bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the relationships between social theory and natural law: lessons from Karl Löwith and Leo Strauss
Authors: Chernilo Daniel
Published: October 2010

This article offers a combined reading of Karl Löwith’s and Leo Strauss’s critique of social theory from the point of view of the natural law tradition broadly understood. Within the context of a growing interest in revisiting social theory’s debt to natural law, the piece seeks to unfold the connections between the two traditions without searching to restore any kind of natural law. Rather, it looks at their relationships as one of Aufhebung — the suspension and carrying forward — of natural law premises within modern social theory. The works of these two writers point against conventional wisdom within social theory: Löwith’s secularization thesis calls into question the view of the irreligious nature of modernity’s historical break as well as its faith in immanent progress; Strauss’s reconstruction of natural law (right) gives due credit to the non-religious origins of modernity but at the price of withdrawing even more autonomy from any modern claim to self-assertion. Although some compatibility is recognizable in their critiques, I shall also be arguing that their substantive results point to opposite directions. A critical distance must also be maintained from their interpretations in the spirit of reinvigorating the project of modern social theory.
On Angry Leaders and Agreeable Followers
Authors: Van Kleef Gerben A. , Homan Astrid C. , Beersma Bianca , van Knippenberg Daan
Published: October 2010

Do followers perform better when their leader expresses anger or when their leader expresses happiness? We propose that this depends on the follower’s level of agreeableness. Anger is associated with hostility and conflict—states that are at odds with agreeable individuals’ goals. Happiness facilitates affiliation and positive relations—states that are in line with agreeable individuals’ goals. Accordingly, the two studies we conducted showed that agreeableness moderates the effects of a leader’s emotional displays. In a scenario study, participants with lower levels of agreeableness responded more favorably to an angry leader, whereas participants with higher levels of agreeableness responded more favorably to a neutral leader. In an experiment involving four-person teams, teams composed of participants with lower average levels of agreeableness performed better when their leader expressed anger, whereas teams composed of participants with higher average levels of agreeableness performed better when their leader expressed happiness. Team performance was mediated by experienced workload, which was highest among agreeable followers with an angry leader. Besides having important practical implications, the findings shed new light on the fundamental question of how emotional expressions regulate social behavior.
Genetic Evidence for Multiple Biological Mechanisms Underlying In-Group Favoritism
Authors: Lewis Gary J. , Bates Timothy C.
Published: October 2010

In-group favoritism is ubiquitous and associated with intergroup conflict, yet is little understood from a biological perspective. A fundamental question regarding the structure of favoritism is whether it is inflexibly directed toward distinct, “essentialist” categories, such as ethnicity and race, or is deployed in a context-sensitive manner. In this article, we report the first study (to our knowledge) of the genetic and environmental structure of in-group favoritism in the religious, ethnic, and racial domains. We contrasted a model of favoritism based on a single domain-general central affiliation mechanism (CAM) with a model in which each domain was influenced by specific mechanisms. In a series of multivariate analyses, utilizing a large, representative sample of twins, models containing only the CAM or essentialist domains fit the data poorly. The best-fitting model revealed that a biological mechanism facilitates affiliation with arbitrary groups and exists alongside essentialist systems that evolved to process salient cues, such as shared beliefs and ancestry.
Information Search in Decisions From Experience
Authors: Hills Thomas T. , Hertwig Ralph
Published: October 2010

Do different patterns of sampling influence the decisions people make, even when the information the decisions are based on is equivalent? Do more and less switching between options correlate with different kinds of decision policies? In past research, the correspondence between search and decision patterns has been difficult to ascertain because the information obtained has often been confounded with its consequences in an exploration-exploitation trade-off. We used a sampling task in which information is explored prior to being exploited. We found that search patterns did reveal decision policies. Individuals who transitioned more frequently between options were more likely to choose options that win most of the time in round-wise comparisons and were more likely to underweight rare, risky events. Less switching between options was associated with choosing options that win in the long run on the basis of summary comparisons—decisions consistent with expected-value maximization and linear weighting of outcomes.
‘Some are more equal than others’: economic egalitarianism and welfare chauvinism in the Netherlands
Authors: van der Waal Jeroen , Achterberg Peter , Houtman Dick , de Koster Willem , Manevska Katerina
Published: October 2010

Various studies have demonstrated that while the lower educated support economic redistribution more than the higher educated do, they nonetheless dislike welfare support for immigrants more strongly. This paper aims to explain this remarkably particularistic application of the principle of economic egalitarianism (‘welfare chauvinism’) by testing three theories by means of survey data representative of the Dutch population ( N = 1972). The first theory asserts that the low level of political competence of the lower educated is responsible, the second focuses on their weak economic position, and the third claims that their limited amount of cultural capital is decisive. Only the latter explanation is confirmed and implications for debates about ethnocentrism, deservingness and welfare state legitimacy, as well as the ideological profile of the lower-educated working class are discussed.
Welfare regime and social class variation in poverty and economic vulnerability in Europe: an analysis of EU-SILC
Authors: Whelan Christopher T. , Maître Bertrand
Published: October 2010

