bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Density functional study of 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine molecular crystal with van der Waals interactions
Authors: Shimojo Fuyuki , Wu Zhongqing , Nakano Aiichiro , Kalia Rajiv K. , Vashishta Priya
Published: March 2010

Volume dependence of the total energy and vibrational properties of crystalline l,3,5-trinitro-l,3,5-triazine (RDX) are calculated using the density functional theory (DFT). For this molecular crystal, properties calculated with a generalized gradient approximation to the exchange-correlation energy differ drastically from experimental values. This discrepancy arises from the inadequacy in treating weak van der Waals (vdW) interactions between molecules in the crystal, and an empirical vdW correction to DFT (DFT-D approach by Grimme) is shown to account for the dispersion effects accurately for the RDX crystal, while incurring little computational overhead. The nonempirical van der Waals density-functional (vdW-DF) method also provides an accurate description of the vdW corrections but with orders-of-magnitude more computation. We find that the vibrational properties of RDX are affected in a nontrivial manner by the vdW correction due to its dual role—reduction of the equilibrium volume and additional atomic forces.
Temperature dependent thermal conductivity of Si/SiC amorphous multilayer films
Authors: Mazumder Monalisa , Borca-Tasciuc Theodorian , Teehan Sean C. , Stinzianni Emilio , Efstathiadis Harry , Solovyov Slowa
Published: March 2010

The cross-plane thermal conductivity of 22 nm period Si/SiC amorphous multilayer films deposited by magnetron sputtering and measured using a differential 3ω method was found to decrease from 2.0 W/mK at 300 K to 1.1 W/mK at 80 K. Structural disorder in each of the constituent layers of the amorphous multilayer films was confirmed by high resolution transmission electron microscopy. Estimations of the relative contributions of interface and intrinsic layer thermal resistance based on microscopic phonon transport models indicate that mean free path reductions induced by the structural disorder within the multilayer films are responsible for the observed experimental trends.
Vector magnetic field microscopy using nitrogen vacancy centers in diamond
Authors: Maertz B. J. , Wijnheijmer A. P. , Fuchs G. D. , Nowakowski M. E. , Awschalom D. D.
Published: March 2010

The localized spin triplet ground state of a nitrogen vacancy (NV) center in diamond can be used in atomic-scale detection of local magnetic fields. Here we present a technique using ensembles of these defects in diamond to image fields around magnetic structures. We extract the local magnetic field vector by probing resonant transitions of the four fixed tetrahedral NV orientations. In combination with confocal microscopy techniques, we construct a two-dimensional image of the local magnetic field vectors. Measurements are done in external fields less than 50 G and under ambient conditions.
Polarization inversion in a ferroelectric liquid crystal studied by H1 nuclear magnetic resonance
Authors: Cha J. K. , Lee K. W. , Lee Cheol Eui , Jin J.-I.
Published: March 2010

A ferroelectric liquid crystal, S-2-methylbutyl 4-n-octanoyloxybiphenyl-4′-carboxylate, undergoing a characteristic polarization inversion, has been studied by H1 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). In addition to the discontinuities at the first-order isotropic and recrystallization phase transitions, the nuclear magnetic relaxation revealed a weak anomaly attributed to the soft mode at the Sm-A−Sm-C∗ liquid crystalline phase transition. Besides, the polarization inversion in the Sm-C∗ phase was manifested in the nuclear magnetic relaxation as well as in the NMR lineshape and in the temperature-dependent relative peak positions of the NMR line components, indicating that the polarization inversion is associated with a conformational transition.
Interplay between crystallographic orientation and electric transport properties in La2/3Sr1/3MnO3 films
Authors: Tebano A. , Orsini A. , Di Castro D. , Medaglia P. G. , Balestrino G.
Published: March 2010

The effect of crystallographic interface orientation on the electric transport properties of fully strained La2/3Sr1/3MnO3 films grown onto LaAlO3 substrates has been investigated. It is found that, relative to the (001) orientation, the (110) orientation strongly enhances the transport properties for film thickness in the range between 3 and 12 nm. Such an effect was ascribed to reduced [relative to the (001) substrates] tetragonal distortion induced by epitaxy onto (110)-oriented substrates. The reduced tetragonal distortion quenches the occupational imbalance between the Mn eg orbitals thus, ultimately, reinforcing the ferromagnetic double exchange transport mechanism.
Electrical bistability and negative differential resistance in single Sb-doped ZnO nanobelts/SiOx/p-Si heterostructured devices
Authors: Yang Ya , Qi Junjie , Guo Wen , Qin Zi , Zhang Yue
Published: March 2010

We report the electrical bistability and negative differential resistance (NDR) in single Sb-doped ZnO nanobelts/SiOx/p-type Si heterostructured devices. The current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of the devices were discussed in terms of the energy band diagram of the devices. The origin of the electrical bistability and NDR is suggested to be associated with the electric-field-induced charge transfer. The performance of the fabricated devices can be enhanced under the ultraviolet light illumination.
Compartmentalization and delivery via asymmetric copolymer monolayers with swollen or inverse swollen micelles
Authors: Guo Hong Xia , Olvera de la Cruz Monica
Published: March 2010

