bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Oxysterol 24
(S)
,25‐Epoxycholesterol Attenuates Human Smooth Muscle–Derived Foam Cell Formation Via Reduced Low‐Density Lipoprotein Uptake and Enhanced Cholesterol Efflux
Authors: Beyea Michael M. , Reaume Samantha , Sawyez Cynthia G. , Edwards Jane Y. , O'Neil Caroline , Hegele Robert A. , Pickering J. Geoffrey , Huff Murray W.
Published: September 2012

Background

Foam cell formation by intimal smooth muscle cells (SMCs) inhibits the elaboration of extracellular matrix, which is detrimental to plaque stabilization. In the present study, we examined the lipoproteins and receptors involved in human SMC foam cell formation and investigated the ability of 24(
S
),25‐epoxycholesterol [24(
S
),25‐EC], an oxysterol agonist of the liver X receptor, to attenuate SMC foam cell formation.

Methods and Results

Incubation of human internal thoracic SMCs with atherogenic lipoproteins demonstrated that low‐density lipoprotein (LDL), but not oxidized or acetylated LDL, was the primary lipoprotein taken up, resulting in marked cholesteryl ester deposition (6‐fold vs 1.8‐fold;
P
<0.05; n=4). Exposure of SMCs to exogenous or endogenously synthesized 24
(S)
,25‐EC attenuated LDL uptake (−90% and −47% respectively;
P
<0.05; n=3) through decreased
sterol regulatory element–binding protein‐2
expression (−30% and −17%, respectively;
P
<0.001; n=3), decreased
LDL receptor
expression (−75% and −40%, respectively;
P
<0.05; n=3) and increased liver X receptor–mediated
myosin regulatory light chain interacting protein
expression (7‐ and 3‐fold, respectively;
P
<0.05; n=4). Furthermore, exogenous 24
(S)
,25‐EC increased adenosine triphosphate–binding cassettes A1– and G1–mediated cholesterol efflux to apolipoprotein AI (1.9‐fold;
P
<0.001; n=5) and high‐density lipoprotein
3
(1.3‐fold;
P
<0.05; n=5). 24
(S)
,25‐EC, unlike a nonsteroidal liver X receptor agonist, T0901317, did not stimulate
sterol regulatory element–binding protein‐1c
–mediated fatty acid synthesis or triglyceride accumulation. 24(
S
),25‐EC preserved the assembly of fibronectin and type I collagen by SMCs.

Conclusions

The oxysterol 24
(S)
,25‐EC prevented foam cell formation in human SMCs by attenuation of LDL receptor–mediated LDL uptake and stimulation of cholesterol efflux, restoring the elaboration of extracellular matrix. In contrast to T0901317, 24
(S)
,25‐EC prevented the development of a triglyceride‐rich foam cell phenotype.

(
J Am Heart Assoc
. 2012;1:e000810 doi

:
10.1161/JAHA.112.000810
.)
Delay in Presentation After an Acute Stroke in a Multiethnic Population in South London: The South London Stroke Register
Authors: Addo Juliet , Ayis Salma , Leon Josette , Rudd Anthony G. , McKevitt Christopher , Wolfe Charles D.A.
Published: September 2012

Background

Delayed presentation to hospital after an acute stroke is a major explanation given for low thrombolysis rates. This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with delays in presentation after an acute stroke and changes after a mass media campaign.

Methods and Results

Data were from a population‐based study involving 1392 patients with first‐ever strokes between 2002 and 2010 in a multiethnic South London population. Associations were determined between prehospital delay (≥3 hours) and variables of interest, including ethnicity, by using multivariate logistic regression analyses. Differences in prehospital delay and thrombolysis rates were determined for the period immediately before and after the FAST mass media campaign (2007/2008 versus 2009/2010).

The median (Q
1
to Q
3
) time to presentation was 4.73 (1.55 to 12.70) hours, and 550 (39.5%) presented within 3 hours of symptom onset. In multivariate analysis, patients of black ethnicity had increased odds of delay (odds ratio: 1.63; 95% confidence interval, 1.11 to 2.38), whereas those with more severe strokes characterized by a higher National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (odds ratio: 0.35; 95% confidence interval, 0.20 to 0.61) had reduced odds of delay. There was no difference in the proportion of patients who arrived within 3 hours (
P
=0.30) in the period immediately before and after the FAST campaign (40.7% in 2007/2008 versus 44.9% in 2009/2010). Among patients with ischemic stroke, 119 (11.0%) received thrombolysis between 2002 and 2010, with no difference observed between the pre‐ and postcampaign periods (16.9% versus 16.4%).

Conclusion

Significant delays in seeking care after stroke still occur in this population despite efforts to increase public awareness. Future educational programs must identify and specifically address factors that influence behavior and should target those at higher risk of delay.

