bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Establishing the Baby-Friendly Community Initiative in Italy
Authors: Bettinelli Maria Enrica , Chapin Elise M. , Cattaneo Adriano
Published: June 2012

Background:

The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI), developed by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to promote breastfeeding in maternity facilities worldwide, has had a global impact on breastfeeding outcomes, but other interventions are needed both before and after hospital discharge to meet the recommended targets at 6 months. The Baby-Friendly Community Initiative (BFCI), a multifaceted program for community-based breastfeeding promotion that is complementary to the BFHI, addresses this challenge.

Objective:

To describe the development, strategy, and implementation of the BFCI in Italy. Methods: In 2006, UNICEF Italy created a working group to develop the BFCI for the Italian health system. A review of the different BFCI models worldwide was conducted. A preliminary adaptation of tools to Italian community health care settings was developed in 2007, when the Italian BFCI Seven Steps were published. Two years later, UNICEF Italy launched the Standards for Best Practice for both hospitals and communities, based on 2009 BFHI and UNICEF UK BFCI materials.

Outcomes:

The main outcome was to promote this process in Italian regional health systems and develop tools to assess compliance with the BFCI criteria. There is now one fully accredited Baby-Friendly Community in Italy, and 17 other communities are working on the various stages.

Conclusions:

The BFCI, a complex program that involves participation, training, audits, a continuous flow of feedback, and provision of resources for health workers and families, is now a reality in Italy.
Halogenated polyaryletherketones with enhanced thermal stability
Authors: Li Long , Liu Siyuan , Liu Zhuang , Jing Liwei , Guan Shaowei , Jiang Zhenhua , Liu Baijun , Matsumoto Toshihiko
Published: June 2012

Based on newly synthesized hydroquinone monomers, two series of halogenated polyaryletherketones, PEEKs and PEEKKs, were synthesized through nucleophilic aromatic substitution polycondensations. The chemical structures of the monomers and the polymers were carefully characterized using Fourier transform infrared and 1H-NMR spectroscopies. Some interesting results about the relationships between the structure and properties of these polymers having comparable chemical structures were revealed for the first time. Despite the similar chemical structure of –F, –Cl and –Br substituted polyaryletherketones, they exhibited different thermal behaviors. The thermogravimetric analysis results showed that chlorinated PEEKK had the best thermal stability and its limited oxygen index (LOI) value was 42.80. The results indicated some of them will be promising high-performance polymers.
Frequency response computation of structures including non-proportional damping in a shared memory environment
Authors: Jeong TG , Lee SS , Kim Chang-Wan
Published: June 2012

With the increased size of the finite element model for improved accuracy, the modal frequency response analysis has been one of the common practices of evaluating the performance of vehicle dynamics. However, there is difficulty in predicting the vehicle dynamics response with non-proportional damping regarding performance. The fast frequency response analysis algorithm (FFRA) has been proved to be very effective for partially damped structural system in the modal frequency response analysis. In the fast frequency response analysis algorithm, performance depends mainly on the complex symmetric matrix eigenvalue problem. Therefore, an efficient complex symmetric matrix eigenvalue problem solver is developed in this article. This approach also uses parallel processing in a shared memory machine for more efficient analysis. Numerical examples show that the new complex symmetric matrix eigensolver provides good accuracy and high performance. Then, the fast frequency response analysis algorithm is applied to a full scale vehicle system that includes only a few viscous damping finite elements. The fast frequency response analysis algorithm significantly improves the performance of the modal frequency response analysis compared to conventional method. In addition, parallel processing improves the efficiency of the overall simulation.
Repairing Historical Wrongs
Authors: Johnstone Gerry , Quirk Joel
Published: June 2012

This paper introduces a special issue of Social & Legal Studies devoted to the topic of ‘Repairing Historical Wrongs’. In recent decades, both scholars and activists have given increasing consideration to various legal and ethical obligations which can arise as a consequence of serious acts of injustice committed by previous generations and/or political regimes. Many of these efforts to repair historical wrongs pose a challenge to established models of legal responsibility and corrective justice. To help make sense of the core issues at stake, we have divided the paper into four sections, starting with an analysis of the limitations of existing avenues for legal redress, and the types of arguments that have emerged in response to these limitations. From here, we go on to consider the ethics and mechanics of institutional and individual inheritance, paying particular attention to a widespread tendency to treat assets and accomplishments as collective goods, while reducing wrongdoing to individual acts. This is followed by a snapshot of potential remedies, in which we identity three key modes of reparation: financial restitution, apologies and holistic approaches. Finally, we consider the political dynamics surrounding the representation of specific cases as ‘historical wrongs’, and the potential consequences associated with this approach to the past.
Patient and Public Involvement in the Coproduction of Knowledge
Authors: Gillard Steve , Simons Lucy , Turner Kati , Lucock Mike , Edwards Christine
Published: June 2012

