bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An automatic wave detection algorithm applied to Pc1 pulsations
Authors: Bortnik J. , Cutler J. W. , Dunson C. , Bleier T. E.
Published: April 2007

A new technique designed to automatically identify and characterize waves in three‐axis data is presented, which can be applied in a variety of settings, including triaxial ground‐magnetometer data or satellite wave data (particularly when transformed to a field‐aligned coordinate system). This technique is demonstrated on a single Pc1 event recorded on a triaxial search coil magnetometer in Parkfield, California (35.945°,−120.542°), and then applied to a 6‐month period between 1 June 2003 and 31 December 2003. The technique begins with the creation of a standard dynamic spectrogram and consists of three steps: (1) for every column of the spectrogram (which represents the spectral content of a short period in the time series), spectral peaks are identified whose power content significantly exceeds the ambient noise; (2) the series of spectral peaks from step 1 are grouped into continuous blocks representing discrete wave events using a “spectral‐overlap” criterion; and (3) for each identified event, wave parameters (e.g., wave normal angles, polarization ratio) are calculated which can be used to check the continuity of individual identified wave events or to further filter wave events (e.g., by polarization ratio).
Hydrogeologic controls imposed by mechanical stratigraphy in layered rocks of the Châteauguay River Basin, a U.S.‐Canada transborder aquifer
Authors: Morin Roger , Godin Réjean , Nastev Miroslav , Rouleau Alain
Published: April 2007

The Châteauguay River Basin delineates a transborder watershed with roughly half of its surface area located in northern New York State and half in southern Québec Province, Canada. As part of a multidisciplinary study designed to characterize the hydrogeologic properties of this basin, geophysical logs were obtained in 12 wells strategically located to penetrate the four major sedimentary rock formations that constitute the regional aquifers. The layered rocks were classified according to their elastic properties into three primary units: soft sandstone, hard sandstone, and dolostone. Downhole measurements were analyzed to identify fracture patterns associated with each unit and to evaluate their role in controlling groundwater flow. Fracture networks are composed of orthogonal sets of laterally extensive, subhorizontal bedding plane partings and bed‐delimited, subvertical joints with spacings that are consistent with rock mechanics principles and stress models. The vertical distribution of transmissive zones is confined to a few select bedding plane fractures, with soft sandstone having the fewest (one per 70‐m depth) and hard sandstone the most (five per 70‐m depth). Bed‐normal permeability is examined using a probabilistic model that considers the lengths of flow paths winding along joints and bedding plane fractures. Soft sandstone has the smallest bed‐normal permeability primarily because of its wide, geomechanically undersaturated joint spacing. Results indicate that the three formations have similar values of bulk transmissivity, within roughly an order of magnitude, but that each rock unit has its own unique system of groundwater flow paths that constitute that transmissivity.
A theoretical model of the inner proton radiation belt
Authors: Selesnick R. S. , Looper M. D. , Mewaldt R. A.
Published: April 2007

A theoretical calculation provides inner radiation belt proton intensities as a function of time and of the three adiabatic invariants, M, K, and L, in the kinetic energy range from ∼10 MeV to ∼4 GeV and the L range from 1.1 to 2.4. Long residence times for trapped protons of up to several thousand years require similarly long input time series for the geomagnetic field, solar activity, and solar proton fluences. Additional inputs include galactic cosmic ray spectra, nuclear scattering cross sections, and the neutral and plasma densities in the atmosphere, ionosphere, and plasmasphere. Trapped proton sources are cosmic ray albedo neutron decay (CRAND), calculated from a Monte Carlo particle transport simulation, and solar proton injection using a derived empirical injection efficiency that is ∼10−4 at 10 MeV. Radial diffusion provides inward transport of injected solar protons. Calculated intensities at energies ≲100 MeV and for L ≳ 1.3 are dominated by solar protons, CRAND being the dominant source otherwise. Losses are by ionization of the neutral atmosphere, energy transfer to plasma electrons, and inelastic nuclear scattering. Numerical trajectory tracing determines trapping limits and drift shell averages of the albedo neutron intensity and of neutral and plasma densities for loss rate calculations. Geomagnetic secular variations cause adiabatic energy and drift shell changes. Intensities are greater than they would be in a constant geomagnetic field by factors up to ∼10, a result of long proton residence times and the presently decreasing geomagnetic dipole moment.
Using lunar boulders to distinguish primary from distant secondary impact craters
Authors: Bart Gwendolyn D. , Melosh H. J.
Published: April 2007

A high‐resolution study of 18 lunar craters, including both primary and distant secondary craters, shows that the secondary craters produce larger ejecta fragments at a given crater size than do the primary craters. The maximum boulder diameter (B) increases with crater size (D) according to the power law B = KD2/3; for primary craters, when B and D are in meters, K is 0.29, whereas for secondary craters, we find that K is 0.46 (60% larger). Next we show that impact fracture theory predicts that secondary craters, because of their lower impact velocity, will produce larger ejecta fragments than primary craters. This result provides an opportunity for distinguishing between primary and secondary craters in high resolution planetary images. The ability to identify distant secondary craters will help constrain primary production rates of small craters and improve surface age determination of small areas based on small crater counts.
DNA demethylation in the
Arabidopsis
genome
Authors: Penterman Jon , Zilberman Daniel , Huh Jin Hoe , Ballinger Tracy , Henikoff Steven , Fischer Robert L.
Published: April 2007

