bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nanogranite inclusions in migmatitic garnet: behavior during piston‐cylinder remelting experiments
Authors: Bartoli O. , Cesare B. , Poli S. , Acosta‐Vigil A. , Esposito R. , Turina A. , Bodnar R. J. , Angel R. J. , Hunter J.
Published: April 2013

Nanogranites represent totally crystallized inclusions of anatectic melt trapped within peritectic minerals of migmatites and granulites. They have recently been discovered in several locations. This discovery opens new possibilities for investigating crustal melting processes, provided that an appropriate method for retrieving the information contained within nanogranite inclusions is available. Here, we describe a series of remelting experiments that have been performed at different temperatures and under dry, andH2O‐added, conditions on nanogranite inclusions hosted in migmatitic garnet, using a piston‐cylinder apparatus. The glasses obtained by quenching the sample from temperature that approaches the trapping temperature have compositions very similar to those of preserved glassy inclusions coexisting with nanogranites in the same cluster. No significant differences inH2O contents were observed for nanogranites rehomogenized under dry and wet conditions. Higher (50–100°C) experimental temperatures resulted in dissolution of the host into the melt and inclusion decrepitation with the loss of volatiles. Therefore, piston‐cylinder remelting experiments may eliminate inclusion decrepitation, maintaining the primary fluid contents in the originally trapped melt. These volatiles would otherwise be lost during remelting experiments at ambient pressure. By preventing volatile loss, the inclusion does not have to be overheated to achieve homogenization, and the compositions of quenched glasses so obtained can be assumed to be those of melts produced (and trapped as inclusions) during crustal anatexis. The experimental approach described here represents a promising technique for the successful rehomogenization of crystallized melt inclusions from high‐pressure environments, such as the mafic continental crust.
Liver damage is not reversed during the lean period in diet‐induced weight cycling in mice
Authors: Barbosa‐da‐Silva Sandra , da Silva Natalia C. , Aguila Marcia B. , Mandarim‐de‐Lacerda Carlos A.
Published: April 2013

Aim

Weight cycling (WC) is frequent in obesity treatment. We evaluated the degree of regression of the liver damage in WC.

Methods

C57BL/6 male mice received standard chow (SC, 10% energy from lipids) or high‐fat diet (HF, 60% energy from lipids) for 6 months (SC6 or HF6) or a diet that alternated every 2 months (SC2/HF2/SC2 or HF2/SC2/HF2).

Results

The body mass gain followed the HF intake and induced WC in the animals. The liver alanine aminotransferase, triglyceride and cholesterol levels were higher in the groups receiving the HF diet for any period. The plasma insulin and glucose levels were the highest in the HF6 and HF2/SC2/HF2 groups. Any HF intake increased the liver mass. All the groups had some degree of liver steatosis, with the SC6 group exhibiting the lowest level (∼23% compared with 50–70%). The activated hepatic stellate cells were sparse throughout the liver sections from the HF6 and HF2/SC2/HF2 groups. The lowest sterol regulatory element‐binding protein‐1c (SREBP‐1c) level was detected in the SC6 group. The peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor (PPAR)‐α expression was higher in the SC6 and SC2/HF2/SC2 groups than in the HF6 and HF2/SC2/HF2 groups that showed reduced expression.

Conclusion

WC induced by diet leads to adverse response in the liver, including biochemical and molecular alterations that are not reversed during the lean period of the WC, which must be maintained for a long period to allow the liver to recover from the damage associated with obesity.
IRS2 is a candidate driver oncogene on 13q34 in colorectal cancer
Authors: Day Elizabeth , Poulogiannis George , McCaughan Frank , Mulholland Shani , Arends Mark J. , Ibrahim Ashraf E. K. , Dear Paul H.
Published: April 2013

Copy number alterations are frequently found in colorectal cancer (CRC), and recurrent gains or losses are likely to correspond to regions harbouring genes that promote or impede carcinogenesis respectively. Gain of chromosome 13q is common in CRC but, because the region of gain is frequently large, identification of the driver gene(s) has hitherto proved difficult. We used array comparative genomic hybridization to analyse 124 primary CRCs, demonstrating that 13q34 is a region of gain in 35% of CRCs, with focal gains in 4% and amplification in a further 1.6% of cases. To reduce the number of potential driver genes to consider, it was necessary to refine the boundaries of the narrowest copy number changes seen in this series and hence define the minimal copy region (MCR). This was performed using molecular copy‐number counting, identifying IRS2 as the only complete gene, and therefore the likely driver oncogene, within the refined MCR. Analysis of available colorectal neoplasia data sets confirmed IRS2 gene gain as a common event. Furthermore, IRS2 protein and mRNA expression in colorectal neoplasia was assessed and was positively correlated with progression from normal through adenoma to carcinoma. In functional in vitro experiments, we demonstrate that deregulated expression of IRS2 activates the oncogenic PI3 kinase pathway and increases cell adhesion, both characteristics of invasive CRC cells. Together, these data identify IRS2 as a likely driver oncogene in the prevalent 13q34 region of gain/amplification and suggest that IRS2 over‐expression may provide an additional mechanism of PI3 kinase pathway activation in CRC.
In Situ TiC Ceramic Particles Locally Reinforced Al‐Si Matrix Composites Prepared by SHS‐Casting Method from the Al‐Si‐Ti‐C System
Authors: Zhang Mengxian , Huo Yanqiu , Ma Li , Huang Bin , Hu Qiaodan
Published: April 2013

