bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diabetes Induced Changes in Rat Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Stolzing Alexandra , Sellers Donna , Llewelyn Owen , Scutt Andy
Published: February 2010

Diabetes mellitus, the single most important cause of vascular disease in the industrialized world, is also associated with bone loss and impaired fracture healing. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the potential to differentiate into osteoblasts, chondrocytes and adipocytes and other mesenchymal cells and play a central role in bone formation and repair. Because of this, we have investigated the possibility that diabetes has direct effects on MSCs in vivo and that this might represent a cellular basis for diabetes-induced osteoporosis. We isolated MSCs from rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes and analysed them ex vivo for their ability to proliferate and differentiate in the fibroblastic colony-forming unit assay. Effects of diabetes on bone metabolism in vivo were determined by analysing tibiae from control and diabetic animals by quantitative computerized tomography. The total number of colonies and osteoblastic colonies staining positive for alkaline phosphatase were quantified and both colony size and number were found to be significantly reduced in diabetic rats. The changes appear to be mediated by the induction of apoptosis and senescence by advanced glycation end products (AGEs), together with an increase in the receptor for AGEs (RAGE). These changes were paralleled by extensive loss of trabecular bone in the tibiae of the diabetic animals. These data suggest that MSCs become exhausted during diabetes and lose their differentiation potential, leading to a net loss of trabecular bone. Therefore, direct effects on MSCs may be responsible for some of the orthopaedic effects associated with diabetes.
Human Tyrosine Hydroxylase Natural Genetic Variation
Authors: Zhang Kuixing , Zhang Lian , Rao Fangwen , Brar Bhawanjit , Rodriguez-Flores Juan L. , Taupenot Laurent , O'Connor Daniel T.
Published: February 2010

Background—

Tyrosine hydroxylase (
TH
) is the rate-limiting enzyme in catecholamine biosynthesis. Common genetic variation at the human
TH
promoter predicts alterations in autonomic activity and blood pressure, but how such variation influences human traits and, specifically, whether such variation affects transcription are not yet known.

Methods and Results—

Pairwise linkage disequilibrium across the
TH
locus indicated that common promoter variants (C-824T, G-801C, A-581G, and G-494A) were located in a single 5′ linkage disequilibrium block in white, black, Hispanic, and Asian populations. Polymorphisms C-824T and A-581G were located in highly conserved regions and were predicted to disrupt known transcriptional control motifs myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2), sex-determining region Y (SRY), and forkhead box D1 (FOXD1) at C-824T and G/C-rich binding factors specificity protein 1 (SP1), activating enhancer-binding protein 2 (AP2)], early growth response protein 1 (EGR1) at A-581G. At C-824T and A-581G, promoter and luciferase reporter plasmids indicated differential allele strength (T>C at C-824T; G>A at A-581G) under both basal circumstances and secretory stimulation. C-824T and A-581G displayed the most pronounced effects on both transcription
in cella
and catecholamine secretion in vivo. We further probed the functional significance of C-824T and A-581G by cotransfection of
trans
-activating factors
in cella
; MEF2, SRY, and FOXD1 differentially activated C-824T, whereas the G/C-rich binding factors SP1, AP2, and EGR1 differentially activated A-581G. At C-824T, factor MEF2 acted in a directionally coordinate fashion (at T>C) to explain the in vivo trait associations, whereas at A-581G, factors SP1, AP2, and EGR1 displayed similar differential actions (at G>A). Finally, chromatin immunoprecipitation demonstrated that the endogenous factors bound to the motifs
in cella
.

Conclusion—

We conclude that common genetic variants in the proximal
TH
promoter, especially at C-824T and A-581G, are functional
in cella
and alter transcription so as to explain promoter marker-on-trait associations in vivo. MEF2, FOXD1, and SRY contribute to functional differences in C-824T expression, whereas SP1, AP2, and EGR1 mediate those of A-581G. The SRY effect on
TH
transcription suggests a mechanism whereby male and female sex may differ in sympathetic activity and hence blood pressure. These results point to new strategies for diagnostic and therapeutic intervention into disorders of human autonomic function and their cardiovascular consequences.
Prediction of Cardiovascular Death in Racial/Ethnic Minorities Using Framingham Risk Factors
Authors: Hurley Laura P. , Dickinson L. Miriam , Estacio Raymond O. , Steiner John F. , Havranek Edward P.
Published: February 2010

Background—

Risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) derived from the Framingham study are widely used to guide preventive efforts. It remains unclear whether these risk factors predict CVD death in racial/ethnic minorities as well as they do in the predominately white Framingham cohorts.

Methods and Results—

Using linked data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III (1988 to 1994) and the National Death Index, we developed Cox proportional hazard models that predicted time to cardiovascular death separately for non-Hispanic white (NHW), non-Hispanic black (NHB), and Mexican American (MA) participants ages 40 to 80 years with no previous CVD. We compared calibration and discrimination for the 3 racial/ethnic models. We also plotted predicted 10-year CVD mortality by age for the three racial/ethnic groups while holding other risk factors constant (3437 NHW, 1854 NHB, and 1834 MA subjects met inclusion criteria). Goodness-of-fit χ
2
tests demonstrated adequate calibration for the 3 models (NHW,
P
=0.49; NHB,
P
=0.47; MA;
P
=0.55), and areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves demonstrated similar discrimination (
c
-statistics: NHW, 0.8126; NHB, 0.7679; and MA, 0.7854). Older age was more strongly associated with CVD mortality in NHWs (hazard ratio, 3.37; 95% CI, 2.80 to 4.05) than NHBs (hazard ratio, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.91 to 2.75) and was intermediate in MAs (hazard ratio, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.95 to 3.11). Predicted 10-year mortality rate was highest for NHBs across all age ranges and was higher for MAs than NHWs until late in the seventh decade.

