bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multiple Functions of Sushi Domain Containing 2 (SUSD2) in Breast Tumorigenesis
Authors: Watson Allison P. , Evans Rick L. , Egland Kristi A.
Published: November 2012

Routinely used therapies are not adequate to treat the heterogeneity of breast cancer, and consequently, more therapeutic targets are desperately needed. To identify novel targets, we generated a breast cancer cDNA library enriched for genes that encode membrane and secreted proteins. From this library we identified SUSD2 (Sushi Domain Containing 2), which encodes an 822-amino acid protein containing a transmembrane domain and functional domains inherent to adhesion molecules. Previous studies describe the mouse homolog, Susd2, but there are no studies on the human gene associated with breast cancer. Immunohistochemical analysis of human breast tissues showed weak or no expression of SUSD2 in normal epithelial cells, with the endothelial lining of vessels staining positive for SUSD2. However, staining was observed in pathologic breast lesions and in lobular and ductal carcinomas. SUSD2 interacts with galectin-1 (Gal-1), a 14-kDa secreted protein that is synthesized by carcinoma cells and promotes tumor immune evasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Interestingly, we found that localization of Gal-1 on the surface of cells is dependent on the presence of SUSD2. Various phenotype assays indicate that SUSD2 increases the invasion of breast cancer cells and contributes to a potential immune evasion mechanism through induction of apoptosis of Jurkat T cells. Using a syngeneic mouse model, we observed accelerated tumor formation and decreased survival in mice with tumors expressing Susd2. We found significantly fewer CD4 tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in mice with tumors expressing Susd2. Together, our findings provide evidence that SUSD2 may represent a promising therapeutic target for breast cancer. Mol Cancer Res; 11(1); 74–85. ©2012 AACR.
Diabetes Mellitus and Trends in Hospital Survival After Myocardial Infarction, 1994 to 2006
Authors: Gore M. Odette , Patel Mahesh J. , Kosiborod Mikhail , Parsons Lori S. , Khera Amit , de Lemos James A. , Rogers William J. , Peterson Eric D. , Canto John C. , McGuire Darren K. ,   for the National Registry of Myocardial Infarction Investigators
Published: November 2012

Background—

Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) are at high risk for mortality after myocardial infarction (MI). Despite an overall trend of reduced mortality after MI, the mortality gap between MI patients with and without DM did not decrease over time in previous analyses. We assessed recent trends in hospital mortality for patients with MI according to DM status.

Methods and Results—

We analyzed data from the National Registry of Myocardial Infarction, a contemporary registry of MI patients treated in 1964 hospitals, representing approximately one fourth of all US acute care hospitals. The study comprised 1734431 MI patients enrolled from 1994 to 2006, including 502315 (29%) with DM. Crude hospital mortality decreased in all patients between 1994 and 2006 but remained higher in patients with DM compared with those without DM throughout the study. The absolute difference in mortality between patients with and without DM significantly narrowed over time, from 15.6% versus 11.5% in 1994 to 8.0% versus 6.8% in 2006 (
P
<0.001 for DM × time interaction). The adjusted odds ratio for mortality associated with DM declined from 1.24 (95% confidence interval, 1.16–1.32) in 1994 to 1.08 (95% confidence interval, 0.99–1.19) in 2006 (
P
<0.001 for trend). The largest improvement in hospital mortality was observed in diabetic women (17.9% in 1994 versus 8.4% in 2006;
P
<0.001).

Conclusions—

The hospital mortality gap between MI patients with and without DM narrowed significantly from 1994 to 2006, with the greatest improvement observed in women with DM.
Neutrophil-Derived Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 Triggers Acute Aortic Dissection
Authors: Kurihara Tomohiro , Shimizu-Hirota Ryoko , Shimoda Masayuki , Adachi Takeshi , Shimizu Hideyuki , Weiss Stephen J. , Itoh Hiroshi , Hori Shingo , Aikawa Naoki , Okada Yasunori
Published: November 2012

Background—

Acute aortic dissection (AAD) is a life-threatening vascular disease without effective pharmaceutical therapy. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are implicated in the development of chronic vascular diseases including aneurysm, but the key effectors and mechanism of action remain unknown. To define further the role of MMPs in AAD, we screened circulating MMPs in AAD patients, and then generated a novel mouse model for AAD to characterize the mechanism of action.

Methods and Results—

MMP9 and angiotensin II were elevated significantly in blood samples from AAD patients than in those from the patients with nonruptured chronic aortic aneurysm or healthy volunteers. Based on the findings, we established a novel AAD model by infusing angiotensin II to immature mice that had been received a lysyl oxidase inhibitor, β-aminopropionitrile monofumarate. AAD was developed successfully in the thoracic aorta by angiotensin II administration to β-aminopropionitrile monofumarate-treated wild-type mice, with an incidence of 20%, 80%, and 100% after 6, 12, and 24 hours, respectively. Neutrophil infiltrations were observed in the intima of the thoracic aorta, and the overexpression of MMP9 in the aorta was demonstrated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, gelatin zymography, and immunohistochemistry. The incidence of AAD was reduced significantly by 40% following the administration of an MMP inhibitor and was almost blocked completely in
MMP
−/−
mice without any influence on neutrophil infiltration. Neutrophil depletion by injection of anti-granulocyte-differentiation antigen-1 (anti-Gr-1) antibody also significantly decreased the incidence of AAD.

