bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
History of Juvenile Arrests and Vocational Career Outcomes for At-Risk Young Men
Authors: Wiesner Margit , Kim Hyoun K. , Capaldi Deborah M.
Published: October 2009

This study uses longitudinal data from the Oregon Youth Study (OYS) to examine prospective effects of juvenile arrests and of early versus late onset of juvenile offending on two labor market outcomes by age 29 or 30 years. It was expected that those with more juvenile arrests and those with an early onset of offending would show poorer outcomes on both measures, controlling for propensity factors. Data were available for 203 men from the OYS, including officially recorded arrests and self-reported information on the men’s work history across 9 years. Analyses revealed unexpected specificity in prospective effects: Juvenile arrests and mental health problems predicted the number of months unemployed; in contrast, being fired from work was predicted by poor child inhibitory control and adolescent substance use. Onset age of offending did not significantly predict either outcome. Implications of the findings for applied purposes and for developmental taxonomies of crime are discussed.
Expectation, Motivation, and Attitude: A Tourist Behavioral Model
Authors: Hsu Cathy H. C. , Cai Liping A. , Mimi Li
Published: October 2009

This study focuses on the previsit stage of tourists by modeling the behavioral process incorporating expectation, motivation, and attitude in the context of Chinese outbound travelers. An expectation, motivation, and attitude (EMA) model is proposed based on a comprehensive literature review. An instrument is developed based on previous tourism and marketing studies as well as focus groups to measure the variables in the EMA model. Data are collected from 1,514 Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou residents. Results of the study confirm the proposed relations that expectation of visiting an outbound destination has a direct effect on motivation to visit the destination; motivation has a direct effect on attitude toward visiting the destination; expectation of visiting the outbound destination has a direct effect on attitude toward visiting the destination; and motivation has a mediating effect on the relationship between expectation and attitude. Practical and theoretical contributions are discussed, with future research suggested.
The Development of an Exclusive Veterans’ Policy: The Case of Russia
Authors: Danilova Natalia
Published: October 2009

Despite its social and political importance, veterans’ policy is an overlooked subject in the field of civil —military relations. This article aims to discuss the theoretical problems of studying veterans’ policy. It also proposes analysis of veterans’ policy in Russia. The aim of the theoretical review is to underline the limits of traditional ways of viewing veterans’ policy, which consider veterans’ policy as a consequence of the development of military institutions. The article stresses the importance of taking into account the effect of societal factors in explaining veterans’ policy. An examination of the Russian case demonstrates the historical development of an exclusive veterans’ policy, including the construction of the privileged position for veterans of the World War II. It also analyses the changes of veterans’ policy after the Soviet Afghan War of 1979 —89. Finally, the article highlights the principles of contemporary veterans’ policy in Russia and explains why it cannot be changed without reconfiguration of civil—military relationships.
Engine control design using globally linearizing control and sliding mode
Authors: Huajin Tang  , Weng Larry , Zhao Yang Dong  , Rui Yan
Published: October 2009

In this paper the control design methods for spark ignition engine models are discussed. Both single-input single-output (SISO) and multi-input multi-output (MIMO) systems are investigated for the design of an engine control system. A comprehensive comparative study for two classes of non-linear control methods, i.e. globally linearizing control (GLC) and sliding mode control, is given. The simulations results are presented to illustrate the capability and performance of the two kinds of controllers. The results show that the controller applying GLC can give accurate tracking for the engine model without uncertainty and disturbance; however, it fails to keep good tracking performance when uncertainty is considered. In contrast, the controller using the sliding mode is able to achieve the target, which shows that the engine system with the proposed sliding mode controller has good robustness to uncertainty and disturbance.
Do Business Students’ Culturally Anchored Values Shape Student-Driven or Teacher-Driven Learning Style Preferences?
Authors: Mitsis Ann , Foley Patrick W.
Published: October 2009

University education is part of a globally competitive service industry and contributes more to Australia’s export earnings than agriculture. This article argues that a deeper understanding of diverse cultural student groups is important for Australian and other universities that wish to differentiate their education service offerings by customizing them to different segments. International and domestic students are commonly seen to have different learning style preferences. This study empirically explores whether an understanding of culturally anchored values provides a better customer segmentation measure to predict learning style preferences than existing domestic and international student measures. Three questions are empirically addressed: Do business students’ culturally anchored values explain variation in learning style preferences? Do students’ culturally anchored values predict a preference for a more student- or teacher-driven learning environment? and Can an understanding of culturally anchored values provide a better customer segmentation variable to identify learning style preferences than the more commonly used categories of domestic and international? This study found that culturally anchored values provided stronger predictors of learning style preferences than domestic and international student categorizations. Implications for marketing undergraduate business programs are identified.
Progressive Chondrocyte Death After Impact Injury Indicates a Need for Chondroprotective Therapy
Authors: Szczodry Michal , Coyle Christian H. , Kramer Scott J. , Smolinski Patrick , Chu Constance R.
Published: October 2009

Background

Impact injury to articular cartilage can lead to posttraumatic osteoarthritis.

