bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of Functional Connectivity during Adolescence: A Longitudinal Study Using an Action–Observation Paradigm
Authors: Shaw Daniel J. , Grosbras Marie-Helene , Leonard Gabriel , Pike G. Bruce , Paus Tomáš
Published: August 2011

Successful interpersonal interactions rely on an ability to read the emotional states of others and to modulate one's own behavior in response. The actions of others serve as valuable social stimuli in this respect, offering the observer an insight into the actor's emotional state. Social cognition continues to mature throughout adolescence. Here we assess longitudinally the development of functional connectivity during early adolescence within two neural networks implicated in social cognition: one network of brain regions consistently engaged during action observation and another one associated with mentalizing. Using fMRI, we reveal a greater recruitment of the social–emotional network during the observation of angry hand actions in male relative to female adolescents. These findings are discussed in terms of known sex differences in adolescent social behavior.
Human Dorsal Striatum Encodes Prediction Errors during Observational Learning of Instrumental Actions
Authors: Cooper Jeffrey C. , Dunne Simon , Furey Teresa , O'Doherty John P.
Published: August 2011

The dorsal striatum plays a key role in the learning and expression of instrumental reward associations that are acquired through direct experience. However, not all learning about instrumental actions require direct experience. Instead, humans and other animals are also capable of acquiring instrumental actions by observing the experiences of others. In this study, we investigated the extent to which human dorsal striatum is involved in observational as well as experiential instrumental reward learning. Human participants were scanned with fMRI while they observed a confederate over a live video performing an instrumental conditioning task to obtain liquid juice rewards. Participants also performed a similar instrumental task for their own rewards. Using a computational model-based analysis, we found reward prediction errors in the dorsal striatum not only during the experiential learning condition but also during observational learning. These results suggest a key role for the dorsal striatum in learning instrumental associations, even when those associations are acquired purely by observing others.
Who's Googling What? What Internet Searches Reveal about Hurricane Information Seeking
Authors: Sherman-Morris Kathleen , Senkbeil Jason , Carver Robert
Published: August 2011

Two freely available, searchable databases that track the normalized interest in specific search queries, Google Trends and Google Insights, were used to illustrate spatial and temporal patterns in hurricane information seeking. Searches for the word “hurricane” showed a seasonal pattern with spikes in hurricane searches that corresponded to the severity of the storms making landfall. Regional variation in “hurricane” searches was largely driven by the location and magnitude of hurricane landfalls. Catastrophic hurricanes such as Hurricane Katrina captured national attention. A great deal of regional variation in search volume existed prior to Hurricane Ike's landfall. Not as much variation was seen before Hurricane Gustav and Tropical Storm Fay. This variation appeared to be related to changes in the 5-day track forecast as well as other factors such as issuance of watches and warnings. Searches from Louisiana experienced a sharp decrease after the 5-day track forecast shifted away from the state, but before Ike made landfall. Normalized daily visits to Weather Underground during August/September 2008 followed the same pattern as the Google searches. The most popular hurricane-related search terms at the national level prior to landfall dealt with forecast track and evacuation information while searches after landfall included terms related to hurricane damage. There are limitations to using this free data source, but the study has implications for the literature as well as practical applications. This study provides new information about online search behavior before a hurricane that can be utilized by those who provide weather information to the public.
DOW Radar Observations of Wind Farms
Authors: Toth Mallie , Jones Erin , Pittman Dustin , Solomon David
Published: August 2011

The growth of the wind industry in recent years has motivated investigation into wind farm interference with the operation of the nationwide Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) network. Observations of a wind farm were taken with a Doppler on Wheels (DOW) during the DOW Radar Observations at Purdue Study (DROPS), a largely studentled field program that took place in the fall of 2009. The DOW sampled clear-air weather and precipitation at locations within 5 km of the Benton County, Indiana, wind farm to determine the wind turbines' effect on Doppler velocity and ref lectivity data. These data were analyzed and compared with data from the Indianapolis WSR-88D (KIND) and a local television station (WLFI) radar. In precipitation, the DOW data show velocity couplets that have the appearance of isolated tornadic vortices. Under clear-air sampling, significant multipath scattering is evident, but no velocity couplets would meet the DOW-equivalent tornado detection algorithm criteria. Broader impacts of these findings are discussed, and suggestions are made for additional studies that would explore how to mitigate these impacts.
International Drought Workshop Series
Authors: Brewer Michael J. , Heim Richard R.
Published: August 2011

No Abstract available.
Motor Vehicle Recovery
Authors: Roberts Aki
Published: August 2011

