bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Embedded Researcher Method for Involving Undergraduates in Research
Authors: Rogers Darrin L. , Kranz Peter L. , Ferguson Christopher J.
Published: December 2012

Undergraduate research provides multiple educational advantages, and Hispanic students may reap particular benefits. The embedded researcher method avoids difficulties inherent in traditional apprenticeship models, providing meaningful research experience to multiple students within a standard didactic course structure while yielding valuable research data. The authors report implementing this method within an undergraduate course at a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI), with improvements from previous implementations. Outcomes were highly positive. Limitations and suggestions for application at other institutions are described.
Alcohol, Health, and Injuries
Authors: Huang Dayan , Hunter Zoë , Francescutti Louis Hugo
Published: December 2012

Although alcohol has existed almost as long as human existence, its consumption and abuse can have many detrimental effects. Alcohol has been associated with a wide variety of injuries, both intentional and unintentional, and can lead to physical, verbal, and sexual violence as well as family dysfunction. The role of alcohol advertising and media plays a role in alcohol’s contribution to society, and youth may be more heavily influenced than adults. Moreover, alcohol has psychological, social, and physical consequences in addition to a direct impact on health. A number of methods may be advantageous for lifestyle medicine practitioners targeting this issue, including prevention strategies for alcohol misuse, increased legal reinforcement, screening and brief intervention, public campaigns, and media advocacy.
‘The things that we have to do’: Ethics and instrumentality in humanitarian communication
Authors: Nolan David , Mikami Akina
Published: December 2012

This study critically reflects on a schism evident in debates surrounding ‘humanitarian communication’. On one hand, it is approached as embodying an ideal of ethical practice. On the other, ideal humanitarianism is deployed as the grounds for a critique, whereby ‘humanitarian practice’ is seen as compromised by exigencies and political-economic influence. Drawing on the testimony of humanitarian communication practitioners within major international agencies, we argue this also reflects a felt tension within the field, where practitioners are very aware of the practical constraints and material influences to which they are subject. In both cases, however, an assumed opposition between the ‘practical’ and the ‘ethical’ tends to position ‘humanitarian ethics’ as an ahistorical ideal that stands apart from, and acts as a check on, instrumental action. This paper argues that a more historically grounded analysis suggests a more complex interrelationship between ethical and instrumental concerns.
Proximal interphalangeal joint replacement with an unconstrained pyrocarbon prosthesis (Ascension®): a long-term follow-up
Authors: Heers G. , Springorum H. R. , Baier C. , Götz J. , Grifka J. , Renkawitz T.
Published: December 2012

There have been limited publications that report long-term outcomes of pyrocarbon implants. This report describes both clinical and radiographic long-term results for patients who have been treated with pyrocarbon proximal interphalangeal implants. Thirteen implants in ten patients are reported for an average follow-up of 8.3 years (range 6.2–9.3). All patients were suffering from degenerative joint disease. Five of the 13 digits were free of pain, the remaining eight digits had mild to moderate pain (visual analogue scale 2–5). The average active range of motion was 58° (SD 19°) at latest examination. X-ray results were unremarkable in six digits with an acceptable position of the prosthesis. However, in seven patients significant radiolucent lines (≥ 1 mm) were observed. Three prostheses demonstrated a migration of the proximal component, and one a subsidence of the distal component. Our study does not support the use of this implant for treatment of osteoarthritis of the finger joint owing to high complication rates and limited range of motion.
The evidence base for managing older persons with low back pain
Authors: Schild von Spannenberg Stephan , Jones Gareth T , Macfarlane Gary J
Published: December 2012

It has been suggested that older persons are less likely to receive optimal care for pain, and a recent population study suggested that management of low back pain (LBP) in primary care differed with older age. Low back pain is the most commonly reported regional pain syndrome, and the objective of the current review was to determine the evidence base for managing LBP in older persons; specifically, to ascertain if randomized controlled trials provide information on the effectiveness of two common non-pharmacological treatments (manual therapy, physical activity/exercise) for LBP amongst older patients. We examine data from trials which contributed to the United Kingdom National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines on the management of LBP and determine whether the trials had upper age restrictions, their justification and whether any age-specific analyses had been conducted. The present survey included 21 studies of manual therapy and 71 of physical activity/exercise. Many studies had an upper age limit of ≤ 60 years (24% manual therapy, 44% physical activity/exercise) or 61–70 years (33%, 41%) but few gave a rationale for imposing an upper age limit in the trial eligibility criteria (2 out of 17 studies of manual therapy, 4 out of 68 studies of physical activity/exercise). Only 14% of studies of manual therapy and 1% of physical activity/exercise studies provided an age-specific analysis. Upper age limits in back pain trials of manual therapy and physical activity/exercise are common but a justification for these is rarely given. Almost no studies have reported whether effectiveness differs by age.
Choosing Between the One-Way or Two-Way Street
Authors: Frederick Evan , Lim Choong Hoon , Clavio Galen , Pedersen Paul M. , Burch Lauren M.
Published: December 2012

