bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of mTOR Suppresses UVB-Induced Keratinocyte Proliferation and Survival
Authors: Carr Theresa D. , DiGiovanni John , Lynch Christopher J. , Shantz Lisa M.
Published: November 2012

UV radiation is the major risk factor for developing skin cancer, the most prevalent cancer worldwide. Several studies indicate that mTOR signaling is activated by UVB and may play an important role in skin tumorigenesis. mTOR exists in two functionally and compositionally distinct protein complexes: the rapamycin-sensitive mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) and the rapamycin-resistant mTOR complex 2 (mTORC2). The purpose of these studies was to investigate the roles of the two mTOR complexes in UVB-mediated proliferation and apoptosis in the skin. We used rapamycin, a pharmacologic inhibitor of mTORC1, and an inducible mTOR-deficient (K5-CreERT2;mTORfl/fl) mouse model that allows epidermal-specific disruption of mTOR following topical treatment with 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4OHT). Rapamycin blocked UVB-induced phosphorylation of S6K, the downstream target of mTORC1, and significantly reduced UVB-stimulated epidermal proliferation and cell-cycle progression, but had no effect on cell death. In contrast, mTOR deletion, which attenuated UVB-induced phosphorylation of both S6K and the mTORC2 target AKTSer473, significantly increased apoptosis both in vivo and in keratinocyte cultures, in addition to reducing hyperproliferation following UVB irradiation. The role of mTORC2 in UVB-induced prosurvival signaling was verified in Rictor−/− mouse embryo fibroblasts, which lack functional mTORC2 and were more sensitive to UVB-induced apoptosis than controls. These studies show that mTORC1 and mTORC2 play unique but complementary roles in controlling proliferation and apoptosis in the skin. Our findings underscore the importance of both mTOR complexes in mediating UVB-induced signaling in keratinocytes and provide new insight into the pathogenesis of skin cancer. Cancer Prev Res; 5(12); 1394–404. ©2012 AACR.
Explaining Socioeconomic Inequalities in Childhood Blood Pressure and Prehypertension
Authors: van den Berg Gerrit , van Eijsden Manon , Galindo-Garre Francisca , Vrijkotte Tanja G.M. , Gemke Reinoud J.B.J.
Published: November 2012

Much remains to be understood about the socioeconomic inequalities in hypertension that continue to exist. We investigated the association of socioeconomic status with blood pressure and prehypertension in childhood. In a prospective cohort, 3024 five- to six-year–old children had blood pressure measurements and available information on potential explanatory factors, namely birth weight, gestational age, smoking during pregnancy, pregnancy-induced hypertension, familial hypertension, maternal body mass index, breastfeeding duration, domestic tobacco exposure, and body mass index. The systolic and diastolic blood pressures of children from mid-educated women were 1.0-mm Hg higher (95% CI, 0.4–1.7) and 0.9-mm Hg higher (95% CI, 0.3–1.4), and the blood pressures of children with low-educated women were 2.2-mm Hg higher (95% CI, 1.4–3.0) and 1.7-mm Hg higher (95% CI, 1.1–2.4) compared with children with high-educated women. Children with mid- (odds ratio, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.18–1.92) or low-educated mothers (odds ratio, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.35–2.42) were more likely to have prehypertension compared with children with high-educated mothers. Using path analyses, birth weight, breastfeeding duration, and body mass index were determined as having a role in the association of maternal education with offspring blood pressure and prehypertension. The socioeconomic gradient in hypertension appears to emerge from childhood as the results show a higher blood pressure and more prehypertension in children from lower socioeconomic status families. Socioeconomic disparities could be reduced by improving 3 factors in particular, namely birth weight, breastfeeding duration, and body mass index, but other factors might also play a role.
The β3 Subunit Contributes to Vascular Calcium Channel Upregulation and Hypertension in Angiotensin II–Infused C57BL/6 Mice
Authors: Kharade Sujay V. , Sonkusare Swapnil K. , Srivastava Anup K. , Thakali Keshari M. , Fletcher Terry W. , Rhee Sung W. , Rusch Nancy J.
Published: November 2012