Patient and public involvement in health research is increasingly well established internationally, but the impacts of involvement on the research process are hard to evaluate. We describe a process of qualitative data analysis in a mental health research project with a high level of mental health service user and carer involvement, and reflect critically on how we produced our findings. Team members not from research backgrounds sometimes challenged academic conventions, leading to complex findings that would otherwise have been missing. An essential component of how we coproduced knowledge involved retaining methodological flexibility so that nonconventional research voices in the team could situate and critique what was conventionally known. Deliberate and transparent reflection on how “who we are” informed the knowledge we produced was integral to our inquiry. We conclude that reflecting on knowledge (co)production is a useful tool for evaluating the impact of patient and public involvement on health research.
Visions of Judgment
Authors: Weidenfeld Matthew C.
Published: June 2012

Hannah Arendt’s conceptualization of judgment may only drive political theorists further from the phenomenon. Throughout her life, Arendt’s work on judgment was guided by Kant’s thought. Arendt’s reading of Kant’s work raises two difficulties to which contemporary political scientists should attend. First, Arendt’s reading of Kant is a systematic misreading of his texts. Second, Arendt’s misreading of Kant pushes her toward a misreading of the phenomenon of judgment. More important, Arendt’s misreading has led political theorists to assume a divide between the points of view of the actor and of the spectator, which cannot be reconciled given the resources of Arendt’s thought.
Unmasked
Authors: Bulut Olcay Cem , Dyckhoff Gerhard , Splettstoesser Wolf , Nemeth Johannes , Klauschen Frederick , Penzel Roland , Plinkert Peter K. , Simon Christian , Weichert Wilko , Stenzinger Albrecht
Published: June 2012

This article reports on a 62-year-old man, who presented with cervical mass and rather nonspecific symptoms. The medical history and clinical workup initially favored a malignant disease such as a carcinoma of unknown primary as the underlying cause. Eventually, the patient was diagnosed with a granulomatous lymphadenitis caused by Francisella tularensis subsp holarctica. Tularemia is a rare disease in Western Europe and can present in multiple ways encompassing almost asymptomatic infections and fatal disease. A rapid diagnosis is often hampered by nonspecific symptoms and the generally low prevalence and incidence of this disease in endemic countries. This case report also provides a comprehensive review of the literature on cervical tularemia and discusses the differential diagnoses.
Pulmonary Oligometastases
Authors: Xu Lauren , Burke Allen P.
Published: June 2012

Introduction. Pulmonary oligometastases are resected both for diagnostic and therapeutic reasons. The histological features may be nonspecific, resulting in diagnostic difficulties. Design. The authors retrospectively studied the clinical and pathological features of 73 open resections of lung metastases from 64 patients to determine the frequency and types of problems in establishing site of origin. Results. There were 18 primary organ sites, the most frequent being colon (n = 10), head and neck (9 squamous and 6 salivary gland), kidney (n = 7), and soft tissue (n = 7). Unusual histological features included detached alveolar tumor clusters at the periphery (83% of adenocarcinomas), lepidic spread (2 metastatic pancreatic tumors), and entrapped pneumocyte-lined cysts (6 tumors). A majority of squamous carcinomas from the head and neck presented difficulties in regard to excluding a second primary, especially 4 with basaloid features that mimicked primary basaloid lung carcinoma. Other tumors mimicking lung primaries included pancreatic, endometrial, and breast metastases. Germ-cell tumors, sarcomas, melanomas, and sarcomatoid carcinomas presented diagnostic difficulties. Overall, comparison with the primary tumor with or without immunohistochemical studies was performed in 38 of 73 cases (52%). Conclusions. Pulmonary oligometastases comprise a wide range of histological types and often require careful pathological evaluation to determine primary site of origin.
Human Papillomavirus Type 16 DNA Detected in Pulmonary Metastases From a Penile Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Lorenzon Laura , Benevolo Maria , Visca Paolo , Venturo Irene , Filippetti Massimo , Piro Francesca Romana , Rollo Francesca , Vocaturo Amina
Published: June 2012

This report describe the case of a patient presenting with pulmonary metastases from a penile cancer, where the presence of the human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 DNA both in the primary tumor and in the distant metastases confirmed the spreading of the disease, ruling out a possible primary lung squamous cell carcinoma. Indeed, according to the findings, the HPV genotyping test might help in the identification of metastatic disease from anogenital malignancies or other HPV-related cancers.
Americanization of Web-Based Political Communication? A Comparative Analysis of Political Blogospheres in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany
Authors: Hyun Ki Deuk
Published: June 2012

Political blogging provides a useful testing ground for the thesis of Americanization effects of new media technology that emerged in the United States and spread internationally. This study examined the network of hypertext links to top political blogs in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany. The U.S. blogging network showed higher interconnectedness than did the U.K. and German networks, and was more highly fragmented along the lines of political differences. This study presents the relationships among the new communication form, its international diffusion, and the role of indigenous conditions affecting its adoption.
A Medical–Surgical Nurse’s Perceptions of Caring for a Person With Severe Mental Illness
Authors: Zolnierek Cindy Diamond , Clingerman Evelyn M.
Published: June 2012

Background:

When hospitalized for medical conditions, many people with severe mental illness (SMI) have poor outcomes, yet little is known about contributing factors. Studies exploring the care experience from nurses’ perspectives described care processes as “difficult.” None of these studies were conducted in the United States, and sociocultural contexts significantly affect perceptions of SMI.

