bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tephrostratigraphy, chronology and climatic events of the Mediterranean basin during the Holocene: An overview
Authors: Zanchetta Giovanni , Sulpizio Roberto , Roberts Neil , Cioni Raffaello , Eastwood Warren J. , Siani Giuseppe , Caron Benoît , Paterne Martine , Santacroce Roberto
Published: January 2011

The identification and characterisation of high-frequency climatic changes during the Holocene requires natural archives with precise and accurate chronological control, which is usually difficult to achieve using only 14C chronologies. The presence of time-spaced tephra beds in Quaternary Mediterranean successions represents an additional, independent tool for dating and correlating different sedimentary archives. These tephra layers are potentially useful for resolving long-standing issues in paleoclimatology and can help towards correlating terrestrial and marine paleoclimate archives. Known major tephras of regional extent derive from central and southern Italy, the Hellenic Arc, and from Anatolia. A striking feature of major Holocene tephra deposition events in the Mediterranean is that they are clustered rather than randomly distributed in time. Several tephra layers occurred at the time of the S1 sapropel formation between c. 8.4 and 9.0 ka BP (Mercato, Gabellotto-Fiumebianco/E1, Cappadocia) and other important tephra layers (Avellino, Agnano Monte Spina, ‘Khabur’ and Santorini/Thera) occurred during the second and third millennia BC, marking an important and complex phase of environmental changes during the mid- to late-Holocene climatic transition. There is great potential in using cryptotephra to overlap geographically Italian volcanic ashes with those originating from the Aegean and Anatolia, in order to connect regional tephrochronologies between the central and eastern Mediterranean.
Mid-Holocene vegetation and climatic history of the Iberian Peninsula
Authors: Pérez-Obiol Ramon , Jalut Guy , Julià Ramon , Pèlachs Albert , Iriarte Ma José , Otto Thierry , Hernández-Beloqui Begoña
Published: January 2011

The aim of this research is to study the climate and vegetation history in the western Mediterranean, in the Iberian Peninsula, during the middle Holocene through pollen analysis. The origin of the deposits varied from the most xeric to more mesic Mediterranean environments. The timing, extent, and progress of the establishment of the Mediterranean climate have a degree of variability depending on the biogeographical region. Analyses of several pollen sequences reveal climatic transformations in the flora and vegetation between 7000 and 4000 cal. yr BP. Pollen concentrations have been used in some sequences to evaluate the order of magnitude in biomass changes through time. Three main spatial and taxonomic responses could be assumed: (1) in littoral regions, deciduous broadleaf trees were frequently dominant and then replaced by sclerophyllous and evergreen forests; (2) in continental regions and sub-Mediterranean mountains, the dominance of pine throughout the whole Holocene signals a change of less magnitude; and (3) in southeastern semiarid Mediterranean regions, the main changes are reflected by alternation between steppe and shrub communities. The emplacement of the Mediterranean climate is reflected in an aridification process. A temporal first approach of Holocene climatic changes is proposed: a humid phase (12 000—7000 cal. yr BP), a transition phase (7000—5500 cal. yr BP) and an aridification phase (5500 cal. yr BP—Present). According to archaeological data, natural changes in the forests favoured the environments suitable for human settlements, farming and sheepherding.
Holocene seasonality changes in the central Mediterranean region reconstructed from the pollen sequences of Lake Accesa (Italy) and Tenaghi Philippon (Greece)
Authors: Peyron Odile , Goring Simon , Dormoy Isabelle , Kotthoff Ulrich , Pross Jörg , de Beaulieu Jacques-Louis , Drescher-Schneider Ruth , Vannière Boris , Magny Michel
Published: January 2011

This study presents pollen-based climate reconstructions of Holocene temperature and precipitation seasonality for two high-resolution pollen sequences from the central (Lake Accesa, central Italy) and eastern Mediterranean (Tenaghi Philippon, Greece) regions. The quantitative climate reconstruction uses multiple methods to provide an improved assessment of the uncertainties involved in palaeoclimate reconstructions. The multimethod approach comprises Partial Least Squares regression, Weighted Average Partial Least Squares regression, the Modern Analogues Technique, and the Non-Metric-Multidimensional Scaling/Generalized Additive Model method. We find two distinct climate intervals during the Holocene. The first is a moist period from 9500 to 7800 cal. BP characterised by wet winters and dry summers, resulting in a strongly seasonal hydrological contrast (stronger than today) that is interrupted by a short-lived event around 8200 cal. BP. This event is characterised by wet winters and summers at Accesa whereas at Tenaghi Philippon the signal is stronger, reversing the established seasonal pattern, with dry winters and wet summers. The second interval represents a later aridification phase, with a reduced seasonal contrast and lower overall precipitation, lasting from 7800 to 5000 cal. BP. Present-day Mediterranean conditions were established between 2500 and 2000 cal. BP. Many studies show the Holocene to have a complex pattern of climatic change across the Mediterranean regions. Our results confirm the traditional understanding of an evolution from wetter (early Holocene) to drier climatic conditions (late Holocene), but highlight the role of changing seasonality during this time. Our data yield new insights into the aspect of seasonality changes, and explain the apparent discrepancies between the previously available climate information based on pollen, lake-levels and isotopes by invoking changes in precipitation seasonality.
Mid-Holocene climate variations revealed by high-resolution speleothem records from Soreq Cave, Israel and their correlation with cultural changes
Authors: Bar-Matthews Miryam , Ayalon Avner
Published: January 2011

