bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microvascular Dysfunction Is Associated With a Higher Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Muris Dennis M.J. , Houben Alfons J.H.M. , Schram Miranda T. , Stehouwer Coen D.A.
Published: October 2012

Objective—

Recent data support the hypothesis that microvascular dysfunction may be a potential mechanism in the development of insulin resistance. We examined the association of microvascular dysfunction with incident type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and impaired glucose metabolism by reviewing the literature and conducting a meta-analysis of longitudinal studies on this topic.

Methods and Results—

We searched Medline and Embase for articles published up to October 2011. Prospective cohort studies that focused on microvascular measurements in participants free of T2DM at baseline were included. Pooled relative risks were calculated using random effects models. Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria for this meta-analysis. These studies focused on T2DM or impaired fasting glucose, not on impaired glucose tolerance. The pooled relative risks for incident T2DM (3846 cases) was 1.25 (95% confidence interval, 1.15; 1.36) per 1 SD greater microvascular dysfunction when all estimates of microvascular dysfunction were combined. In analyses of single estimates of microvascular dysfunction, the pooled relative risks for incident T2DM was 1.49 (1.36; 1.64) per 1 SD higher plasma soluble E-selectin levels; 1.21(1.11; 1.31) per 1 SD higher plasma soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 levels; 1.48 (1.03; 2.12) per 1 SD lower response to acetylcholine-mediated peripheral vascular reactivity; 1.18 (1.08; 1.29) per 1 SD lower retinal arteriole-to-venule ratio; and 1.43 (1.33; 1.54) per 1 logarithmically transformed unit higher albumin-to-creatinine ratio. In addition, the pooled relative risks for incident impaired fasting glucose (409 cases) was 1.15 (1.01–1.31) per 1 SD greater retinal venular diameters.

Conclusion—

These data indicate that various estimates of microvascular dysfunction were associated with incident T2DM and, possibly, impaired fasting glucose, suggesting a role for the microcirculation in the pathogenesis of T2DM.
Krüppel-Like Factor-11, a Transcription Factor Involved in Diabetes Mellitus, Suppresses Endothelial Cell Activation via the Nuclear Factor-κB Signaling Pathway
Authors: Fan Yanbo , Guo Yanhong , Zhang Jifeng , Subramaniam Malayannan , Song Chao-Zhong , Urrutia Raul , Chen Y. Eugene
Published: October 2012

Objective—

Endothelial cell (EC) inflammatory status is critical to many vascular diseases. Emerging data demonstrate that mutations of Krüppel-like factor-11 (KLF11), a gene coding maturity-onset diabetes mellitus of the young type 7 (
MODY7
), contribute to the development of neonatal diabetes mellitus. However, the function of KLF11 in the cardiovascular system still remains to be uncovered. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of KLF11 in vascular endothelial inflammation.

Methods and Results—

KLF11 is highly expressed in vascular ECs and induced by proinflammatory stimuli. Adenovirus-mediated KLF11 overexpression inhibits expression of tumor necrosis factors-α–induced adhesion molecules. Moreover, small interfering RNA–mediated KLF11 knockdown augments the proinflammatory status in ECs. KLF11 inhibits promoter activity of adhesion molecules induced by tumor necrosis factor-α and nuclear factor-κB p65 overexpression. Mechanistically, KLF11 potently inhibits nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway via physical interaction with p65. Furthermore, KLF11 knockdown results in increased binding of p65 to vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and E-selectin promoters. At the whole organism level,
KLF11
−/−
mice exhibit a significant increase in leukocyte recruitment to ECs after lipopolysaccharide administration.

Conclusion—

Taken together, our data demonstrate for the first time that KLF11 is a suppressor of EC inflammatory activation, suggesting that KLF11 constitutes a novel potential molecular target for inhibition of vascular inflammatory diseases.
Cholesterol Accumulation Regulates Expression of Macrophage Proteins Implicated in Proteolysis and Complement Activation
Authors: Suzuki Masashi , Becker Lev , Pritchard David K. , Gharib Sina A. , Wijsman Ellen M. , Bammler Theo K. , Beyer Richard P. , Vaisar Tomas , Oram John F. , Heinecke Jay W.
Published: October 2012

Objective—

Cholesterol accumulation by macrophages plays a key role in atherogenesis. To begin to develop a global picture of this process, we used proteomics and transcriptomics to analyze foam cells generated with acetyl-low-density lipoprotein, a classic ligand for scavenger receptors.

Methods and Results—

Tandem mass spectrometry and stringent statistical analysis revealed that foam cells differentially expressed 15 of 542 proteins (2.8%) detected in macrophage-conditioned medium. Apolipoprotein E was one of the most upregulated proteins, confirming that proteins involved in lipid metabolism are important targets for regulation by sterol accumulation. However, levels of proteins linked to complement activation and lysosomal proteolysis also changed markedly. Transcriptional analysis demonstrated that 698 of 19 700 genes (3.5%) were regulated in foam cells, including many genes important in sterol metabolism. We also found that cholesterol accumulation regulated genes implicated in complement activation but failed to affect genes linked to proteolysis and macrophage polarization. Changes in protein levels in macrophage-conditioned medium were largely independent of changes in mRNA levels.

