bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The house that time built: Structuring history in Faulkner and Yeats
Authors: Spoth Daniel
Published: August 2007

This article recounts, briefly, the affinities that previous critics have drawn between William Faulkner and William Butler Yeats, and suggests their shared architectural sensibility as a new medium for assessing their individual literary consciousnesses in parallel. This sensibility
finds play in the Big Houses of both of these authors' works: Sutpen's Hundred in Absalom, Absalom! and the marvelous empty sea-shell of the palatial manor in Yeats's Meditations in Time of Civil War. The anxiety surrounding these structures' potential destruction in both of these authors'
works, I argue, is less directed towards the threat of their physical annihilation than towards the dialectic model of history itself: the threat of destroying the house becomes the threat of destroying the very notion of teleology, of effacing the structural sum of history. I perform separate
studies of two Big Houses from which these authors drew their architectural inspiration: for Faulkner, Rowan Oak in Oxford, MS and for Yeats, Lissadell in County Sligo, Ireland. The manners in which these houses grant and restrict access to their occupants, I argue, suggest ideals that are
more divergent than these authors' mutual anxieties, the mutual and manifold hybridities of their domestic spaces, might indicate.
Mind: scarlet ocean
Authors: Pimenta Emanuel Dimas de Melo
Published: August 2007

A new type of neuronal cell was discovered a few years ago: the mirror neurons. Their existence is a disturbing fact for our conceptions of intelligence and memory, giving to the whole universe of mind understanding a new logical framework. The impact of such a discovery on our concept
of aesthetics and philosophy of thought makes us to recall Peirce, Lupasco, Buckminster Fuller launching ourselves to field folds, the super-string model or black holes among other non-linear time and space complexes.
White rabbit on the moon
Authors: Monico Francesco
Published: August 2007

In syncretic thought one of the forms of reality is virtuality, in other words description as detailed by man of the forms and technologies belonging to his era. Information, bytes and history. An analysis of the film Matrix reveals an interesting Gnostic design for the narrative virtual
reality in which we find ourselves immersed. The white rabbit in Wonderland, virtual reality as man's adaptation strategy for technology, and the close connection between narrative elements and allusions in the film with works that are the patrimony of post-modern culture and critical theory's
way of listening and seeing.
Amores-Eros and Low Power Society
Authors: Alberti Giorgio
Published: August 2007

Low Power Society is a new approach to social complexes. It is not about slow scale but fast, it is not about absence of power but intense power. It is a possible answer to the negative aspects of our present globalization. The archetype (C.G. Jung) of this concept-paradigm is Eros
or, from another point of view, HermAfrEros - a synthesis of Hermes, Aphrodite and Eros.
Anamnesis (Swiatlo Dnia)
Authors: Weiss Monika
Published: August 2007

Anamnesis (Swiatlo Dnia) was written as an aftermath of a six-day performative installation at the twelfth-century castle in Trancoso, Portugal with the participation of local women and men, mainly farmers. It was written concurrently while working on the editing of the video and the
sound, which I filmed and recorded on site (or, as I think of it, layering of images, sounds and different time paths). The text addresses the act of drawing as related to speech, mark, trace, scripture, presence and absence as it elaborates on the notion of gesture across the media and time.
The vital connections between the performative act of drawing and the desire to mark since time immemorial and the contemporary virtual and cinematic mediums are crucial to the notion of anamnesis in both the physical installation in real time with performative inhabitation of space and in
the virtual and altered memory of that occurrence in the resulting video piece.
About V2
Authors: Adriaansens Alex
Published: August 2007

Twenty-five years ago some young artists initiated V2, a contemporary interdisciplinary arts centre focusing on art and technology and its social, cultural relations. V2 focuses on the interference between media itself, and the social and cultural impact of (media) technology. In its
projects V2 explores the relationship between the arts, science and technology by bringing together artists from different art disciplines, scientists and people from different practices thus initiating interdisciplinary working relations among them, this within concrete art projects. Research
is an important aspect of all activities within V2; it concerns presentation, hardware and software development, publications and artist in residencies and the education activities. V2 looks for the encounter between practice and theory within these projects. V2 operates within diverse (inter)national
and local collaborations - some structural, some on a project basis.
Subset-Class Relation, Common Pitches, and Common Interval Structure Guiding Estimations of Similarity
Authors: Kuusi Tuire
Published: August 2007

THE PRESENT STUDY EXAMINED THE importance of subsetclass relation for closeness estimations. Two experiments used set-class pairs consisting of a pentad class and a tetrad class represented by block chords, and approximately half of the pairs accomplished the subset-class relation. In the first experiment the number of common pitches was systematically varied. In the second experiment the intervals between the lowest pitch and the other pitches were either similar in both chords (except for the interval missing from the tetrachord) or dissimilar, but the chords shared no common pitches. The degree of set-class consonance was also varied. The results of the experiments indicated that the number of common pitches and the common interval structure were important factors guiding closeness estimations. The subset-class relation was important since it enabled a maximum number of common pitches, maximally similar intervals, or highly uniform voice-leading between chords.
Time-Dependent Characteristics of Performance Evaluation
Authors: Thompson Sam , Williamon Aaron , Valentine Elizabeth
Published: August 2007

