bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Call for information, call for quality in mental health care
Authors: Lora A.
Published: December 2012

The quality of routine mental health care is not optimal, it can vary greatly from region to region and among providers; in many occasions, it does not correspond to the standards of evidence-based mental health. To bridge this gap, the promotion of a systematic use of the information available for quality assurance would be most helpful, but measuring the quality of mental health care is particularly challenging. Quality measurement can play a key role in transforming health care systems, and the routine measurement of quality, using clinical indicators derived from evidence-based practice guidelines, is an important step to this end. In Italy, the use of clinical indicators is still sporadic: over the last 5 years only three projects have been aimed at analysing, in a structured way, the quality of care in severe mental illness, and two of these were led by the Italian Society of Psychiatric Epidemiology. Not only in Italy but also at global level there is an urgent need for the implementation of mental health information systems that could lead to a substantial improvement in information technology. Once this has been achieved, a common set of clinical indicators, agreed upon at the regional and national level and useful for benchmarking and for comparing mental health services, could be defined. Finally, using the implementation strategies, a system of quality improvement at both regional and local levels will be built.
Schutz- und Risikofaktoren für Traumafolgestörungen
Authors: Becker-Nehring Katharina , Witschen Imke , Bengel Jürgen
Published: December 2012

Theoretischer Hintergrund: Schutzfaktoren und Risikofaktoren tragen zur Prognose, Indikation und Interventionsplanung bei Menschen nach traumatischen Ereignissen bei. Bisherige systematische Reviews fassen die Befunde bis maximal 2007 zusammen und fokussieren auf Posttraumatische Belastungsstörungen. Fragestellung: Systematisches Review unter Einschluss der Befunde für die Jahre 2007 bis 2010 und Berücksichtigung weiterer Traumafolgestörungen. Methode: Analyse von 13 systematischen Reviews und 29 prospektiven Originalarbeiten zu Schutz- und Risikofaktoren für Traumafolgestörungen nach Typ-I-Traumata. Ergebnisse: Es werden Befunde zu prätraumatischen (Soziodemographie, Biographie, psychische Störungen, Persönlichkeitsfaktoren), peritraumatischen (Art und Schwere des Ereignisses, psychische Verfassung während des Ereignisses, peritraumatische Reaktion) und posttraumatischen Faktoren (akute psychische Symptome, Kognitionen, Coping, Vermeidungsverhalten, soziale Unterstützung, zusätzliche Stressoren) dargestellt. Schlussfolgerungen: Vor allem peri- und posttraumatische Schutz- und Risikofaktoren eignen sich für die Vorhersage von Traumafolgestörungen.
Verlaufsuntersuchung depressiver Symptomatik nach akuter Traumatisierung
Authors: Kowalski Jens T. , Radtke Yvonne , Falkenhagen Franziska , Kropp Peter , Zimmermann Peter , Gerber Wolf Dieter , Niederberger Uwe
Published: December 2012

Hintergrund: Der Zusammenhang zwischen Akuter Belastungsstörung (ASD) und der Posttraumatischen Belastungsstörung (PTSD) ist vielfach untersucht. Wenige Erkenntnisse liegen über den klinischen Verlauf depressiver Symptome nach ASD vor. Fragestellung: Unterscheiden sich Patienten nach akuter Traumatisierung hinsichtlich der Entwicklung depressiver Symptome von Nicht-Traumatisierten? Methode: 39 akut Traumatisierte wurden mit einer gesunden Kontrollgruppe (KG, N=38) verglichen. Die ASD und die depressiven Symptome wurden mit standardisierten Verfahren (SKID, ASDS, DS) zu verschiedenen Messzeitpunkten untersucht. Ergebnisse: ASD-Patienten waren initial signifikant depressiver als die KG. Nach anfänglicher Beschwerderemission nahmen die depressiven Symptome bei der Gruppe der späteren PTSD-Patienten wieder zu. Schlussfolgerung: Depressive Symptome nach ASD sind sowohl bei Patienten mit als auch ohne nachfolgende PTSD häufig. Nach anfänglicher Remission der depressiven Beschwerden kann es zu einer Reexazerbation kommen.
Stability of miRNA 5′terminal and seed regions is correlated with experimentally observed miRNA-mediated silencing efficacy
Authors: Hibio Naoki , Hino Kimihiro , Shimizu Eigo , Nagata Yoshiro , Ui-Tei Kumiko
Published: December 2012

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of sequence-specific gene silencing. However, crucial factors that determine the efficacy of miRNA-mediated target gene silencing are poorly understood. Here we mathematized base-pairing stability and showed that miRNAs with an unstable 5′ terminal duplex and stable seed-target duplex exhibit strong silencing activity. The results are consistent with the previous findings that an RNA strand with unstable 5′ terminal in miRNA duplex easily loads onto the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) and miRNA recognizes target mRNAs with seed-complementary sequences to direct posttranscriptional repression. Our results suggested that both the unwinding and target recognition processes of miRNAs could be proficiently controlled by the thermodynamics of base-pairing in protein-free condition. Interestingly, such thermodynamic parameters might be evolutionarily well adapted to the body temperatures of various species.
Increased productivity of rainfed lowland rice cropping systems of the Mekong region
Authors: Fukai Shu , Ouk Makara
Published: December 2012

