bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimation Risk Modeling in Optimal Portfolio Selection: An Empirical Study from Emerging Markets
Authors: Nathaphan Sarayut , Chunhachinda Pornchai
Published: September 2010

Efficient portfolio is a portfolio that yields maximum expected return given a level of risk or has a minimum level of risk given a level of expected return. However, the optimal portfolios do not seem to be as efficient as intended. Especially during financial crisis period, optimal portfolio is not an optimal investment as it does not yield maximum return given a specific level of risk, and vice versa. One possible explanation for an unimpressive performance of the seemingly efficient portfolio is incorrectness in parameter estimates called “estimation risk in parameter estimates”. Six different estimating strategies are employed to explore ex‐post‐portfolio performance when estimation risk is incorporated. These strategies are traditional Mean‐Variance (EV), Adjusted Beta (AB) approach, Resampled Efficient Frontier (REF), Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), Single Index Model (SIM), and Single Index Model incorporating shrinkage Bayesian factor namely, Bayesian Single Index Model (BSIM). Among the six alternative strategies, shrinkage estimators incorporating the single index model outperform other traditional portfolio selection strategies. Allowing for asset mispricing and applying Bayesian shrinkage adjusted factor to each asset′s alpha, a single factor namely, excess market return is adequate in alleviating estimation uncertainty.
Mutational and Bioinformatic Analysis of Haloarchaeal Lipobox-Containing Proteins
Authors: Storf Stefanie , Pfeiffer Friedhelm , Dilks Kieran , Chen Zhong Qiang , Imam Saheed , Pohlschröder Mechthild
Published: September 2010

A conserved lipid-modified cysteine found in a protein motif commonly referred to as a lipobox mediates the membrane anchoring of a subset of proteins transported across the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane via the Sec pathway. Sequenced haloarchaeal genomes encode many putative lipoproteins and recent studies have confirmed the importance of the conserved lipobox cysteine for signal peptide processing of three lipobox-containing proteins in the model archaeonHaloferax volcanii. We have extended thesein vivoanalyses to additionalHfx. volcaniisubstrates, supporting our previousin silicopredictions and confirming the diversity of predictedHfx. volcaniilipoproteins. Moreover, using extensive comparative secretome analyses, we identified genes encodining putative lipoproteins across a wide range of archaeal species. While ourin silicoanalyses, supported byin vivodata, indicate that most haloarchaeal lipoproteins are Tat substrates, these analyses also predict that many crenarchaeal species lack lipoproteins altogether and that other archaea, such as nonhalophilic euryarchaeal species, transport lipoproteins via the Sec pathway. To facilitate the identification of genes that encode potential haloarchaeal Tat-lipoproteins, we have developed TatLipo, a bioinformatic tool designed to detect lipoboxes in haloarchaeal Tat signal peptides. Our results provide a strong foundation for future studies aimed at identifying components of the archaeal lipoprotein biogenesis pathway.
Nonoscillatory Solutions for Higher‐Order Neutral Dynamic Equations on Time Scales
Authors: Sun Taixiang , Xi Hongjian , Peng Xiaofeng , Yu Weiyong
Published: September 2010

We study the higher‐order neutral dynamic equation for and obtain some necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of nonoscillatory
bounded solutions for this equation.
Atherogenic Factors and Their Epigenetic Relationships
Authors: Fernandez Ana Z. , Siebel Andrew L. , El-Osta Assam
Published: September 2010

Hypercholesterolemia, homocysteine, oxidative stress, and hyperglycemia have been recognized as the major risk factors for atherogenesis. Their impact on the physiology and biochemistry of vascular cells has been widely demonstrated for the last century. However, the recent discovery of the role of epigenetics in human disease has opened up a new field in the study of atherogenic factors. Thus, epigenetic tags in endothelial, smooth muscle, and immune cells seem to be differentially affected by similar atherogenic stimuli. This paper summarizes some recent works on expression of histone-modifying enzymes and DNA methylation directly linked to the presence of risk factors that could lead to the development or prevention of the atherosclerotic process.
Designing Efficient Spaced Seeds for SOLiD Read Mapping
Authors: Noé Laurent , Gîrdea Marta , Kucherov Gregory
Published: September 2010

The advent of high-throughput sequencing technologies constituted
a major advance in genomic studies, offering new prospects in a
wide range of applications.We propose a rigorous and flexible algorithmic
solution to mapping SOLiD color-space reads to a reference genome. The
solution relies on an advanced method of seed design that uses a faithful
probabilistic model of read matches and, on the other hand, a novel
seeding principle especially adapted to read mapping. Our method can
handle both lossy and lossless frameworks and is able to distinguish, at
the level of seed design, between SNPs and reading errors. We illustrate
our approach by several seed designs and demonstrate their efficiency.
Preparation of Bulk 13C‐Enriched Graphene Materials
Authors: Tian Leilei , Wang Xin , Cao Li , Meziani Mohammed J. , Kong Chang Yi , Lu Fushen , Sun Ya-Ping
Published: September 2010

