bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lung Tumorigenesis Suppressing Effects of a Commercial Kava Extract and Its Selected Compounds in A/J Mice
Authors: Johnson Thomas E. , Hermanson David , Wang Lei , Kassie Fekadu , Upadhyaya Pramod , O'Sullivan Michael G. , Hecht Stephen S. , Lu Junxuan , Xing Chengguo
Published: June 2011

Lung cancer is the most deadly malignancy in the US. Chemoprevention is potentially a complementary approach to smoking cessation for lung cancer control. Recently, we reported that a commercially available form of kava extract significantly inhibits 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP)-induced lung tumorigenesis in A/J mice at a dose of 10 mg per gram diet. In the present study, we examined the dose-dependent lung tumor inhibitory activities of kava and investigated potential active constituent(s). Mice treated with carcinogen alone contained 12.1±5.8 lung adenomas per mouse 22 weeks after final carcinogen administration. Mice that were fed diets containing kava at dosages of 1.25, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/g of diet had 8.4±3.5, 6.6±3.5, 4.3±2.4, and 3.8±2.3 lung adenomas per mouse, respectively. This corresponds to a reduction of 31%, 46%, 65% and 69% in tumor multiplicity, which were all statistically significant (p < 0.05). Analyses of lung adenoma tissues derived from kava-treated animals revealed that kava significantly inhibited adenoma cell proliferation while it had no detectable effect on cell death, indicating that kava primarily suppressed lung tumorigenesis in A/J mice via inhibition of cell proliferation. Flavokawains A, B, and C, three chalcone-based components from kava, demonstrated greatly reduced chemopreventive efficacies even at concentrations much higher than their natural abundance, suggesting that they alone were unlikely to be responsible for kava's chemopreventive activity. Kava at all dosages and treatment regimens did not induce detectable adverse effects, particularly with respect to liver. Specifically, kava treatment showed no effect on liver integrity indicator enzymes or liver weight, indicating that kava may be potentially safe for long-term chemopreventive application.
CONDUCTANCE IN GRAPHENE-BASED STRUCTURE WITH THE SPATIALLY-MODULATED STRENGTH OF SPIN–ORBIT INTERACTIONS
Authors: BAI CHUNXU , WANG JUNTAO , ZHANG JING , YANG YANLING
Published: June 2011

Based on the transfer-matrix method, the transport properties of electrons in the multilayers structure with the spatially-modulated strength of spin–orbit interactions (SOIs) have been investigated. We show that the transmission and the conductance oscillate with the parameters of the structure and the incident energy. In particular, when only the Rashba spin–orbit interaction (RSOI) exists, in sharp contrast to its counterpart in conventional junctions, the minima of the normal transmission probabilities just reach a constant value 0.5.
ON THE USE OF HAAR WAVELET TRANSFORM AND SCALING DATA PERTURBATION FOR PRIVACY PRESERVING CLUSTERING OF LARGE DATASETS
Authors: HAJIAN SARA , AZGOMI MOHAMMAD ABDOLLAHI
Published: June 2011

In recent years, data mining has raised some issues related to the privacy of individuals. Due to these issues, data owners abstain to share their sensitive information with data miners. Thus, privacy preserving data mining (PPDM) techniques have been introduced. One of these techniques is for data hiding purpose, which depending on the type of privacy problems can be categorized as follows: (1) Perturbation of the original sensitive data before delivering to the data miners and (2) anonymization of the entities before publishing the data. In this paper, we propose a new technique for privacy preserving clustering (PPC) over centralized databases that belongs to the first category. The proposed technique uses Haar wavelet transform and scaling data perturbation to provide both data hiding and data reduction to protect the underlying numerical attributes subjected to clustering analysis. We present extensive experimental results for the proposed technique. Our experimental evaluations demonstrated that the proposed technique is effective and find a good tradeoff between clustering quality, data privacy, and data reduction. We will present the results of the comparison of the proposed technique with other existing PPC techniques. We will also present a formal description of the proposed technique and its privacy analysis, which proves its security.
NONLINEAR WAVELET ESTIMATION OF CONDITIONAL DENSITY UNDER LEFT-TRUNCATED AND α-MIXING ASSUMPTIONS
Authors: NIU SI-LI , LIANG HAN-YING
Published: June 2011

In this paper, we construct a nonlinear wavelet estimator of conditional density function for a left truncation model. We provide an asymptotic expression for the mean integrated squared error (MISE) of the estimator. It is assumed that the lifetime observations form a stationary α-mixing sequence. Unlike for kernel estimator, the MISE expression of the nonlinear wavelet estimator is not affected by the presence of discontinuities in the curves.
EFFICIENCY OF QUANTUM STATE TOMOGRAPHY FOR QUBITS
Authors: YAMAGATA KOICHI
Published: June 2011

The efficiency of quantum state tomography is discussed from the point of view of quantum parameter estimation theory, in which the trace of the weighted covariance is to be minimized. It is shown that tomography is optimal only when a special weight is adopted.
Intramyocellular lipid content and insulin sensitivity are increased following a short-term low-glycemic index diet and exercise intervention
Authors: Haus Jacob M. , Solomon Thomas P. J. , Lu Lan , Jesberger John A. , Barkoukis Hope , Flask Chris A. , Kirwan John P.
Published: June 2011

