bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A New Danger in the Air: How Pulmonary Innate Immunity Copes with Man-Made Airborne Xenobiotics
Authors: Lanckacker E.A. , Robays L.J. , Joos G.F. , Vermaelen K.Y.
Published: October 2009

The pulmonary innate immune system has evolved over millions of years to provide swift detection of inhaled microbial agents and trigger well-balanced protective responses. Much more recent on the evolutionary scale is human activity, which has resulted in the release of a new class of potentially harmful, non-microbial compounds into the air. These xenobiotics include combustion by-products such as reactive oxygen species and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. This review will summarize evidence showing how airborne xenobiotics can engage pulmonary innate immunity components at many levels. We will focus on potential effects of xenobiotics on airway dendritic cells, as these constitute key innate immune sensors in the lung, with the unique ability to initiate adaptive immunity. We propose that the aberrant processing of inhaled xenobiotics by an innate immune system that is now evolutionarily maladapted underlies the increase in chronic inflammatory lung diseases in modern times.
Systemic spread of measles virus: Overcoming the epithelial and endothelial barriers
Authors: Ludlow Martin , Allen Ingrid , Schneider-Schaulies Jürgen
Published: October 2009

As the major entry receptor, signalling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAM, CD150) essentially determines the tropism of measles virus (MV) for immune cells. This receptor is of considerable importance for the induction of immunomodulation and -suppression, and for the systemic spread of MV to organs including secondary lymphoid tissues, the skin, the respiratory tract, and the brain predominantly via infected cells of the immune system. But how does the virus cross the epithelial barrier during initiation of the infection, the blood organ barriers formed by endothelial cells, and the epithelial barrier from within, when virus will be released from the host? Additional unknown receptor(s) on CD150-negative epithelial and endothelial cells have been postulated. However, it has also been postulated (and demonstrated in macaques) that the initial infection is independent from usage of this receptor, and that the first target cells appear to be CD150-positive cells in the epithelium. For later stages of the infection, for virus release from the host, it is claimed that this unknown receptor on epithelial cells is required for crossing the barrier from within. The endothelial cell barrier must be crossed from the apical (luminal) to the basolateral (abluminal) side to carry the infection to organs and the skin. However, infected leukocytes are impaired in several functions including transmigration through endothelial cells. The infection may spread via cell contact-mediated infection of endothelial cells and basolateral virus release, or via migration of infected leukocytes.
Factors Associated With Neurologically Intact Survival for Patients With Acute Heart Failure and In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest
Authors: Levy Phillip D. , Ye Hong , Compton Scott , Chan Paul S. , Larkin Gregory Luke , Welch Robert D.
Published: September 2009

Background—

Hospitalized patients with heart failure are at risk for cardiac arrest. The ability to predict who may survive such an event with or without neurological deficit would enhance the information on which patients and providers establish resuscitative preferences.

Methods and Results—

We identified 13 063 adult patients with acute heart failure who had cardiac arrest at 457 hospitals participating in the National Registry of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2007. Neurological status was determined on admission and discharge by cerebral performance category with neurologically intact survival (NIS)=cerebral performance category 1 (no) or 2 (moderate dysfunction) and non-NIS=cerebral performance category 3 (severe dysfunction), 4 (coma), or 5 (brain death). Factors available prearrest (demographics, preexisting conditions, and interventions in-place) were assessed for association with NIS using multivariable logistic regression, initially without then with adjustment for arrest-related variables and hospital characteristics. NIS occurred in 2307 patients (17.7%) and was associated by adjusted odds ratio with 18 prearrest factors; 4 positively and 14 negatively. The association (odds ratio; 95% CI) was strongest for 4 specific variables: acute stroke (0.38; 0.25 to 0.58), history of malignancy (0.49; 0.39 to 0.63), vasopressor use (0.50; 0.43 to 0.59), and assisted or mechanical ventilation (0.53; 0.45 to 0.61).

Conclusions—

A number of prearrest factors seem to be associated with NIS, the majority inversely. Consideration of these before cardiac arrest could enhance the resuscitative decision-making process for patients with acute heart failure.
Association of Left Ventricular Dilation at Listing for Heart Transplant With Postlisting and Early Posttransplant Mortality in Children With Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Singh Tajinder P. , Sleeper Lynn A. , Lipshultz Steven , Cinar Amy , Canter Charles , Webber Steven A. , Bernstein Daniel , Pahl Elfriede , Alvarez Jorge A. , Wilkinson James D. , Towbin Jeffrey A. , Colan Steven D.
Published: September 2009

Background—

In patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, the magnitude of cardiac remodeling often correlates with the clinical severity of heart failure. We sought to determine whether measures of left ventricular (LV) dilation and systolic dysfunction in children with dilated cardiomyopathy at the time of listing for cardiac transplantation are associated with survival while waiting for and early after transplant.

