bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hippocampal and Parahippocampal Somatostatin 28 and Neuropeptide Y Containing Neurons in Alzheimer's Disease (Part 2 of 2)
Authors: Cervera-Pierot P. , Hirsch E.C. , Javoy-Agid F. , Ransmayr G. , Hauw J.J. , Agid Y.
Published: May 2010

The somatostatinergic innervation, and by comparison that of neuropeptide Y, was examined by immunocytochemistry, in the hippocampal formation of 6 patients with clinically and neuropathologically confirmed diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and 4 matched controls. The quantitative assessment of the somatostatin and neuropeptide Y immunoreactive cell perikarya was conducted on regularly spaced sections covering the span of the whole hippocampus and parahippocampal cortex. The estimated total number of somatostatin or neuropeptide Y containing neurons was similar in the hippocampal formation of patients with AD and controls. By contrast, the density of the somatostatinergic fibers and terminals as estimated by the optical density of the somatostatin neuropil, significantly decreased by 30-45% in all the hippocampal subregions and the parahippocampal cortex, whereas the density of the neuropeptide Y immunoreactive neuropil significantly decreased (45%) only in the parahippocampal cortex. Numerous enlarged fibers containing somatostatin or neuropeptide Y, some of which were observed within senile plaques, were detected in the brain of patients with AD. These data suggest that in AD, somatostatin and neuropeptide Y containing cell bodies in the hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus are anatomically preserved, in spite of an altered terminal field.
Left Atrial Epicardial Adiposity and Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Batal Omar , Schoenhagen Paul , Shao Mingyuan , Ayyad Ala Eddin , Van Wagoner David R. , Halliburton Sandra S. , Tchou Patrick J. , Chung Mina K.
Published: May 2010

Background—

Atrial fibrillation (AF) has been linked to inflammatory factors and obesity. Epicardial fat is a source of several inflammatory mediators related to the development of coronary artery disease. We hypothesized that periatrial fat may have a similar role in the development of AF.

Methods and Results—

Left atrium (LA) epicardial fat pad thickness was measured in consecutive cardiac CT angiograms performed for coronary artery disease or AF. Patients were grouped by AF burden: no (n=73), paroxysmal (n=60), or persistent (n=36) AF. In a short-axis view at the mid LA, periatrial epicardial fat thickness was measured at the esophagus (LA-ESO), main pulmonary artery, and thoracic aorta; retrosternal fat was measured in axial view (right coronary ostium level). LA area was determined in the 4-chamber view. LA-ESO fat was thicker in patients with persistent AF versus paroxysmal AF (
P
=0.011) or no AF (
P
=0.003). LA area was larger in patients with persistent AF than paroxysmal AF (
P
=0.004) or without AF (
P
<0.001). LA-ESO was a significant predictor of AF burden even after adjusting for age, body mass index, and LA area (odds ratio, 5.30; 95% confidence interval, 1.39 to 20.24;
P
=0.015). A propensity score–adjusted multivariable logistic regression that included age, body mass index, LA area, and comorbidities was also performed and the relationship remained statistically significant (
P
=0.008).

Conclusions—

Increased posterior LA fat thickness appears to be associated with AF burden independent of age, body mass index, or LA area. Further studies are necessary to examine cause and effect, and if inflammatory, paracrine mediators explain this association.
Improvement of Cardiac Function by a Cardiac Myosin Activator in Conscious Dogs With Systolic Heart Failure
Authors: Shen You-Tang , Malik Fady I. , Zhao Xin , Depre Christophe , Dhar Sunil K. , Abarzúa Patricio , Morgans David J. , Vatner Stephen F.
Published: May 2010

Background—

Therapy for chronic systolic heart failure (sHF) has improved over the past 2 decades, but the armamentarium of drugs is limited and consequently sHF remains a leading cause of death and disability. In this investigation, we examined the effects of a novel cardiac myosin activator, omecamtiv mecarbil (formerly CK-1827452) in 2 different models of heart failure.

Methods and Results—

Two different models of sHF were used: (1) pacing-induced sHF after myocardial infarction (MI-sHF) and (2) pacing-induced sHF after 1 year of chronic pressure overload left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH-sHF). Omecamtiv mecarbil increased systolic function in sHF dogs, chronically instrumented to measure LV pressure, wall thickness, and cardiac output. Omecamtiv mecarbil, infused for 24 hours, induced a sustained increase without desensitization (
P
<0.05) in wall thickening (25±6.2%), stroke volume (44±6.5%) and cardiac output (22±2.8%), and decreased heart rate (15±3.0%). The major differences between the effect of omecamtiv mecarbil on cardiac function and the effect induced by a catecholamine, for example, dobutamine, is that omecamtiv mecarbil did not increase LV dP/dt but rather increased LV systolic ejection time by 26±2.9% in sHF. Another key difference is that myocardial O
2
consumption (MVO
2
), which increases with catecholamines, was not significantly affected by omecamtiv mecarbil.

