bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cellular immune reactions in the lung
Authors: Hasenberg Mike , Stegemann‐Koniszewski Sabine , Gunzer Matthias
Published: December 2012

The lung constantly interacts with the environment through thousands of liters of air that are inhaled daily. This continually transports toxic chemicals and particles or pathogenic microorganisms deep into the respiratory system, posing a challenge to physicochemical barriers and the local immune system. Thus, complex structures and mechanisms have evolved to recognize and fend off environmental dangers while at the same time allowing efficient gas exchange. Here we review our current knowledge regarding cellular mechanisms of the immune system in context with the highly specialized anatomical features of the airways and especially the alveolar compartment. The focus is on fungal and viral infections, merging anatomical aspects well known to pulmonologists with fundamental immunological concepts. We discuss the specialized morphological constraints of immune cells compressed under a continuous layer of the surfactant lining within alveoli as well as the importance of functional polarization of respiratory tract epithelia. Furthermore, we summarize the different types of innate and adaptive immune cells and their relative contribution to lung homeostasis with respect to localization. Finally, we provide a list of currently unresolved questions with high relevance for the field that might serve as food for thought regarding future research directions.
Employee Representation in Non‐Union Firms: An Overview
Authors: Gollan Paul J. , Lewin David
Published: December 2012

For many decades, employee representation and voice in the employment relationship were manifested mainly through unionism and collective bargaining, but that is no longer the case. Today most employees do not belong to unions, but they may be represented and exercise voice through a variety of other mechanisms and arrangements. This paper provides an overview of a special issue of Industrial Relations containing eight papers that analyze various types of non‐union employee representation. These papers feature a wide variety of research designs as well as industry, company, and employee settings. Empirically, they draw upon data from the United States, the UK, Canada, and Australia. As a set, these papers provide the most comprehensive knowledge to date of employee representation in non‐union firms, and also offer recommendations for future research to further enhance such knowledge.
Where Informality Really Matters: Patterns of Employee Involvement and Participation (EIP) in a Non‐Union Firm
Authors: Marchington Mick , Suter Jane
Published: December 2012

Industrial relations scholars have long been interested in notions of employee involvement, participation, voice, and industrial democracy but the terminology is so elastic that the types of practices covered are extremely broad. In this article, following a brief discussion that categorizes employee involvement and participation (EIP) in terms of degree, level, and scope, we focus on the relatively dilute formal and informal practices which operate at workplace level in non‐union firms. Although researchers now examine direct—as well as representative—forms of EIP, we argue the focus is still onformalsystems. This finding is understandable both from a methodological and a theoretical angle, but it leaves a gap in our awareness of how EIP functions at workplace level, and in particular, the role played by line managers in developing informal communication and consultation in non‐union firms. In this article, we examine formal and informal EIP within a large non‐union firm in the UK hospitality sector; a context characterized by intense product and labor market pressures and limited union presence. Our principal conclusion is that informality takes centre stage in this organization, driven by managerial and worker preferences for informal EIP in the context of close working relations at the customer interface. Moreover, customer pressures and flexible working patterns make it difficult to sustain formal EIP in the context of a capability framework that puts a primacy on managers using informal approaches. However, it is argued that informal EIP needs to be combined with the formal system to operate effectively.
The Effect of Gender on Awards in Employment Arbitration Cases: The Experience in the Securities Industry
Authors: Lipsky David B. , Ryan Lamare J. , Gupta Abhishek
Published: December 2012

In this article we analyze the outcomes of nearly 3200 awards issued in employment disputes settled by arbitration in the securities industry over the period 1986–2008. The large amount of litigation in the securities industry alleging discrimination by securities firms against the women they employ led us to hypothesize that women would do less well than men in these arbitration cases. Regression analysis reveals that the gender of the complainant and the complainant's attorney (but not the gender of the respondent's attorney or the arbitrator) had significant effects on the size of the awards. Regardless of the definition of the dependent variable, female complainants did less well than male complainants in these employment arbitration cases. In most estimates, the gender of the attorney representing the complainant also affected the size of the award: male attorneys obtained larger awards than female attorneys. We conclude that these gender differentials are more likely to be the consequence of employment conditions in the securities industry rather than biases in the arbitration process.
Does Non‐Union Employee Representation Act as a Complement or Substitute to Union Voice? Evidence from Canada and the United States
Authors: Campolieti Michele , Gomez Rafael , Gunderson Morley
Published: December 2012

This paper examines two central questions related to non‐union employee representation (NER) in Canada and the United States. First, using Taras and Kaufman's (2006) four faces NER approach, we ask whether non‐union and union forms of voice act as substitutes or complements for employees at the workplace? Second, we ask whether non‐union forms of employee representation serve to deflect any latent desire for traditional union voice. We find that NER is negatively related to the presence of unionization at the workplace; it appears to reduce the desire to be unionized. This substitution effect proves to be stronger in Canada than in the United States.
The Challenges of a Representation Gap: Australian Experiments in Promoting Industrial Citizenship
Authors: Sarina Troy
Published: December 2012

