bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Child Custody in Italian Management of Divorce
Authors: Lavadera Anna Lubrano , Caravelli Liliana , Togliatti Marisa Malagoli
Published: October 2012

The current research examined the question of child custody with regard to divorced families in Italy. This study proposed to evaluate, following the introduction of Law 54/2006 in March 2006 concerning shared custody, whether or not changes occurred in either the decisions on judicial divorce in the Court of Rome or in the choices of the parents who divorced by mutual consent in the same court. The archival research examined 100 judgments on judicial divorce (50 before Law 54/2006-2005 and 50 after Law 54/2006-2007) and 100 judgments on divorce by mutual consent (by the same procedure). The instrument employed was a schedule of content analysis. The data were examined by means of frequency analyses and statistical tests (chi-square test and ANOVA). Consistently with the expectations of the authors, the results showed that after the enactment of Law 54/2006, there were significant changes in the management of child custody and visit planning with the nonresidential parent. Research and clinical implications are discussed.
Using Comparison Scenarios to Improve Prenatal Risk Communication
Authors: Pighin Stefania , Savadori Lucia , Barilli Elisa , Rumiati Rino , Bonalumi Sara , Ferrari Maurizio , Cremonesi Laura
Published: October 2012

The present research provides empirical evidence of whether communicating the prenatal risk of chromosomal anomalies using comparison scenarios influences women’s ability to distinguish between different risk levels. In 2 experiments, participants read a description of a hypothetical woman who was learning of the risk of chromosomal anomaly as a result of a prenatal screening test. Both experiments used a 3 (risk level) × 3 (scenario) full between-subjects design. In accordance with the experimental condition, participants were presented with a low (e.g., 1 in 5390), a medium (e.g., 1 in 770), or a high risk value (e.g., 1 in 110). Such risk values were presented either on their own or along with additional information illustrating a comparison scenario that provided 2 numerical comparison points. Participants were asked to evaluate the risk of chromosomal anomaly. In Experiment 2, participants’ numeracy skills were also assessed. Results showed that the use of comparison scenarios results in significant differences in perceived risk across risk levels whereas such differences are not significant without the comparison scenario, but such a technique has differential effects according to participants’ capacity to deal with numbers. Although the technique is beneficial for high-numerate participants, it has no effect on low-numerate participants.
Investigation of the hot cracking susceptibility of laser welds with the controlled tensile weldability test
Authors: Quiroz Vanessa , Gumenyuk Andrey , Rethmeier Michael
Published: October 2012

Due to significant developments over the last decades, laser beam welding has become a well-established industrial process offering high processing speeds and causing low component distortions. But an important issue currently preventing its intense use, especially in the energy or plant construction sector where high alloy steels are applied, concerns hot crack formation. Although considerable advances in understanding hot cracking mechanisms have been made, most of the known influencing factors are metallurgical in character. The thermo-mechanical effects are barely considered or quantified. Up to the present, there exist numerous hot cracking tests that were however conceived for welding methods other than laser beam welding. Considering the special features of the laser welding process, such as high cooling rates and the narrow process zone, results obtained with other welding techniques and test procedures cannot be transferred to laser beam welding. In this study, the laser beam weldability of various stainless steels was examined in terms of their susceptibility to hot cracking by means of the controlled tensile weldability test, which was proven to be suitable for use in conjunction with CO2 laser welding. This test allows the application of tensile strain at a variable fixed cross-head speed transverse to the welding direction. Full and partial penetration bead-on-plate welds were produced. In a first attempt to determine the impact of the applied external strain on the local transient strains and strain rates near the weld pool, an optical system was used to measure the backside surface of partial penetration welds. The results showed the influence of the strain and the strain rates on hot crack formation. Furthermore, a classification of the studied austenitic, duplex and ferritic stainless steels according to the established test criteria (critical strain and cross-head speed) was conducted.
Effects of Extended Time Allotments on Reading Comprehension Performance of College Students With and Without Learning Disabilities
Authors: Lewandowski Lawrence , Cohen Justin , Lovett Benjamin J.
Published: October 2012

Students with disabilities often receive test accommodations in schools and on high-stakes tests. Students with learning disabilities (LD) represent the largest disability group in schools, and extended time the most common test accommodation requested by such students. This pairing persists despite controversy over the validity of extended time as a test accommodation. The current study examined the effects of 50% and 100% time extensions on the reading comprehension performance of college students with and without LD. Results indicated that typical students actually benefited more than the LD group when given extra time, indicating that extended time is not a test accommodation that is specific to those with a disability. Moreover, when only students with LD were given extended time, especially double time, they outperformed nondisabled peers. We discuss implications of these findings for future research as well as accommodation decisions in educational settings.
Yesterday’s Gains Versus Today’s Realties
Authors: Osgood Jeffery L. , Opp Susan M. , Bernotsky R. Lorraine
Published: October 2012