Arc‐discharge has been widely used in the bulk production of various carbon nanomaterials, especially for structurally more robust single‐walled carbon nanotubes. In this paper, the same bulk‐production technique was applied to the synthesis of significantly 13C‐enriched graphitic materials, from which graphene oxides similarly enriched with 13C were prepared and characterized. The results demonstrate that arc‐discharge is a convenient method to produce bulk quantities of 13C‐enriched graphene materials from relatively less expensive precursors (largely amorphous 13C powders).
Protein Acetylation in Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukaryotes
Authors: Soppa Jörg
Published: September 2010

Proteins can be acetylated at the alpha-amino group of the N-terminal amino acid (methionine or the penultimate amino acid after methionine removal) or at the epsilon-amino group of internal lysines. In eukaryotes the majority of proteins are N-terminally acetylated, while this is extremely rare in bacteria. A variety of studies about N-terminal acetylation in archaea have been reported recently, and it was revealed that a considerable fraction of proteins is N-terminally acetylated in haloarchaea andSulfolobus, while this does not seem to apply for methanogenic archaea. Many eukaryotic proteins are modified by differential internal acetylation, which is important for a variety of processes. Until very recently, only two bacterial proteins were known to be acetylation targets, but now 125 acetylation sites are known forE. coli. Knowledge about internal acetylation in archaea is extremely limited; only two target proteins are known, only one of which—Alba—was used to study differential acetylation. However, indications accumulate that the degree of internal acetylation of archaeal proteins might be underestimated, and differential acetylation has been shown to be essential for the viability of haloarchaea. Focused proteomic approaches are needed to get an overview of the extent of internal protein acetylation in archaea.
Multiple Regression Prediction Model for Cutting Forces in Turning Carbon-Reinforced PEEK CF30
Authors: Mata Francisco , Beamud Elena , Hanafi Issam , Khamlichi Abdellatif , Jabbouri Abdallah , Bezzazi Mohammed
Published: September 2010

Among the thermoplastic polymers available, the reinforced polyetheretherketone with 30% of carbon fibres (PEEK CF 30) demonstrates a particularly good combination of strength, rigidity, and hardness, which prove ideal for industrial applications. Considering these properties and potential areas of application, it is necessary to investigate the machining of PEEK CF30. In this study, response surface methodology was applied to predict the cutting forces in turning operations using TiN-coated cutting tools under dry conditions where the machining parameters are cutting speed ranges, feed rate, and depth of cut. For this study, the experiments have been conducted using full factorial design in the design of experiments (DOEs) on CNC turning machine. Based on statistical analysis, multiple quadratic regression model for cutting forces was derived with satisfactory -squared correlation. This model proved to be highly preferment for predicting cutting forces.
Analysis of Flue Gas Emission Data from Fluidized Bed Combustion Using Self-Organizing Maps
Authors: Liukkonen Mika , Heikkinen Mikko , Hälikkä Eero , Hiltunen Teri , Hiltunen Yrjö
Published: September 2010

Efficient combustion of fuels with lower emissions levels has become a demanding task in modern power plants, and new tools are needed to diagnose their energy production. The goals of the study were to find dependencies between process variables and the concentrations of gaseous emission components and to create multivariate nonlinear models describing their formation in the process. First, a generic process model was created by using a self-organizing map, which was clustered with the k-means algorithm to create subsets representing the different states of the process. Characteristically, these process states may include high- and low- load situations and transition states where the load is increased or decreased. Then emission models were constructed for both the entire process and for the process state of high boiler load. The main conclusion is that the methodology used is able to reveal such phenomena that occur within the process states and that could otherwise be difficult to observe.
Diel Behavioral Activity Patterns in Adult Solitarious Desert Locust,Schistocerca gregaria(Forskål)
Authors: Ould Ely Sidi , Njagi Peter G. N. , Bashir Magzoub Omer , El-Amin Salah El-Tom , Hassanali Ahmed
Published: September 2010

The responses of adult solitarious desert locust to odors from a host plant were evaluated in a two-choice wind tunnel. Solitarious desert locusts collected from the field (Red Sea Coast) were more attracted to volatiles from pottedHeliotropium ovalifoliumin scotophase than in photophase. The attraction towards the host plant odors rather than to clean air, in both photophase and scotophase, concurs with previous observations on oviposition preferences near these plants. Diel behavioral activity patterns of adult solitarious desert locustsSchistocerca gregaria(Forskål) that were collected from the field in Port Sudan were investigated by monitoring, scanning, resting, taking off, and walking/running in a wind tunnel. Solitarious locusts that had been propagated in the laboratory for 20 generations were also observed for comparison. In both groups of locusts, insects were significantly more active after sunset and this activity attained peak level at 1-2 hours after dusk. Of the two groups, solitarious locusts collected from the field were significantly more active. In the scotophase, the former traversed distances that were about seven times those covered by laboratory-reared locusts. Overall, the results show that the repertoire of behavioral activities of solitarious locusts is maintained in laboratory-reared insects, albeit at a lower level. The implications of these observations in the behavioral ecology of the desert locust are discussed.
Bulk Viscous Cosmology: Unified Dark Matter
Authors: Dou Xu , Meng Xin-He
Published: September 2010