Cytosine DNA methylation is considered to be a stable epigenetic mark, but active demethylation has been observed in both plants and animals. In
Arabidopsis thaliana
, DNA glycosylases of the DEMETER (DME) family remove methylcytosines from DNA. Demethylation by DME is necessary for genomic imprinting, and demethylation by a related protein, REPRESSOR OF SILENCING1, prevents gene silencing in a transgenic background. However, the extent and function of demethylation by DEMETER-LIKE (DML) proteins in WT plants is not known. Using genome-tiling microarrays, we mapped DNA methylation in mutant and WT plants and identified 179 loci actively demethylated by DML enzymes. Mutations in DML genes lead to locus-specific DNA hypermethylation. Reintroducing WT DML genes restores most loci to the normal pattern of methylation, although at some loci, hypermethylated epialleles persist. Of loci demethylated by DML enzymes, >80% are near or overlap genes. Genic demethylation by DML enzymes primarily occurs at the 5′ and 3′ ends, a pattern opposite to the overall distribution of WT DNA methylation. Our results show that demethylation by DML DNA glycosylases edits the patterns of DNA methylation within the
Arabidopsis
genome to protect genes from potentially deleterious methylation.
Mitotic Chromosome Biorientation in Fission Yeast Is Enhanced by Dynein and a Minus-end–directed, Kinesin-like Protein
Authors: Grishchuk Ekaterina L. , Spiridonov Ilia S. , McIntosh J. Richard
Published: April 2007

Chromosome biorientation, the attachment of sister kinetochores to sister spindle poles, is vitally important for accurate chromosome segregation. We have studied this process by following the congression of pole-proximal kinetochores and their subsequent anaphase segregation in fission yeast cells that carry deletions in any or all of this organism's minus end–directed, microtubule-dependent motors: two related kinesin 14s (Pkl1p and Klp2p) and dynein. None of these deletions abolished biorientation, but fewer chromosomes segregated normally without Pkl1p, and to a lesser degree without dynein, than in wild-type cells. In the absence of Pkl1p, which normally localizes to the spindle and its poles, the checkpoint that monitors chromosome biorientation was defective, leading to frequent precocious anaphase. Ultrastructural analysis of mutant mitotic spindles suggests that Pkl1p contributes to error-free biorientation by promoting normal spindle pole organization, whereas dynein helps to anchor a focused bundle of spindle microtubules at the pole.
Active Arf6 Recruits ARNO/Cytohesin GEFs to the PM by Binding Their PH Domains
Authors: Cohen Lee Ann , Honda Akira , Varnai Peter , Brown Fraser D. , Balla Tamas , Donaldson Julie G.
Published: April 2007

ARNO is a soluble guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for the Arf family of GTPases. Although in biochemical assays ARNO prefers Arf1 over Arf6 as a substrate, its localization in cells at the plasma membrane (PM) suggests an interaction with Arf6. In this study, we found that ARNO activated Arf1 in HeLa and COS-7 cells resulting in the recruitment of Arf1 on to dynamic PM ruffles. By contrast, Arf6 was activated less by ARNO than EFA6, a canonical Arf6 GEF. Remarkably, Arf6 in its GTP-bound form recruited ARNO to the PM and the two proteins could be immunoprecipitated. ARNO binding to Arf6 was not mediated through the catalytic Sec7 domain, but via the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain. Active Arf6 also bound the PH domain of Grp1, another ARNO family member. This interaction was direct and required both inositol phospholipids and GTP. We propose a model of sequential Arf activation at the PM whereby Arf6-GTP recruits ARNO family GEFs for further activation of other Arf isoforms.
The Peroxiredoxin Tpx1 Is Essential as a H2O2Scavenger during Aerobic Growth in Fission Yeast
Authors: Jara Mónica , Vivancos Ana P. , Calvo Isabel A. , Moldón Alberto , Sansó Miriam , Hidalgo Elena
Published: April 2007

Peroxiredoxins are known to interact with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and to participate in oxidant scavenging, redox signal transduction, and heat-shock responses. The two-cysteine peroxiredoxin Tpx1 of Schizosaccharomyces pombe has been characterized as the H2O2sensor that transduces the redox signal to the transcription factor Pap1. Here, we show that Tpx1 is essential for aerobic, but not anaerobic, growth. We demonstrate that Tpx1 has an exquisite sensitivity for its substrate, which explains its participation in maintaining low steady-state levels of H2O2. We also show in vitro and in vivo that inactivation of Tpx1 by oxidation of its catalytic cysteine to a sulfinic acid is always preceded by a sulfinic acid form in a covalently linked dimer, which may be important for understanding the kinetics of Tpx1 inactivation. Furthermore, we provide evidence that a strain expressing Tpx1.C169S, lacking the resolving cysteine, can sustain aerobic growth, and we show that small reductants can modulate the activity of the mutant protein in vitro, probably by supplying a thiol group to substitute for cysteine 169.
The Illusion of Importance: Reconsidering the UK'S Takeover Defence Prohibition
Authors: Kershaw David
Published: April 2007

