bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nonlinear decay of dispersive Alfvén wave and solar coronal heating
Authors: KUMAR SANJAY , SHARMA R. P.
Published: February 2010

This paper presents a simple description of three-wave decay interactions involving a pump dispersive Alfvén wave (DAW), decay DAW and decay slow wave (SW) in a uniform magnetized plasma. When the ponderomotive nonlinearities are incorporated in DAW dynamics, the model equations governing the nonlinear excitation of the SWs by DAW in the low-β plasmas (β ≪ me/mi as applicable to solar corona) are given. The expressions for the coupling coefficients of the three-wave interaction have been derived. The growth rate of the instability is also calculated and found that the value of the decay growth time comes out to be of the order of milliseconds at the pump DAW amplitude B0y/B0 = 10−3.
The bivalve molluscMactra corallina: genetic evidence of existing sibling species
Authors: Guarniero I. , Plazzi F. , Bonfitto A. , Rinaldi A. , Trentini M. , Passamonti M.
Published: February 2010

The rayed trough-shellMactra corallinaLinnaeus 1758 is a surf clam that inhabits the Atlantic Ocean, Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea and represents a commercially important bivalve. This species is present with two different and well-defined sympatric morphotypes, which differ mainly for the colour of the shell (white in thecorallinamorph, and brown-banded in thelignariamorph). The aim of this work is to resolve the confused and contradictory systematics of the bivalves belonging toM. corallinaputative species by analysing molecular and morphological features. Fifteen specimens ofM. corallina corallina(white variant) and 19 specimens ofM. corallina lignaria(brown variant) were collected in the North Adriatic Sea and analysed by four molecular markers (12S, 16S, 18S and COI genes, partial sequences). Genetic analyses clearly support the presence of two different species, which were previously ascribed toM. corallina.In addition, 35 specimens identified on a morphological basis asM. c. corallinaand 28 specimens identified asM. c. lignariacollected in the same area were used for a morphometric analysis. A positive correlation was found between the maximum width of shell (W), antero-posterior length and between W and the height of specimens from umbo to ventral margin, thus adding to molecular data.
A comparison between the ontogeny of two related blenniid species Parablennius gattorugine and Parablennius ruber (Pisces: Blenniidae)
Authors: Faria C. , Gil F. , Santos R.S. , Almada V.C.
Published: February 2010

Parablennius gattorugine and Parablennius ruber are closely related sympatric western European species. In this note, traits that distinguish the larvae of both species are presented and it is demonstrated that conflicting descriptions reported in the literature on the larvae of P. gattorugine stem from confusion between the two species.
Food and feeding habits of the blue shark Prionace glauca caught off Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, with a review on its feeding
Authors: Markaida Unai , Sosa-Nishizaki Oscar
Published: February 2010

Stomach contents of 893 blue shark (Prionace glauca) caught off Ensenada, Todos Santos Bay, Baja California, from 1995 to 1997 were analysed. 614 had identifiable food remains. A large variety of pelagic cephalopods occurred in 55.5% of all stomachs and accounted for 46.2% of all prey and 84% by estimated weight of stomach contents. The most abundant (17%) and frequent (32%) was Histioteuthis heteropsis and the most important by estimated weight (22%) was ‘Gonatus californiensis’. Argonauta spp. and Vampyroteuthis infernalis were also abundant prey. A pair of beaks of giant squid Architeuthis sp. constitutes the first record for Mexican waters. Feeding habits and the probability of scavenging on mesopelagic cephalopods is discussed. The single most abundant prey was the pelagic, red crab Pleuroncodes planipes (41.7%). Other prey included teleost fish, amniotes and floating items. Diet varied greatly between months with no clear seasonal pattern. Tiny diet differences due to shark size or sex were inconclusive. A thorough review of studies on blue sharks stomach contents analysis is given. Blue shark feed on a large variety of passive pelagic prey, mainly mesopelagic cephalopods, that could be preyed upon as well as scavenged. Depletion of this predator due to overfishing may be leading to unknown cascading top-down effects in the mesopelagic realm.
“To Change the Fundamental Law of the State”: Protective Labor Provisions in U.S. Constitutions
Authors: Zackin Emily
Published: February 2010

As the United States industrialized, its state constitutions began to include protections for laborers. In this article, I describe the origins of these constitutional provisions and ask why labor organizations and other reformers pursued their inclusion in state constitutions. I argue that they saw state constitutions as a vehicle to prompt reluctant legislatures to pass protective statutes, to entrench existing protections against future legislatures, to safeguard labor legislation from constitutional challenges in state courts, and to facilitate further union organizing. Labor activism in this arena is particularly interesting in light of the literature on constitutional change, which contends that constitutional development is a tool through which actors attempt to usher courts into political conflicts; in contrast, I will argue that unions turned to constitutional change in large part to exclude courts from policymaking. Further, the union activism on behalf of constitutional change serves as a challenge to the prominent view among many scholars of American political development and law that judicial hostility to worker rights and union organizing discouraged unions from demanding state protection or institutionalizing their demands through law.
Management of inflammatory arthritis in older people
Authors: Paskins Z , Kamath SN , Hassell AB
Published: February 2010

