bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Breath-by-breath analysis of cardiorespiratory interaction for quantifying developmental maturity in premature infants
Authors: Clark Matthew T. , Rusin Craig G. , Hudson John L. , Lee Hoshik , Delos John B. , Guin Lauren E. , Vergales Brooke D. , Paget-Brown Alix , Kattwinkel John , Lake Douglas E. , Moorman J. Randall
Published: December 2011

In healthy neonates, connections between the heart and lungs through brain stem chemosensory pathways and the autonomic nervous system result in cardiorespiratory synchronization. This interdependence between cardiac and respiratory dynamics can be difficult to measure because of intermittent signal quality in intensive care settings and variability of heart and breathing rates. We employed a phase-based measure suggested by Schäfer and coworkers (Schäfer C, Rosenblum MG, Kurths J, Abel HH. Nature 392: 239–240, 1998) to obtain a breath-by-breath analysis of cardiorespiratory interaction. This measure of cardiorespiratory interaction does not distinguish between cardiac control of respiration associated with cardioventilatory coupling and respiratory influences on the heart rate associated with respiratory sinus arrhythmia. We calculated, in sliding 4-min windows, the probability density of heartbeats as a function of the concurrent phase of the respiratory cycle. Probability density functions whose Shannon entropy had a <0.1% chance of occurring from random numbers were classified as exhibiting interaction. In this way, we analyzed 18 infant-years of data from 1,202 patients in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at University of Virginia. We found evidence of interaction in 3.3 patient-years of data (18%). Cardiorespiratory interaction increased several-fold with postnatal development, but, surprisingly, the rate of increase was not affected by gestational age at birth. We find evidence for moderate correspondence between this measure of cardiorespiratory interaction and cardioventilatory coupling and no evidence for respiratory sinus arrhythmia, leading to the need for further investigation of the underlying mechanism. Such continuous measures of physiological interaction may serve to gauge developmental maturity in neonatal intensive care patients and prove useful in decisions about incipient illness and about hospital discharge.
Brain-specific interleukin-1 receptor accessory protein in sleep regulation
Authors: Taishi Ping , Davis Christopher J. , Bayomy Omar , Zielinski Mark R. , Liao Fan , Clinton James M. , Smith Dirk E. , Krueger James M.
Published: December 2011

Interleukin (IL)-1β is involved in several brain functions, including sleep regulation. It promotes non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep via the IL-1 type I receptor. IL-1β/IL-1 receptor complex signaling requires adaptor proteins, e.g., the IL-1 receptor brain-specific accessory protein (AcPb). We have cloned and characterized rat AcPb, which shares substantial homologies with mouse AcPb and, compared with AcP, is preferentially expressed in the brain. Furthermore, rat somatosensory cortex AcPb mRNA varied across the day with sleep propensity, increased after sleep deprivation, and was induced by somnogenic doses of IL-1β. Duration of NREM sleep was slightly shorter and duration of REM sleep was slightly longer in AcPb knockout than wild-type mice. In response to lipopolysaccharide, which is used to induce IL-1β, sleep responses were exaggerated in AcPb knockout mice, suggesting that, in normal mice, inflammation-mediated sleep responses are attenuated by AcPb. We conclude that AcPb has a role in sleep responses to inflammatory stimuli and, possibly, in physiological sleep regulation.
Comparison of Direct Fluorescence Assay and Real-Time RT-PCR as Diagnostics for Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Young Children
Authors: Shafik Caroline F. , Mohareb Emad W. , Youssef Fouad G.
Published: December 2011

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the major cause of lower respiratory tract infections in children worldwide. Early detection of RSV is critical to initiate proper care. Two methods, the direct fluorescence assay (DFA) and the real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (rt-RT-PCR), that are used for RSV detection were compared. A total of 451 nasopharyngeal aspirates from children 5 years of age or less were tested for RSV using both methods. The overall prevalence rate of the RSV among the children was 23.7% with a significantly higher prevalence among children under the age of 6 months of age when compared to other age groups. The sensitivity of DFA in comparison to rt-RT-PCR was highest (86%) during the first 3 days of symptoms onset and decreased gradually till it reached 65% after the first week. The specificity of DFA in comparison to rt-RT-PCR ranged between 99 and 100% irrespective of the date of collection. We concluded that, although the rt-RT-PCR is more sensitive for RSV detection, the DFA offers a reliable point-of-care alternative detection method especially during the first few days of illness.
Mitochondrial DNA Sequence Variation and Risk of Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Lam Ernest T. , Bracci Paige M. , Holly Elizabeth A. , Chu Catherine , Poon Annie , Wan Eunice , White Krystal , Kwok Pui-Yan , Pawlikowska Ludmila , Tranah Gregory J.
Published: December 2011

