bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diabetic control and the renin-angiotensin system, catecholamines, and blood pressure.
Authors: Ferriss J B , O'Hare J A , Kelleher C C , Sullivan P A , Cole M M , Ross H F , O'Sullivan D J
Published: August 2012

Diabetic ketoacidosis is usually associated with marked secondary hyperaldosteronism. Plasma levels of renin, angiotensin II, and aldosterone are markedly raised before treatment in most patients, with values falling rapidly toward normal as metabolic control is restored. In a few patients, mostly those with long-term complications of diabetes, plasma levels of renin, angiotensin II, and aldosterone before treatment remain within the normal range. In moderately hyperglycemic patients who have glycosuria but not ketonuria, plasma levels of all three substances are significantly higher than when control is improved. Occasionally, moderately hyperglycemic patients have mild secondary hyperaldosteronism. Improved metabolic control in such patients causes a rise in plasma volume and a rise in total exchangeable sodium, the latter to levels significantly above normal. Plasma catecholamine levels are markedly elevated in diabetic ketoacidosis, probably as a consequence of the ketoacidotic state. In nonketotic patients with moderate hyperglycemia, basal plasma norepinephrine levels are normal; catecholamine responses to exercise may be exaggerated, however. Epidemiological and animal studies suggest a relationship between blood pressure and blood glucose levels. There are few clinical studies of the effects of altering metabolic control of diabetes on blood pressure, and this is an important area for further study.
Blood pressure changes and renal function in incipient and overt diabetic nephropathy.
Authors: Mogensen C E , Christensen C K
Published: August 2012

Four studies are included in this report on the relationship of blood pressure, protein excretion, and renal hemodynamics, where renal function was measured by 125I-iothalamate clearance and 131I-hippuran clearance, and urinary albumin excretion was measured by radioimmunoassay. The first concerns the relationship between blood pressure and renal function in a cross-sectional study of 56 patients with type I diabetes with various degrees of renal involvement. In the second, multiple regression analysis was used in a prospective study of diabetic nephropathy in patients with type I diabetes. Inclusion criteria were age at diagnosis less than 20 years, initial diabetes duration 3 to 20 years, and follow-up period more than 7 years. Urinary albumin was less than 70 micrograms/min, and glomerular filtration rate, renal plasma flow, and urinary albumin were measured in all patients. The third was a long-term follow-up study of persons with type I diabetes, with special reference to development of changes in urinary albumin, glomerular filtration rate, and blood pressure. Diabetes duration in this study was 7 to 20 years. Finally, a prospective study was conducted on clinical proteinuria and mortality in patients with type II diabetes, with special reference to initial urinary albumin and blood pressure. A close association was established among all variables measured in the cross-sectional study. On multiple regression analysis as well as in the long-term follow-up study, it appeared that both elevated urinary albumin (greater than 15 micrograms/min at baseline) and high glomerular filtration rate (greater than 150 ml/min) are major determinants for subsequent progression to nephropathy. In patients with type II disease, increase in urinary albumin is a strong predictor for development of proteinuria and early mortality. High blood pressure seems not to be a major determinant in these patients, but further studies are required.
In Vivo Cardiac Myosin Binding Protein C Gene Transfer Rescues Myofilament Contractile Dysfunction in Cardiac Myosin Binding Protein C Null Mice
Authors: Merkulov Sergei , Chen Xiaoqin , Chandler Margaret P. , Stelzer Julian E.
Published: August 2012

Background—

Decreased expression of cardiac myosin binding protein C (cMyBPC) in the heart has been implicated as a consequence of mutations in cMyBPC that lead to abnormal contractile function at the myofilament level, thereby contributing to the development of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in humans. It has not been established whether increasing the levels of cMyBPC in the intact heart can improve myofilament and in vivo contractile function and attenuate maladaptive remodeling processes because of reduced levels of cMyBPC.

Methods and Results—

We performed in vivo gene transfer of cMyBPC by direct injection into the myocardium of cMyBPC-deficient (cMyBPC
−/−
) mice, and mechanical experiments were conducted on skinned myocardium isolated from cMyBPC
−/−
hearts 21 days and 20 weeks after gene transfer. Cross-bridge kinetics in skinned myocardium isolated from cMyBPC
−/−
hearts after cMyBPC gene transfer were significantly slower compared with untreated cMyBPC
−/−
myocardium and were comparable to wild-type myocardium and cMyBPC
−/−
myocardium that was reconstituted with recombinant cMyBPC in vitro. cMyBPC content in cMyBPC
−/−
skinned myocardium after in vivo cMyBPC gene transfer or in vitro cMyBPC reconstitution was similar to wild-type levels. In vivo echocardiography studies of cMyBPC
−/−
hearts after cMyBPC gene transfer revealed improved systolic and diastolic contractile function and reductions in left ventricular wall thickness.