(
J Am Heart Assoc
. 2012;1:e001685 doi

:
10.1161/JAHA.112.001685
.)
Peroxisome Proliferator–Activated Receptor‐α Agonism With Fenofibrate Does Not Suppress Inflammatory Responses to Evoked Endotoxemia
Authors: Mulvey Claire K. , Ferguson Jane F. , Tabita‐Martinez Jennifer , Kong Stephanie , Shah Rhia Y. , Patel Parth N. , Master Stephen R. , Usman M. Haris U. , Propert Kathleen J. , Shah Rachana , Mehta Nehal N. , Reilly Muredach P.
Published: September 2012

Background

Data conflict with regard to whether peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor‐α agonism suppresses inflammation in humans. We hypothesized that in healthy adults peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor‐α agonism with fenofibrate would blunt the induced immune responses to endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [
LPS
]), an in vivo model for the study of cardiometabolic inflammation.

Methods and Results

In the Fenofibrate and omega‐3 Fatty Acid Modulation of Endotoxemia (FFAME) trial, 36 healthy volunteers (mean age 26±7 years, mean body mass index 24±3 kg/m
2
, 44% female, 72% white) were randomized to fenofibrate 145 mg or placebo daily. After 6 to 8 weeks of treatment, subjects underwent a low‐dose
LPS
challenge. Clinical and blood measurements were collected at randomization, before
LPS
administration, and serially for 24 hours after
LPS
administration. We examined area under the curve for evoked responses by treatment group. Compared to placebo, but before
LPS
challenge, fenofibrate reduced total cholesterol and tended to decrease triglycerides, consistent with achieved therapeutic plasma levels of fenofibric acid. In the placebo group,
LPS
induced a modest inflammatory response with increased cytokines and chemokines (2‐ to 4‐hour post‐
LPS
8‐fold increase in tumor necrosis factor‐α, 9‐fold increase in interleukin‐6, 9‐fold increase in interleukin‐10, and 10‐fold increase in monocyte chemotactic protein‐1; all
P
<0.001) and acute‐phase reactants (24‐hour post‐
LPS
15‐fold increase in serum amyloid A and 9‐fold increase in C‐reactive protein; both
P
<0.001). Compared to placebo, however, fenofibrate did not significantly attenuate
LPS
‐induced levels of plasma cytokines, chemokines, or acute‐phase proteins.

Conclusions

These data suggest a lack of systemic antiinflammatory properties of fenofibrate at clinically relevant dosing in humans.

Clinical Trial Registration

URL:
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01048502
. Unique identifier: NCT01048502.
Risk Factors for Intracranial Hemorrhage in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients Treated With Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator
Authors: Whiteley William N. , Slot Karsten Bruins , Fernandes Peter , Sandercock Peter , Wardlaw Joanna
Published: September 2012

Background and Purpose—

Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) is an effective treatment for acute ischemic stroke but is associated with an increased risk of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). We sought to identify the risk factors for ICH with a systematic review of the published literature.

Methods—

We searched for studies of rtPA-treated stroke patients that reported an association between a variable measured before rtPA infusion and clinically important ICH (parenchymal ICH or ICH associated with clinical deterioration). We calculated associations between baseline variables and ICH with random-effect meta-analyses.

Results—

We identified 55 studies that measured 43 baseline variables in 65 264 acute ischemic stroke patients. Post-rtPA ICH was associated with higher age (odds ratio, 1.03 per year; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–1.04), higher stroke severity (odds ratio, 1.08 per National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale point; 95% confidence interval, 1.06–1.11), and higher glucose (odds ratio, 1.10 per mmol/L; 95% confidence interval, 1.05–1.14). There was approximately a doubling of the odds of ICH with the presence of atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, renal impairment, previous antiplatelet agents, leukoaraiosis, and a visible acute cerebral ischemic lesion on pretreatment brain imaging. Little of the variation in the sizes of the associations among different studies was explained by the source of the cohort, definition of ICH, or degree of adjustment for confounding variables.

Conclusions—

Individual baseline variables were modestly associated with post-rtPA ICH. Prediction of post-rtPA ICH therefore is likely to be difficult if based on single clinical or imaging factors alone. These observational data do not provide a reliable method for the individualization of treatment according to predicted ICH risk.
A Study of Redundancy and Neutrality in Evolutionary Optimization
Authors: Correia Marisol B.
Published: September 2012

Some authors consider that evolutionary search may be positively influenced by the use of redundant representations, whereas others note that the addition of random redundancy to a representation could be useless in optimization. Given this lack of consensus, two new families of redundant binary representations are developed in this paper. The first family is based on linear transformations and is considered non-neutral. The second family of representations is designed to implement neutrality, and is based on the mathematical formulation of error control codes. A study aimed at assessing the influence of redundancy and neutrality on the performance of a simple evolutionary hillclimber is presented. The (1+1)-ES is modeled using Markov chains and is applied to NK fitness landscapes. The results indicate that the phenotypic neighborhood induced by a redundant representation dominates the behavior of the algorithm, affecting the search more strongly than neutrality, and the representations with better performance on NK fitness landscapes do not exhibit extreme values of any of the indicators of representation quality commonly adopted in the literature.
Impact of Asymmetric Dynamical Processes on the Structure and Intensity Change of Two-Dimensional Hurricane-Like Annular Vortices
Authors: Menelaou Konstantinos , Yau M. K. , Martinez Yosvany
Published: September 2012

In this study, a simple two-dimensional (2D) unforced barotropic model is used to study the asymmetric dynamics of the hurricane inner-core region and to assess their impact on the structure and intensity change. Two sets of experiments are conducted, starting with stable and unstable annular vortices, to mimic intense mature hurricane-like vortices. The theory of empirical normal modes (ENM) and the Eliassen–Palm flux theorem are then applied to extract the dominant wave modes from the dataset and diagnose their kinematics, structure, and impact on the primary vortex.

