bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using siblings to identify shared and non‐shared HOME items
Authors: Chipuer Heather M. , Plomin Robert
Published: July 2011

Although shared environmental factors affect cognitive development during childhood, non‐shared environmental factors experienced differently by children in the same family appear to be the major source of environmental influence on cognitive development after childhood. However, specific shared and non‐shared aspects of environmental measures relevant to cognitive development have not been differentiated. Data from the Colorado Adoption Project (CAP) for 184 members of 92 sibling pairs, studied separately when each child was 12 and 24 months of age, were used to construct a non‐shared scale and a shared scale from items of the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME). Items that were not significantly correlated for siblings were selected as “non‐shared” items; the remaining items were selected as “shared” items. Comparisons of sibling correlations for the shared and non‐shared HOME scales for adoptive and non‐adoptive siblings indicate the shared scale is primarily a measure of shared environment and the nonshared scale primarily assesses non‐shared environment.
Infant categorization of left‐right spatial relations
Authors: Behl‐Chadha Gundeep , Eimas Peter D.
Published: July 2011

The ability of 3‐ to 4‐month‐old infants to categorize left‐right spatial relations was investigated in two experiments employing the paired‐preference procedure. In Expt 1, infants were familiarized with different pictures of horse‐zebra pairs that varied in size, orientation and location on the stimulus card, but maintained the same left‐right relation between the animals. They were then tested with two novel stimuli, each showing a new horse‐zebra pair in a new size and location, with the familiar left‐right relation between the animals maintained in one pair and reversed in the other. A visual preference for the latter was observed. Expt 2 demonstrated that infants were able to distinguish the familiarization exemplars both from one another and from the test‐phase stimuli with the familiar spatial relation between the animals. These data thus supported the view that infants in Expt 1 extracted and categorized the left‐right relations between the animals seen during familiarization. The ability of infants to represent left‐right spatial relations is discussed in terms of the development of spatial knowledge.
Explaining young children's difficulty on the false belief task: Representational deficits or context‐sensitive knowledge?
Authors: Dalke Deborah Elizabeth
Published: July 2011

This study compared two explanations for the poor performance of 3‐year‐olds on the false belief task: an inability to represent false beliefs and context‐sensitive problem solving schemas. Experiment 1 tested preschoolers' understanding of the appearance‐reality distinction and of false beliefs. Some of the results were: an age difference was found on the appearance‐reality assessment but not on the false belief assessment; 3‐year‐olds performed better on the false belief assessment than on the appearance‐reality assessment; and task content was found to affect performance on both assessments. In Expt 2, explicit reference to deception was found to facilitate performance on the false belief task. It was suggested that the representational‐deficit theories may not be able to account for these results. Performance on the false belief task was discussed in terms of the development and application of context‐sensitive problem‐solving schemas.
What people say and what they think: Children's judgements of false belief in relation to their recall of false messages
Authors: Riggs K. J. , Robinson E. J.
Published: July 2011

In three investigations, 3‐ and 4‐year olds recalled utterances made by a speaker with a false belief under three different conditions: Either they or another person gave the utterance and the children wrongly assumed the utterance was true when it was made (own belief‐self ignorant and other belief‐self ignorant conditions), or another person was the speaker and the child knew the utterance was false when it was made (other belief‐self knowledgeable condition). Recall of false utterances was equally good in both the ocher belief conditions, but poor in the own belief‐self ignorant condition. Despite recalling accurately what the other person had said, children made realist errors in judging what the speaker thought. It appears that children do not necessarily connect what people say with what they think, and contrary to Wimmer & Hartl's (1991) result, it is only for self that realist errors occur in recall of false utterances. The results suggest chat there may be self/other differences in children's reasoning about the mind.
Visual control of hand approach movements in new‐borns
Authors: Ennouri Khereddine , Bloch Henriette
Published: July 2011

Studies on the possible eye‐hand coordination of the new‐born to date have only examined forward extensions of the hand. Views are divided as to whether eye‐hand coordination exsits in neonates, even though Von Hofsten (1982) has provided strong evidence for its existence. The following experiment was conducted to investigate possible eye‐hand coordination. We observed the hand and eye movements of 10 new‐borns. A small ball was presented at 25° to the left or the right of the median line for 40 s, followed by 20 s during which the visual field was empty. The neonate was seated, and able to move freely. Movements were filmed continuously by three video‐cameras, two with frontal views and one with an overhead view. Hand and eye movements were coded frame by frame. The latency, timing and direction of hand and eye movements were compared. We found that contacts with the object were rare and that hand movements appeared slow, complex and erratic in direction. Fixations of the object were made up of successive short bouts. Directional adjustments of the hand towards the object only occurred under visual fixation. A pertinent correction in hand trajectory was found at the beginning of each eye fixation.
The relationship between belief‐desire reasoning and a projective measure of attachment security (SAT)
Authors: Fonagy Peter , Redfern Sheila , Charman Tony
Published: July 2011

