Counties As Local Governments: Research Issues and Questions

ABSTRACT: Counties are assuming more important responsibilities as urban governments and they are increasingly becoming objects of study for urban researchers. This article argues that some recent studies have not recognized that counties are different from cities as research units. Theories and research methods applied to cities often need modification before they can be transferred to the study of counties. This article offers several observations on researching counties, taking into account their relationship to state government and their unique roles as localities.     

Resistance to extinction in evaluative conditioning.

A well-demonstrated phenomenon in traditional Pavlovian conditioning research with humans is that of experimental extinction. In contrast, human evaluative conditioning research suggests that evaluative learning shows marked resistance to extinction. Here, the authors replicate both findings concurrently. Two differential fear conditioning experiments with an electrocutaneous stimulus as the unconditioned stimulus evidenced (a) sensitivity to extinction using an autonomic skin-conductance measure and (b) complete resistance to extinction using an affective-priming measure. The results corroborate the idea that evaluative conditioning is more resistant to extinction than is expectancy learning (F. Baeyens, P. Eelen, & G. Crombez, 1995). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Qualitative and quantitative characterisation of the lipid fraction of bouillon cubes

An experimental investigation was performed to characterise the fat fraction of bouillon cubes. Besides the routine analyses, the analytical methods used were: silica-gel column chromatography to separate polar compounds, high performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) for the qualitative and quantitative determination of the single classes of substances constituting the polar compounds, and gas chromatography to determine the acid composition and the trans isomers of unsaturated fatty acids. The fats blended into the bouillon preparations were highly variable and were mainly made up of refined vegetable oils that had undergone hardening, by hydrogenation in most cases. Determination of the free fatty acids and of the peroxide values yielded figures that in some cases exceeded the limits set for the commercialisation of refined vegetable oils. Compared to the routine analyses, the HPSEC analysis of the polar compounds provided a better evaluation of the level of degradation of the fat extracted from the bouillon formulations. The levels of oxidative and hydrolytic degradation were rather high, and similar to those reported for poor quality oils. Analyses of the trans isomers of oleic acid yielded particularly high values (even over 20%) and differentiated the cubes on the basis of the type of fat added.     

Memory factors in age-related differences in simple reasoning.

Adults in their 50s were compared with adults in their late teens or 20s in the accuracy of relatively simple reasoning decisions involving varying amounts of information. Because the magnitude of the age differences in decision accuracy was independent of the amount of information relevant to the decision, it was suggested that adults in their 20s and 50s do not differ in the effectiveness of integrating information across multiple premises. However, the 2 groups differed in the accuracy of trials involving only a single relevant premise, and thus it was inferred that 1 factor contributing to reasoning differences within the age range from 20 to 60 may be a failure to encode, or retain, relevant information. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the processing and in-vitro degradation of poly(dl-lactide-co-glycolide)/CNT films

Nanocomposite films based on single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and poly(dl-lactide-co-glycolide) copolymer (50:50 PLGA) were processed and analyzed. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different functionalization systems on the physical stability and morphology of PLGA films. Both covalent and non covalent functionalization of carbon nanotubes were considered in order to control the interactions between PLGA and SWNTs and to understand the role of the filler in the biodegradation properties. Using a solvent casting process, different PLGA/SWNT nanocomposites were prepared and incubated using organic solution under physiological conditions. In-vitro degradation studies were conducted by measurements of weight loss, infrared spectroscopy, glass transition temperature and SEM observations as a function of the incubation time, over a 9-week period. All PLGA films were degraded by hydrolitical degradation. However, a different degradation mechanism was observed in the case of functionalized SWNTs with respect to pristine material. It has been observed that system composition and SWNT functionalization may play a crucial role on the autocatalytic effect of the degradation process. These studies suggest that the degradation kinetics of the films can be engineered by varying carbon nanotube (CNT) content and functionalization. The combination of biodegradable polymers and CNTs opens a new perspective in the self-assembly of nanomaterials and nanodevices.     

A Soft Chemistry Route for the Synthesis of Nanostructured Pb2Ru2O6.5 with a Controlled Stoichiometry

A new chemical route to synthesize nanostructured lead ruthenium pyrochlore (Pb₂Ru₂O_6.5) powders was developed. The synthesis was performed starting from a metal nitrate aqueous solution and N , N , N ', N ' tetramethylethylendiamine (TMEDA). The amine, which is a mild basic chelating agent, was able to control the simultaneous precipitation of lead and ruthenium oxo/hydroxides. For the sake of comparison, Pb₂Ru₂O_6.5 powders were prepared using the more conventional polymeric precursor method. The new method was effective for the synthesis of nanostructured Pb₂Ru₂O_6.5 powders already stable at 400°C and up to 1000°C.     