Conclusions—

Framingham risk factors predict CVD mortality equally well in NHWs, NHBs, and MAs, but the strength of the association between individual risk factors and CVD mortality differs by race and ethnicity. When other risk factors are held constant, minority individuals are at higher risk of CVD mortality at younger ages than NHWs.
Ketoconazole and Rifampin Significantly Affect the Pharmacokinetics, But Not the Safety or QTc Interval, of Casopitant, a Neurokinin‐1 Receptor Antagonist
Authors: Johnson Brendan M. , Adams Laurel M. , Zhang Ke , Gainer Shelby D. , Kirby Lyndon C. , Blum Robert A. , Apseloff Glen , Morrison Royce A. , MD  , Lebowitz Peter F.
Published: February 2010

Casopitant, an antiemetic, is a neurokinin‐1 receptor antagonist metabolized primarily by cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4). Three phase 1 studies with 131 healthy subjects examined the impact of a strong CYP3A inhibitor (ketoconazole) and inducer (rifampin) on the pharmacokinetics and safety of casopitant. Oral casopitant was administered alone (study 1, 100‐mg single dose; study 2, 150 mg on day 1, 50 mg on days 2 and 3; study 3, 150‐mg single dose) with either 400 mg daily of oral ketoconazole or 600 mg daily of oral rifampin. Ketoconazole increased the maximum observed plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the plasma concentration time curve to the last sampling time, t (AUC0‐t) of single‐dose casopitant 2.7‐fold and 12‐fold and increased the Cmax of 3‐day casopitant 2.5‐fold on day 1 and 2.9‐fold on day 3, whereas AUC(0‐ẗ) increased 4.3‐fold on day 1 and 5.8‐fold on day 3. Neither safety signals nor prolongation of Fredericia‐corrected QT was observed at these increased exposures in study 2. Repeat‐dose rifampin reduced the Cmax and AUC(0‐t) of casopitant 96% and 90%, respectively. These clinical studies confirmed the role of CYP3A in the metabolism and disposition of casopitant. Coadministration of casopitant with strong inhibitors of CYP3A is likely to increase plasma exposure of casopitant, whereas coadministration with strong inducers of CYP3A is likely to decrease casopitant exposure and compromise efficacy.
Reflections on Uneven Development
Authors: Morton Adam David
Published: February 2010

A focus on transformations in social property relations and engagement with historical sociological debates on modern state formation can contribute to an understanding of the social origins of the transition to capitalism in Mexico. The basis for capitalist production there was created by primitive accumulation under the conditions of uneven and combined development. This situation can be understood as a “passive revolution” based on state intervention and mass mobilization from below that shaped capital accumulation and political modernization, resulting in a form of capitalism consistent with authoritarian and hegemonic influence.
Dramaturgy, Citizenship, and Queerness
Authors: Alzate Gastón A.
Published: February 2010

Contemporary Mexican cabaret is an art genre akin to theater and based in part on the popular tent theater (Teatro de Carpa) of the 1920s and 1930s. It is profoundly connected to the exercise of critical citizenship vis-à-vis Mexican neoliberalism. Many of its artists are part of a deviation from the sexual norm in that they challenge the predominant conceptions of gender and sexuality in national discourse. The fact that cabaret attracts an audience beyond purely commercial entertainment can be interpreted in terms of Slavoj Ž iž ek’s proposal that the organic symbolic links created by communities are gradually being eliminated in favor a single form of relationship, the economic one. Mexican cabaret calls into question nationalistic collective models and proposes alternatives to the uniform cultural production of subjectivities and sexualities. In doing so it calls attention to the fragmentation and multiplicity of Mexican reality and especially to the need for nondogmatic and queer perceptions of it.
A Maoist Counterpoint
Authors: Navarro Paul
Published: February 2010

A review of the history of one of the most influential Marxist parties in Peru, the Partido Comunista del Perú—Patria Roja, helps to place the militancy of Sendero Luminoso in context. Patria Roja was a powerful political party throughout the military dictatorship of the 1960s and 1970s and a much more representative example of Peruvian Maoism than the popularly known Sendero. It played a significant role in the student movement and the trade unions and helped to pressure the military government onto the road toward re-democratization. While reaffirming the need for violent revolution, it pushed the date of the revolution into the distant future and adopted as its immediate goal aiding Peru’s transformation from a dependent colonial nation into a free and democratic one.
Spontaneous Findings in the Heart of Mauritian-Origin Cynomolgus Macaques (Macaca fascicularis)
Authors: Vidal Justin D. , Drobatz Lita S. , Holliday Denise F. , Geiger Lee E. , Thomas Heath C.
Published: February 2010

