bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Human Gastric Juice Contains Chitinase That Can Degrade Chitin
Authors: Paoletti Maurizio G. , Norberto Lorenzo , Damini Roberta , Musumeci Salvatore
Published: June 2007

Chitin digestion by humans has generally been questioned or denied. Only recently chitinases have been found in several human tissues and their role has been associated with defense against parasite infections and to some allergic conditions. In this pilot study we tested the gastric juices of 25 Italian subjects on the artificial substrates 4-methylumbelliferyl-β-D-N,N’,diacetylchitobiose or/and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) chitin to demonstrate the presence of a chitinase activity. Since this chitinase activity was demonstrated at acidic pH, it is currently referred to acidic mammalian chitinase (AMCase). AMCase activity was present in gastric juices of twenty of 25 Italian patients in a range of activity from 0.21 to 36.27 nmol/ml/h and from 8,881 to 1,254,782 fluorescence emission (CPS), according to the used methods. In the remaining five of 25 gastric juices, AMCase activity was almost absent in both assay methods. An allosamidine inhibition test and the measurement at different pH values confirmed that this activity was characteristic of AMCase. The absence of activity in 20% of the gastric juices may be a consequence of virtual absence of chitinous food in the Western diet.
Adipokine Gene Expression in a Novel Hypothalamic Neuronal Cell Line: Resistin-Dependent Regulation of Fasting-Induced Adipose Factor and SOCS-3
Authors: Brown Russell , Imran Syed A. , Belsham Denise D. , Ur Ehud , Wilkinson Michael
Published: June 2007

Adipokines such as leptin, resistin, and fasting-induced adipose factor (FIAF) are secreted by adipocytes, but their expression is also detectable in the brain and pituitary. The role of central adipokines remains elusive, but we speculate that they may modulate those hypothalamic signaling pathways that control energy homeostasis. Here we describe experiments to test this in which we exploited a novel hypothalamic neuronal cell line (N-1) that expresses a variety of neuropeptides and receptors that are known to be implicated in appetite regulation. Using real-time RT-PCR, we confirmed that N-1 neurons express resistin (rstn) and fiaf, as well as suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 (socs-3), a feedback inhibitor of leptin signaling. Treating N-1 cells with recombinant resistin (200 ng/ml, 30 min) reduced both fiaf (25%, p < 0.005) and socs-3 (29%, p < 0.005) mRNA levels, and similar reductions in fiaf (40%, p < 0.001) and socs-3 (25%, p < 0.001) resulted following the overexpression of resistin. Conversely, when RNA interference (RNAi) was used to reduce endogenous rstn levels (–60%, p < 0.005), fiaf and socs-3 expression was increased (46 and 65% respectively, p < 0.005). A similar reduction in rstn mRNA was achieved using RNAi in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and this manipulation also reduced fiaf and socs-3 expression (–53, –21 and –20% respectively, p < 0.005). In contrast, although RNAi successfully reduced fiaf mRNA by 50% (p < 0.001) in N-1 cells and 40% (p < 0.001) in 3T3-L1 cells, there was no effect on rstn or socs-3 mRNA. These data suggest that resistin exerts a novel autocrine/paracrine control over fiaf and socs-3 expression in both 3T3-L1 adipocytes and N-1 neurons. Such a mechanism could be part of the central feedback system that modulates the effects of adipokines, and other adiposity signals, implicated in hypothalamic energy homeostasis. However, it remains to be determined whether these in vitro results can be translated to the control of adipokine expression in brain and adipose tissue.
Improvement in Provider Immunization Knowledge and Behaviors Following a Peer Education Intervention
Authors: Boom Julie A. , Nelson Cynthia S. , Laufman Larry E. , Kohrt Alan E. , Kozinetz Claudia A.
Published: June 2007

Provider education programs that use academic detailing to improve childhood immunization have been implemented in several states. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of these types of programs to improve immunization-related behaviors in private provider offices. The intervention included peer-based academic detailing in which teams of 1 physician, 1 nurse, and 1 office manager visited pediatric and family practices to deliver an educational presentation and develop practice-specific action plans. Comparison of pre—post intervention surveys showed that providers' willingness to give the maximum number of immunizations due at 1 visit ( P < .001) increased. More providers reported routinely screening immunization records at sickness or injury visits ( P < .05) and using minimum intervals ( P < .001) postintervention. Mean change in baseline and postintervention overall scores was significant for pediatric practices (0.40, P < .05), small practices (0.64, P < .01), Vaccines for Children (VFC) practices (0.74, P < .05), and non-VFC provider practices (0.67, P < .01) but not for family or large practices.
A Child With Primary Sjögren Syndrome and a Review of the Literature
Authors: Civilibal Mahmut , Canpolat Nur , Yurt Ayse , Kurugoglu Sebuh , Erdamar Sibel , Bagci Onur , Sever Lale , Kasapcopur Ozgur , Caliskan Salim , Arisoy Nil
Published: June 2007

Primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS) is an uncommon disease in childhood. Childhood pSS might have different clinical manifestations than adult pSS. We describe a 13-year-old girl with multiple episodes of bilateral parotid swelling lasting 2 years. Her history included severe arthralgia, local edema, and purpura episodes since 9 years of age. During her 3-week hospitalization, 2 episodes of parotid swelling occurred, which both resolved in 48 hours. Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance images of parotid glands showed parenchymal inhomogeneity related to adipose degeneration and nodular pattern. Investigations showed elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, the presence of hypergammaglobulinemia, positive antinuclear antibody, and elevated rheumatoid factor, anti—Sjögren syndrome antigen A, and anti—Sjögren syndrome antigen B. Histopathologic examination of labial minor salivary glands revealed focal periductal lymphocytic infiltrate and sialoduct ectasia. She was diagnosed as having pSS. Recurrent parotid swelling is a more characteristic feature of disease in children, and this finding should alert the clinician to the possible diagnosis of pSS.
The Role of Parents in High-Achieving Schools Serving Low-Income, At-Risk Populations
Authors: Ingram Melissa , Wolfe Randi B. , Lieberman Joyce M.
Published: June 2007

This study investigates the critical elements of parent involvement as related to children's improved academic achievement. Survey data were collected from 220 parents whose children attend three Chicago public elementary schools. The schools serve largely minority, low-income populations and score in the top third of the Illinois State Achievement Tests. Using Epstein's framework of parent involvement, we found that participants indicated a stronger tendency to participate in two of Epstein's typologies: Type I (Parenting) and Type IV (Learning at Home). Results suggest that schools struggling with unsatisfactory student achievement may benefit from focusing parent involvement efforts on building parenting capacity and encouraging learning-at-home activities.
Detection of Crossing Differential Item Functioning
Authors: Holmes Finch W. , French Brian F.
Published: June 2007

Differential item functioning (DIF) continues to receive attention both in applied and methodological studies. Because DIF can be an indicator of irrelevant variance that can influence test scores, continuing to evaluate and improve the accuracy of detection methods is an essential step in gathering score validity evidence. Methods for detecting uniform DIF are well established, whereas those for identifying the presence of nonuniform or crossing DIF are less clearly understood. Four such methods were compared: simultaneous item bias test (SIBTEST), logistic regression, item response theory likelihood ratio test, and confirmatory factor analysis. Factors manipulated were sample size, ability differences between groups, percentage of DIF, and the underlying model used to generate the data. Results suggest that all methods were able to control Type I error, but SIBTEST had the highest power of the approaches compared. Problems with detection rates were evident with different underlying models.
Substance Use Scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory
Authors: Miller Christopher S. , Shields Alan L. , Campfield Delia , Wallace Kim A. , Weiss Roger D.
Published: June 2007

Three drug and alcohol use screening scales are embedded within the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory—2: the MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale (MAC) and its revised version (MAC-R), the Addiction Acknowledgement Scale (AAS), and the Addiction Potential Scale (APS). The current study evaluated the reliability reporting practices among 210 studies administering the MAC/MAC-R, APS, and/or AAS. Furthermore, reliability generalization methods were used to characterize the previously reported reliability estimates associated with each instrument. The vast majority of studies (90.6%) did not provide measurement reliability data, suggesting a need for improved psychometric reporting. Data from the remaining studies yielded mean and median score reliability estimates below .70 for each of the identified measures. Although limited in some instances by sample size constraints, results suggest that these instruments tend not to produce scores with acceptable levels of reliability for most research or clinical situations.
The File Drawer Problem in Reliability Generalization
Authors: Howell Ryan T. , Shields Alan L.
Published: June 2007

Meta-analytic reliability generalizations (RGs) are limited by the scarcity of reliability reporting in primary articles, and currently, RG investigators lack a method to quantify the impact of such nonreporting. This article introduces a stepwise procedure to address this challenge. First, the authors introduce a formula that allows researchers to estimate the lower bound population average reliability for a desired instrument. Second, they present an equation to determine the Fail-Safe N for RG. This equation estimates the number of ``file drawer'' studies required to drop the aggregate score reliability of an instrument below a specified criterion value. Finally, the authors demonstrate the utility of these equations using published RG studies. Comments on the conclusions drawn from each RG application are provided.
Personal Satisfaction and Economic Improvement
Authors: Harvey Adia M.
Published: June 2007

Research that examines the intersections of race, gender, and class in the labor market often points to the fact that African American women are concentrated in the lowest sectors of the labor market, performing the least desirable jobs. Discrimination, the dislocation of work, and even cultural deficiency have all been posited as explanations for Black women's disproportionate concentration in low-wage work. Rather than adding to the voluminous literature that addresses the structural causes for Black women's overrepresentation in this sector of the labor market, this study explores the viability of entrepreneurship as a route to economic stability for working-class Black women. Accepting the reality that working-class Black women are heavily represented among low-wage workers, this study draws from interviews with Black women salon owners to determine whether this form of entrepreneurship functions as a feasible alternative to low-wage labor.
Race and Gender in the Media
Authors: Hazell Vanessa , Clarke Juanne
Published: June 2007

