bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Responses of soil microbial communities to water stress: results from a meta‐analysis
Authors: Manzoni Stefano , Schimel Joshua P. , Porporato Amilcare
Published: November 2011

Soil heterotrophic respiration and nutrient mineralization are strongly affected by environmental conditions, in particular by moisture fluctuations triggered by rainfall events. When soil moisture decreases, so does decomposers' activity, with microfauna generally undergoing stress sooner than bacteria and fungi. Despite differences in the responses of individual decomposer groups to moisture availability (e.g., bacteria are typically more sensitive than fungi to water stress), we show that responses of decomposers at the community level are different in soils and surface litter, but similar across biomes and climates. This results in a nearly constant soil‐moisture threshold corresponding to the point when biological activity ceases, at a water potential of about −14 MPa in mineral soils and −36 MPa in surface litter. This threshold is shown to be comparable to the soil moisture value where solute diffusion becomes strongly inhibited in soil, while in litter it is dehydration rather than diffusion that likely limits biological activity around the stress point. Because of these intrinsic constraints and lack of adaptation to different hydro‐climatic regimes, changes in rainfall patterns (primary drivers of the soil moisture balance) may have dramatic impacts on soil carbon and nutrient cycling.
Pharmacogenomics of Human ABC Transporter ABCC11 (MRP8): Potential Risk of Breast Cancer and Chemotherapy Failure
Authors: Toyoda Yu , Ishikawa Toshihisa
Published: November 2011

Some genetic polymorphisms of human ABC transporter genes are reportedly related to the risk of certain diseases and
patients’ responses to medication. Human ABCC11 functions as an ATP-dependent efflux pump for amphipathic anions. One nonsynonymous
SNP 538G>A (Gly180Arg) has been found to greatly affect the function and stability of de novo synthesized ABCC11
(Arg180) variant protein. The SNP variant lacking N-linked glycosylation is recognized as a misfolded protein in the endoplasmic reticulum
(ER) and readily undergoes proteasomal degradation. This ER-associated degradation of ABCC11 protein underlies the molecular
mechanism of affecting the function of apocrine glands. On the other hand, the wild type (Gly180) of ABCC11 is associated with wettype
earwax, axillary osmidrosis, colostrum secretion from the mammary gland, and the potential susceptibility of breast cancer. Furthermore,
the wild type of ABCC11 reportedly has ability to efflux cyclic nucleotides and nucleoside-based anticancer drugs. The SNP
(538G>A) of the ABCC11 gene is suggested to be a clinical biomarker for prediction of chemotherapeutic efficacy. Major obstacle to the
successful chemotherapy of human cancer is development of resistance, and nucleoside-based chemotherapy is often characterized by inter-
individual variability. This review provides an overview about the discovery and the genetic polymorphisms in human ABCC11. Furthermore,
we focus on the impact of ABCC11 538G>A on the apocrine phenotype, patients’ response to nucleoside-based chemotherapy,
and the potential risk of breast cancer.
Pomegranate Extract, A Prooxidant with Antiproliferative and Proapoptotic Activities Preferentially Towards Carcinoma Cells
Authors: H. Weisburg Jeffrey , G. Schuck Alyssa , S. Silverman Malki , G. Ovits-Levy Channa , J. Solodokin Loriel , L. Zuckerbraun Harriet , Babich Harvey
Published: November 2011

The antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects of pomegranate extract (PE), as correlated with its prooxidant activity, were studied. PE exerted greater antiproliferative effects towards cancer, than to normal, cells, isolated from the human oral cavity. In cell-free systems, PE generated hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in cell culture media and in phosphate buffered saline, with prooxidant activity increasing from acidic to alkaline pH, and oxidized glutathione (GSH) in an alkaline, phosphate buffer. Detection of PE-generated H2O2 was greatly lessened in medium amended with N-acetyl-L-cysteine. Using HSC-2 carcinoma cells as the bioindicator, the cytotoxicity of PE was potentiated towards cells pretreated with the GSH depleter, 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, and attenuated in cells cotreated with the H2O2 scavengers, catalase, pyruvate, and divalent cobalt ion. Intracellular GSH was lessened in cells treated with PE; GSH depletion in PE-treated cells was confirmed visually with the fluorescent dye, Cell TrackerTM Green 5-chloromethylfluorescein diacetate. These studies demonstrated that the antiproliferative mechanism of PE was, in part, by induction of oxidative stress. The mode of cell death was by apoptosis, as shown by flow cytometry, activation of casapase-3, and cleavage of PARP. Lessening of caspase-3 activation and of PARP cleavage in cells cotreated with PE and either cobalt or pyruvate, respectively, as compared to PE alone, indicated that apoptosis was through the prooxidant nature of PE.
Thermodynamic re-optimization of the Cu-Mg-Sn system at the Cu-Mg side
Authors: Miettinen J. , Vassilev G.
Published: November 2011