Hypotheses

This study tests the hypotheses that (1) chondrocyte injury occurs after impact at energies insufficient to fracture the cartilage surface, and that (2) cartilage injury patterns vary with impact energy, time after injury, and cartilage thickness.

Study Design

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods

Fresh bovine osteochondral cores were randomly divided into 5 groups: (1) control, (2) 0.35 J, (3) 0.71 J, (4) 1.07 J, and (5) 1.43 J impact energies. Cores were subjected to computer-controlled impact loading and full-thickness sections were then prepared and incubated in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium/F12 at 37°C. Adjacent sections were harvested 1 and 4 days after impact for viability staining and fluorescent imaging. The area of dead and living chondrocytes was quantified using custom image analysis software and reported as a percentage of total cartilage area.

Results

The highest impact energy fractured the cartilage in all cores (1.43 J, n = 17). Seventy-three percent and 64% of the osteochondral cores remained intact after lower energy impacts of 0.71 J and 1.07 J, respectively. At lower energy levels, fractured cores were thinner ( P <.01) than those remaining intact. In cores remaining intact after impact injury, chondrocyte death increased with increasing impact energy ( P <.05) and with greater time after impact ( P <.05). A progressive increase in dead cells near the bone/cartilage interface and at the articular surface was observed.

Conclusion

These data showing progressive chondrocyte death after impact injury at energies insufficient to fracture the cartilage surface demonstrate a potential need for early chondroprotective therapy.

Clinical Relevance

These data show that efforts to reduce chondrocyte morbidity after joint injury may be a useful strategy to delay or prevent the onset of posttraumatic osteoarthritis.
Rating Performance Assessments of Students With Disabilities: A Study of Reliability and Bias
Authors: Mastergeorge Ann M. , Martínez José Felipe
Published: October 2009

Inclusion of students with disabilities in district-wide and state assessments is mandated by federal regulations, and teachers sometimes play an important role in rating these students’ work. In this study, trained teachers rated student proficiency in performance assessments in language arts and mathematics in third, fifth, and ninth grades. The scores assigned by teacher raters to students with and without disabilities in an initial blind rating were compared with the ratings assigned in a second occasion when raters were aware of each student’s disability status. A series of generalizability studies was used to determine if there are differences in the patterns of variability across groups and whether rater bias may play a role in these differences. Although knowledge of a student’s disability status did not increase or decrease the scores assigned by raters on average, the findings point to differences in the sources of variability across groups and specifically to greater inconsistency when rating papers from students with disabilities. The findings suggest that individual teachers may behave differently when scoring students with disabilities. A survey was also used to investigate rater perceptions of one’s own and other teacher’s bias when grading papers of students with disabilities. Implications for decision making in rating assessments are discussed.
Infectious antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus patients
Authors: Berkun Y. , Zandman-Goddard G. , Barzilai O. , Boaz M. , Sherer Y. , Larida B. , Blank M. , Anaya J-M. , Shoenfeld Y.
Published: October 2009

Infections can act as environmental triggers that induce or promote systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in genetically predisposed individuals. New technologies, developed recently, enable simultaneous assessment of multiple antibodies. Antibodies to specific infectious agents may shed light into the mechanisms of induction of SLE. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of seropositivity and the titers of antibodies to bacterial, viral, and parasitic agents in SLE patients compared with non-autoimmune controls. Sera from 260 individuals (120 SLE patients and 140 controls) were tested by the BioPlex 2200 Multiplexed Immunoassay method (BioRad) for the prevalence and titers of antibodies to eight infectious agents (Epstein—Barr virus: early antigen IgG, nuclear antigen IgG, viral capsid antigen IgG and IgM, heterophile IgM; cytomegalovirus IgG and IgM; Toxoplasma gondii IgG and IgM; rubella IgG and IgM; Treponema pallidum TPr15G, TPr17G, TPr47G; herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 IgG; hepatitis C virus and hepatitis B core antibodies. Cytomegalovirus IgM and Epstein—Barr virus early antigen IgG (but not other Epstein—Barr virus antigens) were significantly more prevalent in SLE patients than in controls. Conversely, positive titers of hepatitis B core and rubella IgG antibodies were less prevalent in the SLE patients than in controls. Other differences in titer positivity prevalence were not detected between patients and controls. The titers of the cytomegalovirus IgM, Toxoplasma IgG, Epstein—Barr virus early antigen, and viral capsid antigen IgG antibodies were significantly higher in SLE compared with controls. Our data suggest the importance of previous exposure to infectious agents in the induction and the prevention of SLE. Lupus (2009) 18, 1129—1135.
Vaccination of healthy subjects and autoantibodies: from mice through dogs to humans
Authors: Toplak N. , Avčin T.
Published: October 2009