The past decade has been one of the more turbulent in terms of the economic pressures felt by localities. Through three national-level surveys taken at five-year intervals over the previous decade, the authors examine changes in the use of economic development strategies employed by localities with populations more than 10 000. Despite reporting having moved away from a reliance on business incentives to a broader set of strategies, we find that after the recent recession, localities are relying on business incentives at their highest levels in 10 years. Moreover, the most recent survey results suggest that there are observable patterns among localities and their use of first-, second-, and third-wave strategies.
How Major Local Taxes Affect Private Employment
Authors: Wu Yonghong
Published: October 2012

This empirical research focuses on three major local taxes—property tax, sales tax, and telecommunications tax—to examine their impacts on local economic development in the six-county Chicago metropolitan area. The statistical results indicate that these three major local taxes have significant negative effects on business employment. The study implies that it may be counterproductive for local governments to raise tax levels in order to address some immediate revenue shortfalls in the aftermath of the recent economic recession.
Solution methodology of convection boundary layer problems using Adomian decomposition method
Authors: Javanmardi MJ , Jafarpur K , Mahzoon M
Published: October 2012

Adomian decomposition method has been applied to some convection boundary layer problems. It is shown that the method is excellent in solving nonlinear partial differential equations. Comparison of the results so obtained and those from conventional methods proves the technique to be powerful and to give nearly exact solutions. Since most physical problems are governed by nonlinear ordinary or partial differential equations, application of this method may be advised to simplify the method of solution.
The management of change. Local union responses to company-level restructuring in France and Ireland – a study between and within countries
Authors: Pulignano Valeria , Stewart Paul
Published: October 2012

We argue that, notwithstanding the importance of national industrial relations systems in shaping employment outcomes in situations of company restructuring, differences within countries also exist that cannot be explained by the influence of national institutions. Local union activity can affect corporate restructuring and influence how companies manage restructuring within the EU. The capacity of local unions to use company-based resources and the unions’ internal and external social relationships shape the variations in local union responses. In addition, our research suggests that the interplay of these factors in the socio-economic context of restructuring is crucial in explaining variations within countries. The article argues for the need to focus on these company-level developments as a crucial step in undertaking comparative industrial relations research.
Is there a paradox of lower job satisfaction among trade union members? European evidence
Authors: Donegani Chiara Paola , McKay Stephen
Published: October 2012

In most of the literature on industrial relations, union members are found to be less satisfied with their jobs than non-members. Analysts have applied various statistical and econometric approaches to try to resolve what seems like a paradoxical finding, with mixed results, using theories based on selection bias and ‘exit-voice’ considerations. We review this literature, and note that most empirical studies are from only a few countries – especially the US and the UK. Analysis of a wider range of 18 countries participating in the large-scale European Social Survey in both 2006 and 2010 finds that trade union members generally tend to express higher rather than lower job satisfaction than others, although results differ by country. We use regression models (ordinal logistic) to show that union membership is generally associated with higher job satisfaction, even after controlling for individual, job and workplace differences. Attempts to link the union factor in job satisfaction to typologies of countries, either by welfare regime or extent of collective bargaining coverage, have not been able to address the puzzle of why a negative link persists in a few countries, but not in most.
Vibration and stability of axially compressed truncated conical shells with functionally graded middle layer surrounded by elastic medium
Authors: Najafov Ali , Sofiyev Abdullah , Ozyigit Polat , Yucel Kemal Tusat
Published: October 2012

The vibration and stability analyses are presented for axially compressed three-layered truncated conical shells with a functionally graded (FG) middle layer surrounded by elastic media. The material properties of functionally graded materials (FGMs) are assumed to be graded in the thickness direction according to simple power law and exponential distributions in terms of the volume fractions of the constituents. Five sets of the material mixture are considered. The Pasternak model is used to describe the reaction of the elastic medium on the truncated conical shell. The fundamental relations, the modified Donnell-type dynamic stability and compatibility equations for the three-layered truncated conical shell with an FGM middle layer are derived. The governing equations are solved by using the Galerkin method and obtained expressions for dimensionless frequency parameters and dimensionless critical axial loads for three-layered truncated conical shells with the FG middle layer with and without an elastic foundation. The numerical results reveal that variations of the shell thickness-to-FGM thickness ratio, lengths-to-radius ratio, Winkler foundation stiffness, shear subgrade modulus of the foundation, material mixture and compositional profiles of the FG middle layer have significant effects on the values of dimensionless critical axial load and dimensionless frequency parameter. The results are verified by comparing the obtained values with those in the existing literature.
Simplified model for predicting acoustic performance of an underwater sound absorption coating
Authors: Meng Tao
Published: October 2012

