bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Explicating Practicum Program Theory
Authors: Chandler Kathryn M. M. , Williamson Deanna L.
Published: August 2013

This study explicated the theory underpinning the Human Ecology Practicum Program offered in the Department of Human Ecology at the University of Alberta. The program has operated for 40 years but never been formally evaluated. Using a document analysis, focus group and individual interviews, and a stakeholder working group, we explored stakeholder perspectives on the purpose, design, and logic of the program. Findings indicated a common understanding among stakeholders about the fundamental purpose and design of the program, and about the mechanisms by which design features lead to program goals. Findings were used to develop the theory of the Human Ecology Practicum Program. In addition to providing a case example of practicum program theory development, our study demonstrates the value of involving stakeholders in theory development and supports the articulation of program theory as part of course planning and evaluation within postsecondary education programs.
Where’s the Wilderness in Wilderness Therapy?
Authors: Rutko Ebony A. , Gillespie Judy
Published: August 2013

This article seeks to provide a review of the theoretical and empirical literature in the field of wilderness therapy, the intent of which is to gain a greater conceptual understanding of the importance of the physical environment in therapeutic intervention. A review and consolidation of the existing literature reveal that the theories used to explain the outcomes of wilderness therapy relate to variables that are not exclusive to a wilderness setting and may even be amenable to replication in an urban environment. This article raises the question of whether we are unnecessarily taking adolescents into the wilderness if these interventions can be contrived within urban settings or whether there is something about the wilderness specifically that is currently missing from the theoretical literature. The article concludes with a discussion of avenues to facilitate this theoretical development.
Improving Staff Reports of Falls in Assisted Living
Authors: Silva-Smith Amy L. , Kluge Mary Ann , LeCompte Michelle , Snook Alison
Published: August 2013

This study examined falls data reported by staff to (a) describe characteristics of falls in this population and (b) analyze the quality and utility of the data available from incident reports (IRs) to improve fall prevention. Data from 34 incident reports were analyzed. Descriptive and frequency analyses were conducted to describe fall characteristics, use of assistive devices, high-risk medication use, and prevalence of omitted data on IRs. Thirty-four falls occurred among 15 residents (age, M = 84 years). More than half resulted in injury. Significant omissions of data were noted in the IRs, which may have limited full analysis of fall events and the ability to communicate about health outcomes of these events and the prevention of subsequent falls. This study provides data about falls in assisted living and recommendations for enhanced data collection to support the monitoring of falls risk and the prevention of future falls.
The Fiscal Trilemma in a Danish Perspective
Authors: Jacobsen Rasmus Højbjerg , Nielsen Søren Bo , Sørensen Anders
Published: August 2013

This article argues that the “fiscal trilemma”—the tension between sufficient revenue and long-run fiscal sustainability on one side; medium- to long-run growth opportunities on the other; and progressivity and avoidance of inequality on the third side—is very much present in Denmark. We provide an overview of main features of the Danish tax system; the state of fiscal balances in the short and longer run; growth and productivity developments; and the extent of inequality in the Danish society. Thereafter, we go into details with reforms and changes in the tax system over the last twenty-five years and diagnose main problem areas. We argue that the tax reform carried in Parliament on September 13, 2012, does not pass a “trilemma test”; that is, it is in conflict with at least one of the three key considerations. Finally, we put forth reform elements that should improve the system.
Dialogism in detail: Per Linell’s Rethinking language, mind, and world dialogically and its potentials
Authors: Lourenço Pedro , Basto Isabel , Cunha Carla , Bento Tiago
Published: August 2013

Per Linell’s (2009) book Rethinking language, mind, and world dialogically offers an integrated view upon the many strands of Dialogism, establishing itself as an essential reference to the field. In this review of his book we aim to discuss a few selected topics, building upon these with our own views. Initially, we focus on the relevance and urgency of such book by summing up the most important dialogical concepts presented by it. Following our initial argument, we move on to the discussion of contrasts between monological and dialogical perspectives, the concepts of extended mind and the interworld, suggesting Dialogism as an ontology, and finally, reflecting upon the relation between intersubjectivity and alterity. We conclude our review by stressing how Linell’s book contributes to the unification of an entanglement of different dialogical theories and perspectives, crafting a solid meta-theory. This integration paves the way for a deeper understanding of what constitutes the nature of knowledge and human phenomena, as conceptualized by Dialogism.
Pathways, race and gender responsive reform: Through an abolitionist lens
Authors: Russell Emma , Carlton Bree
Published: August 2013