Rice in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia (the Mekong region) is grown mostly as a mono crop once a year in the wet season in the rainfed lowlands. Some lowland areas have access to irrigation water, and rice double cropping is practised while non-rice crops are grown in a limited area in the dry season after harvesting wet season rice. In all cases wet season rice is grown mostly for subsistence under rainfed with low input, and combined with low soil fertility and frequent occurrence of drought, the yield is generally low with a mean of 2.5 t/ha and the yield increase was slow in recent years. More recently demand for labour in the regional centres has caused labour shortages in the rural area and rice crops may not be managed in the traditional manner such as the practice of manually transplanting of rice seedlings. For the last two decades research efforts have been made to minimise the adverse effect of abiotic factors and to meet the changing nature of the socioeconomic environment, resulting in increased understanding of factors determining productivity of rainfed lowland rice and the cropping systems based on it. This review describes such achievements in five sections – water environment characterisation to quantify drought problems, soil environment and fertiliser management, direct seeding to develop technology to cope with the labour shortage, variety improvement for rainfed lowland rice in drought-prone environment, and crop intensification and diversification that shift practices from traditional subsistence agriculture to more market-oriented agriculture. Each section is concluded with issues for future research need. The last section of the paper describes future research challenges for the rainfed rice-based lowland cropping systems in the Mekong region and possible implication on rainfed lowland rice system on other regions.
Resistance of New Zealand dairy pastures to ingress of summer-active annual grass weeds
Authors: Tozer K. N. , Minneé E. , Cameron C. A.
Published: December 2012

Yellow bristle grass (Setaria pumila) and summer grass (Digitaria sanguinalis) are summer-active annual grass weeds which infest temperate dairy pastures. A study was undertaken over 2 years to compare hand-sown yellow bristle and summer grass establishment, survival, and seed production in pastures grazed by dairy cows and based on (i) tetraploid perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), (ii) tetraploid perennial ryegrass and white clover (Trifolium repens), and (iii) tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and white clover, to determine which pasture type offered the greatest resistance to these grass weeds. Ingress of grass weeds was similar in all three pasture types. Total dry matter production was similar for all pasture types for the first year and lower in tall fescue + clover than perennial ryegrass pasture in the second year. All pasture types had a similar distribution of microsite types (bare ground ± canopy, basal cover ± canopy) in both years. The annual grass weeds were most prevalent in bare ground + canopy microsites, which were also the most frequent of the four microsite types. In the first year, <5% of microsites were occupied within 2 months of sowing, whereas in the second year, microsite occupation remained >13% for all assessments. In the first year, panicle production of yellow bristle and summer grass was similar (averaging 4.1 panicles plant–1); in the second year, panicle production was greater for summer grass (0.80 v. 0.16 panicles plant–1, respectively). Where present, these annual grass weeds are likely to spread in dryland dairy pastures sown with either perennial ryegrass or tall fescue. Variability in their panicle production between years shows how their impact on pasture performance and consequent need for control measures will also vary from year to year.
Chytrid fungus
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
has nonamphibian hosts and releases chemicals that cause pathology in the absence of infection
Authors: McMahon Taegan A. , Brannelly Laura A. , Chatfield Matthew W. H. , Johnson Pieter T. J. , Joseph Maxwell B. , McKenzie Valerie J. , Richards-Zawacki Corinne L. , Venesky Matthew D. , Rohr Jason R.
Published: December 2012

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
, a pathogenic chytrid fungus implicated in worldwide amphibian declines, is considered an amphibian specialist. Identification of nonamphibian hosts could help explain the virulence, heterogeneous distribution, variable rates of spread, and persistence of
B. dendrobatidis
in freshwater ecosystems even after amphibian extirpations. Here, we test whether mosquitofish (
Gambusia holbrooki)
and crayfish (
Procambarus
spp. and
Orconectes virilis
), which are syntopic with many amphibian species, are possible hosts for
B. dendrobatidis
. Field surveys in Louisiana and Colorado revealed that zoosporangia occur within crayfish gastrointestinal tracts, that
B. dendrobatidis
prevalence in crayfish was up to 29%, and that crayfish presence in Colorado wetlands was a positive predictor of
B. dendrobatidis
infections in cooccurring amphibians. In experiments, crayfish, but not mosquitofish, became infected with
B. dendrobatidis
, maintained the infection for at least 12 wk, and transmitted
B. dendrobatidis
to amphibians. Exposure to water that previously held
B. dendrobatidis
also caused significant crayfish mortality and gill recession. These results indicate that there are nonamphibian hosts for
B. dendrobatidis
and suggest that
B. dendrobatidis
releases a chemical that can cause host pathology, even in the absence of infection. Managing these biological reservoirs for
B. dendrobatidis
and identifying this chemical might provide new hope for imperiled amphibians.
N terminus of ASPP2 binds to Ras and enhances Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK activation to promote oncogene-induced senescence
Authors: Wang Zhiping , Liu Yuangang , Takahashi Maho , Van Hook Kathryn , Kampa-Schittenhelm Kerstin M. , Sheppard Brett C. , Sears Rosalie C. , Stork Philip J. S. , Lopez Charles D.
Published: December 2012

