bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Charting the Landscape of Tandem BRCT Domain–Mediated Protein Interactions
Authors: Woods Nicholas T. , Mesquita Rafael D. , Sweet Michael , Carvalho Marcelo A. , Li Xueli , Liu Yun , Nguyen Huey , Thomas C. Eric , Iversen Edwin S. , Marsillac Sylvia , Karchin Rachel , Koomen John , Monteiro Alvaro N. A.
Published: September 2012

Building a protein-protein interaction network mediated by the BRCT domain reveals players in the DNA damage response.
Genetic and Biochemical Characterization of an Acquired Subgroup B3 Metallo-β-Lactamase Gene,
bla
AIM-1
, and Its Unique Genetic Context in Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Australia
Authors: Yong Dongeun , Toleman Mark A. , Bell Jan , Ritchie Brett , Pratt Rachael , Ryley Henry , Walsh Timothy R.
Published: September 2012

Three clinical
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
isolates (WCH2677, WCH2813, and WCH2837) isolated from the Women's and Children's Hospital, Adelaide, Australia, produced a metallo-β-lactamase (MBL)-positive Etest result. All isolates were PCR negative for known MBL genes. A gene bank was created, and an MBL gene, designated
bla
AIM-1
, was cloned and fully characterized. The encoded enzyme, AIM-1, is a group B3 MBL that has the highest level of identity to THIN-B and L1. It is chromosomal and flanked by two copies (one intact and one truncated) of an IS
CR
element, IS
CR15
. Southern hybridization studies indicated the movement of both IS
CR15
and
bla
AIM-1
within the three different clinical isolates. AIM-1 hydrolyzes most β-lactams, with the exception of aztreonam and, to a lesser extent, ceftazidime; however, it possesses significantly higher
k
cat
values for cefepime and carbapenems than most other MBLs. AIM-1 was the first mobile group B3 enzyme detected and signals further problems for already beleaguered antimicrobial regimes to treat serious
P. aeruginosa
and other Gram-negative infections.
Meningococcal PilV Potentiates Neisseria meningitidis Type IV Pilus-Mediated Internalization into Human Endothelial and Epithelial Cells
Authors: Takahashi Hideyuki , Yanagisawa Tatsuo , Kim Kwang Sik , Yokoyama Shigeyuki , Ohnishi Makoto
Published: September 2012

The type IV pilus of
Neisseria meningitidis
is the major factor for meningococcal adhesion to host cells. In this study, we showed that a mutant of
N. meningitidis pilV
, a minor pilin protein, internalized less efficiently to human endothelial and epithelial cells than the wild-type strain. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry analyses showed that PilE, the major subunit of pili, was less glycosylated at its serine 62 residue (Ser62) in the Δ
pilV
mutant than in the
pilV
+
strain, whereas phosphoglycerol at PilE Ser93 and phosphocholine at PilE Ser67 were not changed. Introduction of the
pglL
mutation, which results in complete loss of O-linked glycosylation from Ser62, slightly reduced
N. meningitidis
internalization into human brain microvascular endothelial cells, whereas the addition of the Δ
pilV
mutation greatly reduced
N. meningitidis
internalization. The accumulation of ezrin, which is part of the cytoskeleton ERM family, was observed with
pilV
+
, Δ
pglL
, and
pilE
(S62A) strains but not with the Δ
pilV
mutant. These results suggested that whereas
N. meningitidis
pilin originally had an adhesive activity that was less affected by minor pilin proteins, the invasive function evolved with incorporation of the PilV protein into the pili to promote the
N. meningitidis
internalization into human cells.
Transposon Mutagenesis of Salmonella enterica Serovar Enteritidis Identifies Genes That Contribute to Invasiveness in Human and Chicken Cells and Survival in Egg Albumen
Authors: Shah Devendra H. , Zhou Xiaohui , Kim Hye-Young , Call Douglas R. , Guard Jean
Published: September 2012

Salmonella enterica
serovar Enteritidis is an important food-borne pathogen, and chickens are a primary reservoir of human infection. While most knowledge about
Salmonella
pathogenesis is based on research conducted on
Salmonella enterica
serovar Typhimurium,
S
. Enteritidis is known to have pathobiology specific to chickens that impacts epidemiology in humans. Therefore, more information is needed about
S
. Enteritidis pathobiology in comparison to that of
S
. Typhimurium. We used transposon mutagenesis to identify
S
. Enteritidis virulence genes by assay of invasiveness in human intestinal epithelial (Caco-2) cells and chicken liver (LMH) cells and survival within chicken (HD-11) macrophages as a surrogate marker for virulence. A total of 4,330 transposon insertion mutants of an invasive G1 Nal
r
strain were screened using Caco-2 cells. This led to the identification of attenuating mutations in a total of 33 different loci, many of which include genes previously known to contribute to enteric infection (e.g.,
Salmonella
pathogenicity island 1 [SPI-1], SPI-4, SPI-5, CS54,
fliH
,
fljB
,
csgB
,
spvR
, and
rfbMN
) in
S
. Enteritidis and other
Salmonella
serovars. Several genes or genomic islands that have not been reported previously (e.g., SPI-14,
ksgA
,
SEN0034
,
SEN2278
, and
SEN3503
) or that are absent in
S
. Typhimurium or in most other
Salmonella
serovars (e.g.,
pegD
,
SEN1152
,
SEN1393
, and
SEN1966
) were also identified. Most mutants with reduced Caco-2 cell invasiveness also showed significantly reduced invasiveness in chicken liver cells and impaired survival in chicken macrophages and in egg albumen. Consequently, these genes may play an important role during infection of the chicken host and also contribute to successful egg contamination by
S
. Enteritidis.
SOLITONS EXPERIENCE FOR BLACK HOLE PRODUCTION IN ULTRARELATIVISTIC PARTICLE COLLISIONS
Authors: YA. AREF'EVA I.
Published: September 2012