The relationship between intramyocellular (IMCL) and extramyocellular lipid (EMCL) accumulation and skeletal muscle insulin resistance is complex and dynamic. We examined the effect of a short-term (7-day) low-glycemic index (LGI) diet and aerobic exercise training intervention (EX) on IMCL and insulin sensitivity in older, insulin-resistant humans. Participants (66 ± 1 yr, BMI 33 ± 1 kg/m2) were randomly assigned to a parallel, controlled feeding trial [either an LGI (LGI/EX, n = 7) or high GI (HGI/EX, n = 8) eucaloric diet] combined with supervised exercise (60 min/day, 85% HRmax). Insulin sensitivity was determined via 40 mU·m−2·min−1 hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp and soleus IMCL and EMCL content was assessed by 1H-MR spectroscopy with correction for fiber orientation. BMI decreased (kg/m2 −0.6 ± 0.2, LGI/EX; −0.7 ± 0.2, HGI/EX P < 0.0004) after both interventions with no interaction effect of diet composition. Clamp-derived insulin sensitivity increased by 0.91 ± 0.21 (LGI/EX) and 0.17 ± 0.55 mg·kg−1·min−1 (HGI/EX), P = 0.04 (effect of time). HOMA-IR was reduced by −1.1 ± 0.4 (LGI/EX) and −0.1 ± 0.2 (HGI/EX), P = 0.007 (effect of time), P = 0.02 (time × trial). Although both interventions increased IMCL content, (Δ: 2.3 ± 1.3, LGI/EX; 1.4 ± 0.9, HGI/EX, P = 0.03), diet composition did not significantly effect the increase. However, the LGI/EX group showed a robust increase in the [IMCL]/[EMCL] ratio compared with the HGI/EX group (Δ: 0.5 ± 0.2 LGI/EX vs. 0.07 ± 0.1, P = 0.03). The LGI/EX group also demonstrated greater reductions in [EMCL] than the HGI/EX group (Δ: −5.8 ± 3.4, LGI/EX; 2.3 ± 1.1, HGI/EX, P = 0.03). Changes in muscle lipids and insulin sensitivity were not correlated; however, the change in [IMCL]/[EMCL] was negatively associated with the change in FPI ( r = −0.78, P = 0.002) and HOMA-IR ( r = −0.61, P = 0.03). These data suggest that increases in the IMCL pool following a low glycemic diet and exercise intervention may represent lipid repartitioning from EMCL. The lower systemic glucose levels that prevail while eating a low glycemic diet may promote redistribution of lipid stores in the muscle.
Involvement of COX-2/PGE2Pathway in the Upregulation of MMP-9 Expression in Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Bu Xianmin , Zhao Chenghai , Dai Xianwei
Published: June 2011

COX-2 and MMP-9 have been reported to show an overexpression in pancreatic cancer, and thus an attempt to explore the correlation between them has become a target of this study. Besides, PGE2, a product of COX-2, was also under research as to whether it is involved in the upregulation of MMP-9 expression by COX-2. Expression of COX-2 and MMP-9 mRNA varied in pancreatic adenocarcinomas, and the mRNA level of COX-2 was correlated positively with MMP-9. Both BxPC-3 and Capan-1 cells had strong expression of COX-2 and MMP-9. MMP-9 expression was downregulated significantly in BxPC-3 and Capan-1 cells after treatment with COX-2 inhibitors or COX-2 siRNA plasmids, and upregulated in BxPC-3 significantly by exogenous TNF-α, LPS or PGE2. The upregulation of MMP-9 by TNF-α or LPS was inhibited by COX-2 inhibitor NS398. There was a significant increase in the migration of BxPC-3 cells with TNF-α, LPS, or PGE2treatment; however, the increase caused by TNF-α or LPS was also inhibited remarkably by NS398. Our findings demonstrated that COX-2 upregulates MMP-9 expression in pancreatic cancer, and PGE2may be involved in it.
Analysis of Mitosis and Antimitotic Drug Responses in Tumors by In Vivo Microscopy and Single-Cell Pharmacodynamics
Authors: Orth James D. , Kohler Rainer H. , Foijer Floris , Sorger Peter K. , Weissleder Ralph , Mitchison Timothy J.
Published: June 2011

Cancer relies upon frequent or abnormal cell division, but how the tumor microenvironment affects mitotic processes in vivo remains unclear, largely due to the technical challenges of optical access, spatial resolution, and motion. We developed high-resolution in vivo microscopy methods to visualize mitosis in a murine xenograft model of human cancer. Using these methods, we determined whether the single-cell response to the antimitotic drug paclitaxel (Ptx) was the same in tumors as in cell culture, observed the impact of Ptx on the tumor response as a whole, and evaluated the single-cell pharmacodynamics (PD) of Ptx (by in vivo PD microscopy). Mitotic initiation was generally less frequent in tumors than in cell culture, but subsequently it proceeded normally. Ptx treatment caused spindle assembly defects and mitotic arrest, followed by slippage from mitotic arrest, multinucleation, and apoptosis. Compared with cell culture, the peak mitotic index in tumors exposed to Ptx was lower and the tumor cells survived longer after mitotic arrest, becoming multinucleated rather than dying directly from mitotic arrest. Thus, the tumor microenvironment was much less proapoptotic than cell culture. The morphologies associated with mitotic arrest were dose and time dependent, thereby providing a semiquantitative, single-cell measure of PD. Although many tumor cells did not progress through Ptx-induced mitotic arrest, tumor significantly regressed in the model. Our findings show that in vivo microscopy offers a useful tool to visualize mitosis during tumor progression, drug responses, and cell fate at the single-cell level. Cancer Res; 71(13); 4608–16. ©2011 AACR.
A Single DH Gene Segment Is Sufficient for the Establishment of an Asthma Phenotype in a Murine Model of Allergic Airway Inflammation
Authors: Kerzel Sebastian , Rogosch Tobias , Wagner Julia , Preisser Kathrin , Yildirim Ali-Önder , Fehrenbach Heinz , Garn Holger , Maier Rolf F. , Schroeder, Jr. Harry W. , Zemlin Michael
Published: June 2011