CONCERTGOERS, CRITICS, TEACHERS, AND PERFORMERS are often called upon to cast judgment on the performances they hear. Research to date has typically focused on the judgments themselves, with very few empirical studies of the processes and decisions that lead to these judgments. This paper details an investigation of time-dependent characteristics of performance evaluation. Thirty-three participants were played five recordings of a Bach Prelude and five of a Chopin Prelude. They rated the quality of each performance continuously, by moving a mouse cursor on a 7-point scale displayed on a computer screen, and using written scales. The results suggest that: the time taken to reach an evaluative decision was typically short (around 15–20 s); there was a significant difference between the initial and final ratings, with a tendency for ratings to improve as the performances progressed; and the largest revisions of opinion took place within the first minute of the performance.
The Role of Music in Everyday Life Among Pakistanis
Authors: Rana Shabbir A. , North Adrian C.
Published: August 2007

FEW WESTERN RESEARCHERS HAVE STUDIED music in everyday life. Data were collected from 200 Pakistani participants to address whether Western findings could be generalized to non-Western samples. Music was heard in everyday life by a large number of participants; most musical experiences occurred while participants were with friends; Pakistani classical and Western pop music were heard most frequently; liking for the music varied depending on who the participant was with, where they were, and whether they had chosen to be able to hear music; music was usually experienced during the course of some other activity; exposure to music occurred more frequently in the evening and at weekends; music was heard mostly at home; and the importance of several functions of music depended upon whom the participant was with and the place where the music was heard. These findings are compared with those from earlier Western research.
Population Status of Colorado Pikeminnow in the Green River Basin, Utah and Colorado
Authors: Bestgen Kevin R. , Hawkins John A. , White Gary C. , Christopherson Kevin D. , Hudson J. Michael , Fuller Mark H. , Kitcheyan D. Chris , Brunson Ronald , Badame Paul , Haines G. Bruce , Jackson Julie A. , Walford Cameron D. , Sorensen Tasha A.
Published: August 2007

Capture‐recapture sampling of 819 km of streams in the Green River subbasin, Utah and Colorado, of the Colorado River basin was conducted in 2000‐2003 to estimate population demographic parameters and recovery status for endangered Colorado pikeminnow Ptychocheilus lucius. Parameter estimates from a Huggins robust‐design, multistratum model suggested a basinwide decline in the abundance of adult (total length, ≥450 mm) Colorado pikeminnow. Reductions were most severe in the middle Green River (59%) and White River (63%), the two largest population segments. Reductions were less severe in the Yampa River (29%), Desolation‐Gray Canyon (11%), and lower Green River reaches (36%). In 2001, the first year the entire subbasin was sampled, adult Colorado pikeminnow abundance was estimated at 3,304 fish (95% confidence interval, 2,900‐3,707) but declined to 2,142 fish (1,686‐2,598) by 2003, a 35% reduction. However, accounting for a reach not sampled in 2000 makes it likely that the reduction was 48% over the 2000‐2003 period. The abundance of recruits (400‐449 mm) in the study area averaged 8.9% of adult abundance. The annual survival rate for 2000‐2003 was 0.65 (0.59‐0.71), lower than the 0.82 rate estimated for 1991‐1999; mortality exceeded recruitment. The few captures and lack of recaptures of fish of at least 800 mm suggest that apparent survival was low for large Colorado pikeminnow. The reduced abundance of adult Colorado pikeminnow was due, in part, to the weak year‐classes of age‐0 fish produced in the 1990s and the reduced survival of recruits and adults in 2000‐2003. Based on these results, downlisting of this species is not warranted at this time. Better understanding of the factors that influence adult survival rates, abundance dynamics, and the recruitment of early life stages as well as the effects of flow recommendations and nonnative predaceous fishes would assist the conservation of Colorado pikeminnow.
Premaxillary Osteotomy and Guided Tissue Regeneration in Secondary Bone Grafting in Children with Bilateral Cleft Lip and Palate
Authors: Scott Julia K. , Webb Roger M. , Flood Timothy R.
Published: August 2007

Objective:

To introduce a surgical technique for secondary alveolar bone grafting performed in conjunction with premaxillary osteotomy and guided tissue regeneration in children with bilateral clefts. This paper also looks at the outcomes of this surgery in a series of 15 consecutive patients.

Methods:

Secondary alveolar bone grafting (with a premaxillary osteotomy and guided tissue regeneration with a collagen membrane) is usually carried out in the mixed dentition stage. This retrospective study used patients’ medical records, radiographs, and clinical examination to assess the outcome of the surgery. Patients were followed up for an average of 3 years.

Results:

Bone grafting was successful in all cases. No premaxillae were lost and there was no long-term morbidity of the donor site. Radiographic assessment of the bone heights showed an average of 94% retention, 3 months postoperatively. Preliminary assessment of maxillary canine eruption is encouraging, with 79% being fully erupted in those patients who are at least 3 years post–bone grafting.

