bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Fluxes on Particle Morphology and Phase Formation of (Sr,Ba)Si2O2N2: Eu2+ Phosphors
Authors: Yamamoto Hajime , Yamauchi Manabu , Iizuka Junko , Yun Bong Goo , Machida Ken-ichi , Kijima Naoto
Published: April 2011

An yellow-emitting phosphor for white LED application, (Sr,Ba)Si2O2N2:Eu2+, has tabular particle shapes with very broad size distribution, when prepared by a reported method utilizing NH4Cl as a flux. To improve this disadvantage, effects of other fluxes were investigated. Addition of 2 wt.% or less alkali or ammonium nitrate provides more bulky particles of narrower size distribution with little sacrifice of efficiency. Meanwhile, nitrates at high amount of addition and borates as well produce a secondary phase, (Sr,Ba)3Si6O9N4:Eu2+, having poor efficiency, though bulky shapes are obtained. This is probably because some of corner-shared [SiN4]8- tetrahedra are replaced by tetrahedra bridged by O atoms.
Essential role of EGFR in cardioprotection and signaling responses to A1 adenosine receptors and ischemic preconditioning
Authors: Williams-Pritchard Grant , Knight Matthew , Hoe Louise See , Headrick John P. , Peart Jason N.
Published: April 2011

Transactivation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) may contribute to specific protective responses (e.g. mediated by δ-opioid, bradykinin, or muscarinic receptors). No studies have assessed EGFR involvement in cardioprotection mediated by adenosine receptors (ARs), and the role of EGFR in ischemic preconditioning (IPC) is unclear. We tested EGFR, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), and heparin-binding EGF (HB-EGF) dependencies of functional protection via A1AR agonism or IPC. Pretreatment of mouse hearts with 100 nM of A1AR agonist 2-chloro- N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CCPA) or IPC (3 × 1.5-min ischemia/2-min reperfusion) substantially improved recovery from 25-min ischemia, reducing left ventricular diastolic dysfunction up to 50% and nearly doubling pressure development and positive change in pressure over time (+dP/d t). Benefit with both CCPA and IPC was eliminated by inhibitors of EGFR tyrosine kinase (0.3 μM AG1478), MMP (0.3 μM GM6001), or HB-EGF ligand (0.3 ng/ml CRM197), none of which independently altered postischemic outcome. Phosphorylation of myocardial EGFR, Erk1/2, and Akt increased two- to threefold during A1AR agonism, with responses blocked by AG1478, GM6001, and CRM197. Studies in HL-1 myocytes confirm A1AR-dependent Erk1/2 phosphorylation is negated by AG1478 or GM6001, and reduced with CRM197 (as was Akt activation). These data collectively reveal that A1AR- and IPC-mediated functional protection is entirely EGFR and MMP dependent, potentially involving the HB-EGF ligand. Myocardial survival kinase activation (Erk1/2, Akt) by A1AR agonism is similarly MMP/HB-EGF/EGFR dependent. Thus MMP-mediated EGFR activation appears essential to cardiac protection and signaling via A1ARs and preconditioning.
Transmural and apicobasal gradients in repolarization contribute to T-wave genesis in human surface ECG
Authors: Okada Jun-ichi , Washio Takumi , Maehara Akiko , Momomura Shin-ichi , Sugiura Seiryo , Hisada Toshiaki
Published: April 2011

The cellular basis of the T-wave morphology of surface ECG remains controversial in clinical cardiology. We examined the effect of action potential duration (APD) distribution on T-wave morphology using a realistic model of the human ventricle and torso. We developed a finite-element model of the ventricle consisting of ∼26 million elements, including the conduction system, each implemented with the ion current model of cardiomyocytes. This model was embedded in a torso model with distinct organ structures to obtain the standard ECG leads. The APD distribution was changed in the transmural direction by locating the M cells in either the endocardial or epicardial region. We also introduced apicobasal gradients by modifying the ion channel parameters. Both the transmural gradient (with M cells on the endocardial side) and the apicobasal gradient produced positive T waves, although a very large gradient was required for the apicobasal gradient. By contrast, T waves obtained with the transmural gradient were highly symmetric and, therefore, did not represent the true physiological state. Only combination of the transmural and the moderate apicobasal gradients produced physiological T waves in surface ECG. Positive T waves in surface ECG mainly originated from the transmural distribution of APD with M cells on the endocardial side, although the apicobasal gradient was also required to attain the physiological waveform.
Endonuclease G mediates endothelial cell death induced by carbamylated LDL
Authors: Apostolov Eugene O. , Ray Debarti , Alobuia Wilson M. , Mikhailova Marina V. , Wang Xiaoying , Basnakian Alexei G. , Shah Sudhir V.
Published: April 2011