Conclusions—

This proof-of-concept study demonstrates that gene therapy designed to increase expression of cMyBPC in the cMyBPC-deficient myocardium can improve myofilament and in vivo contractile function, suggesting that cMyBPC gene therapy may be a viable approach for treatment of cardiomyopathies because of mutations in cMyBPC.
Anchoring Proteins as Regulators of Signaling Pathways
Authors: Perino Alessia , Ghigo Alessandra , Scott John D. , Hirsch Emilio
Published: August 2012

Spatial and temporal organization of signal transduction is coordinated through the segregation of signaling enzymes in selected cellular compartments. This highly evolved regulatory mechanism ensures the activation of selected enzymes only in the vicinity of their target proteins. In this context, cAMP-responsive triggering of protein kinase A is modulated by a family of scaffold proteins referred to as A-kinase anchoring proteins. A-kinase anchoring proteins form the core of multiprotein complexes and enable simultaneous but segregated cAMP signaling events to occur in defined cellular compartments. In this review we will focus on the description of A-kinase anchoring protein function in the regulation of cardiac physiopathology.
“Good Enough Solutions” and the Genetics of Complex Diseases
Authors: Weiss James N. , Karma Alain , MacLellan W. Robb , Deng Mario , Rau Christoph D. , Rees Colin M. , Wang Jessica , Wisniewski Nicholas , Eskin Eleazar , Horvath Steve , Qu Zhilin , Wang Yibin , Lusis Aldons J.
Published: August 2012

In this Emerging Science Review, we discuss a systems genetics strategy, which we call gene module association study (GMAS), as a novel approach complementing genome-wide association studies (GWAS), to understand complex diseases by focusing on how genes work together in groups rather than singly. The first step is to characterize phenotypic differences among a genetically diverse population. The second step is to use gene expression microarray (or other high-throughput) data from the population to construct gene coexpression networks. Coexpression analysis typically groups 20 000 genes into 20 to 30 modules containing tens to hundreds of genes, whose aggregate behavior can be represented by the module's “eigengene.” The third step is to correlate expression patterns with phenotype, as in GWAS, only applied to eigengenes instead of single nucleotide polymorphisms. The goal of the GMAS approach is to identify groups of coregulated genes that explain complex traits from a systems perspective. From an evolutionary standpoint, we hypothesize that variability in eigengene patterns reflects the “good enough solution” concept, that biological systems are sufficiently complex so that many possible combinations of the same elements (in this case eigengenes) can produce an equivalent output, that is, a “good enough solution” to accomplish normal biological functions. However, when faced with environmental stresses, some “good enough solutions” adapt better than others, explaining individual variability to disease and drug susceptibility. If validated, GMAS may imply that common polygenic diseases are related as much to group interactions between normal genes, as to multiple gene mutations.
Lineage Tree for the Venous Pole of the Heart
Authors: Lescroart Fabienne , Mohun Timothy , Meilhac Sigolène M. , Bennett Mike , Buckingham Margaret
Published: August 2012

Rationale:

Genetic tracing experiments and cell lineage analyses are complementary approaches that give information about the progenitor cells of a tissue. Approaches based on gene expression have led to conflicting views about the origin of the venous pole of the heart. Whereas the heart forms from 2 sources of progenitor cells, the first and second heart fields, genetic tracing has suggested a distinct origin for caval vein myocardium, from a proposed third heart field.

Objective:

To determine the cell lineage history of the myocardium at the venous pole of the heart.

Methods and Results:

We used retrospective clonal analyses to investigate lineage segregation for myocardium at the venous pole of the mouse heart, independent of gene expression.

Conclusions:

Our lineage analysis unequivocally shows that caval vein and atrial myocardium share a common origin and demonstrates a clonal relationship between the pulmonary vein and progenitors of the left venous pole. Clonal characteristics give insight into the development of the veins. Unexpectedly, we found a lineage relationship between the venous pole and part of the arterial pole, which is derived exclusively from the second heart field. Integration of results from genetic tracing into the lineage tree adds a further temporal dimension to this reconstruction of the history of venous myocardium and the arterial pole.
An Assessment of Low-Level Baroclinity and Vorticity within a Simulated Supercell
Authors: Beck Jeffrey , Weiss Christopher
Published: August 2012

