bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Three Dialogic Imperatives in International Relations Scholarship: A Buberian Programme
Authors: Ish-Shalom Piki
Published: March 2011

With reference to Martin Buber’s dialogical philosophy, the article identifies three dialogic imperatives that burden IR scholars. The first imperative is internal to the scholar. It is the intrapersonal imperative to conduct a dialogue with and in herself/himself. The second dialogic imperative is the interpersonal dialogue, which helps to establish a community of scholars. The third dialogic imperative is external to the community of scholars. It is the obligation to dialogically engage with the public to which the scholars belong. It will be shown that the third dialogic imperative is also a dialogic imperative to engage with truth about the public, that is, with social reality. I will end the article with a brief discussion on the Buberian dialogue within the context of the Israeli—Palestinian conflict.
The determination of oxidative damage in heart tissue of rats caused by ruthenium(II) and gold(I) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes
Authors: Ciftci Osman , Ozdemir Ilknur , Cakir Oguz , Demir Serpil
Published: March 2011

In the present study, we aimed to determine the oxidative damage in rat heart tissue induced by ruthenium(II)-NHC (Ru) and gold(I)-NHC (Au) complexes which have anticarcinogenic effects and not used clinically yet. For this purpose, 35 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 equal groups. In the control group, rats treated with saline, Ru and Au complexes were intraperitoneally given high (10 mg/kg) and low (5 mg/kg) doses as only one administration. The animals were killed, and heart tissues were taken on day 10 of the drug administration for the determination of the biochemical parameters (malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione and catalase levels). It was determined that both Ru and Au complexes treatment significantly caused oxidative damage compared to the control group. Additionally, it was shown that Au treatment caused more adverse effects than Ru treatment. Also, it was clearly found that the occurred effects were generally determined in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, when these compounds synthesized for the treatment of cancer were used, they caused oxidative damage in heart tissue. However, Ru complex could be preferred for cancer treatment in terms of user safety.
Survey of Aspirin Use in Sturge-Weber Syndrome
Authors: Bay Mihee J. , Kossoff Eric H. , Lehmann Christoph U. , Zabel T. Andrew , Comi Anne M.
Published: March 2011

Sturge-Weber syndrome is a rare congenital disorder. Seizures, stroke-like episodes, glaucoma, headache, and developmental delay are frequently associated features. An Internet-based questionnaire was designed to assess the frequency of use, effectiveness, and safety of aspirin treatment in Sturge-Weber syndrome. Thirty-four of 98 subjects who completed the survey reported having used aspirin. The mean number of reported stroke-like episodes was reduced from 1.1 to 0.3 per month in the year after starting aspirin (n = 26, p = .014). The median number of seizures was significantly reduced from 3 to 1 episodes per month (n = 21, p = .002). Thirty-nine percent of subjects reported a history of complications (predominantly increased bruising or gum/nose bleeding) while on aspirin; however, none reported discontinuing aspirin because of side effects. Our study showed a significant relative reduction in both self-reported seizure frequency and stroke-like episodes after starting aspirin. It also suggests that low-dose aspirin can be safely used in these patients.
Clinical Response to Methylphenidate in a Patient With Self-Induced Photosensitive Epilepsy
Authors: Fernández-Mayoralas Daniel Martín , Fernández-Jaén Alberto , Gómez-Caicoya Anne , Muñoz Jareño Nuria , Arroyo-González Rafael
Published: March 2011

The classification of epilepsy includes a group of generalized idiopathic epilepsies that are triggered by a specific mode of activation, known as reflex epilepsies. Photosensitive epilepsy is the most common type. Some patients with photosensitive epilepsy use this sensitivity to induce seizures or epileptiform discharges on the electroencephalogram. In some patients, psychopharmacological treatment, for instance with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and neuroleptics, has demonstrated benefit insofar as self-induction of seizures is concerned. However, so far as we know, there are no documented cases of treatment with methylphenidate in patients with this type of seizure. Our purpose is to report the case of an 8-year-old girl with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and self-induced photosensitive epilepsy whose behavior in general, and self-inducing behavior in particular, improved dramatically following treatment with methylphenidate.
Clinical and Electroencephalographic Effects of Folinic Acid Treatment in Rett Syndrome Patients
Authors: Hagebeuk Eveline E. O. , Koelman Johannes H. T. M. , Duran Marinus , Abeling Nico G. , Vyth Arno , Poll-The Bwee-Tien
Published: March 2011

