bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enacted Destiny:West African Charismatic Christians in Berlin and the Immanence of God
Authors: Nieswand Boris
Published: March 2010

The focus of this article is the concept of enacted destiny, which was identified among charismatic Christians of West African origin in Berlin. Different from more fatalistic concepts of destiny, it combines a strong notion of free agency with a strong notion of a good, almighty, and immanent God. The imaginary of enacted destiny is constituted by two components: 1. presituational religious empowerment by which charismatic Christians can reduce complexities, anxieties, and insecurities in the context of decision making; and 2. postsituational sense-making by which divine agency is ascribed to an originally ambiguous situation. Both components temporally embrace the actions of West African charismatic Christians in Berlin. Actions thereby become the means through which God becomes immanent in the everyday lives of West African charismatic Christians in Berlin and enacted destiny a category of movement toward convergence of human and divine agency.
Protecting the Best Interests of the Child: A Comparative Analysis of the Youth Justice Systems in Ireland, England and Scotland
Authors: Arthur Raymond
Published: March 2010

In the Republic of Ireland the government has proposed amending the Irish Constitution in order to improve children's rights. In this article I will argue that the proposed amendment represents a serious diminution in the rights historically afforded to young people who offend, disregards Ireland's commitments under international law and also ignores the well established link between child maltreatment and youth offending. The Irish approach echoes developments in the English youth justice system where the welfare concerns of young people who offend have become marginalised. I will compare the Irish and English approaches with the Scottish youth justice system which looks beyond young people's offending behaviour and provides a multi-disciplinary assessment of the young person's welfare needs. I will conclude that in Ireland, and in England, the best interest principle must be applied fully, without any distinction and integrated in all law relevant to children including laws regulating anti-social and offending behaviour.
Consumerism, Sweets, and Self-Determined Choice
Authors: Honeyman Susan
Published: March 2010

Protectionism paralyzes discourse that might otherwise enable progress for children, and instead further marginalizes them. In light of this problem I investigate conflicting attitudes toward child consumer choice, especially through the trope of manipulative sweets.
A Cumulus Parameterization with State-Dependent Entrainment Rate. Part II: Impact on Climatology in a General Circulation Model
Authors: Chikira Minoru
Published: March 2010

The impact of a new cumulus parameterization developed in Part I of this paper on climatology in an atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) is compared with that of the Arakawa–Schubert scheme. The parameterization is characterized by a vertically variable entrainment rate depending on the surrounding environment. Two kinds of formulations on entrainment rate are tested and produce similar results in the AGCM. The results show reduction of precipitation over land and increase over the sea, weakening of the southern side of the double intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) over the southeastern Pacific, and better representation of the South Pacific convergence zone (SPCZ), all of which are consistent with observations. The population of cumulus congestus is significantly increased, thereby inducing additional heating in the lower troposphere. The diurnal variation over land shows that deep convection tends to be suppressed earlier because of the reduction of convective available potential energy and tropospheric humidity caused by the convective activity itself. An analysis of the daily outputs suggests that a better representation of the cumulus congestus and sensitivity of the scheme to tropospheric humidity are important for the realistic representation of the precipitation over the double ITCZ and SPCZ.
Intensification of Summer Rainfall Variability in the Southeastern United States during Recent Decades
Authors: Wang Hui , Fu Rong , Kumar Arun , Li Wenhong
Published: March 2010

The variability of summer precipitation in the southeastern United States is examined in this study using 60-yr (1948–2007) rainfall data. The Southeast summer rainfalls exhibited higher interannual variability with more intense summer droughts and anomalous wetness in the recent 30 years (1978–2007) than in the prior 30 years (1948–77). Such intensification of summer rainfall variability was consistent with a decrease of light (0.1–1 mm day−1) and medium (1–10 mm day−1) rainfall events during extremely dry summers and an increase of heavy (>10 mm day−1) rainfall events in extremely wet summers. Changes in rainfall variability were also accompanied by a southward shift of the region of maximum zonal wind variability at the jet stream level in the latter period. The covariability between the Southeast summer precipitation and sea surface temperatures (SSTs) is also analyzed using the singular value decomposition (SVD) method. It is shown that the increase of Southeast summer precipitation variability is primarily associated with a higher SST variability across the equatorial Atlantic and also SST warming in the Atlantic.
Observed and Projected Future Shifts of Climatic Zones in Europe and Their Use to Visualize Climate Change Information
Authors: Jylhä Kirsti , Tuomenvirta Heikki , Ruosteenoja Kimmo , Niemi-Hugaerts Hanna , Keisu Krista , Karhu Juha A.
Published: March 2010

