bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Specific targeting of the GABA-A receptor α5 subtype by a selective inverse agonist restores cognitive deficits in Down syndrome mice
Authors: Braudeau J , Delatour B , Duchon A , Pereira P Lopes , Dauphinot L , de Chaumont F , Olivo-Marin J-C , Dodd RH , Hérault Y , Potier M-C
Published: June 2011

An imbalance between inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmission has been proposed to contribute to altered brain function in individuals with Down syndrome (DS). Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system and accordingly treatment with GABA-A antagonists can efficiently restore cognitive functions of Ts65Dn mice, a genetic model for DS. However, GABA-A antagonists are also convulsant which preclude their use for therapeutic intervention in DS individuals. Here, we have evaluated safer strategies to release GABAergic inhibition using a GABA-A-benzodiazepine receptor inverse agonist selective for the α5-subtype (α5IA). We demonstrate that α5IA restores learning and memory functions of Ts65Dn mice in the novel-object recognition and in the Morris water maze tasks. Furthermore, we show that following behavioural stimulation, α5IA enhances learning-evoked immediate early gene products in specific brain regions involved in cognition. Importantly, acute and chronic treatments with α5IA do not induce any convulsant or anxiogenic effects that are associated with GABA-A antagonists or non-selective inverse agonists of the GABA-A-benzodiazepine receptors. Finally, chronic treatment with α5IA did not induce histological alterations in the brain, liver and kidney of mice. Our results suggest that non-convulsant α5-selective GABA-A inverse agonists could improve learning and memory deficits in DS individuals.
The endocannabinoid system in the regulation of emotions throughout lifespan: a discussion on therapeutic perspectives
Authors: Marco Eva M , Laviola Giovanni
Published: June 2011

Alterations in emotion regulation processes may form the basis of psychopathologies. The endocannabinoid (eCB) system, composed of endogenous ligands, the enzymatic machinery in charge of their metabolism and the specific metabotropic receptors, has emerged as a major neuromodulatory system critically involved in the control of emotional homeostasis and stress responsiveness. Data from animal models indicate that the eCB system plays a key role in brain development, and is probably involved in the control of emotional states from early developmental stages. The present review summarizes the latest information on the role of the eCB system in emotionality and anxiety-related disorders throughout the lifespan. Putative therapeutic strategies based on the pharmacological modulation of this system will be discussed. Given the fact that the pharmacological modulation of the eCB system has recently arisen as a promising strategy in the management of anxiety and mood disorders, the potential efficacy of this pharmacological approach (i.e. blockers of the catabolic pathway) will be discussed, as well as pharmacological alternatives such as modulators of cannabinoid receptors other than the classical CB1 receptor, or administration of other plant-derived compounds (e.g. cannabidiol).
Electro-osmotic propulsion of helical nanobelt swimmers
Authors: Hwang Gilgueng , Braive Rémy , Couraud Laurent , Cavanna Antonella , Abdelkarim Ouerghi , Robert-Philip Isabelle , Beveratos Alexios , Sagnes Isabelle , Haliyo Sinan , Régnier Stéphane
Published: June 2011

Micro and nanoscale mobile agents capable of self-propulsion in low Reynolds number fluids would have a great technological impact in many fields. Few known mechanisms are able to propel such devices. Here we describe helical nanobelt (HNB) swimmers actuated by an electric field-generated electro-osmotic force. These HNB swimmers are designed with a head and a tail, similar to natural micro-organisms such as bacteria and their flagella. We show that these electro-osmotic propulsion of HNB swimmers achieve speeds (24 body lengths per second), force (1.3 nN), and pressure (375.5 Pa) above those demonstrated by other artificial swimmers based on physical energy conversion. Although nature’s bacteria are still more dynamic, this paper reports that the demonstrated electro-osmotic HNB microswimmers made a big step toward getting closer to their performances. Moreover, an unusual swimming behavior with discontinuous pumping propulsion, similar to jellyfish, was revealed at or above the speculated marginal limit of linear propulsion. These electro-osmosis propelled HNB swimmers might be used as biomedical carriers, wireless manipulators, and as local probes for rheological measurements.
On value and abstract labour: A reply to Werner Bonefeld
Authors: Kicillof Axel , Starosta Guido
Published: June 2011

This article offers a reply to Werner Bonefeld’s recent contribution to the debate on value and abstract labour, in which he critically engages with our previous articles dealing with these questions. We argue that Bonefeld’s criticisms are not simply based on disagreements over these controversial issues, but also on a misunderstanding of our stance on abstract labour and value. In addition to clarifying our position, the article provides some brief critical remarks on Bonefeld’s own intervention in the debate and shows that his contribution fails to offer a solid analysis of the fundamental categories of the critique of political economy.
Reformism on a global scale? A critical examination of David Held’s advocacy of cosmopolitan social democracy
Authors: Roper Brian
Published: June 2011

