bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stage-by-Stage Effects of Surgical Margin Status on Biochemical Failure after Radical Prostatectomy in Patients with Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer
Authors: Akdemir Alp Ozgur , Ozden Cuneyt , Oztekin Cetin Volkan , Aktas Binhan Kagan , Cetinkaya Mesut , Memis Ali , Doluoglu Omer Gokhan
Published: March 2011

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of pathological stage and surgical margin status on biochemical failure rates after radical prostatectomy (RP). Materials and Methods: The records of 205 patients who underwent RP for clinically localized prostate cancer (CaP) were evaluated. Known risk factors for biochemical failure (BF) were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. The effects of surgical margin status together with pathological stage on BF were evaluated. p values lower than 0.05 were accepted to be statistically significant. Results: Pathological stage, positive surgical margin (PSM), seminal vesicle invasion, lymph node involvement, biopsy Gleason score and postoperative Gleason score were the factors associated with BF in univariate analysis. Logistic regression analysis revealed that pT3a patients with PSM had a significant BF rate when compared to pT2 patients with a negative surgical margin (NSM) (OR 7.46, p = 0.002). pT3a patients with a NSM had a similar BF rate to that of pT2 patients with PSM. Conclusions: pT2 patients with PSM had a similar biochemical prognosis to that of pT3a patients without PSM, implicating that a PSM may have a negative effect on prognosis similar to that of extracapsular invasion.
Laparoscopic-Induced Pneumocephalus in a Patient with a Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt
Authors: Raskin Jeffery , Guillaume Daniel J. , Ragel Brian T.
Published: March 2011

The authors report the case of laparoscopic-induced pneumocephalus in a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) patient undergoing a transperitoneal laparoscopic procedure. This case represents the first instance, to our knowledge, of forced retrograde air through a Holter valve placed 20 years ago. Abdominal laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure utilized for a wide spectrum of abdominal and pelvic disorders. VPS systems for cerebrospinal fluid diversion are used to treat hydrocephalus. We present a case of laparoscopic-induced pneumocephalus in a VPS patient undergoing a transperitoneal laparoscopic procedure.
Characterization of Coronary Fibrin Thrombus in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome Using Dye-Staining Angioscopy
Authors: Uchida Yasumi , Uchida Yasuto , Sakurai Takeshi , Kanai Masahito , Shirai Seiichiro , Morita Toshihiro
Published: March 2011

Objective—

Because fibrin is transparent and almost invisible by any conventional imaging methodologies, clinical examinations of coronary fibrin thrombus have been ignored, and little is known about its role in the genesis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The present study was performed to visualize coronary fibrin thrombus and to examine its role in ACS.

Methods and Results—

Dye-staining coronary angioscopy using Evans blue dye, which selectively stains fibrin blue but does not stain blood corpuscles, was performed for observation of globular coronary thrombi in 111 ACS patients. The thrombi were aspirated for histological examination. The thrombi were classified by visual appearance into 8 transparent, 3 light-red, 2 frosty glass–like and membranous, 32 white, 8 brown, 34 red, and 19 red-and-white in a mosaic pattern. Transparent thrombi that were not visible by conventional angioscopy were visualized as a blue structure by dye-staining angioscopy, and they were observed in patients with unstable angina (UA) and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). The thrombi caused total or subtotal coronary occlusion. The aspirated thrombi were composed of fibrin alone by histology. Fibrin-rich thrombi were visualized using dye-staining angioscopy in 60% of 50 patients with UA+NSTEMI and in 29% of 61 patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction. By histology of the aspirated thrombi, fibrin-rich thrombi were observed in 71% of 33 patients with UA+NSTEMI and in 28% of 35 patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Conclusion—

Fibrin-rich coronary thrombi were frequently observed by both dye-staining angioscopy and histology in ACS patients. Rarely, fibrin itself formed a globular thrombus and caused coronary occlusion.
The Ephrin A1–EphA2 System Promotes Cardiac Stem Cell Migration After Infarction
Authors: Goichberg Polina , Bai Yingnan , D'Amario Domenico , Ferreira-Martins João , Fiorini Claudia , Zheng Hanqiao , Signore Sergio , del Monte Federica , Ottolenghi Sergio , D'Alessandro David A. , Michler Robert E. , Hosoda Toru , Anversa Piero , Kajstura Jan , Rota Marcello , Leri Annarosa
Published: March 2011

RETRACTION

This article has been retracted:

Circ Res
. 2018;123:e00. DOI: 10.1161/RES.0000000000000249.
The Right to Be Right: Civil-Military Relations and the Iraq Surge Decision
Authors: Feaver Peter D.
Published: March 2011

