bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of alpha class glutathione transferases (GSTs) in chemoprevention: GSTA1 and A4 overexpressing human leukemia (HL60) cells resist sulforaphane and curcumin induced toxicity
Authors: Sharma Rajendra , Ellis Bryan , Sharma Abha
Published: September 2010

Alpha‐class glutathione transferases (α‐GSTs) have been shown to protect cells from the harmful effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced lipid peroxidation (LPO) during oxidative stress caused by various physico‐chemical agents. While GSTA1‐1/A2‐2 isozymes exhibit high activity towards lipid and fatty acid hydroperoxides through their selenium independent glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, the GSTA4‐4 isozyme efficiently metabolizes the LPO product 4‐hydroxynonenal (4‐HNE) by conjugating it with glutathione (GSH). Because of the fact that ROS generated by the chemopreventive agents, sulforaphane (SFN) and curcumin (Cur), are implicated in the mechanisms of cancer cell killing, the present studies were designed to investigate the contribution of ROS induced LPO in the cytotoxic effects of these agents and the role of α‐class GSTs in modulating their toxicity. Human erythroleukemic (HL60) cells were stably transfected with the cDNA encoding the hGSTA1‐1 and mGsta4‐4 isozymes. After analysing the expression and activities of the respective GST isozymes, the effects of SFN and Cur on the extent of LPO, cytotoxicity and apoptosis were compared in empty vector (VT), hGSTA1‐1 and mGsta4‐4 expressing HL60 cells. These studies demonstrate that when compared with SFN, Cur was relatively more cytotoxic to HL60 cells. The ectopic expression of hGSTA1‐1 and mGsta4‐4 isozymes provided resistance to SFN and Cur induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis through a significant suppression of LPO in these cells. Overall, the results suggest that the expression of α‐class GSTs in cancer cells can modulate the therapeutic efficacy of chemopreventive agents. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hydrolysates of citrus plants stimulate melanogenesis protecting against UV‐induced dermal damage
Authors: Chiang Hsiu‐Mei , Lin Jen‐Wen , Hsiao Pei‐Ling , Tsai Shang‐Yuan , Wen Kuo‐Ching
Published: September 2010

The sun‐tanning process occurs as a spontaneous response to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. UV will induce tanning and DNA damage, processes that can lead to photoaging and skin disorders such as hyperpigmentation and cancer. The pigment melanin protects skin from UV damage; therefore, an efficient melanin‐promoting suntan lotion could be highly beneficial. In this study, a process was developed to increase the content of naringenin in citrus extracts and to determine whether a higher naringenin content of citrus would induce melanogenesis. Melanin content and tyrosinase expression in mouse B16 melanoma cells were assayed after treatment with citrus plant extracts and their hydrolysates. The results indicate that hydrolysis increased the naringenin content in citrus extracts and that citrus preparations stimulated cellular melanogenesis and tyrosinase expression. It is suggested that this method is applicable to the industrial production of melanin‐promoting suntan lotions with antiphotocarcinogenic properties derived from citrus rind and citrus products. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Long-Term Survival of Photoreceptors Transplanted into the Adult Murine Neural Retina Requires Immune Modulation
Authors: West Emma L. , Pearson Rachael A. , Barker Susie E. , Luhmann Ulrich F.O. , Maclaren Robert E. , Barber Amanda C. , Duran Yanai , Smith Alexander J. , Sowden Jane C. , Ali Robin R.
Published: September 2010

Stem cell therapy presents an opportunity to replace photoreceptors that are lost as a result of inherited and age-related degenerative disease. We have previously shown that murine postmitotic rod photoreceptor precursor cells, identified by expression of the rod-specific transcription factor Nrl, are able to migrate into and integrate within the adult murine neural retina. However, their long-term survival has yet to be determined. Here, we found that integrated Nrl.gfp+ve photoreceptors were present up to 12 months post-transplantation, albeit in significantly reduced numbers. Surviving cells had rod-like morphology, including inner/outer segments and spherule synapses. In a minority of eyes, we observed an early, marked reduction in integrated photoreceptors within 1 month post-transplantation, which correlated with increased numbers of amoeboid macrophages, indicating acute loss of transplanted cells due to an inflammatory response. In the majority of transplants, similar numbers of integrated cells were observed between 1 and 2 months post-transplantation. By 4 months, however, we observed a significant decrease in integrated cell survival. Macrophages and T cells were present around the transplantation site, indicating a chronic immune response. Immune suppression of recipients significantly increased transplanted photoreceptor survival, indicating that the loss observed in unsuppressed recipients resulted from T cell-mediated host immune responses. Thus, if immune responses are modulated, correctly integrated transplanted photoreceptors can survive for extended periods of time in hosts with partially mismatched H-2 haplotypes. These findings suggest that autologous donor cells are optimal for therapeutic approaches to repair the neural retina, though with immune suppression nonautologous donors may be effective.
Crosstalk Between the PI3K/mTOR and MEK/ERK Pathways Involved in the Maintenance of Self-Renewal and Tumorigenicity of Glioblastoma Stem-Like Cells
Authors: Sunayama Jun , Matsuda Ken-Ichiro , Sato Atsushi , Tachibana Ken , Suzuki Kaori , Narita Yoshitaka , Shibui Soichiro , Sakurada Kaori , Kayama Takamasa , Tomiyama Arata , Kitanaka Chifumi
Published: September 2010

