bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
THE SOLAR ORIGIN OF SMALL INTERPLANETARY TRANSIENTS
Authors: Rouillard A. P. , Sheeley N. R. , Cooper T. J. , Davies J. A. , Lavraud B. , Kilpua E. K. J. , Skoug R. M. , Steinberg J. T. , Szabo A. , Opitz A. , Sauvaud J.-A.
Published: May 2011

In this paper, we present evidence for magnetic transients with small radial extents ranging from 0.025 to 0.118 AU measured in situ by the Solar-Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) and the near-Earth Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) and Wind spacecraft. The transients considered in this study are much smaller (<0.12 AU) than the typical sizes of magnetic clouds measured near 1 AU (∼0.23 AU). They are marked by low plasma beta values, generally lower magnetic field variance, short timescale magnetic field rotations, and are all entrained by high-speed streams by the time they reach 1 AU. We use this entrainment to trace the origin of these small interplanetary transients in coronagraph images. We demonstrate that these magnetic field structures originate as either small or large mass ejecta. The small mass ejecta often appear from the tip of helmet streamers as arch-like structures and other poorly defined white-light features (the so-called blobs). However, we have found a case of a small magnetic transient tracing back to a small and narrow mass ejection erupting from below helmet streamers. Surprisingly, one of the small magnetic structures traces back to a large mass ejection; in this case, we show that the central axis of the coronal mass ejection is along a different latitude and longitude to that of the in situ spacecraft. The small size of the transient is related to the in situ measurements being taken on the edges or periphery of a larger magnetic structure. In the last part of the paper, an ejection with an arch-like aspect is tracked continuously to 1 AU in the STEREO images. The associated in situ signature is not that of a magnetic field rotation but rather of a temporary reversal of the magnetic field direction. Due to its “open-field topology,” we speculate that this structure is partly formed near helmet streamers due to reconnection between closed and open magnetic field lines. The implications of these observations for our understanding of the variability of the slow solar wind are discussed.
Cullen numbers with the Lehmer property
Authors: Grau Ribas José , Luca Florian
Published: May 2011

Here, we show that there is no positive integer

n
n

such that the

n
n

th Cullen number

C
n

=
n

2
n

+
1

C_n=n2^n+1

has the property that it is composite but

ϕ
(

C
n

)
∣

C
n

−
1

\phi (C_n)\mid C_n-1

.
Dynamical properties and structure of Julia sets of postcritically bounded polynomial semigroups
Authors: Stankewitz Rich , Sumi Hiroki
Published: May 2011

We discuss the dynamic and structural properties of polynomial semigroups, a natural extension of iteration theory to random (walk) dynamics, where the semigroup

G
G

of complex polynomials (under the operation of composition of functions) is such that there exists a bounded set in the plane which contains any finite critical value of any map

g
∈
G

g \in G

. In general, the Julia set of such a semigroup

G
G

may be disconnected, and each Fatou component of such

G
G

is either simply connected or doubly connected. In this paper, we show that for any two distinct Fatou components of certain types (e.g., two doubly connected components of the Fatou set), the boundaries are separated by a Cantor set of quasicircles (with uniform dilatation) inside the Julia set of

G
.

G.

Important in this theory is the understanding of various situations which can and cannot occur with respect to how the Julia sets of the maps

g
∈
G

g \in G

are distributed within the Julia set of the entire semigroup

G
G

. We give several results in this direction and show how such results are used to generate (semi) hyperbolic semigroups possessing this postcritically boundedness condition.
Bioinformatics challenges for personalized medicine
Authors: Fernald Guy Haskin , Capriotti Emidio , Daneshjou Roxana , Karczewski Konrad J. , Altman Russ B.
Published: May 2011

Motivation: Widespread availability of low-cost, full genome sequencing will introduce new challenges for bioinformatics.

Results: This review outlines recent developments in sequencing technologies and genome analysis methods for application in personalized medicine. New methods are needed in four areas to realize the potential of personalized medicine: (i) processing large-scale robust genomic data; (ii) interpreting the functional effect and the impact of genomic variation; (iii) integrating systems data to relate complex genetic interactions with phenotypes; and (iv) translating these discoveries into medical practice.

Contact:  russ.altman@stanford.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
GenPlay, a multipurpose genome analyzer and browser
Authors: Lajugie Julien , Bouhassira Eric E.
Published: May 2011

Motivation: Rapidly decreasing sequencing cost due to the emergence and improvement of massively parallel sequencing technologies has resulted in a dramatic increase in the quantity of data that needs to be analyzed. Therefore, software tools to process, visualize, analyze and integrate data produced on multiple platforms and using multiple methods are needed.

