bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Guest Editors' Note: Don't miss the boat: Research on HRM and supply chains
Authors: Fisher Sandra L. , Graham Mary E. , Vachon Stephan , Vereecke Ann
Published: September 2010

This paper provides an introduction to the special issue on human resource management (HRM) in supply chains. To this point, HRM researchers have paid little attention to the field of supply chain management (SCM) and how HRM practices may help firms manage their supply chains more effectively. We provide an overview of supply chain management for readers new to this field. We conceptualize three potential applications of HRM in supply chains, and then use our framework to introduce and link the papers that comprise the special issue. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Evolving HR practices in a strategic intra‐firm supply chain
Authors: Koulikoff‐Souviron Marie , Harrison Alan
Published: September 2010

While there are several studies on human resource management (HRM) at the inter‐firm dyadic relationship level, the HR aspects of intra‐firm strategic supply relationships have been largely ignored. Yet interdependence requires coordination among functions, sites, and stages of the internal supply chain (SC). Drawing on a case study of a large European pharmaceutical company, which we call Tyrenco, we explore how HR practices evolve within the strategic intra‐firm supply relationship. Our findings illustrate the disruptive effects of HR practices when they are focused on site‐based objectives and the improved coordination that results from redesigning HR processes to achieve internal operational integration. We highlight the tension between site‐based, financial controls and an emergent SC logic. Drawing on recent interest in cooperative approaches to HR practices, this study seeks to operationalize the need to align HR practices with end‐to‐end objectives at different stages of the intra‐firm supply chain. Our findings have practical implications for designing HR practices within multinational corporations (MNCs) that are characterized by complex and fragmented internal environments. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
CEOs with a functional background in operations: Reviewing their performance and prevalence in the top post
Authors: Koyuncu Burak , Firfiray Shainaz , Claes Björn , Hamori Monika
Published: September 2010

With this study, we update research by Ocasio and Kim (1999) by testing whether the trends that favored the prevalence of CEOs with an operations background in the 1980s and early 1990s continued between 1992 and 2005. Given that supply chain management became a top business priority during this period, we expect a greater prevalence of CEOs with an operations background. This is because, traditionally, executives belonging to the operations function have assumed responsibility for supply chain management issues. Our results, based on a sample of 437 CEOs who lead large‐sized U.S. firms in eight industries, provide partial support for the hypothesis that CEOs with a functional background in operations attain higher post‐succession performance than CEOs with other functional backgrounds. In addition, we find that the likelihood that newly appointed CEOs have a background in operations is greater in succession events that have taken place more recently and in situations that occurred in the face of poor firm financial performance. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Bedtime problems and night wakings: treatment of behavioral insomnia of childhood
Authors: Moore Melisa
Published: September 2010

Bedtime problems and frequent night wakings are common sleep problems in infants and toddlers, affecting 20 to 30% of young children. Such problems, categorized as behavioral insomnia of childhood (BIC), lead to insufficient sleep, which contributes to multiple domains of child dysfunction. Behavioral treatments of BIC, such as extinction and positive routines are introduced, and supporting evidence is reviewed. Critical factors in developing a successful treatment plan include conducting a detailed assessment, collaboratively developing a plan that starts where the family is, and providing support between sessions. A case of a 3‐year‐old girl with BIC illustrates how treatment helped her to develop healthy sleep habits and taught her to sleep independently via graduated and standard extinction. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol: In Session 66:1–10, 2010.
Cognitive–behavioral therapy and hypnotic relaxation to treat sleep problems in an adolescent with diabetes
Authors: Perfect Michelle M. , Elkins Gary R.
Published: September 2010

Inadequate sleep among adolescents frequently contributes to obesity and reduced academic performance, along with symptoms of anxiety, depression, fatigue, and attention deficits. The etiological bases of sleep quality has been associated with both stress and sleep habits. These problems tend to be especially important for adolescents with diabetes as the effects of poor sleep complicate health outcomes. This case example concerns a 14‐year‐old adolescent girl with a history of type I diabetes and stress‐related sleep difficulties. Treatment included cognitive–behavioral methods and hypnotic relaxation therapy. Results of this case example and other controlled research suggest that hypnotic relaxation therapy is well accepted, results in good compliance, and serves as a useful adjunctive to cognitive–behavioral intervention for sleep problems. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol: In Session 66:1–11, 2010.
The economic footing of the global poor, 1980–2005: The roles of economic growth, openness and political institutions
Authors: Wagle Udaya R.
Published: September 2010

The period between 1980 and 2005 registered declining poverty, especially in its extreme form, and increasing economic inequality with implications for the economic footing of the global poor‐ and low‐income groups. Disentangling the roles of economic growth, openness and political institutions in determining poverty and inequality using cross‐national data faces enormous methodological challenges. Nevertheless, panel data regressions estimated here suggest that the poor‐ and low‐income groups do not benefit much from economic openness and political democracy. While economic growth and government expenditures do not significantly affect poverty, they prove somewhat effective at containing inequality. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Metal neck and liner impingement in ceramic bearing total hip arthroplasty
Authors: Lee Young‐Kyun , Yoo Jeong Joon , Koo Kyung‐Hoi , Yoon Kang Sup , Kim Hee Joong
Published: September 2010

