bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The (Pro)Renin Receptor
Authors: Advani Andrew , Kelly Darren J. , Cox Alison J. , White Kathryn E. , Advani Suzanne L. , Thai Kerri , Connelly Kim A. , Yuen Darren , Trogadis Judy , Herzenberg Andrew M. , Kuliszewski Michael A. , Leong-Poi Howard , Gilbert Richard E.
Published: June 2009

The (pro)renin receptor ([P]RR) is a transmembrane protein that binds both renin and prorenin with high affinity, increasing the catalytic cleavage of angiotensinogen and signaling intracellularly through mitogen-activated protein kinase activation. Although initially reported as having no homology with any known membrane protein, other studies have suggested that the (P)RR is an accessory protein, named ATP6ap2, that associates with the vacuolar H
+
-ATPase, a key mediator of final urinary acidification. Using in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy, together with serial sections stained with nephron segment–specific markers, we found that (P)RR mRNA and protein were predominantly expressed in collecting ducts and in the distal nephron. Within collecting ducts, the (P)RR was most abundant in microvilli at the apical surface of A-type intercalated cells. Dual-staining immunofluorescence demonstrated colocalization of the (P)RR with the B1/2 subunit of the vacuolar H
+
-ATPase, the ion exchanger that secretes H
+
ions into the urinary space and that associates with an accessory subunit homologous to the (P)RR. In collecting duct/distal tubule lineage Madin-Darby canine kidney cells, extracellular signal–regulated kinase 1/2 phosphorylation, induced by either renin or prorenin, was attenuated by the selective vacuolar H
+
-ATPase inhibitor bafilomycin. The predominant expression of the (P)RR at the apex of acid-secreting cells in the collecting duct, along with its colocalization and homology with an accessory protein of the vacuolar H
+
-ATPase, suggests that the (P)RR may function primarily in distal nephron H
+
transport, recently noted to be, at least in part, an angiotensin II–dependent phenomenon.
Failures in Mitochondrial tRNA
Met
and tRNA
Gln
Metabolism Caused by the Novel 4401A>G Mutation Are Involved in Essential Hypertension in a Han Chinese Family
Authors: Li Ronghua , Liu Yuqi , Li Zongbin , Yang Li , Wang Shiwen , Guan Min-Xin
Published: June 2009

We report here on the clinical, genetic, and molecular characterization of 1 Han Chinese family with maternally transmitted hypertension. Three of 7 matrilineal relatives in this 4-generation family exhibited the variable degree of essential hypertension at the age at onset, ranging from 35 to 60 years old. Sequence analysis of the complete mitochondrial DNA in this pedigree identified the novel homoplasmic 4401A>G mutation localizing at the spacer immediately to the 5′ end of tRNA
Met
and tRNA
Gln
genes and 39 other variants belonging to the Asian haplogroup C. The 4401A>G mutation was absent in 242 Han Chinese controls. Approximately 30% reductions in the steady-state levels of tRNA
Met
and tRNA
Gln
were observed in 2 lymphoblastoid cell lines carrying the 4401A>G mutation compared with 2 control cell lines lacking this mutation. Failures in mitochondrial metabolism are apparently a primary contributor to the reduced rate of mitochondrial translation and reductions in the rate of overall respiratory capacity, malate/glutamate-promoted respiration, succinate/glycerol-3-phosphate–promoted respiration, or
N
,
N
,
N
′,
N
′-tetramethyl-
p
-phenylenediamine/ascorbate-promoted respiration in lymphoblastoid cell lines carrying the 4401A>G mutation. The homoplasmic form, mild biochemical defect, late onset, and incomplete penetrance of hypertension in this family suggest that the 4401A>G mutation itself is insufficient to produce a clinical phenotype. Thus, the other modifier factors, eg, nuclear modifier genes and environmental and personal factors, may also contribute to the development of hypertension in these subjects carrying this mutation. These data suggest that mitochondrial dysfunctions, caused by the 4401A>G mutation, are involved in the development of hypertension in this Chinese pedigree.
Novel Role of Fumarate Metabolism in Dahl-Salt Sensitive Hypertension
Authors: Tian Zhongmin , Liu Yong , Usa Kristie , Mladinov Domagoj , Fang Yi , Ding Xiaoqiang , Greene Andrew S. , Cowley Allen W. , Liang Mingyu
Published: June 2009