Although the mitochondrial genome exhibits high mutation rates, common mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation has not been consistently associated with pancreatic cancer. Here, we comprehensively examined mitochondrial genomic variation by sequencing the mtDNA of participants (cases = 286, controls = 283) in a San Francisco Bay Area pancreatic cancer case–control study. Five common variants were associated with pancreatic cancer at nominal statistical significance (P < 0.05) with the strongest finding for mt5460g in the ND2 gene [OR = 3.9; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.5–10; P = 0.004] which encodes an A331T substitution. Haplogroup K was nominally associated with reduced pancreatic cancer risk (OR = 0.32; 95% CI, 0.13–0.76; P = 0.01) when compared with the most common haplogroup, H. A total of 19 haplogroup-specific rare variants yielded nominal statistically significant associations (P < 0.05) with pancreatic cancer risk, with the majority observed in genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation. Weighted-sum statistics were used to identify an aggregate effect of variants in the 22 mitochondrial tRNAs on pancreatic cancer risk (P = 0.02). While the burden of singleton variants in the HV2 and 12S RNA regions was three times higher among European haplogroup N cases than controls, the prevalence of singleton variants in ND4 and ND5 was two to three times higher among African haplogroup L cases than in controls. Together, the results of this study provide evidence that aggregated common and rare variants and the accumulation of singleton variants are important contributors to pancreatic cancer risk. Cancer Res; 72(3); 686–95. ©2011 AACR.
Modulation of NOXA and MCL-1 as a Strategy for Sensitizing Melanoma Cells to the BH3-Mimetic ABT-737
Authors: Lucas Keryn M. , Mohana-Kumaran Nethia , Lau Diana , Zhang Xu Dong , Hersey Peter , Huang David C. , Weninger Wolfgang , Haass Nikolas K. , Allen John D.
Published: December 2011

Purpose: Drug resistance in melanoma is commonly attributed to ineffective apoptotic pathways. Inhibiting antiapoptotic BCL-2 and its relatives is an attractive strategy for sensitizing lymphoid malignancies to drugs but it has been largely unsuccessful for melanoma and other solid tumors. ABT-737, a small-molecule BH3-mimetic, selectively inhibits BCL-2, BCL-XL, and BCL-w and shows promise for treating leukemia, lymphoma, and small-cell lung cancer. Melanoma cells are insensitive to ABT-737, but MCL-1 inhibition reportedly increases the sensitivity of other tumors to the compound.

Experimental Design: The efficacy of MCL-1 and BFL-1 inhibition for sensitizing melanoma cells to ABT-737 was investigated by short hairpin RNA–mediated knockdown or overexpression of their antagonist NOXA in two-dimensional cell culture, a three-dimensional organotypic spheroid model, and an in vivo model.

Results: MCL-1 downregulation or NOXA overexpression strongly sensitized melanoma cells to ABT-737 in vitro. NOXA-inducing cytotoxic drugs also strongly sensitized melanomas to ABT-737 but, surprisingly, not vice versa. The drugs most suitable are not necessarily those normally used to treat melanoma. Resistance to ABT-737 occurred quickly in three-dimensional melanoma spheroids through reduced NOXA expression, although experiments with both xenografts and three-dimensional spheroids suggest that penetration of ABT-737 into tumor masses may be the principal limitation, which may be obviated through use of more diffusible BH3-mimetics.

Conclusion: Sensitization of tumors to BH3-mimetics by cytotoxic drugs that induce NOXA is a therapeutic strategy worth exploring for the treatment of melanoma and other solid cancers. Clin Cancer Res; 18(3); 783–95. ©2011 AACR.
SOD Mimetics: A Novel Class of Androgen Receptor Inhibitors That Suppresses Castration-Resistant Growth of Prostate Cancer
Authors: Thomas Rusha , Sharifi Nima
Published: December 2011

Advanced prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among American men. The androgen receptor (AR) is vital for prostate cancer progression, even in the face of castrate levels of serum testosterone following androgen ablation therapy, a mainstay therapy for advanced prostate cancer. Downregulation of superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), a major intracellular antioxidant enzyme, occurs progressively during prostate cancer progression to advanced states and is known to promote AR activity in prostate cancer. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of SOD mimetics on AR expression and function in AR-dependent LNCaP, CWR22Rv1, and LAPC-4AD prostate cancer cells. Treatment with Tempol (4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl), a SOD mimetic, not only lowered cellular superoxide levels but also concomitantly attenuated AR transcriptional activity and AR target gene expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner, in the presence and absence of dihydrotestosterone, the major endogenous AR agonist. Inhibition of AR by Tempol was mediated, in large part, by its ability to decrease AR protein via increased degradation, in the absence of any inhibitory effects on other nuclear receptors. Inhibitory effects of Tempol on AR were also reproducible with other SOD mimetics, MnTBAP and MnTMPyP. Importantly, effects of Tempol on AR function were accompanied by significant in vitro and in vivo reduction in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) survival and growth. Collectively, this study has shown for the first time that SOD mimetics, by virtue of their ability to suppress AR function, may be beneficial in treating the currently incurable CRPC, in which SOD2 expression is highly suppressed. Mol Cancer Ther; 11(1); 87–97. ©2011 AACR.
Reciprocal Metabolic Perturbations in the Adipose Tissue and Liver of GPIHBP1-Deficient Mice
Authors: Weinstein Michael M. , Goulbourne Christopher N. , Davies Brandon S.J. , Tu Yiping , Barnes Richard H. , Watkins Steven M. , Davis Ryan , Reue Karen , Tontonoz Peter , Beigneux Anne P. , Fong Loren G. , Young Stephen G.
Published: December 2011

Objective—

Gpihbp1
-deficient (
Gpihbp1
−/−) mice lack the ability to transport lipoprotein lipase to the capillary lumen, resulting in mislocalization of lipoprotein lipase within tissues, defective lipolysis of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, and chylomicronemia. We asked whether GPIHBP1 deficiency and mislocalization of catalytically active lipoprotein lipase would alter the composition of triglycerides in adipose tissue or perturb the expression of lipid biosynthetic genes. We also asked whether perturbations in adipose tissue composition and gene expression, if they occur, would be accompanied by reciprocal metabolic changes in the liver.

