bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Private Speech in the Classroom: The Effects of Activity Type, Presence of Others, Classroom Context, and Mixed-age Grouping
Authors: Winsler Adam , Diaz Rafael M.
Published: March 2013

This study addressed the question of how young children's spontaneous use of private speech in the kindergarten classroom varies as a function of contextual variables, such as type of activity, immediate presence of others, degree of teacher-given structure, and classroom age composition. Twenty children from two classrooms (one mixed-age, one same-age) were systematically observed in their regular kindergarten classroom during a period of four weeks, using a time-sampling procedure. Results from ANOVA, chi-square, and logistic regression analyses indicated that young children's use of private speech does vary systematically according to the immediate physical and social context. More specifically, children were found to use more self-regulatory language when they were: (1) engaged in goal-directed task activity, as compared to free play or other activities; (2) in a classroom context which provided an intermediate degree of teacher regulation, compared to contexts in which either very little or a great deal of external structure was present; and (3) with their younger classmates, compared to either their same-age or older peers. No differences in overall private speech usage were found between the mixed-age and same-age classes. Frequency of private speech did not vary significantly depending on whether children were alone, with other children, or with adults. Classroom contexts vary in the degree to which they promote self-direction. This study suggests that if one is interested in fostering young children's development of self-regulation or in observing children's use of private speech, the optimum context is one which provides an intermediate amount of structure and allows children to spontaneously engage in challenging goal-directed activity.
Competing through Co-operation in Nonhuman Primates: Developmental Aspects of Matrilineal Dominance
Authors: Chapais Bernard
Published: March 2013

This paper's major aim is to illustrate how competition and co-operation are causally interrelated in the social life of nonhuman primates. In many species, competition for resources and mates commonly leads to xenophobic alliances and to the formation of intra-group dominance orders in which coalitions and alliances play a major role. In this sense, competition fosters co-operation. After briefly reviewing the nature of alliances in primates, this paper focuses on matrilineal dominance systems, which characterise many species of the Cercopithecidae family (macaques, baboons, etc.). In these societies, females socially inherit their mother's rank above lower-ranking matrilines with the result that kin rank next to each other. This paper summarises 10 years of experimental research on the composition and dynamics of alliances in a captive group of Japanese macaques (Macacafuscata). The main experimental paradigm consisted in manipulating the composition of the group, thereby dismantling existing alliances and inducing the formation of new alliances and new rank orders. Results reveal the existence of a complex interplay of kin and nonkin alliances responsible for the acquisition of rank and, later, for the maintenance of rank relations within and between kin groups. Opportunistic, selfishly motivated interventions in conflicts, performed by juveniles sharing the same targets (common targeting principle), appear to account for the initial formation of alliances in these dominance systems and, possibly, in various other situations as well. Such relatively simple processes may have paved the way for ontogenetically and phylogenetically more sophisticated forms of co-operation, such as reciprocity involving delayed benefits to the donors.
Strategies of Co-operation: A Commentary
Authors: Smith Peter K.
Published: March 2013

The papers in this special section illustrate the subtle interweaving of co-operation and competition as individual strategies, in primates and humans. These strategies can be strongly influenced by cultural context, and by individual/relational characteristics. The Charlesworth/LaFreniere paradigm provides opportunities for examining these, and could be analysed further in games theory terms; as can alternative paradigms. Friendship is one important relational characteristic, and its causal links to reciprocity might be examined further in terms of attachment theory and genetic similarity theory. An attachment theory approach may give insight into cultural differences in the co-operation/competition balance.
Perinatal, Home Environment, and Infant Measures as Successful Predictors of Preschool Cognitive and Verbal Abilities
Authors: Molfese Victoria J. , DiLalla Lisabeth F. , Lovelace Laneel
Published: March 2013

This study investigated the extent to which predictions of preschool cognitive and language performance based on perinatal risk and SES measures could be improved adding measures of home environment and first-year performance on the Bayley Scales of Infant Development. The longitudinal sample of 53 female and 41 male children was subdivided into "low-risk" and "high-risk" groups based on perinatal risk scores. Results at 3 and 4 years of age are similar to those reported by Siegel (1982) and Smith, Flick, Ferriss, and Sellmann (1972), despite the use of a sample in the present study which did not have the extreme perinatal risk conditions found in samples used by previous investigations. The classification accuracy achieved using the Siegel Risk Index and SES items was high for both risk and age groups. The use of the HOME subscale scores generally resulted in improvements, particularly in classification accuracy. The results show that a variety of perinatal and social-environmental measures are important for predicting child outcomes across different ages and argue for the usefulness of considering individual predictor variables rather than summed predictors in predictive modelling.
A Mokken Scale for Transitive Reasoning Suited for Longitudinal Research
Authors: Verweij Anton C. , Sijtsma Klaas , Koops Willem
Published: March 2013