Mid-Holocene (7000—4000 yr BP) paleoclimate conditions were reconstructed for the eastern Mediterranean region through a high-resolution (3—20 yr) oxygen and carbon isotopic record in a speleothem from Soreq Cave, Israel. Mid-Holocene climate change is characterized by sinusoidal cycles lasting ~1500 years, that represent changes of ~400 mm (between ~700 and ~300 mm) in annual rainfall, coincident with major cultural changes. Two major cultural changes occurred during wet events at 6550—6450 yr BP and 4800—4700 yr BP, associated with the transitions from mid-Chalcolithic to late-Chalcolithic period and from the early Bronze II to early Bronze III, respectively. The transition from late Chalcolithic to early Bronze I occurred during a dry period at 5700—5600 yr BP. Superimposed on these cycles, several short-lived decadal- to centennial-scale climatic events were identified. Dry events occurred at 6650—6600 yr BP, 6250—6180 yr BP, 5700—5600 yr BP, 5250—5170 yr BP and 4200—4050 yr BP. The last two events coincide with the cultural collapse of the Uruk society in Mesopotamia and the Akkadian Empire. Short climatic wet events occurred at 6700—6680 yr BP, 6170—6100 yr BP, 5760—5740 yr BP and 5500—5450 yr BP.
Increased erythrocyte antioxidant status protects against smoking induced hemolysis in moderate smokers
Authors: Pannuru Padmavathi , Vaddi Damodara Reddy , Kindinti Rameswara Reddy , Varadacharyulu Nallanchakravarthula
Published: January 2011

Cigarette smoking is common in societies worldwide and has been identified as injurious to human health. Human red blood cells are important targets for electrophilic and oxidant foreign compounds. In the present study, the possible role of antioxidant status on smoking-induced erythrocyte hemolysis of smokers was studied. Erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities, reduced glutathione (GSH) level, erythrocyte membrane lipid peroxidation, total cholesterol and phospholipids were determined. Further, nitrite/nitrate levels (NO2/NO3) in both plasma and erythrocyte lysate were measured. Results showed increased plasma and erythrocyte membrane lipid peroxidation and nitrite/nitrate levels in smokers. The activities of SOD, CAT and GPx were also increased with reduced glutathione (GSH) level in smokers. No significant change was observed in smokers red cell hemolysis and cholesterol/phospholipid (C/P) ratio compared to controls. Erythrocyte membrane lipid peroxidation was positively correlated with SOD ( r = 0.482, p < 0.01) and GPx ( r = 0.368, p < 0.018) in smokers. Increased levels of nitrite/nitrate and antioxidant status of erythrocytes might be playing a crucial role in protecting red cell from free radical damage induced by cigarette smoke.
Effects of nortriptyline on QT prolongation: A safety pharmacology study
Authors: Jeon Seol-Hee , Jaekal Jun , Lee Seung Ho , Choi Bok-Hee , Kim Ki-Suk , Jeong Ho-Sang , Han Soon Young , Kim Eun-Jung
Published: January 2011

Nortriptyline, a second-generation tricyclic antidepressant, is an active metabolite of amitriptyline. Amitriptyline induces QT prolongation and torsades de pointes (TdP), which causes sudden death. We studied the cardiovascular safety of nortriptyline, including QT prolongation risk. We examined the effects of nortriptyline on the cardiovascular system in vivo and in vitro in accordance with the ICH-S7B guideline. We tested its effect on QT interval in conscious telemetered dogs. We also performed in vitro electrophysiological studies on hERG tail currents using stably transfected human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells. Action potential parameters were studied in isolated rabbit purkinje fibers. Nortriptyline dose-dependently blocked hERG current, with a tail IC50 value of 2.20 ± 0.09 μM ( n = 4). In the APD assay, total amplitude, Vmax, and resting membrane potential were not significantly changed by 1 μM nortriptyline, but nortriptyline at 0.3 and 1 μM shortened APD50 and APD90. Nortriptyline did not affect QTcV at 2 or 6 mg/kg, but slightly increased QTcV at 20 mg/kg. In conclusion, it is unlikely that nortriptyline affects the ventricular repolarization process at therapeutic dosages.
Modulation of lead biohazards using a combination of epicatechin and lycopene in rats
Authors: Komousani Taha A , Moselhy Said S
Published: January 2011

