely perfectly convergent. Although some convergence is preferred to none, this study demonstrates that even modest departures from perfect convergent validity can result in substantial differences in the magnitudes of findings, creating challenges for the accumulation and interpretation of research. Using data from published research, the authors find that substantial differences in findings between studies using desired and proxy variables occur even at levels of convergent validity as high as r = .85. Implications of using measures with less-than-ideal convergent validity for the interpretability of research results are examined. Convergent validities above r = .70 are recommended, whereas those below r = .50 should be avoided. Researchers are encouraged to develop and report convergent validity data.
Mixed Methods Research in Strategic Management
Authors: Molina-Azorin Jose F.
Published: December 2010

Mixed methods research is becoming an increasingly popular approach in several areas, and it has long been called for as an approach for providing a better understanding of research problems. However, there have been no assessments as to whether such research, which may be timely and expensive, has more impact on the field. The main purpose of this article is to determine whether the use of a mixed methods approach is a predictor of article impact. The analysis is based on articles published in the Strategic Management Journal from 1980 to 2006. The findings show that mixed methods articles tend to receive more citations than monomethod articles do. The average citations received per year and the cumulating sum of citations are both higher for articles reporting studies using mixed methods than for monomethod research designs. Furthermore, a content analysis of the mixed methods articles identified shows that there are different types of studies based on several characteristics (purpose, priority, implementation, and design). All types of mixed methods articles tend to have a higher number of citations than the group of monomethod studies.
Structured Work Systems: Supporting Meaningful Engagement in Preschool Settings for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Carnahan Christina , Harte Helene , Schumacher Karin , Hume Kara , Borders Christy
Published: December 2010

The preschool day begins in one suburban midwestern city. Children engage in a variety of activities throughout this inclusive classroom. Some children seem engrossed in play, and others participate in small groups with the teacher. However, at a center in the corner of the classroom, one child appears different from the rest. Kim, a 4-year-old, is not playing with the materials available in the centers or in the small-group project. She walks around the center, running her finger around the edge of the shelves and along the wall. She does not look at her peers or show interest in the games her friends are playing or any of the learning materials. When her peers approach, she turns her head toward the walls or shelves and continues walking. When her teacher, Mrs. Hopper, approaches with toys, she begins to cry or runs away to another area of the classroom. Transitions are especially hard for Kim, often resulting in tantrums or avoidance behavior. This is especially true when the transition is not part of Kim’s day-to-day routine.
Acute Effects of Walking Environment and GSTM1 Variants in Children With Asthma
Authors: Newcomb Patricia , Hunt Andrew , Rast Pamela , Cauble Denise , Rowe Nancy , Li Jianling
Published: January 2011

Background:Exercise in air polluted by traffic emissions may aggravate airway inflammation in children with asthma, particularly those who produce decreased glutathione-S transferase (GST) as a result of GSTM1 gene deletion. Objectives: This pilot crossover study investigated whether children with asthma experience more airway changes when exercising outdoors near roadways than when exercising indoors. It also examined differences in risk between children with and without GSTM1 deletion. Method: Children between the ages of 5 and 12 years were assigned to groups and walked daily for 1 week in each exercise condition. Airway inflammation indicated by exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) and pulmonary functions measured as forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and mid-expiratory flow rate were measured at baseline and at three intervals during the walking program. Independent variables of interest included walking condition (place), time of walking, genotype, and particulate matter (PM) exposure. Results: A linear mixed models approach was used to investigate the contributions of targeted variables to respiratory outcomes. Results indicated that walking location and ambient level of ultrafine particulates during walking influenced function of small airways. Absence of one or both alleles for the GSTM1 gene did not influence airway function acutely. Discussion: Mid-expiratory flow (FEF25-75) may be more informative than FEV1 in studies of acute lung function changes in children with asthma. Further study of the effects of varied environmental conditions on lower airway function of children is needed to optimize exercise experiences for urban children with asthma.
To Explore Relationships Between Physiological Stress Signals and Stress Behaviors in Preterm Infants During Periods of Exposure to Environmental Stress in the Hospital
Authors: Peng Niang-Huei , Chen Chao-Huei , Bachman Jean , Lin Hong-Chin , Wang Teh-Ming , Chang Yue-Cune , Chang Yu-Shan
Published: January 2011

