bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lady Hester Pulter'sThe Unfortunate Florinda:Race, Religion, and the Politics of Rape*
Authors: Herman Peter C.
Published: December 2010

In the mid-1990s a manuscript was discovered containing the poetry and prose of a previously unknown female author, Lady Hester Pulter. The poems, likely written during the 1640s–'50s, demonstrate Pulter's wide reading and her near-fanatical Royalism. The prose romance, The Unfortunate Florinda, however, displays a very different politics. Basing her fiction on the legends surrounding the Muslim conquest of Spain, I argue that Pulter adjusts her sources to present an alternative, Augustinian view of rape, one that blames the rapist, not the victim. The monarchs in Pulter's fiction use absolutist rhetoric to justify rape, and,contraher earlier poetic denunciations of Charles I's execution, rape now justifies regicide. I suggest that the sexual corruption of Charles II's court prompted Pulter to create a romance with distinctly republican overtones in which chastity is the highest value, sexual corruption the lowest vice, and rulers who commit such crimes forfeit both their right to rule and their right to live.
Improved predictions by Pcons.net using multiple templates
Authors: Larsson Per , Skwark Marcin J. , Wallner Björn , Elofsson Arne
Published: December 2010

Summary: Multiple templates can often be used to build more accurate homology models than models built from a single template. Here we introduce PconsM, an automated protocol that uses multiple templates to build protein models. PconsM has been among the top-performing methods in the recent CASP experiments and consistently perform better than the single template models used in Pcons.net. In particular for the easier targets with many alternative templates with a high degree of sequence identity, quality is readily improved with a few percentages over the highest ranked model built on a single template. PconsM is available as an additional pipeline within the Pcons.net protein structure prediction server.

Availability and implementation: PconsM is freely available from http://pcons.net/.

Contact:  arne@bioinfo.se
Exploring metabolic pathways in genome-scale networks via generating flux modes
Authors: Rezola A. , de Figueiredo L. F. , Brock M. , Pey J. , Podhorski A. , Wittmann C. , Schuster S. , Bockmayr A. , Planes F. J.
Published: December 2010

Motivation: The reconstruction of metabolic networks at the genome scale has allowed the analysis of metabolic pathways at an unprecedented level of complexity. Elementary flux modes (EFMs) are an appropriate concept for such analysis. However, their number grows in a combinatorial fashion as the size of the metabolic network increases, which renders the application of EFMs approach to large metabolic networks difficult. Novel methods are expected to deal with such complexity.

Results: In this article, we present a novel optimization-based method for determining a minimal generating set of EFMs, i.e. a convex basis. We show that a subset of elements of this convex basis can be effectively computed even in large metabolic networks. Our method was applied to examine the structure of pathways producing lysine in Escherichia coli. We obtained a more varied and informative set of pathways in comparison with existing methods. In addition, an alternative pathway to produce lysine was identified using a detour via propionyl-CoA, which shows the predictive power of our novel approach.

Availability: The source code in C++ is available upon request.

Contact:  fplanes@tecnun.es

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
The Bayesian lasso for genome-wide association studies
Authors: Li Jiahan , Das Kiranmoy , Fu Guifang , Li Runze , Wu Rongling
Published: December 2010

Motivation: Despite their success in identifying genes that affect complex disease or traits, current genome-wide association studies (GWASs) based on a single SNP analysis are too simple to elucidate a comprehensive picture of the genetic architecture of phenotypes. A simultaneous analysis of a large number of SNPs, although statistically challenging, especially with a small number of samples, is crucial for genetic modeling.

Method: We propose a two-stage procedure for multi-SNP modeling and analysis in GWASs, by first producing a ‘preconditioned’ response variable using a supervised principle component analysis and then formulating Bayesian lasso to select a subset of significant SNPs. The Bayesian lasso is implemented with a hierarchical model, in which scale mixtures of normal are used as prior distributions for the genetic effects and exponential priors are considered for their variances, and then solved by using the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm. Our approach obviates the choice of the lasso parameter by imposing a diffuse hyperprior on it and estimating it along with other parameters and is particularly powerful for selecting the most relevant SNPs for GWASs, where the number of predictors exceeds the number of observations.

Results: The new approach was examined through a simulation study. By using the approach to analyze a real dataset from the Framingham Heart Study, we detected several significant genes that are associated with body mass index (BMI). Our findings support the previous results about BMI-related SNPs and, meanwhile, gain new insights into the genetic control of this trait.

Availability: The computer code for the approach developed is available at Penn State Center for Statistical Genetics web site, http://statgen.psu.edu.

