bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Self-Determination Theory as a Framework for Exploring the Impact of the Organizational Context on Volunteer Motivation
Authors: Haivas Simona , Hofmans Joeri , Pepermans Roland
Published: February 2012

In the present study, we use the self-determination theory (SDT) as a framework to explore the mediating role of needs satisfaction (i.e., autonomy, competence, and relatedness) on the relationship between the volunteers’ motivation and two aspects of the organizational context (i.e., social network and autonomous vs. controlled work climate). Data from 349 Romanian volunteers provided general support for SDT and emphasized the effect of an autonomy-supportive climate initiated by the coordinator in volunteers’ autonomous motivation. The results showed that needs satisfaction acts as a partial mediator of the relationship between work climate and volunteers autonomous motivation. The social network size was positively related to needs satisfaction but has no direct impact on autonomous motivation. Practical implications and future research are discussed.
Economic Theories of Nonprofits and Agricultural Cooperatives Compared
Authors: Valentinov Vladislav , Iliopoulos Constantine
Published: February 2012

This article explores the cross-fertilization potential that exists between the economic theory of agricultural cooperatives and that of nonprofit organizations. A number of central ideas in the agricultural cooperative theory are shown to generate two novel insights pertaining to the nonprofit economics literature. First, as with agricultural cooperatives, nonprofit organizations can be conceptualized not only as firms but also as service agencies and stakeholder coalitions. Second, the demand-side economic justification of nonprofit organizations, like that of agricultural cooperatives, likely includes reasons other than market failure. The article concludes by calling for research on how nonprofit economics can inform the theory of agricultural cooperatives.
Effect of cryogenic treated brass wire electrode on material removal rate in wire electrical discharge machining
Authors: Kapoor Jatinder , Singh Sehijpal , Khamba Jaimal Singh
Published: February 2012

In this article, the effect of cryogenic treatment on the brass wire electrode used in wire electrical discharge machining is investigated. Deep cryogenic (−184°C) treatment is given to the brass wire electrode. The microstructure and crystalline phase of deep and non-cryogenic treated brass wire electrodes is observed by scanning electron microscope and X-Ray diffraction. The experimental results show that the structure is more refined in deep cryogenic treatment as compared to non-cryogenic treatment. The electrical conductivity of deep electrode is greatly improved. The effect of deep cryogenic treatment on the brass wire electrode is also investigated for the performance of wire electrical discharge machining. Taguchi experimental design has been applied to investigate the optimal parameters for maximum material removal rate. The ANOVA analysis indicates that type of wire, pulse width, time between two pulses and wire tension are significant factors for maximization of material removal rate. The cryogenic treatment results in improved material removal rate.
Combustion noise radiation during the acceleration of a turbocharged diesel engine operating with biodiesel or n-butanol diesel fuel blends
Authors: Giakoumis Evangelos G , Rakopoulos Constantine D , Dimaratos Athanasios M , Rakopoulos Dimitrios C
Published: February 2012

In the current study, experimental tests were conducted on a turbocharged truck diesel engine in order to investigate the mechanism of combustion noise radiation during various accelerations and for various fuel blends. With this aim, a fully instrumented test bed was set up in order to capture the development of key engine and turbocharger parameters. Apart from the baseline diesel fuel, the engine was operated with a blend of diesel with either 30 vol % biodiesel or 25 vol % n-butanol. Analytical diagrams are provided to explain the behaviour of combustion noise radiation in conjunction with the cylinder pressure, the pressure rise rates, the frequency spectrum and the turbocharger and governor–fuel pump responses. The blend of diesel fuel with n-butanol exhibited the highest noise emissions throughout each of the transient tests examined, with differences up to 4 dBA from those with neat diesel operation. On the other hand, the biodiesel blend was found to behave marginally noisier than neat diesel oil but without a clear trend established throughout the transient events.
Correlation of 24-hour urinary protein quantification with spot urine protein:creatinine ratio in lupus nephritis
Authors: Matar HE , Peterson P , Sangle S , D’Cruz DP
Published: February 2012

Objectives: Twenty-four hour urine collection has been the foundation for monitoring patients with lupus nephritis. However, the use of protein to creatinine ratios in spot urine samples is now widely used. We aimed to evaluate the validity of this method cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted. Records of 486 lupus nephritis patients were searched for paired results of 24-h quantification of urinary protein and a random spot urine protein to creatinine ratio and were examined over a three-year period. Results and Conclusions: Ninety-five lupus nephritis patients had paired results and were included in the final analysis, male/female 14/81, mean age 36.5 years. Over a three-year period there were a total of 137 samples from 95 patients. For the entire dataset, there was a significant correlation between protein:creatinine ratio and 24-h urine collection protein (mg), Spearman Rho correlation coefficient was 0.869, p < 0.0001 with ( R2 = 0.504). There was also a strong correlation for longitudinal data, n = 14 at two-years Rho 0.910, p < 0.0001 with ( R2 = 0.878), n = 8 at three-years Rho 0.909, p < 0.0001and ( R2 = 0.73). We have shown for the first time in a UK population of lupus nephritis patients, well trained in producing 24-h collection, that the spot protein:creatinine ratio correlates well with 24-h urinary total protein excretion. Having a simple, reliable, reproducible and cost-effective test such as the spot urine protein:creatinine ratio is therefore a valuable tool with which to monitor disease progression.
The Poverty in Psychoanalysis: ‘Poverty’ of Psychoanalysis?
Authors: Kumar Manasi
Published: February 2012

