bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of Diabetes Mellitus on Prognostic Utility of Imaging of Myocardial Sympathetic Innervation in Heart Failure Patients
Authors: Gerson Myron C. , Caldwell James H. , Ananthasubramaniam Karthik , Clements Ian P. , Henzlova Milena J. , Amanullah Aman , Jacobson Arnold F.
Published: December 2010

Background—

Patients with diabetes mellitus have accelerated progression of heart failure and often have impaired cardiac sympathetic innervation. The present study examines the implications for heart failure progression of cardiac sympathetic denervation, assessed by I-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine imaging, in diabetic compared with nondiabetic subjects.

Methods and Results—

We evaluated 343 diabetic and 618 nondiabetic subjects with New York Heart Association class II or III heart failure and a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35% over a median follow-up of 17 months. A multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was used to examine the influence of clinical variables, b-type natriuretic peptide, plasma norepinephrine, left ventricular ejection fraction, and I-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine imaging parameters on time to a heart failure event. The late heart-to-mediastinum (H/M) ratio and the interaction term of diabetes mellitus with the prospectively selected late H/M ratio <1.6 were independent predictors of heart failure progression, providing incremental prognostic information beyond that available from all other variables. In diabetic subjects, late H/M ratio <1.6 was associated with a 2.99-fold greater 2-year rate of heart failure progression (33.5%) than late H/M ratio ≥1.6 (11.2% event rate).

Conclusions—

The combination of diabetes mellitus and I-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine H/M ratio is an independent predictor of heart failure progression, confirming the high risk of diabetic subjects with impaired cardiac sympathetic nerve function.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00126438 and NCT00126425.
Simultaneous Measurement of Protein Oxidation and
S
-Nitrosylation During Preconditioning and Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury With Resin-Assisted Capture
Authors: Kohr Mark J. , Sun Junhui , Aponte Angel , Wang Guanghui , Gucek Marjan , Murphy Elizabeth , Steenbergen Charles
Published: December 2010

Rationale:

Redox modifications play an important role in many cellular processes, including cell death. Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) has been shown to involve redox signaling. Protein
S
-nitrosylation (SNO) is increased following myocardial IPC, and SNO is thought to provide cardioprotection, in part, by reducing cysteine oxidation during ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury.

Objective:

To test the hypothesis that SNO provides cardioprotection, in part, by shielding against cysteine oxidation following IR injury.

Methods and Results:

We developed a new method to measure protein oxidation using resin-assisted capture (Ox-RAC), which is similar to the SNO-RAC method used in the quantification of SNO. Langendorff-perfused hearts were subjected to various perfusion protocols (control, IPC, IR, IPC-IR, IPC/reperfusion) and homogenized. Each sample was divided into 2 equal aliquots, and the SNO-RAC/Ox-RAC procedure was performed to simultaneously analyze SNO and oxidation. We identified 31 different SNO proteins with IPC, 27 of which showed increased SNO compared to baseline. Of the proteins that showed significantly increased SNO with IPC, 76% showed decreased oxidation or no oxidation following ischemia and early reperfusion (IPC-IR) at the same site when compared to IR alone; for non-SNO proteins, oxidation was reduced by only 50%. We further demonstrated that IPC-induced protein SNO is quickly reversible.

Conclusions:

These results support the hypothesis that IPC-induced protein SNO provides cardioprotection by shielding cysteine residues from reactive oxygen species–induced oxidation during IR injury. Therefore, the level of protein SNO plays a critical role in IR injury, where ROS production is increased.
Wnt4/β-Catenin Signaling Induces VSMC Proliferation and Is Associated With Intimal Thickening
Authors: Tsaousi Aikaterini , Williams Helen , Lyon Cressida A. , Taylor Victoria , Swain Amanda , Johnson Jason L. , George Sarah J.
Published: December 2010

Rationale:

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation causes intimal thickening in atherosclerosis and restenosis. Previously, we demonstrated that Wnt/β-catenin signaling upregulates VSMC proliferation in vitro.

Objective:

We examined this pathway in vivo and investigated the involvement of specific Wnt proteins in VSMC proliferation.

Methods and Results:

Left carotid arteries of TOPgal (β-catenin signaling reporter) transgenic mice were ligated to induce intimal thickening. β-Catenin signaling was induced in the media and intima at 3 and 28 days after ligation, respectively, and was associated with VSMC proliferation and cyclin D1 expression. In vitro, a Wnt agonist promoted mouse VSMC proliferation, whereas Wnt inhibitory factor (WIF)-1 retarded platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB)–induced VSMC proliferation. Microarray analysis and quantitative PCR detected a significant induction of Wnt2 and Wnt4 mRNA in PDGF-BB-treated (proliferating) VSMCs compared to quiescent VSMCs. Western blotting revealed this increase was only translated into protein for Wnt4. Specific silencing RNA knockdown of Wnt4, but not Wnt2, significantly reduced VSMC proliferation. Recombinant Wnt4, but not Wnt2, significantly increased VSMC proliferation by ≈2-fold and silencing RNA knockdown revealed this is via Frizzled 1. Immunohistochemistry showed that increased Wnt4 protein correlated with VSMC proliferation and cyclin D1 expression (
P
<0.05 and
P
<0.001, respectively) during intimal thickening after rat carotid artery injury. Importantly, we also showed that intimal thickening and VSMC proliferation after carotid artery ligation was significantly retarded in Wnt4
+/−
compared to Wnt4
+/+
mice.