This paper examines the concept of industrial citizenship and explores how collective bargaining laws have been used in Australia in an attempt to enhance worker participation. Utilizing negotiation theory, this paper argues that there is a high level of convergence between a mutual gains approach to negotiation and legislated codes of collective bargaining based on principles of good faith. In conclusion this paper suggests that establishing a legal framework of collective bargaining that incorporates a mutual gains approach to negotiating remains an important foundation for shaping the way institutional actors interact with each other.
Workers' Views of the Impact of Trade on Jobs
Authors: Brown Clair , Lane Julia , Sturgeon Timothy
Published: December 2012

This article uses new data to examine how workers' perceptions of the impact of trade on jobs like theirs are related to economic variables representing their career paths, job characteristics, and local labor market conditions. We find that only 17 percent of workers think trade creates jobs. And even fewer workers (4–7 percent) in any industry think trade has created better jobs. We find that workers' perceptions do not reflect their job characteristics or the movability of their jobs. Their perceptions of trade primarily reflect local labor market conditions (hiring and separation rates) and education. The determinants of workers' perceptions of trade present a different pattern compared with their perceptions of job security.
Union Density in Israel 1995–2010: The Hybridization of Industrial Relations
Authors: Mundlak Guy , Saporta Ishak , Haberfeld Yitchak , Cohen Yinon
Published: December 2012

In the past the Israeli industrial relations system was corporatist, characterized by high levels of membership in trade unions and employers' associations, as well as broad coverage of collective agreements. The corporatist system gradually eroded from the mid‐1980s, but its major transformation came with the removal of the Ghent‐like system in 1995. The article observes data collected since the transformation, distinguishing between membership and coverage trends. These distinctions aid in revealing that a hybrid of two distinct industrial relations subsystems has developed. The notion of hybridization suggests that unlike past accounts, which described the substitution of the corporatist industrial relations system by a liberal‐pluralist system, what actually emerges is their coexistence. Despite the path‐determined nature of the Israeli hybrid, the interaction between coverage and membership is instructive for understanding strategic choices made in other European countries in which a similar gap emerged. The article notes the potential for synergy between the two subsystems and notes the actual development of rivalry and friction.
Collective and Individual Conflicts in the Workplace: Evidence from France
Authors: Tanguy Jeremy
Published: December 2012

This article investigates whether collective disputes and individual disputes are substitutes in French workplaces. Using a nationally representative dataset, this article focuses on two prominent and distinct individual disputes in France, that is, employee applications to Employment Tribunals and employer disciplinary action, and considers alternately strikes and non‐strike disputes at the collective level. Our results suggest that collective disputes, with or without a strike, are substitutes only for Employment Tribunal claims, due to a significant negative relationship between them. In contrast, collective disputes are found to heighten disciplinary action in French workplaces.
Response Surface Method Based on Radial Basis Functions for Modeling Large‐Scale Structures in Model Updating
Authors: Zhou LinRen , Yan GuiRong , Ou JinPing
Published: December 2012

Abstract:  The response surface (RS) method based on radial basis functions (RBFs) is proposed to model the input–output system of large‐scale structures for model updating in this article. As a methodology study, the complicated implicit relationships between the design parameters and response characteristics of cable‐stayed bridges are employed in the construction of an RS. The key issues for application of the proposed method are discussed, such as selecting the optimal shape parameters of RBFs, generating samples by using design of experiments, and evaluating the RS model. The RS methods based on RBFs of Gaussian, inverse quadratic, multiquadric, and inverse multiquadric are investigated. Meanwhile, the commonly used RS method based on polynomial function is also performed for comparison. The approximation accuracy of the RS methods is evaluated by multiple correlation coefficients and root mean squared errors. The antinoise ability of the proposed RS methods is also discussed. Results demonstrate that RS methods based on RBFs have high approximation accuracy and exhibit better performance than the RS method based on polynomial function. The proposed method is illustrated by model updating on a cable‐stayed bridge model. Simulation study shows that the updated results have high accuracy, and the model updating based on experimental data can achieve reasonable physical explanations. It is demonstrated that the proposed approach is valid for model updating of large and complicated structures such as long‐span cable‐stayed bridges.
The coordinate regulation of sensory afferent CNS targeting and CNS longitudinal tract organization in Drosophila during neural development
Authors: Wu Zhuhao , Andreone Benjamin J. , Kolodkin Alex L.
Published: December 2012