Objective:

The purpose of this inquiry was to explore a medical–surgical nurse’s perceptions of caring for a hospitalized person with SMI in the United States.

Design:

A qualitative, descriptive case study was used. RESULTS: The nurse’s experience was characterized by categories of tension, discomfort, lack of professional satisfaction, and difficult.

Conclusions:

This case study revealed a negative care experience, similar to conclusions of investigations conducted in other countries. Understanding of nurses’ care experiences can inform efforts to improve practice environments, provide resources, or develop models of care that support nurses who care for patients with SMI and improve health outcomes for people with SMI.
Offenders’ Attachment and Sexual Abuse Onset
Authors: McKillop Nadine , Smallbone Stephen , Wortley Richard , Andjic Ivana
Published: June 2012

Confidential self-report data obtained on 107 adult male child sexual abusers were analyzed to test theoretical propositions concerning the role of attachment problems in the onset of sexual offending. Offenders’ parent–child attachment relationships were most frequently characterized by affectionless control, reflecting low parental care and high overprotection and control. Offenders reported significantly less secure attachment with their fathers than with their mothers. Overall, weak continuity from childhood attachment to trait (general) adult attachment was found, with insecure attachment more stable than secure attachment. Childhood attachment problems, particularly with fathers, were more clearly reflected in state adult attachment (i.e., in the month preceding sexual offending onset) than in trait adult attachment. Offenders who were in an adult intimate relationship prior to their onset sexual offense reported significant state increases in attachment avoidance, and their onset offenses were more likely to involve a female familial victim. Offenders who were not in a relationship prior to offending onset were younger, and their onset sexual offenses occurred in much more diverse circumstances. These findings provide tentative evidence that directly and indirectly implicates offenders’ attachment problems specifically in the onset of their sexual abuse behavior. Implications for developmental prevention and early intervention, situational prevention, and offender treatment are discussed.
Whole Grains, Multiple Grains
Authors: Alpert Patricia T.
Published: June 2012

Today there are many food products on the supermarket shelves that make claims of whole grain or multiple grains content that is healthy. Many consumers are frequently confused about what is hype about the health benefits of the grains. This column attempts to bring clarity to this issue by separating the health facts from the hype.
Environmental Philanthropy
Authors: Greenspan Itay , Handy Femida , Katz-Gerro Tally
Published: June 2012

The authors analyze environmental philanthropy as a form of environmental behavior that has received scant attention in the literature. Environmental philanthropy refers to the giving of time and money in support of environmental issues through environmental nongovernmental organizations. The authors examine the way values, knowledge, political orientation, and a variety of sociodemographic variables are associated with environmental philanthropy and compare it with several other forms of environmental behaviors. Results from analysis of a sample of 1,565 American students indicate that environmental philanthropy is not shaped by the typical set of variables influencing environmental behavior that are reported in the literature. They conclude that the personal traits that shape environmental philanthropy should be theorized differently than other environmental behaviors.
ADHD and Mental Health Status in Brazilian School-Age Children
Authors: Arruda Marco A. , Querido Cícero Nardini , Bigal Marcelo E. , Polanczyk Guilherme V.
Published: June 2012

Objective: To assess the prevalence of ADHD, mental health status, and risk factors in a sample of Brazilian children. Method: Target sample consisted of all children from 5 to 13 years registered in the public elementary school. Children with ADHD were compared with those without ADHD for sociodemographic, risk factors, and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) symptom dimensions. Multivariate models estimated determinants of ADHD diagnosis. Results: Of the target sample, consents and complete information were obtained from 1,830 children (91.8%). The prevalence rate of ADHD was 5.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] = [4.2, 6.2]). In contrast to controls, children with ADHD presented higher levels of symptoms in the CBCL dimensions. In multivariate analyses, the diagnosis of ADHD was significantly influenced by maternal educational status ( p = .019), income class ( p = .012), and prenatal exposure to tobacco ( p = .032). Conclusion: Prevalence and demographic features of ADHD in Brazil are similar to what has been reported worldwide.
Kolaviron Biflavanoids of Garcinia Kola Seeds Protect Atrazine-Induced Cytotoxicity in Primary Cultures of Rat Leydig Cells
Authors: Abarikwu Sunny O. , Farombi Ebenezer O. , Pant Aditya B.
Published: June 2012

