bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular Pathways: The Complexity of the Epigenome in Cancer and Recent Clinical Advances
Authors: Conte Mariarosaria , Altucci Lucia
Published: August 2012

Human cancer is causally linked to genomic and epigenomic deregulations. Epigenetic abnormalities occurring within signaling pathways regulating proliferation, migration, growth, differentiation, transcription, and death signals may be critical in the progression of malignancies. Consequently, identification of epigenetic marks and their bioimplications in tumors represents a crucial step toward defining new therapeutic strategies both in cancer treatment and prevention. Alterations of writers, readers, and erasers in cancer may affect, for example, the methylation and acetylation state of huge areas of chromatin, suggesting that epi-based treatments may require “distinct” therapeutic strategies compared with “canonical” targeted treatments. Whereas anticancer treatments targeting histone deacetylase and DNA methylation have entered the clinic, additional chromatin modification enzymes have not yet been pharmacologically targeted for clinical use in patients. Thus, a greater insight into alterations occurring on chromatin modifiers and their impact in tumorigenesis represents a crucial advancement in exploiting epigenetic targeting in cancer prevention and treatment. Here, the interplay of the best known epi-mutations and how their targeting might be optimized are addressed. Clin Cancer Res; 18(20); 5526–34. ©2012 AACR.
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Imatinib—New Data Strengthen the Case
Authors: Judson Ian
Published: August 2012

A population pharmacokinetic study of imatinib in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor by Eechoute and colleagues has shown a significant increase in drug clearance over the first 3 months of treatment, resulting in a 30% decrease in drug exposure. This finding clearly shows the possibility of pharmacokinetic resistance in this disease. Clin Cancer Res; 18(20); 5517–9. ©2012 AACR.
Blueberries and Neuronal Aging
Authors: Shukitt-Hale Barbara
Published: August 2012

As the population of people in the United States over the age of 65 years continues to increase, so too will the incidence of age-related pathologies, including decreases in cognitive and motor function. In cases of severe deficits in memory or motor function, hospitalization and/or custodial care would be a likely outcome. This means that unless some way is found to reduce these age-related decrements in neuronal function, health care costs will continue to rise exponentially. Evidence is accumulating that consumption of blueberries may be one strategy to forestall or even reverse age-related neuronal deficits, as well as their subsequent behavioral manifestations, in order to increase healthy aging. Research suggests that the polyphenolic compounds found in blueberries exert their beneficial effects either through their ability to lower oxidative stress and inflammation or directly by altering the signaling involved in neuronal communication. These interventions, in turn, may protect against age-related deficits in cognitive and motor function. Appropriately, the US Department of Agriculture has figured prominently in these discoveries, through the efforts of two USDA researchers who worked for the department 100 years apart.
Pyridine Nucleotide Regulation of Cardiac Intermediary Metabolism
Authors: Ussher John R. , Jaswal Jagdip S. , Lopaschuk Gary D.
Published: August 2012

The pyridine nucleotides NAD
+
and NADP
+
play a pivotal role in regulating intermediary metabolism in the heart. The intracellular NAD
+
/NADH ratio controls flux through various dehydrogenase enzymes involved in both anaerobic and aerobic metabolism and also regulates posttranslational protein modification. The intracellular NADP
+
/NADPH ratio controls flux through the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) and the polyol pathway, while also regulating ion channel function and oxidative stress. Not only does the NAD
+
/NADH ratio regulate the rates of ATP production, it can also modify energy substrate preference. For instance, in many forms of heart disease a greater contribution from fatty acids for oxidative energy metabolism increases fatty acid β-oxidation–derived NADH, which can activate pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) kinase isoforms that inhibit PDH and subsequent glucose oxidation. As such, novel therapies that overcome fatty acid β-oxidation–induced inhibition of PDH improve cardiac efficiency and subsequent function during ischemia/reperfusion and in heart failure. Furthermore, recent studies have implicated a pivotal role for increased PPP-derived NADPH in mediating oxidative stress observed in heart failure. In this article, we review the multiple actions of NAD
+
/NADH and NADP
+
/NADPH in regulating intermediary metabolism in the heart. A better understanding of the roles of NAD
+
/NADH and NADP
+
/NADPH in cellular physiology and pathology could potentially be used to exploit pyridine nucleotide modification in the treatment of a number of different forms of heart disease.
Mitofusins 1 and 2 Are Essential for Postnatal Metabolic Remodeling in Heart
Authors: Papanicolaou Kyriakos N. , Kikuchi Ryosuke , Ngoh Gladys A. , Coughlan Kimberly A. , Dominguez Isabel , Stanley William C. , Walsh Kenneth
Published: August 2012

Rationale:

At birth, there is a switch from placental to pulmonary circulation and the heart commences its aerobic metabolism. In cardiac myocytes, this transition is marked by increased mitochondrial biogenesis and remodeling of the intracellular architecture. The mechanisms governing the formation of new mitochondria and their expansion within myocytes remain largely unknown. Mitofusins (Mfn-1 and Mfn-2) are known regulators of mitochondrial networks, but their role during perinatal maturation of the heart has yet to be examined.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to determine the significance of mitofusins during early postnatal cardiac development.