From the first experiment, it is found that the evolution and the lifetime of an elliptical eyewall, described by a stable annular vortex perturbed by an external wavenumber-2 impulse, may be controlled by the inviscid damping of sheared vortex Rossby waves (VRWs) or the decay of an excited quasimode. The critical radius and structure of the quasimode obtained by the ENM analysis are shown to be consistent with the predictions of a linear eigenmode analysis of small perturbations. From the second experiment, it is found that the outward-propagating VRWs that arise due to barotropic instability and the inward mixing of high vorticity in the unstable annular vortex affect the primary circulation and create a secondary ring of enhanced vorticity that contains a secondary wind maximum. Sensitivity tests performed on the spatial extent of the initial external impulse verifies the robustness of the results. That the secondary eyewall occurs close to the critical radius of some of the dominant modes emphasizes the important role played by the VRWs.
Baseline and 6-Week Follow-Up Levels of PAF and Activity of Its Metabolic Enzymes in Patients With Heart Failure and Healthy Volunteers—A Pilot Study
Authors: Detopoulou Paraskevi , Fragopoulou Elizabeth , Nomikos Tzortzis , Antonopoulou Smaragdi , Kotroyiannis Iason , Vassiliadou Carmen , Panagiotakos Demosthenes B. , Chrysohoou Christina , Pitsavos Christos , Stefanadis Christodoulos
Published: September 2012

This study aimed at evaluating the changes in platelet-activating factor (PAF) and its metabolic enzymes over a 6-week follow-up period in patients with newly diagnosed heart failure ([HF] n = 12) compared with age-, sex-, and BMI-matched apparently healthy volunteers (n = 10). The PAF, its key biosynthetic enzymes (lyso-PAF acetyltransferase [lyso-PAF-AT] and dithiothreitol [DTT]-insensitive CDP choline: 1-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol cholinephosphotransferase [PAF-CPT]), and its catabolic isoenzymes (PAF-acetylhydrolase [PAF-AH] and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 [Lp-PLA2]) were measured in serum and leukocytes of participants. At baseline, patients with HF had lower median activities of lyso-PAF-AT ( P < .001) and PAF-CPT ( P = .07) in parallel with PAF levels ( P = .05) and higher activities of PAF-AH ( P = .02) and Lp-PLA2 ( P < .001) than controls. At follow-up, PAF-CPT and PAF levels marginally increased ( P = .1), lyso-PAF-AT ( P < .001) remained downregulated, while PAF-AH ( P = .004) and Lp-PLA2 ( P < .001) remained elevated compared with the controls. Newly diagnosed patients with HF under drug treatment have an affected profile of PAF biosynthetic enzymes and especially lyso-PAF-AT.
Association of Serum Gamma-Glutamyltransferase With Arterial Stiffness in Established Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Zhu Cansheng , Xiong Zhaojun , Zheng Zhenda , Chen Yanming , Qian Xiaoxian , Chen Xiaohong
Published: September 2012

Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) has been reported to predict vascular risk. We enrolled 978 patients (507 men and 471 women) with established coronary artery disease (CAD). The GGT, brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity ([baPWV] to assess arterial stiffness), and conventional risk factors were evaluated. The means of baPWV tend to increase in both genders according to GGT tertiles. Body mass index, GGT, logarithmical (systolic blood pressure [LnSBP]), uric acid (UA), total bilirubin, Ln (cholinesterase), and Ln (total cholesterol) were correlated with baPWV in men in a multivariate model. However, only GGT, LnSBP, UA, and Ln (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) were correlated with baPWV in women. The GGT was a significant determinant for increased baPWV both in men (β = 0.017; P < .001) and in women (β = 0.015; P < .001). In conclusion, GGT was independently associated with increased arterial stiffness both in men and in women with established CAD.
Trust and the United Nations Global Compact
Authors: Gilbert Dirk Ulrich , Behnam Michael
Published: September 2012

The United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) is a Global Public Policy Network supporting ten universal principles in the areas of human rights, labor standards, environmental protection, and anticorruption. Networks such as the UNGC are an organizational form with distinct structural properties and specific requirements regarding coordination. Relationships among network partners are typically complex, reciprocal, and trust based. Despite the relevance of trust for a successful coordination of networks, the literature on the UNGC remains relatively silent when it comes to this phenomenon. The conditions and mechanisms that contribute to the constitution of trust in the UNGC are poorly understood. Based on research in network theory, the authors argue that the trust of participants and other stakeholders supporting the UNGC is a key precondition to enhance collaboration and to further develop the initiative. Against this background, the aim of this article is to develop a systematic approach to foster the constitution of trust in the UNGC. A thorough investigation of the connection between trust and the UNGC may help identify concrete measures for increasing the scale and scope of collaboration between stakeholders and stimulating not only collective learning but also the implementation of the Global Compact’s ten principles.
Review Essay
Authors: Kourula Arno
Published: September 2012