Conclusion:

Premaxillary osteotomy allows repositioning of the premaxilla to its optimal preplanned position and successful closure of all fistulae. We have found that use of a collagen membrane is a useful adjunct.
Rapid Maxillary Distraction Protocol Utilizing the Halo Distraction System and Rigid Internal Fixation
Authors: Baker Stephen B. , Reid Russell R. , Burkey Brooke , Bartlett Scott P.
Published: August 2007

Objective:

To shorten head frame wear time associated with external halo distraction (HD), we have adapted a protocol for maxillary distraction with the halo system that integrates plate fixation.

Participants:

All patients had a history of cleft lip and/or palate and maxillary retrusion ≥8 mm. Five patients treated with this protocol and followed for at least 1 year were included in this study.

Interventions:

The protocol included a 3-day latency period, variable maxillary distraction, and removal of the halo device with simultaneous rigid internal fixation. Two patients had a variable period of maxillomandibular fixation (MMF), which maintained the maxillary advancement and idealized intercuspal position while permitting further callus maturation. Cephalographs were obtained preoperatively, immediately following distractor removal, and 1 year after rigid internal fixation.

Results:

The mean age at time of surgery was 18.7 years. The maxillary deficiency ranged from 8 to 15 mm (mean = 10.6 mm). All five patients demonstrated excellent occlusion. Cephalometric analysis 1-year post rigid internal fixation revealed minimal (<1 mm) skeletal relapse.

Conclusions:

Rapid maxillary distraction followed by MMF to maintain maxillary advancement may reduce halo device wear to 1 to 2 weeks. MMF optimizes occlusion by forcing the maxillary teeth into maximal intercuspal position. Rigid fixation is not only associated with less long-term relapse compared to nonrigid forms of fixation, but also minimizes the incidence of nonunion. This treatment protocol provides the advancement possible with distraction osteogenesis and the accuracy of orthognathic surgery, thereby minimizing external head frame wear.
Moebius Syndrome: Measures of Observer Intelligibility with versus without Visual Cues in Bilateral Facial Paralysis
Authors: Von Berg Shelley , McColl Douglas , Brancamp Tami
Published: August 2007

Objective:

This study investigated observers’ intelligibility for the spoken output of an individual with Moebius syndrome (MoS) with and without visual cues.

Design:

An audiovisual recording of the speaker's output was obtained for 50 Speech Intelligibility in Noise sentences consisting of 25 high predictability and 25 low predictability sentences. Stimuli were presented to observers under two conditions: audiovisual and audio only. Data were analyzed using a multivariate repeated measures model.

Observers:

Twenty students and faculty affiliated with the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Results:

ANOVA mixed design revealed that intelligibility for the audio condition only was significantly greater than intelligibility for the audiovisual condition; and accuracy for high predictability sentences was significantly greater than accuracy for low predictability sentences.

Conclusions:

The compensatory substitutional placements for phonemes produced by MoS speakers may detract from the intelligibility of speech. This is similar to the McGurk-MacDonald effect, whereby an illusory auditory signal is perceived when visual information from lip movements does not match the auditory information from speech. It also suggests that observers use contextual clues, more than the acoustic signal alone, to arrive at the accurate recognition of the message of the speakers with MoS. Therefore, speakers with MoS should be counseled in the top-down approach of auditory closure. When the speech signal is degraded, predictable messages are more easily understood than unpredictable ones. It is also important to confirm the speaking partner's understanding of the topic before proceeding.
Bilateral Macrostomia Associated with Aqueductal Stenosis and Glial Heterotopias
Authors: Pepe Ernesto , Petricig Paola , Peretta Paola , Cinalli Giuseppe
Published: August 2007

We report on an Italian boy, born to normal and nonconsanguineous parents with a prenatal diagnosis of ventriculomegaly and subependymal glial heterotopias. At birth bilateral macrostomia was diagnosed without other evident facial anomalies. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed triventricular hydrocephalus and aqueductal stenosis and confirmed the nodules of glial heterotopia. The bilateral macrostomia was surgically corrected with the vermilion square flap method and W-plasty technique and follow up MRI at 6 months showed mild increase of ventricular dilatation without signs of active hydrocephalus. The association between macrostomia and hydrocephalus has been reported only in rare cases of complex malformative syndromes but never with isolated macrostomia.
Fourier Analysis of Human Sagittal Sutures
Authors: Wu Yii-Der , Chien Chi-Hui , Chao Yuh J. , Yu Jack C. , Williamson Mathew A.
Published: August 2007

Objective:

To evaluate the complexity of human sagittal suture patterns and to investigate whether the suture complexity correlates with age.

Design:

Geometric patterns of the sagittal sutures from 104 dry human skulls from the Terry Collection and 16 computed tomography images from the Bosma Collection, aged 2 months to 60 years, were digitized. The complexity of the patterns was presented by suture length, curved suture (or skull) length, and length ratio and the frequency and amplitude contents by the discrete Fourier transform (DFT) analysis.