Conclusions:

This study demonstrates that Wnt/β-catenin signaling occurs in proliferating VSMCs during intimal thickening and indicates that this is a result of Wnt4 upregulation.
Characteristics of Childhood Arterial Ischemic Stroke With Normal MR Angiography
Authors: Munot Pinki , Saunders Dawn , Ganesan Vijeya
Published: December 2010

Background and Purpose—

The purposes of this study were to describe clinical and radiological characteristics of children with arterial ischemic stroke and normal MRA to compare them with children with arterial ischemic stroke and abnormal MRA.

Methods—

We conducted a retrospective review of clinical records and imaging.

Results—

Forty children with arterial ischemic stroke and normal MRA were identified (24 male; median age, 55 months). MRA had been acquired <24 hours of symptom onset in 4, at 24 to 48 hours in 10, 48 to 96 hours in 10, 4 to 7 days in 10, and >1 week in 6 children (median, 4 days). Ten of 40 had prior diagnoses (5 cardiac, 5 malignancies). Other risk factors were identified in 30 (1 in 17 and >1 in 13; prothrombotic abnormalities in 14, prior
Varicella
in 7, anemia in 7, minor trauma in 4). Infarction was confined to the lenticulostriate branches of the middle cerebral artery in 21 of 40. Two patients had further clinical events, both with new infarcts; 28 patients were reimaged and MRA remained normal in all. Although similar in terms of age and gender to those with abnormal MRA, children with normal MRA were significantly more likely to have at least 1 RF (
P
=0.012). Those with abnormal MRA were significantly more likely to have multiple territory infarcts (
P
<0.001), but lesion topography was otherwise not predictive of abnormal MRA (
P
=0.45). Abnormal MRA was significantly associated with clinical recurrence (
P
<0.001).

Conclusions—

Children with arterial ischemic stroke and normal MRA are not a distinct demographic group but are more likely to have single-territory lesions and have nonvascular risk factors. The stroke mechanism in children with normal MRA remains unclear.
Wide Variation in Definition, Detection, and Description of Lacunar Lesions on Imaging
Authors: Potter Gillian M. , Marlborough Fergal J. , Wardlaw Joanna M.
Published: December 2010

Background and Purpose—

Variation in the definition of lacunar lesions on imaging and difficulties in their detection may be hampering lacunar stroke research. We assessed literature definitions of imaging lacunar lesions and the definitions and detection of lacunar lesions among small-vessel disease researchers.

Methods—

We assessed definitions of imaging lacunar lesion in 50 randomly selected articles from 3 stroke-related journals and an online survey of small-vessel disease researchers. In the literature review, we assessed clinical/imaging definitions of lacunar stroke. In the survey, we assessed lacunar lesion detection, effects of lesion appearance, background white matter lesions, and provision of relevant data.

Results—

Among 50 articles, imaging definitions were varied and often limited; size was stated in 21 of 43 (49%) studies of acute and in 9 of 20 (45%) studies of old lesions and site in 18 (42%) and 4 (20%), respectively. Clinical definitions also varied, and images were read mostly by nonradiologists. Among 56 survey respondents, multiple descriptions were used for recent and old, symptomatic and asymptomatic, lesions on imaging. Most agreed on definitions for site (98%) and “old lacunar infarct” (61%) size. Cavitated (vs noncavitated) lesions were usually identified as lacunar lesions; with increasing white matter lesions, however, noncavitated lesions were very unlikely to be identified, even with prior imaging available (7.8%).

Conclusions—

Imaging definitions of lacunar lesions vary widely, in part due to variation in lesion detection and classification. A consensus for imaging definitions of small-vessel disease features would be helpful.
Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Gait in Elderly Persons With Cerebral Small Vessel Disease
Authors: de Laat Karlijn F. , van Norden Anouk G.W. , Gons Rob A.R. , van Oudheusden Lucas J.B. , van Uden Inge W.M. , Norris David G. , Zwiers Marcel P. , de Leeuw Frank-Erik
Published: December 2010

Background and Purpose—

Although cerebral small vessel disease, including white matter lesions (WML) and lacunar infarcts, is associated with gait disturbances, not all individuals with small vessel disease have these disturbances. Identical-appearing WML on MRI could reflect different degrees of microstructural integrity. Moreover, conventional MRI does not assess the integrity of normal-appearing white matter (NAWM). We therefore investigated the relation between white matter integrity assessed by diffusion tensor imaging in WML, NAWM, several regions of interest, and gait.

Methods—

A total of 484 nondemented elderly persons between 50 and 85 years old with cerebral small vessel disease were included in this analysis and underwent MRI and diffusion tensor imaging scanning. Mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy within WML, NAWM, and regions of interest were related to quantitative and semiquantitative gait parameters.

Results—

Mean diffusivity in the WML was inversely related with gait (velocity β=−0.15;
P
=0.002). For the fractional anisotropy, this relation was less evident. The same was found in the NAWM (velocity β=−0.21;
P
<0.001) and for some parameters also after additional adjustment for WML and lacunar infarcts.