This article considers the significance of the UK Takeover Code's non-frustration prohibition. It asks to what extent the prohibition actually prevents post-bid, director-controlled defences that would not have been, in any event, either formally prohibited by UK company law without share-holder approval or practically ineffective as a result of the basic UK company law rule set. It finds that there would be minimal scope for director-deployed defences in the absence of the non-frustration prohibition, and that, in the context of UK company law, such defences have limited scope to be deployed for entrenchment purposes. Furthermore, this minimal scope for board defensive action would, in order to be compliant with a director's duties, require a pre-bid, shareholder-approved alteration to the UK's default constitutional balance of power between the board and the shareholder body to allow corporate powers to be used for defensive effect. In light of this conclusion the article looks for a rationale to justify denying shareholders the right to make this limited and potentially beneficial defensive election. It concludes that no persuasive rationale is available and that the prohibition is unnecessary and without justification.
Transpterygoid Transposition of a Temporoparietal Fascia Flap: A New Method for Skull Base Reconstruction after Endoscopic Expanded Endonasal Approaches
Authors: Fortes Felipe S. G. , Carrau Ricardo L. , Snyderman Carl H. , Kassam Amin , Prevedello Daniel , Vescan Allan , Mintz Arlan , Gardner Paul
Published: April 2007

Background: Endoscopic expanded endonasal approaches (EEAs) for the resection of lesions of the anterior and ventral skull base can create large defects that present a significant risk of postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. These defects, especially in patients who received preoperative radiotherapy, are best reconstructed with vascularized tissue. The Hadad‐Bassagasteguy flap, a pedicled nasoseptal flap, is our preferred method for reconstruction. This option is not available, however, in patients who underwent a previous posterior septectomy or in those with tumors that invade the pterygopalatine fossa (PPF) or sphenoid sinus rostrum. In this scenario, we have used a temporoparietal fascial flap (TPFF) for the reconstruction of large surgical defects.

Methods: We developed a new technique for the transposition of the TPFF into the nasal cavity to reconstruct skull base defects after EEA. The flap is harvested using a conventional hemicoronal incision but is then advanced to the defect using a temporal‐infratemporal tunnel and an endonasal transpterygoid approach. The latter is created using an endoscopic endonasal approach that involves the resection of the posterior wall of the antrum, dissection of the PPF, and partial resection of the pterygoid plates. These maneuvers open a bone window to accommodate the flap. The soft tissue tunnel, extending from the temporal to the infratemporal and then to the PPF, is opened with percutaneous tracheostomy dilators. We present a detailed description of the surgical technique and a retrospective review of two cases in which we used this technique.

Results: Two patients with large CSF fistulas who had undergone preoperative radiotherapy were reconstructed transposing the TPFF through a transpterygoid tunnel. We obtained an adequate exposure for placing the flap endonasally, and the flap provided complete coverage of the skull base defect. Both CSF leaks were resolved without any additional morbidity from the flap or the access technique.

Conclusion: The TPFF is a reliable and versatile method for the reconstruction of the anterior, middle, clival, and parasellar skull base after EEAs. Its harvesting requires an external incision; thus, it is not our preferred method of reconstruction. It is recommended for large dural defects in patients with previous posterior septectomy and previous radiation treatment.
Identification of HLA-DR1- and HLA-DR15-restricted human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) and HPV18 E6 epitopes recognized by CD4+ T cells from healthy young women
Authors: Gallagher Kathleen M. E. , Man Stephen
Published: April 2007

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, particularly with types 16 and 18, is causally associated with the development of cervical cancer. Prophylactic vaccines against HPV have recently been licensed and have the primary aim of protecting children against future HPV infection and cervical cancer. However, these vaccines are unlikely to be effective in women with pre-existing HPV infection and disease. Previous studies have suggested that HPV16 E6-specific CD4+ T cells play a role in controlling viral infection; however, the epitopes recognized by such T-cells have not been defined. In this study, we analysed T-cell responses against HPV16 and 18 in ten healthy young women in an age group (21–31) with a high prevalence of HPV infection and clearance. Five individuals made HPV E6 responses, from which five candidate T-cell epitopes (three HPV16 E6 and two HPV18 E6) were identified. More detailed characterization of epitopes from HPV16 E6(127–141) and HPV18 E6(43–57) revealed HLA-DRB1*01 and HLA-DRB1*15 restriction, respectively. Furthermore, generation of a T-cell line against HPV16 E6(127–141) demonstrated that this epitope could be presented after endogenous processing of soluble HPV16 E6 protein. Overall we demonstrate a powerful approach for defining novel CD4+ T-cell epitopes from two oncogenic HPV types. This approach could be applied to study populations in developing countries with a high incidence of cervical cancer. Such epitopes could provide a more precise way of investigating the role of natural and vaccine-induced T-cell responses against HPV in blood and at sites of disease.
Murine gammaherpesvirus 68 ORF20 induces cell-cycle arrest in G2 by inhibiting the Cdc2–cyclin B complex
Authors: Nascimento R. , Parkhouse R. M. E.
Published: April 2007