Contact:  rwu@hes.hmc.psu.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Severe Learning Disability
Authors: Vahabzadeh Arshya B. N. , Delaffon Vijay , Abbas Mizrab , Biswas Asit B.
Published: December 2010

This article focuses on providing an overview of severe learning disability. We seek to define learning disability and look at the aetiological basis for severe learning disability in the UK. We will look at the important role that GPs play in diagnosis and long-term management of people with severe learning disability.
Management of Recurrent Abdominal Pain in Childhood
Authors: Batchat Lara
Published: December 2010

Recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) is a very common childhood symptom, occurring in around 10% of children. It has a peak presentation at 8–10 years of age, followed by a second peak for girls in early adolescence and can be disruptive not only to the child but also to the entire family. It is a big source of parental concern and causes considerable morbidity, missed school days and cost to the health service—as such it is a challenging problem in primary care. This article will discuss the common causes of RAP and its management in primary care—from useful pointers in the history and examination to when to investigate and refer further.
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Authors: Lawrence Matthew , Stephenson James , Al-taan Omer , McCarthy Mark J
Published: December 2010

Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is a chronic condition caused by atheroma formation, resulting in reduced blood flow to the tissues. It presents in a wide spectrum of ways ranging from pain experienced on exercise (intermittent claudication), through pain at rest preventing sleep at night, to ulceration and gangrene (critical ischaemia). Patients with PVD also have increased risk of other cardiovascular disease and mortality, adding to the burden that this condition places on primary and secondary care.
Repression of the miR-143/145 cluster by oncogenic Ras initiates a tumor-promoting feed-forward pathway
Authors: Kent Oliver A. , Chivukula Raghu R. , Mullendore Michael , Wentzel Erik A. , Feldmann Georg , Lee Kwang H. , Liu Shu , Leach Steven D. , Maitra Anirban , Mendell Joshua T.
Published: December 2010

Although activating mutations in RAS oncogenes are known to result in aberrant signaling through multiple pathways, the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the Ras oncogenic program remains poorly characterized. Here we demonstrate that Ras activation leads to repression of the miR-143/145 cluster in cells of human, murine, and zebrafish origin. Loss of miR-143/145 expression is observed frequently in KRAS mutant pancreatic cancers, and restoration of these miRNAs abrogates tumorigenesis. miR-143/145 down-regulation requires the Ras-responsive element-binding protein (RREB1), which represses the miR-143/145 promoter. Additionally, KRAS and RREB1 are targets of miR-143/miR-145, revealing a feed-forward mechanism that potentiates Ras signaling.
Brachyury establishes the embryonic mesodermal progenitor niche
Authors: Martin Benjamin L. , Kimelman David
Published: December 2010

Formation of the early vertebrate embryo depends on a Brachyury/Wnt autoregulatory loop within the posterior mesodermal progenitors. We show that exogenous retinoic acid (RA), which dramatically truncates the embryo, represses expression of the zebrafish brachyury ortholog no tail (ntl), causing a failure to sustain the loop. We found that Ntl functions normally to protect the autoregulatory loop from endogenous RA by directly activating cyp26a1 expression. Thus, the embryonic mesodermal progenitors uniquely establish their own niche—with Brachyury being essential for creating a domain of high Wnt and low RA signaling—rather than having a niche created by separate support cells.
Intergenic transcription causes repression by directing nucleosome assembly
Authors: Hainer Sarah J. , Pruneski Justin A. , Mitchell Rachel D. , Monteverde Robin M. , Martens Joseph A.
Published: December 2010

Transcription of non-protein-coding DNA (ncDNA) and its noncoding RNA (ncRNA) products are beginning to emerge as key regulators of gene expression. We previously identified a regulatory system in Saccharomyces cerevisiae whereby transcription of intergenic ncDNA (SRG1) represses transcription of an adjacent protein-coding gene (SER3) through transcription interference. We now provide evidence that SRG1 transcription causes repression of SER3 by directing a high level of nucleosomes over SRG1, which overlaps the SER3 promoter. Repression by SRG1 transcription is dependent on the Spt6 and Spt16 transcription elongation factors. Significantly, spt6 and spt16 mutations reduce nucleosome levels over the SER3 promoter without reducing intergenic SRG1 transcription, strongly suggesting that nucleosome levels, not transcription levels, cause SER3 repression. Finally, we show that spt6 and spt16 mutations allow transcription factor access to the SER3 promoter. Our results raise the possibility that transcription of ncDNA may contribute to nucleosome positioning on a genome-wide scale where, in some cases, it negatively impacts protein–DNA interactions.
Cohesin organizes chromatin loops at DNA replication factories
Authors: Guillou Emmanuelle , Ibarra Arkaitz , Coulon Vincent , Casado-Vela Juan , Rico Daniel , Casal Ignacio , Schwob Etienne , Losada Ana , Méndez Juan
Published: December 2010

Genomic DNA is packed in chromatin fibers organized in higher-order structures within the interphase nucleus. One level of organization involves the formation of chromatin loops that may provide a favorable environment to processes such as DNA replication, transcription, and repair. However, little is known about the mechanistic basis of this structuration. Here we demonstrate that cohesin participates in the spatial organization of DNA replication factories in human cells. Cohesin is enriched at replication origins and interacts with prereplication complex proteins. Down-regulation of cohesin slows down S-phase progression by limiting the number of active origins and increasing the length of chromatin loops that correspond with replicon units. These results give a new dimension to the role of cohesin in the architectural organization of interphase chromatin, by showing its participation in DNA replication.
Analyses of SORTING NEXINs Reveal Distinct Retromer-Subcomplex Functions in Development and Protein Sorting inArabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Pourcher Mikael , Santambrogio Martina , Thazar Nelcy , Thierry Anne-Marie , Fobis-Loisy Isabelle , Miège Christine , Jaillais Yvon , Gaude Thierry
Published: December 2010