Thermodynamic description of the ternary Cu-Mg-Sn system at its Cu-Mg side is
presented. The thermodynamic parameters of the binary sub-systems, Cu-Mg,
Cu-Sn and Mg-Sn, are taken from the earlier SGTE-based assessments (modifying
the Mg-Sn description slightly) and those of the Cu-Mg-Si system are
optimized in this study using the experimental thermodynamic and phase
equilibrium data. The solution phases of the systems are described with the
substitutional solution model and the intermetallic Cu2Mg compound (Laves
C15), treated as simple semi-stoichiometric phases of the (A,B)pCq type, is
described with the twosublattice model. The present ternary description is
valid for tin contents up to 45 wt% (xSn?0.30).
Regions (forms of territorial autonomy) in the theory of law and law history
Authors: Petrovic Milan
Published: November 2011

This discussion has two main parts: theoretical and empirical. The task of the first part is to determine the notion of the region as such (the problem not sufficiently cleared up so far). Namely, it is necessary to delimit the region both from the notion of local self-administration and from the notion of state. The region differs from local self-administration in possessing a qualitatively higher degree of authority, authority for the original regulation of legal relations, legislation in the material sense. The region differs from the state in the fact that the authority of the subject with statal (constitutional) authority in principle has above it only the social legal norm as the content of the joint (collective) legal act of a stronger part of the nation in a state. On the contrary, the region has to be subjugated to the constitutional authority of the state in whose borders it is located. There are two basic types of regions: the region as a state fragment and region as a public service. The former is similar to the state, because it has its own state organs (organs with their own authority of coercion), while the latter does not have such organs. Furthermore, regions could be comprehensively divided into non-incorporated autonomous territories, separate original parts of a state and the regions included into the regional state. This discussion accepts as politically most, relevant the division of regions into the regions within monarchies and the regions within republics. (Due to the spatial limitations the third category, regions under the regime of international law, could not have been included into the discussion). Naturally, this discussion could not have been comprehensive when it comes to regions, so it discussed only the most interesting examples. Thus as examples of the regions in monarchies, it presented dominions within the British Empire and Finland within the Russian Empire, and of the regions in republics, the regions in Italy.
Serbia's uncertainties in Kosmet
Authors: Rankovic Miodrag
Published: November 2011

The paper consists of four sections: the situation immediately after the end of the NATO bombardment, Euro-American restructuring, main coordinates of state sovereignty and the results achieved so far within the so-called negotiating policy in Kosmet. The paper discusses the dilemma about the final outcome of the 1999 war, about the arrival of NATO to Kosmet, when the state of "the controlled chaos" really began. Serbia was left with the victims (2.500 dead) and material destruction (estimated damage of 12 to over 100 billion dollars) rapid impoverishment (over 600 thousand jobless) and over 300 thousand expelled. The first "external coordinate" of the Serbian statehood in Kosmet (reliance on the Russian-Chinese-Indian alliance) completely disappointed mostly because of further decrease in the Russian initiative in the Balkans the second "coordinate", support of the international public and left-wing groupations (illustrative example) was not enough to restrain American expansionism, while the third one, the achievement of national consensus about Kosmet was a complete failure - the Serbs remained divided both in Serbia and in Kosmet. Thus the entire period after the change of power in Serbia has been marked by yielding and concessions (Kouchner's institutional restructuring Haekkerup's "institutional framework", Steiner's decrees). There followed a planned "demographic cleansing" (influx of new immigrants from Albania, almost 200 thousand), further destruction of the monuments of Serbian spirituality false demilitarization ("the Kosovo Protection Corps"), installment of NATO bases, cleansing of non-Albanian settlements (over 40 thousand houses and about 300 schools burnt), continuation of terrorist activities, "underground economy" etc. Serbia now shares sovereignty with KFOR and with the organs of authority of the prevailing Albanians, all within the realm of "human rights" "multiethnic Kosovo" and Islamic-Turkish lobby.
Education and open society
Authors: Tripkovic Milan
Published: November 2011

Reflecting the relation between the "open society" (K. Popper) and education, in this paper the author claims that openness of a society correlates positively with the domination of "acquired" social position over "ascribed" social positions and with education as the main channel of vertical social mobility. Pointing out that no society has reached the ideal of equal start chances for everybody, i.e. that social competition can be described in the best was as a "competition of the unequal", the author claims that good education is a strategic goal of every "good society" (J. K. Galbraith), which means that investments in education is the best proof that in a society long-term goals are more important that short-term ones. Education does not have exclusively economic meaning, but a political and social role as well. As a barrier to extremism, good education makes democracy possible, even inevitable. Furthermore, education makes views of the people wider, helping them to enjoy its social-cultural heritage and values, both inside a society and on a global world level. In spite of its individual and social importance, it can be said that education today does not have an adequate state support for its development. This policy is not a correct one, because education and open society, if they are not synonyms, surely are closely and deeply linked and mutually dependent: there is no real education without open society, and there is no really open society without good education.
Irish "economic miracle" and the experiences of rural development
Authors: Malesevic Krstan
Published: November 2011