We discuss the analogy between soliton scattering in quantum field theory and black hole/wormholes (BH/WH) production in ultrarelativistic particle collisions in gravity. It is a common wisdom of the current paradigm suggests that BH/WH formation in particles collisions will happen when a center-mass energy of colliding particles is sufficiently above the Planck scale (the transplanckian region) and the BH/WH production can be estimated by the classical geometrical cross section. We compare the background of this paradigm with the functional integral method to scattering amplitudes and, in particular, we stress the analogy of the BH production in collision of ultrarelativistic particle and appearance of breathers poles in the scattering amplitudes in the Sin–Gordon model.
ON SOME ALGEBRAIC AND COMBINATORIAL PROPERTIES OF DUNKL ELEMENTS
Authors: KIRILLOV ANATOL N.
Published: September 2012

We introduce and study a certain class of nonhomogeneous quadratic algebras together with the special set of mutually commuting elements inside of each, the so-called Dunkl elements. We describe relations among the Dunkl elements. This result is a further generalization of similar results obtained in [S. Fomin and A. N. Kirillov, Quadratic algebras, Dunkl elements and Schubert calculus, in Advances in Geometry (eds. J.-S. Brylinski, V. Nistor, B. Tsygan and P. Xu), Progress in Math. Vol. 172 (Birkhäuser Boston, Boston, 1995), pp. 147–182, A. Postnikov, On a quantum version of Pieri's formula, in Advances in Geometry (eds. J.-S. Brylinski, R. Brylinski, V. Nistor, B. Tsygan and P. Xu), Progress in Math. Vol. 172 (Birkhäuser Boston, 1995), pp. 371–383 and A. N. Kirillov and T. Maenor, A Note on Quantum K-Theory of Flag Varieties, preprint]. As an application we describe explicitly the set of relations among the Gaudin elements in the group ring of the symmetric group, cf. [E. Mukhin, V. Tarasov and A. Varchenko, Bethe Subalgebras of the Group Algebra of the Symmetric Group, preprint arXiv:1004.4248].

Also we describe a few combinatorial properties of some special elements in the associative quasi-classical Yang–Baxter algebra in a connection with the values of the β-Grothendieck polynomials for some special permutations, and on the other hand, with the Ehrhart polynomial of the Chan–Robbins polytope.
Characterization of Top-Gate Effects in Amorphous InGaZnO4 Thin-Film Transistors Using a Dual-Gate Structure
Authors: Takechi Kazushige , Iwamatsu Shinnosuke , Yahagi Toru , Watanabe Yoshiyuki , Kobayashi Seiya , Tanabe Hiroshi
Published: September 2012

We investigate the dependence of bottom-gate transfer characteristics on top-gate voltage, which we call “top-gate effects”, using amorphous InGaZnO4 thin-film transistors (a-IGZO TFTs) having a dual-gate structure. We found that the positive top-gate effect varies depending on the density of electron traps at the top-channel interface, while the negative top-gate effect has a similar impact on the bottom-gate transfer characteristics irrespective of the top-channel property. OFF-current increase due to the positive top-gate effect, which is one of the undesirable behaviors for practical use, was found to be effectively suppressed by sacrificing the subthreshold performance. These behaviors were described in terms of mutual interactions between the bottom-gate and top-gate electric fields. In comparison with conventional hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) TFTs, a-IGZO TFTs showed more significant top-gate effects. We consider this result to be due to the intrinsic material nature of a-IGZO, i.e., high electron mobility and nonexistence of hole accumulation in a-IGZO.
Reference index-based H.264 video watermarking scheme
Authors: Li Jian , Liu Hongmei , Huang Jiwu , Shi Yun Q.
Published: September 2012

