bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimizing Cluster Heads for Energy Efficiency in Large-Scale Heterogeneous Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Gu Yi , Wu Qishi , Rao Nageswara S. V.
Published: December 2010

Many complex sensor network applications require deploying a large number of inexpensive and small sensors in a vast geographical region to achieve quality through quantity. Hierarchical clustering is generally considered as an efficient and scalable way to facilitate the management and operation of such large-scale networks and minimize the total energy consumption for prolonged lifetime. Judicious selection of cluster heads for data integration and communication is critical to the success of applications based on hierarchical sensor networks organized as layered clusters. We investigate the problem of selecting sensor nodes in a predeployed sensor network to be the cluster heads to minimize the total energy needed for data gathering. We rigorously derive an analytical formula to optimize the number of cluster heads in sensor networks under uniform node distribution, and propose a Distance-based Crowdedness Clustering algorithm to determine the cluster heads in sensor networks under general node distribution. The results from an extensive set of experiments on a large number of simulated sensor networks illustrate the performance superiority of the proposed solution over the clustering schemes based on k-means algorithm.
First Danish Single-Institution Experience with Radical Prostatectomy: Biochemical Outcome in 1200 Consecutive Patients
Authors: Røder M. Andreas , Berg Kasper D. , Gruschy Lisa , Brasso Klaus , Iversen Peter
Published: December 2010

Radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) as intended curative therapy for patients with clinically localized prostate cancer (PC) was initiated in 1995 in Denmark. This paper reports single-institution results from the first 1200 consecutive patients operated during a 15-year period. Median age at surgery was 63 years. Median PSA was 9 ng/mL. Palpable tumors (≤cT2) were present in 48% of patients. Gleason score at biopsy was ≤7 for 85% of patients. In sixty-five percent of patients, histopathology revealed localized PCa after RRP. Positive surgical margins were found in 39.2% of the cases. Biochemical recurrence (BR) occurred for 214 (18%) of patients. The estimated biochemical recurrence free survival (BRFS) was 71.7% and 63.2% after 5 and 10 years, respectively. When patients were stratified according to the D'Amico criteria, BRFS after 10 years was 75.3%, 59.7%, and 39.3% for low-, medium- and high-risk patients, respectively. In univariate analysis, clinical stage, PSA at diagnosis and type of surgery were significant predictors of BR. In multivariate analysis, Gleason score > 7, PSA > 10, and higher clinical stage were significant predictors of BR. Early Danish results in a population not subjected to screening demonstrate BRFS rates comparable with earlier reports from the prescreening era.
Safety Evaluation of Yukmijihwang-tang: Assessment of Acute and Subchronic Toxicity in Rats
Authors: Ha Hyekyung , Lee Jun Kyoung , Lee Ho Young , Koh Woo Suk , Seo Chang Seob , Lee Mi-Young , Huang Dae Sun , Shin Hyeunkyoo
Published: December 2010

Yukmijihwang-tang (YMJ; Liu wei di huang tang (China), Rokumigan (Japan)) has been used in the treatment of diseases including renal disorder, cognitive vitality, and diabetes mellitus. However, there is very little information regarding the toxicity of YMJ to give an assurance of safety for clinical treatment. To provide safety information for YMJ, we evaluated its acute and sub‐chronic toxicity in rats. The single‐dose toxicity of YMJ was examined using Sprague‐Dawley rats. Rats were treated with YMJ extract orally at 0, 500, 1000, or 2000 mg/kg body weight. After a single administration, clinical signs were observed every day for two weeks, and body weights were measured five times, including an initial measurement on day 1 (the day of administration). In the sub‐chronic oral toxicity study, YMJ was administered to rats at 0, 500, 1000, or 2000 mg/kg/day for 13 weeks. Mortalities, clinical signs, body weight changes, food and water consumption, ophthalmologic findings, urinalysis, hematological and biochemical parameters, gross findings, organ weights, and histological examination were monitored during the study period. We found no mortality and no abnormalities in clinical signs, body weights, and necropsy findings for any of the animals in the acute and sub‐chronic studies following oral administration in the rat at up to 2000 mg/kg/day YMJ. YMJ may not have any single‐dose toxicity; the LD50 of YMJ was over 2000 mg/kg, and it is safe for rats. The no‐observed‐adverse‐effect‐level (NOAEL) was considered to be 2000 mg/kg/day.
An Implicit Extragradient Method for Hierarchical Variational Inequalities
Authors: Yao Yonghong , Liou YeongCheng
Published: December 2010

As a well-known numerical method, the extragradient method solves numerically the variational inequality "Equation missing" of finding "Equation missing" such that "Equation missing", for all "Equation missing". In this paper, we devote to solve the following hierarchical variational inequality "Equation missing" Find "Equation missing" such that "Equation missing", for all "Equation missing". We first suggest and analyze an implicit extragradient method for solving the hierarchical variational inequality "Equation missing". It is shown that the net defined by the suggested implicit extragradient method converges strongly to the unique solution of "Equation missing" in Hilbert spaces. As a special case, we obtain the minimum norm solution of the variational inequality "Equation missing".
Immunomodulation of Autoimmune Arthritis by Herbal CAM
Authors: Venkatesha Shivaprasad H. , Rajaiah Rajesh , Berman Brian M. , Moudgil Kamal D.
Published: December 2010