The article reviews psychoanalytic scholarship on the themes of poverty and deprivation available on the Psychoanalytic Electronic Publications (PEP-web). The article evaluates select definitions and explanations of poverty as illustrated in the scientific papers published in the PEP-web from 1933 to 2003 (covering 70 years) and finds that psychoanalytic scholarship has very little to say about poverty or the poor. In spite of references to the poverty of dreams, poverty of affect, poverty of intellect, there is in reality little engagement with ‘real’ poverty. The reasons and effects of this neglect are firstly traced to the attitudinal biases and beliefs held by the psychoanalytic authors which prevents them from acknowledging poor and deprived as worthy of their attention. The review also points out to great confusions, oversimplifications and neglect shown in the use of poverty and related terminologies. Absence of fuller appreciation of poverty is then traced to some philosophical quandaries in psychoanalytic epistemology such as the place of real versus psychic, culture versus individual and need versus value to cite a few. A third reason for this neglect may be attributed to the uneven spread, reception and development of psychoanalysis in different geopolit-zical locations, and the neglect in addressing these cultural differences could be behind these social inequalities remaining unaddressed in the literature.
Youth Civic Engagement in India: A Case in Point
Authors: Bhangaokar Rachana , Mehta Dulari
Published: February 2012

The article argues that civic engagement and volunteering experiences are potent avenues for propelling positive youth development. Against the backdrop of a ‘demographic dividend’, the article highlights the underutilised potentials of Indian youth in civic participation and volunteering activities. By analysing the experiences of Aakash, a volunteer with an animal rescue and protection organisation in Vadodara, the article focuses on enhanced competencies and shifts in self-perception, accompanied by changes in social–moral thinking that came about due to his civic engagement (animal protection and rescue) activities. The impact of volunteering on others in the immediate context and the community at large is discussed.
Antecedents of Organisational Commitment across Hierarchical Levels
Authors: Suman Shanti , Srivastava A.K.
Published: February 2012

The present study investigated the impact of various personal and organisational characteristics on organisational commitment of employees working at different hierarchical levels. Age, length of service and locus of control of employees were studied as the personal characteristics, whereas perceived job characteristics and organisational structure were studied as the organisational characteristics. A sample of 240 employees working at different hierarchical levels, namely, executive, supervisory and rank and file/blue-collar worker from a public sector unit were assessed on the measures of organisational commitment, locus of control, job characteristics and organisational structure. Multiple linear regression analysis (simultaneous) revealed that favourably perceived organisational characteristics and internal locus of control had significant positive impact on organisational commitment of the executives. Age and length of service had no significant impact on organisational commitment of this cadre of employees. However, a different set of predictors of organisational commitment was obtained for employees working at lower hierarchical levels. Length of service was the most dominant predictor of organisational commitment of the supervisors followed by organisational structure. Other predictors had no significant impact on organisational commitment of this group of employees. For the workers, only locus of control was found to have significant positive impact on their organisational commitment.
Evaluation of Obesity Clinic Program in Public Community Health Centers in South Korea
Authors: Jo Heui-Sug , Lee Bo-Young
Published: February 2012

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the obesity clinic program in the public community health centers in Korea in 2006-2007. The authors conducted a telephone questionnaire survey for participants to evaluate the outcome of the program. Samples were selected through convenient sampling: 30 persons per one public health center among 2560 participants. The level of improvement in obesity, regular exercise, and the effort for calorie reduction of the participants were analyzed. There were significant differences: The participants who were provided continuously the information of obesity clinic program reduced calories for weight loss (odds ratio [OR] = 2.37, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.34-4.19, P < .01), and showed concern about body weight (OR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.07-4.41, P < 0.05). This study found that when the program information was provided continually and the participants were motivated, the community obesity program goals could be achieved.
Knowledge of the New Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act Is Associated With Smokers’ Behavior of Seeking Help in Smoking Cessation in Taiwan
Authors: Wu Tai-Yin , Chie Wei-Chu , Lai Mei-Shu , Chen Chien-Chih , Kuo Kuan-Liang , Majeed Azeem
Published: February 2012