Conclusions—

These results demonstrate that chronic infusion of the cardiac myosin activator, omecamtiv mecarbil, improves LV function in sHF without the limitations of progressive desensitization and increased MVO
2.
This unique profile may provide a new therapeutic approach for patients with sHF.
Xenografted Human Amniotic Membrane–Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Are Immunologically Tolerated and Transdifferentiated Into Cardiomyocytes
Authors: Tsuji Hiroko , Miyoshi Shunichiro , Ikegami Yukinori , Hida Naoko , Asada Hironori , Togashi Ikuko , Suzuki Junshi , Satake Masaki , Nakamizo Hikaru , Tanaka Mamoru , Mori Taisuke , Segawa Kaoru , Nishiyama Nobuhiro , Inoue Junko , Makino Hatsune , Miyado Kenji , Ogawa Satoshi , Yoshimura Yasunori , Umezawa Akihiro
Published: May 2010

Rationale
:

Amniotic membrane is known to have the ability to transdifferentiate into multiple organs and is expected to stimulate a reduced immunologic reaction.

Objective
:

Determine whether human amniotic membrane–derived mesenchymal cells (hAMCs) can be an ideal allograftable stem cell source for cardiac regenerative medicine.

Methods and Results
:

We established hAMCs. After cardiomyogenic induction in vitro, hAMCs beat spontaneously, and the calculated cardiomyogenic transdifferentiation efficiency was 33%. Transplantation of hAMCs 2 weeks after myocardial infarction improved impaired left ventricular fractional shortening measured by echocardiogram (34±2% [n=8] to 39±2% [n=11];
P
<0.05) and decreased myocardial fibrosis area (18±1% [n=9] to 13±1% [n=10];
P
<0.05), significantly. Furthermore hAMCs transplanted into the infarcted myocardium of Wistar rats were transdifferentiated into cardiomyocytes in situ and survived for more than 4 weeks after the transplantation without using any immunosuppressant. Immunologic tolerance was caused by the hAMC-derived HLA-G expression, lack of MHC expression of hAMCs, and activation of FOXP3-positive regulatory T cells. Administration of IL-10 or progesterone, which is known to play an important role in feto-maternal tolerance during pregnancy, markedly increased HLA-G expression in hAMCs in vitro and, surprisingly, also increased cardiomyogenic transdifferentiation efficiency in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusions
:

Because hAMCs have a high ability to transdifferentiate into cardiomyocytes and to acquire immunologic tolerance in vivo, they can be a promising cellular source for allograftable stem cells for cardiac regenerative medicine.
The Added Value of Surface Data to Radar-Derived Rainfall-Rate Estimation Using an Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Root B. , Yu T-Y. , Yeary M. , Richman M. B.
Published: May 2010

Radar measurements are useful for determining rainfall rates because of their ability to cover large areas. Unfortunately, estimating rainfall rates from radar reflectivity data alone is prone to errors resulting from variations in drop size distributions, precipitation types, and other physics that cannot be represented in a simple, one-dimensional Z–R relationship. However, improving estimates is possible by utilizing additional inputs, thereby increasing the dimensionality of the model.

The main purpose of this study is to determine the value of surface observations for improving rainfall-rate estimation. This work carefully designed an artificial neural network to fit a model that would relate radar reflectivity, surface temperature, humidity, pressure, and wind to observed rainfall rates. Observations taken over 13 years from the Oklahoma Mesonet and the KTLX WSR-88D radar near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, were used for the training dataset. While the artificial neural network underestimated rainfall rates for higher reflectivities, it did have an overall better performance than the best-fit Z–R relation. Most importantly, it is shown that the surface data contributed significant value to an unaugmented radar-based rainfall-rate estimation model.
Combination Stem Cell Therapy for the Treatment of Severe Limb Ischemia: Safety and Efficacy Analysis
Authors: Lasala Gabriel P. , Silva Jose A. , Gardner Philip A. , Minguell Jose J.
Published: May 2010

The infusion of a source of endothelial progenitors (EPCs) to limb ischemia (LB) patients has been used to increase angiogenesis. Because the formation of new blood vessels involves, in addition to EPCs, other cells and angiogenic regulators, we postulate that a combination cell therapy including EPCs and mesenchymal stem cells (a source of pericytes progenitors and angiogenic regulators) may represent a preferential stimuli for the development of blood vessels. In this phase I clinical trial, patients with LI were infused with a cell product consisting of autologous bone marrow-derived mononuclear and mesenchymal stem cells. After 10 2 months of follow-up, efficacy assessment demonstrated improvements in walking time, ankle brachial pressure, and quality of life. Concomitantly, angiographic and 99mTc-TF perfusion scintigraphy scores confirmed increased perfusion in the treated limbs. These results show that the use of a combination cell therapy is safe, feasible, and appears effective in patients with LI.
Thyrotoxicosis and Coronary Artery Spasm: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Jaber Jihad A. , Haque Saiful , Noor Hassam , Ibrahim Buthina , Al Suwaidi Jassim
Published: May 2010

A 51-year old Middle-Eastern man presented with recurrent chest pain associated with ST-segment elevation. The patient was treated with placement of a stent in the right coronary artery. He was subsequently diagnosed with severe hyperthyroidism secondary to Graves disease, which is thought to be the cause of the coronary spasm. The patient was treated with neomercazole and potassium iodide solution, and diltiazem, and nitrates with resolution of his symptoms. This unusual case highlights the importance of considering hyperthyroidism in the differential diagnosis of recurrent chest pain and coronary artery spasm. We suggest routine thyroid function testing in patients with coronary spasm.
Immunotherapy for the Prevention of Myointimal Hyperplasia After Experimental Balloon Injury of the Rat Carotid Artery
Authors: Hansrani Monica , Stanford John , McIntyre Graham , Bottasso Oscar , Stansby Gerard
Published: May 2010

