bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Changing District Priorities for School–Business Collaboration
Authors: Bennett Jeffrey V. , Thompson Hugh C.
Published: September 2011

Background: School district superintendents continue to favor collaborative relationships with their local business communities amid concerns over free-market competition, maintaining public legitimacy, and scarce financial resources. Prior research is inadequate regarding the development, implementation, and institutionalization of school and business collaboration, with respect to current institutional and market pressures, and the unique contributions of superintendents. Purpose: The purpose was to examine the superintendent’s role in the development and institutionalization of school and business partnerships in a district without prior history of collaborative relationships and to assess capacity for sustainability. Setting: A medium- sized (12,850 students) metropolitan-area school district in the U.S. Southwest that also includes one local chamber of commerce was the setting. Participants: Two district superintendents (transition in leadership occurred), a chamber of commerce CEO, and 13 other school district officials and business leaders (i.e., principals, chamber members, partnership coordinator) directly involved in partnerships or providing administrative oversight participated. Research Design: Qualitative case study was the research design. Data Collection and Analysis: Data were obtained using semistructured interviews, observations, and document analysis. A conceptual model for developing business partnerships and neo-institutionalism theory guide this qualitative analysis. Findings: Superintendent agency and district capacity for action (i.e., lack of professional development, departure of key roles, overdependency on myth and ceremony) both enabled and constrained partnership development, implementation, and capacity for institutionalization in the context of current institutional and market pressures. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the complimentary usefulness of the conceptual model and neo-institutionalism theory for studying leadership of school district and business partnerships and building school and community capacity for educational change.
Human Performance Consequences of Automated Decision Aids in States of Sleep Loss
Authors: Reichenbach Juliane , Onnasch Linda , Manzey Dietrich
Published: September 2011

Objective: The authors investigated how human performance consequences of automated decision aids are affected by the degree of automation and the operator’s functional state.

Background: As research has shown, decision aids may not only improve performance but also lead to new sorts of risks. Whereas knowledge exists about the impact of system characteristics (e.g., reliability) on human performance, little is known about how these performance consequences are moderated by the functional state of operators.

Method: Participants performed a simulated supervisory process control task with one of two decision aids providing support for fault identification and management. One session took place during the day, and another one took place during the night after a prolonged waking phase of more than 20 hr.

Results: Results showed that decision aids can support humans effectively in maintaining high levels of performance, even in states of sleep loss, with more highly automated aids being more effective than less automated ones. Furthermore, participants suffering from sleep loss were found to be more careful in interaction with the aids, that is, less prone to effects of complacency and automation bias. However, cost effects arose that included a decline in secondary-task performance and an increased risk of return-to-manual performance decrements.

Conclusion: Automation support can help protect performance after a period of extended wakefulness. In addition, operators suffering from sleep loss seem to compensate for their impaired functional state by reallocating resources and showing a more attentive behavior toward possible automation failures.

Application: Results of this research can inform the design of automation, especially decision aids.
Evolutionary Story of Mammalian-specific Amelogenin Exons 4, “4b”, 8, and 9
Authors: Sire J.-Y. , Huang Y. , Li W. , Delgado S. , Goldberg M. , DenBesten P.K.
Published: September 2011

Amelogenin gene organization varies from 6 exons (1,2,3,5,6,7) in amphibians and sauropsids to 10 in rodents. The additional exons are exons 4, 8, 9, and “4b”, the latter being as yet unidentified in AMELX transcripts. To learn more about the evolutionary origin of these exons, we used an in silico approach to find them in 39 tetrapod genomes. AMEL organization with 6 exons was the ancestral condition. Exon 4 was created in an ancestral therian (marsupials + placentals), then exon 9 in an ancestral placental, and finally exons “4b” and 8 in rodents, after divergence of the squirrel lineage. These exons were either inactivated in some lineages or remained functional: Exon 4 is functional from artiodactyls onward; exon 9 is known, to date, only in rodents, but could be coding in various mammals; and exon “4b” was probably coding in some rodents. We performed PCR of cDNA isolated from mouse and human tooth buds to identify the presence of these transcripts. A sequence analogous to exon “4b”, and to exon 9, could not be amplified from the respective tooth cDNA, indicating that even though sequences similar to these exons are present, they are not transcribed in these species.
An Existential–Integrative Treatment of Anxious and Depressed Adolescents
Authors: Shumaker David
Published: September 2011

Today’s generation of young clinicians appear unfamiliar with how to incorporate existential concepts when treating adolescents experiencing internalizing symptoms. Empirically validated treatments for this population, including cognitive–behavioral, interpersonal, and psychopharmacological approaches undoubtedly are clearly beneficial. Several core existential concepts, however, can be effectively integrated with these empirically supported treatments to enhance outcomes. The article begins with a discussion of Rank, Tillich, and May’s conceptualization of existential anxiety for those unfamiliar with existential theory. This is followed by an examination of evidence supporting the adolescent’s capacity to contemplate existential concerns as well as evidence indicating existential focus in adolescent mental life. Building on the therapeutic aims and implications of existential–integrative therapy outlined by Schneider, the article concludes with specific recommendations regarding how existential thinking can be incorporated into the treatment of many anxious and depressed adolescents.
Design of a virtual foundation for impedance control in a dual arm cooperative space robot
Authors: Patolia Haresh , Pathak Pushparaj Mani , Jain Satish C
Published: September 2011

