bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sex Offender Laws
Authors: Sample Lisa L. , Kadleck Colleen
Published: February 2008

To date, scholars have simply inferred the beliefs underlying sex offender laws from the passage and content of the legislation. Few researchers have directly spoken to legislators to determine their opinions of the sex offender problem. This study seeks to determine the perceptions of sex offenders and sex offending in the 1990s that drove the need for sex offender reform in Illinois and the degree to which these perceptions influenced the content of the laws. The findings suggest that policy makers had very distinct ideas about the nature of the sex offender problem in terms of who was responsible, who was in need of protection, and the degree to which legislative responses would address the issue. There was congruence between these personal perceptions and the content of sex offender laws. The results shed light on the degree to which public officials' personal perceptions influence the passage and content of legislation.
Health-Related Philanthropy: Toward Understanding the Relationship Between the Donation of the Body (and Its Parts) and Traditional Forms of Philanthropic Giving
Authors: Meslin Eric M. , Rooney Patrick M. , Wolf James G.
Published: February 2008

The academic study of philanthropy has focused on the public good from private action and includes the study of the public good of improving health and studies of the various determinants of giving. Yet one very obvious act of giving in the health field has been largely neglected in philanthropic studies: the donation of the body, such as blood and tissue donation, organ donation, and the donation of one's body for medical research or education. In August 2003, a research team at the Indiana University Center for Bioethics conducted a study of these two aspects of philanthropy as part of a project titled Health Related Philanthropy: The Donation of the Body (and Parts Thereof). This article describes the project and summarizes the results of a national survey conducted as part of that project.
Throw the Money Upstream: An Alternative Strategy to Improve Public Health
Authors: Mohan Arun , Patrick-Mohan Carmen
Published: February 2008

In 2004, almost $20 billion in health care philanthropy was directed toward “downstream” efforts that directly expanded access to care or improved quality of care. Although downstream investment is attractive because of its immediate and measurable impact, this approach has a lower return on investment than do “upstream” strategies, which focus on root causes. This article explores investment in the development of a health care workforce with core professional responsibilities of health advocacy, public leadership, and interprofessional collaboration as one such upstream strategy. By supporting students who are engaged in communities, funders can build health professionals who are able to fulfill core roles of service and advocacy and become meaningfully engaged in re-envisioning American health care.
Health, History, and Hard Choices: Funding Dilemmas in a Fast-Changing World
Authors: Prentice Thomson
Published: February 2008

This article offers a perspective based on World Health Organization (WHO) evidence on the state of global health today. It briefly traces the role of WHO in the history of major health achievements in recent decades, including the gradual elimination or control of major infectious diseases, often with philanthropic support from many countries and institutions. It also contributes to the current debate concerning the trends and directions of philanthropy in health in the first decade of the 21st century.
Breaking frame in a role-play simulation: A language socialization perspective
Authors: Schick Laurie
Published: February 2008

This article uses key concepts developed in frame analysis and language socialization theories to reconceptualize role-play simulation as socialization practice. The reconceptualization includes (a) an effort to explain an unexpected response to a role-play simulation on the topic of bullying and (b) a discussion regarding how this explanation sheds light on the nature of role-play simulations as a popular and robust form of pedagogical and socialization practice. Key concepts from frame analysis include the following: first, the differentiation between fantasy and play activities on one hand and serious and real-world activities on the other; second, the notion of breaking frame to identify and understand situations in which participants violate the rules and expectations of conduct associated with the role-play in which they are immediately engaged. Key concepts from language socialization include the ideas that socialization is accomplished through participation in interactional routines and that these interactional routines are subject to negotiation every time that they are used in practice. The article concludes that role-play simulations have a high potential for providing situations in which participants break out of the representation frame of simulation and into the frame of real-world consequential action.
BULLYING: A ready-to-use simulation
Authors: Halleck Gene B.
Published: February 2008

This article introduces a simulation on bullying that consists of five phases. In the briefing phase, the participants answer a questionnaire about bullying. After they complete the questionnaire, they move on to read simulated news articles (the second phase). Once they finish reading the articles, the participants take part in a talk show. This third phase is followed by an in-service workshop (the fourth phase) in which school personnel discuss six case studies and must decide if the cases represent bullying or not. After the workshop, the fifth and final phase consists of a debriefing, in which participants have an opportunity to share their thoughts on the topic.
On the Virtues of Secrecy in Organizations
Authors: Dufresne Ronald L. , Offstein Evan H.
Published: February 2008

Many authors have highlighted the detrimental aspects of secrecy, particularly as keeping secrets runs contrary to the values of open, democratic societies and institutions. In this view, secrets help the powerful maintain control over the valuable resource of information. In this essay, the authors explore the more positive view, asking what may be virtuous in keeping secrets in organizations. From the perspective of strategy development and implementation, human resource management, and trust development, there are several virtues of secrecy that emerge. Although there are very real costs to keeping secrets, there are also benefits at the organizational and the interpersonal levels.
Strategic, Geographic Targeting of Housing and Community Development Resources
Authors: Thomson Dale E.
Published: February 2008

