bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Calculation of Coherent Synchrotron Radiation Impedance for a Beam Moving in a Curved Trajectory
Authors: Zhou Demin , Ohmi Kazuhito , Oide Katsunobu , Zang Lei , Stupakov Gennady
Published: December 2011

Coherent synchrotron radiation (CSR) fields are generated when a bunched beam moves along a curved trajectory. A new code, named CSRZ, was developed using finite difference method to calculate the longitudinal CSR impedance for a beam moving along a curved chamber. The method adopted in the code was originated by Agoh and Yokoya [Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams 7 (2004) 054403]. It solves the parabolic equation in the frequency domain in a curvilinear coordinate system. The chamber considered has uniform rectangular cross-section along the beam trajectory. The code was used to investigate the properties of CSR impedance of a single or a series of bending magnets. The calculation results indicate that the shielding effect due to outer chamber wall can be well explained by a simple optical approximation model at high frequencies. The CSR fields reflected by the outer wall may interfere with each other along a series of bending magnets and lead to sharp narrow peaks in the CSR impedance. In a small storage ring, such interference effect can be significant and may cause microwave instability, according to a simple estimate of instability threshold.
Pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor I reduces the severity of chronic pancreatitis in mice overexpressing interleukin-1β in the pancreas
Authors: Romac Joelle M.-J. , Shahid Rafiq A. , Choi Steve S. , Karaca Gamze F. , Westphalen Christoph B. , Wang Timothy C. , Liddle Rodger A.
Published: December 2011

IL-1β is believed to play a pathogenic role in the development of pancreatitis. Expression of human IL-1β in pancreatic acinar cells produces chronic pancreatitis, characterized by extensive intrapancreatic inflammation, atrophy, and fibrosis. To determine if activation of trypsinogen is important in the pathogenesis of chronic pancreatitis in this model, we crossed IL-1β transgenic [Tg( IL1β)] mice with mice expressing a trypsin inhibitor that is normally produced in rat pancreatic acinar cells [pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (PTSI) I]. We previously demonstrated that transgenic expression of PSTI-I [Tg( Psti1)] increased pancreatic trypsin inhibitor activity by 190%. Tg( IL1β) mice were found to have marked pancreatic inflammation, characterized by histological changes, including acinar cell loss, inflammatory cell infiltration, and fibrosis, as well as elevated myeloperoxidase activity and elevated pancreatic trypsin activity, as early as 6 wk of age. In contrast to Tg( IL1β) mice, pancreatitis was significantly less severe in dual-transgenic [Tg( IL1β)-Tg( Psti1)] mice expressing IL-1β and PSTI-I in pancreatic acinar cells. These findings indicate that overexpression of PSTI-I reduces the severity of pancreatitis and that pancreatic trypsin activity contributes to the pathogenesis of an inflammatory model of chronic pancreatitis.
Endurance training stimulates growth and survival pathways and the redox balance in rat pancreatic islets
Authors: Calegari Vivian C. , Abrantes Julia L. , Silveira Leonardo R. , Paula Flavia M. , Costa José Maria , Rafacho Alex , Velloso Lício A. , Carneiro Everardo M. , Bosqueiro Jose R. , Boschero Antonio C. , Zoppi Claudio C.
Published: December 2011

Endurance training has been shown to increase pancreatic β-cell function and mass. However, whether exercise modulates β-cell growth and survival pathways signaling is not completely understood. This study investigated the effects of exercise on growth and apoptotic markers levels in rat pancreatic islets. Male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to 8-wk endurance training or to a sedentary control group. After that, pancreatic islets were isolated; gene expression and the total content and phosphorylation of several proteins related to growth and apoptotic pathways as well as the main antioxidant enzymes were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis, respectively. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was measured by fluorescence. Endurance training increased the time to reach fatigue by 50%. Endurance training resulted in increased protein phosphorylation content of AKT (75%), AKT substrate (AS160; 100%), mTOR (60%), p70s6k (90%), and ERK1/2 (50%), compared with islets from control group. Catalase protein content was 50% higher, whereas ROS production was 49 and 77% lower in islets from trained rats under basal and stimulating glucose conditions, respectively. Bcl-2 mRNA and protein levels increased by 46 and 100%, respectively. Bax and cleaved caspase-3 protein contents were reduced by 25 and 50% in islets from trained rats, respectively. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that endurance training favors the β-cell growth and survival by activating AKT and ERK1/2 pathways, enhancing antioxidant capacity, and reducing ROS production and apoptotic proteins content.
Heritability of submaximal exercise heart rate response to exercise training is accounted for by nine SNPs
Authors: Rankinen Tuomo , Sung Yun Ju , Sarzynski Mark A. , Rice Treva K. , Rao D. C. , Bouchard Claude
Published: December 2011

