bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Field-emission-assisted approach to dry micro-electro-discharge machining of carbon-nanotube forests
Authors: Saleh Tanveer , Dahmardeh Masoud , Bsoul Anas , Nojeh Alireza , Takahata Kenichi
Published: December 2011

This work investigates dry micro-electro-discharge machining (μEDM) of vertically aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) forests that are used as cathodes in the process, as opposed to conventional μEDM where the material to be machined forms the anode, toward achieving higher precision in the patterned microstructures. The new configuration with the reversed polarity is observed to generate higher discharge currents in the process, presumably due to effective field-emission from CNTs. This effect allows the process to be performed at very low discharge energies, approximately 80× smaller than in the conventional normal-polarity case, with the machining voltage and tolerance down to 10 V and 2.5 μm, respectively, enabling high-precision high-aspect-ratio micropatterning in the forests. The new approach is also demonstrated to make the process faster, cleaner, and more stable than conventional processing. Spectroscopic analyses of the forests processed by reverse μEDM show no evidence of significant crystalline deterioration or contamination in the CNTs.
Molecular dynamics simulation of pressure-driven water flow in silicon-carbide nanotubes
Authors: Khademi Mahdi , Sahimi Muhammad
Published: December 2011

Many properties of silicon carbide (SiC) nanotubes, such as their high mechanical strength and resistance to corrosive environments, are superior to those of their carboneous counterparts, namely, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and, therefore, SiC nanotubes can be a viable alternative to CNTs in a variety of applications. We employ molecular dynamics simulations to examine flow of water in SiC nanotubes and to study the differences and similarities with the same phenomenon in the CNTs. The simulations indicate that SiC nanotubes always provide larger flow enhancements than those reported for the CNTs. Moreover, a given flow enhancement in SiC nanotubes requires an applied pressure gradient that is at least an order of magnitude smaller than the corresponding value in a CNT of the same size.
A method for analyzing the vibrational energy flow in biomolecules in solution
Authors: Soler Miguel Angel , Bastida Adolfo , Farag Marwa H. , Zúñiga José , Requena Alberto
Published: December 2011

A method is proposed to analyze the intra- and intermolecular vibrational energy flow occurring in biomolecules in solution during relaxation processes. It is based on the assumption that the total energy exchanged between the vibrational modes is minimal and the global process is essentially statistical. This statistical minimum flow method is shown to provide very useful information about the amount and the rate at which energy is transferred between the individual vibrations of the molecule. To demonstrate the performance of the method, an application is made to the relaxation of the amide I mode of N-methylacetamide-d in aqueous D2O solution which yields a detailed quantitative description of the process.
Long-range corrected hybrid functionals for π-conjugated systems: Dependence of the range-separation parameter on conjugation length
Authors: Körzdörfer Thomas , Sears John S. , Sutton Christopher , Brédas Jean-Luc
Published: December 2011

Long-range corrected (range-separated hybrid) functionals represent a relatively new class of functionals for generalized Kohn-Sham theory that have proven to be very successful, for instance, when it comes to predicting ionization potentials and energy gaps for a wide range of molecules and solids. The results obtained from long-range corrected density functional theory approaches can be improved dramatically, if the range-separation parameter (ω) is optimized for each system separately. In this work, we have optimized ω for a series of π-conjugated molecular systems of increasing length by forcing the resulting functionals to obey the ionization potential-theorem, i.e., that their highest occupied eigenvalue be equal to the ΔSCF ionization potential. The optimized ω values are observed to vary substantially from their default values for the functionals. For highly conjugated chains such as oligoacenes and polyenes, we find that the characteristic length scale of the range-separation, i.e., 1/ω, grows almost linearly with the number of repeat units, for saturated alkane chains, however, 1/ω quickly saturates after 5-6 repeat units. For oligothiophenes, we find that 1/ω grows linearly for the shorter oligomers but then saturates at around 10 repeat units. Our results point to a close relation between the optimal range-separation parameter and the degree of conjugation in the system.
Homeotropically aligning phase separated columnar structures for fabrication of flexible electrooptical devices
Authors: Acharya Bharat R. , Choi Hyunchul , Srinivasarao Mohan , Kumar Satyendra
Published: December 2011

A method of achieving homeotropic alignment of liquid crystals (LCs) by ultraviolet light induced phase separation of LC from its mixture with photo-curable pre-polymer is reported. Vertical polymer columns and micro-fibrils developed during the phase separation promote homeotropic alignment of the LC director (i.e., alignment perpendicular to the LC-substrate interface), suitable for devices based on LCs possessing negative dielectric anisotropy. These vertical structures extend between two substrates and permit the fabrication of highly flexible electro-optical devices with high contrast coupled with fast response times. This simple single-step technique eliminates the need for the traditional polymer alignment layer pre-deposited on substrates.
Tuning exchange bias by thermal fluctuation in Fe52Mn23Ga25 melt-spun ribbons
Authors: Tang X. D. , Wang W. H. , Wu G. H. , Meng F. B. , Liu H. Y. , Luo H. Z.
Published: December 2011