The molecular signaling pathways orchestrating the biology of cancer stem-like cells (CSLCs), including glioblastoma, remain to be elucidated. We investigated in this study the role of the MEK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway in the control of self-renewal and tumorigenicity of glioblastoma CSLCs, particularly in relation to the PI3K/mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) pathway. Targeted inactivation of MEK alone using pharmacological inhibitors or siRNAs resulted in reduced sphere formation of both cell line- and patient-derived glioblastoma CSLCs, accompanied by their differentiation into neuronal and glial lineages. Interestingly, this effect of MEK inactivation was apparently augmented in the presence of NVP-BEZ235, a dual inhibitor of PI3K and mTOR. As a potential explanation for this observed synergy, we found that inactivation of either the MEK/ERK or PI3K/mTOR pathway triggered activation of the other, suggesting that there may be mutually inhibitory crosstalk between these two pathways. Significantly, inactivation of either pathway led to the reduced activation of p70S6K, and siRNA-mediated knockdown of p70S6K resulted in the activation of both pathways, which no longer maintained the cross-inhibitory relationship. Finally, combinational blockade of both pathways in glioblastoma CSLCs suppressed their tumorigenicity, whether transplanted subcutaneously or intracranially, more efficiently than blockade of either alone. Our findings suggest that there is p70S6K-mediated, cross-inhibitory regulation between the MEK/ERK and PI3K/mTOR pathways, in which each contribute to the maintenance of the self-renewal and tumorigenic capacity of glioblastoma CSLCs. Thus, combinational disruption of these pathways would be a rational and effective strategy in the treatment of glioblastoma.
Alternative mRNA polyadenylation in eukaryotes: an effective regulator of gene expression
Authors: Lutz Carol S. , Moreira Alexandra
Published: September 2010

Alternative RNA processing mechanisms, including alternative splicing and alternative polyadenylation, are increasingly recognized as important regulators of gene expression. This article will focus on what has recently been described about alternative polyadenylation in development, differentiation, and disease in higher eukaryotes. We will also describe how the evolving global methodologies for examining the cellular transcriptome, both experimental and bioinformatic, are revealing new details about the complex nature of alternative 3′ end formation as well as interactions with other RNA‐mediated and RNA processing mechanisms. WIREs RNA 2011 2 22–31 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.47

This article is categorized under:

RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein–RNA Recognition

RNA Processing > 3' End Processing
DEAD‐box proteins as RNA helicases and chaperones
Authors: Jarmoskaite Inga , Russell Rick
Published: September 2010

DEAD‐box proteins are ubiquitous in RNA‐mediated processes and function by coupling cycles of ATP binding and hydrolysis to changes in affinity for single‐stranded RNA. Many DEAD‐box proteins use this basic mechanism as the foundation for a version of RNA helicase activity, efficiently separating the strands of short RNA duplexes in a process that involves little or no translocation. This activity, coupled with mechanisms to direct different DEAD‐box proteins to their physiological substrates, allows them to promote RNA folding steps and rearrangements and to accelerate remodeling of RNA–protein complexes. This review will describe the properties of DEAD‐box proteins as RNA helicases and the current understanding of how the energy from ATPase activity is used to drive the separation of RNA duplex strands. It will then describe how the basic biochemical properties allow some DEAD‐box proteins to function as chaperones by promoting RNA folding reactions, with a focus on the self‐splicing group I and group II intron RNAs. WIREs RNA 2011 2 135–152 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.50

This article is categorized under:

RNA Structure and Dynamics > RNA Structure, Dynamics, and Chemistry

RNA-Based Catalysis > Miscellaneous RNA‐Catalyzed Reactions

RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein–RNA Recognition
Pursuing Franklin's Dream: Philosophical and Historical Roots of Service‐Learning
Authors: Harkavy Ira , Hartley Matthew
Published: September 2010

Two decades ago service‐learning as an innovation lingered on the periphery of the academy. Today, service‐learning has spread across American higher education. Few educational innovations have achieved such relatively rapid success. This article describes the historical and philosophical underpinnings of service‐learning. It notes some of the significant debates that have occurred among its practitioners. The authors draw from experience at their university, the University of Pennsylvania, to describe the importance of connecting service‐learning to the core educational and civic missions of a college or university, as well as to provide a case study of how that connection might be made.
Promoting Healing and Restoring Trust: Policy Recommendations for Improving Behavioral Health Care for American Indian/Alaska Native Adolescents
Authors: Goodkind Jessica R. , Ross-Toledo Kimberly , John Susie , Hall Janie Lee , Ross Lucille , Freeland Lance , Coletta Ernest , Becenti-Fundark Twila , Poola Charlene , Begay-Roanhorse Regina , Lee Christopher
Published: September 2010

