bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biomarker Profile Does Not Predict Weight Loss Success in Successful and Unsuccessful Diet-Reduced Obese Individuals: A Prospective Study
Authors: Polsky Sarit , Ogden Lorraine Garratt , MacLean Paul Scown , Giles Erin Danielle , Brill Carrie , Wyatt Holly Roxanna
Published: May 2013

Background. Individuals attempting weight reduction have varying success when participating in the same intervention. Identifying physiological factors associated with greater weight loss could improve outcomes. Methods. Sixty-one adults (BMI 27–30 kg/m2) participated in a 16-week group-based, cognitive-behavioral control weight loss program. Concentrations of 12 fasting hormones and cytokines related to adiposity, satiety/hunger, and inflammation were measured using the Milliplex human metabolic human panel before and after weight loss. Participants were grouped based on ≥8% (successful group, SG) or <8% weight loss (less successful group, LSG). Results. The SG had 46 subjects (75.4%), while the LSG had 15 (24.6%). There were no differences in baseline sex distribution, age, weight, BMI, and body composition between groups. In the SG, baseline to the 16-week levels decreased significantly for c-peptide (1,030 versus 891 pg/mL, ), insulin (665 versus 541 pg/mL, ), and leptin (0.83 versus 0.58 ng/mL/kg fat, ). None of the baseline analytes predicted greater weight loss. Conclusions. Successful weight loss was associated with changes in adiposity (less fat mass) and unfavorable hunger signals. No baseline biomarker profile was associated with weight loss success. Behavioral factors may have outweighed physiological signals for determining successful weight loss. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00429650.
Metastatic Bladder Cancer Presenting with Persistent Hematuria in Young Man with Cystic Fibrosis
Authors: Patel Premal , Rabin Harvey R. , Vickers Michael M. , Parkins Michael D.
Published: May 2013

We report a case of metastatic bladder cancer developing in a young man with cystic fibrosis (CF) that was initially diagnosed as ureterolithiasis and managed as renal colic. With the improved survival of patients with CF, an increasing burden of extrapulmonary disease manifestations is apparent. Renal colic is observed at an increased frequency in patients with CF relative to the general population and is a commonly recognized cause of hematuria. However, CF patients harboring a malignancy are recognized to be at increased risk of delayed identification owing to atypical symptoms and lack of demographic risk factors. This case illustrates how investigations to rule out malignancy are warranted in those CF patients not responding to therapies directed towards presumptive diagnoses.
Selective Segmentation for Global Optimization of Depth Estimation in Complex Scenes
Authors: Liu Sheng , Jin Haiqiang , Mao Xiaojun , Zhai Binbin , Zhan Ye , Feng Xiaofei
Published: May 2013

This paper proposes a segmentation‐based global optimization method for depth estimation. Firstly, for obtaining accurate matching cost, the original local stereo matching approach based on self‐adapting matching window is integrated with two matching cost optimization strategies aiming at handling both borders and occlusion regions. Secondly, we employ a comprehensive smooth term to satisfy diverse smoothness request in real scene. Thirdly, a selective segmentation term is used for enforcing the plane trend constraints selectively on the corresponding segments to further improve the accuracy of depth results from object level. Experiments on the Middlebury image pairs show that the proposed global optimization approach is considerably competitive with other state‐of‐the‐art matching approaches.
Toward the Era of a One-Stop Imaging Service Using an Angiography Suite for Neurovascular Disorders
Authors: Hung Sheng-Che , Lin Chung-Jung , Guo Wan-Yuo , Chang Feng-Chi , Luo Chao-Bao , Teng Michael Mu-Huo , Chang Cheng-Yen
Published: May 2013

Transportation of patients requiring multiple diagnostic and imaging-guided therapeutic modalities is unavoidable in current radiological practice. This clinical scenario causes time delays and increased risk in the management of stroke and other neurovascular emergencies. Since the emergence of flat-detector technology in imaging practice in recent decades, studies have proven that flat-detector X-ray angiography in conjunction with contrast medium injection and specialized reconstruction algorithms can provide not only high-quality and high-resolution CT-like images but also functional information. This improvement in imaging technology allows quantitative assessment of intracranial hemodynamics and, subsequently in the same imaging session, provides treatment guidance for patients with neurovascular disorders by using only a flat-detector angiographic suite—a so-called one-stop quantitative imaging service (OSIS). In this paper, we review the recent developments in the field of flat-detector imaging and share our experience of applying this technology in neurovascular disorders such as acute ischemic stroke, cerebral aneurysm, and stenoocclusive carotid diseases.
A High Performance Cloud-Based Protein-Ligand Docking Prediction Algorithm
Authors: Chen Jui-Le , Tsai Chun-Wei , Chiang Ming-Chao , Yang Chu-Sing
Published: May 2013