Sorting nexins (SNXs) are conserved eukaryotic proteins that associate with three types of vacuolar protein sorting (VPS) proteins to form the retromer complex. How SNXs act in this complex and whether they might work independently of the retromer remains elusive. Here, we show by genetic and cell imaging approaches that the Arabidopsis thaliana SNX1 protein recruits SNX2 at the endosomal membrane, a process required for SNX1-SNX2 dimer activity. We report that, in contrast with the mammalian retromer, SNXs are dispensable for membrane binding and function of the retromer complex. We also show that VPS retromer components can work with or independently of SNXs in the trafficking of seed storage proteins, which reveals distinct functions for subcomplexes of the plant retromer. Finally, we provide compelling evidence that the combined loss of function of SNXs and VPS29 leads to embryo or seedling lethality, underlining the essential role of these proteins in development.
Lipopolysaccharide induces proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in experimental otitis media through the prostaglandin D2 receptor (DP)-dependent pathway
Authors: Eguchi M , Kariya S , Okano M , Higaki T , Makihara S , Fujiwara T , Nagata K , Hirai H , Narumiya S , Nakamura M , Nishizaki K
Published: December 2010

Otitis media is one of the most common and intractable ear diseases, and is the major cause of hearing loss, especially in children. Multiple factors affect the onset or development of otitis media. Prostaglandin D2 is the major prostanoid involved in infection and allergy. However, the role of prostaglandin D2 and prostaglandin D2 receptors on the pathogenesis of otitis media remains to be determined. Recent studies show that D prostanoid receptor (DP) and chemoattractant receptor-homologous molecule expressed on T helper type 2 (Th2) cells (CRTH2) are major prostaglandin D2 receptors. In this study, homozygous DP single gene-deficient (DP–/–) mice, CRTH2 single gene-deficient (CRTH2–/–) mice and DP/CRTH2 double gene-deficient (DP–/– CRTH2–/–) mice were used to investigate the role of prostaglandin D2 and its receptors in otitis media. We demonstrate that prostaglandin D2 is induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a major component of Gram-negative bacteria, and that transtympanic injection of prostaglandin D2 up-regulates macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2), interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 in the middle ear. We also show that middle ear inflammatory reactions, including infiltration of inflammatory cells and expression of MIP-2, IL-1β and IL-6 induced by LPS, are reduced significantly in DP–/– mice and DP–/– CRTH2–/– mice. CRTH2–/– mice display inflammatory reactions similar to wild-type mice. These findings indicate that prostaglandin D2 may play significant roles in LPS-induced experimental otitis media via DP.
An ancient Antarctic endemic genus restored: morphological and molecular support for Gomphiocephalus hodgsoni (Collembola: Hypogastruridae)
Authors: GREENSLADE PENELOPE , STEVENS MARK I. , TORRICELLI GIULIA , D'HAESE CYRILLE A.
Published: December 2010

Gomphiocephalus hodgsoni Carpenter was only the second collembolon† to be described from the Antarctic continent. It was collected first in 1902 from Granite Harbour, southern Victoria Land, Eastern Antarctica, by the British National Antarctic Expedition (1901–1904). Since then several studies have investigated the distribution, ecology, ecophysiology and molecular composition of the species. Despite two morphological redescriptions and an absence of detailed evolutionary phylogenetic studies, the genus Gomphiocephalus was recently reduced to a subgenus of Schoettella Schäffer. Here, we redescribe the species in detail and use morphological and molecular (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and 28S) data to indicate its generic relationships within Hypogastruridae. Characters of Gomphiocephalus do not conform with those of any extant genus in the family, including Schoettella. In addition, the only Schoettella species described from the southern hemisphere, Schoettella subcorta Salmon, is shown here to belong in the genus Xenylla. Furthermore, molecular data indicates the genus has no close relationship to any other in Poduromorpha, and in particular Hypogastruridae. Therefore, we restore Gomphiocephalus to generic status. Our results reinforce the already recognized high level of endemism in the Antarctic fauna at both species and generic levels, and emphasise the necessity of using both morphological and molecular data in determining the systematics and evolutionary relationships of the fauna.
Randomized controlled trial to improve childhood immunization adherence in rural Pakistan: redesigned immunization card and maternal education
Authors: Usman Hussain R. , Rahbar Mohammad H. , Kristensen Sibylle , Vermund Sten H. , Kirby Russell S. , Habib Faiza , Chamot Eric
Published: December 2010

Objective  A substantial dropout from the first dose of diphtheria‐tetanus‐pertussis (DTP1) to the 3rd dose of DTP (DTP3) immunization has been recorded in Pakistan. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to assess the effects of providing a substantially redesigned immunization card, centre‐based education, or both interventions together on DTP3 completion at six rural expanded programme on immunization (EPI) centres in Pakistan.

