bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Low‐Level Autonomic Stimulation on Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation Induced by Acute Electrical Remodeling
Authors: Lin Yubi , Bian Ning , Li Hairui , Chen Jia , Xing Huijie , Li Hong , Huang Dandan , Lan Xianwu , Gong Bojun , Zhou Li , Liu Ruijie , Guan Min , Zhang Dongdong , Du Gang , Huang Zhengyi , Chen Xiaoming , Zhang Tao , Feng Jianyi , Wu Shaorong , Wang Liwei , Zhang Aidong , Li Zicheng
Published: June 2013

Background. Rapid atrial pacing (RAP) can induce electrical and autonomic remodeling and facilitate atrial fibrillation (AF). Recent reports showed that low‐level vagosympathetic nerve stimulation (LLVNS) can suppress AF, as an antiarrhythmic effect. We hypothesized that LLVNS can reverse substrate heterogeneity induced by RAP. Methods and Results. Mongrel dogs were divided into (LLVNS+RAP) and RAP groups. Electrode catheters were sutured to multiple atrial sites, and LLVNS was applied to cervical vagosympathetic trunks with voltage 50% below the threshold slowing sinus rate by ⩽30 msec. RAP induced a significant decrease in effective refractory period (ERP) and increase in the window of vulnerability at all sites, characterized by descending and elevated gradient differences towards the ganglionic plexi (GP) sites, respectively. The ERP dispersion was obviously enlarged by RAP and more significant when the ERP of GP‐related sites was considered. Recovery time from AF was also prolonged significantly as a result of RAP. LLVNS could reverse all these changes induced by RAP and recover the heterogeneous substrate to baseline. Conclusions. LLVNS can reverse the electrical and autonomic remodeling and abolish the GP‐central gradient differences induced by RAP, and thus it can recover the homogeneous substrate, which may be the underlying mechanism of its antiarrhythmic effect.
Oral Administration of Alkylglycerols Differentially Modulates High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity and Insulin Resistance in Mice
Authors: Zhang Mingshun , Sun Shuna , Tang Ning , Cai Wei , Qian Linxi
Published: June 2013

Alkylglycerols (AKGs) from shark liver oil (SLO) were demonstrated to have strong potency to stimulate immune response. However, no study has been conducted on the effects of AKGs on diet-induced obesity and metabolic inflammatory disorder. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of two AKGs isoforms on obesity and insulin resistance in mice fed high-fat (HF) diet. Forty-eight C57BL/6 mice were divided into normal, HF,HF+20 mg/kg selachyl alcohol (SA),HF+200 mg/kg SA,HF+20 mg/kg batyl alcohol (BA), andHF+200 mg/kg BA groups. Body weight, fasting glucose, lipids, insulin and leptin levels, serum IL-1β, and TNF-αlevels were compared among different groups. Our results showed that high-dose SA decreased body weight, serum triglyceride, cholesterol, fasting glucose level, insulin level, and serum leptin level of the HF fed mice, while high-dose BA increased fasting insulin level of the HF fed mice. Pretreatment of primary adipocytes with 10 μM SA or BA differentially modulates LPS-mediated MAPK and NF-κB signaling. Our study demonstrated that oral administration of AKGs has differential effects on HF-induced obesity and metabolic inflammatory disorder in mice.
Antiadipogenic Effects ofAster glehniExtract: In Vivo and In Vitro Effects
Authors: Lee Heon-Myung , Yang Gabsik , Ahn Tae-Gue , Kim Myung-Dong , Nugroho Agung , Park Hee-Juhn , Lee Kyung-Tae , Park Wansu , An Hyo-Jin
Published: June 2013

Aster glehni(AG) is a Korean traditional herb that grows in Ulleungdo Island, Republic of Korea. None of the several reports on AG include a determination of the effect of AG on adipogenesis. The primary aim of this study was to determine whether AG attenuates adipogenesis in mouse 3T3-L1 cells and epididymal fat tissue. AG blocked the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a concentration-dependent manner and suppressed the expression of adipogenesis-related genes such asPPARγ,C/EBPα, andSREBP1c, the master regulators of adipogenesis. Male C57BL/6J mice were divided randomly and equally into 4 diet groups: control diet (CON), high-fat diet (HFD), HFD with 1% AG extract added (AG1), and HFD with 5% AG extract added (AG5). The experimental animals were fed HFD and the 2 combinations for 10 weeks. Mice fed HFD with AG gained less body weight and visceral fat-pad weight than did the mice fed HFD alone. Moreover, AG inhibited the expression of important adipogenic genes such asPPARγ,C/EBPα,SREBP1c,LXR, and leptin in the epididymal adipose tissue of the mice treated with AG1 and AG5. These findings indicate antiadipogenic and antiobesity effects of AG and suggest its therapeutic potential in obesity and obesity-related diseases.
Detergent-Enzymatic Decellularization of Swine Blood Vessels: Insight on Mechanical Properties for Vascular Tissue Engineering
Authors: Pellegata Alessandro F. , Asnaghi M. Adelaide , Stefani Ilaria , Maestroni Anna , Maestroni Silvia , Dominioni Tommaso , Zonta Sandro , Zerbini Gianpaolo , Mantero Sara
Published: June 2013

