bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
‘Mastering an unpredictable everyday life after stroke’– older women’s experiences of caring and living with their partners
Authors: Gosman‐Hedström Gunilla , Dahlin‐Ivanoff Synneve 
Published: February 2012

Scand J Caring Sci; 2012; 26; 587–597‘Mastering an unpredictable everyday life after stroke’– older women’s experiences of caring and living with their partnersIntroduction:  The shift from older persons living in institutions to living in the community naturally affects both the older persons and their partners. The informal care is often taken for granted, and the research that focuses on the diversity of older female carers needs is scarce.Aim:  To explore and learn from the older women how they experience their life situation and formal support as carers of their partners after stroke and to suggest clinical implications.Method:  The design of the study is qualitative being based on the focus group method. Sixteen carers, median age 74 years (range 67–83), participated in four focus group discussions, which each met once for not more than 2 hours.Findings:  The discussions resulted in one comprehensive theme; ‘Mastering an uncertain and unpredictable everyday life’. Three subthemes emerged from the material: ‘Living with another man’ where the carers discussed not only the marked change in their partner’s personality, but also the loss of a life‐companion and their mutual intellectual contact; ‘Fear of it happening again’, comprising the carers’ experiences of fear and confinement, of always having to be ready to help and of being trapped at home; ‘Ongoing negotiation’, referring to the carers’ struggling and negotiating not only with their partners, but also with themselves and formal care for time to themselves.Conclusion:  This study helps us to understand how these older women tried to master an uncertain and unpredictable life. Their life had changed radically; now they were always on call to help their partners and felt tied to home. The results draw attention to the carers’ need for time to themselves, a greater knowledge of stroke and continuous support from formal care.
Effects of sewage sludge stabilization on organic‐N mineralization in two soils
Authors: Corrêa R. S. , White R. E. , Weatherley A. J. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractSewage sludge is a valuable source of organic matter, N, P and certain micronutrients that have beneficial effects on plant growth and biomass production. However, sanitary regulations often require the stabilization of sewage materials prior to applying them to soils as biosolids. Environmental regulations also demand appropriate management of biosolid‐N to avoid groundwater contamination. Because stabilization processes usually make sewage sludge less putrescible, we hypothesized that the mineralization rates of organic‐N from stabilized biosolids would be affected. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the mineralization of five biosolids in two soils – a sandy Spodosol and a clayey Oxisol. Digested sludge, composted sludge, limed sludge, heat‐dried sludge and solar‐irradiated sludge were mixed with soil samples at a concentration of 32.6 mg N/kg soil (1.0 dry t/ha of digested sludge) and incubated at 25 °C in a humidity chamber for 23 weeks. Results showed that the stabilization processes generally slowed the release of mineral‐N in soils relative to the digested sludge from which the biosolids originated. However, increments in the levels of mineral‐N were more influenced by soil type than by the type of stabilization process applied to the sewage sludge. Mineralization rates were up to 5‐fold higher in the Oxisol than in the Spodosol soil, and as a result, organic‐N in biosolids mineralized 10–24% in Spodosol and 23–52% in Oxisol. Any appropriate plan for the management of biosolid‐N for plant use should consider the interaction between soil type and biosolid type.
Development of operational models of receptor activation including constitutive receptor activity and their use to determine the efficacy of the chemokine CCL17 at the CC chemokine receptor CCR4
Authors: Slack RJ , Hall DA 
Published: February 2012