End-stage kidney disease is a terminal stage of chronic kidney disease, which is associated with a high incidence of cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease frequently results from endothelial injury caused by carbamylated LDL (cLDL), the product of LDL modification by urea-derived cyanate. Our previous data suggested that cLDL induces mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent mitotic DNA fragmentation and cell death. However, the mechanism of this pathway is unknown. The current study demonstrated that cLDL-induced endothelial mitotic cell death is independent of caspase-3. The expression of endonuclease G (EndoG), the nuclease implicated in caspase-independent DNA fragmentation, was significantly increased in response to cLDL exposure to the cells. The inhibition of EndoG by RNAi protected cLDL-induced DNA fragmentation, whereas the overexpression of EndoG induced more DNA fragmentation in endothelial cells. Ex vivo experiments with primary endothelial cells isolated from wild-type (WT) and EndoG knockout (KO) mice demonstrated that EndoG KO cells are partially protected against cLDL toxicity compared with WT cells. To determine cLDL toxicity in vivo, we administered cLDL or native LDL (nLDL) intravenously to the WT and EndoG KO mice and then measured floating endothelial cells in blood using flow cytometry. The results showed an increased number of floating endothelial cells after cLDL versus nLDL injection in WT mice but not in EndoG KO mice. Finally, the inhibitors of MEK-ERK1/2 and JNK-c-jun pathways decreased cLDL-induced EndoG overexpression and DNA fragmentation. In summary, our data suggest that cLDL-induced endothelial toxicity is caspase independent and results from EndoG-dependent DNA fragmentation.
Prevalence of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in the Middle-Aged and Elderly Population of a Nigerian Rural Community
Authors: Ejim E. C. , Okafor C. I. , Emehel A. , Mbah A. U. , Onyia U. , Egwuonwu T. , Akabueze J. , Onwubere B. J.
Published: April 2011

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) causes of worldwide preventable morbidity and mortality. CVDs are a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in developing countries, and rates are expected to rise over the next few decades. The prevalence of CVD risk factors is dramatically increasing in low-and middle-income African countries, particularly in urban areas. We carried out a cross-sectional population-based survey in Imezi-Owa, a rural community in South East Nigeria to estimate the prevalence of major cardiovascular risk factors in both men and women aged 40–70 years. A total of 858 individuals made up of 247 (28.8%) males and 611 (71.2%) females were recruited. The mean age of the subjects was59.8±9.9years. The prevalence of the different cardiovascular risk factors among the 858 subjects was as follows: hypertension 398 (46.4%) subjects, generalized obesity as determined by BMI 257 (30%) subjects, abdominal obesity 266 (31%) subjects, dysglycaemia 38 (4.4%) subjects and hypercholesterolaemia 32 (3.7%) subjects. Prevalence of hypertension and dysglycaemia was higher in men while the others were higher in women. Only hypertension (P=.117) and hypercholesterolaemia (P=.183) did not reveal any significant association with gender. Prevalence of CVD risk factors was highest in subjects aged 65 to 70 years.
Approaching the Power Logarithmic and Difference Means by Iterative Algorithms Involving the Power Binomial Mean
Authors: Raïssouli Mustapha
Published: April 2011

Introducing the notion of cross means we give iterative algorithms involving
the power binomial mean and converging to the power logarithmic and difference means. At the end, we address a list of open problems derived from our present work.
Activity of Cathelicidin Peptides against Simkania negevensis
Authors: Donati Manuela , Di Francesco Antonietta , Di Paolo Maria , Fiani Natascia , Benincasa Monica , Gennaro Renato , Nardini Paola , Foschi Claudio , Cevenini Roberto
Published: April 2011

The in vitro activity of six cathelicidin peptides against the reference strain Z of Simkania negevensis was investigated. Five peptides—PG-1, Bac7, SMAP-29, BMAP-27, and BMAP-28—proved to be active at very low concentrations (1 to 0.1 μg/mL), while LL-37 cathelicidin was ineffective even at a concentration of 100 μg/mL. In comparison to chlamydiae, S. negevensis proved to be more susceptible to the antimicrobial peptides tested.
Prenatal Programming of Human Neurological Function
Authors: Sandman Curt A. , Davis Elysia P. , Buss Claudia , Glynn Laura M.
Published: April 2011

The human placenta expresses the genes for proopiomelanocortin and the major stress hormone, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), profoundly altering the “fight or flight” stress system in mother and fetus. As pregnancy progresses, the levels of these stress hormones, including maternal cortisol, increase dramatically. These endocrine changes are important for fetal maturation, but if the levels are altered (e.g., in response to stress), they influence (program) the fetal nervous system with long-term consequences. The evidence indicates that fetal exposure to elevated levels of stress hormones (i) delays fetal nervous system maturation, (ii) restricts the neuromuscular development and alters the stress response of the neonate, (iii) impairs mental development and increases fearful behavior in the infant, and (iv) may result in diminished gray matter volume in children. The studies reviewed indicate that fetal exposure to stress peptides and hormones exerts profound programming influences on the nervous system and may increase the risk for emotional and cognitive impairment.
Design of a Flow-Through Voltammetric Sensor Based on an Antimony-Modified Silver Electrode for Determining Lithol Rubine B in Cosmetics
Authors: Lai-Hao Wang , Shu-Juan Huang
Published: April 2011

Lithol Rubine B (LRB; the disodium salt of 3-hydroxy-4-[(4-methyl-2-sulfophenyl) azo]-2-naphthalenecarboxylic acid) was detected using high-performance liquid chromatography with an electrochemical (antimony film on silver) detector (HPLC-ECD). For direct current (DC) mode, with the current at a constant potential, and measurements with suitable experimental parameters, a linear concentration from 0.125 to 1.80 μg/mL was found. The detection limit of our method was approximately 2.0 ng/mL. An antimony-modified silver detector was used to demonstrate that LRB is electrochemically reduced in acidic media and to analyze commercial cosmetics to determine their LRB content. Findings using HPLC-ECD and HPLC with an ultraviolet detector were comparable.
Does the Hepatitis B Antigen HBx Promote the Appearance of Liver Cancer Stem Cells?
Authors: Arzumanyan Alla , Friedman Tiffany , Ng Irene O.L. , Clayton Marcia M. , Lian Zhaorui , Feitelson Mark A.
Published: April 2011

