bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Peripheral Glutamate Receptors Are Required for Hyperalgesia Induced by Capsaicin
Authors: Jin You-Hong , Takemura Motohide , Furuyama Akira , Yonehara Norifumi
Published: October 2011

Transient receptor potential vanilloid1 (TRPV1) and glutamate receptors (GluRs) are located in small diameter primary afferent neurons (nociceptors), and it was speculated that glutamate released in the peripheral tissue in response to activation of TRPV1 might activate nociceptors retrogradely. But, it was not clear which types of GluRs are functioning in the nociceptive sensory transmission. In the present study, we examined the c-Fos expression in spinal cord dorsal horn following injection of drugs associated with glutamate receptors with/without capsaicin into the hindpaw. The subcutaneous injection of capsaicin or glutamate remarkably evoked c-Fos expression in ipsilateral sides of spinal cord dorsal horn. This capsaicin evoked increase of c-Fos expression was significantly prevented by concomitant administration of MK801, CNQX, and CPCCOEt. On the other hand, there were not any significant changes in coinjection of capsaicin and MCCG or MSOP. These results reveal that the activation of iGluRs and group I mGluR in peripheral afferent nerves play an important role in mechanisms whereby capsaicin evokes/maintains nociceptive responses.
HB-EGF and PDGF Mediate Reciprocal Interactions of Carcinoma Cells with Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts to Support Progression of Uterine Cervical Cancers
Authors: Murata Takuya , Mizushima Hiroto , Chinen Ichino , Moribe Hiroki , Yagi Shigeo , Hoffman Robert M. , Kimura Tadashi , Yoshino Kiyoshi , Ueda Yutaka , Enomoto Takayuki , Mekada Eisuke
Published: October 2011

Tumor stroma drives the growth and progression of cancers. A heparin-binding epidermal growth factor–like growth factor, HB-EGF, is an EGF receptor ligand that stimulates cell growth in an autocrine or paracrine fashion. While elevated expression of HB-EGF in cancer cells and its contribution to tumor progression are well documented, the effects of HB-EGF expression in the tumor stroma have not been clarified. Here, we show that HB-EGF is expressed in stromal fibroblasts where it promotes cancer cell proliferation. In uterine cervical cancers, HB-EGF was detected immunohistochemically in the stroma proximal to the cancer epithelium. Proliferation of cervical cancer cells in vitro was enhanced by coculture with fibroblasts isolated from tumor tissues of patients with cervical cancer. Inhibition of HB-EGF function or treatment with platelet–derived growth factor (PDGF) inhibitors abrogated cancer cell growth enhanced by cervical cancer–associated fibroblast (CCF) coculture. Furthermore, tumor formation in a mouse xenograft model was enhanced by cotransplantation of CCF or mouse embryonic fibroblasts, but not with embryonic fibroblasts from HB-EGF–deficient mice. Conversely, conditioned medium from cancer cells induced HB-EGF expression in CCF. Mechanistic investigations established that PDGF was the primary factor responsible. Together, our findings indicate that HB-EGF and PDGF reciprocally mediate the interaction of cancer cells with cancer-associated fibroblasts, promoting cancer cell proliferation in a paracrine manner that has implications for novel combinatorial cancer therapies. Cancer Res; 71(21); 6633–42. ©2011 AACR.
PAR-1 and Thrombin: The Ties That Bind the Microenvironment to Melanoma Metastasis
Authors: Zigler Maya , Kamiya Takafumi , Brantley Emily C. , Villares Gabriel J. , Bar-Eli Menashe
Published: October 2011

Progression of melanoma is dependent on cross-talk between tumor cells and the adjacent microenvironment. The thrombin receptor, protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1), plays a key role in exerting this function during melanoma progression. PAR-1 and its activating factors, which are expressed on tumor cells and the surrounding stroma, induce not only coagulation but also cell signaling, which promotes the metastatic phenotype. Several adhesion molecules, cytokines, growth factors, and proteases have recently been identified as downstream targets of PAR-1 and have been shown to modulate interactions between tumor cells and the microenvironment in the process of melanoma growth and metastasis. Inhibiting such interactions by targeting PAR-1 could potentially be a useful therapeutic modality for melanoma patients. Cancer Res; 71(21); 6561–6. ©2011 AACR.
Wnt Inhibitor Screen Reveals Iron Dependence of β-Catenin Signaling in Cancers
Authors: Song Siyuan , Christova Tania , Perusini Stephen , Alizadeh Solmaz , Bao Ren-Yue , Miller Bryan W. , Hurren Rose , Jitkova Yulia , Gronda Marcela , Isaac Methvin , Joseph Babu , Subramaniam Ratheesh , Aman Ahmed , Chau Anh , Hogge Donna E. , Weir Scott J. , Kasper James , Schimmer Aaron D. , Al-awar Rima , Wrana Jeff L. , Attisano Liliana
Published: October 2011