In a previous proteomic study, we found dramatic differences in fumarase in the kidney between Dahl salt-sensitive rats and salt-insensitive consomic SS-13
BN
rats. Fumarase catalyzes the conversion between fumarate and
l
-malate in the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Little is known about the pathophysiological significance of fumarate metabolism in cardiovascular and renal functions, including salt-induced hypertension. The fumarase gene is located on the chromosome substituted in the SS-13
BN
rat. Sequencing of fumarase cDNA indicated the presence of lysine at amino acid position 481 in Dahl salt-sensitive rats and glutamic acid in Brown Norway and SS-13
BN
rats. Total fumarase activity was significantly lower in the kidneys of Dahl salt-sensitive rats compared with SS-13
BN
rats, despite an apparent compensatory increase in fumarase abundance in Dahl salt-sensitive rats. Intravenous infusion of a fumarate precursor in SS-13
BN
rats resulted in a fumarate excess in the renal medulla comparable to that seen in Dahl salt-sensitive rats. The infusion significantly exacerbated salt-induced hypertension in SS-13
BN
rats (140±3 vs125±2 mm Hg in vehicle control at day 5 on a 4% NaCl diet;
P
<0.05). In addition, the fumarate infusion increased renal medullary tissue levels of H
2
O
2
. Treatment of cultured human renal epithelial cells with the fumarate precursor also increased cellular levels of H
2
O
2
. These data suggest a novel role for fumarate metabolism in salt-induced hypertension and renal medullary oxidative stress.
I. F. Stone: Encounters with Soviet Intelligence
Authors: Holland Max
Published: June 2009

I. F. Stone has never loomed larger as a role model for American journalists than he does now. Yet since his death in 1989, persistent allegations have surfaced about associations he may have had with Soviet intelligence. The Vassiliev notebooks shed important new light on this question, although definitive answers remain elusive. The notebooks show that Stone did actively cooperate with Soviet intelligence in the mid-to-late 1930s. They leave unclear whether he also maintained a furtive relationship in the 1950s. Evidence suggests that Stone's only active period of cooperation was in the 1930s.
What the Spiders Did: U.S. and Soviet Counterintelligence before the Cold War
Authors: Fox John F.
Published: June 2009

Counterintelligence history has too often relied on a “wilderness of mirrors” trope, which suggests that the discipline is driven by personalities and self-delusion. Using the newly available Vassiliev notebooks and other sources, this article takes a closer look at the historical evolution of U.S. and Soviet counterintelligence as they developed and changed tactics in response to a changing world and the evolving actions of their opponents. Although blind at times to one another, they moved—especially on the American side—toward greater clarity of the opponent and a more complex approach to counterintelligence, driven by real-world experience and a growing knowledge of the threat posed by the other side.
In Re Alger Hiss: A Final Verdict from the Archives of the KGB
Authors: Mark Eduard
Published: June 2009

The notes and transcriptions that Alexander Vassiliev made during several years of work in the archive of the former KGB resolve many of the early Cold War's espionage cases. Hitherto unexploited materials in the collection relate directly to the case of the diplomat Alger Hiss. They conclusively show that Hiss was, as Whittaker Chambers charged more than six decades ago, an agent of Soviet military intelligence (GRU) in the 1930s. With other evidence, Vassiliev's notebooks also establish with very high probability that Hiss was the Soviet agent “Ales” mentioned in a much-disputed Venona cable. This article provides a systematic review of the evidence on the case.
Alexander Vassiliev's Notebooks and the Documentation of Soviet Intelligence Activities in the United States during the Stalin Era
Authors: Haynes John Earl , Klehr Harvey
Published: June 2009

Alexander Vassiliev's notebooks with 1,115 pages of handwritten transcriptions, excerpts, and summaries from Soviet Committee on State Security (KGB) archival files provide the most detailed documentation available of Soviet espionage in the United States in the 1930s and 1940s. This article discusses the provenance of the notebooks and how they fit with previously available Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) files, KGB cables decrypted by the Venona project, Communist International records, court proceedings, and congressional investigations. As an example of the richness of the material, the essay reviews the notebooks' documentation of Soviet spy William Weisband's success in alerting the Soviet Union to the U.S. decryption project that tracked Soviet military logistic communications, allowing the USSR to implement a more secure encryption system and blinding the United States to preparations for the invasion of South Korea in 1950.
Mary's Womb as the 'Space Within Our Space for the Gestating Son of God'
Authors: Holness Lyn
Published: June 2009

Speaking of Mary's womb, Hans Urs von Balthasar draws attention to the place where the Word 'staked out' a space in a human being in order there itself to become man (human), as the child of a mother. In similar vein we are directed to the mystery that Catholic and Orthodox Christians have always overtly recognized: Mary's unique place among human beings as the one who 'contains the uncontainable God.' If this mystery lies at the heart of our faith, then at the heart of that heart is God's grace. In grace God selects a poor, Galilean girl to be the locus of what Christians believe to be the most extraordinary thing that has ever happened. There is much to learn about 'grace, space and race' through reflection on what occurred in Mary's womb, not least in the relationship between immanence and transcendence. This and other themes which have their origin here provide both the imagery and the theological undergirding for other themes – more concrete, specific, and contemporary – that we might explore in a theology of place in (South) Africa today.
The Displaced Calvin: 'Refugee Reality' as a Lens to Re-examine Calvin's Life, Theology and Legacy
Authors: Vosloo Robert
Published: June 2009

Drawing on scholarship that highlights the fact that Calvin was a refugee who ministered to other refugees, this essay argues for a re-evaluation of 'the displaced Calvin' as source and motivation for Reformed witness today. The first part of the essay attends to some biographical details that amplify the centrality of the 'refugee reality' in Calvin's life. The second part of the paper traces the impact of this experiential reality on Calvin's theology, focusing mainly on how it may serve as a lens to aid our understanding of Calvin's reading of Scripture, as well as his doctrine of predestination. The brief conclusion suggests that, given increasing migration, displacement and xenophobia, the celebration of the legacy of the displaced Calvin requires a graceful theology of hospitality.
Re-placing Stewardship? Towards an Ethics of Responsible Care
Authors: Bruyns Clint Le
Published: June 2009

