bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deliberate Self-Harm and the Elderly: A Volatile Combination—An Overview from the Plastic Surgery Perspective
Authors: Packer J. , Hussain M. A. , Shah S. H. A. , Srinivasan J. R.
Published: June 2012

Aims. To study the factors associated with the DSH in the elderly group of 60 years and above and to recommend changes to be implemented in order to improve the management in this specific group. Materials and Methods. Five-year retrospective study was undertaken from July 2005 to July 2010 in the Plastic Surgery Department of the Royal Preston Hospital, NHS Trust. A Performa was designed to collect data about the inpatient admission and included certain areas of key information. The case notes for all patients were extensively analysed in order to gather adequate information for the devised Performa. Results. DSH is getting more common in the elderly group, and males are more affected than females. 60% of the patients had a previous history of DSH. A large number (80%) of patients had a previous history of mental illness. 60% of those DSH patients were living with family. Almost all patients (90%) were reviewed by the Psychiatry Liaison Team. The timing of patients being assessed was highly variable. Conclusions. Marriage is not a protective factor in the prevention of the DSH in the elderly group. A mental health team referral in the early phases of the management would be of huge benefit and a likely step to prevent possible future admissions. The Department would benefit from the creation of a protocol for the management of these patients. There should be a joint effort of the professionals in the management of DSH in the elderly, and GPs play a very important role in the prevention of DSH in the later life.
A Future Journey to the Elderly Support in Bangladesh
Authors: Islam M. Nazrul , Nath Dilip C.
Published: June 2012

Bangladesh is not an exception from the global phenomenon of demographic aging. It is a relatively new issue in the country as its demographic transition started recently. An important issue on aging study is the support facility to the elderly. The support system to the elderly is gradually decreasing in this country though the burden does not reach the alarming situation. This paper tries to show the future path of demographic support capacity for the elderly based on secondary (1981–2001) and projected (2011–2071) data. The study shows a future gloomy picture of the elderly support facility in terms of both economic and caring aspects. This dimension of future inevitable aging problem needs proper attention to the policy makers for taking sustainable aging policies. Introduction of this agenda to the nation’s five-year planning will be effective to face the problem phase by phase.
Nontraditional Use of Biomass at Certified Forest Management Units: Forest Biomass for Energy Production and Carbon Emissions Reduction in Indonesia
Authors: Suntana Asep S. , Vogt Kristiina A. , Turnblom Eric C. , Vogt Daniel J. , Upadhye Ravindra S.
Published: June 2012

Biomass conversion technologies that produce energy and reduce carbon emissions have become more feasible to develop. This paper analyzes the potential of converting biomass into biomethanol at forest management units experiencing three forest management practices (community-based forest management (CBFM), plantation forest (PF), and natural production forest (NPF)). Dry aboveground biomass collected varied considerably: 0.26–2.16 Mg/ha/year (CBFM), 8.08–8.35 Mg/ha/year (NPF), and 36.48–63.55 Mg/ha/year (PF). If 5% of the biomass was shifted to produce biomethanol for electricity production, the NPF and PF could provide continuous power to 138 and 2,762 households, respectively. Dedicating 5% of the biomass was not a viable option from one CBFM unit. However, if all biomasses were converted, the CBFM could provide electricity to 19–27 households. If 100% biomass from two selected PF was dedicated to biomethanol production: (1) 52,200–72,600 households could be provided electricity for one year; (2) 142–285% of the electricity demand in Jambi province could be satisfied; (3) all gasoline consumed in Jambi, in 2009, would be replaced. The net carbon emissions avoided could vary from 323 to 8,503 Mg when biomethanol was substituted for the natural gas methanol in fuel cells and from 294 to 7,730 Mg when it was used as a gasoline substitute.
The Comparition of the Efficacy of Two Different Probiotics in Rotavirus Gastroenteritis in Children
Authors: Erdoğan Özlem , Tanyeri Bilge , Torun Emel , Gönüllü Erdem , Arslan Hüseyin , Erenberk Ufuk , Öktem Faruk
Published: June 2012

Objectives. The aim of the study is to compare the clinical effectiveness of the probiotics—Saccharomyces boulardiiandBifidobacterium lactis—in children who had been diagnosed with rotavirus gastroenteritis.Materials and methods. Seventy five patients aged between 5 months–5 years diagnosed as rotavirus gastroenteritis were included in the study. The patients diagnosed as rotavirus gastroenteritis by latex agglutination test in stool were divided into 3 groups of twenty-five patients each: First group was given oral rehydration therapy and rapid refeeding with a normal diet withSaccharomyces boulardii(spp. I-745), second group was given oral rehydration therapy and rapid refeeding with a normal diet withBifidobacterium lactis(spp. B94, culture number:) and third group received only oral rehydration therapy and rapid refeeding with a normal diet.Results. The duration of diarrhea was shorter in the group given oral rehydration therapy and rapid refeeding with a normal diet withBifidobacterium lactisandSaccharomyces boulardiithan the group given only oral rehydration therapy and rapid refeeding with a normal diet.Conclusion.Bifidobacterium lactishas a complemental role in the treatment of rotavirus gatroenteritis and other probiotics may also have a beneficial effect in rotavirus gastroenteritis compared with the therapy included only oral rehydration therapy and rapid refeeding with a normal diet.
Application of Proteomics to Soft Tissue Sarcomas
Authors: Kondo Tadashi , Kubota Daisuke , Kawai Akira
Published: June 2012