Methods and Results—

We analyzed echocardiographic data obtained within 6 months of listing for heart transplant and clinical data from 261 children with dilated cardiomyopathy who were included in both the Pediatric Cardiomyopathy Registry and the Pediatric Heart Transplant Study. Median time to listing after diagnosis was 1.9 months and to transplant after listing was 0.8 months. There were 42 deaths (29 waiting and 13 within 6 months after transplant). We found a significant age-dependent association of LV end-diastolic dimension
z
score (n=204, 31 deaths) with death controlling for race, transplant status, and medical insurance. The association was strongest for infants younger than 6 months at diagnosis (hazard ratio 1.47,
P
=0.008) and was not significant in children older than 5 years at diagnosis. A similar interaction was identified between age and LV end-systolic dimension
z
score (
P
=0.04). Neither LV function nor mass was associated with death, overall, or in subgroups.

Conclusions—

The severity of LV dilation at listing for heart transplant is associated with outcome in infants and young children with dilated cardiomyopathy, whereas the severity of LV systolic dysfunction is not. These findings should be considered in risk stratification of these children at listing.
Dysfunctional Corin I555(P568) Allele Is Associated With Impaired Brain Natriuretic Peptide Processing and Adverse Outcomes in Blacks With Systolic Heart Failure
Authors: Rame J. Eduardo , Tam S. William , McNamara Dennis , Worcel Manuel , Sabolinski Michael L. , Wu Alan H. , Dries Daniel L.
Published: September 2009

Background—

Corin, a transmembrane serine protease expressed in cardiomyocytes, cleaves pro–atrial natriuretic peptide and pro–brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) into biologically active peptide hormones. The minor corin I555(P568) allele, defined by the T555I and Q568P mutations, is common in persons of African ancestry and associated with increased risk for hypertension and cardiac concentric hypertrophy. The corin gene product containing the T555I and Q568P mutations has significantly reduced natriuretic peptide processing capacity. We hypothesized that the corin I555(P568) allele would be associated with adverse outcomes and impaired BNP processing in blacks with systolic heart failure.

Methods and Results—

This is a retrospective study of 354 subjects in the African American Heart Failure Trial Genetic Risk Assessment in Heart Failure substudy. In the corin variant group (n=50) compared with corin nonvariant group (n=300), BNP-32 (amino acids 77 to 108) was lower (190 pg/mL versus 340 pg/mL,
P
=0.007), but the ratio of unprocessed BNP
1 to 108
/processed BNP-32 was significantly higher (
P
=0.05). Stratified analyses were conducted because of evidence of significant interaction between the corin I555(P568) allele and treatment assignment. In the placebo arm, multivariable analysis demonstrated that the corin I555(P568) allele was associated with increased risk for death or heart failure hospitalization (relative risk 3.49; 95% CI, 1.45 to 8.39;
P
=0.005); however, in the treatment arm (fixed-dose combination isosorbide-dinitrate/hydralazine), the corin I555(P568) allele was not associated with adverse outcomes.

Conclusions—

We have identified a pharmacogenomic interaction in blacks with systolic heart failure. The corin I555(P568) allele is associated with an increased risk for death or heart failure hospitalization in patients receiving standard neurohormonal blockade, but the addition of fixed-dose combination isosorbide-dinitrate/hydralazine ameliorates this risk. A plausible mechanism for this pharmacogenomic interaction is the impaired processing of BNP in carriers of the corin I555(P568) allele as compared with noncarriers.
Serum Cortisol as a Useful Predictor of Cardiac Events in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure
Authors: Yamaji Masayuki , Tsutamoto Takayoshi , Kawahara Chiho , Nishiyama Keizo , Yamamoto Takashi , Fujii Masanori , Horie Minoru
Published: September 2009

Background—

The pathophysiological role of cortisol, which binds to the mineralocorticoid receptor with an affinity equal to that of aldosterone (ALD), may be influenced by oxidative stress in patients with chronic heart failure. We evaluated cardiac event prediction using cortisol levels in chronic heart failure, in comparison with ALD, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and the impact of oxidative stress.

Methods and Results—

We measured the plasma levels of biomarkers such as BNP, ALD, adrenocorticotropic hormone, serum cortisol, and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL), a biomarker of oxidative stress, in 319 consecutive symptomatic patients with chronic heart failure, and we followed these patients for a mean period of 33 months. During the follow-up period, 29 patients had cardiac events (death or hospitalization). Plasma levels of BNP, ALD, adrenocorticotropic hormone, oxLDL, and serum cortisol (16.8�1.8 μg/dL versus 12.4�0.3 μg/dL,
P
=0.01) were significantly higher in patients with cardiac events than in those without cardiac events. On stepwise multivariate analyses, high levels of BNP (
P
=0.0003), renin (
P
=0.002), cortisol (
P
=0.02), and oxLDL (
P
=0.002) were independent predictors of cardiac events, but ALD and adrenocorticotropic hormone levels were not. In patients with serum cortisol ≥12.5 μg/dL, the hazard ratio of cardiac events in patients with oxLDL ≥12 U/mL was 3.5 compared with that in patients with oxLDL <12 U/mL (
P
=0.008).