The bulk viscosity is introduced to model the current observational cosmos and the unified dark matter (dark matter and dark energy). The viscous unified model assumes that the universe is filled with a single nonperfect fluid with a bulk viscosity. We review the general framework for the viscous cosmology model building finding that the Hubble parameter has possessed a direct connection with the bulk viscosity coefficient. For the concrete form of the bulk viscosity, the Hubble parameter which has the scaling relation with the redshift can be obtained generally. We discuss two viscosity models and the cosmological evolution to which they lead in detail. Using SNe Ia data, CMB shift, as well as BAO observations, the viscosity model parameters can be fitted very well. We also briefly review the fitting method in this paper.
A Proteasome Inhibitor, Bortezomib, Inhibits Breast Cancer Growth and Reduces Osteolysis by Downregulating Metastatic Genes
Authors: Jones Marci D. , Liu Julie C. , Barthel Thomas K. , Hussain Sadiq , Lovria Erik , Cheng Dengfeng , Schoonmaker Jesse A. , Mulay Sudhanshu , Ayers David C. , Bouxsein Mary L. , Stein Gary S. , Mukherjee Siddhartha , Lian Jane B.
Published: September 2010

Purpose: The incidence of bone metastasis in advanced breast cancer (BrCa) exceeds 70%. Bortezomib, a proteasome inhibitor used for the treatment of multiple myeloma, also promotes bone formation. We tested the hypothesis that proteasome inhibitors can ameliorate BrCa osteolytic disease.

Experimental Design: To address the potentially beneficial effect of bortezomib in reducing tumor growth in the skeleton and counteracting bone osteolysis, human MDA-MB-231 BrCa cells were injected into the tibia of mice to model bone tumor growth for in vivo assessment of treatment regimens before and after tumor growth.

Results: Controls exhibited tumor growth, destroying trabecular and cortical bone and invading muscle. Bortezomib treatment initiated following inoculation of tumor cells strikingly reduced tumor growth, restricted tumor cells mainly to the marrow cavity, and almost completely inhibited osteolysis in the bone microenvironment over a 3- to 4-week period as shown by [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography, micro–computed tomography scanning, radiography, and histology. Thus, proteasome inhibition is effective in killing tumor cells within the bone. Pretreatment with bortezomib for 3 weeks before inoculation of tumor cells was also effective in reducing osteolysis. Our in vitro and in vivo studies indicate that mechanisms by which bortezomib inhibits tumor growth and reduces osteolysis result from inhibited cell proliferation, necrosis, and decreased expression of factors that promote BrCa tumor progression in bone.

Conclusion: These findings provide a basis for a novel strategy to treat patients with BrCa osteolytic lesions, and represent an approach for protecting the entire skeleton from metastatic bone disease. Clin Cancer Res; 16(20); 4978–89. ©2010 AACR.
Exploratory Analysis of Early Toxicity of Sunitinib in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients: Kinetics and Potential Biomarker Value
Authors: Zhu Andrew X. , Duda Dan G. , Ancukiewicz Marek , di Tomaso Emmanuelle , Clark Jeffrey W. , Miksad Rebecca , Fuchs Charles S. , Ryan David P. , Jain Rakesh K.
Published: September 2010

Purpose: Sunitinib—a multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor—can modulate circulating inflammatory factors in cancer patients that may be relevant for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. However, a recent phase III study of sunitinib in HCC was halted due to its toxicity. Here, we studied the early kinetics of adverse events after sunitinib, and explored their association with circulating proteins and clinical outcome in advanced HCC in a single-arm phase II study.

Experimental Design: Toxicity was evaluated every two weeks during the first cycle of therapy. Biomarker changes from baseline were tested after adjusting for multiple comparisons. Correlation between toxicities and overall survival (OS) or time-to-tumor progression (TTP) was evaluated in a Cox model using log-transformed levels or change in biomarkers, after stratifying by stage and adjusting for baseline level.

Results: Myeloid and lymphoid blood cell counts decreased by 20% to 50% after sunitinib treatment (P < 0.05 for all). The extent of the early decrease in neutrophils and monocytes, and the development of nonhematologic toxicities (i.e., skin toxicities), were significantly associated with both OS and TTP (P < 0.05). Changes in circulating cells significantly associated with specific changes in plasma biomarkers (i.e., changes in platelets with changes in VEGF-C and soluble-VEGFR3; changes in neutrophils with changes in IL-8, TNF-α, and soluble-VEGFR2).