Endurance training-induced changes in hemodynamic traits are heritable. However, few genes associated with heart rate training responses have been identified. The purpose of our study was to perform a genome-wide association study to uncover DNA sequence variants associated with submaximal exercise heart rate training responses in the HERITAGE Family Study. Heart rate was measured during steady-state exercise at 50 W (HR50) on 2 separate days before and after a 20-wk endurance training program in 483 white subjects from 99 families. Illumina HumanCNV370-Quad v3.0 BeadChips were genotyped using the Illumina BeadStation 500GX platform. After quality control procedures, 320,000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were available for the genome-wide association study analyses, which were performed using the MERLIN software package (single-SNP analyses and conditional heritability tests) and standard regression models (multivariate analyses). The strongest associations for HR50 training response adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, and baseline HR50 were detected with SNPs at the YWHAQ locus on chromosome 2p25 ( P = 8.1 × 10−7), the RBPMS locus on chromosome 8p12 ( P = 3.8 × 10−6), and the CREB1 locus on chromosome 2q34 ( P = 1.6 × 10−5). In addition, 37 other SNPs showed P values <9.9 × 10−5. After removal of redundant SNPs, the 10 most significant SNPs explained 35.9% of the ΔHR50 variance in a multivariate regression model. Conditional heritability tests showed that nine of these SNPs (all intragenic) accounted for 100% of the ΔHR50 heritability. Our results indicate that SNPs in nine genes related to cardiomyocyte and neuronal functions, as well as cardiac memory formation, fully account for the heritability of the submaximal heart rate training response.
Effects of carnosine on contractile apparatus Ca2+sensitivity and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+release in human skeletal muscle fibers
Authors: Dutka T. L. , Lamboley C. R. , McKenna M. J. , Murphy R. M. , Lamb G. D.
Published: December 2011

There is considerable interest in potential ergogenic and therapeutic effects of increasing skeletal muscle carnosine content, although its effects on excitation-contraction (EC) coupling in human muscle have not been defined. Consequently, we sought to characterize what effects carnosine, at levels attained by supplementation, has on human muscle fiber function, using a preparation with all key EC coupling proteins in their in situ positions. Fiber segments, obtained from vastus lateralis muscle of human subjects by needle biopsy, were mechanically skinned, and their Ca2+release and contractile apparatus properties were characterized. Ca2+sensitivity of the contractile apparatus was significantly increased by 8 and 16 mM carnosine (increase in pCa50of 0.073 ± 0.007 and 0.116 ± 0.006 pCa units, respectively, in six type I fibers, and 0.063 ± 0.018 and 0.103 ± 0.013 pCa units, respectively, in five type II fibers). Caffeine-induced force responses were potentiated by 8 mM carnosine in both type I and II fibers, with the potentiation in type II fibers being entirely explicable by the increase in Ca2+sensitivity of the contractile apparatus caused by carnosine. However, the potentiation of caffeine-induced responses caused by carnosine in type I fibers was beyond that expected from the associated increase in Ca2+sensitivity of the contractile apparatus and suggestive of increased Ca2+-induced Ca2+release. Thus increasing muscle carnosine content likely confers benefits to muscle performance in both fiber types by increasing the Ca2+sensitivity of the contractile apparatus and possibly also by aiding Ca2+release in type I fibers, helping to lessen or slow the decline in muscle performance during fatiguing stimulation.
Monocytic CCR2+ Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Promote Immune Escape by Limiting Activated CD8 T-cell Infiltration into the Tumor Microenvironment
Authors: Lesokhin Alexander M. , Hohl Tobias M. , Kitano Shigehisa , Cortez Czrina , Hirschhorn-Cymerman Daniel , Avogadri Francesca , Rizzuto Gabrielle A. , Lazarus John J. , Pamer Eric G. , Houghton Alan N. , Merghoub Taha , Wolchok Jedd D.
Published: December 2011

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are a heterogeneous population of cells that accumulate during tumor formation, facilitate immune escape, and enable tumor progression. MDSCs are important contributors to the development of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment that blocks the action of cytotoxic antitumor T effector cells. Heterogeneity in these cells poses a significant barrier to studying the in vivo contributions of individual MDSC subtypes. Herein, we show that granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, a cytokine critical for the numeric and functional development of MDSC populations, promotes expansion of a monocyte-derived MDSC population characterized by expression of CD11b and the chemokine receptor CCR2. Using a toxin-mediated ablation strategy to target CCR2-expressing cells, we show that these monocytic MDSCs regulate entry of activated CD8 T cells into the tumor site, thereby limiting the efficacy of immunotherapy. Our results argue that therapeutic targeting of monocytic MDSCs would enhance outcomes in immunotherapy. Cancer Res; 72(4); 876–86. ©2011 AACR.
Pharmacokinetically Stabilized Cystine Knot Peptides That Bind Alpha-v-Beta-6 Integrin with Single-Digit Nanomolar Affinities for Detection of Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Kimura Richard H. , Teed Robert , Hackel Benjamin J. , Pysz Marybeth A. , Chuang Courtney Z. , Sathirachinda Ataya , Willmann Jürgen K. , Gambhir Sanjiv S.
Published: December 2011

Purpose: Detection of pancreatic cancer remains a high priority and effective diagnostic tools are needed for clinical applications. Many cancer cells overexpress integrin αvβ6, a cell surface receptor being evaluated as a novel clinical biomarker.

Experimental Design: To validate this molecular target, several highly stable cystine knot peptides were engineered by directed evolution to bind specifically and with high affinity (3–6 nmol/L) to integrin αvβ6. The binders do not cross-react with related integrin αvβ5, integrin α5β1, or tumor-angiogenesis–associated integrin, αvβ3.

