bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Living above the Shop: Home, Business, and Family in the English ‘‘Industrial Revolution’’
Authors: Barker Hannah , Hamlett Jane
Published: June 2010

This article explores the living arrangements and familial relations of small business households in northwest English towns between 1760 and 1820. Focusing on evidence from inventories and personal writing, it examines the homes that such households lived and worked in and the ways in which space was ordered and used: indicating that access to particular spaces was determined by status. This study suggests both the continuance of the ‘‘household family’’ into the nineteenth century (rather than its more modern, ‘‘nuclear’’ variant) and the existence of keenly felt gradations of status within households making it likely that the constitution of ‘‘the family’’ differed according to one’s place in the domestic hierarchy.
Treatment of Biceps Tendon Lesions in the Setting of Rotator Cuff Tears
Authors: Koh Kyoung Hwan , Ahn Jin Hwan , Kim Sang Min , Yoo Jae Chul
Published: June 2010

Background: During rotator cuff repair, biceps tendon lesions are frequently encountered. However, there is still controversy about optimal treatment for these lesions.

Purpose: To compare the results of tenotomy and suture anchor tenodesis prospectively.

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

Methods: From January 2006 to June 2007, 90 patients (age, >55 years) with a rotator cuff tear and biceps tendon lesion (tear more than 30%, subluxation or dislocation, or degenerative superior labrum anterior to posterior lesion type II) were evaluated prospectively. The first 45 patients treated consecutively underwent biceps tenodesis, and the next 45 underwent biceps tenotomy. Postoperatively, patient evaluations were conducted with a focus on (1) “Popeye” deformity, (2) arm cramping pain, and (3) elbow flexion powers (measured with a hand dynamometer). Overall shoulder function was assessed with the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score and the Constant score.

Results: At final follow-up, 43 in the tenodesis and 41 in the tenotomy groups were available for evaluation. There was no difference between groups in demographic data such as age, sex, dominant arm, and the time from symptom to surgery and in preoperative ASES score, Constant score, and rotator cuff tear size. A Popeye deformity occurred in 4 (9%) in the tenodesis group and in 11 (27%) in the tenotomy group ( P = .0360). Mild cramping pain was observed in 2 in the tenodesis group and 4 in the tenotomy group ( P = .4274). Mean elbow flexor power ratio (vs the contralateral side) showed no difference between the 2 groups, with mean values of 0.92 ± 0.15 (tenodesis) and 0.94 ± 0.19 (tenotomy) ( P = .7475). The ASES and Constant scores were improved from 38.9 ± 14.2 and 52.1 ± 21.3 to 84.7 ± 13.6 and 82.9 ± 13.5 in the tenodesis group ( P < .0001) and from 35.2 ± 10.5 and 48.1 ± 21.3 to 79.6 ± 15.8 and 78.3 ± 14.1 in the tenotomy group ( P < .0001), respectively.

Conclusion: Suture anchor tenodesis of the long head of the biceps tendon appears to lead to less Popeye deformity than tenotomy. No other clinical variables showed a difference between the 2 modalities.
Differences in Caregiving
Authors: Byrd Joshua , Spencer S. Melinda , Goins R. Turner
Published: June 2010

Many rural residents require care as they age, but the stress associated with providing care to dependent elders may be exacerbated in nonmetropolitan areas due to the lack of formal services. To better understand residential variation in caregiver outcomes, a random-digit telephone survey was conducted in 2004 with 219 metropolitan, 77 micropolitan, and 104 nonmetropolitan West Virginia caregivers. Residential differences were not detected for caregiver well-being outcomes of burden and depressive symptomatology. However, nonmetropolitan caregivers reported more medical conditions than caregivers in other residential categories. Taken together, findings of this study do not support the notion that rural residence always places caregivers at risk for negative outcomes.
The Assessment of School Psychologists in Practice Through Multisource Feedback
Authors: Andrews Jac J. W. , Violato Claudio
Published: June 2010

In this article we provide an overview of the nature and scope of multisource feedback (MSF) and provide empirical evidence of its reliability, validity, and feasibility in one of the health professions. The overall internal consistency reliability (Cronbach alpha) of MSF instruments is generally greater than .96 for self and informants such as patients, coworker, and colleague surveys. Generalizability coefficients for the assessors across persons are approximately 0.80. There is also substantial evidence of content, criterion-related and some evidence of construct validity of the MSF instruments applied in the health professions. Based on these findings, we recommend the development and use of a MSF system for practicing school psychologists, present information about how MSF instruments can be constructed, and provide examples of what these instruments could look like.
Environmental and experimental exposure of phthalate esters: The toxicological consequence on human sperm
Authors: Pant N. , Pant AB , Shukla M. , Mathur N. , Gupta YK , Saxena DK
Published: June 2010

