bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Early Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation to Improve Quadriceps Muscle Strength After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Stevens-Lapsley Jennifer E. , Balter Jaclyn E. , Wolfe Pamela , Eckhoff Donald G. , Kohrt Wendy M.
Published: November 2011

Background

The recovery of quadriceps muscle force and function after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is suboptimal, which predisposes patients to disability with increasing age.

Objective

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the efficacy of quadriceps muscle neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), initiated 48 hours after TKA, as an adjunct to standard rehabilitation.

Design

This was a prospective, longitudinal randomized controlled trial.

Methods

Sixty-six patients, aged 50 to 85 years and planning a primary unilateral TKA, were randomly assigned to receive either standard rehabilitation (control) or standard rehabilitation plus NMES applied to the quadriceps muscle (initiated 48 hours after surgery). The NMES was applied twice per day at the maximum tolerable intensity for 15 contractions. Data for muscle strength, functional performance, and self-report measures were obtained before surgery and 3.5, 6.5, 13, 26, and 52 weeks after TKA.

Results

At 3.5 weeks after TKA, significant improvements with NMES were found for quadriceps and hamstring muscle strength, functional performance, and knee extension active range of motion. At 52 weeks, the differences between groups were attenuated, but improvements with NMES were still significant for quadriceps and hamstring muscle strength, functional performance, and some self-report measures.

Limitations

Treatment volume was not matched for both study arms; NMES was added to the standard of care treatment. Furthermore, testers were not blinded during testing, but used standardized scripts to avoid bias. Finally, some patients reached the maximum stimulator output during at least one treatment session and may have tolerated more stimulation.

Conclusions

The early addition of NMES effectively attenuated loss of quadriceps muscle strength and improved functional performance following TKA. The effects were most pronounced and clinically meaningful within the first month after surgery, but persisted through 1 year after surgery.
Visual Comparison of Moving-Window Kriging Models
Authors: Demšar Urška , Harris Paul
Published: November 2011

Kriging is a spatial prediction method that is core to the geo-statistical paradigm. Commonly applied in the environmental sciences, it enables a prediction at an unsampled location coupled with a measure of confidence in its accuracy. Many variations of kriging exist, some of them complex, especially those that allow many parameters to vary spatially. Calibrating such a kriging model and interpreting its results can therefore be quite daunting. We suggest that visualization and visual exploration can help with this task. In particular, we focus on the moving-window kriging model, evaluating three newly developed robust variants of this model against a basic counterpart. We use star icon maps and plots to visually explore model results to evaluate model parameterization, specification, and performance.
Law and Learning “from the Field”: The Pedagogical Relevance of Collaborative Teacher-Student Empirical Legal Research
Authors: Richardson Sarah Berger , Campbell Angela
Published: November 2011

Le présent article explore la valeur pédagogique et la pertinence de faire de la recherche empirique en éducation juridique. Les auteures sont une professeure et une étudiante en droit qui ont collaboré dans une étude empirique sur les femmes et la polygamie. Chaque auteure raconte : (1) ses attentes et ses expériences concernant ce projet de recherche; (2) comment la collaboration dans la recherche empirique a modifié la structure de la relation étudiante-professeure; et (3) sa perception de la façon dont l'importance de la recherche empirique peut être reconnue dans le cadre de l’éducation juridique. L'analyse met en lumière le fait que des phénomènes similaires peuvent donner lieu à une compréhension et à des interprétations différentes, selon la perspective et la situation de chacun et de chacune. De plus, elle souligne l'importance d'intégrer les idées et les opinions des étudiants et des étudiantes dans la conception et l'exercice de l'enseignement.
A Tale of Two Cultures: Intimate Femicide, Cultural Defences, and the Law of Provocation
Authors: Dick Caroline
Published: November 2011

L'idée de soulever des arguments culturels dans les affaires criminelles a été critiquée par un groupe diversifié d'universitaires. Tandis que de nombreuses féministes soutiennent qu'en recourant à la culture comme moyen de défense, on risque de voir passer « la race devant le sexe » à la cour, les universitaires qui se penchent sur les questions de races maintiennent que les minorités culturelles deviendront des victimes avec les discours colonialistes qui émergeront à coup sûr, là où les tribunaux acceptent les arguments culturels. Par ailleurs, les critiques libérales soutiennent que ce mouvement viole le principe du traitement égal devant la loi en fournissant des arguments culturels à certains citoyens, mais pas à d'autres, et en succombant au relativisme culturel. Le présent article explore ces hypothèses en examinant la jurisprudence limitée certes, mais importante, dans laquelle on a soulevé des arguments culturels à l’égard de causes de provocation sexuelle où l'acte soi-disant provocateur était l'infidélité d'une femme ou son rejet d'un homme. Cette jurisprudence peut fort bien servir à analyser les propositions divergentes parce que la provocation est une défense basée sur le sexe et parce que les changements récents à la loi ont ouvert la voie à l'argumentation basée sur la culture. Les résultats de cet examen sont mitigés. La théorie libérale selon laquelle le fait de ne pas tenir compte de la culture de l'accusé entraînera une application égale de la loi n'est pas étayée; pas plus que ne l'est la théorie féministe voulant que l'introduction de la culture dans la salle d'audience mette la race devant le sexe. Au lieu de cela, la jurisprudence canadienne est mieux représentée par un autre principe organisateur, celui qui met le colonialisme devant le patriarcat.
L'engagement de ne pas troubler l'ordre public dans les causes de violence conjugale ayant fait l'objet d'un abandon des poursuites judiciaires criminelles (art. 810 C.CR.)
Authors: Gauthier Sonia
Published: November 2011