The ASPP2 (also known as 53BP2L) tumor suppressor is a proapoptotic member of a family of p53 binding proteins that functions in part by enhancing p53-dependent apoptosis via its C-terminal p53-binding domain. Mounting evidence also suggests that ASPP2 harbors important nonapoptotic p53-independent functions. Structural studies identify a small G protein Ras-association domain in the ASPP2 N terminus. Because Ras-induced senescence is a barrier to tumor formation in normal cells, we investigated whether ASPP2 could bind Ras and stimulate the protein kinase Raf/MEK/ERK signaling cascade. We now show that ASPP2 binds to Ras–GTP at the plasma membrane and stimulates Ras-induced signaling and pERK1/2 levels via promoting Ras–GTP loading, B-Raf/C-Raf dimerization, and C-Raf phosphorylation. These functions require the ASPP2 N terminus because BBP (also known as 53BP2S), an alternatively spliced ASPP2 isoform lacking the N terminus, was defective in binding Ras–GTP and stimulating Raf/MEK/ERK signaling. Decreased ASPP2 levels attenuated H-RasV12–induced senescence in normal human fibroblasts and neonatal human epidermal keratinocytes. Together, our results reveal a mechanism for ASPP2 tumor suppressor function via direct interaction with Ras–GTP to stimulate Ras-induced senescence in nontransformed human cells.
On the rate of convergence to the asymptotic cone for nilpotent groups and subFinsler geometry
Authors: Breuillard Emmanuel , Le Donne Enrico
Published: December 2012

Addressing a question of Gromov, we give a rate in Pansu’s theorem about the convergence to the asymptotic cone of a finitely generated nilpotent group equipped with a left-invariant word metric rescaled by a factor. We obtain a convergence rate (measured in the Gromov–Hausdorff metric) offor nilpotent groups of classandfor nilpotent groups of class 2. We also show that the latter result is sharp, and we make a connection between this sharpness and the presence of so-called abnormal geodesics in the asymptotic cone. As a corollary, we get an error term of the formfor the volume of Cayley balls of a general nilpotent group of classr. We also state a number of related conjectural statements.
Spatiotemporal analysis of organelle and macromolecular complex inheritance
Authors: Menendez-Benito Victoria , van Deventer Sjoerd J. , Jimenez-Garcia Victor , Roy-Luzarraga Marina , van Leeuwen Fred , Neefjes Jacques
Published: December 2012

Following mitosis, daughter cells must inherit a functional set of essential proteins and organelles. We applied a genetic tool to simultaneously monitor the kinetics and distribution of old and new proteins marking all intracellular compartments in budding yeasts. Most organelles followed a general pattern whereby preexisting proteins are symmetrically partitioned followed by template-based incorporation of new proteins. Peroxisomes belong to this group, supporting a model of biogenesis by growth and division from preexisting peroxisomes. We detected two exceptions: the nuclear pore complex (NPC) and the spindle pole body (SPB). Old NPCs are stably inherited during successive generations but remained separated from new NPCs, which are incorporated de novo in mother and daughter cells. Only the SPB displayed asymmetrical distribution, with old components primarily inherited by daughter cells and new proteins equally incorporated in both cells. Our analysis resolves conflicting models (peroxisomes, NPC) and reveals unique patterns (NPC, SPB) of organelle inheritance.
Music and movement share a dynamic structure that supports universal expressions of emotion
Authors: Sievers Beau , Polansky Larry , Casey Michael , Wheatley Thalia
Published: December 2012

Music moves us. Its kinetic power is the foundation of human behaviors as diverse as dance, romance, lullabies, and the military march. Despite its significance, the music-movement relationship is poorly understood. We present an empirical method for testing whether music and movement share a common structure that affords equivalent and universal emotional expressions. Our method uses a computer program that can generate matching examples of music and movement from a single set of features: rate, jitter (regularity of rate), direction, step size, and dissonance/visual spikiness. We applied our method in two experiments, one in the United States and another in an isolated tribal village in Cambodia. These experiments revealed three things: (
i
) each emotion was represented by a unique combination of features, (
ii
) each combination expressed the same emotion in both music and movement, and (
iii
) this common structure between music and movement was evident within and across cultures.
Genetic loci associated with delayed clearance of
Plasmodium falciparum
following artemisinin treatment in Southeast Asia
Authors: Takala-Harrison Shannon , Clark Taane G. , Jacob Christopher G. , Cummings Michael P. , Miotto Olivo , Dondorp Arjen M. , Fukuda Mark M. , Nosten Francois , Noedl Harald , Imwong Mallika , Bethell Delia , Se Youry , Lon Chanthap , Tyner Stuart D. , Saunders David L. , Socheat Duong , Ariey Frederic , Phyo Aung Pyae , Starzengruber Peter , Fuehrer Hans-Peter , Swoboda Paul , Stepniewska Kasia , Flegg Jennifer , Arze Cesar , Cerqueira Gustavo C. , Silva Joana C. , Ricklefs Stacy M. , Porcella Stephen F. , Stephens Robert M. , Adams Matthew , Kenefic Leo J. , Campino Susana , Auburn Sarah , MacInnis Bronwyn , Kwiatkowski Dominic P. , Su Xin-zhuan , White Nicholas J. , Ringwald Pascal , Plowe Christopher V.
Published: December 2012

