bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Language learners' use of discourse markers as evidence for a mixed code
Authors: Dailey-O'Cain Jennifer , Liebscher Grit
Published: December 2008

Against the backdrop of the language classroom as a bilingual community of practice, this paper focuses on learners' use of discourse markers in one advanced German language classroom. As in other bilingual communities, the learners in the data exhibit phenomena that are characteristic for various stages along the continuum from codeswitching to mixed code (Auer, 1998). In analyzing the data for functional distribution of pairs of German and English discourse markers as used by the students, we find that the discourse markers `so' and `also' have specialized functionally on the level of the entire classroom community of practice, causing a structural division of labor between the two markers, and thus exhibiting evidence of a later stage of a mixed code. Our focus is primarily on the ways in which these practices are meaningful to the community rather than on how practices may originate from contact phenomena such as language transfer. We also draw attention to the importance of working across the fields of second language acquisition and bilingualism, since language learners in a classroom where the use of more than one language is allowed may develop similar practices to those found in natural bilingual settings.
The interactional and syntactic importance of prosody in Spanish-English bilingual discourse
Authors: Shenk Petra Scott
Published: December 2008

This paper highlights prosody as a fundamental feature of bilingual conversation. My data show that syntactic structure does not impose constraints on codeswitching, as one prevalent line of inquiry regarding codeswitching claims, but rather certain discourse structures make codeswitching at any given point more or less cognitively and interactionally profitable according to conversationalists' ability to produce and comprehend information.

My corpus consists of one hour of conversational data from four competent bilinguals of Mexican heritage living in Southern California yielding a total of 782 analyzable units. Using the transcription methods developed by Du Bois, Schuetze-Coburn, Paolino, and Cumming, (1993) wherein each line of transcription consists of one Intonation Unit (Chafe, 1979, 1987, 1993, 1994), the prevalent pattern which emerged was one in which speakers overwhelmingly switched at Intonation Unit boundaries. Using what I have termed the Switch-Boundary Intonation Unit (SBIU) as my unit of analysis and adapting the notion of completion points (Ford and Thompson, 1996; Sacks, Schegloff, & Jefferson, 1974), I examine intonation contour type, syntactic completion and constituency, and pragmatic completion in order to best characterize the codeswitching frame.
Gender assignment to nouns codeswitched into French: Observations and explanations
Authors: Violin-Wigent Anne
Published: December 2008

This article investigates the assignment of grammatical gender to foreign nouns codeswitched into French, where gender assignment is required. Contrary to other studies, this study is based on a questionnaire of 75 words filled by both monolingual French speakers and native speakers of French bilingual in English. The results are analyzed in the light of criteria for gender assignment that are established both for borrowed words (from previous studies on borrowings in French as well as Spanish and German) and for native French words (from studies in French morphology). Comparisons between the groups show that there is little agreement between monolinguals and bilinguals as well as among monolinguals, showing that the meaning of a word is of primary importance in assigning grammatical gender. Results also show that the majority of words are assigned to the masculine gender. The analysis of factors influencing gender assignment reveals that bilingual participants rely on semantic criteria (biological sex and semantic analogy) and/or formal (morphological endings, phonetics, and orthographical factors) criteria to assign gender to the words in the questionnaire.
The transition from nominal to pronominal person reference in the early language of a Mandarin-English bilingual child
Authors: Qi Ruying , di Biase Bruno , Campbell Stuart
Published: December 2008

This paper is a first attempt in the literature to trace the developmental route from nominal to pronominal reference to person of a Mandarin-English bilingual first language acquirer `J'. This progression is seen, longitudinally, in the context of the child's overall syntactic development from age 1; 07—4; 0, to move, in both languages, through three phases: (i) kinship terms and lack of self-reference (1;07—2;0); (ii) nominal reference to self and others (2 ;0—3 ;0 ;07) ; (iii) emergence of first person pronominal reference alongside other self-referential expressions (3;0;07—4;0). These and other significant parallels and differences between monolingual and bilingual L1 acquisition in Mandarin and English are documented. Mandarin is the home language spoken by both parents and other family members while English is the language of all other environments. This is different from the one-parent-one-language situation commonly investigated in bilingual L1 acquisition.

J's pronominal development follows distinct routes in his two languages, including the coexistence of two self-reference names in Mandarin only with different functions which has not been reported in the literature before. Also, in contrast with monolingual mixing in (English) case-marking (Radford, 1986) J demonstrates categorical, adult-like case-marking contrasts. We show further that this bilingual child adopts an analytic (bottom-up) approach in Mandarin but a synthetic (top-down) approach in English.
The relationship of phonological development and language dominance in bilingual Cantonese-Putonghua children
Authors: Law Naska C. W. , So Lydia K. H.
Published: December 2008