This article critically examines a conceptual framework for strategic, geographic targeting, an allocation model for improving efficiency in community development programs. It reviews the theoretical and empirical literature, discusses constraints and policy implications, and outlines a research agenda. Cost-savings, multiplier, and interaction effects form the core rationale for strategic, geographic targeting. Focus and neighborhood spillover effects complement these and are likely to occur more rapidly when strategic, geographic targeting is used. While the literature is largely silent on the cost-savings, focus, and neighborhood spillover effects, it supports the multiplier effect and demonstrates that it is contingent on the attainment of investment thresholds. It also identifies interventions that are likely to interact positively with programs targeting housing investment.
Skills-Enhancement Training Program for Home Care Providers: Implications for Redefining Quality Care
Authors: Coogle Constance L. , Jablonski Rita , Rachel Jason A. , Parham Iris A.
Published: February 2008

This study reports on a skills-enhancement training series for direct care workers providing personal assistance under a waiver for Medicaid home care services. Designed to increase professionalism, the training was part of a federally funded state-level initiative to promote change in the community-based long-term-care system. A linear improvement in the ratings of training quality was documented, with the module on stress management rated most highly. The modules pertaining to issues of bereavement and stress management were judged to have more impact than those related to effective communication and dealing with the challenging needs of clients. In general, participants placed greater value on content that contributed to their personal and professional empowerment. Results are discussed as they relate to the social undervaluation of care work, and it is suggested that quality care can be elevated and redefined to reflect the moral bonds underlying professional relationships between caregivers and care recipients.
Aspects of Interjurisdictional Sharing of the Value-Added Tax
Authors: Zee Howell H.
Published: February 2008

The sharing of consumption taxes between different levels of government has come to the fore in a number of developing countries in recent years with respect to the VAT. Employing a simple model that abstracts from considerations of equalization transfers and complications of tax competition, this article inquires about the determinants of an optimal arrangement for interjurisdictional sharing of the VAT base and revenue, and derives explicit solutions for the optimal central and local VAT rates, as well as the optimal revenue-sharing ratio between central and local governments on a derivation basis. The central finding is that an optimal VAT sharing arrangement is generally characterized by the simultaneous sharing of the VAT base and of the VAT revenue. The nature of the optimal solutions is shown to depend on the interactions among interjurisdictional differences in population, income, and the level of local government expenditure relative to local tax base.
The Brazilian ``Tax War''
Authors: de Mello Luiz
Published: February 2008

This article tests for horizontal tax competition in the value-added tax (VAT) for a sample of Brazilian states in the period 1985-2001. The states have considerable autonomy over the VAT and often use it as an industrial policy tool. The empirical findings, based on the estimation of a tax reaction function in an error-correction setup, confirm that the states react strongly to changes in their neighbors' VAT code, especially those that belong to the same geoeconomic region. Also, there is a Stackelberg leader among the states, with the remaining jurisdictions responding strongly to its policy moves. There is no co-occupancy of tax bases among different levels of government and hence limited scope for vertical externalities in tax setting. But the fact that the federal government shares with the states part of the revenue of its more elastic taxes, such as the income tax, appears to affect the opportunity cost of horizontal tax competition.
Fiscal Decentralization and Economic Growth in Spain
Authors: Carrion-i-Silvestre Josep Lluís , Espasa Marta , Mora Toni
Published: February 2008

This article analyzes the contribution of the Spanish fiscal decentralization process to economic growth at both the aggregate and regional levels. Our main conclusion is that at the aggregate level, the process of decentralization of responsibilities to autonomous communities (ACs) has not had significant effects on Spanish economic growth when fiscal decentralization is measured in terms of revenue and investment shares, while a statistically significant negative effect is found when decentralization is measured through expenditure shares. When the study is carried out from a regional point of view, we find that fiscal decentralization at the AC level has a positive effect on economic growth for those ACs with the highest levels of fiscal and institutional decentralization, but the opposite effect is found for those ACs with the lowest levels of competencies. Decentralization at the local level has a significant positive effect for ACs with complete fiscal autonomy.
Male Promiscuity
Authors: Nyanzi Stella , Nyanzi-Wakholi Barbara , Kalina Bessie
Published: February 2008

