bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Abstract C47: Acetaminophen enhances the chemotherapeutic effect of cisplatin and paclitaxel on human ovarian carcinoma cells in vitro
Authors: Wu Yingjen Jeffrey , Neuwelt Alexander J. , Muldoon Leslie L. , Neuwelt Edward A.
Published: June 2012

Chemoresistance is commonly found in treating cancer patients. Acetaminophen enhances the cytotoxicity of cisplatin in human liver cancer cells by depleting glutathione and increasing production of toxic metabolites in vitro. The objective of this study was to investigate potential molecular mechanisms for chemoenhancement in nonhepatic cells. Human ovarian carcinoma SKOV3 cells were treated with cisplatin or paclitaxel with or without acetaminophen in vitro. Cellular mitochondrial membrane potential and reactive oxygen species concentration was measured by using JC-1 and DHR123 stain, respectively. Cellular platinum level was analyzed using ICP-MS. Apoptosis and signaling pathways were examined by immunoblotting and immunohistochemical analyses. A 2-h incubation with acetaminophen (10 mM) decreased cellular glutathione levels and increased mitochondrial membrane potential without affecting reactive oxygen species. Overnight acetaminophen treatment increased reactive oxygen species and enhanced both cisplatin- and paclitaxel-induced apoptosis. In contrast, the combination of acetaminophen with cisplatin but not paclitaxel blocked nuclear translocation of nrf2, a transcription factor that has been implicated in regulation of the antioxidant response. Pretreatment with acetaminophen for 2 h did not affect cellular platinum uptake when compared to cisplatin alone. Regardless of different oxidative stress pathways involved between cisplatin and paclitaxel, the addition of acetaminophen enhanced the cytotoxic effects of both chemotherapeutic drugs in human ovarian carcinoma cells. Our results suggested that acetaminophen could be used as a chemoenhancing adjuvant for conventional chemotherapy drugs in treating ovarian and other malignancies.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Second AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Basic Cancer Research; 2011 Sep 14-18; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(18 Suppl):Abstract nr C47.
Abstract C62: Cancer cell dependence on unsaturated fatty acids implicates stearoyl-coA desaturase as a target for cancer therapy
Authors: Roongta Urvashi V. , Lawrence R. Michael , Wong Tai W. , Rupnow Brent A. , Pabalan Jonathan G. , Wang Xinyu , Ryseck Rolf-Peter , Fargnoli Joseph , Henley Benjamin J. , Yang Wen-Pin , Zhu Jun , Madireddi Malavi T.
Published: June 2012

Emerging literature suggests that metabolic pathways play an important role in the maintenance and progression of human cancers. In particular, recent studies have implicated lipid biosynthesis and desaturation as a requirement for tumor cell survival. In the studies reported here, we aimed to understand whether tumor cells require the activity of either human isoform of stearoyl-CoA-desaturase (SCD1 or SCD5) for survival. Inhibition of SCD1 by siRNA or a small molecule antagonist results in strong induction of apoptosis and growth inhibition when tumor cells are cultured in reduced (2%) serum conditions but has little impact on cells cultured in 10% serum. Depletion of SCD5 had minimal effects on cell growth or apoptosis. Consistent with the observed dependence on SCD1 but not SCD5, levels of SCD1 protein increased in response to decreasing serum levels. Both induction of SCD1 protein and sensitivity to growth inhibition by SCD1 inhibition could be reversed by supplementing growth media with oleic acid, a product of the enzymatic reaction catalyzed by SCD1. Transcription profiling of cells treated with an SCD inhibitor revealed strong induction of markers of endoplasmic reticulum stress. Underscoring its importance in cancer, SCD1 protein was found to be highly expressed in a large percentage of human cancer specimens. SCD inhibition resulted in tumor growth delay in a human gastric cancer xenograft model. Altogether, these results suggest that desaturated fatty acids are required for tumor cell survival and that SCD may represent a viable target for the development of novel agents for cancer therapy.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Second AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Basic Cancer Research; 2011 Sep 14-18; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(18 Suppl):Abstract nr C62.
Abstract C65: Chemopreventive effects of Brazilian traditional medicine Tabebuia avellanedae on in vitro and in vivo carcinogetic systems.
Authors: Tokuda Harukuni , lida Akira , Suzuki Nobutaka
Published: June 2012

