bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of B Vitamins in Lowering Homocysteine in Older Men
Authors: Flicker Leon , Vasikaran Samuel D. , Thomas Jenny , Acres John M. , Norman Paul , Jamrozik Konrad , J. Hankey Graeme , Almeida Osvaldo P.
Published: December 2005

Background and Purpose—

A higher plasma concentration of total homocysteine (tHcy) is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular events. Previous studies, largely in younger individuals, have shown that B vitamins lowered tHcy by substantial amounts and that this effect is greater in people with higher tHcy and lower folate levels.

Methods—

We undertook a 2-year, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial in 299 men aged ≥75 years, comparing treatment with a daily tablet containing 2 mg of folate, 25 mg of B
6
, and 400 μg of B
12
or placebo. The study groups were balanced regarding age (mean±SD, 78.9±2.8 years), B vitamins, and tHcy at baseline.

Results—

Among the 13% with B
12
deficiency, the difference in mean changes in treatment and control groups for tHcy was 6.74 μmol/L (95% CI, 3.94 to 9.55 μmol/L) compared with 2.88 μmol/L (95% CI, 0.07 to 5.69 μmol/L) for all others. Among the 20% with hyperhomocysteinaemia, the difference between mean changes in treatment and control groups for men with high plasma tHcy compared with the rest of the group was 2.8 μmol/L (95% CI, 0.6 to 4.9 μmol/L). Baseline vitamin B
12
, serum folate, and tHcy were significantly associated with changes in plasma tHcy at follow-up (
r
=0.252,
r
=0.522, and
r
=−0.903, respectively;
P
=0.003, <0.001, and <0.001, respectively) in the vitamin group.

Conclusions—

The tHcy-lowering effect of B vitamins was maximal in those who had low B
12
or high tHcy levels. Community-dwelling older men, who are likely to be deficient in B
12
or have hyperhomocysteinemia, may be most likely to benefit from treatment with B vitamins.
Prognostic Value of Cerebral Perfusion-Computed Tomography in the Acute Stage After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage for the Development of Delayed Cerebral Ischemia
Authors: van der Schaaf Irene , Wermer Marieke J. , van der Graaf Yolanda , Velthuis Birgitta K. , van de Kraats Clemens I.B , Rinkel Gabriel J.E.
Published: December 2005

Background and Purpose—

Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) is an important cause of death and disability after subarachnoid hemorrhage. We studied the additional prognostic value of brain perfusion to 3 established predictors (age, clinical condition on admission, and amount of subarachnoid blood) for the development of DCI.

Methods—

We included 69 patients scanned with perfusion-
-
computed tomography within 72 hours after subarachnoid hemorrhage. For each patient, we determined cerebral blood flow (CBF) ratios of prespecified opposite regions of interest and the 3 established predictors. We calculated adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for the CBF ratio and the 3 established predictors by means of multivariate analysis (Cox regression). The additional prognostic value of CBF ratios was assessed by comparing the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 2 models: 1 with and 1 without addition of the CBF ratio to the 3 established predictors.

Results—

The CBF ratio was an independent predictor for the development of DCI (HR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.46 to 0.86) as was clinical condition (HR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.01 to 2.13). By adding the CBF ratio to the model with the 3 established predictors, the AUC of the receiver operating characteristic curve increased from 0.76 (95% CI, 0.65 to 0.89) to 0.81 (95% CI, 0.71 to 0.91). This trend toward an increased AUC suggests an improved predictive value.

Conclusions—

The CBF ratio is an independent predictor for the development of DCI and can contribute to a better identification of patients at high risk for DCI.
CCM2 Expression Parallels That of CCM1
Authors: Seker Askin , Pricola Katie L. , Guclu Bulent , Ozturk Ali K. , Louvi Angeliki , Gunel Murat
Published: December 2005

Background and Purpose—

Mutations in CCM2 (MGC4607 or malcavernin) cause familial cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM), an autosomal dominant neurovascular disease. Both the function of this molecule and the pathogenesis of the disease remain elusive.

Methods—

We analyzed the mRNA expression of Ccm1 and Ccm2 in the embryonic and postnatal mouse brain by in situ hybridization. Subsequently, we generated CCM2-specific polyclonal antibodies and tested their specificity using transient transfection experiments in various cell lines. We then investigated CCM2 protein expression in cerebral and extracerebral tissues by Western blot analysis as well as immunohistochemistry and compared these results with CCM1 (KRIT1) protein expression.

Results—

In situ analysis shows similar temporal and spatial expression patterns for Ccm1 and Ccm2, although Ccm1 expression appears more widespread. Immunohistochemical analysis shows that CCM2 is expressed in various human organs, most noticeably in the arterial vascular endothelium. As is the case with CCM1, CCM2 is not expressed in other vascular wall elements such as smooth muscle cells or the venous circulation. Within cerebral tissue, it is also expressed in pyramidal neurons, astrocytes, and their foot processes. In extracerebral tissues, CCM2 is present in various epithelial cells necessary for blood-organ barrier formation.