This article reviews the perceptions and practices of judicial and psychosocial intervenors with regard to Sureties to Keep the Peace (section 810 of the Criminal Code of Canada). We describe how this protection order is regularly used in Montreal, not as a precaution when there are no live proceedings, but as a measure following a decision to free the accused from the charges laid against him or to acquit. The data hereby presented comes from a study conducted on the discontinuance of legal criminal actions in incidents of spousal abuse, which was conducted in Montreal in 2002. We interviewed twenty-two professionals involved in the criminal judicial treatment of these cases, especially six judges, seven prosecutors, four defence lawyers, and five interveners from the Côté cour services. We concluded from the interviews that section 810 of the Canadian criminal code is often used in judicial incidents of spousal abuse, and that in general, these intervenors like to have access to this order, which allows them to keep monitoring the accused for a period of up to twelve months. That said, this measure is not considered as a universal cure, coming as it does with disadvantages, especially for the accused and the victims.
The Practices of Lesbian Mothers and Quebec's Reforms
Authors: Leckey Robert
Published: November 2011

Depuis 2002, le Québec permet à un enfant de voir deux parents de même sexe inscrits à son acte de naissance. Le présent article vise à instruire le lectorat canadien anglophone des réformes relatives à la filiation ayant eu lieu au Québec en 2002. Il tente également d'enrichir le discours doctrinal de cette province, où l'approche positiviste semble encore prédominer. Il adopte par ailleurs une démarche fermement anti-homophobe et féministe, faisant sienne la préoccupation méthodologique féministe basée sur l'expérience de vie des femmes. L'article sélectionne trois aspects du régime québécois, le manque de formalité dans l’échange de consentements menant à la création d'un projet parental, la reconnaissance de deux femmes comme « mères » légales et la limitation du nombre de parents à deux tout au plus, et les oppose à des comptes-rendus des pratiques parentales des couples de femmes lesbiennes issus des recherches menées en sciences sociales. Le manque de formalité ne se voit pas confirmé par les pratiques réelles des femmes lesbiennes, tandis que la reconnaissance de deux « mères » et la limitation du nombre de parents à deux sont en grande partie fondées selon les données empiriques recueillies, bien que ces dernières ne soient pas toujours uniformes à cet effet. En outre, la complexité des portraits produits par les sciences sociales nous fait remettre en question la présomption selon laquelle il incombe au droit de la famille de « refléter » les pratiques sociales.
Psychological Services for US and International Veterinary Students
Authors: Kogan Lori R. , Schoenfeld-Tacher Regina , Hathcock Jessica
Published: November 2011

Given the importance of psychological services for veterinary students, a survey was administered to all US veterinary schools and many international ones, asking them to report on the amount and type of psychological support services they offer to students, faculty, and staff. This article reports on the results of this survey and presents suggestions for increasing the accessibility of counseling services. One objective of the current study was to initiate an avenue for ongoing communication between individuals involved in student counseling within each school. A list of individuals currently working in the field and their contact information is provided in Appendix 2.
The constant flow ventricular infusion test: a simple and useful study in the diagnosis of third ventriculostomy failure
Authors: Aquilina Kristian , Pople Ian K. , Sacree Jenny , Carter Michael R. , Edwards Richard J.
Published: November 2011

Object

The evaluation of third ventriculostomy function in hydrocephalic patients is challenging. The utility of the constant flow infusion test in predicting response to shunt insertion in normal-pressure hydrocephalus, as well as in identifying shunt malfunction, has been previously demonstrated. The object of this study was to evaluate its usefulness in determining whether a revision CSF diversion procedure was indicated in patients presenting with recurring symptoms and persisting ventriculomegaly after endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV).

Methods

The authors conducted a prospective study of all patients who, after undergoing ETV at their institution, presented postoperatively with recurring symptoms and persisting ventriculomegaly.

Results

Forty-six patients (mean age 40.7 years, including 11 patients younger than 18 years) underwent 56 constant flow ventricular infusion tests (VITs) at a mean of 24.7 months post-ETV. Thirty-three patients with resistance to CSF outflow (Rout) less than 13 mm Hg/ml/min underwent follow-up (median 17 months) and experienced resolution of symptoms. In 10 episodes Rout was greater than 13 mm Hg/ml/min; the patients in these cases underwent revisional CSF diversion. Two patients demonstrated high and frequent B (slow) waves despite a low Rout; these patients also underwent successful revisions. Patients who improved after surgery had increased B wave activity in the plateau phase of the VIT (p = 0.01). Thirty-four patients underwent MR imaging at the same time; 4 had high Rout despite evidence of flow across the stoma. These 4 patients underwent surgery and experienced resolution of symptoms. Of 9 patients without flow, Rout was less than 13 mm Hg/ml/min in 4; these patients were successfully treated conservatively.