Longitudinal axon fascicles within the Drosophila embryonic CNS provide connections between body segments and are required for coordinated neural signaling along the anterior‐posterior axis. We find that the establishment of CNS longitudinal tracts, and the formation of precise chordotonal mechanosensory afferent innervation to the same CNS region, are coordinately regulated by the secreted semaphorins Sema‐2a and Sema‐2b. Both Sema‐2a and Sema‐2b utilize the same neuronal receptor, plexin B (PlexB), but they serve repulsive and attractive functions, respectively, to promote interneuron fascicle assembly and sensory afferent connectivity. In the absence of Sema‐2b or PlexB, chordotonal afferent connectivity within the CNS is severely disrupted, as are select interneuron pathways within longitudinal fascicles, resulting in specific larval behavioral deficits. These results reveal that distinct semaphorin‐mediated guidance functions converge at the PlexB receptor, and that attractive and repulsive functions mediated by this receptor are critical for functional neural circuit assembly.
Recent developments and future directions in Guillain‐Barré syndrome
Authors: Lehmann Helmar C. , Hughes Richard A. C. , Kieseier Bernd C. , Hartung Hans‐Peter
Published: December 2012

Guillain‐Barré syndrome (GBS) encompasses a spectrum of acquired neuropathic conditions characterized by inflammatory demyelinating or axonal peripheral neuropathy with acute onset. Clinical and experimental studies in the past years have led to substantial progress in epidemiology, pathogenesis of GBS variants, and identification of prognostic factors relevant to treatment. In this review we provide an overview and critical assessment of the most recent developments and future directions in GBS research.
Cost of Equity in Homeland Security Resource Allocation in the Face of a Strategic Attacker
Authors: Shan Xiaojun , Zhuang Jun
Published: December 2012

Hundreds of billions of dollars have been spent in homeland security since September 11, 2001. Many mathematical models have been developed to study strategic interactions between governments (defenders) and terrorists (attackers). However, few studies have considered the tradeoff between equity and efficiency in homeland security resource allocation. In this article, we fill this gap by developing a novel model in which a government allocates defensive resources among multiple potential targets, while reserving a portion of defensive resources (represented by the equity coefficient) for equal distribution (according to geographical areas, population, density, etc.). Such a way to model equity is one of many alternatives, but was directly inspired by homeland security resource allocation practice. The government is faced with a strategic terrorist (adaptive adversary) whose attack probabilities are endogenously determined in the model. We study the effect of the equity coefficient on the optimal defensive resource allocations and the corresponding expected loss. We find that the cost of equity (in terms of increased expected loss) increases convexly in the equity coefficient. Furthermore, such cost is lower when: (a) government uses per‐valuation equity; (b) the cost‐effectiveness coefficient of defense increases; and (c) the total defense budget increases. Our model, results, and insights could be used to assist policy making.
Competition and Sustainability: The Impact of Consumer Awareness
Authors: Galbreth Michael R. , Ghosh Bikram
Published: December 2012

Sustainability, a broad concept that includes numerous environmental and social dimensions, has emerged as an important product evaluation criterion for consumers. We suggest the impact of sustainability on consumer behavior depends on two factors—each individual consumer's unique level of concern about sustainability, and the general level of awareness regarding the sustainability of competing products—that together determine the level of heterogeneity among consumer attitudes toward sustainability. We incorporate sustainability concern and awareness into a model of horizontal competition in a duopoly, where one firm's product is more sustainable than the other's. Our results suggest that marginal increases in awareness can benefit all firms, including the less sustainable one, when awareness is sufficiently high (the explicit goal of recent sustainability labeling initiatives). In several model extensions, we provide additional insights for the following cases: the sustainable firm controls the extent of its sustainability advantage, the sustainable firm can directly influence the general level of awareness, and the distribution of sustainability concern across consumers is nonuniform. Our results enable us to suggest several new insights for managers, both those whose products enjoy a sustainability advantage and those whose products do not.
Age Discrimination in the Evaluation of Job Applicants
Authors: Richardson Ben , Webb Janine , Webber Lynne , Smith Kaye
Published: December 2012

This study investigated the nature of age discrimination against older job applicants. One hundred fifty‐six participants (102 students; 54 organization based) evaluated a hypothetical job applicant's (aged 33–66 years) work‐related competences and likelihood of being hired. Applicant age affected hiring decisions for both samples where there was a preference for hiring applicants aged 42–48 years. Applicants at both the older and younger ends of the continuum were less likely to be hired, with the oldest applicants (over 54 years) being the least likely to be hired. Although the applicants' age negatively affected evaluations of their trainability and sociability, the effect of applicant age on hiring evaluations was not mediated by these work‐related competencies, suggesting that age discrimination occurs via direct bias against older workers.
Beautiful, Self‐Absorbed, and Shallow: People of Color Perceive White Women as an Ethnically Marked Category
Authors: Conley Terri D.
Published: December 2012

Non‐Whites' stereotypes of White women were examined, comparing three perspectives: (1) White women are perceived similarly to ethnically “generic” stereotypes of women; (2) stereotypes are opposite of stereotypes of participants' own ethnic group; and (3) stereotypes are derived from media images of White women. In Study 1, participants listed stereotypes of White women in an open‐ended fashion. In Study 2, those stereotypes were developed into a close‐ended questionnaire, completed by a second set of participants. White women were perceived as attractive, blonde, ditsy, shallow, privileged, sexually available, and appearance focused. We concluded that White women are ethnically marked. Stereotypes of White women are consistent with media images of White women.
Factors Predicting Likelihood of Eating Irradiated Meat
Authors: Crowley Olga V. , Marquette Jeanne , Reddy Diane , Fleming Raymond
Published: December 2012