Results: Positron emission tomography showed that these disulfide-stabilized peptides rapidly accumulate at tumors expressing integrin αvβ6. Clinically relevant tumor-to-muscle ratios of 7.7 ± 2.4 to 11.3 ± 3.0 were achieved within 1 hour after radiotracer injection. Minimization of off-target dosing was achieved by reformatting αvβ6-binding activities across various natural and pharmacokinetically stabilized cystine knot scaffolds with different amino acid content. We show that the primary sequence of a peptide scaffold directs its pharmacokinetics. Scaffolds with high arginine or glutamic acid content suffered high renal retention of more than 75% injected dose per gram (%ID/g). Substitution of these amino acids with renally cleared amino acids, notably serine, led to significant decreases in renal accumulation of less than 20%ID/g 1 hour postinjection (P < 0.05, n = 3).

Conclusions: We have engineered highly stable cystine knot peptides with potent and specific integrin αvβ6-binding activities for cancer detection. Pharmacokinetic engineering of scaffold primary sequence led to significant decreases in off-target radiotracer accumulation. Optimization of binding affinity, specificity, stability, and pharmacokinetics will facilitate translation of cystine knots for cancer molecular imaging. Clin Cancer Res; 18(3); 839–49. ©2011 AACR.
Notch Signaling Modulates Hypoxia-Induced Neuroendocrine Differentiation of Human Prostate Cancer Cells
Authors: Danza Giovanna , Di Serio Claudia , Rosati Fabiana , Lonetto Giuseppe , Sturli Niccolò , Kacer Doreen , Pennella Antonio , Ventimiglia Giuseppina , Barucci Riccardo , Piscazzi Annamaria , Prudovsky Igor , Landriscina Matteo , Marchionni Niccolò , Tarantini Francesca
Published: December 2011

Prostate carcinoma is among the most common causes of cancer-related death in men, representing 15% of all male malignancies in developed countries. Neuroendocrine differentiation (NED) has been associated with tumor progression, poor prognosis, and with the androgen-independent status. Currently, no successful therapy exists for advanced, castration-resistant disease. Because hypoxia has been linked to prostate cancer progression and unfavorable outcome, we sought to determine whether hypoxia would impact the degree of neuroendocrine differentiation of prostate cancer cells in vitro.

Results: Exposure of LNCaP cells to low oxygen tension induced a neuroendocrine phenotype, associated with an increased expression of the transcription factor neurogenin3 and neuroendocrine markers, such as neuron-specific enolase, chromogranin A, and β3-tubulin. Moreover, hypoxia triggered a significant decrease of Notch 1 and Notch 2 mRNA and protein expression, with subsequent downregulation of Notch-mediated signaling, as shown by reduced levels of the Notch target genes, Hes1 and Hey1. NED was promoted by attenuation of Hes1 transcription, as cells expressing a dominant-negative form of Hes1 displayed increased levels of neuroendocrine markers under normoxic conditions. Although hypoxia downregulated Notch 1 and Notch 2 mRNA transcription and receptor activation also in the androgen-independent cell lines, PC-3 and Du145, it did not change the extent of NED in these cultures, suggesting that androgen sensitivity may be required for transdifferentiation to occur.

Conclusions: Hypoxia induces NED of LNCaP cells in vitro, which seems to be driven by the inhibition of Notch signaling with subsequent downregulation of Hes1 transcription. Mol Cancer Res; 10(2); 230–8. ©2011 AACR.
The Evaluation of Body Composition: A Useful Tool for Clinical Practice
Authors: Thibault Ronan , Pichard Claude
Published: December 2011

Undernutrition is insufficiently detected in in- and outpatients, and this is likely to worsen during the next decades. The increased prevalence of obesity together with chronic illnesses associated with fat-free mass (FFM) loss will result in an increased prevalence of sarcopenic obesity. In patients with sarcopenic obesity, weight loss and the body mass index lack accuracy to detect FFM loss. FFM loss is related to increasing mortality, worse clinical outcomes, and impaired quality of life. In sarcopenic obesity and chronic diseases, body composition measurement with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, bioelectrical impedance analysis, or computerized tomography quantifies the loss of FFM. It allows tailored nutritional support and disease-specific therapy and reduces the risk of drug toxicity. Body composition evaluation should be integrated into routine clinical practice for the initial assessment and sequential follow-up of nutritional status. It could allow objective, systematic, and early screening of undernutrition and promote the rational and early initiation of optimal nutritional support, thereby contributing to reducing malnutrition-induced morbidity, mortality, worsening of the quality of life, and global health care costs.
G
i
-Biased β
2
AR Signaling Links GRK2 Upregulation to Heart Failure
Authors: Zhu Weizhong , Petrashevskaya Natalia , Ren Shuxun , Zhao Aizhi , Chakir Khalid , Gao Erhe , Chuprun J. Kurt , Wang Yibin , Talan Mark , Dorn Gerald W. , Lakatta Edward G. , Koch Walter J , Feldman Arthur M. , Xiao Rui-Ping
Published: December 2011

Rationale:

Phosphorylation of β
2
-adrenergic receptor (β
2
AR) by a family of serine/threonine kinases known as G protein–coupled receptor kinase (GRK) and protein kinase A (PKA) is a critical determinant of cardiac function. Upregulation of G protein–coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) is a well-established causal factor of heart failure, but the underlying mechanism is poorly understood.