Background: We have previously shown that the allergic sensitization to ovalbumin does not represent a superantigen-like immune response. In gene-targeted mice (ΔD-iD) with a single modified Diversity gene segment (DH) of the immunoglobulin heavy chain, enriched for charged amino acids, the asthma phenotype in a murine model was markedly alleviated compared to wild-type animals. Objective: We now sought to determine whether the confinement to a single DH gene segment alone leads to a reduced allergic phenotype. Methods: We examined another gene-targeted mouse strain (ΔD-DFL) with a single DH gene segment which encodes for neutral amino acids, thus reflecting the preferential repertoire in wild-type mice. Mice were sensitized intraperitoneally to ovalbumin. Results: Despite the constraint to a single DH gene segment, ΔD-DFL mice mounted high total and allergen-specific IgG1 and IgE serum levels after sensitization to ovalbumin. The affinity constants of allergen-specific IgG1 antibodies did not differ between ΔD-DFL and wild type. Following challenge with aerosolized allergen, a marked local TH2 cytokine response and an eosinophilic airway inflammation developed. Quantitative histology revealed increased mucus production and intense goblet cell metaplasia which were identical to those in wild type. Moreover, ΔD-DFL mice developed an airway hyperreactivity to methacholine and to the specific allergen, which both did not differ from those in wild-type animals. Conclusion: A single DH gene segment is sufficient for the establishment of the asthma phenotype in a murine model of allergic airway inflammation. Thus, the allergic phenotype depends on the amino acid composition and not on the diversity of the classical antigen-binding site.
Cloning, Expression and Patient IgE Reactivity of Recombinant Pru du 6, an 11S Globulin from Almond
Authors: Willison LeAnna N. , Tripathi Pallavi , Sharma Girdhari , Teuber Suzanne S. , Sathe Shridhar K. , Roux Kenneth H.
Published: June 2011

Background: IgE-reactive proteins have been identified in almond; however, few have been cloned and tested for specific patient IgE reactivity. Here, we clone and express prunin 1 and prunin 2, isoforms of the major almond protein prunin, an 11S globulin, and assay each for IgE reactivity. Methods: Prunin isoforms were PCR-amplified from an almond cDNA library, sequenced, cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. Reactivity to the recombinant (r) allergens, Pru du 6.01 and Pru du 6.02, was screened by dot blot and immunoblot assays using sera from almond-allergic patients and murine monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Sequential IgE-binding epitopes were identified by solid-phase overlapping peptide analysis. Epitope stability was assessed by assaying denatured recombinant proteins by immunoblot. Results: IgE reactivity to rPru du 6.01 and rPru du 6.02 was found in 9 of 18 (50%) and 5 of 18 patients (28%), respectively. Four patients (22%) demonstrated reactivity to both isoforms. Murine anti-almond IgG mAbs also showed greater reactivity to rPru du 6.01 than to rPru du 6.02. Both stable and labile epitopes were detected. Six IgE-binding sequential epitope-bearing peptide segments on Pru du 6.01 and 8 on Pru du 6.02 were detected using pooled almond-allergic sera. Conclusions: rPru du 6.01 is more widely recognized than rPru du 6.02 in our patient population. The identification of multiple sequential epitopes and the observation that treatment with denaturing agents had little effect on IgE-binding intensity in some patients suggests an important role for sequential epitopes on prunins.
Holocentric Chromosomes of Luzula elegans Are Characterized by a Longitudinal Centromere Groove, Chromosome Bending, and a Terminal Nucleolus Organizer Region
Authors: Heckmann S. , Schroeder-Reiter E. , Kumke K. , Ma L. , Nagaki K. , Murata M. , Wanner G. , Houben A.
Published: June 2011

The structure of holocentric chromosomes was analyzed in mitotic cells of Luzula elegans. Light and scanning electron microscopy observations provided evidence for the existence of a longitudinal groove along each sister chromatid. The centromere-specific histone H3 variant, CENH3, colocalized with this groove and with microtubule attachment sites. The terminal chromosomal regions were CENH3-negative. During metaphase to anaphase transition, L. elegans chromosomes typically curved to a sickle-like shape, a process that is likely to be influenced by the pulling forces of microtubules along the holocentric axis towards the corresponding microtubule organizing regions. A single pair of 45S rDNA sites, situated distal to Arabidopsis-telomere repeats, was observed at the terminal region of one chromosome pair. We suggest that the 45S rDNA position in distal centromere-free regions could be required to ensure chromosome stability.
Evidence for Integrity of Parental Genomes in the Diploid Hybridogenetic Water Frog Pelophylax esculentus by Genomic in situ Hybridization
Authors: Zaleśna A. , Choleva L. , Ogielska M. , Rábová M. , Marec F. , Ráb P.
Published: June 2011