Musculoskeletal symptoms are extremely common, with almost one-third of people aged 75 years and over having a significant musculoskeletal problem. Joint pain due to inflammatory arthritis is important to identify, as it is potentially treatable. In elderly patients, inflammatory arthritis may not present in the ‘classical’ way, may present with non-specific symptoms and may co-exist with other musculoskeletal problems, all of which can result in diagnostic difficulty. In addition, co-morbid conditions and polypharmacy may present treatment challenges. In this paper, we discuss the general considerations in the clinical evaluation and management of a patient with inflammatory joint symptoms and discuss in more detail the diagnosis and management of the common causes of inflammatory arthritis.
The use of vegetable subproducts from greenhouses (VSG) for animal feed in the Poniente region of Almería
Authors: Márquez M.A. , Diánez F. , Camacho F.
Published: February 2010

The purpose of this research is to show that the vegetable wastes produced by the greenhouses of the Poniente region of Almería, which grow eight main horticultural crops, can be defined as vegetable subproducts and used for animal feed. These vegetable subproducts from greenhouses (VSG) meet existing legal maximum limits of waste from phytosanitary products at the European level, and they are free of other solid wastes. For this purpose, a farm must show that subproducts are traceable. The use of such VSG by sheep and goats would allow considerable reduction in biomass generated by vegetable greenhouses along with sustainable profit. At the same time, the cost of food for livestock would be reduced at a time when prices of fodder and concentrates are increasing. Finally, new traceability for vegetable wastes is proposed that would be compatible with and complementary to that existing nowadays, and would reduce the environmental impact of these wastes.
The spectacular landscape of chromatin and ncRNAs under the Tico sunlight
Authors: Timmers H Th Marc , Tora Laszlo
Published: February 2010

The biannual Abcam meeting on Chromatin: Structure & Function held last November covered many aspects of chromatin regulation in health and disease. Important discussion points were the dynamic aspects of chromatin and the ever‐increasing involvement of non‐coding RNAs in chromatin and epigenetic mechanisms.
New reduction pathways for ctc-[PtCl2(CH3CO2)2(NH3)(Am)] anticancer prodrugs
Authors: Nemirovski Alina , Vinograd Inbal , Takrouri Khuloud , Mijovilovich Ana , Rompel Annette , Gibson Dan
Published: February 2010

Reduction of anticancer prodrugs such as ctc-[PtCl2(CH3CO2)2(NH3)(Am)] can yield three products in addition to the expected cis-[PtCl2(NH3)(Am)], by the loss of two axial ligands, one axial and one equatorial ligand, or two equatorial ligands.
A small molecule receptor that selectively recognizes trimethyl lysine in a histonepeptide with native protein-like affinity
Authors: Ingerman Lindsey A. , Cuellar Matthew E. , Waters Marcey L.
Published: February 2010

Synthetic yet selective: Small molecule receptors have been identified from a dynamic combinatorial library that mimic the HP1 chromodomain’s affinity and selectivity for trimethyl lysine in a histone tail relative to lower methylation states of lysine.
Pharmaceutical modulation of canonical Wnt signaling in multipotent stromal cells for improved osteoinductive therapy
Authors: Krause Ulf , Harris Sean , Green Angela , Ylostalo Joni , Zeitouni Suzanne , Lee Narae , Gregory Carl A.
Published: February 2010

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) from bone marrow are regarded as putative osteoblast progenitors in vivo and differentiate into osteoblasts in vitro. Positive signaling by the canonical wingless (Wnt) pathway is critical for the differentiation of MSCs into osteoblasts. In contrast, activation of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ)-mediated pathway results in adipogenesis. We therefore compared the effect of glycogen-synthetase-kinase-3β (GSK3β) inhibitors and PPARγ inhibitors on osteogenesis by hMSCs. Both compounds altered the intracellular distribution of β-catenin and GSK3β in a manner consistent with activation of Wnt signaling. With osteogenic supplements, the GSK3β inhibitor 6-bromo-indirubin-3′-oxime (BIO) and the PPARγ inhibitor GW9662 (GW) enhanced early osteogenic markers, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and osteoprotegerin (OPG) by hMSCs and transcriptome analysis demonstrated up-regulation of genes encoding bone-related structural proteins. At higher doses of the inhibitors, ALP levels were attenuated, but dexamethasone-induced biomineralization was accelerated. When hMSCs were pretreated with BIO or GW and implanted into experimentally induced nonself healing calvarial defects, GW treatment substantially increased the capacity of the cells to repair the bone lesion, whereas BIO treatment had no significant effect. Further investigation indicated that unlike GW, BIO induced cell cycle inhibition in vitro. Furthermore, we found that GW treatment significantly reduced expression of chemokines that may exacerbate neutrophil- and macrophage-mediated cell rejection. These data suggest that use of PPARγ inhibitors during the preparation of hMSCs may enhance the capacity of the cells for osteogenic cytotherapy, whereas adenine analogs such as BIO can adversely affect the viability of hMSC preparations in vitro and in vivo.
Evidence-based policy in planning: An analysis of housing trajectories in England
Authors: Barton Stephen , Harpham Trudy
Published: February 2010