In this article we take stock of a recent moment in penal history in Victoria, Australia, where agencies have implemented gender responsive policies to address the disproportionate growth in women’s prison numbers, and in particular the overrepresentation of women constructed as ‘culturally diverse’. We draw upon abolitionist and intersectional frames to provide a theoretical critique of this political event. Our analysis extends beyond the unitary frame of gender, which has until recently dominated critiques in this area, to highlight the ways in which racializing logics are reproduced through such policies and practices. We explore the implications of the adoption of the criminological notion of pathways through the language of liberal feminist reform, which signifies a reinvestment in the myth of individual rehabilitation. The consequences of these discursive practices include the reproduction of pathologizing and risk-focused practices that can only yield more racializing, interventionist and expansionist responses within correctional spaces.
Contradictory discourses of health promotion and disease prevention in the educational curriculum of Norwegian public health nursing: A critical discourse analysis
Authors: Dahl Berit Misund , Andrews Therese , Clancy Anne
Published: August 2013

Aims: Health care is under constant change creating new and demanding tasks for public health nurses. The curriculum for public health nursing students is controlled by governmental directives that decide the structure and content of their education. This paper analyses manifest and latent discourses in the curriculum, in order to reveal underlying governmental principles for how public health nurses should promote health and prevent diseases. Methods: A critical discourse analysis of the Norwegian public health nursing curriculum was conducted. Results: The study indicates i) ‘a competing biomedical and social-scientific knowledge-discourse’, with biomedical knowledge dominating the content of the curriculum; ii) ‘a paternalistic meta-discourse’, referring to an underlying paternalistic ideology despite a clear focus on user participation; and iii) ‘a hegemonic individual discourse’. Even though the curriculum stipulates that public health nurses should work at both an individual and a societal level, there is very little population focus in the text. Conclusions: Recent political documents concerning public health nursing focus more on health promotion, however, this is not sufficiently explicit in the curriculum. The lack of emphasis on social scientific knowledge, and the blurred empowerment and population perspective in the curriculum, can lead to less emphasis on health promotion work in public health nursing education and practice. The curriculum should be revised in order to meet the recent governmental expectations.
Safety cases for medical devices and health information technology: Involving health-care organisations in the assurance of safety
Authors: Sujan Mark A , Koornneef Floor , Chozos Nick , Pozzi Simone , Kelly Tim
Published: August 2013

In the United Kingdom, there are more than 9000 reports of adverse events involving medical devices annually. The regulatory processes in Europe and in the United States have been challenged as to their ability to protect patients effectively from unreasonable risk and harm. Two of the major shortcomings of current practice include the lack of transparency in the safety certification process and the lack of involvement of service providers. We reviewed recent international standardisation activities in this area, and we reviewed regulatory practices in other safety-critical industries. The review showed that the use of safety cases is an accepted practice in UK safety-critical industries, but at present, there is little awareness of this concept in health care. Safety cases have the potential to provide greater transparency and confidence in safety certification and to act as a communication tool between manufacturers, service providers, regulators and patients.
Making sense of personal health information: Challenges for information visualization
Authors: Faisal Sarah , Blandford Ann , Potts Henry WW
Published: August 2013

This article presents a systematic review of the literature on information visualization for making sense of personal health information. Based on this review, five application themes were identified: treatment planning, examination of patients’ medical records, representation of pedigrees and family history, communication and shared decision making, and life management and health monitoring. While there are recognized design challenges associated with each of these themes, such as how best to represent data visually and integrate qualitative and quantitative information, other challenges and opportunities have received little attention to date. In this article, we highlight, in particular, the opportunities for supporting people in better understanding their own illnesses and making sense of their health conditions in order to manage them more effectively.
‘Trying to find information is like hating yourself every day’: The collision of electronic information systems in transition with patients in transition
Authors: McMurray Josephine , Hicks Elisabeth , Johnson Helen , Elliott Jacobi , Byrne Kerry , Stolee Paul
Published: August 2013

The consequences of parallel paper and electronic medical records (EMR) and their impact on informational continuity are examined. An interdisciplinary team conducted a multi-site, ethnographic field study and retrospective documentation review from January 2010 to December 2010. Three case studies from the sample of older patients with hip fractures who were transitioning across care settings were selected for examination. Analysis of data from interviews with care providers in each setting, field observation notes, and reviews of medical records yielded two themes. First, the lack of interoperability between electronic information systems has complicated, not eased providers’ ability to communicate with others. Second, rather than transforming the system, digital records have sustained health care’s ‘culture of documentation’. While some information is more accessible and communications streamlined, parallel paper and electronic systems have added to front line providers’ burden, not lessened it. Implementation of truly interoperable electronic health information systems need to be expedited to improve care continuity for patients with complex health-care needs, such as older patients with hip fractures.
Data-driven multivariate algorithms for damage detection and identification: Evaluation and comparison
Authors: Torres-Arredondo Miguel A , Tibaduiza Diego A , Mujica Luis E , Rodellar José , Fritzen Claus-Peter
Published: August 2013