Despite its importance for victims, and society as a whole, motor vehicle theft (MVT) recovery is rarely studied. The current research note draws on rational choice and opportunity-based perspectives, and police agency technology use, to develop and test a multilevel event history (survival) analysis model for MVT recovery. Contrary to the hypothesis that more expensive vehicles have a lower chance of recovery due to their attractiveness for permanent retention, the analysis found that recovery was least likely for incidents in which the stolen car had little value (less than $1,000), with no significant differences among the categories of $1,000 or greater. Measures of local opportunity for permanent retention MVT did not have statistically significant effects on recovery, but closer proximity to a major port or US-Mexico border crossing was associated with lower odds of recovery. Furthermore, police agency use of a stolen vehicle tracking system increased odds of recovery.
Effects of First-Time Imprisonment on Postprison Mortality
Authors: Dirkzwager Anja , Nieuwbeerta Paul , Blokland Arjan
Published: August 2011

Objectives: To examine the effects of first-time imprisonment on postprison mortality. Method: Data are used from a longitudinal study examining criminal behavior and mortality over a 25-year period in a representative group of 2,297 Dutch offenders who had their criminal case adjudicated in 1977. Of these offenders, 597 were imprisoned for the first-time in their lives in 1977. The remaining 1,700 offenders got a noncustodial sentence. Ex-prisoners' mortality rates and causes of death are compared with those in the general population and those in a matched control group of non-imprisoned offenders. Propensity score matching is used to minimize selection bias. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals are used to examine whether mortality among the ex-prisoners differ significantly from the general population or from the non-imprisoned controls. Results: About 18 percent of the imprisoned offenders died over the 25-year follow-up period. Compared with the general population (age and gender adjusted), ex-prisoners are three times as likely to die during the 25-year follow-up (odds ratio [OR] = 3.21). Compared with a more appropriate control group of non-imprisoned offenders (matched on age, gender, and propensity score), ex-prisoners are no longer significantly more likely to die (OR = 1.40). Conclusions: The results of the present study emphasize the importance of constructing appropriate comparison groups when examining the effects of imprisonment on postprison mortality.
Products That Kill and Corporate Social Responsibility
Authors: Halpern Barton H. , Snider Keith F.
Published: August 2011

Scholars of corporate social responsibility (CSR), which refers to the responsibilities of a firm to society in four domains: economic, legal, ethical, and discretionary, have typically excluded defense firms from their research, mainly on ideological grounds. This study challenges these assumptions and measures the CSR orientations of managers of defense firms. The findings reveal the orientations of defense firm managers to be consistent with those of other corporate populations, though the highly regulated environment of defense contracting causes some differences. The findings help to redeem the social standing of defense firms, and by implication, their employees and the military members who use their products, from unwarranted antimilitary biases.
Overcoming Resistance to Change and Enhancing Creative Performance
Authors: Hon Alice H. Y. , Bloom Matt , Crant J. Michael
Published: August 2011

Drawing on the sense-making perspective, the authors develop and test a cross-level model of individual creativity, integrating resistance to change and three human resource contextual factors to moderate the individual relationship. This cross-level study of working adults from a wide array of Chinese companies addresses one of the major challenges managers face in enhancing individual-level creativity: overcoming employees’ resistance to change. The authors study the efficacy of three contextual factors that are important elements of the creative process—modernity climate, leadership style, and coworker characteristics—for helping managers overcome this challenge. The authors find that the three contextual variables moderate the negative relationship between resistance to change and creativity, and the pattern of results indicates that managing human resources practices may mitigate the detrimental effects of resistance to change on creativity.
Impact of Treatment Sequence of Multimodal Therapy for Advanced Oral Cavity Cancer with Mandible Invasion
Authors: Myers Larry L. , Sumer Baran D. , Truelson John M. , Nedzi Lucien , Perkins Steve , Hughes Randall S. , Ahn Chul
Published: August 2011

Objective

To determine the effect of treatment sequence of multimodal therapy for clinically advanced squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity (OC) with mandible invasion.

Study Design

Case series with chart review.

Setting

University‐based, tertiary care hospitals.

Subjects and Methods

The authors retrospectively analyzed 70 patients presenting between January 2000 and January 2010 with newly diagnosed, previously untreated SCC of the OC with mandible invasion that we deemed resectable (stages IVa, b). Patients with evidence of distant metastases or a second primary malignancy were excluded. All patients were presented at a multidisciplinary tumor board for prospective planning of trimodality therapy (surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy). When performed, surgery included segmental mandibulectomy. Radiotherapy was delivered using standard intensity‐modulated radiation therapy technique. Study patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1 received induction chemotherapy and/or concurrent chemoradiation followed by surgery, and group 2 was treated with primary resection followed by chemoradiation.

Main Outcome Measure

Progression‐free survival (PFS).

Results

Eighteen patients (26%) comprised group 1, and 52 patients (74%) comprised group 2. The groups were matched in oral cavity subsite, tumor differentiation, tumor characteristics of aggressiveness (perineural and lymphovascular invasion), extent of mandible invasion, and cervical node status. The 5‐year PFS for group 1 (33.3%) was not significantly different from that for group 2 (32.3%; P =. 643).

