bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MicroRNAs are dynamically regulated and play an important role in LPS-induced lung injury
Authors: Cai Zhi-Gang , Zhang Shao-Ming , Zhang Yan , Zhou Yi-Yong , Wu Hai-Bo , Xu Xiao-Ping
Published: January 2012

Acute lung injury is characterized by an increase of inflammatory reaction and severe lung edema. Even if there have been great advances in the identification of genes and signaling pathways involved in acute lung injury, the fundamental mechanisms of initiation and propagation of acute lung injury have not been understood completely. A growing amount of evidence indicates that microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in various human diseases. However, the expression profile and function of miRNAs in acute lung injury have not been investigated. Here, using real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis, we show that a collection of miRNAs is dynamically regulated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mouse acute lung injury. Among them, miR-199a and miR-16 are the most significantly down-regulated miRNAs. To study the role of miR-199a and miR-16 in acute lung injury, an over-expression of miR-199a or miR-16 assay was performed in LPS-treated A549 cells, and then the expression of inflammatory factors was analyzed. Over-expression of miR-199a could not alter the expression level of interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), while up-regulation of miR-16 could significantly down-regulate IL-6 and TNFα expression level. Using bioinformatic analysis, we show that a 3′ untranslational region (UTR) of IL-6 and TNFα contains the binding sites of miR-16. Accordingly, over-expression of miR-16 could significantly suppress the luciferase activity of reporter fusion with the binding sites of TNFα in its 3′UTR region, suggesting that miR-16 played its role in LPS-induced lung inflammation by a direct manner. In this study, we show for the first time that miRNAs are dynamically regulated and play an important function in LPS-induced lung injury.
Myocardial and metabolic dysfunction in type 2 diabetic rats: impact of ghrelin
Authors: Hussein Abdel-Aziz M. , Abdel-Aziz Azza , Gabr Mahmoud , Hemmaid Kamel Z.
Published: January 2012

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is commonly associated with metabolic and cardiac dysfunctions. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of ghrelin on metabolic and cardiac dysfunctions in a type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rat model. For this, 48 male adult Sprague–Dawley rats were divided equally into 4 groups: Group I, fed normal chow, served as normal control group; Groups II–IV, were fed a high-fat diet for 2 weeks followed by injection of streptozotocin (STZ) (35 mg/kg body mass) to create a model of T2DM; Group II, were not treated; Group III, were treated with the vehicle (saline); Group IV, were treated with ghrelin (40 µg/kg body mass) twice daily for 10 days. The untreated diabetic rats showed a significant increase in serum fasting blood glucose, insulin homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index, triglycerides (TGs), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total serum cholesterol (TC), and body mass, with a decrease in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (p < 0.05). Hearts isolated from diabetic rats showed a significant increase in myocardial fat content, a significant decrease in GLUT4, and an increase in acyl-CoA oxidase enzyme mRNA (p < 0.05). Ghrelin administration for 10 days caused a significant improvement in lipid profile, HOMA index, and body mass, and significantly corrected the myocardial mass, significantly reduced the fat content of the myocardium, significantly increased GLUT4, and decreased acyl CoA oxidase mRNA (p < 0.05). Thus, ghrelin improves both the metabolic functions and the disturbed energy metabolism in the cardiac muscle of obese diabetic rats.
IT IS NL-COMPLETE TO DECIDE WHETHER A HAIRPIN COMPLETION OF REGULAR LANGUAGES IS REGULAR
Authors: DIEKERT VOLKER , KOPECKI STEFFEN
Published: January 2012

The hairpin completion is an operation on formal languages which is inspired by the hairpin formation in biochemistry. Hairpin formations occur naturally within DNA-computing. It has been known that the hairpin completion of a regular language is linear context-free, but not regular, in general. However, for some time it is was open whether the regularity of the hairpin completion of a regular language is decidable. In 2009 this decidability problem has been solved positively in [5] by providing a polynomial time algorithm. In this paper we improve the complexity bound by showing that the decision problem is actually NL-complete. This complexity bound holds for both, the one-sided and the two-sided hairpin completions.
PARTIALLY ORDERED TWO-WAY BÜCHI AUTOMATA
Authors: KUFLEITNER MANFRED , LAUSER ALEXANDER
Published: January 2012

We introduce partially ordered two-way Büchi automata and characterize their expressive power in terms of fragments of first-order logic FO[<]. Partially ordered two-way Büchi automata are Büchi automata which can change the direction in which the input is processed with the constraint that whenever a state is left, it is never re-entered again. Nondeterministic partially ordered two-way Büchi automata coincide with the first-order fragment Σ2. Our main contribution is that deterministic partially ordered two-way Büchi automata are expressively complete for the first-order fragment Δ2. As an intermediate step, we show that deterministic partially ordered two-way Büchi automata are effectively closed under Boolean operations.

