bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predicting the pedestrian pre-impact speed from the pedestrian projection distance and vehicle damage measurements
Authors: Wood Denis P , Elliott Jessica R , Lyons Mathew , Augy Sylvain , Glynn Colin , Simms Ciaran K
Published: August 2012

Methods to estimate the pre-impact pedestrian speed from limited post-accident measurements are required both for biomechanics research and for legal applications following vehicle–pedestrian collisions, but none is currently available. Such a method is presented in this paper. A constant-inertial-property pedestrian model based on the conservation of momentum is first shown to predict satisfactorily the transverse offset of a pedestrian between the primary and secondary impacts in wrap-trajectory vehicle–pedestrian collisions and is then used in a Monte Carlo environment to predict the pedestrian pre-impact speed distribution utilizing an estimate of the vehicle speed based on the pedestrian projection distance, the ratio of the longitudinal offset to the transverse offset for the pedestrian primary and secondary contact locations on the vehicle (indicated by the primary and secondary vehicle damage locations) and, where available, information on the pedestrian gait stance at impact (derived from the injury location on the head). Separate analysis of recently published Fourier relationships between the transverse offset and the contact location on the head derived from modelling with Mathematical Dynamic Models (MADYMO) software is used to show that the gait stance is related to the location on the head of head injuries from the vehicle contact, and that contact locations significantly anterior or posterior of the coronal plane are predominant. Results from the constant-inertial-property pedestrian model show that significant differences occur between the ratio of the transverse offset to the longitudinal offset with the struck leg leading and the corresponding ratio with the struck leg lagging. The special case of nominally zero transverse offset between the primary and secondary damage locations from the contacts of the pedestrian with the vehicle is considered, and pedestrian speed confidence limits for accident reconstruction purposes are provided. Regression equations relating the pedestrian speed to the pedestrian projection distance and the ratio of the transverse offset to the longitudinal offset of the damage location on the vehicle are presented. These provide the first means to predict the pedestrian speed from limited post-accident damage locations on the vehicle and the pedestrian projection distance.
The case of SUD-Rail: The limits of ‘radical political unionism’
Authors: Denis Jean-Michel
Published: August 2012

This comment on the article by Connolly and Darlington suggests that the experience of SUD-Rail is more ambiguous than these authors assume. Though the union is certainly committed to militant industrial action and to broader social struggles, it is misleading to describe its orientation as ‘political’. Its militancy also has two consequences which may prove self-defeating. First, it is unable to appeal to the full range of employees in the French railways. Second, the demands imposed on its activists can prove exhausting and result in ‘burn-out’.
Validation of an automated chemiluminescent immunoassay for salivary cortisol measurements in pigs
Authors: Escribano Damián , Fuentes-Rubio María , Cerón José J.
Published: August 2012

The aim of the current study was to validate an automated immunoassay for cortisol quantification in the saliva of pigs. The assay had intra- and interassay coefficients of variation lower than 16%, in all cases. The limit of detection was 0.016 µg/dl, and the lower quantification limit was 0.197 µg/dl. The assay also demonstrated a high level of accuracy, as determined by linearity under dilution and recovery tests. In addition, this assay was used to quantify cortisol in 2 models of stress: 1 in which animals were immobilized with a nose-snare and 1 in which pigs were transported for a duration of 30 min. In both cases, a significant increase ( P < 0.01) in salivary cortisol was detected after the stressful situation. Overall, the assay validated in the present study could be used for the evaluation of cortisol changes in stressful situations.
Phenotypic and molecular characterization of a novel strongly hemolytic Brachyspira species, provisionally designated “Brachyspira hampsonii”
Authors: Chander Yogesh , Primus Alexander , Oliveira Simone , Gebhart Connie J.
Published: August 2012

Since 2007, outbreaks of severe bloody diarrhea and hemorrhagic colitis have been reported in the United States and Canada. Though the primary causative agent of swine dysentery is Brachyspira hyodysenteriae, which is strongly hemolytic, the current report describes the isolation of a novel strongly hemolytic Brachyspira sp. This novel Brachyspira sp. was identified from clinical submissions at the Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, and 40 of such isolates were obtained from 22 clinical submissions representing 5 states. Isolates were confirmed to be different from any known Brachyspira sp. on the basis of phylogenetic analysis of nucleotide sequences of nox and 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Phylogenetic analyses grouped all isolates into 2 clades (clades I and II), and grouping patterns were similar for both nox and 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses. Phenotypically, all isolates were indole and hippurate negative, and enzymatic profiling indicated 2 types of profiles, irrespective of the phylogenetic grouping, differing only in the production of β-glucosidase. The results suggest that a potentially virulent new species of Brachyspira sp., provisionally named “ Brachyspira hampsonii ”, is circulating among swine herds in the United States.
Sensing performance of electrically conductive fabrics and suspension lines for parachute systems
Authors: Favini Eric , Agnihotra Srikanthrao , Surwade Sumedh P , Niezrecki Christopher , Willis David , Chen Julie , Niemi Eugene , Desabrais Kenneth , Charette Christine , Manohar Sanjeev K
Published: August 2012