Soft tissue sarcomas are rare and account for less than 1% of all malignant cancers. Other than development of intensive therapies, the clinical outcome of patients with soft tissue sarcoma remains very poor, particularly when diagnosed at a late stage. Unique mutations have been associated with certain soft tissue sarcomas, but their etiologies remain unknown. The proteome is a functional translation of a genome, which directly regulates the malignant features of tumors. Thus, proteomics is a promising approach for investigating soft tissue sarcomas. Various proteomic approaches and clinical materials have been used to address clinical and biological issues, including biomarker development, molecular target identification, and study of disease mechanisms. Several cancer-associated proteins have been identified using conventional technologies such as 2D-PAGE, mass spectrometry, and array technology. The functional backgrounds of proteins identified were assessed extensively usingin vitroexperiments, thus supporting expression analysis. These observations demonstrate the applicability of proteomics to soft tissue sarcoma studies. However, the sample size in each study was insufficient to allow conclusive results. Given the low frequency of soft tissue sarcomas, multi-institutional collaborations are required to validate the results of proteomic approaches.
Macrophages in Tumor Microenvironments and the Progression of Tumors
Authors: Hao Ning-Bo , Lü Mu-Han , Fan Ya-Han , Cao Ya-Ling , Zhang Zhi-Ren , Yang Shi-Ming
Published: June 2012

Macrophages are widely distributed innate immune cells that play indispensable roles in the innate and adaptive immune response to pathogens and in-tissue homeostasis. Macrophages can be activated by a variety of stimuli and polarized to functionally different phenotypes. Two distinct subsets of macrophages have been proposed, including classically activated (M1) and alternatively activated (M2) macrophages. M1 macrophages express a series of proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and effector molecules, such as IL-12, IL-23, TNF-α, iNOS and MHCI/II. In contrast, M2 macrophages express a wide array of anti-inflammatory molecules, such as IL-10, TGF-β, and arginase1. In most tumors, the infiltrated macrophages are considered to be of the M2 phenotype, which provides an immunosuppressive microenvironment for tumor growth. Furthermore, tumor-associated macrophages secrete many cytokines, chemokines, and proteases, which promote tumor angiogenesis, growth, metastasis, and immunosuppression. Recently, it was also found that tumor-associated macrophages interact with cancer stem cells. This interaction leads to tumorigenesis, metastasis, and drug resistance. So mediating macrophage to resist tumors is considered to be potential therapy.
Statistically Efficient Construction of α-Risk-Minimizing Portfolio
Authors: Taniai Hiroyuki , Shiohama Takayuki
Published: June 2012

We propose a semiparametrically efficient estimator for α-risk-minimizing portfolio weights. Based on the work of Bassett et al. (2004), an α-risk-minimizing portfolio optimization is formulated as a linear quantile regression problem. The quantile regression method uses a pseudolikelihood based on an asymmetric Laplace reference density, and asymptotic properties such as consistency and asymptotic normality are obtained. We apply the results of Hallin et al. (2008) to the problem of constructing α-risk-minimizing portfolios using residual signs and ranks and a general reference density. Monte Carlo simulations assess the performance of the proposed method. Empirical applications are also investigated.
Prognostic PET 18F-FDG Uptake Imaging Features Are Associated with Major Oncogenomic Alterations in Patients with Resected Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Nair Viswam S. , Gevaert Olivier , Davidzon Guido , Napel Sandy , Graves Edward E. , Hoang Chuong D. , Shrager Joseph B. , Quon Andrew , Rubin Daniel L. , Plevritis Sylvia K.
Published: June 2012

Although 2[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) uptake during positron emission tomography (PET) predicts post-surgical outcome in patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the biologic basis for this observation is not fully understood. Here, we analyzed 25 tumors from patients with NSCLCs to identify tumor PET-FDG uptake features associated with gene expression signatures and survival. Fourteen quantitative PET imaging features describing FDG uptake were correlated with gene expression for single genes and coexpressed gene clusters (metagenes). For each FDG uptake feature, an associated metagene signature was derived, and a prognostic model was identified in an external cohort and then tested in a validation cohort of patients with NSCLC. Four of eight single genes associated with FDG uptake (LY6E, RNF149, MCM6, and FAP) were also associated with survival. The most prognostic metagene signature was associated with a multivariate FDG uptake feature [maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax), SUVvariance, and SUVPCA2], each highly associated with survival in the external [HR, 5.87; confidence interval (CI), 2.49–13.8] and validation (HR, 6.12; CI, 1.08–34.8) cohorts, respectively. Cell-cycle, proliferation, death, and self-recognition pathways were altered in this radiogenomic profile. Together, our findings suggest that leveraging tumor genomics with an expanded collection of PET-FDG imaging features may enhance our understanding of FDG uptake as an imaging biomarker beyond its association with glycolysis. Cancer Res; 72(15); 3725–34. ©2012 AACR.
Molecular Pathways: MicroRNAs as Cancer Therapeutics
Authors: Melo Sonia A. , Kalluri Raghu
Published: June 2012

