bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Brother or Other? Adolescence and Native Relations in the British and German Adventure Novels of Sub-Saharan Africa, 1870–1905
Authors: Getrost Kara
Published: November 2009

By examining three tropes of the adolescent's rite of passage to a colonizer in several British and German adventure novels of the late nineteenth century, this article reveals fundamental problems with the underlying binary constructions of the novel that are illuminated by the coming of age process. While critics typically view the young adult as either child-like or the mouthpiece of adult imperialist rhetoric, this article argues instead that they should be viewed as hybrid, liminal figures that neither completely accept nor resist colonial pedagogy. Instead, the adolescent training in native relations reveals the boys' fundamental reliance on the Other.
Rebecca's Revision: Expectations of the Girls' Novel and Kate Douglas Wiggin's Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm and New Chronicles of Rebecca
Authors: Puleo Regina
Published: November 2009

In Kate Douglas Wiggin's Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm and New Chronicles of Rebecca , the process of "making" Rebecca into a woman differs dramatically from her fictional contemporaries and readers' expectations. Though previous literary criticism focuses on her unresolved commitment to Adam Ladd, Rebecca's role models and influences do not prepare her for wife and motherhood. Instead, Rebecca gains voice and agency, learns self-reliance, and achieves an education and financial security. This article contends that Wiggin's revisions to the formula of the girls' novel and open ending are indicative of the new opportunities for women in the twentieth century.
Home to Aunt Em: Sentimental Adoption in L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Authors: Taylor Kristin N.
Published: November 2009

Criticism of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has failed to acknowledge the importance of Dorothy's orphanhood. This article argues that he decided to make her an orphan to support the movement toward sentimentality, which embraced the sentimental value of children, rather than regarding them as miniature adults or valuing their economic contribution to the family. Baum's novel was written in the context of an emerging psychological discussion of child development. By portraying Dorothy as an orphan, Baum advocates for sentimental adoption, providing readers with a guide to understand what psychologists now call the journey toward self-integration.
Income inequality and self-rated health status: Evidence from the european community household panel
Authors: Hildebrand Vincent , Van Kerm Philippe
Published: November 2009

We examine the effect of income inequality on individualś self-rated health status in a pooled sample of 11 countries, using longitudinal data from the European Community Household Panel survey. Taking advantage of the longitudinal and cross-national nature of our data, and carefully modeling the self-reported health information, we avoid several of the pitfalls suffered by earlier studies on this topic. We calculate income inequality indices measured at two standard levels of geography (NUTS-0 and NUTS-1) and find consistent evidence that income inequality is negatively related to self-rated health status in the European Union for both men and women, particularly when measured at national level. However, despite its statistical significance, the magnitude of the impact of inequality on health is very small.
The effect of sexual abstinence on females' educational attainment
Authors: Sabia Joseph J. , Rees Daniel I.
Published: November 2009

A number of studies have shown that teenagers who abstain from sex are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college than their sexually active peers. However, it is unclear whether this association represents a causal relationship or can be explained by unmeasured heterogeneity. We employ a variety of statistical techniques to distinguish between these hypotheses, using data on females from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Our results provide evidence that delaying first intercourse leads to an increased likelihood of graduating from high school. This relationship appears to be strongest among respondents in the bottom third of the ability distribution. Controlling for fertility reduces, but does not eliminate, the estimated effect of delaying intercourse.
What explains the rural-urban gap in infant mortality: Household or community characteristics?
Authors: Van De Poel Ellen , O'donnell Owen , Van Doorslaer Eddy
Published: November 2009

The rural-urban gap in infant mortality rates is explained by using a new decomposition method that permits identification of the contribution of unobserved heterogeneity at the household and the community level. Using Demographic and Health Survey data for six Francophone countries in Central and West sub-Saharan Africa, we find that differences in the distributions of factors that determine mortality-not differences in their effects-explain almost the entire gap. Higher infant mortality rates in rural areas mainly derive from the rural disadvantage in household characteristics, both observed and unobserved, which explain two-thirds of the gap. Among the observed characteristics, environmental factors-a safe source of drinking water, electricity, and quality of housing materials-are the most important contributors. Community characteristics explain less than onequarter of the gap, with about two-thirds of this coming from community unobserved heterogeneity and one-third from the existence of a health facility within the community. The effect of disadvantageous environmental conditions-such as limited electricity and water supply-derives both from a lack of community-level infrastructure and from the inability of some households to exploit it when available. Policy needs to operate at both the community and household levels to correct such deficiencies.
Cohabitation and family formation in Japan
Authors: Raymo James M. , Iwasawa Miho , Bumpass Larry
Published: November 2009