American Indian/Alaska Native youth represent the strength and continued survival of many Nations and Tribes. However, they currently experience numerous health disparities and challenges, including the highest rate of suicide among 15–24 year‐olds in the United States. Our comprehensive review of the literature on the mental health of AI/AN youth highlighted seven focal causes of behavioral health disparities: (1) high levels of violence and trauma exposure and traumatic loss, (2) past and current oppression, racism, and discrimination, (3) underfunded systems of care, (4) disregard for effective indigenous practices in service provision, policy, and funding, (5) overreliance on evidence‐based practices, (6) lack of cultural competence among systems of care and providers, and (7) barriers to care. Seven policy recommendations that recognize the importance of moving beyond exclusive reliance on western models of care and that seek to foster transformation of individuals, families, communities, behavioral health service systems of care, and social structures are presented, supported, and discussed.
Neighborhood Environment, Sexual Risk Behaviors and Acquisition of Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Adolescents Diagnosed with Psychological Disorders
Authors: Lang Delia L. , Salazar Laura F. , Crosby Richard A. , DiClemente Ralph J. , Brown Larry K. , Donenberg Geri R.
Published: September 2010

The association between neighborhood environment and prevalence of STIs, sexual partner variables and condom use among adolescents with psychological disorders was examined. Cross‐sectional data in three urban areas of the US (Southeast, Northeast and Midwest) were obtained from 384 sexually active male and female participants who provided urine samples for laboratory‐confirmed testing of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis and Trichomonas vaginalis. A total of 15.4% of participants tested positive for one of the three STIs. Results indicated that relative to adolescents living in low risk neighborhood environments, those living in high risk environments were significantly more likely to have a STI and to report having casual partners. Findings suggest that in high risk neighborhoods, STI acquisition may be less dependent on condom use and more dependent on other contextual factors. The importance of expanding public health research to include assessment of neighborhood context as a determinant of sexual risk‐taking is emphasized.
Alcohol Availability and Violence among Inner‐City Adolescents: A Multi‐Level Analysis of the Role of Alcohol Outlet Density
Authors: Resko Stella M. , Walton Maureen A. , Bingham C. Raymond , Shope Jean T. , Zimmerman Marc , Chermack Stephen T. , Blow Frederic C. , Cunningham Rebecca M.
Published: September 2010

Researchers recognize that the connection between alcohol and peer violence may relate to community level ecological factors, such as the location of businesses that sell alcohol. Building on previous research among adults, this study examines the relationship between alcohol outlet density and violent behaviors among adolescents, taking into account demographic characteristics, individual alcohol use, and neighborhood level socioeconomic indicators. Data drawn from a diverse Emergency Department based sample of 1,050 urban adolescents, combined with tract level data from the state liquor control commission and U.S. Census, were analyzed. Results of multivariate multi‐level regression analysis indicate that alcohol outlet density is significantly related to adolescents' violent behaviors, controlling for demographic characteristics and individual alcohol use. Census tract level socioeconomic indicators were not significantly associated with youth violence. Findings suggest that alcohol outlet density regulation should be considered as part of broader violence prevention strategies for urban adolescents.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using Achilles Tendon Allograft: An Assessment of Outcome for Patients Age 30 Years and Older
Authors: Chehab Eric L. , Flik Kyle R. , Vidal Armando F. , Levinson Michael , Gallo Robert A. , Altchek David W. , Warren Russell F.
Published: September 2010

Achilles allografts have become popular for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions in older patients. Primary ACL reconstructions using Achilles tendon allografts in patients age 30 years and older are successful in restoring the knee to “normal” or “near normal.” During a three-year period, the two senior authors performed 65 primary ACL reconstructions using Achilles tendon allografts in patients aged 30 years and older. Our exclusion criteria were periarticular fracture, ipsilateral/contralateral knee ligament injury, and previous or concomitant osteotomy or cartilage restoration procedure. Each patient was evaluated via physical examination, functional and arthrometric testing, and radiographic and subjective outcome. Knees were considered normal, near normal, or abnormal based on the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) system. Forty-three patients were examined at an average of 33 months (minimum, 24 months) postoperatively. At the time of ACL reconstruction, 35% had normal articular cartilage in all three compartments and 70% had meniscal tears. No re-ruptures occurred. While 24% had mean maximal translation differences less than or equal to 3 mm, none had side-to-side differences greater than 5 mm. Postoperative IKDC, Activities of Daily Living, and Activity Rating Scale scores averaged 88, 94, and 7.7, respectively. Despite the overall favorable outcomes, 29% had worsened radiographic grades at follow-up. Using an Achilles allograft for ACL reconstruction in patients older than 30 years, we restored over 90% of knees to normal or near normal while limiting postoperative complications. Poor subjective results may be related less to instability and more to pain, which may result from progressive arthritis.
CCN5: biology and pathophysiology
Authors: Russo Joshua W. , Castellot John J.
Published: September 2010