The churches' doctrine of stewardship has featured as both a blessing and bane for their engagement in public life to overcome economic ambiguities in contemporary society. This article discusses various critiques that are levelled at the stewardship impulse as well as some fundamental principles that should direct the churches toward an enlargement of their stewardship paradigms in ways that equip the churches for a more responsible stewardship ethic within their moral spaces. The promise of an ethics of responsible care is finally proposed as a means by which the theological resourcefulness and public impact of this biblically significant albeit controversial notion could be potentially advanced. As such it argues for repositioning the meaning and practice of stewardship in ways that better reflect its ethos of responsible care amidst economic challenges in public life.
Estimation of Atmospheric Motion Vectors from Kalpana-1 Imagers
Authors: Kishtawal C. M. , Deb S. K. , Pal P. K. , Joshi P. C.
Published: June 2009

The estimation of atmospheric motion vectors from infrared and water vapor channels on the geostationary operational Indian National Satellite System Kalpana-1 has been attempted here. An empirical height assignment technique based on a genetic algorithm is used to determine the height of cloud and water vapor tracers. The cloud-motion-vector (CMV) winds at high and midlevels and water vapor winds (WVW) derived from Kalpana-1 show a very close resemblance to the corresponding Meteosat-7 winds derived at the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites when both are compared separately with radiosonde data. The 3-month mean vector difference (MVD) of high- and midlevel CMV and WVW winds derived from Kalpana-1 is very close to that of Meteosat-7 winds, when both are compared with radiosonde. When comparing with radiosonde, the low-level CMVs from Kalpana-1 have a higher MVD value than that of Meteosat-7. This may be due to the difference in spatial resolutions of Kalpana-1 and Meteosat-7.
Possibility of the Visible-Channel Calibration Using Deep Convective Clouds Overshooting the TTL
Authors: Sohn B-J. , Ham Seung-Hee , Yang Ping
Published: June 2009

The authors examined the possible use of deep convective clouds (DCCs), defined as clouds that overshoot the tropical tropopause layer (TTL), for the calibration of satellite measurements at solar channels. DCCs are identified in terms of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) 10.8-μm brightness temperature (TB11) on the basis of a criterion specified by TB11 ≤ 190 K. To determine the characteristics of these clouds, the MODIS-based cloud optical thickness (COT) and effective radius (re) for a number of identified DCCs are analyzed. It is found that COT values for most of the 4249 DCC pixels observed in January 2006 are close to 100. Based on the MODIS quality-assurance information, 90% and 70.2% of the 4249 pixels have COT larger than 100 and 150, respectively. On the other hand, the re values distributed between 15 and 25 μm show a sharp peak centered approximately at 20 μm. Radiances are simulated at the MODIS 0.646-μm channel by using a radiative transfer model under homogeneous overcast ice cloudy conditions for COT = 200 and re = 20 μm. These COT and re values are assumed to be typical for DCCs. A comparison between the simulated radiances and the corresponding Terra/Aqua MODIS measurements for 6 months in 2006 demonstrates that, on a daily basis, visible-channel measurements can be calibrated within an uncertainty range of ±5%. Because DCCs are abundant over the tropics and can be identified from infrared measurements, the present method can be applied to the calibration of a visible-channel sensor aboard a geostationary or low-orbiting satellite platform.
Engineered and Natural Marine Seep, Bubble-Driven Buoyancy Flows
Authors: Leifer Ira , Jeuthe Henrik , Gjøsund Svein Helge , Johansen Vegar
Published: June 2009

Bubble-plume upwelling flows were studied in the marine environment through dye releases into engineered plumes and a natural hydrocarbon seep plume. For engineered plumes, these experiments measured the water column–averaged upwelling flow Vup(zo) from release depth zo to the sea surface, for a wide range of flows Q, and zo. From Vup(zo), the local upwelling flow Vup(z), where z is depth, was calculated and found to vary with Q as Vup(z) ∼ Q0.23 for plumes strong enough to penetrate a shallow, thermally stratified layer, which was in good agreement with published relationships between Vup(z) and Q. These data were used to interpret data collected at a natural marine seep. For the seep, the upwelling flow decelerated toward the sea surface in contrast to the engineered plumes, which accelerated toward the sea surface. Data showed the seep bubble-plume upwelling flow lifted significantly colder and more saline water. The increased density difference between this upwelling fluid and the surrounding fluid most likely caused the deceleration. Midwater-column bubble measurements showed downcurrent detrainment of smaller bubbles from the bubble plume.
Synoptic- and Frontal-Scale Influences on Tropical Transition Events in the Atlantic Basin. Part I: A Six-Case Survey
Authors: Hulme Andrew L. , Martin Jonathan E.
Published: June 2009