We sought to explore the mechanism by which kolaviron (Kol) protects against atrazine (ATZ)-induced toxicity of cultured interstitial Leydig cells (ILCs). In our experiments, treatment with Kol improved Leydig cell viability and significantly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Further investigations revealed a reduction in glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and elevation of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD-1) and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD-2) as measured by messenger RNA (mRNA) expression. Additionally, the ATZ-induced alterations in the mRNA transcript copy numbers of steroidogenesis genes: steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage enzyme (CYP11A1), and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) were shifted toward the control values by Kol. Taken together, these findings indicate that Kol protects ILCs from ATZ-induced toxicity via the reduction in ROS and MDA levels and induce normalization of mRNA levels of all the tested genes.
Optimizing Memory Constrained Environments in Monte Carlo Nuclear Reactor Simulations
Authors: Felker K.G. , Siegel A.R. , Siegel S.F.
Published: June 2012

Monte Carlo neutron transport codes are a growing subject of research in nuclear reactor analysis. For robust reactor analysis, large scale neutron transport simulations require computation of reaction rates for tens of billions of particles involving several hundred isotopes. When employing physical-space domain decomposition, minimizing memory consumption while safely and efficiently exchanging massive amounts of data is a significant challenge. To address this problem, we implement and test several “memory-aware”, in-place, sparse, all-to-all MPI communication implementations. The algorithms are developed and tested within the open source MADRE (Memory-Aware Data Redistribution) project, which gives application programmers a simple API and set of tools and algorithms for carrying out memory-transparent in-place communication. We explore memory and communication efficiency tradeoffs for a range of in-place algorithms using a simple Monte Carlo communication kernel intended to mimic the behavior of our full Monte Carlo neutronics code.
Monitoring of temperature and emissivity during successive disc revolutions in braking
Authors: Kasem Haytam , Brunel Jean-François , Dufrénoy Philippe , Desplanques Yannick , Desmet Bernard
Published: June 2012

The main difficulties of brake disc infrared temperature measurements are the unknown of disc surface emissivity, non-uniform and time-varying, and the high rotation speed and deceleration of the disc, which makes it difficult to follow the special distribution of the temperature. To provide information on the emissivity variation during braking, brake disc temperature and emissivity were investigated by an original optic-fiber two-color pyrometer combined with an infrared camera, which allows monitoring the true friction areas. In addition, an optical top-tour was used to identify disc revolutions. The evolutions of the surface temperature and emissivity on successive disc revolutions were successfully determined. It was showed that circumferential thermal gradients form on the surface and maintain their angular position, they can, however, win or lose in intensity with braking progress.
Factors Related to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Adolescence
Authors: Nooner Kate B. , Linares L. Oriana , Batinjane Jessica , Kramer Rachel A. , Silva Raul , Cloitre Marylene
Published: June 2012

Studies of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adolescence published from 2000 to 2011 indicate that adolescents are at greater risk of experiencing trauma than either adults or children, and that the prevalence of PTSD among adolescents is 3–57%. Age, gender, type of trauma, and repeated trauma are discussed as factors related to the increased rates of adolescent PTSD. PTSD in adolescence is also associated with suicide, substance abuse, poor social support, academic problems, and poor physical health. PTSD may disrupt biological maturational processes and contribute to the long-term emotion and behavior regulation problems that are often evident in adolescents with the disorder. Recommendations are presented for practice and research regarding the promotion of targeted prevention and intervention services to maximize adolescents’ strengths and minimize vulnerabilities. Public policy implications are discussed.
Pragmatic Functions of Toddlers Who Are Late Talkers
Authors: MacRoy-Higgins Michelle , Kaufman Ilana
Published: June 2012

This study analyzed spontaneous language samples of 10 late talking toddlers and 11 typically developing toddlers using Dore’s primitive speech act analysis (1974). Late talkers did not produce as many pragmatic functions, and the ones that they do produce did not prompt continued interaction with a communication partner.
Cultural Citizenship at the Intersection of Television and New Media
Authors: Wu Jingsi Christina
Published: June 2012

This article presents a cultural revision on the ongoing debate about the new media’s civic influence, as well as that of the “old media” Television. Specifically, it introduces the notion of “cultural citizenship” into the theoretical discussion and empirical pursuits. In exploring how this concept comes to play at the intersection of television and new media, this article sheds light on the continuing debate within the theoretical camp of “cultural citizenship,” expands the notion of “political talk” in current studies of media and democracy, and pushes the field from normative and instrumental limitations toward a more culturally rich and comprehensive direction. I systematically examine public discourses surrounding a popular talent show in China’s cyberspace and show the connection between nonpolitical media experiences and political expressions. In doing so, I also discuss the internet’s unique potential in lending voice to ordinary Chinese citizens outside the mainstream media.
Endovascular Treatment Is a Hope for Patient With Buerger’s Disease and Foot Ulcer
Authors: Aragón-Sánchez Javier , Rabellino Martin , Pulido-Duque Juan , Zander Tobias , González Gabriela , Maynar Manuel
Published: June 2012