Results: GenPlay is a fast, easy to use and stable tool for rapid analysis and data processing. It is written in Java and runs on all major operating systems. GenPlay recognizes a wide variety of common genomic data formats from microarray- or sequencing-based platforms and offers a library of operations (normalization, binning, smoothing) to process raw data into visualizable tracks. GenPlay displays tracks adapted to summarize gene structure, gene expression, repeat families, CPG islands, etc. as well as custom tracks to show the results of RNA-Seq, ChIP-Seq, TimEX-Seq and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis. GenPlay can generate statistics (minimum, maximum, SD, correlation, etc.). The tools provided include Gaussian filter, peak finders, signal saturation, island finders. The software also offers graphical features such as scatter plots and bar charts to depict signal repartition. The library of operations is continuously growing based on the emerging needs.

Availability: GenPlay is an open-source project available from http://www.genplay.net. The code source of the software is available at https://genplay.einstein.yu.edu/svn/GenPlay.

Contact:  eric.bouhassira@einstein.yu.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
linkcomm: an R package for the generation, visualization, and analysis of link communities in networks of arbitrary size and type
Authors: Kalinka Alex T. , Tomancak Pavel
Published: May 2011

Summary: An essential element when analysing the structure, function, and dynamics of biological networks is the identification of communities of related nodes. An algorithm proposed recently enhances this process by clustering the links between nodes, rather than the nodes themselves, thereby allowing each node to belong to multiple overlapping or nested communities. The R package ‘linkcomm’ implements this algorithm and extends it in several aspects: (i) the clustering algorithm handles networks that are weighted, directed, or both weighted and directed; (ii) several visualization methods are implemented that facilitate the representation of the link communities and their relationships; (iii) a suite of functions are included for the downstream analysis of the link communities including novel community-based measures of node centrality; (iv) the main algorithm is written in C++ and designed to handle networks of any size; and (v) several clustering methods are available for networks that can be handled in memory, and the number of communities can be adjusted by the user.

Availability: The program is freely available from the Comprehensive R Archive Network (http://cran.r-project.org/) under the terms of the GNU General Public License (version 2 or later).

Contact:  kalinka@mpi-cbg.de

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Positional integratomic approach in identification of genomic candidate regions for Parkinson's disease
Authors: Maver Ales , Peterlin Borut
Published: May 2011

Motivation: Recent abundance of data from studies employing high-throughput technologies to reveal alterations in human disease on genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and other levels, offer the possibility to integrate this information into a comprehensive picture of molecular events occurring in human disease. Diversity of data originating from these studies presents a methodological obstacle in the integration process, also due to difficulties in choosing the optimal unified denominator that would allow inclusion of variables from various types of studies. We present a novel approach for integration of such multi-origin data based on positions of genetic alterations occurring in human diseases. Parkinson's disease (PD) was chosen as a model for evaluation of our methodology.

Methods: Datasets from various types of studies in PD (linkage, genome-wide association, transcriptomic and proteomic studies) were obtained from online repositories or were extracted from available research papers. Subsequently, human genome assembly was subdivided into 10 kb regions, and significant signals from aforementioned studies were arranged into their corresponding regions according to their genomic position. For each region, rank product values were calculated and significance values were estimated by permuting the original dataset.

Results: Altogether, 179 regions (representing 33 contiguous genomic regions) had significant accumulation of signals when P-value cut-off was set at 0.0001. Identified regions with significant accumulation of signals contained 29 plausible candidate genes for PD. In conclusion, we present a novel approach for identification of candidate regions and genes for various human disorders, based on the positional integration of data across various types of omic studies.

Contact:  ales.maver@gmail.com

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Antagonism of Nerve Growth Factor-TrkA Signaling and the Relief of Pain
Authors: Mantyh Patrick W. , Koltzenburg Martin , Mendell Lorne M. , Tive Leslie , Shelton David L. , Warner David S.
Published: May 2011

Nerve growth factor (NGF) was originally discovered as a neurotrophic factor essential for the survival of sensory and sympathetic neurons during development. However, in the adult NGF has been found to play an important role in nociceptor sensitization after tissue injury. The authors outline mechanisms by which NGF activation of its cognate receptor, tropomyosin-related kinase A receptor, regulates a host of ion channels, receptors, and signaling molecules to enhance acute and chronic pain. The authors also document that peripherally restricted antagonism of NGF-tropomyosin-related kinase A receptor signaling is effective for controlling human pain while appearing to maintain normal nociceptor function. Understanding whether there are any unexpected adverse events and how humans may change their behavior and use of the injured/degenerating tissue after significant pain relief without sedation will be required to fully appreciate the patient populations that may benefit from these therapies targeting NGF.
Pregabalin Suppresses Spinal Neuronal Hyperexcitability and Visceral Hypersensitivity in the Absence of Peripheral Pathophysiology
Authors: Bannister Kirsty , Sikandar Shafaq , Bauer Claudia S. , Dolphin Annette C. , Porreca Frank , Dickenson Anthony H.
Published: May 2011

Background

Opioid-induced hyperalgesia is recognized in the laboratory and the clinic, generating central hyperexcitability in the absence of peripheral pathology. We investigated pregabalin, indicated for neuropathic pain, and ondansetron, a drug that disrupts descending serotonergic processing in the central nervous system, on spinal neuronal hyperexcitability and visceral hypersensitivity in a rat model of opioid-induced hyperalgesia.