We assessed the effect of novel immunotherapeutic heat-killed bacterial (Actinomycetales) preparations on the development of myointimal hyperplasia (MIH) in a rat carotid balloon trauma model and the effect on the immune response by measuring the expression of interferon γ (IFN-γ; (Th1) and interleukin 4 (IL-4; Th2). There was a significant reduction (P < .001) in intima/media ratios (mean ± SEM) in the rats treated by immunomodulation (0.52 ± 0.03 Gordonia bronchialis, 0.60 ± 0.03 Rhodococcus coprophilus, 0.43 ± 0.03 Tsukamurella inchonensis, 0.37 ± 0.03 Mycobacterium vaccae), in comparison with untreated controls (0.91 ± 0.05). Postballoon trauma G bronchialis increased messenger RNA (mRNA) IFN-γ (P < .02) and reduced mRNA IL-4 (P < .05). R coprophilus, T inchonensis, and M vaccae significantly increased production of mRNA IFN-γ (P < .001). R coprophilus and M vaccae also decreased production of mRNA IL-4 (P < .05, P < .01). Treatment with heat-killed Actinomycetales inhibits MIH through a combination of enhanced Th1 and attenuated Th2 response. Immunomodulation may provide a novel therapeutic option to prevent restenosis.
Contralateral Internal Carotid Artery Occlusion Impairs Early But Not 30-Day Stroke Rate Following Carotid Endarterectomy
Authors: Bagaev Erik , Pichlmaier A. Maximilian , Bisdas Theodosios , Wilhelmi Mathias H. , Haverich Axel , Teebken Omke E.
Published: May 2010

Neurological complications and mortality within 30 days following carotid endarterectomy (CEA) alone or with concomitant cardiac surgery/cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were assessed in patients with or without contralateral occlusion of the internal carotid artery (CO-ICA).Of 335 patients undergoing CEA, 173 underwent concomitant cardiac surgery with CPB. Group A consisted of 260 patients without CO-ICA and group B of 75 patients with CO-ICA. The neurological complications (peripheral nerve damage, transient ischemic attack [TIA], prolonged reversible ischemic neurological deficit [PRIND], and stroke) and the Rankin index within 24 hours and 30 days postoperatively were compared. Strokes within 24 hours were significantly increased (P = .006) in group B (11%) compared with A (3.1%); TIA and PRIND did not differ (P = .33). The overall neurological complications and in particular for peripheral neurological damage, TIA/PRIND, and stroke did not differ within the 30-day-period postsurgery. A significantly higher stroke rate within 24 hours postsurgery occurred in patients with CO-ICA.
MicroRNAs Play a Critical Role in Tooth Development
Authors: Cao H. , Wang J. , Li X. , Florez S. , Huang Z. , Venugopalan S.R. , Elangovan S. , Skobe Z. , Margolis H.C. , Martin J.F. , Amendt B.A.
Published: May 2010

MicroRNAs are known to regulate gene function in many tissues and organs, but their expression and function, if any, in tooth development are elusive. We sought to identify them by microRNA screening analyses and reveal their overall roles by inactivating Dicer1 in the dental epithelium and mesenchyme. Discrete sets of microRNAs are expressed in molars compared with incisors as well as epithelium compared with mesenchyme. Conditional knockout (cKO) of Dicer1 (mature microRNAs) in the dental epithelium of the Pitx2-Cre mouse results in multiple and branched enamel-free incisors and cuspless molars, and change in incisor patterning and in incisor and molar size and shape. Analyses of differentiating dental epithelial markers reveal a defect in ameloblast differentiation. Conversely, the cervical loop (stem cell niche) is expanded in Dicer1 cKO. These results demonstrate that tooth development is tightly controlled by microRNAs and that specific microRNAs regulate tooth epithelial stem cell differentiation.
The Multiple Assessment of Interpretation Effectiveness: Promoting Visitors’ Environmental Attitudes and Behavior
Authors: Aise KyoungJin Kim  , Airey David , Szivas Edith
Published: May 2010

Interpretation has been recognized as a useful tool in managing visitor behavior in nature-based tourism areas. This study explores a multiple assessment approach to identify the strengths and weaknesses of site-based interpretation in influencing multidimensional aspects of attitudes and behavioral intentions toward local environmental issues. Visitors to the Lulworth coastal area in England were studied using on-site questionnaire survey data. The results of the research highlight that the effectiveness of interpretation varied in relation to a number of different aspects of responsible environmental behavior and local conservation issues. The findings also reveal that it fostered visitors’ awareness of and their support for management policies but its impacts were limited to site-specific responsible behavior related in this case to geological and environmental conservation.
Effects of the Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor‐γ Coactivator‐1α (PGC‐1α) Thr394Thr and Gly482Ser Polymorphisms on Rosiglitazone Response in Chinese Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Zhang Ke‐Han , Huang Qiong , Dai Xing‐Ping , Yin Ji‐Ye , Zhang Wei , Zhou Gan , Zhou G‐Hao , Liu Zhao‐Qian
Published: May 2010