The electronic sensing capabilities of parachute fabrics and suspension lines coated with conducting polymers, single-walled carbon nanotubes, and their composites are described. A new synthetic method is described to obtain a thin, strongly adhering coating of conducting polymers on commercial parachute fabrics and suspension lines using oligoanilines as an undercoating. The results indicate that both materials have a sensing ability; however, the coated suspension lines show superior performance compared to the coated parachute fabrics.
Controlling the deformation in elastic and viscoelastic structures due to temperature and moisture changes using piezoelectric actuators
Authors: Kuravi Chaitanya , Muliana Anastasia , Rajagopal Kumbakonam R
Published: August 2012

We study the placement of surface-bonded piezoelectric actuators to control or minimize the deformation due to changes in temperature and moisture content in linear elastic and linear viscoelastic cantilever beams. The effect of unsteady heat and moisture diffusion phenomena on the response characteristics of the elastic and viscoelastic beams, such as displacement, stress, and strain fields, is examined based on which the magnitude of external actuating voltage to minimize deformation is predicted. This is followed by a comparative study of the field variables in cases of actuated and unactuated beams. Finite difference method is used to solve the field equations numerically. The numerical results are corroborated by comparing the results with analytical and experimental results that are available. Relatively smaller magnitude of external actuating voltage is necessary to minimize bending in the viscoelastic structure compared to the elastic structure due to the phenomenon of stress relaxation.
A novel two-degrees-of-freedom piezoelectric energy harvester
Authors: Wu Hao , Tang Lihua , Yang Yaowen , Soh Chee Kiong
Published: August 2012

Energy harvesting from ambient vibrations using piezoelectric effect is a promising alternative solution for powering small electronics such as wireless sensors. A conventional piezoelectric energy harvester usually consists of a cantilevered beam with a proof mass at its free end. For such a device, the second resonance of the piezoelectric energy harvester is usually ignored because of its high frequency as well as low response level compared to the first resonance. Hence, only the first mode has been frequently exploited for energy harvesting in the reported literature. In this article, a novel compact piezoelectric energy harvester using two vibration modes has been developed. The harvester comprises one main cantilever beam and an inner secondary cantilever beam, each of which is bonded with piezoelectric transducers. By varying the proof masses, the first two resonant frequencies of the harvester can be tuned close enough to achieve useful wide bandwidth. Meanwhile, this compact design efficiently utilizes the cantilever beam by generating significant power output from both the main and secondary beams. An experiment and simulation were carried out to validate the design concept. The results show that the proposed novel piezoelectric energy harvester is more adaptive and functional in practical vibrational circumstances.
Clickers in the Classroom
Authors: Keough Shawn M.
Published: August 2012

This article reviews 66 clicker technology–based studies focusing on student perceptions/outcomes. Eight major perceptions/outcomes are noted, including high levels of performance (actual and perceived), student attention span, attendance, and participation, as well as student perceptions of satisfaction, feedback, and ease of use. Because the review revealed that studies involving clickers within the management discipline were nonexistent, an empirical study was conducted to determine whether the perceptions/outcomes of clickers realized in other disciplines could be duplicated in the management discipline. The results of the empirical study indicate that the same perceptions/outcomes can be attained within the management discipline.
Scandals and Congressional Elections in the Post-Watergate Era
Authors: Basinger Scott J.
Published: August 2012

Since Watergate, more than two hundred fifty members of the House of Representatives have been involved in various scandals. The author finds that roughly 40 percent of incumbents did not “survive” their scandal. Incumbents who stood for reelection lost 5 percent of the general election vote share, on average, but the electoral repercussions vary across types of scandals and could be magnified in the presence of a quality challenger.  A scandal-tainted incumbent defending his or her seat does not necessarily fare better than an untainted open-seat candidate, a finding that provides a justification for stronger ethics rules.
Continuing the Collective Action Dilemma
Authors: Bevan Shaun
Published: August 2012

Group populations take many different types of actions in order to influence government, but how those actions are received depends on the traits of group populations. This article uses data on national-level voluntary associations in the United States from 1974 to 1999 to investigate group survival and discuss how it affects representation. The results demonstrate the existence of density dependence, significant positive effects for group-level resources, group-level characteristics, and government attention on group survival. These findings also include counterintuitive significant negative effects for public attention suggesting that increases in public attention lead to group replacement rather than group survival.
Nitric Oxide- and Heme-Independent Activation of Soluble Guanylate Cyclase Attenuates Peroxynitrite-Induced Endothelial Dysfunction in Rat Aorta
Authors: Korkmaz Sevil , Loganathan Sivakkanan , Mikles Beatrice , Radovits Tamás , Barnucz Enikő , Hirschberg Kristóf , Li Shiliang , Hegedüs Peter , Páli Szabolcs , Weymann Alexander , Karck Matthias , Szabó Gábor
Published: August 2012