Conclusions—

CCM1 and CCM2 have similar expression patterns during development and postnatally thereafter. Given the fact that the disease phenotypes caused by mutations in either gene are clinically and pathologically indistinguishable, the significant overlap in expression pattern supports the hypothesis that both molecules are involved in the same pathway important for central nervous system vascular development.
Xenon Provides Short-Term Neuroprotection in Neonatal Rats When Administered After Hypoxia-Ischemia
Authors: Dingley John , Tooley James , Porter Helen , Thoresen Marianne
Published: December 2005

Background and Purpose—

Brain injury after hypoxic-ischemic insults evolves via an apoptotic/necrotic cascade. Glutamate over release and
N-
methyl-
d
-aspartate (NMDA) receptor over activation (excitotoxicity) are believed to trigger this process. Xenon is a nontoxic anesthetic gas that reduces neurotransmitter release and functionally antagonizes NMDA receptors. Administering xenon to hypoxic-ischemic newborns might be clinically effective if the neurotoxic processes continue evolving after delivery. We sought to determine whether xenon administration after the initial hypoxic-ischemic insult was neuroprotective.

Methods—

Fifty 7-day-old rats received a 90-minute hypoxic insult after unilateral carotid ligation. They were then randomized to breathe 1 of 2 gas mixtures for 3 hours: 50% Xe/30% O
2
/20% N
2
or 30% O
2
/70% N
2
.

Results—

One week after hypoxic-ischemic survival, significant global protection was seen in the xenon group (80% less injury); cortex/white matter (88% versus 25%), hippocampus (62% versus 0%), basal ganglia (81% versus 25%), and thalamus (50% versus 0%; percentage of global damage score in nonxenon versus xenon groups, respectively).

Conclusions—

Three hours of xenon administration commenced after hypoxia-ischemia in neonatal rats provides short-term neuroprotection. This finding suggests that treatment with xenon after perinatal asphyxia would also be neuroprotective. Because xenon does not cause other neurotoxic effects and has demonstrated minimal side effects in extensive anesthesia studies, it would make an ideal candidate for the treatment after human perinatal hypoxia-ischemia.
Is There Any Benefit From Staged Carotid and Coronary Revascularization Using Carotid Stents?
Authors: Randall Marc S. , McKevitt Fiona M. , Cleveland Trevor J. , Gaines Peter A. , Venables Graham S.
Published: December 2005

Background and Purpose—

To assess the benefits of carotid artery stenting before coronary artery bypass surgery to reduce the risk of stroke occurring during the cardiac procedure.

Methods—

A prospective cohort study was performed in patients undergoing carotid artery stenting before coronary artery bypass surgery, or combined bypass and valve replacement procedures, to assess the procedures effectiveness in stroke prevention. Outcome measures including 30-day post stenting and cardiac surgery neurological complication and all-cause mortality rates were assessed.

Results—

A total of 52 patients were included. Two patients underwent aortic valve replacements at the same time as coronary revascularization. No neurological complications occurred because of the stenting procedure. One cardiac death not related to coronary artery bypass surgery occurred in the 30-day follow-up period for the stent procedure. An additional 6 (11.5%) outcome events (3 strokes and 3 deaths) occurred in the 30-day follow-up period after the cardiac procedure. Three patients died of cardiac causes while awaiting their cardiac bypass procedure.

Conclusions—

Our results are comparable to those in patients that undergo staged or combined carotid endarterectomy before cardiac surgery. Our small cohort study adds to the limited world literature on the subject but is not sufficiently powered to recommend alterations in practice.
Ineffectiveness of Prism Adaptation on Spatial Neglect Signs
Authors: Rousseaux Marc , Bernati Thérèse , Saj Arnaud , Kozlowski Odile
Published: December 2005

Background and Purpose—

To evaluate the effect of prism adaptation (PA) on spatial neglect signs.

Methods—

Ten patients (hemianopia in 6) and 8 control subjects were included. Tasks were reading single words, nonwords, and a text, bell cancellation, line bisection, and scene drawing, before and after adaptation, with either deviating or neutral prisms.

Results—

Errors were more frequent in patients but without any specific effect of PA. We found partial improvement at the late sessions, independent of prisms.

Conclusions—

We did not confirm the efficacy of PA on spatial neglect.
Quantitative Assessment of Cerebral Hemodynamics Using Perfusion-Weighted MRI in Patients With Major Cerebral Artery Occlusive Disease
Authors: Endo Hidehiko , Inoue Takashi , Ogasawara Kuniaki , Fukuda Takeshi , Kanbara Yoshiyuki , Ogawa Akira
Published: December 2005

Background and Purpose—

Cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) to acetazolamide is a key parameter in determining the severity of hemodynamic impairment in patients with major cerebral artery occlusive disease. Perfusion-weighted MRI (PW MRI) can measure the cerebral blood volume (CBV) as an indicator of hemodynamic impairment. CBV measured by PW MRI was compared with CVR measured by positron emission tomography (PET).