This article documents the prevalence, duration, and marital outcomes of cohabiting unions in Japan. It then examines the correlates of cohabitation experiences and also describes differences in the family-formation trajectories of women who have and have not cohabited. Cohabitation has increased rapidly among recent cohorts of women, and cohabiting unions in Japan tend to be relatively short in duration and are almost as likely to dissolve as to result in marriage. Life table analyses demonstrate that the cumulative probabilities of marriage and parenthood within marriage are roughly similar for women who did and those who did not cohabit. The most notable difference is in the pathways to family formation, with women who cohabited more likely both to marry subsequent to pregnancy and to delay childbearing within marriage. Taken as a whole, these results suggest that cohabiting unions in Japan are best viewed as an emerging prelude to marriage rather than as an alternative to marriage or singlehood. We conclude with speculation about the likelihood of further increases in cohabitation in Japan and the potential implications for marriage and fertility.
Immigration, crime, and incarceration in early twentieth-century America
Authors: Moehling Carolyn , Piehl Anne Morrison
Published: November 2009

The major government commissions on immigration and crime in the early twentieth century relied on evidence that suffered from aggregation bias and the absence of accurate population data, which led them to present partial and sometimes misleading views of the immigrant-native criminality comparison. With improved data and methods, we find that in 1904, prison commitment rates for more serious crimes were quite similar by nativity for all ages except ages 18 and 19, for which the commitment rate for immigrants was higher than for the native-born. By 1930, immigrants were less likely than natives to be committed to prisons at all ages 20 and older, but this advantage disappears when one looks at commitments for violent offenses. The time series pattern reflects a growing gap between natives and immigrants at older ages, one that was driven by sharp increases in the commitment rates of the native-born, while commitment rates for the foreign-born were remarkably stable.
Mortality attributable to obesity among middle-aged adults in the United States
Authors: Mehta Neil K. , Chang Virginia W.
Published: November 2009

Obesity is considered a major cause of premature mortality and a potential threat to the longstanding secular decline in mortality in the United States. We measure relative and attributable risks associated with obesity among middle-aged adults using data from the Health and Retirement Study (1992–2004). Although class II/III obesity (BMI _ 35.0 kg/m2) increases mortality by 40% in females and 62% in males compared with normal BMI (BMI = 18.5-24.9), class I obesity (BMI = 30.0-34.9) and being overweight (BMI = 25.0-29.9) are not associated with excess mortality. With respect to attributable mortality, class II/III obesity (BMI _ 35.0) is responsible for approximately 4% of deaths among females and 3% of deaths among males. Obesity is often compared with cigarette smoking as a major source of avoidable mortality. Smoking-attributable mortality is much larger in this cohort: about 36% in females and 50% in males. Results are robust to confounding by preexisting diseases, multiple dimensions of socioeconomic status (SES), smoking, and other correlates. These findings challenge the viewpoint that obesity will stem the long-term secular decline in U.S. mortality.
Understanding links between adolescent health and educational attainment
Authors: Jackson Margot I.
Published: November 2009

The educational and economic consequences of poor health during childhood and adolescence have become increasingly clear, with a resurgence of evidence leading researchers to reconsider the potentially significant contribution of early-life health to population welfare both within and across generations. Meaningful relationships between early-life health and educational attainment raise important questions about how health may influence educational success in young adulthood and beyond, as well as for whom its influence is strongest. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997, I examine how adolescentś health and social status act together to create educational disparities in young adulthood, focusing on two questions in particular. First, does the link between adolescent health and educational attainment vary across socioeconomic and racial/ethnic groups? Second, what academic factors explain the connection between adolescent health and educational attainment? The findings suggest that poorer health in adolescence is strongly negatively related to educational attainment, net of both observed confounders and unobserved, time-invariant characteristics within households. The reduction in attainment is particularly large for non-Hispanic white adolescents, suggesting that the negative educational consequences of poor health are not limited to only the most socially disadvantaged adolescents. Finally, I find that the link between adolescent health and educational attainment is explained by academic factors related to educational participation and, most importantly, academic performance, rather than by reduced educational expectations. These findings add complexity to our understanding of how the educational consequences of poor health apply across the social hierarchy, as well as why poor health may lead adolescents to complete less schooling.
Assessment of Clients Health Needs of Two Urban Native American Health Centers in the San Francisco Bay Area
Authors: Glasnapp James , Butrick Elizabeth , Jamerson Susan , Espinoza Mark
Published: November 2009

A needs assessment was compiled from self-administered questionnaires completed by 796 clients at the Urban Indian Health Service clinics in San Francisco and Oakland, California. Data on the health disparities between Native Americans and Alaskan Natives and the rest of the U.S. population are limited. The data that exist, however, indicate that Native Americans continue to fare worse than the general population. This needs assessment reveals the same trend among a sample of clients of two Native American Health Centers in the San Francisco Bay Area and provides further information about the health needs and interests of the population currently attending these centers.
Impact of Race/Ethnicity on Survival among HIV-Infected Patients in Care
Authors: Lopez Gregory , Simone Benedetto , Madariaga Miguel G. , Anderson James , Swindells Susan
Published: November 2009

