bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inelastic cyclic behaviour of as‐received and pre‐corroded S500s tempcore steel reinforcement
Authors: Apostolopoulos Ch. Alk. , Rodopoulos C.A. 
Published: March 2010

PurposeSeismic loading can induce significant deformations to steel reinforcement. The recent approach suggested by Eurocode 8 indicates that steel reinforcement shall sustain repeated loading well within its elastic region, excluding by definition seismic loading. This paper aims to examine the behaviour of S500s steel reinforcement at strain ranges representing strains corresponding to small/medium earthquakes while significant attention has been paid to cases where the reinforcement has been corroded as this is most representative to aged buildings. The work concludes that the complex behaviour of steel reinforcement under low cycle fatigue conditions can be successfully treated via the use of the viscous stress. The latter is found to be independent to corrosion exposure while it holds the merits of ductility exhaustion on which most degradation models are based.Design/methodology/approachThis paper establishes a relationship between the cumulative effect of low cycle fatigue and that of the viscous stress.FindingsThe work identifies that the viscous stress follows an exponential growth behaviour which terminates at a plateau. The plateau value is found to be independent to corrosion exposure and strain rate and hence providing a strong potential for being a characteristic indicator of the behaviour of steel reinforcement under realistic inelastic loading.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is limited to S500s grade steel. Further study on different steel grades is necessary to increase the potential of viscous stress.Originality/valueThe significance of this paper is the introduction of viscous stress in an area where traditional approaches of cumulative damage are based on a large number of empirical parameters and assumptions.
Crack‐healing behaviour of ZrO2/SiC composite ceramics
Authors: Houjou Keiji , Ando Kotoji , Takahashi Koji 
Published: March 2010

PurposeZirconia ceramics exhibit high strength and fracture toughness. The purpose of this paper is to research a possibility of crack healing in zirconia ceramics.Design/methodology/approachZrO2/SiC composite ceramics are sintered and subjected to three‐point bending. A surface crack of 100 μm in diameter is formed on each specimen. The cracks are healed and the specimens are tested under bending.FindingsThe paper finds that ZrO2/SiC composite ceramic material had a high crack‐healing ability at a considerably low temperature. For example, a crack of 100 μm in diameter is healed even at 600°C.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper provides a low temperature healing and a new mechanism of crack healing.Originality/valueThe paper shows the healing temperature and the minimum time required to heal showed a good proportional relation on the Arrhenius plot at temperatures of 600‐800°C. Moreover, the crack healing is caused by SiO2 cristobalite produced during the healing.
Effectiveness of MMORPG‐based instruction in elementary English education in Korea
Authors: Suh S. , Kim S.W. , Kim N.J. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractThis study investigated the effectiveness of massive multiplayer online role‐playing game (MMORPG)‐based (massive multiplayer online role‐playing game) instruction in elementary English education. The effectiveness of the MMORPG program was compared with face‐to‐face instruction and the independent variables (gender, prior knowledge, motivation for learning, self‐directed learning skills, computer skills, game skills, computer capacity, network speed, and computer accessibility) were examined to see how accurately achievement was predicted in MMORPG instruction. The results indicated that students studying English utilizing online role‐playing games showed higher scores in areas of listening, reading, and writing than those who attended face‐to‐face instruction classes. It was also found that prior knowledge, motivation for learning, and network speed were factors affecting achievement in English learning. These findings suggest that MMORPGs can play an important role in improving English communicative skills.
Current controversies surrounding liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Silva Mauricio F , Wigg Alan J 
Published: March 2010