A set of transitivity tasks was solved on two occasions by 634 2nd through 6th grade primary school children. Transitivity scales were constructed for both occasions using Mokken scale analysis. Combining the results, one final scale was constructed for use in future research. The order of the scale tasks according to their difficulty level was the same on both occasions. Analysis of the scale scores of one group retested after 16 weeks and two control groups revealed an absence of effects due to memorisation or test experience. It was concluded that the final scale is useful as a transitivity measure in longitudinal research.
Spirituality, Religiosity, Depression, Anxiety, and Drug-Use Consequences During Methadone Maintenance Therapy
Authors: Piacentine Linda B.
Published: March 2013

Substance addiction is damaging to the health of persons, families, and society. Often the person with addiction has decreased spirituality and religiosity and suffers from anxiety, depression, or both, increasing the risk for continued substance use and its concomitant negative consequences. The study purpose was to describe spirituality and religiosity, among persons enrolled in methadone maintenance therapy and to examine associations between spirituality, religiosity, anxiety, depression, and drug-use consequences. Using a descriptive and cross-sectional correlational design, 108 participants completed questionnaires assessing the study variables. Spiritual well-being was similar to other addiction samples and lower than healthy person samples. Most participants described themselves as spiritual or religious though religious participation was lower than in their past. The analysis indicated that spirituality, religiosity, depression, anxiety, and negative drug-use consequences are interrelated in the person with addiction. Higher anxiety was predictive of negative drug-use consequences.
Comparison of Cochlear Implant Performance after Round Window Electrode Insertion Compared with Traditional Cochleostomy
Authors: Kang Bryan J. , Kim Ana H.
Published: March 2013

Objective

To compare speech perception after undergoing round window (RW) electrode insertion with those who underwent traditional cochleostomy (C) cochlear implant (CI) surgery.

Study Design

Case series with chart review.

Setting

Academic cochlear implant center.

Subjects

Patients who met CI criteria with favorable intraoperative RW anatomy who underwent RW CI electrode insertion. Patients who underwent traditional C surgery were matched for age, duration of deafness, and preoperative hearing.

Methods

Postoperative speech performance using the consonant‐nucleus‐consonant (CNC) test, Northwestern University Children's Perception of Speech (NUCHIPS), and Hearing in Noise Test (HINT) between 3 and 48 months after CI.

Results

A total of 84 patients underwent RW insertion between 2004 and 2011. Of these, 55 had pre‐ and postoperative speech perception data for analysis. Average age of implantation ranged from 2.4 to 87.3 years (mean ± SD, 42.1 ± 24.2 years) for RW patients. Average age of implantation for matched traditional C patients ranged from 2.3 to 85.6 years (mean ± SD, 43.3 ± 25.0 years). No significant differences in postoperative CI speech perception scores were noted between the RW and C groups at 12 months post‐CI (RW group, 55.28% ± 23.26% vs C group, 53.19% ± 24.14%; P =. 70).

Conclusion

Our study found that patients with favorable RW anatomy who underwent RW CI electrode insertion demonstrated comparable speech perception compared with the traditional cochleostomy insertion group.
Kerala Muslims And Shifting Notions Of Religion In The Public Sphere
Authors: Punathil Salah
Published: March 2013

This article primarily assesses the articulations of Mappila Muslim identity in the public sphere formed in colonial Malabar, especially after the Malabar Rebellion of 1921. The colonial history of the public sphere in Malabar serves as a backdrop to a better understanding of the construction of present-day Muslim identity in Kerala in terms of power and domination. It is shown that a Muslim community that rebelled against the colonial state in northern Kerala earlier and came to be seen as aggressive, uncivilised and religiously fanatic, still faces strong resentment and distrust today, while the memory of subalternity remains present, too.
Politics Of Ethnic Conflict In Manipur
Authors: Kipgen Nehginpao
Published: March 2013

This article analyses the conflict between the Kuki and Naga ethnic groups in the state of Manipur in North East India and attempts to understand why tensions arose in the first place and remain today between the two ethnic groups despite the formal cessation of hostilities in 1997. This ethnic conflict is shown to be a consequence of a lingering identity problem, aggravated by land disputes and equivocal responses of the state. It is argued that continued land disputes, the Nagas’ unwillingness to perform Kuki customary rites and the government’s indifference to the problem prevent these two groups from reaching a sustainable solution.
Etiology and Complications of Central Nervous System Infections in Children Treated in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in Poland
Authors: Kuchar Ernest , Nitsch-Osuch Aneta , Rorat Marta , Namani Sadia , Pabianek Dorota , Topczewska-Cabanek Agnieszka , Zycinska Katarzyna , Wardyn Kazimierz , Szenborn Leszek
Published: March 2013

Central nervous system infections are significant causes of mortality and long-term neurologic complications in children. Survivors often require an extended period of rehabilitation. The authors carried out a retrospective analysis of 1158 children (aged 1 month to 16 years; 31 boys) treated in one pediatric intensive care unit in Warsaw between 2002 and 2010. Forty-three of 1158 (3.7%) children presented with neuroinfections. Nearly two-thirds of the children were younger than age 5 years. The majority of cases (62.8%) were vaccine-preventable bacterial infections. The most frequent complications were brain edema (30.2%), brain hemorrhage (27.9%), and secondary nosocomial pneumonia (25.6%). One-fifth of children developed late, long-term neurologic complications. The mortality rate was 20.9%. The study showed that central nervous system infections are significant causes of hospitalization in the pediatric intensive care unit and often result in death or long-term complications. These infections mainly affect children younger than age 5 years. The majority could be prevented with immunizations.
The Role of the Institutional Review Board in the Oversight of the Ethical Aspects of Human Studies Research
Authors: Cseko Gary C. , Tremaine William J.
Published: March 2013