This review essay addresses first the author’s own assessment of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and second the structure and contribution of the book edited by Andreas Rasche and Georg Kell on The United Nations Global Compact: Achievements, Trends and Challenges (Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2010). The book brings together contributions by academics and practitioners from business, civil society, and the UNGC office.
Enabling Institutional Investors’ Collective Action
Authors: Gond Jean-Pascal , Piani Valeria
Published: September 2012

This article analyzes the process of organizing collective action by studying the role of the organizational platform provided by the United Nations–backed Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) initiative in supporting institutional investors’ collaborative engagement with corporations on environmental, social, and governance issues. The authors combine stakeholder and collective action theory to explain how institutional investors influence corporations through collective engagement. A unique access to data from the PRI secretariat on two cases of collaborative campaigns allows evaluation of our framework. The findings clarify how investors enhance their sources of power, legitimacy, and urgency and attract managers’ attention through collaborative engagement, and show how they manage these attributes to reshape the legitimacy and urgency of their claims in the eyes of managers. Our data suggest that “enabling organizations” such as the PRI initiative facilitate the emergence of collective action by lowering barriers to entry and providing a mobilizing structure, support collaborative efforts by adding their own legitimacy, normative power, and persistence to the collaborative engagement, and create conditions for a lasting dialogue between investors and managers by providing a hybrid organizational space.
Economic Development, Democratic Experience, and Political Parties’ Linkage Strategies
Authors: Kitschelt Herbert , Kselman Daniel M.
Published: September 2012

This article examines the relationship among a country’s democratic experience, its level of economic development, and the prevalence of clientelistic and programmatic modes of democratic accountability. In contrast to the commonly accepted wisdom that clientelistic politics will decrease monotonically as a country’s economy develops and its democracy consolidates, the authors argue theoretically and demonstrate empirically that clientelism tends in fact to increase as a country moves from low to intermediate levels of democracy and development. They also uncover preliminary evidence that a history of regime instability may have independent consequences on the prevalence of one or the other linkage mechanism. Finally, the results suggest that a country’s level of economic development and exposure to the international economy are more consistent predictors of programmatic effort and coherence than are measures of a country’s regime type.
Motivation and Involvement as Antecedents of the Perceived Value of the Destination Experience
Authors: Prebensen Nina K. , Woo Eunju , Chen Joseph S. , Uysal Muzaffer
Published: September 2012

Research acknowledges the tourist as imperative in creating experience value. Building on this premise, the present study offers an integrated approach to understanding tourists’ experience values and attempts to extend the theoretical and empirical evidence of causal relationships between the motivation, involvement, and the experience value of the destination, hereafter called experience value. Using a sample drawn from tourists in Norway, the research model investigates relationships between the three constructs, using a structural equation modeling approach. The results indicate that motivation and involvement are linked to tourists’ experience value and motivation affects the level of involvement. In order to facilitate for tourists to cocreate experience value then, not only should the industry recognize experiences that tourists value but should also acknowledge motivation and involvement as essential in value creation for tourist experiences.
Do Financial Conflicts of Interest Bias Research?
Authors: Krimsky Sheldon
Published: September 2012

In the mid-1980s, social scientists compared outcome measures of related drug studies, some funded by private companies and others by nonprofit organizations or government agencies. The concept of a “funding effect” was coined when it was discovered that study outcomes could be statistically correlated with funding sources, largely in drug safety and efficacy studies. Also identified in tobacco research and chemical toxicity studies, the “funding effect” is often attributed, implicitly or explicitly, to research bias. This article discusses the meaning of scientific bias in research, examines the strongest evidence for the “funding effect,” and explores the question of whether the “funding effect” is an indicator of biased research that is driven by the financial interests of the for-profit sponsor. This article argues that the “funding effect” is merely a symptom of the factors that could be responsible for outcome disparities in product assessment. Social scientists should not suspend their skepticism and choose as a default hypothesis that bias is always or typically the cause.
The Changing Relationship Between Fertility Expectations and Educational Expectations
Authors: Lynn Freda B. , Schneider Barbara , Zhang Zhenmei
Published: September 2012

This article examines the relationship between young women’s fertility expectations and educational expectations in late adolescence and at the outset of adulthood. Given progressive macro-level changes in the United States beginning in the 1960s, we compare the expectation patterns of youth from two cohorts using data from the National Longitudinal Surveys. We find that the relationship between education and fertility expectations is statistically negligible for those born in the height of the baby boom (1950s) and yet statistically positive for those born at the tail end of the baby boom (1960s). The crux of the change, however, is not driven by an increase in those who pair high educational expectations with normative or above-norm fertility expectations but rather an increase in young women who pair modest educational ambitions with low fertility expectations.
A Reorientation of Worldview
Authors: Daly Kerry J. , Ashbourne Lynda , Brown Jaime L.
Published: September 2012

