bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diabetic ketoacidosis following steroid treatment in a patient with gestational diabetes mellitus
Authors: Alexandre L , Shipman KE , Brahma A , Turner JJ , Wallace TM , Stanley KP , Temple RC
Published: February 2011

Diabetic ketoacidosis is a well recognised complication of pregnancy in women with type 1 diabetes and is associated with increased risk of fetal death. It has rarely been documented in women with gestational diabetes.

We report a case of diabetic ketoacidosis in a woman with gestational diabetes following steroid treatment. The relatively mild hyperglycaemia of 11.1mmol/L led to delay in diagnosis and treatment of ketoacidosis.

Women with gestational diabetes are at risk of developing diabetic ketoacidosis if given steroid therapy antenatally and should be monitored closely for this. This case highlights how, during pregnancy, diabetic ketoacidosis may occur with only mild hyperglycaemia. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons.
An inventory of diabetes care in Qatar
Authors: Wilbur K , Al Ameri M
Published: February 2011

Diabetes is a global epidemic and the highest prevalence rates in the world are found in Gulf Corporation Council countries, including Qatar. The country's Supreme Council of Health has recognised its significant health threat and has proposed the formation of a national diabetes plan. Baseline assessment of existing diabetes care can inform such design and implementation. The aim of this study was to inventory diabetes health care resources in Qatar.

A prospective survey of private and public health care facilities serving outpatients in the country was conducted. A nine‐item questionnaire was administered to determine patient access, multidisciplinary services and availability of drug therapy.

Thirty‐five (67%) of 52 identified health care settings participated. Services devoted to diabetes care were declared at five hospitals (one private and four public) and 24 clinics (15 private and nine public). The majority were located in the country's capital. Few offered services to children and adolescents (20% of hospitals, 55% of clinics). Most were led by general practitioner physicians with limited multidisciplinary contribution (nurses in 73%, dietitians in 17%). Administration of certain drug therapy may be restricted to specialist prescribers and may be unavailable to non‐nationals.

Patients with diabetes in Qatar may seek care from an array of private and public health settings. Elements of any comprehensive national plan to address diabetes and its complications must incorporate enhanced training support for primary care physicians, expanded multidisciplinary care and services for children and adolescents. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons.
Diabetes myths and legends: the Iliad and the Odyssey
Authors: Davies MJ
Published: February 2011

It is a myth that screening of type 2 diabetes is ‘a given’, that we provide adequate education for patients and that increasing physical activity by simply referring patients to a health trainer can prevent type 2 diabetes. Research in this area is often seen as an easy or soft option. On closer inspection, research of these ‘complex’ interventions requires rigorously conducted and well designed trials which are difficult to do and even harder to implement. The process of screening for type 2 diabetes is feasible and a number of practice level and self‐assessment tools are effective in the multi‐ethnic UK population; however, providing the evidence of whether a screening programme will lead to improved patient outcomes is more challenging.

Providing structured self‐management education in type 2 diabetes can be effective in both biomedical and psychological outcomes, but the role of the educators is key. Such programmes can be cost effective, and can be implemented on an industrial scale whilst maintaining consistency and quality. Increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary behaviour to prevent type 2 diabetes are possible in the UK, and tailored strategies for younger and black/minority ethnic groups are being developed. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons.
Examination of the active secondary structure of the peptide 101.10, an allosteric modulator of the interleukin‐1 receptor, by positional scanning using β‐amino γ‐lactams
Authors: Boutard Nicolas , Turcotte Stéphane , Beauregard Kim , Quiniou Christiane , Chemtob Sylvain , Lubell William D.
Published: February 2011