AbstractLiver transplantation (LT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has progressed rapidly over the last decade from a futile therapy to the first choice therapy for suitable patients. Excellent outcomes of LT for HCC can be largely attributed to the use of the Milan Criteria, which have restricted LT to patients with early stage tumors. These criteria may be conservative, and it is likely that a subset of patients with tumors beyond these criteria can have acceptable outcomes. However, there is currently insufficient data to accept more liberal criteria as a standard of care, and a higher quality evidence base must be achieved to prevent poor utilization of valuable donor liver resources. In the future, it is probable that more sophisticated selection criteria will emerge incorporating aspects of tumor biology beyond tumor size and number. Dropout from the waiting list due to tumor progression remains a clinical challenge particularly in regions with prolonged waiting times. Priority allocation using HCC MELD points is a practical and transparent solution that has successfully reduced waitlist dropout for HCC patients. Further refinements of the HCC MELD point system are required to ensure equity of access to LT for non‐HCC patients and prioritization of HCC patients with the highest risk of dropout. Improving the evidence base for pre‐LT locoregional therapy to prevent waitlist dropout is an urgent and difficult challenge for the LT community. In the interim transplant clinicians must restrict the use of these therapies to those patients who are most likely to benefit from them.
Changes in renal function after nephron‐sparing surgery in patients with a normal contralateral kidney
Authors: Park Sung‐Woo , Jung Suk‐Gun , Lee Wan , Chung Moon‐Kee 
Published: March 2010

Objectives:  To evaluate the pattern of the recovery of the overall and isolated renal function in patients with a normal contralateral kidney undergoing nephron‐sparing surgery (NSS).Methods:  Between 2003 and 2006, 62 patients underwent open NSS at our institution. Among them, 35 having unilateral renal tumors smaller than 7 cm and a normally functioning contralateral kidney were included in the analysis. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was checked preoperatively, and 2 weeks, 6 months and 1 year postoperatively, and annually thereafter. Renal scintigraphy was carried out before the procedure, at 6 months and 1 year postoperatively to measure individual renal uptake.Results:  eGFR was 80.9, 70.8, 76.7, 76.9, 75.8, 76.9, 78.6 and 78.2 mL/min/1.73 m2 preoperatively, and postoperatively at 2 weeks, 6 months, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years, respectively. Average isolated differential function of the operated kidney decreased 11.6% and 5.6% at 6 months and 1 year after surgery, respectively.Conclusions:  Within 6 months after NSS, the overall renal function recovered up to 95% by a compensatory increase of contralateral renal function. Thereafter, isolated function of the operated kidney recovered slowly.
Patterns of Attachment and Emotional Competence in Middle Childhood
Authors: Colle Livia , Del Giudice Marco 
Published: March 2010

AbstractThe study investigated the relationship between patterns of attachment and emotional competence at the beginning of middle childhood in a sample of 122 seven‐year‐olds. A new battery of tasks was developed in order to assess two facets of emotional competence (emotion recognition and knowledge of regulation strategies). Attachment was related to the choice of emotion regulation strategies in hypothetical situations; secure children produced the highest frequency of cognitive engagement strategies (e.g., reappraisal), and disorganized children the lowest. Insecure children produced more behavioral engagement strategies and fewer behavioral diversion ones. There was a minor effect of attachment on emotion recognition, with disorganized children scoring lower in the discrimination of facial expression. Consistent sex differences were also apparent in the direction of a female advantage in emotional competence: Girls scored higher in emotion recognition than boys, and in the regulation knowledge task, they produced fewer helpless answers and more cognitive engagement strategies.
Children's Attention to Others' Beliefs during Persuasion: Improvised and Selected Arguments to Puppets and People
Authors: Bartsch Karen , Wade Christine E. , Estes David 
Published: March 2010