Perception of risk associated with meat irradiation was investigated in a sample of 478 respondents. Fears associated with irradiation, the relative severity and risk of bacterial infection versus potential risks due to the irradiation, and perceptions of the safety of the meat irradiation process combined to strongly predict participants' reports of their likelihood of eating irradiated meat in the present investigation. Overall, respondents were skeptical with regard to eating irradiated meat if it became locally available. Respondents' acceptance of meat irradiation was clearly driven by concerns about the risks of irradiation, but not the risks of bacterial contamination, confirming findings in the literature on differences in perception of “natural” and “technological” risks.
HER2/neu expression correlates with vasculogenic mimicry in invasive breast carcinoma
Authors: Liu Tieju , Sun Baocun , Zhao Xiulan , Gu Qiang , Dong Xueyi , Yao Zhi , Zhao Nan , Chi Jiadong , Liu Ning , Sun Ran , Ma Yuemei
Published: December 2012

Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) refers to the condition in which tumour cells mimic endothelial cells to form extracellular matrix‐rich tubular channels. VM is more extensive in more aggressive tumours. The human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) gene is amplified in 20–30% of human breast cancers and has been implicated in mediating aggressive tumour growth and metastasis. However, thus far, there have been no data on the role of HER2 in VM formation. Immunohistochemical and histochemical double‐staining methods were performed to display VM in breast cancer specimens. Transfection in MCF7 cells was performed and clones were selected by G418. The three‐dimensional Matrigel culture was used to evaluate VM formation in the breast cancer cell line. According to statistical analysis, VM was related to the presence of a positive nodal status and advanced clinical stage. The positive rate of VM increased with increased HER2 expression. In addition, cases with HER2 3+ expression showed significantly greater VM channel count than those in other cases. The exogenous HER2 overexpression in MCF‐7 cells induced vessel‐like VM structures on the Matrigel and increased the VM mediator vascular endothelial (VE) cadherin. Our data provide evidence for a clinically relevant association between HER2 and VM in human invasive breast cancer. HER2 overexpression possibly induces VM through the up‐regulation of VE cadherin. Understanding the key molecular events may provide therapeutic intervention strategies for HER2+ breast cancer.
Foot Patrol in Violent Crime Hot Spots: The Longitudinal Impact of Deterrence and Posttreatment Effects of Displacement
Authors: Sorg Evan T. , Haberman Cory P. , Ratcliffe Jerry H. , Groff Elizabeth R.
Published: December 2012

This study revisited the Philadelphia Foot Patrol Experiment and explored the longitudinal deterrent effects of foot patrol in violent crime hot spots using Sherman's (1990) concepts of initial and residual deterrence decay as a theoretical framework. It also explored whether the displacement uncovered during the initial evaluation decayed after the experiment ended. Multilevel growth curve models revealed that beats staffed for 22 weeks had a decaying deterrent effect during the course of the experiment, whereas those staffed for 12 weeks did not. None of the beats had residual deterrence effects relative to the control areas. The displacement uncovered had decayed during the 3 months after the experiment, and it is theoretically plausible that previously displaced offenders returned to the original target areas causing inverse displacement. These results are discussed in the context of Durlauf and Nagin's (2011) recent proposal that prison sentences should be shortened, mandatory minimum statutes repealed, and the cost savings generated by these policy changes shifted into policing budgets to convey more effectively the certainty of detection. It is concluded that if Durlauf and Nagin's proposal is to succeed, then more holistic policing strategies would likely be necessary. Foot patrol as a specific policing tactic seems to fit nicely into a variety of policing paradigms, and suggestions for incorporating them to move beyond strictly enforcement‐based responses are presented.
Perspectives on the use of and service needs of cancer preventive services for ethnic minorities in Hong Kong: a study protocol
Authors: So Winnie K.W. , Chan Carmen W.H. , Choi Kai‐chow , Chan Dorothy N.S.
Published: December 2012

Aim

To report a study protocol to explore the experience of cancer screening from the perspective of ethnic minorities in Hong Kong

Background

Cancer is a major health problem, but screening can be effective in decreasing the incidence and mortality rates. Providing information on how to participate in recommended preventive measures and on accessibility to these services is a crucial step in promoting healthy behaviour. Ethnic minorities in Western countries are found to be less likely to use preventive services and encounter more barriers in doing so than the general population.

Design

A mixed‐method design with two phases has been chosen to meet the aims and objectives of the study, with Phase 1 using a self‐reported survey and Phase 2 involving focus‐group interviews.

Method

A convenience sample of 1540 South Asians (770 in each gender) will be recruited from community centres for the Phase 1 survey in 2013–2014, of whom 72–96 will be invited to participate in the Phase 2 interviews. The Survey and Behavioural Research Ethics Committee of the local university approved the study in March 2012.