Methods

Male Sprague-Dawley rats (180-200 g) were implanted with osmotic mini-pumps filled with morphine (90 μg · μl⁻¹ · h⁻¹) or saline (0.9% w/v). On days 7-10 in isoflurane anesthetized animals, we evaluated the effects of (1) systemic pregabalin on spinal neuronal and visceromotor responses, and (2) spinal ondansetron on dorsal horn neuronal response. Messenger ribonucleic acid concentrations of α2δ-1, 5HT3A, and μ-opioid receptor in the dorsal root ganglia of all animals were analyzed.

Results

In morphine-treated animals, evoked spinal neuronal responses were enhanced to a subset of thermal and mechanical stimuli. This activity was attenuated by pregabalin (by at least 71%) and ondansetron (37%); the visceromotor response to a subset of colorectal distension pressures was attenuated by pregabalin (52.8%; n = 8 for all measures, P < 0.05). Messenger ribonucleic acid concentrations were unchanged.

Conclusions

The inhibitory action of pregabalin in opioid-induced hyperalgesia animals is neither neuropathy-dependent nor reliant on up-regulation of the α₂δ-1 subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels-mechanisms proposed as being essential for pregabalin's efficacy in neuropathy. In opioid-induced hyperalgesia, which extends to colonic distension, a serotonergic facilitatory system may be up-regulated, creating an environment that is permissive for pregabalin-mediated analgesia without peripheral pathology.
Unraveling the contributions of the diencephalon to recognition memory: A review
Authors: Aggleton John P. , Dumont Julie R. , Warburton Elizabeth Clea
Published: May 2011

Both clinical investigations and studies with animals reveal nuclei within the diencephalon that are vital for recognition memory (the judgment of prior occurrence). This review seeks to identify these nuclei and to consider why they might be important for recognition memory. Despite the lack of clinical cases with circumscribed pathology within the diencephalon and apparent species differences, convergent evidence from a variety of sources implicates a subgroup of medial diencephalic nuclei. It is supposed that the key functional interactions of this subgroup of diencephalic nuclei are with the medial temporal lobe, the prefrontal cortex, and with cingulate regions. In addition, some of the clinical evidence most readily supports dual-process models of recognition, which assume two independent cognitive processes (recollective-based and familiarity-based) that combine to direct recognition judgments. From this array of information a “multi-effect multi-nuclei” model is proposed, in which the mammillary bodies and the anterior thalamic nuclei are of preeminent importance for recollective-based recognition. The medial dorsal thalamic nucleus is thought to contribute to familiarity-based recognition, but this nucleus, along with various midline and intralaminar thalamic nuclei, is also assumed to have broader, indirect effects upon both recollective-based and familiarity-based recognition.
Insulin receptor substrate 2 is a negative regulator of memory formation
Authors: Irvine Elaine E. , Drinkwater Laura , Radwanska Kasia , Al-Qassab Hind , Smith Mark A. , O'Brien Melissa , Kielar Catherine , Choudhury Agharul I. , Krauss Stefan , Cooper Jonathan D. , Withers Dominic J. , Giese Karl Peter
Published: May 2011

Insulin has been shown to impact on learning and memory in both humans and animals, but the downstream signaling mechanisms involved are poorly characterized. Insulin receptor substrate-2 (Irs2) is an adaptor protein that couples activation of insulin- and insulin-like growth factor-1 receptors to downstream signaling pathways. Here, we have deleted Irs2, either in the whole brain or selectively in the forebrain, using the nestin Cre- or D6 Cre-deleter mouse lines, respectively. We show that brain- and forebrain-specific Irs2 knockout mice have enhanced hippocampal spatial reference memory. Furthermore, NesCreIrs2KO mice have enhanced spatial working memory and contextual- and cued-fear memory. Deletion of Irs2 in the brain also increases PSD-95 expression and the density of dendritic spines in hippocampal area CA1, possibly reflecting an increase in the number of excitatory synapses per neuron in the hippocampus that can become activated during memory formation. This increase in activated excitatory synapses might underlie the improved hippocampal memory formation observed in NesCreIrs2KO mice. Overall, these results suggest that Irs2 acts as a negative regulator on memory formation by restricting dendritic spine generation.
Leaf Rolling Controlled by the Homeodomain Leucine Zipper Class IV GeneRoc5in Rice
Authors: Zou Liang-ping , Sun Xue-hui , Zhang Zhi-guo , Liu Peng , Wu Jin-xia , Tian Cai-juan , Qiu Jin-long , Lu Tie-gang
Published: May 2011