A Web site questionnaire survey in Finland suggested that maps illustrating projected shifts of Köppen climatic zones are an effective visualization tool for disseminating climate change information. The climate classification is based on seasonal cycles of monthly-mean temperature and precipitation, and it divides Europe and its adjacent land areas into tundra, boreal, temperate, and dry climate types. Projections of future changes in the climatic zones were composed using multimodel mean projections based on simulations performed with 19 global climate models. The projections imply that, depending on the greenhouse gas scenarios, about half or possibly even two-thirds of the study domain will be affected by shifts toward a warmer or drier climate type during this century. The projected changes within the next few decades are chiefly located near regions where shifts in the borders of the zones have already occurred during the period 1950–2006. The questionnaire survey indicated that the information regarding the shifting climatic zones as disseminated by the maps was generally interpreted correctly, with the average percentage of correct answers being 86%. Additional examples of the use of the climatic zones to communicate climate change information to the public are included.
Differences between Orofacial Inflammation and Cancer Pain
Authors: Harano N. , Ono K. , Hidaka K. , Kai A. , Nakanishi O. , Inenaga K.
Published: March 2010

Rat models of orofacial cancer exhibit both allodynia and hyperalgesia; however, it is unclear whether cancer-induced pain is secondary to cancer-induced inflammation. To address this question, we compared the effects of an anti-inflammatory drug, indomethacin, on pain and neurochemical changes in the medullary dorsal horn in orofacial inflammation and cancer models. Daily peripheral administration of indomethacin largely suppressed mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in the inflammation model. The same procedure suppressed allodynia and hyperalgesia in the cancer model, but the suppression was weak when compared with that in the inflammation model. In the medullary dorsal horn, calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P levels were significantly increased in the inflammation model, but did not change in the cancer model. These results suggest that pain in the orofacial cancer model is not significantly mediated by cancer-induced peripheral inflammation, although it may have some involvement.
Inorganic Polyphosphate Induces Osteoblastic Differentiation
Authors: Usui Y. , Uematsu T. , Uchihashi T. , Takahashi M. , Takahashi M. , Ishizuka M. , Doto R. , Tanaka H. , Komazaki Y. , Osawa M. , Yamada K. , Yamaoka M. , Furusawa K.
Published: March 2010

Inorganic polyphosphate [Poly(P)] is especially prevalent in osteoblasts. We tested the hypothesis that Poly(P) stimulates osteoblastic differentiation and polyphosphate metabolism for bone formation. The osteoblast-like cell line, MC 3T3-E1, was cultured with Poly(P), and gene expression was evaluated by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain-reaction. Phosphatase activity and extracellular matrix mineralization were also determined. The role of Poly(P) was assessed in a beagle dog alveolar bone regeneration model. Poly(P) increased osteocalcin, osterix, bone sialoprotein, and tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase gene expression, with a high level of end-polyphosphatase activity, resulting in low-chain-length Poly(P), inorganic pyrophosphate, and inorganic phosphate production. MC3T3-E1 cells differentiated into mature osteoblasts and showed expression of ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase phosphodiesterase 1, while mouse progressive ankylosis gene expression remained unchanged. Promotion of alveolar bone regeneration was observed in Poly(P)-treated beagle dogs. These findings suggest that Poly(P) induces osteoblastic differentiation and bone mineralization, and acts as a resource for mineralization.
Key Proteolytic Cleavage Site and Full-length Form of DSPP
Authors: Sun Y. , Lu Y. , Chen S. , Prasad M. , Wang X. , Zhu Q. , Zhang J. , Ball H. , Feng J. , Butler W.T. , Qin C.
Published: March 2010

It is known that dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) is processed into NH2- and COOH-terminal fragments, but its key cleavage site has not been identified, nor has its full-length form been discovered. The objectives of this study were to identify the key cleavage site during DSPP processing and to search for full-length DSPP in vivo. We generated a construct encoding DSPP, in which Asp452, a cleavage site residue, was replaced by Ala452. The pulp-odontoblast complex and dentin were extracted, chromatographically separated, and assessed by Stains-All staining, Western immunoblotting, and mass spectrometry. These studies showed that the substitution of Asp452 by Ala452 completely blocks the cleavage of mouse DSPP in the transfected cells, indicating that the NH2-terminal peptide bond of Asp452 is essential for the initiation of DSPP proteolytic processing. The results of this study revealed the presence of full-length DSPP and its processed fragments in extracts from the pulp/odontoblast and dentin.
Trends in the Genetic Influences on Smoking
Authors: Boardman Jason D. , Blalock Casey L. , Pampel Fred C.
Published: March 2010

Using twin pairs from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States, we estimate that 35 percent of the variance in regular smoking is due to additive genetic influences. When we disaggregate the sample by birth cohort we witness strong genetic influences on smoking for those born in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1950s, but negligible influences for those born in the 1940s and 1960s. We show that the timing of the first Surgeon General’s Report coincides with an increase in the genetic influences on regular smoking, but subsequent legislation prohibiting smoking in public places has significantly reduced these influences. These results are in line with existing gene-environment interaction theory, and we argue that variation in genetic influences across cohorts makes it difficult and potentially misleading to estimate genetic effects on health behaviors from data obtained from a single point in time.
The Effect of Cyclic Loading on the Wicking Performance of Nylon 6.6 Yarns and Woven Fabrics Used for Outdoor Performance Clothing
Authors: Nyoni A.B. , Brook D.
Published: March 2010