Using Al‐Si‐Ti‐C powder mixtures, TiC grains locally reinforced Al‐Si matrix composites were produced through self‐propagating high‐temperature synthesis and casting method. The formation of TiC could be ascribed to the dissolution–reaction–precipitation mechanism. The TiC grains were uniformly distributed in the locally reinforced regions of the Al‐Si matrix. With increasing Al‐Si content, the size of TiC grains decreased. No pores and cracks were present at the interface between the Al‐Si matrix and the reinforced regions. Wear resistance of the locally reinforced regions is significantly improved compared with that of the Al‐Si matrix.
Promoting ‘Healthy Childhoods’ and Keeping Children ‘At Home’: Beninese Anti‐Trafficking Policy in Times of Neoliberalism
Authors: Howard Neil
Published: April 2013

This article offers the first examination of its kind of the content and nature of anti‐trafficking policy as it is pursued in Benin. The article draws on data gathered from policy and project documents and from interviews and participant observation with actors integral to the constitution of policy in (and with influence over) the Beninese anti‐trafficking community. It attempts to bridge the oft‐lamented gap between page and practice by conducting analysis not only of the representation of policy in text, but also of its lived manifestations in processes, interactions and structures. It argues that the various different actors that comprise Benin's anti‐trafficking pantheon seek to accomplish one fundamental goal – to protect children from trafficking – through two overarching strategies – the promotion of ‘healthy’ childhoods and the pre‐emptive prevention of child movement. The article examines each of the main strands of policy and concludes by offering a Foucauldian analysis of their operation. It thus fills a major gap in the academic understanding of anti‐trafficking policy in the Beninese context.
Infants' Individuation of Rigid and Plastic Objects Based on Shape
Authors: Schaub Simone , Bertin Evelyn , Cacchione Trix
Published: April 2013

Recent research suggests that 12‐month‐old infants use shape to individuate the number of objects present in a scene. This study addressed the question of whether infants would also rely on shape when shape is only a temporary attribute of an object. Specifically, we investigated whether infants realize that shape changes reliably indicate identity changes only in the case of rigid objects, but not in the case of deformable plastic objects. Twelve‐month‐old infants observed how either a rigid or a plastic object was placed in a box. When searching the box, they retrieved either an object with the same (no‐switch event) or with a different shape (switch event). Infants correctly inferred two distinct objects in the switch event in the case of rigid objects, but not in the case of plastic objects. A control experiment confirmed that this result was not due to a lack of salience of the shape transformation. Thus, infants' re‐searching behavior indicated that they viewed shape as being diagnostic in the individuation process of rigid objects only.
WORKING FOR EUROPE? SOCIALIZATION IN THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION AND AGENCIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
Authors: SUVARIEROL SEMIN , BUSUIOC MADALINA , GROENLEER MARTIJN
Published: April 2013

The trend towards flexible career arrangements has not left EU institutions untouched, as is manifest in the growing reliance on temporary and part‐time officials. How does the increasing career hybridity within and across EU institutions affect European socialization, i.e. the extent to which officials embody the spirit of ‘working for Europe’ and adopt supranational norms? We conceptualize European socialization as a mutually reinforcing process shaped by the interaction of officials with the institutions of which they are members. We argue that a focus on career arrangements provides a good starting point as these arrangements shape individuals' interaction with the organization. Consequently, they generate diverging socialization processes which lead to different socialization products. Our empirical insights are based on a study of different types of career arrangements within the European Commission bureaucracy and specialized and independent EU agencies through structured and semi‐structured interviews and surveys with officials.
Creative Mediations of the City: Contemporary Public Art as Compass of Metro Manila's Urban Conditions
Authors: Guazon Tessa Maria
Published: April 2013

In this article, public art is proposed as creative agency mobilized to form urban imaginaries. These alternate visions are largely facilitated by artists and art collectives using urban communities as performative grounds. These projects promote a view of art as an effective channel for ‘recentering’ — the identification of a multitude of centers that endlessly fracture and shift, very much resembling the nature of cities themselves. An alternate vision of the city through cartography informed by contrast, temporality and ephemerality is proposed alongside dominant representations of the city. Works by artists Alma Quinto, Mark Salvatus and Wire Tuazon are representative examples of such strategies. Diverse in tactics and platforms, defined by site‐specific mediations, the projects facilitated by these artists reveal the uneven conditions that beset Metro Manila and its outlying areas. Quinto's altered Urban Plan/Duyan is the result of her engagement with women in an informal settler community in San Andres Bukid, Manila, while Salvatus's web‐based Neo‐Urban Planner is an astute observation of the obsessive yet futile ordering of people and space by the state. Tuazon's Amphibian installation is a commentary on the encroachment of multinational interests in local communities. These interventions are foils to state‐ and private‐led urban development schemes. Their strength lies in their direct engagement with the sphere of public dialogue and self‐determination. These artistic practices and strategies are shaped by community interaction, revealing that meanings residing in urban forms are relentlessly negotiated by the numerous actors that inhabit the city.
LIVRES
Authors: Fudge Judy
Published: April 2013

Books reviewed in this issue.