In Fe52Mn23Ga25 ribbons, the exchange bias becomes very sensitive to the proportions and sizes of the ferromagnetic (FM) and antiferromagnetic (AFM) phases. With high cooling fields, the AFM clusters with small sizes are embedded in the FM matrix which is kinetically arrested at low temperatures, resulting in a small exchange bias. The arrested FM phase can be dearrested by thermal fluctuation, and simultaneously, the proportion and sizes of AFM clusters increase with a stable unidirectional anisotropy. With different thermal fluctuations, a continuous tuning of exchange bias field from 0.202 kOe to 2.11 kOe is realized.
Electric field step in air gap streamer discharges
Authors: Zeng Rong , Zhuang Chijie , Yu Zhanqing , Li Zhizhao , Geng Yinan
Published: December 2011

Electric field (E-field) in air gap streamer discharges under positive lightning impulse was measured by specifically developed integrated electro-optic sensors. An E-field step phenomenon was observed. The E-field firstly agreed with the Laplace field, then suddenly increased with a rise time of μs. The occurrence probability of this phenomenon increased as the applied voltage increased. The discharge current waveforms and photos taken by a fast camera prove the E-field step was caused by the space net charge. From the E-step rise time and the corona area range, the average electron drift speed under the experiment situation was estimated about 0.2 × 106 – 0.6× 106 m/s.
The formation and differentiation of Earth
Authors: Wood Bernard
Published: December 2011

Earth accreted and segregated a metal core by a succession of large impacts before the solar system was 100 million years old.
Molecular outcomes of neuromyelitis optica (NMO)-IgG binding to aquaporin-4 in astrocytes
Authors: Hinson Shannon R. , Romero Michael F. , Popescu Bogdan F. Gh. , Lucchinetti Claudia F. , Fryer James P. , Wolburg Hartwig , Fallier-Becker Petra , Noell Susan , Lennon Vanda A.
Published: December 2011

The astrocytic aquaporin-4 (AQP4) water channel is the target of pathogenic antibodies in a spectrum of relapsing autoimmune inflammatory central nervous system disorders of varying severity that is unified by detection of the serum biomarker neuromyelitis optica (NMO)-IgG. Neuromyelitis optica is the most severe of these disorders. The two major AQP4 isoforms, M1 and M23, have identical extracellular residues. This report identifies two novel properties of NMO-IgG as determinants of pathogenicity. First, the binding of NMO-IgG to the ectodomain of astrocytic AQP4 has isoform-specific outcomes. M1 is completely internalized, but M23 resists internalization and is aggregated into larger-order orthogonal arrays of particles that activate complement more effectively than M1 when bound by NMO-IgG. Second, NMO-IgG binding to either isoform impairs water flux directly, independently of antigen down-regulation. We identified, in nondestructive central nervous system lesions of two NMO patients, two previously unappreciated histopathological correlates supporting the clinical relevance of our in vitro findings: (
i
) reactive astrocytes with persistent foci of surface AQP4 and (
ii
) vacuolation in adjacent myelin consistent with edema. The multiple molecular outcomes identified as a consequence of NMO-IgG interaction with AQP4 plausibly account for the diverse pathological features of NMO: edema, inflammation, demyelination, and necrosis. Differences in the nature and anatomical distribution of NMO lesions, and in the clinical and imaging manifestations of disease documented in pediatric and adult patients, may be influenced by regional and maturational differences in the ratio of M1 to M23 proteins in astrocytic membranes.
Dormancy cycling in
Arabidopsis
seeds is controlled by seasonally distinct hormone-signaling pathways
Authors: Footitt Steven , Douterelo-Soler Isabel , Clay Heather , Finch-Savage William E.
Published: December 2011

Seeds respond to environmental signals, tuning their dormancy cycles to the seasons and thereby determining the optimum time for plant establishment. The molecular regulation of dormancy cycling is unknown, but an extensive range of mechanisms have been identified in laboratory experiments. Using a targeted investigation of gene expression over the dormancy cycle of
Arabidopsis
seeds in the field, we investigated how these mechanisms are seasonally coordinated. Depth of dormancy and gene expression patterns were correlated with seasonal changes in soil temperature. The results were consistent with abscisic acid (ABA) signaling linked to deep dormancy in winter being repressed in spring concurrent with enhanced DELLA repression of germination as depth of dormancy decreased. Dormancy increased during winter as soil temperature declined and expression of ABA synthesis (
NCED6
) and gibberellic acid (GA) catabolism (
GA2ox2
) genes increased. This was linked to an increase in endogenous ABA that plateaus, but dormancy and
DOG1
and
MFT
expression continued to increase. The expression of SNF1-related protein kinases,
SnrK 2.1
and
2.4
, also increased consistent with enhanced ABA signaling and sensitivity being modulated by seasonal soil temperature. Dormancy then declined in spring and summer. Endogenous ABA decreased along with positive ABA signaling as expression of
ABI2
,
ABI4
, and ABA catabolism (
CYP707A2
) and GA synthesis (
GA3ox1
) genes increased. However, during the low-dormancy phase in the summer, expression of transcripts for the germination repressors RGA and RGL2 increased. Unlike deep winter dormancy, this represson can be removed on exposure to light, enabling the completion of germination at the correct time of year.
Media representations of multilingual Luxembourg
Authors: Horner Kristine
Published: December 2011