Discussion

The findings will provide detailed information on the use of cancer screening and the barriers that this minority population faces in Hong Kong. The findings will inform the government and policy‐makers on the implementation of culture‐specific interventions, so as to increase the screening uptake rate of this ethnic minority.
Genetic parameters for birthweight environmental variability in mice
Authors: Pun A. , Cervantes I. , Nieto B. , Salgado C. , Pérez‐Cabal M.A. , Ibáñez‐Escriche N. , Gutiérrez J.P.
Published: December 2012

Data from a divergent experiment for birthweight (BrW) environmental variability were used to estimate genetic parameters forBrWtrait and its environmental variability by fitting both homoscedastic (HO) and heteroscedastic (HE) models. A total of 5 475 records ofBrWfrom animals born from inbred dams, and 7 140 pedigree records were used. The heritability ofBrWusing the modelHOwas 0.27, with the litter effect much more important, 0.43. The modelHEprovided a genetic correlation between the trait and its environmental variability that was very high and negative, −0.97, and a high value for the additive genetic variance for environmental variability, suggesting an artefact in the model. The residual skewness was found to be essentially null. A model considering the genetic correlation null was also fitted, and used to obtain the breeding values for the selection process. Moreover, the trait was considered as maternal resulting in similar estimates under the modelHO, but more reasonable for the genetic correlation between the trait and its environmental variability of 0.48 with a value of 0.25 for the additive genetic variance regarding environmental variability under the modelHE. This led to the conclusion that environmental variability ofBrWin mice must be selected via dams. Estimated parameters in a reduced dataset without inbred animals did not substantially change this conclusion.
Pharmacokinetic analysis of oral doxycycline in rhesus macaques
Authors: Embers Monica E. , Hasenkampf Nicole R. , Embers Dale G. , Doyle Lara A.
Published: December 2012

Background

Following administration of an antibiotic, the concentration in blood changes over time and is dependent on the type of antibiotic, the route and species of the individual. The most relevant pharmacodynamic property of a bacteriostatic antibiotic such as doxycycline is the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), whereas pharmacokinetics may include rates of absorption and elimination from blood.

Methods

We determined serum concentrations of doxycycline following administration of 5 mg/kg in two macaques.

Results

The area under the concentration–time curve over 24 hours (AUC0–24) following two doses was extrapolated from the curve over 12 hours following a single dose, with the purpose of calculating the AUC0–24:MIC.

Conclusions

Other than a somewhat faster rate of elimination, the PK‐PD values for doxycycline in macaques appears similar to those determined for humans. This information will be valuable for treating disease in macaques and for research in bacterial infection models that use macaques.
Mitochondrial localization of the Forkhead box class O transcription factor FOXO3a in brain
Authors: Caballero‐Caballero Aurelien , Engel Tobias , Martinez‐Villarreal Jaime , Sanz‐Rodriguez Amaya , Chang Patrick , Dunleavy Mark , Mooney Claire M. , Jimenez‐Mateos Eva M. , Schindler Clara K. , Henshall David C.
Published: December 2012

FOXO3a is member of the Forkhead box class O transcription factors, which functions in diverse pathways to regulate cellular metabolism, differentiation, and apoptosis. FOXO3a shuttles between the cytoplasm and nucleus and may be activated in neurons by stressors, including seizures. A subset of nuclear transcription factors may localize to mitochondria, but whether FOXO3a is present within brain mitochondria is unknown. Here, we report that purified mitochondrial fractions from rat, mouse, and human hippocampus, as well as HT22 hippocampal cells, contain FOXO3a protein. Immunogold electron microscopy supported the presence of FOXO3a within brain mitochondria, and chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis suggested FOXO3a was associated with mitochondrial DNA. Over‐expression of a mitochondrially targeted FOXO3a fusion protein in HT22 cells, but not primary hippocampal neurons, conferred superior protection against glutamate toxicity than FOXO3a alone. Mitochondrial FOXO3a levels were reduced in the damaged region of the mouse hippocampus after status epilepticus, while mitochondrial fractions from the hippocampus of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy displayed higher levels of FOXO3a than controls. These results support mitochondria as a site of FOXO3a localization, which may contribute to the overall physiological and pathophysiological functions of this transcription factor.
Pituitary Phenotypes of Mice Lacking the Notch Signalling Ligand Delta‐Like 1 Homologue
Authors: Cheung L. Y. M. , Rizzoti K. , Lovell‐Badge R. , Le Tissier P. R.
Published: December 2012