Methods and Results:

We genetically inactivated Mfn-1 and Mfn-2 in midgestational and postnatal cardiac myocytes using a loxP/Myh6-cre approach. At birth, cardiac morphology and function of double-knockout (DKO) mice are normal. At that time, DKO mitochondria increase in numbers, appear to be spherical and heterogeneous in size, but exhibit normal electron density. By postnatal day 7, the mitochondrial numbers in DKO myocytes remain abnormally expanded and many lose matrix components and membrane organization. At this time point, DKO mice have developed cardiomyopathy. This leads to a rapid decline in survival and all DKO mice die before 16 days of age. Gene expression analysis of DKO hearts shows that mitochondria biogenesis genes are downregulated, the mitochondrial DNA is reduced, and mitochondrially encoded transcripts and proteins are also reduced. Furthermore, mitochondrial turnover pathways are dysregulated.

Conclusions:

Our findings establish that Mfn-1 and Mfn-2 are essential in mediating mitochondrial remodeling during postnatal cardiac development, a time of dramatic transitions in the bioenergetics and growth of the heart.
Neurohormonal Modulation of the Innate Immune System Is Proinflammatory in the Prehypertensive Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat, a Genetic Model of Essential Hypertension
Authors: Harwani Sailesh C. , Chapleau Mark W. , Legge Kevin L. , Ballas Zuhair K. , Abboud François M.
Published: August 2012

Rationale:

Inflammation and autonomic dysfunction contribute to the pathophysiology of hypertension. Cholinergic stimulation suppresses innate immune responses. Angiotensin II (Ang II) induces hypertension and is associated with proinflammatory immune responses.

Objective:

Our goal was to define the innate immune response in a model of genetic hypertension and the influences of cholinergic stimulation and Ang II.

Methods and Results:

Studies were conducted on 4- to 5-week-old prehypertensive spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and age-matched normotensive control, Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats. Isolated splenocytes were preexposed to nicotine or Ang II before Toll-like receptor (TLR) activation. Culture supernatants were tested for cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin [IL]-10, and IL-6). TLR-mediated cytokine responses were most pronounced with TLR7/8 and TLR9 activation and similar between WKY rats and SHRs. Nicotine and Ang II enhanced this TLR-mediated IL-6 response in prehypertensive SHR splenocytes. In contrast, nicotine suppressed the TLR-mediated IL-6 response in WKY rats, whereas Ang II had no effect. In vivo, nicotine enhanced plasma levels of TLR7/8-mediated IL-6 and IL-1β responses in prehypertensive SHRs but suppressed these responses in WKY rats. Flow cytometry revealed an increase in a CD161+ innate immune cell population, which was enhanced by nicotine in the prehypertensive SHR spleen but not in WKY.

Conclusions:

There is a pronounced anti-inflammatory nicotinic/cholinergic modulation of the innate immune system in WKY rats, which is reversed in prehypertensive SHRs. The results support the novel concept that neurohormonal regulation of the innate immune system plays a role in the pathogenesis of genetic hypertension and provide putative molecular targets for treatment of hypertension.
Enhanced MJO-like Variability at High SST
Authors: Arnold Nathan P. , Kuang Zhiming , Tziperman Eli
Published: August 2012

The authors report a significant increase in Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO)–like variability in a superparameterized version of the NCAR Community Atmosphere Model run with high sea surface temperatures (SSTs). A series of aquaplanet simulations exhibit a tripling of intraseasonal outgoing longwave radiation variance as equatorial SST is increased from 26° to 35°C. The simulated intraseasonal variability also transitions from an episodic phenomenon to one with a semiregular period of 25 days. Moist static energy (MSE) budgets of composite MJO events are used to diagnose the physical processes responsible for the relationship with SST. This analysis points to an increasingly positive contribution from vertical advection, associated in part with a steepening of the mean vertical MSE profile in the lower troposphere. The change in MSE profile is a natural consequence of increasing SST while maintaining a moist adiabat with a fixed profile of relative humidity. This work has implications for tropical variability in past warm climates as well as anthropogenic global warming scenarios.
Political Holes in the Economy
Authors: Stark David , Vedres Balazs
Published: August 2012

This article redirects attention from the question of how business ties have an impact on politics to the question of how political ties have an impact on business. Specifically, do divisions within the field of politics become divisions in the field of business networks? To study co-evolution of political and economic fields, we conducted a historical network analysis of the relationship between firm-to-party ties and firm-to-firm ties in the Hungarian economy. We constructed a dataset of all senior managers and boards of directors of 1,696 corporations and the complete set of all political officeholders from 1987 to 2001. Findings from our field interviews and dyadic logistic regression models demonstrate that director interlocks depend, to a significant extent, on political affiliations. Although the political and economic fields have been institutionally separated, firms and parties have become organizationally entangled. Firms of either left or right political affiliation exhibit a preference for partnerships with firms in the same political camp and increasingly avoid ties with firms in the opposite camp. Our analysis reveals that political camps in the Hungarian economy occurred not as a direct legacy of state socialism but as the product of electoral party competition.
Neutrophil–Lymphocyte Ratio as a Predictor of Major Adverse Cardiac Events Among Diabetic Population
Authors: Azab Basem , Chainani Vinod , Shah Neeraj , McGinn Joseph T.
Published: August 2012

The neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an inflammatory marker of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) in both acute coronary syndromes and stable coronary artery disease. The use of NLR as a predictive tool for MACEs among diabetic patients has not been elucidated. An observational study included 338 diabetic patients followed at our clinic between 2007 and 2011. Patients were arranged into equal tertiles according to the 2007 NLR. The MACEs included acute myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, and mortality. The lowest NLR tertile (NLR <1.6) had fewer MACEs compared with the highest NLR tertile (NLR >2.36; MACEs were 6 of 113 patients vs 24 of 112 patients, respectively; P < .0001). In a multivariate model, the adjusted hazard ratio of third NLR tertile compared with first NLR tertile was 2.8 (95% confidence interval 1.12-6.98, P = .027). The NLR is a significant independent predictor of MACEs in diabetic patients. Further studies with larger numbers are needed.
Using Cumulative Sum Statistics to Detect Inconsistencies in Unproctored Internet Testing
Authors: Tendeiro Jorge N. , Meijer Rob R. , Schakel Lolle , Maij-de Meij Annette M.
Published: August 2012

Unproctored Internet Testing (UIT) is becoming more popular in personnel recruitment and selection. A drawback of UIT is that cheating is easy and, therefore, a proctored test is often administered after an UIT procedure. To detect inconsistent test scores from UIT, a cumulative sum procedure (CUSUM) is proposed. This procedure is applied to empirical data from an adaptive computer-based test in a real personnel selection context. The usefulness of the CUSUM is illustrated, and the unique contribution of the CUSUM to existing procedures is discussed.
Continuity of care for carers of people with severe mental illness: Results of a longitudinal study
Authors: Burns Tom , Catty Jocelyn , Harvey Kate , White Sarah , Jones Ian Rees , McLaren Susan , Wykes Til ,   for the ECHO Group, Burns Tom , Catty Jocelyn , Clement Sarah , Harvey Kate , White Sarah , Anderson Tamara , Cowan Naomi , Ellis Gemma , Eracleous Helen , Geyer Connie , Lissouba Pascale , Poole Zoe , Jones Ian Rees , Ahmed Nilufar , Rose Diana , Wykes Til , Sweeney Angela , McLaren Susan , Belling Ruth , Davies Jonathon , Lemma Ferew , Whittock Margaret
Published: August 2012

Introduction:

Continuity of care has been demonstrated to be important for service users and carer groups have voiced major concerns over disruptions of care. We aimed to assess the experienced continuity of care in carers of patients with both psychotic and non-psychotic disorders and explore its association with carer characteristics and psychological well-being.

Methods:

Friends and relatives caring for two groups of service users in the care of community mental health teams (CMHTs), 69 with psychotic and 38 with non-psychotic disorders, were assessed annually at three and two time points, respectively. CONTINUES, a measure specifically designed to assess continuity of care for carers themselves, was utilized along with assessments of psychological well-being and caregiving.

Results:

One hundred and seven carers participated. They reported moderately low continuity of care. Only 22 had had a carer’s assessment and just under a third recorded psychological distress on the GHQ. For those caring for people with psychotic disorders, reported continuity was higher if the carer was male, employed, lived with the user and had had a carer’s assessment; for those caring for people with non-psychotic disorders, it was higher if the carer was from the service user’s immediate family, lived with them and had had a carer’s assessment.

Conclusion:

The vast majority of the carers had not had a carer’s assessment provided by the CMHT despite this being a clear national priority and being an intervention with obvious potential to increase carers’ reported low levels of continuity of care. Improving continuity of contact with carers may have an important part to play in the overall improvement of care in this patient group and deserves greater attention.
Insurgents of the Sea: Institutional and Economic Opportunities for Maritime Piracy
Authors: Daxecker Ursula , Prins Brandon
Published: August 2012

While piracy may evoke romanticized visions of swashbuckling, rum swigging, and skirt chasing pirates hoisting the Jolly Roger, maritime piracy has changed substantially by taking advantage of modernization and substantial upgrading of the weapons, vessels, and weapons it employs. In addition, as documented by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), the frequency of pirate attacks has increased significantly, with more than 2,600 piracy incidents occurring since 2004. The authors argue that piracy is a result of permissive institutional environments and the lack of legal forms of employment in states’ fishing sectors. The authors investigate these arguments empirically using data for all countries with coastlines in the 1995–2007 period. The empirical analyses show that state weakness and reductions in fisheries production values affect piracy as expected. These findings suggest that international efforts in combating piracy should center on improving the institutional environments and labor opportunities driving maritime piracy.
Changes in Body Weight and Adiposity Predict Periodontitis Progression in Men
Authors: Gorman A. , Kaye E.K. , Nunn M. , Garcia R.I.
Published: August 2012

