bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancements to the JET poloidally scanning vacuum ultraviolet/visible spectrometers
Authors: Lawson K. D. , Barnsley R. , Maggi C. F. , Tyrrell S. , Beldishevski M. , Brzozowski J. , Buckley M. , Cass G. , Elevant T. , Griph S. , Heesterman P. , Hogben C. , Jennison M. , Stamp M. F. , Williams J. , Zastrow K.-D. ,   JET-EFDA Contributors
Published: August 2012

Enhancements to the JET poloidally scanning spectrometers are presented, which will aid the exploitation of the recently installed ITER-like wall in JET. They include the installation of visible filter/photomultiplier tube assemblies and spectrometers and the replacement of large rotating mirrors in the JET vacuum with small oscillating mirrors outside. The upgrade has resulted in a more robust and reliable diagnostic than before, which is described. Drifts in the mirror angle reconstructed from quadrature encoder signals are found, a reference signal being required. The use of the small scanning mirrors necessitated the inclusion of focusing mirrors to maintain throughput into the vacuum ultraviolet spectrometers. The mirror design has taken account of the extreme sensitivity of the focusing to the grazing angle of incidence, an aspect of importance in the design of grazing incidence focusing components on future machines, such as ITER. The visible system has been absolutely calibrated using an in-vessel light source.
Cooperative effects of noncovalent bonds to the Br atom of halogen-bonded H3N…BrZ and HCN…BrZ (Z = F, Br) complexes
Authors: McDowell Sean A. C. , Joseph Jerelle A.
Published: August 2012

A series of complexes formed between halogen-bonded H3N/HCN…BrZ (Z = Br, F) dimers and H3N/HCN…BrZ…XY (XY = HF, ClF, BeH2, LiF) trimers were investigated at the MP2 and B3LYP levels of theory using a 6-31++G(d,p) basis set. Optimized structures, interaction energies, and other properties of interest were obtained. The addition of XY to the H3N/HCN…BrZ dyad leads to enhanced intermolecular binding with respect to the isolated monomers. This enhanced binding receives contributions from the electrostatic and inductive forces between the constituent pairs, with, in some instances, substantial three-body non-additive contributions to the binding energy. It was found that the XY = LiF interaction causes the greatest distortion of the H3N/HCN…BrZ halogen bond from the preferred linear orientation and also provides the strongest binding energy via the nonadditive energy.
On the nature of the interfacial layer in ultra-thin TiN/LaLuO3 gate stacks
Authors: Mitrovic I. Z. , Hall S. , Sedghi N. , Simutis G. , Dhanak V. R. , Bailey P. , Noakes T. C. Q. , Alexandrou I. , Engstrom O. , Lopes J. M. J. , Schubert J.
Published: August 2012

We present a detailed investigation on the nature of the interfacial layer (IL) in ultra-thin TiN/LaLuO3 (LLO) gate stacks, which is of importance to facilitate CMOS scaling. The molecular beam deposited LaLuO3 films are found to be amorphous by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. A ∼9 Å thick LaLuO3/interlayer transition observed by medium energy ion scattering correlates with the presence of a dual silicate/SiO2-like interfacial layer derived from the analysis of photoelectron line positions and electron energy loss spectra. A theoretical model is used for the dielectric transition in a bi-layer LaLuO3/IL structure, linking physical and electrical characterization data. The obtained leakage current of 10−3 A/cm2 at 1.5 V and equivalent oxide thickness of 0.75 nm for TiN/LaLuO3 gate stacks are adequate for scaling in the 14-12 nm node.
Enhanced selectivity towards O2 and H2 dissociation on ultrathin Cu films on Ru(0001)
Authors: Minniti M. , Farías D. , Perna P. , Miranda R.
Published: August 2012

The reactivity of Cu monolayer (ML) and bilayer films grown on Ru(0001) towards O2 and H2 has been investigated. O2 initial sticking coefficients were determined using the King and Wells method in the incident energy range 40–450 meV, and compared to the corresponding values measured on clean Ru(0001) and Cu(111) surfaces. A relative large O2 sticking coefficient (∼0.5–0.8) was measured for 1 ML Cu and even 2 ML Cu/Ru(0001). At low incident energies, this is one order of magnitude larger than the value observed on Cu(111). In contrast, the corresponding reactivity to H2 was near zero on both Cu monolayer and bilayer films, for incident energies up to 175 meV. Water adsorption on 2 ML Cu/Ru(0001) was found to behave quite differently than on the Ru(0001) and Cu(111) surfaces. Our study shows that Cu/Ru(0001) is a highly selective system, which presents a quite different chemical reactivity towards different species in the same range of collision energies.
Stability of dense liquid carbon dioxide
Authors: Boates Brian , Teweldeberhan Amanuel M. , Bonev Stanimir A.
Published: August 2012