Video watermarking has received much attention over the past years as a promising solution to copy protection. Watermark robustness is still a key issue of research, especially when a watermark is embedded in the compressed video domain. In this article, a robust watermarking scheme for H.264 video is proposed. During video encoding, the watermark is embedded in the index of the reference frame, referred to as reference index, a bitstream syntax element newly proposed in the H.264 standard. Furthermore, the video content (current coded blocks) is modified based on an optimization model, aiming at improving watermark robustness without unacceptably degrading the video's visual quality or increasing the video's bit rate. Compared with the existing schemes, our method has the following three advantages: (1) The bit rate of the watermarked video is adjustable; (2) the robustness against common video operations can be achieved; (3) the watermark embedding and extraction are simple. Extensive experiments have verified the good performance of the proposed watermarking scheme.
Hypokalaemia and Renal Tubular Acidosis due to Abuse of Nurofen Plus
Authors: Blackstock M. J. , Lee A.
Published: September 2012

Nurofen Plus is a common analgesic containing ibuprofen and codeine. We present a case of a 38-year-old lady who developed renal tubular acidosis with severe hypokalaemia, after chronic abuse of Nurofen Plus tablets. She presented with confusion and profound biochemical abnormalities requiring critical care admission for electrolyte replacement. Ibuprofen causes renal tubular acidosis due to its effects on carbonic anhydrase activity.
Laparoscopic Salpingectomy for Isolated Fallopian Tube Torsion in the Third Trimester
Authors: Duncan R. P. , Shah M. M.
Published: September 2012

Isolated tubal torsion is a rare event. The clinical presentation is often nonspecific and the diagnosis is difficult, especially in the gravida abdomen. If left untreated, torsion can result in premature labour and foetal loss, as well as maternal morbidity. Here we present a case of isolated tubal torsion in a primigravida occurring in her third trimester and subsequent successful laparoscopic salpingectomy, rather than laparotomy. We discuss some of the diagnostic difficulties faced and approached to surgery as well as a brief review of the literature. In our case the women went on to successfully complete her pregnancy with no further complications.
Susceptibility ofGardnerella vaginalisBiofilms to Natural Antimicrobials Subtilosin,ε-Poly-L-Lysine, and Lauramide Arginine Ethyl Ester
Authors: Turovskiy Yevgeniy , Cheryian Thomson , Algburi Ammar , Wirawan Ruth E. , Takhistov Paul , Sinko Patrick J. , Chikindas Michael L.
Published: September 2012

Bacterial vaginosis is a common vaginal infection associated with numerous gynecological and obstetric complications. This condition is characterized by the presence of thick adherent vaginal biofilms, composed mainly ofGardnerella vaginalis. This organism is thought to be the primary aetiological cause of the infection paving the way for various opportunists to colonize the niche. Previously, we reported that the natural antimicrobials subtilosin,ε-poly-L-lysine, and lauramide arginine ethyl ester selectively inhibit the growth of this pathogen. In this study, we used plate counts to evaluate the efficacy of these antimicrobials against established biofilms ofG. vaginalis. Additionally, we validated and compared two rapid methods (ATP viability and resazurin assays) for the assessment of cell viability in the antimicrobial-treatedG. vaginalisbiofilms. Out of the tested antimicrobials, lauramide arginine ethyl ester had the strongest bactericidal effect, followed by subtilosin, with clindamycin and polylysine showing the weakest effect. In comparison to plate counts, ATP viability and resazurin assays considerably underestimated the bactericidal effect of some antimicrobials. Our results indicate that these assays should be validated for every new application.
Glutamine Randomized Studies in Early Life: The Unsolved Riddle of Experimental and Clinical Studies
Authors: Briassouli Efrossini , Briassoulis George
Published: September 2012

Glutamine may have benefits during immaturity or critical illness in early life but its effects on outcome end hardpoints are controversial. Our aim was to review randomized studies on glutamine supplementation in pups, infants, and children examining whether glutamine affects outcome. Experimental work has proposed various mechanisms of glutamine action but none of the randomized studies in early life showed any effect on mortality and only a few showed some effect on inflammatory response, organ function, and a trend for infection control. Although apparently safe in animal models (pups), premature infants, and critically ill children, glutamine supplementation does not reduce mortality or late onset sepsis, and its routine use cannot be recommended in these sensitive populations. Large prospectively stratified trials are needed to better define the crucial interrelations of “glutamine-heat shock proteins-stress response” in critical illness and to identify the specific subgroups of premature neonates and critically ill infants or children who may have a greater need for glutamine and who may eventually benefit from its supplementation. The methodological problems noted in the reviewed randomized experimental and clinical trials should be seriously considered in any future well-designed large blinded randomized controlled trial involving glutamine supplementation in critical illness.
Usefulness of the Vitreous Fluid Analysis in the Translational Research of Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Simó-Servat Olga , Hernández Cristina , Simó Rafael
Published: September 2012