Vaccination against pathogenic microorganisms is one of the major achievements of modern medicine, but due to an increasing number of reports of adverse reactions the vaccination procedure has induced also considerable debate. It is well known that certain infections are involved in triggering the production of autoantibodies, which could lead to autoimmune adverse reactions in genetically predisposed subjects. Based on these findings it was assumed that vaccinations might induce similar autoimmune reactions. At present there is no clear-cut evidence that vaccinations are associated with overt autoimmune diseases but it has been demonstrated that in genetically predisposed persons vaccination can trigger the production of autoantibodies and autoimmune adverse reactions. The first studies investigating the production of autoantibodies following vacination were done in dogs and mice. Several studies investigated the production of autoantibodies following vaccination in patients with autoimmune diseases, but there are only limited data on the autoimmune responses after vaccinations in apparently healthy humans. This review summarizes current evidence on the vaccinationinduced autoantibodies in apparently healthy subjects including studies in animals and humans.
School Nurses Who Only Care for Children With Special Needs: Working in a Teacher’s World
Authors: Kruger Barbara J. , Radjenovic Doreen , Toker Karen H. , Comeaux Judy M.
Published: October 2009

Published qualitative studies have not focused on nurses who solely care for children with special health care needs. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe (a) the work of school nurses who care exclusively for these children, (b) nurses' interaction with parents, staff, or providers, and (c) the challenges, benefits, and support for their role. Data from on-site observation and in-depth interviews with experienced, long-term employed nurses ( n = 13) were analyzed using qualitative descriptive inquiry. Performing a personally satisfying clinical role, school nurses adapted to a “teachers world” by working alone, feeling responsible; begging, bartering, and subsidizing; and embracing school as family. They bridged home and school by doing for children, building relationships with parents, and knowing the child. Nurses need to be supported through peer supervision and adequate resources to provide family-centered care to students in a setting dominated by education professionals.
Dynamics of a Rigid Rotor Linear/Nonlinear Bearings System Subject to Rotating Unbalance and Base Excitations
Authors: El-Saeidy Fawzi M.A. , Sticher Fred
Published: October 2009

Rotating machinery support excitations can occur if a machine is installed on a base prone to ground motions or on-board moving systems such as ships and aircraft. This paper presents a formulation for the dynamic analysis of rigid rotors subject to base excitations plus mass imbalance. The formulation allows for six motions at the machine base and takes into account the linear/nonlinear spring characteristics of the supporting bearings. Equations of motion are derived using Lagrange’s equations. For rotor—linear bearing systems subject to mass imbalance plus harmonic excitations along or around lateral directions, analytical solutions for equations of motion are derived and analytical results in the time domain are compared with their counterparts obtained by numerical integration using the Runge—Kutta method and typical agreement is obtained. The system natural frequencies as affected by rotor speed are obtained using the QR algorithm using the DAMRO-1 program and compared with those obtained by MATLAB and excellent agreement is obtained. The frequency response (maximum amplitude of vibrations against the base excitation frequency) is characterized by peaks at natural frequencies of the rotating gyroscopic system. This necessitates extreme precaution when we design such rotating systems that are prone to base motions and mass imbalance. For systems with bearing cubic nonlinearity, results are obtained by numerical integration and discussed with regards to the time domain, fast Fourier transform (FFT) and Poincaré map. Periodic and quasi-periodic disk/bearings motions are observed. For systems with support cubic nonlinearity and subject to mass imbalance and base excitation, the FFT of disk horizontal and vertical vibrations is marked with sum and difference tones, ± nfb± fs( n + m is always odd) where fs is the rotating unbalance frequency and fb is base excitation frequency.
Sliding Mode Control of Machining Chatter in the Presence of Tool Wear and Parametric Uncertainties
Authors: Moradi Hamed , Movahhedy Mohammad R. , Vossoughi Gholamreza
Published: October 2009

Chatter suppression is essential for achieving high precision and surface quality in machining processes. In this paper, a control strategy is presented for chatter suppression in cutting process in the presence of tool wear and parameter uncertainties. A single-degree-of-freedom model of a turning process in the orthogonal cutting configuration is used to set up the nonlinear delay differential equation of motion that includes the effects of tool flank wear. Uncertainties in cutting velocity, tool wear size and parameters of the dynamic model are included in the model of the cutting process. The force provided by a piezo-actuator is taken as the control input of the system. A sliding mode control scheme is used and an effective control law is derived that suppresses chatter. Results of stability analysis and sliding mode control for two distinct cases of sharp and worn tools are presented and compared, which show the effectiveness of the approach.
Analytic and Finite Element Solutions for Active Displacement Feedback Control using PZT Patches
Authors: Spier C. , Bruch J.C. , Sloss J.M. , Adali S. , Sadek I.S.
Published: October 2009