Conclusions: The adverse effects of sunitinib, particularly on the hematopoietic system, may be rapid and appear directly related to its activity in HCC. This exploratory study suggests that early hematopoietic toxicities may potentially predict outcome in advanced HCC after sunitinib treatment. Clin Cancer Res; 17(4); 918–27. ©2010 AACR.
Short term changes in sex ratio and density alter coercive male mating tactics
Authors: Cureton II James , Deaton Raelynn , Martin Rachel
Published: September 2010

Short term fluctuations in operational sex ratio (OSR) and density can strongly influence male mating, often exacerbating conflict between males and females. Livebearing fishes of the genus Gambusia are ideal for investigating sexual conflict because males of all sizes mate coercively. In this study, we tested how short-term fluctuations in OSR and density influence coercive male mating behaviours. Specifically, we tested the prediction that as OSR becomes more female biased, males will mate with all available females. In contrast, as OSR becomes more male biased, male aggression will inhibit mating frequency. As predicted, males mated with more females as the number of available females increased. Moreover, males were less aggressive as the proportion of females increased and more aggressive as the number of males increased. This resulted in an inverse relationship between mating and aggression with OSR and density. Coercive males attempt to maximize their reproductive success by mating with all available females, which supports classic theory on the impact of OSR and density on reproductive activity.
Female mimicry and an enhanced sexually selected trait: what does it take to fool a male?
Authors: Morris Molly , Darrah Abby , Rios-Cardenas Oscar
Published: September 2010

Female mimicry is commonly considered in the context of alternative mating tactics as mimics can avoid male–male competition to gain increased access to females. We describe a case where one of the benefits to being a female mimic could be the increase in size of a sexually selected trait that should eventually decrease the mimics' ability to fool males. In the swordtail fish Xiphophorus nezahualcoyotl, a small percentage of males have a permanent pigment pattern known as 'false brood spot' (FBS), express a horizontal bar pigment pattern common for females, and yet have longer swords (a sexually selected trait) for their body size. FBS males did not use more 'coercive' behaviours in the field, and females do not appear to distinguish between males based on whether or not they have FBS in the laboratory. However, in the field males with FBS were chased less by other males, spent significantly more time feeding, and those that expressed the horizontal bar had greater access to females. We suggest that FBS males with swords can still fool other males into thinking they are females because the true brood spot remains informative as long as the frequency of FBS males (mimics) remains low.
Mechanisms determining relationships between feeding group size and foraging success in food patch use by Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata)
Authors: Kazahari Nobuko , Agetsuma Naoki
Published: September 2010

We evaluated the effects of social monitoring and feeding competition on foraging success in relation to the feeding group size of wild Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata). Social monitoring is visual scanning by group members that assists them in following their own group. Individuals in smaller feeding groups may frequently use social monitoring while foraging, because they have an increased risk of losing their group. Therefore, social monitoring could be a cost for group-foraging animals. We made four predictions: (1) individuals in smaller feeding groups tend to abandon food patches to follow group members; (2) social monitoring frequency is higher in smaller feeding groups; (3) feeding rate decreases with increased social monitoring frequency; and (4) feeding rate initially increases with feeding group size because decreased social monitoring outweighs increased feeding competition, but after the feeding group reaches a certain size, feeding rate declines with increasing feeding group size due to the high costs of feeding competition. These predictions were supported by our results. Thus, the relationship between feeding group size and feeding rate can show three patterns (positive, neutral and negative) in response to the balance between the costs of social monitoring and feeding competition.
“Eigentlich Teutsch?” Depictions of Yiddish and its Relations to German in Early Modern Christian Writings
Authors: Elyada Aya
Published: September 2010

Discussing the unique phenomenon of Christian literature on Yiddish, written and published between the sixteenth and the eighteenth centuries in the German-speaking lands, the present article focuses on the depictions of the Jewish language in Christian works. It demonstrates the various ways in which the Christian authors described Yiddish via its relations to the German language—both in the linguistic dimension, which relates to the structure of the language, and in the functional dimension, relating to the social functions of Yiddish within German society—and discusses the social and cultural determinants that shaped the German-Christian perceptions of the language of the German Jews.
The Genesis and Manuscripts of Beer Sheva by Bella and Beer Perlhefter
Authors: Riemer Nathanael
Published: September 2010

The article focuses on investigating the extant manuscripts entitled Beer Sheva, written in Yiddish by the Prague rabbi Beer Shmuel Issachar (ca. 1650–ca. 1713) and his wife Bella (Beile) Perlhefter (ca. 1650–1710) on the threshold of the turn to the eighteenth century. The work is dedicated to the seven deceased children of the married couple as a book of remembrance and solace.

The article presents the known versions of the manuscript in their external form, utilizing procedures in paleography and textual criticism. There are a total of nine extant versions of Beer Sheva in various states of preservation, and varying in their completeness, in various libraries around the world. I then provide an overview of the genesis of the work in three phases of editing and the copies made. The number of copies is unusually large for such an extensive Yiddish work.
Between Jesus and the Besht
Authors: Gal-Ed Efrat
Published: September 2010

Two particular groups of poems from Itzik Manger’s largely unpublished early work (1921–1929), those about Jesus and those about the Baal Shem Tov, form a poetical polarity in his work; at the same time they act as complementary forces in the psychological unfolding of Manger’s creative process.

