bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimal position for external chest compression during cardiopulmonary resuscitation: an analysis based on chest CT in patients resuscitated from cardiac arrest
Authors: Cha Kyoung Chul , Kim Yeong Jun , Shin Hyung Jin , Cha Yong Sung , Kim Hyun , Lee Kang Hyun , Kwon Woocheol , Hwang Sung Oh
Published: July 2012

Objectives

This study was conducted to determine the proper hand position on the sternum for external chest compression to generate a maximal haemodynamic effect during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Methods

114 patients with cardiac arrest who underwent chest CT after successful resuscitation from January 2006 to August 2009 were included in the study. To evaluate the area of the cardiac chambers subjected to external chest compression, the area of each cardiac chamber under the sternum was measured using cross-sectional CT at three different locations: the internipple line on the sternum (point A), halfway between point A and the sternoxiphoid junction (point B) and at the sternoxiphoid junction (point C).

Results

The widest total heart area, total ventricular area and left ventricular area (LVA) were observed most frequently at point C (58%, 85% and 78% of all cases, respectively). Few cases (six in total heart area, one in total ventricular area and one in LVA) were observed as the widest at point A. Predicted compressed areas of the right and left ventricle were wider at point C than at points A or B (right ventricular area: 366±536 mm2at point A, 961±653 mm2at point B and 1383±689 mm2at point C, p<0.001; LVA: 65±236 mm2at point A, 365±506 mm2at point B and 1099±817 mm2at point C, p<0.001).

Conclusions

Only a small proportion of the ventricle is subjected to external chest compression when CPR is performed according to the current guidelines. Compression of the sternum at the sternoxiphoid junction might be more effective to compress the ventricles.
Case report: use of topical tranexamic acid to stop localised bleeding
Authors: Noble Sarah , Chitnis Jaydeep
Published: July 2012

A case is presented in which topical tranexamic acid was used to stop local bleeding from a nipple following piercing in a young man with haemophilia. This case, with a review of the relevant literature, highlights the use of topical tranexamic acid as part of a methodical approach to stop localised, non-massive bleeding, particularly in patients with inherited or acquired coagulopathies.
The speed of convergence in congestion games under best-response dynamics
Authors: Fanelli Angelo , Flammini Michele , Moscardelli Luca
Published: July 2012

We investigate the speed of convergence of best response dynamics to approximately optimal solutions in congestion games with linear delay functions. In Ackermann et al. [2008] it has been shown that the convergence time of such dynamics to Nash equilibrium may be exponential in the number of players
n
. Motivated by such a negative result, we focus on the study of the states (not necessarily being equilibria) reached after a limited number of players' selfish moves, and we show that Θ(
n
log log
n
) best responses are necessary and sufficient to achieve states that approximate the optimal solution by a constant factor, under the assumption that every
O
(
n
) steps each player performs a constant (and nonnull) number of best responses. We show that such result is tight also for the simplest case of singleton congestion games.
Polynomial-time algorithms for minimum energy scheduling
Authors: Baptiste Philippe , Chrobak Marek , Dürr Christoph
Published: July 2012

The aim of power management policies is to reduce the amount of energy consumed by computer systems while maintaining a satisfactory level of performance. One common method for saving energy is to simply suspend the system during idle times. No energy is consumed in the suspend mode. However, the process of waking up the system itself requires a certain fixed amount of energy, and thus suspending the system is beneficial only if the idle time is long enough to compensate for this additional energy expenditure. In the specific problem studied in the article, we have a set of jobs with release times and deadlines that need to be executed on a single processor. Preemptions are allowed. The processor requires energy
L
to be woken up and, when it is on, it uses one unit of energy per one unit of time. It has been an open problem whether a schedule minimizing the overall energy consumption can be computed in polynomial time. We solve this problem in positive, by providing an
O
(
n
5
)-time algorithm. In addition we provide an
O
(
n
4
)-time algorithm for computing the minimum energy schedule when all jobs have unit length.
Tight approximation algorithms for scheduling with fixed jobs and nonavailability
Authors: Diedrich Florian , Jansen Klaus , Prädel Lars , Schwarz Ulrich M. , Svensson Ola
Published: July 2012

We study two closely related problems in nonpreemptive scheduling of jobs on identical parallel machines. In these two settings there are either fixed jobs or nonavailability intervals during which the machines are not available; in both cases, the objective is to minimize the makespan. Both formulations have different applications, for example, in turnaround scheduling or overlay computing.

For both problems we contribute approximation algorithms with an improved ratio of 3/2. For scheduling with fixed jobs, a lower bound of 3/2 on the approximation ratio has been obtained by Scharbrodt et al. [1999]; for scheduling with nonavailability we provide the same lower bound.