Following Ruiz’s discussion of orientations in language planning, distinguishing between language as right, resource and problem, this paper unpacks the ways in which related discourses are circulated in the Luxembourgish print media. Particular attention is paid to how these discourses are interwoven with debates on education and citizenship and how they draw on deeply entrenched language ideological beliefs about language and society, e.g. that “valuable” forms of individual multilingualism are a desirable goal, whereas linguistic heterogeneity constitutes a problem. Moreover, the analysis shows that the texts thematizing multilingualism are bound up with a discourse of rights and duties, and that right and duty, as well as problem and resource, need to be conceptualized as two intersecting continua informing language ideological debates.
Sociolinguistic diversity in mainstream media
Authors: Jaffe Alexandra
Published: December 2011

This article explores the attribution of authority and authenticity to speakers of “accented” or dialectal speech portrayed in the American documentary on dialectal diversity, “Do You Speak American?”. The focus is on the role of mediation and mediatization in this fundamentally political and ideological process: that is, the extent to which particular sequences of the documentary foreground the work of representation being done by media producers. The central claim made in the analysis is that speakers’ authenticity is produced through the backgrounding of this work of representation, but that speakers are attributed greater authority when they are depicted as having some control over how their images and speech are mediated and mediatized. Speakers who have both authority and authenticity benefit, it is argued, from media verisimilitudes: they are understood by media audiences as having control over the believable rather than the “real”.
SCPC: a method to structurally compare protein complexes
Authors: Koike Ryotaro , Ota Motonori
Published: December 2011

Motivation: Protein–protein interactions play vital functional roles in various biological phenomena. Physical contacts between proteins have been revealed using experimental approaches that have solved the structures of protein complexes at atomic resolution. To examine the huge number of protein complexes available in the Protein Data Bank, an efficient automated method that compares protein complexes is required.

Results: We have developed Structural Comparison of Protein Complexes (SCPC), a novel method to structurally compare protein complexes. SCPC compares the spatial arrangements of subunits in a complex with those in another complex using secondary structure elements. Similar substructures are detected in two protein complexes and the similarity is scored. SCPC was applied to dimers, homo-oligomers and haemoglobins. SCPC properly estimated structural similarities between the dimers examined as well as an existing method, MM-align. Conserved substructures were detected in a homo-tetramer and a homo-hexamer composed of homologous proteins. Classification of quaternary structures of haemoglobins using SCPC was consistent with the conventional classification. The results demonstrate that SCPC is a valuable tool to investigate the structures of protein complexes.

Availability: SCPC is available at http://idp1.force.cs.is.nagoya-u.ac.jp/scpc/.

Contact:  rkoike@is.nagoya-u.ac.jp

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Prediction and analysis of nucleotide-binding residues using sequence and sequence-derived structural descriptors
Authors: Chen Ke , Mizianty Marcin J. , Kurgan Lukasz
Published: December 2011

Motivation: Nucleotides are multifunctional molecules that are essential for numerous biological processes. They serve as sources for chemical energy, participate in the cellular signaling and they are involved in the enzymatic reactions. The knowledge of the nucleotide–protein interactions helps with annotation of protein functions and finds applications in drug design.

Results: We propose a novel ensemble of accurate high-throughput predictors of binding residues from the protein sequence for ATP, ADP, AMP, GTP and GDP. Empirical tests show that our NsitePred method significantly outperforms existing predictors and approaches based on sequence alignment and residue conservation scoring. The NsitePred accurately finds more binding residues and binding sites and it performs particularly well for the sites with residues that are clustered close together in the sequence. The high predictive quality stems from the usage of novel, comprehensive and custom-designed inputs that utilize information extracted from the sequence, evolutionary profiles, several sequence-predicted structural descriptors and sequence alignment. Analysis of the predictive model reveals several sequence-derived hallmarks of nucleotide-binding residues; they are usually conserved and flanked by less conserved residues, and they are associated with certain arrangements of secondary structures and amino acid pairs in the specific neighboring positions in the sequence.

Availability:  http://biomine.ece.ualberta.ca/nSITEpred/

Contact:  lkurgan@ece.ualberta.ca

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Promiscuity, paternity and personality in the great tit
Authors: Patrick Samantha C. , Chapman Joanne R. , Dugdale Hannah L. , Quinn John L. , Sheldon Ben C.
Published: December 2011

Understanding causes of variation in promiscuity within populations remain a major challenge. While most studies have focused on quantifying fitness costs and benefits of promiscuous behaviour, an alternative possibility—that variation in promiscuity within populations is maintained because of linkage with other traits—has received little attention. Here, we examine whether promiscuity in male and female great tits (Parus major)—quantified as extra-pair paternity (EPP) within and between nests—is associated with variation in a well-documented personality trait: exploration behaviour in a novel environment. Exploration behaviour has been shown to correlate with activity levels, risk-taking and boldness, and these are behaviours that may plausibly influence EPP. Exploration behaviour correlated positively with paternity gained outside the social pair among males in our population, but there was also a negative correlation with paternity in the social nest. Hence, while variation in male personality predicted the relative importance of paternity gain within and outside the pair bond, total paternity gained was unrelated to exploration behaviour. We found evidence that males paired with bold females were more likely to sire extra-pair young. Our data thus demonstrate a link between personality and promiscuity, with no net effects on reproductive success, suggesting personality-dependent mating tactics, in contrast with traditional adaptive explanations for promiscuity.
Triterpene Functional Genomics in Licorice for Identification of CYP72A154 Involved in the Biosynthesis of Glycyrrhizin
Authors: Seki Hikaru , Sawai Satoru , Ohyama Kiyoshi , Mizutani Masaharu , Ohnishi Toshiyuki , Sudo Hiroshi , Fukushima Ery Odette , Akashi Tomoyoshi , Aoki Toshio , Saito Kazuki , Muranaka Toshiya
Published: December 2011