A small model property yields coNP-completeness of the emptiness problem and the inclusion problem for deterministic partially ordered two-way Büchi automata.
RELATIONAL STRING VERIFICATION USING MULTI-TRACK AUTOMATA
Authors: YU FANG , BULTAN TEVFIK , IBARRA OSCAR H.
Published: January 2012

Verification of string manipulation operations is a crucial problem in computer security. In this paper, we present a new relational string verification technique based on multi-track automata. Our approach is capable of verifying properties that depend on relations among string variables. This enables us to prove that vulnerabilities that result from improper string manipulation do not exist in a given program. Our main contributions in this paper can be summarized as follows: (1) We formally characterize the string verification problem as the reachability analysis of string systems and show decidability/undecidability results for several string analysis problems. (2) We develop a sound symbolic analysis technique for string verification that over-approximates the reachable states of a given string system using multi-track automata and summarization. (3) We evaluate the presented techniques with respect to several string analysis benchmarks extracted from real web applications.
NEURAL NETWORK AIDED EVALUATION OF LANDSLIDE SUSCEPTIBILITY IN SOUTHERN ITALY
Authors: RAMPONE SALVATORE , VALENTE ALESSIO
Published: January 2012

Landslide hazard mapping is often performed through the identification and analysis of hillslope instability factors. In heuristic approaches, these factors are rated by the attribution of scores based on the assumed role played by each of them in controlling the development of a sliding process. The objective of this research is to forecast landslide susceptibility through the application of Artificial Neural Networks. In particular, given the availability of past events data, we mainly focused on the Calabria region (Italy). Vectors of eight hillslope factors (features) were considered for each considered event in this area (lithology, permeability, slope angle, vegetation cover in terms of type and density, land use, yearly rainfall and yearly temperature range). We collected 106 vectors and each one was labeled with its landslide susceptibility, which is assumed to be the output variable. Subsequently a set of these labeled vectors (examples) was used to train an artificial neural network belonging to the category of Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) to evaluate landslide susceptibility. Then the neural network predictions were verified on the vectors not used in the training (validation set), i.e. in previously unseen locations. The comparison between the expected output and the artificial neural network output showed satisfactory results, reporting a prediction discrepancy of less than 4.3%. This is an encouraging preliminary approach towards a systematic introduction of artificial neural network in landslide hazard assessment and mapping in the considered area.
EFFECTS OF COATING RATE ON MORPHOLOGY OF COPPER SURFACES
Authors: MOTAMEN S. , VAHABI M. , JAFARI G. R.
Published: January 2012

We have used standard fractal analysis and Markov approach to obtain further insights on roughness and multifractality of different surfaces. The effect of coating rates on generating topographic rough surfaces in copper thin films with same thickness has been studied using atomic force microscopy technique (AFM). Our results show that by increasing the coating rates, correlation length (grain sizes) and Markov length are decreased and roughness exponent is decreased and our surfaces become more multifractal. Indeed, by decreasing the coating rate, the relaxation time of embedding the particles is increased.
A REPUTATION BASED NEGOTIATION MODEL FOR BARTER TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN SOFTWARE AGENTS
Authors: URZICĂ ANDREEA , MOGOŞ ANDREI-HORIA , FLOREA ADINA MAGDA
Published: January 2012

The interactions between parties within large open systems are driven by trust. A major component in building trust is represented by reputation. When the trust value of a target agent, computed by its partner based on previous experience, and the reputation it has been assigned are different, an agreement is reached by negotiation. This paper describes a normative multiagent system and proposes a negotiation model where reputation represents the leverage that ensures norm enforcement. The negotiation framework is comprised of a marketplace using barter exchanges. Based on this model, the paper shows how self-interested agents manage to establish cooperation relationships in order to accomplishing their goals, being aware of the influence that reputation has on the costs of future transactions.
QUASINORMAL MODES AND ENTROPY SPECTRUM OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL GÖDEL BLACK HOLE
Authors: LI RAN
Published: January 2012

We have studied perturbations of scalar and spinor field in the background of three-dimensional Gödel black hole. The wave equations are shown to be exactly solvable in terms of hypergeometric functions. The quasinormal modes are analytically calculated by imposing the Dirichlet boundary condition at spatial infinity, which are shown to be of the same form in both cases. By considering the physical interpretation of quasinormal modes, we obtain the consistent transition frequencies from the quasinormal modes of scalar and spinor field. As an application of quasinormal modes, we have also investigated the area and entropy quantization of three-dimensional Gödel black hole. By choosing the conserved mass of Gödel black hole properly, the entropy spectrum are shown to be equally-spaced.
CALIBRATION OF GRB LUMINOSITY RELATIONS WITH COSMOGRAPHY
Authors: GAO HE , LIANG NAN , ZHU ZONG-HONG
Published: January 2012