The Western Palearctic water frogs Pelophylax ridibundus and P. lessonae were identified as parental (sexual) species and P. esculentus as their interspecific, hybridogenetically reproducing hybrid with hemiclonal heredity. We used genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) to identify parental chromosomes of P.lessonae and P.ridibundus in diploid P. esculentus karyotypes (2n = 26). GISH probes were made by fluorochrome labeling of total genomic DNA extracted from the sexual progenitors. The labeled probe from one species was hybridized to chromosomes of P. esculentus in the presence of excess of unlabeled genomic DNA from the other species. Thus, the P. lessonae probe was blocked by P. ridibundus unlabeled DNA, and vice versa. We successfully discriminated each of the 13 respective parental chromosomes in metaphase complements of the hybrids according to species-specific hybridization signals. GISH enabled us to confirm additional differences between parental chromosomes in size (smaller chromosomes belong to P. lessonae) and in the presence of DAPI-positive centromeric heterochromatin (detected in chromosomes of P. ridibundus, but not in P. lessonae). The fact that no visible intergenomic exchanges were found in metaphase chromosomes of diploid P. esculentus provides important information on the genomic integrity of hemiclonal transmission and supports hybridogenesis as a reproductive mode at the chromosome level for the specimens examined.
Variation in Missegregation Rates among Human Chromosomes in Hybrid Cells
Authors: Evans E. , Wise D.
Published: June 2011

Chinese hamster ovary-human hybrid cells containing chromosomes 16, 18, X, or 21 have been used to test the ability of human kinetochores to successfully bind to spindle microtubules and to be distributed to daughter cells. The intrinsic rates of non-disjunction among these human chromosomes have been determined and compared to non-disjunction rates in cells presented with taxol as a mitotic challenge. Cells grown on culture slides were fixed and processed for immunofluorescence and fluorescence in situ hybridization. Daughter cell pairs were identified by staining with anti-α-tubulin to identify midbodies. DNA probes specific for human centromeres were used to test for the successful passage of human chromosomes to daughter cells. Our data indicate that different human kinetochores vary in their ability to properly engage the spindle and to be successfully distributed. In addition, our data indicate that the 4 human chromosomes studied can be divided into 2 groups, based on their overall intrinsic rate of non-disjunction and their response to microtubule perturbation. The mechanism of this effect is not yet known.
Breakdown of the Balanced Lethals in Rhoeo: The Structure of the Alethal Renner Complex of the Homozygotic Stock of Rhoeo
Authors: Golczyk H.
Published: June 2011

Fluorescence in situ hybridization, base-specific fluorescence, C-banding and silver-staining were performed to reveal the cyto-molecular constitution of the karyotype in the bivalent-forming Rhoeo spathacea concolor. It was shown that the genome of this form is almost identical to the β-complex of the ring-forming rhoeos. In spite of some modifications in the arrangement of a few distal rDNA sites and in the amount of pericentromeric AT-rich heterochromatin, the alethal genome of the bivalent-forming Rhoeo seems segmentally unaltered. Thus, the breakdown of balanced lethals in Rhoeo is most likely uncoupled from creating new chromosome arm combinations.
Comparative Chromosome Painting of Four Siberian Vespertilionidae Species with Aselliscus stoliczkanus and Human Probes
Authors: Kulemzina A.I. , Nie W. , Trifonov V.A. , Staroselec Y. , Vasenkov D.A. , Volleth M. , Yang F. , Graphodatsky A.S.
Published: June 2011

Vespertilionidae is the largest chiropteran family that comprises species of different specialization and wide geographic distribution. Up to now, only a few vespertilionid species have been studied by molecular cytogenetic approaches. Here, we have investigated the karyotypic relationships of 4 Vespertilionidae species from Siberia by G-banding and comparative chromosome painting. Painting probes from Aselliscus stoliczkanus were used to establish interspecific homologous chromosomal segments in Myotis dasycneme (2n = 44), Murina hilgendorfi (2n = 44), Plecotus auritus (2n = 32), and Vespertilio murinus (2n = 38). Robertsonian translocations and a few inversions differentiated the karyotypes of the examined species. Painting of P. auritus karyotype with human probes revealed 3 previously undetected cryptic segments homologous to human chromosomes (Homo sapiens, HSA) 8, 15, and 19, respectively. As a consequence, the existence of 2 HSA 4 + 8 syntenies in the P. auritus karyotype has been proven. In addition, a pericentric inversion or centromere shift was revealed on the smallest metacentric P. auritus chromosome 16/17 using the HSA 16 probe explaining the different G-banding pattern in comparison to the homologous Myotis chromosome 16/17.
Pharmacogenetic Study on the Effect of Rivastigmine on PS2 and APOE Genes in Iranian Alzheimer Patients
Authors: Zamani M. , Mehri M. , Kollaee A. , Yenki P. , Ghaffarpor M. , Harirchian M.H. , Shahbazi M.
Published: June 2011