Leaf rolling is considered an important agronomic trait in rice (Oryza sativa) breeding. To understand the molecular mechanism controlling leaf rolling, we screened a rice T-DNA insertion population and isolated the outcurved leaf1 (oul1) mutant showing abaxial leaf rolling. The phenotypes were caused by knockout of Rice outermost cell-specific gene5 (Roc5), an ortholog of the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) homeodomain leucine zipper class IV gene GLABRA2. Interestingly, overexpression of Roc5 led to adaxially rolled leaves, whereas cosuppression of Roc5 resulted in abaxial leaf rolling. Bulliform cell number and size increased in oul1 and Roc5 cosuppression plants but were reduced in Roc5-overexpressing lines. The data indicate that Roc5 negatively regulates bulliform cell fate and development. Gene expression profiling, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and RNA interference (RNAi) analyses revealed that Protodermal Factor Like (PFL) was probably down-regulated in oul1. The mRNA level of PFL was increased in Roc5-overexpressing lines, and PFL-RNAi transgenic plants exhibit reversely rolling leaves by reason of increases of bulliform cell number and size, indicating that Roc5 may have a conserved function. These are, to our knowledge, the first functional data for a gene encoding a homeodomain leucine zipper class IV transcriptional factor in rice that modulates leaf rolling.
Characterisation of Slovenian honeys on the basis of sensory and physicochemical analysis with a chemometric approach
Authors: Bertoncelj Jasna , Golob Terezija , Kropf Urška , Korošec Mojca
Published: May 2011

The purpose of this study was sensory and physicochemical characterisation of Slovenian honeys with a chemometric approach. Honey samples were obtained from the beekeepers in different natural geographical macroregions of Slovenia. The sensory characteristics of the seven main types of Slovenian honeys are described, together with the physicochemical analyses. The average results of electrical conductivity (0.19–1.61 mS cm−1), pH (4.01–5.51), free acidity (13.3–30.9 meq kg−1), proline content (317–558 mg kg−1), protein content (1.70–3.53 g kg−1), optical rotation (–19.6 to 12.6), phenolic content (44.9–232.5 mg GAE kg−1) and antioxidant activity [69.6–456.4 μm Fe(II)] show wide variability among analysed honey types. Statistically significant differences were obtained among different honey types, generally lower values of the analysed parameters were determined in the light honeys, as the acacia, linden and multifloral honeys, while the higher values are characteristic for darker honeys, as the chestnut, fir, spruce and forest honeys. Linear discriminant analysis was performed to classify the honey samples according to their botanical origin and proved that physicochemical parameters analysed can provide enough information for the classification and distinction of acacia, linden, multifloral and chestnut honeys, and the group of honeydew honeys (fir, spruce and forest honeys).
Terbinafine pharmacokinetics after single dose oral administration in the dog
Authors: Sakai Mary R. , May Elizabeth R. , Imerman Paula M. , Felz Charles , Day Timothy A. , Carlson Steve A. , Noxon James O.
Published: May 2011

Terbinafine is an allylamine antifungal prescribed for the treatment of mycoses in humans. It is increasingly being used in veterinary patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetic properties of terbinafine in dogs after a single oral dose. Ten healthy adult dogs were included in the study. A single dose of terbinafine (30–35 mg/kg) was administered orally, and blood samples were periodically collected over a 24 h period during which dogs were monitored for adverse effects. Two of 10 dogs developed transient ocular changes. A high‐performance liquid chromatography assay was developed and used to determine plasma terbinafine concentrations. Pharmacokinetic analysis was performed using PK Solutions®computer software. Area under the curve (AUC) from time 0 to 24 h was 15.4 μg·h/mL (range 5–27), maximal plasma concentration (Cmax) was 3.5 μg/mL (range 3–4.9 μg/mL) and time toCmax(Tmax) was 3.6 h (range 2–6 h). The time above minimal inhibitory concentration (T > MIC) as well as AUC/MIC was calculated for important invasive fungal pathogens and dermatophytes. TheT > MIC was 17–18 h forBlastomyces dermatitidis,Histoplasma capsulatumand dermatophytes (Microsporumspp. andTrichophyton mentagrophytes), while the MIC forSporothrix schenckiiandCoccidioides immitiswas exceeded for 9.5–11 h. The AUC/MIC values ranged from 9 to 13 μg h/mL for these fungi. Our results provide evidence supporting the use of terbinafine as an oral therapeutic agent for treating systemic and subcutaneous mycoses in dogs.
Analysis of associations between the patterns of global DNA hypomethylation and expression of DNA methyltransferase in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Zhu Xiaohua , Liang Jun , Li Feng , Yang Yongsheng , Xiang Leihong , Xu Jinhua
Published: May 2011

Objectives  To analyze associations between the patterns of global DNA hypomethylation and expression of DNA methyltransferase (DNMT1, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to obtain a deeper understanding of the role that epigenetic mechanism may have on SLE.