The objective was to investigate whether peroxisome proliferator activated receptor‐γ coactivator‐1α (PGC‐1α) Thr394Thr and Gly482Ser polymorphisms influence rosiglitazone response in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Among the 241 patients enrolled in genotyping for PGC‐1α Thr394Thr and Gly482Ser polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism assay, 41 patients with different Thr394Thr or Gly482Ser genotypes received oral rosiglitazone (4 mg/d) for 12 consecutive weeks. Carriers of A allele of Thr394Thr had high density lipoprotein‐cholesterol that was enhanced to a lesser degree and smaller attenuated postprandial serum insulin compared with G alleles (P < .05), and patients with PGC‐1α Gly482Gly had fasting plasma glucose that was attenuated to a greater degree (P < .01) and postprandial serum insulin (P < .05) compared with Gly482Ser+Ser482Ser. After rosiglitazone treatment, carriers of A allele of Thr394Thr and Ser allele of Gly482Ser showed a trend in worsening for GG (P < .05) and a significant therapeutic response to rosiglitazone for Gly/Gly (P < .05). These data suggest that the PGC‐1α Thr394Thr and Gly482Ser polymorphisms are associated with therapeutic efficacy of multiple‐dose rosiglitazone in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Initiation and continuation of best friends and adolescents’ alcohol consumption: Do self-esteem and self-control function as moderators?
Authors: Larsen Helle , Overbeek Geertjan , Vermulst Ad A. , Granic Isabela , Engels Rutger C. M. E.
Published: May 2010

In this three-wave longitudinal survey, we investigated bi-directional longitudinal associations between best friends and adolescents’ alcohol consumption. Additionally, since the relation between best friends and adolescents’ drinking may be stronger if adolescents have not consumed alcohol yet, we examined this relation not only with regard to continuation but also with regard to the initiation of adolescent drinking. We also hypothesized that low levels of self-esteem and self-control in youths would be related to a higher susceptibility to the impact of their best friends’ drinking. Data were used from 433 adolescents and their best friends. Results of SEM analyses did not provide evidence for bi-directional associations between best friends and adolescents’ alcohol use over time. Nevertheless, the results of additional growth curve analyses indicated that adolescents and best friends’ drinking does seem to develop in a similar fashion over time. Adolescents’ self-esteem, self-control, and gender did not moderate longitudinal associations between best friends and adolescents’ drinking. The discussion focuses on methodological and theoretical explanations for the absence of significant longitudinal relations between best friends and adolescents’ drinking.
Selective influences of oxytocin on the evaluative processing of social stimuli
Authors: Norman Greg J , Cacioppo John T , Morris John S , Karelina Kate , Malarkey William B , DeVries A Courtney , Berntson Gary G
Published: May 2010

The neuropeptide oxytocin has been implicated in a wide range of social processes, such as pair bonding, affiliation, and social judgments that may contribute to normal adjustment and psychiatric states. The present experimental study sought to elucidate potential underlying mechanisms by which oxytocin may impact social processes by examining the effects of intranasal oxytocin on basic evaluative processes. Subjects rated slide stimuli from the International Affective Picture System, varying across multiple categories (pleasant, neutral, unpleasant) and social content. Separate ratings for arousal and for the positive and negative components of valence were obtained in the context of a bivariate evaluative space model. Oxytocin did not have an independent significant effect on positivity or negativity ratings, but instead oxytocin treatment altered the interaction between these component processes for social, relative to non-social stimuli regardless of valence conditions. Specifically, oxytocin, relative to vehicle, significantly decreased arousal ratings to threatening human stimuli without altering ratings of threatening animal stimuli. These results indicate that oxytocin may exert its effects through dynamic alterations in the partially separable neural substrates mediating arousal as well as positive and negative evaluations of social stimuli.
Marketing Means and Ends for a Sustainable Society: A Welfare Agenda for Transformative Change
Authors: Varey Richard J.
Published: May 2010

This article examines the principles and practices of the marketing system within corporate social responsibility and sustainable development frameworks to argue that responsible marketing and sustainable marketing are not synonymous ideas. The article identifies misleading assumptions about progress through economic growth and preference satisfaction and highlights the issues to be confronted by marketers to fully address the social and ecological crisis of destructive overconsumption. The basic rationale for the developmental welfare marketing course of action is outlined, and this systemic policy is distinguished from the conventional appropriative form of managerial marketing. A radical new logic for marketing as a social process requiring thinking beyond the discipline is called for. The result of this review is an agenda for a sustainable society purpose and form for marketing, part of a catalytic movement, outlined in an emergent set of transdisciplinary propositions that reflect disillusionment with current values and beliefs.
Mechanical and thermal properties of poly(vinyl chloride)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) clay nanocomposites
Authors: Rahim MNM , Ibrahim NA , Sharif J. , Wan Yunus WMZ
Published: May 2010

Polymer nanocomposites of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) and organically modified montmorillonites (OMMT), namely ODA-MMT and DDOA-MMT were prepared by melt intercalation using a Brabender internal mixer. Further studies on the effect of clay on PVC/PBAT composites have been verified to show that there is an essential correlation between mechanical and thermal properties. Tensile strength was improved compared to pure PVC/PBAT composites at 0.5 and 1 wt% of OMMT loadings. PVC/PBAT nanocomposites exhibited a single glass transition according to dynamic mechanical analysis results which supports the complete compatibilization between PVC and PBAT. An increase in thermal stability was also observed with the presence of OMMT.
Effects of Fuel Location and Distribution on Full-Scale Underventilated Compartment Fires
Authors: Hwang Cheol-Hong , Lock Andrew , Bundy Matthew , Johnsson Erik , Gwon Hyun Ko
Published: May 2010