Objective . To determine the prognostic influence of race/ethnicity on survival among patients infected with HIV infection.
Background . In the U.S., HIV infection occurs disproportionately in minority communities. Additionally, worse outcomes (including higher mortality) have been reported, particularly among African Americans.
Methods . This was a retrospective cohort study among 870 HIV-infected patients attending a Midwestern academic medical center. The study determined individual characteristics that were predictive of survival by using log rank tests and multivariate analysis models, after adjusting for known predictors of outcome.
Results . Low CD4 cell count (<100 cells/mm 3 ), high viral load (>250,000 copies/mL), age older than 30, and Black race were independently predictive of poorer outcomes among patients infected with HIV.
Conclusion . We found a large disparity in survival, with African Americans with advanced disease more likely to die than whites. This finding was not explained by socioeconomic status or other confounders. Future prospective studies are warranted.
Hepatitis C in an Urban Cohort: Who’s Not Being Treated?
Authors: Alfandre David , Gardenier Donald , Federman Alex , McGinn Thomas
Published: November 2009

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains widely prevalent in the U.S. Treatment has improved, but rates of treatment initiation remain low. We sought to identify clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of patients that are associated with failure to initiate treatment of HCV infection. We conducted a retrospective cohort study in our primary care hepatitis C treatment clinic, affiliated with an urban academic hospital. Our population was multi-ethnic, HIV−, HCV+, treatment naïve patients. We measured rates of HCV treatment initiation and sociodemographic, viral, and patient-related variables associated with non-initiation of treatment. The total number of treatment-eligible patients was 168, of whom 41 began treatment and 127 did not. In multivariate analysis, individuals with HCV genotypes 1 and 4 were less likely than others to initiate treatment, as were patients with more medical comorbidities. Further research is needed to understand how factors around initiation interact and how interventions can overcome them.
The Impact of Acculturation on Utilization of HIV Prevention Services and Access to Care Among an At-Risk Hispanic Population
Authors: Kinsler Janni J. , Lee Sung-Jae , Sayles Jennifer N. , Newman Peter A. , Diamant Allison , Cunningham William
Published: November 2009

Introduction . HIV/AIDS disproportionately affects Hispanics in the United States, a diverse and heterogeneous population. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of acculturation with HIV and hepatitis C testing, and access to care among Hispanics at risk for HIV.
Methods . We recruited 600 Hispanics from STD clinics, community-based organizations, and needle exchange programs in Los Angeles County.
Results . Low levels of acculturation were significantly associated with having fewer HIV tests (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.24, 3.15), no hepatitis C tests (OR 2.61, 95% CI 1.77, 3.84), testing positive for HIV (OR 2.67, 95% CI 1.04, 6.83), and low levels of access to care (β=0.06; p<.05).
Conclusions . Low levels of acculturation are an important barrier to the use of HIV-related health care services. Our findings may inform the development of effective interventions that address the cultural and behavioral differences among Hispanic subgroups.
Reducing Inequities among Children with Asthma in the Island of Puerto Rico: Experiences of a Community-Based, Trans-Sectoral Effort
Authors: Lara Marielena , Valencia Gilberto Ramos , Gavillán Jesús A. González , Reyes Beatriz Morales , Arabía Carmen , Malpica Fernando López , Freytes Dharma M. , Rodríguez-Sánchez Mario H. , Chinman Matthew
Published: November 2009

Children living in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico have the highest poverty and asthma prevalence rates of all U.S. children. Since 2000, a group of community, health care, education, housing, and academic representatives have been collaborating in a project to improve quality of life and reduce disparities among children with asthma in very poor communities in Puerto Rico. To date the project has implemented a successful intervention in the Luis Lloréns Torres Housing Project, aimed at adapting evidence-based interventions to improve the social and physical environment of children with asthma. The program has recently been extended to another San Juan housing area, the Manuel A. Pérez Housing Project. Using implementation theory, the authors report and reflect on the project’s experience to date, provide recommendations, and discuss implications of lessons learned to address inequities in asthma care throughout other underserved areas in the U.S., Latin America, and the Caribbean.
The Immigration Detention Health Plan: An Acute Care Model for a Chronic Care Population
Authors: Venters Homer D. , Keller Allen S.
Published: November 2009

Immigration detention is the fastest-growing form of incarceration in the U.S. Numerous reports by advocacy groups and detainees themselves have alleged substandard medical care for detainees. We have undertaken an analysis of the health plan that regulates reimbursement of much of detainee health care. We conclude that this plan may place detainees at risk of receiving inadequate care, particularly if they have chronic medical problems or would benefit from routine health screening exams. We present several concrete measures that could immediately improve the level of medical care afforded to this vulnerable population.
Psychiatric Street Outreach to Homeless People: Fostering Relationship, Reconnection, and Recovery
Authors: Christensen Richard C.
Published: November 2009

Individuals who suffer from serious and persistent mental illnesses constitute nearly one-third of the homeless population in this country. Perhaps the most vulnerable people in the homeless population are those who are disabled from a mental illness and are also chronically unsheltered. Psychiatric street outreach to this particular segment of the homeless population is commonly justified based upon the need to engage the most severely impaired and most medically underserved individuals in our communities assertively. This brief paper describes the core objectives of fostering relationship, reconnection, and recovery through a transdisciplinary, psychiatric street outreach initiative in Jacksonville, Florida.
Social, Economic, and Political Factors in Progress Towards Improving Child Survival in Developing Nations
Authors: Lykens Kristine , Singh Karan P. , Ndukwe Elewichi , Bae Sejong
Published: November 2009