The effects of short interval dynamic loading and unloading on yarn and fabric wicking performance were evaluated at different cyclic load ranges using the conventional extension-recovery method on a modified Instron Tensile Tester. This was based on the principle that during use, the constituent yarns in a fabric are continuously stressed and relaxed as the garment shape changes. Results showed that the straining forces generated between the filaments of the yarns resulted in spasmodic pumping of the liquid which was dependent on the yarn and fabric construction, contact between the yarns, volume of liquid in yarns, and duration of the force applied.
Effect of CYP2D6, CYP3A5, and MDR1 Genetic Polymorphisms on the Pharmacokinetics of Risperidone and Its Active Moiety
Authors: Xiang Qian , Zhao Xia , Zhou Ying , Duan Jing Li , Cui Yi Min
Published: March 2010

Clinical studies suggest that plasma levels of risperidone and its active moiety (risperidone + 9‐hydroxyrisperidone) correlate with adverse drug effects. The aim of this study is to evaluate the pharmacogenetic variability in the disposition of risperidone and the active moiety in healthy Chinese subjects. A 2‐mg single dose of risperidone is orally administered to 23 healthy Chinese subjects. The risperidone and 9‐hydroxyrisperidone serum concentrations are measured. The polymorphic alleles of CYP2D6*10, CYP3A5*3, MDR1 C1236T, G2677T/A, and C3435T are determined in each subject. The mean maximum plasma concentration and area under the time‐concentration curve extrapolated to infinity for risperidone are significantly higher in subjects possessing the CYP2D6*10 allele than in those with the CYP2D6*1/*1 and *1/*10 genotype. For active moiety, the subjects who carry both homozygous CYP2D6*10 and homozygous CYP3A5*3 have 98% higher area under the time‐concentration curve extrapolated to infinity and 59% higher maximum plasma concentration compared with other CYP2D6 EM subjects. The MDR1 2677GA genotype may also play a role in risperidone pharmacokinetics. Further studies are needed to explore the impact of MDR1 2677GA and CYP3A5 polymorphisms on risperidone therapy.
Connecting the Demographic Dots: Geographic Mobility and Birth Intentions
Authors: Myers Scott M.
Published: March 2010

Having a child is a major determinant of geographic mobility. Little is known, however, about the opposite process—whether geographic mobility is a determinant of fertility. Drawing on social and human capital theories and research on fertility and migration to develop competing hypotheses, the author examines the effects of mobility on changes in birth intentions among married couples. The data are from a U.S. national sample of married couples interviewed five times between 1980 and 1997, with a final sample size of 3,953 person records. Results from multinomial logistic regression equations that control for clustering show conclusively that both short- and long-distance moves increase the odds that couples change their birth intentions, although in both positive and negative directions (i.e., bidirectional). These effects of mobility vary across different levels of human and social capital, with a trend indicating that couples desire children at higher levels of both forms of capital.
Contingency planning
Authors:   The Capital Markets Team, Perfect Information
Published: March 2010

This article focuses on a new type of contingent convertibles and puts those into a larger context of bonds which can be converted into equity.
Non-musicians’ and musicians’ perception of bitonality
Authors: Hamamoto Mayumi , Botelho Mauro , Munger Margaret P.
Published: March 2010

Bitonal music is characterized by a certain, dissonant effect that had been believed to be clearly audible by everyone. However, Wolpert found that non-musicians were unable to identify bitonal versions of originally monotonal musical passages as such in a free response task. The present study replicated Wolpert’s findings, but also had participants rate song clips for likeableness, correctness and pleasantness. Bitonal music was rated lower on all dimensions independent of the individual’s level of musical training, with no difference in ratings by non-musicians and musicians. In addition, following a brief training session, non-musicians (less than one year of musical training) identified whether clips were monotonal or bitonal at equivalently high rates as the intermediate (mean 2.4 years) and expert (mean 9.2 years) musician groups.
Lords of Misrule
Authors: Xiao Shu
Published: March 2010

The face of China’s internet reflects the political system — repressive and chaotic, says Xiao Shu. Big brother is everywhere
The Art of Censorship
Authors: Wen Yunchao
Published: March 2010

China’s strict control of online content is supported by a finely tuned infrastructure of laws and censors, as Wen Yunchao reveals
Copyright Revolt
Authors: Green David Allen
Published: March 2010

The internet has subverted the laws of intellectual property. David Allen Green charts a course through one of the most contentious online issues
Beware Self-Regulation
Authors: Brown Ian
Published: March 2010

Short-sighted government and industry action is threatening online freedom of expression, says Ian Brown
Ringing in Change
Authors: Kadida Jillo
Published: March 2010

News can now be distributed widely in Kenya, but so can hate speech. Jillo Kadida reports
Tools of the Trade
Authors: Dingledine Roger
Published: March 2010

As filtering becomes increasingly commonplace, Roger Dingledine reviews the options for beating online censorship
Behud: a Writer Replies
Authors: Goldman Lisa
Published: March 2010