Although impingement between the neck of the metallic stem and the ceramic liner has been suspected to be the cause of ceramic liner failure in ceramic‐on‐ceramic total hip arthroplasty (THA), no report has directly demonstrated microscopic damage on ceramic liner. We performed 18 reoperations on 18 patients who had undergone third generation ceramic‐on‐ceramic THA. Considering impingement, 16 patients, who were reoperated more than 1 year after previous ceramic bearing THA, were evaluated. Retrieved alumina liners, showing evidence of impingement, were examined by means of visual inspection and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Four of the 16 hips showed neck notching and black stained liners, evidence of metallic neck to ceramic impingement. Impinged alumina bearings had been implanted for an average of 62.5 months (range: 35–99 months) before reoperation. SEM of the black stained area demonstrated disruptive wear and loss of surface integrity. Furthermore, one liner had multiple microcracks, and its cross‐sectional SEM analysis revealed one microcrack propagating into the deep portion of the ceramic liner. Our observations suggest that metal neck‐to‐ceramic impingement in ceramic‐on‐ceramic THA can cause microcrack formation in ceramic liner. © 2010 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 29:218–222, 2011
Wavelet Approximation of GRID Fields: Application to Quantitative Structure‐Activity Relationships
Authors: Martin Richard L. , Gardiner Eleanor , Gillet Valerie J. , Muñoz‐Muriedas Jordi , Senger Stefan
Published: September 2010

Molecular interaction fields such as those computed by the GRID program are widely used in applications such as virtual screening, molecular docking and 3D‐QSAR modelling. They characterise molecules according to their favourable interaction sites and therefore enable predictions to be made on how molecules might interact. The fields are, however, comprised of a very large number of data points which presents difficulties for many applications. For example, there are likely to be high degrees of correlation between the variables which can lead to misleading results in 3D‐QSAR. We describe the use of wavelet methods for approximating such data into a much smaller number of variables. We present a number of validation experiments, including use of the approximated GRIDs in 3D‐QSAR, and demonstrate that wavelet approximation at high levels of data compression preserves the information content in GRID fields while significantly reducing computational requirements.
Rotational failure mechanisms for the face stability analysis of tunnels driven by a pressurized shield
Authors: Mollon Guilhem , Dias Daniel , Soubra Abdul‐Hamid
Published: September 2010

The aim of this paper is to determine the collapse and blow‐out face pressures of a circular tunnel driven by a pressurized shield. The analysis is performed in the framework of the kinematical approach of the limit analysis theory. Two rotational failure mechanisms are proposed for the active and passive cases. These mechanisms have two significant advantages with respect to the available ones: (i) they take into account the entire circular tunnel face instead of an inscribed ellipse to this circular area, and (ii) they are more consistent with the rotational rigid‐block movement observed in the experimental tests. For both the active and passive cases, the three‐dimensional failure surface was generated ‘point by point’ instead of simple use of the existing standard geometric shapes such as cones or cylinders. This was achieved by employing a spatial discretization technique. The numerical results have shown that the present rotational mechanisms provide, in the case of frictional soils (with or without cohesion), a significant improvement with respect to the translational mechanisms. Finally, an extension of the proposed collapse mechanism to include a tension cut‐off in the classical Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion is presented and discussed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analysis of shaft resistance of jacked piles in sands
Authors: Basu Prasenjit , Loukidis Dimitrios , Prezzi Monica , Salgado Rodrigo
Published: September 2010

In recent years, pile jacking has become a viable alternative installation method for displacement piles. Pile jacking produces minimal noise, vibration and air pollution during installation. In addition, it is possible, at the end of jacking, to have a good estimate of the ultimate static capacity of the pile. In this paper, the shaft resistance of piles jacked into sand is studied using one‐dimensional finite element analysis. The finite element simulations, using a two‐surface plasticity model, demonstrate the effects of relative density and confinement on the unit shaft resistance of piles jacked in sand. The impact of the number of jacking strokes on the unit shaft capacity is also assessed. Based on the numerical results, we developed equations for shaft resistance quantifying the effects of relative density, initial confinement and number of jacking strokes. Predictions using these equations are compared with data obtained from centrifuge tests and field tests. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Enriched finite element procedures for analyzing decoupled bolts installed in rock mass
Authors: Deb Debasis , Das Kamal C.
Published: September 2010