A right to care? Unpaid care work in European employment law. Par Nicole Busby.

Gender, law and justice in a global market. Par Ann Stewart.
How Many Bytes Does It Take? A Content Analysis of Cyber Issues in Couple and Family Therapy Journals
Authors: Blumer Markie L. C. , Hertlein Katherine M. , Smith Justin M. , Allen Harrison
Published: April 2013

In the fifteen years since the explosion of the Internet, using cyber technology for work and social functions has exponentially increased. Yet, questions around how to manage such changes remain elusive in family therapy literature. In this investigation, we conducted a content analysis to determine to what extent marriage/couple and family therapy (M/CFT) journals have responded to the integration of the Internet in couple and family life. We found 79 of 13,274 articles across seventeen journals focused on the Internet in some capacity. Implications for clinical practice, training, and future research are discussed.

Video Abstract
Monitoring daily life activity shows less activity among female dementia patients
Authors: Iwata Atsushi , Kowa Hisatomo , Tsuji Shoji
Published: April 2013

Background

An objective assessment of activity levels in dementia patients during their routine daily lives could be useful when evaluating them, as questionnaires given to patients and caregivers on this subject matter are often subjective. In the present study, we tried to develop an objective method to evaluate the daily life activity of dementia patients.

Methods

We recruited six age‐matched healthy controls, 10 mild cognitive impairment patients and 14 patients with dementia. The cause of dementia was mostly Alzheimer's disease in origin; just two patients were diagnosed with dementia as a result of other causes. Participants and caregivers consented to wear an accelerometer in order to measure their daily physical activity. The Mini‐Mental State Examination Japanese version, Functional Activity Questionnaire Japanese version and Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire Form Japanese version were obtained during the evaluation period. The participants were required to wear the device over a 3‐month period and for at least four waking hours per day. The device is capable of discriminating between active walking or running and ordinary household daily activities. We analyzed the total amount of exercise carried out and calorie consumption, based on the pattern of activity obtained.

Results

Female patients with dementia showed a significant reduction in physical activity, whereas male patients did not show any decline. There was a mild correlation between physical activity and both the Mini‐Mental State Examination Japanese version and Functional Activity Questionnaire Japanese version.

Conclusion

The results reflect a tendency for female dementia patients to be reluctant to carry out physical activity during their daily lives, thus highlighting the potential beneficial use of this method to evaluate dementia severity, including the therapeutic response to various interventions.
Selective impairment of race perception after bilateral damage in the fusiform and parahippocampal gyri
Authors: Koyama Shinichi , Midorikawa Akira , Suzuki Atsunobu , Hibino Haruo , Sugimoto Azusa , Futamura Akinori , Kawamura Mitsuru
Published: April 2013

Aim

Although a previous functional magnetic resonance imaging study showed that the fusiform and parahippocampal gyri respond differentially to faces of the same versus different races, it is not clear whether the cortical regions are involved in perception of race. We examined whether two brain‐damaged patients with bilateral fusiform and parahippocampal lesions were able to perceive race. We also examined whether perception of race depended on perception of facial morphology, such as convex and concave surfaces.

Methods

One patient (patient S) had a focal lesion in the fusiform and parahippocampal gyri, and showed no signs of prosopagnosia. The other patient (patient O) had more extensive lesions and did show prosopagnosia. The patients and nine normal controls participated in a psychophysical race classification task using grayscale pictures and luminance‐reversed pictures.

Results

In patient S, whose lesion was limited to the fusiform and parahippocampal gyri, the perception of race was selectively impaired. In patient O, who had more extensive lesions, race perception was also impaired. Furthermore, their race perception was especially impaired when the facial images were presented in reversed luminance.

Conclusion

The present study suggests that the fusiform and parahippocampal gyri are involved in perception of race and that perception of facial surface is involved in distinguishing between races.
Understanding public stigma toward substance dependence
Authors: Janulis Patrick , Ferrari Joseph R. , Fowler Patrick
Published: April 2013

This study examined the mechanisms of stigma toward individuals diagnosed with substance‐related disorders. The applicability of a mental health model of stigma extended to substance dependence was tested. Undergraduates completed a modified version of stigma questionnaires previously used to measure mental health stigma models. Questionnaires captured familiarity, perceived dangerousness, fear, and desired social distance toward individuals dependent to alcohol, marijuana, and heroin. Path analysis assessed the direct and indirect effects within this theoretical model for each substance. For marijuana and heroin, path models suggested that familiarity indirectly predicted desired social distance through perceived dangerousness and fear. For alcohol, familiarity did not indirectly or directly predict desired social distance. Implications for applying mental health models to substance disorder stigma are discussed.
Experimental manipulations to reduce the negative effects of money
Authors: Yam Kai Chi
Published: April 2013