The study investigated similarities and differences in the development of the Cantonese and the Putonghua phonology of children becoming bilingual in those languages with different dominant languages. One hundred children living in Hong Kong or in Shenzhen and aged from 2;6—4;11, who were simultaneously acquiring Cantonese and Putonghua provided the data we report. The Cantonese Segmental Phonology Test (So, 1993) and the Putonghua Segmental Phonology Test (So & Zhou, 2000) were used to elicit phonemes of each language. The percentages of accurately uttered phonemes, children's ages for phonemes' emergence, and their ages for the production of phonological processes were the measures of phonological development. Overall, language dominance plays a role in the children's Cantonese and Putonghua phonological development. Generally, the bilingual children's phonological development was faster in Cantonese whether they are Cantonese or Putonghua dominant. All children showed similar bilingual pattern. The pattern affords the best single crystallization of the findings which we draw on further in discussing theories and the extent of the influence of language dominance on bilingual phonological acquisition.
Diverse but not different: The lexical skills of two primary age bilingual groups in comparison to monolingual peers
Authors: Hemsley Gayle , Holm Alison , Dodd Barbara
Published: December 2008

Most investigations of bilingual language development focus on children acquiring two European languages. Little research has investigated diverse language pairs or compared the influence of the first language on second language development. The study reported here compared the lexical skills of three groups of 11-year-old students from different language backgrounds. Two bilingual groups (first language Vietnamese or Samoan, second language English) and a monolingual control group matched for social class were compared on a series of tasks. The tasks examined English lexical comprehension and use, as well as single word processing on nonword tasks. The results showed that both bilingual groups performed significantly below their monolingual peers in all lexical tasks but not on nonword tasks. There were no differences between the two bilingual groups, despite the fact that the cultural and linguistic backgrounds of each were very different. The findings indicate that despite six years of formal schooling in English, including focused ESL support, bilingual students from both Vietnamese and Samoan cultural backgrounds perform less well than their peers in their understanding and use of the English lexicon. The implications of these findings for theory of bilingual language acquisition, assessment practice and educational policy are considered.
Stress effects on bilingual language professionals' performance
Authors: Blumenthal Pamela , Britt Thomas W. , Cohen Jason A. , McCubbin James , Maxfield Nathan , Michael Erica B. , Moore Philip , Obler Loraine K. , Scheck Petra , Signorelli Teresa M. , Wallsten Thomas S.
Published: December 2008

The work of bilingual language professionals (e.g., translators, diplomats, intelligence analysts) involves substantial use of two or more languages, and often, as well, substantial amounts of stress. This stress can come from many sources, including the language tasks themselves and difficult working conditions. Yet, little is known about how the stressors that bilingual language professionals (BLPs) face influence their language performance or affect their daily lives. Here, we present pertinent psychological concepts of stress and coping, suggesting a schema for how they may interact with language performance. We then review what is known about how certain stressors influence language performance and the cognitive factors linked to language performance (attention, memory, self-monitoring), concluding with suggestions for research directions that should enable us better to understand and mitigate the negative effects of stress for BLPs.
Compound verbs in codeswitching: Bilinguals making do?
Authors: Edwards Malcolm , Gardner-Chloros Penelope
Published: December 2008

This paper builds on an earlier one (Gardner-Chloros & Edwards, 2004), where we pointed to various problems underlying the search for grammatical constraints on codeswitching (CS), these problems being largely derived from the assumption that CS is the sum of two finite and discrete systems which together make up the competence of the bilingual speaker. Here we look more closely at the type of grammatical knowledge involved in intrasentential CS, by examining a widely attested structure in CS, bilingual compound verbs (BCVs). We consider the properties of compound verbs in general, including in monolingual contexts, their significance in the CS literature, notably for the notion of Matrix Language, and their implications for an understanding of bilingual grammars, broadly defined. We conclude that this widespread feature of bilingual speech is more than a convenient frame for inserting foreign words, and should be seen as part of a more general verb-formation process. The types of linguistic knowledge which allow such formations to emerge are based on what Sebba (1998) has called conceptual work, rather than on the simple interaction of two linguistic systems as such. We list a number of factors to be taken into account in trying to identify a CS grammar, within which idiolect, metalinguistic knowledge and community norms are particularly significant.
A comparative study of requests in heritage speaker Spanish, L1 Spanish, and L1 English
Authors: Pinto Derrin , Raschio Richard
Published: December 2008

Although requests are the most widely studied speech act, there has not been extensive research on the requests produced by heritage speakers of Spanish in the United States. This study compares the requests of three groups: Spanish heritage speakers, Mexican native speakers of Spanish, and native speakers of English. The first research question examines the level of directness of the requests combined with the frequency of downgraders. The following two research questions analyzed separately the level of directness of the head act and frequency of downgrading mechanisms. Differences between the two L1 groups are found to be statistically significant for all three of the categories investigated. In contrast, the heritage speakers differ significantly from their Mexican monolingual counterparts in the level of directness of the head act, producing Spanish requests more in line with the tendency in English to employ indirect strategies. Although the heritage speakers differ from the L1 Spanish group on this one dimension, the fact that they share other characteristics with both L1 groups suggests the existence of a unique intercultural style. The findings of this study also indicate that heritage speakers display many of the same characteristics as L2 learners reported in previous research.
Tell me who your friends are and I might be able to tell you what language(s) you speak: Social network analysis, multilingualism, and identity
Authors: Lanza Elizabeth , Svendsen Bente Ailin
Published: December 2008