This work presents the design of virtual foundation through which impedance control is achieved in a dual arm space robot for cooperative manipulation of arms. A docking operation by the two arms of the space robot has been carried out. During this docking operation, the space robot has a mechanical interaction with the compliant objects which encounter force and motion constraints. The docking operation requires that the object must be gripped and follows a specific path to dock the selected object. By use of the virtual foundation, impedance control is achieved to fulfill both objectives, i.e. force control during gripping and trajectory control during docking. The space robot base compensation is designed to achieve the desired trajectory to control the interaction forces. The methodology has been validated with simulated results.
The Evolution of Religious Branding
Authors: Einstein Mara
Published: September 2011

Religious marketing has risen substantially over the past two decades due to a confluence of societal changes, notably the freedom to determine one’s faith and the ubiquity of mass media with its concomitant advertising. Specifically, branding—a marketing tool whereby a product is given an identity beyond its physical attributes or services—is now being employed by an increasing number of Churches. Two recent branding campaigns—one by the Church of Scientology, the other by the United Methodist Church—provide case studies of how Churches are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their use of marketing. Beyond simply promoting their products, these campaigns use branding to solve multiple marketing issues, from improving a sagging public reputation to re-positioning traditional denominations.
The eye of the beholder? Beauty and ugliness in the crucifixion imagery of the late Middle Ages
Authors: Munns John
Published: September 2011

This reflection, formulated in response to an article by the historian Sara Lipton, argues that the perceived dialectic between beauty and ugliness in crucifixion imagery was understood in the late Middle Ages, by some at least, not as a problem to be resolved nor a barrier to be overcome but rather as a mystery to be entered into. Following Aquinas, the article concludes with the observation that an image’s beauty is to be found in a faithful comprehension of its proper purpose, the ability to perceive beauty in a crucifix therefore becoming a comment on the viewer rather than the image.
Molecular Dynamics of Linear and Crosslinked Polyester Urethanes Studied by Dielectric Spectroscopy
Authors: Oprea S. , Musteata V.-E. , Potolinca V. O.
Published: September 2011

The molecular dynamics of crosslinked polyurethanes have been studied by dielectric spectroscopy and compared with the dynamics of linear polyurethanes. Two local relaxations, γ and β, and a primary relaxation, α, were observed for all the samples, appearing in relation with the increase in temperature. The conductivity was studied at temperatures higher than the glass transition temperature and it was found to decrease with the increasing content of crosslinker. The presence of crosslinks strongly influences their dielectric properties, especially in the elastic state. The linear polyurethane exhibits the lowest α-relaxation temperature. For the crosslinked samples, α-relaxation temperature increases with increase in the amount of crosslinkers; β- and γ-relaxations are less affected by chemical crosslinking and their activation energies are in the ranges 40–55 and 34–37 kJ/mol, respectively. For the linear polyurethane, there is an exception in the case of the γ-relaxation, which has a higher activation energy determined by its physical crosslinks. Conductivity analysis reveals a high mobility of charge carriers and low barriers for the transport of the charged particles. Also, the conductivity process is dependent on the segmental mobility of polymers.
Cultural Tourism in Transnational Adoption
Authors: Quiroz Pamela Anne
Published: September 2011

The discursive practices of adoptive parents in two online transnational adoption forums (2006-2008) and observations of five international adoption workshops suggest that what Heather Jacobson described as culture keeping, the cultural socialization of children that retains a sense of native group identity, is more aptly characterized as cultural tourism, the selective appropriation and consumption of renovated cultural symbols, artifacts, and events that serve as the source of identity construction for adopted children. A feature of consumer capitalism, cultural tourism in transnational adoption helps shape the contours of cultural and racial identity. It also provides a partial understanding of how adopted children often fail to develop hybrid identities and how adult adoptees exist on the margins of two cultures.
Family and Community
Authors: Byrne Anne , O’Mahony Deirdre
Published: September 2011

In this article, the authors explore the consequences of an American 1930s classic anthropological study for a contemporary rural community in the west of Ireland. The contribution of family, kin, and community relations to sustaining a rural way of life was the primary focus of Arensberg and Kimball’s study of Irish farm families published as Family and Community in Ireland. Through the frame of a collaborative community research project with an artist, sociologist, and the descendents of the families written about, we present an account of a research project based on Kimball’s 1930s field diary that provided an opportunity for community members to tell their own story of family and community in the 21st century. Deploying a narrative inquiry approach, the power of local stories to interrupt dominant narratives of family and community is explored.
Comparing and Contrasting the Formal and Informal Crime Control Views of Indian and U.S. College Students
Authors: Lambert Eric G. , Pasupuleti Sudershan , Jiang Shanhe , Jaishankar Karuppannan , Bhimarasetty Jagadish V.
Published: September 2011