Background/Aims: Alzheimer disease (AD) is a complex and genetically heterogeneous disorder, and certain genes such as PS2 and APOE4 contribute to the development of AD. Due to its heterogeneity, AD-predisposing genes could vary in different populations. Moreover, not all AD patients will respond to the same therapy. We specifically investigated the effect ofrivastigmine (Exelon) on PS2 and APOE genes in Iranian AD patients. Methods: A total of 100 AD patients, 67 patients with sporadic AD (SAD) and 33 patients with familial AD (FAD), receiving rivastigmine therapy and 100 healthy controls were studied.PCR-RFLP was used for genotyping of PS2 and APOE. Results: We found a positive association between the PS2 –A allele and SAD patients (pc = 0.01), and the PS2 +A/–A genotype was significantly more frequent in SAD than FAD patients (pc = 0.009). The APOE4 allele was associated with total AD, SAD and FAD (pc = 0.000002). Patients with the PS2 +A/–A genotype and bigenic genotypes of +A/–A·Ε3/Ε3 and +A/–A·Ε3/Ε4 were the best responders to Exelon therapy, and those with the PS2 +A/+A and APOE Ε3/Ε4 genotypes were the worst responders. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the PS2 and APOE4 alleles and genotypes affect both AD risk and response to rivastigmine therapy.
Flood Pulsing in the Sudd Wetland: Analysis of Seasonal Variations in Inundation and Evaporation in South Sudan
Authors: Rebelo L-M. , Senay G. B. , McCartney M. P.
Published: June 2011

Located on the Bahr el Jebel in South Sudan, the Sudd is one of the largest floodplain wetlands in the world. Seasonal inundation drives the hydrologic, geomorphological, and ecological processes, and the annual flood pulse is essential to the functioning of the Sudd. Despite the importance of the flood pulse, various hydrological interventions are planned upstream of the Sudd to increase economic benefits and food security. These will not be without consequences, in particular for wetlands where the biological productivity, biodiversity, and human livelihoods are dependent on the flood pulse and both the costs and benefits need to be carefully evaluated. Many African countries still lack regional baseline information on the temporal extent, distribution, and characteristics of wetlands, making it hard to assess the consequences of development interventions. Because of political instability in Sudan and the inaccessible nature of the Sudd, recent measurements of flooding and seasonal dynamics are inadequate. Analyses of multitemporal and multisensor remote sensing datasets are presented in this paper, in order to investigate and characterize flood pulsing within the Sudd wetland over a 12-month period. Wetland area has been mapped along with dominant components of open water and flooded vegetation at five time periods over a single year. The total area of flooding (both rain and river fed) over the 12 months was 41 334 km2, with 9176 km2 of this constituting the permanent wetland. Mean annual total evaporation is shown to be higher and with narrower distribution of values from areas of open water (1718 mm) than from flooded vegetation (1641 mm). Although the exact figures require validation against ground-based measurements, the results highlight the relative differences in inundation patterns and evaporation across the Sudd.
Tropospheric Precursors and Stratospheric Warmings
Authors: Cohen Judah , Jones Justin
Published: June 2011

Many tropospheric Arctic Oscillation (AO) events are preceded by stratospheric AO events and even earlier in time by anomalous upward energy flux associated with Rossby waves in the troposphere. This study identifies lower-tropospheric circulation anomalies that precede large AO events in both the troposphere and stratosphere and the anomalous upward energy flux. Compositing analysis of stratospheric warming events identifies regional tropospheric precursors, which precede stratospheric warmings. The tropospheric precursor is found to vary when compositing over polar vortex displacements and splits separately. Prior to vortex displacements the main anomaly sea level pressure center of the tropospheric precursor is located across northwest Eurasia and is associated with the Siberian high. Prior to vortex splits a similar anomaly center is identified in the tropospheric precursor but is weaker and appears to be more strongly related to a shift in the storm tracks. Differences in the sea level pressure anomalies in the North Atlantic and the North Pacific are also observed when comparing the precursors prior to vortex displacements and splits. Identification of a unique tropospheric precursor to stratospheric warming and subsequent tropospheric AO events can help to improve understanding troposphere–stratosphere coupling. Furthermore, the observational evidence presented here can be compared with model simulations of winter climate variability and lead to potential model improvements.
The Dependence of Southern Ocean Meridional Overturning on Wind Stress
Authors: Abernathey Ryan , Marshall John , Ferreira David
Published: June 2011

An eddy-resolving numerical model of a zonal flow, meant to resemble the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, is described and analyzed using the framework of J. Marshall and T. Radko. In addition to wind and buoyancy forcing at the surface, the model contains a sponge layer at the northern boundary that permits a residual meridional overturning circulation (MOC) to exist at depth. The strength of the residual MOC is diagnosed for different strengths of surface wind stress. It is found that the eddy circulation largely compensates for the changes in Ekman circulation. The extent of the compensation and thus the sensitivity of the MOC to the winds depend on the surface boundary condition. A fixed-heat-flux surface boundary severely limits the ability of the MOC to change. An interactive heat flux leads to greater sensitivity. To explain the MOC sensitivity to the wind strength under the interactive heat flux, transformed Eulerian-mean theory is applied, in which the eddy diffusivity plays a central role in determining the eddy response. A scaling theory for the eddy diffusivity, based on the mechanical energy balance, is developed and tested; the average magnitude of the diffusivity is found to be proportional to the square root of the wind stress. The MOC sensitivity to the winds based on this scaling is compared with the true sensitivity diagnosed from the experiments.
Remaking professionals? How associations and professional education connect professionalism and organizations
Authors: Noordegraaf Mirko
Published: June 2011

This article highlights connections between professional and organizational logics that might arise outside organizations, especially during professional education. Traditionally, many professionals were educated and prepared for rendering services and securing quality, irrespective of organizational surroundings. Contemporary service surroundings force professional associations to ‘remake’ rank and file professionals, so that professional behaviours become more ‘organizational’. Associations might change educational programmes, for instance, so that their members learn about organizational issues like efficiency, planning and leadership, working conditions, financing systems and risks. Whether and how this really happens, is unclear, however. This article analyses whether professional education connects professionals to organizational logics, and if so, how?

