bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Complex structure of electrophysiological gradients emerging during long-duration ventricular fibrillation in the canine heart
Authors: Venable Paul W. , Taylor Tyson G. , Shibayama Junko , Warren Mark , Zaitsev Alexey V.
Published: August 2010

Long-duration ventricular fibrillation (LDVF) in the globally ischemic heart is a common setting of cardiac arrest. Electrical heterogeneities during LDVF may affect outcomes of defibrillation and resuscitation. Previous studies in large mammalian hearts have investigated the role of Purkinje fibers and electrophysiological gradients between the endocardium (Endo) and epicardium (Epi). Much less is known about gradients between the right ventricle (RV) and left ventricle (LV) and within each chamber during LDVF. We studied the transmural distribution of the VF activation rate (VFR) in the RV and LV and at the junction of RV, LV, and septum (Sep) during LDVF using plunge needle electrodes in opened-chest dogs. We also used optical mapping to analyze the Epi distribution of VFR, action potential duration (APD), and diastolic interval (DI) during LDVF in the RV and LV of isolated hearts. Transmural VFR gradients developed in both the RV and LV, with a faster VFR in Endo. Concurrently, large VFR gradients developed in Epi, with the fastest VFR in the RV-Sep junction, intermediate in the RV, and slowest in the LV. Optical mapping revealed a progressively increasing VFR dispersion within both the LV and RV, with a mosaic presence of fully inexcitable areas after 4–8 min of LDVF. The transmural, interchamber, and intrachamber VFR heterogeneities were of similar magnitude. In both chambers, the inverse of VFR was highly correlated with DI, but not APD, at all time points of LDVF. We conclude that the complex VFR gradients during LDVF in the canine heart cannot be explained solely by the distribution of Purkinje fibers and are related to regional differences in the electrical depression secondary to LDVF.
Exaggerated sympathetic and pressor responses to handgrip exercise in older hypertensive humans: role of the muscle metaboreflex
Authors: Delaney Erin P. , Greaney Jody L. , Edwards David G. , Rose William C. , Fadel Paul J. , Farquhar William B.
Published: August 2010

Recent animal studies have reported that exercise pressor reflex (EPR)-mediated increases in blood pressure are exaggerated in hypertensive (HTN) rodents. Whether these findings can be extended to human hypertension remains unclear. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), and venous metabolites were measured in normotensive (NTN; n = 23; 60 ± 1 yr) and HTN ( n = 15; 63 ± 1 yr) subjects at baseline, and during static handgrip at 30 and 40% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) followed by a period of postexercise ischemia (PEI) to isolate the metabolic component of the EPR. Changes in MAP from baseline were augmented in HTN subjects during both 30 and 40% MVC handgrip ( P < 0.05 for both), and these group differences were maintained during PEI (30% PEI trial: Δ15 ± 2 NTN vs. Δ19 ± 2 HTN mmHg; 40% PEI trial: Δ16 ± 1 NTN vs. Δ23 ± 2 HTN mmHg; P < 0.05 for both). Similarly, in HTN subjects, MSNA burst frequency was greater during 30 and 40% MVC handgrip ( P < 0.05 for both), and these differences were maintained during PEI [30% PEI trial: 35 ± 2 (NTN) vs. 44 ± 2 (HTN) bursts/min; 40% PEI trial: 36 ± 2 (NTN) vs. 48 ± 2 (HTN) bursts/min; P < 0.05 for both]. No group differences in metabolites were observed. MAP and MSNA responses to a cold pressor test were not different between groups, suggesting no group differences in generalized sympathetic responsiveness. In summary, compared with NTN subjects, HTN adults exhibit exaggerated sympathetic and pressor responses to handgrip exercise that are maintained during PEI, indicating that activation of the metabolic component of the EPR is augmented in older HTN humans.
Cre-loxP DNA recombination is possible with only minimal unspecific transcriptional changes and without cardiomyopathy in Tg(αMHC-MerCreMer) mice
Authors: Hougen Karina , Aronsen Jan Magnus , Stokke Mathis K. , Enger Ulla , Nygård Ståle , Andersson Kristin B. , Christensen Geir , Sejersted Ole M. , Sjaastad Ivar
Published: August 2010