Rett syndrome is characterized by the development of stereotypic hand movements and seizures, which are often difficult to treat. Previous studies have shown conflicting results during add-on folinic acid. Here, the authors reevaluate the response to folinic acid in terms of epilepsy control and electroencephalography features. They performed a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover trial, with a follow-up of more than 2 years. Twelve girls with Rett syndrome participated, comparable in clinical stage and disease severity. The Rett syndrome patients were given either folinic acid or placebo, for 1 year each. Only 3 girls benefited to some extent: 2 had a reduction and/or decrease in seizures, and all 3 showed some decreased epileptiform activity on electroencephalography during the addition of folinic acid. Despite this, antiepileptic drugs were adjusted. Because the effect of added folinic acid was limited and did not prevent antiepileptic drug increase, the authors do not recommend adding on folinic acid in Rett syndrome girls with epilepsy.
Neurocysticercosis-Induced Hemiballismus in a Child
Authors: Karnik Prachi S. , Tullu Milind S. , David Jane J. E. , Ghildiyal Radha G.
Published: March 2011

Neurocysticercosis lesions can occur in the basal ganglia, but most of these are clinically silent. Neurocysticercosis manifesting as movement disorders is extremely uncommon. The authors report a case of neurocysticercosis in an 11-year-old girl presenting with right hemiballismus (a clinical manifestation not yet reported). Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain confirmed the solitary neurocysticercosis lesion in the left thalamus. The child was symptomatic for 5 years and improved dramatically within 2 days of starting definitive therapy for neurocysticercosis (albendazole and prednisolone).
The relationship between women’s work histories and incomes in later life in the UK, US and West Germany
Authors: Sefton Tom , Evandrou Maria , Falkingham Jane , Vlachantoni Athina
Published: March 2011

Using data from several large-scale longitudinal surveys, this article investigates the relationship between the work histories and personal incomes (from both public and private sources) of older women in the UK, US and West Germany. By comparing three countries with different welfare regimes and pension systems, we seek to gain a better understanding of the interaction between the life course, pension system and women’s incomes in later life. The association between older women’s incomes and work histories is strongest in West Germany and weakest in the UK, where there is evidence of a ‘pensions poverty trap’ and where only predominantly full-time employment is associated with significantly higher incomes in later life. Work history matters less for widows (in all three countries) and more for recent birth cohorts and more educated women (UK only). The article concludes with a brief discussion of the treatment of women under different pension regimes assessed by the criteria of adequacy, proportionality, vertical equity and horizontal equity.
Reforming German labour market institutions: A dual path to flexibility
Authors: Eichhorst Werner , Marx Paul
Published: March 2011

Dualization is a recurrent concept in analysing the political economy of labour market reforms in European countries. While it helps to make sense of changes at the margin of labour markets, so far, it remains unclear whether there are repercussions for standard employees. The paper examines this question by assessing changes in the German labour market. We argue that the growing availability of non-standard work increases pressure on core workers to accept more flexibility. The study yields two results. First, labour market reforms were, indeed, targeted at outsiders and continued in small and sometimes contradictory steps. The direction of change was determined by the socio-economic problem pressure of the respective period, but independent of government composition. Second, while insiders objected to such marginal flexibilization in principle — once the reforms were in place — they reacted with wage moderation and other instruments, thus strengthening their competitiveness relative to flexible workers.
Against all odds: Fathers’ use of parental leave in Germany
Authors: Geisler Esther , Kreyenfeld Michaela
Published: March 2011

This paper investigates fathers’ usage of parental leave in Germany based on data from the microcensuses of 1999—2005. Special attention is given to the role that education has in leave-taking behaviour. Our empirical results show that educational differences between the partners are strong predictors of fathers’ usage of parental leave. A father is more likely to take parental leave if he has a partner who is more highly educated or older. We also find that employment through a temporary working contract substantially lowers the chances that a man will take advantage of parental leave, while being employed in the public sector increases the likelihood that a man will use his parental leave entitlement.
The European Social Fund and domestic activation policies: Europeanization mechanisms
Authors: Verschraegen Gert , Vanhercke Bart , Verpoorten Rika
Published: March 2011

This article analyses the effects of the European Social Fund (ESF) on domestic activation policies in the three Belgian regions: Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels. We argue that over the last decade the ESF has had a catalytic impact, first on the innovation of activation instruments, second on the governance of employment policies and third on policy framing. We explain how three different mechanisms (leverage, conditionality and learning) generate these effects and how they can account for a differential influence in different regions. We conclude by summarizing our research findings and framework, suggesting its usefulness for analyzing other domestic settings and European policy instruments.
Comparability of EU-SILC survey and register data: The relationship among employment, earnings and poverty
Authors: Lohmann Henning
Published: March 2011

The Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) provide an up-to-date data source for the comparative analysis of income, material deprivation and poverty. At the European Union (EU) level, these data have become a standard source for social reporting. Yet the specific approaches to data collection in EU-SILC vary widely from one country to the next. One of the major differences is that some countries rely entirely on household surveys, while others also use administrative or ‘register’ data for a wide range of variables. This article addresses the question of how the relationship among employment, earnings and poverty changes when different approaches to data collection are used. The article shows the impact on substantial results: here, on the percentages of working and non-working poor. Since crucial questions of EU social policy rest on these data, it is an important finding that some results are most likely driven by different approaches to data collection.
The role of GCM resolution in simulating glacial inception
Authors: Vavrus Steve , Philippon-Berthier Gwenaëlle , Kutzbach John E. , Ruddiman William F.
Published: March 2011