For the use of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) to probe cosmology in a cosmology-independent way, a new method has been proposed to obtain luminosity distances of GRBs by interpolating directly from the Hubble diagram of SNe Ia, and then calibrating GRB relations at high redshift. In this paper, following the basic assumption in the interpolation method that objects at the same redshift should have the same luminosity distance, we propose another approach to calibrate GRB luminosity relations with cosmographic fitting directly from SN Ia data. In cosmography, there is a well-known fitting formula which can reflect the Hubble relation between luminosity distance and redshift with cosmographic parameters which can be fitted from observation data. Using the Cosmographic fitting results from the Union set of SNe Ia, we calibrate five GRB relations using GRB sample at z ≤ 1.4 and deduce distance moduli of GRBs at 1.4 < z ≤ 6.6 by generalizing above calibrated relations at high redshift. Finally, we constrain the dark energy parameterization models of the Chevallier–Polarski–Linder (CPL) model, the Jassal–Bagla–Padmanabhan (JBP) model and the Alam model with GRB data at high redshift, as well as with the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMB) and the baryonic acoustic oscillation (BAO) observations, and we find the ΛCDM model is consistent with the current data in 1-σ confidence region.
Dynamics of Interacting Classical and Quantum Systems
Authors: Chruściński Dariusz , Kossakowski Andrzej , Marmo Giuseppe , Sudarshan E. C. G.
Published: January 2012

We analyze the dynamics of coupled classical and quantum systems. The main idea is to treat both systems as true quantum ones and impose a family of superselection rules which imply that the corresponding algebra of observables of one subsystem is commutative and hence may be treated as a classical one. Equivalently, one may impose a special symmetry which restricts the algebra of observables to the 'classical' subalgebra. The characteristic feature of classical-quantum dynamics is that it leaves invariant a subspace of classical-quantum states, that is, it does not create quantum correlations as measured by the quantum discord.
AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER IN WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH SUPPLIERS IN NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
Authors: ZHAO YUSHAN , LAVIN MARILYN
Published: January 2012

This study examines the factors (trust, communication, supplier relationship specific adaptations, supplier flexibility, and relationship history) that influence knowledge transfer from the supplier to the customer firm in new product development, and the impact of knowledge transfer on product development performance. It also suggests that knowledge tacitness moderates these relationships. Based on a sample of 186 US firms, this study finds that trust, communication, supplier relationship specific adaptations, and supplier flexibility influence knowledge transfer. Knowledge transfer, in turn, has an effect on new product development performance. Mixed findings have also been reported in this paper with respect to the moderating effects of knowledge tacitness. Trust, supplier flexibility, and relationship history are more important for tacit knowledge transfer than for explicit knowledge. Knowledge tacitness does not moderate the relationship between knowledge transfer and NPD performance. However, the results show that both tacit and explicit knowledge transfer significantly affects NPD performance.
Demo hour
Authors: Russo Rhett , Mueller-Russo Katrin , Winkler Clemens , Ojavee Kärt , Ozsvald Eszter , Charlton James , Refiti Nico
Published: January 2012

These projects were curated by two instructors at the Swedish School of Textiles, University of Borås, Linda Worbin (textile design) and Clemens Thornquist (fashion design). All four projects were presented at Ambience'11, an international conference held at the University of Borås focusing on the intersection and interfaces between technology, art, and design as expressed in digital architecture, interaction design, new media art, and smart textiles.
The Network Protocol Battle
Authors: Neville-Neil George V.
Published: January 2012

Dear KV, I’ve been working on a personal project that involves creating a new network protocol. Out of curiosity, I tried to find out what would be involved in getting an official protocol number assigned for my project and discovered that it could take a year and could mean a lot of back and forth with the powers that be at the IETF. I knew this wouldn’t be as simple as clicking something on a Web page, but a year seems excessive, and really it’s not a major part of the work, so it seems like this would mainly be a distraction. For now, I just took a random protocol number that I know doesn’t conflict with anything on my network and things seem to work fine. I guess my real question is why would anyone bother to go to the IETF to ask for this unless they were a company that could waste someone’s time on an e-mail campaign to get a properly assigned number?
Novel Genetic Markers of Breast Cancer Survival Identified by a Genome-Wide Association Study
Authors: Shu Xiao Ou , Long Jirong , Lu Wei , Li Chun , Chen Wendy Y. , Delahanty Ryan , Cheng Jiarong , Cai Hui , Zheng Ying , Shi Jiajun , Gu Kai , Wang Wen-Jing , Kraft Peter , Gao Yu-Tang , Cai Qiuyin , Zheng Wei
Published: January 2012

Only two genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have been conducted to date to identify potential markers for total mortality after diagnosis of breast cancer. Here, we report the identification of two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) associated with total mortality from a two-stage GWAS conducted among 6,110 Shanghai-resident Chinese women with tumor–node–metastasis (TNM) stage I to IV breast cancer. The discovery stage included 1,950 patients and evaluated 613,031 common SNPs. The top 49 associations were evaluated in an independent replication stage of 4,160 Shanghai patients with breast cancer. A consistent and highly significant association with total mortality was documented for SNPs rs3784099 and rs9934948. SNP rs3784099, located in the RAD51L1 gene, was associated with total morality in both the discovery stage (P = 1.44 × 10−8) and replication stage (P = 0.06; P-combined = 1.17 × 10−7). Adjusted HRs for total mortality were 1.41 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.18–1.68] for the AG genotype and 2.64 (95% CI, 1.74–4.03) for the AA genotype, when compared with the GG genotype. The variant C allele of rs9934948, located on chromosome 16, was associated with a similarly elevated risk of total mortality (P-combined = 5.75 × 10−6). We also observed this association among 1,145 patients with breast cancer of European ancestry from the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS; P = 0.006); the association was highly significant in a combined analysis of NHS and Chinese data (P = 1.39 × 10−7). Similar associations were observed for these two SNPs with breast cancer–specific mortality. This study provides strong evidence suggesting that the RAD51L1 gene and a chromosome 16 locus influence breast cancer prognosis. Cancer Res; 72(5); 1182–9. ©2012 AACR.
Smoking Attenuates Transforming Growth Factor-β–Mediated Tumor Suppression Function through Downregulation of Smad3 in Lung Cancer
Authors: Samanta Debangshu , Gonzalez Adriana L. , Nagathihalli Nagaraj , Ye Fei , Carbone David P. , Datta Pran K.
Published: January 2012