Held argues that globalisation is undermining democracy at the level of the nation state. Responding to this and to the escalation of military conflict, the mounting scale of environmental problems and increasing global inequality, he argues for the establishment of cosmopolitan democracy to enable the global implementation of social-democratic policies. This article provides an exposition and critical evaluation of cosmopolitan social democracy (CSD), identifying its main strengths and weaknesses, and argues that Held advocates CSD to remedy the world’s major problems by reforming the global capitalist order, but that this is unlikely to work because these problems will persist until capitalism is replaced by socialism.
The mutations of marketing and libraries
Authors: Ratzek Wolfgang
Published: June 2011

We live in a conflict-ridden time. No one can be sure to remain unaffected. As a result, all institutions have to communicate their right to exist. This applies to major enterprises as well as to libraries. Integrated marketing offers all of the tools needed for presenting their unique selling propositions (USP). Commercial enterprises as well as powerful non-profit organizations like Greenpeace command a broad range of integrated marketing tools. Yet, only a few libraries utilize marketing in the proper meaning of the word. Libraries often confuse isolated public relations actions with marketing. If they do engage in marketing they prefer — as a rule — the classical tools. This conceptual paper emphasizes the different ways of doing marketing by combining theory and practice. Library projects and services from Germany and Scandinavia illustrate applications of these concepts in the field.
Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Very Low-Birth-Weight Infants in Korea
Authors: Jang Dae-Hyun , Sung In Young , Jeon Jae Yong , Moon Hye Jin , Kim Ki-Soo , Kim Ellen Ai-Rhan , Lee Byong Sop
Published: June 2011

The authors reviewed the medical records of very low-birth-weight infants admitted from 1998 to 2007 and compared neurodevelopmental outcomes with their previously reported data from 1989 to 1997. The recent group included 824 infants, and the previous group included 471 infants. Neurodevelopmental outcomes were classified into cerebral palsy and non–cerebral palsy neurodevelopmental impairment. In the recent group, the survival rate was significantly higher (79.4% vs 66.2%), the rate of cerebral palsy was lower (7.9% vs 10.5%), and the rate of non–cerebral palsy neurodevelopmental impairment was higher (6.0% vs 4.5%) but not significant. The survival rate increased significantly over time, but there was no significant change in neurodevelopmental outcomes over time. Multivariate analysis indicated that abnormal neurosonographic findings, using assisted ventilation, vaginal delivery, and abnormal brainstem auditory evoked potential, were associated with increased risk for cerebral palsy.
Clinical Characterization of Gastroenteritis-Related Seizures in Children
Authors: Zifman Eyal , Alehan Füsun , Menascu Shay , Har-Gil Miki , Miller Peter , Saygi Semra , Ozdemir Beril , Watemberg Nathan
Published: June 2011

Gastroenteritis-related seizures have increasingly gained attention in recent years. Most cases follow a brief, benign course with very few episodes of seizure recurrence and without development of epilepsy. Published reports usually do not make a distinction between febrile and afebrile patients, and most authors include only nonfebrile convulsions in their reported series. This study evaluated the impact of fever in children presenting with seizures during a mild gastroenteritis episode and found that the presence or absence of fever did not affect seizure characteristics or duration. However, mild hyponatremia affected some seizure features, particularly seizure duration, as hyponatremic children sustained more prolonged seizures than patients with normal serum sodium levels, irrespective of body temperature.
Isolated Musculocutaneous Neuropathy in an Adolescent Baseball Pitcher
Authors: Henry Dorlyne , Bonthius Daniel J.
Published: June 2011

Injury of the musculocutaneous nerve very rarely occurs in the absence of concomitant injury to other components of the brachial plexus. Until now, the few cases of isolated musculocutaneous nerve palsies have been reported only in adults. We report a case of isolated musculocutaneous neuropathy in a uniquely talented adolescent baseball pitcher. The biomechanics underlying this adolescent’s ability to throw with high velocity likely contributed to the musculocutaneous nerve injury in this case.
Motivational and Demographic Factors for Performing Arts Attendance Across Place and Form
Authors: Hager Mark A. , Winkler Mary Kopczynski
Published: June 2011

Previous research seeking to explain why people attend live performing arts events has focused primarily on demographic explanations, such as the age or income of patrons. Recent research reinvigorates an old debate regarding the veracity of psychological motivations for attendance, such as an appreciation for beauty or the opportunity to socialize with others. We add to this line of inquiry by investigating how demographic and motivation explanations fare across three cities, and for three different art forms. We find that demographic variables fare better overall than psychological motivations across place and form. Despite evidence of strong consistency of the magnitude of variable coefficients across place and form, we conclude with warnings that inconsistencies of significant effects between place and form should cause us to question whether results in one or several sites can provide stable and useful generalizations for managers and arts marketers.
Optimization design for mechanical seals in reactor coolant pumps based on a fluid–solid strong-interaction model
Authors: Liao C-J , Huang W-F , Wang Y-M , Suo S-F , Liu X-F
Published: June 2011