Conclusions—

These data suggest that AAD is initiated by neutrophils that have infiltrated the aortic intima and released MMP9 in response to angiotensin II.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Treatment of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms
Authors: Brinjikji Waleed , Rabinstein Alejandro A. , Lanzino Giuseppe , Cloft Harry J.
Published: November 2012

Background and Purpose—

Minorities in the United States have less access to healthcare system resources, especially preventative treatments. We sought to determine whether racial and sex disparities existed in the treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms.

Methods—

Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, hospitalizations for clipping and coiling of intracranial aneurysms from 2001 to 2009 were identified by cross-matching
International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision
codes for diagnosis of unruptured aneurysm and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) with procedure codes for clipping or coiling of cerebral aneurysms. Demographic information analyzed included age (<50, 50–64, 65–79, and ≥80 years), race (white, black, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander), sex, income quartile, primary payer (Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, self-pay, no charge, other), and Charlson comorbidity index.

Results—

When compared with patients treated for SAH, those treated for unruptured intracranial aneurysm were significantly more likely to be women (75.0% versus 69.0%;
P
<0.0001). In all, 9.7% of patients receiving treatment for SAH were self-payers versus 3.0% of patients being treated for unruptured intracranial aneurysm (
P
<0.0001). In all, 62.2% of patients receiving treatment for SAH were white compared with 76.4% of patients being treated for unruptured intracranial aneurysm (
P
<0.0001). There was a higher proportion of black, Hispanic, and Asian patients in the SAH treatment group when compared with the unruptured aneurysm treatment group (
P
<0.0001 for all groups).

Conclusions—

When compared with patients undergoing treatment for SAH, patients undergoing surgical and endovascular treatment for unruptured intracranial aneurysm are generally from higher socioeconomic strata and are more likely to be insured, women, and white. Future studies are needed to determine the underlying causes and solutions for this disparity.
Environmental Sonification of Rainfall with Long Wire Instruments
Authors: Burraston David
Published: November 2012

Environmental sonification of rainfall events using large-scale long wire instruments is presented. After a brief historical introduction of long wires and their relationship to the Aeolian harp, some aspects of construction and recording techniques are discussed. Observations of rainfall-induced vibrations on long wire audio recordings are then presented.
Weakness, Ambience and Irrelevance: Failure as a Method for Acoustic Variety
Authors: Feeney Tim
Published: November 2012

The author, a percussionist, finds timbral interest in the failure to consistently execute a common technique.
Sonic Objects, Resonance and Chaotics
Authors: Edelstein Phil
Published: November 2012

The author describes structural elements for and the conditions and contexts within which he creates his work. The recurring use of fractals and resonance is integral to the construction of sound objects.
Sound Is Not Enough
Authors: Gwiazda Henry
Published: November 2012

The artist describes the use of virtual audio for spatial music composition.
Soundscape as Interface: The Threshold Project
Authors: Ball Kristian Derek
Published: November 2012

The author discusses his sound installation Threshold as a system to explore an evolving acoustic ecology. For the purpose of this brief examination, the author observes how the soundscape functions as an interface in communion with its participants.
Radiation Impacts on Conditionally Unstable Moist Convection
Authors: Pauluis Olivier , Schumacher Jörg
Published: November 2012

The present work analyzes the impacts of radiative cooling in three-dimensional high-resolution direct numerical simulations of moist Rayleigh–Bénard convection. An atmospheric slab is destabilized by imposing a warm, moist lower boundary and a colder, dryer upper boundary. These boundary conditions are chosen such that the atmosphere is relaxed toward a conditionally unstable state in which unsaturated air parcels experience a stable stratification and unsaturated parcels experience an unstable one. Conditionally unstable moist Rayleigh–Bénard convection in the absence of radiative transfer produces self-aggregated convectively active cloudy regions separated by a quiescent unsaturated environment. Such convection is strongly limited by diffusion and is unable to transport much energy. As radiative cooling partially compensates for the adiabatic warming in the unsaturated environment and destabilizes the lower unsaturated boundary, its inclusion results in a significant enhancement of convective activity and cloud cover. A dry convectively unstable region develops at the lower boundary in a way that is reminiscent of the planetary boundary layer. Convective transport increases through the entire layer, leading to a significant enhancement of the upward transport of energy and water.
Explaining Prolonged Silences in Transitional Justice
Authors: Kovras Iosif
Published: November 2012