Cre-loxP technology for conditional gene inactivation is a powerful tool in cardiovascular research. Induction of gene inactivation can be carried out by per oral or intraperitoneal tamoxifen administration. Unintended transient cardiomyopathy following tamoxifen administration for gene inactivation has recently been reported. We aimed to develop a protocol for tamoxifen-induced gene inactivation with minimal effects on gene transcription and in vivo cardiac function, allowing studies of acute loss of the targeted gene. In mRNA microarrays, 35% of the 34,760 examined genes were significantly regulated in MCM+/0 compared with wild type. In MCM+/0, we found a correlation between tamoxifen dose and degree of gene regulation. Comparing one and four intraperitoneal injections of 40 mg·kg−1·day−1 tamoxifen, regulated genes were reduced to 1/5 in the single injection group. Pronounced alteration in protein abundance and acute cardiomyopathy were observed after the four-injection protocols but not the one-injection protocol. For verification of gene inactivation following one injection of tamoxifen, this protocol was applied to MCM+/0/Serca2fl/fl. Serca2 mRNA levels and protein abundance followed the same pattern of decline with one and four tamoxifen injections. The presence of the MCM transgene induced major alterations of gene expression while administration of tamoxifen induced additional but less gene regulation. Thus nonfloxed MCM+/0 should be considered as controls for mice that carry both a floxed gene of interest and the MCM transgene. One single tamoxifen injection administered to MCM+/0/Serca2fl/fl was sufficient for target gene inactivation, without acute cardiomyopathy, allowing acute studies subsequent to gene inactivation.
Computing Exact Solutions to a Generalized Lax‐Sawada‐Kotera‐Ito Seventh‐Order KdV Equation
Authors: Salas Alvaro H. , Gómez S Cesar A. , Acevedo Frias Bernardo
Published: August 2010

The Cole‐Hopf transform is used to construct exact solutions to a generalization of both the seventh‐order Lax KdV equation (Lax KdV7) and the seventh‐order Sawada‐Kotera‐Ito KdV equation (Sawada‐Kotera‐Ito KdV7).
Broyden's Method for Solving Fuzzy Nonlinear Equations
Authors: Ramli Amirah , Abdullah Mohd Lazim , Mamat Mustafa
Published: August 2010

Instead of using standard analytical techniques, like Buckley and Qu method, which are not suitable for solving a system of fuzzy nonlinear equations where the coefficient is fuzzy number, Broyden's method is proposed for solving fuzzy nonlinear equations. In this paper, an eight-step algorithm is used to solve fuzzy nonlinear equations. Two numerical examples are given to illustrate the proposed method.
The Use of Green Coffee Extract as a Weight Loss Supplement: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Clinical Trials
Authors: Onakpoya Igho , Terry Rohini , Ernst Edzard
Published: August 2010

The purpose of this paper is to assess the efficacy of green coffee extract (GCE) as a weight loss supplement, using data from human clinical trials. Electronic and nonelectronic searches were conducted to identify relevant articles, with no restrictions in time or language. Two independent reviewers extracted the data and assessed the methodological quality of included studies. Five eligible trials were identified, and three of these were included. All studies were associated with a high risk of bias. The meta-analytic result reveals a significant difference in body weight in GCE compared with placebo (mean difference: kg; 95%CI: , ). The magnitude of the effect is moderate, and there is significant heterogeneity amongst the studies. It is concluded that the results from these trials are promising, but the studies are all of poor methodological quality. More rigorous trials are needed to assess the usefulness of GCE as a weight loss tool.
Comparative study of coagulation and thrombin generation in the portal and jugular plasma of patients with cirrhosis
Authors: Decalonne Loic , d’Alteroche Louis , Perarnau Jean-Marc , Delahousse Bénédicte , Labat-Debelleix Valérie , Gruel Yves
Published: August 2010

Portal vein thromboses are frequent in cirrhotic patients and may be favoured by hypercoagulability in the splanchnic venous system. The coagulation balance and thrombin generation (TG) were evaluated in platelet-free plasma obtained from portal and systemic blood samples in 28 cirrhotic patients while undergoing transjugular intrahepatic porto-systemic shunt. TG assay (TGA) was performed with all samples from cirrhotic patients and with plasma samples from 14 healthy controls, with varying concentrations of tissue factor and phospholipids, with or without thrombomodulin. Screening tests and specific assays were also performed and activated partial thromboplastin time was shorter in portal plasma samples with higher FVIII and lower protein C levels, well correlated with Child-Pugh scores, and higher D-dimers and F1+2 levels However, all TGA parameters were similar in portal and jugular samples, possibly due in part to similar concentrations of factor II and antithrombin in these two sites of plasma sampling. TGA showed lower thrombin peaks and endogenous thrombin potential values in cirrhotic plasma compared to those of healthy controls. Importantly, a resistance to thrombomodulin that well correlated with factor VIII and PC levels, was evidenced in all samples from patients with cirrhosis, and was more significant in those from severely affected cases. This study therefore supports the existence of a relative hypercoagulability in the portal vein of cirrhotic patients that is likely due to protein C/S deficiency and to high FVIII levels.
Removal of elevated circulating angiopoietin-2 by plasma exchange – A pilot study in critically ill patients with thrombotic microangiopathy and anti-glomerular basement membrane disease
Authors: Hafer Carsten , Kielstein Jan , Haubitz Marion , Haller Hermann , Lovric Svjetlana , Lukasz Alexander , Kümpers Philipp
Published: August 2010