The relationship between the conformation and biological activity of the peptide allosteric modulator of the interleukin‐1 receptor 101.10 (D‐Arg‐D‐Tyr‐D‐Thr‐D‐Val‐D‐Glu‐D‐Leu‐D‐Ala‐NH2) has been studied using (R)‐ and (S)‐Bgl residues. Twelve Bgl peptides were synthesized using (R)‐ and (S)‐cyclic sulfamidate reagents derived from L‐ and D‐aspartic acid in an optimized Fmoc‐compatible protocol for efficient lactam installment onto the supported peptide resin. Examination of these (R)‐ and (S)‐Bgl 101.10 analogs for their potential to inhibit IL‐1β‐induced thymocyte cell proliferation using a novel fluorescence assay revealed that certain analogs exhibited retained and improved potency relative to the parent peptide 101.10. In light of previous reports that Bgl residues may stabilize type II′β‐turn‐like conformations in peptides, CD spectroscopy was performed on selected compounds to identify secondary structure necessary for peptide biological activity. Results indicate that the presence of a fold about the central residues of the parent peptide may be important for activity. Copyright © 2011 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cyclic neoglycodecapeptides: how to increase their inhibitory activity and selectivity on lectin/toxin binding to a glycoprotein and cells
Authors: André Sabine , Renaudet Olivier , Bossu Isabelle , Dumy Pascal , Gabius Hans‐Joachim
Published: February 2011

Protein (lectin/toxin)–glycan interaction can be clinically harmful so that the design of inhibitors has become an aim. Cyclic decapeptides are suited as rigid carriers for carbohydrate derivatives. We herein document the bioactivity of sugar headgroups covalently attached to this carrier for the cases of five proteins, i.e. a potent biohazardous plant agglutinin, a leguminous model lectin and three adhesion/growth‐regulatory human lectins. They represent the different types of topological organization within the galectin family. The relative inhibitory activities of glycoclusters with the three ligands (galactose, lactose and the disaccharide of the Thomsen‐Friedenreich antigen) reflected the affinity of free carbohydrates, hereby excluding an impairment of binding activity by chemical derivatization and conjugation. Headgroup tailoring is thus one route to optimize activity and selectivity of cyclopeptide‐based glycoclusters. The increase of ligand density from tetra‐ to hexadecavalency added a second route. The plant toxin and tandem‐repeat‐type galectin‐4 were especially sensitive to this parameter change. Strategically combining solid‐phase assays for screening with analysis of lectin binding to cells in different systems revealed efficient inhibition by distinct glycoclusters, thereby protecting cells from lectin association. Cyclic neoglycodecapeptides thus warrant further study as lectin‐directed pharmaceuticals. Copyright © 2011 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The thin line between cell‐penetrating and antimicrobial peptides: the case of Pep‐1 and Pep‐1‐K
Authors: Bobone Sara , Piazzon Alessandro , Orioni Barbara , Pedersen Jens Z. , Nan Yong Hai , Hahm Kyung‐Soo , Shin Song Yub , Stella Lorenzo
Published: February 2011

Cell‐penetrating peptides (CPPs) are cationic oligopeptides able to translocate across biological membranes without perturbing them, while antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) kill bacteria mainly by disrupting their membranes. The two peptide classes share several characteristics (charge, amphipathicity, helicity, and length), and therefore the molecular properties discriminating between the two different bioactivities are not clear. Pep‐1‐K (KKTWWKTWWTKWSQPKKKRKV) is a new AMP derived from the widely studied CPP Pep‐1 (KETWWETWWTEWSQPKKKRKV), or ‘Chariot’, known for its ability to carry large cargoes across biological membranes. Pep‐1‐K was obtained from Pep‐1 by substituting the three Glu residues with Lys, to increase its cationic character. Previous studies showed that these modifications endow Pep‐1‐K with a potent antimicrobial activity, with MICs in the low micromolar range. Here, we characterized the interaction of Pep‐1 and Pep‐1‐K with model membranes to understand the reason for the antimicrobial activity of Pep‐1‐K. The data show that this peptide causes vesicle aggregation, perturbs membrane order, and induces the leakage of ions, but not of larger solutes, while these effects were not observed for Pep‐1. These differences are likely due, at least in part, to the higher affinity of Pep‐1‐K toward anionic bilayers, which mimick the composition of bacterial membranes. Copyright © 2011 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Immunomodulatory efficacy of nisin—a bacterial lantibiotic peptide
Authors: Begde D. , Bundale S. , Mashitha P. , Rudra J. , Nashikkar N. , Upadhyay A.
Published: February 2011