The cynomolgus macaque is the most commonly used nonhuman primate in nonclinical toxicity testing, but the impact of the geographic source of cynomolgus macaque on differences in spontaneous pathology and response to xenobiotics has only recently been explored. Previous work from the authors' facility has described spontaneous cardiac findings in predominantly Indonesian-source animals; however, the authors have recently observed a novel spectrum of cardiac findings in Mauritian-source animals. This review evaluated the spontaneous macroscopic and microscopic cardiac findings in vehicle control Mauritian-source macaques used for routine toxicity testing. When compared to the prior review in predominantly Indonesian macaques, a higher incidence of myocardial degeneration was observed with additional novel findings including macroscopic and microscopic subendocardial hemorrhage with hemosiderin, myocardial fibrosis, and arterial medial degeneration/hemorrhage. Other findings including inflammatory cell infiltrates, anisokaryosis, and squamous plaques were observed with a comparable incidence as previously reported in Indonesian macaques. Myocardial degeneration, subendocardial hemorrhage, and myocardial fibrosis can mimic test-article-related cardiac toxicity, and a thorough understanding of the incidence and severity of these spontaneous findings is necessary to prevent misidentifying test-article-related cardiac findings in this genetic source of cynomolgus macaque in nonclinical safety testing.
Profile of Early Occurring Spontaneous Tumors in Han Wistar Rats
Authors: Son Woo-Chan , Bell David , Taylor Ian , Mowat Vasanthi
Published: February 2010

It is sometimes difficult to assess the relevance of tumors that occur in treated animals in short-term studies. This report is intended to establish a general profile of tumor occurrence in young Han Wistar rats. Data were collected and evaluated from 29 rat carcinogenicity studies and from a few 2-, 4-, 13-, and 26-week studies conducted between 1995 and 2009 at Huntingdon Life Sciences, UK. The route of administration was dietary, oral gavage, or inhalation, and the analysis was confined to sporadic deaths (decedents) in carcinogenicity studies. In Han Wistar rats, the most common and earliest occurring tumor was malignant lymphoma in both sexes, the earliest being seen in the 16th and 26th week in males and females, respectively. The incidence of malignant lymphoma was slightly higher in males than in females. The second most common type of tumor was brain tumors in males and mammary tumors in females. Compared with Sprague-Dawley rats, where the most common early tumor was pituitary tumor in females, the most common early tumor in Han Wistar rats was malignant lymphoma in both sexes. These early tumor profiles are consistent with the lifetime tumor occurrence in these strains.
Aggregate Versus Individual-Level Sexual Behavior Assessment: How Much Detail Is Needed to Accurately Estimate HIV/STI Risk?
Authors: Pinkerton Steven D. , Galletly Carol L. , McAuliffe Timothy L. , DiFranceisco Wayne , Fisher Raymond H. , Chesson Harrell W.
Published: February 2010

The sexual behaviors of HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention intervention participants can be assessed on a partner-by-partner basis: in aggregate (i.e., total numbers of sex acts, collapsed across partners) or using a combination of these two methods (e.g., assessing five partners in detail and any remaining partners in aggregate). There is a natural trade-off between the level of sexual behavior detail and the precision of HIV/STI acquisition risk estimates. The results of this study indicate that relatively simple aggregate data collection techniques suffice to adequately estimate HIV risk. For highly infectious STIs, in contrast, accurate STI risk assessment requires more intensive partner-by-partner methods.
Dose-dependent attenuation of heroin self-administration with lobeline
Authors: Hart N. , Rocha A. , Miller DK , Nation JR
Published: February 2010

Behavioural studies have yielded results that show lobeline has the ability to attenuate d-methamphetamine self-administration. Further in vivo and in vitro studies have demonstrated a blockade of μ-opioid receptors with lobeline. The present investigation examined the ability of lobeline to attenuate heroin intravenous (i.v.) self-administration when administered prior to testing. Male Sprague—Dawley rats were surgically implanted with jugular catheters and trained to lever press for i.v. heroin infusions (18 μg/kg) under a fixed ratio-2 schedule wherein two active lever presses resulted in heroin delivery. Rats then were tested for heroin self-administration after pretreatment with subcutaneous lobeline injections (0.3, 1.0, or 3.0 mg/kg, 15 min prior to testing sessions). At doses of 1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg, lobeline attenuated self-administration of heroin. The results suggest a potential for lobeline to be used in pharmacotherapy for opioid abuse.
Comparison of green-house gas emission reductions and landfill gas utilization between a landfill system and an incineration system
Authors: Haibin Han  , Jisheng Long  , Shude Li  , Guangren Qian
Published: February 2010

Electricity generation and greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions were researched by making comparisons between municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill and incineration systems with three different electricity generation efficiencies — 10%, 21%, and 24.7%. For MSW landfill systems, it is shown that the total electricity generation is 198,747 MWh, and the total GHG emission reduction is 1,386,081 tonne CO 2 during a 21-year operation period. For incineration systems, the total electricity generation is 611,801 MWh, and the total GHG emission reduction is 1,339,158 tonne CO2 during a 10-year operation period even if the electricity generation efficiency is only 10%. It is also shown that electricity generation increases quicker than the GHG emission reductions with the increase of electricity generation efficiency. However, incineration systems show great superiority in LFG utilisation and GHG emission reductions.
Assessment of dental waste management in a Nigerian tertiary hospital
Authors: Adedigba Michael A. , Nwhator Solomon O. , Afon Abel , Abegunde Albert A. , Bamise Cornelius T.
Published: February 2010