Conclusion

Advanced OC cancer with mandible invasion is an ominous disease. Although treatment must be individualized, our data suggest no clear advantage to any specific sequence of multimodality therapy affecting PFS.
Pornography and Profanation in the Political Philosophy of Giorgio Agamben
Authors: Prozorov Sergei
Published: August 2011

The article addresses the critical strategy of profanation in the philosophy of Giorgio Agamben, focusing on the example of pornography. Agamben’s references to pornography as a site of radical political transformation have recently been criticized as abstruse, vacuous or absurd. Moreover, his own work on the concentration camps in the Homo Sacer series has been disparagingly referred to as ‘pornography of horror’. This article ventures to refute these accusations by interpreting Agamben’s paradigmatic use of pornography in the context of his wider project of profanation, understood as the overcoming of all social separations and the return of objects of social praxis to free use. Read in this context, pornography is grasped as the paradigmatic site of the constitution of the unprofanable, the epitome of the late capitalist ‘society of the spectacle’ and thus the primary target of profanatory criticism. In the remainder of the article we elucidate the logic of Agamben’s profanatory strategy and conclude that, far from being politically irrelevant, profanation constitutes the condition of the actualization of Agamben’s messianic ideal of a generic and non-exclusive community.
Michel Foucault’s Techniques of the Self and the Christian Politics of Obedience
Authors: Macmillan Alexandre
Published: August 2011

Foucault repeatedly argued that his work on techniques of the self were not a denial of his previous work on 18th- and 19th-century Europe, but a different way to make our present intelligible. Although Foucault explicitly associated modern techniques of the self with the Christian model, he never considered Christian techniques of the self in a comprehensive manner. The recent publication of his last two lectures at the Collège de France in 1983 and 1984 seems to fill this gap. Christian techniques of the self are characterized by an ascetic of obedience, and are considered as antithetical to ethical, parrhesiastic techniques of the self. Foucault’s detailed analysis of Sophocles’ Oedipus and Euripides’ Ion in these lectures also provides valuable insights into the rationality that presides over the modern techniques of the self, and the logic that animates the Christian politics of obedience.
Stress-relaxation behavior of lignocellulosic high-density polyethylene composites
Authors: Mirzaei Babak , Tajvidi Mehdi , Falk Robert H. , Felton Colin
Published: August 2011

In this study, stress-relaxation performance of HDPE-based injection-molded composites containing four types of natural fibers (i.e., wood flour, rice hulls, newsprint, and kenaf fiber) at 25 and 50 wt% contents, and the effect of prescribed strain levels were investigated. The results indicated that incorporating more filler causes lower relaxation values and rates, and stress retention and prescribed strain level were reversely correlated. Among the studied filler types, wood flour and kenaf fiber presented more similar behaviors, whereas newsprint resembled rice hulls performance. Strain—time superposition was applied to the experimental data. Due to complex rheological behavior of the studied composites, single horizontal shifting method, with respect to strain levels, was found to be inadequate to satisfactorily superpose data.
Failure pressures of composite cylinders with a plastic liner
Authors: Sayman Onur , Deniz Mehmet Emin , Dogan Tolga , Yaylagan Esref
Published: August 2011

The present experimental study deals with the temperature and the stacking sequence effects on the response of the composite cylinders under the internal pressure. GRP composite cylinders were manufactured by using E-glass fibers and epoxy resin and tested for the close-ended condition. Test specimens were manufactured of four antisymmetric layers with [θ°/-θ°/θ° /-θ°]2 orientations with five different winding angles over a plastic liner. Filament wound cylinders were subjected to internal pressure at four different temperatures such as 2°C, 25°C, 60°C, and 80°C. The aim of this study was to investigate the thermal effect on the failure pressures of filament wound cylindrical composites according to different fiber orientation angles subjected to internal pressure loading at various temperatures. The results show that the orientation angle and the temperature have significant effects on the failure pressures of the composite cylinders.
Impact properties of injection molded glass fiber/polyamide-6 composites: effect of testing parameters
Authors: Hassan Aziz , Hassan Asfarina A. , Mohd Rafiq M.I.
Published: August 2011

Reported data on impact properties show that wide discrepancies exist, although the same grade of materials was being used. In this article, we report some testing condition-property relationships of injection molded glass-fiber/polyamide-6 composites. It was found that an increase in specimen size/geometry leads to an increase in fracture energy and peak load; however, critical strain energy release rate and critical stress intensity factor decrease. Increase in impactor velocity, fracture energy, and peak load are all in mixed mode (increase and decrease). Similar to inconsistency obtained in fracture energy, critical strain energy release rate is also in mixed mode. However, critical stress intensity factor is marginally increased. Increases in impactor load weight and fracture energy at all notch to depth ratios are sensibly increased; however, critical strain energy release rate is marginally decreased at lower Vf and sensibly increased at higher fiber loading. With an increase in impactor load weight, changes in peak load are also in mixed mode, whereas critical stress intensity factor is marginally decreased.
Rotary ultrasonic machining of CFRP using cold air as coolant: feasible regions
Authors: Cong W.L. , Pei Z.J. , Deines T.W. , Treadwell C.
Published: August 2011

Carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) composites are in demand for a variety of applications due to their superior properties. Drilling is involved in many CFRP applications. Experiments have been successfully conducted to use rotary ultrasonic machining (RUM) for CFRP drilling. These experiments were conducted using either cutting fluids or cold air as coolant. RUM of CFRP composites without cutting fluids can eliminate problems caused by cutting fluids, such as high cost of cutting fluids and their disposal, pollution to the environment, and harm to human health. However, dry machining (machining without cutting fluids) also has its limitations, such as burning of machined surface, more friction and adhesion between tool and workpiece, and reduction in tool life. This article presents an experimental study on feasible regions in rotary ultrasonic machining of CFRP using cold air as coolant. Three criteria (burning of machined surface, delamination, and tool blockage) were used to determine feasible regions. Each of four input variables (feedrate, tool rotation speed, ultrasonic power, and cold air pressure) was changed over a wide range so that its feasible region could be found.
Cross-Cultural Validation of the Five-Factor Structure of Social Goals
Authors: King Ronnel B. , Watkins David A.
Published: August 2011

The aim of the present study was to test the cross-cultural validity of the five-factor structure of social goals that Dowson and McInerney proposed. Using both between-network and within-network approaches to construct validation, 1,147 Filipino high school students participated in the study. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the five-factor model provided the best fit to the data compared with a series of alternative models. In addition, the five types of social goals also showed meaningful relationships to theoretically relevant constructs. Taken together, this study supports the applicability of the five-factor structure of social goals among Filipino respondents.
Reexamining Theories of Adult Learning and Adult Development Through the Lenses of Public Pedagogy
Authors: Sandlin Jennifer A. , Wright Robin Redmon , Clark Carolyn
Published: August 2011

The authors examine the modernist underpinnings of traditional adult learning and development theories and evaluate elements of those theories through more contemporary lenses. Drawing on recent literature focused on “public pedagogy,” the authors argue that much learning takes place outside of formal educational institutions. They look beyond modernist narratives of adult development and consider the possible implications for critical adult learning occurring in and through contemporary fragmented, digital, media-saturated culture.
The Reliability of the OWLS Written Expression Scale With ESL Kindergarten Students
Authors: Harrison Gina L. , Ogle Keira C. , Keilty Megan
Published: August 2011

A reliability analysis was conducted on the Written Expression Scale from the Oral and Written Language Scales, (OWLS, Carrow-Woolfolk, 1996 ), with 68 ESL and 56 non-ESL kindergarten students. Interrater and internal consistency estimates for the Written Expression Scale were examined separately for each language group. Despite lower oral English vocabulary and syntactic knowledge, ESL students performed similarly on the writing measure and reliability estimates were comparable across language groups. The results support the use of the OWLS-Written Expression Scale as an early norm-referenced measure to reliably gauge ESL students’ early English writing skills.
Gender Difference or Indifference? Detective Decision Making in Sexual Assault Cases
Authors: Alderden Megan A. , Ullman Sarah E.
Published: August 2011

Prior research examining sexual assault case decision making has failed to account for the demographic characteristics of the criminal justice practitioners charged with making case decisions. Inclusion of such information is important because it provides researchers with a greater understanding of how criminal justice practitioners’ own gender, race, age, and past experiences affect their judgments. This study seeks to examine whether gender differences exist in detectives’ arrest decisions in sexual assault cases. Victim, suspect, incident, and detective characteristics are collected from police case and investigatory files on 328 criminal sexual assault cases involving adult female victims reported to a large Midwestern police department in 2003. Logistic regression is used to determine whether detective gender predicted the odds of arrest after controlling for incident, victim, and suspect characteristics. It is hypothesized that cases involving female detectives would be more likely to result in arrest after controlling for other incident, victim, and suspect characteristics. However, contrary to expectations, female detectives are significantly less likely than male detectives to arrest suspects in sexual assault cases even after controlling for the influence of other factors shown to predict arrest. The findings support prior research that suggests female practitioners may not necessarily be more sensitive toward female victims despite previous assumptions that this would hold true. The findings suggest that efforts to hire female police officers for the purposes of dealing with female-related victimization may ultimately undermine efforts to improve victim experiences with the criminal justice system. They further suggest that both researchers and police administrators need to rethink the best ways to serve female victims beyond hiring mandates.
Adult-Onset Antisocial Behavior Trajectories
Authors: Mata Andrea D. , van Dulmen Manfred H. M.
Published: August 2011