Social network analysis has proved particularly useful in explaining why speakers in bilingual communities maintain or change their language behavior. Researchers have employed this sociolinguistic tool to investigate language shift and maintenance among longstanding stable bilingual communities. An underlying assumption in this analysis is that language, particularly the first language or mother tongue, is an integral part of collective identities, such as national, ethnic or cultural identities, and that maintenance of language across generations is a key factor to the maintenance of such identities. Certain bilingual communities may maintain this language ideology; however, multilingual communities present a more complex picture of the situation and may thus offer a challenge to the underlying assumptions of social network analysis. This article discusses the application of social network analysis to multilingual communities by taking a point of departure in the Filipino community in Oslo, the capital of Norway, with a view towards understanding linguistic and cultural maintenance. Results from the analyses provide support for the importance of social network in understanding language choice and cultural and linguistic maintenance; however, there were some notable exceptions. In this article we discuss language ideologies and the relationship between language and identity as complementary sources of explanation for language choice and language maintenance in this relatively speaking newly established multilingual community.
Codeswitching in triadic conversational situations in early bilingualism
Authors: Rontu Heidi
Published: December 2008

The paper examines codeswitching in triadic conversational situations between two bilingual siblings and a parent, the mother. The children are bilingual in Finnish and (Finno-)Swedish. The study provides data on switching in an age span of 14 months between the ages of 2;8 and 5;8. The methods of the study are an analysis of the utterance production of the children, the amount and the Mean Length of Utterances (MLU). The siblings' codeswitching is investigated within a conversational analytic approach, that is, a sequential analysis of the interaction is carried out. This analysis also includes the parent's responses to the codeswitching. The findings show that the children's intersentential codeswitching has a contextualized meaning in the triadic situations. Much of the codeswitching amounts to what in general terms is competition of the parent's attention. The codeswitching has two main functions in the data. A switch to the noncontext language functions as a way to attain the mother's attention and to break off the conversation between the other sibling and the mother. The other function of codeswitching is to emphasize the child's own opinion or will. The emphasizing function is manifested in situations of disagreement and conflict with either the mother or the other sibling.
Multiethnolectal facts and functions in Oslo, Norway
Authors: Svendsen Bente Ailin , Røyneland Unn
Published: December 2008

Over the last 20 years, linguists have documented the emergence of multiethnolectal speech among adolescents in linguistically and culturally diverse areas in Western Europe. The main approach to multiethnolects has been structural or dialectological, describing the varieties' linguistic traits. Another important approach has been sociopragmatic or functional, examining how multiethnolects are used in discourse. In this article, we have applied both approaches. We will discuss linguistic features of multiethnolectal speech among adolescents in Oslo, Norway, highlighting those traits that have parallels in other Scandinavian multiethnolects. Furthermore, we will discuss multiethnolectal use in discourse as an important marker of identity, focusing on the use of multiethnolect among adolescents with Norwegian as their first language. In this article, we will argue that multiethnolectal Norwegian is part of a larger individual and societal linguistic repertoire, and that its users are sensitive to its sociolinguistic significance.
The Relative Responsiveness and Construct Validity of the Spanish Version of the Dash Instrument for Outcomes Assessment in Open Carpal Tunnel Release
Authors: ROSALES R. S. , DE LA LASTRA I. DIEZ , MCCABE S. , ORTEGA MARTINEZ J. I. , HIDALGO Y. M.
Published: December 2008

The objective of this study was to evaluate the responsiveness and construct validity of the Spanish version of the DASH as outcome measure for carpal tunnel surgery. The study population was 42 patients with the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) based on clinical and electrophysiological criteria. The clinical design was a classic Cohort study with measures the day before and 12 weeks after open carpal tunnel release. The Spanish version of the DASH was compared to the physical exam measures as dexterity time, grip and pinch strength, range of motion of the wrist (ROM) and two-point discrimination (2PPD). The responsiveness was evaluated based on the effect size (ES) and the standardised response means (SRM). The Spanish version of the CTS questionnaire (CTQ) and the Spanish version of the 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) were self-administered to the same study population and followed the same clinical design. The hypothesis that the DASH instrument should present a responsiveness level higher than the SF-36 and lower than the CTQ was established to demonstrate the construct validity. The DASH instrument showed an ES of 0.68 and an SRM of 1.00. Responsiveness of traditional physical exam measures were lower, running from 0.35 (SRM) for dexterity time to 0.00 (ES) for key pinch strength. The SF-36 presented a responsiveness level (range from 0.07 to 0.14) lower that the DASH. The CTQ showed the highest level of responsiveness (ES = 1.41 and 0.7) (SRM = 1.75 and 0.51). In conclusion, The DASH instrument is more sensitive in detecting clinical change than the physical exam measures for use in clinical outcome studies of CTS done at 12 weeks after surgery. The Spanish DASH showed a responsiveness lower than the CTQ and higher than the SF-36 as a proof of a good construct validity.
A Modification of the Chinese Island Flap Technique for Simple Incomplete Syndactyly Release
Authors: TADIPARTHI S. , MISHRA A. , MCARTHUR P.
Published: December 2008