Excessive signaling from the Wnt pathway is associated with numerous human cancers. Using a high throughput screen designed to detect inhibitors of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, we identified a series of acyl hydrazones that act downstream of the β-catenin destruction complex to inhibit both Wnt-induced and cancer-associated constitutive Wnt signaling via destabilization of β-catenin. We found that these acyl hydrazones bind iron in vitro and in intact cells and that chelating activity is required to abrogate Wnt signaling and block the growth of colorectal cancer cell lines with constitutive Wnt signaling. In addition, we found that multiple iron chelators, desferrioxamine, deferasirox, and ciclopirox olamine similarly blocked Wnt signaling and cell growth. Moreover, in patients with AML administered ciclopirox olamine, we observed decreased expression of the Wnt target gene AXIN2 in leukemic cells. The novel class of acyl hydrazones would thus be prime candidates for further development as chemotherapeutic agents. Taken together, our results reveal a critical requirement for iron in Wnt signaling and they show that iron chelation serves as an effective mechanism to inhibit Wnt signaling in humans. Cancer Res; 71(24); 7628–39. ©2011 AACR.
Molecular Determinants of Retinoic Acid Sensitivity in Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Gupta Sonal , Pramanik Dipankar , Mukherjee Radha , Campbell Nathaniel R. , Elumalai Sathyanarayanan , de Wilde Roeland F. , Hong Seung-Mo , Goggins Michael G. , De Jesus-Acosta Ana , Laheru Daniel , Maitra Anirban
Published: October 2011

Purpose: To identify a predictive molecular “signature” for sensitivity to retinoic acid in pancreatic cancer.

Experimental Design: Fourteen patient-derived, low-passage pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) lines with varied expression of fatty acid–binding protein 5 (FABP5) and cellular retinoic acid–binding protein 2 (CRABP2) were used to evaluate the response to all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). Cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration/invasion assays were used to measure the in vitro response. Tumor growth was monitored in subcutaneous xenografts in athymic nude mice for 4 weeks.

Results: Response to ATRA was observed to be dependent upon differential expression of FABP5 versus CRABP2. Thus, elevated FABP5 expression was associated with minimal cytotoxicity and tumor growth inhibition and a paradoxical increase in migration and invasion. Conversely, CRABP2 expression in the absence of FABP5 was associated with significant tumor growth inhibition with ATRA, even in gemcitabine-resistant tumors. The ATRA-resistant phenotype of FABP5highCRABP2null cells could be circumvented by ectopic expression of CRABP2. Alternatively, reexpression of endogenous CRABP2 could be enabled in FABP5highCRABP2null PDAC lines by exposure to decitabine and trichostatin A, thereby relieving epigenetic silencing of the CRABP2 gene promoter. Immunohistochemical staining for FABP5 in archival human tissue microarrays identifies a subset of cases (13 of 63, ∼20%) which are negative for FABP5 expression and might be candidates for ATRA therapy.

Conclusions: The widely used agent ATRA deserves a “second look” in PDAC, but needs to be targeted to patient subsets with biopsy-proven FABP5-negative tumors, or be combined with a chromatin-modifying agent to reexpress endogenous CRABP2. Clin Cancer Res; 18(1); 280–9. ©2011 AACR.
Forty Years of Translational Cancer Research
Authors: Hait William N.
Published: October 2011

Forty years after the signing of the National Cancer Act, we have produced a stunning repository of scientific information that is being translated into better therapies for patients. Although challenges remain, many solutions have been adopted, leading to early signs of progress against some of humankind's most dreadful diseases. This Prospective attempts to highlight some of the approaches that have been successful and analyze some that have not, and peers into a future in which renewal of the investment in cancer research will produce further benefits for patients. Cancer Discovery; 1(5): 383–90. ©2011 AACR.
The Prospects of HPV Vaccination in Cervical Cancer Prevention: Results of a New Independent Trial
Authors: Bosch F. Xavier , de Sanjose Silvia , Castellsague Xavier
Published: October 2011

Herrero and colleagues show that in a phase III randomized trial in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, the use of a human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) and HPV18 ASO4-adjuvanted vaccine (Cervarix) resulted in complete efficacy against 12-month persistent HPV16 and HPV18 infections and partial protection against HPV31, 33, and 45 in HPV-naïve young women ages 18 to 25. Cancer Discovery; 1(5): 377–80. ©2011 AACR.

Commentary on Herrero et al., p. 408.
Early Prediction of In-Hospital Mortality of Patients with Hemoptysis: An Approach to Defining Severe Hemoptysis
Authors: Fartoukh Muriel , Khoshnood Babak , Parrot Antoine , Khalil Antoine , Carette Marie-France , Stoclin Annabelle , Mayaud Charles , Cadranel Jacques , Ancel Pierre Yves
Published: October 2011