We report on a Canadian partnership-based, multiyear, multisite project that examined the diverse experience of father involvement. Based on a sample of 215 fathers, an analysis team identified key themes of father involvement. Qualitative interviews were conducted within seven, geographically dispersed groups that included new fathers, young fathers, immigrant fathers, gay fathers, fathers of children with special needs, indigenous fathers, and separated and divorced fathers. A core track of questioning asked fathers about the way that children had influenced their attitudes and activities. The findings reported here indicate that fathers undergo a reorientation of values and behavior in response to the influence of their children. Specifically, they articulate redefined priorities and an altered sense of purpose, a different awareness of what it means to be a man, changed relationships and a rebalancing of the importance of self and other, and a reorientation toward time and scheduling of their everyday lives.
Unique Matching Patterns in Remarriage
Authors: Shafer Kevin
Published: September 2012

Educational assortative mating is a crucial aspect of marriage formation because it confers benefits such as improved health and well-being, affects economic standing, and reflects the level of gender equity within marriage. However, little is known about educational assortative mating patterns in remarriage. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1979 cohort, this study addresses this shortcoming in two ways. First, I compare educational assortative mating patterns in first and second marriages. Second, I address characteristics associated with homogamy, hypergamy, and hypogamy in remarriage. The results show that assortative mating patterns in remarriage are distinct from those in first marriage, remarriage patterns are unique by educational attainment and gender, and these patterns are not explained by differences in income, age, or parental status. The results illustrate the need for theories which specifically address the unique nature of remarriage in the United States.
Visions of Gender Justice
Authors: Knijnik Jorge
Published: September 2012

From 1941 to 1979 women in Brazil were forbidden by law to play the national sport of football and continue to struggle to participate this major aspect of the country’s social life. This paper focuses on the political ideas of Juliana Cabral, the captain of the Brazilian women’s football team that won the silver medal at the Athens Olympics in 2004. Against a background of organized political contestation of the gender structure in Brazilian sports, I use Paulo Freire’s concept of untested feasibility to chronical Juliana Cabral’s vision of gender justice in football as well as her actions to promote gender equality within football. This is a particularly important moment of contestation to document given that Brazil is scheduled to host two major world sports events this decade—the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Rio Olympics, which will highlight to the world once again the tensions within the gender social order in the country.
The effect of entrepreneurial orientation on the franchise relationship
Authors: Dada Olufunmilola (Lola) , Watson Anna
Published: September 2012

This article aims to understand how the entrepreneurial orientation (EO) of the franchise system may impact franchisor–franchisee relationship quality, given the conflicting forces for standardization/uniformity and franchisee desire for autonomy. A cross-sectional research design, involving a mail questionnaire survey, was employed to collect data from a sample of franchisors operating in the UK. The hypotheses specified in the study were tested using regression (including moderated regression) analyses. The results revealed that EO was significantly and positively related to relationship quality (as perceived by the franchisor). In addition, the recruitment of entrepreneurial franchisees was found to have a positively significant impact on relationship quality. The structural support systems used by franchisors to encourage franchisee entrepreneurial activities were not found to moderate the relationship between EO and relationship quality. The results suggest that systems with EO and entrepreneurial franchisees may enjoy better relations.
An Anthropology of Familismo
Authors: Smith-Morris Carolyn , Morales-Campos Daisy , Alvarez Edith Alejandra Castañeda , Turner Matthew
Published: September 2012

Research on core cultural values has been central to behavioral and clinical research in ethnic groups. Familismo is one such construct, theorized as the strong identification and attachment of Hispanic persons with their nuclear and extended families. Our anthropological research on this concept among Mexicans and Mexican immigrants in the United States elaborates the concept, and promotes greater complementarity between quantitative and qualitative data on the topic. Ethnographic work spanning 3 sites over four years reveal that familismo as expressed in narratives is a more contested and evocative concept than most quantitative and behavioral literatures tend to suggest. By suggesting that when familismo is used in generalizing ways, it neglects the broader significance of nostalgia or of a larger social (extra-familial) connectedness, we do not ignore the need for population-based research. Instead, we hope to forward and crystallize studies of culture change in migrants and to sustain a complementary and simultaneous conversation based on contextual and qualitative data.
Latino Parent and Adolescent Perceptions of Hoped-for and Feared Possible Selves for Adolescents
Authors: Halfond Raquel , Corona Rosalie , Moon Anya
Published: September 2012

The authors examined Latino parent and adolescent reports of hoped-for and feared possible selves for adolescents. Twenty-nine Latino parents (18 mothers, 11 fathers) and their 18 adolescents participated in semistructured individual interviews. Interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed, and coded for themes via content analysis. Themes that emerged included achievement, interpersonal, personal characteristics, financial-material, cultural roots, and risk behaviors. More parents than adolescents mentioned feared interpersonal selves such as being a teenage parent. Findings suggest that Latino parents and adolescents express hopes and fears for future outcomes that are not consistent with the high rates of school dropout and teen pregnancy among Latino adolescents. Results shed light on strategies for program and policy prevention efforts.
Brainstem Cavernoma Hemorrhage During Pregnancy in a 15-Year-Old
Authors: Ranger Adrianna M. , Chaudhary Navjot , Avery Michael , Lownie Stephen
Published: September 2012