Rapid industrialization and urbanization release several chemicals such as phthalates into the environment and cause adverse effects on reproductive system, mainly endocrine disruption, testicular injury and decline in semen quality in humans. There are no reports in extrapolating of the epidemiological data with in vitro findings. Our study show the correlations between in vivo studies and in vitro data for the effect of phthalate esters. Healthy human males, in the age group 21 to 40 years, visiting Chhatrapati Sahuji Maharaj Medical University (CSMMU), Lucknow, as part of infertility investigation, were recruited as volunteers. Semen analysis was performed according to the WHO guidelines. Phthalate esters were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and cell viability by MTT assay. In the in vitro studies, sperms were exposed to highest concentration in semen samples (5—10 times higher) for a period ranging between 30 min and 96 hours. An inverse relationship with sperm motility in epidemiological studies was concurrent by significant dose-and time-dependent decrease in the sperm motility under in vitro environment after 12-hour exposure. Cytotoxicity was observed only with the highest concentration after 96 hours of exposure. There are a significant correlation between phthalate ester diethylhexyl phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate (DEHP and DBP) and sperm motility both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Additionally, in vitro experiments conducted not only adjunct to the existing in vivo data but also specify the effect of specific toxicants (DEHP and DBP) on sperm motility and viability. Results show the decrease in motility of sperms under in vitro conditions at the maximum range of in vivo measured levels and 5- or 10-folds higher to that found in human semen samples.
A Visco-hyperelastic Model for the Thermo-mechanical Behavior of Polymer Fibers
Authors: Potirniche G.P. , Pascu A. , Shoemaker N. , Wang P.T. , Horstemeyer M.F. , Stillman D. , Lin T.-L.
Published: June 2010

A visco-hyperelastic model for the thermo-mechanical behavior of polymer yarns is presented. The model assumes that the stress in a yarn during uniaxial deformation results from the superposition of strain rate hardening effects and the softening caused by filament damage. The filament damage accounts for the fracture of polymer chains and the failure of inter-chain bonds. The constitutive model was implemented in the finite element method as a 1D rope element, and was applied to the study of nylon 6.6 and Kevlar ® 29 behavior. Numerical simulations of fabrics subjected to ballistic impact were performed, and the model is shown to predict the fabric penetration resistance and the deformation characteristics during the dynamic event.
Tip Parameter Approximation and Fatigue Growth of Crack Towards Inclined Weld Interface Between Strength Mismatched Steels
Authors: Bhat Sunil
Published: June 2010

A Mode I crack growing at an angle other than 90° with respect to the interface of weld between strength mismatched steels in a bimetallic composite is investigated. The steels and the weld have nearly identical elastic and thermal expansion properties. As the crack in parent steel reaches near the interface of the weld, the plastic strain or yield zone at its tip spreads to the weld, which causes load transfer effect, due to strength mismatch across the weld interface, over the crack tip. Yield zone is modeled as Dugdale’s cohesive zone subjected to constant closing cohesive traction. Geometrical formulations are employed to approximate change in volume of parts of cohesive zone on either side of the interface resulting upon inclining the interface from the vertical. A computational model for crack tip in front of the perpendicular weld interface in linear elastic regime is modified to account for the effect of inclination of weld interface from the vertical. Crack tip stress intensity parameter is approximated from the model, cyclic value of which is used to assess the rate of fatigue crack growth towards the weld interface. The model is validated by experiments. Bimetallic compact tension specimens, prepared by electron beam welding of weak ASTM 4340 alloy and strong MDN 250 maraging steels at interface angles of 10° and 15° with the vertical, are subjected to high cycle fatigue. Growth rate of crack is found to dip substantially when it reaches near the interface of ultra strong weld. The results are compared with those of plain and bimetallic specimens with perpendicular weld interfaces. Inclination of weld interface from the vertical by nearly all the angles changes, albeit marginally, the values of crack tip parameter visà-vis those in the case of perpendicular weld interface. Theoretical and experimental results are in good agreement with each other.
Learning Through Play: Extending an Early Childhood Music Education Approach to Undergraduate and Graduate Music Education
Authors: Koops Lisa Huisman , Taggart Cynthia Crump
Published: June 2010

Early childhood researchers have found that play is an ideal way for young children to learn. Yet few music teacher educators have applied this finding with adult learners, and in many music education programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, playful activities are generally few. This article presents a rationale for developing “playful” music education undergraduate and graduate programs and offer examples of engaging in play as part of coursework, socialization, and research. Observations, suggestions, and findings drawn from the fields of cognitive science, philosophy, psychology, music education, as well as early childhood research and practice are described as the authors open a discussion of how “lightening up” our curricula may actually have a weighty positive impact.
The Lived Experiences of Adolescents with Disabilities and Their Parents in Transition Planning
Authors: Hetherington Susan A. , Durant-Jones Lisa , Johnson Kimberly , Nolan Karen , Smith Elizabeth , Taylor-Brown Susan , Tuttle Jane
Published: June 2010