Methods and Results—

The chylomicronemia in
Gpihbp1
−/− mice was associated with reduced levels of essential fatty acids in adipose tissue triglycerides and increased expression of lipid biosynthetic genes. The liver exhibited the opposite changes: increased levels of essential fatty acids in triglycerides and reduced expression of lipid biosynthetic genes.

Conclusion—

Defective lipolysis in
Gpihbp1
−/− mice causes reciprocal metabolic perturbations in adipose tissue and liver. In adipose tissue, the essential fatty acid content of triglycerides is reduced and lipid biosynthetic gene expression is increased, whereas the opposite changes occur in the liver.
CHOP Silencing Reduces Acute Brain Injury in the Rat Model of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Authors: He Zhaohui , Ostrowski Robert P. , Sun Xiaochuan , Ma Qingyi , Huang Bing , Zhan Yan , Zhang John H.
Published: December 2011

Background and Purpose—

Endoplasmic reticulum stress triggers apoptotic cascades in neurons of the central nervous system after subarachnoid hemorrhage. The aim of this work was to study the mechanism of neuroprotection conferred by targeting cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) in the acute brain injury following subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Methods—

A total of 172 rats were used. Endovascular perforation induced subarachnoid hemorrhage. Two small interfering RNAs for CHOP were injected 24 hours before hemorrhage induction. At 24 or 72 hours, rats were neurologically evaluated and euthanized. The brains were recovered for molecular biology and histology studies.

Results—

Western blot analysis revealed effective silencing of CHOP associated with suppression of Bim-Caspase-3 apoptotic pathway. Moreover, the antiapoptotic Bcl2 was found upregulated with CHOP siRNA treatment. A reduced number of TUNEL-positive cells in the subcortex and in the hippocampus reflected histological protection. CHOP siRNA treatment ameliorated intracranial sequelae of and improved functional performance.

Conclusions—

We conclude that CHOP silencing alleviates early brain injury following subarachnoid hemorrhage via inhibiting apoptosis and that CHOP siRNA treatment has a clinical potential for patients with this type of hemorrhagic stroke.
Who May Have Durable Benefit From Robotic Gait Training?
Authors: Morone Giovanni , Iosa Marco , Bragoni Maura , De Angelis Domenico , Venturiero Vincenzo , Coiro Paola , Riso Raffaella , Pratesi Luca , Paolucci Stefano
Published: December 2011

Background and Purpose—

Robotic-assisted walking training after stroke aims to enhance the odd of regaining independent gait. Recent studies have suggested that this approach is more effective than conventional therapy alone only in severely affected patients. We determined whether these results persist at long-term follow-up.

Methods—

Forty-eight nonambulant participants after subacute stroke were stratified by motricity index into high (<29) and low (≥29) motor impairment groups. Each arm was randomized to a robotic or control group at a mean of 20 days after stroke. All patients underwent 2 therapy sessions per day, 5 days per week, for 3 months. Robotic group subjects underwent 20 sessions of robotic-assisted gait training in the first 4 weeks of inpatient therapy and abbreviated conventional therapy, whereas control group patients received only conventional gait training. The primary outcome was Functional Ambulation Category, and secondary measures were the Rivermead Mobility Index and Barthel Index scores. The scales were administered before and after the inpatient stay and 2 years after discharge.

Results—

At follow-up, as at discharge, the low motricity robotic group improved more than the control group counterpart with regard to functional ambulation category (4.7±0.5 versus 3.1±1.5,
P
=0.002), Barthel Index (76.9±11.5 versus 64.7±14.0,
P
=0.024), and Rivermead Mobility Index (11.8±3.5 versus 7.0±3.6,
P
=0.010), whereas conventional and robotic therapies were equally effective in the high motricity groups.

Conclusions—

The higher efficacy of the combination of robotic therapy and conventional therapy versus conventional therapy alone that was observed at discharge only in patients with greater motor impairments was sustained after 2 years.
Synoptic-Scale Environments Conducive to Orographic Impacts on Cold-Season Surface Wind Regimes at Montreal, Quebec
Authors: Razy Alissa , Milrad Shawn M. , Atallah Eyad H. , Gyakum John R.
Published: December 2011