As part of an ongoing project to investigate the antitumor and antitumor promoting properties of Tabebuia avellanedae, its dry powder essence and its active compound, 5-hydroxy-2- {(1-hydroxymethyl)-naphtho 2,3-b} furan-4,9-dione (NQ-801) were carried out. Tabebuia avellanedae (Bignoniaceae) (TA), which is native in South America from Brazil to northern Argentina, is well known in traditional folk medicine used for the treatment of various disease during five hundred years. The inner bark of this plant produced in Brazil is distributed in Asia as a herb tea and healthy purpose. The application of a new screening procedure which utilizes the synergistic effect of short-chain fatty acids and phorbol esters in enabled rapid and easy detection of naturally occurring substances(anti-tumor promoters, chemopreventive agents) with inhibition of Epstein-Barr virus(EBV) activation, using human lymphoblastoid cells. The percentage of the inhibition of TPA-induced EBV-EA activation for these compounds were from 90% to 40%, at experimental concentrations. In addtion, we have now extended these investigations to a new tumorigenesis model in which we initiated the tumors with DMBA initiation and promoted with 1.7 nmol of TPA in two-stage mouse skin test and other models. The control animals exhibited a 100 % papilloma incidence at 20 weeks after promotion. However, treatment with the tested compounds(85 nmol) along with initiator and promoter, reduced the percentage of tumor bearing mice by between 13.3-33.3 at 20 weeks. Employing Western blot analysis studies, we found that H-Ras, MEK and p38 levels observed the effects against carcinogenesis. Base on our data, we suggest that one target of these natural source effect in mouse skin is the modulation of the MAPK signal pathway. These results provide a basis for further development of these botanical supplements for human cancer chemoprevention

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Second AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Basic Cancer Research; 2011 Sep 14-18; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(18 Suppl):Abstract nr C65.
Abstract IA23: Harnessing genetic dependencies in cancer therapy
Authors: Ashworth Alan
Published: June 2012

Many tumors harbor defects in their ability to maintain genomic integrity. This contributes to the mutational burden and likely fosters pathogenesis. We have been exploring therapeutic strategies to exploit these defects. We have used a synthetic lethal approach to target the defect in DNA repair by homologous recombination in tumors with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. This strategy using PARP inhibitors is showing considerable promise in the clinic. Here, I will describe the approach as well recent work defining determinants of sensitivity and resistance to PARP inhibitors. The application of the synthetic lethal approach to other cancer types will also be discussed. In addition, we have been using high- and medium-throughput RNAi screens to uncover new therapeutic targets for cancer as well as biomarkers of patients who might respond to specific treatments. In particular, I will discuss the integration of genomic, gene expression, and RNAi data to generate functional maps of cancer cell lines.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Second AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Basic Cancer Research; 2011 Sep 14-18; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(18 Suppl):Abstract nr IA23.
Abstract IA8: Natural killer cells in host defense against cancer
Authors: Lanier Lewis L.
Published: June 2012

Natural killer (NK) cells provide host defense against cancer and infections with pathogens. NK cells express a sophisticated repertoire of activating and inhibitory receptors that regulate their ability to discriminate between healthy cells and cells that have become transformed as a consequence of genomic aberration or infected by pathogens. NKG2D is an activating receptor on NK cells and T cells that detects host-encoded cell surface glycoproteins preferentially displayed by “stressed” cells. In humans these include the MICA, MICB, and ULBP molecules that are frequently over-expressed by many types of human cancers. Despite expression of these ligands, tumors nonetheless can continue to grow and evade elimination by the immune system. We will present and discuss new mechanisms by which tumors can evade the NKG2D system of immunosurveillance and allow tumor progression.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Second AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Basic Cancer Research; 2011 Sep 14-18; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(18 Suppl):Abstract nr IA8.
Abstract A74: Glycated hemoglobin and cancer incidence and mortality in the Atherosclerosis in Communities (ARIC) Study, 1990–2006
Authors: Joshu Corinne E. , Elizabeth Selvin , Prizment Anna E. , Dluzniewski Paul J. , Menke Andy , Folsom Aaron R. , Coresh Josef , Yeh Hsin C. , Brancati Frederick L. , Platz Elizabeth A.
Published: June 2012

Background: Diabetes is a risk factor for many cancers; chronic hyperglycemia is hypothesized to be, in part, explanatory. We evaluated the association between glycated hemoglobin, a time-integrated glycemia measure, and cancer incidence and mortality in non-diabetic and diabetic men and women.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study of 12,792 cancer-free participants attending the second visit (1990–1992) of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. We measured glycated hemoglobin in whole-blood samples using HPLC. Incident cancers were ascertained from registries and hospital records through 2006. We estimated multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HR) of cancer incidence and mortality for non-diabetic participants with values ≥5.7% (elevated), non-diabetic participants with <5.0% (low), and diabetic participants all compared with non-diabetic participants with 5.0–5.6% (normal).

Results: We ascertained 2,349 incident cancer cases and 887 cancer deaths. Compared with non-diabetic women with normal glycated hemoglobin, non-diabetic women with elevated values had an increased risk of cancer incidence (HR:1.24; 95% CI:1.07,1.44) and mortality (HR:1.58; 95% CI:1.23,2.05) as did diabetic women (incidence, HR:1.30; 95% CI:1.06,1.60, mortality, HR:1.96; 95% CI:1.40,2.76). Non-diabetic women with low values also had increased risk. Diabetic women with good glycemic control (<7.0%) had a lower cancer risk than those with higher values. Glycated hemoglobin in non-diabetic and diabetic men, and diabetes were not associated with risk.