An experimental study was conducted to investigate the effects of fuel location and distribution on full-scale underventilated compartment fires in an ISO 9705 room. Heptane fuel was burned in three different fuel distributions: single centered burner (SCB), single rear burner (SRB), and two distributed burner (TDB). It was experimentally observed that variations in fuel placement did not significantly affect the global steady state underventilated fire characteristics such as fuel mass loss rate, heat release rate, combustion efficiency, global equivalence ratio, and global CO emission outside the compartment for these simple distributions. Supplemental numerical simulations reveal that the local characteristics of thermal and chemical environments depend on the fuel placement between the front and rear region inside the compartment. At the front region, the local fire characteristics were nearly the same regardless of fuel placement. Changes in fuel location and distribution resulted in changes in temperature, total heat flux, CO2, and CO volume fraction at the rear region. Burner placement led to changes in the mixture fraction, flow dynamics, and variations in CO production in the back of the compartment.
Di-butyl phthalate—induced hypomethylation of the c-myc gene in rat liver
Authors: Kostka Grażyna , Urbanek-Olejnik Katarzyna , Wiadrowska Bożena
Published: May 2010

Peroxisome proliferators (PPs)-induced DNA hypomethylation has been proposed as a mechanism of their toxicity, including carcinogenic action. The effect of di-butyl phthalate (DBP), a known peroxisome proliferators, on the methylation level of the c-myc promoter region in rat liver was studied. Changes in the methylation status of the c-myc gene were correlated with changes in DNA synthesis, DNA methyltransferase (DNMTs) activity and liver weight. Male Wistar rats received DBP in one, three or fourteen daily oral doses of 1800 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) × day—1 (this dose is close to the dose that increases the numbers of peroxisomes in male Wistar rats). We have demonstrated that DBP decreased the methylation of the c-myc gene. Cytosine hypomethylation in the analyzed CpG sites of the c-myc gene promoter occurred during the whole period of study, although after 14 doses of DBP the difference from control was only on the borderline of significance (p = 0.066). An increase in DNA synthesis was only observed after 24 hours of treatment with DBP, and it preceded liver growth. We hypothesize that DBP-induced demethylation of the c-myc gene was an active mechanism, not associated with DNMTs activity and DNA replication.
Gender Differences in the Clinical Presentation of PTSD and Its Concomitants in Survivors of Interpersonal Assault
Authors: Galovski Tara E. , Mott Juliette , Young-Xu Yinong , Resick Patricia A.
Published: May 2010

This study compares a sample of PTSD-positive, female survivors of interpersonal assault ( n = 162) to a sample of similarly traumatized male counterparts ( n = 45) on a number of variables, including PTSD-symptom severity, depressive symptoms, anger, guilt, and health-related concerns. Results indicate that male and female interpersonal assault survivors presented similarly with respect to PTSD and depressive symptomatology and reported comparable levels of guilt and that women reported significantly more health-related complaints than men did. With respect to the experience of anger, men report significant elevations on the state anger subscale of the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory compared to women.
Lifetime Self-Reported Victimization Among Low-Income, Urban Women: The Relationship Between Childhood Maltreatment and Adult Violent Victimization
Authors: Parks Sharyn E. , Kim Kevin H. , Day Nancy L. , Garza Mary A. , Larkby Cynthia A.
Published: May 2010

Study aims were to examine the relations between multiple forms of childhood maltreatment (CM) and adult violent victimization (AVV) and to explore other significant covariates of the relations between CM and AVV. Data were collected from women ( n = 477) who participated in two longitudinal studies in the Maternal Health Practices and Child Development Project. Women with a history of CM were more than twice as likely to experience AVV as women with no history of CM. Those who experienced one or two forms of CM were significantly more likely to report any AVV compared to women with no CM. The relationship between CM and AVV remained significant after controlling for illicit drug use at baseline. Among low-income women, a history of CM exposure increased the risk of AVV. Having had any CM exposure was more important that the specific form or combination of forms, of CM exposure (e.g., sexual abuse or physical abuse).
Usage of Eight Forms of Equity-Based Compensation in the San Diego Life Sciences Industry
Authors: Singh Gangaram , Shore Lynn
Published: May 2010

The objective of this article is to report the usage of eight different forms of equity-based compensation (specifically, ownership among employees) in the life sciences industry of San Diego. We gathered data from 103 out of 420 companies in San Diego. Of the eight forms of employee ownership, the most widely used is 401(k). Among the four employee ownership practices pertaining to stocks, quite a few companies in the life sciences industry have adopted stock options (67%) and stock grants (31%). The practices least used are stock appreciation rights (2%) and employee stock ownership plans (4%). Qualified employee stock purchase plans were adopted by 11% of the companies. The two cash-based practices (profit sharing and gain sharing or a monetary incentive for efficiency gains) were used by almost 20% of the companies. We discussed these results as they relate to the need for alternative business models to sustain the life sciences industry.
Early-Holocene temperature variability inferred from chironomid assemblages at Hawes Water, northwest England
Authors: Lang Barbara , Bedford Alan , Brooks Stephen J. , Jones Richard T. , Richardson Nigel , Birks H. John B. , Marshall Jim D.
Published: May 2010