Understanding contemporary sociocultural constructions of masculinity and sexuality is crucial in the struggle against HIV/AIDS. This article discusses lay conceptualizations and enactments of manhood, in interaction with emic interpretations and practices of promiscuity. Data were collected from motorbike taxi-riders in southwest Uganda using ethnographic participant observation, a semi-structured questionnaire (n = 221), focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, case studies, and interactive workshops. Meanings and interpretations of masculinity are deeply imbued with sociocultural symbols drawn from the traditional, ritualistic, political, economic, and contemporary contexts. Social scripts and expectations are for males to engage in sexual activity as evidence of maturation. Higher social status, economic well-being, power, and “more manhood” are associated with multiple sexual partners. This male ideology perpetuates patriarchy and the commoditization of women, disparages messages of anti-HIV/AIDS campaigns, and supports risky sexual behavior. Sexual and reproductive health interventions should widen contemporary local perceptions and understandings of manhood to include safe sexual behavior.
The Evaluation of Large Research Initiatives
Authors: Trochim William M. , Marcus Stephen E. , Mâsse Louise C. , Moser Richard P. , Weld Patrick C.
Published: February 2008

Over the past few decades there has been a rise in the number of federally funded large scientific research initiatives, with increased calls to evaluate their processes and outcomes. This article describes efforts to evaluate such initiatives in one agency within the U.S. federal government. The authors introduce the Evaluation of Large Initiatives (ELI) project, a preliminary effort to explore how to accomplish such evaluation. They describe a pilot effort of this project to evaluate the Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Center (TTURC) initiative of the National Cancer Institute. They present a summary of this pilot evaluation including the methods used (concept mapping, logic modeling, a detailed researcher survey, content analysis and systematic peer-evaluation of progress reports, bibliometric analysis and peer evaluation of publications and citations, and financial expenditures analysis) and a brief overview of results. Finally, they discuss several important lessons and recommendations that emerged from this work.
The Multi-voicedness of Independence and Interdependence: The Case of the Cameroonian Nso
Authors: Keller Heidi , Demuth Carolin , Yovsi Relindis D.
Published: February 2008

It is often claimed that independence and interdependence are two dimensions that are part of any culture and the psychology of any human being. While previous studies have considered these two concepts merely as a matter of degree, this article argues that, in fact, they can be of different quality and have a variety of meanings depending on the specific socio-cultural context. From a systemic approach, the study addresses the dialogical co-existence of these dimensions and views culture as an open system that allows for adaptation and constant reorganization according to the given context. Interviews with 10 mothers from the ethnic group of the Cameroonian Nso on their ideas on childrearing revealed that different conceptions of autonomy and interpersonal relatedness not only co-exist in this ethnic group but may serve different purposes and change depending on the specific socio-cultural conditions in which the mother lives.
Applying a Sociocultural Approach to Vygotskian Academia: `Our Tsar Isn't Like Yours, and Yours Isn't Like Ours'
Authors: Matusov Eugene
Published: February 2008

A Vygotskian approach to education and psychology involves attention to culture, history, society, and institutions that shape educational and psychological processes. Yet, Vygotskian academia itself seems to operate as if academic issues transcend local contexts. Often debates over Vygotsky's legacy in sociocultural international academic communities are carried out, around scholarly texts, without analysis of the (often very diverse) local historical and political situations that may promote such debates. This is especially true in national and international debates about the issues of multiculturalism in education. In my article, I consider cultural-historical and sociocultural paradigms to investigate their ontological projects and dialogical oppositions and consider their relationship between each other.
Commentary: The Vygotskian Family in the Supreme Court of Practice
Authors: Bradley Benjamin S.
Published: February 2008

The unification of psychology has proven a perennial problem. Vygotsky's solution was to reverse the usual predominance of theory over practice, making practice the `supreme judge' of truth. Matusov's goal appears to be a more modest one: the integration of cultural-historical and sociocultural Vygotskians into a harmonious `family'. Analysing the aporias of Matusov's text, I argue that what unites these two groups of Vygotsky's heirs is a common commitment to liberation from oppression and the promotion of equality. Vygotskians thus take their place in a far larger movement of psychologists who share these commitments and apply them not just to theory but to the practice of research, politics and pedagogy. Hence Matusov's argument, despite its paradoxes, ellipses and internal contradictions, has a far larger reach than he implies, but one that turns out to be quite in keeping with Vygotsky's initial proposals for a unified psychology.
Commentary: Vygotskian Cultural-Historical and Sociocultural Approaches Represent Two Levels of Analysis: Complementarity Instead of Opposition
Authors: Toomela Aaro
Published: February 2008

Matusov distinguishes two usually counterposed modern schools of psychology that stem from Vygotsky's theory, the sociocultural and cultural-historical. I suggest that the sociocultural approach is fundamentally deficient in ignoring a need for cognitive analysis and not taking seriously the notion of hierarchical development. Problems that arise from the acognitive-adevelopmental position of the sociocultural approach are analyzed in respect of three issues: ethnocentrism, the natural-cultural line of development, and testing in education. The cultural-historical approach, in turn, is deficient in ignoring cultural diversity and the content of the psyche. The superficially opposed sociocultural and cultural-historical Vygotskian schools complement each other if it is realized that both schools represent different levels of analysis.
The effect of patient origin and relevance of contact on patient and caregiver satisfaction in the emergency room
Authors: Mygind Anna , Norredam Marie , Nielsen Anette S. , Bagger Jens , Krasnik Allan
Published: February 2008

