bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Credit crisis: how did we miss it?
Authors: Schechter Danny
Published: March 2009

The public, and most journalists, were taken by surprise by the global recession because, in the years leading up to the credit crisis, a complicit media was guilty of lazy and superficial coverage. That’s the contention of American investigative journalist Danny Schechter who argues that there is an unfortunate dialectic between financial failures and media failures. He asks whether there was a relationship between advertising revenues and the quality of the journalism and whether dwindling journalistic resources account for the inadequate reporting. But he does believe a more diverse European media did a better job than their US counterparts.
Only change can save self-policing
Authors: Moore Martin
Published: March 2009

Press self-regulation and its official body, the Press Complaints Commission, is opaque, largely unaccountable, under resourced and insufficiently effective. Meanwhile, not only has public trust in Britain’s national newspapers declined, cynicism has set in. Many people who suffer at the hands of the press prefer to go law rather than the PCC. Yet there is a lack of political will to bring about any reform, which is a great shame since the losers are both journalists and the public, argues Martin Moore, director of the Media Standards Trust.
A piranha fish bites back
Authors: Jones Nicholas
Published: March 2009

During the miners’ strike in 1984, the union’s leader, Arthur Scargill, prided himself on his ability to thwart the news media by refusing interviews and denying reporters information. But he once recruited Nicholas Jones, then the BBC’s industrial correspondent, to act as his driver on a long journey. To mark the strike’s 25th anniversary, he finally reveals the details of his conversation with the man who regarded all journalists as piranha fish swimming in the Fleet Street fish tank.
The Effects of State Policy Decisions on the Employment and Earnings of Medicaid Buy-In Participants in 2006
Authors: Ireys Henry T. , Gimm Gilbert , Liu Su
Published: March 2009

This article examines the Medicaid Buy-In program, so named because workers with disabilities “buy into” Medicaid coverage with monthly premiums. In 2006, 97,491 individuals were enrolled in 32 state Buy-In programs. States have taken different pathways toward the program’s dual objectives: expanding Medicaid coverage to vulnerable populations and promoting employment of working-age adults with disabilities. Analyses indicate that (a) some states appear to have accomplished both objectives, whereas other states have emphasized one over the other, and that (b) certain program features (e.g., higher earned income limits) contribute to both larger percentages of Buy-In participants who are employed and higher earnings of employed participants. The authors’ findings have implications for Buy-In design and the study of federalism in health care.
Cortical Up and Activated States: Implications for Sensory Information Processing
Authors: Castro-Alamancos Manuel A.
Published: March 2009

The neocortex generates spontaneous slow oscillations that consist of up and down states during quiescence. Up states are short epochs of persistent activity that resemble the state of cortical activation during arousal and cognition. The excitability of cortical cells and synaptic networks is impacted by up states. This review describes the characteristics and putative functional role of up states and their similarity with activated states.
“Prediction” or “Projection”?
Authors: Bray Dennis , von Storch Hans
Published: March 2009

A survey among climate scientists is used to examine the terminology concerning two key concepts in climate science, namely, predictions and projections, as used among climate scientists. The survey data suggest that the terminology used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is not adopted, or only loosely adopted, by a significant minority of scientists. Contrary to established guidelines, approximately 29% of the respondents associate probable developments with projections, and approximately 20% of the respondents associate possible developments with predictions.
Protein expression profiles in pediatric multiple sclerosis: potential biomarkers
Authors: Rithidech KN , Honikel L , Milazzo M , Madigan D , Troxell R , Krupp LB
Published: March 2009

The diagnosis of pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) is challenging due to its low frequency and the overlap with other acquired childhood demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system. To identify potential protein biomarkers which could facilitate the diagnosis, we used two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) in combination with mass spectrometry to identify proteins associated with pediatric MS. Plasma samples from nine children with MS and nine healthy subjects, matched in aggregate by age and gender, were analyzed for differences in their patterns of protein expression. We found 12 proteins that were significantly up regulated in the pediatric MS group: alpha-1-acid-glycoprotein 1, alpha-1-B-glycoprotein, transthyretin, apoliprotein-C-III, serum amyloid P component, complement factor-I, clusterin, gelsolin, hemopexin, kininogen-1, hCG1993037-isoform, and vitamin D-binding protein. These results show that 2-DE in combination with mass spectrometry is a highly sensitive technique for the identification of blood-based biomarkers. This proteomic approach could lead to a new panel of diagnostic and prognostic markers in pediatric MS.
Plasma exchange in severe spinal attacks associated with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder
Authors: Bonnan M , Valentino R , Olindo S , Mehdaoui H , Smadja D , Cabre P
Published: March 2009

Background

Plasma exchange (PE) is increasingly undertaken in diseases involving humoral factors and is proven to be beneficial in acute demyelinating diseases. Spinal attacks in relapsing neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and in extensive transverse myelitis (ETM) – a truncated form of NMO with spinal involvement – are usually devastating.