The process by which a baroclinic, vertically sheared, extratropical cyclone is transformed into a warm-core, vertically stacked tropical cyclone is known as tropical transition. Six recent tropical transitions of strong extratropical precursors in the subtropical North Atlantic are compared to better understand the manner by which some of the canonical structures and dynamical processes of extratropical cyclones serve to precondition the cyclone for transition. All six transitions resulted from the interaction between a surface baroclinic zone and an upper-level trough. During the extratropical cyclogenesis of each storm, a period of intense near-surface frontogenesis along a bent-back warm front occurred to the northwest of each sea level pressure minimum. Within the resultant circulation, diabatic redistribution of potential vorticity (PV) promoted the growth of a low-level PV maximum near the western end of the warm front. Concurrently, the upper-level PV anomaly associated with each trough was deformed into the treble clef structure characteristic of extratropical occlusion. Thus, by the end of the transitioning process and just prior to its becoming fully tropical, each cyclone was directly beneath a weakened upper-level trough in a column with weak vertical shear and weak thermal contrasts. The presence of convection to the west and southwest of the surface cyclone at the time of frontogenesis and upper-level PV deformation suggests that diabatic heating contributes significantly to the process of tropical transition in a manner that is consistent with its role in extratropical occlusion. Thus, it is suggested that tropical transition is encouraged whenever extratropical occlusion occurs over a sufficiently warm ocean surface.
Numerical Dispersion of Gravity Waves
Authors: Schroeder Guido , Schlünzen K. Heinke
Published: June 2009

When atmospheric gravity waves are simulated in numerical models, they are not only dispersive for physical but also for numerical reasons. Their wave properties (e.g., damping or propagation speed and direction) can depend on grid spacing as well as on the numerical schemes. In this work numerical dispersion relations for atmospheric gravity waves are theoretically derived as well as experimentally measured using the anelastic Mesoscale Transport and Stream model (METRAS). Both the theoretical solution and the numerical model show a retardation of gravity waves with decreasing grid resolution. Furthermore, the influence of a Shapiro seven-point filter is analyzed. The Shapiro seven-point filter causes damping of the shorter waves. Therefore, shorter waves can better be simulated without the seven-point filter. The influence of different advection schemes is analyzed by prescribing a background wind. A first-order upstream scheme and second- and third-order flux integrated essentially nonoscillatory (FIENO) schemes are used. As expected, the damping is the smaller the higher the order of the scheme. The numerical dispersion has severe consequences, when nonuniform grid spacing is used. Waves moving from the fine grid to the coarse are reflected because of numerical dispersion if they are only poorly resolved on the coarse grid. In tests with different refinement factors and wave lengths the reflection is found to be the larger the greater the refinement factor. The results show that refinement factors larger than 3 should not be used with nonuniform grid spacing or two-way nested grids.
Synoptic-Scale Controls of Persistent Low Temperature and Icy Weather over Southern China in January 2008
Authors: Zhou Wen , Chan Johnny C. L. , Chen Wen , Ling Jian , Pinto Joaquim G. , Shao Yaping
Published: June 2009

In January 2008, central and southern China experienced persistent low temperatures, freezing rain, and snow. The large-scale conditions associated with the occurrence and development of these snowstorms are examined in order to identify the key synoptic controls leading to this event. Three main factors are identified: 1) the persistent blocking high over Siberia, which remained quasi-stationary around 65°E for 3 weeks, led to advection of dry and cold Siberian air down to central and southern China; 2) a strong persistent southwesterly flow associated with the western Pacific subtropical high led to enhanced moisture advection from the Bay of Bengal into central and southern China; and 3) the deep inversion layer in the lower troposphere associated with the extended snow cover over most of central and southern China. The combination of these three factors is likely responsible for the unusual severity of the event, and hence a long return period.
Influence of the Madden–Julian Oscillation on Summertime Cloud-to-Ground Lightning Activity over the Continental United States
Authors: Abatzoglou John T. , Brown Timothy J.
Published: June 2009

Summertime cloud-to-ground lightning strikes are responsible for the majority of wildfire ignitions across vast sections of the seasonally dry western United States. In this study, a strong connection between active phases of the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) and regional summertime lightning activity was found across the interior western United States. This intraseasonal mode of lightning activity emanates northward from the desert Southwest across the Great Basin and into the northern Rocky Mountains. The MJO is shown to provide favorable conditions for the northward propagation of widespread lightning activity through the amplification of the upper-level ridge over the western United States and the development of midtropospheric instability. Given the relative predictability of the MJO with long lead times, results allude to the potential for intraseasonal predictability of lightning activity and proactive fire management planning.
Reference Frame Congruency in Search-and-Rescue Tasks
Authors: Pavlovic Nada J. , Keillor Jocelyn , Hollands Justin G. , Chignell Mark H.
Published: June 2009