The potential of predicting druggability for a particular disease by integrating biological and computer science technologies has witnessed success in recent years. Although the computer science technologies can be used to reduce the costs of the pharmaceutical research, the computation time of the structure-based protein-ligand docking prediction is still unsatisfied until now. Hence, in this paper, a novel docking prediction algorithm, named fast cloud-based protein-ligand docking prediction algorithm (FCPLDPA), is presented to accelerate the docking prediction algorithm. The proposed algorithm works by leveraging two high-performance operators: (1) thenovelmigration (information exchange) operator is designed specially for cloud-based environments to reduce the computation time; (2) theefficientoperator is aimed at filtering out the worst search directions. Our simulation results illustrate that the proposed method outperforms the other docking algorithms compared in this paper in terms of both the computation time and the quality of the end result.
Two-Way Acknowledgment-Based Trust Framework for Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Anita X. , Martin Leo Manickam J. , Bhagyaveni M. A.
Published: May 2013

Security is an inherent and challenging task in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) characterized by multihop routing and stringent resource constraints such as limited processing capability, storage capacity, communication bandwidth, and energy. Most of the existing trust-based routing schemes require the support of promiscuous mode of operation and gather a large number of recommendations from the neighbors for trust derivation. These result in higher energy consumption, higher communication overhead, and larger memory requirements in a resource constrained sensor network. In this paper, we propose a new two-way acknowledgment-based trust (2-ACKT) framework with individual (2-ACKT-I) and group (2-ACKT-G) acknowledgment to minimize the communication overhead and memory requirement for trust establishment in WSNs. The 2-ACKT protocol calculates the direct trust using a link layer acknowledgment and a two-hop acknowledgment from a downstream neighbor. The simulation and theoretical results indicate that 2-ACKT scheme significantly outperforms the conventional multihop and trust-based routing schemes in terms of packet delivery ratio, network lifetime, communication overhead, and memory requirements.
The Amelioration of N-Acetyl-p-Benzoquinone Imine Toxicity by Ginsenoside Rg3: The Role of Nrf2-Mediated Detoxification and Mrp1/Mrp3 Transports
Authors: Gum Sang Il , Cho Min Kyung
Published: May 2013

Previously, we found that Korean red ginseng suppressed acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatotoxicity via alteration of its metabolic profile involving GSTA2 induction and that ginsenoside Rg3 was a major component of this gene induction. In the present study, therefore, we assessed the protective effect of Rg3 against N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI), a toxic metabolic intermediate of APAP. Excess NAPQI resulted in GSH depletion with increases in the ALT and AST activities in H4IIE cells. Rg3 pretreatment reversed GSH depletion by NAPQI. Rg3 resulted in increased mRNA levels of the catalytic and modulatory subunit of glutamate cysteine ligase (GCL), the rate-limiting steps in GSH synthesis and subsequently increased GSH content. Rg3 increased levels of nuclear Nrf2, an essential transcriptional factor of these genes. The knockdown or knockout of the Nrf2 gene abrogated the inductions of mRNA and protein by Rg3. Abolishment of the reversal of GSH depletion by Rg3 against NAPQI was observed in Nrf2-deficient cells. Rg3 induced multidrug resistance-associated protein (Mrp) 1 and Mrp3 mRNA levels, but not in Nrf2-deficient cells. Taken together, these results demonstrate that Rg3 is efficacious in protecting hepatocytes against NAPQI insult, due to GSH repletion and coordinated gene regulations of GSH synthesis and Mrp family genes by Nrf2.
Functional Implications of Local DNA Structures in Regulatory Motifs
Authors: Xiang Qian
Published: May 2013

The three‐dimensional structure of DNA has been proposed to be a major determinant for functional transcription factors (TFs) and DNA interaction. Here, we use hydroxyl radical cleavage pattern as a measure of local DNA structure. We compared the conservation between DNA sequence and structure in terms of information content and attempted to assess the functional implications of DNA structures in regulatory motifs. We used statistical methods to evaluate the structural divergence of substituting a single position within a binding site and applied them to a collection of putative regulatory motifs. The following are our major observations: (i) we observed more information in structural alignment than in the corresponding sequence alignment for most of the transcriptional factors; (ii) for each TF, majority of positions have more information in the structural alignment as compared to the sequence alignment; (iii) we further defined a DNA structural divergence score (SD score) for each wild‐type and mutant pair that is distinguished by single‐base mutation. The SD score for benign mutations is significantly lower than that of switch mutations. This indicates structural conservation is also important for TFBS to be functional and DNA structures will provide previously unappreciated information for TF to realize the binding specificity.
Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutation in a Patient with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lung: Who Should Be Tested
Authors: Schwitter Michael , Rodriguez Regulo , Schneider Tino , Kluckert Thomas , Brutsche Martin , Früh Martin
Published: May 2013