Methods  The global DNA methylation profile in T cells from 34 patients with SLE and 23 healthy controls was assessed by the specific monoclonal antibodies to 5‐methylcytosine and was analyzed quantitatively by flow cytometry. Real‐time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction was applied to analyze DNMTs (DNMT1, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B) mRNA levels in T cells from patients and controls.

Results  Patients with SLE had significantly global DNA hypomethylation than that in controls (P = 0.004), and the global DNA methylation was inverse correlated with the SLE Disease Activity Index (P < 0.0005). Patients with SLE had significantly lower levels of DNMT1 mRNA than that in controls (P < 0.0005), and there was no correlation between the level of DNMT1 mRNA and SLE Disease Activity Index, neither the correlation between the levels of DNMT1 mRNA and global DNA methylation. There was no statistical difference in levels of DNMT3A mRNA between the patients with SLE and normal controls. The levels of DNMT3B mRNA were very low, and there was no difference in patients with SLE and normal controls.

Conclusions  Global DNA hypomethylation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE. Lower expression of DNMT1 mRNA may play a role in the pathogenesis of SLE, which is not the exclusive regulation factor of global DNA methylation of SLE. The mechanism of global DNA hypomethylation in patients with SLE was complicated. Enzymes that participate in DNA methylation and demethylation events should be studied further.
Basal cell carcinoma: evidence‐based medicine and review of treatment modalities
Authors: Kwasniak Laura A. , Garcia‐Zuazaga Jorge
Published: May 2011

Non‐melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) are the most common type of human cancer, with basal cell carcinomas representing the majority of these cancers. The following article will focus on a review of the current knowledge regarding incidence, risk factors, and pathogenesis, including genetics, clinical features, and treatment options of basal cell carcinomas.
Update on nephrogenic systemic fibrosis: are we making progress?
Authors: Haemel Anna K. , Sadowski Elizabeth A. , Shafer Martin M. , Djamali Arjang
Published: May 2011

Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis is a rare fibrosing disorder associated with the use of gadolinium‐based contrast agents in patients with renal dysfunction. However, only a small proportion of at‐risk patients develops the disorder, and the exact determinants of disease are still not completely clear. Here, we present an update on emerging evidence for the role of gadolinium‐based contrast agents, renal dysfunction, and background inflammation in disease expression, with a focus on current experimental models. Based on these findings, significant progress has been made in our understanding of the pathophysiology of this disorder over the last few years. This review provides a summary of these developments with discussion of the implications for clinical practice and directions for additional study.
Intestinal transplantation: Current status and future directions
Authors: Garg Mayur , Jones Robert M , Vaughan Rhys B , Testro Adam G
Published: May 2011

Three decades after the first intestinal transplant was performed in humans, this life‐saving procedure has come of age and now offers hope of long‐term survival in a small group of patients with life‐threatening complications of intestinal failure and parenteral nutrition. Success rates have greatly improved, largely through advances in immunosuppression protocols, improved surgical technique and postoperative care, and accumulated experience. Management of the intestinal transplant recipient entails careful surveillance, prevention, and treatment of rejection and infection, as well as optimization of feeding and nutrition. With this approach, survival and quality of life are demonstrably improved, such that intestinal transplantation is now an established and accepted procedure for this very select group of highly‐complex patients.
Palliative day care: A qualitative study of service users' experiences in the United Kingdom
Authors: Hyde Val , Skirton Heather , Richardson Janet
Published: May 2011

In many countries, specialist palliative day care for patients with life‐limiting conditions is provided by specific teams of professionals from a range of relevant disciplines. During 2006 to 2007, the day care services at a hospice in the UK were redesigned so that specialist palliative care sessions replaced the existing long‐established, traditional day care model. The purpose of this study was to enhance the understanding of those aspects of the service that the users valued most (the “X‐factor”). Qualitative data were collected via semistructured interviews with 29 patients and eight carers. These data were subjected to a framework analysis. The users of the service used poignant and powerful words to describe the special qualities that they valued, some phrasing it as the X‐factor. The data are presented under three themes: the quality of the staff; the sense of community; and relationships. Of these, the relationships between and within the staff and patient groups held the greatest significance for the patients. Service providers need to recognize that opportunities for the formation of relationships between the patients, staff, and carers are of utmost importance when designing palliative day care services.
Realistic evaluation of an emergency department‐based mental health nurse practitioner outpatient service in Australia
Authors: Wand Timothy , White Kathryn , Patching Joanna
Published: May 2011