This study examined the importance of formal and informal crime control in the United States and India. Formal crime control relies on the law and official government agencies to deter criminal actions and to respond to criminal activity. Informal crime control relies on moral and social institutions (e.g., family, peers, and neighbors) to promote lawful behavior. Using the data collected from 928 college students, the study found that the Indian and U.S. respondents differed on most of the formal and informal control measures. Overall, the Indian respondents were more likely to rank informal control as more important than were their U.S. counterparts. Although there were differences, both groups of respondents shared similar views on the importance of both forms of crime control and held that family was the most important form of crime control.
“If He Had 40 Cents He’d Buy Matches Instead of Lollies”
Authors: Walsh Daniel P. , Lambie Ian
Published: September 2011

Motivation has been proposed as an important factor in both the causality and subsequent treatment of juveniles who deliberately light fires. Thus, a wide range of research has previously been completed, investigating such motives. This research has resulted in the creation of classifications of firesetting motives and behaviours, all of which fit upon a continuum of motivational categories—ranging from curiosity or match play, through to deliberate delinquent acts. This current study aimed to gain insight into how both firesetters and their caregivers perceived firesetting motivation. A total of 18 male youths, who had engaged in deliberate firesetting, and 13 parents were interviewed. Qualitative analysis gathered from interviews with adolescent participants reported personality and individual characteristic themes, the most frequent of these being anger, experimenting, peer pressure, and boredom. Parents on the other hand initially cited family historical factors as being a cause for their son’s firesetting. This study showed the difficulties in attempting to classify firesetters. It became clear that there were often multiple motivations involved in adolescent firesetting, meanwhile a variation of motivations were reported by parents and firesetters. The differences between and ambiguities inherent in existing motivational typologies also became evident. The study produced strong evidence for the effectiveness of utilising multiple sources to gain a comprehensive understanding as to why children deliberately light fires.
The Roles of Social Bonds, Personality, and Perceived Costs
Authors: Intravia Jonathan , Jones Shayne , Piquero Alex R.
Published: September 2011

Hirschi’s reconceptualized control theory suggests that social bonds serve as the primary inhibitors to delinquency and that personality-based self-control (PBSC) is not relevant. He also indicates that the number of inhibitors, multiplied by their salience, influences the perceived costs of delinquency. These claims have not been widely tested. Using a large, school-based sample of adolescents, the authors test Hirschi’s reconceptualization and find that certain inhibitors (e.g., parental monitoring) are more important than others (e.g., maternal attachment). There are also unique types of costs (e.g., parental costs, peer costs) with differential impacts. Salience exerts a main effect, but there was little evidence to suggest it interacts with costs. Finally, PBSC has the strongest effect. These findings not only offer support for some of Hirschi’s claims but also provide directions to better formulate a more comprehensive and empirically supported control theory.
Agreement in the Classification and Treatment of the Superior Labrum
Authors: Wolf Brian R. , Britton Carla L. , Vasconcellos David A. , Spencer Edwin E. ,   for the MOON Shoulder Group, Baumgarten Keith M. , Bishop Julie Y. , Brophy Robert H. , Carey James L. , Dunn Warren R. , Jones Grant L. , Kuhn John E. , Ma C. Benjamin , Marx Robert G. , McCarty Eric C. , Vidal Armando F. , Wright Rick W.
Published: September 2011

Background: The Snyder classification scheme is the most commonly used system for classifying superior labral injuries. Although this scheme is intended to be used for arthroscopic visual classification only, it is thought that other nonarthroscopic historical variables also influence the classification.

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the intrasurgeon and intersurgeon agreement in classifying variable presentations of the superior labrum and to evaluate the influence of clinical variables on the classification and treatment choices of surgeons.

Study Design: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 3.

Methods: A group of arthroscopic shoulder surgeons were asked to rank in order of importance clinical variables considered in diagnosing and treating the superior labrum. The surgeons then watched 50 arthroscopic videos of the superior labrum, ranging from normal to pathologic, on 3 different occasions. The first and third viewings were accompanied by no clinical information. The second viewing was accompanied by a detailed clinical vignette for each video. The surgeons selected a classification and treatment for each video.

Results: A patient’s job/sport, age, and physical examination findings were considered the most important clinical variables surgeons consider during management of the superior labrum. Comparing the 2 viewings without clinical information, surgeons selected a different classification 28.5% of the time from the first to the second time. A different classification was chosen 71.5% of the time when the surgeon was supplied a clinical vignette at the subsequent viewing. Similarly, the treatment selected changed in 36% and 69.1% of cases when viewed again without vignettes and with vignettes, respectively. Intersurgeon agreement was moderate without clinical vignettes and fair with vignettes. Historical, physical examination, and surgical observations were found to influence the odds of change of classification.