We present ab initio calculations of the phase diagram of liquid CO
2
and its melting curve over a wide range of pressure and temperature conditions, including those relevant to the Earth. Several distinct liquid phases are predicted up to 200 GPa and 10,000 K based on their structural and electronic characteristics. We provide evidence for a first-order liquid–liquid phase transition with a critical point near 48 GPa and 3,200 K that intersects the mantle geotherm; a liquid–liquid–solid triple point is predicted near 45 GPa and 1,850 K. Unlike known first-order transitions between thermodynamically stable liquids, the coexistence of molecular and polymeric CO
2
phases predicted here is not accompanied by metallization. The absence of an electrical anomaly would be unique among known liquid–liquid transitions. Furthermore, the previously suggested phase separation of CO
2
into its constituent elements at lower mantle conditions is examined by evaluating their Gibbs free energies. We find that liquid CO
2
does not decompose into carbon and oxygen up to at least 200 GPa and 10,000 K.
Low-level p53 expression changes transactivation rules and reveals superactivating sequences
Authors: Jordan Jennifer J. , Menendez Daniel , Sharav Jenia , Beno Itai , Rosenthal Karin , Resnick Michael A. , Haran Tali E.
Published: August 2012

Transcriptional activation by the tumor suppressor p53 is considered to depend on cellular level, although there are few systems where this dependence on cellular level of p53 has been directly addressed. Previously, we reported that transactivation from p53 targets was sensitive to both p53 amount and DNA sequence, with some sequences being responsive to much lower p53 levels than others when examined in yeast model systems or human cells. Because p53 is normally present at low levels and perturbations might lead to small increases, we examined transactivation under limiting p53. Unlike the positive relationship between transactivation and binding affinity from target sequences at high cellular levels of human p53 in yeast, no such relationship was found at low levels. However, transactivation in the yeast system and the torsional flexibility of target sequences were highly correlated, revealing a unique structural relationship between transcriptional function and sequence. Surprisingly, a few sequences supported high transactivation at low p53 levels in yeast or when transfected into human cells. On the basis of kinetic and flexibility analyses the “supertransactivation” property was due to low binding off rates of flexible target sites. Interestingly, a supertransactivation response element can differentiate transcriptional capacities of many breast cancer-associated p53 mutants. Overall, these studies, which are relevant to other transcription factors, address the extent to which transactivation properties of p53 target sequences are determined by their intrinsic physical properties and reveal unique rules of engagement of target sequences at low p53 levels.
Critical phosphoprotein elements that regulate polymerase architecture and function in vesicular stomatitis virus
Authors: Rahmeh Amal A. , Morin Benjamin , Schenk Andreas D. , Liang Bo , Heinrich Bianca S. , Brusic Vesna , Walz Thomas , Whelan Sean P. J.
Published: August 2012

The RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) of nonsegmented negative-sense RNA viruses consists of a large catalytic protein (L) and a phosphoprotein cofactor (P). During infection, the RdRP replicates and transcribes the viral genome, which resides inside an oligomer of nucleocapsid protein (
N
-RNA). The classical view of P as a cofactor for L assigns a primary role of P as a bridge mediating the access of L to the RNA template, whereby its N-terminal domain (P
NTD
) binds L and its C-terminal domain (P
CTD
) binds
N
-RNA. Recent biochemical and structural studies of a prototype nonsegmented negative-sense RNA virus, vesicular stomatitis virus, suggest a role for P beyond that of a mere physical link: P induces a structural rearrangement in L and stimulates polymerase processivity. In this study, we investigated the critical requirements within P mediating the functional interaction with L to form a fully functional RdRP. We analyzed the correlation between the impact of P on the conformation of L and its activity in RNA synthesis and the consequences of these events on RdRP function. We identified three separable elements of the P
NTD
that are required for inducing the conformational rearrangement of L, stimulating polymerase processivity, and mediating transcription of the
N
-RNA. The functional interplay between these elements provides insight into the role of P as a dynamic player in the RNA synthesis machine, influencing essential aspects of polymerase structure and function.
De novo structure prediction and experimental characterization of folded peptoid oligomers
Authors: Butterfoss Glenn L. , Yoo Barney , Jaworski Jonathan N. , Chorny Ilya , Dill Ken A. , Zuckermann Ronald N. , Bonneau Richard , Kirshenbaum Kent , Voelz Vincent A.
Published: August 2012

Peptoid molecules are biomimetic oligomers that can fold into unique three-dimensional structures. As part of an effort to advance computational design of folded oligomers, we present blind-structure predictions for three peptoid sequences using a combination of Replica Exchange Molecular Dynamics (REMD) simulation and Quantum Mechanical refinement. We correctly predicted the structure of a
N
-aryl peptoid trimer to within 0.2 Å rmsd-backbone and a cyclic peptoid nonamer to an accuracy of 1.0 Å rmsd-backbone. X-ray crystallographic structures are presented for a linear
N
-alkyl peptoid trimer and for the cyclic peptoid nonamer. The peptoid macrocycle structure features a combination of
cis
and
trans
backbone amides, significant nonplanarity of the amide bonds, and a unique “basket” arrangement of (
S
)-
N
(1-phenylethyl) side chains encompassing a bound ethanol molecule. REMD simulations of the peptoid trimers reveal that well folded peptoids can exhibit funnel-like conformational free energy landscapes similar to those for ordered polypeptides. These results indicate that physical modeling can successfully perform de novo structure prediction for small peptoid molecules.
Nationwide survey of acromegaly in South Korea
Authors: Kwon Obin , Song Young Duk , Kim Seong Yeon , Lee Eun Jig ,   Rare Disease Study Group, Science and Research Committee, Korean Endocrine Society
Published: August 2012

Context

It was previously reported in Korea that there were 1·4 case per million per year of acromegaly. This was low in comparison with the extrapolated values of Western European countries. We expected that the incidence of acromegaly would be much higher now because of recently improved medical facilities, diagnostic tools and coverage of medical insurance to all the population of South Korea.