We use dual approximation, creation of a gap structure, and a PTAS for the multiple subset sum problem, combined with a postprocessing step to assign large jobs.
Adaptare
Authors: Dixit Mônica , Casimiro António , Lollini Paolo , Bondavalli Andrea , Verissimo Paulo
Published: July 2012

Distributed protocols executing in uncertain environments, like the Internet or ambient computing systems, should dynamically adapt to environment changes in order to preserve Quality of Service (QoS). In earlier work, it was shown that QoS adaptation should be dependable, if correctness of protocol properties is to be maintained. More recently, some ideas concerning specific strategies and methodologies for improving QoS adaptation have been proposed. In this article we describe
Adaptare
, a complete framework for dependable QoS adaptation. We assume that during its lifetime, a system alternates periods where its temporal behavior is well characterized, with transition periods during which a variation of the environment conditions occurs. Our method is based on the following: if the environment is generically characterized in analytical terms, and we can detect the alternation of these stable and transient phases, we can improve the effectiveness and dependability of QoS adaptation. To prove our point we provide detailed evaluation results of the proposed solutions. Our evaluation is based on synthetic data flows generated from probabilistic distributions, as well as on real data traces collected in various Internet-based environments. We compare our solution with other approaches and we show that Adaptare, albeit more complex, is very effective, allowing protocols to adapt to the available resources in a dependable way.
Conceptual modeling of flexible temporal workflows
Authors: Combi Carlo , Gozzi Matteo , Posenato Roberto , Pozzi Giuseppe
Published: July 2012

Workflow technology has emerged as one of the leading technologies in modeling, redesigning, and executing business processes. The management of temporal aspects in the definition of a workflow process has been considered only recently in the literature. Currently available Workflow Management Systems (
WfMS
) and research prototypes offer a very limited support for the definition, detection, and management of temporal constraints over business processes. In this article, we propose a new advanced workflow conceptual model for expressing time constraints in business processes and we present a general technique to check different levels of temporal consistency for workflow schemata at process design time: since a time constraint can be satisfied in different ways, we propose a classification of temporal workflows according to the way time constraints are satisfied. Such classification can be used to successfully manage flexible workflows at runtime.
Will massive open online courses change how we teach?
Authors: Martin Fred G.
Published: July 2012

Sharing recent experiences with an online course.
The politics of "real names"
Authors: Boyd Danah
Published: July 2012

Power, context, and control in networked publics.
Internet elections
Authors: Olsen Kai A. , Nordhaug Hans Fredrik
Published: July 2012

Experiences with electronic voting suggest elections should not be conducted via the Internet.
OpenFlow
Authors: Limoncelli Thomas A.
Published: July 2012

An open standard that enables software-defined networking.
Error handling in Fortran 2003
Authors: Poppe Koen , Cools Ronald , Vandewoestyne Bart
Published: July 2012

Although the Fortran programming language is evolving steadily, it still lacks a framework for error handling-- not to be confused with floating point exceptions. Therefore, the commonly used techniques for handling errors did not change much since the early days and do not benefit from the new features of Fortran 2003. After discussing some historical approaches, a Fortran 2003 framework for error handling is presented. This framework also proved to be valuable in the context of unit testing and the design-by-contract (DBC) paradigm.
Explosion Mechanisms of Core-Collapse Supernovae
Authors: Janka Hans-Thomas
Published: July 2012

Supernova theory, numerical and analytic, has made remarkable progress in the past decade. This progress was made possible by more sophisticated simulation tools, especially for neutrino transport, improved microphysics, and deeper insights into the role of hydrodynamic instabilities. Violent, large-scale nonradial mass motions are generic in supernova cores. The neutrino-heating mechanism, aided by nonradial flows, drives explosions, albeit low-energy ones, of O-Ne-Mg-core and some Fe-core progenitors. The characteristics of the neutrino emission from newborn neutron stars were revised, new features of the gravitational-wave signals were discovered, our notion of supernova nucleosynthesis was shattered, and our understanding of pulsar kicks and explosion asymmetries was significantly improved. But simulations also suggest that neutrino-powered explosions might not explain the most energetic supernovae and hypernovae, which seem to demand magnetorotational driving. Now that modeling is being advanced from two to three dimensions, more realism, new perspectives, and hopefully answers to long-standing questions are coming into reach.
Recovery of Anode Performance by Reverse Current Treatment
Authors: Klotz Dino , Leonide André , Ivers-Tiffée Ellen
Published: July 2012

Many research studies have been focusing on the long-term stability of Ni/8YSZ cermet anodes. In this contribution we present an effective method for the recovery of anode supported cells (ASC) after degradation. The application of a short-time reverse current ended up with a significant drop in the area specific resistance (ASR) of the ASC. The recovery of the ASC was attributed to an improvement of the electrochemical polarization loss in the anode functional layer (AFL), which was reduced by 40 %. This interpretation was obtained from EIS data by a combined deconvolution with the distribution of relaxation times (DRT) and Complex Nonlinear Least Squares (CNLS) fitting approach. Measurements over time proved a permanent recovery of anode performance by reverse current treatment.
Development of Small-sized Generator of Ozone-dissolved Water Using Boron Doped Diamond Electrodes
Authors: Kitaori Noriyuki , Nakamuro Katsuhiko , Tanaka Masashi , Nishiki Yoshinori
Published: July 2012