Conclusions

The VIT is a useful and safe adjunct to clinical and MR imaging evaluation when ETV failure is suspected.
Taking Turns: Democracy to Come and Intergenerational Justice
Authors: Fritsch Matthias
Published: November 2011

In the face of the ever-growing effect the actions of the present may have upon future people, most conspicuously around climate change, democracy has been accused, with good justification, of a presentist bias: of systemically favouring the presently living. By contrast, this paper will argue that the intimate relation, both quasi-ontological and normative, that Derrida's work establishes between temporality and justice insists upon another, more future-regarding aspect of democracy. We can get at this aspect by arguing for two consequences of the deconstructive affirmation of sur-vivre, of the alterity of death in life. Firstly, justice is not first of all justice for the living, but intergenerational from the start. This is so because no generation coincides with itself; rather, it dies and is reborn at every moment, and so – and this is the second consequence – consists in taking turns. Affirming life as living-on means affirming that it involves exchanging life's stations, as the young become the old, and the unborn become the dead. In this sense, the justice of living-on, I will argue, shares an essential feature with democracy, whose principle of exchanging the rulers with the ruled led Derrida to characterize it in terms of the wheel. Democracy consists in the principled assent to power changing hands, a switchover life demands of every generation at every turn. This assent further requires an acceptance of the gift of inheritance without which no life can survive. But as the gift can also never be fully acknowledged or appropriated, it must be passed on to the indefinite, unknown future, in a turning that is the time of life.
Tongue-tied Democracy: The Bind of National Language in Tocqueville and Derrida
Authors: Keohane Oisín
Published: November 2011

My paper examines Derrida's attempts to resist, on the one hand, what he thought of as the increasing international hegemony of American English as the technolanguage of communication, and, on the other hand, forms of linguistic nationalism, when using the resources of the French language to deploy the syntagma: démocratie à venir. It does this by investigating what happens when claims about democracy are made in such a way as to be singularly idiomatic – made from a cosmopolitan point of view that takes into account, rather than vitiates à la Kant, the singular poeticity of idioms. It contrasts Derrida's analysis of the relationship between the national, democracy and idiomaticity with Tocqueville's nationalistic claims; examining, in particular, the issue of how language supposedly binds people together, the role of singularity and generality in thinking about idioms, the divide between originary and techno-scientific idioms, and Derrida's practice of writing in plus d'une langue. It also outlines how, paradoxically, it is a form of idiomaticity and not linguistic instrumentality that disrupts the logic of appropriation, the logic inscribed in the neighbouring, though different, conceptual values of idion, proprius and le propre.
Hepatic Oxidative Stress in Fructose-Induced Fatty Liver Is Not Caused by Sulfur Amino Acid Insufficiency
Authors: Kunde Sachin S. , Roede James R. , Vos Miriam B. , Orr Michael L. , Go Young-Mi , Park Youngja , Ziegler Thomas R. , Jones Dean P.
Published: November 2011

Fructose-sweetened liquid consumption is associated with fatty liver and oxidative stress. In rodent models of fructose-mediated fatty liver, protein consumption is decreased. Additionally, decreased sulfur amino acid intake is known to cause oxidative stress. Studies were designed to test whether oxidative stress in fructose-sweetened liquid-induced fatty liver is caused by decreased ad libitum solid food intake with associated inadequate sulfur amino acid intake. C57BL6 mice were grouped as: control (ad libitum water), fructose (ad libitum 30% fructose-sweetened liquid), glucose (ad libitum 30% glucose-sweetened water) and pair-fed (ad libitum water and sulfur amino acid intake same as the fructose group). Hepatic and plasma thiol-disulfide antioxidant status were analyzed after five weeks. Fructose- and glucose-fed mice developed fatty liver. The mitochondrial antioxidant protein, thioredoxin-2, displayed decreased abundance in the liver of fructose and glucose-fed mice compared to controls. Glutathione/glutathione disulfide redox potential (EhGSSG) and abundance of the cytoplasmic antioxidant protein, peroxiredoxin-2, were similar among groups. We conclude that both fructose and glucose-sweetened liquid consumption results in fatty liver and upregulated thioredoxin-2 expression, consistent with mitochondrial oxidative stress; however, inadequate sulfur amino acid intake was not the cause of this oxidative stress.
Rapid Detection of Polychlorinated Biphenyls at Trace Levels in Real Environmental Samples by Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering
Authors: Zhou Qin , Zhang Xian , Huang Yu , Li Zhengcao , Zhang Zhengjun
Published: November 2011