Lisa Goldman talks to Index about directing Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti’s satire on censorship
Late extensive intravenous administration of N-acetylcysteine can reverse hepatic failure in acetaminophen overdose
Authors: Mehrpour Omid , Shadnia Shahin , Sanaei-Zadeh Hossein
Published: March 2010

Acetaminophen is a commonly used analgesic and has been shown to be a main cause of drug-induced liver failure. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) should be employed as the antidote in case of acetaminophen poisoning within the first 8-10 hours. Oral administration of NAC is universally recommended and due to the adverse effects, the intravenous administration of the agent is reserved for patients with oral intolerance and severe complications. We here report an 18-year-old man with severe liver failure due to a huge ingestion of acetaminophen, who was taken into the Loghman Hakim Hospital Poison Center 72 hours after attempted suicide. Regarding the poor prognostic clues as his level of consciousness and impaired liver functions, an extensive intravenous regimen of NAC was started. The patient survived the condition with an additional intravenous administration of NAC past the first 72 hours of treatment. We discuss that even in late phases of intoxication; high-dose intravenous NAC can serve a substantial improvement.
Service Delivery for Children Who Are Deaf: Thoughts of Families in Turkey
Authors: Firat Sipal R. , Bayhan Pinar
Published: March 2010

Laws mandate early intervention programs across many different countries, such as the United States, the countries of the European Union, and Turkey. Studies have shown that such programs can be critical to the healthy development of children with disabilities, especially those who are deaf. Furthermore, research addressing the delivery of early intervention programs offers guidelines that, when followed, presumably maximize the programs’ intended benefits. In this study, the authors used a quasi-mixed, monostrand method to investigate how families of children with disabilities in Turkey perceived the service delivery they were receiving. Organizing their perceptions under a framework related to the Turkish-law-mandated guidelines, the authors found that the provision of services varied greatly from one professional team task to the next. Implications for the improvement of service delivery are discussed.
Selective CETP Inhibition and PPARα Agonism Increase HDL Cholesterol and Reduce LDL Cholesterol in Human ApoB100/Human CETP Transgenic Mice
Authors: Hansen Michael K. , McVey Matthew J. , White Ray F. , Legos Jeffrey J. , Brusq Jean-Marie , Grillot Didier A. , Issandou Marc , Barone Frank C.
Published: March 2010

Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) plays a key role in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol metabolism, but normal mice are deficient in CETP. In this study, transgenic mice expressing both human apolipoprotein B 100 (ApoB-100) and human CETP (hApoB100/hCETP) were used to characterize the effects of CETP inhibition and peroxisome proliferator—activated receptor α (PPARα) agonism on lipid profiles. Torcetrapib (3, 10, and 30 mg/kg), a CETP inhibitor, fenofibrate (30 mg/kg), a weak PPARα agonist, and GW590735 (3 and 10 mg/kg), a potent and selective PPARα agonist were given orally for 14 days to hApoB100/hCETP mice and lipid profiles were assessed. The average percentages of HDL, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol fractions in hApoB100/hCETP mice were 34.8%, 61.6%, and 3.6%, respectively, which is similar to those of normolipidemic humans. Both torcetrapib and fenofibrate significantly increased HDL cholesterol and reduced LDL cholesterol, and there was a tendency for torcetrapib to reduce VLDL cholesterol and triglycerides. GW590735 significantly increased HDL cholesterol, decreased LDL and VLDL cholesterol, and significantly reduced triglycerides. Maximal increases in HDL cholesterol were 37%, 53%, and 84% with fenofibrate, torcetrapib, and GW590735, respectively. These results, in mice that exhibit a more human-like lipid profile, demonstrate an improved lipid profile with torcetrapib, fenofibrate, and GW590735, and support the use of selective PPARα agonism for the treatment of lipid disorders. In addition, these data demonstrate the use of hApoB100/hCETP transgenic mice to identify, characterize, and screen compounds that increase HDL cholesterol.
Transformative Mixed Methods Research
Authors: Mertens Donna M.
Published: March 2010

Paradigms serve as metaphysical frameworks that guide researchers in the identification and clarification of their beliefs with regard to ethics, reality, knowledge, and methodology. The transformative paradigm is explained and illustrated as a framework for researchers who place a priority on social justice and the furtherance of human rights. The basic belief systems associated with this paradigm are explained and illustrated by examples of research that is commensurate with the transformative paradigm.
Influence of an Extremely Low Frequency Magnetic Field (ELF-EMF) on Antioxidative Vitamin E Properties in AT478 Murine Squamous Cell Carcinoma Culture In Vitro
Authors: Polaniak Renata , Bułdak Rafał Jakub , Karoń Marta , Birkner Katarzyna , Kukla Michał , Żwirska-Korczala Krystyna , Birkner Ewa
Published: March 2010