Small caliber vessels substitutes still remain an unmet clinical need; few autologous substitutes are available, while synthetic grafts show insufficient patency in the long term. Decellularization is the complete removal of all cellular and nuclear matters from a tissue while leaving a preserved extracellular matrix representing a promising tool for the generation of acellular scaffolds for tissue engineering, already used for various tissues with positive outcomes. The aim of this work is to investigate the effect of a detergent-enzymatic decellularization protocol on swine arteries in terms of cell removal, extracellular matrix preservation, and mechanical properties. Furthermore, the effect of storage at −80°C on the mechanical properties of the tissue is evaluated. Swine arteries were harvested, frozen, and decellularized; histological analysis revealed complete cell removal and preserved extracellular matrix. Furthermore, the residual DNA content in decellularized tissues was far low compared to native one. Mechanical testings were performed on native, defrozen, and decellularized tissues; no statistically significant differences were reported for Young’s modulus, ultimate stress, compliance, burst pressure, and suture retention strength, while ultimate strain and stress relaxation of decellularized vessels were significantly different from the native ones. Considering the overall results, the process was confirmed to be suitable for the generation of acellular scaffolds for vascular tissue engineering.
Kidney Dosimetry in177Lu and90Y Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy: Influence of Image Timing, Time-Activity Integration Method, and Risk Factors
Authors: Guerriero F. , Ferrari M. E. , Botta F. , Fioroni F. , Grassi E. , Versari A. , Sarnelli A. , Pacilio M. , Amato E. , Strigari L. , Bodei L. , Paganelli G. , Iori M. , Pedroli G. , Cremonesi M.
Published: June 2013

Kidney dosimetry in177Lu and90Y PRRT requires 3 to 6 whole-body/SPECT scans to extrapolate the peptide kinetics, and it is considered time and resource consuming. We investigated the most adequate timing for imaging and time-activity interpolating curve, as well as the performance of a simplified dosimetry, by means of just 1-2 scans. Finally the influence of risk factors and of the peptide (DOTATOC versus DOTATATE) is considered. 28 patients treated at first cycle with177Lu DOTATATE and 30 with177Lu DOTATOC underwent SPECT scans at 2 and 6 hours, 1, 2, and 3 days after the radiopharmaceutical injection. Dose was calculated with our simplified method, as well as the ones most used in the clinic, that is, trapezoids, monoexponential, and biexponential functions. The same was done skipping the 6 h and the 3 d points. We found that data should be collected until 100 h for177Lu therapy and 70 h for90Y therapy, otherwise the dose calculation is strongly influenced by the curve interpolating the data and should be carefully chosen. Risk factors (hypertension, diabetes) cause a rather statistically significant 20% increase in dose (t-test,P<0.10), with DOTATATE affecting an increase of 25% compared to DOTATOC (t-test,P<0.05).
A 20-Year Prospective Study of Plasma Prolactin as a Risk Marker of Breast Cancer Development
Authors: Tworoger Shelley S. , Eliassen A. Heather , Zhang Xuehong , Qian Jing , Sluss Patrick M. , Rosner Bernard A. , Hankinson Susan E.
Published: June 2013

Understanding how the timing of exposure to endogenous hormones influences cancer development is critical to elucidating disease etiology. Prolactin increases proliferation and cell motility, processes important in later stage tumor development, suggesting that levels proximate (versus distant) to diagnosis may better predict risk. Thus, we calculated relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for prolactin levels on samples collected <10 (proximate) versus ≥10 (distant) years before diagnosis in the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) and NHSII with breast cancer risk, including in a subset of NHS women providing two samples 10 years apart. We measured prolactin via immunoassay in cases diagnosed from 1990 to 2010 (NHS) and 1999 to 2009 (NHSII) and matched controls. Overall, 2,468 cases and 4,021 controls had prolactin measured <10 years and 953 cases and 1,339 controls >10 years before diagnosis/reference date. There was an increased risk for higher proximate prolactin levels [RR, >15.7 vs. ≤8.1 ng/mL (i.e., top vs. bottom quartiles) = 1.20; 95% CI, 1.03–1.40; Ptrend = 0.005], but not for distant levels (RR = 0.97; Ptrend = 0.94); results were similar among women with two blood samples (Pinteraction, proximate vs. distant = 0.07). The positive association was stronger for ER+ disease (RR = 1.28; Ptrend = 0.003) and postmenopausal women (RR = 1.37; Ptrend = 0.0002). Among postmenopausal women, the association was strongest for ER+ disease (RR = 1.52) and lymph node-positive cases (RR = 1.63). Our data suggest that prolactin levels measured <10 years before diagnosis are most strongly associated with postmenopausal breast cancer risk, especially for ER+ tumors and metastatic disease. This corresponds with biologic data that prolactin is etiologically important in tumor promotion. Cancer Res; 73(15); 4810–9. ©2013 AACR.
TH2 Cytokines from Malignant Cells Suppress TH1 Responses and Enforce a Global TH2 Bias in Leukemic Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma
Authors: Guenova Emmanuella , Watanabe Rei , Teague Jessica E. , Desimone Jennifer A. , Jiang Ying , Dowlatshahi Mitra , Schlapbach Christoph , Schaekel Knut , Rook Alain H. , Tawa Marianne , Fisher David C. , Kupper Thomas S. , Clark Rachael A.
Published: June 2013

Purpose: In leukemic cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (L-CTCL), malignant T cells accumulate in the blood and give rise to widespread skin inflammation. Patients have intense pruritus, increased immunoglobulin E (IgE), and decreased T-helper (TH)-1 responses, and most die from infection. Depleting malignant T cells while preserving normal immunity is a clinical challenge. L-CTCL has been variably described as a malignancy of regulatory, TH2 and TH17 cells.