This study assessed the practice of disposing of waste from the eight dental clinics of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. All the cleaners (14) in the hospitals were surveyed through questionnaire. Information obtained from the cleaners included socio-economic characteristics (biodata), personal protection, facilities available for them to work with and job satisfaction. Two soil samples were obtained from the open dump site (0.15 and 0.30 m depth) and two water samples were also collected (at 0.00 and 50.00 m) within the vicinity of the dump site. Both the soil and water samples were taken to the central science laboratory for chemical analyses. Ten (71.4%) of the 14 cleaners were not satisfied with their job. The laboratory findings suggested a very high content of lead, chromium, mercury, cadmium and manganese in both soil and water samples in comparison with the Nigerian Federal Environmental Protection Agency standards. The study concludes that the use of tooth-coloured restorative materials and digital X-ray facility to serve as alternatives to the generation of these wastes is recommended and that farming activities should not be allowed in the area until an audit of the soil and water have been performed.
Short-term effects of organic amendments on properties of a Vertisol
Authors: Ghosh Subhadip , Lockwood Peter , Daniel Heiko , King Kathleen , Hulugalle Nilantha , Kristiansen Paul
Published: February 2010

Application of organic waste products as amendments has been proposed as a management option whereby soil quality of Vertisols could be improved. An incubation experiment was, therefore, conducted for 4 weeks under controlled temperature conditions (30°C) to identify those potential organic amendments that might improve the quality of a Vertisol. Twelve organic amendments were investigated: cotton gin trash from three sources, cattle manure from two sources, green waste compost, chicken manure from three sources including a commercial product, biosolids and two commercial liquefied vermicomposts. Except for the biosolids, no other organic amendments had any effect on soil microbial biomass and respiration. Compared with NO3-N levels in the control, there was a 50% decrease in soil amended with 10 t ha—1 green waste compost (65 µg g—1). The three different types of chicken manures increased the NO3-N concentration from 75% (228 µg g—1) to 226% (424 µg g— 1) over the control. Approximate recovery of P added by the amendment as resin-extractable soil P was 53% for cattle manure and 39% for chicken manure. Application of cattle manure resulted in a 22% increase in soil-exchangeable K over levels found in control. Organic amendments application also resulted in a significant increase in exchangeable Na concentration. Some of the organic wastes, viz. cotton gin trash (10 t ha— 1), cattle manure (10 t ha—1), biosolids (10 t ha—1) and composted chicken manure (3 t ha—1) have value as a source of nutrients to soil and hence showed potential to improve Vertisol properties.
Effect of Surface-activated PLLA Scaffold on Apatite Formation in Simulated Body Fluid
Authors: Park Kwideok , Hyun Jung Jung  , Kim Jae-Jin , Dong Keun Han
Published: February 2010

Surface-activated poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) films and scaffolds were investigated for their effect on the formation of hydroxyapatite (HA) in simulated body fluid (SBF). PLLA samples were treated with plasma discharge in oxygen gas; the activated polymer surfaces were subjected to in situ grafting acrylic acid (AA) monomer. The obtained PLLA-PAA was converted to PLLA-PAA-HA in SBF. The formation of HA crystals was identified by surface analyses and the size and distribution by scanning electron miscroscopy. The major elements of HA surface-modified PLLA were confirmed by electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis and attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectra. Fibroblast, chondrocyte, and osteoblast cells were seeded in scaffolds and cultivated in vitro; the total cellularity was higher in the PLLA-PAA-HA scaffolds than the PLLA and PLLA-HA. Histological staining of the cells was denser in the cell-seeded PLLA-PAA-HA constructs. The introduction of specific functionality on the polymer surface significantly improved apatite nucleation and growth. Thus, HA-formed PLLA scaffolds are potentially useful in musculoskeletal tissue engineering.
PEGylation of Melittin: Structural Characterization and Hemostatic Effects
Authors: Peng Henry T. , Huang Huang  , Shek Pang N. , Charbonneau Sophie , Blostein Mark D.
Published: February 2010

To promote and understand the structure—property relationship for hemostasis, we modified melittin (MLT) using a four-arm poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) with N-hydroxysuccinimide ester. The PEGylation was characterized by FTIR, MALDI-MS, NMR, a bicinchoninic acid assay, circular dichroism, hemolysis assay, and thromboelastography. Changes in the reaction conditions affected the extent of the modification, the numbers of MLT conjugated to PEG arms, and possible PEGylation sites. The reaction at pH 9.2 with a high MLT/PEG ratio, resulted in the highest modification. Reactions in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) resulted in more multi-arm coupled MLT, reaching a maximum of four MLT per PEG. The helicity of the modified peptide, relative to the native peptide, was essentially maintained in DMSO, but substantially lost at pH 9.2. PEGylation reduced the hemolytic effects of MLT and subsequently changed its coagulation profiles. The overall hemostatic effects of MLT modified in DMSO indicate that this may be a convenient approach to the PEGylation of biomolecules for biomedical applications.
Critical Illness, Gastrointestinal Complications, and Medication Therapy during Enteral Feeding in Critically Ill Adult Patients
Authors: Btaiche Imad F. , Chan Lingtak‐Neander , Pleva Melissa , Kraft Michael D.
Published: February 2010