CCN5 is one of six proteins in the CCN family. This family of proteins has been shown to play important roles in many processes, including proliferation, migration, adhesion, extracellular matrix regulation, angiogenesis, tumorigenesis, fibrosis, and implantation. In this review, we focus on the biological and putative pathophysiological roles of CCN5. This intriguing protein is structurally unique among the CCN family members, and has a unique biological activity profile as well.
Sizing multi-tier systems with temporal dependence: benchmarks and analytic models
Authors: Mi Ningfang , Casale Giuliano , Cherkasova Ludmila , Smirni Evgenia
Published: September 2010

Temporal dependence, as a synonym for burstiness, is often found in workloads (i.e., arrival flows and/or service times) in enterprise systems that use the multi-tier paradigm. Despite the fact that burstiness has deleterious effects on performance, existing modeling and benchmarking techniques do not provide an effective capacity planning for multi-tier systems with temporal dependence. In this paper, we first present strong evidence that existing models cannot capture bursty conditions and accurately predict performance. Therefore, we propose a simple and effective sizing methodology to integrate workload burstiness into models and benchmarking tools used in system sizing. This modeling methodology is based on the index of dispersion which jointly captures variability and burstiness of the service process in a single number. We report experimentation on a real testbed that validates the accuracy of our modeling technique by showing that experimental and model prediction results are in excellent agreement under both bursty and non-bursty workloads. To further support the capacity planning process under burstiness, we propose an enhanced benchmarking technique that can emulate workload burstiness in systems. We find that most existing benchmarks, like the standard TPC-W benchmark, are designed to assess system performance only under non-bursty conditions. In this work, we rectify this deficiency by introducing a new module into existing benchmarks, which allows to inject burstiness into the arrival stream in a controllable and reproducible manner by using the index of dispersion as a single turnable knob. This approach enables a better understanding of system performance degradation due to burstiness and makes a strong case for the usefulness of the proposed benchmark enhancement for capacity planning of enterprise systems.
Discrepancies of Positive and Negative Consumption Expectations in High Risk Drinking Experiences
Authors: Baird Michael , Ouschan Robyn , Phau Ian
Published: September 2010

To date, customer satisfaction and service quality studies have only focused on disconfirmation of expectations in terms of product/service attributes. This study applies the disconfirmation of expectations paradigm to explain what makes the consumption of sin products (high risk alcohol consumption) a satisfactory or unsatisfactory experience. In doing so, it illustrates that disconfirmation of expectations should focus on consumption outcomes as they motivate customers to consume products and services. Furthermore, both positive and negative outcome expectancies should be included. The alcohol expectancy literature offers operational definitions of positive and negative outcome expectancies. However, alcohol expectancy studies do not use the disconfirmation paradigm to explain high risk drinking behaviours. This is a serious omission as disconfirmation of expectations have been shown to be a better predictor of customer satisfaction and behavioural intentions than customer expectations This study concludes with data gained from a university setting testing the hypotheses proposed, showing distinct differences between positive and negative disconfirmation of outcome expectations.
SHP2 is a downstream target of ZAP70 to regulate JAK1/STAT3 and ERK signaling pathways in mouse embryonic stem cells
Authors: Cha Young , Park Kyung-Soon
Published: September 2010

Previous research indicated that ZAP70, a Syk family tyrosine kinase, is expressed in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) and regulates the Janus kinase 1 (JAK1)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling through consolidating SHP1 enzymatic activity. In this study, we report that SHP2 is another downstream target of ZAP70 in mESCs. We found that SHP2 phosphorylation and enzymatic activity are affected by Zap70 expression. In addition, we present evidence that ERK pathways activated by ZAP70 and SHP2 reduce the protein level of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) receptor. Based on these results, we propose that SHP2 is an essential mediator of the ZAP70 signal to regulate JAK1/STAT3 and ERK pathways in undifferentiated mESCs.
Marine radiocarbon reservoir effect along the northern Chile–southern Peru coast (14–24°S) throughout the Holocene
Authors: Ortlieb Luc , Vargas Gabriel , Saliège Jean-François
Published: September 2010

Through an extensive sampling and dating of pairs of associated shells and charcoal fragments combined with reanalysis of all the available previous data, we reconstruct the evolution throughout the Holocene of the regional marine radiocarbon reservoir effect (ΔR) values along the northern Chile–southern Peru area (14°–24°S). After elimination of the cases in which the terrestrial component yielded older ages than the marine shells to which they were associated, the study is based upon data from 47 pairs of associated marine and terrestrial material.

Our results suggest major changes in both the magnitude and variability range of ΔRduring the whole Holocene Period: (1) between 10,400 and 6840 cal yr BP, high values (511 ± 278 yr) probably result from a strengthened SE Pacific subtropical anticyclone and shoaling of equatorial subsurface waters during intensified upwelling events; (2) between 5180 and 1160 cal yr BP, lower values (226 ± 98 yr) may reflect a major influence of subtropical water and diminished coastal upwelling processes; (3) during the last ~ thousand years, high values (between 355 ± 105 and 253 ± 207 yr) indicate an increased influence of14C-depleted water masses and of ENSO. For the early twentieth century a ΔRvalue of 253 ± 207 yr was calculated.
Climate Change Surge: Implementing Stringent Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies in South Africa
Authors: Odeku Kola , Meyer Edson
Published: September 2010