Conclusions: Our findings support the hypothesis that chronic hyperglycemia, even in the non-diabetic range, increases cancer risk in women, but not men. Maintaining normal glycated hemoglobin overall, and good glycemic control among diabetic adults, may reduce the burden of cancer.

Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2011;4(10 Suppl):A74.
Abstract B112: Physical activity, sedentary behavior, and leukocyte telomere length in women
Authors: Du Mengmeng , Prescott Jennifer , Kraft Peter , Han Jiali , Giovannucci Edward , Hankinson Susan E. , De Vivo Immaculata
Published: June 2012

Telomeres are repetitive DNA-protein complexes that protect the ends of linear chromosomes and maintain genomic stability. They undergo erosion with each cycle of cell division, and oxidative stress and inflammation accelerate this shortening. Critically short telomeres may lead to several processes implicated in carcinogenesis, including chromosomal degradation, end-to-end fusion, and atypical recombination. Telomere length in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) is a potential indicator of cellular aging and shortened leukocyte telomere length (LTL) has been linked to an increased risk of various cancer types, such as bladder, lung, and renal-cell. Regular physical activity reduces the risk of developing many cancers, and studies have observed lower levels of oxidative stress and inflammation in regularly active individuals. However, few population-based studies have examined the relation between physical activity and LTL, and none has addressed sedentary behavior. In addition, information is scarce on the role of exercise intensity and type in this relation. The authors therefore examined cross-sectionally the association between physical activity, sedentary behavior, and LTL among 7,813 women ages 43–70 in the Nurses' Health Study. Participants self-reported activity by questionnaire in 1988 and 1992, and sedentary behavior in 1992. Telomere length in PBLs, collected in 1989–1990, was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Least squares mean telomere length (z-score) was calculated after adjustment for age and other potential confounders. Total activity was positively associated with LTL. Compared with the least active women, those moderately or highly active had a 0.07 standard deviation (SD) increase in LTL (p-trend=0.02), a difference corresponding on average to 4.4 years of aging. Greater moderate-or vigorous-intensity activity was also associated with increased LTL; women who exercised 2–4 hours per week, an amount corresponding to current US guidelines, had the longest telomeres (0.11 SD increase for 2–4 vs. <1 hours/week; 0.04 SD increase for 7+ vs. <1 hours/week; p-trend=0.02). Among the individual activities, greater calisthenics or aerobics was associated with longer telomeres (0.10 SD increase for >2.5 vs. 0 hours/week; p-trend=0.04). Associations remained after additionally adjusting for body mass index. Time spent on other activities and time spent sitting were unassociated with LTL. Although associations were modest, these findings suggest that even moderate amounts of activity may be associated with longer telomeres, providing insight into the understanding of how exercise may influence cancer risk on the cellular level. These findings warrant further investigation in large prospective studies.

Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2011;4(10 Suppl):B112.
Abstract B95: A dietary pattern that is associated with C-peptide and risk of colorectal cancer in women
Authors: Fung Teresa , Hu Frank , Schulze Matthias , Pollak Michael , Wu Tianying , Fuchs Charles , Giovannucci Edward
Published: June 2012

Higher serum C-peptide concentrations is associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Therefore, we used diet and C-peptide information from a subsample of women from a large cohort and applied stepwise linear regression to identify food groups that correlated with serum levels of C-peptide. These food contributors then formed dietary patterns for predicting the risk of CRC in the main cohort of women. In up to 22 years of follow-up, we ascertained 985 cases of CRC and 758 colon cancer cases. After adjusting for confounders, we observed that the C-peptide pattern, characterized by higher meat, fish, and sweetened beverage intake, but lower coffee, high fat dairy, and whole grains intake, showed direct association with CRC risk (comparing extreme quintiles, RR=1.35, 95% CI=1.07–1.70. p trend=0.009). In stratified analysis, we did not observe an association between the C-peptide pattern and colon cancer among lean and active women (RR comparing extreme quintiles=0.84, 95% CI=0.50–1.41, p trend=0.23). However, among women who were overweight or sedentary, RR for the same comparison was 1.58 (95% CI=1.20–2.07, p trend=0.002) (p for interaction=0.007). In addition, the association between the C peptide pattern and serum C peptide concentrations is also stronger in the sedentary or overweight group (r=0.23, p<0.0001 vs r=0.15, p=0.01 among lean and active women). In conclusion, we derived a dietary pattern that correlated with C peptide concentrations. This pattern was associated with an increase of colon cancer, especially among women who were at risk for insulin resistance.

Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2011;4(10 Suppl):B95.
Get With The Guidelines Stroke Performance Indicators in a Brazilian Tertiary Hospital
Authors: de Carvalho Flavio Augusto , Schwamm Lee H. , Kuster Gustavo W. , Bueno Alves Monique , Cendoroglo Neto Miguel , Sampaio Silva Gisele
Published: June 2012

Background: Stroke is the fourth leading killer in the US, the first in Brazil and a leading cause of adult long-term disability in both countries. In spite of widespread recommendation, clinical practice guidelines have had limited effect on changing physician behavior. Recognizing that both knowledge and acceptance of guidelines do not necessarily imply guideline adherence, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) developed a national stroke quality improvement program, the ‘Get With The Guidelines (GWTG) stroke’. Even though GWTG has produced remarkable results in the US, other countries have not adopted the program. Methods: We compared the stroke treatment quality indicators from a private Brazilian tertiary hospital to those published by the GWTG stroke program. Seven predefined performance measures selected by the GWTG stroke program as targets for stroke quality improvement were evaluated: (1) tissue plasminogen activator use in patients who arrived <2 h from symptom onset; (2) antithrombotic medication use within 48 h of admission; (3) deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis within 48 h of admission for nonambulatory patients; (4) discharge use of antithrombotics; (5) discharge use of anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation; (6) dosing of LDL and treatment for LDL >100 mg/dl in patients meeting the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel (NCEP) III guidelines, and (7) counseling for smoking cessation. Results: A total of 343 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke (70.8%) or transient ischemic attack (29.2%) were evaluated from August 2008 to December 2010. Antithrombotic medication within 48 h was used in 98.5% of the eligible patients and deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis in 100%. A total of 123 patients arrived within 2 h from symptoms onset, 23 were eligible for intravenous thrombolysis and 16 were treated (69.5%). All eligible patients were discharged using antithrombotic medication, and 86.9% of the eligible patients who had atrial fibrillation received anticoagulation. Only 56.1% of the eligible patients were treated according to the NCEP III guidelines. Counseling for smoking cessation was done in 63.6% of the eligible patients. Conclusions: Our study is the first in Brazil and the second outside the US to analyze compliance with the GWTG recommendations. Close attention to a better implementation of these measures may produce an improvement in such results similar to what happened after the full implementation of the program in the US. Whether or not a US disease-based registry such as GWTG can be adopted with success beyond the US is still a matter of debate.
Understanding Hypernatremia
Authors: Sam Ramin , Feizi Iraj
Published: June 2012

Understanding hypernatremia is at times difficult for many clinicians. However, hypernatremia can often be deciphered easily with some basic understanding of water and sodium balance. Here, the basic pathophysiological abnormalities underlying the development of sodium disorders are reviewed, and case examples are given. Hypernatremia often arises in the hospital, especially in the intensive care units due to the combination of (1) not being able to drink water; (2) inability to concentrate the urine (most often from having kidney failure); (3) osmotic diuresis from having high serum urea concentrations, and (4) large urine or stool outputs.
Performance of Drought Indices for Ecological, Agricultural, and Hydrological Applications
Authors: Vicente-Serrano Sergio M. , Beguería Santiago , Lorenzo-Lacruz Jorge , Camarero Jesús Julio , López-Moreno Juan I. , Azorin-Molina Cesar , Revuelto Jesús , Morán-Tejeda Enrique , Sanchez-Lorenzo Arturo
Published: June 2012

In this study, the authors provide a global assessment of the performance of different drought indices for monitoring drought impacts on several hydrological, agricultural, and ecological response variables. For this purpose, they compare the performance of several drought indices [the standardized precipitation index (SPI); four versions of the Palmer drought severity index (PDSI); and the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI)] to predict changes in streamflow, soil moisture, forest growth, and crop yield. The authors found a superior capability of the SPEI and the SPI drought indices, which are calculated on different time scales than the Palmer indices to capture the drought impacts on the aforementioned hydrological, agricultural, and ecological variables. They detected small differences in the comparative performance of the SPI and the SPEI indices, but the SPEI was the drought index that best captured the responses of the assessed variables to drought in summer, the season in which more drought-related impacts are recorded and in which drought monitoring is critical. Hence, the SPEI shows improved capability to identify drought impacts as compared with the SPI. In conclusion, it seems reasonable to recommend the use of the SPEI if the responses of the variables of interest to drought are not known a priori.
Teaching Psychodynamics in the Twenty-First Century
Authors: Cabaniss Deborah L.
Published: June 2012

A lack of clarity in psychoanalytic education has negatively affected the educational experience of candidates now in training and makes it difficult for prospective candidates to understand the field. Three basic educational concepts—learning objectives, operationalizing, and adult learning theory—can help psychoanalysts teach and assess their students in a clearer, more objective way. Using these concepts has broad implications for both psychodynamic and psychoanalytic education in the twenty-first century.
African American Men’s Beliefs About Mental Illness, Perceptions of Stigma, and Help-Seeking Barriers
Authors: Ward Earlise C. , Besson Doriane D.
Published: June 2012