The purpose of this exploratory descriptive study was to examine relationships among physiological stress signals (heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), and oxygen saturation) and stress behaviors (6 stress behaviors related to sleep–wake states, 10 self-regulatory behaviors, and 17 behavioral stress cues) in preterm infants during periods of environmental stress. This research used a prospective repeated-measures design in a convenience sample of preterm infants of <37 weeks' gestational age and <28 days' postnatal age. All infants were in the incubator in a neonatal intensive care unit or a sick baby care unit in one of two hospitals at the time of data collection. Multiple linear regressions of generalized estimating equations were used to determine relationships. Variables were measured every 2 min over 4 hr, for a total of 4,164 observations in 37 preterm infants. There were statistically significant relationships between 9 stress behavioral responses and changes in HR (seven stress behaviors and two self-regulatory behaviors; p < .05), between 9 stress behavioral responses and changes in RR (seven stress behaviors and two self-regulatory behaviors; p < .05), and between 11 stress behavioral responses and changes in oxygen saturation (seven stress behaviors and four self-regulatory behaviors; p < .05). Findings demonstrate that the functions of self-regulatory behaviors and some special behaviors in preterm infants during environmental stress are related to physiological stress signals. However, results should be investigated further in larger samples.
Effects of Sleep Loss and Strenuous Physical Activity on the Rest–Activity Circadian Rhythm
Authors: Calogiuri Giovanna , Weydahl Andi , Roveda Eliana
Published: January 2011

Objective. Rest–activity circadian rhythm is strongly linked to an organism’s entrainment. Sleep loss and prolonged fatigue could affect the circadian system, inducing neurobehavioral deficits. The Finnmarksløpet is Europe’s longest dogsled race. In this competition, lasting up to 7 days, participants (mushers) are physically active most of the time, having little and fragmented rest. Therefore, the race provides an opportunity to investigate the effects of prolonged fatigue and sleep loss. Methods. Ten mushers, participating in the 500 km and 1,000 km categories, underwent continuous actigraph monitoring (5 days) before and after the race. During the competition, heart rate (HR) was recorded by an HR monitor. Results. There was a reduction in the average activity values during the 24-hr cycle after the race. Although there were signs of a forward phase shift, these were weak and unstable. Nonparametric circadian rhythm analysis (NPCRA) showed reductions in interdaily stability (IS) and relative amplitude (RA). 1,000 km mushers also showed sleep disturbances. Conclusion. A period of 3 days of little and fragmented sleep (3–4 hr of total rest per day), in which subjects were engaged in a prolonged physical effort, was enough to significantly affect the rest–activity rhythm. A longer period (5 days) in such a condition induced even more accentuated alterations, with a disturbance in nocturnal sleep. Disrupted sleep is common among hospitalized patients and those working long shifts. This study demonstrates changes in the structure of the rest–activity circadian rhythm that can result and may suggest opportunities for intervention.
Exercise Program Adherence Using a 5-Kilometer (5K) Event as an Achievable Goal in People With Schizophrenia
Authors: Warren Kimberly R. , Ball M. Patricia , Feldman Stephanie , Liu Fang , McMahon Robert P. , Kelly Deanna L.
Published: January 2011

