bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psychopathy and Risk Taking Among Jailed Inmates
Authors: Swogger Marc T. , Walsh Zach , Lejuez C.W. , Kosson David S.
Published: March 2010

Several clinical descriptions of psychopathy suggest a link to risk taking, but the empirical basis for this association is not well established. Moreover, it is not clear whether any association between psychopathy and risk taking is specific to psychopathy or reflects shared variance with other externalizing disorders, such as antisocial personality disorder, alcohol use disorders, and drug use disorders. The present study aimed to clarify relationships between psychopathy and risky behavior among male county jail inmates using both self-reports of real-world risky behaviors and performance on the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART), a behavioral measure of risk taking. Findings suggest that associations between externalizing disorders and self-reported risk taking largely reflect shared mechanisms. However, psychopathy appears to account for unique variance in self-reported irresponsible and criminal risk taking beyond that associated with other externalizing disorders. By contrast, none of the disorders was associated with risk-taking behavior on the BART, potentially indicating limited clinical utility for the BART in differentiating members of adult offender populations.
Measuring Reading Complexity and Listening Comprehension of Canadian Police Cautions
Authors: Eastwood Joseph , Snook Brent , Chaulk Sarah J.
Published: March 2010

The reading complexity and listening comprehension of Canadian police cautions were measured. In Study 1, the complexity of 44 unique Canadian police cautions was assessed using five readability measures (Flesch-Kincaid reading level, sentence complexity, use of difficult words, use of infrequent words, and number of words). Results showed that 7 (37%) of the right-to-silence cautions ( n = 19) and none of the right-to-legal-counsel cautions ( n = 25) reached acceptable cutoff levels for all five measures. In Study 2, university students ( N = 121) were presented with one of three cautions verbally and were asked to explain its meaning. Despite variations in complexity across the three cautions, participants understood approximately one third of the information contained in the cautions. The extent to which the needs of Canadian suspects and police organizations are being met and the validity of reading complexity as a predictor of listening comprehension are discussed.
Management of Tarsal Navicular Stress Fractures
Authors: Torg Joseph S. , Moyer James , Gaughan John P. , Boden Barry P.
Published: March 2010

Purpose

This study was conducted to provide a statistical analysis of previously reported tarsal navicular stress fracture studies regarding the outcomes and effectiveness of conservative and surgical management.

Study Design

Systematic review.

Methods

A systematic review of the published literature was conducted utilizing MEDLINE through Ovid, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and EBSCOhost. Reports of studies that provided the type of tarsal navicular stress fracture (ie, complete or incomplete), type of treatment, result of that treatment, and the time required to return to full activity were selected for analysis. Using a mixed generalized linear model with study as a random effect and treatment as a fixed effect, cases were separated and compared based on 3 different types of treatment: conservative, weightbearing permitted (WBR); conservative, non-weightbearing (NWB); and surgical treatment. The outcome of the treatment was recorded as either successful or unsuccessful based on radiographic and/or clinical healing of the fracture and time from onset of treatment to return to activity.

Results

There was no statistically significant difference between NWB conservative treatment and surgical treatment regarding outcome (P = .6441). However, there is a statistical trend favoring NWB management (96% successful outcomes) over surgery (82% successful outcomes). Weightbearing as a conservative treatment was shown to be significantly less effective than either NWB (P = .0001) or surgical treatment (P < .0003).

Conclusion

Non-weightbearing conservative management should be considered the standard of care for tarsal navicular stress fractures. The authors could find no advantage for surgical treatment compared with NWB immobilization. However, there is a statistical trend favoring NWB over surgery. Rest or immobilization with weightbearing was inferior to both other treatments analyzed. The authors concluded that conservative NWB management is the standard of care for initial treatment of both partial and complete stress fractures of the tarsal navicular.
Injuries to Kickers in American Football
Authors: Brophy Robert H. , Wright Rick W. , Powell John W. , Matava Matthew J.
Published: March 2010

Background: Very little information is available regarding the incidence, causative mechanisms, and expected duration of time lost after injuries to kickers (placekickers and punters) in American football.

Hypothesis: Lower extremity musculotendinous injuries are the most common type of injury in American football kickers. The injuries related to punting differ from injuries related to placekicking.

Study Design: Descriptive epidemiologic study.

Methods: A retrospective review of all documented injuries to kickers in the National Football League over a 20-year period (1988-2007) was performed using the League’s injury surveillance database. The data were analyzed from multiple perspectives, with emphasis on the type of kick or activity at the time of injury and the factors that affect return to play after injury.

Results: There were 488 total injuries over the 20-year period: 72% involved the lower extremity, 9% involved the lumbosacral spine, and 7% involved the head. Muscle-tendon injuries (49%) were the most common, followed by ligamentous injuries (17%). There was a significantly higher risk of injury in games (17.7 per 1000) than during practice (1.91 per 1000). Most injuries (93%) did not require surgery, and the mean time to return to play was 15 days if no surgery was necessary. Kickers over 30 years of age took longer to return to play (mean, 21 days) than younger kickers (mean, 12 days) after nonsurgical injuries ( P = .03). Mean return to play after injuries that required surgery was 121 days. Lumbosacral soft tissue injury, lateral ankle sprains, and shoulder injuries were more likely to occur in punters than placekickers.