The study on the mechanism and performance of the mechanical seals in reactor coolant pumps (RCPs) is very important for the safe operations of pressurized water reactor power plants. By exploring the operating mechanism of the first seal of the hydrostatic mechanical seal in RCPs, an analytical fluid–solid strong-interaction model of the seal is proposed in this article. The model holds that the mechanical deformations of the seal assembly are dominated by the deflections of the seal rings, and this idea is demonstrated by the numerical simulation result of a fluid–solid interaction (FSI) model. Using the analytical FSI model, the regularity that the leakage rate of the first seal varies with the differential pressure in a RCP is obtained, and compared with the operational data, which is used to verify the model. Based on the understanding of the reliability of the seal, a dimensionless parameter Λ that acts as an attribute to the reliability is proposed in this article. Using the analytical FSI model and Λ as the optimization algorithm and optimization object, respectively, the optimum designs about the seal faceplateconfigurations are performed. Also, the specific optimization conclusions are given simultaneously.
Systemic lupus erythematosus flare up manifestation as cerebral and spinal subarachnoid hemorrhage
Authors: Tang S-C , Lee C-F , Lee C-W , Jeng J-S
Published: June 2011

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is an uncommon complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Here we report a 52-year-old woman with flare up of lupus activity, manifesting as spontaneous cerebral and spinal SAH due to central nervous system vasculitis. The patient received external ventricular drainage for hydrocephalus and pulse steroid and intravenous cyclophosphamide therapies. Her neurological deficits gradually improved with only minimal gait unsteadiness at discharge. Although very rare, cerebral and spinal SAH related to vasculitis could be one of the presentations of SLE flare up.
Education Hubs: A Fad, a Brand, an Innovation?
Authors: Knight Jane
Published: June 2011

The last decade has seen significant changes in all aspects of internationalization but most dramatically in the area of education and research moving across national borders. The most recent developments are education hubs. The term education hub is being used by countries who are trying to build a critical mass of local and foreign actors—including students, education institutions, companies, knowledge industries, science and technology centers—who, thorough interaction and in some cases colocation, engage in education, training, knowledge production, and innovation initiatives. It is understood that countries have different objectives, priorities, and take different approaches to developing themselves as a reputed center for higher education excellence, expertise, and economy. However, given higher education’s current preoccupation with competitiveness, global branding, and rankings, one is not sure whether a country’s plan to develop itself as an education hub is a fad, the latest branding strategy, or in fact, an innovation worthy of investment and serious attention. This article reviews and compares the developments in six countries which claim to be an education hub. It explores the meaning of education hub, introduces a working definition, and proposes a typology of three kinds of education hubs as follows: student hub, skilled work force hub, and knowledge/innovation hub. Furthermore, it identifies issues requiring further research and reflection on whether hubs are a fad, a brand or an innovation worthy of serious attention and investment.
Diffusion of a fluid through an anisotropically chemically reacting thermoelastic body within the context of mixture theory
Authors: Hall RB , Rajagopal KR
Published: June 2011

A mixture theory approach is used to analyze the change in response characteristics of an anisotropic, non-linear viscoelastic fluid diffusing through a finitely deforming thermoelastic body of arbitrary symmetry wherein the fluid chemically reacts with the solid. It is assumed for simplicity that it is possible to characterize the reaction as having a single step and as one in which the reaction products remain within the body, thereby modifying the solid constituent. The effects of the reaction on the solid that render it anisotropic are quantified by means of a tensorial parameter that tracks the extent of the reaction in different directions. Both diffusion-dominated (diffusion of the reactants is far more rapid than the reaction) and reaction-dominated (the reaction is far more rapid than the diffusion of the reactants) processes are considered. Constitutive equations are derived from the requirement that the rate of entropy production be maximized, which makes it possible to characterize the behavior of the body through the specification of three scalar functions: the rate of entropy production function for the mixture, and the Helmholtz free energies of each of the constituents. It is noted that the model may be applied to regions of bodies with locally homogeneous damage, that is, regions damaged at a small enough scale to mimic an anisotropically porous continuum. Macroscale damage may also be modeled via the boundary conditions described in Section 5.
Temporal Interpersonal Emotion Systems
Authors: Butler Emily A.
Published: June 2011

Emotion is often framed as an intrapersonal system comprised of subcomponents such as experience, behavior, and physiology that interact over time to give rise to emotional states. What is missing is that many emotions occur in the context of social interaction or ongoing relationships. When this happens, the result can be conceptualized as a temporal interpersonal emotion system (TIES) in which the subcomponents of emotion interact not only within the individual but across the partners as well. The present review (a) suggests that TIES can be understood in terms of the characteristics of dynamic systems, (b) reviews examples from diverse research that has investigated characteristics of TIES, (c) attempts to clarify the overlapping terms that have been used to refer to those characteristics by mapping them to the statistical, mathematical, and graphical models that have been used to represent TIES, and (d) offers pragmatic advice for analyzing TIES data.
Adapting the Information–Motivation–Behavioral Skills Model
Authors: Fisher Colleen M.
Published: June 2011

