bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tumorscreening – Grundlagen, Evaluation und Implementation
Authors: Egger Matthias , Zwahlen Marcel , Cerny Thomas
Published: March 2013

Tumorscreening hat zum Ziel, das Risiko schwerwiegender Krankheitsfolgen einer malignen Erkrankung in der Bevölkerung zu reduzieren. Es besteht nicht nur aus der Anwendung von geeigneten Tests, sondern umfasst alle notwendigen Schritte, um die angestrebte Risikoreduktion zu erreichen – von der angemessenen Information der Bevölkerung bis hin zur Therapie. Screening-Tests werden bei Personen durchgeführt, die keine entsprechenden Symptome haben oder sich ihrer nicht bewusst sind. Voraussetzung ist eine klar definierte, nachweisbare pathologische Veränderung, die eine Vorstufe oder ein Frühstadium des Tumors darstellt. Überdiagnosen und Überbehandlungen sind ein Problem, das erst in den letzten Jahren in seiner vollen Bedeutung erkannt wurde. Eine Überdiagnose liegt dann vor, wenn ein durch das Screening entdeckter Tumor nie Symptome verursacht hätte. Dies ist beim Prostatakarzinom-Screening mittels Prostata-spezifischem Antigen (PSA) häufig: 50 % bis 70 % der durch das Screening entdeckten Tumore hätten im späteren Verlauf keine Symptome verursacht. Bei Brustkrebs sind es 20 % bis 30 % der durch das Mammografie-Screening entdeckten Tumore. Die Beurteilung von Screening-Programmen wird häufig durch Verzerrungen erschwert (healthy screenee, length time und lead time effects). Randomisiert-kontrollierte Studien sind deshalb nötig, um die Wirksamkeit und Zweckmäßigkeit von Screening Programmen zu untersuchen und die Häufigkeit unerwünschter Wirkungen wie unnötige diagnostische Zusatzabklärungen, Überdiagnosen und Überbehandlungen zu dokumentieren. In der Schweiz fehlt bislang eine unabhängige Instanz, die analog zum UK National Screening Committee oder der US Preventive Services Task Force Vorsorgeuntersuchungen und Programme begutachtet und Empfehlungen abgibt. Unbestritten ist, dass sich erfolgreiche Programme durch klare Zielsetzungen, eine zentrale Organisation mit Einladungsverfahren, Dokumentation und Qualitätskontrolle sowie eine ausgewogene Information der Bevölkerung auszeichnen. In der Schweiz ist es aufgrund des föderalen Gesundheitswesens mit direktem Zugang zu FachärztInnen schwierig, ein systematisch organisiertes Screening mit Qualitätssicherung und Monitoring umzusetzen.
Die Früherkennung von Prostatakrebs
Authors: Koch Klaus , Büchter Roland , Lange Stefan
Published: March 2013

Die Früherkennung von Prostatakrebs ist seit Jahrzehnten umstritten. Aktuelle Ergebnisse großer Studien haben den Konflikt in letzter Zeit sogar eher noch angeheizt: Der Aussicht auf eine Senkung der Prostatakrebssterblichkeit steht insbesondere das Risiko einer Überdiagnose gegenüber. Im individuellen Fall ist die Abwägung zwischen Nutzen und Schaden eines PSA-Tests zur Prostatakrebs-Früherkennung so heikel, dass keine generelle Empfehlung für oder gegen die Anwendung des Tests ausgesprochen werden kann. Befragungen zu grundlegenden Fakten der Prostatakrebs-Früherkennung zeigen allerdings, dass die Mehrzahl der Männer sachlich nicht richtig informiert ist. Da sich der PSA-Test an Gesunde richtet, ist eine besonders ausführliche Aufklärung dringend nötig. Hierzu gehört vor allem eine verständliche und unverzerrte Information auch über die mit der Testung einhergehenden Risiken, insbesondere über das Risiko der Überdiagnose.
Krebsfrüherkennung und Risikokommunikation
Authors: Wegwarth Odette
Published: March 2013

In der Forschung geht man oft davon aus, dass es die PatientInnen sind, die Schwierigkeiten im Umgang mit Gesundheitsstatistiken haben, nicht aber die ÄrztInnen. Zahlreiche Studien zeigen jedoch, dass diese Annahme nicht richtig ist: Die meisten ÄrtztInnen verstehen die Gesundheitsstatistiken, selbst die ihres eigenen Fachgebiets, nicht. So kannten z. B. nur zwei von 20 UrologInnen die relevanten Informationen zum Thema PSA-Screening, die den Patienten eine informierte Entscheidung für oder gegen das Screening erlauben. Nur 14 von 65 InternistInnen wussten, dass 5-Jahres-Überlebensraten nichts über den Nutzen eines Screenings aussagen, und lediglich 34 von 160 GynäkologInnen konnten ein positives Testergebnis beim Mammografie-Screening interpretieren. Dieser statistische Analphabetismus hat direkte Auswirkungen auf die betroffenen PatientInnen, die durch die ärztlichen Fehlinformationen unnötig emotional belastet oder verängstigt werden. Die Gründe für den statistischen Analphabetismus auf Seiten der ÄrztInnen liegen vor allem darin, dass das Thema „Risikokommunikation“ während Studium und Fortbildung kaum eine Rolle spielt. Mit nur wenig Aufwand können ÄrztInnen jedoch einfache Techniken erlernen, die sie in die Lage versetzen, medizinische Statistiken richtig zu verstehen und kritisch zu bewerten.
Einbezug der Angehörigen in die Pflege bei Patient(inn)en mit Delir auf Intensivstationen
Authors: Wesch Conrad , Barandun Schäfer Ursi , Frei Irena Anna , Massarotto Paola
Published: March 2013