The toxicity of many heavy metals is due to their ability to cause oxidative damage to tissues. Lead is one of the most important metals that pollute the natural environment due to man’s impact The aim of this study is to investigate the potential protective effect of epicatechin alone or combined with lycopene against toxicity of lead in male rats. Five groups of rats were involved in this study; the first was control while the other four injected with lead acetate (100 mg/kg BW) subcutaneous for 2 weeks. On the other hand, the third, fourth and fifth groups were injected with epicatechin, lycopene or epicatechin + lycopene, respectively. Results obtained showed that, the combined treatment (epicatechin + lycopene) exert its effects (100%) against toxic effects against lead by lowering the liver enzymes alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma glutamyle transferase (GGT) activities and decrease lipid peroixdation (MDA) and enhances the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. The high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) level was significantly decreased and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) level was statistically significantly increased in lead-injected rats as compared with control group. The combined treatment with epicatechin and lycopene justify these levels to nearly normal values. The erythrocyte level of total glutathione was decreased in lead-injected rats as compared with control group ( p < 0.001). The combined effect is significantly higher than individual treatment lycopene alone or epicatechin. A negative correlation was found between the blood lead and SOD (r = −0.6) and glutathione (r = −0.81) while a positive correlation with MDA level (r = 0.7).
Modeling and Hysteresis Compensation in a Thin SMA Wire Using ANFIS Methods
Authors: Kilicarslan Atilla , Song Gangbing , Grigoriadis Karolos M.
Published: January 2011

Having a responsive behavior to applied voltage/current, shape memory alloy (SMA) wires are widely used as miniature, low mass, compact actuators for many applications. Due to the non-linear hysteretic behavior, SMA wires require advanced control techniques for precision control when used as actuators. In this article, an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) is developed to compensate for the hysteretic non-linearity in a thin SMA wire. An experimental setup is designed to test the SMA wire, which can achieve an operating bandwidth of 1 Hz without an external cooling system. By using the data obtained from the experimental system, an ANFIS model is developed to model the major and minor hysteresis loops (voltage vs. displacement characteristics) and the hysteresis non-linearity at various driving frequencies. Results of numerical simulations based on the ANFIS model closely match the experimental data. Having demonstrated the ability of the ANFIS to account for the hysteretic behavior, an inverse ANFIS controller is devised to compensate for the hysteretic behavior. Finally a PI control action is included in the feedback loop to fine-tune the system response in real time.
A General Music Experience in China
Authors: Whitcomb Rachel , Berger Linda M. , Schmidt Catherine
Published: January 2011

In this article, the authors share their recent experiences with a fourth grade general music classroom in China as members of the People-to-People Ambassador Program. They provide a description of the types of musical activities they observed at Aiju Primary School in Shanghai in December 2009 by sharing the content of one specific lesson. The focus of the music lesson is Horse Racing, a programmatic piece based on a Mongolian folk melody. Horse Racing, composed in 1964 by Huang Haihuai, has become an immensely popular piece in contemporary Chinese culture. The piece was written for the erhu, a traditional Chinese instrument. The authors include historical and cultural information on Horse Racing and the erhu. Links to online resources, video performances of Horse Racing, and lesson ideas for use in American general music classrooms are also provided.
Expression of Patients’ and Providers’ Identities During the Medical Interview
Authors: Scholl Juliann C. , Wilson Jacquee B. , Hughes Patrick C.
Published: January 2011

We apply the Communication Theory of Identity to investigate how patients display their ethnic identities during intercultural patient—provider interactions. Ethnic identity displays play a large part in reflecting patients’ and providers’ assumptions about the other, as well as their communicative needs. We collected paper-and-pencil responses from a convenience sample of providers and their patients, and conducted a constant comparative analysis of their open-ended reports of a recent intercultural medical interview. The results revealed how both parties viewed their roles in intercultural medical encounters and how they looked for accommodative behaviors from the other party. We draw implications for new applications and future developments of the Communication Theory of Identity and Communication Accommodation Theory.
Being Me and Being Us in a Family Living Close to Death at Home
Authors: Carlander Ida , Ternestedt Britt-Marie , Sahlberg-Blom Eva , Hellström Ingrid , Sandberg Jonas
Published: January 2011

We used interpretive description to describe how everyday life close to death was experienced and dealt with in families with one member who had a life-threatening illness. We performed 28 individual, couple, and group interviews with five families. We found two patterns, namely, “being me in a family living close to death” and “being us in a family living close to death.” “Being me” meant that every individual in the family had to deal with the impending death, regardless of whether or not he or she was the person with the life-threatening illness. This was linked to ways of promoting the individual’s self-image, or “me-ness.” This pattern was present at the same time as the pattern of “being us,” or in other words, being a family, and dealing with impending death and a new “we-ness” as a group. “Striving for the optimal way of living close to death” was the core theme.
How they Cope
Authors: Brown Mary V.
Published: January 2011