Young sexual minority males are among those at highest risk for HIV infection, yet we know relatively little about the impact of sexual identity development on HIV risk. This study used cross-sectional data to investigate factors associated with HIV-related sexual risk among a sample of sexual minority males ( n = 156), ages 14 to 21 years, using an extended version of the information–motivation–behavioral skills (IMB) model tailored for this population. Path analysis results indicated that the extended model predicted a sizable amount of primary and secondary sexual risk ( r2 = .35 and .42). In addition to increasing HIV prevention information and motivation and decreasing substance use, study findings suggest that interventions with young sexual minority males should focus on sexual identity development factors including youths’ attitudes toward LBGT people, sex-centered versus identity-centered development, and with specific emphasis on youth with non–male exclusive sexual orientations.
Expert nurses and the division of labour in hospitals
Authors: Carmel Simon , Baker-McClearn Denise
Published: June 2011

This article analyses nursing expertise with a particular focus at the level of clinical and organizational practice. Through an examination of a specialist team of hospital nurses, and drawing on the concept of a community of practice, the article provides a critique of discussions of nursing expertise which can be overly normative, individualistic or divorced from practice. The theoretical background to our analysis is the division of labour in health care; the case study on which this analysis is based is a particular health policy: the introduction of critical care outreach services. The empirical portions of the article are based on a qualitative study of eight such services in England. In the first part of the analysis we elaborate on three ways in which ‘expertise’ can be deployed in practice: teaching and training; consultancy and advice; and practical clinical action. Each of these is shown to be related to the development of a community of practice. In the second part of the analysis we examine in more detail the impact of outreach nurses on the division of labour in health care and on traditional occupational hierarchies. A general implication of our findings is that expertise has fundamentally social characteristics which need to be acknowledged in academic and policy discourse.
Computational analysis of injection-rate shapes in a small-bore direct-injection diesel engine
Authors: Luckhchoura V , Peters N , Diwakar R
Published: June 2011

The purpose of this study is to analyse the differences in the combustion process, and pollutants formation (especially soot) due to top-hat and boot injection-rate shapes at one specific high-load point of a single-cylinder small-bore diesel engine using multidimensional engine simulations. The simulations are performed using a response interactive flamelet model with detailed chemical kinetics. A detailed chemistry-based soot model is used for the prediction of soot emissions. The heights of the first and second stages of the boot shape are varied to observe the effect of the injected fuel mass distribution. In addition, results of boot shapes are compared with a trapezoidal (top-hat) shape. A detailed analysis of soot formation and oxidation is also presented for some selected rate shapes. Through computational analysis it is shown that the boot shapes have the potential to decrease combustion-generated noise and to lower emissions at the investigated load point compared to the top-hat shape. Variations in the temporal distribution of the injected fuel mass show that a lower height of the first stage and a higher height of the second stage of the boot shape result in a relatively slower rise of heat release (lower combustion-generated noise) in the early part of combustion and enhanced soot oxidation as a result of higher spray momentum near the end of injection.
Investigation of compression temperature in highly charged spark-ignition engines
Authors: Birkigt A , Michels K , Theobald J , Seeger T , Gao Y , Weikl M C , Wensing M , Leipertz A
Published: June 2011

One of the critical parameters for the occurrence of spark-knock and pre-ignition of highly charged spark-ignition (SI) engines is the compression temperature. The investigation of the compression temperature and a better understanding of the combustion behaviour inside the combustion chamber are of great importance for avoiding these phenomena and also for further downsizing of engines. Pure rotational coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (RCARS) is an innovative tool providing information on the compression temperature by using only two small line-of-sight optical accesses on the cylinder wall. In this work, RCARS measurements were performed in motored and fired operation, and the results obtained from RCARS spectra have been used in combination with isentropic calculations to improve the accuracy of the compression temperature determination. Studies on the compression temperature by the variation of the intake temperature, the engine load, and the fuel were conducted and the influence of evaporation enthalpy on the compression temperature is discussed.
Fuel reactivity controlled compression ignition (RCCI): a pathway to controlled high-efficiency clean combustion
Authors: Kokjohn S L , Hanson R M , Splitter D A , Reitz R D
Published: June 2011