Child mortality is a persistent health problem faced by developing nations. In 2000 the United Nations (UN) established a set of high priority goals to address global problems of poverty and health, the Millennium Development Goals, which address extreme poverty, hunger, primary education, child mortality, maternal health, infectious diseases, environmental sustainability, and partnerships for development. Goal 4 aims to reduce by two thirds, between 2000 and 2015, the under-five mortality rate in developing countries. In sub-Saharan Africa from 2000 to 2006 these rates have only been reduced from 167 per 1,000 live births to 157, and 27 nations in this region have made no progress towards the goal. A country-specific database was developed from the UN Millennium Development Goal tracking project and other international sources which include age distribution, under-nutrition, per capita income, government expenditures on health, external resources for health, civil liberties, and political rights. A multiple regression analysis examined the extent to which these factors explain the variance in child mortality rates in developing countries. Nutrition, external resources, and per capita income were shown to be significant factors in child survivability. Policy options include developed countries’ renewed commitment of resources, and developing nations’ commitments towards governance, development, equity, and transparency.
Charlottesville Health Access: A Locality-based Model of Health Care Navigation for the Homeless
Authors: Bishop Steven E. , Edwards James M. , Nadkarni Mohan
Published: November 2009

The authors describe Charlottesville Health Access (CHA), an initiative to get people who are homeless into the health care system. A community homeless shelter worked with faculty and students from the Univ. of Virginia Schools of Medicine and Nursing to create and run the program.
Stirring up the Mud: Using a Community-Based Participatory Approach to Address Health Disparities through a Faith-Based Initiative
Authors: Kaplan Sue A. , Ruddock Charmaine , Golub Maxine , Davis Joyce , Foley Robert , Devia Carlos , Rosen Rosa , Berry Carolyn , Barretto Brenda , Carter Toni , Irish-Spencer Evalina , Marchena Maria , Purcaro Ellenrita , Calman Neil
Published: November 2009

This case study provides a mid-course assessment of the Bronx Health REACH faith-based initiative four years into its implementation. The study uses qualitative methods to identify lessons learned and to reflect on the benefits and challenges of using a community-based participatory approach for the development and evaluation of a faith-based program designed to address health disparities. Key findings concern the role of pastoral leadership, the importance of providing a religious context for health promotion and health equality messages, the challenges of creating a bilingual/bi-cultural program, and the need to provide management support to the lay program coordinators. The study also identifies lessons learned about community-based evaluation and the importance of addressing community concern about the balance between evaluation and program. Finally, the study identifies the challenges that lie ahead, including issues of program institutionalization and sustainability.
Development of a Flexible Sigmoidoscopy Training Program for Rural Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening among Alaska Native People
Authors: Redwood Diana , Joseph Djenaba A. , Christensen Claudia , Provost Ellen , Peterson V. Lynn , Espey David , Sacco Frank
Published: November 2009

At the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage, colorectal cancer screening rates improved dramatically with the initiation of a dedicated flexible sigmoidoscopy screening program staffed by mid-level providers. We describe the development and implementation of a program to train rural nurse practitioners and physician assistants in flexible sigmoidoscopy.
Students Who Participate in a Student-Run Free Health Clinic Need Education about Access to Care Issues
Authors: Simmons B. Brent , DeJoseph Daniel , Diamond James , Weinstein Lara
Published: November 2009

We surveyed first-year medical students about preparedness for work at student-run clinics, and for addressing patients’ access to care, and social issues. Most students did not know how to get uninsured patients ongoing care or medications outside of the student-run clinic. A large majority of students desired an orientation addressing these issues.
Unintentional Childhood Injuries in Sub-Saharan Africa: An Overview of Risk and Protective Factors
Authors: Ruiz-Casares Mónica
Published: November 2009

The rate of unintentional injuries for children in sub-Saharan Africa has reached 53.1 per 100,000, the highest for regions across all income levels. This paper reviews the relevant literature on the epidemiology of unintentional childhood injuries in the region, with an emphasis on the risk factors associated with it. Several demographic, socioeconomic, and environmental factors contributing to injuries in children have been documented for the main causes of injury. Despite the high burden, child injury prevention and control programs and policies are limited or non-existent in many countries in the region. Accurate data regarding these injuries across and within countries is incomplete. Population-based estimates and investigations into context-specific risk factors, safety attitudes, and behaviours are needed to inform the development of effective interventions.
Quality of Diabetes Care at a Student-Run Free Clinic
Authors: Ryskina Kira L. , Meah Yasmin S. , Thomas David C.
Published: November 2009

Student-run clinics are emerging safety-net practices for the uninsured; despite the over 110 clinics that currently operate across the United States, however, no data exist on the quality of care being delivered at such sites. The East Harlem Health Outreach Partnership (EHHOP) of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York is a medical student-run, attending-supervised free clinic that offers primary care to the uninsured of surrounding East Harlem. The aim of this study was to evaluate diabetes care quality at the EHHOP clinic. Diabetes management was assessed using common quality-of-care indicators such as glycosylated hemoglobin level and blood pressure control. Clinic rates of such diabetes quality-of-care indicators ranged from 12% to 96%, and in most areas was comparable to or better than averages previously reported for uninsured populations.
Mediterranean seagrasses
Authors: Ruíz Juan M. , Boudouresque Charles F. , Enríquez Susana
Published: November 2009