This paper presents the first high-resolution chironomid-inferred mean July air temperature (C-IT) reconstruction for the early Holocene from England. The reconstruction is based on a core recovered from a terrestrialised carbonate bench at Hawes Water, a small hard-water lake in northwest England. The record shows that temperatures rose rapidly after the Younger Dryas with temperatures reaching 14.0°C at the beginning of the Holocene. Over millennial timescales, the temperature record points to a slight rise in temperatures towards the top of the sequence at around 8000 years before the year 2000 (b2k). The trend is punctuated by a series of cool oscillations (at 11 200, 11 400, 10 700, 10 400, 9300 and 8300 b2k) and by a short period (11 300 to 10 250 b2k) when temperatures were considerably warmer (up to 14.9°C). The five cool oscillations coincide with temperature reversals found elsewhere in the North Atlantic region and in the Greenland ice core records. These cool events correlate well with both meltwater fluxes from the Laurentide and Scandinavian ice sheets and periods of low solar activity. Two of these oscillations (at 9300 and 8300 b2k) vary significantly from the early-Holocene mean. C-IT shift rapidly during both these events and temperatures fall ~1.6°C below the early-Holocene mean trend for ~ 50—60 years. The results presented here provide an insight into the instability of the early-Holocene climate in the British Isles and demonstrate the sensitivity of chironomids to rapid climatic events during the early Holocene.
Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) inhibits migration and invasion of human gastric cancer AGS cells via suppressing ERK signal pathways
Authors: Ho Chin-Chin , Lai Kuang-Chi , Hsu Shu-Chun , Kuo Chao-Lin , Ma Chia-Yu , Lin Meng-Liang , Yang Jai-Sing , Chung Jing-Gung
Published: May 2010

Metastasis suppressors and associated other regulators of cell motility play a critical initial role in tumor invasion and metastases. Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) is a hydrolysis compound of glucotropaeolin in dietary cruciferous vegetables. BITC has been found to exhibit prevention of cancers in laboratory animals and might also be chemoprotective in humans. Here, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of BITC on cell proliferation, migration, invasion and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways of AGS human gastric cancer cells. Wound healing and Boyden chamber (migration and invasion) assays demonstrated that BITC exhibited an inhibitory effect on the abilities of migration and invasion in AGS cancer cells. BITC suppressed cell migration and invasion of AGS cells in a dose-dependent manner. Results from Western blotting indicated that BITC exerted an inhibitory effect on the ERK1/2, Ras, GRB2, Rho A, iNOS, COX-2 for causing the inhibitions of MMP-2, -7 and -9 then followed by the inhibitions of invasion and migration of AGS cells in vitro. BITC also promoted MKK7, MEKK3, c-jun, JNK1/2, VEGF, Sos1, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), PKC, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) p65 in AGS cells. Results from real-time polymerized chain reaction (PCR) showed that BITC inhibited the gene expressions of MMP-2,-7 -9, FAK, ROCK1 and RhoA after BITC treatment for 24 and 48 hours in AGS cells. Taken together, the finding may provide new mechanisms and functions of BITC, which inhibit migration and invasion of human gastric cancer AGS cells.
Amitriptyline and tianeptine poisoning treated by naloxone
Authors: Ari Mustafa , Oktar Süleyman , Duru Mehmet
Published: May 2010

Introduction: Severe amitriptyline toxicity may cause cardiac dysrhythmias, severe hypotension, convulsions and CNS depression, including coma. Management with gastric lavage, activated charcoal, alkalinization and supportive care with mechanical ventilation, antiarrhythmics and anticonvulsants, if required, is the general approach. Case report: A 33-year-old woman who has taken overdose antidepressants (amitriptyline and tianeptine) was admitted to the emergency service. She was intubated because she had pure respiratory arrest. Besides hypotension (80/60 mmHg), she was unresponsive to verbal and painful stimuli and her Glasgow coma score was 6. Hemogram and serum biochemical parameters and electrocardiography were within normal limits. The patient was examined for substance dependence and no trace of the injector was found in the body. Patient underwent a coma cocktail (naloxone 2 mg/kg, 5% dextrose 25 g/body and tiamin 100 g/body). Activated charcoal and intravenous alkalinization by NaHCO3 were initiated. Spontaneous respiration started again 20 min after being given the coma cocktail. She became responsive to verbal stimuli first hour after the coma cocktail, and her Glasgow coma score improved to 13. She had spent 2 days in the service and was discharged by the second day of admission, without any complications. Discussion: Herein, we report successful treatment in a case of severe amitriptyline and tianeptine poisoning by naloxone in addition to the above supportive care. Naloxone treatment may have a beneficial role in lethal doses of amitriptyline ingestion because amitriptyline may affect opioid receptors.
Toxicological evaluation of aqueous extract of Aloe ferox Mill. in loperamide-induced constipated rats
Authors: Wintola OA , Sunmonu TO , Afolayan AJ
Published: May 2010