The Notch signalling pathway ligand delta‐like 1 homologue (Dlk1, also named Pref1) is expressed throughout the developing pituitary and becomes restricted to mostly growth hormone (GH) cells within the adult gland. We have investigated the role of Dlk1 in pituitary development and function from late embryogenesis to adulthood using a mouse model completely lacking the expression of Dlk1. We confirm that Dlk1‐null mice are shorter and weigh less than wild‐type littermates from late gestation, at parturition and in adulthood. A loss of Dlk1 leads to significant reduction in GH content throughout life, whereas other pituitary hormones are reduced to varying degrees depending on sex and age. Both the size of the pituitary and the proportion of hormone‐producing cell populations are unchanged, suggesting that there is a reduction in hormone content per cell. In vivo challenge of mutant and wild‐type littermates with growth hormone‐releasing hormone and growth hormone‐releasing hexapeptide shows that reduced GH secretion is unlikely to account for the reduced growth of Dlk1 knockout animals. These data suggest that loss of Dlk1 gives rise to minor pituitary defects manifesting as an age‐ and sex‐dependent reduction in pituitary hormone contents. However, Dlk1 expression in other tissue is most likely responsible for the weight and length differences observed in mutant animals.
Evaluation of masticatory function after maxillectomy using a colour‐changing chewing gum
Authors: Shibuya Y. , Ishida S. , Kobayashi M. , Hasegawa T. , Nibu K. , Komori T.
Published: December 2012

The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors associated with the masticatory dysfunction after maxillectomy using a colour‐changing chewing gum. Thirty‐nine patients who underwent maxillectomy between January 2002 and May 2010 in the Department of Kobe University Hospital were recruited for this study. There were 20 male and 19 female subjects, with a median age of 73·3 years (range of 44–90) at the time of surgery. The intra‐oral conditions after maxillectomy were classified by HS classification, and the masticatory function was evaluated by a colour‐changing chewing gum and the results of a modified Sato's questionnaire. The scores of the colour‐changing gum were closely correlated with the scores of the modified Sato's questionnaire (r = 0·661, P < 0·01). A logistic regression analysis with the outcome variable of the gum test <4 demonstrated that significant predictors for the masticatory dysfunction were the number of anchor teeth ≤2 and a soft palate defect. A colour‐changing gum was found to be useful for evaluating the post‐operative masticatory function, and it was important to conserve the anchor teeth and the soft palate to avoid masticatory dysfunction.
The pharmacokinetics of midazolam after intravenous, intramuscular, and rectal administration in healthy dogs
Authors: Schwartz M. , Muñana K. R. , Nettifee‐Osborne J. A. , Messenger K. M. , Papich M. G.
Published: December 2012

Intravenous benzodiazepines are utilized as first‐line drugs to treat prolonged epileptic seizures in dogs and alternative routes of administration are required when venous access is limited. This study compared the pharmacokinetics of midazolam after intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), and rectal (PR) administration. Six healthy dogs were administered 0.2 mg/kg midazolam IV, IM, or PR in a randomized, 3‐way crossover design with a 3‐day washout between study periods. Blood samples were collected at baseline and at predetermined intervals until 480 min after administration. Plasma midazolam concentrations were measured by high‐pressure liquid chromatography with UV detection. Rectal administration resulted in erratic systemic availability with undetectable to low plasma concentrations. Arithmetic mean values ± SD for midazolam peak plasma concentrations were 0.86 ± 0.36 μg/mL (C0) and 0.20 ± 0.06 μg/mL (Cmax), following IV and IM administration, respectively. Time to peak concentration (Tmax) after IM administration was 7.8 ± 2.4 min with a bioavailability of 50 ± 16%. Findings suggest that IM midazolam might be useful in treating seizures in dogs when venous access is unavailable, but higher doses may be needed to account for intermediate bioavailability. Rectal administration is likely of limited efficacy for treating seizures in dogs.
A Chronic Scheme of Cranial Window Preparation to Study Pial Vascular Reactivity in Murine Cerebral Malaria
Authors: Ong Peng Kai , Meays Diana , Frangos John A. , Carvalho Leonardo J.M.
Published: December 2012

Objective

The acute implantation of a cranial window for studying cerebroarteriolar reactivity in living animals involves a highly surgically invasive craniotomy procedure at the time of experimentation, which limits its application in severely ill animals such as in the experimental murine model of cerebral malaria (ECM). To overcome this problem, a chronic window implantation scheme was designed and implemented.

Methods

A partial craniotomy is first performed by creating a skull bone flap in the healthy mice, which are then left to recover for one to two weeks, followed by infection to induce ECM. Uninfected animals are utilized as control. When cranial superfusion is needed, the bone flap is retracted and window implantation completed by assembling a perfusion chamber for compound delivery to the exposed brain surface. The presurgical step is intended to minimize surgical trauma on the day of experimentation.

Results

Chronic preparations in uninfected mice exhibited remarkably improved stability over acute ones by significantly reducing periarteriolar tissue damage and enhancing cerebroarteriolar dilator responses. The chronic scheme was successfully implemented in ECM mice, which unveiled novel preliminary insights into impaired cerebroarteriolar reactivity and eNOS dysfunction.