Methods—

Twelve normal subjects and 17 patients with major cerebral artery occlusive disease underwent PW MRI and PET. The images were coregistered with 3-dimensional spoiled gradient-recalled acquisition images. Quantitative PW MRI-CBV maps were generated using the indicator dilution method with arterial input function. One large cortical region of interest for each unilateral middle cerebral artery territory was determined on each image. PET-CVR was calculated by measuring cerebral blood flow before and after acetazolamide challenge.

Results—

A significant negative correlation was observed between PW MRI-CBV and PET-CVR (
r
=−0.713;
P
<0.0001). PW MRI-CBV higher than the mean +2 SD obtained in normal subjects (15.2 mL/100 g) was defined as elevated and PET-CVR lower than the mean −2 SD obtained in normal subjects (15.1%) was defined as reduced. Assuming the PET-CVR as the true determinant of hemodynamic impairment, PW MRI-CBV provided 80.0% sensitivity and 91.7% specificity, with 80.0% positive predictive value for detecting patients with reduced CVR.

Conclusions—

The PW MRI-CBV method can simply and accurately identify patients with hemodynamic impairment without exposure to ionizing radiation.
Stroke and Encephalopathy After Cardiac Surgery
Authors: McKhann Guy M. , Grega Maura A. , Borowicz Louis M. , Baumgartner William A. , Selnes Ola A.
Published: December 2005

Background and Purpose—

As a result of advances in surgical, anesthetic, and medical management, cardiac surgery can now be performed on older, sicker patients, some of whom have had prior cardiac interventions. As surgical mortality has declined in recent years, attention has focused on the complications of stroke and encephalopathy after cardiac surgery.

Summary of Review—

Patients with preexisting cerebrovascular disease are at increased risk for these untoward neurological outcomes, which are associated with longer lengths of hospital stay, higher costs, and greater mortality. The mechanisms underlying these neurological events may include microemboli and hypoperfusion during surgery, and postoperative atrial fibrillation. Predictive models, based on information available before surgery, allow identification of these “high risk” patients.

Conclusion—

Establishing the degree of functionally significant vascular disease of the brain before surgery should be an essential part of the preoperative evaluation, particularly when modifications in surgical technique or novel neuroprotective agents are being evaluated.
Role of NAD(P)H Oxidase in Alcohol-Induced Impairment of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase–Dependent Dilation of Cerebral Arterioles
Authors: Sun Hong , Zheng Hong , Molacek Elizabeth , Fang Qin , Patel Kaushik P. , Mayhan William G.
Published: December 2005

Background and Purpose—

Our goal was to determine whether NAD(P)H oxidase is involved in impaired endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)–dependent reactivity of cerebral arterioles during chronic alcohol consumption.

Methods—

Sprague-Dawley rats were fed with an alcohol diet for 2 to 3 months. We determined the effects of acute and chronic treatment with an NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitor, apocynin, on responses of pial arterioles to eNOS-dependent agonists (acetylcholine and ADP) and an eNOS-independent agonist (nitroglycerin). Expression of NAD(P)H oxidase in pial arterioles was measured with the use of real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis, and superoxide production was measured with the use of lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence.

Results—

Vasodilation in response to acetylcholine and ADP, but not nitroglycerin, was significantly less in alcohol-fed rats. Treatment with apocynin did not alter vasodilation in non–alcohol-fed rats but significantly improved impaired vasodilation in alcohol-fed rats. In addition, an upregulation of p47phox in pial arterioles was found in alcohol-fed rats. Furthermore, alcohol consumption increased superoxide production under basal conditions and in the presence of ADP and NAD(P)H.

Conclusions—

Our findings suggest that NAD(P)H oxidase plays a role in chronic alcohol consumption–induced impairment of eNOS-dependent dilation of cerebral arterioles.
Combined Effects of Hemoglobin A
1c
and C-Reactive Protein on the Progression of Subclinical Carotid Atherosclerosis
Authors: Sander Dirk , Schulze-Horn Carla , Bickel Horst , Gnahn Hans , Bartels Eva , Conrad Bastian
Published: December 2005

Background and Purpose—

Glycohemoglobin (hemoglobin A
1c
[HbA
1c
]) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) are risk indicators for atherosclerosis. Limited information exists regarding the combined effects of inflammation and hyperglycemia. We investigated the joint effects of both parameters on early carotid atherosclerosis progression and major vascular events in diabetic and nondiabetic subjects.

Methods—

We analyzed the data of INVADE (Intervention Project on Cerebrovascular Diseases and Dementia in the Community of Ebersberg, Bavaria), a prospective, population-based study conducted in 3534 subjects (mean age, 69 years). In addition to common risk factors, measurements of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), hsCRP, and HbA
1c
were performed at baseline and after 2 years of follow-up.

Results—

For the entire population, IMT progression was significantly related to HbA
1c
(
P
=0.003) but not to hsCRP (
P
=0.06) after risk factor adjustment. The interaction hsCRP×HbA
1c
was highly significant (
P
=0.001), and the most pronounced IMT progression was seen in subjects with both parameters in the fourth quartiles compared with subjects with both parameters in the first quartiles (0.028 [0.025, 0.031] versus 0.012 mm/year [0.007, 0.019];
P
=0.0013). We observed a significant joint effect of HbA
1c
and hsCRP on IMT progression in the diabetic (n=882) as well as the nondiabetic subgroup (n=2652). Subjects with HbA
1c
and hsCRP in the upper 2 quartiles had an increased risk for new vascular events (adjusted hazard ratio in diabetics: 4.3 [1.8, 7.3];
P
=0.001; nondiabetics: 2.9 [1.6, 4.7];
P
=0.001).