Idealized supercell modeling has provided a wealth of information regarding the evolution and dynamics within supercell thunderstorms. However, discrepancies in conceptual models exist, including uncertainty regarding the existence, placement, and forcing of low-level boundaries in these storms, as well as their importance in low-level vorticity development. This study offers analysis of the origins of low-level boundaries and vertical vorticity within the low-level mesocyclone of a simulated supercell. Low-level boundary location shares similarities with previous modeling studies; however, the development and evolution of these boundaries differ from previous conceptual models. The rear-flank gust front develops first, whereas the formation of a boundary extending north of the mesocyclone undergoes numerous iterations caused by competing outflow and inflow before a steady-state boundary is produced. A third boundary extending northeast of the mesocyclone is produced through evaporative cooling of inflow air and develops last. Conceptual models for the simulation were created to demonstrate the evolution and structure of the low-level boundaries. Only the rear-flank gust front may be classified as a “gust front,” defined as having a strong wind shift, delineation between inflow and outflow air, and a strong pressure gradient across the boundary. Trajectory analyses show that parcels traversing the boundary north of the mesocyclone and the rear-flank gust front play a strong role in the development of vertical vorticity existing within the low-level mesocyclone. In addition, baroclinity near the rear-flank downdraft proves to be key in producing horizontal vorticity that is eventually tilted, providing a majority of the positive vertical vorticity within the low-level mesocyclone.
Building a Tropical–Extratropical Cloud Band Metbot
Authors: Hart Neil C. G. , Reason Chris J. C. , Fauchereau Nicolas
Published: August 2012

An automated cloud band identification procedure is developed that captures the meteorology of such events over southern Africa. This “metbot” is built upon a connected component labeling method that enables blob detection in various atmospheric fields. Outgoing longwave radiation is used to flag candidate cloud band days by thresholding the data and requiring detected blobs to have sufficient latitudinal extent and exhibit positive tilt. The Laplacian operator is used on gridded reanalysis variables to highlight other features of meteorological interest. The ability of this methodology to capture the significant meteorology and rainfall of these synoptic systems is tested in a case study. Usefulness of the metbot in understanding event-to-event similarities of meteorological features is demonstrated, highlighting features previous studies have noted as key ingredients to cloud band development in the region. Moreover, this allows the presentation of a composite cloud band life cycle for southern Africa events. The potential of metbot to study multiscale interactions is discussed, emphasizing its key strength: the ability to retain details of extreme and infrequent events. It automatically builds a database that is ideal for research questions focused on the influence of intraseasonal to interannual variability processes on synoptic events. Application of the method to convergence zone studies and atmospheric river descriptions is suggested. In conclusion, a relation-building metbot can retain details that are often lost with object-based methods but are crucial in case studies. Capturing and summarizing these details may be necessary to develop a deeper process-level understanding of multiscale interactions.
The Impact of Individual and Group Feedback on Environmental Intentions and Self-Beliefs
Authors: Toner Kaitlin , Gan Muping , Leary Mark R.
Published: August 2012

The present study examined how feedback regarding one’s personal impact on the environment, along with feedback regarding one’s group’s impact, influences environmental attitudes, intentions, and self-beliefs. Using a bogus carbon footprint calculator, participants received either moderately or highly negative feedback about their own environmental impact as well as feedback about the average impact of students at their university. Participants expressed the greatest intentions to behave proenvironmentally, especially with behaviors that require a high level of commitment, when their personal feedback was worse than that of their group. Impact of feedback on intentions was not mediated by attitudes, emotions, or self-evaluations, suggesting that participants were not motivated to improve their behaviors because they felt badly about themselves. Instead, people were motivated to change their behaviors when they believed their current behavior differed from that of an important reference group.
Behavior and analytical modeling of natural flax fibre-reinforced polymer tube confined plain concrete and coir fibre-reinforced concrete
Authors: Yan Libo , Chouw Nawawi
Published: August 2012

As reinforcement flax fibre has the potential to replace glass fibre in fibre-reinforced polymer, composite and coir fibre can be used in concrete. To achieve sustainable construction, this study presents an experimental investigation of a flax fibre-reinforced polymer tube as concrete confinement. Results of 24 flax fibre-reinforced polymer tube-confined plain concrete and coir fibre-reinforced concrete cylinders under axial compression are presented. Test results show that both flax fibre-reinforced polymer tube-confined plain concrete and fibre-reinforced concrete offer high axial compressive strength and ductility. A total of 23 existing design- and analysis-oriented models were considered to predict the ultimate axial compressive strength and strain of flax fibre-reinforced polymer tube-confined plain concrete and fibre-reinforced concrete. It was found that a few existing design- and analysis-oriented models predicted the ultimate strengths of all the flax fibre-reinforced polymer tube-confined plain concrete and fibre-reinforced concrete cylinders accurately. However, no strain models considered match the ultimate strains of these specimens. Two new equations are proposed to evaluate the ultimate axial strain of flax fibre-reinforced polymer tube-confined plain concrete and fibre-reinforced concrete.
The Cult of Martyrs
Authors: Ferrero Mario
Published: August 2012

This article suggests a rational explanation for extreme voluntary sacrifice in situations in which the state of the world when the decision must be made is observable only by the agent. Such explanation is the cult of martyrs, heroes, and saints. This cult may get out of control and fuel fanaticism, or excessive sacrifice from the standpoint of the sponsoring organization. A survey of the historical evidence of Christian martyrdom strongly suggests that martyrs were driven by the expectation of a cult in this world, not by otherworldly rewards. In particular, it is argued that the evidence of excess martyrdom in both Muslim Spain and the Roman Empire strongly speaks for the cult theory.
Misplaced Blame
Authors: Bashir Omar S. , Lim Darren J.
Published: August 2012