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a debilitating autoimmune disease of global prevalence. The disease is characterized by synovial inflammation leading to cartilage and bone damage. Most of the conventional drugs used for the treatment of RA have severe adverse reactions and are quite expensive. Over the years, increasing proportion of patients with RA and other immune disorders are resorting to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for their health needs. Natural plant products comprise one of the most popular CAM for inflammatory and immune disorders. These herbal CAM belong to diverse traditional systems of medicine, including traditional Chinese medicine, Kampo, and Ayurvedic medicine. In this paper, we have outlined the major immunological pathways involved in the induction and regulation of autoimmune arthritis and described various herbal CAM that can effectively modulate these immune pathways. Most of the information about the mechanisms of action of herbal products in the experimental models of RA is relevant to arthritis patients as well. The study of immunological pathways coupled with the emerging application of genomics and proteomics in CAM research is likely to provide novel insights into the mechanisms of action of different CAM modalities.
Notch Pathway Inhibition Significantly Reduces Rhabdomyosarcoma Invasiveness and Mobility In Vitro
Authors: Roma Josep , Masià Anna , Reventós Jaume , Sánchez de Toledo Josep , Gallego Soledad
Published: December 2010

Purpose: Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common type of soft tissue sarcoma in children and can be divided into two main subtypes: embryonal and alveolar RMS. Patients with metastatic disease continue to have very poor prognosis although aggressive therapies and recurrences are common in advanced localized disease. The oncogenic potential of the Notch pathway has been established in some cancers of the adult and in some pediatric malignancies.

Experimental Design: A real-time PCR assay was used to ascertain the expression of several Notch pathway components in a wide panel of RMS and cell lines. Four γ-secretase inhibitors (GSIs) were tested for pathway inhibition and the degree of inhibition was assessed by analysis of Hes1 and Hey1 expression. The putative effects of Notch pathway inhibition were evaluated by wound-healing, matrigel/transwell invasion, cell-cycle, and apoptosis assays.

Results: The Notch pathway was widely expressed and activated in RMS and underwent substantial inhibition when treated with GSIs or transfected with a dominant negative form of MAML1. RMS cells showed a significant decrease in its mobility and invasiveness when the Notch pathway was properly inhibited; conversely, its inhibition had no noticeable effect on cell cycle or apoptosis.

Conclusion: Pharmacological or genetic blockage of the pathway significantly reduced invasiveness of RMS cell lines, thereby suggesting a possible role of the Notch pathway in the regulation of the metastatic process in RMS. Clin Cancer Res; 17(3); 505–13. ©2010 AACR.
Evaluation of the Anti-HER2 C6.5 Diabody as a PET Radiotracer to Monitor HER2 status and Predict Response to Trastuzumab Treatment
Authors: Reddy Smitha , Shaller Calvin C. , Doss Mohan , Shchaveleva Irina , Marks James D. , Yu Jian Q. , Robinson Matthew K.
Published: December 2010

Purpose: The rapid tumor targeting and pharmacokinetic properties of engineered antibodies make them potentially suitable for use in imaging strategies to predict and monitor response to targeted therapies. This study aims to evaluate C6.5 diabody (C6.5db), a noncovalent anti-HER2 single-chain Fv dimer, as a radiotracer for predicting response to HER2-targeted therapies such as trastuzumab.

Experimental Design: Immunodeficient mice bearing established HER2-positive tumor xenografts were injected with radioiodinated C6.5db and imaged by PET/CT. Radiotracer biodistribution was quantified by biopsied tumor and normal tissues. Potential competition between trastuzumab and C6.5db was examined in vitro by flow cytometry and coimmunoprecipitations.

Results: Biodistribution analysis of mice bearing xenografts with varying HER2 density revealed that the tumor uptake of 125I-C6.5db correlates with HER2 tumor density. In vitro competition experiments suggest that the C6.5db targets an epitope on HER2 that is distinct from that bound by trastuzumab. Treatment of mice affected with SK-OV-3 tumor with trastuzumab for 3 days caused a 42% (P = 0.002) decrease in tumor uptake of 125I-C6.5db. This is consistent with a dramatic decrease in the tumor PET signal of 124I-C6.5db after trastuzumab treatment. Furthermore, mice affected with BT-474 tumor showed an approximately 60% decrease (P = 0.0026) in C6.5db uptake after 6 days of trastuzumab treatment. Immunohistochemistry of excised xenograft sections and in vitro flow cytometry revealed that the decreased C6.5db uptake on trastuzumab treatment is not associated with HER2 downregulation.