Epidemiologic studies have shown that most cases of lung cancers (85%–90%) are directly attributable to cigarette smoking. Although much information has been gained about the effects of cigarette smoking on various signaling pathways causing lung cancer, nothing is known about the effect of cigarette smoking on the TGF-β–induced tumor suppressor function in lung cancer. To address this issue, lung adenocarcinoma A549 and immortalized bronchial epithelial HPL1A cells were chronically treated with cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) and dimethyl sulfoxide (as a control) to mimic the conditions of long-term cigarette smoking. Prolonged exposure of these cells to CSC resulted in a decrease in Smad3 and Smad4 complex formation and TGF-β–mediated transcription due to reduced expression of Smad3. Long-term CSC treatment reduced apoptosis, increased cell viability, decreased TGF-β–mediated growth inhibition, and enhanced tumorigenicity. The decrease in apoptosis is due to the upregulation of Bcl-2, which is a downstream target of Smad3. Re-expression of Smad3 in the CSC-treated cells restored TGF-β signaling, increased apoptosis, and decreased cell viability and tumorigenicity. Withdrawal of CSC treatment resulted in the restoration of Smad3 expression, reduction in cell viability, and increased TGF-β–mediated growth inhibition. Expression of Smad3 is lower in lung tumors of current smokers than that observed in never-smokers. Collectively, these data provide evidence that cigarette smoking promotes tumorigenicity partly by abrogating TGF-β–mediated growth inhibition and apoptosis by reducing expression of Smad3. Cancer Prev Res; 5(3); 453–63. ©2012 AACR.
Risk of Erectile Dysfunction and Retrograde Ejaculation Associated with Thulium Laser Vaporesection of the Prostate for Bladder Outflow Obstruction: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Yee Carol Ling Sze , Pal Raj P. , Batchelder Andrew , Khan Masood A.
Published: January 2012

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of erectile dysfunction and retrograde ejaculation following thulium:yttrium-aluminium-garnet (Tm:YAG) laser prostate vaporesection (ThuVaRP). Patients and Methods: Between January 2009 and June 2010, 113 consecutive patients underwent ThuVaRP for bladder outflow obstruction. Of these, 54 (48%) were included in the study as they were able to maintain an erection for sexual intercourse prior to undergoing ThuVaRP. All patients had benign pathology and had not undergone previous bladder neck surgery. The incidence of erectile dysfunction and retrograde ejaculation was reported at a mean follow-up period of 12 months post-operatively. Results: The mean patient age was 71 years (range 46–90). The mean follow-up period was 12 months (range 4–21). 11 (20%) patients experienced worsening erectile function with 3 (6%) noticing an improvement. A total of 30 patients (56%) experienced some degree of retrograde ejaculation. 4 patients (7%) noticed an improvement in their ejaculation. Retrograde ejaculation was more common in patients with an indwelling catheter in situ for refractory urinary retention (43 vs. 17%, p = 0.04) and in diabetic patients (27 vs. 4%, p = 0.03). There was an increased trend of erectile dysfunction in men aged ≧70 years, with hypertension and with hypercholesterolaemia, but this was not significant. Conclusion: Our retrospective study has demonstrated that the overall risk of erectile dysfunction and retrograde ejaculation associated with ThuVaRP is 20 and 56%, respectively.
Characteristics of Muscle Fibers in Rats with Limb Movements during Sleep after Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Esteves Andrea M. , Squarcini Camila F.R. , Lancellotti Carmen L.P. , Tufik Sergio , de Mello Marco T.
Published: January 2012

Background/Aims: Previous studies have demonstrated that spinal cord injury (SCI) results in changes in sleep patterns through increased arousals and limb movements during sleep. Dramatic changes in muscle myosin heavy-chain isoforms have also been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of muscle fibers after SCI in rats with limb movements during sleep. Methods: Forty male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: SHAM, SCI 3, 7 and 15 days. Animals were subjected to electrode insertion surgery, 24-hour baseline sleep recording, SCI, and subsequent sleep recording for 3, 7, or 15 consecutive days. In addition, the gastrocnemius muscle and spinal cord were collected for histopathological/histochemical analyses. Results: Our results indicate a rapid and progressive decrease in the cross-sectional area of type I fibers in the gastrocnemius muscle (35.76–24.74 µm2) after SCI. Additionally, we found SCI-induced changes in sleep patterns. Following SCI, we also observed limb movements in sleeping rats, as well as significant negative moderate correlations between type I fibers and limb movement. Conclusion: Our study strengthened the hypothesis by correlation between changes in types of muscle fiber (decline in type I fibers) and an increase in limb movements during sleep after SCI.
miR-34a Expression, Cell Cycle Arrest and Cell Death of Malignant Mesothelioma Cells upon Treatment with Radiation, Docetaxel or Combination Treatment
Authors: Ghawanmeh Taha , Thunberg Ulf , Castro Juan , Murray Fiona , Laytragoon-Lewin Nongnit
Published: January 2012