Institutional review boards are charged with overseeing that human studies research is conducted in accordance with federal and state regulations and with their own policies and procedures, with the goal of minimizing risks to participants and maximizing the quality of the research data. Nutrition research often involves vulnerable populations, including children and the cognitively impaired, for whom there are specific regulations. Ethical issues are common in nutrition research, and both the investigative team and the institutional review board should seek input regarding ethical issues that arise.
Dynamic modelling and systematic control during the mode transition for a multi-mode hybrid electric vehicle
Authors: Zhu Futang , Chen Li , Yin Chengliang , Shu Jie
Published: March 2013

A smooth mode transition is critical for the driveability of hybrid electric vehicles and is difficult to achieve owing to transient intervention of torques from the engine, the electric machine and the transmission. This paper presents a systematic control strategy during transition from the motor-only mode to the compound driving mode of a multi-mode hybrid electric vehicle using one electric machine. The proposed strategy divides the mode transition process into four consecutive operating phases and employs a fuzzy gain-scheduling proportional–integral–derivative controller as feedback to adapt various non-linearities. Dynamic modelling of the vehicle system emphasizing the dynamics of the engine, the transmission, the clutches and the drive axle is conducted for validation simulation. Simulation results show that the mode transition controlled by the designed fuzzy gain-scheduling proportional–integral–derivative controller is completed in 700 ms with the vehicle jerk below 3.5 m/s3 and where the produced clutch frictional losses are only 56 J. The performance is better than those controlled by a conventional proportional–integral–derivative controller. A sensitivity study shows the proposed controller has good adaptability to disturbances caused by the changing road conditions, the uncertainties in engine system and the noise from clutch actuation.
STOP in the Name of Who’s Law? Driving and the Regulation of Contested Space in Central Australia
Authors: Anthony Thalia , Blagg Harry
Published: March 2013

This article emerges from a study of the incidence of Indigenous driving offending conducted by the authors in the Northern Territory (NT) from 2006 to 2010 on two central Australian communities. It demonstrates how new patterns of law enforcement, set in train by an ‘Emergency Intervention’ in 2007, ostensibly to tackle child sexual abuse and family violence, led to a dramatic increase in the criminalisation of Indigenous people for driving-related offending. We suggest that the criminalisation of driving-related offending was part of a neocolonial turn in the NT through which the state sought to discipline, normalise and incorporate as yet uncolonised, or unevenly colonised, dimensions of Indigenous domain into the Australian mainstream. In terms of methodology, we adopted a mix of quantitative and qualitative approaches, blending criminal justice and policing data with insights from criminological, anthropological and postcolonial theory. We argue that running together the insights from different disciplinary traditions is necessary to tease out the nuances, ambiguities and complexities of crime control strategies, and their impact, in postcolonial contexts.
“Lost in the Funhouse”
Authors: Badley Graham
Published: March 2013

In this dialogue one actor (“the interlocutor”) questions another (“the funster”) about his claim to have been and to be still lost in the funhouse. The funhouse is used as a metaphor for the universities in which the funster has studied or worked throughout his career. The funster claims that the dialogue provides a brief life-story that he admits is both a faction of verifiable life-facts and a fiction of imagined life-fables. The funhouse is described as the main location in which the lost funster struggles to find or create his own identity. In the final part of the dialogue, the funster concludes that it was when he concentrated on improving his own writing and that of his students that he had, and is having, his best time ever in the funhouse, lost or found.
Plugging One Text Into Another
Authors: Jackson Alecia Y. , Mazzei Lisa A.
Published: March 2013

In this article, the authors describe the work of their recently published book, Thinking with Theory in Qualitative Research: Viewing Data Across Multiple Perspectives. The purpose of this article is to show how they use theory to think with their data (and use data to think with theory) in order to accomplish a reading of data that is both within and against interpretivism. The authors put to use a concept picked up from Deleuze and Guattari to capture their thinking with theory in qualitative research: “plugging in.” They engage “plugging in” as a machinic process that works against conventional coding in qualitative data interpretation and analysis by explaining and enacting the methodological maneuvers taken up in their thinking with theory. The authors conclude that “plugging in” positions both data and theory as machines and reveals both their supple substance and their machinic potential to interrupt and transform other machines, other data, and other knowledge projects.
Increased Skin Inflammation and Blood Vessel Density in Human and Experimental Diabetes
Authors: Tellechea Ana , Kafanas Antonios , Leal Ermelindo C. , Tecilazich Francesco , Kuchibhotla Sarada , Auster Michael E. , Kontoes Iraklis , Paolino Jacqueline , Carvalho Eugenia , Nabzdyk Leena Pradhan , Veves Aristidis
Published: March 2013

