bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Zonal Wavenumber 3 Pattern of Northern Hemisphere Wintertime Planetary Wave Variability at High Latitudes
Authors: Teng Haiyan , Branstator Grant
Published: April 2012

A prominent pattern of variability of the Northern Hemisphere wintertime tropospheric planetary waves, referred to here as the Wave3 pattern, is identified from the NCEP–NCAR reanalysis. It is worthy of attention because its structure is similar to the linear trend pattern as well as the leading pattern of multidecadal variability of the planetary waves during the past half century. The Wave3 pattern is defined as the second empirical orthogonal function (EOF) of detrended December–February mean 300-hPa meridional wind V300 and denotes a zonal shift of the ridges and troughs of the climatological flow. Although its interannual variance is roughly comparable to that of EOF1 of V300, which represents the Pacific–North America (PNA) pattern, its multidecadal variance is nearly twice as large as that of the PNA. Wave3 is not completely structurally or temporally distinct from the northern annular mode (NAM) but, for some attributes, the linkage of the observed trend to Wave3 is clearer than to NAM. The prominence of the Wave3 pattern is further supported by attributes of many climate models that participated in phase 3 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP3). In particular, in the Community Climate System Model, version 3 (CCSM3), the Wave3 pattern is present as EOF3 of V300 in both a fully coupled integration and a stand-alone atmospheric integration forced by climatological sea surface temperatures. Its existence in the latter experiment indicates that the pattern can be produced by atmospheric processes alone.
Nonlinear Cascades of Surface Oceanic Geostrophic Kinetic Energy in the Frequency Domain*
Authors: Arbic Brian K. , Scott Robert B. , Flierl Glenn R. , Morten Andrew J. , Richman James G. , Shriver Jay F.
Published: April 2012

Motivated by the ubiquity of time series in oceanic data, the relative lack of studies of geostrophic turbulence in the frequency domain, and the interest in quantifying the contributions of intrinsic nonlinearities to oceanic frequency spectra, this paper examines the spectra and spectral fluxes of surface oceanic geostrophic flows in the frequency domain. Spectra and spectral fluxes are computed from idealized two-layer quasigeostrophic (QG) turbulence models and realistic ocean general circulation models, as well as from gridded satellite altimeter data. The frequency spectra of the variance of streamfunction (akin to sea surface height) and of geostrophic velocity are qualitatively similar in all of these, with substantial variance extending out to low frequencies. The spectral flux Π(ω) of kinetic energy in the frequency ω domain for the QG model documents a tendency for nonlinearity to drive energy toward longer periods, in like manner to the inverse cascade toward larger length scales documented in calculations of the spectral flux Π(k) in the wavenumber k domain. Computations of Π(ω) in the realistic model also display an “inverse temporal cascade.” In satellite altimeter data, some regions are dominated by an inverse temporal cascade, whereas others exhibit a forward temporal cascade. However, calculations performed with temporally and/or spatially filtered output from the models demonstrate that Π(ω) values are highly susceptible to the smoothing inherent in the construction of gridded altimeter products. Therefore, at present it is difficult to say whether the forward temporal cascades seen in some regions in altimeter data represent physics that is missing in the models studied here or merely sampling artifacts.
Early Career Psychologists
Authors: Forrest Linda
Published: April 2012

The findings from the Smith et al. (2012) survey of early career psychologists (ECPs) who are members of the Society of Counseling Psychology (SCP) provide a snapshot of the current state of affairs for ECPs in the SCP as well as recommendations about how the SCP can better meet the professional needs of ECPs. Ideally, the implementation of these recommendations will result in more ECPs joining the SCP and finding their membership to be a beneficial part of their professional lives. Capturing the interest and involvement of ECPs into the SCP needs to be an ongoing priority requiring focused attention and effort by SCP leadership. Who are the next generation of counseling psychologists? How are they fundamentally different from prior generations of counseling psychologists? And how have cohort and external environmental changes helped or hindered ECPs’ involvement in professional organizations? Finding the answers to these questions is necessary to guarantee that the Society changes in ways that make it professionally relevant for future generations of counseling psychologists.
Exploring the relevance of autonomy and relatedness for mental health in healthy and depressed women from two different cultures: When does culture matter?
Authors: Balkir Nazli , Arens Elisabeth A , Barnow Sven
Published: April 2012

Background:

It is well known that the absence of both autonomy and social support (relatedness) are two important etiologic pathways to major depressive disorder (MDD). However, cross-cultural researchers state that the implications of autonomy and relatedness for mental health vary across cultures.

Aim:

To test these assumptions, the current study investigated the relevance of autonomy and relatedness for mental health in healthy and depressed women from two different cultures (Germans and Turkish immigrants in Germany).

Methods:

One hundred and eight (108) women were evaluated for their levels of autonomy/relatedness satisfaction, for overall psychopathological complaints including depression, for affectivity and for perceived loneliness through self-report measures.