We report the case of a 64-year-old ex-smoker with metastatic poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lung and an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation in exon 21 (p.L858R) who achieved prolonged clinical benefit from treatment with an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). The initial diagnosis of SCC of the lung obtained by bronchoscopic biopsy was based on immunohistochemical staining only with positivity for cytokeratin (CK) 5/6 and p63 because morphological diagnosis was not possible. Patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), not otherwise specified (NOS) favouring SCC are usually not tested for the presence of EGFR mutations, and therefore may not receive EGFR TKI therapy. A bronchoscopic rebiopsy showed small nests of undifferentiated tumour cells with weak immunoreactivity of some tumour cells for CK5/6, p63 and no positivity of some tumour cells for thyroid transcription factor-1. These findings suggested a mixed squamous/glandular immunophenotype that has been missed at the initial biopsy. Our clinical case illustrates the problem of tumour heterogeneity encountered in small bronchoscopic biopsies and the difficulties of evaluating the histological subtype in poorly differentiated carcinomas. Initial bronchoscopy should be performed by an experienced pulmonologist who attempts to obtain sufficient material from different areas of the tumour. In the era of targeted therapy, a remote smoking history in a patient with NOS favouring SCC should also lead to EGFR mutation testing to allow highly effective therapy to be offered to mutation-positive patients.
Innate Signaling Promotes Formation of Regulatory Nitric Oxide–Producing Dendritic Cells Limiting T-Cell Expansion in Experimental Autoimmune Myocarditis
Authors: Kania Gabriela , Siegert Stefanie , Behnke Silvia , Prados-Rosales Rafael , Casadevall Arturo , Lüscher Thomas F. , Luther Sanjiv A. , Kopf Manfred , Eriksson Urs , Blyszczuk Przemyslaw
Published: May 2013

Background—

Activation of innate pattern-recognition receptors promotes CD4
+
T-cell–mediated autoimmune myocarditis and subsequent inflammatory cardiomyopathy. Mechanisms that counterregulate exaggerated heart-specific autoimmunity are poorly understood.

Methods and Results—

Experimental autoimmune myocarditis was induced in BALB/c mice by immunization with α-myosin heavy chain peptide and complete Freund’s adjuvant. Together with interferon-γ, heat-killed
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
, an essential component of complete Freund’s adjuvant, converted CD11b
hi
CD11c
−
monocytes into tumor necrosis factor-α– and nitric oxide synthase 2–producing dendritic cells (TipDCs). Heat-killed
M. tuberculosis
stimulated production of nitric oxide synthase 2 via Toll-like receptor 2–mediated nuclear factor-κB activation. TipDCs limited antigen-specific T-cell expansion through nitric oxide synthase 2–dependent nitric oxide production. Moreover, they promoted nitric oxide synthase 2 production in hematopoietic and stromal cells in a paracrine manner. Consequently, nitric oxide synthase 2 production by both radiosensitive hematopoietic and radioresistant stromal cells prevented exacerbation of autoimmune myocarditis in vivo.

Conclusions—

Innate Toll-like receptor 2 stimulation promotes formation of regulatory TipDCs, which confine autoreactive T-cell responses in experimental autoimmune myocarditis via nitric oxide. Therefore, activation of innate pattern-recognition receptors is critical not only for disease induction but also for counterregulatory mechanisms, protecting the heart from exaggerated autoimmunity.
Social Epidemiology of Hypertension in Middle-Income Countries
Authors: Basu Sanjay , Millett Christopher
Published: May 2013

Large-scale hypertension screening campaigns have been recommended for middle-income countries. We sought to identify sociodemographic predictors of hypertension prevalence, diagnosis, treatment, and control among middle-income countries. We analyzed data from 47 443 adults in all 6 middle-income countries (China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia, and South Africa) sampled in nationally representative household assessments from 2007 to 2010 as part of the World Health Organization Study on Global Aging and Adult Health. We estimated regression models accounting for age, sex, urban/rural location, nutrition, and obesity, as well as hypothesized covariates of healthcare access, such as income and insurance. Hypertension prevalence varied from 23% (India) to 52% (Russia), with between 30% (Russia) and 83% (Ghana) of hypertensives undiagnosed before the survey and between 35% (Russia) and 87% (Ghana) untreated. Although the risk of hypertension significantly increased with age (odds ratio, 4.6; 95% confidence interval, 3.0–7.1; among aged, 60–79 versus <40 years), the risk of being undiagnosed or untreated fell significantly with age. Obesity was a significant correlate to hypertension (odds ratio, 3.7; 95% confidence interval, 2.1–6.8 for obese versus normal weight), and was prevalent even among the lowest income quintile (13% obesity). Insurance status and income also emerged as significant correlates to diagnosis and treatment probability, respectively. More than 90% of hypertension cases were uncontrolled, with men having 3 times the odds as women of being uncontrolled. Overall, the social epidemiology of hypertension in middle-income countries seems to be correlated to increasing obesity prevalence, and hypertension control rates are particularly low for adult men across distinct cultures.
Direct Access to the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights by Individuals and Non Governmental Organisations: An Overview of the Emerging Jurisprudence of the African Court 2008-2012
Authors: Ssenyonjo Manisuli
Published: May 2013