Glycyrrhizin, a triterpenoid saponin derived from the underground parts of Glycyrrhiza plants (licorice), has several pharmacological activities and is also used worldwide as a natural sweetener. The biosynthesis of glycyrrhizin involves the initial cyclization of 2,3-oxidosqualene to the triterpene skeleton β-amyrin, followed by a series of oxidative reactions at positions C-11 and C-30, and glycosyl transfers to the C-3 hydroxyl group. We previously reported the identification of a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (P450) gene encoding β-amyrin 11-oxidase (CYP88D6) as the initial P450 gene in glycyrrhizin biosynthesis. In this study, a second relevant P450 (CYP72A154) was identified and shown to be responsible for C-30 oxidation in the glycyrrhizin pathway. CYP72A154 expressed in an engineered yeast strain that endogenously produces 11-oxo-β-amyrin (a possible biosynthetic intermediate between β-amyrin and glycyrrhizin) catalyzed three sequential oxidation steps at C-30 of 11-oxo-β-amyrin supplied in situ to produce glycyrrhetinic acid, a glycyrrhizin aglycone. Furthermore, CYP72A63 of Medicago truncatula, which has high sequence similarity to CYP72A154, was able to catalyze C-30 oxidation of β-amyrin. These results reveal a function of CYP72A subfamily proteins as triterpene-oxidizing enzymes and provide a genetic tool for engineering the production of glycyrrhizin.
Purification, crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of peroxidase from the palm tree Chamaerops excelsa
Authors: Textor Larissa C. , Santos Jademilson C. , Hidalgo Cuadrado Nazaret , Roig Manuel G. , Zhadan Galina G. , Shnyrov Valery L. , Polikarpov Igor
Published: December 2011

Plant peroxidases are presently used extensively in a wide range of biotechnological applications owing to their high environmental and thermal stability. As part of efforts towards the discovery of appealing new biotechnological enzymes, the peroxidase from leaves of the palm tree Chamaerops excelsa (CEP) was extracted, purified and crystallized in its native form. An X-ray diffraction data set was collected at a synchrotron source and data analysis showed that the CEP crystals belonged to the orthorhombic space group P212121, with unit-cell parameters a = 70.2, b = 100.7, c = 132.3 Å.
Seleno-detergent MAD phasing of leukotriene C4 synthase in complex with dodecyl-β-D-selenomaltoside
Authors: Saino Hiromichi , Ago Hideo , Ukita Yoko , Miyano Masashi
Published: December 2011

Dodecyl-β-D-selenomaltoside (SeDDM) is a seleno-detergent with a β-glycosidic seleno-ether in place of the ether moiety in dodecyl-β-D-maltoside. Seleno-detergents are candidates for heavy-atom agents in experimental phasing of membrane proteins in protein crystallography. Crystals of a nuclear membrane-embedded enzyme, leukotriene C4 synthase (LTC4S), in complex with SeDDM were prepared and a multiwavelength anomalous diffraction (MAD) experiment was performed. The SeDDM in the LTC4S crystal exhibited sufficient anomalous diffraction for determination of the structure using MAD phasing.
Crystallization of a 79 kDa fragment of the hook protein FlgE from Campylobacter jejuni
Authors: Kido Yasuji , Yoon Young-Ho , Samatey Fadel A.
Published: December 2011

A 79 kDa fragment of the bacterial flagellar hook protein FlgE from Campylobacter jejuni was cloned, overexpressed, purified and crystallized. Two different crystal forms were obtained. Synchrotron X-ray diffraction data showed that the first crystal form, which diffracted to 4.9 Å resolution, belonged to the tetragonal crystal system, with space group I4122 and unit-cell parameters a = b = 186.2, c = 386.6 Å, α = β = γ = 90°. The second crystal form diffracted to 2.5 Å resolution and belonged to the monoclinic crystal system, with space group P21 and unit-cell parameters a = 75.7, b = 173.8, c = 150.8 Å, α = γ = 90, β = 106.5°. SeMet protein was also overexpressed, purified and crystallized, and a 2.6 Å resolution MAD data set was collected.
Relationships within Podocarpaceae based on DNA sequence, anatomical, morphological, and biogeographical data
Authors: Knopf Patrick , Schulz Christian , Little Damon P. , Stützel Thomas , Stevenson Dennis W.
Published: December 2011

Despite considerable recent progress in understanding intergeneric relationships, a comprehensive analysis of Podocarpaceae at the species level using molecular data, biogeography, anatomy, and morphology has not been previously attempted. Here we present sequence analyses of rbcL, nrITS1 and NEEDLY intron 2 for two‐thirds (183 accessions of 145 taxa) of all Podocarpaceae species representing all genera except Parasitaxus. These analyses include many more species and accessions than previous studies and result in a more resolved phylogeny. The comprehensive anatomical and morphological study ensures that the identification of taxa is correct and also provides clade support. Bayesian and parsimony analyses were used to resolve 20 well‐supported monophyletic groups including 11 groups of the formerly poorly resolved subgenera Podocarpus and Foliolatus. The well‐resolved topology is supported by anatomical and morphological features and is highly congruent with geographical distribution.

