bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Read, describe and share! Building an interactive literary web service: an article about Kirjasampo
Authors: Hypén Kaisa , Impivaara Antti
Published: January 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to describe the development of a fiction web service which will serve as a tool for information searches, and a place for saving and sharing tacit knowledge of and experiences with fictional works. Key partners are the Turku City Library, the Semantic Computing Research Group, Libraries.fi editorial staff and Vaasa City Library.

Design/methodology/approach

The system's technical infrastructure was built in the autumn of 2010: database, data storage platform and content description. Base data have been converted, data‐saving protocols created and system data verified in order to stay up to date. Information on the project has been widely distributed to libraries, book industry actors and other potential partners, even at the international level. Design of the user interface has begun, and with its construction it will become apparent how well the project targets are being met, i.e. to make available a user‐friendly service that offers library fiction collections and their attendant expertise and inspires service users to read, make recommendations and evaluate fiction by the spring of 2011.

Findings

Fiction is an integral part of Finnish library collections. However, its information search and help desk resources are lacking, and the content of older works of fiction has not been systematically described. Where fiction customer service is concerned, the librarian is largely left to rely on their own reading, memory and associations. This Kirjasampo Project will provide better access to fiction collections. Content description is done using ontologies, thus requiring the ontologisation of Kaunokki, the Finnish fiction thesaurus, as part of the project. In addition to Kaunokki, time, place, language and nationality ontologies are used.

Originality/value

In the wide‐ranging and multidisciplinary Finnish Kirjasampo Project, thought has been given to how these problems can be solved using modern technologies. Because the service will have a large number of features that cannot be realised with existing library systems, it will be done using semantic web tools. A fiction metadata schema, which defines the necessary fields in information models, was developed for the service. The Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records (FRBR) was applied in the information models, with the content of each work being described (“abstract work”) and the various versions and institutions (“physical works”) linked to it. This information is saved in the RDF database using a Kirjasampo‐SAHA annotation editor, which is a browser‐based and user‐friendly metadata‐saving tool.
The 2010 IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations) Conference
Authors: Ashley Jo
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The paper aims to give a brief account of the IFLA Congress held in Gothenburg, Sweden, 10‐15 August 2010, and impressions of a first timer.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper offers the viewpoint of a newcomer to IFLA who in attending the conference, endeavoured to sample the various aspects available, whilst also relating, where feasible, to her own experience.

Findings

The paper is intended to be a personal summary that would be of interest to anyone considering attending IFLA. There is an emphasis on the variety of experiences available.

Originality/value

Whilst there are no practical or intellectual implications stemming from this paper, it provides a report of a major annual international conference of value to international information and library professionals.
Leadership and organisational performance: from research to prescription?
Authors: Muijs Daniel
Published: January 2011

Purpose

This paper is intended to give an overview of research on the impact of leadership on student outcomes, the main leadership activities related to these outcomes, and strengths and weaknesses in the research base.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is a literature review of key papers addressing the relationship between leadership and student outcomes. Key authors and journals in the field were consulted.

Findings

Leadership has a significant indirect impact on student outcomes, though the role of contingency and school context in shaping leadership is important. There is some evidence for impact of transformational, distributed and instructional leadership. The evidence base for an impact of leadership development is limited, however. The research base suffers from significant weaknesses, such as dualism, over‐prescriptivity, lack of international research, limited methodologies, and poor measurement.

Originality/value

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the evidence and points to ways in which research in the field can be improved to develop one's knowledge base further.
A model for assessment and mitigation of threats on the college campus
Authors: Weisenbach Keller Eileen , Hughes Stephanie , Hertz Giles
Published: January 2011

Purpose

An increase in the number of disruptive and violent events on college and university campuses instigated this review of the methods used to interrupt the trend, with the goal of identifying a preliminary model for systematic management of such threats. The intent is to instigate research, review and discussion in order to decrease the number and severity of threatening incidents on college campuses.

Design/methodology/approach

Thorough review of plans from primary and secondary education, plans in use in higher education, literature on risk and threat assessment, literature on “whistle blowers”, and of violent events on college campuses was used to construct a model.

Findings

It was found that, in terms of managing and reducing threats to people who study, live and work in post‐secondary educational institutions, insufficient attention has been given to the unique needs of this setting and therefore efforts to mitigate threats have been insufficient. The investigation resulted in the development of a model of assessment and management of threats on university and college campuses.

Research limitations/implications

College campus threat assessment research is very much in its infancy and will certainly develop over time. This paper is the first step in an effort to develop and ultimately test the plausibility of a model. Future research should be pursued to determinewhether the model holds up under a majority of situations on college campuses. Those involved in threat mitigation in university settings should be queried to determine their agreement with the proposed framework and for assistance in refining it.

Originality/value

This paper presents suggestions for the systematic management of threats and mitigation in university settings.
Workforce planning helps Birmingham to ride storms of change
Authors: Rudge Alan
Published: January 2011

Purpose

Describes how workforce planning, talent management and the improved use of human‐resource information and workforce market intelligence have supported Birmingham City Council to respond to current financial pressures.

