bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring the ‘Notional Property Developer’ as a Policy Construct
Authors: Adams David , Croudace Robert , Tiesdell Steve
Published: January 2012

This paper explores how far policy-makers understand the structure of the development industry, the perceived characteristics of developers and the extent to which such actors can be considered policy-responsive. If these matters are poorly understood, the effectiveness of planning policy may be undermined, especially where the private sector is responsible for undertaking most development. The paper is based upon empirical research on the Scottish Executive’s perceptions of, and policy stances towards developers between 1999 and 2007. It finds that the Executive appeared to have only limited understanding of what drives the development process or motivates individual developers and seemed unfamiliar with important differences within the industry, sectorally and geographically. Instead, ‘the notional property developer’ was incorrectly conceived as a malleable and potentially compliant partner with shared objectives to the State. The paper calls for a more thorough understanding of the development industry as a prerequisite to effective urban policy-making.
Mechanical properties of heterophase polymer blends of cryogenically fractured soy flour composite filler and poly (styrene–butadiene)
Authors: Jong Lei
Published: January 2012

Reinforcement effect of cryogenically fractured soy flour composite filler in soft polymer was investigated in this study. Polymer composites were prepared by melt-mixing polymer and soy flour composite fillers in an internal mixer. Soy flour composite fillers were prepared by blending aqueous soy flour dispersion and styrene–butadiene rubber latex to form a mixture, which was then dried and cryogenically ground into powders. Upon cross-linking, the heterophase composite filler was integrated into rubber polymer and exhibited enhanced mechanical properties. Tensile strength, elongation, Young’s modulus, toughness, and tear resistance of the heterophase polymer composites were better than those of the polymer matrix. The composites reinforced by the composite fillers prepared with different polymer matrices showed that the composite filler prepared with styrene–butadiene instead of carboxylated styrene–butadiene matrix produced composites with greater elongation ratio and toughness but smaller Young’s modulus. The study of elongation rate showed that the soy flour composite fillers produced the composites with useful tensile strength, elongation ratio, and toughness at 500 mm/min strain rate. The study also showed that the effect of soy flour/polymer ratio of the composite fillers on the composite mechanical properties was small.
Development and Pilot Testing of a Parent Education Intervention for Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Sullivan-Bolyai Susan , Bova Carol , Lee Mary , Johnson Kimberly
Published: January 2012

Purpose

To purpose of the pilot study was to evaluate the use of a pediatric human patient simulator (HPS) to teach parents diabetes management for their children newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, referred to as Parent Education Through Simulation–Diabetes.

Methods

A focus group study and 2 pilot studies (1-group study and a randomized 2-group study) were used to develop and test a teaching intervention. Parents were recruited from the Pediatric Diabetes Clinic at UMass Memorial Medical Center. A brainstorming group (n = 6) discussed the simulator concept and what modifications would be necessary to enhance parent teaching; the authors also developed the initial hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia teaching vignettes. Two focus groups (n = 13) discussed the acceptance of using a simulator and the timing and content of the teaching sessions. Based on their recommendations, a 1-group pretest-posttest pilot was conducted with parents (n = 10) receiving hypoglycemia education enhanced with the HPS, followed by a randomized 2-group pilot study (n = 16).

Findings

The focus group participants enthusiastically supported the use of the pediatric HPS after diagnosis and made recommendations for the timing and content of the teaching sessions. Major findings from the pilot work included (1) successful recruitment of 16 participants from only 1 site within 6 weeks, (2) instrument reliability demonstrated for all scales, and (3) mean change from baseline in the predicted direction for all measures.

Conclusions

The HPS has the potential of providing parents an innovative means of learning diabetes management through visualization during the early months after diagnosis and so warrants a powered study to determine its efficacy.
The Yin and Yang of Immunomodulatory Biologics: Assessing the Delicate Balance between Benefit and Risk
Authors: Danilenko Dimitry M. , Wang Hong
Published: January 2012

A number of therapeutic immunomodulatory biologics, including antibodies, fusion proteins, and recombinant proteins, have been causally linked with serious adverse effects in humans. In nearly all cases, these serious adverse effects have been directly associated with the immunomodulatory biologic’s intended pharmacologic activity or exaggerated pharmacology. Examples of immunomodulatory biologics known to cause serious adverse effects in the clinic ranging from immunostimulation and cytokine release syndrome (e.g., TGN1412) to immunosuppression with increased risk of opportunistic infections (e.g., TNF-α antagonists, anti-integrins) are presented. Specific examples of the nonclinical testing strategy used for the clinical risk assessment of these immunomodulatory biologics are discussed, with an emphasis on the clinical relevance and predictivity of the models. Infectious challenge animal models, in particular, were critically evaluated for their utility in evaluating clinical risk assessment versus understanding mechanism of action. The nonclinical safety testing strategy for an immunomodulatory biologic should be custom tailored to interrogate the biology of the immunologic target in order to best assess potential clinical risk. This nonclinical strategy should include mechanistic and efficacy models of pharmacologic activity and immunologic signaling pathways, in vitro immunologic assays such as cytokine release, and immunophenotypic assessment by flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and/or immunofluorescence, as appropriate.
Immunology for the Toxicologic Pathologist
Authors: Snyder Paul W.
Published: January 2012

