bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predominant cone photoreceptor dysfunction in a hyperglycaemic model of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Alvarez Yolanda , Chen Kenneth , Reynolds Alison L. , Waghorne Nora , O’Connor John J. , Kennedy Breandán N.
Published: February 2010

Approximately 2.5 million people worldwide are clinically blind because of diabetic retinopathy. In the non-proliferative stage, the pathophysiology of this ocular manifestation of diabetes presents as morphological and functional disruption of the retinal vasculature, and dysfunction of retinal neurons. However, it is uncertain whether the vascular and neuronal changes are interdependent or independent events. In addition, the identity of the retinal neurons that are most susceptible to the hyperglycaemia associated with diabetes is unclear. Here, we characterise a novel model of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy in adult zebrafish, in which the zebrafish were subjected to oscillating hyperglycaemia for 30 days. Visual function is diminished in hyperglycaemic fish. Significantly, hyperglycaemia disrupts cone photoreceptor neurons the most, as evidenced by prominent morphological degeneration and dysfunctional cone-mediated electroretinograms. Disturbances in the morphological integrity of the blood-retinal barrier were also evident. However, we demonstrate that these early vascular changes are not sufficient to induce cone photoreceptor dysfunction, suggesting that the vascular and neuronal complications in diabetic retinopathy can arise independently. Current treatments for diabetic retinopathy target the vascular complications. Our data suggest that cone photoreceptor dysfunction is a clinical hallmark of diabetic retinopathy and that the debilitating blindness associated with diabetic retinopathy may be halted by neuroprotection of cones.
DrosophilaRel proteins are central regulators of a robust, multi-organ immune network
Authors: Matova Nina , Anderson Kathryn V.
Published: February 2010

Survival of all animals depends on effective protection against infection. In Drosophila, opportunistic infection kills larvae if they lack the Rel/NF-κB proteins Dorsal and Dif. We have used tissue-specific expression of Dif and Dorsal to reveal that these Rel proteins act in three different tissues to defend larvae from infection. Dif and Dorsal act in circulating blood cells, where they are required autonomously to promote blood-cell survival and phagocytosis of microorganisms. We show that a major transcriptional target of Dorsal and Dif in blood cells is Drosophila IAP1, a gene protecting these cells from death. We find that in addition to their autonomous role in blood-cell survival, Dif and Dorsal also act in the fat body to produce factors that promote blood-cell viability. These Rel proteins act in the epidermis to prevent infection by maintaining a barrier to microbial entry. Dorsal or Dif in any one of the three tissues is sufficient to defend the animal from opportunistic infection. Thus Drosophila has a multi-pronged system of defense and each branch of this network requires Rel proteins. Based on similarities between Drosophila and mammals, we propose that a Rel-dependent network is an ancient and robust framework of animal immune systems.
Molecular mechanisms of protein and lipid targeting to ciliary membranes
Authors: Emmer Brian T. , Maric Danijela , Engman David M.
Published: February 2010

Cilia are specialized surface regions of eukaryotic cells that serve a variety of functions, ranging from motility to sensation and to regulation of cell growth and differentiation. The discovery that a number of human diseases, collectively known as ciliopathies, result from defective cilium function has expanded interest in these structures. Among the many properties of cilia, motility and intraflagellar transport have been most extensively studied. The latter is the process by which multiprotein complexes associate with microtubule motors to transport structural subunits along the axoneme to and from the ciliary tip. By contrast, the mechanisms by which membrane proteins and lipids are specifically targeted to the cilium are still largely unknown. In this Commentary, we review the current knowledge of protein and lipid targeting to ciliary membranes and outline important issues for future study. We also integrate this information into a proposed model of how the cell specifically targets proteins and lipids to the specialized membrane of this unique organelle.
Coping with stress through decisional control: Quantification of negotiating the environment
Authors: Shanahan Matthew J. , Neufeld Richard W. J.
Published: February 2010

Coping with stress through ‘decisional control’ – positioning oneself in a multifaceted stressing situation so as to minimize the likelihood of an untoward event – is modelled within a tree‐structure scenario, whose architecture hierarchically nests elements of varying threat. Analytic and simulation platforms quantify the game‐like interplay of cognitive demands and threat reduction. When elements of uncertainty enter the theoretical structure, specifically at more subordinate levels of the hierarchy, the mathematical expectation of threat is particularly exacerbated. As quantified in this model, the exercise of decisional control is demonstrably related to reduction in expected threat (the minimum correlation across comprehensive parameter settings being .55). Disclosure of otherwise intractable stress‐coping subtleties, endowed by the quantitative translation of verbal premises, is underscored. Formalization of decisional stress control is seen to usher in linkages to augmenting formal developments from fields of cognitive science, preference and choice modelling, and nonlinear dynamical systems theory. Model‐prescribed empirical consequences are stipulated.
TAFKAV a Technoetic Installation
Authors: Monico Francesco
Published: February 2010