Results:

Among healthy groups, relatedness satisfaction predicted better mental health in Turkish women, whereas in German women, autonomy satisfaction was the better mental health predictor. Within depressed groups however, cultural differences in mental health outcomes regarding autonomy were no longer evident. Autonomy was associated with higher levels of mental health in Turkish as well as in German patients.

Conclusions:

Our findings indicate that the relationship between autonomy and mental health is culture-specific in healthy women, but disappears in depressed women. These findings are discussed with consideration of clinical implications and an outlook regarding further research.
Culture, Interpersonal Stress, and Psychological Distress
Authors: Hashimoto Takeshi , Mojaverian Taraneh , Kim Heejung S.
Published: April 2012

The present study examined cultural differences in interpersonal stress experiences in Japan and the United States. Japanese and U.S. students completed a questionnaire that included measures of interpersonal stressors, the behavior inhibition system (BIS), and psychological distress. As hypothesized, frequency of interpersonal friction was higher in Japan than in the United States, whereas frequency of interpersonal conflict did not differ across cultures. BIS partially mediated relationships between culture and frequency of interpersonal friction.
Gifted Law, Identification, and Programming in Mexico
Authors: Harris Bryn , Lizardi Patricia Sanchez
Published: April 2012

The demographics in the United States are rapidly changing and the school-aged population is growing at an even faster rate, particularly within the Mexican population. In 2008, 12.7 million Mexican immigrants lived in the United States which is 17 times the number in 1970. In addition, Mexican populations are younger than other U.S. populations which directly impacts school systems and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. This article provides an overview of various concepts, frameworks, and services used by the Mexican education system that pertain to the gifted population. In particular, the topics covered are the Mexican education laws pertaining to gifted education, gifted identification practices, gifted programming strategies, and implications for practice with Mexican populations in the United States. To better address the underrepresentation of Mexican students in U.S. gifted education programs, a more thorough understanding of these constructs is warranted.
Morphine alters the locomotor responses to a D2/D3 dopamine receptor agonist differentially in adolescent and adult mice
Authors: Hofford Rebecca S , Wellman Paul J , Eitan Shoshana
Published: April 2012

The D2-like dopamine receptors mediate the emotional/aversive state during morphine withdrawal. Given age-dependent differences in the affective responses to withdrawal, this study examined whether the response to dopamine receptor agonists is altered differentially across ages following morphine administration. Adolescent and adult mice were injected with morphine (twice daily, 10–40 mg/kg, s.c.) or saline for 6 days. Subsequently, they were examined for their locomotor response to quinpirole, a D2/D3 receptor agonist, and SKF 38393, a D1 receptor agonist. Quinpirole dose-dependently reduced locomotion in drug-naïve animals. Initial suppression was also observed in morphine-treated animals, but was followed by enhanced locomotion. Notably, this enhanced locomotion was markedly greater in adolescents than adults. Quinpirole-induced hypo-locomotion is thought to be mediated by the presynaptic D2Short receptors, whereas its activating effect is mediated by postsynaptic D2Long/D3 receptors. This suggests that following morphine administration, the postsynaptic, but not the presynaptic, dopaminergic signaling is differentially modulated across ages. This locomotor supersensitivity was not observed for SKF 38393, a D1 dopamine receptor agonist. The D2/D3 receptors are involved in the pathophysiology of many mental illnesses. Thus, this study offers a potential explanation for the increased psychiatric disorder co-morbidities when drug use begins during adolescence.
Cytotoxicity of different sized TiO2 nanoparticles in mouse macrophages
Authors: Zhang Jinyang , Song Wenhua , Guo Jing , Zhang Jinhua , Sun Zengtian , Li Liying , Ding Feng , Gao Minling
Published: April 2012

With large-scale production and wide application of nano-titanium oxide (TiO2), its health hazard has attracted extensive attention worldwide. In this study, mouse macrophages (Ana-1 and MH-S cells) were used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of different sized TiO2 nanoparticles. The results showed that TiO2 nanoparticles caused low toxicity, especially in MH-S cells. There was a difference in the cytotoxicity induced by different sized TiO2 particles. The 25 nm anatase particles induced the strongest cytotoxicity and oxidative stress, followed by 5 and 100 nm anatase particles; in contrast, 100 nm rutile particles induced the lowest toxicity. Although TiO2 nanoparticles induced high levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), the determination of ROS demonstrated that the inherent oxidative capacity of TiO2 nanoparticles was lower in the absence of photoactivation. Therefore, the generation of intracellular ROS could not completely depend on inherent oxidative capacity of TiO2 nanoparticles. Toxicity of TiO2 nanoparticles could mainly depend on the structural characteristics.
Measuring the Prevalence of Questionable Research Practices With Incentives for Truth Telling
Authors: John Leslie K. , Loewenstein George , Prelec Drazen
Published: April 2012