Detection of trace levels of persistent pollutants in the environment is difficult but significant. Organic pollutant homologues, due to their similar physical and chemical properties, are even more difficult to distinguish, especially in trace amounts. We report here a simple method to detect polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in soil and distilled spirit samples by the surface-enhanced Raman scattering technique using Ag nanorod arrays as substrates. By this method, polychlorinated biphenyls can be detected to a concentration of 5 μg/g in dry soil samples within 1 minute. Furthermore, based on simulation and understanding of the Raman characteristics of PCBs, we recognized homologues of tetrachlorobiphenyl by using the surface-enhance Raman scattering method even in trace amounts in acetone solutions, and their characteristic Raman peaks still can be distinguished at a concentration of 10-6 mol/L. This study provides a fast, simple and sensitive method for the detection and recognition of organic pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls.
Life Cycle Costing in Sustainability Assessment—A Case Study of Remanufactured Alternators
Authors: Schau Erwin M. , Traverso Marzia , Lehmann Annekatrin , Finkbeiner Matthias
Published: November 2011

Sustainability is on the international agenda, and is a driver for industry in international competition. Sustainability encompasses the three pillars: environment, society and economy. To prevent shifting of burden, the whole life cycle needs to be taken into account. For the environmental dimension of sustainability, life cycle assessment (LCA) has been practiced for a while and is a standardized method. A life cycle approach for the social and economic pillars of sustainability needs to be further developed. This paper investigates the application of life cycle costing (LCC) as part of a wider sustainability assessment where also social life cycle assessment (SLCA) and LCA are combined. LCA-type LCC is applied on a case study of remanufactured alternators. Remanufacturing of automobile parts is a fast growing important business with large potential for cost and resource savings. Three design alternatives for the alternator and three locations for the remanufacturing plant are evaluated. The remanufacturer perspective and the user perspective are investigated. The results for the LCA-type LCC show that the largest cost for the remanufacturer is the new parts replacing old warn parts. However, the user cost, and therein especially, cost for fuel used for the alternator’s power production dominates and should be the focus for further improvement. In conducting the case study, it was revealed that the connection between the LCA-type LCC results and the economic dimension of sustainability needs to be further investigated and defined. For this purpose, areas of protection for life cycle sustainability assessment and LCA-type LCC in particular need further development.
Symmetry in the Language of Gene Expression: A Survey of Gene Promoter Networks in Multiple Bacterial Species and Non-σ Regulons
Authors: Aldrich Preston R. , Horsley Robert K. , Turcic Stefan M.
Published: November 2011

The language of gene expression displays topological symmetry. An important step during gene expression is the binding of transcriptional proteins to DNA promoters adjacent to a gene. Some proteins bind to many promoters in a genome, defining a regulon of genes wherein each promoter might vary in DNA sequence relative to the average consensus. Here we examine the linguistic organization of gene promoter networks, wherein each node in the network represents a promoter and links between nodes represent the extent of base pair-sharing. Prior work revealed a fractal nucleus in several σ-factor regulons from Escherichia coli. We extend these findings to show fractal nuclei in gene promoter networks from three bacterial species, E. coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We surveyed several non-σ transcription factors from these species and found that many contain a nucleus that is both visually and numerically fractal. Promoter footprint size scaled as a negative power-law with both information entropy and fractal dimension, while the latter two parameters scaled positively and linearly. The fractal dimension of the diffuse networks (dB = ~1.7) was close to that expected of a diffusion limited aggregation process, confirming prior predictions as to a possible mechanism for development of this structure.
Stress Granules in the Viral Replication Cycle
Authors: Montero Hilda , Trujillo-Alonso Vicenta
Published: November 2011

As intracellular parasites, viruses require a host cell in order to replicate. However, they face a series of cellular responses against infection. One of these responses is the activation of the double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-activated protein kinase R (PKR). PKR phosphorylates the α subunit of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 (eIF2α), which in turn results in global protein synthesis inhibition and formation of stress granules (SGs). Recent studies have shown that SGs can interfere with the replicative cycle of certain viruses. This review addresses how viruses have evolved different control strategies at the SG level to ensure an efficient replication cycle during the cellular stress response triggered by the viral infection.
Mechanical characteristics of concrete with recycled aggregates coming from prefabricated discarded units
Authors: Pérez-Benedicto J. A. , Del Río-Merino M. , Peralta-Canudo J. L. , De la Rosa-La Mata M.
Published: November 2011

The need to diminish the final amount of waste produced in construction and demolition processes in plants of concrete prefabricated products, has made us analyze the mechanical behaviour of concrete made with recycled aggregate coming from discarded concrete prefabricated units. The aim was to find a possible use for this recycled aggregate in different proportions in reinforced concrete and prestressed concrete, for prefabricated elements.