TAFKAV may be described as the systematic development of a poetic interpretation of communication as text flowing between particular subjects and humans. The concept of text here extends beyond information in general to any number of objects subject to interpretation. The hermeneutic
circle describes a process of understanding a dynamic relationship and refers to the idea that one's understanding of the whole is established by reference to the constituent parts and vice versa. Neither the whole nor any individual part can be understood without reference to one another,
hence it is a circle. However, this circular character of interpretation does not make it impossible to interpret a relationship rather, it highlights that meaning must be found within a dynamic relational context. The projected installation will explore communication with the plant kingdom,
specifically with flowers. The aim of this experiment is to build a potential flow of human-plant information that generates a rhythm or pace and a series of constants that can then be codified arbitrary, as with all sign systems in a system of communication and hence a system of meaning.
Drivers of International E-Tail Performance: The Complexities of Orientations and Resources
Authors: Colton Deborah A. , Roth Martin S. , Bearden William O.
Published: February 2010

Retail e-commerce (e-tail) continues to grow as an important channel of distribution in the global business environment. In this article, the authors present and test a conceptual model of the relationships among firm orientations, strategic resources, and international e-tail performance. Specifically, they investigate the ability of important e-tail firm resources—brand strength and supplier relations—to mediate the effects of market orientation, entrepreneurial orientation, and foreign market orientation on revenue growth and firm performance relative to objectives. Using survey responses from a cross-national sample of 174 marketing and e-commerce decision makers, the authors find support for the role of brand strength and supplier relations as mediators between market and foreign market orientations and firm performance. The study provides managerial insights into the types of orientations and resources that can help drive e-tail performance and contributions regarding the indirect effects of orientations on international marketing performance.
ThePsychedelicGenes of Maize Redundantly Promote Carbohydrate Export From Leaves
Authors: Slewinski Thomas L , Braun David M
Published: February 2010

Whole-plant carbohydrate partitioning involves the assimilation of carbon in leaves and its translocation to nonphotosynthetic tissues. This process is fundamental to plant growth and development, but its regulation is poorly understood. To identify genes controlling carbohydrate partitioning, we isolated mutants that are defective in exporting fixed carbon from leaves. Here we describe psychedelic (psc), a new mutant of maize (Zea mays) that is perturbed in carbohydrate partitioning. psc mutants exhibit stable, discrete chlorotic and green regions within their leaves. psc chlorotic tissues hyperaccumulate starch and soluble sugars, while psc green tissues appear comparable to wild-type leaves. The psc chlorotic and green tissue boundaries are usually delineated by larger veins, suggesting that translocation of a mobile compound through the veins may influence the tissue phenotype. psc mutants display altered biomass partitioning, which is consistent with reduced carbohydrate export from leaves to developing tissues. We determined that the psc mutation is unlinked to previously characterized maize leaf carbohydrate hyperaccumulation mutants. Additionally, we found that the psc mutant phenotype is inherited as a recessive, duplicate-factor trait in some inbred lines. Genetic analyses with other maize mutants with variegated leaves and impaired carbohydrate partitioning suggest that Psc defines an independent pathway. Therefore, investigations into the psc mutation have uncovered two previously unknown genes that redundantly function to regulate carbohydrate partitioning in maize.
Corneal Abrasions in Young Infants
Authors: Shope Timothy R. , Rieg Thomas S. , Kathiria Nazima N.
Published: February 2010

OBJECTIVES:

We sought to determine the prevalence of corneal abrasions and possible associations with fingernail length, demographic information, sleeping, and crying among young infants.

METHODS:

Parents of 1- to 12-week-old infants without symptoms who were presenting for well-child visits completed a brief questionnaire on age, gender, race, fingernail-trimming practices, and sleeping and crying in the preceding 24-hour period. Fingernail length was measured, and eyes were examined through staining with fluorescein and illumination/magnification with a Bluminator (Eidolon Optical, Natick, MA). Patients with corneal abrasions were given orally administered acetaminophen and erythromycin ointment. Masked interrater reliability for abrasions was measured. Logistic regression analyses determined the association of corneal abrasions with potential covariates.

RESULTS:

Ninety-six subjects were enrolled, including 47 girls (49%), with a mean age of 32.2 days (SD: 21.7 days). Forty-seven infants (49%) had abrasions. Demographic variables and mean crying times (114.8 ± 124.9 vs 86.5 ± 111.7 minutes; P < .24) were not significantly different for infants with and without abrasions. Infants with abrasions slept more (15.9 ± 3.3 vs 14.5 ± 3.6 hours; P = .054). Associations of fingernail-trimming method and fingernail length with corneal abrasions were not statistically significant. Masked interrater reliability was high, with agreement between the primary investigator and the associate investigator for 20 (91%) of 22 eyes and agreement between the primary investigator and a pediatric ophthalmologist for 9 (90%) of 10 eyes.