We investigate the equilibrium properties and the underlying dynamics of emulsions formed in asymmetric A-B copolymers in matrices of immiscible B and C molecular fluids using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations. The emulsions are generated by introducing net attractions among the A units of the copolymers and the C molecules. They coexist with an absorbed copolymer monolayer. We determine the interfacial properties as the emulsions are forming. In general, highly asymmetric copolymers self-assemble within the B-matrix phase into swollen micelles; the cores of which are composed of C-component material. Less asymmetric copolymers, however, after initially budding and eventually fissioning from the interfacial copolymer monolayer, generate emulsified “inverse swollen micelles” within the C-matrix phase. These stable inverse (crew-cut) swollen micelles, which form under the inward bending of the saturated or oversaturated interfaces toward the longer B-block due to the attraction between the A and C units, can encapsulate large amounts of B-matrix component in their cores. This monolayer collapse mechanism can be exploited to generate nanoreactors or containers that enhance the delivery of molecular components into immiscible molecular fluid environments.
Ultrabroad bandwidth of single-layer electromagnetic attenuation composites with flaky fillers
Authors: Li Z. W. , Yang Z. H. , Kong L. B.
Published: March 2010

Z-type barium ferrite flakes were prepared for use as fillers in electromagnetic attenuation composites. The composites with the flaky fillers exhibit greatly enhanced complex permeability, thus achieving an ultrabroad attenuation bandwidth. μ0′ and μmax″ are enhanced by above 150%, and the relative bandwidth WR of 6–7 can be achieved. The bandwidth achieves 75% of the theoretically maximum relative bandwidth. The composites with the flaky fillers are powerful and potential candidates as electromagnetic attenuation materials with ultrabroad bandwidth in L, C, and S bands.
Sensitivity of MRI resonance frequency to the orientation of brain tissue microstructure
Authors: Lee Jongho , Shmueli Karin , Fukunaga Masaki , van Gelderen Peter , Merkle Hellmut , Silva Afonso C. , Duyn Jeff H.
Published: March 2010

Recent advances in high-field (≥7 T) MRI have made it possible to study the fine structure of the human brain at the level of fiber bundles and cortical layers. In particular, techniques aimed at detecting MRI resonance frequency shifts originating from local variation in magnetic susceptibility and other sources have greatly improved the visualization of these structures. A recent theoretical study [He X, Yablonskiy DA (2009)
Proc Natl Acad Sci USA
106:13558–13563] suggests that MRI resonance frequency may report not only on tissue composition, but also on microscopic compartmentalization of susceptibility inclusions and their orientation relative to the magnetic field. The proposed sensitivity to tissue structure may greatly expand the information available with conventional MRI techniques. To investigate this possibility, we studied postmortem tissue samples from human corpus callosum with an experimental design that allowed separation of microstructural effects from confounding macrostructural effects. The results show that MRI resonance frequency does depend on microstructural orientation. Furthermore, the spatial distribution of the resonance frequency shift suggests an origin related to anisotropic susceptibility effects rather than microscopic compartmentalization. This anisotropy, which has been shown to depend on molecular ordering, may provide valuable information about tissue molecular structure.
An inquiry into the emotional impact of sight loss and the counselling experiences and needs of blind and partially sighted people
Authors: Thurston Mhairi
Published: March 2010

Background: The link between sight loss and depression is well documented. The UK Vision Strategy seeks to bring the emotional impact of sight loss into public awareness and improve access to emotional support for visually impaired people. However, dedicated counselling services for visually impaired people remain scarce, and research into the effectiveness of psychological interventions is predominantly anecdotal rather than evidence based. Aim: To explore the emotional impact of sight loss in four core areas (mood, self concept, social connectedness and loss), and to explore the counselling experiences and needs of blind and partially sighted adults. Method: Data were collected using the mental health and social functioning sub‐scales of the National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire‐25 and semi‐structured interviews transcribed and analysed using grounded theory. Results: Participants with a serious eye condition shared a common transition from sight to blindness, starting with diagnosis, coping with deterioration of sight, experiencing loss in different areas of life, experiencing changed perceptions of self in relation to society, experiencing others in a changed way and experiencing rehabilitation. A theoretical model describing the transition from sight to blindness is proposed. Participants reported negative perceptions of counselling and a lack of counselling opportunities in relation to their sight loss. Implications: The implications for policy and practice are discussed, particularly the need for counselling after diagnosis of visual impairment and the specific challenges facing those who deliver counselling to blind and partially sighted clients.
Corporate spiritual disciplines and the quest for organizational virtue
Authors: Dyck Bruno , Wong Kenman
Published: March 2010

The burgeoning literature in organizational ethics points to the need for a better understanding of how to enable virtues in organizational settings. Moreover, there has been an increasing call to replace conventional management theory and practice with new approaches to managing based
on virtues. We draw on a classical spiritual disciplines literature to develop a four‐phase process model that facilitates organizational virtue and moral agency. We illustrate the model, and buttress support for the sequential nature of its constituent parts, by using a four‐step
“friendly disentangling” approach associated with servant leadership. We contend that practicing the four corporate spiritual disciplines serves to change the character of organizational culture and individuals in positive directions. We conclude with a discussion of how the four
corporate spiritual disciplines correspond to Management 2.0 and Multistream management, and to the four classic functions of management.
How spirituality is manifested within corporate culture: perspectives from a case study and a scholar’s focus group
Authors: Delbecq Andre L.
Published: March 2010