An analytical solution to the equation of motion of a beam controlled with piezoceramic (PZT — lead zirconate titanate) sensor and actuator patches is proposed. The contribution of the mass and stiffness of the piezoceramic patches to the piezo structure are taken into account. The equation of motion for the controlled structure includes Heaviside functions and derivatives of the Heaviside function due to finite patch lengths making the equation of motion difficult to solve using conventional methods. In the present study, an integral equation is introduced where the eigensolutions of the integral equation are eigensolutions of the differential equation of motion for the controlled beam. A finite element model of the controlled beam is also formulated. The model contains modified beam element mass and stiffness matrices to account for the piezo patches and control effect. Two case studies are presented and the first three natural frequencies and mode shapes are found using the integral equation and finite element solutions. The results from the integral equation solution match very closely the results from the finite element solution.
H ∞ Control for Suppressing Acoustic Modes of a Distributed Structure Using Cluster Sensing and Actuation
Authors: Sivrioglu S.
Published: October 2009

This research work presents an H∞ control design based on cluster sensing and actuation to suppress acoustic modes of a distributed panel structure which is subjected to excitation with varying frequency. A state—space model of the planar structure is obtained based on cluster sensing and cluster actuation. Uncertainty sources are considered for robustness of the control system. The eigenvalues of the structure’s acoustic power modes are assumed to vary with the excitation frequency in order to consider sound radiation from the vibrating panel structure. The proposed controller design covers the uncertainties caused by varying disturbance frequencies and inhomogeneities of the structure.
Responsible victims? Young people’s understandings of agency and responsibility in sexual situations involving underage girls
Authors: Smette Ingrid , Stefansen Kari , Mossige Svein
Published: October 2009

Most countries have a legal age of consent, setting the minimum age for the involvement of a young person in sexual relationships. Engaging in a sexual relationship with a person below this age is defined as abuse, even if the minor has consented. At the same time, underage young people often see themselves as knowledgeable agents across a range of situations, including having sexual relations with older persons. Using both quantitative and qualitative data, this article examines the role of the construction of agency in young people’s understanding of different types of sexual situations — from consented sex to situations of physical coercion — involving a minor girl and an adult man. How do constructions of agency affect the labelling of different situations and the attribution of responsibility to the persons involved? The article further discusses how the concept of agency interlinks with gendered sexual scripts in the process of interpretation, thereby reproducing gendered vulnerabilities. The concluding section considers how a contextual approach to youth agency may inform preventive efforts.
'Waiting for the Kiss of Life'
Authors: Wilken Rowan , Sinclair John
Published: October 2009

Mobile media, especially cellphones, are now seen and heard everywhere, forming an intrinsic part of the daily lives and habits of billions of people worldwide. Curiously, despite this wide diffusion and remarkable rate of adoption, as an advertising platform the cellphone is, in the words of one commentator, still very much ‘a mass medium waiting for the kiss of life’. This article examines why this is the case, by exploring the ‘complex mobile phone ecosystem’ and the factors that contribute to the rather hesitant adoption of mobile advertising, with particular attention to the inherent conflicts amongst the interested parties in the system. It does this through a meta-analysis of themes and issues evinced in mainstream media and the advertising trade press. Study of this data is supplemented by drawing on a number of critical studies within the available research literature on the subject.
Each outcome is another opportunity: Problems with the Moment of Equal Opportunity
Authors: Chambers Clare
Published: October 2009

This article introduces the concept of a Moment of Equal Opportunity (MEO): a point in an individual’s life at which equal opportunity must be applied and after which it need not. The concept of equal opportunity takes many forms, and not all employ an MEO. However, the more egalitarian a theory of equal opportunity is, the more likely it is to use an MEO. The article discusses various theories of equal opportunity and argues that those that employ an MEO are problematic. Unjust inequalities, those that motivate the use of equal opportunity, occur throughout people’s lives and thus go unrectified after an MEO. However, it is not possible to abandon the MEO approach and apply more egalitarian versions of equal opportunity throughout a person’s life, since doing so entails problems of epistemology, efficiency, incentives, and counter-intuitive results. The article thus argues that liberal egalitarian theories of equality of opportunity are inconsistent if they support an MEO and unrealizable if they do not.
Institutional pluralism and the limits of the market
Authors: Claassen Rutger J.G.
Published: October 2009

This paper proposes a theory of institutional pluralism to deal with the question whether and to what extent limits should be placed on the market. It reconceives the pluralist position as it was presented by Michael Walzer and others in several respects. First, it argues that the options on the institutional menu should not be principles of distribution but rather economic mechanisms or ‘modes of provision’. This marks a shift from a distributive to a provisional logic. Second, it argues that we should drop the assumption that any good should only be placed in one sphere, i.e. distributed according to one distributive principle. This marks a shift to ‘complex pluralism’: for at least some goods it is appropriate that they are provided through the market and through one or more non-market alternatives simultaneously. Finally, it argues that the often used conventionalist justification should be traded for a capability approach to the moral evaluation of markets and non-market alternatives. Any institutional option on our menu has value to the extent that it enhances the morally relevant capabilities of the producers and/or consumers of the good that is to be provided. This approach will be illustrated with two examples of goods for which it yields complex pluralist conclusions: the provision of care and the provision of media content.
Home-based education in Sweden
Authors: Villalba Cynthia M.
Published: October 2009