In a well-publicized finding, Bueno de Mesquita and Smith argue that temporary members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) suffer politically and economically because they receive elevated inflows of foreign aid in exchange for votes. Closer examination of the data reveals a lack of support for this claim. Even when the analysis is limited to countries that do not enjoy temporarily increased aid during tenure, UNSC membership retains an association with poor outcomes that are disproportionately strong in nondemocratic countries, contrary to the expectation generated by selectorate theory. A separate least-likely test specification further weakens the case against foreign aid. The authors postulate and weigh alternative explanations. Temporary membership may enable deleterious state policy through a lessened fear of international sanction. Alternatively, the membership selection process may be biased in a way not currently recognized by scholars who employ UNSC election as a source of exogenous variation in the international system.
Cultural Variation in Implicit Mental Illness Stigma
Authors: Cheon Bobby K. , Chiao Joan Y.
Published: August 2012

Culture shapes how individuals perceive and respond to others with mental illness. Prior studies have suggested that Asians and Asian Americans typically endorse greater stigma of mental illness compared to Westerners (White Europeans and Americans). However, whether these differences in stigma arise from cultural variations in automatic affective reactions or deliberative concerns of the appropriateness of one’s reactions to mental illness remains unknown. Here we compared implicit and explicit attitudes toward mental illness among Asian and Caucasian Americans. Asian Americans showed stronger negative implicit attitudes toward mental illness relative to Caucasian Americans, suggesting that cultural variation in stigma of mental illness can be observed even when concerns regarding the validity and appropriateness of one’s attitudes toward mental illness are minimized. Asian Americans also explicitly endorsed greater desire for social distance from mental illness relative to Caucasian Americans. These findings suggest that cultural variations in mental illness stigma may arise from cultural differences in automatic reactions to mental illness, though cultural variations in deliberative processing may further shape differences in these immediate reactions to mental illness.
Financial Structure and Incentives
Authors: Čihák Martin , Demirgüç-Kunt Asli
Published: August 2012

The article connects two streams of recent research on the financial sector. The first is the regulation literature, which emphasises the central role of incentives in the financial sector. It points out that the challenge of financial sector regulation, highlighted by the global financial crisis, is to align private incentives with public interest without taxing or subsidising private risk-taking. The second stream of research relates to financial structures and examines the mix of financial institutions and financial markets in an economy. It finds that, as economies develop, services provided by financial markets become comparatively more important than those provided by banks. The article brings these two streams together, pointing out that — as financial systems develop from bank-based to market-based — a traditional regulatory approach that relies on banking ratios becomes less effective. There is thus a greater need for properly monitoring and addressing the underlying incentive weaknesses in market-based systems.
An Abstract Status Function Account of Corporations
Authors: Cole Julian C.
Published: August 2012

In this article, I articulate and defend an account of corporations motivated by John Searle’s discussion of them in his Making the Social World. According to this account, corporations are abstract entities that are the products of status function Declarations. They are also connected with, though not reducible to, various people and certain of the power relations among them. Moreover, these connections are responsible for corporations having features that stereotypical abstract entities lack (e.g., the abilities to take actions and make profits).
Utility of the PANAS-X in Predicting Social Phobia in African American Females
Authors: Petrie Jenny Marie , Chapman L.Kevin , Vines Lauren M.
Published: August 2012

Burgeoning literature in the field of social anxiety suggests that social phobia may diverge from the other anxiety disorders in terms of the association it shares with low positive affect. Research examining positive affect and social anxiety has contributed to the understanding of social phobia in non-Hispanic White populations, but the cross-cultural generalization of anxiety in African Americans remains unknown. The current study used receiver operating characteristic analysis to estimate the extent to which scores on the Positive and Negative Affect Scales of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule–Expanded form (PANAS-X) predicted anxiety disorder diagnoses in a sample of 91 community-dwelling African American females. Subsequent receiver operating characteristic analyses were conducted to evaluate the utility of the Positive and Negative Affect Scales of the PANAS-X in predicting social phobia specifically. Results suggest that the PANAS-X is a clinically useful measure for predicting anxiety disorder diagnosis and, more specifically, social phobia in African American females. Additionally, optimal cutoff scores were identified, underscoring the potential use of the PANAS-X as a screening device for anxiety in African American females.
The Role of Self-Image Concerns in Discrepancies Between Implicit and Explicit Self-Esteem
Authors: Laws Valerie L. , Rivera Luis M.
Published: August 2012