As an itinerant poet travelling on Romanian back roads, Manger encountered many wayside crosses with scenes of crucifixion, and found in the image of Jesus a tragic companion, who embodied homelessness, helplessness, and human pain. From 1921 to 1928 this companion mirrors in Manger’s work the shadows of the poet’s soul and also engages his fascination; in the figure of Christ Manger was able to name the unbearable in his own life, experimenting in that process with symbolist and expressionist forms and models.

In 1927, Manger discovered his deep connection to the Besht. Childhood memories of travelling with his grandfather in the Carpathian Mountains reinforced the connection. Mesmerized by the figure of the Besht, Manger then developed in a new group of poems a healing counter-world to the one depicted in the Christ poems, a world that is tangibly inhabited by the sacred.

Manger thus moved from Golgotha into the open space between Kosev (Kosov) and Kitev (Kuty), and in so doing created poems with a new sonority, poignantly evocative of Yiddish folk songs. The Christ figure disappears once Manger becomes aware of this poetic and psychological fault line in himself, though Christian motifs remain part of his poetic vocabulary.
Why They Don’t Trust the Media: An Examination of Factors Predicting Trust
Authors: Lee Tien-Tsung
Published: September 2010

Political communication literature reveals an ongoing scholarly interest in issues surrounding the credibility of news media. Despite scientific evidence to the contrary, many consumers continue to believe U.S. news media have a political bias and, therefore, are not to be trusted. This study seeks to explain media trust using a new theoretical model. The findings, based on national survey data, suggest that political ideology and partisanship, trust in government and fellow citizens, and one’s view of the economy influence the degree to which audience members trust the news media.
Online News Exposure and Trust in the Mainstream Media: Exploring Possible Associations
Authors: Tsfati Yariv
Published: September 2010

Based on the premise that online journalism offers readers with some features that may serve as an alternative to traditional journalism, this article explores possible associations between mistrust in mainstream news media and consumption of online news. Results from a telephone survey and an online survey demonstrate that the association between mistrust of mainstream news and exposure to online news in general is negative. But whereas mainstream exposure is related to trust in media, exposure to nonmainstream sites is related to media skepticism. The findings also shed some light on the factors contributing to audience trust in online news.
The Quirks of Nuclear Deterrence
Authors: Brown Andrew , Arnold Lorna
Published: September 2010

From 1945 to 1949 the USA was the world’s only nuclear power. Although the nuclear arsenal was overestimated both in terms of size and readiness by the US military in its war plans, atom bombs came to be seen as the essential counter to conventional Soviet forces. The USSR constructed its own bombs in turn, and for decades the analysis of nuclear deterrence was almost exclusively concerned with the two superpowers. In the twenty-first century, the nuclear world no longer displays that mirror-image symmetry and can now be viewed as unipolar, regional, multipolar or stateless. Nuclear deterrence that seemed such an established technical reality during the Cold War should be recognized as a psychological construct that depends on threat perception and cultural attitudes, as well as the values, rationality and strength of political leaders who themselves have to mediate between groups with vested economic or military interests. As the number of nuclear weapons states increases, the logic of nuclear deterrence becomes less obvious and it should not be casually invoked as a general security factor without regard to a specific context. Nuclear weapons have become emblems of geopolitical power under the guise of deterrence. We argue that nuclear deterrence is meaningless against extremist terrorists. Our survey of its quirks leads us to believe that nuclear deterrence is a far less foolproof and reliable global security mechanism than many assume.
Age Identity in Context
Authors: Schafer Markus H. , Shippee Tetyana Pylypiv
Published: September 2010

The passage of time is fundamentally experienced through people’s interaction with their social worlds. Life-course scholars acknowledge the multiple aspects of time-based experience but have given little attention to age identity in a dynamic context. Drawing from a stress-process model, we expected that turbulence within people’s family relations and health declines would produce increases in subjective age. Family role transitions were also examined as potential factors that would hasten subjective aging, but only to the extent that they produced stress. We used the Midlife Development in the United States study, a nationally representative longitudinal survey. Regression results show that turbulence within one’s family accelerated age identity and that the effect of diminishing psychosocial resources explained this relationship. For the most part, however, changes within family roles did not affect age identity. On the other hand, the incidence of chronic health problems increased subjective ages, and this relationship too was mediated by the depletion of psychosocial resources. The findings demonstrate an interconnection between the stress process and age identity. Broadening our conception of time-based experience with attention to the stress process offers exciting directions for future theory and research in life course sociology.
Effect of the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist telcagepant in human cranial arteries
Authors: Edvinsson Lars , Chan Kayi Y , Eftekhari Sajedeh , Nilsson Elisabeth , de Vries René , Säveland Hans , Dirven Clemens MF , Danser AH Jan , MaassenVanDenBrink Antoinette
Published: September 2010

Introduction: Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a neuronal messenger in intracranial sensory nerves and is considered to play a significant role in migraine pathophysiology.