The article examines why some postconflict societies defer the recovery of those who forcibly disappeared as a result of political violence, even after a fully fledged democratic regime is consolidated. The prolonged silences in Cyprus and Spain contradict the experience of other countries such as Bosnia, Guatemala, and South Africa, where truth recovery for disappeared or missing persons was a central element of the transition to peace and democracy. Exhumations of mass graves containing the victims from the two periods of violence in Cyprus (1963–1974) and the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939) was delayed up until the early 2000s. Cyprus and Spain are well suited to explain both prolonged silences in transitional justice and the puzzling decision to become belated truth seekers. The article shows that in negotiated transitions, a subtle elite agreement links the noninstrumental use of the past with the imminent needs for political stability and nascent democratization. As time passes, selective silence becomes an entrenched feature of the political discourse and democratic institutions, acquiring a hegemonic status and prolonging the silencing of violence.
When Grapevine News Meets Mass Media
Authors: Zhu Jiangnan , Lu Jie , Shi Tianjian
Published: November 2012

This article examines factors that shape people’s perceptions of government corruption in mainland China. We are particularly interested in how people acquire information on local corruption, given the general lack of pertinent firsthand experience. We combine data from a national survey in mainland China with a compiled data set on the number of local corruption cases reported in Chinese local newspapers. The results of both probit and Heckman selection models show that indirect formal and indirect informal information sources have diverging effects. Although coverage of corruption by newspapers controlled by the authoritarian regime reduces people’s perceptions of corruption, exposure to grapevine news significantly increases perceived corruption. Moreover, access to government-controlled media can significantly dilute the negative impact of grapevine news on popular perceptions of corruption.
Social Protection and the Politicization of Class Cleavages During Latin America’s Left Turn
Authors: Handlin Samuel
Published: November 2012

Why and how do class cleavages become politicized in party systems? The recent tenure of left governments in South America has seen the party system realigned along the class cleavage in Venezuela but not in Brazil or Chile. This article argues that different approaches to expanding social protection—“mobilizational” in Venezuela and “technocratic” in Brazil and Chile—explain divergent outcomes. Mobilizational policies incentivized social organization among beneficiaries and allowed for linkages between these organizations and left parties, facilitating credit claiming and recruitment by the left. Technocratic policies targeted atomized beneficiaries with no room for partisan involvement, making credit claiming and recruitment difficult. Case-based evidence illustrates these mechanisms whereas survey analysis using genetic matching confirms that mobilizational and technocratic programs exerted strikingly different effects on support for left parties. The broader contribution is to theorize a new form of class-based political mobilization in Latin America, also being implemented in other countries.
The Effect of Keyboard Key Spacing on Typing Speed, Error, Usability, and Biomechanics
Authors: Pereira Anna , Lee David L. , Sadeeshkumar Harini , Laroche Charles , Odell Dan , Rempel David
Published: November 2012

Objective:

In this study, we evaluated the effects of key spacing on a conventional computer keyboard on typing speed, percentage error, usability, and forearm muscle activity and wrist posture.

Background:

International standards that specify the spacing between keys on a keyboard have been guided primarily by design convention because few studies have evaluated the effects of key spacing on productivity, usability, and biomechanical factors.

Method:

Experienced male typists ( N = 37) with large fingers (middle finger length ≥ 8.7 cm or finger breadth of ≥ 2.3 cm) typed on five keyboards that differed only in horizontal and vertical key spacing (19 × 19 mm, 18 × 19 mm, 17 × 19 mm, 16 × 19 mm, and 17 × 17 mm) while typing speed, percentage error, fatigue, preference, extensor carpi ulnaris and flexor carpi ulnaris muscle activity, and wrist extension and ulnar deviation were recorded.

Results:

Productivity and usability ratings were significantly worse for the keyboard with spacing of 16 × 19 mm compared with the other keyboards. Differences on these measures between the other keyboards were not significant. Muscle activity tended to increase in the left forearm and decrease in the right with decreasing horizontal key spacing. There was also a trend for left wrist extension to increase and left ulnar deviation to decrease with decreasing horizontal key spacing. Reducing vertical key spacing from 19 to 17 mm had no significant effect on productivity or usability ratings.

Conclusions:

The study findings support key spacing on a computer keyboard between 17 and 19 mm in both vertical and horizontal directions.

Applications:

These findings may influence keyboard standards and the design of keyboards.
Factors Influencing Subjects’ Observed Level of Suicide by Cop Intent
Authors: Lord Vivian B.
Published: November 2012

The term suicide by cop (SbC) is used commonly for police-involved shootings that could be considered suicides because of the subject’s precipitated actions that demonstrate suicidal intent. The intent of the subject’s actions is often complicated and rarely understood. Using Lord and Sloop’s revised SbC decision model, the current study used a legal intervention incidents subset within the National Violent Death Reporting System data established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to examine the intent of subjects who were reported to have died violently through the involvement of law enforcement. The study’s results support the importance of multiple points of data to make decisions of SbC. Based on the current model, certain personal characteristics, history of suicide attempts, a domestic dispute in progress, and refusal to surrender significantly contributed to the strength of association. Factors considered indicators of irrational thought were not found to be significant predictors.
Blinding Trust
Authors: Rotella Katie N. , Richeson Jennifer A. , Chiao Joan Y. , Bean Meghan G.
Published: November 2012

