bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genomic sequence, organization and characteristics of a new nucleopolyhedrovirus isolated from Clanis bilineata larva
Authors: Zhu Shan-Ying , Yi Jian-Ping , Shen Wei-De , Wang Li-Qun , He Hua-Gang , Wang Yong , Li Bing , Wang Wen-Bing
Published: February 2009

Background

Baculoviruses are well known for their potential as biological agents for controlling agricultural and forest pests. They are also widely used as expression vectors in molecular cloning studies. The genome sequences of 48 baculoviruses are currently available in NCBI databases. As the number of sequenced viral genomes increases, it is important for the authors to present sufficiently detailed analyses and annotations to advance understanding of them. In this study, the complete genome of Clanis bilineata nucleopolyhedrovirus (ClbiNPV) has been sequenced and analyzed in order to understand this virus better.

Results

The genome of ClbiNPV contains 135,454 base pairs (bp) with a G+C content of 37%, and 139 putative open reading frames (ORFs) of at least 150 nucleotides. One hundred and twenty-six of these ORFs have homologues with other baculovirus genes while the other 13 are unique to ClbiNPV. The 30 baculovirus core genes are all present in ClbiNPV. Phylogenetic analysis based on the combined pif-2 and lef-8 sequences places ClbiNPV in the Group II Alphabaculoviruses. This result is consistent with the absence of gp 64 from the ClbiNPV genome and the presence instead of a fusion protein gene, characteristic of Group II. Blast searches revealed that ClbiNPV encodes a photolyase-like gene sequence, which has a 1-bp deletion when compared with photolyases of other baculoviruses. This deletion disrupts the sequence into two small photolyase ORFs, designated Clbiphr-1 and Clbiphr-2, which correspond to the CPD-DNA photolyase and FAD-binding domains of photolyases, respectively.

Conclusion

ClbiNPV belongs to the Group II Alphabaculoviruses and is most closely related to OrleNPV, LdMNPV, TnSNPV, EcobNPV and ChchNPV. It contains a variant DNA photolyase gene, which only exists in ChchNPV, TnSNPV and SpltGV among the baculoviruses.
Gastroparesis is associated with oxytocin deficiency, oesophageal dysmotility with hyperCCKemia, and autonomic neuropathy with hypergastrinemia
Authors: Borg Julia , Melander Olle , Johansson Linda , Uvnäs-Moberg Kerstin , Rehfeld Jens F , Ohlsson Bodil
Published: February 2009

Background

Gastrointestinal (GI) dysmotility and autonomic neuropathy are common problems among diabetics with largely unknown aetiology. Many peptides are involved in the autonomic nervous system regulating the GI tract. The aim of this study was to examine if concentrations of oxytocin, cholecystokinin (CCK), gastrin and vasopressin in plasma differ between diabetics with normal function and dysfunction in GI motility.

Methods

Nineteen patients with symptoms from the GI tract who had been examined with gastric emptying scintigraphy, oesophageal manometry, and deep-breathing test were included. They further received a fat-rich meal, after which blood samples were collected and plasma frozen until analysed for hormonal concentrations.

Results

There was an increase in postprandial oxytocin plasma concentration in the group with normal gastric emptying (p = 0.015) whereas subjects with delayed gastric emptying had no increased oxytocin secretion (p = 0.114). Both CCK and gastrin levels increased after the meal, with no differences between subjects with normal respective delayed gastric emptying. The concentration of vasopressin did not increase after the meal. In patients with oesophageal dysmotility the basal level of CCK tended to be higher (p = 0.051) and those with autonomic neuropathy had a higher area under the curve (AUC) of gastrin compared to normal subjects (p = 0.007).

Conclusion

Reduced postprandial secretion of oxytocin was found in patients with delayed gastric emptying, CCK secretion was increased in patients with oesophageal dysmotility, and gastrin secretion was increased in patients with autonomic neuropathy. The findings suggest that disturbed peptide secretion may be part of the pathophysiology of digestive complications in diabetics.
Anti-inflammatory effect of rosiglitazone is not reflected in expression of NFκB-related genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Bragt Marjolijn CE , Plat Jogchum , Mensink Marco , Schrauwen Patrick , Mensink Ronald P
Published: February 2009

Background

Rosiglitazone not only improves insulin-sensitivity, but also exerts anti-inflammatory effects. We have now examined in type 2 diabetic patients if these effects are reflected by changes in mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to see if these cells can be used to study these anti-inflammatory effects at the molecular level in vivo.

Method

Eleven obese type 2 diabetic patients received rosiglitazone (2 × 4 mg/d) for 8 weeks. Fasting blood samples were obtained before and after treatment. Ten obese control subjects served as reference group. The expression of NFκB-related genes and PPARγ target genes in PBMCs, plasma TNFα, IL6, MCP1 and hsCRP concentrations were measured. In addition, blood samples were obtained after a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp.