Angehörige von Patient(inn)en auf Intensivstationen befinden sich in einer belastenden Situation – gleichzeitig sind sie wichtig für Pflegende und Patient(inn)en, etwa bei der Prävention und Behandlung eines akuten Delirs. Für die Erarbeitung eines Konzeptes zur Nutzung der Angehörigenressourcen wurde eine systematische Literaturübersicht durchgeführt zur Fragestellung: Mit welchen Maßnahmen können Angehörige von erwachsenen Intensivpflegepatient(inn)en mit Delir in ihrer unterstützenden Rolle gefördert werden? Acht qualitative und zwei quantitative Studien konnten als relevant identifiziert werden. Durch den Einbezug in die Pflege gewinnen Angehörige Sicherheit und erweitern ihr Verständnis für die Situation. Informationen und Anleitung haben höhere Priorität als emotionale Unterstützung durch Pflegende. Patient(inn)en mit Delir können mithilfe ihrer Angehörigen einfacher kommunizieren und fühlen sich sicherer. Pflegende erhalten Informationen und können die Zusammenarbeit individuell gestalten, wobei zeitliche und personelle Engpässe als problematisch beschrieben werden. Die professionelle Unterstützung von Angehörigen durch Pflegende liegt in der Befriedigung ihrer Bedürfnisse sowie in der Anleitung bei pflegerischen Maßnahmen. Pflegende benötigen ebenfalls Unterstützung in der Begleitung der Angehörigen. Strukturelle Vorgaben sowie prozess- und handlungsbezogene Anweisungen helfen den Pflegenden, die Angehörigen systematisch einzubeziehen. Dies kann unterstützend sein in der Gewährleistung der Patient(inn)ensicherheit sowie bei der Prävention und Behandlung des Delirs.
With an antibody whose duty's double, a step towards ending asthma trouble?
Authors: Sundberg Eric J.
Published: March 2013

Asthma is a debilitating chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that results in shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing, often triggered by inhalation of common allergens. The prevalence and severity of asthma has increased dramatically over the last several decades to the point where several hundred million people worldwide are affected and each year tens of thousands of individuals die prematurely from asthma symptoms. The rise in disease prevalence is particularly evident in the developed world, where childhood exposure to bacteria and viruses has decreased dramatically, while the use of antibiotics, especially early in life, and births by Caesarean section have increased significantly; correlations that support the hygiene hypothesis. Central to the pathogenesis of asthma are the roles of TH2-type cytokines, including IL (interleukin)-4, IL-5, IL-9 and IL-13, in stimulating and perpetuating an inflammatory cascade that drives detrimental changes in airway structure and function. IL-4 and IL-13, in particular, have been targets of therapeutic development because, together, they specifically promote nearly all of the clinical features of asthma. Their inflammatory functions are highly complementary, but not identical, in large part because they share cell-surface receptors and transcription factors through which they stimulate cell signalling. In this issue of the Biochemical Journal, Redpath et al. have taken advantage of the shared receptor nature of the IL-4- and IL-13-mediated inflammatory responses to generate a novel antibody to the third ectodomain (D3) of IL-13Rα1 (IL-13 receptor α1), which forms a requisite binding site for both interleukins. This antibody potently neutralizes both IL-4 and IL-13 activities in vitro. Using X-ray crystallography complemented by molecular interaction and functional analyses, they clearly define its mechanism of dual cytokine neutralization as one of molecular mimicry of the interleukin–receptor interaction. Considering the complexity of the cytokine-mediated inflammatory cascade that defines asthma pathogenesis, such therapeutics that can effectively and simultaneously neutralize the actions of multiple cytokines and may play a significantly expanded role in the treatment and prevention of asthma in the future.
Dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers inhibit non-esterified-fatty-acid-induced endothelial and rheological dysfunction
Authors: Yasu Takanori , Kobayashi Mayumi , Mutoh Akiko , Yamakawa Ken , Momomura Shin-ichi , Ueda Shinichiro
Published: March 2013

Circulating NEFAs (non-esterified fatty acids) from adipose tissue lipolysis lead to endothelial dysfunction and insulin resistance in patients with the metabolic syndrome or Type 2 diabetes mellitus. The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that DHP (dihydropyridine) CCBs (calcium channel blockers) prevent NEFA-induced endothelial and haemorheological dysfunction independently of their antihypertensive properties. Using a double-blind cross-over study design, nifedipine, amlodipine, diltiazem or placebo were administered to eight healthy subjects for 2 days before each study day. On the study days, the following were assessed before and after the infusion of lipid and heparin to raise serum NEFAs: endothelial function, by measuring FBF (forearm blood flow) responses to ACh (acetylcholine); leucocyte activation, by ex vivo measurement of plasma MPO (myeloperoxidase) levels, adherent leucocyte numbers and whole blood transit time through microchannels; and oxidative stress, by determining plasma levels of d-ROMs (derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites). Effects of the CCBs on NF-κB (nuclear factor κB) p65 phospholylation stimulated by NEFAs were assessed in cultured monocytic cells in vitro. Elevated NEFAs reduced the responses to ACh and significantly increased whole blood transit time, adherent leucocyte numbers and d-ROMs. Nifedipine and amlodipine, but not diltiazem, prevented NEFA-induced endothelial dysfunction, leucocyte activation and enhancement of oxidative stress without affecting BP (blood pressure), whereas all these drugs prevented NEFA-induced p65 activation in vitro. These results suggest that DHP CCBs, independent of their antihypertensive properties in humans, prevent NEFA-induced endothelial and haemorheological dysfunction through inhibition of NEFA-induced leucocyte activation, although the sensitivity to drugs of leucocyte Ca2+ channels may differ among cells.
Dust-acoustic Gardner solitons and double layers in dusty plasmas with nonthermally distributed ions of two distinct temperatures
Authors: Tasnim I. , Masud M. M. , Asaduzzaman M. , Mamun A. A.
Published: March 2013