Aloe ferox Mill. is a widely used medicinal plant in South Africa for the treatment of many ailments including constipation. The present study evaluated the toxicological effect of aqueous leaf extract of the herb at 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight for 7 days on the haematological parameters as well as liver and kidney function indices in loperamide—induced constipated rats. The extract did not cause any significant (p > 0.05) effect on the kidney and liver—body weight ratio as well as the kidney function indices including serum levels of creatinine, uric acid, urea, calcium and potassium ions at all the dosages investigated. Whereas the serum levels of total protein, albumin, bilirubin and gamma glutamyl trasferase (GGT) were not affected, the elevated activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) in the untreated constipated animals were normalized following treatment with extract. The data obtained with respect to the haematological analysis indicated that the extracts had no significant (p > 0.05) effect on the haematological parameters with the exception of lymphocyte count which was increased in the untreated constipated rats. This was however attenuated after administering the herb. The available evidence in this study suggests that A. ferox may be safe as an oral remedy for constipation. Generally, the effect of the extract compared favourably well with senokot, a recommended drug for the treatment of constipation.
Role of growth factors in acute lung injury induced by paraquat in a rat model
Authors: Xiangdong Jian  , Ming Li  , Yijing Zhang  , Yanjun Ruan  , Guangran Guo  , Hong Sui  , Yuanchao Zhang
Published: May 2010

Paraquat (PQ) can cause acute lung injury in humans and experimental animals. However, the role of growth factors in the progression of injury has not been clearly established. We developed an animal model of PQ-induced lung injury using Wistar rats. One milliliter of PQ solution (30, 60, and 120 mg/kg) was applied through the lavage, while the same amount of vehicle was applied to control rats. Based on histopathology, the lungs of some animals exposed to PQ showed acute fulmination, resulting in death, while others showed a more protracted injury, resulting in typical pulmonary fibrosis at 21 days. Using this PQ-poisoned rat model, we examined the intrapulmonary gene expression and circulatory level of cytokines and growth factors at 8 hours, 24 hours, 3 days, 7 days, 14 days, and 21 days after PQ administration. Semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis demonstrated that the gene expression levels of interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-6 were significantly increased at 21 days after PQ challenge compared with the controls. The mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha was also significantly increased except on days 14 and 21 after PQ treatment. Moreover, PQ-treated rats showed enhanced gene expression of growth factors such as platelet-derived growth factor-A and insulin-like growth factor-1 at 21 days and transforming growth factor-beta 1 at 14 days. ELISA results showed the circulatory level of cytokines and growth factors coincided with intrapulmonary gene expression. The synergistic effects of these molecules are presumed to cause pulmonary damage due to PQ challenge and may become targets of treatment.
Hochschullehrerprivileg—A Modern Incarnation of the Professor’s Privilege to Promote University to Industry Technology Transfer
Authors: Greenbaum Dov , Scott Christopher
Published: May 2010

Technology transfer offices are ubiquitous institutions within American universities. Most are underfunded and understaffed, will never turn a profit, drain limited university resources and potentially hinder innovation and knowledge transfer. Yet, inexplicably, new offices continue to be established. This article suggests that the continued hype over rare but lucrative blockbuster patents fuels much of this unnecessary expansion. These new offices, essentially mandated to discover the next big one, tend to make poor patenting and licencing decisions that effectively impinge on university knowledge transfer capabilities. This article suggests that although these offices may be necessary for some major research institutions, the bulk of academic research universities ought to share regional transfer offices that can benefit from economies of scale and experienced technology transfer officers. This article further suggests that the current status quo is the result of the somewhat arbitrary granting of patent rights to universities by the Carter era Bayh–Dole Act. Instead, this article proposes, in addition to a general overhaul in the methodology for transferring university knowledge, that a hochschullehrerprivileg or ‘professor’s privilege’ be established: academic inventors, not their bureaucratically bogged-down universities, should retain the patent rights that can then be licenced through the regional technology transfer offices without the, often ineffectual, university intervention. In addition to streamlining the current technology transfer process, such a system will also create strong incentives for research scientists to transfer knowledge and become more entrepreneurial. Although an overhaul of the American structure, while necessary, seems unlikely, such a system can nevertheless be implemented in both developed and developing countries that are futilely seeking to reproduce American successes through mimicking the current American Bayh–Dole arrangement.
Damage Detection in Thin Composite Laminates Using Piezoelectric Phased Sensor Arrays and Guided Lamb Wave Interrogation
Authors: Purekar A.S. , Pines D.J.
Published: May 2010

Damage detection in composite laminated panels using Lamb waves is demonstrated with an innovative use of a sensor array and processing algorithm. Two models were developed to characterize the Lamb wave propagation properties of orthotropic panels. Predictions of the dispersion relations were made for a fiber-reinforced composite laminate. Experiments were conducted to empirically characterize the wave propagation behavior in a manufactured laminate. Piezoelectric patches were used as sensors and actuators in the experiments. Comparisons were made between analytical predictions and experimental results, which demonstrate that the higher order model captured essential wave propagation behavior at frequencies of interest. Sensor arrays and associated processing were used for wavenumber decomposition and filtering of the Lamb wave modes. Composite laminates were manufactured with an embedded defect to simulate inter-ply delamination. Experiments were conducted to detect the presence of delamination damage in a composite laminate.
The Commonwealth Fund Survey of Long-Term Care Specialists
Authors: Miller Edward Alan , Weissert William G.
Published: May 2010