Evaluation of new models of care requires consideration of the complexity inherent within health care programs and their sensitivity to local contextual factors as well as broader community, social and political influences. Evaluation frameworks that are flexible and responsive while maintaining research rigor are therefore required. Realistic evaluation was adopted as the methodology for the implementation and evaluation of an emergency department‐based mental health nurse practitioner outpatient service in Sydney, Australia. The aim of realistic evaluation is to generate, test and refine theories of how programs work within a given context. This paper represents the final methodological step from the completed evaluation. A summary of quantitative and qualitative findings from the mixed‐methods evaluation is presented, which is transformed into a set of overarching statements or “middle range theories”. Middle range theory statements seek to explain the success of a program and provide transferable lessons for practitioners wishing to implement similar programs elsewhere. For example, the research team consider that early consultation with key local stakeholders and emergency department ownership of the project was pivotal to the implementation process.
Barriers to and facilitators of coping with spinal cord injury for Iranian patients: A qualitative study
Authors: Babamohamadi Hassan , Negarandeh Reza , Dehghan‐Nayeri Nahid
Published: May 2011

The purpose of the present study was to explore the perspectives and experiences of Iranian patients regarding barriers and facilitators to their ability to cope with spinal cord injury (SCI). A qualitative design, based on the content analysis approach, was used to collect and analyze the experiences of 18 patients with spinal cord injury in two centers in Tehran, Iran. After using purposeful sampling for selection of the participants, semi‐structured interviews were held for data collection. Lack of “knowledge”, “financial resources”, “employment opportunities”, “suitable facilities and accessibility” as well as “societal acceptance and support” emerged as barriers; and having “self‐confidence”, “religious beliefs”, “support networks” and “positive thinking” emerged as facilitators in coping with spinal cord injury. Participants believed that with these hindering factors in place, adapting to their new condition had been difficult, therefore they can only manage to adapt partially to their situation. Additional multidisciplinary endeavors are needed to help this group cope adequately and further research is required to influence policy making and legislation processes efficiently.
Correlation between a self‐administered walk test and a standardised Six Minute Walk Test in adults
Authors: Du HuiYun , Davidson Patricia M. , Everett Bronwyn , Salamonson Yenna , Zecchin Robert , Rolley John Xavier , Newton Phillip J. , Macdonald Peter S.
Published: May 2011

This study was undertaken to assess the correlation between a self‐administered, adapted Six Minute Walk Test (the Home‐Heart‐Walk) and the standard Six Minute Walk Test based on the American Thoracic Society guideline. A correlational study was conducted at a university campus in Sydney, Australia. Thirteen healthy volunteers underwent the Home‐Heart‐Walk and the standard Six Minute Walk Test on a single occasion. The distance that participants walked during the two tests was assessed using Pearson's correlation. The correlation between the Home‐Heart‐Walk and the Six Minute Walk Test distance was 0.81. The Home‐Heart‐Walk distance was highly correlated to the standard Six Minute Walk Test distance in this study. This relationship provides confidence for further research in populations to facilitate monitoring and evaluation.
Perioperative management of children undergoing craniofacial reconstruction surgery: a practice survey
Authors: Stricker Paul A. , Cladis Franklyn P. , Fiadjoe John E. , McCloskey John J. , Maxwell Lynne G.
Published: May 2011

Objective/Aims:  To assess current practices in the management of children undergoing craniofacial surgery and identify areas of significant practice variability with the intent to direct future research.

Background:  The perioperative management of infants and children undergoing craniofacial reconstruction surgery can be challenging because of the routine occurrence of significant blood loss with associated morbidity. A variety of techniques have been described to improve the care for these children. It is presently unknown to what extent these practices are currently employed.

Methods:  A web‐based survey was sent to representatives from 102 institutions. One individual per institution was surveyed to prevent larger institutions from being over‐represented in the results.

Results:  Requests to complete the survey were sent to 102 institutions; 48 surveys were completed. The survey was composed of two parts: management of infants undergoing strip craniectomies, and management of children undergoing major craniofacial reconstruction.