A fuel reactivity controlled compression ignition (RCCI) concept is demonstrated as a promising method to achieve high efficiency – clean combustion. Engine experiments were performed in a heavy-duty test engine over a range of loads. Additionally, RCCI engine experiments were compared to conventional diesel engine experiments. Detailed computational fluid dynamics modelling was then used to explain the experimentally observed trends. Specifically, it was found that RCCI combustion is capable of operating over a wide range of engine loads with near zero levels of NO x and soot, acceptable pressure rise rate and ringing intensity, and very high indicated efficiency. For example, a peak gross indicated efficiency of 56 per cent was observed at 9.3 bar indicated mean effective pressure and 1300 rev/min. The comparison between RCCI and conventional diesel showed a reduction in NO x by three orders of magnitude, a reduction in soot by a factor of six, and an increase in gross indicated efficiency of 16.4 per cent (i.e. 7.9 per cent more of the fuel energy was converted to useful work). The simulation results showed that the improvement in fuel conversion efficiency was due both to reductions in heat transfer losses and improved control over the start- and end-of-combustion.
Performance improvements in a longer-stroke, spark-ignition gas engine
Authors: Ogawa H , Kimura K , Sasaki K , Sato Y , Sako T
Published: June 2011

The engine performance with several stroke/cylinder diameter (S/D) ratios from 1.0 to 2.0 was investigated in a small spark-ignition gas engine by experiments and with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) engine analysis. The experiments were conducted on a specially manufactured, single-cylinder, spark-ignition gas engine with the cylinder head of a commercial diesel engine with a spark plug instead of a fuel injector. The cylinder diameter was fixed at 70 mm, the same as the original engine, and the stroke length was varied at 70 mm (S/D = 1.0), 105 mm (S/D = 1.5), and 140 mm (S/D = 2.0) under the same compression ratio of 12:1 by changing the piston, the cylinder liner, the cylinder block, the crankshaft, and the connecting rod. The engine speed was set at 1200 r/min, and the test fuel was commercial compressed natural gas provided from a bottle. The indicated thermal efficiency improved significantly with S/D ratio, mainly due to the reductions in cooling loss, maintaining the degree of constant-volume heat release at high levels, and also due to improvements in the combustion efficiency. The optimum S/D ratio is about 1.5, as the improvement in indicated thermal efficiency with increase of S/D from 1.0 to 1.5 was more significant than that with S/D increase from 1.5 to 2.0. The indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) with S/D = 1.5 was the largest among these S/D ratios, and the IMEP with S/D = 2.0 was much smaller due to lower volumetric efficiency. The indicated thermal efficiency improved with longer strokes in the stoichiometric and lean conditions of excess air ratios below 1.5, but the deterioration in thermal efficiency with leaner conditions, above 1.5, was more pronounced with longer strokes. The CFD analysis also showed the improvement in thermal efficiency with longer strokes, and the indicated thermal efficiency improved more in the case of the same cylinder diameter than in the case of the same displacement volume. This is mainly due to the larger reduction in cooling loss in the case with the same cylinder diameter. However, even with the same displacement volume, the reduction in cooling loss and the improvement in indicated thermal efficiency with longer strokes were reliably obtained. The experimental equations for the heat transfer coefficient with mean piston speed, including Woschni’s equation, do not express the change in heat transfer at the higher S/D ratios.
Improvement of thermal efficiency of a high-boosted diesel engine with focus on peak cylinder pressure
Authors: Aoyagi Y , Yamaguchi T , Osada H , Shimada K , Goto Y , Suzuki H
Published: June 2011

The combination of high boosting and high exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) is a practical and effective strategy to achieve simultaneous reductions of fuel consumption and exhaust emissions in diesel engines. To obtain further improvements of fuel efficiency and emissions, the effects of engine parameters including compression ratio, peak cylinder pressure, and the timing of the start of combustion are investigated using a single-cylinder diesel engine under conditions of high boost pressure of 400 kPa and fuel injection pressure of 200 MPa, focusing particularly on the peak cylinder pressure. The experiments show that when the peak cylinder pressure is raised to 28 MPa by adjusting the timing of the start of combustion at −3° after top dead centre (ATDC) at a compression ratio of 18, the lowest specific fuel consumption rate of 185.6 g/kW h, which corresponds to the brake thermal efficiency of 45.2 per cent, is obtained. When the effective compression ratio is lowered by using a variable valve timing system while maintaining the peak cylinder pressure at 28 MPa, the minimum specific fuel consumption of 181.2 g/kW h, which corresponds to a brake thermal efficiency of 46.3 per cent, is obtained.
Assessing the feasibility of increasing engine efficiency through extreme compression
Authors: Miller S L , Svrcek M N , Teh K-Y , Edwards C F
Published: June 2011

Operating simple-cycle chemical engines at extremely high compression ratios can, theoretically, increase thermal efficiency by nearly a factor of two. To operate at these significantly higher compression ratios, a new engine architecture is required which is inherently compatible with the higher temperatures and pressures present at these conditions. In addition, the design must manage heat transfer, piston–cylinder sealing and friction, the combustion event, and emissions in order to be successful. To test feasibility of this strategy, a single-shot, free-piston device was constructed which operates at compression ratios of up to 100:1. Air-compression experiments are used to characterize the device and its losses – a combination of heat transfer out of the cylinder and mass transfer past the piston sealing rings. Preliminary experiments using a lean, diesel-like combustion strategy are performed with indicated efficiencies ranging from 52 to 60 per cent for compression ratios of 30–100. These high efficiencies indicate initial feasibility and support further research and engineering.
‘That’s me, the Goother’: Evaluation of a program for individuals with early-onset dementia
Authors: Kinney Jennifer M. , Kart Cary S. , Reddecliff Luann
Published: June 2011