Materials and methods: We investigated the effect of the CGRP receptor antagonist, telcagepant, on CGRP-induced cranial vasodilatation in human isolated cerebral and middle meningeal arteries. We also studied the expression of the CGRP receptor components in cranial arteries with immunocytochemistry. Concentration response curves to αCGRP were performed in human isolated cerebral and middle meningeal arteries in the absence or presence of telcagepant. Arterial slices were stained for RAMP1, CLR and actin in a double immunofluorescence staining.

Results: In both arteries, we found that: (i) telcagepant was devoid of any contractile or relaxant effects per se; (ii) pretreatment with telcagepant antagonised the αCGRP-induced relaxation in a competitive manner; and (iii) immunohistochemistry revealed expression and co-localisation of CLR and RAMP1 in the smooth muscle cells in the media layer of both arteries.

Conclusions: Our findings provide morphological and functional data on the presence of CGRP receptors in cerebral and meningeal arteries, which illustrates a possible site of action of telcagepant in the treatment of migraine.
Education and Employment Issues for Indigenous Australians in Remote Regions
Authors: Pearson Cecil A.L. , Daff Sandra
Published: September 2010

Despite government policy and initiatives for remote areas, indigenous people are amongst the most disadvantaged and do exhibit higher levels of unemployment in the Australian community. A number of commentators have suggested that better educational opportunities for this minority group will considerably improve their socio-economic status and employment opportunities. This myth is exposed in this article, which reports evidence from an educational–vocational programme for Yolngu who are the indigenous people of East Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia. The Arnhem Learning Education and Regional Training (ALERT) programme is conducted, mainly at Nhunlunbuy, in partnership with Rio Tinto Alcan and the Charles Darwin University, with the primary objective of preparing indigenous people for mainstream sustainable jobs. The presented content suggests that while higher educational status is important, this sole strategy is unlikely to comprehensively address outstanding issues that are confronting indigenous people and their labour market concerns.
Management Lessons from Indian Epics in Context to Theory Z
Authors: Pandey S.K. , Wali O.P.
Published: September 2010

The lacunae of Theory X and Theory Y compounded with insufficient research evidence in favour of these theories resulted in the proposition of Theory Z. It is a beautiful amalgamation of both Theory X and Y and has enough empirical evidence to support it. It is easily deduced that most of the successful firms share some common characteristics, which are untouched by geographical boundaries of nations. Theory Z has great relevance in the Indian scenario, as it is a culmination of both American and Japanese cultures. India interestingly has a national culture, which is also a blend of both types of characteristics. This study draws from ethics related literature from ancient Indian scriptures to demonstrate the points of convergence and divergence between Theory Z and the Indian management approach. It also tries to emphasize the applicability of the old phenomenon in the light of new changes in the corporate world.
Relationship between Three Indices of Happiness
Authors: Bhattacharya Sonali
Published: September 2010

Every individual in this world seeks to achieve a healthy, wealthy, secured and blissful life as suggested by Maslow’ Need Hierarchy. A regression analysis taking Life Satisfaction Index (as obtained from World Database of Happiness between 1995–2005) as the dependent variable indicated rule of law, voice and accountability, regularity authority as well as economic freedom indicators (as obtained from Heritage Foundation Database, 1995–2006) as very significant predictors. In this article, an attempt has been made to understand this tridimensional concept of happiness and combining them to arrive at a Composite Index of Happiness. Efforts have also been made to evaluate performance of various nations in their persistency to achieve these dimensions of happiness. Most studies have been either in direction of Subjective Well-being or Developmental Well-being. This article has been in an effort to combine both the factors and incorporating age-old values and virtues required for reaching higher realm of lasting peace, tranquility and happiness for one and all. The study shows that mental happiness has significant positive correlation with materialistic and spiritualistic happiness, perhaps for being the intermediary step, but materialistic has no significant correlation with spiritualistic happiness.
The characterization of conserved binding motifs and potential target genes for M. tuberculosis MtrAB reveals a link between the two-component system and the drug resistance of M. smegmatis
Authors: Li Yuqing , Zeng Jumei , Zhang Hua , He Zheng-Guo
Published: September 2010

Background

The two-component systems of Mycobacterium tuberculosis are apparently required for its growth and resistance in hostile host environments. In such environments, MtrAB has been reported to regulate the expression of the M. tuberculosis replication initiator gene, dnaA. However, the dnaA promoter binding sites and many potential target genes for MtrA have yet to be precisely characterized.