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships promoted by professional athletes on Twitter utilizing the theoretical framework of parasocial interaction (PSI). Specifically, this study was a content analysis that examined professional athlete tweets in order to determine whether they predominately promoted social or parasocial relationships. The study also explored with whom athletes were engaging in social interaction as well as the topic of each tweet. The data revealed that professional athletes promoted both parasocial and social relationships equally. When they chose to be social, athletes were communicating with lay people and other professional and college athletes. Most athlete tweets were either general statements or insights into their personal lives. The implications of these and other findings will be discussed further.
Nice Dig!
Authors: Smith Lauren Reichart , Bissell Kimberly L.
Published: December 2012

This study represents a content analysis of 10 beach volleyball games for the men’s and women’s team USA during the 2008 Summer Games. Play-by-play commentary and between-play commentary were analyzed for all 10 games, and all court shots and camera angles were coded. Using earlier work examining the existence or presence of gender inequities in mediated coverage of sport in general, the goal was to identify how or if coverage of beach volleyball might still reinforce gender inequities. Findings from the coded visual and verbal coverage suggest that gender difference was not evident in the manifest content of the 2008 Olympic Games. Additional findings and implications are discussed.
Comparison of co-expression measures: mutual information, correlation, and model based indices
Authors: Song Lin , Langfelder Peter , Horvath Steve
Published: December 2012

Background

Co-expression measures are often used to define networks among genes. Mutual information (MI) is often used as a generalized correlation measure. It is not clear how much MI adds beyond standard (robust) correlation measures or regression model based association measures. Further, it is important to assess what transformations of these and other co-expression measures lead to biologically meaningful modules (clusters of genes).

Results

We provide a comprehensive comparison between mutual information and several correlation measures in 8 empirical data sets and in simulations. We also study different approaches for transforming an adjacency matrix, e.g. using the topological overlap measure. Overall, we confirm close relationships between MI and correlation in all data sets which reflects the fact that most gene pairs satisfy linear or monotonic relationships. We discuss rare situations when the two measures disagree. We also compare correlation and MI based approaches when it comes to defining co-expression network modules. We show that a robust measure of correlation (the biweight midcorrelation transformed via the topological overlap transformation) leads to modules that are superior to MI based modules and maximal information coefficient (MIC) based modules in terms of gene ontology enrichment. We present a function that relates correlation to mutual information which can be used to approximate the mutual information from the corresponding correlation coefficient. We propose the use of polynomial or spline regression models as an alternative to MI for capturing non-linear relationships between quantitative variables.

Conclusion

The biweight midcorrelation outperforms MI in terms of elucidating gene pairwise relationships. Coupled with the topological overlap matrix transformation, it often leads to more significantly enriched co-expression modules. Spline and polynomial networks form attractive alternatives to MI in case of non-linear relationships. Our results indicate that MI networks can safely be replaced by correlation networks when it comes to measuring co-expression relationships in stationary data.
Meta-analytical biomarker search of EST expression data reveals three differentially expressed candidates
Authors: Wu Timothy H , Chu Lichieh J , Wang Jian-Chiao , Chen Ting-Wen , Tien Yin-Jing , Lin Wen-Chang , Ng Wailap V
Published: December 2012

Background

Researches have been conducted for the identification of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by generating and mining of cDNA expressed sequence tags (ESTs) for more than a decade. Although the availability of public databases make possible the comprehensive mining of DEGs among the ESTs from multiple tissue types, existing studies usually employed statistics suitable only for two categories. Multi-class test has been developed to enable the finding of tissue specific genes, but subsequent search for cancer genes involves separate two-category test only on the ESTs of the tissue of interest. This constricts the amount of data used. On the other hand, simple pooling of cancer and normal genes from multiple tissue types runs the risk of Simpson's paradox. Here we presented a different approach which searched for multi-cancer DEG candidates by analyzing all pertinent ESTs in all categories and narrowing down the cancer biomarker candidates via integrative analysis with microarray data and selection of secretory and membrane protein genes as well as incorporation of network analysis. Finally, the differential expression patterns of three selected cancer biomarker candidates were confirmed by real-time qPCR analysis.

Results

Seven hundred and twenty three primary DEG candidates (p-value < 0.05 and lower bound of confidence interval of odds ratio ≧ 1.65) were selected from a curated EST database with the application of Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel statistic (CMH). GeneGO analysis results indicated this set as neoplasm enriched. Cross-examination with microarray data further narrowed the list down to 235 genes, among which 96 had membrane or secretory annotations. After examined the candidates in protein interaction network, public tissue expression databases, and literatures, we selected three genes for further evaluation by real-time qPCR with eight major normal and cancer tissues. The higher-than-normal tissue expression of COL3A1, DLG3, and RNF43 in some of the cancer tissues is in agreement with our in silico predictions.