CONCLUSIONS:

Corneal abrasions are extremely common among 1- to 12-week-old infants and have unclear clinical significance. Primary care physicians should be careful about attributing unexplained persistent crying to corneal abrasions, potentially missing a more-serious problem.
Where Perception Meets Reality: Self-Perception of Weight in Overweight Adolescents
Authors: Edwards Nicholas Murphy , Pettingell Sandra , Borowsky Iris Wagman
Published: February 2010

Objective:

The goal of this study was to examine weight misperception among overweight adolescents in recent years and compare the demographic characteristics and weight-related behaviors of overweight adolescents who accurately and inaccurately perceive their weight status.

Methods:

We used data from the nationally representative Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, collected every 2 years from 1999 through 2007. On the basis of self-reported height and weight, BMI percentile for age and sex was calculated. Overweight and obese respondents (BMI ≥ 85th percentile) were classified into 2 groups: (1) misperceivers (weight perception “about right” or “underweight”) or (2) accurate perceivers (weight perception “overweight”). We examined the proportion of misperceivers at each time point. Using the 2007 data, we compared demographic characteristics and weight-related behaviors of accurate perceivers and misperceivers with bivariate and multivariate analyses.

Results:

Among overweight adolescents, the overall proportion of misperceivers ranged between 29% and 33% from 1999 through 2007. In 2007, 23% of overweight girls and 40% of overweight boys were misperceivers (P < .001). Both male and female accurate perceivers were significantly more likely than misperceivers to report trying to maintain or lose weight, exercising for weight control, and eating less for weight control. Adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, and BMI percentile, no significant differences in unhealthy weight-related behaviors were found between accurate perceivers and misperceivers in boys or girls. Male accurate perceivers were significantly less likely to report achieving recommended levels of fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity.

Conclusions:

Nearly 3 in 10 overweight adolescents do not consider themselves overweight. Those with an accurate weight perception reported some healthy weight-related behaviors but not higher levels of unhealthy weight-related behaviors. With the substantial prevalence of weight misperception, clinicians should consider their patients' perceived weight status when pursuing patient-centered counseling of overweight adolescents.
A Review of the Effects of Prenatal Cocaine Exposure Among School-Aged Children
Authors: Ackerman John P. , Riggins Tracy , Black Maureen M.
Published: February 2010

CONTEXT:

Studies through 6 years have shown no long-term direct effects of prenatal cocaine exposure (PCE) on children's physical growth, developmental test scores, or language outcomes. Little is known about the effects of PCE among school-aged children aged 6 years and older.

OBJECTIVE:

We reviewed articles from studies that examined the effects of PCE on growth, cognitive ability, academic functioning, and brain structure and function among school-aged children.

METHODS:

Articles were obtained by searching PubMed, Medline, TOXNET, and PsycInfo databases from January 1980 to December 2008 with the terms “prenatal cocaine exposure,” “cocaine,” “drug exposure,” “substance exposure,” “maternal drug use,” “polysubstance,” “children,” “adolescent,” “in utero,” “pregnancy,” “development,” and “behavior.” Criteria for inclusion were (1) empirical research on children aged 6 years and older prenatally exposed to cocaine, (2) peer-reviewed English-language journal, (3) comparison group, (4) longitudinal follow-up or historical prospective design, (5) masked assessment, (6) exclusion of subjects with serious medical disabilities, and (7) studies that reported nonredundant findings for samples used in multiple investigations. Thirty-two unique studies met the criteria. Each article was independently abstracted by 2 authors to obtain sample composition, methods of PCE assessment, study design, comparison groups, dependent variables, covariates, and results.

RESULTS:

Associations between PCE and growth, cognitive ability, academic achievement, and language functioning were small and attenuated by environmental variables. PCE had significant negative associations with sustained attention and behavioral self-regulation, even with covariate control. Although emerging evidence suggests PCE-related alterations in brain structure and function, interpretation is limited by methodologic inconsistencies.

CONCLUSIONS:

Consistent with findings among preschool-aged children, environmental variables play a key role in moderating and explaining the effects of PCE on school-aged children's functioning. After controlling for these effects, PCE-related impairments are reliably reported in sustained attention and behavioral self-regulation among school-aged children.
Prevalence of Food and Beverage Brands in Movies: 1996–2005
Authors: Sutherland Lisa A. , MacKenzie Todd , Purvis Lisa A. , Dalton Madeline
Published: February 2010

OBJECTIVE:

The objective of this study was to describe food and beverage brand placements in a large representative sample of popular movies.

METHODS:

We identified and coded brand placements for foods, beverages, and food retail establishments in the top 20 US box office movie hits for each year from 1996 to 2005. We also coded general movie characteristics (Motion Picture Association of America rating, run time, genre, and information about major characters). We summarized the number and types of food, beverage, and food retail establishment brands by movie characteristics and also identified manufacturers that are associated with each of the brands.