Conclusions—

The combination of hyperglycemia and inflammation is associated with an advanced early carotid atherosclerosis progression and an increased risk of new vascular events in diabetic as well as nondiabetic subjects.
Introduction
Authors: Cichowski Rachel A.
Published: December 2005

This introduction and the articles that follow are motivated by three main goals. First, they elaborate and promote a comparative approach to the study of international legal institutions. Second, they seek to better understand the role of courts in transforming international and domestic governance. Finally, the central aim of the issue is to examine how the legalization of global politics may be linked to changes in democratic participation. The overarching aim is to examine the factors shaping when and how courts may serve as arenas for citizen participation leading to important political, legal, and social developments. This introductory article provides a testable framework elaborating both the opportunities and limitations of this dynamic for democratic politics.
Private Litigants and the New International Courts
Authors: Alter Karen J.
Published: December 2005

Scholars expect International Courts (ICs) with private access and compulsory jurisdiction to be more independent and effective. This article shows a trend of creating and using ICs with compulsory jurisdiction and private access, using as evidence the founding statutes and usage rates of 20 ICs created since 1945. Analyzing where and for what private actors are granted access to ICs, the author finds that what is driving the expansion of private access and compulsory jurisdiction is an attempt to extend the types of juridical checks found at the domestic level to the international governance level. Although this trend will likely lead to more rights claiming by private actors, limitations on the types of cases that can be raised combined with a lack of usage suggests that outside of Europe, private right claiming potentials have yet to be exploited.
Courts, Rights, and Democratic Participation
Authors: Cichowski Rachel A.
Published: December 2005

This article examines the connection between rights, courts, and the changing nature of democratic participation. The general comparative model developed is then applied to a time-series analysis of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The article is the first to offer a systematic social science analysis of ECHR decisions with particular emphasis on changing democratic opportunities for individuals at both the domestic and supranational level. The findings reveal how rights and access to legal institutions shape the way courts serve as arenas for public participation—a consequence that brings into question dominant theories of international organization and comparative studies of judicial politics.
Individuals, Courts, and the Development of European Social Rights
Authors: Conant Lisa
Published: December 2005

This article examines how litigation before the European Court of Justice (ECJ) and European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has contributed to the development of social rights. It argues that variations in the nature of supranational rights, powers of supranational courts, and ease of access influence the opportunities individuals have to engage these courts to enforce and expand entitlement to social protection. It demonstrates that individuals have pursued social-rights claims at a much higher rate before the ECJ than the ECHR but have also begun to respond to creative ECHR interpretation that extends social rights in directions not available under European Union law. In weaving together a complementary but not a comprehensive set of social protections, the two supranational courts are constructing a safety net that extends well beyond the original intentions of member countries and empowers some of the most vulnerable members of society.
Participation Through Law Enforcement
Authors: Börzel Tanja A.
Published: December 2005

This article provides a comparative framework for understanding processes of decentralized law enforcement in the European Union (EU). In particular, the analysis proposes how decentralized EU law enforcement mechanisms can increase opportunities for participation of citizens and firms, but only if they possess domestic courts access and sufficient resources to use it. The article undertakes a systematic analysis of noncompliance with EU environmental law to examine this dynamic. The findings reveal a major paradox for the enforcement of EU law: the empowerment of the already powerful. This paradox has major implications for the potential of expanding judicial power in the EU and at the international level to bring more democracy to international politics.
On Collective Mind and Conversational Analysis
Authors: Mcphee Robert D. , Myers Karen K. , Trethewey Angela
Published: December 2005

The authors note an important problem with Cooren’s (2004) argument that processes of representing, subordinating, and contributing, accomplished routinely in “mundane” conversations, constitute collective organizational mind as discussed by Hutchins (1995) and especially Weick and Roberts (1993). The authors show that everyday conversations can easily exhibit evidence of those three processes and yet amount to heedless, self-centered exchanges and that the lone or unvoiced activities of members can exhibit the essence of the kind of collective mind that generates high reliability organizations (HROs). Therefore, analysis of local conversations is inadequate to demonstrate the existence of collective mind and to explain the high reliability of HROs; such analysis needs supplement by evidence that the conversation contributes to a pattern of institutionalized system-level distributed heedfulness.
Arguments for the In-Depth Study of Organizational Interactions
Authors: Cooren François
Published: December 2005

This is a rejoinder to McPhee, Myers, and Trethewey’s response to Cooren’s article titled, “The Communicative Achievement of Collective Minding,” published in Management Communication Quarterly in May 2004. It serves to reaffirm some of the theoretical and methodological arguments initially made in the article and illustrate the epistemic value of in-depth studies of organizational interactions. The author argues that conversation analysis is one of the most relevant ways to address what constitutes the specificity of the organizational communication field: concern for organizational interaction and discourse in general. The author also points out that this approach needs to be adapted to account for the sequential dimension that is so characteristic of organizational processes.
Rousing and Redirecting a Sleeping Giant
Authors: Olufowote James O.
Published: December 2005