Results

Rosiglitazone reduced plasma MCP1 and hsCRP concentrations in diabetic patients (-9.5 ± 5.3 pg/mL, p = 0.043 and -1.1 ± 0.3 mg/L p = 0.003), respectively). For hsCRP, the concentration became comparable with the non-diabetic reference group. However, of the 84 NFκB-related genes that were measured in PBMCs from type 2 diabetic subjects, only RELA, SLC20A1, INFγ and IL1R1 changed significantly (p < 0.05). In addition, PPARγ and its target genes (CD36 and LPL) did not change. During the clamp, insulin reduced plasma MCP1 concentration in the diabetic and reference groups (-9.1 ± 1.8%, p = 0.001 and -11.1 ± 4.1%, p = 0.023, respectively) and increased IL6 concentration in the reference group only (23.5 ± 9.0%, p = 0.028).

Conclusion

In type 2 diabetic patients, the anti-inflammatory effect of rosiglitazone is not reflected by changes in NFκB and PPARγ target genes in PBMCs in vivo. Furthermore, our results do not support that high insulin concentrations contribute to the pro-inflammatory profile in type 2 diabetic patients.
Analysis of renin-angiotensin aldosterone system gene polymorphisms in malaysian essential hypertensive and type 2 diabetic subjects
Authors: Ramachandran Vasudevan , Ismail Patimah , Stanslas Johnson , Shamsudin Norashikin
Published: February 2009

Background

The renin-angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) plays an important role in regulating the blood pressure and the genetic polymorphisms of RAAS genes has been extensively studied in relation to the cardiovascular diseases in various populations with conflicting results. The aim of this study was to determine the association of five genetic polymorphisms (A6G and A20C of angiotensinogen (AGT), MboI of renin, Gly460Trp of aldosterone synthase and Lys173Arg of adducin) of RAAS genes in Malaysian essential hypertensive and type 2 diabetic subjects.

Methods

RAAS gene polymorphisms were determined using mutagenically separated PCR and PCR-RFLP method in a total of 270 subjects consisting of 70 hypertensive subjects without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), 60 T2DM, 65 hypertensive subjects with T2DM and 75 control subjects.

Results

There was significant difference found in age, body mass index, systolic/diastolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose and high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels between the hypertensive subjects with or without T2DM and control subjects. No statistically significant differences between groups were found in the allele frequency and genotype distribution for A20C variant of AGT gene, MboI of renin, Gly460Trp of aldosterone and Lys173Arg of adducin (p > 0.05). However, the results for A6G of AGT gene revealed significant differences in allele and genotype frequencies in essential hypertension with or without T2DM (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Among the five polymorphisms of RAAS genes only A6G variant of AGT gene was significantly associated in Malaysian essential hypertensive and type 2 diabetic subjects. Therefore, A6G polymorphism of the AGT gene could be a potential genetic marker for increased susceptibility to essential hypertension with or without T2DMin Malaysian subjects.
Quality of life in chemical warfare survivors with ophthalmologic injuries: the first results form Iran Chemical Warfare Victims Health Assessment Study
Authors: Mousavi Batool , Soroush Mohammad Reza , Montazeri Ali
Published: February 2009

Background

Iraq used chemical weapons extensively against the Iranians during the Iran-Iraq war (1980–1988). The aim of this study was to assess the health related quality of life (HRQOL) in people who had ophthalmologic complications due to the sulfur mustard gas exposure during the war.

Methods

The Veterans and Martyrs Affair Foundation (VMAF) database indicated that there were 196 patients with severe ophthalmologic complications due to chemical weapons exposure. Of these, those who gave consent (n = 147) entered into the study. Quality of life was measured using the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and scores were compared to those of the general public. In addition logistic regression analysis was performed to indicate variables that contribute to physical and mental health related quality of life.

Results

The mean age of the patients was 44.8 (SD = 8.7) ranging from 21 to 75 years. About one-third of the cases (n= 50) reported exposure to chemical weapons more than once. The mean exposure duration to sulfur mustard gas was 21.6 years (SD = 1.2). The lowest scores on the SF-36 subscales were found to be: the role physical and the general health. Quality of life in chemical warfare victims who had ophthalmologic problems was significantly lower than the general public (P < 0.001). The results obtained from logistic regression analysis indicated that those who did not participate in sport activities suffer from a poorer physical health (OR = 2.93, 95% CI = 1.36 to 6.30, P = 0.006). The analysis also showed that poor mental health was associated with longer time since exposure (OR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.04 to 2.39, P = 0.03) and lower education (OR = 3.03, 95% CI = 1.21 to 7.56, P = 0.01).

Conclusion

The study findings suggest that chemical warfare victims with ophthalmologic complications suffer from poor health related quality of life. It seems that the need for provision of health and support for this population is urgent. In addition, further research is necessary to measure health related quality of life in victims with different types of disabilities in order to support and enhance quality of life among this population.
Effects of Removal of Dietary Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Plasma Extravasation and Mechanical Allodynia in a Trigeminal Neuropathic Pain Model
Authors: Martin Yasmina B , Avendaño Carlos
Published: February 2009

Background

Neuropathic pain (NP) is partially mediated by neuroinflammatory mechanisms, and also modulates local neurogenic inflammation. Dietary lipids, in particular the total amount and relative proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) of the ω-3 and ω-6 families, have been reported to modify the threshold for thermal and mechanical allodynia in the partial sciatic nerve ligation model of NP in rats. The effects of dietary lipids on other popular NP models, such as the chronic constriction injury (CCI), have not yet been examined. It is also unknown whether dietary PUFAs exert any effect on the capsaicin (CAP)-induced neurogenic inflammation under control or NP conditions. In this study we investigated these interrelated phenomena in the trigeminal territory, which has been much less explored, and for which not all data derived from limb nerves can be directly applied.