In Sweden approximately 100 children a year are in home-based education, which is regulated by local policies that interpret legislation and guide practice. Based on a detailed analysis of documents drawn up in two municipalities, the article highlights different interpretations of the role and requirement of insyn (insight) in the governance and monitoring of home education through municipal authority-home arrangements.
Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2, C-reactive protein, and coronary artery disease in individuals with type 1 diabetes and macroalbuminuria
Authors: Miller Rachel G. , Costacou Tina , Orchard Trevor J.
Published: October 2009

Given the paucity of data in type 1 diabetes concerning lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A 2 (Lp-PLA2), we examined its prospective relationship with coronary artery disease (CAD), as well as the effect of modification by C-reactive protein (CRP) and haptoglobin genotype, in individuals with type 1 diabetes who are at an increased risk for CAD due to also having macroalbuminuria (n=96). Although Lp-PLA2 activity was univariately predictive of CAD (HR=1.54 per SD, p=0.009), this relationship was not significant after covariate adjustment (p=0.59). There was a significant interaction between Lp-PLA2 and CRP (p=0.02), i.e. those with both markers greater than the median level were more likely to have a CAD event than those persons with low levels of both (HR=2.89, p=0.06). When stratified by haptoglobin genotype, Lp-PLA2 was predictive of CAD in persons with the 2/1 (HR=2.40, p=0.05), but not 2/2 (HR=0.66, p=0.27), genotype. The association between Lp-PLA2 activity and CAD differs by CRP and haptoglobin genotype in this group of persons with type 1 diabetes and macroalbuminuria.
Could It Be Asthma? Using Social Marketing Strategies to Increase Parent and Caregiver Knowledge of Asthma Symptoms in Children in a Rural Community
Authors: Briones Kristi , Lustik Faith , LaLone Joel
Published: October 2009

Many parents and caregivers do not recognize the symptoms of asthma in children, and consequently children may not receive the appropriate diagnosis and treatment for this potentially fatal disease. This article describes how Steps to a HealthierNY used social marketing strategies to design a media campaign called “Could It Be Asthma?” to educate parents and caregivers about the symptoms of asthma. The campaign used television advertising, brochures, and posters to educate parents and caregivers in rural Jefferson County, New York, about asthma symptoms. The campaign ran in March and April 2005. A follow-up survey was conducted among 756 parents and caregivers in collaboration with four local pediatricians’ offices. Results showed that approximately 60% of participants were familiar with “Could It Be Asthma?” Of those participants, approximately 68% indicated that the ads had a positive impact and 46% indicated that they had learned the symptoms of asthma. The campaign and survey were repeated in the fall of 2005. Results were consistent, with a significant increase in the percentage of people who were familiar with the campaign. This social marketing campaign was successful in reaching parents in a rural community with important educational messages; similar strategies should be considered in educating the public about asthma and other health issues.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Sexually Addictive Behavior
Authors: Shepherd Laura
Published: October 2009

This case details the use of cognitive behavior therapy in treating a 41-year-old gay man’s sexually addictive behavior. At assessment, he perceived his sexual behavior to be out of his control and it was particularly interfering with his work life. Motivational interviewing was combined with a number of cognitive behavioral techniques, including a behavior change program, distraction, enhancing metacognitive awareness, and cognitive restructuring, over the course of six therapy sessions. Using self-report, the intervention led to a significant reduction in sexual behavior. Frequency of sexual partners and the amount of time spent online during working hours reduced. The case highlights effectiveness of cognitive behavior therapy and motivational interviewing in reducing sexually addictive behavior and installing a sense of control in patients.
A Composite Approach to Thoracic Aortic Stent Grafting
Authors: Wang Grace J. , Szeto Wilson Y. , Fairman Ronald M. , Woo Edward Y. , Bavaria Joseph E. , Jackson Benjamin M.
Published: October 2009

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair has become the preferred modality for the treatment of diverse aortic pathologies of the thoracic aorta. This report is the first to describe the use of 2 different devices for successful exclusion of a dissecting thoracic aneurysm.
Leaders’ Orientations to Diversity: Two Cases from Education
Authors: Lumby Jacky
Published: October 2009

This article explores two case colleges in England to consider how context, conceptualisation, orientation and action interact in relation to diversity issues in leadership. Focus group and individual interview data are analysed. Context is perceived as influential in shaping concepts and action. In one case, the diversity and socio-economic disadvantage of the community create a perceived imperative to address diversity, resulting in multiple conceptions of diversity and systemic action. In the second case, the context of a perceived homogeneous community interacts with an equal opportunities conceptualization of diversity to justify little or no action. A tentative theoretical model is suggested to frame further enquiry.
Leadership as Emotional Labour: The Effortful Accomplishment of Valuing Practices
Authors: Iszatt-White Marian
Published: October 2009