Orographic wind channeling, defined as dynamically and thermally induced processes that force wind to blow along the axis of a valley, is a common occurrence along the St. Lawrence River Valley (SLRV) in Quebec, Canada, and produces substantial observed weather impacts at stations along the valley, including Montreal (CYUL). Cold-season observed north-northeast (n = 55) and south-southeast (n = 16) surface wind events at CYUL are identified from 1979 to 2002. The authors partition the north-northeast wind events into four groups using manual synoptic typing. Types A and D (“inland cyclone” and “northwestern cyclone”) are associated with strong lower-tropospheric geostrophic warm-air advection and near-surface pressure-driven channeling of cold air from the north-northeast, along the axis of the SLRV. Type C (“anticyclone”) shows no evidence of a surface cyclone and thus is the least associated with inclement weather at CYUL, whereas type B (“coastal cyclone”) is associated with predominantly forced wind channeling along the SLRV. Type D of the north-northeast wind events and all south-southeast wind events exhibit similar sea level pressure patterns. The respective magnitudes of the pressure gradients in the Lake Champlain Valley south of CYUL and the SLRV play a large role in determining the favored wind direction. Soundings of the various event types illustrate substantial differences in temperature structure, with a large near-surface temperature inversion particularly prevalent in north-northeast events. The results of this study may provide guidance in forecasting winds, temperatures, and observed weather in and around the SLRV, given certain synoptic-scale regimes.
A Brief Critique of a Theory Used to Interpret the Infrasound of Tornadic Thunderstorms
Authors: Schecter David A.
Published: December 2011

It has been proposed that the 0.5–10-Hz infrasound emitted by a severe storm is primarily generated by the axisymmetric oscillations of a tornado. This interpretation is challenged by a critical review of its theoretical foundation. A basic linear analysis shows that the principal axisymmetric oscillations of a subsonic, columnar vortex (axisymmetric Kelvin modes) cannot excite acoustic radiation. Numerical experiments further show that axisymmetric radiation is shaped primarily by the impulse that triggers the emission, not the properties of the vortex.
Developmental Practices, Organizational Culture, and Minority Representation in Organizational Leadership
Authors: Kay Fiona M. , Gorman Elizabeth H.
Published: December 2011

Explanations of minority underrepresentation among organizational managers have focused primarily on either employee deficits in human and social capital or employer discrimination. To date, research has paid little attention to the role of developmental practices and related cultural values within organizations. Using data on large U.S. law firms, the authors investigate the role of formal developmental practices and cultural values in the representation of three minority groups among firm partners: African Americans, Latinos, and Asian Americans. The authors find that formal practices and cultural values intended to aid employee growth and development do not “level the playing field” for minorities. Formal training and mentoring programs do not increase minority presence, while a longer time period to promotion, a cultural commitment to professional development, and a cultural norm of early responsibility are all negatively associated with minority representation. Although the pattern is broadly similar across all three groups, some effects vary in interesting ways.
Suicide rates in the national and expatriate population in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Authors: Dervic Kanita , Amiri Leena , Niederkrotenthaler Thomas , Yousef Said , Salem Mohamed O. , Voracek Martin , Sonneck Gernot
Published: December 2011

Background:

Reports on suicide from the Gulf region are scarce. Dubai is a city with a large expatriate population. However, total and gender-specific suicide rates for the national and expatriate populations are not known.

Aims:

To investigate total and gender-specific suicide rates in the national and expatriate population in Dubai and to elicit socio-demographic characteristics of suicide victims.

Methods:

Registered suicides in Dubai from 2003 to 2009, and aggregated socio-demographic data of suicide victims were analysed. Suicide rates per 100,000 population were calculated.

Results:

Suicide rate among expatriates (6.3/100,000) was seven times higher than the rate among the nationals (0.9/100,000). In both groups, male suicide rate was more than three times higher than the female rate. Approximately three out of four expatriate suicides were committed by Indians. The majority of suicide victims were male, older than 30 years, expatriate, single and employed, with an education of secondary school level and below.

Conclusion:

Further research on risk factors for and protective factors against suicide, particularly among the expatriate population, is needed. Epidemiological monitoring of suicide trends at the national level and improvement of UAE suicide statistics would provide useful information for developing suicide prevention strategies.
Meta-analytical Review of Parameters Involved in Dentin Bonding
Authors: De Munck J. , Mine A. , Poitevin A. , Van Ende A. , Cardoso M.Vivan , Van Landuyt K.L. , Peumans M. , Van Meerbeek B.
Published: December 2011

Bond-strength testing is the method most used for the assessment of bonding effectiveness to enamel and dentin. We aimed to disclose general trends in adhesive performance by collecting dentin bond-strength data systematically. The PubMed and EMBASE databases were used to identify 2,157 bond-strength tests in 298 papers. Most used was the micro-tensile test, which appeared to have a larger discriminative power than the traditional macro-shear test. Because of the huge variability in dentin bond-strength data and the high number of co-variables, a neural network statistical model was constructed. Variables like ‘research group’ and ‘adhesive brand’ appeared most determining. Weighted means derived from this analysis confirmed the high sensitivity of current adhesive approaches (especially of all-in-one adhesives) to long-term water-storage and substrate variability.
Relations of Serum Ascorbic Acid and α-tocopherol to Periodontal Disease
Authors: Iwasaki M. , Manz M.C. , Taylor G.W. , Yoshihara A. , Miyazaki H.
Published: December 2011