A simplified analytical model for predicting the acoustic performance of an underwater sound absorption coating is presented in this paper. The sound absorption coating contains hexagonally arrayed cylindrical cavities, so the unit cell of sound absorption coating could be approximated as a cylindrical tube. When the plane wave normally impinges on the sound absorption coating, the axisymmetric wave which propagates in the viscoelastic cylindrical tube will be excited. According to the two-dimensional analytic model, only the first mode (the lowest) should be taken into account in the acoustic performance estimation at low frequencies, because the attenuation of the first propagating mode is much lower than the others. Based on this conclusion, the simplified analytical approach has been given as follows: to solve the characteristic equation, the wavenumber of axisymmetric wave will be obtained firstly; then, the effective impedance of viscoelastic cylindrical tube can be calculated after the axial stress and the axial displacement are averaged, and the reflection coefficient and the transmission coefficient of sound absorption coating can be easily calculated by using the transfer matrix. Comparisons of the simplified analytical model to the finite element method and to the experiment data validate that the present model is a workable and satisfactory approach to predict the acoustic performance of sound absorption coating. In the final section, the effects of several parameters such as the cavity geometry and the acoustical termination on the performance of sound absorption coating have been discussed using the present model.
Torsional wave propagation in Earth’s crustal layer under the influence of imperfect interface
Authors: Vishwakarma Sumit Kumar , Gupta Shishir , Verma Arun Kumar
Published: October 2012

In this paper, we study the propagation of a torsional surface wave in a homogeneous crustal layer over an initially stressed mantle with linearly varying directional rigidities, density and initial stress under the effect of an imperfect interface. Twelve different types of imperfect interface have been considered using triangular, rectangular and parabolic shapes. A variable separable technique is adopted for the theoretical derivations and analytical solutions are obtained for the dispersion relation by means of Whittaker function and its derivative. Dispersion equations are in perfect agreement with the standard results when derived for a particular case. The graph is self-explanatory and reveals that the phase velocity of a torsional surface wave depends not only on the wave number, initial stress, inhomogeneity and depth of the irregularity but also on the layer structure.
Divorce
Authors: Gorman Geraldine
Published: October 2012

This piece examines the sequelae of divorce and the intersection of private loneliness and public belonging. It considers the impact of place on one’s sense of identity.
Democracy, journalism, and Latin American populism
Authors: Waisbord Silvio
Published: October 2012

Contemporary populism in Latin America suggests that normative arguments about the relation between journalism and democracy are premised on contrasting models of media democracy. There is no single model of media ethics to offer a single foundation for media democracy. The model represented by the Anglo-American tradition of the liberal press assigns the market a central role, and envisions limited participation of civil society and the state. Instead, models of citizen-based media democracy place civic society at the center, and grant limited and regulated participation to the market and the state. Populism, I argue, fits none of these options. Instead, it offers a model that places the state at the center of media systems and approaches market and civil society as opposed or subjected to the designs of the government. It sees journalism as inevitably divided between ‘popular-national’ and ‘foreign-oligarchic’ interests, and views the state as a necessary instrument to redress imbalances in democracies and press systems. The case of populism confirms that answers to questions about journalism and democracy are embedded in contrasting visions about the necessary relations between the state, market, and civil society in democratic life.
(Re)remembering and narrating the childhood city of R.D. Laing
Authors: McGeachan Cheryl
Published: October 2012

In recent years, geographical engagements with issues surrounding different forms of memory have become increasingly diverse. Responding to Owain Jones’s recent call for more attention to be paid in geography to the individual and private memories that are crucial components in the makings of our lives, this paper seeks to investigate the processes of (re)remembering childhood worlds and the importance of thinking in more depth about the presentness of the past. Utilizing R.D. Laing’s ‘archive’, his autobiography Wisdom, Madness and Folly (1985), and a documentary film that appeared as part of John McGreevy’s Cities project in the late 1970s, this paper seeks to explore Laing’s (re)remembered childhood worlds in order to think more explicitly about the significance of these different sites and spaces – and their memories – on his ways of interpreting and making sense of the world in the present. Storying (past) lives and (past) places in such a way brings to the fore the narrative quality of memory, opening up alternative ways of thinking about how memories are produced and (re)told.
Assembling the sea: materiality, movement and regulatory practices in the Cardigan Bay scallop fishery
Authors: Bear Christopher
Published: October 2012

This paper investigates the controversy around scallop dredging in Cardigan Bay, Wales. The area’s scallop fishery was relatively small until the 1980s but has seen dramatic increases in catches in the past five years. Concerns have been raised about the effect of increasing fishing effort, especially for its potential impacts on the Bay’s population of bottlenose dolphins, which were the basis of its designation as a Special Area of Conservation. I show that the controversy is not merely about human management of an endangered fish stock, but also involves the actions of scallops, dolphins, the sea, seabed, fishing technologies and regulatory practices. I also show that the events in Cardigan Bay frequently are co-produced by events and actions further afield. These topics are examined through the lens of assemblage theory, with which geographers have yet to widely engage. This emphasizes heterogeneity and emergence, and encourages a focus on processes of (de)territorialization. In the paper, I contrast the territorializing practices of regulatory regimes with the smoothing movements of dolphins, the sea and the seabed, showing how the actions of these nonhumans complicate attributions of environmental harm. Through this, the paper addresses the lack of attention paid to the sea by cultural geographers, particularly through a focus on materiality and multi-dimensionality.
Trek Across Maine 25th Anniversary
Authors: Martin Sarah Levin , Martin Maurice , Perry Tess , Harris Jessica Maureen
Published: October 2012