Conceptually, various associational mechanisms for connecting professional and organizational logics are explored. Empirically, professional education is studied by focusing on the education of British and Dutch medical doctors. By analysing their education at three levels of analysis — educational guidelines, curricula and educational practices — the article studies whether and how doctors are tied to organizational issues. At each of these levels, it is concluded, changes occur, although most changes are mainly concerned with didactic and competency-based educational philosophies. To some extent, new connections between professionalism and organizations are established, but primarily at the level of general guidelines. Although medical education is reorganized, medical students are hardly equipped for organizational matters.
Effects of a psychiatric label on medical residents’ attitudes
Authors: Neauport Audrey , Rodgers Rachel F. , Simon Naomi M. , Birmes Philippe J. , Schmitt Laurent , Bui Eric
Published: June 2011

Background:

Few data are available on the effects of a psychiatric label on medical residents’ attitudes towards an individual.

Aims:

To investigate the effect of a psychiatric label on the attitudes of medical residents towards an individual.

Methods:

Medical residents were randomly assigned to one of two vignettes describing the same apparently healthy person, differing only in the presence of a psychiatric label for one of them. Participants ( N = 322) reported their attitudes towards the described individual and their willingness to treat this person.

Results:

Residents allocated to the psychiatric-diagnostic label group reported being less at ease with becoming the individual’s nextdoor neighbour, working in the same place, sharing a house, having him look after their children, having a member of their family date him, having their finances run by the individual, less willing to become friends with the described individual and more uneasy having to examine him the next time he visits the emergency room.

Conclusion:

Implementing effective programmes to combat stigma in the curriculum of medical residents appears to be needed.
Daughter Zion and the Advent of Salvation
Authors: Novello Henry L.
Published: June 2011

The article reinterprets the content of the dogma of the immaculate conception in light of an eschatological portrayal of original sin, the dynamic nature of the holiness of Mary as Daughter Zion, and a theology of redemption based on the wondrous exchange of natures in Christ. Drawing on Irenean anthropology, it is proposed that the immaculate conception confers upon Mary the perfect ‘image’ of God, while the assumption corresponds to her perfect ‘likeness’ to God, for only when Mary is taken up into heaven does she attain to the fullness of ‘objective’ redemption in her son. Since Mary is not exempt from mortality, the eschatological dimension of her life is not fully realized until she dies and shares in her son’s glorious resurrection.
Lipopolysaccharide-induced Pulpitis Up-regulates TRPV1 in Trigeminal Ganglia
Authors: Chung M.-K. , Lee J. , Duraes G. , Ro J.Y.
Published: June 2011

Tooth pain often accompanies pulpitis. Accumulation of lipopolysaccharides (LPS), a product of Gram-negative bacteria, is associated with painful clinical symptoms. However, the mechanisms underlying LPS-induced tooth pain are not clearly understood. TRPV1 is a capsaicin- and heat-gated nociceptive ion channel implicated in thermosensation and hyperalgesia under inflammation or injury. Although TRPV1 is expressed in pulpal afferents, it is not known whether the application of LPS to teeth modulates TRPV1 in trigeminal nociceptors. By assessing the levels of protein and transcript of TRPV1 in mouse trigeminal ganglia, we demonstrate that dentinal application of LPS increases the expression of TRPV1. Our results suggest that the up-regulation of TRPV1 in trigeminal nociceptors following bacterial infection could contribute to hyperalgesia under pulpitis conditions.
Palatalization and Intrinsic Prosodic Vowel Features in Russian
Authors: Ordin Mikhail
Published: June 2011

The presented study is aimed at investigating the interaction of palatalization and intrinsic prosodic features of the vowel in CVC (consonant+vowel+consonant) syllables in Russian. The universal nature of intrinsic prosodic vowel features was confirmed with the data from the Russian language. It was found that palatalization of the consonants affects intrinsic fundamental frequency (IF0), intensity (I), and duration of the vowels in CVC syllables by modifying the vowel articulatory parameters such as vowel height and fronting. The obtained results are discussed in the light of opposing theories: those suggesting automatic control and those suggesting active control over intrinsic vowel features.
Symbolic power and the internet: The power of a ‘horse’
Authors: Lijun Tang  , Peidong Yang
Published: June 2011