Experimental Design: We analyzed phenotype and cytokine production in malignant and benign L-CTCL T cells, characterized the effects of malignant T cells on healthy T cells, and studied the immunomodulatory effects of treatment modalities in patients with L-CTCL.

Results: Twelve out of 12 patients with L-CTCL overproduced TH2 cytokines. Remaining benign T cells were also strongly TH2 biased, suggesting a global TH2 skewing of the T-cell repertoire. Culture of benign T cells away from the malignant clone reduced TH2 and enhanced TH1 responses, but separate culture had no effect on malignant T cells. Coculture of healthy T cells with L-CTCL T cells reduced IFNγ production and neutralizing antibodies to interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 restored TH1 responses. In patients, enhanced TH1 responses were observed following a variety of treatment modalities that reduced malignant T-cell burden.

Conclusions: A global TH2 bias exists in both benign and malignant T cells in L-CTCL and may underlie the infectious susceptibility of patients. TH2 cytokines from malignant cells strongly inhibited TH1 responses. Our results suggest that therapies that inhibit TH2 cytokine activity, by virtue of their ability to improve TH1 responses, may have the potential to enhance both anticancer and antipathogen responses. Clin Cancer Res; 19(14); 3755–63. ©2013 AACR.
“License to Kill” Reflects Joint Action of CD4 and CD8 T Cells
Authors: Melief Cornelis J.M.
Published: June 2013

The spontaneous T-cell responses to the KIF20A cancer-associated antigen found by Tomita and colleagues among peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with cancer, but not healthy people, involve both CD4 and CD8 T cells. Synthetic long peptides of KIF20A stimulate synergy between these two T-cell types to promote cancer cell killing. Clin Cancer Res; 19(16); 4295–6. ©2013 AACR.
12-lipoxygenase activity plays an important role in PAR4 and GPVI-mediated platelet reactivity
Authors: Yeung Jennifer , Apopa Patrick L. , Vesci Joanne , Stolla Moritz , Rai Ganesha , Simeonov Anton , Jadhav Ajit , Fernandez-Perez Pilar , Maloney David J. , Boutaud Olivier , Holman Theodore R. , Holinstat Michael
Published: June 2013

Following initial platelet activation, arachidonic acid is metabolised by cyclooxygenase-1 and 12-lipoxygenase (12-LOX). While the role of 12-LOX in the platelet is not well defined, recent evidence suggests that it may be important for regulation of platelet activity and is agonist- specific in the manner in which it regulates platelet function. Using small molecule inhibitors selective for 12-LOX and 12-LOX-deficient mice, the role of 12-LOX in regulation of human platelet activation and thrombosis was investigated. Pharmacologically inhibiting 12-LOX resulted in attenuation of platelet aggregation, selective inhibition of dense versus alpha granule secretion, and inhibition of platelet adhesion under flow for PAR4 and collagen. Additionally, 12-LOX-deficient mice showed attenuated integrin activity to PAR4-AP and convulxin compared to wild-type mice. Finally, platelet activation by PARs was shown to be differentially dependent on COX-1 and 12-LOX with PAR1 relying on COX-1 oxidation of arachidonic acid while PAR4 being more dependent on 12-LOX for normal platelet function. These studies demonstrate an important role for 12-LOX in regulating platelet activation and thrombosis. Furthermore, the data presented here provide a basis for potentially targeting 12-LOX as a means to attenuate unwanted platelet activation and clot formation.
G
βγ
-Independent Recruitment of G-Protein Coupled Receptor Kinase 2 Drives Tumor Necrosis Factor α–Induced Cardiac β-Adrenergic Receptor Dysfunction
Authors: Vasudevan Neelakantan T. , Mohan Maradumane L. , Gupta Manveen K. , Martelli Elizabeth E. , Hussain Afshan K. , Qin Yilu , Chandrasekharan Unni M. , Young David , Feldman Arthur M. , Sen Subha , Dorn Gerald W. , DiCorleto Paul E. , Prasad Sathyamangla V. Naga
Published: June 2013

Background—

Proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) induces β-adrenergic receptor (βAR) desensitization, but mechanisms proximal to the receptor in contributing to cardiac dysfunction are not known.

Methods and Results—

Two different proinflammatory transgenic mouse models with cardiac overexpression of myotrophin (a prohypertrophic molecule) or TNFα showed that TNFα alone is sufficient to mediate βAR desensitization as measured by cardiac adenylyl cyclase activity. M-mode echocardiography in these mouse models showed cardiac dysfunction paralleling βAR desensitization independent of sympathetic overdrive. TNFα-mediated βAR desensitization that precedes cardiac dysfunction is associated with selective upregulation of G-protein coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) in both mouse models. In vitro studies in β
2
AR-overexpressing human embryonic kidney 293 cells showed significant βAR desensitization, GRK2 upregulation, and recruitment to the βAR complex following TNFα. Interestingly, inhibition of phosphoinositide 3-kinase abolished GRK2-mediated βAR phosphorylation and GRK2 recruitment on TNFα. Furthermore, TNFα-mediated βAR phosphorylation was not blocked with βAR antagonist propranolol. Additionally, TNFα administration in transgenic mice with cardiac overexpression of G
βγ
-sequestering peptide βARK-ct could not prevent βAR desensitization or cardiac dysfunction showing that GRK2 recruitment to the βAR is G
βγ
independent. Small interfering RNA knockdown of GRK2 resulted in the loss of TNFα-mediated βAR phosphorylation. Consistently, cardiomyocytes from mice with cardiac-specific GRK2 ablation normalized the TNFα-mediated loss in contractility, showing that TNFα-induced βAR desensitization is GRK2 dependent.