Conclusions: These studies suggest that 124I-C6.5db–based imaging can be used to evaluate HER2 levels as a predictor of response to HER2-directed therapies. Clin Cancer Res; 17(6); 1509–20. ©2010 AACR.
Excision Repair Cross-Complementing Group 1 May Predict the Efficacy of Chemoradiation Therapy for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer
Authors: Kawashima Atsunari , Nakayama Masashi , Kakuta Yoichi , Abe Toyofumi , Hatano Koji , Mukai Masatoshi , Nagahara Akira , Nakai Yasutomo , Oka Daizo , Takayama Hitoshi , Yoshioka Toshiaki , Hoshida Yoshihiko , Itatani Hiroaki , Nishimura Kazuo , Nonomura Norio
Published: December 2010

Purpose: Chemoradiation therapy (CRT) is now widely recognized as bladder-preserving therapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). However, some patients who fail CRT may miss the chance to be cured by cystectomy. Therefore, it is important to select patients with MIBC who are expected to have a good response to CRT. Several reports indicate that the excision repair cross-complementing group 1 (ERCC1) gene is associated with resistance to cisplatin and radiation therapy. In this study, we examined the correlation between ERCC1 and CRT in vitro and in vivo in bladder cancer.

Experimental Design: Bladder cancer cell lines T24, 5637, Cl8-2 (multidrug-resistant subline of T24), and CDDP10-3 (cisplatin-resistant subline of T24) were used for in vitro assays to measure ERCC1 expression level and growth inhibition with cisplatin or ionizing radiation (IR). We then examined by immunohistochemistry that whether ERCC1 nuclear staining correlates with the efficacy of CRT using cisplatin in 22 patients with MIBC.

Results: Cl8-2 cells expressed ERCC1 mRNA 5.96-fold higher than did T24. Cl8-2 and CDDP10-3 were more resistant to cisplatin or IR than was T24. Resistance to IR, but not to cisplatin, was removed by suppressing ERCC1 using siRNA in both Cl8-2 and CDDP10-3 cells. In immunohistochemistry with ERCC1, 6 of 8 positive cases did not have complete response to CRT, whereas 12 of 14 negative cases had complete response. Sensitivity and specificity were 75% and 85.7%, respectively (P = 0.008).

Conclusion: Although further study is needed, ERCC1 expression level may predict the efficacy of CRT for MIBC. Clin Cancer Res; 17(8); 2561–9. ©2010 AACR.
Chondroitinase ABC I–Mediated Enhancement of Oncolytic Virus Spread and Antitumor Efficacy
Authors: Dmitrieva Nina , Yu Lianbo , Viapiano Mariano , Cripe Timothy P. , Chiocca E. Antonio , Glorioso Joseph C. , Kaur Balveen
Published: December 2010

Purpose: The inhibitory role of secreted chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans on oncolytic viral (OV) therapy was examined. Chondroitinase ABC (Chase-ABC) is a bacterial enzyme that can remove chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycans from proteoglycans without any deleterious effects in vivo. We examined the effect of Chase-ABC on OV spread and efficacy.

Experimental Design: Three-dimensional glioma spheroids placed on cultured brain slices were utilized to evaluate OV spread. Replication-conditional OV-expressing Chase-ABC (OV-Chase) was engineered using HSQuik technology and tested for spread and efficacy in glioma spheroids. Subcutaneous and intracranial glioma xenografts were utilized to compare antitumor efficacy of OV-Chase, rHsvQ (control), and PBS. Titration of viral particles was performed from OV-treated subcutaneous tumors. Glioma invasion was assessed in collagen-embedded glioma spheroids in vitro and in intracranial tumors. All statistical tests were two sided.

Results: Treatment with Chase-ABC in cultured glioma cells significantly enhanced OV spread in glioma spheroids grown on brain slices (P < 0.0001). Inoculation of subcutaneous glioma xenografts with Chase-expressing OV significantly increased viral titer (>10 times, P = 0.0008), inhibited tumor growth, and significantly increased overall animal survival (P < 0.006) compared with treatment with parental rHsvQ virus. Single OV-Chase administration in intracranial xenografts also resulted in longer median survival of animals than rHsvQ treatment (32 vs. 21 days, P < 0.018). Glioma cell migration and invasion were not increased by OV-Chase treatment.

Conclusions: We conclude that degradation of glioma extracellular matrix with OV-expressing bacterial Chase-ABC enhanced OV spread and antitumor efficacy. Clin Cancer Res; 17(6); 1362–72. ©2010 AACR.
The Definition of the Standard WMO Climate Normal: The Key to Deriving Alternative Climate Normals
Authors: Arguez Anthony , Vose Russell S.
Published: December 2010

No Abstract available.
New Geostationary Satellite–Based Snow-Cover Algorithm
Authors: Siljamo Niilo , Hyvärinen Otto
Published: December 2010

Snow cover plays an important role in the climate system by changing the energy and mass transfer between the atmosphere and the surface. Reliable observations of the snow cover are difficult to obtain without satellites. This paper introduces a new algorithm for satellite-based snow-cover detection that is in operational use for Meteosat in the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites Satellite Application Facility on Land Surface Analysis (LSA SAF). The new version of the product is compared with the old version and the NOAA/National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service Interactive Multisensor Snow and Ice Mapping System (IMS) snow-cover product. The new version of the LSA SAF snow-cover product improves the accuracy of snow detection and is comparable to the IMS product in cloud-free conditions.
The Breaking and Scattering of the Internal Tide on a Continental Slope
Authors: Klymak Jody M. , Alford Matthew H. , Pinkel Robert , Lien Ren-Chieh , Yang Yung Jang , Tang Tswen-Yung
Published: December 2010