Conclusion—

This study indicates that integrity of both WML and NAWM, beyond the detection limit of conventional MRI, is associated with gait disturbances.
Preservation of Tropomyosin-Related Kinase B (TrkB) Signaling by Sodium Orthovanadate Attenuates Early Brain Injury After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Rats
Authors: Hasegawa Yu , Suzuki Hidenori , Altay Orhan , Zhang John H.
Published: December 2010

Background and Purpose—

Recent studies reported that apoptosis was involved in the pathogenesis of early brain injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The aim of this study was to examine whether sodium orthovanadate (SOV) prevents post-SAH apoptosis by modulating growth factors and its downstream receptor tyrosine kinases.

Method—

Rats were operated on with the endovascular perforation model. SAH animals were treated with vehicle, 3 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg SOV, and evaluated regarding neurofunction and brain edema. The expression of growth factors such as mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor, insulin-like growth factor-1, and vascular endothelial growth factor and phosphorylation of tropomyosin-related kinase B, which is a receptor tyrosine kinase for brain-derived neurotrophic factor and the downstream pathway in antiapoptosis, was examined by Western blot analysis. Neuronal cell death was measured with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated uridine 5′-triphosphate-biotin nick end-labeling staining. We also administered K252a, a tropomyosin-related kinase B antagonist, to examine the mechanisms for neuroprotective effects by SOV.

Results—

SOV significantly improved neurofunction and reduced brain edema after SAH. SOV increased mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor and prevented post-SAH tropomyosin-related kinase B inactivation and caspase-3 activation, resulting in attenuation of neuronal cell death in the cortex and hippocampal CA1 region. Preinjection of K252a abolished the beneficial effects of SOV.

Conclusions—

The current study showed that brain-derived neurotrophic factor-induced tropomyosin-related kinase B activation by SOV was necessary for protection against early brain injury after SAH.
Transient Ischemic Attack and Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Wang Jie Jin , Baker Michelle L. , Hand Peter J. , Hankey Graeme J. , Lindley Richard I. , Rochtchina Elena , Wong Tien Y. , Liew Gerald , Mitchell Paul
Published: December 2010

Background and Purpose—

Small vessel disease plays a role in cerebral events. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and patterns of retinal microvascular signs (surrogates for cerebral small vessel disease) among patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) or acute stroke and population control subjects.

Methods—

Patients with TIA or acute stroke aged ≥49 years admitted to hospitals in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia, were recruited to the Multi-Centre Retina and Stroke Study (n=693, 2005 to 2007). Control subjects were Blue Mountains Eye Study participants aged ≥49 years without TIAs or stroke (n=3384, 1992 to 1994, west of Sydney). TIA, ischemic stroke, or primary intracerebral hemorrhage was classified using standardized neurological assessments, including neuroimaging. Retinal microvascular signs (retinopathy, focal arteriolar narrowing, arteriovenous nicking, enhanced arteriolar light reflex) were assessed from retinal photographs masked to clinical information.

Results—

Patients with TIA or acute stroke were older than control subjects and more likely to have stroke risk factors. After adjustment for study site and known risk factors, all retinal microvascular signs were more common in patients with TIA or acute stroke than in control subjects (OR, 1.9 to 8.7;
P
<0.001). Patients with TIA and those with ischemic stroke had similar prevalences of nondiabetic retinopathy (26.9% versus 29.5%; OR, 0.8; 95% CI, 0.5 to 1.6), diabetic retinopathy (55.5% versus 50.0%; OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 0.4 to 3.6), focal arteriolar narrowing (15.6% versus 18.4%; OR, 0.8; 95% CI, 0.4 to 1.5), and arteriovenous nicking (23.0% versus 17.8%; OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 0.7 to 2.7).

Conclusions—

Patients with TIA and acute stroke may share similar risk factors or pathogenic mechanisms.
Pharmacologically Augmented
S
-Nitrosylated Hemoglobin Improves Recovery From Murine Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Authors: Sheng Huaxin , Reynolds James D. , Auten Richard L. , Demchenko Ivan T. , Piantadosi Claude A. , Stamler Jonathan S. , Warner David S.
Published: December 2010

Background and Purpose—

S
-nitrosylated hemoglobin (
S
-nitrosohemoglobin) has been implicated in the delivery of O
2
to tissues through the regulation of microvascular blood flow. This study tested the hypothesis that enhancement of
S
-nitrosylated hemoglobin by ethyl nitrite inhalation improves outcome after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).

Methods—

A preliminary dosing study identified 20 ppm ethyl nitrite as a concentration that produced a 4-fold increase in
S
-nitrosylated hemoglobin concentration with no increase in methemoglobin. Mice were subjected to endovascular perforation of the right anterior cerebral artery and were treated with 20 ppm ethyl nitrite in air, or air alone for 72 hours, after which neurologic function, cerebral vessel diameter, brain water content, cortical tissue P
o
2
, and parenchymal red blood cell flow velocity were measured.

Results—

At 72 hours after hemorrhage, air- and ethyl nitrite–exposed mice had similarly sized blood clots. Ethyl nitrite improved neurologic score and rotarod performance; abated SAH-induced constrictions in the ipsilateral anterior, middle cerebral, and internal carotid arteries; and prevented an increase in ipsilateral brain water content. Ethyl nitrite inhalation increased red blood cell flow velocity and cortical tissue P
o
2
in the ipsilateral cortex with no effect on systemic blood pressure.