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major etiologic agent of chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HBV-encoded X antigen, HBx, and pathways implicated in the self-renewal of stem cells contribute to HCC, but it is not clear whether HBx expression promotes “stemness.” Thus, experiments were designed to test the hypothesis that HBx triggers malignant transformation by promoting properties that are characteristic of cancer stem cells (CSC). To test this hypothesis, HepG2 cells were stably transduced with HBx and then assayed for phenotypic and molecular characteristics of “stemness.” The relationship between HBx and “stemness”-associated markers was also evaluated by immunohistochemical staining of liver and tumor tissue sections from HBV-infected patients. The results showed that Oct-4, Nanog, Klf-4, β-catenin, and epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) were activated by HBx in vitro and in vivo. EpCAM was detected in the nuclei of human HCC cells from infected patients. HBx promotes “stemness” by activating β-catenin and epigenetic upregulation of miR-181, both of which target EpCAM. HBx expression was also associated with depressed levels of E-cadherin. Moreover, HBx stimulated cell migration, growth in soft agar, and spheroid formation. This work is the first to propose that HBV promotes “stemness” in the pathogenesis of HCC. HBx-associated upregulated expression of multiple “stemness” markers supports the hypothesis that HBx contributes to hepatocarcinogenesis, at least in part, by promoting changes in gene expression that are characteristics of CSCs. Cancer Res; 71(10); 3701–8. ©2011 AACR.
MYC in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: Induction of Aberrant DNA Synthesis and Association with Poor Response to Imatinib
Authors: Albajar Marta , Gómez-Casares M. Teresa , Llorca Javier , Mauleon Itsaso , Vaqué Jose P. , Acosta Juan C. , Bermúdez Arancha , Donato Nicholas , Delgado M. Dolores , León Javier
Published: April 2011

Untreated chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) progresses from chronic phase to blastic crisis (BC). Increased genomic instability, deregulated proliferation, and loss of differentiation appear associated to BC, but the molecular alterations underlying the progression of CML are poorly characterized. MYC oncogene is frequently deregulated in human cancer, often associated with tumor progression. Genomic instability and induction of aberrant DNA replication are described as effects of MYC. In this report, we studied MYC activities in CML cell lines with conditional MYC expression with and without exposure to imatinib, the front-line drug in CML therapy. In cells with conditional MYC expression, MYC did not rescue the proliferation arrest mediated by imatinib but provoked aberrant DNA synthesis and accumulation of cells with 4C content. We studied MYC mRNA expression in 66 CML patients at different phases of the disease, and we found that MYC expression was higher in CML patients at diagnosis than control bone marrows or in patients responding to imatinib. Further, high MYC levels at diagnosis correlated with a poor response to imatinib. MYC expression did not directly correlate with BCR-ABL levels in patients treated with imatinib. Overall our study suggests that, as in other tumor models, MYC-induced aberrant DNA synthesis in CML cells is consistent with MYC overexpression in untreated CML patients and nonresponding patients and supports a role for MYC in CML progression, possibly through promotion of genomic instability. Mol Cancer Res; 9(5); 564–76. ©2011 AACR.
Expression Regulation of the Metastasis-Promoting Protein InsP3-Kinase-A in Tumor Cells
Authors: Chang Lydia , Schwarzenbach Heidi , Meyer-Staeckling Sönke , Brandt Burkard , Mayr Georg W. , Weitzel Joachim M. , Windhorst Sabine
Published: April 2011

Under physiologic conditions, the inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3)-metabolizing, F-actin–bundling InsP3-kinase-A (ITPKA) is expressed only in neurons. Tumor cells that have gained the ability to express ITPKA show an increased metastatic potential due to the migration-promoting properties of ITPKA. Here we investigated the mechanism how tumor cells have gained the ability to reexpress ITPKA by using a breast cancer cell line (T47D) with no expression and a lung carcinoma cell line (H1299) with ectopic ITPKA expression. Cloning of a 1,250-bp ITPKA promoter fragment revealed that methylation of CpG islands was reduced in H1299 as compared with T47D cells, but DNA demethylation did not alter the expression of ITPKA. Instead, we showed that the repressor-element-1–silencing transcription factor (REST)/neuron-restrictive silencer factor (NRSF), which suppresses expression of neuronal genes in nonneuronal tissues, regulates expression of ITPKA. Knockdown of REST/NRSF induced expression of ITPKA in T47D cells, whereas its overexpression in H1299 cells strongly reduced the level of ITPKA. In T47D cells, REST/NRSF was bound to the RE-1 site of the ITPKA promoter and strongly reduced its activity. In H1299 cells, in contrast, expressing comparable REST/NRSF levels as T47D cells, REST/NRSF only slightly reduced ITPKA promoter activity. This reduced suppressor activity most likely results from expression of a dominant-negative isoform of REST/NRSF, REST4, which impairs binding of REST/NRSF to the RE-1 site. Thus, ITPKA may belong to the neuronal metastasis-promoting proteins whose ectopic reexpression in tumor cells is associated with impaired REST/NRSF activity. Mol Cancer Res; 9(4); 497–506. ©2011 AACR.
Vinculin Activators Target Integrins from Within the Cell to Increase Melanoma Sensitivity to Chemotherapy
Authors: Nelson Elke S. , Folkmann Andrew W. , Henry Michael D. , DeMali Kris A.
Published: April 2011