A strong internal tide is generated in the Luzon Strait that radiates westward to impact the continental shelf of the South China Sea. Mooring data in 1500-m depth on the continental slope show a fortnightly averaged incoming tidal flux of 12 kW m−1, and a mooring on a broad plateau on the slope finds a similar flux as an upper bound. Of this, 5.5 kW m−1 is in the diurnal tide and 3.5 kW m−1 is in the semidiurnal tide, with the remainder in higher-frequency motions. Turbulence dissipation may be as high as 3 kW m−1. Local generation is estimated from a linear model to be less than 1 kW m−1. The continental slope is supercritical with respect to the diurnal tide, implying that there may be significant back reflection into the basin. Comparing the low-mode energy of a horizontal standing wave at the mooring to the energy flux indicates that perhaps one-third of the incoming diurnal tidal energy is reflected. Conversely, the slope is subcritical with respect to the semidiurnal tide, and the observed reflection is very weak. A surprising observation is that, despite significant diurnal vertical-mode-2 incident energy flux, this energy did not reflect; most of the reflection was in mode 1.

The observations are consistent with a linear scattering model for supercritical topography. Large fractions of incoming energy can reflect depending on both the geometry of the shelfbreak and the phase between the modal components of the incoming flux. If the incident mode-1 and mode-2 waves are in phase at the shelf break, there is substantial transmission onto the shelf; if they are out of phase, there is almost 100% reflection. The observations of the diurnal tide at the site are consistent with the first case: weak reflection, with most of it in mode 1 and almost no reflection in mode 2. The sensitivity of the reflection on the phase between incident components significantly complicates the prediction of reflections from continental shelves.

Finally, a somewhat incidental observation is that the shape of the continental slope has large regions that are near critical to the dominant diurnal tide. This implicates the internal tide in shaping of the continental slope.
Color properties of cellulase-treated cotton denim fabric manufactured by torque-free ring spun yarn
Authors: Kan Chi-wai , Wong Wai-yin
Published: December 2010

Torque-free ring spinning is a new spinning technology that produces yarns with low twist and balanced torque. This study examined whether the impact of cellulase treatment was different on denim fabrics having torque-free ring spun yarn in the warp direction. Commercially produced torque-free ring spun cotton yarn was used for manufacturing denim fabric. One specimen of denim fabric had torque-free ring spun yarn in the warp direction and conventional ring spun yarn in the weft direction while the other had normal conventional ring spun yarn in both warp and weft directions. Both warp yarns of the fabrics were dyed with the same indigo dyeing process. The denim fabric samples were treated with neutral cellulase under the same conditions, and weight change and color properties, such as reflectance, K/S value, CIE Lab values, and color fastness ratings, were measured. Experimental results showed that the weight loss percentages of the denim fabric samples after cellulase treatment were very similar. The specimen with torque-free ring spun yarn in the warp direction produced a lower reflectance value and higher color yield compared with the specimen with conventional ring spun yarn in both warp and weft directions. Meanwhile the denim fabric manufactured by torque-free ring spun yarn demonstrated a larger color difference but no significant effect on colorfastness properties after cellulase treatment.
Planning What Not to Eat: Ironic Effects of Implementation Intentions Negating Unhealthy Habits
Authors: Adriaanse Marieke A. , van Oosten Johanna M. F. , de Ridder Denise T. D. , de Wit John B. F. , Evers Catharine
Published: December 2010

The present studies tested the effectiveness of implementation intentions with an “if [situation], then not [habitual response]” structure. Based on ironic process theory and the literature on the processing of negations, it was expected that these “negation implementation intentions” would, ironically, strengthen the habit (situation—response association) one aims to break. In line with the hypotheses, forming negation implementation intentions resulted in cognitive ironic rebound effects as well as behavioral ironic rebound effects compared to an intention only condition or a replacement implementation intention. Additionally, it was found that negation implementation intentions are most likely to result in ironic rebound effects when the habit to be negated is strong. Although implementation intentions are generally highly effective in facilitating behavior change even when this involves breaking unwanted habits, the present research suggests that they are ineffective when they have a negating structure.
Misery Has More Company Than People Think: Underestimating the Prevalence of Others’ Negative Emotions
Authors: Jordan Alexander H. , Monin Benoît , Dweck Carol S. , Lovett Benjamin J. , John Oliver P. , Gross James J.
Published: December 2010

Four studies document underestimations of the prevalence of others’ negative emotions and suggest causes and correlates of these erroneous perceptions. In Study 1a, participants reported that their negative emotions were more private or hidden than were their positive emotions; in Study 1b, participants underestimated the peer prevalence of common negative, but not positive, experiences described in Study 1a. In Study 2, people underestimated negative emotions and overestimated positive emotions even for well-known peers, and this effect was partially mediated by the degree to which those peers reported suppression of negative (vs. positive) emotions. Study 3 showed that lower estimations of the prevalence of negative emotional experiences predicted greater loneliness and rumination and lower life satisfaction and that higher estimations for positive emotional experiences predicted lower life satisfaction. Taken together, these studies suggest that people may think they are more alone in their emotional difficulties than they really are.
Effect of the KTP Laser in Inferior Turbinate Surgery on Eosinophil Influx in Allergic Rhinitis
Authors: Chusakul Supinda , Choktaweekarn Thitima , Snidvongs Kornkiat , Phannaso Chuntima , Aeumjaturapat Songklot
Published: December 2010

