bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inflammatory cells and apoptosis in respiratory and limb muscles of patients with COPD
Authors: Barreiro Esther , Ferrer Dolores , Sanchez Francisco , Minguella Joan , Marin-Corral Judith , Martinez-Llorens Juana , Lloreta Josep , Gea Joaquim
Published: June 2011

Discrepancies exist regarding the involvement of cellular inflammation and apoptosis in the muscle dysfunction of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with preserved body composition. We explored whether levels of inflammatory cells and apoptosis were increased in both respiratory and limb muscles of COPD patients without nutritional abnormalities. In the vastus lateralis, external intercostals, and diaphragms of severe and moderate COPD patients with normal body composition, and in healthy subjects, intramuscular leukocytes and macrophage levels were determined (immunohistochemistry). Muscle structure was also evaluated. In the diaphragm and vastus lateralis of severe and moderate COPD patients and controls, apoptotic nuclei were explored using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay, electron microscopy, and caspase-3 expression. In COPD patients compared with controls, diaphragm and intercostal levels of inflammatory cells were extremely low and not significantly different. However, in the vastus lateralis of the severe patients, inflammatory cell counts, although also very low, were significantly greater. In those patients, TUNEL-positive nuclei levels were also significantly greater in diaphragms and vastus lateralis. A significant inverse relationship was found between quadriceps TUNEL-positive nuclei levels and muscle force. Ultrastructural apoptotic nuclei revealed no differences in respiratory or limb muscles between COPD patients and controls. Muscle caspase-3 expression did not differ between patients and controls. In severe COPD patients with preserved body composition, while increased apoptotic nuclei seems to be a contributor to their muscle dysfunction, cellular inflammation does not. The increased numbers of TUNEL-positive nuclei in their muscles suggest that they may also be exposed to a continuous repair/remodeling process.
A New Hybrid Algorithm for Solving a System of Generalized Mixed Equilibrium Problems, Solving a Family of Quasi‐ϕ‐Asymptotically Nonexpansive Mappings, and Obtaining Common Fixed Points in Banach Space
Authors: Tan J. F. , Chang S. S.
Published: June 2011

The main purpose of this paper is to introduce a new hybrid iterative scheme for finding a common element of set of solutions for a system of generalized mixed equilibrium problems, set of common fixed points of a family of quasi‐ϕ‐asymptotically nonexpansive mappings, and null spaces of finite family of γ‐inverse strongly monotone mappings in a
2‐uniformly convex and uniformly smooth real Banach space. The results presented in the paper improve and extend the corresponding results announced by some authors.
Effect of Correlated Non-Gaussian Quadratures on the Performance of Binary Modulations
Authors: Aalo Valentine A. , Efthymoglou George P.
Published: June 2011

The received signal in many wireless communication systems comprises of the sum of waves with random amplitudes and random phases. In general, the composite signal consists of correlated nonidentical Gaussian quadrature components due to the central limit theorem (CLT). However, in the presence of a small number of random waves, the CLT may not always hold and the quadrature components may not be Gaussian distributed. In this paper, we assume that the fading environment is such that the quadrature components follow a correlated bivariate Student-t joint distribution. Then, we derive the envelope distribution of the received signal and obtain new expressions for the exact and high signal-to-noise (SNR) approximate average BER for binary modulations. It also turns out that the derived envelope pdf approaches the Rayleigh and Hoyt distributions as limiting cases. Using the derived envelope pdf, we investigate the effect of correlated nonidentical quadratures on the error rate performance of digital communication systems.
Improvements on Noninvasive Blood Glucose Biosensors Using Wavelets for Quick Fault Detection
Authors: Campetelli Germán , Zumoffen David , Basualdo Marta
Published: June 2011

Noninvasive blood glucose sensors are still under development stage considering that they are far from being suitable for use in anartificial pancreas. The latter has three main parts: the blood glucose sensor, the insulin pump and the controller. However, for the biosensor analyzed here, some common failures such as signal shifts and unreal picks were found. They must be taken into account, for computing the correct insulin dosage for diabetic persons. Hence, a fault detection system based on discrete wavelets transform (DWT) is applied here. The main idea is, when the fault occurs, to do a proper measurement compensation for sending the corrected value to the predictive functional controller (PFC) algorithm. The study is done by reproducing the fault on the blood glucose measurements. They are obtained from a mathematical model of the endocrine system of an adult diabetic patient. This model was approved by the FDA in 2008. Then, the simulation environment includes faulty blood glucose measurements and a fault diagnosis and identification (FDI) system based on DWT. The FDI system gives to the PFC algorithm the correct information to turn it into a fault-tolerant controller (FTC). The main goal is to deliver the correct insulin dosage to the patient.
Essential Oils of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants as Botanical Biocide for Management of Coconut Eriophyid Mite (Aceria guerreronisKeifer)
Authors: Patnaik Susmita , Rout Kadambini , Pal Sasmita , Panda Prasanna Kumar , Mukherjee Partha Sarathi , Sahoo Satyabrata
Published: June 2011