Results:

The suture length along the skull showed a positive correlation with age from 2 months to 10 years, reflecting the growth of the skull. The suture length ratio, R, a measure of the complexity of the suture pattern, had a similar trend to suture length (i.e., increased with age to about 10 years and leveled off afterward, accompanied by a large scatter). The major frequency from the DFT analysis indicated an age-related development in suture complexity from infants to about 10 years and no further change for individuals older than 10 years.

Conclusions:

Quantitative analyses of human sagittal suture using length, length ratio, and DFT indicated that there is a progressive increase in the complexity of sagittal sutural waveform with age, especially in the early ages. These findings agree with the observations from animal experiments that sagittal sutural waveform is the result of intrinsic tissue response to extrinsic forces such as those generated by the temporalis.
Severity of Skull Malformation is Unrelated to Presurgery Neurobehavioral Status of Infants with Sagittal Synostosis
Authors: Ruiz-Correa Salvador , Starr Jacqueline R. , Lin H. Jill , Kapp-Simon Kathleen A. , Cunningham Michael L. , Speltz Matthew L.
Published: August 2007

Objective:

To examine the association between severity of scaphocephalic skull malformation and neurodevelopmental status prior to cranioplasty.

Design and Participants:

Seventy-five infants with single-suture sagittal craniosynostosis (median age, 4.5 months) referred to the Infant Learning Project, a prospective, multisite, longitudinal study to evaluate neurocognitive development.

Main Outcome Measures:

Scaphocephaly severity indices were used to quantify synostotic skull shape from computed tomography scans. Infants were assessed with the mental (MDI) and motor scales (PDI) of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development and the receptive (PLS-AC) and expressive (PLS-EC) language scales of the Preschool Language Scale.

Results:

No association between skull shape and neurodevelopmental status was found.

Conclusions:

Lack of association between skull shape and neurodevelopment in infancy may indicate that the presurgical degree of scaphocephaly has little or no direct effect on brain development. Alternatively, such relationships, if they exist, may be evident only at older ages. Finally, it also is possible that aspects of skull malformation not measured in this study may be related to neuropsychological functioning.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Levator Veli Palatini Muscle in Speakers with Repaired Cleft Palate
Authors: Ha Seunghee , Kuehn David P. , Cohen Mimis , Alperin Noam
Published: August 2007

Objective:

To obtain detailed anatomic and physiologic information on the levator veli palatini muscle from MRI in individuals with repaired cleft palate and to compare the results with those from normal subjects reported by Ettema et al. (2002).

Design:

Prospective study.

Setting:

University-based hospital.

Participants:

Four men (ages 22 to 43 years) with repaired cleft lip and palate.

Main Outcome Measures:

Four quantitative measurements of the levator veli palatini muscle from rest position and dynamic speech magnetic resonance images were obtained: the distance between the origins of the muscle, angle of origin of the muscle, muscle length, and muscle thickness.

Results:

The length and thickness of the levator veli palatini muscle varied among the subjects and were different from measurements obtained from normal subjects in a previous study. The distance between origin points, length, and thickness of the levator veli palatini muscle were smaller than those of the normal subjects. There were systematic changes of the levator veli palatini muscle, depending upon vowel and consonant types. Levator veli palatini muscle angle of origin and length became progressively smaller from rest, nasal consonants, low vowels, high vowels, and fricative consonants. These changes are consistent with those of the normal subjects.

Conclusions:

This study contributes to a better understanding of cleft palate anatomy in comparison with normal anatomy of the levator veli palatini muscle. The use of MRI shows promise as an important tool in the diagnosis and eventual aid to treatment decisions for individuals born with cleft palate.
Expression and biological effects of bone morphogenetic protein-15 in the hen ovary
Authors: Elis S , Dupont J , Couty I , Persani L , Govoroun M , Blesbois E , Batellier F , Monget P
Published: August 2007

The bone morphogenetic protein 15 (Bmp15) and growth differentiation factor 9 (Gdf9) genes are two members of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily. In mammals, these genes are known to be specifically expressed in oocytes and to be essential for female fertility. However, potential ovarian roles of BMPs remain unexplored in birds. The aim of the present work was to study for the first time the expression of Bmp15 in the hen ovary, to compare its expression pattern with that of Gdf9, and then to investigate the effects of BMP15 on granulosa cell (GC) proliferation and steroidogenesis. We found that chicken Bmp15 and Gdf9 genes were preferentially expressed in the ovary. We showed using in situ hybridization that Bmp15 and Gdf9 mRNAs were specifically localized in oocytes of all ovarian follicles examined. We also demonstrated using real-time quantitative RT-PCR that Bmp15 and Gdf9 expression was maintained during hierarchical follicular maturation in the gerrminal disc region and then progressively declined after ovulation. BMP15 was able to activate Smad1 (mothers against decapentaplegichomolog1) signaling pathway in hen GCs. Moreover, we showed a strong inhibitory effect of BMP15 on gonadotropin-induced progesterone production in hen GCs. This inhibitory effect was associated with a decrease in steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (STAR) level. Taken together, our results suggest that BMP15 may have a key role in the female fertility of birds.
Rat insulin promoter 2-Cre recombinase mice bred onto a pure C57BL/6J background exhibit unaltered glucose tolerance
Authors: Fex Malin , Wierup Nils , Nitert Marloes Dekker , Ristow Michael , Mulder Hindrik
Published: August 2007