Systemic inflammation is associated with impaired wound healing in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. Using immunohistochemistry techniques, the authors investigated changes in skin inflammation and skin blood vessels in human and experimental diabetes. Comparing to the non-DM human subjects, the total number of inflammatory cells per biopsy and the number of inflammatory cells around blood vessels, a strong indication of inflammation, were higher in DM subjects irrespective of their risk for developing diabetic foot ulcer. Inflammatory cell infiltration was robustly increased in all DM animal models compared with their non-DM controls. The number and density of blood vessels and CD31 positive proliferating endothelial cells around preexisting skin vessels was also higher in the DM patients. However, there were no differences in the skin blood flow between the non-DM and DM subjects. The number of skin blood vessels was also increased in the DM animals; however, these differences were less obvious than the ones observed for inflammatory cells. We conclude that skin inflammation and skin blood vessel density is increased in diabetic human subjects and in rodent and rabbit models of diabetes.
PICO
Authors: Ahmad Zeeshan , Davis Marcus , Das-Gupta Rana
Published: March 2013

The authors present the case of a 23-year-old paratrooper who was admitted to intensive therapy unit with florid meningococcal septicemia. Being young, fit, and well, he survived this acute episode with supportive therapy, antibiotics, and inotropes. He made a good recovery and was left with multiple wounds all over his body predominantly on the extensor aspects of his upper and lower limbs and torso.
Total Hip Replacement in an Ipsilateral Above-the-Knee Amputation
Authors: Malagelada Francesc , Coll Rivas Moisès , Jiménez Obach Albert , Auleda Jaume , Guirao Lluis , Pleguezuelos Eulogio
Published: March 2013

In this article, we present a case report of a 62-year-old patient who previously underwent an above-the-knee amputation for vascular disease and we performed a total hip replacement on him because of hip osteoarthritis. As the only postoperative complication, the patient developed a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus surgical site infection, which was successfully treated. The surgical technique and the postoperative rehabilitation program are described in detail in an attempt to detect and face the challenges that patients with major lower limb amputations may present. The literature is reviewed and all known cases of hip replacements in amputees are presented.
Repeat Endovascular Repair for Multiple Intimal Tears After Endovascular Stent Grafting of Stanford Type B Aortic Dissection
Authors: He Yangyan , Wu Ziheng , Zhang Hongkun , Li Donglin , Li Ming , Jin Wei , Ai-kalei Adel
Published: March 2013

A 59-year-old man with hypertension was found to have a Stanford type B aortic dissection with a false lumen extending to the abdominal aorta. We placed a stent graft to the thoracic aorta covering the proximal entry and planned a second endovascular repair to cover the entries in the abdominal aorta. Five years later, computed tomography angiography revealed an extensive dissection to the right common iliac artery with multiple intimal tears. We placed stent grafts in the distal end of the primary stent graft and an abdominal stent graft to the aortic bifurcation to cover the entry tears. However, 3 months later it developed into a newly formed intimal tear in the right renal artery, leading to retrograde reperfusion into the false lumen. The patient was successfully treated with a third time endovascular repair and recovered smoothly during follow-up.
Paradoxical Change and Construction of Identity in an Educational Organization
Authors: Puusa Anu , Kuittinen Matti , Kuusela Pekka
Published: March 2013

This article focuses on the construction of organizational identity and the strategic change in an educational organization. The aim of this empirical study is to examine how the members of an educational organization construct the meaning of ‘who we are’ during an ongoing change. In addition, we examine whether it is reasonable to expect that a loosely coupled educational organization can possess a coherent organizational identity. This thematic template analysis is based on themed interviews consisting of the members’ conceptions of (1) the manifestation of organizational identity and (2) changes concerning the organization. In the article, the differences between the management and the personnel are then examined and interpreted through theories of organizational subcultures and loosely coupled systems. The management and the teachers structure organizational identity differently in relation to time, which has a strong effect on the incompleteness of the planned change.
The Contribution made by Visual Anthropology to the Study of Consumption Behavior
Authors: Dion Delphine
Published: March 2013

This paper describes the main methodologies of visual anthropology and discusses their use in marketing research. After a brief history of the emergence of pictures and videos in anthropology, we present the epistemological and methodological shifts in visual anthropology. Based on this, we identify two ways of using pictures and videos in the field of research: as a recording device and as a research tool.

In the first approach, video and still cameras are used to obtain more detailed, precise and lively ethnographic descriptions of consumption behavior. The researcher attempts to draw up an exhaustive list of the objects owned by the consumer (inventory technique) or he uses a camera to record specific actions or objects he wants to focus on (videography).