Background: The severity of hemoptysis is usually assessed on the amount of blood expectorated, although no threshold has been agreed upon. Respiratory or hemodynamic failures are additional severity criteria but occur in few cases. Objectives: Early identification of the in-hospital mortality determinants might be helpful to best characterize severe hemoptysis. Methods:This is a retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients with hemoptysis admitted to the ICU of a teaching hospital during a 14-year period. The model for early prediction of in-hospital mortality was developed on a derivation sample (67% of patients) using multiple logistic regression. Calibration and discrimination of the model were tested using the remaining validation sample. A scoring system was developed for clinical use. Results: The in-hospital mortality of the 1,087 patients (age 54 years, 71% male) was 6.5% (95% CI 5–8). Chronic alcoholism, cancer or aspergillosis, pulmonary artery involvement, infiltrates involving two quadrants or more on the admission radiograph, and mechanical ventilation at referral predicted independently mortality. The model showed good concordance between predicted and observed probabilities of death and good discrimination (receiver operating characteristic curve area 0.87; 95% CI 0.82–0.92). The model-based score (chronic alcoholism, pulmonary artery involvement, and radiographic patterns, 1 point each; cancer, aspergillosis, and mechanical ventilation, 2 points each) predicted the probability of death as follows: score 0, 1%; score 1, 2%; score 2, 6%; score 3, 16%; score 4, 34%; score 5, 58%; score 6, 79%, and score 7, 91%. Conclusions: Our results provide useful information about the short-term prognosis of patients with hemoptysis, which could help design therapeutic approaches and management plans according to the risk of in-hospital mortality.
Resource Use Among Adult Congenital Heart Surgery Admissions in Pediatric Hospitals
Authors: Kim Yuli Y. , Gauvreau Kimberlee , Bacha Emile A. , Landzberg Michael J. , Benavidez Oscar J.
Published: October 2011

Background—

Pediatric hospitals frequently perform congenital heart surgery in adults with congenital heart disease. The impact of these admissions on pediatric hospital resources is unknown. Our goals were to examine resource use by adults undergoing congenital heart surgery in pediatric hospitals, explore the association between high resource use (HRU) and inpatient death, and identify HRU risk factors.

Methods and Results—

We obtained inpatient data from 42 pediatric hospitals from 2000 to 2008 and selected adult congenital heart (ACH) surgery admissions. We defined HRU admissions as those exceeding the 90th percentile for total hospital charges. We performed multivariable analyses using generalized estimating equations to identify risk factors for HRU. Of 97 563 congenital heart surgery admissions to pediatric hospitals, 3061 (3.1%) were adults, accounting for 2.2% of total hospital charges. The threshold for HRU was total hospital charges ≥$213 803. Although HRU admissions comprised 10% of admissions, they accounted for 34% of charges for all ACH surgery admissions. Mortality rate was 16% for HRU admissions and 0.7% for others (
P
<0.001). Multivariable analysis demonstrated higher case complexity: risk category 2 (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 3.6;
P
=0.02), risk category 3 (AOR, 13.7;
P
<0.001), and risk category 4+ (AOR, 30.7;
P
<0.001) as compared with risk category 1; DiGeorge syndrome (AOR, 4.2;
P
=0.006); depression (AOR, 3.1;
P
<0.001); weekend admission (AOR, 2.6;
P
<0.001); and government insurance (AOR, 2.0;
P
<0.001) as risk factors for HRU.

Conclusions—

High resource use ACH surgery admissions are associated with significantly greater mortality rates. ACH admissions with greater surgical complexity, government insurance, DiGeorge syndrome, weekend admission, and depression were more likely to result in HRU.
Aldosterone Stimulates the Cardiac Na
+
/H
+
Exchanger via Transactivation of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor
Authors: De Giusti Verónica C. , Nolly Mariela B. , Yeves Alejandra M. , Caldiz Claudia I. , Villa-Abrille María C. , Chiappe de Cingolani Gladys E. , Ennis Irene L. , Cingolani Horacio E. , Aiello Ernesto A.
Published: October 2011

The use of antagonists of the mineralocorticoid receptor in the treatment of myocardial hypertrophy and heart failure has gained increasing importance in the last years. The cardiac Na
+
/H
+
exchanger (NHE-1) upregulation induced by aldosterone could account for the genesis of these pathologies. We tested whether aldosterone-induced NHE-1 stimulation involves the transactivation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Rat ventricular myocytes were used to measure intracellular pH with epifluorescence. Aldosterone enhanced the NHE-1 activity. This effect was canceled by spironolactone or eplerenone (mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists), but not by mifepristone (glucocorticoid receptor antagonist) or cycloheximide (protein synthesis inhibitor), indicating that the mechanism is mediated by the mineralocorticoid receptor triggering nongenomic pathways. Aldosterone-induced NHE-1 stimulation was abolished by the EGFR kinase inhibitor AG1478, suggesting that is mediated by transactivation of EGFR. The increase in the phosphorylation level of the kinase p90
RSK
and NHE-1 serine703 induced by aldosterone was also blocked by AG1478. Exogenous epidermal growth factor mimicked the effects of aldosterone on NHE-1 activity. Epidermal growth factor was also able to increase reactive oxygen species production, and the epidermal growth factor–induced activation of the NHE-1 was abrogated by the reactive oxygen species scavenger
N
-2-mercaptopropionyl glycine, indicating that reactive oxygen species are participating as signaling molecules in this mechanism. Aldosterone enhances the NHE-1 activity via transactivation of the EGFR, formation of reactive oxygen species, and phosphorylation of the exchanger. These results call attention to the consideration of the EGFR as a new potential therapeutic target of the cardiovascular pathologies involving the participation of aldosterone.
Evaluation of the Reanalysis Products from GSFC, NCEP, and ECMWF Using Flux Tower Observations
Authors: Decker Mark , Brunke Michael A. , Wang Zhuo , Sakaguchi Koichi , Zeng Xubin , Bosilovich Michael G.
Published: October 2011