AbstractUntil now children's attention to the beliefs of people they wish to persuade has been examined experimentally via tasks that were artificial in important respects. To determine whether such research has underestimated children's psychological perspective taking, two studies that manipulated task elements pertinent to ecological validity were conducted. Children in three age groups (3, 4/5, and 6/7 years) were asked (forced‐choice and open‐ended formats) how best to persuade puppets and people, with differing beliefs, to pet and play with various toy animals. Children offered as many or more belief‐relevant arguments in response to forced‐choice as to open‐ended questions. Only the oldest group attended to beliefs more when persuading a person compared with a puppet. Even on more realistic tasks, significant improvement with age across task formats confirmed a developmental trajectory in line with extant reports of children's belief reasoning. The findings support the idea that enhanced social competence corresponds specifically to children's increasing attention to beliefs in social interactions such as persuasion.
Seeing Eye to Eye: Predicting Teacher–Student Agreement on Classroom Social Networks
Authors: Neal Jennifer Watling , Cappella Elise , Wagner Caroline , Atkins Marc S. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractThis study examines the association between classroom characteristics and teacher–student agreement in perceptions of students' classroom peer networks. Social network, peer nomination, and observational data were collected from a sample of second through fourth grade teachers (N = 33) and students (N = 669) in 33 classrooms across five high‐poverty urban schools. Results demonstrate that variation in teacher–student agreement on the structure of students' peer networks can be explained, in part, by developmental factors and classroom characteristics. Developmental increases in network density partially mediated the positive relationship between grade level and teacher–student agreement. Larger class sizes and higher levels of normative aggressive behavior resulted in lower levels of teacher–student agreement. Teachers' levels of classroom organization had mixed influences, with behavior management negatively predicting agreement, and productivity positively predicting agreement. These results underscore the importance of the classroom context in shaping teacher and student perceptions of peer networks.
Supported Employment for People with Intellectual Disability: The Effects of Job Breakdown on Psychological Well‐Being
Authors: Banks Pauline , Jahoda Andrew , Dagnan Dave , Kemp John , Williams Victoria 
Published: March 2010

Background  This paper focuses on the transition to supported employment for people with intellectual disabilities paying particular attention to the impact of job breakdown on psychological well‐being; an issue often omitted from studies.Materials and Methods  Forty‐nine people with intellectual disabilities were interviewed within 3 months of entering supported employment and 9–12 months later. Data collection involved in‐depth interviews with people with intellectual disabilities, their carers and employers and completion of a self‐report measure of depression and anxiety (an adapted form of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and a self‐report measure of quality of life (the ComQol).Results  By time of the follow‐up interviews, 13 of the 49 jobs had broken down. Analysis of scores measuring quality of life, anxiety and depression showed no effect for loss of employment. However, interviews with participants indicated that job loss had a considerable impact on those affected.Conclusions  There were a wide range of reasons for job breakdown, many of which were particular to the circumstances of people with intellectual disabilities. Although job breakdown does not have an impact of anxiety or depression many participants found job loss traumatic.
North and South Indian Populations Share a Common Ancestral Origin of Friedreich's Ataxia but Vary in Age of GAA Repeat Expansion
Authors: Singh Inder , Faruq Mohammed , Mukherjee Odity , Jain Sanjeev , Pal Pramod Kumar , Srivastav M. V. Padma , Behari Madhuri , Srivastava Achal K. , Mukerji Mitali 
Published: March 2010

SummaryFriedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is caused by expansion of GAA repeats in the frataxin (FXN) gene on chromosome 9q13‐q21.1. We analysed the origin of FRDA in 21 North Indian (NI) and eight South Indian (SI) families using five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and a microsatellite marker spanning the GAA repeats. The NI and SI families were derived from Indo‐European and Dravidian linguistic backgrounds respectively. The frequency of large normal (LNs) alleles of the GAA repeat correlate with the overall lower prevalence of FRDA in India compared to the European population. All of the expanded alleles in the Indian population share a common core haplotype suggesting a founder effect. The expanded alleles in the NI population demonstrate more similarity to those of Europeans in terms of age of GAA repeat expansion (15975 ± 2850 years) and association of LNs with expanded alleles. FRDA seems to have been introduced recently in the South Indian population since the average estimated age of the mutation in SI is 5425 ± 1750 years and unlike NI some of the haplotypes of LNs are not associated with the expanded alleles.
Analysis of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the NOS2A Gene and Interaction with Smoking in Age‐Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Ayala‐Haedo Juan A. , Gallins Paul J. , Whitehead Patrice L. , Schwartz Stephen G. , Kovach Jaclyn L. , Postel Eric A. , Agarwal Anita , Wang Gaofeng , Haines Jonathan L. , Pericak‐Vance Margaret A. , Scott William K. 
Published: March 2010