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the coping techniques utilized by hospice volunteers. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 hospice volunteers who had at least 1 year of experience, working as a hospice volunteer with direct patient care. The interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed, and analyzed utilizing qualitative research methods. The results indicated the volunteers used problem-focused coping (seeking advice from members of the hospice interdisciplinary team), emotion-focused coping (talking with others, going to funerals), meaning making through appraisal (religious beliefs, downward comparison), and physical techniques (walking, deep breathing). The most significant coping mechanism utilized for the volunteer was talking with the volunteer coordinator. Implications for hospice volunteer coordinators are also discussed.
The Distributive Politics of “Compassion in Action”
Authors: Owens Michael Leo , Yuen Amy
Published: January 2011

Incorporating race into tactical spending for electoral gain, this article revisits the relative effects of vote production and vote retention on distributive politics. It investigates whether a “compassion strategy” to influence the electoral behavior of voters while being responsive to need-based social welfare demands affected federal discretionary grants to faith-based organizations (FBOs) during the administration of George W. Bush. The findings suggest that federal domestic social welfare funding of FBOs may have involved a combination of the tactical use of grants for both electoral purposes (i.e., vote production and vote retention) and the reduction of need among the states.
The Different Effects of Gender and Sex on Vote Choice
Authors: Hatemi Peter K. , McDermott Rose , Bailey J.Michael , Martin Nicholas G.
Published: January 2011

Explanations for differences in political preferences between men and women continue to be debated, generating more heat than light in attempts to locate their source and potential influence. The reason for this confusion rests on the lack of conceptual clarity concerning the difference between sex, typically referring to biological differences, and gender, assumed to result from socialization, and the difference these constructs might elicit in political outcomes. Utilizing two gender scales, the authors find gender identity exerts an impact on voter preferences above and beyond sex. They also find that individual differences in gender identity are not found to result from social influences but largely derive from unique experiences and innate disposition. The results have substantial implications for social scientists who theorize about and investigate sex and gender in studies of political attitudes and behaviors.
Anticipating Entry
Authors: Lee Daniel J.
Published: January 2011

Observers of U.S. elections have reason to believe that third parties are not relevant political actors since they rarely win many votes or influence which major party wins an election. Researchers should use dependent variables besides vote choice and vote share to find third party effects that are a normal aspect of the American two-party system. A spatial model of elections motivates the hypothesis that a higher likelihood of third party entry induces greater major party candidate divergence. An empirical test that uses candidate positioning data in the 1996 U.S. House elections provides evidence of this third party effect.
Consider the Source (and the Message)
Authors: Black Ryan C. , Owens Ryan J.
Published: January 2011

Given scarce resources, Supreme Court justices hear cases that maximize their auditing capacities. The authors argue that justices rely on the identity of lower court judges and the ideological disposition of lower court decisions to decide which cases to review. The authors find justices are most likely to audit disagreeable lower court decisions rendered by ideologically disagreeable panel judges and are least likely to review agreeable lower court decisions rendered by ideologically agreeable panel judges. Furthermore, when faced with the same ideologically disagreeable lower court decision, justices are less likely to review decisions made by ideological allies than those by ideological foes.
Understanding Horizontal and Vertical Relations in the Context of Economic Development Joint Venture Agreements
Authors: Hawkins Christopher V. , Andrew Simon A.
Published: January 2011

A joint venture agreement is one type of governance mechanism that can be adopted by local governments to address collective action problems. While much of the current research discusses the importance of regional cooperation, few studies explore the type of relations formed with institutional actors in the context of interjurisdictional agreements. The authors address this gap in the literature by investigating the association among the transaction costs of forming an economic development joint venture agreement and two types of relations formed by local governments: horizontal and vertical. The results of a survey of local officials in 12 large metropolitan areas indicate that, depending upon the extent to which coordination, division, or defection problems are perceived to make joint venture agreements difficult to establish, local governments have horizontal and vertical relations. The findings highlight challenges and opportunities for addressing collective action problems and facilitating regional cooperation for economic development.
Building ‘Flexible’ vacation packages using collaborative assembly toolkits and dynamic packaging: The Case Study of the eKoNES
Authors: Akoumianakis Demosthenes , Vidakis Nikolas , Akrivos Anargyros , Milolidakis Giannis , Kotsalis Dimitrios , Vellis George
Published: January 2011

The paper motivates and presents an approach for assembling innovative information-based products and services by virtual cross-organization communities of practice. Using a case study on assembling vacation packages, we describe the cross-organizational virtual partnership, the mechanics allowing it to operate as a virtual community of practice and how collective intelligence of the members is appropriated to ensemble innovative information-based products for tourists. The results provide useful insights into innovating through virtual networking as well as the ICT tools that may be used to foster value-creating networks of practice in boundary spanning domains.
Relationship marketing in the casino industry
Authors: Prentice Catherine , King Brian
Published: January 2011