People generally consider money a necessary evil because it invokes dual effects. On one hand, it increases people's productivity and performance, but it also decreases people's sensitivity to others. I conducted three experimental studies with an attempt to reduce the negative effects of money. Results indicated that when money was framed as a social incentive, its negative effect was attenuated and people exerted more helping behavior in both hypothetical and real‐life scenarios. However, when a social incentive was framed in monetary terms, the negative effect of money prevailed in hypothetical but not in real‐life scenarios. Results suggested that money itself is not the root of evil or good, but rather its effects are influenced by our perceptions of its role.
Parents' perceptions of their child's academic competencies construe their educational reality: Findings from a 9‐year longitudinal study
Authors: Räty Hannu , Kasanen Kati
Published: April 2013

Academically and vocationally educated parents were asked to assess their child's academic competencies and motivation when the child was in preschool, then every 2 years till the end of the child's comprehensive school. It was found that the initial increasing trend in the parental attributions of competence stabilized and even turned downwards and that the education‐ and gender‐bound differences in the attributions, already manifest at the preschool stage, were still in evidence and had got more varied forms. It is suggested that parental perceptions of competencies are activated in a socially structured field of meanings and that highly educated parents construe their educational reality in terms of the social representation of natural giftedness.
Mechanotransduction at focal adhesions: from physiology to cancer development
Authors: Seong Jihye , Wang Ning , Wang Yingxiao
Published: April 2013

Living cells are continuously exposed to mechanical cues, and can translate these signals into biochemical information (e.g. mechanotransduction). This process is crucial in many normal cellular functions, e.g. cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, and survival, as well as the progression of diseases such as cancer. Focal adhesions are the major sites of interactions between extracellular mechanical environments and intracellular biochemical signalling molecules/cytoskeleton, and hence focal adhesion proteins have been suggested to play important roles in mechanotransduction. Here, we overview the current molecular understanding in mechanotransduction occurring at focal adhesions. We also introduce recent studies on how extracellular matrix and mechanical microenvironments contribute to the development of cancer.
Non‐surgical periodontal treatment reduces cardiovascular risk in refractory hypertensive patients: a pilot study
Authors: Vidal Fábio , Cordovil Ivan , Figueredo Carlos Marcelo Silva , Fischer Ricardo Guimarães
Published: April 2013

Aim

To evaluate the effects of non‐surgical periodontal treatment on left ventricular mass (LVM), arterial stiffness, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and plasma levels of inflammatory markers (C‐reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen and interleukin‐6) in refractory hypertension patients.

Material and Methods

This interventional prospective cohort pilot study included 26 patients (53.6 ± 8.0 years old) diagnosed with refractory hypertension and generalized chronic periodontitis. Subjects received non‐surgical periodontal treatment according to their needs. Plasma levels of systemic inflammation (CRP; fibrinogen and interleukin‐6) and established cardiovascular risk factors [systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), left ventricular mass (LVM) and arterial stiffness] were assessed at three time points (baseline, 3 months after baseline and 6 months after periodontal therapy).

Results

Periodontal therapy significantly reduced all cardiovascular risk markers evaluated. Median values of SBP and DBP were reduced by 12.5 mmHg and 10.0 mmHg, respectively, whereas left ventricular mass (LVM) reduced by 12.9 g and pulse wave velocity reduced by 0.9 m/s (p < 0.01). Levels of CRP, IL‐6 and fibrinogen lowered by 0.5 mg/dl, 1.4 pg/dl and 37.5 mg/dl (p < 0.01), respectively, 6 months after periodontal therapy.

Conclusions

Periodontal therapy significantly reduced levels of CRP, IL‐6, fibrinogen, blood pressure, LVM and arterial stiffness, lowering cardiovascular risk in refractory hypertensive patients.
Anti‐inflammatory effects of exendin‐4, a glucagon‐like peptide‐1 analog, on human peripheral lymphocytes in patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: He Lan , Wong Chun Kwok , Cheung Kitty KT , Yau Ho Chung , Fu Anthony , Zhao Hai‐lu , Leung Karen ML , Kong Alice PS , Wong Gary WK , Chan Paul KS , Xu Gang , Chan Juliana CN
Published: April 2013

Aims/Introduction

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by dysregulation of immunity, oxidative stress and reduced incretin effects. Experimental studies suggest that glucagon‐like peptide (GLP‐1) might have immunomodulating effects. We hypothesize that GLP‐1 receptor agonist, exendin‐4, might reduce inflammatory response in type 2 diabetes.

Materials and Methods

Using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) sampled from 10 type 2 diabetes and 10 sex‐ and age‐matched control subjects and supernatants from PBMC culture, the expression of phospho‐mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways in CD4+ T helper lymphocytes and monocytes was analyzed using flow cytometry. Cytokines/chemokines and superoxide anion before and after treatment with exendin‐4 were measured by cytometric bead array and chemiluminesence assay, respectively.