Four experiments examined the hypothesis that individuals who hold discrepant implicit and explicit self-esteem possess relatively strong self-image concerns. As a result, they may act irrationally when expressing sexual health attitudes. In support of the hypothesis, Experiments 1a and 1b demonstrate that large self-esteem discrepancy participants possess strong implicit self-image ambivalence relative to small self-esteem discrepancy participants. In Experiments 2 and 3, participants who varied in self-esteem discrepancies received either negative or positive (or no) feedback on an intelligence test, and then they were given an opportunity to express implicit and explicit attitudes toward condoms. Large self-esteem discrepancy participants who received a self-threat responded irrationally and expressed relatively strong negative implicit (but not explicit) attitudes toward condoms. However, this detrimental effect was completely reversed following a self-affirmation to large discrepancy participants. The implicit and explicit attitudes toward condoms of small discrepancy participants were unaffected by a self-threat or a self-affirmation.
Whether, When, and How Is Spirituality Related to Well-Being? Moving Beyond Single Occasion Questionnaires to Understanding Daily Process
Authors: Kashdan Todd B. , Nezlek John B.
Published: August 2012

Prior research suggests that spirituality is positively related to well-being. Nevertheless, within-person variability in spirituality has yet to be addressed. Do people experience greater spirituality on some days versus others? Does daily spirituality predict daily well-being? Do within-person relationships between spirituality and well-being vary as a function of trait spirituality? The authors examined such questions using a daily diary study with 87 participants who provided reports of their daily spirituality and well-being for a total of 1,239 days. They found that daily spirituality was positively related to meaning in life, self-esteem, and positive affect, and the link from daily spirituality to both self-esteem and positive affect was fully mediated by meaning in life. Moreover, within-person relationships between daily spirituality and self-esteem and meaning in life were stronger for people higher in trait spirituality. Lagged analyses found positive relationships between present day spirituality and next day’s meaning in life; there was no evidence for meaning in life as a predictor of the next day’s spirituality. When focusing on affect, for people higher in trait spirituality, greater negative affect (and lower positive affect) predicted greater spirituality the next day. These results provide new insights into how spirituality operates as a fluctuating experience in daily life.
Are Implicit Motives the Need to Feel Certain Affect? Motive–Affect Congruence Predicts Relationship Satisfaction
Authors: Job Veronika , Bernecker Katharina , Dweck Carol S.
Published: August 2012

The authors test the assumption that the core of implicit motives is the desire for particular affective experiences and that motive satisfaction need not be tied to any particular domain. Using the context of romantic relationships, cross-sectional Study 1 and experimental Study 2 showed that people with a high affiliation motive were more satisfied when they experienced more affiliation-specific affect (calmness and relaxation). However, people with a higher power motive were more satisfied in their relationships when they experienced more power-specific affect (strength and excitement) in these relationships. The results support the idea that an implicit motive involves the desire for specific affective experiences and that frequent experiences of one’s preferred affect can lead to enhanced satisfaction and well-being in a domain, even one that is not typically associated with that motive.
Beyond the Rural–Urban Dichotomy
Authors: Schaeffer Peter V. , Kahsai Mulugeta S. , Jackson Randall W.
Published: August 2012

Rural and urban regions are interconnected and form one system. Changes in one region therefore also affect others. This is particularly true for a force as large and pervasive as urbanization which resulted in massive rural and urban economic restructuring and geographic realignment of rural–urban boundaries. Until the mid-twentieth century, rural could be considered the opposite of urban, but in the process of urbanization, economic and social structures of rural and urban regions became more similar. However, perceptions and attitudes often survive long after conditions that shaped them have changed. In this article, the authors explain why attention to proper definitions of rural and urban is important to policymaking and analysis. The authors use ideas, definitions, and empirical results based in large part on A. M. Isserman’s research to highlight the importance of his rural research and to honor his memory.
Resources, Governance, and Knowledge Transfer in Spanish Footwear Clusters
Authors: Belso-Martínez José A.
Published: August 2012

How do internal resources, relational resources, and relational mechanisms determine knowledge transfer among crucial partners in clusters? We analyze a sample of Spanish footwear manufacturers to distinguish the relative impact of internal resources, intra-cluster relationships, and governance (including power asymmetries) on knowledge transfer between leading firms and their partners. Internal resources appear to be highly beneficial for knowledge transfer among partners, while intra-cluster relationships diminish such transmissions. The governance structure of the partnership also appears to have an important influence on knowledge transfer between leading organizations and their suppliers. These results suggest valuable implications for practitioners, researchers, and policy makers at both the firm and meso levels.
Bayesian Estimation of the Spatial Durbin Error Model with an Application to Voter Turnout in the 2004 Presidential Election
Authors: Lacombe Donald J. , Holloway Garth J. , Shaughnessy Timothy M.
Published: August 2012

The potential for spatial dependence in models of voter turnout, although plausible from a theoretical perspective, has not been adequately addressed in the literature. Using recent advances in Bayesian computation, the authors formulate and estimate the previously unutilized spatial Durbin error model and apply this model to the question of whether spillovers and unobserved spatial dependence in voter turnout matters from an empirical perspective. Formal Bayesian model comparison techniques are employed to compare the normal linear model, the spatially lagged X model (SLX), the spatial Durbin model, and the spatial Durbin error model. The results overwhelmingly support the spatial Durbin error model as the appropriate empirical model.
Matlab Software for Spatial Panels
Authors: Elhorst J. Paul
Published: August 2012