For casinos involved in targeting high-end clients, relationship building and customer retention are important marketing activities. This paper investigates the effectiveness of two marketing approaches, namely customer orientation and adaptability. The paper explores how these approaches influence the performance of frontline employees operating in the casino high-end market. The investigation involved a survey administered to frontline service representatives within the VIP gaming areas of one of the world’s largest casinos. The questionnaire focused on the issues of customer orientation, adaptability and service performance. Various statistical analyses including multiple regression were deployed to analyse the data generated by the 152 valid responses. It is concluded that relationship-oriented selling behaviours are significant predictors of service performance. The predictive capacity of adaptability was particularly strong in terms of the criterion variable.
Conceptualizing and measuring loyalty: Towards a conceptual model of tourist loyalty antecedents
Authors: Velázquez Beatriz Moliner , Saura Irene Gil , Molina María Eugenia Ruiz
Published: January 2011

Research on loyalty in tourism is becoming an area particularly relevant in the design of strategies for tourism companies oriented towards creating and continuing customer relationships. In this context, the present paper aims at studying loyalty formation in its two approaches (attitudinal and behavioral) from a dual purpose. First, we conduct a literature review on loyalty conceptualization in the context of tourism and focus on the main background — satisfaction, service quality, value and customer commitment — and moderator variables — consumer variety seeking and demographic characteristics. Then a model about direct and indirect relationships between these variables is presented. Next, further research and practical implication of this approach are discussed.
Norm compliance and self-reported health among Swedish adolescents
Authors: Nygren Karina , Janlert Urban , Nygren Lennart
Published: January 2011

Aims: This study examines the relationship between norm compliance and self-reported health in adolescents, and how this differs between genders. Our specific aim was to investigate if extremely high norm compliance revealed any particular health patterns. Methods: This empirical study used a web-based survey from 2005, which was distributed to all students (n = 5,066) in years 7—9 of compulsory school within six municipalities in northern Sweden. The respondents answered questions about their general health as well as specific health problems such as headaches, stomach ache, sleeping difficulties and stress. Compliance was measured according to different norm-related behaviour, such as truancy, crime and use of tobacco, alcohol and narcotics. Results: The majority of respondents reported good health and norm-compliant behaviour. Girls reported more health problems than boys, a difference that increased with age. Those who were more norm compliant reported better health, fewer somatic complaints and less stress, which goes against our initial hypothesis that extremely high norm compliance and self-reported ill-health are related. There seemed to be a stronger relationship between self-reported health and norm compliance for girls than boys, in absolute terms. Conclusions: The results clearly show a relationship between norm compliance and health, and suggest inequalities between genders.
Is participation in labour market programmes related to mental health? Results from a 14-year follow-up of the Northern Swedish Cohort
Authors: Reine Ieva , Novo Mehmed , Hammarström Anne
Published: January 2011

Aims: There is a lack of empirical studies assessing the possible impact of active labour market programmes (ALMP) on health. The aim of this study was to analyze whether participation in ALMP, in contrast to being unemployed and not participating in ALMP (UNALMP), was related to mental health at different ages. Methods: The study was carried out in a medium-sized industrial town in the north of Sweden. The cohort, consisting of all 1,083 pupils who attended or should have attended the last year of compulsory school in 1981, was followed up at the ages of 16, 18, 21 and 30. Data on 381 individuals at age 21, and 281 at age 30 were used in the study. The main health measurement was psychological symptoms among participants of ALMP in contrast to UNALMP at ages 21 and 30, and was analyzed by propensity score matching method (PSM) and multivariate logistic regression. Results: Generally, ALMP had higher scores of psychological symptoms than UNALMP. Nevertheless, participation in ALMP was not related to mental health. Due to methodological shortages our results have to be interpreted with caution. Adjustment for either all background selection variables or the propensity score in multivariate logistic regression showed similar associations, suggesting that propensity score could be used to adjust for background selection variables. Conclusions: There is a need for more well-designed studies, using a theoretical framework, within the field, that are based on larger samples.
Newspaper journalism in crisis: Burnout on the rise, eroding young journalists’ career commitment
Authors: Reinardy Scott
Published: January 2011

The three-component Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey was implemented to examine burnout among newspaper journalists ( N = 770). With a moderate rate of exhaustion, a high rate of cynicism and a moderate rate of professional efficacy, journalists demonstrate higher rates of burnout than presented in previous work. Additionally, journalists expressing intentions to leave the profession ( n = 173) demonstrated high rates of exhaustion and cynicism, and moderate rates of professional efficacy, making them ‘at-risk’ for burnout. Also, 74.5 percent of journalists 34 and younger ( n = 223) either expressed intentions to leave newspaper journalism or answered ‘don’t know’. The most ‘at-risk’ to burnout appear to be young copy editors or page designers working at small newspapers.
The primacy of local interests and press freedom in Hong Kong: A survey study of professional journalists
Authors: Chan Joseph M , Lee Francis LF
Published: January 2011