People with schizophrenia have a higher prevalence of obesity than the general population. Many people with this illness struggle with weight gain, due, in part, to medications and other factors that act as obstacles to exercise and healthy eating. Several studies have shown the benefits of behavioral weight loss programs targeting eating and/or exercise in people with schizophrenia. Fewer studies have used competitive events as a goal for an exercise program. The current study tested the feasibility of preparing, using an exercise program, for a 5-kilometer (5K) event in people with schizophrenia. The exercise program was a 10-week training program consisting of three supervised walking/jogging sessions per week and a weekly educational meeting on healthy behaviors. Almost 65% (11/17) of the subjects participated in all of the training sessions, and 82% (14/17) participated in the 5K event. Participants did not gain a significant amount of weight during the exercise program (median weight change = 0.7 kg; 25th percentile 0.5, 75th percentile 3.9, p = .10). This study suggests that using an achievable goal, such as a 5K event, promotes adherence to an exercise program and is feasible in a population of people with chronic schizophrenia.
Evaluating the Role of Serotonin on Neuropsychological Function After Breast Cancer Using Acute Tryptophan Depletion
Authors: Von Ah Diane , Skaar Todd , Unverzagt Fredrick , Yu Menggang , Wu Jingwei , Schneider Bryan , Storniolo Anna Maria , Moser Lyndsi , Ryker Kristin , Milata Jennifer , Carpenter Janet S.
Published: January 2011

Although cognitive dysfunction is a prevalent and disruptive problem for many breast cancer survivors (BCSs), little research has examined its etiology. One potential mechanism that remains to be explored is serotonin. Serotonin has been implicated in normal and dysfunctional cognitive processes, and serotonin levels are significantly affected by estrogen withdrawal, a common side effect of breast cancer treatment. However, no study has evaluated serotonin’s role on cognitive dysfunction in BCSs. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of serotonin in cognitive dysfunction in survivors by lowering central serotonin concentrations via acute tryptophan depletion (ATD). Based on previous research in noncancer populations, we hypothesized that alterations in central serotonin levels would induce cognitive dysfunction in these women controlling for confounding characteristics such as fluctuating mood and glucose levels. Secondarily, we explored whether genetic variations in serotonin genes would partly explain ATD. Participants included 20 female BCSs, posttreatment for nonmetastatic breast cancer, who received ATD or control in a double-blind, crossover design. Cognitive performance was measured at the 5-hr tryptophan/serotonin nadir on each test day using standardized neuropsychological tests. Specific impairment was noted in episodic memory (delayed recall) and motor speed during ATD versus control. ATD did not alter new learning (immediate recall), working memory, verbal fluency, or information processing speed. Findings suggest that serotonin may play a critical role in memory consolidation and motor functioning in BCSs.
College- or University-Based Sexual Assault Prevention Programs: A Review of Program Outcomes, Characteristics, and Recommendations
Authors: Vladutiu Catherine J. , Martin Sandra L. , Macy Rebecca J.
Published: January 2011

This article examines literature reviews of research articles and dissertations focused on the effectiveness of college- or university-based sexual violence prevention programs. Literature reviews were eligible for inclusion in this article if they examined empirical published peer-reviewed research articles or dissertation research that reported original data; focused on examining the effectiveness of programs that were developed to reduce sexual violence that occurred in college or university settings; offered recommendations for developing and implementing effective college- or university-based sexual assault prevention programs; and reviewed studies that occurred in the United States. Eight review articles met the inclusion criteria. The results suggest that the effectiveness of college- or university-based sexual violence prevention programs varies depending on the type of audience, facilitator, format, and program content. Recommendations from existing reviews of empirical research concerning these program characteristics should be considered by college or university administrators when designing and implementing their own programs on campus.
Aftercare Services for International Sex Trafficking Survivors: Informing U.S. Service and Program Development in an Emerging Practice Area
Authors: Macy Rebecca J. , Johns Natalie
Published: January 2011