Objective

We retrospectively studied the outcome of PE-treated versus steroid-only treated spinal attacks in relapsing NMO and ETM.

Methods

We included 96 severe spinal attacks in 43 Afro-Caribbean patients. PE was given as an add-on therapy in 29 attacks. Expanded disability status score (EDSS) was obtained before attack, during the acute and residual stage. We defined the ΔEDSS as the rise from basal to residual EDSS.

Results

The ΔEDSS was found to be lower in the PE-treated group (1.2 ± 1.6 vs 2.6 ± 2.3; P < 0.01). A low basal impairment is associated with a better outcome. Improvement was obtained in both NMO-IgG negative and positive NMO attacks. Minor adverse events manifested in seven PE sessions (24%).

Conclusion

PE appears to be a safe add-on therapy that may be employed early in severe spinal attacks in the NMO spectrum disorders in order to maximize improvement rate. PE efficiency is independent of NMO-IgG positivity.
Examining the effects of metacognitive strategy instruction on ESL group discussions: A synthesis of approaches
Authors: Lam Wendy Y.K.
Published: March 2009

This article presents the findings of an intervention study designed to examine the effects of metacognitive strategy instruction (MCSI) on learners' performance and on strategy use. Two classes in the secondary English oral classroom in Hong Kong participated in the study; one class received eight sessions of MCSI and the other served as a comparison group. In weeks 1, 10 and 20, data were collected from the learners' performance in group-work discussions, from the self-report questionnaires, from the observations of learners' strategy use, and from the stimulated recall interviews. The findings indicated that the treatment class generally outperformed the comparison class in the group discussion task. In addition, there was corroborating evidence from the multi-method approach to support the view that the learners tended to deploy `problem identification' as a global planning strategy to cope with an upcoming prioritization group discussion task. The findings are discussed with respect to awareness-raising value of the MCSI, the interaction effect between strategy instruction and research method, explicit and implicit learning, and a match of task type and strategy choice. Finally, the distinct advantages of using a multi-method approach to gauging the effects of MCSI are appraised.
Learner uptake and acquisition in three grammar-oriented production activities
Authors: Reinders Hayo
Published: March 2009

This study investigates the effects of three types of production activities on uptake (operationalized as correct suppliance of the target structure during the treatment) and acquisition of negative adverbs in English. It also investigates the relationship between uptake and acquisition. The three production activities included a dictation, an individual reconstruction and a collaborative reconstruction activity. Each of these asked participants to produce the target structure but differed in (1) whether the activity was completed individually or collaboratively; (2) the amount of text participants had to produce; and (3) their degree of complexity and cognitive demand. It was found that all three activities resulted in uptake with the collaborative reconstruction, the dictation activities resulting in greater uptake than the individual reconstruction activity. There was also an effect for the activities on acquisition (of grammatical items only), but no differential effect for any of the three types of activities. It was concluded that a production activity can lead to increased uptake, but not to increased acquisition, and vice versa. The results may help language teachers look beyond immediate performance on an activity as a measure of success, and make better-informed decisions about when to use what type of activities.
Religious Groups and Work Values
Authors: Parboteeah K. Praveen , Paik Yongsun , Cullen John B.
Published: March 2009

Although the existing literature contends that religious beliefs have a strong impact on work values, few studies have examined the relationship. Given the sustained importance of religion in most societies and the growing diversity of the US population, companies are finding an increasing need to understand religion in the workplace. The current research uses data from 44,030 individuals in 39 countries to investigate the influence of the world's four major religions, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam on extrinsic and intrinsic work values. Controlling for important variables such as age, gender, and education, results generally support the posited hypotheses, confirming that religion is positively related to work values. Specifically, we find that all religions except Christianity show a positive relationship with extrinsic work values. Furthermore, we find that all four religions show a positive relationship with intrinsic work values. We also find that those who report no religious affiliation also view work values positively. We suggest that these results are perhaps a result of the converging effects of globalization. This article makes an important contribution to the literature by examining a large sample covering the world's major religions. The findings suggest that most religions view work in a positive light. Such findings are important as more multinationals attempt to manage an increasingly diverse workforce worldwide.
The Transfer of Ubuntu and Indaba Business Models Abroad
Authors: Newenham-Kahindi Aloysius
Published: March 2009

This article studies the transfer of South African management business models abroad. It examines the case of four South African multinational companies and the ways that they implement distinctive business models of human resource management strategies on service sector in Tanzania. The article begins by looking at MNCs from emerging economies and at the distinctiveness of their national institutional systems, as well as the ways they attempt to strike a balance between global integration and local differentiation in managing HRM practices abroad. Based on a case study conducted in ABSA, Standard Bank (Stanbic), South Africa-Tanzania Vodacom, and Sanlam African Life Assurance services in Tanzania, this article demonstrates how South African MNCs in this particular sector internationalize their HRM strategies by incorporating the cross cultural interface management practices of Ubuntu and Indaba and those of the host nation's characteristics into their subsidiary operations. The article concludes by illustrating how diverse forms of hybrid HRM strategies have enabled emerging South African organizational service industries to develop high-performance work practices in the midst of global competitiveness.
The Surveillance Consensus
Authors: Hempel Leon , Töpfer Eric
Published: March 2009