The objective of this work was to identify novel viral ‘evasion’ genes without homology in the database through functional assays. Using this approach, the ‘unassigned’, conserved murine gammaherpesvirus ORF20 gene was shown to localize in the nucleus and to induce cell-cycle arrest followed by apoptosis in both mouse and human cells. Such growth-arrested cells did not express phospho-histone H3, demonstrating that the virus protein caused arrest at the G2 stage of the cell cycle. To characterize the mechanism further, Western blots of ORF20-recombinant lentivirus-infected cells were developed with antibodies to cyclin B1, Cdc2 and phospho-Tyr-15-Cdc2. This analysis revealed a relative increase in cyclin B and phospho-Tyr-15-Cdc2, from 24 to 72 h after infection with recombinant lentivirus. The demonstration that Cdc2 is in its inactive phosphorylated form and the clearly increased levels of cyclin B indicated that the virus gene blocks the progression of cells into mitosis by acting at the level of the Cdc2–cyclin B complex. To confirm this result, the Cdc2–cyclin B complex in ORF20-expressing cells was shown to be essentially without kinase activity. As the ORF20 gene is conserved in all herpesvirus, it may be presumed to have evolved to fulfil an important, as yet undefined, biological role in host-cell modification.
Complete genomic characterization of a murine papillomavirus isolated from papillomatous lesions of a European harvest mouse (Micromys minutus)
Authors: Van Doorslaer Koenraad , Rector Annabel , Jenson A. Bennett , Sundberg John P. , Van Ranst Marc , Ghim Shin-Je
Published: April 2007

The papillomaviruses form a large group of species-specific pathogens that cause epithelial proliferations in a wide spectrum of animal hosts. Previous reports demonstrated a relatively high frequency of a variety of skin lesions in captive European harvest mice. The Micromys minutus papillomavirus (MmPV) was isolated from one of these lesions found on a captive European harvest mouse in a regional zoo in Chicago. In this study we present the entire genomic sequence of MmPV. The MmPV genome is organized into the seven classical papillomaviral open reading frames. Phylogenetic analysis places MmPV together with a papillomavirus (PV) isolated from a Syrian golden Hamster (HaOPV) in the genus Pipapillomavirus. The similar clustering pattern of the MmPV–HaOPV pair and their rodent hosts support the hypothesis of papillomaviral and host co-phylogenetic descent. The availability of the complete genomic sequence of a mouse PV should allow researchers to use MmPV as a model for PV carcinogenesis.
A novel cleavage site within the potato leafroll virus P1 polyprotein
Authors: Li Xuejun , Halpin Claire , Ryan Martin D.
Published: April 2007

To study the proteolytic processing of the potato leafroll virus replicase proteins, the multidomain P1 protein with a c-myc epitope tag attached at the N terminus was expressed in insect cells by using the baculovirus system. Western blotting showed that P1 was cleaved at a site upstream of the serine protease domain, in addition to the cleavage site downstream of the protease domain. Mutational analysis showed that the serine protease domain within P1 was responsible for this cleavage. To characterize this novel cleavage site further, a portion of the P1 protein comprising the protease domain and the two cleavage sites was expressed in Escherichia coli. A similar cleavage event was observed in bacteria and was abolished when the P1 protease was inactivated by mutation. Peptide-sequencing studies indicated that this cleavage occurred at a Glu/Arg junction, separating the N-terminal 204 residues from the serine protease domain of P1.
Reciprocal roles of cellular chemokine receptors and human herpesvirus 7-encoded chemokine receptors, U12 and U51
Authors: Tadagaki Kenjiro , Yamanishi Koichi , Mori Yasuko
Published: April 2007

Human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7) is a member of the subfamilyBetaherpesvirinaethat exhibits a restricted cell tropism, preferentially infecting CD4+T cellsin vitro. HHV-7 encodes two functional chemokine receptors, U12 and U51. The human chemokines that act as ligands for these receptors have been identified as CCL22 (the natural ligand for CCR4) and CCL19 (the natural ligand for CCR7). It was found that murine L1.2 cells co-expressing CCR4 or CCR7 and U12 responded to both CCL22 and CCL19 in calcium-mobilization assays, but migrated in response only to the appropriate ligand for the expressed cellular receptor. Similar results were obtained with L1.2 cells co-expressing CCR4 or CCR7 with U51. These results suggest that the HHV-7 U12 and U51 receptors can function in concert with CCR4 and CCR7 in host-cell signalling pathways.
Egg whites from eggs of chickens infected experimentally with avian hepatitis E virus contain infectious virus, but evidence of complete vertical transmission is lacking
Authors: Guo H. , Zhou E. M. , Sun Z. F. , Meng X.-J.
Published: April 2007