This study examines the effects of vitamin E and an extremey low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) and their combination in different time intervals of exposure of vitamin E (tocopherol) on the AT478 murine squamous cell carcinoma line. This study provides insight into the influence of correlations between ELF-EMF and vitamin E supplementation on antioxidant enzyme activity in malignant cells in vitro. Following vitamin E treatment, activity of the antioxidant enzymes is increased in an exposure-dependent manner compared with the untreated group. Application of ELF-EMF alone or with vitamin E increases both superoxide dismutase isoenzymes and glutathione peroxidase activities in comparison to the control group. The results suggest that ELF-EMF alters antioxidative activities of vitamin E in AT478 tumor cells. This study confirms the role of vitamin E in decreasing susceptibility to lipid peroxidation in AT478 tumor cells.
Dynamic Effect of Di-2-(Ethylhexyl) Phthalate on Testicular Toxicity: Epigenetic Changes and Their Impact on Gene Expression
Authors: Wu Shengde , Zhu Jing , Li Yasha , Lin Tao , Gan Liqiang , Yuan Xingang , Xu Mingdeng , Wei Guanghui
Published: March 2010

This study investigated epigenetic (specifically, DNA methylation) changes and their impact on gene expression in testes induced by maternal exposure to Di-2-(ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in mice. Testicular dysgenesis syndrome was induced in fetuses and pups by maternal exposure to DEHP at 500 mg/kg/d, and testes were excised for analysis on gestation day (GD) 19 and postnatal days (PNDs) 3, 21, 56, and 90. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was performed to analyze DNA methylation status, and expression levels of the DNA methyltransferases were examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Testis-specific gene, insulin-like hormone 3 (Insl3), and testosterone production were also detected. DEHP significantly increased DNA methylation levels on GD 19 and PND 3 ( P < .05 and P < .05) but not on PNDs 21, 56, and 90. DEHP also significantly increased the expression of DNA methyltransferases. For DNA methyltransferase 1, the difference was not significant on PND 21, and DNA methyltransferase 3a and 3b returned to normal levels on PND 56. Fetal testes were a main target for DEHP as evidenced by a reduction in Insl3 expression and testosterone production. Effects of DEHP on Insl3 expression continued until PND 21. The DEHP-induced suppression of testosterone had not recovered on PND 56. Changes in DNA methylation may play an important role in abnormal testicular function caused by environmental factors such as maternal exposure to DEHP, which may be a mechanism of DEHP-mediated testicular toxicity.
Murine Oncogenicity and Pharmacokinetics Studies of 9-cis-UAB30, an RXR Agonist, for Breast Cancer Chemoprevention
Authors: Kapetanovic Izet M. , Horn Thomas L. , Johnson William D. , Cwik Michael J. , Detrisac Carol J. , McCormick David L.
Published: March 2010

The synthetic retinoic acid analog, 9- cis-UAB30 [(2E,4E,6Z,8E)-8-(3′,4′-dihydro-1′(2′H)-naphthalen-1′-ylidene)-3,7-dimethyl-2,4,6-octatrienoic acid], is a specific ligand for the retinoid X receptor. Murine oncogenicity and pharmacokinetics studies were performed as part of the preclinical development of 9- cis-UAB30 for breast cancer chemoprevention. In the oncogenicity study, TSG-p53(+/-) (p53 knockout) mice (25 per sex per group) received daily gavage exposure to 9- cis-UAB30 doses of 0 (control), 30, 100, or 300 mg/kg/d for 6 months. Positive controls received p-cresidine (400 mg/kg/d) for 6 months. 9- cis-UAB30 had no biologically significant effects on survival, body weight, body weight gain, clinical signs, hematology, or clinical chemistry but induced dose-related hepatomegaly in both sexes and decreased thymus weights in high-dose females. Gross and microscopic pathology provided no evidence of 9- cis-UAB30 toxicity or oncogenicity; by contrast, p-cresidine induced urinary bladder neoplasms in more than 60% of male and female mice. It was concluded that 9- cis-UAB30 is not oncogenic in p53(+/-) mice. In the pharmacokinetics study, C57BL/6 mice received daily gavage exposure to 9- cis-UAB30 (100 or 300 mg/kg/d) for 1 or 7 days. Pharmacokinetic parameters were similar after 1 and 7 days of dosing. Dose-related peak plasma levels of 9- cis-UAB30 were seen between 0.25 and 3 hours; volume of distribution was comparable at both dose levels. Increases in area under the curve were less than proportional to dose and were associated with an increased rate of apparent clearance and decreased elimination half-life. These results suggest decreased absorption and/or possible induction of clearance mechanisms. Enzyme induction may underlie the hepatomegaly seen in mice treated with 9- cis-UAB30 for 6 months in the oncogenicity study.
An Approach to Determining Intracranial Pressure Variability Capable of Predicting Decreased Intracranial Adaptive Capacity in Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Fan Jun-Yu , Kirkness Catherine , Vicini Paolo , Burr Robert , Mitchell Pamela
Published: March 2010