Elhorst  provides Matlab routines to estimate spatial panel data models at his website. This article extends these routines to include the bias correction procedure proposed by Lee and Yu if the spatial panel data model contains spatial and/or time-period fixed effects, the direct and indirect effects estimates of the explanatory variables proposed by LeSage and Pace, and a selection framework to determine which spatial panel data model best describes the data. To demonstrate these routines in an empirical setting, a demand model for cigarettes is estimated based on panel data from forty-six US states over the period 1963–1992.
Pathological Features of Oxalate Nephrosis in a Population of Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in South Australia
Authors: Speight K. N. , Boardman W. , Breed W. G. , Taggart D. A. , Woolford L. , Haynes J. I.
Published: August 2012

The wild and captive koala population of the Mt Lofty Ranges in South Australia has a high level of renal dysfunction in which crystals consistent with calcium oxalate have been observed in the kidneys. This study aimed to describe the pathological features of the renal disease in this population, confirm the composition of renal crystals as calcium oxalate, and determine whether any age or sex predispositions exist for this disease. A total of 51 koalas (28 wild rescues, 23 captive) were examined at necropsy, of which 28 (55%) were found to have gross and/or histological evidence of oxalate nephrosis. Histopathological features included intratubular and interstitial inflammation, tubule dilation, glomerular atrophy, tubule loss, and cortical fibrosis. Calcium oxalate crystals were demonstrated using a combination of polarization microscopy, alizarin red S staining, infrared spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis with scanning electron microscopy. Uric acid and phosphate deposits were also shown to be present but were associated with minimal histopathological changes. No significant differences were found between the numbers of affected captive and wild rescued koalas; also, there were no sex or age predispositions identified, but it was found that oxalate nephrosis may affect koalas <2 years of age. The findings of this study suggest that oxalate nephrosis is a leading disease in this koala population. Possible causes of this disease are currently under investigation.
Parenting, Self-Control, and the Gender Gap in Heavy Drinking
Authors: Botchkovar Ekaterina V. , Broidy Lisa
Published: August 2012

Drawing on Gottfredson and Hirschi’s theory linking parenting to deviant behavior via development of self-control, the authors assess the association between parenting styles, self-control ability, and frequent alcohol use separately for males and females. The authors’ findings from a random sample of 440 Russian respondents provide mixed support for self-control theory. Contrary to the theory, but in line with extant research, the authors failed to uncover significant gender differences in childhood upbringing or establish a strong link between parenting techniques and self-control. Furthermore, whereas parental upbringing appears to increase the likelihood of frequent drinking among men, self-control does not mediate this relationship but rather acts as an independent predictor of men’s alcohol abuse. Finally, the relatively modest contribution of self-control differences to the gender gap in frequent drinking suggests that higher alcohol consumption among men likely stems from alternative, possibly context-embedded factors.
Assessing Empathy in Salvadoran High-Risk and Gang-Involved Adolescents and Young Adults
Authors: Salas-Wright Christopher P. , Olate René , Vaughn Michael G.
Published: August 2012

Empathy is considered a key construct in the empirical study of high-risk adolescent and young adult delinquency, crime, and violence. This study examined the psychometric properties and criterion-related validity of a Spanish adaptation of the Basic Empathy Scale (BES), which is an important measure designed to capture both affective and cognitive empathy that has been validated in multiple languages but not in Spanish. The study’s sample consisted of 208 high-risk and gang-involved adolescents and young adults in the Greater San Salvador Metropolitan Area. The original BES was reduced from its 20-item design to a more culturally appropriate 7-item design. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis and criterion-related validity analysis indicate that the adapted BES is a valid and reliable multidimensional measure of empathy for high-risk Salvadoran adolescents and young adults. Consistent with previous findings, females reported lower levels of empathy than males and delinquent/violent respondents reported lower levels of empathy than their nonoffender counterparts.
Dreamtelling and Meeting the ‘Other’. A Conflicting German–Jewish Dialogue
Authors: Friedman Robi
Published: August 2012

Post-war, German generations continue to foster an elaboration of guilt and shame. One seminar approaches this difficult subject through a process of mourning, separation from parental position, and transgenerational elaboration of previously uncontained emotions (or what has been called coping with ‘the past in the present’) (Sandler, 1987). This may be described as an encounter between ‘me’, the ego-syntonic aspects of the Self, and the inexcusable, bad and thus hitherto ‘not-me’. Without such an encounter, all relationships and identification with this dark side are projected away into the monster Nazi identity, causing an impossible split in the German psychic reality.