Conclusions—

Targeted
S
-nitrosylation of hemoglobin improved outcome parameters, including vessel diameter, tissue blood flow, cortical tissue P
o
2
, and neurologic function in a murine SAH model. Augmenting endogenous P
o
2
-dependent delivery of NO bioactivity to selectively dilate the compromised cerebral vasculature has significant clinical potential in the treatment of SAH.
La orientación a la dominancia social y la identidad nacional en las actitudes hacia las políticas migratorias: el papel mediador de la amenaza percibida y el tamaño del exogrupo
Authors: Martínez Manuel F. , Calzado Visitación , Martínez Julia
Published: December 2010

La finalidad de este estudio es analizar en una muestra aleatoria de 196 ciudadanos españoles la relación entre las actitudes hacia las políticas migratorias y una serie de factores psicosociales (identidad nacional, orientación a la dominancia social, tamaño percibido del exogrupo y amenaza percibida). El análisis bivariado pone de manifiesto que dichas relaciones son estadísticamente significativas. Al aplicar un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales se constata que la identidad nacional y la orientación a la dominancia social influyen en las actitudes hacia las políticas migratorias pero sólo a través de la valoración del tamaño del exogrupo y la amenaza percibida. Estas últimas actuarían como variables mediadoras.
Actitudes sociales y adaptación social en adolescentes españoles: el papel de la inteligencia emocional percibida
Authors: Jiménez María-Isabel , López-Zafra Esther
Published: December 2010

El objetivo de este trabajo ha sido analizar la relación existente entre las actitudes sociales y la inteligencia emocional percibida (IEP) en una muestra de adolescentes Españoles, así como comprobar la influencia de ambas variables sobre el nivel de adaptación social que presentan los alumnos informado por sus profesores. En este estudio han participado 153 estudiantes de primer y segundo ciclo de Enseñanza Secundaria Obligatoria (E. S. O.) con edades comprendidas entre 11 y 17 años (M = 13,6; Sd = 1,59). Para evaluar el nivel de IEP se ha empleado la escala Trait Meta Mood Scale (TMMS-24), que valora diferentes dimensiones de tipo intrapersonal (atención, claridad y reparación emocional) y para evaluar el tipo de actitudes sociales de los estudiantes (pro-sociales, asociales y antisociales) se ha empleado el Cuestionario de Actitudes y Estrategias Cognitivas Sociales (AECS). Los resultados obtenidos han aportado evidencias de que la IEP autoinformada se relaciona significativamente con actitudes pro-sociales concretas. Además, la actitud prosocial Ayuda y Colaboración y la dimensión intrapersonal Atención Emocional, predicen el nivel de adaptación social de los estudiantes informado por su profesor. Este trabajo presenta importantes implicaciones educativas, ya que el conocimiento de los procesos por los que la inteligencia emocional se relaciona con la adaptación social nos permitirá emplear con más eficacia la educación emocional como estrategia de intervención en el ámbito educativo.
El efecto de estar “empleado”, “desempleado” y “jubilado” en la formación de impresiones: un análisis desde la hipótesis de Asch
Authors: Orgambídez Alejandro , Mendoza Ma Isabel , Carrasco Ana Ma , Gonçalves Gabriela , Gómes Alexandra
Published: December 2010

Pocos estudios se han centrado en analizar la importancia que la situación laboral de las personas tiene en el proceso de percepción de impresiones en el contexto social de escasez de empleo. Este estudio aborda el fenómeno de la formación de impresiones a partir del experimento de Asch utilizando como rasgos centrales “empleada”, “desempleada” y “jubilada” y los rasgos respuesta del experimento original. La muestra se compuso de 239 estudiantes universitarios sin conocimientos previos del experimento de Ach. Se utilizó un diseño experimental unifactorial (situación laboral) multicondicional (rasgos respuesta) de grupos distintos de sujetos. Mediante pruebas chi cuadrado, los resultados obtenidos mostraron que la persona “empleada” fue descrita como más importante y perseverante que la “desempleada”, pero más egoísta que la “jubilada”. La persona “desempleada” fue considerada como la más triste, y junto con la persona “jubilada” más sociables en comparación con la “empleada”. Las personas poderosas—entendiendo el trabajo como fuente de poder y estatus—fueron percibidas como competentes pero poco sociables, dentro del marco del Modelo sobre el Contenido Mixto de los Estereotipos de Fiske et al.
Masculine and feminine honor codes
Authors: Mosquera Patricia M. Rodriguez
Published: December 2010

We present a study on the importance of masculine and feminine honor and attitudes towards sex roles in Spain and the Netherlands. Honor is more important in Spanish than in Dutch culture. Participants were asked to rate the extent to which gender-neutral (e.g., caring for reputation) and gendered (e.g., assertiveness, modesty) honor attributes were desirable in their culture for each sex. We also measured attitudes towards sex-roles in different domains (e.g., work, marriage). The Spanish participants rated gender-neutral honor attributes as more desirable than the Dutch participants did. Both Spanish and Dutch participants rated masculine honor attributes as more desirable for men, and feminine honor attributes as more desirable for women. Participant's sex emerged as the most important predictor of attitudes towards sex roles, with males expressing more traditional attitudes than females. Taken together, the results indicate that masculine and feminine honor are expressions of pan-cultural ideals of masculinity and femininity.
Epidemiology of Player—Player Contact Injuries Among US High School Athletes, 2005-2009
Authors: Kerr Zachary Y. , Collins Christy L. , Fields Sarah K. , Dawn Comstock R.
Published: January 2011

