bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conditioning the Mind’s Eye
Authors: Lewis David E. , O’Reilly Matthew J. , Khuu Sieu K. , Pearson Joel
Published: April 2013

Many treatments for anxiety utilize associative learning theory and involve mental imagery components. However, the roles associative learning and imagery play in anxiety disorders and their treatments are still largely unknown. Here we show that voluntary mental imagery can undergo associative learning in the same manner as normal sensory perception. After conditioning voluntary mental images with emotion-evoking stimuli, perceptual stimuli of the same content were found to produce the associated emotional response—indicating generalization from imagery to perception. This associative learning with imagery was found to be orientation selective and could not be accounted for by alternative, non-imagery-based interpretations of the data. These results support pictorial theories of mental imagery by indicating the interchangeability of imagery and perception in associative learning and demonstrate that voluntary mental images can drive associative learning, providing a mechanistic account of clinical practice involving mental imagery.
Cognitive Vulnerability to Depression Can Be Contagious
Authors: Haeffel Gerald J. , Hames Jennifer L.
Published: April 2013

Cognitive vulnerability is a potent risk factor for depression. Individual differences in cognitive vulnerability solidify in early adolescence and remain stable throughout the life span. However, stability does not mean immutability. We hypothesized that cognitive vulnerability would be susceptible to change during major life transitions when social milieus undergo significant changes (e.g., moving to college). Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that cognitive vulnerability could change via a contagion effect. We tested this hypothesis using a prospective longitudinal design with a sample of randomly assigned college freshmen roommate pairs (103 pairs). Results supported the hypotheses. Participants who were randomly assigned to a roommate with high levels of cognitive vulnerability were likely to “catch” their roommate’s cognitive style and develop higher levels of cognitive vulnerability. Moreover, those who experienced an increase in cognitive vulnerability had significantly greater levels of depressive symptoms over the prospective interval than those who did not.
Common variants in adiponectin gene are associated with coronary artery disease and angiographical severity of coronary atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Tong Guoxin , Wang Ningfu , Leng Jianhang , Tong Xiaoshan , Shen Yun , Yang Jianmin , Ye Xianhua , Zhou Liang , Zhou Yujie
Published: April 2013

Background

Adiponectin, an adipokine facilitating insulin action, has antiatherogenic effects. This study investigated whether common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the adiponectin gene influenced plasma adiponectin level and whether they were associated with the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and its angiographical severity in type 2 diabetes in Chinese population.

Methods

11 tagging SNPs were genotyped in 1110 subjects with or without CAD in type 2 diabetes. Variants of adiponectin gene were determined by Taqman polymerase chain reaction method. The plasma adiponectin concentrations were measured by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The severity and extent of coronary atherosclerosis were assessed using the angiographic Gensini score and Sullivan Extent score.

Results

Among the 11 SNPs, the minor G allele of SNP rs266729 was significantly associated with higher odds of CAD (odds ratio (95% CI) = 1.49 (1.10 - 2.16), P = 0.022) after adjusting for covariates. In stepwise multivariate logistic regression, SNP rs266729 was a significant independent factor of CAD. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that rs266729 (β = −0.101, P < 0.0001), rs182052 (β = −0.044, P = 0.0035), and rs1501299 (β = 0.073, P < 0.0001) were significantly associated with adiponectin level, and also indicated that the minor G allele of SNP rs266729 had higher Gensini score (β = 0.139, P < 0.001) and Sullivan Extent score (β = 0.107, P < 0.001). Haplotypes analysis revealed different haplotype distributions in case and control subjects (P = 0.0003), with two common haplotypes GGG and GAG of the rs266729, rs182052, and rs1501299 being associated in heterozygotes with a greater than threefold increase in cardiovascular risk (odds ratio (95% CI)=3.39 (1.83 - 6.30), P = 0.0001).

Conclusions

In our population, genetic variants in the adiponectin gene influence plasma adiponectin levels, and one of them is a strong determinant of CAD susceptibility and its angiographical severity in type 2 diabetes. This study has provided further evidence for a role of adiponectin in the development of CAD.
Convergence theorems of a three-step iteration method for a countable family of pseudocontractive mappings
Authors: Cheng Qingqing , Su Yongfu , Zhang Jingling
Published: April 2013

The purpose of this paper is to construct a three-step iteration method (as follows) and obtain the convergence theorem for a countable family of Lipschitz pseudocontractive mappings in Hilbert space H. For the iteration format,

{

z
n

=
(
1
−

γ
n

)

x
n

+

γ
n

T
n

x
n

,

y
n

=
(
1
−

β
n

)

x
n

+

β
n

T
n

z
n

,

x

n
+
1

=
(
1
−

α
n

)

x
n

+

α
n

T
n

y
n

,

under suitable conditions, we prove that the sequence

{

x
n

}

generated from above converges strongly to a common fixed point of

{

T
n

}

n
≥
1

. The results obtained in this paper improve and extend previous results that have been proved for this class of nonlinear mappings.