Indirectly ‘working’1 in the presence of an Israeli Jewish conductor, seems conducive to elaborating some of the shame, guilt and identification with both German and Israeli elders. The elaboration of difficult emotions through the relationships and dreams within the group proves to be an instrument with great potential for mutual growth.
On Analysing Large Groups
Authors: Knott Heribert
Published: August 2012

The large group can ideally be a transitional space between the public arena of an institution and the private intimacy of the individual. The large group conductor should be able to help the group to serve this purpose. This article briefly refers to some aspects of the common ground group analysis and psychoanalysis share. It is however not about the differences between the two.

This article discusses the level of anxiety and the respective different transference levels in the large group. Several suggestions are made in order to help the group conductor in dealing with his own anxieties and those of the group in regard to these emotions. ‘Negative capability’ is seen as a prerequisite to a fully working group analytic large group.

Reference is made in particular to institutional aspects of large groups.
The Capacity to be With
Authors: Yogev Herzel
Published: August 2012

The capacity to be with is based on Emotional Availability (EA). There are three developmental levels of EA, which the infant acquires sequentially: (1) regulation, resonance, and emotional attunement; (2) deepening the communication with the other; (3) the capacity to be with. In the adult psyche, these three levels become three emotional patterns with varying degrees of presence. In this article, it is proposed that the therapeutic exchange has the potential for healing these emotional pattern(s). The capacity to be with another is an innate instinct that is present in each person and allows living within groups in the here and now without resolving all of one’s pre-existing (inter and intera subjective) conflicts.
Hand Hygiene Deficiency Citations in Nursing Homes
Authors: Castle Nicholas , Wagner Laura , Ferguson Jamie , Handler Steven
Published: August 2012

Hand hygiene (HH) is recognized as an effective way to decrease transmission of infections. Little research has been conducted surrounding HH in nursing homes (NHs). In this research, deficiency citations representing potential problems with HH practices by staff as identified in the certification process conducted at almost all US NHs were examined. The aims of the study were to identify potential relationships between these deficiency citations and characteristics of the NH and characteristics of the NH environment. We used a panel of 148,900 observations with information primarily coming from the 2000 through 2009 Online Survey, Certification, And Reporting data (OSCAR). An average of 9% of all NHs per year received a deficiency citation for HH. In the multivariate analyses, for all three caregivers examined (i.e., nurse aides, Licensed Practical Nurses, and Registered Nurses) low staffing levels were associated with receiving a deficiency citation for HH. Two measures of poor quality (i.e., [1] Quality of care deficiency citations and [2] J, K, or L deficiency citations, that is deficiency citations with a high extent of harm and/or more residents affected) were also associated with receiving a deficiency citation for HH. Given the percentage of NHs receiving deficiency citations for potential problems with HH identified in this research, more attention should be placed on this issue.
Relationship Between Nonprescribed Therapy Use for Illness Prevention and Health Promotion and Health-Related Quality of Life
Authors: Altizer Kathryn P. , Nguyen Ha T. , Neiberg Rebecca H. , Quandt Sara A. , Grzywacz Joseph G. , Lang Wei , Bell Ronny A. , Arcury Thomas A.
Published: August 2012

Objectives:

This study describes the nonprescribed therapy use (prayer, over-the-counter medications [OTC’s], home remedies, vitamins, herbs and supplements, and exercise) for health promotion among rural elders. It also delineates the association of such therapy use with physical and mental health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Method:

The sample ( N = 200) consisted of African American and White elders from south-central North Carolina. Participants completed baseline interviews and repeated measures of nonprescribed therapy use over a 6-month follow-up.

Results:

Prayer had the highest percentage (80.7%) of use for health promotion followed by OTC (54.3%); vitamins only (49.3%); herbs and supplements (40.5%); exercise (31.9%); and home remedies (5.2%). Exercise was significantly associated with better physical HRQoL ( p < .05). However, elders who used nonprescribed therapies had poorer mental HRQoL than nonusers, adjusting for potential confounders.

Conclusion:

This analysis suggests that use of some nonprescribed therapies for health promotion is associated with poorer mental HRQoL.
Going Digital
Authors: Holup Amanda A. , Dobbs Debra , Temple April , Hyer Kathryn
Published: August 2012

This pilot study examines the associations between structural characteristics and the adoption and subsequent use of electronic health records (EHR; resident demographics, clinical notes, medication lists, problem lists, discharge summaries, and advance directives) as a process characteristic in assisted living facilities (ALFs). The study is guided conceptually by Donabedian’s Structure-Process-Outcome (SPO) model. Primary survey data were collected from a randomly selected sample ( N = 76) in Florida during 2009-2010. Analysis included descriptive and bivariate statistics. Descriptive results indicated that ALFs most frequently used an EHR to record medication lists. Characteristics, including size, profit status, resident case mix, and staffing, were associated at the bivariate level with the use of one or more functional domains of an EHR. Thus, the use of EHRs in ALFs is correlated with facility characteristics.
Fatigue and Depressive Symptoms in Older People
Authors: Mänty Minna , Rantanen Taina , Era Pertti , Avlund Kirsten
Published: August 2012