We conducted face-to-face, semi-structured interviews with six white men with early-onset dementia (EOD) and supplemented the interviews with a focus group with six wives of the men to document perceptions of a weekly, supervised volunteer program for the men at the local zoo. The program, ‘Get Out of the House,’ is designed to provide individuals with EOD a weekly opportunity to participate in meaningful, supervised volunteer work in the community. Interviews with participants revealed that they strongly identify with the program and are eager to share their experiences, about which they show some depth of insight. The focus group revealed that the program represents a break in the day-to-day routine for spouses and families, as well as participants, and has benefits that extend beyond the program time itself. Challenges with the development and implementation of such programs and implications for research and practice are discussed.
A view from the bridge: Insider/Outsider perspective in a study of the Welfare Rights Movement
Authors: Edmonds-Cady Cynthia
Published: June 2011

This article examines the use of a conceptual framework informed by intersectionality in a study of women’s participation in the Welfare Rights Movement occurring in the United States from 1964–1972. The author explores how the participants’ and the researcher’s status as insiders and/or outsiders within the movement based on race, class, and gender interacted within the overall research process. The different ways that insider/outsider status was reflected in the cross-class, cross-race social movement work of the participants is explored. The usefulness of this framework and approach to exploring the sometimes shifting statuses of insider/outsider within the research process itself is also examined.
Narrating the good life – children in shelters for abused women talk about the future
Authors: Øverlien Carolina
Published: June 2011

The aim of this article is to study children living with their mothers in shelters for abused women and their narratives about the future. Voices of five children and adolescents (11–17 years old) and their hopes and concerns about the future are analyzed using narrative analysis. The analysis shows that the children narrate ‘the good life’, which can be understood as narrating ‘ordinary life’, for example, everyday life with school, a safe home and friends. The article proposes that ‘the good life narrative’ is part of a master narrative at the shelter. Although the children do not narrate past events, their stories are positioned against their lives both prior to and during their shelter stay. These narratives can be understood as narratives of solutions and, as such, provide important knowledge about children living in shelters for abused women and their hopes for the future.
The chaos of caregiving and hope
Authors: Duggleby Wendy , Williams Allison , Holtslander Lorraine , Cunningham Shannon , Wright Karen
Published: June 2011

Hope is an important psychosocial resource that has been found to support family caregivers. In order to further understand the challenges of caregivers and their hope experience, we analyzed, using Cortazzi’s (2001) narrative analysis approach, 101 journal entries of family caregivers of persons with advanced cancer. The data was condensed into poetic phrases to reflect structural categories outlined by Cortazzi of event, description and evaluation resulting in a poetic narrative entitled ‘The Chaos of Caregiving and Hope’. Each stanza of the poetic narrative describes the day-to-day experiences of the participants’ chaos and hope. We believe that looking at the caregiving experience through poetic presentation provided new insights into the lives of caregivers caring for terminally ill cancer patients. These insights are related to the intensity of the chaos, and how hope is present in their daily lives.
An Innovative Faith-Based Healthy Eating Program
Authors: Buta Brian , Brewer LaPrincess , Hamlin Deneen L. , Palmer Michael W. , Bowie Janice , Gielen Andrea
Published: June 2011

The Fostering African American Improvement in Total Health! (FAITH!) Nutrition Education Program is a theory-based, multicomponent health intervention developed and operated in partnership with an East Baltimore church. The program aims to improve eating habits, as well as knowledge and beliefs about healthy eating, among African American adults in order to prevent diseases related to dietary choices. This article addresses the development, design, and formative research that informed the FAITH! program. The main program components are also discussed. Program design used a framework for strategic intervention planning (PRECEDE-PROCEED), and health education theories informed the evaluation process. Formative research was conducted to incorporate the needs and assets of the priority population. The main program components are culturally tailored educational materials, lectures and discussions on diet and related diseases, video presentations on healthy eating, healthy cooking demonstrations/food samples, evaluation, and a church-run healthy food pantry.
Disparity Between Functional Recovery and Daily Use of the Upper and Lower Extremities During Subacute Stroke Rehabilitation
Authors: Rand Debbie , Eng Janice J.
Published: June 2011

