bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The asymmetric impact of consumer sentiment announcements on Australian foreign exchange rates
Authors: Akhtar Shumi , Faff Robert , Oliver Barry
Published: December 2011

We examine the effect of consumer sentiment announcements on changes in 13 of the more common foreign exchange rates against the Australian dollar using a consumer sentiment index (CSI). Generally, we find that the CSI possesses information that influences the foreign exchange market. However, we observe an asymmetric effect – when a lower than previous month CSI is announced, the Australian dollar experiences a significant depreciation on the announcement day, but there is no matching appreciation when positive CSI news occurs. This supports the negativity effect documented in the psychology literature and in the Australian stock market. There is no evidence that the effect is non-linear.
An analysis of the determinants of bank ratings: comparison across ratings agencies
Authors: Bissoondoyal-Bheenick Emawtee , Treepongkaruna Sirimon
Published: December 2011

The recent Global Financial Crisis has focused our attention on the integrity of rating agencies. Often condemned for being too slow to act, rating agencies have been blamed during many financial crises. This impression opens some research questions addressed in this paper. What are the determinants of banks ratings? How do they differ across ratings agencies? This paper analyses the quantitative determinants of bank ratings, provided by Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch in the United Kingdom and Australia. The main finding is that quantitative factors that reflect asset quality, liquidity risk, capital adequacy and operating performance are the key determinants of bank ratings across the rating agencies. However, macroeconomic variables and market risk factors do not seem to be contributing factors in explaining bank ratings in either country.
Does Double-Row Rotator Cuff Repair Improve Functional Outcome of Patients Compared With Single-Row Technique?
Authors: DeHaan Alexander M. , Axelrad Thomas W. , Kaye Elizabeth , Silvestri Lorenzo , Puskas Brian , Foster Timothy E.
Published: December 2011

Background: The advantage of single-row versus double-row arthroscopic rotator cuff repair techniques has been a controversial issue in sports medicine and shoulder surgery. There is biomechanical evidence that double-row techniques are superior to single-row techniques; however, there is no clinical evidence that the double-row technique provides an improved functional outcome.

Hypothesis: When compared with single-row rotator cuff repair, double-row fixation, although biomechanically superior, has no clinical benefit with respect to retear rate or improved functional outcome.

Study Design: Systematic review.

Methods: The authors reviewed prospective studies of level I or II clinical evidence that compared the efficacy of single- and double-row rotator cuff repairs. Functional outcome scores included the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) shoulder scale, the Constant shoulder score, and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder rating scale. Radiographic failures and complications were also analyzed. A test of heterogeneity for patient demographics was also performed to determine if there were differences in the patient profiles across the included studies.

Results: Seven studies fulfilled our inclusion criteria. The test of heterogeneity across these studies showed no differences. The functional ASES, Constant, and UCLA outcome scores revealed no difference between single- and double-row rotator cuff repairs. The total retear rate, which included both complete and partial retears, was 43.1% for the single-row repair and 27.2% for the double-row repair ( P = .057), representing a trend toward higher failures in the single-row group.

Conclusion: Through a comprehensive literature search and meta-analysis of current arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs, we found that the single-row repairs did not differ from the double-row repairs in functional outcome scores. The double-row repairs revealed a trend toward a lower radiographic proven retear rate, although the data did not reach statistical significance. There may be a concerning trend toward higher retear rates in patients undergoing a single-row repair, but further studies are required.
Modelling and performance of a pneumatic brake actuator
Authors: Miller Jonathan I , Cebon David
Published: December 2011

Heavy vehicles have sluggish pneumatic brake actuators that limit the control bandwidth of their anti-lock braking systems. In order to implement more effective braking controllers, it is proposed that high-bandwidth, binary-actuated valves are directly placed on the brake chambers. This article details investigations made into modelling and controlling heavy-vehicle pneumatic brake actuators with a view towards implementing the novel brake actuator design. One-dimensional flow theory is combined with simple thermodynamic arguments for polytropic systems to describe the charging and discharging of a brake chamber. Particular attention is paid to the simulation of perceptible vibrations caused by the piston’s motion at relatively low charging pressures, using a hysteresis model. The resulting equations are linearized and used to design a closed-loop pressure controller for the actuator. Finally, the non-linear performance limits of the valves, caused by dead-zones and time delays, are investigated using a describing function analysis.
‘It actually painted a picture of the village and the sea and the bottom of the sea’: Reading groups, cultural legitimacy, and description in narrative (with particular reference to John Steinbeck’s The Pearl)
Authors: Allington Daniel
Published: December 2011

This article proposes a form of research that integrates reader study with textual analysis. Its purpose is to investigate the social production of literary value, potentially providing cultural sociology with a systematic means by which to study the formal features of texts in relation to their social significance: a means arguably required by (but not necessarily supplied in) the work of Pierre Bourdieu. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of reading group (or ‘book club’) discussions reveals an association between descriptive writing, cultural legitimacy, and a focus on the form, rather than the content, of fictional texts. In order to understand this association, the analysis then turns to two paragraphs from John Steinbeck’s The Pearl (2000 [1946]), which had been read by most of the groups involved and which many group members had referred to as involving ‘description’. It is argued that a long-standing tradition of association between descriptive writing and visual art has served as a resource both for consumers and for producers in distinguishing literature from popular fiction.
An Association Between the Serotonin Transporter Gene Promoter Polymorphism and Smoking Cessation Among Japanese Males
Authors: Sekiguchi Fuminao , Ando Daisuke , Yamakita Mitsuya , Yamagata Zentaro
Published: December 2011