Numerical procedures are developed to analyze interaction between fully grouted bolts and rock mass using ‘enriched finite element method (EFEM)’. A solid element intersected by a rock bolt along any arbitrary direction is termed as ‘enriched’ element. The nodes of an enriched element have additional degrees of freedom for determining displacements, stresses developed in the bolt rod. The stiffness of the enriched element is formulated based on properties of rock mass, bolt rod and grout, orientation of the bolt and borehole diameter. Decoupling at grout–bolt interface and elasto‐plastic behavior of rock mass have also been incorporated into the EFEM procedures. The results of this method are compared with analytical pull‐out test results presented by Li and Stillborg (Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. 1999; 36:1013–1029). In addition, a numerical example of a bolted tunnel is provided to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed method for practical applications. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nanostructured metal oxide gas sensors prepared by electrospinning
Authors: Kim Il‐Doo , Rothschild Avner
Published: September 2010

Electrospinning provides a simple and versatile route to produce nanocrystalline metal oxide layers with a highly porous fibrous morphology. The combination of small grain size, high surface area, and high porosity that includes both small and large pores is ideally suited for gas sensing. This work presents an overview of the recent developments in producing ultra‐sensitive metal oxide gas sensors by electrospinning of polymer solutions containing inorganic precursors that subsequently oxidize and crystallize into metal oxide nanoparticles. The key process parameters and their effect on microstructure evolution and gas sensing properties of TiO2 and SnO2 sensors produced by electrospinning are described. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Radical copolymerization of vinylidene cyanide with 2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl methacrylate: Structure and characterization
Authors: Raihane Mustapha , Castelvetro Valter , Bianchi Sabrina , Atlas Salima , Ameduri Bruno
Published: September 2010

A novel copolymer of vinylidene cyanide (VCN) and 2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl methacrylate (MATRIF) was synthesized by bulk free radical process in a 52% yield from an equimolar comonomer feed. The copolymer's composition and microstructure were analyzed by FTIR, 1H‐ and 13C‐NMR spectroscopy, SEC, and elemental analysis. The reactivity ratios calculated from both the Q‐e Alfrey‐Price parameters and the Jenkins' Patterns Scheme indicate a tendency to alternation in the copolymerization, the latter method suggesting that MATRIF homopropagation be slightly favoured (rV = r12 = 0.1, rM = r21 = 0.3). The molar incorporation of VCN in the copolymer was only 42 mol % according to the 9.0 wt % nitrogen content determined by elemental analysis, in good agreement with the value obtained by 1H‐NMR. High‐resolution 1H and 13C‐NMR spectra were used to study the microstructure of the copolymer. As an example, the three well‐resolved carbonyl resonances in the 13C‐NMR spectrum were assigned to the MATRIF‐centered triads VMV, VMM, and MMM, respectively, (V and M stand for VCN and MATRIF, respectively). The presence of VCN dyads (e.g., in VVM and VVV sequences) was shown to be marginal or absent altogether. Thermogravimetric analysis of poly(VCN‐co‐MATRIF) copolymer showed good thermal stability, and its main pyrolytic degradation taking place only above 368 °C. A 4% weight loss at about 222 °C suggested the presence of a few VCN homodyads, possibly inducing thermal depolymerization. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010
Synthesis and proton conductivity studies of polystyrene‐based triazole functional polymer membranes
Authors: Özden Şehmus , Çelik Sevim Ünügür , Bozkurt Ayhan
Published: September 2010

In this study, poly(vinylbenzylchloride) (PVBC) was produced by free‐radical polymerization of 4‐vinylbenzylchloride, and then it was functionalized with 3‐amino‐1,2,4‐triazole (ATri) and 1H‐1,2,4‐triazole (Tri). The composition of the polymers was verified by elemental analysis, and the structure was characterized by Fourier transform infrared and 13C‐nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. PVBC was modified by ATri with 68% and Tri with 50% yield. The polymers were doped with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TA) at various molar ratios, X = 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 with respect to aminotriazole and triazole units. Proton transfer from TA to the triazole rings was proved with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the samples are thermally stable up to approximately 200 °C. Differential scanning calorimetry results illustrated the homogeneity of the materials. Under anhydrous conditions, PVBCATri3TA and PVBCTri3TA showed highest proton conductivity of 0.086 and 0.042 S/cm, respectively. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010
A qualitative study of the ramifications of rash from epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors
Authors: Coleman Shawnta , Kovtun Irina , Nguyen Phuong L. , Pittelkow Mark , Jatoi Aminah
Published: September 2010

Objective: Over 50% of cancer patients who are treated with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors develop a papulopustular rash that involves the face, neck, and upper torso. However, because relatively few previous reports have focused on the full ramifications of this drug‐induced side effect, this qualitative study was undertaken.

Methods: Fifteen patients who had either an active or previous rash from these agents participated in scripted interviews. All interviews were transcribed and examined by means of a qualitative methodologic approach.

Results: Four major themes emerged: (1) actual physical discomfort was associated with the rash; (2) patients were concerned about their appearance; (3) despite initial denial, patients did suffer social isolation; and (4) high medical morbidity was associated with the rash. Patients voiced concerns such as: (1) ‘Especially when I try to sleep, I can feel the itch and burn all over…’; (2) ‘My face looks so bad that if I go to see my friends and they say, ‘What happened to you.’ I am self conscious about that’; (3) ‘I just told them they would be better off just calling me, don't come visit…’; and (4) ‘I went to the hospital for my face…they made a bandage to put all over [my] face…. [I] just had a little nose hole, a mouth hole and holes for…eyes.’.