Conclusion: Kicking athletes face a low risk of injury in professional American football. Injuries most commonly involve the lower extremities. Training and injury prevention efforts should reflect that punting is associated with different injuries than placekicking, and that older kickers take longer to recuperate than younger kickers after certain injuries.
Hmong American Adolescents’ Perceptions of Ethnic Socialization Practices
Authors: Moua MyLou Y. , Lamborn Susie D.
Published: March 2010

Guided by an ecological framework, this study explored ethnic socialization practices from the perspective of Southeast Asian American adolescents. Defined as a multidimensional construct that is conceptually distinct from racial socialization, ethnic socialization involves parents’ communication to children about their ethnic heritage. The objectives were to identify different ethnic socialization practices, present how frequently they were mentioned by the sample, and provide quotes that reflect the voices of 23 Hmong American adolescents. Based on a content analysis of openended interview questions, ten different ethnic socialization practices were identified. The most frequently mentioned practices of ethnic socialization were participating in cultural events, sharing history, preparing traditional foods, speaking the language, and wearing traditional clothes.The adolescents also mentioned strengthening family ties, marriage preparation, religious participation, emphasizing ethnic pride, and expressing high expectations.
Does Identity Precede Intimacy? Testing Erikson’s Theory on Romantic Development in Emerging Adults of the 21st Century
Authors: Beyers Wim , Seiffge-Krenke Inge
Published: March 2010

Erikson stated that healthy identity development during adolescence is a precursor of intimacy in romantic relationships during emerging adulthood. However, from a developmental contextual perspective, there are reasons to question this strict developmental ordering. Using interview and questionnaire data from a longitudinal study on 93 adolescents, the authors tested whether ego development in middle adolescence predicts intimacy in emerging adulthood. Second, the authors examined whether identity achievement at the transition to adulthood mediates this link. Results revealed direct links between early ego development (age 15) and intimacy in romantic relationships (age 25). No paths were found from earlier intimacy to later ego development. No gender differences occurred. Relational identity achievement, an integrative identity construct measured at age 24, fully mediated the association between earlier ego development and later intimacy. This study confirms Erikson’s old ideas on the developmental ordering of identity and intimacy for youngsters in the 21st century. Moreover, it highlights the integrative function of relational identity for later mature intimacy.
Redeeming Immigrant Parents: How Korean American Emerging Adults Reinterpret Their Childhood
Authors: Kang Hyeyoung , Okazaki Sumie , Abelmann Nancy , Kim-Prieto Chu , Shanshan Lan
Published: March 2010

Korean American youth experience immigration-related parent-child challenges including language barriers, parent-child conflicts, and generational cultural divides. Using grounded theory methods, this article examines the ways in which 18 Korean American college-enrolled emerging adults retrospectively made sense out of their experiences of immigrant family hardships. Of those who narrated childhood hardship, over half narrated positive change in which they reinterpreted their relationship to their parents and redeemed their immigrant parents either through their own maturation or through spirituality. This narrative strategy is consistent with cognitive change in emerging adults’ view of their parents that have been documented in other studies (Arnett, 2004). Only a minority of participants did not narrate positive changes and remained distressed over their relationship to their parents. Findings suggest the possibility that narration of positive change is a culturally salient process by which many Korean American emerging adults come to terms with early family challenges.
Attachment Quality and Bullying Behavior in School-Aged Youth
Authors: Walden Laura M. , Beran Tanya N.
Published: March 2010

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between students’ quality of attachment to their primary caregivers and the frequency with which they bully others and are the victims of bullying. One hundred and five students in Grades 4, 6, and 8 (46 girls, 59 boys; M = 10.5 years) completed paper and pencil surveys. Results indicated that students with lower quality attachment relationships are more likely to bully others and be the victims of bullying than their peers with higher quality attachment relationships. No significant grade or sex differences were found for the attachment, bullying, or victimization variables. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.
Do School Bullying and Student—Teacher Relationships Matter for Academic Achievement? A Multilevel Analysis
Authors: Konishi Chiaki , Hymel Shelley , Zumbo Bruno D. , Zhen Li
Published: March 2010

In extending our understanding of how the social climate of schools can affect academic outcomes, this study examined the relationship between school bullying, student— teacher (S-T) connectedness, and academic performance. Using data collected in Canada as part of a larger international study conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, participants included 27,217 students aged 15 years and 1,087 school principals. Results of multilevel analyses revealed that math achievement was negatively related to school bullying and positively related to S-T connectedness. For boys, there was a significant interaction between bullying and S-T connectedness, suggesting a buffering effect of S-T connectedness on the relationship between school bullying and math achievement. Similar results were evident for reading achievement.
Bystander Responses to School Bullying: A Cross-Sectional Investigation of Grade and Sex Differences
Authors: Trach Jessica , Hymel Shelley , Waterhouse Terry , Neale Ken
Published: March 2010