Aims: This study examined (1) whether patient and caregiver satisfaction in the emergency room (ER) varies according to patient origin, and (2) whether relevance of visit can explain any variation. Methods: Data were obtained from a questionnaire survey of walk-in patients and their caregivers at four ERs in Copenhagen. The patient questionnaire was available in nine languages, and addressed patient satisfaction. The caregiver questionnaire addressed caregiver satisfaction and relevance of the patient contact in the ER. A total of 3,809 patients and 3,905 caregivers responded. The response rate among patients was 54%. Only data with both patient and caregiver responses and with patient country of birth were included in the analyses (n=3,426). The effect of patient origin was examined using bivariate, stratified analyses and tested for independence. Results: Patients and caregivers had lower satisfaction rates when patients were of Middle Eastern compared with Danish origin. Satisfaction of both groups was associated with the relevance of the visit as assessed by the caregiver. Visits by patients of Middle Eastern origin were less often assessed as being relevant, but caregivers were less satisfied with visits by these patients even after controlling for relevance. Differences in patient satisfaction by patient origin were no longer significant when stratifying by relevance. Conclusions: Patient and caregiver satisfaction among patients of foreign origin can be improved by lowering the number of irrelevant visits among patients of foreign origin, e.g. by improving access to general practitioners. Training of caregivers in dealing with patients of different origins might reduce differences in caregiver satisfaction according to patient origin.
Stroke and acute myocardial infarction in the Swedish Sami population: Incidence and mortality in relation to income and level of education
Authors: Sjölander Per , Hassler Sven , Janlert Urban
Published: February 2008

Background: Gender differences in cardiovascular diseases (CVD) among the Sami have been reported previously. The aim of the present study was to investigate the incidence of and mortality from stroke, subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the Swedish Sami population between 1985 and 2002, and to analyse the potential impact of income and level of education on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Methods: A Sami cohort of 15,914 persons (4,465 reindeer herding and 11,449 non-herding Sami) were followed up from 1985 to 2002 with regard to incidence and mortality rates of AMI, stroke, and SAH. Incidence and mortality ratios were calculated using a demographically matched non-Sami control population (DMC) as the standard (71,550 persons). Results: There was no elevated risk of developing AMI among the Sami compared with the DMC. However, the mortality ratio of AMI was significantly higher for Sami women. Higher incidence rates of stroke and SAH for both Sami men and women was observed, but no differences in mortality rates. Apart from the reindeer-herding men who demonstrated lower levels of income and education, the income and education levels among Sami were similar to the DMC. Conclusions: High mortality rates from AMI rather than stroke explain the excess mortality for CVD previously shown among Sami women. The results suggest that the differences in incidence of stroke between herding and non-herding Sami men, and between Sami women and non-Sami women, are caused by behavioural and psychosocial risk factors rather than by traditional socioeconomic ones.
Reliability and validity of self-reported physical activity in the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study — HUNT 1
Authors: Kurtze Nanna , Rangul Vegar , Hustvedt Bo-Egil , Flanders W Dana
Published: February 2008

Background: A large health survey was previously conducted in 1984—86, the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT 1), and another was conducted in 1995—97 (HUNT 2). A third, HUNT 3, started in 2006. However, the physical activity (PA) questionnaires have not yet been validated. Aims: To assess the reliability and validity of the self-reported physical activity questionnaire in the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT 1). Methods: The HUNT 1 questionnaire was administered to a random sample of 108 healthy men aged 20—39 years. Repeatability was assessed with a repeat questionnaire after one week, and validity by comparing results with direct measurement of VO2 during maximal work on a treadmill, with ActiReg, an instrument that measures PA and energy expenditure (EE) and with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). ActiReg records the main body positions (stand, sit, bent forward and lie) together with the motion of the trunk and/or one leg each second. Results: The results indicated strong, significant agreement on test—retest (weighted kappa frequency, r=0.80, intensity, r=0.82, and duration, r=0.69). We found a moderate, significant correlation, r=0.48 (p≤0.01), between the index based on questionnaire responses and VO2max. Metabolic equivalent (MET) values of 6 or more from ActiReg and ``vigorous activity'' from the IPAQ most strongly correlated with the index (r=0.39, r=0.55, respectively). Associations of other measures obtained from ActiReg with questionnaire responses were weaker. Conclusions: Our results indicate that the PA questionnaire in HUNT 1 is reproducible and provides a useful measure of leisure-time PA for men. The questionnaire is very short, and compared favourably with much longer instruments for assessment of more vigorous PA. It should be an appropriate tool for use in further epidemiological studies, particularly when the interest is in aspects of PA reflected in fitness or METs greater than 6.
Guidelines improve general trend of lowered cholesterol levels in type 2 diabetes patients in spite of low adherence
Authors: Fhärm E. , Rolandsson O. , Weinehall L.
Published: February 2008