The present study investigated the efficiency of essential oils extracted from different aromatic and medicinal plant sources onAceria guerreronisKeifer, one of the serious pests of coconut. The essential oils and the herbal extracts were prepared in two different formulations and were used both in laboratory and field conditions to assess the efficiency of the formulations against the coconut mite infestation. The field trial results showed that reduction in infestation intensity was found to vary between 73.44% and 44.50% at six different locations of trial farms with an average of 64.18% after four spells of treatment. The average number of live mites was higher in the third month old nuts both in the control as well as the treated nut samples. The laboratory experiments on the efficacy of botanical biocide showed that the time taken for dehydration and shriveling of body cells took only sixty seconds. The multilocational field trials revealed the overall efficiency of the biocide to significantly control the eriophyid mite in coconut crop in an ecofriendly and sustainable manner without adopting any chemical pesticide.
Effect of Changing Solvents on Poly(-Caprolactone) Nanofibrous Webs Morphology
Authors: Gholipour Kanani A. , Bahrami S. Hajir
Published: June 2011

Polycaprolactone nanofibers were prepared using five different solvents (glacial acetic acid, 90% acetic acid, methylene chloride/DMF 4/1, glacial formic acid, and formic acid/acetone 4/1) by electrospinning process. The effect of solution concentrations (5%, 10%, 15% and 20%) and applied voltages during spinning (10 KV to 20 KV) on the nanofibers formation, morphology, and structure were investigated. SEM micrographs showed successful production of PCL nanofibers with different solvents. With increasing the polymer concentration, the average diameter of nanofibers increases. In glacial acetic acid solvent, above 15% concentration bimodal web without beads was obtained. In MC/DMF beads was observed only at 5% solution concentration. However, in glacial formic acid a uniform web without beads were obtained above 10% and the nanofibers were brittle. In formic acid/acetone solution the PCL web formed showed lots of beads along with fine fibers. Increasing applied voltage resulted in fibers with larger diameter.
Lactobacillus rhamnosusGG as an Effective Probiotic for Murine Giardiasis
Authors: Goyal Nisha , Tiwari Ram Prakash , Shukla Geeta
Published: June 2011

The gut microflora is an important constituent in the intestinal mucosal barrier and has been introduced as the concept of probiotic therapy that beneficially affects the host by improving its intestinal microbial balance. Therefore, the main objective of the study was to explore the protective potential of various lactobacilli strains for murine giardiasis. By experimentation, it was found that the probiotic supplementation of eitherLactobacillus casei,L. acidophilus,L. plantarum, orL. rhamnosusGG, 7 days prior to inoculation withG. lambliatrophozoites, reduced the rate of cyst excretion compared withGiardia-infected mice. Interestingly,L.GG was found to be the most effective probiotic in reducing the duration of giardia cycle and acts as an effective prophylactic probiotic for murine giardiasis but needs to be clinically correlated due to entirely different human microflora.
High ALK Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Expression Supersedes ALK Mutation as a Determining Factor of an Unfavorable Phenotype in Primary Neuroblastoma
Authors: Schulte Johannes H. , Bachmann Hagen S. , Brockmeyer Bent , DePreter Katleen , Oberthür André , Ackermann Sandra , Kahlert Yvonne , Pajtler Kristian , Theissen Jessica , Westermann Frank , Vandesompele Jo , Speleman Frank , Berthold Frank , Eggert Angelika , Brors Benedikt , Hero Barbara , Schramm Alexander , Fischer Matthias
Published: June 2011

Purpose: Genomic alterations of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene have been postulated to contribute to neuroblastoma pathogenesis. This study aimed to determine the interrelation of ALK mutations, ALK expression levels, and clinical phenotype in primary neuroblastoma.

Experimental Design: The genomic ALK status and global gene expression patterns were examined in 263 primary neuroblastomas. Allele-specific ALK expression was determined by cDNA cloning and sequencing. Associations of genomic ALK alterations and ALK expression levels with clinical phenotypes and transcriptomic profiles were compared.

Results: Nonsynonymous point mutations of ALK were detected in 21 of 263 neuroblastomas (8%). Tumors with ALK mutations exhibited about 2-fold elevated median ALK mRNA levels in comparison with tumors with wild-type (WT) ALK. Unexpectedly, the WT allele was preferentially expressed in 12 of 21 mutated tumors. Whereas survival of patients with ALK mutated tumors was significantly worse as compared with the entire cohort of WT ALK patients, it was similarly poor in patients with WT ALK tumors in which ALK expression was as high as in ALK mutated neuroblastomas. Global gene expression patterns of tumors with ALK mutations or with high-level WT ALK expression were highly similar, and suggested that ALK may be involved in cellular proliferation in primary neuroblastoma.