This article examines how the South African government, realizing the country's vulnerability to climate change, deemed it necessary to strengthen adaptation and mitigation measures and put in place legal and institutional frameworks to ensure implementation and compliance. Government must take responsibility for industry's inaction by implementing policies on climate change and, more importantly, through a visible change in government policy to hold industry accountable. The stringent policies and strategies being put in place are reducing vulnerability and also enhancing a broad spectrum of capacity in responding to environmental, climatic, resource and economic perturbations. The article further reviews state of the art methods and tools available to strengthen mitigation and adaptation strategies and measures in the areas of the existing frameworks regarding climate change. It also considers various measures by Eskom in particular, and strategies embarked upon by South Africa's national and local governments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
African Law of Coups and the Situation in Eritrea: A Test for the African Union's Commitment to Democracy
Authors: Weldehaimanot Simon M
Published: September 2010

This article contends that the severely repressive manner in which Eritrea has been governed in the last ten years violates the right of the Eritrean people to democratic governance. In particular, the refusal of the transitional Government of Eritrea (GoE) to end its transitional tenure in utter defiance of its own promises, transitional laws and the Constitution of Eritrea fits the definition of unconstitutional change of government proscribed by the African Union (AU). This article calls upon the AU's Peace and Security Council to urge the GoE expeditiously to establish democratic governance in accordance with regional, international and Eritrea's own legal standards. Should this demand fall upon deaf ears, this article calls for the AU to impose sanctions on the GoE.
South Africa's Communal Land Rights Act: A Plea for Restraint in Reform
Authors: Mostert Hanri
Published: September 2010

This article reviews the collection of essays edited by Aninka Claassens and Ben Cousins, dealing with South Africa's controversial Communal Land Rights Act (CLRA). It comments on the implications of the CLRA for land law and reform. The background to and policy choices underlying the enactment of this piece of legislation are discussed, and the difficulties with its implementation are highlighted. It is significant that, in the case of Tongoane and Others v Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs and Others, the constitutionality of the CLRA was challenged even before the CLRA became operative. The article discusses the main arguments raised by the constitutionality challenge, and raises further constitutionality issues. It considers the recommendations of Claassens and Cousins and makes further observations, particularly in light of the Tongoane judgment which was delivered after the book was published in 2008.
The prevalence and abundance of helminth parasites in stray dogs from the city of Queretaro in central Mexico
Authors: Cantó G.J. , García M.P. , García A. , Guerrero M.J. , Mosqueda J.
Published: September 2010

The prevalence of helminth species in stray dogs, from the capital city of the state of Queretaro, was evaluated. A total of 378 dogs were captured and examined for the presence of helminths from January to December 2008. The results showed that 275 (72.8%) of examined dogs were infected with one or more helminth species. Single infections were observed in 139 (50.5%) of infected dogs and 136 (49.5%) harboured mixed infections. Out of the 378 dogs examined, 208 (55.2%) presented nematodes and 182 (48.1%) cestodes. The prevalences (confidence interval) and mean intensities of infection ( ± SD) of nematodes and cestodes encountered were:Ancylostoma caninum42.9% (37.9–47.8) and 22.1 ( ± 34.3);Toxocara canis15.1% (11.8–19.0) and 8.3 ( ± 15.0);Spirocerca lupi4.5% (2.7–7.1) and 3.9 ( ± 4.8);Toxascaris leonina2.3% (1.1–4.5) and 4.8 ( ± 3.5);Physaloptera praeputialis1.9% (0.8–3.8) and 9.7 ( ± 14.9);Dirofilaria immitis1.3% (0.4–3.1) and 5.6 ( ± 2.1);Oslerus osleri0.3% (0.0–1.6) and 5 ( ± 0.0);Dipylidium caninum44.9% (40.0–50.0) and 18.1 ( ± 27.7);Taeniaspp. 6.9% (4.7–9.9) and 6.9 ( ± 7.1). There were no significant differences in prevalences observed either between female (68.5%) and male (76.8%) or between young (70.6%) and adult (74.2%) animals. No differences were observed in the ANOVA test for the mean intensity of infection of any of the parasites (P>0.05).
Bone-anchored hearing aids in children and young adults: the Freeman Hospital experience
Authors: Ramakrishnan Y , Marley S , Leese D , Davison T , Johnson I J M
Published: September 2010

Objective:

To investigate the utilisation of bone-anchored hearing aids and Softband, as well as the effects on quality of life, amongst the paediatric and young adult population of Freeman Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.

Method:

Retrospective, anonymised, cross-sectional survey using the Glasgow Benefit Inventory and Listening Situation Questionnaire (parent version), administered at least three months following the start of bone-anchored hearing aid or Softband use.

Results:

One hundred and nine patients were included, of whom syndromic children made up a significant proportion (22 of 109). Patients using bone-anchored hearing aids obtained significant educational and social benefit from their aids. The mean Listening Situation Questionnaire difficulty score was 17 (15 patients), which is below the trigger score of 22+ at which further reassessment and rehabilitation is required. 87% (of 15 patients) did not require further intervention. The overall mean GBI score for the 22 patients (syndromic and non-syndromic) was +29.