The delivery of new housing is an important part of UK urban regeneration policy and practice. The ‘housing trajectory’ seeks to help policy makers make better decisions about housing delivery. This study evaluates the housing trajectory within the framework of evidence-based policy. Methods included in-depth semi-structured interviews with officials from government and six local planning authorities. Government guidance on trajectories is deficient, fragmented and does not take account of recent changes in government policy. The study reveals shortcomings regarding the relationship between planning policy processes and housing delivery. There is little involvement of stakeholders or awareness of the need to prepare contingency plans if housing supply targets are not met. This gives rise to concerns about the reliability and accuracy of housing delivery forecasts as well as the difficulties of measuring the effectiveness of urban policy. Despite these concerns, the study concludes that the housing trajectory is useful in helping local authorities manage housing delivery.
Local authorities, funding tourism services and tourist taxes
Authors: Burns Steve
Published: February 2010

The Lyons Inquiry into Local Government (Lyons, 2007) reported some acceptance amongst English local authorities to suggestions for granting local authorities powers to levy local visitor (tourism) taxes. In the light of constraints on local authority funding, this paper seeks to understand the demands on local authorities funding tourism, and their views pertaining to local tourism taxes. Chief executives in the local authorities in English cities were contacted. As a snapshot of the challenges local authorities face in funding tourism development, this paper offers important insights, not only in the case of English cities, but also across the wider picture in England.
‘Entrepreneurship enablers’ — Their unsung and unquantified role in competitiveness and regeneration
Authors: Thompson John
Published: February 2010

Entrepreneurship enablers are the ‘people behind the people’ who create and build businesses and social enterprises and thus help bring about economic and social regeneration. Entrepreneurship enablers are really entrepreneurs, but their ‘product’ is the businesses and other initiatives that would not have happened without their intervention. The paper discusses the importance of entrepreneurship enabling in regeneration and competitiveness, and the frequently under-sung role of entrepreneurship enablers. Whilst ‘entrepreneur enabling’ is about working with and supporting individuals, entrepreneurship enablers are those people who make it (more) possible for entrepreneurs to emerge and grow in the first place. They affect the infrastructure and the culture that others demonstrate is important in regeneration. This paper is grounded in a mix of regional development and entrepreneurship literature; the research is case based and reflections are drawn from 15 different examples. The basic conclusions are that these individuals are important — really, they are essential. They make a significant contribution, and yet their role remains largely unquantified and unsung. Policy makers can benefit from making sure they take their contribution seriously.
Coping self‐efficacy, pre‐competitive anxiety, and subjective performance among athletes
Authors: Nicholls Adam R. , Polman Remco , Levy Andrew R.
Published: February 2010

The aim of this study was to explore the relationships between (a) coping self‐efficacy and subjective performance, (b) coping self‐efficacy and pre‐competitive anxiety, and (c) pre‐competitive anxiety and subjective performance. Participants were 307 athletes (252 males, 55 females) aged 16–34 years (mean age 21.3 years, s = 2.8) who competed at national/international (n = 18), county (n = 54), club/university (n = 139), and beginner (n = 96) level. All participants completed a measure of coping self‐efficacy and anxiety before a competitive event and a subjective performance measure after competing. Our findings revealed that there was a significant and positive relationship between coping self‐efficacy and subjective performance. Negative relationships between coping self‐efficacy and both somatic and cognitive anxiety were also observed. However, somatic and cognitive anxiety did not predict subjective performance. The present findings support previous results regarding the influence of self‐efficacy and provide applied practitioners with recommendations that may enhance athletic performance, via improving the coping self‐efficacy beliefs of their clients.
Cardiorespiratory fitness, fatness, and cardiovascular disease risk factors in children and adolescents from Porto
Authors: Martins Clarice L. , Silva Francisco , Gaya Anelise R. , Aires Luisa , Ribeiro José C. , Mota Jorge
Published: February 2010

In the present study, we examined different categories of cardiorespiratory fitness and obesity and their relationship with risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) factors in youth. We hypothesized that youngsters with low cardiorespiratory fitness would be at greater risk of CVD risk factors, whether they are obese or not. This study was carried out as a part of a longitudinal research project conducted in the Porto and Braga districts, Portugal, with children and adolescents aged 10–16 years of age. A total of 392 children (173 boys, 219 girls) participated in the study. We used a chi‐square test to analyse the relationship between the participants' cardiorespiratory fitness and body weight (non‐overweight or overweight/obese). For the purpose of this study, a new variable with four groups was created: non‐overweight +unfit (37.4%), non‐overweight + fit (35%), overweight/obese + unfit (11%) and overweight/obese + fit (10%). A one‐way analysis of variance was used to compare the differences according to fitness and fatness groups. The main finding of this study was that regardless of fatness, participants with higher cardiorespiratory fitness presented with a lower prevalence of CVD risk factors.
Investigation of the internal electric field distribution under in situ x-ray irradiation and under low temperature conditions by the means of the Pockels effect
Authors: Prekas G , Sellin P J , Veeramani P , Davies A W , Lohstroh A , Özsan M E , Veale M C
Published: February 2010