The immune system functions primarily as a defense mechanism to provide protective immunity against microbial pathogens and cancer. The resulting protective responses occur through the complex interaction of tissues, cells, proteins, and molecular pathways that act in concert with other systems (e.g., nervous and endocrine) to provide the host with immunologic responses that cause pathologic processes seen primarily as inflammatory reactions. The pathologic responses can be attributed to either normal responses to infectious organisms and cancer cells, misdirected responses as in the case of hypersensitivity or autoimmune diseases, or deficient responses attributable to deficiencies or defects in components of the immune system. Pathologists need to have a basic understanding of the immune system to not only interpret findings as to their likely pathogenesis, but also to predict when the immune system may be a potential target. This review will be limited to a general overview of the basic immunologic responses and primary components involved.
Does baseline fatigue influence treatment response to reboxetine or citalopram in depression? An open label randomized controlled trial
Authors: Bould Helen , Wiles Nicola , Potokar John , Cowen Philip , Nutt David J , Peters Tim J , Lewis Glyn
Published: January 2012

It has been suggested that antidepressants that increase noradrenergic transmission should be better than serotonergic antidepressants at treating fatigue in depression. We conducted a secondary analysis of an RCT in which patients with depression were randomly assigned to reboxetine (a noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor [NARI]) or citalopram (a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor [SSRI]). We investigated the difference between citalopram and reboxetine in treating the symptom of fatigue in depression, and also in treating depression with high levels of baseline fatigue. We found no difference between citalopram and reboxetine in terms of improvement in fatigue at six weeks (0.11, 95% confidence interval (−0.28, 0.49); p = 0.59:), or at 12 weeks. Using the Beck Depression Inventory at 12 weeks as the outcome measure, we found some evidence in support of our hypothesis that reboxetine is more effective than citalopram in treating depression in those with high baseline fatigue (interaction term: −2.87, 95% confidence interval (−5.15, −0.60); p = 0.01). We conclude that there is no evidence of any difference between reboxetine and citalopram in their efficacy in treating fatigue as a symptom of depression, but that reboxetine may be more effective in treating depression with high levels of fatigue. Fatigue might be useful in the prediction of response to NARIs or SSRIs.
New Humanitarians? Frame Appropriation through Private Military and Security Companies
Authors: Joachim Jutta , Schneiker Andrea
Published: January 2012

Although private military and security companies (PMSCs) are gaining increasing importance, they still suffer from an image problem. In the media, they are frequently referred to as ‘mercenaries’ or ‘dogs of war’. PMSCs are therefore interested in presenting themselves as legitimate and acceptable contract parties. Based on a discourse analysis of the homepages of select PMSCs and the industry association International Stability Operations Association (ISOA), and drawing on the framing literature, we examine one way in which companies respond to such negative labels. We show not only that PMSCs provide supplemental logistics or security for the staff of humanitarian organisations confronted with complex emergencies and ever-more dangerous missions, but also that these companies appropriate the humanitarian frame discursively, emphasising those elements that fit their interests and needs. To present themselves as ‘new humanitarians’, PMSCs employ primarily two kinds of strategies: naming and forging alliances with more traditional humanitarian actors. Their growing involvement in this field may not be without consequences and may contribute to the blurring of lines between military and civilian missions.
Effect of Subchondral Drilling on the Microarchitecture of Subchondral Bone
Authors: Orth Patrick , Goebel Lars , Wolfram Uwe , Ong Mei Fang , Gräber Stefan , Kohn Dieter , Cucchiarini Magali , Ignatius Anita , Pape Dietrich , Madry Henning
Published: January 2012

Background: Marrow stimulation techniques such as subchondral drilling are clinically important treatment options for symptomatic small cartilage defects. Little is known about whether they induce deleterious changes in the subchondral bone.

Hypothesis: Subchondral drilling induces substantial alterations of the microarchitecture of the subchondral bone that persist for a clinically relevant postoperative period in a preclinical large animal model.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.

Methods: Standardized full-thickness chondral defects in the medial femoral condyles of 19 sheep were treated by subchondral drilling. Six months postoperatively, the formation of cysts and intralesional osteophytes was evaluated. A standardized methodology was developed to segment the ovine subchondral unit into reproducible volumes of interest (VOIs). Indices of bone structure were determined by micro–computed tomography (micro-CT).