President George W. Bush's Iraq surge decision in late 2006 is an interesting case for civil-military relations theory, in particular, the debate between professional supremacists and civilian supremacists over how much to defer to the military on decisions during war. The professional supremacists argue that the primary problem for civil-military relations during war is ensuring the military an adequate voice and keeping civilians from micromanaging and mismanaging matters. Civilian supremacists, in contrast, argue that the primary problem is ensuring that well-informed civilian strategic guidance is authoritatively directing key decisions, even when the military disagrees with that direction. A close reading of the available evidence—both in published accounts and in new, not-for-attribution interviews with the key players—shows that the surge decision vindicates neither camp. If President Bush had followed the professional supremacists, there would have been no surge because his key military commanders were recommending against that option. If Bush had followed the civilian supremacists to the letter, however, there might have been a revolt of the generals, causing the domestic political props under the surge to collapse. Instead, Bush's hybrid approach worked better than either ideal type would have.
Europe's Troubles: Power Politics and the State of the European Project
Authors: Rosato Sebastian
Published: March 2011

The 1990s were years of great optimism in Europe. As the Europeans were putting the finishing touches on their economic community, observers predicted that political and military integration would soon follow. Optimism has turned to pessimism since the turn of the century, however. Most analysts believe that the economic community is in crisis, and hardly anyone predicts the creation of a political or military counterpart to it. Why has the European project run into trouble and what does the future hold? The answers to these questions are largely to be found in the distribution of power. It was the overwhelming power of the Soviet Union that drove the Western Europeans to consider a variety of integration initiatives and to build and maintain the European Community (EC) during the Cold War. In 1991 the collapse of the Soviet Union deprived them of a compelling geostrategic reason to pursue further integration or even to preserve their economic community. As a result, the Europeans have made no real effort to establish a political or military community over the past two decades, and the EC has slowly started to fray. As long as there are no significant changes in the balance of power going forward, worse times lie ahead.
‘Home and away’? Internationalism and territory in the post-1990 Norwegian defence discourse
Authors: Græger Nina
Published: March 2011

Most NATO countries reformed their defence systems during the 1990s in response to the end of the Cold War. Although Norway adjusted to new external framework conditions and participated in the new international operations, territorial defence dominated the defence discourse and military practices at home into the next millennium. This article argues that the continuity in the discourse and the pace with which defence reform has been implemented during the period 1990–2005 is a result of social factors and relations at the national level. First, the nation-building role of the Norwegian defence system has shaped central national concepts, values and military practices, rendering it resistant to change. Second, reform has been counteracted by the weight of the military institution – in terms of size, geographical extent and deep-rooted practices related to training and education. Third, Norwegian defence policy is deeply intertwined with other domestic policy areas, so when changes in the defence establishment have negative consequences, especially for district policy, opposition is provoked. In contrast, the Norwegian defence discourse and practices seem to have rapidly co-opted the changes invoked by the emerging multi-polar system. This underscores the claim made here, that the Norwegian defence discourse is largely about national, territorial defence.
Racial Discrimination and Asian Mental Health: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Lee Debbiesiu L. , Ahn Soyeon
Published: March 2011

Although research on racial discrimination and mental health has proliferated, findings are varied and dispersed. This study explored the critical question of how Asians, in particular, deal with discrimination and how this relates to Asian mental health. With 99 correlations from 23 independent studies, the overall relationship between racial discrimination and mental health was statistically significant ( r = .23). Individual resources (i.e., personal constructs and strengths, social support, cultural identity, and coping strategies) were also found to be significantly related to racial discrimination ( r = -.19, -.15, -.10, .22, respectively) and to mental health with the exception of coping strategies ( r = -.48, -.27, -.21, respectively). Recommendations regarding future research and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
White Dialectics as Multidimensional, Contextual, and Transformational
Authors: Abrams Elizabeth M. , Todd Nathan R.
Published: March 2011

This rejoinder provides a response to reactions by Ponterotto, Sue, and Toporek to the White dialectics framework presented in Todd and Abrams’s article. The present response focuses on incorporating multidimensionality, the multilevel nature of context, and the potential for transformation in the White dialectics framework. The authors expand future directions for research and present a recent example of the application of the White dialectics framework to antiracist work with women from a local community.
Internalized Racism’s Association With African American Male Youth’s Propensity for Violence
Authors: Bryant Wesley W.
Published: March 2011

Youth Violence in African American communities is still considered to be at epidemic proportions. The traditional risk factors for youth violence (i.e. delinquent friends, poverty, drug use, carrying a weapon etc.) do not account for the disproportionate overrepresentation of African American males. This study sought to better understand the propensity for violence among African American males ages 14-19 years (N=224) from four different programmatic sites: A Philadelphia high school, an African-centered charter high school, a youth detention facility, and a program that serves youth who are on probation or parole. The findings indicate that internalized racism enhances the variance explained above the variables typically explored in the delinquency and criminology literature. If further research can replicate these findings, this has implications for the content and direction of prevention approaches with African American male youth.
Henry Ossawa Tanner’s Negotiation of Race and Art: Challenging “The Unknown Tanner”
Authors: Woods Naurice Frank
Published: March 2011