This paper presents a modification of the technique described by Yao et al. using a vascular island flap based on a dorsal digital vessel, which allows transfer of the web proximally and retains the integrity of the web skin. The technique was used in nine patients, aged from 1 to 15 years at operation, with nine incomplete simple syndactylies. The results were assessed at a mean of 36 (range 5–60) months after surgery. No vascular compromise or web creep was noted. This technique enables transfer of web skin proximally in cases of simple, incomplete syndactyly, avoids the presence of scars in the web space and does not require skin grafts.
G-spots cause incorrect expression measurement in Affymetrix microarrays
Authors: Upton Graham JG , Langdon William B , Harrison Andrew P
Published: December 2008

Background

High Density Oligonucleotide arrays (HDONAs), such as the Affymetrix HG-U133A GeneChip, use sets of probes chosen to match specified genes, with the expectation that if a particular gene is highly expressed then all the probes in that gene's probe set will provide a consistent message signifying the gene's presence. However, probes that contain a G-spot (a sequence of four or more guanines) behave abnormally and it has been suggested that these probes are responding to some biochemical effect such as the formation of G-quadruplexes.

Results

We have tested this expectation by examining the correlation coefficients between pairs of probes using the data on thousands of arrays that are available in the NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) repository. We confirm the finding that G-spot probes are poorly correlated with others in their probesets and reveal that, by contrast, they are highly correlated with one another. We demonstrate that the correlation is most marked when the G-spot is at the 5' end of the probe.

Conclusion

Since these G-spot probes generally show little correlation with the other members of their probesets they are not fit for purpose and their values should be excluded when calculating gene expression values. This has serious implications, since more than 40% of the probesets in the HG-U133A GeneChip contain at least one such probe. Future array designs should avoid these untrustworthy probes.
Outcomes in culture positive and culture negative ascitic fluid infection in patients with viral cirrhosis: cohort study
Authors: Kamani Lubna , Mumtaz Khalid , Ahmed Umair S , Ali Ailia W , Jafri Wasim
Published: December 2008

Background

Ascitic fluid infection (AFI) in cirrhotic patients has a high morbidity and mortality. It has two variants namely, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) and culture negative neutrocytic ascites (CNNA). The aim of this study was to determine the outcome in cirrhotic patients with culture positive (SBP) and culture negative neutrocytic ascites.

Methods

We analyzed 675 consecutive hepatitis B and/or C related cirrhosis patients with ascites admitted in our hospital from November 2005 to December 2007. Of these, 187 patients had AFI; clinical and laboratory parameters of these patients including causes of cirrhosis, Child Turcotte Pugh (CTP) score were recorded.

Results

Out of 187 patients with AFI, 44 (23.5%) had SBP while 143 (76.4%) had CNNA. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was the most common cause of cirrhosis in 139 (74.3%) patients. Patients with SBP had high CTP score as compared to CNNA (12.52 ± 1.45 vs. 11.44 ± 1.66); p < 0.001. Platelets count was low in patients with SBP (101 ± 53 × 109/L) as compared to CNNA (132 ± 91 × 109/L), p = 0.005. We found a high creatinine (mg/dl) (1.95 ± 1.0 vs. 1.44 ± 0.85), (p = 0.003) and high prothrombin time (PT) in seconds (24.8 ± 6.6 vs. 22.4 ± 7.2) (p = 0.04) in SBP as compared to CNNA. More patients with SBP (14/44; 31.8%) had blood culture positivity as compare to CNNA (14/143; 9.8%), p = 0.002. Escherichia. Coli was the commonest organism in blood culture in 15/28 (53.5%) patients. SBP group had a higher mortality (11/44; 25%) as compared to CNNA (12/143; 8.4%), p = 0.003. On multiple logistic regression analysis, creatinine >1.1 mg/dl and positive blood culture were the independent predictors of mortality in patients with SBP.

Conclusion

Patients with SBP have a higher mortality than CNNA. Independent predictors of mortality in SBP are raised serum creatinine and a positive blood culture.
A simple and rapid Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) titration assay based on antibiotic resistance of infected cells: evaluation of the HAV neutralization potency of human immune globulin preparations
Authors: Konduru Krishnamurthy , Virata-Theimer Maria Luisa , Yu Mei-ying W , Kaplan Gerardo G
Published: December 2008

Background

Hepatitis A virus (HAV), the causative agent of acute hepatitis in humans, is an atypical Picornaviridae that grows poorly in cell culture. HAV titrations are laborious and time-consuming because the virus in general does not cause cytopathic effect and is detected by immunochemical or molecular probes. Simple HAV titration assays could be developed using currently available viral construct containing selectable markers.