Critically ill patients who are subjected to high stress or with severe injury can rapidly break down their body protein and energy stores. Unless adequate nutrition is provided, malnutrition and protein wasting may occur, which can negatively affect patient outcome. Enteral nutrition (EN) is the mainstay of nutrition support therapy in patients with a functional gastrointestinal (GI) tract who cannot take adequate oral nutrition. EN in critically ill patients provides the benefits of maintaining gut functionality, integrity, and immunity as well as decreasing infectious complications. However, the ability to provide timely and adequate EN to critically ill patients is often hindered by GI motility disorders and complications associated with EN. This paper reviews the GI complications and intolerances associated with EN in critically ill patients and provides recommendations for their prevention and treatment. It also addresses the role of commonly used medications in the intensive care unit and their impact on GI motility and EN delivery.
Altered GI Motility in Critically Ill Patients
Authors: Ukleja Andrew
Published: February 2010

Gastrointestinal (GI) motility disturbances are common in critically ill patients. GI tract dysmotility has been linked to increased permeability of intestinal mucosa and bacterial translocation, contributing to systemic inflammatory response syndrome, sepsis, and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. A key issue in providing nutrition to critically ill patients is intolerance of enteral feeding as a result of impaired GI motility. Remarkable progress has been made in the understanding of the regulation of GI motility in critical illness. Predominant motility abnormalities seen in ICU patients include antral hypomotility, delayed gastric emptying, and reduced migrating motor complexes. The diagnosis of motility disturbances can be challenging to establish in critically ill patients. The available tests used for detection of abnormal motility have major limitations in the ICU setting. Recognition of the type and site of intestinal motility disorder is important to guide the therapy and improve the outcome.
Current and Future Therapeutic Prokinetic Therapy to Improve Enteral Feed Intolerance in the ICU Patient
Authors: Fraser Robert J. L. , Bryant Laura
Published: February 2010

Malnutrition is associated with poor outcomes in critically ill patients, and providing enteral feeding to those who cannot eat is considered best practice. Enteral feeding is often unsuccessful when there is delayed gastric emptying. Recent research has given additional insight into the mechanisms underlying delayed gastric emptying. Pharmacological strategies to improve the success of feeding include prokinetic drugs such as metoclopramide and erythromycin alone or in combination. When drug treatment fails, either parenteral nutrition or direct small intestinal feeding is indicated. Simpler methods to access the duodenum and distal small bowel for feed delivery are under investigation. This review summarizes current understanding of the mechanisms underlying enteral feeding intolerance in critical illness, together with the evidence for current treatment practices. Areas requiring further research are also described.
Early Parenteral Nutrition and Successful Postnatal Growth of Premature Infants
Authors: Herrmann Kenneth Ross , Herrmann Kirk Ross
Published: February 2010

Background:

Premature infants have uniformly demonstrated growth failure by 36 weeks postmenstrual age. In an evaluation of care quality, the authors tested the hypothesis that premature infants would grow adequately when they received more than 50 kcal/kg per day of parenteral nutrition.

Methods:

The study cohort consisted of 84 premature infants born at less than 30 weeks gestation. A computer software program was used to determine parenteral nutrition orders and establish a database. The database provided the nutrition and postnatal growth data. Successful growth was defined as weight greater than the 10th percentile for intrauterine growth.

Results:

Energy intake exceeded 50 kcal/kg per day after the first day. The cohort weight and head circumference measurements remained above the 10th percentile of intrauterine growth through 36 weeks postmenstrual age. Infants demonstrated successful growth by remaining above the 10th percentile for the following: 4 of 12 (33%) with birth weights 501–750 g, 16 of 26 (62%) with birth weights 751–1,000 g, and 16 of 25 (64%) with birth weights 1,001–1,250 g. These differences were statistically greater than a large reference cohort (P < .0001). Length measurements declined below the 10th percentile of intrauterine growth at 36 weeks postmenstrual age.

Conclusions:

Postnatal growth failure is not an inevitable consequence of premature birth. The clinical evidence supports previous nutrient recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Promptly providing premature infants with parenteral nutrition, including calories greater than the basal energy requirement, can produce postnatal growth that remains above the 10th percentile of intrauterine growth.
Pension Funding: A Difficult Conversation for the HR Professional
Authors: Sirkin Stuart A.
Published: February 2010

The current economy requires an intensive discussion of the costs and benefits featured in a defined benefit plan. Companies should consider the impact of the new plan funding as well as benefit restriction rules and the impact this will have on the company’s current and future workforce. The purpose of this article is not to make the human resource (HR) professional an expert in the funding and benefit restriction rules for defined benefit pension plans but rather to help those in the HR function to recognize both the opportunities presented and the pitfalls that are created by the new environment.
Mapping the Security—Development Nexus: Conflict, Complexity, Cacophony, Convergence?
Authors: Stern Maria , Öjendal Joakim
Published: February 2010