This essay is a response to an article recently published by Will South titled “A Missing Question Mark: The Unknown Henry Ossawa Tanner” in the journal Nineteenth-Century Art Worldwide. Tanner was the foremost African American artist of the late 19th century. He has emerged as an exemplar of Black achievement in the arts and is now included in the canon of American art of that period. While Tanner labored to remove the equation of race as the defining factor for his artistic output, he never lost sight of his racial identity. South’s article suggests otherwise and he reconstructs Tanner as a “tragic mulatto” who, on several occasions, passed as White to advance his career and social standing. South’s conclusion seriously jeopardizes Tanner’s hard-fought reputation and greatly diminishes his celebrated cultural significance. I weigh South’s evidence against documented sources and conclude that Tanner unabashedly affirmed his “Blackness” throughout his life and art.
Jazz Consumption Among African Americans from 1982 to 2008
Authors: Graham Roderick
Published: March 2011

This study sought to answer two questions. First, who within the African American community is consuming jazz music? Second, are African American jazz consumers cultural snobs or cultural omnivores? Nationally representative data sets from the Cultural Policy and National Data Archives for the years 1982, 1992, 2002, and 2008 were used to answer these questions. Using classification and regression tree analysis and binary logistic regression, the author draws several conclusions. First, African American jazz consumers are educated and urban. Furthermore, since 1982, the level of education associated with the jazz consumer has increased. Second, African American jazz listeners are omnivores who reject rap. It is suggested that this particular consumption pattern reflects a form of segmented assimilation in which middle-class African Americans consume jazz in order to retain their racial heritage but reject rap in order to distance themselves from working- and lower-class African Americans.
Quantized state simulation of spiking neural networks
Authors: Grinblat Guillermo L , Ahumada Hernán , Kofman Ernesto
Published: March 2011

In this work, we explore the usage of quantized state system (QSS) methods in the simulation of networks of spiking neurons. We compare the simulation results obtained by these discrete-event algorithms with the results of the discrete time methods in use by the neuroscience community. We found that the computational costs of the QSS methods grow almost linearly with the size of the network, while they grows at least quadratically in the discrete time algorithms. We show that this advantage is mainly due to the fact that QSS methods only perform calculations in the components of the system that experience activity.
Exposure to Counterattitudinal News Coverage and the Timing of Voting Decisions
Authors: Matthes Jörg
Published: March 2011

This article investigates the effects of counterattitudinal news coverage on the timing of voting decisions. It is hypothesized that especially citizens with uncertain prior attitudes delay their voting decisions when they are exposed to cross-cutting news coverage. Two studies provide evidence for this hypothesis, using panel data that are combined with an extensive content analysis of news media. There is also some evidence that counterattitudinal coverage accelerates voting decisions when people hold their campaign attitudes with high attitude certainty.
Blood Glucose Symptom Recognition: Perspectives of Older Rural Adults
Authors: Kirk Julienne K. , Grzywacz Joseph G. , Chapman Christine , Arcury Thomas A. , Bell Ronny A. , Ip Edward H. , Quandt Sara A.
Published: March 2011

Purpose

Blood glucose symptom recognition and the interpretation of how one feels with regard to low or high glucose can impact how diabetes is self-managed. Understanding interpretation of symptoms related to diabetes and ultimate glucose regulation can be challenging. Health care providers can develop strategies to improve care by listening to individuals describe their symptoms in the context of everyday life.

Methods

The perspectives of older rural adults were assessed through individual in-depth interviews conducted among 75 African American, American Indian, and white individuals. The study design included a sample balanced with regard to sex, ethnicity, and educational attainment. The Self-Regulatory Model of Illness and the concept that people construct their own common sense models of health were utilized in this study.

Results

There were four dominant themes of symptoms described that were related to blood glucose. These categories included sensations, lightheadedness, energy level, and eyesight changes. Participants described symptoms they experienced at perceived levels of both high and low blood glucose. Results suggest that older adults were unable to distinguish whether their symptoms occurred because of high or low blood glucose.

Conclusion

Education that incorporates methods to aid older individuals differentiate blood glucose levels related to diabetes symptoms could help improve self-management.
Homeownership Among Mexican Americans in Later Life
Authors: Burr Jeffrey , Mutchler Jan , Gerst Kerstin
Published: March 2011

While more about the homeownership characteristics of Mexican Americans in the early and middle stages of the adult life course has recently been learned, far less is known about homeownership among Mexican Americans in later life. The well-being of older persons, including immigrant elders, has been linked to homeownership, in part because ownership imparts many advantages not available to nonowners. This study investigated homeownership among older Mexican Americans with a conceptual model based on economic, assimilation, social capital, and place stratification perspectives. Data from the 2000 U.S. census were employed to examine individual and contextual effects using multilevel models. The authors found support for several hypotheses drawn from their conceptual framework. The authors also showed that both citizenship status of target individuals and citizenship makeup of households were associated with the likelihood of homeownership. The findings are discussed relative to existing research and as they applied to housing policy.
A Mixed-Methods Approach to Synthesizing Evidence on Mediators of Intervention Effects
Authors: Leeman Jennifer , Chang YunKyung , Voils Corrine I. , Crandell Jamie L. , Sandelowski Margarete
Published: March 2011