Cavernous haemangiomas, or cavernous malformations, have been reported during pregnancy, most of which have been either supratentorial or spinal lesions. We encountered a 15-year old pregnant patient with a rapidly progressive and haemorrhagic brainstem cavernous haemangioma. The case presented here describes the history and findings of this patient, as well as the less-commonly utilized technique we used to access the floor of the fourth ventricle via occipital craniotomy for complete macroscopic resection of this lesion, resulting in the gradual return of most of her neurological deficits.
Hope Is a Virtue
Authors: Miller Geoffrey
Published: September 2012

Understanding the meaning and importance of what constitutes hope when counseling members of a family and their child in a medical setting is a vital skill for physicians. The hope that the physicians must foster is that they will offer comfort and care, honesty and availability, and genuine expertise. Although there is no obligation to sustain harmful treatments to maintain false hopes, there is also no obligation to extinguish hope in parents and patients for the outcome of a disorder.
Epilepsy Characteristics and Psychosocial Factors Associated With Ketogenic Diet Success
Authors: McNamara Nancy A. , Carbone Loretta A. , Shellhaas Renée A.
Published: September 2012

The ketogenic diet is an effective therapy for childhood epilepsy, but its important impacts on families could affect successful treatment. We assessed medical and psychosocial factors associated with successful ketogenic diet treatment. A total of 23 families of patients treated with ketogenic diet completed questionnaires (30% response), including inquiries about challenges to successful dietary treatments and validated family functioning scales. Of these, 14 were considered successful (diet discontinued once the child was seizure-free or continued as clinically indicated). Family-identified challenges were food preparation time (n = 11) and that the diet was too restrictive (n = 9). Neither Medicaid insurance nor family functioning scale scores were significantly associated with successful treatment. Lower seizure frequency prior to ketogenic diet initiation ( P = .02) and postdiet seizure improvement ( P = .01) were associated with increased odds of success. Effective ketogenic diet treatment is dictated both by psychosocial and epilepsy-related influences. A focus on understanding the psychosocial issues may help to improve families’ experiences and success with the ketogenic diet.
Factors Mediating the Relationship Between Intimate Partner Violence and Chronic Pain in Chinese Women
Authors: Tiwari Agnes , Fong Daniel Y. T. , Chan Chee-Hon , Ho Pak-Chung
Published: September 2012

There is increasing recognition that chronic pain is a problem affecting women survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV), and in Western literature evidence is emerging about significant factors mediating the relationship between IPV and chronic pain. However, little is known about the factors mediating IPV and chronic pain in Chinese women for whom prior research has shown that Chinese culture may influence their response to IPV. This study was conducted to assess the roles of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, depressive symptoms, and IPV-related injury on the relationship between IPV and chronic pain in Chinese women, using structural equation modelling (SEM). Data were collected from 308 Chinese women survivors of IPV recruited at community setting ( n = 228) and at domestic violence shelters ( n = 82). Results showed that only the relationship between psychological abuse severity and chronic pain severity was mediated by PTSD symptom severity (β = .30, 95% CI = 0.14-0.45, p < .001). Furthermore, although depressive symptom severity was strongly correlated with PTSD symptom severity (β = .69, 95% CI = 0.61-0.76, p < .001), it was not found to be mediating the relationship between any types of IPV and chronic pain. Similarly, IPV-related injury severity was not shown to have a significant mediating effect on the relationship between IPV and chronic pain. The findings affirm the importance of recognizing the complex interrelationships among IPV, mental health symptoms, and physical health problems as well as the need for considering PTSD symptoms when designing interventions for abused Chinese women with complaints of chronic pain.
Romeo & Juliet
Authors: Beck Victoria Simpson , Boys Stephanie
Published: September 2012

Laws that set an age of consent to engage in sexual behavior are unique in that they are the only laws that can result in a child being both a victim and offender of a crime merely due to age. They are also unique because some states have used these laws in an attempt to reduce teen pregnancy rates. This study was designed to measure and report on public support for the use of age of consent laws (also known as statutory rape laws) to control and punish consensual teenaged sexual behavior, with a focus on Wisconsin and California where the age of sexual consent (18) exceeds the majority of states by two years. Study results indicate that the majority of citizens in these two states do not support the use of the age of consent laws in cases where two same-aged teenagers have engaged in consensual sexual behavior.
An Eye for an I
Authors: Koschmann Matthew A. , Bisel Ryan , Botero Isabel , Lin Canchu , Olufowote James , Perriton Linda , Schoeneborn Dennis , Wieland Stacey
Published: September 2012