The present study examines the portrayal of Black men and women in the images and texts of advertisements featured in Black-oriented magazines. A comparative content analysis is conducted on ads featured in Essence and Jet magazines for 2003 and 2004. Quantitative and qualitative data analyses reveal that Black people are portrayed both positively and negatively. Ideologies of racism and White supremacy continue to pervade advertisements featured in Black magazines, and this is problematic because new images and texts concerning Black people will be based on such negative attitudes. It is not enough to increase the number of positive portrayals of Black people; negative portrayals must also decrease and eventually be eliminated altogether.
(Re)Expressions of African/Caribbean Cultural Roots in Canada
Authors: Chioneso Nkechinyelum A.
Published: June 2007

This qualitative article examines the importance of collectivism expressed by both newcomers and established Ghanaian and Jamaican immigrants in Canada. Toronto residents ( N = 32) participated in structured face-to-face interviews consisting of 32 open-ended questions examining individualism— collectivism and cultural orientation. Results indicated that the majority of participants maintained a collectivistic cultural orientation, despite their length of residency in Canada, as a result of three major factors. First, participants' social networks facilitate the migration and adaptation of newcomers and thus perpetuate collectivistic principles. Second, as a symbol of identity, participants actively value and promote their collectivistic cultural attributes. Finally, participants' cultural collectivism encourages the establishment of highly interwoven transnational ties that reinforces collectivistic orientational interactions. The findings suggest that conscious engagement is a necessary component of collectivistic endeavors to actualize group goals.
Charles Burnett
Authors: Merritt Bishetta D.
Published: June 2007

Charles Burnett, award-winning filmmaker and scriptwriter, creates images on film that reflect African American culture. Burnett's films celebrate the Black familiar and confirm that African American life is symbolically rich with tradition, yet unique and colorful. His films, Killer of Sheep (1977), My Brother's Wedding (1983), To Sleep With Anger (1990), and The Glass Shield (1994), were critically analyzed to determine how his use of creative plots, verbal imagery, and African American cultural traditions serve to depict realistic pictures of African American life on screen. It is clear the images he creates emanate from his experiences, not those created and supported by the Hollywood studio system. He is a gifted narratist and remains true to the tenets of the independent film movement, “The L.A. Rebellion.”
Lettuce, Segmented Labor Markets, and the Immigration Discourse
Authors: Schwartzman Kathleen C.
Published: June 2007

It would seem to be ridiculously obvious that industries in the South employed an African American labor force. However, the hegemony of the immigration discourse—“they take jobs that nobody wants”—indicates the need to reiterate some historical facts. Do immigrants take jobs that nobody wants? The author reviews the assumptions of media reports and advocacy groups regarding labor market niches of immigrants. They portray a labor force that is immutably segmented into a primary and secondary sector. This notion is inconsistent with (a) early work theorizing a shifting labor market frontier, (b) earlier empirical work analyzing fluctuating boundaries, and (c) the contemporary labor market that exhibits decreasing segmentation. The author examines the poultry industry in five Southeastern states from 1980 to 2000. Although those jobs fit the profile of the secondary sector (that “nobody wants”), a decade earlier they were occupied by African Americans. We must revise the immigration debate.
Heroism and the Supernatural in the African Epic
Authors: Deme Mariam Konate
Published: June 2007

This article is a critical analysis of the role and function of the supernatural in African epics. It is necessitated by the persistent misconception and misrepresentation of the African epic that argue that in the African epic, too much emphasis is put on the hero's recourse to nonhuman means rather than on his natural force, which, in a Western conceptualization, typifies heroism. Therefore, the author's main contention in this article is that the significance of the fantastic and its use as an essential element in the dramatic structure of African epics can be fully appreciated only against the cosmological background of the societies that produce those heroic tales.
Scourge of Racism
Authors: White Kenneth R.
Published: June 2007

One of the major social problems of the 21st century is the problem of the color line. Racism is any activity by individuals, groups, institutions, or cultures that treats human beings unjustly because of color, physical features, and ethnicity and rationalizes that treatment by attributing to them undesirable biological, psychological, social, or cultural characteristics. Rwanda is no exception to the effects of racism. More than 800,000 Rwandans were killed in the government-directed ethnic cleansing of Tutsis and Hutus during 1994. It is considered this century's best organized genocide. New plans and visions for peace and justice must include a psychocultural segment for social therapy if the cycle of violence is to be broken in Rwanda and the Great Lakes Region.
Pharmacokinetics of an Oral Drug (Acetaminophen) Administered at Various Times Relative to Subcutaneous Injection of Pramlintide in Subjects With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Kellmeyer Terrie A. , Kesty Nicole C. , Wang Yan , Frias Juan P. , Fineman Mark S.
Published: June 2007