Objective: Our aim was to investigate how the congruency between visual displays and auditory cues affects performance on various spatial tasks. Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that spatial auditory cues, when combined with visual displays, can enhance performance and decrease workload. However, this facilitation was achieved only when auditory cues shared a common reference frame (RF) with the visual display. In complex and dynamic environments, such as airborne search and rescue (SAR), it is often difficult to ensure such congruency. Method: In a simulated SAR operation, participants performed three spatial tasks: target search, target localization, and target recall. The interface consisted of the camera view of the terrain from the aircraft-mounted sensor, a map of the area flown over, a joystick that controlled the sensor, and a mouse. Auditory cues were used to indicate target location. While flying in the scenario, participants searched for targets, identified their locations in one of two coordinate systems, and memorized their location relative to the terrain layout. Results: Congruent cues produced the fastest and most accurate performance. Performance advantages were observed even with incongruent cues relative to neutral cues, and egocentric cues were more effective than exocentric cues. Conclusion: Although the congruent cues are most effective, in cases in which the same cue is used across spatial tasks, egocentric cues are a better choice than exocentric cues. Application: Egocentric auditory cues should be used in display design for tasks that involve RF transformations, such as SAR, air traffic control, and unmanned aerial vehicle operations.
An Evidence Accumulation Model for Conflict Detection Performance in a Simulated Air Traffic Control Task
Authors: Neal Andrew , Kwantes Peter J.
Published: June 2009

Objective: The aim of this article is to develop a formal model of conflict detection performance. Background: Our model assumes that participants iteratively sample evidence regarding the state of the world and accumulate it over time. A decision is made when the evidence reaches a threshold that changes over time in response to the increasing urgency of the task. Method: Two experiments were conducted to examine the effects of conflict geometry and timing on response proportions and response time. Results: The model is able to predict the observed pattern of response times, including a nonmonotonic relationship between distance at point of closest approach and response time, as well as effects of angle of approach and relative velocity. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that evidence accumulation models provide a good account of performance on a conflict detection task. Application: Evidence accumulation models are a form of dynamic signal detection theory, allowing for the analysis of response times as well as response proportions, and can be used for simulating human performance on dynamic decision tasks.
The Effects of Insertion Method and Force on Hand Clearance Envelopes for Rubber Hose Insertion Tasks
Authors: Grieshaber D. Christian , Armstrong Thomas J. , Chaffin Don B. , Keyserling W. Monroe , Ashton-Miller James
Published: June 2009

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine how hand space for manual insertion of flexible hoses is affected by insertion method and force. Background: Adequate space is needed during assembly tasks in which workers join parts together with their hands. Hose installations are an example of such a task. Hand clearance envelopes for insertion tasks that involve cylindrical objects, such as a hose, are currently unavailable in the literature. Methods: Participants inserted a flexible 25-mm rubber hose onto a stationary flange using simulated methods similar to those observed in field studies of automotive assembly tasks. Markers placed on the back of the hand and wrists were used to measure postures during the insertion task. Results: Hand clearance envelopes for high-force insertions were significantly larger across methods by an average of 15% for both male ( p < .05) and female ( p < .01) participants. Rocking insertions resulted in the largest hand clearance envelopes compared with other insertion methods. Rocking and twisting the hose resulted in mean increases in the cross-sectional area of the hand clearance envelopes of 35% and 24%, respectively, compared with the straight push. Differences were significant ( p < .05) for male and female participants for both bead height conditions. Conclusion: Both required insertion force and method affect hand clearance envelopes during simulated insertions. Application: These methods can be used by engineers to determine if there is adequate clearance for the hand to grip selected objects.
Using Informative Peripheral Visual and Tactile Cues to Support Task and Interruption Management
Authors: Hameed Shameem , Ferris Thomas , Jayaraman Swapnaa , Sarter Nadine
Published: June 2009

Objective: This study examined the effectiveness of using informative peripheral visual and tactile cues to support task switching and interruption management. Background: Effective support for the allocation of limited attentional resources is needed for operators who must cope with numerous competing task demands and frequent interruptions in data-rich, event-driven domains. One prerequisite for meeting this need is to provide information that allows them to make informed decisions about, and before, (re)orienting their attentional focus. Method: Thirty participants performed a continuous visual task. Occasionally, they were presented with a peripheral visual or tactile cue that indicated the need to attend to a separate visual task. The location, frequency, and duration parameters of these cues represented the domain, importance, and expected completion time, respectively, of the interrupting task. Results: The findings show that the informative cues were detected and interpreted reliably. Information about the importance (rather than duration) of the task was used by participants to decide whether to switch attention to the interruption, indicating adherence to experimenter instructions. Erroneous task-switching behavior (nonadherence to experimenter instructions) was mostly caused by misinterpretation of cues. Conclusion: The effectiveness of informative peripheral visual and tactile cues for supporting interruption management was validated in this study. However, the specific implementation of these cues requires further work and needs to be tailored to specific domain requirements. Application: The findings from this research can inform the design of more effective notification systems for a variety of complex event-driven domains, such as aviation, medicine, or process control.
Knowledge About Schizophrenia and Attitudes Towards People with Schizophrenia in Greece
Authors: Economou Marina , Richardson Clive , Gramandani Christina , Stalikas Anastassios , Stefanis Costas
Published: June 2009

Background: This study was the first national survey ever conducted in Greece aiming to monitor the level of stigma Greeks hold against people with schizophrenia (PWS).

Aim: To investigate sources, degree of knowledge and attitudes towards PWS in Greece.