β-Cell-specific gene targeting is a widely used tool when studying genes involved in β-cell function. For this purpose, several conditional β-cell knockouts have been generated using the rat insulin promoter 2-Cre recombinase (RIP2-Cre) mouse. However, it was recently observed that expression of Cre alone in β-cells may affect whole body glucose homeostasis. Therefore, we investigated glucose homeostasis, insulin secretion, and β-cell mass in our line of RIP2-Cre mice bred onto the C57BL/6J genetic background. We used 12- and 28-week-old female RIP2-Cre mice for analyses of insulin secretion in vitro, glucose homeostasis in vivo and β-cell mass. Our mouse line has been backcrossedfor14generationstoyieldanear100%pureC57BL/6J background. Wefound thatfastingplasmaglucoseand insulinlevels were similar in both genotypes. An i.v. glucose tolerance test revealed no differences in glucose clearance and insulin secretion between 12-week-old RIP2-Cre and WT mice. Moreover, insulin secretion in vitro in islets isolated from 28-week-old RIP2-Cre mice and controls was similar. In addition, β-cell mass was not different between the two genotypes at 28 weeks of age. In our experiments, we observed no differences in glucose tolerance, insulin secretion in vivo and in vitro, or in β-cell mass between the genotypes. As our RIP2-Cre mice are on a near 100% pure genetic background (C57BL/6J), we suggest that the perturbations in glucose homeostasis previously reported in RIP2-Cre mouse lines can be accounted for by differences in genetic background.
Isoginkgetin enhances adiponectin secretion from differentiated adiposarcoma cells via a novel pathway involving AMP-activated protein kinase
Authors: Liu Guohong , Grifman Mirta , Macdonald James , Moller Peter , Wong-Staal Flossie , Li Qi-Xiang
Published: August 2007

Adiponectin is an anti-diabetic hormone secreted byadipocytes. Circulating adiponectin levels are lower in obese and type II diabetic patients than in healthy people. Weight loss or thiazolidinedione treatment increases plasma adiponectin levels. Animal models and human studies suggest that elevated adiponectin levels increase insulin sensitivity. We screened a library of drug-like compounds and natural products for novel agents enhancing adiponectin production. We identified isoginkgetin, a compound derived from the leaves of Ginkgo biloba, to up-regulate adiponectin secretion with potency comparable to that of rosiglitazone, a known modulator of adiponectin production. However, unlike rosiglitazone, peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor γ activity seems not required for the action of isoginkgetin, and isoginkgetin has only a slight effect on adipogenesis, which makes it an attractive candidate for anti-diabetic treatment. Further investigation revealed that both isoginkgetin and rosiglitazone activate AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in adipocytes. Our findings suggest a novel mechanism for the elevation of adiponectin by isoginkgetin, which is different from that of rosiglitazone. Furthermore, this novel mechanism for adiponectin regulation involving AMPK can potentially facilitate new understanding of metabolic diseases and identification of new targets, as well as agents that increase plasma adiponectin levels.
Dehydroepiandrosterone secretion in dairy cattle is episodic and unaffected by ACTH stimulation
Authors: Marinelli Lieta , Trevisi Erminio , Da Dalt Laura , Merlo Mariacristina , Bertoni Giuseppe , Gabai Gianfranco
Published: August 2007

This paper describes the episodic release and response to adrenal stimulation of cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in cows. Observations made in samples taken every 10 min for 8 h (experiment 1) showed that plasma DHEA was significantly greater (P < 0.001) than DHEA-S, and release of these steroids was episodic and variable between animals (P < 0.01). No relationship was found between DHEA and cortisol. Significant (P < 0.001) DHEA-sulphate (DHEA-S) versus cortisol (R = −0.264) and DHEA-S versus DHEA (R = 0.200) correlations were found. DHEA and DHEA-S were not affected by a single ACTH challenge (experiment 2). In experiment 3, cortisol and DHEA secretions in response to prolonged ACTH administration (every 12 h for 6 days) were studied. On day 7, the episodic cortisol and DHEA release and response to the opioid antagonist naloxone were studied in blood samples taken every 10 min for 8 h. Animals were injected with naloxone after 4 h. A significant increase (P < 0.05) in mean circulating DHEA and DHEA pulse amplitude was observed during frequent sampling following ACTH treatment. DHEA and DHEA-S plasma concentrations were not affected following luteal regression (experiment 4). The effect of milk secretion around parturition on DHEA secretion was studied in dry and continuously milked cows (experiment 5). Plasma DHEA was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in milked cows. In the cow, ACTH is not an important DHEA secretagogue. Adrenal contribution to plasma DHEA is scarce. Likely, the placenta is the most important source of DHEA, and the lactating mammary gland can affect circulating DHEA levels. Investigation about the DHEA biological role in cows should be focused around parturition.
Infliximab reverses steatosis and improves insulin signal transduction in liver of rats fed a high-fat diet
Authors: Barbuio Raquel , Milanski Marciane , Bertolo Manoel B , Saad Mário J , Velloso Lício A
Published: August 2007