Conclusions—

TNFα-induced βAR desensitization is mediated by GRK2 and is independent of G
βγ
, uncovering a hitherto unknown cross-talk between TNFα and βAR function, providing the underpinnings of inflammation-mediated cardiac dysfunction.
SMAD3 Deficiency Promotes Inflammatory Aortic Aneurysms in Angiotensin II–Infused Mice Via Activation of iNOS
Authors: Tan Chek K. , Tan Eddie H. , Luo Baiwen , Huang Charlotte L. , Loo Joachim S. , Choong Cleo , Tan Nguan S.
Published: June 2013

Background

Ninety percent of the patients carrying distinct

SMAD3

mutations develop aortic aneurysms and dissections, called aneurysms‐osteoarthritis syndrome (
AOS
). However, the etiology and molecular events downstream of
SMAD
3 leading to the pathogenesis of aortic aneurysms in these patients still remain elusive. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the vascular phenotypes of

SMAD

3‐knockout mice.

Methods and Results

We have shown that angiotensin II–induced vascular inflammation, but not hypertension, leads to aortic aneurysms and dissections, ultimately causing aortic rupture and death in mice. Lipopolysaccharide‐triggered inflammation confirmed that enhanced aortic macrophage recruitment was essential for aneurysm formation in angiotensin II–infused
SMAD3
‐knockout mice. In contrast, phenylephrine‐triggered hypertension alone was insufficient to induce aortic aneurysms in mice. Using uniaxial tensile and contractility tests, we showed that SMAD3 deficiency resulted in defective aortic biomechanics and physiological functions, which caused weakening of the aortic wall and predisposed the mice to aortic aneurysms. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and re‐ChIP assays revealed that the underlying mechanism involved aberrant upregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (
iNOS
)–derived nitric oxide production and activation of elastolytic matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9. Administration of clodronate‐liposomes and
iNOS
inhibitor completely abrogated these aortic conditions, thereby identifying
iNOS
‐mediated nitric oxide secretion from macrophages as the downstream event of SMAD3 that drives this severe pathology.

Conclusions

Macrophage depletion and
iNOS
antagonism represent 2 promising approaches for preventing aortic aneurysms related to
SMAD3
mutations and merit further investigation as adjunctive strategies for the life‐threatening manifestations of AOS.
Song Maocheng’s Matrixes of Mourning and Regret
Authors: Struve Lynn A.
Published: June 2013

Through the many poems of loss and commemorative essays in the collected works of  Song Maocheng (1569-1620), we can discern three matrixes of association among the author and his deceased loved ones: (1) a patrilineal matrix in which the salient theme is the rupture or felt-failure of paternal and avuncular care and guidance of male children in the patriline; (2) a female-domestic matrix in which losses engendered feelings of guilt, either for partial responsibility in the deaths or for inability to properly recompense female care and self-sacrifice within the household; and (3) a female-sensual matrix in which the loss of feminine sympathy, comfort, and beauty—whether to death or to parting—dominate the aesthetic.   These three matrixes overlap in the wife’s roles as maternal perpetuator of the patriline, preserver of household harmony and resources, and loving, devoted spouse. The centrality of the wife’s role is reflected most strikingly in the long, moving “Elegy, with Preface” that Song wrote for his first wife, née Yang, who died in Song’s absence shortly after giving birth to his first son in the third year of their marriage. Despite remarriage and the acquisition of multiple concubines, Song also wrote several sets of poems in memory of his first wife, who entered his dreams for many years after her death.
Transitions: Refugees and Natives
Authors: Tuitt Patricia
Published: June 2013

European Directive 2004/83 (the ‘Qualification Directive’) limits claims for asylum to those refugees coming from outside of the European Union. This provision institutionalises a long established practice in which member states of the European Union are presumed to be safe countries of origin and safe countries of asylum. This article argues that the European Union could not have come into being without producing refugees. With reference to the definition of refugee enshrined within Article 1.A (2) of the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees1 and the jurisprudence surrounding one key qualifying element of the definition – persecution – the article seeks to explore how the international law governing the status of refugee has been deployed to deny that the European Union is a place of origin of refugees.
The Making of a Reflective Practitioner of Mission: What Shaped the Author of Christianity Rediscovered
Authors: Bowen John P.
Published: June 2013