Greater understanding of the mechanisms (mediators) by which behavioral-change interventions work is critical to developing theory and refining interventions. Although systematic reviews have been advocated as a method for exploring mediators, this is rarely done. One challenge is that intervention researchers typically test only two paths of the mediational model: the effect of the intervention on mediators and on outcomes. The authors addressed this challenge by drawing information not only from intervention studies but also from observational studies that provide data on associations between potential mediators and outcomes. They also reviewed qualitative studies of participants’ perceptions of why and how interventions worked. Using data from intervention ( n = 37) and quantitative observational studies ( n = 55), the authors conducted a meta-analysis of the mediation effects of eight variables. Qualitative findings ( n = 6) contributed to more in-depth explanations for findings. The methods used have potential to contribute to understanding of core mechanisms of behavioral-change interventions.
Reality TV as a trigger of everyday political talk in the net-based public sphere
Authors: Graham Todd , Hajru Auli
Published: March 2011

It is news journalism that is commonly considered the practice that reports on the political and invites us to act as citizens. However, there are other media genres, forms and content that may provoke the citizen in us. They not only provide talking points but also facilitate communicative spaces whereby active audiences transform into deliberating publics by bridging their knowledge, identities and experiences to society through everyday, informal political talk. The internet provides a public space whereby this everyday-life politicization can occur bottom-up. This article addresses this process of politicization in the context of political talk and discusses the boundaries between private and public by examining how it emerges in forums dedicated to British popular reality TV programmes. The article pays particular attention to the shift from non-political talk to the lifestyle-based political issues and the more conventional political topics that arise, and explores the triggers of such talk.
Uniting information literacy promotion and reader development in schools: Two forms of library-based intervention
Authors: Shenton Andrew K.
Published: March 2011

Extending a theme introduced in one of the author’s earlier articles appearing in the October 2009 edition of the IFLA Journal, this paper investigates rarely identified similarities between the information-seeking process and activities associated with the reading of fiction in order to present a case for school librarians adopting principles that both promote reader development and help to foster information literacy. Themes relating to such issues as user behaviour, the nature of information itself and library practices are addressed. The article draws heavily on the ideas of Van Riel and Fowler, who have written a highly regarded book on reader development. Various practical suggestions that may contribute to both young people’s information literacy and their development as readers are offered for intermediaries. The paper concludes with some caveats, however, and the dangers of the recommended approach are honestly acknowledged.
Review: A review: polystyrene/clay nanocomposites
Authors: Panwar Artee , Choudhary Veena , Sharma D.K.
Published: March 2011

This article reviews the literature reports based on polystyrene nanocomposites using nanoclay as filler. The use of various clay surfactants and different processing conditions, i.e., in situ polymerization, melt intercalation and solution casting used for the preparation of nanocomposites and its effect on the properties and morphology is also reviewed.
Toxic effects of gold nanoparticles on Salmonella typhimurium bacteria
Authors: Shuguang Wang  , Lawson Rasheeda , Ray Paresh C , Hongtao Yu
Published: March 2011

Nanometer-sized gold, due to its beautiful and bountiful color and unique optical properties, is a versatile material for many industrial and societal applications. We have studied the effect of gold nanoparticles on Salmonella typhimurium strain TA 102. The gold nanoparticles in solution prepared using the citrate reduction method is found not to be toxic or mutagenic but photomutagenic to the bacteria; however, careful control experiments indicate that the photomutagenicity is due to the co-existing citrate and Au3+ ions, not due to the gold nanoparticle itself. Au3+ is also found to be photomutagenic to the bacteria at concentrations lower than 1 µM, but toxic at higher concentrations. The toxicity of Au3+ is enhanced by light irradiation. The photomutagenicity of both citrate and Au3+ is likely due to the formation of free radicals, as a result of light-induced citrate decarboxylation or Au3+ oxidation of co-existing molecules. Both processes can generate free radicals that may cause DNA damage and mutation. Studies of the interaction of gold nanoparticles with the bacteria indicate that gold nanoparticles can be absorbed onto the bacteria surface but not able to penetrate the bacteria wall to enter the bacteria.
Gastroprotective effect of small centaury (Centaurium erythraea L) on aspirin-induced gastric damage in rats
Authors: Tuluce Yasin , Ozkol Halil , Koyuncu Ismail , Ine Hatice
Published: March 2011