Cases of clear scientific misconduct have received significant media attention recently, but less flagrantly questionable research practices may be more prevalent and, ultimately, more damaging to the academic enterprise. Using an anonymous elicitation format supplemented by incentives for honest reporting, we surveyed over 2,000 psychologists about their involvement in questionable research practices. The impact of truth-telling incentives on self-admissions of questionable research practices was positive, and this impact was greater for practices that respondents judged to be less defensible. Combining three different estimation methods, we found that the percentage of respondents who have engaged in questionable practices was surprisingly high. This finding suggests that some questionable practices may constitute the prevailing research norm.
Development and Psychometric Testing of the Nursing Culture Assessment Tool
Authors: Kennerly Susan M. , Yap Tracey L. , Hemmings Annette , Beckett Gulbahar , Schafer John C. , Borchers Andrea
Published: April 2012

A valid and reliable nursing culture assessment tool aimed at capturing general aspects of nursing culture is needed for use in health care settings to assess and then reshape indicated troubled areas of the nursing culture. This article summarizes the Nursing Culture Assessment Tool’s (NCAT) development and reports on a cross-sectional, exploratory investigation of its psychometric properties. The research aims were to test the tool’s psychometric properties; discover its dimensionality; and refine the item structure to best represent the construct of nursing culture, an occupational subset of organizational culture. Empirical construct validity was tested using a sample of licensed nurses and nursing assistants ( n = 340). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and logistical regression yielded a 6-factor, 19-item solution. Evidence supports the tool’s validity for assessing nursing culture as a basis for shaping the culture into one that supports change, thereby accelerating, improving, and advancing nursing best practices and care outcomes.
A scenario-based approach for requirements management in engineering design
Authors: Liu Ze-Lin , Zhang Zhinan , Chen Yong
Published: April 2012

In engineering design, capturing customers’ requirements exactly and transforming them into design specifications are vital to designing a quality product. However, the expressions of customer requirements are normally imprecise and ambiguous due to their linguistic origins. There is still a lack of a systematic approach for elaborating these requirements and transforming them from informal to formal. Therefore, this article provides a scenario-based, systematic approach for requirements management in engineering design. The requirements management process is conceptualized as a three-phase model, and scenarios are integrated into this model for elaborating and formally representing the requirements. A case study of a soy milk maker design is also provided to demonstrate the proposed approach.
The Convergent and Concurrent Validity of Trait-Based Prototype Assessment of Personality Disorder Categories in Homeless Persons
Authors: Samuel Douglas B. , Connolly Adrian J. , Ball Samuel A.
Published: April 2012

The DSM-5 proposal indicates that personality disorders (PDs) be defined as collections of maladaptive traits but does not provide a specific diagnostic method. However, researchers have previously suggested that PD constructs can be assessed by comparing individuals’ trait profiles with those prototypic of PDs and evidence from the five-factor model (FFM) suggests that these prototype matching scores converge moderately with traditional PD instruments. The current study investigates the convergence of FFM PD prototypes with interview-assigned PD diagnoses in a sample of 99 homeless individuals. This sample had very high rates of PDs, which extends previous research on samples with more modest prevalence rates. Results indicated that diagnostic agreement between these methods was generally low but consistent with the agreement previously observed between explicit PD measures. Furthermore, trait-based and diagnostic interview scores evinced similar relationships with clinically important indicators such as abuse history and past suicide attempts. These findings demonstrate the validity of prototype methods and suggest their consideration for assessing trait-defined PD types within DSM-5.
Association Between ADHD Symptoms and Anxiety Symptoms in Taiwanese Adolescents
Authors: Liu Tai-Ling , Yang Pinchen , Ko Chih-Hung , Yen Ju-Yu , Yen Cheng-Fang
Published: April 2012

Objective: The aims of this cross-sectional study were to examine the association between significant ADHD symptoms and the four domains of anxiety symptoms on the Taiwanese version of Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC-T) and to examine the moderating effects of sociodemographic characteristics on this association among Taiwanese adolescents in the community. Method: A total of 4,716 adolescents in Grades 7 through 12 in southern Taiwan completed the MASC-T, the ADHD Self-Rated Scale, the Mandarin Chinese version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and a questionnaire about sociodemographic characteristics. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine both the association of significant ADHD symptoms with four domains of anxiety symptoms on the MASC-T and the moderating effects of sociodemographic characteristics on this association. Results: The adolescents with significant ADHD symptoms had more severe total anxiety symptoms, physical symptoms, social anxiety symptoms, and separation/panic symptoms for three domains of the MASC-T but less harm avoidance than did those without significant ADHD symptoms. Age, gender, and low self-esteem had moderating effects on the association between significant ADHD symptoms and anxiety symptoms for some domains of the MASC-T. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest a significant association between significant ADHD symptoms and the severity of anxiety symptoms in adolescents. Clinicians must evaluate anxiety symptoms among adolescents with ADHD and arrange comprehensive treatment programs.
A Community-Driven Intervention for Prostate Cancer Screening in African Americans
Authors: Patel Kushal , Ukoli Flora , Liu Jianguo , Beech Derrick , Beard Katina , Brown Byron , Sanderson Maureen , Kenerson Donna , Cooper Leslie , Canto Marie , Blot Bill , Hargreaves Margaret
Published: April 2012