Guided by conceptual and empirical work on emerging adulthood, this study investigated the role of closeness to mother and father and behavioral autonomy during adolescence on the development of adult-onset antisocial behavior. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), we identified four aggressive (abstainer, adolescent-limited, adult-onset, chronic) and three nonaggressive (adolescent-limited, adult-onset, chronic) trajectories. Members of the aggressive adult-onset trajectory reported higher levels of paternal closeness during adolescence compared to the members of the aggressive chronic trajectory. Maternal closeness and behavioral autonomy did not differentially predict trajectory membership. In addition, members of the adult-onset trajectories were less likely to be employed or in a romantic relationship and reported decreased physical health during emerging adulthood compared to members of all other trajectories.
Predictors of Being Unsafe
Authors: Ranney Megan L. , Madsen Tracy , Gjelsvik Annie
Published: August 2011

A common reason for not participating in intimate partner violence (IPV) research is thought to be fear for one’s safety. However, little is known about those who do not participate due to safety fears. To better characterize this population, we investigated correlates of being “not safe” to answer the optional IPV module in the 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS), a yearly cross-sectional telephone survey in the United States. We compared those who said they were not safe to complete the module with those who were safe and reported (+IPV) or denied (−IPV) IPV. Forward stepwise multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify significant correlates of being not-safe. Those who said they were not safe to answer IPV questions were found to have lower income, lower education levels, and were older than either +IPV or −IPV respondents. They were also more likely to be male than the +IPV group. The not-safe differ from those traditionally identified as being at greatest risk for IPV. However, the percentage of IPV victims in the not-safe group remains unknown. Greater efforts should be made to include this group in future IPV research, both to determine these groups’ true IPV risk and to avoid missing potential IPV victims. The validity, reliability, and comprehensibility of safety questions should also be assessed.
How Many More Guns?
Authors: Bouffard Jeffrey A. , Nobles Matt R. , Wells William , Cavanaugh Michael R.
Published: August 2011

Among other arguments, advocates for lifting bans on carrying concealed handguns on campus propose that this would increase the prevalence of legitimately carried handguns, which might then deter crimes or be used to intervene in campus shooting incidents like the one that took place at Virginia Tech in 2007. Opponents suggest that increased prevalence of concealed handguns would lead to increases in other negative consequences, such as accidental shootings. Little empirical research has examined the potential outcomes of such a policy change, nor has existing research examined the prerequisite issue of whether lifting these bans would result in substantial increases in the prevalence of concealed handguns among students. Using a sample of undergraduate classrooms selected from five academic buildings at a public university in Texas, this study examines the potential impact of lifting the concealed handgun ban on the likelihood that a given classroom would contain at least one legally carried handgun. Results reveal that the impact of potential policy changes in this area vary based on the building under consideration and the measure of potential handgun prevalence. Limitations of the study and implications for future research on the issue of concealed handgun carrying on college campuses are discussed.
Uneven geographical development and socio-spatial justice and solidarity: European regions after the 2009 financial crisis
Authors: Hadjimichalis Costis
Published: August 2011

The paper discusses certain issues of regional development theory in combination with long-forgotten conditions of uneven geographical development in the context of the current financial and debt crisis in the eurozone. The dominant explanations of the crisis are mainly macroeconomic and financial but this paper argues for its geographical components/foundations. After a short descriptive comment about the current debt crisis in the eurozone and particularly in Southern Europe as part of the wider global crisis of over-accumulation, an alternative interpretation is provided based on uneven geographical/regional development among Euro-regions, especially since the introduction of the euro. The paper also discusses the shift towards what we may call the neoliberal urban and regional development discourse, which is responsible for a de-politicized shift in regional theory and hence downplaying or simply overlooking questions of socio-spatial justice. The discussion about justice and solidarity goes beyond the controversial rescue plan introduced by the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, which was supposedly designed to help one of the so-called – in a typical colonial way – PIIGS (Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain), namely Greece.
Transformations in the scale of behavior and the global optimization of constraints in adaptive networks
Authors: Watson Richard A , Mills Rob , Buckley C.L.
Published: August 2011

The natural energy minimization behavior of a dynamical system can be interpreted as a simple optimization process, finding a locally optimal resolution of problem constraints. In human problem solving, high-dimensional problems are often made much easier by inferring a low-dimensional model of the system in which search is more effective. But this is an approach that seems to require top-down domain knowledge—not one amenable to the spontaneous energy minimization behavior of a natural dynamical system. However, in this article we investigate the ability of distributed dynamical systems to improve their constraint resolution ability over time by self-organization. We use a ‘‘self-modeling’’ Hopfield network with a novel type of associative connection to illustrate how slowly changing relationships between system components can result in a transformation into a new system which is a low-dimensional caricature of the original system. The energy minimization behavior of this new system is significantly more effective at globally resolving the original system constraints. This model uses only very simple, and fully distributed, positive feedback mechanisms that are relevant to other ‘‘active linking’’ and adaptive networks. We discuss how this neural network model helps us to understand transformations and emergent collective behavior in various non-neural adaptive networks such as social, genetic and ecological networks.
Review: Health Care Utilization and Costs of Elderly Persons With Multiple Chronic Conditions
Authors: Lehnert Thomas , Heider Dirk , Leicht Hanna , Heinrich Sven , Corrieri Sandro , Luppa Melanie , Riedel-Heller Steffi , König Hans-Helmut
Published: August 2011