Conclusions—

These findings indicate that serum cortisol levels were a complementary and incremental cardiac event risk predictor in combination with BNP in patients with chronic heart failure and that cardiac event prediction based on cortisol levels was influenced by oxidative stress.
Long-Term Clinical Outcome After Fractional Flow Reserve–Guided Treatment in Patients With Angiographically Equivocal Left Main Coronary Artery Stenosis
Authors: Hamilos Michalis , Muller Olivier , Cuisset Thomas , Ntalianis Argyrios , Chlouverakis Gregory , Sarno Giovanna , Nelis Olivier , Bartunek Jozef , Vanderheyden Marc , Wyffels Eric , Barbato Emanuele , Heyndrickx Guy R. , Wijns William , De Bruyne Bernard
Published: September 2009

Background—

Significant left main coronary artery stenosis is an accepted indication for surgical revascularization. The potential of angiography to evaluate the hemodynamic severity of a stenosis is limited. The aims of the present study were to assess the long-term clinical outcome of patients with an angiographically equivocal left main coronary artery stenosis in whom the revascularization strategy was based on fractional flow reserve (FFR) and to determine the relationship between quantitative coronary angiography and FFR.

Methods and Results—

In 213 patients with an angiographically equivocal left main coronary artery stenosis, FFR measurements and quantitative coronary angiography were performed. When FFR was ≥0.80, patients were treated medically or another stenosis was treated by coronary angioplasty (nonsurgical group; n=138). When FFR was <0.80, coronary artery bypass grafting was performed (surgical group; n=75). The 5-year survival estimates were 89.8% in the nonsurgical group and 85.4% in the surgical group (
P
=0.48). The 5-year event-free survival estimates were 74.2% and 82.8% in the nonsurgical and surgical groups, respectively (
P
=0.50). Percent diameter stenosis at quantitative coronary angiography correlated significantly with FFR (
r
=−0.38,
P
<0.001), but a very large scatter was observed. In 23% of patients with a diameter stenosis <50%, the left main coronary artery stenosis was hemodynamically significant by FFR.

Conclusions—

In patients with equivocal stenosis of the left main coronary artery, angiography alone does not allow appropriate individual decision making about the need for revascularization and often underestimates the functional significance of the stenosis. The favorable outcome of an FFR-guided strategy suggests that FFR should be assessed in such patients before a decision is made “blindly” about the need for revascularization.
MicroRNA 217 Modulates Endothelial Cell Senescence via Silent Information Regulator 1
Authors: Menghini Rossella , Casagrande Viviana , Cardellini Marina , Martelli Eugenio , Terrinoni Alessandro , Amati Francesca , Vasa-Nicotera Mariuca , Ippoliti Arnaldo , Novelli Giuseppe , Melino Gerry , Lauro Renato , Federici Massimo
Published: September 2009

Background—

Aging is a major risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. Through a microarray approach, we have identified a microRNA (
miR-217
) that is progressively expressed in endothelial cells with aging.
miR-217
regulates the expression of silent information regulator 1 (SirT1), a major regulator of longevity and metabolic disorders that is progressively reduced in multiple tissues during aging.

Methods and Results—

miR-217
inhibits SirT1 expression through a
miR-217
–binding site within the 3′-UTR of SirT1. In young human umbilical vein endothelial cells, human aortic endothelial cells, and human coronary artery endothelial cells,
miR-217
induces a premature senescence-like phenotype and leads to an impairment in angiogenesis via inhibition of SirT1 and modulation of FoxO1 (forkhead box O1) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase acetylation. Conversely, inhibition of
miR-217
in old endothelial cells ultimately reduces senescence and increases angiogenic activity via an increase in SirT1.
miR-217
is expressed in human atherosclerotic lesions and is negatively correlated with SirT1 expression and with FoxO1 acetylation status.

Conclusions—

Our data pinpoint
miR-217
as an endogenous inhibitor of SirT1, which promotes endothelial senescence and is potentially amenable to therapeutic manipulation for prevention of endothelial dysfunction in metabolic disorders.
Ghrelin Restores the Endothelin 1/Nitric Oxide Balance in Patients With Obesity-Related Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Tesauro Manfredi , Schinzari Francesca , Rovella Valentina , Di Daniele Nicola , Lauro Davide , Mores Nadia , Veneziani Augusto , Cardillo Carmine
Published: September 2009