This paper presents a case study of organizational‐level spirituality. Using quotations from executives in a large, multi‐state, faith‐based healthcare organization, it portrays how one organization understands corporate‐level spirituality and what structures,
processes, norms and behaviors they see as necessary to embed and support its culture. Interviews also suggest areas of struggle and difficulty. Results are then compared with a normative model of organizational level variables generated by a cohort of interdisciplinary faculty. Finally, comparison
with data from another investigative study suggests aspects of this particular organization’s culture that may be more prominent because of the founding faith tradition of the organization.
Appreciative inquiry: creating spiritual resonance in the workplace
Authors: Whitney Diana
Published: March 2010

In the 20 years since its inception, Appreciative Inquiry (AI) has become recognized as a viable process for applied large‐scale change in fields ranging from business, to education, to health care and government. This paper offers the proposition that managers and leaders seeking
to work from a consciously spiritual perspective can draw upon AI as a way of inviting spirituality to the workplace to create a life‐affirming collective consciousness, a spiritual resonance, which in turn contributes to the realization of strategic results in service of the triple
bottom line.
The modulation of conditional assertions and its effects on reasoning
Authors: Quelhas Ana Cristina , Johnson-Laird Philip N. , Juhos Csongor
Published: March 2010

The theory of mental models postulates that conditionals of the sort, if A then C, have a “core” meaning referring to three possibilities: A and C, not-A and C, and not-A and not-C. The meaning of a conditional's clauses and general knowledge can modulate this meaning, blocking certain possibilities or adding relations between the clauses. Four experiments investigated such interpretations in factual and deontic domains. In Experiment 1, the participants constructed instances of what was possible and what was impossible according to various conditionals. The results corroborated the general predictions of the model theory and also the occurrence of modulation. The resulting interpretations governed the conclusions that participants accepted in Experiment 2, which also yielded the predicted effects of a time limit on responding. In Experiment 3, the participants drew the predicted conclusions for themselves. In Experiment 4, modulation led to predicted temporal relations between A and C. We relate these results to current theories of conditionals.
Avoidant instructions induce ironic and overcompensatory movement errors differently between and within individuals
Authors: Russell Christopher , Grealy Madeleine A.
Published: March 2010

Giving avoidant instructions can ironically result in the forbidden act being carried out, especially when the person is anxious or cognitive loaded. However, the consistency with which individuals make ironic errors across conditions remains unexamined. Forty participants were instructed to avoid moving a cursor above, below, left, and right when tracing an invisible line connecting two points while rehearsing seven-digit numbers on half of trials. Results showed that, without cognitive load, 26 participants made consistent overcompensatory movements, 10 made consistent ironic errors, and 4 showed no distinct error bias, with levels of somatic anxiety predicting this pattern. However, 21 (52.5%) participants changed their error tendency when cognitive loaded, indicating that movement effects of avoidant instruction were not experienced as general phenomena but rather differed between and within individuals. Overcompensatory errors made by participants grouped as overcompensatory performers under low load were significantly larger than the ironic errors made by participants grouped as ironic performers under low load, yet, paradoxically, ironic performers reported higher state and trait anxiety. Overall, results demonstrate a clear experimenter bias inherent in the use of avoidant instructions to direct participants’ motor control.
A general analytical equation for phase diagrams of an N-layer ferroelectric thin film with two surface layers
Authors: Lu Z X , Teng B H , Rong Y H , Lu X H , Yang X
Published: March 2010

Within the framework of effective-field theory with correlations, the phase diagrams of an N-layer ferroelectric thin film with two surface layers are studied by the differential operator technique based on the spin-1/2 transverse Ising model. A general analytical equation for the phase diagram of a ferroelectric thin film with arbitrary layer number as well as exchange interactions and transverse fields is derived, and then the effects of exchange interactions and transverse fields on phase diagrams are discussed for an arbitrary layer number N. Meanwhile, the crossover features, from the ferroelectric-dominant phase diagram (FPD) to the paraelectric-dominant phase diagram (PPD), for various parameters of an N-layer ferroelectric thin film with two surface layers are investigated. As a result, an N-independent common intersection point equation is obtained, and the three-dimensional curved surfaces for the crossover values are constructed. In comparison with the usual mean-field approximation, the differential operator technique with correlations reduces to some extent the ferroelectric features of a ferroelectric thin film.
Coherent states for PT-/non-PT-symmetric and non-Hermitian Morse potentials via the path integral method
Authors: Kandirmaz Nalan , Sever Ramazan
Published: March 2010

We discuss the coherent states for PT-/non-PT-symmetric and non-Hermitian generalized Morse potentials obtained by using path integral formalism over the holomorphic coordinates. We transform the action of generalized Morse potentials into two harmonic oscillators with a new parametric time to establish the parametric time coherent states. We calculate the energy eigenvalues and the corresponding wave functions in parabolic coordinates.
Requirements for Transitional Endoplasmic Reticulum Site Structure and Function in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Shindiapina Polina , Barlowe Charles
Published: March 2010