The internal electric field distribution in cadmium zinc telluride (CdZnTe) x-ray and γ-ray detectors strongly affects their performance in terms of charge transport and charge collection properties. In CdZnTe detectors the electric field distribution is sensitively dependent on not only the nature of the metal contacts but also on the working conditions of the devices such as the temperature and the rate of external irradiation. Here we present direct measurements of the electric field profiles in CdZnTe detectors obtained using the Pockels electo-optic effect whilst under in situ x-ray irradiation. These data are also compared with alpha particle induced current pulses obtained by the transient current technique, and we discuss the influence of both low temperature and x-ray irradiation on the electric field evolution. Results from these studies reveal strong distortion of the electric field consistent with the build-up of space charge at temperatures below 250 K, even in the absence of external irradiation. Also, in the presence of x-ray irradiation levels a significant distortion in the electric field is observed even at room temperature which matches well the predicted theoretical model.
Damage and microstructure evolution in GaN under Au ion irradiation
Authors: Zhang Yanwen , Ishimaru Manabu , Jagielski Jacek , Zhang Weiming , Zhu Zihua , Saraf Laxmikant V , Jiang Weilin , Thome Lionel , Weber William J
Published: February 2010

Damage and microstructure evolution in gallium nitride (GaN) under Au+ ion irradiation has been investigated using complementary electron microscopy, secondary ion mass spectrometry and ion-beam analysis techniques. Epitaxially-grown GaN layers (2 µm thick) have been irradiated by 2.0 MeV Au ions to 1.0 × 1015 and 1.4 × 1015 cm−2 at 155 K and to 7.3 × 1015 cm−2 at 200 K. The irradiation-induced damage has been analysed by Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy in a channelling direction (RBS/C). For a better determination of the ion-induced disorder profile, an iterative procedure and a Monte Carlo code (McChasy) are combined to analyse the ion channelling spectra. With increasing irradiation dose, separated amorphous layers develop from the sample surface and near the damage peak region. Formation of large nitrogen bubbles with sizes up to 70 nm is observed in the buried amorphous layer, while the surface layer contains small bubbles with a diameter of a few nanometres due to significant nitrogen loss from the surface. Volume expansion from 3% to 25% in the irradiated region is suggested by cross-sectional transmission electron microscope and RBS/C measurement. The anomalous shape of the Au distributions under three irradiations indicates out-diffusion of Au towards the sample surface. The results from the complementary techniques suggest that nitrogen is retained in the damaged GaN where the crystallinity is preserved. Once the amorphous state is reached in the surface region, GaN starts to decompose and nitrogen escapes from the surface. Furthermore, experimental results show considerable errors in both the disorder profile and the ion range predicted by the Stopping and Range of Ions in Matter code, indicating a significant overestimation of electronic stopping powers of Au ions in GaN.
Investigation of interfacial thermal resistance of bi-layer nanofilms by nonequilibrium molecular dynamics
Authors: Ju Shenghong , Liang Xingang , Wang Shuaichuang
Published: February 2010

Interfacial thermal resistance (ITR) in bi-layer nanofilms is investigated by nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulation. The relationships among ITR, interfacial temperature, film thickness, heat flux direction and film materials are investigated. The ITR is found to become lower with increasing interfacial temperature, and film thickness has no obvious influence on ITR in the range of the simulation layer thickness. ITR is found to be dependent on the heat flux direction and layer materials. Analyses of heat flux direction and layer materials based on phonon density of states (DOS) indicate that the mismatch of DOS of each layer is the main cause of interfacial resistance and the frequency distribution of DOS also affects interfacial resistance.
MULTICOM: a multi-level combination approach to protein structure prediction and its assessments in CASP8
Authors: Wang Zheng , Eickholt Jesse , Cheng Jianlin
Published: February 2010

Motivation: Protein structure prediction is one of the most important problems in structural bioinformatics. Here we describe MULTICOM, a multi-level combination approach to improve the various steps in protein structure prediction. In contrast to those methods which look for the best templates, alignments and models, our approach tries to combine complementary and alternative templates, alignments and models to achieve on average better accuracy.

Results: The multi-level combination approach was implemented via five automated protein structure prediction servers and one human predictor which participated in the eighth Critical Assessment of Techniques for Protein Structure Prediction (CASP8), 2008. The MULTICOM servers and human predictor were consistently ranked among the top predictors on the CASP8 benchmark. The methods can predict moderate- to high-resolution models for most template-based targets and low-resolution models for some template-free targets. The results show that the multi-level combination of complementary templates, alternative alignments and similar models aided by model quality assessment can systematically improve both template-based and template-free protein modeling.

Availability: The MULTICOM server is freely available at http://casp.rnet.missouri.edu/multicom_3d.html

Contact:  chengji@missouri.edu
Cardiac resynchronization therapy with individualized placement of two left ventricular leads at the sites of latest mechanical left ventricular contraction: guided by 3D‐echocardiography and coronary sinus rotation angiography
Authors: Eitel Charlotte , Döring Michael , Gaspar Thomas , Wetzel Ulrike , Bullens Roland , Hindricks Gerhard , Piorkowski Christopher
Published: February 2010

A 78‐year‐old woman with dilated cardiomyopathy was admitted for advanced dyspnoea and recurrent cardiac decompensation despite optimal medical therapy. Implantation of a cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device was indicated according to current guidelines. The day before CRT implantation, three‐dimensional echocardiography was performed together with coronary sinus (CS) rotation angiography, which identified two sites of latest mechanical left ventricular (LV) contraction with adjacently available target veins. This case presents the first description of CRT target vein selection using a combination of functional information on LV contraction with anatomical information on the CS venous tree. In this specific patient, the approach eventually necessitated placement of two LV leads.
Physicochemical and Rheological Analysis of Flour Mill Streams
Authors: Iuliana Banu , Georgeta Stoenescu , Violeta Ionescu , Iuliana Aprodu
Published: February 2010