Within the context of an ethnographic study of leadership in the learning and skills sector, this article focuses on the role of leadership in making stafffeel valued (Iszatt-White & Mackenzie-Davey, 2003) and the‘emotional labour’ (Hochschild, 1983) through which leaders’ valuing practices are accomplished. By shadowing college leaders, observation was made of the day-to-day practices through which they sought to give staff a feeling of being valued. The article provides evidence of such‘valuing practices’ before going on to explicate the notion of emotional labour— previously researched largely in the services sector— in the professional context of educational leadership. In doing so, it differentiates professional emotional labour from‘emotional intelligence’ (Goleman, 1995), a more common theme within the management literature. It also explores the role of social identity and value congruence in moderating the‘emotional dissonance’(Ashforth & Humphrey, 1993) which can result from a requirement for prolonged emotion work.
The education ideal of the democratic citizen in Germany
Authors: Buck Alexy , Geissel Brigitte
Published: October 2009

This article draws on exploratory qualitative interviews with German education policy experts. We ask whether, as Germany faces new challenges, changes have occurred in respect of the education ideal of the democratic citizen; perceived implications for civic education and schooling are also drawn out. Interviews were conducted with senior employees at a variety of key institutions, including the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the Federal Agency for Civic Education. Germany’s history in the 20th century is a key reference point for the education ideal of the democratic and critical citizen. Though many interviewees state that the importance of education for democratic citizenship remains unchanged, they perceive some shifts. In a changed Germany characterized by unemployment, declining prosperity, cuts to the welfare state — and in a globalized world — children and young people need to develop new competencies. The interviewed policy experts are divided in regard to the impact of these changes on civic education. The article contextualizes results drawing on education and political science research and literature.
Service-learning in communication education
Authors: Novek Eleanor
Published: October 2009

This article offers a case study of a graduate class in communication research methods with a service-learning approach. Students were engaged in evaluating the public information campaign of a nonprofit organization exposing human rights abuses in US prisons. They gained hands-on experience in the use of a variety of basic research methods and offered their client insight into its current and potential audiences. With a community partner to serve, the students understood the importance of systematic research inquiry and its value to nonprofit organizations. The project demonstrates the value of service-learning in communication education and describes how best practices can be applied for the development of similar courses in the discipline.
Exploring Some Antecedents of the Media’s Framing of Election News: A Comparison of Swedish and Belgian Election News
Authors: Strömbäck Jesper , van Aelst Peter
Published: October 2009

Despite the major importance of the news media’s election news coverage, there are still only a few cross-national studies on how the media cover elections. There are even fewer that include both newspapers and TV news and that probe possible antecedents of how the media frame politics in their election news. Against this background, this article compares the media framing of election news in two countries—Belgium and Sweden— that constitute highly similar cases and both belong to the democratic corporatist model of media and politics. The study focuses on the importance of media channels, media types, and commercialism as antecedents of the media’s framing of election news.
The Real Spiral of Cynicism? Symbiosis and Mistrust between Politicians and Journalists
Authors: Brants Kees , de Vreese Claes , Möller Judith , van Praag Philip
Published: October 2009

The relationship among media, politicians, and the public has been studied a lot, especially how the media’s portrayal of politics affects people’s (cynical) attitudes. Scholars know little about the antecedent of this assumed spiral of cynicism: How cynical are politicians and journalists about each other and about politics? Based on a survey among Dutch politicians and political journalists, the research presented in this article tries to fill this gap. The results show that politicians are rather cynical about media and journalists, especially when they feel media are out to set the political agenda. Journalists are equally cynical about politicians as the latter are about themselves, but it is a relative cynicism since it is lower than that of the general public. Journalists are, however, convinced that most politicians are driven by what we call “media salacity,” a drive to get journalists’ attention and coverage, a conviction shared, surprisingly, by the politicians themselves.
Improved wettability of barium–aluminium–silicate glass on carbon/carbon composites via coating modification
Authors: Lan F , Li K , Li H , Zhang L , Shen X
Published: October 2009

In this paper, three kinds of modification coating were prepared to improve wettability of barium–aluminium–silicate glass on carbon/carbon (C/C) composites. The SiC coating was prepared by pack cementation; Cr3C2 and ternary Cr–Si–C coatings were prepared by evaporation reaction process. Contact angles of glass on modified C/C composites were measured at different temperatures by sessile drop technique. Microstructures and morphologies of the wetting interface were determined by scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Wetting experimental results revealed that barium–aluminium–silicate glass failed to wet the surface of pure C/C composites, but wettability of molten glass on C/C composites clearly improved by surface coating modification. Cr3C2 and Cr–Si–C coatings have a better wettability with glass than SiC coating. Cr–Si–C coating shows the best wettability with barium–aluminium–silicate glass, and the contact angle between them can be reduced to only 10° at 1673 K. The effects of test temperatures of sessile drop, coating surface condition and coating dissolution on wettability between glass and coated C/C composites were discussed.
A genome-wide association analysis of serum iron concentrations
Authors: Tanaka Toshiko , Roy Cindy N. , Yao Wenliang , Matteini Amy , Semba Richard D. , Arking Dan , Walston Jeremy D. , Fried Linda P. , Singleton Andrew , Guralnik Jack , Abecasis Gonçalo R. , Bandinelli Stefania , Longo Dan L. , Ferrucci Luigi
Published: October 2009