Conclusion—

Loading sterol into macrophages regulates levels of complement proteins and lysosomal proteases—key players in the immune system and plaque rupture. Posttranscriptional mechanisms are likely important for controlling levels of most of the proteins detected in macrophage medium.
Plasma CXCL12 Levels as a Predictor of Future Stroke
Authors: Schutt Robert C. , Burdick Marie D. , Strieter Robert M. , Mehrad Borna , Keeley Ellen C.
Published: October 2012

Background and Purpose—

The chemokine ligand CXCL12 is constitutively expressed in the bone marrow and other tissues including the brain endothelium and is responsible for regulating the trafficking of bone marrow progenitor cells. CXCL12 has been shown to play a significant role in animal models of ischemic stroke but its role in human stroke is unclear. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that elevated circulating baseline CXCL12 levels are associated with subsequent stroke.

Methods—

We prospectively collected demographic and angiographic data from consecutive patients referred for elective coronary angiography. Before coronary angiography a peripheral blood sample was collected for subsequent measurement of CXCL12. One-year stroke risk was calculated using the Framingham Risk Profile. Clinical follow-up was performed at 6 months and 1 year.

Results—

Of 206 subjects enrolled, 10 (4.9%) sustained an ischemic stroke over the 1year follow-up. There were no significant differences in baseline clinical characteristics or angiographic findings. However, median CXCL12 levels were significantly higher in those who sustained an ischemic stroke compared with those who did not (10 856 pg/mL versus 2241 pg/mL,
P
=0.007). The time to stroke distribution between subjects with baseline CXCL12 levels ≥10 421 pg/mL and those with baseline CXCL12 levels <10 421 pg/mL was significantly different (log rank
P
<0.001). The weighted Cox proportional hazard model demonstrated that baseline CXCL12 levels ≥10 421 pg/mL were significantly associated with ischemic stroke at follow-up (hazard ratio, 15.29; 95% CI, 3.05–76.71).

Conclusions—

Plasma CXCL12 levels may represent a novel biomarker of future ischemic stroke.
Does accumulating exposure to illicit drugs bring forward the age at onset in schizophrenia?
Authors: Power Brian D , Dragovic Milan , Jablensky Assen , Stefanis Nikos C
Published: October 2012

Objective:

Whilst cannabis has been associated with an earlier age at onset in schizophrenia, the impact of amphetamine and/or cocaine plus cannabis consumption on age at onset remains unclear. The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that consumption of amphetamine and/or cocaine in addition to cannabis would lead to an earlier age at onset of schizophrenia than that seen for cannabis consumption alone. A secondary objective was to determine what kind of effect additional substance use exerted (e.g. additive, multiplicative).

Method:

Patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia were recruited from consecutive admissions to the inpatient and outpatient services of a large psychiatric hospital in Perth, Australia and 167 participants were assessed using the Diagnostic Interview for Psychosis, which included detailed inquiry into illicit drug use in the 12 months prior to the onset of psychiatric symptoms. Participants were categorized into four groups: no illicit substance use ( n = 65), cannabis use ( n = 68), cannabis plus amphetamine use ( n = 25), and cocaine plus cannabis/cocaine plus cannabis plus amphetamine use ( n = 9). Analysis of variance was performed to detect trends, and linear regression used to analyze the consumption of each additional substance as a predictor of age at onset.

Results:

We observed a linear trend for mean age at onset: 23.34 (SD = 6.91) years for no illicit substance use, 22.51 (SD = 5.27) years for cannabis use, 20.84 (SD = 3.48) years for cannabis plus amphetamine use, and 19.56 (SD = 3.54) years for cocaine plus cannabis/cocaine plus cannabis plus amphetamine use; the variation in the means between groups was statistically significant: F(1,163) = 5.66, p = 0.008, Cohen’s d = 0.38. For the consumption of each additional substance, age at onset was earlier by 1.2 years: R2 = 0.034, F(1,165) = 5.72, p = 0.018.

Conclusions:

Whilst preliminary, these findings suggest that additional consumption of each substance predicted an earlier age at onset by approximately 1 additional year.
Principal Perceptions and Student Achievement in Reading in Korea, Mexico, and the United States
Authors: Shin Seon-Hi , Slater Charles L. , Backhoff Eduardo
Published: October 2012