Conclusion:

The use of bone-anchored hearing aids and Softband results in significant improvements in quality of life for children and young adults with hearing impairment. There is significant under-utilisation of bone-anchored hearing aids in children with skull and congenital abnormalities, and we would advocate bone-anchored hearing aid implantation for these patients.
LEGAL FORMALISM AND LEGAL REALISM: WHAT IS THE ISSUE?
Authors: Leiter Brian
Published: September 2010

In teaching jurisprudence, I typically distinguish between two different families of theories of adjudication—theories of how judges do or should decide cases. “Formalist” theories claim that (1) the law is “rationally” determinate, that is, the class of legitimate legal reasons available for a judge to offer in support of his or her decision justifies one and only one outcome either in all cases or in some significant and contested range of cases (e.g., cases that reach the stage of appellate review); and (2) adjudication is thus “autonomous” from other kinds of reasoning, that is, the judge can reach the required decision without recourse to nonlegal normative considerations of morality or political philosophy. I also note that “formalism” is sometimes associated with the idea that judicial decision-making involves nothing more than mechanical deduction on the model of the syllogism—Beccaria, for example, expresses such a view. I call the latter “Vulgar Formalism” to emphasize that it is not a view to which anyone today cares to subscribe.
ENTREPRENEURIAL LABOR AND CAPITAL TAXATION
Authors: Reis Catarina
Published: September 2010

This paper considers a Ramsey model of linear taxation for an economy with capital and two kinds of labor. If the government cannot distinguish between the return from capital and the return from entrepreneurial labor, then there will be positive capital income taxation, even in the long run. This happens because the only way to tax entrepreneurial labor is by also taxing capital. Furthermore, under fairly general conditions, the optimal tax on observable labor income is higher than the capital tax, although both are strictly positive. Thus, even though both income taxes are positive, imposing uniform income taxation would lead to additional distortions in the economy.
RELATIVE WEALTH, GROWTH, AND TRANSITIONAL DYNAMICS: THE SMALL OPEN ECONOMY CASE
Authors: Fisher Walter H.
Published: September 2010

In this paper we investigate the growth implications of relative wealth preferences in a small open economy model. Domestic capital accumulation, subject to installation costs, is the engine of economic growth in this framework. Crucial in deriving the balanced growth rate is the effective rate of return that arises from agents' status preferences. This results not only in a common balanced growth rate for consumption, the domestic capital stock, and net international financial assets, but also saddle-path dynamics in response to structural shifts. We investigate the short- and long-run dynamics of the model by considering the following standard fiscal shocks: (i) government expenditure, (ii) capital tax, (iii) tax on international financial assets, (iv) consumption tax. Among our results, we find that a permanent fiscal expansion leads to a temporary increase in growth and that a rise in the consumption tax results in a temporary decrease in growth.
Difference in Judicial Discourse
Authors: Maveety Nancy
Published: September 2010

Sally Kenney's essay reminds us of the range and the limitations of our scholarship on gender and judging. At one point in her discussion, after reviewing the views of Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sandra Day O'Connor discounting the role of gender in their own decision making, Kenney says this:

[F]eminist and nonfeminist women judges' hostility to th[e] essential difference frame of reference should give us pause, as should the repeated failure to unearth the essential dichotomous difference across jurisdiction, issue, and time. But perhaps more importantly, such questions do not exhaust the relevance of gender as a category of analysis to thinking about gender and judging (pp. 436–437 of this issue).
Women Candidates and Judicial Elections: Telling an Untold Story
Authors: Reid Traciel V.
Published: September 2010

Although most states select their judges via merit selection or an appointive process, a number of states choose their trial and appellate judges on the basis of contested elections. Currently, approximately one-half of all state judges reach their state court benches by winning partisan or nonpartisan races. In the 21 states that elect their judges, women with judicial aspirations must be as competitive as men in these elections. Specifically, they must finance increasingly expensive judicial campaigns, garner widespread support from influential political elites, and, most importantly, convince voters that they are as capable as men. Do aspiring women judges experience similar barriers or challenges as women running for legislative or executive office?
Soccer Moms, Hockey Moms and the Question of “Transformative” Motherhood
Authors: Greenlee Jill S.
Published: September 2010

From Dwight Eisenhower to John McCain, presidential candidates have appealed to female voters by highlighting motherhood in their campaigns. The most recent example of this has been the “hockey mom” trope introduced by the first hockey mom to earn a slot on the GOP presidential ticket, Governor Sarah Palin. These appeals, while motivated by political gamesmanship, imply that mothers see the political world a bit differently from other women. They suggest that women with children have different political priorities and concerns and, at times, different positions on political issues. This article takes this proposition seriously, and asks the question: Does becoming a mother have a transformative effect on women's political attitudes? Using longitudinal data from the four-wave 1965–97 Political Socialization Panel Study, I track the movement of women's political attitudes on partisan identification, ideological identification, and policy issues. I find that the effects of motherhood on women's political attitudes, while not uniform in nature, do push some women to adopt more conservative political attitudes. Thus, these results suggest that while motherhood does not transform women's political attitudes, for some women motherhood does promote interesting attitudinal shifts.
CANONICITY RESULTS OF SUBSTRUCTURAL AND LATTICE-BASED LOGICS
Authors: SUZUKI TOMOYUKI
Published: September 2010