The purpose of the study was to assess the impact of an educational intervention on prostate cancer screening behavior and knowledge. Participants were 104 African American men, 45 years and older, who had not been screened for prostate cancer with a prostate-specific antigen and/or digital rectal exam within the past year. All participants received an intervention delivered by trained lay community educators using a prostate cancer educational brochure developed in collaboration with the community, with structured interviews preintervention and 3 months postintervention. The main study outcomes included prostate-specific antigen screening rates during the 3-month interval and knowledge, barriers to screenings, and decisional conflict around screening. Compared with the 46 men who did not get screened, the 58 participants who got screened were more likely to have greater than a high school education, annual household incomes ≥$25,000, and a family history of non–prostate cancer ( p < .05). Average knowledge scores increased, and barriers to screening scores decreased, from preintervention to postintervention only for participants who had been screened ( p < .05). The results of this study demonstrate the feasibility and efficacy of an academic institution collaborating with the African American community to develop a successful prostate cancer educational intervention, an approach that can be expanded to other cancers and other chronic diseases.
Acute demyelinating lesions with restricted diffusion in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Balashov Konstantin E , Lindzen Eric
Published: April 2012

Background and objectives:

It is widely accepted that typical acute demyelinating lesions in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) exhibit vasogenic edema with increased diffusion, as demonstrated by an increased apparent diffusion coefficient on MRI. In contrast, acute ischemic lesions demonstrate cytotoxic edema with restricted diffusion. Recent reports have documented selected cases of acute demyelinating lesions exhibiting restricted diffusion (ADLRD) in MS. We aimed to assess the morphologies, distributions, signal characteristics and changes over time of nine ADLRD. An additional goal was to obtain clinical correlations and relate our findings to all previously published case reports describing ADLRD.

Methods:

A retrospective case series study was performed at two academic centers. MRI characteristics of nine ADLRD found in six RRMS patients were compared with typical active symptomatic contrast-enhancing lesions with increased or normal diffusion in control RRMS patients.

Results:

The average size of ADLRD was not significantly different from typical lesions. A periventricular location and faint signal on T2-weighted images were significantly more common for ADLRD compared with typical lesions. Two patients with ADLRD on initial MRI exhibited new ADLRD on their follow up scans.

Conclusion:

Our results and review of prior published cases suggest that ADLRD represent a new variant of MS lesion. The restricted diffusion that is a characteristic of ADLRD on MRI is a new challenge in the differential diagnosis of stroke in young adults. The pathogenesis of ADLRD remains to be understood.
The sociocultural adjustment trajectory of international university students and the role of university structures: A qualitative investigation
Authors: Coles Rebecca , Swami Viren
Published: April 2012

The present research explores the sociocultural adjustment of international students and the role played by university structures in the process. The adjustment process of international students has been modelled in psychological literature as a U-curve, a learning curve and most recently as a long, uneven and unending process of change. Yet, little of the literature has addressed the role played in this process by university structures. The research was conducted in the UK with 58 undergraduates from Malaysia. It utilized a qualitative design and consisted of two waves of semi-structured small-group interviews. It was found that university structures, in the form of accommodation provision, course provision, and student union clubs and societies, provide opportunities for integration and adjustment support in the early stages of the sojourn. However, the desire for contact with a wide range of others, central to the adjustment process, takes time to develop in international students. It is suggested that an understanding of adjustment as a long and uneven process should be built into structures aiming to support the adjustment of international students.
Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors 2012 – cardiovascular considerations and trial evaluation
Authors: Standl Eberhard , Schnell Oliver
Published: April 2012

Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors have been available for clinical use for about 20 years. They have shown reasonably good efficacy comparable to other oral blood glucose lowering drugs and in some parts of the world are the most commonly prescribed oral diabetes medication, especially in Asian countries. Unlike as has been observed with some other blood glucose lowering agents, however, no adverse signals of potential cardiovascular harm have emerged in relation to their use. On the contrary, significant beneficial cardiovascular outcome results have been observed in the post-hoc analyses of randomised placebo-controlled trials with the alpha-glucosidase inhibitor acarbose. Targeting mainly postprandial hyperglycaemia, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors favourably affect several cardiovascular risk factors, such as obesity, hypertension and high glycaemic variability with little to no risk for hypoglycaemia. Furthermore, acarbose favourably affects endothelial dysfunction and carotid intima media thickening in humans and, in animal models, improves cardiac interstitial fibrosis and hypertrophy of cardiomyocytes. The ultimate determination of the cardiovascular effects of alpha-glucosidase inhibitors in terms of clinical outcomes awaits the results of ongoing long-term, randomised, placebo-controlled trials.
Stochastic model of reliability for use in the evaluation of the economic impact of a failure using life cycle cost analysis. Case studies on the rail freight and oil industries
Authors: Parra Carlos , Crespo Adolfo , Kristjanpoller Fredy , Viveros Pablo
Published: April 2012