Conclusions

Searching digitized transcriptome using CMH enabled us to identify multi-cancer differentially expressed gene candidates. Our methodology demonstrated simultaneously analysis for cancer biomarkers of multiple tissue types with the EST data. With the revived interest in digitizing the transcriptomes by NGS, cancer biomarkers could be more precisely detected from the ESTs. The three candidates identified in this study, COL3A1, DLG3, and RNF43, are valuable targets for further evaluation with a larger sample size of normal and cancer tissue or serum samples.
MicroRNA-centric measurement improves functional enrichment analysis of co-expressed and differentially expressed microRNA clusters
Authors: Lee Su Yeon , Sohn Kyung-Ah , Kim Ju Han
Published: December 2012

Background

Functional annotations are available only for a very small fraction of microRNAs (miRNAs) and very few miRNA target genes are experimentally validated. Therefore, functional analysis of miRNA clusters has typically relied on computational target gene prediction followed by Gene Ontology and/or pathway analysis. These previous methods share the limitation that they do not consider the many-to-many-to-many tri-partite network topology between miRNAs, target genes, and functional annotations. Moreover, the highly false-positive nature of sequence-based target prediction algorithms causes propagation of annotation errors throughout the tri-partite network.

Results

A new conceptual framework is proposed for functional analysis of miRNA clusters, which extends the conventional target gene-centric approaches to a more generalized tri-partite space. Under this framework, we construct miRNA-, target link-, and target gene-centric computational measures incorporating the whole tri-partite network topology. Each of these methods and all their possible combinations are evaluated on publicly available miRNA clusters and with a wide range of variations for miRNA-target gene relations. We find that the miRNA-centric measures outperform others in terms of the average specificity and functional homogeneity of the GO terms significantly enriched for each miRNA cluster.

Conclusions

We propose novel miRNA-centric functional enrichment measures in a conceptual framework that connects the spaces of miRNAs, genes, and GO terms in a unified way. Our comprehensive evaluation result demonstrates that functional enrichment analysis of co-expressed and differentially expressed miRNA clusters can substantially benefit from the proposed miRNA-centric approaches.
Barriers and facilitators to the implementation of clinical practice guidelines: A cross-sectional survey among physicians in Estonia
Authors: Taba Pille , Rosenthal Marika , Habicht Jarno , Tarien Helvi , Mathiesen Mari , Hill Suzanne , Bero Lisa
Published: December 2012

Background

In an era when an increasing amount of clinical information is available to health care professionals, the effective implementation of clinical practice guidelines requires the development of strategies to facilitate the use of these guidelines. The objective of this study was to assess attitudes towards clinical practice guidelines, as well as the barriers and facilitators to their use, among Estonian physicians. The study was conducted to inform the revision of the clinical practice guideline development process and can provide inspiration to other countries considering the increasing use of evidence-based medicine.

Methods

We conducted an online survey of physicians to assess resource, system, and attitudinal barriers. We also asked a set of questions related to improving the use of clinical practice guidelines and collected free-text comments. We hypothesized that attitudes concerning guidelines may differ by gender, years of experience and practice setting. The study population consisted of physicians from the database of the Department of Continuing Medical Education of the University of Tartu. Differences between groups were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric test.

Results

41% (497/1212) of physicians in the database completed the questionnaire, comprising more than 10% of physicians in the country. Most respondents (79%) used treatment guidelines in their daily clinical practice. Lack of time was the barrier identified by the most physicians (42%), followed by lack of medical resources for implementation (32%). The majority of physicians disagreed with the statement that guidelines were not accessible (73%) or too complicated (70%). Physicians practicing in outpatient settings or for more than 25 years were the most likely to experience difficulties in guideline use. 95% of respondents agreed that an easy-to-find online database of guidelines would facilitate use.

Conclusions

Use of updated evidence-based guidelines is a prerequisite for the high-quality management of diseases, and recognizing the factors that affect guideline compliance makes it possible to work towards improving guideline adherence in clinical practice. In our study, physicians with long-term clinical experience and doctors in outpatient settings perceived more barriers, which should be taken into account when planning strategies in improving the use of guidelines. Informed by the results of the survey, leading health authorities are making an effort to develop specially designed interventions to implement clinical practice guidelines, including an easily accessible online database.
Probing the applicability of autotransporter based surface display with the EstA autotransporter of Pseudomonas stutzeri A15
Authors: Nicolay Toon , Lemoine Lynn , Lievens Elke , Balzarini Sam , Vanderleyden Jos , Spaepen Stijn
Published: December 2012

Background

Autotransporters represent a widespread family of secreted proteins in Gram-negative bacteria. Their seemingly easy secretion mechanism and modular structure make them interesting candidates for cell surface display of heterologous proteins. The most widely applied host organism for this purpose is Escherichia coli. Pseudomonas stutzeri A15 is an interesting candidate host for environmentally relevant biotechnological applications. With the recently characterized P. stutzeri A15 EstA autotransporter at hand, all tools for developing a surface display system for environmental use are available. More general, this system could serve as a case-study to test the broad applicability of autotransporter based surface display.