Conclusion: Rash from EGFR inhibitors can have a major negative impact upon cancer patients. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hazards for syngas fires and explosions
Authors: Pierorazio Adrian J. , Baker Quentin A.
Published: September 2010

Fire and explosion hazards in ammonia plants include releases of flammable materials. The distinction between fire and explosion scenarios is often whether the fuel ignites promptly upon release or has delayed ignition. Prompt ignition prevents formation of a flammable vapor cloud and, thereby, averts a VCE. Syngas contains a significant amount of hydrogen, a fuel that is easily ignited. Industry experience with accidental releases of syngas has been that it promptly ignites. Literature was reviewed for test and accident data for syngas and hydrogen to estimate the probability of prompt versus delayed ignition. No instances of syngas VCEs were found in literature; however, numerous test and accidents were reported for hydrogen. The probability of delayed ignition varied with the release conditions. A conservative estimate of the probability of delayed ignition was developed. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog, 2010
Estimation of the flash point of pure organic chemicals from structural contributions
Authors: Rowley J.R. , Rowley R.L. , Wilding W.V.
Published: September 2010

The flash point is an important indicator of the flammability of liquids and solids. Many methods of estimating the flash point of pure chemicals have been published, but these methods either rely on accurate thermodynamic data or are limited to hydrocarbons. This work presents a method of estimating the flash point of general organic compounds based entirely on structural contributions. The proposed correlation results in an average absolute deviation of 2.84% from experimental values for more than 1,000 organic compounds. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog, 2010
Luminescence spectroscopy of europium doped gallium nitride powder prepared by a Na flux method
Authors: Brown Ei , Hömmerich Uwe , Yamada Takahiro , Yamane Hisanori , Zavada John
Published: September 2010

The red emission properties of Eu doped gallium nitride (GaN) powder prepared by a Na flux method were characterized by time‐resolved photoluminescence (PL) and site‐selective PL excitation studies. Under above‐gap excitation (325 nm), Eu3+ doped GaN powders exhibited bright red luminescence at ∼622 nm (5D0 → 7F2 transition). The room‐temperature emission lifetime was determined to be ∼242 µs and increased only slightly at 10 K with a value of ∼252 µs. At the same time, the integrated Eu3+ PL intensity was quenched by a factor of ∼20 for the temperature range from 10 to 300 K. Low temperature PL excitation studies in the region of the 7F0 → 5D0 transition of Eu3+ ions indicated the existence of multiple Eu3+ centers with distinct excitation and emission properties in GaN:Eu powder.
The Max EWMAMS control chart for joint monitoring of process mean and variance with individual observations
Authors: Ostadsharif Memar Ahmad , Niaki Seyed Taghi Akhavan
Published: September 2010

A traditional approach to monitor both the location and the scale parameters of a quality characteristic is to use two separate control charts. These schemes have some difficulties in concurrent tracking and interpretation. To overcome these difficulties, some researchers have proposed schemes consisting of only one chart. However, none of these schemes is designed to work with individual observations. In this research, an exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA)‐based control chart that plots only one statistic at a time is proposed to simultaneously monitor the mean and variability with individual observations. The performance of the proposed scheme is compared with one of the two other existing combination charts by simulation. The results show that in general the proposed chart has a significantly better performance than the other combination charts. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Theoretical spectroscopy of carbocyanine dyes made accurate by frozen density correction to excitation energies obtained by TD‐DFT
Authors: Masunov Artëm E.
Published: September 2010

We present long‐awaited answer to the puzzling question of why the TD‐DFT fails to predict the excitation energies in polymethine dyes accurately. The density functional theory methods were suspected to be inaccurate due to self interaction error inherent in exchange‐correlation potentials. Here we decisively show that it is the linear response approximation that is responsible for these inaccuracies. Next, we use frozen density to evaluate the excitation energy beyond the linear response and increase the accuracy of the predictions. This recipe uniformly improves the accuracy of the first absorption maxima prediction in cyanine homologous series to within 25 nm. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010
Nanoparticle patterning: High‐Resolution, Parallel Patterning of Nanoparticles via an Ion‐Induced Focusing Mask (Small 19/2010)
Authors: You Sukbeom , Han Kyuhee , Kim Hyoungchul , Lee Heechul , Woo Chang Gyu , Jeong Changui , Nam Woongsik , Choi Mansoo
Published: September 2010