Secretory proteins are exported from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) at specialized regions known as the transitional ER (tER). Coat protein complex II (COPII) proteins are enriched at tER sites, although the mechanisms underlying tER site assembly and maintenance are not understood. Here, we investigated the dynamic properties of tER sites in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and probed protein and lipid requirements for tER site structure and function. Thermosensitive sec12 and sec16 mutations caused a collapse of tER sites in a manner that depended on nascent secretory cargo. Continual fatty acid synthesis was required for ER export and for normal tER site structure, whereas inhibition of sterol and ceramide synthesis produced minor effects. An in vitro assay to monitor assembly of Sec23p-green fluorescent protein at tER sites was established to directly test requirements. tER sites remained active for ∼10 min in vitro and depended on Sec12p function. Bulk phospholipids were also required for tER site structure and function in vitro, whereas depletion of phophatidylinositol selectively inhibited coat protein complex II (COPII) budding but not assembly of tER site structures. These results indicate that tER sites persist through relatively stringent treatments in which COPII budding was strongly inhibited. We propose that tER site structures are stable elements that are assembled on an underlying protein and lipid scaffold.
Market Power and the Cattle Cycle
Authors: Crespi John M. , Xia Tian , Jones Rodney
Published: March 2010

The relationship between the dynamic cattle cycle and the potential for market power in cattle purchases has rarely been studied. This paper provides a conceptual framework showing how the cattle cycle and buyer market power are related. Not only does a larger cattle stock lead to a lower fed cattle price, but the cattle stock's negative effect on price is magnified by the degree of buyer market power in cattle procurement. Empirical findings support the posited theoretical relationships and help explain why previous researchers reached different conclusions regarding the extent of market power in the industry.
Estimating Threshold Effects of U.S. Generic Fluid Milk Advertising
Authors: Adachi Kenji , Liu Donald J.
Published: March 2010

Adopting a spline threshold estimation procedure, this article investigates the threshold effects on demand of generic fluid milk advertising. A quarterly fluid milk demand equation with unknown thresholds is estimated. The results support the existence of a minimum threshold below which advertising has no impact on sales, and an upper threshold beyond which the law of diminishing returns dictates. Advertising is also found to have the effect of rendering fluid milk demand less elastic with respect to own price, and more elastic with respect to income. The simulations highlight the importance of accounting for threshold effects when evaluating promotion programs.
Inferring dynamic gene networks under varying conditions for transcriptomic network comparison
Authors: Shimamura Teppei , Imoto Seiya , Yamaguchi Rui , Nagasaki Masao , Miyano Satoru
Published: March 2010

Motivation: Elucidating the differences between cellular responses to various biological conditions or external stimuli is an important challenge in systems biology. Many approaches have been developed to reverse engineer a cellular system, called gene network, from time series microarray data in order to understand a transcriptomic response under a condition of interest. Comparative topological analysis has also been applied based on the gene networks inferred independently from each of the multiple time series datasets under varying conditions to find critical differences between these networks. However, these comparisons often lead to misleading results, because each network contains considerable noise due to the limited length of the time series.

Results: We propose an integrated approach for inferring multiple gene networks from time series expression data under varying conditions. To the best of our knowledge, our approach is the first reverse-engineering method that is intended for transcriptomic network comparison between varying conditions. Furthermore, we propose a state-of-the-art parameter estimation method, relevance-weighted recursive elastic net, for providing higher precision and recall than existing reverse-engineering methods. We analyze experimental data of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells stimulated by epidermal growth factor or heregulin with several doses and provide novel biological hypotheses through network comparison.

Availability: The software NETCOMP is available at http://bonsai.ims.u-tokyo.ac.jp/∼shima/NETCOMP/.

Contact:  shima@ims.u-tokyo.ac.jp

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Internal Architecture of Mitochondrial Complex I from Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Klodmann Jennifer , Sunderhaus Stephanie , Nimtz Manfred , JÄnsch Lothar , Braun Hans-Peter
Published: March 2010

The NADH dehydrogenase complex (complex I) of the respiratory chain has unique features in plants. It is the main entrance site for electrons into the respiratory electron transfer chain, has a role in maintaining the redox balance of the entire plant cell and additionally comprises enzymatic side activities essential for other metabolic pathways. Here, we present a proteomic investigation to elucidate its internal structure. Arabidopsis thaliana complex I was purified by a gentle biochemical procedure that includes a cytochrome c–mediated depletion of other respiratory protein complexes. To examine its internal subunit arrangement, isolated complex I was dissected into subcomplexes. Controlled disassembly of the holo complex (1000 kD) by low-concentration SDS treatment produced 10 subcomplexes of 550, 450, 370, 270, 240, 210, 160, 140, 140, and 85 kD. Systematic analyses of subunit composition by mass spectrometry gave insights into subunit arrangement within complex I. Overall, Arabidopsis complex I includes at least 49 subunits, 17 of which are unique to plants. Subunits form subcomplexes analogous to the known functional modules of complex I from heterotrophic eukaryotes (the so-called N-, Q-, and P-modules), but also additional modules, most notably an 85-kD domain including γ-type carbonic anhydrases. Based on topological information for many of its subunits, we present a model of the internal architecture of plant complex I.
The Relation between Individual Differences and Accountants' Fraud Detection Ability
Authors: Fathil Firhana M. , Schmidtke James M.
Published: March 2010