We test the influence of model resolution on glacial inception using a coupled atmosphere–slab ocean version of NCAR’s CCSM3 GCM. Simulations employ a modern orbital configuration and greenhouse gas concentrations representing both recent (year 1990) and hypothetically lower values based on Ruddiman’s Early Anthropogenic Hypothesis (240 ppm CO2, 450 ppb CH4). We ran the model at two different horizontal resolutions: relatively coarse (spectral T42, approximately 2.8°) and comparatively fine (T85, approximately 1.4°). Under contemporary greenhouse forcing, permanent boreal snow cover extent in the two model configurations is similar, but lowering greenhouse gas concentrations generates much more extensive glacial inception in the T85 experiment (150% increase) than at T42 resolution (80% increase). Furthermore, the spatial patterns of glacial inception differ considerably. Only the T85 version produces permanent snow cover over the Rocky Mountains and Baffin Island, consistent with geologic evidence for early glaciation in the northern Rockies and Laurentide ice sheet nucleation in northeastern Canada. Although enhanced sensitivity at higher resolution is largely attributable to the expected colder and wetter conditions over elevated topography, much of the response is also driven dynamically. Atmospheric pressure changes at the surface and aloft differ considerably between model resolutions. The T85 circulation anomalies favor a stronger onshore moisture flux and therefore more snowfall over the northern Rockies and Baffin Island. Although these experiments are driven by greenhouse forcing rather than orbital anomalies, our findings may apply to general mechanisms of glacial inception.
Is hair analysis for dialkyl phosphate metabolites a suitable biomarker for assessing past acute exposure to organophosphate pesticides?
Authors: Tsatsakis AM , Tutudaki M , Tzatzarakis MN , Dawson A , Mohamed F , Christaki M , Alegakis AK
Published: March 2011

In the present paper, the possibility to use dialkyl phosphate metabolites (DAPs) hair segmental analysis as a biomarker of past acute exposure to organophosphates is examined. Hair samples of four acute poisoning survivors were collected and segmental hair analysis was performed. The total hair samples were divided to 1 cm segments and analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for the presence of four DAP metabolites, dimethyl phosphate (DMP), diethyl phosphate (DEP), diethyl thiophosphate (DETP) and diethyl dithiophosphate (DEDTP). Results were examined under the light of pesticide type and time of hair sample collection. Although DAPs were detected all along the hair shaft, higher concentrations (peaks) were detected in the segments proximate to the suicide period. It was also observed that the elevated concentrations of the present metabolites corresponded to the ones produced by the ingested parent compound. Conclusively, measurements of DAPs in the appropriate hair segments of OP-poisoned patients can be used for assessing past acute exposure to organophosphates in certain cases.
Epidemiology of acute drug poisoning in a tertiary center from Iasi County, Romania
Authors: Sorodoc Victorita , Jaba Irina M , Lionte Catalina , Mungiu Ostin C , Sorodoc Laurentiu
Published: March 2011

The aim of this retrospective epidemiological study was to investigate the demographical, etiological and clinical characteristics of acute drug poisonings in Iasi County, Romania. All patients were referred and admitted in the Toxicology Clinic of “Sf. Ioan” Emergency Clinic Hospital Iasi, Romania. Between 2003 and 2009, 811 cases of acute drug poisonings were recorded, counting for 28.43% from the total number of poisonings. The majority of these poisonings resulted in mild (51.94%) and medium (28.35%) clinical forms, while 19.71% were coma situations. In all, 63.51% of patients originated from urban areas, 39.94% were unemployed and the patients were predominantly women (66.46%). A high percentage (97.27%) were suicide attempts, using only one type of drug (65.88%) and the 21–30 years group (29.8%) records the highest incidence, for both women and men. The most frequently involved drugs were benzodiazepines 13.69%, anticonvulsive drugs 8.63%, barbiturates 8.51% and cardiovascular drugs 5.92%. Drugs combinations were recorded in 32.92% of cases and 1.2% were combinations between drugs and other substances. Mortality was the outcome in 0.3% of the total registered number of acute drug poisonings. This study underlines that in order to provide a proper management of these situations, a Regional Poison Information Center is absolutely necessary.
Lambert–Eaton Myasthenic syndrome and follicular thymic hyperplasia in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Pasqualoni E , Aubart F , Brihaye B , Sacré K , Maisonobe T , Laissy J-P , Lidove O , Papo T
Published: March 2011