Voltage-gated L-type Ca
2+
(Ca
v
1.2) channels in vascular smooth muscle cells are a predominant Ca
2+
influx pathway that mediates arterial tone. Channel biogenesis is accomplished when the pore-forming α
1C
subunit coassembles with regulatory Ca
v
β subunits intracellularly, and the multiprotein Ca
v
1.2 channel complex translocates to the plasma membrane to form functional Ca
2+
channels. We hypothesized that the main Ca
v
β isoform in vascular smooth muscle cells, Ca
v
β3, is required for the upregulation of arterial Ca
v
1.2 channels during the development of hypertension, an event associated with abnormal Ca
2+
-dependent tone. Ca
v
1.2 channel expression and function were compared between second-order mesenteric arteries of C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) and Ca
v
β3
−/−
mice infused with saline (control) or angiotensin II (Ang II) for 2 weeks to induce hypertension. The mesenteric arteries of Ang II–infused WT mice showed increased Ca
v
1.2 channel expression and accentuated Ca
2+
-mediated contractions compared with saline-infused WT mice. In contrast, Ca
v
1.2 channels failed to upregulate in mesenteric arteries of Ang II–infused Ca
v
β3
−/−
mice, and Ca
2+
-dependent reactivity was normal in these arteries. Basal systolic blood pressure was not significantly different between WT and Ca
v
β3
−/−
mice (98 ± 2 and 102 ± 3 mm Hg, respectively), but the Ca
v
β3
−/−
mice showed a blunted pressor response to Ang II infusion. Two weeks after the start of Ang II administration, the systolic blood pressure of Ca
v
β3
−/−
mice averaged 149 ± 4 mm Hg compared with 180 ± 5 mm Hg in WT mice. Thus, the Ca
v
β3 subunit is a critical regulatory protein required to upregulate arterial Ca
v
1.2 channels and fully develop Ang II-dependent hypertension in C57BL/6 mice.
The Buoyancy Budget with a Nonlinear Equation of State
Authors: Hieronymus Magnus , Nycander Jonas
Published: November 2012

The nonlinear equation of state of seawater introduces a sink or source of buoyancy when water parcels of unequal salinities and temperatures are mixed. This article contains quantitative estimates of these nonlinear effects on the buoyancy budget of the global ocean. It is shown that the interior buoyancy sink can be determined from surface buoyancy fluxes. These surface buoyancy fluxes are calculated using two surface heat flux climatologies, one based on in situ measurements and the other on a reanalysis, in both cases using a nonlinear equation of state. It is also found that the buoyancy budget in the ocean general circulation model Nucleus for European Modeling of the Ocean (NEMO) is in good agreement with the buoyancy budgets based on the heat flux climatologies. Moreover, an examination of the vertically resolved buoyancy budget in NEMO shows that in large parts of the ocean the nonlinear buoyancy sink gives the largest contribution to this budget.
A Spectral Aging Model for the Meteosat-7 Visible Band
Authors: Decoster I. , Clerbaux N. , Baudrez E. , Dewitte S. , Ipe A. , Nevens S. , Velazquez Blazquez A. , Cornelis J.
Published: November 2012

For more than 30 years, the Meteosat satellites have been in a geostationary orbit around the earth. Because of the high temporal frequency of the data and the long time period, this database is an excellent candidate for fundamental climate data records (FCDRs). One of the prerequisites to create FCDRs is an accurate and stable calibration over the full data period. Because of the presence of contamination on the instrument in space, a degradation of the visible band of the instruments has been observed. Previous work on the Meteosat First Generation satellites, together with results from other spaceborne instruments, led to the idea that there is a spectral component to this degradation. This paper describes the model that was created to correct the Meteosat-7 visible (VIS) channel for these spectral aging effects. The model assumes an exponential temporal decay for the gray part of the degradation and a linear temporal decay for the wavelength-dependent part. The effect of these two parts of the model is tuned according to three parameters; 253 clear-sky stable earth targets with different surface types are used together with deep convective cloud measurements to fit these parameters. The validation of the model leads to an overall stability of the Meteosat-7 reflected solar radiation data record of about 0.66 W m−2 decade−1.
Drop-Size Distributions in Thunderstorms Measured by Optical Disdrometers during VORTEX2
Authors: Friedrich Katja , Kalina Evan A. , Masters Forrest J. , Lopez Carlos R.
Published: November 2012

When studying the influence of microphysics on the near-surface buoyancy tendency in convective thunderstorms, in situ measurements of microphysics near the surface are essential and those are currently not provided by most weather radars. In this study, the deployment of mobile microphysical probes in convective thunderstorms during the second Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (VORTEX2) is examined. Microphysical probes consist of an optical Ott Particle Size and Velocity (PARSIVEL) disdrometer that measures particle size and fall velocity distributions and a surface observation station that measures wind, temperature, and humidity. The mobile probe deployment allows for targeted observations within various areas of the storm and coordinated observations with ground-based mobile radars. Quality control schemes necessary for providing reliable observations in severe environments with strong winds and high rainfall rates and particle discrimination schemes for distinguishing between hail, rain, and graupel are discussed. It is demonstrated how raindrop-size distributions for selected cases can be applied to study size-sorting and microphysical processes. The study revealed that the raindrop-size distribution changes rapidly in time and space in convective thunderstorms. Graupel, hailstones, and large raindrops were primarily observed close to the updraft region of thunderstorms in the forward- and rear-flank downdrafts and in the reflectivity hook appendage. Close to the updraft, large raindrops were usually accompanied by an increase in small-sized raindrops, which mainly occurred when the wind speed and standard deviation of the wind speed increased. This increase in small drops could be an indicator of raindrop breakup.
Therapeutic Angiogenesis in Critical Limb Ischemia
Authors: Ouma Geoffrey O. , Zafrir Barak , Mohler Emile R. , Flugelman Moshe Y.
Published: November 2012

Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is a severe form of peripheral artery disease associated with high morbidity and mortality. The primary therapeutic goals in treating CLI are to reduce the risk of adverse cardiovascular events, relieve ischemic pain, heal ulcers, prevent major amputation, and improve quality of life (QoL) and survival. These goals may be achieved by medical therapy, endovascular intervention, open surgery, or amputation and require a multidisciplinary approach including pain management, wound care, risk factors reduction, and treatment of comorbidities. No-option patients are potential candidates for the novel angiogenic therapies. The application of genetic, molecular, and cellular-based modalities, the so-called therapeutic angiogenesis, in the treatment of arterial obstructive diseases has not shown consistent efficacy. This article summarizes the current status related to the management of patients with CLI and discusses the current findings of the emerging modalities for therapeutic angiogenesis.
Endovascular Treatment of Critical Ischemia in the Diabetic Foot
Authors: Georgakarakos Efstratios , Papanas Nikolaos , Papadaki Evaggelia , Georgiadis George S. , Maltezos Efstratios , Lazarides Miltos K.
Published: November 2012

This review discusses the role of endovascular treatment in diabetic patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI). Angioplasty of the femoropopliteal region achieves similar technical success and limb salvage rates in diabetic and nondiabetic patients. Angioplasty in as many as possible tibial vessels is accompanied by more complete and faster ulcer healing as well as better limb salvage rates compared to isolated tibial angioplasty. Targeted revascularization of a specific vessel responsible for the perfusion of a specific ulcerated area is a promising new approach: it replaces revascularization of the angiographically easiest-to-access tibial vessel, even if this is not directly responsible for the perfusion of the ulcerated area, by revascularization of area-specific vascular territories. In conclusion, the endovascular approach shows very high efficacy in ulcer healing for diabetic patients with CLI. Larger prospective studies are now needed to estimate the long-term results of this approach.
Whites’ Perceptions About Black Criminality
Authors: Mancini Christina , Mears Daniel P. , Stewart Eric A. , Beaver Kevin M. , Pickett Justin T.
Published: November 2012

Scholars have documented how media accounts and policy discourse have presented Blacks and criminality as virtually synonymous, a phenomenon termed the racialization of crime. However, despite extant research on the contact hypothesis—which holds that relationships with members of other groups should reduce stereotypes—no studies have examined whether different indicators of interracial contact (IC) affect Whites’ perceptions of Black criminality; by extension, no research speaks to whether IC effects are contingent on types of racialized views, or whether the amount of IC impacts perceptions. To advance scholarship, this study uses survey data to analyze the extent to which each type of IC is associated with Whites’ views of Black criminality. It then examines whether IC differentially predicts beliefs in crime versus non-crime-related stereotypes. Finally, it assesses whether the amount of IC influences stereotype endorsement. Consistent with the contact hypothesis, results indicate a generalized stereotype-reducing impact of IC, with some caveats.
Identification of Learning Disabilities
Authors: Cavendish Wendy
Published: November 2012

This article examines the recommended eligibility determination for learning disabilities (LD) in both the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act and the proposed changes in diagnostic criteria in the DSM-5. The focus is on the inclusion of the criterion of responsiveness to intervention (RTI) and the implications for practice of school psychologists and general and special education teachers. The research base on RTI for diagnostic purposes is examined, and considerations of changing roles for clinicians and school-based practitioners are discussed.
Financial Consequences of Relationship Dissolution: A Longitudinal Comparison of Formerly Married and Unmarried Cohabiting Men and Women
Authors: de Regt Sabrina , Mortelmans Dimitri , Marynissen Tinne
Published: November 2012

The aim of this article is twofold. First, we examine whether there are differences between ex-cohabiting and former married men and women in their income change after relationship dissolution. Second, we focus on differences between divorced and ex-cohabiting men and women in coping with the changed income situation after relationship dissolution. We look at two coping strategies: increasing one’s labor-market participation and finding a new partner. We look at differences in the effectiveness of applying those strategies between separated and divorced women and men. After controlling for compositional differences, there are no differences in the effectiveness of increasing the number of hours worked between divorced women and ex-cohabiting women. Divorced women gain more financially by finding a new partner than ex-cohabiting women. There are no differences between ex-cohabiting men and divorced men in effectiveness of both coping strategies.
Perception is Reality: Effect of Subjective Versus Objective Socio-economic Position on Quality of Life
Authors: Netuveli Gopalakrishnan , Bartley Mel
Published: November 2012

We tested the hypothesis that the relationship between social class measured according to employment relations and conditions and quality of life in older people was due to the influence of social class on the perception individuals had about their place in a social hierarchy. We used the data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) in which both an occupation-based measure, the National Statistics Socio-Economic Classification (NS-SEC) and a subjective measure of social status (SSS) were included. Quality of life was measured using a 19-item Likert-scaled questionnaire (CASP-19). We found that even in the employed, SSS explained quality of life better than NS-SEC. The path analysis revealed that the effects of most NS-SEC categories on quality of life were fully mediated by SSS. The effect of SSS on quality of life was independent of advantageous occupational conditions, favourable life circumstances or mental health.
A Role for the Self
Authors: McDonald Daniel G. , Sarge Melanie A. , Lin Shu-Fang , Collier James G. , Potocki Bridget
Published: November 2012