Results

In this study, a 7 bp sequence motif in the dnaA promoter region was identified for MtrA binding using DNaseI footprinting assays and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis. Approximately 420 target genes potentially regulated by MtrA, including the isoniazid inducible gene iniB, were further characterized from M. tuberculosis and M. smegmatis genomes. When assayed using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), many of the target genes demonstrated significant expression changes when the antisense mRNA of the mtrA gene was expressed in M. smegmatis. The recombinant mycobacteria grew in length and were more sensitive to two anti-tuberculosis drugs, isoniazid and streptomycin.

Conclusions

These findings yield critical information about the regulatory mechanisms of the MtrAB two-component system and its role in the drug resistance of M. smegmatis.
Effects on mitochondrial transcription of manipulating mTERF protein levels in cultured human HEK293 cells
Authors: Hyvärinen Anne K , Kumanto Mona K , Marjavaara Sanna K , Jacobs Howard T
Published: September 2010

Background

Based on its activities in vitro, the mammalian mitochondrial transcription termination factor mTERF has been proposed to regulate mitochondrial transcription by favouring termination at its high-affinity binding immediately downstream of the rDNA segment of mitochondrial DNA, and initiation selectively at the PH1 site of the heavy-strand promoter. This defines an rDNA transcription unit distinct from the 'global' heavy-strand transcription unit initiating at PH2. However, evidence that the relative activities of the two heavy-strand transcription units are modulated by mTERF in vivo is thus far lacking.

Results

To test this hypothesis, we engineered human HEK293-derived cells for over-expression or knockdown of mTERF, and measured the steady-state levels of transcripts belonging to different transcription units, namely tRNALeu(UUR) and ND1 mRNA for the PH2 transcription unit, and tRNAPhe plus 12S and 16S rRNA for the PH1 transcription unit. The relative levels of 16S rRNA and ND1 mRNA were the same under all conditions tested, although mTERF knockdown resulted in increased levels of transcripts of 12S rRNA. The amount of tRNAPhe relative to tRNALeu(UUR) was unaffected by mTERF over-expression, altered only slightly by mTERF knockdown, and was unchanged during recovery from ethidium bromide-induced depletion of mitochondrial RNA. mTERF overexpression or knockdown produced a substantial shift (3-5-fold) in the relative abundance of antisense transcripts either side of its high-affinity binding site.

Conclusions

mTERF protein levels materially affect the amount of readthrough transcription on the antisense strand of mtDNA, whilst the effects on sense-strand transcripts are complex, and suggest the influence of compensatory mechanisms.
Non-dominant hand movement facilitates the frontal N30 somatosensory evoked potential
Authors: Legon Wynn , Dionne Jennifer K , Meehan Sean K , Staines W Richard
Published: September 2010

Background

Previous literature has shown that the frontal N30 is increased during movement of the hand contralateral to median nerve stimulation. This finding was a result of non-dominant left hand movement in right-handed participants. It is unclear however if the effect depends upon non-dominant hand movement or if this is a generalized phenomenon across the upper-limbs. This study tests the effect of dominant and non-dominant hand movement upon contralateral frontal and parietal somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) and further tests if this relationship persists in left hand dominant participants. Median nerve SEPs were elicited from the wrist contralateral to movement in both right hand and left hand dominant participants alternating the movement hand in separate blocks. Participants were required to volitionally squeeze (~ 20% of a maximal voluntary contraction) a pressure-sensitive bulb every ~3 seconds with the hand contralateral to median nerve stimulation. SEPs were continuously collected during the task and individual traces were grouped into time bins relative to movement according to the timing of components of the Bereitschaftspotential. SEPs were then averaged and quantified from both FCZ and CP3/4 scalp electrode sites during both the squeeze task and at rest.

Results

The N30 is facilitated during non-dominant hand movement in both right and left hand dominant individuals. There was no effect for dominant hand movement in either group.

Conclusions

N30 amplitude increase may be a result of altered sensory gating from motor areas known to be specifically active during non-dominant hand movement.
Patients presenting with somatic complaints in general practice: depression, anxiety and somatoform disorders are frequent and associated with psychosocial stressors
Authors: Haftgoli Nader , Favrat Bernard , Verdon François , Vaucher Paul , Bischoff Thomas , Burnand Bernard , Herzig Lilli
Published: September 2010

Background

Mental disorders in primary care patients are frequently associated with physical complaints that can mask the disorder. There is insufficient knowledge concerning the role of anxiety, depression, and somatoform disorders in patients presenting with physical symptoms. Our primary objective was to determine the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and somatoform disorders among primary care patients with a physical complaint. We also investigated the relationship between cumulated psychosocial stressors and mental disorders.

Methods

We conducted a multicentre cross-sectional study in twenty-one private practices and in one academic primary care centre in Western Switzerland. Randomly selected patients presenting with a spontaneous physical complaint were asked to complete the self-administered Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) between November 2004 and July 2005. The validated French version of the PHQ allowed the diagnosis of mental disorders (DSM-IV criteria) and the analyses of exposure to psychosocial stressors.