Abstract

Vincent Donovan is best known for his best-selling Christianity Rediscovered (1978, 2003), frequently cited in discussions of the mission of the church in the post-Christendom West. His recently published letters from Tanzania between 1957 and 1973 shed new light on the man and his development. This article identifies some of the influences that shaped Donovan: firstly, the significance of the changing political face of Africa at that time, and how it led Donovan to question what this meant for the future of missions in Africa. Secondly, there were ecclesial influences. One was the character of his Order (the Spiritans) which found a fresh opportunity to experiment with enculturation when a new diocese was founded in Arusha in 1963, led by a Spiritan bishop. The other ecclesial influence was that of Vatican II, to which Spiritans contributed and which (they felt) affirmed their direction – though they also felt it did not go far enough. Thirdly, the letters show Donovan’s personal development from his arrival in Africa in 1957 as a naïve young missionary to the seasoned missiologist concerned “to fill the flesh and blood of Africa with the soul of Christianity” whose story is told in Christianity Rediscovered.
Genera of fungivorous Phlaeothripinae (Thysanoptera) from dead branches and leaf-litter in Australia
Authors: MOUND LAURENCE A. , DANG LI-HONG , TREE DESLEY J.
Published: June 2013

An illustrated key is provided for the identification of 39 genera of Thysanoptera—Phlaeothripinae with species that live in association with dead branches and leaf-litter in Australia and are considered to be fungus-feeding. Seven of these gen-era are not previously recorded from this continent, including un-named species of Deplorothrips, Malacothrips, Mystro-thrips, Preeriella and Tylothrips, together with Azaleothrips lepidus Okajima and Terthrothrips ananthakrishnani Kudo. A brief generic diagnosis is provided for each genus, together with comments on systematic problems and numbers of species.
Revision shock in taxonomy
Authors: HEDGES S. BLAIR
Published: June 2013

The current revolution in molecular phylogenetics has led to a large number of revisionary changes in the classification of life in a relatively short period of time. To the non-taxonomist, and to some taxonomists, this might give the illusion of excessive and unnecessary naming of taxa. Vences et al. (2013) have made that interpretation, leading them to propose a lengthy and detailed set of criteria—some might call it a mini-ICZN Code—designed to scale back the naming process in taxonomy, hence their title "...economy of change..." Although claimed not to be proposed regulation, it is hard to ignore phrases like "...classifications should avoid deliberately violating any of the three primary [criteria]..." These authors have made some good points, but taxonomists should reject this proposal outright because it is flawed and based on a misunderstanding. If one defines instability as change, any revision will cause temporary instability, by definition. In popular groups of organisms, there may be initial resistance, referred to here as 'revision shock,' but people will eventually get used to new names, lists will get updated, and there will be a new status quo in a few years as the dust settles. This is how it has been since Linnaeus, and it does not require new criteria or regulation.
North American Climate in CMIP5 Experiments. Part II: Evaluation of Historical Simulations of Intraseasonal to Decadal Variability
Authors: Sheffield Justin , Camargo Suzana J. , Fu Rong , Hu Qi , Jiang Xianan , Johnson Nathaniel , Karnauskas Kristopher B. , Kim Seon Tae , Kinter Jim , Kumar Sanjiv , Langenbrunner Baird , Maloney Eric , Mariotti Annarita , Meyerson Joyce E. , Neelin J. David , Nigam Sumant , Pan Zaitao , Ruiz-Barradas Alfredo , Seager Richard , Serra Yolande L. , Sun De-Zheng , Wang Chunzai , Xie Shang-Ping , Yu Jin-Yi , Zhang Tao , Zhao Ming
Published: June 2013

This is the second part of a three-part paper on North American climate in phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) that evaluates the twentieth-century simulations of intraseasonal to multidecadal variability and teleconnections with North American climate. Overall, the multimodel ensemble does reasonably well at reproducing observed variability in several aspects, but it does less well at capturing observed teleconnections, with implications for future projections examined in part three of this paper. In terms of intraseasonal variability, almost half of the models examined can reproduce observed variability in the eastern Pacific and most models capture the midsummer drought over Central America. The multimodel mean replicates the density of traveling tropical synoptic-scale disturbances but with large spread among the models. On the other hand, the coarse resolution of the models means that tropical cyclone frequencies are underpredicted in the Atlantic and eastern North Pacific. The frequency and mean amplitude of ENSO are generally well reproduced, although teleconnections with North American climate are widely varying among models and only a few models can reproduce the east and central Pacific types of ENSO and connections with U.S. winter temperatures. The models capture the spatial pattern of Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO) variability and its influence on continental temperature and West Coast precipitation but less well for the wintertime precipitation. The spatial representation of the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation (AMO) is reasonable, but the magnitude of SST anomalies and teleconnections are poorly reproduced. Multidecadal trends such as the warming hole over the central–southeastern United States and precipitation increases are not replicated by the models, suggesting that observed changes are linked to natural variability.
Interannual Variability of Land–Atmosphere Coupling Strength
Authors: Guo Zhichang , Dirmeyer Paul A.
Published: June 2013