Objective

Intranasal corticosteroids (INCS) are first‐line medications for moderate to severe allergic rhinitis (AR). Patients who have had nasal congestion for many years often develop inferior turbinate (IT) hypertrophy. Some patients are refractory to INCS yet decline to receive allergen‐specific immunotherapy. IT reduction is then indicated. There have been very few studies evaluating the allergic biomarker changes after IT reduction in AR. This study aimed to determine the effect of potassium titanyl–phosphate (KTP) laser IT surgery on eosinophil influx after challenge with dust mites.

Study Design

A randomized prospective controlled study.

Setting

Tertiary academic rhinology clinic.

Subjects and Methods

Thirty‐five house dust mite AR patients were randomly assigned to receive either INCS or KTP laser IT surgery. On the first visit, 2 nasal lavages prior to and 6 hours after challenge with Dermatophagiodes pteronyssinus were performed before receiving treatment. On the second visit, 3 months after treatment, the same procedures were repeated. No antiallergic medications were allowed for 2 weeks before each visit. Net changes in eosinophil numbers in the lavages were compared at baseline and 3 months after treatment and between the 2 treatments.

Results

Treatment with KTP laser IT surgery resulted in a significant reduction in eosinophil influx after nasal challenge (P =. 013), whereas such a reduction was not shown in the control. However, the net changes in the percentage of eosinophils were not different between the 2 groups at either visit.

Conclusion

KTP laser IT surgery reduces eosinophil influx after nasal challenge in perennial AR.
The development of suppletive and affixal tense and agreement morphemes in the L3 English of Basque-Spanish bilinguals
Authors: García Mayo María del Pilar , Villarreal Olaizola Izaskun
Published: December 2010

This article examines the third language (L3) developing morphology of 78 Basque—Spanish bilinguals following a Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) program and a mainstream English as a foreign language (non-CLIL) program. The analysis of cross-sectional and longitudinal oral data shows that (1) the omission of inflection in the L3 English interlanguage of these groups of learners is due to problems with the realization of surface morphology, (2) there is a dissociation in frequency of suppliance between suppletive inflection (copula and auxiliary be) and affixal inflection (the third person morpheme -s and the past tense morpheme -ed) already attested in L2 data, and (3) no significant differences were found between the two groups tested as far as the development of suppletive and affixal tense and agreement morphemes. The overall findings seem to support full-UG explanations for the variable use of morphology in the acquisition of non-native systems.
Object pronouns in German L3 syntax: Evidence for the L2 status factor
Authors: Falk Ylva , Bardel Camilla
Published: December 2010

Several studies on L3 lexicon, and recently also some on L3 syntax, have convincingly shown a qualitative difference between the acquisition of a true L2 and the subsequent acquisition of an L3. Some studies even indicate that L2 takes on a stronger role than L1 in the initial state of L3 syntax (e.g. Bardel and Falk, 2007; Rothman and Cabrelli Amaro, 2010). In this article we further investigate syntactic transfer from L1/L2 to L3 in learners at an intermediate level of proficiency in the target language. Data have been obtained from 44 learners of German as L3, testing the placement of object pronouns in both main and subordinate clauses in a grammaticality judgement/correction task (GJCT). The learners constitute two groups (both n = 22): One group has English as L1 and French as L2 and the other group has French as L1 and English as L2. This particular combination of background languages allows us to pinpoint the source of transfer, since object placement is pre-verbal in French and post-verbal in English, this being applied in both main and subordinate clauses. In target language (TL) German, however, the object placement varies between pre-verbal in the sub clause and post-verbal in the main clause. The two groups behave differently as to both acceptance and rejection of the test items (60 grammatical and ungrammatical main and sub clauses with object pronouns). This difference is significant and can be ascribed to their L2s, respectively. Our results thus show that the L2 transfers into the L3 even at an intermediate level, and on the basis of this we claim a strong role for the L2 status factor.
Clitics and object expression in the L3 acquisition of Brazilian Portuguese: Structural similarity matters for transfer
Authors: Montrul Silvina , Dias Rejanes , Santos Hélade
Published: December 2010

This article addresses the role of previously acquired languages in the acquisition of a third language (L3) in two experimental studies on object expression in Brazilian Portuguese (BP). Participants were English-speaking learners of BP as L3 with knowledge of Spanish as a second language (L2) and Spanish-speaking learners of BP with knowledge of English as L2. Like Spanish, BP has object clitic pronouns, but there are important differences between the two languages with respect to the rates of clitics used in spoken and written registers, null objects and the position of clitics with respect to the verb. English, by contrast, lacks object clitics. Study 1 tested use of clitics and other objects in an oral production task. Study 2 tested knowledge of clitic placement in a written acceptability judgment task. The general results of the two studies show that acquisition of Brazilian Portuguese object expression is not very problematic but there are transfer effects from Spanish (as L1 and L2) in the two experimental groups. This result suggests that structural similarity or cross-linguistic correspondences matter in L3 acquisition.
Substance Abuse Treatment Gap Among Adult Parolees: Prevalence, Correlates, and Barriers
Authors: Sung Hung-En , Mahoney Annette M. , Mellow Jeff
Published: December 2010