Background. Although inpatient rehabilitation may enhance an individual’s functional ability after stroke, it is not known whether these improvements are accompanied by an increase in daily use of the arms and legs. Objectives. To determine the change in daily use of the upper and lower extremities of stroke patients during rehabilitation and to compare these values with that of community-dwelling older adults. Methods. A total of 60 stroke patients underwent functional assessments and also wore 3 accelerometers for 3 consecutive weekdays on admission to rehabilitation and 3 weeks later prior to hospital discharge. The number of steps and upper-extremity activity counts were measured over the waking hours and during daily use for occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) sessions. Healthy older adults (n = 40) also wore 3 accelerometers for 5 consecutive days. Results. Stroke patients demonstrated a significant increase in mobility function, and this was accompanied by an increase in daily walking over the entire day as well as in PT. However, increases in daily walking were found predominantly in patients who were wheelchair users (and not walkers) at the time of admission. Control walking values (5202 steps) were more than 17 times that of stroke patients. Despite significant improvements in paretic hand function, no increase in daily use of the paretic or nonparetic hand was found over the entire day or in PT. Conclusions. A disparity between functional recovery and increases in daily use of the upper and lower extremities was found during inpatient stroke rehabilitation.
A Novel Command Signal for Motor Neuroprosthetic Control
Authors: Moss Christa W. , Kilgore Kevin L. , Peckham P. Hunter
Published: June 2011

Background. Neuroprostheses can restore functions such as hand grasp or standing to individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) using electrical stimulation to elicit movements in paralyzed muscles. Implanted neuroprostheses currently use electromyographic (EMG) activity from muscles above the lesion that remain under volitional control as a command input. Systems in development use a networked approach and will allow for restoration of multiple functions but will require additional command signals to control the system, especially in individuals with high-level tetraplegia. Objective. The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using muscles innervated below the injury level as command sources for a neuroprosthesis. Recent anatomical and physiological studies have demonstrated the presence of intact axons across the lesion, even in those diagnosed with a clinically complete SCI; hence, EMG activity may be present in muscles with no sign of movement. Methods. Twelve participants with motor complete SCI were enrolled and EMG was recorded with surface electrodes from 8 muscles below the knee in each leg. Results. Significant activity was evident in 89% of the 192 muscles studied during attempted movements of the foot and lower limb. At least 2 muscles from each participant were identified as potential command signals for a neuroprosthesis based on 2-state, threshold classification. Conclusions. Results suggest that voluntary activity is present and recordable in below lesion muscles even after clinically complete SCI.
Design of an optimum combustion chamber across multiple speed/load points for a heavy-duty diesel engine: analytical design and experimental validation
Authors: Idicheria C A , Diwakar R
Published: June 2011

Analytical tools such as computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and micro-genetic optimization algorithm (GA) have been customized and applied at General Motors Research Laboratories (GMR) for designing a combustion chamber for GM heavy-duty diesel engines, capable of meeting present and future emission targets. In the combined analytical and experimental study described in this paper, the analytical design of the piston bowl shape spanned four key steady-state load points and the performance was validated by testing the analytical design in a single-cylinder engine (SCE). Computations were made to assess the fuel economy performance of the first analytical design. Based on the assessment, a second analytical design was performed with a different set of load points. Computations clearly revealed the progress of performance from the first to the second design. The two optimized piston bowl designs were tested in the SCE in order to validate the predicted progression of performance from the baseline bowl shape and the effect of the choice of the load points for analytical optimization. A multidimensional computer code (KIVA-3V) with a relatively simpler combustion model – the characteristic time-scale combustion (CTC) model – was used along with the GA optimization tool. Experimental results confirmed the predicted emission improvements and performance progression of the analytically designed piston bowls compared with the baseline. Detailed flow field analysis is presented for a selected load point to elucidate the physics behind the sensitivity of observed emission behaviour to variations in injector tip protrusion.
Unusual manifestation of Erdheim-Chester disease
Authors: Pan Antony , Doyle Terence , Schlup Martin , Lubcke Ralf , Schultz Michael
Published: June 2011

Background

Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare multisystem non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis that is characterized histologically by xanthogranulomatous infiltrates and radiologically by symmetrical sclerosis of long bones. The xanthomatous process is characterized by prominent foamy histiocytes staining positive for CD68, occasionally for PS100 and negative for S100 and CD1a. Gastroenterological involvement is exceedingly rare.

Case Presentation

This case report describes the case of a 69-year-old man who presented otherwise well to the gastroenterology department with unspecific abdominal symptoms, nausea, vomiting and weight loss. ECD involving the gastrointestinal tract was confirmed clinically, radiologically and histologically.

Conclusion

Gastroenterological manifestation of ECD is rare but should be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients presenting with evidence of multi-organ disease and typical radiological features of Erdheim-Chester disease elsewhere.
Unsuccessful therapy with adefovir and entecavir-tenofovir in a patient with chronic hepatitis B infection with previous resistance to lamivudine: a fourteen-year evolution of hepatitis B virus mutations
Authors: Cassino Lucila , Benetti Silvina , Fay Fabian , Tanno Hugo , Quarleri Jorge
Published: June 2011

Background

Complex mutants can be selected under sequential selective pressure by HBV therapy. To determine hepatitis B virus genomic evolution during antiviral therapy we characterized the HBV quasi-species in a patient who did no respond to therapy following lamivudine breakthrough for a period of 14 years.