MicroRNAs (miRNA) are approximately 18 to 25 nucleotides in length and affect gene expression by silencing the translation of messenger RNAs. Because each miRNA regulates the expression of hundreds of different genes, miRNAs can function as master coordinators, efficiently regulating and coordinating multiple cellular pathways and processes. By coordinating the expression of multiple genes, miRNAs are responsible for fine-tuning the cell's most important processes, like the ones involved in cellular growth and proliferation. Dysregulation of miRNAs appears to play a fundamental role in the onset, progression and dissemination of many cancers, and replacement of downregulated miRNAs in tumor cells results in a positive therapeutic response. Thus, in theory, inhibition of a particular miRNA linked to cancer onset or progression can remove the inhibition of the translation of a therapeutic protein—and conversely, administration of a miRNA mimetic can boost the endogenous miRNA population repressing the translation of an oncogenic protein. Although several basic questions about their biologic principles still remain to be answered, and despite the fact that all data with respect to miRNAs and therapy are still at the preclinical level, many specific characteristics of miRNAs in combination with compelling therapeutic efficacy data have triggered the research community to start exploring the possibilities of using miRNAs as potential therapeutic candidates. Clin Cancer Res; 18(16); 4234–9. ©2012 AACR.
Molecular Pathways: Targeting the TGF-β Pathway for Cancer Therapy
Authors: Smith Anna L. , Robin Tyler P. , Ford Heide L.
Published: June 2012

TGF-β is a ubiquitous cytokine that plays an active role in many cellular processes. Nearly every cell type has the ability to secrete TGF-β, as well as the ability to respond to TGF-β via the presence of TGF-β receptors on the cell surface. Consequently, gain or loss of function of the TGF-β pathway and its components are known to lead to a variety of diseases, including cancer. In epithelial cells, TGF-β functions as a tumor suppressor, where it inhibits proliferation, induces apoptosis, and mediates differentiation. Conversely, in other contexts, TGF-β promotes tumor progression through increasing tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Thus, TGF-β can have opposing roles, likely dependent, in part, on whether the cancer is early or late stage. The effects of TGF-β on tumor suppression and promotion are not limited to the tumor cell itself; rather, these effects can also be mediated through the stroma and the immune system. The dichotomous role of TGF-β in cancer highlights our need to understand the contextual effects of this cytokine to better guide patient selection for the use of anti–TGF-β therapies currently in clinical trials. Clin Cancer Res; 18(17); 4514–21. ©2012 AACR.
FAS1 Domain Protein Inhibits VEGF165-Induced Angiogenesis by Targeting the Interaction between VEGFR-2 and αvβ3 Integrin
Authors: Nam Ju-Ock , Son Hye-Nam , Jun Eunsung , Cha Kiweon , Lee Byung-Heon , Park Rang-Woon , Kim In-San
Published: June 2012

It is known that VEGF receptors (VEGFR) and integrins interact with each other to regulate angiogenesis. We reported previously that the fasciclin 1 (FAS1) domain–containing protein, TGFBIp/βig-h3 (TGF-β–induced protein) is an angiogenesis regulator that inhibits both endothelial cell migration and growth via αvβ3 integrin. In an attempt to target the interaction between VEGFR-2 and αvβ3 integrin, we determined whether the FAS1 domain region of TGFBIp/βig-h3 (FAS1 domain protein) can block the interaction between the two receptors, leading to the suppression of angiogenesis. In this study, we showed that FAS1 domain protein inhibits VEGF165-induced endothelial cell proliferation and migration via αvβ3 integrin, resulting in the inhibition of VEGF165-induced angiogenesis. We also defined a molecular mechanism by which FAS1 domain protein blocks the association between αvβ3 integrin and VEGFR-2, showing that it binds to αvβ3 integrin but not to VEGFR-2. Blocking the association of these major angiogenic receptors with FAS1 domain protein inhibits signaling pathways downstream of VEGFR-2. Collectively, our results indicate that FAS1 domain protein, in addition to its inhibitory effect on αvβ3 integrin–mediated angiogenesis, also inhibits VEGF165-induced angiogenesis. Thus, FAS1 domain protein can be further developed into a potent anticancer drug that targets two principal angiogenic pathways. Mol Cancer Res; 10(8); 1010–20. ©2012 AACR.
Novel Application of Theranekron® Enhanced the Structural and Functional Performance of the Tenotomized Tendon in Rabbits
Authors: Oryan Ahmad , Moshiri Ali , Raayat Ali Reza
Published: June 2012