Evidence that smoking area restrictions and raising cigarette taxes affect smokers’ behavior of seeking help in cessation is limited. The authors conducted a case-control study of 200 participants in Taipei City, Taiwan, from December 2008 to June 2009 to evaluate the association between knowledge on legislation and the behavior of seeking help in smoking cessation. They compared smokers who sought assistance in clinics/classes and smokers who did not, matching for age, gender, and recruitment time. In a univariate model, both banning smoking and increasing prices had positive effects on smokers’ behavior, but the effect size of the latter was larger ( P = .021). A better knowledge of the regulations was associated with cessation effort (odds ratio [OR] = 2.74; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.44-5.23), as were being more influenced by increased prices (OR = 2.44; 95% CI = 1.38-4.34) and by smoking bans (OR = 2.32; 95% CI = 1.29-4.16). Increased knowledge of the regulations is associated with seeking help for smoking.
A Critique and Qualified Defense of “Correctional Quackery”
Authors: Lee Lynette C. , Stohr Mary K.
Published: February 2012

Correctional programs that do not have a discernible effect on recidivism have been dismissed as “correctional quackery” by some scholars. We argue that labeling programs and practices as “quackery” has certain limitations given the state of our theory and research, and we explore why some programs might be worthwhile for reasons beyond their effect, or noneffect, on recidivism. Our discussion is framed around the need to balance the goals of relying on existing evidence to guide correctional programming, while remaining open to new advances in our understanding of human behavior. We highlight the need to question existing assumptions about reductions in recidivism as the only program goal worthy of pursuit, and we discuss the potential value of a range of nontraditional treatments in correctional settings. We end with four recommendations regarding research on programming in corrections.
Moving Toward Utopia
Authors: Stinchcomb Jeanne B. , Applegate Brandon K. , Kerle Ken , Stojkovic Stan
Published: February 2012

Even the most distant utopian dreams are fundamentally anchored in present reality, since it is only by assessing where we are today that it is possible to determine how far we have to go to achieve tomorrow’s goals. For America’s jails, that begins with the analysis of an organizational identity that has traditionally been mired in custodial and security considerations, in contrast to the more reformative human service orientation of a utopian perspective. Moving toward such a renewed identity means operationalizing far-reaching conceptual ideals—from diverting the mentally ill to treating substance abusers. Because accomplishing these advancements depends on a foundation of capable staff, it also means creating an organizational culture where theory, policy, and utopian goals can be translated into operational practices–since it is ultimately the workforce who breathes life into the system, determining whether jails are destined to remain anchored in tradition or are designed to ascend toward a more utopian future.
An improved trust region method for unconstrained optimization
Authors: Liu Jun
Published: February 2012

In this paper, a new trust region method for unconstrained optimization is proposed. In the new method, the trust radius adjusts itself adaptively. In our algorithm, we use the convex combination of the Hessian matrix at a previous iteration and current iteration to define a suitable trust region radius at each iteration. The global, superlinear and quadratic convergence results of the algorithm are established under reasonable assumptions. Finally, some numerical results are given.
Services and Recurrence After Psychological Maltreatment Confirmed by Child Protective Services
Authors: Palusci Vincent J. , Ondersma Steven J.
Published: February 2012

Recurrence rates of psychological maltreatment (PM) and the services that may reduce those rates have not been systematically evaluated. The National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System was used for 2003–2007 to study a cohort of children in 18 states with PM reports first confirmed by child protective services (CPS) during 2003. PM recurrence rates after counseling and other referrals were assessed while controlling for factors associated with service referral and other maltreatment. A total of 11,646 children had a first CPS-confirmed report with PM, and 9.2% of them had a second-confirmed PM report within 5 years. Fewer than one fourth of families were referred for services after PM, with service referrals being more likely for families with poverty, drug or alcohol problems, or other violence. Controlling for these factors, counseling referral was associated with a 54% reduction in PM recurrence, but other services were not associated with statistically significant reductions. Few families in which PM was confirmed receive any services, and most services provided were not associated with reductions in PM recurrence. Clarification of key services associated with efficacious prevention of PM is needed.
An analysis of measured and estimated creatinine clearance rates in normal weight, overweight, and obese patients with gynecologic cancers
Authors: Nelson Wendelin K , Formica Richard N , Cooper Dennis L , Schwartz Peter E , Rutherford Thomas J
Published: February 2012

Study objective: Different equations used to estimate creatinine clearance (Clcr) in obese oncology patients can produce divergent estimated creatinine clearance values, which in turn can result in significantly different calculated carboplatin doses. Standardization of the calculation of creatinine clearance in patients of all body types is a desirable goal. The objective of our study was to examine the impact of increasing body mass index on the accuracy of creatinine clearance estimation methods and to determine the optimal equation for creatinine clearance estimation in the obese adult female cancer patient.

Design: Retrospective data analysis.

Patients: We compared the estimated creatinine clearance values produced by each of 11 equations to 24-hour creatinine clearance values measured in 119 adult female patients with gynecologic cancers grouped according to body composition.