The educational transition process experienced by adolescents with disabilities and their parents was examined in this study. The results of the qualitative study can be interpreted to conclude that students rarely were engaged in transition planning, and when they were engaged, it came too late in their high school careers. Students with disabilities and their parents described dissatisfaction in the following areas: inadequate communication from school staff, frustration with assumptions made about the student, funneling of the student into traditional adult service programs, and a lack of accountability from the schools. Even those students who reported being engaged in the transition process experienced inadequate transition planning. Strategies to improve transition planning are presented.
On Fathers in Norwegian History 1850-1920
Authors: Lorentzen Jørgen
Published: June 2010

Fathers have been a central part of Norwegian gender equality policy for the last two decades. But what about fathers in Norwegian history? This article is a study on the discourse of fatherhood found within conduct books, letters, autobiographies, journals, and to a certain degree novels and argues that fatherhood was seen as almost as important to the family and the home as the mother in the period 1850—1920 and that the father was split between a role for the family and a role in the family.
Why do public policies fail so often? Exploring health policy-making as an imaginary and symbolic construction
Authors: Fotaki Marianna
Published: June 2010

Although it is widely accepted that public policies are difficult to implement, most analyses of policy failures are conceived of as predominantly rational processes. This article questions that assumption by introducing ideas of a desiring subject and socio-symbolic order drawn from Lacanian psychoanalytic theory to suggest that public policies are also a product of social fantasy, and to draw attention to the implications of this unrecognized function of policy-making. It also employs the idea of defensive splitting borrowed from Kleinian object relations theory to explain the difficulty of translating policy into public organizations, which have to perform often conflicting societal tasks. The example of patient choice in the UK National Health Service (the NHS) is used to illustrate theoretical arguments and to propose an alternative understanding of public policy-making by way of bridging fantasy with reality.
Interpretations of CEO public apologies for the banking crisis: attributions of blame and avoidance of responsibility
Authors: Hargie Owen , Stapleton Karyn , Tourish Dennis
Published: June 2010

This article analyses the public testimony of four banking CEOs to the Banking Crisis Inquiry of the Treasury Committee of the UK House of Commons in 2009. Utilizing a discursive and interpretive approach, we explore how they attributed responsibility and blame for the crisis through the medium of public apologies. A number of taxonomies of apology are employed to provide an interpretive framework for the analysis. We conclude that the CEO discourse is characterized by expressions of regret, attempts to articulate alignment with others affected by the crisis and dissociation from the events being scrutinized, in order to avoid direct culpability for the crisis and invoke instead the spectre of impersonal global events which mitigates personal responsibility. We therefore characterize the discourse studied as an example of apology avoidance, and consider the constraints on apology which senior CEOs evidently feel they face.
Destroying the village to save it: corporate social responsibility, labour relations, and the rise and fall of American hegemony
Authors: Marens Richard
Published: June 2010

The literature on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), produced largely by American business school academics, has, over the last generation, ignored an empirical record of corporate irresponsibility, especially in the area of employment relations. This neglect is puzzling given the skepticism of previous generations of CSR scholars and the importance these placed on labour-management cooperation. Arrighi’s (1994) theory of the rise and fall of hegemonic societies can explain this shift in perspective. According to Arrighi, American global economic hegemony emerged a century ago powered by its multi-divisional corporations, but the extraordinary autonomy exercised by this organizational form stimulated demands for the responsible use of its economic power. When American hegemony was still new and based on industrial development, the discourse on CSR focused on ‘the labour question’ in order to insure productivity and social peace. As the nature of American hegemony expanded after World War II, academic views on appropriate corporate responsibilities broadened accordingly, and CSR embraced a pluralistic perspective capable of competing with other systems. Once American hegemony began its decline, and new competitive and financial pressures shook the stability of its institutions, the field of Business and Society adopted a managerialist version of CSR that relied on nonconsequentialist ethical abstractions. This contemporary perspective has had no measurable impact on corporate behaviour, and as American hegemony dissipates, any future version of CSR will necessarily be less ethnocentric, perhaps originating within other societies.
Osteoporosis in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Hearn Andrew P , Silber Eli
Published: June 2010

Fractures resulting from osteoporosis are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the developed world. People with multiple sclerosis experience reduced mobility and are susceptible to falls. Glucocorticoid use and reduced mobility are known risk factors for osteoporosis. This paper is a review of osteoporosis in people with multiple sclerosis, looking at its prevalence, risk factors and possible mechanisms. We also review management guidelines for osteoporosis in the general population and use these to propose guidelines for osteoporosis management amongst multiple sclerosis patients. A number of studies have examined the incidence of reduced bone mineral density amongst people with multiple sclerosis; the majority provide convincing evidence that bone mineral density is significantly reduced in multiple sclerosis patients. The most significant risk factors appear to arise from the chronic disease process of multiple sclerosis and not from glucocorticoid use. There are currently no guidelines or consensus as how best to treat osteoporosis amongst multiple sclerosis patients despite their being at an increased risk. We propose an algorithm for the screening and treatment of osteoporosis in people with multiple sclerosis.
Rallying around the flag or railing against the government? Political parties’ reactions to terrorist acts
Authors: Chowanietz Christophe
Published: June 2010