Avian hepatitis E virus (HEV) is genetically and antigenically related to human HEV. Vertical transmission of HEV has been reported in humans, but not in other animals. In this study, we showed that avian HEV could be detected in chicken egg-white samples. Subsequently, avian HEV in egg white was found to be infectious, as evidenced by the appearance of viraemia, faecal virus shedding and seroconversion in chickens inoculated with avian HEV-positive egg white, but not in chickens inoculated with HEV-negative egg white. To further assess the possibility of vertical transmission of avian HEV, batches of embryonated eggs from infected hens were hatched, and hatched chicks were monitored for evidence of avian HEV infection. However, no virus was detected in samples collected from the hatched chicks throughout this study, suggesting that avian HEV could not complete the vertical transmission cycle. The possible implications of our findings are also discussed.
Further characterization of a paramyxovirus transcription initiation signal: search for required nucleotides upstream and importance of the N phase context
Authors: Cordey Samuel , Roux Laurent
Published: April 2007

Paramyxovirus genomes contain a linear array of five to ten genes sequentially transcribed by the viral RNA polymerase. mRNA synthesis initiates at a nucleotide signal (gs1) within the genomic promoter located at the genome 3′ end. To gain information about the mechanism involved in transcription initiation, a search was carried out for upstream nucleotides required for gs1 and the effects of the gs1 nucleocapsid protein (N) phase context on transcription regulation were determined. For both purposes, tandem promoter mini-genomes carrying a transcription signal ectopically positioned downstream of a replication-only signal were used. The requirement for hygromycin resistance gene expression was used in an attempt to select essential nucleotides within randomized stretches of nucleotides. Nucleotide insertions or deletions were also made on either side of the transcription signal to change its original N phase context in the five remaining possibilities and GFP expression from these modified signals was assessed. Cell cultures resistant to hygromycin treatment were readily obtained following amplification of mini-genomes harbouring randomized sequences. However, selected nucleotides upstream of gs1 could not be identified under conditions where nucleotides within gs1 were selected. In contrast, it was observed that changing the gs1 N phase context progressively decreased transcription by five- to tenfold. These results are discussed in relation to two different mechanisms of transcription initiation.
Optimization of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) L1 expression in plants: comparison of the suitability of different HPV-16 L1 gene variants and different cell-compartment localization
Authors: Maclean J. , Koekemoer M. , Olivier A. J. , Stewart D. , Hitzeroth I. I. , Rademacher T. , Fischer R. , Williamson A.-L. , Rybicki E. P.
Published: April 2007

Virus-like particle-based vaccines for high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) appear to have great promise; however, cell culture-derived vaccines will probably be very expensive. The optimization of expression of different codon-optimized versions of the HPV-16 L1 capsid protein gene in plants has been explored by means of transient expression from a novel suite of Agrobacterium tumefaciens binary expression vectors, which allow targeting of recombinant protein to the cytoplasm, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) or chloroplasts. A gene resynthesized to reflect human codon usage expresses better than the native gene, which expresses better than a plant-optimized gene. Moreover, chloroplast localization allows significantly higher levels of accumulation of L1 protein than does cytoplasmic localization, whilst ER retention was least successful. High levels of L1 (>17 % total soluble protein) could be produced via transient expression: the protein assembled into higher-order structures visible by electron microscopy, and a concentrated extract was highly immunogenic in mice after subcutaneous injection and elicited high-titre neutralizing antibodies. Transgenic tobacco plants expressing a human codon-optimized gene linked to a chloroplast-targeting signal expressed L1 at levels up to 11 % of the total soluble protein. These are the highest levels of HPV L1 expression reported for plants: these results, and the excellent immunogenicity of the product, significantly improve the prospects of making a conventional HPV vaccine by this means.
RNA4-encoded p31 of beet necrotic yellow vein virus is involved in efficient vector transmission, symptom severity and silencing suppression in roots
Authors: Rahim Muhammad Danial , Andika Ida Bagus , Han Chenggui , Kondo Hideki , Tamada Tetsuo
Published: April 2007

RNA3 and RNA4 of beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) are not essential for virus multiplication, but are associated with vector-mediated infection and disease development in sugar beet roots. Here, a unique role for RNA4 in virus transmission, virulence and RNA silencing suppression was demonstrated. Mutagenic analysis revealed that the RNA4-encoded p31 open reading frame (ORF) was involved in efficient vector transmission and slight enhancement of symptom expression in some Beta species. No effects of RNA4 on virus accumulation in infected tissue were observed. Furthermore, the p31 ORF was involved in the induction of severe symptoms by BNYVV in Nicotiana benthamiana plants without affecting viral RNA accumulation. In contrast, RNA3-encoded p25, previously identified as a major contributor to symptom induction in sugar beet, had no such effect on N. benthamiana. In two different silencing suppression assays, neither p31 nor p25 was able to suppress RNA silencing in leaves, but the presence of p31 enhanced a silencing suppressor activity in roots without alteration in viral RNA accumulation. Thus, BNYVV p31 plays a multifunctional role in efficient vector transmission, enhanced symptom expression and root-specific silencing suppression.
A novel monolayer cell line derived from human umbilical cord blood cells shows high sensitivity to measles virus
Authors: Kobune Fumio , Ami Yasushi , Katayama Miki , Takahashi Motohide , Tuul Renchin , Korukluoglu Gulay , Kiyohara Tomoko , Miura Ryuichi , Sato Hiroki , Yoneda Misako , Kai Chieko
Published: April 2007