This report examines the potential application of the deception detection literature to auditing research. A pilot study focusing on auditor quality perceptions post Enron is used to explore the potential relevance of deception detection research theory and techniques. The pilot study findings highlight some potential areas for researchers to focus on in terms of construct, internal, external and statistical validity.
Audit Exemption and the Demand for Voluntary Audit: A Comparative Study of the UK and Denmark
Authors: Collis Jill
Published: March 2010

This study investigates the sufficiency of turnover as a surrogate for demand for voluntary audit and compares the determinants in the UK and Denmark. Empirical data for the study were drawn from government surveys of the directors of small private companies in both countries, which were based on the same research instrument, Bivariate tests support the hypothesised effects of turnover and a range of firm‐specific factors suggested by economic rationality and agency theory. The main contribution of the study is the finding that turnover alone is not a sufficient surrogate for the costs and benefits of audit. The main predictors are turnover and a slightly different combination of management and agency factors in each country. The study provides a model that can be tested in other jurisdictions and its findings should be of interest to the accountancy profession and national regulators planning to introduce or revise audit exemption for small companies.
Pain inhibition and postexertional malaise in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: An experimental study
Authors: Van Oosterwijck J. , Nijs J. , Meeus M. , Lefever I. , Huybrechts L. , Lambrecht L. , Paul L.
Published: March 2010

Abstract.  Van Oosterwijck J, Nijs J, Meeus M, Lefever I, Huybrechts L, Lambrecht L, Paul L (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels; Artesis University College Antwerp, Antwerp; University Hospital Brussels, Brussels; Private Practice For Internal Medicine, Ghent/Aalst; CVS Contactgroep, Bruges; Belgium; and University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK). Pain inhibition and postexertional malaise in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. J Intern Med 2010; 268: 265–278.

Objectives.  To examine the efficacy of the pain inhibitory systems in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) during two different types of exercise and to examine whether the (mal)functioning of pain inhibitory systems is associated with symptom increases following exercise.

Design.  A controlled experimental study.

Setting and subjects.  Twenty‐two women with ME/CFS and 22 healthy sedentary controls were studied at the Department of Human Physiology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel.

Interventions.  All subjects performed a submaximal exercise test and a self‐paced, physiologically limited exercise test on a cycle ergometer. The exercise tests were undertaken with continuous cardiorespiratory monitoring. Before and after the exercise bouts, subjects filled out questionnaires to assess health status, and underwent pressure pain threshold measurements. Throughout the study, subjects’ activity levels were assessed using accelerometry.

Results.  In patients with ME/CFS, pain thresholds decreased following both types of exercise, whereas they increased in healthy subjects. This was accompanied by a worsening of the ME/CFS symptom complex post‐exercise. Decreased pressure thresholds during submaximal exercise were associated with postexertional fatigue in the ME/CFS group (r = 0.454; P = 0.034).

Conclusions.  These observations indicate the presence of abnormal central pain processing during exercise in patients with ME/CFS and demonstrate that both submaximal exercise and self‐paced, physiologically limited exercise trigger postexertional malaise in these patients. Further study is required to identify specific modes and intensity of exercise that can be performed in people with ME/CFS without exacerbating symptoms.
Serum peptide profiles during progression of chronic hepatitis B virus infection to liver failure
Authors: Han T. , Liu H. , Yu Z.L. , Li J. , Wang L. , Xiao S.X. , Li Y. , Yu M.L.
Published: March 2010

Summary.  Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐infected patients with liver failure have a poor prognosis, and no satisfactory biomarkers are available for diagnosis before the end‐stage. We explored serum peptide profiling for diagnosis and prediction of progression to liver failure in HBV‐infected patients. Serum samples (164) from healthy subjects (n = 20), or subjects with chronic hepatitis B without cirrhosis and liver failure [chronic hepatitis B subjects without cirrhosis and liver failure (CHB); n = 33], with compensated liver cirrhosis (compensated liver cirrhosis (LC); n = 35), with acute‐on‐chronic liver failure [acute‐on‐chronic liver failure (ACLF); n = 38] or with chronic liver failure [chronic liver failure (CLF), n = 38] were applied to ClinProt magnetic beads, and bound peptides/proteins were analyzed by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight (MALDI‐TOF) mass spectrometry. Our classification diagnostic models of liver disease were generated based on the Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Quick Classifier Algorithm (QC). Differentially expressed peptides were found among all test groups, with patterns of difference that readily distinguished between healthy and various HBV‐associated liver disease samples. The model generated seven characteristic peptide peaks at 4053 m/z, 3506 m/z, 4963 m/z, 9289 m/z, 2628 m/z, 3193 m/z and 6432 m/z, giving overall predictive capability of 54.27%. Two‐way comparisons of LC, ACLF or CLF vs CHB had predictive capabilities of 79.8%, 91.41% and 97.99%, respectively. Comparisons of ACLF or CLF vs LC were predictive at 87.72% and 82.18%, respectively and ACLF vs CLF was predictive at 75.05%. These classification diagnostic models generated by different peptide peaks were further validated in blinded tests with 67–100% accuracy. Serum peptide patterns vary during progression of chronic HBV infection to liver failure and may be used to distinguish different stages of the disease.
Telbivudine preserves T‐helper 1 cytokine production and downregulates programmed death ligand 1 in a mouse model of viral hepatitis
Authors: Wu Z. G. , Yan W. M. , Guo W. , Chen T. , Zou Y. , Wang H. W. , Wang X. J. , Yang X. J. , Lu Y. L. , Luo X. P. , Ning Q.
Published: March 2010