Conclusion: There is significant intrasurgeon and intersurgeon variability in classification and treatment of the superior labrum. Clinical historical, examination, and surgical findings influence classification and treatment choices.
Effect of injection chamber length and pull speed of tapered resin injection pultrusion
Authors: Ranga B.K. , Roux J.A. , Vaughan J.G. , Jeswani A.L.
Published: September 2011

The objective of the present study is to improve the pultrusion process by improving the reinforcement wetout, and thus, the quality of the pultruded part in the resin injection pultrusion process. The emphasis here is on one of the processing parameters (pull speed/line speed) with a slot injection tapered chamber by varying the length of the injection chamber. Investigated is the impact of tapering of the walls of the injection chamber on the minimum injection pressure necessary to achieve complete wetout via varying the length of the tapered injection chamber and also the pull speed. This work presents the injection chamber exit pressure, since this is important for chamber design with respect to personnel safety and die/chamber damage.
‘They treat me like I’m scum’: Social exclusion and established-outsider relations in a British tennis club
Authors: Lake Robert J
Published: September 2011

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, the Lawn Tennis Association introduced numerous policies to remove barriers associated with social exclusion in tennis clubs. Ethnographic research was conducted within one club to analyse the incidence of social exclusion, and consider the success of LTA policies in these regards. Findings suggested the club made structural changes to receive LTA funding, such as removing exclusive membership and clothing restrictions, hiring coaches and establishing school–club links, yet its culture remained almost entirely inaccessible to new members. For analysis, Elias and Scotson’s ‘Established-Outsider Relations’ theoretical framework is applied: to discover who was excluded, how and why, and, to set the outcomes of power struggles between members in the wider social and historical contexts of changing LTA policies.
Electrorheology for Efficient Energy Production and Conservation
Authors: Tao R.
Published: September 2011

Recently, a theory and new technology has been developed, which utilizes a pulsed electric field to change the rheology of complex fluid to reduce its viscosity, while keeping the temperature unchanged. The method is energy efficient, universal, and applicable to all complex fluids with suspended particles in nanometers, sub-micrometers, or micrometers. This technology has been applied to crude oil and refinery fuels. While the applications are still developing, the results are quite impressive, indicating that electrorheology can play an important role in energy production, transportation, and conservation.
Conversation at the Border Between Organizational Culture Theory and Institutional Theory
Authors: Hatch Mary Jo , Zilber Tammar
Published: September 2011

This paper reflects our conversation at the border - a dividing line but also a potential meeting place – of organizational culture theory and institutional theory. First, we discuss the border between institutional theory and organizational culture theory by exploring two notions central to both - taken for grantedness and meanings. We ask what is taken for granted about institutions and organizational culture and how institutions and organizational cultures materialize? Our conversation reveals that although the notion of the taken for granted is important to institutional theory and organizational culture theory, what this means and implies is quite different for each. We also found that even though institutions and cultures involve meaning and evolve through meaning making, the two are understood and hence explored methodologically in quite different ways. So what seemed to be similar in these two theoretical frameworks actually differentiates them. Nevertheless, and still optimistically, we move on to suggest possible ways to bridge organizational culture theory and institutional theory, specifically through the notion of identity - both individual, organizational and interorganizational.
The Internet is Not Necessarily the Scholar’s Friend
Authors: Proserpio Luigi
Published: September 2011

The Internet is almost invariably viewed as a positive for academia because it can so dramatically accelerate the location and dissemination of knowledge. However, there are some unintended consequences for the researchers and professors in the wonders of the Internet. In particular, there is a lack of compatibility between several characteristics of their specialized content domains and the tenets of the new medium. Their work risks being marginalized in this brave new information world. The author discusses the possible long-term consequences of this nontrivial threat.
Pralatrexate: A novel synthetic antifolate for relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma and other potential uses
Authors: Hui John , Przespo Eugene , Elefante Anjana
Published: September 2011

Purpose: The pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical trials, adverse effects, dosage, and economic considerations of pralatrexate (PDX) are reviewed.

Summary: Peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) comprises approximately 15–20% of all aggressive lymphomas and 5–10% of all non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. Advanced PTCL is often refractory to traditional first-line chemotherapy regimens. PDX was developed as a synthetic folate analog antimetabolite that competitively inhibits dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). This results in the depletion of thymidine, leading to interference with deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis and cancer cell death. PDX has a higher potency than methotrexate and edatrexate (EDX). The efficacy and safety of PDX have been demonstrated in the PROPEL trial, a prospective phase II trial in patients with relapsed or refractory PTCL. Patients with prior stem cell transplantation receiving PDX also had similar response rates (RRs). PDX was investigated on the treatment of relapsed or refractory cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, previously treated advanced non-small cell lung cancer and other solid malignancies. PDX has similar side effects to other DHFR inhibitors. The most common side effect of PDX is mucositis. The recommended dose of PDX is 30 mg/m2 weekly once for 6 weeks in 7-week cycle until disease progresses or unacceptable toxicity for PTCL and may require dose reduction or discontinuation. Patients should be supplemented with oral folic acid and intramuscular vitamin B12 injections.