A rigorous theoretical investigation has been performed on dust-acoustic (DA) solitary structures in an unmagnetized dusty plasma, consisting of negatively charged mobile dust grains, Boltzmann distributed electrons, and nonthermally distributed ions of two distinct temperatures. The Korteweg-de Vries (K-dV), modified K-dV (mK-dV) and Gardner equations, and their solitary waves (SWs) and double layer (DL) (in case of Gardner equation) solutions are derived by using the reductive perturbation technique. The basic features of the DA Gardner solitons (GSs) and DLs are studied analytically as well as numerically. It has been observed that the GSs significantly differ from K-dV and mK-dV solitons, and only positive potential DLs exist in the system. It is also studied that two-temperature nonthermal ions significantly modify the nature and basic properties of the DA SWs. The present investigation can be very effective for understanding and studying the nonlinear characteristics of the DA waves in laboratory and space dusty plasmas.
Improved modeling of gate leakage currents for fin–shaped field–effect transistors
Authors: Garduño S. I. , Cerdeira A. , Estrada M. , Alvarado J. , Kilchytska V. , Flandre D.
Published: March 2013

Recently, we developed a symmetric doped double gate model for MOSFETs, which includes a direct tunneling model for gate current considering its dependence on the voltages applied to the gate and drain electrodes. Since different tunneling mechanisms can dominate the gate and drain/source leakage currents depending on the transistor operation regime, the gate stack dimensions and the insulating materials used as gate dielectric, in this work, we analyze and model specific features of such currents in SOI FinFET devices. We present an analytical model which takes into account three main conduction mechanisms of leakage currents associated with the gate structure and is valid for a wide operation range. An improved model to describe the behavior of direct tunneling is proposed to avoid the use of fitting parameters. It is shown that carriers tunneling assisted by trap states in the dielectric material of the overlap regions should be considered, as it can become predominant in the subthreshold regime. Moreover, a band-to-band tunneling model is included because of its large impact on the drain leakage current. The present improved model for gate leakage currents is validated by experimental results obtained on FinFETs with different dimensions, gate dielectric materials and performed under different bias conditions.
Contribution of paramagnetic entropy to magnetocaloric effect in La(FexSi1−x)13
Authors: Fujita A. , Yako H. , Kano M.
Published: March 2013

To evaluate paramagnetic fluctuations and their contribution to entropy change of magnetic phase transition, paramagnetic susceptibility of La(Fe0.88Si0.12) was investigated after modifying the magnetic state by application of pressure or by the partial substitution of Ce or Al. Volume reduction by hydrostatic pressure or partial substitution of Ce maintains the value of effective moment peff, and comparison of peff with spontaneous moment at ground state suggests the appearance of disordered local moment in the paramagnetic phase. Reduction of the paramagnetic Curie temperature θp by these modifications is faster than that of the Curie temperature TC. Change in the difference TC −θP is equivalent to that in the entropy change ΔSCC obtained from the Clausius-Clapeyron relation. On the contrary, partial substitution of Al brings about an increase of itinerant character, accompanying a reduction of ΔSCC.
Grain boundary melting in ice
Authors: Thomson E. S. , Hansen-Goos Hendrik , Wettlaufer J. S. , Wilen L. A.
Published: March 2013

We describe an optical scattering study of grain boundary premelting in water ice. Ubiquitous long ranged attractive polarization forces act to suppress grain boundary melting whereas repulsive forces originating in screened Coulomb interactions and classical colligative effects enhance it. The liquid enhancing effects can be manipulated by adding dopant ions to the system. For all measured grain boundaries this leads to increasing premelted film thickness with increasing electrolyte concentration. Although we understand that the interfacial surface charge densities qs and solute concentrations can potentially dominate the film thickness, we cannot directly measure them within a given grain boundary. Therefore, as a framework for interpreting the data we consider two appropriate qs dependent limits; one is dominated by the colligative effect and other is dominated by electrostatic interactions.
A compact stilbene crystal neutron spectrometer for EAST D-D plasma neutron diagnostics
Authors: Zhang Xing , Yuan Xi , Xie Xufei , Chen Zhongjing , Peng Xingyu , Chen Jinxiang , Zhang Guohui , Li Xiangqing , Fan Tieshuan , Zhong Guoqiang , Hu Liqun , Wan Baonian
Published: March 2013