Addressing the impact of peer bystanders on school bullying, this cross-sectional study examined whether student responses to bullying that they witnessed varied as a function of sex and grade. In a school-based survey regarding social experiences at school, Grade 4 to 11 students ( N = 9397, 51% male) who reported witnessing bullying (68%) rated how often they had engaged in different bystander responses. Results indicated significant differences across sex and grade level, such that younger students and girls were more likely to report taking positive action than were older students and boys by directly intervening, helping the victim, or talking to an adult. Generally, boys and girls were equally likely to report that they ignored or avoided the person(s) who bullied although reports that they did nothing increased with grade level. Implications for schoolwide antibullying intervention efforts are discussed.
Places to Avoid: Population-Based Study of Student Reports of Unsafe and High Bullying Areas at School
Authors: Vaillancourt Tracy , Brittain Heather , Bennett Lindsay , Arnocky Steven , McDougall Patricia , Hymel Shelley , Short Kathy , Sunderani Shafik , Scott Carol , Mackenzie Meredith , Cunningham Lesley
Published: March 2010

Students’ perceptions of school safety and experiences with bullying were examined in a large Canadian cohort of 5,493 girls and 5,659 boys in Grades 4 to 12. Results indicate notable differences in when and where students felt safe based on their own perceptions of safety and their own experiences with bullying, particularly across elementary and secondary schools. For elementary students, especially those involved in bullying, the playground/school yard and outside recess/break time were particularly hazardous, whereas for secondary students involved in bullying, the hallways, school lunchroom/cafeteria, and outside recess/break were considered especially dangerous. The commonality across student-identified unsafe areas is that they tend to not be well supervised by school personnel. Accordingly, the present results underscore the need to increase adult supervision in areas in which an overwhelming majority of students report feeling unsafe.
Propriospinal Myoclonus in a Child
Authors: Aydin Ömer Faruk , Temuçin Çağrı Mesut , Kayacik Özlem Eroğlu , Türker Hande , Özyürek Hamit
Published: March 2010

A 6-year-old girl was experiencing repetitive involuntary and massive jerks immediately involving limbs and trunk. The first motor events appeared approximately at 1 year old and only 5 months after a back trauma. Myoclonus became progressively more frequent and more violent, causing episodes of falls. Neurological examination showed jerks characterized by upper limb abduction, lower limb abduction, and head—body hyperextension. Apart from these motor events, the neurological examination was normal. The results of vitamin B12 and folate, antinuclear antibody, anti-DNA, anti-Tiroglobulin, anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody, lupus anticoagulant, anti-cardiolipin antibody, rheumatoid factor, and C3 and C4 were unexceptional. Electroencephalography and brain and spinal magnetic resonance imaging were unremarkable. Electromyographic records with surface electrodes showed that duration of myoclonic jerks was ranging from 100 to 300 ms. We thought she had propriospinal myoclonus because of presence of the spreading through the shoulder, upper limbs, and lower limbs in addition to thoracolumbar paraspinal muscles.
The Appeal of Second Bananas: The Impact of Vice Presidential Candidates on Presidential Vote Choice, Yesterday and Today
Authors: Ulbig Stacy G.
Published: March 2010

To what extent do vice presidential candidates affect individual-level vote choice for president? The accepted wisdom is that vice presidential candidates are of minor importance to most voters. Yet much energy was spent discussing the potential impact of Biden and Palin as vice presidential candidates. Here, the impact that attitudes toward Palin and Biden had on vote choice in the 2008 election are compared with the role of vice presidential candidates historically. Although feelings about vice presidential candidates typically play little role in vote choice, there are exceptions. When vice presidential candidates draw media attention, feelings about them become much more important to vote choice. Whereas Biden represents the general rule of vice presidents garnering little media attention and having relatively little impact on vote choice, Palin_s candidacy drew an abnormally high level of media interest, and feelings about her exerted a stronger impact on vote choice, especially among Independent voters.
The earliest daily barometric pressure readings in Italy: Pisa AD 1657-1658 and Modena AD 1694, and the weather over Europe
Authors: Camuffo Dario , Bertolin Chiara , Jones Phil D. , Cornes Richard , Garnier Emmanuel
Published: March 2010

The earliest daily barometric pressure readings were taken during the Maunder Minimum of Solar activity (1645—1715). In Italy, observations were made at Pisa over the years 1657—1658 by V. Viviani and A. Borelli, and at Modena during the year 1694 by B. Ramazzini. These readings have been recovered, corrected and adjusted to modern units. The early instruments used and their problems have been thoroughly discussed. Barometer observations recorded by John Locke in Essex (UK) during the year 1694 have also been recovered and corrected. Daily observations were recorded during the same period in Paris by L. Morin; these have previously been published by Legrand and Le Goff (1992: Les observations météorologiques de Louis Morin. Monographie No. 6, Direction de la Météorologie Nationale, Ministère de l’Equipement, de Logement et des Transports, 41 pp.). However, cross-comparisons with the Locke and Ramazzini data have shown that the Paris series needed a further correction to take into account instrumental error. Using these three corrected series, it has been possible to reconstruct the atmospheric circulation over Europe for the year 1694. An indication of the state of the atmospheric circulation can also be made by using the earlier observations recorded in Italy. A common feature of the two periods studied (1657—1658 and 1694) is that winters were characterized by higher pressure compared with the reference period 1961—1990, while the summers generally experienced lower pressure. This latter conclusion indicates that the Azores High was late or not well developed, favouring low temperature and frequent rain in the late spring and early summer.
Stable carbon isotopes as potential sea-level indicators in salt marshes, North Carolina, USA
Authors: Kemp Andrew C. , Vane Christopher H. , Horton Benjamin P. , Culver Stephen J.
Published: March 2010