This study examines involuntary autobiographical memories (IAMs) that are triggered by video entertainment content so that we can better understand the interplay between our conception of self and our ability to relate to narratives. We used thought-listing techniques to obtain unsolicited autobiographical memories. We examined IAMs engendered when viewing 11 different video presentations over three studies. Results indicated that IAMs are a normal part of the media experience. Generation of IAMs appears to be related to low levels of arousal, mediated by the specific content genre, with dramas producing more IAMs than comedies. Narrative involvement (transportation) triggers more IAMs for those viewing comedy programs.
Enhanced time delayed linear bilateral teleoperation system by external force estimation
Authors: Amini H , Rezaei SM , Zareinejad M , Ghafarirad H
Published: November 2012

One of the prevalent methods in linear bilateral teleoperation systems with communication channel time delays is using position and velocity signals in the control scheme. Utilization of force signals in such controllers improves the performance significantly and reduces the tracking error. Measuring force signals in such cases is one of the major problems. In this paper, a control scheme in the presence of human and environment force signals for the linear bilateral teleoperation is proposed. Due to elimination of measuring forces in the control scheme, a force estimation approach based on disturbance observers has been utilized. The proposed approach guarantees asymptotic estimation of constant forces. The estimation error would only be bounded for time varying external forces. To cope with the variation of the human and environment force, a sliding-mode-controller is used. The stability and transparency condition in the teleoperation system with the designed control scheme is derived from absolute stability concept. The designed control scheme guarantees the stability of the teleoperation system in the presence of time varying human and environment forces. Experimental results show that the proposed control scheme improves position tracking in the free motion and in contact with the environment. In addition, the force estimation approach appropriately estimates human and environment forces.
Inflammatory Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Abcg5-deficient Mice
Authors: Wilson Dennis W. , Oslund Karen L. , Lyons Bonnie , Foreman Oded , Burzenski Lisa , Svenson Karen L. , Chase Thomas H. , Shultz Leonard D.
Published: November 2012

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in A/J mice homozygous for the spontaneous thrombocytopenia and cardiomyopathy ( trac) mutation results from a single base pair change in the Abcg5 gene. A similar mutation in humans causes sitosterolemia with high plant sterol levels, hypercholesterolemia, and early onset atherosclerosis. Analyses of CD3+ and Mac-3+ cells and stainable collagen in hearts showed inflammation and myocyte degeneration in A/J- trac/trac mice beginning postweaning and progressed to marked dilative and fibrosing cardiomyopathy by 140 days. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) demonstrated myocyte vacuoles consistent with swollen endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Myocytes with cytoplasmic glycogen and irregular actinomyosin filament bundles formed mature intercalated disks with normal myocytes suggesting myocyte repair. A/J- trac/trac mice fed lifelong phytosterol-free diets did not develop cardiomyopathy. BALB/cByJ- trac/trac mice had lesser inflammatory infiltrates and later onset DCM. BALB/cByJ- trac/trac mice changed from normal to phytosterol-free diets had lesser T cell infiltrates but persistent monocyte infiltrates and equivalent fibrosis to mice on normal diets. B- and T-cell-deficient BALB/cBy- Rag1null trac/trac mice fed normal diets did not develop inflammatory infiltrates or DCM. We conclude that the trac/trac mouse has many features of inflammatory DCM and that the reversibility of myocardial T cell infiltration provides a novel model for investigating the progression of myocardial fibrosis.
Soziologie and Lebensanschauung: Two Approaches to Synthesizing ‘Kant’ and ‘Goethe’ in Simmel’s Work
Authors: Levine Donald N.
Published: November 2012

Contrary to common perceptions of Simmel’s work as dividing into three stages of Darwinism, Kantianism, and Goethean/Bergsonian Life-Philosophy, consideration of the full scope of the Georg Simmel Gesamtausgabe demonstrates Simmel’s concern with both Kant and Goethe as life-long, just as was his engagement with core principles respectively associated with them: Form and Life. What changed in his mind over time was how those two principles were construed and related. In this view, Simmel’s Soziologie can be read as a treatise on the properties of social forms that emerge out of vital processes – following a dynamic akin to Blumenbach’s Bildungstrieb, whereas the Lebensanschauung puts more emphasis on the ways in which forms channel, constrain, and inspire the streams of life. This opens the door for creative work pursuing lines of connection between the two disciplines – a sociology of authentic individuality and a kind of existentialized sociology – and, beyond that, to a unified theory of action and evolution.
Simmel’s Perfect Money: Fiction, Socialism and Utopia in The Philosophy of Money
Authors: Dodd Nigel
Published: November 2012