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The operational model provides a key conceptual framework for the analysis of pharmacological data. However, this model does not include constitutive receptor activity, a frequent phenomenon in modern pharmacology, particularly in recombinant systems. Here, we developed extensions of the operational model which include constitutive activity and applied them to effects of agonists at the chemokine receptor CCR4.EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The effects of agonists of CCR4 on [35S]GTPγS binding to recombinant cell membranes and on the filamentous (F‐) actin content of human CD4+ CCR4+ T cells were determined. The basal [35S]GTPγS binding was changed by varying the GDP concentration whilst the basal F‐actin contents of the higher expressing T cell populations were elevated, suggesting constitutive activity of CCR4. Both sets of data were analysed using the mathematical models.RESULTS The affinity of CCL17 (also known as TARC) derived from analysis of the T cell data (pKa= 9.61 ± 0.17) was consistent with radioligand binding experiments (9.50 ± 0.11) while that from the [35S]GTPγS binding experiments was lower (8.27 ± 0.09). Its intrinsic efficacy differed between the two systems (110 in T cells vs. 11).CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The presence of constitutive receptor activity allows the absolute intrinsic efficacy of agonists to be determined without a contribution from the signal transduction system. Intrinsic efficacy estimated in this way is consistent with Furchgott's definition of this property. CCL17 may have a higher intrinsic efficacy at CCR4 in human T cells than that expressed recombinantly in CHO cells.
Antidepressant‐like effects of ginsenoside Rg1 are due to activation of the BDNF signalling pathway and neurogenesis in the hippocampus
Authors: Jiang Bo , Xiong Zhe , Yang Jun , Wang Wei , Wang Yue , Hu Zhuang‐Li , Wang Fang , Chen Jian‐Guo 
Published: February 2012

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) is one of the major bioactive ingredients of Panax ginseng with little toxicity and has been shown to have neuroprotective effects. In this study, we investigated the antidepressant‐like effect of Rg1 in models of depression in mice.EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The effects of Rg1 were assessed in the forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) in mice. Rg1 was also investigated in the chronic mild stress (CMS) mouse model of depression with imipramine as the positive control. Changes in hippocampal neurogenesis and spine density, the brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signalling pathway, and serum corticosterone level after chronic stress and Rg1 treatment were then investigated. The tryptophan hydroxylase inhibitor and the tyrosine kinase B inhibitor were also used to explore the antidepressive mechanisms of Rg1.KEY RESULTS Ginsenoside Rg1 exhibited antidepressant‐like activity in the FST and TST in mice without affecting locomotor activity. It was also effective in the CMS model of depression. Furthermore, Rg1 up‐regulated the BDNF signalling pathway in the hippocampus and down‐regulated serum corticosterone level during the CMS procedure. In addition, Rg1 was able to reverse the decrease in dendritic spine density and hippocampal neurogenesis caused by CMS. However, Rg1 had no discernable effect on the monoaminergic system.CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Our results provide the first evidence that Rg1 has antidepressant activity via activation of the BDNF signalling pathway and up‐regulation of hippocampal neurogenesis.
Sirtuin 6 protects cardiomyocytes from hypertrophy in vitro via inhibition of NF‐κB‐dependent transcriptional activity
Authors: Yu Shan‐Shan , Cai Yi , Ye Jian‐Tao , Pi Rong‐Biao , Chen Shao‐Rui , Liu Pei‐Qing , Shen Xiao‐Yan , Ji Yong 
Published: February 2012

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) is involved in regulation of glucose and fat metabolism. However, its possible contribution to cardiac dysfunction remains to be determined. In the present study, the effect of SIRT6 on cardiac hypertrophy induced by angiotensin II (AngII) and the underlying molecular mechanisms were investigated.EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The expression and deacetylase activity of SIRT6 were measured in hypertrophic cardiomyocytes induced by AngII. After SIRT6 overexpression by transfection, or depletion by RNA interference in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, cellular hypertrophy was monitored by measuring cell surface area and the mRNA levels of hypertrophic biomarkers. Further, the interaction between SIRT6 and the transcription factor NF‐κB was investigated by co‐immunoprecipitation, confocal immunofluorescence microscopy and luciferase reporter gene assay. The expression and deacetylase activity of SIRT6 were measured in vivo, using the abdominal aortic constriction (AAC) model of cardiac hypertrophy in rats.KEY RESULTS In AngII‐induced hypertrophic cardiomyocytes and also in AAC‐induced hypertrophic hearts, the expression of SIRT6 protein was upregulated, while its deacetylase activity was decreased. Overexpression of wild‐type SIRT6 but not its catalytically inactive mutant, attenuated AngII‐induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. We further demonstrated a physical interaction between SIRT6 and NF‐κB catalytic subunit p65, whose transcriptional activity could be repressed by SIRT6 overexpression.CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Our findings suggest that SIRT6 suppressed cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in vitro via inhibition of NF‐κB‐dependent transcriptional activity and that this effect was dependent on its deacetylase activity.
The Evolution of Facilitated Industrial Symbiosis
Authors: Paquin Raymond L. , Howard‐Grenville Jennifer 
Published: February 2012