Results

We developed an antibiotic resistance titration assay (ARTA) based on the infection of human hepatoma cells with a wild type HAV construct containing a blasticidin (Bsd) resistance gene. Human hepatoma cells infected with the HAV-Bsd construct survived selection with 2 μg/ml of blasticidin whereas uninfected cells died within a few days. At 8 days postinfection, the color of the pH indicator phenol red in cell culture media correlated with the presence of HAV-Bsd-infected blasticidin-resistant cells: an orange-to-yellow color indicated the presence of growing cells whereas a pink-to-purple color indicated that the cells were dead. HAV-Bsd titers were determined by an endpoint dilution assay based on the color of the cell culture medium scoring orange-to-yellow wells as positive and pink-to-purple wells as negative for HAV. As a proof-of-concept, we used the ARTA to evaluate the HAV neutralization potency of two commercially available human immune globulin (IG) preparations and a WHO International Standard for anti-HAV. The three IG preparations contained comparable levels of anti-HAV antibodies that neutralized approximately 1.5 log of HAV-Bsd. Similar neutralization results were obtained in the absence of blasticidin by an endpoint dilution ELISA at 2 weeks postinfection.

Conclusion

The ARTA is a simple and rapid method to determine HAV titers without using HAV-specific probes. We determined the HAV neutralization potency of human IG preparations in 8 days by ARTA compared to the 14 days required by the endpoint dilution ELISA. The ARTA reduced the labour, time, and cost of HAV titrations making it suitable for high throughput screening of sera and antivirals, determination of anti-HAV antibodies in human immune globulin preparations, and research applications that involve the routine evaluation of HAV titers.
Targeted Mutation of EphB1 Receptor Prevents Development of Neuropathic Hyperalgesia and Physical Dependence on Morphine in Mice
Authors: Han Yuan , Song Xue-Song , Liu Wen-Tao , Henkemeyer Mark , Song Xue-Jun
Published: December 2008

EphB receptor tyrosine kinases, which play important roles in synaptic connection and plasticity during development and in matured nervous system, have recently been implicated in processing of pain after nerve injury and morphine dependence. Subtypes of the EphB receptors that may contribute to the neuropathic pain and morphine dependence have not been identified. Here we demonstrate that the subtype EphB1 receptor is necessary for development of neuropathic pain and physical dependence on morphine. The results showed that peripheral nerve injury produced thermal hyperalgesia in wild-type ( EphB1+/+) control littermate mice, but not in EphB1 receptor homozygous knockout ( EphB1-/-) and heterozygous knockdown ( EphB1+/-) mice. Hyperalgesia in the wild-type mice was inhibited by intrathecal administration of an EphB receptor blocking reagent EphB2-Fc (2 μg). Intrathecal administration of an EphB receptor activator ephrinB1-Fc (1 μg) evoked thermal hyperalgesia in EphB1+/+, but not EphB1-/- and EphB1+/- mice. Cellularly, nerve injury-induced hyperexcitability of the medium-sized dorsal root ganglion neurons was prevented in EphB1-/- and EphB1+/- mice. In chronically morphine-treated mice, most of the behavioral signs and the overall score of naloxone-precipitated withdrawal were largely diminished in EphB1-/- mice compared to those in the wild-type. These findings indicate that the EphB1 receptor is necessary for development of neuropathic pain and physical dependence on morphine and suggest that the EphB1 receptor is a potential target for preventing, minimizing, or reversing the development of neuropathic pain and opiate dependence.
The epidemiology of intensive care unit-acquired hyponatraemia and hypernatraemia in medical-surgical intensive care units
Authors: Stelfox Henry Thomas , Ahmed Sofia B , Khandwala Farah , Zygun David , Shahpori Reza , Laupland Kevin
Published: December 2008

Introduction

Although sodium disturbances are common in hospitalised patients, few studies have specifically investigated the epidemiology of sodium disturbances in the intensive care unit (ICU). The objectives of this study were to describe the incidence of ICU-acquired hyponatraemia and hypernatraemia and assess their effects on outcome in the ICU.

Methods

We identified 8142 consecutive adults (18 years of age or older) admitted to three medical-surgical ICUs between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2006 who were documented to have normal serum sodium levels (133 to 145 mmol/L) during the first day of ICU admission. ICU acquired hyponatraemia and hypernatraemia were respectively defined as a change in serum sodium concentration to below 133 mmol/L or above 145 mmol/L following day one in the ICU.

Results

A first episode of ICU-acquired hyponatraemia developed in 917 (11%) patients and hypernatraemia in 2157 (26%) patients with an incidence density of 3.1 and 7.4 per 100 days of ICU admission, respectively, during 29,142 ICU admission days. The incidence of both ICU-acquired hyponatraemia (age, admission diagnosis, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, length of ICU stay, level of consciousness, serum glucose level, body temperature, serum potassium level) and ICU-acquired hypernatraemia (baseline creatinine, APACHE II score, mechanical ventilation, length of ICU stay, body temperature, serum potassium level, level of care) varied according to patients' characteristics. Compared with patients with normal serum sodium levels, hospital mortality was increased in patients with ICU-acquired hyponatraemia (16% versus 28%, p < 0.001) and ICU-acquired hypernatraemia (16% versus 34%, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

ICU-acquired hyponatraemia and hypernatraemia are common in critically ill patients and are associated with increased risk of hospital mortality.
Flamingo regulates epiboly and convergence/extension movements through cell cohesive and signalling functions during zebrafish gastrulation
Authors: Carreira-Barbosa Filipa , Kajita Mihiko , Morel Veronique , Wada Hironori , Okamoto Hitoshi , Martinez Arias Alfonso , Fujita Yasuyuki , Wilson Stephen W. , Tada Masazumi
Published: December 2008