Design/methodology/approach

Draws on the work undertaken by the workforce intelligence and planning team, which is a center of excellence in the new HR structure built through the award‐winning project, Excellence in People Management, to redesign the HR service in Birmingham City Council.

Findings

Argues that a structured and strategic approach to workforce planning provides an effective framework to manage the financial situation the city council faces.

Practical implications

Shows that workforce planning needs to be driven by service‐delivery requirements and therefore integrating service, financial and workforce planning is the key to delivering workforce efficiencies.

Social implications

Reveals one way in which public authorities can squeeze more out of ever‐tighter budgets.

Originality/value

Demonstrates that implementing workforce intelligence and planning has resulted in direct, positive influences on directorates and improved performance against financial constraints.
Elements of organizational sustainability
Authors: Smith Peter A.C.
Published: January 2011

Purpose

While the adoption of corporate social responsibility reporting has been growing, less interest has been evoked in how organizations are in fact responding to organizational sustainability, or what their relevant optimal strategies ought to be. Triple Bottom Line Sustainability (TBLS) as a desirable organizational goal is now generating some interest, and it is defined here, together with an exploration of the systemic issues which influence organizational attitudes regarding its achievement. Attention is drawn to lessons to be learned from how a learning organization, on either the local or global scale, might respond to the challenges of achieving sustainability. By exploring research and practitioner viewpoints bearing on sustainability‐related promotion of organizational learning, and means to change industrial‐age mindsets, this special issue aims to help organizations remove cultural and structural barriers to progressing sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

General sustainability‐related concerns and challenges are reviewed, and individual authors voice their understanding of various elements of sustainability based on their research, their case studies, and the extant literature.

Findings

Findings include enhanced understanding of how economic vested interests and political dynamics can block effective decision making in the sustainability field, even though the many sustainability experiences from around the world have provided practical means for companies to enhance their economic growth without affecting environments and communities. The impact of two different styles of leadership on the creation of a positive and a negative sustainability‐enabling environment is explained, and it is suggested that having a better understanding of an organization's ability to adapt and self‐regulate on crucial issues for sustainability may help to develop a path through the ongoing socio‐ecological crisis. In addition, the importance of an organization having an extended view of its endeavors in corporate and business ethics is revealed. An action research study is also presented to show how organizations currently view and implement sustainability, and to identify which critical systemic components are yet to be seriously addressed.

Originality/value

The opinions and research presented provide new and unique understanding of the elements contributing to organizational sustainability. Further value is added via the assessment of progress toward the sustainability ideal, the identification of barriers, and by studying the many practical examples of means to facilitate progress toward that ideal.
Sustainable learning organizations
Authors: Velazquez Luis E. , Esquer Javier , Munguía Nora E. , Moure‐Eraso Rafael
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to debate how companies may better become a sustainable learning organization by offering the most used and insightful concepts of sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

Through literature review, learning organization and sustainability perspectives are explored and compared.

Findings

Learning sustainability experiences around the world have provided tools and mechanics to companies to enhance economic growth without affecting environment and communities.

Originality/value

The paper explains points of convergence and divergence between learning organization and sustainability approaches and provides insightful remarks from literature.
The strategic entrepreneurial growth model
Authors: Shulman Joel M. , Cox Raymond A.K. , Stallkamp Thomas T.
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the development of the model of the strategic entrepreneurial unit (SEU) as an alternative means for large firms to harness the entrepreneurial spirit and creation of intellectual property.

Design/methodology/approach

Several competing organizational models are critiqued based on factors that will impact the growth and return performance of the unit. The organizational units examined include corporate intrapreneurship, corporate spinout, corporate venturing, corporate venturing with venture capitalist participation, and the SEU.

Findings

Theoretically, by design, the SEU is a superior growth model to incubate newly created intellectual property. The achievement of greater growth and return with the SEU is shown because of equity compensation incentives, facilitator as liaison between the parent and new SEU with no control over harvest timing, lifeline back to parent for employees, intellectual property settlement prior to unit formation, and the financing provided by the internal capital market of the parent.

Research limitations/implications

The general review paper is conceptual in nature and would benefit from empirical evidence research. The case study method is proposed as a means to discern the efficacy of the SEU relative to other organizational forms.

Originality/value

The paper advances a business unit form to foster higher performance from new ideas within the confines of a large corporation.
A framework for building competitive sectoral capabilities in developing countries
Authors: Quraeshi Zahir A. , Luqmani Mushtaq
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a systematic framework for guidance to developing countries in promoting competitive capabilities in targeted sectors.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual paper that incorporates experiences culled from the literature on national sectoral development (call centers).

Findings

Many businesses today are dissecting their value chains and outsourcing functional activities offshore. Beginning in the 1990s, developing countries tried to attract manufacturing (sub) activities such as assembly. More recently, in a deeply interconnected business world, developing nations are fostering sectoral development through a process of attracting offshore activities other than manufacturing to their shores.