© The Willi Hennig Society 2011.
Risk Management in the Post‐SOX Era
Authors: Hollingsworth Carl
Published: December 2011

Since the initial disclosure of accounting irregularities at Enron in late 2001, the landscape of audits for both domestic and foreign companies listed in the United States has undergone substantial change. These changes include the demise of Arthur Andersen and the enactment of the Sarbanes‐Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX). Together these changes have significantly increased the amount of work required to issue an audit report for US registrants and resulted in an unprecedented increase in the number of auditor resignations. I extend the audit literature by investigating how Big 4 audit firms make client continuance decisions in the post‐SOX era. My findings indicate that Big 4 audit firms have become more critical of the client continuance decision and this heightened concern and/or the additional audit requirements of SOX has resulted in the threshold for client continuance increasing post‐SOX. Interestingly, almost 70 percent of the Big 4 resignation clients move down in auditor class, and in the years immediately following the resignation, they continue to perform poorly.
Biased usage of T cell receptor β‐chain variable region genes of Wilms’ tumor gene (WT1)‐specific CD8+ T cells in patients with solid tumors and healthy donors
Authors: Morimoto Soyoko , Oka Yoshihiro , Tsuboi Akihiro , Tanaka Yukie , Fujiki Fumihiro , Nakajima Hiroko , Hosen Naoki , Nishida Sumiyuki , Nakata Jun , Nakae Yoshiki , Maruno Motohiko , Myoui Akira , Enomoto Takayuki , Izumoto Shuichi , Sekimoto Mitsugu , Kagawa Naoki , Hashimoto Naoya , Yoshimine Toshiki , Oji Yusuke , Kumanogoh Atsushi , Sugiyama Haruo
Published: December 2011

Wilms’ tumor gene 1 (WT1) protein is a promising tumor‐associated antigen. In patients with WT1‐expressing malignancies, WT1‐specific CTLs are spontaneously induced as a result of an immune response to the WT1 protein. In the present study, we performed single cell‐level comparative analysis of T cell receptor β‐chain variable region (TCR‐BV) gene families of a total of 750 spontaneously induced WT1126 peptide (amino acids 126–134, WT1126)‐specific CTLs in both HLA‐A*0201+ patients with solid tumors and healthy donors (HDs). This is the first report of direct usage analysis of 24 kinds of TCR‐BV gene families of WT1126‐specific CTLs at the single cell level. Usage analysis with single‐cell RT‐PCR of TCR‐BV gene families of individual FACS‐sorted WT1126 tetramer+ CD8+ T cells showed, for the first time, that: (i) BVs 3, 6, 7, 20, 27, and 28 were commonly biased in patients and HDs; (ii) BVs 2, 11, and 15 were biased only in patients; and (iii) BVs 4, 5, 9, and 19 were biased only in HDs. However, statistical analysis of similarity of individual usage frequencies of 24 kinds of TCR‐BV gene families between patients and HDs indicated that the usage frequencies of TCR‐BV gene families in patients reflected those in HDs. These results should provide us with a novel insight for a better understanding of WT1‐specific immune responses. (Cancer Sci 2012; 103: 408–414)
Prognostic value of metabolic tumor volume on PET / CT in primary gastrointestinal diffuse large B cell lymphoma
Authors: Song Moo‐Kon , Chung Joo‐Seop , Shin Ho‐Jin , Moon Joon‐Ho , Lee Jeong‐Ok , Lee Ho‐Sup , Lee Sang‐Min , Lee Gyeong‐Won , Lee Su‐Ee , Kim Seong‐Jang
Published: December 2011

Primary gastrointestinal (PGI) diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a relatively common disease. Recent studies indicate that measurement of maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) on pretreatment for 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose PET is an important prognostic factor in PGI DLBCL. However, there is still an association between initial tumor burden and prognosis. Thus, in the present study, we investigated whether tumor volume by PET could have a potential prognostic value to predict the outcome. From 2006 to 2009, 165 Stage I E/II E PGI DLBCL patients were enrolled in the study. One hundred and five patients received cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone, and rituximab (R‐CHOP) only, whereas 60 patients underwent surgery plus R‐CHOP. Metabolic tumor volume (MTV) was defined initial tumor burden as target GI lesion above SUV, 2.5 by PET as a contouring border. Over a median follow‐up period of 36.6 months, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis indicated that the best cut‐off values for MTV and SUVmax were 160.1 cm3 and 12.0, respectively. The estimated area under the ROC curve was higher for MTV than SUVmax. Thus, MTV was a better predictor for survival than SUVmax. In patients with a low MTV (<160.1 cm3), there were no significant differences in survival between patients undergoing R‐CHOP alone and surgery plus R‐CHOP (P = 0.347 for progression‐free survival [PFS]; P = 0.148 for overall survival [OS]). Conversely, in patients with a high MTV (>160.1 cm3), survival was longer in those who underwent surgery plus R‐CHOP than in those treated with R‐CHOP alone (P < 0.001 for PFS; P < 0.001 for OS). Multivariate analysis revealed that high MTV is an independent factor for predicting survival. Even in the era of rituximab, treatment of PGI DLBCL is not easy in patients with a high MTV. (Cancer Sci 2012; 103: 477–482)
Smokeless tobacco use related to military deployment, cigarettes and mental health symptoms in a large, prospective cohort study among US service members
Authors: Hermes Eric D. A. , Wells Timothy S. , Smith Besa , Boyko Edward J. , Gackstetter Gary G. , Miller Shannon C. , Smith Tyler C. ,   Millennium Cohort Study Team
Published: December 2011