Low concentrations of serum anti-oxidants, including ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol, are associated with higher risks of many inflammatory diseases that interrelate with oral health. The present study examined the longitudinal relationship of serum ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol to periodontal disease in 224 Japanese individuals, aged 71 yrs, for whom data were available for the years 1999-2007. Participants were classified by tertiles of serum ascorbic acid and of α-tocopherol. Full-mouth periodontal status, measured as clinical attachment level (CAL), was recorded at baseline and annual follow-up examinations. The number of teeth with a loss of CAL ≥ 3 mm at any site over the study period was calculated as ‘periodontal disease events’. Poisson regression analysis was conducted to assess predictors of periodontal disease events, with serum ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol as the primary predictors of interest. The multivariate adjusted relative risks (95% confidence intervals) in the highest, middle, and lowest tertiles were 1.00 (reference), 1.12 (1.01-1.26), and 1.30 (1.16-1.47) for ascorbic acid and 1.00 (reference), 1.09 (0.98-1.21), and 1.15 (1.04-1.28) for α-tocopherol, respectively. Our findings support the hypothesis that low serum levels of ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol may be a risk factor for periodontal disease in Japanese elderly.
Concentrated Disadvantage and the Incarceration of Youth
Authors: Rodriguez Nancy
Published: December 2011

Objectives: Attribution theory is used to frame a study on concentrated disadvantage and youth correctional confinement. Method: Population of delinquent referrals and a random sample of 50 youth case file records from a large urban juvenile court in the southwest are analyzed. Results: Black and Latino/Latina youth were more likely than their White counterparts to be institutionalized. Youth from areas with high levels of concentrated disadvantage were more likely to be confined than youth from more affluent areas. Court officials' perceptions of disadvantage play an important role when deciding whether youth should remain in the community or be incarcerated. Conclusions: Race, ethnicity, and concentrated disadvantage play a significant role in juvenile justice. Court officials perceive areas of disadvantage as high risk and dangerous for youth. Unfortunately, correctional confinement appears to be one way to address youths' vulnerable state. This study sheds light on the importance of economic landscapes in the administration of justice and the delivery of services.
Bioecological mordant dyeing of silk with monascorubrin
Authors: Liu Yanchun , Bai Gang
Published: December 2011

In this paper we investigate the bioecological mordant dyeing of silk with monascorubrin. The effect of pH, praseodymium chloride concentration and the mordanting method on the dye uptake and K/S was investigated. The washing-fastness, prubbing-fastness and light-fastness were also researched. The results indicate that praseodymium chloride could form a complexation with the monascorubrin and fiber, which improved the dye uptake and K/S. The washing-fastness and rubbing-fastness of the dyed samples was grade 4. The light-fastness was grade 3–4. The optimum dyeing formulation was simultaneous mordanting, praseodymium chloride concentration 1 g/l, pH 3, and liquor ratio 1:30.
Identification of the Mechanism of Action of a Glucokinase Activator From Oral Glucose Tolerance Test Data in Type 2 Diabetic Patients Based on an Integrated Glucose‐Insulin Model
Authors: Jauslin Petra M. , Karlsson Mats O. , Frey Nicolas
Published: December 2011

A mechanistic drug‐disease model was developed on the basis of a previously published integrated glucose‐insulin model by Jauslin et al. A glucokinase activator was used as a test compound to evaluate the model's ability to identify a drug's mechanism of action and estimate its effects on glucose and insulin profiles following oral glucose tolerance tests. A kinetic‐pharmacodynamic approach was chosen to describe the drug's pharmacodynamic effects in a dose‐response‐time model. Four possible mechanisms of action of antidiabetic drugs were evaluated, and the corresponding affected model parameters were identified: insulin secretion, glucose production, insulin effect on glucose elimination, and insulin‐independent glucose elimination. Inclusion of drug effects in the model at these sites of action was first tested one‐by‐one and then in combination. The results demonstrate the ability of this model to identify the dual mechanism of action of a glucokinase activator and describe and predict its effects: Estimating a stimulating drug effect on insulin secretion and an inhibiting effect on glucose output resulted in a significantly better model fit than any other combination of effect sites. The model may be used for dose finding in early clinical drug development and for gaining more insight into a drug candidate's mechanism of action.
Strength of Social Cues in Online Impression Formation
Authors: Carr Caleb T. , Vitak Jessica , McLaughlin Caitlin
Published: December 2011

The social identity model of deindividuation effects (SIDE) predicts individuals in depersonalized settings associate with those with whom they share a salient social identity and disassociate from others. We challenge the strict ingroup/outgroup bifurcation used in prior research and posit that ingroup perceptions differ across distinct (i.e., moderate and extreme) outgroups. A 2 (high cues vs. low cues) × 3 (ingroup, moderate outgroup, extreme outgroup affiliation) experiment utilized 128 subjects to examine how members of an ingroup view individuals belonging to various outgroups. Findings expand SIDE research by addressing the interaction between the valence of social cues to a social group and the strength of those cues. The interaction demonstrates that ingroup members with stronger social cues are more socially identifiable than ingroup members who provided few cues to their ingroup membership, while extreme outgroup members who minimize cues to their identity are more socially identifiable to ingroup members than outgroup members who provide numerous cues.
Aestheticising retail workers: Orientations of aesthetic labour in Australian fashion retail
Authors: Hall Richard , van den Broek Diane
Published: December 2011