Practical implications

Many developing countries are searching for ways to emulate the success of countries such as India to spur economic development. A framework for developing national sectoral competitiveness can benefit policymakers in the public and private sectors by outlining a path toward further economic development.

Originality/value

The paper makes an original contribution by presenting a synthetic framework delineating the steps towards building competitive sectoral capabilities and discussing all aspects of the framework.
Alliances as collaborative regimes
Authors: Adobor Henry
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The management and strategy literature continues to show that many companies now rely on alliances for their long‐term success. This paper seeks to explain why some industries have an over‐representation of inter‐firm strategic alliances, relative to others.

Design/methodology/approach

A theory of group behavior is used to show that an inter‐organizational phenomenon, notably the interaction of convergent expectations, including shared patterns of behavior, beliefs and mindsets, are partially responsible for the disproportionate use of alliances in some industries relative to others. The theory of group behavior presented draws mainly on conceptual ideas from regime and new institutional theory.

Findings

The framework suggests that the presence of industry‐embedded factors, including shared mindsets, creates the conditions that transform the strategic interests and behavior of individual firms into a macro phenomenon that diffuses across an industry. Industry developed shared mindsets in turn provide the conditions for trust to endure, cooperation instead of opportunism to prevail, and lower transaction costs, all critical elements for alliance formation.

Practical implications

The research presented here shows that industry‐level factors may be an important factor for determining the incidence and perhaps the performance of value‐creating alliances.

Originality/value

This paper extends our understanding of strategic alliances as a source of a firm's competitiveness and fulfills a need for a greater understanding of the over‐representation of strategic alliances in some industries, relative to others.
A novel rapid prototyping system for expandable polystyrene
Authors: Sun Kun , Li Bo , Fang Liang , Ye Qingguang
Published: January 2011

Purpose

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is a low‐density and cheap material, which has been widely used in commercial areas. As the demand for small‐batch, flexible and quick production increases, producing EPS products with metals moulds has become unaffordable. The purpose of this paper is to describe the development of an EPS rapid prototyping (ERP) process, with an electric heating tool.

Design/methodology/approach

Two new cutting strategies for the ERP process, constant angle mode and constant thickness mode, are proposed. The methods to generate tool path of those models are also discussed. In order to improve accuracy and cutting effectiveness, experiments have been carried out to investigate the thermal characteristics in the ERP process. Consequently, the relationships between the size of material removal area and process parameters are obtained. Suitable processing parameters for the ERP system are also conducted.

Findings

It is found that the ERP process can rapidly produce complex three‐dimensional parts in one‐off clamping without post‐processing procedures as in traditional rapid prototyping, such as, extra support removing, step texture finishing and distortion regulating.

Originality/value

The paper provides several examples to explain and illustrate the applicability and workflow of the ERP system.
An organically modified montmorillonite/nylon‐12 composite powder for selective laser sintering
Authors: Yan C.Z. , Shi Y.S. , Yang J.S. , Liu J.H.
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reinforce the selective laser sintering (SLS) parts of nylon‐12 using organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT).

Design/methodology/approach

A dissolution‐precipitation process is developed to prepare an OMMT/nylon‐12 composite powder (3 wt% OMMT). X‐ray diffraction (XRD) was used to characterize nanostructure features. The dispersion of OMMT in the nylon‐12 matrix was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The effect of OMMT on the thermal properties of nylon‐12 was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The mechanical properties of the SLS parts made from the composite powder and neat nylon‐12 powder were measured and compared.

Findings

The X‐ray diffraction and SEM results indicate that the OMMT is intercalated by nylon‐12 molecular chains and uniformly dispersed in the nylon‐12 matrix during the dissolution‐precipitation process, and thus the OMMT/nylon‐12 intercalated nanocomposites are formed. The DSC and TGA results show that the OMMT can increase the melting enthalpy, relative crystalline content, crystallization temperature and thermal stability of nylon‐12. The tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus and impact strength of the SLS specimens made from the composite powder are 23.2, 31.7, 18.7, 32.4 and 8.4 percent higher than those of neat nylon‐12 SLS specimens, respectively, while the elongation at break decreases by 17.5 percent.

Research limitations/implications

The conclusion of forming intercalated nanocomposites was drawn from the XRD results in the present work. Further work should be done to observe the nanostructures of the materials by transmission electron microscope.

Originality/value

A dissolution‐precipitation process was used to prepare OMMT/nylon‐12 composite powders for SLS process. During the preparation process the OMMT could be intercalated by nylon‐12 molecular chains and uniformly dispersed in the nylon‐12 matrix, thus forming the OMMT/nylon‐12 intercalated nanocomposites. Therefore, the mechanical and thermal properties of nylon‐12 SLS parts were enhanced.
Public international law of the international telecommunication instruments: cyber security treaty provisions since 1850
Authors: Rutkowski Anthony
Published: January 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to describe the history of cyber security public international law since 1850 that is found in treaty instruments developed by the signatory nations of what is now known as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Because of the esoteric nature of the subject and, until recently, the very difficult access to reference materials, knowledge of these provisions was confined to a handful of scholars.