A new electrochemical generator of ozone-dissolved water, which is comprised of an electro-conductive diamond electrode and of an ion exchange membrane, was evaluated using tap water as source solution, in order to confirm general versatility. Although the current efficiency became lower than that obtained in the case of pure water due to the effects of co-existing substances, ozone-dissolved water of over 1 mg dm-3 can be produced. The stability was found to being over than 300 hours.
Timing of ischemic insult alters fetal growth trajectory, maternal angiogenic balance, and markers of renal oxidative stress in the pregnant rat
Authors: Banek Christopher T. , Bauer Ashley J. , Gingery Anne , Gilbert Jeffrey S.
Published: July 2012

Increased uterine artery resistance and angiogenic imbalance characterized by increased soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and decreased free vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are often associated with placental insufficiency and preeclampsia but not synonymous with hypertension. We hypothesized chronic reductions in utero-placental perfusion (RUPP) for 5 days (d) during either mid- (d12–d17) or late (d14–d19) gestation would have disparate effects on plasma sFlt-1 and VEGF levels and blood pressure. Five days of chronic RUPP was achieved by placement of silver clips on the abdominal aorta and ovarian arteries on either gestational d12 or d14. Arterial pressure was increased ( P < 0.05) in RUPP vs. normal pregnant (NP) in both d17 (10%) and d19 (25%) groups, respectively. Circulating free VEGF was decreased ( P < 0.05) and sFlt-1:VEGF ratio increased ( P < 0.05) after 5 days of RUPP ending on d19 but not d17 compared with NP controls. Angiogenic imbalance, measured by an endothelial tube formation assay, was present in the d19 RUPP but not the d17 RUPP compared with age-matched NP rats. Five days of RUPP from days 14 to 19 decreased fetal and placental weights 10% ( P < 0.01) compared with d19 NP controls. After 5 days of RUPP, from days 12 to 17 of pregnancy, fetal weights were 21% lighter ( P < 0.01) compared with d17 NP controls, but placental weight was unchanged. These findings suggest that the timing during which placental insufficiency occurs may play an important role in determining the extent of alterations in angiogenic balance, fetal growth restriction, and the severity of placental ischemia-induced hypertension.
Dietary protein affects urea transport across rat urothelia
Authors: Spector David A. , Deng Jie , Stewart Kerry J.
Published: July 2012

Recent evidence suggests that regulated solute transport occurs across mammalian lower urinary tract epithelia (urothelia). To study the effects of dietary protein on net urothelial transport of urea, creatinine, and water, we used an in vivo rat bladder model designed to mimic physiological conditions. We placed groups of rats on 3-wk diets differing only by protein content (40, 18, 6, and 2%) and instilled 0.3 ml of collected urine in the isolated bladder of anesthetized rats. After 1 h dwell, retrieved urine volumes were unchanged, but mean urea nitrogen (UN) and creatinine concentrations fell 17 and 4%, respectively, indicating transurothelial urea and creatinine reabsorption. The fall in UN (but not creatinine) concentration was greatest in high protein (40%) rats, 584 mg/dl, and progressively less in rats receiving lower protein content: 18% diet, 224 mg/dl; 6% diet, 135 mg/dl; and 2% diet, 87 mg/dl. The quantity of urea reabsorbed was directly related to a urine factor, likely the concentration of urea in the instilled urine. In contrast, the percentage of instilled urea reabsorbed was greater in the two dietary groups receiving the lowest protein (26 and 23%) than in those receiving higher protein (11 and 9%), suggesting the possibility that a bladder/urothelial factor, also affected by dietary protein, may have altered bladder permeability. These findings demonstrate significant regulated urea transport across the urothelium, resulting in alteration of urine excreted by the kidneys, and add to the growing evidence that the lower urinary tract may play an unappreciated role in mammalian solute homeostasis.
In vivo contribution of serine proteases to the proteolytic activation of γENaC in aldosterone-infused rats
Authors: Uchimura Kohei , Kakizoe Yutaka , Onoue Tomoaki , Hayata Manabu , Morinaga Jun , Yamazoe Rika , Ueda Miki , Mizumoto Teruhiko , Adachi Masataka , Miyoshi Taku , Shiraishi Naoki , Sakai Yoshiki , Tomita Kimio , Kitamura Kenichiro
Published: July 2012

Aldosterone plays an important role in the regulation of blood pressure by modulating the activity of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) that consists of α-, β-, and γ-subunits. Aldosterone induces a molecular weight shift of γENaC from 85 to 70 kDa that is necessary for the channel activation. In vitro experiments demonstrated that a dual cleavage mechanism is responsible for this shift. It has been postulated that furin executes the primary cleavage in the Golgi and that the second cleavage is provided by other serine proteases such as prostasin or plasmin at the plasma membrane. However, the in vivo contribution of serine proteases to this cleavage remains unclear. To address this issue, we administered the synthetic serine protease inhibitor camostat mesilate (CM) to aldosterone-infused rats. CM decreased the abundance of the 70-kDa form of ENaC and led to a new 75-kDa form with a concomitant increase in the urinary Na-to-K ratio. Because CM inhibits the protease activity of serine proteases such as prostasin and plasmin, but not furin, our findings strongly indicate that CM inhibited the second cleavage of γENaC and subsequently suppressed ENaC activity. The results of our current studies also suggest the possibility that the synthetic serine protease inhibitor CM might represent a new strategy for the treatment of salt-sensitive hypertension in humans.
Intermittent stimulus presentation stabilizes neuronal responses in macaque area MT
Authors: Klink P. Christiaan , Oleksiak Anna , Lankheet Martin J. M. , van Wezel Richard J. A.
Published: July 2012