In critically ill patients, the massive release of angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) from Weibel-Palade bodies interferes with protective angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1)/Tie2 signalling in endothelial cells, thus leading to vascular inflammation and subsequent organ-dysfunction. We hypothesised that plasma exchange (PE) is efficient for lowering excess Ang-2 levels in critically ill patients with thrombocytic microangiopathy (TMA) or anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) disease. Plasma Ang-1 and Ang-2 were measured by immuno-luminometric assays in patients with TMA (n=9) or anti-GBM disease (n=4) before and after up to four PE sessions. Twenty apparently healthy volunteers served as controls. Median (IQR) plasma levels of Ang-2 were markedly increased in patients with TMA (7.3 (2.4–21.1) ng/ml) and anti-GBM disease (5.8 (3.4–7.0) ng/ml) compared to healthy controls (1.0 (0.9–1.4) ng/ml, p <0.001). Moreover, Ang-1 plasma levels were decreased in both, TMA (1.02 (0.62–1.62) ng/ml) and anti-GBM disease patients (0.74 (0.59–3.62) ng/ml) compared to healthy controls (2.5 (1.93–3.47) ng/ ml, p <0.005). During a total of 32 treatments, PE effectively lowered elevated mean (SD) Ang-2 plasma levels by 36.7 ± 19.6 % per treatment (p <0.0001), whereas low Ang-1 plasma levels remained unchanged (0.3 ± 58.5 %; p =0.147). Ang-2 levels declined to almost normal values during ≤4 PE treatments (Friedman´s test p <0.0001). PE is an effective method to remove excess circulating Ang-2. It remains to be elucidated if the removal of Ang-2 is crucial to ameliorate endothelial damage in critically ill patients with severely altered endothelial integrity.
Management of dental extraction in patients undergoing anticoagulant treatment
Authors: Maglione Michele , Favero Lorenzo , Perini Alessandro , Lenarda Roberto Di , Berengo Mario , Zanon Ezio , Bacci Christian
Published: August 2010

Following favourable results from a previous study, a large, multicentre, prospective, case-control study was performed to further assess the incidence of bleeding complications after dental extraction in patients taking oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT). Four hundred fifty-one patients being treated with warfarin who required dental extraction were compared with a control group of 449 non-anticoagulated subjects undergoing the same procedure. In the warfarin-treated group, the oral anticoagulant regimen was maintained unchanged, such that the patients had an International Normalised Ratio ranging between 1.8 and 4, and local haemostatic measures (i.e. fibrin sponges, silk sutures and gauzes saturated with tranexamic acid) were adopted. All the procedures were performed in an outpatient setting. Seven bleeding complications occurred in the OAT group and four in the control group; the difference in the number of bleeding events between the two groups was not statistically significant (OR=1.754; 95% CI 0.510 – 6.034; p=0.3727). No post-operative late bleeds requiring hospitalisation and/or blood transfusions were recorded, and the adjunctive local haemostatic measures were adequate to stop the bleeding. The results of our protocol applied in this large, multicenter study show that dental extractions can be performed easily and safely in anticoagulated out-patients without any modification of the ongoing anticoagulant therapy, thus minimising costs and reducing discomfort for patients.
Can the Language-dominant Hemisphere Be Predicted by Brain Anatomy?
Authors: Keller Simon S. , Roberts Neil , García-Fiñana Marta , Mohammadi Siawoosh , Ringelstein E. Bernd , Knecht Stefan , Deppe Michael
Published: August 2010

It has long been suspected that cortical interhemispheric asymmetries may underlie hemispheric language dominance (HLD). To test this hypothesis, we determined interhemispheric asymmetries using stereology and MRI of three cortical regions hypothesized to be related to HLD (Broca's area, planum temporale, and insula) in healthy adults in whom HLD was determined using functional transcranial Doppler sonography and functional MRI (15 left HLD, 10 right HLD). We observed no relationship between volume asymmetry of the gyral correlates of Broca's area or planum temporale and HLD. However, we observed a robust relationship between volume asymmetry of the insula and HLD (p = .008), which predicted unilateral HLD in 88% individuals (86.7% left HDL and 90% right HLD). There was also a subtle but significant positive correlation between the extent of HLD and insula volume asymmetry (p = .02), indicating that a larger insula predicted functional lateralization to the same hemispheric side for the majority of subjects. We found no visual evidence of basic anatomical markers of HLD other than that the termination of the right posterior sylvian fissure was more likely to be vertical than horizontal in right HLD subjects (p = .02). Predicting HLD by virtue of gross brain anatomy is complicated by interindividual variability in sulcal contours, and the possibility remains that morphological and cytoarchitectural organization of the classical language regions may underlie HLD when analyses are not constrained by the natural limits imposed by measurement of gyral volume. Although the anatomical correlates of HLD will most likely be found to include complex intra- and interhemispheric connections, there is the possibility that such connectivity may correlate with gray matter morphology. We suggest that the potential significance of insular morphology should be considered in future studies addressing the anatomical correlates of human language lateralization.
The Involvement of Occipital and Inferior Frontal Cortex in the Phonological Learning of Chinese Characters
Authors: Deng Yuan , Chou Tai-li , Ding Guo-sheng , Peng Dan-ling , Booth James R.
Published: August 2010