This article is inspired by Haggerty and Ericson's notion of the `surveillant assemblage', which draws on philosophical concepts of Deleuze and Guattari in order to analyse the dynamics of contemporary increasingly extensive and intensifying surveillance. The surveillant assemblage has a twofold character. On the one hand it aims to increase visibility and on the other hand it works invisibly, `beyond our normal range of perception'. The surveillant assemblage offers a surveillance consensus. To disentangle this consensus this article focuses particularly on CCTV as a technology that is still visible. We analyse three aspects of the surveillance consensus, namely, correlating with the aesthetical concept of consensus, what we call (after Luhmann) (1) the illusion of total inclusion, which is hardened by (2) media arrangements and eventually by (3) regulation. We will refer to these three aspects empirically along with examples from the development of CCTV in the UK, France and Germany.
Evaluation of Simple and Looped Suture and New Material for Flexor Tendon Repair
Authors: BROCKARDT C. J. , SULLIVAN L. G. , WATKINS B. E. , WONGWORAWAT M. D.
Published: March 2009

Flexor tendon repair strength is proportional to the number of suture strands crossing the repair site but it is not clear if each strand needs to result from a separate pass through the tendon. We examined whether one throw of looped suture across a repair site equals two separate throws of suture and whether fewer passes with stronger material such as Fiberwire is equivalent to more passes with a comparatively weaker material such as Supramid. When evaluating the repairs for force required to generate a 2 mm gap and for gap formed at the instant prior to failure, looped suture cannot substitute for two separate passes of suture (Supramid Kessler looped vs. separate passes, 14 N vs. 35 N and 8.8 mm vs. 4.1 mm, respectively; Fiberwire Kessler looped vs. separate passes, 25 N vs. 43 N and 7.6 mm vs. 4.6 mm, respectively; all p<0.05). Two-stranded Fiberwire Kessler repair equalled four-stranded cruciate repair with Supramid for all tested parameters (force at 2 mm gap: 17 N vs. 22 N, respectively; force at failure: 42 N vs. 46 N; and gap formed prior to instant of failure: 6.9 mm vs. 5.6 mm; all p>0.05).
The Radiographic Measurement of Ulnar Translation
Authors: WOLLSTEIN R. , WEI C. , BILONICK R. A. , GILULA L. A.
Published: March 2009

Our purpose was to quantify the Gilula score for measurement of lunate uncovering, to compare it with another method of measurement and to examine the reliability of these measurements in posteroanterior (PA) views in radial and ulnar deviation. Seventy-six normal wrist arthrograms were reviewed retrospectively. Carpal height and lunate uncovering measurements were made. Statistical analysis included mixed effects models to evaluate the difference between the mean measurements in each position. Reproducibility was assessed using imprecision estimates. Normal values for the Gilula method were 40% lunate uncovering in neutral, 49% in radial and 20% in ulnar deviation. There was a statistically significant difference between the values in the different views. Ulnar translation of the carpus can be measured reliably on neutral and radially deviated PA views using the Gilula method, but the different normal values for each view should be used. The Schuind method of measurement is comparable to the Gilula method in the neutral PA view.
Interobserver Reliability and Intraobserver Reproducibility of the Fernandez Classification for Distal Radius Fractures
Authors: NAQVI S. G. A. , REYNOLDS T. , KITSIS C.
Published: March 2009

We have evaluated the clinical application of the Fernandez classification without questioning the scientific validity, by assessing the interobserver reliability and intraobserver reproducibility. A set of 25 radiographs of distal radius fractures were given to six assessors along with details of Fernandez classification. The assessors classified the fractures on two different occasions 3 months apart. The outcome was assessed using kappa statistics and demonstrated poor interobserver reliability and intraobserver reproducibility. Caution should be exercised when using this classification for clinical practice and research.
Name Clustering on the Basis of Parental Preferences
Authors: Bloothooft Gerrit , Groot Loek
Published: March 2009

AbstractParents do not choose first names for their children at random. Using two large datasets, for the UK and the Netherlands, covering the names of children born in the same family over a period of two decades, this paper seeks to identify clusters of names entirely inferred from common parental naming preferences. These name groups can be considered as coherent sets of names that have a high probability to be found in the same family. Operational measures for the statistical association between names and clusters are developed, as well as a two-stage clustering technique. The name groups are subsequently merged into a limited set of grand clusters. The results show that clusters emerge with cultural, linguistic, or ethnic parental backgrounds, but also along characteristics inherent in names, such as clusters of names after flowers and gems for girls, abbreviated names for boys, or names ending in –y or -ie.
Expression of Scl in mesoderm rescues hematopoiesis in the absence of Oct-4
Authors: Kong Kimi Y. , Williamson Elizabeth A. , Rogers Jason H. , Tran Tam , Hromas Robert , Dahl Richard
Published: March 2009