We compared the use of δ13C values and C:N ratios from salt-marsh sediments to reconstruct relative sea level (RSL) with an established approach using foraminifera. Analysis of bulk-organic sediment and plant samples collected along transects at two sites in North Carolina, USA demonstrates that sediment δ13C values can be used to distinguish between Spartina alterniflora-dominated low marsh (C photosynthetic pathway, δ13C values from —17.6‰ to 16.1‰) and Juncus roemerianus-dominated high marsh (C 3 photosynthetic pathway, δ13C values from —28.2‰ to —21.8‰) environments. Juncus roemerianus plants undergo little decompositional change in δ13C (average 0.8‰), although there is a clear difference between Spartina alterniflora tissue and bulk-organic sediments (approximately 4‰). C:N ratios on bulk-organic sediment from freshwater upland and salt-marsh environments converge during early diagenesis, rendering them of little use in reconstructing RSL. The utility of δ13C values as a sea-level indicator is limited by the elevational range of C4 plants, making it difficult to recognize salt-marsh subenvironments and improve the precision of RSL reconstructions. Furthermore, Juncus roemerianus-dominated high marsh and freshwater upland sediments cannot be adequately distinguished with δ13C values.
Late-Holocene vegetation and land-use dynamics in the Southern Alps (Switzerland) as a basis for nature protection and forest management
Authors: Valsecchi Verushka , Carraro Gabriele , Conedera Marco , Tinner Willy
Published: March 2010

Regional and national parks have been created to preserve biodiversity and quasi-natural ecosystems, but uncertainties about local environmental history hinder the assessment of important nature-conservation baselines (e.g. natural vegetation composition, role of human activities). We use pollen, plant macrofossils, microcharcoal and radiocarbon dating to reconstruct the environmental dynamics at two mires in the mountain belt of southern Switzerland (Segna and Piano). Two major vegetation changes occurred during the past 3000 years: (1) Picea abies, Abies alba and Fagus sylvatica forests developed into monospecific beech forests and (2) F. sylvatica was reduced and open land expanded. The first change occurred at AD 450 at Segna and AD 1500 at Piano, the second at AD 1600—1700 at both sites. At Segna the A. alba decline occurred during a relatively warm and dry period when local fires and human impact increased. Similarly, at Piano the shift to Fagus-dominated forests was probably induced by human impact. The final decline of F. sylvatica and expansion of open land is clearly related to an intensification of human activities at both sites. Our results suggest a pronounced sensitivity of A. alba to human disturbance in the mountain belt and show that biodiversity is positively related to land use, while human activities decisively reduced woodland diversity. In conclusion, promoting natural succession and A. alba would significantly increase woodland diversity and may significantly contribute to stabilize forests under climatic conditions significantly warmer than today. Biodiversity conservation efforts should concentrate in areas where agriculture has a long history.
A record of Holocene glacial and oceanographic variability in Neny Fjord, Antarctic Peninsula
Authors: Allen Claire S. , Oakes-Fretwell Lisa , Anderson John B. , Hodgson Dominic A.
Published: March 2010

Analyses of a 12 m marine sediment core from Neny Fjord, Marguerite Bay, Antarctic Peninsula (68.2571°S, 66.9617°W), yield a high-resolution record of Holocene climate variability. The sediments preserve signals of past glacial and marine environments and offer a unique insight into atmospheric and oceanic forcings on the western Antarctic Peninsula climate. Dating of basal material reveals that deglaciation of the fjord occurred prior to 9040 cal. yr BP and provides a minimum constraint on the timing of deglaciation close to the southern Antarctic Peninsula ice-divide. Continuous deposition of ice-distal sediments and seasonally open-water diatoms indicates that the site has not been over-ridden by glacier ice during the Holocene. A facies of sand-rich material offers the only evidence of a localized glacier advance, during the mid Holocene. Statistical analysis of diatom assemblage data reveals several climatic episodes of varying magnitude and duration. These include an early-Holocene warm period (~9000 and ~7000 cal. yr BP), potentially associated with influx of Circumpolar Deep Water onto the continental shelf and coinciding with widespread glacial retreat and Holocene collapse of the George VI Ice Shelf. The mid-Holocene (~7000 to ~2800 cal. yr BP) sediments are characterized by diatom assemblages indicative of less pervasive sea-ice cover and prolonged growing seasons with evidence of increased meltwater discharge from ~4000 cal. yr BP. The youngest sediments (~2800 cal. yr BP to present) contain a record that is consistent with the widely documented ‘neoglacial’ period followed by an abrupt reversal and climate amelioration from sometime after ~200 cal. yr BP.
Climatic and morphometric controls on the altitudinal range of glaciers, British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Schiefer Erik , Menounos Brian
Published: March 2010