Oxidative stress interferes with nitric oxide (NO)/soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC)/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) signalling pathway through reduction of endogenous NO and formation of the strong intermediate oxidant peroxynitrite and leads to vascular dysfunction. We evaluated the effects of oral treatment with NO- and heme-independent sGC activator cinaciguat on peroxynitrite-induced vascular dysfunction in rat aorta. Sprague-Dawley rats were treated orally 2 times at an interval of 17 hours with vehicle or with cinaciguat (10 mg/kg). One hour after the last treatment, the animals were anesthetized, the thoracic aorta was removed, and the aortic segment preparations were incubated with and without the reactive oxidant peroxynitrite (200 µmol/L, 30 minutes). Endothelium-dependent (acetylcholine), -independent (sodium nitroprusside) vasorelaxations were investigated, and histopathological examination was performed. Incubation of aortic rings with peroxynitrite significantly attenuated the maximal endothelium-dependent relaxation ( Rmax) to acetylcholine (peroxynitrite, 44.5% ± 5.9% vs control, 93.2% ± 2.0%, P < .05) and decreased pD2 values (-logEC50, EC50 being the concentration of acetylcholine that elicited 50% of the maximal response) for the concentration–response curves as compared to control segments. Treatment of rats with cinaciguat significantly improved the decreased acetylcholine-induced vasorelaxation after exposure of aortic rings to peroxynitrite (cinaciguat + peroxynitrite, 67.1% ± 3.5% vs peroxynitrite, 44.5% ± 5.9%, P < .05). Incubation of aortic segments with peroxynitrite caused a significant shift of the sodium nitroprusside concentration–response curves to the right without any alterations in the Rmax. Moreover, exposure of aortic rings to peroxynitrite resulted in increased nitro-oxidative stress and DNA breakage which were improved by cinaciguat. Treatment of rats with cinaciguat significantly increased intracellular cGMP levels in the aortic wall. Our results show under conditions of nitro-oxidative stress when signalling in the NO/sGC/cGMP pathway is impaired, acute activation of sGC by cinaciguat might be advantageous in the treatment of endothelial dysfunction in cardiovascular disease.
Platelet-Derived Microparticles and Platelet Function Profile in Children With Congenital Heart Disease
Authors: Ismail Eman Abdel Rahman , Youssef Omneya Ibrahim
Published: August 2012

Platelet microparticles (PMPs) and function profile in children with congenital heart disease (CHD) have not been widely explored. We investigated platelet aggregation, flow cytometric platelet surface receptors (P-selectin and glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa) and PMPs in 23 children with cyanotic CHD (CCHD), 30 children with acyanotic CHD (ACHD) and 30 healthy controls correlating these variables to hematological and coagulation parameters including von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF Ag) as a marker of endothelial dysfunction. Hemoglobin, hematocrit (HCT), d-dimer, and vWF Ag were significantly higher in CCHD than ACHD group. Platelet MPs and P-selectin expression were increased in patients than controls, particularly in CCHD and positively correlated to HCT, d-dimer, and vWF Ag while platelet count, aggregation, and GP IIb/IIIa expression were decreased in CCHD compared with ACHD group and negatively correlated to HCT. The overproduction of PMPs and platelet activation with suppressed aggregation may be implicated in the pathogenesis of coagulation/hemostatic abnormalities in children with CCHD.
Sex Offender Registration and Notification Policy Increases Juvenile Plea Bargains
Authors: Letourneau Elizabeth J. , Armstrong Kevin S. , Bandyopadhyay Dipankar , Sinha Debajyoti
Published: August 2012

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that South Carolina’s sex offender registration and notification policy influenced juvenile sex offense case plea bargains. Two types of plea bargains were examined: initial sex offense charges amended to nonsex offense charges and amended to lower severity charges. Comparison analyses were conducted with juvenile assault and robbery offense cases. Archival data on cases involving 19,215 male youth charged with sex, assault, and/or robbery offenses between 1990 and 2004 informed analyses. Of these youth, 2,991 were charged with one or more sex offense, 16,091 were charged with one or more assault offense, and 2,036 were charged with at one or more robbery offense. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to model changes in the probabilities of plea bargain outcomes across three time intervals: before policy implementation (1990 to 1994), after initial policy implementation (1995 to 1998), and after implementation of a revised policy that included online registration requirements (1999 to 2004). Results indicate significant increases in the probability of plea bargains for sex offense cases across subsequent time periods, supporting the hypothesis that South Carolina’s initial and revised registration and notification policies were associated with significant increases the likelihood of plea bargains to different types of charges and to lower severity charges. Results were either nonsignificant or of much lower magnitude for the comparison assault and robbery analyses. Suggestions for revising South Carolina and national registration and notification policies are discussed.
Criteria and Concurrent Validity of Adult ADHD Section of the Psychiatry Research Interview for Substance and Mental Disorders
Authors: Ramos-Quiroga Josep Antoni , Díaz-Digon Laura , Comín Marina , Bosch Rosa , Palomar Gloria , Chalita J. Pablo , Roncero Carlos , Nogueira Mariana , Torrens Marta , Casas Miguel
Published: August 2012