MSC:47H05, 47H09, 47H10.
Comparison of activity indexes for recognizing enzyme mutants of higher activity with uricase as model
Authors: Feng Juan , Liu Hongbo , Yang Xiaolan , Gao Ang , Liao Juan , Feng Liping , Pu Jun , Xie Yanling , Long Gaobo , Li Yuanli , Liao Fei
Published: April 2013

Background

For screening a library of enzyme mutants, an efficient and cost-effective method for reliable assay of enzyme activity and a decision method for safe recognition of mutants of higher activity are needed. The comparison of activity concentrations of mutants in lysates of transformed Escherichia coli cells against a threshold is unsafe to recognize mutants of higher activity due to variations of both expression levels of mutant proteins and lysis efficiency of transformed cells. Hence, by a spectrophotometric method after verification to measure uricase activity, specific activity calculated from the level of total proteins in a lysate was tested for recognizing a mutant of higher activity.

Results

During uricase reaction, the intermediate 5-hydroxyisourate interferes with the assay of uric acid absorbance, but the measurement of absorbance at 293 nm in alkaline borate buffer was reliable for measuring uricase initial rates within a reasonable range. The level of total proteins in a lysate was determined by the Bradford assay. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis supported different relative abundance of uricase mutant proteins in their lysates; activity concentrations of uricase in such lysates positively correlated with levels of total proteins. Receiver-operation-curve analysis of activity concentration or specific activity yielded area-under-the-curve close to 1.00 for recognizing a mutant with > 200% improvement of activity. For a mutant with just about 80% improvement of activity, receiver-operation-curve analysis of specific activity gave area-under-the-curve close to 1.00 while the analysis of activity concentration gave smaller area-under-the-curve. With the mean plus 1.4-fold of the standard deviation of specific activity of a starting material as the threshold, uricase mutants whose activities were improved by more than 80% were recognized with higher sensitivity and specificity.

Conclusion

Specific activity calculated from the level of total proteins is a favorable index for recognizing an enzyme mutant with small improvement of activity.
p53 induces transcriptional and translational programs to suppress cell proliferation and growth
Authors: Loayza-Puch Fabricio , Drost Jarno , Rooijers Koos , Lopes Rui , Elkon Ran , Agami Reuven
Published: April 2013

Background

Cell growth and proliferation are tightly connected to ensure that appropriately sized daughter cells are generated following mitosis. Energy stress blocks cell growth and proliferation, a critical response for survival under extreme conditions. Excessive oncogenic stress leads to p53 activation and the induction of senescence, an irreversible state of cell-cycle arrest and a critical component in the suppression of tumorigenesis. Nutrient-sensing and mitogenic cues converge on a major signaling node, which regulates the activity of the mTOR kinase. Although transcriptional responses to energy and oncogenic stresses have been examined by many gene-expression experiments, a global exploration of the modulation of mRNA translation in response to these conditions is lacking.

Results

We combine RNA sequencing and ribosomal profiling analyses to systematically delineate modes of transcriptional and translational regulation induced in response to conditions of limited energy, oncogenic stress and cellular transformation. We detect a key role for mTOR and p53 in these distinct physiological states, and provide the first genome-wide demonstration that p53 activation results in mTOR inhibition and a consequent global repression of protein translation. We confirm the role of the direct p53 target genes Sestrin1 and Sestrin2 in this response, as part of the broad modulation of gene expression induced by p53 activation.

Conclusions

We delineate a bimodal tumor-suppressive regulatory program activated by p53, in which cell-cycle arrest is imposed mainly at the transcriptional level, whereas cell growth inhibition is enforced by global repression of the translation machinery.
Denoising multicomponent CSEM data with equivalent source processing techniques
Authors: MacLennan Kris , Li Yaoguo
Published: April 2013

Frequency-domain controlled-source electromagnetic surveys can be negatively affected by near-surface geologic features, resulting in static shifts in the observed electric field amplitude data. We propose using an equivalent source method to denoise electric field data from frequency-domain controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) surveys. The equivalent source method can either be applied individually to data from each measured frequency or simultaneously to data from all frequencies measured. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the method by denoising an individual synthetic CSEM survey with data contaminated with noise from near-surface conductive bodies, as well as a synthetic time-lapse survey representing resistivity changes in a target due to, for instance, [Formula: see text] sequestration. We also apply the equivalent source method to denoise a set of controlled-source audio-magnetotelluric data affected by static shift from a field survey in western China.
Qualitative Characterization of Desmodium Adscendens Constituents by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Diode Array Ultraviolet-Electrospray Ionization Multistage Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Baiocchi Claudio , Medana Claudio , Giancotti Valeria , Aigotti Riccardo , Dal Bello Frederica , Massolino Cristina , Gastaldi Daniela , Grandi Maurizio
Published: April 2013