Reanalysis products produced at the various centers around the globe are utilized for many different scientific endeavors, including forcing land surface models and creating surface flux estimates. Here, flux tower observations of temperature, wind speed, precipitation, downward shortwave radiation, net surface radiation, and latent and sensible heat fluxes are used to evaluate the performance of various reanalysis products [NCEP–NCAR reanalysis and Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR) from NCEP; 40-yr European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Re-Analysis (ERA-40) and ECMWF Interim Re-Analysis (ERA-Interim) from ECMWF; and Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA) and Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) from the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)]. To combine the biases and standard deviation of errors from the separate stations, a ranking system is utilized. It is found that ERA-Interim has the lowest overall bias in 6-hourly air temperature, followed closely by MERRA and GLDAS. The variability in 6-hourly air temperature is again most accurate in ERA-Interim. ERA-40 is found to have the lowest overall bias in latent heat flux, followed closely by CFSR, while ERA-40 also has the lowest 6-hourly sensible heat bias. MERRA has the second lowest and is close to ERA-40. The variability in 6-hourly precipitation is best captured by GLDAS and ERA-Interim, and ERA-40 has the lowest precipitation bias. It is also found that at monthly time scales, the bias term in the reanalysis products are the dominant cause of the mean square errors, while at 6-hourly and daily time scales the dominant contributor to the mean square errors is the correlation term. Also, it is found that the hourly CFSR data have discontinuities present due to the assimilation cycle, while the hourly MERRA data do not contain these jumps.
Subtropical Western Boundary Currents over Slopes Detaching from Coasts with Inshore Pool Regions: An Indication to the Kuroshio Nearshore Path
Authors: Nishigaki Hajime , Mitsudera Humio
Published: October 2011

The dynamics of subtropical western boundary currents over slopes detaching from coasts with inshore pool regions, where the water of the subtropical gyre does not enter and the velocity is small, are investigated. This study is intended to understand the dynamics of the nearshore path of the Kuroshio, which has a distinct boundary between the boundary current and the coastal water. Numerical experiments under idealized conditions are made. The results show flow patterns with pool regions similar to the Kuroshio under simple conditions. A deep countercurrent is present on the lower bottom slope, which represents observed deep currents. This is part of a deep cyclonic recirculation north of the jet, which extends to the lower bottom slope despite steep topography. This extension can be explained by the geostrophic contours. In this region, the upper boundary current feels the bottom slope and the westward intensification is blocked. In the other region, where the bottom-layer velocity is very small, the upper boundary current is free from the bottom slope and westward intensification occurs at the coast. The sensitivity to the volume transport of the boundary current is investigated by case studies. The pool regions are broken in cases with large volume transports. It is indicated that these unsteady inshore regions are produced by instability caused by an outcrop of the upper isopycnal, which is led by a large baroclinic volume transport.
Toward Authentic Student-Centered Practices
Authors: Phillips Rachel Sophia
Published: October 2011

This investigation uncovered the conditions of learning, both positive and negative, that students in an alternative school experienced both in and out of the classroom setting. Eleven students at an alternative high school in a large suburban school district in the Pacific Northwest were interviewed using methods of narrative inquiry and iterative data collection, grounded in social cognitive theory and student voice literature. Four chief findings are discussed: (a) Learning experiences are improved when explicitly connected to the real world; (b) Positive emotions and relationships support successful learning, whereas negative ones hinder learning; (c) A certain level of student autonomy during learning seems to be tied to achieving goals; and (d) Social learning is consequential for students. The social as defined in this study is composed of two things: (a) how social influences from outside of school can have an effect on how students approach schooling and (b) the implications of understanding and taking part in relationships.
Bankers in the dock: Moral storytelling in action
Authors: Whittle Andrea , Mueller Frank
Published: October 2011

This article draws on insights from a variety of fields, including discursive psychology, ethnomethodology, dramatism, rhetoric, ante-narrative analysis and conversation analysis, to examine the discursive devices employed in the storytelling surrounding the recent financial crisis. Discursive devices refer to the linguistic styles, phrases, tropes and figures of speech that, we propose, are central to the development of a compelling story. We focus our analysis on the moral stories constructed during a public hearing involving senior banking executives in the UK. The analysis suggests that two competing storylines were used by the bankers and their questioners to emplot the events preceding the financial crisis. We propose that a discursive devices approach contributes to the understanding of storytelling by highlighting the power of micro-linguistic tools in laying out the moral landscape of the story. We argue that the stories surrounding the financial crisis are important because they shaped how the crisis was made sense of and acted upon.
Rural Income Transfer Programs and Rural Household Food Security in Ethiopia
Authors: Uraguchi Zenebe B
Published: October 2011