Background: New guidelines were introduced in Sweden in 1999 to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease among diabetes patients. The impact of the new guidelines on lipid levels in a diabetes patient population has not been extensively studied. Our aim was to study whether the introduction of treatment goals for dyslipidaemia was reflected in lower cholesterol levels in patients with diabetes in a general population. Methods: In a population of 59,338 individuals, 971 (1.6%) had diabetes. All subjects were 40, 50 or 60 years of age and participated in the Vasterbotten Intervention Programme in 1995-2004. Cholesterol levels and use of lipid-lowering drugs were measured, and trends in cholesterol levels were analysed before and after the guidelines were introduced in 1999. Results: In this effectiveness study, there was a marked decrease in mean plasma total cholesterol levels among patients with diabetes (5.79 (± 1.21) mmol/1 in 1995-1999 and 5.07 (± 1.00) mmol/1 in 2000-2004 (p<0.001)) as well as in the non-diabetic population (5.79 (±1.15) mmol/1 and 5.41 (±1.07) mmol/1 (p<0.001)). The trend in diabetes patients was influenced by increased use of lipid-lowering agents, even though only 25.3% (male/female 26.8%/23.2%) of the diabetes patients received lipid-lowering treatment after the introduction of the new guidelines. Conclusions: Since the introduction of the guidelines, an increasing number of diabetes patients are receiving lipid-lowering drugs, which enhance a strong general trend of lowered cholesterol levels. Yet, the vast majority of diabetes patients with hypercholesterolaemia still do not receive medical treatment in accordance with the guidelines.
Why older people living with a spouse are less likely to be institutionalized: The role of socioeconomic factors and health characteristics
Authors: Nihtilä Elina , Martikainen Pekka
Published: February 2008

Aims: To examine whether the lower risk of institutionalization among older adults living with a spouse as compared with those living alone or with other persons could be explained by socioeconomic factors, housing, and chronic medical conditions. Methods: We used population-based follow-up data on Finnish adults aged 65 years and over (N=280,722), covering the period from January 1998 to September 2003, to analyse the risk of entering into long-term institutional care by living arrangements. Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox regression models were applied. Results: Among men, those living alone had a 70% higher risk and those living with other persons a 56% higher risk of being institutionalized than those living with a spouse, independently of age, region, and urbanicity. The corresponding figures for women were 29% and 21%. Among men, the lower risk of institutionalization among those living with a spouse than among those living alone was partly explained by higher educational level, occupation-based social class, household income, home ownership, house type, better housing conditions, and lower likelihood of having depressive symptoms. Almost the same factors helped to explain the lower risk among women, except that those living with a spouse were not advantaged in terms of education or having fewer chronic diseases. Conclusions: As controlling for socioeconomic factors, housing and health characteristics explained only 35-43% of the lower risk of institutionalization among those living with a spouse as compared to those living alone, having a spouse seems to have a major independent role in preventing and delaying institutionalization among older men and women.
Bayesian Assessments for Acceptable Airborne Bacteria Levels in Air-Conditioned Spaces
Authors: Wong L.T. , Mui K.W. , Hui P.S. , Chan W.Y.
Published: February 2008

The level of indoor airborne bacteria is usually selected as a reference to identify the cleanliness of a Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning system. This study proposes an epistemic approach for assessing acceptance of air-conditioned spaces against certain acceptable airborne bacteria levels. From the thermal environmental conditions and a sample test of the airborne bacteria level, the assessment model can give a rapid estimation of the probability of an unsatisfactory indoor environment. An office having a higher risk of unsatisfactory Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) would require a lower sample test value to fulfill the IAQ acceptance at certain confidence level. The model parameters were determined from databases of 529 air-conditioned spaces in Hong Kong, with airborne bacteria levels ranging from 41 to 2304 CFU · m-3, air temperatures from 13.4 to 27.8°C and relative humidities from 29 to 88%. This model would be useful to policymakers for making a fast response to the microbiological pollutant problem while avoiding an inappropriate level of reliance on the results.
Review: The Fiber Width of Coalinga Chrysotile: Reduced Respirability due to its Thick Nature in an Aerosol and its ``Ultra-Thin'' Nature in Aqueous Solution (In Vivo)
Authors: Ilgren E.
Published: February 2008