Results

We studied the effects of a CCI of the infraorbital nerve (IoN) on the development of mechanical allodynia and CAP-induced plasma extravasation in rats fed either a regular diet (RD), or a modified diet (MD) with much lower total content and ω-3:ω-6 ratio of PUFAs. In rats kept on MD, mechanical allodynia following CCI-IoN was more pronounced and developed earlier. Extravasation was substantially increased in naive rats fed MD, and displayed differential diet-depending changes one and four weeks after CCI-IoN. When compared with basal levels (in naive and/or sham cases), the net effect of CCI-IoN on ipsilateral extravasation was a reduction in the MD group, but an increase in the RD group, effectively neutralizing the original intergroup differences.

Conclusion

In summary, PUFA intake reduces CAP-induced neurogenic plasma extravasation in the trigeminal territory, and their removal significantly alters the mechanical allodynia and the plasma extravasation that result from a unilateral CCI-IoN. It is likely that this “protective” effect of dietary lipids is temporary. Also, the presence of contralateral effects of CCI-IoN precludes using the contralateral side as control.
Knowledge, attitudes and practice pertaining to depression among primary health care workers in Tanzania
Authors: Mbatia Joseph , Shah Ajit , Jenkins Rachel
Published: February 2009

Background

Examination of consultation data in a variety of primary care settings in Tanzania shows that, while psychoses are routinely diagnosed and treated at primary care level, depression is rarely recorded as a reason for consultation. Since, epidemiological studies elswhere show that depression is a much more common disorder than psychosis, a series of studies were undertaken to elucidate this apparent paradox in Tanzania and inform mental health policy; firstly, a household prevalence study to ascertain the prevalence of common mental disorders at community level in Tanzania; secondly, a study to ascertain the prevalence of common mental disorders in primary care attenders; and thirdly, a study to ascertain the current status of the knowledge, attitude and practice pertaining to depression among primary health care workers. This paper reports the findings of the latter study.

Methods

All the primary health care workers (N = 14) in four primary health care centres in Tanzania were asked to complete the Depression Attitude Questionnaire, which assesses the health worker's knowledge and attitude towards the causes, consequences and treatment of depression.

Results

The majority of respondents felt that rates of depression had increased in recent years, believed that life events were important in the aetiology of depression, and generally held positive views about pharmacological and psychological treatments of depression, prognosis and their own involvement in the treatment of depressed patients.

However, the majority of respondents felt that becoming depressed is a way that people with poor stamina deal with life difficulties.

Conclusion

The findings suggest a need to strengthen the training of primary health care workers in Tanzania about the detection of depression, pharmacological and psychological treatments, and psychosocial interventions.
Mechanism of hepatoprotection in proestrus female rats following trauma-hemorrhage: heme oxygenase-1-derived normalization of hepatic inflammatory responses
Authors: Yang Shaolong , Hu Shunhua , Chen Jianguo , Choudhry Mashkoor A , Rue Loring W , Bland Kirby I , Chaudry Irshad H
Published: February 2009

Hepatic damage occurs in males and ovariectomized (OVX), not in proestrus (PE), females following trauma-hemorrhage (T-H). The mechanism responsible for hepatoprotection remains unknown. We hypothesized protection in PE is a result of enhanced heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1)-derived down-regulation of liver inflammatory responses. PE and OVX rats underwent T-H (midline laparotomy, 60% blood loss). PE rats received vehicle (Veh; saline), HO-1 inhibitor chromium mesoporphyrin IX chloride (CrMP; 2.5 mg/kg), zinc protoporphyrin IX (ZnPP; 25 mg/kg), or Akt/PI-3K inhibitor Wortmannin (Wort; 1 mg/kg) 30 min prior to resuscitation or sham operation i.p. OVX rats received Veh or 17β-estradiol (E2; 1 mg/kg) 30 min before hemorrhage. Rats were killed 2 h thereafter. Following T-H, left ventricular performance was maintained in PE and E2 OVX rats but was depressed in OVX and CrMP-, ZnPP-, and Wort-treated PE rats; liver damage was not evident in PE rats, and CrMP, ZnPP, and Wort abrogated protection; liver HO-1, p38 MAPK, Akt/PI3K, and Bcl-2 expression increased in PE and E2 OVX rats, which was abrogated by CrMP, ZnPP, and Wort, and liver ICAM-1, caspase-3, phospho-IκB-α, and NF-κB expression increased in OVX and CrMP-, ZnPP-, and Wort-PE rats; liver myeloperoxidase, NF-κB DNA-binding activity, TNF-α, IL-6, plasma proinflammatory cytokines, and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractants increased in OVX and CrMP-, ZnPP-, and Wort-PE rats; and plasma estradiol levels and hepatic estrogen receptor-α and -β expression decreased in OVX but were unaltered by CrMP, ZnPP, and Wort. Thus, enhanced HO-1 in PE and E2 OVX females modulates inflammatory responses and protects liver following T-H.
IMPERATIVES OF NORMALITY
Authors: Feder Ellen K.
Published: February 2009