This article analyses the reaction of mainstream political elites to acts of terrorism and assesses whether opposition parties will rally around the flag, much like they do during military or diplomatic crises. A statistical analysis, conducted on 181 terrorist events in five countries (France, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States) over the period 1990 to 2006, indicates that rallies around the flag are the rule. Overall, the results show that the repetition of acts of terror is a strong factor affecting political parties’ responses to terrorist acts, as repeated attacks are more likely to prompt criticism. The magnitude of the act (i.e. the number of fatalities) is also associated with a rallying effect, as larger attacks are more likely to result in a unified front across parties. Other variables, such as the identity of the perpetrators and the existence of a formal anti-terrorist pact between the parties, are significantly related to the likelihood of a rally.
The endogenous change in electoral systems: The case of SNTV
Authors: Lin Jih-wen
Published: June 2010

Electoral systems shape party systems by constraining voters’ choices, but the choices voters make may also compel political parties to change the electoral system. Thus, an electoral system changes endogenously if the voters’ choices it induces vary over time, and political parties are motivated by the voters’ new choices to modify the electoral system. This article applies this logic to explain the change in the single non-transferable vote (SNTV) system. When SNTV fosters the formation of a dominant-party system, the ruling party needs to maintain steady economic growth so that enough resources can be turned into private goods to satisfy the majority of voters. But economic growth necessarily increases the anonymity of the voters, and hence the difficulty for the dominant party to garner votes using this strategy. The demise of one-party dominance and the shift in government power then urge some parties to replace SNTV with other electoral systems. This hypothesis is confirmed by the electoral reforms in Japan and Taiwan.
An Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior to the Proximal and Distal Etiology of Sexual Offending
Authors: Miller Diane Lynn
Published: June 2010

Emerging from social psychology, the theory of planned behavior offers a potentially useful theoretical framework for research into the etiology of sexual offending in adults and adolescents. The theory of planned behavior-a cognitive-affective theory about the role of attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control on behaviors-may provide a means by which to link distal etiological factors into proximal ones involved in the offense process, providing greater specificity to the ‘‘abused- abuser’’ hypothesis. The theory of planned behavior also provides a theoretical framework with which to specify mechanisms involved in the proximal offense cycle. Important new directions for research resulting from this conceptual advance are presented, along with limitations of the theory in its application to the etiology of sexual offending. This theoretical framework directs practitioners to classify sexual offenders’ cognitive distortions by whether they involve behavioral beliefs, normative beliefs, and/or control beliefs and to modify treatment activities accordingly.
Examining Relationships Among Dialect Variation and Emergent Literacy Skills
Authors: Terry Nicole Patton
Published: June 2010

This study examined the relationship between nonmainstream American English (NMAE) dialect use and various emergent literacy skills among typically developing children in prekindergarten. Correlation and regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between children’s production of NMAE forms (i.e., dialect variation [DVAR]) and their alphabet knowledge, name writing, print concepts, and phonological awareness. The sample of 4-year-olds was diverse: 57.6% were African American and 33.3% participated in free and reduced lunch programs. Moderate, negative significant correlations were found between DVAR and all measures, except name writing. However, with the exception of nursery rhyme awareness, DVAR did not independently contribute to children’s performance when it was entered into regression models with related emergent literacy skills as predictor variables. The results suggest an indirect role for NMAE use in emergent literacy achievement and that frequency of spoken NMAE production may be secondary to children’s metalinguistic skills.
In-Situ Polymer Coating of Open Grid Warp Knitted Fabrics for Textile Reinforced Concrete Application
Authors: Koeckritz U. , Cherif Ch. , Weiland S. , Curbach M.
Published: June 2010

This article presents the research work done in the framework of the Collaborative Research Centre — Textile Reinforcement for Structural Strengthening and Retrofitting. Previous results of textile reinforced concrete (TRC) have shown that the mechanical properties of the applied open grid warp knitted fabrics made of alkali-resistant glass filament yarns or carbon filament yarns as reinforcement material have not been utilized to complete satisfaction in the composition with the mineral matrix system. Further we have noticed that the orientation and configuration of the reinforcing fiber material is quite influenced by the handling in the further processing steps, which leads to the need of a sustainable structural stabilization.Different technologies for a subsequent structural stabilization e.g., dip-or spray coating with water-based polymer dispersions, thermal bonding, and laminating have been investigated. The results of these preliminary investigations have been published [2] and in consequence a suitable technology for a structural strengthening process has been selected. The structural strengthening of open grid warp knitted fabrics by means of an in-situ polymer coating process, which is completely integrated, as a modular line concept, into a multi-axial warp knitting machine from Karl Mayer Malimo increases the utilization of mechanical performance in TRC applications. Further the developed structural strengthening process improves the handling properties of the textile fabric. The modular line concept consisting of coating and drying moduless will be described. The influence of process and structure parameters to the mechanical properties of polymer-modified textile fabrics will be explained and sets the basis for the development and manufacturing of textile fabrics with structural properties adjusted to the requirements of the intended application. The effect of polymer-modified fabrics to the load bearing capacity of TRC will be discussed. To demonstrate the application potential of the developed composite material the TRC has been applied to reinforce a hypar shell structure of a campus building at the University of Applied Sciences in Schweinfurt, Germany.
Endovascular Therapy for Subclavian Artery Rupture in von Recklinghausen Disease
Authors: Santin Brian J. , Guy Gregory E. , Bourekas Eric C. , Go Michael R.
Published: June 2010