Objective: To investigate the epidemiology of player—player contact injuries in a nationally representative sample of US high school student-athletes. Methods: Data from the National High School Sports—Related Injury Surveillance Study were analyzed to calculate rates, describe patterns, and evaluate potential risk factors for player—player contact injuries. Results: Player—player contact injuries represented 46.4% of all high school sports injuries and occurred at a rate of 11.6 per 10 000 athlete exposures (AEs). Player—player contact injury rates (per 10 000 AEs) were highest in football (26.0), wrestling (10.8), and girls’ soccer (9.8). Body sites most commonly injured were the ankle/foot (21.9%), head/face (18.9%), and knee (16.9%). Most common diagnoses were ligament sprains (32.5%). Conclusions: Player—player contact is the most common mechanism of injury among high school athletes. The epidemiology of such injuries varies by gender and sport. Developing effective preventive measures depends on increasing our knowledge of player—player contact injury rates, patterns, and risk factors.
Parent Preferences for Pediatric Influenza Vaccine Attributes
Authors: Flood Emuella M. , Ryan Kellie J. , Rousculp Matthew D. , Beusterien Kathleen M. , Divino Victoria M. , Block Stan L. , Hall Matthew C. , Mahadevia Parthiv J.
Published: January 2011

Influenza vaccine is available as an intramuscular injection or an intranasal spray for eligible children. This study was conducted to examine parents’ preferences for influenza vaccine attributes and the attributes’ relative importance regarding the vaccination of their children. A quantitative Web survey was administered to 500 parents of children aged 2 to 12 years. The survey included general preference questions and conjoint (trade-off) questions. Parents most frequently selected efficacy, risk of temporary side effects, and physician recommendation as important vaccine attributes from a provided list (92%, 75%, and 59%, respectively). For attributes selected as important, parents rated the importance of the attribute; the highest mean importance ratings were given to efficacy, presence of mercury-containing preservative, and physician recommendation.The highest relative importance ratings in the conjoint section were given to efficacy and presence of mercury-containing preservative. Parental education on influenza vaccine efficacy and safety may help to improve pediatric vaccination rates.
Educational or Social Reform? Students Inform the Debate Over Improving Urban Schools
Authors: Taines Cynthia
Published: December 2010

The educational community is divided over which is the best approach for improving urban schools: focus on teaching and learning or underlying social inequity? This article argues that the students who attend urban schools can inform the debate. The study draws on interviews with fourteen urban youth about their participation in a community-based program that supports school activism. In the program, the students selected a surprising, and seemingly trivial, set of school problems as their top reform priorities. Yet findings reveal that from the students’ vantage point, these concrete changes will enhance engagement and the perceived fairness of the educational environment. Urban students therefore bridge current policy debates by posing recommendations pertinent to both educational and social reform advocates. The study concludes with reflections on students’ contributions to the content and process of urban educational reform.
Influences of the Campus Experience on the Ethnic Identity Development of Students of Color
Authors: Maramba Dina C. , Velasquez Patrick
Published: December 2010

This qualitative research study examined ethnic identity development among underrepresented students of color at a selective, research intensive, predominantly White university. The objective focused on influences of the campus experience on students’ ethnic identity development when they entered and as they prepared to graduate from college. Students were asked to reflect on how development of their ethnic identity intersected with outcomes as critical thinking, communication skills, and sense of competence. Findings include an increased learning about one’s ethnic group has cognitive and noncognitive benefits. Students felt further development of their ethnic identity had a considerable, positive impact on their sense of competence, sense of belonging, interpersonal relationships, and commitments. Institutional and policy implications are discussed.
The Impact of the Flynn Effect on LD Diagnoses in Special Education
Authors: Kanaya Tomoe , Ceci Stephen
Published: December 2010

Because of the Flynn effect, IQ scores rise as a test norm ages but drop on the introduction of a newly revised test norm. The purpose of the current study was to determine the impact of the Flynn effect on learning disability (LD) diagnoses, the most prevalent special education diagnosis in the United States. Using a longitudinal sample of 875 school children who were initially diagnosed with LD on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children–Revised (WISC-R), children experienced a significant decline in IQ when retested on the third edition of the WISC (WISC-III) compared to peers who were tested on the WISC-R twice. Furthermore, results from logistic regression analyses revealed that the probability of a rediagnosis of LD on reevaluation significantly decreased, in part, because of this decline on the WISC-III. These results are discussed in terms of their implications for both basic research and educational policy.
Reorienting Economics?
Authors: Mohun Simon , Veneziani Roberto
Published: December 2010

Reorienting Economics analyzes many important issues in the social sciences. This article focuses on Lawson’s key methodological and epistemological claims concerning the role of mathematics in social theory. Lawson provides several forceful criticisms of the search for mathematical rigor for the mere sake of formalism. Yet his stronger claims on the extremely limited, if nonexistent, scope for formal analysis in the social sciences are less convincing. In general, his purely methodological approach does not provide robust foundations for reorienting economics.
Changes in Risk Factors during Adolescence
Authors: Van Der Put Claudia E. , Deković Maja , Stams Geert Jan J. M. , Van Der Laan Peter H. , Hoeve Machteld , Van Amelsfort Loura
Published: December 2010