Results

Compared with control subjects, PBMC from type 2 diabetes patients showed activated MAPK (P38, c‐Jun NH2‐terminal protein kinase and extracellular signal‐regulated kinase) signaling pathway, elevated superoxide anion, increased pro‐inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor‐α, interleukin‐1β, interleukin‐6) and chemokines (CCL5/regulated on activation normal T‐cell expressed and secreted and CXCL10/interferon‐γ‐induced protein 10). These changes were attenuated by exendin‐4, possibly through the suppression of p38 MAPK.

Conclusions

These results suggest that exendin‐4 might downregulate pro‐inflammatory responses and reduce oxidative stress by suppressing MAPK signaling pathways in type 2 diabetes.
Effect of periodontal treatment on glycemic control of patients with diabetes: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Corbella Stefano , Francetti Luca , Taschieri Silvio , De Siena Francesca , Fabbro Massimo Del
Published: April 2013

Aims/Introduction

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether non‐surgical periodontal treatment reduces glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels in diabetic patients.

Materials and Methods

An electronic search was carried out on MEDLINE (through PubMed interface), EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Randomized controlled trials with a minimum of 3 months follow up were included. The risk of bias was assessed for each study. A meta‐analysis was carried out to evaluate the effect of non‐surgical periodontal treatment on HbA1c and FPG levels. The effect of the adjunctive use of antimicrobials was also assessed.

Results

A total of 15 studies were included. A reduction of −0.38% (95% confidence interval [CI] −0.23 to −0.53) after 3–4 months (P < 0.001) and of −0.31% (95% CI 0.11 to −0.74) after 6 months (P = 0.15) of follow‐up was found for HbA1c, favoring the treatment group. Similarly, in treated patients, a significantly greater decrease in FPG was observed in respect to control participants. Such difference amounted to −9.01 mg/dL (95% CI −2.24 to −15.78) after 3–4 months (P = 0.009) and −13.62 mg/dL (95% CI 0.45 to −27.69) after 6 months (P = 0.06) from treatment, respectively. In participants treated with adjunctive antimicrobials, a non‐significant increase of HbA1c was observed 3 months after treatment, whereas FPG decreased by 0.27 mg/dL (95% CI 39.56 to −40.11; P = 0.99).

Conclusions

The meta‐analysis showed that non‐surgical periodontal treatment improves metabolic control in patients with both periodontitis and diabetes.
Popularity of suture materials among residents and faculty members of a postdoctoral periodontology program
Authors: Maksoud Mohamed , Koo Samuel , Barouch Kasumi , Karimbux Nadeem
Published: April 2013

Aim

The aim of the present study was to determine the favoritism of suture materials among a group of clinicians at a teaching institution.

Methods

The surveys included 11 absorbable and nine non‐absorbable sutures. The surveyor was asked to select his or her suture preferences when it comes to using it in 13 different, commonly‐performed surgical procedures.

Results

The surveys showed overall preferences for non‐absorbable versus absorbable sutures. Chromic Gut with a 4–0 diameter thread reverse cutting FS2 needle was the most favored suture. For periodontal bone grafts and hard tissue ridge augmentation, polytetrafluoroethylene with a 4–0 thread and FS2 needle was preferred. For autogenous gingival grafts, gingival allografts, connective tissue grafts, frenectomy and frenoplasty, Chromic Gut with 5–0 diameter thread reverse cutting P3 needle was favored. For extraction socket preservation, soft tissue canine exposure, ridge augmentation, and dental implants, Chromic Gut with 4–0 diameter thread reverse cutting FS2 needle was preferred, and for sinus augmentation, Vicryl with a 4–0 diameter thread reverse cutting FS2 needle was favored.

Conclusion

Absorbable sutures were preferred in the majority of periodontal procedures; however, non‐absorbable sutures were favored in procedures that required longer healing or better stability of the flap edges in cases of periodontal and ridge augmentation.
Development of a scale measuring the job satisfaction of Japanese hospital nurses
Authors: Muya Makiko , Katsuyama Kimiko , Ozaki Fusako , Aoyama Hifumi
Published: April 2013

Aim

This study attempts to develop a scale measuring job satisfaction in Japanese hospital nurses.

Methods

The authors developed items for a new scale measuring job satisfaction and determined the scale's internal and external validity. Based on this analysis, the authors then modified the scale after conducting two surveys. In Survey 1, the scale was tested on 600 nurses from two hospitals and items were selected based on item and factor analyses. In Survey 2, items were further refined based on responses from 800 nurses from four hospitals. Using these responses, the authors determined the reliability and validity of the scale.

Results

A 37 item job satisfaction scale was developed through examination of internal and external validity and based on the results of item analysis. Through factor analysis, four factors – “positive emotions toward work”, “appropriate support from superiors”, “perceived significance in the workplace”, and “pleasant working environment” – and 28 items were extracted. The cumulative contribution rate was 43.9%. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.91. The correlations found between sense of satisfaction with work, burnout, and self‐esteem supported the scale's concurrent and construct validity.