Recent studies in the Global Land–Atmosphere Coupling Experiment (GLACE) established a framework to estimate the extent to which anomalies in the land surface state (e.g., soil moisture) can affect rainfall generation and other atmospheric processes. Within this framework, a multiyear GLACE-type experiment is carried out with a coupled land–atmosphere general circulation model to examine the interannual variability of land–atmosphere coupling strength. Soil wetness with intermediate values are in the range at which rainfall generation, near-surface air temperature, and surface turbulent fluxes are most sensitive to soil moisture anomalies, and thus, land–atmosphere coupling strength peaks in this range. As a result, the “hot spots” with strong land–atmosphere coupling strength appear in regions with intermediate climatological soil wetness (e.g., transition zones between dry and wet climates), consistent with previous studies. Land–atmosphere coupling strength experiences significant year-to-year variation because of interannual variability of soil moisture and the local spatiotemporal evolution of hydrologic regime. Coupling strength over areas with dry (wet) climate is enhanced during wet (dry) years since the resultant soil wetness enters into the sensitive range from a relatively insensitive range, and soil moisture can have stronger potential impact on surface turbulent fluxes and convection. On the other hand, land–atmosphere coupling strength over areas with wet (dry) climate is weakened during wet (dry) years since the soil wetness moves further away from the sensitive range. This results in a positive correlation between the land–atmosphere coupling strength and soil moisture anomalies over areas with dry climate and a negative correlation over areas with wet climate.
The effects of cognitive remediation on functional outcomes among people with schizophrenia: A randomised controlled study
Authors: Tan Bhing-Leet , King Robert
Published: June 2013

Objective:

Cognitive remediation is an intervention to overcome cognitive deficits through drills and use of strategies. Previous studies have reported positive effects for cognitive remediation on neurocognition, but researchers’ allegiance effects are not always adequately controlled. Furthermore, its efficacy amongst the Asian population has not been established. Hence, this study aimed to determine if cognitive remediation would have positive effects on neurocognition and functioning within an English-speaking Asian population, when compared against the effects of a credible and balanced control provided by therapists blinded to the study hypothesis.

Method:

A total of 70 participants with schizophrenia who attended vocational training or day rehabilitation programmes were randomised to receive a 60-hour programme of either cognitive remediation or physical exercise. Neurocognition and functional outcomes were measured at baseline, upon completion of treatment, 6 months after treatment and 1 year after treatment.

Results:

Participants who received cognitive remediation had significantly greater improvement in all neurocognitive domains. Furthermore, the cognitive remediation group achieved greater attainment of vocational or independent living skills and better functional outcomes at post-intervention and at the end of the 1-year follow-up.

Conclusions:

When compared against a credible intervention such as physical exercise, cognitive remediation was able to show significant positive effects on both neurocognition and functional outcomes among the Asian population of schizophrenia patients.
Between differences and common features: The work of social workers in Italy
Authors: Facchini Carla , Lorenz Walter
Published: June 2013

This article analyses the work position of social workers in Italy according to national research carried out in 2008 which considers 1000 people registered at the OAS (Ordine Assistenti Sociali). The first theme it dealt with concerns spheres of professional engagement and the most relevant types of users whom social workers encounter depending on territorial context and work seniority. The other two themes concern working conditions, analysed according to activities actually carried out, and the interests that social workers show in these activities. On the whole, we found a national situation characterized, on one hand, by a wide plurality of working areas corresponding to the increasing plurality of types of users, and on the other hand, by elements of substantial homogeneity, concerning both the types of intervention actually carried out, and, above all, concerning the subjective importance they gave to them. In particular, the respondents gave high priority to the nature and quality of the relationship with the users of social services.
The great unread New Zealand novel: David Ballantyne’s Sydney Bridge Upside Down
Authors: Mercer Erin Siobhan
Published: June 2013

David Ballantyne’s novel The Cunninghams (1948) was deemed upon publication to be a “masterly study of working-class family life in a New Zealand town” and it was praised for its “utmost fidelity” to the “minutiae of small-town life”. The novel’s grim tone, Depression-era setting, local referent and critical realism did much to establish Ballantyne as an author with “social interests”, as did his own assertion that a writer is “an investigator of human existence” who “must try to understand the way in which average people live out their time”. Ballantyne was one of several new writers deemed to be the “sons” of Frank Sargeson, capable of developing the line of realism established by the latter’s short stories that appeared between 1935 and 1945. Yet, in spite of his early promise, Ballantyne’s career as a fiction writer failed to take off, partly because of a long period of alcoholism, and partly because of the direction he took in his subsequent fiction. If his first novel answered literary nationalism’s need for an authentic depiction of local life, then Sydney Bridge Upside Down (1968), with its gestures towards the non-realist modes of fairy tale and gothic, was almost guaranteed to remain outside the body of writing understood to constitute “New Zealand literature”. Yet, by combining aspects of realist with non-realist modes, the novel creates a mythologized version of New Zealand society in which threats associated with sexuality take on nightmarish, almost elemental forms that are far more effective in terms of representing the ways in which New Zealand society can damage the individual than social realism.
Outsourcing Public Security
Authors: Heinecken Lindy
Published: June 2013

Since the end of the Cold War, there has been an exponential growth in the use of private military and security companies. Few have debated the long-term consequences outsourcing of security holds for the military profession. The first section of this article outlines the evolution of military outsourcing. From here the focus shifts to how outsourcing affects the armed forces’ ability to retain the monopoly over their “own” knowledge and skills base, and how it affects their autonomy, corporateness, and service ethic. The implications that this has for the armed forces and the military profession are deliberated. The conclusion is reached that extensive growth and use of private security have affected the intellectual and moral hegemony of the armed forces as providers of public security. The long-term implications of this in terms of the social structure and the identity of the military profession are not yet fully realized.
4-Methyl-amphetamine: a health threat for recreational amphetamine users
Authors: Blanckaert P , van Amsterdam JGC , Brunt TM , van den Berg JDJ , Van Durme F , Maudens K , van Bussel JCH
Published: June 2013