Metastatic melanoma is an aggressive skin disease for which there are no effective therapies. Emerging evidence indicates that melanomas can be sensitized to chemotherapy by increasing integrin function. Current integrin therapies work by targeting the extracellular domain, resulting in complete gains or losses of integrin function that lead to mechanism-based toxicities. An attractive alternative approach is to target proteins, such as vinculin, that associate with the integrin cytoplasmic domains and regulate its ligand-binding properties. Here, we report that a novel reagent, denoted vinculin-activating peptide or VAP, increases integrin activity from within the cell, as measured by elevated (i) numbers of active integrins, (ii) adhesion of cells to extracellular matrix ligands, (iii) numbers of cell–matrix adhesions, and (iv) downstream signaling. These effects are dependent on both integrins and a key regulatory residue A50 in the vinculin head domain. We further show that VAP dramatically increases the sensitivity of melanomas to chemotherapy in clonal growth assays and in vivo mouse models of melanoma. Finally, we show that the increase in chemosensitivity results from increases in DNA damage–induced apoptosis in a p53-dependent manner. Collectively, these findings show that integrin function can be manipulated from within the cell and validate integrins as a new therapeutic target for the treatment of chemoresistant melanomas. Mol Cancer Res; 9(6); 712–23. ©2011 AACR.
Intraocular Transplantation of Human Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in a Rabbit Model of Experimental Retinal Holes
Authors: Xuqian W. , Kanghua L. , WeiHong Y. , Xi Y. , Rongping D. , Qin H. , Fangtian D. , Chunhua Zhao Robert
Published: April 2011

Aims: To investigate whether human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell (hAD-MSC) transplantation would ameliorate the healing process of a rabbit model of retinal holes. Methods: Retinal holes were made in the left eyes of 20 New Zealand white rabbits and randomly filled by hAD-MSCs (transplantation group) or phosphate-buffered saline (control group), respectively. Frequency-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan was performed on days 2, 4, 12, 20 and 32 postoperatively, and immunofluorescence was performed on days 12 and 32 to further identify the cell types of the injured area. Results: Frequency-domain OCT scan showed that the mean center thickness of the reconstructed tissue reached a normal level on day 12 in the transplantation group, while in the control group, the mean center thickness was normal on day 32. Furthermore, compared to the control group where only anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein-labeled glial-like cells were detected, donor-derived opsin-positive photoreceptor-like cells and protein kinase C-positive bipolar-like cells were sporadically found in the transplantation group. Conclusions: Transplanted hAD-MSCs could engraft in the retinal hole of a rabbit model, and clearly accelerated the healing process and ameliorated injury recovery.
Hemodialysis Treatment Center Early Mortality Rates for Incident Hemodialysis Patients Are Associated with the Quality of Care prior to Starting but Not following Onset of Dialysis
Authors: Kanda Eiichiro , Erickson Kevin , Bond T. Christopher , Krisher Jenna , McClellan William M.
Published: April 2011

Background: We examined the independent contribution of pre-ESRD (end-stage renal disease) care and care after starting hemodialysis (post-HD) with facility-specific mortality among incident patients. Methods: We studied 6,217 incident patients treated at 311 dialysis facilities. A pre-ESRD care score was assessed as the sum of quality measures met on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Form 2728, including predialysis nephrology and dietary care, having a fistula, hemoglobin and serum albumin. A post-HD care score was evaluated by the sum of quality targets attained, including HD adequacy, anemia, serum albumin and hemoglobin measured on an annual quality survey. A fifth post-HD care measure was having obtained an influenza vaccination during the current year. Results: Individual patient mortality was associated with both pre-ESRD (p < 0.001) and post-HD (p < 0.001) care scores. Linear regression models including both pre-ESRD and post-HD care scores showed that a 1-point increase in the pre-ESRD care score resulted in a 0.30 (95% CI: –0.47, –0.12) decreased facility standardized mortality ratio; no association for post-HD care score was noted (–0.11; 95% CI: –0.26, 0.04). Conclusion: Pre-ESRD and post-HD care are both strongly associated with individual patient mortality. In contrast, only pre-ESRD care is associated with facility mortality, suggesting that early mortality reflects differences in pre-ESRD care in the community.
Presentation and Outcome of Pancreaticoduodenal Endocrine Tumors in Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 Syndrome
Authors: Davì Maria Vittoria , Boninsegna Letizia , Dalle Carbonare Luca , Toaiari Marco , Capelli Paola , Scarpa Aldo , Francia Giuseppe , Falconi Massimo
Published: April 2011