SummaryWhile much work has been done on the conditions surrounding the emergence and establishment of industrial symbiosis (IS), new attention is being paid to understanding the evolution of IS over time. We demonstrate empirically how a new, facilitated IS initiative developed and evolved over an 8‐year period. We explore its network evolution by considering how the facilitator's actions enabled and precluded two fundamental network processes—serendipitous and goal‐directed processes. We discuss implications for a more generalized theory of IS development by exploring why and how different evolutionary trajectories may unfold.
Methodological Aspects of Applying Life Cycle Assessment to Industrial Symbioses
Authors: Mattila Tuomas , Lehtoranta Suvi , Sokka Laura , Melanen Matti , Nissinen Ari 
Published: February 2012

SummaryIn view of recent studies of the historical development and current status of industrial symbiosis (IS), life cycle assessment (LCA) is proposed as a general framework for quantifying the environmental performance of by‐product exchange. Recent guidelines for LCA (International Reference Life Cycle Data System [ILCD] guidelines) are applied to answer the main research questions in the IS literature reviewed. A typology of five main research questions is proposed: (1) analysis, (2) improvement, and (3) expansion of existing systems; (4) design of new eco‐industrial parks, and (5) restructuring of circular economies. The LCA guidelines were found useful in framing the question and choosing an appropriate reference case for comparison. The selection of a correct reference case reduces the risk of overestimating the benefits of by‐product exchange. In the analysis of existing systems, environmentally extended input‐output analysis (EEIOA) can be used to streamline the analysis and provide an industry average baseline for comparison. However, when large‐scale changes are applied to the system, more sophisticated tools are necessary for assessment of the consequences, from market analysis to general equilibrium modeling and future scenario work. Such a rigorous application of systems analysis was not found in the current IS literature, but would benefit the field substantially, especially when the environmental impact of large‐scale economic changes is analyzed.
Redefining Industrial Symbiosis
Authors: Lombardi D. Rachel , Laybourn Peter 
Published: February 2012

SummaryThe most commonly cited definition of industrial symbiosis (IS), by Chertow (2000), has served well to foster discussion and research for more than a decade. The definition reflected the state of research and practice at the time; as both have advanced, some terms have been interpreted in substantially different ways. In this article we analyze those generally used terms for their connection to the ecological metaphor that is the root of industrial ecology, and their varied interpretations in IS research and practice over time. We then propose an updated definition intended to communicate the essence of IS as a tool for innovative green growth: IS engages diverse organizations in a network to foster eco‐innovation and long‐term culture change. Creating and sharing knowledge through the network yields mutually profitable transactions for novel sourcing of required inputs and value‐added destinations for non‐product outputs, as well as improved business and technical processes. We posit that, although geographic proximity is often associated with IS, it is neither necessary nor sufficient—nor is a singular focus on physical resource exchange.
Observations of Adolescent Peer Group Interactions as a Function of Within‐ and Between‐Group Centrality Status
Authors: Ellis Wendy E. , Dumas Tara M. , Mahdy Jasmine C. , Wolfe David A. 
Published: February 2012