The many effects of the African medicinal herb Desmodium adscendens were studied in the 1980s and 1990s. In spite of this, a comprehensive analytical protocol for the quality control of its constituents (soyasaponins, alkaloids and flavonoids) has not yet been formulated and reported. This study deals with the optimization of extraction conditions from the plant and qualitative identification of the constituents by HPLC–diode array UV and multistage mass spectrometry. Plant constituents were extracted from leaves by liquid–liquid and solid matrix dispersion extraction. Separation was achieved via RP-C18 liquid chromatography with UV and MSn detection and mass spectrometry analysis was conducted by electrospray ionization ion trap or orbitrap mass spectrometry. High resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) was used for structural identification of active molecules relating to soyasaponins and alkaloids. The flavonoid fragmentations were preliminarily studied by HRMS in order to accurately characterize the more common neutral losses. However, the high number of isomeric species induced us to make recourse to a more extended chromatographic separation in order to enable useful tandem mass spectrometry and ultraviolet spectral interpretation to propose a reasonable chemical classification of these polyphenols. 35 compounds of this class were identified herein with respect to the five reported in literature. In this way we made up a comprehensive protocol for the qualitative analysis of the high complexity content of this plant. This result paves the way for both reliable quality control of potential phytochemical medicaments and possible future systematic clinical studies.
Restricted Neural Plasticity in Vestibulospinal Pathways after Unilateral Labyrinthectomy as the Origin for Scoliotic Deformations
Authors: Lambert François M. , Malinvaud David , Gratacap Maxime , Straka Hans , Vidal Pierre-Paul
Published: April 2013

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in humans is often associated with vestibulomotor deficits. Compatible with a vestibular origin, scoliotic deformations were provoked in adultXenopusfrogs by unilateral labyrinthectomy (UL) at larval stages. The aquatic ecophysiology and absence of body-weight-supporting limb proprioceptive signals in amphibian tadpoles as a potential sensory substitute after UL might be the cause for a persistent asymmetric descending vestibulospinal activity. Therefore, peripheral vestibular lesions in larvalXenopuswere used to reveal the morphophysiological alterations at the cellular and network levels. As a result, spinal motor nerves that were modulated by the previously intact side before UL remained permanently silent during natural vestibular stimulation after the lesion. In addition, retrograde tracing of descending pathways revealed a loss of vestibular neurons on the ipsilesional side with crossed vestibulospinal projections. This loss facilitated a general mass imbalance in descending premotor activity and a permanent asymmetric motor drive to the axial musculature. Therefore, we propose that the persistent asymmetric contraction of trunk muscles exerts a constant, uncompensated differential mechanical pull on bilateral skeletal elements that enforces a distortion of the soft cartilaginous skeletal elements and bone shapes. This ultimately provokes severe scoliotic deformations during ontogenetic development similar to the human syndrome.
Connectivity-Based Parcellation of the Human Frontal Pole with Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Authors: Liu Huaigui , Qin Wen , Li Wei , Fan Lingzhong , Wang Jiaojian , Jiang Tianzi , Yu Chunshui
Published: April 2013

The human frontal pole (FP) approximately corresponds to Brodmann's area 10 and is a highly differentiated cortical area with unique cytoarchitectonic characteristics. However, its functional diversity is highly suggestive of the existence of functional subregions. Based on anatomical connection patterns derived from diffusion tensor imaging data, we applied a spectral clustering algorithm to parcellate the human right FP into orbital (FPo), lateral (FPl), and medial (FPm) subregions. This parcellation scheme was validated by corresponding analyses of the left FP and right FP in another independent dataset. Both visual observation and quantitative comparison of the anatomical connection patterns of the three FP subregions revealed that the FPo showed greater connection probabilities to brain regions of the social emotion network (SEN), including the orbitofrontal cortex, temporal pole, and amygdala, the FPl showed stronger connections to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of the cognitive processing network (CPN), and the FPm showed stronger connections to brain areas of the default mode network (DMN), including the anterior cingulate cortex and medial prefrontal cortex. We further analyzed the resting-state functional connectivity patterns of the three FP subregions. Consistent with the findings of anatomical connection analyses, the FPo was functionally correlated with the SEN, the FPl was correlated with the CPN, and the FPm was correlated with the DMN. These findings suggest that the human FP includes three separable subregions with different anatomical and functional connectivity patterns and that these subregions are involved in different brain functional networks and serve different functions.
Tunnel Vision: Sharper Gradient of Spatial Attention in Autism
Authors: Robertson Caroline E. , Kravitz Dwight J. , Freyberg Jan , Baron-Cohen Simon , Baker Chris I.
Published: April 2013