Objective:

We sought to determine the relative contribution of PKA- and GRK-mediated phosphorylation of β
2
AR to the receptor coupling to G
i
signaling that attenuates cardiac reserve and contributes to the pathogenesis of heart failure in response to pressure overload.

Methods and Results:

Overexpression of GRK2 led to a G
i
-dependent decrease of contractile response to βAR stimulation in cultured mouse cardiomyocytes and in vivo. Importantly, cardiac-specific transgenic overexpression of a mutant β
2
AR lacking PKA phosphorylation sites (PKA-TG) but not the wild-type β
2
AR (WT-TG) or a mutant β
2
AR lacking GRK sites (GRK-TG) led to exaggerated cardiac response to pressure overload, as manifested by markedly exacerbated cardiac maladaptive remodeling and failure and early mortality. Furthermore, inhibition of G
i
signaling with pertussis toxin restores cardiac function in heart failure associated with increased β
2
AR to G
i
coupling induced by removing PKA phosphorylation of the receptor and in GRK2 transgenic mice, indicating that enhanced phosphorylation of β
2
AR by GRK and resultant increase in G
i
-biased β
2
AR signaling play an important role in the development of heart failure.

Conclusions:

Our data show that enhanced β
2
AR phosphorylation by GRK, in addition to PKA, leads the receptor to G
i
-biased signaling, which, in turn, contributes to the pathogenesis of heart failure, marking G
i
-biased β
2
AR signaling as a primary event linking upregulation of GRK to cardiac maladaptive remodeling, failure and cardiodepression.
If You’re So Smart, Why Aren’t You the Boss? Explaining the Persistent Vertical Gender Gap in Management
Authors: Haveman Heather A. , Beresford Lauren S.
Published: December 2011

Since 1970, women have made substantial inroads into management jobs. But most women are in lower- and middle-management jobs; few are in top-management jobs. Human capital theory uses three individual-level variables to explain this vertical gender gap: women acquire fewer of the necessary educational credentials than men, women prefer different kinds of jobs than men, and women accumulate less of the required work experience than men. The authors argue that cultural schemas, specifically gender roles and gender norms, explain most individual-level differences between men and women and that when cultural factors are ignored, any observed effects of these factors can be dismissed as spurious. This analysis is based on data on nationally representative samples and the results of published research.
Female Leaders, Organizational Power, and Sex Segregation
Authors: Stainback Kevin , Kwon Soyoung
Published: December 2011

A large body of research has examined the organizational factors that promote women’s access to positions of workplace authority. Fewer studies explore how women’s access to these positions influences gender inequality among subordinates. Utilizing a 2005 national sample of South Korean organizations, this article examines whether having women in managerial and supervisory roles is associated with lower levels of workplace sex segregation. In other words, do female leaders function as “agents of change,” or are they merely “cogs in the machine”? The findings indicate that women’s representation in managerial positions is associated with lower levels of sex segregation. Women’s representation among supervisory positions, however, is associated with higher levels of sex segregation. The results, in general, suggest that women in higher levels of organizational power may be important catalysts for change, while women in supervisory positions may be a manifestation of institutionalized inequality. The authors conclude with implications for theory and future research.
Unknown, Unloved? Public Opinion on and Knowledge of Suspended Sentences in the Netherlands
Authors: van Gelder Jean-Louis , Aarten Pauline , Lamet Willemijn , van der Laan Peter
Published: December 2011

Public opinion research shows that the general public tends to perceive noncustodial sanctions, such as suspended sentences, as too lenient while being largely ignorant about their nature. In two studies among representative samples of the Dutch population, the authors examine public opinion about and knowledge of suspended sentences in the Netherlands. Findings suggest that knowledge of suspended sentences is positively related to their perceived punitiveness and beliefs in their effectiveness. Furthermore, opinions about suspended sentences are related to general penal attitudes. More punitive attitudes translate into less favorable opinions. Finally, providing information about suspended sentences can lead to more positive attitudes and greater belief in their effectiveness.
Globalization, Economic Freedom, and Human Rights
Authors: Dreher Axel , Gassebner Martin , Siemers Lars-H. R.
Published: December 2011

Using the KOF Index of Globalization and two indices of economic freedom, the authors empirically analyze whether globalization and economic liberalization affect governments’ respect for human rights in a panel of 106 countries over the 1981–2004 period. According to their results, physical integrity rights significantly and robustly increase with globalization and economic freedom, while empowerment rights are not robustly affected. Due to the lack of consensus about the appropriate level of empowerment rights as compared to the outright rejection of any violation of physical integrity rights, the global community is presumably less effective in promoting empowerment rights.
Ethical Automaticity
Authors: Brownstein Michael , Madva Alex
Published: December 2011

Social psychologists tell us that much of human behavior is automatic. It is natural to think that automatic behavioral dispositions are ethically desirable if and only if they are suitably governed by an agent’s reflective judgments. However, we identify a class of automatic dispositions that make normatively self-standing contributions to praiseworthy action and a well-lived life, independently of, or even in spite of, an agent’s reflective judgments about what to do. We argue that the fundamental questions for the “ethics of automaticity” are what automatic dispositions are (and are not) good for and when they can (and cannot) be trusted.
Interests and Structure in Dualist Social Theory
Authors: Kemp Stephen
Published: December 2011