Results

Based on the P. stutzeri A15 EstA autotransporter β-domain, a surface display expression module was constructed for use in P. stutzeri A15. Proof of concept of this module was presented by successful surface display of the original EstA passenger domain, which retained its full esterase activity. Almost all of the tested heterologous passenger domains however were not exposed at the cell surface of P. stutzeri A15, as assessed by whole cell proteinase K treatment. Only for a beta-lactamase protein, cell surface display in P. stutzeri A15 was comparable to presentation of the original EstA passenger domain. Development of expression modules based on the full-length EstA autotransporter did not resolve these problems.

Conclusions

Since only one of the tested heterologous passenger proteins could be displayed at the cell surface of P. stutzeri A15 to a notable extent, our results indicate that the EstA autotransporter cannot be regarded as a broad spectrum cell surface display system in P. stutzeri A15.
Common fixed point theorem for a hybrid pair of mappings in Hausdorff fuzzy metric spaces
Authors: Abbas M , Ali Basit , Amini-Harandi A
Published: December 2012

In this paper, we prove a coupled fixed point theorem for a multivalued fuzzy contraction mapping in complete Hausdorff fuzzy metric spaces. As an application of the first theorem, a coupled coincidence and coupled common fixed point theorem has been proved for a hybrid pair of multivalued and single-valued mappings. It is worth mentioning that to find coupled coincidence points, we do not employ the condition of continuity of any mapping involved therein. Also, coupled coincidence points are obtained without exploiting any type of commutativity condition. Our results extend, improve, and unify some well-known results in the literature.

MSC:47H10, 47H04, 47H07.
Real-time numerical forecast of global epidemic spreading: case study of 2009 A/H1N1pdm
Authors: Tizzoni Michele , Bajardi Paolo , Poletto Chiara , Ramasco José J , Balcan Duygu , Gonçalves Bruno , Perra Nicola , Colizza Vittoria , Vespignani Alessandro
Published: December 2012

Background

Mathematical and computational models for infectious diseases are increasingly used to support public-health decisions; however, their reliability is currently under debate. Real-time forecasts of epidemic spread using data-driven models have been hindered by the technical challenges posed by parameter estimation and validation. Data gathered for the 2009 H1N1 influenza crisis represent an unprecedented opportunity to validate real-time model predictions and define the main success criteria for different approaches.

Methods

We used the Global Epidemic and Mobility Model to generate stochastic simulations of epidemic spread worldwide, yielding (among other measures) the incidence and seeding events at a daily resolution for 3,362 subpopulations in 220 countries. Using a Monte Carlo Maximum Likelihood analysis, the model provided an estimate of the seasonal transmission potential during the early phase of the H1N1 pandemic and generated ensemble forecasts for the activity peaks in the northern hemisphere in the fall/winter wave. These results were validated against the real-life surveillance data collected in 48 countries, and their robustness assessed by focusing on 1) the peak timing of the pandemic; 2) the level of spatial resolution allowed by the model; and 3) the clinical attack rate and the effectiveness of the vaccine. In addition, we studied the effect of data incompleteness on the prediction reliability.

Results

Real-time predictions of the peak timing are found to be in good agreement with the empirical data, showing strong robustness to data that may not be accessible in real time (such as pre-exposure immunity and adherence to vaccination campaigns), but that affect the predictions for the attack rates. The timing and spatial unfolding of the pandemic are critically sensitive to the level of mobility data integrated into the model.

Conclusions

Our results show that large-scale models can be used to provide valuable real-time forecasts of influenza spreading, but they require high-performance computing. The quality of the forecast depends on the level of data integration, thus stressing the need for high-quality data in population-based models, and of progressive updates of validated available empirical knowledge to inform these models.
GM-CSF increases LPS-induced production of proinflammatory mediators via upregulation of TLR4 and CD14 in murine microglia
Authors: Parajuli Bijay , Sonobe Yoshifumi , Kawanokuchi Jun , Doi Yukiko , Noda Mariko , Takeuchi Hideyuki , Mizuno Tetsuya , Suzumura Akio
Published: December 2012

Background

Microglia are resident macrophage-like cells in the central nervous system (CNS) and cause innate immune responses via the LPS receptors, Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 and CD14, in a variety of neuroinflammatory disorders including bacterial infection, Alzheimer’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) activates microglia and induces inflammatory responses via binding to GM-CSF receptor complex composed of two different subunit GM-CSF receptor α (GM-CSFRα) and common β chain (βc). GM-CSF has been shown to be associated with neuroinflammatory responses in multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease. However, the mechanisms how GM-CSF promotes neuroinflammation still remain unclear.

Methods

Microglia were stimulated with 20 ng/ml GM-CSF and the levels of TLR4 and CD14 expression were evaluated by RT-PCR and flowcytometry. LPS binding was analyzed by flowcytometry. GM-CSF receptor complex was analyzed by immunocytechemistry. The levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in culture supernatant of GM-CSF-stimulated microglia and NF-κB nuclear translocation were determined by ELISA. Production of nitric oxide (NO) was measured by the Griess method. The levels of p-ERK1/2, ERK1/2, p-p38 and p38 were assessed by Western blotting. Statistically significant differences between experimental groups were determined by one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey test for multiple comparisons.