Enhanced perception of detail has long been regarded a hallmark of autism spectrum conditions (ASC), but its origins are unknown. Normal sensitivity on all fundamental perceptual measures—visual acuity, contrast discrimination, and flicker detection—is strongly established in the literature. If individuals with ASC do not have superior low-level vision, how is perception of detail enhanced? We argue that this apparent paradox can be resolved by considering visual attention, which is known to enhance basic visual sensitivity, resulting in greater acuity and lower contrast thresholds. Here, we demonstrate that the focus of attention and concomitant enhancement of perception are sharper in human individuals with ASC than in matched controls. Using a simple visual acuity task embedded in a standard cueing paradigm, we mapped the spatial and temporal gradients of attentional enhancement by varying the distance and onset time of visual targets relative to an exogenous cue, which obligatorily captures attention. Individuals with ASC demonstrated a greater fall-off in performance with distance from the cue than controls, indicating a sharper spatial gradient of attention. Further, this sharpness was highly correlated with the severity of autistic symptoms in ASC, as well as autistic traits across both ASC and control groups. These findings establish the presence of a form of “tunnel vision” in ASC, with far-reaching implications for our understanding of the social and neurobiological aspects of autism.
The MicroRNA-17–92 Cluster Enhances Axonal Outgrowth in Embryonic Cortical Neurons
Authors: Zhang Yi , Ueno Yuji , Liu Xian Shuang , Buller Benjamin , Wang Xinli , Chopp Michael , Zhang Zheng Gang
Published: April 2013

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate dendritogenesis and plasticity. However, the biological function of miRNAs in axons has not been extensively investigated. Here, using rat primary cortical neurons cultured in a microfluidic chamber, we found that the distal axons of the neurons expressed the miR-17–92 cluster, and proteins that regulate production and activity of mature miRNAs, Dicer and Argonaute 2, respectively, were present in the distal axons. Overexpression of the miR-17–92 cluster in cortical neurons substantially increased axonal outgrowth, whereas distal axonal attenuation of endogenous miR-19a, a key miRNA of the miR-17–92 cluster, with the miRNA hairpin inhibitor suppressed axonal outgrowth. Moreover, overexpression of the miR-17–92 cluster reduced phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) proteins and elevated phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in the distal axons. In contrast, distal axonal attenuation of miR-19a increased PTEN proteins and inactivated mTOR in the axons, but did not affect these protein levels in the cell bodies. Overexpression of PTEN and attenuation of endogenous PTEN prevailed over the enhancement and inhibitory effects of the miR-19a on axonal outgrowth, respectively. Axonal application of LY294002, a phosphoinositide3-kinase inhibitor, or rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor, abolished axonal outgrowth enhanced by overexpression of the miR-17–92 cluster. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that axonal alteration of miR-17–92 cluster expression regulates axonal outgrowth and that local modulation of PTEN protein levels by miR-19a likely contributes to the axonal outgrowth.
Experience-Dependent versus Experience-Independent Postembryonic Development of Distinct Groups of Zebrafish Olfactory Glomeruli
Authors: Braubach Oliver R. , Miyasaka Nobuhiko , Koide Tetsuya , Yoshihara Yoshihiro , Croll Roger P. , Fine Alan
Published: April 2013

Olfactory glomeruli are innervated with great precision by the axons of different olfactory sensory neuron types and act as functional units in odor information processing. Approximately 140 glomeruli are present in each olfactory bulb of adult zebrafish; these units consist of either highly stereotypic large glomeruli or smaller anatomically indistinguishable glomeruli. In the present study, we investigated developmental differences among these types of glomeruli. We observed that 10 large and individually identifiable glomeruli already developed before hatching, at 72 h after fertilization, in configurations that resembled their mature organization. However, the cross-sectional area of these glomeruli increased throughout larval development, and they eventually comprised the largest units in postlarval olfactory bulbs. In contrast, small and anatomically indistinguishable glomeruli formed only after hatching, apparently by segregating from five larger precursors that were identifiable during embryonic development. The differentiation of these small glomeruli proceeded with conspicuous variation in number and arrangement, both among larvae and between olfactory bulbs of the same individuals. To determine factors that might contribute to this variability, we investigated the effects of olfactory enrichment on the development of amino acid-responsive lateral glomeruli, which include both large and small units. Larvae reared in an amino acid-enriched environment had normal large lateral glomeruli, but the small lateral glomeruli were more numerous and displayed reduced cross-sectional areas compared with glomeruli in control animals. Our results suggest that large and small glomeruli mature via distinct developmental processes that may be differentially influenced by sensory experience.
Cortical-Like Receptive Fields in the Lateral Geniculate Nucleus of Marmoset Monkeys
Authors: Cheong Soon Keen , Tailby Chris , Solomon Samuel G. , Martin Paul R.
Published: April 2013

Most neurons in primary visual cortex (V1) exhibit high selectivity for the orientation of visual stimuli. In contrast, neurons in the main thalamic input to V1, the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), are considered to be only weakly orientation selective. Here we characterize a sparse population of cells in marmoset LGN that show orientation and spatial frequency selectivity as great as that of cells in V1. The recording position in LGN and histological reconstruction of these cells shows that they are part of the koniocellular (K) pathways. Accordingly we have named them K-o (“koniocellular-orientation”) cells. Most K-o cells prefer vertically oriented gratings; their contrast sensitivity and TF tuning are similar to those of parvocellular cells, and they receive negligible functional input from short wavelength-sensitive (“blue”) cone photoreceptors. Four K-o cells tested displayed binocular responses. Our results provide further evidence that in primates as in nonprimate mammals the cortical input streams include a diversity of visual representations. The presence of K-o cells increases functional homologies between K pathways in primates and “sluggish/W” pathways in nonprimate visual systems.
Religious Thought as Manifested in the Musical Content of George Harrison’s Brainwashed
Authors: Hausmann John
Published: April 2013