International sex trafficking into the United States appears to be a serious and growing problem, although the evidence regarding prevalence, risk, and consequences is incomplete. Nonetheless, human service providers are increasingly being asked to offer services to sex trafficking survivors. Consequently, providers need information to guide services and program development in this emerging practice area. To address this knowledge need, we systematically reviewed and synthesized 20 documents addressing the needs of and services for international survivors of sex trafficking into the United States. The main finding from the review shows the importance of a continuum of aftercare services to address survivors’ changing needs as they move from initial freedom to recovery and independence. Based on our synthesis of the reviewed literature, we present a service delivery framework to guide providers’ development of services for survivors.
Sexual Assault Programming on College Campuses: Using Social Psychological Belief and Behavior Change Principles to Improve Outcomes
Authors: Paul Lisa A. , Gray Matt J.
Published: January 2011

Sexual assault programming is often delivered without a theoretical framework and does not typically utilize applicable research that could help to induce change among participants. Such interventions may target male and/or female students, although the focus of this review is on men. It is important to examine these programs in light of current theoretical knowledge and empirical findings from the social psychological attitudinal and behavioral change literatures. To this end, current programming efforts and their limitations are briefly reviewed. Three social psychological theories targeting belief and behavior change (i.e., social norms, hypocrisy salience, decision, and deterrence) are discussed and their application to such programming is elaborated. Given this information, recommendations for the research and practice of such interventions are provided.
Exploiting Tyrosinase Expression and Activity in Melanocytic Tumors
Authors: Vargas Ashley J. , Sittadjody Sivanandane , Thangasamy Thilakavathy , Mendoza Erin E. , Limesand Kirsten H. , Burd Randy
Published: January 2011

Melanoma is an aggressive tumor that expresses the pigmentation enzyme tyrosinase. Tyrosinase expression increases during tumorigenesis, which could allow for selective treatment of this tumor type by strategies that use tyrosinase activity. Approaches targeting tyrosinase would involve gene transcription or signal transduction pathways mediated by p53 in a direct or indirect manner. Two pathways are proposed for exploiting tyrosinase expression: ( a) a p53-dependent pathway leading to apoptosis or arrest and ( b) a reactive oxygen species–mediated induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress in p53 mutant tumors. Both strategies could use tyrosinase-mediated activation of quercetin, a dietary polyphenol that induces the expression of p53 and modulates reactive oxygen species. In addition to antitumor signaling properties, activation of quercetin could complement conventional cancer therapy by the induction of phase II detoxification enzymes resulting in p53 stabilization and transduction of its downstream targets. In conclusion, recent advances in tyrosinase enzymology, prodrug chemistry, and modern chemotherapeutics present an intriguing and selective multitherapy targeting system where dietary bioflavonoids could be used to complement conventional cancer treatments.
Fixation of Intestinal Tissue Using a Novel Endoscopic Device
Authors: Calisto Juan Luis , Kawamura Junichiro , Trencheva Koiana , Oliveira Olival , Ho Vanessa , Jun Yan  , Wen Lei  , Milsom Jeffrey
Published: December 2010

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to assess the utility and strength of a novel endoscopic fixation device, Brace-Bar, in the large intestine and compare the strength with other currently available techniques. The primary outcome was the strength of fixation using 3 endoscopic methods: BraceBar, suture, and commercially available tackers. The hypothesis is that the use of the BraceBar will result in fixation strength similar to the strength of the other methods. Materials and methods: An ex vivo porcine model was used to test 3 fixation methods: Group 1, BraceBar (Prototype); Group 2, ProTack (AutoSuture); and Group 3, TI-CRON suture (Syneture). Large-bowel segments were fixed to abdominal wall tissue at 20 cm from the distal end of the rectum. Primary endpoint was pull away strength. A total of 45 trials of each method were performed. Comparison between the groups was done using JMP 7.0. Results: There was no significant difference in strength between the BraceBar group and the suture group ( P = .1236). The BraceBar method demonstrated significantly higher strength compared with the tacker group ( P = .003). Conclusion: Use of the BraceBar for fixation of the large bowel is at least comparable with suture fixation, making clinical use of BraceBar a reasonable consideration. Use of this device may make endoscopic repair of certain intestinal conditions feasible.
How Games Support Associational Life: Using Tocqueville to Understand the Connection
Authors: Schulzke Marcus
Published: January 2011