Premised on the argument that articulating, representing, and defending local interests is one of the normative roles for the news media, this study examines what we call the primacy of local interests to the Hong Kong media and how concern with local interests relates to the politics of press freedom in the city. More specifically, on issues involving conflict of interests between the local society and its sovereign country, most Hong Kong media have demonstrated their willingness to stand by the local society even though it could mean a need to directly confront China.This study further draws on a representative journalist survey to illustrate how, in terms of Hong Kong journalists’ belief system, an orientation toward local interests is tied to liberal political attitudes, beliefs in the media’s adversarial role, and perceptions of media self-censorship. The analysis suggests how various kinds of attitudes and beliefs may cluster together to serve as an important force counteracting the pressure to conform to the power center. Implications of the findings and the generality of the notion of the primacy of local interests are discussed.
Journalists as actors in social dramas of apology
Authors: Kampf Zohar
Published: January 2011

During recent decades, the abundance of apologies made by public actors has lent credence to the claim that we are living in the age of apology. The extensive coverage of these gestures by the press in many cases aroused heated public struggles over the norm transgressed and the future of the transgressor in the public arena. This article analyzes the reasons for the interest taken by journalists in covering and generating apology discourse, the active role played by them at each stage of what I term ‘social dramas of apology’ (SDA), and the professional implications stemming from their involvement. The study analyzes 559 SDA that emerged in Israeli public discourse from 1997 to 2004. The findings suggest that journalists’ active involvement takes various forms. Journalists (1) frame actions as transgressions, (2) play the role of instigator, or, the arbitrator, and (3) help the public to determine whether transgressors should be incorporated back into the social structure. Lastly, it is suggested that journalists’ active participation in SDA entails some challenging ethical implications.
Health promotion in medical education
Authors: Wylie Ann
Published: January 2011

Building and sustaining partnerships with community practice-based colleagues is imperative, says Dr Ann Wylie, Senior Teaching Fellow at King’s College London
What’s the future for health promotion in England? The views of practitioners
Authors: White Judy , Wills Jane
Published: January 2011

Specialized health promotion is an internationally recognized occupation and field of activity which has had a chequered history in England. After flourishing briefly in some areas in the early years of the New Labour government it has been in decline in most parts of the country. The last survey of practice conducted in 2005 found that the specialized health promotion workforce was unevenly distributed and much in need of advocacy and development. Since then there has been another major reorganization of primary care trusts (PCTs) and a split between commissioning and provider functions. Practitioners’ views on the impact of this on health promotion were gathered in a survey in 2008—2009. Participants comprised 36 people attending a Shaping the Future workshop in the North of England and 40 practitioners studying a masters course in health promotion. The findings reveal that organizational structure has a major impact on the nature of health promotion activity: the split between commissioning and provider functions of PCTs has presented huge challenges to practitioners irrespective of the arm in which they are placed, as one of the strengths of health promotion has always been its ability to straddle both strategic and operational levels and offer a joined-up approach to tackling the causes of ill health. For the specialized health promotion workforce, there has been a loss of identity and critical mass as the discipline is increasingly reduced and fragmented, a trend that looks set to worsen following further reorganization and reductions in public sector spending introduced by the new coalition government.
PHORCaSTING insights on public health careers
Authors: Wright Jenny
Published: January 2011

Developing the public health workforce requires flexibility, says Jenny Wright, Executive Director of Public Health Workforce Development at Solutions for Public Health and lead for the PHORCaST Development Team
Genotype-driven therapies for non-small cell lung cancer: focus on EGFR, KRAS and ALK gene abnormalities
Authors: Gaughan Elizabeth M. , Costa Daniel B.
Published: January 2011

Non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) are heterogeneous cancers. In 2004, the identification of epidermal growth factor receptor ( EGFR) somatic mutations provided the first glimpse of a clinically relevant NSCLC oncogene. Approximately 70% of NSCLCs with EGFR mutations (exon 19 deletions or the exon 21 L858R) attain responses to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) gefitinib and erlotinib, with improved response rate (RR), progression-free survival (PFS) and in some reports overall survival (OS) when compared with EGFR wildtype (WT) cases. Three randomized trials of gefitinib versus chemotherapy (IPASS, WJTOG3405, NEJ002) in stage IV NSCLC have consistently demonstrated better RR and PFS (hazard ratios of 0.48 [IPASS], 0.49 [WJTOG3405] and 0.30 [NEJ002]) for EGFR-mutated NSCLCs treated with gefitinib. Novel irreversible EGFR TKIs (afatinib, XL647, PF00299804) show similar activity in EGFR-mutated patients. A translocation involving the anaplastic lymphoma kinase ( ALK) gene with EML4, identified in 2007, is the most recent oncogene found in NSCLC. Crizotinib (PF02341066), an ALK TKI, has shown impressive activity against ALK translocated NSCLC in an expanded cohort of a phase I trial (NCT00585195). Over 80 patients have been treated and the RR is ∼60% with the 6-month PFS rate exceeding 70%. A registration phase III trial of crizotinib versus second-line chemotherapy (pemetrexed/docetaxel) is underway (PROFILE 1007, NCT00932893). KRAS, EGFR mutations and ALK translocations are mutually exclusive and few EGFR WT NSCLCs respond to EGFR TKIs. The promising results of EGFR and ALK TKIs in molecular subgroups of NSCLCs herald a new age of drug and clinical trial development for patients with NSCLC.
Sox6 enhances erythroid differentiation in human erythroid progenitors
Authors: Cantù Claudio , Ierardi Rossella , Alborelli Ilaria , Fugazza Cristina , Cassinelli Letizia , Piconese Silvia , Bosè Francesca , Ottolenghi Sergio , Ferrari Giuliana , Ronchi Antonella
Published: January 2011