A new compact stilbene crystal neutron spectrometer has been investigated and applied in the neutron emission spectroscopy on the EAST tokamak. A new components analysis method is presented to study the anisotropic light output in the stilbene crystal detector. A Geant4 code was developed to simulate the neutron responses in the spectrometer. Based on both the optimal light output function and the fitted pulse height resolution function, a reliable neutron response matrix was obtained by Geant4 simulations and validated by 2.5 MeV and 14 MeV neutron measurements at a 4.5 MV Van de Graaff accelerator. The spectrometer was used to diagnose the ion temperature in plasma discharges with lower hybrid wave injection and ion cyclotron resonance heating on the EAST tokamak.
Upper critical fields in a FeSe0.5Te0.5 superconducting single crystal
Authors: Velasco-Soto D. , Rivera-Gómez F. J. , Santillán-Rodríguez C. R. , Sáenz-Hernández R. J. , Botello-Zubiate M. E. , Matutes Aquino J. A.
Published: March 2013

A single crystal with a nominal composition FeSe0.5Te0.5 was obtained by the Bridgman method. A quartz ampulla with the sample inside was vacuum-sealed and maintained at 1050 °C for 37 h to homogenize the sample. Subsequently, the quartz ampulla with the sample was moved with a speed of 2.2 mm/h to a furnace which was at 450 °C. X-ray diffraction confirmed the tetragonal structure of the grown single crystal with the cleavage plane corresponding to the ab plane. Resistance measurements were carried out with magnetic fields from 0 to 9 T, applied parallel to the c axis and ab plane, respectively. A zero-field critical temperature Tc = 14 K was determined. The upper critical field vs. temperature phase diagram was built for temperatures where the resistance drops to 90%, 50%, and 10% of the normal state resistance. The linear extrapolation to T = 0 K gave upper critical fields of 57.2, 51.8, and 46.0 T for Hǁc axis and 109.6, 95.5, and 80.9 T for Hǁab. Applying the Werthamer–Helfand–Hohenberg (WHH) theory, upper critical fields of 39.6, 35.9, and 31.8 T and coherence lengths of 28.8, 30.3, and 32.1 Å were obtained for Hǁc; while for Hǁab, upper critical fields of 51.3, 40.7, and 37.5 T and coherence lengths of 22.3, 26.7, and 31.5 Å were obtained. The value of μ0Hc2/kBTc calculated by the WHH theory exceeds the Pauli limit (1.84 T/K) indicating the unconventional nature of superconductivity. The activation energy U0 has two different rates of change with the applied magnetic field probably due to two different thermal activation mechanisms; the origin of which requires further investigation. A similar behavior is observed in the irreversibility lines.
Multimode threshold and bipolar resistive switching in bi-layered Pt-Fe2O3 core-shell and Fe2O3 nanoparticle assembly
Authors: Lee Jin-Yong , Baek Yoon-Jae , Hu Quanli , Jin Choi Young , Jung Kang Chi , Lee Hyun Ho , Kim Hyun-Mi , Kim Ki-Bum , Yoon Tae-Sik
Published: March 2013

The bias-polarity dependent multimode threshold and bipolar resistive switching characteristics in bi-layered Pt-Fe2O3 core-shell and γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles assembly were investigated. The Ti/Pt-Fe2O3-core-shell-nanoparticles (∼20 nm)/γ-Fe2O3-nanoparticles (∼40 nm)/Pt structure exhibited a threshold switching upon applying −V at Ti electrode. However, the filaments were formed at +V and subsequently ruptured at −V, featured to be bipolar switching. After rupturing filaments, it returned to threshold switching mode. The presence of core-shell nanoparticles facilitates the threshold switching either by temporary formation of filaments or enhanced charge transport. Also, the oxygen reservoir role of Ti electrode was essential to form stable filaments for bipolar switching.
Magnetic domain structure of La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 thin-films probed at variable temperature with scanning electron microscopy with polarization analysis
Authors: Reeve Robert M. , Mix Christian , König Markus , Foerster Michael , Jakob Gerhard , Kläui Mathias
Published: March 2013

The domain configuration of 50 nm thick La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 films has been directly investigated using scanning electron microscopy with polarization analysis (SEMPA), with magnetic contrast obtained without the requirement for prior surface preparation. The large scale domain structure reflects a primarily four-fold anisotropy, with a small uniaxial component, consistent with magneto-optic Kerr effect measurements. We also determine the domain transition profile and find it to be in agreement with previous estimates of the domain wall width in this material. The temperature dependence of the image contrast is investigated and compared to superconducting-quantum interference device magnetometry data. A faster decrease in the SEMPA contrast is revealed, which can be explained by the technique's extreme surface sensitivity, allowing us to selectively probe the surface spin polarization which due to the double exchange mechanism exhibits a distinctly different temperature dependence than the bulk magnetization.
Communication: Growing room temperature ice with graphene
Authors: Verdaguer Albert , Segura Juan José , López-Mir Laura , Sauthier Guillaume , Fraxedas Jordi
Published: March 2013

Water becomes ordered in the form of hexagonal ice at room temperature under controlled humidity conditions upon confinement in the nanometer range between protective graphene sheets and crystalline (111) surfaces with hexagonal symmetry of the alkali earth fluoride BaF2. Interfacial water/substrate pseudoepitaxy turns out to be a critical parameter since ice is only formed when the lattice mismatch is small, an observation based on the absence of ice on (111) surfaces of isostructural CaF2
Far-field free tapping-mode tip-enhanced Raman microscopy
Authors: Yu Jun , Saito Yuika , Ichimura Taro , Kawata Satoshi , Verma Prabhat
Published: March 2013