Most studies linking obesity and periodontal disease have been cross-sectional in design. We examined whether gains in body weight, waist circumference, and arm fat area are associated with periodontitis progression in 893 non-diabetic men followed for up to four decades in the prospective VA Dental Longitudinal Study. Probing pocket depth (PPD) was measured by calibrated examiners. Repeated-measures generalized linear models estimated the mean cumulative numbers of teeth with PPD events (PPD > 3 mm) at each dental examination and the slopes associated with increasing numbers of affected teeth over time. Means were adjusted for baseline PPD, education, and cigarette pack-years, and time-dependent values of age, mean plaque score, cigarette packs/day, brushing, and flossing. Men who were overweight at baseline and gained weight most rapidly (> 0.19 kg/yr or ~15 lb during follow-up) had significantly more PPD events than men in the lowest tertile of weight gain (≤ -0.05 kg/yr). Overweight men whose waist circumference increased > 0.14–0.39 or > 0.39 cm/yr experienced more PPD events than men in the lowest tertile (≤ 0.14 cm/yr). Increase in arm fat area was associated with disease progression in normal-weight men. These results suggest that tracking adiposity changes with easily obtained anthropometric measures may help predict risk of periodontitis progression.
Racial Diversity Sounds Nice; Systems Transformation? Not So Much
Authors: Rogers-Ard Rachelle , Knaus Christopher B. , Epstein Kitty Kelly , Mayfield Kimberly
Published: August 2012

This article argues that economic exclusion, standardized testing, and racially biased definitions of teacher quality continue the exclusion of teachers of color from the urban teaching force. The authors highlight two urban programs designed to address such barriers and situate such efforts within a critical race theory framework that identifies ways urban communities can increase control through local teacher development. The article concludes by presenting a teacher evaluation model that integrates school, district, and university perspectives with urban students, families, community-based organizations, and teacher self-perceptions to redefine teacher effectiveness.
Ingroup Versus Outgroup Conflict in the Context of Violent Video Game Play
Authors: Velez John A. , Mahood Chad , Ewoldsen David R. , Moyer-Gusé Emily
Published: August 2012

Previous research has demonstrated a positive influence of cooperative video game play on participants’ cooperative strategies (tit-for-tat behaviors) in a modified Prisoner’s Dilemma task (Ewoldsen et al., 2012). The current study tested whether these positive effects are applicable to ingroup and outgroup conflict. Eighty participants were assigned to play a violent video game cooperatively or competitively with a confederate posing as an outgroup or ingroup member. The main findings corroborate previous research on the beneficial effects of cooperative game play and suggest playing cooperatively can increase helping behavior. Furthermore, cooperation with an outgroup member can actually reduce aggression. Implications of findings for future research are discussed.
All That Glitters
Authors: Kalu Kalu N.
Published: August 2012

By recognizing that economists use the transaction-cost methodology to account for the role of actors engaged in market exchange, this study draws from that insight as a way of delineating various critical factors that influence the effectiveness of collaborations in the public sector. Collaboration is not only about making public service delivery more efficient, but it also transcends the constant struggle for advantage and accommodation between agencies either in specific policy domains or in the control over resources and asset-specific programmatic initiatives. As organizations seek the protection of their institutional identity, culture, and power, they also set in motion corresponding processes that work in tandem to create factors that may lead to collaborative inertia. Effective collaboration therefore requires a complementary structural design (governance mechanism) that accommodates the various disincentives of asymmetry and size–power relations in complex collaborative processes.
Projective Item Response Model for Test-Independent Measurement
Authors: Ip Edward Hak-Sing , Chen Shyh-Huei
Published: August 2012

The problem of fitting unidimensional item-response models to potentially multidimensional data has been extensively studied. The focus of this article is on response data that contains a major dimension of interest but that may also contain minor nuisance dimensions. Because fitting a unidimensional model to multidimensional data results in ability estimates that represent a combination of the major and minor dimensions, such a procedure tends to produce ability estimates that cannot be compared across different tests targeting the same construct, or even across different test forms from the same test bank. In this paper, we build upon previous theoretical results in multidimensional IRT and propose a projective IRT framework that allows the projection of multiple dimensions onto a targeted single dimension that is of substantive interest. Two robust versions of standard error estimate for ability score are also evaluated. An important appeal of the projective IRT procedure is that it allows the direct measurement of a targeted construct and valid inference for test-independent ability scores. Through simulation studies, we show that the proposed projective IRT procedure effectively recovers ability scores in the targeted dimension. The procedure involves only a small amount of additional computation over conventional IRT and could have potential applications in areas such as computerized adaptive testing.
catcher
Authors: Kalender Ilker
Published: August 2012

catcher is a software program designed to compute the ω index, a common statistical index for the identification of collusions (cheating) among examinees taking an educational or psychological test. It requires (a) responses and (b) ability estimations of individuals, and (c) item parameters to make computations and outputs the results of the analyses in two text files. The program uses the nominal response model to estimate ω index and is based on residuals between expected and observed values of matched answers between examinee pairs (copier and source) by considering correct and incorrect answers, conditioning on source’s answers, copier’s ability level, and item parameters.
Data-Driven Learning of Q-Matrix
Authors: Liu Jingchen , Xu Gongjun , Ying Zhiliang
Published: August 2012