Abstract:

In an article published in this journal in 2004, Michael Gilmour studied George Harrison’s Brainwashed but left the album’s music unexplored. This article builds on Gilmour’s work by focusing on three of the album’s tracks and analyzing their harmonic and melodic structures. This examination reveals musical parallels to the religious themes of the album, strengthening Gilmour’s conclusion that Harrison was inspired by the Bhagavad Gita. In addition, the analysis illuminates aspects of Harrison’s personal spiritual beliefs. Throughout, the article advocates an interdisciplinary approach is necessary for understanding the entirety of the album’s musical and religious content.
Evaluation of the HACCP System in a University Canteen: Microbiological Monitoring and Internal Auditing as Verification Tools
Authors: Osimani Andrea , Aquilanti Lucia , Tavoletti Stefano , Clementi Francesca
Published: April 2013

Food safety is essential in mass catering. In Europe, Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004 requires food business operators to put in place, implement and maintain permanent procedures based on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles. Each HACCP plan is specifically implemented for the processing plant and processing methods and requires a systematic collection of data on the incidence, elimination, prevention, and reduction of risks. In this five-year-study, the effectiveness of the HACCP plan of a University canteen was verified through periodic internal auditing and microbiological monitoring of meals, small equipment, cooking tools, working surfaces, as well as hands and white coats of the canteen staff. The data obtained revealed no safety risks for the consumers, since Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes were never detected; however, a quite discontinuous microbiological quality of meals was revealed. The fluctuations in the microbial loads of mesophilic aerobes, coliforms, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and sulphite-reducing clostridia were mainly ascribed to inadequate handling or processing procedures, thus suggesting the need for an enhancement of staff training activities and for a reorganization of tasks. Due to the wide variety of the fields covered by internal auditing, the full conformance to all the requirements was never achieved, though high scores, determined by assigning one point to each answer which matched with the requirements, were achieved in all the years.
Antioxidant Effectiveness of Vegetable Powders on the Lipid and Protein Oxidative Stability of Cooked Turkey Meat Patties: Implications for Health
Authors: Duthie Garry , Campbell Fiona , Bestwick Charles , Stephen Sylvia , Russell Wendy
Published: April 2013

Lipid and protein oxidation decreases the shelf-life of foods and may result in formation of end-products potentially detrimental for health. Consumer pressure to decrease the use of synthetic phenolic antioxidants has encouraged identification of alternative compounds or extracts from natural sources. We have assessed whether inclusion of dried vegetable powders improves the oxidative stability of turkey meat patties. Such powders are not only potentially-rich sources of phenolic antioxidants, but also may impart additional health benefits, as inadequate vegetable consumption is a risk factor for heart disease and several cancers. In an accelerated oxidation system, six of eleven vegetable powders significantly (p < 0.05) improved oxidative stability of patties by 20%–30% (spinach < yellow pea < onion < red pepper < green pea < tomato). Improved lipid oxidative stability was strongly correlated with the decreased formation of protein carbonyls (r = 0.747, p < 0.01). However, improved lipid stability could not be ascribed to phenolic acids nor recognized antioxidants, such as α- and γ-tocopherol, despite their significant (p < 0.01) contribution to the total antioxidant capacity of the patties. Use of chemically complex vegetable powders offers an alternative to individual antioxidants for increasing shelf-life of animal-based food products and may also provide additional health benefits associated with increased vegetable intake.
A Current Overview of Two Viroids That Infect Chrysanthemums: Chrysanthemum stunt viroid and Chrysanthemum chlorotic mottle viroid
Authors: Cho Won , Jo Yeonhwa , Jo Kyoung-Min , Kim Kook-Hyung
Published: April 2013

The chrysanthemum (Dendranthema X grandiflorum) belongs to the family Asteraceae and it is one of the most popular flowers in the world. Viroids are the smallest known plant pathogens. They consist of a circular, single-stranded RNA, which does not encode a protein. Chrysanthemums are a common host for two different viroids, the Chrysanthemum stunt viroid (CSVd) and the Chrysanthemum chlorotic mottle viroid (CChMVd). These viroids are quite different from each other in structure and function. Here, we reviewed research associated with CSVd and CChMVd that covered disease symptoms, identification, host range, nucleotide sequences, phylogenetic relationships, structures, replication mechanisms, symptom determinants, detection methods, viroid elimination, and development of viroid resistant chrysanthemums, among other studies. We propose that the chrysanthemum and these two viroids represent convenient genetic resources for host–viroid interaction studies.
Pourquoi et comment légiférer sur l’usure ?
Authors: Baudassé Thierry , Lavigne Anne
Published: April 2013