Results: Analysis of the microarchitecture revealed the absence of zonal stratification in the ovine subarticular spongiosa, permitting an unimpeded and simultaneous analysis of the entire subchondral trabecular network. Subchondral drilling led to the formation of subchondral bone cysts (63%) and intralesional osteophytes (26%). Compared with the adjacent unaffected subchondral bone, drilling induced significant alterations in nearly all parameters for the microarchitecture of the subchondral bone plate and the subarticular spongiosa, most importantly in bone volume, bone surface/volume ratio, trabecular thickness, separation, pattern factor, and bone mineral density (BMD) (all P ≤ .01).

Conclusion: The data show that the ovine subchondral bone can be reliably evaluated using micro-CT with standardized VOIs. We report that subchondral drilling deteriorates the microarchitecture both of the subchondral bone plate and subarticular spongiosa and decreases BMD. These results suggest that the entire osteochondral unit is altered after drilling for an extended postoperative period.

Clinical Relevance: The subchondral bone remains fragile after subchondral drilling for longer durations than previously expected. Further evaluations of structural subchondral bone parameters of patients undergoing marrow stimulation are warranted.
The Influence of Media on Penal Attitudes
Authors: Rosenberger Jared S. , Callanan Valerie J.
Published: January 2012

This study examines the influence of crime-related media consumption on individuals’ perceptions of the most important purpose of criminal sentencing, using a statewide survey of 4,245 California residents. Consumption of various forms of crime-related media was regressed on four goals of criminal sentencing (punishment, incapacitation, deterrence, and rehabilitation) using multinomial logistic regression. The results suggest that consumption of television news and crime-based reality programs increased the odds of selecting punishment as the most important goal of criminal sentencing as opposed to rehabilitation. The more hours of television watched, irrespective of genre, the more likely respondents were to support punishment, deterrence, or incapacitation rather than rehabilitation. These results hold even after controlling for various sociodemographic characteristics and experiences with crime such as fear, past victimization, and prior arrests.
Stress-Related Cognitive Dysfunction in Dementia Caregivers
Authors: Oken Barry S. , Fonareva Irina , Wahbeh Helane
Published: January 2012

Summary

In a cross-sectional study, 31 dementia caregivers were compared to a group of 25 noncaregiving controls to evaluate whether the stress of being the primary caregiver of a person with dementia produces cognitive dysfunction. Cognitive differences were examined to evaluate the relationships between cognitive function and stress-related physiological and psychological measures to contribute information regarding its potential mechanism. The cognitive assessments were 2 measures of attention-executive function and 1 word list memory task. Physiological and self-rated stress-related measurements included cortisol, perceived stress, depression, self-efficacy, mindfulness, sleep quality, fatigue, and neuroticism. Caregivers performed worse than noncaregivers on the 2 attention tasks but not on the word list memory test. There was no interaction of caregiver status and age on cognitive performance. The caregivers and noncaregivers differed in morning salivary cortisol and most of the self-rated stress-related measures with the caregiver values reflecting greater stress. Of note, impaired sleep was the only potential mediator of the caregiver effect on cognitive performance in our small sample.
Depressive Symptoms in Parkinson Disease: Degree of Association and Rate of Agreement of Clinician-Based and Self-Report Measures
Authors: Cimino Cynthia R. , Siders Craig A. , Zesiewicz Theresa A.
Published: January 2012

Depression in Parkinson disease (PD) is associated with faster disease progression, lower activities of daily living, and more severe cognitive impairment. Even mild symptoms of depression may impact outcomes in patients with PD. Nevertheless, a low rate of agreement has been reported between patient and clinician ratings of depression, suggesting that clinicians may underestimate depression in patients with PD. However, to accurately compare the rates of agreement, comparable estimates are needed so that patient and clinician ratings have similar meaning (eg, mild, moderate, severe, etc). The purpose of this study was to examine this question by investigating the degree of association and rate of agreement of levels of symptom severity among self-report and clinician ratings using established cutoffs that correspond to more comparable estimates of these levels for both patient and clinician. Our findings suggest that patient’s self-report of depressive symptoms was significantly correlated with clinician-based report irrespective of the stage of disease. Moreover, patients demonstrated a 72% rate of agreement with clinicians in classifying symptoms as asymptomatic, mildly symptomatic, or fully symptomatic, a rate significantly higher than the rate of 35% previously reported. This difference in rate of agreement may be accounted for using varying criteria for severity levels across the studies. Findings suggest that clinician and patient reports show a high rate of agreement across a range of depressive symptoms and that self-report measures may provide a relatively efficient means of detecting depressive symptoms especially if patients are disinclined to initiate their report.
Are Vascular Risk Factors Associated With Post-Stroke Depressive Symptoms?
Authors: Tennen Gayla , Herrmann Nathan , Black Sandra E. , Levy Karen S. , Cappell Jaclyn , Li Abby , Lanctôt Krista L.
Published: January 2012