Conclusion: PDX provides clinical benefit to patients with relapsed or refractory PTCL with durable complete and partial responses in patients who had not responded to multiple prior treatment regimens.
Finite and boundary element method contact mechanics on rough, artificial hip joints
Authors: Ilincic S , Tungkunagorn N , Vernes A , Vorlaufer G , Fotiu P A , Franek F
Published: September 2011

An extremely small roughness of constant height magnitude is considered on the femoral head of an artificial hip joint in order to determine the consequences of various regular shapes and clearances on the mechanical performance of this hip prosthesis via a properly coupled finite and boundary element method. In addition, different material combinations typical for widely used hard-on-hard and hard-on-soft hip joint replacements are also taken into account. By analysing the calculated pressure distribution and contact area between the femoral head and the acetabular cup in frictionless dry contact irrespective of material pairings in hip joints, it is shown that both the wavelength of roughness and the clearance significantly affect these mechanical quantities and accordingly too loose or too tight hip implants have to be avoided. Finally, in terms of all numerical findings a suitable optimal design of hip implants is also discussed.
A retrospective chart study: The pathway to a diagnosis for adults referred for ASD assessment
Authors: Geurts Hilde M. , Jansen Marcel D.
Published: September 2011

Charts of 125 adults (18 to 82 years), referred to an autism expert team for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) assessment, were reviewed to explore the pathway to an adulthood ASD diagnosis. The participants first contacted the mental health care clinic at a median age of 19 years (range 2 to 78 years). Men contacted the clinic slightly earlier than women. The main referral reasons were social problems, feelings of anxiety and mood disturbances. The most common earlier diagnoses were anxiety and mood disorders or psychosis-related disorders. These diagnoses were more common in women than in men. Surprisingly few differences emerged between those who finally received an ASD diagnosis and those who did not. However, those with an ASD diagnosis contacted the clinic a mean of 15 years earlier and less frequently received different former diagnoses, although the type of diagnoses did not differ. The diagnostic criteria that were prevalent during early childhood of these adults did not influence their diagnostic history. A quarter of these clients were known with social problems within the mental health care system, but ASD was not assessed. Hence, the current study shows that the pathways to an adulthood ASD diagnosis are very heterogeneous.
Taguchi-Method-Based CFD Study and Optimisation of Personalised Ventilation Systems
Authors: Metzger Zhiqiang (John) Zhai Ian D.
Published: September 2011

This paper presents a Taguchi-method-based approach that can quickly and accurately predict the operating performance of personalised ventilation (PV) systems using limited computational fluid dynamics simulation results. This method was used to optimise the operation characteristics (supply air temperature, velocity and flow rate) of a new PV air terminal device (ATD) design with the goal of achieving an overall best performance of thermal comfort, indoor air quality (IAQ) and energy efficiency. With the new ATD system, supply air temperature was found to have a significant influence on thermal comfort, IAQ and energy; volume flow rate was found to have a significant effect on IAQ and minor effects on thermal comfort and energy; and supply air velocity was found to have insignificant effects on all performance characteristics. Two new methods were developed to rapidly identify optimal system parameters for the best overall performance. Multiple solutions were obtained for the optimised system where improvements in thermal comfort, IAQ and energy performance were achieved in comparison to a system with mixing ventilation only.
The contemporary management of midface and craniofacial trauma
Authors: McVeigh K , Bhatt V , Green J , Monaghan A , Dover MS
Published: September 2011

The successful management of midface and craniofacial trauma requires a thorough understanding of the anatomy and functional demands of this complex region. To achieve optimal outcomes, it is necessary that these injuries are accurately diagnosed and managed in a multi-disciplinary environment at the appropriate time. This review article discusses an overview of these injuries and highlights some of the key principles of management.
Norm evolution and violation on Facebook
Authors: McLaughlin Caitlin , Vitak Jessica
Published: September 2011

This study explores how norms on social network sites evolve over time and how violations of these norms impact individuals’ self-presentational and relationship goals. Employing Expectancy Violations Theory (Burgoon, 1978) as a guiding framework, results from a series of focus groups suggest that both the content of the violation and the users’ relationship to the violator impact how individuals react to negative violations. Specifically, acquaintances who engage in minor negative violations are ignored or hidden, while larger infractions (that could negatively impact the individual) result in deletion of the offending content and – in extreme cases – termination of the Facebook friendship. Negative violations from close friends (that did not impact participants’ goals) resulted in confrontations, while similar violations from acquaintances were often ignored by participants in an effort to ‘keep the peace.’ Furthermore, positive violations were more likely to arise from acquaintances than close friends.
Evaluation of a New Surgical Light Source for Difficult Visibility Procedures
Authors: Knulst Arjan J. , Santos Ana Laura R. , Goossens Richard H. M. , Dankelman Jenny
Published: September 2011