Nurses caring for traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients with intracranial hypertension (ICH) recognize that patients whose intracranial adaptive capacity is reduced are susceptible to periods of disproportionate increase in intracranial pressure (DIICP) in response to a variety of stimuli. It is possible that DIICP signals potential secondary brain damage due to sustained or intermittent ICH. However, there are few clinically accessible intracranial pressure (ICP) measurement parameters that allow nurses and other critical care clinicians to identify patients at risk of DIICP. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there are specific minute-to-minute trends in ICP variability during the first 48 hr of monitoring that might accurately predict DIICP in patients with severe TBI. A total of 38 patients with severe TBI were sampled from the data set of a randomized controlled trial testing bedside monitoring displays and cerebral perfusion pressure management in individuals with TBI or sub-arachnoid hemorrhage. The investigators retrospectively examined the rates of change (slope) in mean, standard deviation, and variance of ICP on a 1-min basis for 30 consecutive min prior to a specified DIICP event. There was a significantly increasing linear and quadratic slope in mean ICP prior to the development of DIICP, compared with the comparison data set (p < .05). It is feasible to display moving averages in modern bedside monitoring. Such an arrangement may be useful to provide visual displays that provide immediate clinically relevant information regarding the patients with decreased adaptive capacity and therefore increased risk of DIICP.
Effects of Mindful Yoga on Sleep in Pregnant Women: A Pilot Study
Authors: Beddoe Amy E. , Lee Kathryn A. , Weiss Sandra J. , Powell Kennedy Holly , Yang Chin-Po Paul
Published: March 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this experimental pilot study was to measure the effects of a mindfulness-based yoga intervention on sleep in pregnant women. Methods: Fifteen healthy, nulliparous women in their second or third trimesters with singleton pregnancies attended weekly mindfulness meditation and prenatal Hatha yoga classes in the community for 7 weeks. Sleep variables, as estimated by 72 hr of continuous wrist actigraphy and the General Sleep Disturbance Scale (GSDS), were recorded at baseline (Time 1) and postintervention (Time 2). Control data were obtained by evaluating sleep in the third-trimester group at Time 1. Due to small sample size, data were analyzed using parametric and nonparametric statistics. Results: Women who began the intervention in the second trimester had significantly fewer awakenings, less wake time during the night, and less perceived sleep disturbance at Time 2 than at baseline. Those who began during the third trimester had poorer sleep over time in spite of the intervention. Women who began the intervention in their second trimester had less awake time at Time 2 compared to third-trimester controls at Time 1. Conclusions: Mindful yoga shows promise for women in their second trimester of pregnancy to diminish total number of awakenings at night and improve sleep efficiency and merits further exploration. Results from this pilot study provide the data to estimate sample size and design and implement powered and more controlled studies in the future.
The elephant in the room: Critical management studies conferences as a site of body pedagogics
Authors: Bell Emma , King Daniel
Published: March 2010

This article explores conferences as an inter-corporeal space wherein body pedagogics are enacted, enabling the acquisition of techniques, skills and dispositions that allow newcomers to demonstrate their proficiency as members of a culture. The bodies of conference participants constitute the surface onto which culture is inscribed, these normalizing practices enabling academic power relations to be constructed and identities internalized. An autoethnographic analysis of critical management studies (CMS) conferences forms the basis for identification of the bodily dispositions of control and endurance which characterize the proficient CMS academic. The article considers the potential silencing effects associated with these practices that generate a between-men culture that excludes difference and reinforces masculine values. It concludes by reviewing the implications of body pedagogics for understanding how other organizational cultures are constructed.
Placing the place, and placing oneself within it
Authors: Örulv Linda
Published: March 2010

Disorientation as experienced by persons with progressive dementia diseases involves both existential and social dimensions. Based on video observations from a small residential care unit and exploring social interaction on a micro-level, this case study focuses on how a woman with vascular dementia actively tries to make sense of an everyday lunch situation. The analysis addresses strategies used by her to contextualize where she has ended up, and also how the meaning of the place is altered in communication. Findings point to social interaction between residents as an important resource to help maintain continuity with previous social life. However, there also seems to be an impending need for caregivers to help residents patch up their broken life-stories to render everyday situations comprehensible and the setting socially meaningful. Helping them find a way of placing themselves within it — also affording a positive self-identity and continuity with previous life history — is a major challenge in daily care.
Optical Fiber Distributed Sensing - Physical Principles and Applications
Authors: Güemes Alfredo , Fernández-López Antonio , Soller Brian
Published: March 2010

Obtaining the strain data all along the optical fiber, with adequate spatial resolution and strain accuracy, opens new possibilities for structural tests and for structural health monitoring. Formerly, only point sensors, as strain gages or fiber Bragg grating, were available, and information about the response to loads was restricted only to those points on which the sensors were bonded. Unless a sensor was located near the damage initiation point, details about the failure initiation and growth were lost. With a distributed system, the information is given as an array of data with the position in the optical fiber and the strain or temperature data at this point. In this article, the physical principles underlying the different techniques for distributed sensing are discussed, a classification is done based on the backscattered wavelength; this is important to understand its possibilities and performances. The definition of performance for distributed sensors is more difficult than for traditional point sensors because the performance depends on a combination of related measurement parameters. For example, accuracy depends on the spatial resolution, acquisition time, distance range, or cumulated loss prior to measurement location. The field of applications of this new technology is very wide; results of the structural tests of a 40 m long wind turbine blade, detecting the location and load of onset of buckling, and the results of the delamination detection in a composite plate, are presented as examples.
Development and Testing of High-temperature Piezoelectric Wafer Active Sensors for Extreme Environments
Authors: Giurgiutiu Victor , Buli Xu  , Weiping Liu
Published: March 2010