Aims  To characterize smokeless tobacco initiation and persistence in relation to deployment, combat, occupation, smoking and mental health symptoms.

Design  Prospective cohort, utilizing self‐reported survey data from the Millennium Cohort Study.

Setting  US military service members in all branches including active duty, reserve and National Guard.

Participants  Population‐based sample of 45 272 participants completing both baseline (July 2001–June 2003; n = 77 047) and follow‐up (June 2004–January 2006; n = 55 021) questionnaires (follow‐up response rate = 71.4%).

Measurements  Self‐reported smokeless tobacco initiation and persistence.

Findings  Over the study period, 72.4% did not deploy, 13.7% deployed without combat exposures and 13.9% deployed with combat exposures, while 1.9% were smokeless tobacco initiators and 8.9% were persistent users. The odds of initiation were greater for deployers with combat exposure [odds ratio (OR), 1.76; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.49–2.09], deployers without combat exposure (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.07–1.60) and those who deployed multiple times (OR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.31–2.14), as well as in smoking recidivists/initiators (OR, 4.65; 95% CI, 3.82–5.66) and those reporting post‐traumatic stress disorder symptoms (OR, 1.54; CI, 1.15–2.07). A similar pattern for higher odds of persistent use was observed for deployment and combat exposure, but not for smoking and mental health symptoms. Military occupation was not significantly associated with initiation or persistence.

Conclusions  Deployment and combat exposure in the US military are associated with increased risk of smokeless tobacco initiation and persistence while smoking and symptoms of post‐traumatic stress disorder increase the odds for initiation. Research is needed on aspects of military service amenable to the reduction or prevention of tobacco consumption.
Geographic mosaics of plant–soil microbe interactions in a global plant invasion
Authors: Andonian Krikor , Hierro José L. , Khetsuriani Liana , Becerra Pablo I. , Janoyan Grigor , Villareal Diego , Cavieres Lohengrin A. , Fox Laurel R. , Callaway Ragan M.
Published: December 2011

Aim  Our aim in this study was to document the global biogeographic variation in the effects of soil microbes on the growth of Centaurea solstitialis (yellow starthistle; Asteraceae), a species that has been introduced throughout the world, but has become highly invasive only in some introduced regions.

Location  To assess biogeographic variation in plant–soil microbe interactions, we collected seeds and soils from native Eurasian C. solstitialis populations and introduced populations in California, Argentina and Chile.

Methods  To test whether escape from soil‐borne natural enemies may contribute to the success of C. solstitialis, we compared the performance of plants using seeds and soils collected from each of the biogeographic regions in greenhouse inoculation/sterilization experiments.

Results  We found that soil microbes had pervasive negative effects on plants from all regions, but these negative effects were significantly weaker in soils from non‐native ranges in Chile and California than in those from the non‐native range in Argentina and the native range in Eurasia.

Main conclusions  The biogeographic differences in negative effects of microbes in this study conformed to the enemy‐release hypothesis (ERH) overall, but the strong negative effect of soil biota in Argentina, where C. solstitialis is invasive, and weaker effects in Chile where it is not, indicated that different factors influencing invasion are likely to occur in large scale biogeographic mosaics of interaction strengths.
Feedback as a strategy to change behaviour: the devil is in the details
Authors: Larson Elaine L. , Patel Sameer J. , Evans David , Saiman Lisa
Published: December 2011

Background  Performance feedback is one of a number of strategies used to improve clinical practice among students and clinicians.

Objectives  The aims of this paper were to examine conceptual underpinnings and essential components for audit and feedback strategies, to assess the extent to which recently published audit and feedback interventions include these components and to recommend future directions for feedback to improve its educational and behavioural impact.

Methods  Based on the actionable feedback model, we examined the presence of four theoretical constructs – timeliness, individualization, lack of punitiveness and customizability – in studies published during 2009–2010 which included a feedback intervention.

Results  There was wide variation in the definition, implementation and outcomes of ‘feedback’ interventions, making it difficult to compare across studies. None of the studies we reviewed included all of the components of the actionable feedback model.