SummaryAge‐related macular degeneration (AMD) is a complex degenerative retinal disease influenced by both genetic and environmental risk factors. We assessed whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the NOS2A gene increase risk and modulate the effect of smoking in AMD. 998 Caucasian subjects (712 AMD cases and 286 controls) were genotyped for 17 SNPs in NOS2A. Multivariable logistic regression models containing SNP genotypes, age, sex, smoking status and genotype/smoking interaction were constructed. SNP rs8072199 was significantly associated with AMD (OR = 1.3; 95% CI : 1.02, 1.65; P= 0.035). A significant interaction with smoking was detected at rs2248814 (P= 0.037). Stratified data by genotypes demonstrated that the association between AMD and smoking was stronger in carriers of AA genotypes (OR = 35.98; 95% CI: 3.19, 405.98) than in carriers of the AG genotype (OR = 3.05; 95% CI: 1.36, 6.74) or GG genotype (OR = 2.1; 95% CI: 0.91, 4.84). The results suggest a possible synergistic interaction of AA genotype with smoking, although the result bears replication in larger samples. Our data suggests that SNPs in the NOS2A gene are associated with increased risk for AMD and might modulate the effect of smoking on AMD.
Regional differences in nerve terminal Na+ channel subtype expression and Na+ channel‐dependent glutamate and GABA release in rat CNS
Authors: Westphalen Robert I. , Yu Jieying , Krivitski Margarita , Jih Ting‐Yu , Hemmings Jr Hugh C. 
Published: March 2010

J. Neurochem. (2010) 113, 1611–1620.AbstractWe tested the hypothesis that expression of pre‐synaptic voltage‐gated sodium channel (Nav) subtypes coupled to neurotransmitter release differs between transmitter types and CNS regions in a nerve terminal‐specific manner. Nav coupling to transmitter release was determined by measuring the sensitivity of 4‐aminopyridine (4AP)‐evoked [3H]glutamate and [14C]GABA release to the specific Nav blocker tetrodotoxin (TTX) for nerve terminals isolated from rat cerebral cortex, hippocampus, striatum and spinal cord. Expression of various Nav subtypes was measured by immunoblotting using subtype‐specific antibodies. Potencies of TTX for inhibition of glutamate and GABA release varied between CNS regions. However, the efficacies of TTX for inhibition of 4AP‐evoked glutamate release were greater than for inhibition of GABA release in all regions except spinal cord. The relative nerve terminal expression of total Nav subtypes as well as of specific subtypes varied considerably between CNS regions. The region‐specific potencies of TTX for inhibition of 4AP‐evoked glutamate release correlated with greater relative expression of total nerve terminal Nav and Nav1.2. Nerve terminal‐specific differences in the expression of specific Nav subtypes contribute to transmitter‐specific and regional differences in pharmacological sensitivities of transmitter release.
Distribution of catechol‐O‐methyltransferase (COMT) proteins and enzymatic activities in wild‐type and soluble COMT deficient mice
Authors: Myöhänen Timo T. , Schendzielorz Nadia , Männistö Pekka T. 
Published: March 2010

J. Neurochem.(2010)113, 1632–1643.AbstractCatechol‐O‐methyltranferase (COMT) has both soluble (S‐COMT) and membrane‐bound (MB‐COMT) isoforms. A specific COMT antibody was used in immunohistochemical and confocal co‐localization studies to explore the distribution of COMT in general in normal mice and MB‐COMT in particular, in an S‐COMT deficient mouse line. In the peripheral tissues, high COMT protein and activity levels were observed in liver and kidney, whereas in the brain, COMT expression and activity were much lower. MB‐COMT was widely distributed throughout all tissues, and overall, the MB‐COMT distribution mimicked the distribution of S‐COMT. MB‐COMT displayed some preference for brain tissue, notably in the hippocampus. MB‐COMT related enzymatic activity was also pronounced in the cerebral cortical areas and hypothalamus. MB‐COMT, like S‐COMT, was found to be an intracellular enzyme but it was not associated with plasma membranes in the brain. Both COMT forms were abundantly found in microglial cells and intestinal macrophages, but also in astroglial cells. COMT was also present in some neuronal cells, like pyramidal neurons, cerebellar Purkinje and granular cells and striatal spiny neurons, but not in major long projection neurons. Finally, it seemed that nuclear COMT is not visible in S‐COMT deficient mice.
Predicting Stock Market Returns with Aggregate Discretionary Accruals
Authors: KANG QIANG , LIU QIAO , QI RONG 
Published: March 2010