Repeated stimulation impacts neuronal responses. Here we show how response characteristics of sensory neurons in macaque visual cortex are influenced by the duration of the interruptions during intermittent stimulus presentation. Besides effects on response magnitude consistent with neuronal adaptation, the response variability was also systematically influenced. Spike rate variability in motion-sensitive area MT decreased when interruption durations were systematically increased from 250 to 2,000 ms. Activity fluctuations between subsequent trials and Fano factors over full response sequences were both lower with longer interruptions, while spike timing patterns became more regular. These variability changes partially depended on the response magnitude, but another significant effect that was uncorrelated with adaptation-induced changes in response magnitude was also present. Reduced response variability was furthermore accompanied by changes in spike-field coherence, pointing to the possibility that reduced spiking variability results from interactions in the local cortical network. While neuronal response stabilization may be a general effect of repeated sensory stimulation, we discuss its potential link with the phenomenon of perceptual stabilization of ambiguous stimuli as a result of interrupted presentation.
The organization of the human striatum estimated by intrinsic functional connectivity
Authors: Choi Eun Young , Yeo B. T. Thomas , Buckner Randy L.
Published: July 2012

The striatum is connected to the cerebral cortex through multiple anatomical loops that process sensory, limbic, and heteromodal information. Tract-tracing studies in the monkey reveal that these corticostriatal connections form stereotyped patterns in the striatum. Here the organization of the striatum was explored in the human with resting-state functional connectivity MRI (fcMRI). Data from 1,000 subjects were registered with nonlinear deformation of the striatum in combination with surface-based alignment of the cerebral cortex. fcMRI maps derived from seed regions placed in the foot and tongue representations of the motor cortex yielded the expected inverted somatotopy in the putamen. fcMRI maps derived from the supplementary motor area were located medially to the primary motor representation, also consistent with anatomical studies. The topography of the complete striatum was estimated and replicated by assigning each voxel in the striatum to its most strongly correlated cortical network in two independent groups of 500 subjects. The results revealed at least five cortical zones in the striatum linked to sensorimotor, premotor, limbic, and two association networks with a topography globally consistent with monkey anatomical studies. The majority of the human striatum was coupled to cortical association networks. Examining these association networks further revealed details that fractionated the five major networks. The resulting estimates of striatal organization provide a reference for exploring how the striatum contributes to processing motor, limbic, and heteromodal information through multiple large-scale corticostriatal circuits.
Postnatal emergence of serotonin-induced plateau potentials in commissural interneurons of the mouse spinal cord
Authors: Abbinanti Matthew D. , Zhong Guisheng , Harris-Warrick Ronald M.
Published: July 2012

Most studies of the mouse hindlimb locomotor network have used neonatal (P0–5) mice. In this study, we examine the postnatal development of intrinsic properties and serotonergic modulation of intersegmental commissural interneurons (CINs) from the neonatal period (P0–3) to the time the animals bear weight (P8–10) and begin to show adult walking (P14–16). CINs show an increase in excitability with age, associated with a decrease in action potential halfwidth and appearance of a fast component to the afterhyperpolarization at P14–16. Serotonin (5-HT) depolarizes and increases the excitability of most CINs at all ages. The major developmental difference is that serotonin can induce plateau potential capability in P14–16 CINs, but not at younger ages. These plateau potentials are abolished by nifedipine, suggesting that they are mediated by an L-type calcium current, ICa(L). Voltage-clamp analysis demonstrates that 5-HT increases a nifedipine-sensitive voltage-activated calcium current, ICa(V), in P14–16 CINs but does not increase ICa(V) in P8–10 CINs. These results, together with earlier work on 5-HT effects on neonatal CINs, suggest that 5-HT increases the excitability of CINs at all ages studied, but by opposite effects on calcium currents, decreasing N- and P/Q-type calcium currents and, indirectly, calcium-activated potassium current, at P0–3 but increasing ICa(L) at P14–16.
Sweet-bitter and umami-bitter taste interactions in single parabrachial neurons in C57BL/6J mice
Authors: Tokita Kenichi , Boughter John D.
Published: July 2012