Fatigue is a prominent feature of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), usually ascribed to various factors, such as muscle or joint involvement, anaemia or depression. The Lambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) is a rare autoantibody-mediated disorder of neuro-muscular transmission. We report on a well-defined LEMS associated with thymus hyperplasia in a SLE patient. An African 41 years-old SLE patient presented with persisting fatigue, myalgia and dyspnea, abolished reflexes and a bilateral ptosis. Neuromuscular electrodiagnostic study showed a clear-cut potentiation that was typical of a pre-synaptic neuromuscular junction disease. Anti-calcium gated channels antibodies were disclosed in serum and a diagnosis of LEMS was made. A total body CT-scan revealed an antero-superior mediastinal mass, compatible with thymoma. The tumour was surgically removed with a final diagnosis of follicular thymic hyperplasia. In conclusion, our observation provides a new example of entangled organ-specific and systemic autoimmunity in the context of thymus pathology. Potentiation study during electromyography should be performed systematically to rule out LEMS in patients with SLE and muscle weakness.
Others Sometimes Know Us Better Than We Know Ourselves
Authors: Vazire Simine , Carlson Erika N.
Published: March 2011

Most people believe that they know themselves better than anyone else knows them. However, a complete picture of what a person is like requires both the person’s own perspective and the perspective of others who know him or her well. People’s perceptions of their own personalities, while largely accurate, contain important omissions. Some of these blind spots are likely due to a simple lack of information, whereas others are due to motivated distortions in our self-perceptions. Perhaps for these reasons, others can perceive some aspects of personality better than the self can. This is especially true for traits that are very desirable or undesirable, when motivational factors are most likely to distort self-perceptions. Therefore, much can be learned about a person’s personality from how he or she is seen by others. Future research should examine how people can tap into others' knowledge to improve self-knowledge.
The ‘human’ as referent object?
Authors: Watson Scott
Published: March 2011

Humanitarianism rivals security in its ability to legitimize emergency measures, and has also proven to be as ambiguous and open to abuse. In this article, humanitarianism is reconceptualized as a sector of securitization, like state and societal securitization, meaning that it is a structured field of practice that draws on existing discourses and institutions to enable the implementation of emergency measures. This reconceptualization contributes to the theory of securitization by expanding its applicability beyond states and societies to humans as referent objects, but also by challenging the Copenhagen School’s conceptualization of normality/exceptionality at the domestic and international levels. Drawing on the humanitarian securitization of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the article demonstrates how the structured security field of humanitarianism privileges particular actors in speaking to human insecurity, and how the humanitarian discourse reifies and reinforces a monolithic form of human identity. The article draws attention to the process of representing developments as humanitarian emergencies and uses the framework of securitization to critically examine the discourses, practices and agents of humanitarianism.
Towards a theory of external democracy promotion
Authors: Wolff Jonas , Wurm Iris
Published: March 2011

A few years ago, it was a common complaint that the international dimension of democratization and, in particular, the external promotion of democracy were largely neglected by scholars of comparative politics and international relations. By now, academic research has begun to catch up with the growth of foreign and development policies explicitly aiming at the international promotion and protection of democratic regimes. Yet, what is still a largely unexplored desideratum is the challenge to theoretically grasp ‘democracy promotion’ as an aim and strategy of democratic foreign policies – that is, to embed the empirical research on democracy promotion in theoretical perspectives on international relations. This article sets out to contribute to filling this gap by developing a classification of competing theoretical approaches. First, research on the democratic peace – the one major research program concerned with democratic foreign policy – is used to derive potential motives behind the promotion of democracy. Then, on this basis, existing theories of international relations are modified in order to locate democracy promotion within the foreign policy of democratic states. In conclusion, the article presents four sketches of potential theoretical approaches to the external promotion of democracy.
Articulation, antagonism, and intercalation in Western military imaginaries
Authors: Lawson Sean
Published: March 2011

This article provides a discursive grounding for understanding the construction of military imaginaries by adding the concepts of ‘antagonism’ and ‘intercalation’ to articulation theory. By examining the cases of industrial-mechanized warfare theory and network-centric warfare theory through the lens of this expanded articulation theory, it is argued that military imaginaries often serve to define and link conceptions of science, technology, society, economy, war, and military organization, thought, and practice into a unified image of the larger security environment – that is, the military imaginary. Military imaginaries often share a common narrative structure that privileges co-periodized change among the elements of the articulation, resulting in the phenomenon of ‘antagonism’ serving as a generic threat used to justify military modernization and even the use of force.
Fine-Needle Aspiration and Intraoperative Consultation in Thyroid Pathology: When and How?
Authors: Tallini Giovanni , Gallo Carmine
Published: March 2011

Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and frozen section evaluation are traditional components of the management of thyroid lesions. Their role and usefulness are dictated by some basic facts about thyroid pathology: ( a) nodules are very common; ( b ) they are benign in the majority of cases; and ( c) the diagnosis of malignancy is primarily based on cytologic features in the case of papillary carcinoma, and on the presence of invasion of the tumor capsule or of blood vessels in the case of follicular carcinoma. The common occurrence of benign thyroid nodules mandates a cost-effective effective method for preoperative screening. Since, as already stated, the diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma (by far the most common thyroid malignancy) is based on the identification of characteristic cytologic features, FNA has easily emerged in the past 30 years as the most accurate and cost-effective tool—indeed a true cornerstone—for the preoperative management of thyroid nodules. Standardized terminology to report cytologic diagnoses is highly recommended and is being implemented worldwide. Conversely, the importance of intraoperative frozen section diagnosis has been constantly decreasing over the past years, as a direct consequence of the widespread application of FNA. It may, however, be very useful in cases that are suspicious for papillary carcinoma on FNA and in selected cases with an indeterminate cytologic diagnosis.
Primary Seminal Vesicle Carcinoma
Authors: Stenzel Peter , Wettach George , Leroy Xavier
Published: March 2011

Criteria for the very rare diagnosis of primary seminal vesicle carcinoma have traditionally been highly stringent but may be relaxed with the application of immunohistochemistry to the diagnosis of mass lesions that occur in the male pelvis. The authors report a case of disseminated carcinoma with a clinically occult primary site that apparently had its origin in the seminal vesicle. Autopsy revealed a 10-cm tumor enveloping the prostate and seminal vesicles without involvement of colonic or urothelial mucosa. Much smaller tumors were present in other sites outside the pelvis. The tumor was composed of poorly formed glands and sheets of malignant-appearing cells, involved the seminal vesicle, and had the immunohistochemical profile of seminal vesicle carcinoma, notably strong immunoreactivity for CA-125 and no immunoreactivity for cytokeratin-20 or prostate-specific markers.
Multicystic Peritoneal Mesothelioma in an Octogenarian
Authors: Psoinos Charles M. , Kandil Dina , Piperdi Bilal , Lambert Laura A.
Published: March 2011

Multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma (MCPM) is a rare cystic proliferation most often seen in women of reproductive age with a history of prior abdominal surgery. This is a case report of an 83-year-old woman diagnosed with MCPM during an exploratory laparotomy for presumed peritoneal carcinomatosis from colon cancer. After complete removal of all visible MCPM, the patient remains free of both colon cancer and MCPM. This article reviews the literature with regards to the pathology, natural history, risk of malignant transformation, and current options for management of MCPM, including cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.
Vulvar Encapsulated Solid Papillary Carcinoma With Neuroendocrine Differentiation: A Case Report
Authors: Zhang Cunxian , Quddus M. Ruhul , Sung C. James , Moore Richard G. , Lawrence W. Dwayne
Published: March 2011

A 40-year-old woman underwent excision of a painless left vulvar mass. The specimen showed a well-circumscribed mass measuring 3.5 × 2.7 × 2.5 cm. Microscopic examination exhibited an encapsulated neoplasm with a solid and papillary growth pattern. The tumor cells were oval to columnar and showed moderate nuclear atypia. No capsular invasion was identified. Immunonegativity for calponin and p63 confirmed the absence of myoepithelial cells either within or at the periphery of the tumor. The tumor was immunopositive for gross cystic disease fluid protein 15, synaptophysin, and chromogranin. The histologic and immunohistochemical characteristics were consistent with an encapsulated solid papillary carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation. The patient has been free of disease for 4 years after surgery. This is the first report of a vulvar encapsulated solid papillary carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation. Correct diagnosis is imperative because of the distinct biologic behavior of the tumor.
Routine Evaluation of Adult Tonsillectomy Specimens
Authors: Courville Elizabeth L. , Lew Madelyn , Sadow Peter M.
Published: March 2011

Tonsil excision is a common surgery for both children and adults. Prior studies have consistently shown that the rate of malignancy in tonsil specimens is low and that the possibility of true, occult malignancy is remote. Practice trends accept triage of pediatric tonsillectomies for exemption or gross exam only. However, for adults, despite a low malignancy rate, routine histological evaluation of tonsillectomy specimens is standard of care at most health care facilities. The authors performed a retrospective review of all tonsil specimens received in their department over 45 months with categorization of pathological diagnosis and surgical indication. Of 1746 adult tonsillectomy specimens removed during this time, there were no incidental/occult malignancies. These data indicate that gross examination of adult tonsillectomy specimens excised for chronic tonsillitis or sleep apnea is sound practice, and this, taken together with other published data, provides a basis for consensus-derived practice guidelines.
Evaluation of Prognostic Factors and Their Capacity to Predict Biological Behavior in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors
Authors: Calabuig-Fariñas Silvia , López-Guerrero José Antonio , Navarro Samuel , Machado Isidro , Poveda Andrés , Pellín Antonio , Llombart-Bosch Antonio
Published: March 2011