Vascular anomalies are extremely rare in patients with von Recklinghausen disease. This report presents a case of an acute spontaneous subclavian artery rupture in a patient with von Recklinghausen disease. A 44-year-old woman with a history of neurofibromatosis type 1, multiple sclerosis, and aortic valve replacement experienced a ‘‘popping sensation’’ in her neck. An emergent angiogram via a right brachial artery approach revealed active extravasation of contrast from the proximal part of the right subclavian artery between the vertebral and axillary arteries. An 8 mm × 5 cm endoprosthesis stent graft was placed across the area of extravasation via the brachial sheath. Completion angiography revealed brisk flow through the stent graft with resolution of the area of extravasation and no residual stenosis. Arterial rupture, aneurysm formation, stenosis, and dissection can be fatal in patients with neurofibromatosis. Further research is needed to determine screening guidelines and management algorithms for this patient population.
Sustainability of a Culturally Informed Community-Based Diabetes Prevention Program for Obese Latino Youth
Authors: Greenwood-Ericksen Margaret B. , Chapman Cecilia R. , Konopken Yolanda , Ertl Janice , Shaibi Gabriel Q.
Published: June 2010

Latino youth are disproportionately impacted by obesity and type 2 diabetes; however, few lifestyle interventions have targeted this population. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the impact of a culturally informed lifestyle education program on nutrition and physical activity behaviors among obese Latino youth. A retrospective chart review of 67 youths was conducted with self-reported nutrition and physical activity assessed both immediately following the program and after long-term follow-up. Body mass index (BMI) was evaluated to determine the impact of behavior changes on adiposity. Healthy nutrition and physical activity changes were reported by 20%-59% of youths immediately following the program. However, most of these changes were attenuated over the 261 ± 49 day follow-up with reported walking (25.4%) and sports participation (34.3%) sustained to a greater extent than dietary changes (3.4–14.9%). Nonetheless, children who continued walking at follow-up exhibited significantly larger reductions in BMI compared with those who did not (−1.63 ± 0.56 vs. 0.44 ± 0.30 kg/m2, P < .05). Based on our pilot study, we conclude that community-based lifestyle education programs can support behavior modification and weight management in obese Latino youth. Ongoing support may be necessary to encourage sustained behavior change to facilitate greater weight loss.
Accurate hematopoietic stem cell frequency estimates by fitting multicell Poisson models substituting to the single-hit Poisson model in limiting dilution transplantation assays
Authors: Bonnefoix Thierry , Callanan Mary
Published: June 2010

Limiting dilution transplantation assay (LDTA) is considered as the gold standard method to assess hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) content. Traditionally, HSC frequency estimates are based on the single-hit Poisson model (SHPM), which posits that one donor HSC is sufficient to generate a progeny of detectable differentiated cells above a threshold value in hosts. However, there is no clear support for this statement, and it is receivable that more than one donor HSC may be necessary to provide detectable reconstitution in hosts above the threshold level for detection, usually 0.5% to 1% of donor-derived cells. To address this hypothesis, we evaluated the ability of a class of multiCell Poisson models (C≥1PMs) to fit to LDTAs. In 7 of the 8 reanalyzed LDTAs, C≥1PMs plausibly compete with the traditional SHPM. Model averaging across the set of plausible models gives 1.32- to 5.88-fold increases in HSC frequencies compared with the SHPM.
Management of chronic viral hepatitis in patients with thalassemia: recommendations from an international panel
Authors: Di Marco Vito , Capra Marcello , Angelucci Emanuele , Borgna-Pignatti Caterina , Telfer Paul , Harmatz Paul , Kattamis Antonis , Prossamariti Luciano , Filosa Aldo , Rund Deborah , Gamberini Maria Rita , Cianciulli Paolo , De Montalembert Marianne , Gagliardotto Francesco , Foster Graham , Grangè Jean Didier , Cassarà Filippo , Iacono Angela , Cappellini Maria Domenica , Brittenham Gary M. , Prati Daniele , Pietrangelo Antonello , Craxì Antonio , Maggio Aurelio ,   on behalf of the Italian Society for the Study of Thalassemia and Haemoglobinopathies and Italian Association for the Study of the Liver
Published: June 2010