During vertebrate gastrulation, the body axis is established by coordinated and directional movements of cells that include epiboly, involution, and convergence and extension (C&E). Recent work implicates a non-canonical Wnt/planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway in the regulation of C&E. The Drosophila atypical cadherin Flamingo (Fmi) and its vertebrate homologue Celsr, a 7-pass transmembrane protein with extracellular cadherin repeats, regulate several biological processes, including C&E, cochlear cell orientation, axonal pathfinding and neuronal migration. Fmi/Celsr can function together with molecules involved in PCP, such as Frizzled (Fz) and Dishevelled (Dsh), but there is also some evidence that it may act as a cell adhesion molecule in a PCP-pathway-independent manner. We show that abrogation of Celsr activity in zebrafish embryos results in epiboly defects that appear to be independent of the requirement for Celsr in PCP signalling during C&E. Using a C-terminal truncated form of Celsr that inhibits membrane presentation of wild-type Celsr through its putative pro-region, a hanging drop assay reveals that cells from embryos with compromised Celsr activity have different cohesive properties from wild-type cells. It is disruption of this ability of Celsr to affect cell cohesion that primarily leads to the in vivo epiboly defects. In addition, Lyn-Celsr, in which the intracellular domain of Celsr is fused to a membrane localisation signal (Lyn), inhibits Fz-Dsh complex formation during Wnt/PCP signalling without affecting epiboly. Fmi/Celsr therefore has a dual role in mediating two separate morphogenetic movements through its roles in mediating cell cohesion and Wnt/PCP signalling during zebrafish gastrulation.
Prox1 maintains muscle structure and growth in the developing heart
Authors: Risebro Catherine A. , Searles Richelle G. , Melville Athalie A. D. , Ehler Elisabeth , Jina Nipurna , Shah Sonia , Pallas Jacky , Hubank Mike , Dillard Miriam , Harvey Natasha L. , Schwartz Robert J. , Chien Kenneth R. , Oliver Guillermo , Riley Paul R.
Published: December 2008

Impaired cardiac muscle growth and aberrant myocyte arrangement underlie congenital heart disease and cardiomyopathy. We show that cardiac-specific inactivation of the murine homeobox transcription factor Prox1 results in the disruption of expression and localisation of sarcomeric proteins, gross myofibril disarray and growth-retarded hearts. Furthermore, we demonstrate that Prox1 is required for direct transcriptional regulation of the genes encoding the structural proteins α-actinin, N-RAP and zyxin, which collectively function to maintain an actin-α-actinin interaction as the fundamental association of the sarcomere. Aspects of abnormal heart development and the manifestation of a subset of muscular-based disease have previously been attributed to mutations in key structural proteins. Our study reveals an essential requirement for direct transcriptional regulation of sarcomere integrity, in the context of enabling foetal cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, maintenance of contractile function and progression towards inherited or acquired myopathic disease.
Mapping metal-binding sites in the catalytic domain of bacterial RNase P RNA
Authors: Kazantsev Alexei V. , Krivenko Angelika A. , Pace Norman R.
Published: December 2008

Ribonuclease P (RNase P) is a ribonucleoprotein enzyme that contains a universally conserved, catalytically active RNA component. RNase P RNA requires divalent metal ions for folding, substrate binding, and catalysis. Despite recent advances in understanding the structure of RNase P RNA, no comprehensive analysis of metal-binding sites has been reported, in part due to the poor crystallization properties of this large RNA. We have developed an abbreviated yet still catalytic construct, Bst P7Δ RNA, which contains the catalytic domain of the bacterial RNase P RNA and has improved crystallization properties. We use this mutant RNA as well as the native RNA to map metal-binding sites in the catalytic core of the bacterial RNase P RNA, by anomalous scattering in diffraction analysis. The results provide insight into the interplay between RNA structure and focalization of metal ions, and a structural basis for some previous biochemical observations with RNase P. We use electrostatic calculations to extract the potential functional significance of these metal-binding sites with respect to binding Mg2+. The results suggest that with at least one important exception of specific binding, these sites mainly map areas of diffuse association of magnesium ions.
Strategic Information Management Under Leakage in a Supply Chain
Authors: Anand Krishnan S. , Goyal Manu
Published: December 2008

The importance of material flow management for a profit-maximizing firm has been well articulated in the supply chain literature. We demonstrate in our analytical model that a firm must also actively manage information flows within the supply chain, which translates to controlling what it knows, as well as what its competitors and suppliers know. In our model of horizontal competition between an informed and an uninformed firm with a common upstream supplier, material and information flows intersect through leakage of demand (order) information to unintended recipients. As a result, the informed firm's drive to control information flows within the supply chain can trigger operational losses through material flow distortion. These losses can be so severe that the firm may prefer not to acquire information even when it is costless to do so. Our results underscore the importance of strategic information management—actively managing the supply chain's information flows, and making trade-offs with material flows where appropriate, to maximize profits.
An Investigation of Time Inconsistency
Authors: Sayman Serdar , Öncüler Ayse
Published: December 2008