Conclusions: Primary neuroblastomas with mutated ALK exhibit high ALK expression levels and strongly resemble neuroblastomas with elevated WT ALK expression levels in both their clinical and molecular phenotypes. These data suggest that high levels of mutated and WT ALK mediate similar molecular functions that may contribute to a malignant phenotype in primary neuroblastoma. Clin Cancer Res; 17(15); 5082–92. ©2011 AACR.
Molecular Target Characterization and Antimyeloma Activity of the Novel, Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 Receptor Inhibitor, GTx-134
Authors: Liang Sheng-Ben , Yang Xiu-Zhi , Trieu Young , Li Zhihua , Zive Jessica , Leung-Hagesteijn Chungyee , Wei Ellen , Zozulya Sergey , Coss Christopher C. , Dalton James T. , Fantus Ivan George , Trudel Suzanne
Published: June 2011

Purpose: Therapeutic strategies that target insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) hold promise in a wide variety of cancers including multiple myeloma (MM). In this study, we describe GTx-134, a novel small-molecule inhibitor of IGF-1R and insulin receptor (IR) and characterized its antitumor activity in preclinical models of MM.

Experimental Design: The activity of GTx-134 as a single agent and in combination was tested in MM cell lines and primary patient samples. Downstream effector proteins and correlation with apoptosis was evaluated. Cytotoxcity in bone marrow stroma coculture experiments was assessed. Finally, the in vivo efficacy was evaluated in a human myeloma xenograft model.

Results: GTx-134 inhibited the growth of 10 of 14 myeloma cell lines (<5 μmol/L) and induced apoptosis. Sensitivity to GTx-134 correlated with IGF-1R signal inhibition. Expression of MDR-1 and CD45 were associated with resistance to GTx-134. Coculture with insulin-growth factor-1 (IGF-1) or adherence to bone marrow stroma conferred modest resistance, but did not overcome GTx-134–induced cytotoxicity. GTx-134 showed in vitro synergies when combined with dexamethasone or lenalidomide. Further, GTx-134 enhanced the activity of PD173074, a fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) inhibitor, against t(4;14) myeloma cells. Therapeutic efficacy of GTx-134 was shown against primary cells and xenograft tumors. Although dysregulation of glucose homeostasis was observed in GTx-134–treated mice, impairment of glucose tolerance was modest.

Conclusions: These studies support the potential therapeutic efficacy of GTx-134 in MM. Further, they provide a rationale for clinical application in combination with established antimyeloma treatments and novel targeted therapies. Clin Cancer Res; 17(14); 4693–704. ©2011 AACR.
Is Cytomegalovirus a Therapeutic Target in Glioblastoma?
Authors: Sampson John H. , Mitchell Duane A.
Published: June 2011

Several investigators have now demonstrated the expression of genes unique to cytomegalovirus (CMV) in malignant gliomas. Many of these genes promote oncogenesis, alter tumor microenvironment, and serve as immunologic targets. Is the level of CMV infection within tumor cells sufficient to drive important oncogenic or immunosuppressive processes? Can CMV serve as a target for therapeutic intervention? Clin Cancer Res; 17(14); 4619–21. ©2011 AACR.
HSP70 Inhibition by the Small-Molecule 2-Phenylethynesulfonamide Impairs Protein Clearance Pathways in Tumor Cells
Authors: Leu J. I-Ju , Pimkina Julia , Pandey Pooja , Murphy Maureen E. , George Donna L.
Published: June 2011

The evolutionarily conserved stress-inducible HSP70 molecular chaperone plays a central role in maintaining protein quality control in response to various forms of stress. Constitutively elevated HSP70 expression is a characteristic of many tumor cells and contributes to their survival. We recently identified the small-molecule 2-phenylethyenesulfonamide (PES) as a novel HSP70 inhibitor. Here, we present evidence that PES-mediated inhibition of HSP70 family proteins in tumor cells results in an impairment of the two major protein degradation systems, namely, the autophagy-lysosome system and the proteasome pathway. HSP70 family proteins work closely with the HSP90 molecular chaperone to maintain the stability and activities of their many client proteins, and PES causes a disruption in the HSP70/HSP90 chaperone system. As a consequence, many cellular proteins, including known HSP70/HSP90 substrates, accumulate in detergent-insoluble cell fractions, indicative of aggregation and functional inactivation. Overall, PES simultaneously disrupts several cancer critical survival pathways, supporting the idea of targeting HSP70 as a potential approach for cancer therapeutics. Mol Cancer Res; 9(7); 936–47. ©2011 AACR.
Nuclear Morphometry Identifies a Distinct Aggressive Cellular Phenotype in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Glazer Evan S. , Bartels Peter H. , Prasad Anil R. , Yozwiak Michael L. , Bartels Hubert G. , Einspahr Janine G. , Alberts David S. , Krouse Robert S.
Published: June 2011