Summary.  Telbivudine is an orally bioavailable L‐nucleoside with potent and specific anti‐hepatitis B virus activity. The higher rate of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion during telbivudine treatment than other potent anti‐HBV agents suggests a potential immunomodulatory effect. We sought to determine the effects of telbivudine on the immune system, particularly on cytokine production and T‐cell response, using an animal model with mouse hepatitis virus strain 3 (MHV‐3)‐induced hepatitis. The effects of telbivudine on virus replication and cytokine production were investigated in vitro using MHV‐3‐infected macrophages, and the effects on T‐cell response were investigated in vivo in an MHV‐3‐induced viral hepatitis model. Telbivudine had no effect on MHV‐3 replication in macrophages. However, the production of tumour necrosis factor‐α and interleukin‐12 was increased significantly in MHV‐3‐induced macrophages treated with telbivudine. In vivo survival was enhanced in telbivudine‐treated mice, with marked normalization in clinical conditions and histological lesions. Serum levels of interferon‐γ were elevated significantly after telbivudine treatment in MHV‐3‐infected C3H mice. In contrast, serum interleukin‐4 levels were decreased significantly. Furthermore, telbivudine treatment enhanced the ability of T cells to undergo proliferation and secrete cytokines but did not affect cytotoxicity of infected hepatocytes. Of note, we found that telbivudine treatment suppressed programmed death ligand 1 expression on T cells. The results demonstrate the immunomodulatory properties of telbivudine, independent of its antiviral activity, in a mouse model of MHV‐3‐induced hepatitis.
Virological response to antiviral therapy at week 12 indicates a great reduction of intrahepatic hepatitis B virus DNA and cccDNA in HBeAg‐positive chronic hepatitis B patients
Authors: Lu H. Y. , Zhuang L. W. , Yu Y. Y. , Si C. W.
Published: March 2010

Summary.  Early virological response is considered to be a predictor for the outcome of anti‐hepatitis B virus (HBV) therapy. To analyze its correlation to intrahepatic HBV DNA and covalently closed circular DNA (ccc)DNA, 71 hepatitis B virus e antigen (HBeAg)‐positive chronic hepatitis B patients were recruited: 34 patients were treated with lamivudine; 13 with interferon‐α2b; and 24 with sequential therapy of lamivudine–interferon‐α2b for 48 weeks. Intrahepatic HBV DNA and cccDNA load were measured at the baseline and at Week 48. Fifty‐seven patients had virological response at Week 12. Median decreases of serum HBV DNA in patients with or without virological response at Week 12 were 4.0 log10 (max. 6.2, min. 2.2) and 1.1 log10 (max. 2.1, min. 0) (Z = −5.766, P = 0.0000), respectively. At Week 48 they were 4.1 log10 (max. 7.4, min. 1.0) and 2.3 log10 (max. 7.5, min. 0.3) (Z = −2.760, P = 0.006), respectively. For intrahepatic HBV DNA load they were 1.3 log10 (max. 4.3, min. −1.2) and 0.6 log10 (max. 3.5, min. −0.8), respectively, and for HBV cccDNA load they were 1.1 log10 (max. 4.8, min. −0.5) and 0.5 log10 (max. 3.0, min. −0.8) (Z = −2.097, P = 0.036), respectively at Week 48. Step‐wise logistic regression analysis indicated that the baseline intrahepatic HBV DNA load effected virological response at Week 12 [odds ratio (OR) 0.405; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.174–0.944; P = 0.036] and HBeAg seroconversion at Week 48 (OR 0.292; 95% CI 0.131–0.649; P = 0.003). In conclusion, virological response at Week 12 indicated a great reduction of intrahepatic DNA and cccDNA load in HBeAg‐positive CHB patients. The baseline intrahepatic HBV DNA load affected virological response at Week 12 and HBeAg seroconversion at Week 48.
rtE218G, a novel hepatitis B virus mutation with resistance to adefovir dipivoxil in patients with chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Liu L. J. , Wang J. H. , Du S. C. , Tian J. H. , Yang R. F. , Wei L.
Published: March 2010