In this paper, we extend the canonicity methodology in Ghilardi & Meloni (1997) to arbitrary lattice expansions, and syntactically describe canonical inequalities for lattice expansions consisting of ε-join preserving operations, ε-meet preserving operations, ε-additive operations, ε-multiplicative operations, adjoint pairs, and constants. This approach gives us a uniform account of canonicity for substructural and lattice-based logics. Our method not only covers existing results, but also systematically accounts for many canonical inequalities containing nonsmooth additive and multiplicative uniform operations. Furthermore, we compare our technique with the approach in Dunnet al.(2005) and Gehrkeet al.(2005).
Impedance characteristics of an active antenna at whistler mode frequencies
Authors: Paznukhov V. V. , Sales G. S. , Bibl K. , Reinisch B. W. , Song P. , Huang X. , Galkin I.
Published: September 2010

We use the radio plasma imager (RPI) on the IMAGE satellite to investigate the impedance characteristics of an active electric antenna in space plasma at whistler mode frequencies. A dedicated experiment was carried out on 21–22 September 2005 for two orbits in the plasmasphere. The input impedance characteristics of the dipole antenna submerged in plasma is determined at whistler frequencies. The results are consistent with a physical model in which the antenna is negatively charged to a large voltage and the plasma around each antenna element forms an ion sheath that varies with time in its radius. Within the plasmasphere, these sheaths are a part of the antenna‐plasma system and represent a capacitive component of the tuned antenna circuit. It is shown that, inside the plasmasphere, the RPI antenna capacitance varied from 430 to 480 pF. The plasma sheath formed around the antenna in the plasmasphere increases its capacitance by 20%–30% with respect to the near–free space capacitance (364 pF). Comparison of these values to model calculations shows good agreement with a difference smaller than 5%. Measurements of the antenna input resistance showed that, inside the plasmasphere, its value was between 200 and 500 Ω, varying considerably with changes in the ambient electron density and cyclotron frequency. The measured antenna input resistance is compared to model calculations.
Glimpses of East Antarctica: Aeromagnetic and satellite magnetic view from the central Transantarctic Mountains of East Antarctica
Authors: Goodge John W. , Finn Carol A.
Published: September 2010

Aeromagnetic and satellite magnetic data provide glimpses of the crustal architecture within the Ross Sea sector of the enigmatic, ice‐covered East Antarctic shield critical for understanding both global tectonic and climate history. In the central Transantarctic Mountains (CTAM), exposures of Precambrian basement, coupled with new high‐resolution magnetic data, other recent aeromagnetic transects, and satellite magnetic and seismic tomography data, show that the shield in this region comprises an Archean craton modified both by Proterozoic magmatism and early Paleozoic orogenic basement reactivation. CTAM basement structures linked to the Ross Orogeny are imaged 50–100 km farther west than previously mapped, bounded by inboard upper crustal Proterozoic granites of the Nimrod igneous province. Magnetic contrasts between craton and rift margin sediments define the Neoproterozoic rift margin, likely reactivated during Ross orogenesis and Jurassic extension. Interpretation of satellite magnetic and aeromagnetic patterns suggests that the Neoproterozoic rift margin of East Antarctica is offset by transfer zones to form a stepwise series of salients tracing from the CTAM northward through the western margin of the Wilkes Subglacial Basin to the coast at Terre Adélie. Thinned Precambrian crust inferred to lie east of the rift margin cannot be imaged magnetically because of modification by Neoproterozoic and younger tectonic events.
Tectonic block motion and glacial isostatic adjustment in southeast Alaska and adjacent Canada constrained by GPS measurements
Authors: Elliott Julie L. , Larsen Christopher F. , Freymueller Jeffrey T. , Motyka Roman J.
Published: September 2010

We use data from campaign and continuous GPS sites in southeast Alaska and the neighboring region of Canada to constrain a regional tectonic block model that estimates block angular velocities and derives a self‐consistent set of fault slip rates from the block motions. Present‐day tectonics in southeast Alaska is strongly influenced by the collision of the Yakutat block. Our model predicts a velocity of 50.3 ± 0.8 mm/a toward N22.9 ± 0.6° W for that block. Our results suggest that the eastern edge of the Yakutat block is deforming. Along this edge, the Fairweather fault accommodates a large portion of the Pacific‐North America relative plate motion through 42.9 ± 0.9 mm/a of dextral slip. Further south along the Queen Charlotte fault, our model predicts an average of 43.9 ± 0.6 mm/a of dextral slip and a southward increasing amount of transpression. Strain from the Yakutat collision is transferred far to the east of the strike‐slip system. This strain transfer causes the region north of Glacier Bay to undergo a clockwise rotation. South of Glacier Bay and inboard of the Queen Charlotte fault, a smaller but clearly defined clockwise rotation is observed. The heterogeneous block motion north and south of Glacier Bay may indicate the area is undergoing internal deformation and could explain regional patterns of diffuse seismicity. The Northern Cordillera of Canada displays a small northeasterly motion. Our block model suggests that the entire southeastern Alaska‐northwestern Canada margin is mobile.
Role of the QBO in modulating the influence of the 11 year solar cycle on the atmosphere using constant forcings
Authors: Matthes Katja , Marsh Daniel R. , Garcia Rolando R. , Kinnison Douglas E. , Sassi Fabrizio , Walters Stacy
Published: September 2010