Articles 5(3) and 34(6) of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights require that an application before the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Court) will not be ‘received’ unless two conditions are fulfilled. First, the application must be filed against a State which has ratified the Protocol. Second, an application can be received only against a State which made an optional declaration accepting the competence of the Court to receive cases from Non Governmental organisations (NGOs) with observer status before the Commission and individuals. The vast majority of State parties to the Protocol have not filed (and are not likely to file in the near future) a declaration to allow NGOs and individuals, most likely to bring human rights cases before the Court, direct access to the Court. This article examines the impact of the limitation imposed on direct access to the Court by individuals and NGOs on the African Court’s jurisdiction by considering the applications decided by the Court since it started its operations in 2006 up to December 2012. It is argued that the limitation is a major challenge currently facing the Court and that it has adversely affected the exercise of the Court’s jurisdiction. It is concluded that allowing NGOs and individuals direct access to the Court will make a significant contribution to the attainment of the objectives of the African Charter and the Court’s Protocol.
Recent Developments
Authors: Ddamulira Mujuzi Jamil
Published: May 2013

Article 50(4) of the 2010 Kenyan constitution provides that ‘[e]vidence obtained in a manner that violates any right or fundamental freedom in the Bill of Rights shall be excluded if the admission of that evidence would render the trial unfair, or would otherwise be detrimental to the administration of justice.’ In other words, Article 50(4) allows a court to admit evidence obtained in a manner that violates a right or rights in the bill of rights provided the admission of such evidence would not render the trial unfair or otherwise be detrimental to the administration of justice. At the time of writing Kenyan courts had not yet interpreted the meaning of Article 50(4). The purpose of this article is to rely on jurisprudence from countries such as South Africa and Hong Kong and international and regional human rights bodies and suggest ways through which Kenyan courts could apply Article 50(4).
Three new species in the subfamily Eriopeltinae Šulc from Italy (Hemiptera, Coccoidea, Coccidae) with comments on the genus Lecanopsis
Authors: PELLIZZARI GIUSEPPINA
Published: May 2013

Three new coccid species, namely Hadzibejliaspis ferenci Pellizzari n. sp., Lecanopsis sicula Pellizzari n. sp. and L. salvatorei Pellizzari n. sp. are described and illustrated. Identification keys for the genera in the subfamily Eriopeltinae Šulc and to species in the genera Hadzibejliaspis Koteja and Lecanopsis Targioni Tozzetti are provided.
Benthic amphipods (Amphipoda: Gammaridea and Corophiidea) from the Mexican southeast sector of the Gulf of Mexico: checklist, new records and zoogeographic comments
Authors: PAZ-RÍOS CARLOS E. , ARDISSON PEDRO-LUIS
Published: May 2013

The southeast region of theGulf of Mexicois considered to be biologically important, because it is a connection and transition zone between theCaribbeanand theGulf of Mexico, harboring great marine biodiversity. Nevertheless, benthic amphipods have been poorly studied in the Mexican southeast sector of theGulf of Mexicowith few studies listing species. The aim of this study is to provide an update checklist of species for the Mexican southeast sector (based on literature review and records from the present study) as well as a brief zoogeographical analysis for theGulf of Mexicoamphipod fauna, putting them in context with the fauna on the tropical westernAtlantic. Fifty-five species were listed for the Mexican southeast sector; 36 of them showed a geographical extension to the Yucatan continental shelf representing 23 new records for the Mexican southeast sector, nine for the southeast region and four for the Gulf of Mexico. Based on the zoogeographical analysis, there is support of the application of Carolinian andCaribbeanzoogeographic provinces to amphipods in theGulf of Mexico.
Rediscovery of the troglobious palpigrade Eukoenenia draco (Peyerimhoff 1906) (Palpigradi: Eukoeneniidae), with notes on the adaptations to a cave-dwelling life
Authors: MAYORAL J. G. , BARRANCO P.
Published: May 2013

Several females, a male, and an immature of the species Eukoenenia draco (Peyerimhoff, 1906) have been captured recently in Majorca, more than a century after its description. The male of this enigmatic species is described for the first time and the female is redescribed, with new data and figures. The level of adaptation of this species to a cave-dwelling life is discussed and compared with those of other troglobitic species of palpigrades. Comparison of E. draco draco with E. draco zariquieyi (Condé, 1951) reveals substantial differences that lead us to consider E. zariquieyi stat. nov. as a full species.
Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) of East Asia (2). Study of a collection sample deposited at the Russian Academy of Sciences, with descriptions of new species and a checklist
Authors: ROCIENĖ AGNĖ , STONIS JONAS R.
Published: May 2013