Objective: Prevalence of ADHD in adults is around 2% to 4%. Comorbidity is frequent in ADHD; 75% of patients develop a comorbid disorder across life span, substance use disorder (SUD) being one of the most prevalent. Method: A case-control study was performed to check the criteria and concurrent validity of psychiatric research interview for substance and mental disorders (PRISM) adult ADHD section. Validation was done comparing PRISM with the Conners’ Adult ADHD Diagnostic Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., text rev.). A convenient sample ( N = 80) participated, 40 had diagnosis of SUD and ADHD and 40 had diagnosis of SUD without ADHD. The statistics hypothesis was bivariant, and the confidence level was 95%. Results: Kappa index concordance was .78, sensitivity of PRISM adult ADHD module was 90%, specificity was 87.5%, positive predictive value was 87.8%, and the negative predictive value was 89.7%. Conclusion: PRISM has good psychometric properties to detect ADHD associated with SUD.
Effects of Developmental Exposure to Mixtures of Environmental Contaminants on the Hepatic Metabolism of Estradiol-17β in Immature Female Sprague Dawley Rats
Authors: Desaulniers Daniel , Leingartner K. , Pelletier G. , Xiao G.-H. , Bowers W. J.
Published: August 2012

Exposure to environmental contaminants induces the activation of cytochrome P450s (CYP) which lead to the hydroxylation of contaminants and endogenous hormones such as estrogens. The hydroxylation of estrogens forms catecholestrogens (CEs), one of them being the mutagenic 4-hydroxyestradiol-17β (4−OH−E2). Catecholestrogens are transformed by catechol -o-methyltransferases (COMTs) into nonreactive methoxyestrogens. To investigate the hepatic metabolism of estradiol-17β in female offspring at postnatal day (PND) 21, pregnant rats were dosed daily from gestation day 1 until PND 21 with 2 dose levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs; 0.019 or 1.9 mg/kg per d), methylmercury (MeHg; 0.02 or 2 mg/kg per d), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs; 0.011 or 1.1 mg/kg per d), or a mixture (M; 0.05 or 5 mg/kg per d) including all 3 groups of chemicals. Concentrations of organochlorines in the mixture M were based on their proportions in serum of the Canadian Arctic population. The messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of CYP and COMT were analyzed by quantitative reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). High-performance thin layer chromatography and phosphor imaging were used to measure the transformation of 14C substrates into estrogen metabolites. The low-dose treatments or the MeHg groups had no effect. The high-dose OCP, PCB, and M group increased the production of 2-OH-E2 and 6α-OH-E2, while only the PCB and M groups increased the 2-OH-CE/methoxyestrogen ratio. In all groups, the cytosolic COMT activity exceeded the microsomal production rate of 4-OH-E2. Although the M treatment included the PCB and OCP mixtures, it did not modify the estrogen metabolism more than did the PCB mixture alone. This endocrine disruption information contributes to our understanding of chemical interactions in the toxicology of chemical mixtures.
A Neurophysiological Assessment of Consumers’ Emotional Responses to Service Recovery Behaviors
Authors: Boshoff Christo
Published: August 2012

Service marketers are particularly interested in consumers’ emotional response to service failure and recovery. However, efforts to measure emotional responses in these types of situations by means of post-encounter, self-report measures are far from satisfactory. In this study a neurophysiological approach is used to measure consumers’ emotional responses during a service encounter. This approach enables one to assess the impact that the physical features (ethnicity and gender) of service providers can have on consumers’ emotional responses to service recovery efforts throughout an entire service recovery interaction. It emerges that consumer responses to service recovery are characterized by both neutral (not statistically different from the baseline) and negative emotional responses as the service encounter unfolds. Individuals with high similarity to the service provider (in terms of gender and ethnicity) exhibit significantly more negative emotional responses than those with low similarity. However traditional measures of post-encounter satisfaction show no differences between high similarity and low similarity and consumers report fairly positive evaluations of the encounter. This discrepancy suggests that, in a situation where social desirability bias may play a role, consumers may exhibit negative emotional responses but may not report these negative responses. The results suggest a need to reconsider social identity theory and similarity-attraction theory in a service recovery situation because physical similarity between service provider and customer leads to significant negative emotional responses. Managerially, frontline service employees should be trained to ensure adequate sensitivity to potentially negative responses when the complainant is of the same gender and ethnicity as the service provider.
Chronic Bartonellosis in Cats
Authors: Stützer Bianca , Hartmann Katrin
Published: August 2012

Practical relevance:

Bartonellae are small, vector-transmitted Gram-negative intracellular bacteria that are well adapted to one or more mammalian reservoir hosts. Cats are the natural reservoir for Bartonella henselae, which is a (re-)emerging bacterial pathogen. It can cause cat scratch disease in humans and, in immunocompromised people, may lead to severe systemic diseases, such as bacillary angiomatosis. Cats bacteraemic with B henselae constitute the main reservoir from which humans become infected. Most cats naturally infected with B henselae show no clinical signs themselves, but other Bartonella species for which cats are accidental hosts appear to have more pathogenicity.