An ion‐induced focusing mask under the simultaneous injection of ions and charged aerosols generates invisible electrostatic lenses around each opening, through which charged nanoparticles are convergently guided without depositing on the mask surface. The sizes of the created features become significantly smaller than those of the mask openings due to the focusing capability. It is not only demonstrated that material‐independent nanoparticles including proteins can be patterned as an ordered array on any surface regardless of the conductive, nonconductive, or flexible nature of the substrate, but also that the array density can be increased. Highly sensitive gas sensors based on these focused nanoparticle patterns are fabricated via the concept.
Intracellular Nanoparticle Coating Stability Determines Nanoparticle Diagnostics Efficacy and Cell Functionality
Authors: Soenen Stefaan J. H. , Himmelreich Uwe , Nuytten Nele , Pisanic Thomas R. , Ferrari Aldo , De Cuyper Marcel
Published: September 2010

Iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) are frequently employed in biomedical research as magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agents where high intracellular levels are required to clearly depict signal alterations. To date, the toxicity and applicability of these particles have not been completely unraveled. Here, we show that endosomal localization of different iron oxide particles results in their degradation and in reduced MR contrast, the rate of which is governed mainly by the stability of the coating. The release of ferric iron generates reactive species, which greatly affect cell functionality. Lipid‐coated NPs display the highest stability and furthermore exhibit intracellular clustering, which significantly enhances their MR properties and intracellular persistence. These findings are of considerable importance because, depending on the nature of the coating, particles can be rapidly degraded, thus completely annihilating their MR contrast to levels not detectable when compared to controls and greatly impeding cell functionality, thereby hindering their application in functional in vivo studies.
Lactic acid assisted wet fractionation of field pea (Pisum sativum L.) flour
Authors: Naguleswaran Sabaratnam , Vasanthan Thava
Published: September 2010

The use of lactic acid (LA) in the isolation of starch from field pea (Pisum sativum L.) flour was investigated. The yield, purity, morphology, and the physicochemical properties (color, swelling, pasting and gelatinization characteristics, X‐ray diffraction pattern, and crystallinity) of the starches isolated with and without LA were determined. When compared to the control (0% LA), addition of LA at concentrations ranged from 0.5 to 7.0% v/v significantly increased the purity of the isolated starches up to 4% w/w and reduced the residual protein content by 6% w/w. The resistant starch and apparent amylose contents of the isolated starches using LA were significantly higher (up to 25 and 42.5%, w/w, respectively). Furthermore, the starches produced by LA assisted extraction showed significantly lower swelling factor and pasting viscosities, but generally insignificant changes were observed in the gelatinization parameters as compared to that of control. Marginal differences were observed in the X‐ray diffractograms between control and the LA processed starches. However, the relative crystallinity of LA processed starches was significantly higher than the control. The present study revealed that the use of LA in pea starch extraction show benefits in terms of starch purity, brightness, resistance to amylolysis, and apparent amylose content.
Deployment of a reliable 802.11e experimental setup for throughput measurements
Authors: Babich F. , Comisso M. , D'Orlando M. , Dorni A.
Published: September 2010

This paper describes an experimental setup for measuring the throughput of an 802.11 network that supports Quality of Service (QoS) mechanisms, addressing some issues concerning the comparison between experimental and theoretical results. The setup is an ad hoc network in which the nodes implement the Multiband Atheros Driver for Wireless Fidelity (MADWiFi). There are three main contributions of this study. The first one describes the adjustments to the MADWiFi source code that guarantee the control of the QoS parameters in ad hoc mode. The second contribution aims to provide a practical method for verifying if the backoff generated by a given wireless card is uniformly distributed, as dictated by the 802.11 standard. This represents a key point when theoretical and experimental results must be compared, since many vendors adopt nonuniform backoff distributions in their commercial cards. As a third contribution, this paper presents a theoretical nonsaturated analysis that provides the throughput and the successful packet delay of an 802.11 network supporting QoS in presence of nonuniform backoff. The throughput derived from this analysis using a uniform backoff, which is included in the proposed model as a particular case, is compared to the measurements provided by the deployed setup. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Protein–membrane interactions: the virtue of minimal systems in systems biology
Authors: Arumugam Senthil , Chwastek Grzegorz , Schwille Petra
Published: September 2010

The plasma membrane of cells can be viewed as a highly dynamic, regulated, heterogeneous environment with multiple functions. It constitutes the boundary of the cell, encapsulating all its components. Proteins interact with the membrane in many ways to accommodate essential processes, such as membrane trafficking, membrane protrusions, cytokinesis, signaling, and cell–cell communication. A vast amount of literature has already fostered our current understanding of membrane–protein interactions. However, many phenomena still remain to be understood, e.g., the exact mechanisms of how certain proteins cause or assist membrane transformations. Systems biology aims to predict biological processes on the basis of the set of molecules involved. Many key processes arise from interactions with the lipid membrane. Protein interactome maps do not consider such specific interactions, and thus cannot predict precise outcomes of the interactions of the involved proteins. These can only be inferred from experimental approaches. We describe examples of how an emergent behavior of protein–membrane interactions has been demonstrated by the use of minimal systems. These studies contribute to a deeper understanding of protein interactomes involving membranes and complement other approaches of systems biology. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2011 3 269–280 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.119