In May 2006 the U.S. and European endocrinological societies published a consensus statement announcing a significant change in nomenclature. No longer would nineteenth-century variations on the term hermaphrodite, or the more newly introduced term intersex, be used in a medical context to describe “congenital conditions in which development of chromosomal, gonadal, or anatomical sex is atypical”; instead the preferred term henceforth would be disorders of sex development (DSDs). The announcement met with significant controversy, which I here examine in terms of the historical convergence of the treatment of homosexuality and intersex. The contemporary association of homosexuality with intersex risks obscuring genuine medical concerns unique to the treatment of intersex conditions and the consequences for affected individuals. At the same time, we must reckon with the ways that the complex and persistent identification of homosexuality with intersex has shaped the motivations both for the prevailing standard of care that has been so harmful and for the organized resistance to these practices in the intersex movement. Michel Foucault's understanding of the power of “normalization” can help us make sense of the history of medicalization and its pernicious effects, but in addition can allow those with intersex conditions and their allies to understand the positive possibilities that the change from intersex to DSDs can bring.
A product of the bicistronic Drosophila melanogaster gene CG31241, which also encodes a trimethylguanosine synthase, plays a role in telomere protection
Authors: Komonyi Orban , Schauer Tamas , Papai Gabor , Deak Peter , Boros Imre M.
Published: February 2009

Although telomere formation occurs through a different mechanism in Drosophila compared with other organisms, telomere associations result from mutations in homologous genes, indicating the involvement of similar pathways in chromosome end protection. We report here that mutations of the Drosophila melanogaster gene CG31241 lead to high frequency chromosome end fusions. CG31241 is a bicistronic gene that encodes trimethylguanosine synthase (TGS1), which forms the m3G caps of noncoding small RNAs, and a novel protein, DTL. We show that although TGS1 has no role in telomere protection, DTL is localized at specific sites, including the ends of polytene chromosomes, and its loss results in telomere associations. Mutations of ATM- and Rad3-related (ATR) kinase suppress telomere fusions in the absence of DTL. Thus, genetic interactions place DTL in an ATR-related pathway in telomere protection. In contrast to ATR kinase, mutations of ATM (ataxia telangiectasia mutated) kinase, which acts in a partially overlapping pathway of telomere protection, do not suppress formation of telomere associations in the absence of DTL. Thus, uncovering the role of DTL will help to dissect the evolutionary conserved pathway(s) controlling ATM-ATR-related telomere protection.
Assembly of nuclear pore complexes mediated by major vault protein
Authors: Vollmar Friederike , Hacker Christian , Zahedi René-Peiman , Sickmann Albert , Ewald Andrea , Scheer Ulrich , Dabauvalle Marie-Christine
Published: February 2009

During interphase growth of eukaryotic cells, nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) are continuously incorporated into the intact nuclear envelope (NE) by mechanisms that are largely unknown. De novo formation of NPCs involves local fusion events between the inner and outer nuclear membrane, formation of a transcisternal membranous channel of defined diameter and the coordinated assembly of hundreds of nucleoporins into the characteristic NPC structure. Here we have used a cell-free system based on Xenopus egg extract, which allows the experimental separation of nuclear-membrane assembly and NPC formation. Nuclei surrounded by a closed double nuclear membrane, but devoid of NPCs, were first reconstituted from chromatin and a specific membrane fraction. Insertion of NPCs into the preformed pore-free nuclei required cytosol containing soluble nucleoporins or nucleoporin subcomplexes and, quite unexpectedly, major vault protein (MVP). MVP is the main component of vaults, which are ubiquitous barrel-shaped particles of enigmatic function. Our results implicate MVP, and thus also vaults, in NPC biogenesis and provide a functional explanation for the association of a fraction of vaults with the NE and specifically with NPCs in intact cells.
Huntingtin promotes cell survival by preventing Pak2 cleavage
Authors: Luo Shouqing , Rubinsztein David C.
Published: February 2009

Huntington's disease is caused by a polyglutamine expansion in the huntingtin protein. Wild-type huntingtin, by contrast, appears to protect cells from pro-apoptotic insults. Here we describe a novel anti-apoptotic function for huntingtin. When cells are exposed to Fas-related signals, the ubiquitously expressed p21-activated kinase 2 (Pak2) can be activated via cleavage by caspases to release a constitutively active C-terminal fragment, which mediates cell death. Our data show that huntingtin interacts with Pak2. Overexpression of huntingtin significantly inhibits caspase-3-mediated and caspase-8-mediated cleavage of Pak2 in cells. Moreover, huntingtin prevents Pak2 cleavage by caspase-3 and caspase-8 in vitro. Although huntingtin is cytoprotective in wild-type cells that are exposed to TNFα, it has no significant benefit in TNFα-treated cells with Pak2 knockdown. Thus, huntingtin exerts anti-apoptotic effects by binding to Pak2, which reduces the abilities of caspase-3 and caspase-8 to cleave Pak2 and convert it into a mediator of cell death.
Analysis of the influence of rubber infill morphology on the mechanical performance of artificial turf surfaces for soccer
Authors: Alcántara E , Gámez J , Rosa D , Sanchis M
Published: February 2009