The objective of this study was to replicate the associations between the serotonin transporter genotypes and smoking cessation and between these genotypes and long-term smoking cessation success (for 2 years or more). Two case–control designs were used in this study. The first case–control design consisted of 47 ex-smokers (cases) and 94 smokers (controls). The second case–control design consisted of the 12 ex-smokers who had succeeded in long-term smoking cessation (cases) and the 24 smokers (controls). In the first design, there was no significant difference in allele frequency and genotype distribution between cases and controls. In the second design, the S/S genotype frequency was higher in cases than in controls, but the difference did not reach slightly statistical significance. The present study suggests that individuals with the S/S genotype are more inclined to achieve long-term smoking cessation than others.
Lifestyle Factors as Predictors of General Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Li Ying , Sato Yasuto , Yamaguchi Naohito
Published: December 2011

This study aims to examine the effectiveness of lifestyle factors in predicting general cardiovascular events and to investigate the feasibility of using the lifestyle model as a self-screening tool. The authors conducted a longitudinal study over a 10-year follow-up in Japan. Logistic regression analysis was used to create prediction models for general cardiovascular disease (CVD) death. The authors estimated the predictive power of the models by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve. The total of 6 traditional and 5 lifestyle risk factors were significantly associated with the incidence of CVD events. Hazard ratios (HRs) were 0.26 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.17, 0.41) for regular physical activity, 0.57 (95% CI = 0.50, 0.67) for moderate- or high-intensity work, and 1.72 (95% CI = 1.31-2.26) for short sleep duration; the HRs for traditional and Western dietary patterns were 1.53 (95% CI = 1.12, 2.09) and 2.62 (95% CI = 1.46, 4.68), respectively. The AUROC curve was significantly different between the classic and lifestyle prediction models. These results suggest that lifestyle factors are significant predictors of CVD events.
The politics of knowledge, epistemological occlusion and Islamic management and organization knowledge
Authors: Ul-Haq Shoaib , Westwood Robert
Published: December 2011

This article argues that Islamic management and organization knowledge (MOK) is relatively under- and mis-represented in the literature. This conclusion is reached following a detailed literature survey and analysis which also examines some of the core representational practices used to account for Islam in the literature: the persistence of essentialism and orientalism; the disposition to refract instances of Islamic MOK through Northern lenses; and the tendency for some Southern scholars and institutions to become intellectually captive to the North’s knowledge system. We discuss this in the context of a politics of knowledge that bears on knowledge production and dissemination processes in MOK. This reveals continued intellectual and cultural imperialism, sustained Western hegemony, and the exclusionary practices of the North’s associated discourses and institutional frameworks that valorise and elevate Northern epistemology, theory and method, but devalues and marginalize alternatives. We argue that any neglect of Islam is unwarranted given (a) its global significance on a range of dimensions, (b) the particularities of its relations to the North—characterized by orientalism and Islamophobia and (c) the presence of a distinctive Islamic worldview, epistemology and ethics that informs practical action, including management and organization. This entails that an Islamic MOK offers prospects of an alternative or complement to the North’s orthodox perspective and is deserving of a proper voice in the literature. We conclude by offering practical suggestions for change.
Comparison of Informant Reports and Neuropsychological Assessment in Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Abbate Carlo , Trimarchi Pietro D. , Nicolini Paola , Bergamaschini Luigi , Vergani Carlo , Mari Daniela
Published: December 2011

The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the accuracy of informant reports on cognitive status in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) by comparing the subjective evaluation made by patients’ relatives with the objective results of neuropsychological assessment. We enrolled 119 MCI outpatients and their relatives. Cognitive impairment was assessed by a battery of standardized neuropsychological tests. Informant reports on cognitive functioning were obtained by means of a structured interview. Subjective and objective evaluations of cognitive status were rated according to the same scoring system in order to enable comparison. All but one relative reported cognitive dysfunctions at the interview, but the kind of cognitive profile emerging from their reports was quite different from the one highlighted by neuropsychological assessment. A subjective evaluation of cognitive status based on informant reports could therefore be useful to identify patients with MCI but is unable to define MCI subtypes.
The Diagnosis and Endovascular Management of Superior Mesenteric Artery (SMA) Branch Pseudoaneurysms After Appendicectomy
Authors: Zia Zergham , Thurley Peter D. , Pollock John Graham , DeNunzio Mario , Bungay Peter , Whitaker Simon C.
Published: December 2011

Pseudoaneurysms arising from the visceral arteries are rare. We present 2 patients who developed pseudoaneurysms arising from branches of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) following laparoscopic appendicectomy. Both cases were successfully treated by endovascular embolization. The diagnosis and management of SMA branch pseudoaneurysms are discussed.
Superior Mesenteric Vein Aneurysm
Authors: Truong Tuan , Vu Jonathan-Hien , Matteo Jerry
Published: December 2011