This article is categorized under:

Laboratory Methods and Technologies > Macromolecular Interactions, Methods
Integrative modeling of the cardiac ventricular myocyte
Authors: Winslow Raimond L. , Cortassa Sonia , O'Rourke Brian , Hashambhoy Yasmin L. , Rice John Jeremy , Greenstein Joseph L.
Published: September 2010

Cardiac electrophysiology is a discipline with a rich 50‐year history of experimental research coupled with integrative modeling which has enabled us to achieve a quantitative understanding of the relationships between molecular function and the integrated behavior of the cardiac myocyte in health and disease. In this paper, we review the development of integrative computational models of the cardiac myocyte. We begin with a historical overview of key cardiac cell models that helped shape the field. We then narrow our focus to models of the cardiac ventricular myocyte and describe these models in the context of their subcellular functional systems including dynamic models of voltage‐gated ion channels, mitochondrial energy production, ATP‐dependent and electrogenic membrane transporters, intracellular Ca dynamics, mechanical contraction, and regulatory signal transduction pathways. We describe key advances and limitations of the models as well as point to new directions for future modeling research. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2011 3 392–413 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.122

This article is categorized under:

Models of Systems Properties and Processes > Cellular Models
Mechanisms of genetic regulation in gene expression: examples from drug metabolizing enzymes and transporters
Authors: Glubb Dylan M. , Innocenti Federico
Published: September 2010

Interindividual variability in the response to drug therapy is due, in part, to genetic mechanisms which influence the expression of genes involved with drug metabolism and transport. Genetic elements and processes such as DNA methylation, histone deacetylation, transcription factors, DNA sequence variants, and microRNAs (miRNAs) can impact at either the transcriptional or translational levels to modulate gene expression. Identification of such genetic regulators has greatly advanced in the last decade. Genome‐wide analyses, using different types of approaches and methodologies, have uncovered many potential regulators of the expression of drug metabolizing enzymes and transporters. However, confirming the function of these putative regulators is necessary and requires further work in the laboratory, using techniques which are still evolving. It also still remains to be seen whether these findings have clinical implications for drug therapy but the realization of personalized medicine is a possible consequence of this research. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2011 3 299–313 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.125

This article is categorized under:

Laboratory Methods and Technologies > Genetic/Genomic Methods

Biological Mechanisms > Metabolism
Measurement of K absorption edge energies of silver and tin targets using a weak beta source
Authors: Niranjana K. M. , Badiger N. M. , Joseph Daisy , Kailas S.
Published: September 2010

K absorption edge energies of Ag and Sn elements have been determined by using a weak beta source. In this method, the beta particles from a 90Sr90Y beta source interact with an iron foil to produce the external bremsstrahlung (EB) photons. The spectrum of EB photons is passed through the elemental target and the spectrum of transmitted photons is recorded with a high resolution HPGe detector spectrometer coupled to 16K multichannel analyzer. The recorded transmitted EB spectrum shows a sharp decrease in intensity at the K shell binding energy of elemental target. Such a sharp decrease region, which is corrected for Kβ′2 contribution, has been used to determine the K absorption edge energies of Ag and Sn elemental targets. The measured values have been compared with theoretical and experimental values. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae: a potential stereospecific reduction tool for biotransformation of mono‐ and sesquiterpenoids
Authors: Khor Guat Kheng , Uzir Mohamad Hekarl
Published: September 2010

Terpenes and terpenoids are among the key impact substances in the food and fragrance industries. Equipped with pharmacological properties and applications as ideal precursors for the biotechnological production of natural aroma chemicals, interests in these compounds have been escalating. Hence, the syntheses of new derivatives that can show improved properties are often called for. Stereoselective biotransformation offers several benefits to increase the rate of production, in terms of both the percentage yield and its enantiomeric excesses. Baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is broadly used as a whole cell stereospecific reduction biocatalyst, due to its capability in reducing carbonyls and carbon–carbon double bonds, which also extends its functionality as a versatile biocatalyst in terpenoid biotransformation. This review provides some insights on the development and prospects in the reductive biotransformation of monoterpenoids and sesquiterpenoids usingS. cerevisiae, with an overview of strategies to overcome the common challenges in large‐scale implementation. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Treatment of infantile Pompe disease with alglucosidase alpha: the UK experience
Authors: Chakrapani Anupam , Vellodi Ashok , Robinson Peter , Jones Simon , Wraith J. E.
Published: September 2010