Recent research into the development of a child's theory of mind has investigated individual differences in children's acquisition of the concept. Most of the research that has attempted to delineate this acquisition process has approached the question from a social‐cognitive developmental perspective, measuring differences such as family size, mother‐child interaction and pretend play. Until now there has been little attempt to test empirically the claims which have been made within the psychoanalytic developmental literature—that measures of affective development, such as attachment, are also likely to be related to the development of a theory of mind and emotional understanding. The main finding of the present study was that attachment security (as measured by the SAT) was a significant correlate of theory of mind competence (as measured by a belief‐desire reasoning task), even when the contribution of chronological age, verbal mental age and social maturity were controlled for, in preschoolers and young school‐aged children.
Detecting and modelling developmental transitions
Authors: Hartelman Pascal A. I. , van der Maas Han L. J. , Molenaar Peter C. M.
Published: July 2011

Catastrophe theory can be very useful in research concerning developmental transitions. It provides a number of canonical transition models as well as criteria which can be used for the detection of transitions in experimental research. In this contribution the relevance of using catastrophe theory in cognitive developmental research is discussed. In particular, emphasis is placed on the detection criteria and their operationalizations in conservation research, as well as to fitting techniques for canonical transition models with respect to their applicability and robustness., 19 October 1995, 8 August 1997
Understanding intention in normal development and in autism
Authors: Phillips Wendy , Baron‐Cohen Simon , Rutter Michael
Published: July 2011

This study aimed to establish whether or not young children and young people with autism can understand the mental state of intention. Participants were exposed to personal experience of unintended outcomes, to test if they could distinguish intended vs. unintended actions. Recognizing accidental outcomes was more difficult for normal 4‐year‐olds than 5‐year‐olds, and more difficult for young people with autism, compared with comparison groups. Such findings suggest that the theory of mind deficit observed in people with autism is not restricted to understanding epistemic states, but also extends to understanding intention. The results are also compatible with an action‐monitoring deficit. Future research needs to test these two accounts against each other., 15 April 1996, 9 October 1997
Rapid Concentration and Molecular Enrichment Approach for Sensitive Detection of Escherichia coli and Shigella Species in Potable Water Samples
Authors: Maheux Andrée F. , Bissonnette Luc , Boissinot Maurice , Bernier Jean-Luc T. , Huppé Vicky , Picard François J. , Bérubé Ève , Bergeron Michel G.
Published: July 2011

In this work, we used a rapid, simple, and efficient concentration-and-recovery procedure combined with a DNA enrichment method (dubbed CRENAME [
c
oncentration and
r
ecovery of microbial particles,
e
xtraction of
n
ucleic
a
cids, and
m
olecular
e
nrichment]), that we coupled to an
Escherichia coli
/
Shigella
-specific real-time PCR (rtPCR) assay targeting the
tuf
gene, to sensitively detect
E. coli
/
Shigella
in water. This integrated method was compared to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) culture-based Method 1604 on MI agar in terms of analytical specificity, ubiquity, detection limit, and rapidity. None of the 179 non-
E. coli
/
Shigella
strains tested was detected by both methods, with the exception of
Escherichia fergusonii
, which was detected by the CRENAME procedure combined with the
E. coli
/
Shigella
-specific rtPCR assay (CRENAME +
E. coli
rtPCR). DNA from all 90
E. coli
/
Shigella
strains tested was amplified by the CRENAME +
E. coli
rtPCR, whereas the MI agar method had limited ubiquity and detected only 65 (72.2%) of the 90 strains tested. In less than 5 h, the CRENAME +
E. coli
rtPCR method detected 1.8
E. coli
/
Shigella
CFU whereas the MI agar method detected 1.2 CFU/100 ml of water in 24 h (95% confidence). Consequently, the CRENAME method provides an easy and efficient approach to detect as little as one Gram-negative
E. coli
/
Shigella
cell present in a 100-ml potable water sample. Coupled with an
E. coli
/
Shigella
-specific rtPCR assay, the entire molecular procedure is comparable to U.S. EPA Method 1604 on MI agar in terms of analytical specificity and detection limit but provides significant advantages in terms of speed and ubiquity.
Fructo-Oligosaccharide Synthesis by Mutant Versions of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Invertase
Authors: Lafraya Álvaro , Sanz-Aparicio Julia , Polaina Julio , Marín-Navarro Julia
Published: July 2011

Efficient enzymatic synthesis of tailor-made prebiotic fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) used in functional food formulation is a relevant biotechnological objective. We have engineered theSaccharomyces cerevisiaeinvertase (Suc2) to improve its transferase activity and to identify the enzymatic determinants for product specificity. Amino acid replacement (W19Y, N21S, N24S) within a conserved motif (β-fructosidase) specifically increased the synthesis of 6-kestose up to 10-fold. Mutants with lower substrate (sucrose) affinity produced FOS with longer half-lives. A mutation (P205V) adjacent to another conserved motif (EC) caused a 6-fold increment in 6-kestose yield. Docking studies with a Suc2 modeled structure defined a putative acceptor substrate binding subsite constituted by Trp 291 and Asn 228. Mutagenesis studies confirmed the implication of Asn 228 in directing the orientation of the sucrose molecule for the specific synthesis of β(2,6) linkages.
Percutaneous plasma mediated radiofrequency ablation of spinal osteoid osteomas
Authors: Dasenbrock Hormuzdiyar H , Gandhi Dheeraj , Kathuria Sudhir
Published: July 2011