Artificial turf is increasingly being used in the construction of football pitches. One of its characteristics is an infill of sand and rubber granules. At present, different materials and layer thicknesses, as well as grain sizes are used for the sand and mainly for the rubber, but they are chosen with little scientific evidence about their influence on the mechanical and biomechanical properties of the pitch. Based on knowledge from materials science, it is reasonable to suggest that grain morphology may have a large influence on pitch performance. This paper presents research conducted to assess the influence of different parameters related to infill grain morphology on the mechanical properties of artificial turf (force reduction (%), vertical deformation (mm) and vertical ball bounce (m)), as well as on their wear with use, measured according to the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) procedures. The results show a significant reduction of pitch performance with use and a significant influence of grain morphology in mechanical response of artificial turf with respect to impact forces and ball rebound.
Fatigue Damage Evaluation of Railway Truss Bridges from Field Strain Measurement
Authors: Pinkaew Tospol , Senjuntichai Teerapong
Published: February 2009

This paper is concerned with fatigue damage evaluation of railway truss bridges in Thailand, which have been in service for more than 60 years by using the deterministic approach. The dynamic strain measuring system was installed on selected bridge members to record the actual strain histories induced by the passing trains. The fatigue damages of all bridge members are evaluated based on Palmgren-Miner damage rule and the S-N curves of the stress ranges from field strain measurement of daily train traffic. For the members that their field strains were directly not monitored, the finite element analysis has been employed to estimate their stress ranges. The finite element models of the bridges are verified with the stress data obtained from the field load test of a locomotive. It is found that the vertical and diagonal members of the railway bridges appear to have the most fatigue damage risk whereas the lower chord and floor beams have the lowest estimated fatigue damage potential.
Mid-Column Pounding of Multi-Story Reinforced Concrete Buildings considering Soil Effects
Authors: Shakya Kabir , Wijeyewickrema Anil C.
Published: February 2009

In this paper an analysis of seismic pounding of reinforced concrete buildings with non-equal story heights including soil-structure interaction is presented. Two building configurations, configuration A: 10-story and 9-story buildings and configuration B: two 5-story buildings, are considered. The discrete model is used to incorporate foundation-soil interaction and pounding between buildings is incorporated through impact elements that consist of a gap element and a Kelvin-Voigt element. The responses of the buildings are compared in terms of impact forces, interstory displacements and normalized story shear for two near-field and two far-field earthquakes. The buildings under consideration experience the maximum impact forces and interstory displacements due to the near-field earthquakes for both fixed foundation and flexible (soil) foundation cases. Significant reduction in impact forces are observed when the underlying soil effect is considered. The maximum interstory displacements occurred when there is no pounding. In most of the cases, the consideration of soil results in lower normalized story shear.
Website Morphing
Authors: Hauser John R. , Urban Glen L. , Liberali Guilherme , Braun Michael
Published: February 2009

Virtual advisors often increase sales for those customers who find such online advice to be convenient and helpful. However, other customers take a more active role in their purchase decisions and prefer more detailed data. In general, we expect that websites are more preferred and increase sales if their characteristics (e.g., more detailed data) match customers' cognitive styles (e.g., more analytic). “Morphing” involves automatically matching the basic “look and feel” of a website, not just the content, to cognitive styles. We infer cognitive styles from clickstream data with Bayesian updating. We then balance exploration (learning how morphing affects purchase probabilities) with exploitation (maximizing short-term sales) by solving a dynamic program (partially observable Markov decision process). The solution is made feasible in real time with expected Gittins indices. We apply the Bayesian updating and dynamic programming to an experimental BT Group (formerly British Telecom) website using data from 835 priming respondents. If we had perfect information on cognitive styles, the optimal “morph” assignments would increase purchase intentions by 21%. When cognitive styles are partially observable, dynamic programming does almost as well—purchase intentions can increase by almost 20%. If implemented system-wide, such increases represent approximately $80 million in additional revenue.
Commentary—Discussion of “Website Morphing”
Authors: Varian Hal
Published: February 2009

Website morphing seems to be a useful technique, with applications beyond matching cognitive style.
Commentary—Discussion on “Website Morphing” by Hauser, Urban, Liberali, and Braun
Authors: Gittins John
Published: February 2009

These comments are a tribute to an impressive paper and suggestions for clarification of some fairly minor issues.
A Hybrid Solution Approach for Ready-Mixed Concrete Delivery
Authors: Schmid Verena , Doerner Karl F. , Hartl Richard F. , Savelsbergh Martin W. P. , Stoecher Wolfgang
Published: February 2009