Objective

The purpose of this nationwide survey was to examine the incidence and prevalence of patients with acromegaly, mode of treatment and outcome of surgical treatment of recent 5 years.

Design and patients

We requested and collected the medical records of all possible patients with acromegaly from 74 secondary or tertiary medical institutes in Korea from 2003 to 2007 retrospectively.

Measurements

Date of diagnosis and treatment, tumour size, pre‐ and postoperative hormonal level, treatment modality and usage of medication were collected.

Results

During 5 years, 1350 patients with acromegaly had been registered. The average annual incidence was 3·9 cases per million during this period, and prevalence had increased up to 27·9 cases per million in 2007. Male/female ratio was 1:1·2, and mean age at diagnosis was 44·1 years. Macroadenoma was dominant (82·9%). Transsphenoidal adenoidectomy was used the most as primary treatment (90·4%).

Conclusions

This Korean acromegaly survey offers a realistic overview of the predominant epidemiological characteristics of acromegaly in Korea. Annual incidence was at a similar level with western countries. Efforts to diagnose and control the disease earlier are recommended.
Organisational aspects of dental practices: do dental students think like patients or like general dental practitioners?
Authors: Sonneveld R. E. , Brands W. G. , Bronkhorst E. M. , Welie J. V. M. , Truin G. J.
Published: August 2012

Introduction

In view of transparency in health care, the widespread desire for more patient‐centred care, and in an attempt to facilitate educational programmes that effectively respond to these changes, two research questions are formulated: (i) How do dental students rate the importance of various organisational aspects of dental practices compared with dental patients and general dental practitioners (GDPs), and what prescripts, defined as specific operational responsibilities of GDPs in these matters, do dental students propose? and (ii) In doing so, do students resemble patients or GDPs?

Methods

In two survey studies, dental students (n = 198), patients (n = 3127) and GDPs (n = 303) were asked to rate by questionnaire the importance of 41 organisational aspects of a general dental practice and proposed specific operational responsibilities (‘prescripts’).

Results

Seven of 41 aspects were rated as important by the majority of the students. Although in a different rank order, three aspects were predominantly selected by all three groups: continuing education, accessibility by telephone and Dutch‐speaking GDP. For most aspects, significant differences were found between the prescripts proposed by students and those proposed by patients, and few differences were found between students and GDPs.

Conclusion

The findings do not permit the general conclusion that the views of dental students resemble those of patients or GPDs. Looking at the overall rank order, the three respondent groups showed a great resemblance although significant differences were found for specific aspects. With regard to the proposed prescripts, students showed realistic views and the majority wants to participate in continuing education and work with protocols and guidelines. In this, they tend to resemble GDPs more than they resemble patients.
What can we learn from parents about enhancing participation in pharmacovigilance?
Authors: Arnott Janine , Hesselgreaves Hannah , Nunn Anthony J. , Peak Matthew , Pirmohamed Munir , Smyth Rosalind L. , Turner Mark A. , Young Bridget
Published: August 2012

Aims

To investigate parents' views and experiences of direct reporting of a suspected ADR in their child.

Methods

We audio‐recorded semi‐structured qualitative interviews with parents of children with suspected ADRs. Our sample included parents with (n = 17) and without (n = 27) previous experience of submitting a Yellow Card.

Results

Parents in both groups described poor awareness of the Yellow Card Scheme. Parents who had participated in the Yellow Card Scheme were generally happy to report their child's ADR via the Scheme and valued the opportunity to report concerns independently of health practitioners. They expressed motivations for reporting that have not previously been described linked to the parental role, including how registering a concern about a medicine helped to resolve uncomfortable feelings about their child's ADR. Parents who had not previously submitted a Yellow Card expressed uncertainty about the legitimacy of their involvement in reporting and doubts about the value of the information that they could provide.