Each year 700,000 prisoners are released back into the community, and substance abuse poses an enormous threat to their successful reentry. Using data from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, this study reports on drug use and treatment exposure, prevalence of unmet treatment needs, psychosocial risks, and barriers to treatment among recent and current parolees. Findings show that whereas substance problems are higher among parolees than the general public, the former are more likely to receive treatment for their problems. Substance-abusing parolees who did not receive treatment often experienced multiple psychosocial challenges. Lack of health care coverage, lack of transportation, and lack of readiness for change were identified as major treatment barriers. Policy implications are discussed.
Can Additional Resources Lead to Higher Levels of Productivity (Arrests) in Police Agencies?
Authors: Jihong Solomon Zhao  , Yang Zhang  , Thurman Quint
Published: December 2010

While most police chiefs might be willing to make such a claim that there is a positive relationship between COPS grants and police arrests, empirical research on this topic is very limited. Following from an earlier study by Zhao, Scheider, and Thurman (2003), this research makes several contributions to the current literature. First, it includes additional years of data from police agencies receiving federal funding to examine the effects of additional resources on arrests. Second, making use of the two waves of census data (1990 and 2000) allowed time-varying analysis of the relationship between police arrests and demographics. Finally, a hierarchical statistical method for longitudinal analysis (HMLM) was used in the analysis of police arrest data from 5,871 cities during 1993 and 2000 when the involvement of federal government for promoting community policing or quality of life policing was unprecedented. Our primary findings suggest a positive relationship between COPS hiring grants and all four types of police arrests during the period of study though COPS funding usually accounted for only a small percentage of the total budget in a police department (GAO, 2005). More specifically, the hiring grant, the largest part of the COPS funding project, had consistently significant impact on police arrests after controlling for the socioeconomic variables and crimes. In addition, the hiring grant was significant predictor of all four categories of arrests, indicating that additional manpower did have a direct casual relationship with number of police arrests.
Participating in Politics Resembles Physical Activity
Authors: Noguchi Kenji , Handley Ian M. , Albarracín Dolores
Published: December 2010

A series of studies examined whether political participation can emerge from general patterns of indiscriminate activity. In the first two studies, general action tendencies were measured by combining national and state-level indicators of high activity (e.g., impulsiveness, pace of life, and physical activity) from international and U.S. data. This action-tendency index positively correlated with a measure of political participation that consisted of voting behaviors and participation in political demonstrations. The following two experimental studies indicated that participants exposed to action words (e.g., go, move) had stronger intentions to vote in an upcoming election and volunteered more time to make phone calls on behalf of a university policy than participants exposed to inaction words did (e.g., relax, stop). These studies suggest that political participation can be predicted from general tendencies toward activity present at the national and state levels, as well as from verbal prompts suggestive of activity.
Who Talks, and Who’s Listening? Networks of International Security Studies
Authors: Russett Bruce , Arnold Taylor
Published: December 2010

This article examines the international networks of communication among journals concerned with international security studies. It uses the Web of Knowledge database on which journals cited articles in which other journals over the decade 1999—2008, and on the overall impact of each journal in the field as a whole. We discover a complex set of networks, with different central journals exerting influence both overall and within subnetworks, as well as peripheral journals linked weakly to only a few others. Some subnetworks can be distinguished by methodology or theoretical schools. Subnetworks frequently cross geographical lines, including both European and USA journals. No single journal dominates the field.
The United States and Venezuela: The Social Construction of Interdependent Rivalry
Authors: Bonfili Christian
Published: December 2010

US—Venezuelan relations dramatically worsened under the Bush and Chávez administrations. Notwithstanding, evidence suggests that increasing polarization has not weakened mutually beneficial economic ties. How can we account for the co-existence of interdependence and antagonism? In addressing this question, this article examines both the economic/energy and the political/strategic sectors of bilateral interaction. It argues that the co-existence of interdependence and antagonism needs to be understood within the wider context of two simultaneous yet divergent constellations of socially constructed perceptions, identities, and practices. While the constellation driving political/strategic interaction has revealed the internalization of role identities reflecting rivalry, the one guiding energy interaction has been sustained by role identities reflecting partnership based on interest. Significantly, the former has not taken over the latter, as the lack of shared threat perceptions relative to energy interdependence is the result of deeply internalized identities and a highly institutionalized social process. As a corollary, neither of these constellations has come to govern overall US—Venezuelan relations, and thus co-existence will most likely endure unless energy interdependence becomes the object of processes of constructing threat perceptions.
The Hegemonic Illusion? Traditional Strategic Studies In Context
Authors: Miller Steven E.
Published: December 2010