In this paper we address a set of interrelated issues. These comprise increasing concerns about reliance on nationally based income poverty measures in the context of EU enlargement, the relative merits of one-dimensional versus multidimensional approaches to poverty and social exclusion and the continuing relevance of class-based explanations of life chances. When identifying economically vulnerable groups we find that, contrary to the situation with national income poverty measures, levels of vulnerability vary systematically across welfare regimes. The multidimensional profile of the economically vulnerable sharply differentiates them from the remainder of the population. While they are also characterised by distinctively higher levels of multiple deprivation, a substantial majority of the economically vulnerable are not exposed to such deprivation. Unlike the national relative income approach, the focus on economic vulnerability reveals a pattern of class differentiation that is not dominated by the contrast between the self-employed and all others. In contrast to a European-wide relative income approach, it also simultaneously captures the fact that absolute levels of vulnerability are distinctively higher among the lower social classes in the less comprehensive and generous welfare regimes while class relativities are significantly sharper at the other end of the spectrum.
Anisotropic Damage Model for Concrete Affected by Alkali-Aggregate Reaction
Authors: Comi Claudia , Perego Umberto
Published: October 2010

An anisotropic two-phase coupled chemo-thermo-damage model is proposed, for the simulation of the behavior of concrete affected by the alkali-aggregate reaction, which may create significant damage in existing concrete structures. The chemical reaction produces a gel expanding in the concrete pores, leading to macroscopic strength and stiffness deterioration in the concrete skeleton. The model is capable to account for the anisotropic damage development and consequent directional degradation of material properties. The model is validated against experimental tests taken from the literature.
Beyond “an Aesthetic of Objectivity”: Performance Ethnography, Performance Texts, and Theatricality
Authors: Snyder-Young Dani
Published: October 2010

This article is about the ways in which a dominant “aesthetic of objectivity” (Denzin, 2003, p. 73) pervades much contemporary performance ethnography and scholarly performance text, subverting many scholars’ stated desires to use aesthetic forms to critique hegemonic discourses and democratize scholarship. First, I will define the dominant “aesthetic of objectivity” as it applies to performance ethnography and performance texts and trace its origins to mainstream documentary theatre performances. I will then examine how these conventions play out in an example of an explicitly scholarly performance project, and argue the significance of liveness in the scholarly performance act. Finally, I will offer a few examples of arts-based research performance projects operating in alternate aesthetic paradigms rupturing the “aesthetic of objectivity” and offer recommendations and further questions for arts-based researchers and scholars interested in experimenting with performance forms.
“I Tell You, It’s a Journey, Isn’t It?” Understanding Collaborative Meaning Making in Qualitative Research
Authors: Paulus Trena M. , Woodside Marianne , Ziegler Mary F.
Published: October 2010

While collaboration is common in qualitative inquiry, few studies examine the collaborative process in detail. In our study, we adopt an interpretive, reflexive stance to explore our process as a collaborative qualitative research team. We analyzed transcripts of eight research meetings for aspects and assumptions underlying our collaboration. Three overarching aspects of our process emerged from the analysis: position-taking, meaning making, and producing. We adopt a learning stance in our work together and make meaning through an iterative, dialogic process that foregrounds and backgrounds key elements of the research process. While some scholars have questioned whether truly collaborative research ever occurs among peers, we illustrate through our findings what such a process can look like.
The Impossibility of Bearing Witness: Wartime Rape and the Promise of Justice
Authors: Henry Nicola
Published: October 2010

Testimonies of wartime sexual violence contribute to the recognition of rape as a serious human rights violation. Although acknowledgement and justice are imperative to ending silence and impunity, this article critiques some commonly held therapeutic assumptions about disclosure through examining the way so-called “unspeakable” events are communicated through legal discourse. In this article, the author explores the inherent limitations of language for bearing witness to wartime rape, specifically focusing on international war crimes tribunals. The author argues that trials contribute to the impossibility of bearing witness through both the appropriation of trauma and the failure of law to accommodate traumatic experiences.
The Spatial-Temporal Impact of Residential Foreclosures on Single-Family Residential Property Values
Authors: Kobie Timothy F. , Lee Sugie
Published: October 2010

As the home mortgage foreclosure crisis continues to spread, few households and geographic locations in the United States remain unaffected. This has led to a great deal of research on the causes and the impacts of the foreclosure crisis. This article focuses on the latter and specifically addresses the impact that residential foreclosures have on nearby single-family residential properties. Previous research has concluded that there is a negative impact. Although the hypothesis for this article has not changed, the authors offer a change in methodology. The study analyzes foreclosures’ impact based upon face blocks, not straight-line distances, and it also incorporates time and the use of spatial statistics. Findings from this study show a negative relationship between the length of time a property has been foreclosed and its effect on neighboring property values. The first negative impact is seen after one year, and sheriff sales have a greater negative impact than preforeclosures. Therefore, policy responses need to be as swift as possible to prevent any negative impact on neighboring property values and all the while must attempt to prevent properties from going to auction.
How Perceptions of Mortality and HIV Morbidity Relate to Substance Abuse Problems and Risky Sexual Behaviors Among Former Juvenile Offenders
Authors: Gromet Dena M. , Ramchand Rajeev , Griffin Beth Ann , Morral Andrew R.
Published: October 2010