This article is concerned with the experimental validation of a structural health monitoring methodology for damage detection and identification. Three different data-driven multivariate algorithms are considered here to obtain the baseline pattern. These are based on principal component analysis, independent component analysis and hierarchical non-linear principal component analysis. The contribution of this article is to examine and compare the three proposed algorithms that have been reported as reliable methods for damage detection and identification. The approach is based on a distributed piezoelectric active sensor network for the excitation and detection of structural dynamic responses. A woven multilayered composite plate and a simplified aircraft composite skin panel are used as examples to test the approaches. Data-driven baseline patterns are built when the structure is known to be healthy from wavelet coefficients of the structural dynamic responses. Damage is then simulated by adding masses at different positions of the structures. The data from the structure in different states (damaged or not) are then projected into the different models by each actuator in order to generate the input feature vectors of a self-organizing map from the computed components together with squared prediction error measures. All three methods are shown to be successful in detecting and classifying the simulated damages. At the end, a critical comparison is given in order to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of each method for the damage detection and identification tasks.
Noncontact ultrasonic guided wave inspection of rails
Authors: Mariani Stefano , Nguyen Thompson , Phillips Robert R , Kijanka Piotr , Lanza di Scalea Francesco , Staszewski Wieslaw J , Fateh Mahmood , Carr Gary
Published: August 2013

This article describes a new system for high-speed and noncontact rail integrity evaluation being developed at the University of California at San Diego. A prototype using an ultrasonic air-coupled guided wave signal generation and air-coupled signal detection has been tested at the University of California at San Diego Rail Defect Farm. In addition to a real-time statistical analysis algorithm, the prototype uses a specialized filtering approach due to the inherently poor signal-to-noise ratio of the air-coupled ultrasonic measurements in rail steel. The laboratory results indicate that the prototype is able to detect internal rail defects with a high reliability. Extensions of the system are planned to add rail surface characterization to the internal rail defect detection. In addition to the description of the prototype and test results, numerical analyses of ultrasonic guided wave propagation in rails have been performed using a Local Interaction Simulation Approach algorithm and some of these results are shown. The numerical analysis has helped designing various aspects of the prototype for maximizing its sensitivity to defects.
Political crime in early modern Europe: Assassination, legal responses and popular print media
Authors: Härter Karl
Published: August 2013

The article explores two prospective fields within the burgeoning history of crime: the various responses of early modern legal systems in Europe to violent political crimes such as assassination and regicide and their representation in popular print media, notably in illustrated broadsheets and pamphlets. The early modern era can be characterised as an incubation period of ‘modern’ political crime with regard to its phenomenology and its manifestations as well as concerning the conceptualisation in penal law and the actual practice of criminal justice. The case study of assassination attempts and their representation in illustrated broadsheets demonstrates that the developments of political crime, legal responses and popular print are strongly interconnected and created the modern narrative and image of political crime, which evolved from a national issue to a transnational European discourse. Hence, public punishment and popular print media constituted an integral part of the legal responses to political violence and dissidence by communicating the states interpretation of political crime, the damnatio memoriae and obliteration of the perpetrator and his motivation as well the appropriate just legal responses of the legal authorities.
Locked in the past: An historical analysis of the legal framework of custody for children in Northern Ireland
Authors: Convery Una
Published: August 2013

The aim of this paper is to examine how the legal framework for the custody of children in Northern Ireland has developed historically. Drawing upon legislation and literature, it explores the conceptual and historical development of institutions and provisions for the custodial disposal of children, within a broad overview of the wider social and political context. This, it is argued, shows how custodial provision for children remains significantly influenced by nineteenth century philosophies and institutional practices, and that in effect the custodial disposal of children remains ‘locked in the past’.
The First Year
Authors: Musoba Glenda Droogsma , Collazo Charlene , Placide Sharon
Published: August 2013

Minority retention models have identified student needs that may or may not be addressed by institutional first-year experience (FYE) programming at Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs). Qualitatively, this study examined Hispanic and Black first-year experiences in an HSI context. Identified themes included sense of belonging, career and major selection, and being held accountable for what they do not know.
Drawing Toward Transformation and Action in a Forgotten Barrio
Authors: Nitschke Peter , Malvicini Peter
Published: August 2013

This study supported the emergence of a transformative learning and planning community among marginalized informal settlers in Manila, Philippines. The research was rooted in transformative learning theory while drawing from systems theory, planning, and development participation. We adapted the Search Conference (SC) to examine the process of transformative learning within one community. We customized the SC to local learning styles and culture, incorporating more visual and kinesthetic activities by using participatory development tools. With their involvement in participatory action research, participants drove the process from design, to evaluation, and follow-up through cycles of reflection and action. The findings suggest that a community-driven planning process, undertaken in an environment supportive of transformative learning, can foster meaning making, empowerment, and the emergence of a self-managing group. Our research demonstrated that when people engage in critical systemic thinking about their poverty, this can result in learning and actions that transform their lives.
Endoscopic Therapies for Leaks and Fistulas After Bariatric Surgery
Authors: Bhayani Neil H. , Swanström Lee L.
Published: August 2013

Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for the medical comorbidities associated with morbid obesity. Though uncommon, staple line or anastomotic leaks after bariatric surgery are highly morbid events and challenging to treat. In selected patients without severe sepsis or distant pollution, endoscopic transluminal peritoneal drainage may provide source control. For leaks within 3 days of surgery, endoscopic stenting does not appear to speed closure but does permit oral nutrition. In uncomplicated situations, the risk of migration and resulting complications of enteric stents appear to overshadow the benefits. Initial treatment failures and leaks presenting more than 48 hours after surgery respond to enteric diversion by endoscopic stenting. Occlusion of the leak by injection of fibrin glue also shows promise; however, these case series are limited to a small number of patients. Endoclips may work best to occlude leaks and close fistulas if the epithelium is debrided. As suturing technology improves, direct internal closure of fistulas may prove feasible. Therapeutic endoscopy offers several technologies that can assist in the closure of early leaks and that are essential to the treatment of late leaks and fistulas after bariatric surgery.
Feeling Right About How You Play
Authors: Lee Yu-Hao , Heeter Carrie , Magerko Brian , Medler Ben
Published: August 2013

Serious games are often assigned to learners and not played voluntarily. A problem for educators is how to motivate learners in these assigned conditions. This study examines the influence of regulatory fit experience on player motivations and time spent on learning aspects of the game. Regulatory fit theory posits that when instructions match the learners’ promotion or prevention motivational systems, learners will experience “regulatory fit,” which will make them “feel right” about the current instructions and tasks. Our findings support the regulatory fit theory. When learners experienced regulatory fit, they played the game for 26% longer time than learners who did not experience regulatory fit. Learners in regulatory fit conditions also displayed more learning-related behaviors such as spending more time on learning feedback both during gameplay and between gameplay sessions. Positive feedback seems to motivate promotion-oriented learners; however, negative feedback did not demotivate prevention-oriented learners as theory predicted.
A low-cost uncooled infrared aluminum microbolometer in a standard CMOS technology
Authors: Shen Ning , Tang Zhen’an , Feng Chong
Published: August 2013

This article introduces the implementation of a low-cost 4 × 5 pixel array uncooled infrared microbolometer together with its integrated readout circuit in a standard 0.5-µm CMOS technology and post-CMOS process. Each pixel, which has a size of 80 µm × 80 µm, is a novel structure of aluminum microbolometer fabricated by etching the surface sacrificial layer without any additional masking and lithography procedure. The aluminum microbolometer consists of an aluminum thermistor and a thermally isolated micromachined membrane suspended by two arms. The thermal conductance, thermal time constant, thermal capacitance, and responsivity of the aluminum microbolometer are experimentally measured.
Statistical issues in the validation of prognostic, predictive, and surrogate biomarkers
Authors: Sargent Daniel J , Mandrekar Sumithra J
Published: August 2013

Background

Biomarkers have many distinct purposes, and depending on their intended use, the validation process varies substantially.

Purpose

The goal of this article is to provide an introduction to the topic of biomarkers, and then to discuss three specific types of biomarkers, namely, prognostic, predictive, and surrogate.

Results

A principle challenge for biomarker validation from a statistical perspective is the issue of multiplicity. In general, the solution to this multiplicity challenge is well known to statisticians: pre-specification and replication. Critical requirements for prognostic marker validation include uniform treatment, complete follow-up, unbiased case selection, and complete ascertainment of the many possible confounders that exist in the context of an observational sample. In the case of predictive biomarker validation, observational data are clearly inadequate and randomized controlled trials are mandatory. Within the context of randomization, strategies for predictive marker validation can be grouped into two categories: retrospective versus prospective validation. The critical validation criteria for a surrogate endpoint is to ensure that if a trial uses a surrogate endpoint, the trial will result in the same inferences as if the trial had observed the true endpoint. The field of surrogate endpoint validation has now moved to the multi-trial or meta-analytic setting as the preferred method.

Conclusions

Biomarkers are a highly active research area. For all biomarker developmental and validation studies, the importance of fundamental statistical concepts remains the following: pre-specification of hypotheses, randomization, and replication. Further statistical methodology research in this area is clearly needed as we move forward.
The ethics of non-inferiority trials: A consequentialist analysis
Authors: Annoni Marco , Sanchini Virginia , Nardini Cecilia
Published: August 2013