This systematic literature review identified and summarized 35 studies that investigated the relationship between multiple chronic conditions (MCCs) and health care utilization outcomes (i.e. physician use, hospital use, medication use) and health care cost outcomes (medication costs, out-of-pocket costs, total health care costs) for elderly general populations. Although synthesis of studies was complicated because of ambiguous definitions and measurements of MCCs, and because of the multitude of outcomes investigated, almost all studies observed a positive association of MCCs and use/costs, many of which found that use/costs significantly increased with each additional condition. Several studies indicate a curvilinear, near exponential relationship between MCCs and costs. The rising prevalence, substantial costs, and the fear that current care arrangements may be inappropriate for many patients with MCCs, bring about a multitude of implications for research and policy, of which the most important are presented and discussed.
Is Higher Volume of Postacute Care Patients Associated With a Lower Rehospitalization Rate in Skilled Nursing Facilities?
Authors: Li Yue , Cai Xueya , Yin Jun , Glance Laurent G. , Mukamel Dana B.
Published: August 2011

This study determined whether higher patient volume of skilled nursing facility (SNF) care was associated with a lower hospital transfer rate. Using the nursing home Minimum Data Set and the Online Survey, Certification, and Reporting file, we assembled a national cohort of Medicare SNF postacute care admissions between January and September of 2008. Multivariable analyses based on Cox proportional hazards models found that patients admitted to high-volume SNFs (annual number of admissions in the top tertile group) showed an approximately 15% reduced risk for 30-day rehospitalization and an approximately 25% reduced risk for 90-day rehospitalization, compared with patients admitted to low-volume SNFs (annual number of admissions in the bottom tertile group, or <45). Similar patterns of volume–outcome associations were found for hospital-based and freestanding facilities separately. The inverse volume–outcome association in postacute SNF care may reflect a “practice makes perfect” effect, a “selective referral” effect, or both.
Development of a Fungal Biosensor for Field Verifying the Surface Disinfection of Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation Systems for Air Handling Units
Authors: Sung Minki , Kato Shinsuke , Kim Minsik
Published: August 2011

This study developed a fungal biosensor to verify the germicidal effect of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) systems in the field from a biosensor originally developed to assess indoor climate. A UVC ray was irradiated on the fungal spores of the biosensors at various doses, and the differences in hyphal length after subsequent incubation were observed to verify the susceptibility of the fungal biosensor to C-band ultraviolet (UVC). The results showed reasonable correlations between UVC dosage and hyphal length. These fungal biosensors were thereafter attached to the coil and the drain pan of an air handling unit with a UVGI system installed and exposed to UVC for 1 h to test the effectiveness of the biosensors on the UVGI systems in the field. The hyphal lengths observed after incubation corresponded with UVC doses of 468–1620 J·m−2 at each sampling point as shown in the previous susceptibility experiments. The extended experiments to confirm the susceptibility of the fungal spores showed that the spores were more sensitive to UVC ray than those of the fungal biosensor and had similar susceptibility to the same UVC doses even at different UVC intensities.
The Improvement of Thermal Comfort and Air Quality in the Historic Assembly Hall of a University
Authors: Lipska Barbara , Trzeciakiewicz Zbigniew , Ferdyn-Grygierek Joanna , Popiołek Zbigniew
Published: August 2011

This paper presents the concept of air-conditioning and thermal environment of the monumental historic auditorium at the University of Wrocław. There are several requirements to be taken into account concerning the air-conditioning, since this is both a museum and an assembly hall. To maintain the required air parameters, as well as good air quality, comfort air-conditioning was designed, using an all-air system with heat recovery. A heat–humidity balance for the auditorium using dynamic thermal calculations was derived by use of a computer program – the building thermal model ESP-r. The concept of the air distribution in the auditorium was validated and improved, numerically predicting the flow of air, heat, humidity and carbon dioxide, using the computer code CFD ANSYS Airpak. This confirmed that the air-conditioning can ensure the airing of the auditorium and the maintaining of air parameters within the required ranges.
The role of system responses on biodiesel nitric oxide emissions in a medium-duty diesel engine
Authors: Knight B M , Bittle J A , Jacobs T J
Published: August 2011