Aim: To assess presentation and outcome of pancreaticoduodenal endocrine tumors (PDETs) in a single center series of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) patients. Methods: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of MEN1 patients observed at the University of Verona. Results: Thirty-one MEN1 patients had PDETs, including 16 nonfunctioning (NF), 6 insulinomas and 9 Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES). In 16 of these patients (52%), PDET was the manifestation which led to the diagnosis of MEN1; among this group, 15 patients (94%) previously had unidentified primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), which was asymptomatic in 9 cases (60%). Of the 31 patients, 19 (61%) underwent curativesurgery and 13 (68%, 7 NF-PDETs, 4 insulinomas and 2 ZES) were disease-free after a median follow-up of 3 years (range: 0.5–15). One patient had debulking surgery with stable disease after 2 years of follow-up. Eight patients with NF-PDETs ≤20 mm and 2 with ZES, treated with a conservative approach, showed stable disease. One patient with insulinoma was lost to follow-up. Conclusions: PDET may be the manifestation that leads to MEN1 diagnosis since the almost constant presence of PHPT is very often unrecognized or considered sporadic. Conversely, the presence of PDETs should be looked for in all patients presenting PHPT, even if asymptomatic, particularly before age 50. Surgery may be curative in the majority of insulinomas and can prolong disease-free survival in NF-PDET, but is not proven to be effective in ZES. A conservative approach can be safely reserved for patients with NF-PDETs ≤20 mm.
Nkx2-5 Represses
Gata1
Gene Expression and Modulates the Cellular Fate of Cardiac Progenitors During Embryogenesis
Authors: Caprioli Arianna , Koyano-Nakagawa Naoko , Iacovino Michelina , Shi Xiaozhong , Ferdous Anwarul , Harvey Richard P. , Olson Eric N. , Kyba Michael , Garry Daniel J.
Published: April 2011

Background—

Recent studies suggest that the hematopoietic and cardiac lineages have close ontogenic origins, and that an early mesodermal cell population has the potential to differentiate into both lineages. Studies also suggest that specification of these lineages is inversely regulated. However, the transcriptional networks that govern the cell fate specification of these progenitors are incompletely defined.

Methods and Results—

Here, we show that Nkx2-5 regulates the hematopoietic/erythroid fate of the mesoderm precursors early during cardiac morphogenesis. Using transgenic technologies to isolate Nkx2-5 expressing cells, we observed an induction of the erythroid molecular program, including
Gata1
, in the
Nkx2-5
–null embryos. We further observed that overexpression of Nkx2-5 with an Nkx2-5–inducible embryonic stem cell system significantly repressed
Gata1
gene expression and suppressed the hematopoietic/erythroid potential, but not the endothelial potential, of the embryonic stem cells. This suppression was cell-autonomous, and was partially rescued by overexpressing Gata1. In addition, we demonstrated that Nkx2-5 binds to the
Gata1
gene enhancer and represses the transcriptional activity of the
Gata1
gene.

Conclusions—

Our results demonstrate that the hematopoietic/erythroid cell fate is suppressed via Nkx2-5 during mesodermal fate determination, and that the
Gata1
gene is one of the targets that are suppressed by Nkx2-5.
Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kronish Ian M. , Woodward Mark , Sergie Ziad , Ogedegbe Gbenga , Falzon Louise , Mann Devin M.
Published: April 2011

Background—

Observational studies suggest that there are differences in adherence to antihypertensive medications in different classes. Our objective was to quantify the association between antihypertensive drug class and adherence in clinical settings.

Methods and Results—

Studies were identified through a systematic search of English-language articles published from the inception of computerized databases until February 1, 2009. Studies were included if they measured adherence to antihypertensives using medication refill data and contained sufficient data to calculate a measure of relative risk of adherence and its variance. An inverse-variance–weighted random-effects model was used to pool results. Hazard ratios (HRs) and odds ratios were pooled separately, and HRs were selected as the primary outcome. Seventeen studies met inclusion criteria. The pooled mean adherence by drug class ranged from 28% for β-blockers to 65% for angiotensin II receptor blockers. There was better adherence to angiotensin II receptor blockers compared with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (HR, 1.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.13 to 1.57), calcium channel blockers (HR, 1.57; 95% confidence interval, 1.38 to 1.79), diuretics (HR, 1.95; 95% confidence interval, 1.73 to 2.20), and β-blockers (HR, 2.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.14 to 3.85). Conversely, there was lower adherence to diuretics compared with the other drug classes. The same pattern was present when studies that used odds ratios were pooled. After publication bias was accounted for, there were no longer significant differences in adherence between angiotensin II receptor blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or between diuretics and β-blockers.

Conclusion—

In clinical settings, there are important differences in adherence to antihypertensives in separate classes, with lowest adherence to diuretics and β-blockers and highest adherence to angiotensin II receptor blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. However, adherence was suboptimal regardless of drug class.
CD4
+
T-Helper Cells Stimulated in Response to Placental Ischemia Mediate Hypertension During Pregnancy
Authors: Wallace Kedra , Richards Sarah , Dhillon Pushpinder , Weimer Abram , Edholm Eva-stina , Bengten Eva , Wilson Melanie , Martin James N. , LaMarca Babbette
Published: April 2011