Plasma mediated radiofrequency ablation (pmRFA) may allow for the percutaneous treatment of spinal tumors with a decreased risk of thermal injury to neural structures compared with traditional (radiofrequency or interstitial laser) ablation. However, usage of pmRFA has not been previously reported for a primary bone tumor, including an osteoid osteoma. Three patients with a spinal osteoid osteoma underwent pmRFA. The procedure was performed under computed tomography guidance using the 11 gauge Coblation SpineWand (ArthroCare). One lesion (at T11) was directly abutting the spinal canal. With an average follow-up of 20.7 (range 16–24) months, the mean Visual Analog Scale score for back pain decreased from 8.67 to 0.67 and no patient experienced tumor recurrence. pmRFA of spinal osteoid osteomas is feasible, even when the tumor is abutting the spinal canal. Larger studies with a longer follow-up are needed to further delineate the safety and efficacy of this technique.
ULTIMATE BOUND ESTIMATION OF A CLASS OF HIGH DIMENSIONAL QUADRATIC AUTONOMOUS DYNAMICAL SYSTEMS
Authors: WANG PEI , LI DAMEI , WU XIAOQUN , LÜ JINHU , YU XINGHUO
Published: July 2011

This paper aims to propose a unified approach for the ultimate bound estimation of a class of High Dimensional Quadratic Autonomous Dynamical Systems (HDQADS). Using the proposed method and the optimization idea, a sufficient condition is then given for estimating the ultimate bounds of a class of HDQADS. To validate the above sufficient condition, this paper further investigates the ultimate bound estimation of a hyperchaotic system, a 6D and a 9D chaotic system, separately. Moreover, the ultimate bounds for a general Lorenz system, a low-order atmospheric circulation model, and a new 3D chaotic system are also discussed in detail. In particular, it should be pointed out that a unified and accurate ultimate bound estimation is attained for the generalized Lorenz system and it includes several well-known results as its special cases. Some numerical simulations are also given to verify and visualize the corresponding theoretical results.
NONTHERMAL PROCESSES IN BLACK HOLE-JET MAGNETOSPHERES — INVITED REVIEW
Authors: RIEGER FRANK M.
Published: July 2011

The environs of supermassive black holes are among the universe's most extreme phenomena. Understanding the physical processes occurring in the vicinity of black holes may provide the key to answer a number of fundamental astrophysical questions including the detectability of strong gravity effects, the formation and propagation of relativistic jets, the origin of the highest energy gamma-rays and cosmic rays, and the nature and evolution of the central engine in active galactic nuclei (AGN). As a step towards this direction, this paper reviews some of the progress achieved in the field based on observations in the very high energy domain. It particularly focuses on nonthermal particle acceleration and emission processes that may occur in the rotating magnetospheres originating from accreting, supermassive black hole systems. Topics covered include direct electric field acceleration in the black hole's magnetosphere, ultra-high energy cosmic ray production, Blandford–Znajek mechanism, centrifugal acceleration and magnetic reconnection, along with the relevant efficiency constraints imposed by interactions with matter, radiation and fields. By way of application, a detailed discussion of well-known sources (Sgr A*; Cen A; M87; NGC1399) is presented.
Electrochemistry, spectroelectrochemistry and catalytic activity of biscobalt bisporphyrin dyads towards dioxygen reduction
Authors: Chen Ping , Lau Hoyi , Habermeyer Benoit , Gros Claude P. , Barbe Jean-Michel , Kadish Karl M.
Published: July 2011

Three face-to-face biscobalt bisporphyrin dyads, including one incorporating a copper(II) ion inside the linker, were synthesized and characterized both spectroscopically and electrochemically in three non-aqueous solvents, dichloromethane, benzonitrile and pyridine. The electrocatalytic reduction of dioxygen with these derivatives on an electrode surface in 1.0 M HClO4 was also investigated and the results are compared to that obtained with "regular" Pacman biscobalt bisporphyrins under the same experimental conditions. Surprisingly, the tris-metal species ( Cu-bisCo ) catalyzes the reduction of O2 mainly via a 2e- transfer process, leading to H2O2 , while the bis-metal (bisCo) catalyst produces H2O via a four electron, four proton process.
Perioperative Intravascular Fluid Assessment and Monitoring: A Narrative Review of Established and Emerging Techniques
Authors: Singh Sumit , Kuschner Ware G. , Lighthall Geoffrey
Published: July 2011

Accurate assessments of intravascular fluid status are an essential part of perioperative care and necessary in the management of the hemodynamically unstable patient. Goal-directed fluid management can facilitate resuscitation of the hypovolemic patient, reduce the risk of fluid overload, reduce the risk of the injudicious use of vasopressors and inotropes, and improve clinical outcomes. In this paper, we discuss the strengths and limitations of a spectrum of noninvasive and invasive techniques for assessing and monitoring intravascular volume status and fluid responsiveness in the perioperative and critically ill patient.
HIV Treatment in the Criminal Justice System: Critical Knowledge and Intervention Gaps
Authors: Meyer Jaimie P. , Chen Nadine E. , Springer Sandra A.
Published: July 2011