Based on household food security surveys conducted in Ethiopia, this study seeks to understand the roles and limitations of income transfer projects as determinants of households’ food security. By covering the Food-For-Work Programs (FFWPs) and the Productive Safety Net Programs (PSNPs), the study shows that these programs served as temporary safety nets for food availability, but they were limited in boosting the dietary diversity of households and their coping strategies. Households which participated in the programs increased their supply of food as a temporary buffer to seasonal asset depletion. However, participation in the programs was marred by inclusion error (food-secure households were included) and exclusion error (food-insecure households were excluded). Income transfer projects alone were not robust determinants of household food security. Rather, socio-demographic variables of education and family size as well as agricultural input of land size were found to be significant in accounting for changes in households’ food security. The programs in the research sites were funded through foreign aid, and the findings of the study imply the need to reexamine the approaches adopted by bilateral donors in allocating aid to Ethiopia. At the same time the study underscores the need to improve domestic policy framework in terms of engendering rural local institutional participation in project management.
Regression Estimators for Generic Health-Related Quality of Life and Quality-Adjusted Life Years
Authors: Basu Anirban , Manca Andrea
Published: October 2011

Purpose. To develop regression models for outcomes with truncated supports, such as health-related quality of life (HRQoL) data, and account for features typical of such data such as a skewed distribution, spikes at 1 or 0, and heteroskedasticity. Methods. Regression estimators based on features of the Beta distribution. First, both a single equation and a 2-part model are presented, along with estimation algorithms based on maximum-likelihood, quasi-likelihood, and Bayesian Markov-chain Monte Carlo methods. A novel Bayesian quasi-likelihood estimator is proposed. Second, a simulation exercise is presented to assess the performance of the proposed estimators against ordinary least squares (OLS) regression for a variety of HRQoL distributions that are encountered in practice. Finally, the performance of the proposed estimators is assessed by using them to quantify the treatment effect on QALYs in the EVALUATE hysterectomy trial. Overall model fit is studied using several goodness-of-fit tests such as Pearson’s correlation test, link and reset tests, and a modified Hosmer-Lemeshow test. Results. The simulation results indicate that the proposed methods are more robust in estimating covariate effects than OLS, especially when the effects are large or the HRQoL distribution has a large spike at 1. Quasi-likelihood techniques are more robust than maximum likelihood estimators. When applied to the EVALUATE trial, all but the maximum likelihood estimators produce unbiased estimates of the treatment effect. Conclusion. One and 2-part Beta regression models provide flexible approaches to regress the outcomes with truncated supports, such as HRQoL, on covariates, after accounting for many idiosyncratic features of the outcomes distribution. This work will provide applied researchers with a practical set of tools to model outcomes in cost-effectiveness analysis.
The Systemic Model of Crime and Institutional Efficacy
Authors: Wright Kevin A. , Pratt Travis C. , Lowenkamp Christopher T. , Latessa Edward J.
Published: October 2011

The systemic model of crime has received considerable empirical attention from criminologists; yet, an often-neglected component of the theoretical framework is the role of social institutions as a source of both formal and informal social control. Accordingly, the current study builds on recent research that considers the importance of institutional strength for the reduction of criminal behavior; in particular, the authors assess the impact of social–structural characteristics on the treatment program integrity (i.e., institutional efficacy) of 38 halfway house programs in Ohio. The authors’ results indicate that communities suffering from concentrated resource deprivation have a more difficult time creating and maintaining strong institutions of public social control. The implications for criminological theory and correctional policy are discussed.
L’expérience de la mobilité sociale- Plaidoyer pour une approche par le discours
Authors: Naudet Jules
Published: October 2011

The Experience of Social Mobility — A Plea for a Discourse Approach: This article discusses the theoretical and methodological debates concerning the experience and consequences of upward social mobility between generations. The methods employed by researchers working on this subject are diverse, and the results they arrive at are sometimes contradictory. This article proposes, firstly, to give an overview of the different traditions of studying the experience of social mobility in order to identify the conditions for potential ‘‘cumulative’’ knowledge. In a second step, we argue that it is mainly through a study of the narratives of mobility that one can, simultaneously and comprehensively, grasp the ambivalence and multiplicity of effects that produce upward social mobility.
XML Content Warehousing: Improving Sociological Studies of Mailing Lists and Web Data
Authors: Nguyen Benjamin , Vion Antoine , Dudouet François-Xavier , Colazzo Dario , Manolescu Ioana , Senellart Pierre
Published: October 2011

Gestion de données XML — Amélioration des études sociologiques des listes d’emails et des données sur le Web : Dans cet article, nous présentons les lignes directrices d’une approche basée sur le XML pour l’étude sociologique des données Web tels que l’analyse des listes de diffusion ou bases de données disponibles en ligne. L’utilisation d’un entrepôt XML est une solution flexible pour le stockage et le traitement de ce type de données. Nous proposons une solution éprouvée et montrons des applications possibles avec notre étude de profils d’experts impliqués dans le travail de normalisation au W3C. Nous illustrons l’utilisation de bases de données sociologiques semi-structurées en présentant notre schéma XML pour le stockage de listes de diffusion. Un schéma XML permet de nombreuses adjonctions ou croisements de sources de données, sans modifier les données déjà stockées, tout en permettant de possibles évolutions structurelles. Nous montrons également que l’existence de données cachées implique une complexité accrue pour les utilisateurs SQL traditionnels. Le stockage par XML permet l’entreposage exhaustif et l’utilisation de requêtes récursives qui ne sont pas dépendantes du schéma de stockage initial. Nous présentons enfin la possibilité d’exporter les données stockées vers des logiciels avancés couramment utilisés par les sociologues.
The influence of strategic retirement on the incumbency advantage in US House elections
Authors: Highton Benjamin
Published: October 2011