Two situations using recycled aggregate have been studied: one of them, in natural state and subject to pre-saturation with selfcompacting H40 and H50 concrete, using as the only variable the substitution of the 4/12mm coarse aggregate in the following percentages: 0%, 20%, 50% and 100%. The results of the tests performed indicate that concretes with recycled aggregate coming from discarded prefabricated units can offer an excellent quality as structural concrete for future uses.
Developing the IOOS for Improved Management and Mitigation of Coastal Inundation
Authors: Malone Thomas C. , Hemsley Michael J.
Published: November 2011

Ocean.US was established by the National Ocean Research Leadership Council in 2000 to (1) design and prepare strategic plans for implementing and improving an integrated ocean observing system (IOOS) for the United States, (2) promote coordinated implementation of these plans, and (3)
promote research and development needed to improve operational capabilities. Among the highest priorities for phased development of the IOOS is improving capabilities to predict, manage, and mitigate effects of coastal inundation caused by hurricanes, tropical storms, extra-tropical cyclones,
nor'easters, and tsunamis. Based on the needs of three categories of users (real-time responders, post event re-builders, and long-term planners), high priorities for IOOS development are to (1) improve the accuracy and timeliness of forecast maps of the time-space extent of coastal inundation
and (2) periodically provide accurate, high resolution, timely assessments of changes in susceptibility (vulnerability and risk) to and impacts of coastal inundation. Data requirements and advances in operational modeling capabilities to address these objectives and actions needed to achieve
them are described. A key action for meeting these requirements is the development of community modeling approaches to enable more effective collaboration among research and operational communities to improve and expand operational modeling capabilities in support of decision making by all
three categories of users. Community modeling activities should include coordinated development of observational and modeling capabilities and the development of test beds, ensemble modeling capabilities, and experiments to validate models and improve predictive skills (e.g., Observing System
Simulation Experiments).
A Community Approach to Improved Prediction and Characterization of Coastal Storm Hazards
Authors: Ebersole Bruce A. , Resio Donald T. , Westerink Joannes J.
Published: November 2011

This paper discusses the value of a community approach to characterizing the coastal storm hazard, e.g., hurricane water levels and wave conditions, through field measurements, data analysis, and modeling. Value is illustrated using experiences and results from recent and ongoing projects.
One example is recently completed work by the Interagency Performance Evaluation Task Force (IPET), which was commissioned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The IPET was charged with gathering the facts regarding performance of the hurricane protection system in Southeast Louisiana in response
to Hurricane Katrina. A second example is ongoing work being lead by the Corps to design projects that can greatly reduce the likelihood and consequences of flooding for coastal Louisiana and Mississippi. These investigations are being closely coordinated with work of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency to update flood insurance rate maps for the region. Findings and lessons learned are discussed, and challenges in making accurate surge and wave predictions are identified, including: 1) inaccuracy in coastal and estuarine wind fields, 2) specification of a wind drag law
in shallow coastal areas, and 3) problems in treating nearshore wave set-up and coupling into surge models. A new Corps research program that is addressing many of these issues, also a community effort, is described as are results from early progress in selected problem areas. The paper presents
advantages to developing open-source, community-based computer software for coastal storm wave and surge predictions, and some problems with today's over-reliance on proprietary software.
Admiral Thad Allen, MPA ‘86, 23rd Commandant of the US Coast Guard
Authors: Leung Andrea , Welborn Kaitlin
Published: November 2011

Admiral Thad Allen, the 23rd Commandant of the US Coast Guard, graduated from The George Washington University with his Master of Public Administration in 1986. Since that point, he has been in charge of the federal responses for Hurricane Katrina as well as for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Admiral Allen sat down with the Editor-in-Chief and the Managing Editor of Policy Perspectives to talk about lessons learned from his career, “dogs who hunt,” and the possibility of an Admiral Allen Twitter account.
A Typical Example of Cerebral Watershed Infarct
Authors: Juergenson Ina , Mazzucco Sara , Tinazzi Michele
Published: November 2011

Watershed infarcts (WI) evolve in hemodynamic risk zones. Clinical picture of WI can be associated to partial epileptic seizures. Diffusion weighted brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows a clear diagnosis. WI pathogenesis involves either embolic or hemodynamic mechanism. A 69-year old patient presented with sub-acute occurrence of right hemiparesis and partial epileptic seizures of the right arm. Carotid ultrasounds demonstrated occlusion of the right extra-cranial internal carotid artery (ICA) and tight stenosis of the contralateral ICA. Brain Diffusion-Weighted magnetic resonance revealed acute ischemic lesions within the watershed area of the left hemisphere. Our case supports the hypothesis of impaired washout of emboli in low-perfusion brain areas as the mechanism underlying cortical WI.
Decreased apoptosis in fatty livers submitted to subnormothermic machine-perfusion respect to cold storage
Authors: Boncompagni E. , Gini E. , Ferrigno A. , Milanesi G. , Gringeri E. , Barni S. , Cillo U. , Vairetti M. , Freitas I.
Published: November 2011