Measles virus (MeV) research is largely dependent on the B95a cell line, which is derived from marmoset B lymphocytes. As this cell line is persistently infected with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), a novel cell line, COBL-a, was established from human umbilical cord blood. COBL-a cells have a significant advantage over B95a cells because they are of human origin, are free from EBV and have higher sensitivity to wild-type MeV. Thus, COBL-a cells should prove very valuable for both epidemiological and basic studies of MeV.
Properties of H7N7 influenza A virus strain SC35M lacking interferon antagonist NS1 in mice and chickens
Authors: Kochs Georg , Koerner Iris , Thiel Lena , Kothlow Sonja , Kaspers Bernd , Ruggli Nicolas , Summerfield Artur , Pavlovic Jovan , Stech Jürgen , Staeheli Peter
Published: April 2007

Non-structural protein NS1 of influenza A virus counteracts the host immune response by blocking the synthesis of type I interferon (IFN). As deletion of the complete NS1 gene has to date been reported only in the human H1N1 strain A/PR/8/34, it remained unclear whether NS1 is a non-essential virulence factor in other influenza A virus strains as well. In this report, the properties of NS1-deficient mutants derived from strain SC35M (H7N7) are described. A mutant of SC35M that completely lacks the NS1 gene was an excellent inducer of IFN in mammalian and avian cells in culture and, consequently, was able to multiply efficiently only in cell lines with defects in the type I IFN system. Virus mutants carrying C-terminally truncated versions of NS1 were less powerful inducers of IFN and were attenuated less strongly in human A549 cells. Although attenuated in wild-type mice, these mutants remained highly pathogenic for mice lacking the IFN-regulated antiviral factor Mx1. In contrast, the NS1-deficient SC35M mutant was completely non-pathogenic for wild-type mice, but remained pathogenic for mice lacking Mx1 and double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase (PKR). Wild-type SC35M, but not the NS1-deficient mutant virus, was able to replicate in the upper respiratory tract of birds, but neither virus induced severe disease in adult chickens. Altogether, this study supports the view that NS1 represents a non-essential virulence factor of different influenza A viruses.
Identification of satisfaction attributes using competitive analysis of the improvement gap
Authors: Tontini Gérson , Silveira Amélia
Published: April 2007

Purpose

To analyze the limitations of two methods used in the identification of satisfaction attributes in products and services – importance performance analysis (IPA) and Kano method – and to propose a new method for identification of improvement opportunities based on the competitive analysis of the improvement gap.

Design/methodology/approach

A case analyzing attributes of the service “rodizio de pizzas” a kind of pizzeria found in Brazil, was used to illustrate the proposed method. Resulting from a focus group, four attributes, one of them being an innovation, were specifically chosen to include the different categories of the Kano model: basic, performance and excitement attributes. A survey was conducted with a random sample of 110 undergraduate students that eat regularly at pizzerias.

Findings

As a major limitation, IPA leads to different conclusions depending on how an attribute's importance is figured. Also, it does not take into consideration the non‐linear relationship between the performance of the attributes and customer satisfaction, possibly misleading improvement decisions and hindering the introduction of innovations. The Kano method identifies the non‐linear relationship between performance and satisfaction, but it does not take into consideration the current level of attributes' performance in the analysis. The proposed method successfully identified improvement opportunities in a service case, including the possible impact of including a new attribute, i.e. an innovative attribute, overcoming limitations of the IPA and of the Kano method.

Originality/value

The paper provides an intuitive and simple method that correctly identified improvement decisions in the case studied, including the introduction of an incremental innovation.
MagneMotion's linear synchronous motor (LSM) driven assembly automation and material handling system designs
Authors: Ranky Paul G.
Published: April 2007

Purpose

This paper aims to introduce novel linear synchronous motor (LSM) driven assembly automation and material handling system designs with examples.

Design/methodology/approach

Discusses novel LSM technology principles with some practical system design and configuration examples for automated assembly and material handling. The high energy density and rugged design offers high duty cycle, high power, rapid acceleration, improved speed, high positioning repeatability, and increased performance for demanding installations.

Findings

LSMs can increase throughput, reliability and payload information feedback. They can also decrease maintenance requirements, and the total cost of installation. MagneMotion's patented QuickStick system propels and controls each vehicle independently by interacting with a permanent magnet array mounted to each vehicle. As a consequence, the vehicles do not require communication or power cables, allowing a broad range of flexible, reconfigurable configurations and move profiles.

Practical implications

LSMs can increase throughput, reliability and payload information feedback. They can also decrease maintenance requirements, and the total cost of installation.

Originality/value

Discusses novel LSM technology principles with some practical system design and configuration examples for automated assembly and material handling.
MediSeal GmbH improves pharmaceutical packaging efficiency for small batch sizes
Authors: Connolly Christine
Published: April 2007

Purpose

This paper aims to describe the advances made by a particular pharmaceutical packaging machinery manufacturer for dealing with short product runs.