Four studies investigate how perceptions that one’s social group has been victimized in society—that is, perceived group victimhood (PGV)—influence intergroup trust. Jewish and politically conservative participants played an economic trust game ostensibly with “partners” from their ingroup and/or a salient outgroup. Across studies, participants dispositionally or primed to be high in PGV revealed greater trust behavior with ingroup than outgroup partners. Control participants and those dispositionally low in PGV did not display such bias. Study 3 revealed, moreover, that high PGV enhanced ingroup trust even after an overt betrayal by an ingroup partner. Results were not explained by fluctuations in group identification, highlighting the novel, independent role of PGV in shaping an important aspect of intergroup relations—that is, trust. Implications of PGV for intergroup relations are discussed.
The Influence of Item Calibration Error on Variable-Length Computerized Adaptive Testing
Authors: Patton Jeffrey M. , Cheng Ying , Yuan Ke-Hai , Diao Qi
Published: November 2012

Variable-length computerized adaptive testing (VL-CAT) allows both items and test length to be “tailored” to examinees, thereby achieving the measurement goal (e.g., scoring precision or classification) with as few items as possible. Several popular test termination rules depend on the standard error of the ability estimate, which in turn depends on the item parameter values. However, items are chosen on the basis of their parameter estimates, and capitalization on chance may occur. In this article, the authors investigated the effects of capitalization on chance on test length and classification accuracy in several VL-CAT simulations. The results confirm that capitalization on chance occurs in VL-CAT and has complex effects on test length, ability estimation, and classification accuracy. These results have important implications for the design and implementation of VL-CATs.
Demand-Perception and Self-Motivation as Opponent Processes
Authors: Bledow Ronald
Published: November 2012

This article attempts to move beyond the contradictions regarding the motivational effects of self-efficacy. Self-efficacy beliefs are viewed as the conscious reflection of an implicit process of self-motivation that occurs as a response to the perception of increased demands. A positive rate of change in self-efficacy beliefs, rather than a steady state of self-efficacy, indicates self-motivation and is associated with positive motivational consequences. It is argued that the oscillating interplay of demand-perception and self-motivation is linked to the dynamics of positive and negative affect. The theoretical model can account for the conflicting findings that exist with regard to the motivational consequences of self-efficacy and opens an agenda for future research.
Positive, but not negative, facial expressions facilitate 3-month-olds’ recognition of an individual face
Authors: Brenna Viola , Proietti Valentina , Montirosso Rosario , Turati Chiara
Published: November 2012

The current study examined whether and how the presence of a positive or a negative emotional expression may affect the face recognition process at 3 months of age. Using a familiarization procedure, Experiment 1 demonstrated that positive (i.e., happiness), but not negative (i.e., fear and anger) facial expressions facilitate infants’ ability to recognize an individual face. Experiment 2 showed that the advantage of positive over negative facial expressions is driven by the processing of salient features inherent in the happy expression, rather than by the processing of the configural information conveyed by the entire happy face. Overall, these results support the presence of a mutual interaction between face identity and emotion recognition.
Oncologic and Functional Outcomes of Partial Laryngeal Surgery for Intermediate‐Stage Laryngeal Cancer
Authors: Caicedo‐Granados Emiro , Beswick Daniel M. , Christopoulos Apostolos , Cunningham Diana E. , Razfar Ali , Ohr James P. , Heron Dwight E. , Ferris Robert L.
Published: November 2012

Objective

To evaluate the oncologic and functional outcomes of partial laryngeal surgery (PLS) using transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) and supracricoid laryngectomy (SCL) in patients with intermediate‐stage laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC).

Study Design

Historical cohort study.

Setting

Single tertiary care center.

Subjects and Methods

Retrospective review of oncologic and functional outcomes in intermediate‐stage (T2‐3/N0‐1, stage II and III) LSCC patients who underwent TLM or SCL from 1998 to 2010.

Results

Sixty patients were included, of whom 28 (47%) underwent TLM and 32 (53%) underwent SCL. For the entire cohort, 2‐ and 5‐year probabilities were 86.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 73.0%‐93.2%) and 72.9% (95% CI, 52.4%‐85.6%), respectively, for overall survival (OS) and 79.3% (95% CI, 65.6%‐88.0%) and 62.4% (95% CI, 41.9%‐77.4%), respectively, for recurrence‐free survival (RFS). There was no difference between the TLM and SCL cohorts in OS (P =. 542) or RFS (P =. 483). More than 75% of patients avoided adjuvant therapy. Communication Scale and Functional Outcome Swallowing Scale scores at median follow‐up of 33 months were 2 or better in 97% and 91% of patients, respectively, reflecting functional voice and swallowing postoperatively. Eighty‐eight percent of patients retained a functional larynx.