Obesity is associated with endothelial dysfunction related to decreased NO bioavailability, increased endothelin 1 vasoconstrictor activity, and decreased circulating ghrelin. Therefore, we tested whether exogenous ghrelin may have benefits to improve the balance between endothelin 1 and NO in patients with obesity-related metabolic syndrome. Vasoactive actions of endothelin 1 and NO were assessed in 8 patients with metabolic syndrome and 8 matched controls by evaluating forearm blood flow responses (strain-gauge plethysmography) to intra-arterial infusion of BQ-123 (endothelin A receptor antagonist; 10 nmol/min), followed by
N
G
-monomethyl-
l
-arginine (NO synthase inhibitor; 4 μmol/min), before and after infusion of ghrelin (200 ng/min). In the absence of ghrelin, the vasodilator response to BQ-123 was greater in patients than in controls (
P
<0.001), whereas infusion of
N
G
-monomethyl-
l
-arginine induced smaller vasoconstriction in patients than in controls (
P
=0.006). Importantly, exogenous ghrelin decreased the vasodilator response to BQ-123 (
P
=0.007 versus saline) and enhanced the magnitude of changes in forearm blood flow induced by
N
G
-monomethyl-
l
-arginine (
P
=0.003) in patients but not in controls (both
P
>0.05). The favorable effect of ghrelin on endothelin A–dependent vasoconstriction was likely related to the stimulation of NO production, because no change in the vascular effect of BQ-123 was observed after ghrelin (
P
=0.44) in 5 patients with metabolic syndrome during continuous infusion of the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (0.2 μg/min). In patients with metabolic syndrome, ghrelin has benefits to normalize the balance between vasoconstrictor (endothelin 1) and vasodilating (NO) mediators, thus suggesting that this peptide has important peripheral actions to preserve vascular homeostasis in humans.
Effect of Cardiorespiratory Fitness on Vascular Regulation and Oxidative Stress in Postmenopausal Women
Authors: Pialoux Vincent , Brown Allison D. , Leigh Richard , Friedenreich Christine M. , Poulin Marc J.
Published: September 2009

Increasing evidence exists suggesting an important role for oxidative stress in the pathogenesis and progression of hypertension in women via a decrease of NO production after menopause. Regular physical training has been shown to upregulate antioxidant enzymatic systems, which may slow down the usual increase of oxidative stress in postmenopausal women. The aims of this study were to determine the impact of fitness status on enzymatic antioxidant efficiency, oxidative stress, and NO production and to determine the associations among oxidative stress, enzymatic antioxidant and NO production, mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), and cerebrovascular conductance (CVC) in postmenopausal women (n=40; 50 to 90 years old). Physical fitness, physical activity, resting MABP, and CVC were measured. End product of NO, lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde and 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α), DNA oxidation (8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine), protein nitration (nitrotyrosine), antioxidant glutathione peroxidase, and catalase activities were measured in plasma. We identified significant negative associations between oxidative stress and indices of physical fitness (malondialdehyde:
r
=−0.33,
P
<0.05; 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α:
r
=−0.39,
P
<0.05; 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine:
r
=−0.35,
P
<0.05) and physical activity (malondialdehyde:
r
=−0.30,
P
<0.05; 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α:
r
=−0.41,
P
<0.01; 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine:
r
=−0.39,
P
<0.05). Conversely, glutathione peroxidase was positively correlated with fitness level (
r
=0.55;
P
<0.01). Finally, MABP and CVC were significantly associated with 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (MABP:
r
=0.36,
P
<0.05; CVC:
r
=−0.36,
P
<0.05), nitrotyrosine (MABP:
r
=0.39,
P
<0.05; CVC:
r
=−0.32,
P
<0.05), and the end product of NO (MABP:
r
=−0.57,
P
<0.01; CVC:
r
=0.44,
P
<0.01). These findings demonstrate that, after menopause, fitness level and regular physical activity mediate against oxidative stress by maintaining antioxidant enzyme efficiency. Furthermore, these results suggest that oxidative stress and NO production modulate MABP and CVC.
Predictability of the Madden–Julian Oscillation Estimated Using Observational Data
Authors: Ding Ruiqiang , Li Jianping , Seo Kyong-Hwan
Published: September 2009

Existing numerical models produce large error in simulating the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO), thereby underestimating its predictability. In this paper, the predictability limit of the MJO is determined by the nonlinear local Lyapunov exponent approach, which provides an estimate of atmospheric predictability based on the observational data. The results show that the predictability limit of the MJO obtained from the bandpass-filtered (30–80 days) outgoing longwave radiation and wind fields, which serves as an empirical estimate of the theoretical potential predictability of the MJO, can exceed 5 weeks, which is well above the 1-week predictability of background noise caused by bandpass filtering. In contrast, a real-time analysis of MJO predictability using the real-time multivariate MJO (RMM) index, as introduced by Wheeler and Hendon, reveals a predictability limit of about 3 weeks. The findings reported here raise the possibility of obtaining a higher predictability limit in real-time prediction by improving the RMM index or by introducing a better method of extracting intraseasonal signals.
Fog Prediction from a Multimodel Mesoscale Ensemble Prediction System
Authors: Zhou Binbin , Du Jun
Published: September 2009

A new multivariable-based diagnostic fog-forecasting method has been developed at NCEP. The selection of these variables, their thresholds, and the influences on fog forecasting are discussed. With the inclusion of the algorithm in the model postprocessor, the fog forecast can now be provided centrally as direct NWP model guidance. The method can be easily adapted to other NWP models. Currently, knowledge of how well fog forecasts based on operational NWP models perform is lacking. To verify the new method and assess fog forecast skill, as well as to account for forecast uncertainty, this fog-forecasting algorithm is applied to a multimodel-based Mesoscale Ensemble Prediction System (MEPS). MEPS consists of 10 members using two regional models [the NCEP Nonhydrostatic Mesoscale Model (NMM) version of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model and the NCAR Advanced Research version of WRF (ARW)] with 15-km horizontal resolution. Each model has five members (one control and four perturbed members) using the breeding technique to perturb the initial conditions and was run once per day out to 36 h over eastern China for seven months (February–September 2008). Both deterministic and probabilistic forecasts were produced based on individual members, a one-model ensemble, and two-model ensembles. A case study and statistical verification, using both deterministic and probabilistic measuring scores, were performed against fog observations from 13 cities in eastern China. The verification was focused on the 12- and 36-h forecasts.