A 46-year-old female was found to have a saccular superior mesenteric vein (SMV) aneurysm on computed tomography (CT) scan during workup for abdominal pain. It measured 3.5 cm in diameter. The SMV aneurysm was successfully resected, and the SMV was repaired with femoral vein patch angioplasty. She was placed on Coumadin for 3 months. At follow-up, the vein patch repair was patent and the patient was doing well with complete resolution of her abdominal pain.
A computational approach to modeling chaff clouds consisting of fractal particles
Authors: Xenidis Ioannis , Dauby Jason P , Myat Maung H , Scholfield David W
Published: December 2011

A chaff cloud is an electronic countermeasure to radio frequency emitters. The cloud immerses a protected entity in a multitude of false targets by reradiating incident electromagnetic energy from millions of thin aluminized fibers, foil strips, or elements printed with conductive ink. The elements are cut to form resonant structures to match the principle threat frequencies, making them an effective reradiator. Empirically testing chaff clouds is technically challenging, costly, and time consuming. With an increased emphasis on chaff research comes the need to characterize cloud radar cross-section performance to expand existing knowledge and explore development opportunities for future technologies. This paper describes the computational methodology and results for analyzing standard dipole chaff clouds and Koch snowflakes as a possible new chaff element.
Does memory of the distant past matter? Remediating the Norman Conquest
Authors: Brownlie Siobhan
Published: December 2011

The article examines the question of whether memory of the distant past can matter today by drawing on a case study of contemporary British memory and myths of the Norman Conquest. The two main sources of data are a corpus of newspaper articles in which the Conquest is referred to, and a quantitative survey of the population of the United Kingdom. In a preliminary discussion myths of the Norman Conquest are described, and differences between recent and distant memory of a significant event are considered. Then the question of intercultural relations and distant memory is examined, in particular whether British memory of the Norman Conquest has an impact on international and intra-national relations today as expressed in attitudes towards the French, and towards foreigners in Britain. It is concluded that memory of past iconic events does have an impact, and that characteristics of distant memory such as multiple remediation, multi-directionality and affective mobility are important in explaining the role and influence of memory of the distant past regarding intercultural relations today.
Safety and efficacy of subcutaneous formulation of bortezomib versus the conventional intravenous formulation in multiple myeloma
Authors: Mateos Marìa-Victoria , San Miguel Jesús F.
Published: December 2011

The discovery of the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway first, and the proteasome inhibitors thereafter were not made in the hope of improving the treatment of malignant diseases. However, bortezomib, the first in class proteasome inhibitor introduced in the clinical practice has contributed to improve the outcome of patients with multiple myeloma, at relapse or disease progression as well as upfront. The results observed in a large randomized trial (APEX) comparing bortezomib and high-dose dexamethasone demonstrated a significant benefit for bortezomib in terms of response rate, progression-free and overall survival. These results led to bortezomib being approved for use in relapsed and/or refractory myeloma patients. Subsequent studies demonstrated that its activity could be enhanced in combination with other drugs; and the next step was to move to the newly diagnosed patient population; in fact, bortezomib–melphalan–prednisone (VMP) is approved as a standard of care for newly diagnosed elderly patients. However, toxicity, especially peripheral neuropathy, as well as the intravenous route required for its administration are the two most significant bortezomib-related issues. To try to reduce the peripheral neuropathy, new guidelines for its management and the introduction of weekly schedules of administration have contributed to significantly decrease its incidence and the subcutaneous administration has been recently introduce to avoid the intravenous (IV) route. Results obtained in phase I/II and III studies have confirmed that subcutaneous administration is feasible and represents an additional step towards the optimization of bortezomib use, resulting in a probably more convenient method than the IV route that is at least as effective.
Healthy Eating Index scores associated with symptoms of depression in Cuban-Americans with and without type 2 diabetes: a cross sectional study
Authors: Exebio Joel C , Zarini Gustavo G , Exebio Cristóbal , Huffman Fatma G
Published: December 2011

Background

Low diet quality and depression symptoms are independently associated with poor glycemic control in subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2D); however, the relationship between them is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the association between diet quality and symptoms of depression among Cuban-Americans with and without T2D living in South Florida.

Methods

Subjects (n = 356) were recruited from randomly selected mailing list. Diet quality was determined using the Healthy Eating Index-2005 (HEI-05) score. Symptoms of depression were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Both linear and logistic regression analyses were run to determine whether or not these two variables were related. Symptoms of depression was the dependent variable and independent variables included HEI-05, gender, age, marital status, BMI, education level, A1C, employment status, depression medication, duration of diabetes, and diabetes status. Analysis of covariance was used to test for interactions among variables.