In the second approach, pioneered by Jean Rouch, videos are used in a more reflexive and subjective way. The camera is no longer considered as an objective recording device. It is used in a participative and collaborative way to develop a shared understanding of consumption experiences. By the mediation of the camera, the researcher's aim is to bring the viewer into people's experiences. The camera becomes the participant as well as the collaborator.
Permission Marketing and Commitment: Proposal for a Theoretical Framework Applied to E-Mail Opt-In
Authors: Yildiz Hélène
Published: March 2013

Researchers have paid scant attention to the obligation of marketers to obtain prospective customers' permission to use e-mail as a marketing tool. To clarify the authorization process, we apply the psychosocial theory of commitment and consider the mediator role of trust. We demonstrate that the prospective customer, by filling out an authorization form, places confidence in his applicant and commits himself for the future. The prospective customer should thus accept more easily new authorization requests from this applicant and develop in its favor longer term loyalty commitment. An empirical test of these assumptions, realized through experimentation, consolidates these theoretical proposals.
Modeling the Social Structure of Online Discussion Groups: Implications for Controlling Viral Marketing
Authors: Steyer Alexandre , Garcia-Bardidia Renaud , Quester Pascale
Published: March 2013

This research examines the process by which information diffuses within newsgroups on the Internet. Our results empirically demonstrate that these newsgroups are scale-free networks where the potential for information dissemination is important, albeit somewhat unpredictable. This leads us to reconsider the econometric foundations of forecasting methods typically used by marketers.
Multilevel Modeling for Marketing: A Primer
Authors: Ray Jean-Claude , Ray Daniel
Published: March 2013

Recent marketing literature relies more and more on multilevel models. Yet, this method, which applies to data structured in levels (e.g., consumers, nested within stores, themselves nested within retailers), is not straightforward to understand and to implement. Through a marketing example, the present text introduces the reader to the objectives, interest and limits of multilevel modeling.
Understanding the Perceived Value of Mass Customization: The Distinction between Product Value and Experiential Value of Co-Design
Authors: Merle Aurélie , Chandon Jean-Louis , Roux Elyette
Published: March 2013

Research on mass customization suggests that this type of offer delivers more value to the customer. However, the failures of mass-customization strategies tend to prove the contrary. This article provides answers to the following research questions: (1) Why and to what extent do consumers value mass customization? (2) How and to what extent do these sources influence total perceived value?

Two components of perceived value are differentiated: (1) mass-customized product value, which is reflected in three dimensions: utilitarian, uniqueness and self-expressiveness, and (2) experiential co-design value, which is reflected in two dimensions: hedonic and creative achievement. Furthermore, our results underline the indirect impact of the experiential value of co-design on total perceived value, through mediation of mass-customized product value.
Antecedents and Consequences of Attitude Toward Sales
Authors: Gonzalez Christine , Korchia Michaël
Published: March 2013

This article deals with antecedents of attitude toward sales in the clothing industry, and its behavioral consequences. After developing a measure of attitude toward sales and of its antecedents, we conducted several studies to test our conceptual framework. The results suggest that although most costs and benefits have the same impact on attitude for men and women, there are some differences concerning certain antecedents (ability to buy goods at lower prices, to buy more, doubts concerning product quality, and the need to be different). In addition, we also find differences in terms of patronage, purchasing behavior and social interactions during the sales period. Finally, we describe managerial implications and outline avenues for future research.
Analyzing Mental Representations: The Contribution of Cognitive Maps
Authors: Chaney Damien
Published: March 2013

This article presents a procedure for constructing cognitive maps. Cognitive mapping is an instrument which enables mental representations to be apprehended and analyzed. The potential contributions of this methodological tool in the field of marketing are highlighted. The article also discusses cognitive mapping and compares it to other techniques of mental representation.
Because You're Worth It: A Study of the Consumer Status Concept
Authors: Sabadie William
Published: March 2013

Relationship marketing is built on the reciprocity principle: companies offer special treatment and rewards to their customers in order to encourage a better relationship. This study examines the impact of these efforts (staff attention and privileged offers) as symbols of the customer's position within the hierarchy established by the company. After defining and measuring the Customer Status Concept within the context of the cell phone industry, the results are used to demonstrate, with a population of gym club users, the influence of perceived status on the quality of customer relationships.
The Effect of a Seller's Unconscious Imitation on a Customer's Behavior and His Assessment of Staff and Store
Authors: Jacob Céline , Guéguen Nicolas , Boulbry Gaëlle
Published: March 2013

During an experiment carried out in a retail setting, sellers imitated or not verbal and nonverbal customers' behaviors. It was found that imitation was associated with higher sales rate, greater compliance with the seller's suggestion during the selling process and greater positive evaluations of the seller and the store. Mediation analyses revealed that the level of the seller's competence evaluation mediated the relation between imitation and buying behavior. The managerial interest for sales training and buyer/seller interaction was discussed.
Ethnic Families and Mental Health
Authors: Schock-Giordano Angie M.
Published: March 2013