Fatigue is considered an important indicator of aging-related declines in health and functional abilities. Previous studies have indicated strong associations between fatigue and depressive symptoms among younger populations and in patient groups with specific diseases. However, it is not known how different measures of fatigue are associated with depressive symptoms among general older populations. The purpose of this study is to describe the prevalence of depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older adults reporting mobility-related or general feelings fatigue. The study population consisted of 75-year-old community-living individuals ( n = 561). Both, mobility-related and general fatigue, were associated in a stepwise relationship with depressive symptoms: a higher level of fatigue was related to higher level of depressive symptoms. Especially major general fatigue was strongly associated with high level of depressive symptoms. It is important for professionals of the field to be aware of the associations between different measures of fatigue and depressive symptoms.
Battered Immigrant Women in the United States and Protection Orders
Authors: Ammar Nawal H. , Orloff Leslye E. , Dutton Mary Ann , Hass Giselle A.
Published: August 2012

This article explores battered immigrant women’s use of protection orders. It presents an exploratory view of battered immigrant women’s knowledge of protection orders, the reasons leading them to file for protection orders, the remedies they sought in the protection orders, their views on what would improve the process of obtaining protection orders, and their experiences with the violations of protection. One hundred and fifty-three abused immigrant women were recruited from agencies serving immigrants and interviewed by advocates they knew. The results showed that, like women from other marginalized populations, battered immigrant women were unaware of protection orders as legal remedies. Other results showed some commonalties between battered immigrant women’s experiences and abused women from mainstream cultures in the United States. However, unique factors such as immigration-related abuse and the unpreparedness of the justice system to serve abused women with diverse needs require further research and more appropriate personnel training and policy.
Teaching Writing to Deaf Students
Authors: Strassman Barbara K. , Schirmer Barbara
Published: August 2012

The purpose of this review of the research on writing instruction with deaf students was to determine which findings offer evidence for effective practice. The authors used a framework of critical elements developed from research on hearing writers as a set of findings to which they compared the findings with deaf writers. They identified 16 studies of writing instruction over the past 25 years. Research on approaches for teaching writing to hearing students fell into four categories: teaching the process approach, instruction on characteristics of quality writing, writing for content learning, and feedback. Although all of the studies on teaching writing to deaf students fell into one of these categories, outcomes were equivocal and the evidence for practice is at best promising. They conclude that rigorous research is acutely needed so that writing instruction can be better informed by research findings.
Megalencephaly-Polymicrogyria-Polydactyly-Hydrocephalus Syndrome
Authors: Kariminejad Ariana , Radmanesh Farid , Rezayi Ali-reza , Tonekaboni Seyed-Hasan , Gleeson Joseph G.
Published: August 2012

This report describes a case of megalencephaly-polymicrogyria-polydactyly-hydrocephalus syndrome in a 1-year-old boy, born to healthy nonconsanguineous parents. Megalencephaly and bilateral postaxial polydactyly of upper and lower limbs were noted at birth. He had profound developmental delay and moderate hypotonia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed hydrocephalus, polymicrogyria in both frontal lobes and perisylvian regions, and thin corpus callosum. Array-comparative genomic hybridization was normal. The patient’s clinical and radiologic findings fit the classic description of megalencephaly-polymicrogyria-polydactyly-hydrocephalus syndrome. The possible overlap between megalencephaly-polymicrogyria-polydactyly-hydrocephalus syndrome and other similar conditions is discussed.
Childhood Ataxia
Authors: Ashley Claire N. , Hoang Kelly D. , Lynch David R. , Perlman Susan L. , Maria Bernard L.
Published: August 2012

Childhood ataxia is characterized by impaired balance and coordination primarily because of cerebellar dysfunction. Friedreich ataxia, a form of childhood ataxia, is the most common multisystem autosomal recessive disease. Most of these patients are homozygous for the GAA repeat expansion located on the first intron of the frataxin gene on chromosome 9. Mutations in the frataxin gene impair mitochondrial function, increase reactive oxygen species, and trigger redistribution of iron in the mitochondria and cytosol. Targeted therapies for Friedreich ataxia are undergoing testing. In addition, a centralized database, patient registry, and natural history study have been launched to support clinical trials in Friedreich ataxia. The 2011 Neurobiology of Disease in Children symposium, held in conjunction with the 40th annual Child Neurology Society meeting, aimed to (1) describe clinical features surrounding Friedreich ataxia, including cardiomyopathy and genetics; (2) discuss recent advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis of Friedreich ataxia and developments of clinical trials; (3) review new investigations of characteristic symptoms; and (4) establish clinical and biochemical overlaps in neurodegenerative diseases and possible directions for future basic, translational, and clinical studies.