The criminal justice system bears a disproportionate burden of the HIV epidemic. Continuity of care is critical for HAART-based prevention of HIV-related morbidity and mortality. This paper describes four major challenges to successful management of HIV in the criminal justice system: relapse to substance use, homelessness, mental illness, and loss of medical and social benefits. Each of these areas constitutes a competing priority upon release that demands immediate attention and diverts time, energy, and valuable resources away from engagement in care and adherence to HAART. Numerous gaps exist in scientific knowledge about these issues and potential solutions. In illuminating these knowledge deficits, we present a contemporary research agenda for the management of HIV in correctional systems. Future empirical research should focus on these critical issues in HIV-infected prisoners and releasees while interventional research should incorporate evidence-based solutions into the criminal justice setting.
Evolution of Hepatitis B Virus in a Chronic HBV-Infected Patient over 2 Years
Authors: Shen Tao , Yan Xin-Min , Zhang Jin-Ping , Wang Jin-Li , Zuo Rong-Xia , Li Li , Wang Lin-Pin
Published: July 2011

Mutations in full-length HBV isolates obtained from a chronic HBV-infected patient were evaluated at three time points: 1 day, 6 months, and 31 months. While 5 nucleotides variation, and an 18 bp deletion of preS1 have been kept in during at least the first two years, C339T mutation occurring in the hydrophilic region of HBsAg and T770C that caused polymerase V560A substitution were the new point mutations found existing in sequenced clones of the 3rd time point. Internal deletion of coding region obviously appeared in the 3rd time point. The splicers included two new 5′-splice donors and three new 3′-splice acceptors besides the reported donors and acceptors and may have produced presumptive HBV-spliced proteins or truncated preS proteins. ALT, HBeAg and viral DNA load varied during the follow-up years. These data demonstrated the diversity of genomes in HBV-infected patient during evolution. Combined with clinical data, the HBV variants discovered in this patient may contribute to viral persistence of infection or liver pathogenesis.
Novel Stability Criteria of Nonlinear Uncertain Systems with Time‐Varying Delay
Authors: Dong Yali , Mei Shengwei , Wang Xueli
Published: July 2011

The problem of robust exponential stabilization for dynamical nonlinear systems with uncertainties and time‐varying delay is considered in the paper. By constructing the proposed Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functional approach, continuous state feedback controllers are put forward, and the criteria which guarantee the exponential stabilization of the nonlinear systems with uncertainties and time‐varying delay are established in terms of solutions to the standard Riccati differential equations. Furthermore, based on the Lyapunov method and the linear matrix inequality approach, the sufficient conditions of exponential stability for a class of uncertain systems with time‐varying delays and nonlinear perturbations are derived. Finally, two numerical examples are given to demonstrate the validity of the results.
Multicenter Phase II Trial of Temozolomide in Mycosis Fungoides/Sézary Syndrome: Correlation with O6-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase and Mismatch Repair Proteins
Authors: Querfeld Christiane , Rosen Steven T. , Guitart Joan , Rademaker Alfred , Pezen David S. , Dolan M. Eileen , Baron Joseph , Yarosh Daniel B. , Foss Francine , Kuzel Timothy M.
Published: July 2011

Purpose: Temozolomide (TMZ) is an oral derivative of dacarbazine that induces DNA damage by methylating nucleotide bases. Resistance has been associated with high levels of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT). Malignant CD4+ T cells of patients with mycosis fungoides/Sézary syndrome (MF/SS) have been shown to have low levels of MGMT and may be particularly sensitive to this methylator.

Experimental Design: The efficacy of TMZ was evaluated in a multicenter phase II trial of patients with advanced stages of MF/SS. TMZ was given orally at daily doses of 200 mg/m2 for 5 days every 28 days. MGMT and mismatch repair protein expression was assessed by quantitative immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry in skin and blood samples.

Results: Twenty-six patients (stages IB–IVB) were evaluable for response. Patients had a median of four prior treatments. Median follow-up time was 19 months (range, 1–95). The overall response was 27% with two complete remissions (8%) and five partial remissions (19%). Median disease-free survival was 4 months. The median overall survival was 24 months. The most frequent toxicities included constitutional symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms, and hematologic toxicities. Treatment was discontinued in three patients following grade 3 thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, and skin reaction. The relationship between pretreatment MGMT and mutL homolog 1 (MLH1)/mutS homolog 2 (MSH2) mismatch repair protein expression levels in skin biopsies of cutaneous lesions and clinical response to TMZ were evaluated.

Conclusions: Pretreatment levels of MGMT and MLH1/MSH2 protein levels are not predictive of response to TMZ in MF/SS, suggesting that other resistance mechanisms are important. Clin Cancer Res; 17(17); 5748–54. ©2011 AACR.
Percutaneous Alcohol Sclerotherapy of a Hepatic Hydatid Cyst after Balloon Occlusion of a Large Biliary Communication
Authors: Varro Jozsef , Mathew Laji , Athyal Reji Philip , Khafagy Abdulrahman H.
Published: July 2011