Nisin is a peptide bacteriocin, grouped under the category of lantibiotics. It is naturally produced by Lactococcus lactis to eliminate other competing gram‐positive bacteria from its vicinity. Moreover under certain conditions it is reported to be effective against a broad range of gram‐negative bacteria as well. Thus, it has been widely used as a safe food preservative especially in the dairy industry. Because of its wide‐scale consumption, its effect on eukaryotic cells should be of great concern. Here we examine the immunomodulatory efficacy of nisin in vitro. MTT‐based cytotoxicity assay demonstrated nisin's cytotoxicity on human T‐cell lymphoma Jurkat cells, Molt‐4 cells and freshly cultured human lymphocytes at over 200 µM concentration (IC50225 µM). The cell death mechanism induced by nisin in all these lymphocyte types was independent of oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation, as analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis and comet assay. Additionally, scanning electron microscope and fluorescence microscopy demonstrated the ability of nisin to activate human PMNs in vitro. Nisin‐activated neutrophils extruded intact nuclear chromatin to form NETs, well known for neutralization of virulence factors and extermination of bacterial pathogens. Nisin's presence also elevated neutrophil intracellular superoxide levels, normally produced by activated NADPH oxidase and prerequisite to NET formation. These nisin‐induced responses in cellular representatives of two separate branches of human immune system—adaptive and innate—although leading to cell death, did not include DNA fragmentation. From these findings, we propose that nisin might trigger similar AICD mechanisms in lymphocytes and neutrophils, different from conventional apoptosis which involves DNA fragmentation. Copyright © 2011 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Growth and characterization of Er‐doped ZnO elongated nanostructures
Authors: Ryu Y. K. , Fernández P. , Piqueras J.
Published: February 2011

Er‐doped ZnO nano‐ and microstructures have been grown by thermal treating of compacted mixtures of ZnO and Er2O3 powders and their optical properties have been studied by cathodoluminescence (CL). Annealing the pressed samples leads to the growth of nanoneedles and nanoneedle networks, as well as rods. CL measurements enable detection of the dopant incorporation into these structures as well as the influence of this incorporation on the defect structure. CL contrast reveals an inhomogeneous distribution of luminescent centers, showing differences in the Er incorporation degree as a function of morphology and structures of the rods. Spectral distribution of the luminescence also points toward a nonhomogeneous distribution of the dopant. The growth of hierarchical structures has also been studied.
Essential Oil of Clove (Eugenia caryophyllata) augments the Humoral Immune Response but Decreases Cell Mediated Immunity
Authors: Halder Sumita , Mehta Ashish K. , Mediratta Pramod K. , Sharma Krishna K.
Published: February 2011

The present study was undertaken to explore the effect of the essential oil isolated from the buds of Eugenia caryophyllata on some immunological parameters. Humoral immunity was assessed by measuring the hemagglutination titre to sheep red blood cells and delayed type hypersensitivity was assessed by measuring foot pad thickness. Clove oil administration produced a significant increase in the primary as well as secondary humoral immune response. In addition, it also produced a significant decrease in foot pad thickness compared with the control group. Thus, these results suggest that clove oil can modulate the immune response by augmenting humoral immunity and decreasing cell mediated immunity. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The early history of hygrometry, and the controversy between De Saussure and De Luc
Authors: Middleton W. E. Knowles
Published: February 2011