Mental health and well-being has become an increasingly important social concern today, and the manner in which families perceive and respond to mentally ill family members is often directly linked to symptom management and treatment outcomes. There has been a limited amount of research focusing on non-Caucasian families’ mental health concerns, yet some emerging evidence suggests that ethnicity may play a role in a variety of ways. The purpose of this article will be to apply the ABC-X Model of Family Stress to organize the research on ethnic families and mental health issues. In particular, occurrence of the stressor of mental illness among ethnic families, family resources that may be most relevant to ethnic families, and research highlighting the unique ways in which ethnic families may perceive mental health and illness conditions will be discussed. In addition, future research directions to better understand the interaction between ethnic families and mental health, as well as programmatic and policy initiatives that can address potential family, community, and large-scale social obstacles in seeking treatment will be presented.
Foster Youth and the Transition to Adulthood
Authors: Greeson Johanna K. P.
Published: March 2013

The transition from adolescence to adulthood is considered a significant developmental stage in a young person’s growth. Most youth receive family support to help them weather the difficulties associated with this stage. When foster youth age out of the child welfare system, they confront the challenges associated with this developmental stage and are at risk of having to transition without family support. This article applies the life course perspective to describe the theoretical and contextual foundation that explains the hardships foster youth experience when they emancipate from the U.S. child welfare system. Next, the theoretical basis for natural mentoring among foster youth is explored using the resiliency perspective to frame the discussion. Then, current research on natural mentoring among foster youth is reviewed. The article concludes with implications for U.S. child welfare practice, policy, and research with respect to how to improve outcomes for youth who age out of foster care through the cultivation of natural mentoring relationships.
Thymic epithelial tumours: from basic principles to individualised treatment strategies
Authors: Girard Nicolas
Published: March 2013

Thymic epithelial tumours represent a wide range of anatomical, clinical, histological and molecular malignant entities that may be aggressive and difficult to treat. The histopathological classification distinguishes thymomas from thymic carcinomas. Thymomas may be associated with autoimmune disorders.

The management of thymic epithelial tumours is a paradigm of co-operation between clinicians, surgeons and pathologists, from establishing the diagnosis to organising the multimodal therapeutic strategy. Surgery is the mainstay of the curative-intent treatment, as complete resection represents the most significantly favourable prognostic factor on overall survival. In case of invasion of intra-thoracic structures and/or dissemination to the pleura and the pericardium, precluding complete resection to be achieved, primary chemotherapy has been used to reduce the tumour burden, possibly allowing subsequent surgery and/or radiotherapy.

Novel strategies are needed, especially for refractory, recurrent tumours and thymic carcinomas, which carry a poor prognosis. Personalised approaches are currently being developed, as potentially “druggable” molecular targets are emerging from recent integrated genomic analyses. Along with the large variety of questions relative to the treatment strategy, thymic epithelial tumours represent a model of therapeutic implementation and achievement in orphan thoracic oncology, showing how the advent of new results induces new questions, as well as diversifies further clinical research directions and international collaborative initiatives.
Stratified medicine: drugs meet genetics
Authors: Hall Ian P.
Published: March 2013

It is well recognised that genetic factors play a major role in the development of respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, whilst extensive data exist on diseases caused primarily by single gene defects, such as α1-antitrypsin deficiency, the genetic factors responsible for the development of complex disease are only now being defined. Once the gene(s) responsible for the heritable element of disease risk are known, the next step is to identify the mechanisms underlying the pathophysiological effects of the causal mutations in these genes. This process can be time consuming, but allows a full understanding of the mechanisms underlying disease development to be obtained. This knowledge can then potentially be used to stratify patient groups within (or even across) disease boundaries and then to target therapy more effectively.
Ivacaftor treatment in patients with cystic fibrosis and theG551D-CFTRmutation
Authors: Sermet-Gaudelus Isabelle
Published: March 2013

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive lethal disease caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene that encodes for CFTR, an epithelial cell-surface expressed protein responsible for the transport of chloride (Cl-). Gating mutations associated with defective conductance can be modulated by CFTR potentiators. Ivacaftor is a CFTR potentiator approved for the treatment of CF patients >6 yrs of age with at least one copy of theG551D-CFTRmutation. Herein, the clinical trial development programme for ivacaftor will be reviewed, including two pivotal studies in adolescents/adults and in children. These studies report sustained improvements in lung function and sweat chloride concentrations, and a reduction in pulmonary exacerbations over a 48-week treatment period. In the era of personalised medicine, ivacaftor offers an effective and well-tolerated treatment for the clinical management of CF patients with theG551Dmutation. A long-term, open-label study will report the effects of ivacaftor over a further 48 weeks.
Viscosity iteration algorithm for a ϱ-strictly pseudononspreading mapping in a Hilbert space
Authors: Deng Bin-Chao , Chen Tong , Li Zhi-Fang
Published: March 2013

In this paper, we discuss the strong convergence of the viscosity approximation method in Hilbert spaces relatively to the computation of fixed points of an operator in ϱ-strictly pseudononspreading. Under suitable conditions, some strong convergence theorems are proved. Our work improves previous results for nonspreading mappings.
Small molecular modulation of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in the hyperoxia-induced mouse model of bronchopulmonary dysplasia
Authors: Sun Huanxing , Choo-Wing Rayman , Fan Juan , Leng Lin , Syed Mansoor A , Hare Alissa A , Jorgensen William L , Bucala Richard , Bhandari Vineet
Published: March 2013

Background

The role and mechanism of action of MIF in bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) are not known. We hypothesized that increased MIF signaling would ameliorate the pulmonary phenotype of BPD in the mouse lung.