Objective: Vascular risk factors (VRFs) have been associated with stroke and cognitive impairment, however, the role of VRFs in predicting post-stroke depression (PSD) has not been assessed. The objective of the current study was to determine whether VRFs are associated with the risk of PSD in an acute stroke population. Methods: In this observational study, patients meeting World Health Organization MONICA Project and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke criteria for stroke were eligible. Patients were assessed for depression, cognition, and stroke severity, and VRF and demographic information were obtained. Results: A total of 102 patients were recruited within 4 months post-stroke. Using a score of ≥16 on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale to determine depressive symptoms, 38 patients (age 72.1 ± 15.6, 44.7% male) screened positive for depressive symptoms and 64 (age 70.1 ± 13.6, 51.6% male) screened negative. Analysis of VRFs showed that only hypertension ( P = .044) independently predicted the presence of depressive symptoms (χ2 = 4.742, P = .029, Nagelkerke R2 = .062). Conclusions: Hypertension was associated with post-stroke depressive symptoms, while there was no relationship between PSD and other VRFs. Hypertension may have a greater impact than other VRFs on mood following stroke and may have a role in prevention and treatment of PSD.
Telephone-Based Cognitive–Behavioral Therapy for Depression in Parkinson Disease
Authors: Dobkin Roseanne D. , Menza Matthew , Allen Lesley A. , Tiu Jade , Friedman Jill , Bienfait Karina L. , Gara Michael A. , Mark Margery H.
Published: January 2012

Background: Although face-to-face cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT) was found to be beneficial for the treatment of depression in Parkinson disease (dPD) in a recent randomized-controlled trial, access to care was identified as a critical issue that needs to be addressed in order to improve the management of this nonmotor complication in PD. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility and effect of telephone-based CBT for dPD. Methods: Twenty-one depressed people with PD participated in a National Institutes of Health–sponsored uncontrolled pilot trial of telephone-based CBT in an academic medical center from October 2009 to February 2011. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale was the primary outcome. Treatment was provided to people with PD for 10 weeks, modified for delivery over the phone, and supplemented with 4 separate phone-based caregiver educational sessions. Assessments were completed at baseline and 5 (midpoint), 10 (end-of-treatment), and 14 weeks (follow-up) post-enrollment. Results: Twenty (95%) people with PD completed the study treatment. Phone-based CBT was associated with significant improvements in depression, anxiety, negative thoughts, and coping. Mean Hamilton Depression Rating Scale change from baseline to week 10 was 7.91 points ( P < .001, Cohen d = 1.21). Conclusions: Telephone-based CBT may be a feasible and helpful approach for treating dPD and warrants further exploration in randomized-controlled trials. Results were comparable to those observed in the few in-person cognitive–behavioral treatment studies for dPD conducted to date.
Living on the Edge
Authors: Peterson-Lund Robin R.
Published: January 2012

Living on the edge is a universal lived experience. The humanbecoming school of thought is the theoretical underpinning described here to expand understanding of this phenomenon and contribute to nursing knowledge. A synthetic definition derived with concept inventing was created. The experience of living on the edge is risking venturing with sureness-unsureness surfacing with cherished engaging. At the theoretical level living on the edge is powering the originating of valuing connecting-separating.
Feeling Strong
Authors: Doucet Thomas J.
Published: January 2012

In this article the author reports findings from a Parse research study on the experience of feeling strong with 10 participants living in community. The central finding of the study is the structure: Feeling strong is propelling resolutely amid adversity, as jubilant fulfilling assuredness surfaces with discerning spirited envisioning with treasured alliances. The findings are discussed in relation to the humanbecoming school of thought and extant literature.
Research on relative position and attitude representation and algorithm of formation flying systems based on position and attitude dual quaternion model
Authors: Zhu Miao , Wang Hui-nan , Fu Shi-yong
Published: January 2012

To combine the attitude into spacecraft’s orbit representation in formation flying systems, this article addresses a novel position and attitude dual quaternion model to simultaneously describe the relative position and attitude. Besides, the Quasi-global positioning system measurement model is used to realize the relative autonomous navigation. Finally, numerical simulations indicate that both models and the relative autonomous navigation algorithm meet the demand of formation flying systems. The results show that models are reasonable and concise and that the algorithm is more efficient.
Individual Differences in Holistic Processing Predict Face Recognition Ability
Authors: Wang Ruosi , Li Jingguang , Fang Huizhen , Tian Moqian , Liu Jia
Published: January 2012

Why do some people recognize faces easily and others frequently make mistakes in recognizing faces? Classic behavioral work has shown that faces are processed in a distinctive holistic manner that is unlike the processing of objects. In the study reported here, we investigated whether individual differences in holistic face processing have a significant influence on face recognition. We found that the magnitude of face-specific recognition accuracy correlated with the extent to which participants processed faces holistically, as indexed by the composite-face effect and the whole-part effect. This association is due to face-specific processing in particular, not to a more general aspect of cognitive processing, such as general intelligence or global attention. This finding provides constraints on computational models of face recognition and may elucidate mechanisms underlying cognitive disorders, such as prosopagnosia and autism, that are associated with deficits in face recognition.
Thermoelectric quadrupole of a leg to model transient state
Authors: Lazard M , Goupil C , Fraisse G , Scherrer H
Published: January 2012