Conclusion

The authors were successful in developing a scale measuring hospital nurses' job satisfaction. The surveys conducted using this scale identified factors associated with work achievement and capability development, including “positive emotions toward work” and “perceived significance in the workplace”, neither of which have been covered by existing scales.
Implementation of tobacco use cessation counseling among oral health professionals in Finland
Authors: Amemori Masamitsu , Korhonen Tellervo , Michie Susan , Murtomaa Heikki , Kinnunen Taru H.
Published: April 2013

Objectives

Clinical guidelines for tobacco use cessation (TUC) counseling recommend that healthcare professionals should provide brief tobacco counseling for all tobacco users. Widespread implementation of these guidelines seems to be insufficient. To enhance adherence to TUC counseling guidelines, it is essential to identify provider behaviors related to a successful implementation. This study aims to assess adherence to TUC counseling guidelines and factors that are associated with counseling behaviors.

Methods

A 41‐item questionnaire relevant to the implementation of TUC counseling guidelines among healthcare professionals was administered. This questionnaire included items used to evaluate TUC counseling behaviors as well Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF)‐based behavior change items. Of the 95 oral health professionals invited from 34 community dental clinics in Finland, 73 professionals (76.8 percent) participated. The TDF factors and their associations to TUC counseling behaviors were analyzed using correlations and logistic regression analyses.

Results

Adherence to TUC counseling guidelines, especially for providing advice to quit, assisting in quitting and arranging follow‐up services, were low. In addition, only 15.1 percent of the providers reported asking about tobacco use and 8.2 percent assessed interest in quitting among the majority (>75 percent) of their patients. Of the behavior change domains, “Memory, Attention and Decision Processes” and “Professional Role and Identity” were found to be significantly associated with TUC counseling behavior among oral health professionals.

Conclusions

Regarding the adherence to TUC counseling guidelines, there is room for improvement. The identified TDF factors related to TUC behaviors provide an avenue for targeted interventions to improve guideline implementation.
Parents' experience of living with and caring for an adult son or daughter with schizophrenia at home in Ireland: a qualitative study
Authors: McAuliffe R. , O'Connor L. , Meagher D.
Published: April 2013

Accessible summary

This paper reports a study that explored the experience of now older parents living with and caring for, an adult child with schizophrenia in Ireland.

Parents reported mixed emotions that gave insight into the severe psychological distress they experienced when their son or daughter was diagnosed with schizophrenia. The period immediately after diagnosis can be particularly stressful. On the contrary; parents also experienced acceptance of their new caring role underpinned by their sense of love and responsibility for their son or daughter with schizophrenia.

There is a lack of studies on the experience and needs of parents of a son or daughter with schizophrenia in Ireland. This study offers insights from legitimate experts in illuminating what the experience is really like.

A family‐centred approach is required to deal with the uniqueness of individual parents' circumstances. Assessment and care planning should take into account the family as a unit.

This study explored the experience of parents living with, and caring for, an adult son or daughter with schizophrenia. There is increasing emphasis on the involvement of carers and users in the care for people with schizophrenia. ‘A Vision for Change’ highlights the need for a partnership approach and emphasizes that carers are an integral part in the planning and delivery of mental health services. In order to meet such requests, it was necessary to explore the meaning of caregiving for Irish families. A descriptive qualitative design was used to enable parents to describe their experiences. Semi‐structured, in‐depth interviews with a convenience sample of six parents in Ireland were carried out in 2007. The study encompassed four major themes: psychological tsunami, caring activities, coping with enduring illness and an uncertain pathway. Parents reported severe psychological distress when their son or daughter was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Their deep sense of loss was followed by acceptance of the situation. Feelings of love and a sense of responsibility helped to give meaning to their caring role. This study gave a voice to some parents of a son or daughter with schizophrenia. A family‐centred approach should be at the core of care planning for this vulnerable population.
The effect of long‐term aspirin intake on the outcome of non‐surgical periodontal therapy in smokers: a double‐blind, randomized pilot study
Authors: Shiloah Jacob , Bland Paul S. , Scarbecz Mark , Patters Mark R. , Stein Sydney H. , Tipton David A.
Published: April 2013

Objective

The objective of this parallel, double‐blind, randomized pilot study was to determine the effect of a daily dose of 325 mg of aspirin (ASA) on the clinical outcomes of scaling and root planing in a selected group of adult smokers.

Background

The response to periodontal therapy is inferior among smokers compared to non‐smokers. Long‐term intake of ASA has been shown to exert a positive impact on reducing both the prevalence and severity of periodontitis, among high‐risk groups of subjects such as heavy smokers and diabetics. It is reasonable to assume that systemic administration of ASA in conjunction with reduction of the bacterial load by scaling and root planing may improve and prolong the benefits of periodontal therapy. To date, only few prospective interventional clinical studies have specifically addressed the periodontal needs of smokers.