By identifying aggressive cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) in patients who are at high risk for recurrences or second primaries after resection, intensive surveillance and therapy may decrease morbidity and mortality. We investigated the role of nuclear morphometry (karyometry) in differentiating between aggressive and nonaggressive cSCC. We retrospectively analyzed cSCC lesions from 40 male patients. Twenty-two patients had evidence of aggressive cSCC (local/regional recurrence or a second primary cSCC), and 18 patients were identified with similar ages and sites of disease as control patients with nonaggressive cSCC (no evidence of recurrence, metastasis, or second primary). We carried out karyometric analysis to identify nuclear features that discriminate between aggressive and nonaggressive cSCC nuclei. We used statistically significant differences (Kruskal–Wallis test, P < 0.0001) to compose a quantitative aggressive classification score (proportion of aggressive nuclei from 0% to 100%). For comparisons, we used Fisher's exact test or Student's t test. The mean age was 79 ± 7 years for aggressive cSCC and 80 ± 9 years for nonaggressive cSCC (P = 0.66). We analyzed a mean of 96 nuclei in each group. The mean classification score for aggressive cSCC was significantly higher (69% ± 6%) than for nonaggressive cSCC (28% ± 5%, P = 0.00002). Overall, the classification score accurately categorized 80% of our patients (P = 0.0004). In most patients, karyometry differentiated between aggressive and nonaggressive cSCC. We found that classification scores, which provide information on individual lesions, could be used for risk stratification. Cancer Prev Res; 4(11); 1770–7. ©2011 AACR.
Outcome of Patients With ≥70% Symptomatic Intracranial Stenosis After Wingspan Stenting
Authors: Jiang Wei-Jian , Yu Wengui , Du Bin , Gao Feng , Cui Li-Ying
Published: June 2011

Background and Purpose—

There were limited data on the long-term outcome of patients with symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis ≥70% after Wingspan stenting. Using our Wingspan cohort data and the data from the Warfarin and Aspirin for Symptomatic Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease (WASID) as a historical control, we tested the hypothesis that stenting provided no benefit over antithrombotic therapy alone for these high-risk patients.

Methods—

Between January 2007 and February 2009, 100 consecutive patients with intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis ≥70% and symptoms within 90 days were enrolled into this prospective single-center Wingspan cohort study and followed up until the end of February 2010. Stenosis was measured per the WASID criteria. One-year risk of primary end point (any stroke or death within 30 days and ipsilateral ischemic stroke afterward) was compared with that of ipsilateral ischemic stroke in the WASID patients with ≥70% stenosis.

Results—

The stent placement success rate was 99%. All patients but 1 had clinical follow-up of ≥12 months. During a mean follow-up of 1.8 years, 9 patients developed primary end point events (5 within 30 days and 4 afterward). The 1-year risk of the outcome events was lower than that in similar WASID patients: 7.3% (95% CI, 2.0% to 12.5%) versus 18% (95% CI, 13% to 24%;
P
<0.05).

Conclusions—

The clinical outcome of Wingspan stenting for high-risk intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis patients in this high-volume center study compares favorably with that of antithrombotic therapy alone. A randomized trial comparing medical therapy alone with medical therapy plus Wingspan stenting, conducted at high-volume centers, is needed to confirm the stenting benefit.
Improved Cerebral Vasomotor Reactivity After Exercise Training in Hemiparetic Stroke Survivors
Authors: Ivey Frederick M. , Ryan Alice S. , Hafer-Macko Charlene E. , Macko Richard F.
Published: June 2011

Background and Purpose—

Animal studies provide strong evidence that aerobic exercise training positively influences cerebral blood flow, but no human studies support the use of exercise for improving cerebral hemodynamics. This randomized study in stroke survivors assessed the effects of treadmill aerobic exercise training (TM) on cerebral blood flow parameters compared to a control intervention of nonaerobic stretching.

Methods—

Thirty-eight participants (19 in TM group and 19 in control group) with remote stroke (>6 months) and mild to moderate gait deficits completed middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity measurements by transcranial Doppler ultrasonography before and after a 6-month intervention period. Middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity was assessed bilaterally during normocapnia and hypercapnia (6% CO
2
). Cerebral vasomotor reactivity (cVMR) was calculated as percent change in middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity from normocapnia to hypercapnia (cVMR percent) and as an index correcting percent change for absolute increase in end tidal CO
2
(cVMR index).

Results—

The TM group had significantly larger improvements than did controls for both ipsilesional and contralesional cVMR index (
P
≤0.05) and contralesional cVMR percent (
P
≤0.01). Statin users in the TM group (n=10) had higher baseline cVMR and lower training-induced cVMR change, indicating that cVMR change among those not using statins (n=9) primarily accounted for the between-group effects. There was a 19% increase in V
o
2
peak for the TM group compared to a 4% decrease in the control group (
P
<0.01), and peak fitness change correlated with cVMR change (
r
=0.55;
P
<0.05).

Conclusions—

Our data provide the first evidence to our knowledge of exercise-induced cVMR improvements in stroke survivors, implying a protective mechanism against recurrent stroke and other brain-related disorders. Statin use appears to regulate cVMR and the cVMR training response.
Short-Term Anomia Training and Electrical Brain Stimulation
Authors: Flöel Agnes , Meinzer Marcus , Kirstein Robert , Nijhof Sarah , Deppe Michael , Knecht Stefan , Breitenstein Caterina
Published: June 2011

Background and Purpose—

Language training success in chronic aphasia remains only moderate. Electric brain stimulation may be a viable way to enhance treatment efficacy.