Methods

We studied newborn wild type (WT), MIF knockout (MIFKO), and lung MIF transgenic (MIFTG) mice in room air and a BPD model, and examined the effects of administering a small molecule MIF agonist and antagonist. Lung morphometry was performed and mRNA and protein expression of vascular mediators were analyzed.

Results

The pulmonary phenotype of MIFKO and MIFTG mice lungs in room air (RA) and BPD model were comparable to the WT-BPD mice at postnatal (PN) day 14. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A, -R1 and Angiopoietin (Ang)1 mRNA were decreased, and Ang2 increased in the WT-BPD, MIFKO-RA, MIFKO-BPD, MIFTG-RA and MIFTG-BPD mice lungs, compared to appropriate controls. The protein expression of Ang1 in the MIFKO-RA was similar to WT-RA, but decreased in MIFTG-RA, and decreased in all the BPD groups. Ang2 was increased in MIFKO-RA, MIFTG-RA and in all 3 BPD groups. Tie2 was increased in WT-BPD compared to WT-RA, but decreased in MIFKO- and MIFTG- RA and BPD groups. VEGFR1 was uniformly decreased in MIFKO-RA, MIFTG-RA and in all 3 BPD groups. VEGF-A had a similar expression across all RA and BPD groups. There was partial recovery of the pulmonary phenotype in the WT-BPD model treated with the MIF agonist, and in the MIFTG mice treated with the MIF antagonist.

Conclusions

These data point to the careful regulatory balance exerted by MIF in the developing lung and response to hyperoxia and support the potential therapeutic value of small molecule MIF modulation in BPD.
Function prediction from networks of local evolutionary similarity in protein structure
Authors: Erdin Serkan , Venner Eric , Lisewski Andreas Martin , Lichtarge Olivier
Published: March 2013

Background

Annotating protein function with both high accuracy and sensitivity remains a major challenge in structural genomics. One proven computational strategy has been to group a few key functional amino acids into templates and search for these templates in other protein structures, so as to transfer function when a match is found. To this end, we previously developed Evolutionary Trace Annotation (ETA) and showed that diffusing known annotations over a network of template matches on a structural genomic scale improved predictions of function. In order to further increase sensitivity, we now let each protein contribute multiple templates rather than just one, and also let the template size vary.

Results

Retrospective benchmarks in 605 Structural Genomics enzymes showed that multiple templates increased sensitivity by up to 14% when combined with single template predictions even as they maintained the accuracy over 91%. Diffusing function globally on networks of single and multiple template matches marginally increased the area under the ROC curve over 0.97, but in a subset of proteins that could not be annotated by ETA, the network approach recovered annotations for the most confident 20-23 of 91 cases with 100% accuracy.

Conclusions

We improve the accuracy and sensitivity of predictions by using multiple templates per protein structure when constructing networks of ETA matches and diffusing annotations.
Amygdalar glutamatergic neuronal systems play a key role on the hibernating state of hamsters
Authors: Alò Raffaella , Avolio Ennio , Carelli Antonio , Facciolo Rosa Maria , Canonaco Marcello
Published: March 2013

Background

Excitatory transmitting mechanisms are proving to play a critical role on neuronal homeostasis conditions of facultative hibernators such as the Syrian golden hamster. Indeed works have shown that the glutamatergic system of the main olfactory brain station (amygdala) is capable of controlling thermoregulatory responses, which are considered vital for the different hibernating states. In the present study the role of amygdalar glutamatergic circuits on non-hibernating (NHIB) and hibernating (HIB) hamsters were assessed on drinking stimuli and subsequently compared to expression variations of some glutamatergic subtype mRNA levels in limbic areas. For this study the two major glutamatergic antagonists and namely that of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR),3-(+)-2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl-propyl-1-phosphonate(CPP) plus that of the acid α-amine-3-hydroxy-5-metil-4-isoxazol-propionic receptor (AMPAR) site,cyano-7-nitro-quinoxaline-2,3-dione(CNQX) were infused into the basolateral amygdala nucleus. Attempts were made to establish the type of effects evoked by amygdalar glutamatergic cross-talking processes during drinking stimuli, a response that may corroborate their major role at least during some stages of this physiological activity in hibernators.

Results

From the behavioral results it appears that the two glutamatergic compounds exerted distinct effects. In the first case local infusion of basolateral complexes (BLA) with NMDAR antagonist caused very great (p < 0.001) drinking rhythms while moderately increased feeding (p < 0.05) responses during arousal with respect to moderately increased drinking levels in euthermics. Conversely, treatment with CNQX did not modify drinking rhythms and so animals spent more time executing exploratory behaviors. These same antagonists accounted for altered glutamatergic transcription activities as displayed by greatly reduced GluR1, NR1 and GluR2 levels in hippocampus, ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMN) and amygdala, respectively, plus a great (p < 0.01) up-regulation of GluR2 in VMN of hibernators.

