bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Social validity of the critical incident stress management model for school‐based crisis intervention
Authors: Morrison Julie Q.
Published: October 2007

The Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) model for crisis intervention was developed for use with emergency service personnel. Research regarding the use of the CISM model has been conducted among civilians and high‐risk occupation groups with mixed results. The purpose of this study is to examine the social validity of the CISM model for school‐based crisis intervention as perceived by school psychologists and school social workers trained in the model. The results suggest that the CISM Model had a positive effect on service delivery, but the training itself did not adequately address the developmental appropriateness or the cross‐cultural appropriateness for school‐based application. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 44: 765–777, 2007.
Cross‐language relationship between Spanish and English oral reading fluency among Spanish‐speaking English language learners in bilingual education classrooms
Authors: De Ramírez Romilia Domínguez , Shapiro Edward S.
Published: October 2007

This study examined whether oral reading fluency in a child's first language (Spanish) as assessed by Curriculum‐Based Measurement (CBM) was related to oral reading fluency in a second language (English) and whether Spanish oral reading fluency probes administered in the fall were predictive of English oral reading fluency outcomes for spring of the same academic year. A total of 68 bilingual education students across grades 1 through 5 were assessed in Spanish and English during the fall, winter, and spring. Results showed that reading in Spanish and English across grades and time periods correlated moderately high with the exception of fourth grade. In addition, Spanish oral reading fluency at the beginning of the year significantly predicted English reading outcomes at the end of the year. These findings suggest that CBM can be a valuable tool for evaluating the relationship between oral reading fluency in both the first and second language. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 44: 795–806, 2007.
Stressful life experiences of children: The correspondence between professional judgments of teachers‐in‐training and children's perceptions
Authors: Anderson Gabrielle Eliza , Jimerson Shane R.
Published: October 2007

The extant studies reveal a considerable mismatch between students' and teachers' perceptions of student stress. The present study compared the judgments of teachers‐in‐training (N = 109) with the responses of first‐ and sixth‐grade children (n = 56 and 93, respectively). The following questions are addressed: (a) Do teachers' judgments of the stressfulness of children's experiences correspond with those of the children themselves? (b) Do teachers' perceptions differ according to general developmental status (first grade level versus sixth grade level)? (c) Does the amount of teaching experience have a significant influence on ratings? Results revealed that teachers' judgments corresponded more closely with the children's ratings at the first grade level than at the sixth grade level. However, teachers' perceptions did differ according to grade level for the majority of life events. Furthermore, there were no significant differences between the ratings of the experienced and inexperienced teachers at either grade level. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 44: 807–821, 2007.
Improvements in interval time tracking and effects on reading achievement
Authors: Taub Gordon E. , McGrew Kevin S. , Keith Timothy Z.
Published: October 2007

This study examined the effect of improvements in timing/rhythmicity on students' reading achievement. 86 participants completed pre‐ and post‐test measures of reading achievement (i.e., Woodcock‐Johnson III, Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing, Test of Word Reading Efficiency, and Test of Silent Word Reading Fluency). Students in the experimental group completed a 4‐week intervention designed to improve their timing/rhythmicity by reducing the latency in their response to a synchronized metronome beat, referred to as a synchronized metronome tapping (SMT) intervention. The results from this non‐academic intervention indicate the experimental group's post‐test scores on select measures of reading were significantly higher than the non‐treatment control group's scores at the end of 4 weeks. This paper provides a brief overview of domain‐general cognitive abilities believed effected by SMT interventions and provides a preliminary hypothesis to explain how this non‐academic intervention can demonstrate a statistically significant effect on students' reading achievement scores. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 44: 849–863, 2007.
Teachers' beliefs about pedagogy and related issues
Authors: Snider Vicki E. , Roehl Rebecca
Published: October 2007

This study explores teachers' beliefs about pedagogical issues as well as related educational and professional issues. Six hundred K–12 teachers in three Midwestern states received surveys and 60% returned them. Results of the survey indicated that teachers were relatively unified in their beliefs, and few differences emerged around demographic variables. More teachers believed in teaching practices consistent with constructivism than believed in explicit instruction; however the majority of teachers were mixed, undecided, or balanced about pedagogy. Teachers reserved their strongest beliefs for the importance of learning style, eclectic instruction, and small class size in the primary grades. Few teachers believed that a great teacher is characterized by high student achievement outcomes, and over half believed that factors such as home environment or dyslexia prevent children from learning basic skills despite the school's best efforts. Teachers valued experience over education and training for professional development and viewed teaching as more of an art than a science. Results are discussed in relationship to current challenges in education. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 44: 873–886, 2007.
Proteomics analysis of hypothalamic response to energy restriction in dairy cows
Authors: Kuhla Björn , Kuhla Siegfried , Rudolph Paul Eberhard , Albrecht Dirk , Metges Cornelia C.
Published: October 2007