This study compared PISA 2009 student reading literacy scores with principal perceptions across three countries with varying levels of student performance: Korea, Mexico, and the United States. Seventy-five countries participated in PISA 2009, which measured 15-year-old children’s reading achievement and principal perceptions. The study explored the relationship of principals’ perceived levels of leadership, school autonomy, and use of test results with student attainment of reading literacy. School variables were treated as covariates when each effect of principal leadership was interpreted. All variables were included in a multilevel model and analyzed simultaneously. The means and standard deviations of outcome variables and the explanatory and control variables for the model of the study were calculated by taking into account sampling weights, as well as plausible values for reading literacy scores. SAS PROC MIXED was used to fit hierarchical linear models for the study. There was a positive relationship between student achievement in reading literacy and testing to improve instruction in all three countries—Korea, Mexico, and the United States—and there was a negative relationship between student achievement and lack of resources. Social, economic, and cultural status showed a positive relationship with reading literacy. To be specific, testing to improve instruction can be beneficial in all three countries when it is defined as using tests to group students for instructional purposes and to identify aspects of instruction or the curriculum that could be improved. Results also indicate that students are likely to achieve better if principals perceive that there are no shortages of personnel and equipment.
Friendly Habitat, Endangered Species
Authors: Shouse Roger C. , Sun Jinai
Published: October 2012

This article presents a case study examining the demise of a high school Mandarin language program in a school district that appeared to offer an exceptionally friendly habitat for its survival. Though members of the school board majority who voted against funding the program offered rational explanations for their decision (e.g., insufficient fiscal and human resources), other case evidence revealed the influence of emerging political polarization. Using policy ecology theory and event ecology analytic lenses, evidence indicated the fundamental cause of program failure to be political climate change within the district ecosystem resulting from years of community conflict over a high school renovation proposal. The climate shift led to the election of a factionalized school board, whose first budgetary action was to cancel funding for the Mandarin program, despite its popularity and established position within district strategic planning. We argue that much present and prior theory on organizational action lacks the dynamic perspective necessary to account for the type of climate and policy changes described in the present case. Our study thus highlights the usefulness of ecological theory in understanding the threats posed to small yet valued policy species by emerging, politically toned policy streams, school board factionalism, and ideological voting patterns. We argue that this phenomenon poses particular risks for local public school governance during times of resource uncertainty.
Epiphanies and learning in a postcolonial Malaysian context: A preliminary evaluation of international social work placements
Authors: Crabtree Sara Ashencaen , Parker Jonathan , Azman Azinda , Carlo Dolly Paul
Published: October 2012

This article discusses preliminary findings from a study of international placement learning of British social work students in social welfare settings in Malaysia. Research data generated focuses on the learning processes experienced by the students placed in an unfamiliar, postcolonial context with an emphasis on issues relating to diversity and developing critical cultural competence. Future sustainability and benefits of such placements are also reviewed.
Benefits and Limitations of Adding Hyperbranched Polymers to Dental Resins
Authors: Dewaele M. , Leprince J.G. , Fallais I. , Devaux J. , Leloup G.
Published: October 2012

Volumetric shrinkage reduction is a constant challenge in the improvement of dental resins. The inclusion of hyperbranched polymers (HBPs) with modified functionalities (hydroxyl, propionate, and methacrylate) instead of conventional dimethacrylate monomers has the potential to reduce shrinkage, but can also affect other properties. The null hypothesis was that the addition of HBPs (from 5 to 40 mass%) to a 50/50 mass% Bis-GMA/TEGDMA mixture reduces shrinkage without affecting degree of conversion, elastic modulus, glass transition temperature, Wallace hardness (before/after ethanol storage), and viscosity. This hypothesis was rejected, since HBP incorporation significantly affected most properties either negatively or positively. When HBP amounts in the resin were increased, the following general trends were observed: Volumetric shrinkage decreased significantly (p < 0.0001), down to about one-third of the control value at 40% HBP; Wallace hardness (both before and after ethanol) and viscosity increased progressively, while elastic modulus showed a parabolic profile, with a maximum at 10% HBP; and finally, degree of conversion and glass transition temperature were relatively stable, regardless of the HBP content. These results indicate that HBPs with modified end groups might be interesting substitutes for Bis-GMA/TEGDMA.
Measuring the Effect of Weather on Tourism
Authors: Becken Susanne
Published: October 2012

Limited research has focused on the impacts of weather on tourist arrivals and participation in activities. This research uses Westland, New Zealand, as a case study to analyze the impact of weather on intra-annual seasonality and inter-annual variation in visitor nights. Further, a scenic flight operation and a visitor center in the township of Franz Josef serve as case studies to quantify the impact of weather parameters on the number of flights and visitation. The results show that seasonality in Westland is largely driven by temperature; however, variability in visitor nights across years does not seem to be influenced by weather conditions. Both the scenic flight operation and visitation to the visitor center are measurably impacted on by daily weather. This research provides information for destination managers in Westland on weather-related impacts on tourism, and potential changes in the future under the scenario of warming temperatures and increasing precipitation.
Demographic Transition and Population Ageing: Building an Inclusive Culture
Authors: Paltasingh Tattwamasi , Tyagi Renu
Published: October 2012