Methods

The study includes 24 smokers. The following clinical parameters were measured preoperatively and at 3, 6, 9 and 12 mo postoperatively: (i) gingival index; (ii) plaque index; (iii) probing depth; (iii) probing attachment level; (iv) gingival recession; and (v) bleeding scores. Study subjects received scaling and root planing over several visits and were randomly assigned into two equal groups; a control group (C), which received a placebo and a test group (T), which took a daily dose of 325 mg ASA. No additional therapy was provided over the 1 year observation period.

Results

There were more statistically significant differences (p < 0.05; one‐ tailed) between pretest and posttest scores in the T group than in the C group. Mean percent increase in sites with probing depth 1–3 mm (T: 8.78; C: 7.21); mean percent reduction in sites with probing depth 4–6 mm (T: −7.25; C: −5.09 not statistically significant, NS); mean percent reduction in sites with probing depth ≥ 7 mm (T: −1.42; C: −02.09); mean percent reduction in sites with probing attachment level 3–4 mm (T: −3.63; C: 0.48 NS); mean percent reduction in sites with bleeding on probing (T: −12.37; C: −2.59 NS) (p < 0.05, NS).

Conclusions

Daily intake of 325 mg of ASA following scaling and root planing improved treatment outcomes in smokers, without an increase in gingival bleeding tendency. ASA promoted a higher incidence of shallow pockets and more gain in attachment level.
NOD2 mRNA Expression and NFkappaB Activation in Dogs with Lymphocytic Plasmacytic Colitis
Authors: Okanishi H. , Hayashi K. , Sakamoto Y. , Sano T. , Maruyama H. , Kagawa Y. , Watari T.
Published: April 2013

Background

Nucleotide Oligomerization Domain Two (NOD2) is suggested to be an intracellular pathogen‐associated molecular pattern recognition molecule. NOD2, plays a key role against bacteria by triggering a host defense response through activation of the transcription factor NFkappaB and subsequent proinflammatory cytokine production. NOD2 recently was reported to be overproduced in inflamed colonic mucosa in Crohn's disease, and to be accompanied by a significant increase in NFkappaB activity. However, few studies to date have investigated intercellular signaling molecules in dogs with lymphocytic plasmacytic colitis (LPC).

Hypothesis

NOD2 mRNA expression and NFkappaB activation are increased in mucosal biopsies of LPC dogs as compared with control dogs.

Animals

Five healthy dogs and 19 dogs with LPC.

Methods

Descending colon biopsies were obtained endoscopically. Expression of NOD2 mRNA was evaluated by semiquantitative RT‐PCR in the colonic mucosa. NFkappaB binding activity was assessed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay.

Results

NOD2 mRNA expression was approximately 63% greater in LPC dogs than in healthy controls (P = .019). NFkappaB binding activity was approximately 45% higher in the inflamed colonic mucosa of the LPC dogs, as compared with healthy controls (P = .011). No correlations were observed among NOD2 mRNA expression levels, NFkappaB binding activity, and CIBDAI in LPC dogs.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

NOD2 mRNA and NFkappaB activity were significantly higher in the inflamed colon of dogs with LPC, as compared with healthy controls. Our data suggest that NOD2 and NFkappaB play an important role in the pathogenesis of LPC.
Prospective Evaluation of Biweekly Streptozotocin in 19 Dogs with Insulinoma
Authors: Northrup N.C. , Rassnick K.M. , Gieger T.L. , Kosarek C.E. , McFadden C.W. , Rosenberg M.P.
Published: April 2013

Background

Administration of streptozotocin (STZ) at a 21‐day interval has been described in dogs with stageIIandIIIinsulinoma. Myelosuppression was not observed, suggesting the possibility of increasing dose intensity by decreasing the interval between doses.

Objective

To describe the tolerability of a biweeklySTZprotocol. A secondary objective was to describe the outcome of dogs treated with this protocol.

Animals

Nineteen dogs with residual local, metastatic, or recurrent insulinoma.

Methods

After surgery for insulinoma, or at the time of recurrence, dogs were treated with a previously describedSTZand saline diuresis protocol. Treatments were administered every 14 days. All dogs received antiemetic treatment. Adverse events (AEs) were recorded and graded. Outcome endpoints assessed were progression‐free survival (PFS) and survival.

Results

None of the dogs experienced neutropenia or thrombocytopenia. Mild to moderate gastrointestinal toxicity was the most commonAE. Diabetes mellitus was observed in 8 dogs and, in 6, resulted in euthanasia or death. Two dogs developed nephrotoxicity manifested as Fanconi syndrome in 1 and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus in the other. Six dogs developed increased alanine amino transferase activity. Hypoglycemia at the end of theSTZinfusion, resulted in collapse in 1 dog and a generalized seizure in another. The median overallPFSand survival time were 196 and 308 days, respectively.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Streptozotocin can be safely administered to dogs with insulinoma, but seriousAEs are possible. Additional investigation is required to better define the role ofSTZin managing dogs with insulinoma.
Expression and localization of pannexin‐1 hemichannels in human colon in health and disease
Authors: Diezmos E. F. , Sandow S. L. , Markus I. , Shevy Perera D. , Lubowski D. Z. , King D. W. , Bertrand P. P. , Liu L.
Published: April 2013

Background

Pannexin‐1 (Panx1) proteins can function as channels for adenosine triphosphate (ATP) release, but there have been limited studies investigating their potential role in the human intestine. The aim of this study was to characterize Panx1 expression and distribution in the human colon and its potential involvement in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).