Companies in the concrete industry are facing the following scheduling problem on a daily basis: Concrete produced at several plants has to be delivered at customers' construction sites using a heterogeneous fleet of vehicles in a timely, but cost-effective manner. As the ordered quantity of concrete typically exceeds the capacity of a single vehicle several deliveries need to be scheduled in order to fulfill an order. The deliveries cannot overlap and the time between consecutive deliveries has to be small. Our solution approach effectively integrates optimization and heuristic techniques. Information is passed back and forth between an integer multicommodity flow optimization component and a variable neighborhood search component in order to find high-quality solutions in a reasonable amount of time. Even though both components are capable of producing feasible solutions, the integrated approach is far more effective. Computational results show that our hybrid approach outperforms an innovative metaheuristic approach by more than 6% on average for large instances.
Hybrid Adaptive Predictive Control for a Dynamic Pickup and Delivery Problem
Authors: Cortés Cristián E. , Sáez Doris , Núñez Alfredo , Muñoz-Carpintero Diego
Published: February 2009

This paper presents a hybrid adaptive predictive control approach that includes future information in real-time routing decisions in the context of a dynamic pickup and delivery problem (DPDP). We recognize in this research that when the problem is dynamic, an additional stochastic effect has to be considered within the analytical expression of the objective function for vehicle scheduling and routing, which is the extra cost associated with potential rerouting arising from unknown requests in the future. The major contributions of this paper are: first, the development of a formal adaptive predictive control framework to model the DPDP, and second, the development and coding of an ad hoc particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm to efficiently solve it. Predictive state-space formulations are written on the relevant variables (vehicle load and departure time at stops) for the DPDP. Next, an objective function is stated to solve the real-time system when predicting one and two steps ahead in time. A problem-specific PSO algorithm is proposed and coded according to the dynamic formulation. Then, the PSO method is used to validate this approach through a simulated numerical example.
Arc-Routing Models for Small-Package Local Routing
Authors: Chen Si , Golden Bruce , Wong Richard , Zhong Hongsheng
Published: February 2009

This paper studies the arc-routing problem that arises in small-package delivery. In practice, each service provider is encouraged to follow a master route—a predesigned sequence of street addresses—over an extended planning horizon (more than one day). The objective here is to construct efficient master routes. The focus on arc routing offers two advantages. First, real-world vehicle routing takes place over a street network, rather than in Euclidean space. Second, there are, typically, many fewer streets than customer locations. Currently, a deterministic arc-routing problem (DARP) model is used to solve the problem. However, this approach ignores the uncertainty in the street segment presence probability—the probability that a street segment requires (i.e., there is a demand for) a visit on a particular day. We introduce two new models, namely, the probabilistic arc-routing problem (PARP) model and the multiday arc-routing problem (MARP) model, which take into account the street segment presence probabilities. PARP attempts to minimize the expected length of the master route. It assumes that the street segment presence probabilities are independent. This model can require excessive amounts of computation time. On the other hand, MARP tries to minimize average length of the master route over prespecified days. This model can also be viewed as a Monte Carlo simulation approximation of the PARP. This approximation significantly reduces the computational burden. Additionally, by utilizing historical data, MARP incorporates real-world correlations among the street segment presence probabilities. Our computational results show that PARP and MARP may produce more efficient master routes than DARP by taking demand uncertainty into account.
Integrated Airline Fleet and Crew Robust Planning
Authors: Gao Chunhua , Johnson Ellis , Smith Barry
Published: February 2009

The airline fleet assignment problem involves assigning aircraft to flights to maximize profit. Different fleet assignment solutions cause dramatically different performance in subsequent crew-planning and operational processes. We have developed an integrated fleet and crew robust planning method to provide fleet assignment solutions that are both friendly to crew planning and robust to real-time operations. The three challenges of this work are (1) to understand the influence of fleet assignment on crew scheduling; (2) to address crew scheduling in a tractable way in the integrated model; and (3) to achieve robustness. We address these challenges by developing a new approach that integrates crew connections within the fleet assignment model and imposes station purity by limiting the number of fleet types and crew bases allowed to serve each airport. Computational results demonstrate that the proposed approach can reduce crew-planning cost, improve robustness, and solve industrial-size problems with good computational efficiency.
Safety and Effectiveness of a Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Equation-Based Potassium Replacement Protocol
Authors: Chapman Scott A , Kaufenberg Anthony J , Anderson Patty , Khokhar Anwar , Schrock Christian G
Published: February 2009

Background:

No data exist regarding the safety and effectiveness of a potassium replacement protocol for hospitalized patients when potassium replacement dosing regimens (KRDRs) are adjusted to Modification of Diet in Renal Disease estimation of glomerular filtration rate (MDRD GFR).

Objective:

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a potassium replacement protocol in which KRDRs are prescribed based on MDRD GFR and serum potassium deficiency (Kdef).

Methods:

Patients prescribed the potassium replacement order set were identified in a retrospective fashion. Serum potassium, prescriber-defined goal serum potassium, and MDRD GFR data were collected for patients who received protocol KRDRs. The KRDR to be administered is selected based on Kdef (goal serum potassium minus measured serum potassium) of 0.1–0.2, 0.3–0.5, or more than 0.5 mEq/L and the patients’ MDRD GFR of greater than 70, 40–70, or less than 40 mL/min/1.73 m2 (any patient undergoing dialysis is included in the <40 mL/min/1.73 m2 group). Efficacy was evaluated by determining the change in serum potassium level (AK) following potassium replacement, the number of KRDRs needed to achieve goal serum potassium, and the milliequivalents of potassium needed to achieve goal serum potassium levels. Safety was assessed by the incidence of serum potassium values greater than 5.0 mEq/L following replacement.