It is now beyond doubt that attention to the ‘security—development nexus’ has become commonplace in national and global policymaking. However, how ‘the nexus’ is differently imbued with meaning and ultimately employed remains underexplored. In this article, we suggest a possible framework for mapping the multiple understandings that underlie specific articulations of ‘the nexus’ in order to reveal the ways in which meaning may shift in different (yet seemingly similar) discourses. To this end, we draw upon familiar stories about ‘development’ and ‘security’, and we offer a brief reading of ways in which ‘the nexus’ is articulated in policy texts. Ultimately, this framework may hint at what such articulations may imply for the policy agenda.
The Liberal Way of Development and the Development—Security Impasse: Exploring the Global Life-Chance Divide
Authors: Duffield Mark
Published: February 2010

As the rising death toll among humanitarian aid workers suggests, saving strangers has become a dangerous occupation. In addressing the consequences of this increase, this article begins by placing the development—security nexus in its historical context. While it has long been associated with liberalism, two factors distinguish this nexus today: first, the global outlawing of spontaneous or undocumented migration; second, the shift in the focus of security from states to the people living within them. Reflecting these moves, policy discourse now conceives development and underdevelopment biopolitically — that is, in terms of how life is to be supported and maintained, and how people are expected to live, rather than according to economic and state-based models. The household and communal self-reliance that forms the basis of this biopolitics, however, has long been in crisis. Since the end of the Cold War, the destabilizing forms of global circulation associated with this emergency have been reconstituted as threats to the critical infrastructures that support mass consumer society. A new security terrain now links the crisis of adaptive self-reliance with risks to critical infrastructure within a single framework of strategic calculation. Rather than ameliorating the generic life-chance divide between the global north and south, the development—security nexus is entrenching it.
The Maximum Resource Allocation for Uncertainty Reduction in a Decision-analytic Concept Selection
Authors: Takai Shun , Ishii Kosuke
Published: February 2010

This article addresses a procedure to identify the maximum resource allocated to uncertainty reduction activity in a decision-analytic product concept selection. Concept selection is one of the most important decisions in product development. Success of a new product depends on the goodness of a concept chosen in the concept selection stage. At the same time, it is one of the most challenging decisions, because engineers need to select a concept facing large degrees of uncertainties about future customer preferences, competitions, economic situations, feasibilities of new technologies, and product costs. Information on a particular uncertain event is sought in order to reduce uncertainty; however, information gathering is meaningful only if the benefit of additional information outweighs the cost of the effort. In decision analysis, the maximum resource allocated to an information gathering effort is defined by the expected value of perfect information (EVPI), which is calculated by assuming that the information is perfectly accurate. This article illustrates a procedure to calculate the EVPI and, thus, the maximum resource allocated to uncertainty reduction activity in a decision-analytic concept selection. The utility of the proposed approach is demonstrated in a decision-analytic concept selection for a public project.
The MMPI-2 Symptom Validity Scale (FBS) Not Influenced by Medical Impairment: A Large Sleep Center Investigation
Authors: Greiffenstein Manfred F.
Published: February 2010

The Symptom Validity Scale (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory—2—FBS [MMPI-2-FBS]) is a standard MMPI-2 validity scale measuring overstatement of somatic distress and subjective disability. Some critics assert the MMPI-2-FBS misclassifies too many medically impaired persons as malingering symptoms. This study tests the assertion of malingering misclassification with a large sample of 345 medical inpatients undergoing sleep studies that standardly included MMPI-2 testing. The variables included standard MMPI-2 validity scales (Lie Scale [L], Infrequency Scale [F], K-Correction [K]; FBS), objective medical data (e.g., body mass index, pulse oximetry), and polysomnographic scores (e.g., apnea/hypopnea index). The results showed the FBS had no substantial or unique association with medical/sleep variables, produced false positive rates <20% (median = 9, range = 4-11), and male inpatients showed marginally higher failure rates than females. The MMPI-2-FBS appears to have acceptable specificity, because it did not misclassify as biased responders those medical patients with sleep problems, male or female, with primary gain only (reducing sickness). Medical impairment does not appear to be a major influence on deviant MMPI-2-FBS scores.
A Comparative Analysis of MMPI-2 Malingering Detection Models Among Inmates
Authors: Steffan Jarrod S. , Morgan Robert D. , Lee Jeahoon , Sellbom Martin
Published: February 2010

There are several strategies, or models, for combining the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) validity indicators to detect malingered psychiatric symptoms. Some scholars have recommended that an elevated F (Infrequency) score should be followed by the inspection of Fp (Infrequency—Psychopathology), whereas a recent meta-analysis indicated that Fp and Ds (Gough’s Dissimulation Scale) should be examined. For correctional settings, one model of malingering suggests that F, Fp, and F - K (Gough’s Dissimulation Index) should be inspected for one or more elevated scores. Although a large body of research has examined malingering detection with the MMPI-2, this research has typically focused on the contributions of individual validity indicators to differentiate malingered from genuine psychiatric symptoms. Therefore, the current study compared these models of malingering detection on the MMPI-2. Inmate simulators were contrasted with inmates who were hospitalized for psychiatric treatment. Results from classification and logistic regression analyses supported the sequential use of F and Fp in malingering detection.
Implementing reflective portfolios for promoting autonomous learning among EFL college students in Taiwan
Authors: Lo Ya-Fen
Published: February 2010