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the major cause of acquired blindness in working-age adults. Current treatments for DR (laser photocoagulation, intravitreal corticosteroids, intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents, and vitreo-retinal surgery) are applicable only at advanced stages of the disease and are associated with significant adverse effects. Therefore, new pharmacological treatments for the early stages of the disease are needed. Vitreous fluid obtained from diabetic patients undergoing vitreoretinal surgery is currently used to explore the events that are taking place in the retina for clinical research. However, several confounding factors such as vitreous haemorrhage and concentration of vitreous proteins should be considered in the analysis of the results. In this paper we will focus on the vitreous fluid as a tool for exploring the mediators of DR and in particular the molecules related to inflammatory pathways. In addition, their role in the pathogenesis of DR will be discussed. The usefulness of new technologies such as flow cytometry and proteomics in identifying new candidates involved in the inflammatory process that occurs in DR will be overviewed. Finally, a more personalized treatment based on vitreous fluid analysis aiming to reduce the burden associated with DR is suggested.
A Comparison of Feature-Based MLR and PLS Regression Techniques for the Prediction of Three Soil Constituents in a Degraded South African Ecosystem
Authors: Bayer Anita , Bachmann Martin , Müller Andreas , Kaufmann Hermann
Published: September 2012

The accurate assessment of selected soil constituents can provide valuable indicators to identify and monitor land changes coupled with degradation which are frequent phenomena in semiarid regions. Two approaches for the quantification of soil organic carbon, iron oxides, and clay content based on field and laboratory spectroscopy of natural surfaces are tested. (1) A physical approach which is based on spectral absorption feature analysis is applied. For every soil constituent, a set of diagnostic spectral features is selected and linked with chemical reference data by multiple linear regression (MLR) techniques. (2) Partial least squares regression (PLS) as an exclusively statistical multivariate method is applied for comparison. Regression models are developed based on extensive ground reference data of 163 sampled sites collected in the Thicket Biome, South Africa, where land changes are observed due to intensive overgrazing. The approaches are assessed upon their prediction performance and significance in regard to a future quantification of soil constituents over large areas using imaging spectroscopy.
Chemical Parameters of Oxidative Stress Adaptability in Beech
Authors: Štajner D. , Orlović S. , Popović B. M. , Kebert M. , Stojnić S. , Klašnja B.
Published: September 2012

The antioxidant activity, lipid peroxidation, and contents of free proline and soluble proteins were investigated on six‐year‐old beech plants. Provenance Avala, in Serbia, had the best adaptability to environmental factors on locality Fruska Gora due to low lipid peroxidation, high FRAP value, and free proline and soluble proteins contents. Provenances Scharnstein and Mitterndorf, in Austria, had the best adaptability to environmental factors on locality Debeli Lug due to high FRAP value and free proline and soluble proteins contents. FRAP values in majority of provenances from locality Debeli Lug were higher. Correlations parameters were much higher between provenances in locality Debeli Lug, situated at higher altitude, which is the consequence of better adaption to environmental factors influence.
Systems Biology of Circadian-Immune Interactions
Authors: Mavroudis P.D. , Scheff J.D. , Calvano S.E. , Androulakis I.P.
Published: September 2012

There is increasing evidence that the immune system is regulated by circadian rhythms. A wide range of immune parameters, such as the number of red blood cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells as well as the level of critical immune mediators, such as cytokines, undergo daily fluctuations. Current experimental data indicate that circadian information reaches immune tissues mainly through diurnal patterns of autonomic and endocrine rhythms. In addition, immune factors such as cytokines can also influence the phase of the circadian clock, providing bidirectional flow of circadian information between the neuroendocrine and immune systems. This network of neuroendocrine-immune interactions consists of complexly integrated molecular feedback and feedforward loops that function in synchrony in order to optimize immune response. Chronic stress can disrupt this intrinsic orchestration, as several endocrine signals of chronically stressed patients present blunted rhythmic characteristics. Reprogramming of biological rhythms has recently gained much attention as a potent method to leverage homeostatic circadian controls to ultimately improve clinical outcomes. Elucidation of the intrinsic properties of such complex systems and optimization of intervention strategies require not only an accurate identification of the signaling pathways that mediate host responses, but also a system-level description and evaluation.
The Effects of Topography on the Evolution of Typhoon Saomai (2006) under the Influence of Tropical Storm Bopha (2006)
Authors: Jang Wook , Chun Hye-Yeong
Published: September 2012

The effects of topography on the evolution of Typhoon Saomai (2006) are investigated by conducting a series of numerical simulations with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model using 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% of terrain heights of the Central Mountain Range (CMR) in Taiwan. Differences in the track and intensity of Typhoon Saomai between the experiments are strongly related to those of Tropical Storm Bopha, which passed Taiwan earlier than the typhoon. In the sensitivity experiments, the higher CMR drifts Bopha more southward, which results in the weakening of Bopha by prohibiting the interaction between the CMR and Bopha, and the flows induced by Bopha force Saomai to propagate along a more southerly track. The higher CMR weakens the easterly flow in the lower troposphere and suppresses the northerly flow in the upper troposphere to the west of Saomai. The resultant weak vertical wind shear keeps warm air near the typhoon center in the upper troposphere, which promotes the intensification of the typhoon. To examine the direct effects of topography on the track and intensity of Saomai, additional simulations involving the removal of Bopha from the initial condition with 100% and 50% of CMR are conducted. The results without Bopha showed that Saomai moves more southward at a slower speed and with greater intensity, due to the stronger northerly wind to the west of Saomai, which was not canceled out by the southerly wind to the east of Bopha, and there is no significant difference in the tracks or intensity with respect to the mountain heights.
Topographic Speed-Up Effects and Observed Roof Damage on Bermuda following Hurricane Fabian (2003)
Authors: Miller Craig , Gibbons Michael , Beatty Kyle , Boissonnade Auguste
Published: September 2012