Measurements and main results: We applied simple linear regression and Tukey mean-difference analysis to assess the relationship between estimated creatinine clearance values produced by these equations and measured creatinine clearance values for each patient. The relationship between measured creatinine clearance and estimated creatinine clearance produced by all equations displayed lower linear regression R2 values and higher limits of agreement in obese patients than in nonobese groups. Agreement between measured and estimated creatinine clearance produced by the Cockcroft-Gault equation is sensitive to the particular weight parameter incorporated and is lowest using ideal weight or actual body weight. The Cockcroft-Gault equation incorporating an intermediate weight value reduced estimation bias. The Jelliffe equation produced the lowest R2 values.

Conclusion: Available model equations are less reliable for predicting creatinine clearance in obese female cancer patients (body mass index >30) than in nonobese patients. A measured glomerular filtration rate or creatinine clearance value is most accurate in obese female cancer patients. When using Cockcroft-Gault equation for estimation in this patient population, however, an intermediate weight value (adjusted or modified-adjusted) rather than ideal or actual body weight should be used.
“What Do You Like/Dislike About the Treatments You’re Currently Using?”
Authors: Mackintosh Virginia H. , Goin-Kochel Robin P. , Myers Barbara J.
Published: February 2012

Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) often participate in many treatments, requiring parents’ dedication of time, money, and energy, and necessitating dealing with multiple service providers. To learn about parents’ experience in seeking and using treatments for their child with ASD, the authors asked them, “What do you like/dislike about the treatment(s) you’re currently using?” In this web-based, qualitative study, participants consisted of 486 parents (92% mothers) of children (80% boys; children’s M age = 8.3 years) with autism ( n = 290, 59.7%), Asperger syndrome ( n = 115, 23.6%), or pervasive developmental disorder—not otherwise specified ( n = 81, 16.7%). The families lived in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, England, and Ireland. Parents’ written statements addressed more “dislikes” (70%) than “likes” (47%), and there were no universally liked or disliked interventions. Six themes emerged and are discussed: effectiveness of treatments, relationships with professionals, access to treatments, costs, medication concerns, and stress.
Bicycle Training for Youth With Down Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: MacDonald Megan , Esposito Phil , Hauck Janet , Jeong Irully , Hornyak Joseph , Argento Angela , Ulrich Dale A.
Published: February 2012

Children with Down syndrome (DS) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) frequently have difficulty riding a two-wheel bicycle. The purpose of this study was to investigate an intervention using an adapted bicycle and individualized instruction to teach 71 youth to ride a standard two-wheel bicycle. Youth with DS ( n = 30) and ASD ( n = 41) between the ages of nine and 18 years took part in this study. After five days of training, 73.3% of children with DS and 85.4% with ASD successfully demonstrated the ability to ride the bicycle more than 100 feet. Leg strength differentiated riders from nonriders in both groups. For the youth with DS, those who learned to ride were significantly older and heavier than those who did not learn to ride. Participants with ASD who learned to ride were significantly taller and stronger than those with ASD who did not learn to ride a two-wheel bicycle. Implications are discussed.
Memory in ASD: have we been barking up the wrong tree?
Authors: Boucher Jill , Mayes Andrew
Published: February 2012

In this theoretical note, possible neural causes of episodic memory impairment in individuals with ASD and currently normal intellectual and linguistic function are considered. The neural causes most commonly argued for are hippocampal or prefrontal cortex dysfunction, associated with impaired neural connectivity. It is argued here that a hippocampal dysfunction hypothesis is weakened by differences in cued recall and paired associate learning in individuals with ASD compared with individuals with developmental or acquired hippocampus-related amnesia, and that recent findings on patients with posterior parietal lesions (PPC) offer a better fit with the dissociation between free and cued recall observed in ASD. The PPC forms part of the default system subserving mindreading, among other functions, and an association between PPC dysfunction and memory impairment in ASD is consistent with recent suggestions that neural disconnectivity within the default system underlies behaviours diagnostic of ASD.
Direct and indirect assessment of explanatory models of illness
Authors: Ghane Samrad , Kolk Annemarie M. , Emmelkamp Paul M. G.
Published: February 2012

Patients’ self-reports of explanatory models (EMs) are sensitive to distortions, particularly as a result of social desirability, uncertainty towards one’s own beliefs, and ethnic disparities with the interviewer. In contrast, reaction-time-based indirect measures are thought to be less sensitive to such factors. This article reports on two studies that applied direct (interview) and indirect (reaction-time-based association task) measures of EMs. Study 1 found evidence for the convergent validity of the direct and indirect measures, indicating that the two measures were essentially related. Furthermore, social desirability and uncertainty towards one’s beliefs affected the association between the measures on two categories of EMs. Study 2 showed that, unlike the self-reports of EMs, indirect measures were less sensitive to the ethnicity of the interviewer. The nature of the indirect measure, and the construct that it measures, are discussed.
In search of community: Political consumerism, governmentality and immunization
Authors: Pellizzoni Luigi
Published: February 2012