Conclusion

Promoting wider participation in pharmacovigilance schemes will depend on raising public awareness. Additionally, our findings point to the need to empower lay people to submitting reports and to reassure them about the value of their reports.
Enhanced therapeutic effect of B cell-depleting anti-CD20 antibodies upon combination within-situdendritic cell vaccination in advanced lymphoma
Authors: Manzur S , Cohen S , Haimovich J , Hollander N
Published: August 2012

The present standard of care for B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma includes the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab. Although combination treatments with chemotherapy and rituximab improved the duration of remissions and overall survival in indolent B cell lymphoma, the disease is essentially incurable. Thus, new therapeutic approaches are needed. One such approach is active immunization. Given that rituximab depletes both malignant and normal B cells, it is expected to impair humoral immune responses in vaccinated patients. Hence, optimal vaccination strategies for rituximab-treated patients require induction of effector T cells, which can be achieved by dendritic cell (DC) vaccines. We have demonstrated in a mouse model that chemotherapy combined with DC vaccines was therapeutically effective. However, efficacy was related to tumour size at the onset of treatment, decreasing in correlation with increasing tumour burdens. We therefore examined whether, in spite of its low efficacy in advanced disease, DC vaccination may synergize with anti-CD20 antibodies to enhance therapy. Lymphoma-bearing mice were treated with cyclophosphamide, anti-CD20 antibodies and an intratumoral DC vaccine. Results clearly demonstrated the enhanced therapeutic effect of this combination treatment. Thus, under conditions of disseminated disease, when either anti-CD20 antibody treatment or vaccination showed insufficient efficacy, their combination resulted in synergism that mediated long-term survival. We demonstrated further that the combination of antibody and vaccine induced T cell-mediated anti-tumour immune responses with long-term memory. Combination treatments including tumour cell-loaded DC vaccines may therefore provide a strategy for enhancing therapy in rituximab-treated patients.
Percutaneous injuries amongst Greek endodontists: a national questionnaire survey
Authors: Zarra T. , Lambrianidis T.
Published: August 2012

Aim

To investigate amongst Greek endodontists the incidence of percutaneous injuries, the circumstances associated with them, the therapeutic measures taken after the injuries and their compliance with infection control measures.

Methodology

One hundred and forty‐seven endodontists met the inclusion criteria and were invited to participate in the survey. Personal and professional data, information on percutaneous injuries in the past 5 years and on infection control practices were gathered through interviews based on a questionnaire. Data were analysed using chi‐square test, independent samples t‐test, one‐way anova and Pearson's correlation coefficient. The level of significance was set at P = 0.05.

Results

The response rate was 84%. The injury rate was estimated at 1.35 per endodontist per year. Endodontic files were associated with 37% of the injuries and fingers were injured in 75% of the most recent cases. Medical assistance was sought in 36% of the most recent injuries. Endodontists who always or usually practiced 4‐handed endodontics (P = 0.007) as well as those not performing surgical endodontics (P = 0.007) reported significantly fewer injuries. In 91% of the participants, a complete hepatitis B virus vaccination was reported. Gloves, masks, rubber dam isolation and puncture‐resistant containers for disposal of sharp instruments were always used by 98%, 94%, 100% and 81% of the respondents, respectively.

Conclusions

The injury rate was low. The practice of four‐handed endodontics was associated with a reduced number of percutaneous injuries; the performance of surgical endodontics increased their incidence. Greek endodontists showed a high level of compliance with infection control measures.
Helping doctors utilize the prostate‐specific antigen effectively: an online randomized controlled trial (The DUPE trial)
Authors: Farah Sam S. , Winter Matthew , Appu Sree
Published: August 2012

Objectives

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of an information aid (IA) on doctor's knowledge about the strengths and limitations of prostate‐specific antigen/digital rectal examination (PSA/DRE) testing, and to help doctors make better and more informed decisions about prostate cancer screening.

Methods

An online randomized trial among 45 doctors in Victoria's public health‐care network that fulfilled CONSORT requirements was conducted. Participants were randomized to either immediate or delayed access to an online IA, and knowledge was compared across both groups at the conclusion of the trial.

Results

Doctors spent a mean time of 4:04 (95% confidence interval: 0.53–7:52) reading and completing the IA. Those who read IA were more knowledgeable (mean score out of 9, 7.45 versus 5.75, P < 0.0001). Potential harms and current literature findings were better recognized, as well as having a better understanding of what is meant by the term screening. Eighty‐two per cent found that IA helped them understand prostate cancer screening, and 73% found it easy to understand.

Conclusion

The IA increased knowledge, took minimal time to complete and was found to be helpful in understanding prostate cancer screening.

Practical implications

The IA is an easy‐to‐access resource that improves knowledge regarding the strengths and limitations of the PSA/DRE test for prostate cancer screening. Doctors who are unsure how to summarize the latest evidence should be directed towards the IA.
Body mass index and acetabular component position in total hip arthroplasty
Authors: McBride Andrew , Flynn Jennifer , Miller George , Barnes Matthew , Mackie Scott
Published: August 2012

Introduction

Correct acetabular component positioning during total hip arthroplasty affects the restoration of normal biomechanics, component wear and failure rates. This study examined whether a patient's body mass index (BMI) affects the accuracy of acetabular component placement in terms of the post‐operative abduction angle.

Methods

This was a retrospective review of 102 total hip arthroplasties performed from May 2009 in a single institution. The acetabular abduction angle was measured on the post‐operative radiographs of the included patients. Statistical analysis of variance and t‐tests were performed using Microsoft Excel to compare the mean abduction angles of patients grouped according to their BMI.

Results

Comparison of the mean abduction angle between those with BMI < 25 and BMI > 25 showed a statistically significant difference (P = 0.003). Analysis of variance between all BMI groups was statistically significant (P = 0.01). Patients in the lowest centile of abduction angle had an average BMI of 28. Patients in the highest centile of abduction angle had an average BMI of 33.