The aim of this study was to determine the antiulcer and antioxidant activities of Centaurium erythraea L (small centaury) in aspirin (ASA) induced acute gastric ulcer model. The gastroprotective effect of the 50% aqueous-ethanolic small centaury (SC) extract was investigated in rats at a dose of ASA 200 mg/kg body weight. Twenty-one Sprague-Dawley albino rats were divided into three groups of seven rats each as follows: (1) control group; (2) acute ASA-treated group and (3) ASA plus SC group. At the end of the 4-h drug administration, ulcer index, oxidant and antioxidant levels were measured and compared between the groups. The percentage of lesion area to total gastric surface area (ulcer index) was significantly reduced (77%) in ASA plus SC group as compared with acute ASA-treated group. The oral administration of ASA decreased catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), and increased lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels. Although myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity was increased by ASA, it was found to be lower in the ASA plus SC group. GSH and Vitamin A levels were determined higher in the ASA plus SC group compared with ASA group. These results suggest that SC extract protects against ASA-induced damage due to its antioxidizing activity.
Oral exposure to low-dose bisphenol A aggravates testosterone-induced benign hyperplasia prostate in rats
Authors: Wu Jian-Hui , Jiang Xiu-Rong , Liu Gui-Ming , Liu Xiang-Yun , He Gui-Lin , Sun Zu-Yue
Published: March 2011

The declining level of androgen during aging, associated with an inclining level of estrogen, has been hypothesized to be important in the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Within physiologic range, increasing estrogen levels can stimulate prostate to develop and permanently increase prostate size. As an estrogenic endocrine disruptor, bisphenol A (BPA) might be stimulatory to prostate development. We further hypothesized that low dose BPA could induce hyperplasia prostate to proliferate and aggravate the symptom of BPH in male SD rats. BPH was induced by testosterone and then treated with BPA (10, 30, or 90 μg/kg, i.g., daily), 17β-estradiol (E2; 50.0 μg/kg, s.c., daily), or vehicle for 4 weeks. We found that weight and volume in rats treated with low dose BPA (10 μg/kg) was higher than that of model control, and BPA significantly increased the relative weight of prostate (p < 0.01). For prostate lobes, BPA 10 μg/kg/day significantly increased relative weight of ventral prostate (VP), weight and relative weight of dorsolateral prostate (DLP) (p < 0.05). And histopathology results showed that height of epithelial cell (HEC) of VP and DLP in BPA group were significantly higher than that of model control (p < 0.01). BPA could also decrease testostertone level and increase prostate-specific antigen level. E2 treatment also showed an obvious effect on relative weight of VP and DLP, HEC, and hormone levels. We concluded that environment exposure to low dose of BPA may induce prostate to proliferate and aggravate testosterone-induced benign hyperplasia prostate in rats.
Accommodating an Autoethnographic PhD: The Tale of the Thesis, the Viva Voce, and the Traditional Business School
Authors: Doloriert Clair , Sambrook Sally
Published: March 2011

The authors explore how a traditional U.K. business school accommodated an autoethnography for a PhD thesis and the evaluation of the quality of innovative textual form. The authors argue that scholars can view the quality of an autoethnography in terms of two dimensions: the relationship with criteriology (consensus/dissensus) and context of quality judgment (focused on completed process/embedded in practice of completing). The authors further argue that the final judgment of thesis quality is shaped by the extent of match (or mismatch) between two dimensions: the awarding higher education institution’s (HEI) relationship with quality (i.e., its research traditions) and the context of quality judgment for the thesis (how the final thesis demonstrates quality). The authors show that supervisors and examiners are crucial for reinterpreting criteria to accommodate contemporary ethnography, particularly within traditional HEIs, and may exploit bounded discretion to do so.
The Importance of Social Capital in the Promotion of Community Development and the Enhancement of Local Health System
Authors: Torri Maria Costanza
Published: March 2011

Despite the interest in social capital, the value of this concept for health promotion and inequality reduction has yet to be firmly established. Although it has been suggested that the concept of social capital may be useful for exploring factors within individual and social health and for identifying different approaches to community-based healthcare, the interlinkages between primary healthcare, social capital and community development have yet to be considered in much detail.

The purpose of this article is to analyse, through the examination of a case study from southern India (Tamil Nadu), how far social capital can trigger community participation and an effective process of enhancement of basic health system in rural areas, while conserving local medicinal knowledge. The case study is represented by Gram Mooligai Limited Company (GMLC), an innovative female community enterprise of tribal herb gatherers which commercialises medicinal plants and produces phytomedicines, using their traditional knowledge in ethnomedicine.
The more the better? The relationship between mismatches in social support and subjective well-being in daily life
Authors: Siewert Kerstin , Antoniw Katja , Kubiak Thomas , Weber Hannelore
Published: March 2011

In this study, we examined the relationship between discrepancies between desired and received support and subjective well-being, as indicated by negative affect and perceived stress, in daily life. Participants were 30 undergraduates who were equipped with hand-held computers for seven days. Results showed that underprovision of support predicted lower well-being, whereas overprovision was related to higher well-being, suggesting a linear relationship. Emotional support proved to be more influential than practical and informational support. In contrast to previous research, perceived social support turned out to be unrelated to well-being in daily life.
The Effect of Leadership on Follower Moral Identity: Does Transformational/Transactional Style Make a Difference?
Authors: Weichun Zhu  , Riggio Ronald E. , Avolio Bruce J. , Sosik John J.
Published: March 2011