A tip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS) microscope has been developed, which is based on the tapping-mode operation of atomic force microscopy. By synchronizing a multichannel detector with tapping oscillation of the metallic nanotip, one can measure a tip-sample separation dependent TERS spectrum and dynamically obtain both near- and far-field Raman signals during the periodic oscillation of the tip. This facilitates TERS imaging with in situ point-by-point removal of far-field background, resulting in higher contrast in TERS imaging. Furthermore, we can obtain an extremely high spatial resolution of 8 nm. Also, tapping mode operation of tip has an added advantage of low sample damage, which could be important for future application of TERS to soft biological materials. Our TERS imaging technique enables us to construct far-field-free high-contrast near-field image at faster imaging speed with extremely high spatial resolution.
Visually-Driven Urban Simulation: Exploring Fast and Slow Change in Residential Location
Authors: Batty Michael
Published: March 2013

A large-scale residential-location model of the Greater London region is being developed in which all stages of the model-building process—from data input, analysis through calibration to prediction—are rapid to execute and accessible in a visual and immediate fashion. The model is structured to distribute trips across competing modes of transport from employment to population locations. It is cast in an entropy-maximising framework which has been extended to measure actual components of energy—travel costs, free energy, and unusable energy (entropy itself)—and these provide indicators for examining future scenarios based on changing the costs of travel in the metro region. Although the model is comparatively static, we interpret its predictions in terms of fast and slow processes—‘fast’ relating to changes in transport modes, and ‘slow’ relating to changes in location. After developing and explaining the model using appropriate visual analytics, a scenario in which road-travel costs double is tested: this shows that mode switching is considerably more significant than shifts in location—which are minimal.
Industries, Skills, and Human Capital: How Does Regional Size Affect Uneven Development?
Authors: Eriksson Rikard H , Hansen Høgni Kalsø
Published: March 2013

This paper addresses how the composition of industry structures, skills, and human capital is related to regional development in peripheral and central locations. We do this by means of ordinary least squares models to analyse the relationship between growth in purchasing power and employment growth between 2001 and 2008 as well as a selection of variables constructed via register data of the total population in Sweden. The analysis demonstrates an evident spatial division of postindustrial development that larger regions benefit relatively more from than smaller regions do. The empirical findings indicate that a transition towards more knowledge-intensive sectors and a higher educated labour force has the strongest impact on development in the largest Swedish regions, while a transition from manual skills towards more creative skills shows a positive relationship only with development in medium-sized regions. Consequently, the paper argues that the recent appraisal of the knowledge-based economy benefits mainly the largest urban regions, meaning that regional size is an important parameter when discussing trajectories of regional development and the adaption to contemporary economic development paths.
Arts Accessibility to Major Museums and Cultural/Ethnic Institutions in Los Angeles: Can School Tours Overcome Neighborhood Disparities?
Authors: Houston Douglas , Ong Paul
Published: March 2013

Major arts and cultural institutions have expanded their exhibits and programs to reflect society's growing diversity, but we know little about potential neighborhood disparities in arts participation within metropolitan areas and how it varies across institutions and different forms of engagement. Unlike membership, which tends to be ‘market’ driven, museum school tour programs often target underserved schools to engage diverse communities. We provide the first assessment to our knowledge of whether school tours provide a counterweight to more expensive forms of participation and whether ethnic-oriented institutions have been able to overcome the distance that often separates disadvantaged communities from institutions. Our analysis of participation rates for five major institutions in Los Angeles, California, indicates that, despite progress, barriers persist. Although affluent areas provide an important membership base, school tours offer a valuable tool for attracting traditional and ethnic-specific audiences and communities. The results support greater integration of city and cultural planning and suggest that institutions should redouble efforts to overcome sociocultural and geographic barriers.
‘I Wanted My Child to Go to a More Mixed School’: Schooling and Ethnic Mix in East London
Authors: Hamnett Chris , Butler Tim , Ramsden Mark
Published: March 2013

The minority ethnic population of Britain has grown rapidly in recent decades, but the percentage of minority ethnic pupils has increased more rapidly. This is particularly the case in inner London where over 50% of secondary school pupils are now from minority ethnic groups. The paper examines the issue of schooling and ethnic mix in East London with a focus on parental perceptions of school ethnic mix and parental decision making. It draws on secondary data on school ethnic mix and in-depth interviews with parents. It shows that, while most parents are happy with some degree of ethnic mix, the mix found in many schools is far from their ideal mix, particularly for White parents, and influences their decision making, possibly intensifying the segregation of ethnic groups in schools. The situation is made more complex by an element of class avoidance and attraction to schools with a strong aspirational and attainment ethos, irrespective of their ethnic mix.
Income and Preferences for the Environment: Evidence from Subjective Well-Being Data
Authors: Ferreira Susana , Moro Mirko
Published: March 2013

Do people care more about the environment as their income increases? In this paper we use a measure of subjective well-being to directly analyze whether the impact of a number of environmental amenities on self-reported life satisfaction varies with income. We find little empirical support for the marginal effects of environmental amenities being larger for the richest.
The Difference in Speed Sequence Influences Perceived Duration
Authors: Sasaki Kyoshiro , Yamamoto Kentaro , Miura Kayo
Published: March 2013