This article depicts challenges for students and teachers involved in developing a reflective portfolio to promote autonomous learning in Taiwan. One hundred and one students in a Taiwan university completed their individual portfolio projects. A pre-course questionnaire, post-course self-evaluation, and the instructor’s field notes were the data collection tools. The pre-course questionnaire results showed the students had neither experience of compiling portfolios nor knowledge of autonomous learning. The teacher could not let all decision-making power go to such inexperienced students. Instead, the teacher’s role needed to alternate between decision-maker, facilitator and resource person to help the students learn to be autonomous. The students’ major tasks were to manage their time and learning, and develop the critical thinking skills considered inadequately taught in Asia. The portfolio enabled the students to engage in multi-domain learning and to practise autonomous learning. The students’ awareness of autonomous learning was thus enhanced. Pedagogical suggestions are made for improving the effectiveness of portfolios for promoting autonomous learning.
Participation through letters to the editor: Circulation, considerations, and genres in the letters institution
Authors: Nielsen Rasmus Kleis
Published: February 2010

This article analyzes who participates in newspaper-mediated debate through letters to the editor, how they come to do it by passing muster under six editorial considerations, and what the three genres (storytelling, criticism, and appeal) of letters allow them to participate in. The starting point is a sedimented ideal of media that citizens can use — an ambition for media that are not only watchdogs, sources of information, or entertainers, but also enablers of participation. The contemporary incarnation of this ideal in printed newspapers is what is here identified as the ‘letters institution’. Its patterns of circulation and contribution, editorial considerations, and narrative genres constitute a fragmented contentious zone between politics, the media, and the private life of the limited number of citizens who get a chance to express themselves through the concrete operations of one of the institutions that gives the abstraction ‘the public debate’ whatever reality it has.
Gfi-1B controls human erythroid and megakaryocytic differentiation by regulating TGF-β signaling at the bipotent erythro-megakaryocytic progenitor stage
Authors: Randrianarison-Huetz Voahangy , Laurent Benoit , Bardet Valérie , Blobe Gerard C. , Huetz François , Duménil Dominique
Published: February 2010

Growth factor independence-1B (Gfi-1B) is a transcriptional repressor essential for erythropoiesis and megakaryopoiesis. Targeted gene disruption of GFI1B in mice leads to embryonic lethality resulting from failure to produce definitive erythrocytes, hindering the study of Gfi-1B function in adult hematopoiesis. We here show that, in humans, Gfi-1B controls the development of erythrocytes and megakaryocytes by regulating the proliferation and differentiation of bipotent erythro-megakaryocytic progenitors. We further identify in this cell population the type III transforming growth factor-β receptor gene, TGFBR3, as a direct target of Gfi-1B. Knockdown of Gfi-1B results in altered transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling as shown by the increase in Smad2 phosphorylation and its inability to associate to the transcription intermediary factor 1-γ (TIF1-γ). Because the Smad2/TIF1-γ complex is known to specifically regulate erythroid differentiation, we propose that, by repressing TGF-β type III receptor (TβRΙII) expression, Gfi-1B favors the Smad2/TIF1-γ interaction downstream of TGF-β signaling, allowing immature progenitors to differentiate toward the erythroid lineage.
Human mutation D157G in ferroportin leads to hepcidin-independent binding of Jak2 and ferroportin down-regulation
Authors: De Domenico Ivana , Lo Eric , Ward Diane M. , Kaplan Jerry
Published: February 2010

Mutations in the iron exporter ferroportin (Fpn) result in iron overload in macrophages or hepatocytes depending upon the mutation. Patients with Fpn mutation D157G show high serum ferritin and normal to slightly elevated transferrin saturation. Here, we show that Fpn(D157G)–green fluorescent protein (GFP) is down-regulated independent of hepcidin, and that this down-regulation is due to the constitutive binding of Jak2 and Fpn phosphorylation. Expression of Fpn(D157G)-GFP in Danio rerio results in a severe growth defect, which can be rescued by iron supplementation. These results identify a hepcidin-independent regulation of Fpn that can result in alterations in iron homeostasis.
SLUG: a new target of lymphoid enhancer factor-1 in human osteoblasts
Authors: Lambertini Elisabetta , Franceschetti Tiziana , Torreggiani Elena , Penolazzi Letizia , Pastore Antonio , Pelucchi Stefano , Gambari Roberto , Piva Roberta
Published: February 2010

Background

Lymphoid Enhancer Factor-1 (Lef-1) is a member of a transcription factor family that acts as downstream mediator of the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway which plays a critical role in osteoblast proliferation and differentiation. In a search for Lef-1 responsive genes in human osteoblasts, we focused on the transcriptional regulation of the SLUG, a zinc finger transcription factor belonging to the Snail family of developmental proteins. Although the role of SLUG in epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cell motility during embryogenesis is well documented, the functions of this factor in most normal adult human tissues are largely unknown. In this study we investigated SLUG expression in normal human osteoblasts and their mesenchymal precursors, and its possible correlation with Lef-1 and Wnt/β-catenin signalling.