No abstract available
Apoptosis by dietary agents for prevention and treatment of prostate cancer
Authors: Khan Naghma , Adhami Vaqar Mustafa , Mukhtar Hasan
Published: November 2009

Accumulating data clearly indicate that induction of apoptosis is an important event for chemoprevention of cancer by naturally occurring dietary agents. In mammalian cells, apoptosis has been divided into two major pathways: the extrinsic pathway, activated by pro-apoptotic receptor signals at the cellular surface; and the intrinsic pathway, which involves the disruption of mitochondrial membrane integrity. This process is strictly controlled in response to integrity of pro-death signaling and plays critical roles in development, maintenance of homeostasis, and host defense in multicellular organisms. For chemoprevention studies, prostate cancer (PCa) represents an ideal disease due to its long latency, its high incidence, tumor marker availability, and identifiable preneoplastic lesions and risk groups. In this article, we highlight the studies of various apoptosis-inducing dietary compounds for prevention of PCa in vitro in cell culture, in preclinical studies in animals, and in human clinical trials.
Intranasal infusion of clotrimazole for the treatment of nasal aspergillosis in two cats
Authors: Furrow Eva , Groman Reid P.
Published: November 2009

Case Description—2 cats (13 and 11 years old) were evaluated to determine the cause of nasal discharge of varying duration (4 days and 5 months, respectively).

Clinical Findings—Computed tomography revealed marked turbinate destruction and soft tissue densities in the nasal passages. Histologic examination of nasal specimens revealed chronic active inflammation and branching fungal hyphae consistent with Aspergillus spp. Fungal culture of nasal specimens resulted in growth of Aspergillus spp. Testing yielded negative results for antibodies against Aspergillus spp.

Treatment and Outcome—Both cats were anesthetized and treated with a 1-hour intranasal infusion of clotrimazole. Recovery from the procedure was uncomplicated, and both cats had complete resolution of clinical signs.

Clinical Relevance—Little information is available on the treatment of nasal aspergillosis in cats, and the prognosis for affected animals is considered poor. The procedure for local intranasal infusion of clotrimazole in 2 cats was described here. Results and follow-up monitoring for both cats suggested that this may be a safe, effective, and durable treatment for cats with nasal aspergillosis.
Analgesic effects of butorphanol tartrate and phenylbutazone administered alone and in combination in young horses undergoing routine castration
Authors: Sanz Macarena G. , Sellon Debra C. , Cary Julie A. , Hines Melissa T. , Farnsworth Kelly D.
Published: November 2009

Objective—To compare the analgesic efficacy of administration of butorphanol tartrate, phenylbutazone, or both drugs in combination in colts undergoing routine castration.

Design—Randomized controlled clinical trial.

Animals—36 client-owned colts.

Procedures—Horses received treatment with butorphanol alone (0.05 mg/kg [0.023 mg/lb], IM, prior to surgery and then q 4 h for 24 hours), phenylbutazone alone (4.4 mg/kg [2.0 mg/lb], IV, prior to surgery and then 2.2 mg/kg [1.0 mg/lb], PO, q 12 h for 3 days), or butorphanol and phenylbutazone at the aforementioned dosages (12 horses/group). For single-drug–treated horses, appropriate placebos were administered to balance treatment protocols among groups. All horses were anesthetized, and lidocaine hydrochloride was injected into each testis. Physical and physiological variables, plasma cortisol concentration, body weight, and water consumption were assessed before and at intervals after surgery, and induction of and recovery from anesthesia were subjectively characterized. Observers assessed signs of pain by use of a visual analogue scale and a numerical rating scale.

Results—Significant changes in gastrointestinal sounds, fecal output, and plasma cortisol concentrations were evident in each treatment group over time, compared with preoperative values. At any time point, assessed variables and signs of pain did not differ significantly among groups, although the duration of recumbency after surgery was longest for the butorphanol-phenylbutazone–treated horses.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—With intratesticular injections of lidocaine, administration of butorphanol to anesthetized young horses undergoing routine castration had the same apparent analgesic effect as phenylbutazone treatment. Combined butorphanolphenylbutazone treatment was not apparently superior to either drug used alone.
Buccal mucosal urethroplasty for treatment of recurrent hemospermia in a stallion
Authors: Hackett Eileen S. , Bruemmer Jason , Hendrickson Dean A. , McCue Patrick M.
Published: November 2009

Case Description—An 11-year-old Quarter Horse stallion was admitted for intermittent hemospermia of 4 years' duration.

Clinical Findings—A linear vertical defect had been detected endoscopically following multiple episodes of hemospermia on the caudodorsal convex surface of the urethra at the level of the ischial arch.