Perceived duration of a moving stimulus increases with the speed of the motion. However, a recent study found that the perceived duration of a decelerating stimulus was longer than that of an accelerating one, even though their averaged speed was identical (Matthews 2011 Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance37 1617–1627). We conducted three experiments to discover how this speed-change-induced time distortion occurs. We found that the perceived duration of a decelerating motion was longer than that of an accelerating one both in sub-second and supra-second presentation duration conditions, when speed changed linearly over time (experiment 1). The differences could not be explained by the differences in average perceived speed between them (experiment 2). Moreover, the perceived duration of a decelerating motion was also longer than that of an accelerating one, even when speed changed once during the presentation duration (experiment 3). These results suggest that average speed differences in the early and late parts of the presentation duration are important for the occurrence of the speed-change-induced time distortion.
Changes in Perceived Egocentric Direction during Symmetric Vergence
Authors: Sridhar Deepika , Bedell Harold E
Published: March 2013

The Wells–Hering's laws of perceived egocentric visual direction (EVD) assume that information about eye position includes equal contributions from both eyes. An implication of this assumption is that only versional eye movements should lead to a change in perceived EVD. Previously, we showed that a differential weighting of eye-position information occurs in some individuals during asymmetric vergence. To extend this finding, we determined here whether a differential weighting of eye-position information occurs also during symmetric vergence eye movements. Open-loop pointing responses to a bright target were obtained in five subjects to estimate the contribution of each eye's position information to perceived EVD during symmetric vergence demands that ranged from 6 prism diopters base in to 18 prism diopters base out. In all five subjects, the slopes of the lines fit to the pointing responses were in the direction that was predicted from an unequal weighting of eye-position information. We conclude that symmetric vergence movements can result in a change in perceived visual direction, contrary to an assumption of the Wells–Hering's laws.
Effects of Dynamic Luminance Modulation on Visually Induced Self-Motion Perception: Observers' Perception of Illumination is Important in Perceiving Self-Motion
Authors: Nakamura Shinji , Seno Takeharu , Ito Hiroyuki , Sunaga Shoji
Published: March 2013

Coherent luminance modulation of visual objects affects visually induced perception of self-motion (vection). The perceptual mechanism underlying the effects of dynamic luminance modulation were investigated with a visual stimulus simulating an external environment illuminated by a moving spotlight (the normal spotlight condition) or an inverted luminance version of it (the inverted luminance condition). Two psychophysical experiments indicated that vection was generally weakened in the inverted luminance condition. The results cannot be fully explained by the undesirable differences of luminosity within the experimental environment, and suggest that the contrast polarity of the visual stimulus has a significant impact on vection. Furthermore, the results show that the dynamic luminance variations weaken vection in the normal spotlight condition in which the observers perceived illumination modulations. In contrast, in the inverted luminance condition, in which the observers cannot perceive the illumination manipulation, the dynamic luminance variations may not impair vection, and may even be expected to strengthen vection, even though they shared similar global and systematic luminance variation with the normal spotlight condition. These experiments suggest that the observer's perception of illumination is a key factor in considering the effects of dynamic luminance modulation of the visual stimulus.
The Takete—Maluma Phenomenon in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Occelli Valeria , Esposito Gianluca , Venuti Paola , Arduino Giuseppe Maurizio , Zampini Massimiliano
Published: March 2013

It has been reported that people tend to preferentially associate phonemes like /m/, /l/, /n/ to curvilinear shapes and phonemes like /t/, /z/, /r/, /k/ to rectilinear shapes. Here we evaluated the performance of children/adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and neurotypical controls in this audiovisual congruency phenomenon. Pairs of visual patterns (curvilinear vs rectilinear) were presented to a group of ASD participants (low- or high-functioning) and a group of age-matched neurotypical controls. Participants were asked to associate each item to non-meaningful phoneme clusters. ASD participants showed a lower proportion of expected association responses than the controls. Within the ASD group the performance varied as a function of the severity of the symptomatology. These data suggest that children/adolescents with ASD show, although at different degrees as a function of the severity of the ASD, lower phonetic-iconic congruency response patterns than neurotypical controls, pointing to poorer multisensory integration capabilities.
Perception of Facial Attractiveness from Static and Dynamic Stimuli
Authors: Kościński Krzysztof
Published: March 2013

Although people we meet in real life are usually seen in motion, research on facial attractiveness has predominantly been conducted on static facial images. This raises a question about ecological validity of results obtained in such studies. Recently, several studies endeavoured to determine the concordance between attractiveness of faces seen on photos and video clips, but their results are markedly divergent, frequently indicating no concordance. In the present study, the association between attractiveness of facial images and clips was tested on a larger sample than has previously been reported (106 females, 102 males), and features under the face owner's control (scalp and facial hair, makeup, mouth expression) were controlled for. Two types of facial images were used: photographs and frames extracted from films. Correlation coefficients between attractiveness of static and dynamic faces were high (about 0.7), did not depend on facial sex or image type (photograph/frame), and did not diminish when the covariates were controlled for. Furthermore, the importance of facial averageness, femininity/masculinity, symmetry, fattiness, skin health, and mouth expression for attractiveness proved similar for static and dynamic stimuli. This leads to the optimistic conclusion that results of studies relying on attractiveness assessments of static facial images are ecologically valid.
Accommodation to Uncomfortable Patterns
Authors: Haigh Sarah M , Jaschinski Wolfgang , Allen Peter M , Wilkins Arnold J
Published: March 2013

