bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inequalities in the psychological well-being of employed, single and partnered mothers: the role of psychosocial work quality and work-family conflict
Authors: Dziak Ewelina , Janzen Bonnie L , Muhajarine Nazeem 
Published: March 2010

Abstract

Background
A large body of international research reveals that single mothers experience poorer mental health than their partnered counterparts, with socioeconomic disadvantage identified as an important contributory factor in understanding this health disparity. Much less research, however, has focused specifically on the psychological well-being of single mothers who are employed, despite their growing presence in the labor force. Of the research which has considered employment, the focus has been on employment status per se rather than on other important work-related factors which may impact psychological health, such as psychosocial work quality and work-family conflict. The aim of this study was to: (1) compare employed single mothers and employed partnered mothers on measures of psychological distress, psychosocial work quality and work-family conflict; and (2) explore the potential role of work-family conflict and psychosocial work quality as explanations for any observed differences in psychological distress based on partner status.

Method
Analysis of data obtained from a cross-sectional telephone survey of employed parents in a mid-sized Western Canadian city. Analyses were based on 674 employed mothers (438 partnered and 236 single), who were 25-50 years old, with at least one child in the household.

Results
Compared to employed single mothers, employed partnered mothers were older, had more education and reported fewer hours of paid work. Single mothers reported higher levels of psychological distress, financial hardship, work-family conflict and poor psychosocial work quality. Statistical adjustment for income adequacy, psychosocial work quality and work-family conflict each independently resulted in single motherhood no longer being associated with psychological distress.

Conclusions
While single employed mothers did experience higher levels of psychological distress than their partnered counterparts, differences between these groups of women in income adequacy, psychosocial work quality, and work-family conflict were found to explain this relationship. Future research employing a longitudinal design and subject to lower selection biases is required to tease out the interrelationship of these three life strains and to point to the most appropriate economic and social policies to support single mothers in the workforce.
Mercury induces inflammatory mediator release from human mast cells
Authors: Kempuraj Duraisamy , Asadi Shahrzad , Zhang Bodi , Manola Akrivi , Hogan Jennifer , Peterson Erika , Theoharides Theoharis C 
Published: March 2010

AbstractBackgroundMercury is known to be neurotoxic, but its effects on the immune system are less well known. Mast cells are involved in allergic reactions, but also in innate and acquired immunity, as well as in inflammation. Many patients with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) have "allergic" symptoms; moreover, the prevalence of ASD in patients with mastocytosis, characterized by numerous hyperactive mast cells in most tissues, is 10-fold higher than the general population suggesting mast cell involvement. We, therefore, investigated the effect of mercuric chloride (HgCl2) on human mast cell activation.MethodsHuman leukemic cultured LAD2 mast cells and normal human umbilical cord blood-derived cultured mast cells (hCBMCs) were stimulated by HgCl2 (0.1-10 μM) for either 10 min for beta-hexosaminidase release or 24 hr for measuring vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and IL-6 release by ELISA.ResultsHgCl2induced a 2-fold increase in β-hexosaminidase release, and also significant VEGF release at 0.1 and 1 μM (311 ± 32 pg/106cells and 443 ± 143 pg/106cells, respectively) from LAD2 mast cells compared to control cells (227 ± 17 pg/106cells, n = 5, p < 0.05). Addition of HgCl2(0.1 μM) to the proinflammatory neuropeptide substance P (SP, 0.1 μM) had synergestic action in inducing VEGF from LAD2 mast cells. HgCl2also stimulated significant VEGF release (360 ± 100 pg/106cells at 1 μM, n = 5, p < 0.05) from hCBMCs compared to control cells (182 ± 57 pg/106cells), and IL-6 release (466 ± 57 pg/106cells at 0.1 μM) compared to untreated cells (13 ± 25 pg/106cells, n = 5, p < 0.05). Addition of HgCl2(0.1 μM) to SP (5 μM) further increased IL-6 release.ConclusionsHgCl2stimulates VEGF and IL-6 release from human mast cells. This phenomenon could disrupt the blood-brain-barrier and permit brain inflammation. As a result, the findings of the present study provide a biological mechanism for how low levels of mercury may contribute to ASD pathogenesis.
Antidepressants are a rational complementary therapy for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Aboukhatwa Marwa , Dosanjh Laura , Luo Yuan 
Published: March 2010