The hypothalamus is the central regulatory unit that balances a number of body functions including metabolic rate, hunger, and satiety signals. Hypothalamic neurons monitor and respond to alterations of circulating nutrients and hormones that reflect the peripheral energy status. These extracellular signals are integrated within the cell at the ATP:AMP ratio and at the level of ROS, triggering gene expression associated with glucose and lipid metabolism. In order to identify new molecular factors potentially associated with the control of energy homeostasis, metabolic adaptation, and regulation of feed intake, hypothalami from ad libitum fed and energy restricted cows were characterized using 2‐DE and MALDI‐TOF‐MS. Among 189 different protein spots identified, nine proteins were found to be differentially expressed between groups. Beside the 5‐aminoimidazole‐4‐carboxamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase/IMP cyclohydrolase, stress‐induced phosphoprotein‐1, heat shock protein 70 kDa‐protein‐5, dihydropyrimidinase‐related protein‐2, [Cu‐Zn]‐superoxide dismutase, ubiquitin carboxy‐terminal hydrolase‐L1, and inorganic pyrophosphatase were found to be up‐regulated, whereas glyceraldehyde 3‐phosphate dehydrogenase and aconitase‐2 were down‐regulated in the restricted group. In conclusion, differentially expressed proteins are related to energy and nucleotide metabolism and cellular stress under conditions of dietary energy deficiency. These proteins may be new candidate molecules that are potentially involved in signaling for maintaining energy homeostasis.
A proteomic study on postdiapaused embryonic development of brine shrimp (Artemia franciscana)
Authors: Wang Weiwei , Meng Bo , Chen Weihua , Ge Xiaomeng , Liu Siqi , Yu Jun
Published: October 2007

Encysted gastrula of brine shrimp (Artemia, Crustacea, and Anostraca) provides an excellent model for studying molecular processes of diapause. We report a proteomic study on early molecular responses of Artemia's postdiapaused cysts and found that dehydrated cysts actually store more proteins, in both kind and amount, than developing cysts. We identified 75 differentially expressed proteins over a course of cyst development, and also exploited PTMs of dehydrate cysts. We further surveyed gene expression of postdiapaused cysts in early developmental phases in a 0.5 h interval up to the seventh hour, and discovered that the activation of cellular activities is ignited as early as 0.5 h after rehydration. We traced nine differentially expressed proteins (COXI, COXIII, heat shock proteins (HSP26, HSP60, and HSP70), CDC48, late embryogenesis abundant (LEA), GS1‐like protein, and cathepsin L‐associated protein (CLAP)) for quantitative transcriptional changes, monitored by real‐time PCR, and found these proteins exhibiting distinct expression patterns that suggest complex gene regulations for cyst reactivation after diapause breakage. Future experiments should be designed to focus on early activation concerning signal transduction, energy generation, and PTMs.
Synthesis, characterization, and micellization of an epoxy‐based amphiphilic diblock copolymer of ϵ‐caprolactone and glycidyl methacrylate by enzymatic ring‐opening polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization
Authors: Sha Ke , Li Dongshuang , Li Yapeng , Liu Xiaotian , Wang Shuwei , Guan Jingqi , Wang Jingyuan
Published: October 2007

Amphiphilic diblock copolymer polycaprolactone‐block‐poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PCL‐b‐PGMA) was synthesized via enzymatic ring‐opening polymerization (eROP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Methanol first initiated eROP of ϵ‐caprolactone (ϵ‐CL) in the presence of biocatalyst Novozyme‐435 under anhydrous conditions. The resulting monohydroxyl‐terminated polycaprolactone (PCL–OH) was subsequently converted to a bromine‐ended macroinitiator (PCL–Br) for ATRP by esterification with α‐bromopropionyl bromide. PCL‐b‐PGMA diblock copolymers were synthesized in a subsequent ATRP of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA). A kinetic analysis of ATRP indicated a living/controlled radical process. The macromolecular structures were characterized for PCL–OH, PCL–Br, and the block copolymers by means of nuclear magnetic resonance, gel permeation chromatography, and infrared spectroscopy. Differential scanning calorimetry and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction analyses indicated that the copolymer composition (ϵ‐CL/GMA) had a great influence on the thermal properties. The well‐defined, amphiphilic diblock copolymer PCL‐b‐PGMA self‐assembled into nanoscale micelles in aqueous solutions, as investigated by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5037–5049, 2007
Alternating copolymerization of carbon dioxide and propylene oxide catalyzed by (R, R)‐SalenCoIII‐ (2,4‐dinitrophenoxy) and Lewis‐basic cocatalyst
Authors: Niu Yongsheng , Zhang Wanxi , Pang Xuan , Chen Xuesi , Zhuang Xiuli , Jing Xiabin
Published: October 2007

A binary catalyst system of a chiral (R,R)‐SalenCoIII(2,4‐dinitrophenoxy) (salen = N,N‐bis(3,5‐di‐tert‐butylsalicylidene)‐1,2‐diphenylethylenediimine) in conjunction with (4‐dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP) was developed to generate the copolymerization of carbon dioxide (CO2) and racemic propylene oxide (rac‐PO). The influence of the molar ratio of catalyst components, the operating temperature, and reaction pressure on the yield as well as the molecular weight of polycarbonate were systematically investigated. High yield of turnover frequency (TOF) 501.2 h−1 and high molecular weight of 70,400 were achieved at an appropriate combination of all variables. The structures of as‐prepared products were characterized by the IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR measurements. The linear carbonate linkage, highly regionselectivity and almost 100% carbonate content of the resulting polycarbonate were obtained with the help of these effective catalyst systems under facile conditions. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5050–5056, 2007
Copolymerizations of butyl methacrylate and fluorinated methacrylates via RAFT miniemulsion polymerization
Authors: Guo Tian‐Ying , Tang Donglin , Song Moudao , Zhang Banghua
Published: October 2007