The effects of Tarantula cubensis extract (TC; Theranekron®) on the experimentally induced rupture of the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) 28 days post-injury (DPI) was studied in rabbits. Forty mature White New Zealand male rabbits were randomly divided into two groups. TC was repeatedly injected subcutaneously over the lesion 3, 7 and 10 days after tenotomy and surgical anastomosis. Clinical and ultrasonographic evaluations were conducted at weekly intervals. The animals were euthanized 28 DPI and the tendons were investigated for macroscopic, histopathologic, ultrastructural, biomechanical and percent dry weight parameters. Treatment reduced signs of acute inflammation and strongly ameliorated clinical symptoms, structural organization and biomechanical properties (p < 0.05). Apparently, TC is effective in restoring the clinical, morphological and biomechanical properties of the injured SDFT in rabbits and may be valuable in human and veterinary medicine.
Characterization of the Role of Nitric Oxide and Its Clinical Applications
Authors: Levine Arlene Bradley , Punihaole David , Levine T. Barry
Published: June 2012

Nitric oxide (NO) has long been known as endothelium-derived relaxing factor. It is a vasodilator, modulating vascular tone, blood pressure and hemodynamics, a role exploited by nitrate donor therapy for angina, heart failure, pulmonary hypertension and erectile dysfunction. In addition, its powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic actions are antiatherogenic with antiatherothrombotic impact. NO signaling modulates skeletal muscle and myocardial contractility and metabolism and is intimately linked with insulin signaling. Vascular and muscle NO signaling coordinate skeletal muscle and myocardial energy demand with supply and are critical for both carbohydrate and fatty acid total-body homeostasis. NO signaling in mitochondria underlies much of NO’s metabolic effect, which, at low physiologic levels, links cellular energy demand with mitochondrial energy supply, while beneficially affecting mitochondrial oxidative stress and calcium handling. Mitochondria are also the site for the life-threatening deleterious effects arising from inflammation-related excessive NO levels. NO-deficient states are characterized by cell senescence, oxidative stress, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, vascular disease, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. NO-enriching therapy would be expected to be of benefit not only for its hemodynamic but also for its metabolic impact. In contrast, strategies are needed to curtail excessive NO in states such as septic shock.
Effectiveness of the Online Weight Reduction Program KiloCoach™ and Comparison with Other Evaluated Commercial Direct Intervention and Online Programs
Authors: Longin Rita , Grasse Marina , Aspalter Rosa , Waldherr Karin
Published: June 2012

Objective: Preliminary results indicated effectiveness of the online weight reduction program KiloCoach. The current study presents a large collection of user data and compares KiloCoach with other evaluated commercial weight loss programs. Furthermore, potential factors influencing the effectiveness of internet weight loss programs should be identified. Method: 4,310 data sets of KiloCoach users were available, 3,150 of them were suitable for further analysis. 946 program users were considered completers (at least 60 days of continuous protocol). For comparison with other programs, different subsamples were drawn that matched to the inclusion criteria of reference studies. Results: On average, KiloCoach overweight and obese completers lost 4.5 % of initial body weight. KiloCoach was as effective as the commercial program Weight Watchers® after 1 year (6.4% vs. 5.3% weight loss; p = 0.11) and 2 years (5.1% vs. 3.2% weight loss; p = 0.15). KiloCoach proved to be more effective than other online programs (Viktklubb, eDiets.com) as well as an in-person behavioral program, but less effective than Vtrim®, an online behavioral program providing intensive support. Conclusion: In comparison to reference programs, KiloCoach proved to be effective for weight reduction. The effect of online weight reduction programs seems to depend on methods and features applied.
Azilsartan Medoxomil Plus Chlorthalidone Reduces Blood Pressure More Effectively Than Olmesartan Plus Hydrochlorothiazide in Stage 2 Systolic Hypertension
Authors: Cushman William C. , Bakris George L. , White William B. , Weber Michael A. , Sica Domenic , Roberts Andrew , Lloyd Eric , Kupfer Stuart
Published: June 2012

Azilsartan medoxomil, an effective, long-acting angiotensin II receptor blocker, is a new treatment for hypertension that is also being developed in fixed-dose combinations with chlorthalidone, a potent, long-acting thiazide-like diuretic. We compared once-daily fixed-dose combinations of azilsartan medoxomil/chlorthalidone force titrated to a high dose of either 40/25 mg or 80/25 mg with a fixed-dose combination of the angiotensin II receptor blocker olmesartan medoxomil plus the thiazide diuretic hydrochlorothiazide force titrated to 40/25 mg. The design was a randomized, 3-arm, double-blind, 12-week study of 1071 participants with baseline clinic systolic blood pressure 160 to 190 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure ≤119 mm Hg. Patients had a mean age of 57 years; 59% were men, 73% were white, and 22% were black. At baseline, mean clinic blood pressure was 165/96 mm Hg and 24-hour mean blood pressure was 150/88 mm Hg. Changes in clinic (primary end point) and ambulatory systolic blood pressures at week 12 were significantly greater in both azilsartan medoxomil/chlorthalidone arms than in the olmesartan/hydrochlorothiazide arm (
P
<0.001). Changes in clinic systolic blood pressure (mean±SE) were −42.5±0.8, −44.0±0.8, and −37.1±0.8 mm Hg, respectively. Changes in 24-hour ambulatory systolic blood pressure were −33.9±0.8, −36.3±0.8, and −27.5±0.8 mm Hg, respectively. Adverse events leading to permanent drug discontinuation occurred in 7.9%, 14.5%, and 7.1% of the groups given azilsartan medoxomil/chlorthalidone 40/25 mg, azilsartan medoxomil/chlorthalidone 80/25 mg, and olmesartan/hydrochlorothiazide 40/25 mg, respectively. This large, forced-titration study has demonstrated superior antihypertensive efficacy of azilsartan medoxomil/chlorthalidone fixed-dose combinations compared with the maximum approved dose of olmesartan/hydrochlorothiazide.
Central Antihypertensive Effects of Orally Active Aminopeptidase A Inhibitors in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
Authors: Marc Yannick , Gao Ji , Balavoine Fabrice , Michaud Annie , Roques Bernard P. , Llorens-Cortes Catherine
Published: June 2012