Objective: Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a highly aggressive tumour related to asbestos exposure. Histopathologically, the tumour is classified as epithelial, sarcomatoid or biphasic. To date, MM is still an incurable disease. Methods: To evaluate treatment strategies on MM cells, the effects of radiotherapy, docetaxel or a combination of both on MM cells derived from the sarcomatoid type ZL34 and the epithelial type M28K were investigated. The TP53 gene, micro-RNA expression, cell cycle distribution and cell death were assessed as indicators of treatment effects. Results: Despite the normal TP53 gene sequences in these cell lines, radiation-induced miR-34a expression was detected only in the M28K cells. Increasing G0/G1 cell numbers were detected in irradiated M28K and ZL34 cells. There was more radiation-induced cell death in M28K compared to ZL34 cells. The highest degree of cell cycle arrest at G2 and cell death in both cell types was obtained in the presence of docetaxel. The combination of docetaxel and radiation did not show any additive effects on miR-34a expression, cell cycle arrest or cell death in either the M28K or ZL34 cells. Conclusion: Microtubule formation and other related functions by docetaxel might be the most suitable treatment modulation in both sarcomatoid and epithelial types of MM.
Dermatological Signs and Symptoms of Measles: A Prospective Case Series and Comparison with the Literature
Authors: Battegay Raphael , Itin Christoph , Itin Peter
Published: January 2012

Background/Aims: Because of high vaccination rates, population immunity against measles increased in the western world. Nevertheless, outbreaks are still observed. The aim of this article is to document and describe the natural course of dermatological manifestations and compare it with the literature. Methods: After detecting a measles index case, the dermatological onset of the disease in the non-vaccinated siblings was prospectively monitored and documented with a digital camera. Results: Our findings show that dermatological symptoms are only limited consistently from one case to another and described heterogeneously in the literature as well. Conclusion: Dermatological manifestations do not seem conclusive in our clinical data set as well as in the literature. Especially the exact onset of the Koplik spots should be further explored in detail. In future, a larger population should be observed and clinical diagnostics for measles defined.
Primary Metastatic Neuroendocrine Small Cell Bladder Cancer: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Cerulli C. , Busetto G.M. , Antonini G. , Giovannone R. , Di Placido M. , Soda G. , De Berardinis E. , Gentile V.
Published: January 2012

Small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder (SCCUB) is a rare variant of neuroendocrine nonepithelial tumor. Clinically, SCCUB appears like a flat or ulcerated lesion and microscopically can cause microvascular invasion and necrosis. Small cell cancer, rarely found in the urogenital tract in a primitive form, usually coexists with urothelial bladder cancers. It has an incidence of 0.35–0.7% of all bladder neoplasms and survival at 5 years is estimated to be around 8%. A 60-year-old man who was a smoker was referred to our department with episodes of gross hematuria and pain in the lumbar region. After an extensive transurethral resection of the bladder, including of the muscular layer, the diagnosis of small cell carcinoma of the bladder was made. The neoplastic cells were positive with immunohistochemical staining for chromogranin A, paranuclear reactivity to cytokeratin and neuron-specific enolase. A total-body CT scan revealed lymph node involvement and hepatic, adrenal and lung metastases. Because of the advanced stage it was decided to avoid radical cystectomy and perform chemotherapy. The patient underwent two different cycles of cisplatin chemotherapy following international recommendations, but unfortunately without any response. After palliative therapy, the patient died in January 2010.
Blood Lipid Levels, Lipid-Lowering Medications, and the Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Lopez Faye L. , Agarwal Sunil K. , MacLehose Richard F. , Soliman Elsayed Z. , Sharrett A. Richey , Huxley Rachel R. , Konety Suma , Ballantyne Christie M. , Alonso Alvaro
Published: January 2012

Background—

Several cardiovascular risk factors have been associated with the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). Limited and inconsistent evidence exists on the association of blood lipid levels and lipid-lowering medication use with AF risk.