In this study the impacts of the topography of Bermuda on the damage patterns observed following the passage of Hurricane Fabian over the island on 5 September 2003 are considered. Using a linearized model of atmospheric boundary layer flow over low-slope topography that also incorporates a model for changes of surface roughness, sets of directionally dependent wind speed adjustment factors were calculated for the island of Bermuda. These factors were then used in combination with a time-stepping model for the open water wind field of Hurricane Fabian derived from the Hurricane Research Division Real-Time Hurricane Wind Analysis System (H*Wind) surface wind analyses to calculate the maximum 1-min mean wind speed at locations across the island for the following conditions: open water, roughness changes only, and topography and roughness changes combined. Comparison of the modeled 1-min mean wind speeds and directions with observations from a site on the southeast coast of Bermuda showed good agreement between the two sets of values. Maximum open water wind speeds across the entire island showed very little variation and were of category 2 strength on the Saffir–Simpson scale. While the effects of surface roughness changes on the modeled wind speeds showed very little correlation with the observed damage, the effect of the underlying topography led to maximum modeled wind speeds of category 4 strength being reached in highly localized areas on the island. Furthermore, the observed damage was found to be very well correlated with these regions of topographically enhanced wind speeds, with a very clear trend of increasing damage with increasing wind speeds.
Theoretical Procedures and Elder-Vass’s Critical Realist Ontology
Authors: Tsilipakos Leonidas
Published: September 2012

This article scrutinizes some theoretical procedures prevalent in the philosophy of social science. These procedures are exemplified in Elder-Vass’s critical realism, which promises to place the social sciences on a sound ontological footing. The article focuses on the way that Elder-Vass’s general emergentist ontology is constituted and on the methods through which it is applied to society. It is contended that the ontology is not and could not be grounded in science and that its philosophical use distorts what it is applied to. The incoherent methods that social ontological projects constitutionally rely on entail that they cannot ground social scientific explanation.
Discerning Cultural Identification From a Thinly Sliced Behavioral Sample
Authors: Hamamura Takeshi , Li Liman Man Wai
Published: September 2012

This research examined whether individual differences in cultural identification can be discerned at zero acquaintance. This issue was examined in Hong Kong, where the idiosyncrasy of cultural identification is a salient social-psychological issue. The participants were able to perceive accurately the targets’ identification with Western culture from a video clip and from a still image. Findings also indicated that a stereotype of Western cultural identity (i.e., extraversion and particular hairstyle) facilitated these perceptions. Specifically, (a) the participants with a stronger stereotype were more accurate in perceiving Western cultural identification, (b) the targets who were experimentally manipulated to appear extraverted were rated as more strongly identifying with Western culture, and (c) the participants relatively unfamiliar with these stereotypes did not correctly perceive Western cultural identification. Implications of these findings on research on multiculturalism are also discussed.
Model Transparency and Validation
Authors: Eddy David M. , Hollingworth William , Caro J. Jaime , Tsevat Joel , McDonald Kathryn M. , Wong John B.
Published: September 2012

Trust and confidence are critical to the success of health care models. There are two main methods for achieving this: transparency (people can see how the model is built) and validation (how well it reproduces reality). This report describes recommendations for achieving transparency and validation, developed by a task force appointed by the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) and the Society for Medical Decision Making (SMDM). Recommendations were developed iteratively by the authors. A nontechnical description should be made available to anyone—including model type and intended applications; funding sources; structure; inputs, outputs, other components that determine function, and their relationships; data sources; validation methods and results; and limitations. Technical documentation, written in sufficient detail to enable a reader with necessary expertise to evaluate the model and potentially reproduce it, should be made available openly or under agreements that protect intellectual property, at the discretion of the modelers. Validation involves face validity (wherein experts evaluate model structure, data sources, assumptions, and results), verification or internal validity (check accuracy of coding), cross validity (comparison of results with other models analyzing same problem), external validity (comparing model results to real-world results), and predictive validity (comparing model results with prospectively observed events). The last two are the strongest form of validation. Each section of this paper contains a number of recommendations that were iterated among the authors, as well as the wider modeling task force jointly set up by the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research and the Society for Medical Decision Making.
From ‘Soul on Ice’ to ‘Soul for Hire’? The political transformation of Black Panther Eldridge Cleaver
Authors: Lavelle Ashley
Published: September 2012