Global importance:

Several studies have reported a prevalence of previous or current Bartonella species infection in cats of up to 36%. B henselae is common in cats worldwide, and bacteraemia can be documented by blood culture in about a quarter of healthy cats. The distribution of B henselae to various parts of the world has largely occurred through humans migrating with their pet cats. The pathogen is mainly transmitted from cat to cat by fleas, and the majority of infected cats derive from areas with high flea exposure. No significant difference in B henselae prevalence has been determined between male and female cats. In studies on both naturally and experimentally infected cats, chronic bacteraemia has mainly been found in cats under the age of 2 years, while those over 2 years of age are rarely chronically bacteraemic.

Evidence base:

This article reviews published studies and case reports on bartonellosis to explore the clinical significance of the infection in cats and its impact on humans. The article also discusses possible treatment options for cats and means of minimising the zoonotic potential.
Feline Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation
Authors: Sharp Brian
Published: August 2012

Practical relevance:

Physiotherapy is highly valued within human medicine and relatively well established for canine patients. Despite a popular misconception that feline patients will not cooperate with such treatment, physiotherapy is now increasingly being performed with cats. With cat ownership increasing in many countries, and an emergence of specialist physiotherapy practitioners, there is demand for effective postoperative and post-injury rehabilitation for any cat with compromised physical function due to injury, surgery or disease.

Clinical challenges:

While physiotherapy and rehabilitation are potentially beneficial for cats, due to their independent nature feline patients certainly present a greater challenge in the pursuit of effective therapy than their canine counterparts.

Audience:

This two-part review article is directed at the primary care veterinary team. The benefits of physiotherapy and the various treatment modalities available to the qualified veterinary physiotherapist, as well as the non-specialist veterinarian and veterinary nurse or technician, are examined in this first part.

Evidence base:

The benefits of human physiotherapeutic intervention are well documented, and there is good evidence for the effectiveness of most treatment modalities. Animal studies are still in their infancy, although some preliminary studies in dogs have shown good results.
Feline Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation
Authors: Sharp Brian
Published: August 2012

Practical relevance:

There is an increasing demand for effective postoperative and post-injury rehabilitation for any cat with compromised physical function due to injury, surgery or disease.

Clinical challenges:

The design of a suitable rehabilitation programme that will assist the recovery process, as well as ensure the return of neuromusculoskeletal control to the highest levels of function possible, requires a good understanding of feline behaviour, accurate assessment of the cat’s condition and the correct implementation of a range of physiotherapeutic modalities.

Audience:

This two-part review article is directed at the primary care veterinary team. The clinical application of a variety of physiotherapeutic modalities in the rehabilitation of cats is examined in this second part.

Evidence base:

Although evidence supporting the benefits of physiotherapy and rehabilitation with cats is sparse, many techniques, treatments and rehabilitation regimens successfully used on human patients are being readily adapted for animal use. Treatment recommendations described in this review are primarily based on the author’s experience, and that of colleagues, except where specific reference is made to published evidence.
One more time: Not just (with) words, but feelings. Commentary on ‘Beyond belief’
Authors: Corcoran Tim
Published: August 2012

How can psychological description orient to an experiential understanding inclusive of and sensitive to situated ontological variability? To do so requires development of theory capable of engaging people in the living of their lives reconciling notions of personhood within the prospective nature of psychosocial action. This commentary considers Cromby’s argument and its capacity to realise theory of this kind.
Assessing adolescent social competence using the Social Responsiveness Scale: Should we ask both parents or will just one do?
Authors: Pearl Amanda M , Murray Michael J , Smith Laura A , Arnold Mariah
Published: August 2012

There is a paucity of instruments designed to measure social competence of adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. The Social Responsiveness Scale is one of a few that can be used. This study compared differences between mother and father reports of social competence of adolescents. Data were collected from parents of 50 adolescents with and without an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis between the ages of 12 and 17 years. The Social Responsiveness Scale demonstrated high interrater reliability between parents. These results suggest that the Social Responsiveness Scale is an efficient and valuable tool for researchers and clinicians to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of an individual’s social skills deficits. Additionally, given the extremely high agreement between mothers and fathers on the ratings of their children’s social competence, obtaining data from either parent is sufficient to provide an accurate reflection of social competence at home.
Making sense of the newspaper crisis: A critical assessment of existing research and an agenda for future work
Authors: Siles Ignacio , Boczkowski Pablo J.
Published: August 2012