Copolymerizations of n‐butyl methacrylate (BMA) and fluoro‐methacrylates (including 2,2,3,4,4,4‐hexafluorobutyl methacrylate, HFBMA and 2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl methacrylate, TFEMA) were carried out via reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer miniemulsion polymerization, using cumyl dithiobenzoate as a chain transfer agent. The experimental results show that the copolymerizations exhibit “living” fashion, with controlled molecular weights and narrow polydispersities. The reactivity ratios of BMA and fluoromethacrylate in this kind of polymerization system were investigated by size exclusion chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance, from which the Q‐ and e‐values of HFBMA and TFEMA were calculated. Compared with its corresponding non‐fluoric methacrylate, fluorinated methacrylate exhibits higher resonance stability of the radical adducts. The Q‐value of fluorinated methacrylate is higher (QBMA = 0.82 to QHFBMA = 1.70 and QEMA = 0.76 to QTFEMA = 1.01), and e‐value is much larger (eBMA = 0.28 to eHFBMA = 1.24 to and eEMA = 0.17 to eTFEMA = 1.29) for its rather unique high electron‐withdrawing inductive effect of the fluoroalkyl ester group. The thermal property and the wetting property of copolymers were also discussed. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5067–5075, 2007
Click chemistry in materials synthesis. III. Metal‐adhesive polymers from Cu(I)‐catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition
Authors: Liu Yi , Díaz David D. , Accurso Adrian A. , Sharpless K. Barry , Fokin Valery V. , Finn M. G.
Published: October 2007

1,2,3‐Triazole‐based polymers generated from the Cu(I)‐catalyzed cycloaddition between multivalent azides and acetylenes are effective adhesive materials for metal surfaces. The adhesive capacities of candidate mixtures of azide and alkyne components were measured by a modified peel test, using a customized adhesive tester. A particularly effective tetravalent alkyne and trivalent azide combination was identified, giving exceptional strength that matches or exceeds the best commercial formulations. The addition of Cu catalyst was found to be important for the synthesis of stronger adhesive polymers when cured at room temperature. Heating also accelerated curing rates, but the maximum adhesive strengths achieved at both room temperature and high temperature were the same, suggesting that crosslinking reaches the same advanced point in all cases. Polytriazoles also form adhesives to aluminum, but copper is bound more effectively, presumably because active Cu(I) ions may be leached from the surface to promote crosslinking and adhesion. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5182–5189, 2007
Amphiphilic PEG/alkyl‐grafted comb polylactides
Authors: Jiang Xuwei , Vogel Erin B. , Smith Milton R. , Baker Gregory L.
Published: October 2007

Amphiphilic polylactides (PLAs) with well‐defined architectures were synthesized by ring‐opening polymerization of AB monomers (glycolides) substituted with both a long chain alkyl group and a triethylene glycol segment terminated in either a methyl or benzyl group. The resulting amphiphilic PLAs had number average molecular weights >100,000 g/mol. DSC analysis revealed a first‐order phase transition at ∼ 20 °C, reflecting the crystalline nature of the linear alkyl side chains. Polymeric micelles were prepared by the solvent displacement method in water. Dynamic light scattering measurements support formation of a mixture of 20‐nm‐diameter unimolecular micelles and 60‐nm particles comprised of an estimated 25 polymer molecules. UV–vis characterization of micelles formed from acetone–water solutions containing azobenzene confirmed encapsulation of the hydrophobic dye, suggesting their potential as new amphiphilic PLAs as drug delivery vehicles. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5227–5236, 2007
Novel multiblock‐co‐ionomers as potential polymer electrolyte membrane materials
Authors: Schönberger Frank , Kerres Jochen
Published: October 2007

In this contribution a series of novel multiblock‐co‐ionomers consisting of hydrophobic (partially fluorinated) and hydrophilic (sulfonated) domains has been prepared and characterised in terms of their applicability as fuel cell membranes. The synthesis of these multiblock‐co‐ionomers is a four‐step procedure including (1) the sulfonation of the monomer 4,4′‐difluorodiphenylsulfone, (2) the preparation of hydrophilic telechelic macromonomers by molecular‐weight controlled step‐growth polycondensation of the sulfonated monomer with various bis(thio)phenols, (3) the preparation of a hydrophobic telechelic macromonomer and (4) the coupling of both telechelic macromonomers to yield microphase‐separated block‐co‐ionomers. This study focuses on the investigation of the influence of various linkage groups and atoms within the hydrophilic domains of the multiblock‐co‐ionomers. Both the telechelic macromonomers and the multiblock‐co‐ionomers were structurally investigated by 1H‐ and 19F‐NMR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). All multiblock‐co‐ionomers of this series could be cast into membranes and their membrane properties (ion‐exchange capacity, specific resistance, swelling ratio, water uptake, thermal and oxidative stability) were measured and discussed in dependence of the various linkage groups within the hydrophilic domains. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5237–5255, 2007
Synthesis, characterization, and photovoltaic properties of novel conjugated copolymers derived from phenothiazines
Authors: Tang Weihua , Kietzke Thomas , Vemulamada Pardhasaradhi , Chen Zhi‐Kuan
Published: October 2007