RESULTS:

Of the 200 movies coded, 138 (69%) contained at least 1 food, beverage, or food retail establishment brand. Movies rated PG-13 and R were significantly more likely to have brand placements compared with movies in other rating categories. Comedies, action/adventures, and horror films had more brand placements than other genres. We did not detect a significant difference in the number of movies with brand placements or mean number of placements per movie by year of movie release. A total of 1180 brand placements were identified and verified, including 427 food, 425 beverage, and 328 food retail establishment brand placements. Candy/confections (26%) and salty snacks (21%) were the most prevalent food brands, sugar-sweetened beverages (76%) were the most prevalent beverage brands, and fast food composed two thirds of the food retail establishment brand placements.

CONCLUSIONS:

Food, beverage, and food retail establishment brands are frequently portrayed in movies, and most of the brand placements are for energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods or product lines. Movies are a potent source of advertising to children, which has been largely overlooked.
Variation in Surgical Management of Vesicoureteral Reflux: Influence of Hospital and Patient Factors
Authors: Routh Jonathan C. , Nelson Caleb P. , Graham Dionne A. , Lieu Tracy A.
Published: February 2010

OBJECTIVE:

Controversy exists over surgical procedure choice for vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in children. Either ureteral reimplantation (UR) or a newer procedure, endoscopic injection (EI), may be chosen; however, the factors that determine procedure choice for any individual patient are unclear. The objective of this study was to identify patient and hospital factors associated with the choice of EI for children undergoing antireflux surgery.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

We searched the Pediatric Health Information System, a national database collected by freestanding children's hospitals. We identified children aged <18 years with primary VUR who underwent surgery (UR or EI) between 2003 and 2008. We used multivariate logistic regression models to evaluate whether the type of procedure performed was associated with hospital-level factors including individual hospital, hospital region, size, and teaching status, as well as patient features including age, race, gender, and insurance type.

RESULTS:

We identified 15026 children with primary VUR who underwent antireflux surgery between 2003 and 2008. Of these, 3611 children (24%) were treated at hospitals that performed reimplant only. Among children treated at institutions offering both procedures, 5562 (49%) underwent injection and 5853 (51%) underwent reimplant. Patients who received EI were significantly older and more likely to be girls, white, and publicly insured than those who had UR. They were more likely to have been treated at hospitals that were larger, were teaching hospitals, or were located in larger metropolitan areas or the South rather than the Northeast. After adjusting for other covariates, the treating hospital was the most important factor predicting procedure choice.

CONCLUSIONS:

The hospital at which a patient receives treatment is the single most important feature that drove procedure choice for children with primary VUR. The patient's age, gender, insurance status, and disease severity played a smaller, although significant, role.
Pediatric Uptake of a Newly Available Antipsychotic Medication
Authors: Penfold Robert B. , Kelleher Kelly J. , Wang Wei , Strange Brandon , Pajer Kathleen
Published: February 2010

OBJECTIVE:

The uptake of new antipsychotic medications among children has not been studied adequately. Although ziprasidone received Food and Drug Administration approval for the treatment of psychotic disorders among children in June 2009, it first became available for off-label use by children in 2001 and presented an excellent case study for off-label market entry. The objective of this study was to determine the pattern of initiation and switching for off-label use of ziprasidone among Michigan children who were insured by Medicaid in the first year that ziprasidone was available.

METHODS:

We conducted a retrospective study by using Michigan Medicaid data for patients who were aged <21 years and had 2 years of continuous enrollment and at least 1 prescription for ziprasidone in the first year the medication was available. The main outcome measures were proportion of children prescribed ziprasidone as their first antipsychotic, with evidence of treatment resistance, and by a psychiatrist.

RESULTS:

In the first year, 292 individuals who met criteria were prescribed ziprasidone. Approximately 53% had a diagnosis of psychosis. Explosive personality disorder and oppositional defiant disorder were the next most common diagnoses. For 33% of individuals, this was the first antipsychotic medication. Only 12% of individuals showed evidence of treatment resistance to other antipsychotic medications before switching to ziprasidone.

CONCLUSIONS:

During the period when ziprasidone had no approved pediatric usages, a small percentage of patients who were prescribed ziprasidone showed evidence of treatment resistance, the primary expected indication. Some prescribing for ziprasidone in the first year in this population could be considered inappropriate considering what was known about the safety and efficacy of ziprasidone in children and adolescents at the time. “Fail first” and prior authorization policies may be appropriate in the first year a medication is available so as to protect children from potential serious harm.
Evaluation of Growth in Patients With Isolated Cleft Lip and/or Cleft Palate
Authors: Zarate Yuri A. , Martin Lisa J. , Hopkin Robert J. , Bender Patricia L. , Zhang Xue , Saal Howard M.
Published: February 2010

OBJECTIVE:

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the growth of patients with isolated cleft lip (CL), with or without cleft palate (CP), or CP during the first few years of life.