This article analyzes recent research on the newspaper crisis. It discusses how authors have examined the sources, manifestations, and implications of this crisis, and the proposals to resolve it. In addition, the essay critically examines this body of work by assessing the main spatial and temporal contexts that researchers have studied, the theories and methods that authors employ, and the analytical tropes they have deployed to make sense of the crisis. Building on this assessment of existing research, the article outlines an agenda for future work that fosters an analysis of the process, history, comparative development, and manifold implications of this crisis, and advances various empirical strategies to examine some of its most under-theorized dimensions.
Examining the Relationship Between Work/Life Conflict and Life Satisfaction in Executives
Authors: McMillan Heather S. , Morris Michael Lane
Published: August 2012

The Problem

Determining “what” and “how” people are satisfied personally and with work has become an ongoing stream of research for both academics and practitioners. Yet research has contributed to confusing the issue and has not been able to provide any distinct answers to this problem.

The Solution

This study goes beyond current research by examining how problem-focused coping resources are used to ameliorate the negative relationship between work/life conflict and life satisfaction. Based on a sample of 491 executives, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the mediational ability of problem-solving coping. Problem-solving coping was found to partially mediate the negative relationship between work/life conflict and life satisfaction.

The Stakeholders

Human resource development (HRD) scholars and practitioners interested in researching and reducing work/life conflict. A discussion of the importance of HRD interventions targeting problem-focused coping skills is included.
Spontaneous Rupture of a Saccular Intrahepatic Artery Aneurysm
Authors: Willson Thomas D. , Korn Jason M. , Blecha Matthew J. , Podbielski Francis J. , Connolly Mark M.
Published: August 2012

Hepatic artery aneurysms are the second most common visceral aneurysm but are still relatively uncommon. Over the last century, methods for treating these lesions have evolved substantially. The presented case covers the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of a 65-year-old woman with an aneurysm of the intrahepatic portion of the hepatic artery. This case demonstrates the variety of techniques available for managing these lesions and the importance of both a thorough knowledge of the available treatments and the flexibility to switch among them when necessary.
Readiness, Trust, and Adherence
Authors: Grimes Richard M. , Grimes Deanna E.
Published: August 2012

Objective:

This paper examines the scientific bases for the recommendations on readiness, trust, and adherence that were contained in 5 HIV treatment guidelines.

Methods:

The authors reviewed the treatment guidelines of 5 internationally recognized expert panels, and 5 review articles on readiness, trust, and adherence to determine the evidence for the guidelines' recommendations. These review articles were assessed to determine whether they contained: 1) a definition of the concept, 2) a measure that predicted outcomes, or 3) evidence that a replicable intervention altered outcomes.

Results:

There is no good definition, measure, or evidence that readiness predicts adherence. There were no interventions that improved readiness in a clinically useful way. There was no good definition or measure of trust, nor was there evidence that patient trust predicts adherence or that interventions improve trust. It is not clear whether trust is a cause or an effect of clinical outcomes. There is agreement that adherence is defined as taking medications as prescribed. Six measures of adherence were found, and several studies showed that they correlated poorly when applied to the same sample of patients. Adherence interventions have had some success but are poorly described and idiosyncratic such that it is difficult to replicate them in other settings.

Conclusion:

Research on readiness and trust are unlikely to yield useful results. Systematic, long term research on clinician-based adherence interventions must be done. A life-long process such as adherence to antiretroviral treatment is unlikely to be understood without having a long-term study of a cohort of patients taking these medications.
The angiogenesis inhibitor vasostatin is regulated by neutrophil elastase–dependent cleavage of calreticulin in AML patients
Authors: Mans Sarah , Banz Yara , Mueller Beatrice U. , Pabst Thomas
Published: August 2012

The calcium-binding protein calreticulin (CRT) regulates protein folding in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and is induced in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells with activation of the unfolded protein response. Intracellular CRT translocation to the cell surface induces immunogenic cell death, suggesting a role in tumor suppression. In this study, we investigated CRT regulation in the serum of patients with AML. We found that CRT is not only exposed by exocytosis on the outer cell membrane after treatment with anthracyclin but also ultimately released to the serum in vitro and in AML patients during induction therapy. Leukemic cells of 113 AML patients showed increased levels of cell-surface CRT (P < .0001) and N-terminus serum CRT (P < .0001) compared with normal myeloid cells. Neutrophil elastase was identified to cleave an N-terminus CRT peptide, which was characterized as vasostatin and blocked ATRA-triggered differentiation. Levels of serum vasostatin in patients with AML inversely correlated with bone marrow vascularization, suggesting a role in antiangiogenesis. Finally, patients with increased vasostatin levels had longer relapse-free survival (P = .04) and specifically benefited from autologous transplantation (P = .006). Our data indicate that vasostatin is released from cell-surface CRT and impairs differentiation of myeloid cells and vascularization of the bone marrow microenvironment.
Association of Fcγ receptor IIIa genotype with the rate of HIV infection after gp120 vaccination
Authors: Forthal Donald N. , Gabriel Erin E. , Wang Angela , Landucci Gary , Phan Tran B.
Published: August 2012