In embryonic stem cells, Oct-4 concentration is critical in determining the development of endoderm, mesoderm, and trophectoderm. Although Oct-4 expression is essential for mesoderm development, it is unclear whether it has a role in the development of specific mesodermal tissues. In this study, we have examined the importance of Oct-4 in the generation of hematopoietic cells using an inducible Oct-4 ESC line. We demonstrate that Oct-4 has a role in supporting hematopoiesis after specifying brachyury-positive mesoderm. When we suppressed Oct-4 expression before or after mesoderm specification, no hematopoietic cells are detected. However, hematopoiesis can be rescued in the absence of Oct-4 after mesoderm specification if the essential hematopoietic transcription factor stem cell leukemia is expressed. Our results suggest that, for hematopoiesis to occur, Oct-4 is required for the initial specification of mesoderm and subsequently is required for the development of hematopoietic cells from uncommitted mesoderm.
The roles of aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs) in the PDH bypass of Arabidopsis
Authors: Wei Yanling , Lin Ming , Oliver David J , Schnable Patrick S
Published: March 2009

Background

Eukaryotic aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs, EC 1.2.1), which oxidize aldehydes into carboxylic acids, have been classified into more than 20 families. In mammals, Family 2 ALDHs detoxify acetaldehyde. It has been hypothesized that plant Family 2 ALDHs oxidize acetaldehyde generated via ethanolic fermentation, producing acetate for acetyl-CoA biosynthesis via acetyl-CoA synthetase (ACS), similar to the yeast pathway termed the "pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) bypass". Evidence for this pathway in plants has been obtained from pollen.

Results

To test for the presence of the PDH bypass in the sporophytic tissue of plants, Arabidopsis plants homozygous for mutant alleles of all three Family 2 ALDH genes were fed with 14C-ethanol along with wild type controls. Comparisons of the incorporation rates of 14C-ethanol into fatty acids in mutants and wild type controls provided direct evidence for the presence of the PDH bypass in sporophytic tissue. Among the three Family 2 ALDHs, one of the two mitochondrial ALDHs (ALDH2B4) appears to be the primary contributor to this pathway. Surprisingly, single, double and triple ALDH mutants of Arabidopsis did not exhibit detectable phenotypes, even though a Family 2 ALDH gene is required for normal anther development in maize.

Conclusion

The PDH bypass is active in sporophytic tissue of plants. Blocking this pathway via triple ALDH mutants does not uncover obvious visible phenotypes.
Detection of genomic deletions in rice using oligonucleotide microarrays
Authors: Bruce Myron , Hess Ann , Bai Jianfa , Mauleon Ramil , Diaz M Genaleen , Sugiyama Nobuko , Bordeos Alicia , Wang Guo-Liang , Leung Hei , Leach Jan E
Published: March 2009

Background

The induction of genomic deletions by physical- or chemical- agents is an easy and inexpensive means to generate a genome-saturating collection of mutations. Different mutagens can be selected to ensure a mutant collection with a range of deletion sizes. This would allow identification of mutations in single genes or, alternatively, a deleted group of genes that might collectively govern a trait (e.g., quantitative trait loci, QTL). However, deletion mutants have not been widely used in functional genomics, because the mutated genes are not tagged and therefore, difficult to identify. Here, we present a microarray-based approach to identify deleted genomic regions in rice mutants selected from a large collection generated by gamma ray or fast neutron treatment. Our study focuses not only on the utility of this method for forward genetics, but also its potential as a reverse genetics tool through accumulation of hybridization data for a collection of deletion mutants harboring multiple genetic lesions.

Results

We demonstrate that hybridization of labeled genomic DNA directly onto the Affymetrix Rice GeneChip® allows rapid localization of deleted regions in rice mutants. Deletions ranged in size from one gene model to ~500 kb and were predicted on all 12 rice chromosomes. The utility of the technique as a tool in forward genetics was demonstrated in combination with an allelic series of mutants to rapidly narrow the genomic region, and eventually identify a candidate gene responsible for a lesion mimic phenotype. Finally, the positions of mutations in 14 mutants were aligned onto the rice pseudomolecules in a user-friendly genome browser to allow for rapid identification of untagged mutations http://irfgc.irri.org/cgi-bin/gbrowse/IR64_deletion_mutants/.