Results

GM-CSF receptor complex was expressed in microglia. GM-CSF enhanced TLR4 and CD14 expressions in microglia and subsequent LPS-binding to the cell surface. In addition, GM-CSF priming increased LPS-induced NF-κB nuclear translocation and production of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and NO by microglia. GM-CSF upregulated the levels of p-ERK1/2 and p-p38, suggesting that induction of TLR4 and CD14 expression by GM-CSF was mediated through ERK1/2 and p38, respectively.

Conclusions

These results suggest that GM-CSF upregulates TLR4 and CD14 expression in microglia through ERK1/2 and p38, respectively, and thus promotes the LPS receptor-mediated inflammation in the CNS.
Validation of reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR studies in the dentate gyrus after experimental febrile seizures
Authors: Swijsen Ann , Nelissen Katherine , Janssen Daniel , Rigo Jean-Michel , Hoogland Govert
Published: December 2012

Background

Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) is a commonly used technique to quantify gene expression levels. Validated normalization is essential to obtain reliable qPCR data. In that context, normalizing to multiple reference genes has become the most popular method. However, expression of reference genes may vary per tissue type, developmental stage and in response to experimental treatment. It is therefore imperative to determine stable reference genes for a specific sample set and experimental model. The present study was designed to validate potential reference genes in hippocampal tissue from rats that had experienced early-life febrile seizures (FS). To this end, we applied an established model in which FS were evoked by exposing 10-day old rat pups to heated air. One week later, we determined the expression stability of seven frequently used reference genes in the hippocampal dentate gyrus.

Results

Gene expression stability of18S rRNA,ActB,GusB,Arbp,Tbp,CycAandRpl13Awas tested using geNorm and Normfinder software. The ranking order of reference genes proposed by geNorm was not identical to that suggested by Normfinder. However, both algorithms indicatedCycA,Rpl13AandTbpas the most stable genes, whereas18S rRNAandActBwere found to be the least stably expressed genes.

Conclusions

Our data demonstrate that the geometric averaging of at leastCycA,Rpl13AandTbpallows reliable interpretation of gene expression data in this experimental set-up. The results also show thatActBand18S rRNAare not suited as reference genes in this model.
Genome sequencing and analysis of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi strain CR0063 representing a carrier individual during an outbreak of typhoid fever in Kelantan, Malaysia
Authors: Baddam Ramani , Kumar Narender , Shaik Sabiha , Suma Tiruvayipati , Ngoi Soo Tein , Thong Kwai-Lin , Ahmed Niyaz
Published: December 2012

Salmonella Typhi is a human restricted pathogen with a significant number of individuals as asymptomatic carriers of the bacterium. Salmonella infection can be effectively controlled if a reliable method for identification of these carriers is developed. In this context, the availability of whole genomes of carrier strains through high- throughput sequencing and further downstream analysis by comparative genomics approaches is very promising. Herein we describe the genome sequence of a Salmonella Typhi isolate representing an asymptomatic carrier individual during a prolonged outbreak of typhoid fever in Kelantan, Malaysia. Putative genomic coordinates relevant in pathogenesis and persistence of this carrier strain are identified and discussed.
Suboptimal cardiovascular risk factor identification and management in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a cohort analysis
Authors: Desai Shailey S , Myles James D , Kaplan Mariana J
Published: December 2012

Introduction

Accelerated cardiovascular (CV) disease significantly contributes to increased mortality in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, with a risk comparable to the one observed in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Part of this enhanced risk in RA is attributed to traditional cardiovascular risk factors (CRFs). The aims of this study were to determine how often traditional CRFs are identified and managed by (a) rheumatologists, compared with primary care physicians (PCPs) in RA patients; and (b) PCPs among patients with RA, DM, and the general population (GP).

Methods

A retrospective cohort study compared age/gender/ethnicity-matched patients from three groups: RA, DM, and GP (without RA or DM); n = 251 patients per group. Electronic patient records were reviewed during a continuous 12-month period between June 2007 and April 2011 to assess whether CRFs were identified and managed.

Results

In RA patients, PCPs managed obesity, BP, and lipids significantly more often than did rheumatologists. PCPs managed obesity, BP, and lipids significantly more often in diabetic patients than in the other two groups, and more often in the GP than in RA patients. In patients with elevated BMI, PCPs managed weight in 68% of the DM group, 46% of the GP, and 31% of the RA group (P < 0.0001 for all groups; P = 0.006 between RA and GP groups).