The recent emergence of artemisinin-resistant
Plasmodium falciparum
malaria in western Cambodia could threaten prospects for malaria elimination. Identification of the genetic basis of resistance would provide tools for molecular surveillance, aiding efforts to contain resistance. Clinical trials of artesunate efficacy were conducted in Bangladesh, in northwestern Thailand near the Myanmar border, and at two sites in western Cambodia. Parasites collected from trial participants were genotyped at 8,079 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using a
P. falciparum
-specific SNP array. Parasite genotypes were examined for signatures of recent positive selection and association with parasite clearance phenotypes to identify regions of the genome associated with artemisinin resistance. Four SNPs on chromosomes 10 (one), 13 (two), and 14 (one) were significantly associated with delayed parasite clearance. The two SNPs on chromosome 13 are in a region of the genome that appears to be under strong recent positive selection in Cambodia. The SNPs on chromosomes 10 and 13 lie in or near genes involved in postreplication repair, a DNA damage-tolerance pathway. Replication and validation studies are needed to refine the location of loci responsible for artemisinin resistance and to understand the mechanism behind it; however, two SNPs on chromosomes 10 and 13 may be useful markers of delayed parasite clearance in surveillance for artemisinin resistance in Southeast Asia.
Resonance-induced multimodal body-size distributions in ecosystems
Authors: Lampert Adam , Tlusty Tsvi
Published: December 2012

The size of an organism reflects its metabolic rate, growth rate, mortality, and other important characteristics; therefore, the distribution of body size is a major determinant of ecosystem structure and function. Body-size distributions often are multimodal, with several peaks of abundant sizes, and previous studies suggest that this is the outcome of niche separation: species from distinct peaks avoid competition by consuming different resources, which results in selection of different sizes in each niche. However, this cannot explain many ecosystems with several peaks competing over the same niche. Here, we suggest an alternative, generic mechanism underlying multimodal size distributions, by showing that the size-dependent tradeoff between reproduction and resource utilization entails an inherent resonance that may induce multiple peaks, all competing over the same niche. Our theory is well fitted to empirical data in various ecosystems, in which both model and measurements show a multimodal, periodically peaked distribution at larger sizes, followed by a smooth tail at smaller sizes. Moreover, we show a universal pattern of size distributions, manifested in the collapse of data from ecosystems of different scales: phytoplankton in a lake, metazoans in a stream, and arthropods in forests. The demonstrated resonance mechanism is generic, suggesting that multimodal distributions of numerous ecological characters emerge from the interplay between local competition and global migration.
Alternative route to charge density wave formation in multiband systems
Authors: Eiter Hans-Martin , Lavagnini Michela , Hackl Rudi , Nowadnick Elizabeth A. , Kemper Alexander F. , Devereaux Thomas P. , Chu Jiun-Haw , Analytis James G. , Fisher Ian R. , Degiorgi Leonardo
Published: December 2012

Charge and spin density waves, periodic modulations of the electron, and magnetization densities, respectively, are among the most abundant and nontrivial low-temperature ordered phases in condensed matter. The ordering direction is widely believed to result from the Fermi surface topology. However, several recent studies indicate that this common view needs to be supplemented. Here, we show how an enhanced electron–lattice interaction can contribute to or even determine the selection of the ordering vector in the model charge density wave system ErTe
3
. Our joint experimental and theoretical study allows us to establish a relation between the selection rules of the electronic light scattering spectra and the enhanced electron–phonon coupling in the vicinity of band degeneracy points. This alternative proposal for charge density wave formation may be of general relevance for driving phase transitions into other broken-symmetry ground states, particularly in multiband systems, such as the iron-based superconductors.
Evolutionarily conserved repressive activity of WOX proteins mediates leaf blade outgrowth and floral organ development in plants
Authors: Lin Hao , Niu Lifang , McHale Neil A. , Ohme-Takagi Masaru , Mysore Kirankumar S. , Tadege Million
Published: December 2012

The
WUSCHEL related homeobox
(
WOX
) genes play key roles in stem cell maintenance, embryonic patterning, and lateral organ development.
WOX
genes have been categorized into three clades—ancient, intermediate, and modern/WUS—based on phylogenetic analysis, but a functional basis for this classification has not been established. Using the classical bladeless
lam1
mutant of
Nicotiana sylvestris
as a genetic tool, we examined the function of the
Medicago truncatula WOX
gene,
STENOFOLIA
(
STF
), in controlling leaf blade outgrowth.
STF
and
LAM1
are functional orthologs. We found that the introduction of mutations into the WUS-box of STF (STFm1) reduces its ability to complement the
lam1
mutant. Fusion of an exogenous repressor domain to STFm1 restores complementation, whereas fusion of an exogenous activator domain to STFm1 enhances the narrow leaf phenotype. These results indicate that transcriptional repressor activity mediated by the WUS-box of STF acts to promote blade outgrowth. With the exception of
WOX7
, the WUS-box is conserved in the modern clade
WOX
genes, but is not found in members of the intermediate or ancient clades. Consistent with this, all members of the modern clade except
WOX7
can complement the
lam1
mutant when expressed using the
STF
promoter, but members of the intermediate and ancient clades cannot. Furthermore, we found that fusion of either the WUS-box or an exogenous repressor domain to
WOX7
or to members of intermediate and ancient WOX clades results in a gain-of-function ability to complement
lam1
blade outgrowth. These results suggest that modern clade
WOX
genes have evolved for repressor activity through acquisition of the WUS-box.
Directionally selected cytochrome P450 alleles are driving the spread of pyrethroid resistance in the major malaria vector
Anopheles funestus
Authors: Riveron Jacob M. , Irving Helen , Ndula Miranda , Barnes Kayla G. , Ibrahim Sulaiman S. , Paine Mark J. I. , Wondji Charles S.
Published: December 2012