We determined whether polymorphisms in Fcγ receptor (FcγR) IIa or FcγRIIIa genes were associated with outcomes in Vax004, a trial testing recombinant gp120 vaccination in preventing sexually acquired HIV infection. Male subjects (n = 1725), including infected and uninfected vaccinees and placebo recipients, were genotyped. We observed no association between FcγRIIa genotype and infection rate in vaccinees or placebo recipients. However, FcγRIIIa genotype was associated with infection rate among vaccinees (P = .035). Exploratory analyses revealed that vaccinees homozygous for the FcγRIIIa V allele in the lowest behavioral risk group had a greater rate of infection than low risk vaccinees with at least 1 F allele (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.52; P = .002). No such association was seen among vaccinees with high-risk behaviors or among placebo recipients in either risk stratum. Vaccinated low-risk VV subjects had a greater infection rate than low-risk VV placebo recipients (HR = 4.51; P = .17) or low-risk placebo recipients with any genotype (HR = 4.72; P = .002). Moreover, low-risk VV vaccinees had infection rates similar to individuals with high behavioral risk, irrespective of genotype. Our results generate the hypothesis that recombinant gp120 vaccine may have increased the likelihood of acquiring HIV infection in individuals with the VV genotype (present in ∼ 10% of the population) at low behavioral risk of infection.
Protective anti-inflammatory effect of ADAMTS13 on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice
Authors: De Meyer Simon F. , Savchenko Alexander S. , Haas Michael S. , Schatzberg Daphne , Carroll Michael C. , Schiviz Alexandra , Dietrich Barbara , Rottensteiner Hanspeter , Scheiflinger Friedrich , Wagner Denisa D.
Published: August 2012

Coronary heart disease is a major cause of death in the western world. Although essential for successful recovery, reperfusion of ischemic myocardium is inevitably associated with reperfusion injury. To investigate a potential protective role of ADAMTS13, a protease cleaving von Willebrand factor multimers, during myocardial ischemia/reperfusion, we used a mouse model of acute myocardial infarction. We found that Adamts13−/− mice developed larger myocardial infarctions than wild-type control mice, whereas treatment of wild-type mice with recombinant human ADAMTS13 (rhADAMTS13) led to smaller infarctions. The protective effect of ADAMTS13 was further confirmed by a significant reduction of cardiac troponin-I release and less myocardial apoptosis in mice that received rhADAMTS13 compared with controls. Platelets adherent to the blood vessel wall were observed in few areas in the heart samples from mice treated with vehicle and were not detected in samples from mice treated with rhADAMTS13. However, we observed a 9-fold reduction in number of neutrophils infiltrating ischemic myocardium in mice that were treated with rhADAMTS13, suggesting a potent anti-inflammatory effect of ADAMTS13 during heart injury. Our data show that ADAMTS13 reduces myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice and indicate that rhADAMTS13 could be of therapeutic value to limit myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury.
Heterogeneous evolutionary rates of Pi2/9homologs in rice
Authors: Wu Kejing , Xu Ting , Guo Changjiang , Zhang Xiaohui , Yang Sihai
Published: August 2012

Background

The Pi2/9 locus contains multiple nucleotide binding site–leucine-rich repeat (NBS-LRR) genes in the rice genome. Although three functional R-genes have been cloned from this locus, little is known about the origin and evolutionary history of these genes. Herein, an extensive genome-wide survey of Pi2/9 homologs in rice, sorghum, Brachypodium and Arabidopsis, was conducted to explore this theme.

Results

In our study, 1, 1, 5 and 156 Pi2/9 homologs were detected in Arabidopsis, Brachypodium, sorghum and rice genomes, respectively. Two distinct evolutionary patterns of Pi2/9 homologs, Type I and Type II, were observed in rice lines. Type I Pi2/9 homologs showed evidence of rapid gene diversification, including substantial copy number variations, obscured orthologous relationships, high levels of nucleotide diversity or/and divergence, frequent sequence exchanges and strong positive selection, whereas Type II Pi2/9 homologs exhibited a fairly slow evolutionary rate. Interestingly, the three cloned R-genes from the Pi2/9 locus all belonged to the Type I genes.