Conclusion

PLS provides excellent oncologic and functional outcomes for intermediate‐stage LSCC and should be considered an alternative to chemoradiation or total laryngectomy in selected patients.
Voodoo versus me–you correlations in relationship neuroscience
Authors: Beckes Lane , Coan James A.
Published: November 2012

Relationships are an ideal context within which to explore correlations in psychophysiological and brain imaging data, but correlational analyses in functional magnetic resonance imaging are often poorly understood, and fears of non-independent correlational “voodoo” may arouse concern whenever they are used. This paper illustrates how correlations have been used to measure both within-relationship and within-subject covariance in ways that illuminate important relationship processes and linkages. We will outline historical and contemporary examples of correlational approaches that have been utilized in unique and important ways in relationship research, and discuss our own research using innovative correlational approaches to explore interpersonal empathy and identification.
Interactive effects of social support and disclosure on fertility-related stress
Authors: Martins Mariana V. , Peterson Brennan D. , Costa Patrício , Costa Maria E. , Lund Rikke , Schmidt Lone
Published: November 2012

Individuals perceiving high social support tend to perceive better adjustment to infertility. However, it remains unclear whether this benefit is affected by the actual disclosure of the infertility condition. The present study aimed to examine the role of disclosure of fertility status in moderating the relationship between perceived social support and fertility-related stress. The study population ( N = 698) was drawn from a longitudinal cohort design of Danish men and women beginning fertility treatment with a 12-month follow-up. Participants were 698 subjects (364 women and 334 men) who completed self-administered questionnaires measuring perceived social support at T1, and fertility status disclosure and fertility stress at T2. Results indicated that when infertility is not disclosed to at least a close relationship, the beneficial effects of social support on both social and personal stress cease to exist. Also, when participants perceived high social support, higher levels of social and personal stress were associated with keeping infertility a secret within close relationships, but when low social support was perceived, high social and personal stress levels were associated with disclosing infertility to all close relationships. Findings from this study provide evidence that the prospective relationship between social support and fertility-related stress is moderated by the decision of disclosing infertility. Infertility health professionals can help couples in deciding to which contexts they should disclose their infertility by assessing social support.
Generalized Additive Models for the Analysis of EQ-5D Utility Data
Authors: Pullenayegum Eleanor M. , Wong Hoi Suen , Childs Aaron
Published: November 2012

Background. Measured utility data have a discrete distribution, and the discreteness is particularly pronounced for EQ-5D utilities. Given the discreteness of the data, modeling the distribution parametrically is likely to be difficult. Moreover, since the distribution is bounded, the linearity assumptions made by many models are questionable. This article suggests using semi-parametric models and illustrates the use of generalized additive models (GAMs) for handling nonlinear associations. Methods. A simulation study is used to explore whether bias arises when applying parametric models to discrete utility data. A further simulation investigates the bias in semi-parametric linear and quasi–beta regression models when the assumed linearity does not hold and also investigates the use of GAMs. The use of GAMs in practice is shown through a recent study of health utilities among patients with diabetes. Results. Using parametric beta models to analyze discrete EQ-5D utility data led to substantial bias. Both semi-parametric linear regression and quasi–beta regression led to biased estimates of marginal and incremental effects when the mean model was misspecified. The use of GAMs reduced these biases. Conclusions. Parametric models for EQ-5D utility data should be used with caution. Semi-parametric modeling of utility data should check for nonlinearity. GAMs can help in diagnosing and accommodating nonlinearity.
Cutaneous Metastasis of Transitional Cell Carcinoma in 12 Dogs
Authors: Reed L. T. , Knapp D. W. , Miller M. A.
Published: November 2012

In humans, cutaneous metastasis of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) has been attributed to direct extension, lymphatic or hematogenous dissemination, or surgical implantation. The purpose of this study was to characterize the clinical and histologic features of cutaneous TCC metastasis, confirmed by uroplakin-III immunohistochemistry, in dogs. The 12 cases were 9 spayed female and 3 neutered male dogs, 6 to 14 years old (mean, 11 years). Four dogs had a history of urinary incontinence. Three had undergone abdominal surgery for TCC diagnosis or treatment. The primary neoplasms were 7 papillary infiltrating and 5 nonpapillary infiltrating TCC. Cutaneous lesions were detected at a mean of 123 days (median, 38 days) after diagnosis of the primary TCC and appeared as plaques, papules, or nodules in, with 1 exception, perineal, inguinal, or ventral abdominal dermis or subcutis. Of 8 dogs with dermal TCC, 5 had epidermal erosion or ulceration. In 10 dogs, TCC was detected in cutaneous lymphatic vessels, identified by endothelial immunoreactivity for Prox1. Metastases were also detected in lymph nodes in all dogs and at distant noncutaneous sites, usually the lungs, in 10 dogs. Mean survival after diagnosis was 162 days (median, 90 days). Despite medical treatment of 10 dogs after the development of cutaneous metastasis, remission was not achieved; 4 dogs had stable disease. Although TCC could have spread to skin by direct extension or lymphatic or vascular dissemination, the proximity of most cutaneous metastases to the vulva or prepuce raises the additional possibility of transepidermal spread through urine-scalded skin.
Watering our cities
Authors: Coutts Andrew M. , Tapper Nigel J. , Beringer Jason , Loughnan Margaret , Demuzere Matthias
Published: November 2012