This paper aims to investigate the technical and economic factors related to failure costs (non-reliability costs) within the life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) of a production asset. Life cycle costing is a well-established method for the evaluation of alternative asset options. It is a structured approach that addresses all the elements of this cost and can be used to produce a spend profile for an asset over its anticipated life-span. The results of an LCCA are used to assist management in the decision-making process when there is a choice of options. The main costs can be classified as the capital expenditure incurred when the asset is purchased, and the operating expenditure incurred during the asset’s life. This paper explores different aspects related to the failure costs within the LCCA, and describes the most important aspects of the stochastic model: a non-homogeneous Poisson process. This model is used to estimate the frequency of failures and their impact which can cause various failures in the total costs of a production asset. This paper also contains a case study for the rail freight industry (Chile) and the oil industry (Petronox, Venezuela) where the proposed model and concepts are applied, and respectively compared in terms of results. Finally, the presented model provides maintenance managers with a decision tool that optimizes the LCCA of an asset and increases the efficiency of the decision-making process related to the control of failures.
Healthy School Environment
Authors: Celik Laurel A. , Pancoe Diane L.
Published: April 2012

Hand washing remains the single most important action for preventing the spread of infectious diseases. Although easy and inexpensive, promoting hand hygiene in an elementary school can be a challenge. This study was a collaborative project between the co-investigators (a registered nurse at an urban elementary school and a senior high school student working on a senior International Baccalaureate research project), the 5th-grade science teacher, and a physician from the local children’s hospital. The study purposes were to (a) determine the effectiveness of a 30-minute hand washing educational intervention at decreasing organisms on the hands of 5th-grade students and (b) introduce the 5th-grade students to the scientific method. Forty-one percent of the 5th-grade students used an effective hand washing technique after receiving instruction on proper hand washing.
Perspectives on the Electronic ICU
Authors: Ahn Young , Jasmer Robert M. , Shaughnessy Thomas
Published: April 2012

Electronic ICUs (eICUs) have arisen as an effort to improve the intensive care medical coverage still unavailable to many patients. The overriding issue is the ongoing shortage of critical care medicine physicians and an ever-growing population of critical care patients. However, it has been difficult to conclusively define the outcome benefits in terms of mortality or ICU length of stay following establishment of an eICU program. Successful outcomes have been demonstrated in ICU settings ranging from academic to rural, but eICUs may have the most impact in ICUs that ( a) begin with a deficit ofintensivist coverage, ( b) have high severity-adjusted mortality and long length of stay rates, ( c) are located remotely where safe transfer of high acuity patients is not possible, and ( d) are part of an organizational structure that support the tele-ICU intensivist’s management of the patient. Acceptance of telepresence technology and particularly the acceptance of a remote intensivist managing patients can encounter strong resistance by many bedside clinicians. Third-party payers have traditionally not paid for intensivists to provide patient care via real-time telemedicine systems. There may also be vulnerability to liability to all those involved in ICU care if communication between bedside and eICU practitioners break down. This review describes the various components of an eICU program and discuss the barriers we encountered in developing an eICU program in a large, multihospital health care system.
Definitions, methodological and statistical issues for phase 3 clinical trials in chronic myeloid leukemia: a proposal by the European LeukemiaNet
Authors: Guilhot Joëlle , Baccarani Michele , Clark Richard E. , Cervantes Francisco , Guilhot François , Hochhaus Andreas , Kulikov Sergei , Mayer Jiri , Petzer Andreas L. , Rosti Gianantonio , Rousselot Philippe , Saglio Giuseppe , Saussele Susanne , Simonsson Bengt , Steegmann Juan-Luis , Zaritskey Andrey , Hehlmann Rüdiger
Published: April 2012

The treatment policy of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), particularly with tyrosine kinase inhibitors, has been influenced by several recent studies that were well designed and rapidly performed, but their interpretation is of some concern because different end points and methodologies were used. To understand and compare the results of the previous and future studies and to translate their conclusion into clinical practice, there is a need for common definitions and methods for analyses of CML studies. A panel of experts was appointed by the European LeukemiaNet with the aim of developing a set of definitions and recommendations to be used in design, analyses, and reporting of phase 3 clinical trials in this disease. This paper summarizes the consensus of the panel on events and major end points of interest in CML. It also focuses on specific issues concerning the intention-to-treat principle and longitudinal data analyses in the context of long-term follow-up. The panel proposes that future clinical trials follow these recommendations.
BactQuant: An enhanced broad-coverage bacterial quantitative real-time PCR assay
Authors: Liu Cindy M , Aziz Maliha , Kachur Sergey , Hsueh Po-Ren , Huang Yu-Tsung , Keim Paul , Price Lance B
Published: April 2012

Background

Bacterial load quantification is a critical component of bacterial community analysis, but a culture-independent method capable of detecting and quantifying diverse bacteria is needed. Based on our analysis of a diverse collection of 16 S rRNA gene sequences, we designed a broad-coverage quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay—BactQuant—for quantifying 16 S rRNA gene copy number and estimating bacterial load. We further utilized in silico evaluation to complement laboratory-based qPCR characterization to validate BactQuant.