Methods—

In a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled crossover trial, we assessed if anodal transcranial direct current stimulation compared to cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation and sham stimulation over the right temporo-parietal cortex would improve the success of short-term high-frequency anomia training. Twelve chronic poststroke aphasia patients were studied. Naming outcome was assessed after training and 2 weeks later.

Results—

All training conditions led to a significant increase in naming ability, which was retained for at least 2 weeks after the end of the training. Application of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation significantly enhanced the overall training effect compared to sham stimulation. Baseline naming ability significantly predicted anodal transcranial direct current stimulation effects.

Conclusions—

Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation applied over the nonlanguage dominant hemisphere can enhance language training outcome in chronic aphasia.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
www.clinicaltrials.gov/
. Unique identifier: NCT00822068.
US Wingspan Registry
Authors: Fiorella David J. , Turk Aquilla S. , Levy Elad I. , Pride G. Lee , Woo Henry H. , Albuquerque Felipe C. , Welch Babu G. , Niemann David B. , Aagaard-Kienitz Beverly , Rasmussen Peter A. , Hopkins L. Nelson , Masaryk Thomas J. , McDougall Cameron G.
Published: June 2011

Background and Purpose—

The purpose of this study is to present 12-month follow-up results for a series of patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting with the Gateway-Wingspan stenting system (Boston Scientific) for the treatment of symptomatic intracranial atherostenosis.

Methods—

Clinical and angiographic follow-up results were recorded for patients from 5 participating institutions. Primary end points were stroke or death within 30 days of the stenting procedure or ipsilateral stroke after 30 days.

Results—

During a 21-month study period, 158 patients with 168 intracranial atherostenotic lesions (50% to 99%) were treated with the Gateway-Wingspan system. The average follow-up duration was 14.2 months with 143 patients having at least 3 months of clinical follow-up and 110 having at least 12 months. The cumulative rate of the primary end point was 15.7% for all patients and 13.9% for patients with high-grade (70% to 99%) stenosis. Of 13 ipsilateral strokes occurring after 30 days, 3 resulted in death. Of these strokes, 76.9% (10 of 13) occurred within the first 6 months of the stenting procedure and no events were recorded after 12 months. An additional 9 patients experienced ipsilateral transient ischemic attack after 30 days. Most postprocedural events (86%) could be attributed to interruption of antiplatelet medications (n=6), in-stent restenosis (n=12), or both (n=1). In 3 patients, the events were of uncertain etiology.

Conclusions—

After successful Wingspan percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting, some patients continued to experience ipsilateral ischemic events. Most of these ischemic events occurred within 6 months of the procedure and were associated with the interruption of antiplatelet therapy or in-stent restenosis.
Predictions of 2010’s Tropical Cyclones Using the GFS and Ensemble-Based Data Assimilation Methods
Authors: Hamill Thomas M. , Whitaker Jeffrey S. , Kleist Daryl T. , Fiorino Michael , Benjamin Stanley G.
Published: June 2011

Experimental ensemble predictions of tropical cyclone (TC) tracks from the ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) using the Global Forecast System (GFS) model were recently validated for the 2009 Northern Hemisphere hurricane season by Hamill et al. A similar suite of tests is described here for the 2010 season. Two major changes were made this season: 1) a reduction in the resolution of the GFS model, from 2009’s T384L64 (~31 km at 25°N) to 2010’s T254L64 (~47 km at 25°N), and some changes in model physics; and 2) the addition of a limited test of deterministic forecasts initialized from a hybrid three-dimensional variational data assimilation (3D-Var)/EnKF method.

The GFS/EnKF ensembles continued to produce reduced track errors relative to operational ensemble forecasts created by the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), the Met Office (UKMO), and the Canadian Meteorological Centre (CMC). The GFS/EnKF was not uniformly as skillful as the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) ensemble prediction system. GFS/EnKF track forecasts had slightly higher error than ECMWF at longer leads, especially in the western North Pacific, and exhibited poorer calibration between spread and error than in 2009, perhaps in part because of lower model resolution. Deterministic forecasts from the hybrid were competitive with deterministic EnKF ensemble-mean forecasts and superior in track error to those initialized from the operational variational algorithm, the Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation (GSI). Pending further successful testing, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) intends to implement the global hybrid system operationally for data assimilation.
Ottawa panel evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for patient education programmes in the management of osteoarthritis
Authors:   Ottawa panel members
Published: June 2011

Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop guidelines and recommendations on patient education programmes of any type, targeted specially to individuals with OA and which were designed to improve the clinical effectiveness of managing OA.

Methods: The Ottawa Methods Group contacted specialized organizations that focus on management for individuals diagnosed with OA to nominate nine experienced clinicians specializing in various fields –rheumatology, physiatry, medicine, occupational therapy, physical therapy – and a patient with OA. The EBCPGs in this report were created based on the Appraisal of Guidelines Research and Evaluation (AGREE) criteria. The Ottawa Panel graded the recommendations according to levels (I for randomized controlled trials [RCTs], II for non-randomized studies) and strength of evidence (A, B, C, C+, D, D+, or D–).