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, induced by nutritional factors, is one of the leading causes of hepatic dysfunction in the modern world. The activation of proinflammatory signaling in the liver, which is induced by systemic and locally produced cytokines, and the development of hepatic insulin resistance are two important factors associated with the progression from steatosis to steatohepatitis, a pre-cirrhotic condition. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of inhibition of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α , using the monoclonal antibody infliximab, on the expression of cytokines, induction of steatosis and fibrosis, and insulin signal transduction in the liver of Wistar rats fed a high-fat diet. Ten days of treatment with infliximab significantly reduced the expression of the proinflammatory markers, TNF-α , IL-6, IL-1β , and SOCS-3, in the liver of rats fed a high-fat diet. This was accompanied by reduced fat deposition and fibrosis and by improved insulin signal transduction through insulin receptor (IR)/IR substrate/Akt/FOXO1 and JAK2/STAT3 pathways. In conclusion, short-term inhibition of TNF-α with infliximab reduces inflammation and steatosis/fibrosis, while improving insulin signal transduction in an animal model treated with a high-fat diet.
Neighborhood Residence and Cigarette Smoking Among Urban Youths: The Protective Role of Prosocial Activities
Authors: Xue Yange , Zimmerman Marc A. , Caldwell Cleopatra Howard
Published: August 2007

Objectives. We examined the association between neighborhood characteristics and cigarette use among adolescents and explored the protective effects of participation in prosocial activities to better understand strengths in adolescents’ lives and help identify protective factors for the prevention of adolescent smoking.

Methods. We interviewed ninth graders who had grade point averages of 3.0 or lower and who were not developmentally disabled. Participants’ addresses were geocoded so that interview data could be linked to 1990 US census data on neighborhood characteristics.

Results. Neighborhood disadvantage and the percentage of Black residents in a neighborhood had different effects on cigarette smoking among Black and White adolescents. Living in a neighborhood with a high percentage of Black residents had favorable effects for Blacks but not for Whites. For both groups, a low percentage of Black residents was a risk factor for cigarette use, and risk effects were higher in the more disadvantaged neighborhoods. Involvement in prosocial activities moderated neighborhood risks.

Conclusions. Neighborhood effects on adolescent cigarette use were contingent upon both contextual and individual characteristics. Participation in prosocial activities had a protective effect among adolescents in high-risk neighborhoods. Engaging adolescents in such activities may help offset the adverse effects of living in a disadvantaged neighborhood.
Black–White Mortality From HIV in the United States Before and After Introduction of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy in 1996
Authors: Levine Robert S. , Briggs Nathaniel C. , Kilbourne Barbara S. , King William D. , Fry-Johnson Yvonne , Baltrus Peter T. , Husaini Baqar A. , Rust George S.
Published: August 2007

Objectives. We sought to describe Black–White differences in HIV disease mortality before and after the introduction of highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART).

Methods. Black–White mortality from HIV is described for the nation as a whole. We performed regression analyses to predict county-level mortality for Black men aged 25–84 years and the corresponding Black:White male mortality ratios (disparities) in 140 counties with reliable Black mortality for 1999–2002.

Results. National Black–White disparities widened significantly after the introduction of HAART, especially among women and the elderly. In county regression analyses, contextual socioeconomic status (SES) was not a significant predictor of Black:White mortality rate ratio after we controlled for percentage of the population who were Black and percentage of the population who were Hispanic, and neither contextual SES nor race/ethnicity were significant predictors after we controlled for pre-HAART mortality. Contextual SES, race, and pre-HAART mortality were all significant and independent predictors of mortality among Black men.

Conclusions. Although nearly all segments of the Black population experienced widened post-HAART disparities, disparities were not inevitable and tended to reflect pre-HAART levels. Public health policymakers should consider the hypothesis of unequal diffusion of the HAART innovation, with place effects rendering some communities more vulnerable than others to this potential problem.
Height, Its Components, and Cardiovascular Risk Among Older Chinese: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study
Authors: Schooling C. Mary , Jiang Chaoqiang , Lam Tai Hing , Thomas G. Neil , Heys Michelle , Bmbs  , Lao Xiangqian , Zhang Weisen , Adab Peymane , Cheng Kar Keung , Leung Gabriel M.
Published: August 2007

Objectives. Better childhood conditions, inferred from height and specifically leg length, are usually protective against ischemic heart disease and its risk factors in Western countries. In other geoethnic populations, height is less clearly protective, casting doubt on there being a biological etiology. To clarify the role of childhood conditions, we examined the associations of height and its components with cardiovascular risk among older Chinese people.

Methods. We used multivariable regression to examine the associations of height and its components with blood pressure, lipid profile, and diabetes in 10413 older Chinese adults (mean age=64.6 years).