The worldwide trend of growing elderly population is an outcome of declining fertility rate and increase in life expectancy. Demographic data on population ageing, growth rate, health and socio-economic aspects across gender, class and region has been discussed. The article has incorporated a special focus on policy measures in each of the above areas. It is advocated that all relevant stakeholders need to initiate a support framework that can enable the elderly to lead quality life with dignity. Within this overarching framework, the focus is specifically on the elderly who are marginalised and underprivileged in specific circumstances irrespective of their socio-economic background.
Chattering-free condition for sliding mode control with unidirectional auxiliary surfaces
Authors: Fu Jian , Wu Qing-xian , Chen Wen-hua , Yan Xing-gang
Published: October 2012

A chattering-free condition is proposed as a sufficient condition for the sliding mode control with unidirectional auxiliary surfaces (UAS-SMC) strategy in a class of non-linear systems. With this condition, the UAS-SMC controller would enjoy the following properties: 1) chattering-free property of the control input; 2) enhanced approaching speed on the switching surfaces (except the original point); 3) no requirement to measure the derivatives; 4) a positively invariant set formed by UAS. The stability of the closed-loop system is demonstrated with a chattering-free UAS-SMC controller. Numerical simulation is given to illustrate the benefits and properties of the proposed controller and algorithm.
The Use of Visual and Verbal Means of Communication Across Psychological Distance
Authors: Amit Elinor , Wakslak Cheryl , Trope Yaacov
Published: October 2012

The current study investigated the effect of distance on medium preferences in interpersonal communication. Five experiments showed that people’s preference for using pictures (vs. words) is increasingly higher when communicating with temporally, socially, or geographically proximal (vs. distal) others. In contrast, preference for words is increasingly higher when communicating with those who were distal. A sixth experiment showed that communication’s medium influences distance preferences, such that people’s preference for communicating a message to a distant (vs. proximal) target is greater for verbal compared with pictorial communications. A seventh experiment showed that recipients are more likely to heed a sender’s suggestions when the medium and distance are congruent. These findings reflect the suitability of pictures for communication with proximal others and words with distal others. Implications of these findings for construal-level theory, perspective taking, embodied cognition, the development of language, and social skills with children are discussed.
Comparing the Performance of Five Multidimensional CAT Selection Procedures With Different Stopping Rules
Authors: Yao Lihua
Published: October 2012

Through simulated data, five multidimensional computerized adaptive testing (MCAT) selection procedures with varying test lengths are examined and compared using different stopping rules. Fixed item exposure rates are used for all the items, and the Priority Index (PI) method is used for the content constraints. Two stopping rules, standard error ( SE) and predicted standard error reduction (PSER), are proposed; each MCAT selection process is stopped if either the required precision has been achieved or the selected number of items has reached the maximum limit. The five procedures are as follows: minimum angle (Ag), volume (Vm), minimize the error variance of the linear combination ( V1), minimize the error variance of the composite score with the optimized weight ( V2), and Kullback–Leibler (KL) information. The recovery for the domain scores or content scores and their overall score, test length, and test reliability are compared across the five MCAT procedures and between the two stopping rules. It is found that the two stopping rules are implemented successfully and that KL uses the least number of items to reach the same precision level, followed by Vm; Ag uses the largest number of items. On average, to reach a precision of SE = .35, 40, 55, 63, 63, and 82 items are needed for KL, Vm, V1, V2, and Ag, respectively, for the SE stopping rule. PSER yields 38, 45, 53, 58, and 68 items for KL, Vm, V1, V2, and Ag, respectively; PSER yields only slightly worse results than SE, but with much fewer items. Overall, KL is recommended for varying-length MCAT.
Comment on 3PL IRT Adjustment for Guessing
Authors: Chiu Ting-Wei , Camilli Gregory
Published: October 2012

Guessing behavior is an issue discussed widely with regard to multiple choice tests. Its primary effect is on number-correct scores for examinees at lower levels of proficiency. This is a systematic error or bias, which increases observed test scores. Guessing also can inflate random error variance. Correction or adjustment for guessing formulas has been applied to address some of these issues. The purpose of this research comment is to draw attention to the adjustment for guessing implicit in the three-parameter logistic item response theory model. Potential equity issues also arise with respect to this adjustment.
Highlights of the 2012 Research Workshop
Authors: Zeisel Steven H. , Waterland Robert A. , Ordovás José M. , Muoio Deborah M. , Jia Wei , Fodor Anthony
Published: October 2012

The American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (A.S.P.E.N.) Research Workshop, “Using Nutrigenomics and Metabolomics in Clinical Nutrition Research,” was held on January 21, 2012, in Orlando, Florida. The conference brought together experts in human nutrition who use nutrigenomic and metabolomic methods to better understand metabolic individuality and nutrition effects on health. We are beginning to understand how genetic variation and epigenetic events alter requirements for and responses to foods in our diet (the field of nutrigenetics/nutrigenomics and epigenetics). At the same time, methods for profiling almost all of the products of metabolism in plasma, urine, and tissues (metabolomics) are being refined. The relationships between diet and nutrigenomic‐metabolomic profiles, as well as between these profiles and health, are being elucidated, and this will dramatically alter clinical practice in nutrition.
Social Comparison and Reciprocity in Director Compensation
Authors: Boivie Steven , Bednar Michael K. , Barker Steven B.
Published: October 2012