The phenomenon of radicals and leftwing political activists recanting earlier allegiances to shift in a rightwards direction has often been commented upon, with explanations that veer from identifying a convergence between extreme-left and extreme-right positions; to wider social and economic changes; to psychological factors intrinsic to each particular individual. One of the most startling examples of such a change in political orientation – and made not once, but on numerous occasions – is that of Eldridge Cleaver, the former Black Panther party leader. What lay behind the startling transitions in Cleaver’s story is here discussed with reference to a psychohistorical framework that can help explain the broader phenomenon of Left-Right political conversion.
Return-to-Play Outcomes After Microscopic Lumbar Diskectomy in Professional Athletes
Authors: Watkins Robert G. , Hanna Robert , Chang David , Watkins Robert G.
Published: September 2012

Background:

It has been shown a microscopic lumbar diskectomy (MLD) is effective in getting professional athletes back to their sport after a herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP). There is a need for more information on the time it takes professional athletes to return after surgery.

Purpose:

To determine average time for return to play and success in returning to play for professional athletes undergoing MLD.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

Between 1996 and 2010, the senior authors treated 171 professional athletes for lumbar HNP. A retrospective review was performed using patient charts, operative reports, team medical records, and internet search. Eighty-five patients were treated with MLD, and 86 patients were treated nonoperatively. This study focused on the return to play of the operatively treated patients. Primary outcome measures were return rate and average return time, considering only patients whose sport is in season at specific postoperative time points.

Results:

Of surgically treated patients, 89.3% returned to sport. The average time it took operative patients to return to their sport (return time) was 5.8 months. Progressive return data for surgically treated patients showed the percentage of athletes who returned increased from 50% at 3 months to 72% at 6 months to 77% at 9 months and 84% at 12 months.

Conclusion:

The chance a player returns to play after MLD is 50% at 3 months, 72% at 6 months, 77% at 9 months, and 84% at 12 months. The overall chance of returning to play at any point is 89%.
‘Ambivalence’ at the end of life
Authors: Ohnsorge Kathrin , Keller Heike R Gudat , Widdershoven Guy AM , Rehmann-Sutter Christoph
Published: September 2012

Health-care professionals in end-of-life care are frequently confronted with patients who seem to be ‘ambivalent’ about treatment decisions, especially if they express a wish to die. This article investigates this phenomenon by analysing two case stories based on narrative interviews with two patients and their caregivers. First, we argue that a respectful approach to patients requires acknowledging that coexistence of opposing wishes can be part of authentic, multi-layered experiences and moral understandings at the end of life. Second, caregivers need to understand when contradictory statements point to tensions in a patient’s moral experience that require support. Third, caregivers should be careful not to negatively label or even pathologize seemingly contradictory patient statements.
What Determines the Dividend Payout Ratio for Jordanian Industrial Firms?
Authors: Hamill Philip A. , Al-Shattarat Wasim
Published: September 2012

There is a plethora of empirical evidence testing theories which have been proposed to explain dividend policies and assessments of managerial opinions for firms listed on developed markets’ stock exchanges. In contrast, the evidence for emerging markets is limited. We investigate the determinants of the dividend payout ratio (DPR) for a sample of Jordanian listed firms. Consistent with the agency cost hypothesis, the level of inside ownership, the number of shareholders and the level of institutional ownership significantly influenced the DPR. Firm size was also significant supporting the transaction-cost hypothesis. Our empirical analysis failed to find any evidence to support the signalling hypothesis.

JEL Classification: G32, G35, G38
Short report: Improving record–review surveillance of young children with an autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Wiggins Lisa D , Robins Diana L , Yeargin-Allsopp Marshalyn
Published: September 2012

Introduction:

Records-based autism spectrum disorder surveillance developed at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been extended to younger cohorts, although the utility of additional record sources has not been examined. We therefore conducted a pilot project to describe whether Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveillance could identify younger children with an autism spectrum disorder evaluated as part of an ongoing screening study at Georgia State University.

Methods:

In all, 31 families of children who screened positive for autism spectrum disorder and received a clinical evaluation at Georgia State University agreed to participate in the project. Of these, 10 children lived inside the surveillance area and had records abstracted and reviewed for this project. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveillance results (i.e. autism spectrum disorder or non-autism spectrum disorder) were compared with Georgia State University evaluation results (i.e. autism spectrum disorder or non-autism spectrum disorder).

Results:

In all, 4 of the 10 children were diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder after the Georgia State University evaluation. None of the 4 children with an autism spectrum disorder were identified by current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveillance methods but all 4 children were identified by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveillance methods when additional record sources were included (i.e. records from the statewide early intervention program and Georgia State University evaluation).