Symbolic Convergence Theory (SCT)—an explanation of the process and consequences of human symbolizing—has enjoyed popularity in communication studies but, in organizational communication, its appeal has declined, perhaps because of perceptions of its irrelevance to complex and contemporary concerns. To develop SCT’s appeal as well as its possible resurgence, this article rouses and redirects it. In rousing SCT, the article reviews its central statements, remembers its uses, and lays bare some weaknesses (i.e., explaining why humans narrate reality and share dramas, restrictive convergence assumptions, and restrictive assumptions about membership in rhetorical communities). In redirecting SCT, the article relaxes and complements its assumptions with ideas from organizational communication theories (i.e., sensemaking, power and politics, bona fide groups, and multiple identifications) and points a reinvigorated SCT toward exploring coalition action in response to leader behaviors at Harvard Business Review and the University of Colorado.
Falling between the Cracks
Authors: Gossett Loril M.
Published: December 2005

Temporary workers are part of the quickly expanding and maturing contingent labor industry. Through observations of industry practice and worker self-reports, this study illustrates some of the control and identification challenges created by this particular work arrangement. Temporary workers receive directives from both their staffing agency and the clients that contract for their labor. Sometimes these messages are contradictory and force temps to choose between the interests of the two organizations. This study argues that the coexistence of multiple management systems results in the creation of a loose net of organizational control, which both enables and constrains the actions of temporary workers.
“Paradoxing the Dialectic”
Authors: Mcguire Tammy , Dougherty Debbie S. , Atkinson Joshua
Published: December 2005

Using the concepts of paradox and dialectics, this qualitative study examines the tension that contradictions bring to nurses’ narrative construction of their roles as caregivers. The nurses in the study reveal that they negotiate their roles as caregivers within the dialectical poles of closeness and distance in relation to their patients. The sexual harassment of nurses by their patients, however, serves to destroy this ability to move between these poles and instead calls for a single response—distance. This “paradoxing of the dialectic” changes the ability to negotiate between closeness and distance and presents nurses with a paradoxical set of decisions on how to cope with such harassment and maintain their role as caregivers. Implications for theory are discussed.
Community-Based Health Coaching, Exercise, and Health Service Utilization
Authors: Holland Stephen K. , Greenberg Jay , Tidwell Lynette , Malone Joelyn , Mullan Joseph , Newcomer Robert
Published: December 2005

Objectives: The outcomes of the California Public Employees Retirement System’s Health Matters program, a replication of a health promotion and fitness program known as the Senior Wellness Program (SWP), are reported. Method: A randomized controlled design ( n = 504) was used. Eligibility included one or more qualifying chronic health conditions, age 65 or older, member of a participating health plan, and owner of a CalPERS long-term care insurance policy. Disability risk factors were measured via questionnaires and included health status, pain, exercise, depression, and social activity. Activity was compiled in project records. Results: At 12 months, Health Matters members were engaged in significantly more stretching and aerobic exercise than the controls. Depressive symptoms decreased among those with moderate or higher symptom scores. Discussion: Health Matters extends the SWP model to younger, more active, and healthier individuals with improvements in duration of exercise and stretching; use of other health promotion activities was low.
Gendered Trajectories of Work Control and Health Outcomes in the Middle Years
Authors: Wickrama K. A. S. , Lorenz Frederick O. , Fang Shu-Ann , Abraham W. Todd , Elder Glen H.
Published: December 2005

Objectives: The objective was to investigate whether increasing health heterogeneity during the middle years is attributed, at least in part, to the influence of varying levels of, and changes in, work control of the current midlife cohort. Method: The study used four waves of data collected from 372 employed rural women and 320 employed men of the midlife cohort during a 10-year period. Variables included self-reported work control, stressful nonwork life events, and mental and physical health. The analyses used latent growth curve modeling. Results: The results partially supported the hypothesized pathways. For middle-aged men, work control directly influences health outcomes, whereas for middle-aged women work control indirectly influences health outcomes through the occurrence of stressful life events. Discussion: Through understanding these processes, work can be better designed to promote positive health outcomes, minimize negative health outcomes, and allow for better formulation and more effective implementation of health promotional programs.
Predicting Self-Care Behaviors Among Older Adults Coping With Arthritis
Authors: McDonald-Miszczak Leslie , Wister Andrew V.
Published: December 2005

Objective: The purpose of this investigation is to examine correlates and predictors of self-care activities for persons diagnosed with arthritis both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Method: Data from telephone surveys conducted with 313 older ( M = 68.8, SD = 8.93) individuals, chosen from a larger sample, who reported professionally diagnosed arthritis, were used. Results: A total of 10 of the 11 self-care activities changed significantly during the 1-year interval, with 9 showing increased participation. Results from hierarchical regressions showed that all three blocks of predictors explained significant portions of variance, with gender and perceived importance of general health significantly predicting self-care activities at Time 1, at Time 2, and longitudinally. Discussion: These results highlight the influence of demographic, health status, and health belief variables on self-care both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Future work should focus on the mediating effects of these and other variables to better understand the processes by which individuals engage in self-care behavior.
The Social Distribution of Psychological Distress and Depression in Older Adults
Authors: Cairney John , Krause Neal
Published: December 2005