Results: Using a systematic approach to our literature search, a total of over 1000 articles was found on the efficacy of patient education for OA, and 57 articles were recognized as potentially relevant. Based on the inclusion and exclusion selection criteria, 20 studies were ultimately included. Results from the Jadad scale illustrated that seven of the 20 studies included were considered of high methodological quality (≥ 3). The remaining studies received low scores, therefore they were categorized as poor methodological quality trials.

Conclusion: This review of the studies to date seems to indicate the potential of patient education for OA to positively affect pain, at least in the short-term, and exercise compliance in the longer term. While the programmes reviewed varied widely in the focus and approach of education, a number of promising ‘effective ingredients’ seem to be suggested by this review. The Ottawa Panel recommendations are in concordances with other clinical practice guidelines related to the efficacy of patient education for the management of OA, especially to improve pain, physical activity level, self-efficacy and quality of life.
Getting in touch with paramedic student career intentions
Authors: O’Meara Peter , Tourle Vianne , Madigan Veronica , Lighton David
Published: June 2011

Objective: This study of paramedic and nursing/paramedic students aimed to determine the initial career intentions of full-time paramedic students and to identify the key factors that influence their career choices.

Design: A longitudinal study design, utilizing surveys and a focus group, was employed.

Setting: The study was conducted in an Australian regional university with a large, on-campus paramedic programme.

Method: Students were surveyed to ascertain the factors that shape their preferences for employment and a focus group was conducted with final year students to further investigate the responses. Respondents were asked to nominate their preferences for employment and identify key factors that influence their decision-making. Data were analysed using inferential statistics and textual analysis.

Results: There were 508 questionnaires returned from 704 paramedic students (72 per cent response rate). Of the respondents 82 per cent were originally from New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, the balance from other States/Territories and overseas. Students’ career intentions did not necessarily follow their place of origin with 58 per cent preferring New South Wales or the Australian Capital Territory, 17 per cent Victoria, 3.5 per cent other States, and 7 per cent indicating other employers. The identified influences on student career intentions were personal (53 per cent), professional (20 per cent), organizational (8 per cent), and community factors (3 per cent).

Conclusion: Potential employers need to address graduate needs if they expect to attract the most talented graduates. Universities educating paramedics should focus on the needs of students and the profession.
Re-thinking the Missing Mission of Higher Education: An Anatomy of the Research Challenge of African Universities
Authors: Atuahene Francis
Published: June 2011

Research capacities in African universities are less developed due to many challenges — poor research infrastructure, limited Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), the lack of leadership mandate and support, the lack of congenial political and academic environment in some countries, shortage and lack of faculty to pursue academic research due to heavy teaching loads, inadequate financial support, etc. This paper discusses the challenges facing higher education research in Africa. Using research reports, policy papers, and data in the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), the Arts & Humanities Citation Index (A&HCI) and the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) from Thompson’s Web of Science, this paper discusses the state of academic research in Africa. The author argues that for the continent of Africa to experience socioeconomic development, universities and research institutes need robust research agendas that will unleash to their economies the knowledge, ideas, innovation, and technologies for economic growth.
It’s Premature to Write the Obituary for Humanistic Psychology
Authors: Friedman Harris
Published: June 2011

Humanistic psychology has often been misportrayed as obsolete, especially by some positive psychologists who have tended to minimize their humanistic roots and to co-opt the humanistic psychology agenda through unfairly accusing it of various errors while pursuing a narrowed version of humanistic psychology. Through this distancing from and denigration of humanistic psychology, positive psychology has garnered considerable benefits that might have otherwise inured to humanistic psychology, including attracting many talented students and scholars, gaining lucrative funding, and receiving ample media attention. Consequently, humanistic psychology needs to explicitly challenge such attacks to remain viable, as well as to continue to be innovative in fostering a holistic perspective in diverse areas of psychology, including methodology and neurobiology, which are discussed as examples.
A Safe Education for All
Authors: Carter Bruce Allen
Published: June 2011

This article addresses the pervasiveness of harassment in schools in the United States and presents ways to recognize and stem bullying in music classrooms. Music educators are in a unique position to recognize atypical behaviors in their students. Music educators who teach middle and high school ensembles often retain the same students in their classrooms over the course of many years. Because of the unique nature of the ensemble experience, coupled with the opportunity for extended instruction, music teachers can closely monitor the well-being of their students. However, music teachers should understand how difficult it may be for students who have been harassed to come forward with information about harassment. Sometimes harassment is overt and easy to recognize (e.g., name-calling, inappropriate gestures, graffiti). However, harassment can also occur in contexts that are not readily recognized but are just as hurtful. When students observe teachers taking a stand against bullying and harassment, they recognize the intention for a safe classroom. When students feel safe, they are more likely to ask questions and engage in class in dynamic and meaningful ways—both musically and nonmusically. Only when students feel safe can they learn. Music teachers need to gain a further understanding of various forms of harassment and further consider their role in creating a welcoming and secure environment.
Parental Problem Drinking and Adolescent Psychological Problems
Authors: Ohannessian Christine McCauley
Published: June 2011