Design/methodology/approach

The company and its blister packaging machinery products are described, with special attention to the modular servo‐driven range. The centralised control console and the capabilities of its software are reviewed. A collaborative investigation of a late‐stage customisation approach is reported.

Findings

Small lot‐size is an acute problem in Europe because of the variations in language, carton format and dimensions, and can make set‐up time dominate running time. Functional separation within the machinery and central set‐up control ameliorate this problem, and the use of a logistical storage unit greatly improves overall through‐put.

Practical implications

When lot sizes are small, the productivity of a manufacturing line is decided not by the maximum production rate of each machine, but by the logistics of job scheduling.

Originality/value

Presents practical developments that improve productivity in pharmaceutical packaging.
Circulation analysis of an engineering monograph approval plan
Authors: Brush Denise
Published: April 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to describe the quantitative evaluation of an engineering monograph approval plan using circulation analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

The circulation frequency of titles purchased under the approval plan was analyzed, and compared with the circulation frequency of all engineering books during the same time period, purchased both individually and through the plan.

Findings

It was found that 23 percent of the approval plan books circulated, compared with 6 percent of engineering books as a whole. There was considerable variation in circulation frequency between engineering disciplines, but approval plan books circulated much more frequently in all subject areas.

Research limitations/implications

This study assesses circulation only during the most recent complete year, which means that the approval plan books are all new books. However, more than half of the books in the engineering collection are less than ten years old, so age is unlikely to be the only reason for the much higher circulation of approval books.

Practical implications

Since this evaluation concludes that the approval plan does have value for Rowan University's users, such a plan might be worth considering by other academic libraries looking for a better way to obtain new engineering monographs which serve user needs.

Originality/value

While the circulation data described in this study reflect the unique needs of the Rowan University user community, they can serve as a useful benchmark for engineering librarians who want to assess the usage of their monograph collections. The study also has value for academic librarians who are evaluating an approval plan from YBP or another vendor.
Report on the Charleston Conference 2006
Authors: Cassell Kay Ann
Published: April 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report on the highlights of the 2006 Charleston Conference.

Design/methodology/approach

Documentation of the presentations given at the conference.

Findings

The Charleston Conference report discusses new directions in many areas of collection development, including trends in e‐books, new developments in e‐resources, preservation of e‐resources, and scholarly communication.

Practical implications

The report discusses new ideas and new directions in many areas of collection development that alert librarians to changes on the horizon.

Originality/value

This report is of interest to library and information management professionals.
Social metadata for the impact factor
Authors: Korfiatis Nikolaos , Poulos Marios , Bokos George
Published: April 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to address the need for a definition of metadata descriptors for use in enhancing the accuracy of bibliometric instruments of scholarly evaluation, such as the impact factor.

Design/methodology/approach

A semantic vocabulary – COAP – is constructed, deployed on top of the Resource Description Framework (RDF), by extending the Friend‐of‐a‐Friend (FOAF) schema.

Findings

An extension of the FOAF vocabulary is considered as the ability to describe a publication record such as this paper in terms of scholar contributions and participations. In order to achieve that, the FOAF vocabulary is extended.

Practical implications

The application of this semantic vocabulary could be used as a way of enhancing the accuracy of source data for bibliometric evaluation instruments.

Originality/value

The paper discusses how metadata descriptors can contribute to the improvement of already established scholar evaluation instruments such as the impact factor. It will be of use in the development of digital libraries.
Internet banking market performance: Turkey versus the UK
Authors: Sayar Ceren , Wolfe Simon
Published: April 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare and evaluate the internet banking services of Turkey and the UK.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on an exploratory research for a sample of nine banks from each country, a web survey is conducted to collect data for each internet bank using an analytical framework based on a three dimensional model.

Findings

It is found that Turkish banks offer a wider range of services from their internet branches compared to British banks, despite the fact that the UK has a more favourable environment for internet banking in terms of the level of sophistication of its banking sector and technological infrastructure. Furthermore, a key difference is observed in the approaches of banks towards the issue of “security”.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this paper are reached by the use of a simplified model that only focuses on the transaction side of internet banking. Therefore, further research could encompass other aspects from the provider's perspective of the internet banking environment within a refined model.

Practical implications

The paper suggests that there is a fundamental difference in the banks' approaches to dealing with security problems and insights can be gained from cross‐country peer group analysis. Furthermore, the study assists researchers and practitioners to evaluate and build upon their e‐business provision.

Originality/value

The paper is the first of its kind, that the authors are aware of, to conduct a cross‐country analysis of internet banking services.
Satisfaction and dissatisfaction in service encounters
Authors: Srijumpa Rapeeporn , Chiarakul Tanyamai , Speece Mark
Published: April 2007

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to examine customer satisfaction and dissatisfaction with interpersonal vs internet service encounters in Thai retail stockbrokerage and corporate banking.

Design/methodology/approach

In each of two separate projects, in‐depth qualitative interviews were used to develop industry‐specific survey instruments that covered the same dis/satisfaction conceptual structure. The stockbrokerage survey had 460 usable questionnaires from retail customers, and the corporate banking survey resulted in 152 usable questionnaires.