The recent surge of interests in cognitive assessment has led to developments of novel statistical models for diagnostic classification. Central to many such models is the well-known Q-matrix, which specifies the item–attribute relationships. This article proposes a data-driven approach to identification of the Q-matrix and estimation of related model parameters. A key ingredient is a flexible T-matrix that relates the Q-matrix to response patterns. The flexibility of the T-matrix allows the construction of a natural criterion function as well as a computationally amenable algorithm. Simulations results are presented to demonstrate usefulness and applicability of the proposed method. Extension to handling of the Q-matrix with partial information is presented. The proposed method also provides a platform on which important statistical issues, such as hypothesis testing and model selection, may be formally addressed.
Self-reported maternal expectations and child-rearing practices
Authors: Durgel Elif S. , Vijver Fons J. R. van de , Yagmurlu Bilge
Published: August 2012

This study aimed at: (1) disentangling the associations between ethnicity, immigration, educational background, and mothers’ developmental expectations and (self-reported) child-rearing practices; and (2) identifying the cross-cultural differences and similarities in developmental expectations and child-rearing practices. Participants were 111 Dutch and 111 Turkish immigrant mothers in the Netherlands, and 242 Turkish mothers living in Turkey. Dutch and higher-educated mothers had a tendency to believe that children learn certain skills and behaviors at an earlier age than did Turkish and lower-educated mothers, respectively. Turkish mothers, majority group, and higher-educated mothers reported more child-centered parenting practices than Dutch mothers, immigrants, and mothers with less education, respectively. Parent-centered parenting practices were reported mainly by less educated mothers. The analyses on disentangling the associations between sociodemographic background variables and parenting pointed to the relative importance and consistency of maternal education as a predictor of parenting, compared to ethnic background and immigration history. It is concluded that disentangling variables that are often associated with studies comparing immigrant and majority groups is essential for a proper understanding of similarities and differences in developmental expectations and child-rearing practices.
Active exercise for individuals with cervical dystonia: a pilot randomized controlled trial
Authors: Boyce Melani J , Canning Colleen G , Mahant Neil , Morris John , Latimer Jane , Fung Victor SC
Published: August 2012

Objective:

To investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of an active exercise program for cervical dystonia.

Design:

Pilot randomized controlled, single-blind trial of a 12-week intervention followed by a four-week follow-up period.

Setting:

Supervised physiotherapy and outcome measurement sessions were conducted in a hospital outpatient physiotherapy setting. Participants also performed exercises at home.

Subjects:

Twenty participants with idiopathic cervical dystonia were randomized into an experimental ( n = 9) or control ( n = 11) group. Two participants from the experimental group and one from the control group dropped out.

Interventions:

The experimental group undertook a semi-supervised active exercise program aimed at correcting the dystonic head position, plus relaxation. The control group performed relaxation only.

Main outcome measures:

Feasibility of the intervention was assessed by recording adherence, muscle soreness, and adverse events. The primary outcome measure was blinded analysis of the Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale (TWSTRS) score.

Results:

The active exercise program was feasible and safe, with participants in the experimental group completing 84% of prescribed training sessions in the 12-week intervention period. There were no adverse events in either group, while mild muscle soreness was reported by 66% of the experimental group. There was no significant difference between groups at post-test or follow-up. The difference between groups of −1.9 (95% confidence interval (CI) –9.0–5.2) on the TWSTRS demonstrates a trend towards greater improvement for the experimental group.

Conclusion:

Active exercise for people with cervical dystonia is feasible and can be completed with good adherence and no adverse effects.
Wind Turbine Acoustic Investigation
Authors: Ambrose Stephen E. , Rand Robert W. , Krogh Carmen M. E.
Published: August 2012

Wind turbines produce sound that is capable of disturbing local residents and is reported to cause annoyance, sleep disturbance, and other health-related impacts. An acoustical study was conducted to investigate the presence of infrasonic and low-frequency noise emissions from wind turbines located in Falmouth, Massachusetts, USA. During the study, the investigating acousticians experienced adverse health effects consistent with those reported by some Falmouth residents. The authors conclude that wind turbine acoustic energy was found to be greater than or uniquely distinguishable from the ambient background levels and capable of exceeding human detection thresholds. The authors emphasize the need for epidemiological and laboratory research by health professionals and acousticians concerned with public health and well-being to develop effective and precautionary setback distances for industrial wind turbines that protect residents from wind turbine sound.
Patient Autonomy Investigation Under the Technology-Based Health Care System
Authors: Yang Yi
Published: August 2012