We have shown that hypertension in response to chronic placental ischemia is associated with elevated inflammatory cytokines and CD4
+
T cells. However, it is unknown whether these cells play an important role in mediating hypertension in response to placental ischemia. Therefore, we hypothesize that reduced uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP)–induced CD4
+
T cells increase blood pressure during pregnancy. To answer this question, CD4
+
T cells were isolated from spleens at day 19 of gestation from control normal pregnant (NP) and pregnant RUPP rats, cultured, and adjusted to 10
6
cells per 100 μL of saline for intraperitoneal injection into NP rats at day 13 of gestation. On day 18, in the experimental groups of rats, arterial catheters were inserted, and on day 19 mean arterial pressure was analyzed. Inflammatory cytokines and antiangiogenic factor soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 were determined via ELISA. Mean arterial pressure increased from 104±2 mm Hg in NP rats to 124±2 mm Hg in RUPP rats (
P
<0.001) and to 118±1 mm Hg in rats receiving RUPP CD4
+
T cells (
P
<0.001). Circulating tumor necrosis factor-α and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 were elevated in recipients of RUPP CD4
+
T cells to levels similar to control RUPP rats. In contrast, virgin rats injected with NP or RUPP CD4
+
T cells exhibited no blood pressure changes compared with control virgin rats. Importantly, mean arterial pressure did not change in recipients of NP CD4
+
T cells (109±3 mm Hg). These data support the hypothesis that RUPP-induced CD4
+
T cells play an important role in the pathophysiology of hypertension in response to placental ischemia.
Learning to Rank Answers to Non-Factoid Questions from Web Collections
Authors: Surdeanu Mihai , Ciaramita Massimiliano , Zaragoza Hugo
Published: April 2011

This work investigates the use of linguistically motivated features to improve search, in particular for ranking answers to non-factoid questions. We show that it is possible to exploit existing large collections of question–answer pairs (from online social Question Answering sites) to extract such features and train ranking models which combine them effectively. We investigate a wide range of feature types, some exploiting natural language processing such as coarse word sense disambiguation, named-entity identification, syntactic parsing, and semantic role labeling. Our experiments demonstrate that linguistic features, in combination, yield considerable improvements in accuracy. Depending on the system settings we measure relative improvements of 14% to 21% in Mean Reciprocal Rank and Precision@1, providing one of the most compelling evidence to date that complex linguistic features such as word senses and semantic roles can have a significant impact on large-scale information retrieval tasks.
Supporting nurse health champions
Authors: Blake H , Chambers D
Published: April 2011

In efforts to respond to key government public health initiatives for settings-based health promotion, the ‘Workplace Health Champion’ role has emerged as a method of promoting health within the UK healthcare setting. Health promotion techniques used by these individuals are based on psychological theories that are known to motivate people to change behaviours associated with ill-health. Health Champions, like NHS Health Trainers, assist individuals in setting personal goals to change behaviours thus encouraging empowerment and individual sense of control over personal health and well-being. This article describes the developing role of NHS Health Champions in the public health agenda. Nurses are well placed to promote healthy lifestyles to their patients and clients although evidence suggests that healthcare staff do not always heed their own advice, despite being viewed as role models for health amongst the general public. Nurses are proposed here as both targets and facilitators of health promotion and are advocated as ideal workplace health champions within the NHS. This might be achieved through structured educational training in health improvement for nurses and other healthcare professionals. We propose that health service managers consider supporting healthcare professionals to become workplace health champions.
The Effects of Arousing Negative and Neutral Picture Stimuli on Target Detection in a Vigilance Task
Authors: Helton William S. , Russell Paul N.
Published: April 2011

Objectives: The present study was designed to explore whether target detection in a vigilance task is influenced by task-irrelevant negative emotional and neutral picture stimuli and to test predictions derived from the boredom-mindlessness versus resource depletion accounts of vigilance performance.

Background: Previous research indicates that emotional stimuli can capture spatial attention. Research on the effect of negative emotional and neutral visual stimuli on temporal aspects of attention has not, however, been researched in detail.

Method: For this study, 51 participants (15 men and 36 women) were assigned at random to one of three vigilance conditions: a visual vigil with task-irrelevant negative-arousing pictures, a visual vigil with task-irrelevant neutral pictures, or a no-picture visual vigil control. Vigilance performance was assessed in all conditions.

Results: Overall performance efficiency was negatively influenced by the negative-arousing pictures and was interpreted to favor resource depletion to boredom-mindlessness accounts of vigilance performance.

Conclusion: Task-unrelated negative emotional stimuli appear to impair absolute levels of target detections in a vigilance task.

Application: In monitoring settings where negative emotional stimuli are present, the intrusion of negative emotional stimuli should be mitigated via alterations in the system design, or if this is implausible, the monitors may need additional stress coping and emotional resilience training.
Antipodean Victoriana: History and Fiction in Annamarie Jagose’s Slow Water
Authors: Kelly Frances
Published: April 2011

Annamarie Jagose’s novel Slow Water (2003) is a work of historical fiction set in nineteenth-century New Zealand and peopled with historical figures, including the disgraced missionary William Yate. Although the tribulations of Mr Yate comprise a relatively minor historical event, a footnote to mainstream history, his story is one that has recently garnered attention. This article analyses Jagose’s novel through a neo-Victorian frame and in terms of its engagement with history, arguing that Slow Water constitutes a rewriting of Yate’s story to highlight a history of sexuality that intersects with a history of settlement and empire.
Dialogues across Boundaries in Two Southern African Thrillers
Authors: Primorac Ranka
Published: April 2011