We present a set of six 20 year experiments made with a state‐of‐the‐art chemistry‐climate model that incorporates the atmosphere from the surface to the lower thermosphere. The response of the middle atmosphere to the 11 year solar cycle, its impact on the troposphere, and especially the role of an externally prescribed stratospheric quasi‐biennial oscillation (QBO) is investigated with NCAR's Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM3). The model experiments use either fixed solar cycle inputs or fixed solar cycle together with prescribed QBO phase. The annual mean solar response in temperature and ozone in the upper stratosphere is in qualitative agreement with other modeling and observational studies and does not depend on the presence of the imposed QBO. However, the solar response in the middle to lower stratosphere differs significantly for the two QBO phases. During solar maxima a weaker Brewer‐Dobson circulation with relative downwelling, warming, and enhanced ozone occurs in the tropical lower stratosphere during QBO east conditions, while a stronger circulation, cooling, and decreased ozone exists during QBO west conditions. The net ozone increase during QBO east is the combined result of production and advection, whereas during QBO west the effects cancel each other and result in little net ozone changes. Especially during Southern Hemisphere late winter to early spring, the solar response at polar latitudes switches sign between the two QBO phases and qualitatively confirms observations and other recent model studies. During a poleward downward modulation of the polar night jet and a corresponding modulation of the Brewer‐Dobson circulation in time, solar signals are detected all the way down to the extratropical troposphere. Possible limitations of the model experiments with respect to the fixed solar cycle conditions or the prescribed QBO phases, as well as the constant sea surface temperatures, are discussed.
Sensitivity of polar ozone to sea surface temperatures and halogen amounts
Authors: Austin John , Wilson R. John
Published: September 2010

Coupled chemistry‐climate model simulations are presented for the period 1951–2099 and 1951–2007. The model includes a tested parameterization for the production of active halogens from the source molecules. In run 1 the observed levels of chlorine and bromine are specified, as well as the sea surface temperatures (SSTs) from a coupled ocean‐atmosphere model. Run 2 is identical to run 1 but observed SSTs are specified instead of model SSTs. In run 3 the bromine amount is reduced by 25% but otherwise the simulation is identical to run 2. The results show that the ozone hole is sensitive to SSTs and bromine amounts. For the period 1990–2007, when the ozone hole was fully developed, the area of the ozone hole was simulated to be largest in run 1 (11% smaller than observed), compared with underpredictions of 17% and 27% for runs 2 and 3, respectively. The effect of SSTs (difference between runs 1 and 2) is shown to arise from changes in the strength of the Brewer‐Dobson circulation, which is weaker for the simulation with model SSTs. The sensitivity of the model results to bromine (difference between runs 2 and 3) indicates the need to include realistic bromine amounts as well as chlorine and may explain, in part, the substantial underpredictions of the ozone hole area in previous simulations. The results also suggest that a small residual ozone hole may still be present after 2070 and that the ozone hole may not disappear entirely this century.
High‐resolution numerical studies of stable boundary layer flows in a closed basin: Evolution of steady and oscillatory flows in an axisymmetric Arizona Meteor Crater
Authors: Fritts David C. , Goldstein Daniel , Lund Tom
Published: September 2010

We describe high‐resolution numerical simulations of flow within and over an axisymmetric approximation of the Arizona Meteor Crater under stable boundary layer conditions. Motivations included guidance of and comparisons with observations during the Meteor Crater Experiment (METCRAX) performed in October 2006. Modeling objectives were to assess the dynamical processes accounting for cold pool breakup. Various initial stable boundary layer (SBL) flows were considered on the basis of observed SBL flows and responses. Forcing conditions include impulsive SBL startups, constant SBL accelerations, and oscillatory SBL flows. Dominant responses include Kelvin‐Helmholtz shear instability at the top of the crater cold pool, gravity waves arising from the crater geometry, and seiches within the crater cold pool. Shear instability at the cold pool top exhibits a range of behaviors in response to different initial conditions, including vortex shedding from the inflow crater lip, vortex pairing, strong mixing and erosion of the cold pool stratification, and secondary vortex formation at the top of the mixing layer. Gravity wave responses depend on the flow speed, are strongly three‐dimensional and time dependent, and impact flow structure within and above the crater. Seiches arise from transient or oscillatory forcing and exhibit complex responses and spatial structures, including upward phase progression, multiple periods and vertical structures, and sloshing that ejects cold pool air into the external SBL. We conclude that both sloshing of cold pool air and mixing accompanying shear instability represent efficient dynamical mechanisms by which cold pool stratification can be eroded in response to external SBL motions.