Deposition of particles in the lung is largely controlled by aerodynamic diameter, and fibers greater than a certain diameter cannot reach the alveoli. Coalinga type chrysotiles form long, thick fibers when aerosolized, which are largely nonrespirable and thus have far less potential to produce disease than true long ``non-Coalinga'' chrysotile fibers that are largely thin and mainly respirable. Increased width and reduced respirability, which was first recognized more than 25 years ago, contribute to its lack of biological activity. There is direct qualitative and quantitative evidence to support the enhanced thickness of Coalinga type chrysotiles in an aerosol and indirect evidence by mass concentration measurements. Coalinga chrysotile fibers in aqueous solution, on the other hand, have greatly reduced width distributions, which reflects the fact that their constituent components are weakly bound ultra thin fibrils. Indirect evidence from surface area measurements supports their extremely thin nature. An important consequence is that regulatory counting methods do not discriminate between Coalinga type chrysotiles and truly pathogenic long typical chrysotile fibers. Until regulatory methods are modified accordingly, the risks attributed to Coalinga type chrysotiles will continue to be grossly overestimated.

In litigation, some have claimed that Union Carbide conducted ``secret'' studies that showed Coalinga chrysotile was actually thin and highly respirable in an aerosol. No such studies were ever conducted and these claims were made out of context and are unfounded.
Review: Coalinga Chrysotile: Dissolution, Concentration, Regulation and General Relevance
Authors: Ilgren E.
Published: February 2008

Coalinga chrysotile's lack of biological activity in animals and humans is due to its amphibole-free nature, short fiber length, and enhanced width, all of which contribute to a greatly reduced bio-persistence. Compared to most other chrysotile types, it has greater solubility and enhanced dissolution, especially the very small percentage of long, thin respirable fibers that reach the alveolar portions of the lung. In consequence, the mineral poses no health threat. The ultra-structural features underlying the susceptibility to dissolution include spiral structures, permanent ledges, an absence of inter- and intra-fibrillar matrix, extremely narrow fibrillar width giving very high surface areas and surface reactivity potentials, and a relatively high number of fibrillar `ends'. Any fibers released from products made from Coalinga type material; including friction products, ceiling tiles, acoustic tiles, shingles, piping and other cement products as well as fireproofing materials, through manipulation will, on aerosolization, show re-aggregation and other properties of the parent fiber.

Fiber analysis of any chrysotile containing material has always been problematic because of the fundamental structure of the fibers. Research has shown the need for indirect preparation methods of Coalinga type chrysotiles for risk assessment purposes. Direct preparation methods do not give correct answers and therefore cannot reflect biological potential. Fiber counts made by phase contrast microscopy, for example, will include large numbers of long pseudo-fibers and give results that are very misleading. The true biological nature of short and long Coalinga type chrysotiles can only be predicted using the results of indirect analysis.
The effects of non-standard employment on work—family conflict
Authors: Hosking Amanda , Western Mark
Published: February 2008

Over the last five decades the Australian labour market has changed profoundly, one prominent aspect being an increase in non-standard forms of employment. Using data from the first wave of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia project, this article explores whether non-standard employment is associated with greater or reduced work—family conflict among employed parents and whether experiences vary by gender. We focus on three types of non-standard employment: part-time hours, casual and fixed-term contracts and non-standard scheduling practices. Regression analyses show that mothers who work full-time rather than part-time experience significantly greater work—family conflict. Casual employment is not linked to a reduction in work—family conflict for either mothers or fathers once we control for working hours. Even though mothers are the primary carer in most families, mothers do not report greater work—family conflict than fathers. We attribute this finding to gender differences in the time spent in employment.
Reluctant Leaders: An Analysis of Middle Managers' Perceptions of Leadership in Further Education in England
Authors: Gleeson Denis , Knights David
Published: February 2008

The research that forms the basis for this article draws attention to a group of middle managers who are reluctant to become leaders because they seek more space and autonomy to stay in touch with their subject, their students, and their own pedagogic values and identities, family commitments and the balance between work and life. This reluctance is reinforced by their scepticism that leadership in Further Education (FE) is becoming less hierarchical and more participative. In a sector that has had more than its fair share of reformist intervention, there is some scepticism of the latest fad of distributed and transformative leadership as a new panacea to cure all the accumulated `ills'of Further Education in England. Although focused primarily on this one sector in an English context, the article draws some inferences where there are parallels with wider sectors of public sector reform and where the uneasy (and incomplete) transitions from `old' to `new' public management have been underpinned by invasive audit, inspection and performance cultures.
Worldwide differences on the concept of control of asthma
Authors: Braido Fulvio , Canonica Giorgio Walter
Published: February 2008