Could an annual event be an effective strategy to improve physical activity? Based on 25 years of data, we argue that it could be. Although there are eight recommended strategies to promote physical activity in the Community Guide, there is insufficient evidence for six others. Qualitative data collected from Trek Across Maine participants and other cause-specific events suggests that goal setting (i.e., individually adapted health behavior change) and family-based social support may be key factors in helping individuals become more physically active.
The Use of Concept Mapping to Identify Community-Driven Intervention Strategies for Physical and Mental Health
Authors: Vaughn Lisa M. , Jacquez Farrah , McLinden Daniel
Published: October 2012

Research that partners with youth and community stakeholders increases contextual relevance and community buy-in and therefore maximizes the chance for intervention success. Concept mapping is a mixed-method participatory research process that accesses the input of the community in a collaborative manner. After a school-wide health needs assessment at a low-income, minority/immigrant K–8 school identified bullying and obesity as the most important health issues, concept mapping was used to identify and prioritize specific strategies to address these two areas. Stakeholders including 160 K–8 students, 33 college students working in the school, 35 parents, 20 academic partners, and 22 teachers/staff brainstormed strategies to reduce and prevent obesity and bullying. A smaller group of stakeholders worked individually to complete an unstructured sorting of these strategies into groups of similar ideas, once for obesity and again for bullying. Multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis was applied to the sorting data to produce a series of maps that illustrated the stakeholders’ conceptual thinking about obesity and bullying prevention strategies. The maps for both obesity and bullying organized specific strategies into themes that included education, parental role, teacher/school supervision, youth role, expert/professional role, and school structure/support.
Non-FOOSH Scaphoid Fractures in Young Athletes
Authors: Johnson Michael R. , Fogarty Brian T. , Alitz Curt , Gerber John P.
Published: October 2012

Context:

The scaphoid is the most commonly fractured bone in the wrist and can often be difficult to treat and manage, making healing of this fracture problematic.

Evidence Acquisition:

A search of the entire PubMed (MEDLINE) database using the terms scaphoid fracture management and scaphoid fracture evaluation returned several relevant anatomic and imaging references.

Results:

Wrist fractures most commonly occur in the scaphoid, which is implicated approximately 60% of the time. The most common mechanism of injury leading to a scaphoid fracture is a fall on an outstretched hand (FOOSH), causing a hyperextension force on the wrist. The following 2 cases, which occurred within 3 months of each other, highlight the difficulty of managing patients with possible scaphoid fractures. Neither patient had a typical FOOSH-related mechanism of injury, and neither was initially tender over the scaphoid.

Conclusion:

Differential diagnoses should include a scaphoid fracture with any hyperextension traumatic injury (FOOSH or non-FOOSH), even in the absence of scaphoid tenderness and when initial radiographic findings are normal.
Head movements during conversational speech in patients with schizophrenia
Authors: Leask Stuart John , Park Bert , Khana Priya , DiMambro Ben
Published: October 2012

Background:

Motor abnormalities are frequently described in schizophrenia, and work by Altorfer and colleagues suggests that measuring head movements during conversational speech shows differences at the level of the individual. We wished to see whether their findings, conducted using computer analysis of video obtained in motion capture suites, could be replicated using compact, portable movement sensors, in a case–control study comparing the mean amplitude of head movements during general conversation.

Methods:

A referred sample of inpatients and outpatients with a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia was identified from case note information. Movement sensors, mounted in a baseball cap worn by subjects, transmitted data via Bluetooth to a laptop, which simultaneously captured audio to identify who was speaking. Subjects also completed a series of rating scales.

Results:

Data from the final 11 cases and 11 controls demonstrated a substantial group difference in mean amplitude of head movement velocity during speech ( p < 0.0001), although this was not significant at the level of the individual.

Conclusions:

Movement sensors proved well suited to capturing head movements, demonstrating a large effect size in subjects with schizophrenia.
Microstructure and mechanical properties of friction stir welded 7136–T76 aluminium alloy
Authors: Kalemba I , Dymek S , Hamilton C , Blicharski M
Published: October 2012