Pyrethroid insecticides are critical for malaria control in Africa. However, resistance to this insecticide class in the malaria vector
Anopheles funestus
is spreading rapidly across Africa, threatening the success of ongoing and future malaria control programs. The underlying resistance mechanisms driving the spread of this resistance in wild populations remain largely unknown. Here, we show that increased expression of two tandemly duplicated P450 genes,
CYP6P9a
and
CYP6P9b
, is the main mechanism driving pyrethroid resistance in Malawi and Mozambique, two southern African countries where this insecticide class forms the mainstay of malaria control. Genome-wide transcription analysis using microarray and quantitative RT-PCR consistently revealed that
CYP6P9a
and
CYP6P9b
are the two genes most highly overexpressed (>50-fold;
q
< 0.01) in permethrin-resistant mosquitoes. Transgenic expression of
CYP6P9a
and
CYP6P9b
in
Drosophila melanogaster
demonstrated that elevated expression of either of these genes confers resistance to both type I (permethrin) and type II (deltamethrin) pyrethroids. Functional characterization of recombinant
CYP6P9b
confirmed that this protein metabolized both type I (permethrin and bifenthrin) and type II (deltamethrin and Lambda-cyhalothrin) pyrethroids but not DDT. Variability analysis identified that a single allele of each of these genes is predominantly associated with pyrethroid resistance in field populations from both countries, which is suggestive of a single origin of this resistance that has since spread across the region. Urgent resistance management strategies should be implemented in this region to limit a further spread of this resistance and minimize its impact on the success of ongoing malaria control programs.
Academics’ beliefs about language use and proficiency in Spanish multilingual higher education
Authors: Fortanet-Gómez Inmaculada
Published: December 2012

Today, more and more universities in Spain are starting to design language policies, usually including Spanish and English. At the same time, Spain has a special socio-political context since part of its territory is already bilingual. This paper examines the opinions and attitudes of academics at a bilingual Valencian-Spanish university which is about to implement a multilingual policy adding English as a third language of instruction. Therefore, in order to start planning the implementation of the teacher development programme and complementary communication campaigns that are part of the recently approved policy, it was considered important to determine the beliefs of academics regarding their proficiency in the three languages involved and the ways to teach in them (Borg 2003). A questionnaire was distributed to a stratified sample of the lecturers at Universitat Jaume I in order to find out what lecturers believed to be their competence in the three priority languages and to identify what they regarded as the main pedagogical styles used in their discipline. Additionally, lecturers were asked, by means of a semi-structured discussion, about their attitudes towards multilingual teaching. The results of this study shed some light on teacher training needs regarding language and pedagogy and allow for suggestions as to possible measures in support of implementing multilingual language policies.
Follow-up questions in White House press briefings
Authors: Schubert Christoph
Published: December 2012

The paper explores the structures and functions of follow-up questions in White House press briefings from the perspectives of both text linguistics and cognitive discourse analysis. On the one hand, I investigate the characteristic types of cohesion in follow-ups at the lexicogrammatical level in the terminological framework of Functional Grammar. On the other hand, the focus is on contextual framing, which results in the presentation of a biased world view. Special emphasis is put on metacommunication, since the interviewers frequently use metalinguistic prefaces to their follow-up questions (e.g. Can I follow on that?). The highly interactive and dialogic genre of press briefings, in which the press secretary acts as the mouthpiece of the administration, is closely related to the institutional talk of news interviews. Since these briefings form an integral part of US-American political culture, their transcripts are freely available in a comprehensive online archive. Hence, on this empirical basis, follow-up questions will be conceptualized as a process-oriented dialogic strategy of critical information retrieval at the micro level of conversational contributions.
Linguistic Markers of Affect in Heritage Persian: A Linguistic Anthropological Study among Persian Heritage Language Students and Their Teachers
Authors: Atoofi Saeid
Published: December 2012

By analyzing linguistic utterances between teachers and students in a Persian heritage language class in the United States, this research study sought to illuminate what kinds of linguistic resources were used by these speakers to show different attitudes, moods and emotions. Furthermore, this study demonstrated possible functions of these linguistic markers and the way they were utilized to influence another party.
For group, (f)or self: communitarianism, Confucianism and values education in Singapore
Authors: Tan Charlene
Published: December 2012

Values education in Asian societies is commonly underpinned by an ideology of communitarianism that seeks to promote the needs and interests of ‘others’ over the ‘self’. An example of an Asian country that promotes communitarian values through its values education curriculum is Singapore. By reviewing the moral and citizenship education curricula in Singapore, the present article points out that the accent is on ‘others’ rather than the ‘self’. Noting that communitarianism has often been linked to Confucian values in Asian societies, this article offers a Confucian viewpoint of the self and moral self‐cultivation. It further argues for a form of values education that balances the ‘self’ with ‘others’ through active learning, self‐reflection and self‐evaluation. The Singapore experience provides a useful case study on the influence of communitarianism and the potential of Confucianism on values education in an Asian context.
Nucleotide excision repair–initiating proteins bind to oxidative DNA lesions in vivo
Authors: Menoni Hervé , Hoeijmakers Jan H.J. , Vermeulen Wim
Published: December 2012