METHODS:

A retrospective analysis of data from birth to 5 years for 307 patients with isolated CL/CP or CP alone who were seen in a large craniofacial center between 1980 and 2007 was performed. We analyzed growth patterns and feeding interventions. Anthropometric values were plotted onto 2000 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention charts. Longitudinal analyses were performed to estimate age-related changes and to test whether feeding interventions or early education influenced age-related changes.

RESULTS:

Including progressive weight, length, and head circumference values, a total of 1944 data points were available. The most frequent diagnosis was unilateral CL with CP (165 [53.7%] of 307 cases). No patients experienced significant failure to thrive during the study period, although predicted weight and length percentiles for age had initial decreases during the first year of life, with nadirs at 5.2 and 15 months, respectively. These decreases were followed by recovery that started at ∼12 months for weight and at 20 months for length (P < .0001). Patients who had feeding interventions had a significantly (P = .047) increased gain rate over time for weight for length, compared with those who did not.

CONCLUSIONS:

In this population, there were weight and length decreases during the first year of life, which were not clinically significant and were followed by statistically significant recovery. Recovery seemed to be related to successful education and feeding interventions. Head circumference and weight for length started at lower percentiles but showed consistent gain over time.
A “Novel” Intervention: A Pilot Study of Children's Literature and Healthy Lifestyles
Authors: Bravender Terrill , Russell Alexandra , Chung Richard J. , Armstrong Sarah C.
Published: February 2010

OBJECTIVE:

To determine if reading an age-appropriate novel has the potential to improve BMI percentile and exercise- and nutrition-related knowledge and behaviors in girls aged 9 to 13 years who were enrolled in a childhood obesity-treatment program.

METHODS:

This preliminary, randomized, controlled trial followed 81 obese girls aged 9 to 13 years who were enrolled in the Duke University Healthy Lifestyles Program, a comprehensive clinical and behavioral lifestyle-modification program for overweight and obese children. Thirty-one girls were randomly assigned to read the intervention novel, which describes an overweight girl who discovers improved health and self-efficacy, and 33 participants were given a control novel to read. Participants were evaluated at the study intake and again at their scheduled follow-up appointments 1 to 2 months later. Intake and follow-up BMI percentiles were evaluated for 17 girls in the program who did not receive either book.

RESULTS:

Follow-up data were available for 11 of 31 girls in the intervention-book group, 14 of 33 girls in the control-book group, and 14 of 17 girls who did not receive a book. There was a significantly greater reduction in BMI percentile among those in the intervention-book group (−0.71) versus those in the control-book group (−0.33; P = .03). Girls who read either book had a significantly greater reduction in BMI percentile (−0.49) than girls who were followed in the program but who were not assigned a book (0.05; P = .02).

CONCLUSIONS:

Age-appropriate fiction, particularly if it addresses health-oriented behaviors, shows potential for augmenting weight loss in girls who participate in a weight-management program. Future research is needed to determine if the novel is effective for healthy lifestyle promotion among all overweight and obese adolescents.
Acute Necrotizing Encephalopathy in 3 Brothers
Authors: Marco Elysa J. , Anderson Jane E. , Neilson Derek E. , Strober Jonathan B.
Published: February 2010

Acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE) is a devastating and rapidly progressive neurologic disorder that occurs in healthy children after common viral infections. Typically, ANE is sporadic and does not recur. However, familial (ANE1) and recurrent cases have been reported and were recently linked to mutations in RANBP2 (RAN-binding protein 2). We report here a multiply affected kindred with recurrent familial ANE. These affected male siblings (a set of twins and their older brother) all presented with prodromal fever and upper respiratory tract infection that progressed within 72 hours to seizures, coma, and ultimately death, a course that is typical of ANE. It should be noted that 1 brother was treated with early aggressive management, including corticosteroids, and he survived for an additional 5 years. This represents the second reported case of familial ANE in the United States and the only case of male siblings with consanguineous parents. We hope that early recognition and growing awareness can lead to more effective treatment and better outcomes in the future.
Autoimmune Hepatitis Type 2 Arising in PFAPA Syndrome: Coincidences or Possible Correlations?
Authors: Corte Claudia Della , Ranucci Giusy , Tufano Maria , Alessio Maria , Iorio Raffaele
Published: February 2010

PFAPA syndrome is a chronic disease classified in the group of autoinflammatory syndromes characterized by periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis in young children. The etiology of this disorder is still unknown, but a primary dysfunction of the innate immune system seems to be involved. According to Marshall criteria, it is not possible to diagnose PFAPA in the presence of autoimmune diseases. We present here the case report of an 8-month girl with PFAPA who developed autoimmune hepatitis type 2 at the age of 18 months. We suppose that the dysregulation in innate immunity that is typical of patients with PFAPA could trigger autoimmune disorders such as autoimmune hepatitis in susceptible subjects. The possible relationships between immune-system dysfunction peculiar to this syndrome and autoimmune hepatitis are discussed.
Long-term strength of rubberised concrete paving blocks
Authors: Ling T. C. , Nor H. M. , Hainin M. R. , Lim S. K.
Published: February 2010