By applying the various approaches, including the new fog detection scheme, ensemble technique, multimodel approach, and the increase in ensemble size, the fog forecast accuracy was steadily and dramatically improved in each of the approaches: from basically no skill at all [equitable threat score (ETS) = 0.063] to a skill level equivalent to that of warm-season precipitation forecasts of the current NWP models (0.334). Specifically, 1) the multivariable-based fog diagnostic method has a much higher detection capability than the liquid water content (LWC)-only based approach. Reasons why the multivariable approach works better than the LWC-only method were also illustrated. 2) The ensemble-based forecasts are, in general, superior to a single control forecast measured both deterministically and probabilistically. The case study also demonstrates that the ensemble approach could provide more societal value than a single forecast to end users, especially for low-probability significant events like fog. Deterministically, a forecast close to the ensemble median is particularly helpful. 3) The reliability of probabilistic forecasts can be effectively improved by using a multimodel ensemble instead of a single-model ensemble. For a small ensemble such as the one in this study, the increase in ensemble size is also important in improving probabilistic forecasts, although this effect is expected to decrease with the increase in ensemble size.
‘Eating beans … that is a “no-no” for our times’: Young Cypriots’ consumer meanings of ‘healthy’ and ‘fast’ food
Authors: Ioannou Soula
Published: September 2009

Objective To investigate in-depth beliefs and experiences relating to the choice of fast and/or healthy foods from a group of young people living in Cyprus.

Design Data for the study were generated from one-to-one qualitative interviews which encouraged the participants to articulate the symbolic value of eating choices in their day-to-day experiences.

Participants Twenty five young people (12 male, 13 female) aged between 15 and 17 years from diverse socio-economic backgrounds living in different parts of the urban area of Nicosia were recruited using a snowballing technique.

Analysis The analysis focused on the division between ‘healthy’ and ‘fast’ foods.

Results This study discloses the way that a group of young Cypriots make sense of, and articulate, ‘fast’ and ‘healthy’ foods as consumer eating choices. The analysis demonstrates how ‘fast’ and ‘healthy’ eating choices entail a symbolic value which the participants claimed had significance and meaning in young people’s lifestyles. Eating fast foods was primarily seen as a medium for expressing a youthful self and/or lifestyle image, while choosing healthy food was viewed as being in opposition to the normal image of being young.

Conclusions and implications This article challenges the one-dimensional approach of the ‘nutrition value of foods’ approach for convincing young people to choose healthy foods and strongly suggests the need to provide them with opportunities to become aware of and critical about the symbolic value of eating choices.
An evaluation of the Local Exercise Action Pilots and impact on moderate physical activity
Authors: Pringle Andy , Gilson Nick , McKenna Jim , Cooke Carlton
Published: September 2009

Objective Identifying community physical activity interventions that facilitate increases in moderate physical activity (MPA) is important in meeting targets set in government health policy. This study evaluated community interventions that aimed to increase levels of MPA. Intervention themes included exercise referral, classes and groups, peermentoring, motivational interviewing, campaigns and directories, outdoor activity and training physical activity leaders.

Design Longitudinal, pre-intervention and intervention assessments occurred between 2004 and 2006.

Setting Recruitment of 10,433 people from ten sites located in areas of high health need across England.

Method Demographic data were collected by questionnaire, with seven-day, population-specific self-reports assessing pre-intervention and intervention MPA. Using guidelines for young people and adults, MPA MET-minutes/week were used to assign participants to four MPA categories (sedentary, lightly, moderately and highly active) at pre-intervention and intervention phases. Cross-tabulation established movement between three change categories (reversal, stability and progression).

Results From nine sites, 5324 people engaged in the evaluation, and a sub-sample of 998 provided demographic and 1022 self-report baseline and intervention data (i.e. completers) for a typical week’s physical activity participation. Of completers who were sedentary or lightly active at pre-intervention, 58.5 per cent achieved recommended physical activity guidelines. 80.9 per cent who were sedentary at pre-intervention reported as lightly, moderately or highly active at intervention. Conclusions Completers increased overall activity levels, including those sedentary and lightly active at pre-intervention who increased levels to recommended guidelines.
Exploring pre-operational and concrete operational children’s thinking on nutrition: A case study
Authors: Brouse Corey H , Chow Tracy H F
Published: September 2009

Objective In this exploratory study, we observed the process in which children make food choices from a cognitive development perspective and the implications that these choices have on the areas of cognitive development and health and nutrition education.

Design This was a cross-sectional case study that involved an in-depth examination of the food choice process and knowledge of a child in the pre-operations stage and a child in the concrete operations stage as defined by Piaget.

Setting This study took place in New York City.