The microstructure of the weld was examined by light and electron microscopy (scanning and transmission). The various regions, i.e. thermomechanically affected zone, heat affected zone and unaffected base material, were studied in detail to better understand the microstructural evolution during friction stir welding and its impact on basic mechanical properties. The change in morphology of the strengthening phases reflected the relative temperature profile and the amount of deformation across the welded joint during the stir welding process. The centre of the weld was composed of fine grains and coarse particles identified mainly as MgZn2. In the thermomechanically and heat affected zones, the grain size was not uniform, and the strengthening phases filled the grain interiors, while grain boundaries were surrounded by precipitation free zones. The size of the strengthening phase decreased towards the base material. The hardness profile of the friction stir weld displayed the lowest hardness on the retreating side. Tensile properties of the weld itself were superior to those for material containing weld.
Ultrahigh strength steel wires processed by severe plastic deformation for ultrafine grained microstructure
Authors: Li L , Virta J
Published: October 2012

A comprehensive review of recent literature on high strength, fine grained steels has been conducted. While relevant technologies in alloy design, processing and heat treating are included in the present review, the emphasis has been on high carbon steel wire processing technology that can be achieved with ‘conventional’ wire rolling and drawing processes. The thermomechanical processing of a pearlitic microstructure, followed by cold drawing, is recommended as the process of choice to efficiently produce an ultrafine grained ferrite–cementite microstructure for ultrahigh strength, ultrahigh carbon steel wires.
Manufacturing of Al/SiCp composite foams using calcium carbonate as foaming agent
Authors: Golestanipour M , Mashhadi H Amini , Abravi M S , Malekjafarian M M , Sadeghian M H
Published: October 2012

The aluminium composite foams reinforced by different volume fractions of SiC particles were manufactured with the direct foaming route of melt using different contents of CaCO3 foaming agent. The density of produced foams changed from 0·43 to 0·76 g cm−3. The microstructural features and compressive properties of the Al/SiCp composite foams were investigated. Compressive stress–strain curve of Al/SiCp composite foams is not smooth and exhibits some serrations. At the same relative density of composite foams, the plateau stress of the composite foams increases with increasing volume fraction of SiCp and decreasing weight percentage of CaCO3. The relation between plateau stress, relative density, weight percentage of CaCO3 and SiCp volume fraction of Al/SiCp composite foams with a given particle size was investigated.
Experimental investigation and thermodynamic calculation of Bi–Ga–Sb phase diagram
Authors: Minić D , Manasijević D , Živković D , Stajić-Trošić J , Đokić J , Petković D
Published: October 2012

Phase diagram of the Bi–Ga–Sb ternary system has been investigated by DTA and SEM with EDS measurements. Phase transition temperatures in four vertical sections and isothermal section at 500°C were studied. Experimental results were compared with calculated phase diagram by the Calphad method.
Activation energy of mullite crystallisation from precursor fibres determined by differential scanning calorimetry
Authors: Tan H B , Ding Y P , Yang J F , Qiao G J
Published: October 2012

Mullite fibres were prepared by the sol–gel method using aluminium lactate and tetraethylorthosilicate. The aluminium lactate was prepared by mixing aluminium nitrate and lactic acid with a molar ratio of 1∶3. Thermogravimetry–differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy analysis were used to characterise the properties of the gel and ceramic fibres. The gel fibres completely transformed to mullite fibres at 1200°C, with a uniform diameter and dense microstructure. The active energy of mullite crystallisation was 1121·7 kJ mol−1 by the Kissinger equation, which was consistent with most data reported by other authors.
A case-control study to assess the risk of immune thrombocytopenia associated with vaccines
Authors: Grimaldi-Bensouda Lamiae , Michel Marc , Aubrun Elodie , Leighton Pamela , Viallard Jean-Francois , Adoue Daniel , Magy-Bertrand Nadine , Tisserand Guillaume , Khellaf Mehdi , Durand Jean-Marc , Quittet Philippe , Fain Olivier , Bonnotte Bernard , Morin Anne Sophie , Limal Nicolas , Costedoat-Chalumeau Nathalie , Morel Nathalie , Pan-Petesch Brigitte , Decaux Olivier , Mahevas Matthieu , Ruel Michel , Sacre Karim , Lefrere Francois , Abenhaim Lucien , Godeau Bertrand
Published: October 2012

The cause of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) remains unknown. Studies have suggested immunizations as possible triggering factors of ITP through molecular mimicry. This case-control study explored potential associations between adult ITP and various routinely administered vaccines. A network of internal medicine and hematology centers across France recruited 198 incident (ie, newly diagnosed) cases of ITP between April 2008 and June 2011. These cases were compared with 878 age- and sex-matched controls without ITP recruited in general practice. Information on vaccination was obtained from patients' standardized telephone interviews. Sixty-six of 198 cases (33.3%) and 303 of 878 controls (34.5%) received at least 1 vaccine within the 12 months before the index date. We found no evidence of an increase in ITP after vaccination in the previous 6 or 12 months (adjusted odds ratio [OR] for the previous 12 months = 1.0; 95% confidence interval, 0.7-1.4). When the 2-month time window was used, higher ORs were observed for all vaccines (OR = 1.3). This increase was mainly attributable to the vaccination against diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis-poliomyelitis (OR = 1.5) and was not statistically significant. The results of the present study show that in an adult population, the exposure to common vaccines is on average not associated with an observable risk of developing ITP.
Cell cycle dependence of ACE-2 explains downregulation in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Uhal Bruce D. , Dang MyTrang , Dang Vinh , Llatos Roger , Cano Esteban , Abdul-Hafez Amal , Markey Jonathan , Piasecki Christopher C. , Molina-Molina Maria
Published: October 2012

Alveolar epithelial type II cells, a major source of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-2 in the adult lung, are normally quiescent but actively proliferate in lung fibrosis and downregulate this protective enzyme. It was, therefore, hypothesised that ACE-2 expression might be related to cell cycle progression.