Methods  Mother‐child pairs were enrolled at DTP1 and randomized to four study groups: redesigned card, centre‐based education, combined intervention and standard care. Each child was followed up for 90 days to record the dates of DTP2 and DTP3 visits. The study outcome was DTP3 completion by the end of follow‐up period in each study group.

Results  We enrolled 378 mother–child pairs in redesigned card group, 376 in centre‐based education group, 374 in combined intervention group and 378 in standard care group. By the end of follow‐up, 39% of children in standard care group completed DTP3. Compared to this, a significantly higher proportion of children completed DTP3 in redesigned card group (66%) (crude risk ratio [RR] = 1.7; 95% CI = 1.5, 2.0), centre‐based education group (61%) (RR = 1.5; 95% CI = 1.3, 1.8) and combined intervention group (67%) (RR = 1.7; 95% CI = 1.4, 2.0).

Conclusions  Improved immunization card alone, education to mothers alone, or both together were all effective in increasing follow‐up immunization visits. The study underscores the potential of study interventions’ public health impact and necessitates their evaluation for complete EPI schedule at a large scale in the EPI system.
Out‐of‐reach obscure bleeding: Single‐balloon enteroscopy to diagnose and treat varices in hepaticojejunostomy after pediatric liver transplant
Authors: Curcio Gabriele , Sciveres Marco , Mocciaro Filippo , Riva Silvia , Spada Marco , Tarantino Ilaria , Barresi Luca , Traina Mario
Published: December 2010

Curcio G, Sciveres M, Mocciaro F, Riva S, Spada M, Tarantino I, Barresi L, Traina M. Out‐of‐reach obscure bleeding: Single‐balloon enteroscopy to diagnose and treat varices in hepaticojejunostomy after pediatric liver transplant.

Abstract:  Obscure gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is defined as bleeding from the GI tract that persists or recurs, with no obvious etiology, after esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), colonoscopy, and radiologic evaluation of the small bowel. We present the case of a 17‐yr‐old girl who for two years had been suffering from recurrent episodes of melena and/or enterorrhagia. Fifteen yr earlier she had undergone a split‐liver transplant with Roux‐en‐Y biliary reconstruction. A series of endoscopic and radiologic investigations had failed to find the source of the bleeding. Suspecting the presence of ectopic varices, we decided to perform single‐balloon enteroscopy (SBE). We observed and aspirated a large amount of fresh red blood in the afferent loop until we found the hepaticojejunostomy. On the edge of the biliary‐enteric anastomosis we observed a vascular lesion 5 mm in diameter. Judging this ectopic varix to be the source of bleeding, we placed two endoclips. The second clip placement caused varix rupture with a consequent massive hemorrhage, emergently and successfully treated with cyanoacrylate sclerotherapy. No episodes of rebleeding were observed, and no complications occurred during the entire hospital stay, and after six months of follow‐up. This report highlights the importance of afferent loop examination in patients with obscure GI bleeding who have undergone liver transplant with Roux‐en‐Y biliary reconstruction.
Reduced light availability and increased competition diminish the reproductive success of wet forest sedge Carex loliacea L.
Authors: KULL THEA , KULL TIIU , SAMMUL MAREK
Published: December 2010

Wet forest ecosystems in temperate regions have been heavily drained and logged, often with significant negative consequences for biodiversity in these habitats. Our research focused on population maintenance mechanisms of a declining wet forest sedge Carex loliacea L. We studied germination under different light regimes and seedling survival under different vegetation densities using an in situ removal experiment. For successful germination, seeds of C. loliacea need light; germination in reduced light conditions is depressed. The seeds of C. loliacea are able to accumulate a seed bank and exhibit seasonal dormancy cycles. Survival of seedlings strongly depends on competition with other plant species. Our results imply that changes in habitat conditions (draining, forest cutting) affect the successful generative reproduction of C. loliacea primarily via a change in light conditions, which is a strong factor both at the stage of germination and seedling growth. However, adult plants are able to persist over a much broader range of habitat conditions without detectable vitality loss.
Stem tissue mass density is linked to growth and resistance to a stem‐boring insect in Alternanthera philoxeroides
Authors: PAN XIAOYUN , JIA XIN , ZENG JING , SOSA ALEJANDRO , LI BO , CHEN JIAKUAN
Published: December 2010

To investigate how stem anatomical structure is linked to growth and resistance to stem‐boring insects in a herbaceous species, six populations of alligatorweed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) were grown in a common garden. Stem growth rate (GR) of A. philoxeroides and pupation rate as an estimate of resistance to a stem‐boring insect (Agasicles hygrophila) were quantified. Stem tissue mass density (TMD) was measured and stem anatomical traits were analysed on cross‐sectional areas (CSA). Stem TMD was positively correlated with resistance (i.e. negatively correlated with pupation rate) and negatively correlated with GR. Stem cortex CSA (%) and vascular bundle (VB) density (no./mm2) were positively related to stem TMD and negatively related to pupation rate. The GR was positively related to VB CSA (%) and negatively related to VB density. These results suggest that stem TMD, which results from a high fraction in cortex CSA and high VB density, is a key determinant of resistance to a stem‐boring specialist in A. philoxeroides. The high resistance of plants with higher stem TMD may partially impose a cost to plant growth.
MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms as a risk factor for congenital heart defects in Down syndrome
Authors: Babić Božović Ivana , Vraneković Jadranka , StarčevićČizmarević Nada , Mahulja‐Stamenković Vesna , Prpić Igor , Brajenović‐Milić Bojana
Published: December 2010