Observations of adolescent (n = 258; M age = 15.45) peer group triads (n = 86) were analyzed to identify conversation and interaction styles as a function of within‐group and between‐group centrality status. Group members' discussions about hypothetical dilemmas were coded for agreements, disagreements, commands, and opinions. Interactions during a hypothetical decision were rated for openness, dominance, aggression, and prosocial behavior. Hierarchical linear modeling revealed that higher within‐group status predicted more disagreements, commands, and less openness than lower within‐group status. Interactions showed that prosocial and aggressive behavior varied as a function of individual status in low‐status but not high‐status groups. Boys, but not girls, engaged in more openness in higher status groups. Results provide insights into peer socialization.
Co‐Op Advertising in Dynamic Retail Oligopolies
Authors: He Xiuli , Krishnamoorthy Anand , Prasad Ashutosh , Sethi Suresh P. 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTWe study a supply chain in which a consumer goods manufacturer sells its product through a retailer. The retailer undertakes promotional expenditures, such as advertising, to increase sales and to compete against other retailer(s). The manufacturer supports the retailer’s promotional expenditure through a cooperative advertising program by reimbursing a portion (called the subsidy rate) of the retailer’s promotional expenditure. To determine the subsidy rate, we formulate a Stackelberg differential game between the manufacturer and the retailer, and a Nash differential subgame between the retailer and the competing retailer(s). We derive the optimal feedback promotional expenditures of the retailers and the optimal feedback subsidy rate of the manufacturer, and show how they are influenced by market parameters. An important finding is that the manufacturer should support its retailer only when a subsidy threshold is crossed. The impact of competition on this threshold is nonmonotone. Specifically, the manufacturer offers more support when its retailer competes with one other retailer but its support starts decreasing with the presence of additional retailers. In the case where the manufacturer sells through all retailers, we show under certain assumptions that it should support only one dominant retailer. We also describe how we can incorporate retail price competition into the model.
Serial Chain Merger Evaluation Model and Application to Mortgage Banking*
Authors: Wu Desheng Dash , Birge John R. 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTMortgage banking operations can be viewed from a supply chain perspective, where the primary and secondary markets are upstream and downstream chain members, respectively. This article describes a serial‐chain‐merger data envelopment analysis (DEA) model to assess potential gains from the merger of different chain operations. We show that in our framework the merger of different chains with many sub‐chains is efficient within the DEA paradigm if and only if the mergers of sub‐chain members are all efficient. A case study of a banking operations merger is conducted to illustrate and validate the proposed approach. The computations show that merger of operations can result in overall efficiency improvement in the banking industry if the merger preserves the features assumed in the DEA model.
Order Management in the Customization‐Responsiveness Squeeze*
Authors: Tenhiälä Antti , Ketokivi Mikko 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTMake‐to‐order (MTO) products may be either customized or standard, and customization can occur either at the configuration or component level. Consequently, MTO production processes can be divided into three customization gestalts: non‐customizers, custom assemblers, and custom producers. In this article, we examine how the multilevel nature of customization affects order management in processes that produce complex MTO products. We first empirically validate the existence of the three customization gestalts and subsequently, analyze the order management challenges and solutions in each gestalt in a sample of 163 MTO production processes embedded in seven different supply chains. In the analyses, we follow a mixed‐methods approach, combining a quantitative survey with qualitative interview data. The results show that important contingencies make different order management practices effective in different gestalts. Further qualitative inquiry reveals that some seemingly old‐fashioned practices, such as available‐to‐promise verifications, are effective but commonly neglected in many organizations. The results also challenge some of the conventional wisdom about custom assembly (and indirectly, mass customization). For example, the systematic configuration management methods—conventionally associated with project business environments—appear to be equally important in custom assembly.
Heterostructured Ceramic Powders for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production: Nanostructured TiO2 Shells Surrounding Microcrystalline (Ba,Sr)TiO3 Cores
Authors: Li Li , Rohrer Gregory S. , Salvador Paul A. 
Published: February 2012