Depuis que la France connaît une quasi stabilité des prix, les taux d’intérêt nominaux sont situés à des niveaux historiquement bas. Cette situation n’est pas sans conséquence sur la soutenabilité de la réglementation anti-usuraire. En effet, les établissements de crédit soutiennent que, pour certaines catégories de crédit, la tarification «juste «du risque devient impossible : l’addition du coût du risque aux autres composantes de coûts bancaires fait buter certains taux débiteurs sur le taux de l’usure. Ainsi, les établissements seraient contraints de rationner le crédit, alors même que le fonctionnement libre du marché ne les y inciterait pas. De leur côté, les usagers des services bancaires soulignent la nécessité des lois anti-usuraires afin de protéger les populations économiquement fragiles. Entre la législation interdisant l’usure et celle prohibant la vente à perte, la conciliation entre ces intérêts contradictoires est délicate. Est-il souhaitable et possible de modifier le dispositif anti-usuraire en vigueur en France aujourd’hui ? Cet article propose quelques pistes de réponses, en s’attachant exclusivement à examiner la législation anti-usuraire applicable aux particuliers, et non aux entreprises et débouche sur une proposition concrète de dispositif qui concilie les intérêts des prêteurs et des emprunteurs, quel que soit l’environnement macroéconomique.

Classification JEL : E43, G21, G28
La Justice : un revenant au pays du Contrôle ?
Authors: Langevin Pascal , Mendoza Carla
Published: April 2013

La justice organisationnelle a depuis longtemps été reconnue comme une variable fondamentale affectant les relations des individus avec les entreprises qui les emploient : elle favorise leur satisfaction vis-à-vis du travail, leur engagement organisationnel, leur adhésion à la politique de l’entreprise, la résolution des conflits et les comportements civiques. Pourtant, peu de travaux se sont intéressés à la relation entre systèmes de contrôle et justice perçue. Ce papier présente une revue de la littérature des théories de la justice organisationnelle et son lien avec les systèmes de contrôle. En particulier, il apporte une réflexion et propose des voies de recherche sur les éléments qui peuvent augmenter la perception de justice des systèmes de contrôle et les rendre ainsi plus performants.
Les auditeurs financiers face aux conflits d'agence : une étude des déterminants des honoraires d'audit en France
Authors: Ben Ali Chiraz , Lesage Cédric
Published: April 2013

Considérant l’audit des états financiers comme un mécanisme de réduction des asymétries d’information, nous pouvons supposer que les conflits d’agence infuencent les honoraires d’audit. En examinant les honoraires d’audit des sociétés du SBF 250, nos résultats montrent : 1) l’absence de relation significative entre la propriété managériale et les honoraires d’audit ; 2) une relation non linéaire en U inversé entre les honoraires d’audit et la propriété des actionnaires de contrôle ; 3) une relation négative entre le contrôle familial et les honoraires d’audit. Ces résultats mettent en évidence la prédominance en France des conflits d’agence entre actionnaires de contrôle et actionnaires minoritaires, contrairement aux pays anglo-saxons où prédomine le conflit entre dirigeants et actionnaires. L’étude permet de tirer des enseignements utiles pour les praticiens et les régulateurs.
Stratégie d'acteurs et processus d'introduction d'outils de contrôle de gestion en PME
Authors: Nobre Thierry , Zawadzki Cindy
Published: April 2013

Cette recherche aborde la problématique de l’introduction du contrôle de gestion en PME en mobilisant l’analyse stratégique de Crozier et Friedberg (1977). Une étude de cas est menée dans une PME souhaitant formaliser et instrumenter sa gestion interne. Deux méthodologies d’accès au terrain sont mobi-lisées : la recherche action puis l’observation participante. Trois tentatives infructueuses sont successivement lancées et conduisent à la démission de deux directeurs administratifs et financiers. Il est mis en évidence que ces échecs sont dus aux comportements paradoxaux des acteurs stratégiques de la PME que sont le dirigeant et l’expert-comptable. Dans ce cas, la recherche montre que l’introduction du contrôle de gestion par le directeur administratif et financier est perçue comme une menace qui vient remettre en question leurs zones d’incertitude et donc leurs pouvoirs.
Le savoir-faire entre Witz et humour
Authors: Wiener Simone
Published: April 2013

Comment s’acquiert le savoir-faire de l’analyste et en quoi peut-on le distinguer de celui de la psychanalyse ? Toujours est-il qu’il s’agit d’un savoir qui n’est pas inné mais se constitue au fil de la pratique de chacun, éclairé par sa propre analyse, en rapport avec son style. J’essaierai d’approcher cette notion par l’usage possible du Witz et de l’humour comme modalité d’un savoir-faire.
Une cause de riches ?
Authors: Blanchard Soline , Boni-Le Goff Isabel , Rabier Marion
Published: April 2013