This study investigates whether high-risk young adults’ perceptions of their likelihood of living to age 35 and of acquiring HIV are related to their substance abuse problems and risky sexual behaviors. The sample consists of data from the 72- and 87-month follow-up assessments of 449 juvenile offenders referred to probation in 1999 and 2000. Results indicate that believing one is likely to get HIV is associated with having more concurrent substance use problems and engaging in more risky sexual behaviors. Longitudinal analyses indicate that youth who think they are likely to get HIV are at greater risk for later substance abuse problems and risky sexual behaviors, though these results are only marginally significant. The results demonstrate that respondents are aware of some of the risks associated with their recent substance using and sexual behaviors, but that holding these perceptions does not result in a reduction of these behaviors.
Fighting Income Tax Evasion with Positive Rewards
Authors: Bazart Cécile , Pickhardt Michael
Published: October 2010

This article provides experimental evidence regarding the influence of positive rewards on income tax evasion behavior. In particular, the authors experimentally test the impact of positive rewards in the form of individual lottery winnings for fully compliant taxpayers. Among other things, the authors find that these positive rewards lead to a higher rate of tax compliance. Moreover, there are two gender effects. Males not only evade taxes to a much higher extent than females they also show a stronger positive response to the lottery scheme. This allows us to draw some interesting policy recommendations on the efficient use of rewards as a complement of deterrence policies for fighting tax evasion.
Fatigue of closed-cell foams in compression
Authors: Zenkert Dan , Burman Magnus
Published: October 2010

This article deals with fatigue of closed-cell foams under compression loading. Testing is performed on three densities of Divinycell H-grade and three densities of Rohacell WF-grade foam under cyclic compression loading. The fatigue failure is in all cases described as localized crushing of cell layers. The two main observations from this are that the slopes of the stress—life curves are almost all different, both between the foam types and relative density. Secondly, the stress—life relation slopes are considerably flatter than corresponding data in tension. For one particular foam grade, the stress—life relation is almost flat.
Multiple sclerosis: variation of incidence of onset over time in the Faroe Islands
Authors: Joensen Poul
Published: October 2010

Epidemiological studies of multiple sclerosis (MS) conducted in the Faroe Islands identified 10 annual incidences per 100,000 in 1945 and 4.5 in the period 1986–2007. The aim of this study was to estimate the annual incidence of onset of MS in the Faroe Islands in the six decades from 1943 to 2002 and during the period 2003–7.All patients diagnosed with MS between 1943 and 2007 were documented. The incidence of MS before 1943 was around 0.2 per 100,000 annually. During the period 1943–62, an annual incidence rate of 4.4 [confidence interval (CI) 2.9–6.1] per 100,000 was observed. During the 20-year period 1963–82, the level declined significantly ( p < 0.001) to around 0.6 (0.3–1.5). Thereafter, an increase was seen during the period 1983–2002, evidencing a significant ( p < 0.001) sevenfold increase in the annual incidence to 4.6 (3.2–6.2) per 100,000. Subsequently, for the period 2003–7, there was again a decline to 2.4 (2.1–3.3) ( p = 0.003). This study confirms that significant variation in the incidence of MS has occurred in the Faroes over time. Because the rate of genetic change within the Faroese population is relatively slow, the study suggests environmental factors as a contributing cause of MS. If only genetic factors for susceptibility were important, the incidence rate should not wax and wane over time, as is observed.
Heart Stories
Authors: Medved Maria I. , Brockmeier Jens
Published: October 2010

In this study we explore the views and beliefs of men and women about cardiovascular disease and the emotions and social relations that are involved. Women and men attending a cardiovascular rehabilitation program participated in two in-depth interviews carried out with each individual six months after a first serious cardiac event. The transcribed interviews were analyzed using a narrative-discursive methodology. Although there were numerous differences between the men and women’s stories, an outstanding commonality was that their narrative efforts to negotiate healing and rehabilitation were guided by gendered identities and societal roles.
Efficacy of cognitive behavior therapy for the management of psychological outcomes following spinal cord injury A meta-analysis
Authors: Dorstyn Diana , Mathias Jane , Denson Linley
Published: October 2010

This meta-analysis evaluated the impact of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) on the psychological adjustment of adults with spinal cord injury (SCI). A comprehensive search of six electronic databases identified 10 studies (424 participants) that met the inclusion criteria. Pre- and post-data for participants who received CBT were pooled and analyzed. Large and significant group differences were noted for measures of assertiveness, coping, self-efficacy, depression and quality of life. These data suggest that CBT has a significant positive impact on short-term psychological outcomes following SCI. However, further research is needed to establish the long-term benefits.
The Type B Behavior Pattern as a Moderating Variable of the Relationship between Stressor Chronicity and Health Behavior
Authors: Korotkov David , Perunovic Mihailo , Claybourn Marvin , Fraser Ian , Houlihan Michael , Macdonald Melissa , Korotkov Kimberly Ann
Published: October 2010