For the 1st fifteen years or so there has been an intensive talk about the Irish "economic miracle". Since Irish economy has experienced a highest degree of sustained growth among the EU states in this very period, this observation is an accurate one. The average GDP in this period has constantly been above five percent. The national income per capita rose dramatically to 2700 Euro and is the highest in the EU. The rate of employment is permanently on the increase while (qualified) working force is becoming imported as well. In a very short period of time Ireland has achieved not only an impressive level of economic development, but has also experienced a radical social transformation. From predominantly agrarian and traditionally emigrant country, Ireland had rapidly become a highly developed (post)industrial immigrant society. There is no doubt that the adequate strategy and the politics of rural development had an important role to play in achieving these remarkable results. Regardless of how much this development is conditioned and influenced by the rural development policies of the EU, Irish model still has many authentic features. This paper explores the possibilities of using some of these experiences from the Irish developmental strategies in the context of an integral rural development of Serbia in the period of transition.
Are the values of the citizens of the former communist countries similar?
Authors: Pantic Dragomir
Published: November 2011

Comparative research has been one of the basic tendencies characteristic for sociology and other social sciences in the last decades. The comparison of the values of the population from all continents is particularly important in the era of globalization; certainly the greatest contribution and the greatest endeavor so far in that respect has been The World Study of Values by R. Inglehardt and his collaborators. In the last quarter of the century they realized four research "waves', the most recent one at the beginning of this millennium in as many as eighty countries whose population makes 85% of the world population. This magnificent study presented a specific "cultural mapping of the world", and this mapping also confirmed the surprisingly great similarity between the population of the former communist countries on the basis of the comparison with twenty-four variables processed in the factorial-analytical manner. Out of the total of 24 countries in this group including China, in the value area of the coordinate system they were all located near one another, in the quadrant which links two most general values (of the second-level factors) - "the values of poverty" and "the values of the secular-rational authority". The exceptions were Slovenia and Poland the former being inclined toward the developed world and the pole denoting "the values of prosperity" (they are also called "the values of self-expression"), and the latter because of the pronounced religiousness of its population, directed toward the pole denoting "the values of traditional authority". Analyzing also some other data (the Study contains 300 value variables), we confirmed the authors' conclusion about the similarities of values of the citizens from the former communist countries, and the proof for that can be found in some other researches, too. Unfortunately, for the time being the complexity of this determinist knot directs the explanations of the similarities between the values of these countries to the hypothetical domains. Still, it seems that the most plausible explanation is the civilization one which would combine diverse factors: historical economic, social-structural, political and culturological (ethnic religious, linguistic).
Napoleon’s quasigroups
Authors: Krčadinac Vedran
Published: November 2011

Napoleon’s quasigroups are idempotent medial quasigroups satisfying the identity (ab·b)(b·ba) = b. In works by V. Volenec geometric terminology has been introduced in medial quasigroups, enabling proofs of many theorems of plane geometry to be carried out by formal calculations in a quasigroup. This class of quasigroups is particularly suited for proving Napoleon’s theorem and other similar theorems about equilateral triangles and centroids.
On Tauberian theorems for (A, k) summability method
Authors: Çanak İbrahim , Totur Ümit , Dik Mehmet
Published: November 2011

Let (u
n) be a sequence of real numbers. In this paper we introduce some Tauberian conditions in terms of regularly generated sequences for (A, k) summability method.
Integrating Religion and Spirituality into Mental Health Care, Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
Authors: Hefti René
Published: November 2011

Integrating spirituality into mental health care, psychiatry and psychotherapy is still controversial, albeit a growing body of evidence is showing beneficial effects and a real need for such integration. In this review, past and recent research as well as evidence from the integrative concept of a Swiss clinic is summarized. Religious coping is highly prevalent among patients with psychiatric disorders. Surveys indicate that 70–80% use religious or spiritual beliefs and activities to cope with daily difficulties and frustrations. Religion may help patients to enhance emotional adjustment and to maintain hope, purpose and meaning. Patients emphasize that serving a purpose beyond one’s self can make it possible to live with what might otherwise be unbearable. Programs successfully incorporating spirituality into clinical practice are described and discussed. Studies indicate that the outcome of psychotherapy in religious patients can be enhanced by integrating religious elements into the therapy protocol and that this can be successfully done by religious and non-religious therapists alike.
Chimeric self-sufficient P450cam-RhFRed biocatalysts with broad substrate scope
Authors: Robin Aélig , Köhler Valentin , Jones Alison , Ali Afruja , Kelly Paul P , O'Reilly Elaine , Turner Nicholas J , Flitsch Sabine L
Published: November 2011

A high-throughput screening protocol for evaluating chimeric, self-sufficient P450 biocatalysts and their mutants against a panel of substrates was developed, leading to the identification of a number of novel biooxidation activities.
Disruptions and Value in the Interactive Digital Media Marketplace
Authors: El-Sawy Omar , Pereira Francis
Published: November 2011