The goal of this article is to study the effects of transformational versus transactional leadership behavior on how followers report their level of moral identity. Using field survey data ( n = 672) and experimental data ( n = 225), the authors found that transformational leadership and transactional leadership (including contingent reward and active management-by-exception) have a positive effect on priming follower moral identity. In addition, results also revealed that transformational leadership behavior has a larger positive effect on follower moral identity than transactional leadership. Furthermore, this study established the preliminary construct validity of a scale of moral identity. The theoretical implications, practical implications, and future research recommendations of these results are discussed.
Principal Development: Self-directed Project Efficacy
Authors: Piggot-Irvine Eileen
Published: March 2011

The inclusion of self-directed projects as an element within a New Zealand principal development programme was designed to reflect increasing support internationally for such a context-specific ‘inquiry’ approach. The results reported in this article suggest that considerable clarity is required for such projects if they are to realize the transformative potential that is touted. A mixed methods design employing electronic questionnaires, observation, interviews, focus groups and documentary analysis was used for the evaluation of the effectiveness of projects in the development programme. Data collected early in the programme indicated considerable concern about administration and clarity of expectations. Although the results revealed increasing appreciation of, and engagement with, the leadership projects through to the presentation phase near the end of the programme, this positivity subsided somewhat later with stakeholders providing a balanced view of recognition of worth of the projects alongside reiteration of concern over poor administration and clarity of expectations. The results suggest that the rationale, expectations, quality criteria, scope and presentation requirements must be explicitly and continuously outlined throughout projects. Further, in terms of the evaluation approach, it is suggested that future nationally funded evaluations of such programmes should be extended to include a longitudinal, deeper, impact study of such elements as projects on teaching and learning, and transformed practice of participants.
Acute effects of unilateral sectioning the superior ovarian nerve of rats with unilateral ovariectomy on ovarian hormones (progesterone, testosterone and estradiol) levels vary during the estrous cycle
Authors: Flores Angélica , Velasco Jacqueline , Gallegos Alma I , Mendoza Fernando D , Everardo Pamela M , Cruz María-Esther , Domínguez Roberto
Published: March 2011

The present study analyzed the participation of the left and right superior ovarian nerves (SON) in regulating progesterone, testosterone, and estradiol serum levels in unilaterally ovariectomized rats on each day of the estrous cycle. For this purpose, ovarian hormone concentrations in serum were measured in animals with either sham-surgery, unilateral ovariectomy (ULO), unilateral sectioning of the SON, or sectioning of the SON innervation of the in situ ovary in rats with ULO.

This investigation results show that the right and left ovaries have different capacities to maintain normal hormone levels, that such capacity varies during the estrous cycle, and that it depends on the integrity of the SON innervation. In rats with only one ovary, the effects of ovarian denervation on hormone levels varied according to which ovary remained in situ, the specific hormone, and the day of the estrous cycle when treatment was performed. Present results support the idea that the ovaries send and receive neural information that is processed in the central nervous system and we propose that this information participates in controlling the secretion of gonadotropins related to the regulation of ovarian functions.
Anti-reflective nano- and micro-structures on 4H-SiC for photodiodes
Authors: Kang Min-Seok , Joo Sung-Jae , Bahng Wook , Lee Ji-Hoon , Kim Nam-Kyun , Koo Sang-Mo
Published: March 2011

In this study, nano-scale honeycomb-shaped structures with anti-reflection properties were successfully formed on SiC. The surface of 4H-SiC wafer after a conventional photolithography process was etched by inductively coupled plasma. We demonstrate that the reflection characteristic of the fabricated photodiodes has significantly reduced by 55% compared with the reference devices. As a result, the optical response Iillumination/Idark of the 4H-SiC photodiodes were enhanced up to 178%, which can be ascribed primarily to the improved light trapping in the proposed nano-scale texturing.
Human papillomavirus detection in moroccan patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Laantri Nadia , Attaleb Mohammed , Kandil Mostafa , Naji Fadwa , Mouttaki Tarik , Dardari R'kia , Belghmi Khalid , Benchakroun Nadia , El Mzibri Mohammed , Khyatti Meriem
Published: March 2011

Background

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant tumor which arises in surface epithelium of the posterior wall of the nasopharynx. There's is evidence that Epstein Barr virus (EBV) is associated to NPC development. However, many epidemiologic studies point to a connection between viral infections by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and NPC.

Method

Seventy Moroccan patients with NPC were screened for EBV and HPV. EBV detection was performed by PCR amplification of BZLF1 gene, encoding the ZEBRA (Z Epstein-Barr Virus Replication Activator) protein, and HPV infection was screened by PCR amplification with subsequent typing by hybridization with specific oligonucleotides for HPV types 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 45 and 59.