Conclusions

Our data show that the Pi2/9 locus had an ancient origin predating the common ancestor of gramineous species. The existence of two types of Pi2/9 homologs suggest that diversifying evolution should be an important strategy of rice to cope with different types of pathogens. The relationship of cloned Pi2/9 genes and Type I genes also suggests that rapid gene diversification might facilitate rice to adapt quickly to the changing spectrum of the fungal pathogen M. grisea. Based on these criteria, other potential candidate genes that might confer novel resistance specificities to rice blast could be predicted.
Transcriptomics in human blood incubation reveals the importance of oxidative stress response in Saccharomyces cerevisiae clinical strains
Authors: Llopis Silvia , Querol Amparo , Heyken Antje , Hube Bernhard , Jespersen Lene , Fernández-Espinar M Teresa , Pérez-Torrado Roberto
Published: August 2012

Background

In recent years an increasing number of yeast infections in humans have been related to certain clinical isolates of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Some clinical strains showed in vivo and in vitro virulence traits and were able to cause death in mice whereas other clinical strains were avirulent.

Results

In this work, we studied the transcriptional profiles of two S. cerevisiae clinical strains showing virulent traits and two control non-virulent strains during a blood incubation model and detected a specific transcriptional response of clinical strains. This response involves an mRNA levels increase of amino acid biosynthesis genes and especially oxidative stress related genes. We observed that the clinical strains were more resistant to reactive oxygen species in vitro. In addition, blood survival of clinical isolates was high, reaching similar levels to pathogenic Candida albicans strain. Furthermore, a virulent strain mutant in the transcription factor Yap1p, unable to grow in oxidative stress conditions, presented decreased survival levels in human blood compared with the wild type or YAP1 reconstituted strain.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that this enhanced oxidative stress response in virulent clinical isolates, presumably induced in response to oxidative burst from host defense cells, is important to increase survival in human blood and can help to infect and even produce death in mice models.
Proteome characterization of developing grains in bread wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L.)
Authors: Guo Guangfang , Lv Dongwen , Yan Xing , Subburaj Saminathan , Ge Pei , Li Xiaohui , Hu Yingkao , Yan Yueming
Published: August 2012

Background

The analyses of protein synthesis, accumulation and regulation during grain development in wheat are more complex because of its larger genome size compared to model plants such as Arabidopsis and rice. In this study, grains from two wheat cultivars Jimai 20 and Zhoumai 16 with different gluten quality properties were harvested at five development stages, and were used to displayed variable expression patterns of grain proteins.

Results

Proteome characterization during grain development in Chinese bread wheat cultivars Jimai 20 and Zhoumai 16 with different quality properties was investigated by 2-DE and tandem MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS. Identification of 117 differentially accumulated protein spots representing 82 unique proteins and five main expression patterns enabled a chronological description of wheat grain formation. Significant proteome expression differences between the two cultivars were found; these included 14 protein spots that accumulated in both cultivars but with different patterns and 27 cultivar-different spots. Among the cultivar-different protein spots, 14 accumulated in higher abundance in Jimai 20 than in Zhoumai 16, and included NAD-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase, triticin precursor, LMW-s glutenin subunit and replication factor C-like protein. These proteins are likely to be associated with superior gluten quality. In addition, some proteins such as class II chitinase and peroxidase 1 with isoforms in developing grains were shown to be phosphorylated by Pro-Q Diamond staining and phosphorprotein site prediction. Phosphorylation could have important roles in wheat grain development. qRT-PCR analysis demonstrated that transcriptional and translational expression patterns of many genes were significantly different.

Conclusions

Wheat grain proteins displayed variable expression patterns at different developmental stages and a considerable number of protein spots showed differential accumulation between two cultivars. Differences in seed storage proteins were considered to be related to different quality performance of the flour from these wheat cultivars. Some proteins with isoforms were phosphorylated, and this may reflect their importance in grain development. Our results provide new insights into proteome characterization during grain development in different wheat genotypes.
Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on the efficacy of thoracic epidural anesthesia in preventing atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting
Authors: Gu Wan-Jie , Wei Chun-Yin , Huang De-Qing , Yin Rui-Xing
Published: August 2012

Background

Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is one of the most common complications in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The goal of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy of thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) in preventing POAF in adult patients undergoing CABG.

Methods

MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched to identify randomized controlled trails in adult patients undergoing CABG who were randomly assigned to receive general anesthesia plus thoracic epidural anesthesia (GA + TEA) or general anesthesia only (GA). Two authors independently extracted data using a standardized Excel file. The primary outcome measure was the incidence of POAF. We used DerSimonian-Laird random-effects models to compute summary risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals.

Results

Five studies involving 540 patients met our inclusion criteria. No significant difference in the incidence of POAF was observed between the two groups (risk ratio, 0.61; 95% confidence interval, 0.33 to 1.12;P = 0.11), with significant heterogeneity among the studies (I2 = 73%,P = 0.005). Sensitivity analyses by primary endpoint, methodological quality and surgical technique yielded similar results.

Conclusions

The limited evidence suggests that TEA shows no beneficial efficacy in preventing POAF in adult patients undergoing CABG. However, the results of this meta-analysis should be interpreted with caution due to significant heterogeneity of the studies included. Thus, the potential infuence of TEA on the incidence of atrial fibrillation following CABG warrants further investigation.