To test the hypotheses that Type B individuals would engage in more preventive and less risk-related behaviors under high stress than Type As, 155 students were administered questionnaires pertaining to the TABP, daily hassles, and health behavior. As predicted, in six out of seven regression analyses, Type Bs engaged in more preventive, and fewer risk-related behaviors under high stress, than those who self-reported as Type A. Self-regulation mechanisms are proposed to help account for these effects.
The Role of Anxiety Sensitivity in terms of Asthma Control: A Pilot Test among Young Adult Asthmatics
Authors: McLeish Alison C. , Zvolensky Michael J. , Luberto Christina M.
Published: October 2010

The aim of the present pilot investigation was to examine the role of specific subfactors of anxiety sensitivity (physical, cognitive, and social concerns) in terms of asthma control among a young adult sample ( N = 56; M age = 20.0; SD = 3.9; Range = 18—45 years). Results indicated that, after controlling for gender, cigarette smoking status, and negative affectivity, the physical concerns factor of anxiety sensitivity, relative to cognitive and social concern factors, significantly predicted asthma control. These findings support the theory that fear of physical sensations is associated with poorer asthma control and suggest that targeting the physical concerns facet of anxiety sensitivity may be a novel way to improve asthma control.
Power at the heart of the present: Exception, risk and sovereignty
Authors: Dean Mitchell
Published: October 2010

This article argues that the notion of power is less important as a theoretical concept that can guide research than as an orientation towards the present. As such, it foregoes a focus on agencies of power for an engagement with relations and mechanisms of power and what Foucault terms a ‘critical ontology of ourselves’. It notes that the first decade of the 21st century has witnessed different series of catastrophic events, such as 9/11 or the financial meltdown of September 2008. These events appear as markers of a crisis of neoliberalism as both governmentality and metaphysics. The elements of an emerging set of relations of power include the security complex characterized by the language of the exception, the rationality of precautionary risk, new techniques of security, and recharged and often militant forms of sovereignty capable of delegation by and derogation from the state. It is the understanding of this ‘dispositif ’, its ambiguities and consequences, captured by a broad range of cultural, political and social studies, which locates the relations of power that lie at the heart of many current contestations. Given the fecundity and creativity of these analyses, such studies would appear to call into question the project of a theory of power.
Mundane and mutant devices of power: Business improvement districts and sanctuaries
Authors: Lippert Randy
Published: October 2010

From the inception in the early 1980s of the Foucauldian-influenced corpus of work known as ‘governmentality studies’, theorists sought to encourage the empirical study of rationalities and technologies of government as elements that are mutually dependent but not related in a one-to-one fashion. Yet in the years since then, rationalities have received attention from analysts to the relative neglect of technologies. This article undertakes an analysis of the business improvement district and church sanctuary: two disparate, mundane and mutant devices which suggest that technologies cannot be permanently assigned to one kind of power; can shift back and forth between civil society and the state; and can resemble heretofore disassociated technologies. Reinvigorating the quest to understand technologies of government such as these necessitates a greater openness to their possible links to a plurality of powers and recognition of their historical character and capacity for mutations.
Method for Evaluating the Relative Efficiency of Selected N95 Respirators and Surgical Masks to Prevent the Inhalation of Airborne Vegetative Cells by Healthcare Personnel
Authors: Davidson Craig , Green Christopher F. , Panlilio Adelisa L. , Jensen Paul A. , Stover Beth H. , Roselle Gary , Gibbs Shawn G. , Scarpino Pasquale V.
Published: October 2010

Aerosol droplet- and airborne-transmitted diseases are an important healthcare concern. The anthrax attacks of 2001, severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreaks in 2003 which resulted in transmission to numerous healthcare personnel (HCP) and concerns about smallpox as a bioterrorist agent have contributed to heightened concern about airborne infectious agents. Respirators and surgical masks can provide respiratory protection against such airborne diseases but their efficacy needs to be assessed. This study describes a method for quantitatively assessing the relative efficiency of respiratory protective equipment (RPE) when challenged with a bioaerosol. Five surgical masks, three N95 respirators and three surgical N95 respirators were evaluated. All are commercially available and used in US healthcare settings. Bacterial aerosols of vegetative Bacillus anthracis strain Sterne 34F2 (a surrogate for pathogenic B. anthracis) were generated with a six-jet Collison nebuliser. To mimic human respiratory breathing, an automated breathing simulator (ABS) calibrated to normal tidal volume and active breathing rate (500 mL/breath and 20 breath/min, respectively) was used. Respirators were placed on manikin head-forms designed for use in cardiopulmonary resuscitation training and used in our investigation as surrogates for HCP. The method showed that a Collison nebuliser could generate monodisperse bacterial aerosol to effectively test RPE total inward leakage. Also, the AGI-30 air samplers, combined with the ABS, provided an accurate method of quantifying RPE relative efficiency. For the 11 RPE this ranged from 34% to 69% with statistically significant differences between several RPE models. We conclude that neither RPE type nor brand name was an indicator of RPE relative efficiency.
Re-thinking the relationship between self and other: Levinas and narratives of beautifying the body
Authors: Joy Annamma , Sherry John F. , Troilo Gabriele , Deschenes Jonathan
Published: October 2010