Base excision repair (BER) is the main repair pathway to eliminate abundant oxidative DNA lesions such as 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine. Recent data suggest that the key transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair factor (TC-NER) Cockayne syndrome group B (CSB) and the global genome NER-initiating factor XPC are implicated in the protection of cells against oxidative DNA damages. Our novel live-cell imaging approach revealed a strong and very rapid recruitment of XPC and CSB to sites of oxidative DNA lesions in living cells. The absence of detectable accumulation of downstream NER factors at the site of local oxidative DNA damage provide the first in vivo indication of the involvement of CSB and XPC in the repair of oxidative DNA lesions independent of the remainder of the NER reaction. Interestingly, CSB exhibited different and transcription-dependent kinetics in the two compartments studied (nucleolus and nucleoplasm), suggesting a direct transcription-dependent involvement of CSB in the repair of oxidative lesions associated with different RNA polymerases but not involving other NER proteins.
Mechanism of DNA resection during intrachromosomal recombination and immunoglobulin class switching
Authors: Bothmer Anne , Rommel Philipp C. , Gazumyan Anna , Polato Federica , Reczek Colleen R. , Muellenbeck Matthias F. , Schaetzlein Sonja , Edelmann Winfried , Chen Phang-Lang , Brosh Robert M. , Casellas Rafael , Ludwig Thomas , Baer Richard , Nussenzweig André , Nussenzweig Michel C. , Robbiani Davide F.
Published: December 2012

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are byproducts of normal cellular metabolism and obligate intermediates in antigen receptor diversification reactions. These lesions are potentially dangerous because they can lead to deletion of genetic material or chromosome translocation. The chromatin-binding protein 53BP1 and the histone variant H2AX are required for efficient class switch (CSR) and V(D)J recombination in part because they protect DNA ends from resection and thereby favor nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ). Here, we examine the mechanism of DNA end resection in primary B cells. We find that resection depends on both CtBP-interacting protein (CtIP, Rbbp8) and exonuclease 1 (Exo1). Inhibition of CtIP partially rescues the CSR defect in 53BP1- and H2AX-deficient lymphocytes, as does interference with the RecQ helicases Bloom (Blm) and Werner (Wrn). We conclude that CtIP, Exo1, and RecQ helicases contribute to the metabolism of DNA ends during DSB repair in B lymphocytes and that minimizing resection favors efficient CSR.
Burden of Bloodstream Infection Caused by Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase–Producing Enterobacteriaceae Determined Using Multistate Modeling at a Swiss University Hospital and a Nationwide Predictive Model
Authors: Stewardson Andrew , Fankhauser Carolina , Augelis Giulia De , Rohner Peter , Safran Edith , Schrenzel Jacques , Pittet Didier , Harbarth Stephan
Published: December 2012

Objective.

To obtain an unbiased estimate of the excess hospital length of stay (LOS) and cost attributable to extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) positivity in bloodstream infections (BSIs) due to Enterobacteriaceae.

Design.

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting.

A 2,200-bed academic medical center in Geneva, Switzerland.

Patients.

Patients admitted during 2009.

Methods.

We used multistate modeling and Cox proportional hazards models to determine the excess LOS and adjusted end-of-LOS hazard ratio (HR) for ESBL-positive and ESBL-negative BSI. We estimated economic burden as the product of excess LOS and average bed-day cost. Patient-level accounting data provided a complementary analysis of economic burden. A predictive model was fitted to national surveillance data.

Results.

Thirty ESBL-positive and 96 ESBL-negative BSI cases were included. The excess LOS attributable to ESBL-positive and ESBL-negative BSI was 9.4 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.4–18.4) and 2.6 (95% CI, 0.7–5.9) days, respectively. ESBL positivity was therefore associated with 6.8 excess days and CHF 9,473 per BSI. The adjusted end-of-LOS HRs for ESBL-positive and ESBL-negative BSI were 0.62 (95% CI, 0.43–0.89) and 0.90 (95% CI, 0.74–1.10), respectively. After reimbursement, the average financial loss per acute care episode in ESBL-positive BSI, ESBL-negative BSI, and control cohorts was CHF 48,674, 48,131, and 13,532, respectively. Our predictive model estimated that the nationwide cost of third-generation cephalosporin resistance would increase from CHF 2,084,000 in 2010 to CHF 3,526,000 in 2015.

Conclusions.

This is the first hospital-wide analysis of excess LOS attributable to ESBL positivity determined using multistate modeling to avoid time-dependent bias. These results may inform health-economic evaluations of interventions targeting ESBL control.
The Potential Regional Impact of Contact Precaution Use in Nursing Homes to Control Methicillin-ResistantStaphylococcus aureus
Authors: Lee Bruce Y. , Singh Ashima , Bartsch Sarah M. , Wong Kim F. , Kim Diane S. , Avery Taliser R. , Brown Shawn T. , Murphy Courtney R. , Yilmaz S. Levent , Huang Susan S.
Published: December 2012

Objective.