We investigated sweet-bitter and umami-bitter mixture taste interactions by presenting sucrose or umami stimuli mixed with quinine hydrochloride (QHCl) while recording single-unit activity of neurons in the parabrachial nucleus (PbN) of urethane-anesthetized C57BL/6J mice. A total of 70 taste-responsive neurons were classified according to which stimulus evoked the greatest net response (36 sucrose-best, 19 NaCl-best, 6 citric acid-best, and 9 QHCl-best). Although no neurons responded best to monopotassium glutamate (MPG) or inosine 5′-monophosphate (IMP), the combination of these two stimuli evoked a synergistic response (i.e., response > 120% of the sum of the component responses) in all sucrose-best and some NaCl-best neurons ( n = 43). Adding QHCl to sucrose or MPG + IMP resulted in suppression of the response (responses to mixture < responses to the more effective component) in 41 of 43 synergistic neurons. Neurons showing QHCl suppression were classified into two types: an “MS1” type ( n = 27) with suppressed responses both to sucrose and MPG + IMP and an “MS2” type ( n = 14) that showed suppressed responses only to sucrose. No neuron displayed suppressed responses to MPG or IMP alone. The suppression ratio (1 − mixture response/sucrose or MPG + IMP response) of sucrose and MPG + IMP in MS1 neurons had a weak positive correlation ( r = 0.36). The pattern of reconstructed recording sites of neuron types suggested chemotopic organization in the PbN. Although a peripheral basis for QHCl suppression has been demonstrated, our results suggest that convergence in the PbN plays a role in shaping responses to taste mixtures.
External urethral sphincter motor unit recruitment patterns during micturition in the spinally intact and transected adult rat
Authors: D'Amico Stephen C. , Collins William F.
Published: July 2012

In the rat, external urethral sphincter (EUS) activation during micturition consists of three sequential phases: 1) an increase in tonic EUS activity during passive filling and active contraction of the bladder (guarding reflex), 2) synchronized phasic activity (EUS bursting) associated with voiding, and 3) sustained tonic EUS activity that persists after bladder contraction. These phases are perturbed following spinal cord injury. The purpose of the present study was to characterize individual EUS motor unit (MU) patterns during micturition in the spinally intact and transected adult rat. EUS MU activity was recorded from either the L5 or L6 ventral root (intact) or EUS muscle (transected) during continuous flow cystometry in urethane-anesthetized adult female Sprague-Dawley rats. With the use of bladder pressure threshold and timing of activation, four distinct patterns of EUS MU activity were identified in the intact rat: low threshold sustained, medium/high threshold sustained, medium/high threshold not sustained, and burst only. In general, these MUs displayed little frequency modulation during active contraction, generated high-frequency bursts of action potentials during EUS bursting, and varied in terms of the duration of sustained tonic activity. In contrast, three general patterns of EUS MU activity were identified in the transected rat: low threshold, medium threshold, and high threshold. These MUs exhibited considerable frequency modulation during active contraction of the bladder, no bursting behavior and little to no sustained firing. The prominent frequency modulation of EUS MUs is likely due to the enhanced guarding reflex seen in EUS whole muscle electromyogram recordings in transected rats (D'Amico SC, Schuster IP, Collins WF 3rd. Exp Neurol 228: 59–68, 2011). In addition, EUS MU recruitment in transected rats more closely followed predictions by the size principle than in intact rats. This may reflect the influence of local synaptic circuits or intrinsic properties of EUS motoneurons that are active in intact rats but attenuated or absent in transected rats.
The Nitrated Fatty Acid 10-Nitro-oleate Diminishes Severity of LPS-Induced Acute Lung Injury in Mice
Authors: Reddy Aravind T. , Lakshmi Sowmya P. , Reddy Raju C.
Published: July 2012

Acute lung injury (ALI) is an inflammatory condition culminating in respiratory failure. There is currently no effective pharmacological treatment. Nitrated fatty acids (NFAs) have been shown to exert anti-inflammatory effects. We therefore hypothesized that delivery of NFAs directly to the site of inflammation would reduce the severity of ALI. Pulmonary delivery of 10-nitro-oleate following endotoxin-induced ALI in mice reduced markers of lung inflammation and injury, including capillary leakage, lung edema, infiltration of neutrophils into the lung, and oxidant stress, as well as plasma levels of proinflammatory cytokines. Nitro-oleate delivery likewise downregulated expression of proinflammatory genes by alveolar macrophages, key cells in regulation of lung inflammation. These effects may be accounted for by the observed increases in the activity of PPAR-γand the PPAR-γ-induced antioxidant transcription factor Nrf2, together with the decreased activity of NF-κB. Our results demonstrate that pulmonary delivery of NFAs reduces severity of acute lung injury and suggest potential utility of these molecules in other inflammatory lung diseases.
Context-Dependent Regulation of Autophagy by IKK-NF-κB Signaling: Impact on the Aging Process
Authors: Salminen Antero , Hyttinen Juha M. T. , Kauppinen Anu , Kaarniranta Kai
Published: July 2012

The NF-κB signaling system and the autophagic degradation pathway are crucial cellular survival mechanisms, both being well conserved during evolution. Emerging studies have indicated that the IKK/NF-κB signaling axis regulates autophagy in a context-dependent manner. IKK complex and NF-κB can enhance the expression of Beclin 1 and other autophagy-related proteins and stimulate autophagy whereas as a feedback response, autophagy can degrade IKK components. Moreover, NF-κB signaling activates the expression of autophagy inhibitors (e.g., A20 and Bcl-2/xL) and represses the activators of autophagy (BNIP3, JNK1, and ROS). Several studies have indicated that NF-κB signaling is enhanced both during aging and cellular senescence, inducing a proinflammatory phenotype. The aging process is also associated with a decline in autophagic degradation. It seems that the activity of Beclin 1 initiation complex could be impaired with aging, since the expression of Beclin 1 decreases as does the activity of type III PI3K. On the other hand, the expression of inhibitory Bcl-2/xL proteins increases with aging. We will review the recent literature on the control mechanisms of autophagy through IKK/NF-κB signaling and emphasize that NF-κB signaling could be a potent repressor of autophagy with ageing.
Open Resonator System for Reflectarray Elements Characterization
Authors: Di Massa G. , Costanzo S. , Moreno O. H.
Published: July 2012