To examine the relation between climate and glacier extent, we compared gridded, monthly temperature and precipitation data to the altitudinal range of glaciers in British Columbia, Canada. We related glacier relief to ablation season temperature (June—August), accumulation season precipitation (September— March), and morphometric variables that included slope, glacier order, and a shape index for 523 alpine glaciers that ranged from 5 to 15 km2 in surface area. A 1°C increase in mean June—August temperature equates to a 109 to 182 m decrease in glacier relief, and a 1 mm increase in mean monthly September— March precipitation equates to a 0.78 to 2.20 m increase in glacier relief. The most important morphometric controls on this glacier—climate relation include average surface slope, glacier order (analogous to stream order), and the ratio of upper accumulation area to lower ablation area width, all of which are positively related to glacier relief. We note strong relations between glacier relief and climate in all mountain regions of British Columbia, with glaciers of the interior ranges being most sensitive to spatial climatic variability. We show how our approach can be used to estimate past climatic conditions based on historical ice extents, such as at the ‘Little Ice Age’ maximum, and to predict potential future equilibrium glacier extents in a changed climate regime, such as those predicted by general and regional circulation models.
Cadmium induced-oxidative stress in pituitary gland is reversed by removing the contamination source
Authors: Miler Eliana A , Nudler Silvana I , Quinteros Fernanda A , Cabilla Jimena P , Ronchetti Sonia A , Duvilanski Beatriz H
Published: March 2010

Cadmium (Cd2+) is one of the most important environmental contaminants and acts as an endocrine disruptor. Previously, we have demonstrated that the simultaneous administration of Cd2+ and melatonin (Mel) in drinking water impaired metal-induced oxidative stress in rat anterior pituitary gland. The aim of this study was to investigate if a treatment started after the toxic manifestations of Cd 2+ became evident could reverse the effects of the metal. Animals exposed to Cd2+ (5 parts per million [ppm], 30 days) were treated with Mel or without the metal during the next 1 or 2 months. Cd2+ exposure increased the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), a biomarker of oxidative stress, and an a posteriori Mel treatment reversed oxidative stress induced by Cd2+. This effect was also observed 1 month after metal removal. The Cd2+-induced increase in metallothionein-1 (MT-1) and nitric oxide synthase 1 (NOS1) expression were also reversed by metal removal. In addition, serum prolactin and luteinizing hormone levels affected by Cd 2+ exposure were normalized. Considering that the manifestations of Cd2+ intoxication become evident only after a certain period of metal accumulation, these results show that metal removal is enough to reverse Cd2+ effects in anterior pituitary gland and bring to light the relevance of moving away the individual from the contamination source.
Evaluation of Myrtus communis Linn. berries (common myrtle) in experimental ulcer models in rats
Authors: Sumbul Sabiha , Mohd Aftab Ahmad  , Asif Mohd , Saud Ibne , Akhtar Mohd
Published: March 2010

The present study was conducted to investigate the protective effect of the dried berries of Myrtus communis L. in gastric ulcer against ethanol, indomethacin and pyloric ligation induced models in Wistar rats. Two doses of aqueous extracts of M. communis (AE 1 and AE2) at the dose 105 and 175 mg/kg, respectively, and methanolic extracts (ME1 and ME2) at the dose of 93 and 154 mg/kg, respectively, were administered orally to animals prior to the exposure of ulcerogens. The parameters taken to assess anti-ulcer activity were ulcer index, gastric juice volume, gastric pH, total acidity, gastric wall mucus and histopathological studies. Oral administration of AE1 and AE2 significantly reduced the ulcer index in all models of ulcers. Low dose of aqueous extract and high dose of methanolic extract of M. communis exhibited more significant effect in comparison to omeprazole (standard drug) in ethanol-induced ulcer model. Both the doses of aqueous and methanolic extracts also reduced the gastric juice volume, total acidity and increased the gastric pH and gastric wall mucus content in all the models of ulcers used in the present study. Histopathological examinations of gastric tissues of rats treated with the aqueous and methanolic extracts in indomethacin-induced ulcer exhibited significant ulcer-protective effect at both the dose levels.
Pediatric Palliative Care: Feedback From the Pediatric Intensivist Community
Authors: Jones Patrick M. , Carter Brian S.
Published: March 2010

With the emergence of a more formalized field of pediatric palliative care (PPC), it is important for individuals and organizations involved in PPC to gather input from patients with life-threatening/life-limiting conditions, their families, and their health care providers. We report the results of a survey completed in late 2007 of the Section on Critical Care of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The 102 respondents provided information regarding their clinical and educational experiences, perceived barriers to the provision of palliative care in the intensive care environment, currently available PPC resources, and the usefulness of palliative care specialization in the pediatric intensive care unit.
Review Article: Role of Palliative Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin for Treating Venous Thromboembolism in Patients With Advanced Cancer
Authors: Tran Quy N.H.
Published: March 2010