AbstractThere is a high prevalence rate (30-50%) of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and depression comorbidity. Depression can be a risk factor for the development of AD or it can be developed secondary to the neurodegenerative process. There are numerous documented diagnosis and treatment challenges for the patients who suffer comorbidity between these two diseases. Meta analysis studies have provided evidence for the safety and efficacy of antidepressants in treatment of depression in AD patients. Preclinical and clinical studies show the positive role of chronic administration of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants in hindering the progression of the AD and improving patient performance. A number of clinical studies suggest a beneficial role of combinatorial therapies that pair antidepressants with FDA approved AD drugs. Preclinical studies also demonstrate a favorable effect of natural antidepressants for AD patients. Based on the preclinical studies there are a number of plausible antidepressants effects that may modulate the progression of AD. These effects include an increase in neurogenesis, improvement in learning and memory, elevation in the levels of neurotrophic factors and pCREB and a reduction of amyloid peptide burden. Based on this preclinical and clinical evidence, antidepressants represent a rational complimentary strategy for the treatment of AD patients with depression comorbidity.
Low prevalence of Human Papillomavirus in oral cavity carcinomas
Authors: Machado Jerry , Reis Patricia P , Zhang Tong , Simpson Colleen , Xu Wei , Perez-Ordonez Bayardo , Goldstein David P , Brown Dale H , Gilbert Ralph W , Gullane Patrick J , Irish Jonathan C , Kamel-Reid Suzanne 
Published: March 2010

Abstract

Background
Increasing evidence shows that Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is preferentially associated with some head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs), with variable infection rates reported.

Methods
We assessed HPV involvement in HNSCC using the Roche Linear Array HPV Genotyping Test, which can detect 37 different HPV types. We examined the prevalence of HPV infection in 92 HNSCCs (oropharynx, oral cavity, and other HNSCC sites).

Results
HPV was frequently detected in oropharyngeal cancers (OPCs) (16/22, 73%), but was uncommon in oral cavity cancers (2/53, 4%), and in other HNSCC subsites (1/17, 6%). HPV positive tumors were associated with patients that were 40-60 years old (p = 0.02), and node positive (p = < 0.0001). HPV 16 was the most prevalent type, but other types detected included 6, 18, 33, 35, 45, and 52/58.

Conclusion
Our results show that in contrast to oropharyngeal cancers, oral cancers and other HNSCCs infrequently harbor HPV.
Slippery surfaces of pitcher plants: Nepenthes wax crystals minimize insect attachment via microscopic surface roughness
Authors: Scholz I. , Bückins M. , Dolge L. , Erlinghagen T. , Weth A. , Hischen F. , Mayer J. , Hoffmann S. , Riederer M. , Riedel M. , Baumgartner W. 
Published: March 2010

SUMMARY
Pitcher plants of the genus Nepenthes efficiently trap and retain insect prey in highly specialized leaves. Besides a slippery peristome which inhibits adhesion of insects they employ epicuticular wax crystals on the inner walls of the conductive zone of the pitchers to hamper insect attachment by adhesive devices. It has been proposed that the detachment of individual crystals and the resulting contamination of adhesive organs is responsible for capturing insects. However, our results provide evidence in favour of a different mechanism, mainly based on the stability and the roughness of the waxy surface. First, we were unable to detect a large quantity of crystal fragments on the pads of insects detached from mature pitcher surfaces of Nepenthes alata. Second, investigation of the pitcher surface by focused ion beam treatment showed that the wax crystals form a compact 3D structure. Third, atomic force microscopy of the platelet-shaped crystals revealed that the crystals are mechanically stable, rendering crystal detachment by insect pads unlikely. Fourth, the surface profile parameters of the wax layer showed striking similarities to those of polishing paper with low grain size. By measuring friction forces of insects on this artificial surface we demonstrate that microscopic roughness alone is sufficient to minimize insect attachment. A theoretical model shows that surface roughness within a certain length scale will prevent adhesion by being too rough for adhesive pads but not rough enough for claws.
Evaluation of the different forces brought into play during tube foot activities in sea stars
Authors: Hennebert Elise , Haesaerts Delphine , Dubois Philippe , Flammang Patrick 
Published: March 2010