This introductory chapter explains business modeling in the context of interactive digital products and services. The ADVISOR framework is presented as a useful means of articulating value. A review of other approaches suggests that business modeling is all about determining value and the ADVISOR framework is a valid one.
IDM Products vs. Services
Authors: Budi Aditya , Wang Mi , Wang Tianyuan
Published: November 2011

In today’s increasingly competitive market, marketing a product or a service is getting tougher than before, especially in the industry domain of interaction digital media (IDM), which produces completely different types of digital goods. Knowing the key differences between them is vital, as it will allow IDM companies to position resources more effectively. Moreover, it will help get more profits from investments. Unfortunately, research done on this topic is still rare and inadequate. This chapter aims to give a comparative analysis between the digital products and services study from the perspective of marketing, in a bid to better understand their differences and similarities. The comparative analysis is divided into different stages according to the new digital goods development process. We use two case studies to support the points of view: WSJ.com and PayPal. Directions for future research are discussed at the end of this chapter.
Bundling Strategy in the IDM Marketplace
Authors: Min Goh Kok , Soo Kelvin Tan Yuean , Geng Wang
Published: November 2011

In recent years, many local telecommunication firms are selling their interactive digital media (IDM) services such as broadband and Pay Television in the form of a bundle to their customers. On the other hand, many IDM firms (e.g. Apple iTunes) have chosen to sell their IDM services to customers in an unbundled manner. This chapter studies the effect of bundling and unbundling of any type of information goods which can be digitized. We will discuss the four factors which encourage IDM firms to choose either bundling or unbundling strategy in their marketing of digital goods. The four factors are customer, environmental, firm, and product. This chapter concludes by emphasising that bundling or unbundling might not be necessarily good or bad. The choice boils down to the market segment – the value that customers perceive from the products. It is also important to take into account the overall marketing strategy that the firm is embarking on and to also consider the market situation at the point in time.
The Role of Social Networks in the Viral Marketing of IDM
Authors: Diptee Bhatt , Hock Chang Tai , Lihui Wang , Sharma Ravi S.
Published: November 2011

Social networks are structures consisting of individuals or organizations that enable powerful means of communicating and information sharing. Social networks make viral marketing and word-of mouth (WOM) marketing more effective than before. WOM particularly has received extensive attention in the literature. In this chapter, we discuss the value of social networks in business, especially focusing on the WOM marketing which relies on social ties and preexisting connections to spread marketing messages through a community. We discuss viral marketing using a WOM unit framework. Five qualities of a WOM unit are explained with examples. We illustrate new products and services like the iPhone and relate them with the WOM unit framework. It is recognized that WOM helps businesses spread their marketing message in a cost effective way. We found that WOM marketing plays a vital role in the IDM marketplace and conclude that businesses should actively promote and manage WOM communications using viral marketing methods to achieve desired behavioral response.
Convenience Prevails Over Homemade
Authors: Machill Marcel , Gerstner Johannes , Class Sven
Published: November 2011

This contribution analyses the online video offer of local and regional daily newspapers. A sample of local and regional landscape press of 15 German newspaper1 websites offering online videos was investigated. The investigation was carried out with the method of a quantitative content analysis on the basis of an artificial week. The findings show that daily newspapers mainly place purchased videos of external providers (92 percent) in the local and regional area and hardly produced any material by themselves. The videos are themed accordingly: Only 16.2 percent of the videos deal with regional or local topics, and the lion’s share is taken by international topics (44.7 percent), while topics related to Germany in any way achieve about one third (31.5 percent). Almost half of the videos can be assorted to the “miscellaneous“ desk and, the reporting on political, economic, and social topics, as well as about sports and culture, is less comprehensive. It is also shown that videos are hardly used as a supplement of the remaining editorial offer of the Internet sites and that internal links to other pieces are hardly ever made. In conclusion, online videos are a fixed component of many local and regional news offers of daily newspapers on the Internet, today, but are however hardly used as an addition to the own local reporting competence.
Extending Social Network Diagrams for Large Scale Collaboration
Authors: Hawryszkiewycz I.T.
Published: November 2011

The chapter provides a way for modeling large scale collaboration using an extension to social network diagrams called enterprise social networks (ESNs). The chapter uses the ESN diagrams to describe activities in policy planning and uses these to define the services to be provided by cloud technologies to support large scale collaboration. This chapter describes collaboration by an architecture made up of communities each with a role to ensure that collaboration is sustainable. The architecture is based on the idea of an ensemble of communities all working to a common vision supported by services provided by the collaboration cloud using Web 2.0 technologies.
Networked Knowledge Workers on the Web
Authors: Ferro Toni , Zachry Mark
Published: November 2011

With the growing popularity of online services that allow individuals to consume and contribute Web content with social groups of self-selected affiliates, the socio-technical geography of the Web has become increasingly complex. To map some of this space in a productive way for organizations and online researchers, we focus our attention on a particular segment of Web 2.0 services, publicly available online services (PAOSs) used for work purposes. After defining this segment and its relationship to other kinds of online services, we report the results of an annual survey that looks at who is using such PAOSs for work as well as the nature of that work. As our survey results indicate, how often PAOSs are used for work differs depending on the company size and office location of individuals. To frame our findings, we differentiate among the multiple PAOSs that respondents report using by classifying them as different genres of services, which we find provides a productive typology for understanding such services and their roles in organizations.
Strengthening Parliaments through ICT
Authors: Ribeiro Cláudia
Published: November 2011