Patients with cancer are at risk of developing venous thromboembolism ([VTE]; deep venous thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism). Although vitamin K antagonists had originally been used to treat VTE in these patients, low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWH) have been shown to be more effective and safe for patients with cancer-associated thrombosis. In cancer patients with advanced disease where curative therapy is no longer the intent of treatment, continued anticoagulation for VTE for palliative purposes continues to remain a controversial topic as no large randomized trials have been conducted to guide clinicians in this setting. This review summarizes the data available for treating VTE in cancer patients receiving palliative services.
Development and Performance Evaluation of Non-slippage Optical Fiber as Brillouin Scattering-based Distributed Sensors
Authors: Zhishen Wu  , Hao Zhang  , Caiqian Yang
Published: March 2010

First, the internal slippage between bare fiber and coating material of current commercial fiber optic sensors (FOSs) has been, experimentally, verified and investigated in this article. Second, two types of effective package methods are proposed to develop non-slippage optical fibers. Finally, the performance of developed nonslippage FOSs are examined and evaluated with a series of experiments, and the thermal expansion coefficient and creep property of the packaged optical fibers are also investigated. The experimental results indicate that the packaged fibers can be used as non-slippage sensors with high sensing performance both on actual and virtual spatial resolution. Especially, the creep property is much more stable than that of the current commercial fibers.
The synthetic GLP-I receptor agonist, exenatide, reduces intimal hyperplasia in insulin resistant rats
Authors: Murthy Subramanyam N. , Hilaire Rose-Claire St , Casey David B. , Badejo Adeleke M. , McGee Jennifer , McNamara Dennis B. , Kadowitz Philip J. , Fonseca Vivian A.
Published: March 2010

We studied the effect of a synthetic GLP-1 receptor agonist, exenatide, a drug approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, on the recovery from vascular injury in Zucker (non-diabetic) fatty rats. Exenatide 5.0 µg/kg per day or saline was administered for seven days before, and 21 days after balloon catheter mediated carotid injury. A pair feeding experiment helped differentiate between the drug itself and the known effects of the drug on decreased food intake. Body weight and glucose (weekly), carotid artery I/M ratio, aortic protein eNOS and NFκB-p65 were measured. Body weight gain in exenatide rats was significantly lower (53±5 vs. 89±8 g) than controls. Blood glucose did not change significantly. The I/M ratio in the exenatide group was 0.2±0.1 vs. 0.9±0.1 in controls ( p<0.05). The expression of aortic eNOS was unchanged in exenatide treated rats and a small decrease seen in NFκB-p65 expression was not statistically significant. We conclude that exenatide attenuates intimal hyperplasia following balloon catheter induced vascular injury independently of glucose regulation and food intake. Our findings provide additional support for cardiovascular benefits of exenatide, especially in obese and pre-diabetic patients. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanism underlying these effects.
Were Newspapers More Interested in Pro-Obama Letters to the Editor in 2008? Evidence From a Field Experiment
Authors: Butler Daniel M. , Schofield Emily
Published: March 2010

During the 2008 presidential election, the authors submitted letters to the editor at 100 major U.S. newspapers as part of a field experiment to test whether interest in the letter depended on which candidate the letter supported. The authors find, contrary to what charges of a liberal media bias would suggest, that newspapers expressed more interest in pro-McCain letters than pro-Obama letters. Furthermore, it was found that papers were most likely to be interested in letters supporting the candidate they did not endorse, a result that is consistent with the idea that editors seem to be using their gatekeeping powers to allow dissenting opinions to be heard.
Political Advertising and Persuasion in the 2004 and 2008 Presidential Elections
Authors: Franz Michael M. , Ridout Travis N.
Published: March 2010

The 2008 presidential election was historic in many respects. The campaign included the first African American major-party candidate, and neither candidate was an incumbent president or vice president. In addition, one candidate took public funding and the other candidate did not. This latter disparity resulted in an imbalance of resources across the two campaigns, especially in the purchase of political advertising. But did that imbalance matter for who won? Did advertising move voters, and if so, by how much? This article examines patterns of presidential ad buys in 2008 and compares them with presidential ad buys in 2004. It also examines the impact of advertising on county-level vote returns in both years. The results demonstrate some important differences in advertising patterns across years, especially in terms of ad sponsorship and market-level advertising advantages. We also find significant and strong advertising persuasion effects in 2008.
What Made Carolina Blue? In-Migration and the 2008 North Carolina Presidential Vote
Authors: Hood M.V. , McKee Seth C.
Published: March 2010

In this article, we examine the role that in-migration played in contributing to the 2008 Democratic presidential victory in North Carolina. Prior to Barack Obama, the last time the Tar Heel State was carried by a Democrat was Jimmy Carter in 1976. Since the late 1980s, North Carolina has undergone tremendous demographic change. In addition to a growing Hispanic population that is primarily comprised of noncitizens, the state has witnessed a very large increase in the number of residents who were born and raised in Northern states such as New York. Historically, in much of the postwar South, Northern migrants helped grow the Republican Party. We find that in North Carolina this pattern no longer holds. In contemporary North Carolina, migrants born outside the South are more likely to identify and register as politically unaffiliated, and their growing share of the state’s electorate directly contributed to Obama’s narrow win.
Health Care Providers’ Smoking Cessation Advice Among Pregnant Smokers
Authors: Martin Maurice W. , Martin Sarah L. , Ross Robert H.
Published: March 2010