In the consumer research literature, the automatic consideration of one’s knowledge of self in the evaluation of others is taken for granted. The ‘idea of the other’ — which the authors here term ‘representational subjectivity’ — is at the heart of consumer decisions. Philosopher Emanuel Levinas suggests another path: the concrete relation to the other person is the basis of subjectivity. He makes the distinction between ‘other’ (as in environment and things) and ‘Others’ as in persons. Affective subjectivity arises in the enjoyment of things around an individual and precedes representation. Ethical subjectivity makes an individual realize that not everything can be assimilated to the self. It is in this moment that ethical subjectivity is realized. The authors explain these themes in the realm of beauty, a domain where ongoing moral judgments are made. The authors offer a correction to the taken-for-granted relationship between the self and the other with a focus on the pre-reflective affective self and the ethical self, each of which is shaken out of its complacency with the appearance of another person.
Myopathy in Children Receiving Chronic Corticosteroid Therapy for Asthma
Authors: Lenz Thomas L.
Published: October 2010

Approximately 7 million American children have asthma. First line therapy for the treatment of persistent asthma is inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) medications for long-term control. Oral corticosteroid therapy is also used intermittently as well as long term for individuals with severe persistent asthma. It has been well known for many years that oral corticosteroids can induce an adverse effect of myopathy or muscle weakness. It is less well known that ICS therapy can also induce this same side effect. Myopathy can significantly affect a child’s ability to be physically active and participate in sports. This manuscript reviews studies and case reports of children with asthma experiencing ICS-induced myopathy and discusses alternate treatment options to resolve the condition and return children to an active lifestyle.
Spatio-temporal expression of a novel neuron-derived neurotrophic factor (NDNF) in mouse brains during development
Authors: Kuang Xiu-Li , Zhao Xiao-Mei , Xu Hai-Fang , Shi Yuan-Yuan , Deng Jin-Bo , Sun Guo-Tao
Published: October 2010

Background

Neuron-derived neurotrophic factor (NDNF) is evolutionarily well conserved, being present in invertebrate animals such as the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, as well as in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Multiple cysteines are conserved between species and secondary structure prediction shows that NDNF is mainly composed of beta-strands. In this study, we aimed to investigate the function of NDNF.

Results

NDNF is a glycosylated, disulfide-bonded secretory protein that contains a fibronectin type III domain. NDNF promoted migration and growth and elicited neurite outgrowth of mouse hippocampal neurons in culture. NDNF also protected cultured hippocamal neurons against excitotoxicity and amyloid beta-peptide toxicity. Western blotting showed that NDNF was exclusively expressed in the brain and spinal cord. Immunostaining indicated that NDNF was expressed by neurons and not by astrocytes. Cajal-Retzius cells, cortex neurons, hippocampus neurons, olfactory mitral cells, cerebellar purkinje cells, cerebellar granular cells and spinal neurons were found to be NDNF-positive. NDNF expression was observed in the neurons during development.

Conclusions

The results of this study indicated that NDNF is a novel neurotrophic factor derived from neurons that may be useful in the treatment of neuronal degeneration diseases and nerve injuries.
Increased spinal prodynorphin gene expression in reinflammation-associated hyperalgesia after neonatal inflammatory insult
Authors: Lin Jack Yu-Shih , Cheng Yu-Che , Chen Julia Yi-Ru , Chien Chih-Cheng , Lin Shih-Chang , Wen Yeong-Ray , Tsou Tsung-Shan , Ling Qing-Dong
Published: October 2010

Background

Neuroplasticity induced by neonatal inflammation is the consequence of a combination of activity-dependent changes in neurons. We investigated neuronal sensitivity to a noxious stimulus in a rat model of neonatal hind-paw peripheral inflammation and assessed changes in pain behaviour at the physiological and molecular levels after peripheral reinflammation in adulthood.

Results

A decrease in paw withdrawal latency (PWL) after a heat stimulus was documented in rats that received inflammatory injections in their left hind paws on postnatal day one (P1) and a reinflammation stimulus at postnatal 6-8 weeks of age, compared with normal rats. An increase in the expression of the prodynorphin (proDYN) gene was noted after reinflammation in the spinal cord ipsilateral to the afferents of the neonatally treated hind paw. The involvement of the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) in peripheral inflammatory pain hypersensitivity was evidenced evident by the increase in phospho-ERK (pERK) activity after reinflammation.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that peripheral inflammation in neonates can permanently alter the pain processing pathway during the subsequent sensory stimulation of the region. Elucidation of the mechanism underlying the developing pain circuitry will provide new insights into the understanding of the early pain behaviours and the subsequent adaptation to pain.
Risk of placental abruption in relation to migraines and headaches
Authors: Sanchez Sixto E , Williams Michelle A , Pacora Percy N , Ananth Cande V , Qiu Chungfang , Aurora Sheena K , Sorensen Tanya K
Published: October 2010

Background

Migraine, a common chronic-intermittent disorder of idiopathic origin characterized by severe debilitating headaches and autonomic nervous system dysfunction, and placental abruption, the premature separation of the placenta, share many common pathophysiological characteristics. Moreover, endothelial dysfunction, platelet activation, hypercoagulation, and inflammation are common to both disorders. We assessed risk of placental abruption in relation to maternal history of migraine before and during pregnancy in Peruvian women.