Treatment of infantile Pompe disease with recombinant human acid α‐glucosidase has shown substantial improvement in survival, and in cardiac, motor and respiratory functions. We analyzed the outcome of all patients with infantile Pompe disease treated in the United Kingdom since the availability of the enzyme, using a questionnaire‐based survey circulated to all treating centres. A total of 20 infants were treated from 2000 to 2009. Median ages at diagnosis and treatment were 5.75 months (range 0.25–31 months) and 6.5 months (0.5–32 months), respectively. Median duration of treatment was 31 months (1–102 months). Overall ventilator‐free survival was 35% (7/20 infants), while 35% (7/20) died at a median age of 10 months (5.75–15 months) and 30% (6/20) were alive but ventilator‐dependent. Endotracheal intubation for acute deterioration carried a high risk of failure of extubation and progression to long‐term ventilation (LTV), but elective general anaesthesia, in contrast, was well tolerated. Overall outcome was worse than in the pivotal clinical trials; possible causes include later diagnosis and treatment in our patients and a higher incidence of infants at the severe end of the clinical spectrum. Careful consideration must be given to all possible outcomes, including LTV, before commencing enzyme replacement therapy in newly diagnosed infants.
The Future of Rice Genomics: Sequencing the Collective Oryza Genome
Authors: Goicoechea Jose Luis , Ammiraju Jetty Siva S. , Marri Pradeep Reddy , Chen Mingsheng , Jackson Scott , Yu Yeisoo , Rounsley Steve , Wing Rod A.
Published: September 2010

The main objectives of the “Oryza Map Alignment Project” (OMAP) are to characterize the rice genome from a comparative standpoint by establishing a genus-wide and genome-scale comparative framework from representative species. Here, we report our progress in the analyses of these datasets and emerging “comparative phylogenomics” insights into Oryza evolution at two different resolutions—chromosomal and sequence levels. We demonstrate the abundance and impact of structural variations (SV) on genome diversity using African Oryza as a model. The molecular basis of SV was inferred using three genus-wide vertical sequence datasets. Combined, these data demonstrate that a single reference genome sequence for the genus Oryza is insufficient to comprehensively capture the genomic and allelic diversity present within the genus. Towards this end, we present a strategy to generate high-quality and cost-effective de novo reference sequences of collective Oryza. The application and broader scientific impact of the OMAP resources under an international cooperative effort (I-OMAP) are discussed.
Equivalence of viscosity and weak solutions for the $p(x)$-Laplacian
Authors: Parviainen Mikko , Lukkari Teemu , Juutinen Petri
Published: September 2010

We consider different notions of solutions to the

p(x)

-Laplace equation

−\mathrm{div}(|Du(x)|^{p(x)−2}Du(x)) = 0

with

1 < p(x) < \infty

. We show by proving a comparison principle that viscosity supersolutions and

p(x)

-superharmonic functions of nonlinear potential theory coincide. This implies that weak and viscosity solutions are the same class of functions, and that viscosity solutions to Dirichlet problems are unique. As an application, we prove a Radó type removability theorem.
FoxO1 represses LXRα‐mediated transcriptional activity of SREBP‐1c promoter in HepG2 cells
Authors: Liu Xiaojun , Qiao Aijun , Ke Yaojun , Kong Xingxing , Liang Jichao , Wang Rui , Ouyang Xiaoqing , Zuo Ji , Chang Yongsheng , Fang Fude
Published: September 2010

Recent studies have demonstrated that FoxO1 modulates the expression of SREBP‐1c, but the exact mechanism remains unknown. Our results demonstrate that FoxO1 suppresses the SREBP‐1c promoter transcriptional activity in HepG2 cells. This repression was independent of FoxO1 binding to the SREBP‐1c promoter, but LXR responsive elements (LXREs) were crucial to this phenomenon. Moreover, FoxO1 also strongly inhibited the LXRα‐mediated elevated transcription by SREBP‐1c promoter. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay and chromatin immuno‐precipitation further suggested the ability of FoxO1 to inhibit LXRα binding with the LXRE in the SREBP‐c promoter. FoxO1‐mediated suppression of SREBP‐1c promoter activity could be partially alleviated by insulin.
Combined diffusion‐ and perfusion‐weighted imaging: a new way for the assessment of hemispheric transient ischemic attack patients
Authors: Tong Tong , Zhenwei Yao , Xiaoyuan Feng
Published: September 2010

Abnormalities in diffusion‐weighted and perfusion‐weighted magnetic resonance images not only occur in stroke patients but also in transient ischemic attack patients. We found magnetic resonance images were abnormal in 28 patients (68%): 15 had diffusion‐weighted imaging abnormalities, 7 had both diffusion‐weighted imaging and perfusion‐weighted imaging defects and 6 had an isolated perfusion‐weighted imaging abnormality. Patients with shorter onset to magnetic resonance imaging, large artery atherothrombosis, coronary artery disease, hyperlipidemia and hemiparesis were more likely to show perfusion‐weighted imaging abnormalities. Compared with patients who had a good prognosis, in poor prognosis patients, the relative cerebral blood flow and relative cerebral blood volume was significantly higher. The data suggest that transient ischemic attack patients are more likely to have a poor prognosis when white matter of the symptomatic side shows hyperperfusion within 24 h of symptom onset; however, patients are more likely to have a good prognosis when white matter of the symptomatic side shows hypoperfusion.
More Than a Category: Han Supremacism on the Chinese Internet
Authors: Leibold James
Published: September 2010