Conclusion

The chronic scheme presents an innovative approach for advancing our mechanistic understanding on cerebrovascular dysfunction in ECM.
Identification and characterization of a periplasmic trilactone esterase, Cee, revealed unique features of ferric enterobactin acquisition in Campylobacter
Authors: Zeng Ximin , Mo Yiming , Xu Fuzhou , Lin Jun
Published: December 2012

Ferric enterobactin (FeEnt) acquisition is a highly efficient and conserved iron scavenging system in Gram‐negative bacteria. Recently, we have characterized two FeEnt receptors (CfrA and CfrB) in Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli, the enteric human pathogens that do not produce any siderophores. In this study, whole‐genome sequencing and comparative genomic analysis identified a unique Ent trilactone esterase Cee (Cj1376) in C. jejuni. Genomic analysis and biochemical assay strongly suggested that Cee is the sole trilactone esterase in C. jejuni. Thin‐layer chromatography and HPLC analyses showed high efficiency of the purified Cee to hydrolyse Ent. Three Cee homologues previously characterized from other bacteria (IroE, IroD and Fes) were also purified and analysed together with Cee, indicating that Cee, Fes and IroD displayed similar hydrolysis dynamics for both apo and ferric forms of Ent while IroE catalysed Ent inefficiently. Unlike cytoplasmic Fes and IroD, Cee is localized in the periplasm as demonstrated by immunoblotting using Cee‐specific antibodies. Genetic manipulation of diverse Campylobacter strains demonstrated that Cee is not only essential for CfrB‐dependent FeEnt acquisition but also involved in CfrA‐dependent pathway. Together, this study identified and characterized a novel periplasmic trilactone esterase and suggested a new model of FeEnt acquisition in Campylobacter.
Enteroendocrine secretion after roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass: is it important?
Authors: Vella A.
Published: December 2012

Observational studies suggest that bariatric surgery is the most effective intervention for achieving a significant and durable weight loss. In patients with type 2 diabetes, such surgery is often associated with remission of their diabetes. The mechanism(s) by which surgeries such as Roux‐en‐Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) leads to favorable effects on glucose metabolism remain unknown. RYGB is associated with altered secretion of enteroendocrine hormones, leading to the belief that these hormones contribute to the improvement in insulin secretion and action as well as satiation after this procedure. However, it is important to consider the not insignificant effects of caloric restriction and the mechanical changes to the upper gut in determining the outcomes of such surgery.
Discovery and development of exome‐based, co‐dominant single nucleotide polymorphism markers in hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Authors: Allen Alexandra M. , Barker Gary L. A. , Wilkinson Paul , Burridge Amanda , Winfield Mark , Coghill Jane , Uauy Cristobal , Griffiths Simon , Jack Peter , Berry Simon , Werner Peter , Melichar James P. E. , McDougall Jane , Gwilliam Rhian , Robinson Phil , Edwards Keith J.
Published: December 2012

Globally, wheat is the most widely grown crop and one of the three most important crops for human and livestock feed. However, the complex nature of the wheat genome has, until recently, resulted in a lack of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)‐based molecular markers of practical use to wheat breeders. Recently, large numbers of SNP‐based wheat markers have been made available via the use of next‐generation sequencing combined with a variety of genotyping platforms. However, many of these markers and platforms have difficulty distinguishing between heterozygote and homozygote individuals and are therefore of limited use to wheat breeders carrying out commercial‐scale breeding programmes. To identify exome‐based co‐dominant SNP‐based assays, which are capable of distinguishing between heterozygotes and homozygotes, we have used targeted re‐sequencing of the wheat exome to generate large amounts of genomic sequences from eight varieties. Using a bioinformatics approach, these sequences have been used to identify 95 266 putative single nucleotide polymorphisms, of which 10 251 were classified as being putatively co‐dominant. Validation of a subset of these putative co‐dominant markers confirmed that 96% were true polymorphisms and 65% were co‐dominant SNP assays. The new co‐dominant markers described here are capable of genotypic classification of a segregating locus in polyploid wheat and can be used on a variety of genotyping platforms; as such, they represent a powerful tool for wheat breeders. These markers and related information have been made publically available on an interactive web‐based database to facilitate their use on genotyping programmes worldwide.
Mismatch responses evoked by nociceptive stimuli
Authors: Hu Li , Zhao Chen , Li Hong , Valentini Elia
Published: December 2012

We studied whether nociceptive mismatch negativity (nMMN) could be obtained as result of nociceptive fibers stimulation. The purported nMMN revealed a topography similar to the somatosensory MMN (sMMN), which was observed at the bilateral temporal regions of the scalp. Importantly, only early negativities (100–250 ms) located at these regions revealed a selective modulation associated to the processing of deviancy regardless of the attentional focus. The amplitude modulation of the sMMN had an earlier onset than the nMMN (110 ms vs. 182 ms) as well as a larger difference of latency between the contralateral and the ipsilateral onset of the activity (52 ms vs. 4 ms). Altogether, these observations provide evidence that (a) a nMMN can be elicited by nociceptive stimuli, and (b) the nMMN is topographically similar to the sMMN while differing in latency and possibly in functional organization of their generators.
Dynamic governance interactions: Evolutionary effects of state responses to non‐state certification programs
Authors: Gulbrandsen Lars H.
Published: December 2012