Results

An interaction between diabetes status, gender and HEI-05 was found (P = 0.011). Among males with a HEI-05 score ≤ 55.6, those with T2D had a higher mean BDI score than those without T2D (11.6 vs. 6.6 respectively, P = 0.028). Among males and females with a HEI-05 score ≤ 55.6, females without T2D had a higher mean BDI score compared to males without T2D (11.0 vs. 6.6 respectively, P = 0.012)

Conclusions

Differences in symptoms of depression according to diabetes status and gender are found in Cuban-Americans with low diet quality.
Induction of cytotoxicity of Pelagia noctiluca venom causes reactive oxygen species generation, lipid peroxydation induction and DNA damage in human colon cancer cells
Authors: Ayed Yosra , Boussabbeh Manel , Zakhama Wiem , Bouaziz Chayma , Abid Salwa , Bacha Hassen
Published: December 2011

Background

The long-lasting and abundant blooming of Pelagia noctiluca in Tunisian coastal waters compromises both touristic and fishing activities and causes substantial economic losses. Determining their molecular mode of action is, important in order to limit or prevent the subsequent damages. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the propensity of Pelagia noctiluca venom to cause oxidative damage in HCT 116 cells and its associated genotoxic effects.

Results

Our results indicated an overproduction of ROS, an induction of catalase activity and an increase of MDA generation. We looked for DNA fragmentation by means of the comet assay. Results indicated that venom of Pelagia noctiluca induced DNA fragmentation. SDS-PAGE analysis of Pelagia noctiluca venom revealed at least 15 protein bands of molecular weights ranging from 4 to 120 kDa.

Conclusion

Oxidative damage may be an initiating event and contributes, in part, to the mechanism of toxicity of Pelagia noctiluca venom.
The versatile application of cervicofacial and cervicothoracic rotation flaps in head and neck surgery
Authors: Liu Fa-yu , Xu Zhong-fei , Li Peng , Sun Chang-fu , Li Rui-wu , Ge Shu-fen , Li Jun-lin , Huang Shao-hui , Tan Xuexin
Published: December 2011

Background

The large defects resulting from head and neck tumour surgeries present a reconstructive challenge to surgeons. Although numerous methods can be used, they all have their own limitations. In this paper, we present our experience with cervicofacial and cervicothoracic rotation flaps to help expand the awareness and application of this useful system of flaps.

Methods

Twenty-one consecutive patients who underwent repair of a variety of defects of the head and neck with cervicofacial or cervicothoracic flaps in our hospital from 2006 to 2009 were retrospectively analysed. Statistics pertaining to the patients' clinical factors were gathered.

Results

Cheek neoplasms are the most common indication for cervicofacial and cervicothoracic rotation flaps, followed by parotid tumours. Among the 12 patients with medical comorbidities, the most common was hypertension. Defects ranging from 1.5 cm × 1.5 cm to 7 cm × 6 cm were reconstructed by cervicofacial flap, and defects from 3 cm × 2 cm to 16 cm × 7 cm were reconstructed by cervicothoracic flap. The two flaps also exhibited versatility in these reconstructions. When combined with the pectoralis major myocutaneous flap, the cervicothoracic flap could repair through-and-through cheek defects, and in combination with a temporalis myofacial flap, the cervicofacial flap was able to cover orbital defects. Additionally, 95% patients were satisfied with their resulting contour results.

Conclusions

Cervicofacial and cervicothoracic flaps provide a technically simple, reliable, safe, efficient and cosmetic means to reconstruct defects of the head and neck.
Distributed admission control protocol for end-to-end QoS assurance in ad hoc wireless networks
Authors: Youn JooSang , Pack Sangheon , Hong Yong-Geun
Published: December 2011

To reserve end-to-end bandwidth in quality of service (QoS) supported wireless ad hoc networks, local bandwidth requirement should be carefully determined by considering the number of contending nodes in an interference range. In this article, we propose a novel admission control protocol, called DACP (distributed admission control protocol), which is implemented over a reactive ad hoc routing protocol with minimal overhead. DACP computes the required bandwidth for end-to-end band-width provision at each node and estimates the available bandwidth at the medium access control layer. After that, DACP makes a decision for admitting a flow in a per-hop basis. Extensive simulations are carried out via the OPNET simulator. The simulation results demonstrate that DACP not only provides guaranteed end-to-end resource but also reduces the control overhead to provide QoS support, compared with the existing admission control schemes.
Convergence of the modified Mann's iterative method for asymptotically κ-strictly pseudocontractive mappings
Authors: Zhang Ying , Xie Zhiwei
Published: December 2011

Let E be a real uniformly convex Banach space which has the Fréchet differentiable norm, and K a nonempty, closed, and convex subset of E. Let T : K → K be an asymptotically κ-strictly pseudocontractive mapping with a nonempty fixed point set. We prove that (I - T) is demiclosed at 0 and obtain a weak convergence theorem of the modified Mann's algorithm for T under suitable control conditions. Moreover, we also elicit a necessary and sufficient condition that guarantees strong convergence of the modified Mann's iterative sequence to a fixed point of T in a real Banach spaces with the Fréchet differentiable norm.