Scarce information exists regarding the usefulness of the endovascular approach in patients with thromboangiitis obliterans and critical ischemia. A 41-old-man diagnosed with Buerger’s disease had rest pain and a severe ulceration on the big toe. He had been scheduled for a big toe amputation. Typical findings of Buerger’s disease were found in the angiogram including below-the-knee involvement and corkscrew collateral arteries. Stenoses of the posterior tibial artery were angioplastied and the plantar artery was recanalized and angioplastied. Healing was achieved and the patient remains asymptomatic 21 months after the procedure. The outcome achieved in this case and recent series should encourage doctors dealing with this problem to attempt limb salvage by means of the endovascular approach.
Deficiencies Persist in the Experience of UK Vascular Trainees
Authors: Karthikesalingam Alan , Buxton Pauline , Marron Conor , Oshin Olufemi A. , Scurr James R. H. , Wall Michael
Published: June 2012

Aims.To evaluate the training experience of the current United Kingdom (UK) vascular trainees. Methods. A Web-based questionnaire was administered to 217 members of the Rouleaux Club, which represents UK vascular and endovascular trainees, between May and June 2011. Results. A total of 153 trainees (71% response rate) completed the survey; 52% were in posts that do not offer endovascular training, 88% performed <10 peripheral angiograms, and 67% performed part or all of <10 endovascular aneurysm repairs in the last year. Half had no access to formal ultrasound training; 85% believe that vascular access will play a role in their future practice, but 49% performed no vascular access procedures in the past year. No experience of endovenous laser, radiofrequency ablation, or foam sclerotherapy was reported by 33%, 49%, and 46%, respectively. Conclusions. Trainee experience is insufficient for a modern specialist practice. Separate specialty training in the United Kingdom must address these deficiencies.
Increase in Lymphogranuloma Venereum Cases in South Florida
Authors: Castro José Guillermo , Ponomareva Olga , Alcaide María , Rosa-Cunha Isabella , Dilanchian Paula , Willis Dean
Published: June 2012

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the clinic prevalence and clinical characteristics of patients with LGV since 2007 when active clinic surveillance started. We review all the reports of rectal Chlamydia trachomatis and LGV testing of those samples. Chlamydia trachomatis LGV DNA was detected by Nucleic Acid Amplification/ompA gene sequencing. Medical records of all patients with LGV were reviewed. Prevalence of rectal CT among tested individuals was relatively stable during the study period: 2007 (15%), 2008 (15%), 2009 (12%) and 2010 (14%). Eight cases of LGV were identified during the study period, one in 2009 and seven in 2010. All individuals were male and all except one had sex with only men. Most of them were also infected with HIV (62.5%). We concluded that this is the first report of LGV cases in South Florida and shows a rapid increase in the number of cases in the last year.
Fighting for Her Honor
Authors: Irwin Katherine , Adler Corey
Published: June 2012

Since the 1980s, delinquency researchers and urban ethnographers have increasingly placed girls’ violence in the center of their inquiries. Within recent scholarship, there are several looming questions such as how much of girls’ violence is shaped by the same forces motivating violent boys and how much is shaped by concerns unique to girls. This study draws on data from a 6-year qualitative study of violence among Pacific Islander high school students in Hawaii. We explore how girls’ violence attends to gender as well as to the rampant economic, racial, ethnic, and political dislocations that threatened family survival in adolescents’ communities.
Strategies to Promote Physical Activity During Pregnancy
Authors: Pearce Emily E. , Evenson Kelly R. , Downs Danielle Symons , Steckler Allan
Published: June 2012

Physical activity during pregnancy has been associated with significant health benefits; however, most women in the United States do not meet the current guidelines. This systematic review evaluates evidence for interventions to improve physical activity during pregnancy in order to identify best practices and inform future research. Electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, SportDISCUS, Embase, ERIC, Psych Info, and ISI Web of Science) were searched in July 2011 for peer-reviewed journal articles. Studies were included if they were English-language randomized control trials that measured the efficacy of an intervention targeted at pregnant women and were designed to change physical activity as a primary or secondary outcome. Out of 777 studies identified through the systematic search, 9 interventions were selected for inclusion by multiple reviewers. Data were abstracted using an abstraction form modeled after the “ Guide to Community Preventive Services.” Of the 9 interventions included in the review, 3 reported statistically significant positive results for physical activity. Although the interventions included a variety of strategies and techniques, none were uniquely associated with positive outcomes. Overall, this review suggests that little is known about the efficacy of interventions for physical activity during pregnancy. This study provides several recommendations for future research and intervention design.
Resveratrol
Authors: Gillespie Nicole D. , Lenz Thomas L.
Published: June 2012