Conclusions

Rheumatologists identify and manage CRFs less frequently than PCPs. PCPs manage CRFs less frequently in RA patients, compared to the GP and DM. Given the increased CV risk associated with RA, physicians need to more aggressively manage CRFs in these patients.
A survey of earthquakes and injection well locations in the Barnett Shale, Texas
Authors: Frohlich Cliff
Published: December 2012

In August 2012, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences published my article surveying two years of seismicity in the Barnett Shale of Texas. The data showed that virtually all well-located epicenters were situated within 3 km of high-volume injection wells. This article summarizes the results of that publication. Recently there has been concern about earthquakes possibly caused by the disposal of hydrofracture flowback fluids in injection wells. Most investigations of earthquakes caused by human activity take place only after an earthquake occurs that is severe enough to be felt by nearby residents and receive media attention. Such events usually have magnitudes ∼M3 or greater and occur in populated areas. Limiting research only to these events does not help us understand why some injection wells trigger seismic activity and others do not.
Microseismic interferometry
Authors: Grechka Vladimir , Zhao Yang
Published: December 2012

The past decade witnessed rapid development of the theory of seismic interferometry followed by numerous applications of interferometric approaches in seismic exploration and exploitation. This body of work, partially collected in the “Seismic Interferometry” supplement of Geophysics (2006), SEG's 2008 reprint volume edited by Wapenaar et al., and the “Interferometry Applications” special section of The Leading Edge (2011), conclusively demonstrates that a stack of crosscorrelations of traces recorded by two receivers over sources appropriately distributed in a three-dimensional heterogeneous Earth can retrieve a signal that would be observed at one receiver if another acted as a source of seismic waves. This assertion is applicable to both active-source data (many instructive geometries of this kind are examined by Schuster, 2009) and passive records of ambient noise; examples of the latter, summarized by Snieder and Wapenaar (2010), range from ultrasonics (Weaver and Lobkis, 2001) to global seismology (Shapiro et al., 2005).
Noise suppression in surface microseismic data
Authors: Forghani-Arani Farnoush , Batzle Mike , Behura Jyoti , Willis Mark , Haines Seth S. , Davidson Michael
Published: December 2012

We introduce a passive noise suppression technique, based on the τ − p transform. In the τ − p domain, one can separate microseismic events from surface noise based on distinct characteristics that are not visible in the time-offset domain. By applying the inverse τ − p transform to the separated microseismic event, we suppress the surface noise in the data. Our technique significantly improves the signal-to-noise ratios of the microseismic events and is superior to existing techniques for passive noise suppression in the sense that it preserves the waveform.
Structural brain changes associated with tardive dyskinesia in schizophrenia
Authors: Sarró Salvador , Pomarol-Clotet Edith , Canales-Rodríguez Erick J. , Salvador Raymond , Gomar Jesús J. , Ortiz-Gil Jordi , Landín-Romero Ramón , Vila-Rodríguez Fidel , Blanch Josep , McKenna Peter J.
Published: December 2012

Background

The pathological basis of tardive dyskinesia is unknown. Although its clinical features implicate the basal ganglia, imaging studies have not found clear evidence that it is associated with volume changes in these or other brain structures.

Aims

To determine, using voxel-based structural imaging, whether there are regions of grey matter volume change in people with schizophrenia who also have tardive dyskinesia compared with those without tardive dyskinesia.

Method

A total of 81 people with chronic schizophrenia, 32 with tardive dyskinesia and 49 without, were examined using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and whole-brain, optimised voxel-based morphometry. A comparison group of 61 healthy controls was also examined.

Results

Compared with those without tardive dyskinesia, patients with tardive dyskinesia showed a pattern of volume reductions in predominantly subcortical regions, including the basal ganglia and the thalamus. Within the basal ganglia, volume reductions were seen in the caudate nucleus, to a lesser extent in the putamen, and only marginally in the globus pallidus. The patients with tardive dyskinesia, but not those without, showed significant volume reductions in the basal ganglia compared with the healthy controls but both groups had smaller volumes than controls in other affected areas.

Conclusions

The pathological process or processes that underlie the development of tardive dyskinesia are not just neurochemical in nature, but affect brain structure.
The Death of Cleopatra / The Birth of Freedom: Edmonia Lewis at the New World's Fair
Authors: Gold Susanna W.
Published: December 2012

At Philadelphia's 1876 Centennial Exhibition, sculptor Edmonia Lewis's The Death of Cleopatra responded to the ambivalent Centennial culture that celebrated one-hundred years of a nation built on founding principles of unity and liberty, but that was haunted by centuries of African slavery, the recent Civil War, and the rapidly failing efforts of Reconstruction.
Carnival in the Creole City: Place, Race, and Identity in the Age of Globalization
Authors: Lamothe Daphne
Published: December 2012

In this essay I argue that Haitian-American artists Edwidge Danticat and Wyclef Jean employ Carnival symbolism to explore the practices and politics of belonging in "global" cities. While meditating on the cultural and social dynamism produced by transnationalism, they resist the impulse to idealize its effects. In song and nonfi ctional narrative, they refl ect also on the ways that historical and structural violence shape the lives of Haitian migrants in creolized cities.
Militant Cosmopolitan in a Creole City: The Paradoxes of Jacques Roumain
Authors: Richman Kathy
Published: December 2012