Conclusion

We demonstrate the utility of oligonucleotide arrays to discover deleted genes in rice. The density and distribution of deletions suggests the feasibility of a database saturated with deletions across the rice genome. This community resource can continue to grow with further hybridizations, allowing researchers to quickly identify mutants that harbor deletions in candidate genomic regions, for example, regions containing QTL of interest.
Novel insights into iron metabolism by integrating deletome and transcriptome analysis in an iron deficiency model of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Jo William J , Kim Jeung Hyoun , Oh Eric , Jaramillo Daniel , Holman Patricia , Loguinov Alex V , Arkin Adam P , Nislow Corey , Giaever Guri , Vulpe Chris D
Published: March 2009

Background

Iron-deficiency anemia is the most prevalent form of anemia world-wide. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been used as a model of cellular iron deficiency, in part because many of its cellular pathways are conserved. To better understand how cells respond to changes in iron availability, we profiled the yeast genome with a parallel analysis of homozygous deletion mutants to identify essential components and cellular processes required for optimal growth under iron-limited conditions. To complement this analysis, we compared those genes identified as important for fitness to those that were differentially-expressed in the same conditions. The resulting analysis provides a global perspective on the cellular processes involved in iron metabolism.

Results

Using functional profiling, we identified several genes known to be involved in high affinity iron uptake, in addition to novel genes that may play a role in iron metabolism. Our results provide support for the primary involvement in iron homeostasis of vacuolar and endosomal compartments, as well as vesicular transport to and from these compartments. We also observed an unexpected importance of the peroxisome for growth in iron-limited media. Although these components were essential for growth in low-iron conditions, most of them were not differentially-expressed. Genes with altered expression in iron deficiency were mainly associated with iron uptake and transport mechanisms, with little overlap with those that were functionally required. To better understand this relationship, we used expression-profiling of selected mutants that exhibited slow growth in iron-deficient conditions, and as a result, obtained additional insight into the roles of CTI6, DAP1, MRS4 and YHR045W in iron metabolism.

Conclusion

Comparison between functional and gene expression data in iron deficiency highlighted the complementary utility of these two approaches to identify important functional components. This should be taken into consideration when designing and analyzing data from these type of studies. We used this and other published data to develop a molecular interaction network of iron metabolism in yeast.
Staged stromal extracellular 3D matrices differentially regulate breast cancer cell responses through PI3K and beta1-integrins
Authors: Castelló-Cros Remedios , Khan David R , Simons Jeffrey , Valianou Matthildi , Cukierman Edna
Published: March 2009

Background

Interactions between cancer cells and stroma are critical for growth and invasiveness of epithelial tumors. The biochemical mechanisms behind tumor-stromal interactions leading to increased invasiveness and metastasis are mostly unknown. The goal of this study was to analyze the direct effects of staged stroma-derived extracellular matrices on breast cancer cell behavior.

Methods

Early and late three-dimensional matrices were produced by NIH-3T3 and tumor-associated murine fibroblasts, respectively. After removing fibroblasts, extracted matrices were re-cultured with breast epithelial cells of assorted characteristics: MCF-10A (non-tumorigenic), MCF-7 (tumorigenic, non-invasive), and MDA-MB-231 (tumorigenic, invasive). Effects prompted by staged matrices on epithelial cell's growth, morphology and invasion were determined. Also, matrix-induced velocity, directionality and relative track orientation of invasive cells were assessed in the presence or absence of inhibitors of phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K) and/or beta-1 integrin.

Results

We observed that assorted breast epithelial cells reacted differently to two-dimensional vs. staged, control (early) and tumor-associated (late), three-dimensional matrices. MCF-10A had a proliferative advantage on two-dimensional substrates while MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 showed no difference. MCF-10A and MCF-7 formed morphologically distinguishable aggregates within three-dimensional matrices, while MDA-MB-231 exhibited increased spindle-shape morphologies and directional movements within three-dimensional matrices. Furthermore, MDA-MB-231 acquired a pattern of parallel oriented organization within tumor-associated, but not control matrices. Moreover, tumor-associated matrices induced PI3K and beta1-integrin dependent Akt/PKB activity in MDA-MB-231 cells. Interestingly, beta1-integrin (but not PI3K) regulated tumor-associated matrix-induced mesenchymal invasion which, when inhibited, resulted in a change of invasive strategy rather than impeding invasion altogether.

Conclusion

We propose that both cells and matrices are important to promote effective breast cancer cell invasion through three-dimensional matrices and that beta1-integrin inhibition is not necessarily sufficient to block tumor-matrix induced breast cancer cell invasion. Additionally, we believe that characterizing stroma staging (e.g., early vs. late or tumor-associated) might be beneficial for predicting matrix-induced cancer cell responses in order to facilitate the selection of therapies.
The incidence of co-morbidities related to obesity and overweight: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Guh Daphne P , Zhang Wei , Bansback Nick , Amarsi Zubin , Birmingham C Laird , Anis Aslam H
Published: March 2009

Background

Overweight and obese persons are at risk of a number of medical conditions which can lead to further morbidity and mortality. The primary objective of this study is to provide an estimate of the incidence of each co-morbidity related to obesity and overweight using a meta-analysis.