Over the few couple of decades, the Nepticulidae of East Asia have been the subject of continuing investigation. Male genitalia of the nepticulid species described from Primorskiy Kray (the Russian Far East) were re-examined in the preced-ing paper in this journal. The present paper continues our study on the diversity and systematics of the Nepticulidae of East Asia based on a sample of specimens collected in 1974–1990 at various sites of the southern part of Primorskiy Kray and treats 35 species: two new taxa (Ectoedemia ortiva sp. nov. and E. species 219) and 33 other species. Seventeen of them are briefly discussed and illustrated with photographs of male genitalia. Two new synonyms are proposed, and three new distribution records are provided. We also provide an updated checklist of the Nepticulidae of East Asia, which com-prises 105 species; 67 species occur in the Russian Far East and 53 in Japan (20 of which occur both in Japan and Russia). Species with Euro-East Asiatic distribution currently comprise 11% of the Japanese fauna and 16% of the continental fau-na of the Russian Far East, Primorskiy Kray.
Heterodera fengi n. sp. (Nematoda: Heteroderinae) from bamboo in Guangdong Province, China—a new cyst nematode in the Cyperi group
Authors: WANG HONGHONG , ZHUO KAN , YE WEIMIN , ZHANG HONGLING , PENG DELIANG , LIAO JINLING
Published: May 2013

Heterodera fengi n. sp. is described and illustrated from bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens Mazel) based on morphology and molecular analyses of rRNA LSU D2D3 region and ITS. This new species belongs to the Cyperi group. Cysts are characterized by prominent vulval cone with ambifenestrate, bifurcate underbridge that is thicker in middle and a 47.0 (40.0–60.0) μm long vulval slit, but without bullae. The second-stage juveniles are characterized by a 23.2 (22.0–24.0) μm long stylet with slightly projected or anteriorly flattened knobs, three incisures in lateral field, a 70.2 (62.5–77.0) μm long tail with bluntly rounded terminus and hyaline portion ca 58.9 (50.0–62.5)% of the tail length. Males are character-ized by a 25.1 (24.5–26.3) μm long stylet with rounded knobs sloping posteriorly, four incisures in lateral field, a 29.8 (27.5–31.3) μm long spicule with bifurcate tip. Phylogenetic analysis shows that the species has unique D2D3 and ITS rRNA sequences and RFLP-ITS-rRNA profiles. Heterodera fengi n. sp. is closest to H. elachista in dendrograms inferred from both DNA sequences.
A new yellow species of glassfrog (Centrolenidae: Nymphargus) from the Amazonian slopes of the Ecuadorian Andes
Authors: GUAYASAMIN JUAN M.
Published: May 2013

I describe a new glassfrog from the cloud forest of the Andes of southwestern Ecuador (Plan de Milagro–Gualaceo road; 3.0077°S, 78.53318°W), at elevations between 2140–2160 m. The new species is distinguished mostly by having a pale yellow dorsal coloration instead of the green that characterizes most centrolenids. Morphological traits (i.e., reduced web-bing between Fingers III and IV and lack of humeral spines) support the placement of the new species in the genus Nymph-argus.
Modeling the Vulnerability of an Urban Groundwater System due to the Combined Impacts of Climate Change and Management Scenarios
Authors: Sekhar M. , Shindekar M. , Tomer Sat K. , Goswami P.
Published: May 2013

Climate change impact on a groundwater-dependent small urban town has been investigated in the semiarid hard rock aquifer in southern India. A distributed groundwater model was used to simulate the groundwater levels in the study region for the projected future rainfall (2012–32) obtained from a general circulation model (GCM) to estimate the impacts of climate change and management practices on groundwater system. Management practices were based on the human-induced changes on the urban infrastructure such as reduced recharge from the lakes, reduced recharge from water and wastewater utility due to an operational and functioning underground drainage system, and additional water extracted by the water utility for domestic purposes. An assessment of impacts on the groundwater levels was carried out by calibrating a groundwater model using comprehensive data gathered during the period 2008–11 and then simulating the future groundwater level changes using rainfall from six GCMs [Institute of Numerical Mathematics Coupled Model, version 3.0 (INM-CM.3.0); L'Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace Coupled Model, version 4 (IPSL-CM4); Model for Interdisciplinary Research on Climate, version 3.2 (MIROC3.2); ECHAM and the global Hamburg Ocean Primitive Equation (ECHO-G); Hadley Centre Coupled Model, version 3 (HadCM3); and Hadley Centre Global Environment Model, version 1 (HadGEM1)] that were found to show good correlation to the historical rainfall in the study area. The model results for the present condition indicate that the annual average discharge (sum of pumping and natural groundwater outflow) was marginally or moderately higher at various locations than the recharge and further the recharge is aided from the recharge from the lakes. Model simulations showed that groundwater levels were vulnerable to the GCM rainfall and a scenario of moderate reduction in recharge from lakes. Hence, it is important to sustain the induced recharge from lakes by ensuring that sufficient runoff water flows to these lakes.
Treatment Notes: Objective Measures of Language Style Point to Clinical Insights
Authors: Hoffman Leon , Algus Jane , Braun Will , Bucci Wilma , Maskit Bernard
Published: May 2013