Discussions about the merits and shortcomings of non-inferiority trials are becoming increasingly common in the medical community and among regulatory agencies. However, criticisms targeting the ethical standing of non-inferiority trials have often been mistargeted. In this article we review the ethical standing of trials of non-inferiority. In the first part of the article, we outline a consequentialist position according to which clinical trials are best conceived as epistemic tools aimed at fostering the proper ends of medicine. According to this view, clinical trials are means to ends, and thus their moral status depends both on how well they perform as means to reach desired ends and on which ends they are meant to achieve. Building upon this normative framework in the next two sections we analyze the specific ethical issues raised by non-inferiority trials. By making it clear that clinical trials are just epistemic tools – i.e. means to certain ends – it is possible not only to clarify the conceptual debate over a fundamental issue in clinical research, but also to identify which ethically relevant considerations ought to be addressed in setting up a non-inferiority trial.
Does law enforcement awareness affect motorcycle helmet use? Evidence from urban cities in Thailand
Authors: Jiwattanakulpaisarn Piyapong , Kanitpong Kunnawee , Ponboon Sattrawut , Boontob Nuttapong , Aniwattakulchai Pakorn , Samranjit Supattra
Published: August 2013

Although helmet use has been compulsory for motorcycle drivers and passengers in Thailand since the enactment of the Helmet Act in 1994, recent surveys show that the prevalence of helmet usage remains low, particularly among passengers. This paper has sought to explore motorcyclists’ awareness of helmet law enforcement in Thailand and examine whether it affects their helmet use behaviour. A total of 2,429 drivers and 1,328 passengers in urban cities nationwide were interviewed in 2009, and the data were analysed using a multivariate ordered logit regression technique. About 60% of the drivers and only 28% of the passengers reported that they always wore a motorcycle helmet. Apart from basic demographics (i.e. age and gender) and riding frequency, our analysis reveals that the awareness of helmet law enforcement was among the contributing factors influencing the use of motorcycle helmets in Thailand. Regardless of riding position, the prevalence of helmet use tended to be greater among those frequently observing the police’s checkpoints for helmet wearing and those perceiving the high risk of being caught for non-helmet use. However, the use of helmets appeared to be lower among drivers who perceived the checkpoints to take place at the same times and locations, which were likely predicted. For motorcycle passengers, it was found that the low prevalence of helmet use was potentially attributable to the absence of knowledge on the compulsory helmet law for passengers and the perception that the law was not enforced by the police. Thus, if motorcycle helmet use in Thailand is to be increased, considerable efforts need to be given to increasing the perceived risk of apprehension for non-helmet use (e.g. more police presence and random scheduling of enforcement activities), improving the awareness of the existing helmet law for passengers, and ensuring that helmet wearing by passengers is more strictly enforced.
Child diet and healthy growth in the context of rural poverty in the Peruvian Andes: What influences primary caregivers’ opportunities and choices?
Authors: Urke Helga B. , Bull Torill , Mittelmark Maurice B.
Published: August 2013

This study explored opportunities and choices related to child feeding among women living in a remote and low-income district in the Andean highlands. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with mothers ( N = 7) with reputations for providing good child care, and who participated in an NGO-run social and health programme. The aim of this study was to learn about women’s positive experience with child feeding, in the context of living in low-income communities. Such knowledge could be of substantial practical value to health promotion practitioners, in illuminating existing local circumstances and practices that produce good child nutrition. The women who were most knowledgeable about child health and diet were better educated and had relatively higher social positions in the community. Regarding contextual factors related to child feeding, numerous references were made to the extensive use of own crops and food stuffs, seen to provide a better diet than that available in cities where people buy their food. In discussing food and meal preparation habits, there were clear references to child welfare and health as motivating factors in the choices that were made. The NGO programme was not mentioned by the interviewer, to avoid prompting, yet the respondents referred to it explicitly, and attributed improved health-related knowledge and skills to the NGO education interventions (e.g. education about nutritious meal preparation, child care skills, and sanitation practices). It is concluded that the women were concerned about providing a good diet to their children, they were aware of the impact of feeding practices on child health, and that education about health and diet helped them to improved feeding practices.
Date rape among Cypriot female college students: an explorative study
Authors: Kouta Christiana , Tolma Eleni L. , Pavlou Susana Elisa
Published: August 2013

This study examined the prevalence and reporting of date rape among female college students (aged 18–24) in Cyprus and assessed the students’ attitudes and awareness regarding date rape. In addition, the study examined how date rape is perceived among representatives of related private and governmental organizations in Cyprus. This is part of a larger multi-country study. This paper will focus only on the results pertaining to Cyprus. The study was coordinated by the Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies. This study used quantitative and qualitative methods. In total, 476 female college students responded to an anonymous questionnaire, two focus group discussions were carried out, and five key-informant interviews with relevant institutional representatives were conducted. The results of the study indicated that unwanted sexual experiences and sexual violence, including date rape, do exist among young Cypriot women. Specifically, 1.3% of the research participants reported experiencing an attempted rape by their date, and 1.9 % of the study participants reported being raped on a date. Often this was caused by their boyfriend, friend or sexual partner (54.2%). The results of the qualitative study showed that young female Cypriots agreed that many women give in to psychological pressure because they feel guilty about letting the other person down or because they ‘didn’t satisfy him’ or fear they might lose him. Despite the explorative nature of the study, it is significant as research on date rape in Cyprus is almost non-existent. The authors anticipate that the results of the study will be useful to other researchers and policy-makers involved in this area of research.
Neglected tropical diseases: is it time to add Helicobacter pylori to the list?
Authors: Natuzzi Eileen
Published: August 2013