Knowing the quality of mill streams is very important for obtaining standardized flours with intended qualities for specific applications. The physicochemical and rheological quality of wheat flour mill streams obtained through industrial milling were analyzed. Rheological behavior was tested using alveograph, rheofermentograph, and mixolab equipment. The results obtained indicate that the starch damage, protein quality, and rheological properties vary with the mill streams. Three variants of breadmaking flours, obtained by blending different milling fractions without negatively affecting the extraction and final product quality, were characterized.
Characterization of the gastrointestinal yeast microbiota of cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus): a potential hazard to human health
Authors: Brilhante R. S. N. , Castelo-Branco D. S. C. M. , Soares G. D. P. , Astete-Medrano D. J. , Monteiro A. J. , Cordeiro R. A. , Sidrim J. J. C. , Rocha M. F. G.
Published: February 2010

Cockatiels are the world's second most popular psittacine pet bird, but no data characterizing their gastrointestinal microbiota have been found. Thus, the aim of this work was to characterize the yeast gastrointestinal microbiota of cockatiels and to evaluate the relevance of cockatiels as carriers of potentially pathogenic yeasts. A total of 60 cockatiels, from 15 different premises, were assessed. A thorough clinical examination was performed with each bird, and samples were collected from oral cavity, crop and cloaca. The stools were collected from cages where the birds were kept. The isolates were identified according to morphological and biochemical characteristics. Yeasts were isolated from at least one anatomical site of 65 % of the birds and 64.3 % of the stool samples. The oral cavity (53.3 %) and the crop (58.3 %) were the anatomical sites with the highest prevalence and the highest number of yeast isolates. Overall, 120 yeast isolates, belonging to 13 species, were obtained. The most frequently isolated species were Candida albicans, with 39 (32.5 %) isolates, followed by Candida
tropicalis (20 %), Trichosporon asteroides (12.5 %), Candida famata (10 %) and others. Mixed yeast colonies were isolated from 23.3 % of the birds and C. albicans was seldom found in association with other species (P<0.05). The results of this work demonstrated that cockatiels harbour potentially pathogenic yeasts throughout their gastrointestinal tract and in stools, and are prone to disseminating them in the environment.
pBaSysBioII: an integrative plasmid generating gfp transcriptional fusions for high-throughput analysis of gene expression in Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Botella Eric , Fogg Mark , Jules Matthieu , Piersma Sjouke , Doherty Geoff , Hansen Annette , Denham Emma. L. , Le Chat Ludovic , Veiga Patrick , Bailey Kirra , Lewis Peter J. , van Dijl Jan Maarten , Aymerich Stéphane , Wilkinson Anthony J. , Devine Kevin M.
Published: February 2010

Plasmid pBaSysBioII was constructed for high-throughput analysis of gene expression in Bacillus subtilis. It is an integrative plasmid with a ligation-independent cloning (LIC) site, allowing the generation of transcriptional gfpmut3 fusions with desired promoters. Integration is by a Campbell-type event and is non-mutagenic, placing the fusion at the homologous chromosomal locus. Using phoA, murAA, gapB, ptsG and cggR promoters that are responsive to phosphate availability, growth rate and carbon source, we show that detailed profiles of promoter activity can be established, with responses to changing conditions being measurable within 1 min of the stimulus. This makes pBaSysBioII a highly versatile tool for real-time gene expression analysis in growing cells of B. subtilis.
Variation and molecular evolution of HmbR, the Neisseria meningitidis haemoglobin receptor
Authors: Evans Nicholas J. , Harrison Odile B. , Clow Kirsten , Derrick Jeremy P. , Feavers Ian M. , Maiden Martin C. J.
Published: February 2010

Meningococcal disease caused by serogroup BNeisseria meningitidisremains an important health problem in many parts of the world, and there are currently no comprehensive vaccines. Poor immunogenicity, combined with immunological identity to human sialic acids, have hindered the development of a serogroup B conjugate vaccine, resulting in the development of alternative vaccine candidates, including many outer-membrane protein (OMP)-based formulations. However, the design of protein-based meningococcal vaccines is complicated by the high level of genetic and antigenic diversity of the meningococcus. Knowledge of the extent and structuring of this diversity can have implications for the use of particular proteins as potential vaccine candidates. With this in mind, the diversity of the meningococcal OMP HmbR was investigated amongN. meningitidisisolates representative of major hyper-invasive lineages. In common with other meningococcal antigens, the genetic diversity ofhmbRresulted from a combination of intraspecies horizontal genetic exchange andde novomutation. Furthermore, genealogical analysis showed an association ofhmbRgenes with clonal complexes and the occurrence of twohmbRfamilies, A and B. Three variable regions (VR1–VR3), located in loops 2, 3 and 4, were observed with clonal complex structuring of VR types. A minority of codons (3.9 %), located within putative surface-exposed loop regions of a 2D model, were under diversifying selection, indicating regions of the protein likely to be subject to immune attack.
2,3-Dihydroxypropane-1-sulfonate degraded by Cupriavidus pinatubonensis JMP134: purification of dihydroxypropanesulfonate 3-dehydrogenase
Authors: Mayer Jutta , Huhn Thomas , Habeck Michael , Denger Karin , Hollemeyer Klaus , Cook Alasdair M.
Published: February 2010