At the heart of Buzan & Hansen’s (2009) narrative is a conflict dynamic that pits traditional strategic studies, narrow and overly militarized but dominant, against a diverse set of challengers who aim to widen and deepen the field. Gradually, the challengers erode the hegemonic position of the traditionalists. This analysis reflects the assumptions, premises, and perceptions that Buzan & Hansen bring to this project as protagonists in the camp of the challengers. The present article offers a traditionalist response to this narrative, suggesting that the evolution of the field looks very different when viewed through the lens of traditional strategic studies.
Robust Control of a High-precision Positioning Stage Using an Integrated H∞ and QFT Controller
Authors: Tsai Meng-Shiun , You Sheng-Hong , Jeng Jie-Ting
Published: December 2010

A new three-axis high precision stage is developed in this article, which consists of an X-Y moving platform and a rotational stage on the top of the platform. Piezoelectric actuators embedded in the flexure hinge are utilized to drive the stage and the displacements are measured by laser displacement sensors. To facilitate the design of the device, dynamic models are developed using the Lagrangian approach. The natural frequency of the system is analyzed and compared with the finite element model. Due to the installation and fabrication errors, it is found that the dynamics of the X-Y moving platform is coupled. To achieve better performance, the H∞ controller for the MIMO system is developed first to eliminate the coupling effects. Variable payloads are considered in the design process to achieve system robustness. Then, the H∞ controller is then reshaped using the QFT. The noise and control efforts are reduced significantly after applying the QFT technique. The results demonstrate that the coupling between the X-Y axes can be reduced with the integrated H∞ and QFT controller. Moreover, the settling time and positioning accuracy for a 10-µm step input are less than 0.1 s and 0.3 µm, respectively.
Force Tracking Control of Fluidic Flexible Matrix Composite Variable Stiffness Structures
Authors: Philen Michael
Published: December 2010

Active valve control is investigated for force tracking of fluidic flexible matrix composite (F2MC) variable stiffness structures through analytical and experimental studies. F2MC structures are based upon fluid-filled flexible matrix composite tubes, and previous investigations have shown that several orders of magnitude change in stiffness can theoretically be achieved by opening and closing the inlet valve to the tubes. In this article, a simple analytical model of the F2MC system is developed that captures the dynamics of the composite tube, the servovalve, and the flow of the fluid through the valve. A combined observer/ regulator control system is determined using linearized equations of motion and is applied to the non-linear system. Analysis and experimental results demonstrate that the F2MC system can track a desired force—displacement curve using active valve control.
Modeling of Magnetorheological Dampers Utilizing a General Non-linear Model
Authors: Guan X.C. , Guo P.F.
Published: December 2010

Utilizing the integration by parts rule, a simple and general computational method is proposed for solving quasi-steady parallel plate flow problems and most types of fluids can be handled by this method, such as the Newtonian fluid, the Power-law fluid, the Bingham fluid, and the Herschel-Bulkley fluid. The flow rate-pressure gradient relation for quasi-steady parallel plate flows is derived based on an abstract piecewise constitutive equation. Moreover, the flow rate is directly expressed in terms of the constitutive equation in this method, so high efficiency is achieved. As an application example of the proposed method, a new quasi-steady magnetorheological damper model more general than the existing ones is developed with the material non-linearities considered in both the pre-yield and post-yield regimes. Finally, conversions of this model to the Bingham model, the Herschel-Bulkley model, the Biviscous model, etc., are demonstrated.
Child-Report Data and Assessment of the Social Environment in Schools
Authors: Bowen Natasha K.
Published: December 2010

Objectives. This study tested the quality of data collected with the online Elementary School Success Profile (ESSP) for Children from a diverse sample of 1,172 third through fifth graders. Methods. Mplus confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) procedures for ordinal and clustered data were used. Results. Of 80 original items, 61 loaded on 13 dimensions in a first-order model that had good fit in 3 random subsamples. Children in Grades 3 through 5 may not be reliable reporters about neighborhood adults’ caring. However, 12 statistically sound and independent dimensions related to school, peers, family, and well-being were obtained. Conclusions. The ESSP for Children provides school staff with quality data to use in conjunction with family and teacher ESSP data to guide intervention choices in schools.
An Oral History of First-Generation Leaders in Education of Children With Emotional/Behavioral Disorders, Part 1: The Accidental Special Educator
Authors: Kaff Marilyn S. , Teagarden James M. , Zabel Robert H.
Published: December 2010

As the first part of an oral history of education of students with emotional/behavioral disorders, 15 first-generation leaders were asked to relate how they entered the field and to describe their careers, which span the past 35 to 50 years. Their videotaped responses were transcribed and are reported here together with discussion of several apparent themes. Most of these persons had no plan to pursue careers in special education or knew that such a career was possible. Their careers coincided with cultural and legislative changes that established the right to public education for students with disabilities. As such, they encountered opportunities for teaching positions and graduate study that ultimately led to long-time engagement and leadership roles. They entered an emerging and rapidly developing profession and were able to help shape the field over its first several decades.
Emergency Management: Gauging the Extensiveness and Quality of Public-and Private-Sector Collaboration at the Local Level
Authors: MacManus Susan A. , Caruson Kiki
Published: December 2010

This empirically based study compares the extensiveness and perceived quality of public and private emergency management—related collaborations at the grassroots level, based on a statewide survey of Florida county and city officials. The extensiveness of local officials’ involvement in private-sector collaboration is on par with their emergency management—related interactions with public-sector entities. County officials are more likely than city officials to report higher quality networks with both public and private partners. First responders rate the quality of their intergovernmental public-sector collaborations higher than their generalist counterparts; the results are more varied in terms of each group’s private-sector network quality assessments.
HLA-DR allele polymorphism and multiple sclerosis in Chinese populations: a meta-analysis
Authors: Qiu Wei , James Ian , Carroll William M , Mastaglia Frank L , Kermode Allan G
Published: December 2010

Background: The association of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes and multiple sclerosis (MS) has been extensively investigated in Caucasians, but less so in Oriental races such as Chinese.