The often-observed higher emission of nitrogen oxides with biodiesel, relative to petroleum diesel, is well-reported in the literature. Upon review of the literature, there seem to be two broad contributors that cause such a trend: those that are manifested by the effects of fuel property differences directly on in-cylinder processes and those that are manifested by the effects of fuel property differences on engine systems, thus rendering an indirect effect on in-cylinder processes. In this article, the former manifestations are called fundamental issues while the latter manifestations are called system response issues. Both can have significant impact on the magnitude and direction of nitrogen oxides emission differences between biodiesel and petroleum diesel fuels. This article has the objective to identify the distinction between fundamental and system response issues on nitric oxide emissions of biodiesel combustion in a diesel engine. It is noted that the article focuses mostly on the system response issues of a production-type engine, and will only briefly summarize some of the fundamental issues believed to most strongly contribute toward differences in nitric oxide emissions between fuels. Consequently, it is important to note (in fact, a major theme of the article) that many of the specific observations of this study will not necessarily transcend to generality across all engine platforms due to differences in engine technology and calibration; instead, the emphasis on the important role of potential system responses manifested by the use of different fuels of any engine system is meant to be the general contribution of this study. The study generally observes that biodiesel, in the absence of system response issues, emits higher NO x than petroleum diesel. System response issues, however, can have a dramatic impact on biodiesel NO x emissions. In some cases, system response issues may cause biodiesel NO x to be lower than petroleum diesel. Such system response issues highlight potential opportunities to mitigate or decrease biodiesel NO x emissions relative to petroleum diesel.
Building grass roots capacity to tackle childhood obesity
Authors: Sim Fiona , Ahmad Raheelah
Published: August 2011

Aims: In recognition of the increasing problem of child obesity in London and elsewhere, we were commissioned to build capacity to tackle this major public health concern. This paper describes one of the outputs of this work: to develop and deliver effective brief intervention training on the subject of childhood healthy/unhealthy weight and obesity to be used by anyone who works with children and families, regardless of their job title or level of educational achievement.

Methods: A literature review informed the process. The slim evidence derived was combined with the expertise of an expert working group to develop clear learning objectives for training and then to develop a flexible one-day training programme suitable for delivery to mixed groups of participants, to meet the learning objectives. Evaluation was built into the programme by means of a questionnaire at the end of the training session and by the use of a structured reflective log to be returned by participants once they had put their training into practice.

Results: The training programme was delivered free of charge to over 560 people during the course of a Regional Public Health Group-sponsored project. Subsequently it has been delivered to several more audiences working in the NHS, local government and third sectors in London on a not-for-profit basis.

Conclusions: The programme, based on best available evidence and clear evidence of needs, provides a low-cost evaluated intervention that permits people from diverse professional and occupational backgrounds to acquire the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to raise the subject of healthy and unhealthy weight with parents of primary school-aged children and signpost them to appropriate local facilities and services. Although developed in London, the programme may be used anywhere in the UK, with the substitution of local information about prevalence of overweight and obesity and about local services and facilities.
TH1, TH2, and TH17 cells instruct monocytes to differentiate into specialized dendritic cell subsets
Authors: Alonso Michael N. , Wong Michael T. , Zhang Angela L. , Winer Daniel , Suhoski Megan M. , Tolentino Lorna L. , Gaitan Juliana , Davidson Matthew G. , Kung Tiffany H. , Galel David M. , Nadeau Kari C. , Kim Jinah , Utz Paul J. , Söderström Kalle , Engleman Edgar G.
Published: August 2011

Monocytes and T helper (TH) cells rapidly infiltrate inflamed tissues where monocytes differentiate into inflammatory dendritic cells (DCs) through undefined mechanisms. Our studies indicate that TH cells frequently interact with monocytes in inflamed skin and elicit the differentiation of specialized DC subsets characteristic of these lesions. In psoriasis lesions, TH1 and TH17 cells interact with monocytes and instruct these cells to differentiate into TH1- and TH17-promoting DCs, respectively. Correspondingly, in acute atopic dermatitis, TH2 cells interact with monocytes and elicit the formation of TH2-promoting DCs. DC formation requires GM-CSF and cell contact, whereas TH subset specific cytokines dictate DC function and the expression of DC subset specific surface molecules. Moreover, the phenotypes of T cell–induced DC subsets are maintained after subsequent stimulation with a panel of TLR agonists, suggesting that TH-derived signals outweigh downstream TLR signals in their influence on DC function. These findings indicate that TH cells govern the formation and function of specialized DC subsets.
NUP98/NSD1 characterizes a novel poor prognostic group in acute myeloid leukemia with a distinct HOX gene expression pattern
Authors: Hollink Iris H. I. M. , van den Heuvel-Eibrink Marry M. , Arentsen-Peters Susan T. C. J. M. , Pratcorona Marta , Abbas Saman , Kuipers Jenny E. , van Galen Janneke F. , Beverloo H. Berna , Sonneveld Edwin , Kaspers Gert-Jan J. L. , Trka Jan , Baruchel Andre , Zimmermann Martin , Creutzig Ursula , Reinhardt Dirk , Pieters Rob , Valk Peter J. M. , Zwaan C. Michel
Published: August 2011