This chapter provides an overview of the state of the art concerning the application of ICTs in parliaments and of the main problems identified when considering engaging the public through ICTs. Using the Portuguese Parliament as a case study, the chapter analyzes some effective approaches using ICTs to involve citizens and to support the dialogue regarding the legislative process. The conclusion emerging from the chapter is that the use of ICTs is not enough to get citizens to trust the parliament and to maintain their involvement. Parliaments need to follow a strategic and coherent plan that considers other questions apart from technology and goes beyond making documents available to the public. Parliaments need to ensure that their information systems provide both information and communication and meet the criteria of clarity, accuracy, timeliness, completeness, and the provision of feedback.
Globalization and International Labor Standards, Codes of Conduct, and Ethics
Authors: Briscoe Dennis R.
Published: November 2011

The scope of globalization continues to expand. More and more firms, large and small, from large countries and small countries, from developed countries and emerging economies, private and public, independent, multinational, and transnational, participate in global commerce. Yet the conduct of business across international borders continues to be difficult, complicated, and complex. Every country has its unique history, language(s), legal and business system, and culture that require learning and adaptations to facilitate cross-border business activity. And every function of every business that conducts cross-border business has to learn about their foreign partners enough to achieve this necessary adaptation. This chapter provides an overview of concerns about international business ethics, particularly as they relate to International HRM (IHRM). International ethics looks at what is right and wrong in business conduct across borders and the impact of cultural (country and company) variances on ethical conduct of MNEs. Because MNE ethics, particularly issues which relate directly to employee relations, are often relegated to the responsibility of IHR, the primary focus in this chapter is on the impact of ethics on global HR practices.
Giving Voice to Values
Authors: Edwards Mark G. , Webb David A. , Chappell Stacie , Gentile Mary C.
Published: November 2011

This chapter presents a multilevel approach to the practical expression of core values and ethical commitments in a globalised world. GVV is an innovative approach to business ethics that offers a way of implementing and expressing ethical values at the micro, meso, and macro levels of social interaction. In this chapter we describe the GVV approach and show how it can be applied both theoretically and practically to the task of expressing our shared values from the personal all the way to the global level of ethical concerns.
The First Ecological Steps in Architectural Utopias
Authors: Sevinc Akin
Published: November 2011

In the first appearance of living spaces and creating new ones, human being’s fundamental aim was to be prepared for all sorts of natural circumstances, which can be “wild” and “cruel” sometimes. Protecting itself from these hard circumstances, the human being has aimed to create safe places. In this struggle which is occasionally named as “war”, the spaces designed come out as the main fortresses. This chapter aims to seek out human beings’ efforts in the struggle with the natural circumstances and especially the shift of it in the mid twentieth century, in the light of architectural structures of utopias. In other words, the chapter may be seen as a research of imaginary projects which have starting points as “peace and happiness, assessing them to see if they have peaceful approaches to nature or not.” The chapter also aims to examine, from the first simple projects to notable ones, how nature was handled and how the projects responded to the scenarios of natural resource scarcities of the future. As smart cities try to meet the requirements of today with scarce resources, the question in mind in the examination of utopias is “May these imaginary projects be the first sketches of smart cities?”
Reputation in Peer-Based Learning Environments
Authors: Hennis Thieme , Lukosch Stephan , Veen Wim
Published: November 2011

This chapter proposes a reputation model to support peer-based learning in online communities. Based on literature on quality, trust, and learning, we argue that a reputation system for peer-based learning environments must at least address quality, context, and sustainability issues. We analyzed a number of successful online reputation systems with these issues, and developed a reputation model to support knowledge management, quality assurance, and increase user engagement in peer-based online learning communities. The description of the model includes a conceptual and mathematical representation, a process description to support implementation, and an evaluation framework. A simple example shows how the model can be applied.
Detection of Soluble Amyloid‐β Oligomers and Insoluble High‐Molecular‐Weight Particles in CSF: Development of Methods with Potential for Diagnosis and Therapy Monitoring of Alzheimer′s Disease
Authors: Funke Susanne Aileen
Published: November 2011