Implementation of contact precautions in nursing homes to prevent methicillm-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) transmission could cost time and effort and may have wide-ranging effects throughout multiple health facilities. Computational modeling could forecast the potential effects and guide policy making.

Design.

Our multihospital computational agent-based model, Regional Healthcare Ecosystem Analyst (RHEA).

Setting.

All hospitals and nursing homes in Orange County, California.

Methods.

Our simulation model compared the following 3 contact precaution strategies: (1) no contact precautions applied to any nursing home residents, (2) contact precautions applied to those with clinically apparent MRSA infections, and (3) contact precautions applied to all known MRSA carriers as determined by MRSA screening performed by hospitals.

Results.

Our model demonstrated that contact precautions for patients with clinically apparent MRSA infections in nursing homes resulted in a median 0.4% (range, 0%–1.6%) relative decrease in MRSA prevalence in nursing homes (with 50% adherence) but had no effect on hospital MRSA prevalence, even 5 years after initiation. Implementation of contact precautions (with 50% adherence) in nursing homes for all known MRSA carriers was associated with a median 14.2% (range, 2.1%–21.8%) relative decrease in MRSA prevalence in nursing homes and a 2.3% decrease (range, 0%–7.1%) in hospitals 1 year after implementation. Benefits accrued over time and increased with increasing compliance.

Conclusions.

Our modeling study demonstrated the substantial benefits of extending contact precautions in nursing homes from just those residents with clinically apparent infection to all MRSA carriers, which suggests the benefits of hospitals and nursing homes sharing and coordinating information on MRSA surveillance and carriage status.
Embeddings of Müntz spaces: The Hilbertian case
Authors: Noor S. Waleed , Timotin Dan
Published: December 2012

Given a strictly increasing sequence

Λ
=
(

λ
n

)

\Lambda =(\lambda _n)

of nonnegative real numbers, with

∑

n
=
1

∞

1

λ
n

>
∞

\sum _{n=1}^\infty \frac {1}{\lambda _n}>\infty

, the Müntz spaces

M
Λ
p

M_\Lambda ^p

are defined as the closure in

L
p

(
[
0
,
1
]
)

L^p([0,1])

of the monomials

x

λ
n

x^{\lambda _n}

. We discuss properties of the embedding

M
Λ
p

⊂

L
p

(
μ
)

M_\Lambda ^p\subset L^p(\mu )

, where

μ
\mu

is a finite positive Borel measure on the interval

[
0
,
1
]

[0,1]

. Most of the results are obtained for the Hilbertian case

p
=
2

p=2

, in which we give conditions for the embedding to be bounded, compact, or to belong to the Schatten–von Neumann ideals.
Dynamic Persistence of Primary Commodity Prices
Authors: Ghoshray Atanu
Published: December 2012

This article examines the persistence of shocks to international commodity prices from 1900 to 2008 using the updated Grilli Yang Index. The main innovation of this study is that it determines whether commodity prices are characterized by multiple changes in persistence. Specifically, bootstrap methods are used to estimate persistence, and the associated half‐life shocks are calculated. We find that the persistence of shocks can vary widely depending on the individual commodity and the time period. The results suggest that policy‐makers need to exercise caution when introducing measures to cushion the effect of shocks to world commodity prices.
Ecological Network Analysis for a Low-Carbon and High-Tech Industrial Park
Authors: Lu Yi , Su Meirong , Liu Gengyuan , Chen Bin , Zhou Shiyi , Jiang Meiming
Published: December 2012

Industrial sector is one of the indispensable contributors in global warming. Even if the occurrence of ecoindustrial parks (EIPs) seems to be a good improvement in saving ecological crises, there is still a lack of definitional clarity and in-depth researches on low-carbon industrial parks. In order to reveal the processes of carbon metabolism in a low-carbon high-tech industrial park, we selected Beijing Development Area (BDA) International Business Park in Beijing, China as case study, establishing a seven-compartment- model low-carbon metabolic network based on the methodology of Ecological Network Analysis (ENA). Integrating the Network Utility Analysis (NUA), Network Control Analysis (NCA), and system-wide indicators, we compartmentalized system sectors into ecological structure and analyzed dependence and control degree based on carbon metabolism. The results suggest that indirect flows reveal more mutuality and exploitation relation between system compartments and they are prone to positive sides for the stability of the whole system. The ecological structure develops well as an approximate pyramidal structure, and the carbon metabolism of BDA proves self-mutualistic and sustainable. Construction and waste management were found to be two active sectors impacting carbon metabolism, which was mainly regulated by internal and external environment.
Neural-specific Sox2 input and differential Gli-binding affinity provide context and positional information in Shh-directed neural patterning
Authors: Peterson Kevin A. , Nishi Yuichi , Ma Wenxiu , Vedenko Anastasia , Shokri Leila , Zhang Xiaoxiao , McFarlane Matthew , Baizabal José-Manuel , Junker Jan Philipp , van Oudenaarden Alexander , Mikkelsen Tarjei , Bernstein Bradley E. , Bailey Timothy L. , Bulyk Martha L. , Wong Wing H. , McMahon Andrew P.
Published: December 2012