Asthma is estimated to affect approximately 4—11% of the general population and its prevalence is increasing continuously. A large number of epidemiological studies on the prevalence of asthma and the level of disease control have been carried out, in which the level of control defined by GINA objectives was shown to be significantly unsatisfactory. Frequently, patients accept suboptimal levels of asthma control, mainly because they do not know how asthma is caused and how it can be treated. Apart from having a deep negative impact on patient's daily life, undiagnosed and undercontrolled asthma can also mean an increased economic burden. Therefore, greater attention should be paid to preventive measures, patient education and self-management programmes. Scientific evidence exists that drugs currently available can achieve all or almost all the objectives indicated by international guidelines in the majority of patients, and to improve patients' HRQL by minimizing the impact of the disease and its treatment from the patient's viewpoint. In conclusion, there is a gap between the level of control that could be reached and what is obtained in real life. This must be reduced through a series of interventions in which both doctor and patient are involved.
Review: The safety of drug-eluting stents
Authors: Saia Francesco , Marzocchi Antonio , Branzi Angelo
Published: February 2008

Drug-eluting stents (DES) in percutaneous coronary interventions significantly reduce rates of restenosis and the need for new revascularizations compared with bare metal stents. However, as the use of DES has increased dramatically, questions have been raised about their long-term safety. Concerns about an increased risk of late stent thrombosis, particularly beyond the first year of treatment, have arisen and have been exacerbated by sparse and conflicting information, and boosted an intense debate between cardiologists. In this article, we reviewed the most recent information to clarify the conundrum of late stent thrombosis and the long-term safety of DES.
Telomeres, stem cells, and hematology
Authors: Lansdorp Peter M.
Published: February 2008

Telomeres are highly dynamic structures that adjust the cellular response to stress and growth stimulation based on previous cell divisions. This critical function is accomplished by progressive telomere shortening and DNA damage responses activated by chromosome ends without sufficient telomere repeats. Repair of critically short telomeres by telomerase or recombination is limited in most somatic cells, and apoptosis or cellular senescence is triggered when too many uncapped telomeres accumulate. The chance of the latter increases as the average telomere length decreases. The average telomere length is set and maintained in cells of the germ line that typically express high levels of telomerase. In somatic cells, the telomere length typically declines with age, posing a barrier to tumor growth but also contributing to loss of cells with age. Loss of (stem) cells via telomere attrition provides strong selection for abnormal cells in which malignant progression is facilitated by genome instability resulting from uncapped telomeres. The critical role of telomeres in cell proliferation and aging is illustrated in patients with 50% of normal telomerase levels resulting from a mutation in one of the telomerase genes. Here, the role of telomeres and telomerase in human biology is reviewed from a personal historical perspective.
Hemophilia lives: the impact of prophylaxis
Authors: Aledort Louis M.
Published: February 2008

High-cost prophylaxis for hemophilia has decreased morbidity, but its long-term impact on quality of life needs expanded investigation. This Arbeit takes a hard look at this and underscores its additional effects on the lives of these patients.
Attack of the CD4 clones
Authors: ten Berge Ineke J. M. , van Lier René A. W.
Published: February 2008

Latent human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is associated with vast clonal expansions of cytotoxic CD8+ and CD4+ T cells.
Intentionally integrating in oncogenes
Authors: Russell David W.
Published: February 2008

A new genotoxicity assay allows one to study proto-oncogene activation at the appropriate human chromosomal position.
Scavenger receptors: targets for antiplatelet therapies?
Authors: Gawaz Meinrad
Published: February 2008

Scavenger receptors are increasingly recognized as playing a critical role in atherothrombosis.1 A new study presented by Valiyaveettil and colleagues in this issue of Blood demonstrates that oxidatively modified high-density lipoprotein (OxHDL) exhibits potent antiplatelet activity via the platelet scavenger receptor B type I (SR-BI).
Do short telomeres shorten CLL survival?
Authors: Lin Thomas S.
Published: February 2008

Roos and colleagues demonstrate that telomere length correlates with known biological prognostic factors in CLL and may independently predict clinical outcome. These findings suggest that telomerase may be a useful pharmacological target in CLL.
In silico discovery of transcription regulatory elements in Plasmodium falciparum
Authors: Young Jason A , Johnson Jeffery R , Benner Chris , Yan S Frank , Chen Kaisheng , Le Roch Karine G , Zhou Yingyao , Winzeler Elizabeth A
Published: February 2008

Background

With the sequence of the Plasmodium falciparum genome and several global mRNA and protein life cycle expression profiling projects now completed, elucidating the underlying networks of transcriptional control important for the progression of the parasite life cycle is highly pertinent to the development of new anti-malarials. To date, relatively little is known regarding the specific mechanisms the parasite employs to regulate gene expression at the mRNA level, with studies of the P. falciparum genome sequence having revealed few cis-regulatory elements and associated transcription factors. Although it is possible the parasite may evoke mechanisms of transcriptional control drastically different from those used by other eukaryotic organisms, the extreme AT-rich nature of P. falciparum intergenic regions (~90% AT) presents significant challenges to in silico cis-regulatory element discovery.