Discussion

This study shows that patients with a normal BMI tend to have smaller abduction angles. Overweight or obese patients, on average, have a normal abduction angle but are more likely to have an ‘open cup’. A number of factors unique to obese and overweight patient may contribute to an ‘open cup’ and less accurate cup placement.
The Recession and the New Economy of the West: The Familiar Boom and Bust Cycle?
Authors: Gude Patricia H. , Rasker Ray , Jones Kingsford L. , Haggerty Julia H. , Greenwood Mark C.
Published: August 2012

TheU.S.West has gone through many periods of economic boom and bust, most of which were associated with rapid rises and declines in commodity markets. The recent structural shift toward a primarily service‐based economy begs the question of whether the driving forces behind the cycles of boom and bust also may be shifting away from commodities toward people and their resources. This paper explores several factors that contributed to growth in the 1990s and 2000s: asking whether these factors created any advantages or disadvantages during the most recent recession and whether the shift away from commodity production to a knowledge‐ and human capital‐intensive economy has implications for how local areas experience the boom–bust cycle.
THE PASTS
Authors: ROTH PAUL A.
Published: August 2012

This essay offers a reconfiguration of the possibility‐space of positions regarding the metaphysics and epistemology associated with historical knowledge. A tradition within analytic philosophy from Danto to Dummett attempts to answer questions about the reality of the past on the basis of two shared assumptions. The first takes individual statements as the relevant unit of semantic and philosophical analysis. The second presumes that variants of realism and antirealism about the past exhaust the metaphysical options (and so shape the epistemology as well). This essay argues that both of these assumptions should be rejected. It develops as an alternative an irrealist account of history, a view based in part on work by Leon Goldstein and Ian Hacking. On an irrealist view, historical claims ought to be treated as subject to the same conditions and caveats that apply to any theory of empirical or scientific knowledge. Irrealism argues for pasts as made and not found. The argument emphasizes the priority of classification over perception in the order of understanding and so verification. Because nothing a priori anchors practices of classification, no sense can be attached to claims that some single structure must or does determine what events take place in human history. Irrealism denies to realism the very intelligibility of any imagined view from nowhere, that is, a determinately configured past subsisting sub specie aeternitatis. A plurality of pasts exists because constituting a past always depends to some degree on socially mediated negotiations of a fit between descriptions and experience.
“I Wouldn't Stay Here”: Economic Crisis and Youth Mobility in Ireland
Authors: Cairns David
Published: August 2012

In this paper, I explore an important aspect of Irish youth migration, in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, namely the mobility intentions of tertiary‐educated youth during the recent economic crisis. Building on prior work that I completed in 2007, I conducted quantitative and qualitative research with a total of 400 university students in Dublin, Belfast and Cork during 2010. Analysis of the data reveals that the majority of these young people (62%) intend to leave Ireland in the future, moving predominantly to other English‐language speaking countries, with such plans being more prevalent in the Republic of Ireland (72%) compared to Northern Ireland (52%). Further quantitative analysis and a series of qualitative interviews help explain what has influenced the mobility decision‐making of these young people. The results emphasize the importance of factors such as parental occupational background and locality, as well as the role of family relationships in encouraging and discouraging mobility. The impact of the economic crisis is, however, less clear, with the mobility intentions of young people planning to migrate tending to be influenced more by personal than economic considerations.
Early patterning in a chondrichthyan model, the small spotted dogfish: towards the gnathostome ancestral state
Authors: Godard B. G. , Mazan S.
Published: August 2012

In the past few years, the small spotted dogfish has become the primary model for analyses of early development in chondrichthyans. Its phylogenetic position makes it an ideal outgroup to reconstruct the ancestral gnathostome state by comparisons with established vertebrate model organisms. It is also a suitable model to address the molecular bases of lineage‐specific diversifications such as the rise of extraembryonic tissues, as it is endowed with a distinct extraembryonic yolk sac and yolk duct ensuring exchanges between the embryo and a large undivided vitelline mass. Experimental or functional approaches such as cell marking or in ovo pharmacological treatments are emerging in this species, but recent analyses of early development in this species have primarily concentrated on molecular descriptions. These data show the dogfish embryo exhibits early polarities reflecting the dorso‐ventral axis of amphibians and teleosts at early blastula stages and an atypical anamniote molecular pattern during gastrulation, independently of the presence of extraembryonic tissues. They also highlight unexpected relationships with amniotes, with a strikingly similar Nodal‐dependent regional pattern in the extraembryonic endoderm. In this species, extraembryonic cell fates seem to be determined by differential cell behaviors, which lead to cell allocation in extraembryonic and embryonic tissues, rather than by cell regional identity. We suggest that this may exemplify an early evolutionary step in the rise of extraembryonic tissues, possibly related to quantitative differences in the signaling activities, which shape the early embryo. These results highlight the conservation across gnathostomes of a highly constrained core genetic program controlling early patterning. This conservation may be obscured in some lineages by taxa‐specific diversifications such as specializations of extraembryonic nutritive tissues.
High‐energy compounds promote physiological processing of Alzheimer's amyloid‐β precursor protein and boost cell survival in culture
Authors: Sawmiller Darrell R. , Nguyen Huey T. , Markov Olga , Chen Ming
Published: August 2012