Methods and Results—

We analyzed 13 969 participants (25% African American, 45% men) free of AF at baseline from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study. Fasting high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc), triglycerides, and total cholesterol were measured at baseline (1987–1989) and each of 3 follow-up visits. The incidence of AF was ascertained through 2007. The association of the use of statins and other lipid-lowering medications with AF was estimated in 13 044 Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities participants attending visit 2 (1990–1992), adjusting for covariates from the previous visit. During a median follow-up of 18.7 years, there were 1433 incident AF cases. Multivariable hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs of AF associated with a 1-SD increase in lipid levels were as follows: HDLc, 0.97 (0.91–1.04); LDLc, 0.90 (0.85–0.96); total cholesterol, 0.89 (0.84–0.95); and triglycerides, 1.00 (0.96–1.04). Participants taking lipid-lowering medications had an adjusted HR (95% CI) of AF of 0.96 (0.82–1.13) compared with those not taking medications, whereas those taking statins had an adjusted HR of 0.91 (0.66–1.25) compared with those taking other lipid-lowering medications.

Conclusions—

Higher levels of LDLc and total cholesterol were associated with a lower incidence of AF. However, HDLc and triglycerides were not independently associated with AF incidence. No association was found between the use of lipid-lowering medications and incident AF.
Risk of Acute Myocardial Infarction After the Death of a Significant Person in One's Life
Authors: Mostofsky Elizabeth , Maclure Malcolm , Sherwood Jane B. , Tofler Geoffrey H. , Muller James E. , Mittleman Murray A.
Published: January 2012

Background—

Acute psychological stress is associated with an abrupt increase in the risk of cardiovascular events. Intense grief in the days after the death of a significant person may trigger the onset of acute myocardial infarction (MI), but this relationship has not been systematically studied.

Methods and Results—

We conducted a case-crossover analysis of 1985 participants from the multicenter Determinants of Myocardial Infarction Onset Study interviewed during index hospitalization for an acute MI between 1989 and 1994. We compared the observed number of deaths in the days preceding MI symptom onset with its expected frequency based on each patient's control information, defined as the occurrence of deaths in the period from 1 to 6 months before infarction. Among the 1985 subjects, 270 (13.6%) experienced the loss of a significant person in the prior 6 months, including 19 within 1 day of their MI. The incidence rate of acute MI onset was elevated 21.1-fold (95% confidence interval, 13.1–34.1) within 24 hours of the death of a significant person and declined steadily on each subsequent day. The absolute risk of MI within 1 week of the death of a significant person is 1 excess MI per 1394 exposed individuals at low (5%) 10-year MI risk and 1 per 320 among individuals at high (20%) 10-year risk.

Conclusions—

Grief over the death of a significant person was associated with an acutely increased risk of MI in the subsequent days. The impact may be greatest among individuals at high cardiovascular risk.
Gender and Asset Dimensions of Seasonal Water Insecurity in Urban Philippines
Authors: Mason Lisa Reyes
Published: January 2012

Seasonal water insecurity is a social and climate-related problem of growing concern in many urban areas. From 2000 to 2050, the global urban population affected by seasonal water shortage is projected to increase from 312 million to 1.3 billion. This increase is due to a combination of drivers, including population growth, urbanization, and climate change. To advance understanding of the social dimensions of this problem, this study uses qualitative methods—archival research, informal interviews (N = 7), and in-depth interviews (N = 15)—to explore how gender and assets relate to water insecurity in the rainy and dry seasons in three urban neighborhoods in Baguio City, the Philippines. Analytic methods include memo production and qualitative text analysis. Key findings are that households manage complex water portfolios that change seasonally or more frequently; women and men have gendered roles in managing water portfolios, providing versus managing income for water purchases, and physically carrying water; and particular assets (specific physical, financial, and social capitals) seem to matter for reducing seasonal water insecurity, in ways that may be gendered as well. Implications for more gender-sensitive and asset-focused research and policy are discussed.
The Self-Efficacy Questionnaire for Depressed Adolescents: A measure to predict the course of depression in depressed youth
Authors: Gordon Michael S , Tonge Bruce , Melvin Glenn A
Published: January 2012

Objective: Self-efficacy can be conceptualised as a person’s perception of their own ability to produce a desired outcome. Low self-efficacy has been reported to be a mediating variable in developing depression. The Self-Efficacy Questionnaire for Depressed Adolescents (SEQ-DA) is a 12-item inventory, designed to measure self-perceived ability of the young person to cope with depressive symptoms. This paper presents further information on the psychometric properties of the SEQ-DA in a clinical sample of depressed adolescents.

Method: The SEQ-DA was administered to a clinical sample of 130 adolescents with a depressive disorder at baseline, at the end of 3 months of therapy and 6 months following therapy. A diagnosis of depression was made using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Aged Children. The ability of the SEQ-DA to identify those adolescents who had a diagnosis of major depressive disorder at baseline, following treatment and at 6-month follow-up was evaluated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis of the SEQ-DA in this clinical sample of depressed adolescents was undertaken to establish cut-off scores of the SEQ-DA.

Results: The SEQ-DA score at baseline of < 36 and following treatment of < 43 were predictive of a depressive disorder.

Conclusions: The SEQ-DA is a very simple self-report measure that can be used to predict which adolescents treated for depression are likely to remain depressed, thus prompting more intensive treatment and follow-up.
Transitioning patients taking clozapine from the public to private/GP shared-care setting: Barriers and criteria
Authors: Filia Sacha L , Wheelhouse Alyson , Lee Stuart J , Main Maggie , de Castella Anthony , Wilkins Sally , Kulkarni Jayashri
Published: January 2012

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the barriers to transitioning patients taking clozapine from the public to private psychiatrist or general practitioner (GP) shared-care setting, as well as the criteria used by staff to identify patients suitable for transitioning.