To test this hypothesis, ACE-2 mRNA levels, protein levels and enzymatic activity were examined in fibrotic human lungs and in the alveolar epithelial cell lines A549 and MLE-12 studied at postconfluent (quiescent)versussubconfluent (proliferating) densities.

ACE-2 mRNA, immunoreactive protein and enzymatic activity were all high in quiescent cells, but were severely downregulated or absent in actively proliferating cells. Upregulation of the enzyme in cells that were progressing to quiescence was completely inhibited by the transcription blocker actinomycin D or by SP600125, an inhibitor of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). In lung biopsy specimens obtained from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, immunoreactive enzyme was absent in alveolar epithelia that were positive for proliferation markers, but was robustly expressed in alveolar epithelia devoid of proliferation markers.

These data explain the loss of ACE-2 in lung fibrosis and demonstrate cell cycle-dependent regulation of this protective enzyme by a JNK-mediated transcriptional mechanism.
Bronchiolar epithelial catalase is diminished in smokers with mild COPD
Authors: Betsuyaku Tomoko , Fuke Satoshi , Inomata Takashi , Kaga Kichizo , Morikawa Toshiaki , Odajima Nao , Adair-Kirk Tracy , Nishimura Masaharu
Published: October 2012

This study aimed to investigate bronchiolar catalase expression and its relationship with smoking and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in humans and to determine the dynamic change of bronchiolar catalase expression in response to cigarette smoke in mice.

Lung tissue was obtained from 36 subjects undergoing surgery for peripheral tumours, consisting of life-long nonsmokers and smokers with or without COPD. Male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to cigarette smoke exposure for up to 3 months followed by a 28-day cessation period. We quantified bronchiolar catalase mRNA using laser capture microdissection and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. C22 club cells (Clara cells) in culture were exposed to cigarette smoke extract and monitored for viability when catalase expression was decreased by siRNA.

Catalase was decreased at mRNA and protein levels in bronchiolar epithelium in smokers with COPD. In mice, bronchiolar catalase is temporarily upregulated at 1 day after cigarette smoke exposure but is downregulated by repeated cigarette smoke exposure, and is not restored long after withdrawal once emphysema is developed. Decreasing catalase expression in C22 cells resulted in greater cigarette smoke extract-induced cell death.

Bronchiolar catalase reduction is associated with COPD. Regulation of catalase depends on the duration of cigarette smoke exposure, and plays a critical role for protection against cigarette smoke-induced cell damage.
Bronchial colonisation in patients with lung cancer: a prospective study
Authors: Laroumagne Sophie , Lepage Benoît , Hermant Christophe , Plat Gavin , Phelippeau Michael , Bigay-Game Laurence , Lozano Stéphanie , Guibert Nicolas , Segonds Christine , Mallard Valérie , Augustin Nathalie , Didier Alain , Mazieres Julien
Published: October 2012

Bronchial colonisation is frequently reported in patients with lung cancer, and has a potential impact on therapeutic management and prognosis. We aimed to prospectively define the prevalence and nature of bronchial colonisation in patients at the time of diagnosing lung cancer.

210 consecutive patients with lung cancer underwent a flexible bronchoscopy for lung cancer. The type and frequency of bacterial, mycobacterial and fungal colonisation were analysed and correlated with the patients' and tumours' characteristics.

Potential pathogens were found in 48.1% of samples: mainly the Gram-negative bacilliEscherichia coli(8.1%),Haemophilus influenzae(4.3%) andEnterobacterspp. (2.4%); Gram-positive cocci,Staphylococcusspp. (12.9%) andStreptococcus pneumoniae(3.3%); atypical mycobacteria (2.9%);Candida albicans(42.9%); andAspergillus fumigatus(6.2%). Aged patients (p=0.02) with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (p=0.008) were significantly more frequently colonised; however, tumour stage, atelectasis, bronchial stenosis and abnormalities of chest radiography were not associated with a higher rate of colonisation. Squamous cell carcinoma tended to be more frequently colonised than other histological subtypes. Airway colonisation was reported in almost half of patients presenting with lung cancer, mainly in fragile patients, and was significantly associated with worse survival (p=0.005).