Method: A cross-sectional nationwide survey was conducted by face-to-face household interviews ( n = 1,199, aged 15 years and over).

Results: Television was the main source of information (65.9%). Negative portrayals of PWS were recalled by 60.5%. Only 27.7% attributed schizophrenia to a combination of psychosocial, genetic and environmental factors. Respondents believed that PWS are dangerous (74.6%), have split personalities (81.3%) and cannot work (83.2%). Regarding attitudes, a negative relationship between closeness and social distance was observed. Most respondents (92.1%) would not marry someone with schizophrenia, half (50.5%) would be disturbed by working with PWS and one third (32.9%) would feel afraid to start a conversation. Urban residence and higher education were generally associated with better knowledge and more positive attitudes towards PWS.

Conclusions: Knowledge about schizophrenia in Greece is poor. The Greek public has stigmatizing attitudes towards PWS. Educational interventions should especially target rural and semi-urban residents of a lower educational level. The role of television can be crucial.
Supportive and Unsupportive Social Interactions in Relation to Cultural Adaptation and Psychological Distress Among Somali Refugees Exposed to Collective or Personal Traumas
Authors: Jorden Skye , Matheson Kimberly , Anisman Hymie
Published: June 2009

The present study evaluated the traumatic stressors experienced by Somali refugees to Canada ( N = 169) that might be associated with poorer cultural adaptation and greater depressive and trauma symptoms. As well, it was suggested that indices of social support might mediate the relations between traumatic experiences and psychological outcomes. Regression analyses indicated that collective trauma experiences (e.g., civil warfare) were associated with poorer cultural adaptation but were not related to depressive and trauma symptoms. Furthermore, collective trauma was unrelated to social support perceptions that might have mediated the relation to cultural adaptation. In contrast, personally traumatic experiences (e.g., assault from a familiar other) were related to increased depressive and trauma symptoms, and these relations were mediated by self-reports of encountering unsupportive social interactions. Qualitative analyses of interview data ( n = 23) suggested that refugees had developed a shared understanding of collective trauma that may have protected against psychological distress.
A Comparison of Caretaker-Child Conversations About Past Personal Experiences in Thailand and Australia
Authors: Winskel Heather
Published: June 2009

This study investigated the conversations between caretakers and children about past personal experiences in Anglo-Australian in comparison with Thai culture. Ten Thai and 10 Anglo-Australian caretaker-child dyads were recruited from Bangkok and Sydney. Caretakers were requested to elicit past event narratives from their children, and the three most extended narratives about one topic were selected for analysis. Caretakers’ elicitation strategies and children’s responses were coded into various categories based on McCabe and Peterson (1991), Minami (2002), and Chang (2003). Results revealed that in general Thai conversations about past personal experiences were relatively short and unelaborated in comparison with Anglo-Australian dyads. English-speaking caretakers provided more agreement and approval, and they revised and corrected children more than Thai caretakers, whereas Thai caretakers provided more temporal contextual information. Notably, Anglo-Australian caretakers requested more evaluative responses from their children concerning feelings and thoughts about particular incidents than Thai caretakers, which in turn were reflected in the child’s language. In Thai conversation it appears that concise narratives with contextual information are valued.
Evaluation of Alternative Line Configurations in Apparel Industry using Simulation
Authors: Ünal Can , Tunali Semra , Güner Mücella
Published: June 2009

Creating a smooth work flow in apparel industry, which is usually done by using line balancing algorithms, is a diverse and complicated task. Line balancing in apparel manufacturing deals with allocating the resources such as workers and machinery to the assembly line so that the precedence relations are satisfied and the sum of task times at any workstation does not exceed cycle time. Effective line balancing algorithms, which take into consideration the stochastic nature of apparel production, help to accurately estimate the throughput of production lines. Our aims in this study were to suggest a heuristic algorithm for line balancing and to evaluate its effectiveness under different line configurations using simulation.
Investigation of a Testing Method for Compression Behavior of Spacer Fabrics Designed for Concrete Applications
Authors: Mecit Diren , Roye Andreas
Published: June 2009

Spacer fabrics are state-of-the-art structures and have attracted more attention in recent years. They have already been used in many areas and present different advantages especially for technical applications. Recently, special spacer fabrics have been designed in order to improve the characteristics of concrete which is used, in particular, for structural reinforcement of buildings. These spacer fabrics have different characteristics compared to conventional textiles due to their special structure. Therefore, characterization of these structures with existing methods is not possible. Compression resistance of spacer fabrics provided by spacer yarns in the structure is one of their main characteristics. However, compression behavior of spacer fabrics has not been investigated in detail to date. In this work, a testing method for the characterization of spacer fabrics used in concrete applications on the basis of their compression behavior has been investigated and defined.
Waltz's Theory of Theory
Authors: Wæver Ole
Published: June 2009