An open resonator system is proposed in this work to study the phase behavior of reflectarrays cells. The characterization of the single reflectarray element is performed by assuming a Gaussian plane wave normally incident on an infinite periodic array of identical radiating elements. An equivalent circuit model is properly derived for the open cavity including the reflectarray test structure, in order to retrieve the phase design curve of the single reflectarray element. K-band experimental validations are presented and discussed to show the effectiveness of the approach.
Quantitative EEG Markers in Mild Cognitive Impairment: Degenerative versus Vascular Brain Impairment
Authors: Moretti D. V. , Zanetti O. , Binetti G. , Frisoni G. B.
Published: July 2012

We evaluated the relationship between brain rhythmicity and both the cerebrovascular damage (CVD) and amygdalohippocampal complex (AHC) atrophy, as revealed by scalp electroencephalography (EEG) in a cohort of subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). All MCI subjects underwent EEG recording and magnetic resonance imaging. EEGs were recorded at rest. Relative power was separately computed for delta, theta, alpha1, alpha2, and alpha3 frequency bands. In the spectral band power the severity of CVD was associated with increased delta power and decreased alpha2 power. No association of vascular damage was observed with alpha3 power. Moreover, the theta/alpha1 ratio could be a reliable index for the estimation of the individual extent of CV damage. On the other side, the group with moderate hippocampal atrophy showed the highest increase of alpha2 and alpha3 power. Moreover, when the amygdalar and hippocampal volumes are separately considered, within amygdalohippocampal complex (AHC), the increase of theta/gamma ratio is best associated with amygdalar atrophy whereas alpha3/alpha2 ratio is best associated with hippocampal atrophy. CVD and AHC damages are associated with specific EEG markers. So far, these EEG markers could have a prospective value in differential diagnosis between vascular and degenerative MCI.
Caring Teaching as a Moral Practice: An Exploratory Study on Perceived Dimensions of Caring Teaching
Authors: Gholami Khalil , Tirri Kirsi
Published: July 2012

Caring teaching is a conceptual framework used to gain an insight into the moral aspect of teaching. Using a quantitative research approach, we studied 556 teachers in order to explore their perceived dimensions of caring teaching. Drawing on existing literature, we found that caring teaching has been elaborated in line with two broad concepts: personal care and academic care. Considering these concepts, we developed the Caring Teaching Scale with which we identified four dimensions of caring teaching: the nurturing of a student's character, didactical bias, awareness, and respectful didactics. A meta-analysis reflection suggests that the nurturing of students' characters and awareness represent personal care while didactical bias and respectful didactics call for academic care. Further analysis showed that these teachers attached more pedagogical value to personal care. Controlling for two demographic variables, we found statistically significant differences with regard to gender and caring teaching.
On Properties of Third-Order Differential Equations via Comparison Principles
Authors: Baculíková B. , Džurina J.
Published: July 2012

The objective of this paper is to offer sufficient conditions for certain asymptotic properties of the third-order functional differential equation , where studied equation is in a canonical form, that is, . Employing Trench theory of canonical operators, we deduce properties of the studied equations via new comparison theorems. The results obtained essentially improve and complement earlier ones.
Benefits of Endocardial and Multisite Pacing Are Dependent on the Type of Left Ventricular Electric Activation Pattern and Presence of Ischemic Heart Disease
Authors: Ginks Matthew R. , Shetty Anoop K. , Lambiase Pier D. , Duckett Simon G. , Bostock Julian , Peacock Janet L. , Rhode Kawal S. , Bucknall Cliff , Gill Jaswinder , Taggart Peter , Leclercq Christophe , Carr-White Gerald S. , Razavi Reza , Rinaldi C. Aldo
Published: July 2012

Background—

There is considerable heterogeneity in the myocardial substrate of patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), in particular in the etiology of heart failure and in the location of conduction block within the heart. This may account for variability in response to CRT. New approaches, including endocardial and multisite left ventricular (LV) stimulation, may improve CRT response. We sought to evaluate these approaches using noncontact mapping to understand the underlying mechanisms.

Methods and Results—

Ten patients (8 men and 2 women; mean [SD] age 63 [12] years; LV ejection fraction 246%; QRS duration 161 [24] ms) fulfilling conventional CRT criteria underwent an electrophysiological study, with assessment of acute hemodynamic response to conventional CRT as well as LV endocardial and multisite pacing. LV activation pattern was assessed using noncontact mapping. LV endocardial pacing gave a superior acute hemodynamic response compared with conventional CRT (26% versus 37% increase in LV dP/dt
max
, respectively;
P
<0.0005). There was a trend toward further incremental benefit from multisite LV stimulation, although this did not reach statistical significance (
P
=0.08). The majority (71%) of patients with nonischemic heart failure etiology or functional block responded to conventional CRT, whereas those with myocardial scar or absence of functional block often required endocardial or multisite pacing to achieve CRT response.