Political consumerism is consumer choice beyond self-interest. Allegedly blurring the public–private threshold and overcoming the limits of traditional politics, it epitomizes in many respects late modern governance. Reflecting on the meaning and scope of consumer political agency, scholarship has engaged with the governmentality perspective. Important studies have ensued, together with irresolvable disputes and a neglect of the relationship that consumers establish with their objects of concern. To address this question, and drawing on the philosophical contributions of Roberto Esposito, the article elaborates on the notion of immunization. Being immune means having nothing in common with others, no obligations towards them. This analytical register may significantly broaden our understanding of current changes in political agency. A review of three main issues (responsibility-taking, downshifting, and the public) shows that the paradox of political consumerism – like other forms of governance that replace political obligations with private autonomies – is that it endeavours to (re)establish or strengthen the communal ties while at the same time using immunization as its fundamental resource.
Getting a sense of the client: Working methods in the personal social services in Sweden
Authors: Perlinski Marek , Blom Björn , Morén Stefan
Published: February 2012

• Summary:

This article presents a study of working methods used by social workers within the personal social services (PSS), in their work with clients. The study is part of a larger research project with the aim of describing and analysing how specialized respectively integrated forms of organizations in the PSS condition social workers’ interventions and client effects (outcomes). The study was carried out in three Swedish municipalities with different organizational models. Two of those represent ‘extremes’ as they have pure specialized (divided in different types of units) respectively integrated (generic) organizations. The third municipality has chosen a middle way with an organization that combines aspects of the two other models. All social workers within the PSS in those three municipalities were included in the study.

• Findings:

Our findings among other things show 1) that the use of unspecific methods dominates, 2) that several methods that are reported as specific are definitely not specific, 3) that specific methods often are used in free and unspecific ways, 4) that there seems to be a compensating movement (regarding use of methods) with the aim of evening out limitations in the formal PSS organizations, 5) that there are two relatively large groups of method users: ‘improvisers’ and ‘eclecticists’.

• Applications:

One can neither understand the use of working methods in social work with clients by studying the methods as such nor by studying the evidence base of different methods. Social workers consider their relationships to clients and the clients’ trust as much more important (in order to achieve results) than any particular method. The use of methods is mirroring the social workers’ readiness before, and planned adaptation to, different types of situations.
Nature’s Looking-Glass
Authors: Angelo Hillary , Jerolmack Colin
Published: February 2012

How we see nature is to a large extent a reflection of ourselves. Sociologists Hillary Angelo and Colin Jerolmack use the example of New Yorkers’ fascination with two red-tailed hawks to reveal deep insights about how we represent and understand nature.
Home Cooking: Marketing Meth
Authors: Brownstein Henry H. , Mulcahy Timothy M. , Taylor Bruce G. , Fernandes-Huessy Johannes , Hafford Carol
Published: February 2012

Making and selling methamphetamine is a business of personal ties. Henry H. Brownstein, Timothy M. Mulcahy, Bruce G. Taylor, Johannes Fernandes-Huessy, and Carol Hafford provide a nuanced understanding of meth markets, from mom-and-pop to import markets.
Stealing a Bag of Potato Chips and Other Crimes of Resistance
Authors: Rios Victor M.
Published: February 2012

Sociologist Victor M. Rios shows in his study how some young men make trouble as means of gaining respect. This excerpt is an adaptation from his book Punished: Policing the Lives of Black and Latino Boys.
Fire in Our Bellies, Fear in Our Arts
Authors: Kidd Dustin
Published: February 2012

The case of David Wojnarowicz’s video installation, A Fire in My Belly, shows how controversies in the art world can lead to surprising outcomes. From attention generation to the promotion of democratic discourse, controversy is not necessarily a wholly negative experience.
E-Books Are for Selling
Authors: Brienza Casey
Published: February 2012

E-books have grown to have a variety of meanings. The author describes the economic and institutional context of the rise of e-books, showing how e-books shift experiences of reading.
What Are College Students Really Learning?
Authors: Karen David
Published: February 2012

Two books, Academically Adrift and Degrees of Inequality, are compared and reviewed as in-roads to understanding the college experience. The books both offer an investigation of the question “what are college students really learning?”
A Pedagogy for the Global
Authors: Behbehanian Laleh , Burawoy Michael
Published: February 2012

Sociologists Laleh Behbehanian and Michael Burawoy explore what it means to view the global through a distinctively sociological lens.
Does Society Exist?
Authors: Loo Dennis
Published: February 2012

Dennis Loo reflects on the existence of society. He argues that academics must become public intellectuals and that sociologists, in particular, are well-positioned to reaffirm that we are first and foremost social beings.
Use of Zinc as a Treatment for Traumatic Brain Injury in the Rat
Authors: Cope Elise C. , Morris Deborah R. , Scrimgeour Angus G. , Levenson Cathy W.
Published: February 2012