Two novel series of soluble alternating conjugated copolymers comprising 10‐alkylphenothiazine and bithiophene or 3‐pentylthieno[3,2‐b]thiophene moieties were synthesized using palladium‐catalyzed Suzuki coupling reaction. The structures of the polymers and their thermal, photophysical, electrochemical, and photovoltaic properties were characterized and investigated. The polymers exhibited good thermal stability with decomposition temperature in the region of 342–390 °C and their glass transition temperatures (Tg) ranging from 126 to 150 °C. All polymers demonstrate broad optical absorption in the region of 300–500 nm with efficient blue‐green light emission. They showed ambipolar redox properties with low HOMO levels around −5.13 eV. Polymer solar cells were fabricated using blends of the copolymers and [6,6]‐phenyl‐C61‐butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) in a 1:1 weight ratio. The maximum power conversion efficiency (η = 0.24%) was measured for the poly[3,7‐ (10‐hexylphenothiazine)‐alt‐bithiophene] as donor under simulated sun light (1000 W/m2). Open circuit voltages of up to 0.8 V have been obtained. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5266–5276, 2007
Energetics of protein homodimerization: Effects of water sequestering on the formation of β‐lactoglobulin dimer
Authors: Bello Martiniano , Pérez‐Hernández Gerardo , Fernández‐Velasco D. Alejandro , Arreguín‐Espinosa Roberto , García‐Hernández Enrique
Published: October 2007

Transient protein–protein interactions are functionally relevant as a control mechanism in a variety of biological processes. Analysis of the 3D structure of protein–protein complexes indicates that water molecules trapped at the interface are very common; however, their role in the stability and specificity of protein homodimer interactions has been not addressed yet. To provide new insights into the energetic bases that govern the formation of highly hydrated interfaces, the dissociation process of bovine βlg variant A at a neutral pH was characterized here thermodynamically by conducting dilution experiments with an isothermal titration calorimeter. Association was enthalpically driven throughout the temperature range spanned. ΔH and ΔCp were significantly more negative than estimates based on surface area changes, suggesting the occurrence of effects additional to the dehydration of the contact surfaces between subunits. Near‐UV CD spectra proved to be independent of protein concentration, indicating a rigid body‐like association. Furthermore, the process proved not to be coupled to significant changes in the protonation state of ionizable groups or counterion exchange. In contrast, both osmotic stress experiments and a computational analysis of the dimer's 3D structure indicated that a large number of water molecules are incorporated into the interface upon association. Numerical estimates considering the contributions of interface area desolvation and water immobilization accounted satisfactorily for the experimental ΔCp. Thus, our study highlights the importance of explicitly considering the effects of water sequestering to perform a proper quantitative analysis of the formation of homodimers with highly hydrated interfaces. Proteins 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Molecular dynamics simulation study for LRH‐1: Interaction with fragments of SHP and function of phospholipid ligand
Authors: Zhang Tao , Zhou Jun‐Hong , Shi Liang‐Wei , Zhu Rui‐Xin , Chen Min‐Bo
Published: October 2007

The liver receptor homolog‐1 (LRH‐1) is an important transcriptional factor in the process of cholesterol and bile acids metabolism. In this article, molecular dynamics simulation for six systems with total 60 ns is employed to study LRH‐1. LRH‐1/phospholipid and LRH‐1/SHP (fragments) interactions are analyzed by counting atomic contact number, identifying hydrogen bonds, and estimating binding free energies (by MM‐PB/SA and N‐mode analysis). Through integrating our modeling result with previous experimental data, deeper understandings to LRH‐1/SHP interaction are obtained, and functions of the phospholipid ligand in LRH‐1 are proposed. Proteins 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A knowledge‐based forcefield for protein–protein interface design
Authors: Clark Louis A. , van Vlijmen Herman W. T.
Published: October 2007

A distance‐dependent knowledge‐based potential for protein–protein interactions is derived and tested for application in protein design. Information on residue type specific Cα and Cβ pair distances is extracted from complex crystal structures in the Protein Data Bank and used in the form of radial distribution functions. The use of only backbone and Cβ position information allows generation of relative protein–protein orientation poses with minimal sidechain information. Further coarse‐graining can be done simply in the same theoretical framework to give potentials for residues of known type interacting with unknown type, as in a one‐sided interface design problem. Both interface design via pose generation followed by sidechain repacking and localized protein–protein docking tests are performed on 39 nonredundant antibody–antigen complexes for which crystal structures are available. As reference, Lennard–Jones potentials, unspecific for residue type and biasing toward varying degrees of residue pair separation are used as controls. For interface design, the knowledge‐based potentials give the best combination of consistently designable poses, low RMSD to the known structure, and more tightly bound interfaces with no added computational cost. 77% of the poses could be designed to give complexes with negative free energies of binding. Generally, larger interface separation promotes designability, but weakens the binding of the resulting designs. A localized docking test shows that the knowledge‐based nature of the potentials improves performance and compares respectably with more sophisticated all‐atoms potentials. Proteins 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A general approach for developing system‐specific functions to score protein–ligand docked complexes using support vector inductive logic programming
Authors: Amini Ata , Shrimpton Paul J. , Muggleton Stephen H. , Sternberg Michael J. E.
Published: October 2007