Little is known about African American men’s beliefs about mental illness. A descriptive qualitative study, using the common sense model (CSM), examined African American men’s beliefs about mental illness, perceptions of stigma associated with mental illness, and barriers to help-seeking. A total of 17 community-dwelling African American men participated in individual interviews. Dimensional analysis guided by the CSM showed most of the men identified mental illness causal factors consistent with the biopsychosocial model of mental disorders. They believed mental illness is a chronic disorder having negative consequences and reported experiencing barriers to help seeking. In contrast with previous studies, most men in the present study did not perceive stigma associated with mental illness and did not identify stigma as a barrier to help seeking. They were open to help seeking, were optimistic about professional treatment, encouraged others to seek treatment, and expressed strong interest in mental health research. Implications for counseling psychology research and practice are discussed.
Provider–Client Interaction in Methadone Treatment Clinics in China
Authors: Li Li , Wu Zunyou , Cao Xiaobin , Zhang Linglin
Published: June 2012

This study examines provider–client interactions in the context of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) in China. Service providers were recruited from six methadone clinics. A total of 41 providers were enrolled in the study and participated in an assessment from February to March 2010. Descriptive and multiple regression analyses were performed. Providers with a higher level of negative attitude toward drug users were less likely than others to interact with clients. Female providers were less likely to have negative attitudes toward drug users as compared with their male counterparts. Doctors were more likely than others to have negative attitudes toward drug users. Knowledge of MMT was not related to either negative attitude toward drug users or to provider–client interaction. The findings indicate an urgent need to address the issue of provider attitudes, which can impact interactions with clients and influence efforts to maintain treatment retention and outcomes for drug users.
Crime and Place
Authors: Wells L. Edward , Weisheit Ralph A.
Published: June 2012

Methamphetamine laboratories have been a widely variable problem across the United States, very problematic in some communities but not at all in others. This study analyzes the variation in methamphetamine labs using demographic and geographic information on 17,720 seized laboratories. The analysis found that traditional community-level factors representing economic disadvantage, social disorganization, and civic community theories demonstrated little power to predict the presence of methamphetamine laboratories, although they were useful in predicting other types of crime. A single spatial lag variable measuring a county’s geographic proximity to other counties with drug laboratory seizures accounted for almost half of the variance in meth lab prevalence and contributed substantially to the explained variance in index crime arrests and drug arrests. The findings demonstrate the utility of spatial lag variables in assessing proximity effects in explaining crime patterns, while demonstrating that fully explaining different forms of crime may require different theoretical models.
Enzymatic degradation behavior of silk fibroin fiber treated by γ-ray irradiation
Authors: Wang Jian-Nan , Liu Zhi-Wu , Yang Yun-Xing , Huang Hai-Yan
Published: June 2012

Silk fibroin fiber from Bombyx mori has the advantages of superior tensile strength, non-toxicity, and good biocompatibility. However, its dense crystal structure makes implanted silk fibroin fiber resistant to biodegradation in the body. In the work described herein, silk fibroin fiber was treated with nine different dosages (0−3000 kGy) of Cobalt-60 (60Co) γ-rays, and the degradation performances of the irradiated silk fibroin fibers in collagenase IA (digestion for 30 days) were investigated. The results showed that the degradation leaching rate increased by 25, 35, and 58% at doses of 100, 200, and 500 kGy, respectively, and the diameter was about 62−65% compared with that in the control group. At a dose of 100 kGy, clear degradation stripes appeared on the surface of the silk fibroin fibers, and significantly increased at a dose of 200 kGy. With further increases of 60Co dose, the stripes deepened and turned into cracks. Degradation increased in the amorphous regions of silk fibroin fiber after treatment with γ-rays. With increasing doses of 60Co, degradation also occurred in crystalline areas and the silk II structure was partly converted into silk I. Our studies have shown that appropriate doses (such as 30−500 kGy) of γ-ray pre-treatment on silk fibroin fiber can promote its biological degradation.
Morphology and spectral characteristics of a luminous fiber containing a rare earth strontium aluminate
Authors: Yan Yanhong , Ge Mingqiao , Li Yonggui , Kumar DNT
Published: June 2012

The long afterglow strontium aluminate phosphor SrAl2O4: Eu2+, Dy3+ was prepared by a solid-state reaction method. The luminous fiber was prepared by melt spinning mixturing this complex and polyethylene terephthalate. The morphology and optical properties of the products had been characterized. Scanning electron microscope photographs indicated that rare earth aluminate salts were distributed on the fiber surface. X-ray diffraction diffusion data revealed that the crystal lattice of the polymer had not been significantly affected by the presence of the phosphor. The excitation spectrum showed broad bands in the ultraviolet and visible regions, and emission spectrum of the luminous fiber was shown to be red-shifted with a peak at 550 nm compared with that of the phosphor at 520 nm. The afterglow intensity of the luminous fiber decayed over an extended period, following an initial sharp reduction. The chromaticity diagram revealed a significant difference in the intensity of the luminous fiber and the phosphor, but only a minor color difference between them. The breaking strength and elongation of the luminous fiber were slightly below those of a normal polyester fiber.
Impact of material, structure and relaxation process parameters of elasticized single-knitted fabrics on loop length
Authors: Cuden Alenka Pavko , Hladnik Ales , Sluga Franci
Published: June 2012