To investigate genetic variants that affect iron concentrations in persons not affected by overt genetic disorders of iron metabolism, a genome-wide association study was conducted in the InCHIANTI Study (N = 1206) and the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (N = 713). The top 2 single-nucleotide polymorphisms were examined for replication in the Women's Health and Aging Study (WHAS) I and II (N = 569). The single-nucleotide polymorphism most strongly associated with lower serum iron concentration was rs4820268 (P = 5.12 × 10−9), located in exon 13 of the transmembrane protease serine 6 (TMPRSS6) gene, an enzyme that promotes iron absorption and recycling by inhibiting hepcidin antimicrobial peptide transcription. The allele associated with lower iron concentrations was also associated with lower hemoglobin levels, smaller red cells, and more variability in red cell size (high red blood cell distribution width). Our results confirm the association of TMPRSS6 variants with iron level and provide further evidence of association with other anemia-related phenotypes.
A noncoding antisense RNA in tie-1 locus regulates tie-1 function in vivo
Authors: Li Keguo , Blum Yannick , Verma Anjali , Liu Zhong , Pramanik Kallal , Leigh Noah R. , Chun Chang Z. , Samant Ganesh V. , Zhao Baofeng , Garnaas Maija K. , Horswill Mark A. , Stanhope Stephen A. , North Paula E. , Miao Robert Q. , Wilkinson George A. , Affolter Markus , Ramchandran Ramani
Published: October 2009

Recently, messenger RNAs in eukaryotes have shown to associate with antisense (AS) transcript partners that are often referred to as long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) whose function is largely unknown. Here, we have identified a natural AS transcript for tyrosine kinase containing immunoglobulin and epidermal growth factor homology domain-1 (tie-1), tie-1AS lncRNA in zebrafish, mouse, and humans. In embryonic zebrafish, tie-1AS lncRNA transcript is expressed temporally and spatially in vivo with its native target, the tie-1 coding transcript and in additional locations (ear and brain). The tie-1AS lncRNA selectively binds tie-1 mRNA in vivo and regulates tie-1 transcript levels, resulting in specific defects in endothelial cell contact junctions in vivo and in vitro. The ratio of tie-1 versus tie-1AS lncRNA is altered in human vascular anomaly samples. These results directly implicate noncoding RNA-mediated transcriptional regulation of gene expression as a fundamental control mechanism for physiologic processes, such as vascular development.
AIR: A batch-oriented web program package for construction of supermatrices ready for phylogenomic analyses
Authors: Kumar Surendra , Skjæveland Åsmund , Orr Russell JS , Enger Pål , Ruden Torgeir , Mevik Bjørn-Helge , Burki Fabien , Botnen Andreas , Shalchian-Tabrizi Kamran
Published: October 2009

Background

Large multigene sequence alignments have over recent years been increasingly employed for phylogenomic reconstruction of the eukaryote tree of life. Such supermatrices of sequence data are preferred over single gene alignments as they contain vastly more information about ancient sequence characteristics, and are thus more suitable for resolving deeply diverging relationships. However, as alignments are expanded, increasingly numbers of sites with misleading phylogenetic information are also added. Therefore, a major goal in phylogenomic analyses is to maximize the ratio of information to noise; this can be achieved by the reduction of fast evolving sites.

Results

Here we present a batch-oriented web-based program package, named AIR that allows 1) transformation of several single genes to one multigene alignment, 2) identification of evolutionary rates in multigene alignments and 3) removal of fast evolving sites. These three processes can be done with the programs AIR-A ppender, AIR-I dentifier, and AIR-R emover (AIR), which can be used independently or in a semi-automated pipeline. AIR produces user-friendly output files with filtered and non-filtered alignments where residues are colored according to their evolutionary rates. Other bioinformatics applications linked to the AIR package are available at the Bioportal http://www.bioportal.uio.no, University of Oslo; together these greatly improve the flexibility, efficiency and quality of phylogenomic analyses.

Conclusion

The AIR program package allows for efficient creation of multigene alignments and better assessment of evolutionary rates in sequence alignments. Removing fast evolving sites with the AIR programs has been employed in several recent phylogenomic analyses resulting in improved phylogenetic resolution and increased statistical support for branching patterns among the early diverging eukaryotes.
Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation at the physiologic glucose concentration depends on the S. aureus lineage
Authors: Croes Sander , Deurenberg Ruud H , Boumans Marie-Louise L , Beisser Patrick S , Neef Cees , Stobberingh Ellen E
Published: October 2009

Background

Since bacteria embedded in biofilms are far more difficult to eradicate than planktonic infections, it would be useful to know whether certain Staphylococcus aureus lineages are especially involved in strong biofilm formation. For this reason, in vitro biofilm formation of 228 clinical S. aureus isolates of distinct clonal lineages was investigated.