The Commonwealth Fund Survey of Long-Term Care of Specialists was administered via the World Wide Web from September 2007 through March 2008. The primary purpose was to characterize the views of those with known or demonstrable experience and expertise with at least one aspect of long-term care. Among 2,577 potential respondents, 1,147 completed the entire survey for an overall response rate of 44.5%. This special supplement of Medical Care Research and Review uses data collected from the survey to explore several issue areas, namely, reforming long-term care financing, improving government oversight, adopting nursing home culture change, and rebalancing long-term care away from institutions toward home- and community-based services. Analyses documenting the opinion networks of long-term care specialists and the relationship between network characteristics and attitudes toward reform are also reported. Two leading experts provide commentary as well. Details of the study’s methodology and issue content are described.
A Compromised-Time-Cost Scheduling Algorithm in SwinDeW-C for Instance-Intensive Cost-Constrained Workflows on a Cloud Computing Platform
Authors: Ke Liu  , Hai Jin  , Jinjun Chen  , Xiao Liu  , Dong Yuan  , Yun Yang
Published: May 2010

The concept of cloud computing continues to spread widely, as it has been accepted recently. Cloud computing has many unique advantages which can be utilized to facilitate workflow execution. Instance-intensive cost-constrained cloud workflows are workflows with a large number of workflow instances (i.e. instance intensive) bounded by a certain budget for execution (i.e. cost constrained) on a cloud computing platform (i.e. cloud workflows). However, there are, so far, no dedicated scheduling algorithms for instance-intensive cost-constrained cloud workflows. This paper presents a novel compromised-time-cost scheduling algorithm which considers the characteristics of cloud computing to accommodate instance-intensive cost-constrained workflows by compromising execution time and cost with user input enabled on the fly. The simulation performed demonstrates that the algorithm can cut down the mean execution cost by over 15% whilst meeting the user-designated deadline or shorten the mean execution time by over 20% within the user-designated execution cost.
Understanding Application Performance via Micro-benchmarks on Three Large Supercomputers: Intrepid, Ranger and Jaguar
Authors: Bhatelé Abhinav , Wesolowski Lukasz , Bohm Eric , Solomonik Edgar , Kalé Laxmikant V.
Published: May 2010

The emergence of new parallel architectures presents new challenges for application developers. Supercomputers vary in processor speed, network topology, interconnect communication characteristics and memory subsystems. This paper presents a performance comparison of three of the fastest machines in the world: IBM’s Blue Gene/P installation at ANL (Intrepid), the SUN-Infiniband cluster at TACC (Ranger) and Cray’s XT4 installation at ORNL (Jaguar). Comparisons are based on three applications selected by NSF for the Track 1 proposal to benchmark the Blue Waters system: NAMD, MILC and a turbulence code, DNS. We present a comprehensive overview of the architectural details of each of these machines and a comparison of their basic performance parameters. Application performance is presented for multiple problem sizes and the relative performance on the selected machines is explained through micro-benchmarking results. We hope that insights from this work will be useful to managers making buying decisions for supercomputers and application users trying to decide on a machine to run on. Based on the performance analysis techniques used in the paper, we also suggest a step-by-step procedure for estimating the suitability of a given architecture for a highly parallel application.
Guilt in a Fluid Culture? A View from Positioning Theory
Authors: Brinkmann Svend
Published: May 2010

What is the status of guilt as an emotion in postmodern society? According to Zygmunt Bauman, postmodern consumer society supplies a cultural context in which guilt loses in importance. By definition, guilt is connected to a breach in shared rules, but rules and norms have allegedly become fluid today, thereby rendering clear breaches and ensuing guilt rare events. In this article, I provide an analysis of the emotion of guilt, notably by using the conceptual resources found in the emerging paradigm of positioning theory. By analyzing one public event in some detail—Bjarne Riis’ confession that he had used performance enhancing drugs as a professional cyclist—I argue that Bauman’s verdict must be challenged: From the debate in Danish society following Riis’ confession, I conclude that although the exact nature of guilt may have changed in consumer society, guilt is still seen as an important, and in many cases warranted, moral emotion.
Commentary: Self-Narrative Reconstruction in Psychotherapy: Looking at Different Levels of Narrative Development
Authors: Ribeiro António P. , Bento Tiago , Gonçalves Miguel M. , Salgado João
Published: May 2010

This commentary focuses on Cross’s (2010, this issue) work as an opportunity to elaborate upon how to study narrative-dialogical processes from the perspective of complexity. We start by elaborating on the notion that narrative development is a multidimensional activity that extends through several organizational levels and on the limitations of conventional research methods for narrative analysis. Following this, we focus on our experience of research on narrative change in psychotherapy in order to exemplify this point. From our perspective, clients’ problematic self-narratives can be challenged by the emergence of innovative ways of thinking and behaving that the client narrates during the therapeutic conversation (innovative moments or i-moments). Our results suggest that the reconstruction of a person’s self-narrative depends on the structure of relations between i-moments, rather than on the mere accumulation of i-moments. Therefore, we are particularly interested in looking at how clusters of i-moments create a pattern, which we call protonarrative. We are interested in the dynamic processes between former self-narrative, i-moments, protonarratives and new emergent self-narratives. Hence, we have developed a research strategy that allows tracking these different levels of narrative development in psychotherapy. In the remaining of our commentary we will briefly present our research strategy.