Development of high-temperature piezoelectric wafer active sensors (HT-PWAS) using high-temperature piezoelectric material for harsh environment applications is of great interest for structural health monitoring of high-temperature structures such as turbine engine components, airframe thermal protection systems, and so on. This article presents a preliminary study with the main purpose of identifying the possibility of developing PWAS transducers for high-temperature applications. After a brief review of the state of the art and of candidate high-temperature piezoelectric materials, the article focuses on the use of gallium orthophosphate (GaPO4) samples in pilot PWAS applications. The investigation started with a number of confidence-building tests that were conducted to verify GaPO4 piezoelectric properties at room temperature and at elevated temperatures in an oven. Electromechanical (E/M) impedance measurements and material characterization tests (scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive spectrometry) were performed before and after exposure of HT-PWAS to high temperature; it was found that GaPO4 HT-PWAS maintain their properties up to 1300°F (∼705°C). In comparison, conventional PZT sensors lost their activity at around 500 F (∼260°C). Subsequently, HT-PWAS were fabricated and installed on metallic specimens in order to conduct an in situ evaluation of their high-temperature performance. A series of in situ tests were performed using the E/M impedance and pitch-catch methods; the tests were conducted in two situations: (a) before and after exposure to high temperature and (b) inside the oven. The experimental results show that the fabricated HT-PWAS can survive high oven temperatures up to 1300°F (∼705°C) and still present piezoelectric activity. The article also discusses fabrication techniques for high-temperature PWAS applications, including the wiring of the sensor ground and signal electrodes, bond layer adhesive selection, and preparation.
Paired Structured Light for Structural Health Monitoring Robot System
Authors: Myung Hyun , Lee Seungmok , Lee Bumjoo
Published: March 2010

The displacement measurement in structural health monitoring (SHM), though important, was not popular due to inaccessibility of the civil infrastructures and high installation cost. The currently popular approaches use accelerometer, strain gauge, PZT, GPS, etc., most of which indirectly measure the displacement and require high cost to install and maintain. Thus the development of SHM system that directly measures the displacement of the structure using low-cost sensors is urgently needed. In this article, a multiple paired structured light (SL) system is proposed as a displacement measurement system for a massive structure. The proposed paired SL module which consists of cheap cameras and lasers is inexpensive to implement and can directly measure the accurate relative displacement between any two locations on the structure. Based on various simulations, a minimal configuration of the paired SL module is found. And Newton—Raphson and extended Kalman filter-based displacement estimation methods are proposed by deriving a kinematic equation and its constraints. By building a prototype of the paired SL module, some real experiments are performed to show the feasibility of the system for long-span structural displacement measurement.
Phase Gradient and Mode Conversion Estimation in 1D Damaged Structures
Authors: Ayers J. , Apetre N. , Ruzzene M. , Sharma V.K.
Published: March 2010

The article presents techniques for localization and quantification of defects based on the evaluation of reflection, transmission, and conversion of Lamb wave modes and of the spatial evolution of their phase. Reflection, transmission, and conversion coefficients are estimated using mode separation and incident-wave removal procedures implemented in the frequency/wavenumber domain. The practical implementation of the concept relies on the availability of spatially refined measurements, as provided for example by a Scanning Doppler Laser Vibrometer. The application to simulated and experimental data illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed procedures. Specifically, a finite element model of a 2D elastic domain in plane strain featuring a notch is used to estimate the reflection, transmission, and conversion coefficients. Such procedures rely on the spatial integration of wave amplitudes in contrast to pointwise estimations, as a way to reduce the effect of noise. Likewise, the techniques are demonstrated on experimental data obtained using a Scanning Laser Doppler Vibrometer on an aluminum plate with a notch.
Enlightened Eclecticism or Hazardous Hotchpotch? Mixed Methods and Triangulation Strategies in Comparative Public Policy Research
Authors: Wolf Frieder
Published: March 2010

This article discusses the trend toward triangulation and mixing methods in comparative public policy research and proposes criteria for further such endeavors, especially regarding the sophistication of the respective (qualitative and quantitative) parts, the way the different analyses are combined, and the aspects of the social world as well as the statements about them political researchers are interested in. It draws on both the current methodological debates and a review of relatively recent contributions to the comparative public policy literature employing several methods. The final recommendation is to consider thoroughly whether to engage in triangulation, and if doing so, to use tailor-made triangulation strategies fitted to the research questions and interests.
Heat, Athletes, and Immunity
Authors: Peake Jonathan
Published: March 2010