Conclusions—

Endocardial or multisite pacing may be required in certain subsets of patients undergoing CRT. Patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and those with narrower QRS, in particular, may stand to benefit.
Pathological Cardiac Hypertrophy Alters Intracellular Targeting of Phosphodiesterase Type 5 From Nitric Oxide Synthase-3 to Natriuretic Peptide Signaling
Authors: Zhang Manling , Takimoto Eiki , Lee Dong-ik , Santos Celio X.C. , Nakamura Taishi , Hsu Steven , Jiang Aiyang , Nagayama Takahiro , Bedja Djahida , Yuan Yuan , Eaton Philip , Shah Ajay M. , Kass David A.
Published: July 2012

Background

In the normal heart, phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) hydrolyzes cGMP coupled to nitric oxide– (specifically from nitric oxide synthase 3) but not natriuretic peptide (NP)–stimulated guanylyl cyclase. PDE5 is upregulated in hypertrophied and failing hearts and is thought to contribute to their pathophysiology. Because nitric oxide signaling declines whereas NP-derived cGMP rises in such diseases, we hypothesized that PDE5 substrate selectivity is retargeted to blunt NP-derived signaling.

Methods and Results

Mice with cardiac myocyte inducible PDE5 overexpression (P5
+
) were crossed to those lacking nitric oxide synthase 3 (N3
−
), and each model, the double cross, and controls were subjected to transaortic constriction. P5
+
mice developed worse dysfunction and hypertrophy and enhanced NP stimulation, whereas N3
−
mice were protected. However, P5
+
/N3
−
mice behaved similarly to P5
+
mice despite the lack of nitric oxide synthase 3–coupled cGMP generation, with protein kinase G activity suppressed in both models. PDE5 inhibition did not alter atrial natriuretic peptide–stimulated cGMP in the resting heart but augmented it in the transaortic constriction heart. This functional retargeting was associated with PDE5 translocation from sarcomeres to a dispersed distribution. P5
+
hearts exhibited higher oxidative stress, whereas P5
+
/N3
−
hearts had low levels (likely owing to the absence of nitric oxide synthase 3 uncoupling). This highlights the importance of myocyte protein kinase G activity as a protection for pathological remodeling.

Conclusions

These data provide the first evidence for functional retargeting of PDE5 from one compartment to another, revealing a role for natriuretic peptide–derived cGMP hydrolysis by this esterase in diseased heart myocardium. Retargeting likely affects the pathophysiological consequence and the therapeutic impact of PDE5 modulation in heart disease.
Predicting Cloud-to-Ground and Intracloud Lightning in Weather Forecast Models
Authors: Lynn Barry H. , Yair Yoav , Price Colin , Kelman Guy , Clark Adam J.
Published: July 2012

A new prognostic, spatially and temporally dependent variable is introduced to the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF). This variable is called the potential electrical energy (Ep). It was used to predict the dynamic contribution of the grid-scale-resolved microphysical and vertical velocity fields to the production of cloud-to-ground and intracloud lightning in convection-allowing forecasts. The source of Ep is assumed to be the noninductive charge separation process involving collisions of graupel and ice particles in the presence of supercooled liquid water. The Ep dissipates when it exceeds preassigned threshold values and lightning is generated. An analysis of four case studies is presented and analyzed. On the 4-km simulation grid, a single cloud-to-ground lightning event was forecast with about equal values of probability of detection (POD) and false alarm ratio (FAR). However, when lighting was integrated onto 12-km and then 36-km grid overlays, there was a large improvement in the forecast skill, and as many as 10 cloud-to-ground lighting events were well forecast on the 36-km grid. The impact of initial conditions on forecast accuracy is briefly discussed, including an evaluation of the scheme in wintertime, when lightning activity is weaker. The dynamic algorithm forecasts are also contrasted with statistical lightning forecasts and differences are noted. The scheme is being used operationally with the Rapid Refresh (13 km) data; the skill scores in these operational runs were very good in clearly defined convective situations.
Art as Public Knowledge and Everyday Politics
Authors: Chepp Valerie
Published: July 2012

African American spoken word art offers a window through which to explore how a cultural site of creative and artistic inquiry can simultaneously serve as a site of social analysis and change. Specifically, moving beyond the realm of pure aesthetics, the author explores the ways African American verbal art has functioned as a site of public knowledge and everyday politics—important though commonly overlooked features of social change projects. To make this case, the author conceptualizes culture, knowledge, and politics as a tightly connected trinity of social phenomena, thereby opening the door for an analysis of how a cultural object such as spoken word can simultaneously operate as a site of knowledge production and political practice. Next, using a genealogical approach, the author identifies patterns that appear across different black American verbal art forms in order to develop a typology of features characteristic of African American spoken word traditions. This typology highlights a constellation of themes that, collectively, shed light on how public knowledge and everyday politics can contribute to social change. Throughout this analysis, the author considers how this typology provides a broader framework for understanding the specialized political practices and public knowledge projects employed by present-day young adult spoken word performance poets, drawing upon her ethnographic fieldwork for support. Such a framework can encourage us to rethink existing models of social activism and invite us to consider the unique role of art in the pursuit of social justice and change.
Cultura-Identidad
Authors: Everhart Katherine
Published: July 2012