Methods

The aligned core set of 4,938 16 S rRNA gene sequences in the Greengenes database were analyzed for assay design. Cloned plasmid standards were generated and quantified using a qPCR-based approach. Coverage analysis was performed computationally using >670,000 sequences and further evaluated following the Minimum Information for Publication of Quantitative Real-Time PCR Experiments (MIQE) guidelines.

Results

A bacterial TaqMan® qPCR assay targeting a 466 bp region in V3-V4 was designed. Coverage analysis showed that 91% of the phyla, 96% of the genera, and >80% of the 89,537 species analyzed contained at least one perfect sequence match to the BactQuant assay. Of the 106 bacterial species evaluated, amplification efficiencies ranged from 81 to 120%, with r

2
-value of >0.99, including species with sequence mismatches. Inter- and intra-run coefficient of variance was <3% and <16% for Ct and copy number, respectively.

Conclusions

The BactQuant assay offers significantly broader coverage than a previously reported universal bacterial quantification assay BactQuant in vitro performance was better than the in silico predictions.
Cost-effectiveness analysis of neonatal hearing screening program in china: should universal screening be prioritized?
Authors: Huang Li-Hui , Zhang Luo , Tobe Ruo-Yan Gai , Qi Fang-Hua , Sun Long , Teng Yue , Ke Qing-Lin , Mai Fei , Zhang Xue-Feng , Zhang Mei , Yang Ru-Lan , Tu Lin , Li Hong-Hui , Gu Yan-Qing , Xu Sai-Nan , Yue Xiao-Yan , Li Xiao-Dong , Qi Bei-Er , Cheng Xiao-Huan , Tang Wei , Xu Ling-Zhong , Han De-Min
Published: April 2012

Background

Neonatal hearing screening (NHS) has been routinely offered as a vital component of early childhood care in developed countries, whereas such a screening program is still at the pilot or preliminary stage as regards its nationwide implementation in developing countries. To provide significant evidence for health policy making in China, this study aims to determine the cost-effectiveness of NHS program implementation in case of eight provinces of China.

Methods

A cost-effectiveness model was conducted and all neonates annually born from 2007 to 2009 in eight provinces of China were simulated in this model. The model parameters were estimated from the established databases in the general hospitals or maternal and child health hospitals of these eight provinces, supplemented from the published literature. The model estimated changes in program implementation costs, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), average cost-effectiveness ratio (ACER), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for universal screening compared to targeted screening in eight provinces.

Results and discussion

A multivariate sensitivity analysis was performed to determine uncertainty in health effect estimates and cost-effectiveness ratios using a probabilistic modeling technique. Targeted strategy trended to be cost-effective in Guangxi, Jiangxi, Henan, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Hebei, Shandong, and Beijing from the level of 9%, 9%, 8%, 4%, 3%, 7%, 5%, and 2%, respectively; while universal strategy trended to be cost-effective in those provinces from the level of 70%, 70%, 48%, 10%, 8%, 28%, 15%, 4%, respectively. This study showed although there was a huge disparity in the implementation of the NHS program in the surveyed provinces, both universal strategy and targeted strategy showed cost-effectiveness in those relatively developed provinces, while neither of the screening strategy showed cost-effectiveness in those relatively developing provinces. This study also showed that both strategies especially universal strategy achieve a good economic effect in the long term costs.

Conclusions

Universal screening might be considered as the prioritized implementation goal especially in those relatively developed provinces of China as it provides the best health and economic effects, while targeted screening might be temporarily more realistic than universal screening in those relatively developing provinces of China.
Food intake profiles of children aged 12, 24 and 48 months from the 2004 Pelotas (Brazil) birth cohort: an exploratory analysis using principal components
Authors: Gatica Giovanna , Barros Aluisio J D , Madruga Samanta , Matijasevich Alicia , Santos Iná S
Published: April 2012

Objectives

To identify food intake profiles of children during their first four years of life and assess its variations according to sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics.

Methods

The Pelotas Birth Cohort Study (Brazil) recruited 4,231 liveborns, who were followed-up at ages 3, 12, 24 and 48 months. Food consumption data of children aged 12, 24 and 48 months was collected using a list of foods consumed during a 24-hour period prior to the interview. The food profiles were identified with the use of principal component analysis (PCA) for each age studied.

Results

Five components were identified at each age, four of them similar in all time points, namely: beverages, milks, staple, and snacks. A meat & vegetables component was identified at 12 and 24 months and a treats component at 48 months. The greatest nutritional differences were found among children from different socioeconomic levels. With regard to the milks component, higher breast milk intake compared to cow's milk was seen among poorer children (12- and 24-month old) and higher milk and chocolate powdered milk drink consumption was seen among more affluent children aged 48 months. Poorer children of less educated mothers showed higher adherence to the treats component (48 months). Regarding to the snack component, poorer children consumed more coffee, bread/cookies while more affluent children consumed proportionately more fruits, yogurt and soft drinks. Child care outside of the home was also a factor influencing food profiles more aligned with a healthier diet.