The diagnosis of probable Alzheimer′s disease (AD) can be established premortem based on clinical criteria like neuropsychological tests. Post mortem, specific neuropathological changes like amyloid plaques define AD. However, the standard criteria based on medical history and mental status examinations do not take into account the long preclinical features of the disease, and a biomarker for improved diagnosis of AD is urgently needed. In a large number of studies, amyloid‐β (Aβ) monomer concentrations in CSF of AD patients are consistently and significantly reduced when compared to healthy controls. Therefore, monomeric Aβ in CSF was suggested to be a helpful biomarker for the diagnosis of preclinical AD. However, not the monomeric form, but Aβ oligomers have been shown to be the toxic species in AD pathology, and their quantification and characterization could facilitate AD diagnosis and therapy monitoring. Here, we review the current status of assay development to reliably and routinely detect Aβ oligomers and high‐molecular‐weight particles in CSF.
A Comparative Study of Hepatitis Caused by Scrub Typhus and Viral Hepatitis A in South Korea
Authors: Lee Jun , Kim Dong-Min , Yun Na Ra , Byeon Yu Mi , Kim Young Dae , Park Chan Guk , Kim Man Woo , Han Mi Ah
Published: November 2011

We compared clinical features and laboratory findings of 104 patients with hepatitis A and 197 patients with scrub typhus. Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, hepatomegaly, and jaundice were common in patient with hepatitis A, and fever and headache were significantly more common in patients with scrub typhus. At presentation, an alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level ≥ 500 U/L was observed in 1% of scrub typhus patients and in 87.5% of hepatitis A patients (P < 0.001). A bilirubin level ≥ 1.3 mg/dL was observed in 16.8% of scrub typhus patients and 90.4% of hepatitis A patients. The ALT:lactate dehydrogenase ratio was ≤ 5 in 97.4% of the patients with scrub typhus and > 5 in 95.2% of those with hepatitis A (P < 0.001). Fever, headache, rash, and eschar are findings that indicate scrub typhus. An ALT level ≥ 500 U/L (adjusted odds ratio = 0.011) a bilirubin level ≥ 1.3 (adjusted odds ratio = 0.024), an ALT:lactate dehydrogenase ratio > 5, and hepatomegaly are indications of viral hepatitis A.
Highly Efficient Organic THz Generator Pumped at Near‐Infrared: Quinolinium Single Crystals
Authors: Kim Pil‐Joo , Jeong Jae‐Hyeok , Jazbinsek Mojca , Choi Soo‐Bong , Baek In‐Hyung , Kim Jong‐Taek , Rotermund Fabian , Yun Hoseop , Lee Yoon Sup , Günter Peter , Kwon O‐Pil
Published: October 2011

A novel highly efficient ionic electro‐optic quinolinium single crystals for THz wave applications is reported. Acentric quinolinium derivatives, HMQ‐T (2‐(4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxystyryl)‐1‐methylquinolinium 4‐methylbenzenesulfonate) and HMQ‐MBS (2‐(4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxystyryl)‐1‐methylquinolinium 4‐methoxybenzenesulfonate) exhibit high order parameters cos3θp = 0.92 and cos3θp = 1.0, respectively, as well as a large macroscopic optical nonlinearity, which is in the range of the benchmark stilbazolium DAST (N,N‐dimethylamino‐N’‐methylstilbazolium 4‐methylbenzenesulfonate) and phenolic polyene OH1 (2‐(3‐(4‐hydroxystyryl)‐5,5‐dimethylcyclohex‐2‐enylidene)malononitrile) crystals. As‐grown unpolished bulk HMQ‐T crystals with a side length of about 6 mm and thickness of 0.56 mm exhibit 3.1 times higher THz generation efficiency than 0.37 mm thick OH1 crystals and about 8.4 times higher than 1 mm thick inorganic standard ZnTe crystals at the near‐infrared fundamental wavelength of 836 nm. Therefore, HMQ crystals with high order parameter obviously have a very high potential for high power THz‐wave generation and its applications.
Pump‐Probe Spectroscopy in Organic Semiconductors: Monitoring Fundamental Processes of Relevance in Optoelectronics
Authors: Cabanillas‐Gonzalez Juan , Grancini Giulia , Lanzani Guglielmo
Published: October 2011

In this review we highlight the contribution of pump‐probe spectroscopy to understand elementary processes taking place in organic based optoelectronic devices. The techniques described in this article span from conventional pump‐probe spectroscopy to electromodulated pump‐probe and the state‐of‐the‐art confocal pump‐probe microscopy. The article is structured according to three fundamental processes (optical gain, charge photogeneration and charge transport) and the contribution of these techniques on them. The combination of these tools opens up new perspectives for assessing the role of short‐lived excited states on processes lying underneath organic device operation.
Harnessing of novel tailored modified pregelled starch‐derived products in sizing of cotton textiles
Authors: Mostafa Kh. M. , El‐Sanabary A. A.
Published: October 2011