Résumé Les collectifs d’actrices mobilisées pour l’accès des femmes au pouvoir économique se multiplient depuis le milieu des années 2000. Initialement portés par quelques entrepreneuses fortement dotées en capitaux et désormais rejoints par un nombre croissant d’adhérentes, ils dessinent progressivement un espace de la cause de l’accès des femmes au pouvoir économique. En dépit des luttes et des clivages internes qui le traversent, y est défendue l’idée d’un capitalisme « renouvelé » par sa féminisation, en adéquation avec le logos gestionnaire. Au croisement d’un engagement pour l’égalité professionnelle femmes-hommes et de l’appartenance au champ économique, la position des actrices de ces mobilisations interroge les frontières entre pratiques professionnelles et militantes. Se dégagent alors différentes stratégies de résolution des tensions ressenties, reflets d’une articulation complexe et évolutive des formes d’engagement.
Morphology of the larval stages of a Mediterranean population of the allochthonous Say’s mud crab, Dyspanopeus sayi (Decapoda: Brachyura: Panopeidae)
Authors: Marco-Herrero Elena , Guerao Guillermo , Cuesta José A.
Published: April 2013

In this study the complete larval development (including four zoeal stages and a megalopa stage) of Dyspanopeus sayi is described and illustrated in detail based on larvae reared in the laboratory. Ovigerous females were collected in Alfacs Bay, Ebro Delta (NW Mediterranean) where the species was recently introduced. These larval stages were compared with others collected in the plankton from the same area, the larval stages described previously for this species and the larval stages of the two other Panopeidae that inhabit the Iberian Peninsula: Panopeus africanus and Rhithropanopeus harrisii. Differences were found in both zoeal and megalopal larval characters between D. sayi and the other two species, which could raise doubt about their placement in the same family.
An Information Systems Model of the Determinants of Electronic Health Record Use
Authors: Khan S. , Millery M. , Campbell A. , Merrill J. , Shih S. , Kukafka R. , Messeri P.
Published: April 2013

Objectives: The prominence given to universal implementation of electronic health record (EHR) systems in U.S. health care reform, underscores the importance of devising reliable measures of factors that predict medical care providers’ use of EHRs. This paper presents an easily administered provider survey instrument that includes measures corresponding to core dimensions of DeLone and McClean’s (D & M) model of information system success.

Methods: Study data came from self-administered surveys completed by 460 primary care providers, who had recently begun using an EHR.

Results: Based upon assessment of psychometric properties of survey items, a revised D&M causal model was formulated that included four measures of the determinants of EHR use (system quality, IT support, ease of use, user satisfaction) and five indicators of provider beliefs about the impact on an individual’s clinical practice. A structural equation model was estimated that demonstrated a high level of inter-correlation between the four scales measuring determinants of EHR use. All four variables had positive association with each of the five individual impact measures. Consistent with our revised D&M model, the association of system quality and IT support with the individual impact measures was entirely mediated by ease of use and user satisfaction.

Conclusions: Survey research provides important insights into provider experiences with EHR. Additional studies are in progress to investigate how the variables constructed for this study are related to direct measures of EHR use.

Citation: Messeri P, Khan S, Millery M, Campbell A, Merrill J, Shih S, Kukafka R. An information systems model of the determinants of electronic health record use. Appl Clin Inf 2013; 4: 185–200

http://dx.doi.org/10.4338/ACI-2013-01-RA-0005
Linking ENSO and heavy rainfall events over coastal British Columbia through a weather pattern classification
Authors: Brigode P. , Mićović Z. , Bernardara P. , Paquet E. , Garavaglia F. , Gailhard J. , Ribstein P.
Published: April 2013

Abstract. Classifications of atmospheric weather patterns (WPs) are widely used for the description of the climate of a given region and are employed for many applications, such as weather forecasting, downscaling of global circulation model outputs and reconstruction of past climates. WP classifications were recently used to improve the statistical characterisation of heavy rainfall. In this context, bottom-up approaches, combining spatial distribution of heavy rainfall observations and geopotential height fields have been used to define WP classifications relevant for heavy rainfall statistical analysis. The definition of WPs at the synoptic scale creates an interesting variable which could be used as a link between the global scale of climate signals and the local scale of precipitation station measurements. We introduce here a new WP classification centred on the British Columbia (BC) coastal region (Canada) and based on a bottom-up approach. Five contrasted WPs composed this classification, four rainy WPs and one non-rainy WP, the anticyclonic pattern. The four rainy WPs are mainly observed in the winter months (October to March), which is the period of heavy precipitation events in coastal BC and is thus consistent with the local climatology. The combination of this WP classification with the seasonal description of rainfall is shown to be useful for splitting observed precipitation series into more homogeneous sub-samples (i.e. sub-samples constituted by days having similar atmospheric circulation patterns) and thus identifying, for each station, the synoptic situations that generate the highest hazard in terms of heavy rainfall events. El Niño-Southern Oscillations (ENSO) significantly influence the frequency of occurrence of two coastal BC WPs. Within each WP, ENSO seem to influence only the frequency of rainy events and not the magnitudes of heavy rainfall events. Consequently, heavy rainfall estimations do not show significant evolution of heavy rainfall behaviour between Niño and Niña winters. However, the WP approach captures the variability of the probability of occurrences of synoptic situations generating heavy rainfall depending on ENSO and opening interesting perspectives for the analysis of heavy rainfall distribution in a non-stationary context.
New developments in ambient noise analysis to characterise the seismic response of landslide prone slopes
Authors: Del Gaudio V. , Wasowski J. , Muscillo S.
Published: April 2013