Results

At 0.1% glucose, more than 60% of the S. aureus strains associated with multilocus sequence typing (MLST) clonal complex (CC)8 produced large amounts of biomass, compared to 0-7% for various other clonal lineages. Additionally, S. aureus bloodstream isolates associated with MLST CC8 and CC7 had similar biofilm forming capacities as their commensal counterparts. Furthermore, strong biofilm formation could not be attributed to a specific accessory gene regulator (agr) genotype, as suggested previously. The agr genotypes were strictly associated with the clonal lineages. Moreover, strong biofilm formation was not related to slime formation. Congo red agar (CRA) screening is therefore not useful as a qualitative screening method for biofilm formation.

Conclusion

The adherence to polystyrene surfaces under physiologic glucose concentration (0.1%) was dependent on the clonal lineage. Strains associated with MLST CC8 were markedly more often classified as strong biofilm former at glucose concentrations of 0%, 0.1% and 0.25%.

The present study reveals that the MLST CC8 associated genetic background was a predisposing factor for strong biofilm formation in vitro, under all tested glucose concentrations.
RAD51 paralogs promote homology-directed repair at diversifying immunoglobulin V regions
Authors: Ordinario Ellen C , Yabuki Munehisa , Handa Priya , Cummings W Jason , Maizels Nancy
Published: October 2009

Background

Gene conversion depends upon the same factors that carry out more general process of homologous recombination, including homologous gene targeting and recombinational repair. Among these are the RAD51 paralogs, conserved factors related to the key recombination factor, RAD51. In chicken and other fowl, gene conversion (templated mutation) diversifies immunoglobulin variable region sequences. This allows gene conversion and recombinational repair to be studied using the chicken DT40 B cell line, which carries out constitutive gene conversion and provides a robust and physiological model for homology-directed repair in vertebrate cells.

Results

We show that DT40 contains constitutive nuclear foci of the repair factors RAD51D and XRCC2, consistent with activated homologous recombination. Single-cell imaging of a DT40 derivative in which the rearranged and diversifying immunoglobulin λR light chain gene is tagged with polymerized lactose operator, DT40 PolyLacO-λR, showed that RAD51D and XRCC2 localize to the diversifying λR gene. Colocalizations correlate both functionally and physically with active immunoglobulin gene conversion. Ectopic expression of either RAD51D or XRCC2 accelerated the clonal rate of gene conversion, and conversion tracts were significantly longer in RAD51D than XRCC2 transfectants.

Conclusion

These results demonstrate direct functions of RAD51D and XRCC2 in immunoglobulin gene conversion, and also suggest that modulation of levels of repair factors may be a useful strategy to promote gene correction in other cell types.
Wnt pathway reprogramming during human embryonal carcinoma differentiation and potential for therapeutic targeting
Authors: Snow Grace E , Kasper Allison C , Busch Alexander M , Schwarz Elisabeth , Ewings Katherine E , Bee Thomas , Spinella Michael J , Dmitrovsky Ethan , Freemantle Sarah J
Published: October 2009

Background

Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) are classified as seminonas or non-seminomas of which a major subset is embryonal carcinoma (EC) that can differentiate into diverse tissues. The pluripotent nature of human ECs resembles that of embryonic stem (ES) cells. Many Wnt signalling species are regulated during differentiation of TGCT-derived EC cells. This study comprehensively investigated expression profiles of Wnt signalling components regulated during induced differentiation of EC cells and explored the role of key components in maintaining pluripotency.

Methods

Human embryonal carcinoma cells were stably infected with a lentiviral construct carrying a canonical Wnt responsive reporter to assess Wnt signalling activity following induced differentiation. Cells were differentiated with all-trans retinoic acid (RA) or by targeted repression of pluripotency factor, POU5F1. A Wnt pathway real-time-PCR array was used to evaluate changes in gene expression as cells differentiated. Highlighted Wnt pathway genes were then specifically repressed using siRNA or stable shRNA and transfected EC cells were assessed for proliferation, differentiation status and levels of core pluripotency genes.

Results

Canonical Wnt signalling activity was low basally in undifferentiated EC cells, but substantially increased with induced differentiation. Wnt pathway gene expression levels were compared during induced differentiation and many components were altered including ligands (WNT2B), receptors (FZD5, FZD6, FZD10), secreted inhibitors (SFRP4, SFRP1), and other effectors of Wnt signalling (FRAT2, DAAM1, PITX2, Porcupine). Independent repression of FZD5, FZD7 and WNT5A using transient as well as stable methods of RNA interference (RNAi) inhibited cell growth of pluripotent NT2/D1 human EC cells, but did not appreciably induce differentiation or repress key pluripotency genes. Silencing of FZD7 gave the greatest growth suppression in all human EC cell lines tested including NT2/D1, NT2/D1-R1, Tera-1 and 833K cells.

Conclusion

During induced differentiation of human EC cells, the Wnt signalling pathway is reprogrammed and canonical Wnt signalling induced. Specific species regulating non-canonical Wnt signalling conferred growth inhibition when targeted for repression in these EC cells. Notably, FZD7 repression significantly inhibited growth of human EC cells and is a promising therapeutic target for TGCTs.