2000 AMS Subject Classification: 47H09; 47H10.
Unusual presentation of hepatitis B serological markers in an Amerindian community of Venezuela with a majority of occult cases
Authors: Cardona Nathalia E , Loureiro Carmen L , Garzaro Domingo J , Duarte María C , García Daisy M , Pacheco Milian C , Chemin Isabelle , Pujol Flor H
Published: December 2011

Background

Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) is characterized by the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in the absence of HBsAg in the serum of patients. The aim of this study was to characterize HBV infection among a Piaroa community, an Amerindian group which exhibits significant evidence of exposure to HBV but relatively low presence of HBsAg, and to explore the presence of OBI in this population.

Results

Of 150 sera, with 17% anti-HBc and 1.3% HBsAg prevalence, 70 were tested for the presence of HBV DNA. From these, 25 (36%) were found positive for HBV DNA by PCR in the core region. Two of these 25 sera were HBsAg positive, indicating an overt infection. Of the remaining 68 sera tested, 23 exhibited OBI. Of these, 13 were HBV DNA out of 25 anti-HBc positive (52%) and 10 HBV DNA positive, out of 43 anti-HBc negative (23%), with a statistical significance of p = 0.03. Viral DNA and HBsAg were present intermittently in follow up sera of 13 individuals. Sequence analysis in the core region of the amplified DNA products showed that all the strains belonged to HBV genotype F3. The OBI isolates displayed 96-100% nucleotide identity between them. One isolate exhibited the co-circulation of a wild type variant with a variant with a premature stop codon at the core protein, and a variant exhibiting a deletion of 28 amino acids.

Conclusions

The frequency of OBI found in this Amerindian group warrants further studies in other communities exhibiting different degrees of HBV exposure.
Identification of candidate genes for yeast engineering to improve bioethanol production in very high gravity and lignocellulosic biomass industrial fermentations
Authors: Pereira Francisco B , Guimarães Pedro MR , Gomes Daniel G , Mira Nuno P , Teixeira Miguel C , Sá-Correia Isabel , Domingues Lucília
Published: December 2011

Background

The optimization of industrial bioethanol production will depend on the rational design and manipulation of industrial strains to improve their robustness against the many stress factors affecting their performance during very high gravity (VHG) or lignocellulosic fermentations. In this study, a set of Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes found, through genome-wide screenings, to confer resistance to the simultaneous presence of different relevant stresses were identified as required for maximal fermentation performance under industrial conditions.

Results

Chemogenomics data were used to identify eight genes whose expression confers simultaneous resistance to high concentrations of glucose, acetic acid and ethanol, chemical stresses relevant for VHG fermentations; and eleven genes conferring simultaneous resistance to stresses relevant during lignocellulosic fermentations. These eleven genes were identified based on two different sets: one with five genes granting simultaneous resistance to ethanol, acetic acid and furfural, and the other with six genes providing simultaneous resistance to ethanol, acetic acid and vanillin. The expression of Bud31 and Hpr1 was found to lead to the increase of both ethanol yield and fermentation rate, while Pho85, Vrp1 and Ygl024w expression is required for maximal ethanol production in VHG fermentations. Five genes, Erg2, Prs3, Rav1, Rpb4 and Vma8, were found to contribute to the maintenance of cell viability in wheat straw hydrolysate and/or the maximal fermentation rate of this substrate.

Conclusions

The identified genes stand as preferential targets for genetic engineering manipulation in order to generate more robust industrial strains, able to cope with the most significant fermentation stresses and, thus, to increase ethanol production rate and final ethanol titers.
Aberrant axial mineralization precedes spinal ankylosis: a molecular imaging study in ank/ankmice
Authors: Las Heras Facundo , DaCosta Ralph S , Pritzker Kenneth PH , Haroon Nigil , Netchev George , Tsui Hing Wo , Chiu Basil , Erwin W Mark , Tsui Florence WL , Inman Robert D
Published: December 2011

Introduction

The diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis is made from a combination of clinical features and the presence of radiographic evidence that may be detected only after many years of inflammatory back pain. It is not uncommon to have a diagnosis confirmed 5 to 10 years after the initial onset of symptoms. Development of a more-sensitive molecular imaging technology to detect structural changes in the joints would lead to earlier diagnosis and quantitative tracking of ankylosis progression. Progressive ankylosis (ank/ank) mice have a loss of function in the Ank gene, which codes for a regulator of PPi transport. In this study, we used these ank/ank mutant mice to assess a noninvasive, quantitative measure of joint ankylosis with near-infrared (NIR) molecular imaging in vivo.

Methods

Three age groups (8, 12, and 18 weeks) of ank/ank (15 mice) and wild-type littermates (12 +/+ mice) were assessed histologically and radiographically. Before imaging, OsteoSense 750 (bisphosphonate pamidronate) was injected i.v. Whole-body images were analyzed by using the multispectral Maestro imaging system.

Results

OsteoSense 750 signals in the paw joints were higher in ank/ank mice in all three age groups compared with controls. In the spine, significantly higher OsteoSense 750 signals were detected early, in 8-week-old ank/ank mice compared with controls, although minimal radiographic differences were noted at this time point. The molecular imaging changes in the ank/ank spine (8 weeks) were supported by histologic changes, including calcium apatite crystals at the edge of the vertebral bodies and new syndesmophyte formation.