The term ‘aesthetic labour’ has come to describe the recruitment, selection, development and deployment of physical and presentational attributes geared towards ‘looking good and sounding right’ ( Warhurst and Nickson, 2007 : 104). Further research has identified a degree of stratification within interactive service work, with further distinctions developing around how particular aesthetic requirements reflect firms’ brand strategies, market orientations and how they appeal to different consumer groupings – what we term, following Pettinger (2004 , 2005), ‘aestheticised labour’. This article presents quantitative data and analyses the prevalence, character and use of aesthetic and aestheticised labour in the Australian fashion retail industry based on a study of fashion retail stores in the central business district of Sydney, Australia. Building on previous work, it identifies that what constitutes aesthetic labour varies according to the market segment and character of the store and brand. As such it reinforces the utility of ‘aestheticised labour’ as a means of identifying nuances in the intensity and orientation of aesthetic labour within the retail sector.
Alcohol Misuse and Abuse Reported by Nurse Aides in Assisted Living
Authors: Castle Nicholas G. , Wagner Laura M. , Ferguson-Rome Jamie C. , Smith Mary Lindsey , Handler Steven M.
Published: December 2011

Alcohol misuse and abuse in Assisted Living (AL) as reported by nurse aides is examined. Data came from a secondary analysis of nurse aides included in the Pennsylvania nurse aide registry. A total of 832 nurse aides had a prior place of employment in AL. Information reported from these nurse aides include the percent of residents identified as drinking alcohol, opinions of alcohol misuse and abuse, and the prevalence of alcohol misuse and abuse. Nurse aides believe a majority (69%) of AL residents drink alcohol. Of these residents, 34% are thought to drink alcohol daily. Estimated prevalence rates show that in 19% of cases nurse aides believe alcohol consumption has influenced residents’ health and 28% are suspected to make poor choices for alcohol consumption. The findings present preliminary evidence that alcohol misuse and abuse may be a problem of importance in AL. Given the potential impact of this on the health, safety, and quality of life for elders, more attention should be focused on alcohol misuse and abuse by residents living in AL.
The interaction between family structure and child gender on behavior problems in urban ethnic minority children
Authors: Mokrue Kathariya , Chen Yung Y. , Elias Maurice
Published: December 2011

Previous studies have reported that children from single-parent households fare worse behaviorally than those from two-parent households. Studies examining single-parent households often fail to distinguish between single-mother and single-father households. Further, there are inconsistent findings regarding the effect of family structure on boys and girls. This study examined the relationship between family structures and behavior problems among 515 predominantly ethnic minority children in an urban setting, while taking into account the role of children’s gender. Results indicated that children from two-parent families consistently scored lower on measures of externalizing behavior and hyperactivity when compared to children from parent-absent households, but not when compared to those from single-parent households. Moderation analyses revealed significant interactions between family structure and children’s gender. Girls in single-mother households scored higher in externalizing behavior and hyperactivity than those in two-parent households. Behavior problems for boys in single-mother households did not differ from those in two-parent households. These findings encourage further research on parenting practices and child’s gender within various family structures.
Relational and overt aggression in urban India
Authors: Bowker Julie C. , Ostrov Jamie M. , Raja Radhi
Published: December 2011

This study explored the associations between relational and overt aggression and social status, and tested whether the peer correlates of aggression vary as a function of best friends’ aggression during early adolescence in urban India. One hundred and ninety-four young adolescents from primarily middle-to-upper-class families in Surat, India participated. Analyses revealed unique associations between both forms of aggression and perceived popularity, and between relational aggression and social preference. The consideration of best friend aggression (and in one case, gender) explained some variability in the associations between both forms of aggression and the peer correlates, suggesting that the consideration of best friends’ aggression, particularly in complex and changing non-Western societies such as India, may lead to new insight into why not all aggressive adolescents are disliked and popular.
Headache and prolonged dilatation of the middle meningeal artery by PACAP38 in healthy volunteers
Authors: Amin Faisal Mohammad , Asghar Mohammad Sohail , Guo Song , Hougaard Anders , Hansen Adam Espe , Schytz Henrik Winther , van der Geest Rob J , de Koning Patrick JH , Larsson Henrik BW , Olesen Jes , Ashina Messoud
Published: December 2011

Aim: To explore a possible relationship between vasodilatation and delayed headache we examined the effect of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide-38 (PACAP38) on the middle meningeal artery (MMA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) using high resolution magnetic resonance angiography (MRA).

Methods: In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study 14 healthy volunteers were scanned repeatedly after infusion (20 min) of 10 pmol/kg/min PACAP38 or placebo. In addition, four participants were scanned following subcutaneous sumatriptan (6 mg).

Results: We found significant dilatation of the MMA (p = 0.00001), but not of the MCA (p = 0.50) after PACAP38. There was no change after placebo (p > 0.40). Vasodilatation (range 16–23%) lasted more than 5 h. Sumatriptan selectively contracted the MMA by 12.3% (p = 0.043).

Conclusion: PACAP38-induced headache is associated with prolonged dilatation of the MMA but not of the MCA. Sumatriptan relieves headache in parallel with contraction of the MMA but not of the MCA.
Lack of drug interaction between the migraine drug MAP0004 (orally inhaled dihydroergotamine) and a CYP3A4 inhibitor in humans
Authors: Kellerman D , Kori S , Forst A , Chang J , Febbraro S , WuTann L , Thomas T , Taylor G , Dodick DW
Published: December 2011

Background: Dihydroergotamine (DHE), a proven migraine treatment, currently has product labeling warning against concomitant use of CYP3A4 inhibitors because of potential drug interactions. However, no reported studies of such interactions with DHE administered by any route are available.