With widespread advances in the diffusion and application of medical technologies, the phenomena of misuse and overuse have become pervasive. These phenomena not only increase the cost of health care systems and deplete the accessibility and availability of health care services, they also jeopardize patient autonomy. From a literature review on this aspect of medical technology, an impact on patient autonomy is found in almost all cases, with the exception of philosophical or ethical writings, in which there is not much practical application for health policy and law. In this article, the major finding is that in the area of patient autonomy, it does not matter much whether the “physician decides” or the “patient decides” in the current “disease care” health system, where most of the doctors focus only on disease treatment using aggressive medical technologies. It is also our “disease care” system that ensures that the patients, the health care professionals, or the health care management cannot safeguard their autonomy. Only when the genuine health care system is restored will patient autonomy be protected.
The Desymbolization of Human Life in Contemporary Mass Societies
Authors: Vanderburg Willem H.
Published: August 2012

Judaism and Christianity, the religious traditions most influential on Western civilization, taught that the universe was created by the Word and that human beings were distinguished from all other animals by their use of words. What characterizes our age is a growing reliance on images as our words are being desymbolized. This desymbolization of experience, language, and culture results primarily from what Jacques Ellul has called technique, which has been built up with discipline-based approaches to knowing and doing. It has helped create a new human nature as well as new social forms called mass societies, in which integration propaganda is required to make up the deficits of our highly desymbolized cultures. As a result, life in a mass society defers to science for knowing and to technique for doing, thereby creating a cult of efficiency that is at the root of our economic, social, and environmental crises. How far this desymbolization can go may well turn out to be the decisive issue of the 21st century.
Autonomous navigation of a humanoid robot over unknown rough terrain using a laser range sensor
Authors: Nishiwaki Koichi , Chestnutt Joel , Kagami Satoshi
Published: August 2012

The present paper describes the integration of laser-based perception, footstep planning, and walking control of a humanoid robot for navigation over previously unknown rough terrain. A perception system that obtains the shape of the surrounding environment to an accuracy of a few centimeters is realized based on input obtained using a scanning laser range sensor. A footstep planner decides the sequence of stepping positions using the obtained terrain shape. A walking controller that can cope with a few centimeters of error in terrain shape measurement is achieved by combining the generation of a 40-ms cycle online walking pattern and a ground reaction force controller with sensor feedback. An operational interface was developed to send commands to the robot. A mixed-reality display was adopted to realize an intuitive interface. The navigation system was implemented on the HRP-2, a full-size humanoid robot. The performance of the proposed system for navigation over unknown rough terrain and the accuracy of the terrain shape measurement were investigated through several experiments.
Preliminary Findings of a Previously Unrecognized Porcine Primary Immunodeficiency Disorder
Authors: Ozuna A. G. Cino , Rowland R. R. R. , Nietfeld J. C. , Kerrigan M. A. , Dekkers J. C. M. , Wyatt C. R.
Published: August 2012

Weaned pigs from a line bred for increased feed efficiency were enrolled in a study of the role of host genes in the response to infection with Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV). Four of the pigs were euthanatized early in the study due to weight loss with illness and poor body condition; 2 pigs before PRRSV infection and the other 2 pigs approximately 2 weeks after virus inoculation. The 2 inoculated pigs failed to produce PRRSV-specific antibodies. Gross findings included pneumonia, absence of a detectable thymus, and small secondary lymphoid tissues. Histologically, lymph nodes, spleen, tonsils, and Peyer’s patches were sparsely cellular with decreased to absent T and B lymphocytes.
Mycoplasma Corogypsi–Associated Polyarthritis and Tenosynovitis in Black Vultures (Coragyps atratus)
Authors: Wettere A. J. Van , Ley D. H. , Scott D. E. , Buckanoff H. D. , Degernes L. A.
Published: August 2012

Three wild American black vultures ( Coragyps atratus) were presented to rehabilitation centers with swelling of multiple joints, including elbows, stifles, hocks, and carpal joints, and of the gastrocnemius tendons. Cytological examination of the joint fluid exudate indicated heterophilic arthritis. Radiographic examination in 2 vultures demonstrated periarticular soft tissue swelling in both birds and irregular articular surfaces with subchondral bone erosion in both elbows in 1 bird. Prolonged antibiotic therapy administered in 2 birds did not improve the clinical signs. Necropsy and histological examination demonstrated a chronic lymphoplasmacytic arthritis involving multiple joints and gastrocnemius tenosynovitis. Articular lesions varied in severity and ranged from moderate synovitis and cartilage erosion and fibrillation to severe synovitis, diffuse cartilage ulceration, subchondral bone loss and/or sclerosis, pannus, synovial cysts, and epiphyseal osteomyelitis. No walled bacteria were observed or isolated from the joints. However, mycoplasmas polymerase chain reactions were positive in at least 1 affected joint from each bird. Mycoplasmas were isolated from joints of 1 vulture that did not receive antibiotic therapy. Sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons from joint samples and the mycoplasma isolate identified Mycoplasma corogypsi in 2 vultures and was suggestive in the third vulture. Mycoplasma corogypsi identification was confirmed by sequencing the 16S-23S intergenic spacer region of mycoplasma isolates. This report provides further evidence that M. corogypsi is a likely cause of arthritis and tenosynovitis in American black vultures. Cases of arthritis and tenosynovitis in New World vultures should be investigated for presence of Mycoplasma spp, especially M. corogypsi.
Music and felt emotions: How systematic pitch level variations affect the experience of pleasantness and arousal
Authors: Jaquet Lucas , Danuser Brigitta , Gomez Patrick
Published: August 2012