Despite the increased recent use of protein–ligand and protein–protein docking in the drug discovery process due to the increases in computational power, the difficulty of accurately ranking the binding affinities of a series of ligands or a series of proteins docked to a protein receptor remains largely unsolved. This problem is of major concern in lead optimization procedures and has lead to the development of scoring functions tailored to rank the binding affinities of a series of ligands to a specific system. However, such methods can take a long time to develop and their transferability to other systems remains open to question. Here we demonstrate that given a suitable amount of background information a new approach using support vector inductive logic programming (SVILP) can be used to produce system‐specific scoring functions. Inductive logic programming (ILP) learns logic‐based rules for a given dataset that can be used to describe properties of each member of the set in a qualitative manner. By combining ILP with support vector machine regression, a quantitative set of rules can be obtained. SVILP has previously been used in a biological context to examine datasets containing a series of singular molecular structures and properties. Here we describe the use of SVILP to produce binding affinity predictions of a series of ligands to a particular protein. We also for the first time examine the applicability of SVILP techniques to datasets consisting of protein–ligand complexes. Our results show that SVILP performs comparably with other state‐of‐the‐art methods on five protein–ligand systems as judged by similar cross‐validated squares of their correlation coefficients. A McNemar test comparing SVILP to CoMFA and CoMSIA across the five systems indicates our method to be significantly better on one occasion. The ability to graphically display and understand the SVILP‐produced rules is demonstrated and this feature of ILP can be used to derive hypothesis for future ligand design in lead optimization procedures. The approach can readily be extended to evaluate the binding affinities of a series of protein–protein complexes. Proteins 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Recent advances in application of acoustic, acousto‐optic and photoacoustic methods in biology and medicine
Authors: Chivukula Venkata S. , Shur Michael S. , Čiplys Daumantas
Published: October 2007

Various types of acoustic wave devices based on surface acoustic, acousto‐optic and photoacoustic effects are increasingly used for many biomedical applications. This paper reviews the basic physical phenomena of the acoustic wave propagation and photoacoustic and acousto‐optic interactions, which determine their sensing capabilities, and discusses recent applications of these devices in biology and medicine. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Random partitions with restricted part sizes
Authors: Goh William M.Y. , Hitczenko Pawel
Published: October 2007

For a subset $\cal{S}$ of positive integers let Ω(n,$\cal{S}$) be the set of partitions of n into summands that are elements of $\cal{S}$. For every λ ∈ Ω(n,$\cal{S}$), let Mn(λ) be the number of parts, with multiplicity, that λ has. Put a uniform probability distribution on Ω(n,$\cal{S}$), and regard Mn as a random variable. In this paper the limiting density of the (suitably normalized) random variable Mn is determined for sets that are sufficiently regular. In particular, our results cover the case $\cal{S}$ = {Q(k) : k ≥ 1}, where Q(x) is a fixed polynomial of degree d ≥ 2. For specific choices of Q, the limiting density has appeared before in rather different contexts such as Kingman's coalescent, and processes associated with the maxima of Brownian bridge and Brownian meander processes. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2008
Practical experiences on the necessity of external validation
Authors: König I. R. , Malley J. D. , Weimar C. , Diener H.‐C. , Ziegler A.
Published: October 2007

The validity of prognostic models is an important prerequisite for their applicability in practical clinical settings. Here, we report on a specific prognostic study on stroke patients and describe how we explored the prediction performance of our model. We considered two practically highly relevant generalization aspects, namely, the model's performance in patients recruited at a later time point (temporal transportability) and in medical centers different from those used for model building (geographic transportability). To estimate the accuracy of the model, we investigated classical internal validation techniques and leave‐one‐center‐out cross validation (CV). Prognostic models predicting functional independence of stroke patients were developed in a training set using logistic regression, support vector machines, and random forests (RFs). Tenfold CV and leave‐one‐center‐out CV were employed to estimate temporal and geographic transportability of the models. For temporal and external validation, the resulting models were used to classify patients from a later time point and from different clinics. When applying the regression model or the RFs, accuracy in the temporal validation data was well predicted from classical internal validation. However, when predicting geographic transportability all approaches had difficulties. We observed that the leave‐one‐center‐out CV yielded better estimates than classical CV. On the basis of our results, we conclude that external validation in patients from different clinics is required before a prognostic model can be applied in practice. Even validating the model in patients recruited merely at a later time point does not suffice to predict how it may fare with regard to another clinic. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Baseline and treatment effect heterogeneity for survival times between centers using a random effects accelerated failure time model with flexible error distribution
Authors: Komárek Arnošt , Lesaffre Emmanuel , Legrand Catherine
Published: October 2007

Nowadays, most clinical trials are conducted in different centers and even in different countries. In most multi‐center studies, the primary analysis assumes that the treatment effect is constant over centers. However, it is also recommended to perform an exploratory analysis to highlight possible center by treatment interaction, especially when several countries are involved. We propose in this paper an exploratory Bayesian approach to quantify this interaction in the context of survival data. To this end we used and generalized a random effects accelerated failure time model. The generalization consists in using a penalized Gaussian mixture as an error distribution on top of multivariate random effects that are assumed to follow a normal distribution. For computational convenience, the computations are based on Markov chain Monte Carlo techniques. The proposed method is illustrated on the disease‐free survival times of early breast cancer patients collected in the EORTC trial 10854. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An MDA‐based approach for database re‐engineering
Authors: Polo Macario , García‐Rodríguez Ignacio , Piattini Mario
Published: October 2007