Machine perfusion at subnormothermic temperature (20Â°C), MP20, was developed by Vairetti et al. and showed to afford a better preservation of fatty livers respect to traditional cold storage (CS) in terms of enzyme release into the perfusate and bile, glycogen stores, energy charge and oxidative stress. Here we investigated whether it also caused decreased cell death by apoptosis. Fatty and lean Zucker rats were submitted to MP20 or CS for 6 h and reperfused normothermically for 2 h. Apoptotic cells were revealed by immunohistochemistry of activated caspase-3 and M30 (new epitope on CK18 degraded by caspase-3) and by the TUNEL assay. Portal pressure was also determined. A statistically significant reduction of hepatocyte apoptosis, but especially of sinusoidal cells was determined for fatty livers submitted to MP20 respect to CS. Portal pressure was significantly lower after MP20 respect to CS. The reduction of sinusoidal cell death by apoptosis without need for anti-apoptotic therapies appears particularly positive since apoptotic sinusoidal cells hinder microcirculation in the sinusoids and are thrombogenic. These results further confirm the potential of MP20 for preserving fatty livers that would be otherwise discarded as grafts, and thus for increasing the donor pool for liver transplantation.
A Site-Specific Literature Review of Policy and Environmental Interventions That Promote Physical Activity and Nutrition for Cardiovascular Health: What Works?
Authors: Matson-Koffman Dyann M. , Brownstein J. Nell , Neiner Jennifer A. , Greaney Mary L.
Published: November 2011

Objective.

To review the literature to determine whether policy and environmental interventions can increase people's physical activity or improve their nutrition.

Data Sources.

The following databases were searched for relevant intervention studies: Medline, Chronic Disease Prevention File, PsychInfo, Health Star, Web of Science, ERIC, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Study Selection.

To be included in the review, studies must have (1) addressed policy or environmental interventions to promote physical activity and/or good nutrition; (2) been published from 1970 to October 2003; (3) provided a description of the intervention; and (4) reported behavioral, physiological, or organizational change outcomes. Studies that had inadequate intervention descriptions or that focused on determinants research, individual-level interventions only, the built environment, or media-only campaigns were excluded.

Data Extraction.

We extracted and summarized studies conducted before 1990 (n = 65) and during 1990–2003 (n = 64).

Data Synthesis.

Data were synthesized by topic (i.e., physical activity or nutrition), by type of intervention (i.e., point-of-purchase), and by setting (i.e., community, health care facility, school, worksite). Current studies published during 1990–2003 are described in more detail, including setting and location, sample size and characteristics, intervention, evaluation period, findings, and research design. Findings are also categorized by type of intervention to show the strength of the study designs and the associations of policy and environmental interventions with physical activity and nutrition.

Conclusions.

The results of our review suggest that policy and environmental strategies may promote physical activity and good nutrition. Based on the experimental and quasi-experimental studies in this review, the following interventions provide the strongest evidence for influencing these behaviors: prompts to increase stair use (N = 5); access to places and opportunities for physical activity (N = 6); school-based physical education (PE) with better-trained PE teachers, and increased length of time students are physically active (N = 7); comprehensive work-site approaches, including education, employee and peer support for physical activity, incentives, and access to exercise facilities (N = 5); the availability of nutritious foods (N = 33), point-of-purchase strategies (N = 29); and systematic officer reminders and training of health care providers to provide nutritional counseling (N = 4). Further research is needed to determine the long-term effectiveness of different policy and environmental interventions with various populations and to identify the steps necessary to successfully implement these types of interventions.
International Collaboration in Health Promotion and Disease Management: Implications of U.S. Health Promotion Efforts on Japan's Health Care System
Authors: Pelletier Kenneth R.
Published: November 2011

For more than 25 years, health promotion and disease management interventions have been conducted by large employers in the United States. Today there are more than 100 studies of such multifactorial, comprehensive interventions that all demonstrate positive clinical outcomes. For those interventions that have also been evaluated for return on investment, all but one have demonstrated cost-effectiveness. This article is an evidence-based overview of the clinical and cost outcomes research to elaborate on the insights gained from this research in the areas of implementation and evaluation of such programs; integration of health promotion and disease management programs into conventional, occupational medicine; accessing difficult to reach populations, such as mobile workers, retirees, and/or dependents; areas of potential conflict of interest and privacy/confidentiality issues; health consequences of downsizing and job strain; and, finally, recommendations for improved integration and evaluation of such programs for both clinical and cost outcomes. With medical costs rapidly escalating again on a global scale, these interventions with evidence of both clinical and cost outcomes can provide the foundation to improve the health, performance, and productivity of both individuals and their corporations.
Relationships among Community Characteristics and Walking and Bicycling for Transportation or Recreation
Authors: Zlot Amy I. , Schmid Tom L.
Published: November 2011

Purpose.

Compare walking and bicycling for transportation and recreation with the percentage of the community devoted to parklands.

Methods.

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (N = 206,992), Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey (N = 409,025), and Trust for Public Land (N = 55) data were used to estimate recreational walking and bicycling, utilitarian walking and bicycling, and parkland as a percentage of city acreage. Data were linked at the metropolitan statistical area or city level (N = 34). Pearson correlation coefficients were used to assess the associations among recreational and utilitarian walking and bicycling and parkland acreage.

Results.

Utilitarian walking and bicycling and parkland acreage were significantly correlated (r = .62, p < .0001). No significant relationships were observed for leisure time walking or bicycling.

Discussion.