Several researches and developmental work efforts were made to synthesize what is called tailored polymeric materials with new characteristics based on pregelled starch through a number of processes, which in turn entailed several chemical treatments. This was done by subjecting the pregelled starch as a starting substrate to acid hydrolysis to obtain pregelled starch having different molecular sizes. The latter were carbamoylethylated using acrylamide and sodium hydroxide at different duration, and then grafted with different monomers using potassium permanganate/citric acid redox system for initiating grafting. Furthermore, harnessing of the newly tailored pregelled starch‐derived products as sizing agent of cotton textiles was studied systematically. It is shown from the data that (a) the extent of carbamoylethylation expressed as N% increases by increasing the extent of hydrolysis and duration; (b) the graft yield expressed as mmol monomer/100 g sample of different monomers onto carbamoylethylated pregelled starch and carbamoylethylated hydrolyzed pregelled starches increases by increasing the extent of carbamoylethylation and the degree of hydrolysis, and follows the order: methacrylamide > methacrylonitrile > methacrylic acid; and (c) cotton fabrics sized with grafted carbamoylethylated hydrolyzed pregelled starch acquire higher mechanical properties, i.e., tensile strength, elongation at break, and abrasion resistance values than hydrolyzed pregelled starches, carbamoylethylated pregelled starch, and carbamoylethylated hydrolyzed pregelled starches. Using the above tailored modified pregelled starch‐derived products in sizing of cotton textiles contributed to the reinforcement of the cotton textile after sizing to over come the forced loss in fabrics/yarns during spinning process, as shown above. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Adv Polym Techn 31: 52–62, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/adv.20234
Long‐term outcome of pomalidomide therapy in myelofibrosis
Authors: Begna Kebede H. , Pardanani Animesh , Mesa Ruben , Litzow Mark R. , Hogan William J. , Hanson Curtis A. , Tefferi Ayalew
Published: October 2011

Ninety‐four Mayo Clinic patients with myelofibrosis (MF) participated in two consecutive clinical trials of pomalidomide (0.5–3.5 mg/day), with or without prednisone. Overall anemia response was 27% and increased to 53% in JAK2V617F‐positive patients with <10 cm palpable splenomegaly and <5% circulating blasts; response rate was 0% in mutation‐negative patients with either ≥10 cm splenomegaly or ≥5% circulating blasts (P = 0.0001). Median duration of anemia response was 16 months. Treatment effect on splenomegaly was negligible. To date, pomalidomide therapy has been discontinued in 86 (91%) patients at a rate of 68% at 1 year and 89% at 2 years. Grade 1 sensory neuropathy developed in 4 (13%) of 30 patients treated for ≥1 year. Risk‐adjusted survival in pomalidomide‐treated primary MF patients (n = 72) was similar to their counterparts not exposed to the drug (n = 471; P = 0.19). Long‐term follow‐up of pomalidomide treatment in MF reveals palliative value for a select group of patients and treatment‐emergent sensory neuropathy. Am. J. Hematol. 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Occupational injuries among nurses and aides in a hospital setting
Authors: Boden Leslie I. , Sembajwe Grace , Tveito Torill H. , Hashimoto Dean , Hopcia Karen , Kenwood Christopher , Stoddard Anne M. , Sorensen Glorian
Published: October 2011

Background

Patient care workers in acute care hospitals are at high risk of injury. Recent studies have quantified risks and demonstrated a higher risk for aides than for nurses. However, no detailed studies to date have used OSHA injury definitions to allow for better comparability across studies.

Methods

We linked records from human resources and occupational health services databases at two large academic hospitals for nurses (n = 5,991) and aides (n = 1,543) in patient care units. Crude rates, rate ratios, and confidence intervals were calculated for injuries involving no days away and those involving at least 1 day away from work.

Results

Aides have substantially higher injury rates per 100 full‐time equivalent workers (FTEs) than nurses for both injuries involving days away from work (11.3 vs. 7.2) and those involving no days away (9.9 vs. 5.7). Back injuries were the most common days away (DA) injuries, while sharps injuries were the most common no days away (NDA) injuries. Pediatric/neonatal units and non‐inpatient units had the lowest injury rates. Operating rooms and the float pool had high DA injury rates for both occupations, and stepdown units had high rates for nurses. NDA injuries were highest in the operating room for both nurses and aides.

Conclusions

This study supports the importance of a continuing emphasis on preventing back and sharps injuries and reducing risks faced by aides in the hospital setting. Uniform injury definitions and work time measures can help benchmark safety performance and focus prevention efforts. Am. J. Ind. Med. 55:117–126, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Do dutch workers seek and find information on occupational safety and health?
Authors: Rhebergen Martijn D.F. , Lenderink Annet F. , van Dijk Frank J.H. , Hulshof Carel T.J.
Published: October 2011

Background

Currently, little is known about workers' occupational safety and health (OSH) information‐seeking behavior.

Methods

We assessed whether Dutch workers have (OSH) questions, what motivates them to seek information or advice to solve these questions, and whether workers actually find the information they are looking for. A random sample of 888 workers from a large business panel were sent an online questionnaire. In total, 535 workers, likely parallel to the Dutch working population, returned the questionnaire (response rate 60%).

Results

In the last year, 380 of the 535 respondents (71%) had at least one OSH question. In total, 159 of the 380 respondents (42%) with an OSH question actively searched for information or advice. In a logistic regression analysis, three factors were identified to influence workers' information seeking: cognitions about personal benefits or costs of solving the question (OR = 2.8, 95% CI: 1.8–4.5), emotions that accompany the question (OR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.1–3.0), and encouragement by the social environment (OR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.0–3.0). In total, 50% of the respondents seeking information indicated they could not find (all) the information they sought. The barrier most often mentioned (47%) was the poor applicability of the information.