Background. While treatments for the behavioral deficits associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI) are currently limited, animal models suggest that zinc supplementation may increase resilience to TBI. Objective. This work tests the hypothesis that zinc supplementation after TBI can be used as treatment to improve behavioral outcomes such as anxiety, depression, and learning and memory. Methods. TBI was induced by controlled cortical impact to the medial frontal cortex. After TBI, rats were fed either a zinc adequate (ZA, 30 ppm) or zinc supplemented (ZS, 180 ppm) diet. Additional rats in each dietary group (ZA or ZS) were given a single intraperitoneal (ip) injection of zinc (30 mg/kg) 1 hour following injury. Results. Brain injury resulted in significant increases in anxiety-like and depression-like behaviors as well as impairments in learning and memory. None of the zinc treatments (dietary or ip zinc) improved TBI-induced anxiety. The 2-bottle saccharin preference test for anhedonia revealed that dietary ZS also did not improve depression-like behaviors. However, dietary ZS combined with an early ip zinc injection significantly reduced anhedonia ( P < .001). Dietary supplementation after injury, but not zinc injection, significantly improved ( P < .05) cognitive behavior as measured by the time spent finding the hidden platform in the Morris water maze test compared with injured rats fed a ZA diet. Conclusions. These data suggest that zinc supplementation may be an effective treatment option for improving behavioral deficits such as cognitive impairment and depression following TBI.
Midcourse correction to a clinical trial when the event rate is underestimated: the Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) Study
Authors: Brancati Frederick L , Evans Mary , Furberg Curt D , Geller Nancy , Haffner Steven , Kahn Steven E , Kaufmann Peter G , Lewis Cora E , Nathan David M , Pitt Bertram , Safford Monika M ,   on behalf of the Look AHEAD Study Group
Published: February 2012

The Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) Study is a long-term clinical trial that aims to determine the cardiovascular disease (CVD) benefits of an intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) in obese adults with type 2 diabetes. The study was designed to have 90% statistical power to detect an 18% reduction in the CVD event rate in the ILI Group compared to the Diabetes Support and Education (DSE) Group over 10.5 years of follow-up.

The original power calculations were based on an expected CVD rate of 3.125% per year in the DSE group; however, a much lower-than-expected rate in the first 2 years of follow-up prompted the Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) to recommend that the Steering Committee undertake a formal blinded evaluation of these design considerations. The Steering Committee created an Endpoint Working Group (EPWG) that consisted of individuals masked to study data to examine relevant issues.

The EPWG considered two primary options: (1) expanding the definition of the primary endpoint and (2) extending follow-up of participants. Ultimately, the EPWG recommended that the Look AHEAD Steering Committee approve both strategies. The DSMB accepted these modifications, rather than recommending that the trial continue with inadequate statistical power.

Trialists sometimes need to modify endpoints after launch. This decision should be well justified and should be made by individuals who are fully masked to interim results that could introduce bias. This article describes this process in the Look AHEAD study and places it in the context of recent articles on endpoint modification and recent trials that reported endpoint modification.
Infusion of statistical science in comparative effectiveness research
Authors: Morton Sally C , Ellenberg Jonas H
Published: February 2012

Purpose We present a general introduction to comparative effectiveness research (CER) from a statistician’s viewpoint and focus on how statisticians can contribute to the methodology of CER.

Conclusions The statistical science community needs to determine the priorities for methodological research in CER, in collaboration with our colleagues in the aligned medical fields. CER requires that we apply a new paradigm – a focus on the patient. The emphasis on the patient is driven by patients themselves, the federal government, and private payers, in addition to the fact that there is a rising chronic disease burden that is making patient populations more heterogeneous. The availability of new technology and data sources introduces not only complexity but also opportunity. Statistical scientists should rise to meet these new demands and develop optimal, statistically valid approaches to CER, just as they have in agriculture and clinical trials.
“Native” Landscapes, “Cultivated” Gardens and the Erasure of Indigenous Sovereignty in Two Recent Instances of Australian Cinematic Jurisprudence
Authors: Duncanson Kirsty
Published: February 2012

Although cinema is now commonly recognized as a significant source of knowledge about law, in this article I argue that it is also a space in which law is questioned, rethought and reimagined. Outside the traditional realms of legal philosophy, cinema is a pre-eminent site of jurisprudence. To illustrate this, I examine the recent films The Proposition (2005) and Australia (2009) as they each critique and justify the sovereignty of a specific legal order over a particular landscape. As part of an Australian tradition of “unease” concerning legal authority, these films provide compelling instances of cinematic jurisprudence.
Spiderman’s Web and the Governmentality of Electronic Immigrant Detention
Authors: Koulish Robert
Published: February 2012

The article examines the governmentality of noncustodial forms of immigration control over immigrant bodies. It uses the Spiderman cartoon character Venom (Black Spiderman) as a metaphor for expansive and shape-shifting state sovereign power. This plenary power is a machination of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the courts. Like the venom symbiote it takes form from the state having contact with immigrants. Specifically, the article focuses on electronic detention (alternative to detention, or ATD), which limits an immigrant’s freedom, but is technically considered neither detention nor custody. This legal construction leaves almost no accountability. Thus I argue that ATD initiatives create an extra legal space of unchecked power that is deployed on immigrant bodies, and just like Black Spiderman they allow aggression to be amplified to dangerous result.
“What Kept You So Long?”: Bullying’s Gray Zone and The Vampire’s Transgressive Justice in Let the Right One In
Authors: Crofts Penny , van Rijswijk Honni
Published: February 2012