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are c-KIT-signaling-driven mesenchymal tumors of the human digestive tract, many of which have c-KIT or PDGFRα activating mutations. The authors studied the immunohistochemical markers, c-KIT and PDGFRα mutations, in GISTs and their association with the clinicopathological and clinical follow-up in 145 GISTs. Tumors were located mainly in the stomach, the median tumor size being 7.5 cm. The mitotic index was ≤5 mitoses per 50 high-power fields in 61% of cases, 96% expressed CD117, and c-KIT or PDGFRα mutations were detected in 68% of cases. The median follow-up of the series was 52 months (range = 1 to 244.9 months). Tumor size, cell morphology, mitotic index, incomplete resection, Fletcher’s risk classification, Ki-67 overexpression, and c-KIT mutations were associated with progression-free survival. Incomplete resection and mitotic activity also provide information about overall survival. In conclusion, complete clinicopathological, immunohistochemical, and genetic descriptions are necessary to characterize this disease and optimize its clinical management.
Effects of Text and Hypertext Structures on User Interest and Understanding of Science and Technology
Authors: Yaros Ronald A.
Published: March 2011

An experiment ( N = 301) manipulated two news stories about science and technology to investigate effects of text and link structures on interest and comprehension. A 2 (Text) × 2 (Link) factorial design included inverted pyramid stories versus a linear narrative. Dependent variables included self-reported interest plus situational understanding. In support of construction—integration theory, the highest interest and understanding scores occurred when the linear (narrative) text structure was read with linear links. Surprisingly, interest and understanding scores placed second for matched nonlinear text and nonlinear links. Mismatched text and links for either condition consistently resulted in poor understanding.
What Science Communication Scholars Think About Training Scientists to Communicate
Authors: Besley John C. , Tanner Andrea H.
Published: March 2011

The current study involved an attempted census of first and second authors from five key journals across the subfields of science, health, environment, and risk communication between 2003 and 2008. Of those responding ( n = 320), 80% describe themselves as a communication expert. Of these experts ( n = 255), 57% report conducting formal training for bench scientists and engineers, science regulators, medical personnel, or journalists. The main focus of training was in basic communication theories and models. There is broad agreement that the science community would benefit from additional science communication training and that deficit model thinking remains prevalent.
Does Depression Screening Have an Effect on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Mood Disorders in General Medical Settings? An Instrumental Variable Analysis of the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey
Authors: Mojtabai Ramin
Published: March 2011

This study examined the association of depression screening with the diagnoses of mood disorders and prescription of antidepressants in 73,712 visits to nonpsychiatrist physician offices drawn from the 2005-2007 U.S. National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. Physicians used depression screening selectively for patients whom they perceived as more likely to have a mood disorder. In bivariate probit analyses with instrumental variables, depression screening did not increase the prevalence of either mood disorder diagnoses or prescription of antidepressants. However, screening was associated with lower rates of antidepressants prescription without a diagnosis of a mood disorder. In visits in which antidepressants were prescribed, 47.4% of the screened visits compared with 16.3% of nonscreened visits had a mood disorder diagnosis. As currently practiced in medical settings, depression screening may help improve targeting and appropriate use of antidepressant medications. Wider use of depression screening may help curb the growing trend of off-label antidepressant prescriptions.
The Individual Insurance Market Before Reform: Low Premiums and Low Benefits
Authors: Whitmore Heidi , Gabel Jon R. , Pickreign Jeremy , McDevitt Roland
Published: March 2011

Based on analyses of individual market health plans sold through ehealthinsurance and enrollment information collected from individual market carriers, this article profiles the individual health insurance market in 2007, before health reform. The article examines premiums, plan enrollment, cost sharing, and covered benefits and compares individual and group markets. Premiums for the young are lower than in the group market but higher for older people. Cost sharing is substantial in the individual insurance market. Seventy-eight percent of people were enrolled in plans with deductibles for single coverage, which averaged $2,117. Annual out-of-pocket maximums averaged $5,271. Many plans do not cover important benefits. Twelve percent of individually insured persons had no coverage for office visits and only 43% have maternity benefits in their basic coverage. With the advent of health exchanges and new market rules in 2014, covered benefits may become richer, cost sharing will decline, but premiums for the young will rise.
Spherical inflation for a class of compressible thermoelastic materials
Authors: Rooney F.J. , Bechtel S.E.
Published: March 2011