This study examined to what extent the significance of both static and dynamic risk factors for recidivism changes in the course of adolescence. For this purpose, file and interview data of 1,396 juveniles charged with a criminal offense were analyzed. This study showed that the impact of almost all dynamic risk factors decreased as juveniles grew older. As a result, the predictive power of risk assessment models also decreased. From age 14, dynamic risk factors did not contribute significantly to the prediction of recidivism over static risk factors. Another consequence of the declining importance of dynamic risk factors is that the potential effect of an intervention aimed at these factors will also decrease as adolescents grow older, which indicates the importance of early intervention.
Envisioning Disaster in the 1910 Paris Flood
Authors: Jackson Jeffrey H.
Published: December 2010

This article uncovers the visual narratives embedded within the photography of the 1910 Paris flood. Images offered Parisians multiple ways to understand and construe the significance of the flood and provided interpretive frameworks to decide the meaning of this event. Investigating three interlocking narratives of ruin, beauty, and fraternité, the article shows how photographs of Paris under water allowed residents to make sense of the destruction but also to imagine the city’s reconstruction. The article concludes with a discussion of the role of visual culture in recovering from urban disasters.
“The Very Model of Modern Urban Decay”: Outsiders’ Narratives of Industry and Urban Decline in Gary, Indiana
Authors: O'Hara S. Paul
Published: December 2010

In the eyes of many, the steel city of Gary, Indiana, entered a period of decline in the middle of the twentieth century. The once great city was seemingly racked by job loss, crime, racial division, or moral decay. Which of these caused the decline of the city depended upon the perspective of the story’s teller. Each narrative of decline contained a different moment where the city went wrong and it began to decay. For some it was the moral decay of the 1950s, for others it was the rise of black power and politics in the 1960s, for still others it was the white backlash against civil rights in the 1970s. Some saw a microcosm of America, some saw a dangerous cauldron of race and ethnicity. The source of decline and the origins of the urban crisis were largely in the eye of the beholder. The stories people chose to tell about Gary mattered because for much of the twentieth century, Gary was at the center of American narratives about industrialism. These were outsider narratives of decline read onto the Indiana steel city because Gary represented larger debates. People read onto Gary their changing expectations and anxieties about industry and industrial spaces. This article traces the changing attitudes outsiders held toward Gary from the middle of the twentieth century through the period of deindustrialization at the end of the century and examines American narratives about deindustrialization and urban decline.
Persistence of Unemployment in the Canadian Provinces
Authors: Fallahi Firouz , Rodríguez Gabriel
Published: January 2011

The authors analyze the degree of persistence of the unemployment rates of the ten Canadian provinces using quarterly data for the period 1976:1–2005:4. They apply a two-break minimum Lagrange Multiplier (LM) unit root statistic, which, unlike standard unit root statistics (without or with breaks), makes it possible to find the stationarity of the different unemployment rates, giving support to the theory of the natural rate. The authors use the methodology of Bai and Perron (1998, 2003) to estimate a linear model with multiple structural changes to estimate the different degrees of persistence over the different regimes. The results suggest that the degree of persistence decreases when multiple breaks are allowed. Issues regarding the Canadian labor market, the insurance benefits program, interprovincial transfers, and interprovincial mobility are discussed as potential explanations for the results.
Evaluating Administrative Efficiency Change in the Post-Merger Period
Authors: Haneda Shoko , Hashimoto Akihiro , Tsuneyoshi Takao
Published: January 2011

This article analyzes the change in municipal administrative efficiency in the post-merger period using the data of 92 municipalities in Ibaraki prefecture for the period 1979–2004. For this purpose, the authors employ a nonparametric programming method to compute a data envelopment analysis (DEA)/Malmquist indices (MI). These indices are decomposed into two component measures, namely, catch-up (CU) and frontier shift (FS) indices. The authors found that the administrative efficiency in Ibaraki prefecture in the post-merger period was monotonically regressed; however, the efficiency scores of merging municipalities were found to be higher than those of nonmerging ones. Scale change did not necessarily contribute to an efficiency change in the post-merger period. In the short run, scale affected Tsukuba city, which was formed by consolidating smaller municipalities.
Effects of Irregular Topology in Spherical Self-Organizing Maps
Authors: Schmidt Charles R. , Rey Sergio J. , Skupin André
Published: January 2011

The authors explore the effect of different topologies on properties of self-organizing maps (SOM). They suggest several diagnostics for measuring topology-induced errors in SOM and use these in a comparison of four different topologies. The results show that SOM is less sensitive to localized irregularities in the network structure than the literature may otherwise suggest. Further, the results support the use of spherical topologies as a solution to the boundary problem in traditional SOM.
Joint Modeling of Longitudinal Data in Multiple Behavioral Change
Authors: Charnigo Richard , Kryscio Richard , Bardo Michael T. , Lynam Donald , Zimmerman Rick S.
Published: January 2011