In Gouverneurs de la Rosée , Jacques Roumain integrates the Creole and cosmopolitan to portray a people suffering at the intersection of international capital, class conflict, and racism. Roumain's call to international readers inspired politically committed authors Langston Hughes and Nicolás Guillén, resulting in adaptations that extend the impact of Gouverneurs to the US, Cuba, and Duvalierist Haiti.
The Catholic Salem: How the Devil Destroyed a Saint’s Parish (Mattaincourt, 1627–31)
Authors: Monter William
Published: December 2012

A virulent witch panic driven by many diabolically possessed parishioners of Mattaincourt in Lorraine caused about fifty deaths for witchcraft between 1627 and 1631. Sixty years before Salem, this episode constitutes the largest such tragedy yet found in Catholic Europe, where episodes of collective demonic possession were usually confined within female convents. Mattaincourt’s parish curé, St. Pierre Fourier, was then supervising the approval for two reformed religious orders at Rome and was unable to control events in Mattaincourt; a wealthy benefactor was among those burned. Fourier resigned his benefice when the outbreak subsided. This episode was apparently unknown to Catholic authorities during the modern procedures for Fourier’s beatification and canonization.
Leocadio Lobo: The Spanish Civil War as Viewed by a Priest Exiled in the United States of America
Authors: González Gullón José L.
Published: December 2012

The Catholic priest Leocadio Lobo (1887–1959) is an icon of the Spanish Civil War, but his life has never been submitted to rigorous study. His exile in the United States from 1939 to 1959 is essential to an understanding of his life. His Republican ideology, contrary to that of the regime of General Francisco Franco, was the reason for his exile. Lobo believed that it was possible to be Catholic without supporting the Franco regime, but he was unable to offer an adequate response to the religious persecution that occurred in the Republican zone during the Civil War. In the United States, he underwent rehabilitation as a Catholic priest and developed an extraordinary pastoral ministry in New York City, primarily to the Hispanic community.
Teaching about Classics Pedagogy in the 21st Century
Authors: Ancona Ronnie
Published: December 2012

The following papers originated in a panel, co-organized by Ronnie Ancona and Eric Dugdale and sponsored by the Education Committee of the American Philological Association, which took place at the 2012 APA Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. All have undergone some revision for publication. We would like to thank CW editor, Matthew Santirocco, and CW associate editor, Judith Hallett, for encouraging us to submit them. The lively response to the panel made us realize that the topic was one of interest to a wide group of classicists.
Dio and Herodian on the Assassination of Caracalla
Authors: Scott Andrew G.
Published: December 2012

In their descriptions of the assassination of Caracalla, Cassius Dio and Herodian employed a similar narrative that was hostile to Macrinus and likely developed by his successor, Elagabalus. The differences in their accounts can be traced to each author’s historical views and attitude toward the individuals involved. Dio’s account is affected for the most part by his view that Macrinus overstepped the bounds of his social status. Herodian, on the other hand, has molded his version of the events to conform to a narrative of tyrant-slaying, as in the stories of Harmodius and Aristogeiton and the assassination of Caligula.
Visus Homerus Adesse Poeta : The Annals of Quintus Ennius and the Odyssey of Homer
Authors: Fisher Jay
Published: December 2012

Although its opening line raises expectations of a deep engagement with the Odyssey , there are actually many more allusions to the Iliad in the fragments of the Annals of Quintus Ennius. Specifically, there are four extant topical allusions to the Iliad and none to the Odyssey . The fact that the Annals , like the Iliad , is an epic of war is one explanation. The existence of a Latin translation of the Odyssey by Ennius’ predecessor, Livius Andronicus, is another. Finally, this lack of allusions to the Odyssey may also be an implicit refutation of a claim that Odysseus founded Rome.
Some Thoughts on the Emperor Aurelian as “Persecutor”
Authors: Hurley Patrick
Published: December 2012

This article challenges the allegation by the ancient, pro-Constantinian Church historians Lactantius and Eusebius of Caesarea that the Roman emperor Aurelian ( a.d . 270–75) was a persecutor of the Christians. Despite Aurelian’s positive relations with the Christian Church during his reign (here his arbitration in the Paul of Samosata affair is highlighted), such an accusation was nevertheless leveled against him by both individuals, and has a tendency to be repeated by many modern scholars as more or less true. The idea of Aurelian launching a persecution would not have happened given the practicality (or lack thereof) of such plans.
“On the Chance”: An Allusion to Vergil’s Aeneid in Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows
Authors: Harris-McCoy Daniel E.
Published: December 2012

Rat’s description of Otter’s search for his missing son, Portly, in Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows contains an allusion to Aeneas’ search for his wife, Creusa, in book 2 of Vergil’s Aeneid during the final fall of Troy. This reference economically imports a number of elements more appropriate to epic than pastoral literature. The result is a heightened sense of emotion and concern but, ironically, the reinforcement of the boundaries of the idyllic pastoral world.
Patients’ and Community Leaders’ Perceptions Regarding Conducting Health Behavior Research in a Diverse, Urban Clinic Specializing in Rheumatic Diseases
Authors: Wallen Gwenyth R. , Middleton Kimberly R. , Miller-Davis Claiborne , Tataw-Ayuketah Gladys , Todaro Alyssa , Rivera-Goba Migdalia , Mittleman Barbara B.
Published: December 2012