Resveratrol is a polyphenolic compound found in many products commonly consumed in the American diet. The reported benefits of resveratrol are broad and include antiaging effects, antioxidant effects, anticancer effects, neuroprotective effects, and an array of cardiovascular benefits such as improved cholesterol profiles, reduced atherosclerosis, improved glucose homeostasis, decreased blood pressure, and reduced ischemia– reperfusion injury. The current article discusses the literature relating the dosing, safety, and effectiveness of resveratrol for extended life span and improved cardiovascular health. Additionally, recommendations for use in clinical practice are discussed.
‘The roar of the bomb’: Violence as universal communication in Gadar Party writings
Authors: Chopra Rohit
Published: June 2012

This article examines the role of violence in Shabash and ‘History of the Freedom Movement in India: The Ghadar Movement, 1913–1918’, two key texts of the Gadar Party, a US-based political party of South Asians that campaigned for Indian independence in the early twentieth century. In these texts, violence operates both as universal communication and as a critique of the possibility of universal communication. Acts of violence allow oppressed societies to secure the status of civilized nations. Violence also operates as a historiographic principle that enables the writing of universal history, linking present with past and incorporating national histories into global narratives. On the other hand, violence fails to sustain communities beyond a narrow conception of political community. The body that suffers violence negates the very possibility of communication. I also argue that violence in these contradictory roles brokers a relationship between national identity and global belonging in Gadar thought.
Does Environmental Certification Help the Economic Performance of Hotels?
Authors: Segarra-Oña María-del-Val , Peiró-Signes Ángel , Verma Rohit , Miret-Pastor Luis
Published: June 2012

The capacity to generate value-added services in order to acquire and retain loyal clients is one of the challenges facing the hospitality sector. For this reason and because of economic realities and government policies, an ever-growing number of hotels are formally adopting certified environmental practices such as the ISO 14001. In this article, we attempt to analyze the relationship between the implementation of a proactive environmental management tool, the ISO 14001 standard, and the generation of economic revenues in the Spanish hotel industry. Also considered are the possible effects on the business results of moderating factors such as company size and the market segment where the hotel operates. Empirical economic information on 2,116 Spanish hotels was obtained from the SABI database (Iberian Balance-Sheet Analysis System) for the year 2008, during which 108 properties had ISO 14001 certification. Quantitative analysis techniques showed significant differences in the economic performance of ISO-certified hotels and those not certified, particularly for urban and beach hotels. The results showed influence of both company size and organizational factors on revenue. Only small rural hotels saw no difference in revenues due to the presence or absence of ISO certification.
Does size matter in platelet production?
Authors: Thon Jonathan N. , Italiano Joseph E.
Published: June 2012

Platelet (PLT) production represents the final stage of megakaryocyte (MK) development. During differentiation, bone marrow MKs extend and release long, branched proPLTs into sinusoidal blood vessels, which undergo repeated abscissions to yield circulating PLTs. Circular-prePLTs are dynamic intermediate structures in this sequence that have the capacity to reversibly convert into barbell-proPLTs and may be related to “young PLTs” and “large PLTs” of both inherited and acquired macrothrombocytopenias. Conversion is regulated by the diameter and thickness of the peripheral microtubule coil, and PLTs are capable of enlarging in culture to generate barbell-proPLTs that divide to yield 2 smaller PLT products. Because PLT number and size are inversely proportional, this raises the question: do macrothrombocytopenias represent a failure in the intermediate stages of PLT production? This review aims to bring together and contextualize our current understanding of terminal PLT production against the backdrop of human macrothrombocytopenias to establish how “large PLTs” observed in both conditions are similar, how they are different, and what they can teach us about PLT formation. A better understanding of the cytoskeletal mechanisms that regulate PLT formation and determine PLT size offers the promise of improved therapies for clinical disorders of PLT production and an important source of PLTs for infusion.
Single copy nuclear gene analysis of polyploidy in wild potatoes (Solanum section Petota)
Authors: Cai Danying , Rodríguez Flor , Teng Yuanwen , Ané Cécile , Bonierbale Meredith , Mueller Lukas A , Spooner David M
Published: June 2012

Background

Recent genomic studies have drastically altered our knowledge of polyploid evolution. Wild potatoes (Solanum section Petota) are a highly diverse and economically important group of about 100 species widely distributed throughout the Americas. Thirty-six percent of the species in section Petota are polyploid or with diploid and polyploid cytotypes. However, the group is poorly understood at the genomic level and the series is ideal to study polyploid evolution. Two separate studies using the nuclear orthologs GBSSI and nitrate reductase confirmed prior hypotheses of polyploid origins in potato and have shown new origins not proposed before. These studies have been limited, however, by the use of few accessions per polyploid species and by low taxonomic resolution, providing clade-specific, but not species-specific origins within clades. The purpose of the present study is to use six nuclear orthologs, within 54 accessions of 11 polyploid species, 34 accessions of 29 diploid species of section Petota representing their putative progenitors, and two outgroups, to see if phenomena typical of other polyploid groups occur within wild potatoes, to include multiple origins, loss of alleles, or gain of new alleles.