Methods

Cases were 375 women with pregnancies complicated by placental abruption, and controls were 368 women without an abruption. During in-person interviews conducted following delivery, women were asked if they had physician-diagnosed migraine, and they were asked questions that allowed headaches and migraine to be classified according to criteria established by the International Headache Society. Logistic regression procedures were used to calculate odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) adjusted for confounders.

Results

Overall, a lifetime history of any headaches or migraine was associated with an increased odds of placental abruption (aOR = 1.60; 95% CI 1.16-2.20). A lifetime history of migraine was associated with a 2.14-fold increased odds of placental abruption (aOR = 2.14; 95% CI 1.22-3.75). The odds of placental abruption was 2.11 (95% CI 1.00-4.45) for migraineurs without aura; and 1.59 (95% 0.70-3.62) for migraineurs with aura. A lifetime history of tension-type headache was also increased with placental abruption (aOR = 1.61; 95% CI 1.01-2.57).

Conclusions

This study adds placental abruption to a growing list of pregnancy complications associated with maternal headache/migraine disorders. Nevertheless, prospective cohort studies are needed to more rigorously evaluate the extent to which migraines and/or its treatments are associated with the occurrence of placental abruption.
Aberrant expression and constitutive activation of STAT3 in cervical carcinogenesis: implications in high-risk human papillomavirus infection
Authors: Shukla Shirish , Shishodia Gauri , Mahata Sutapa , Hedau Suresh , Pandey Arvind , Bhambhani Suresh , Batra Swaraj , Basir Seemi F , Das Bhudev C , Bharti Alok C
Published: October 2010

Background

Recent observations indicate potential role of transcription factor STAT3 in cervical cancer development but its role specifically with respect to HPV infection is not known. Present study has been designed to investigate expression and activation of STAT3 in cervical precancer and cancer in relation to HPV infection during cervical carcinogenesis. Established cervical cancer cell lines and prospectively-collected cervical precancer and cancer tissues were analyzed for the HPV positivity and evaluated for STAT3 expression and its phosphorylation by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry whereas STAT3-specific DNA binding activity was examined by gel-shift assays.

Results

Analysis of 120 tissues from cervical precancer and cancer lesions or from normal cervix revealed differentially high levels of constitutively active STAT3 in cervical precancer and cancer lesions, whereas it was absent in normal controls. Similarly, a high level of constitutively active STAT3 expression was observed in HPV-positive cervical cancer cell lines when compared to that of HPV-negative cells. Expression and activity of STAT3 were found to change as a function of severity of cervical lesions from precancer to cancer. Expression of active pSTAT3 was specifically high in cervical precancer and cancer lesions found positive for HPV16. Interestingly, site-specific accumulation of STAT3 was observed in basal and suprabasal layers of HPV16-positive early precancer lesions which is indicative of possible involvement of STAT3 in establishment of HPV infection. In HPV16-positive cases, STAT3 expression and activity were distinctively higher in poorly-differentiated lesions with advanced histopathological grades.

Conclusion

We demonstrate that in the presence of HPV16, STAT3 is aberrantly-expressed and constitutively-activated in cervical cancer which increases as the lesion progresses thus indicating its potential role in progression of HPV16-mediated cervical carcinogenesis.
Detecting Illegal Arms Trade
Authors: Della Vigna Stefano , La Ferrara Eliana
Published: October 2010

We propose a method to detect illegal arms trade based on investor knowledge. We focus on countries under arms embargo and identify events that suddenly increase or decrease conflict intensity. If a weapon-making company is trading illegally, an event that increases the demand for arms may increase stock prices. We find positive event returns for companies headquartered in countries with high corruption and low transparency in arms trade. We also suggest a method to detect potential embargo violations based on chains of reactions by individual stocks. The presumed violations positively correlate with the number of UN investigations and Internet stories. (JEL D74, F13, G14, K42, L64)
International Trade in Used Vehicles: The Environmental Consequences of NAFTA
Authors: Davis Lucas W , Kahn Matthew E
Published: October 2010

Since trade restrictions were eliminated in 2005, Mexico has imported over 2.5 million used vehicles from the United States. Using a unique, vehicle-level dataset, we find that traded vehicles are dirtier than the stock of vehicles in the United States and cleaner than the stock in Mexico, so when a vehicle is traded from the United States to Mexico average vehicle emissions per mile tend to decrease in both countries. Overall, however, the evidence suggests that trade has increased total lifetime emissions, primarily because of low vehicle retirement rates in Mexico. (JEL F13, F14, L62, O13, O19, Q53, Q56)
Short RNA duplexes guide sequence-dependent cleavage by human Dicer
Authors: Bergeron Lucien Junior , Perreault Jean-Pierre , Elela Sherif Abou
Published: October 2010