In this article, we develop theory regarding one set of mechanisms through which increases in the compensation of directors are transmitted throughout the director labor market. In a longitudinal study using director compensation data from 1996 to 2005, we test hypotheses about how directors’ use of social comparison processes, and reciprocity between CEOs and the board, drive up the compensation level for boards of directors. Specifically, we argue and find that directors’ home firms and interlocked boards serve as salient comparison groups for board members.
SPCF: a stepwise partitioning for collaborative filtering to alleviate sparsity problems
Authors: Hoseini Elham , Hashemi Sattar , Hamzeh Ali
Published: October 2012

Collaborative filtering is a widely used approach in recommendation systems which predict user preferences by learning from user-item ratings. To extract either user relationship or item dependencies, there exist several well known approaches; among them clustering is of great importance. Traditional clustering methods in collaborative filtering usually suffer from two fundamental problems: sparsity and scalability. Sparsity refers to a situation where most users rate only a small number of items, while scalability denotes a huge number of both users and items. Inspired by these problems, this paper presents a novel stepwise paradigm, SPCF, which in the first step clusters users and items separately using their latent similarity. Once the primary clusters of the first level are formed, the second level simultaneously clusters the user and item clusters by means of co-clustering. The advantages of SPCF are threefold; first, it is able to alleviate the well known sparsity problem which intrinsically exists in collaborative filtering; second, the proposed method offers an elegant solution to the scalability problem based on dimensionality reduction which in turn leads to better performance of the model; third, experimental results on two versions of a Movielens dataset for prediction have demonstrated that the proposed method can reveal major interests of users or items in promising manner.
Personal name vocabularies as linked open data: A case study of jazz artist names
Authors: Pattuelli M. Cristina
Published: October 2012

This article describes the process of constructing a vocabulary of personal names of jazz artists in the form of Linked Open Data (LOD). Created as a name directory to support the development of the Linked Jazz project, it provides a case study that demonstrates the value and the challenges of developing a domain-specific vocabulary tool that draws upon the semantics of DBpedia, a major LOD dataset. The article also addresses possible strategies for enhancing the directory to make it a more robust personal name vocabulary.
Familismo in Mexican and Dominican Families From Low-Income,Urban Communities
Authors: Calzada Esther J. , Tamis-LeMonda Catherine S. , Yoshikawa Hirokazu
Published: October 2012

Familismo has been described as a core cultural value for Latinos, but there have been few studies of its attitudinal and behavioral manifestations. We explored attitudinal and behavioral familismo using qualitative data collected from 23 Latina mothers who participated in an ethnographic study. The study employed semistructured interviews and participant observation methods carried out across 10 to 12 home visits for each participant. Results indicate that behavioral familismo manifests in five specific areas—financial support, shared daily activities, shared living, shared childrearing, and immigration—and functions as a dynamic construct that moves along a continuum of costs and benefits, over time and across situations, with implications for children’s development. The discussion highlights familismo as both a risk and protective factor for low-income, urban Latino families and underscores the importance of considering the balance between its costs and benefits in studies of Latino child development.
Effect of Postoperative Aspirin on Outcomes in Microvascular Free Tissue Transfer Surgery
Authors: Lighthall Jessyka G. , Cain Rachel , Ghanem Tamer A. , Wax Mark K.
Published: October 2012

Objective

Examine if outcomes and complication rates for free flaps vary when postoperative aspirin is used as pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis compared with no anticoagulation.

Study Design

Case series with chart review.

Setting

Oregon Health and Science University, an academic medical center.

Subjects and Methods

A case series with chart review was performed using a prospectively maintained microvascular reconstructive database to identify cases of free tissue transfer between February 2006 and April 2010. Outcome variables included complications, flap failure, reexploration, and salvage. Chi‐square analysis was performed to identify differences based on type of postoperative antithrombotic therapy.

Results

A total of 390 consecutive free tissue transfer procedures were performed; 184 received no postoperative thromboprophylaxis, 142 received aspirin, 48 received low molecular weight heparin or a combination of agents, and 16 received a heparin drip. The overall complication rate was 38%, with significantly more complications in the aspirin group compared with no prophylaxis (P =. 002). There was no significant difference in bleeding complications (P =. 192) or flap failure (P =. 839) between aspirin and no anticoagulation. There were more postoperative revisions in the aspirin group (P =. 039).