Methods

A literature search for the twenty co-morbidities identified in a preliminary search was conducted in Medline and Embase (Jan 2007). Studies meeting the inclusion criteria (prospective cohort studies of sufficient size reporting risk estimate based on the incidence of disease) were extracted. Study-specific unadjusted relative risks (RRs) on the log scale comparing overweight with normal and obese with normal were weighted by the inverse of their corresponding variances to obtain a pooled RR with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

A total of 89 relevant studies were identified. The review found evidence for 18 co-morbidities which met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis determined statistically significant associations for overweight with the incidence of type II diabetes, all cancers except esophageal (female), pancreatic and prostate cancer, all cardiovascular diseases (except congestive heart failure), asthma, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis and chronic back pain. We noted the strongest association between overweight defined by body mass index (BMI) and the incidence of type II diabetes in females (RR = 3.92 (95% CI: 3.10–4.97)). Statistically significant associations with obesity were found with the incidence of type II diabetes, all cancers except esophageal and prostate cancer, all cardiovascular diseases, asthma, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis and chronic back pain. Obesity defined by BMI was also most strongly associated with the incidence of type II diabetes in females (12.41 (9.03–17.06)).

Conclusion

Both overweight and obesity are associated with the incidence of multiple co-morbidities including type II diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Maintenance of a healthy weight could be important in the prevention of the large disease burden in the future. Further studies are needed to explore the biological mechanisms that link overweight and obesity with these co-morbidities.
A quality improvement plan for hypertension control: the INCOTECA Project (INterventions for COntrol of hyperTEnsion in CAtalonia)
Authors: Vallès-Fernandez Roser , Rosell-Murphy Magdalena , Correcher-Aventin Olga , Mengual-Martínez Lucas , Aznar-Martínez Núria , Prieto-De Lamo Gemma , Franzi-Sisó Alícia , Puig-Manresa Jordi , Ma Bonet-Simó Josep ,   the INCOTECA research group
Published: March 2009

Background

Different studies have shown insufficient blood pressure (BP) control in hypertensive patients. Multiple factors influence hypertension management, and the quality of primary care is one of them. We decided therefore to evaluate the effectiveness of a quality improvement plan directed at professionals of Primary Health Care Teams (PHCT) with the aim to achieve a better control of hypertension. The hypothesis of the study is that the implementation of a quality improvement plan will improve the control of hypertension. The primary aim of this study will be to evaluate the effectiveness of this plan.

Methods and design

Design: multicentric study quasi-experimental before – after with control group. The non-randomised allocation of the intervention will be done at PHCT level.

Setting: 18 PHCT in the Barcelona province (Spain).

Sample: all patients with a diagnosis of hypertension (population based study). Exclusion criteria: patients with a diagnosis of hypertension made later than 01/01/2006 and patients younger than 18 years.

Intervention: a quality improvement plan, which targets primary health care professionals and includes educational sessions, feedback to health professionals, audit and implementation of recommended clinical practice guidelines for the management of hypertensive patients.

Measurements: age, sex, associated co-morbidity (diabetes mellitus type I and II, heart failure and renal failure). The following variables will be recorded: BP measurement, cardiovascular risk and antihypertensive drugs used. Results will be measured before the start of the intervention and twelve months after the start of the study.

Dependent variable: prevalence of hypertensive patients with poor BP control.

Analysis: Chi-square test and Student's t-test will be used to measure the association between independent qualitative and quantitative variables, respectively. Non-parametric tests will be used for the analysis of non-normally distributed variables. Significance level (α) will be set at < 0.05. Outcomes will be analysed on an intention-to-treat basis.

Discussion

The implementation of a quality improvement plan might benefit the coordination of different professionals of PHCTs and may also improve blood pressure control.

Trial Registration

This protocol has been registered at clinicaltrials.gov with the ID number MS: 1998275938244441.
A systematic review of US state environmental legislation and regulation with regards to the prevention of neurodevelopmental disabilities and asthma
Authors: Zajac Lauren , Sprecher Eli , Landrigan Philip J , Trasande Leonardo
Published: March 2009

Background

While much attention is focused on national policies intended to protect human health from environmental hazards, states can also prevent environmentally mediated disease through legislation and regulation. However, relatively few analyses have examined the extent to which states protect children from chemical factors in the environment.

Methods

Using Lexis Nexis and other secondary sources, we systematically reviewed environmental regulation and legislation in the fifty states and the District of Columbia as of July 2007 intended to protect children against neurodevelopmental disabilities and asthma.