Physiological or α‐processing of amyloid‐β precursor protein (APP) prevents the formation of Aβ, which is deposited in the aging brain and may contribute to Alzheimer's disease. As such, drugs promoting this pathway could be useful for prevention of the disease. Along this line, we searched through a number of substances and unexpectedly found that a group of high‐energy compounds (HECs), namely ATP, phosphocreatine, and acetyl coenzyme A, potently increased APP α‐processing in cultured SH‐SY5Y cells, whereas their cognate counterparts, i.e., ADP, creatine, or coenzyme A did not show the same effects. Other HECs such as GTP, CTP, phosphoenol pyruvate, and S‐adenosylmethionine also promoted APP α‐processing with varying potencies and the effects were abolished by energy inhibitors rotenone or NaN3. The overall efficacy of the HECs in the process ranged from three‐ to four‐fold, which was significantly greater than that exhibited by other physiological stimulators such as glutamate and nicotine. This suggested that the HECs were perhaps the most efficient physiological stimulators for APP α‐processing. Moreover, the HECs largely offset the inefficient APP α‐processing in aged human fibroblasts or in cells impaired by rotenone or H2O2. Most importantly, some HECs markedly boosted the survival rate of SH‐SY5Y cells in the death process induced by energy suppression or oxidative stress. These findings suggest a new, energy‐dependent regulatory mechanism for the putative α‐secretase and thus will help substantially in its identification. At the same time, the study raises the possibility that the HECs may be useful to energize and strengthen the aging brain cells to slow down the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
Flooding and Liquidity on the Bayou: The Capitalization of Flood Risk into House Value and Ease‐of‐Sale
Authors: Turnbull Geoffrey K. , Zahirovic‐Herbert Velma , Mothorpe Chris
Published: August 2012

The existing literature focuses on how perceived flood risk affects house value. Search theory, however, implies that flood risks will be capitalized into both house price and liquidity. This article draws on search theory to develop an empirical approach for estimating flood risk capitalization into both price and selling time. The results show the mix of price and liquidity capitalization varies by level of flood risk as well as across housing market phases. Regardless of the specific capitalization pattern, the results illustrate that focusing solely on price without allowing for concomitant liquidity capitalization can yield estimates that understate the full impact of flood risk on house transactions.
Comfort Zones and Their Dangers: Who Are We?Qui Sommes‐Nous?
Authors: Dominguez Virginia R.
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACT  This Presidential Address examines contemporary U.S. anthropological rhetoric regarding the profession of anthropology and related habits of professional self‐understanding that warrant a second look. It is most concerned with aspects of our widespread self‐understanding that often function (esp. in conversation and in writing) to assert and reassert a truth we tell ourselves about ourselves, even in the absence of sustained research. Arguing for moving beyond comfortable zones of self‐understanding and dwelling instead on “zones of discomfort” (and not just in “the field”), it specifically queries the common notions (1) that anthropologists constitute a “progressive” (or liberal or left‐of‐center) discipline, (2) that anthropology is in decline or on the verge of disappearing (what I call the “doom and gloom” scenario), and (3) that the AAA exists to serve anthropologists in the United States yet is open‐minded enough, liberal enough, globally oriented enough, and anti‐imperialistic enough to keep its “Americanness” at bay. [the profession of anthropology, comfort zones, racism, disability, international(ism)]
Incorporating gold into nanocrystalline silver dressings reduces grain boundary size and maintains suitable antimicrobial properties
Authors: Unrau Kevin R , Cavanagh Marion H , Cheng On Kwan , Wang Shiman , Burrell Robert E
Published: August 2012

Nanocrystalline silver dressings are widely known to be potent antimicrobial and anti‐inflammatory agents and have long been used to treat topical wounds. Gold is known to be a strong anti‐inflammatory agent and has been used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis for >70 years. The purpose of this work was to study the effect of incorporating gold into nanocrystalline silver dressings from antimicrobial and anti‐inflammatory perspectives. Gold and silver dressing alloys were created by direct current magnetron sputtering and compared with pure silver nanocrystalline dressings using conventional biological (log reduction and corrected zone of inhibition) and physical (X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, atomic absorption spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy) characterisation techniques. While the gold/silver dressings were slightly weaker antimicrobials than the pure silver nanocrystalline structures, the addition of gold to the nanostructure reduces the minimum crystallite size from 17 to 4 nm. This difference increases the number of grain boundary atoms from 12% to 40% which could augment the anti‐inflammatory properties of the dressings. The formation of gold oxide (Au2O3) was thought to be responsible for the observed decrease in crystallite size.
Enhanced cryoprecipitate for skin graft and donor site wound healing in pigs
Authors: Vetter Thomas Sebastian , Mowlds Donald S , Scholz Thomas , Nam Su Bong , Lin Fritz , Owens John W , Dey Dilip , Wirth Garrett A , Evans Gregory RD
Published: August 2012