Methods The five general questions on health and nutrition which were posed to each child were: Why do we need to eat? What makes some foods healthy or unhealthy? Can some foods be healthy and unhealthy at the same time? Where do certain foods come from? Why is it important to eat in moderation? The responses to these questions were analyzed from both cognitive and health education perspectives. In addition to being asked questions about nutrition, each in-depth interview included an activity in which the children were given a stack of pictures of foods and were asked to classify them as being healthy or unhealthy.

Results Thelevelofknowledgeandthoughtprocessaboutfoodofachild in the pre-operations stage and a child in the concrete operations stage exhibit several significant differences that are characteristic of Piaget’s stages of cognitive development. Specifically, the depth of knowledge, the use of symbolic thinking, and the abilities to think bi-directionally and systematically, and to view issues from multiple perspectives vary between the two stages.

Conclusion Many of the predictions about how the children would react to certain questions given their age appear to be consistent with the early writings of Piaget. The main implications of these findings could help health educators who focus on nutrition to tailor their educational programmes according to the cognitive abilities defined by Piaget, and reinforced by our findings.
Information structural constraints on children’s early language production: The acquisition of the focus particle auch (‘also’) in German-learning 12- to 36-month-olds
Authors: Müller Anja , Höhle Barbara , Schmitz Michaela , Weissenborn Jürgen
Published: September 2009

This article presents new findings for the acquisition of the focus particle auch (‘also’) in German-learning children. In a longitudinal study with 11 children between 1;00 and 3;00 years of age complemented by two experiments with children aged 2;4 and 2;8, the authors investigated children’s production of the accented and unaccented auch. The results confirm earlier findings of a temporal delay between the first occurrences of both auch-variants. Based on the empirical findings, an account for this asymmetry is proposed that relates it to a more general developmental tendency that is characterized by a growing linguistic explicitness in embedding a given utterance in its discourse context. It is suggested that the observed delay is caused by the type of relation between the particle and its related constituent: in contrast to the accented auch the unaccented auch is anaphorically related to the sentence topic. It is proposed that the initial omission reflects a general tendency in early child language to drop topic material.
Effect of Warm-Supplementing Kidney Yang (WSKY) added to risperidone on quality of life in patients with schizophrenia: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Chen Zhen-hua , Wang Gao-hua , Wang Xiao-ping , Huo Yun-xiang , Yang Ming-hua , Li Li , Mei Hong-bing
Published: September 2009

Objective: To evaluate the quality of life, efficacy and safety of Warm-Supplementing Kidney Yang (WSKY) added to risperidone in patients with schizophrenia.

Design: A randomized controlled trial.

Setting: The outpatient and inpatient departments of three hospitals.

Subjects: One hundred and twenty patients with clinically diagnosed schizophrenia with predominantly negative symptoms were included in the study.

Intervention: All 120 patients were randomly assigned to double-blind treatment with WSKY group (n = 60) or placebo group (n = 60) added to risperidone for eight weeks.

Main measure: The efficacy measures included the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL-100), the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Social Disability Screening Schedule and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Safety and tolerability were assessed throughout the trial.

Results: The scores of quality of life in the WSKY group showed statistically significant improvement at the end-point of treatment compared with those in the placebo group (WSKY, increasing 40.5 (29.4); placebo, increasing 14.4 (27.1); F =24.900, P<0.001), while the scores of social function and depression symptoms also showed statistically significant improvement. The response rates for the WHOQOL-100 total scores were 50.0% for the WSKY group versus 31.7% for placebo group (χ 2 = 4.172, P=0.041). There were no significant differences in the safety/tolerability measures between the WSKY group and the placebo group during treatment.

Conclusions: The results suggest that WSKY added to risperidone significantly improved the quality of life, social function, depression symptom compared with placebo added to risperidone.
An evaluation of self-administration of auditory cueing to improve gait in people with Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Bryant MS , Rintala DH , Lai EC , Protas EJ
Published: September 2009

Objective: To evaluate a self-administration of auditory cueing on gait difficulties in people with Parkinson’s disease over a one-week period.

Design: Single group pre and post test.

Setting: Research lab, community.

Participants: Twenty-one individuals with Parkinson’s disease.

Interventions: Self-application of an auditory pacer set at a rate 25% faster than preferred cadence.

Main outcome measures: Self-selected gait speed, cadence, stride length, and double support time with and without the pacer at the initial visit and after one week of pacer use.

Results: During the initial visit, the auditory pacer improved gait speed (79.57 (18.13) cm/s vs. 94.02 (22.61) cm/s, P<0.0005), cadence (102.88 (11.34) step/min vs. 109.22 (10.23) steps/min, P=0.036) and stride length (94.33 (21.31) cm vs. 103.5 (22.65) cm, P =0.012). After one week, preferred gait speed was faster than the initial preferred speed (79.57 (18.13) vs. 95.20 (22.23) cm/s, P<0.0005). Stride length was significantly increased (94.33 (21.31) vs. 107.67 (20.01) cm, P =0.001). Double support time was decreased from 21.73 (5.23) to 18.94 (3.59)% gait cycle, P =0.016.