Waltz's 1979 book, Theory of International Politics, is the most influential in the history of the discipline. It worked its effects to a large extent through raising the bar for what counted as theoretical work, in effect reshaping not only realism but rivals like liberalism and reflectivism. Yet, ironically, there has been little attention paid to Waltz's very explicit and original arguments about the nature of theory. This article explores and explicates Waltz's theory of theory. Central attention is paid to his definition of theory as `a picture, mentally formed' and to the radical anti-empiricism and anti-positivism of his position. Followers and critics alike have treated Waltzian neorealism as if it was at bottom a formal proposition about cause—effect relations. The extreme case of Waltz being so victorious in the discipline, and yet being so consistently misinterpreted on the question of theory, shows the power of a dominant philosophy of science in US IR, and thus the challenge facing any ambitious theorising. The article suggests a possible movement of fronts away from the `fourth debate' between rationalism and reflectivism towards one of theory against empiricism. To help this new agenda, the article introduces a key literature from the philosophy of science about the structure of theory, and particularly about the way even natural science uses theory very differently from the way IR's mainstream thinks it does — and much more like the way Waltz wants his theory to be used.
Propofol Clearance and Volume of Distribution Are Increased in Patients With Major Burns
Authors: Han Tae‐Hyung , Greenblatt David J. , Martyn J. A. Jeevendra
Published: June 2009

Propofol pharmacokinetics were examined in 17 adults with major burns during the hyperdynamic convalescent phase. Eighteen nonburned surgical patients served as controls. After a 2‐mg/kg intravenous dose of propofol, blood samples were collected at multiple time points. Noncompartmental methods were used to calculate the pharmacokinetic parameters. The following indices were higher in burns than controls: propofol clearance (64 ± 17 vs 29 ± 4 mL/kg/min, P < .001) and volume of distribution (8 ± 3 vs 4 ± 1 L/kg, P < .001). The area under the curve was smaller in burns (556 ± 152 vs 1193 ± 183 μg/mL h, P < .001). The higher clearance of propofol in burned patients may imply that these patients require higher doses or infusion rates of propofol to attain a target plasma concentration or pharmacodynamic effect.
Influence of Glomerular Filtration Rate on the Pharmacokinetics of Cyclophosphamide Enantiomers in Patients With Lupus Nephritis
Authors: Silva Carolina de Miranda , Fernandes Bruno José Dumêt , Donadi Eduardo Antônio , Silva Lucienir Maria , Coelho Eduardo Barbosa , Dantas Márcio , Marques Maria Paula , Lanchote Vera Lucia
Published: June 2009

The pharmacokinetics of cyclophosphamide (CYC) enantiomers were evaluated in patients with lupus nephritis distributed in 2 groups according to creatinine clearance: group 1 (90.6–144.6 mL/min/1.73 m2) and group 2 (42.8–76.4 mL/min/1.73 m2). All patients were treated with 0.75 to 1.3 g of racemic CYC as a 2‐hour infusion and with 1 mg intravenous midazolam as a drug‐metabolizing marker. CYC enantiomers and midazolam concentrations in plasma were measured by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). The following differences (Wilcoxon test, P ≤ .05) were observed between the (S)‐(–) and (R)‐(+) enantiomers: AUC0‐∞ 152.41 vs 129.25 μg·h/mL, CL 3.28 vs 3.89 L/h, Vd 31.38 vs 29.74 L, and t1/2 6.79 vs 5.56 h for group 1 and AUC0‐∞ 167.20 vs 139.08 μg·h/mL, CL 2.99 vs 3.59 L/h, and t1/2 6.15 vs 4.99 h for group 2. No differences (Mann test, P ≤ .05) were observed between groups 1 and 2 in the pharmacokinetic parameters of both enantiomers. No significant relationship was observed between midazolam clearance (2.92–16.40 mL/min·kg) and clearance of each CYC enantiomer. In conclusion, CYC kinetic disposition is enantioselective, resulting in higher exposures of the (S)‐(–) enantiomer in lupus nephritis patients, and the pharmacokinetic parameters of both enantiomers are not altered by the worsening of renal condition.
The Parallel Partial Progression (PPP) Approach to Institutional Transformation in Transition Economies
Authors: Fan Gang  , Wing Thye Woo
Published: June 2009

Many economists have attributed China's high growth to the implementation of the correct sequence of reforms. The authors reject this interpretation because it does not characterize the reform process correctly; it does not recognize adequately the interaction among reforms that sustains the progress of each individual reform; and optimal sequences exist only when the policy maker is constrained to introducing only one new policy measure at a time (so-called optimality disappears once simultaneous implementation of policies is allowed). We propose the parallel partial progression approach as the alternative conceptual framework for the gradualist approach. Parallel partial progression is not the same as the step-by-step sequencing approach because a “partial reform” is not a “completed step.” Simultaneous partial implementation is preferable to policy sequencing because it eliminates the costs of incoherence among policies. Incoherence among reforms results could cause a “reform bottleneck,” and the two major bottlenecks that China is facing right now are financial reform and political reform.
Qualification of Cardiac Troponin I Concentration in Mouse Serum Using Isoproterenol and Implementation in Pharmacology Studies to Accelerate Drug Development
Authors: Engle Steven K. , Jordan William H. , Pritt Michael L. , Chiang Alan Y. , Davis Myrtle A. , Zimmermann John L. , Rudmann Daniel G. , Heinz-Taheny Kathleen M. , Irizarry Armando R. , Yamamoto Yumi , Mendel David , Schultze A. Eric , Cornwell Paul D. , Watson David E.
Published: June 2009