Pitch is a fundamental musical factor; however, findings about its contribution to the elicitation of emotions are contradictory. The purpose of this work was to assess the effect of systematic pitch variations on self-reports of felt valence and arousal. In a within-subject design, 49 subjects listened to four 1-minute classical piano excerpts, each presented at three different pitch levels (one octave lower than the original version, the original version and one octave higher than the original version). Compared to excerpts both without octave modification and in the +1 octave variant, pleasantness of excerpts in the -1 octave variant was significantly lower. This main effect was stronger for women than men and, importantly, was modulated by the specific characteristics of the stimuli. There was also a significant, yet smaller, negative relationship between pitch level and arousal, moderated by gender: Compared to higher pitch, lower pitch was associated with higher arousal in men only. Regarding the complex outcomes of this study, future studies should investigate to which extent our findings can be generalized to other musical works. The ultimate goal might be to demonstrate how pitch level interacts with other musical features and listeners’ characteristics in eliciting diverse affective experiences.
Functional Results and Outcomes After Repair of Proximal Hamstring Avulsions
Authors: Cohen Steven B. , Rangavajjula Ashwin , Vyas Dharmesh , Bradley James P.
Published: August 2012

Background:

The purpose of this study was to assess postsurgical outcomes in active patients after primary repair of acute and chronic proximal hamstring tears.

Hypothesis:

Surgical treatment of both acute and chronic proximal hamstring avulsion injuries would result in improved patient outcomes using validated outcome scores and a hamstring-specific questionnaire, and operative repair of these injuries results in excellent outcomes with a high level of patient satisfaction, pain relief, and return to function.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

Fifty-two patients who underwent proximal hamstring repair (26 male and 26 female; average age, 47.7 years) completed the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), a custom LEFS, the Marx Activity Scale, a custom Marx scale, a proximal hamstring score (which combines the sum of the custom LEFS and Marx), and a proximal hamstring questionnaire with subjective questions. Forty patients were characterized as having acute repairs, and 12 patients had chronic repairs. All patients underwent surgical repair with 5 suture anchors on the ischial tuberosity through a transverse incision. The rehabilitation protocol was also similar with the use of a hip orthosis for 6 to 8 weeks, allowing progressive weightbearing and range of motion.

Results:

The mean follow-up in our study was 33 months (range, 12-76 months). The mechanism of injury in 28 patients was eccentric hip flexion and knee extension in the ipsilateral knee typically caused by a slip and fall accident. One patient’s injury was caused by trauma to the proximal hamstring. In 23 patients, hamstring injuries were sports related. Overall, 51 (98%) were satisfied with their outcome after surgery. The LEFS, Marx, custom LEFS, custom Marx, and proximal hamstring scores for patients with acute injuries were 76.2, 10.0, 71.4, 20, and 91.7, respectively. For those with chronic injury, the scores were 71.5, 10.4, 70.8, 18.7, and 89.8, respectively. The scores were not statistically different for LEFS, Marx, custom LEFS, and proximal hamstring scores ( P = .22, P = .6, P = .72, and P = .6, respectively). Patients with acute injury did have a greater custom Marx score ( P = .001). Postoperatively, 5 patients (9.6%) had burning pain or numbness in the posterior thigh or foot, and 25 (48%) had at least some discomfort sitting. Thirty-five patients (67%) reported they could participate in strenuous activities at their latest follow-up. All patients estimated their strength recovery at ≥75%.

Conclusion:

Results of this study indicate successful outcomes for both acute and chronic repairs, although patients with the acute repairs had higher functional and hamstring scores, and estimated hamstring strength.
Union Commitment and Stakeholder Red Tape
Authors: Davis Randall S.
Published: August 2012

This study examines whether public sector unionization encourages members to perceive more red tape in the work organization. Using the concepts of union socialization, commitment to union values, and stakeholder red tape, I develop and test a theoretical model that accounts for the direct and indirect effects of union socialization on member perceptions of red tape. The results from a series of structural equation models suggest that more socialized members perceive more red tape and are more likely to commit to union values. However, more committed union members perceive less red tape within the work organization. As such, the increase in perceived red tape because of union socialization is partially mitigated by member commitment to union values.  Although interaction between union members may alert employees to negative components of the work environment, commitment to union values encourages members to perceive organizational rules as necessary protections of employee rights.
Commentary on PND at 25
Authors: Campbell Jonathan M.
Published: August 2012

The author provides commentary on the scientific enterprise of single-case meta-analysis, including experiences with and use of the percentage of nonoverlapping data statistic. The author provides a brief review and commentary on the benefits and liabilities of the PND statistic as well as other effect size metrics. The article includes general commentary about the perception and position of single-subject meta-analysis and its use to inform health insurance decision making in the field of autism. The commentary ends with predictions and recommendations for single-case meta-analysis in the next 25 years.
Human and cattle ergotism since 1900
Authors: Belser-Ehrlich Sarah , Harper Ashley , Hussey John , Hallock Robert
Published: August 2012