Conclusions

Although most workers have OSH questions, only 40% seek information or advice to answer their questions. Moreover, many OSH questions remain unanswered by common information facilities. This study provides input on how to develop campaigns and new facilities that may induce workers to seek information and that offer more applicable information. Am. J. Ind. Med. 55:250–259, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Buton macaques (Macaca ochreata brunnescens): crops, conflict, and behavior on farms
Authors: Priston Nancy E.C. , Wyper Rebecca M. , Lee Phyllis C.
Published: October 2011

One consequence of anthropogenic habitat alteration is that many nonhuman primates are forced into conflict interactions with humans and their livelihood activities, especially through crop raiding. These problems are particularly acute for the endemic and threatened Buton Island macaque (Macaca ochreata brunnescens), in southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. Our study investigated the crop raiding behavior of this species over time. Foods eaten and the behavioral repertoire exhibited by macaques during crop raiding at and inside farm perimeters were observed over a period of 8 years (2002–2009). Storage organ crops (e.g. sweet potato) were abundant and most frequently raided by macaques. Individual macaques were most commonly observed to raid close (0–10 m) to farm perimeters. Activities such as feeding, resting, moving, and social interaction varied significantly as a function of penetration distance into the farm, but only marginally between age‐sex classes. The annual average raid frequency per farm decreased over the latter years of the study period, raising questions about changes in macaque foraging and ranging behavior over time and their response to farm management and mitigation strategies. Am. J. Primatol. 74:29–36, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Onset and early use of gestural communication in nonhuman great apes
Authors: SCHNEIDER CHRISTEL , CALL JOSEP , LIEBAL KATJA
Published: October 2011

The early gesturing of six bonobos, eight chimpanzees, three gorillas, and eight orangutans was systematically documented using focal animal sampling. Apes' were observed during their first 20 months of life in an effort to investigate: (i) the onset of gesturing; (ii) the order in which signals of different sensory modalities appear; (iii) the extent to which infants make use of these modalities in their early signaling; and (iv) the behavioral contexts where signals are employed. Orangutans differed in important gestural characteristics to African ape species. Most notably, they showed the latest gestural onset and were more likely to use their early signals in food‐related interactions. Tactile and visual signals appeared similarly early across all four species. In African apes, however, visual signaling gained prominence over time while tactile signaling decreased. These findings suggest that motor ability, which encourages independence from caregivers, is an important antecedent, among others, in gestural onset and development, a finding which warrants further investigation.
Mitochondrial haplogroup C4c: A rare lineage entering America through the ice‐free corridor?
Authors: Kashani Baharak Hooshiar , Perego Ugo A. , Olivieri Anna , Angerhofer Norman , Gandini Francesca , Carossa Valeria , Lancioni Hovirag , Semino Ornella , Woodward Scott R. , Achilli Alessandro , Torroni Antonio
Published: October 2011

Recent analyses of mitochondrial genomes from Native Americans have brought the overall number of recognized maternal founding lineages from just four to a current count of 15. However, because of their relative low frequency, almost nothing is known for some of these lineages. This leaves a considerable void in understanding the events that led to the colonization of the Americas following the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). In this study, we identified and completely sequenced 14 mitochondrial DNAs belonging to one extremely rare Native American lineage known as haplogroup C4c. Its age and geographical distribution raise the possibility that C4c marked the Paleo‐Indian group(s) that entered North America from Beringia through the ice‐free corridor between the Laurentide and Cordilleran ice sheets. The similarities in ages andgeographical distributions for C4c and the previously analyzed X2a lineage provide support to the scenario of a dual origin for Paleo‐Indians. Taking into account that C4c is deeply rooted in the Asian portion of the mtDNA phylogeny and is indubitably of Asian origin, the finding that C4c and X2a are characterized by parallel genetic histories definitively dismisses the controversial hypothesis of an Atlantic glacial entry route into North America. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Chemically induced graft copolymerization of acrylonitrile onto lignocellulosic fibers
Authors: Singha A. S. , Rana Raj K.
Published: October 2011

The grafting of vinyl monomers is an important method for replacing hydrophilic hydroxyl groups present on the surface of natural fibers by hydrophobic polymer chains. It improves the compatibility of natural fibers with polymer matrixes during the fabrication of natural‐fiber‐reinforced polymer composites. This article deals with the graft copolymerization of acrylonitrile onto Agave americana fibers in air in the presence of ceric ammonium nitrate as a redox initiator. A maximum percentage grafting of 24% was obtained after the optimization of various reaction parameters, including the reaction time, temperature, and concentrations of nitric acid, initiator, and monomer. The graft copolymers obtained under the optimum conditions were then subjected to the evaluation of different physicochemical properties, including swelling behavior in different solvents, moisture absorption behavior under different humidity levels, and chemical resistance. The graft copolymers were further characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermal analysis (thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermal analysis), and X‐ray diffraction techniques. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012