Results

We have developed an algorithm called Gene Enrichment Motif Searching (GEMS) that uses a hypergeometric-based scoring function and a position-weight matrix optimization routine to identify with high-confidence regulatory elements in the nucleotide-biased and repeat sequence-rich P. falciparum genome. When applied to promoter regions of genes contained within 21 co-expression gene clusters generated from P. falciparum life cycle microarray data using the semi-supervised clustering algorithm Ontology-based Pattern Identification, GEMS identified 34 putative cis-regulatory elements associated with a variety of parasite processes including sexual development, cell invasion, antigenic variation and protein biosynthesis. Among these candidates were novel motifs, as well as many of the elements for which biological experimental evidence already exists in the Plasmodium literature. To provide evidence for the biological relevance of a cell invasion-related element predicted by GEMS, reporter gene and electrophoretic mobility shift assays were conducted.

Conclusion

This GEMS analysis demonstrates that in silico regulatory element discovery can be successfully applied to challenging repeat-sequence-rich, base-biased genomes such as that of P. falciparum. The fact that regulatory elements were predicted from a diverse range of functional gene clusters supports the hypothesis that cis-regulatory elements play a role in the transcriptional control of many P. falciparum biological processes. The putative regulatory elements described represent promising candidates for future biological investigation into the underlying transcriptional control mechanisms of gene regulation in malaria parasites.
In vitro activity of tigecycline and comparators against carbapenem-susceptible and resistant Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolates in Italy
Authors: Mezzatesta Maria Lina , Trovato Giusi , Gona Floriana , Nicolosi Vito Mar , Nicolosi Daria , Carattoli Alessandra , Fadda Giovanni , Nicoletti Giuseppe , Stefani Stefania
Published: February 2008

Background

In a recent multi-centre Italian survey (2003–2004), conducted in 45 laboratories throughout Italy with the aim of monitoring microorganisms responsible for severe infections and their antibiotic resistance, Acinetobacter baumannii was isolated from various wards of 9 hospitals as one of the most frequent pathogens. One hundred and seven clinically significant strains of A. baumannii isolates were included in this study to determine the in vitro activity of tigecycline and comparator agents.

Methods

Tests for the susceptibility to antibiotics were performed by the broth microdilution method as recommended by CLSI guidelines. The following antibiotics were tested: aztreonam, piperacillin/tazobactam, ampicillin/sulbactam, ceftazidime, cefepime, imipenem, meropenem tetracycline, doxycycline, tigecycline, gentamicin, amikacin, ciprofloxacin, colistin, and trimethoprim/sulphametoxazole. The PCR assay was used to determine the presence of OXA, VIM, or IMP genes in the carbapenem resistant strains.

Results

A. baumannii showed widespread resistance to ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin and aztreonam in more than 90% of the strains; resistance to imipenem and meropenem was 50 and 59% respectively, amikacin and gentamicin were both active against about 30% of the strains and colistin about 99%, with only one strain resistant. By comparison with tetracyclines, tigecycline and doxycycline showed a higher activity. In particular, tigecycline showed a MIC90 value of 2 mg/L and our strains displayed a unimodal distribution of susceptibility being indistinctly active against carbapenem-susceptible and resistant strains, these latter possessed OXA-type variant enzymes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, tigecycline had a good activity against the MDR A. baumannii strains while maintaining the same MIC90 of 2 mg/L against the carbapenem-resistant strains.
Dispensable role of Drosophila ortholog of LRRK2 kinase activity in survival of dopaminergic neurons
Authors: Wang Danling , Tang Beisha , Zhao Guohua , Pan Qian , Xia Kun , Bodmer Rolf , Zhang Zhuohua
Published: February 2008

Background

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the most prevalent incurable neurodegenerative movement disorder. Mutations in LRRK2 are associated with both autosomal dominant familial and sporadic forms of PD. LRRK2 encodes a large putative serine/threonine kinase with GTPase activity. Increased LRRK2 kinase activity plays a critical role in pathogenic LRRK2 mutant-induced neurodegeneration in vitro. Little is known about the physiological function of LRRK2.

Results

We have recently identified a Drosophila line with a P-element insertion in an ortholog gene of human LRRK2 (dLRRK). The insertion results in a truncated Drosophila LRRK variant with N-terminal 1290 amino acids but lacking C-terminal kinase domain. The homozygous mutant fly develops normally with normal life span as well as unchanged number and pattern of dopaminergic neurons. However, dLRRK mutant flies were selectively sensitive to hydrogen peroxide induced stress but not to paraquat, rotenone and β-mercaptoethanol induced stresses.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that inactivation of dLRRK kinase activity is not essential for fly development and suggest that inhibition of LRRK activity may serve as a potential treatment of PD. However, dLRRK kinase activity likely plays a role in protecting against oxidative stress.