Neural changes related to the learning of the pronunciation of Chinese characters in English speakers were examined using fMRI. We examined the item-specific learning effects for trained characters and the generalization of phonetic knowledge to novel transfer characters that shared a phonetic radical (part of a character that gives a clue to the whole character's pronunciation) with trained characters. Behavioral results showed that shared phonetic information improved performance for transfer characters. Neuroimaging results for trained characters over learning found increased activation in the right lingual gyrus, and greater activation enhancement in the left inferior frontal gyrus (Brodmann's area 44) was correlated with higher accuracy improvement. Moreover, greater activation for transfer characters in these two regions at the late stage of training was correlated with better knowledge of the phonetic radical in a delayed recall test. The current study suggests that the right lingual gyrus and the left inferior frontal gyrus are crucial for the learning of Chinese characters and the generalization of that knowledge to novel characters. Left inferior frontal gyrus is likely involved in phonological segmentation, whereas right lingual gyrus may subserve processing visual–orthographic information.
Crisis Intervention Teams and People With Mental Illness
Authors: Morabito Melissa S. , Kerr Amy N. , Watson Amy , Draine Jeffrey , Ottati Victor , Angell Beth
Published: August 2010

The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program was first developed to reduce violence in encounters between the police and people with mental illness as well as provide improved access to mental health services. Although there is overwhelming popular support for this intervention, scant empirical evidence of its effectiveness is available—particularly whether the program can reduce the use of force. This investigation seeks to fill this gap in the literature by exploring the factors that influence use of force in encounters involving people with mental illness and evaluating whether CIT can reduce the likelihood of its use.
Betwixt and Between: The Role of Psychosocial Factors in the Early Stages of Desistance
Authors: Healy Deirdre
Published: August 2010

This article presents the results of an investigation into the psychosocial changes involved in the early stages of desistance, which to date have attracted little empirical or theoretical attention. The study used a mixed-methods design to produce a nuanced account of the shifts that occur in cognitions and social circumstances as offenders make the transition to desistance. Three psychometric instruments were completed by 73 adult males aged 18 to 35 who had acquired at least two previous convictions and were living in Dublin, Ireland. Participants who reported no offending in the past month were defined as ‘‘primary desisters.’’ In a regression analysis, age, age at onset of offending, and criminal thinking styles emerged as important predictors of primary desistance, whereas social circumstances and pro-criminal attitudes did not. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.
Parental Voice and Involvement in Cultural Context: Understanding Rationales, Values, and Motivational Constructs in a Dual Immersion Setting
Authors: Gerena Linda
Published: August 2010

In an attempt to operationalize an equitable educational program, a dual immersion program was established. After 2 years of field observations, a series of focus group interviews was conducted to examine the perceptions and viewpoints of parents whose children had participated in the program for 2 years. These interviews offered parents an opportunity to transcend the traditional role of “parents as observers” and gave voice to hitherto untapped viewpoints and perspectives on culture and values. The resulting information formed the basis of a deep understanding of parental rationales, values, and motivational constructs framed in a dual-immersion bilingual context.
Postvisit Destination Loyalty Judgments
Authors: Bosnjak Michael , Sirgy M. Joseph , Hellriegel Sarah , Maurer Oswin
Published: August 2010

Previous research has established the effect of self-congruity on both pre- and postvisit constructs, but its predictive power has appeared minimal. Departing from both classical and contemporary approaches to human needs and values, this study proposes a comprehensive model explaining more variance in postvisit destination loyalty judgments. The model comprises six explanatory variables, in addition to self-congruity: functional, hedonic, leisure, economic, safety, and moral congruity. Based on a large-scale web survey among tourists (N = 973), the results provide good support for the proposed model (64% explained variance). Each of the seven congruity components exerts a significant influence on postvisit loyalty, but their relative contributions differ considerably. Other than self-congruity, functional, hedonic, leisure, and safety congruity exert the greatest influence on postvisit loyalty judgments; in contrast, economic and moral congruity have lesser influences. The authors discuss the results in light of their theoretical and practical implications for destination marketing.
Test and evaluation of energy saving potentials in a complex building central chilling system using genetic algorithm
Authors: Zhenjun Ma  , Shengwei Wang
Published: August 2010

This article presents the test and evaluation of energy saving potentials of complex building central chilling systems using genetic algorithm (GA). The evaluation was conducted based on a simulated virtual system representing the actual complex central chilling system in a super high-rise building in Hong Kong. GA was used as the optimisation tool to search for globally optimal control settings. The simulated virtual system was used as the test platform and acted as the performance predictor in estimating the overall system performance and responses to the changes of control settings. The test results show that about 4.54—5.06% daily energy in the system studied can be saved by using optimal control settings, as compared to that using the conventional control settings. The results also show that the evaluation process by using the simulated virtual system and the GA optimiser is time costly due to strong dynamic effects of the simulated virtual system and the optimisation principle of GA.