Results

Our results increase resolution within clades, giving better ideas of diploid progenitors, and show unexpected complexity of allele sharing within clades. While some species have little diversity among accessions and concur with the GBSSI and nitrate reductase results, such as S. agrimonifolium, S. colombianum, S. hjertingii, and S. moscopanum, the results give much better resolution of species-specific progenitors. Seven other species, however, show variant patterns of allele distributions suggesting multiple origins and allele loss. Complex three-genome origins are supported for S. hougasii, and S. schenckii, and one of the ten accessions of S. stoloniferum. A very unexpected shared presence of alleles occurs within one clade of S. verrucosum from Central America, and S. berthaultii from South America in six polyploid species S. demissum, S. hjertingii, S. hougasii, S. iopetalum, S. schenckii, and S. stoloniferum.

Conclusions

Our results document considerable genomic complexity of some wild potato polyploids. These can be explained by multiple hybrid origins and allele losses that provide a clear biological explanation for the taxonomic complexity in wild potato polyploids. These results are of theoretical and practical benefit to potato breeders, and add to a growing body of evidence showing considerable complexity in polyploid plants in general.
Neural activity associated with self-reflection
Authors: Herwig Uwe , Kaffenberger Tina , Schell Caroline , Jäncke Lutz , Brühl Annette B
Published: June 2012

Background

Self-referential cognitions are important for self-monitoring and self-regulation. Previous studies have addressed the neural correlates of self-referential processes in response to or related to external stimuli. We here investigated brain activity associated with a short, exclusively mental process of self-reflection in the absence of external stimuli or behavioural requirements. Healthy subjects reflected either on themselves, a personally known or an unknown person during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The reflection period was initialized by a cue and followed by photographs of the respective persons (perception of pictures of oneself or the other person).

Results

Self-reflection, compared with reflecting on the other persons and to a major part also compared with perceiving photographs of one-self, was associated with more prominent dorsomedial and lateral prefrontal, insular, anterior and posterior cingulate activations. Whereas some of these areas showed activity in the “other”-conditions as well, self-selective characteristics were revealed in right dorsolateral prefrontal and posterior cingulate cortex for self-reflection; in anterior cingulate cortex for self-perception and in the left inferior parietal lobe for self-reflection and -perception.

Conclusions

Altogether, cingulate, medial and lateral prefrontal, insular and inferior parietal regions show relevance for self-related cognitions, with in part self-specificity in terms of comparison with the known-, unknown- and perception-conditions. Notably, the results are obtained here without behavioural response supporting the reliability of this methodological approach of applying a solely mental intervention. We suggest considering the reported structures when investigating psychopathologically affected self-related processing.
Polyhexamethylene biguanide functionalized cationic silver nanoparticles for enhanced antimicrobial activity
Authors: Ashraf Sumaira , Akhtar Nasrin , Ghauri Muhammad Afzal , Rajoka Muhammad Ibrahim , Khalid Zafar M , Hussain Irshad
Published: June 2012

Polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB), a broad spectrum disinfectant against many pathogens, was used as a stabilizing ligand for the synthesis of fairly uniform silver nanoparticles. The particles formed were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, FTIR, dynamic light scattering, electrophoretic mobility, and TEM to measure their morphology and surface chemistry. PHMB-functionalized silver nanoparticles were then evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against a gram-negative bacterial strain, Escherichia coli. These silver nanoparticles were found to have about 100 times higher bacteriostatic and bactericidal activities, compared to the previous reports, due to the combined antibacterial effect of silver nanoparticles and PHMB. In addition to other applications, PHMB-functionalized silver nanoparticles would be extremely useful in textile industry due to the strong interaction of PHMB with cellulose fabrics.
Does journal endorsement of reporting guidelines influence the completeness of reporting of health research? A systematic review protocol
Authors: Shamseer Larissa , Stevens Adrienne , Skidmore Becky , Turner Lucy , Altman Douglas G , Hirst Allison , Hoey John , Palepu Anita , Simera Iveta , Schulz Kenneth , Moher David
Published: June 2012

Background

Reporting of health research is often inadequate and incomplete. Complete and transparent reporting is imperative to enable readers to assess the validity of research findings for use in healthcare and policy decision-making. To this end, many guidelines, aimed at improving the quality of health research reports, have been developed for reporting a variety of research types. Despite efforts, many reporting guidelines are underused. In order to increase their uptake, evidence of their effectiveness is important and will provide authors, peer reviewers and editors with an important resource for use and implementation of pertinent guidance. The objective of this study was to assess whether endorsement of reporting guidelines by journals influences the completeness of reporting of health studies.