This article explores the notion of ‘perfect’ money that Simmel introduces in The Philosophy of Money. Its aim is twofold: first, to connect this idea to his more general arguments about the nature of society and the ambivalence of modernity, and, second, to assess its relevance for contemporary debates about the future of money, especially following the global financial crisis. I argue that Simmel’s concept of perfect money can be understood as utopian in two senses, conceptual and ethical, that correspond to the two interpretations he develops, in Soziologie, of the idea of a perfect society. This sheds light on an aspect of Simmel’s writings that has attracted relatively little attention, namely his views on the relationship between money and socialism. Characterizing this relationship as a ‘formal affinity’, his remarks resonate with a long tradition of thought on monetary utopias that aim not for the abolition of money but its radical transformation as a means of improving society. This tradition is coming to the fore once again today, as the financial crisis has given new impetus to constructing forms of money – for example, LETS, Time Dollars, mutual credit, peer-to-peer lending and digital currencies such as Bitcoin – that provide viable alternatives to big banks. Understood in conjunction with his account of the ‘tragedy’ of individualism in modernity, such resonances demonstrate the enduring relevance of Simmel’s work to the empirical and theoretical investigation of money.
Attention, Videogames and the Retentional Economies of Affective Amplification
Authors: Ash James
Published: November 2012

This article examines the industrial art of videogame design and production as an exemplar of what could be termed affective design. In doing so, the article theorizes the relationship between affect and attention as part of what Bernard Stiegler calls a ‘retentional economy’ of human and technical memory. Through the examination of a range of different videogames, the article argues that videogame designers utilize techniques of what I term ‘affective amplification’ that seek to modulate affect, which is central to the commercial success of these games. The article considers how the concepts of amplification, modulation and bandwidth, developed through this example, inform and expand understandings of this retentional economy by analysing the ways in which affective design attempts to transmit and translate the potential for affect through a range of technical systems and environments.
The return of place in Scottish social policy
Authors: Matthews Peter
Published: November 2012

The current austerity in the UK public finances is having knock-on effects for the Scottish Government. Public servants in Scotland talk of the ‘scissors of doom’ – of rising demand for public services and falling revenue expenditure. In response to these pressures the Scottish Government set up the Independent Budget Review in 2010 and Commission on the Future Delivery of Public Services in 2011, both of which have reported. As a result of these reports, and a wider push towards an outcomes approach in Scottish policy, Scotland is now witnessing a return to place-based policies, or area-based initiatives focused at specific neighbourhoods. This viewpoint reports on these changes, and with reference to wider literature, comments on their suitability for tackling Scotland’s socio-economic challenges.
A randomized controlled trial of surface neuromuscular electrical stimulation applied early after acute stroke: effects on wrist pain, spasticity and contractures
Authors: Malhotra Shweta , Rosewilliam Sheeba , Hermens Hermie , Roffe Christine , Jones Peter , Pandyan Anand David
Published: November 2012

Objectives:

To investigate effects of surface neuromuscular electrical stimulation applied early after stroke to the wrist and finger extensor muscles on upper limb pain, spasticity and contractures in patients with no functional arm movement.

Design:

Secondary analysis from a Phase II, randomized, controlled, single-blind study.

Setting:

An acute hospital stroke unit.

Subjects:

Patients with no useful arm function within six weeks of a first stroke.

Intervention:

Patients were randomized to treatment (30-minute sessions of surface neuromuscular stimulation to wrist and finger extensors and 45 minutes of physiotherapy) or control (45 minutes of physiotherapy) groups. All patients had access to routine care. Treatment was given for six weeks from recruitment.

Results:

Ninety patients (49% male, median age 74 years (range 32–98), median time since stroke onset three weeks (range one to six weeks)) were included. Treatment compliance was variable (mean 28%). The treatment prevented the development of pain (mean difference in rate of change 0.4 units/week, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.09 to 0.6). Treatment may have prevented a deterioration in contractures (quantified by measuring passive range of movement) in severely disabled patients (mean rate of deterioration −0.5 deg/week; 95% CI −0.9 to −0.06). There were no significant changes in stiffness and spasticity.

Conclusion:

Surface neuromuscular electrical stimulation reduces pain in stroke patients with a non-functional arm. There was some evidence that treatment with electrical stimulation was beneficial in reducing contractures. Treatment had no effect on spasticity.
Effects of motor imagery training on balance and gait abilities in post-stroke patients: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Cho Hwi-young , Kim June-sun , Lee Gyu-Chang
Published: November 2012

Objectives:

To investigate the effects of motor imagery training on the balance and gait abilities of post-stroke patients.

Design:

Randomized controlled trial.

Setting:

Outpatient rehabilitation centre.

Subjects:

Twenty-eight individuals with chronic stroke.

Interventions:

The experimental group ( n = 15) performed motor imagery training involving imagining normal gait movement for 15 minutes embedded in gait training for 30 minutes (45 minutes/day, 3 times/week); the control group ( n = 13) performed gait training only (30 minutes/day, 3 times/week).

Main measures:

Balance and gait abilities were measured by the Functional Reach Test, Timed Up-and-Go Test, 10-m Walk Test and Fugl-Meyer assessment before and after interventions.