Conclusion

We conclude that predominant drinking events evoked by glutamatergic mechanisms, in the presence of prevalently down regulated levels of NR1/2A of some telencephalic and hypothalamic areas appear to constitute an important neuronal switch at least during arousal stage of hibernation. The establishment of the type of glutamatergic subtypes that are linked to successful hibernating states, via drinking stimuli, may have useful bearings toward sleeping disorders.
The impact of Rotavirus mass vaccination on hospitalization rates, nosocomial Rotavirus gastroenteritis and secondary blood stream infections
Authors: Zlamy Manuela , Kofler Sabine , Orth Dorothea , Würzner Reinhard , Heinz-Erian Peter , Streng Andrea , Prelog Martina
Published: March 2013

Background

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of universal mass vaccination (UMV) against rotavirus (RV) on the hospitalization rates, nosocomial RV infections and RV-gastroenteritis (GE)-associated secondary blood stream infections (BSI).

Methods

The retrospective evaluation (2002–2009) by chart analysis included all clinically diagnosed and microbiologically confirmed RV-GE cases in a large tertiary care hospital in Austria. The pre-vaccination period (2002–2005) was compared with the recommended and early funded (2006–2007) and the funded (2008–2009) vaccination periods. Primary outcomes were RV-GE-associated hospitalizations, secondary outcomes nosocomial RV disease, secondary BSI and direct hospitalization costs for children and their accompanying persons.

Results

In 1,532 children with RV-GE, a significant reduction by 73.9% of hospitalized RV-GE cases per year could be observed between the pre-vaccination and the funded vaccination period, which was most pronounced in the age groups 0–11 months (by 87.8%), 6–10 years (by 84.2%) and 11–18 years (88.9%). In the funded vaccination period, a reduction by 71.9% of nosocomial RV-GE cases per year was found compared to the pre-vaccination period. Fatalities due to nosocomial RV-GE were only observed in the pre-vaccination period (3 cases). Direct costs of hospitalized, community-acquired RV-GE cases per year were reduced by 72.7% in the funded vaccination period. The reduction of direct costs for patients (by 86.9%) and accompanying persons (86.2%) was most pronounced in the age group 0–11 months.

Conclusions

UMV may have contributed to the significant decrease of RV-GE-associated hospitalizations, to a reduction in nosocomial RV infections and RV-associated morbidity due to secondary BSI and reduced direct hospitalization costs. The reduction in nosocomial cases is an important aspect considering severe disease courses in hospitalized patients with co-morbidities and death due to nosocomial RV-GE.
A case of lipoprotein glomerulopathy with thrombotic microangiopathy due to malignant hypertension
Authors: Wu Yu , Chen Xiaohan , Yang Yuan , Wang Baohe , Liu Xiaoxia , Tao Ye , Fu Ping , Hu Zhangxue
Published: March 2013

Background

Lipoprotein glomerulopathy (LPG) is a rare inherited renal disease characterized by intraglomerular lipoprotein within the lumina of severely dilated glomerular capillaries. The common clinical presentation of LPG includes proteinuria or nephrotic syndrome. Hypertension and anemia were thought to be mild in LPG. Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) in LPG has not been previously reported. In this report, we present a patient with LPG that developed TMA. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of TMA in LPG.

Case presentation

Four years ago (2005), a 19-year-old Chinese woman was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome and provided prednisone treatment. A combination of prednisone and cyclophosphamide did not have any effect and was discontinued after six months. Although she was steroid-resistant, over the next subsequent three years, she maintained normal renal function without anemia and thrombocytopenia. In February 2009, she had a severe headache and blurry vision and presented at a local hospital with severe hypertension. Blood pressure was 220/160 mmHg. Laboratory data showed hemoglobin 3.8 g/dL; platelet counts 29×109/L; urinary protein 7.90 g/d; total bilirubin 29.9 umol/L; indirect bilirubin 28.2 umol/L; LDH 1172 U/L; ALB 2.66 g/dL; urea nitrogen 52 mg/dL; serum creatinine 3.2 mg/dL; triglyceride 253 mg/dL; total cholesterol 273 mg/dL. ANA, ds-DNA, ANCA, anti-GBM antibody and anticardiolipin were all negative. A renal biopsy revealed LPG with TMA. Genetic evaluation showed the patient carried the APOE Kyoto mutation. Adequate control of blood pressure improved microangiopathic anemia and thrombocytopenia, however, renal function did not improve and she eventually developed uremia and became hemodialysis dependent.

Conclusion

We report on a rare case of TMA probably due to malignant hypertension in LPG. Early lipid-lowering and antihypertensive treatment may improve outcome. The pathophysiologic relationship between LPG and TMA should be investigated further.
Some existence and uniqueness theorems on ordered metric spaces via generalized distances
Authors: Rouzkard Fayyaz , Imdad Mohammad , Gopal Dhananjay
Published: March 2013

The purpose of this paper is to prove some fixed point theorems in a complete metric space equipped with a partial ordering using w-distances together with the aid of altering functions.

MSC:54H25, 47H10.