Urban drainage infrastructure is generally designed to rapidly export stormwater away from the urban environment to minimize flood risk created by extensive impervious surface cover. This deficit is resolved by importing high-quality potable water for irrigation. However, cities and towns at times face water restrictions in response to drought and water scarcity. This can exacerbate heating and drying, and promote the development of unfavourable urban climates. The combination of excessive heating driven by urban development, low water availability and future climate change impacts could compromise human health and amenity for urban dwellers. This paper draws on existing literature to demonstrate the potential of Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) to help improve outdoor human thermal comfort in urban areas and support Climate Sensitive Urban Design (CSUD) objectives within the Australian context. WSUD provides a mechanism for retaining water in the urban landscape through stormwater harvesting and reuse while also reducing urban temperatures through enhanced evapotranspiration and surface cooling. Research suggests that WSUD features are broadly capable of lowering temperatures and improving human thermal comfort, and when integrated with vegetation (especially trees) have potential to meet CSUD objectives. However, the degree of benefit (the intensity of cooling and improvements to human thermal comfort) depends on a multitude of factors including local environmental conditions, the design and placement of the systems, and the nature of the surrounding urban landscape. We suggest that WSUD can provide a source of water across Australian urban environments for landscape irrigation and soil moisture replenishment to maximize the urban climatic benefits of existing vegetation and green spaces. WSUD should be implemented strategically into the urban landscape, targeting areas of high heat exposure, with many distributed WSUD features at regular intervals to promote infiltration and evapotranspiration, and maintain tree health.
Black Gold, Green Earth
Authors: O’Connor Amy , Gronewold Katherine L.
Published: November 2012

This study examines 21 environmental sustainability reports from Fortune Global 500 petroleum companies to determine how competitive advantage and institutional language is used by corporations to explain their corporate social responsibility (CSR). Results suggest the environmental sustainability discourse of the world’s largest petroleum companies contains both institutional and competitive advantage language. Also, results indicate that corporations blend the two forms of CSR communication to create a comprehensive environmental CSR profile that simultaneously enhances their position within the industrial field and offers buffering protection due to intraindustry homogeneity. Competitive advantage language is used to describe the quality, scope, and innovation of their environmental CSR as superior to other companies within their industry, particularly when communicating about technology and innovations regarding conservation efforts and manufacturing processes. Institutional language is used to describe governmental regulations and laws, industry standards for CSR reporting and expenditures, and type of CSR initiatives and partnerships. Finally, the form CSR communication takes is deeply contextualized by industry and institutional pressures as well as organizational idiosyncrasies thereby challenging the universality of CSR initiatives.
Ethical decision-making and professional behaviour among nurses
Authors: Cerit Birgül , Dinç Leyla
Published: November 2012

This study examined the relationship between nurses’ ethical decision-making levels and their professional behaviours. Data were collected from 225 nurses who were recruited from university hospitals in Ankara using proportionate sampling. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlations. Most of the nurses were familiar with ethical dilemmas in nursing practice. The Nursing Principled Thinking level was above average, while the Practical Consideration level was average. Nurses’ professionalism level was low. There was a positive but weak correlation between professional behaviours of the nurses and their ethical decision-making levels. Increasing nurses’ professionalism level can provide a positive contribution to the ethical decision-making level.
The impact of the 2008–2009 crisis on the automotive industry: global trends and firm-level effects in Central Europe
Authors: Pavlínek Petr
Published: November 2012

This article examines the impact of the 2008–2009 economic crisis on the automotive industry. The uneven nature of the crisis contributed to the gradual shift in production from traditional core areas of the global automobile industry to selected less developed economies. In this context, the paper analyses the firm-level effects of the economic crisis in the Czech and Slovak automotive industries as two examples of automotive industry peripheries that were integrated in the European automobile production system and experienced rapid production increases after 1990. The analysis draws on unique data collected during a survey of 274 Czech-based and 133 Slovak-based automotive firms conducted in autumn 2009 and spring 2010, 98 company interviews conducted with automotive firms in Czechia in 2010 and 2011, and 30 interviews conducted in Slovakia in 2011. Changes in revenues, production and employment during the economic crisis are compared between Czechia and Slovakia, and are analysed according to ownership, the involvement of firms in the automotive value chain and firm size. The article also investigates plant closures and relocations in the Czech and Slovak automotive industries during the economic crisis.
Incorporating Patients’ Preferences Into Medical Decision Making
Authors: Fraenkel Liana
Published: November 2012

Current models of care emphasize the importance of including patients’ values in the decision-making process. This is particularly important for decisions for which there are few data supporting a clear strategy or treatment choice. Constructing preferences for complex decisions requires that patients be able to consider multiple trade-offs between specific risks and benefits. Several marketing research techniques have been recently applied to heath care settings to facilitate this process. Most can be programmed to generate patients’ preferences or priorities, which can then be used to improve patient–physician communication. In this article, we will describe some of the currently available approaches that have been successfully used in the health care setting. We provide case examples to illustrate the potential value of adopting each of these approaches in clinical practice.
A Randomized Experiment Investigating the Suitability of Speech-Enabled IVR and Web Modes for Publicly Reported Surveys of Patients’ Experience of Hospital Care
Authors: Elliott Marc N. , Brown Julie A. , Lehrman William G. , Beckett Megan K. , Hambarsoomian Katrin , Giordano Laura A. , Goldstein Elizabeth H.
Published: November 2012