Practical applications: This article presents an approach for evaluating energy saving potentials of complex central chilling systems using GA. This approach can be used to identify maximum energy saving potentials in air-conditioning systems by optimising the major control variables simultaneously. The results can be used to guide the development of advanced control and optimisation strategies suitable for practical applications.
Managing the Experience of Evidence
Authors: Reno Joshua
Published: August 2010

This article explores the technoenvironmental politics associated with government-sponsored climate change mitigation. It focuses on England’s New Technologies Demonstrator Programme, established to test the “viability” of “green” waste treatments by awarding state aid to eight experimental projects that promise to divert municipal waste from landfill and greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. The article examines how these demonstrator sites are arranged and represented to produce noncontroversial and publicly accessible forms of evidence and experience and, ultimately, to inform environmental policy and planning decisions throughout the country. As in experimental science, this process requires that some bear witness to the demonstrators, but in a disciplined way. Whether through the extrapolation of facts about technical performance by affiliated third-party consultants, or the orchestration of visitor centers open to the general public, making the demonstrators public involves controlling the ways in which they are interpreted and perceived. However, the unstable publicity of waste management facilities proliferates unofficial accounts as well. These acts of counterwitnessing, as I refer to them, not only potentially dispute the official evidence collected from the demonstrators, they also can pose a challenge to the understanding of technology upon which such government initiatives are based.
International Comparison of Age Discrimination Laws
Authors: Lahey Joanna N.
Published: August 2010

European age discrimination legislation is discussed in the context of the U.S. Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) and related state laws. U.S. law was originally introduced to protect productive older workers from age stereotypes, but more recently preventing age discrimination has become important as a means of keeping costs down on entitlement programs as the population ages. Changes in enforcement, penalties, exemptions, length of time to file, and burden of proof have changed the effects of the laws over time. The ADEA has had both positive effects on currently employed older workers and negative effects on the hiring of older workers. Enforcement and publicity are offered as possible explanations for the strength of these positive and negative effects. Age discrimination legislation in Europe, indicated in the Framework Directive 2000/78, is driven by economic and political considerations. European legislation calls for less enforcement and more exemptions than the corresponding U.S. cases that could lead to smaller effects on employment. However, pensions, disability, unemployment, and social security potentially have a stronger effect on social norms for retirement age than does anti-discrimination legislation.
The Effectiveness of a Stimulation Program on Cognitive Capacity Among Individuals Older Than 60
Authors: Karatay Gülnaz , Akkuş Yeliz
Published: August 2010

The purpose of this study was to test the effects of a multistimulant home-based intervention program on cognitive function, anxiety, and depression among older adults with cognitive impairment. This research is quasi-experimental and was designed in an effort to increase the cognitive capacity of individuals above the age of 60 with reduced cognitive capacities. Each senior received a total of seven home visits, including intervention conversation, newspaper/ book reading, painting/handcraft activities, and physical exercise. The Mini Mental State Test scores of the participants statistically increased, whereas the Beck Anxiety and the Geriatric Depression Scale scores showed a decrease ( p < .05) after the intervention. Findings demonstrate that the multistimulant approach to improve cognitive capacity among individuals older than 60 years was successful.
Effect of different doses of un-fractionated green and black tea extracts on thyroid physiology
Authors: Chandra Amar K , De Neela , Shyamosree Roy Choudhury
Published: August 2010

Tea is a rich source of polyphenolic flavonoids including catechins, which are thought to contribute to the health benefits of it. Flavonoids have been reported to have antithyroid and goitrogenic effect. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether high doses of green and black tea have a harmful effect on thyroid physiology. Un-fractionated green and black tea extracts were administered orally to male rats for 30 days at doses of 1.25 g%, 2.5 g% and 5.0 g%. The results showed that green tea extract at 2.5 g% and 5.0 g% doses and black tea extract only at 5.0 g% dose have the potential to alter the thyroid gland physiology and architecture, that is, enlargement of thyroid gland as well as hypertrophy and/or hyperplasia of the thyroid follicles and inhibition of the activity of thyroid peroxidase and 5′-deiodinase I with elevated thyroidal Na+, K+-ATPase activity along with significant decrease in serum T3 and T4, and a parallel increase in serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). This study concludes that goitrogenic/antithyroidal potential of un-fractionated green tea extract is much more than black tea extract because of the differences in catechin contents in the tea extracts.
Barriers to Hospice Care in Alabama: Provider-Based Perceptions
Authors: Jenkins Todd M. , Chapman Kathryn L. , Ritchie Christine S. , Arnett Donna K. , McGwin Gerald , Cofield Stacey S. , Maetz H. Micheal
Published: August 2010

Few studies have evaluated barriers to hospice from a hospice provider perspective. We assessed such views via a postal survey to all licensed hospices in Alabama (N = 193)—response = 55.4%. Most providers considered physicians and health care professionals to be somewhat knowledgeable of hospice, but also indicated a lack of knowledge constituted the barrier with the most impact in their communities. Respondents also cited physician difficulties with discussing end of life with patients and prognosticating death within 6 months as leading barriers. Providers also described Medicare reimbursement cap issues that have resulted in barriers to hospice. Our findings were similar to previous investigations assessing provider perceptions. Future studies should explore how reimbursement cap issues affect the receipt and delivery of hospice care.
Explaining the Changing Nature of Homicide Clearance in Canada
Authors: Trussler Tanya
Published: August 2010