Conclusions

The study results showed that very early in life children show food profiles that are strongly associated with social (maternal schooling, socioeconomic position and child care) and behavioral characteristics (breast-feeding duration, bottle-feeding and pacifier use).
Novel mouse mammary cell lines for in vivo bioluminescence imaging (BLI) of bone metastasis
Authors: Bolin Celeste , Sutherland Caleb , Tawara Ken , Moselhy Jim , Jorcyk Cheryl L
Published: April 2012

Background

Tumor cell lines that can be trackedin vivoduring tumorigenesis and metastasis provide vital tools for studying the specific cellular mechanisms that mediate these processes as well as investigating therapeutic targets to inhibit them. The goal of this study was to engineer imageable mouse mammary tumor cell lines with discrete propensities to metastasize to bonein vivo. Two novel luciferase expressing cell lines were developed and characterized for use in the study of breast cancer metastasis to bone in a syngeneic mouse model.

Results

The 4 T1.2 luc3 and 66c14 luc2 cell lines were shown to have high levels of bioluminescence intensityin vitroandin vivoafter orthotopic injection into mouse mammary fat pads. The 4 T1.2 luc3 cell line was found to closely model the sites of metastases seen in human patients including lung, liver, and bone. Specifically, 4 T1.2 luc3 cells demonstrated a high incidence of metastasis to spine, with anex-vivoBLI intensity three orders of magnitude above the commercially available 4 T1 luc2 cells. 66c14 luc2 cells also demonstrated metastasis to spine, which was lower than that of 4 T1.2 luc3 cells but higher than 4 T1 luc2 cells, in addition to previously unreported metastases in the liver. High osteolytic activity of the 4 T1.2 luc3 cellsin vivoin the bone microenvironment was also detected.

Conclusions

The engineered 4 T1.2 luc3 and 66c14 luc2 cell lines described in this study are valuable tools for studying the cellular events moderating the metastasis of breast tumor cells to bone.
Circulating and synovial antibody profiling of juvenile arthritis patients by nucleic acid programmable protein arrays
Authors: Gibson David S , Qiu Ji , Mendoza Eliseo A , Barker Kristi , Rooney Madeleine E , LaBaer Joshua
Published: April 2012

Introduction

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a heterogeneous disease characterized by chronic joint inflammation of unknown cause in children. JIA is an autoimmune disease and small numbers of autoantibodies have been reported in JIA patients. The identification of antibody markers could improve the existing clinical management of patients.

Methods

A pilot study was performed on the application of a high-throughput platform, the nucleic acid programmable protein array (NAPPA), to assess the levels of antibodies present in the systemic circulation and synovial joint of a small cohort of juvenile arthritis patients. Plasma and synovial fluid from 10 JIA patients was screened for antibodies against 768 proteins on NAPPAs.

Results

Quantitative reproducibility of NAPPAs was demonstrated with > 0.95 intra-array and inter-array correlations. A strong correlation was also observed for the levels of antibodies between plasma and synovial fluid across the study cohort (r = 0.96). Differences in the levels of 18 antibodies were revealed between sample types across all patients. Patients were segregated into two clinical subtypes with distinct antibody signatures by unsupervised hierarchical cluster analysis.

Conclusion

The NAPPAs provide a high-throughput quantitatively reproducible platform to screen for disease-specific autoantibodies at the proteome level on a microscope slide. The strong correlation between the circulating antibody levels and those of the inflamed joint represents a novel finding and provides confidence to use plasma for discovery of autoantibodies in JIA, thus circumventing the challenges associated with joint aspiration. We expect that autoantibody profiling of JIA patients on NAPPAs could yield antibody markers that can act as criteria to stratify patients, predict outcomes and understand disease etiology at the molecular level.
Amplification and high-level expression of heat shock protein 90 marks aggressive phenotypes of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative breast cancer
Authors: Cheng Qing , Chang Jeffrey T , Geradts Joseph , Neckers Leonard M , Haystead Timothy , Spector Neil L , Lyerly H Kim
Published: April 2012

Introduction

Although human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive or estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancers are treated with clinically validated anti-HER2 or anti-estrogen therapies, intrinsic and acquired resistance to these therapies appears in a substantial proportion of breast cancer patients and new therapies are needed. Identification of additional molecular factors, especially those characterized by aggressive behavior and poor prognosis, could prioritize interventional opportunities to improve the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.

Methods

We compiled a collection of 4,010 breast tumor gene expression data derived from 23 datasets that have been posted on the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. We performed a genome-scale survival analysis using Cox-regression survival analyses, and validated using Kaplan-Meier Estimates survival and Cox Proportional-Hazards Regression survival analyses. We conducted a genome-scale analysis of chromosome alteration using 481 breast cancer samples obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), from which combined expression and copy number data were available. We assessed the correlation between somatic copy number alterations and gene expression using analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Results

Increased expression of each of the heat shock protein (HSP) 90 isoforms, as well as HSP transcriptional factor 1 (HSF1), was correlated with poor prognosis in different subtypes of breast cancer. High-level expression of HSP90AA1 and HSP90AB1, two cytoplasmic HSP90 isoforms, was driven by chromosome coding region amplifications and were independent factors that led to death from breast cancer among patients with triple-negative (TNBC) and HER2-/ER+ subtypes, respectively. Furthermore, amplification of HSF1 was correlated with higher HSP90AA1 and HSP90AB1 mRNA expression among the breast cancer cells without amplifications of these two genes. A collection of HSP90AA1, HSP90AB1 and HSF1 amplifications defined a subpopulation of breast cancer with up-regulated HSP90 gene expression, and up-regulated HSP90 expression independently elevated the risk of recurrence of TNBC and poor prognosis of HER2-/ER+ breast cancer.