Framed by the critical thinking of Achille Mbembe, this article traces how two recent thrillers from Southern Africa, Zambian Grieve Sibale’s 1998 Murder in the Forest and South African Deon Meyer’s 1999 Dead before Dying, concern themselves with questions of trauma, “tradition” and the remaking of African subjectivities, by embodying and representing a series of local-cosmopolitan openings out to difference and to change. Both novels tie the conditions of possibility of individual and social “rebirths” to the necessity of establishing dialogues across socially constructed boundaries, and both reject the logics of stereotype and of revenge. The complex and vigorous regional literary debate that the novels participate in has thus far remained invisible to the trans-national field of literary postcolonialism, chiefly because of its insufficient engagement with locally circulating and “popular-genre” texts. It is part of this article’s aim to contribute towards addressing this scholarly lacuna.
Modeling and optimization of an adaptive dynamic load shedding using the ANFIS-PSO algorithm
Authors: Isazadeh Ghader , Hooshmand Rahmat-Allah , Khodabakhshian Amin
Published: April 2011

This paper presents a new optimal adaptive dynamic load-shedding scheme for a large steelmaking industry with cogeneration units. The proposed method is based on the initial rate of a frequency change ( df0/d t) and is coordinated with tie-lines frequency protection relays. An adaptive network-based fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) with a new training algorithm is developed in order to increase the speed of the load-shedding scheme and to have an optimum response at different loading conditions. To overcome the ANFIS training difficulties, a new hybrid approach composed of particle swarm optimization and gradient decent algorithms is used. The training data set for the ANFIS is prepared by a transient stability analysis to determine the minimum load shedding for various operation scenarios without causing the tripping problem of cogeneration units. By using an accurate dynamic modeling of the Mobarakeh steelmaking company in Esfahan Regional Electrical Company network, the performance of the proposed method is compared with the traditional ANFIS learning algorithms, adaptive artificial neural network load-shedding scheme and transient stability analysis. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Pseudo bond graph modeling of wastewater treatment bioprocesses
Authors: Roman Monica , Selisteanu Dan
Published: April 2011

The modeling of biotechnological processes is a complex task, because of the high interaction degree of the phenomena, non-linearities, and uncertainties of reaction kinetics. A novel approach for bioprocess modeling, based on pseudo bond graphs, is proposed in this paper. Bond graph method is an appropriate tool for modeling non-linear processes, eventually along with their control systems. Firstly, the pseudo bond graph method is applied in order to model some prototype bioprocesses starting from the reactions schemes and taking into account the biochemical phenomena. Then the rules used for the design of these models are applied on two widespread wastewater treatment processes. The first is an activated sludge bioprocess taking place in a sequential batch reactor, and the second is a wastewater biodegradation with the production of methane gas, which is carried out inside a continuous stirred tank bioreactor. The obtained bond graph models and several simulations are conducted using the 20sim modeling and simulation environment. This modeling procedure represents a valuable illustration of the power of the bond graph technique, and can be used as a base for the development of models of bioprocesses with a high level of complexity.
The Impact of Community Bonding and Bridging Social Capital on Educational Performance in Israel
Authors: Menahem Gila
Published: April 2011

The study examines two issues of the relationship between social capital and educational performance: the different effects of bridging and bonding social capital on urban educational performance and the contextual effects of social capital. The main argument states that bonding and bridging social capital are differently related to educational performance as well as poor versus rich communities. Based on a study of 204 Israeli municipalities the results confirm that bridging social capital is related to positive matriculation rates, and this is more pronounced in communities ranked low as opposed to high on a socioeconomic status scale.
Gauging Disaster Vulnerabilities at the Local Level
Authors: Caruson Kiki , MacManus Susan A.
Published: April 2011

Using mail survey data, we analyze the types of vulnerabilities Florida’s county officials rate as critical when planning for (a) a natural disaster and (b) a deliberate (terrorist) human-made attack. The research identifies the degree to which these officials provide similar assessments (commonality) of their community’s vulnerabilities across these two types of disasters. Overall, vulnerability assessment commonality is more pervasive for basic needs—water, power, transportation, emergency health care, communication, and financial assets. County management personnel and first responders are more likely to perceive greater overlap across types of hazards than finance, human services, or infrastructure officials, especially in Metropolitan Statistical Areas.
The Mediating and Moderating Effects of Parent and Peer Influences Upon Drug Use Among African American Adolescents
Authors: Clark Trenette T. , Belgrave Faye Z. , Abell Melissa
Published: April 2011

This study recruited 567 African American youth (mean age = 15.27 years; 65.1% girls) to examine the role of parent and peer contexts on drug use among African American adolescents. Data were collected on demographics, drug refusal efficacy, drug use, and various psychosocial factors including family and peer factors. When controlling for age and gender, parental monitoring and peer risky behavior completely mediated the relationship between parental attitudes toward drug use and drug refusal efficacy and partially mediated the relationship between parental attitudes toward drug use and current alcohol use. Only peer risky behavior mediated the relationships between parental attitudes toward drug use and current tobacco and marijuana use. Results also revealed several salient moderating relationships. Implications for prevention programs are provided and include strengthening current parenting skills and focusing efforts on fostering the mother-adolescent relationship.
Group strength, accountability and growth under dictatorship
Authors: Escribà-Folch Abel
Published: April 2011