Preference between two future outcomes may change over time—a phenomenon labeled as time inconsistency. The term “time inconsistency” is usually used to refer to cases in which a larger-later outcome is preferred over a smaller-sooner one when both are delayed by some time, but then with the passage of time a preference switches to the smaller-sooner outcome. The current paper presents four empirical studies showing that time inconsistency in the other direction is also possible: A person may prefer the smaller-sooner outcome when both options are in the future, but decide to wait for the larger-later one when the smaller option becomes immediately available. We find that such “reverse time inconsistency” is more likely to be observed when the delays to and between the two outcomes are short (up to a week). We propose that reverse time inconsistency may be associated with a reversed-S shape discount function, and provide evidence that such a discount function captures part of the variation in intertemporal preferences.
Do Medication Samples Jeopardize Patient Safety?
Authors: Franks Andrea S , Ray Shaunta’ M , Wallace Lorraine S , Keenum Amy J , Weiss Barry D
Published: December 2008

BACKGROUND

Medication samples are commonly dispensed by prescribers. Written consumer medication information (CMI) provided with sample packaging is an important source of patient information. Although one-third of Americans have health literacy deficiencies, previous studies have found that CMI is often too complex for many patients to understand. This may prevent patients from using these medications appropriately.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate readability and formatting characteristics of CMI included with nonsolid (ie, topical cream/lotion, inhalation, transdermal) drug samples.

METHODS

We collected a convenience sample of nonsolid dosage sample medications (N = 55) from several different private and university-affiliated primary care and specialty physician practices at a large academic medical center in the southeastern US. We noted whether CMI was present and, if it was, we assessed it for instruction presentation, reading level, text size, format/layout, and comprehensibility.

RESULTS

Most (43 of 55) products included CMI, either as a separate leaflet or directly on the packaging. Reading level of CMI leaflets ranged from the 6th- to 14th-grade level, with just 4 (16.0%) written at the recommended 6th-grade level. Text font point size was 9.48 ± 2.14 (mean ± SD; range 5–12). Text printed directly on sample packaging averaged 6.61 point ± 2.62 (4–11) font size. Ninety-two percent of CMI leaflets included a combination of text and pictures; only 11.1% of CMI printed directly on the packaging used pictorial aids.

CONCLUSIONS

Most CMI accompanying nonsolid medication samples is written at a reading level that exceeds that of many consumers and does not meet recommended standards for readability and comprehensibility of patient education material.
Attributions and affirmations for overcoming anxiety and depression
Authors: Kinnier Richard T. , Hofsess Christy , Pongratz Rick , Lambert Christina
Published: December 2008

Individuals who struggle with anxiety or depression often turn to experts for help in overcoming these disorders. In this study, we consult three expert ‘populations’: the popular self‐help literature, well‐respected therapists, and individuals who believe that they have successfully recovered from either anxiety or depression for their recommendations to those who are currently anxious or depressed. In Part I, we content‐analyse recommendations from 10 current self‐help books on anxiety and 10 on depression. In Part II, we asked 17 respected therapists and 18 individuals who believed that they have recovered from anxiety and 23 individuals who believe they have recovered from depression what they believe are the ‘keys’ for recovery. We also asked them to rate the efficacy of seven popular affirmations. Through content analysis and descriptive statistics, we summarize their collective wisdom. Among the main findings are the recommendations for anxious and depressed individuals to actively seek help from multiple people and interventions, as well as to being open to trying innovative self‐tailored interventions. Affirmations relating to ‘not being crazy’ in relation to anxiety and that the depression will subside in time were deemed most helpful for recovery. Discussion focuses on practical application.
A Comparison of Peak Linear and Angular Headform Accelerations Using Ice Hockey Helmets
Authors: Rousseau P. , Post A. , Hoshizaki T. B.
Published: December 2008

The objective of this study was to quantify the ability of hockey helmets to manage peak angular and linear acceleration of the center of gravity of a Hybrid III headform at six impact locations and three velocities (5, 7, and 9 m/s). The method was intended to represent a reconstruction of helmet, shoulder, and elbow strikes to the head. Six different ice hockey helmets were impacted using a pneumatic linear impactor at velocities similar to those encountered in ice hockey. The results were then compared to impacts to an unhelmeted headform. The data demonstrated that under certain conditions, peak angular accelerations were above estimated injury thresholds, while peak linear accelerations remained below. This confirmed the importance of measuring peak angular acceleration and peak linear acceleration in order to better predict minor traumatic brain injuries.
Trust in Health Research Relationships: Accounts of Human Subjects
Authors: McDonald Michael , Townsend Anne , Cox Susan M. , Paterson Natasha Damiano , Lafrenière Darquise
Published: December 2008