Sox6 belongs to the Sry (sex-determining region Y)–related high-mobility-group–box family of transcription factors, which control cell-fate specification of many cell types. Here, we explored the role of Sox6 in human erythropoiesis by its overexpression both in the erythroleukemic K562 cell line and in primary erythroid cultures from human cord blood CD34+ cells. Sox6 induced significant erythroid differentiation in both models. K562 cells underwent hemoglobinization and, despite their leukemic origin, died within 9 days after transduction; primary erythroid cultures accelerated their kinetics of erythroid maturation and increased the number of cells that reached the final enucleation step. Searching for direct Sox6 targets, we found SOCS3 (suppressor of cytokine signaling-3), a known mediator of cytokine response. Sox6 was bound in vitro and in vivo to an evolutionarily conserved regulatory SOCS3 element, which induced transcriptional activation. SOCS3 overexpression in K562 cells and in primary erythroid cells recapitulated the growth inhibition induced by Sox6, which demonstrates that SOCS3 is a relevant Sox6 effector.
Long-term clinical outcomes of patients with primary chronic immune thrombocytopenia: a Danish population-based cohort study
Authors: Nørgaard Mette , Jensen Annette Ø. , Engebjerg Malene C. , Farkas Dóra K. , Thomsen Reimar W. , Cha Steven , Zhao Sean , Sørensen Henrik T.
Published: January 2011

Few data exist on the long-term prognosis of patients with chronic primary chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). We examined the risk of infections, hemorrhage resulting in hospitalization, hematologic malignancies, and total and cause-specific mortality among patients with ITP compared with the general population. We used population-based medical databases to identify 407 patients with primary chronic ITP diagnosed during 1996 to 2007 and 4069 general population members individually matched on age, sex, and comorbidity level. We used Cox regression analysis to estimate rate ratios (RRs) adjusted for age (≤ 60 or > 60 years), sex, calendar year, and level of comorbidity. The adjusted 1-year RR of infection was 4.5 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.3-6.1) for patients with chronic ITP compared with the general population cohort. The adjusted RR decreased to 1.8 (95% CI, 1.3-2.5) for the second to fifth year of follow-up. The adjusted 5-year RR was 3.2 (95% CI, 1.2-9.0) for hospitalized intracranial hemorrhage, 4.4 (95% CI, 2.3-8.3) for other hospitalized hemorrhages, and 4.7 (95% CI, 1.7-12.7) for hematologic malignancy. The 5-year all-cause mortality RR was 2.3 (95% CI, 1.8-3.0). In summary, primary chronic ITP was associated with substantially increased long-term risk of infections, hemorrhagic episodes requiring hospitalization, hematologic malignancies, and mortality.
Changes in HSP gene and protein expression in natural scrapie with brain damage
Authors: Serrano Carmen , Bolea Rosa , Lyahyai Jaber , Filali Hicham , Varona Luis , Marcos-Carcavilla Ane , Acín Cristina , Calvo Jorge H , Serrano Magdalena , Badiola Juan J , Zaragoza Pilar , Martín-Burriel Inmaculada
Published: January 2011

Heat shock proteins (Hsp) perform cytoprotective functions such as apoptosis regulation and inflammatory response control. These proteins can also be secreted to the extracellular medium, acting as inflammatory mediators, and their chaperone activity permits correct folding of proteins and avoids the aggregation of anomalous isoforms. Several studies have proposed the implication of Hsp in prion diseases. We analysed the gene expression and protein distribution of different members of the Hsp27, Hsp70, and Hsp90 families in the central nervous system of sheep naturally infected with scrapie. Different expression profiles were observed in the areas analysed. Whereas changes in transcript levels were not observed in the cerebellum or medulla oblongata, a significant decrease in HSP27 and HSP90 was detected in the prefrontal cortex. In contrast, HSP73 was over-expressed in diencephalons of scrapie animals. Western blotting did not reveal significant differences in Hsp90 and Hsp70 protein expression between scrapie and control animals. Expression rates identified by real-time RT-PCR and western blotting were compared with the extent of classical scrapie lesions using stepwise regression. Changes in Hsp gene and protein expression were associated with prion protein deposition, gliosis and spongiosis rather than with apoptosis. Finally, immunohistochemistry revealed intense Hsp70 and Hsp90 immunolabelling in Purkinje cells of scrapie sheep. In contrast, controls displayed little or no staining in these cells. The observed differences in gene expression and protein distribution suggest that the heat shock proteins analysed play a role in the natural form of the disease.
Variation of inflammatory dynamics and mediators in primiparous cows after intramammary challenge with Escherichia coli
Authors: Pezeshki Adel , Stordeur Philippe , Wallemacq Hugues , Schynts Frédéric , Stevens Mieke , Boutet Philippe , Peelman Luc J , De Spiegeleer Bart , Duchateau Luc , Bureau Fabrice , Burvenich Christian
Published: January 2011