Objective: To present a case of hepatic hydatid cyst with a biliary communication that was not suitable for surgery and hence necessitated sclerotherapy with absolute alcohol after occluding the biliary communication with a balloon catheter. Clinical Presentation and Intervention: A 50-year-old Asian man presented to the surgical emergency department with a 1-year history of repeated attacks of obstructive jaundice and right hypochondrial pain. Ultrasound and contrast computed tomography revealed a cyst, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and cystography revealed a biliocystic communication. An indirect hemagglutination test for echinococcosis showed the presence of antibodies to Echinococcus species at a titer of 8 establishing the diagnosis of hydatid cyst. Although surgery is the accepted modality of treatment in these cases, the patient was deemed unfit for surgery due to his underlying cardiac problem. While percutaneous treatment with absolute alcohol is contraindicated in his case, it was successfully attempted after balloon occlusion of the biliocystic communication. Conclusion: This case showed that in this patient with hepatic hydatid disease and biliocystic communication, who was not fit for surgery, percutaneous sclerotherapy with absolute alcohol after balloon occlusion was successfully performed by an interventional radiologist.
Cerebral Protection During Surgery for Acute Aortic Dissection Type A
Authors: Krüger Tobias , Weigang Ernst , Hoffmann Isabell , Blettner Maria , Aebert Hermann
Published: July 2011

Background—

Cerebral protection during surgery for acute aortic dissection type A relies on hypothermic circulatory arrest, either alone or in conjunction with cerebral perfusion.

Methods and Results—

The perioperative and intraoperative conditions of 1558 patients submitted from 44 cardiac surgery centers in German-speaking countries were analyzed. Among patients with acute aortic dissection type A, 355 (22.8%) underwent surgery with hypothermic circulatory arrest alone. In 1115 patients (71.6%), cerebral perfusion was used: Unilateral antegrade cerebral perfusion (ACP) in 628 (40.3%), bilateral ACP in 453 (29.1%), and retrograde perfusion in 34 patients (2.2%). For 88 patients with acute aortic dissection type A (5.6%), no circulatory arrest and arch intervention were reported (cardiopulmonary bypass–only group). End points of the study were 30-day mortality (15.9% overall) and mortality-corrected permanent neurological dysfunction (10.5% overall). The respective values for the cardiopulmonary bypass–only group were 11.4% and 9.1%. Hypothermic circulatory arrest alone resulted in a 30-day mortality rate of 19.4% and a mortality-corrected permanent neurological dysfunction rate of 11.5%, whereas the rates were 13.9% and 10.0%, respectively, for unilateral ACP and 15.9% and 11.0%, respectively, for bilateral ACP. In contrast with the ACP groups, there was a profound increase in mortality when systemic circulatory arrest times exceeded 30 minutes in the hypothermic circulatory arrest group (
P
<0.001). Mortality-corrected permanent neurological dysfunction correlated significantly with perfusion pressure in the ACP groups.

Conclusions—

This study reflects current surgical practice for acute aortic dissection type A in Central Europe. For arrest times less than 30 minutes, hypothermic circulatory arrest and ACP lead to similar results. For longer arrest periods, ACP with sufficient pressure is advisable. Outcomes with unilateral and bilateral ACP were equivalent.
Downregulation of Kv7.4 Channel Activity in Primary and Secondary Hypertension
Authors: Jepps Thomas A. , Chadha Preet S. , Davis Alison J. , Harhun Maksym I. , Cockerill Gillian W. , Olesen Søren P. , Hansen Rie S. , Greenwood Iain A.
Published: July 2011

Background—

Voltage-gated potassium (K
+
) channels encoded by KCNQ genes (Kv7 channels) have been identified in various rodent and human blood vessels as key regulators of vascular tone; however, nothing is known about the functional impact of these channels in vascular disease. We ascertained the effect of 3 structurally different activators of Kv7.2 through Kv7.5 channels (BMS-204352, S-1, and retigabine) on blood vessels from normotensive and hypertensive animals.

Methods and Results—

Precontracted thoracic aorta and mesenteric artery segments from normotensive rats were relaxed by all 3 Kv7 activators, with potencies of BMS-204352=S-1>retigabine. We also tested these agents in the coronary circulation using the Langendorff heart preparation. BMS-204352 and S-1 dose dependently increased coronary perfusion at concentrations between 0.1 and 10 μmol/L, whereas retigabine was effective at 1 to 10 μmol/L. In addition, S-1 increased K
+
currents in isolated mesenteric artery myocytes. The ability of these agents to relax precontracted vessels, increase coronary flow, or augment K
+
currents was impaired considerably in tissues isolated from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Of the 5 KCNQ genes, only the expression of KCNQ4 was reduced (≈3.7 fold) in SHRs aorta. Kv7.4 protein levels were ≈50% lower in aortas and mesenteric arteries from spontaneously hypertensive rats compared with normotensive vessels. A similar attenuated response to S-1 and decreased Kv7.4 were observed in mesenteric arteries from mice made hypertensive by angiotensin II infusion compared with normotensive controls.