Treatment and Outcome—When sexual rest alone did not result in complete healing of the urethral defect, a subischial urethrotomy and buccal mucosal urethroplasty were performed. The surgical site healed without complication. Four months of sexual rest was recommended after surgery. Repeat endoscopy at 4 months allowed inspection of the urethral graft site. Following endoscopic examination, resumption of semen collection was recommended on the basis of the apparent healing at the urethral defect site. Hemospermia did not reoccur following surgical repair.

Clinical Relevance—Buccal mucosal urethroplasty resulted in a favorable outcome in a stallion with recurrent hemospermia. Buccal mucosal urethroplasty may be a useful surgical option in stallions that have hemospermia secondary to a urethral defect and do not heal with sexual rest alone.
Comment on “Series solution of hydromagnetic flow and heat transfer with hall effect in a second grade fluid over a stretching sheet”
Authors: Gorder Robert , Vajravelu Kuppalapalle
Published: November 2009

In a recently accepted paper of M. Ayub, H. Zaman and M. Ahmad [Cent. Eur. J. Phys. 8, 135 (2010)] the authors claim that the governing similarity equations of Vajravelu and Roper [Int. J. Nonlin. Mech. 34, 1031 (1999)] are incorrect; without any justification, the authors Ayub et al. simply mention that the equation is “found to be incorrect in the literature” (though no reference supporting this assertion is provided in the citations). We show that this assertion of Ayub et al. is wrong, and that the similarity equation of Vajravelu and Roper is indeed correct.
Dysfunction of hypothalamic-hypophysial axis after traumatic brain injury in adults
Authors: Krahulik David , Zapletalova Jirina , Frysak Zdenek , Vaverka Miroslav
Published: November 2009

Object

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of serious morbidity and mortality. The incidence is 100–500/100,000 inhabitants/year. Chronic pituitary dysfunction is increasingly recognized after TBI. To define the incidence of endocrine dysfunction and risk factors, the authors describe a prospectively assessed group of patients in whom they documented hormonal functions, early diagnosis, and treatment of neuroendocrine dysfunction after TBI.

Methods

Patients aged 18–65 years were prospectively observed from the time of injury to 1 year postinjury; the Glasgow Coma Scale score ranged from 3 to 14. Patients underwent evaluation of hormonal function at the time of injury and at 3, 6, and 12 months postinjury. Magnetic resonance imaging was also conducted at 1 year postinjury.

Results

During the study period, 89 patients were observed. The mean age of the patients was 36 years, there were 23 women, and the median Glasgow Coma Scale score was 7. Nineteen patients (21%) had primary hormonal dysfunction. Major deficits included growth hormone dysfunction, hypogonadism, and diabetes insipidus. Patients in whom the deficiency was major had a worse Glasgow Outcome Scale score, and MR imaging demonstrated empty sella syndrome more often than in patients without a deficit.

Conclusions

To the authors' knowledge, this is the third largest study of its kind worldwide. The incidence of chronic hypopituitarism after TBI was higher than the authors expected. After TBI, patients are usually observed on the neurological and rehabilitative wards, and endocrine dysfunction can be overlooked. This dysfunction can be life threatening and other clinical symptoms can worsen the neurological deficit, extend the duration of physiotherapy, and lead to mental illness. The authors recommend routine pituitary hormone testing after moderate or severe TBI within 6 months and 1 year of injury.
A Glutamine-Rich Factor Affects Stem Cell Genesis in Leech
Authors: Hohenstein Kristi A. , Lang Shirley A. , Nuthulaganti Tej , Shain Daniel H.
Published: November 2009

Leech embryogenesis is a model for investigating cellular and molecular processes of development. Due to the unusually large size of embryonic stem cells (teloblasts: 50–300 μm) in the glossiphoniid leech,Theromyzon tessulatum, and the presence of identifiable stem cell precursors (proteloblasts), we previously isolated a group of genes upregulated upon stem cell birth. In the current study, we show that one of these genes, designatedTheromyzonproliferation (Tpr), is required for normal stem cell genesis; specifically, transientTprknockdown experiments conducted with antisense oligonucleotides and monitored by semiquantitative RT-PCR, caused abnormal proteloblast proliferation leading to embryonic death, but did not overtly affect neuroectodermal or mesodermal stem cell development once these cells were born.Tprencodes a large glutamine-rich (∼34%) domain that shares compositional similarity with strong transcriptional enhancers many of which have been linked with trinucleotide repeat disorders (e.g., Huntington's).
Various Quantum- and Nano-Structures by III–V Droplet Epitaxy on GaAs Substrates
Authors: Lee J. H. , Wang Zh. M. , Kim E. S. , Kim N. Y. , Park S. H. , Salamo G. J.
Published: November 2009