Results

There were 917 patients exhibiting at least one physical symptom included. The rate of depression, anxiety, and somatoform disorders was 20.0% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 17.4% to 22.7%), 15.5% (95% CI = 13.2% to 18.0%), and 15.1% (95% CI = 12.8% to 17.5%), respectively. Psychosocial stressors were significantly associated with mental disorders. Patients with an accumulation of psychosocial stressors were more likely to present anxiety, depression, or somatoform disorders, with an increase of 2.2 fold (95% CI = 2.0 to 2.5) for each additional stressor.

Conclusions

The investigation of mental disorders and psychosocial stressors among patients with physical complaints is relevant in primary care. Psychosocial stressors should be explored as potential epidemiological causes of mental disorders.
E-selectin gene polymorphisms are associated with essential hypertension: a case-control pilot study in a Chinese population
Authors: Wang Zuoguang , Liu Ya , Liu Jieling , Liu Kuo , Lou Yuqin , Wen Jie , Niu Qiuli , Wen Shaojun , Wu Zhaosu
Published: September 2010

Background

Genetic variation is thought to contribute to the etiology of hypertension, and E-selectin is a candidate essential hypertension-associated gene. This study thus sought to investigate possible genetic associations between the T1880C, C602A and T1559C polymorphisms of E-selectin and essential hypertension.

Methods

Hypertensive patients (n = 490) and healthy normotensive subjects (n = 495) were screened for the genotypes T1880C, C602A and T1559C using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction after DNA extraction to identify representative variations in the E-selectin gene. The associations between genotypes and alleles of the three mutations and essential hypertension were then analyzed using a case-control study.

Results

Hypertensive patients and normotensive subjects were significantly different with respect to the genotypes CC, CA and AA (P = 0.005) and the C-allele frequency of C602A (P = 0.001). A comparison of dominant versus recessive models also revealed significant differences between the two groups (P = 0.004 and P = 0.02). When subgrouped by gender, these indexes differed significantly between normotensive and essential hypertensive males, but not in females. The additive model of the T1559C genotype did not differ between essential hypertensive and normotensive groups overall (P = 0.39), but it was different between hypertensive and normotensive males (P = 0.046) and females (P = 0.045). The CC + TC versus TT frequency of T1559C was also different in the recessive model of male hypertensive and normotensive groups (P = 0.02). Further analysis showed that C602A and T1559C were significantly associated with hypertension (C602A: OR = 7.58, 95%CI = 1.53-11.97, P < 0.01; and T1559C: OR = 6.77, 95%CI = 1.07-1.83, P < 0.05). The frequency of the C-C-C haplotype was significantly higher in hypertensive patients than in control individuals as well as in hypertensive and normotensive males (P = 0.008 and 0.01). The frequency of the C-A-T haplotype was higher only in male hypertensives and normotensives (P = 0.015). Furthermore, there was a significant interaction between E-selectin and gender (P = 0.02 for C602A and 0.04 for T1559C).

Conclusion

C602A and T1559C may be independent risk factors for essential hypertension in the Chinese population, whereas T1880C is not.
Overexpression of sphingosine kinase 1 is associated with salivary gland carcinoma progression and might be a novel predictive marker for adjuvant therapy
Authors: Liu Guanglin , Zheng Haiqing , Zhang Zhibing , Wu Zhiqiang , Xiong Huaping , Li Jun , Song Libing
Published: September 2010

Background

Overexpression of sphingosine kinase-1 (SPHK1) has been demonstrated to be associated with the development and progression in various types of human cancers. The current study was to characterize the expression of SPHK1 in salivary gland carcinomas (SGC) and to investigate the association between SPHK1 expression and progression of SGC.

Methods

The expression of SPHK1 was examined in 2 normal salivary gland tissues, 8 SGC tissues of various clinical stages, and 5 pairs of primary SGC and adjacent salivary gland tissues from the same patient, using real-time PCR and western blot analysis. Furthermore, the SPHK1 protein expression was analyzed in 159 clinicopathologically characterized SGC cases by immunohistochemistry. Statistical analyses were performed to determine the prognostic and diagnostic associations.

Results

SPHK1 expression was found to be markedly upregulated in SGC tissues than that in the normal salivary gland tissues and paired adjacent salivary gland tissues, at both mRNA and protein levels. Statistical analysis revealed a significant correlation of SPHK1 expression with the clinical stage (P = 0.005), T classification (P = 0.017), N classification (P = 0.009), M classification (P = 0.002), and pathological differentiation (P = 0.013). Patients with higher SPHK1 expression had shorter overall survival time, whereas patients with lower SPHK1 expression had better survival. Importantly, patients in the group without adjuvant therapy who exhibited high SPHK1 expression had significantly lower overall survival rates compared with those with low SPHK1 expression. Moreover, multivariate analysis suggested that SPHK1 expression might be an independent prognostic indicator for the survival of SGC patients.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that SPHK1 expression is associated with SGC progression, and might represent as a novel and valuable predictor for adjuvant therapy to SGC patients.