Conclusions—

In 2 different rat and mouse models of hypertension, the functional impact of Kv7 channels was dramatically downregulated.
Effect of infrared cure parameters on the mechanical properties of polymer composite laminates
Authors: Kumar P. Kiran , Raghavendra N. V. , Sridhara B. K.
Published: July 2011

In this study, an attempt has been made to use infrared radiation curing as an alternative to conventional thermal curing for glass fiber-reinforced epoxy amine matrix composites in order to reduce the curing time without compromising on the properties of composite. Central composite design experimental technique is used to study the influence of infrared cure parameters. Distance from infrared source to composite laminate ( A), curing schedule ( B), and volume ( C) of the composite were the factors considered, tensile and flexural strength were the responses measured to study the effect of process parameters. ANOVA, regression analysis was used to build the models. Contour and overlaid graphs were drawn to understand the relationship between the factors. It is shown that it is possible to achieve tensile strength and flexural strength of around 400 MPa with the IR curing schedule of 70 min. IR curing of polymer composites can be a viable alternative to thermal curing.
The Dynamic Nature of Being Jewish
Authors: Rosner Jennifer L. , Gardner Wendi L. , Hong Ying-yi
Published: July 2011

To investigate acculturation as it is influenced by Jewish identity, Russian Jewish immigrants born in the Former Soviet Union and American Jews of Eastern European ancestry were surveyed regarding their three identities: American, Jewish, and Eastern European ethnic/Russian. Study 1 examined perceived differences between the three cultures on a series of characteristics. Study 2 explored perceptions of bicultural identity distance between the American and Eastern European ethnic/Russian identities as a function of Jewish identity centrality. Findings revealed that for Russian Jews, Jewish identity centrality is related to less perceived distance between the American and Russian identities, suggesting that Jewish identity may bridge participants’ American and Russian identities. In contrast, for American Jews, Jewish identity centrality is not related to less perceived distance between the American and Eastern European ethnic identities. The authors discuss implications for the long-term acculturation of Russian Jews in the United States and the function of religion in acculturation.
Color, color fastness and abrasion properties of 50/50 bamboo/cotton blended plain knitted fabrics in three different stitch lengths
Authors: Gun Ahu Demiroz , Tiber Bahar
Published: July 2011

In this study, the color and color fastness properties of the dyed plain knitted fabrics made from 50/50 bamboo/cotton blended yarns with three different stitch lengths are investigated in comparison with those of the similar fabrics made from 50/50 conventional viscose/cotton and 50/50 modal/cotton blended yarns. Abrasion behaviors of the fabrics are assessed by measuring the weight loss and the color values after four different increasing abrasion cycles. The bamboo/cotton fabrics reveal the highest K/S and C* values, but the lowest L* values before abrasion. The lowest weight loss values are obtained for the bamboo/cotton fabrics. Regarding the color properties after abrasion, the bamboo/cotton fabrics show the highest K/S and C* values, but the lowest L* values as in the case of those obtained before abrasion. The highest color difference values (ΔE*) occurred between the beginning and the end of the abrasion test (20000 cycles) and are observed for the bamboo/cotton fabrics. The rubbing, wash and perspiration fastness results of the bamboo/cotton fabrics are found to be worse than those of the other fabrics having viscose/cotton and modal/cotton yarns. However, the highest light fastness results are obtained for the bamboo/cotton fabrics. From the color values after abrasion and the fastness results, it can be concluded that the bamboo/cotton fabrics having the better dyeing properties lose their color more easily than the other fabrics having the viscose/cotton and modal/cotton yarns. The results also indicate that stitch length affects the color values before abrasion and the weight loss and color values after abrasion.
Development and Pilot Investigation of Behavioral Activation for Negative Symptoms
Authors: Mairs Hilary , Lovell Karina , Campbell Malcolm , Keeley Philip
Published: July 2011

Negative symptoms cause functional impairment and impede recovery from psychosis, not least, because of limited developments in empirically validated treatments. This article details a pilot evaluation of a behavioral activation (BA) treatment with eight people presenting with psychosis and marked negative symptoms. The rationale for this development was that BA is effective in treating depression, a condition that shares overlapping features with negative symptoms. Results provide preliminary support for feasibility and effectiveness of BA for negative symptoms in terms of treatment adherence, retention, and initial outcomes. However, additional advantages may accrue from revisions to the BA treatment.
Morphologic Aspects of Rodent Cardiotoxicity in a Retrospective Evaluation of National Toxicology Program Studies
Authors: Jokinen Micheal P. , Lieuallen Warren G. , Boyle Michael C. , Johnson Crystal L. , Malarkey David E. , Nyska Abraham
Published: July 2011

The heart is increasingly recognized as a target for toxicity. As studies in laboratory rodents are commonly used to investigate the potential toxicity of various agents, the identification and characterization of lesions of cardiotoxicity is of utmost importance. Although morphologic criteria have been established for degenerative myocardial lesions in rats and mice, differentiation of spontaneously occurring lesions from toxin-induced or toxin-related lesions remains difficult. A retrospective light microscopic evaluation was performed on the hearts of F344 rats and B6C3F1 mice from National Toxicology Program (NTP) studies of six chemicals identified in the NTP database in which treatment-induced myocardial toxicity was present. Two previously defined myocardial lesions were observed: “cardiomyopathy” that occurred spontaneously or as a treatment-related effect and “myocardial degeneration” that occurred as a treatment-related effect. Both lesions consisted of the same basic elements, beginning with myofiber degeneration and necrosis, with varying amounts of inflammation, interstitial cell proliferation, and eventual fibrosis. This observation is indicative of the heart’s limited repertoire of responses to myocardial injury, regardless of the nature of the inciting agent. A prominent differentiating factor between spontaneous and treatment-induced lesions was distribution and lesion onset. Once the respective lesions had undergone fibrosis, however, they generally appeared morphologically indistinguishable.
Feeding Outcomes in Infants after Supraglottoplasty
Authors: Eustaquio Marcia , Lee Erika Nevin , Digoy G. Paul
Published: July 2011

Objective

Review the impact of bilateral supraglottoplasty on feeding and compare the risk of postoperative feeding difficulties between infants with and without additional comorbidities.