Case Presentation

The polymerase and precore/core genes were amplified and sequenced at determined intervals in a period of 14 years. HBV viral load and HBeAg/Anti-HBe serological profiles as well as amino transferase levels were also measured. A mixture of lamivudine-resistant genotype A2 HBV strains harboring the rtM204V mutation coexisted in the patient following viral breakthrough to lamivudine. The L180M+M204V dominant mutant displayed strong lamivudine-resistance. As therapy was changed to adefovir, then to entecavir, and finally to entecavir-tenofovir the viral load showed fluctuations but lamivudine-resistant strains continued to be selected, with minor contributions to the HBV quasi-species composition of additional resistance-associated mutations. At the end of the 14-year follow up period, high viral loads were predominant, with viral strains harboring the lamivudine-resistance signature rtL180M+M204V. The precore/core frame A1762T and G1764A double mutation was detected before treatment and remaining in this condition during the entire follow-up. Specific entecavir and tenofovir primary resistance-associated mutations were not detected at any time. Plasma concentrations of tenofovir indicated adequate metabolism of the drug.

Conclusions

We report the selection of HBV mutants carrying well-defined primary resistance mutations that escaped lamivudine in a fourteen-year follow-up period. With the exception of tenofovir resistance mutations, subsequent unselected primary resistance mutations were detected as minor populations into the HBV quasispecies composition during adefovir or entecavir monotherapies. Although tenofovir is considered an appropriate therapeutic alternative for the treatment of entecavir-unresponsive patients, its use was not effective in the case reported here.
Structure of catalytic domain of Matriptase in complex with Sunflower trypsin inhibitor-1
Authors: Yuan Cai , Chen Liqing , Meehan Edward J , Daly Norelle , Craik David J , Huang Mingdong , Ngo Jacky C
Published: June 2011

Background

Matriptase is a type II transmembrane serine protease that is found on the surfaces of epithelial cells and certain cancer cells. Matriptase has been implicated in the degradation of certain extracellular matrix components as well as the activation of various cellular proteins and proteases, including hepatocyte growth factor and urokinase. Sunflower trypsin inhibitor-1 (SFTI-1), a cyclic peptide inhibitor originally isolated from sunflower seeds, exhibits potent inhibitory activity toward matriptase.

Results

We have engineered and produced recombinant proteins of the matriptase protease domain, and have determined the crystal structures of the protease:SFTI-1 complex at 2.0 Å as well as the protease:benzamidine complex at 1.2 Å. These structures elaborate the structural basis of substrate selectivity of matriptase, and show that the matriptase S1 substrate specificity pocket is larger enough to allow movement of benzamidine inside the S1 pocket. Our study also reveals that SFTI-1 binds to matriptase in a way similar to its binding to trypsin despite the significantly different isoelectric points of the two proteins (5.6 vs. 8.2).

Conclusions

This work helps to define the structural basis of substrate specificity of matriptase and the interactions between the inhibitor and protease. The complex structure also provides a structural template for designing new SFTI-1 derivatives with better potency and selectivity against matriptase and other proteases.
Potential utility of natural products as regulators of breast cancer-associated aromatase promoters
Authors: Khan Shabana I , Zhao Jianping , Khan Ikhlas A , Walker Larry A , Dasmahapatra Asok K
Published: June 2011

Aromatase, the key enzyme in estrogen biosynthesis, converts androstenedione to estrone and testosterone to estradiol. The enzyme is expressed in various tissues such as ovary, placenta, bone, brain, skin, and adipose tissue. Aromatase enzyme is encoded by a single gene CYP 19A1 and its expression is controlled by tissue-specific promoters. Aromatase mRNA is primarily transcribed from promoter I.4 in normal breast tissue and physiological levels of aromatase are found in breast adipose stromal fibroblasts. Under the conditions of breast cancer, as a result of the activation of a distinct set of aromatase promoters (I.3, II, and I.7) aromatase expression is enhanced leading to local overproduction of estrogen that promotes breast cancer. Aromatase is considered as a potential target for endocrine treatment of breast cancer but due to nonspecific reduction of aromatase activity in other tissues, aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are associated with undesirable side effects such as bone loss, and abnormal lipid metabolism. Inhibition of aromatase expression by inactivating breast tumor-specific aromatase promoters can selectively block estrogen production at the tumor site. Although several synthetic chemical compounds and nuclear receptor ligands are known to inhibit the activity of the tumor-specific aromatase promoters, further development of more specific and efficacious drugs without adverse effects is still warranted. Plants are rich in chemopreventive agents that have a great potential to be used in chemotherapy for hormone dependent breast cancer which could serve as a source for natural AIs. In this brief review, we summarize the studies on phytochemicals such as biochanin A, genistein, quercetin, isoliquiritigenin, resveratrol, and grape seed extracts related to their effect on the activation of breast cancer-associated aromatase promoters and discuss their aromatase inhibitory potential to be used as safer chemotherapeutic agents for specific hormone-dependent breast cancer.