Conclusion: Gait performance in people with Parkinson’s disease improved significantly after walking with the auditory pacer for one week.
The psychometric properties and clinical utility of measures of walking and mobility in neurological conditions: a systematic review
Authors: Tyson Sarah , Connell Louise
Published: September 2009

Objective: To identify psychometrically robust and clinically feasible measures of walking and mobility in people with neurological conditions

Data sources: MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, PEDro and AMED.

Review methods: Independent reviewers selected and extracted data from articles that assessed the reliability, validity, sensitivity to change or clinical utility of measures of walking and mobility in adult neurological conditions. Measures with ‘good’ psychometrics and 9/10 clinical utility scores were recommended.

Results: Seventeen measures were selected. Of these, the 5-m and 10-m walk tests, six-minute walk test, High Level Mobility Assessment Tool (HiMAT) and the Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI) reached the required standards and are usable in clinical practice. None of the recommended measures assessed wheelchair mobility. The least frequently assessed property was sensitivity to change. Further measures could be recommended if the minimal detectable change were demonstrated.

Conclusion: The 5-m, 10-m and six-minute walk test, High Level Mobility Assessment Tool and the Rivermead Mobility Index are psychometrically robust measures of walking and mobility and are feasible for use in clinical practice.
Autonomous Exploration and Mapping of Flooded Sinkholes
Authors: Fairfield Nathaniel , Kantor George , Jonak Dominic , Wettergreen David
Published: September 2009

In this paper, we describe the control, navigation, and mapping methods that were developed for a hovering autonomous underwater vehicle that explored flooded cenotes in Mexico. The cenotes of Sistema Zacatón in Tamaulipas, Mexico are flooded sinkholes, exotic geological formations with unique water chemistry. The largest, Zacatón, is over 300-m deep. None of the cenotes were mapped before the present DEPTHX project. The goals of the DEPTHX project were to construct metrically accurate three-dimensional maps of the cenotes, and to collect environmental data, imagery, water samples, and core samples. The unknown extent of the cenotes, together with the challenging scientific mission, spurred the development of a robotic vehicle that autonomously, with no communications to the surface, built accurate three-dimensional maps using sonar and collected a variety of scientific data, including core samples from the cenote walls. In this paper, we describe the design, implementation, and testing of the robot software, as well as the results from mapping four cenotes of Sistema Zacatón.
Analytic Characterization of a Class of Three-contact Frictional Equilibrium Postures in Three-dimensional Gravitational Environments
Authors: Or Yizhar , Rimon Elon
Published: September 2009

Quasistatic legged locomotion over uneven terrains requires characterization of the mechanism’s feasible equilibrium postures. This paper characterizes the feasible equilibrium postures of mechanisms supported by three frictional point contacts in a three-dimensional gravitational environment, for a subclass of contact arrangements, calledtame , for which the friction cones lie above the plane spanned by the contacts. The kinematic structure of the mechanism is lumped into a single rigid body Β having the same contacts with the environment and a variable center of mass. The equilibrium postures associated with a given set of contacts become the center-of-mass locations of Β that maintain a feasible equilibrium with respect to gravity. The paper establishes the relations between the feasible equilibrium region and the classical support polygon principle. For tame 3-contact arrangements, the paper identifies and characterizes geometrically three types of boundary curves of the feasible equilibrium region, where two of them are obtained is closed-from, and the third is given implicitly as a solution of a set of nonlinear equations, which can be traced numerically. The three types of boundary curves are then associated with the onset of three different modes of non-static contact motions. Finally, the paper reports on experimental results that verify the theoretical predictions by using a 3-legged prototype.
Bad Weather
Authors: Masco Joseph
Published: September 2009

How, and when, does it become possible to conceptualize a truly planetary crisis? The Cold War nuclear arms race installed one powerful concept of planetary crisis in American culture. The science enabling the US nuclear arsenal, however, also produced unintended byproducts: notably, a radical new investment in the earth sciences. Cold War nuclear science ultimately produced not only bombs, but also a new understanding of the earth as biosphere. Thus, the image of planetary crisis in the US was increasingly doubled during the Cold War — the immediacy of nuclear threat matched by concerns about rapid environmental change and the cumulative effects of industrial civilization on a fragile biosphere. This paper examines the evolution of (and competition between) two ideas of planetary crisis since 1945: nuclear war and climate change. In doing so, the paper offers an alternative history of the nuclear age and considers the US national security implications of a shift in the definition of planetary crisis from warring states to a warming biosphere.
‘Nothing includes everything’: towards engaged pluralism in Anglophone economic geography
Authors: Barnes Trevor J. , Sheppard Eric
Published: September 2009

Economic geography has become increasingly fragmented into a series of intellectual solitudes that has created isolation, producing monologues rather than conversation, and raising the question of how knowledge production should proceed. Inspired by science studies and feminism, we argue for an engaged pluralist approach to economic geography based on dialogue, translation, and the creation of ‘trading zones’. We envision a determinedly anti-monist and anti-reductionist discipline that recognizes and connects a diverse range of circulating local epistemologies: a politics of difference rather than of consensus or popularity. Our model is GIS that underwent significant shifts during the last decade by practicing engaged pluralism, and creating new forms of knowledge. Similar possibilities we suggest exist for economic geography.
Land for housing the poor — by the poor: experiences from the Baan Mankong nationwide slum upgrading programme in Thailand
Authors: Boonyabancha Somsook
Published: September 2009