Summary.  Antiviral therapy is a potentially successful approach for the treatment of patients with Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. One antiviral agent is the nucleoside analogue adefovir dipivoxil (ADV). Its efficiency is compromised by the emergence of drug‐resistant HBV mutants. Although three major ADV‐resistant mutations of HBV are known, rtA181T/V and rtN236T, HBV mutations associated with ADV resistance have not been fully identified. We analyzed DNA sequences that covered a 244 base pair region of the HBV polymerase gene from patients with clinical manifestations of ADV resistance. A novel pattern of amino acid substitutions in HBV polymerase was detected in 26 out of 86 patients. This mutant exhibited a substitution of glycine for glutamic acid at residue 218 (rtE218G). Transient transfection of the HBV replication‐competent construct including the rtE218G mutation was performed in HepG2 cells in order to determine the relevance of this mutation to ADV resistance. Phenotypic analyses demonstrated that the rtE218G mutation could independently confer resistance to ADV in vitro, with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) 5.5‐fold higher than wild‐type HBV. RtE218G‐mutated HBV also showed a decreased replication capacity in vitro, equal to 87% of wild‐type HBV. The present study showed that the rtE218G mutation may be a novel ADV‐resistant mutation. Further work will focus on resistance surveillance and cross‐resistance analyses, and the molecular mechanisms involved.
Boldness and Information Use in Three‐Spined Sticklebacks
Authors: Harcourt Jennifer L. , Biau Samuel , Johnstone Rufus , Manica Andrea
Published: March 2010

In foraging groups, individuals may utilise information from their social environment to aid decision making when choosing where to search for food. Little work has looked at the costs or benefits of behavioural differences, such as consistent individual variation in boldness, with respect to learning ability. Here, we investigate the response of three‐spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) to ‘social cues’, ‘local enhancement’ and ‘public information’ during foraging tasks. Our results confirm previous work suggesting that this species responds to social cues and local enhancement but not public information. Variation in boldness did not affect the use of different types of information. However, time taken to make a choice and reach a patch varied between fish with different levels of boldness. Contrary to expectation, shy fish were the more variable individuals, having a greater range of reaction times when responding to the tasks. This suggests that individual behavioural differences still play a role when utilising information obtained from the environment and may influence the relative benefits that could result in different contexts.
Wiki use in mental health practice: Recognizing potential use of collaborative technology
Authors: Bastida Richard , McGrath Ian , Maude Phil
Published: March 2010

Web 2.0, the second‐generation of the World Wide Web, differs to earlier versions of Web development and design in that it facilitates more user‐friendly, interactive information sharing and mechanisms for greater collaboration between users. Examples of Web 2.0 include Web‐based communities, hosted services, social networking sites, video sharing sites, blogs, mashups, and wikis. Users are able to interact with others across the world or to add to or change website content. This paper examines examples of wiki use in the Australian mental health sector. A wiki can be described as an online collaborative and interactive database that can be easily edited by users. They are accessed via a standard Web browser which has an interface similar to traditional Web pages, thus do not require special application or software for the user. Although there is a paucity of literature describing wiki use in mental health, other industries have developed uses, including a repository of knowledge, a platform for collaborative writing, a project management tool, and an alternative to traditional Web pages or Intranets. This paper discusses the application of wikis in other industries and offers suggestions by way of examples of how this technology could be used in the mental health sector.
Spatial and temporal frequency tuning in striate cortex: functional uniformity and specializations related to receptive field eccentricity
Authors: Yu Hsin‐Hao , Verma Richa , Yang Yin , Tibballs Heath A. , Lui Leo L. , Reser David H. , Rosa Marcello G. P.
Published: March 2010

In light of anatomical evidence suggesting differential connection patterns in central vs. peripheral representations of cortical areas, we investigated the extent to which the response properties of cells in the primary visual area (V1) of the marmoset change as a function of eccentricity. Responses to combinations of the spatial and temporal frequencies of visual stimuli were quantified for neurons with receptive fields ranging from 3° to 70° eccentricity. Optimal spatial frequencies and stimulus speeds reflected the expectation that the responses of cells throughout V1 are essentially uniform, once scaled according to the cortical magnification factor. In addition, temporal frequency tuning was similar throughout V1. However, spatial frequency tuning curves depended both on the cell’s optimal spatial frequency and on the receptive field eccentricity: cells with peripheral receptive fields showed narrower bandwidths than cells with central receptive fields that were sensitive to the same optimal spatial frequency. Although most V1 cells had separable spatial and temporal frequency tuning, the proportion of neurons displaying significant spatiotemporal interactions increased in the representation of far peripheral vision (> 50°). In addition, of the fewer than 5% of V1 cells that showed robust (spatial frequency independent) selectivity to stimulus speed, most were concentrated in the representation of the far periphery. Spatiotemporal interactions in the responses of many cells in the peripheral representation of V1 reduced the ambiguity of responses to high‐speed (> 30°/s) signals. These results support the notion of a relative specialization for motion processing in the far peripheral representations of cortical areas, including V1.
Behavioural and anatomical analysis of selective tibial nerve branch transfer to the deep peroneal nerve in the rat
Authors: Kemp Stephen W. P. , Alant Jacob , Walsh Sarah K. , Webb Aubrey A. , Midha Rajiv
Published: March 2010