Data from the Maine Pregnancy Risk Monitoring System (2004-2005) were used to assess smoking cessation and smoking cessation advice given to pregnant women during their prenatal visits. Women’s insurance type was classified as public (MaineCare; n = 1016) or private (eg, health maintenance organization; n = 1340). Prepregnancy smokers were asked if their health care provider discussed quitting or had suggested any specific cessation methods from a list of proven-effective strategies. The most general question was, “During any of your prenatal care visits, did a doctor, nurse, or other health care worker spend time with you discussing how to quit smoking?” This question was used in regression modeling to determine if differences existed in advice giving by insurance type. Compared with women who had private insurance, women with public insurance were less likely to have quit smoking but reportedly more often advised to seek booklet or videos to help them quit, referred to the state-run quit line, counseled to seek family support to help them quit, advised to use a nicotine patch, and provided with specific instructions about how to quit. In regression models, insurance type was a significant correlate of spending time discussing how to quit. When age and income were included in the model, only income remained significant for the lowest versus the highest income group. In Maine, it appears that health care providers are offering smoking cessation advice to pregnant women, although more so to women of lower income.
Weight Management Strategies for Recreational Athletes: What Do We Tell Them?
Authors: Lofgren Ingrid E. , Delmonico Matthew J.
Published: March 2010

The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans provide clear recommendations for health care professionals to share with their patients and clients. The guidelines clearly lay out what the general public needs to do to improve their fitness level and manage their weight. The physical activity guidelines need to be reviewed in conjunction with appropriate dietary advice found in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Patients and clients who increase their physical activity to light or moderately active, the recreational athlete, can meet their nutrition needs by consuming a well-balanced, varied diet of nutrient-dense foods. Sports drinks and bars, which are heavily marketed to all levels of athletes and sedentary people, are not necessary for the recreational athlete in most situations and may negatively affect body weight.
Role model clinical instructor as perceived by Jordanian nursing students
Authors: Hayajneh Ferial
Published: March 2010

Nursing is considered to be an applied science. Thus clinical teaching is central to nurse education, where the learning situation often cannot be repeated. The aim of this work was to identify motivating behaviours of role model clinical instructors that enhance student learning, as perceived by Jordanian senior nursing students. Critical incident technique was utilised and analysis of the incidents through Cormack’s technique was applied. A total of 156 student nurses participated in this study and 210 critical incidents related to behaviours of role model clinical instructors were obtained. A total of 10 categories that reflected the behaviours of role model clinical instructors were created. The overall findings indicated that the behaviours of role model clinical instructors identified by Jordanian nursing students as enhancing their learning in the clinical setting were mainly those already identified in the literature as good teaching in nursing practice.
Practical considerations on the use of rituximab in autoimmune neurological disorders
Authors: Kosmidis Mixalis L. , Dalakas Marinos C.
Published: March 2010

Rituximab (Mabthera, Rituxan) is a chimeric human/murine monoclonal antibody against CD-20 surface antigen expressed on B-cells. Rituximab, by causing B-cell depletion, appears to be effective in several autoimmune disorders; it has been approved for rheumatoid arthritis and is a promising new agent in the treatment of several autoimmune neurological disorders. A controlled study in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis has shown that rituximab significantly reduces the number of new MRI lesions and improves clinical outcome; it also showed some promise in a subset of patients with primary progressive MS. The drug is also effective in a number of patients with Devic’s disease, myasthenia gravis, autoimmune neuropathies, and inflammatory myopathies. The apparent effectiveness of rituximab has moved B-cells into the center stage of clinical and laboratory investigation of autoimmune neurological disorders. We review the evidence-based effectiveness of rituximab in neurological disorders based on controlled trials and anecdotal reports, including our own experience, and address the immunobiology of B-cells in autoimmune central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) disorders. In addition, we provide practical guidelines on how best to use this drug in clinical practice and highlight its potential toxicity.
A preclinical trial of sialic acid metabolites on distal myopathy with rimmed vacuoles/ hereditary inclusion body myopathy, a sugar-deficient myopathy: a review
Authors: Malicdan May Christine V. , Noguchi Satoru , Nishino Ichizo
Published: March 2010

Distal myopathy with rimmed vacuoles (DMRV), also called hereditary inclusion body myopathy (hIBM), is a moderately progressive hereditary muscle disorder affecting young adults. DMRV/hIBM is characterized clinically by muscle atrophy and weakness initially involving the distal muscles, and pathologically by the presence of small angular fibers, formation of rimmed vacuoles and deposition of various proteins in the muscle fibers. This disease is known to be caused by mutations in the UDP- N-acetylglucosamine 2-epimerase/ N-acetylmannosamine kinase gene, which encodes the essential enzyme in sialic acid biosynthesis, leading to a reduction of sialic acid levels in the serum and skeletal muscles of affected patients. As it is a metabolic disease, metabolite supplementation is theoretically one of the therapeutic options. In this review, recent animal models for DMRV/hIBM are briefly characterized followed by a focus on the administration of sialic acid metabolites as a reliable therapeutic option to DMRV/hIBM with the following points highlighted: the property of compounds, the pharmacokinetic metabolism in vivo, and the therapeutic effects on the DMRV/hIBM mouse model.
Expression of the cytoplasmic NPM1 mutant (NPMc+) causes the expansion of hematopoietic cells in zebrafish
Authors: Bolli Niccolò , Payne Elspeth M. , Grabher Clemens , Lee Jeong-Soo , Johnston Adam B. , Falini Brunangelo , Kanki John P. , Look A. Thomas
Published: March 2010