Application of a computerized text analysis procedure is proposed that has the potential for use by psychoanalytic and psychodynamic clinicians: the systematic examination of linguistic style as reflected by clinicians in their ongoing process and case notes, which are ubiquitous in the mental health field. The studies reported here are, as far as is known, the first attempts to study treatment notes systematically using such procedures. Linguistic measures are used to track the trajectory of the clinical process throughout the treatment in two contrasting cases, one rated successful, the other not. The computerized linguistic analysis used here focuses on two analytically relevant linguistic variables: Mean High Referential Activity (MHW), a measure of the degree to which language is connected to emotional processing, and Reflection (REF), the use of words referring to logical functions. Changes in the relative position of these measures indicate nodal points in the treatment that might be analytically or therapeutically problematic, and that might be overlooked in a solely clinical reading. The analyst’s activity as reported in notes during such nodal periods is clinically examined to see how it may have affected the course of the analysis. This method has the potential for use in ongoing treatments, and may help clinicians refine their interventions.
The NIOSH Lifting Equation and Low-Back Pain, Part 1
Authors: Garg Arun , Boda Sruthi , Hegmann Kurt T. , Moore J. Steven , Kapellusch Jay M. , Bhoyar Parag , Thiese Matthew S. , Merryweather Andrew , Deckow-Schaefer Gwen , Bloswick Donald , Malloy Elizabeth J.
Published: May 2013

Objective:

The aim of this study was to evaluate relationships between the revised NIOSH lifting equation (RNLE) and risk of low-back pain (LBP).

Background:

The RNLE is commonly used to quantify job physical stressors to the low back from lifting and/or lowering of loads. There is no prospective study on the relationship between RNLE and LBP that includes accounting for relevant covariates.

Method:

A cohort of 258 incident-eligible workers from 30 diverse facilities was followed for up to 4.5 years. Job physical exposures were individually measured. Worker demographics, medical history, psychosocial factors, hobbies, and current LBP were obtained at baseline. The cohort was followed monthly to ascertain development of LBP and quarterly to determine changes in job physical exposure. The relationship between LBP and peak lifting index (PLI) and peak composite lifting index (PCLI) were tested in multivariate models using proportional hazards regression.

Results:

Point and lifetime prevalences of LBP at baseline were 7.1% and 75.1%, respectively. During follow-up, there were 123 incident LBP cases. Factors predicting development of LBP included job physical exposure (PLI and PCLI), history of LBP, psychosocial factors, and housework. In adjusted models, risk (hazard ratio [HR]) increased per-unit increase in PLI and PCLI ( p = .05 and .02; maximum HR = 4.3 and 4.2, respectively). PLI suggested a continuous increase in risk with an increase in PLI, whereas the PCLI showed elevated, but somewhat reduced, risk at higher exposures.

Conclusion:

Job physical stressors are associated with increased risk of LBP. Data suggest that the PLI and PCLI are useful metrics for estimating exposure to job physical stressors.
Student Grade Expectations at Technical College, 2-, and 4-Year Institutions
Authors: McCann Lee I. , Immel Kathy R. , Kadah-Ammeter Tammy L. , Priniski Stacy J.
Published: May 2013

Although students’ final course grade expectations have been the focus of several studies, none have looked systematically at students’ expectations for grade distributions for the whole class across institutional types, student year in school, and course levels. This study examined such differences as a function of gender, course level, and year in school at a university, community college, and technical college. Participants indicated average grades students should receive in first-year, sophomore and, for university students, junior and senior level courses. Technical and community college students expected higher grades than university students, and university students expected higher grades for lower level courses as their years in school increased. Expected grades typically increased with course level, and women expected higher grades than did men.
Jerusalem and Caesarea Inscriptions and New Testament Study: A Review Article
Authors: Gathercole Simon
Published: May 2013

A new series, the Corpus Inscriptionum Iudaeae/Palaestinae, aims to present systematically all the inscriptions of Judaea/Palestine. The ﬁrst two volumes, covering Jerusalem and Caesarea, are briefly reviewed here, and some implications for aspects of New Testament study are noted.
How Reliable is the Story of the Nag Hammadi Discovery?
Authors: Goodacre Mark
Published: May 2013

James Robinson’s narrative of how the Nag Hammadi codices were discovered is popular and compelling, a piece of ﬁne investigative journalism that includes intrigue and blood vengeance. But there are several different, conflicting versions of the story, including two-person (1977), seven-person (1979) and eight-person (1981) versions. Disagreements include the name of the person who ﬁrst found the jar. Martin Krause and Rodolphe Kasser both questioned these stories in 1984, and their scepticism is corroborated by the Channel 4 (UK) series, The Gnostics (1987), which features Muhammad ‘Ali himself, in his only known appearance in front of camera, offering his account of the discovery. Several major points of divergence from the earlier reports raise questions about the reliability of ‘Ali’s testimony. It may be safest to conclude that the earlier account of the discovery offered by Jean Doresse in 1958 is more reliable than the later, more detailed, more vivid versions that are so frequently retold.
Not with Eloquent Wisdom: Democratic Ekklēsia Discourse in 1 Corinthians 1–4
Authors: Miller Anna C.
Published: May 2013