Study Design

Case series with chart review.

Setting

Children’s hospital.

Subjects and Methods

The medical records of all patients between birth and 12 months of age treated for laryngomalacia with bilateral supraglottoplasty by a single surgeon (GPD) between December 2005 and September 2009 and followed for a minimum of 1 month were reviewed. Infants with significant comorbidities were evaluated separately. Nutritional intake before and after surgery, as well as speech and language pathology reports, was reviewed to qualify any feeding difficulties. Age at the time of surgery, additional surgical interventions, medical comorbidities, and length of follow‐up were also noted during chart review.

Results

Of 81 infants who underwent bilateral supraglottoplasty, 75 were eligible for this review. In the cohort of infants without comorbidities, 46 of 48 (96%) had no change or an improvement in their oral intake after surgery. Of the 2 patients with initial worsening of feeding, all resumed oral intake within 2 months. In the group of patients with additional medical comorbidities, 22% required further interventions such as nasogastric tube, dietary modification, or gastrostomy tube placement.

Conclusions

Supraglottoplasty in infants has a low incidence of persistent postoperative dysphagia. Infants with additional comorbidities are at a higher risk of feeding difficulty than otherwise healthy infants.
Modelling the performance of a continuously variable supercharger drive system
Authors: Rose A T J M , Akehurst S , Brace C J
Published: July 2011

This paper details a simulation-based investigation into a novel forced-induction boosting system with a centrifugal-type supercharger driven from the engine crankshaft via a continuously variable transmission (CVT). This system acts as a pre-boost to a traditional fixed-geometry turbocharger and has been identified as a possible solution to improving the low-speed engine torque and transient response of future downsized and existing turbocharged engines. The concept was modelled around an existing baseline high-speed direct-injection diesel engine model featuring a variable-geometry turbocharger.

Conclusions are drawn comparing the potential of the proposed system with the baseline engine in terms of the brake specific fuel consumption, and both the steady state and the transient performance. A design-of-experiments approach is applied to investigate the effects of the supercharger compressor size, the turbocharger compressor and turbine size, the CVT ratio, and the engine compression ratio on the system performance. Optimization techniques are then applied to identify the best settings for these parameters in the proposed system. Transient simulation was undertaken in a MATLAB/Simulink Ricardo WAVE co-simulation environment to develop the required control strategies for the CVT supercharger.

The proposed system demonstrates a significant improvement in the low-speed engine torque and transient response of the boosting system during tip-in pedal events, which it is proposed will result in a significant improvement in the vehicle performance and driveability.
Moving From Outsider to Insider
Authors: Beegle Amy
Published: July 2011

In addition to examining musical practices of students’ cultural heritages, general music educators can teach the value and meaning of music in their own lives by finding ways to integrate a particular “foreign” music into their own experience. Moving from a cultural outsider to more of an insider is illustrated through tales of the journey of a North American music educator learning, performing, and teaching Afro-Peruvian music and dance in the United States and Peru.
Level of Consciousness in Dying Patients. The Role of Palliative Sedation: A Longitudinal Prospective Study
Authors: Claessens Patricia , Menten Johan , Schotsmans Paul , Broeckaert Bert
Published: July 2011

Background: Patients suffering from a terminal illness often are confronted with severe symptoms during the last phase of their lives. Palliative sedation, although one of the options of last resort, remains a much debated and controversial issue and is often referred to as a form of slow euthanasia or euthanasia in disguise. Methods: A prospective longitudinal and descriptive design was used. Each patient admitted in one of the 8 participating units was included if they met the inclusion criteria and gave written informed consent. Results: 266 patients were included. The incidence of palliative sedation was 7;5%. For the group of sedated patients results show that 90% entered the palliative care unit being fully conscious. Two patients were comatose upon arrival. 90% of the patients remained fully conscious up to the day palliative sedation was started. When looking at the effect of palliative sedation on the level of consciousness the analysis strongly suggest that the palliative sedation - as expected- has an impact on the GCS score. Irrespective of the dichotomization of the score the probability of having a lower GCS increases substantially once sedation is initiated. Additionally, results show that once palliative sedation is administered, the level of consciousness gradually goes down up until the day of death. Conclusion: Palliative sedation is nor slow euthanasia nor an ambivalent practice. It is an intentional medical treatment which is administered in a proportional way when refractory suffering occurs. It occurs in extraordinary situations and at the very end of the dying process.
Effect of fixed-dose losartan/hydrochlorothiazide on brain natriuretic peptide in patients with hypertension
Authors: Shiga Yuhei , Miura Shin-ichiro , Mitsutake Ryoko , Uehara Yoshinari , Inoue Asao , Saku Keijiro
Published: July 2011

Objective: Losartan/hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) (Preminent®) is a fixed-dose combination of angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) and the thiazide diuretic HCTZ that has consistently been shown to be more effective than either losartan or HCTZ. Little is known about the relationship between losartan/HCTZ and blood levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP).