Analysing colonisation status of patients at the time of diagnosis may help improve the management of lung cancer.
The pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis: a moving target
Authors: Wuyts Wim A. , Agostini Carlo , Antoniou Katerina M. , Bouros Demosthenes , Chambers Rachel C. , Cottin Vincent , Egan Jim J. , Lambrecht Bart N. , Lories Rik , Parfrey Helen , Prasse Antje , Robalo-Cordeiro Carlos , Verbeken Eric , Verschakelen Johny A. , Wells Athol U. , Verleden Geert M.
Published: October 2012

Pulmonary fibrosis is the end stage of many diffuse parenchymal lung diseases. It is characterised by excessive matrix formation leading to destruction of the normal lung architecture and finally death. Despite an exponential increase in our understanding of potentially important mediators and mechanisms, the delineation of primary pathways has proven to be elusive.

In this review susceptibility and injurious agents, such as viruses and gastro-oesophageal reflux, and their probable role in initiating disease will be discussed. Further topics that are elaborated are candidate ancillary pathways, including immune mechanisms, oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress, activation of the coagulation cascade and the potential role of stem cells. This review will try to provide the reader with an integrated view on the current knowledge and attempts to provide a road map for future research.

It is important to explore robust models of overall pathogenesis, reconciling a large number of clinical and scientific observations. We believe that the integration of current data into a “big picture” overview of fibrogenesis is essential for the development of effective antifibrotic strategies. The latter will probably consist of a combination of agents targeting a number of key pathways.
Outpatientversusinpatient treatment in patients with pulmonary embolism: a meta-analysis
Authors: Zondag Wendy , Kooiman Judith , Klok Frederikus A. , Dekkers Olaf M. , Huisman Menno V.
Published: October 2012

Our aim was to study the safety of outpatient treatment in low risk patients with acute pulmonary embolism compared with inpatient treatment, the current clinical standard.

We searched Medline, Web of Science, Cochrane and EMBASE databases and included studies on outpatient treatment of pulmonary embolism. The outcomes were 3-month recurrent venous thromboembolism, major bleeding and all-cause mortality. We identified 13 studies (1657 patients) with outpatients (discharge <24 h), three studies (256 patients) with early discharge patients (discharged within 72 h) and five studies (383 patients) with inpatients. The pooled incidence of recurrent venous thromboembolism was 1.7% (95% CI 0.92–3.1%) in outpatients, 1.1% (0.22–5.4%) in patients discharged early and 1.2% (0.16–8.1%) in inpatients. The pooled incidence of major bleeding was 0.97% (0.58–1.6%) in outpatients, 0.78% (0.16–3.7%) in early discharge patients and 1.0% (0.39–2.8%) in inpatients. The pooled incidence of mortality was 1.9% (0.79–4.6%) in outpatients, 2.3% (1.1–5.1%) in early discharge patients and 0.74% (0.04–11%) in inpatients.

Incidences of recurrent venous thromboembolism, major bleeding and, after correction for malignancies, mortality were comparable between outpatients, patients discharged early and inpatients. We conclude that home treatment or early discharge of selected low-risk patients with pulmonary embolism is as safe as inpatient treatment.
Serodiagnosis ofMycobacterium aviumcomplex pulmonary disease in the USA
Authors: Kitada Seigo , Levin Adrah , Hiserote Melissa , Harbeck Ron J. , Czaja Chris A. , Huitt Gwen , Kasperbauer Shannon H. , Daley Charles L.
Published: October 2012

Diagnosis ofMycobacterium aviumcomplex pulmonary disease (MAC-PD) can be difficult. A previous study from Japan reported the usefulness of a serodiagnostic test for MAC-PD. The objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the test in similar patients in the USA.

100 patients with known or suspected MAC-PD and 52 healthy volunteers were enrolled into the study at National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USA. Serum glycopeptidolipid core immunoglobulin A antibody levels were measured with an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kit and routine clinical evaluations were performed.

The patients were divided into two groups based on clinical evaluation: 87 patients with MAC-PD that met American Thoracic Society criteria, and 13 who did not meet the criteria. The sensitivity and specificity (cut-off point 0.3 U·mL−1) of the serodiagnostic test for diagnosing MAC-PD were 70.1% and 93.9%, respectively. Among the 44 patients in the MAC-PD group with two or more positive sputum cultures within the previous 6 months, sensitivity was 81.8%.

The EIA kit demonstrated good sensitivity and specificity for the identification of MAC-PD, particularly in patients with two or more positive cultures, and may be useful for rapid MAC-PD diagnosis.
Evaluation of co-trimoxazole in the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis
Authors: Alsaad Noor , van Altena Richard , Pranger Arianna D. , van Soolingen Dick , de Lange Wiel C.M. , van der Werf Tjip S. , Kosterink Jos G.W. , Alffenaar Jan-Willem C.
Published: October 2012

Co-trimoxazole (SXT), a combination of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim, has shownin vitroactivity againstMycobacterium tuberculosis. However, the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters of SXT in multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB) are, thus far, lacking. Therefore, we evaluated its pharmacokinetics and drug susceptibility, along with its tolerability during treatment.