This article tests the hypothesis that group power affects development policy by holding dictators accountable through different mechanisms. New data on dictators’ modes of exit for the period 1946—2000 allow us to estimate the predicted likelihood that a given authoritarian head of government will be toppled by the elite, the military or the citizenry. When the predicted odds are used as a measure of group strength, the results of simple growth regressions reveal that a stronger citizen opposition or a greater military threat compels the ruler to improve economic growth rates. In contrast, elite power is negative for growth, although it turns positive when a country reaches a certain level of industrialized development.
Gender Inequality and the Family and Medical Leave Act
Authors: Prohaska Ariane , Zipp John F.
Published: April 2011

In this article, we use feminist theories of the state to examine why the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) has had relatively little impact on increasing men’s caregiving after the birth or adoption of a child. An analysis of witness testimonies and of the language of the proposed bill at three different stages of its development revealed that as the business community became more vocal in its opposition to the bill, benefits for workers were reduced and testimonies discussing how FMLA could help alleviate gender inequality all but disappeared. We argue that making gender inequality in caregiving a focal point of discussions during the development of the bill could result in a policy that encourages men to use it and, in turn, lead to an increase in caregiving by fathers.
Induction of Spontaneous Hyaline Cartilage Regeneration Using a Double-Network Gel
Authors: Kitamura Nobuto , Yasuda Kazunori , Ogawa Munehiro , Arakaki Kazunobu , Kai Shuken , Onodera Shin , Kurokawa Takayuki , Gong Jian Ping
Published: April 2011

Background: A double-network (DN) gel, which was composed of poly-(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid) and poly-(N,N′-dimetyl acrylamide) (PAMPS/PDMAAm), has the potential to induce chondrogenesis both in vitro and in vivo.

Purpose: To establish the efficacy of a therapeutic strategy for an articular cartilage defect using a DN gel.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.

Methods: A 4.3-mm-diameter osteochondral defect was created in rabbit trochlea. A DN gel plug was implanted into the defect of the right knee so that a defect 2 mm in depth remained after surgery. An untreated defect of the left knee provided control data. The osteochondral defects created were examined by histological and immunohistochemical evaluations, surface assessment using confocal laser scanning microscopy, and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis at 4 and 12 weeks. Samples were quantitatively evaluated with 2 scoring systems reported by Wayne et al and O’Driscoll et al.

Results: The DN gel–implanted defect was filled with a sufficient volume of the hyaline cartilage tissue rich in proteoglycan and type 2 collagen. Quantitative evaluation using the grading scales revealed a significantly higher score in the DN gel–implanted defects compared with the untreated control at each period ( P < .0001). The mean relative values of type 2 collagen mRNAs in the regenerated tissue were obviously higher in the DN gel–implanted defect than in the untreated control at each period. The mean surface roughness of the untreated control was significantly higher than the normal cartilage at 12 weeks ( P = .0106), while there was no statistical difference between the DN gel–implanted and normal knees.

Conclusion: This study using the mature rabbit femoral trochlea osteochondral defect model demonstrated that DN gel implantation is an effective treatment to induce cartilage regeneration in vivo without any cultured cells or mammalian-derived scaffolds.

Clinical Relevance: This study has prompted us to develop a potential innovative strategy to repair cartilage lesions in the field of joint surgery.
God Forbids or Mom Disapproves? Religious Beliefs That Prevent Drug Use Among Youth
Authors: Sanchez Zila M. , Opaleye Emérita Sátiro , Chaves Tharcila V. , Noto Ana R. , Nappo Solange A.
Published: April 2011

Researches have emphasized religiosity as a protective factor against drug use although the mechanism through which it occurs is still unknown. This article aims to explore religious beliefs that could prevent drug use among youth. Three sources of qualitative data were used: participant observation in 21 religious institutions, semistructured interviews of 37 religious leaders, and 6 focus groups comprised of 55 religious drug-naïve youths. The young people’s discourses and the sermons of religious leaders revealed that conceptions about drugs were based on media content, with little religious or scientific context. Catholics and Spiritists considered the consumption of licit drugs less harmful than that of illicit ones and were especially tolerant of the use of alcohol. Protestants were more emphatic when describing all drugs as being harmful to one’s health. Findings suggest that young people who practice a religion invoke several religious concepts to justify their choice for not using drugs, and they attribute this position more to the family legacy than to their own religiosity. Thus youths’ antidrug position was more reflective of family values than religious beliefs.
Becoming Job-Ready
Authors: Packard Becky Wai-Ling , Babineau Maureen E. , Machado Haidee
Published: April 2011

This article examined the future plans constructed by Latina adolescent girls and their mothers within a lower income urban community. Seventeen high school juniors and their mothers were interviewed about the girls’ pursuit of a trade during high school and anticipated postsecondary pathways in the nursing field. Thematic content analyses illustrated how families selected and invested in this career pathway together. Trades were viewed as providing access to jobs and financial stability. Mothers and daughters alike anticipated that the workplace would facilitate access to college, and they also described a closer connection to nursing trade preparation than to math or science academic classes. Case illustrations highlighted the importance of family involvement, ethnic background, and socioeconomic status in the construction of college plans. Interventions and future research focused on families and positive educational outcomes for Latina adolescent girls are discussed.