The HCAHPS Survey obtains hospital patients’ experiences using four modes: Mail Only, Phone Only, Mixed (mail/phone follow-up), and Touch-Tone (push-button) Interactive Voice Response with option to transfer to live interviewer (TT-IVR/Phone). A new randomized experiment examines two less expensive modes: Web/Mail (mail invitation to participate by Web or request a mail survey) and Speech-Enabled IVR (SE-IVR/Phone; speaking to a voice recognition system; optional transfer to an interviewer). Web/Mail had a 12% response rate (vs. 32% for Mail Only and 33% for SE-IVR/Phone); Web/Mail respondents were more educated and less often Black than Mail Only respondents. SE-IVR/Phone respondents (who usually switched to an interviewer) were less often older than 75 years, more often English-preferring, and reported better care than Mail Only respondents. Concerns regarding inconsistencies across implementations, low adherence to primary modes, or low response rate may limit the applicability of the SE-IVR/Phone and Web/Mail modes in HCAHPS and similar standardized environments.
Justification of Wife Beating in Rural Bangladesh
Authors: Schuler Sidney Ruth , Yount Kathryn M. , Lenzi Rachel
Published: November 2012

Understanding attitudes about intimate partner violence (IPV) in cultural context is important for developing interventions to reduce it or mitigate its effects. This article presents qualitative findings from research conducted in rural Bangladesh to understand men’s and women’s responses to attitudinal questions about IPV. Both men and women often responded as if the questions were about their personal behavior. A few women said that their opinion did not matter. Women’s responses were more sensitive than men’s to contextual nuances in the questions, and men more often than women described their own attitudes as consistent with community norms.
Subchronic Hepatotoxicity Evaluation of Hydrazobenzene in Fischer 344 Rats
Authors: Dodd Darol E. , Pluta Linda J. , Sochaski Mark A. , Wall Henry G. , Thomas Russell S.
Published: November 2012

Male F344 rats were exposed to hydrazobenzene (HZB) by dietary feed at concentrations of 0, 5, 20, 80, 200, or 300 ppm for 5 days, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, or 13 weeks duration. End points evaluated included clinical observations, body weights, liver weights, serum chemistry, blood HZB, gross pathology, and liver histopathology. There were no HZB exposure-related clinical signs of toxicity. During study weeks 8 through 13, body weight means in rats of the 300 ppm group were 6% lower compared to control rat means. Serum alkaline phosphatase concentrations were decreased in rats of the 300 ppm group at all time points. Relative (to body weight) liver weight increases were observed in rats of the 200 and 300 ppm groups following 5 days (300 ppm only), 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 13 weeks of exposure. Following 13 weeks of exposure, microscopic findings in the liver were observed only in rats of the 200 and 300 ppm groups and consisted of hypertrophy, macrovesiculation, eosinophilic granular cytoplasm, and bile duct duplication. Blood HZB concentrations ranged from 0.002 to 0.006 µg/mL in rats of the 200 or 300 ppm groups. A no observed effect level of 80 ppm (4.80 mg/kg per d) was selected based on the observation of microscopic hepatocyte alterations at ≥200 ppm HZB.
Using the Concept of “Population Dose” in Planning and Evaluating Community-Level Obesity Prevention Initiatives
Authors: Cheadle Allen , Schwartz Pamela M. , Rauzon Suzanne , Bourcier Emily , Senter Sandra , Spring Rebecca , Beery William L.
Published: November 2012

When planning and evaluating community-level initiatives focused on policy and environment change, it is useful to have estimates of the impact on behavioral outcomes of particular strategies (e.g., building a new walking trail to promote physical activity). We have created a measure of estimated strategy-level impact—“population dose”—based on our work in evaluating obesity prevention initiatives that uses elements of the RE-AIM method of combining reach and effectiveness to estimate the impact of a strategy on risk behaviors within a target population. We provide a definition and examples of measuring population dose, discuss measurement options in the face of uncertainty about key parameters, review ways of increasing population dose, and illustrate how the concept of population dose has been used in the Kaiser Permanente Community Health Initiative.
Effect of Postpartum Practices of Doing the Month on Chinese Women’s Physical and Psychological Health
Authors: Liu Yan Qun , Maloni Judith A. , Petrini Marcia A.
Published: November 2012