This article presents the technical and functional descriptions of a tool specifically designed for database re‐engineering. As is well known, re‐engineering is the process of (1) applying reverse engineering to a software product to obtain higher‐level specifications and (2) using these specifications as the starting point for the development of a new version of the system. Thus, the complete process can be seen as a sequence of transformation functions that operate on the different sets involved in the whole process. The starting point of the re‐engineering process is the physical schema of the database which is translated into a vendor‐independent metamodel (the logical schema) and then translated into a class diagram representing a possible conceptual schema of the database. This diagram is then taken as the starting point for the code generation process, which produces an executable application for four possible different platforms. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Towards complex holism
Authors: Dongping Fan
Published: October 2007

This paper presents an inter‐level causal view of complex systems. It argues the need to go beyond causal reductionism, the limitations of the model of theory reduction in understanding and explaining the behaviour of complex systems, and the incompleteness of individualism methodology in explaining complex social organizational behaviours. It proposes a multi‐level and multi‐dimensional co‐evolutionary ‘complex holism’ to provide a new prospective for understanding organizational evolution and management. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Complexity science, systems thinking and pragmatic sensibility
Authors: Zhichang Zhu
Published: October 2007

This paper examines mainstream complexity management writings, presents a radical alternative proposed by Ralph Stacey and his colleagues, explores some tensions in that alternative and analyzes Stacey's criticism on systems thinking. The paper proposes that a pragmatic sensibility is particularly useful for transferring radical insights from complexity sciences into studies of organisation change and management. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Innovative Wege im Verbundbrückenbau
Authors: Dorrer Günther
Published: October 2007

Im Zuge der Einführung der vom Bundesministerium für Verkehr, Bau‐ und Wohnungswesen (BMVBW) in Auftrag und vom Deutschen Institut für Normung herausgegebenen DIN‐Fachberichte wurden von der DEGES in den letzten Jahren mehrere Projekte als Pilotprojekte realisiert.

Eines dieser ausgewählten Projekte ist die im Zuge der BAB A 73 nördlich von Schleusingen errichtete 448 m lange Talbrücke St. Kilian. Mit ihrem markanten Design setzt sie ein deutliches Zeichen für den Willen der DEGES, architektonisch gestaltete Ingenieurbauwerke zu errichten. Neben der Gestaltung spiegeln die eingesetzten Baustoffe und die Ausführungsmethodik die innovativen Wege im Verkehrsbrückenbau wider, die von Bauherren, Ingenieurbüros und Firmen beschritten werden sollen.
Rekonstruktion von Barockspiegeln des Historischen Grünen Gewölbes im Dresdener Schloss
Authors: Neodon Wolfgang , Zywitzki Olaf , Kopte Torsten
Published: October 2007

Am 1. September 2006 eröffnete die Bundeskanzlerin Frau Dr. Angela Merkel das rekonstruierte Historische Grüne Gewölbe, die Schatzkammer der sächsischen Kurfürsten und Könige, im Dresdener Residenzschloss. Seit dessen Zerstörung am 13. Februar 1945 haben zwei Generationen wissenschaftlich‐künstlerischen Vorlauf geschaffen, um den Wiederaufbau zu ermöglichen.

Die Idee des barocken Spiegelkabinetts war im Grünen Gewölbe erstmalig auf eine Folge von 8 Räumen übertragen worden. Die originalen Spiegel, mit Zinnamalgam belegt, besitzen einen deutlich geringeren Reflexionsgrad als moderne Silberspiegel. Von ursprünglich 423 m2 Spiegelfläche konnten jedoch nur noch 60 m2 wiederverwendet werden. Für die Restaurierung und Rekonstruktion der ursprünglichen Verspiegelungen waren umfangreiche analytische Untersuchungen erforderlich, mit der das Sächsische Immobilien‐ und Baumanagement (SIB) das Fraunhofer‐Institut für Elektronenstrahl‐ und Plasmatechnik (FEP) beauftragte. Auf Grundlage der Ergebnisse wurde von der zuständigen Gestaltungskommission entschieden, fehlende Spiegel zwischen originalem Bestand in historischer Zinnamalgam‐Verspiegelungstechnologie herzustellen. Die Rekonstruktion des völlig zerstörten Juwelenzimmers mit partiell goldradierten Spiegeln sollte jedoch aus arbeitshygienischen und zeitlichen Gründen mittels einer quecksilberfreien Vakuum ‐ Dünnschicht ‐ Technologie, dem Magnetron‐Sputtern, erfolgen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass ein Schichtsystem Zinn‐Bronze‐Titan mit Schutzlackierung einen adäquaten Ersatz für die originalen Zinnamalgamspiegel darstellt.

Das Verfahren ermöglicht relativ unkompliziert Teilverspiegelungen und nachträgliches Einfügen von künstlerischen Goldradierungen.
Haftfeste Metallisierung von Filtermedien mit Vakuum‐Arc‐Technologie
Authors: Schmalz Elke , Zimmer Otmar
Published: October 2007

Zur Abscheidung von Schadstoffen aus Prozessgasen bei höheren Temperaturen werden textile Filtermedien aus Hochleistungsfasern eingesetzt. Für die häufig geforderte antistatische Ausrüstung dieser Materialien eignet sich die Metallisierung mittels Vakuum‐Arc‐Verfahren. Derart hergestellte Metallisierungen sind extrem haftfest, sehr gut leitfähig und beeinträchtigen den Gasdurchsatz nicht. Eine industrielle Umsetzung der Ergebnisse erscheint für viele Anwendungen sinnvoll.
Fractionation of castor oil methyl esters by liquid‐liquid extraction
Authors: McCormack Ralph H. , Bolley Don S.
Published: October 2007

Summary and Conclusions

A solubility diagram has been constructed for methanol‐castor oil methyl esters‐heptane at 8.4°C. and 24°C.