Background:  Congenital heart defects (CHD) are present in most, but not all, cases of Down syndrome (DS). The presence of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T and A1298C polymorphisms has been reported as a risk factor for CHD in DS. The aims of the present study were to assess (i) the frequency of MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms in DS individuals in the Croatian population; (ii) the relationship between the two maternal MTHFR polymorphisms and CHD‐affected DS children; and (iii) the transmission frequencies of the variant alleles of the two MTHFR polymorphisms in CHD‐affected DS.

Methods:  The study population included 112 DS subjects and 221 controls. CHD were present in 48% of the DS subjects (54/112). The mothers of 107 DS individuals were available for the study; none was a periconceptional folic acid user. Allele transmission was analyzed in 34 complete parent–offspring triads.

Results:  The frequencies of the allele, individual, and combined genotypes of MTHFR C677T and A1298C in DS subjects were not statistically different compared to the normal healthy Croatian controls. The maternal MTHFR polymorphisms were not found to be a risk factor for DS‐related CHD. The allele transmission of the two MTHFR polymorphisms showed no deviations from random segregation.

Conclusions:  Because the fetus is lost in a great proportion of trisomy 21 pregnancies, both maternal and fetal, not only live‐born MTHFR C677T and A1298C, as well as maternal nutrition and lifestyle during pregnancy, should be analyzed to asses the impact on CHD in DS.
Problems with body mass index as an index to evaluate physical status of children in puberty
Authors: Sugiura Reiko , Murata Mitsunori
Published: December 2010

Background:  The aim of the present study was to examine the problems associated with using body mass index (BMI) for evaluating the physical status of children during puberty and the problems associated with establishing international standard values as cut‐off points for obesity and thinness in children.

Methods:  A cohort study was undertaken on BMI as an indicator of physical status in puberty based on the data in the 2000 Annual Report of School Health Statistics. The subjects were 695,600 children from 5 to 17 years of age.

Results:  In puberty, even in those with the optimal weight for their sex and age, BMI increases as height increases; therefore, a considerable variation in the range of BMI is observed in normal individuals of the same degree of fatness. For this reason, there is considerable overlap in the “healthy weight”, “overweight” and “obese” groups defined by the CDC using BMI percentile with regard to fatness in puberty. When the pubertal growth patterns are different among children from different countries, it is difficult to determine internationally average BMI by sex and age.

Conclusions:  Distinguishing the respective healthy weight, overweight, and obese groups based on cut‐off points using BMI percentile during puberty is difficult. If differences exist in the socioeconomic status of the subject cohorts and in the passage through puberty among children from different countries, we must consider that average values of BMI for the same age of children in puberty will have different meanings. With regard to evaluation of physical status in pubertal children, only BMI average values for the same stage of pubertal development are meaningful, rather than individual values.
The prognostic significance of human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 expression in patients with metastatic bladder cancer treated with gemcitabine‐cisplatin‐based combination chemotherapy
Authors: Matsumura Nagahide , Nakamura Yasushi , Kohjimoto Yasuo , Inagaki Takeshi , Nanpo Yoshihito , Yasuoka Hironao , Ohashi Yasuo , Hara Isao
Published: December 2010

What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add?

The expression of hENT1 was significantly associated with prolonged survival in advanced bladder cancer treated with gemcitabine–cisplatin‐based combination chemotherapy.

The mechanism‐based approach to the chemotherapeutic agents may be helpful to personalize medicine for the individual advanced bladder cancer patient.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the expression of the human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (hENT1) and excision repair cross complementing 1 (ERCC1) as possible prognostic factors for patients with metastatic bladder cancer treated with gemcitabine–cisplatin‐based combination chemotherapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The present study retrospectively evaluated the expression of hENT1 and ERCC1 by immunostaining in chemo‐naive primary bladder tumour specimens from 40 patients with metastatic bladder cancer who received treatment with gemcitabine–cisplatin‐based combination chemotherapy at Wakayama Medical University Hospital and affiliated hospitals from May 2002 to July 2009. Immunohistochemistry on formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded tissues was performed with specific hENT1 and ERCC1 antibodies scored by two pathologists who were blinded to clinical outcomes. The clinical and histopathological variables were analyzed to evaluate predictive values for survival.

RESULTS

The median survival time in patients with high and low hENT1 expression was 17.3 and 11.6 months, respectively (log‐rank test, P= 0.003). This contrasted with the median survival in patients with high and low ERCC1 expressions, which did not differ significantly (high ERCC1, 13.6 months; low ERCC1, 17.1 months; P= 0.178). In univariate Cox regression analyses for pretreatment clinicopathological variables, performance status (P= 0.02) and hENT1 expression (P= 0.004), but not ERCC1 expression (P= 0.182), were associated with overall survival. Multivariate analysis using a Cox proportional hazards model showed that hENT1 expression was an independent prognostic factor (P= 0.008).