This article evaluates the structural conception of interests developed by Margaret Archer as part of her dualist version of critical realism. It argues that this structural analysis of interests is untenable because, first, Archer’s account of the causal influence of interests on agents is contradictory and, second, Archer fails to offer a defensible account of her claim that interests influence agents by providing reasons for action. These problems are explored in relation to Archer’s theoretical and empirical work. I argue for an alternative account of interests that focuses on agents’ understandings of their interests and problems with these understandings.
Pharmacokinetics of Single‐Dose Doripenem in Adults With Cystic Fibrosis
Authors: Cirillo Iolanda , Vaccaro Nicole , Redman Rebecca , Black Philip L. , Kearns Gregory L.
Published: December 2011

The pharmacokinetics of doripenem and doripenem‐M‐1 (inactive metabolite) were evaluated in an open‐label, 2‐period, single‐sequence study in which single 1‐g and 2‐g doses of doripenem were administered intravenously over 4 hours to adult patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The systemic exposure to doripenem and doripenem‐M‐1, as measured by observed apparent maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the plasma concentration‐time curve (AUC), increased approximately proportionally to the increase in dose. Other pharmacokinetic parameters of doripenem and doripenem‐M‐1, including clearance, volume of distribution, and elimination half‐life, were similar for the 1‐g and 2‐g doses. The results from this study were also compared with those from a previous study in adult healthy volunteers (HVs) without CF, from a previously conducted pharmacokinetic study, who received single doses of 500 mg and 1 g doripenem administered over 4 hours. The pharmacokinetics of doripenem in adult patients with CF are similar to those from adult HVs, noting some differences in the disposition when comparing body mass index‐adjusted pharmacokinetic parameters.
Volunteers as Facilitators of Communication About Pain
Authors: Wittenberg-Lyles Elaine , Demiris George , Ferrell Betty , Shaunfield Sara
Published: December 2011

Often unskilled for the hospice caregiving role, family members who provide patient care at home need support to facilitate pain management. Volunteers who serve as members of the hospice team may be able to complement staff efforts to discuss pain with caregivers. A pilot project was developed to determine if volunteers could be trained to facilitate communication about pain with family caregivers. Two hospice volunteers were trained and three family caregivers received the intervention in their homes. Caregivers and volunteers were interviewed about the experience. Both caregivers and volunteers reported a rewarding and positive experience. Caregivers prioritized the need to talk with someone, and volunteers preferred working with caregivers instead of administrative support duties. Volunteers could be trained to deliver the intervention material, but information from volunteer visits was not immediately reported to hospice staff members. Future research should assess the benefits of using hospice volunteers to support clinical efforts.
Attachment security and language development in an Italian sample
Authors: Costantini Alessandro , Cassibba Rosalinda , Coppola Gabrielle , Castoro Germana
Published: December 2011

We investigated the influence of biological immaturity and attachment security on linguistic development and tested whether maternal language mediated the impact of security on the child’s linguistic abilities. Forty mother–child dyads were followed longitudinally, with the child’s attachment security assessed at 24 months of age through trained observers’ Attachment Q-Sorts, and linguistic abilities assessed at 24 and 30 months through observational measures and maternal reports. Both factors were found to contribute, though not independently, to the prediction of the child’s linguistic abilities, and the mediation model was confirmed.
Entrepreneurial activities and occupational boundary work during venture creation and development in the cultural industries
Authors: Greenman Andrew
Published: December 2011

Drawing upon a pragmatist-inspired definition of entrepreneurial activity, this article presents material from an ethnographic study of owner-founders of micro- and small businesses in the cultural industries. The concept of occupational boundary work is developed to examine how entrepreneurial activities are partially shaped by occupations during venture creation and development. The article addresses how occupational boundary work influences venturing opportunities, the process of gaining legitimacy and building commitment to creating and developing organizations. This has relevance for explaining how occupational knowledge is acquired and transformed through entrepreneurial activities during venture creation and development.
Patient mortality in the 12 years following enrolment into a pre-surgical cardiac rehabilitation programme
Authors: Rideout Andrew , Lindsay Grace , Godwin Jon
Published: December 2011

Objective: This study examined whether involvement in a pre-surgical cardiac rehabilitation programme conferred a long-term survival benefit.

Design: Patients randomly allocated to a pre-surgical cardiac rehabilitation programme intervention or a control group were tracked through national databases at a point approximately 12 years later, and all causes of mortality were identified from death records. Kaplan–Meier survival analyses based on involvement in a cardiac rehabilitation programme and known pre-surgical risk factors were carried out.

Setting: Two health boards in the west of Scotland, referring to a single cardiothoracic tertiary centre.

Subjects: Patients admitted to the waiting list for coronary artery bypass surgery.

Interventions: Patients were randomly allocated to a control group (‘usual’ care) or an intervention group (nurse-led cardiac rehabilitation) in the pre-operative phase. They were followed up at 12 years post surgery.