Multiple behavioral change is an exciting and evolving research area, albeit one that presents analytic challenges to investigators. This manuscript considers the problem of modeling jointly trajectories for two or more possibly non-normally distributed dependent variables, such as marijuana smoking and risky sexual activity, collected longitudinally. Of particular scientific interest is applying such modeling to elucidate the nature of the interaction, if any, between an intervention and personal characteristics, such as sensation seeking and impulsivity. The authors describe three analytic approaches: generalized linear mixed modeling, group-based trajectory modeling, and latent growth curve modeling. In particular, the authors identify identify the strengths and weaknesses of these analytic approaches and assess their impact (or lack thereof) on the psychological and behavioral science literature. The authors also compare what investigators have been doing analytically versus what they might want to be doing in the future and discuss the implications for basic and translational research.
Assessing Costs and Potential Returns of Evidence-Based Programs for Seniors
Authors: Miller Thomas R. , Dickerson Justin B. , Smith Matthew L. , Ory Marcia G.
Published: January 2011

The authors describe the customary tools used by health services researchers to conduct economic evaluations of health interventions. Recognizing the inherent challenges of these tools for utilization in contemporary public health practice, we recommend a practical cost-benefit analysis (PCBA) to allow public health practitioners to assess the economic merits of their existing public health programs. The PCBA estimates what health effects and corresponding medical cost avoidance would be required to support the costs associated with implementing a community-based prevention program. We apply the PCBA to evaluate a statewide evidence-based falls prevention program for seniors in Texas. We estimate a positive return on realized costs due to avoided direct and indirect medical expenses if the program averts 7 falls among 140 participants within the first year. While acknowledging the demonstrated health-related benefits of public health interventions, we provide a practical ex-post economic evaluation methodology to assess return on investment as a more simplistic yet effective alternative for public health practitioners versus contemporary analyses of health services researchers.
A probabilistic approach to semantic collaborative filtering using world knowledge
Authors: Lee Jae-won , Lee Sang-goo , Kim Han-joon
Published: January 2011

Collaborative filtering, which is a popular approach for developing recommendation systems, exploits the exact match of items that users have accessed. If the users access different items, they are considered as unlike-minded users even though they may actually be semantically like-minded. To solve this problem, we propose a semantic collaborative filtering model that represents the semantics of users’ preferences and items with their corresponding concepts. In this work, we extend the Bayesian belief network (BBN)-based model because it provides a clear formalism for representing users’ preferences and items with concepts. Because the conventional BBN-based model regards the index terms derived from items as concepts, it does not exploit domain knowledge. We have therefore extended this conventional model to exploit concepts derived from domain knowledge. A practical approach to exploiting domain knowledge is to use world knowledge such as the Open Directory Project web directory or the Wikipedia encyclopaedia. Through experiments, we show that our model outperforms other conventional collaborative filtering models while comparing the recommendation quality when using different world knowledge.
Influence of Effortful Swallow on Pharyngeal Pressure
Authors: Takasaki Kenji , Umeki Hiroshi , Hara Minoru , Kumagami Hidetaka , Takahashi Haruo
Published: December 2010

Objective

To evaluate the effect of effortful swallow on pharyngeal pressure while swallowing saliva and water using a novel high‐resolution manometry (HRM) system.

Study Design

Case series with planned data collection.

Setting

Nagasaki University Hospital.

Subjects and Methods

Eighteen asymptomatic Japanese adult volunteers were studied. A solid‐state HRM assembly with 36 circumferential sensors spaced 1 cm apart was positioned from the velopharynx to the upper esophagus to record pressures while swallowing. The maximum values of the pressure while swallowing saliva (dry swallowing) and 5 mL of water were measured at the velopharynx, meso‐hypopharynx, and upper esophageal sphincter (UES) with and without effortful swallows.

Results

The maximum values of dry swallowing pressures (mm Hg) at the velopharynx, meso‐hypopharynx, and UES were significantly higher with effortful swallow (155.7 ± 59.7, 256.7 ± 78.7, and 276.5 ± 87.5, mean ± standard deviation) than without it (115.3 ± 60.8, 172.9 ± 57.0, and 195.8 ± 61.3). Those of water swallowing pressures were also statistically higher with effortful swallow (169.3 ± 69.1, 236.6 ± 77.2, and 267.3 ± 79.1) than without it (119.2 ± 59.7, 189.5 ± 70.7, and 221.3 ± 72.7).

Conclusion

The present results provide quantitative evidence of effortful swallow as well as physiological information. It also is hoped to be an aid to future clinical and investigative studies.
Diagnostic Criteria of Nonspecific Hyperreactivity Using Cold Dry Air Provocation With Acoustic Rhinometry
Authors: Kim Young Hyo , Jang Tae Young
Published: December 2010

Objective

The authors aimed to (1) compare symptom changes in patients with or without nonspecific hyperreactivity, (2) compare changes in total nasal volume (TNV) and minimal cross‐sectional area (MCA) using acoustic rhinometry after cold dry air (CDA) challenge, and (3) set the diagnostic criteria using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Study Design

Prospective pilot.

Setting

Academic tertiary rhinologic practice.

Subjects and Methods

CDA provocation was performed on 45 patients with self‐reported hypersensitivity to cold dry air (group A) and to 53 patients without such hypersensitivity (group B). Symptoms (as measured by visual analog scale [VAS]), TNV, and MCA were checked before and after provocation.