CONCLUSION

The data obtained in the present study show that high expression of hENT1 in tumour cells is associated with prolonged survival in patients with metastatic bladder cancer treated with gemcitabine–cisplatin‐based combination chemotherapy.
CONSUMPTION, SENTIMENT, AND ECONOMIC NEWS
Authors: STARR MARTHA A.
Published: December 2010

This paper investigates the influence of economic news on consumer sentiment, and examines whether “news shocks”—changes in coverage that would not be expected from incoming data on economic fundamentals—have aggregate effects. Using monthly U.S. data and a structural vector autoregression, I find that (1) sentiment is affected by news shocks; (2) after filtering out effects of news shocks, shocks to sentiment still have positive effects on consumer spending; and (3) news shocks influence both spending and unemployment in significant, though transitory ways. These results are consistent with other evidence of a role of nonfundamental factors in aggregate fluctuations. (JEL E21, E32, D12)
SELECTION INTO AUCTIONS FOR RISKY AND AMBIGUOUS PROSPECTS
Authors: KOCHER MARTIN G. , TRAUTMANN STEFAN T.
Published: December 2010

We study experimentally the selection into first‐price sealed‐bid auctions for a risky or an ambiguous prospect. Most subjects chose to submit a bid for the risky prospect, leading to thinner markets for the ambiguous prospect. Transaction prices for both prospects were equal although subjects expected the ambiguous markets to be smaller. Evidence of a positive correlation between risk and ambiguity aversion suggests that the ambiguous markets were populated by relatively risk tolerant bidders. A control experiment with selection in a simple choice task shows that subjects correctly anticipate the effects of selection on market size and risk attitudes. (JEL C91, D44, D81)
A DUAL DEFINITION FOR THE FACTOR CONTENT OF TRADE AND ITS EFFECT ON FACTOR REWARDS IN US MANUFACTURING SECTOR
Authors: DELIS AGELOS , MAMUNEAS THEOFANIS P.
Published: December 2010

We introduce a dual definition of the Factor Content of Trade (FCT) using the concept of the Equivalent Autarky Equilibrium. Estimating a symmetric normalized quadratic revenue function for the U.S. manufacturing sector between 1965 and 1991, we find that the FCT for capital is positive, while the FCT for skilled and unskilled labor is negative, suggesting that the Leontief Paradox is not present. Then the growth rate of the factor rewards is decomposed to the FCT, endowments, and technological change effects. We find that technological change is the most important determinant in explaining wage inequality between skilled and unskilled labor. (JEL F11, F16, J31)
CRITICAL ISSUES IN THE PRACTICE OF MARKET DESIGN
Authors: MILGROM PAUL
Published: December 2010

The years since 1994 have witnessed the emergence of market design as a new discipline within economics, in which research and practice exert powerful mutual influences in matching and auction markets. The problem of designing well‐functioning auction markets has led economic designers to revisit such fundamental issues as the definitions of commodities, the ways participants communicate with markets, the trade‐offs between the incentives provided for truthful reporting and other attributes of mechanism performance, and the determinants of the scope of markets, especially whether and how trade in different goods is linked. (JEL D44, C78)
Current debate on the use of antibiotic prophylaxis for caesarean section
Authors: Lamont RF , Sobel JD , Kusanovic JP , Vaisbuch E , Mazaki‐Tovi S , Kim SK , Uldbjerg N , Romero R
Published: December 2010

Please cite this paper as: Lamont R, Sobel J, Kusanovic J, Vaisbuch E, Mazaki‐Tovi S, Kim S, Uldbjerg N, Romero R. Current debate on the use of antibiotic prophylaxis for caesarean section. BJOG 2011;118:193–201.

Caesarean delivery is frequently complicated by surgical site infections, endometritis and urinary tract infection. Most surgical site infections occur after discharge from the hospital, and are increasingly being used as performance indicators. Worldwide, the rate of caesarean delivery is increasing. Evidence‐based guidelines recommended the use of prophylactic antibiotics before surgical incision. An exception is made for caesarean delivery, where narrow‐range antibiotics are administered after umbilical cord clamping because of putative neonatal benefit. However, recent evidence supports the use of pre‐incision, broad‐spectrum antibiotics, which result in a lower rate of maternal morbidity with no disadvantage to the neonate.
Studies involving reactive dyes containing a benzophenone ultraviolet absorber
Authors: He Liang , Gong Guoliang , Freeman Harold S , Jian Wei , Chen Meifen , Zhao Defeng
Published: December 2010

Nine new fibre reactive dyes containing a built‐in hydroxybenzophenone moiety were synthesised, characterised using electrospray mass spectroscopic analysis, applied to cotton fabrics and the ultraviolet protection factor values of the dyed cotton fabrics determined. The results showed that the anti‐ultraviolet properties of cotton were improved by dyeing with dyes containing a built‐in hydroxybenzophenone moiety, but that the benzophenone ultraviolet absorber need not be covalently linked to dye molecules to provide significant benefit.
Barriers to Mask Wearing for Influenza‐like Illnesses Among Urban Hispanic Households
Authors: Ferng Yu‐hui , Wong‐McLoughlin Jennifer , Barrett Angela , Currie Leanne , Larson Elaine
Published: December 2010

ABSTRACT Objectives:To identify barriers to mask wearing and to examine the factors associated with the willingness to wear masks among households.