Main measures: The only outcome measure used for analysis was survival. Measures of anxiety and depression, and physiological and lifestyle risk factors were included as independent variables in analysis of death.

Results: The initial study included 110 patients – none were lost to follow-up. Relative risk of death associated with inclusion in the cardiac rehabilitation programme was 0.814; risk of death increased with increasing pre-surgical depression (RR 1.07) and anxiety (RR 1.09).

Conclusions: Undertaking pre-surgical cardiac rehabilitation confers a long-term survival advantage over patients not offered this service. Increased anxiety and depression in the pre-surgical phase are additional risk factors for increased mortality.
Internal validity of the revised HiMAT for people with neurological conditions
Authors: Williams Gavin , Hill Bridget , Pallant Julie F , Greenwood Ken
Published: December 2011

Objective:

The High-level Mobility Assessment Tool (HiMAT) was developed to measure high-level mobility limitations following traumatic brain injury. The aim of this study was to investigate if the revised HiMAT is valid for use with adults with neurological conditions other than traumatic brain injury.

Design:

Cross-sectional study.

Subjects:

Ninety-five participants with neurological conditions.

Methods:

HiMAT score sheets were retrieved from the central medical files of people who had attended a major rehabilitation facility for a neurological condition from January 2006 to October 2007. Additional HiMAT score sheets were submitted by therapists who participated in the HiMAT User’s Group. Rasch analysis (RUMM2030 software) was used to determine the overall fit of the model, individual item fit and differential item functioning.

Results:

Rasch analysis supported the internal validity of the revised eight-item HiMAT for individuals with neurological conditions. It showed good overall fit ( P = 0.74), no misfitting items and excellent internal consistency (Person Separation Index = 0.91). The HiMAT is unidimensional with no evidence of response dependency and no differential item functioning for age or sex.

Conclusion:

Further development of the revised HiMAT is required to investigate other aspects of validity, reliability and responsiveness in different neurological populations. However, the results support the internal validity of the revised HiMAT when used for people with neurological conditions who are able to walk without gait aids.
A Public Trial De Novo
Authors: Vedel Jane Bjørn , Gad Christopher
Published: December 2011

This article addresses the concept of “industrial interests” and examines its role in a topical controversy about a large research grant from a private foundation, the Novo Nordisk Foundation, to the University of Copenhagen. The authors suggest that the debate took the form of a “public trial” where the grant and close(r) intermingling between industry and public research was prosecuted and defended. First, the authors address how the grant was framed in the media. Second, they redescribe the case by introducing new “evidence” that, because of this framing, did not reach “the court.” The article ends with a discussion of some implications of the analysis, including that policy making, academic research, and public debates might benefit from more detailed accounts of interests and stakes.
Universals in the world’s musics
Authors: Brown Steven , Jordania Joseph
Published: December 2011

Many decades of skepticism have prevented the field of musicology from embracing the importance of musical universals. When universals have been discussed, it has generally been in the form of meta-critiques about the concept of universals, rather than in positive proposals about actual universals. We present here a typology of four categories of musical universals and a listing of 70 putative universals in musics cross-culturally. These universals span a wide variety of features, including pitch, rhythm, melodic structure, form, vocal style, expressive devices, instruments, performance contexts, contents, and behaviors.
A naturalistic glyceryl trinitrate infusion migraine model in the rat
Authors: Ramachandran Roshni , Bhatt Deepak Kumar , Ploug Kenneth Beri , Olesen Jes , Jansen-Olesen Inger , Hay-Schmidt Anders , Gupta Saurabh
Published: December 2011

Background: and aim Glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) infusion is a reliable method to provoke migraine-like headaches in humans. Previous studies have simulated this human model in anaesthetized or in awake rodents using GTN doses 10,000 times higher than used in humans. The relevance of such toxicological doses to migraine is not certain. Anaesthesia and low blood pressure caused by high GTN doses both can affect the expression of nociceptive marker c-fos. Therefore, our aim was to simulate the human GTN migraine model in awake rats using a clinically relevant dose.

Methods: Awake rats were infused with GTN (4 µg/kg/min, for 20 min, i.v.), a dose just 8 times higher than in humans. mRNA and protein expression for c-fos were analysed in the trigeminal vascular system at various time points using RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively.

Results: A significant upregulation of c-fos mRNA was observed in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis at 30 min and 2 h that was followed by an upregulation of Fos protein in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis at 2 h and 4 h after GTN infusion. Pre-treatment with sumatriptan attenuated the activation of Fos at 4 h, demonstrating the specificity of this model for migraine.

Conclusion: We present a validated naturalistic rat model suitable for screening of acute anti-migraine drugs.
Sleep apnoea headache in the general population
Authors: Kristiansen Håvard Anton , Kværner Kari Jorunn , Akre Harriet , Øverland Britt , Sandvik Leiv , Russell Michael Bjørn
Published: December 2011

Background: The objective was to investigate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of sleep apnoea headache.

Methods: A postal questionnaire was received by 40,000 Norwegians from the general population. A total of 376 and 157 persons with high and low risk of sleep apnoea according to the Berlin Questionnaire had a polysomnography, and a clinical interview and examination by physicians.