Due to similarities in skin characteristics, the authors hypothesise that a pig model would most accurately show the ability of autologous, enhanced cryoprecipitate (eCryo) to improve the wound healing of split‐thickness skin grafts (STSGs) and corresponding donor sites. Fifty‐two STSGs (5 × 5 cm) were fashioned and treated according to a randomised protocol with an autologous eCryo‐treated and a control group. Macroscopic assessment, histological evaluation and cellular composition were completed at days 7, 14, 21 and 28. Thirty‐two donor sites were also created and assessed in a similar manner. Histologic analysis showed enhancement of healing over all time points for eCryo‐treated donor sites. All other results showed no statistically significant improvement with the use of eCryo. Autologous cryoprecipitate appears to be a safe, inexpensive and easy‐to‐use alternative to fibrin glue, which carries risks and is, in many cases, prohibitively expensive. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the full potential of eCryo. Interestingly, eCryo application may improve donor site aesthetic appearance. We believe that a pig model most reliably simulates eCryo's behaviour in humans to accurately reflect its future clinical applicability.
Morphology and gametic compatibility of color morphs of Paracentrotus gaimardi (Echinodermata: Echinoidea)
Authors: Lopes Elinia M. , Ventura Carlos R. R.
Published: August 2012

Five color morphs of Paracentrotus gaimardi can be distinguished along the coast of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: black, brown, gray, green, and pink. All co‐occur and are apparently exposed to similar environmental conditions. This study compares the morphology of these color morphs and investigates their gametic compatibility. All specimens of the five color morphs matched earlier descriptions of the species. The number of lateral spines on globiferous pedicellariae, the presence of small ophicephalous pedicellaria, and the pattern of distribution of pedicellaria on the test were reliable morphological characters for taxonomic purposes. The five color morphs were not clearly differentiable in terms of morphology. Fertilization success in crosses within color morphs was greater than in the majority of heteromorphic crosses. Only three heteromorphic crosses – ♀gray and ♂brown, ♀black and ♂gray, and ♀brown and ♂black – were as successful as control, within‐color morph crosses. Therefore, some color morphs seem to be partially isolated by an incipient barrier to fertilization. Low fertilization rates among color morphs should result in genetic divergence among them. In fact, genetic divergence at bindin and ATPase genes has been reported among color morphs of P. gaimardi. Natural selection seems to favor fertilization within color morphs, but the mechanism for this differentiation in gametic compatibility is not known.
Experimental validation of an intrasubject elastic registration algorithm for dynamic‐3D ultrasound images
Authors: Khallaghi Siavash , Leung Corina G. M. , Hastrudi‐Zaad Keyvan , Foroughi Pezhman , Nguan Chris , Abolmaesumi Purang
Published: August 2012

Purpose:

In image‐guided therapy, real‐time visualization of the anatomy and adjustments in the therapy plan due to anatomical motions during the procedure is of outmost importance. 3D ultrasound has the potential to enable this real‐time monitoring; however, nonrigid registration of a sequence of 3D ultrasound volumes remains to be a challenging problem. The authors present our recent results on the development of a computationally inexpensive feature‐based registration algorithm for elastic alignment of dynamic‐3D ultrasound images.

Methods:

Our algorithm uses attribute vectors, based on the image intensity and gradient information, to perform feature‐based matching in a sequence of 3D ultrasound images. Prior information from both the fixed and previous moving images is utilized to track features throughout the 3D image series. The algorithm has been compared to various publicly available registration techniques, i.e., the B‐splines deformable registration, the symmetric forces Demons, and the fast free‐form deformable registration method.

Results:

Using a series of validation experiments on datasets collected from carotid artery, liver, and kidney of 20 subjects, the authors demonstrate that the feature‐based, B‐splines, Demons, and fast free‐form deformable registration techniques can all recover volume deformations in a 3D ultrasound image series with reasonable accuracy; however, the proposed feature‐based registration technique has substantial computational advantage over the other approaches.

Conclusions:

The proposed feature‐based registration technique has the potential for real‐time implementation on a computationally inexpensive platform and has the capability of recovering nonrigid deformations in tissue with reasonable accuracy.
Truthful Embellishments
Authors: Zahn Laura M.
Published: August 2012

Rhinoceros beetle horns, a sexually selected weapon, are sensitive to nutrition and reliably indicate male quality.
How long after a miscarriage should women wait before becoming pregnant again? Multivariate analysis of cohort data from Matlab, Bangladesh
Authors: DaVanzo Julie , Hale Lauren , Rahman Mizanur
Published: August 2012

Objective

To determine the optimum interpregnancy interval (IPI) following a miscarriage.

Design

Multivariate analysis of population-based, prospective data from a demographic surveillance system.

Setting

Pregnancies in Matlab, Bangladesh, between 1977 and 2008.

Participants

9214 women with 10 453 pregnancies that ended in a miscarriage and were followed by another pregnancy outcome.

Main outcome measures

Outcome of pregnancy following the miscarriage was singleton live birth, stillbirth, miscarriage or induced abortion. For pregnancies that ended in live birth: early neonatal, late neonatal and postneonatal mortality.