Communities with more parks had significantly higher levels of walking and bicycling for transportation. Urban design features associated with leisure time physical activity might differ from those associated with transportation-related physical activity. Further studies are needed to articulate the relationships among community attributes and purposes of physical activity.
Use of Interactive Health Communication to Affect Smoking Intentions in Middle School Students: A Pilot Test of the “Headbutt” Risk Assessment Program
Authors: Shegog Ross , McAlister Alfred L. , Hu Shoahua , Ford Kentya C. , Meshack Angela F. , Peters Ronald J.
Published: November 2011

Purpose.

Developing and disseminating innovative and effective approaches for smoking prevention among middle school children remains a public health priority. This pilot study evaluates the use of a Web-based tobacco prevention program, Headbutt, to change intentions of middle school children to smoke tobacco.

Methods.

Headbutt was implemented with the use of a single-group pretest-posttest study design in sixth grade classes of nine middle schools in Texas (student n = 2227). The program assesses cognitive determinants of smoking and provides intervention feedback tailored to the child's responses.

Results.

Headbutt significantly affected smoking intentions, prosmoking attitudes, self-efficacy expectations, and knowledge of negative consequences (all p ≤ .001) measured with scales adopted from the Texas Tobacco Initiative Survey. Change in prosmoking attitudes had the greatest predictive effect on smoking intentions (p < .001). These results were moderated by ethnicity and age of students.

Conclusion.

Findings need to be interpreted in the light of study design limitations. However, strong associations between the Headbutt program and intention change suggests that a more rigorous effectiveness trial is indicated.
Facilitating Adolescent Smoking: Who Provides the Cigarettes?
Authors: White Martha M. , Gilpin Elizabeth A. , Emery Sherry L. , Pierce John P.
Published: November 2011

Purpose.

Most adolescent smokers obtain cigarettes through social sources. We examine the extent to which cigarettes are provided by facilitators of legal age to purchase cigarettes.

Design.

Analyses of data from the 1999 California Tobacco Survey, a large population-based, random-digit–dialed telephone survey, are reported.

Setting.

California.

Subjects.

Data were from a subset of 1239 adolescent (12–17 years) respondents who reported ever having smoked a cigarette. The response rate for all adolescents selected for interview was 75.5%.

Measures.

We describe cigarette providers to adolescents in social (cigarettes given to the adolescent) and economic (someone else buys cigarettes for the adolescent) transactions by the reported facilitator's age.

Results.

Of the 82.2% ± 2.6% of adolescents who had ever smoked who usually obtained cigarettes from others, 21.6% ± 2.5% used economic transactions; most (60.6% ± 3.4%) were given cigarettes. The majority (73.3% ± 3.6%) of those relying on social sources were given cigarettes by someone <18 years of age; very few were given cigarettes by someone 21+ years old. Most (90.4% ± 2.0%) usually given cigarettes reported friends as facilitators. Of those who relied on economic transactions, 56.1% ± 6.6% reported facilitators who were 18- to 20-year-olds, another 24.7% ±6.3% had suppliers ≥21 years of age. Altogether, 80.8% ± 5.8% of facilitators in economic transactions were ≥18 years of age.

Conclusions.

Until peer approval of smoking and sharing cigarettes and adult facilitation of adolescent smoking is reduced, it will be difficult to significantly reduce adolescents' access to cigarettes.
Does Physical Activity Behavior Vary by Handedness?
Authors: Cardinal Bradley J.
Published: November 2011

Purpose.

Explore whether adults' physical activity behavior or their use of physical activity behavior-change strategies, as derived from the Transtheoretical Model, differed by handedness.

Methods.

A cross-sectional survey of 151 adults' hand preference (i.e., handedness: right, left, ambidextrous) and their use of the behavioral and cognitive processes of change, decisional balance scores (i.e., pros minus cons), self-efficacy, and their stage of change for physical activity involvement.

Results.

Left-handers showed significantly less use of the behavioral and cognitive processes of change compared to right-handers (M = 46.9 vs. M = 40.5 and M = 46.9 vs. M = 40.5, respectively). Left-handers were also significantly more likely to be in the earlier (i.e., inactive or irregularly active) stages of change relative to right-handers (84.6% vs. 48.1%, respectively).

Discussion.

Handedness may be a previously unrecognized, heritable correlate of physical activity behavior and the use of physical activity behavior-change strategies.
Demographic and Health Factors Associated with Mammography Utilization
Authors: Barrett Kirsten , Legg Jeffrey
Published: November 2011

Purpose.

The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of mammography utilization among women in 2002 and to compare it with Healthy People 2010 targets. Relationships between demographic and health factors and utilization were explored.

Methods.

This study used data from 93,657 women completing the 2002 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, a population-based telephone survey measuring behavioral risk factors. Relationships between demographic and health factors and mammography utilization were explored by bivariate and logistic regression analyses.

Results.

Seventy-six percent of women reported having had a mammogram within the past 2 years. Utilization was significantly associated with age; ethnicity; race; education; income; employment; perceived health; health insurance coverage; access to physicians; and receipt of basic, preventive health care services. When controlling for other factors, women who had a personal doctor, had health insurance, had higher incomes, and were older had the greatest odds of having received a mammogram within the past 2 years.