Pramlintide, an adjunct treatment to mealtime insulin for patients with type 2 and type 1 diabetes, aids glycemic control by suppressing postprandial glucagon secretion, slowing gastric emptying, and enhancing satiety. Because gastric emptying affects oral medication absorption, this placebo‐controlled, single‐blind, crossover study examined the absorption of 1000 mg of acetaminophen elixir administered −2, −1, 0, +1, and +2 hours relative to pramlintide (120 μg) or 0 hours relative to placebo in 24 patients with type 2 diabetes. When acetaminophen administration occurred 0, +1, or +2 hours relative to pramlintide, the maximum observed plasma concentration of acetaminophen decreased 14% to 29%, and time to maximum observed plasma concentration increased by 0.8 to 1.2 hours compared with administration 0 hours relative to placebo. Pramlintide treatment slowed but did not alter the extent of acetaminophen absorption (area under the concentration‐time curve). No serious adverse events or withdrawals were reported. Oral agents should be administered at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after pramlintide injection if rapid onset of action is required for efficacy.
Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Neuroendocrine Effects of PRX‐00023, a Novel 5‐HT1A Agonist, in Healthy Subjects
Authors: Iyer Ganesh R. , Jr John F. Reinhard , Oshana Scott , Kauffman Michael , Donahue Stephen
Published: June 2007

PRX‐00023 is a novel, nonazapirone 5‐HT1A agonist in clinical development for treatment of affective disorders. The objectives of the initial clinical phase I studies (a single ascending dose study and multiple dose‐ascending and high‐dose titration studies) were to measure the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamic (neuroendocrine) effects, and tolerability of PRX‐00023 in healthy subjects. The studies evaluated 10‐mg to 150‐mg doses of PRX‐00023 in up to 112 healthy male and female subjects aged 18 to 54 years. Single and multiple oral doses of PRX‐00023 were found to be safe and well tolerated in healthy subjects. PRX‐00023 was absorbed relatively rapidly, with a tmax of 0.5 to 2 hours, and eliminated with a half‐life of approximately 12 hours. PRX‐00023 treatment transiently increased blood prolactin levels 2 to 3 hours after administration, consistent with its mechanism as a 5‐HT1A agonist.
Inmate Thinking Patterns
Authors: Mandracchia Jon T. , Morgan Robert D. , Garos Sheila , Garland J. Travis
Published: June 2007

This study investigated patterns of maladaptive thinking in 435 offenders and sought to develop and preliminarily validate a measure of criminal thinking patterns. An exploratory factor analysis of 77 thinking errors derived from four theories of cognitive distortions that influence behavior yielded a three-factor model of dysfunctional thinking among offenders. Interpretations of these three factors were provided (i.e., Control, Cognitive Immaturity, and Egocentrism). Implications for treatment and future research with offenders, using the conceptualization of erroneous thinking posited by the three-factor model, are discussed.
Militaries in Business
Authors: Mani Kristina
Published: June 2007

Over the course of the twentieth century, militaries in the developing world adopted roles as owners and managers of economic enterprises that constitute an important source of financial and institutional autonomy from the state and society. This article identifies several distinct types of military entrepreneurship and argues that their development depends on patterns of state capacity, military professionalization, and threat conditions facing the country. Case studies of Pakistan, El Salvador, and China test the argument, exploring both the origins of military business activities and their current condition. The study finds that military entrepreneurship is harmful to the achievement or maintenance of military professionalism and that it is quite durable because it adapts to prevailing market conditions and therefore can weather major shifts toward democracy and the market.
North Korea and the ROK–U.S. Security Alliance
Authors: Seongwhun Cheon
Published: June 2007

The Republic of Korea–U.S. alliance has encountered the most turbulent period in the history of the bilateral relationship. The apparent decline of the relationship worsened with the developing North Korean nuclear crisis after October 2002 and the election of new leadership in South Korea. Gaping differences are appearing over key issues, which adversely influence the bilateral relations. This article argues that there are two underlying reasons that have brought about these differences—identity crisis and deficiency in mutual understanding. Variations in state identity can affect the national security interests or polices of states, and Seoul and Washington have shown different identities, especially with respect to Pyongyang. While alliance is a moving target that needs continuous attention and adaptation, the two countries failed to catch up with each other's changes. This article investigates and highlights the gaping alliance differences and proposes some remedial measures for a better future of the bilateral alliance.
Reassessing Victory in Warfare
Authors: Mandel Robert
Published: June 2007

This study takes a fresh conceptual look at modern military victory so as to shed new light on the meaning of victory in the post-Cold War global security context and to probe the pitfalls and opportunities surrounding the pursuit of war-winning and peace-winning strategies. This analysis identifies competing notions of victory, defines the notion of strategic victory, common fallacies by victors, and discusses some ideas about how to improve management of complexities surrounding modern victory.
Novel Injectable and In situ Curable Glycolide/Lactide Based Biodegradable Polymer Resins and Composites
Authors: Xie Dong , Park Jong-Gu , Zhao Jun , Turner Charles H.
Published: June 2007