Methods

Human colon segments were dissected into mucosa and muscularis layers, and evaluated for Panx1 expression by real‐time PCR and Western blotting. Immunohistochemistry was conducted to localize the cellular distribution of Panx1 in intact tissues.

Key Results

In the colonic muscularis of ulcerative colitis (UC), Panx1 mRNA expression showed a 3.5‐fold reduction compared with control (P = 0.0015), but no change was seen in UC mucosa. In contrast, down‐regulation of Panx1 mRNA was observed in both muscularis and mucosa of Crohn's disease (CD), showing a 2.7‐ and 1.8‐fold reduction, respectively (P < 0.05). There was reduced Panx1 protein expression in CD muscularis, but no change in CD mucosa, UC muscularis, or UC mucosa. Pannexin‐1 immunoreactivity was mainly localized to enteric ganglia, blood vessel endothelium, erythrocytes, epithelial cells, and goblet cells. Inflammatory bowel disease samples showed a similar overall pattern of Panx1 staining, but in UC myenteric ganglia, there was a significant reduction in Panx1 immunoreactivity. Significant Panx1 positive leukocyte infiltrations were seen at the sites of inflammation.

Conclusions & Inferences

The presence of Panx1 in the colon and changes to its distribution in disease suggests that Panx1 channels may play an important role in mediating gut function and in IBD pathophysiology.
Beyond phylotyping: understanding the impact of gut microbiota on host biology
Authors: Reigstad Christopher S. , Kashyap Purna C.
Published: April 2013

Background

Microbial constituents of the gut microbiome interact with each other and the host to alter the luminal environment and impact development, motility, and homeostasis of the gut. Powerful methods are becoming available to investigate connections between the gut microbiome and human health. While high‐throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes can be used to identify and enumerate microbes in the gut, advances in several techniques (e.g., metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, metabolomics, and metaproteomics) are providing a clearer view as to the specific activities of the microbiota in the context of functional host–microbe interactions. Testing emergent hypotheses regarding microbial effects on host biology, which arise from analyses of ‘Big Data’ generated from massive parallel high‐throughput sequencing technology and spectroscopic techniques, to guide translational research is an important goal for the future. Insights regarding the fundamental operating principles of the gut microbiota should lay the foundation for rational manipulation of the microbiota to promote human health.

Purpose

In this review, we provide an overview of current research on the gut microbiome emphasizing current state‐of‐the‐art technologies, approaches, and directions for improvement of our understanding of the impact of the gut microbiota with specific focus on gastrointestinal motility disorders.
The protocadherin 11X/Y (PCDH11X/Y) gene pair as determinant of cerebral asymmetry in modern Homo sapiens
Authors: Priddle Thomas H. , Crow Timothy J.
Published: April 2013

Annett's right‐shift theory proposes that human cerebral dominance (the functional and anatomical asymmetry or torque along the antero‐posterior axis) and handedness are determined by a single “right‐shift” gene. Familial transmission of handedness and specific deviations of cerebral dominance in sex chromosome aneuploidies implicate a locus within an X–Y homologous region of the sex chromosomes. The Xq21.3/Yp11.2 human‐specific region of homology includes the protocadherin 11X/Y (PCDH11X/Y) gene pair, which encode cell adhesion molecules subject to accelerated evolution following the separation of the human and chimpanzee lineages six million years ago. PCDH11X and PCDH11Y, differentially regulated by retinoic acid, are highly expressed in the ventricular zone, subplate, and cortical plate of the developing cerebral cortex. Both proteins interact with β‐catenin, a protein that plays a role in determining axis formation and regulating cortical size. In this way, the PCDH11X/Y gene pair determines cerebral asymmetry by initiating the right shift in Homo sapiens.
The evolutionary consequences of interspecific aggression
Authors: Grether Gregory F. , Anderson Christopher N. , Drury Jonathan P. , Kirschel Alexander N. G. , Losin Neil , Okamoto Kenichi , Peiman Kathryn S.
Published: April 2013

Competition has always been a cornerstone of evolutionary biology, and aggression is the predominant form of direct competition in animals, but the evolutionary effects of aggression between species are curiously understudied. Only in the past few years, existing theoretical frameworks have been extended to include interspecific aggression, and significant empirical advances have been made. After arguing that agonistic character displacement (ACD) theory provides the most suitable theoretical framework, we review new empirical evidence for ACD and the results of mathematical models of the process. We consider how ACD can be distinguished empirically from ecological and reproductive character displacement and the additional challenges posed by developmental plasticity. We also provide the first taxonomically broad review of theoretical and empirical work on the effects of interspecific aggression on species coexistence and range limits. We conclude by highlighting promising directions for future research on the evolutionary effects of interspecific aggression.