Heterostructured photocatalysts were prepared to have nanostructured (ns) TiO2 shells surrounding microcrystalline (mc) cores of (Ba,Sr)TiO3. The as‐prepared heterostructures were annealed between 400°C and 600°C to improve crystallinity and core‐shell interfacial bonding. X‐ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and gas adsorption measurements demonstrated that 50 nm thick shells composed of nanocrystalline and nanoporous TiO2 surrounded mc‐cores such that the heterostructured particles had surface areas of 50–100 m2/g. The mc‐(Ba,Sr)TiO3/ns‐TiO2 core‐shell photocatalysts annealed at 600°C had slightly reduced surface areas, but had the highest rates of photochemical hydrogen production from water/methanol solutions, rates much greater than those for ns‐TiO2 or mc‐(Ba,Sr)TiO3 alone. Such heterostructured powders represent a new strategy for the design of efficient photocatalysts and the use of nanostructured catalytic coatings.
Detection of people at risk of developing a first psychosis: comparison of two recruitment strategies
Authors: Rietdijk J. , Klaassen R. , Ising H. , Dragt S. , Nieman D. H. , van de Kamp J. , Cuijpers P. , Linszen D. , van der Gaag M. 
Published: February 2012

Rietdijk J, Klaassen R, Ising H, Dragt S, Nieman DH, van de Kamp J, Cuijpers P, Linszen D, van der Gaag M. Detection of people at risk of developing a first psychosis: comparison of two recruitment strategies.Objective:  Better recruitment strategies are needed to improve the identification of people at ultra‐high risk of developing psychosis. This study explores the effectiveness of two recruitment strategies: a screening method in a consecutive help‐seeking population entering secondary mental health services for non‐psychotic problems vs. a population referred to the diagnostic center of an early‐psychosis clinic.Method:  From February 2008 to February 2010, all general practitioner and self‐referrals (aged 18–35 years) to the secondary mental healthcare service in The Hague and Zoetermeer were screened with the Prodromal Questionnaire; patients who scored above the cutoff of 18 and had a decline in social functioning were assessed using the Comprehensive Assessment of At‐Risk Mental States (CAARMS). All referrals (aged 14–35 years) to the diagnostic center in Amsterdam were also assessed with the CAARMS.Results:  The screening detected a three‐fold higher prevalence of at‐risk mental states: these subjects were older and more often female. manova showed significantly higher scores for the screened population on depression, social anxiety, distress with positive symptoms, and a higher rate of transition to psychosis within 12 months.Conclusion:  The screening method detects more patients with at‐risk mental states than the referral method. The latter method is biased to young male patients in an earlier prodromal stage and a lower transition rate.
Brain activation induced by dentine hypersensitivity pain–an fMRI study
Authors: Meier Michael L. , Brügger Michael , Ettlin Dominik A. , Luechinger Roger , Barlow Ashley , Jäncke Lutz , Lutz Kai 
Published: February 2012

AbstractAimDentine hypersensitivity (DH) is characterized by a short, sharp pain arising from exposed dentin. Most published literature reports on peripheral neural aspects of this pain condition. The current investigation focused on differential cerebral activity elicited by stimulation of sensitive and insensitive teeth by means of natural air stimuli.Materials and MethodsFive graded stimulus strengths were randomly applied by means of a multi‐injector air jet delivery system, each followed by an individual rating of perceived stimulus intensity. Brain activity was analysed by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).ResultsStimulation of sensitive teeth induced significant activation in the thalamus, somatosensory cortices (SI & SII), anterior, middle and posterior insular cortices, anterior mid cingulate cortex, perigenual anterior cingulate cortex and frontal regions (BA10 and BA46). Differential responses to DH and painless perceptions were observed in the anterior insula and anterior midcingulate cortex.ConclusionFor the first time, this fMRI study demonstrates the feasibility of investigating cerebral processes related to DH evoked by natural (air) stimuli. Our neuroimaging data additionally provide evidence that differential activity in the anterior Insula (aIC) and anterior midcingulate cortex (aMCC) may represent clinically relevant pain experienced by DH patients.