Using the October 2008 slapping incident of historian Yan Chongnian 阎崇年 as a case study, this article attempts to contextualize and critically examine the articulation of Han supremacism on the Chinese internet. It demonstrates how an informal group of non-elite, urban youth are mobilizing the ancient Han ethnonym to challenge the Chinese Communist Party's official policy of multiculturalism, while seeking to promote pride and self-identification with the Han race (han minzu汉民族) to the exclusion of the non-Han minorities. In contrast to most of the Anglophone literature on Chinese nationalism, this article seeks to employ “Han” as a “boundary-spanner,” a category that turns our analysis of Chinese national identity formation on its head, side-stepping the “usual suspects” (intellectuals, dissidents and the state itself) and the prominent role of the “foreign other” in Chinese ethnogenesis, and instead probing the unstable plurality of the self/othering process in modern China and the role of the internet in opening up new spaces for non-mainstream identity articulation.
Nanjing's Failed “January Revolution” of 1967: The Inner Politics of a Provincial Power Seizure
Authors: Guoqiang Dong , Walder Andrew G.
Published: September 2010

Scholarship on factional warfare during the first two years of the Cultural Revolution has long portrayed a struggle between “conservative” factions that sought to preserve the status quo and “radical” factions that sought to transform it. Recent accounts, however, claim that the axis of political conflict was fundamentally transformed after the fall of civilian governments in early 1967, violating the central tenet of this interpretation. A close examination of Nanjing's abortive power seizure of January 1967 addresses this issue in some depth. The power seizure in fact was a crucial turning point: it removed the defenders of local authorities from the political stage and generated a split between two wings of the rebel movement that overthrew them. The political divisions among former rebel allies intensified and hardened in the course of tortuous negotiations in Beijing that were buffeted by confusing political shifts in the capital. This created a contest that was not between “conservatives” and “radicals” over the restoration of the status quo, but about the respective places of the rival radical factions in restored structures of authority.
The African Trading Community in Guangzhou: An Emerging Bridge for Africa–China Relations
Authors: Bodomo Adams
Published: September 2010

This article analyses an emerging African trading community in Guangzhou, China. It is argued that migrant communities such as this one act as linguistic, cultural and economic bridges between their source communities and their host communities, even in the midst of tensions created by incidents such as immigration restrictions and irregularities. Socio-linguistic and socio-cultural profiles of this community are built, through questionnaire surveys and interviews, to address issues such as why Africans go to Guangzhou, which African countries are represented, what languages are spoken there, how communication takes place between Africans and Chinese, what socio-economic contributions Africans in Guangzhou are making to the Chinese economy, and how the state reacts to this African presence. Following from the argument that this community acts as a bridge for Africa–China relations it is suggested that both the Chinese and the African governments should work towards eliminating the harassment of members in this community by many Guangzhou law enforcement officials and instead harness the contributions of this community to promote Africa–China socio-economic relations.
Power, Policy and Elite Politics under Zhao Ziyang
Authors: Chan Alfred L.
Published: September 2010

Heir apparent to Deng Xiaoping but illegally deposed as general secretary, Zhao Ziyang was held under house arrest after the Tiananmen events of 1989 until his death at 85 in 2005. A three-year special investigation to prove that Zhao “supported turmoil and split the party” simply fizzled out. In 2000, after many failed attempts to regain his freedom and to reverse the verdicts against the students and himself, he secretly recorded his memoirs for posterity.Gaige licheng, a transcript of about 30 cassette-tapes, was smuggled out of China and, together with an English translation entitledPrisoner of the State: The Journal of Premier Zhao Ziyang, published on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen crackdown in June 2009.
Towards community-based forest management in Southern Africa: do decentralization experiments work for local livelihoods?
Authors: MATOSE FRANK , WATTS SCOTNEY
Published: September 2010

Differences are emerging in decentralization of forest and community management in Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa. This paper draws on case studies in each country to examine five aspects of their decentralization experience, namely forest tenure, new organizational structures, accountability and livelihood outcomes. Tenure arrangements developed as a result of decentralization are important for communities, as these determine the nature of access sanctioned by the state and security of the arrangements. The transfer of power to new organizations is proving to be a challenge. Experiences across the three case studies show that new committees were formed for these forestry initiatives by outside agencies and attempts were made to make them relevant to the way local communities managed forests. One of the main tenets of decentralization revolves around accountability of community representatives to their constituents rather than to the state. Although moves have been made to promote the accountability of community representatives, these have produced mixed results in Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa. Only after changes in the approach taken by the state in Zimbabwe did community representatives become more accountable. In Mozambique, because of the special arrangements around the specific case, greater authority was given to community representatives, whereas, in South Africa, the state retained authority over representatives. Decentralization may bring benefits and improve communities' livelihoods from forestry activities, however much more still needs to be done by states in order for forests to take communities out of poverty.