Results. After we adjusted for age, gender, socioeconomic status, and lifestyle habits, greater sitting height was associated with diabetes and dyslipidemia. Longer legs were associated with lower pulse pressure and lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Conclusions. We provide indirect anthropometric evidence for the role of pre-pubertal and pubertal exposures on cardiovascular risk. Pubertal exposures are stronger than are prepubertal exposures but may be influenced by osteoporotic decline in old age. Further research should establish whether the observed relations are ethnically specific or relate to the stage or trajectory of socioeconomic development.
Promoting Prenatal and Early Childhood Health: Evaluation of a Statewide Materials-Based Intervention for Parents
Authors: Neuhauser Linda , Constantine Wendy L. , Constantine Norman A. , Sokal-Gutierrez Karen , Obarski Susan K. , Clayton Lacy , Desai Mona , Sumner Gerald , Syme S. Leonard
Published: August 2007

Objectives. There is a critical need for effective, large-scale health communication programs to support parents of children aged 0–5 years. We evaluated the effectiveness of the Kit for New Parents, a multimedia health and parenting resource now distributed annually to 500000 parents in California.

Methods. In this quasi-experimental study, 462 mothers in the intervention group and 1011 mothers in the comparison group, recruited from prenatal and postnatal programs, completed a baseline interview about health-relevant parenting knowledge, and mothers in the intervention group received the kit. Both groups were reinterviewed 2 months later. At 14-months postbaseline, 350 mothers in the intervention group and a sample of 414 mothers who had equivalent demographic characteristics (comparison group) were interviewed about parenting knowledge and practices.

Results. Of the mothers in the intervention group, 87% reported using the kit within 2 months after receiving it, and 53% had shared it with their partner. At both follow-ups, mothers in the intervention group showed greater gains in knowledge and reported better practices at 14 months than did mothers in the comparison group. Gains were greater for prenatal recipients and for Spanish speakers. Providers considered the kit a valuable resource for their parenting programs.

Conclusions. The kit is an effective, low-cost, statewide health intervention for parents.
Cigarette Prices, Smoking, and the Poor: Implications of Recent Trends
Authors: Franks Peter , Jerant Anthony F. , Leigh J. Paul , Lee Dennis , Chiem Alan , Lewis Ilene , Lee Sandy
Published: August 2007

Objective. We examined the relationship between smoking participation and cigarette pack price by income group and time period to determine role of cigarette prices in income-related disparities in smoking in the United States.

Methods. We used data from the 1984–2004 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System surveys linked to information on cigarette prices to examine the adjusted prevalence of smoking participation and smoking participation–cigarette pack price elasticity (change in percentage of persons smoking relative to a 1% change in cigarette price) by income group (lowest income quartile [lower] vs all other quartiles [higher]) and time period (before vs after the Master Settlement Agreement [MSA]).

Results. Increased real cigarette-pack price over time was associated with a marked decline in smoking among higher-income but not among lower-income persons. Although the pre–MSA association between cigarette pack price and smoking revealed a larger elasticity in the lower- versus higher-income persons (−0.45 vs −0.22), the post–MSA association was not statistically significant (P>.2) for either income group.

Conclusions. Despite cigarette price increases after the MSA, income-related smoking disparities have increased. Increasing cigarette prices may no longer be an effective policy tool and may impose a disproportionate burden on poor smokers.
Exposure to Terrorism and Israeli Youths’ Cigarette, Alcohol, and Cannabis Use
Authors: Schiff Miriam , Zweig Hillah Haim , Benbenishty Rami , Hasin Deborah S.
Published: August 2007

Objectives. We investigated the consequences of exposure to acts of terrorism among Israeli adolescents. We examined whether exposure to terrorism predicted adolescents’ use of cigarettes, alcohol (including binge drinking), and cannabis after we controlled for posttraumatic stress and depressive symptoms and background variables.

Methods. Anonymous self-administered questionnaires were given to a random sample of 960 10th and 11th grade students (51.6% boys, 48.4% girls) in a large city in northern Israel.

Results. Close physical exposure to acts of terrorism predicted higher levels of alcohol consumption (including binge drinking among drinkers) and cannabis use. These relationships remained even after we controlled for posttraumatic stress and depressive symptoms.

Conclusions. In addition to posttraumatic stress symptoms, negative consequences of terrorism exposure among adolescents included substance abuse. The similarity between our findings among Israeli adolescents and previous findings among US adults suggests cross-cultural generalizability. Given the risks for later problems from early-onset substance abuse, the consequences of terrorism exposure among adolescents merit greater research and clinical attention.
SOLAR Ultraviolet Radiation AND Vitamin D
Authors: Rajakumar Kumaravel , Greenspan Susan L. , Thomas Stephen B. , Holick Michael F.
Published: August 2007

Rickets, the state of vitamin D deficiency, has reemerged as a potential problem in the United States. At the dawn of the 20th century, rickets was pervasive among infants residing in the polluted cities of Europe and the northeastern United States.

Important milestones in the history of rickets were the understanding that photosynthesized vitamin D and dietary vitamin D were similar, the discernment of the antirachitic potency of artificial and natural ultraviolet rays, and the discovery that ultraviolet irradiation could render various foods antirachitic. Clinical guidelines were instituted to promote sensible exposure to sunlight and artificial ultraviolet radiation.