Methods

Guidelines providing a minimum set of items to guide authors in reporting a specific type of research, developed with explicit methodology, and using a consensus process will be identified from an earlier systematic review and from the EQUATOR (Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research) Network’s reporting guidelines library. MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Methodology Register and Scopus will be searched for evaluations of those reporting guidelines; relevant evaluations from the recently conducted CONSORT systematic review will also be included. Single data extraction with 10% verification of study characteristics, 20% of outcomes and complete verification of aspects of study validity will be carried out. We will include evaluations of reporting guidelines that assess the completeness of reporting: (1) before and after journal endorsement, and/or (2) between endorsing and non-endorsing journals. For a given guideline, analyses will be conducted for individual and the total sum of items. When possible, standard, pooled effects with 99% confidence intervals using random effects models will be calculated.

Discussion

Evidence on which guidelines have been evaluated and which are associated with improved completeness of reporting is important for various stakeholders, including editors who consider which guidelines to endorse in their journal editorial policies.
Prospective evaluation of the usefulness of C-reactive protein in the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis in a sub-Saharan African region
Authors: West Boma A , Peterside Oliemen , Ugwu Rosemary O , Eneh Augusta U
Published: June 2012

Background

Sepsis is one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in the newborn. Early diagnosis and treatment is vital to improve outcome. The present study was therefore carried out to determine the usefulness of C-reactive protein (CRP) for evaluation of neonatal sepsis in Port Harcourt, Nigeria in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Method

Four hundred and twenty neonates with clinical suspicion of sepsis were prospectively studied over a 6 month period. Blood was obtained from each subject recruited for the qualitative estimation of CRP. Blood culture was used as gold standard for diagnosis of NNS.

Results

Of 420 neonates studied, 196 (46.7%) had positive CRP while 181 (43.1%) had positive blood culture. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of CRP were 74.0%, 74.1%, 68.4% and 79.0% respectively.

Conclusion

The qualitative method of estimating CRP which is cheap and rapid has moderate sensitivity, specificity and negative predictive value.
A systematic screen reveals new elements acting at the G2/M cell cycle control
Authors: Navarro Francisco J , Nurse Paul
Published: June 2012

Background

The major cell cycle control acting at the G2 to mitosis transition is triggered in all eukaryotes by cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe the activation of the G2/M CDK is regulated primarily by dephosphorylation of the conserved residue Tyr15 in response to the stress-nutritional response and cell geometry sensing pathways. To obtain a more complete view of the G2/M control we have screened systematically for gene deletions that advance cells prematurely into mitosis.

Results

A screen of 82% of fission yeast non-essential genes, comprising approximately 3,000 gene deletion mutants, identified 18 genes that act negatively at mitotic entry, 7 of which have not been previously described as cell cycle regulators. Eleven of the 18 genes function through the stress response and cell geometry sensing pathways, both of which act through CDK Tyr15 phosphorylation, and 4 of the remaining genes regulate the G2/M transition by inputs from hitherto unknown pathways. Three genes act independently of CDK Tyr15 phosphorylation and define additional uncharacterized molecular control mechanisms.

Conclusions

Despite extensive investigation of the G2/M control, our work has revealed new components of characterized pathways that regulate CDK Tyr15 phosphorylation and new components of novel mechanisms controlling mitotic entry.
Studying Human Disease Genes inCaenorhabditis elegans: A Molecular Genetics Laboratory Project
Authors: Cox-Paulson Elisabeth A. , Grana Theresa M. , Harris Michelle A. , Batzli Janet M.
Published: June 2012

Scientists routinely integrate information from various channels to explore topics under study. We designed a 4-wk undergraduate laboratory module that used a multifaceted approach to study a question in molecular genetics. Specifically, students investigated whether Caenorhabditis elegans can be a useful model system for studying genes associated with human disease. In a large-enrollment, sophomore-level laboratory course, groups of three to four students were assigned a gene associated with either breast cancer (brc-1), Wilson disease (cua-1), ovarian dysgenesis (fshr-1), or colon cancer (mlh-1). Students compared observable phenotypes of wild-type C. elegans and C. elegans with a homozygous deletion in the assigned gene. They confirmed the genetic deletion with nested polymerase chain reaction and performed a bioinformatics analysis to predict how the deletion would affect the encoded mRNA and protein. Students also performed RNA interference (RNAi) against their assigned gene and evaluated whether RNAi caused a phenotype similar to that of the genetic deletion. As a capstone activity, students prepared scientific posters in which they presented their data, evaluated whether C. elegans was a useful model system for studying their assigned genes, and proposed future directions. Assessment showed gains in understanding genotype versus phenotype, RNAi, common bioinformatics tools, and the utility of model organisms.