School bullying has been recognized only relatively recently by policy-makers, media and the courts as a serious and widespread social problem. But despite this recent notice, there has been no evidence that techniques adopted to stop bullying have led to anything more than modest success, implying that we need to do more work to unpack and theorize the nature of bullying. In this article, we consider a recent vampire narrative as a story about bullying. We offer an interpretation of this story via the theories of Claudia Card and Jacques Derrida, arguing that together this archive provides a more nuanced understanding of the kinds of damage inflicted by bullying than has been provided by realist or sociological accounts. In particular, it illuminates damage to the morality of the victim, to their soul, which is a kind of damage that has previously not been given great attention. It also highlights the ways in which practices of judgment can become very tangled when trying to resolve bullying situations, making these experiences resistant to the achievement of justice.
Periosteal Transplantation Combined with the Autologous Matrix-Induced Chondrogenesis (AMIC) Technique in Isolated Patellofemoral Osteoarthritis
Authors: Schüttler Stefan , Andjelkov Nenad
Published: February 2012

Objective:

Isolated cases of osteoarthritis of the knee represent a major clinical problem. A particular challenge is a case in which both articular surfaces are affected. Such is the case with the isolated form of patellofemoral osteoarthritis. Studies that describe methods for treating such conditions are few, and the results are not too promising.

Methods:

In this article, we present one such case of isolated patellofemoral osteoarthritis in which we used a new approach combining periosteal transplantation on one side and the autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis (AMIC) technique on the other side.

Results:

The patient has improved, measured by the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) from 48 preoperatively to 77 at 1 year postoperatively (mean improvement) and measured by the Lysholm score from 45 preoperatively to 90 at 1 year postoperatively.

Conclusion:

This original approach has shown promising results in this patient and could be tested in a larger group of patients with the same type of osteoarthritis in order to estimate its real clinical value.
Cyclophosphamide-bortezomib-dexamethasone (CyBorD) produces rapid and complete hematologic response in patients with AL amyloidosis
Authors: Mikhael Joseph R. , Schuster Steven R. , Jimenez-Zepeda Victor H. , Bello Nancy , Spong Jacy , Reeder Craig B. , Stewart A. Keith , Bergsagel P. Leif , Fonseca Rafael
Published: February 2012

Cyclophosphamide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone (CyBorD) is highly effective in multiple myeloma. We treated patients with light chain amyloidosis (AL) before stem cell transplantation (ASCT), instead of ASCT in ineligible patients or as salvage. Treatment was a combination of bortezomib (1.5 mg/m2 weekly), cyclophosphamide (300 mg/m2 orally weekly), and dexamethasone (40 mg weekly). Seventeen patients received 2 to 6 cycles of CyBorD. Ten (58%) had symptomatic cardiac involvement, and 14 (82%) had 2 or more organs involved. Response occurred in 16 (94%), with 71% achieving complete hematologic response and 24% a partial response. Time to response was 2 months. Three patients originally not eligible for ASCT became eligible. CyBorD produces rapid and complete hematologic responses in the majority of patients with AL regardless of previous treatment or ASCT candidacy. It is well tolerated with few side effects. CyBorD warrants continued investigation as treatment for AL.
PANDAseq: paired-end assembler for illumina sequences
Authors: Masella Andre P , Bartram Andrea K , Truszkowski Jakub M , Brown Daniel G , Neufeld Josh D
Published: February 2012

Background

Illumina paired-end reads are used to analyse microbial communities by targeting amplicons of the 16S rRNA gene. Publicly available tools are needed to assemble overlapping paired-end reads while correcting mismatches and uncalled bases; many errors could be corrected to obtain higher sequence yields using quality information.

Results

PANDAseq assembles paired-end reads rapidly and with the correction of most errors. Uncertain error corrections come from reads with many low-quality bases identified by upstream processing. Benchmarks were done using real error masks on simulated data, a pure source template, and a pooled template of genomic DNA from known organisms. PANDAseq assembled reads more rapidly and with reduced error incorporation compared to alternative methods.

Conclusions

PANDAseq rapidly assembles sequences and scales to billions of paired-end reads. Assembly of control libraries showed a 4-50% increase in the number of assembled sequences over naïve assembly with negligible loss of "good" sequence.
CodingMotif: exact determination of overrepresented nucleotide motifs in coding sequences
Authors: Ding Yang , Lorenz William A , Chuang Jeffrey H
Published: February 2012

Background

It has been increasingly appreciated that coding sequences harbor regulatory sequence motifs in addition to encoding for protein. These sequence motifs are expected to be overrepresented in nucleotide sequences bound by a common protein or small RNA. However, detecting overrepresented motifs has been difficult because of interference by constraints at the protein level. Sampling-based approaches to solve this problem based on codon-shuffling have been limited to exploring only an infinitesimal fraction of the sequence space and by their use of parametric approximations.