Chelation therapy with new drugs prevents cardiac damage and improves the survival of thalassemia patients. Liver diseases have emerged as a critical clinical issue. Chronic liver diseases play an important role in the prognosis of thalassemia patients because of the high frequency of viral infections and important role of the liver in regulating iron metabolism. Accurate assessment of liver iron overload is required to tailor iron chelation therapy. The diagnosis of hepatitis B virus– or hepatitis C virus–related chronic hepatitis is required to detect patients who have a high risk of developing liver complications and who may benefit by antiviral therapy. Moreover, clinical management of chronic liver disease in thalassemia patients is a team management issue requiring a multidisciplinary approach. The purposes of this paper are to summarize the knowledge on the epidemiology and the risks of transmission of viral infections, to analyze invasive and noninvasive methods for the diagnosis of chronic liver disease, to report the knowledge on clinical course of chronic viral hepatitis, and to suggest the management of antiviral therapy in thalassemia patients with chronic hepatitis B or C virus or cirrhosis.
Phase 2 study of BACOPP (bleomycin, adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone) in older patients with Hodgkin lymphoma: a report from the German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG)
Authors: Halbsguth Teresa V. , Nogová Lucia , Mueller Horst , Sieniawski Michal , Eichenauer Dennis A. , Schober Thomas , Nisters-Backes Hiltrud , Borchmann Peter , Diehl Volker , Engert Andreas , Josting Andreas
Published: June 2010

For older patients with early unfavorable or advanced stage Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) the prognosis is much worse than for younger HL patients. We thus developed a new regimen, BACOPP (bleomycin, adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone), to improve both tolerability and efficacy of treatment for older HL patients. Between 2004 and 2005, 65 patients with early unfavorable or advanced stage HL aged between 60 and 75 years were enrolled in this phase 2 trial. Treatment consisted of 6 to 8 cycles of BACOPP. Residual tumor masses were irradiated. Primary endpoints were feasibility as determined by adherence to protocol and overall response rate. Secondary endpoints included toxicity, freedom from treatment failure, and progression free and overall survival. For the final analysis 60 patients (92%) were eligible; 75% of treatment courses were administered according to protocol. World Health Organization grade 3/4 toxicities occurred in 52 patients. Fifty-one patients (85%) achieved complete remission, 2 (3%) partial remission, and 4 (7%) developed progressive disease. With a median observation time of 33 months, 18 patients died (30%), including 7 treatment-associated deaths. Three patients died before response assessment. Thus, the BACOPP regimen is active in older HL patients but is compromised by a high rate of toxic deaths. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00284271.
Classification of G-protein coupled receptors based on support vector machine with maximum relevance minimum redundancy and genetic algorithm
Authors: Li Zhanchao , Zhou Xuan , Dai Zong , Zou Xiaoyong
Published: June 2010

Background

Because a priori knowledge about function of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) can provide useful information to pharmaceutical research, the determination of their function is a quite meaningful topic in protein science. However, with the rapid increase of GPCRs sequences entering into databanks, the gap between the number of known sequence and the number of known function is widening rapidly, and it is both time-consuming and expensive to determine their function based only on experimental techniques. Therefore, it is vitally significant to develop a computational method for quick and accurate classification of GPCRs.

Results

In this study, a novel three-layer predictor based on support vector machine (SVM) and feature selection is developed for predicting and classifying GPCRs directly from amino acid sequence data. The maximum relevance minimum redundancy (mRMR) is applied to pre-evaluate features with discriminative information while genetic algorithm (GA) is utilized to find the optimized feature subsets. SVM is used for the construction of classification models. The overall accuracy with three-layer predictor at levels of superfamily, family and subfamily are obtained by cross-validation test on two non-redundant dataset. The results are about 0.5% to 16% higher than those of GPCR-CA and GPCRPred.

Conclusion

The results with high success rates indicate that the proposed predictor is a useful automated tool in predicting GPCRs. GPCR-SVMFS, a corresponding executable program for GPCRs prediction and classification, can be acquired freely on request from the authors.
Comparative transcriptional profiling-based identification of raphanusanin-inducible genes
Authors: Moehninsi  , Miura Kenji , Nakajyo Haruyuki , Yamada Kosumi , Hasegawa Koji , Shigemori Hideyuki
Published: June 2010

Background

Raphanusanin (Ra) is a light-induced growth inhibitor involved in the inhibition of hypocotyl growth in response to unilateral blue-light illumination in radish seedlings. Knowledge of the roles of Ra still remains elusive. To understand the roles of Ra and its functional coupling to light signalling, we constructed the Ra-induced gene library using the Suppression Subtractive Hybridisation (SSH) technique and present a comparative investigation of gene regulation in radish seedlings in response to short-term Ra and blue-light exposure.