In this paper we consider spherical inflation for two families of constrained thermoelastic materials. The two families correspond to different ideas of mechanical incompressibility. For the first family the material is assumed incompressible under mechanical loading in isothermal conditions, and thus the density is independent of the deformation gradient and is a function of temperature alone. The second family consists of materials that are incompressible under adiabatic deformations, in other words materials whose density is a function of the specific entropy alone, independent of the deformation gradient. The first family, with density a function of temperature, has been shown to exhibit instability. We introduce a modification of the constitutive equations for the first family which satisfies the stability criterion. We show that the solutions of thermostatic boundary value problems for the modified material are identical to the solutions obtained from the second family, where density is a function of entropy, with the appropriate identifications.
Severe relapse of multiple sclerosis during plasma exchange treatment
Authors: Matzke Burkhard , Metze Christoph , Winkelmann Alexander , Grossmann Annette , Hartung Hans-Peter , Benecke Reiner , Zettl Uwe Klaus
Published: March 2011

To describe and treat a relapse of relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis occurring during escalating therapeutic plasma exchange for a previous relapse. A 47-year-old woman with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis received plasma exchange as escalating therapy for a severe prolonged steroid-refractory relapse. During plasma exchange the patient developed another relapse with new neurological symptoms. The newly occurring relapse responded convincingly to pulsed high-dose steroids. During escalating relapse treatment with plasma exchange a new relapse can occur and, where appropriate, treatment with pulsed steroids can be useful, even if the previous relapse was unresponsive to glucocorticoids.
Liminal Biopolitics: Towards a Political Anthropology of the Umbilical Cord and the Placenta
Authors: Santoro Pablo
Published: March 2011

One of the most intriguing bio-objects in the emerging field of regenerative medicine is umbilical cord blood. Employed in existing haematological therapies, but also loaded with potentialities for future uses, cord blood has been lately the focus of a regulatory debate which confronts public and private forms of biobanking. This article explores the political and anthropological side of this debate, describing the ways in which different health practices related to the umbilical cord (and to its symbolic sibling, the placenta) have been involved in processes of societal production and reproduction. Through the use of ethnological and historical data, and their comparison with current practices, I contend that the technical manipulation of cords and placentas goes much longer into the past than what a first glance suggests, and that these two objects can be understood as biological spaces in which forms of social belonging and versions of the societal bond are at play. The current conflict between public and private cord blood banks is therefore interpreted as part of a longer history of bodily practices, and as reflecting recent mutations in the biopolitical constitution of advanced liberal societies.
Do Voices Matter? Vocality, Materiality, Gender Performativity
Authors: Schlichter Annette
Published: March 2011

While vocal acts, such as interpellation and speech acts, constitute a network of theoretical nodes in Butler’s writings, her theory of gender performativity neglects to theorize the mediation of such acts through the voice and its technologies. In a close reading of Butler’s influential texts, the paper examines the ramifications of a notion of gender performativity that ignores the performative aspects of the voice, asking what it means to think a body without a voice. What notions of materiality and subjectivity does such a thinking it assume? How does it understand the relationship of performativity, performance and sound technology? I argue that the repression of the sonoric aspects of the voice can be read as a symptom of the role of materiality in the theory of gender performativity. Despite Butler’s attempts to attend to the material body within a discourse of the performative, the notion of materiality is constrained through the economy of the sign and remains subordinated to the realm of intelligibility, a hierarchy that Butler explicitly rejects. However, the material voice will finally supplement and subvert the theory of gender performativity.
The Body and the Senses: Visual Methods, Videography and the Submarine Sensorium
Authors: Merchant Stephanie
Published: March 2011

Drawing on methodological approaches used by visual anthropologists, film theorists and debates prevalent in the cultural studies literature, this paper is interdisciplinary in approach and attempts to tackle the challenge of collecting and analyzing embodied, sensuous and pre-reflective ‘data’ by advocating the value of integrating videography into research methodologies. The paper is illustrated with an examination of underwater videography footage, featuring scuba divers coming to terms with their surroundings. By considering the ways in which those featured in the film relate to the onscreen images, upon watching the footage, the paper explores how we might begin to study and represent the ‘unrepresentable’ senses of, for example, touch and the somatic senses, including proprioception, in addition to the heightening or modification of these.
Acrocyanosis: The Flying Dutchman
Authors: Kurklinsky Andrew K , Miller Virginia M , Rooke Thom W
Published: March 2011

Acrocyanosis is symmetric, painless, discoloration of different shades of blue in the distal parts of the body that is marked by symmetry, relative persistence of the skin color changes with aggravation by cold exposure, and frequent association with local hyperhidrosis of hands and feet. Described over a century ago and despite seeming familiarity, it remains a poorly understood condition that shares much in clinical presentation with other conditions characterized by skin color changes in the distal parts of the body. The diagnosis remains mostly clinical, and pathological mechanisms vary suggesting that acrocyanosis may not be a single entity. We performed an extensive literature review to summarize existing knowledge about the demographics, pathology, diagnosis, and treatment of this condition.
Utility of data from a national health survey: Do socioeconomic inequalities in morbidity exist in Serbia?
Authors: Jankovic Janko , Marinkovic Jelena , Simic Snezana
Published: March 2011