Dicer is a member of the double-stranded (ds) RNA-specific ribonuclease III (RNase III) family that is required for RNA processing and degradation. Like most members of the RNase III family, Dicer possesses a dsRNA binding domain and cleaves long RNA duplexes in vitro. In this study, Dicer substrate selectivity was examined using bipartite substrates. These experiments revealed that an RNA helix possessing a 2-nucleotide (nt) 3′-overhang may bind and direct sequence-specific Dicer-mediated cleavage intransat a fixed distance from the 3′-end overhang. Chemical modifications of the substrate indicate that the presence of the ribose 2′-hydroxyl group is not required for Dicer binding, but some located near the scissile bonds are needed for RNA cleavage. This suggests a flexible mechanism for substrate selectivity that recognizes the overall shape of an RNA helix. Examination of the structure of natural pre-microRNAs (pre-miRNAs) suggests that they may form bipartite substrates with complementary mRNA sequences, and thus induce seed-independent Dicer cleavage. Indeed, in vitro, natural pre-miRNA directed sequence-specific Dicer-mediated cleavage intransby supporting the formation of a substrate mimic.
The End of the Robinson-Patman Act? Evidence from Legal Case Data
Authors: Luchs Ryan , Geylani Tansev , Dukes Anthony , Srinivasan Kannan
Published: October 2010

The Robinson-Patman Act (RP), an antitrust statute aimed at protecting small businesses, limits price setting in distribution channels. To avoid costly penalties under RP, managers take a variety of precautions when pricing to retailers and wholesalers. But how likely is a court to find a defendant guilty of violating the RP? We find that this likelihood has dropped drastically as a result of recent Supreme Court rulings from more than 1 in 3 before 1993 to less than 1 in 20 for the period 2006–2010. The analysis also points to an increased success of the no harm to competition defense, which reflects the view that the courts have raised the hurdle for plaintiffs to establish competitive harm. Finally, our results indicate that smaller plaintiffs over time have fared worse than larger ones, a trend that challenges the notion that RP protects small businesses.
Importance and Impact of Antimicrobial Stewardship
Authors: Cannella Carrie
Published: October 2010

The landscape of health care is rapidly changing. With health care reform on the horizon, institutions are examining many practices to determine the best way to provide optimal care while minimizing economic burden. Antimicrobial stewardship is one method many institutions are implementing to achieve this balance. Antimicrobial stewardship encompasses a wide range of services aimed at improving patient outcomes and minimizing the untoward effects of antimicrobial agents including side effects as well as induction of resistance. These programs have been shown to decrease both the development of resistance as well as expenditures on antimicrobial agents. Recently, computerized decision support software has been implemented at many institutions. This technology has greatly improved the productivity of antimicrobial stewardship programs. Combining available technology with expert knowledge in infectious diseases is necessary to ensure the continued efficacy of current antimicrobial agents.
Review of Antibiogram Preparation and Susceptibility Testing Systems
Authors: Horvat Rebecca Thayer
Published: October 2010

The overall rate of antibiotic resistance within health care institutions is dependent on data accumulated from antimicrobial testing performed on individual isolates. The type of testing method may vary depending on the bacterial species. A consensus document entitled “Analysis and Presentation of Cumulative Antimicrobial Susceptibility Test Data, M39-A2,” produced by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, presents a guideline for clinical laboratories when preparing a cumulative antibiogram. This document includes detailed recommendations for the collection, storage, analysis, and presentation of data. The antibiogram should also state the methods used to measure antibiotic resistance, the number of isolates tested in the analysis period, and the time period of analysis. Thus this cumulative report assists the health care institution by identifying trends or unusual patterns in microorganisms.
Intravenous Opioids for Severe Acute Pain in the Emergency Department
Authors: Patanwala Asad E , Keim Samuel M , Erstad Brian L
Published: October 2010

Objective:

To review clinical trials of intravenous opioids for severe acute pain in the emergency department (ED) and to provide an approach for optimization of therapy.

Data Sources:

Articles were identified through a search of Ovid/MEDLINE (1948-August 2010), PubMed (1950-August 2010), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (1991-August 2010), and Google Scholar (1900-August 2010). The search terms used were pain, opioid, and emergency department.

Study Selection and Data Extraction:

The search was limited by age group to adults and by publication type to comparative studies. Studies comparing routes of administration other than intravenous or using non-opioid comparators were not included. Bibliographies of all retrieved articles were reviewed to obtain additional articles. The focus of the search was to identify original research that compared intravenous opioids used for treatment of severe acute pain for adults in the ED.

Data Synthesis:

At equipotent doses, randomized controlled trials have not shown clinically significant differences in analgesic response or adverse effects between opioids studied. Single opioid doses less than 0.1 mg/kg of intravenous morphine, 0.015 mg/kg of intravenous hydromorphone, or 1 μg/kg of intravenous fentanyl are likely to be inadequate for severe, acute pain and the need for additional doses should be anticipated. In none of the randomized controlled trials did patients develop respiratory depression requiring the use of naloxone. Future trials could investigate the safety and efficacy of higher doses of opioids. Implementation of nurse-initiated and patient-driven pain management protocols for opioids in the ED has shown improvements in timely provision of appropriate analgesics and has resulted in better pain reduction.