Results

The predicted gene ontology (GO) term revealed that 55% of the clones in the Ra-induced gene library were associated with genes involved in common defence mechanisms, including thirty four genes homologous to Arabidopsis genes implicated in R-gene-triggered resistance in the programmed cell death (PCD) pathway. Overall, the library was enriched with transporters, hydrolases, protein kinases, and signal transducers. The transcriptome analysis revealed that, among the fifty genes from various functional categories selected from 88 independent genes of the Ra-induced library, 44 genes were up-regulated and 4 were down-regulated. The comparative analysis showed that, among the transcriptional profiles of 33 highly Ra-inducible genes, 25 ESTs were commonly regulated by different intensities and duration of blue-light irradiation. The transcriptional profiles, coupled with the transcriptional regulation of early blue light, have provided the functional roles of many genes expected to be involved in the light-mediated defence mechanism.

Conclusions

This study is the first comprehensive survey of transcriptional regulation in response to Ra. The results described herein suggest a link between Ra and cellular defence and light signalling, and thereby contribute to further our understanding of how Ra is involved in light-mediated mechanisms of plant defence.
Distribution of ace-1
R
and resistance to carbamates and organophosphates in Anopheles gambiae s.s. populations from Côte d'Ivoire
Authors: Ahoua Alou Ludovic P , Koffi Alphonsine A , Adja Maurice A , Tia Emmanuel , Kouassi Philippe K , Koné Moussa , Chandre Fabrice
Published: June 2010

Background

The spread of pyrethroid resistance in Anopheles gambiae s.s. is a critical issue for malaria vector control based on the use of insecticide-treated nets. Carbamates and organophosphates insecticides are regarded as alternatives or supplements to pyrethroids used in nets treatment. It is, therefore, essential to investigate on the susceptibility of pyrethroid resistant populations of An. gambiae s.s. to these alternative products.

Methods

In September 2004, a cross sectional survey was conducted in six localities in Côte d'Ivoire: Toumbokro, Yamoussoukro, Toumodi in the Southern Guinea savannah, Tiassalé in semi-deciduous forest, then Nieky and Abidjan in evergreen forest area. An. gambiae populations from these localities were previously reported to be highly resistant to pyrethroids insecticides. Anopheline larvae were collected from the field and reared to adults. Resistance/susceptibility to carbamates (0.4% carbosulfan, 0.1% propoxur) and organophosphates (0.4% chlorpyrifos-methyl, 1% fenitrothion) was assessed using WHO bioassay test kits for adult mosquitoes. Then, PCR assays were run to determine the molecular forms (M) and (S), as well as phenotypes for insensitive acetylcholinesterase (AChE1) due to G119S mutation.

Results

Bioassays showed carbamates (carbosulfan and propoxur) resistance in all tested populations of An. gambiae s.s. In addition, two out of the six tested populations (Toumodi and Tiassalé) were also resistant to organophosphates (mortality rates ranged from 29.5% to 93.3%). The M-form was predominant in tested samples (91.8%). M and S molecular forms were sympatric at two localities but no M/S hybrids were detected. The highest proportion of S-form (7.9% of An. gambiae identified) was in sample from Toumbokro, in the southern Guinea savannah. The G119S mutation was found in both M and S molecular forms with frequency from 30.9 to 35.2%.

Conclusion

This study revealed a wide distribution of insensitive acetylcholinesterase due to the G119S mutation in both M and S molecular forms of the populations of An. gambiae s.s. tested. The low cross-resistance between carbamates and organophosphates highly suggests involvement of other resistance mechanisms such as metabolic detoxification or F290V mutation.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Loss of PDEF, a prostate-derived Ets factor is associated with aggressive phenotype of prostate cancer: Regulation of MMP 9 by PDEF
Authors: Johnson Thomas R , Koul Sweaty , Kumar Binod , Khandrika Lakshmipathi , Venezia Sarah , Maroni Paul D , Meacham Randall B , Koul Hari K
Published: June 2010

Background

Prostate-derived Ets factor (PDEF) is expressed in tissues of high epithelial content including prostate, although its precise function has not been fully established. Conventional therapies produce a high rate of cure for patients with localized prostate cancer, but there is, at present, no effective treatment for intervention in metastatic prostate cancer. These facts underline the need to develop new approaches for early diagnosis of aggressive prostate cancer patients, and mechanism based anti-metastasis therapies that will improve the outlook for hormone-refractory prostate cancer. In this study we evaluated role of prostate-derived Ets factor (PDEF) in prostate cancer.

Results

We observed decreased PDEF expression in prostate cancer cell lines correlated with increased aggressive phenotype, and complete loss of PDEF protein in metastatic prostate cancer cell lines. Loss of PDEF expression was confirmed in high Gleason Grade prostate cancer samples by immuno-histochemical methods. Reintroduction of PDEF profoundly affected cell behavior leading to less invasive phenotypes in three dimensional cultures. In addition, PDEF expressing cells had altered cell morphology, decreased FAK phosphorylation and decreased colony formation, cell migration, and cellular invasiveness. In contrast PDEF knockdown resulted in increased migration and invasion as well as clonogenic activity. Our results also demonstrated that PDEF downregulated MMP9 promoter activity, suppressed MMP9 mRNA expression, and resulted in loss of MMP9 activity in prostate cancer cells. These results suggested that loss of PDEF might be associated with increased MMP9 expression and activity in aggressive prostate cancer. To confirm results we investigated MMP9 expression in clinical samples of prostate cancer. Results of these studies show increased MMP9 expression correlated with advanced Gleason grade. Taken together our results demonstrate decreased PDEF expression and increased MMP9 expression during the transition to aggressive prostate cancer.