Results

The age distribution of our patients revealed a bimodal pattern. Sixty two cases (88.9%) were classified as type 3 (undifferentiated carcinoma), 6 (8.6%) as type 2 (non keratinizing NPC) and only 2 (2.9%) cases were classified as type 1 (keratinizing NPC). EBV was detected in all NPC tumors, whereas HPV DNA was revealed in 34% of cases (24/70). Molecular analysis showed that 20.8% (5/24) were infected with HPV31, and the remaining were infected with other oncogenic types (i.e., HPV59, 16, 18, 33, 35 and 45). In addition, statistical analysis showed that there's no association between sex or age and HPV infection (P > 0.1).

Conclusion

Our data indicated that EBV is commonly associated with NPC in Moroccan patients and show for the first time that NPC tumours from Moroccan patients harbour high risk HPV genotypes.
Parallel biocomputing
Authors: Kompass Kenneth S , Hoffmann Thomas J , Witte John S
Published: March 2011

Background

With the advent of high throughput genomics and high-resolution imaging techniques, there is a growing necessity in biology and medicine for parallel computing, and with the low cost of computing, it is now cost-effective for even small labs or individuals to build their own personal computation cluster.

Methods

Here we briefly describe how to use commodity hardware to build a low-cost, high-performance compute cluster, and provide an in-depth example and sample code for parallel execution of R jobs using MOSIX, a mature extension of the Linux kernel for parallel computing. A similar process can be used with other cluster platform software.

Results

As a statistical genetics example, we use our cluster to run a simulated eQTL experiment. Because eQTL is computationally intensive, and is conceptually easy to parallelize, like many statistics/genetics applications, parallel execution with MOSIX gives a linear speedup in analysis time with little additional effort.

Conclusions

We have used MOSIX to run a wide variety of software programs in parallel with good results. The limitations and benefits of using MOSIX are discussed and compared to other platforms.
Gene discovery in Triatoma infestans
Authors: Avila María L , Tekiel Valeria , Moretti Georgina , Nicosia Soledad , Bua Jacqueline , Lammel Estela M , Stroppa María M , de Burgos Nelia M Gerez , Sánchez Daniel O
Published: March 2011

Background

Triatoma infestansis the most relevant vector of Chagas disease in the southern cone of South America. Since its genome has not yet been studied, sequencing of Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) is one of the most powerful tools for efficiently identifying large numbers of expressed genes in this insect vector.

Results

In this work, we generated 826 ESTs, resulting in an increase of 47% in the number of ESTs available forT. infestans. These ESTs were assembled in 471 unique sequences, 151 of which represent 136 new genes for the Reduviidae family.

Conclusions

Among the putative new genes for the Reduviidae family, we identified and described an interesting subset of genes involved in development and reproduction, which constitute potential targets for insecticide development.
Season of birth and anorexia nervosa
Authors: Disanto Giulio , Handel Adam E. , Para Andrea E. , Ramagopalan Sreeram V. , Handunnetthi Lahiru
Published: March 2011

Our aim was to investigate whether there is a season-of-birth effect in
anorexia nervosa. In a meta-analysis, we compared the distribution of
anorexia births (n = 1293) from four independent UK cohorts
to that of the general UK population (n = 21 914 037),
using both the Walter & Elwood seasonality and chi-squared tests. We
found an excess of anorexia births from March to June (odds ratio (OR) =
1.15, 95% CI 1.03–1.29, P = 0.012) and a deficit from
September to October (OR = 0.8, 95% CI 0.68–0.94, P =
0.007). These results indicate that environmental risk factor(s) are
operative during gestation or immediately after birth and their
identification will be important for disease prevention strategies.
A Nuclear Arms Race in the Middle East: Myth or Reality?
Authors: Bahgat Gawdat
Published: March 2011

Since the early 2000s Iran's nuclear program has been a major focus of international and regional policy. Many policy makers and scholars have expressed their concern that if Iran “goes nuclear” other Middle Eastern countries, particularly Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, will follow suit. This author argues against this conventional wisdom. As a NATO member, Turkey is a special case. The analysis suggests that security is the main reason why countries pursue nuclear weapons. Egypt and Saudi Arabia (along with other Arab countries) have learned how to live with a perceived nuclear Israel. Iran with a nuclear capability, if it happens, would not pose a security threat to either Cairo or Riyadh. In short, the author argues that an Iran with nuclear capability will further destabilize the Middle East and will be a negative development, but it is not likely to make Egypt and Saudi Arabia “go nuclear.”
“Blood Oil,” Ethnicity, and Conflict in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria
Authors: Ifedi J. P. Afam , Anyu J. Ndumbe
Published: March 2011

This essay examines the causes of the agitation and militancy in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The conflict shows a dynamic that falls into three historical eras: the precolonial, colonial, and postcolonial. An interplay of three significant factors currently contributes to conditions that are fueling the conflict: foreign administrative control (slave trade and colonialism) of the Niger Delta, which is alien to the indigenous people; the presence of lucrative commodities (oil, palm oil, and timber); and the Niger Delta people's resistance to exploitation and assertion of their rights. The authors conclude that any attempts at finding solutions to the conflict must address issues of program and policy. They posit that policies founded on rights and environmental justice are imperative to help to resolve the differences between the fighting stakeholders.
Bowel obstruction from wild bananas: a neglected health problem in Laos
Authors: Slesak Günther , Mounlaphome Kaisouksavanh , Inthalad Saythong , Phoutsavath Ounheaun , Mayxay Mayfong , Newton Paul N
Published: March 2011

We investigated the significance and risk factors of bowel obstruction caused by the consumption of wild bananas (BOWB) in Laos. Of six patients with BOWB in Luang Namtha, North Laos, five required enterotomy for phytobezoars. All had eaten wild banana (WB) seeds.