Design/methodology/approach

To prepare this article, it was necessary to download the entire new ITU History Portal collection of treaty instruments, adding the US archive collection scans of missing documents, conversion to plain text, identification and linking of key provisions across time, detecting the differences, and then pursuing related material to find out why the text arose.

Findings

What the material reveals is a 150‐year history of cybersecurity law that is not only relevant to significant developments today, but also controlling as a set of obligations that virtually every nation has accepted.

Research limitations/implications

It is hoped that this article will not only be helpful going forward in dealing with the difficult challenges of evolving these provisions, but will also serve as a kind of template for a new generation that not only questions authority, but also appreciates the value of source materials, accessing them, and doing the necessary analysis rather than just visiting a search engine.

Originality/value

The history of the cyber security public international law in the international telecommunication treaty instruments has never been compiled before.
Tell me the rule – I have plenty of good information: rule 1: leadership development is first about leaders who are develop‐able
Authors: Casullo David
Published: January 2011

Purpose

This paper is intended to inform the reader of the author's expertise.

Design/methodology/approach

The author's opinion is based primarily on 27 years of leadership and executive leadership development in the business realm and over five years of related practical research.

Findings

Only leaders with demonstrated ability in key areas and a desire to learn can be significantly developed.

Practical implications

Leadership development and succession planning should focus on correctly identifying leaders as a first priority.

Originality/value

The paper serves as a reminder to executives and HR leaders charged with the responsibility of identifying and developing leaders for the future of their organization.
Strategy without intelligence, intelligence without strategy
Authors: Gilad Benjamin
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to point out how little competitors matter for companies' long‐term success, how little support executives receive with intelligence that does matter, and to offer a different solution.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses numerous examples of competitive failures and success that point out the limits of competitors' impact on a company's performance. It covers the theory of strategic positioning and industry change drivers and provides a practical definition of strategic intelligence.

Findings

Competitors do not matter to executives; “competitive intelligence” has been misinterpreted as competitor‐watching and has therefore had no real value to executives, and companies leave their executives vulnerable to disastrous blindsiding.

Practical implications

Companies should and could markedly improve their intelligence support of top executives, but need to rethink their whole approach to competitive intelligence. Companies can also significantly improve the way they monitor the competitive environment by redirecting their efforts.

Originality/value

Executives are short changed by their organizations' own processes of closely watching competitors. For the first time, this paper exposes the myth that competitive intelligence – as practised by more than 90 percent of the Fortune 500 – has value for executives and offers a unique approach to improving companies' strategic intelligence capability.
Evaluation of Aurora kinase inhibition as a new therapeutic strategy in anaplastic and poorly differentiated follicular thyroid cancer
Authors: Wunderlich Annette , Fischer Melina , Schloßhauer Torsten , Ramaswamy Annette , Greene Brandon H. , Brendel Cornelia , Doll Dietrich , Bartsch Detlef , Hoffmann Sebastian
Published: January 2011

Due to an unfavorable prognosis using the usual therapy, patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) are in desperate need of new therapeutic strategies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of MLN8054, an inhibitor of the Aurora serine/threonine kinases, on ATC cells in vitro and on ATC xenografts as a new therapeutic strategy for ATC. Three anaplastic (Hth74, C643, Kat4) and one follicular (FTC133) thyroid cancer cell lines were evaluated in vitro and Kat4 xenografts in vivo. The antiproliferative effect of MLN8054 (0.1–10 μM) on thyroid cancer cells was quantified by sulphorhodamine B‐assay. The proapoptotic effect and the effects on the cell cycle were evaluated by flow cytometry after Annexin‐V‐FITC staining. Further Histone H3 phosphorylation was analysed. In vivo, antiproliferative and antiangiogenic effects were assessed by tumor volume and morphometric analysis following immunohistochemical staining (Ki‐67, pHisH3, CD31). Treatment of the different TC cells with MLN8054 inhibited proliferation in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner, with IC50 values between 0.1 and 10 μM. Administration of MLN8054 resulted in an increase of apoptotic cells, decreased Histone H3 phosphorylation and induced cell cycle arrest. In vivo, treatment of ATC by MLN8054 resulted in an up to 86% reduced tumor volume and 89% reduced tumor vascularity. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that Aurora kinase inhibition is effective in reducing cell growth and inducing apoptosis of ATC in vitro and tumor growth and vascularity in vivo. Controlled clinical studies on MLN8054 or comparable compounds would be worthwhile to evaluate its potential therapeutic value for treatment of ATC. (Cancer Sci 2011; 102: 762–768)
Decrease of hepatic stellate cells in rats with enhanced sensitivity to clofibrate‐induced hepatocarcinogenesis
Authors: Yamana Daisuke , Shimizu Takeshi , Fan Yang , Miura Takuya , Nanashima Naoki , Yamada Toshiyuki , Hakamada Kenichi , Tsuchida Shigeki
Published: January 2011