Design and Sample:We used data sources from a study assessing the impact of 3 nonpharmaceutical interventions on the rates of influenza: exit interviews; home visits with a subset of the mask group; and a focus group.

Measures:Risk perception score, univariate analysis, and logistic regression were conducted to identify the characteristics and predictors of mask use. Thematic barriers to mask wearing were identified from qualitative data obtained at home visits and focus group.

Results:Respondents from the mask group, when compared with the nonmask group, demonstrated higher risk perception scores concerning influenza (maximum score: 60, means: 37.6 and 30.2,p<.001) and increased perception of effectiveness of mask wearing (maximum score: 10, means: 7.8 and 7.3,p=.043). There was no significant association between demographic, attitudinal, or knowledge variables and adherence to wearing masks. Thematic barriers were identified such as social acceptability of mask use, comfort and fit, and perception of the risk/need for masks.

Conclusions:Face masks may not be an effective intervention for seasonal or pandemic influenza unless the risk perception of influenza is high. Dissemination of culturally appropriate mask use information by health authorities and providers must be emphasized when educating the public.
Perturbations of dendritic excitability in epilepsy
Authors: Tang Cha‐Min , Thompson Scott M.
Published: December 2010

The dendritic arbor is the site of complex interactions between synaptic excitation and intrinsic excitability. This interaction is determined by the ion channels expressed on the dendritic arbor. The expression and gating properties of these channels can be perturbed in conditions associated with epilepsy that lead to hyperexcitability. For an expanded treatment of this topic see Jasper’s Basic Mechanisms of the Epilepsies, Fourth Edition (Noebels JL, Avoli M, Rogawski MA, Olsen RW, Delgado‐Escueta AV, eds) published by Oxford University Press (available on the National Library of Medicine Bookshelf [NCBI] at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books).
The Role of Culture, Workgroup Membership, and Organizational Status on Cooperation and Trust: An Experimental Investigation
Authors: Loh Jennifer (Min Ing) , Smith Joanne R. , Restubog Simon Lloyd D.
Published: December 2010

We examined how interactions among participants' cultural backgrounds (e.g., Australian vs. Singaporean) and multiple subgroups (e.g., cultural group membership, workgroup membership, organizational status) affect trust and cooperation in the workplace. University students (120 Australians, 120 Singaporeans) responded to hypothetical scenarios of cooperation and trust in the workplace. The results indicated that, for both Australians and Singaporeans, trust and cooperation were more strongly influenced by workgroup membership and organizational status than by cultural group membership. Participants trusted and cooperated more with work in‐group members than with work out‐group members, and trusted and cooperated more with superiors than with peers. Theoretical implications are discussed.
Increased propensity for aerial dispersal in disturbed habitats due to intraspecific variation and species turnover
Authors: Entling Martin H. , Stämpfli Karin , Ovaskainen Otso
Published: December 2010

Animal dispersal depends on multiple factors, such as habitat features and life‐history traits of the species. We studied the propensity for ballooning dispersal in spiders under standardized laboratory conditions. The 1269 tested individuals belonged to 124 species and originated from 16 sites with wide variation in habitat type. Spiders from disturbed habitats ballooned 5.5 times more than spiders from stable habitats. In Meioneta rurestris , for which we had enough data for a single‐species analysis, individuals were most dispersive if they originated from highly disturbed habitats. While the data for the other species were not sufficient for single‐species analyses, a hierarchical model that included the data simultaneously on all species suggested that dispersal propensity generally increases within species with the level of habitat disturbance. Dispersal probability showed a trend to increase with niche width, but the higher commonness of species with wide niches provides an alternative explanation for this pattern. As the prevalence of especially dispersive species was highest in disturbed habitats, variation in dispersal propensity was influenced by both inter‐ and intraspecific factors. We conclude that the positive correlation between niche width and dispersal propensity enables generalist species to utilize highly disturbed habitats, whereas the persistence of specialist species with restricted dispersal ability requires the conservation of stable habitats.
Food Security in an Era of Economic Volatility
Authors: Naylor Rosamond L. , Falcon Walter P.
Published: December 2010

This article analyzes international commodity price movements, assesses food policies in response to price fluctuations, and explores the food security implications of price volatility on low‐income groups. It focuses specifically on measurements, causes, and consequences of recent food price trends, variability around those trends, and price spikes. Combining these three components of price dynamics shows that the variation in real prices post‐2000 was substantially greater than that in the 1980s and 1990s, and was approximately equal to the extreme volatility in commodity prices that was experienced in the 1970s. Macro policy, exchange rates, and petroleum prices were important determinants of price variability over 2005–2010, highlighting the new linkages between the agriculture‐energy and agriculture‐finance markets that affect the world food economy today. These linkages contributed in large part to misguided expectations and uncertainty that drove prices to their peak in 2008. The article also argues that there is a long‐lasting effect of price spikes on food policy around the world, often resulting in self‐sufficiency policies that create even more volatility in international markets. The efforts by governments to stabilize prices frequently contribute to even greater food insecurity among poor households, most of which are in rural areas and survive on the margin of net consumption and net production. Events of 2008—and more recently in 2010—underscore the impact of price variability for food security and the need for refocused policy approaches to prevent and mitigate price spikes.
US Mortality in an International Context: Age Variations
Authors: Ho Jessica Y. , Preston Samuel H.
Published: December 2010