This article offers reflections and insights on Management Communication Quarterly from a younger scholar in the field of organizational communication. After providing a brief history of the journal, topics of internationality, interdisciplinarity, and identity are explored. This is followed by a discussion among other “emerging scholars” in the field of organizational communication about these topics. The article concludes with a discussion about the role and format of Management Communication Quarterly in the digital age.
Do Patient Perceptions Vary With Ownership Status? A Study of Nonprofit, For-Profit, and Public Hospital Patients
Authors: Drevs Florian , Tscheulin Dieter K. , Lindenmeier Jörg
Published: September 2012

Recent research indicates that consumers associate nonprofit organizations mainly with the trait “warmth,” whereas for-profit organizations are perceived as being “competent.” Trustworthiness is another dimension of consumer perceptions of nonprofit organizations. This article attempts to combine two strands of research: Aaker, Vohs, and Mogilner’s research on perceptions of warmth and competence and Handy et al.’s and Schlesinger, Mitchell, and Gray’s research on individuals’ perceptions of trustworthiness in nonprofits. Our study indicates that “warmth,” “trustworthiness,” and “competence” are distinct dimensions of patient perceptions of hospitals. Perceptions of these traits vary across different manifestations of ownership status. Nonprofit hospitals are perceived as more trustworthy and warm but less competent than their for-profit competitors. With nonurgent care, analysis shows that only trustworthiness and competence influence patients’ hospital evaluations. Nonprofit hospitals should try to make their ownership status public as well as to alleviate detrimental deviations of perceived competence from actual competence.
Founding New Nonprofit Organizations
Authors: Carman Joanne G. , Nesbit Rebecca
Published: September 2012

In this study, the authors explore how the dynamics associated with the founding of new nonprofit organizations, the characteristics of the founders, and the developmental life cycles of nonprofit organizations contribute to the seemingly fragmented landscape of the nonprofit sector. Based on data collected from interviews with 31 nonprofit organizations, we find that new nonprofits are being created by passionate, entrepreneurial individuals who hope to make a difference in the community.  Although these organizations are typically small, with few staff members and small budgets, the extent to which they rely on volunteers and are connected to the broader community varies considerably. Moreover, many founders had little experience volunteering or working in the sector. The findings from this study have important implications for the professional development of nonprofit staff, leaders, and volunteers, and they shed new light on how we think about and describe the founders of nonprofit organizations.
Preparation of lignin–silica hybrids and its application in intumescent flame-retardant poly(lactic acid) system
Authors: Zhang Rui , Xiao Xifu , Tai Qilong , Huang Hua , Yang Jian , Hu Yuan
Published: September 2012

Lignin–silica hybrids (LSHs) were prepared by sol–gel method and characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). LSH and ammonium polyphosphate (APP) were added into poly(lactic acid) (PLA) as a novel intumescent flame-retardant (IFR) system to improve the flame retardancy of PLA. The flame-retardant effect of APP and LSH in PLA was studied using limiting oxygen index (LOI), vertical burning (UL-94) tests and cone calorimeter. The thermal stability of PLA/APP/LSH composites was evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Additionally, the morphology and components of char residues of the IFR-PLA composites were investigated by SEM and XPS. With the addition of APP/LSH to PLA system, the morphology of the char residue has obviously changed. Compared with PLA/APP and PLA/APP/lignin, a continuous and dense intumescent charring layer with more phosphor in PLA composites is formed, which exhibits better flame retardancy. All the results show that the combination of APP and LSH can improve the flame-retardant property and increase the thermal stability of PLA composites greatly.
Octasilsesquioxane-reinforced TMBP epoxy nanocomposites: Characterization of thermal, flame-retardant, and morphological properties
Authors: Liu Bo , Jiang Chunmei , Zhang Chunling , Bai Xuetao , Mu Jianxin
Published: September 2012

Organic–inorganic nanocomposites comprising epoxy resins and polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) were prepared via in situ polymerization of 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethyl-4,4′-biphenyl diglycidyl epoxy resins and 4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulfone. The thermal, fire-retardant, and morphological properties of the nanocomposites were studied using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), thermogravimetry-Fourier transform infrared (TG-FTIR) spectroscopy, microscale combustion calorimeter (MCC), limiting oxygen index (LOI), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The peak heat release rate and the total heat release were significantly reduced with the incorporation of POSS into the epoxy networks, based on the MCC results. Moreover, the LOI value slightly increased with the increase in POSS content. Further, SEM and XPS were used to explore the char residues of the pure epoxy resin and POSS-containing system. The introduction of POSS was found to lead to the formation of an inert layer on the surface of the materials, which protects the internal structure from decomposition.
Synthesis and properties of polyimides from 1,4-bis(4-amino-2-phenylphenoxy) benzene and 4,4′-bis(4-amino-2-phenylphenoxy) biphenyl
Authors: Morikawa Atsushi , Miyata Fumi , Nishimura Jun
Published: September 2012