In the vertebrate neural tube, regional Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling invokes a time- and concentration-dependent induction of six different cell populations mediated through Gli transcriptional regulators. Elsewhere in the embryo, Shh/Gli responses invoke different tissue-appropriate regulatory programs. A genome-scale analysis of DNA binding by Gli1 and Sox2, a pan-neural determinant, identified a set of shared regulatory regions associated with key factors central to cell fate determination and neural tube patterning. Functional analysis in transgenic mice validates core enhancers for each of these factors and demonstrates the dual requirement for Gli1 and Sox2 inputs for neural enhancer activity. Furthermore, through an unbiased determination of Gli-binding site preferences and analysis of binding site variants in the developing mammalian CNS, we demonstrate that differential Gli-binding affinity underlies threshold-level activator responses to Shh input. In summary, our results highlight Sox2 input as a context-specific determinant of the neural-specific Shh response and differential Gli-binding site affinity as an important cis-regulatory property critical for interpreting Shh morphogen action in the mammalian neural tube.
Circadian control of mRNA polyadenylation dynamics regulates rhythmic protein expression
Authors: Kojima Shihoko , Sher-Chen Elaine L. , Green Carla B.
Published: December 2012

Poly(A) tails are 3′ modifications of eukaryotic mRNAs that are important in the control of translation and mRNA stability. We identified hundreds of mouse liver mRNAs that exhibit robust circadian rhythms in the length of their poly(A) tails. Approximately 80% of these are primarily the result of nuclear adenylation coupled with rhythmic transcription. However, unique decay kinetics distinguish these mRNAs from other mRNAs that are transcribed rhythmically but do not exhibit poly(A) tail rhythms. The remaining 20% are uncoupled from transcription and exhibit poly(A) tail rhythms even though the steady-state mRNA levels are not rhythmic. These are under the control of rhythmic cytoplasmic polyadenylation, regulated at least in some cases by cytoplasmic polyadenylation element-binding proteins (CPEBs). Importantly, we found that the rhythmicity in poly(A) tail length is closely correlated with rhythmic protein expression, with a several-hour delay between the time of longest tail and the time of highest protein level. Our study demonstrates that the circadian clock regulates the dynamic polyadenylation status of mRNAs, which can result in rhythmic protein expression independent of the steady-state levels of the message.
ANKAphase: software for single-distance phase retrieval from inline X-ray phase-contrast radiographs. Erratum
Authors: Weitkamp T. , Haas D. , Wegrzynek D. , Rack A.
Published: December 2012

An equation in the paper by Weitkampet al.[(2011),J. Synchrotron Rad.18, 617–629] is corrected.
A contractor's classification of owner payment practices
Authors: Tran Hanh , Carmichael David G.
Published: December 2012

Purpose

A common distraction to contractors is that of cash management, and particularly incoming payments. In the extreme, a failure to manage a project's cash flows may bring about business failure. A contractor's financial viability rests on how actual payments from an owner are received. The purpose of this paper is to present a method for contractors to evaluate the punctuality and fullness of owner payments based on historical behaviour.

Design/methodology/approach

Owners are classified according to their late and incomplete payment practices. The payment profile of an owner, in the form of aging payments received based on claims, is used as a basis for the method's development. Regression trees are constructed based on three predictor variables, namely, the average time to payment following a claim, the total amount ending up being paid within a certain period and the level of variability in claim response times.

Findings

The method will be of interest to contractors concerned with managing their cash positions, as well as those persons looking at contractor‐owner relationships.

Practical implications

The method is intended to be used internally within a contractor's organisation to assist in decision making. The method can also be used by subcontractors, suppliers, and consultants. Owners may use the method reflectively to improve their own practices, to save time and cost by reducing disputes, and to develop better owner‐contractor relationships.

Originality/value

This paper represents an original approach, and an original contribution to contractor pre‐tendering risk analysis practices, and an extension to contractor claim‐payment analysis.
Organizational learning in construction supply chains
Authors: Tennant Stuart , Fernie Scott
Published: December 2012

Purpose

Learning within the supply chain is widely considered to provide the basis for enhanced competitive advantage. The purpose of this paper is to explore the theory and current practice of organizational learning in UK construction supply chains.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative research strategy is followed for this exploration of supply chain management and organizational learning. Research enquiry draws on semi‐structured interviews with key construction supply chain stakeholders. The semi‐structure interviews are recorded, transcribed and analysed via qualitative data analysis software.

Findings

Careful examination of the transcripts reveal that whilst supply chain management practice in construction is limited, key schools of organizational learning are similarly underdeveloped. Findings disclose construction supply chain organizations routinely employ learning strategies that are best described as reactionary and interventionist.

Research limitations/implications

Research was limited to the UK construction industry and represents the assessment and evaluation of construction clients and first‐tier supply chain members working within construction framework agreements. The perspectives of construction SMEs were out with the data set.

Practical implications

Underdeveloped organizational learning practices within supply chains present a significant barrier to the development and diffusion of supply chain management theory and practice in construction. In practical terms, the attainment of competitive advantage and the development of competing supply chain in construction would be extremely limited.

Originality/value

Connecting organizational learning to the development and diffusion of supply chain management has been largely overlooked within the construction management literature. The research makes two notable contributions. First, the adaptation of a pragmatic and holistic organizational learning framework for the appraisal of learning strategies and second an evaluation of organizational learning in construction supply chains.