Mutations in the human nucleophosmin (NPM1) gene are the most frequent genetic alteration in adult acute myeloid leukemias (AMLs) and result in aberrant cytoplasmic translocation of this nucleolar phosphoprotein (NPMc+). However, underlying mechanisms leading to leukemogenesis remain unknown. To address this issue, we took advantage of the zebrafish model organism, which expresses 2 genes orthologous to human NPM1, referred to as npm1a and npm1b. Both genes are ubiquitously expressed, and their knockdown produces a reduction in myeloid cell numbers that is specifically rescued by NPM1 expression. In zebrafish, wild-type human NPM1 is nucleolar while NPMc+ is cytoplasmic, as in human AML, and both interact with endogenous zebrafish Npm1a and Npm1b. Forced NPMc+ expression in zebrafish causes an increase in pu.1+ primitive early myeloid cells. A more marked perturbation of myelopoiesis occurs in p53m/m embryos expressing NPMc+, where mpx+ and csf1r+ cell numbers are also expanded. Importantly, NPMc+ expression results in increased numbers of definitive hematopoietic cells, including erythromyeloid progenitors in the posterior blood island and c-myb/cd41+ cells in the ventral wall of the aorta. These results are likely to be relevant to human NPMc+ AML, where the observed NPMc+ multilineage expression pattern implies transformation of a multipotent stem or progenitor cell.
Conditional expression of heterozygous or homozygous Jak2V617F from its endogenous promoter induces a polycythemia vera–like disease
Authors: Akada Hajime , Yan Dongqing , Zou Haiying , Fiering Steven , Hutchison Robert E. , Mohi M. Golam
Published: March 2010

A somatic point mutation (V617F) in the JAK2 tyrosine kinase was found in a majority of patients with polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia, and primary myelofibrosis. However, contribution of the JAK2V617F mutation in these 3 clinically distinct myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) remained unclear. To investigate the role of JAK2V617F in the pathogenesis of these MPNs, we generated an inducible Jak2V617F knock-in mouse, in which the expression of Jak2V617F is under control of the endogenous Jak2 promoter. Expression of heterozygous mouse Jak2V617F evoked all major features of human polycythemia vera (PV), which included marked increase in hemoglobin and hematocrit, increased red blood cells, leukocytosis, thrombocytosis, splenomegaly, reduced serum erythropoietin (Epo) levels and Epo-independent erythroid colonies. Homozygous Jak2V617F expression also resulted in a PV-like disease associated with significantly greater reticulocytosis, leukocytosis, neutrophilia and thrombocytosis, marked expansion of erythroid progenitors and Epo-independent erythroid colonies, larger spleen size, and accelerated bone marrow fibrosis compared with heterozygous Jak2V617F expression. Biochemical analyses revealed Jak2V617F gene dosage-dependent activation of Stat5, Akt, and Erk signaling pathways. Our conditional Jak2V617F knock-in mice provide an excellent model that can be used to further understand the molecular pathogenesis of MPNs and to identify additional genetic events that cooperate with Jak2V617F in different MPNs.
Acquired resistance to ABT-737 in lymphoma cells that up-regulate MCL-1 and BFL-1
Authors: Yecies Derek , Carlson Nicole E. , Deng Jing , Letai Anthony
Published: March 2010

ABT-737 is a small-molecule antagonist of BCL-2 currently under evaluation in clinical trials in the oral form of ABT-263. We anticipate that acquired resistance to this promising drug will inevitably arise. To study potential mechanisms of resistance to ABT-737, we derived resistant lines from initially sensitive OCI-Ly1 and SU-DHL-4 lymphoma cell lines via long-term exposure. Resistance was based in the mitochondria and not due to an inability of the drug to bind BCL-2. Resistant cells had increased levels of BFL-1 and/or MCL-1 proteins, which are not targeted by ABT-737. Proapoptotic BIM was displaced from BCL-2 by ABT-737 in both parental and resistant cells, but in resistant cells, BIM was sequestered by the additional BFL-1 and/or MCL-1. Decreasing MCL-1 levels with flavopiridol, PHA 767491, or shRNA restored sensitivity to ABT-737 resistant cells. MCL-1 was up-regulated not by protein stabilization but rather by increased transcript levels. Surprisingly, in addition to stable increases in MCL-1 transcript and protein in resistant cells, there was a dynamic increase within hours after ABT-737 treatment. BFL-1 protein and transcript levels in resistant cells were similarly dynamically up-regulated. This dynamic increase suggests a novel mechanism whereby modulation of antiapoptotic protein function communicates with nuclear transcriptional machinery.