Diamines, namely, 1,4-bis(4-amino-2-phenylphenoxy) benzene (1) and 4,4′-bis(4-amino-2-phenylphenoxy) biphenyl (2), were synthesized from 4-fluoro-3-phenyl nitrobenzene. Two series of polyimides were synthesized from these diamines with nine types of dianhydrides by a conventional two-step procedure that included ring-opening polymerization in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and subsequent thermal cyclic dehydration. The polyimides were characterized by x-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis. The polyimides from 1 and 2 had a glass transition temperature in the range of 221–254°C and 222–271°C, respectively, and all the polymers were amorphous. The structure–property relationships of these polyimides were examined and compared with those of the previously prepared analogous polyimides from the bis(4-amino-2-biphenyl)ether (3). Water absorption and dielectric constants ( ∊) of the polyimides were compared and discussed on the basis of imide content per repeating unit.
Electrospun poly(vinyl alcohol)/α-zirconium phosphate nanocomposite fibers
Authors: Wei Suying , Lizu Monira , Zhang Xi , Sampathi Jayanthi , Sun Luyi , Milner Matthew F.
Published: September 2012

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/α-zirconium phosphate (ZrP) polymer nanocomposite (PNC) fibers were successfully prepared by a simple and low-cost electrospinning process. ZrP nanoparticles with two different dimensions, that is, ZrP-500 with a lateral dimension of ∼320 nm and an aspect ratio of ∼500 and ZrP-1500 with a lateral dimension of ∼950 nm and an aspect ratio of ∼1500, were utilized to illustrate the size effect on the electrospun nanofibers. In order to obtain defect-free, uniform PNC fibers, a number of parameters including polymer concentration, feed rate, applied voltage and working distance between the needle tip and the fiber collecting substrate were investigated. Scanning electron microscopic morphological analysis showed smooth and nonwoven electrospun nanofiber mat. Strong intermolecular interactions between the PVA matrix and the included ZrP nanofillers were revealed by the attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The incorporation of ZrP nanofillers drastically improved the thermal stability of the PNC fibers. Results of thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated a clear thermal stability dependence on the aspect ratio of the crystalline ZrP nanofillers. The degradation temperature was increased by 90°C for the ZrP-1500 and 60°C for ZrP-500, when the loading level was increased from 1 wt% to 5 wt%. Furthermore, the viscoelastic properties of the PNC solutions were studied by the rheometer. The solutions with higher loading of the nanofiller exhibited higher viscosity and demonstrated different fluid nature when compared with the solutions at lower loading level.
Preparation of porous polyimide films by selective decomposition of poly(methyl methacrylate) from PI/PMMA-blended films
Authors: Zhou Hua-Zhen , Zhan Mao-Sheng , Wang Kai , Liu Xiao-Yan
Published: September 2012

A series of porous polyimide (PI) films were prepared by decomposing PI/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-blended films at appropriate high temperature for a certain period of time in air. The pore-forming agent, PMMA, was blended with poly(amic acid) (PAA) by in situ blending method. As a thermally labile polymer, PMMA was decomposed first to generate substances with low molecular weight, leaving holes in the original location. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra were used to characterize the changes in the chemical structure during the process of preparation of porous PI films. The porous morphology was investigated using field emission scanning electron microscopy. Using FT-IR and thermogravimetric analysis, it was confirmed that PMMA disappeared completely after 4 h at 330°C in air. Thus, porous PI films with major differences between surface and bottom morphologies were prepared successfully. The average pore size of the porous films increased with increasing content of PMMA but was not larger than 1 μm.
Synthesis and characterization of novel linear and cross-linked polyurethane urea elastomers with 2,3-diaminopyridine in the main chain
Authors: Oprea Stefan , Potolinca Violeta Otilia
Published: September 2012

Novel polyurethane urea containing pyridine moieties in their main chains have been prepared by a two-step solution polymerization procedure. These polyurethane urea elastomers were synthesized by chain-extending isocyanate end-capped prepolymers with 2,3-diaminoyridine and different cross-linkers. The isocyanate-terminated prepolymers were obtained from poly(tetramethylene oxide) glycol of molecular weight 1400 (Terathane 1400) and 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate. Including pyridine derivatives into the structural compositions leads to a change in properties that were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), mechanical measurements and contact angle and fluorescence analysis. The results show that intermolecular hydrogen bonds have formed between pyridine groups and urethane or urea groups, affecting all the obtained properties.
Measurements and simulation of the dynamic responses of a bridge–embankment transition zone below a heavy haul railway line
Authors: Shi Jin , Burrow Michael P N , Chan Andrew H , Wang Ying Jie
Published: September 2012

Chinese Railways is seeking to increase the capacity of many of its heavy haul railway lines by increasing their utilization and at the same time increasing axle loads from 250 to 300 kN. These projected increases in railway traffic may result in accelerated deterioration of the railway network. A vulnerable part of the network, are bridge–embankment transition zones which frequently experience high degradation rates. To investigate the possible implications of the forecasted increases in railway traffic on these structure, a study was carried out which consisted of instrumenting a transition zone to measure accelerations under existing loads and building a three-dimensional finite element dynamic model of the bridge–embankment transition to predict the effects of the anticipated future traffic. The results of the study indicated that commonly used measures of stability, safety and substructure damage would remain within specified limits, despite the projected increases in axle load. However, excessive wear of the wheel and or rail may occur.