Conclusion

Postoperative thromboprophylaxis with aspirin after microvascular free tissue transfer does not provide an improvement in free flap survival and may be associated with a higher complication rate. Prospective, randomized studies are required to elucidate the role of postoperative pharmacotherapy for prophylaxis against microvascular thrombosis.
The heparin recall of 2008
Authors: Hedlund KD , Coyne DP , Sanford DM , Huddelson J
Published: October 2012

Heparin is one of the oldest drugs still in widespread clinical use. Its discovery in 1916 predates the establishment of the Food and Drug Administration. Since 1935, over 15,000 research papers have been published on the effects of heparin. Because the exact chemical formula of heparin is unknown, synthetic manufacturing has proven difficult. In 2008, a worldwide recall of heparin occurred. Scientists determined that a contaminant known as oversulfated chondroitin sulfate was responsible for the numerous deaths and adverse events. This contaminant was first traced to a chemical plant in Changzou, China. This article will review the discovery of heparin and the adulteration process that jeopardized the world’s heparin supply.
Successful use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in a patient with combined pulmonary and systemic embolisation
Authors: Ko C-H , Forrest P , D’Souza R , Qasabian R
Published: October 2012

We present a highly unusual case of massive pulmonary embolism with secondary paradoxical systemic embolisation that was successfully resuscitated with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). This enabled subsequent successful bridging to pulmonary embolectomy.
A Multicultural Service Sensitivity Exercise for Marketing Students
Authors: Rosenbaum Mark S. , Moraru Ioana , Labrecque Lauren I.
Published: October 2012

Services marketing and retailing courses place service quality at the heart of the curriculum, painting service providers as defenders of their customers’ welfare and thwarters of service failures by ushering in recovery solutions. Yet academic literature and the popular press provide evidence that in some cases, service providers act as discriminatory agents toward their own customers. Likewise, other customers in the servicescape can negatively influence a customer’s service quality experience. This article attempts to address shortcomings in services marketing textbooks and classroom discussions by providing educators with a multicultural service sensitivity exercise that they can employ in undergraduate, graduate, and executive MBA courses. The article offers educators an easy-to-implement, active learning exercise that shows students how many consumers fail to obtain quality service in the marketplace. The goal of the exercise is to help students develop an appreciation for diversity and understand how to manage a service setting so that all customers receive optimal service quality.
Current Concepts for Injury Prevention in Athletes After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Hewett Timothy E. , Di Stasi Stephanie L. , Myer Gregory D.
Published: October 2012

Ligament reconstruction is the current standard of care for active patients with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture. Although the majority of ACL reconstruction (ACLR) surgeries successfully restore the mechanical stability of the injured knee, postsurgical outcomes remain widely varied. Less than half of athletes who undergo ACLR return to sport within the first year after surgery, and it is estimated that approximately 1 in 4 to 1 in 5 young, active athletes who undergo ACLR will go on to a second knee injury. The outcomes after a second knee injury and surgery are significantly less favorable than outcomes after primary injuries. As advances in graft reconstruction and fixation techniques have improved to consistently restore passive joint stability to the preinjury level, successful return to sport after ACLR appears to be predicated on numerous postsurgical factors. Importantly, a secondary ACL injury is most strongly related to modifiable postsurgical risk factors. Biomechanical abnormalities and movement asymmetries, which are more prevalent in this cohort than previously hypothesized, can persist despite high levels of functional performance, and also represent biomechanical and neuromuscular control deficits and imbalances that are strongly associated with secondary injury incidence. Decreased neuromuscular control and high-risk movement biomechanics, which appear to be heavily influenced by abnormal trunk and lower extremity movement patterns, not only predict first knee injury risk but also reinjury risk. These seminal findings indicate that abnormal movement biomechanics and neuromuscular control profiles are likely both residual to, and exacerbated by, the initial injury. Evidence-based medicine (EBM) strategies should be used to develop effective, efficacious interventions targeted to these impairments to optimize the safe return to high-risk activity.

In this Current Concepts article, the authors present the latest evidence related to risk factors associated with ligament failure or a secondary (contralateral) injury in athletes who return to sport after ACLR. From these data, they propose an EBM paradigm shift in postoperative rehabilitation and return-to-sport training after ACLR that is focused on the resolution of neuromuscular deficits that commonly persist after surgical reconstruction and standard rehabilitation of athletes.
Who is Better at Defending Criminals? Does Type of Defense Attorney Matter in Terms of Producing Favorable Case Outcomes
Authors: Cohen Thomas H.
Published: October 2012

The role of defense counsel in criminal cases constitutes a topic of substantial importance for judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, scholars, and policymakers. What types of defense counsel (e.g., public defenders, privately retained attorneys, or assigned counsel) represent defendants in criminal cases and how do these defense counsel types perform in terms of securing favorable outcomes for their clients? These and other issues are addressed in this article analyzing felony case-processing data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Specifically, this article examines whether differences in defense counsel representation matter in terms of the probability of conviction and severity of sentence imposed. Results show that private attorneys and public defenders secure similar adjudication and sentencing outcomes for their clients. Defendants with assigned counsel, however, receive less favorable outcomes compared to their counterparts with public defenders. This article concludes by discussing the policy implications of these findings and possible avenues for future research.
Game Theory and Family Business Succession
Authors: Blumentritt Tim , Mathews Timothy , Marchisio Gaia
Published: October 2012

One of the most significant challenges to enduring family businesses is the process of passing the leadership of a firm from one generation to another. This article introduces game theory as a model for examining succession as a set of rational but interdependent choices made by individuals about a firm’s leadership. Its primary contribution is demonstrating the application of game theory to understanding the decisions and outcomes of succession events.
Prevention of HIV Among Older Adults
Authors: Davis Tracy , Zanjani Faika
Published: October 2012

Objective:

This study reviews the existing literature on the prevention of HIV among older adults, including universal and indicated prevention programs and prevention strategies.