The transient heat transfer in a thermoelectric leg is modelled. The Thomson effect is into account, whereas it is often neglected in other studies. Thanks to the expressions of the temperature and the heat flux expressed in the Laplace domain, a semi-analytical technique, the so-called quadrupole method is performed. No mesh is required. The whole matrix formulation is given for different initial conditions. It will allow, for instance, to evaluate easily the efficiency or the coefficient of performance of the thermoelement or use it as inverse method, for instance, to perform estimations.
Psychometric Evaluation of the Turkish Version of the Zarit Burden Interview in Family Caregivers of Inpatients in Medical and Surgical Clinics
Authors: Özer Nadiye , Yurttaş Afife , Akyıl Rahşan Çevik
Published: January 2012

The aim of this study was to adapt the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) to family caregivers of inpatients in medical and surgical clinics to assess the validity and reliability of the Turkish version. The study design was descriptive and methodological. A total of 223 family caregivers providing care to patients for at least 1 week in clinics were selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Turkish translation of the ZBI. The psychometric testing of the adapted instrument was carried out to establish internal consistency, interitem correlation, and construct validity. The content validity procedure resulted in a final scale comprising 18 items. Cronbach’s alpha was .82. Factor analysis yielded one factor. The Turkish version of the ZBI adapted to the clinics can be used as a one-factor tool.
Parent and Teacher Perceptions of the Impact of School Nurse Interventions on Children’s Self-Management of Diabetes
Authors: Peery Annette I. , Engelke Martha Keehner , Swanson Melvin S.
Published: January 2012

Diabetes is a common chronic illness among school-age children. The school nurse collaborates with the student, parents, and teachers to help the child manage their diabetes effectively. Very little is known about the relationship between school nurse interventions and parent/teacher perceptions of the child’s self-management. We examined this relationship in a sample of 69 school-age children who received case management from school nurses. Our findings suggest that teachers and parents do not always agree on how well a child manages their illness. When school nurses provide more education and counseling, parents are more likely to perceive an improvement in their child’s self-management. Teachers are more likely to perceive an improvement when the nurse provides more classroom visits and includes the physical education teacher and guidance counselor. These findings suggest that the roles of educator, counselor, and collaborator are important for school nurses who provide care to school-age children with diabetes.
The Process of Family Management When a Baby Is Diagnosed With a Lethal Congenital Condition
Authors: Rempel Gwen R. , Blythe Catriona , Rogers Laura G. , Ravindran Vinitha
Published: January 2012

The Family Management Style Framework (FMSF) was used as a conceptual basis for secondary data analysis of 55 previously conducted interviews with mothers and fathers of children with a lethal congenital condition from two surgical treatment eras. The directed content analysis was guided by a coding structure developed from family management dimensions identified in prior research of family response to childhood chronic conditions. Results indicated that application of the FMSF was helpful in differentiating families and their processes of family management at the onset of their infant’s illness through to surviving the first surgery and going home. The dimensions of Illness View and Child Identity were central to the parents’ capacity to manage their baby’s illness demands within their family context. Applying a robust family framework to a complex neonatal condition at illness onset provides compelling direction for clinical interventions and their rigorous evaluation.
Child Welfare Caseworkers as Service Brokers for Youth in Foster Care
Authors: Dorsey Shannon , Kerns Suzanne E. U. , Trupin Eric W. , Conover Kate L. , Berliner Lucy
Published: January 2012

Youth in the foster care system have substantially higher rates of mental health needs compared to the general population, yet they rarely receive targeted, evidence-based practices (EBPs). Increasingly emerging in the literature on mental health services is the importance of “brokers” or “gateway providers” of services. For youth in foster care, child welfare caseworkers often play this role. This study examines caseworker-level outcomes of Project Focus, a caseworker training and consultation model designed to improve emotional and behavioral outcomes for youth in foster care through increased linkages with EBPs. Project Focus was tested through a small, randomized trial involving four child welfare offices. Caseworkers in the Project Focus intervention group demonstrated an increased awareness of EBPs and a trend toward increased ability to identify appropriate EBP referrals for particular mental health problems but did not have significantly different rates of actual referral to EBPs. Dose of consultation was associated with general awareness of EBPs. Implications for practice and outcomes for youth are discussed.
Archiving Father and Son
Authors: Pelias Ronald J.
Published: January 2012

Haunted by the estranged relationship with his son and the loss of his father three years ago, the author writes in the attempt to gather, to archive what needs to be preserved. The author proceeds by recollecting the positive memories he carries of his father and the troubling thoughts he holds about his son. Structured through fragments, the author accumulates an archival history, one that tells the story of the father his dad was and of the father that the author is to his own son.
Bird on the Wire
Authors: Bochner Arthur P.
Published: January 2012