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) disproportionately affect disadvantaged populations as the 2012 World Health Organization (WHO) report on the global impact of NTDs points out. The same social determinants that impact the prevalence of the 17 current NTDs: inadequate drinking water and sanitation, crowded living conditions, environmental impacts on food and water, ethnicity as well as poverty contribute to Helicobacter pylori infections worldwide.
The Indirect Effects of Parent Psychopathology on Offspring Affective Disorder Through Difficulty During the Leaving Home Transition
Authors: Bountress Kaitlin , Haller Moira M. , Chassin Laurie
Published: August 2013

The current study examined risk for young adult affective disorder in the children of parents with alcohol use disorders (AUDs), and tested whether negative experiences during the leaving home transition mediated this effect. Using multiple reporter data from a high-risk community sample, the current study included 346 emerging adults ( M = 21.97 years old; 49% female, 72% non-Hispanic Caucasian, and 47% with at least one alcohol-disordered parent) from a large metropolitan area. We found that offspring of parents with AUDs were more likely to have negative experiences during the leaving home transition, which in turn predicted increased risk of affective disorders in adulthood. Parents with alcohol disorders may attempt to limit their children’s independence from the family of origin or fail to appropriately scaffold their leaving home transition, which is an important developmental task, placing children of alcohol-disordered parents at greater risk of affective disorders in adulthood.
A Retrospective Review of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using Patellar Tendon
Authors: Chahal Jaskarndip , Lee Andrew , Heard Wendell , Bach Bernard R.
Published: August 2013

Background:

The comparative data in the literature regarding rates of reoperation, revision ligament surgery, and contralateral surgery following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) are variable and are often derived from studies with multiple surgeons, multiple centers, different surgical techniques, and a wide variety of graft choices.

Purpose:

To describe and analyze a single surgeon’s experience with ACLR using bone–patellar tendon–bone (BPTB) as the primary graft choice over a 25-year period.

Study Design:

Retrospective case series.

Methods:

All patients who underwent ACLR from 1986 to 2012 were identified from a prospectively maintained database. Traditional follow-up was only for patients who sought subsequent surgery with the index surgeon or presented with contralateral ACL injury. Covariates of interest included age, sex, time, and graft selection. Outcomes of interest included reoperation rates after primary/revision ACLR, rate of revision ACLR, success of meniscal repair with concomitant ACLR, and the proportion of patients undergoing contralateral surgery.

Results:

A total of 1981 patients (mean age, 29 years; 49% male) were identified. Of patients undergoing primary ACLR (n = 1809), 74% had BPTB autograft and 26% had a central third BPTB allograft. The mean age of patients undergoing autograft and allograft ACLR was 26 and 36 years, respectively ( P < .05). Allograft tissue usage increased over time ( P < .05). The rate of personal ACLR revision surgery was 1.7% (n = 30) for primary cases and 3.5% (n = 6) for revision cases. There were no significant differences in revision rates between primary autograft (1.6%) and allograft (2.0%) ACLR. With allograft use, the method of sterilization did not affect revision rates. The overall reoperation rate following primary ACLR was 10%; the 5-year reoperation rate was 7.7%. The reoperation rate was lower for primary cases reconstructed with allograft versus autograft (5% vs 12%) ( P < .0001). Among primary ACLR cases, 332 patients (18%) underwent concomitant meniscal repair; 14% required revision meniscal surgery. The rate of contralateral ACLR was 6%.

Conclusion:

This information is useful for patients in the informed consent process, for perioperative decision making regarding graft choice, and for identifying patients who are at risk for injuring the uninvolved knee. The observed results in this series also emphasize that allograft ACLR can produce sustainable results with low complication rates in appropriately selected patients.
Genomic characterization of JG068, a novel virulent podovirus active against Burkholderia cenocepacia
Authors: Lynch Karlene H , Abdu Ashraf H , Schobert Max , Dennis Jonathan J
Published: August 2013

Background

As is true for many other antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative pathogens, members of the Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) are currently being assessed for their susceptibility to phage therapy as an antimicrobial treatment. The objective of this study was to perform genomic and limited functional characterization of the novel BCC phage JG068 (vB_BceP_JG068).