4-Methylamphetamine (4-MA) was originally developed as an appetite suppressant, but development was halted due to side effects. It has recently resurfaced as a new psychoactive substance in Europe, and is mostly found together with amphetamine. Around 11.5% of tested Dutch speed samples were positive for 4-MA. In Belgium, 4-MA was also found in speed samples. In 2011 and 2012, several fatal incidents after amphetamine use were observed in Belgium, the United Kingdom and The Netherlands. In all victims, toxicological analysis confirmed the presence of 4-MA, in addition to amphetamine. The observed blood amphetamine levels were too low to be fatal. Contrary to amphetamine, which displays noradrenergic and dopaminergic activity, 4-MA also shows serotonergic activity, which may contribute to the observed toxicity. Other mechanisms of toxicity are put forward in this paper as well. To conclude, the observed toxicity is most likely the result of the combined dopaminergic activity of amphetamine and the serotonergic activity of 4-MA. In addition, the presence of 4-MA may have dampened the psychoactive effects of amphetamine by attenuation of the amphetamine-induced dopamine release, potentially inclining users to ingest higher doses of contaminated speed. Also, slower metabolism of 4-MA and its MAO-inhibiting properties can also contribute to the unusual high toxicity of 4-MA.
Fever After Rewarming
Authors: Cocchi Michael N. , Boone Myles D. , Giberson Brandon , Giberson Tyler , Farrell Emily , Salciccioli Justin D. , Talmor Daniel , Williams Donna , Donnino Michael W.
Published: June 2013

Background:

Induction of mild therapeutic hypothermia (TH; temperature 32-34°C) has become standard of care in many hospitals for comatose survivors of cardiac arrest. Pyrexia, or fever, is known to be detrimental in patients with neurologic injuries such as stroke or trauma. The incidence of pyrexia in the postrewarming phase of TH is unknown. We attempted to determine the incidence of fever after TH and hypothesized that those patients who were febrile after rewarming would have worse clinical outcomes than those who maintained normothermia in the postrewarming period.

Methods:

Retrospective data analysis of survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) over a period of 29 months (December 2007 to April 2010). Inclusion criteria: OHCA, age >18, return of spontaneous circulation, and treatment with TH. Exclusion criteria: traumatic arrest and pregnancy. Data collected included age, sex, neurologic outcome, mortality, and whether the patient developed fever (temperature > 100.4°F, 38°C) within 24 hours after being fully rewarmed to a normal core body temperature after TH. We used simple descriptive statistics and Fisher exact test to report our findings.

Results:

A total of 149 patients were identified; of these, 82 (55%) underwent TH. The mean age of the TH cohort was 66 years, and 28 (31%) were female. In all, 54 patients survived for >24 hours after rewarming and were included in the analysis. Among the analyzed cohort, 28 (52%) of 54 developed fever within 24 hours after being rewarmed. Outcome measures included in-hospital mortality as well as neurologic outcome as defined by a dichotomized Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) score. When comparing neurologic outcomes between the groups, 16 (57%) of 28 in the postrewarming fever group had a poor outcome (CPC score 3-5), while 15 (58%) of 26 in the no-fever group had a favorable outcome ( P = .62). In the fever group, 15 (52%) of 28 died, while in the no-fever group, 14 (54%) of 26 died ( P = .62).

Conclusion:

Among a cohort of patients who underwent mild TH after OHCA, more than half of these patients developed pyrexia in the first 24 hours after rewarming. Although there were no significant differences in outcomes between febrile and nonfebrile patients identified in this study, these findings should be further evaluated in a larger cohort. Future investigations may be needed to determine whether postrewarming temperature management will improve the outcomes in this population.
Added Bonus? The Relationship Between California School Districts’ Specialized Teacher Staffing Needs and the Use of Economic Incentive Policies
Authors: Strunk Katharine O. , Zeehandelaar Dara B.
Published: June 2013

In this paper, we explore the use and efficacy of fiscal incentive policies in California school districts. We ask whether districts with high need for teachers with English as a second language (ESL) or special education credentials are more likely to implement incentives targeting these teachers. We find mixed evidence that districts align their incentives with their staffing needs. We conclude by discussing possible rationales for our results.
Dynamic control allocation for spacecraft attitude stabilization with actuator uncertainty
Authors: Zhang Aihua , Hu Qinglei , Huo Xing
Published: June 2013

A dynamic control allocation approach is presented to address the attitude stabilization problem of a rigid spacecraft. The approach is developed by using a least-square support vector machine. Actuator uncertainty including misalignment and magnitude deviation is explicitly addressed. A dynamic inverse control law is firstly designed. A least-square support vector machine-based adaptive compensator is then designed to handle actuators uncertainties, external disturbances and unknown moment of inertia. Lyapunov stability analysis shows that the closed-loop attitude system is asymptotically stable. More specifically, constrained quadratic programming-based robust dynamic control allocation is implemented to manage the redundancy actuators. The goal of minimizing the assumption of total energy is achieved. A numerical example is provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
Understanding attitudes towards the use of animals in research using an online public engagement tool
Authors: Schuppli Catherine A. , Molento Carla F. M. , Weary Daniel M.
Published: June 2013