ABSTRACTWe find that the positive relation between aggregate accruals and one‐year‐ahead market returns documented in Hirshleifer, Hou, and Teoh [2009] is driven by discretionary accruals but not normal accruals. The return forecasting power of aggregate discretionary accruals is robust to choices of sample periods, return measurements, estimation methods, business condition and risk premium proxies, and accrual models used to isolate discretionary accruals. Our extensive analysis shows that aggregate discretionary accruals, in sharp contrast to aggregate normal accruals, contain little information about overall business conditions or aggregate cash flows and display little co‐movement with ICAPM‐motivated risk premium proxies. Our findings imply that aggregate discretionary accruals likely reflect aggregate fluctuations in earnings management, thereby favoring the behavioral explanation that managers time aggregate equity markets to report earnings.
The transient receptor potential channel antagonist SKF96365 is a potent blocker of low‐voltage‐activated T‐type calcium channels
Authors: Singh A , Hildebrand ME , Garcia E , Snutch TP 
Published: March 2010

Background and purpose:  SKF96365 (SKF), originally identified as a blocker of receptor‐mediated calcium entry, is widely used diagnostically, as a blocker of transient receptor potential canonical type (TRPC) channels. While SKF has been used as a tool to define the functional roles of TRPC channels in various cell and tissue types, there are notable overlapping physiological and pathophysiological associations between TRPC channels and low‐voltage‐activated (LVA) T‐type calcium channels. The activity of SKF against T‐type Ca channels has not been previously explored, and here we systematically investigated the effects of SKF on recombinant and native voltage‐gated Ca channel‐mediated currents.Experimental approach:  Effects of SKF on recombinant Ca channels were studied under whole‐cell patch clamp conditions after expression in HEK293 cells. The effect of SKF on cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs) expressing native T‐type Ca channels was also assessed.Key results:  SKF blocked recombinant Ca channels, representative of each of the three main molecular genetic classes (CaV1, CaV2 and CaV3) at concentrations typically utilized to assay TRPC function (10 µM). Particularly, human CaV3.1 T‐type Ca channels were more potently inhibited by SKF (IC50∼560 nM) in our experiments than previously reported for similarly expressed TRPC channels. SKF also inhibited native CaV3.1 T‐type currents in a rat cerebellar PC slice preparation.Conclusions and implications:  SKF was a potent blocker of LVA T‐type Ca channels. We suggest caution in the interpretation of results using SKF alone as a diagnostic agent for TRPC activity in native tissues.
Spoilt for choice – evaluation of two different scoring systems for early hand eczema in teledermatological examinations
Authors: Baumeister Thomas , Weistenhöfer Wobbeke , Drexler Hans , Kütting Birgitta 
Published: March 2010

Background: Besides improving working conditions and using personal protective equipment, early detection is most important in managing work‐related hand eczema. Implementing regular teledermatological skin screenings could be helpful, but none of the published hand eczema‐scores has hitherto been used in teledermatology. Objective: Testing and comparing two validated scores [Osnabrück hand eczema severity index (OHSI); hand eczema severity index (HECSI)] for their suitability in an occupational telemedical screening. Patients/Materials/Methods: One hundred and twenty photographic records of the hands of 30 male wet workers were examined twice with each score. Results were tested for reproducibility, intra‐observer reliability and inter‐score‐correlation. Results: Examination time, mean score values, and score ranges reached did not differ significantly. The inter‐score‐correlation was moderate (correlation coefficients: 0.651 for first examination; 0.642 for second examination). In the qualitative assessment, the HECSI showed a better overall agreement between results of first and second examinations. Conclusions: Both scores are suitable for assessing the skin condition in a teledermatological setting. The comparability is limited to qualitative assessment, as the strictly objective OHSI measures the extent of hand eczema and the finer graduated HECSI measures the intensity of hand eczema, adding a subjective component. For assessing minimal skin changes, a scoring system that reduces subjective elements while at the same time it offers a differentiated grading is advisable.