Results

States rarely address children specifically in environmental regulation and legislation, though many state regulations go far to limit children's exposures to environmental hazards. Northeast and Midwest states have implemented model regulation of mercury emissions, and regulations in five states set exposure limits to volatile organic compound emissions that are more stringent than US Environmental Protection Agency standards.

Discussion

Differences in state environmental regulation and legislation are likely to lead to differences in exposure, and thus to impacts on children's health. The need for further study should not inhibit other states and the federal government from pursuing the model regulation and legislation we identified to prevent diseases of environmental origin in children.
Dramatic response of a gastrointestinal stromal tumor to neadjuvant imatinib therapy
Authors: Annaberdyev Shohrat , Gibbons Joseph , Hardacre Jeffrey M
Published: March 2009

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common sarcoma of the alimentary tract and are believed to derive from the interstitial Cell of Cajal. Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec®; Novartis, Basel, Switzerland) has revolutionized the treatment of GISTs and is generally used in the metastatic and adjuvant settings. We report the case of a 61-year old man who was treated with neoadjuvant imatinib for a massive gastric GIST with the hope of avoiding a potential multi-visceral resection.
Plasticity in Expression of the Glutamate Transporters GLT-1 and GLAST in Spinal Dorsal Horn Glial Cells following Partial Sciatic Nerve Ligation
Authors: Xin Wen-Jun , Weng Han-Rong , Dougherty Patrick M
Published: March 2009

Background

Clearance of synaptically released glutamate, and hence termination of glutamatergic neurotransmission, is carried out by glutamate transporters, most especially glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1) and the glutamate-aspartate transporter (GLAST) that are located in astrocytes. It is becoming increasingly well appreciated that changes in the function and expression of GLT-1 and GLAST occur under different physiological and pathological conditions. Here we investigated the plasticity in expression of GLT-1 and GLAST in the spinal dorsal horn using immunohistochemistry following partial sciatic nerve ligation (PSNL) in rats.

Results

Animals were confirmed to develop hypersensitivity to mechanical stimulation by 7 days following PSNL. Baseline expression of GLT-1 and GLAST in naive animals was only observed in astrocytes and not in either microglia or neurons. Microglia and astrocytes showed evidence of reactivity to the nerve injury when assessed at 7 and 14 days following PSNL evidenced by increased expression of OX-42 and GFAP, respectively. In contrast, the total level of GLT-1 and GLAST protein decreased at both 7 and 14 days after PSNL. Importantly, the cellular location of GLT-1 and GLAST was also altered in response to nerve injury. Whereas activated astrocytes showed a marked decrease in expression of GLT-1 and GLAST, activated microglia showed de novo expression of GLT-1 and GLAST at 7 days after PSNL and this was maintained through day 14. Neurons showed no expression of GLT-1 or GLAST at any time point.

Conclusion

These results indicate that the expression of glutamate transporters in astrocytes and microglia are differentially regulated following nerve injury.
Correlation of microRNA levels during hypoxia with predicted target mRNAs through genome-wide microarray analysis
Authors: Guimbellot Jennifer S , Erickson Stephen W , Mehta Tapan , Wen Hui , Page Grier P , Sorscher Eric J , Hong Jeong S
Published: March 2009

Background

Low levels of oxygen in tissues, seen in situations such as chronic lung disease, necrotic tumors, and high altitude exposures, initiate a signaling pathway that results in active transcription of genes possessing a hypoxia response element (HRE). The aim of this study was to investigate whether a change in miRNA expression following hypoxia could account for changes in the cellular transcriptome based on currently available miRNA target prediction tools.

Methods

To identify changes induced by hypoxia, we conducted mRNA- and miRNA-array-based experiments in HT29 cells, and performed comparative analysis of the resulting data sets based on multiple target prediction algorithms. To date, few studies have investigated an environmental perturbation for effects on genome-wide miRNA levels, or their consequent influence on mRNA output.

Results

Comparison of miRNAs with predicted mRNA targets indicated a lower level of concordance than expected. We did, however, find preliminary evidence of combinatorial regulation of mRNA expression by miRNA.

Conclusion

Target prediction programs and expression profiling techniques do not yet adequately represent the complexity of miRNA-mediated gene repression, and new methods may be required to better elucidate these pathways. Our data suggest the physiologic impact of miRNAs on cellular transcription results from a multifaceted network of miRNA and mRNA relationships, working together in an interconnected system and in context of hundreds of RNA species. The methods described here for comparative analysis of cellular miRNA and mRNA will be useful for understanding genome wide regulatory responsiveness and refining miRNA predictive algorithms.
Jar-opening challenges. Part 2: Estimating the force-generating capacity of thumb muscles in healthy young adults during jar-opening tasks
Authors: Kuo L-C , Chang J-H , Lin C-F , Hsu H-Y , Ho K-Y , Su F-C
Published: March 2009