Conclusions.

This assessment indicates that, overall, the Healthy People 2010 mammography utilization target is being met. However, though utilization is improving for some at-risk groups, women without health insurance; women without a personal doctor; and women not receiving basic, preventive care fall short of the Healthy People 2010 target.
Avanços e perspectivas da infometria e dos indicadores multidimensionais na análise de fluxos da informação e estruturas do conhecimento
Authors: Santin Dirce Maria
Published: November 2011

Este estudo analisa os avanços e as perspectivas da infometria e dos indicadores multidimensionais no contexto dos estudos métricos da informação. Trata-se de uma pesquisa bibliográfica, que apresenta as contribuições teóricas consolidadas e emergentes, as relações entre os métodos e suas contribuições para a compreensão das estruturas do conhecimento e dos fluxos da informação na atualidade. Discute a relevância da abordagem multidimensional para representar adequadamente os fenômenos analisados e aponta as tendências do uso da infometria e dos indicadores multidimensionais da informação no cenário global. Finaliza ratificando a importância da infometria para análise da informação enquanto fenômeno social e sinaliza o desafio do uso de indicadores multidimensionais para aprimoramento dos estudos métricos da informação.
Visualização da Informação na construção de interfaces amigáveis para Sistemas de Recuperação de Informação
Authors: Vieira Jessica Monique de Lira , Correa Renato Fernandes
Published: November 2011

As informações representadas por meio de recursos visuais auxiliam os Sistemas de Recuperação de Informação (SRIs) a exercerem seu objetivo principal, o de recuperar informações relevantes que atendam a necessidade informacional de seus usuários. Sob esse contexto, objetiva-se analisar as alternativas propostas pela área de Visualização da Informação que visam facilitar a apropriação de informação pelo usuário, a partir do uso de interfaces visuais. A metodologia consiste em revisão de literatura com foco na potencial contribuição da representação visual de informações na construção de interfaces amigáveis para SRIs, auxiliando o usuário na busca, localização e recuperação de informações de seu interesse. Para demonstrar a importância do uso de estruturas de Visualização da Informação na comunicação com o usuário, apresenta-se alguns SRIs que fazem uso de recursos gráficos e interfaces amigáveis. As informações disponibilizadas por meio de representação visual proporcionam ao usuário uma melhor compreensão acerca das mesmas, como também a descoberta de novos conhecimentos.
Amine substitution into sulfuric acid – ammonia clusters
Authors: Kupiainen O. , Ortega I. K. , Kurtén T. , Vehkamäki H.
Published: November 2011

Abstract. The substitution of ammonia by dimethylamine in sulfuric acid – ammonia – dimethylamine clusters was studied using a collision and evaporation dynamics model. Quantum chemical formation free energies were computed using B3LYP/CBSB7 for geometries and frequencies and RI-CC2/aug-cc-pV(T+d)Z for electronic energies. We first demonstrate the good performance of our method by a comparison with an experimental study investigating base substitution in positively charged clusters, and then continue by simulating base exchange in neutral clusters, which cannot be measured directly. Collisions of a dimethylamine molecule with an ammonia containing positively charged cluster result in the instantaneous evaporation of an ammonia molecule, while the dimethylamine molecule remains in the cluster. According to our simulations, a similar base exchange can take place in neutral clusters, although the overall process is more complicated. Neutral sulfuric acid – ammonia clusters are significantly less stable than their positively charged counterparts, resulting in a competition between cluster evaporation and base exchange.
Comparison of AERONET and SKYRAD4.2 inversion products retrieved from a Cimel CE318 sunphotometer
Authors: Estellés V. , Campanelli M. , Utrillas M. P. , Expósito F. , Martínez-Lozano J. A.
Published: November 2011

Abstract. SKYNET is an international research network of ground based sky-sunphotometers for the observation and monitoring of columnar aerosol properties. The algorithm developed by SKYNET is called SKYRAD.pack, and so far it has been used on Prede instruments only. In this study we have modified the SKYRAD.pack software in order to adapt it to Cimel sunphotometers. A one month database of Cimel data obtained at Burjassot (Valencia, Spain) has been processed with this program and the obtained inversion products have been compared with AERONET retrievals. In general, the differences found were consistent with the individual error assessments for both algorithms. Although the aerosol optical depth compared well for any aerosol burden situation (rmsd of 0.002–0.013 for all wavelengths), inversion products such as the single scattering albedo, refractive index and asymmetry parameter compared better for higher turbidity situations. The comparison performed for cases with an aerosol optical depth at 440 nm over 0.2 showed rms differences of 0.025–0.049 for single scattering albedo, 0.005–0.034 for the real part of refractive index, 0.004–0.007 for the imaginary part of the refractive index, and 0.006–0.009 for the asymmetry parameter. In respect to the volume distributions, the comparison also showed a good agreement for high turbidity cases (mainly within the 0.01–7 μm interval) although the already known discrepancy in the extremes of the distribution was still found in 40% of cases, in spite of eliminating data and instrumental differences present in previous studies.