Canadian homicide clearance rates are higher than for any other type of crime, but clearance rates have been decreasing since the late 1960s and they are not uniform across the country. This article examines homicide clearance in Canada using data derived from the Canadian Homicide Survey to determine whether the evident temporal and geographical variations in clearance are explained by either victim characteristics or offense details. There are two competing theories regarding homicide clearance characteristics. On one hand, it is argued that the police use discretion when determining which cases deserving more attention. The alternate theory is that police apportion the same effort to all homicide cases, regardless of the victim’s status owing to the heinous nature of the crime; therefore, only case details impede the process of determining culpability. Using logistic regression analysis, this examination first focuses on the influence of time and geography on clearance probabilities and then compares the effect of victim characteristics and offense characteristics on clearance outcomes. Empirically nested models indicate that victim characteristics are not a robust predictor of clearance; offense characteristics are found to be more influential. However, both temporal and geographical factors remain important predictors of homicide clearance. The impacts of increasing gang- and drug-related homicides are discussed, as are implications for future research.
Community-building
Authors: Ng Eddie C.W.
Published: August 2010

Given the improvements in the health of Australians in recent decades, not all sectors of populations have benefited equally. Inequality and poverty are major problems. Traditional hierarchical, top—down governance seems ineffective to address these complex problems. An innovative and more participatory community-based approach is called for to address these issues. Community-building approaches, characterized by wide-ranging community involvement, emphasizing strength and collaboration, can be a good vehicle and intervention strategy to address the poverty problem by empowering both the individual and the community. The relevance of the community-building approach to the poverty issue and Australian context is discussed.
Victim Narratives of Historical Abuse in Residential Child Care
Authors: Smith Mark
Published: August 2010

Dystopian images of children’s remains buried in the cellars of Haut de la Garenne children’s home in the Channel Island of Jersey brought the subject of historical abuse in residential child care graphically to public consciousness over the course of 2008. Subsequent revelations around the provenance of police spin in that case prompt examination of the ways in which knowledge of institutional abuse has been constructed more generally. Drawing on insights from qualitative inquiry, this article seeks to destabilize the subject and to question the epistemological basis for the truth claims made in respect of it. Specifically, it focuses a critical gaze on the Scottish Government’s Systemic Review of Historical Abuse (Shaw, 2007) to highlight how documentary sources construct and reify a particular version of the past and how ‘victim’ narratives are privileged and used to silence other accounts of life in residential child care. Some implications of this for social work research and for those who claim and those accused of historical abuse are identified.
The Sweet and the Bitter of Drips: Modernity, Postcoloniality, and Coffee Culture in Taiwan
Authors: Shih Yi-Ping , Chang Cheng-Heng
Published: August 2010

This article explores the history of coffee culture in Taiwan to highlight the complexities of the colonization and globalization of East Asia. Coffee is a not only drinkable commodity but it also carries unique cultural codes in postcolonial Taiwan. The authors recognize that local life and Western culture are entangled on this island, as a consequence of Taiwan’s colonial legacy and globalization. By examining the transnational industries and mass consumption of coffee, the authors argue that there are multiple layers of cultural complexity in Taiwan that reflect a postcolonial cosmology of this evolving society. In this article, the authors aim to construct a glocal (global—local) picture for further discussion about the practices of modernity and global imaginations embedded in the everyday life of postcolonial East Asia.
The essential role of bursicon during Drosophiladevelopment
Authors: Loveall Brandon J , Deitcher David L
Published: August 2010

Background

The protective external cuticle of insects does not accommodate growth during development. To compensate for this, the insect life cycle is punctuated by a series of molts. During the molt, a new and larger cuticle is produced underneath the old cuticle. Replacement of the smaller, old cuticle culminates with ecdysis, a stereotyped sequence of shedding behaviors. Following each ecdysis, the new cuticle must expand and harden. Studies from a variety of insect species indicate that this cuticle hardening is regulated by the neuropeptide bursicon. However, genetic evidence from Drosophila melanogaster only supports such a role for bursicon after the final ecdysis, when the adult fly emerges. The research presented here investigates the role that bursicon has at stages of Drosophila development which precede adult ecdysis.

Results

We addressed the mechanism and timing of hormonal release from bursicon-positive motor neurons at the larval neuromuscular junction. Our findings indicate that vesicle membrane proteins which are required for classical neurotransmitter release are also expressed at these peptidergic motor neuron terminals; and that these terminals secrete hormones including bursicon at the neuromuscular junction, coinciding with larval ecdysis. This release surprisingly occurs in two waves, indicating bursicon secretion preceding and following the ecdysis sequence. Next, we addressed the functional significance of bursicon signaling during development, by disrupting the expression of its receptor, rickets, in different target tissues. We determined that rickets is developmentally required in the epidermis and imaginal discs for proper formation of the prepupa. It is also required to harden the pharate adult cuticle before eclosion. Significantly, we have also found that the available rickets mutants are not genetic nulls as previously believed, which necessitated the use of targeted RNA interference to disrupt rickets expression.