Results

Compared with IPIs of 6–12 months, pregnancies that were conceived ≤3 months after a miscarriage were more likely to result in a live birth and less likely to result in a miscarriage (adjusted relative risk ratio (RRR) 0.70, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.86) or induced abortion (0.50, 0.29 to 0.89). Induced abortions were significantly more likely following IPIs of 18–24 months (2.36, 1.48 to 3.76), 36–48 months (2.73, 1.50 to 4.94), and >48 months (3.32, 1.68 to 2.95), and miscarriages were more likely following IPIs of 12–17 months (1.25, 1.01 to 1.56) and >48 months (1.90, 1.40 to 2.58). No significant effects of IPI duration are seen on the risks of a stillbirth. However, IPIs≤3 months following a miscarriage are associated with significantly higher late neonatal mortality for the infant born at the end of the IPI (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.74, 1.06 to 2.84), and IPIs of 12–18 months are associated with a significantly lower unadjusted risk of postneonatal mortality (0.54, 0.30 to 0.96).

Conclusions

The shorter the IPI following a miscarriage, the more likely the subsequent pregnancy is to result in a live birth. However, very short IPIs may not be advisable following miscarriages in poor countries like Bangladesh because they are associated with a higher risk of mortality for the infants born after them.
Family planning providers' perspectives on family planning service delivery in Ibadan and Kaduna, Nigeria: a qualitative study
Authors: Hebert Luciana Estelle , Schwandt Hilary Megan , Boulay Marc , Skinner Joanna
Published: August 2012

Objective

In Nigeria, fertility continues to be high and contraceptive prevalence remains low. This study was conducted in order to understand the perceptions of, experiences with and challenges of delivering family planning services in two urban areas of Nigeria from the perspectives of family planning service providers.

Methods

A qualitative study using 59 in-depth interviews was conducted among family planning providers working in hospitals, primary health centres, clinics, pharmacies and patent medicine vendors in Ibadan and Kaduna, Nigeria.

Results

Providers support a mix of individuals and organisations involved in family planning provision, including the government of Nigeria. The Nigerian government's role can take a variety of forms, including providing promotional materials for family planning facilities as well as facilitating training and educational opportunities for providers, since many providers lack basic training in family planning provision. Providers often describe their motivation to provide in terms of the health benefits offered by family planning methods. Few providers engage in any marketing of their services and many providers exclude youth and unmarried individuals from their services.

Conclusions

The family planning provider community supports a diverse network of providers, but needs further training and support in order to improve the quality of care and market their services. Adolescents, unmarried individuals and women seeking post-abortion care are vulnerable populations that providers need to be better educated about and trained in how to serve. The perspectives of providers should be considered when designing family planning interventions in urban areas of Nigeria.
Facilitating team decision-making through reimbursable contracting strategies1This paper is one of a selection of papers in this Special Issue on Construction Engineering and Management.
Authors: Menches Cindy L. , Chen Juan
Published: August 2012

Efforts to break down decision-making silos in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry have resulted in the evolution of integrated project delivery (IPD). IPD brings together participants to make decisions early in the project cycle. But, anecdotal evidence indicates that IPD is not being implemented as effectively as envisioned. One potential barrier to implementation is the multi-party risk and reward agreement that is a hallmark of IPD. Many owners may be statutorily prohibited from entering into such a risk-sharing contractual arrangement, and countless other organizations “remain skeptical of its practicality.” However, recent case study research established an important link between reimbursable contracting strategies and greater collaboration and information-sharing among parties. The researchers found that more traditional contracting approaches, when combined with a cost reimbursable compensation structure, achieved positive outcomes by properly allocating risk, fostering teamwork, and bringing together diverse experts to address challenging design problems, thus providing a viable alternative to shared risk and reward approaches.
Transaction ontology in the domain of infrastructure management1This paper is one of a selection of papers in this Special Issue on Construction Engineering and Management.
Authors: Zeb Jehan , Froese Thomas
Published: August 2012

Information exchange processes (referred to as transactions) in the AEC/FM (architecture, engineering, construction and facility management) industry are mostly manual and performed on an ad hoc basis. There is a growing trend towards computer-based exchange of information. This allows for more extensive, rapid, and error-free exchange of information, but it requires more formal specifications and agreements to govern these data exchanges. This research focuses on the development of an ontology-supported protocol for formalizing these data exchanges. As part of the development effort, this paper describes a taxonomy of transactions and messages. The knowledge represented in the ontology is evaluated and potential areas of application of the ontology are identified using an industry IT survey.
Expansion-free cylindrically symmetric models
Authors: Sharif M. , Yousaf Z.
Published: August 2012

This paper investigates cylindrically symmetric distribution of an anisotropic fluid under the expansion-free condition, which requires the existence of a vacuum cavity within the fluid distribution. We have discussed two families of solutions that further provide two exact models in each family. Some of these solutions satisfy the Darmois junction condition while some show the presence of a thin shell on both boundary surfaces. We also formulate a relation between the Weyl tensor and energy density.