Results: Sleep apnoea headache was diagnosed in 11.8% of the participants with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), while morning headache with similar symptomatology was diagnosed in 4.6% of the participants without OSA ( p = 0.002). After adjusting for potential confounders the odds ratio for OSA remained significantly increased among participants with morning headache with an adjusted odds ratio of 2.92 (1.31–6.51). When using a cut-off of moderate (apnoea hypopnea index, AHI ≥ 15) and severe (AHI ≥ 30) OSA, the prevalence of sleep apnoea headache was 11.6% and 13.3%, respectively. Average oxygen desaturation and lowest oxygen saturation was not significantly different in participants with OSA with and without morning headache.

Conclusion: Morning headaches were significantly more frequent among participants with OSA than those without OSA. Sleep apnoea headache is less common in the general population than has previously been reported in clinic populations. The relation of hypoxia and morning headache is questioned.
Calcified neurocysticercosis among patients with primary headache
Authors: Del Brutto Oscar H , Del Brutto Victor J
Published: December 2011

Background: Anecdotal reports and a single case-control epidemiological survey have suggested an association between the helminthic disease neurocysticercosis and primary headache. The present study was undertaken to determine whether neurocysticercosis is more common among patients with primary headaches than in other neurological disorders.

Methods: We determined the prevalence of neurocysticercosis in a cohort of patients with primary headache who were seen at our institution over a 20-year period. We used as controls all people from the same cohort with four major different categories of neurological disorders, including cerebrovascular disease, degenerative disorders of the CNS, head trauma, and primary brain tumors. We evaluated differences in the prevalence of neurocysticercosis between patients and controls.

Results: Forty-eight of 1017 patients with primary headache and 31 of 1687 controls had neurocysticercosis (4.7% vs 1.8%, p < 0.0001). Calcified parenchymal brain cysticerci were more frequent among patients with primary headache than in those with cerebrovascular disease (4.7% vs 1%, p < 0.001), degenerative disorders of the CNS (4.7% vs 2.4%, p < 0.05), and head trauma (4.7% vs 2.3%, p < 0.05). There were no significant differences, however, for the subset of controls with primary brain tumors (4.7% vs 3.5%), a condition that has also been associated with neurocysticercosis.

Conclusions: There is a relationship between calcified neurocysticercosis and primary headache disorders. It is possible that periodic remodeling of cysticercotic calcifications, with liberation of antigens to the brain parenchyma, contributes to the occurrence of headache in these patients.
Testing and analysis of infilled reinforced concrete frames strengthened with CFRP reinforcement
Authors: Akın E. , Canbay E. , Binici B. , Özcebe G.
Published: December 2011

There is an excessive demand for the rehabilitation of frame-type RC buildings which do not satisfy current seismic code provisions. Therefore, it is imperative to develop user-friendly strengthening methodologies which do not necessitate the evacuation of the building during rehabilitation period. The aim of this study was to strengthen the masonry infill walls by means of diagonal carbon fiber-reinforced polymer fabrics and to integrate them with the existing structural frame in order to form a new lateral load resisting system. This study investigated the possible effects of height-to-width ratio of the infills on the overall behavior attained by the previously developed rehabilitation methodology. In the first part of the study, eight 1/3 scaled, one-bay, two-story RC frames with two different aspect ratios were tested. The experimental results in terms of lateral stiffness, strength, drift, and energy dissipation characteristics of the specimens were discussed. In the second part, a numerical study of the frames was conducted to estimate the non-linear behavior of the specimens.
The effectiveness of Echinacea extract or composite glucosamine, chondroitin and methyl sulfonyl methane supplements on acute and chronic rheumatoid arthritis rat model
Authors: Arafa Nadia MS , Hamuda Hayam M , Melek Samuel T , Darwish Sahar K
Published: December 2011

The study aimed to investigate the effect of the oral administration for 15 days of either Echinacea (E) or genuphil (a composite of chondroitin sulphate, glucosamine and methyl sulfonyl methane [GCM]) nutraceutical supplements on female rat model of acute or chronic arthritis induced by bacterial outer membrane protein (OMP) from faecal flora of healthy and rheumatic humans. Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP2), C-reactive protein (CRP) and rheumatoid factor (RF) values increased ( p < 0.05) in both arthritic groups as compared to normal values. The rheumatic markers anti-CCP2, CRP and RF values decreased significantly in E- and GCM-treated groups compared to arthritic none-treated acute or chronic groups. The results of RF values of GCM-treated groups in acute and chronic models decreased exhibiting no statistical difference compared with the normal value. Histological examinations of the hind paw sections revealed moderate inflammation, oedema and mild proliferation of synovial cells in acute arthritic rats and more damage to cartilage and bone with severe inflammation in chronic ones. Echinacea acute treated group showed edema with proliferated synovial membrane and partial damage in cartilage and bone. While in the E -chronic treated group, rough edge with destructed cartilage and bone existed. However, the acute GCM group revealed mild cartilage damage. But the chronic GCM group showed mild synovial cells proliferation and revealed no inflammation with mild cartilage damage edge. Results demonstrated the OMP arthropathic property and through promising light on arthritis treatment using E- or GCM, with the advantage of GMC results over that of E -. The composite GCM is needed for further studies over the dose and duration to assess its preventive effects against the bacterial OMP arthrogenicity.
Meshfree studies on brittle-to-ductile failure transition of metals due to impact
Authors: Wang Suling
Published: December 2011