Failure to take into account ‘strategic retirement’ leads to inflated estimates of the incumbent electoral advantage. The one attempt to address this issue in the context of US House elections implies that much of the supposed incumbency advantage and most of its presumed increase over time are illusory (Cox and Katz, 2002). This paper identifies possible problems with the Cox and Katz (2002) method and develops a new approach based on simulating the counterfactual condition of incumbents standing for re-election rather than retiring. The results show that when the bias induced by strategic retirement is removed, much of the apparent incumbency advantage and its increase over time remain evident.
The role of procedural commitment in informational theories of legislative organization
Authors: Chiou Fang-Yi
Published: October 2011

Contrary to codified procedures, almost all informational theories of legislative organization assume that the House floor commits to a special rule for floor consideration prior to a committee proposal. Employing Gilligan and Krehbiel’s (1989b) theoretical framework, we demonstrate that whether or not to assume this procedural commitment has a profound impact on our understanding of how the floor can structure the committee’s incentives to reveal information. In particular, we find that several of Krehbiel’s (1991) primary hypotheses, particularly that regarding preference outliers, generally do not hold without procedural commitment. Underscoring the key role of procedural commitment in informational theories, our results not only open up important avenues through which to construct a more defensible foundation for informational theory but also offer the hope of reconciling discrepancies between theoretical predictions and empirical regularities.
Matrix Assisted Structural Hypothesis Construction: Further Explorations
Authors: Cohen Erik H. , Tresser Charles
Published: October 2011

Construction d’hypothèse structurale par matrice — Explorations complémentaires : En janvier 2011 (numéro 109), le BMS a publié notre article sur un nouveau processus pour l’élaboration d’une hypothèse structurale en utilisant une approche matricielle et des techniques multi-dimensionnelles d’analyse de données (Cohen et Tresser, 2011). La présente note continue à développer la méthode matricielle de construction d’hypothèse (méthode matricielle pour faire court) et propose des orientations pour la recherche en utilisant cette approche.
Institutional fragmentation and coordination initiatives in western European welfare states
Authors: Champion Cyrielle , Bonoli Guiliano
Published: October 2011

As a result of recent welfare state transformations, and most notably the reorientation of welfare states towards activation, the internal fragmentation of social security systems has emerged as a key policy problem in many western European countries. The types of response that have been adopted, however, vary substantially across countries, ranging from the encouragement of inter-agency collaboration to the outright merger of agencies. The purpose of this exploratory article is twofold. First, by proposing the concept of coordination initiatives, it tries to develop a better conceptualization of the cross-national diversity in responses to the fragmentation problem. Second, starting from existing theories of welfare state development and policy change, it presents first hypotheses accounting for the variation observed in coordination initiatives.
Welfare state policy determinants of fertility level: A comparative analysis
Authors: Rovny Allison E.
Published: October 2011

One of the biggest demographic issues that many advanced industrialized countries face is the persistence of low fertility rates. Declining fertility rates pose potential obstacles to economic growth. Government budgets have to accommodate more pension and health services as the number of adults of working age who contribute to older generations’ pensions diminishes. In this paper, I examine the determinants of fertility rates at the national level of 17 Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. Specifically, I perform a pooled time-series analysis covering the time period 1990—9. The analysis yields evidence that the types of state policies — active labor market programs, family-friendly policies and employment protection laws — play a significant role in either helping or hindering fertility levels. I find that active labor market policies and generous work and family policies encourage higher fertility rates, while the presence of employment protection legislation — rules concerning hiring and firing — hinders the growth of fertility rates.
How good are your counterfactuals? Assessing quantitative macro-comparative welfare state research with qualitative criteria
Authors: Emmenegger Patrick
Published: October 2011

All causal statements based on historical data — both in qualitative and quantitative social research — rely on counterfactuals. In quantitative research, scholars attempt to arrive at valid counterfactuals by emulating an experimental design. However, because of treatments that are impossible to manipulate and the non-random assignment of data to treatment and control groups, causal statements are often based on invalid counterfactuals. In qualitative research, scholars attempt to arrive at valid counterfactuals by probing the historical and logical consistency of counterfactuals and by acknowledging the interconnectedness of events. Criteria to evaluate counterfactuals have been developed that allow for a discussion of the quality of counterfactuals used in causal statements. In this article, we suggest using these qualitative criteria to evaluate counterfactuals in quantitative macro-comparative welfare state research. We argue that these criteria can help us identify erroneous causal inferences in quantitative research based on historical data.
Institutions versus market forces: Explaining the employment insecurity of European individuals during (the beginning of) the financial crisis
Authors: Chung Heejung , van Oorschot Wim
Published: October 2011