Results

JG068 is a podovirus that forms large, clear plaques on Burkholderia cenocepacia K56-2. Host range analysis indicates that this phage can infect environmental, clinical, and epidemic isolates of Burkholderia multivorans, B. cenocepacia, Burkholderia stabilis, and Burkholderia dolosa, likely through interaction with the host lipopolysaccharide as a receptor. The JG068 chromosome is 41,604 base pairs (bp) in length and is flanked by 216 bp short direct terminal repeats. Gene expression originates from both host and phage promoters and is in the forward direction for all 49 open reading frames. The genome sequence shows similarity to Ralstonia phage ϕRSB1, Caulobacter phage Cd1, and uncharacterized genetic loci of blood disease bacterium R229 and Burkholderia pseudomallei 1710b. CoreGenesUniqueGenes analysis indicates that JG068 belongs to the Autographivirinae subfamily and ϕKMV-like phages genus. Modules within the genome encode proteins involved in DNA-binding, morphogenesis, and lysis, but none associated with pathogenicity or lysogeny. Similar to the signal-arrest-release (SAR) endolysin of ϕKMV, inducible expression of the JG068 SAR endolysin causes lysis of Escherichia coli that is dependent on the presence of an N-terminal signal sequence. In an in vivo assay using the Galleria mellonella infection model, treatment of B. cenocepacia K56-2-infected larvae with JG068 results in a significant increase in larval survival.

Conclusions

As JG068 has a broad host range, does not encode virulence factors, is obligately lytic, and has activity against an epidemic B. cenocepacia strain in vivo, this phage is a highly promising candidate for BCC phage therapy development.
Genome-wide gene expression profiling of stress response in a spinal cord clip compression injury model
Authors: Chamankhah Mahmood , Eftekharpour Eftekhar , Karimi-Abdolrezaee Soheila , Boutros Paul C , San-Marina Serban , Fehlings Michael G
Published: August 2013

Background

The aneurysm clip impact-compression model of spinal cord injury (SCI) is a standard injury model in animals that closely mimics the primary mechanism of most human injuries: acute impact and persisting compression. Its histo-pathological and behavioural outcomes are extensively similar to human SCI. To understand the distinct molecular events underlying this injury model we analyzed global mRNA abundance changes during the acute, subacute and chronic stages of a moderate to severe injury to the rat spinal cord.

Results

Time-series expression analyses resulted in clustering of the majority of deregulated transcripts into eight statistically significant expression profiles. Systematic application of Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment pathway analysis allowed inference of biological processes participating in SCI pathology. Temporal analysis identified events specific to and common between acute, subacute and chronic time-points. Processes common to all phases of injury include blood coagulation, cellular extravasation, leukocyte cell-cell adhesion, the integrin-mediated signaling pathway, cytokine production and secretion, neutrophil chemotaxis, phagocytosis, response to hypoxia and reactive oxygen species, angiogenesis, apoptosis, inflammatory processes and ossification. Importantly, various elements of adaptive and induced innate immune responses span, not only the acute and subacute phases, but also persist throughout the chronic phase of SCI. Induced innate responses, such as Toll-like receptor signaling, are more active during the acute phase but persist throughout the chronic phase. However, adaptive immune response processes such as B and T cell activation, proliferation, and migration, T cell differentiation, B and T cell receptor-mediated signaling, and B cell- and immunoglobulin-mediated immune response become more significant during the chronic phase.

Conclusions

This analysis showed that, surprisingly, the diverse series of molecular events that occur in the acute and subacute stages persist into the chronic stage of SCI. The strong agreement between our results and previous findings suggest that our analytical approach will be useful in revealing other biological processes and genes contributing to SCI pathology.
Interaction between two rice mitogen activated protein kinases and its possible role in plant defense
Authors: Sheikh Arsheed H , Raghuram Badmi , Jalmi Siddhi K , Wankhede Dhammaprakash P , Singh Pallavi , Sinha Alok K
Published: August 2013

Background

The canonical mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway plays a vital role in carrying out the normal growth and development of the plant. The pathway, connecting the upstreams signal with the downstream target is considered to be linear, mostly starting with a MAPKKK and ending in a MAPK.

Results

Here we report a novel interaction between two rice MAPKs, OsMPK20-4 and OsMPK3 suggesting the complex nature of the pathway rather than a linear one at individual steps. The interaction between OsMPK20-4 and OsMPK3 found by yeast two-hybrid analysis was confirmed in planta by co-immunoprecipitation and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assays. The interaction is specific and is phosphorylation independent. The results suggest a role of the interaction between OsMPK20-4 and OsMPK3 in basic plant defense.

Conclusions

The current novel work showing the physical interaction between two plant MAPKs, OsMPK20-4 and OsMPK3 is the diversion from the dogma of a typical MAPK cascade thereby opening a new dimension to the MAPK signal transduction.
Histone acetyltransferase PCAF Up-regulated cell apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma via acetylating histone H4 and inactivating AKT signaling
Authors: Zheng Xin , Gai Xiaohong , Ding Feihu , Lu Zhongtang , Tu Kangsheng , Yao Yingmin , Liu Qingguang
Published: August 2013

Background

PCAF is an important intrinsic histone acetyltransferases. This study tried to establish the effect of PCAF on HCC cell apoptosis.