For the most part, scholars have disregarded the influence of the democratic, civic ekklēsia on Paul’s discussion over speech and wisdom in 1 Cor. 1–4. Yet the notion of the civic ekklēsia served as a source of practice, identity and democratic discourse in the early Roman Empire. Moreover, speech proved to be a critical topos of democratic rhetoric, a topos structuring the nature of citizen participation and leadership in the ekklēsia context. Reading 1 Cor. 1–4 in light of ekklēsia discourse provides new insights into Paul’s rhetoric as designed to establish his authority by negotiating with a community that understood itself as a powerful, democratic assembly.
Applying educational psychology in a changing World: Some lessons from Mongolia
Authors: Burden Robert , Taylor William
Published: May 2013

This article describes the evaluation of a project designed to provide in-service training for teachers in rural schools in Outer Mongolia in techniques of independent and co-operative learning. Difficulties faced by Mongolian teachers in implementing a new national standards based curriculum were identified by the Mongolian State Education University responsible for teacher training. In conjunction with an EU funded UK team of educators, a Master’s degree course was established based upon principles of reflective practice and action research. Sixty-eight teachers from two Mongolian rural provinces completed the course, which mainly took place at intensive summer workshops supported by interim visits to schools by the Mongolian and UK tutors. The project was evaluated by means of a form of illuminative evaluation utilizing the SPARE wheel model of Burden and Williams (1996). This is based upon a socio-cultural view of learning which emphasizes in particular the importance of relating educational interventions to the social and historical context in which they occur. It is argued that applied educational/school psychology would benefit from more large-scale involvement of this nature in global educational systems.
Social Capital Formation across Space
Authors: Fazio Giorgio , Lavecchia Luciano
Published: May 2013

An extensive economics and regional science literature has discussed the importance of social capital for economic growth and development. Yet, what social capital is and how it is formed are elusive issues, which require further investigation. Here, we refer to social capital in terms of “civic” capital and “good culture,” as rephrased by Guiso, Sapienza, and Zingales and Tabellini. The accumulation of this kind of capital allows the emerging of regional informal institutions, which may help explaining differences in regional development. In this article, we take a regional perspective and use exploratory space and space–time methods to assess whether geography, via proximity, contributes to the formation of social capital across European regions. In particular, we investigate whether generalized trust, a fundamental constituent of civic capital and an ingredient of economic development, tends to be clustered in space and over time. From the policy standpoint, the spatial “path dependence” of regional trust may contribute to the formation of “spatial traps” of social capital and act as a further barrier to regional economic development and convergence.
Is telephone review feasible and potentially effective in low vision services?
Authors: Parkes Claire , Lennon Julie , Harper Robert
Published: May 2013

Purpose:

Demographic transformations within the UK population combine to contribute to a substantial increase in demand for low vision (LV) services, creating a pressing need to reconsider the appropriate methods for service provision. In this study, we evaluate the feasibility of using telephone triage to assess the need for, and timing of, LV follow-up appointments.

Methods:

A cohort of new patients attending the LV Clinic at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital (MREH) was recruited, independent of vision or visual impairment (VI) registration status. Four weeks after this initial clinic assessment, each patient was telephoned and a structured review was conducted. All patients were subsequently followed up at 3 months in the LV clinic.

Results:

A total of 52 patients were recruited, with the corrected ‘better-eye’ visual acuity (VA) ranging from 0.18 logMAR (6/9.5 + 1) to 1.36 logMAR (6/152 + 2) with a mean of 0.66 logMAR (6/30 + 2). In total, 36 patients completed all aspects of the study. At telephone review, 70 (93%) of the low vision aids (LVAs) loaned were reported to have been used on at least one occasion. Ten patients (22%) were deemed to not require follow-up, 15 (33%) were judged to benefit from an earlier (1 month) review, and 16 (35%) were judged to require 3-month follow-up. Reminding patients at telephone review provided a significant increase in adherence with advice to bring any loaned devices to clinic review ( p < 0.01). Face-to-face clinic review outcomes at 3 months permitted some insight into the effectiveness of telephone triage.

Conclusions:

Implementing telephone review is feasible for triaging LV follow-up requirements. A number of patient issues can be dealt with immediately and effectively at telephone review, potentially negating the need for a face-to-face clinic review for some patients while identifying a more pressing need for earlier review in others, factors that might improve cost-effectiveness of service provision if subjected to formal health economic evaluation.
Counselling for sight loss: Using systematic case study research to build a client informed practice model
Authors: Thurston Mhairi , McLeod John , Thurston Allen
Published: May 2013