Results:

One hundred forty-nine patients were evaluated. There were 184 protocol initiations and 257 KRDRs administered to achieve goal serum potassium levels. The AK was 0.50 ± 0.40 mEq/L (mean ± SD) following KRDR. The AK was similar between MDRD GFR groups. One hundred thirty six (73.9%) protocol initiations required 1 KRDR, and 168 (91.3%) protocol initiations required 1 or 2 KRDRs to achieve goal serum potassium. Patients whose MDRD GFR was 40–70 mL/min/1.73 m2 were less likely to achieve goal serum potassium value after 1 KRDR (58.2% vs 79.6% >70 group and 84.6% <40 group). This was true regardless of the patient's goal serum potassium. One (0.54%) serum potassium greater than 5.0 mEq/L occurred following a KRDR,

Conclusions:

Our potassium replacement protocol based on MDRD GFR and Kdef effectively corrects hypokalemia. Fewer protocol initiations achieved goal serum potassium levels in the group with MDRD GFR 40–70 mL/min/1.73 m2. Hyperkalemia rarely occurred following KRDR.
Impact of Obtaining Medications from Pharmaceutical Company Assistance Programs on Therapeutic Goals
Authors: Trompeter Jessica M , Havrda Dawn E
Published: February 2009

Background:

Limited data exist regarding whether improved access to medications for indigent persons through pharmaceutical company assistance programs (PCAPs) leads to attainment of therapeutic goals.

Objective:

To evaluate the impact of obtaining medications through PCAPs with pharmacist assistance versus prescription insurance on the likelihood of achieving therapeutic goals.

Methods:

A retrospective chart review was conducted in a private family practice clinic. Individuals prescribed one or more drugs for the treatment of hypertension, diabetes, or dyslipidemia and receiving medication through a PCAP or prescription insurance were included. Eligible records were reviewed for pertinent laboratory and medication information and to assess achievement of hypertension, diabetic, and dyslipidemia goals.

Results:

A total of 458 persons were eligible for inclusion: 250 with prescription insurance and 208 using a PCAP. The PCAP group was older, with more females and multiple disease states. There was no significant difference between the groups in reaching hypertension goals; the goals were not predicted by PCAP, presence of diabetes, or class of drug. More PCAP individuals (67.1%) achieved hemoglobin A1C values less than 7% compared with patients in the prescription insurance group (39.6%; p = 0.002). The PCAP group had lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) values (95.8 ± 28.0 mg/dL; mean ± SD) and higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) values (40.8 ± 12.1 mg/dL) compared with the prescription insurance group (111.8 ± 37.5 mg/dL; p < 0.001 and 33.7 ± 13.6 mg/dL; p = 0.011, respectively). Achieving LDL-C goals were significant only for a goal less than 130 mg/dL and less than 160 mg/dL (p = 0.007); diabetes patients were less likely to achieve LDL-C goals compared with those without diabetes in both groups. Enrollment in PCAP was a predictor in reaching diabetic and some dyslipidemia therapeutic goals.

Conclusions:

Individuals without prescription insurance and receiving pharmacist and PCAP assistance in obtaining medications were more likely to reach diabetic goals and have better cholesterol values compared with persons with prescription insurance. The presence of prescription insurance alone does not guarantee reaching therapeutic goals; pharmacist involvement with PCAP and obtaining drugs enhances the likelihood of persons achieving therapeutic goals.
Modern psychometrics for assessing achievement goal orientation: A Rasch analysis
Authors: Muis Krista R. , Winne Philip H. , Edwards Ordene V.
Published: February 2009

Background A program of research is needed that assesses the psychometric properties of instruments designed to quantify students' achievement goal orientations to clarify inconsistencies across previous studies and to provide a stronger basis for future research.

Aim We conducted traditional psychometric and modern Rasch‐model analyses of the Achievement Goals Questionnaire (AGQ, Elliot & McGregor, 2001) and the Patterns of Adaptive Learning Scale (PALS, Midgley et al., 2000) to provide an in‐depth analysis of the two most popular instruments in educational psychology.

Samples and methods For Study 1, 217 undergraduate students enrolled in educational psychology courses participated. Thirty‐four were male and 181 were female (two did not respond). Participants completed the AGQ in the context of their educational psychology class. For Study 2, 126 undergraduate students enrolled in educational psychology courses participated. Thirty were male and 95 were female (one did not respond). Participants completed the PALS in the context of their educational psychology class.