In reaction to the recent financial crisis, the European Commission re-stated its view that the balance between flexibility and security is the key to success for the future of the European social economy, as well as its belief in the power of institutional arrangements it deems necessary for this balance. However, do powerful institutions actually counter market forces where flexicurity is concerned? In this paper we address this question by analysing the impact of institutional configurations and market factors on perceived employment insecurity among workers in Europe. We use the 4th wave of the European Social Survey for 2008/2009, which covers 22 countries, and implement a multi-level approach where contextual effects are taken into account and individuals are considered to be embedded within a country. We find that policies that secure one’s income and employability skills, such as passive and active labour market policies, are more important for providing employment security for individuals than institutions that secure one’s current job, such as employment protection. Of the economic and labour market factors, general market conditions (measured as employment rate average) and the strength of the financial crisis (measured as gross domestic product growth rate from 2008 to 2009) are both similarly influential in explaining cross-national variance in the employment insecurity perception of individuals. More generally, and most interestingly, we find that institutional factors lose their significance when market factors are taken into account. Thus, it seems that differences in economic and labour market conditions between countries better explain why workers feel insecure about their employment, than the differences in employment and income policies. Although this result could be influenced by the time period under investigation, which is characterized by a financial crisis, results from previous studies using data from different periods suggest that it is not period-specific.
Choosing to conform: The discursive complexities of choice in relation to feminine beauty practices
Authors: Stuart Avelie , Donaghue Ngaire
Published: October 2011

There exists the idea that western societies are now postfeminist, implying that remaining differences between men and women should be understood as a result of the free exercise of individual choice. Yet this postfeminist promise of liberation is overwhelmingly packaged within the crushingly cruel beauty images that western women are judged against and incited to emulate. Theorizing female agency in light of choice and liberation discourses has been the topic of much recent feminist literature, to which this article seeks to contribute. We utilized a feminist post-structuralist framework to examine how young Australian women position themselves as freely choosing and able to throw off oppression. We discuss these findings in relation to the conception of the neoliberal feminine subject; described as someone who playfully expresses herself by freely choosing her level of participation in socially promoted beauty practices; in turn resulting in a resistance to being seen as inflexible, or critical of wider social influences
Evaluation of cardiac autonomic functions in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Yorgun H , Canpolat U , Aytemir K , Ateş AH , Kaya EB , Akdoğan A , Sunman H , Canpolat A Gökçay , Çalgüneri M , Kabakçı G , Tokgözoğlu L , Oto A
Published: October 2011

Background: Cardiovascular involvement is one of the leading causes of death among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In this study, we aimed to investigate cardiac autonomic functions in SLE patients. Methods: We enrolled 36 patients (25 female; mean age 34.2 ± 10.2 years) with SLE and 32 healthy subjects (23 female; mean age 35.0 ± 10.3 years). All participants underwent 24-h Holter recording. Heart rate recovery (HRR) indices were calculated by subtracting first, second, and third-minute heart rates from maximal heart rate. All patients underwent heart rate variability (HRV), heart rate turbulence (HRT) and QT dispersion analysis. The mean SLE duration was 8.4 ± 4.0 years. Results: According to the baseline demographic characteristics, both groups were similar with regard to age, gender, body mass index and left ventricular ejection fraction. Mean HRR1 (32.6 ± 10.9 vs. 42.5 ± 6.5, p = 0.038), HRR2 (51.0 ± 16.9 vs. 61.0 ± 10.8, p = 0.01) and HRR3 (52.8 ± 17.5 vs. 65.8 ± 9.8, p < 0.001) values were significantly higher in control group. When HRV was considered, SDNN, SDANN, RMSSD, PNN50 and high frequency (HF) component were significantly decreased in patients with SLE compared with healthy controls, but low frequency (LF) component and LF/HF were significantly higher in SLE patients. In addition, HRT onset and HRT slope values were significantly less negative in SLE patients. QT dispersion was significantly greater in SLE patients than healthy subjects (81.3 ± 15.8 vs. 53.2 ± 13.1, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our study results suggest that cardiac autonomic functions are impaired in SLE patients despite the absence of overt cardiac involvement and symptoms. Further studies are needed to elucidate the prognostic significance and clinical implications of impaired autonomic functions in patients with SLE.
Studying the Elusive Experience in Pervasive Games
Authors: Stenros Jaakko , Waern Annika , Montola Markus
Published: October 2011

Studying pervasive games is inherently difficult and different from studying computer or board games. This article builds upon the experiences of staging and studying several playful pervasive technology prototypes. It discusses the challenges and pitfalls of evaluating pervasive game prototypes and charts methods that have proven useful in previous research. The aim is to open discussion on the situated methodology of qualitative study of evaluating and researching pervasive play.
Decay function estimation for linear time delay systems via the Lambert W function
Authors: Duan Shiming , Ni Jun , Ulsoy A Galip
Published: October 2011

The estimation of the decay function (i.e., [Formula: see text]; see equation (2)) for time delay systems has been a long-standing problem. Most existing methods focus on dominant decay rate (i.e., α) estimation, i.e., the estimation of the rightmost eigenvalue. Although some frequency domain approaches, such as bifurcation or finite dimensional approximation approaches are able to approximate the optimal decay rate computationally, the estimation of the factor, K, requires knowledge of the system trajectory over time and cannot be obtained from the frequency domain alone. The existing time domain approaches, such as matrix measure/norm or Lyapunov approaches, yield conservative estimates of decay rate. Furthermore, the factor K in the Lyapunov approaches is typically not optimized.