This paper describes the nationwide “slum” upgrading (Baan Mankong) programme in Thailand, which supports community organizations to find their own solutions to getting land for housing. Between 2003 and 2008, the programme supported 512 upgrading initiatives involving 1,010 communities. Community organizations form their own savings groups and draw on soft loans, and find solutions that work best for them in terms of location, price and tenure, and negotiate with the landowners. Infrastructure subsidies can be drawn on to support the upgrading, and housing may be built or just improved. Collective land ownership strengthens the community processes that help households make the challenging transition from informal to formal, provides protection against market forces that often lead poorer households to sell, and encourages on-going community responses and less hierarchic community organization. Larger citywide networks of community groups work with local governments and other civil society groups to help find land solutions for all those living in informal settlements.
Regularizing land tenure within upgrading programmes in Argentina; the cases of Promeba and Rosario Hábitat
Authors: Almansi Florencia
Published: September 2009

This paper describes two large-scale upgrading programmes in Argentina that sought to transfer land tenure to the inhabitants of informal settlements as part of a larger process that provided good quality infrastructure and services and other measures to strengthen their social inclusion in the wider city. In doing this, they went beyond the proposition that providing the urban poor with legal land titles in itself reduces poverty. The paper discusses the constraints on such programmes, including the long, complex process of getting land titles. Both upgrading programmes faced challenges from slow bureaucratic procedures and inadequate and fragmentary regulatory frameworks, with urban standards that were inappropriate to the social reality of low-income households. The paper notes that upgrading programmes will always lag behind need unless they are supported by more appropriate legal and regulatory frameworks.
Struggles for urban land by the Zimbabwe Homeless People’s Federation
Authors: Chitekwe-Biti Beth
Published: September 2009

This paper discusses the land struggles of the urban poor in Zimbabwe and the emerging strategies used by the alliance of the Zimbabwe Homeless People’s Federation and its partner Dialogue on Shelter to address these struggles in the face of continued economic and political crisis. The paper looks at how they are navigating this space and creating new solutions for housing and livelihood strategies. It considers the recent history of informal settlements and government measures to control or destroy them, including Operation Murambatsvina in 2005, which made hundreds of thousands of people homeless. It discusses the pragmatic decisions regarding partnership with different government agencies that the alliance has had to make in light of the sustained political and economic crisis, and the positive responses, especially from some local governments. It suggests that these decisions and strategies taken at a time of crisis and rapid change should be seen as part of a longer-term debate that seeks to change the relationship between communities of the urban poor and the state. Today, the alliance presents government with an alternative way of dealing with land and housing issues. Although progress to date has been minimal given the scale of need, there is a strong basis for partnership that can be scaled up.
Renovation not relocation: the work of Paguyuban Warga Strenkali (PWS) in Indonesia
Authors: Some Wawan , Hafidz Wardah , Sauter Gabriela
Published: September 2009

This paper describes the changes in official policy on riverside development in Surabaya, negotiated by the residents of low-income riverside settlements through their organization, Paguyuban Warga Strenkali Surabaya (PWS). They shifted the official policy from relocation to redevelopment by organizing the riverside communities and by developing their own proposals to show how flooding could be avoided and city development promoted through upgrading. As a member of the province’s parliament noted, there is a large difference between communities threatened with eviction saying: “ Help us because we are poor” and “ Listen, we have this problem and here is a possible solution.” The riverside communities now have five years to upgrade their homes and work with the government to clean up the rivers and clear space for riverside roads without evicting residents. The paper describes the work that is underway and how it is supported by savings groups. It also describes the constraints, which still include eviction threats and the lack of funding available to support the communities’ own processes and priorities. PWS plans to develop a revolving fund to support house renovation.
Community-driven land tenure strategies: the experiences of the Homeless People’s Federation of the Philippines
Authors: Teodoro John Iremeil E , Rayos Co Jason Christopher
Published: September 2009

This paper describes and discusses community-driven land tenure initiatives to address the issue of access to land in urban areas in the Philippines. This includes countering actual and threatened displacements from market-driven land, housing and urban development policies, mega-infrastructure development and disasters. The paper begins with a review of the relevant Philippines land and housing policies and their implications. It then describes the experience of the Homeless People’s Federation of the Philippines with three different land acquisition strategies (direct negotiated purchase, the Community Mortgage Programme, and usufruct schemes) in responding to the need for land and housing and to threats of, or actual, displacements. This includes case studies of community-led land acquisition initiatives by federation homeowners associations in Montalban, Iloilo and Albay (direct purchase), Quezon City (Community Mortgage Programme) and Quezon City and Muntinlupa (usufruct). It then considers what has been learned from these initiatives and what they imply for enabling mechanisms and policies to benefit self-help, low-income communities in their land tenure improvement initiatives. This includes a discussion of the potential advantages of usufruct in securing tenure more easily than with conventional land titling programmes.