Conclusions

Changes in joint pathology of ank/ank mice, as evaluated by histologic and radiographic means, are qualitative, but only semiquantitative. In contrast, molecular imaging provides a quantitative assessment. Ankylosis in ank/ank mice developed simultaneously in distal and axial joints, contrary to the previous notion that it is a centripetal process. NIR imaging might be feasible for early disease diagnosis and for monitoring disease progression in ankylosing spondylitis.
Sustained remission of symptoms and improved health-related quality of life in patients with cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome treated with canakinumab: results of a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized withdrawal study
Authors: Koné-Paut Isabelle , Lachmann Helen J , Kuemmerle-Deschner Jasmin B , Hachulla Eric , Leslie Kieron S , Mouy Richard , Ferreira Alberto , Lheritier Karine , Patel Neha , Preiss Ralph , Hawkins Philip N
Published: December 2011

Introduction

To assess the effect of canakinumab, a fully human anti-interleukin-1β antibody, on symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS).

Methods

In this 48-week, phase 3 study, patients with CAPS received canakinumab 150 mg subcutaneously at 8-week intervals. All patients (n = 35) received canakinumab during weeks 1 through 8; weeks 9 through 24 constituted a double-blind placebo-controlled withdrawal phase, and weeks 24 through 48 constituted an open-label phase in which all patients received canakinumab. Patient and physician assessments of symptoms, levels of inflammatory markers, and HRQoL were performed.

Results

Rapid symptom remission was achieved, with 89% of patients having no or minimal disease activity on day 8. Responses were sustained in patients receiving 8-weekly canakinumab. Responses were lost during the placebo-controlled phase in the placebo group and were regained on resuming canakinumab therapy in the open-label phase. Clinical responses were accompanied by decreases in serum levels of C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A protein, and interleukin-6. HRQoL scores at baseline were considerably below those of the general population. Improvements in all 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) domain scores were evident by day 8. Scores approached or exceeded those of the general U.S. population by week 8 and remained stable during canakinumab therapy. Improvements in bodily pain and role-physical were particularly marked, increasing by more than 25 points from baseline to week 8. Therapy was generally well tolerated.

Conclusions

Canakinumab, 150 mg, 8-weekly, induced rapid and sustained remission of symptoms in patients with CAPS, accompanied by substantial improvements in HRQoL.

Trial registration

Clintrials.gov NCT00465985
Regulation of breast cancer metastasis by Runx2 and estrogen signaling: the role of SNAI2
Authors: Chimge Nyam-Osor , Baniwal Sanjeev K , Little Gillian H , Chen Yi-bu , Kahn Michael , Tripathy Debu , Borok Zea , Frenkel Baruch
Published: December 2011

Introduction

In contrast to its role in breast cancer (BCa) initiation, estrogen signaling has a protective effect in later stages, where estrogen receptor (ER)α loss associates with aggressive metastatic disease. We asked whether the beneficial effect of estrogen signaling in late-stage BCa is attributable to the recently reported estrogen-mediated antagonism of the pro-metastatic transcription factor Runx2.

Methods

MCF7/Rx2dox breast cancer cells were engineered with a lentivirus expressing Runx2 in response to doxycycline (dox). Cells treated with dox and/or estradiol (E2) were subjected to genome-wide expression profiling, RT-qPCR analysis of specific genes, and Matrigel™ invasion assays. Knockdown of genes of interest was performed using lentiviruses expressing appropriate shRNAs, either constitutively or in response to dox. Gene expression in BCa tumors was investigated using a cohort of 557 patients compiled from publicly available datasets. Association of gene expression with clinical metastasis was assessed by dichotomizing patients into those expressing genes of interest at either high or low levels, and comparing the respective Kaplan-Meier curves of metastasis-free survival.

Results

Runx2 induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) evidenced by acquisition of a fibroblastic morphology, decreased expression of E-cadherin, increased expression of vimentin and invasiveness. Runx2 stimulated SNAI2 expression in a WNT- and transforming growth factor (TGF)β-dependent manner, and knockdown of SNAI2 abrogated the pro-metastatic activities of Runx2. E2 antagonized the pro-metastatic activities of Runx2, including SNAI2 upregulation. In primary BCa tumors, Runx2 activity, SNAI2 expression, and metastasis were positively correlated, and SNAI2 expression was negatively correlated with ERα. However, the negative correlation between SNAI2 and ERα in bone-seeking BCa cells was weaker than the respective negative correlation in tumors seeking lung. Furthermore, the absence of ERα in primary tumors was associated with lung- and brain- but not with bone metastasis, and tumor biopsies from bone metastatic sites displayed the unusual combination of high Runx2/SNAI2 and high ERα expression.