The development of knitted fabrics with incorporated elastane has increased in recent decades. Knitting with these elasticized yarns usually results in a very compact structure. Loop length is considered to be the primary parameter for knitted structures. Consequently, knowledge of all factors influencing loop length is vital for planning yarn consumption, comfort fit, quality, performance and aesthetic properties of knitted fabrics made from elasticized yarns. The objective of this research was to study the impact of material, knitted structure and relaxation process parameters on loop length. In addition, the objective was to examine the differences in loop length of single weft knitted fabrics, produced from different types of elasticized and non-elasticized yarns. For both groups of knitted fabrics, elasticized and non-elasticized, knitted fabric density and relaxation process influence the loop length most of all. Loop length decreases during the process of consolidation, but this decrease is not substantial. Addition of elastane does not significantly influence the loop length.
Penetration of different nanoparticles through melt-blown filter media used for respiratory protective devices
Authors: Brochocka Agnieszka , Makowski Krzysztof , Majchrzycka Katarzyna
Published: June 2012

The appearance of new dangers in the form of harmful aerosols containing nanoparticles has necessitated work on ensuring effective protection of humans’ respiratory systems. So far, there is no uniform method, which would make it possible to classify filtering devices, for evaluating the efficiency of respiratory protective devices against nanoaerosols. The authors assessed the morphology of various nanoaerosols of NaCl, titanium dioxide in two forms, anatase and rutile, and aluminosilicate based on observations using a scanning microscope. Then the efficiency of filtration of meltblown fabrics with surface densities of 30, 50, 70, and 90 g/m2 against those nanoaerosols were tested. The experimental results were subjected to the theoretical analysis based on filtration theory. For all the fabric types, similar filtration efficiencies were obtained irrespective of the morphological structure of the nanoaerosol particles. The theoretical predictions are in good agreement with the experimental results. The conclusion is therefore drawn that equipment can be evaluated based on testing of filtration efficiency against any tested aerosols.
Influence of fiber diameter, fiber combinations and solid volume fraction on air filtration properties in nonwovens
Authors: Payen Julien , Vroman Philippe , Lewandowski Maryline , Perwuelz Anne , Callé-Chazelet Sandrine , Thomas Dominique
Published: June 2012

In air filtration, nonwoven materials are known to be pertinent structures for fine filtration and moderate pressure drop. In order to develop a filter that combines good permeability and high efficiency, it is important to identify the relevant structural parameters of the nonwoven. The main criteria studied in this paper are fiber fineness, solid volume fraction and basis length (total length of fiber in unit area of nonwoven). The effect of combining different fiber diameters in order to reach the best compromise is also investigated. Our results show that the use of binary blends of different fiber diameters improves overall filtration behavior, in comparison to nonwoven filters with equivalent unimodal diameter distribution. A theoretical filtration model is used to predict filtration behavior for different structural characteristics and these predictions are compared to experimental results. However, this comparison demonstrates the limits of existing models in the case of fiber blends.
Children’s and their friends’ moral reasoning
Authors: Gasser Luciano , Malti Tina
Published: June 2012

Friends’ moral characteristics such as their moral reasoning represent an important social contextual factor for children’s behavioral socialization. Guided by this assumption, we compared the effects of children’s and friends’ moral reasoning on their aggressive behavior in a low-risk sample of elementary school children. Peer nominations and teacher reports were used to assess children’s aggressive behavior and friendships. During individual interviews, moral reasoning was measured by justifications following moral judgments and moral emotion attributions. Results revealed that, compared to individuals’ moral reasoning, friends’ moral reasoning was more consistently related to children’s aggressive behavior. Moreover, friends’ aggressive behavior mediated the relationship between friends’ moral reasoning and children’s aggressive behavior. The findings provide evidence for the important role that friends’ moral development plays in children’s behavioral socialization, and highlight the need for integrated, systematic approaches to moral development and friendship relations.
Religiosity, values, and acculturation
Authors: Güngör Derya , Bornstein Marc H. , Phalet Karen
Published: June 2012

We address the understudied religious dimension of acculturation in acculturating adolescents who combine a religious Islamic heritage with a secularized Christian mainstream culture. The religiosity of 197 Turkish-Belgian adolescents was compared with that of 366 age-mates in Turkey (the heritage culture) and 203 in Belgium (the mainstream culture) and related to cultural values, acculturation orientations, and ethnic identification. Belgian adolescents showed lower and declining religiosity with age, whereas Turkish and Turkish-Belgian adolescents were more religious regardless of age. Acculturating adolescents reaffirmed religion as compared with monocultural adolescents in Turkey. Religious reaffirmation was related to cultural values of interdependence, heritage culture maintenance, and ethnic identification.
Family Violence and Aggression and Their Associations With Psychosocial Functioning in Jamaican Adolescents
Authors: Smith Delores E. , Moore Todd M.
Published: June 2012