Using an online public engagement experiment, we probed the views of 617 participants on the use of pigs as research animals (to reduce agricultural pollution or to improve organ transplant success in humans) with and without genetic modification and using different numbers of pigs. In both scenarios and across demographics, level of opposition increased when the research required the use of GM corn or GM pigs. Animal numbers had little effect. A total of 1037 comments were analyzed to understand decisions. Participants were most concerned about the impact of the research on animal welfare. Genetic modification was viewed as an intervention in nature and there was worry about unpredictable consequences. Both opponents and supporters sought assurances that concerns were addressed. Governing bodies for animal research should make efforts to document and mitigate consequences of GM and other procedures, and increase efforts to maintain a dialogue with the public around acceptability of these procedures.
Psychometric Properties of the HOME Inventory Using Rasch Analysis
Authors: Glad Johan , Kottorp Anders , Jergeby Ulla , Gustafsson Carina , Sonnander Karin
Published: June 2013

Objectives:

The aim of this pilot study was to explore psychometric properties of two versions of the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment Inventory in a Swedish social service sample.

Method:

Social workers employed at 22 Swedish child protections agencies participated in the data collection. Both classic test theory approaches and Rasch analysis were used. Seventy-five (46 double) protocols of the Early Childhood version and 65 (43 double) protocols of the Middle Childhood version were obtained.

Results:

The interobserver reliability and Rasch reliability displayed acceptable results. Targeting was satisfying for the middle and more adequate home environments. However, there were mixed results concerning model fit.

Conclusion:

The scores may be used to identify families with inadequate home environments where children may be at risk.
Parallel computing for phase-field models
Authors: Vondrous Alexander , Selzer Michael , Hötzer Johannes , Nestler Britta
Published: June 2013

The phase-field method is gradually exploiting new research areas, and the demand for the ability to simulate larger domains is increasing continuously with the move towards massive parallel computation. We emphasize the efficient usage of high-performance computing resources by investigating the scaling behavior of 1D domain decomposition, 3D domain decomposition and the runtime behavior of the commonly used moving simulation domain as well as 1D load balancing for a finite difference phase-field implementation. A simple performance model for blocking communication and measurements shows that it is necessary to apply 3D domain decomposition for a 3D domain to scale on high-performance clusters.
A case study in mechanically deriving dense linear algebra code
Authors: Marker Bryan , Batory Don , van de Geijn Robert
Published: June 2013

Design by Transformation (DxT) is a top-down approach to mechanically derive high-performance algorithms for dense linear algebra. We use DxT to derive the implementation of a representative matrix operation, two- sided Trmm. We start with a knowledge base of transformations that were encoded for a simpler set of operations, the level-3 BLAS, and add only a few transformations to accommodate the more complex two- sided Trmm. These additions explode the search space of our prototype system, DxTer, requiring the novel techniques defined in this paper to eliminate large segments of the search space that contain suboptimal algorithms. Performance results for the mechanically optimized implementations on 8192 cores of a BlueGene/P architecture are given.
Ischaemic distal limb necrosis and Klebsiella pneumoniae infection associated with arterial catheterisation in a cat
Authors: Bowlt Kelly L , Bortolami Elisa , Harley Ross , Murison Pamela , Wallace Adrian
Published: June 2013

This case report describes dorsal pedal arterial thrombosis and infection with Klebsiella pneumoniae subsequent to arterial catheter placement in a cat. The complication led to avascular necrosis of the metatarsal and pedal soft tissue. The catheter was placed for blood pressure monitoring during surgery for correction of a peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia. The exact mechanism of thrombosis was unclear. Amputation of the limb was required and the histopathological findings are presented. This is the first report of such a complication.
Drawing from the bargaining pool
Authors: Fleischer Julia , Seyfried Markus
Published: June 2013

This article expands our current knowledge about ministerial selection in coalition governments and analyses why ministerial candidates succeed in acquiring a cabinet position after general elections. It argues that political parties bargain over potential office-holders during government-formation processes, selecting future cabinet ministers from an emerging ‘bargaining pool’. The article draws upon a new dataset comprising all ministrable candidates discussed by political parties during eight government-formation processes in Germany between 1983 and 2009. The conditional logit regression analysis reveals that temporal dynamics, such as the day she enters the pool, have a significant effect on her success in achieving a cabinet position. Other determinants of ministerial selection discussed in the existing literature, such as party and parliamentary expertise, are less relevant for achieving ministerial office. The article concludes that scholarship on ministerial selection requires a stronger emphasis for its endogenous nature in government-formation as well as the relevance of temporal dynamics in such processes.
Perceived relationship quality in adolescents following early social-emotional deprivation
Authors: Hawk Brandi N , McCall Robert B
Published: June 2013

Children who spend their early life in social-emotionally depriving institutions have limited opportunities to engage in relationships. This early experience has been associated with many problematic behavioral outcomes; however, researchers have not frequently examined relationship quality of post-institutional adoptees, nor have they examined aspects of the adoptive family that might moderate institutionalization effects. The purpose of this study was to examine the self-reported relationship quality of 10–17-year-old children adopted into the USA from Russian institutions and to determine whether sibling characteristics (relative age, gender composition, sibling adoption status) moderate institutionalization effects. Older age at adoption was related to poorer friendship and sibling, but not mother, relationship quality. Older siblings and same-sex siblings buffered children from this negative age-at-adoption association.