Of 227 other patients/relatives: 91.2% had eaten WB; 46.3% had also eaten the seeds and 45.4% knew of complications resulting from eating WB; 42.3% were aware of the complications of ingesting the seeds (constipation [37.9%], appendicitis/abdominal pain/vomiting [2.6% each] and bloated stomach/death [1.3% each]). Middle/highland Lao ethnicity was associated with WB and seed consumption (odds ratio [OR] 9.91 and 2.33), male sex with WB consumption and unawareness (OR 4.31 and 1.78).

At all surgically-equipped hospitals in Laos, 33/44 doctors knew of BOWB, describing patients as young adults (16/30), male (24/30) and from middleland Lao (18/30). Countrywide, 46/48 patients with BOWB required laparotomy in 2009 (incidence 0.8/100,000). All consumed WB seeds. BOWB is widespread in Laos, especially among young middleland Lao men consuming WB seeds on an empty stomach.
Economic Impact of Therapeutic Substitution of a Brand Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor with an Alternative Generic Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder
Authors: Wu Eric Q , Yu Andrew P , Lauzon Veronique , Ramakrishnan Karthik , Marynchenko Maryna , Ben-Hamadi Rym , Blum Steven , Erder M Haim
Published: March 2011

Background

To reduce pharmacy costs, managed care organizations encourage therapeutic substitution from brand to a generic product. However, little is known about whether these cost-containment strategies can also potentially lower total expenditures for payers in treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD).

Objective:

To compare economic outcomes of patients with MDD who were switched from a brand selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) to an alternative generic SSRI for nonmedical reasons versus patients who continued on the brand SSRI.

Methods:

Adult MDD patients in the Ingenix Impact Database (2003–2007) were considered “switchers” if they received treatment with a brand SSRI and were later switched to an alternative generic SSRI for nonmedical reasons. Patients who remained on the brand SSRI (nonswitchers) were matched 1:1 with switchers. All-cause, mental health-related, and MDD-related rates of hospitalizations/emergency department (ED) visits and costs over 6 months were compared both descriptively and by using adjusted regression models. A subgroup analysis on patients who were switched from escitalopram (Lexapro) to an alternative generic SSRI was also performed.

Results:

The study included 4449 matched pairs. Compared with nonswitchers, switchers had higher risk of all-cause, mental health–related, and MDD-related use of hospitalizations/ED visits (OR 1.15, 1.34, and 1.54, respectively; all p < 0.01) and higher risk-adjusted mental health–related and MDD-related medical costs ($219 and $222, respectively; both p < 0.05). Subgroup analysis on escitalopram showed similar results; switchers experienced higher risk of any-cause, mental health–related, and MDD-related use of hospitalizations/ED visits (OR 1.21, 1.41, and 1.53, respectively; all p<0.01) and higher risk-adjusted MDD-related medical costs ($151; p<0.05).

Conclusions:

Compared with patients who continued on their patented SSRIs, patients who switched to a generic SSRI incurred more resource use of hospitalizations/ED visits and higher MDD-related health-care costs. The effects of therapeutic substitution should be carefully examined, because use of generic alternatives may not be a cost-saving strategy when total health-care costs are considered.
The Agate Industry and Silicosis in Khambhat, India
Authors: Patel Jagdish , Robbins Margaret
Published: March 2011

Agate stones have been shaped and polished into beads and other decorative items for thousands of years in Khambhat, India. Agate is a silicate quartz that produces a fine dust when shaped and polished. The people who shape and polish the stones in workshops in their homes are being sickened with silicosis, as are their families and neighbors. These home-based workshops are unregulated and the workers and their families have no access to occupational health services or workers' compensation when they become ill. Occupational health activists have tried to find an effective strategy to confront these working conditions and protect the health and livelihood of the agate workers. They have had limited success, and huge challenges remain.
The Labor Market Value of Health Improvements
Authors: Bhattacharya Jay , Lakdawalla Darius Noshir
Published: March 2011

We analyze the value to the labor force of improvements in survival and health over the years 1970 to 1999. We find that survival gains and reductions in the number of work-days missed due to poor health have added about 8 percent to the remaining labor force value of black males, and about the same to the value of 60 year-old white males. This is almost as large an effect as a full year of schooling. Gains for younger white males appear to be approximately 5%, and gains for women are around 2%. Overall, health improvements have added $1.5 trillion to the value of labor market human capital over this period.