Conclusions:  Significant variability exists in the management of children undergoing these procedures; further study is required to determine the optimal management strategies. Clinical trials assessing the utility of central venous pressure and other hemodynamic monitoring modalities would enable evidence‐based decision‐making for monitoring in these children. The development of institutional transfusion thresholds should be encouraged, as there exists a body of evidence supporting their efficacy and safety.
Beta‐diversity gradients of butterflies along productivity axes
Authors: Andrew Margaret E. , Wulder Michael A. , Coops Nicholas C. , Baillargeon Guy
Published: May 2011

Aim  Several lines of evidence suggest that beta diversity, or dissimilarity in species composition, should increase with productivity: (1) the latitudinal species richness gradient is most closely related to productivity and associated latitudinal beta‐diversity relationships have been described, and (2) the scale dependence of the productivity–diversity relationship implies that there should be a positive productivity–beta‐diversity relationship. However, such a pattern has not yet been demonstrated at broad scales. We test if there is a gradient of increasing beta diversity with productivity.

Location  Canada.

Methods  Canada was clustered into regions of similar productivity regimes along three remotely sensed productivity axes (minimum and integrated annual productivity, seasonality of productivity) and elevation. The overall (βj), turnover (βsim) and nestedness (βnes) components of beta diversity within each productivity regime were estimated with pairwise dissimilarity metrics and related to cluster productivity with partial linear regression and with spatial autoregression. Tests were performed for all species, productivity breadth‐based subsets (e.g. species occurring in many and a moderate number of productivity regimes), and pre‐ and post‐1970 butterfly records. Beta diversity between adjacent clusters along the productivity gradients was also evaluated.

Results  Within‐cluster βj and βsim increased with productivity and decreased with seasonality. The converse was true for βnes. All species subsets responded similarly; however, productivity–beta‐diversity relationships were weaker for the post‐1970 temporal subset and strongest for species of moderate breadth. Between‐cluster beta diversity (βj) and nestedness (βnes) declined with productivity.

Main conclusions  As predicted, beta diversity of communities within productivity regimes was observed to increase with productivity. This pattern was driven largely by a gradient of species turnover. Therefore, beta diversity may make an important contribution to the broad‐scale gradient of species richness with productivity. However, this species richness gradient dominates regional beta diversity between productivity regimes, resulting in decreasing between‐productivity dissimilarity with productivity driven by a concurrent decline in nestedness.
We're Closer than I Thought: Social Network Heterogeneity, Morality, and Political Persuasion
Authors: Ben‐Nun Bloom Pazit , Levitan Lindsey Clark
Published: May 2011

Literature in the area of social networks indicates that increases in perceived social network attitudinal heterogeneity generate increased openness to attitude change. Recent evidence in the area of morality, however, shows that morally based attitudes are particularly resistant to persuasion and can result in the rejection of disagreeing others. Positing that considering morality would reduce network influence, an experiment varied moral cues presented along with a non‐network persuasive message while holding the actual content constant. Results demonstrate that morality and network composition interact to predict persuasion, such that when people are not cued to consider morality increased network heterogeneity predicts increased persuasion, but when identical messages are presented in a way that invokes morality the impact of network heterogeneity disappears or even reverses marginally. This interactive effect was replicated in two very different political issues: gay adoption and nationalized healthcare. Implications for persuasion by morally motivated sources independent of the effects of specific moral arguments are discussed.
Basic Personal Values and the Meaning of Left‐Right Political Orientations in 20 Countries
Authors: Piurko Yuval , Schwartz Shalom H. , Davidov Eldad
Published: May 2011

This study used basic personal values to elucidate the motivational meanings of “left” and “right” political orientations in 20 representative national samples from the European Social Survey (2002–2003). It also compared the importance of personal values and sociodemographic variables as determinants of political orientation. Hypotheses drew on the different histories, prevailing culture, and socioeconomic level of three sets of countries—liberal, traditional, and postcommunist. As hypothesized, universalism and benevolence values explained a left orientation in both liberal and traditional countries and conformity and tradition values explained a right orientation; values had little explanatory power in postcommunist countries. Values predicted political orientation more strongly than sociodemographic variables in liberal countries, more weakly in postcommunist countries, and about equally in traditional countries.
‘Street‐level Bureaucracy’ Revisited: The Changing Face of Frontline Discretion in Adult Social Care in England
Authors: Ellis Kathryn
Published: May 2011

This reassessment of the continuing significance of Lipsky's (1980) work on ‘street‐level bureaucracy’ for frontline decision making is based on a retrospective review of the author's research on assessment practice in adult social care in England. The studies span the past two decades during which time successive governments have restructured and modernized social services departments. When these were established in 1970, they represented the high watermark of bureau‐professionalism – a mode of administration which dominated social welfare at the time Lipsky was writing. The subsequent dismantling of bureau‐professionalism calls into question the validity of his findings, and the author draws on her own research to assess conflicting views about the impact of social care reforms on the discretion which social workers exercise as street‐level bureaucrats. She concludes that the distinct types of discretion to emerge from her findings, represented in a taxonomy, are shaped by the differing micro environments of frontline practice which, in turn, affect the relative force of managerialism, professionalism and user empowerment in countering the defensive exercise of discretion described by Lipsky. Whilst her analysis affirms the continuing significance of Lipsky's analysis, it also points to the need for some revision to accommodate major shifts in welfare administration since the publication of his work. She highlights the potential relevance of these insights for investigating the next planned transformation of adult social care, personalization, as well as for the implementation literature more widely.
Choosing Whether to Buy or Make: The Contracting Out of Employment Reintegration Services by Dutch Municipalities
Authors: Plantinga Mirjam , de Ridder Ko , Corra Alex
Published: May 2011