A selectivity diagram has been prepared for methanol‐castor oil methyl esters‐heptane at 8.4°C. and 24°C.

Castor oil methyl esters have been fractionated by continuous countercurrent liquid‐liquid extraction at 3°C. and at 6°C. with methanol‐heptane and heptane‐methanol as solvents, using an extraction column containing four equilibrium stages. The methyl ricinoleate fraction produced compared favorably with pure methyl ricinoleate with respect to hydroxyl value and optical activity. It should be noted that there were undoubtedly some mono‐ and diglycerides in the castor oil methyl esters used in this study. These go along with the methyl ricinoleate and cause discrepancies between hydroxyl value and optical activity (2).

The column feeds ranged from 2.9 to 10.3% methyl esters by weight in methanol‐heptane. Solvent‐feed ratios were from 0.49 to 1.21 lb. per pound. The flow rates were from 706 to 1,020 lb. per hour per square foot of column cross section (based on the cross section of the empty column).
Distribution of fatty acids in corn oil
Authors: Lofland H. B. , Quackenbush F. W. , Brunson A. M.
Published: October 2007

The oil content of 392 samples of corn ranged from 1.13% to 13.80%. As the percentage oil in the corn increased, the degree of unsaturation decreased. Iodine values ranged from 88.4 to 147.4, a range in degree of unsaturation greater than any previously reported for corn oils.

The percentage of linoleic acid in the oils ranged from 15.7% to 67.6% and varied inversely with oil content (r=−.691). Oleic acid ranged from 16.5% to 75.9% and saturated acids from zero to 21.3%.

The iodine value of the oil showed a high degree of correlation with the percentage of linoleic acid (r=−.951) and can be used as a basis for the accurate prediction of linoleic acid content.
Molar refraction, molar volume, and refractive index of fatty acid esters and related compounds in the liquid state
Authors: Hammond Earl G. , Lundberg W. O.
Published: October 2007

Equations have been developed for the calculation of molar refraction, molar volume or density, and refractive index for liquid fatty acids and fatty acid derivatives in relation to two parameters, carbon chain length, and unsaturation. Particular attention has been given to the applicability of the equations to families of compounds in which the unsaturated members contain onlycis double bonds and in which the ethylene units of the polyene members are interrupted by methylene groups. The equations are sufficiently accurate to have considerable utility in establishing the identity, purity, or structure of various fatty acid derivatives.

It was indicated that, with more data, similar relationships may be developed which will be useful in characterizing some types of mixtures of fatty acid derivatives.

An approximate relationship between molar volume and temperature for fatty acids and derivatives was also devised.
The Multidimensional Nature of Social Cohesion: Psychological Sense of Community, Attraction, and Neighboring
Authors: Wilkinson Derek
Published: October 2007

Items from the Neighborhood Cohesion Instrument were completed by 1,732 individuals from a random sample of households in 20 rural communities across Canada during the summer of 2001. Confirmatory factor analysis of the NCI items based on polychoric correlations and weighted least squares estimation found three underlying latent variables. Although items were related to the three latent variables in a somewhat different manner than they were in Buckner's original study, the same three latent variables were evident, providing convincing evidence that social cohesion has at least three subscales: psychological sense of community, neighboring, and attraction. Correlations between subscales were relatively high (between .67 and .87). Intraclass correlation coefficients for the three scales were .115, .127, and .112. In addition, the community means differed on different subscales in a manner that related to recognized characteristics of the communities. Thus the subscales are appropriate measures for both individuals and communities and can be recommended for further research on social cohesion.
Location of PsbY in oxygen‐evolving photosystem II revealed by mutagenesis and X‐ray crystallography
Authors: Kawakami Keisuke , Iwai Masako , Ikeuchi Masahiko , Kamiya Nobuo , Shen Jian-Ren
Published: October 2007

PsbY is one of the low molecular mass subunits of oxygen‐evolving photosystem II (PSII). Its location, however, has not been identified in the current crystal structure of PSII. We constructed a PsbY‐deletion mutant of Thermosynechococcus elongatus, crystallized, and analyzed the crystal structure of the mutant PSII dimer. The results obtained showed that PsbY is located in the periphery of PSII close to the α‐ and β‐subunits of cytochrome b559, which corresponded to an unassigned helix in the 3.7 Å structure of T. vulcanus or helix X2 in the 3.0 Å structure of T. elongatus. Our results also indicated that the C‐terminal loop of PsbY is protruded toward the stromal side, instead of the lumenal side predicted previously.
Induction of DAN/TIR yeast cell wall mannoprotein genes in response to high hydrostatic pressure and low temperature
Authors: Abe Fumiyoshi
Published: October 2007