Objective: This study examines the associations between social position and mental health and explores whether differences in distress and depression by social position can be accounted for by differences in the major components of the stress process model. We extend previous work by including an ethnocultural measure alongside more traditional measures of social position. Method: Secondary data analysis of the 1994 National Population Health Survey. Results: Consistent with findings from studies of younger adults, mental health in later life is determined in part by age, gender, marital status, education, and ethnocultural factors. The data indicate that the life experiences connected to these social positions are largely responsible for these effects. Discussion: Our findings suggest that key social factors are related to mental health in late life, because one’s position in the social structure shapes the stressors they encounter and the resources they have at their disposal to cope with them.
Older Adults’ and Case Managers’ Perceptions of Smoking and Smoking Cessation
Authors: Schmitt Eva M. , Tsoh Janice Y. , Dowling Glenna A. , Hall Sharon M.
Published: December 2005

Objectives: This study explores older smokers’ and case managers’ perceptions of smoking and smoking cessation. Methods: Data were collected from 48 case managers via focus group sessions and questionnaires and from 20 smoking clients via structured interviews. Results: Case managers identified barriers to addressing clients’ smoking at the client, staff, and organizational levels. Clients and case managers lacked information on the benefits of smoking cessation in older adults. The majority of clients interviewed had no plans to quit smoking. Discussion: Results suggest that smoking cessation programs for this population need to be geared to clients who are not ready to quit. Education about the benefits of quitting smoking in older adults is needed for both case managers and smokers.
A Systematic Review of Practice Standards and Research Ethics in Technology-Based Home Health Care Intervention Programs for Older Adults
Authors: Marziali Elsa , Serafini Julie M. Dergal , McCleary Lynn
Published: December 2005

Objective: The purpose of the review is to assess frequencies of reporting adherence to professional practice standards and research ethics in studies of technology-based home health care programs. Methods: Key databases were searched to yield 2,866 abstracts that were independently rated by two reviewers using inclusion-exclusion criteria, resulting in 107 articles that were then reviewed for reports of practice standards and research ethics. Results: Issues related to professional practice standards and research ethics were not well reported. When reported, adherence to practice standards included preintervention training, use of intervention protocols, supervision, and mechanisms for risk management. Research ethics most commonly reported were informed consent, REB/IRB approval, and protection of privacy. Discussion: The results raise questions as to whether practice standards and research ethics are addressed sufficiently when health service delivery occurs in technology-based environments. Guidelines for professional accountability in e-health service delivery are needed.
Intervening on Exercise and Nutrition in Older Adults
Authors: Clark Phillip G. , Rossi Joseph S. , Greaney Mary L. , Riebe Deborah A. , Greene Geoffrey W. , Saunders Sandra D. , Lees Faith D. , Nigg Claudio R.
Published: December 2005

Presented are the basic design, methods, and baseline data analyses for the Study of Exercise and Nutrition in Older Rhode Islanders (SENIOR Project) an experimental study to investigate the relative effectiveness of a 12-month, stage of readiness to change-based multiple-behavior intervention (exercise and nutrition) compared to single-behavior interventions in a community-dwelling population of 1,277 older adults. Relationships between stage of readiness to change in the two target behaviors, as well as the relationship between stage of readiness and self-reported exercise levels and fruit and vegetable consumption, were examined using a combination of Pearson chi-squares, analyses of variance (ANOVA), and Spearman’s rank order correlations. Stage of change (SOC) for fruit and vegetable consumption was significantly associated with the dietary measure, and SOC for exercise was associated with both the three physical activity measures and servings of fruits and vegetables per day. Overall, individual older adult's readiness to change seems largely to be behavior-specific.
Fish, Game, and the Foundations of Complexity in Forager Society: The Evidence From New Guinea
Authors: Roscoe Paul
Published: December 2005

Drawing ethnographic data from the foraging communities of New Guinea, an underused resource in hunter-gatherer research, this article examines the relationship between subsistence form and four aspects of cultural complexity: density, settlement size, settlement form, and settlement permanence. On the basis of global data, it is commonly proposed that in forager communities, these characteristics are directly related to the degree of dependence on aquatic resources. For serendipitous reasons, the New Guinea data allow these propositions to be assessed with some precision, and the results strongly corroborate them. The implications of these findings for understanding the generation of complexity in forager societies are briefly discussed.
Synchrony in the New World: An Example of Archaeoethnology
Authors: Peregrine Peter N.
Published: December 2005