A new lighting device for open surgery of difficult access wounds was designed: the Extender add-on. The performance of the Extender is evaluated and compared with the conventional solutions used in the operating room (OR) on illumination quality. A cylindrical setup was built to measure the distribution of light in a simulated pelvic wound. The light was provided by a head-mounted light, an OR light, and a pair of Extender prototypes. The results showed that the Extender prototypes provided 12.2 lumens inside the wound, whereas the head-mounted light gave 5.7 lumens. The Extenders provided smoothly angular distributed light from 0° to 180°, whereas the head-mounted light and OR light only provided light from 115° to 180°. The Extender prototypes had a promising performance in terms of light distribution. It is expected that a more accurately produced Extender will increase performance in terms of illumination quantity and illumination distribution smoothness even further.
Occipital nerve stimulation in primary headache syndromes
Authors: Lambru Giorgio , Matharu Manjit S.
Published: September 2011

Chronic daily headache is a major worldwide health problem that affects 3–5% of the population and results in substantial disability. Advances in the management of headache disorders have meant that a substantial proportion of patients can be effectively treated with medical treatments. However, a significant minority of these patients are intractable to conventional medical treatments. Occipital nerve stimulation (ONS) is emerging as a promising treatment for patients with medically intractable, highly disabling chronic headache disorders, including migraine, cluster headache and other less common headache syndromes. Open-label studies have suggested that this treatment modality is effective and recent controlled trial data are also encouraging. The procedure is performed using several technical variations that have been reviewed along with the complications, which are usually minor and tolerable. The mechanism of action is poorly understood, though recent data suggest that ONS could restore the balance within the impaired central pain system through slow neuromodulatory processes in the pain neuromatrix. While the available data are very encouraging, the ultimate confirmation of the utility of a new therapeutic modality should come from controlled trials before widespread use can be advocated; more controlled data are still needed to properly assess the role of ONS in the management of medically intractable headache disorders. Future studies also need to address the variables that are predictors of response, including clinical phenotypes, surgical techniques and stimulation parameters.
The potential for NX-1207 in benign prostatic hyperplasia: an update for clinicians
Authors: Shore Neal , Cowan Barrett
Published: September 2011

Lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) affect many older men and can have a significant impact on health-related quality of life. BPH is a progressive condition that may lead to complications including acute urinary retention. There exists an unmet need for a safe and effective, office-based, catheter-free therapy for BPH patients. NX-1207 is a promising first-in-class drug currently in phase III trials for the treatment of BPH. This review provides an overview of the NX-1207 trial program and considers its potential application for patients with symptoms related to BPH. NX-1207 is administered as an office-based procedure by transrectal intraprostatic injection under ultrasound guidance. NX-1207 has selective pro-apoptotic properties, which induce focal cell loss in prostate tissue, leading to prostate volume reduction with both short- and long-term symptomatic improvement. In four US clinical trials to date, NX-1207 has shown evidence of symptomatic improvement substantially better than currently approved BPH medications with no significant safety issues. Larger phase III trials are ongoing to confirm further the efficacy, safety, and tolerability for this minimally invasive, anesthetic-free, clinic-based treatment for BPH.
Second induction with high-dose cytarabine and mitoxantrone: different impact on pediatric AML patients with t(8;21) and with inv(16)
Authors: Creutzig Ursula , Zimmermann Martin , Bourquin Jean-Pierre , Dworzak Michael N. , von Neuhoff Christine , Sander Annette , Schrauder André , Teigler-Schlegel Andrea , Starý Jan , Corbacioglu Selim , Reinhardt Dirk
Published: September 2011

Patients with core binding factor acute myeloid leukemia (CBF-AML) benefit from more intensive chemotherapy, but whether both the t(8;21) and inv(16)/t (16;16) subtypes requires intensification remained to be determined. In the 2 successive studies (AML-BFM-1998 and AML-BFM-2004), 220 CBF-AML patients were treated using the same chemotherapy backbone, whereby reinduction with high-dose cytarabine and mitoxantrone (HAM) was scheduled for these cohorts only in study AML-BFM-1998 but not in AML-BFM-2004 against the background to minimize overtreatment. Five-year overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) were significantly higher and the cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) lower in t(8;21) patients treated with HAM (n = 78) compared with without HAM (n = 53): OS 92% ± 3% versus 80% ± 6%, plogrank0.047, EFS 84% ± 4% versus 59% ± 7%, plogrank0.001, and CIR 14% ± 4% versus 34% ± 7%, p(gray)0.006. These differences were not seen for inv(16) (n = 43 and 46, respectively): OS 93% ± 4% versus 94% ± 4%, EFS 75% ± 7% versus 71% ± 9% and CIR 15% ± 6% versus 23% ± 8% (not significant). The subtype t(8;21), but not inv(16), was an independent predictor of worse outcome without HAM reinduction. Based on our data, a 5-year OS of > 90% can be expected for CBF-AML, when stratifying t(8;21), but not inv(16), patients to high-risk chemotherapy, including HAM reinduction.
Association between copy number variation of complement component C4 and Graves' disease
Authors: Liu Yu-Huei , Wan Lei , Chang Chwen-Tzuei , Liao Wen-Ling , Chen Wen-Chi , Tsai Yuhsin , Tsai Chang-Hai , Tsai Fuu-Jen
Published: September 2011