To examine the possible involvement of nonparenchymal cells in the development of preneoplastic hepatic lesions induced by clofibrate (CF), alterations of these cells were investigated immunohistochemically in glutathione S‐transferase M1 gene polymorphic rats (KS and NC types) with different cancer susceptibilities. After CF administration for 8 weeks, α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA)‐positive hepatic stellate cells (HSC) were markedly decreased in sensitive KS‐type rats, but not in the NC‐type rats. Kupffer cells were decreased with similar extents between them. The sinusoidal endothelial cells were not changed in either type. The other markers for HSC, vimentin and CRBP1, also confirmed the decrease of HSC in the KS type. The decrease of HSC was not observed at 4 weeks of CF administration. Preneoplastic peroxisomal bifunctional enzyme‐negative foci were detected in the KS‐type rats at 8 weeks of CF administration, but not at 4 weeks. Human HSC were cultured in the presence of clofibric acid and expression of most HSC marker genes, such as vimentin and α‐SMA (ACTA2), evaluated by a microarray, was not altered by the treatment, suggesting that HSC loss in the KS‐type rats was not due to the direct toxic effect of CF. The expression levels of most HSC marker genes were low in both control and CF‐treated rat livers. A possible link between HSC loss and the development of preneoplastic hepatic foci is discussed. (Cancer Sci 2011; 102: 735–741)
B cell-targeted therapy with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody in a mouse model of Graves' hyperthyroidism
Authors: Ueki I , Abiru N , Kobayashi M , Nakahara M , Ichikawa T , Eguchi K , Nagayama Y
Published: January 2011

Graves' disease is a B cell-mediated and T cell-dependent autoimmune disease of the thyroid which is characterized by overproduction of thyroid hormones and thyroid enlargement by agonistic anti-thyrotrophin receptor (TSHR) autoantibody. In addition to antibody secretion, B cells have recently been recognized to function as antigen-presenting/immune-modulatory cells. The present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of B cell depletion by anti-mouse (m) CD20 monoclonal antibody (mAb) on Graves' hyperthyroidism in a mouse model involving repeated injection of adenovirus expressing TSHR A-subunit (Ad-TSHR289). We observe that a single injection of 250 µg/mouse anti-mCD20 mAb eliminated B cells efficiently from the periphery and spleen and to a lesser extent from the peritoneum for more than 3 weeks. B cell depletion before immunization suppressed an increase in serum immunoglobulin (Ig)G levels, TSHR-specific splenocyte secretion of interferon (IFN)-γ, anti-TSHR antibody production and development of hyperthyroidism. B cell depletion 2 weeks after the first immunization, a time-point at which T cells were primed but antibody production was not observed, was still effective at inhibiting antibody production and disease development without inhibiting splenocyte secretion of IFN-γ. By contrast, B cell depletion in hyperthyroid mice was therapeutically ineffective. Together, these data demonstrate that B cells are critical not only as antibody-producing cells but also as antigen-presenting/immune-modulatory cells in the early phase of the induction of experimental Graves' hyperthyroidism and, although therapeutically less effective, B cell depletion is highly efficient for preventing disease development.
Association of functional polymorphisms in promoter regions ofIL5, IL6andIL13genes with development and prognosis of autoimmune thyroid diseases
Authors: Inoue N , Watanabe M , Morita M , Tatusmi K , Hidaka Y , Akamizu T , Iwatani Y
Published: January 2011

To clarify the association of genetic producibility of interleukin (IL)-5, IL-6 and IL-13, which are secreted by T helper type 2 (Th2), with the development and prognosis of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD), we genotyped IL5−746C/T, IL6−572C/G and IL13−1112C/T polymorphisms, which are functional polymorphisms in the promoter regions of the genes regulating these cytokines. Fifty-seven patients with intractable Graves' disease (GD), 52 with GD in remission, 52 with severe Hashimoto's disease (HD), 56 with mild HD and 91 healthy controls were examined in this study. The IL13−1112T allele, which correlates with higher producibility of IL-13, was more frequent in patients with GD in remission than in those with intractable GD [P = 0·009, odds ratio (OR) = 3·52]. The IL5−746T allele, which may correlate with lower levels of IL-5, was more frequent in patients with GD in remission than controls (P = 0·029, OR = 2·00). The IL6−572G allele carriers (CG and GG genotypes), which have higher producibility of IL-6, were more frequent in AITD patients (P = 0·033, OR = 1·75), especially in GD in remission (P = 0·031, OR = 2·16) and severe HD (P = 0·031, OR = 2·16) than in controls. Interestingly, both allele and genotype frequencies of Th2 cytokine genes were similar between GD and HD patients. In conclusion, functional polymorphisms in the genes encoding Th2 cytokines are associated differently with the development and prognosis of AITD from each other.
Quantitative and functional profiles of CD4+ lymphocyte subsets in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with lymphopenia
Authors: Gómez-Martín D , Díaz-Zamudio M , Vanoye G , Crispín J C , Alcocer-Varela J
Published: January 2011