Conclusions

E2 antagonizes Runx2-induced EMT and invasiveness of BCa cells, partly through attenuating expression of SNAI2, a Runx2 target required for mediating its pro-metastatic property. That ERα loss promotes non-osseous metastasis by unleashing Runx2/SNAI2 is supported by the negative correlation observed in corresponding tumors. Unknown mechanisms in bone-seeking BCa allow high Runx2/SNAI2 expression despite high ERα level
“STAMPED Indian”: FINDING HISTORY AND CULTURE IN TERMS FOR AMERICAN ‘CORNBREAD’
Authors: Burkette Allison
Published: December 2011

Under consideration are two databases from the Linguistic Atlas of the Middle and South Atlantic States; one contains the responses to the ‘cornbread’ question, and the other the responses to the ‘other bread made of cornmeal’ question. Taken together, these databases offer a staggering 336 different terms used for cornbreads. The present work investigates the depth of this variation, looking first at the LAMSAS responses and then at the history of cornbread itself. A historical perspective reveals that represented by these ‘cornbread’ responses are different preparations, ingredients, shapes, cooking methods, cooking vessels, and varied cultural and linguistics contacts, all of which grow out of the history of cornmeal-based cooking in America. This article demonstrates how the variation found within the cornbread-related databases offers a compelling description of American lifeways and cultureways.
SrGAP3 interacts with lamellipodin at the cell membrane and regulates Rac-dependent cellular protrusions
Authors: Endris Volker , Haussmann Lydia , Buss Elena , Bacon Claire , Bartsch Dusan , Rappold Gudrun
Published: December 2011

SrGAP3/MEGAP is a member of the Slit–Robo GAP (srGAP) family and is implicated in repulsive axon guidance and neuronal migration through Slit–Robo-mediated signal transduction. Here we describe an inhibitory role of srGAP3 on actin dynamics, specifically on lamellipodia formation. We show that the F-BAR domain localizes srGAP3 to the leading edge of cellular protrusions whereas the SH3 domain is important for focal adhesion targeting. We report on a novel srGAP3 interaction partner, lamellipodin, which localizes with srGAP3 at the leading edge. Live-cell analyses revealed that srGAP3 influences lamellipodin-evoked lamellipodial dynamics. Furthermore, we show that mouse embryonic fibroblasts derived from homozygous srGAP3-knockout embryos display an increased cell area and lamellipodia formation that can be blocked by shRNA-mediated knockdown of lamellipodin.
Cell organization, growth, and neural and cardiac development require αII-spectrin
Authors: Stankewich Michael C. , Cianci Carol D. , Stabach Paul R. , Ji Lan , Nath Anjali , Morrow Jon S.
Published: December 2011

Spectrin α2 (αII-spectrin) is a scaffolding protein encoded by the Spna2 gene and constitutively expressed in most tissues. Exon trapping of Spna2 in C57BL/6 mice allowed targeted disruption of αII-spectrin. Heterozygous animals displayed no phenotype by 2 years of age. Homozygous deletion of Spna2 was embryonic lethal at embryonic day 12.5 to 16.5 with retarded intrauterine growth, and craniofacial, neural tube and cardiac anomalies. The loss of αII-spectrin did not alter the levels of αI- or βI-spectrin, or the transcriptional levels of any β-spectrin or any ankyrin, but secondarily reduced by about 80% the steady state protein levels of βII- and βIII-spectrin. Residual βII- and βIII-spectrin and ankyrins B and G were concentrated at the apical membrane of bronchial and renal epithelial cells, without impacting cell morphology. Neuroepithelial cells in the developing brain were more concentrated and more proliferative in the ventricular zone than normal; axon formation was also impaired. Embryonic fibroblasts cultured on fibronectin from E14.5 (Spna2−/−) animals displayed impaired growth and spreading, a spiky morphology, and sparse lamellipodia without cortical actin. These data indicate that the spectrin–ankyrin scaffold is crucial in vertebrates for cell spreading, tissue patterning and organ development, particularly in the developing brain and heart, but is not required for cell viability.
Does the Web Reduce Customer Service Cost? Empirical Evidence from a Call Center
Authors: Kumar Anuj , Telang Rahul
Published: December 2011

Firms are investing millions to deploy Web-based self-services at their call centers. The rationale for such investment is that the firm's cost of interacting with its customers through the Web-based channel is an order of magnitude cheaper than the assisted channels such as telephony. We conduct a field study at the call center of a prominent U.S. health insurance firm to examine this cost-saving rationale of the Web-based self-service channel. On the one hand, the Web channel may substitute for the telephony channel in some cases. On the other hand, the Web also exposes customers to a vast amount of information about their health policy, claims, and coverage; this information can create uncertainty leading to customers seeking more information and hence making more telephone calls. We designed a quasi-natural experiment in our field setting and used difference-in-difference specifications to show that the Web-based self-service usage leads to a 14% increase in telephone calls. We conduct several robustness checks to show that our specifications are robust to any potential selection of customers in the Web-based self-service usage. We further find that the impact of Web portal usage is moderated by the Web portal characteristics. We find that if the information is unambiguous and easily retrievable on the Web, calls for such information decline by 29%. However, for ambiguous information, the calls increase substantially. Our research provides insights into the challenges and opportunities of self-service technologies design.
How Can Stressed Employees Deliver Better Customer Service? The Underlying Self-Regulation Depletion Mechanism
Authors: Chan Kimmy Wa , Wan Echo Wen
Published: December 2011