2,3-Dihydroxypropane-1-sulfonate (DHPS) is a widespread intermediate in plant and algal transformations of sulfoquinovose (SQ) from the plant sulfolipid sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol. Further, DHPS is recovered quantitatively during bacterial degradation of SQ byKlebsiellasp. strain ABR11. DHPS is also a putative precursor of sulfolactate in e.g.Ruegeria pomeroyiDSS-3. A bioinformatic approach indicated that some 28 organisms with sequenced genomes might degrade DHPS inducibly via sulfolactate, with three different desulfonative enzymes involved in its degradation in different organisms. The hypothesis forCupriavidus pinatubonensisJMP134 (formerlyRalstonia eutropha) involved a seven-gene cluster (Reut_C6093–C6087) comprising a LacI-type transcriptional regulator, HpsR, a major facilitator superfamily uptake system, HpsU, three NAD(P)+-coupled DHPS dehydrogenases, HpsNOP, and (R)-sulfolactate sulfo-lyase (SuyAB) [EC 4.4.1.24]. HpsOP effected a DHPS-racemase activity, and HpsN oxidized (R)-DHPS to (R)-sulfolactate. The hypothesis forRoseovarius nubinhibensISM was similar, but involved a tripartite ATP-independent transport system for DHPS, HpsKLM, and two different desulfonative enzymes, (S)-cysteate sulfo-lyase [EC 4.4.1.25] and sulfoacetaldehyde acetyltransferase (Xsc) [EC 2.3.3.15]. Representative organisms were found to grow with DHPS and release sulfate.C. pinatubonensisJMP134 was found to express at least one NAD(P)+-coupled DHPS dehydrogenase inducibly, and three different peaks of activity were separated by anion-exchange chromatography. Protein bands (SDS-PAGE) were subjected to peptide-mass fingerprinting, which identified the corresponding genes (hpsNOP). Purified HpsN converted DHPS to sulfolactate. Reverse-transcription PCR confirmed thathpsNOUPwere transcribed inducibly in strain JMP134, and thathpsKLMandhpsNOPwere transcribed in strain ISM. DHPS degradation is widespread and diverse, implying that DHPS is common in marine and terrestrial environments.
The Varied Impact of Couple Relationship Breakdown on Children: Implications for Practice and Policy
Authors: Coleman Lester , Glenn Fiona
Published: February 2010

This review of international literature assesses the impacts that the relationship breakdown of parents has on children and factors that can provide support should this occur. The parental separation process causes significant albeit short‐term distress for most children, with a minority reporting longer‐term outcomes such as socio‐economic disadvantage, behavioural problems, poor educational achievement, and physical and emotional health problems. Factors increasing the likelihood of sustained disadvantage include: poverty; poor parent–child relationships; continuing parental conflict, multiple transitions in family formation; and poor maternal mental health. Supporting the factors that can improve child outcomes, exploring opportune ways to strengthen couple and family relationships, and integrating the views of children (for example, in court‐based dispute resolution) are the leading implications for practice and policy.
Determinants of the Maximum Level of Assurance for Various Assurance Services
Authors: Ruhnke Klaus , Lubitzsch Kay
Published: February 2010

Although the International Framework for assurance engagements established by the IFAC (IFAC Framework) has reached overall acceptance, controversy still exists as to how to determine and effectively communicate the potentially different levels of assurance for various types of engagements. This paper concentrates on the determinants of the maximum level of assurance for different assurance services. Using theoretical considerations and empirical evidence the primary conclusion is that there is a restriction in the maximum level of assurance that can be explained by using the attributes of the audited subject matter. In general, this evidence supports the interaction of variables model embedded in the IFAC Framework. Based upon these findings, the paper discusses some changes in the IFAC Framework, a possible alternative to the concept of reasonable assurance, and research perspectives.
Targeting SYK kinase‐dependent anti‐apoptotic resistance pathway in B‐lineage acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) cells with a potent SYK inhibitory pentapeptide mimic
Authors: Uckun Fatih M. , Ek Rauf O. , Jan Shyi‐Tai , Chen Chun‐Lin , Qazi Sanjive
Published: February 2010

The present study found that the pentapeptide mimic C‐61, targeting the substrate binding P‐site of SYK tyrosine kinase acted as a potent inducer of apoptosis in chemotherapy‐resistant SYK‐expressing primary leukemic B‐cell precursors taken directly from relapsed B‐precursor leukaemia (BPL) patients (but not SYK‐deficient infant pro‐B leukaemia cells), exhibited favourable pharmacokinetics in mice and non‐human primates, and eradicated in vivo clonogenic leukaemia cells in severe combined immunodeficient mouse xenograft models of chemotherapy‐resistant human BPL at dose levels non‐toxic to mice and non‐human primates. These in vitro and in vivo findings provide proof of principle for effective treatment of chemotherapy‐resistant BPL by targeting SYK‐dependent anti‐apoptotic blast cell survival machinery with a SYK P‐Site inhibitor. Further development of C‐61 may provide the foundation for therapeutic innovation against chemotherapy‐resistant BPL.
An interactive education session and follow‐up support as a strategy to improve clinicians' goal‐writing skills: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Marsland Elisabeth , Bowman Julia
Published: February 2010

Background Recent research indicates that allied health clinicians have difficulty articulating client needs and priorities into specific and measurable goals. As a result, a number of strategies to facilitate improvement in allied health clinicians' goal‐setting skills have been recommended in the literature. In order to assist clinicians develop the skills required to set SMART goals, it is necessary that the strategies are rigorously tested.