Findings

Results in each case show that customers actually have slightly higher satisfaction on the internet than with interpersonal encounters, but dissatisfaction on the internet is much greater. The net is that they still largely view the interpersonal mode as superior.

Research limitations/implications

The paper shows that Thailand is a highly personal relationship oriented business culture. The results are probably most directly representative of other Asian cultures.

Practical implications

Gaining widespread acceptance of internet services among customers seems more a problem of eliminating dissatisfaction, rather than fostering satisfaction.

Originality/value

This is one of the few papers to show with strong empirical data that customers view satisfaction and dissatisfaction as distinct dimensions. An additional contribution is demonstrating that dis/satisfaction can be measured with industry specific scales, which are nevertheless comparable across industries.
Future Libraries: Science and Technology, A Report on “Shaping Things to Come:” DASER III and Eighth Quadrennial Tri‐Society Symposium
Authors: O’Connor Penny
Published: April 2007

Purpose

To share information and insights from the 2006 Digital Archives in Science and Engineering Resources (DASER) and American Society for information Science and Technology Conferences.

Design/methodology/approach

The article is a description of the main highlights.

Findings

Institutional and professional challenges face libraries and librarians as they consider a more electronic environment both as the preference of users and due to the new availability of resources that are consistently being released that way. How to create space for new academic functions and student needs is a primary goal at many institutions. Many ideas were floated about ways that is being done at large research universities.

Originality/value

The informal nature of the DASER Summit lent to much collegiality and sharing of information and could have extended a lot longer if time allowed.
Conference Report from the Charleston Conference 2006
Authors: Cassell Kay Ann , Mercado Marina I.
Published: April 2007

Purpose–To provide a conference report on the annual Charleston Conference, a meeting that blends acquisitions, serials, collection development and general publishing trends. Design/methodology/approach–Describes the highlights of the conference. Findings–Many trends continue to evolve in the area of electronic publishing, scholarly communications practices and library/publisher/vendor relations. Originality/value–This conference however covered by the press, attracts a “straight shooters” sharing the latest ideas and implications from doing new things in the area of acquisitions, serials, collection development, publishing developments and increasingly user services.
Eighth International Conference on Grey Literature: Conference Report
Authors: Gelfand Julia
Published: April 2007

Purpose–To report on the Eighth International Conference on Grey Literature held 4‐5 December 2006 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Design/methodology/approach–Describes the main points of the conference. Findings–Conference continues to offer a global platform for discussions about changes in grey literature. Originality/value–New applications are shared, deeper understandings about power of Internet and electronic publishing and collection intensities.
Results from an exploratory study of sun protection practice
Authors: Eadie Douglas , MacAskill Susan
Published: April 2007

Purpose

The primary aim of the research reported here is to provide strategic guidance for the development of a national communication strategy to improve sun protection practice amongst young people.

Design/methodology/approach

The research adopted an exploratory approach, employing qualitative focus groups to represent three population groups, mothers, teenagers and young adults living independently of the family home. A total of 12 focus groups were conducted (with six to eight participants per group) in the UK. Participants were recruited door‐to‐door using quota sampling methods.

Findings

Consistent with other studies, awareness of sun protection measures was high compared with actual practice. A number of factors were identified which help to explain this behaviour deficit. These include environment and exposure context, financial cost, understanding of protection process, behavioural influence and control, experiential learning and benefits attached to tanning.

Originality/value

While the findings highlight the importance of supporting parents through the provision of information and guidance, they also identified a need to develop initiatives specifically tailored to meet the needs of young people as they achieve independence.
Assessing future disorders in organizations: implications for diagnosing and treating schizophrenic, depressed or paranoid organizations
Authors: Oliver Schwarz Jan
Published: April 2007

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to highlight the relevance of the inner future of an organization for diagnosing and treating organizational disorders, as it relates to the concept of future‐oriented psychotherapy.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper combines the concept of future‐oriented psychotherapy, with the categorization of organizations using the means of psychiatric disorders.

Findings

The paper finds that the importance of an organization's future is underlined by evidence from psychiatry. Time distortions in psychiatric illness can cloud the personal future of an individual and distort the view of the future and thereby disrupt goal‐directed behavior. The claim of future‐oriented psychotherapy is that in order to treat mental disorders, the future needs to be brought under self‐control; this process is futuring. It is suggested that in an organizational context, the Scenario technique or Strategic Issue Management can be applied to treat organizational disorders.

Research limitations/implications

Additional research will be needed to explore the implications of future‐oriented psychotherapy for other disorders, besides those discussed here (depression, schizophrenia, paranoia), and which methodologies beside the Scenario technique and Strategic Issue Management can be applied for future‐oriented psychotherapy for organizations.

Practical implications

The paper suggests that how the future is dealt with in an organization, has implications for diagnosing the mental health of an organization and for treating such disorders in an organization.

Originality/value

This paper fills a gap in the research on organizational disorders by highlighting the relevance of the inner future of an organization.