The Western welfare states are under reform. An important part of these reforms is the introduction of market type mechanisms for the deliverance of public services. Over the years, many countries have chosen to contract out employment reintegration services. The underlying notion of contracting out is the belief that the introduction of market elements in the production of public services increases effectiveness and efficiency. In addition to the cost benefit argument for contracting out public services, ideology is often brought forward as an important factor explaining why public services are provided in‐house. In this article, we analyze to what extent cost benefit arguments and ideology affect the make or buy decision of Dutch municipalities. The Dutch employment reintegration market poses an interesting case in point since Dutch municipalities have the option to either provide employment reintegration services themselves or to buy services on the market. Our analysis shows that cost benefit arguments do not play a role in the make or buy decision of Dutch municipalities. Ideology, however, does. Municipalities that adhere to the principles of New Public Management more often opt to buy employment reintegration services on the market. Also the outcomes of municipal elections have been found to be of importance – left‐wing municipalities more often choose in‐house service provision.
Subverting Social Policy on the Front Line: Agencies of Resistance in the Delivery of Services
Authors: Prior David , Barnes Marian
Published: May 2011

An understanding of policy implementation issues in many of the core fields of social policy requires attention to the mode of service delivery that is characteristic of those fields: face‐to‐face interaction between frontline service staff and service users. A focus on implementation as interaction between these groups reveals the significance of ‘agency’ to the analysis of why and how certain social policy outcomes occur – and in particular why outcomes may sometimes be different from those anticipated by formal policy objectives. This article considers how the agency of workers and users shapes the processes of mediation, negotiation and adaptation that occur in different service delivery contexts, and identifies ways in which resistance to intended policy outcomes, and to the practices expected to deliver them, is formed and expressed. Drawing on a wide range of empirical research material, the article shows how agencies of resistance produce outcomes that are uncertain, fragile and contested, and whose effect can be the subversion of formal policy intentions.
Task Design and Second Language Performance: The Effect of Narrative Type on Learner Output
Authors: Tavakoli Parvaneh , Foster Pauline
Published: May 2011

This article reports on a detailed empirical study of the way narrative task design influences the oral performance of second‐language (L2) learners. Building on previous research findings, two dimensions of narrative design were chosen for investigation: narrative complexity and inherent narrative structure. Narrative complexity refers to the presence of simultaneous storylines; in this case, we compared single‐story narratives with dual‐story narratives. Inherent narrative structure refers to the order of events in a narrative; we compared narratives where this was fixed to others where the events could be reordered without loss of coherence. Additionally, we explored the influence of learning context on performance by gathering data from two comparable groups of participants: 60 learners in a foreign language context in Teheran and 40 in an L2 context in London. All participants recounted two of four narratives from cartoon pictures prompts, giving a between‐subjects design for narrative complexity and a within‐subjects design for inherent narrative structure. The results show clearly that for both groups, L2 performance was affected by the design of the task: Syntactic complexity was supported by narrative storyline complexity and grammatical accuracy was supported by an inherently fixed narrative structure. We reason that the task of recounting simultaneous events leads learners into attempting more hypotactic language, such as subordinate clauses that follow, for example, while, although, at the same time as, etc. We reason also that a tight narrative structure allows learners to achieve greater accuracy in the L2 (within minutes of performing less accurately on a loosely structured narrative) because the tight ordering of events releases attentional resources that would otherwise be spent on finding connections between the pictures. The learning context was shown to have no effect on either accuracy or fluency but an unexpectedly clear effect on syntactic complexity and lexical diversity. The learners in London seem to have benefited from being in the target language environment by developing not more accurate grammar but a more diverse resource of English words and syntactic choices. In a companion article (Foster & Tavakoli, 2009) we compared their performance with native‐speaker baseline data and see that, in terms of nativelike selection of vocabulary and phrasing, the learners in London are closing in on native‐speaker norms. The study provides empirical evidence that L2 performance is affected by task design in predictable ways. It also shows that living within the target language environment, and presumably using the L2 in a host of everyday tasks outside the classroom, confers a distinct lexical advantage, not a grammatical one.