Conclusions

These studies demonstrate for the first time negative regulation of MMP9 expression by PDEF, and that PDEF expression was lost in aggressive prostate cancer and was inversely associated with MMP9 expression in clinical samples of prostate cancer. Based on these exciting results, we propose that loss of PDEF along with increased MMP9 expression should serve as novel markers for early detection of aggressive prostate cancer.
The ERα coactivator, HER4/4ICD, regulates progesterone receptor expression in normal and malignant breast epithelium
Authors: Rokicki Jerzy , Das Partha M , Giltnane Jennifer M , Wansbury Olivia , Rimm David L , Howard Beatrice A , Jones Frank E
Published: June 2010

The HER4 intracellular domain (4ICD) is a potent estrogen receptor (ERα) coactivator with activities in breast cancer and the developing mammary gland that appear to overlap with progesterone receptor (PgR). In fact, 4ICD has recently emerged as an important regulator and predictor of tamoxifen response, a role previously thought to be fulfilled by PgR. Here we investigated the possibility that the 4ICD coactivator regulates PgR expression thereby providing a mechanistic explanation for their partially overlapping activities in breast cancer. We show that 4ICD is both sufficient and necessary to potentiate estrogen stimulation of gene expression. Suppression of HER4/4ICD expression in the MCF-7 breast tumor cell line completely eliminated estrogen stimulated expression of PgR. In addition, the HER4/4ICD negative MCF-7 variant, TamR, failed to express PgR in response to estrogen. Reintroduction of wild-type HER4 but not the γ-secretase processing mutant HER4V673I into the TamR cell line restored PgR expression indicating that 4ICD is an essential PgR coactivator in breast tumor cells. These results were substantiated in vivo using two different physiologically relevant experimental systems. In the mouse mammary gland estrogen regulates expression of PgR-A whereas expression of PgR-B is estrogen independent. Consistent with a role for 4ICD in estrogen regulated PgR expression in vivo, PgR-A, but not PgR-B, expression was abolished in HER4-null mouse mammary glands during pregnancy. Coexpression of PgR and 4ICD is also commonly observed in ERα positive breast carcinomas. Using quantitative AQUA IHC technology we found that 4ICD potentiated PgR expression in primary breast tumors and the highest levels of PgR expression required coexpression of ERα and the 4ICD coactivator. In summary, our results provide compelling evidence that 4ICD is a physiologically important ERα coactivator and 4ICD cooperates with ERα to potentiate PgR expression in the normal and malignant breast. We propose that direct coupling of these signaling pathways may have important implications for mammary development, breast carcinogenesis, and patient response to endocrine therapy.
Dynamics and mechanisms of quantum dot nanoparticle cellular uptake
Authors: Xiao Yan , Forry Samuel P , Gao Xiugong , Holbrook R David , Telford William G , Tona Alessandro
Published: June 2010

Background

The rapid growth of the nanotechnology industry and the wide application of various nanomaterials have raised concerns over their impact on the environment and human health. Yet little is known about the mechanism of cellular uptake and cytotoxicity of nanoparticles. An array of nanomaterials has recently been introduced into cancer research promising for remarkable improvements in diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Among them, quantum dots (QDs) distinguish themselves in offering many intrinsic photophysical properties that are desirable for targeted imaging and drug delivery.

Results

We explored the kinetics and mechanism of cellular uptake of QDs with different surface coatings in two human mammary cells. Using fluorescence microscopy and laser scanning cytometry (LSC), we found that both MCF-7 and MCF-10A cells internalized large amount of QD655-COOH, but the percentage of endocytosing cells is slightly higher in MCF-7 cell line than in MCF-10A cell line. Live cell fluorescent imaging showed that QD cellular uptake increases with time over 40 h of incubation. Staining cells with dyes specific to various intracellular organelles indicated that QDs were localized in lysosomes. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images suggested a potential pathway for QD cellular uptake mechanism involving three major stages: endocytosis, sequestration in early endosomes, and translocation to later endosomes or lysosomes. No cytotoxicity was observed in cells incubated with 0.8 nM of QDs for a period of 72 h.

Conclusions

The findings presented here provide information on the mechanism of QD endocytosis that could be exploited to reduce non-specific targeting, thereby improving specific targeting of QDs in cancer diagnosis and treatment applications. These findings are also important in understanding the cytotoxicity of nanomaterials and in emphasizing the importance of strict environmental control of nanoparticles.