Method:

A literature search was conducted between September and October of 2011 to identify studies for this review. Several different electronic databases and a combination of keywords were used to conduct the search. In addition, the reference section of each article was reviewed for additional articles.

Results:

A total of 18 articles were identified and reviewed. Three of the articles examined universal prevention, five of the articles examined indicated prevention, and the remainder of the articles provided strategies and recommendations for the prevention of HIV among older adults.

Discussion:

The existing studies document evidence for preventing future cases of HIV/AIDS among older adults. Additional studies and universal and selected interventions are needed in an effort to reduce the number of older adults being diagnosed with HIV.
The status of functional explanation in psychology: Reduction and mechanistic explanation
Authors: Gervais Raoul , de Jong Huib Looren
Published: October 2012

The validity of functional explanations as they are commonly used in psychology has recently come under attack. Kim’s supervenience argument purports to prove that higher-level generalizations have no causal powers of their own, and hence are explanatorily irrelevant. In a nutshell, the supervenience argument forces us to either embrace epiphenomenalism of higher-level properties, or accept Kim’s specific brand of reductionism. However, with the current emphasis on mechanistic explanations, the literature on explanation in psychology has undergone some drastic changes. It could be argued, therefore, that Kim’s argument targets an outdated concept of functional explanations. In any case, these developments warrant a reassessment of the implications of his argument, which is the purpose of the present paper. First, we argue that the metaphysics behind the supervenience argument is incompatible with that of mechanisms. Second, we argue that Kim’s proposed brand of reductionism does not accurately describe the explanatory practices of cognitive science.
Diversity of viruses detected by deep sequencing in pigs from a common background
Authors: Lager Kelly M. , Ng Terry F. , Bayles Darrell O. , Alt David P. , Delwart Eric L. , Cheung Andrew K.
Published: October 2012

Although advances in nucleic acid sequencing have enabled the discovery of many infectious agents, challenges remain for scientists and veterinary diagnosticians trying to design animal studies with a minimum of variables and to interpret laboratory results. To evaluate pyrosequencing technology as a potential screening method to estimate the virome in pigs, fecal samples were collected from 4 pigs out of a group of 175 that had been raised together since birth. A number of viruses were detected, demonstrating the application of this technology to determine the background “noise” in the pigs. However, pyrosequencing also demonstrated the diversity of viruses within a group of animals and how that can confound experimental design and obscure a definitive diagnosis.
The Effects of the Texas Youth Leadership Forum Summer Training on the Self-Advocacy Abilities of High School Students With Disabilities
Authors: Grenwelge Cheryl , Zhang Dalun
Published: October 2012

Federal and state policies concerning disability issues are often made based on advocacy efforts by individuals with disabilities and their allies. Providing self-advocacy and leadership training to youth with disabilities has been widely regarded as critically important to promote legislation and policies that support these individuals. This study evaluated the effects of the youth leadership summer training on the self-advocacy abilities of high school students with disabilities. A nonequivalent group design was used. The sample included 68 high school juniors and seniors aged 16 to 22, with 34 in the experimental group and 34 in the control group. The Texas Statewide Youth Leadership Forum Pre/Post Questionnaire was used to measure the participants’ self-advocacy abilities a week prior to the training and immediately following the training. Results indicated that the training improved the self-advocacy abilities of the participants, individuals with developmental disabilities gained significantly more than the other disability groups, and gender did not interact with treatment to affect the self-advocacy abilities of these participants. Implications to policy and practices are discussed.
The Economic Impact of Utah’s Vocational Rehabilitation Program
Authors: Wilhelm Sarah , Robinson Jennifer L.
Published: October 2012

The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program, within the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation, provides services to individuals with disabilities to assist them in preparing for and obtaining employment. Assistance is provided through numerous services including assessment, counseling and guidance, restoration, training, job development, and job placement. This study explored the return on public investments in the VR Program. The findings indicate that the VR Program has a positive impact on employment outcomes and the earnings of the clients served. In addition to the private benefits of the program, the state of Utah also benefits from the increased earnings through additional tax revenue and a reduction in public benefits to participants.
Enhanced Angiotensin II-Induced Cardiac and Aortic Remodeling in ACE2 Knockout Mice
Authors: Alghamri Mahmoud S. , Weir Nathan M. , Anstadt Mark P. , Elased Khalid M. , Gurley Susan B. , Morris Mariana
Published: October 2012