Translocations involving nucleoporin 98kD (NUP98) on chromosome 11p15 occur at relatively low frequency in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) but can be missed with routine karyotyping. In this study, high-resolution genome-wide copy number analyses revealed cryptic NUP98/NSD1 translocations in 3 of 92 cytogenetically normal (CN)–AML cases. To determine their exact frequency, we screened > 1000 well-characterized pediatric and adult AML cases using a NUP98/NSD1-specific RT-PCR. Twenty-three cases harbored the NUP98/NSD1 fusion, representing 16.1% of pediatric and 2.3% of adult CN-AML patients. NUP98/NSD1-positive AML cases had significantly higher white blood cell counts (median, 147 × 109/L), more frequent FAB-M4/M5 morphology (in 63%), and more CN-AML (in 78%), FLT3/internal tandem duplication (in 91%) and WT1 mutations (in 45%) than NUP98/NSD1-negative cases. NUP98/NSD1 was mutually exclusive with all recurrent type-II aberrations. Importantly, NUP98/NSD1 was an independent predictor for poor prognosis; 4-year event-free survival was < 10% for both pediatric and adult NUP98/NSD1-positive AML patients. NUP98/NSD1-positive AML showed a characteristic HOX-gene expression pattern, distinct from, for example, MLL-rearranged AML, and the fusion protein was aberrantly localized in nuclear aggregates, providing insight into the leukemogenic pathways of these AMLs. Taken together, NUP98/NSD1 identifies a previously unrecognized group of young AML patients, with distinct characteristics and dismal prognosis, for whom new treatment strategies are urgently needed.
GSV: a web-based genome synteny viewer for customized data
Authors: Revanna Kashi V , Chiu Chi-Chen , Bierschank Ezekiel , Dong Qunfeng
Published: August 2011

Background

The analysis of genome synteny is a common practice in comparative genomics. With the advent of DNA sequencing technologies, individual biologists can rapidly produce their genomic sequences of interest. Although web-based synteny visualization tools are convenient for biologists to use, none of the existing ones allow biologists to upload their own data for analysis.

Results

We have developed the web-based Genome Synteny Viewer (GSV) that allows users to upload two data files for synteny visualization, the mandatory synteny file for specifying genomic positions of conserved regions and the optional genome annotation file. GSV presents two selected genomes in a single integrated view while still retaining the browsing flexibility necessary for exploring individual genomes. Users can browse and filter for genomic regions of interest, change the color or shape of each annotation track as well as re-order, hide or show the tracks dynamically. Additional features include downloadable images, immediate email notification and tracking of usage history. The entire GSV package is also light-weighted which enables easy local installation.

Conclusions

GSV provides a unique option for biologists to analyze genome synteny by uploading their own data set to a web-based comparative genome browser. A web server hosting GSV is provided at http://cas-bioinfo.cas.unt.edu/gsv, and the software is also freely available for local installations.
De novo assembly and characterization of the carrot transcriptome reveals novel genes, new markers, and genetic diversity
Authors: Iorizzo Massimo , Senalik Douglas A , Grzebelus Dariusz , Bowman Megan , Cavagnaro Pablo F , Matvienko Marta , Ashrafi Hamid , Van Deynze Allen , Simon Philipp W
Published: August 2011

Background

Among next generation sequence technologies, platforms such as Illumina and SOLiD produce short reads but with higher coverage and lower cost per sequenced nucleotide than 454 or Sanger. A challenge now is to develop efficient strategies to use short-read length platforms for de novo assembly and marker development. The scope of this study was to develop a de novo assembly of carrot ESTs from multiple genotypes using the Illumina platform, and to identify polymorphisms.

Results

A de novo assembly of transcriptome sequence from four genetic backgrounds produced 58,751 contigs and singletons. Over 50% of these assembled sequences were annotated allowing detection of transposable elements and new carrot anthocyanin genes. Presence of multiple genetic backgrounds in our assembly allowed the identification of 114 computationally polymorphic SSRs, and 20,058 SNPs at a depth of coverage of 20× or more. Polymorphisms were predominantly between inbred lines except for the cultivated x wild RIL pool which had high intra-sample polymorphism. About 90% and 88% of tested SSR and SNP primers amplified a product, of which 70% and 46%, respectively, were of the expected size. Out of verified SSR and SNP markers 84% and 82% were polymorphic. About 25% of SNPs genotyped were polymorphic in two diverse mapping populations.

Conclusions

This study confirmed the potential of short read platforms for de novo EST assembly and identification of genetic polymorphisms in carrot. In addition we produced the first large-scale transcriptome of carrot, a species lacking genomic resources.