Aim To determine if a 50‐minute education session and 3‐month email and telephone support programme improves clinicians' SMART goal‐writing skill and accurately predicts improved goal‐writing behaviour.

Methods Concealed random allocation of participants (n = 120) into two parallel groups: (1) intervention group received education on writing goals using the SMART Goal Evaluation Method as part of a workshop on outcome measurement and received 3 months of follow‐up support (n = 60); and (2) control group attended a workshop on evidence‐based practice (n = 60).

Results Education and follow‐up support improved clinicians' SMART goal‐writing skills at both the 3‐ and 6‐month review (Yates χ2 = 4.324, d.f. = 1,P = 0.0375). Structural equation modelling revealed education and follow‐up support is an accurate predictor of SMART goal‐setting behaviour change at both 3 months (standardized regression weights = 0.21;P = 0.014) and 6 months (standardized regression weights = 0.19;P = 0.02) post intervention. Changes were modest and developed over a 6‐month period.

Conclusion This study provides empirical evidence that a programme of educating clinicians in a standardized method of goal setting and providing follow‐up support improves allied health clinicians' SMART goal‐writing skills.
Contribution of bile duct drainage on resource use and clinical outcome of open or laparoscopic cholecystectomy in Japan
Authors: Kuwabara Kazuaki , Matsuda Shinya , Fushimi Kiyohide , Ishikawa Koichi B. , Horiguchi Hiromasa , Hayashida Kenshi , Fujimori Kenji
Published: February 2010

Aims  Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is replacing conventional open cholecystectomy (OC) as a preferred surgical method for treating complicated biliary tract disorders. However, there have been few studies assessing the impact of staged bile duct drainage (BDD) on costs and clinical outcomes for either surgical approach. This study evaluated the impact of surgical technique and BDD on resource utilization and complication rates.

Methods  This study included 2778 cholecystectomy patients treated for benign biliary tract diseases in 80 academic and 81 community hospitals. For both OC and LC patients, the following variables were analysed: demographics, clinical data, length of stay (LOS), total charges (TC; US$), procedure‐related complications and hospital type. Multivariate analyses were used to determine the impact of BDD on LOS, TC and complication rates.

Results  Of the 2778 cholecystectomy patients in the study, 2255 (81.2%) underwent LC. Inflammation was diagnosed in 55.6% of OC patients and 36.0% of LC patients. Complication was 9.4% in OC cases and 4.7% in LC cases. BDD was performed in 14.5% of OC cases and in 7.6% of LC cases. Diagnosis of inflammation, presence of co‐morbidities and BDD each had a significant impact on LOS and TC. After risk adjustment, LC was associated with a reduction in LOS and TC, while BDD resulted in greater LOS and TC. LC and BDD were significantly associated with complications.

Conclusions  The study suggested that BDD utilized more resources and had higher rates of complications. LC remains an appropriate procedure for cholecystectomy patients. Further study will be needed to evaluate the effect of pre‐operative or post‐operative BDD on quality of care.
Psychometric re‐evaluation of the immunosuppressant therapy adherence scale among solid‐organ transplant recipients
Authors: Wilks Scott E. , Spivey Christina A. , Chisholm‐Burns Marie A.
Published: February 2010

Rationale  The objective of this study was to conduct a psychometric re‐evaluation of the immunosuppressant therapy adherence scale (ITAS), a self‐report measure of immunosuppressant therapy (IST) adherence targeted to solid‐organ transplant recipients.

Methods  Mailed questionnaires were used to collect data from 141 transplant recipients. A factor analysis of the ITAS was conducted. Validity was examined via Pearson's product‐moment correlations (r) to theoretically tied measures of social support and resilience. Cronbach's and split‐half alpha coefficients determined internal consistency.

Results  The response rate was 72.3%. The aggregate mean on ITAS' summed scores was 11.0 (standard deviation = 1.7). The single IST adherence factor had an eigenvalue of 2.92 and accounted for 73% of the scale items' variance. Component loadings for ITAS items were high (≥0.80). Zero‐order correlations among scale items were moderately strong (≥0.57) and significant (P < 0.01). ITAS summed scores were significantly associated with measures of social support and resilience (r ≥ 0.20, P < 0.05). Cronbach's alpha was 0.87. The Guttman split‐half coefficient was 0.90.

Conclusions  This re‐evaluation provides needed confirmation that the ITAS is a valid and reliable measure of IST adherence. The ITAS may be useful as an IST adherence measure in the outpatient transplant clinic setting as it is easy to administer, brief and less expensive than many other adherence measures.
GPs' perceptions of multiple‐medicine use in older patients
Authors: Moen Janne , Norrgård Sara , Antonov Karolina , Nilsson J. Lars G. , Ring Lena
Published: February 2010

Rationale, aim and objective  Multiple‐medicine use (polypharmacy) is a growing problem for older patients, prescribers and health policy makers. The general practitioner (GP) is most often the main professional care provider; hence, improvements of treatment can only be carried out in concordance with GPs. The aim of this study was, therefore, to explore GPs' perspectives of treating older users of multiple medicines, using a qualitative approach.