Aims: The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of demographic and socioeconomic factors on morbidity in Serbia. Additionally, knowing that there is no a gold standard for measuring morbidity we were concerned whether the results of this study depend on the choice of morbidity indicator. Methods: Data from the 2006 National Health Survey for Serbia were used. A representative sample of 14,522 persons aged ≥20 years were interviewed. The associations between demographic factors (age, gender, marital status, and type of settlement), socioeconomic indicators (education and wealth index), and health status (morbidity index derived from self-reported data) were examined using linear and logistic regression analyses. Results: Women, elderly people, those who live in urban settings, and those with lower education had higher morbidity regardless of using a morbidity index as a continuous variable (composite index ranging from 0 to 20) or a categorical variable (morbidity status tertiles). Respondents who belong to the most deprived group had higher scores of morbidity index in comparison with the respondents from the most affluent group, but no significant association was found when morbidity status was examined as the outcome. In addition, when those who belong to the middle class group were compared to the most affluent group, they had good more frequently than average morbidity status. Conclusions: This study suggests that demographic and socioeconomic inequalities in morbidity exist in Serbia. Wise and comprehensive health policies and interventions for reducing these inequalities are urgently needed which primarily focus on the most disadvantaged socioeconomic groups.
Appalachian Regional Model for Organizing and Sustaining County-Level Diabetes Coalitions
Authors: Crespo Richard , Shrewsberry Molly , Cornelius-Averhart Darrlyn , King Henry B.
Published: March 2011

This article describes a model for developing diabetes coalitions in rural Appalachian counties and presents evidence of their sustainability. The rural Appalachian coalition model was developed through a partnership between two federal agencies and a regional university. Coalitions go through a competitive application process to apply for one-time $10,000 grants. The project has funded 7 to 9 coalitions annually since 2001, reaching 66 total coalitions in 2008. Sustainability of the coalitions is defined by the number of coalitions that voluntarily report on their programs and services. In 2008, 58 of 66 (87%) coalitions in the Appalachian region continue to function and voluntarily submit reports even after their grant funds have been depleted. The factors that may contribute to sustainability are discussed in the article. This model for organizing coalitions has demonstrated that it is possible for coalitions to be maintained over time in rural underserved areas in Appalachia.
Adoption Decisions and Implementation of a Community-Based Physical Activity Program
Authors: Downey Samantha M. , Wages Joan , Jackson Sharolyn Flaming , Estabrooks Paul A.
Published: March 2011

The purpose of this study was to determine the attributes of a community physical activity (PA) program that Kansas State Research & Extension System agents considered in the adoption decision-making process (DMP) and their understanding of evidence-based program principles. Ninety-nine percent of the eligible agents completed a survey that included quantitative and qualitative assessments of program attributes, delivery, and adaptations. The community PA program’s effectiveness, compatibility within the system, high reach, and ease of delivery most influenced the DMP. Success in other counties was also indicated as influential in the DMP by those who decided to deliver the program after its initial year. Concepts of group dynamics were accurately identified and adaptations were consistent with these principles. The results indicate that agents consider multiple factors during the adoption DMP for a PA program and are able to articulate and propose adaptations that align with the evidence-based principles.
Effective Training Design
Authors: Diker Ann , Cunningham-Sabo Leslie , Bachman Kari , Stacey Jane E. , Walters Lynn M. , Wells Linda
Published: March 2011

Effective nutrition education training should be guided by sound theory that specifically addresses behavior change. A 3-hour training was developed using diffusion of innovations (DOI) and social cognitive theories and formative assessment. Essential training components included interactive learning techniques and curriculum lesson practice. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze training satisfaction, paired samples t tests determined pre- to posttraining differences, and Pearson correlations and stepwise multiple regression were conducted to explore predictors of future curriculum use. Paraprofessional nutrition educators (NEs) and their supervisors rated the training high in acceptability, benefit, and clarity. NEs and supervisors improved knowledge about teaching the curriculum ( t = 5.12, p < .01 and t = 8.31, p < .01, respectively), confidence ( t = 3.93, p < .01 and t = 3.62, p < .01, respectively), motivation ( t = 3.71, p < .01 and t = 2.63, p < .05, respectively), and information ( t = 7.17, p < .01 and t = 4.15, p < .01, respectively) to teach the curriculum. The DOI attributes of relative advantage and trialability were correlated with intended future curriculum use by NEs ( r = .577, p = .002 and r = .418, p = .027, respectively). Relative advantage was correlated with intended use by supervisors ( r = .502, p = .040). These results underscore the importance of using both theory and formative assessment for successful training development.