Christopher Chase-Dunn and colleagues have demonstrated cycles of synchronous growth and decline in cities in East Asia and in the Mediterranean. They argue that synchrony is rooted in systems of economic and political interdependence, cutting across broad regions of the world for long periods of history. Using a new strategy for cross-cultural research in the anthropological sciences—archaeoethnology, the cross-cultural analysis of archaeological cultures in a diachronic mode—the author examines whether settlement synchrony has occurred in the New World and if so, whether it implies widespread economic and political interdependencies across long periods of time.
How We Recognize Angry and Happy Emotion in People, Places, and Things
Authors: Aronoff Joel
Published: December 2005

Darwin proposed and Ekman and Izard confirmed the presence of cross-cultural regularities in facial displays of emotion. Following their work, the author and his colleagues sought to find parallel mechanisms that would permit these displays to be decoded. A cross-cultural comparison of the display of anger and happiness in masks used in ritual social functions revealed that a set of geometric patterns, rather than actual facial features, conveyed these different emotional meanings. The power of nonrepresentational visual patterns to produce meaning was examined in a series of studies using materials that presented geometric shapes in a variety of line drawings, large-scale physical movement in classical ballet, and configurations among individuals in 17th-century Dutch art. Results across all studies suggested that for the emotions of anger and happiness, at least, meaning is carried in the geometric properties of the visual display.
Cross-Cultural Research as a Rosetta Stone for Discovering the Original Homelands of Protolanguage Groups
Authors: Ember Melvin , Ember Carol R. , Peregrine Peter N. , Starostin Sergei
Published: December 2005

This programmatic article describes how the two types of cross-cultural research (comparative ethnography and comparative archaeology) can provide a Rosetta stone to help us discover the original homelands of protolanguage groups. Here, the focus is on Proto-Afroasiatic and Proto-Indo-European. If words reconstructed by historical linguists for a protolanguage reflect cultural and environmental features, and if those features have material or archaeological indicators (which we can discover by the two types of cross-cultural research), then the archaeological record can be searched for sites that have the expected combinations of features. The likely homeland of the protolanguage should be the site or local region that has significantly more of those indicator features than other sites or local regions.
A Crystal Seen From Each of Its Vertices: European Views of European National Characters
Authors: Boster James Shilts , Maltseva Kateryna
Published: December 2005

Europeans from 15 locations share a similar image of the national characters of each other and of nations outside of Europe, an image organized on the dimensions of modernity and self-control. Variation of the shared image is complexly patterned: Nations that are geographically close are judged similarly, especially if they are relatively far away from the judge. Similarly, judges that are close judge similarly, especially if the target nations are relatively far away. Conversely, neighboring nations are differentiated much more than those far away. Although the chauvinism of the responses is muted, antagonisms with neighbors are often pronounced, especially between those with a history of warfare. The high agreement on this complex picture suggests that these stereotypes are not merely the product of prejudice; the stereotypes are more nuanced and more widely shared than one would expect if each of the groups were merely reveling in its own superiority.
Revising the Cultural Significance Index: The Case of the Fulni-ô in Northeastern Brazil
Authors: Da Silva Valdeline Atanázio , Andrade Laise De Holanda Cavalcanti , De Albuquerque Ulysses Paulino
Published: December 2005

This article proposes a new way of calculating the Cultural Significance Index (CSI), with the goal of improving it as an instrument for recording the importance of each plant species to human groups. In the present formula (CSI = σ(i×e×c)×CF), different variables are considered: i (species management), e (use preference), and c (use frequency); in addition, a correction factor was introduced (CF). Among the ten most important species, nine are native species, demonstrating the importance of the caatinga (semiarid vegetation) to the Fulni-ô in northeastern Brazil. With the exception of Syagrus coronata Mart. Becc., which is used for handicrafts, all these species have medicinal uses. It is concluded that the CSI presented here indicates mainly the importance of medicinal species for the Fulni-ô Indians in a more complete and objective manner.
Fieldworker or Foreigner?
Authors: Winchatz Michaela R.
Published: December 2005

Ethnographers working in research areas devoted to understanding culture through language (e.g., ethnoscience, linguistic semantics, ethnography of communication) must often conduct fieldwork in societies and languages foreign to them. Although the ethnographic interview plays a significant role in this kind of linguistic-oriented research, there is little discussion in the methods literature about the special strategies and techniques needed in the foreign-language interview. The author takes an interactional approach to analyzing the ethnographic interview conducted in the researcher’s nonnative language. She focuses on the possible misunderstandings that can arise between researcher and participants when the researcher’s lexical knowledge of the foreign language does not suffice. Data stem from three interview situations in which the researcher (a native English speaker fluent in German) is unable to understand the particular words and expressions used by the native German participants. The author argues that communicative misunderstandings during the ethnographic interview are possible tools that can ultimately result in the attainment of richer ethnographic data.
How Many Interviews Are Enough?
Authors: Guest Greg , Bunce Arwen , Johnson Laura
Published: December 2005