Brain renin-angiotensin system hyperactivity has been implicated in the development and maintenance of hypertension. We reported previously in the brain that aminopeptidase A and aminopeptidase N are involved in the metabolism of angiotensin II and angiotensin III, respectively. By using in vivo specific and selective aminopeptidase A and aminopeptidase N inhibitors, we showed that angiotensin III is one of the main effector peptides of the brain renin-angiotensin system, exerting a tonic stimulatory control more than blood pressure in hypertensive rats. Aminopeptidase A, the enzyme generating brain angiotensin III, thus represents a potential target for the treatment of hypertension. We demonstrated here the antihypertensive effects of RB150, a prodrug of the specific and selective aminopeptidase A inhibitor, EC33, in spontaneously hypertensive rats, a model of human essential hypertension. Oral administration of RB150 in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats inhibited brain aminopeptidase A activity, demonstrating the central bioavailability of RB150 and its ability to generate EC33 into the brain. Oral RB150 treatment dose-dependently reduced blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats with an ED
50
of 30 mg/kg, lasting for several hours. This decrease in blood pressure is partly attributed to a decrease in sympathetic tone, reducing vascular resistance. This treatment did not modify systemic renin-angiotensin system activity. Concomitant oral administration of RB150 with a systemic renin-angiotensin system blocker, enalapril, potentiated the RB150-induced blood pressure decrease achieved in <2 hours. Thus, RB150 may be the prototype of a new class of centrally active antihypertensive agents that might be used in combination with classic systemic renin-angiotensin system blockers to improve blood pressure control.
Spelling Performance and Semantic Understanding of Compound Words by Greek Students With Learning Disabilities
Authors: Tsesmeli Styliani N. , Koutselaki Despoina
Published: June 2012

The study aimed to investigate the spelling performance and the semantic understanding of compound words by 103 Greek primary school children (first through sixth grade). The experimental group comprised of 25 children with spelling difficulties and compared with a control group of 78 children of typical development. Children were asked to spell and define 20 concrete and abstract compounds. They were also asked to spell 20 different compounds after providing their definitions in terms of their morphological constituents. Main results indicated that concrete compounds were spelled and defined better than abstract ones, but the experimental group performed significantly lower than the control group on both word types. Children with spelling disabilities were able to use less etymological information in defining compound words than their typical classmates, suggesting that they understand less the internal structure of morphologically complex words. These results are compatible with the experimental literature and are discussed in terms of the morphophonemic nature of Greek language as a transparent orthography with a rich morphology.
Five Decades of Democratic Decentralisation Process in Andhra Pradesh
Authors: Ramulu Chinnala Bala , Ravinder Dandeboina
Published: June 2012

The Andhra Pradesh is one of the two states in the country to initiate democratic decentralisation process on the lines of Balawanta Rai Mehata Committee Report in 1959. The process of decentralisation in the state can be broadly divided into six phases. In every phase, the successive government, except during 1960s and 1970s where the PRIs positions were occupied by the rural upper class and upper castes, evaded the implementation of its own expert committees’ recommendations and undermined the PRIs and their leadership. This is more so when the OBCs and weaker sections, during 1990s, entered into these institutions through reservation or in the open competition, the state has curtailed the powers, funds, functionaries and the status of PRIs and made them ‘decorative ornaments’ or ‘institutions’. There have been no serious efforts made by Government, during the last five decades, to make the decentralisation process more meaningful in terms of empowerment of citizens and improvement in the delivery of services at the local level and to alter the rural socio-economic structure. The state leadership, which is controlled by the upper caste and class over the years in the state, is not willing to allow the marginalised sections of the society to participate in the development process of the state. Therefore, the decentralisation process in the state has to be understood more from the class and caste perspectives, along with the other variables such as economic reforms, conditionality of donor countries. Thus, the genuine empowerment of marginalised sections and also PRIs in the state is still a work-in-progress.
Green Revolution Revisited: The Contemporary Agrarian Situation in Punjab, India
Authors: Dutta Swarup
Published: June 2012