Novel in situ polymerizable liquid three-arm biodegradable oligomeric polyesters based upon glycolic acid (GA), L-lactic acid (LLA), and their copolymers are synthesized and characterized. Injectable and in situ curable polymer neat resins and their composites formulated with bioabsorbable beta-tricalcium phosphate are prepared at room temperature using photo- and redox-initiation systems, respectively. The cured neat resins show the initial compressive yield strength (YCS, MPa), modulus (M, MPa), ultimate compressive strength (UCS, MPa), and toughness (T, kN mm), ranging from 4.0 to 20.1, 201.5 to 730.2, 82.7 to 310.5, and 1.02 to 3.93. The cured composites show the initial YCS, M, UCS and T, ranging from 27.7 to 56.4, 1440 to 4870, 81.6 to 158.9, and 0.94 to 1.97. Increasing GA/LLA ratio increases all the initial compressive strengths of both neat resins and composites. Increasing filler content increases YCS and M but decreases UCS and T. A diametral tensile strength test shows the same trend as a compressive strength test. There seems to be an optimal flexural strength for the composite at the filler content around 43%. An increasing molar ratio increases curing time but decreases the degree of conversion (DC). An increasing filler content increases curing time but decreases exotherm and DC. During the course of degradation, all the materials show a burst degradation behavior within 24 h, followed by an increase in CS. The poly(glycolic acid) neat resin completely loses its strength at around Day 45. The composites completely lose their strengths at different time intervals, depending on their molar ratio and filler content. The degradation rate is found to be molar ratio and filler-content dependent.
A Bioabsorbable Microcatheter for the Continuous and Direct Treatment of Surgical Sites
Authors: Cichocki Frank R. , Barbolt Thomas A. , Savidge Sandy J. , Chen Gavin , Zhou Jack
Published: June 2007

A bioabsorbable microcatheter comprising of a polyglycolideco-lactide microtube and an absorbable braid is developed for the continuous delivery of therapeutic fluids directly to a surgical site. Studies conducted with tissue staining dye and radio-opaque solution using porcine models indicate that infusion of fluids in the wound site is rapid and complete. The tissue reaction to the microtube and braid is generally characterized by minimal to mild chronic inflammation or foreign body reaction that decreases in severity as the material is absorbed. The microtube is considered to be absorbed at 56 days postimplantation while the bulk of the braid is considered to be absorbed by 70 days postimplantation.
Preparation and Characterization of Cationic Chitosan-modified Poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) Copolymer Nanospheres as DNA Carriers
Authors: Guan Xi-Peng , Quan Da-Ping , Liao Kai-Rong , Tao Wang  , Peng Xiang  , Mai Kan-Cheng
Published: June 2007

Chitosan (CS)-modified poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA/CS) nanoparticles with cationic surface were prepared by means of emulsion—solvent evaporation technique using polyviny alcohol and chitosan as costabilizers. The preparation conditions of the cationic nanoparticles were optimized by orthogonal factorial design, and the influences of the experiment variables such as polymer concentration, the molecular weight of chitosan, etc., on the size and zeta potential of the nanoparticles were evaluated. It was shown that the diameter of the PLGA/CS nanoparticles can be controlled in the range of 150—200 nm as determined by dynamic light scattering with the optimized conditions. The zeta potential of PLGA/CS nanoparticles increased with increasing the concentration of CS (CCS) or decreasing the pH, it was up to 55 mV when CCS was 3mg/mL at pH 4 and inversed around pH 8. The optimization conditions for fabricating the relatively small diameter and high zeta potential cationic nanoparticles were CCS 3mg/mL, CPLGA 10 mg/mL, and the volume ratio of organic solution to aqueous medium 1/4. X-ray photo electron spectroscopy and fluorescence inverted microscope observations approved that CS molecules were adsorbed on the surface of PLGA nanoparticles, DNA-condensing ability of the PLGA/CS nanoparticles and cell transfection efficiency of the nanoparticle—DNA complexes were estimated by gel electrophoresis and transfection experiment to 293FT cell, respectively.
Three-Dimensional Cell Growth on Structures Fabricated from ORMOCER® by Two-Photon Polymerization Technique
Authors: Schlie Sabrina , Ngezahayo Anaclet , Ovsianikov Aleksandr , Fabian Tilman , Kolb Hans-Albert , Haferkamp Heinz , Chichkov Boris N.
Published: June 2007

Two-photon polymerization technique was applied to generate three-dimensional (3D) scaffold-like structures using the photosensitive organic—inorganic hybrid polymer ORMOCER®. The structures were studied with respect to potential applications as scaffold for tissue engineering. Cell counting and comet assay, respectively, demonstrated that doubling time and DNA strand breaks of CHO cells, GFSHR-17 granulosa cells, GM-7373 endothelial cells, and SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells were not affected by ORMOCER®. ORMOCER® related alteration of formation of tissue specific cell-to-cell adhesions like gap junctions was ruled out by double whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Additionally, growth of cells on the vertical surfaces of 3D structures composed of ORMOCER® is shown.
Consequences of High-Stakes Assessment for Students With and Without Disabilities
Authors: Christenson Sandra L. , Decker Dawn M. , Triezenberg Heidi L. , Ysseldyke James E. , Reschly Amy
Published: June 2007