Guidelines for determining nonprobabilistic sample sizes are virtually nonexistent. Purposive samples are the most commonly used form of nonprobabilistic sampling, and their size typically relies on the concept of “saturation,” or the point at which no new information or themes are observed in the data. Although the idea of saturation is helpful at the conceptual level, it provides little practical guidance for estimating sample sizes, prior to data collection, necessary for conducting quality research. Using data from a study involving sixty in-depth interviews with women in two West African countries, the authors systematically document the degree of data saturation and variability over the course of thematic analysis. They operationalize saturation and make evidence-based recommendations regarding nonprobabilistic sample sizes for interviews. Based on the data set, they found that saturation occurred within the first twelve interviews, although basic elements for metathemes were present as early as six interviews. Variability within the data followed similar patterns.
Using Mixed-Methods Sequential Explanatory Design: From Theory to Practice
Authors: Ivankova Nataliya V. , Creswell John W. , Stick Sheldon L.
Published: December 2005

This article discusses some procedural issues related to the mixed-methods sequential explanatory design, which implies collecting and analyzing quantitative and then qualitative data in two consecutive phases within one study. Such issues include deciding on the priority or weight given to the quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis in the study, the sequence of the data collection and analysis, and the stage/stages in the research process at which the quantitative and qualitative data are connected and the results are integrated. The article provides a methodological overview of priority, implementation, and mixing in the sequential explanatory design and offers some practical guidance in addressing those issues. It also outlines the steps for graphically representing the procedures in a mixed-methods study. A mixed-methods sequential explanatory study of doctoral students’ persistence in a distance-learning program in educational leadership is used to illustrate the methodological discussion.
Sampling with Field Burden Constraints: An Application to Sheltered Homeless and Low-Income Housed Women
Authors: Elliott Marc N. , Golinelli Daniela , Hambarsoomian Katrin , Perlman Judith , Wenzel Suzanne L.
Published: December 2005

In this article, the authors present a statistically efficient, cost-effective way of collecting a probability sample in the presence of certain field burden constraints: restrictions on the maximum number of participants that can be sampled within a given institution and a small population size relative to the sample size dictated by the study aims. The authors suggest the use of disproportionate stratified random sampling as an alternative to two-stage sampling under these circumstances and illustrate how to account, via weighting, for the participants’ differential probabilities of inclusion. They describe their approach with respect to a study of impoverished women, for which this sampling scheme was quite effective.
Regulation of hematopoiesis in vitro and in vivo by invariant NKT cells
Authors: Kotsianidis Ioannis , Silk Jonathan D. , Spanoudakis Emmanouil , Patterson Scott , Almeida Antonio , Schmidt Richard R. , Tsatalas Costas , Bourikas George , Cerundolo Vincenzo , Roberts Irene A. G. , Karadimitris Anastasios
Published: December 2005

Invariant natural killer T cells (iNKT cells) are a small subset of immunoregulatory T cells highly conserved in humans and mice. On activation by glycolipids presented by the MHC-like molecule CD1d, iNKT cells promptly secrete T helper 1 and 2 (Th1/2) cytokines but also cytokines with hematopoietic potential such as GM-CSF. Here, we show that the myeloid clonogenic potential of human hematopoietic progenitors is increased in the presence of glycolipid-activated, GM-CSF–secreting NKT cells; conversely, short- and long-term progenitor activity is decreased in the absence of NKT cells, implying regulation of hematopoiesis in both the presence and the absence of immune activation. In accordance with these findings, iNKT-cell–deficient mice display impaired hematopoiesis characterized by peripheral-blood cytopenias, reduced marrow cellularity, lower frequency of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), and reduced early and late hematopoietic progenitors. We also show that CD1d is expressed on human HSCs. CD1d-expressing HSCs display short- and long-term clonogenic potential and can present the glycolipid α-galactosylceramide to iNKT cells. Thus, iNKT cells emerge as the first subset of regulatory T cells that are required for effective hematopoiesis in both steady-state conditions and under conditions of immune activation.
Identification of the annexin A2 heterotetramer as a receptor for the plasmin-induced signaling in human peripheral monocytes
Authors: Laumonnier Yves , Syrovets Tatiana , Burysek Ladislav , Simmet Thomas
Published: December 2005

We have previously demonstrated that plasmin acts as a potent proinflammatory activator of human peripheral monocytes. Here we identify the annexin A2 heterotetramer, composed of annexin A2 and S100A10, as a receptor for the plasmin-induced signaling in human monocytes. Monocytes express the annexin A2 heterotetramer on the cell surface as shown by flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy, and coimmunoprecipitation of biotinylated cell surface proteins. Binding of plasmin to annexin A2 and S100A10 on monocytes was verified by biotin transfer from plasmin labeled with a trifunctional cross-linker. Antibodies directed against annexin A2 or S100A10 inhibited the chemotaxis elicited by plasmin, but not that induced by fMLP. Further, down-regulation of annexin A2 or S100A10 in monocytes by antisense oligodeoxynucleotides impaired the chemotactic response to plasmin, but not that to fMLP. Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides similarly decreased the TNF-α release by plasmin-stimulated, but not by LPS-stimulated, monocytes. At the molecular level, stimulation with plasmin, but not with catalytically inactivated plasmin, induced cleavage of annexin A2 and dissociation of the heterotetramer complex. Substitution of lysine to alanine in position 27 abolished the cleavage of recombinant annexin A2 in vitro. Together, these data identify the annexin A2 heterotetramer as a signaling receptor activated by plasmin via proteolysis.