Results Traditional psychometric assessments of the AGQ and PALS replicated previous studies. For both, reliability estimates ranged from good to very good for raw subscale scores and fit for the models of goal orientations were good. Based on traditional psychometrics, the AGQ and PALS are valid and reliable indicators of achievement goals. Rasch analyses revealed that estimates of reliability for items were very good but respondent ability estimates varied from poor to good for both the AGQ and PALS. These findings indicate that items validly and reliably reflect a group's aggregate goal orientation, but using either instrument to characterize an individual's goal orientation is hazardous.
A comparison of dyadic interactions and coping with still‐face in healthy pre‐term and full‐term infants
Authors: Montirosso Rosario , Borgatti Renato , Trojan Sabina , Zanini Rinaldo , Tronick Ed
Published: February 2009

Pre‐term birth has a significant impact on infants' social and emotional competence, however, little is known about regulatory processes in pre‐term mother‐infant dyads during normal or stressful interactions. The primary goals of this study were to investigate the differences in infant and caregiver interactive behaviour and dyadic coordination of clinically healthy pre‐term compared to full‐term infant‐mother dyads and to examine pre‐term infants' capacity for coping with stress using the face‐to‐face still‐face paradigm (FFSF). Fifty mother‐infant dyads, including 25 pre‐term infants and 25 full‐term infants were videotaped during the FFSF. All infants were 6–9 months of age (corrected for gestational age in the pre‐term group). Infant and maternal socio‐emotional expressivity and self‐regulatory behaviours were coded and measures of dyadic coordination (Matching, Reparation Rate, and Synchrony) were calculated. There were no significant differences in infant and caregiver socio‐emotional behaviours between the two groups and both groups demonstrated the still‐face (SF) effect and the reunion effect. There was a difference in self‐regulatory behaviour. Pre‐term infants were more likely than full‐term infants to use distancing (e.g., by turning away, twisting, or arching) from their mothers during the FFSF. Additionally, during the Reunion episode of the FFSF pre‐term infants showed more social monitoring compared to full‐term infants. Regardless of the birth status, the dyads showed less coordination and a slower rate of reparation during the Reunion episode than during the Play episode. The higher proportion of distancing in the pre‐term group and the increase in social monitoring suggest that even in normal interactions pre‐term infants may experience a higher level of stress and have less capacity for self‐regulation compared to the full‐terms and that pre‐term infants appear to use a compensatory strategy of increased social monitoring to cope with the stress of renegotiating the interaction during Reunion. The findings suggest that pre‐term infants have different regulatory and interactive capacities than full‐term infants.
Human capital and objective indicators of career success: The mediating effects of cognitive ability and conscientiousness
Authors: Ng Thomas W. H. , Feldman Daniel C.
Published: February 2009

The purpose of the current study is to examine the mediating processes through which human capital (e.g. education and work experience) contribute to objective indicators of career success (e.g. salaries and promotions). We are particularly interested in the ways in whichcognitive abilityandconscientiousnesshelp explain the process through which human capital gets translated into performance effectiveness and tangible career attainments. Results from meta‐analytical structural equation modelling show that individuals' cognitive ability and conscientiousness mediate the effects of both education and organizational tenure on in‐role and extra‐role job performance. Ultimately, both in‐role and extra‐role job performance positively influence employees' salaries and promotions. The article concludes with implications for theory development and management practice.
A Self-Boring Pressuremeter System
Authors: Fahey M , Jewell RJ , Brown TA
Published: February 2009

The paper describes some of the development work on the Cambridge University version of the self-boring pressuremeter (the so-called “Camkometer”), which has been carried out at the University of Western Australia over a number of years. This work included improvement of the pore-pressure measuring system and development of a deairing system for the pore-pressure transducers, new supply-voltage regulation and signal amplification systems placed down-hole in the instrument itself, test control and data logging using a microcomputer, and a new membrane-protection system. Details of the improved instrumentation are provided. Some test results are included to show that the output from the pore-pressure transducers provides an indication of the “quality” of drilling, especially in clay.
Comparison of Freezing Cells Used in the Determination of Soil Frost Susceptibility
Authors: Hasson PFX , Irwin LH
Published: February 2009

Because of the importance that side friction plays in the direct freezing tests of soils it was decided to compare four freezing cell geometries to determine which showed the least resistance to frost heaving. Two of the most common freezing cells, the tapered cylinder and the multi-ring cyclinder, were selected to be compared to the Cornell split cylinder freezing cell. A tapered wall multi-ring freezing cell was also compared to see if a combination geometry offered any advantages. Soils were compacted in the molds using the standard Proctor method. The specimens were frozen simultaneously using the Corp of Engineers twelve-day freeze test procedure. The results showed that the multi-ring cylinders were far superior to the tapered wall and split cylinder freezing cells. The tapered wall multi-ring freezing cell did not offer any advantages over the multi-ring cylinder freezing cell.
Measurement of the Pore Pressure ParameterCLess Than Unity in Saturated Sands
Authors: Veyera GE , Charlie WA , Doehring DO , Hubert ME
Published: February 2009

Two saturated sands, Monterey No. 0/30 and Enewetak coral, tested undrained under one-dimensional strain loading, were found to have values of the pore pressure parameter C, less than unity. The C parameter for Monterey No. 0/30 sand, determined to be unity at an effective consolidation stress of 86 kPa, decreased with increasing effective consolidation stress and increasing relative density. A similar behavior was observed for the Enewetak coral sand. These trends are similar to those reported by other researchers for the pore pressure parameter B. The decrease in C parameter values for saturated specimens appears to be a direct result of increasing skeleton stiffness due to increases in effective stress and density. A theoretical analysis of skeleton stiffness based on porosity and pore pressure response predicts similar trends.