We report on various self-assembled In(Ga)As nanostructures by droplet epitaxy on GaAs substrates using molecular beam epitaxy. Depending on the growth condition and index of surfaces, various nanostructures can be fabricated: quantum dots (QDs), ring-like and holed-triangular nanostructures. At near room temperatures, by limiting surface diffusion of adatoms, the size of In droplets suitable for quantum confinement can be fabricated and thus InAs QDs are demonstrated on GaAs (100) surface. On the other hand, at relatively higher substrate temperatures, by enhancing the surface migrations of In adatoms, super lower density of InGaAs ring-shaped nanostructures can be fabricated on GaAs (100). Under an identical growth condition, holed-triangular InGaAs nanostructures can be fabricated on GaAs type-A surfaces, while ring-shaped nanostructures are formed on GaAs (100). The formation mechanism of various nanostructures can be understood in terms of intermixing, surface diffusion, and surface reconstruction.
Avoiding Loss of Catalytic Activity of Pd Nanoparticles Partially Embedded in Nanoditches in SiC Nanowires
Authors: Guo Xiao-Ning , Shang Ru-Jing , Wang Dong-Hua , Jin Guo-Qiang , Guo Xiang-Yun , Tu KN
Published: November 2009

Nanoditches from selective etching of periodically twinned SiC nanowires were employed to hinder the migration and coalescence of Pd nanoparticles supported on the nanowires, and thus to improve their catalytic stability for total combustion of methane. The results show that the etched Pd/SiC catalyst can keep the methane conversion of almost 100% while the unetched one has an obvious decline in the catalytic activity from 100 to 82% after ten repeated reaction cycles. The excellent catalytic stability originates from the limitation of the nanoditches to the migration and growth of Pd nanoparticles.
Investigation of a Mesoporous Silicon Based Ferromagnetic Nanocomposite
Authors: Granitzer P. , Rumpf K. , Roca A. G. , Morales M. P. , Poelt P. , Albu M.
Published: November 2009

A semiconductor/metal nanocomposite is composed of a porosified silicon wafer and embedded ferromagnetic nanostructures. The obtained hybrid system possesses the electronic properties of silicon together with the magnetic properties of the incorporated ferromagnetic metal. On the one hand, a transition metal is electrochemically deposited from a metal salt solution into the nanostructured silicon skeleton, on the other hand magnetic particles of a few nanometres in size, fabricated in solution, are incorporated by immersion. The electrochemically deposited nanostructures can be tuned in size, shape and their spatial distribution by the process parameters, and thus specimens with desired ferromagnetic properties can be fabricated. Using magnetite nanoparticles for infiltration into porous silicon is of interest not only because of the magnetic properties of the composite material due to the possible modification of the ferromagnetic/superparamagnetic transition but also because of the biocompatibility of the system caused by the low toxicity of both materials. Thus, it is a promising candidate for biomedical applications as drug delivery or biomedical targeting.
Synthesis and Magnetic Characterization of Metal-filled Double-sided Porous Silicon Samples
Authors: Rumpf K , Granitzer P , Poelt P
Published: November 2009

A magnetic semiconductor/metal nanocomposite with a nanostructured silicon wafer as base material and incorporated metallic nanostructures (Ni, Co, NiCo) is fabricated in two electrochemical steps. First, the silicon template is anodized in an HF-electrolyte to obtain a porous structure with oriented pores grown perpendicular to the surface. This etching procedure is carried out either in forming a sample with a single porous layer on one side or in producing a double-sided specimen with a porous layer on each side. Second, this matrix is used for deposition of transition metals as Ni, Co or an alloy of these. The achieved hybrid material with incorporated Ni- and Co-nanostructures within one sample is investigated magnetically. The obtained results are compared with the ones gained from samples containing a single metal.
Lipid Abnormalities in a Never‐Treated HIV‐1 Subtype C‐Infected African Population
Authors: Fourie Carla Maria T. , Van Rooyen Johannes M. , Kruger Annamarie , Schutte Aletta E.
Published: November 2009

Dyslipidemia has been documented worldwide among human immunodeficiency virus‐infected (HIV) individuals and these changes are reminiscent of the metabolic syndrome (MetS). In South Africa, with the highest number of HIV infections worldwide, HIV‐1 subtype C is prevalent, while HIV‐1 subtype B (genetically different from C) prevails in Europe and the United States. We aimed to evaluate if HIV infection (subtype C) is associated with dyslipidemia, inflammation and the occurrence of the MetS in Africans. Three hundred newly diagnosed HIV‐infected participants were compared to 300 age, gender, body mass index and locality matched uninfected controls. MetS was defined according to the Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) and International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria. The HIV‐infected group showed lower high density lipoprotein cholesterol (1.23 vs. 1.70 mmol/L) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (2.60 vs. 2.80 mmol/L) and higher triglycerides (1.29 vs. 1.15 mmol/L), C‐reactive protein (3.31 vs. 2.13 mg/L) and interleukin 6 (4.70 vs. 3.72 pg/L) levels compared to the uninfected group. No difference in the prevalence of the MetS was seen between the two groups (ATP III, 15.2 vs. 11.5%; IDF, 21.1 vs. 22.6%). This study shows that HIV‐1 subtype C is associated with dyslipidemia, but not with a higher incidence of MetS in never antiretroviral‐treated HIV‐infected Africans.
Effects of Bleaching and Deodorization Processes of Beef Tallow on Cholesterol Removal by Lecithin Treatment
Authors: Yavari Aireza , Heshmati A. , Hamedi M. , Haghbin S.
Published: November 2009