The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationships among selected family interaction variables and psychosocial outcomes in a sample of Jamaican adolescents. The authors hypothesized that adolescent psychosocial outcomes would be negatively associated with physical violence, verbal aggression would be more potent than physical violence, and the combined effect of all aggression and violence would be more detrimental than either form of aggression by itself. Overall, the results supported the authors’ hypotheses about the detrimental effects of negative family interactions on children’s well-being. All the parent–child and interadult variables were positively associated with problematic adolescents’ adjustment. However, the verbal aggression variables indicated a greater adverse effect than the physical violence variables. Additionally, the combined effect of parent–child and interadult aggression and violence indicated greater detriment to adjustment than each factor by itself. Interpretation of the findings within the Jamaican context and direction for future research are discussed.
Veno-right ventricular cannulation reduces recirculation in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
Authors: Lindstrom SJ , Mennen MT , Rosenfeldt FL , Salmonsen RF
Published: June 2012

Background:

Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation has several advantages over veno-arterial support for patients with severe reversible respiratory failure. However, recirculation can limit oxygen delivery as pump flow increases. This could be ameliorated by placing the return catheter in the right ventricle instead of the central veins. We compared recirculation in veno-right ventricular support with that in conventional veno-venous support and its relationship with pump flow.

Methods:

Five greyhound dogs were sequentially cannulated percutaneously for both veno-venous and veno-right ventricular support. Recirculation was measured by comparing oxygen levels in the circuit drainage and return lines before and immediately after a sudden increase in circuit oxygenation at pump flows between 0.5 L/min and 4 L/min for both modalities.

Results:

Recirculation was reduced in veno-right ventricular support compared with conventional veno-venous support at 4 L/min pump flow (8.4% versus 37.9%, p=0.0076) and increased less with increases in pump flow (2.9% per 1 L/min vs. 11.1% per 1 L/min, p<0.0001).

Conclusions:

Recirculation can be dramatically reduced by returning blood into the right ventricle, which improves oxygen delivery to the lungs and the systemic circulation. The design of specialized catheters may facilitate percutaneous ventricular cannulation, improve safety and further reduce recirculation.
Orientation and mobility training for adults with low vision: a new standardized approach
Authors: Zijlstra GA Rixt , Ballemans Judith , Kempen Gertrudis IJM
Published: June 2012

Background:

Orientation and mobility training aims to facilitate independent functioning and participation in the community of people with low vision.

Objective:

(1) To gain insight into current practice regarding orientation and mobility training, and (2) to develop a theory-driven standardized version of this training to teach people with low vision how to orientate and be safe in terms of mobility.

Study of current practice:

Insight into current practice and its strengths and weaknesses was obtained via reviewing the literature, observing orientation and mobility training sessions ( n = 5) and interviewing Dutch mobility trainers ( n = 18). Current practice was mainly characterized by an individual, face-to-face orientation and mobility training session concerning three components: crystallizing client’s needs, providing information and training skills. A weakness was the lack of a (structured) protocol based on evidence or theory.

New theory-driven training:

A new training protocol comprising two face-to-face sessions and one telephone follow-up was developed. Its content is partly based on the components of current practice, yet techniques from theoretical frameworks (e.g. social-cognitive theory and self-management) are incorporated.

Discussion:

A standardized, tailor-made orientation and mobility training for using the identification cane is available. The new theory-driven standardized training is generally applicable for teaching the use of every low-vision device. Its acceptability and effectiveness are currently being evaluated in a randomized controlled trial.
Interaction of Corynebacterium Pseudotuberculosis With Ovine Cells in Vitro
Authors: Valdivia J. , Real F. , Acosta F. , Acosta B. , Déniz S. , Ramos-vivas J. , Elaamri F. , Padilla D.
Published: June 2012

Caseous lymphadenitis is an infectious and contagious disease caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, with a worldwide distribution and high prevalence in small ruminant populations. This disease causes significant economic loss in small ruminants through reduced meat, wool, and milk production. C. pseudotuberculosis can also affect horses, domestic and wild large ruminants, swine, and man. It is considered an occupational zoonosis for humans. As part of in vitro investigations of the pathogenesis of C. pseudotuberculosis, this study analyzed its capacity to adhere to and invade the FLK-BLV-044 cell line, derived from ovine embryonic kidney cells. C. pseudotuberculosis showed a measurable capacity to adhere to and invade this cell line with no significant differences between the four strains assessed. The incubation of the cell line at 4ºC, pre-incubation with sugars, complete and heat inactivated antiserum, and heat-killed and ultraviolet-killed bacteria produced a significant ( P < 0.05) decrease in the invasion efficiency or inability to invade the cell line. Plate counting and fluorescence studies showed intracellular bacteria for up to 6 days. Non-phagocytic cells may therefore act as a suitable environment for C. pseudotuberculosis survival and play a role in the spread of infection and/or maintenance of a carrier state.
From the cultural contradictions of capitalism to the creative economy
Authors: Roberts David
Published: June 2012