It is a common perception that as long as people have the resources to access the internet, they are in a position to make their voice heard. In reality, however, it is obvious that the vast majority of internet users are not really able to make themselves ‘visible’ and that their concerns receive little attention. Thus, it is more accurate to suggest that the internet offers ordinary people the potential of this power. Under what conditions can this potential be realized and what are the associated implications? Drawing upon the concept of symbolic power, and utilizing a recent example from China, this article addresses these often overlooked questions. It shows that it is not easy to materialize the potential of symbolic power on the internet. What the internet makes easy is to produce follow-up discourse once a powerful symbol has appeared. With the aid of supporters and their follow-up discourses, the symbol creates a symbolic network and takes roots in the society quickly and deeply. Finally, some thoughts on symbolic power in the context of China are also provided in the framework of discourse and social change.
Audience labor in the new media environment: A Marxian revisiting of the audience commodity
Authors: Caraway Brett
Published: June 2011

The contemporary dynamics of mass communication necessitate a reassessment of the received notions of audience labor. To that end this article revisits Dallas Smythe’s seminal audience commodity theory through the lens of a two-sided class analysis. A number of his key conceptualizations are critiqued including audience power, audience measurement, media content as a free lunch, audiences as a non-durable producer’s good, the disappearance of labor power, and the revisionist history of capitalist development . At each point in the critique the contributions of various political economists who have revised and extended Smythe’s work are highlighted. The critique serves to underscore the contributions and limitations of the theory as its extension into the new media landscape is reconsidered.
Television news and democratic change in India
Authors: Roy Srirupa
Published: June 2011

This article examines the impact of India’s ‘television news revolution’, or the rapid growth of privately owned television news channels, on substantive democracy, or the ability of ordinary citizens to access social, political, and economic power. Existing scholarship has largely relied upon content analysis (or textual interpretation) and reception studies to address this question. In contrast this article examines media practice, drawing upon ethnographic field research on the social and political worlds of television news production in contemporary India. Through a specific focus on the experiences of freelance stringers in the news industry, one main argument is advanced: television news expansion has had a ‘provincializing effect’ of enabling the social, political, and economic empowerment of small-town, non-metropolitan, or provincial actors. This finding nuances and unsettles the common conflation of television news media with the interests of the urban middle-class elite in India. At the same time however, a detailed exploration of the political dynamics and consequences of ‘provincialization’ cautions against its reading as empowerment, subversion, or resistance to extant patterns of power and privilege: practices and structures of exclusion and inequality persist within these newly mobile social worlds.
Which On-field Signs/Symptoms Predict Protracted Recovery From Sport-Related Concussion Among High School Football Players?
Authors: Lau Brian C. , Kontos Anthony P. , Collins Michael W. , Mucha Anne , Lovell Mark R.
Published: June 2011

Background: There has been increasing attention and understanding of sport-related concussions. Recent studies show that neurocognitive testing and symptom clusters may predict protracted recovery in concussed athletes. On-field signs and symptoms have not been examined empirically as possible predictors of protracted recovery.

Purpose: This study was undertaken to determine which on-field signs and symptoms were predictive of a protracted (≥21 days) versus rapid (≤7 days) recovery after a sports-related concussion. On-field signs and symptoms included confusion, loss of consciousness, posttraumatic amnesia, retrograde amnesia, imbalance, dizziness, visual problems, personality changes, fatigue, sensitivity to light/noise, numbness, and vomiting.

Study Design: Cohort study (prognosis); Level of evidence, 2.

Methods: The sample included 107 male high school football athletes who completed computerized neurocognitive testing within an average 2.4 days after injury, and who were followed until returned to play as determined by neuropsychologists using international clinical concussion management guidelines. Athletes were then grouped into rapid (≤7 days, n = 62) or protracted (≥21 days, n = 36) recovery time groups. The presence of on-field signs and symptoms was determined at the time of injury by trained sports medicine professionals (ie, ATC [certified athletic trainer], team physician). A series of odds ratios with χ2 analyses and subsequent logistic regression were used to determine which on-field signs and symptoms were associated with an increased risk for a protracted recovery.

Results: Dizziness at the time of injury was associated with a 6.34 odds ratio (95% confidence interval = 1.34-29.91, χ2 = 5.44, P = .02) of a protracted recovery from concussion. Surprisingly, the remaining on-field signs and symptoms were not associated with an increased risk of protracted recovery in the current study.

Conclusion: Assessment of on-field dizziness may help identify high school athletes at risk for a protracted recovery. Such information will improve prognostic information and allow clinicians to manage and treat concussion more effectively in these at-risk athletes.
Introduction to the Special Issue: Moving Beyond Traditional Psychometric Approaches
Authors: Sass Daniel A. , Schmitt Thomas A.
Published: June 2011

Researchers frequently employ outdated statistical procedures to evaluate their measure’s psychometric properties or simply fail to capture the full potential of the data. This special issue reviews the utility of several statistical approaches researchers can apply to uncover the factor structure, test for measurement equivalence across groups, and evaluate internal consistency reliability. Specifically, these manuscripts review and demonstrate the following: (a) statistical and methodological decisions when evaluating measures; (b) how to best model the latent constructs and factor structure; (c) methods to assess measurement equivalence across groups; and (d) procedures to assessing instrument reliability. This special issue also encourages researchers to take a deeper exploration into their measure’s psychometric properties and carefully consider their modeling framework and statistical assumptions.
Testing Measurement Invariance and Comparing Latent Factor Means Within a Confirmatory Factor Analysis Framework
Authors: Sass Daniel A.
Published: June 2011