Conclusions  Feedback interventions reported to date, even when results are positive, often fail to include concepts of behaviour change. This may partially explain the large variation in approaches and in results of such interventions and presents major challenges for replicating any given intervention. If feedback processes are to be successfully used and disseminated and implemented widely, some standardization and certainly more clarity is needed in the specific action steps taken to apply behavioural theory to practice.
Barriers to and enablers of evidence‐based practice in perinatal care in the SEA‐ORCHID project
Authors: Turner Tari , Short Jacki ,   SEA‐ORCHID Study Group
Published: December 2011

Rationale, aims and objectives  The South‐East Asia Optimising Reproductive and Child Health in Developing Countries (SEA‐ORCHID) project aimed to improve health outcomes for mothers and babies in nine hospitals in South‐East Asia by supporting evidence‐based perinatal health care. In this research, we aimed to identify and explore the factors that may have acted as barriers to or enablers of evidence‐based practice change at each of the hospitals.

Methods  During the final 6 months of the intervention phase of the project, semi‐structured, face‐to‐face interviews were undertaken with 179 nurses, midwives and doctors from the maternal and neonatal departments at each of the nine participating South‐East Asian hospitals.

Results  The interviews identified several factors that participants believed had a substantial impact on the effectiveness of the SEA‐ORCHID intervention. These included knowledge, skills, hierarchy, multidisciplinarity and leadership, beliefs about consequences, resources, and the nature of the behaviours. The success of the SEA‐ORCHID intervention in improving practice may reflect the extent to which tailored strategies were effective in overcoming these barriers.

Conclusion  Effective interventions to align practice with evidence rely on identifying and addressing barriers to practice change. The barriers identified in this study may be useful for those designing similar clinical practice improvement projects, as well as for continued efforts to improve practice in the SEA‐ORCHID hospitals.
Chemosensory responsiveness to ethanol and its individual sensory components in alcohol‐preferring, alcohol‐nonpreferring and genetically heterogeneous rats
Authors: Brasser Susan M. , Silbaugh Bryant C. , Ketchum Myles J. , Olney Jeffrey J. , Lemon Christian H.
Published: December 2011

Alcohol activates orosensory circuits that project to motivationally relevant limbic forebrain areas that control appetite, feeding and drinking. To date, limited data exists regarding the contribution of chemosensory‐derived ethanol reinforcement to ethanol preference and consumption. Measures of taste reactivity to intra‐orally infused ethanol have not found differences in initial orofacial responses to alcohol between alcohol‐preferring (P) and alcohol‐non‐preferring (NP) genetically selected rat lines. Yet, in voluntary intake tests, P rats prefer highly concentrated ethanol upon initial exposure, suggesting an early sensory‐mediated attraction. Here, we directly compared self‐initiated chemosensory responding for alcohol and prototypic sweet, bitter and oral trigeminal stimuli among selectively bred P, NP and non‐selected Wistar (WI) outbred lines to determine whether differential sensory responsiveness to ethanol and its putative sensory components are phenotypically associated with genetically influenced alcohol preference. Rats were tested for immediate short‐term lick responses to alcohol (3–40%), sucrose (0.01–1 M), quinine (0.01–3 mM) and capsaicin (0.003–1 mM) in a brief‐access assay designed to index orosensory‐guided behavior. P rats exhibited elevated short‐term lick responses to both alcohol and sucrose relative to NP and WI lines across a broad range of concentrations of each stimulus and in the absence of blood alcohol levels that would produce significant post‐absorptive effects. There was no consistent relationship between genetically mediated alcohol preference and orosensory avoidance of quinine or capsaicin. These data indicate that enhanced initial chemosensory attraction to ethanol and sweet stimuli are phenotypes associated with genetic alcohol preference and are considered within the framework of downstream activation of oral appetitive reward circuits.
Frontiers in bronchoscopic imaging
Authors: OHTANI KEISHI , LEE ANTHONY M.D. , LAM STEPHEN
Published: December 2011

Bronchoscopy is a minimally invasive method for diagnosis of diseases of the airways and the lung parenchyma. Standard bronchoscopy uses the reflectance/scattering properties of white light from tissue to examine the macroscopic appearance of airways. It does not exploit the full spectrum of the optical properties of bronchial tissues. Advances in optical imaging such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), confocal endomicroscopy, autofluorescence imaging and laser Raman spectroscopy are at the forefront to allow in vivo high‐resolution probing of the microscopic structure, biochemical compositions and even molecular alterations in disease states. OCT can visualize cellular and extracellular structures at and below the tissue surface with near histological resolution, as well as to provide three‐dimensional imaging of the airways. Cellular and subcellular imaging can be achieved using confocal endomicroscopy or endocytoscopy. Contrast associated with light absorption by haemoglobin can be used to highlight changes in microvascular structures in the subepithelium using narrow‐band imaging. Blood vessels in the peribronchial space can be displayed using Doppler OCT. Biochemical compositions can be analysed with laser Raman spectroscopy, autofluorescence or multispectral imaging. Clinically, autofluorescence and narrow‐band imaging have been found to be useful for localization of preneoplastic and neoplastic bronchial lesions. OCT can differentiate carcinoma in situ versus microinvasive cancer. Endoscopic optical imaging is a promising technology that can expand the horizon for studying the pathogenesis and progression of airway diseases such as COPD and asthma, as well as to evaluate the effect of novel therapy.
Race, racism and systemic supervision
Authors: Pendry Nick
Published: December 2011