Conclusion:

These findings suggest that partnering with early intervention programs and encouraging early autism spectrum disorder screening might improve autism spectrum disorder surveillance among young children.
Reduced accuracy and sensitivity in the perception of emotional facial expressions in individuals with high autism spectrum traits
Authors: Poljac Ervin , Poljac Edita , Wagemans Johan
Published: September 2012

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is among other things characterized by specific impairments in emotion processing. It is not clear, however, to what extent the typical decline in affective functioning is related to the specific autistic traits. We employed The Autism Spectrum-Quotient (AQ) to quantify autistic traits in a group of 500 healthy individuals and investigate whether we could detect similar difficulties in the perception of emotional expressions in a broader autistic phenotype. The group with high AQ score was less accurate and needed higher emotional content to recognize emotions of anger, disgust, and sadness. Our findings demonstrate a selective impairment in identification of emotional facial expressions in healthy individuals that is primarily related to the extent of autistic traits.
Spontaneous attention to faces in Asperger syndrome using ecologically valid static stimuli
Authors: Hanley Mary , McPhillips Martin , Mulhern Gerry , Riby Deborah M
Published: September 2012

Previous eye tracking research on the allocation of attention to social information by individuals with autism spectrum disorders is equivocal and may be in part a consequence of variation in stimuli used between studies. The current study explored attention allocation to faces, and within faces, by individuals with Asperger syndrome using a range of static stimuli where faces were either viewed in isolation or viewed in the context of a social scene. Results showed that faces were viewed typically by the individuals with Asperger syndrome when presented in isolation, but attention to the eyes was significantly diminished in comparison to age and IQ-matched typical viewers when faces were viewed as part of social scenes. We show that when using static stimuli, there is evidence of atypicality for individuals with Asperger syndrome depending on the extent of social context. Our findings shed light on the previous explanations of gaze behaviour that have emphasised the role of movement in atypicalities of social attention in autism spectrum disorders and highlight the importance of consideration of the realistic portrayal of social information for future studies.
A randomised group comparison controlled trial of ‘preschoolers with autism’: A parent education and skills training intervention for young children with autistic disorder
Authors: Tonge Bruce , Brereton Avril , Kiomall Melissa , Mackinnon Andrew , Rinehart Nicole J
Published: September 2012

Aim:

To determine the effect of parent education on adaptive behaviour, autism symptoms and cognitive/language skills of young children with autistic disorder.

Method:

A randomised group comparison design involving a parent education and counselling intervention and a parent education and behaviour management intervention to control for parent skills training and a control sample. Two rural and two metropolitan regions were randomly allocated to intervention groups ( n = 70) or control ( n = 35). Parents from autism assessment services in the intervention regions were randomly allocated to parent education and behaviour management ( n = 35) or parent education and counselling ( n = 35).

Results:

Parent education and behaviour management resulted in significant improvement in adaptive behaviour and autism symptoms at 6 months follow-up for children with greater delays in adaptive behaviour. Parent education and behaviour management was superior to parent education and counselling. We conclude that a 20-week parent education programme including skills training for parents of young children with autistic disorder provides significant improvements in child adaptive behaviour and symptoms of autism for low-functioning children.
Motor proficiency and physical fitness in adolescent males with and without autism spectrum disorders
Authors: Pan Chien-Yu
Published: September 2012

This study compared components of motor proficiency and physical fitness in adolescents with and without autism spectrum disorders, and assessed the associations between the two measures within each group. A total of 62 adolescent males with ( n = 31) and without ( n = 31) autism spectrum disorders aged 10–17 years completed the Bruininks–Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (2nd ed.), the BROCKPORT Physical Fitness Test, and the bioelectrical impedance analysis. The main findings are as follows: (1) adolescents with autism spectrum disorders had significantly lower scores on all motor proficiency and fitness measures, except body composition, than adolescents without autism spectrum disorders and that (2) the types of associations between the two measures differed significantly across the groups. Specific interventions to maximize motor proficiency and physical fitness in adolescents with autism spectrum disorders are urgently needed.
Power and resistance: Language mixing in three Chicano plays
Authors: Jonsson Carla
Published: September 2012

This article offers insights into how multilingual resources such as language mixing can be used in theater to address power relations such as, for instance, domination, resistance and empowerment. Three plays by Chicana playwright Cherríe Moraga ( Giving up the ghost, Heroes and saints, and Shadow of a man) will be used to illustrate language mixing in Chicano theater. Moraga’s work has been selected since she is regarded as a representative of Chicano theater both by people within and by people outside the Chicano community.

Chicano theater arose in the United States during the 1960s as an act of resistance. The aim was to empower Chicanos/Mexican Americans by informing them about their rights in the society in which they resided. Chicano theater has thus since its inception been linked to issues of power.