Background:
Disparities in the incidence, prevalence, severity, care, and outcomes for rheumatic diseases exist among racial and ethnic groups compared with White Americans.
Objective: This paper describes a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach engaging researchers, community leaders, and patients in purposeful dialogues related to the implementation of health behavior research in an urban rheumatic disease clinic.
Methods: Seven focused discussions were led in either English or Spanish. Discussions were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim.
Results: Six community leaders and nine patients participated in the seven scheduled focused discussions. Transcripts uncovered five major themes that assisted with study design: trust, patient–provider relationship, study implementation suggestions, decreased functional capacity, and access to healthcare.
Conclusions: Engaging community partners and patients in informal and formal discussions from early phases of research design through implementation, followed by systematic application of these insights, may serve to accelerate the potential for translation from findings into improved clinical practice and optimal outcomes.
Community–University Partnerships in Community-Based Research
Authors: Sadler Lois S. , Larson Jean , Bouregy Susan , LaPaglia Donna , Bridger Laurie , McCaslin Catherine , Rockwell Sara
Published: December 2012

Problem:
Community-engaged research (CEnR) is a complex, collaborative process that presents many challenges and requires investment of time and commitment by both community and university research partners.
Purpose: This paper describes the experience of a group of university and community members developing a set of guidelines for the ethical conduct of CEnR projects.
Key Points: The paper outlines the process of guideline development and lessons learned from this collaborative effort, which was based upon approaches and methods of community-based participatory research (CBPR).
Conclusions: The guidelines are included and may serve as a framework to be individualized by other partnerships. Our experience shows that the very process of review, revision, and engagement is extremely helpful in creating a framework that works for the specific communities and for establishing working relationships among the partners so that all stakeholders feel ownership and investment in the framework and the collaborative research efforts.
Female Sex Work Within the Rural Immigrant Latino Community in the Southeast United States: An Exploratory Qualitative Community-Based Participatory Research Study
Authors: Rhodes Scott D. , Tanner Amanda , Duck Stacy , Aronson Robert E. , Alonzo Jorge , Garcia Manuel , Wilkin Aimee M. , Cashman Rebecca , Vissman Aaron T. , Miller Cindy , Kroeger Karen , Naughton Michelle J.
Published: December 2012

Background:
Little is known about the structure and context of, and the risks encountered in, sex work in the United States.
Objective: This community-based participatory research (CBPR) study explored female sex work and the feasibility of conducting a larger study of sex work within the immigrant Latino community in North Carolina.
Methods: Twelve abbreviated life story interviews were conducted with Latina women who sold sex, other women who sold sex to Latino men, and Latino men who hired sex workers. Content analysis was used to analyze narrative data.
Results: Themes emerged to describe the structure of sex work, motivations to sell and hire sex, and the sexual health-related needs of sex workers. Lessons learned included the ease of recruiting sex workers and clients, the need to develop relationships with controllers and bar owners/managers, and the high compensation costs to reimburse sex workers for participation.
Conclusions: Study findings suggest that it is possible to identify and recruit sex workers and clients and collect formative data within this highly vulnerable and neglected community; the prevention of HIV and STDs is a priority among sex workers, and the need for a larger study to include non-Latino men who report using Latina sex workers, other community insiders (e.g., bartenders), and service providers for Latina sex workers.
Changing the Conversation About Hunger: The Process of Developing Freshplace
Authors: Martin Katie , Shuckerow Maryellen , O’Rourke Christine , Schmitz Allison
Published: December 2012

Background:
Despite public and private food assistance programs, food insecurity and hunger are persistent public health problems. Freshplace is an innovative food pantry collaborative whose goal is to build long-term food security and self-sufficiency among residents of the North End of Hartford, Connecticut. Freshplace was founded by Foodshare (FS), the Chrysalis Center (CC), Inc., and the Junior League of Hartford (JLH), Inc., who then partnered with the University of Connecticut to design and evaluate the program.
Objectives: This article describes the community-based participatory research process involved with developing and evaluating Freshplace.
Methods: We are conducting a randomized, controlled study to compare 100 Freshplace members with 100 people who receive food from traditional food pantries. Main outcome measures include food security, self-sufficiency, and diet quality. Change scores are compared from baseline to 3 months using independent t tests.
Results: Freshplace opened in July 2010. We have recruited 233 people to participate in the study. Over 3 months, Freshplace members had larger change scores than the comparison group in food security scores (1.6 vs. 0.7 points; p < .01), and fruit and vegetable intake (1.9 vs. –1.4 points; p < .01).
Conclusions: Freshplace is a successful, community– university partnership bringing together three community agencies and a state university. This is the first food pantry intervention to be evaluated, and preliminary results are promising.