This research delineates and empirically tests how regulatory depletion may affect high-stress employees' service performance on different types of job tasks. Using a laboratory experiment and a survey study, the authors examine (1) whether work stress causes a depletion effect, such that high work stress undermines service employees' performance on tasks requiring self-regulation (e.g., customer complaint handling performance) versus tasks requiring limited self-regulation (e.g., customer-directed extra-role performance); (2) whether the depletion effect can be overcome by supervisory support or employees' engagement in perspective taking; and (3) how these moderating effects might be mediated by employees' feelings of fatigue and intrinsic job motivation. The results confirm regulatory depletion: High-stress employees feel more fatigue and perform more poorly than low-stress employees in tasks requiring self-regulation. However, the depletion effect from work stress is largely attenuated on employees' performance on tasks requiring less or limited self-regulation. The mediated moderation tests further show that the extent of the depletion effect is not uniform. Employees who can replenish their resources from supervisory support or enhance their goal focus by engaging in perspective taking are less affected by regulatory depletion. These buffering effects occur because of enhanced intrinsic job motivation.
Go Green! Should Environmental Messages be So Assertive?
Authors: Kronrod Ann , Grinstein Amir , Wathieu Luc
Published: December 2011

Environmental communications often contain assertive commands, even though research in consumer behavior, psycholinguistics, and communications has repeatedly shown that gentler phrasing is more effective when seeking consumer compliance. This article shows that the persuasiveness of assertive language depends on the perceived importance of the issue at hand: Recipients respond better to pushy requests in domains that they view as important, but they need more suggestive appeals when they lack initial conviction. The authors examine this effect in three laboratory studies and one field experiment using Google AdWords. Their findings refer to various environmental contexts (i.e., economizing water, recycling plastic containers, reducing air and sea pollution). The key implication of these findings is that issue importance needs to be carefully assessed (or affected) before the language of effective environmental campaigns can be selected.
Academic cheating in Hungarian high schools
Authors: Orosz Gábor , Farkas Dávid
Published: December 2011

Kérdőíves vizsgálatunk célja az volt, hogy magyar középiskolások (N = 236; F = 96, L = 140) körében feltárjuk az egyéni, szituatív, interperszonális és kulturális értékekkel kapcsolatos tényezők hatását az önbevalláson alapuló egyéni és kollaboratív iskolai csalásra. Mindemellett a felmért változók segítségével feltérképeztük azokat a tényezőket is, amelyek hatással vannak a tanulmányi átlagra. A használt kérdőívek validitásának tesztelése után az egyéni csalás kapcsán három változó közvetlen hatását különítettük el: a) a csalással szembeni attitűdökét, b) a csalás elkövetésével együttjáró lelkiismeret-furdalásét és c) a tanulmányi átlagét. A kollaboratív csalás esetén kapott modellben öt tényező közvetlen hatása jelent meg: a) a csalással szembeni attitűdöké, b) a tanulmányi átlagé, c) a tudás megszerzésére irányuló intrinzik motívációé, d) a külső regulációs extrinzik motivációé és e) az észlelt csoportkohézióé. Mindkét esetben meghatároztunk közvetett tényezőket is, melyek a fent bemutatott közvetlen változókon keresztül hatnak a csalásra. A feltárt modellek lehetőséget adnak arra, hogy a magyar kulturális és oktatási közegben le tudjuk írni a szakirodalomban korábban feltárt individuális és szituatív tényezők hatásmechanizmusát.
Controlling annual weeds in cereals by deploying crop rotation at the landscape scale: Avena sterilis as an example
Authors: González-Díaz Lucía , van den Berg Femke , van den Bosch Frank , González-Andújar José Luis
Published: December 2011

Weed control through crop rotation has mainly been studied in a nonspatial context. However, weed seeds are often spread beyond the crop field by a variety of vectors. For weed control to be successful, weed management should thus be evaluated at the landscape level. In this paper we assess how seed dispersal affects the interactions between crop rotation and landscape heterogeneity schemes with regard to weed control. A spatially explicit landscape model was developed to study both short‐ and long‐term weed population dynamics under different management scenarios. We allowed for both two‐ and three‐crop species rotations and three levels of between‐field weed seed dispersal. All rotation scenarios and seed dispersal fractions were analyzed for both completely homogeneous landscapes and heterogeneous landscapes in which more than one crop was present. The potential of implementing new weed control methods was also analyzed. The model results suggest that, like crop rotation at the field level, crop rotation implemented at the landscape level has great potential to control weeds, whereby both the number of crop species and the cropping sequence within the crop rotation have significant effects on both the short‐ and long‐term weed population densities. In the absence of seed dispersal, weed populations became extinct when the fraction of each crop in the landscape was randomized. In general, weed seed densities increased in landscapes with increasing similarity in crop proportions, but in these landscapes the level of seed dispersal affected which three‐crop species rotation sequence was most efficient at controlling the weed densities. We show that ignoring seed dispersal between fields might lead to the selection of suboptimal tactics and that homogeneous crop field patches that follow a specific crop rotation sequence might be the most sustainable method of weed control. Effective weed control through crop rotation thus requires coordination between farmers with regard to cropping sequences, crop allocation across the landscape, and/or the fraction of each crop across the landscape.