This study discusses the force-generating capacity of thumb muscles during jar-opening tasks using two grip patterns: the power grip and the precision grip. This study develops a three-dimensional biomechanical model of the thumb to predict muscle forces in jar-opening activities based on external forces measured by a custom-designed jar device. Ten healthy subjects participated in the study. Each participant turned a jar lid of 66 mm diameter counterclockwise with maximal effort and preferred speed using both grip patterns. The average normal and tangential forces applied by the thumb to the jar lid show that the normal force is the primary contributive force for opening a jar. This normal force is approximately three times the tangential force. Muscular force-generating capacity measurements show that the major active muscles during a jar-opening activity for both grips include the flexor pollicis longus, flexor pollicis brevis, abductor pollicis brevis, adductor pollicis, and opponens pollicis. The total muscle force ratios for the precision grip and power grip with respect to externally applied forces are 5.6 and 4.7 respectively. These ratios indicate that the power grip pattern produces less muscle force per unit of external applied load. The technique proposed in this study provides a proper apparatus and model for measuring three-dimensional loads and estimating the force-generating capacity of each muscle and tendon of the thumb during jar-opening tasks.
Influence of cup orientation on the wear performance of metal-on-metal hip replacements
Authors: Angadji A , Royle M , Collins S N , Shelton J C
Published: March 2009

There are a number of factors that determine the overall outcome of total hip replacement (THR) surgery, some of which appear to be related to the surgical procedure. In particular, the inclination angle at which the acetabular component is placed has been reported to influence the long-term successful performance of THR. The present study assessed the influence of cup orientation on the wear of 40 mm diameter metal-on-metal (MoM) hip bearings tested in a hip simulator. The bearings had a mean radial clearance of 150 μm; the cups oriented at 35°, 50°, and 60° to the horizontal were loaded for up to 6×106 cycles. In each test the wear rates during the run-in phase were higher than in the steady state phase; the wear rates during the run-in phase were not significantly different for each cup orientation. However, at cup angles of 50° and 60°, the steady state wear rates were 0.69 mm3/106 cycles and 1.7 mm3/106 cycles respectively, significantly higher than at 35° (0.24 mm3/106 cycles). The results indicated that larger cup inclination angles not only move the position of the wear scar but also, more significantly in MoM bearings, increase the wear rates and total wear volume generated.
A novel configuration and performance for a two-stage thermoelectric heat pump system driven by a two-stage thermoelectric generator
Authors: Chen L , Meng F , Sun F
Published: March 2009

A new configuration of a combined thermoelectric device, a two-stage thermoelectric heat pump driven by a two-stage thermoelectric generator, is proposed in this article. The thermodynamic model of the combined device is built by using the non-equilibrium thermodynamic theory. The performance characteristics of the new type of thermoelectric system are analysed in detail. Three analytical formulae for the stable working electrical current, the heating load versus the working electrical current, and the coefficient of performance (COP) versus the working electrical current of the combined device are derived. For the fixed total number of thermoelectric elements of the combined device, the allocations of the thermoelectric element pairs among the two thermoelectric generators and the two thermoelectric heat pumps are optimized for maximizing heating load and COP, respectively. The influences of the heat source temperature of the two-stage thermoelectric generator and the heat sink (heating space) temperature of the two-stage thermoelectric heat pump on the optimal performance of the combined thermoelectric device are analysed using detailed numerical examples.
Use of Pricing Schemes for Differentiating Information Goods
Authors: Choudhary Vidyanand
Published: March 2009

Information goods vendors offer different pricing schemes such as per user pricing and site licensing. Why do competing sellers adopt different pricing schemes for the same information good? Pricing schemes affect buyers' usage levels and thus the revenue generated from different segments of buyers. This can allow competing firms in a duopoly to differentiate themselves by offering different pricing schemes. Such strategic use of pricing schemes can allow undifferentiated sellers to earn substantial profits in a friction-free market for a commoditized information good. These conditions would otherwise lead to the Bertrand equilibrium and zero profits. We show that adopting asymmetric pricing schemes can be a Nash equilibrium for information goods with negligible marginal cost of production. We extend our model to the case of information goods that are horizontally differentiated and show that sellers will offer a single-pricing scheme that is different from competitors when the sellers are weakly differentiated. When the sellers are strongly differentiated, each seller will offer multiple pricing schemes. We show that it can be optimal for a seller to offer multiple pricing schemes—metered and flat fee pricing schemes, even in the absence of transactions costs.
OR Practice—Training Optimization for the Decathlon
Authors: Zwols Yori , Sierksma Gerard
Published: March 2009

Decathlon coaches usually spend days or even weeks on designing training schedules for their athletes. A major complication is the fact that the athlete has only limited time for an extensive range of training exercises, whereas the effects of exercises on the athlete's performance in the various events are interrelated. This paper presents a mathematical model for optimizing the use of the total available training time by assigning time to training exercises. The data used in this time capacity planning model concerns a decathlete preparing for the Olympic Games.