Methods: The pharmacokinetics (PK) of MAP0004, an investigative inhaled DHE formulation, were assessed in human subjects with and without CYP3A4 inhibition by ketoconazole to evaluate the potential for drug interaction, elevation of DHE levels, and increased adverse effects.

Results: After MAP0004 alone vs. MAP0004 plus ketoconazole, the DHE maximum concentrations (Cmax) and area-under-the-curve (AUC0–48 and AUC0–∞) were not statistically significantly different nor was the Cmax of the primary metabolite, 8’-OH-DHE. A difference in 8’-OH-DHE AUCs was observed between MAP0004 with and without ketoconazole; however, the concentrations were very low. MAP0004 was well tolerated after both treatments.

Conclusions: This study demonstrated that CYP3A4 inhibition had little to no effect on DHE PK after MAP0004 administration, apparently because of its high systemic and low gastrointestinal bioavailability. CYP3A4 inhibition slowed elimination of the metabolite 8’-OH-DHE, but concentrations were too low to be pharmacologically relevant.
A Retrospective Evaluation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Effectiveness on Capitellar Osteochondritis Dissecans Among Overhead Athletes
Authors: Iwasaki Norimasa , Kamishima Tamotsu , Kato Hiroyuki , Funakoshi Tadanao , Minami Akio
Published: December 2011

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been widely used to characterize osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesions. However, the usefulness of MRI for predicting fragment stability in OCD of the humeral capitellum (capitellar OCD) remains unclear.

Hypothesis: Preoperative MRI cannot accurately diagnose fragment instability of capitellar OCD in overhead athletes.

Study Design: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 1.

Methods: Twenty-seven male overhead athletes who had undergone surgery for capitellar OCD were included in the study. A single senior musculoskeletal radiologist blindly reviewed preoperative MRI of these OCD lesions. The radiologist reported the presence or absence of each of the 4 MRI signs indicating fragment instability as described by De Smet et al. The lesions were also classified according to the MRI staging system of Dipaola et al for characterizing the lesions. Intraoperative assessment of fragment stability was used as the gold standard. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were determined for fragment instability as assessed by MRI.

Results: According to the MRI criteria by De Smet et al and the Dipaola et al staging system, 21 (78%) and 20 (74%) lesions were defined as unstable, respectively. The obtained results yielded a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 44% for diagnosing fragment instability using the De Smet et al MRI criteria and a sensitivity of 83% and a specificity of 44% using the Dipaola et al MRI staging system. The PPV and NPV for fragment instability were 76% and 67% using the De Smet et al criteria and 75% and 57% according to the Dipaola et al staging system, respectively. The overall correlation rate of Dipaola et al MRI and intraoperative stages was 41%.

Conclusion: Preoperative MRI cannot precisely diagnose fragment instability of capitellar OCD that requires operative treatments in overhead athletes. Especially, MRI indicating stable lesions is considered not to be useful in predicting intraoperative instability of capitellar OCD in this study population.
Gifted Identification With Aurora
Authors: Kornilov Sergey A. , Tan Mei , Elliott Julian G. , Sternberg Robert J. , Grigorenko Elena L.
Published: December 2011

The current need to think globally over the long term has necessarily altered perspectives in education. Expectations for educational outcomes have increased over the last century for all students and, in many societies, diverse educational programs are available for those who are deemed to be particularly gifted. However, many children are likely to have intellectual gifts that are not easily revealed by the narrow range of cognitive and academic assessments typically employed by schools and, as a result, their abilities and potentials may remain unrealized. Who are these children and how can we best identify them? Assessment procedures designed for the identification of gifted students have become more refined in many cases, but there is an ever-present danger of having too narrow a perspective. This study demonstrates how an assessment approach based on a theory of intelligence encompassing multiple abilities may be useful in broadening the scope of conceptions and measures of giftedness.
Gadolinium chloride pretreatment ameliorates acute cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity
Authors: Kyriakou Loukas G , Tzirogiannis Konstantinos N , Demonakou Maria D , Kourentzi Kalliopi T , Mykoniatis Michael G , Panoutsopoulos Georgios I
Published: December 2011

Cadmium is a known industrial and environmental pollutant. It causes hepatotoxicity upon acute administration. Features of cadmium-induced acute hepatoxicity encompass necrosis, apoptosis, peliosis and inflammatory infiltration. Gadolinium chloride (GdCl3) may prevent cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity by suppressing Kupffer cells. The effect of GdCl3 pretreatment on a model of acute cadmium-induced liver injury was investigated. Male Wistar rats 4–5 months old were injected intraperitoneally with normal saline followed by cadmium chloride (CdCl2; 6.5 mg/kg) or GdCl3 (10 mg/kg) followed by CdCl2 (6.5 mg/kg; groups I and II, respectively). Rats of both the groups were killed at 9, 12, 16, 24, 48 and 60 h after cadmium intoxication. Liver sections were analyzed for necrosis, apoptosis, peliosis and mitoses. Liver regeneration was also evaluated by tritiated thymidine incorporation into hepatic DNA. Serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were also determined. Hepatic necrosis, hepatocyte and nonparenchymal cell apoptosis and macroscopic and microscopic types of peliosis hepatis were minimized by gadolinium pretreatment. Serum levels of AST and ALT were also greatly diminished in rats of group II. Tritiated thymidine incorporation into hepatic DNA was increased in gadolinium pretreatment rats. Kupffer cell activation was minimal in both the groups of rats. Gadolinium pretreatment attenuates acute cadmium-induced liver injury in young Wistar rats, with mechanisms other than Kupffer cell elimination.
The Empathy Index
Authors: Grady Melissa D. , Rose Roderick A.
Published: December 2011