Lymphopenia is a common clinical manifestation in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, its physiopathogenic role and the contribution of different T cell subsets in this setting have not been addressed fully. The aim of this study was to characterize T cell subsets quantitatively and functionally and their association with lymphopenia and azathioprine treatment in SLE. We included 84 SLE patients and 84 healthy controls and selected 20 patients for a 6-month longitudinal analysis. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated, and T cell subsets were analysed by flow cytometry. Functional analyses included autologous and allogeneic co-cultures of T cells. Our data show persistently lower absolute numbers of CD4+CD25high T cells [regulatory T cells (Tregs)] (1·9 versus 5·2, P < 0·01) and CD4+CD69+ T cells (3·2 versus 9·3, P = 0·02) and higher activity scores (4·1 versus 1·5, P = 0·01) in SLE patients with lymphopenia compared with those without lymphopenia. Lymphopenia increased the risk for decreased numbers of CD4+CD25high cells (relative risk 1·80, 95% confidence interval 1·10–2·93; P = 0·003). In addition, azathioprine-associated lymphopenia was characterized by decreased absolute numbers of CD4+CD69+ and CD4+interleukin (IL)-17+ cells compared to disease activity-associated lymphopenia. Functional assays revealed that SLE effector T cells were highly proliferative and resistant to suppression by autologous Tregs. In summary, lymphopenia was associated with deficient numbers of CD4+CD25high and CD4+CD69+ cells and resistance of effector T cells to suppression by Tregs, which could contribute to the altered immune responses characteristic of SLE. Furthermore, azathioprine treatment was associated with decreased numbers of CD4+CD69+ and CD4+IL-17+ cells and diminished Treg suppressive activity.
Engagement of activated Notch signalling in collagen II-specific T helper type 1 (Th1)- and Th17-type expansion involving Notch3 and Delta-like1
Authors: Jiao Z , Wang W , Xu H , Wang S , Guo M , Chen Y , Gao J
Published: January 2011

Our previous study demonstrated that T helper (Th) cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) display an altered expression profile of Notch receptors and enhanced activation of Notch signalling. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of distinct Notch receptors and ligands in the activation and differentiation of collagen II (CII)-reactive Th cells upon antigen-specific restimulation. Spleen mononuclear cells (SMNCs) from CII-immunized DBA/1J mice were restimulated by culturing with CII. CII-specific proliferation and differentiation of T cells were determined by tritiated thymidine (3[H]-TdR) incorporation and flow cytometric analysis, respectively. The mRNA expression of Notch receptors and Hes1 was assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). There was a clear increase in the percentage of Th1 cells and Th17 cells after CII restimulation. No significant difference was observed in the percentage of regulation T cells (Treg) in SMNCs with or without CII restimulation. CII restimulation induced up-regulated transcript levels of Hes1 in CII-reactive CD4+ T cells. The mRNA level of Notch3 was also up-regulated significantly, while the levels of the other three Notch receptors were not increased. Inhibition of Notch signalling by N-[N-(3,5-difluorophenacetyl)-L-alanyl]-S-phenylglycine t-butyl ester (DAPT) and Notch3 antibody decreased the collagen-specific T cell proliferation and attenuated Th1- and Th17-type responses, while treatment with Notch ligand Delta-like 1 promoted such a response. The present study demonstrates that Notch signalling is engaged in CII-specific Th1- and Th17-type expansion in which Notch3 and Delta-like1 were involved. Selective inhibition of Notch signalling mediated by Notch3 or Delta-like1 may offer a new strategy for the treatment of RA.
Determination of the structure of the MinD–ATP complex reveals the orientation of MinD on the membrane and the relative location of the binding sites for MinE and MinC
Authors: Wu Wei , Park Kyung‐Tae , Holyoak Todd , Lutkenhaus Joe
Published: January 2011

The three Min proteins spatially regulate Z ring positioning in Escherichia coli and are dynamically associated with the membrane. MinD binds to vesicles in the presence of ATP and can recruit MinC or MinE. Biochemical and genetic evidence indicate the binding sites for these two proteins on MinD overlap. Here we solved the structure of a hydrolytic‐deficient mutant of MinD truncated for the C‐terminal amphipathic helix involved in binding to the membrane. The structure solved in the presence of ATP is a dimer and reveals the face of MinD abutting the membrane. Using a combination of random and extensive site‐directed mutagenesis additional residues important for MinE and MinC binding were identified. The location of these residues on the MinD structure confirms that the binding sites overlap and reveals that the binding sites are at the dimer interface and exposed to the cytosol. The location of the binding sites at the dimer interface offers a simple explanation for the ATP dependence of MinC and MinE binding to MinD.
NifB and NifEN protein levels are regulated by ClpX2 under nitrogen fixation conditions in Azotobacter vinelandii
Authors: Martínez‐Noël Giselle , Curatti Leonardo , Hernandez Jose A. , Rubio Luis M.
Published: January 2011