This narrative is a work of memory and mourning. In the aftermath of my father’s sudden death in 1988, I had resigned myself to living without the closure of a healing conversation that could break through the cycle of repetition that had defined our relationship. Later, I realized that death ends a life not a relationship and through personal narrative I might be able to find a way to loosen the grip of the past and break free from my psychic inheritance. In this story, I use the moral imagination at the heart of narrative and storytelling to confront and deal with the contingencies of my past, redescribing the history of my relationship with my father in ways that seek fidelity with what actually took place and a chance to remake a self— myself —that can live not against the past but with it.
A Box of Books
Authors: Denzin Norman K.
Published: January 2012

The author reads his family history through letters found in a box of books.
Stumbling Into Relating
Authors: Poulos Christopher N.
Published: January 2012

Father–son relationships can be tricky, often fraught with tension or bogged down in painful shared histories. Writing about these relationships is similarly tricky, and fraught with various tensions. As an accidental ethnographer who follows the organic flow of my own emergent writing—and who wholeheartedly embraces writing into and through communication problems—I have written my way into some messy little corners while writing about others. But I have also stumbled into some intriguing, deep, and powerful relational turning points. In this essay, I stumble into writing my relationship with my father, and thus toward re-writing the terms of our relationship.
Linear coordinates in multibody dynamics
Authors: Lidström P
Published: January 2012

Coordinate representations and equations of motion for multibody systems are discussed from a general point of view. Linear coordinates for flexible, as well as rigid, parts are introduced and their properties are analysed. The mass matrix and strain tensors are calculated in terms of the linear coordinates and equations of motion are formulated for multibodies containing rigid and flexible parts. Linearized versions of the equations of motion are derived.
Shallow-shell models by Γ-convergence
Authors: Velčić Igor
Published: January 2012

In this paper we derive, by means of Γ-convergence, the shallow-shell models starting from non-linear three-dimensional elasticity. We use the approach analogous to the one for shells and plates. We start from the minimization formulation of the general three-dimensional elastic body, which is subjected to normal volume forces and free boundary conditions and do not presuppose any constitutional behavior. To derive the model we need to propose how the order of magnitude of the external loads is related to the thickness of the body h, as well as to the order of the ‘geometry’ of the shallow shell. We analyze the situation when the external normal forces are of order hα, where α > 2. For α = 3 we obtain the Marguerre–von Kármán model and for α > 3 the linearized Marguerre–von Kármán model. For α ∈ (2,3) we are able to obtain only the lower bound for the Γ-limit. This is analogous to recent results for the ordinary shell models.
Dynamic Models of Affiliation and the Network Structure of Problem Solving in an Open Source Software Project
Authors: Conaldi Guido , Lomi Alessandro , Tonellato Marco
Published: January 2012

Two-mode networks are used to describe dual patterns of association between distinct social entities through their joint involvement in categories, activities, issues, and events. In empirical organizational research, the analysis of two-mode networks is typically accomplished either by (a) decomposition of the dual structure into its two unimodal components defined in terms of indirect relations between entities of the same kind or (b) direct statistical analysis of individual two-mode dyads. Both strategies are useful, but neither is fully satisfactory. In this article, the authors introduce newly developed stochastic actor-based models for two-mode networks that may be adopted to redress the limitations of current analytical strategies. The authors specify and estimate the model in the context of data they have collected on the dual association between software developers and software problems observed during a complete release cycle of an open source software project. The authors discuss the general methodological implications of the models for organizational research based on the empirical analysis of two-mode networks.
Police Responsiveness to Service-Related Requests
Authors: Rossler Michael T. , Terrill William
Published: January 2012

Policing research has generally focused on easily measured outcome factors such as response time, force usage, and arrest. Empirical studies examining outcomes important to public legitimacy, such as police responsiveness, are less prevalent in the literature. Using observational and interview data from two medium sized cities (Indianapolis, Indiana, and St. Petersburg, Florida), the present inquiry examines how officers respond to noncoercive citizen requests for service during encounters, and the impact that situational and officer characteristics have on their willingness to comply with requests. Results indicate that officers comply with a majority of citizen requests, and even when they do not comply they often provide an explanation why. Encounters involving respectful citizens, wealthier citizens, White officers, and St. Petersburg officers were all more likely to result in compliance, while officers were less likely to comply with requests from younger and older citizens. Moreover, encounters involving White citizens, a greater number of citizen bystanders, and officers with a higher level of education all reduced the likelihood that officers would provide an explanation for denying citizen requests. Policy implications and recommendations for future research and theoretical development are discussed.
Orthopedic examination in the cat
Authors: Kerwin Sharon
Published: January 2012

Patient group The majority of cats will develop radiographic evidence of degenerative joint disease by the time they are 12 years of age, and many will suffer from a decline in quality of life associated with undiagnosed and untreated orthopedic disease.

Practical relevance A focused, efficient orthopedic examination, including gait observation and palpation (awake and under sedation), supplemented with appropriate history, is key in ruling in, or out, clinically important musculoskeletal disease. Identifying problems assists in both developing a diagnostic plan and monitoring response to treatment.