Methods and results: In this study, 44 patients with hypertension who were being treated with ARB were enrolled. The ARB was changed to losartan/HCTZ because of uncontrolled hypertension. Blood pressure (BP), pulse rate (PR), plasma levels of BNP and other biochemical parameters were analyzed at baseline and 6 and 12 months after the change from ARB. Of the total 44 patients, 33 (75%) achieved the target BP at 12 months. While there was no significant change in PR, systolic and diastolic BP were significantly reduced (−23 ± 3 mmHg and −10 ± 2 mmHg, respectively) during this period. Although there were no significant changes in biochemical parameters, plasma levels of BNP were significantly decreased, especially in patients who had higher levels of BNP at baseline, during this period.

Conclusion: Losartan/HCTZ therapy significantly reduced not only BP but also plasma levels of BNP in patients with hypertension. These findings suggest that losartan/HCTZ might have cardioprotective effects in patients with higher levels of BNP.
A simple visual task to assess flicker effects on visual performance
Authors: Jaén EM , Colombo EM , Kirschbaum CF
Published: July 2011

Temporal modulation of lighting at frequencies higher than the critical fusion frequency can affect human efficiency in diverse ways that are not understood. A simple visual search task was used to assess visual performance under lighting with low (3%) and high (32%) temporal modulation and compared with the results of a conventional discrimination task in an identical situation. Even when side-by-side subjective appraisal corroborates that there are no visually perceptible differences between the two forms of lighting, both tasks show a reduction in visual performance when temporal modulation increases. Significantly larger relative differences between the two levels of modulation and better discrimination between individuals were obtained with the visual search task, demonstrating that the search task could be more useful for identifying individuals sensitive to flicker. The reasons why the visual search task might be more sensitive to flicker than the discrimination task are discussed.
Equipoise should be amended, not abandoned
Authors: van der Graaf Rieke , van Delden Johannes JM
Published: July 2011

Background Benjamin Freedman has argued in 1987 that before a controlled trial is started, there should be ‘genuine uncertainty in the expert medical community about the preferred treatment’. Freedman’s definition of the concept is widespread in clinical research, but has been controversial since its start. Over the past decade, the equipoise controversy has become increasingly complex.

Purpose This article aims: (1) to identify and clarify the main points of contention in the equipoise controversy, and (2) to reconcile the opposing views by pointing at areas of overlap between proponents and opponents in the equipoise debate.

Methods We analyze the positions of the leading authors in the equipoise debate in the past decade.

Results There is substantial overlap between the opponents and proponents of equipoise. Both should be able to accept the following answers to points of contention in the debate: (1) the therapeutic obligation can remain the basis for equipoise as long as it is conceived as an obligation to provide participants with competent care, (2) equipoise is grounded in a competent care and an epistemological dilemma, (3) equipoise does not as a rule prohibit placebo-controlled trials when proven effective treatment exists, (4) patient equipoise and individual physician equipoise are irrelevant, and (5) having to stop a trial is not always equivalent to disturbing equipoise. Clarification of these points of contention leads to a sharpened definition of equipoise: ‘a state of genuine agnosticism or conflict in the expert medical community about the net preferred medically established procedure for the condition under study’. This definition asks of physician-researchers and members of IRBs to meet two conditions: (1) to genuinely evaluate to what extent a proposed randomized clinical trial solves a state of agnosticism or a knowledge conflict in the expert medical community and (2) to respect the standard of competent care, meaning that they consider whether the regular clinical standard from an all-things considered perspective is also the preferred standard in the research context.

Equipoise is a specification of two general ethical principles for clinical research: scientific validity and a favorable risk benefit ratio. As a specification equipoise adds substance to these principles since they do not explicitly ask for the two conditions. Equipoise is a prima facie obligation rather than a morally authoritative principle for determining the acceptability of clinical trials. It needs to be balanced against other norms for clinical research. Violation of equipoise is therefore not always unethical.

Limitations This study is limited to the context of randomized clinical trials.

Conclusions There is no decisive reason to give up on the equipoise requirement.
Using the RUG—III classification system for understanding the resource intensity of persons with intellectual disability residing in nursing homes
Authors: Martin Lynn , Fries Brant E. , Hirdes John P. , James Mary
Published: July 2011

Since 1991, the Minimum Data Set 2.0 (MDS 2.0) has been the mandated assessment in US nursing homes. The Resource Utilization Groups III (RUG—III) case-mix system provides person-specific means of allocating resources based on the variable costs of caring for persons with different needs. Retrospective analyses of data collected on a sample of 9707 nursing home residents (2.4% had an intellectual disability) were used to examine the fit of the RUG—III case-mix system for determining the cost of supporting persons with intellectual disability (intellectual disability). The RUG—III system explained 33.3% of the variance in age-weighted nursing time among persons with intellectual disability compared to 29.6% among other residents, making it a good fit among persons with intellectual disability in nursing homes. The RUG—III may also serve as the basis for the development of a classification system that describes the resource intensity of persons with intellectual disability in other settings that provide similar types of support.