This article examines the analysis of the psychometric properties, including the validity and reliability, of the Empathy Index (EI), a new instrument designed to measure empathy deficits of sex offenders. The EI was tested with a sample of 158 sex offenders incarcerated in North Carolina prisons. An exploratory factor analysis yielded three subscales: social aggression; instrumental (proactive) aggression; and justification. Social aggression was an unexpected finding, given this type of aggression is more commonly found in young females rather than adult male sex offenders. The instrument demonstrates promising construct and concurrent validity as well as strong internal reliability. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.
The Bolt Wars
Authors: Bogardus Lisa M.
Published: December 2011

Subculture research on alternative sports has focused on the seemingly inevitable commodification and media co-option of these activities and their internal status hierarchies. In this article, I examine the neglected issue of how participants define the informal “rules” of a self-governed sport. Specifically, I am interested in intragroup conflict among long-time traditional rock climbers over the legitimacy of practices that reduce risk. I spent sixteen months conducting participant observation in multiple locations in the rock climbing world, collected seventeen in-depth interviews, and consulted a wide range of secondary material. Drawing on social worlds theory to analyze the sociohistorical sources of competing ideologies, the participants’ claimsmaking activities, and their strategic actions to maintain and challenge informal rules, I provide a more nuanced and complex picture of social change in alternative sports. I also demonstrate the value of the social worlds perspective for understanding the interactive construction of social worlds and participants in constant flux.
A novel method for estimation of train speed and location using traction motor voltage and current
Authors: Heidari Amir , Sandidzadeh Mohammad Ali , Farshad Siamak
Published: December 2011

Novel sliding mode, adaptive sliding mode and model reference adaptive robust methods for speed estimation of indirect vector control drives of the traction produced by induction motors are presented in this paper. In these methods, the inputs of the proposed algorithm for speed estimation are the three phases of the currents and voltages of the induction motor. The dynamics and robustness of the proposed methods are investigated. The sensitivities of the proposed methods to the motor time constant and the speed estimation errors are examined based on the variation of machine parameters under various operational environments. The performances of the methods are compared with each other using simulations performed in a Matlab environment. It is shown that the model reference adaptive method is unable to accurately estimate the under load traction speed. In addition, the sliding mode method has design parameter uncertainty issues. However, the use of an adaptive sliding mode observer eliminates most of the encountered problems.
The Integration of Chronic Illness Self-Management
Authors: Audulv Åsa , Asplund Kenneth , Norbergh Karl-Gustaf
Published: December 2011

Self-management is crucial for people living with chronic diseases, but the actual process of integrating self-management has not been explored in depth. In this article, we investigate the integration of self-management into the lives of people with chronic illness. In this longitudinal study, we used an interpretive description approach. Twenty-one individuals were interviewed regularly during the first 3 years after they were diagnosed with a chronic condition. We found self-management integration to be an ongoing process that included four phases: seeking effective self-management strategies, considering costs and benefits, creating routines and plans of action, and negotiating self-management that fits one’s life. The participants managed the phases according to their context, e.g., illness experience, life situation, personal beliefs, and social support. Health care providers should therefore facilitate self-management integration by providing support that is adjusted to the person’s phase of self-management integration and life context.
Transient Global Amnesia
Authors: Forman Walter B.
Published: December 2011

In this case report and review of the literature, transient global amnesia (TGA) is discussed. A 72-year-old physician presented to the emergency department with sudden loss of memory. In particular, he was unable to recall recent events. Other neurological examination was intact. The loss of recent memory was completely resolved, during the next 4 hours. This event (TGA) must be distinguished from other neurological events such as transient ischemic attacks, seizures, and cerebral vascular events. A literature review suggested that TGA is related to an acute loss of function in the temporal lobe. It is important for palliative medicine physicians to have this unusual syndrome in their differential diagnosis, as this cause of memory loss must be separated from more aggressive causes of memory loss, for example, stroke and seizure. Transient global amnesia is a self-limiting disorder without late consequences.
Bullying and Victimization Among Students With Disabilities
Authors: Rose Chad A. , Monda-Amaya Lisa E.
Published: December 2011

Bullying has come to be recognized as a pervasive problem in schools today. Frequently bullying is not immediately recognized or viewed by classroom teachers as problematic behavior. As more students experience bullying, questions arise as to how well teachers understand the bullying dynamic and are aware of strategies for intervening when those behaviors occur. This article is designed to give teachers, administrators, and researchers a fundamental understanding of bullying behavior and strategies for intervening in schools and classrooms.