Research has recognized that states enable or constrain private governance initiatives, but we still know too little about the interactions between private and public authority in the governance of various social and environmental problems. This article examines how states have responded to the emergence of forest and fisheries certification programs, and how state responses have influenced the subsequent development of these programs. It is argued that historical and structural differences in the management of forest and fisheries have resulted in divergent state responses to certification programs, but that both trajectories of interaction have led to a strengthening of the non‐state program. The article draws upon these cases to inductively identify types of interaction between state policies and non‐state certification programs, the causal mechanisms that shed light on interaction dynamics, and the conditions under which state involvement is likely to result in either strengthening or weakening of non‐state programs.
Experience with Euthanasia is Associated with Fearlessness about Death in Veterinary Students
Authors: Witte Tracy K. , Correia Christopher J. , Angarano Donna
Published: December 2012

Veterinarians have an increased risk for suicide compared with the general population, yet there is little consensus regarding why this might be. We hypothesized that veterinarians become relatively fearless about death due to their repeated exposure to euthanasia. Accordingly, we predicted that there would be a positive relationship between experience with euthanasia and fearlessness about death, due to emotional habituation to the process of euthanasia. In a sample of 130 veterinary students, results conformed to expectation and indicated that the relationship with fearlessness about death was specific to euthanasia and did not generalize to experience with surgery or necropsy.
Mother–Child Reminiscing About Peer Experiences and Children's Peer‐related Self‐views and Social Competence
Authors: Song Qingfang , Wang Qi
Published: December 2012

This study examined mother–child reminiscing about children's experiences with peers and its relation to children's peer‐related self‐views and social competence. Sixty‐three mothers and their preschool‐aged children discussed at home two specific past events involving the child and his or her peers, one event being positive and one negative. The children's self‐views in peer relationships were assessed at school during individual interviews, and their social competence was rated by mothers. Both maternal and child participation in the reminiscing, in terms of reminiscing style and content, were uniquely associated with children's peer‐related self‐views and social competence. The results suggest the important role of family narrative practices in children's social development.
Post‐conventional Political Cultures via Processes of Direct Democracy: Theoretical Considerations Based on Jürgen Habermas and Lawrence Kohlberg
Authors: Rauschenbach Rolf
Published: December 2012

In this article, it is proposed to differentiate political cultures in two dimensions. First, inspired by Habermas' distinction of the contents of discourse, a distinction is suggested between moral, ethical‐political and pragmatic elements of political culture as well as of an element of culture of balancing interests. Second, inspired by Kohlberg's stage models for the development of the individual moral consciousness and for moral culture, a distinction is similarly suggested between two pre‐conventional, two conventional and two post‐conventional collective stages of political culture. It can be shown that from a normative point of view, only deliberations made in a post‐conventional political culture can produce reasonable or at least fair results. Conceptual considerations indicate processes of direct democracy as the method for promoting post‐conventional political cultures. The more liberty that the citizens have to formulate and trigger processes of direct democracy, the more one can expect from them to generate post‐conventional political cultures.
Extended follow‐up of an antibiotic cycling program for the management of febrile neutropenia in a hematologic malignancy and hematopoietic cell transplantation unit
Authors: Cumpston A. , Craig M. , Hamadani M. , Abraham J. , Hobbs G.R. , Sarwari A.R.
Published: December 2012

Background

Febrile neutropenia is a common complication during treatment of hematological malignancies and hematopoietic cell transplantation. Empiric antibiotic therapy in this setting, while standard of care, commonly leads to microbial resistance. We have previously shown that cycling antibiotics in this patient population is feasible. This report provides long‐term follow‐up of cycling antibiotics in this patient population.

Methods

In a prospective cohort of hematological malignancy patients with neutropenic fever, we sought to evaluate the role of empiric antibiotic cycling in preventing antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic cycling was initiated in March 2002 and, until June 2005, antibiotics were cycled every 8 months (Cycling Period A). From July 2005 to December 2009, antibiotics were cycled every 3 months (Cycling Period B). The rates of bacteremia, resistance, and complications were compared to a retrospective cohort (Pre‐cycling Period).

Results

The rate of gram‐negative bacteremia decreased when compared to Cycling Periods A and B (5.3 vs. 2.1 and 3.3 episodes/1000 patient‐days, respectively, P < 0.0001), most likely owing to implementation of quinolone prophylaxis. The resistance profile of the gram‐negative organisms isolated remained stable over the 3 time periods, with the exception of an increase in quinolone resistance during the cycling periods. Gram‐positive bacteremia rates remained stable, but vancomycin‐resistant Enterococcus (VRE) increased significantly (0.1 vs. 1.0 and 1.6 episodes/1000 patient‐days, respectively, P = 0.005) during cycling periods. Mortality rates were comparable.

Conclusions

Antibiotic cycling for neutropenic fever was effectively implemented and followed over an extended time period. Gram‐negative resistance remained stable, but there is some concern for selection of resistant gram‐positive bacteria, specifically VRE. Although antibiotic cycling did not seem to cause resistance in our study, further study is necessary to clarify the effect of cycling on antibiotic resistance, patient outcomes, and hospital cost.