The Green Revolution was India’s first industrial agricultural revolution that replaced the traditional farming system completely. But the adverse consequences of Green Revolution in the form of stagnation in production aggravated the problems of the farmers in the era of post-Green Revolution in 1980s and 1990s. The late 1990s witnessed an emergency of debt-driven suicides and rapid indebtedness that had taken hold of the countryside across the nation. Being the epicentre, the Green Revolution in Punjab did not sustain for a long time, as it started losing its charm and was followed by a series of ‘crises’, especially in its economy and environment. The farmers in Punjab are facing a severe problem with stagnation in production due to vast cereal-based mono cropping (mainly wheat-rice cycle) instead of multiple cropping, abandoning other crops like pulses, mustard, vegetables, and so on. Besides the practice of monoculture, the application of expensive chemicals (like fertilisers, pesticides, weedicides, and so on), over-mechanisation, labour and irrigation eventually increased the input cost of cultivation manifolds. Due to this high input costs of cultivation, farmers resorted to various formal (like banks, cooperatives, and so on) and informal (like local moneylenders or arhtiyas, who are commission agents in the grain markets) credit institutions for borrowing money. But due to repeated stagnation, the net output and subsequent profit margin reduced drastically. As a result, farmers could not repay the loan and eventually got entrapped into the vicious cycle of debt. On the other hand, after the liberalised economic policy of the government, the farmers received marginal importance and they could not cope up with the free and open market system. As a result, the incidence of indebtedness increased at an alarming rate. To get rid of indebtedness, many farmers across the state committed suicide. On the basis of empirical data, the present article will show the real picture of the contemporary agrarian situation in India’s most-developed state, Punjab.
Impact of Negation Salience and Cognitive Resources on Negation During Attitude Formation
Authors: Boucher Kathryn L. , Rydell Robert J.
Published: June 2012

Because of the increased cognitive resources required to process negations, past research has shown that explicit attitude measures are more sensitive to negations than implicit attitude measures. The current work demonstrated that the differential impact of negations on implicit and explicit attitude measures was moderated by (a) the extent to which the negation was made salient and (b) the amount of cognitive resources available during attitude formation. When negations were less visually salient, explicit but not implicit attitude measures reflected the intended valence of the negations. When negations were more visually salient, both explicit and implicit attitude measures reflected the intended valence of the negations, but only when perceivers had ample cognitive resources during encoding. Competing models of negation processing, schema-plus-tag and fusion, were examined to determine how negation salience impacts the processing of negations.
Do Men and Women Show Love Differently in Marriage?
Authors: Schoenfeld Elizabeth A. , Bredow Carrie A. , Huston Ted L.
Published: June 2012

In Western societies, women are considered more adept than men at expressing love in romantic relationships. Although scholars have argued that this view of love gives short shrift to men’s ways of showing love (e.g., Cancian, 1986; Noller, 1996), the widely embraced premise that men and women “love differently” has rarely been examined empirically. Using data collected at four time points over 13 years of marriage, the authors examined whether love is associated with different behaviors for husbands and wives. Multilevel analyses revealed that, counter to theoretical expectations, both genders were equally likely to show love through affection. But whereas wives expressed love by enacting fewer negative or antagonistic behaviors, husbands showed love by initiating sex, sharing leisure activities, and doing household work together with their wives. Overall, the findings indicate that men and women show their love in more nuanced ways than cultural stereotypes suggest.
Effect of instruction in appropriate rubato usage on performances of Mozart and Bach: Replication and extension
Authors: Johnson Christopher M. , Madsen Clifford K. , Geringer John M.
Published: June 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate how instruction in the use of rhythmic nuances influences subsequent timings of a musical performance. Volunteer participants were asked to listen to and alter a performance of an excerpt from Mozart’s Concerto for Horn and Orchestra No. 2 and Bach’s Suite Number 3 for Violoncello solo, Bourrèe Number 1. They used recently-developed software that allowed them to control the rhythmic timing of each of the performances without changing any other musical attribute. Forty music majors served as participants for both excerpts in a counter-balanced design. When, after practice, participants generated a performance with which they were pleased, it was saved as a pretest. Students in the treatment group for each piece were taught the rhythmic tendencies that have been identified in the finest performances of these excerpts and practiced them until they felt they were prepared to make a second recording, which was saved as the posttest. Control participants were instructed simply to practice more and to make another, better recording. All note onset data were calculated and analyzed to determine if the experimental groups had successfully integrated the given rhythmic tendencies into their performances. Results indicated that students in the experimental groups did indeed more closely reflect the model professional performances in their posttest performances of both experiments.
Lessons for teachers: What lower secondary school students tell us about learning a musical instrument
Authors: Lowe Geoffrey
Published: June 2012