Trust is fundamental in health research, yet there is little empirical evidence that explores the meaning of trust from the perspective of human subjects. The analysis presented here focuses on how human subjects talked about trust in the in-depth interviews. It emerged from the accounts that trust could not be assumed in the research setting, rather it was portrayed as a dynamic concept, built and easily broken, characterized by reciprocity and negotiation. Human subjects were ambivalent about who, when, what, and how much to trust in the research endeavor. This paper adds a fresh perspective to the literature on trust, and so offers a currently neglected, and little understood dimension to the discourse around health research ethics.
IRB Chairs' Perspectives on Genomics Research Involving Stored Biological Materials: Ethical Concerns and Proposed Solutions
Authors: Wolf Leslie E. , Catania Joseph A. , Dolcini M. Margaret , Pollack Lance M. , Lo Bernard
Published: December 2008

We evaluated 55 irb chairs' perspectives on ethical issues in a hypothetical study involving mental health–related genomics research using stored specimens to identify potential barriers and solutions to such research. Most chairs identified the ethical issues of consent and confidentially as important. The majority of Chairs expressed concern about using materials in new research, especially concerning a mental health condition, that was not discussed in the original consent. Few Chairs considered permissible strategies, such as de-identification and waiver of consent, which could allow the proposed research to go forward without consent. Chairs who reviewed more protocols and had attended conferences on human subjects protection identified more of the salient ethical issues in the scenario. Our study could not determine whether Chairs were not familiar with the strategies of de-identification and waiver of consent, or believed that they did not adequately protect participants who had provided specimens for research. Thus, our findings suggest that investigators and IRBs should consider future use of specimens and obtain appropriate consent before collection of specimens. Furthermore, our findings suggest that IRBs can improve review of genomics research involving stored specimens by redesigning forms to prompt IRB members to consider some strategies, such as de-identification and Certificates of Confidentiality, that are recommended for this type of research and by sending members to conferences on human subjects protections and research ethics.
Influence of NMDA and non-NMDA antagonists on acute and inflammatory pain in the trigeminal territory: a placebo control study
Authors: Piovesan Elcio Juliato , Randunz Vitor , Utiumi Marco , Lange Marcos Cristiano , Kowacs Pedro André , Mulinari Rogério Andrade , Oshinsky Michael , Vital Maria , Sereniki Adriana , Fernandes Artur Furlaneto , Silva Lucas Leite e , Werneck Lineu César
Published: December 2008

NMDA and non-NMDA receptors are involved in spinal transmission of nociceptive information in physiological and pathological conditions. Our objective was to study the influence of NMDA and non-NMDA receptor antagonists on pain control in the trigeminal system using a formalin-induced orofacial pain model. Motor performance was also evaluated. Male Rattus norvegicus were pre-treated with topiramate (T) (n=8), memantine (M) (n=8), divalproex (D) (n=8) or isotonic saline solution (ISS) (n=10) intraperitoneally 30 minutes before the formalin test. Formalin 2.5% was injected into the right upper lip (V2 branch) and induced two phases: phase I (early or neurogenic) (0-3 min) and phase II (late or inflammatory) (12-30 min). For motor behavior performance we used the open-field test and measured latency to movement onset, locomotion and rearing frequencies, and immobility time. Pre-treatment of animals with M and D only attenuated nociceptive formalin behavior for phase II. T increased locomotion and rearing frequencies and reduced immobility time. Treatment with M increased immobility time and with D reduced locomotion frequency. Our results showed that the NMDA antagonist (M) is more potent than the non-NMDA antagonists (D and T) in the control of pain in the inflammatory phase. The non-NMDA topiramate improved motor performance more than did D and M, probably because T has more anxiolytic properties.
Is cold the new hot in sudden unexpected death in epilepsy? Effect of low temperature on heart rate of rats with epilepsy
Authors: Sonoda Eliza Y.F. , Colugnati Diego B. , Scorza Carla A. , Arida Ricardo M. , Pansani Aline P. , Almeida Antonio-Carlos G. de , Cavalheiro Esper A. , Scorza Fulvio A.
Published: December 2008

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is the commonest cause of seizure-related mortality in people with refractory epilepsy. Several risk factors for SUDEP are described; however, the importance of including low temperatures as risk factor for SUDEP was never explored. Based on this, the aim of this study was to evaluate the heart rate of rats with epilepsy during low temperature exposure. Our results showed that low temperature clearly increased the heart rate of rats with epilepsy. Taken together, we concluded that exposure to low temperatures could be considered important risk factors from cardiovascular abnormalities and hence sudden cardiac death in epilepsy.
Buscando preservar a integridade da unidade familiar: a família vivendo a experiência de ter um filho na UTI
Authors: Bousso Regina Szylit , Angelo Margareth
Published: December 2008

Este estudo teve como objetivos: compreender o funcionamento da dinâmica familiar da criança internada em UTI pediátrica e construir um Modelo Teórico sobre a experiência da família que vivencia a internação da criança na UTI pediátrica. Utilizou-se como referencial teórico o Interacionismo Simbólico e como referencial metodológico a Teoria Fundamentada nos Dados. A análise comparativa dos dados possibilitou identificar dois fenômenos que compõem esta experiência da família: Tendo uma ruptura familiar e Vivendo a possibilidade de vir a perder o filho. A articulação desses fenômenos permitiu identificar a categoria central BUSCANDO PRESERVAR A INTEGRIDADE DA UNIDADE FAMILIAR, a partir da qual propõe-se um modelo teórico explicativo da experiência.