Results:

All measurements improved significantly compared with baseline values in the experimental group. In the control group, there were significant improvements in all parameters except the Fugl-Meyer assessment. All parameters of the experimental group increased significantly compared to those of the control group as follows: Functional Reach Test (control vs. experimental: 28.1 ± 3.1 vs. 37.51 ± 3.0), Timed Up-and-Go Test (20.7 ± 4.0 vs. 13.2 ± 2.2), 10-m Walk Test (17.4 ± 4.6 vs. 16.0 ± 2.7) and Fugl-Meyer assessment (12.0 ± 2.9 vs. 17.6 ± 1.3).

Conclusions:

Gait training with motor imagery training improves the balance and gait abilities of chronic stroke patients significantly better than gait training alone.
Preferences for end-of-life care: A nominal group study of people with dementia and their family carers
Authors: Dening Karen H , Jones Louise , Sampson Elizabeth L
Published: November 2012

Background:

The wishes and preferences of people with dementia should inform decisions on future care. However, such decisions are often left to family carers and may not reflect those the person with dementia would have made for themselves. We know little about what influences agreement between people with dementia and their carers.

Aim:

To explore whether people with dementia and their carers were able to generate and prioritise preferences for end-of-life care. We examined whether carers influenced the choices made by the persons with dementia.

Design:

Nominal group technique.

Setting/participants:

People with dementia ( n = 6), carers ( n = 5) and dyads of people with dementia and carers ( n = 6) attending memory assessment services.

Methods:

Three modified nominal group technique groups were conducted in five stages: (1) silent generation of ideas, (2) discussion, (3) further generation of ideas, (4) discussion and themeing and (5) ranking. The discussions were recorded, transcribed and analysed for thematic content using NVIVO8.

Results:

Quality of care, family contact, dignity and respect were ranked as significant themes by all groups. The analysis of transcripts revealed three main themes: quality of care, independence and control and carer burden. People with dementia had difficulty considering their future selves. Carers wanted much control at the end of life, raising issues of assisted dying and euthanasia.

Conclusions:

Wishes and preferences of people with dementia and their family carers may differ. To ensure the wishes of people with dementia are respected, their views should be ascertained early in the disease before their ability to consider the future is compromised.
Patient Time Costs Associated with Sensor-Augmented Insulin Pump Therapy for Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Kamble Shital , Weinfurt Kevin P. , Schulman Kevin A. , Reed Shelby D.
Published: November 2012

Background. Sensor-augmented pump therapy (SAPT) leads to lower glycated hemoglobin levels than multiple daily injections of insulin (MDI) in patients with type 1 diabetes. Patient time and costs associated with SAPT are not known. Objective. We compared time spent on diabetes-related care, changes in time, and associated patient time costs between patients randomly assigned to SAPT or MDI. Design, Setting, and Participants. During a 52-week clinical trial, participants aged 7 to 70 years (n = 483) reported total time per week spent on diabetes-related care. Measurements. Patient time, including comparisons during pump initiation, 52-week patient time costs, and changes in weekly time estimates after pump initiation. Results. At baseline, patients in the MDI group reported spending an average of 4.0 hours per week on diabetes-related care. During the pump initiation period (weeks 1–7), SAPT patients spent 1.9 hours more per week than MDI patients (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2–2.6). After the initiation period (weeks 8–52), SAPT patients spent 1 hour more per week (95% CI, 0.4–1.7) than MDI patients (i.e., 4.4 v. 3.4 hours); patients in both groups spent progressively less time on diabetes-related care by 1.2 minutes per week (95% CI, −1.7 to −0.7). Overall, mean time costs per person were $4600 with the SAPT group and $3523 with the MDI group (difference, $1077; 95% CI, $491–$1638). Limitations. Time spent on specific activities was not collected, and the estimates do not explicitly account for caregiver time associated with diabetes care activities. Conclusions. Patients receiving SAPT v. MDI spent approximately 2 hours more per week on diabetes-related care during pump initiation and 1 hour more per week thereafter, resulting in higher patient time costs.
Patients’ Experiences of Shared Decision Making in Primary Care Practices in the United Kingdom
Authors: Fullwood Catherine , Kennedy Anne , Rogers Anne , Eden Martin , Gardner Caroline , Protheroe Joanne , Reeves David
Published: November 2012