Results

The experiments were performed on normal human primary osteoblasts obtained from bone fragments, cultured in osteogenic conditions in presence of Lef-1 expression vector or GSK-3β inhibitor, SB216763. We demonstrated that the transcription factor SLUG is present in osteoblasts as well as in their mesenchymal precursors obtained from Wharton's Jelly of human umbilical cord and induced to osteoblastic differentiation. We found that SLUG is positively correlated with RUNX2 expression and deposition of mineralized matrix, and is regulated by Lef-1 and β-catenin. Consistently, Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay, used to detect the direct Lef/Tcf factors that are responsible for the promoter activity of SLUG gene, demonstrated that Lef-1, TCF-1 and TCF4 are recruited to the SLUG gene promoter "in vivo".

Conclusion

These studies provide, for the first time, the evidence that SLUG expression is correlated with osteogenic commitment, and is positively regulated by Lef-1 signal in normal human osteoblasts. These findings will help to further understand the regulation of the human SLUG gene and reveal the biological functions of SLUG in the context of bone tissue.
Emotional, behavioural problems and cigarette smoking in adolescence: findings of a Greek cross-sectional study
Authors: Giannakopoulos George , Tzavara Chara , Dimitrakaki Christine , Kolaitis Gerasimos , Rotsika Vasiliki , Tountas Yannis
Published: February 2010

Background

Although several studies have reported findings concerning the association between smoking and emotional/behavioural problems, little research has investigated this association after controlling for confounding factors which have been found to be significantly correlated with both cigarette smoking and emotional/behavioural problems and may have a strong effect on the relationship between adolescents' mental health and smoking. The present study attempted to assess the association between adolescents' smoking status and their emotional/behavioural problems after controlling for a number of possible confounders (i.e. age, gender, parental smoking status, exposure to family smoking, family socioeconomic status, adolescents' leisure time) in a Greek nation-wide school-based sample.

Methods

Participants completed a questionnaire which retrieved information about age, gender, family socioeconomic status, smoking status, parental smoking, adolescents' leisure time and emotional/behavioural problems. Data were modelled using multiple logistic regression analysis with adolescents' smoking status as the dependent variable.

Results

A total of 1194 (i.e. 63% response rate) of self-reported questionnaires (40.1% boys, 59.9% girls; 12-18 years old) were returned. Data from 1030 participants with full data were analyzed. Cigarette smoking was strongly associated with higher levels of emotional/behavioural problems (p < 0.001) and the association was not moderated (OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.08-1.18) after controlling for the effects of other covariates. Emotional symptoms, conduct problems and hyperactivity/inattention were all significantly associated with adolescents' current smoking.

Conclusions

This study supports the association between smoking and emotional/behavioural problems among adolescents. Addressing adolescents' needs regarding their emotional/behavioural health could be helpful in the development of effective anti-smoking strategies in school environment and elsewhere.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Inhibition of Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (TYLCV) using whey proteins
Authors: Abdelbacki Ashraf M , Taha Soad H , Sitohy Mahmoud Z , Dawood Abdelgawad I Abou , Hamid Mahmoud M Abd-El , Rezk Adel A
Published: February 2010

The antiviral activity of native and esterified whey proteins fractions (α-lactalbumin, β-lactoglobulin, and lactoferrin) was studied to inhibit tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) on infected tomato plants. Whey proteins fractions and their esterified derivatives were sprayed into TYLCV-infected plants. Samples were collected from infected leaves before treatment, 7 and 15 days after treatment for DNA and molecular hybridization analysis. The most evident inhibition of virus replication was observed after 7 and 15 days using α-lactoferrin and α-lactalbumin, respectively. Native and esterified lactoferrin showed complete inhibition after 7 days. On the other hand, native β-lactoglobulin showed inhibition after 7 and 15 days whereas esterified β-lactoglobulin was comparatively more effective after 7 days. The relative amount of viral DNA was less affected by the esterified α-lactalbumin whereas native α-lactalbumin inhibited virus replication completely after 15 days. These results indicate that native or modified whey proteins fractions can be used for controlling the TYLCV-infected plants.
Susceptibility of turkeys to pandemic-H1N1 virus by reproductive tract insemination
Authors: Pantin-Jackwood Mary , Wasilenko Jamie L , Spackman Erica , Suarez David L , Swayne David E
Published: February 2010

The current pandemic influenza A H1N1 2009 (pH1N1) was first recognized in humans with acute respiratory diseases in April 2009 in Mexico, in swine in Canada in June, 2009 with respiratory disease, and in turkeys in Chile in June 2009 with a severe drop in egg production. Several experimental studies attempted to reproduce the disease in turkeys, but failed to produce respiratory infection in turkeys using standard inoculation routes. We demonstrated that pH1N1 virus can infect the reproductive tract of turkey hens after experimental intrauterine inoculation, causing decreased egg production. This route of exposure is realistic in modern turkey production because turkey hens are handled once a week for intrauterine insemination in order to produce fertile eggs. This understanding of virus exposure provides an improved understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease and can improve poultry husbandry to prevent disease outbreaks.