In this study I set out to investigate why many students drop out from elective instrument programmes, particularly in lower secondary school. I examined the values and beliefs a sample of students in their first year in secondary school attach to learning an instrument, and the impact of the instrument lesson upon these values and beliefs. Forty-eight year 8 students (aged 12–13) from the Perth metropolitan area participated in eight focus groups. The study found that, while participants had strong cognitive and affective reasons for learning, their competence beliefs were fragile, due in part to the dislocation associated with the transition into secondary school. Students revealed a need for a high level of positive reinforcement from their instrument teachers. The findings indicate that competence beliefs can be just as important as values in determining the future enrolment decisions of students of this age. The study concludes that it is important for instrument teachers to understand the unique needs of students transitioning into secondary school, and develop targeted instructional practices accordingly. Addressing the specific needs of lower secondary students represents one effective step in the process of improving retention rates in elective instrumental programmes.
Pluralism, the right, and the good in choirs, orchestras, and bands
Authors: Mantie Roger , Tucker Lynn
Published: June 2012

Publicly funded schools are supposed to serve everyone equally in egalitarian, liberal democracies. In this paper we claim that school music ensembles fail, on the whole, to adequately reflect current socio-demographic patterns in both Canada and the United States. From a postcolonial perspective we attempt to problematize, with reference to political philosophy and educational theory, some of the fundamental issues of representation, autonomy, essentialism, and freedom as they relate to school music ensembles.
Ways of knowing and types of knowledge: How do students approach a new piece of music?
Authors: dos Santos Regina Antunes Teixeira , Gerling Cristina Capparelli
Published: June 2012

In an exploratory study lasting more than 16 weeks, 15 undergraduate and graduate piano students prepared a short piece by the Brazilian composer Guarnieri, Ponteio no. 22, without guidance from their piano teachers. The data that were collected included their performances, interviews pertaining to their practice and stimulated recall interviews. These data were analyzed in terms of the ways of knowing and types of knowledge that are articulated in Davidson and Scripp’s (1992) matrix of cognition skills in music. The data were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. The production of representation (outside the actual performance) showed a structural relationship with the local and global information about the piece. In terms of perception, cognitive skills were essentially dependent on expertise levels. Concerning the ways of knowing as reflection, a number of students were able to identify problems outside of their own performance. However, the solutions to these problems were less often planned. In summary, graduate students tended to rely on procedural knowledge, while the undergraduates generally used declarative knowledge. The results suggest that graduate students are more likely to make tacit decisions rather than verbal decisions.
Evaluation of a novel individualised communication-skills training intervention to improve doctors’ confidence and skills in end-of-life communication
Authors: Clayton Josephine M , Butow Phyllis N , Waters Amy , Laidsaar-Powell Rebekah C , O’Brien Angela , Boyle Frances , Back Anthony L , Arnold Robert M , Tulsky James A , Tattersall Martin HN
Published: June 2012

Background:

We developed a novel individualised training program regarding end-of-life communication, designed to be time effective for busy junior-doctors working in hospital settings.

Aim:

We aimed to pilot this brief individualised training program with junior-doctors to explore its acceptability, feasibility and effect on the doctors’ confidence, communication skills, attitudes towards psychosocial care and burnout.

Design:

The content of the training intervention was informed by a systematic literature review and evidence-based clinical practice guidelines regarding end-of-life communication. The intervention was based on sound educational principles and involved three one-hour teaching sessions over a three-week period, including two individual sessions with an expert facilitator and simulated patient/caregiver. In addition, participants received written and audiovisual take-home learning materials. Participants were videotaped consulting with a simulated patient/caregiver pre/post training to assess the impact of the course on their communication behaviours. Participants completed de-identified questionnaires pre/post training, including self-assessed confidence, attitudes to psychosocial care, and the Maslach Burnout inventory.

Participants:

Participants included 22 junior-doctors from a large teaching hospital in Sydney, Australia.

Results:

All participants reported that the training was useful, had been helpful for their communication with patients and that they would recommend the training to others. Significant improvements were found in participants’ communication skills (in seven out of 21 specific and all three global communication behaviours assessed, range P=0.02 to <0.001), confidence in communicating about relevant topics ( P<0.001), attitudes towards psychosocial care ( P=0.03) and sense of personal accomplishment ( P=0.043). There were no overall differences in participants’ burnout levels.

Conclusion:

This intervention shows promise and warrants further formal evaluation.
The complex actions of sumatriptan on rat dural afferents
Authors: Harriott Andrea M , Scheff Nicole N , Gold Michael S
Published: June 2012

Aim

To test the hypothesis that the clinical efficacy of triptans reflects convergent modulation of ion channels also involved in inflammatory mediator (IM)-induced sensitization of dural afferents.

Methods

Acutely dissociated retrogradely labeled rat dural afferents were studied with whole cell and perforated patch techniques in the absence and presence of sumatriptan and/or IM (prostaglandin E2, bradykinin, and histamine).

Results

Sumatriptan dose-dependently suppressed voltage-gated Ca2+ currents. Acute (2 min) sumatriptan application increased dural afferent excitability and occluded further IM-induced sensitization. In contrast, pre-incubation (30 min) with sumatriptan had no influence on dural afferent excitability and partially prevented IM-induced sensitization of dural afferents. The sumatriptan-induced suppression of voltage-gated Ca2+ currents and acute sensitization and pre-incubation-induced block of IM-induced sensitization were blocked by the 5-HT1D antagonist BRL 15572. Pre-incubation with sumatriptan failed to suppress the IM-induced decrease in action potential threshold and overshoot (which results from modulation of voltage-gated Na+ currents) and activation of Cl− current, and had no influence on the Cl− reversal potential. However, pre-incubation with sumatriptan caused a dramatic hyperpolarizing shift in the voltage dependence of K+ current activation.