The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term strength of rubberised concrete paving blocks. The effect of three curing conditions on compressive strength was studied. Additional strength tests which included flexural and splitting tensile strength were conducted to determine the strength characteristics and to enhance the understanding of the blocks' properties. Four batches of blocks that replaced sand volume with crumb rubber at 0, 10, 20 and 30% were produced in a commercial plant. The results showed that 10% replacement of crumb rubber did not show any significant change in compressive strength but slightly improved the flexural strength. As the rubber content exceeded 20%, the blocks exhibited a great reduction in strength although ductility increased greatly. It was found that the block specimens tested remained intact after failure and did not shatter. This would be beneficial for trafficked roads.
Briefing: New materials – some recent research
Authors: Bungey J. H.
Published: February 2010

Recent and current research programmes on concrete materials at Liverpool University and Queen's University, Belfast, are briefly reviewed. These include work on recycling and the use of waste materials, influence of constituents on both construction and durability performance, and development of high-performance materials for specialist applications. Recycling work includes the use of construction and demolition waste as aggregates in concrete. This encompasses both crushed masonry and concrete, although contaminants present a major problem both for the concrete properties and the durability of embedded reinforcement. The effects of heavy metals on permeability and other physical properties have been examined, together with the prospects for encapsulation. Other work has focused on industrial production of unreinforced building blocks and paving flags, with full-scale factory trials. The use of cement replacements and slag-bound mixtures has also been considered in some detail, including potential applications in fast-track construction, as well as permeability as an indicator of durability performance. Ongoing work on high-performance materials includes consideration of strength, impact performance and blast-resistant characteristics.
Cracked permeability of hybrid-fibre-reinforced concrete
Authors: Sivakumar A. , Santhanam M.
Published: February 2010

The addition of fibre to concrete is a well-known technique for delaying the origination and propagation of micro-cracks in concrete upon loading. The permeation properties of concrete elements stressed either due to their own self-weight or upon loading cause micro-cracks to open up easily. This results in the easy intrusion of harmful chemical agents such as chlorides and sulfates and potentially disrupts the concrete integrity. The present study was aimed at adding two different fibre types (hybrid fibres) to concrete at different volume fraction (Vf) to improve the synergistic interaction of fibres at different cracking scales. The synergy of the hybrid fibres was evaluated in terms of the permeability resistance of different fibre concretes stressed at different load levels. The permeability test was carried out using the Germann water permeability method on concrete cubes subjected to uniaxial compressive stress wherein water is forced to enter under constant pressure. The coefficient of permeability (Ccp) of various hybrid fibre concretes containing metallic and non-metallic fibres was investigated systematically. The test results in this study showed that the coefficient of permeability decreased for all hybrid fibre concretes. However, the decrease was significant at higher non-metallic fibre (0·38% Vf) and lower steel fibre content (0·12% Vf). A good synergy of fibres was also observed for fibre combinations having shorter and low modulus fibres in comparison with the high modulus and longer length of steel fibres. Among all hybrid combinations, steel–glass fibre concrete showed a considerable reduction in coefficient of permeability of up to 62·47%, as the glass fibres were efficient in bridging the micro-cracks at low stress levels. The reduction in permeability of hybrid fibre concretes could be due to shorter lengths and large fibre availability at the crack front, which can significantly delay the crack nucleation and subsequent propagation.
Research on new applications for granulated rubber in concrete
Authors: Paine K. A. , Dhir R. K.
Published: February 2010

This study was undertaken to assess the feasibility of using granulated rubber as an aggregate or filler in concrete construction, by exploiting the inherent stability, impact, crack and thermal resistance characteristics that granulated rubber could bring to concrete. The research showed that there was potential for use of granulated rubber for increasing the freeze–thaw resistance of concrete as, under scaling conditions, fine granulated rubber provides similar performance to air-entrained concrete, but has the advantage of being an inert material suitable for use with all types of cement and concrete. The research also showed that granulated rubber leads to concrete with lower thermal conductivity, and that concrete with low U-values, suitable for use in floors and foundations, can be produced without the need for complementary insulation. Thus, there is now an opportunity for industry to develop granulated rubber concrete products that can be used on a commercial basis, which will facilitate sustainable urban development from both economic and environmental perspectives.
The High-Risk Environment of Homeless Young Adults: Consequences for Physical and Sexual Victimization
Authors: Tyler Kimberly A. , Beal Morgan R.
Published: February 2010