Clinical and Genetic Characterization of Patients with Bartter and Gitelman Syndrome

Bartter (BS) and Gitelman (GS) syndrome are autosomal recessive inherited tubulopathies, whose clinical diagnosis can be challenging, due to rarity and phenotypic overlap. Genotype–phenotype correlations have important implications in defining kidney and global outcomes. The aim of our study was to assess the diagnostic rate of whole-exome sequencing (WES) coupled with a bioinformatic analysis of copy number variations in a population of 63 patients with BS and GS from a single institution, and to explore genotype-phenotype correlations. We obtained a diagnostic yield of 86% (54/63 patients), allowing disease reclassification in about 14% of patients. Although some clinical and laboratory features were more commonly reported in patients with BS or GS, a significant overlap does exist, and age at onset, preterm birth, gestational age and nephro-calcinosis are frequently misleading. Finally, chronic kidney disease (CKD) occurs in about 30% of patients with BS or GS, suggesting that the long-term prognosis can be unfavorable. In our cohort the features associated with CKD were lower gestational age at birth and a molecular diagnosis of BS, especially BS type 1. The results of our study demonstrate that WES is useful in dealing with the phenotypic heterogeneity of these disorders, improving differential diagnosis and genotype-phenotype correlation.     

Bone Health in Children with Rheumatic Disorders: Focus on Molecular Mechanisms,Diagnosis, and Management

Bone is an extremely dynamic and adaptive tissue, whose metabolism and homeostasis is influenced by many different hormonal, mechanical, nutritional, immunological and pharmacological stimuli. Genetic factors significantly affect bone health, through their influence on bone cells function, cartilage quality, calcium and vitamin D homeostasis, sex hormone metabolism and pubertal timing. In addition, optimal nutrition and physical activity contribute to bone mass acquisition in the growing age. All these factors influence the attainment of peak bone mass, a critical determinant of bone health and fracture risk in adulthood. Secondary osteoporosis is an important issue of clinical care in children with acute and chronic diseases. Systemic autoimmune disorders, like juvenile idiopathic arthritis, can affect the skeletal system, causing reduced bone mineral density and high risk of fragility fractures during childhood. In these patients, multiple factors contribute to reduce bone strength, including systemic inflammation with elevated cytokines, reduced physical activity, malabsorption and nutritional deficiency, inadequate daily calcium and vitamin D intake, use of glucocorticoids, poor growth and pubertal delay. In juvenile arthritis, osteoporosis is more prominent at the femoral neck and radius compared to the lumbar spine. Nevertheless, vertebral fractures are an important, often asymptomatic manifestation, especially in glucocorticoid-treated patients. A standardized diagnostic approach to the musculoskeletal system, including prophylaxis, therapy and follow up, is therefore mandatory in at risk children. Here we discuss the molecular mechanisms involved in skeletal homeostasis and the influence of inflammation and chronic disease on bone metabolism.     

Melatonin Regulates the Daily Levels of Plasma Amino Acids,Acylcarnitines, Biogenic Amines,Sphingomyelins, and Hexoses in a Xenograft Model of Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Metabolic dysregulation as a reflection of specific metabolite production and its utilization is a common feature of many human neoplasms. Melatonin, an indoleamine that is highly available during darkness, has a variety of metabolic functions in solid tumors. Because plasma metabolites undergo circadian changes, we investigated the role of melatonin on the profile of amino acids (AAs), biogenic amines, carnitines, sphingolipids, and hexoses present in the plasma of mice bearing xenograft triple negative breast cancer (MDA-MB-231 cells) over 24 h. Plasma concentrations of nine AAs were reduced by melatonin, especially during the light phase, with a profile closer to that of non-breast cancer (BC) animals. With respect to acylcarnitine levels, melatonin reduced 12 out of 24 molecules in BC-bearing animals compared to their controls, especially at 06:00 h and 15:00 h. Importantly, melatonin reduced the concentrations of asymmetric dimethylarginine, carnosine, histamine, kynurenine, methionine sulfoxide, putrescine, spermidine, spermine, and symmetric dimethylarginine, which are associated with the BC metabolite sets. Melatonin also led to reduced levels of sphingomyelins and hexoses, which showed distinct daily variations over 24 h. These results highlight the role of melatonin in controlling the levels of plasma metabolites in human BC xenografts, which may impact cancer bioenergetics, in addition to emphasizing the need for a more accurate examination of its metabolomic changes at different time points.