The purpose of the study was to describe Chinese women’s postpartum physiological and psychological health and adherence to “doing-the-month” practices. A descriptive repeated measures design was used, with data collected at 3 days and 6 weeks postpartum. The convenience sample consisted of 198 healthy childbearing women with a term birth. Maternal physical health was measured by the Six-Minute Walk (endurance), Chair Stand test (muscle strength), severity of physical symptoms, and physical health subscales of SF36v2. Maternal psychological health was measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression scale. Adherence was measured by the Adherence to Doing-the-Month Practices questionnaire. Aerobic endurance and lower-body muscle strength improved significantly across time ( p < .001) but remained suboptimal for maternal age. Women who delivered by Cesarean section had significantly poorer physical health than those who had a vaginal delivery. Physical functioning significantly increased, but general health and role limitations due to physical health significantly decreased over time. Postpartum physical symptoms decreased in number and severity. Depression increased over time ( p < .001). Adherence to doing the month was negatively correlated with aerobic endurance and positively correlated with depression at 6 weeks ( p < .05). These findings challenge the assumption that practices of doing the month are healthy for Chinese women’s recovery after childbirth. Research-based evidence needs to be integrated into doing-the-month practices. Education of Chinese women and families, whether living at home or abroad, is needed about the adverse health effects of doing the month. Routine screening for postpartum depression is also advised.
A proposed modification to the McDonald 2010 criteria for the diagnosis of primary progressive multiple sclerosis
Authors: Kelly SB , Kinsella K , Duggan M , Tubridy N , McGuigan C , Hutchinson M
Published: November 2012

Background:

The diagnostic criteria for primary–progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) have undergone revision over the last 20 years. Cerebrospinal fluid oligoclonal bands (CSFOBs) have received less emphasis in recent revisions of the McDonald criteria. The aim of this study was to examine the sensitivity of the diagnostic criteria for PPMS with particular reference to spinal cord criteria and examine the utility of CSFOBs in a cohort of PPMS patients.

Methods:

All new PPMS diagnoses between 1990 and 2011 were identified. Baseline clinical details and paraclinical evaluations including MRI of the brain, spinal cord, CSF and visually evoked responses (VERs) were assessed. The proportion of patients who met the requirements for diagnosis of PPMS on the basis of Thompson’s and the McDonald Criteria (2001, 2005, 2010) were determined.

Results:

There were 88/95 PPMS patients who had at least two diagnostic investigations. The sensitivity of Thompson’s and the McDonald 2001 criteria was 64%; the McDonald 2010 revisions gave the highest sensitivity (77%); the McDonald 2005 criteria had intermediate sensitivity (74%). The combination of CSFOBs and MRI of the brain yielded the greatest number of patients demonstrating dissemination in space (DIS) on only two investigations. VERs did not aid diagnosis. Reducing requirements for the number of spinal cord lesions (symptomatic or not) to one increased diagnostic sensitivity to 84%.

Conclusion:

An alternative criterion requiring two of: i) MRI of the brain with one or more lesions in two of three regions typical for demyelination; ii) the presence of one T2-weighted spinal cord plaque (typical for demyelination); iii) CSFOBs; would increase the diagnostic sensitivity for PPMS.
Whose fault is it? Exoneration and allocation of personal responsibility in relationship manuals
Authors: Hazleden Becca
Published: November 2012

It is often argued that self-help books negate citizenship and the public sphere by promoting a hyper-responsibility in which individuals are rendered entirely responsible for their own life experiences, without reference to social relations. This article argues that discourses of responsibility in self-help literature are more complex and ambiguous, and that this is in part due to the widespread influence of codependency theory, and in part due to tensions within liberal-democratic political ideologies.
Entrepreneurial marketing and accommodation businesses in East Peninsular Malaysia
Authors: Jaafar Mastura
Published: November 2012

The development of tourism and the hospitality industry has paved the way for the proliferation in this region of many small- and medium-accommodation businesses, which are usually dependent on the attractiveness of tourism products offered in each tourist destination. The present study focuses on the entrepreneurial marketing aspect of accommodation businesses in three urban cities and islands in East Peninsular Malaysia.

Mixed-method research was conducted on 64 urban hotels and 52 island chalet operators in East Peninsular Malaysia. The results indicate that urban operators are more entrepreneurial than island operators. To remain competitive, urban operators adopt various marketing practices. Different tourist destinations attract different tourist profiles and deploy different marketing strategies. The present study explores in detail the significant differences in the types of entrepreneurial marketing practiced by urban and island operators.
Compressive sampling–based data loss recovery for wireless sensor networks used in civil structural health monitoring
Authors: Bao Yuequan , Li Hui , Sun Xiaodan , Yu Yan , Ou Jinping
Published: November 2012

In a wireless sensor network, data loss often occurs during the data transmission between the wireless sensor nodes and the base station. In the wireless sensor network applications for civil structural health monitoring, the errors caused by data loss inevitably affect the data analysis of the structure and subsequent decision making. This article explores a novel application of compressive sampling to recover the lost data in a wireless sensor network used in structural health monitoring. The main idea in this approach is to first perform a linear projection of the transmitted data x onto y by a random matrix and subsequently to transmit the data y to the base station. The original data x are then reconstructed on the base station from the data y using the compressive sampling method. The acceleration time series collected by the field test on the Jinzhou West Bridge and the Structural Health Monitoring System on the National Aquatics Center in Beijing are employed to validate the accuracy of the proposed data loss recovery approach. The results indicate that good recovery accuracy can be obtained if the original data have a sparse characteristic in some orthonormal basis, whereas the recovery accuracy is degraded when the original data are not sparse in the orthonormal basis.