Little is known about how the social environment of homeless youth contributes to their risk and how it varies for different types of victimization. As such, the current study examines the constructs of victimization theories in order to investigate the potential risk for physical and sexual victimization among homeless young adults. Results revealed that running at an earlier age, running more often, sleeping on the street, panhandling, deviant peers associations, and not having a family member in one’s network are associated with more physical victimization. Being female, a sexual minority, having an unkempt physical appearance, panhandling, and having friends who traded sex are associated with more sexual victimization. Overall, we find that the constructs differed in their ability to explain sexual versus physical victimization.
Prevalence and Determinants of Intimate Partner Violence Against Women in Kazeroon, Islamic Republic of Iran
Authors: Vakili Mahmood , Nadrian Haidar , Fathipoor Mohammad , Boniadi Fatemeh , Morowatisharifabad Mohammad Ali
Published: February 2010

The aim of this study was to screen for and estimate the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) among women in Kazeroon, Iran. In November 2007, multistage cluster sampling was employed to recruit 702 women to participate in the study. A descriptive, cross-sectional design was employed. The prevalence of physical, psychological, and sexual abuse against women was 43.7%, 82.6%, and 30.9%, respectively, and there was a significant relationship between IPV and family income, education level, and level of religious commitment in both women and husbands. The study suggests that major strategies for prevention of IPV are empowering women and improving their status in the society by promoting of sexual equality in all rights, especially in employment and education.
The Coping Window: A Contextual Understanding of the Methods Women Use to Cope With Battering
Authors: Smith Paige Hall , Murray Christine E. , Coker Ann L.
Published: February 2010

This study aimed to develop a conceptual framework for understanding the coping strategies used by women who are battered, drawing from the existing literature and qualitative interviews with 10 women seeking services in shelters for women who have been battered. This conceptual framework is needed to reflect the unique complexity of the nature of the chronic and acute stressors associated with battering. The results of the data analyses were integrated with the existing literature to form a model, The Coping Window. This model includes an external frame of contextual influences, as well as a Focus Axis (including emotion-focused and problem-focused coping strategies) and a Resource Axis (including intrapersonal and interpersonal coping strategies). The Coping Window model could be used in individual or group counseling and educational programs, and additional research is needed to refine this model.
Understanding Alcohol-Related Sexual Assaults: Characteristics and Consequences
Authors: Ullman Sarah E. , Najdowski Cynthia J.
Published: February 2010

Sexual assaults commonly involve alcohol use, but little is known about alcohol’s effects on many aspects of assaults and their aftermath. We investigated characteristics of victims, perpetrators, and assaults as a function of whether alcohol was involved in the assault, as well as differences in women’s postassault experiences. Assaults prior to which only perpetrators were drinking differed not only from non-alcohol-related assaults, but also from those prior to which both perpetrators and victims were drinking. Understanding the effects of alcohol-related assaults is important for identifying victims who should be targeted for mental health and substance use interventions.
Complex Behavioral Patterns and Trajectories of Domestic Violence Offenders
Authors: Jones Alison Snow , Heckert D. Alex , Gondolf Edward D. , Zhang Qiang , Ip Edward H.
Published: February 2010

Evidence-based practice within the criminal justice system has relied primarily on cumulative reports of reassaults or rearrests, especially in evaluating effectiveness of domestic violence (DV) interventions. We use a longitudinal sample of DV offenders arrested and referred to DV offender programs in four cities to examine complex multi-outcome patterns of violent and abusive behavior and trajectories between patterns over time. Offenders and their partners were surveyed at program intake and followed for 15 months (N = 550). A Hidden Markov Model identifies four distinct behavioral patterns. Trajectory analysis indicates that the most abusive state is relatively stable and indicative of a high probability of future physical assault. Results suggest that evaluation based on complex outcomes may improve criminal justice intervention effectiveness, risk assessment, and risk management.
Patterns of Intimate Partner Violence and Associated Risk Factors Among Married Enlisted Female Soldiers
Authors: Forgey Mary Ann , Badger Lee
Published: February 2010

A sample of 248 enlisted active duty females married to civilian spouses completed a self-report survey that asked about their own and their spouse’s violence. The survey also asked about their sex-role attitudes, marital satisfaction, alcohol use, childhood trauma, and depression. Results identified patterns of intimate partner violence and their relationship to the psychosocial risk factors. Females experiencing severe bidirectional violence were likely to be the most depressed and to have a history of child sexual abuse. Females experiencing minor bidirectional violence did not share any of the psychosocial risk factors found for severe bidirectional violence. Females perpetrating unilateral violence toward their spouses were found to be as satisfied in their marriages as nonviolent couples and less depressed than the females experiencing bidirectional violence.
Variation in Late Adolescents’ Reports of Dating Violence Perpetration: A Dyadic Analysis
Authors: Schnurr Melissa P. , Lohman Brenda J. , Kaura Shelby A.
Published: February 2010