This article addresses the use of art in the University of Puerto Rico student movement of 2010 to achieve social movement outcomes, such as mobilization and collective identity. More specifically, this paper addresses two major research questions. One, what forms of art were present in the UPR student movement? Two, what impact do artistic objects and performances have on the movement, from the perspective of student activists and artists? Drawing upon 25 hours of observational data and 19 interviews with student activists, faculty, and artists, this paper demonstrates how activists incorporate multiple art forms, not only traditional forms like protest songs, but also innovative forms like street theatre. Incorporating a broad repertoire of art, the movement appealed to a broad population, as well as created a dynamic movement. These questions are critical for understanding recent global movements that rely upon creative and artistic tactics for resistance. However, despite the “cultural turn” among social movement scholars, few have taken seriously the use of art in activism, particularly the ways in which multiple forms of art may be used within one single movement. The case of the student movement of the UPR provides an opportunity to explore up-close the various ways that art may be present within a movement, as well as to uncover how these forms of art operate within the movement and impact on the overall movement.
So you think you look young? Matching older adults’ subjective ages with age estimations provided by younger, middle-aged, and older adults
Authors: Kotter-Grühn Dana , Hess Thomas M.
Published: July 2012

Perceived age plays an important role in the context of age identity and social interactions. To examine how accurate individuals are in estimating how old they look and how old others are, younger, middle-aged, and older adults rated photographs of older target persons (for whom we had information about objective and subjective age) in terms of age and other characteristics. Whereas the older targets had quite accurate perceptions of how old they look, the raters’ age estimations for those targets were rather inaccurate. Older raters and those with frequent contact with older adults provided the most accurate age estimations. Targets that were rated more favorably with respect to attractiveness or fitness were perceived as younger than those with negative ratings.
Small business financing in the UK before and during the current financial crisis
Authors: Cowling Marc , Liu Weixi , Ledger Andrew
Published: July 2012

This article uses empirical evidence from the UK to consider how demand for external finance changed as the economy entered recession and whether external finance became more difficult for entrepreneurs to access as the recession progressed. It finds that larger firms and those experiencing declines in sales were more likely to maintain or increase their demand for external finance. The opposite was true for women-led businesses. Generally, finance was more readily available to larger and older firms throughout the recession. At its peak 119,000 (10% of the total stock) smaller firms were denied credit in a three-month period.
Small business responses to a major economic downturn: Empirical perspectives from New Zealand and the United Kingdom
Authors: Smallbone David , Deakins David , Battisti Martina , Kitching John
Published: July 2012

This article analyses small firm responses to a major economic downturn, based on empirical investigation in the UK and New Zealand. Despite differences in the timing and depth of the downturn, there is remarkable similarity in the sectoral composition of small enterprises and methods of financing in reported recession-related effects and business performance during 2008–2009. While recognising that the study focused on surviving businesses, in neither country did the downturn have a consistently negative impact on small businesses and in both countries a significant minority of firms surveyed performed well. The study provides much needed evidence on small businesse responses to major economic crisis. Conceptually it demonstrates that although many small firms are vulnerable to changes in circumstances over which they have no control, they show underlying resilience and a high level of adaptability and flexibility. Longitudinal follow-up is necessary to show how the types of adaptive behaviour observed impact on business performance.
Crowding Out Public Service Motivation? Comparing Theoretical Expectations with Empirical Findings on the Influence of Performance-Related Pay
Authors: Stazyk Edmund C.
Published: July 2012

This article draws on a sample of city managers, assistant city managers, and department heads in U.S. local government jurisdictions to examine whether theoretical assertions about the relationships between performance-related pay, public service motivation, and employee job satisfaction hold empirical merit. Contrary to theoretical expectations, findings from an ordered logistic regression and a series of Monte Carlo simulations suggest performance-related pay is associated with greater job satisfaction, especially among employees who possess stronger public service motives. Results also suggest variable pay may be particularly important to employees who have lower levels of public service motivation.
Merit Pay Fairness, Leader-Member Exchange, and Job Engagement
Authors: Meng Fanrong , Wu Jiannan
Published: July 2012

In this article, the authors theoretically propose that the perceived fairness of merit pay substantially influences leader-member exchange (LMX) and which in turn influences job engagement. Data from 581 Chinese compulsory school teachers show that the perceived procedural fairness of merit pay policy significantly and positively affects LMX and job engagement. That LMX partially mediates the relationship between procedural fairness perception and job engagement. The results indicate that procedural fairness plays more important role to motivate the public service employees in the merit pay implementation than the distributive fairness. The emphasis of procedural fairness may reflect the respect and dignity of the individual, which therefore promote teachers’ acceptance of leadership management styles and further stimulate greater job engagement among employees.