Studies on the brittle-to-ductile failure transition of metals subjected to impact are presented. We use the element-free Galerkin method and its capability to model large deformations with ease. This is particularly important for ductile failure modes as high strain gradients occur in the core of a shear. The key novelty of our method is that we model brittle and ductile failures with the approach. Therefore, we use the strong discontinuity approach, where cracks and shear bands are modeled in the same manner. The loss-of-material stability condition determines the onset of failure and simultaneously the orientation of the crack or shear band, respectively. The accuracy and robustness of our method will be validated by comparing numerical results to impact experiments on single- and double-notched specimens. We also show that the results are independent of the discretization once a certain refinement is obtained.
Thermo-stress coupling field of friction lining during high-speed slide of wire rope in a mine friction-drive hoist
Authors: Peng Yu-xing , Zhu Zhen-cai , Tong Min-ming , Chen Guo-an , Cheng Yan-hai , Li Tong-qing , Li Yi-lei , Ma Wan , Wang Chong-qiu , Liu Bin-bin
Published: December 2011

In order to seek the intrinsic reason for the serious high-speed slide accident in a mine hoist, the thermo-stress coupling field of friction lining was studied during the high-speed slide. First, the helical contact characteristics were analysed. Subsequently, the thermomechanical properties and the dynamic coefficient of linear expansion were studied, and the thermomechanical constitutive relation was obtained. Then, the theoretical model of thermo-stress was established with the consideration of the helical contact characteristics and the thermomechanical constitutive relation. Also, the numerical simulation was performed by the finite element analysis. Finally, the experiment was carried out on a friction tester. It is found that the temperature is the highest at the contact zone II and the friction heat focuses on the contact surface layer. The variation frequency of the stress is 6.98 Hz at 0.5 m/s. Besides, the catastrophe for the strain and coefficient of friction occurs at 3 m/s. The thermo-stress concentration occurs at contact zone II. The experiment results agree with the simulation ones, which validates the theoretical model of thermo-stress.
A numerical study of the effects of blade angle distribution on the performance and loss generation of centrifugal compressor impellers
Authors: Kim S , Park J , Baek J
Published: December 2011

The blade angle distribution from the inlet to outlet of an impeller in a centrifugal compressor is known to have significant influence on its flow characteristics. With the aim of understanding the effect of the blade angle distribution, particularly on performance, loss generation, and operating range, four different blade angle distributions were defined with fixed inlet and outlet blade angles, and numerical calculations were conducted over their whole operating ranges, as defined by their stall points and choke conditions. The impeller blade Blade80, which has the smallest variation of blade angle and is relatively radial, was found to exhibit the smallest wall skin friction loss due to its small surface area but the highest blade loading loss. Further, the flow separation near the hub at the suction side and the tip and resulting energy loss give rise to the smallest stall margin of the blades. In contrast, Blade110, which has the largest variation of blade angle, exhibits the largest wall skin friction and hub-to-shroud loading losses but the lowest blade loading loss because the flow from the inlet to the outlet is well guided. As the flow coefficient increases, the performance of Blade110 steeply decreases. The poor performance of Blade110 at high mass flowrates can be explained in terms of flow blockage at the narrow throat. An attempt is made to explain the relationships between the blade angle distributions and the flow characteristics, loss generation, and performance of these impellers.
Precision motion control of a novel electromagnetic linear actuator based on a modified active disturbance rejection controller
Authors: Shi Xinxin , Chang Siqin
Published: December 2011

A modified active disturbance rejection controller is proposed in this paper to accomplish precision motion control of a novel electromagnetic linear actuator. The working principle and characteristics of the actuator are analyzed. A reference acceleration feedforward is added to the conventional active disturbance rejection controller to improve the trajectory tracking accuracy besides the original excellent disturbance rejection performance. Comparative simulations and experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed controller, and good tracking and positioning performance has been achieved in the presence of both model uncertainties and external disturbances.
Armed and dangerous: predicting the presence and function of defensive weaponry in mammals
Authors: Stankowich Theodore
Published: December 2011

Mammals possess a wide range of behavioral and morphological adaptations to help detect, assess, deter, and escape from predators, including weaponry that is useful in antipredator defense. While some weapons have evolved in response to natural selection for defense against predators, others may have evolved to serve some other primary function (e.g., intraspecific aggression) but still have defensive uses. In this comprehensive review of extreme morphological weaponry in mammals, I explore specific hypotheses regarding the ecological, morphological, and behavioral correlates of different types of weaponry in order to explain why some taxa have evolved elaborate weapons while others have not. I provide evidence demonstrating that several types of defensive weaponry (e.g., spines, quills, armor, noxious anal secretions) have evolved directly in response to significantly increased potential predation risk. Further, other structures that evolved primarily for intrasexual competition (e.g., cranial weaponry, tusks) or foraging (e.g., enlarged claws) but have additional defensive benefits are more likely to be found in larger species that are able to defend themselves in physical combat. Further comprehensive phylogenetic and comparative studies are needed to confirm the proposed hypotheses regarding selection, ecology, and function.