This study begins to fill the methodological gap in the dating violence literature by using hierarchical linear modeling to: (a) examine whether partners agree on reports of their experiences with violence in their relationship; and (b) identify factors that may explain differences in these reports. Data from the Relationship Dimensions Survey, a survey given to 214 late adolescent dating couples were utilized. Results indicated that there was significant variation in the report of dating violence perpetration and in the gender effect across couples, but not within couples. These differences were explained by individual- and relationship-related characteristics, including physical abuse from a parent during childhood, and for males’ perpetration only, whether they drank alcohol. Implications for violence prevention are discussed.
Making Connections: Integration of Psychiatric and Medical-Surgical Nursing and Relationship-Based Care
Authors: Moriconi Christine , Stabler-Haas Susan
Published: February 2010

There is a growing recognition of mind-body connection in our culture. Relationship-based care (RBC) represents a theoretical foundation for the application of the mind-body connection in the clinical setting. This article describes ways to incorporate mind-body and RBC concepts into nursing classroom and clinical experiences.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree: My Journey
Authors: Waxman K. T.
Published: February 2010

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree is a new terminal degree for nursing. This article reviews the essentials of the DNP degree as published by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and describes the author's personal journey toward completion of the DNP degree in December 2008.
From the Guest Editors
Authors: Milbrath Christine D. , Meyer Jim
Published: February 2010

We must move from examining our world in terms of either/or to examining multiple dimensions simultaneously.

—Maxine Greene
Changing Courses: A Conversation with Connie Delaney
Authors: Delaney Connie , Meyer Jim
Published: February 2010

Jim Meyer talks with Connie Delaney, dean of the University of Minnesota School of Nursing, about what nursing schools—and individual students—need to know and possess to thrive in these changing times.
In Praise of Nursing's Collective Practice
Authors: Milbrath Christine D. , Forté Paula S.
Published: February 2010

Nurses are credentialed as individuals; recruited, selected, and retained as individuals; and judged by managers and peers on the basis of individual practice. Developing a collective practice, which requires different ways of knowing, collaborating, and measuring success as well as a different perspective on our work, allows us to adhere to standards, achieve best practices, reduce variability, and enhance the predictability of patient outcomes.
International Collaboration in Pediatric Nursing: Mutual Learning Success
Authors: Metcalfe Sharon Elizabeth
Published: February 2010

This article describes an innovative international collaboration between a children's hospital in the United Kingdom and a university school of nursing in the United States that created opportunities for networking among nurses in similar specialties. Nurses from two countries joined in an educational partnership to share dialogue and clinical experience in the United Kingdom.
EMDR’s Neurobiological Mechanisms of Action: A Survey of 20 Years of Searching
Authors: Bergmann Uri
Published: February 2010

Historically, mechanisms of action have often been difficult to ascertain. Thus far, the definitive discovery of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)’s underlying mechanisms has been equally elusive. We review the neurobiological studies of EMDR, as well as the theoretically driven speculative models that have been posited to date. The speculative theoretically driven models are reviewed historically to illustrate their growth in neurobiological complexity and specificity. Alternatively, the neurobiological studies of EMDR are reviewed with regard to their object of investigation and categorized as follows: findings before and after EMDR therapy (neuroimaging and psychophysiological studies) and findings during the EMDR set (psychophysiological, neuroimaging, and qEEG studies).
Changes in Psychological Symptoms and Heart Rate Variability During EMDR Treatment: A Case Series of Subthreshold PTSD
Authors: Frustaci Alessandra , Lanza Gaetano A. , Fernandez Isabel , di Giannantonio Massimo , Pozzi Gino
Published: February 2010

Elevated psychophysiological parameters and heightened physiological reactivity to trauma-related cues are acquired changes following trauma exposure. Measuring improvement in these variables is an appropriate evaluation of outcome in treatment studies. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is a computerized measure of physiological responsivity derived from Holter ECG recording. Four female outpatients with persistent post-traumatic symptoms and personal impairment following “small t” trauma exposure underwent a course of EMDR treatment and were assessed at baseline, end of treatment, day 30 and day 90 of follow-up, using self-report symptom scales and 90-min Holter ECG recordings. Symptom scores decreased between baseline and end of treatment, with improvement maintained at follow-up. Several HRV measures changed favorably in different recording intervals. HRV is a feasible and sensitive method to measure physiological changes in the treatment of individuals distressed by “small t” trauma. Further investigation is advisable to expand these preliminary data.
Prices as Quality Signals: Evidence from the Wine Market
Authors: Schnabel Hubert , Storchmann Karl
Published: February 2010

In this paper we empirically analyze whether prices serve as signals. Specifically, and following the hypothesis by Bagwell and Riordan (1991), we examine whether (1) higher quality and (2) low consumer information levels about quality are associated with prices that are above the full information equilibrium. We refer to two price samples of identical wines and analyze the difference between both. The first sample consists of prices for informed wholesalers who can taste the wines before purchase. The second sample comprises retail prices for the imperfectly informed public. We find support for the Bagwell-Riordan model, i.e., price signals respond positively to wine quality and negatively to increasing information. For our sample, the information effect by far dominates the quality effect.