In addition, irradiated ergosterol from yeast became the major vitamin D source for food fortification and the treatment of rickets, leading to a public health campaign to eradicate rickets by the 1930s. We review the sequence and turn of events pertaining to the discovery of vitamin D and the strategies for the eradication of the reemerging rickets problem.
Understanding the Impact of a Microfinance-Based Intervention on Women’s Empowerment and the Reduction of Intimate Partner Violence in South Africa
Authors: Kim Julia C. , Watts Charlotte H. , Hargreaves James R. , Ndhlovu Luceth X. , Phetla Godfrey , Morison Linda A. , Busza Joanna , Porter John D.H. , Pronyk Paul
Published: August 2007

Objectives. We sought to obtain evidence about the scope of women’s empowerment and the mechanisms underlying the significant reduction in intimate partner violence documented by the Intervention With Microfinance for AIDS and Gender Equity (IMAGE) cluster-randomized trial in rural South Africa.

Methods. The IMAGE intervention combined a microfinance program with participatory training on understanding HIV infection, gender norms, domestic violence, and sexuality. Outcome measures included past year’s experience of intimate partner violence and 9 indicators of women’s empowerment. Qualitative data about changes occurring within intimate relationships, loan groups, and the community were also collected.

Results. After 2 years, the risk of past-year physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner was reduced by more than half (adjusted risk ratio=0.45; 95% confidence interval=0.23, 0.91). Improvements in all 9 indicators of empowerment were observed. Reductions in violence resulted from a range of responses enabling women to challenge the acceptability of violence, expect and receive better treatment from partners, leave abusive relationships, and raise public awareness about intimate partner violence.

Conclusions. Our findings, both qualitative and quantitative, indicate that economic and social empowerment of women can contribute to reductions in intimate partner violence.
The Utilization of Testing and Counseling for HIV: A Review of the Social and Behavioral Evidence
Authors: Obermeyer Carla Makhlouf , Osborn Michelle
Published: August 2007

Against the background of debates about expanding HIV testing and counseling, we summarize the evidence on the social and behavioral dimension of testing and its implications for programs.

The discrepancy between acceptance of testing and returning for results and the difficulties of disclosure are examined in light of research on risk perceptions and the influence of gender and stigma. We also summarize the evidence on the provision of testing and counseling, the implementation of practices regarding confidentiality and consent, and the results of interventions.

We demonstrate that social factors have a considerable impact on testing, show that the services linked to testing are key determinants of utilization, and consider the implications of these findings for HIV testing programs.
Social Support and Thriving Health: A New Approach to Understanding the Health of Indigenous Canadians
Authors: Richmond Chantelle A.M. , Ross Nancy A. , Egeland Grace M.
Published: August 2007

Objectives. We examined the importance of social support in promoting thriving health among indigenous Canadians, a disadvantaged population.

Methods. We categorized the self-reported health status of 31625 adult indigenous Canadians as thriving (excellent, very good) or nonthriving (good, fair, poor). We measured social support with indices of positive interaction, emotional support, tangible support, and affection and intimacy. We used multivariable logistic regression analyses to estimate odds of reporting thriving health, using social support as the key independent variable, and we controlled for educational attainment and labor force status.

Results. Compared with women reporting low levels of social support, those reporting high levels of positive interaction (odds ratio [OR]=1.4; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.2, 1.6), emotional support (OR=2.1; 95% CI=1.8, 2.4), and tangible support (OR = 1.4; 95% CI = 1.2, 1.5) were significantly more likely to report thriving health. Among men, only emotional support was significantly related to thriving health (OR=1.7; 95% CI=1.5, 1.9). Thriving health status was also significantly mediated by age, aboriginal status (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit), educational attainment, and labor force status.

Conclusions. Social support is a strong determinant of thriving health, particularly among women. Research that emphasizes thriving represents a positive and necessary turn in the indigenous health discourse.
Distal Lower-Extremity Pain and Work Postures in the Quebec Population
Authors: Messing Karen , Tissot France , Stock Susan
Published: August 2007

Objectives. Standing at work has been associated with discomfort and cardiovascular symptoms. Because standing postures vary in duration, mobility, and constraint, we explored associations between specific postures and pain in the lower extremities.

Methods. We used multiple logistic regression to analyze associations between work factors and pain in the lower extremities during the previous 12 months that interfered with usual activities. We used data from among 7757 workers who were interviewed in the 1998 Quebec Health and Social Survey.

Results. Among all respondents, 9.4% reported significant ankle or foot pain, and 6.4% had lower-leg or calf pain. Significantly more women than men had pain at both sites. Both leg or calf and ankle or foot pain were strongly associated with standing postures, whole-body vibration, psychological distress, female gender, and being aged 50 years or older. Constrained standing postures were associated with increased ankle or foot pain for both men and women and with leg or calf pain for women, compared with standing with freedom to sit at will.

Conclusions. Freedom to sit at work may prevent lower-extremity pain. The effects of specific sitting and standing postures on cartilage, muscle, and the cardiovascular system may help explain discomfort in the lower extremities.