Conclusions

Our results are consistent with the view that bursicon is the insect tanning hormone. However, this is the first study to rigorously demonstrate both its release and function during development. Importantly, we provide new evidence that bursicon release can precede the initiation of larval ecdysis, and that bursicon tans the puparium. Our results firmly establish bursicon signaling as essential to insect growth and development.
Two storage hexamerins from the beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua: Cloning, characterization and the effect of gene silencing on survival
Authors: Tang Bin , Wang Shigui , Zhang Fan
Published: August 2010

Background

In insects, hemocyanin superfamily proteins accumulate apparently to serve as sources of amino acids during metamorphosis, reproduction and development. Storage hexamerins are important members of the hemocyanin superfamily. Although insects possess storage hexamerins, very little is known about the character and specific functions of hexamerin 1 and storage protein 1 in insect development.

Results

To gain insight into the function of storage proteins in insects, cDNAs for two storage proteins were cloned from the fat body of Spodoptera exigua. S. exigua hexamerin 1 (SeHex) cDNA contained an open reading frame of 2124 nucleotides encoding a protein of 707 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 82.12 kDa. S. exigua storage protein 1 (SeSP1) cDNA contained an open reading frame of 2256 bp encoding a protein of 751 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of ~88.84 kDa. Northern blotting analyses revealed that SeHex mRNA is expressed in the fat body, cuticle, midgut and Malpighian tubules and SeSP1 in fat body, Malpighian tubules and tracheae. SeHex and SeSP1 mRNAs were expressed in fat body at different levels from first instar larvae to pupae, with expression was much lower from first instar larvae to first-day fifth instar larvae. SeHex transcript expression was high in fat body of wandering larvae (pre-pupae) and steadily decreased to the seventh pupal day. SeSP1 transcript expression was high in fat body of wandering larvae, 2-day-old fifth instar larvae and 2-, 4- and 7-day-old pupae. SeHex and SeSP1 mRNAs levels were expressed lower than control on the condition of starvation at 12 h. Of insects injected with SeHex and SeSP1 dsRNA, 38.7% and 24.3% survived to 204 h after treatment, respectively. This was significantly lower than in the controls groups.

Conclusions

These findings provide new data on the tissue distribution, expression patterns and the function in starvation of storage proteins. RNA interference results revealed that storage protein genes are key in metamorphosis, reproduction and insect development. The results for SeHex and SeSP1 interference reveal that a potential method to control this pest is to disrupt the regulation of storage proteins.
Identification of a novel iron regulated basic helix-loop-helix protein involved in Fe homeostasis in Oryza sativa
Authors: Zheng, Luqing , Ying Yinghui , Wang Lu , Wang Fang , Whelan James , Shou Huixia
Published: August 2010

Background

Iron (Fe) is the most limiting micronutrient element for crop production in alkaline soils. A number of transcription factors involved in regulating Fe uptake from soil and transport in plants have been identified. Analysis of transcriptome data from Oryza sativa grown under limiting Fe conditions reveals that transcript abundances of several genes encoding transcription factors are altered by Fe availability. These transcription factors are putative regulators of Fe deficiency responses.

Results

Transcript abundance of one nuclear located basic helix-loop-helix family transcription factor, OsIRO3, is up-regulated from 25- to 90-fold under Fe deficiency in both root and shoot respectively. The expression of OsIRO3 is specifically induced by Fe deficiency, and not by other micronutrient deficiencies. Transgenic rice plants over-expressing OsIRO3 were hypersensitive to Fe deficiency, indicating that the Fe deficiency response was compromised. Furthermore, the Fe concentration in shoots of transgenic rice plants over-expressing OsIRO3 was less than that in wild-type plants. Analysis of the transcript abundances of genes normally induced by Fe deficiency in OsIRO3 over-expressing plants indicated their induction was markedly suppressed.

Conclusion

A novel Fe regulated bHLH transcription factor (OsIRO3) that plays an important role for Fe homeostasis in rice was identified. The inhibitory effect of OsIRO3 over-expression on Fe deficiency response gene expression combined with hypersensitivity of OsIRO3 over-expression lines to low Fe suggest that OsIRO3 is a negative regulator of the Fe deficiency response in rice.
Translation reinitiation and development are compromised in similar ways by mutations in translation initiation factor eIF3h and the ribosomal protein RPL24
Authors: Zhou Fujun , Roy Bijoyita , von Arnim Albrecht G
Published: August 2010

Background

Within the scanning model of translation initiation, reinitiation is a non-canonical mechanism that operates on mRNAs harboring upstream open reading frames. The h subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 3 (eIF3) boosts translation reinitiation on the uORF-containing mRNA coding for the Arabidopsis bZip transcription factor, AtbZip11, among others. The RPL24B protein of the large ribosomal subunit, which is encoded by SHORT VALVE1, likewise fosters translation of uORF-containing mRNAs, for example mRNAs for auxin response transcription factors (ARFs).