This descriptive study examined school professionals' perspectives of the effects of high-stakes assessment for students with and without disabilities. Participants were 249 general education teachers, special education teachers, and school psychologists from 99 schools across 19 states that have required high school exit exams. Participants completed a survey that examined their observations of the consequences of high-stakes assessment for students. Results suggested that school professionals perceived there to be a range in the effects of high-stakes assessment. Participants' responses indicated that a number of consequences have increased in frequency as a result of implementing high-stakes assessments. Many of the items that respondents indicated have increased were related to improving school and student performance. Less frequently, participants also indicated that some consequences have not changed in frequency or have decreased in frequency as a result of implementing high-stakes assessments.
Exploring the Structural Properties of the State Reading Policy Domain Using Network Visualization Technique
Authors: Mengli Song  , Miskel Cecil G.
Published: June 2007

Guided by the social network perspective, this study examined the structural properties of the state reading policy domain using network visualization tools: sociograms and multidimensional scaling scattergrams. The authors' graphic exploration of eight state reading policy networks produced rich insights about the density and the overall configuration of the networks, as well as the influence distribution, positional differentiation, and interaction patterns among diverse state reading policy actors. This study not only advances knowledge about the structural context of the state reading policy domain but also demonstrates the utility of network-analytic methods, network visualization techniques in particular, for policy research in education.
Dispelling the Myth of “White Flight”
Authors: Rapp Kelly E. , Eckes Suzanne E.
Published: June 2007

At the outset of the charter school movement, some opponents feared that charter schools would become havens for White students wishing to flee the traditional public school system, resulting in publicly funded segregation. However, studies suggest that this has not occurred. In fact, charter schools on average remain slightly racially segregated, enrolling more minority students than traditional public schools. Segregation in charter schools is not unavoidable considering that they often can exercise more control of student body composition through recruitment measures. This article examines the current racial makeup of charter schools by reporting student body diversity data in the 32 states that enroll more than 1,000 students in charter schools (as of 2002-2003). Additionally, the impact of parental choice, the lifting of desegregation decrees, and state statutory language on the racial composition of charter schools is discussed. Finally, the authors offer recommendations for combating segregation in charter schools and discuss avenues for future research.
Remapping the Body: Learning to Eat Again After Surgery for Esophageal Cancer
Authors: Wainwright David , Donovan Jenny L. , Kavadas Vas , Cramer Helen , Blazeby Jane M.
Published: June 2007

Surgery for esophageal cancer offers the hope of cure but might impair quality of life. The operation removes tumors obstructing the esophagus but frequently leaves patients with eating difficulties, leading to weight loss. Maintaining or increasing body weight is important to many patients, both as a means of returning to “normal” and as a means of rejecting the identity of the terminal cancer patient, but surgery radically alters embodied sensations of hunger, satiety, swallowing, taste, and smell, rendering the previously taken-for-granted experience of eating unfamiliar and alien. Successful recovery depends on patients' learning how to eat again. This entails familiarization with physiological changes but also coming to terms with the social consequences of spoiled identity. The authors report findings from in-depth interviews with 11 esophageal cancer patients, documenting their experiences as they struggle to achieve a process of adaptation that is at once physiological, psychological, and social.
The Perspective of Patients on Their Experience of Powerlessness
Authors: Aujoulat Isabelle , Luminet Olivier , Deccache Alain
Published: June 2007

Although self-determination is a key issue in empowerment, the perspective of patients on their experience of empowerment has been poorly investigated. The authors have attempted to understand better what the process of empowerment means to patients by investigating the situations and feelings of powerlessness from which a process of empowerment might evolve. They conducted 40 interviews of patients with various chronic conditions and looked for the commonalities in their experiences of powerlessness. Their findings show that powerlessness extends well beyond strictly medical and treatment-related issues, as the study participants all expressed or demonstrated to have at some point or another experienced a distressing feeling of insecurity and a threat to their social and personal identities. The authors therefore suggest that an empowering provider-patient interaction should address these issues by providing for reassurance and opportunities for self-exploration as a prerequisite to participation and self-determination in treatment-related decisions.
Expressions of Personhood in Alzheimer's Disease: An Evaluation of Research-Based Theatre as a Pedagogical Tool
Authors: Kontos Pia C. , Naglie Gary
Published: June 2007

A growing number of scholars are turning to dramatic performance as an innovative approach to disseminating the results of qualitative research. With an interest in this aesthetic practice, the authors transformed ethnographic research on personhood in Alzheimer's disease into a dramatic production, Expressions of Personhood in Alzheimer's , which was performed at the outset of focus group discussions with health practitioners. In this article, the authors report the results of an evaluation of health practitioners' perceptions of this theatrical adaptation as a pedagogical tool. Data from the focus group discussions and a self-administered postperformance survey suggest that there was a perceived relevance of the production to practitioners' practices, an increased understanding gained from attending the production, and a strong endorsement of the use of drama as an educational tool for disseminating information about dementia care.
The Dose-Response Relationship of Adolescent Religious Activity and Substance Use: Variation Across Demographic Groups
Authors: Steinman Kenneth J. , Ferketich Amy K. , Sahr Timothy
Published: June 2007