Ergotism in humans and cattle are caused by several species of Claviceps that infect rye and other cereal grains. Symptoms in humans vary greatly and are generally classified as convulsive, gangrenous, or gastrointestinal (enteric). Cattle are particularly susceptible to both gangrenous and hyperthermic ergotism (also called summer syndrome). The prevalence of ergotism has decreased as knowledge of the fungus has increased, mainly through implementation of regulations and advances in milling procedures. However, outbreaks in humans have recently occurred in lower socioeconomic populations of Ethiopia (1977 and 2001) and India (1975) with devastating results. Prominent outbreaks in cattle have occurred in Australia (1987), the United States (1996), South Africa (1996–1997), and Brazil (1999) and, as opposed to human cases, they do not appear to be bound by economic development. This review provides a detailed summary of all major ergot epidemics since 1900 in both humans and cattle. Special attention is devoted to the ergotism symptoms and to the regulations surrounding the control of ergot in the food supply.
Atrazine-induced changes in the myocardial structure of peripubertal rats
Authors: Rajkovic Vesna , Kovac Renata , Koledin Ivana , Matavulj Milica
Published: August 2012

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of atrazine (6-chloro-N2-ethyl-N4-isopropyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine) on the left ventricle myocardium in juvenile/peripubertal male Wistar rats. Atrazine was administered orally at 50 or 200 mg/kg of body weight dose for 28 consecutive days. In order to assess possible structural alterations, tissue sections were examined histologically and then subjected to quantification analysis using stereological methods. The tissue specimens were routinely processed and stained with Mallory trichrome method in order to clearly distinguish muscle cells from the connective tissue components. A toluidine blue staining method was additionally used for the demonstration of mast cells. Statistically significant increase in length density and numerical density of capillaries were found at both the investigated doses of atrazine compared with the control. The increase in surface density and volume density of capillaries found at lower dosage of atrazine was significant in comparison with the control. The extensive mast cell degranulation was noted on the histological examination at both doses of the applied chemical. No significant changes were demonstrated for the stereological parameters of cardiomyocytes. Based on the available published data and the present results, it can be concluded that atrazine promoted angiogenesis in the rat myocardium, which might be partially mediated by mast cells.
Carbendazim-induced testicular damage and oxidative stress in albino rats: ameliorative effect of licorice aqueous extract
Authors: Sakr Saber A , Shalaby Somaya Y
Published: August 2012

Carbendazim is a broad spectrum carbamate fungicide used in the control of various fungal pathogens. Licorice ( Glycyrrhiza glabra) is one of the widely used medicinal plants in oriental nations. The present work studied the effect of licorice aqueous extract on carbendazim-induced testicular toxicity in albino rats. Administration of carbendazim induced significant decrease in testis weight, diameter, and germinal epithelial height of the seminiferous tubules. Histological results revealed degeneration of seminiferous tubules, loss of spermatogenic cells, and apoptosis. Moreover, carbendazim caused elevation of testicular malondialdehyde (MDA), marker of lipid peroxidation, and reduced the activity of the antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). Coadministration of licorice extract with carbendazim improved the histomorphological and histopathological changes observed in animals treated with carbendazim. In addition, licorice treatment leads to a significant decrease in the level of MDA and increase in the activities of SOD and CAT. According to the present results, it is concluded that licorice aqueous extract can improve the testicular toxicity of carbendazim and this effect may be attributed to antioxidant properties of one or more of its constituents.
Genotoxic and antigenotoxic assessment of four newly synthesized dihydropyridine derivatives
Authors: Turhan Kadir , Ozturkcan S Arda , Turgut Zuhal , Karadayi Mehmet , Aslan Ali , Gulluce Medine
Published: August 2012

The current study aims to determine the genotoxic and antigenotoxic potential of four newly synthesized dihydropyridine derivatives using Escherichia coli WP2 and Ames/ Salmonella bacterial reversion assay systems. The bacterial mutant tester strains, E. coli WP2 uvrA with a point mutation and Salmonella typhimurium TA1537 with a frameshift mutation, were used to determine genotoxic potentials of the test compounds. To determine antigenotoxic potentials of the test compounds, the same strains were also used together with positive mutagens N-methyl- N′-nitro- N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) for E. coli WP2 uvrA and 9-aminoacridine (9-AA) for S. typhimurium TA1537. According to the results, neither of the test compounds showed significant genotoxic activity on both tester strains at the tested concentrations. However, except compound 4, all the test compounds showed significant antigenotoxic activity on MNNG- or/and 9-AA-induced mutations. The inhibition rates of mutagenesis ranged from 27.0% (compound 2: 2.5 mM/plate) to 65.0% (compound 2: 0.5 mM/plate) for MNNG and from 30.6% (compound 2: 2 mM/plate) to 58.5% (compound 1: 1 mM/plate) for 9-AA genotoxicity. According to these results, it is concluded that all the test compounds do not have a mutagenic potential on the bacterial strains at the tested concentrations, and some of them have antigenotoxic potentials against MNNG- and 9-AA-induced mutagenesis.