One of the greatest problems in contemporary social science is the decline of participation in political and civil spheres. Video games and digital worlds are promising new modes of association capable of connecting people in a way that passive forms of mass communication are unable to. This essay shows the strength of video games as a medium for associational life by turning to the thought of one of the preeminent philosophers of collective action: Alexis de Tocqueville. Although Tocqueville lived long before the advent of video games, his theory of democracy provides an excellent account of the benefits of civic associations. Among these are teaching enlightened self-interest, creating feelings of efficacy, protecting individuality, and establishing meritocratic norms. Video games are capable of providing each of these goods, making them an effective supplement, though not a replacement, to traditional associational life in an age of increasing fragmentation.
Critically Evaluating the Role of Diagnostic Imaging in Osteomyelitis
Authors: Hankin David , Bowling Frank L. , Metcalfe Stuart A. , Whitehouse Richard A. , Boulton Andrew J. M.
Published: December 2010

Early diagnosis, essential for timely appropriate treatment and reduction of complications, can be difficult. This article aims to give an overview of the role that different imaging modalities have to play in the diagnosis of osteomyelitis. Osteomyelitis is a heterogeneous disease in its pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and management. It infers inflammation of bone and marrow, whereas osteitis is inflammation of the bone only. Thus, a soft-tissue infection that reaches the bone surface but has not infected the marrow is osteitis and not osteomyelitis. Chronic osteomyelitis is divided into active and inactive forms. Newly appearing periosteal reaction or bone destruction within the chronic involucrum are indicators of activation. Imaging modalities represent different underlying pathophysiological processes that may be represented in differing types and differing phases of osteomyelitis. Sequential selection of appropriate imaging modalities requires a thorough understanding of the disease processes and the process by which each modality visualizes this dynamic disease process.
Cartilage Injuries in the Adult Knee
Authors: Moyad Thomas F.
Published: December 2010

Cartilage injuries are frequently recognized as a source of significant morbidity and pain in patients with previous knee injuries. The majority of patients who undergo routine knee arthroscopy have evidence of a chondral defect. These injuries represent a continuum of pathology from small, asymptomatic lesions to large, disabling defects affecting a major portion of one or more compartments within the knee joint. In comparison to patients with osteoarthritis, individuals with isolated chondral surface damage are often younger, significantly more active, and usually less willing to accept limitations in activities that require higher impact. At the present time, a variety of surgical procedures exist, each with their unique indications. This heterogeneity of treatment options frequently leads to uncertainty regarding which techniques, if any, are most appropriate for patients. The purpose of this review is to describe the workup and discuss the management techniques for cartilage injuries within the adult knee.
Knockdown Epithelial Membrane Protein 1 Suppresses Human Degenerative Intervertebral Disc–Derived Nucleus Pulposus Cell Proliferation
Authors: Li Zhi-Yong , Xiong Shao-Hu , Hu Ming , Zhang Chuan-Sen
Published: December 2010

Objective:

Our previous work showed that epithelial membrane protein 1 (EMP1) is highly expressed in nucleus pulposus of the human degenerative intervertebral disc. The present study was designed to investigate the role of EMP1 in nucleus pulposus cells in intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD).

Design:

Human nucleus pulposus cells derived from degenerative intervertebral discs were cultured. EMP1 expression was knocked down by lentivirus-mediated specific interfering RNA. Cell morphology was observed, and cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cycle were evaluated.

Results:

Knockdown of EMP1 inhibited cell proliferation, caused cells to shrink, and accelerated the apoptosis induced by serum deprivation or addition of cycloheximide but did not evoke apoptosis in normal culture conditions.

Conclusions:

These findings suggest that EMP1 promoted chondrocyte proliferation, survival, and morphological change of cells during IDD, implying that EMP1 may be a target for biological therapy for IDD.