The primary aim of this study was to examine whether adolescent–parent communication moderates the relationship between parental problem drinking and adolescent psychological problems. Surveys were administered to a community sample of 1,001 adolescents in the spring of 2007. Results indicate that paternal problem drinking was associated with adolescent alcohol use, whereas maternal problem drinking was associated with adolescent depression. In addition, open adolescent–parent communication specifically acts as a protective factor for girls but not for boys. These results highlight the need to consider both the gender of the adolescent and the gender of the parent when examining the adolescent–parent relationship.
Service Accessibility for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Youth
Authors: Acevedo-Polakovich Ignacio David , Bell Bailey , Gamache Peter , Christian Allison S.
Published: June 2011

Although Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and/or Questioning (LGBTQ) youth experience alarming rates of behavioral and social problems, service use among these youth is disproportionately low. It is likely that decreased service accessibility plays a causal role in service underutilization among LGBTQ youth. To expand the existing research on service accessibility issues in this population, a modified Delphi approach was used to gather expert consensus opinion from experienced youth service providers. Data revealed four broad levels of service accessibility barriers (i.e., societal, provider-related, youth-related, and resource-related) and five categories of strategies to increase service accessibility for LGBTQ youth (provider-focused, society-focused, youth-focused, school-focused, and resource-focused). Implications of current findings for future research into service access issues among LGBTQ youth are discussed, as are applications of current findings for the creation of service structures that facilitate service access among these youth.
Trade in Health Services Implications for People’s Health
Authors: Saxena K.B.
Published: June 2011

The neo-liberal transformation of global economy has brought in a new trade regime replacing GATT 1947 with incorporation of services and intellectual property in the products to be exchanged and WTO as its powerful regulator. Health being one of the services has become tradable for the first time. India has chosen to engage in health trade substantially to drive economic benefits from medical tourism, export of pharmaceuticals and manpower, and to carry out contract clinical trials. This has resulted in a paradigm shift in the role of state in the provisioning of health services with very adverse implications for the access of poor to the health care services and quality of public health system. India should therefore firmly oppose further liberalization of health sector in any future negotiations in the WTO.
The Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) Model
Authors: Andrews D.A. , Bonta James , Wormith J. Stephen
Published: June 2011

The risk-need-responsivity (RNR) model has been widely regarded as the premier model for guiding offender assessment and treatment. The RNR model underlies some of the most widely used risk-needs offender assessment instruments, and it is the only theoretical model that has been used to interpret the offender treatment literature. Recently, the good lives model (GLM) has been promoted as an alternative and enhancement to RNR. GLM sets itself apart from RNR by its positive, strengths-based, and restorative model of rehabilitation. In addition, GLM hypothesizes that enhancing personal fulfillment will lead naturally to reductions in criminogenic needs, whereas RNR posits the reverse direction. In this article the authors respond to GLM’s criticisms of RNR and conclude that little substance is added by GLM that is not already included in RNR, although proponents of RNR may learn from the popular appeal that GLM, with its positive, strength-based focus, has garnered from clinicians over the past decade.
A Hinterland Cauldron
Authors: Morser Eric
Published: June 2011

Historians interested in labor politics in the nineteenth-century Middle West often focus on Chicago, St. Louis, and other large metropolises in the region. This article, however, explores the political career of David Frank Powell, an eccentric physician from La Crosse, Wisconsin, to demonstrate that smaller, hinterland cities could also be dynamic centers of class politics in the region. In 1885 and again in 1886, Powell cast himself as a champion of organized labor and won the mayor’s office in this thriving Mississippi River city. He was never able to mobilize the machinery of municipal government to regulate wages or working conditions. But his efforts to do so forced local Democrats and Republicans to recalibrate their core political ideas and boosted the labor movement in ways that remade the community. Ultimately, Powell’s story, and that of La Crosse more broadly, suggests that historians need to pay greater attention to small, hinterland communities to understand more fully the impact of labor activism across the Midwest before 1900.
Two-stage RBF network construction based on particle swarm optimization
Authors: Deng Jing , Li Kang , Irwin George W , Fei Minrui
Published: June 2011

The conventional radial basis function (RBF) network optimization methods, such as orthogonal least squares or the two-stage selection, can produce a sparse network with satisfactory generalization capability. However, the RBF width, as a nonlinear parameter in the network, is not easy to determine. In the aforementioned methods, the width is always pre-determined, either by trial-and-error, or generated randomly. Furthermore, all hidden nodes share the same RBF width. This will inevitably reduce the network performance, and more RBF centres may then be needed to meet a desired modelling specification. In this paper we investigate a new two-stage construction algorithm for RBF networks. It utilizes the particle swarm optimization method to search for the optimal RBF centres and their associated widths. Although the new method needs more computation than conventional approaches, it can greatly reduce the model size and improve model generalization performance. The effectiveness of the proposed technique is confirmed by two numerical simulation examples.
Comprehension of intersentential pronouns in child German and child Bulgarian
Authors: Bittner Dagmar , Kuehnast Milena
Published: June 2011