Compared to other developed countries, the United States ranks poorly in terms of life expectancy at age 50. We seek to shed light on the US's low life expectancy ranking by comparing the age‐specific death rates of 18 developed countries at older ages. A striking pattern emerges: between ages 40 and 75, US all‐cause mortality rates are among the poorest in the set of comparison countries. The US position improves dramatically after age 75 for both males and females. We consider four possible explanations of the age patterns revealed by this analysis: (1) access to health insurance; (2) international differences in patterns of smoking; (3) age patterns of health care system performance; and (4) selection processes. We find that health insurance and smoking are not plausible sources of this age pattern. While we cannot rule out selection, we present suggestive evidence that an unusually vigorous deployment of life‐saving technologies by the US health care system at very old ages is contributing to the age‐pattern of US mortality rankings. Differences in obesity distributions are likely to be making a moderate contribution to the pattern but uncertainty about the risks associated with obesity prevents a precise assessment.
PASSaGE: Pattern Analysis, Spatial Statistics and Geographic Exegesis. Version 2
Authors: Rosenberg Michael S. , Anderson Corey Devin
Published: December 2010

1. Spatial analysis has become increasingly popular in the biological sciences, particularly in disciplines such as landscape ecology and landscape genetics. However, many statistical functions for performing spatial analysis are not readily available (except in the most limited manner) in common, easy‐to‐use statistical packages or geographic information systems (GIS) software.

2. Over the last decade, the software package Pattern Analysis, Spatial Statistics and Geographic Exegesis (PASSaGE) has been popular tool for conducting spatial statistics. PASSaGE is completely free and has a user‐friendly graphical user interface. A new version of PASSaGE, rewritten from the ground up, has now been released and is available for download.

3. PASSaGE 2 is significantly more user friendly than the original release and provides an excellent platform for both scientific analysis and classroom training. PASSaGE 2 includes a broad array of spatial statistical analyses not commonly found in other software packages or GIS software, all in an easy‐to‐use framework. It includes support for one‐, two‐ and three‐dimensional spatial analysis, including a number of unique and newly developed approaches.
Tensorial Deformation Measures for Flexible Joints
Authors: Bauchau Olivier A. , Li Leihong , Masarati Pierangelo , Morandini Marco
Published: December 2010

Flexible joints, sometimes called bushing elements or force elements, are found in all multibody dynamics codes. In their simplest form, flexible joints simply consist of sets of three linear and three torsional springs placed between two nodes of a multibody system. For infinitesimal deformations, the selection of the lumped spring constants is an easy task, which can be based on a numerical simulation of the joint or on experimental measurements. If the joint undergoes finite deformations, the identification of its stiffness characteristics is not so simple, especially if the joint itself is a complex system. When finite deformations occur, the definition of deformation measures becomes a critical issue. Indeed, for finite deformation, the observed nonlinear behavior of materials is partly due to material characteristics and partly due to kinematics. This paper focuses on the determination of the proper finite deformation measures for elastic bodies of finite dimension. In contrast, classical strain measures, such as the Green–Lagrange or Almansi strains, among many others, characterize finite deformations of infinitesimal elements of a body. It is argued that proper finite deformation measures must be of a tensorial nature, i.e., must present specific invariance characteristics. This requirement is satisfied if and only if the deformation measures are parallel to the eigenvector of the motion tensor.
Limit-Switch Sensor Functionality Based on Discontinuity-Induced Nonlinearities
Authors: Wilcox Bryan , Dankowicz Harry
Published: December 2010

Limit-switch sensors are input-output devices that switch operating state in reaction to the crossing of a threshold value of their input. These are used to monitor and control critical values of temperature, voltage, pressure, etc., in both consumer and industrial settings. This paper argues for exploiting nonsmooth fold bifurcations in the design of ultrafast and robust, resettable, electromechanical limit switches. Specifically, the discussion emphasizes the dramatic changes in system response associated with the onset of near-grazing, low-velocity contact in vibro-impacting systems. These include rapid transient dynamics away from a pre-grazing, periodic, steady-state trajectory following the onset of impacts and post-grazing steady-state trajectories with a distinctly different amplitude and frequency content. The results reported here include a review of an experimental and computational verification of the ultrafast transient growth rates that show a significant potential for dramatic improvement in sensor performance. Moreover, two novel candidate sensor designs are discussed that rely on the post-grazing response characteristics for device function. In the first instance, transduction of a change in the response periodicity following grazing in a mechanical device is detected in a coupled electromagnetic circuit. In the second instance, a snap-through post-grazing response forms the operating principle of a capacitively driven circuit protection device.