Clinical challenges Many clinicians feel uncomfortable in their ability to reliably perform an orthopedic examination in the cat, and diagnosis and evaluation of response to treatment in cats with orthopedic disease can be challenging. Hands-on training in feline orthopedic examination is limited in many veterinary curricula. Additional constraints may include failure to obtain important information in the history that indicates feline orthopedic disease, lack of appropriate facilities in which to conduct a complete orthopedic examination, and inability to obtain the most important information during the time available to conduct the examination. These problems can create gaps in the practitioner’s ability to provide excellent care for a large proportion of the feline population.

Goals The above challenges can mostly be overcome with advanced planning and with consideration of the unique behavioral aspects related to feline handling. As discussed in this review, the aim of the initial orthopedic examination is to localize the problem to a specific limb, ideally to a region or joint of the limb, which can further direct diagnostics such as radiography or arthrocentesis. This should provide a basis for follow-up and assessment of whether treatment strategies are effective.
“Working Through” as Ideological Intervention
Authors: Draper Jimmy , Lotz Amanda D.
Published: January 2012

This article considers the ideological significance of homophobic discourse as part of a sophisticated interrogation of homophobic outlooks in the FX series Rescue Me. It posits that a variety of narrative features enable a strategy of “working through” in which characters’ frank conversations and evolving perspectives depict the process of experiencing ideological challenge. Working through emphasizes the need for scholars to fully explore the internally contradictory narratives that are characteristic of the increasing complexity of some television storytelling and defies norms of critical media analysis that argue particular media texts either reinforce or resist dominant ideology. Cogent examination of other instances of working through could reinvigorate stymied intellectual spaces by insisting that scholars consider characters’ process of struggle with ideological perspectives throughout the unfolding of a series.
Restoration of the blood pressure circadian rhythm by direct renin inhibition and blockade of angiotensin II receptors in mRen2.Lewis hypertensive rats
Authors: Moniwa Norihito , Varagic Jasmina , Ahmad Sarfaraz , VonCannon Jessica L. , Ferrario Carlos M.
Published: January 2012

Background: Alterations in the circadian arterial pressure rhythm predict cardiovascular mortality. We examined the circadian arterial pressure rhythm and the effect of renin–angiotensin system blockade in congenic mRen2.Lewis hypertensive rats, a renin-dependent model of hypertension derived from the backcross of transgenic hypertensive [mRen-2]27 rats with Lewis normotensive ones.

Methods: Twenty-nine mRen2.Lewis hypertensive rats were randomly assigned to drink tap water (vehicle; n = 9), valsartan (30 mg/kg/day; n = 10), or valsartan (30 mg/kg/day) combined with aliskiren given subcutaneously (50 mg/kg/day; n = 10) for 2 weeks. Arterial pressure, heart rate, and locomotive activity were recorded with chronically implanted radiotelemetry probes. The awake/asleep ratio was calculated as [awake mean arterial pressure (MAP) mean – asleep MAP mean)] / (awake MAP mean) x 100. Plasma renin activity (PRA) and concentration (PRC), and plasma and kidney angiotensin II (Ang II) were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIAs).

Results: Untreated hypertensive rats showed an inverse arterial pressure rhythm, higher at day and lower at night, accompanied by normal rhythms of heart rate and locomotive activity. Treatment with valsartan or aliskiren and valsartan normalized the elevated arterial pressure and the arterial pressure rhythm, with the combination therapy being more effective in reducing MAP and in restoring the awake/asleep ratio. While PRA and PRC increased with the treatments, the addition of aliskiren to valsartan partially reversed the increases in plasma Ang II levels. Valsartan and the aliskiren and valsartan combination markedly reduced the renal cortical content of Ang II.

Conclusion: The altered circadian arterial pressure rhythm in this renin-dependent hypertension model uncovers a significant role of Ang II in the desynchronization of the circadian rhythm of arterial pressure, heart rate, and locomotive activity.
The Personality Underpinnings of Explicit and Implicit Generalized Prejudice
Authors: Bergh Robin , Akrami Nazar , Ekehammar Bo
Published: January 2012

The idea of prejudice as a tendency that can be generalized from one target to another and the personality–prejudice relationship have been widely examined using explicit measures. However, less is known about this tendency and its relation to personality for implicit prejudice measures, like the implicit association test (IAT). Three studies including explicit and corresponding implicit prejudice measures toward various target groups confirmed a generalized factor for both types of measures with a stronger common component for the explicit factor. Personality was significantly related to the explicit measures only. Also, the personality and prejudice measures were unrelated to explicit and implicit attitudes toward an irrelevant target which rules out potential method confound. These results indicate that explicit and implicit prejudice measures tap different psychological constructs relating differently to the individual’s self-reported personality. The findings have implications for the debate on whether IAT scores reflect personally endorsed attitudes.
Induction of autophagy is essential for monocyte-macrophage differentiation
Authors: Zhang Yan , Morgan Michael J. , Chen Kun , Choksi Swati , Liu Zheng-gang
Published: January 2012