During exercise, body temperature rises as a result of increased energy metabolism and heat absorbed from the environment. In response to this rise in body temperature, blood flow increases and stress hormones are released. Together, blood flow and stress hormones stimulate increases in the number of circulating leukocytes and alterations in various aspects of immune function, including cytokine production. The extent of changes in leukocyte numbers, cytokine concentrations, and immune cell function depends on how high body temperature rises and the intensity and duration of exercise. In general, increases in body temperature of ≤ 1.8° F (1° C) induce mild changes in immune function, and such changes are unlikely to increase the risk of illness in athletes, firefighters, and military personnel who regularly exercise in hot conditions. More severe immune disturbances during exercise in extreme heat (≥ 106° F or 41° C) may contribute to classical symptoms of heatstroke.
The problem with experimental criminology: A response to Sherman’s ‘Evidence and Liberty’
Authors: Carr Patrick J.
Published: March 2010

This article is a response to Sherman (2009) and argues that experimental criminology ought to clearly acknowledge the political aspect of much crime research, and expand the timeframe of research involvement in policy making if it is to bring the liberty promised. Failure to do so can lead to a fundamental misconception that experimental criminology is somehow divorced from the political realities that inscribe it, and to possible unintended consequences in the deployment of policy. The example of use of the so-called ‘stop and frisk’ crime policy in Philadelphia is used to examine Sherman’s claims.
Global meets local: International participation in prison reform and restructuring in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Authors: Aitchison Andy
Published: March 2010

This paper presents a case study of international participation in criminal justice reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), taken as an example of a small, peripheral jurisdiction experiencing a number of important social, political and economic transitions. The local context is introduced and is followed with a brief discussion on broader developments in penal policy beyond BiH. This precedes a case study of the work of the Council of Europe, which focuses on the pursuit of adequate conditions of detention for forensic psychiatric patients as an example of the impact of international human rights discourse and instruments on local penal policy. The obstacles to progress towards improved conditions of detention are located in the context of political fragmentation in BiH, supporting the view that local factors can constrain or mediate the influence of broader trends in penal policy.
Spleen tyrosine kinase inhibition prevents chemokine- and integrin-mediated stromal protective effects in chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Buchner Maike , Baer Constance , Prinz Gabriele , Dierks Christine , Burger Meike , Zenz Thorsten , Stilgenbauer Stephan , Jumaa Hassan , Veelken Hendrik , Zirlik Katja
Published: March 2010

The microenvironment provides essential growth and survival signals to chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells and contributes to their resistance to cytotoxic agents. Pharmacologic inhibition of spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK), a key mediator of B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling, induces apoptosis in primary CLL cells and prevents stroma contact-mediated cell survival. This report demonstrates a role of SYK in molecularly defined pathways that mediate the CLL-microenvironmental crosstalk independent from the BCR. Chemokine and integrin stimulation induced SYK phosphorylation, SYK-dependent Akt phosphorylation, and F-actin formation in primary CLL cells. Inhibition of SYK by 2 pharmacologic inhibitors and siRNA-knockdown abrogated downstream SYK signaling and morphologic changes induced by these stimuli. CLL cell migration toward CXCL12, the major homing attractor, and CLL cell adhesion to VCAM-1, a major integrin ligand expressed on stromal cells, were markedly reduced by SYK inhibition. In combination with fludarabine, the SYK inhibitor R406 abrogated stroma-mediated drug resistance by preventing up-regulation of the antiapoptotic factor Mcl-1 in CLL cells. SYK blockade in CLL is a promising therapeutic principle not only for its inhibition of the BCR signaling pathway, but also by inhibiting protective stroma signals in a manner entirely independent of BCR signaling.
Chaperoning the lympho-stromal dance
Authors: Merchant Melinda S.
Published: March 2010

In this issue of Blood, Staron and colleagues reveal an unexpected and nonredundant role for gp96 in the early development of B and T cells that may help to better define the critical role of integrins in lymphopoiesis.1
How I treat common variable immune deficiency
Authors: Cunningham-Rundles Charlotte
Published: March 2010

Common variable immunodeficiency is a rare immune deficiency, characterized by low levels of serum immunoglobulin G, A, and/or M with loss of antibody production. The diagnosis is most commonly made in adults between the ages of 20 and 40 years, but both children and older adults can be found to have this immune defect. The range of clinical manifestations is broad, including acute and chronic infections, inflammatory and autoimmune disease, and an increased incidence of cancer and lymphoma. For all these reasons, the disease phenotype is both heterogeneous and complex. Contributing to the complexity is that patient cohorts are generally small, criteria used for diagnosis vary, and the doses of replacement immune globulin differ. In addition, routines for monitoring patients over the years and protocols for the use of other biologic agents for complications have not been clarified or standardized. In the past few years, data from large patient registries have revealed that both selected laboratory markers and clinical phenotyping may aid in dissecting groups of subjects into biologically relevant categories. This review presents my approach to the diagnosis and treatment of patients with common variable immunodeficiency, with suggestions for the use of laboratory biomarkers and means of monitoring patients.