SUMMARYSea star tube feet consist of an enlarged and flattened distal extremity (the disc), which makes contact with the substratum, and a proximal contractile cylinder (the stem), which acts as a tether. In this study, the different forces brought into play during tube foot functioning were investigated in two related species. The tube feet of Asterias rubens and Marthasterias glacialis attach to glass with a similar mean tenacity (0.24 and 0.43 MPa, respectively), corresponding to an estimated maximal attachment force of 0.15 and 0.35 N. The contraction force of their retractor muscle averages 0.017 N. The variation of the retractor muscle contraction with its extension ratio follows a typical bell-shaped length–tension curve in which a maximal contraction of approximately 0.04 N is obtained for an extension ratio of approximately 2.3 in both sea star species. The tensile strength of the tube foot stem was investigated considering the two tissues that could assume a load-bearing function, i.e. the retractor muscle and the connective tissue. The latter is a mutable collagenous tissue presenting a fivefold difference in tensile strength between its soft and stiff state. In our experiments, stiffening was induced by disrupting cell membranes or by modifying the ionic composition of the bathing solution. Finally, the force needed to break the tube foot retractor muscle was found to account for 18–25% of the tube foot total breaking force, showing that, although the connective tissue is the tissue layer that supports most of the load exerted on the stem, the contribution of the retractor muscle cannot be neglected in sea stars. All these forces appear well-balanced for proper functioning of the tube feet during the activities of the sea star. They are discussed in the context of two essential activities: the opening of bivalve shells and the maintenance of position in exposed habitats.
Video playback demonstrates episodic personality in the gloomy octopus
Authors: Pronk R. , Wilson D. R. , Harcourt R. 
Published: March 2010

SUMMARY
Coleoid cephalopods, including octopuses, cuttlefish and squid, rely mainly on visual signals when interacting with conspecifics, predators and prey. Presenting visual stimuli, such as models, photographs, mirrors and live conspecifics, can thus provide insight into cephalopod behaviour. These methods, however, have limitations – mirrors and live animals lack experimental control, whereas models and photographs sacrifice motion-based information. Video playback addresses these issues by presenting controlled, moving and realistic stimuli but, to date, video playback has not been used successfully with any cephalopod. Here, we developed a video playback technique for the gloomy octopus (Octopus tetricus) that incorporated recent advances in video technology. We then used this technique to test for personality, which we defined as behavioural differences between individuals that are consistent over time and across ecologically important contexts. We captured wild octopuses and tested them on 3 separate days over a 10 day period. On each test day, subjects were presented with videos of a food item, a novel object and a conspecific. These represented a foraging, novel and threatening context, respectively. A fourth video without a moving stimulus controlled for the playback monitor itself and potential artifacts associated with video playback. Experimental stimuli evoked unambiguous and biologically appropriate responses from the subjects. Furthermore, individuals' responses to the three experimental contexts were highly correlated within a given test day. However, within a given context, individuals behaved inconsistently across the 3 test days. The reordering of ranks suggests that rather than fulfilling the criteria for personality, gloomy octopus show temporal discontinuities, and hence display episodic personality.
Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate Tablets
Authors: Cada Dennis J. , Levien Terri L. , Baker Danial E. 
Published: March 2010

Each month, subscribers to The Formulary Monograph Service receive 5 to 6 well-documented monographs on drugs that are newly released or are in late phase 3 trials. The monographs are targeted to Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committees. Subscribers also receive monthly 1-page summary monographs on agents that are useful for agendas and pharmacy/nursinginservices. A comprehensive target drug utilization evaluation (DUE) is also provided each month. With a subscription, the monographs are sent in print and are also available online. Monographs can be customized to meet the needs of a facility. Subscribers to the The Formulary Monograph Service also receive access to a pharmacy bulletin board, The Formulary Information Exchange (The F.I.X.). All topics pertinent to clinical and hospital pharmacy are discussed on The F.I.X. Through the cooperation of The Formulary, Hospital Pharmacy publishes selected reviews in this column. For more information about The Formulary Monograph Service or The F.I.X., call The Formulary at 800-322-4349. The February 2009 monograph topics are on fospropofol disodium, rufinamide, eltrombopag, fenofibric acid, and carisbamate. The DUE is on rufinamide.
Because It's Right
Authors: Schmidtz David 
Published: March 2010

Morality teaches us that, if we look on her only as good for something else, we never in that case have seen her at all. She says that she is an end to be desired for her own sake, and not as a means to something beyond. Degrade her, and she disappears. - F. H. BradleyMorality can be painfully demanding, so much so that we sometimes question the wisdom of complying with it. Yet, arguments that we have good reason to be moral are as old as Plato's Republic. Indeed, according to H. A. Prichard, making this argument work is the central preoccupation of moral philosophy. But Prichard also believes that, to the extent this is true, the whole subject of moral philosophy rests on a mistake.
Applied Ethics, Moral Skepticism, and Reasons with Expiration Dates
Authors: Millgram Elijah 
Published: March 2010

The question “Why be moral?” has been on philosophers’ agendas at least since Plato, and the antiquity of the Question (which is what I'll call it from here on out) reasonably prompts the suspicion that moral skepticism may not in the end be rebuttable. Haven't we waited long enough? Isn't it time to discard the pretense that we have reason to do what morality demands? And shouldn't we finally stop wasting our time on it?Before buying into that conclusion, I want to point out a largely untapped source of reasons for being moral. It has been overlooked, I will suggest, in part because attention has been exclusively directed to providing a definitive refutation of moral skepticism. However, that fixation is attributable to a very basic error about what sort of creatures we are. Most of our reasons come with expiration dates; and, indeed, the Question is often answerable, but temporarily rather than definitively.
Reaching Spanish-Speaking Smokers: State-Level Evidence of Untapped Potential for QuitLine Utilization
Authors: Burns Emily K. , Levinson Arnold H. 
Published: March 2010