Results

Here we tested the hypothesis that RPL24B and eIF3h affect translation reinitiation in a similar fashion. First, like eif3h mutants, rpl24b mutants under-translate the AtbZip11 mRNA, and the detailed spectrum of translational defects in rpl24b is remarkably similar to that of eif3h. Second, eif3h mutants display defects in auxin mediated organogenesis and gene expression, similar to rpl24b. Like AtbZip11, the uORF-containing ARF mRNAs are indeed undertranslated in eif3h mutant seedlings.

Conclusion

We conclude that, similar to eIF3h, RPL24B bolsters the reinitiation competence of uORF-translating ribosomes. Coordination between eIF3 and the large ribosomal subunit helps to fine-tune translation of uORF-containing mRNAs and, in turn, to orchestrate plant development.
Parental socioeconomic position and development of overweight in adolescence: longitudinal study of Danish adolescents
Authors: Morgen Camilla Schmidt , Mortensen Laust Hvas , Rasmussen Mette , Andersen Anne-Marie Nybo , Sørensen Thorkild IA , Due Pernille
Published: August 2010

Background

An inverse social gradient in overweight among adolescents has been shown in developed countries, but few studies have examined whether weight gain and the development of overweight differs among adolescents from different socioeconomic groups in a longitudinal study. The objective was to identify the possible association between parental socioeconomic position, weight change and the risk of developing overweight among adolescents between the ages 15 to 21.

Methods

Prospective cohort study conducted in Denmark with baseline examination in 1996 and follow-up questionnaire in 2003 with a mean follow-up time of 6.4 years. A sample of 1,656 adolescents participated in both baseline (mean age 14.8) and follow-up (mean age 21.3). Of these, 1,402 had a body mass index (BMI = weight/height2kg/m2) corresponding to a value below 25 at baseline when adjusted for age and gender according to guidelines from International Obesity Taskforce, and were at risk of developing overweight during the study period. The exposure was parental occupational status. The main outcome measures were change in BMI and development of overweight (from BMI < 25 to BMI > = 25).

Results

Average BMI increased from 21.3 to 22.7 for girls and from 20.6 to 23.6 in boys during follow-up. An inverse social gradient in overweight was seen for girls at baseline and follow-up and for boys at follow-up. In the full population there was a tendency to an inverse social gradient in the overall increase in BMI for girls, but not for boys. A total of 13.4% developed overweight during the follow-up period. Girls of lower parental socioeconomic position had a higher risk of developing overweight (OR's between 4.72; CI 1.31 to 17.04 and 2.03; CI 1.10-3.74) when compared to girls of high parental socioeconomic position. A tendency for an inverse social gradient in the development of overweight for boys was seen, but it did not meet the significance criteria

Conclusions

The levels of overweight and obesity among adolescents are high and continue to rise. Results from this study suggest that the inverse social gradient in overweight becomes steeper for girls and emerges for boys in late adolescence (age span 15 to 21 years). Late adolescence seems to be an important window of opportunity in reducing the social inequality in overweight among Danish adolescents.
Protein targets of inflammatory serine proteases and cardiovascular disease
Authors: Sharony Ram , Yu Pey-Jen , Park Joy , Galloway Aubrey C , Mignatti Paolo , Pintucci Giuseppe
Published: August 2010

Serine proteases are a key component of the inflammatory response as they are discharged from activated leukocytes and mast cells or generated through the coagulation cascade. Their enzymatic activity plays a major role in the body's defense mechanisms but it has also an impact on vascular homeostasis and tissue remodeling. Here we focus on the biological role of serine proteases in the context of cardiovascular disease and their mechanism(s) of action in determining specific vascular and tissue phenotypes. Protease-activated receptors (PARs) mediate serine protease effects; however, these proteases also exert a number of biological activities independent of PARs as they target specific protein substrates implicated in vascular remodeling and the development of cardiovascular disease thus controlling their activities. In this review both PAR-dependent and -independent mechanisms of action of serine proteases are discussed for their relevance to vascular homeostasis and structural/functional alterations of the cardiovascular system. The elucidation of these mechanisms will lead to a better understanding of the molecular forces that control vascular and tissue homeostasis and to effective preventative and therapeutic approaches.
Synchronous primary intrapulmonary and mediastinal thymoma-A case report
Authors: Song Zuoqing , Xu Xiaohong , Li Shujun , Wei Sen , Chen Jun , Zhou Qinghua
Published: August 2010

We report an extremely rare case of Synchronous primary intrapulmonary and mediastinal thymoma in a Chinese patient. We describe the histological and radiological findings, which support the possibility of multicentric thymoma. Resection of the mass in the left anterior superior mediastinum and upper lobectomy of right lung were performed, with lymph Nodes clearance, superior vena cava, left and right brachiocephalic veins resection, reconstruction of left brachiocephalic vein to right auricle and reconstruction of right brachiocephalic vein to superior vena cava.