Background

Gene copy number of complement component C4, which varies among individuals, may determine the intrinsic strength of the classical complement pathway. Presuming a major role of complement as an effecter in peptide-mediated inflammation and phagocytosis, we hypothesized that C4 genetic diversity may partially explain the development of Graves' disease (GD) and the variation in its outcomes.

Methods

A case-control study including 624 patients with GD and 160 healthy individuals were enrolled. CNV of C4 isotypes (C4A and C4B) genes were performed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. Statistical comparison and identification of CNV of total C4, C4 isotypes (C4A and C4B) and C4 polymorphisms were estimated according to the occurrence of GD and its associated clinical features.

Results

Individuals with 4, 2, and 2 copies of C4, C4A and C4B genes, especially those with A2B2 polymorphism may associate with the development of GD (p = 0.001, OR = 10.994, 95% CI: 6.277-19.255; p = 0.008, OR = 1.732, 95% CI: 1.190-2.520; p = 2.420 × 10-5, OR = 2.621, 95% CI: 1.791-3.835; and p = 1.395 × 10-4, OR = 2.671, 95% CI: 1.761-4.052, respectively). Although the distribution of copy number for total C4, C4 isotypes as well as C4 polymorphisms did not associate with the occurrence of goiter, nodular hyperplasia, GO and myxedema, <2 copies of C4A may associate with high risk toward vitiligo in patients with GD (p = 0.001, OR = 5.579, 95% CI: 1.659-18.763).

Conclusions

These results may be further estimated for its clinical application on GD and the vitiligo in patients with GD.
A holistic phylogeny of the coronin gene family reveals an ancient origin of the tandem-coronin, defines a new subfamily, and predicts protein function
Authors: Eckert Christian , Hammesfahr Björn , Kollmar Martin
Published: September 2011

Background

Coronins belong to the superfamily of the eukaryotic-specific WD40-repeat proteins and play a role in several actin-dependent processes like cytokinesis, cell motility, phagocytosis, and vesicular trafficking. Two major types of coronins are known: First, the short coronins consisting of an N-terminal coronin domain, a unique region and a short coiled-coil region, and secondly the tandem coronins comprising two coronin domains.

Results

723 coronin proteins from 358 species have been identified by analyzing the whole-genome assemblies of all available sequenced eukaryotes (March 2011). The organisms analyzed represent most eukaryotic kingdoms but also cover every taxon several times to provide a better statistical sampling. The phylogenetic tree of the coronin domains based on the Bayesian method is in accordance with the most recent grouping of the major kingdoms of the eukaryotes and also with the grouping of more recently separated branches. Based on this "holistic" approach the coronins group into four classes: class-1 (Type I) and class-2 (Type II) are metazoan/choanoflagellate specific classes, class-3 contains the tandem-coronins (Type III), and the new class-4 represents the coronins fused to villin (Type IV). Short coronins from non-metazoans are equally related to class-1 and class-2 coronins and thus remain unclassified.

Conclusions

The coronin class distribution suggests that the last common eukaryotic ancestor possessed a single and a tandem-coronin, and most probably a class-4 coronin of which homologs have been identified in Excavata and Opisthokonts although most of these species subsequently lost the class-4 homolog. The most ancient short coronin already contained the trimerization motif in the coiled-coil domain.
Comparative Transcriptomes Profiling of Photoperiod-sensitive Male Sterile Rice Nongken 58S During the Male Sterility Transition between Short-day and Long-day
Authors: Wang Wei , Liu Zhenwei , Guo Zhibin , Song Gaoyuan , Cheng Qin , Jiang Daiming , Zhu Yingguo , Yang Daichang
Published: September 2011

Background

Photoperiod-sensitive genic male sterile (PGMS) rice, Nongken 58S, was discovered in 1973. It has been widely used for the production of hybrid rice, and great achievements have been made in improving rice yields. However, the mechanism of the male sterility transition in PGMS rice remains to be determined.