This article addresses two inconsistent findings in the literature on adolescent religious activity (RA) and substance use: whether a dose-response relationship characterizes the association of these variables, and whether the association varies by grade, gender, ethnicity, family structure, school type, and type of substance. Multinomial logistic regression analyses of a large, diverse data set of high school students in metropolitan Columbus, Ohio ( n = 33,007), found marked differences in alcohol, marijuana, and cigarette use among youths who never, occasionally, or regularly participated in RA. Weekly RA was consistently associated with less substance use, yet occasional RA sometimes was associated with greater use. Four groups accounted for variations in the RA-substance use relationship: African American youths, younger White youths, 12th-grade White males, and 12th-grade White females. Researchers should avoid assuming the RA-substance use relationship is dose-response and consider the implications of this complexity for theory and practice.
Applying Community-Based Participatory Research Principles to the Development of a Smoking-Cessation Program for American Indian Teens: “Telling Our Story”
Authors: Horn Kimberly , McCracken Lyn , Dino Geri , Brayboy Missy
Published: June 2007

Community-based participatory research provides communities and researchers with opportunities to develop interventions that are effective as well as acceptable and culturally competent. The present project responds to the voices of the North Carolina American Indian (AI) community and the desire for their youth to recognize tobacco addiction and commercial cigarette smoking as debilitating to their health and future. Seven community-based participatory principles led to the AI adaptation of the Not On Tobacco teen-smoking-cessation program and fostered sound research and meaningful results among an historically exploited population. Success was attributed to values-driven, community-based principles that (a) assured recognition of a community-driven need, (b) built on strengths of the tribes, (c) nurtured partnerships in all project phases, (d) integrated the community's cultural knowledge, (e) produced mutually beneficial tools/products, (f) built capacity through co-learning and empowerment, (g) used an iterative process of development, and (h) shared findings/ knowledge with all partners.
The Effects of School Gardens on Students and Schools: Conceptualization and Considerations for Maximizing Healthy Development
Authors: Ozer Emily J.
Published: June 2007

There are thousands of school gardens in the United States, and there is anecdotal evidence that school garden programs can enhance students' learning in academic, social, and health-related domains. There has been little rigorous research, however, on the effects of school gardens or on the factors that promote the sustainability of these programs. This review draws on ecological theory to conceptualize school gardens as systemic interventions with the potential for promoting the health and well-being of individual students in multiple interdependent domains and for strengthening the school environment as a setting for positive youth development. This review (a) summarizes the small literature regarding the impact of school garden curricula on student or school functioning, (b) provides a conceptual framework to guide future inquiry, (c) discusses implications of this conceptualization for practice, and (d) suggests further research needed to better inform practice.
If You Build It, They Will Come: Lessons From Developing Walking Trails in Rural Missouri
Authors: Wiggs Imogene , Brownson Ross C. , Baker Elizabeth A.
Published: June 2007

Given the high rates of sedentary behaviors, attempts to increase physical activity have incorporated individual and, more recently, policy and environmental approaches for promotion of activity. This article presents a summary of the approaches being used by the Ozark Heart Health Coalitions in developing walking trails in rural Missouri. In summarizing these approaches the authors describe 10 lessons with the aim of articulating the process and, thereby, increasing interest and capacity in development of walking trails. Qualitative and quantitative data were used to show burden and priorities and build support with numerous stakeholders. Stakeholders were engaged to identify common objectives, obtain land and funding, and determine trail size, materials, and time needed for construction. Implementation activities focused on trail maintenance and addition of amenities (e.g., playgrounds, benches). In the area of evaluation, they collect data via interviews with walkers on trails and community telephone surveys.
Alemtuzumab (Campath-1H) and CHOP chemotherapy as first-line treatment of peripheral T-cell lymphoma: results of a GITIL (Gruppo Italiano Terapie Innovative nei Linfomi) prospective multicenter trial
Authors: Gallamini Andrea , Zaja Francesco , Patti Caterina , Billio Atto , Specchia Maria Rosaria , Tucci Alessandra , Levis Alessandro , Manna Annunziata , Secondo Vicenzo , Rigacci Luigi , Pinto Antonello , Iannitto Emilio , Zoli Valerio , Torchio Pierfederico , Pileri Stefano , Tarella Corrado
Published: June 2007

To evaluate in a prospective multicenter trial the feasibility and clinical efficacy of the combination of alemtuzumab (Campath-1H) with the cyclophosphamide/doxorubicin/vincristine/prednisone (CHOP) regimen (CHOP-C) as the primary treatment for patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), between January 2003 and December 2005, 24 consecutive patients with PTCL entered the study and received 8 CHOP courses. Alemtuzumab was added at 30 mg subcutaneously at day −1 initially to the first 4 courses (4 patients), and then to all 8 courses (20 patients). Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 17 (71%) patients, 1 had partial remission, and 6 had stable/progressive disease. At a median follow-up of 16 months (range, 5-42 months), 14 patients were alive, 9 had died from progressive disease, and 1 had died from pneumonia at day +198 while in CR. So far, 13 are disease-free, with an overall median duration of response of 11 months. The most frequent side effects were grade 4 neutropenia and cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation. Major infections were Jacob-Creutzfeldt (J-C) virus reactivation, pulmonary invasive aspergillosis, Staphylococcus sepsis, and pneumonia. This study shows that CHOP-C: (1) is a feasible chemoimmunotherapy regimen; (2) is effective in PTCL with a high rate of CR achievement; and (3) is associated with mostly manageable infectious complications. This clinical trial was registered with the Osservatorio Nazionale sulla Sperimentazione cinica as ID no. 141202.
Use of a DNAemia cut-off for monitoring human cytomegalovirus infection reduces the number of preemptively treated children and young adults receiving hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation compared with qualitative pp65 antigenemia
Authors: Lilleri Daniele , Gerna Giuseppe , Furione Milena , Bernardo Maria Ester , Giorgiani Giovanna , Telli Stefania , Baldanti Fausto , Locatelli Franco
Published: June 2007