Conclusions

Up-regulated HSP90 mRNA expression represents a confluence of genomic vulnerability that renders HER2 negative breast cancers more aggressive, resulting in poor prognosis. Targeting breast cancer with up-regulated HSP90 may potentially improve the effectiveness of clinical intervention in this disease.
Validating the Interval to Biochemical Failure for the Identification of Potentially Lethal Prostate Cancer
Authors: Buyyounouski Mark K. , Pickles Tom , Kestin Larry L. , Allison Roger , Williams Scott G.
Published: April 2012

Purpose

To validate the interval to biochemical failure (IBF) as a prognostic factor at the time of biochemical failure for prostate cancer mortality (PCM) following radiotherapy (RT).

Patients and Methods

From a collaborative data set of men with clinically localized prostate cancer treated with RT from four institutions in three countries, we identified 1,722 men with biochemical failure (BF; prostate-specific antigen nadir + 2 ng/mL). The IBF was defined as the time interval from completion of treatment to the date of BF. The primary outcome measure was discriminatory power in the form of the concordance index (c-index).

Results

Seventeen percent of men had an IBF ≤ 18 months. Median potential follow-up beyond the time of BF was 67 months. There were 290 deaths from prostate cancer. The IBF was the most discriminating individual prognostic factor overall, with a sensitivity of IBF ≤ 18 months to predict PCM within 10 years of 48.4% (95% CI, 43.3% to 54.1%); the specificity was 86.1% (95% CI, 84.5% to 87.7%), equating to a c-index of 0.611 (95% CI, 0.578 to 0.647). The 5-year cumulative incidence of PCM for IBF more than 18 months versus IBF ≤ 18 months was 9.4% (95% CI, 7.7% to 11.5%) versus 26.3% (95% CI, 21.2% to 31.8%); corresponding 10-year estimates were 26.2% (95% CI, 21.5% to 30.8%) versus 55.9% (95% CI, 48.9% to 63.0%), respectively (P < .001 for both). IBF exhibited minimal change in performance across various follow-up durations.

Conclusion

IBF is the single most robust prognostic factor for PCM following RT without androgen deprivation therapy. This external validation demonstrates that patients and clinicians can use this information to make decisions about subsequent treatments.
Definition and Impact of Pathologic Complete Response on Prognosis After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Various Intrinsic Breast Cancer Subtypes
Authors: von Minckwitz Gunter , Untch Michael , Blohmer Jens-Uwe , Costa Serban D. , Eidtmann Holger , Fasching Peter A. , Gerber Bernd , Eiermann Wolfgang , Hilfrich Jörn , Huober Jens , Jackisch Christian , Kaufmann Manfred , Konecny Gottfried E. , Denkert Carsten , Nekljudova Valentina , Mehta Keyur , Loibl Sibylle
Published: April 2012

Purpose

The exact definition of pathologic complete response (pCR) and its prognostic impact on survival in intrinsic breast cancer subtypes is uncertain.

Methods

Tumor response at surgery and its association with long-term outcome of 6,377 patients with primary breast cancer receiving neoadjuvant anthracycline-taxane–based chemotherapy in seven randomized trials were analyzed.

Results

Disease-free survival (DFS) was significantly superior in patients with no invasive and no in situ residuals in breast or nodes (n = 955) compared with patients with residual ductal carcinoma in situ only (n = 309), no invasive residuals in breast but involved nodes (n = 186), only focal-invasive disease in the breast (n = 478), and gross invasive residual disease (n = 4,449; P < .001). Hazard ratios for DFS comparing patients with or without pCR were lowest when defined as no invasive and no in situ residuals (0.446) and increased monotonously when in situ residuals (0.523), no invasive breast residuals but involved nodes (0.623), and focal-invasive disease (0.727) were included in the definition. pCR was associated with improved DFS in luminal B/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) –negative (P = .005), HER2-positive/nonluminal (P < .001), and triple-negative (P < .001) tumors but not in luminal A (P = .39) or luminal B/HER2-positive (P = .45) breast cancer. pCR in HER2-positive (nonluminal) and triple-negative tumors was associated with excellent prognosis.

Conclusion

pCR defined as no invasive and no in situ residuals in breast and nodes can best discriminate between patients with favorable and unfavorable outcomes. Patients with noninvasive or focal-invasive residues or involved lymph nodes should not be considered as having achieved pCR. pCR is a suitable surrogate end point for patients with luminal B/HER2-negative, HER2-positive (nonluminal), and triple-negative disease but not for those with luminal B/HER2-positive or luminal A tumors.