Results

To investigate the transcriptome during the male sterility transition in PGMS rice, the transcriptome of Nongken 58S under short-day (SD) and long-day (LD) at the glume primordium differentiation and pistil/stamen primordium forming stages was compared. Seventy-three and 128 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified at the glume primordium differentiation and pistil/stamen primordium forming stages, respectively. Five and 22 genes were markedly up-regulated (≥ 5-fold), and two and five genes were considerably down-regulated (≥ 5-fold) under SD during the male sterility transition. Gene ontology annotation and pathway analysis revealed that four biological processes and the circadian rhythms and the flowering pathways coordinately regulated the male sterility transition. Further quantitative PCR analysis demonstrated that the circadian rhythms of OsPRR1, OsPRR37, OsGI, Hd1, OsLHY and OsDof in leaves were obviously different between Nongken 58S and Nongken 58 under LD conditions. Moreover, both OsPRR37 and Hd1 in the inflorescence displayed differences between Nongken 58S and Nongken 58 under both LD and SD conditions.

Conclusion

The results presented here indicate that the transcriptome in Nongken 58S was significantly suppressed under LD conditions. Among these DEGs, the circadian rhythm and the flowering pathway were involved in the male sterility transition. Furthermore, these pathways were coordinately involved in the male sterility transition in PGMS rice.
Prevention of siderophore- mediated gut-derived sepsis due to P. aeruginosacan be achieved without iron provision by maintaining local phosphate abundance: role of pH
Authors: Romanowski Kathleen , Zaborin Alexander , Fernandez Hoylan , Poroyko Valeriy , Valuckaite Vesta , Gerdes Svetlana , Liu Donald C , Zaborina Olga Y , Alverdy John C
Published: September 2011

Background

During extreme physiological stress, the intestinal tract can be transformed into a harsh environment characterized by regio- spatial alterations in oxygen, pH, and phosphate concentration. When the human intestine is exposed to extreme medical interventions, the normal flora becomes replaced by pathogenic species whose virulence can be triggered by various physico-chemical cues leading to lethal sepsis. We previously demonstrated that phosphate depletion develops in the mouse intestine following surgical injury and triggers intestinal P. aeruginosa to express a lethal phenotype that can be prevented by oral phosphate ([Pi]) supplementation.

Results

In this study we examined the role of pH in the protective effect of [Pi] supplementation as it has been shown to be increased in the distal gut following surgical injury. Surgically injured mice drinking 25 mM [Pi] at pH 7.5 and intestinally inoculated with P. aeruginosa had increased mortality compared to mice drinking 25 mM [Pi] at pH 6.0 (p < 0.05). This finding was confirmed in C. elegans. Transcriptional analysis of P. aeruginosa demonstrated enhanced expression of various genes involved in media alkalization at pH 6.0 and a global increase in the expression of all iron-related genes at pH 7.5. Maintaining the pH at 6.0 via phosphate supplementation led to significant attenuation of iron-related genes as demonstrated by microarray and confirmed by QRT-PCR analyses.

Conclusion

Taken together, these data demonstrate that increase in pH in distal intestine of physiologically stressed host colonized by P. aeruginosa can lead to the expression of siderophore-related virulence in bacteria that can be prevented without providing iron by maintaining local phosphate abundance at pH 6.0. This finding is particularly important as provision of exogenous iron has been shown to have untoward effects when administered to critically ill and septic patients. Given that phosphate, pH, and iron are near universal cues that dictate the virulence status of a broad range of microorganisms relevant to serious gut origin infection and sepsis in critically ill patients, the maintenance of phosphate and pH at appropriate physiologic levels to prevent virulence activation in a site specific manner can be considered as a novel anti-infective therapy in at risk patients.
The NAC domain-containing protein, GmNAC6, is a downstream component of the ER stress- and osmotic stress-induced NRP-mediated cell-death signaling pathway
Authors: Faria Jerusa AQA , Reis Pedro AB , Reis Marco TB , Rosado Gustavo L , Pinheiro Guilherme L , Mendes Giselle C , Fontes Elizabeth PB
Published: September 2011

Background

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a major signaling organelle, which integrates a variety of responses against physiological stresses. In plants, one such stress-integrating response is the N-rich protein (NRP)-mediated cell death signaling pathway, which is synergistically activated by combined ER stress and osmotic stress signals. Despite the potential of this integrated signaling to protect plant cells against different stress conditions, mechanistic knowledge of the pathway is lacking, and downstream components have yet to be identified.

Results

In the present investigation, we discovered an NAC domain-containing protein from soybean, GmNAC6 (Glycine max NAC6), to be a downstream component of the integrated pathway. Similar to NRP-A and NRP-B, GmNAC6 is induced by ER stress and osmotic stress individually, but requires both signals for full activation. Transient expression of GmNAC6 promoted cell death and hypersensitive-like responses in planta. GmNAC6 and NRPs also share overlapping responses to biotic signals, but the induction of NRPs peaked before the increased accumulation of GmNAC6 transcripts. Consistent with the delayed kinetics of GmNAC6 induction, increased levels of NRP-A and NRP-B transcripts induced promoter activation and the expression of the GmNAC6 gene.

Conclusions

Collectively, our results biochemically link GmNAC6 to the ER stress- and osmotic stress-integrating cell death response and show that GmNAC6 may act downstream of the NRPs.