Conclusions:

Currently, intravenous administration of opioids for severe acute pain in the ED appears to be inadequate. Opioid doses in the ED should be high enough to provide adequate analgesia without additional risk to the patient. EDs could implement institution-specific protocols to standardize the management of pain.
Intermezzo A performative research project in teacher training
Authors: Gthlund Anette , Lind Ulla
Published: October 2010

In this article we discuss an ongoing project namedPerforming Knowledge A project to improve knowledge in higher education through a double perspective: Theory and Performativity. This project is situated at the Department of Visual Art Education at Konstfack, University College of Arts, Crafts and Design in Stockholm, Sweden. The aim is to investigate and develop pedagogy and methods through double perspectives, whereby scientific research is joined with artistic practice as different, but compatible forms of knowledge in learning and degree projects in higher education. The research examined how different forms of knowledge appear in learning processes as well as in student theses; focus is equally placed on forms of representation and presentation. The article presents and discusses two different student projects as examples of performative knowledge. In this text we draw upon a presentation held at the 32nd InSEA World Conference, in Osaka, August 2008.
Research and creation: Socially-engaged art in The City of Richgate Project
Authors: Beer Ruth , Irwin Rita L , Grauer Kit , Xiong Gu
Published: October 2010

Combining research and art in the public sphere can have an enormous impact on urban societies. In places like Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, where over the past decades globalization has radically altered the social landscape, new approaches to public art and modes of representation
can begin to reflect complex individual everyday experiences in a way that census statistics and traditional public monuments cannot. In this article, The City of Richgate, a four-year research/creation project funded by a pilot programme for the Social Sciences and Humanities Research
Council of Canada, will be described and discussed in relation to contemporary art criticism and discourse. Specifically, debates between critics Claire Bishop and Grant Kester will be used to reflect on Richgate, and how aesthetics play a part in socially-engaged public art projects
such as this one.
Japanese Art Education: Introduction of Zokei-Asobi (Playful Art Study)
Authors: Uda Hideshi
Published: October 2010

This article focuses on the activities of the Japanese art education group called Do no Kai, based in Osaka in the 1970s. Its activities were reportedly inspired by cultural trends around the early 1970s. The contents of Zokei-Asobi (hereafter referred to as Playful Art Study)
were introduced for the first time in the 1977 revision of the 5th Elementary School Art and Handicraft Section of National Course of Study, but young teachers in the Do no Kai group practiced an embryonic form of Playful Art Study as early as the first half of the 1970s. To
clarify the fundamental issues involved in its introduction and its effect on art education, I reviewed relevant literature of early Playful Art Study.
Phosphorylation of Huntingtin at Ser421in YAC128 Neurons Is Associated with Protection of YAC128 Neurons from NMDA-Mediated Excitotoxicity and Is Modulated by PP1 and PP2A
Authors: Metzler Martina , Gan Lu , Mazarei Gelareh , Graham Rona K. , Liu Lili , Bissada Nagat , Lu Ge , Leavitt Blair R. , Hayden Michael R.
Published: October 2010

YAC transgenic mice expressing poly(Q)-expanded full-length huntingtin (mhtt) recapitulate many behavioral and neuropathological features of Huntington disease (HD). We have previously observed a reduction in phosphorylation of mhtt at S421 in the presence of the mutation for HD. In addition, phosphorylation of normal S421-htt is reduced after excitotoxic stimulation of NMDA receptors (NMDARs). To test whether NMDAR stimulation contributes to reduced pS421-htt levels in HD, we determined phosphorylation of htt at Ser421after NMDA-induced excitotoxicity in neurons from YAC128 mice.

Here, we report that the total level of pS421-htt is reduced in YAC128 primary neurons after excitotoxic NMDAR stimulation. Similarly, the total level of pS421-htt is reduced in YAC128 transgenic mice after quinolinic acid injection into the striatum. In contrast, loss of phosphorylation of pS421-htt is prevented in YAC mice that never develop clinical or neuropathological features of HD [the caspase 6-resistant YAC128 transgene (C6R)].

To gain insight into the mechanisms underlying these findings, we determined that the Ser/Thr protein phosphatases PP1 and PP2A dephosphorylate pS421-httin situand after excitotoxic stimulation of NMDARs in neurons. Furthermore, increasing the phosphorylation of htt at S421 by blocking PP1 and PP2A activity protects YAC128 striatal neurons from NMDA-induced cell death. These results, together with the observed modulation of pS421-htt levels by dopamine, the reduced expression of PP1 inhibitor Darpp-32 in the striatum of YAC128 mice, and the reduced phosphorylation of PP1 substrate CreB, point to altered regulation of phosphatase activity in HD and highlight enhancing phosphorylation of htt at S421 as a therapeutic target.