Nerve transfer procedures involving the repair of a distal denervated nerve element with that of a foreign proximal nerve have become increasingly popular for clinical nerve repair as a surgical alternative to autologous nerve grafting. However, the functional outcomes and the central plasticity for these procedures remain poorly defined, particularly for a clinically relevant rodent model of hindlimb nerve transfer. We therefore evaluated the effect of selective tibial branch nerve transfer on behavioural recovery in animals following acute transection of the deep peroneal nerve. The results indicate that not only can hindlimb nerve transfers be successfully accomplished in a rat model but that these animals display a return of skilled locomotor function on a par with animals that underwent direct deep peroneal nerve repair (the current gold standard). At 2 months, ground reaction force analysis demonstrated that partial restoration of braking forces occurred in the nerve transfer group, whereas the direct repair group had fully restored these forces to similar to baseline levels. Ankle kinematic analysis revealed that only animals in the direct repair group significantly recovered flexion during the step cycle, indicating a recovery of surgically induced foot drop. Terminal electrophysiological and myological assessments demonstrated similar levels of reinnervation, whereas retrograde labelling studies confirmed that the peroneal nerve‐innervated muscles were innervated by neurons from the tibial nerve pool in the nerve transfer group. Our results demonstrate a task‐dependent recovery process, where skilled locomotor recovery is similar between nerve transfer and direct repair animals, whereas flat surface locomotion is significantly better in direct repair animals.
Keap1‐Nrf2 activation in the presence and absence of DJ‐1
Authors: Gan Li , Johnson Delinda A. , Johnson Jeffrey A.
Published: March 2010

The molecular mechanisms leading to neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease remain elusive. Deletion and mutations of DJ‐1 (PARK7) have been reported to cause autosomal recessive familial Parkinson’s disease. Wildtype DJ‐1 scavenges H2O2 by cysteine oxidation in response to oxidative stress, and thus confers neuroprotection. Activation of the transcription factor NF‐E2‐related factor‐2 (Nrf2) has also been shown to be important for protection against oxidative stress in many models of neurodegenerative diseases. Previous data indicate that DJ‐1 affects the transcriptional functions and stability of Nrf2. However, this observation has not been confirmed. In the current study, the role of DJ‐1 in the regulation of Nrf2 is examined in primary cultured neurons, astrocytes and in vivo. The prototypical Nrf2 activator tBHQ protected primary cortical neurons derived from DJ‐1‐knockout (KO) as well as DJ‐1 wildtype mice by activation of Nrf2‐ARE pathway. Nrf2 nuclear translocation, robust increases in canonical Nrf2‐driven genes and proteins, and dramatic activation of the ARE reporter gene, hPAP, were observed after tBHQ treatment. These results were further confirmed by siRNA‐mediated DJ‐1 knockdown in primary cortical astrocytes from ARE‐hPAP mice and tBHQ administration into the striatum of mouse brain. In addition, overexpression of Nrf2 with adenovirus preferentially in astrocytes from DJ‐1‐KO mice enhanced survival of neurons under oxidative insults. These findings indicate that activation of the Nrf2–ARE pathway is independent of DJ‐1, and Nrf2 activation is a potential therapeutic target to prevent neurodegeneration in sporadic and DJ‐1 familial Parkinson’s disease.
On the intrinsic regulation of neuropeptide Y release in the mammalian suprachiasmatic nucleus circadian clock
Authors: Glass J. David , Guinn Jessie , Kaur Gagandeep , Francl Jessie M.
Published: March 2010

Timing of the circadian clock of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is regulated by photic and non‐photic inputs. Of these, neuropeptide Y (NPY) signaling from the intergeniculate leaflet (IGL) to the SCN plays a prominent role. Although NPY is critical to clock regulation, neither the mechanisms modulating IGL NPY neuronal activity nor the nature of regulatory NPY signaling in the SCN clock are understood, as NPY release in the SCN has never been measured. Here, microdialysis procedures for in vivo measurement of NPY were used in complementary experiments to address these questions. First, neuronal release of NPY in the hamster SCN was rhythmic under a 14L : 10D photocycle, with the acrophase soon after lights‐on and the nadir at midday. No rhythmic fluctuation in NPY occurred under constant darkness. Second, a behavioral phase‐resetting stimulus (wheel‐running at midday that induces IGL serotonin release) acutely stimulated SCN NPY release. Third, bilateral IGL microinjection of the serotonin agonist, (±)‐2‐dipropyl‐amino‐8‐hydroxyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydronapthalene (8‐OH‐DPAT) (another non‐photic phase‐resetting stimulant), at midday enhanced SCN NPY release. Conversely, similar application of the serotonin antagonist, metergoline, abolished wheel‐running‐induced SCN NPY release. IGL microinjection of the GABA agonist, muscimol, suppressed SCN NPY release. These results support an intra‐IGL mechanism whereby behavior‐induced serotonergic activity suppresses inhibitory GABAergic transmission, promoting NPY activity and subsequent phase resetting. Collectively, these results confirm IGL‐mediated NPY release in the SCN and verify that its daily rhythm of release is dependent upon the 14L : 10D photocycle, and that it is modulated by appropriately‐timed phase‐resetting behavior, probably mediated by serotonergic activation of NPY units in the IGL.