Abstract. We report on new developments in the application of ambient noise analysis applied to investigate the dynamic response of landslide prone slopes to seismic shaking with special attention to the directional resonance phenomena recognised in previous studies. Investigations relying on the calculation of horizontal-to-vertical noise spectral ratio (HVNR) were carried out in the area of Caramanico Terme (central Italy) where an ongoing accelerometer monitoring on slopes with different characteristics offers the possibility of validation of HVNR analysis. The noise measurements, carried out in different times to test the result repeatability, revealed that sites affected by response directivity persistently show major peaks with a common orientation consistent with the resonance direction inferred from accelerometer data. At sites where directivity is absent, the HVNR peaks do not generally show a preferential orientation, with rare exceptions that could be linked to the presence of temporarily active sources of polarised noise. The observed spectral ratio amplitude variations can be related to temporal changes in site conditions, which can hinder the recognition of main resonance frequencies. Therefore, it is recommended to conduct simultaneous measurements at nearby sites within the same study area and to repeat measurements at different times in order to distinguish significant systematic polarisation caused by site specific response directivity from polarisation controlled by properties of noise sources. Furthermore, an analysis of persistence in noise recordings of signals with systematic directivity showed that only a~portion of recordings contains wave trains having a clear polarisation representative of site directional resonance. Thus a careful selection of signals for HVNR analysis is needed for a correct characterisation of site directional properties.
Experimental deformation and recrystallization of olivine – processes and time scales of damage healing during postseismic relaxation at mantle depths
Authors: Trepmann C. A. , Renner J. , Druiventak A.
Published: April 2013

Abstract. Experiments comprising sequences of deformation (at 300 or 600 °C) and annealing at varying temperature (700 to 1100 °C), time (up to 144 h) and stress (up to 1.5 GPa) were carried out in a Griggs-type apparatus on natural olivine-rich peridotite samples to simulate deformation and recrystallization processes in deep shear zones that reach mantle depth as continuations of seismically active faults. The resulting olivine microfabrics were analysed by polarization and electron microscopy. Core-and-mantle like microstructures are the predominant result of our experiments simulating rapid stress relaxation (without or with minor creep) after a high-stress deformation event: porphyroclasts (> 100 μm) are surrounded by defect-poor recrystallized grains with a wide range in size (2 to 40 μm). Areas with smaller recrystallized grains (> 10 μm) trace former high-strain zones generated during initial high-stress deformation even after annealing at a temperature of 1100 °C for 70 h. A weak crystallographic preferred orientation (CPO) of recrystallized olivine grains is related to the orientation of the host crystals but appears unrelated to the strain field. Based on these findings, we propose that olivine microstructures in natural shear-zone peridotites with a large range in recrystallized grain size, localized fine-grained zones, and a weak CPO not related to the strain field are diagnostic for a sequence of high-stress deformation followed by recrystallization at low stresses, as to be expected in areas of seismic activity. We extended the classic Avrami-kinetics equation by accounting for time-dependent growth kinetics and constrained the involved parameters relying on our results and previously reported kinetics parameters. Extrapolation to natural conditions suggests that the observed characteristic microstructure may develop within as little as tens of years and less than ten thousands of years. These recrystallization microstructures have a great diagnostic potential for past seismic activity because they are expected to be stable over geological time scales, since driving forces for further modification are not sufficient to erase the characteristic heterogeneities.
Use of an Implantable Needle Guide to Access Difficult or Impossible to Cannulate Arteriovenous Fistulae using the Buttonhole Technique
Authors: Hill Andrew A. , Vasudevan Thodur , Young Nathaniel P. , Crawford Mark , Blatter Duane D. , Marsh Emma , Perry Trent , Smith Doug , Phillips Chris
Published: April 2013

Purpose

The aim of this work was to assess the safety and efficacy of the VWING Vascular Needle Guide to assist in cannulation of difficult or impossible to access fistulae using the buttonhole cannulation technique.

Methods

VWING devices were surgically implanted into patients with difficult to access fistulae. A nondevice site and a device site were used to access the fistula and perform dialysis over a six month period. The device site utilized the buttonhole cannulation technique. The performance of each access site was recorded.

Results

VWING devices were implanted in nine patients. A total of 387 cannulations took place over 1367 study days. The device site was successfully used 94% of the time compared to 77% for the nondevice site. Cannulation success was comparable between the device and nondevice sites. Ease of insertion, pain during insertion and complication rates were also comparable. No interventions were required at the device site to maintain access compared with four interventions for the nondevice access site.

Conclusions

The VWING performed as intended by facilitating required repeated access to the vascular system and access for hemodialysis treatment. The study has demonstrated that the VWING is a potential solution for access to difficult to cannulate fistulae.