The idea of ‘race’ and the social reality of racism have gained increasing attention in family and systemic psychotherapy. This article seeks to extend this attention by focusing upon the influence of race and racism in the supervision of family and systemic psychotherapy. The way in which the idea of race might be conceptualized is discussed, before looking at how race and racism have been addressed in the field. Attention is then turned to systemic supervision, focusing upon the ideas generated about how supervisors might position themselves in relation to these issues, the implications this might have for the supervisory relationship and the relationships between supervisees and client families. It is proposed that by virtue of the supervisor's position of power over the supervisee, it is the supervisor's responsibility to initiate conversations about race and racism. A proposal for this task is outlined, which recognizes that these conversations are ongoing. A concluding assertion is made that such conversations should form part of the evaluative process for trainee supervisors.
A systematic review of light‐based home‐use devices for hair removal and considerations on human safety
Authors: Thaysen‐Petersen D. , Bjerring P. , Dierickx C. , Nash J.F. , Town G. , Haedersdal M.
Published: December 2011

Background  Hair removal with professional light‐based devices is established as an effective, mainstream treatment. The field of optical home‐based hair removal is evolving and movement from control by physicians into hands of consumers warrants understanding efficacy and human safety.

Objectives  To systematically review and evaluate the efficacy and human safety of currently available home‐based optical hair removal devices.

Methods  A comprehensive Pub Med literature search was conducted which systematically identified publications of relevance. Prospective clinical trials were included whether controlled, uncontrolled or randomized and with a sample size of at least 10 individuals.

Results  We identified a total of seven studies: one controlled (CT) and six uncontrolled trials (UCTs). No randomized controlled trials (RCT) were recognized. The best evidence was found for IPL (intense pulsed light) (three devices, one CT, five UCTs) and limited evidence for laser devices (one diode laser, one UCT). Most studies evaluated short‐term hair reduction up to 3 and 6 months following light exposure at different body sites. Hair reduction percentages ranged from 6% to 72% after repetitive treatments. The most frequently reported side‐effect was erythema, but oedema, blistering, crusting and pigment changes were also reported. Theoretical concerns about ocular damage and paradoxical hair growth have not been reported in any of the studies reviewed.

Conclusions  Available evidence from prospective, uncontrolled clinical trials indicates short‐term hair removal efficacy of currently available home‐use light‐based hair removal devices. Additional controlled trials will be helpful to substantiate the efficacy and to better predict the incidence of adverse events associated with optical home‐use hair removal.
Postnatal ontogeny of the locomotor skeleton of a cursorial bird: greater rhea
Authors: Picasso M. B. J.
Published: December 2011

The greater rhea (Rhea americana) is the largest flightless bird of South America and has a cursorial locomotion style. The objective of this study was to explore how the leg configuration of this species changes from juveniles to adult, and the possible implications of these changes for the locomotor style of this bird. In this regard, it is interesting to study the presence of allometries during growth (ontogenetic allometry), because it may provide information about morpho‐functional aspects. Growth of femur, tibiotarsus and tarsometatarsus were studied in individuals of different ages, ranging from 1 month to adulthood. Allometric analysis was performed on a total of 21 measurements of limb bones to evaluate ontogenetic changes. Ten measurements were allometric, correlating positively and negatively with body mass. Some of them, like the positive allometry of the tarsometatarsus length, the negative allometry of the distal region of the tibiotarsus and the proximal segment of the tarsometatarsus, seem to be associated with cursoriality. On the other hand, the positive allometric growth of the distal segment of the femur may be related to the large body size of these birds.
Characterization of cellular senescence mechanisms in human corneal endothelial cells
Authors: Sheerin Angela N. , Smith S. Kaye , Jennert‐Burston Katrin , Brook Amy J. , Allen Marcus C. , Ibrahim Badr , Jones Dawn , Wallis Corrin , Engelmann Katrin , Rhys‐Williams William , Faragher Richard G. A. , Kipling David
Published: December 2011

The human cornea is a tri‐laminar structure composed of several cell types with substantial mitotic potential. Age‐related changes in the cornea are associated with declining visual acuity and the onset of overt age‐related corneal diseases. Corneal transplantation is commonly used to restore vision in patients with damaged or diseased corneas. However, the supply of donor tissue is limited, and thus there is considerable interest in the development of tissue‐engineered alternatives. A major obstacle to these approaches is the short replicative lifespan of primary human corneal endothelial cells (HCEC). Accordingly, a comprehensive investigation of the signalling pathways and mechanisms underpinning proliferative lifespan and senescence in HCEC was undertaken. The effects of exogenous human telomerase reverse transcriptase expression, p53 knockdown, disruption of the pRb pathway by over‐expression of CDK4 and reduced oxygen concentration on the lifespan of primary HCEC were evaluated. We provide proof‐of‐principle that forced expression of telomerase, when combined with either p53 knockdown or CDK4 over‐expression, is sufficient to produce immortalized HCEC lines. The resultant cell lines express an HCEC‐specific transcriptional fingerprint, and retain expression of the corneal endothelial temperature‐sensitive potassium channel, suggesting that significant dedifferentiation does not occur as a result of these modes of immortalization. Exploiting these insights into proliferative lifespan barriers in HCEC will underpin the development of novel strategies for cell‐based therapies in the human cornea.