Based on drug susceptibility testing, MDR-TB patients received SXT as a part of their MDR treatment. The pharmacokinetic parameters of sulfamethoxazole, the effective component of SXT againstM. tuberculosis, were evaluated. The ratio of the area under the curve from 0 to 24 h (AUC0–24) to minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was used as the best pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic parameter to predict the efficacy of sulfamethoxazole. Adverse effects of SXT were also evaluated.

10 patients with MDR-TB (one of whom had extensively drug-resistant TB) received 480 mg of SXT with a median dosage of 6.5 mg·kg−1of SXT (range 6.1–6.8 mg·kg−1) once daily for a median treatment period of 381 days (range 129–465 days). In two patients, the dose was escalated to 960 mg. The free AUC0–24/MIC of sulfamethoxazole exceeded 25 in only one patient. SXT was safe and well-tolerated, except for one patient who had gastrointestinal side-effects after receiving 960 mg of SXT. Additional studies are needed to find the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic targets, and consequently to set the optimal dose, of SXT for MDR-TB treatment.
Recovery of neutrophil apoptosis by ectoine: a new strategy against lung inflammation
Authors: Sydlik Ulrich , Peuschel Henrike , Paunel-Görgülü Adnana , Keymel Stefanie , Krämer Ursula , Weissenberg Alexander , Kroker Matthias , Seghrouchni Samira , Heiss Christian , Windolf Joachim , Bilstein Andreas , Kelm Malte , Krutmann Jean , Unfried Klaus
Published: October 2012

The life span of neutrophilic granulocytes has a determining impact on the intensity and duration of neutrophil driven lung inflammation. Based on the compatible solute ectoine, we aimed to prevent anti-apoptotic reactions in neutrophils triggered by the inflammatory microenvironment in the lung.

Neutrophils from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients and control individuals were exposed to inflammatory mediators and xenobiotics in the presence or absence of ectoine. Thein vivorelevance of this approach was tested in xenobiotic-induced lung inflammation in rats.

The reduction of apoptosis rates ofex vivo-exposed neutrophils from all study groups was significantly restored in the presence of ectoine. However, natural apoptosis rates not altered by inflammatory stimuli were not changed by ectoine. Mechanistic analyses demonstrated the preventive effect of ectoine on the induction of anti-apoptotic signalling. Neutrophilic lung inflammation induced by single or multiple expositions of animals to environmental particles was reduced after the therapeutic intervention with ectoine. Analyses of neutrophils from bronchoalveolar lavage indicate that thein vivoeffect is due to the restoration of neutrophil apoptosis.

Ectoine, a compound of the highly compliant group of compatible solutes, demonstrates a reproducible and robust effect on the resolution of lung inflammation.
Molecular subdivision of the marine diatom Thalassiosira rotulain relation to geographic distribution, genome size, and physiology
Authors: Whittaker Kerry A , Rignanese Dayna R , Olson Robert J , Rynearson Tatiana A
Published: October 2012

Background

Marine phytoplankton drift passively with currents, have high dispersal potentials and can be comprised of morphologically cryptic species. To examine molecular subdivision in the marine diatom Thalassiosira rotula, variations in rDNA sequence, genome size, and growth rate were examined among isolates collected from the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean basins. Analyses of rDNA included T. gravida because morphological studies have argued that T. rotula and T. gravida are conspecific.

Results

Culture collection isolates of T. gravida and T. rotula diverged by 7.0 ± 0.3% at the ITS1 and by 0.8 ± 0.03% at the 28S. Within T. rotula, field and culture collection isolates were subdivided into three lineages that diverged by 0.6 ± 0.3% at the ITS1 and 0% at the 28S. The predicted ITS1 secondary structure revealed no compensatory base pair changes among lineages. Differences in genome size were observed among isolates, but were not correlated with ITS1 lineages. Maximum acclimated growth rates of isolates revealed genotype by environment effects, but these were also not correlated with ITS1 lineages. In contrast, intra-individual variation in the multi-copy ITS1 revealed no evidence of recombination amongst lineages, and molecular clock estimates indicated that lineages diverged 0.68 Mya. The three lineages exhibited different geographic distributions and, with one exception, each field sample was dominated by a single lineage.

Conclusions

The degree of inter- and intra-specific divergence between T. gravida and T. rotula suggests they should continue to be treated as separate species. The phylogenetic distinction of the three closely-related T. rotula lineages was unclear. On the one hand, the lineages showed no physiological differences, no consistent genome size differences and no significant changes in the ITS1 secondary structure, suggesting there are no barriers to interbreeding among lineages. In contrast, analysis of intra-individual variation in the multicopy ITS1 as well as molecular clock estimates of divergence suggest these lineages have not interbred for significant periods of time. Given the current data, these lineages should be considered a single species. Furthermore, these T. rotula lineages may be ecologically relevant, given their differential abundance over large spatial scales.