Background. Shared decision making (SDM) and patient self-management support are key components of US and UK policy for chronic disease management, whereby SDM is seen as enhancing physician-patient negotiation around self-management. The WISE trial is implementing training in self-management support for primary care physicians in one UK region. This article describes preintervention levels of patient-reported SDM and explores how this varies with patient and practice characteristics. Methods. We analyzed baseline data from a cluster randomized controlled trial for 2965 patients with diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) from 29 family practices. Patient-level measures included self-report of chronic conditions, SDM (Health Care Climate Questionnaire [HCCQ]), health status, and demographic characteristics. Area and practice characteristics included chronic disease workload and socioeconomic deprivation. Results. The mean SDM score was 75 (out of 100), but the range was wide. The mean score was lower for IBS patients but did not vary with other disease conditions. Younger patients and those with poorer health status reported lower degrees of SDM. No associations were found with practice characteristics. Limitations. The study was restricted to one socioeconomically deprived region, and hence results may not be nationally representative of the United Kingdom. Ceiling effects on SDM scores may limit the utility of the HCCQ. Conclusions. Lower ratings from some patient groups may reflect differences in expectations rather than differences in physician behavior. Overall levels of SDM were high, and no patient or practice characteristic represented a serious barrier to SDM. However, we cannot say to what extent SDM in this chronic population addressed self-management issues rather than clinical care. More nuanced measures of SDM are required that distinguish between different forms of care.
Marketing
Authors: Fırat A. Fuat
Published: November 2012

Marketing’s role in contemporary culture can best be understood by placing it within the history of modernity. The market, and marketing as its institutionalized set of practices, has become a key institution of modern culture and its objective is its own enlargement. Globalization of this institution and its logic makes it more and more difficult for the culture of marketing to change. Such change requires a new imaginary that includes a convincing presentation of an alternative organization of life.
Roger Dickinson (1929–2012)
Authors: Peterson Mark , Vann Richard
Published: November 2012

Roger Dickinson was one of the titans of macromarketing who helped to develop the field during its first thirty years. A retailing scholar highly regarded for his professional insights, he was an effective servant to all macromarketers through his leadership of the Communications section of the Journal of Macromarketing. He was also beloved by many younger scholars for the counsel he gave them when he was asked. In his personal life, Roger was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, and an accomplished tennis player throughout his life after leading his Williams College team when he played there as a student.
Older Drivers’ Reasons for Reducing the Overall Amount of Their Driving and for Avoiding Selected Driving Situations
Authors: Meng Annette , Siren Anu
Published: November 2012

Structured telephone interviews were conducted with 840 older drivers to explore their reasons for self-regulating their driving. The main reason for reduced driving was having fewer activities to drive to, and for avoidance of driving situations, reasons also included not liking or feeling insecure about driving in the situation. The lower-functioning participants, but still only a minority, were more likely to indicate decline in vision and reaction time as reasons for avoidance. Women were more likely to indicate lack of confidence as a reason for avoidance. The results suggest that the reduction in driving and avoidance of driving situations are separate types of self-regulatory behavior; that self-regulation of driving is an automatic process, in which older drivers are not aware that they are compensating for functional loss; and that it is important to acknowledge gender differences when designing interventions aimed at enhancing safe mobility.
Changes in greenhouse gas balance and resource demand of biogas plants in southern Germany after a period of three years
Authors: Bachmaier Hans , Effenberger Mathias , Gronauer Andreas , Boxberger Josef
Published: November 2012

For five agricultural biogas plants with a high share of energy crops in the input material, a detailed balance of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and cumulated energy demand (CED) was calculated for the years 2007 and 2010. The results vary considerably between plants and over time. In 2010 compared with 2007, all of the five biogas plants reduced their impact on climate change and four of them also reduced their consumption of fossil energy. The strongest influence was from the enhanced utilization of surplus heat energy, whereas variations of environmental impact due to direct emissions from the biogas plants were less distinctive. Compared with a reference system based on fossil resources, electricity production in the biogas plants avoided GHG emissions of 603 g to 940 g carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2-eq)•kilowatt hours electrical energy (kWhel-1) and saved 2.48 to 3.23 kilowatt hours primary energy from fossil energy carriers (kWhfossil)•kWhel-1 CED (results for 2010).
Constrained recycling: a framework to reduce landfilling in developing countries
Authors: Diaz Ricardo , Otoma Suehiro
Published: November 2012

This article presents a model that integrates three branches of research: (i) economics of solid waste that assesses consumer’s willingness to recycle and to pay for disposal; (ii) economics of solid waste that compares private and social costs of final disposal and recycling; and (iii) theories on personal attitudes and social influence. The model identifies two arenas where decisions are made: upstream arena, where residents are decision-makers, and downstream arena, where municipal authorities are decision-makers, and graphically proposes interactions between disposal and recycling, as well as the concept of ‘constrained recycling’ (an alternative to optimal recycling) to guide policy design. It finally concludes that formative instruments, such as environmental education and benchmarks, should be combined with economic instruments, such as subsidies, to move constraints on source separation and recycling in the context of developing countries.
Concurrent Validity of the Classroom Strategies Scale for Elementary School—Observer Form
Authors: Reddy Linda A. , Fabiano Gregory A. , Dudek Christopher M.
Published: November 2012