Grating patterns can cause discomfort and perceptual distortions. Individuals who experience discomfort and are susceptible to these distortions generally show weaker accommodation than those who are less susceptible. We measured the accommodative response to grating patterns known to differ in the discomfort they evoke because of differences in their colour, motion, or spatial frequency. The parameters known to affect discomfort and distortion had no influence on the mean or variance in the accommodative response, even when accommodative demand was manipulated systematically and the accommodative response varied as expected.
Methodology for the evaluation of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden program
Authors: Gibbs L. , Staiger P. K. , Townsend M. , Macfarlane S. , Gold L. , Block K. , Johnson B. , Kulas J. , Waters E.
Published: March 2013

Issues addressed

Community and school cooking and gardening programs have recently increased internationally. However, despite promising indications, there is limited evidence of their effectiveness. This paper presents the evaluation framework and methods negotiated and developed to meet the information needs of all stakeholders for the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden (SAKG) program, a combined cooking and gardening program implemented in selectively funded primary schools across Australia.

Methods

The evaluation used multiple aligned theoretical frameworks and models, including a public health ecological approach, principles of effective health promotion and models of experiential learning. The evaluation is a non‐randomised comparison of six schools receiving the program (intervention) and six comparison schools (all government‐funded primary schools) in urban and rural areas of Victoria, Australia. A mixed‐methods approach was used, relying on qualitative measures to understand changes in school cultures and the experiential impacts on children, families, teachers, parents and volunteers, and quantitative measures at baseline and 1 year follow up to provide supporting information regarding patterns of change.

Results

The evaluation study design addressed the limitations of many existing evaluation studies of cooking or garden programs. The multistrand approach to the mixed methodology maintained the rigour of the respective methods and provided an opportunity to explore complexity in the findings. Limited sensitivity of some of the quantitative measures was identified, as well as the potential for bias in the coding of the open‐ended questions.

Conclusion

The SAKG evaluation methodology will address the need for appropriate evaluation approaches for school‐based kitchen garden programs. It demonstrates the feasibility of a meaningful, comprehensive evaluation of school‐based programs and also demonstrates the central role qualitative methods can have in a mixed‐method evaluation.

So what?

This paper contributes to debate about appropriate evaluation approaches to meet the information needs of all stakeholders and will support the sharing of measures and potential comparisons between program outcomes for comparable population groups and settings.
Impact on community organisations that partnered with the Act‐Belong‐Commit mental health promotion campaign
Authors: Jalleh Geoffrey , Anwar‐McHenry Julia , Donovan Robert J. , Laws Amberlee
Published: March 2013

Issue addressed

A primary aim of the pilot phase of the Act‐Belong‐Commit mental health promotion campaign was to form partnerships with community organisations. As a component of the broader campaign strategy, collaborating organisations promoted their activities under the Act‐Belong‐Commit banner in exchange for resources, promotional opportunities and capacity building in event management and funding.

Methods

The impact of the Act‐Belong‐Commit campaign on the capacity and activities of collaborating organisations during the pilot phase was evaluated using self‐completed mail surveys in 2006 and 2008.

Results

Collaboration with the campaign had a positive impact on community organisations' capacity, including staff expertise, media publicity and funding applications. Collaborating organisations had strong positive perceptions of Act‐Belong‐Commit officers and all expressed a willingness to collaborate in future events and activities.

Conclusions

The partnership model used during the pilot phase of the Act‐Belong‐Commit campaign was successful in creating mutually beneficial exchanges with collaborating organisations.

So what?

Community partnerships are necessary for the effective delivery of mental health promotion campaigns at a local level. Successful partnerships involve the provision of real and valuable benefits to collaborating organisations in return for their cooperation in promoting health messages.
Active adults recall their physical activity differently to less active adults: test–retest reliability and validity of a physical activity survey
Authors: Fjeldsoe Brianna S. , Winkler Elisabeth A. H. , Marshall Alison L. , Eakin Elizabeth G. , Reeves Marina M.
Published: March 2013

Issue addressed

This paper determined the test‐retest reliability and criterion validity of a modified version of the Active Australia Survey (AAS) and whether these properties varied across participants' activity levels.

Methods

Participants (n = 63) responded to repeat administrations of the AAS and wore an accelerometer for 7 days. Analyses used Spearman's rho (rs,) or weighted kappa (k) and Bland‐Altman methods. Variation in mean difference and 95% limits of agreement (LOA) across average levels of activity were tested by linear regression.

Results

Reliability correlations (rs; 95% confidence intervals (CI)) for minutes per week ranged from 0.40 (0.16, 0.59) to 0.80 (0.68, 0.87). For days per week, the agreement (k; 95% CI) between administrations ranged from 0.43 (0.34, 0.73) to 0.83 (0.61, 0.93). There was a small mean difference between administrations (−8.46 moderate‐vigorous minutes per week); 95% LOA widened as participants' average activity levels increased. Validity correlations (rs; 95% CI) for minutes per week ranged from 0.50 (0.28, 0.66) to 0.61 (0.43, 0.75). For days per week, the agreement (k; 95% CI) ranged from 0.35 (0.10, 0.50) to 0.61 (0.29, 0.87). The mean difference between the AAS and accelerometer and 95% LOA both varied with participants' activity levels.