The major part of biological nitrogen fixation is catalysed by the molybdenum nitrogenase that carries at its active site the iron and molybdenum cofactor (FeMo‐co). The nitrogen fixation (nif) genes required for the biosynthesis of FeMo‐co are derepressed in the absence of a source of fixed nitrogen. The nifB gene product is remarkable because it assembles NifB‐co, a complex cluster proposed to comprise a [6Fe‐9S‐X] cluster, from simpler [Fe‐S] clusters common to other metabolic pathways. NifB‐co is a common intermediate of the biosyntheses of the cofactors present in the molybdenum, vanadium and iron nitrogenases. In this work, the expression of the Azotobacter vinelandii nifB gene was uncoupled from its natural nif regulation to show that NifB protein levels are lower in cells growing diazotrophically than in cells growing at the expense of ammonium. A. vinelandii carries a duplicated copy of the ATPase component of the ubiquitous ClpXP protease (ClpX2), which is induced under nitrogen fixing conditions. Inactivation of clpX2 resulted in the accumulation of NifB and NifEN and a defect in diazotrophic growth, especially when iron was in short supply. Mutations in nifE, nifN and nifX or in nifA also affected NifB accumulation, suggesting that NifB susceptibility to degradation might vary during its catalytic cycle.
The effect of extensive flooding in Hull on the glycaemic control of patients with diabetes
Authors: Ng J. , Atkin S. L. , Rigby A. S. , Walton C. , Kilpatrick E. S.
Published: January 2011

Diabet. Med. 28, 519–524 (2011)

Aims To examine the impact of extensive flooding in a UK city in 2007 on the glycaemic control of patients with diabetes mellitus.

Methods This was a longitudinal study in patients with diabetes mellitus 12 months before and after the floods in Hull and East Yorkshire, UK. All patients registered with diabetes mellitus were sent questionnaires about their experiences during and after the floods. Glycaemic control for patients directly affected by the floods was compared against those unaffected.

Results Of 1743 respondents, 296 patients had been affected by the floods (110 insulin treated, 186 lifestyle and oral agents) and 1447 unaffected (482 insulin treated, 965 lifestyle and oral agents). There was a rise in mean HbA1cof affected individuals comparing 12 months before the floods with 12 months after [mean (95% confidence interval), 7.6% (7.5–7.7) vs. 7.9% (7.7–8.0),P = 0.002], but not those unaffected [7.5% (7.4–7.6) vs. 7.5% (7.4–7.6),P = 0.46]. The difference was mainly in insulin‐treated patients [8.6% (8.3, 8.9) affected vs. 8.2% (8.1, 8.3) unaffected, (P = 0.002)].

Conclusions Glycaemic control deteriorated in diabetes patients following the floods but was almost exclusively confined to patients taking insulin and was worst at 6–9 months following the event. Insulin‐treated patients may need specific targeting in the event of a natural disaster.
The Existential Sources of Phenomenology: Heidegger on Formal Indication
Authors: Burch Matthew I.
Published: January 2011

Abstract: This article contributes to the contemporary debate regarding the young Heidegger's method of formal indication. Theodore Kisiel argues that this method constitutes a radical break with Husserl—a rejection of phenomenological reflection that paves the way to the non‐reflective approach of the Beiträge. Against this view, Steven Crowell argues that formal indication is continuous with Husserlian phenomenology—a refinement of phenomenological reflection that reveals its existential sources. I evaluate this debate and adduce further considerations in favor of Crowell's view. To do so, I analyze the young Heidegger's account of phenomenological communication and argue that it further reflects the continuity that Crowell identifies: as he does with reflection, Heidegger refines Husserl's account of phenomenological communication and sheds light on its existential sources.
Immediate effect of a wrist and thumb brace on bimanual activities in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy
Authors: LOUWERS ANNOEK , MEESTER‐DELVER ANKE , FOLMER KATINKA , NOLLET FRANS , BEELEN ANITA
Published: January 2011

Aim  The aim of this study was to determine the immediate effect of wearing a wrist and thumb brace on the performance of bimanual activities in children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy.

Method  In a pre‐ and post‐test cohort study of 25 children (age range 4–11y; mean age 8y 4mo [SD 2y 2mo]; 16 males, 9 females) with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy with a Zancolli classification hand score of I, IIA, or IIB (mild and moderate hand dysfunction; children with a Zancolli classification of III – severe hand dysfunction – were excluded from this study), performance of bimanual activities was evaluated with the Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA) on three occasions: one assessment with a static wrist and thumb brace placed on the affected hand and two other assessments without a brace. The differences between AHA scores obtained at the three assessments were evaluated using the repeated measures analysis of variance.