The present study is an initial investigation of the concurrent validity of a new assessment, the Classroom Strategies Scale (CSS version 2.0) for Elementary School—Observer Form. The CSS assesses teachers’ use of instructional and behavioral management strategies. In the present study, the CSS is compared to the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS), a widely researched measure of global classroom quality. In a sample of 125 general education K-5 grade teachers, correlations were computed to assess the relationship between the CSS scales and conceptually similar and dissimilar domains and dimensions on the CLASS. In comparison to the CLASS, the CSS classroom observations and strategy rating scale scores demonstrated correspondence with conceptually similar scales, providing initial evidence for the concurrent and discriminant validity of the CSS. Results highlight the unique features of the CSS for assessing teacher classroom practices.
The managerial imperative: Fifty years’ change in UK public administration
Authors: Barberis Peter
Published: November 2012

For at least fifty years and from uncertain beginnings, management has steadily advanced to become a dominant feature across the public sector. Management is necessary and, when purposefully and judiciously applied, can be efficacious. But it lacks the constitutional bearings of the traditional public administration that it has in large measure displaced. And, in the absence of the “sudden death” market discipline of the private sector, from which many of its practices have been imported, management has often become the self-serving entity described in this article as managerialism. Specified here in “ideal type” terms, managerialism is not so much the product of a conspiracy, rather that of a conjunction of factors, often lending plausibility to the need for more management. This article identifies some of these factors and their ill effects on the public sector.
Modified model-based fault-tolerant time-varying attitude tracking control of uncertain flexible satellites
Authors: Meng Qiang , Zhang Tao , Song JY
Published: November 2012

A novel, modified model-based fault-tolerant attitude tracking control scheme is derived for the uncertain flexible satellites with four reaction wheels. The stability conditions of this type of satellite are also analyzed. The attitude tracking error dynamics is employed to derive the novel control scheme, which is formulated in the presence of actuator fault uncertainties, moment-of-inertia uncertainties, flexible appendage dynamics uncertainties, space environmental disturbances, and reaction wheel dynamics. The uncertainties are estimated to update the computed torque, which extremely enhances the pointing accuracy and reduces the conservativeness. The large-angle attitude tracking and time-varying attitude trajectory can be stabilized by the novel controller, which solves the constant desired trajectory restriction in most of other control schemes. Numerical results are presented to verify the advantages of the proposed control scheme in comparison with proportional–derivative controller, model-based controller, time delay controller, and modified time delay controller.
Semi-global finite-time attitude stabilization by output feedback for a rigid spacecraft
Authors: Du Haibo , Li Shihua
Published: November 2012

This article investigates the finite-time attitude stabilization problem by output feedback for a rigid spacecraft without angular velocity measurement. First of all, by employing the finite-time control technique, a finite-time stabilizing controller by state feedback is designed. Then, to address the problem of lack of angular velocity measurement, a semi-global finite-time convergent observer is proposed to recover the unknown angular velocity information in a finite time. Finally, a semi-global finite-time output feedback controller is developed. Rigorous proof shows that the attitude of rigid spacecraft will converge to the equilibrium in a finite time. A simulation example is given to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed method.
Combustion characteristic using O2-pilot strut in a liquid-kerosene-fueled strut-based dual-mode scramjet
Authors: Bao Wen , Hu Jichao , Zong Youhai , Yang Qingchun , Wu Meng , Chang Juntao , Yu Daren
Published: November 2012

A set of exploratory experiments are conducted to test a newly designed strut for fuel injection and flame holding in a liquid-kerosene-fueled dual-mode scramjet combustor. The thickness of the strut is 8 mm and the front blockage is about 8%. To organize stable combustion in a Mach number equal to 2.6 air flow under this thin strut using room-temperature liquid kerosene in a flash wall combustor without any cavity and other flame holders, some oxygen is injected through a set of orifices at the back of the strut, based on which a stable center local flame is generated at the back of the strut and the main flow combustion can be organized around this local flame. Experimental results show that stable combustion can be achieved at the center of the combustor with a wide range of equivalence ratio from 0.19 to 1 based on this center flame strut strategy. Through the analysis of the pressure distribution along the combustor, different combustor modes appear with different equivalence ratio. The article also gives some discussions about different influence of the oxygen to the combustion process under different equivalence ratio.
Disturbance observer-based adaptive integral sliding mode control for rigid spacecraft attitude maneuvers
Authors: Cong Binglong , Chen Zhen , Liu Xiangdong
Published: November 2012

This article considers the attitude tracking problem of a rigid spacecraft involving inertia matrix uncertainty and external disturbance. The adaptive sliding mode control is utilized for the attitude controller design. The major concern is reducing the switching gain generated by current adaptive sliding mode control, thereby alleviating the chattering problem. By eliminating the influence of initial tracking error from the switching gain adaptation, an adaptive integral sliding mode control scheme is first presented. As compared with current adaptive sliding mode control, a much smaller switching gain is produced. Then, a disturbance observer-based adaptive integral sliding mode control design is proposed to further enhance the result. To this end, the joint effect caused by external disturbance and inertia matrix uncertainty, referred as lumped uncertainty, is divided into a slow varying part and a rapid varying part. By compensating the slow varying component via a disturbance observer, the switching gain is only required to be larger than the upper bound on the rapid varying component. The effectiveness of the proposed strategies, especially the switching gain reduction ability, is verified by both theoretical analysis and simulation results.