A new Lambert W-function-based approach for estimation of the decay function for time delay systems is presented. This new approach is able to provide a closed-form solution for time delay systems in terms of an infinite series. Using this solution form, the optimal decay rate, α, and an estimate of the corresponding factor, K, can be obtained. Less conservative estimates of the decay function can lead to more accurate description of the exponential behavior of time delay systems, and more effective control design based on those results. The method is illustrated with several examples, and results compare favorably with existing methods for decay function estimation.
Vibration suppression using two-terminal flywheel. Part I: Modeling and characterization
Authors: Li Chuan , Liang Ming , Wang Yixian , Dong Yutao
Published: October 2011

There is only one manipulation terminal for a flywheel in terms of the topology, which remains a potential bottleneck for its application in mechanical systems. This paper presents a two-terminal manipulation approach for the flywheel using the inverse screw transmission which yields the relative translation between two terminals resulting from the rotation of the flywheel. A dynamics model is accordingly put forward to describe both an ideal two-terminal mass and a non-ideal case including factors such as structure mass, friction, backlash and elastic effect. A prototype device is manufactured and subsequently characterized using a vibration rig to identify the model parameters. The results show that, in the commonly used frequency band, the effect of non-ideal factors is insignificant and thus the device can be regarded as an ideal two-terminal mass. However, the impact of the non-ideal factors should be taken into account in the other frequency ranges. The proposed two-terminal approach releases the ground terminal of the flywheel and has a great application potential in vibration control.
Exact modeling for control of flexible manipulators
Authors: Castri Carmelo di , Messina Arcangelo
Published: October 2011

This work presents the dynamic modeling and active vibration control of planar multilink manipulators having flexible links. Since the eigenvalue problem of such continuous structures is strongly dependent on the posture configuration, at first an efficient matrix formulation is provided in order to derive exact natural frequencies and mode shapes of a robot in its general posture. The analytical modal data are used to develop the forced vibration model; this is accomplished through the analytical decoupling of the modal coordinates of the manipulator; to this latter end, orthogonality conditions of modal shapes sets of planar multilink manipulators are demonstrated.

The suppression of vibrations is challenged through a full-state linear quadratic regulator controller by optimally placing collocated sensor/actuator pairs. An optimal stochastic observer is designed in line with the noise-corrupted truncated model, i.e. the continuous Kalman-Bucy filter. The simulation results demonstrate that the presented matrix formulation for deriving exact modal data is effective, and the designed control method, along with the forcedvibration solving strategy, is feasible and efficient.
Voting on a NIMBY Facility
Authors: Ahlfeldt Gabriel , Maennig Wolfgang
Published: October 2011

This paper provides a spatial analysis at precinct level of the 2001 referendum of the Allianz Arena, a professional soccer stadium in Munich in Germany. While at the city level voters clearly supported the sports arena, voters in proximity of the proposed site opposed the project. Voters in proximity of an alternative site instead supported the project. We conclude that residents expected net costs of proximity to stadia and engaged in the referendum in order to shift the stadium away from their neighborhood. These findings indicate that sport facilities may exhibit a NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) character, which stands in contrast to the evidence available for the United States. Proximity costs and benefits of sports facilities apparently vary across sports and countries.
Imatinib-associated bilateral gynecomastia and unilateral testicular hydrocele in male patient with metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor: A literature review
Authors: Tanriverdi Ozgur , Unubol Mustafa , Taskin Fisun , Meydan Nezih , Sargin Gokhan , Guney Engin , Barutca Sabri
Published: October 2011

Imatinib mesylate is a drug that has been approved for treatment of advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) and patients with leukemia such as chronic myeloid or Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic. Although it has been described only in one patient with testicular hydrocele and gynecomastia in the literature, several cases of male gynecomastia have been reported with the use of imatinib mesylate in chronic myeloid leukemia (GML). Generally, male mastoplasia resolves after discontinuation of imatinib treatment. We report a 73-year-old male with metastatic GISTs who developed gynecomastia and unilateral testicular hydrocele while receiving imatinib mesylate. Nine months after commencing imatinib treatment, gynecomastia and testicular hydrocele were determined. Hormone analyses requested showed serum testosterone levels below and serum estrogen levels above normal limits. During the first month after discontinuing imatinib mesylate treatment, serum testosterone level was normal and there was a partial regression in gynecomastia and testicular hydrocele. To our knowledge, this is the second report of male gynecomastia following imatinib mesylate treatment of a patient with GIST. In conclusion, male patients who are to receive treatment with imatinib mesylate may be monitored for serum testosterone levels and for other reproductive hormone profiles before initiation of the treatment and their breasts may be examined during follow-up visits.