Objectives: To review studies on association of HLA class II alleles with MS in the Chinese population.

Methods: An extensive search for published studies up to June 2010 was performed in the electronic databases. The meta-analysis facilities in the NCSS statistical package were utilized to analyze the findings in these studies. The odds ratios (ORs) of HLA-DR allele distributions in MS were analyzed against controls.

Results: Eleven case-control studies were identified: nine genotyping and two serotyping studies. Six genotyping studies were suitable for HLA-DRB1 allele meta-analysis, which showed that HLA-DRB1*15 was associated with risk of MS in the combined group (308 cases and 407 controls; OR 1.39) while the HLA-DRB1*09 and HLA-DRB1*0901 alleles were protective. When the equivalent serotypes in these six studies were combined with the results from the two serotyping studies (431 cases and 652 controls) for a meta-analysis of HLA-DR serotypes, HLA-DR2 was a risk factor (OR 1.63) and HLA-DR9 was strongly protective in the combined group (OR 0.64).

Conclusions: Although limited data are available, our meta-analysis suggests that HLA-DR2/DRB1*15 are also associated with risk of MS in the Chinese population but less strongly so than in Western MS populations, whereas HLA-DR9 alleles appear to confer resistance in this population.
CD46 in a Spanish cohort of multiple sclerosis patients: genetics, mRNA expression and response to interferon-beta treatment
Authors: Alvarez-Lafuente Roberto , Blanco-Kelly Fiona , Garcia-Montojo Marta , Martínez Alfonso , Heras Virginia De Las , Dominguez-Mozo Maria Inmaculada , Bartolome Manuel , Garcia-Martinez Angel , Concha Emilio Gomez De la , Urcelay Elena , Arroyo Rafael
Published: December 2010

Background: In a prior study of our group we found an up-regulation of CD46 expression in a cohort of Spanish multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.

Objective: To evaluate the potential role of CD46 in the response to interferon-beta treatment in MS patients through the analysis of five tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and measurement of mRNA.

Methods: A total of 406 MS patients and 513 control patients were analysed for five SNPs at the CD46 locus. Furthermore, 163 MS patients and 163 matched control patients were analysed by RT-PCR for the CD46 mRNA expression in three blood samples (basal, and at 6 and 12 months of interferon-beta treatment) collected in the course of a 1-year follow-up.

Results: Two genotypes of rs2724385 polymorphism (AT and TT) could be markers of response to interferon-beta therapy in MS patients ( p = 0.007 and p = 0.006, respectively). Furthermore, the frequency of interferon-beta responders was 44.4% (32/72) in MS patients with an increased CD46 mRNA expression, vs. 65.9% (60/91) in patients with a decreased CD46 mRNA expression ( p = 0.006).

Conclusion: The present study shows that CD46 could be associated with the response to interferon-beta therapy; however, the genetic results should be replicated in an independent cohort and further studies are needed to confirm the role of CD46.
Magnetic resonance imaging as surrogate for clinical endpoints in multiple sclerosis: data on novel oral drugs
Authors: Sormani MP , Bonzano L , Roccatagliata L , De Stefano N
Published: December 2010

Recent studies have provided evidence for using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) active lesions as surrogate for relapses and disability progression in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the validity of MRI metrics as surrogate endpoints in MS is controversial. Furthermore, the extrapolation of previous results to novel therapies is not warranted. We tested here the validity of MRI surrogacy in MS studies on recently published trials of oral drugs. The 92% of observed effects of oral drugs on clinical outcomes resulted close to those predicted by MRI active lesions. This further validates MRI surrogacy in MS, with important implications for future trials planning.
Multi-party governance: Managing the unity-distinctiveness dilemma in executive coalitions
Authors: Boston Jonathan , Bullock David
Published: December 2010

In democracies where no party enjoys a parliamentary majority, various multi-party governance arrangements have evolved to accommodate the respective interests of the parties involved. Such arrangements reflect, among other things, the political imperatives facing the parties in question, in particular the quest for an effective and durable government (which typically requires significant inter-party discipline) and the competing desire for parties to retain their distinctiveness in order to protect their electoral support (which implies less discipline). In New Zealand, efforts to balance governmental unity and party distinctiveness have generated several innovative solutions, including agree-to-disagree provisions in coalition agreements and hybrid arrangements enabling minor parties to participate within the executive while being free of the usual conventions of collective cabinet responsibility. This article explores the origins, nature, merits and impact of the recent developments in New Zealand, and their implications for the study of coalition government.