Global transcriptional profiles of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were studied following changes in growth conditions to high hydrostatic pressure and low temperature. These profiles were quantitatively very similar, encompassing 561 co‐upregulated genes and 161 co‐downregulated genes. In particular, expression of the DAN/TIR cell wall mannoprotein genes, which are generally expressed under hypoxia, were markedly upregulated by high pressure and low temperature, suggesting the overlapping regulatory networks of transcription. In support of the role of mannoproteins in cell wall integrity, cells acquired resistance against treatment with SDS, Zymolyase and lethal levels of high pressure when preincubated under high pressure and low temperature.
Whole genome microarray analysis of C. elegans rrf‐3 and eri‐1 mutants
Authors: Asikainen Suvi , Storvik Markus , Lakso Merja , Wong Garry
Published: October 2007

We performed genome wide gene expression analysis on L4 stage Caenorhabditis elegans rrf‐3(pk1426) and eri‐1(mg366) mutant strains to study the effects caused by loss of their encoded proteins, which are required for the accumulation of endogenous secondary siRNAs. Mutant rrf‐3 and eri‐1 strains exhibited 72 transcripts that were co‐over‐expressed and 4 transcripts co‐under‐expressed (>2‐fold, P
< 0.05) compared to N2 wild type strain. Ontology analysis indicated these transcripts were over represented for protein phosphorylation and sperm function genes. These results provide additional support for the hypothesis that RRF‐3 and ERI‐1 act together in the endo‐siRNA pathway, and furthermore suggests their involvement in additional biological processes.
Oligosaccharide recognition and binding to the carbohydrate binding module of AMP‐activated protein kinase
Authors: Koay Ann , Rimmer Kieran A. , Mertens Haydyn D.T. , Gooley Paul R. , Stapleton David
Published: October 2007

The AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) contains a carbohydrate‐binding module (β1‐CBM) that is conserved from yeast to mammals. β1‐CBM has been shown to localize AMPK to glycogen in intact cells and in vitro. Here we use Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy to investigate oligosaccharide binding to 15N labelled β1‐CBM. We find that β1‐CBM shows greatest affinity to carbohydrates of greater than five glucose units joined via α,1 → 4 glycosidic linkages with a single, but not multiple, glucose units in an α,1 → 6 branch. The near identical chemical shift profile for all oligosaccharides whether cyclic or linear suggest a similar binding conformation and confirms the presence of a single carbohydrate‐binding site.
Signal transduction pathways associated with ATP‐induced proliferation of cell progenitors in the intact embryonic retina
Authors: Nunes Patricia Helena Castro , Calaza Karin da Costa , Albuquerque Lidiane Martins , Fragel‐Madeira Lucianne , Sholl‐Franco Alfred , Ventura Ana Lucia Marques
Published: October 2007

ATP and ADP induce retinal cell proliferation through activation of PKC and extracellular signal‐regulated kinases (ERKs). Here, we characterized the effect of purinergic agonists on the turnover of phosphoinositides and activation of ERKs during development of the chick embryo retina. When intact retinas were incubated with ATP, ADP or UTP, a dose‐dependent accumulation of [3H]‐phosphoinositides was observed (% of control, EC50: 548 ± 20.5%, 0.18 mM; 314 ± 53.8%, 0.51 mM; 704 ± 139.9%, 0.018 mM, respectively). Only the response promoted by ADP was completely inhibited by the P2 receptor antagonists, PPADS and suramin. All the responses decreased with the progression of retinal development. Western blot assays revealed that ATP, ADP and UTP stimulated the phosphorylation of ERKs in the chick embryo retina very early during development (% of control: 174 ± 16; 199 ± 16.4 and 206 ± 37, respectively). The responses to ADP and UTP were transient and dose‐dependent, showing EC50values of 0.12 mM and 0.009 mM. The response to ADP was inhibited by the antagonists PPADS and suramin and by U73122 and chelerythrine chloride, which block PLC and PKC, respectively. Conversely, chelerythrine chloride did not block the response induced by UTP. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that ATP and ADP induced the phosphorylation of ERKs in cells of the neuroblastic layer of retinas from embryos at E8. Our data showed that ATP, ADP and UTP stimulate the turnover of InsPs and promoted the activation of ERKs in the chick embryo retina. ADP, through activation of P2Y1receptors, activated ERK pathway through PLC and PKC and UTP, via P2Y4‐like receptors, induced the phosphorylation of ERKs through a pathway that did not involve PKC.
Methylrosaniline chloride stained vaginal smears for the diagnosis of vulvovaginal candidiasis
Authors: Liu X.P. , Fan S.R.
Published: October 2007

Objective

To study the sensitivity and specificity of methylrosaniline chloride stained vaginal smears for the diagnosis of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC).

Method

Between September 2005 and February 2006, 214 cases of patients with VVC and 102 cases of controls were investigated at Peking University Shenzhen Hospital. All strains were identified with the API Candida system.

Results

The average age of the patients was 29.87 years. The sensitivity and specificity of methylrosaniline chloride stained vaginal smears for the diagnosis of vulvovaginal candidiasis were 88.3% (189/214) and 96.1 (98/102). The sensitivity of the vaginal smears for the diagnosis of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis, mild vulvovaginal candidiasis and severe vulvovaginal candidiasis were 85.2% (46/54), 74.7% (71/95) and 99.2% (118/119).

Conclusion

Methylrosaniline chloride stained vaginal smears for the diagnosis of vulvovaginal candidiasis are reliable and inexpensive.