Theoretically, this article builds upon philosopher Michel Foucault’s view of power, which fits well with the study of Chicano theater since it acknowledges that power exists in all social relations and is negotiated in each relation and context. Foucault’s view of power also asserts that power and resistance go hand in hand. This, then, can be translated to the Chicano context, where struggles take place on different levels in order to resist power. Chicano theater, also referred to by Moraga as “theater of resistance” is one such form of resistance. However, power is not merely resisted. It is also reproduced in a new form. Foucault’s view of power and resistance and his emphasis on the productive functions of power allow for a possibility of empowerment.
Using your profanisaurus: Comparisons, analogies and cultural capital in two English Literature seminars
Authors: Bruce Susan
Published: September 2012

‘Using your profanisaurus’ derives from a project, The Production of University English, whose earliest findings were published in Arts and Humanities in Higher Education in 2005. By analysing ‘ordinary’ discussions in ‘ordinary’ English Literature classes in diverse universities, the project seeks to uncover what really happens when English is taught and learned in British Higher Education. This article examines two instances where students compare the text they are studying with another artifact, in order to raise questions about canonicity, culture, and the act of comparison itself. The project also aims to show how analytical methods generated from the discipline of English may be employed to elucidate other texts, including the ‘text of the classroom’. Consequently, the article begins with a discussion of three artifacts whose form presupposes a comparative reading.
Erlotinib and gefitinib, small-molecule EGFR inhibitors. New uses for old drugs?
Authors: Brooks Marvin B
Published: September 2012

The process of drug discovery and development takes decades and costs billions, therefore it is pertinent to consider the clinical ‘off-target’ actions of currently approved agents. The safety profile of these agents is already established and there is experience of specific clinical utility. The investigation of recognised ‘off-target’ actions may provide a more rapid avenue to address ‘non-target’ disease states. Herein the potential of the epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors erlotinib and geritinib are considered within the context of diabetes.
A new microcontrolled structural health monitoring system based on the electromechanical impedance principle
Authors: Cortez Nicolás E , Filho Jozué V , Baptista Fabricio G
Published: September 2012

This article presents a new method to detect damage in structures based on the electromechanical impedance principle. The system follows the variations in the output voltage of piezoelectric transducers and does not compute the impedance itself. The proposed system is portable, autonomous, versatile, and could efficiently replace commercial instruments in different structural health monitoring applications. The identification of damage is performed by simply comparing the variations of root mean square voltage from response signals of piezoelectric transducers, such as lead zirconate titanate patches bonded to the structure, obtained for different frequencies of the excitation signal. The proposed system is not limited by the sampling rate of analog-to-digital converters, dispenses Fourier transform algorithms, and does not require a computer for processing, operating autonomously. A low-cost prototype based on microcontroller and digital synthesizer was built, and experiments were carried out on an aluminum structure and excellent results have been obtained.
Caraco v. Novo Nordisk: Breathing life into the MMA’s counterclaim provision
Authors: Rein Frederick H , Crystal Joseph B
Published: September 2012

In Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories Ltd. et al. v. Novo Nordisk A/S et al. (U.S. 2012), the U.S. Supreme Court addressed the scope of the counterclaim provision in the Hatch-Waxman Act. The Supreme Court reversed the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and remanded the case for further proceedings. This case report presents the arguments made to the Supreme Court by the parties and various amici and how the Supreme Court addressed the issues raised by the parties.
Eccrine Spiradenoma of the Thigh
Authors: Yesilkaya Yakup , Demirbas Burak , Gokoz Ozay , Akata Deniz
Published: September 2012

Eccrine spiradenoma is a well-recognized benign tumor arising from the intradermal straight portion of the eccrine or merocrine sweat glands. It is usually a small, solitary lesion in the cutis and the subcutaneous tissues. As with other lesions in the cutis and the subcutaneous tissue, few cases describing the sonographic findings of eccrine spiradenoma have been reported. This case study demonstrates these sonography findings in a case of eccrine spiradenoma distributed in the right thigh.
Flt3 inhibitor AC220 is a potent therapy in a mouse model of myeloproliferative disease driven by enhanced wild-type Flt3 signaling
Authors: Taylor Samuel J. , Dagger Samantha A. , Thien Christine B. F. , Wikstrom Matthew E. , Langdon Wallace Y.
Published: September 2012

High levels of expression of wild-type Flt3 characterize many hematopoietic proliferative diseases and neoplasms, providing a potential therapeutic target. Using the c-Cbl RING finger mutant mouse as a model of a myeloproliferative disease (MPD) driven by wild-type Flt3, in the present study, we show that treatment with the Flt3 kinase inhibitor AC220 blocks MPD development by targeting Flt3+ multipotent progenitors (MPPs). We found that daily administration of AC220 caused a marked reduction in Flt3 expression, induction of quiescence, and a significant loss of MPPs within 4 days. Unexpectedly, a robust Flt3 ligand–associated proliferative recovery response soon followed, preventing further loss of MPPs. However, continued AC220 treatment limited MPP recovery and maintained reduced, steady-state levels of cycling MPPs that express low levels of Flt3. Therefore, a finely tuned balance between the opposing forces of AC220 and Flt3 ligand production was established; whereas the Flt3 ligand blunted the inhibitory effects of AC220, the disease was held in remission for as long as therapy was continued. The net effect is a potent therapy indicating that patients with c-Cbl mutations, or those with similarly enhanced Flt3 signaling, may respond well to AC220 even after the induction of high levels of Flt3 ligand.