Results

The changes in nasal obstruction (1.8 ± 2.1 vs 0.0 ± 2.3) and rhinorrhea (0.8 ± 2.1 vs −0.5 ± 2.3) were significantly greater in group A (P <. 01 in each case). There were no significant differences between groups in VAS scores for sneezing and itching. From the ROC curve, the authors set the diagnostic criterion as “TNSS (total nasal symptom score) change larger than 1.5,” and its sensitivity and specificity were 75.6% and 86.8%, respectively. The criteria “TNV decrease larger than 19.5%” and “MCA change larger than 15.0%” had higher sensitivity and specificity (TNV: 84.4% sensitivity and 77.4% specificity; MCA: 93.3% sensitivity and 77.4% specificity).

Conclusions

The authors were able to propose diagnostic criteria of nonspecific hyperreactivity using a CDA provocation test with acoustic rhinometry. These results are also helpful for understanding the pathophysiologic mechanisms of nonspecific hyperreactivity.
Nasal Base Narrowing
Authors: Ismail Ahmed Soliman
Published: December 2010

Objective

To evaluate the role of creating an alar‐based advancement flap in narrowing the nasal base and correcting excessive alar flare.

Study Design

Case series with chart review.

Setting

This is a retrospective record review study.

Subjects and Methods

The study included 35 cases presenting with a wide nasal base and excessive alar flaring. The surgical procedure combined the alar base reduction with alar flare excision by creating a single laterally based alar flap. Any caudal septal deformities and any nasal tip modification procedures were corrected before the nasal base narrowing. The mean follow‐up period was 23 months.

Results

The mean alar flap narrowing was 6.3 mm, whereas the mean width of sill narrowing was 2.9 mm. This single laterally based advancement alar flap resulted in a more conservative external resection, thus avoiding alar wedge overresection or blunting of the alar‐facial crease. No cases of postoperative bleeding, infection, or keloid were encountered, and the external alar wedge excision healed with no apparent scar that was hidden in the depth of the alar‐facial crease. The risk of notching of the alar rim at the sill incision is reduced by adopting a 2‐layer closure of the vestibular floor.

Conclusion

The alar base advancement flap is an effective technique in narrowing both the nasal base and excessive alar flare. It adopts a single skin excision to correct the 2 deformities while commonly feared complications were avoided.
Effects of Surface Dehydration on Mucosal Wave Amplitude and Frequency in Excised Canine Larynges
Authors: Witt Rachel E. , Taylor Lindsay N. , Regner Michael F. , Jiang Jack J.
Published: December 2010

Objective

Evaluate the effect of vocal fold surface dehydration on mucosal wave amplitude and frequency.

Study Design

Controlled test‐retest.

Setting

Larynges were mounted on an excised larynx phonation system and attached to a pseudolung in a triple‐walled sound‐attenuated room that eliminated background noise and maintained a stabilized room temperature and humidity level.

Subjects and Methods

High‐speed video was recorded for 8 excised canine larynges during exposure to dehumidified air at 20 cm H2O. Control trials consisted of high‐speed videos recorded for 2 excised canine larynges during exposure to humidified air at the same pressure.

Results

In the majority of larynges, increased levels of dehydration were correlated with decreased amplitude and frequency. The slope of the linear regression fitted to the change in amplitude (P =. 003) and the percent change (P <. 001) between the initial and final trials were significantly decreased in dehydrated larynges. These measurements with respect to the change in frequency were also significantly decreased in dehydrated larynges (P <. 001; P =. 027).

Conclusion

Vocal fold surface dehydration caused a decrease in mucosal wave amplitude and frequency. This study provides objective, quantitative support for the mechanism of voice deterioration observed after extreme surface dehydration.
Surgical Revision of Vagus Nerve Stimulation Electrodes in Children
Authors: Agarwal Garima , Wilfong Angus A. , Edmonds Joseph L.
Published: December 2010

Use of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has increased in the past decade, resulting in frequent revision cases for device failure. The authors report their series of children who underwent reimplantation of the VNS device after removal of old electrodes and leads. Patients with medically refractory seizures who underwent revision of VNS electrodes were included (n = 23). Twenty patients had high lead impedance and underwent removal of the device and replacement of the VNS electrodes during the same procedure. In 3 patients, electrodes and the device had been removed previously at an outside institution because of infection. None of the patients experienced any major complications. Mean operative time was 2.3 ± 0.9 hours. The reimplanted device worked well in all patients, and seizure control was similar to or better than that reported with the previous device. Thus, implantation of the VNS electrodes is reversible, and it appears that the electrodes can be removed or replaced safely if the device is not functioning properly.
Improving Empathy and Relational Skills in Otolaryngology Residents
Authors: Riess Helen , Kelley John M. , Bailey Robert , Konowitz Paul M. , Gray Stacey Tutt
Published: December 2010

Physician empathy and relational skills are critical factors predicting quality of care, patient safety, patient satisfaction, and decreasing malpractice claims. Studies indicate that physician empathy declines throughout medical training, yet little is published about methods to enhance empathy, especially in surgical residency training. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education requires competencies in 6 areas, including interpersonal skills and communication. To address this important problem, the first author developed an innovative empathy‐relational skills training protocol focusing on the underlying neurobiological mechanisms of empathy and the interpersonal processes that positively affect the patient‐doctor relationship. The authors tested the effectiveness of this protocol in a pilot study with 11 otolaryngology residents. Results showed that a brief series of 3 empathy training sessions can significantly improve physicians’ knowledge of the neurobiology and physiology of empathy, as well as their self‐reported capacity to empathize with patients. A trend toward increased patient satisfaction was observed.