We performed a randomized trial comparing the use of quantitative DNAemia versus positive antigenemia for starting preemptive antihuman cytomegalovirus (HCMV) therapy in hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients. In the DNAemia arm, antiviral therapy was initiated on reaching a DNAemia cut-off of 10 000 DNA copies/mL of whole blood, whereas in the antigenemia arm, therapy was started in the presence of a positive antigenemia. The aim of the study was to compare the number of patients treated in the 2 arms. On the whole, 178 patients (89 in each arm), receiving unmanipulated HSCT from either a relative or an unrelated donor, completed the study. Although the incidence of HCMV infection was comparable in DNAemia and antigenemia arms (34% vs 42%, respectively, P = .259), the number of patients treated was significantly lower in the DNAemia arm (18% vs 31%, P = .026). No patient developed HCMV disease. The use of a DNAemia cut-off avoids unnecessary antiviral treatment.
Lymphodepletion followed by donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) causes significantly more acute graft-versus-host disease than DLI alone
Authors: Miller Jeffrey S. , Weisdorf Daniel J. , Burns Linda J. , Slungaard Arne , Wagner John E. , Verneris Michael R. , Cooley Sarah , Wangen Rosanna , Fautsch Susan K. , Nicklow Roby , DeFor Todd , Blazar Bruce R.
Published: June 2007

Donor lymphocyte infusions (DLIs) can produce lasting remissions in patients with relapsed chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), but are less effective in non-CML diseases. We hypothesized that lymphodepletion, achieved with cyclophosphamide (Cy) and fludarabine (Flu), would promote in vivo expansion of the infused lymphocytes enhancing their immunologic effects. Fifteen patients with relapsed non-CML disease who received Cy/Flu/DLI were compared with 63 controls who received DLI without chemotherapy. Only the patients receiving Cy/Flu/DLI became lymphopenic at the time of DLI. Compared with controls, patients who received Cy/Flu/DLI developed significantly more grades II to IV (60% vs 24%, P = .01) and grades III to IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) (47% vs 14%, P = .01) with greater GVHD lethality. In Cy/Flu/DLI patients, T-cell proliferation was elevated at 14 days after DLI. Although these data suggest that chemotherapy-induced lymphodepletion enhances activation of donor lymphocytes, the toxicity needs to be managed before testing whether better disease control can be achieved. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as no. NCT00303693 and www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials as no. NCT00167180.
Optimization based automated curation of metabolic reconstructions
Authors: Satish Kumar Vinay , Dasika Madhukar S , Maranas Costas D
Published: June 2007

Background

Currently, there exists tens of different microbial and eukaryotic metabolic reconstructions (e.g., Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Bacillus subtilis) with many more under development. All of these reconstructions are inherently incomplete with some functionalities missing due to the lack of experimental and/or homology information. A key challenge in the automated generation of genome-scale reconstructions is the elucidation of these gaps and the subsequent generation of hypotheses to bridge them.

Results

In this work, an optimization based procedure is proposed to identify and eliminate network gaps in these reconstructions. First we identify the metabolites in the metabolic network reconstruction which cannot be produced under any uptake conditions and subsequently we identify the reactions from a customized multi-organism database that restores the connectivity of these metabolites to the parent network using four mechanisms. This connectivity restoration is hypothesized to take place through four mechanisms: a) reversing the directionality of one or more reactions in the existing model, b) adding reaction from another organism to provide functionality absent in the existing model, c) adding external transport mechanisms to allow for importation of metabolites in the existing model and d) restore flow by adding intracellular transport reactions in multi-compartment models. We demonstrate this procedure for the genome- scale reconstruction of Escherichia coli and also Saccharomyces cerevisiae wherein compartmentalization of intra-cellular reactions results in a more complex topology of the metabolic network. We determine that about 10% of metabolites in E. coli and 30% of metabolites in S. cerevisiae cannot carry any flux. Interestingly, the dominant flow restoration mechanism is directionality reversals of existing reactions in the respective models.

Conclusion

We have proposed systematic methods to identify and fill gaps in genome-scale metabolic reconstructions. The identified gaps can be filled both by making modifications in the existing model and by adding missing reactions by reconciling multi-organism databases of reactions with existing genome-scale models. Computational results provide a list of hypotheses to be queried further and tested experimentally.