Method  Six focus groups, with four private GPs and 27 county‐employed GPs, were analysed by using the framework method.

Results  In contrast to definitions in most epidemiologic studies, the GPs gave a spontaneous definition of polypharmacy as ‘the administration of more medicines than are clinically indicated’. They had problems stating both a cut‐off number and which medicines should be included. Clinical practice guidelines were thought of as ‘medicine generators’, having an ambiguous effect on the GPs, who both trust them and find them difficult to apply. There was a perceived lack of communication between GPs and hospital specialists concerning their patients' medicines, which was further perceived to reduce treatment quality. The influence of patient pressure was acknowledged by the GPs as a factor contributing to the development of multiple‐medicine use.

Conclusions  The GPs felt insecure although surrounded by clinical practice guidelines. There is a need for policy makers to appreciate this paradox, as the problem is likely to grow in size and proportion. GPs must be empowered to handle the increasing proportion of older users of multiple medicines with individual agendas, receiving care from multiple specialists.
Risk‐adjusted increases in medical resource utilization associated with health care‐associated infections in gastrectomy patients
Authors: Lee Jason , Imanaka Yuichi , Sekimoto Miho , Ishizaki Tatsuro , Hayashida Kenshi , Ikai Hiroshi , Tetsuya Otsubo
Published: February 2010

Rationale, aims and objectives  Quantifying the impact of health care‐associated infections (HAIs) on medical resource utilization is necessary for payers and providers to appropriately allocate limited resources for interventions. However, previous studies tend to involve single institutions and do not take into account patient and practice variations between several hospitals. The objective of this study was to conduct a multi‐institutional risk‐adjusted comparison of HAI‐associated impact on medical resources in gastrectomy patients in Japan.

Methods  Health care‐associated infections were identified using a combination of International Classification of Diseases‐10 codes and antibiotic utilization patterns in 1058 gastrectomy patients from 10 Japanese hospitals. Multiple linear regression models and risk adjustment were used to analyse the impact of HAIs on: (1) total hospital costs; (2) antibiotic costs; and (3) post‐surgical length of stay (LOS).

Results  Overall HAI incidence for the database was 20.3%, with a range of 8.8–29.6% among the 10 hospitals. Regression models showed that HAIs were significantly associated with increases in all three indicators. Risk‐adjusted comparisons revealed that HAIs were associated with an increase of US$2767 (range: US$1035–6513) in overall hospital cost, US$202 (US$98.8–764.6) antibiotic costs and 10.6 (4.7–24 days) post‐surgical LOS days.

Conclusions  Even after adjusting for patient characteristics and other variables, there was still a high degree of variation observed in the impact of HAIs on total hospital costs and antibiotic costs from a third‐party payer's perspective and post‐surgical LOS among the 10 hospitals. This information can increase the efficiency of allocation of resources for interventions to reduce HAIs.
Quality of life in patients with oral lichen planus
Authors: López‐Jornet Pía , Camacho‐Alonso Fabio
Published: February 2010

Background  Oral lichen planus (OLP) can seriously affect the quality of life of patients because it has a strong impact on social relations, psychological status and daily activities.

Objective  To study the quality of life using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP‐49) (validated Spanish version) in patients with OLP.

Patients and methods  A total of 74 patients with a minimum age of 18 years who had lichen planus were recruited into the study, along with 74 ‘healthy’ subjects matched by sex and age who acted as control. Both groups completed the OHIP‐49.

Results  Higher scores were obtained on the OHIP‐49 index in patients with OLP for all the subgroups and for the overall total than in the control group. Furthermore, there were statistically significant differences in the items concerning psychological discomfort, social disability and handicap in patients with OLP.

Conclusions  The study shows that the quality of life in patients with OLP is reduced and that patient‐centred measures should be considered in the management of patients with OLP.
Determining the statistical significance of survivorship prediction models
Authors: Berty Holly P. , Shi Haiwen , Lyons‐Weiler James
Published: February 2010

Objectives  The assessment of statistical significance of survivorship differences of model‐predicted groups is an important step in survivorship studies. Some models determined to be significant using current methodologies are assumed to have predictive capabilities. These methods compare parameters from predicted classes, not random samples from homogenous populations, and they may be insensitive to prediction errors. Type I‐like errors can result wherein models with high prediction error rates are accepted. We have developed and evaluated an alternate statistic for determining the significance of survivorship between or among model‐derived survivorship classes.

Methods  We propose and evaluate a new statistical test, the F* test, which incorporates parameters that reflect prediction errors that are unobserved by the current methods of evaluation.

Results  We found that the Log Rank test identified fewer failed models than the F* test. When both the tests were significant, we found a more accurate model. Using two prediction models applied to eight datasets, we found that the F* test gave a correct inference five out of eight times, whereas the Log Rank test only identified one model out of the eight correctly.

Conclusion  Our empirical evaluation reveals that the hypothesis testing inferences derived using the F* test exhibit better parity with the accuracy of prediction models than the other options. The generalizable prediction accuracy of prediction models should be of paramount importance for model‐based survivorship prediction studies.