Method

Both in vitro and in vivo experiments including IHC, DAPI staining, caspase 3/7 activity assay, BrdU assay, MTT assay, western immunoblotting and co-immunoprecipitation were used here.

Results

PCAF was found to be expressed at the low level in most of HCC cell lines. PCAF overexpression induced cell apoptosis and growth arrest with increased Histone H4 acetylation and inactivation of AKT signaling in Huh7 and HepG2 cells. The opposite results were obtained by silencing PCAF in Hep3B cells. The co-immunoprecipitation assay confirmed that PCAF protein was bound with histone H4 protein in the nucleus of Hep3B cells. Finally, the in vivo experiment confirmed the findings mentioned-above.

Conclusion

These data identified PCAF promotes cell apoptosis and functions as a HCC repressor through acetylating histone H4 and inactivating AKT signaling.
Lack of association between lipoprotein(a) genetic variants and subsequent cardiovascular events in Chinese Han patients with coronary artery disease after percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Li Zhi-Gen , Li Guang , Zhou Ying-Ling , Chen Zhu-Jun , Yang Jun-Qing , Zhang Ying , Sun Shuo , Zhong Shi-Long
Published: August 2013

Background

Elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels predict cardiovascular events incidence in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Genetic variants in the rs3798220, rs10455872 and rs6415084 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the Lp(a) gene (LPA) correlate with elevated Lp(a) levels, but whether these SNPs have prognostic value for CAD patients is unknown. The present study evaluated the association of LPA SNPs with incidence of subsequent cardiovascular events in CAD patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods

TaqMan SNP genotyping assays were performed to detect the rs6415084, rs3798220 and rs10455872 genotypes in 517 Chinese Han patients with CAD after PCI. We later assessed whether there was an association of these SNPs with incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE: cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke and coronary revascularization). Serum lipid profiles were also determined using biochemical methods.

Results

Only the rs6415084 variant allele was associated with higher Lp(a) levels [41.3 (20.8, 74.6) vs. 18.6 (10.3, 40.9) mg/dl, p < 0.001]. During a 2-year follow-up period, 102 patients suffered MACE, and Cox regression analysis demonstrated that elevated Lp(a) (≥30 mg/dl) levels correlated with increased MACE (adjusted HR, 1.69; 95% CI 1.13-2.53), but there was no association between LPA genetic variants (rs6415084 and rs3798220) and MACE incidence (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

Our data did not support a relationship between genetic LPA variants (rs6415084 and rs3798220) and subsequent cardiovascular events after PCI in Chinese Han CAD patients.
Correlation analysis of preoperative serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after hepatectomy
Authors: Ma Wen-jun , Wang Hai-yong , Teng Li-song
Published: August 2013

Background

To investigate the prediction value of preoperative serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level for the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), by comparing pathological characteristics, recurrence rate and survival rate after hepatectomy.

Methods

108 cases of HCC patients who received liver resection in our hospital from 2005 to 2011 were enrolled in this study. According to preoperative serum AFP level, the patients were divided into AFP ≤ 20 ng/mL group, AFP 20 to 400 ng/mL group and AFP > 400 ng/mL group, and the clinicopathological and cytopathological features were compared. All the patients were followed up for 24 months, the postoperative recurrence rates and survival rates were compared and analyzed, and the risk factors for HCC postoperative survival rate were studied by multifactor regression analysis.

Results

Of the 108 cases of HCC patients, there were 42 cases in AFP ≤20 ng/mL group, 28 cases in AFP 20–400 ng/mL group and 39 cases in AFP > 400 ng/mL group. It was shown that cell differentiation degrees (χ
2 = 20.198, P = 0.000) and microvascular invasion rates (χ
2 = 20.358, P = 0.000) were significantly different among the three groups. The AFP ≤ 20 ng/mL group showed higher cell differentiation degrees and significantly lower microvascular invasion rates compared to the other groups (P < 0.05). The follow-up data showed that postoperative 2-year recurrence rate (χ
2 = 6.164, P = 0.046), 18-month survival rate (χ
2 = 7.647, P = 0.022) and 24-month survival rate (χ
2 = 6.725, P = 0.035) of the three groups were significantly different, and we found that the AFP ≤ 20 ng/mL group had lower postoperative 2-year recurrence rate, and higher 18-month survival rate and 24-month survival rate than the other two groups (P <0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that tumor diameter (≥ 5 cm) and preoperative serum AFP level (> 400 ng/mL) were closely correlated with HCC postoperative survival rate (P <0.05).

Conclusions

It is shown that preoperative serum AFP level has considerable predictive value for the malignant feature and prognosis of HCC. It is suggested that HCC patients with no contraindication of operation and serum AFP ≤ 20 ng/mL can benefit most from primary treatment of hepatectomy. While HCC patients with serum AFP higher than 20 ng/mL need comprehensive therapy besides surgical resection and close follow up.