Cardiac troponin I is a useful biomarker of myocardial injury, but its use in mice and application to early drug discovery are not well described. The authors investigated the relationship between cTnI concentration in serum and histologic lesions in heart tissue from mice treated with isoproterenol (ISO). Cardiac TnI concentrations in serum increased in a dose-dependant manner and remained increased twenty-four to forty-eight hours after a single administration of isoproterenol. Increased cTnI concentration was of greater magnitude and longer duration than increased fatty acid binding protein 3 concentration, aspartate aminotransferase activity, and creatine kinase activity in serum. Isoproterenol-induced increases in cTnI concentrations were both greater and more sustained in BALB/c than in CD1 mice and correlated with incidence and severity of lesions observed in heart sections from both strains. In drug development studies in BALB/c mice with novel kinase inhibitors, cTnI concentration was a reliable stand-alone biomarker of cardiac injury and was used in combination with measurements of in vivo target inhibition to demonstrate an off-target contribution to cardiotoxicity. Additional attributes, including low cost and rapid turnaround time, made cTnI concentration in serum invaluable for detecting cardiotoxicity, exploring structure–activity relationships, and prioritizing development of compounds with improved safety profiles early in drug discovery.
Pair versus individual writing: Effects on fluency, complexity and accuracy
Authors: Wigglesworth Gillian , Storch Neomy
Published: June 2009

The assessment of oral language is now quite commonly done in pairs or groups, and there is a growing body of research which investigates the related issues (e.g. May, 2007). Writing generally tends to be thought of as an individual activity, although a small number of studies have documented the advantages of collaboration in writing in the second language classroom (e.g. DiCamilla & Anton, 1997; Storch, 2005; Swain & Lapkin, 1998). Particularly in university contexts, group or pair assignments are widely used in many disciplines. In addition, collaborative writing could be used in second language classroom assessment contexts as formative assessment. However, research which compares texts produced by learners collaboratively to texts produced individually, and the implications of this for assessment practices, is rare.

This study is a first step in the investigation of using collaborative writing in second language contexts and comparing the performance of two groups of second language learners: one group worked individually, and the other group worked in pairs. When writing in pairs, each pair produced a single text. All participants completed one writing task: an argumentative essay. The performances of the individuals (N = 48) and the pairs (N = 48) were compared on detailed discourse analytic measures of fluency, complexity and accuracy. This comparison revealed that collaboration impacted positively on accuracy, but did not affect fluency and complexity. A detailed analysis of the pair transcripts recorded during the writing activity provides insights into the ways in which pairs work together, and the foci of their endeavour. The implications of these findings for in-class assessment of second language writing are discussed.
The Relationship Between Pubertal Timing and Delinquent Behavior in Maltreated Male and Female Adolescents
Authors: Negriff Sonya , Trickett Penelope K.
Published: June 2009

This study examined the relationship between pubertal timing and delinquent behavior across two time points in a sample of 303 maltreated and 151 comparison adolescents aged between 9 and 13 years at enrollment. The first aim was to examine the relationship between pubertal timing and delinquency for the total sample and then to test for gender differences using multiple group models. The second aim was to examine the interaction effect of pubertal timing and maltreatment on delinquency as well as gender differences for this interaction effect. Results showed that earlier pubertal timing was related to higher delinquency and this relationship was not significantly different for males and females. Maltreatment did not moderate the relationship between pubertal timing and delinquency for the total sample; however, there was evidence of a three-way interaction. These findings highlighted the need to examine contextual factors that may affect the amplification and direction of these relationships.
Nanonewton Force Sensing and Control in Microrobotic Cell Manipulation
Authors: Xinyu Liu  , Kim Keekyoung , Yong Zhang  , Yu Sun
Published: June 2009

Cellular force sensing and control techniques are capable of enhancing the dexterity and reliability of microrobotic cell manipulation systems. In this paper we present two experimental techniques for nanonewton force sensing and control in microrobotic cell manipulation. A vision-based cellular force sensing approach, including a microfabricated elastic cell holding device and a sub-pixel visual tracking algorithm, was developed for resolving forces down to 3.7 nN during microrobotic mouse embryo injection. The technique also experimentally demonstrated that the measured mechanical difference could be useful for in situ differentiation of healthy mouse embryos from those with compromised developmental competence without requiring a separate mechanical characterization process. Centered upon force-controlled microrobotic cell manipulation, this paper also presents nanonewton force-controlled micrograsping of interstitial cells using a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-based microgripper with integrated two-axis force feedback. On-chip force sensors are used for detecting contact between the microgripper and cells to be manipulated (resolution: 38.5 nN at 15Hz) and sensing gripping forces (resolution: 19.9 nN at 15Hz) during force-controlled grasping. The experimental results demonstrate that the microgripper and the control system are capable of rapid contact detection and reliable force-controlled micrograsping to accommodate variations in size and stiffness of cells with a high degree of reproducibility.