The effects of treatment with commercial lecithin followed by bleaching and deodorization processes on cholesterol reduction (removal) of Iranian beef tallow were studied. Steam‐rendering extracted fat was subjected to lecithin treatment and the effects of four variables, i.e., ratio of lecithin to tallow (1:5, 1:10, 1:20 and 1:30 w/w), stirring time (0.5, 1.5, 3, 6 and 12 h), stirring rate (200, 500, 1,000 and 1,250 rpm) and ratio of lecithin to water (1:2, 1:5 and 1:10 w/v) were investigated. The results showed that cholesterol removal is increased with increasing the lecithin to tallow ratio and the stirring rate. Increasing stirring time up to 1.5 h increased cholesterol removal; however, longer times did not have any significant effect on it. The ratio of lecithin to water did not have any significant effect on cholesterol removal, either. It was concluded that up to 43% of the tallow cholesterol content could be removed by lecithin. Treatment with lecithin increased tallow acidity and color but did not have any effect on the peroxide value (PV). It is proposed that since tallow, as a slaughterhouse by‐product, is not expensive, by this method we can improve its eating quality for use in dietary or industrial applications.
A Method to Qualify and Quantify the Crystalline State of Cocoa Butter in Industrial Chocolate
Authors: Le Révérend Benjamin J. D. , Fryer Peter J. , Coles Simon , Bakalis Serafim
Published: November 2009

A range of methods, mainly X‐Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), have been used to characterise the polymorphism of fats in food products. As sugars present in chocolate have a significant XRD pattern, partially overlapping with the signal of cocoa butter, XRD cannot be applied directly to chocolate. In this paper, the XRD signal of a molten sample, similar to the one for pure sucrose, was subtracted from the signal of a solid sample of chocolate to remove the impact of the crystallised sugar. The XRD patterns obtained were compared with the pattern of cocoa butter cooled under the same conditions. Strong peaks were observed at similar inter lamellar d spacings showing that the polymorphic state of cocoa butter in processed chocolate could be obtained using this method. Numerical integration of the peaks also allowed quantification of the degree of crystallinity present in the system during a typical process. The accuracy of the method developed was found to be dependent on the (cocoa butter)/(sugar) ratio in the chocolate used.
1989, A Year of Peaceful Change: The Polish Experience
Authors: Bobiński Krzysztof
Published: November 2009

The mention of 1989 brings immediately to people's memory the familiar image of the fall of the Berlin Wall. The author describes the emotional events that led to the liberation of Poland from the Communist regime and the factors that contributed to this peaceful revolution. The Polish example remains one of the success stories in the history of democratisation and allows the author to analyse what were the essential, replicable elements that marked Poland's path to democracy.
Financial crises and economic theory
Authors: Vaciago Giacomo E.
Published: November 2009

This article describes the contributions made by economic theory in understanding the financial crisis. The author contends that throughout history, economic problems were solved with theories that addressed the immediate problem, only to have new economic issues emerge afterward. Economic theory was targeted at maintaining monetary stability during the 1980s and 1990s, leaving insufficient theoretical analysis to address interests of financial stability, which is the economic problem the world is facing today. The author points to a new theoretical approach that balances the interests of previous economy theory with new and emerging challenges.
Mind the Gap: Explaining unified Germany's Divided Party System
Authors: Rensmann Lars
Published: November 2009

Twenty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, unified Germany is still confronted with significant political divides. Two distinct party systems have emerged and are now consolidated, and a narrowing of the gap between them is not in sight. Among other dimensions, the differences in party spaces and competition are more fragmented, more unstable and, most importantly, characterised by the enduring success of the post-Communist Left in the East, where the party is a major third player. Looking at the origins and causes of the divide, the relevance of specific historical legacies and the role of distinct political cultures and value cleavages are emphasised. These point to previously neglected explanatory frameworks. In addition, some parties act as agents that facilitate political resentments and reinforce cultural divisions. Finally, lessons in understanding and coming to terms with some persisting East–West divides in the European Union are discussed.
Young Australian Consumers and the Country-Of-Origin Effect: Investigation of the Moderating Roles of Product Involvement and Perceived Product-Origin Congruency
Authors: Josiassen Alexander
Published: November 2009

The effect that consumers’ country-related images have on their purchase decisions is known as the country-of-origin effect. Marketing researchers have thoroughly investigated COO effects in a range of contexts since the mid-1960s. However, since the 1980s it has been thought (e.g., Levitt, 1983 ; Ohmae, 1995 ) that consumer needs and wants are converging and that nation states are artificial and superficial entities of little value as quality indicators. The argument is that since the world is changing and because young consumers are used to seeing products from a variety of countries they do not have the country biases that the COO effect stipulates. Indeed, a recent study ( Wong et al., 2008 ) on young Chinese consumers and the COO effect seems to confirm that young consumers no longer are influenced by the COO effect. The aim of this research is to investigate if and how the relationship between young Australian consumers’ product-country image and their product evaluations is influenced by two contextual variables: their product involvement and their perceived product-origin congruency. The research reports the results and relevant implications for research and practice.