Method: The experience of clinicians managing people taking clozapine was explored through circulation of a feedback questionnaire. The clozapine transition questionnaire (CTQ) was developed as the primary measure following extensive consultation with clinical staff with expertise in clozapine treatment. A total of 215 clinicians were sent questionnaires (60 community mental health service staff, 120 private psychiatrists registered to prescribe clozapine, and 35 GPs from the Bayside Health clozapine GP shared-care programme), with overall 80 (46.2%) returned.

Results: Over 64% of participants had managed patients who had been transitioned from public to private psychiatrist or GP shared-care settings. Around half of these said that it was a ‘worthwhile treatment option’ and that ‘it went smoothly’ and ‘the patient was satisfied’. The most significant barriers to successful transitioning were the cost of private service, the patient’s level of disorganization, and the need for ongoing care coordination. The most important criteria for transitioning patients was compliance with medication, ability to independently attend appointments and access appropriate pharmacies to receive medication, and willingness to transition out of the public system.

Conclusions: Transitioning suitable public psychiatric patients taking clozapine into private psychiatrist/GP shared-care offers an important model to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of care, but requires careful planning, preparation, and monitoring to ensure sustained success.
The role of hardship in the association between socio-economic position and depression
Authors: Butterworth Peter , Olesen Sarah C , Leach Liana S
Published: January 2012

Objective: It is well established that socio-economic position is associated with depression. The experience of financial hardship, having to go without the essentials of daily living due to limited financial resources, may explain the effect. However, there are few studies examining the link between financial hardship and diagnosable depression at a population level. The current paper addresses this gap and also evaluates the moderating effect of age.

Method: Data were from 8841 participants aged 16–85 years in Australia’s 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. The 12-month prevalence of depressive episode was assessed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Measures of socio-economic position included: financial hardship, education, labour-force status, occupational skill, household income, main source of income, and area-level disadvantage.

Results: Financial hardship was more strongly associated with depression than other socio-economic variables. Hardship was more strongly associated with current depression than with prior history of depression. The relative effect of hardship was strongest in late adulthood but the absolute effect of hardship was greatest in middle age.

Conclusions: The results demonstrate the critical role of financial hardship in the association between socio-economic disadvantage and 12-month depressive episode, and suggest that social and economic policies that address inequalities in living standards may be an appropriate way to reduce the burden attributable to depression.
A systematic review of psychotropic drug prescribing for prisoners
Authors: Griffiths Elise V , Willis Jon , Spark M Joy
Published: January 2012

Objective: To conduct a review of the literature on prescribing psychotropic drugs for prisoners.

Methods: Articles were retrieved from nine databases, reference lists, citations, governmental prison websites, and contact with authors. The articles included were written in English, focused on adults’ time as prisoners, included at least one drug of interest, and discussed prescribing. Thirty-two articles met these inclusion criteria.

Results: Five main themes were identified from the reviewed studies: polypharmacy, high-dose therapy, duration of treatment, documentation and monitoring, and issues associated with the prisoners’ environment.

Conclusions: Consideration of these themes within the included studies identified areas for future research, particularly models of good practice, as numerous descriptions of poor practice exist. Policy-makers and prescribers should review current systems and practices, to ensure the care being offered to prisoners is optimal.
The impact of climate change on obsessive compulsive checking concerns
Authors: Jones Mairwen K , Wootton Bethany M , Vaccaro Lisa D , Menzies Ross G
Published: January 2012

Objective: To investigate whether climate change has impacted on the nature of the obsessions or compulsions experienced by patients with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

Methods: The sample comprised 50 patients with OCD checking subtype who had presented at the Anxiety Disorders Clinic at The University of Sydney seeking treatment during the period March 2008 to November 2009. Details of the type of obsessions and compulsions directly related to climate change phenomena were identified.

Results: Fourteen of the 50 participants (28%) were identified as having OCD concerns directly related to climate change. The most frequent concerns involved electricity, water and gas wastage. Less frequent concerns included pets dying of thirst and one participant was concerned about house damage due to floors cracking, pipes leaking; roof problems and white ant activity. Compulsions included checking and rechecking pet water bowls, light switches, taps, stoves, skirting boards, pipes, roofs and wooden structures. While these behaviours are not particularly unusual for people with this condition, it was the rationale they provided for carrying them out that was surprising. Instead of checking and rechecking so as to prevent fire or flood, the rituals were specifically performed so as to reduce their global footprint, or respond to climate change-induced negative events.

Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that the types of obsessions and compulsions experienced by 28% of our sample were directly aligned with the current issue of climate change and the perceived dangers associated with this phenomenon. To our knowledge this represents the first documentation of the significant impact of climate change on the nature of the concerns experienced by people with OCD checking subtype. We suggest that mental health professionals need to be aware of, and assess for the presence of such concerns.
Being Authentic about Authenticity: Opportunities, Requirements, Applications, and a Progress Report on Measurement of a Key Lonerganian Notion
Authors: Helminiak Daniel A. , Feingold Barnet D.
Published: January 2012

Bernard Lonergan has called for a methodical theology that differentiates those aspects of religion that are humanistic from those that are strictly theological, distinguishing social-science and denominational realms of inquiry. We believe that Lonergan’s notion of human authenticity is pivotal for the humanistic or social-science dimension. Hence, focusing on authenticity, we call for application of Lonergan’s thought beyond strictly theological topics, and we elaborate how social science could effectively deal with aspects of beliefs, ethics, and psychological and spiritual health, traditionally taken to be religious. Finally, we report on a project to operationalize authenticity—that is, to construct a psychometrically sophisticated questionnaire—as a means of making Lonergan’s thought accessible and useful to social-science practitioners and researchers.

Bernard Lonergan a fait appel à une théologie méthodique qui différencie ces aspects de religion qui sont humanistes de ceux qui sont strictement théologiques, distinguant les secteurs d’enquêtes propres aux sciences sociales et confessionnelles. Nous croyons que la notion de Lonergan de ‘l’authenticité humaine’ est centrale aux dimensions humanistes ainsi qu’à celles des sciences sociales. De là, concentrant sur ‘l’authenticité’, nous faisons appel à l’application de la pensée de Lonergan au-delà des sujets strictement théologiques; et nous développons l’idée suivante: à savoir, comment les sciences sociales pourraient effectivement traiter des aspects de doctrine et d’éthique ainsi que ceux de santé psychologique et spirituelle—aspects qui traditionnellement ont été réservés exclusivement au domaine des réalités religieuses. Finalement, nous décrivons un projet qui met en pratique le concept de ‘l’authenticité humaine’ de Lonergan—c’est-à-dire, la construction d’un questionnaire scientifique à base de psychométrie à but de rendre la pensée de Lonergan accessible et utile aux praticien(ne)s et chargé(e)s de recherche en sciences sociales.1
Accountability Policy, School Organization, and Classroom Practice
Authors: Diamond John B.
Published: January 2012

In this article, the author examines the links between high stakes testing policies, school organization processes, and instructional practice using data from a study of K-5 and K-8 schools in Chicago. He argues that although the policy environment penetrates the classroom, this penetration is partial—stronger on some aspects of instruction than others—and its impact unpredictable. He highlights four organizational patterns in the schools he studied that have implications for the link between accountability policy and instruction. These patterns include the stronger influence of accountability policy on content as opposed to pedagogy, the centrality of teaching colleagues in teachers’ advice-seeking networks, the predominance of didactic as opposed to interactive forms of instruction, and the differential responses to accountability policy and unequal distribution of resources across schools. After outlining these patterns, he discusses their implications for understanding the links between accountability policy, instruction, and educational equity.
When Kannaki Was Given a Voice
Authors: Rani Prabha
Published: January 2012

When ancient stories are retold for a new readership in contemporary times, subtle changes are made that reflect on society. Through the early decades of the twentieth century, the story of Kannaki, the heroine of the epic Silappatikaram, was retold several times in prose and as plays. The Kannaki of the Silappatikaram is vastly different from the Kannaki of the plays. For one, in many of the plays, Kannaki speaks much more than she was allowed to in the epic work by Ilango Adigal. This article is an attempt to understand the ‘silence’ of Kannaki in the epic and the ‘voice’ of Kannaki in one of the early plays by Nagai C. Gopala Krishna Pillai written in the social reform context of early twentieth-century Madras Presidency.
The Dharmapada Tradition Revisited
Authors: Kailash Chandra Dash
Published: January 2012

The traditional account of Dharmapada represents the identity consciousness of the Oriyas from the middle of the nineteenth century to the first phase of the twentieth century by repudiating the charge that the Oriya people could not make or complete the stupendous Konarka temple and that they did not possess such masterly skill. When the past is not properly seen, and so denied, in the present, traditional accounts help in articulating the past. The traditional account of Dharmapada is a significant example of the connection between the distant and hard-to-believe past and the present. The tradition from the 1930s onwards asserted the social and cultural identity of the Oriyas. It was appropriated from a different context, the Samba Purana, and had many phases of construction. The Dharmapada tradition forms a significant part of the common artistic tradition of South India (which has been presented in this article in the contexts of the temples of Belur and Simhachalam). No doubt the major aim of the formation of this account in the beginning was to assert the fact of completion of the stupendous temple of Konarka by the artisans of Orissa. However, from the nationalist phase of the 1920s, it was reconstructed to mobilize the young men and women of Orissa. Young, self-sacrificing Oriya men and women were needed for the new Orissa-in-the-making, and the Dharmapada tradition of this phase accordingly highlighted the spirit of self-sacrifice. The efforts of the Oriya nationalists to inspire the Oriya youth in the first two decades of the twentieth century found an interesting finishing point in the Dharmapada tradition, which is now accepted as an unmistakable marker of Oriya identity, just like the Jagannatha cult.