Conclusions

The reliability and validity of the modified AAS were better than those of previously published versions, but varied according to participants' activity levels.

So what?

In this study, participants who engaged in more activity had more measurement error than less active participants. This proportionality will have important implications for cross‐sectional and intervention studies. This phenomenon needs to be examined for other self‐reported physical activity measures.
Single-cell label-free photoacoustic flowoxigraphy in vivo
Authors: Wang Lidai , Maslov Konstantin , Wang Lihong V.
Published: March 2013

Label-free functional imaging of single red blood cells (RBCs) in vivo holds the key to uncovering the fundamental mechanism of oxygen metabolism in cells. To this end, we developed single-RBC photoacoustic flowoxigraphy (FOG), which can image oxygen delivery from single flowing RBCs in vivo with millisecond-scale temporal resolution and micrometer-scale spatial resolution. Using intrinsic optical absorption contrast from oxyhemoglobin (HbO
2
) and deoxyhemoglobin (HbR), FOG allows label-free imaging. Multiple single-RBC functional parameters, including total hemoglobin concentration (C
Hb
), oxygen saturation (sO
2
), sO
2
gradient (

), flow speed (v
f
), and oxygen release rate (rO
2
), have been quantified simultaneously in real time. Working in reflection instead of transmission mode, the system allows minimally invasive imaging at more anatomical sites. We showed the capability to measure relationships among sO
2
,

, v
f
, and rO
2
in a living mouse brain. We also demonstrated that single-RBC oxygen delivery was modulated by changing either the inhalation gas or blood glucose. Furthermore, we showed that the coupling between neural activity and oxygen delivery could be imaged at the single-RBC level in the brain. The single-RBC functional imaging capability of FOG enables numerous biomedical studies and clinical applications.
TPL2 kinase is a suppressor of lung carcinogenesis
Authors: Gkirtzimanaki Katerina , Gkouskou Kalliopi K. , Oleksiewicz Urszula , Nikolaidis Georgios , Vyrla Dimitra , Liontos Michalis , Pelekanou Vassiliki , Kanellis Dimitris C. , Evangelou Kostantinos , Stathopoulos Efstathios N. , Field John K. , Tsichlis Philip N. , Gorgoulis Vassilis , Liloglou Triantafillos , Eliopoulos Aristides G.
Published: March 2013

Lung cancer is a heterogeneous disease at both clinical and molecular levels, posing conceptual and practical bottlenecks in defining key pathways affecting its initiation and progression. Molecules with a central role in lung carcinogenesis are likely to be targeted by multiple deregulated pathways and may have prognostic, predictive, and/or therapeutic value. Here, we report that Tumor Progression Locus 2 (TPL2), a kinase implicated in the regulation of innate and adaptive immune responses, fulfils a role as a suppressor of lung carcinogenesis and is subject to diverse genetic and epigenetic aberrations in lung cancer patients. We show that allelic imbalance at the TPL2 locus, up-regulation of microRNA-370, which targets TPL2 transcripts, and activated RAS (rat sarcoma) signaling may result in down-regulation of TPL2 expression. Low TPL2 levels correlate with reduced lung cancer patient survival and accelerated onset and multiplicity of urethane-induced lung tumors in mice. Mechanistically, TPL2 was found to antagonize oncogene-induced cell transformation and survival through a pathway involving p53 downstream of cJun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and be required for optimal p53 response to genotoxic stress. These results identify multiple oncogenic pathways leading to TPL2 deregulation and highlight its major tumor-suppressing function in the lung.
Structure of the rare archaeal biosphere and seasonal dynamics of active ecotypes in surface coastal waters
Authors: Hugoni Mylène , Taib Najwa , Debroas Didier , Domaizon Isabelle , Jouan Dufournel Isabelle , Bronner Gisèle , Salter Ian , Agogué Hélène , Mary Isabelle , Galand Pierre E.
Published: March 2013

Marine Archaea are important players among microbial plankton and significantly contribute to biogeochemical cycles, but details regarding their community structure and long-term seasonal activity and dynamics remain largely unexplored. In this study, we monitored the interannual archaeal community composition of abundant and rare biospheres in northwestern Mediterranean Sea surface waters by pyrosequencing 16S rDNA and rRNA. A detailed analysis of the rare biosphere structure showed that the rare archaeal community was composed of three distinct fractions. One contained the rare Archaea that became abundant at different times within the same ecosystem; these cells were typically not dormant, and we hypothesize that they represent a local seed bank that is specific and essential for ecosystem functioning through cycling seasonal environmental conditions. The second fraction contained cells that were uncommon in public databases and not active, consisting of aliens to the studied ecosystem and representing a nonlocal seed bank of potential colonizers. The third fraction contained Archaea that were always rare but actively growing; their affiliation and seasonal dynamics were similar to the abundant microbes and could not be considered a seed bank. We also showed that the major archaeal groups, Thaumarchaeota marine group I and Euryarchaeota group II.B in winter and Euryarchaeota group II.A in summer, contained different ecotypes with varying activities. Our findings suggest that archaeal diversity could be associated with distinct metabolisms or life strategies, and that the rare archaeal biosphere is composed of a complex assortment of organisms with distinct histories that affect their potential for growth.