Monocytes are programmed to undergo apoptosis in the absence of stimulation. Stimuli that promote monocyte-macrophage differentiation not only cause cellular changes, but also prevent the default apoptosis of monocytes. In the present study, we demonstrate that autophagy is induced when monocytes are triggered to differentiate and that the induction of autophagy is pivotal for the survival and differentiation of monocytes. We also show that inhibition of autophagy results in apoptosis of cells that are engaged in differentiation. We found that the differentiation signal releases Beclin1 from Bcl-2 by activating JNK and blocks Atg5 cleavage, both of which are critical for the induction of autophagy. Preventing autophagy induction hampers differentiation and cytokine production; therefore, autophagy is an important transition from monocyte apoptosis to differentiation.
A pilot randomized trial of adjuvant rituximab or placebo for nonsplenectomized patients with immune thrombocytopenia
Authors: Arnold Donald M. , Heddle Nancy M. , Carruthers Julie , Cook Deborah J. , Crowther Mark A. , Meyer Ralph M. , Liu Yang , Cook Richard J. , McLeod Anne , MacEachern Janet A. , Mangel Joy , Anderson David , Vickars Linda , Tinmouth Alan , Schuh Andre C. , Kelton John G.
Published: January 2012

The benefit of adding rituximab to standard treatment in nonsplenectomized patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is uncertain. We performed a pilot randomized trial to determine the feasibility of recruitment, protocol adherence, and blinding of a larger trial of rituximab versus placebo; and to evaluate the potential efficacy of adjuvant rituximab in ITP. Nonsplenectomized adults with newly diagnosed or relapsed ITP who were receiving standard ITP therapy for a platelet count below 30 × 109/L were randomly allocated to receive 4 weekly infusions of 375 mg/m2 rituximab or saline placebo. Sixty patients were recruited over 46 months, which was slower than anticipated. Protocol adherence and follow-up targets were achieved, and blinding was successful for research staff but not for patients. After 6 months, there was no difference between rituximab and placebo groups for the composite outcome of any platelet count below 50 × 109/L, significant bleeding or rescue treatment once standard treatment was stopped (21/32 [65.6%] vs 21/26 [80.8%]; relative risk = 0.81, 95% confidence intervals, 0.59%-1.11%). Timely accrual poses a challenge to the conduct of a large randomized trial of rituximab for presplenectomy ITP. No difference in the frequency of the composite outcome was observed in this pilot trial (registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT00372892).
SIRT1 is dispensable for function of hematopoietic stem cells in adult mice
Authors: Leko Vid , Varnum-Finney Barbara , Li Hongzhe , Gu Yansong , Flowers David , Nourigat Cynthia , Bernstein Irwin D. , Bedalov Antonio
Published: January 2012

SIRT1 is an NAD+-dependent histone deacetylase implicated in the establishment of the primitive hematopoietic system during mouse embryonic development. However, investigation of the role of SIRT1 in adult hematopoiesis has been complicated by the high perinatal mortality of SIRT1-deficient mice (SIRT1−/−). We performed a comprehensive in vivo study of the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) compartment in adult SIRT1−/− mice and show that, apart from anemia and leukocytosis in older mice, the production of mature blood cells, lineage distribution within hematopoietic organs, and frequencies of the most primitive HSC populations are comparable to those of wild-type littermate controls. Furthermore, we show that SIRT1-deficient BM cells confer stable long-term reconstitution in competitive repopulation and serial transplantation experiments. The results of the present study rule out an essential physiologic role for cell-autonomous SIRT1 signaling in the maintenance of the adult HSC compartment in mice.
A motif-independent metric for DNA sequence specificity
Authors: Pinello Luca , Lo Bosco Giosuè , Hanlon Bret , Yuan Guo-Cheng
Published: January 2012

Background

Genome-wide mapping of protein-DNA interactions has been widely used to investigate biological functions of the genome. An important question is to what extent such interactions are regulated at the DNA sequence level. However, current investigation is hampered by the lack of computational methods for systematic evaluating sequence specificity.

Results

We present a simple, unbiased quantitative measure for DNA sequence specificity called the Motif Independent Measure (MIM). By analyzing both simulated and real experimental data, we found that the MIM measure can be used to detect sequence specificity independent of presence of transcription factor (TF) binding motifs. We also found that the level of specificity associated with H3K4me1 target sequences is highly cell-type specific and highest in embryonic stem (ES) cells. We predicted H3K4me1 target sequences by using the N- score model and found that the prediction accuracy is indeed high in ES cells.The software to compute the MIM is freely available at:https://github.com/lucapinello/mim.

Conclusions

Our method provides a unified framework for quantifying DNA sequence specificity and serves as a guide for development of sequence-based prediction models.