Results

We present a novel O(N(log N)2)-time algorithm, CodingMotif, to identify nucleotide-level motifs of unusual copy number in protein-coding regions. Using a new dynamic programming algorithm we are able to exhaustively calculate the distribution of the number of occurrences of a motif over all possible coding sequences that encode the same amino acid sequence, given a background model for codon usage and dinucleotide biases. Our method takes advantage of the sparseness of loci where a given motif can occur, greatly speeding up the required convolution calculations. Knowledge of the distribution allows one to assess the exact non-parametric p-value of whether a given motif is over- or under- represented. We demonstrate that our method identifies known functional motifs more accurately than sampling and parametric-based approaches in a variety of coding datasets of various size, including ChIP-seq data for the transcription factors NRSF and GABP.

Conclusions

CodingMotif provides a theoretically and empirically-demonstrated advance for the detection of motifs overrepresented in coding sequences. We expect CodingMotif to be useful for identifying motifs in functional genomic datasets such as DNA-protein binding, RNA-protein binding, or microRNA-RNA binding within coding regions. A software implementation is available at http://bioinformatics.bc.edu/chuanglab/codingmotif.tar
Functional alleles of the flowering time regulator FRIGIDA in the Brassica oleraceagenome
Authors: Irwin Judith A , Lister Clare , Soumpourou Eleni , Zhang Yanwen , Howell Elaine C , Teakle Graham , Dean Caroline
Published: February 2012

Background

Plants adopt different reproductive strategies as an adaptation to growth in a range of climates. In Arabidopsis thaliana FRIGIDA (FRI) confers a vernalization requirement and thus winter annual habit by increasing the expression of the MADS box transcriptional repressor FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC). Variation at FRI plays a major role in A. thaliana life history strategy, as independent loss-of-function alleles that result in a rapid-cycling habit in different accessions, appear to have evolved many times. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize orthologues of FRI in Brassica oleracea.

Results

We describe the characterization of FRI from Brassica oleracea and identify the two B. oleracea FRI orthologues (BolC.FRI.a and BolC.FRI.b). These show extensive amino acid conservation in the central and C-terminal regions to FRI from other Brassicaceae, including A. thaliana, but have a diverged N-terminus. The genes map to two of the three regions of B. oleracea chromosomes syntenic to part of A. thaliana chromosome 5 suggesting that one of the FRI copies has been lost since the ancient triplication event that formed the B. oleracea genome. This genomic position is not syntenic with FRI in A. thaliana and comparative analysis revealed a recombination event within the A. thaliana FRI promoter. This relocated A. thaliana FRI to chromosome 4, very close to the nucleolar organizer region, leaving a fragment of FRI in the syntenic location on A. thaliana chromosome 5. Our data show this rearrangement occurred after the divergence from A. lyrata. We explored the allelic variation at BolC.FRI.a within cultivated B. oleracea germplasm and identified two major alleles, which appear equally functional both to each other and A. thaliana FRI, when expressed as fusions in A. thaliana.

Conclusions

We identify the two Brassica oleracea FRI genes, one of which we show through A. thaliana complementation experiments is functional, and show their genomic location is not syntenic with A. thaliana FRI due to an ancient recombination event. This has complicated previous association analyses of FRI with variation in life history strategy in the Brassica genus.
Diagnostic accuracy of cyst fluid amphiregulin in pancreatic cysts
Authors: Tun May T , Pai Reetesh K , Kwok Shirley , Dong Aiwen , Gupta Aparna , Visser Brendan C , Norton Jeff A , Poultsides George A , Banerjee Subhas , Van Dam Jacques , Chen Ann M , Friedland Shai , Scott Brennan A , Verma Rahul , Lowe Anson W , Park Walter G
Published: February 2012

Background

Accurate tests to diagnose adenocarcinoma and high-grade dysplasia among mucinous pancreatic cysts are clinically needed. This study evaluated the diagnostic utility of amphiregulin (AREG) as a pancreatic cyst fluid biomarker to differentiate non-mucinous, benign mucinous, and malignant mucinous cysts.

Methods

A single-center retrospective study to evaluate AREG levels in pancreatic cyst fluid by ELISA from 33 patients with a histological gold standard was performed.

Results

Among the cyst fluid samples, the median (IQR) AREG levels for non-mucinous (n = 6), benign mucinous (n = 15), and cancerous cysts (n = 15) were 85 pg/ml (47-168), 63 pg/ml (30-847), and 986 pg/ml (417-3160), respectively. A significant difference between benign mucinous and malignant mucinous cysts was observed (p = 0.025). AREG levels greater than 300 pg/ml possessed a diagnostic accuracy for cancer or high-grade dysplasia of 78% (sensitivity 83%, specificity 73%).

Conclusion

Cyst fluid AREG levels are significantly higher in cancerous and high-grade dysplastic cysts compared to benign mucinous cysts. Thus AREG exhibits potential clinical utility in the evaluation of pancreatic cysts.