The geography of contemporary bohemia is integral to Richard Florida’s thesis of the rise of a new creative class in the USA. The strong correlation between the presence of bohemians and innovative high-tech industries in a number of American cities stands in sharp contrast to the historical image of a bohemian subculture of artists and intellectuals, defined by their antagonistic relationship to bourgeois society. Rather than a sign of social marginality, bohemian life-styles have now become a marker of the ‘new economy’, variously labeled the creative, the cultural or the aesthetic economy. In my paper I want to compare and contrast these two opposed images of bohemia – the 19th-century idea of bohemia as the libertarian other of liberal-bourgeois society and the new, highly topical economic geography of bohemia – with the following questions in mind: How and why does the 19th-century artistic critique of capitalism mutate into an expression of the new spirit of capitalism? Does this change from an antagonistic to an affirmative relationship signal the emergence of a new spirit of art that can be related to the new spirit of capitalism?
Saying things that hurt
Authors: Heins Volker
Published: June 2012

This article suggests reading Theodor Adorno not as a notoriously pessimistic sociologist but as a committed public educator. Partly drawing on still unpublished transcripts of lectures, public talks and radio broadcasts from the 1950s and ’60s, the article offers an account of Adorno’s concept and practice of a ‘democratic pedagogy’. The key question is how we should understand the difference between Adorno the social philosopher, on the one hand, and Adorno the educator, on the other. It is argued that Adorno’s pedagogical interventions are not a footnote to his social theory, but a key to understanding his entire oeuvre.
Getting Engaged
Authors: Srivastava Prashant
Published: June 2012

Corporations across the country have invested heavily in creating wellness and prevention programs that keep their employees healthy. Their bigger challenge has been getting employees to take advantage of them. By harnessing the relatively new subdiscipline of behavioral economics, some organizations are using sophisticated strategies for “nudging” employees toward making better health care choices. From a diversified energy company with thousands of employees to the state of Nebraska, the good news is that they are seeing results.
Relationship Between Growth and Prosperity in the 100 Largest U.S. Metropolitan Areas
Authors: Fodor Eben
Published: June 2012

This study examines the relationship between growth and economic prosperity in the 100 largest U.S. metropolitan areas to determine whether certain benefits commonly attributed to growth are supported by statistical data. The annual population growth rate of each metro area from 2000 to 2009 is used to compare economic well-being in terms of per capita income, unemployment rate, and poverty rate. The study finds that faster growth rates are associated with lower incomes, greater income declines, and higher poverty rates. Unemployment rates tend to be higher in faster growing areas, though the correlation is not statistically significant at the 95% confidence level. The 25 slowest growing metro areas outperformed the 25 fastest growing in every category and averaged $8,455 more in per capita personal income in 2009.
A hierarchical functional solving framework with hybrid mappings for supporting the design process in the conceptual phase
Authors: Zhang Meng , Li Guo-Xi , Gong Jing-Zhong , Wu Bao-Zhong
Published: June 2012

Inheritance and innovation play important roles in the conceptual design phase. Inheritance can achieve rapid design by reusing existing design knowledge, while innovation can realize innovative design by developing creative ideas and concepts. Thus, an ideal conceptual design model should administer to the implementation of inheritance and innovation. Considering rational design domains and mapping relations is beneficial to knowledge representation and inheritance. According with the thinking process of humans it is propitious to human intervention and innovation. To meet these requirements, this article proposes a hierarchical functional solving framework with hybrid mappings. In this framework, there are four design domains including function, working principle, behaviour and structure. The reasoning process of product function design consists of four mapping patterns, which are solving mapping pattern, reformulation mapping pattern, decomposition mapping pattern and derivative mapping pattern, totalling 15 basic mapping relations. The evolutionary logic of these mapping relations is developed in this article. In addition, the flow of the solving process from each design domain is established. The procedure in applying the proposed framework to the conceptual design is presented subsequently. Moreover, several embodiment strategies ensuring the effectiveness of identified design solutions are also proposed, including performance match analysis, behavioural compatibility analysis and structural compatibility analysis. Finally, a design case of the telescopic shuttle mechanism of an automatic storage/retrieval machine is studied to illustrate and demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed framework.
Personalized customization in product design using customer attributes and artificial neural network
Authors: Wang Huanhuan , Yang Qingping
Published: June 2012

Increasingly, customers choose products in terms of the experience and enjoyment that the product can bring to them, in addition to functional performance and usability. These experiences involve a range of customer emotional feelings. Correct understanding of customer feelings and subsequently relating them to new product elements or features, are the important issues for a successful design. While this has been addressed by technologies, like kansei engineering, the difficulty remains in handling the differences of an individual kansei. This article proposes the use of artificial neural networks to solve this problem and to explore the relationship between customer attributes and product evaluation. Initial results have established the feasibility and success of this method. It will find application in product design and in particular personalized customization.