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is present in the heart and thought to exert protective functions. We conducted studies in ACE2 deficient mice to determine whether enzyme loss would exacerbate the cardiac and vascular pathological responses to chronic subcutaneous (sc) angiotensin II (Ang II) infusion. Eight-week-old male ACE2 knockout (KO) and wild type (WT) mice were infused with Ang II (1000 ng/kg per min, 4 weeks) using mini-osmotic pumps. Blood pressure (radiotelemetry), cardiac function (echocardiography, echo), cardiac/aortic structure (histology, collagen, and oxidative stress), and vascular inflammation were examined. Before Ang II infusion, ACE2 KO mice showed unaltered cardiac function and blood pressure. After 4 weeks of Ang II infusion, the mean arterial pressure (MAP) increased from 96 ± 2 to 136 ± 17 mm Hg (∼40%) in WT and from 104 ± 5 to 141 ± 13 mm Hg (∼ 35%) in ACE2 KO. While there were no differences in MAP between groups, the ACE2 KO responded differently to the hypertensive stimulus. Echo analysis revealed severe myocardial dysfunction in Ang II-infused ACE2 KO (Ang ACE2 KO). Ejection fraction was lower (39% versus 50%) as was fractional shortening (27% versus 38%) in ACE2 KO versus WT, respectively. Cardiac dysfunction was associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy shown by increased left-ventricular wall thickness, average cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area, and heart weight/body weight ratio. Collagen staining in the myocardium and aorta revealed increased collagen in Ang ACE2 KO, suggestive of remodeling. Results also showed enhanced oxidative stress in the myocardium and aorta of Ang ACE2 KO. There was a 3-fold elevation in macrophage inflammatory protein 1α (MIP 1α) in the aorta of ACE2 KO. Studies in the ACE2 KO model reveal the importance of ACE2 in the maladaptive cardiac and aortic responses to Ang II stimulation, seen as enhanced remodeling using physiological, structural, and biochemical markers. Results document a cardio- and vascular-protective role of ACE2 under pathological conditions.
Approaches based on particle swarm optimization for problems of vibration reduction of suspended mobile robot with a manipulator
Authors: Zhong Guoliang , Kobayashi Yukinori , Emaru Takanori , Hoshino Yohei
Published: October 2012

Mobile robots with suspension systems can absorb vibration induced by rough roads, but due to center-of-gravity (CG) shift, the suspended platform is subject to vibration when the platform moves with acceleration. This paper presents approaches based on the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm to overcome the following vibration problems: (1) when the suspended platform moves with a static manipulator, vibration of the suspended platform occurs due to CG shift, (2) when the suspended platform and the manipulator move simultaneously, the vibration is caused by the dynamic manipulator. For the first problem, a method for the optimization of multi-input shapers using PSO is adopted with chaos to reduce the residual vibration. For the second problem, an approach based on PSO with chaos is developed to suppress the vibration by searching for the time-jerk synthetic optimal trajectories of the manipulator. Finally, the authors perform the resulting shapers and optimal trajectories on the presented models and demonstrate the vibration can be controlled to a desired level effectively in both problems.
Decoupled robust vibration control of an optical table
Authors: Wang Fu-Cheng , Yu Chung-Hung , Tsai Jeff Tsung-Hui , Yang San-Ho
Published: October 2012

In this paper we propose the design and control of a novel two-layer optical table. An optical table normally needs to isolate two main vibration sources: the ground disturbances and the load disturbances. Because the suspension settings for suppressing these two disturbances conflict with each other, we applied disturbance response decoupling (DRD) techniques to treat them independently. First, we used passive elements to insulate the ground disturbances. Second, we employed DRD methods to design active robust controllers that would drive piezoelectric transducers to improve the load responses without influencing the ground responses. Finally, the designed controllers were implemented for experimental verification. The DRD theorem and robust controllers were confirmed to be effective at suppressing system vibrations.
A hybrid command-shaper for double-pendulum overhead cranes
Authors: Masoud Ziyad , Alhazza Khaled , Abu-Nada Eiyad , Majeed Majed
Published: October 2012

A crane is generally modeled as a simple pendulum with a point mass attached to the end of a massless rigid link. Numerous control systems have been developed to reduce payload oscillations in order to improve safety and positioning accuracy of crane operations. However, large-size payloads may transform the crane model from a simple-pendulum system to a double-pendulum system. Control systems that consider only one mode of oscillations of a double pendulum may excite large oscillations in the other mode. In multi-degree-of-freedom systems, command-shaping controllers designed for the first mode may eliminate oscillations of higher modes provided that their frequencies are odd integer multiples of the first mode frequency. In this work, a hybrid command-shaper is designed to generate acceleration commands to suppress travel and residual oscillations of a double-pendulum overhead crane. The shaper consists of a primary double-step command-shaper complemented by a virtual feedback system. The primary command-shaper is designed to eliminate oscillations in a slightly modified version of the crane model with frequencies satisfying the odd integer multiple criterion. The virtual feedback loop is then used to modify the commands of the primary shaper to accommodate the difference between the modified and the original models of the crane. It is shown that the suggested hybrid command-shaper is capable of minimizing oscillations of both modes of a scaled experimental double-pendulum model of an overhead crane. Results show that the hybrid command-shaper produces a reduction of 95% in residual oscillations in both modes of the double pendulum over the time-optimal rigid-body commands.