This article investigates the acquisition of pronominal resolution as a process instantiated at the syntax–discourse interface. Based on current psycholinguistic proposals concerning the gradual development from a more context-driven towards a linguistically constrained representation of discourse referents, we conducted an experimental study investigating the impact of the antecedent properties animacy and syntactic role on the resolution of personal and demonstrative pronouns. Participants were 3- and 5-year-old monolingual German- and Bulgarian-speaking children. Results suggest that the 3-year-olds establish one pronoun type as a default in their early anaphoric system. Five-year-olds resolve personal pronouns to the maximally salient antecedent which they determine by a joint consideration of the subject and animacy status of available referents. The resolution of demonstratives shows initial language-specific constraints.
Does Being Attractive Always Help? Positive and Negative Effects of Attractiveness on Social Decision Making
Authors: Agthe Maria , Spörrle Matthias , Maner Jon K.
Published: June 2011

Previous studies of organizational decision making demonstrate an abundance of positive biases directed toward highly attractive individuals. The current research, in contrast, suggests that when the person being evaluated is of the same sex as the evaluator, attractiveness hurts, rather than helps. Three experiments assessing evaluations of potential job candidates (Studies 1 and 3) and university applicants (Study 2) demonstrated positive biases toward highly attractive other-sex targets but negative biases toward highly attractive same-sex targets. This pattern was mediated by variability in participants’ desire to interact with versus avoid the target individual (Studies 1 and 2) and was moderated by participants’ level of self-esteem (Study 3); the derogation of attractive same-sex targets was not observed among people with high self-esteem. Findings demonstrate an important exception to the positive effects of attractiveness in organizational settings and suggest that negative responses to attractive same-sex targets stem from perceptions of self-threat.
Achievement Motivation and Memory
Authors: Murayama Kou , Elliot Andrew J.
Published: June 2011

Little research has been conducted on achievement motivation and memory and, more specifically, on achievement goals and memory. In the present research, the authors conducted two experiments designed to examine the influence of mastery-approach and performance-approach goals on immediate and delayed remember–know recognition memory. The experiments revealed differential effects for achievement goals over time: Performance-approach goals showed higher correct remember responding on an immediate recognition test, whereas mastery-approach goals showed higher correct remember responding on a delayed recognition test. Achievement goals had no influence on overall recognition memory and no consistent influence on know responding across experiments. These findings indicate that it is important to consider quality, not just quantity, in both motivation and memory, when studying relations between these constructs.
Education and entrepreneurial choice: An instrumental variables analysis
Authors: Block Joern H. , Hoogerheide Lennart , Thurik Roy
Published: June 2011

Education is argued to be an important driver of the decision to start a business. However, the measurement of its influence is difficult since it is considered to be an endogenous variable. This study accounts for this endogeneity by using an instrumental variables approach and a dataset of more than 10,000 individuals from 27 European countries and the USA. The effect of education on the decision to become self-employed is found to be strongly positive, much higher than the estimated effect in case no instrumental variables are used. That is, the higher the respondent’s level of education, the greater the likelihood that they will start a business. Implications for entrepreneurship research and practice are discussed.
A Student View of Technology in the Classroom
Authors: McCabe Deborah Brown , Meuter Matthew L.
Published: June 2011

There has been an explosion of classroom technologies, yet there is a lack of research investigating the connection between classroom technology and student learning. This research project explores faculty usage of classroom-based course management software, student usage and opinions of these software tools, and an exploration of whether or not the use of classroom-based course management software enhances student perceptions of learning based on the Seven Principles of Good Practice in Undergraduate Education. The authors find that although students enjoy using many of the course management tools, they do not see the tools as highly effective at enhancing the learning experience. When designing courses and considering if or how to use course management tools, it is critical for faculty to consider the connection between the Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education and the specific technology tools. Implications of the research findings and suggestions for improved use of classroom management software tools are provided.
Learning by Tweeting
Authors: Rinaldo Shannon B. , Tapp Suzanne , Laverie Debra A.
Published: June 2011

Marketing professionals use Twitter extensively for communicating with and monitoring customers, for observing competitors, and for analyzing chatter concerning brands, products, and company image. Can professors use Twitter to engage students in conversation about a marketing course? The authors argue that Twitter has many benefits for marketing educators who are interested in engaging students in experiential learning. In a real-time environment for student learning, professors may use Twitter for direct communication with students to generate discussion and interest in the course topics and examples. Just as marketers use Twitter to generate interest, discussion, and brand image, educators can use Twitter to generate this interest in a course through social media. Furthermore, Twitter is a fast, easy method for making announcements, solving student issues, and performing course-related administrative duties. In three studies, both quantitative and qualitative data suggest that when students engage in Twitter use with the professor, students feel better prepared for future careers. In addition, students indicate that Twitter facilitates achieving traditional educational goals. The qualitative data offer insights into potential problems. Suggestions for educators interested in using Twitter are offered.