Objectives. We examined the effects of a Spanish-language media campaign on the reach and outcomes of a state-sponsored QuitLine among Latino smokers. Methods. In this quasiexperimental (2-group, pre–post) study, we analyzed data from Colorado QuitLine callers before (April–August 2007) and during (September–November 2007) the media campaign. Call volume, service utilization, and quit rates at 7-month follow-up were compared between Latino (n = 243) and non-Latino (n = 527) callers. Results. QuitLine calls increased among Latinos during the campaign by 57.6% (1169 vs 1842 in 3-month periods). Compared with precampaign Latino study respondents, Latino respondents during the campaign were significantly younger (younger than 45 years), more often Spanish speaking, uninsured, and less educated. Among Latino enrollees, program completion and nicotine replacement therapy use were similar before and during the campaign, and quit rates during the campaign improved marginally to significantly (7-day abstinence: 29.6% vs 41.0%, P = .07; 6-month abstinence: 9.6% vs 18.8%, P = .04). Conclusions. A well-designed, statewide Spanish-language media campaign increased QuitLine reach and improved cessation outcomes among a young Latino population of low socioeconomic status. QuitLine-supported cessation can be increased among these smokers.
Generating Political Priority to Tackle Health Disparities: A Case Study in the Dutch City of The Hague
Authors: Schmidt Melanie , Joosen Isabel , Kunst Anton E. , Klazinga Niek S. , Stronks Karien 
Published: March 2010

Objectives. We sought to study the factors that determined the success of a recent initiative to generate political priority for the problem of health disparities in the city of The Hague, the Netherlands. Methods. Our study had a prospective design. The qualitative data collection included interviews, document analyses, and observations. Results. Crucial for the success of this initiative was the presence of powerful and credible actors. These actors effectively presented scientific evidence on health disparities and framed the issue in the light of shared values, priorities, and policy principles. Finally, their actions were supported by the national context, including the availability of national scientific research on health disparities. Conclusions. The project in The Hague shows that political priority for tackling health disparities can be generated at a local level. Key factors included framing the issue in the light of shared values and framing the problem and the solution as in line with existing policy principles.
HIV–Tuberculosis Coinfection in Southern California: Evaluating Disparities in Disease Burden
Authors: Rodwell Timothy C. , Barnes Richard F. W. , Moore Marisa , Strathdee Steffanie A. , Raich Annie , Moser Kathleen S. , Garfein Richard S. 
Published: March 2010

Objectives. We sought to understand tuberculosis (TB) and HIV coinfection trends in San Diego County, California, and to identify associations between sociodemographic risk factors and TB and HIV coinfection. Methods. We analyzed TB surveillance data from 1993 through 2007. TB cases were grouped by HIV status: positive, negative, or unknown. We used Poisson regression to estimate trends and tested associations between TB and HIV coinfection and sociodemographic risk factors with polychotomous logistic regression. Results. Of 5172 TB cases, 8.8% were also infected with HIV. Incidence of coinfected cases did not change significantly over the period studied, but the proportion of cases among Hispanics increased significantly, whereas cases among non-Hispanic Whites and Blacks decreased. TB cases with HIV coinfection were significantly more likely to be Hispanic, male, injection drugs users, and aged 30 to 49 years, relative to cases with TB disease only. Conclusions. The burden of TB and HIV in San Diego has shifted to Hispanics in the last decade. To address this health disparity, binational TB and HIV prevention efforts are needed.
Under the Skin: Using Theories From Biology and the Social Sciences to Explore the Mechanisms Behind the Black–White Health Gap
Authors: Green Tiffany L. , Darity William A. 
Published: March 2010

Equity and social well-being considerations make Black–White health disparities an area of important concern. Although previous research suggests that discrimination- and poverty-related stressors play a role in African American health outcomes, the mechanisms are unclear. Allostatic load is a concept that can be employed to demonstrate how environmental stressors, including psychosocial ones, may lead to a cumulative physiological toll on the body. We discuss both the usefulness of this framework for understanding how discrimination can lead to worse health among African Americans, and the challenges for conceptualizing biological risk with existing data and methods. We also contrast allostatic load with theories of historical trauma such as posttraumatic slavery syndrome. Finally, we offer our suggestions for future interdisciplinary research on health disparities.