Researchers commonly compare means and other statistics across groups with little concern for whether the measure possesses strong factorial invariance (i.e., equal factor loadings and intercepts/thresholds). When this assumption is violated, inaccurate inferences associated with statistical and practical significance can occur. This manuscript emphasizes the importance of testing for measurement invariance (MI) and provides guidance when conducting these tests. Topics discussed are potential causes of noninvariant items, the difference between measurement bias and invariance, remedies for noninvariant measures, and considerations associated with model estimation. Using a sample of 491 teachers, a demonstration is also provided that evaluates whether a newly constructed behavior and instructional management scale is invariant across elementary and middle school teachers. Analyses revealed that the results differ slightly based on the estimation method utilized although these differences did not greatly influence the latent factor mean difference conclusions. Additional implications and considerations related to invariance testing are discussed.
Aesthetic Engagements
Authors: Cour Karen la , Hansen Helle Ploug
Published: June 2011

Living with advanced cancer can present an overwhelming challenge. It may impact the everyday life of the individual with respect to an array of psychological, physical, social, and existential issues. We focus on ways in which people with advanced cancer experience and use their engagement in daily activities when confronting nearing death. Through a phenomenological analysis based on Heidegger’s thinking, we illuminate the complexities of “being toward death” and the human striving for authentic being through engagement in daily living. The main findings demonstrate how sensory experiences support being through an appreciation of everyday aesthetics. Furthermore, the making of material things was identified as a means to express the value of self and others in relation to the involved individual’s past, present, and future.
Adjuvant Analgesics in Cancer Pain: A Review
Authors: Mitra Raj , Jones Stephanie
Published: June 2011

Adjuvant analgesics (co-analgesics) are medications whose primary indication is the management of a medical condition with secondary effects of analgesia. Cancer pain is multifactorial and often involves inflammatory, nociceptive, and neuropathic pain subtypes. Adjuvant analgesics used in conjunction with opioids have been found to be beneficial in the management of many cancer pain syndromes; however, they are currently underutilized. Antidepressants, anticonvulsants, local anesthetics, topical agents, steroids, bisphosphonates, and calcitonin are all adjuvants which have been shown to be effective in the management of cancer pain syndromes. When utilizing analgesic adjuvants in the treatment of cancer pain, providers must take into account the particular side effect profile of the medication. Ideally, adjuvant analgesics will be initiated at lower dosages and escalated as tolerated until efficacy or adverse effects are encountered.
An Intrinsic Case Study of Two Homeschooled Undergraduates’ Decisions to Become and Remain Music Education Majors
Authors: Parker Elizabeth Cassidy
Published: June 2011

The purpose of this intrinsic case study was to investigate two homeschooled undergraduates’ decisions to become and remain music education majors. Two senior music education participants’ data were used holistically to capture their experiences over a 12-month period. Individual interviews, weekly journals, and field notes comprised the data sources, whereas verification procedures included triangulation, member checking, and peer review. Participant profiles are included in the results as well as three themes: (a) remembered moments and the desire to facilitate those experiences for others; (b) parents, teachers, and other important role models within musical and teacher development; and (c) personal qualities and overcoming obstacles. Results reflect several past studies and highlight the need for homeschooled individuals to participate continually in field experiences at the undergraduate level.
The “Second-Wife” Phenomenon and the Relational Construction of Class-Coded Masculinities in Contemporary China
Authors: Xiao Suowei
Published: June 2011

In this article, the author takes a relational approach to examining the construction of class-coded forms of masculinity in contemporary China. Drawing upon ethnographic data and documentary research on thirty-one second-wife ( er nai/yiih naaih) arrangements of Chinese men (long-term, quasi-marital arrangements between a married man and an economically dependent woman), the author highlights women’s contribution in men’s articulation and negotiation of gender and class identities. Specifically, the author illustrates the multiple ways that second wives perform “gender labor” for their male partners and the differentiated meanings that women’s labor has taken on for workers and business elites. This article critiques the individual-centric approach to gender and argues that class-coded masculinities are constructed through interactions, relationships, and the labor of women.
Numerical Prediction of Thermal Environment and Energy Consumption in Tunnel-Type Greenhouse with Supplementary Air-mixing and Heating Device
Authors: Ito Kazuhide , Hattori Keita
Published: June 2011

Owing to the fact that the growing of agricultural crops can be directly affected by climate conditions, large-scale greenhouses are usually used to control the indoor climate conditions for cultivation in agriculture. The envelope of greenhouses generally consists of a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheet, which produces a so-called greenhouse effect and protection for crops from harmful insects. The research concerning indoor environmental conditions formed in greenhouses and precise numerical predictions of airflow and temperature distribution in large-scale greenhouses are important to develop effective designs from the viewpoint of energy-saving and the development of suitable indoor environments for agricultural products. To this end, this paper presents a numerical analysis of flow and temperature distributions in greenhouse and the effect of an air circulation fan for mixing air in the greenhouse. The uses of a PVC curtain inside the greenhouse and feedback control of supply air temperature were evaluated by coupled numerical analysis of Computational Fluid Dynamics. From the viewpoint of heat load of the supplementary heating device, the energy-saving effects of about 10–30% were confirmed upon introduction of a PVC curtain and air-mixing fan in a large-scale PVC greenhouse. The sensor position in the greenhouse was confirmed to have a great impact on energy consumption.