The objective of the current study was to investigate (i) the outcome of experimentally induced Escherichia coli mastitis in primiparous cows during early lactation in relation with production of eicosanoids and inflammatory indicators, and (ii) the validity of thermography to evaluate temperature changes on udder skin surface after experimentally induced E. coli mastitis. Nine primiparous Holstein Friesian cows were inoculated 24 ± 6 days (d) after parturition in both left quarters with E. coli P4 serotype O32:H37. Blood and milk samples were collected before and after challenge with E. coli. The infrared images were taken from the caudal view of the udder following challenge with E. coli. No relationship was detected between severity of mastitis and changes of thromboxane B2 (TXB2), leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and lipoxin A4 (LXA4). However, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) was related to systemic disease severity during E. coli mastitis. Moreover, reduced somatic cell count (SCC), fewer circulating basophils, increased concentration of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and higher milk sodium and lower milk potassium concentrations were related to systemic disease severity. The thermal camera was capable of detecting 2-3°C temperature changes on udder skin surface of cows inoculated with E. coli. Peak of udder skin temperature occurred after peak of rectal temperature and appearance of local signs of induced E. coli mastitis. Although infrared thermography was a successful method for detecting the changes in udder skin surface temperature following intramammary challenge with E. coli, it did not show to be a promising tool for early detection of mastitis.
SPI-1-encoded type III secretion system of Salmonella enterica is required for the suppression of porcine alveolar macrophage cytokine expression
Authors: Pavlova Barbora , Volf Jiri , Ondrackova Petra , Matiasovic Jan , Stepanova Hana , Crhanova Magdalena , Karasova Daniela , Faldyna Martin , Rychlik Ivan
Published: January 2011

Genes localized at Salmonella pathogenicity island-1 (SPI-1) are involved in Salmonella enterica invasion of host non-professional phagocytes. Interestingly, in macrophages, SPI-1-encoded proteins, in addition to invasion, induce cell death via activation of caspase-1 which also cleaves proIL-1β and proIL-18, precursors of 2 proinflammatory cytokines. In this study we were therefore interested in whether SPI-1-encoded type III secretion system (T3SS) may influence proinflammatory response of macrophages. To test this hypothesis, we infected primary porcine alveolar macrophages with wild-type S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis and their isogenic SPI-1 deletion mutants. ΔSPI1 mutants of both serovars invaded approx. 5 times less efficiently than the wild-type strains and despite this, macrophages responded to the infection with ΔSPI1 mutants by increased expression of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-8, TNFα, IL-23α and GM-CSF. Identical macrophage responses to that induced by the ΔSPI1 mutants were also observed to the infection with sipB but not the sipA mutant. The hilA mutant exhibited an intermediate phenotype between the ΔSPI1 mutant and the wild-type S. Enteritidis. Our results showed that the SPI-1-encoded T3SS is required not only for cell invasion but in macrophages also for the suppression of early proinflammatory cytokine expression.
Macrophage colony-stimulating factor and its receptor signaling augment glycated albumin-induced retinal microglial inflammation in vitro
Authors: Liu Wei , Xu Ge Z , Jiang Chun H , Tian Jie
Published: January 2011

Background

Microglial activation and the proinflammatory response are controlled by a complex regulatory network. Among the various candidates, macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) is considered an important cytokine. The up-regulation of M-CSF and its receptor CSF-1R has been reported in brain disease, as well as in diabetic complications; however, the mechanism is unclear. An elevated level of glycated albumin (GA) is a characteristic of diabetes; thus, it may be involved in monocyte/macrophage-associated diabetic complications.

Results

The basal level of expression of M-CSF/CSF-1R was examined in retinal microglial cells in vitro. Immunofluorescence, real-time PCR, immunoprecipitation, and Western blot analyses revealed the up-regulation of CSF-1R in GA-treated microglial cells. We also detected increased expression and release of M-CSF, suggesting that the cytokine is produced by activated microglia via autocrine signaling. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we found that GA affects microglial activation by stimulating the release of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β. Furthermore, the neutralization of M-CSF or CSF-1R with antibodies suppressed the proinflammatory response. Conversely, this proinflammatory response was augmented by the administration of M-CSF.

Conclusions

We conclude that GA induces microglial activation via the release of proinflammatory cytokines, which may contribute to the inflammatory pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. The increased microglial expression of M-CSF/CSF-1R not only is a response to microglial activation in diabetic retinopathy but also augments the microglial inflammation responsible for the diabetic microenvironment.