Results  Performance of bimanual activities while wearing the brace improved significantly compared to performance without the brace (p<0.001). With the brace, the mean AHA score increased by 3.2 (95% confidence interval 2.1–4.3) from 59.1 to 62.3. The scores of the two assessments without the brace did not differ significantly.

Interpretation  In children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy, bracing of the wrist and thumb immediately improves spontaneous use of the affected upper limb in bimanual activities, possibly because bracing permits a more functional hand position.
Defective motion processing in children with cerebral visual impairment due to periventricular white matter damage
Authors: WEINSTEIN JOEL M , GILMORE RICK O , SHAIKH SUMERA M , KUNSELMAN ALLEN R , TRESCHER WILLIAM V , TASHIMA LAUREN M , BOLTZ MARIANNE E , MCAULIFFE MATTHEW B , CHEUNG ALBERT , FESI JEREMY D
Published: January 2011

Aim  We sought to characterize visual motion processing in children with cerebral visual impairment (CVI) due to periventricular white matter damage caused by either hydrocephalus (eight individuals) or periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) associated with prematurity (11 individuals).

Method  Using steady‐state visually evoked potentials (ssVEP), we measured cortical activity related to motion processing for two distinct types of visual stimuli: ‘local’ motion patterns thought to activate mainly primary visual cortex (V1), and ‘global’ or coherent patterns thought to activate higher cortical visual association areas (V3, V5, etc.). We studied three groups of children: (1) 19 children with CVI (mean age 9y 6mo [SD 3y 8mo]; 9 male; 10 female); (2) 40 neurologically and visually normal comparison children (mean age 9y 6mo [SD 3y 1mo]; 18 male; 22 female); and (3) because strabismus and amblyopia are common in children with CVI, a group of 41 children without neurological problems who had visual deficits due to amblyopia and/or strabismus (mean age 7y 8mo [SD 2y 8mo]; 28 male; 13 female).

Results  We found that the processing of global as opposed to local motion was preferentially impaired in individuals with CVI, especially for slower target velocities (p=0.028).

Interpretation  Motion processing is impaired in children with CVI. ssVEP may provide useful and objective information about the development of higher visual function in children at risk for CVI.
HDAC6 regulates aggresome‐autophagy degradation pathway of α‐synuclein in response to MPP+‐induced stress
Authors: Su Min , Shi Ji‐Jun , Yang Ya‐Ping , Li Jun , Zhang Yan‐Ling , Chen Jin , Hu Li‐Fang , Liu Chun‐Feng
Published: January 2011

J. Neurochem. (2011) 117, 112–120.

Increasing evidence suggests that the ubiquitin‐binding histone deacetylase‐6 (HDAC6) plays an important role in the clearance of misfolded proteins by autophagy. In this study, we treated PC‐12 cells over‐expressing human mutant (A53T) α‐synuclein (α‐syn) and SH‐SY5Y cells with MPP+. It was found that HDAC6 expression significantly increased and mainly colocalized with α‐syn in the perinuclear region to form aggresome‐like bodies. HDAC6 deficiency blocked the formation of aggresome‐like bodies and interfered with the autophagy in response to MPP+‐induced stress. Moreover, misfolded α‐syn accumulated into the nuclei, resulting in its reduced clearance, and finally, the number of apoptotic cells significantly increased. Taken together, HDAC6 participated in the degradation of MPP+‐induced misfolded α‐syn aggregates by regulating the aggresome‐autophagy pathway. Understanding the mechanism may disclose potential therapeutic targets for synucleinopathies such as Parkinson’s disease.
Gilianelles: Late Cretaceous microproblematica from Europe and Central America
Authors: ODIN GILLES SERGE
Published: January 2011

Abstract:  During the last two decades, a range of microfossils have been collected from strata of Late Cretaceous (Coniacian–Maastrichtian) age. The name gilianelles has been coined to accommodate these microproblematica. On the basis of many thousands of specimens, typical features of this group have now been assessed. Distinctive traits are calcareous unilocular, basically axially symmetrical test, in the size range 80–200 μm, with a single‐layered wall of radially arranged crystals, 15 μm thick, the outer surface with a crochet‐like nanostructure, a small‐sized aperture (one tenth of test diameter), situated on the upper surface in vivo. Secondary criteria include modification of axial test symmetry into radial or bilateral symmetry, development of expansions, either spiny or laminar and presence of longitudinal and latitudinal ornament. To date, 60 taxa have been described from northern Spain to northern Germany and from Central America. Evolutionary patterns of gilianelles are diverse, with both short‐ and long‐ranging forms, some of which comprise lineages that were affected by a marked crisis dated at about 73 Ma. This event is here illustrated by the tribe Coraliellini, of which a key taxon, Coraliella cognatio, is described as new. Previous interpretations of Gilianelles as dinoflagellate cysts are discussed and rejected.