There is compelling evidence to suggest that acquired sight loss negatively impacts on emotional well-being. Despite increasing recognition of the need to provide emotional support for people with sight loss, we still do not fully understand what counselling interventions help and why they help. The aim of this study was to examine the process and outcome of counselling for a 70-year-old client who had experienced complete, irreversible, post-operative sight loss in order to gain a deeper understanding of client-defined helpful aspects of therapy. A Hermeneutic Single-Case Efficacy Design study was undertaken having received ethical approval from the University’s Research Ethics Committee. The client received six sessions of counselling from a vision-impaired counsellor working within a pluralistic framework. Measures were completed by the client at every session, as well as at pre- and post-counselling. All sessions were recorded and transcribed. The client also participated in pre- and post-counselling interviews. Data formed a rich case record that was analysed by a quasi-judicial enquiry team. Results suggested that this was a successful outcome case. Client-defined helpful aspects of therapy were (1) feeling understood; (2) being able to express emotions around the loss of sight; (3) finding a new identity; (4) finding ways to cope with fear, loss, dependency, and other people’s perceptions; (5) exploring the possibility of a positive future without sight; (6) making sense of things; and (7) finding ways to become more socially connected. Relevant therapeutic tasks are proposed, and four key aspects of therapy are identified, which may have implications for the development of a practice model.
Living with age-related macular degeneration treatment: Patient experiences of being treated with ranibizumab (Lucentis)(R) intravitreal injections
Authors: Thetford Clare , Hodge Suzanne , Harding Simon , Taylor Sandra , Knox Paul C
Published: May 2013

This study reports the results of a qualitative study of patient experiences of receiving treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration with ranibizumab (Lucentis)(R). Treatment involved monthly hospital visits for assessment and, where required, an intravitreal Lucentis injection. Qualitative narrative interviews were conducted with 22 patients, 18 of whom received treatment and were interviewed at two points during their treatment journey. Interviews allowed participants to reflect on their experiences of being assessed for and receiving this treatment. Overall, treated participants reported that while they had been apprehensive about treatment, the actual experience of it was far less unpleasant than they had expected. However, the data also revealed a number of issues surrounding the provision of information about treatment, as well as service delivery issues, which had considerable impact upon their experience.
Audio-described educational materials: Ugandan teachers’ experiences
Authors: Wormnæs Siri , Sellæg Nina
Published: May 2013

This article describes and discusses a qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory study of how 12 visually impaired teachers in Uganda experienced audio-described educational video material for teachers and student teachers. The study is based upon interviews with these teachers and observations while they were using the material either individually, in pairs, or in small groups along with sighted teachers. The findings demonstrate that audio-described material was highly appreciated by the teachers, contributing to their involvement and emotional engagement with the situation for learners with disabilities. The teachers also benefited from the opportunity of participating in the discussion sessions that followed the viewing. In this article, questions regarding what and how to audio describe are discussed in the light of educational objectives and cultural relevance. The overall aim of the study is to make a contribution to knowledge about how audio-described educational videos may assist inclusive and reflective learning processes among blind teachers and student teachers in an East African context.
Filial piety in contemporary Chinese societies: A comparative study of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China
Authors: Yeh Kuang-Hui , Yi Chin-Chun , Tsao Wei-Chun , Wan Po-San
Published: May 2013

This study investigates the functions and implications of contemporary filial piety in three Chinese societies, namely, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China, using large-scale cross-national datasets from the 2006 East Asian Social Survey. Despite the shared Confucian cultural values among these three societies, they have sharply differed in their paths toward modernization and in the development of their sociopolitical structures over the last century. The authors propose that the implications and influences of filial piety tend to be more similar in Taiwan and Hong Kong, but may be different in China because of profound differences in its sociopolitical system. Using the dual filial piety model as the baseline for comparative analyses, the results show that dual filial piety can be found in all three societies, although there are some componential alterations in China. The study also goes beyond the common practice of treating filial piety within the confines of caring for family elders by considering its functional utility to influence an individual’s sociopsychological outcomes. The regression results support the significance of dual filial piety and its close association with various aspects of daily life in contemporary Chinese societies.
A comparative analysis of intergenerational relations in East Asia
Authors: Lin Ju-Ping , Yi Chin-Chun
Published: May 2013

Due to rapid aging of populations in East Asia, intergenerational relations are changing. This study examines these changes in four East Asian societies, chosen for their shared cultural background of patriarchy: China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. Data were taken from the 2006 East Asian Social Survey. The authors’ analyses show that in these four East Asian societies, contemporary intergenerational relations reveal both continuity and change. Despite changing family structures, co-residence between generations remains clearly patriarchal, and the main flow of intergenerational support is still from adult children to parents. The dominant patriarchal culture also expresses itself in the continuing influence of filial norms on intergenerational relations, in that sons tend to perform various filial duties much more than daughters. However, the emergence of prolonged co-residence of young, unmarried and less educated adult children with their parents implies that the traditional pattern of intergenerational support in East Asia is changing. In addition, while filial norms remain strong the actual practice of filial responsibility may be shared among adult siblings with various resources. The study concludes that intergenerational relations in China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan share similar features, in that both change and continuity of relational patterns are observed.
Changing East Asian Families: Values and Behaviors
Authors: Yi Chin-Chun
Published: May 2013

This special set of three articles reports the findings of comparative studies of family values and relationships based on the unique East Asian Social Survey (EASS) data set. The design of the EASS was intended to facilitate comparisons between East Asian countries and, also, to address debates concerning the impact on them of contemporary global developments affecting their own social structures as well as delineating unique features when comparing them with their western counterparts. Each of these studies provides a different perspective from which to assess the continuing importance of family values and their impact on family practices or behaviours which are often posited as a distinctive feature of East Asian societies.