Discussion

These results indicate that although the actions of sumatriptan on dural afferents are complex, at least two distinct mechanisms underlie the antinociceptive actions of this compound. One of these mechanisms, the shift in the voltage dependence of K+ channel activation, may suggest a novel strategy for future development of anti-migraine agents.
Intranasal ketorolac tromethamine (SPRIX®) containing 6% of lidocaine (ROX-828) for acute treatment of migraine: Safety and efficacy data from a phase II clinical trial
Authors: Pfaffenrath V , Fenzl E , Bregman D , Färkkila M
Published: June 2012

Objective

Ketorolac is a non-triptan, non-opioid, mixed cyclooxygenase (COX)1/2-inhibitor for short-term management of moderate-to-severe acute pain. This trial evaluated an intranasal formulation of ketorolac tromethamine (SPRIX®) containing 6% lidocaine (ROX-828) for the acute treatment of migraine with and without aura as defined by the International Headache Society.

Methods

Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to self-treat with intranasal ROX-828 (31.5 mg ketorolac tromethamine/200 µL, containing 6% of lidocaine) or placebo (with 6% lidocaine) within four hours of a new migraine attack rated ≥ moderate in pain intensity. Assessments included headache intensity and associated migraine symptoms (nausea, vomiting, phonophobia, photophobia) measured at baseline and at regular intervals through 48 hours post-dosing, and global impression of efficacy (seven-point scale) measured at two hours.

Results

Randomized patients who had a migraine attack ( N = 140) were evaluable (ROX-828, N = 68; placebo, N = 72). Patients receiving ROX-828 showed a significant ( p < 0.05) improvement in pain relief at all time points except 0.5 and 24 hours compared with those who received placebo. More patients achieved pain-free status with ROX-828 than with placebo at 1.5, 3, 4, 24 and 48 hours ( p < 0.05); significance at the two-hour time point, which was the primary endpoint, was not met. Patients’ global impression of efficacy showed statistically significantly better results for patients receiving ROX-828 than for those receiving placebo. Associated migraine symptoms were significantly improved ( p < 0.05) with ROX-828 relative to placebo at several time points throughout the observation period. The most frequently reported adverse events in both groups were associated with nasal discomfort.

Conclusion

Self-administered intranasal ROX-828 was well tolerated. While the primary endpoint was not met, the results provide preliminary evidence that ROX-828 improves migraine pain.
What a Difference in 3 Years! Risking Social Justice Content in Required Undergraduate Music Education Curricula
Authors: Kindall-Smith Marsha
Published: June 2012

Preparing future music educators to teach diverse students in U.S. schools is essential; diversity is increasing, especially in urban schools. Music teacher education infused with social justice content promotes successful student learning and an understanding of diversity. This 3-year narrative includes social justice materials, successful pedagogical strategies, pitfalls, and students’ comments. The 111 Caucasian students and 3 students of color were enrolled in three required music education undergraduate courses at an urban university. Students reflected about their cultural identities, created presentations with sensitive content, and revealed positive attitudinal changes about diversity. The risk for future music teachers was the requirement to learn a vast amount of traditional music education material plus social justice ideas. The risk for the professor involved breaking the canon of traditional music teacher preparation by teaching social justice content in required courses. What the author learned might persuade others to reevaluate their curricula and include social justice topics.
Parallel Process and Isomorphism
Authors: Koltz Rebecca L. , Odegard Melissa A. , Feit Stephen S. , Provost Kent , Smith Travis
Published: June 2012

Parallel process and isomorphism are two supervisory concepts that are often discussed independently but rarely discussed in connection with each other. These two concepts, philosophically, have different historical roots, as well as different implications for interventions with regard to the supervisory triad. The authors examine the difference between the two concepts, as well as present a new model of decision making, the iso-para/para-iso (IPPI) model, to inform supervisors’ interventions in the supervisory triad.
General Purpose or Special District Governance? Technical Efficiency versus Rent Dissipation in Airport Finances
Authors: Craig Steven G. , Airola James , Tipu Manzur
Published: June 2012

This article compares the behavior of special district governments to that of general purpose governments, using as an empirical example the performance of US airports. The authors estimate a modified McFadden symmetric generalized cost function, specified to distinguish technical efficiency and allocative efficiency of airports governed by each institutional form. Using a unique data set on US airports, the authors find that special district governments have technical efficiency that is over 40 percent higher than airports operated by general purpose governments. This advantage, however, is almost entirely dissipated through overpayments to labor and for materials, so that the resulting cost advantage of special district airports is less than 5 percent. The authors interpret these results to suggest that the feedback process between residents and the government institution is centrally important.