An account of the early development of hygrometers and hygrometry is presented from the time of Leonardo da Vinci up to about the year 1800. The famous controversy between J. A. de Luc and H. B. de Saussure, in the last two decades of the 18th century, is described in so far as it refers to hygrometry.
Piperazines for peptide carboxyl group derivatization: effect of derivatization reagents and properties of peptides on signal enhancement in matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry
Authors: Qiao Xiaoqiang , Sun Liangliang , Chen Lingfan , Zhou Yuan , Yang Kaiguang , Liang Zhen , Zhang Lihua , Zhang Yukui
Published: February 2011

Piperazine‐based derivatives, including 1‐(2‐pyridyl)piperazine (2‐PP), 1‐(2‐pyrimidyl)piperazine (2‐PMP), 1‐(4‐pyridyl)piperazine (4‐PP), and 1‐(1‐methyl‐4‐piperidinyl)piperazine (M‐PP), were used for the derivatization of carboxyl groups on peptides with 1‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl)‐3‐ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and 1‐hydroxy‐7‐azabenzotriazole (HOAt) as coupling reagents, and trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) as activator. Taking synthetic peptides RVYVHPI (RI‐7) and APGDRIYVHPF (AF‐11) as samples, the yields of derivatized peptides by 2‐PP, 2‐PMP and 4‐PP were higher than 94%. The effect of piperazine derivatives on the signals of tryptic digests of α‐transferrin and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was investigated, and it was found that peptides derivatized by 2‐PP and 2‐PMP exhibited obviously improved ionization efficiency. Furthermore, comparison of identified peptides before and after derivatization showed that peptides with low molecular weight (MW) and high pI value were preferably detected after derivatization. In addition, after derivatization with 2‐PP and 2‐PMP, protein myelin basic protein S, 20 kDa protein, and histone H were confidently identified from the tryptic digests of two fractions of rat brain protein separated by reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), indicating the potential application of 2‐PP and 2‐PMP for the highly sensitive determination of peptides in comprehensive proteome analysis. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quantitative profiling of SiGe/Si superlattices by time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry: the advantages of the extended Full Spectrum protocol
Authors: Py M. , Barnes J. P. , Lafond D. , Hartmann J. M.
Published: February 2011

The abundance of work on SiGe‐based devices demonstrates the importance of the compositional characterization of such materials. However, Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) characterization of SiGe layers often suffers from matrix effects due to the non‐linear variation of ionization yields with Ge content. Several solutions have been proposed in order to overcome this problem, each having its own limitations such as a restricted germanium concentration range, or a weak sensitivity to dopants or impurities. Here, we studied the improvements brought by an alternative protocol: the extended Full Spectrum protocol, which states proportionality between the composition of the secondary ion beam and that of the actual material. Previous studies on this protocol showed that it was extremely precise and reproducible for Ge quantification in a permanent regime, because of minimized matrix effects.

In this study we thus investigated its accuracy for the simultaneous quantitative depth profiling of both matrix elements (Si, Ge) and impurities (B, C or P) in strained SiGe/Si superlattices by comparing results with those from more classic protocols. The profiles provided by the extended Full Spectrum protocol were found to be accurate, and to exhibit better properties than classic protocols in terms of signal/noise ratio and signal stability, along with a slight enhancement in depth resolution. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Kobuviruses – a comprehensive review
Authors: Reuter Gábor , Boros Ákos , Pankovics Péter
Published: February 2011

Kobuviruses are members of the large and growing family Picornaviridae. Until now, two official, Aichi virus and Bovine kobuvirus, and one candidate kobuvirus species, ‘porcine kobuvirus’, have been identified in human, cattle and swine, respectively. In addition, kobu‐like viruses were detected very recently in the bat. Aichi virus could be one of the causative agents of gastroenteritis in humans, and kobuviruses probably also cause diarrhoea in cattle and swine. Although Aichi virus has been detected relatively infrequently (0–3%) in human diarrhoea, high seroprevalence, up to 80–95% at the age of 30–40, was found indicating the general nature of infection in different human populations. In the previous years, much new information has accumulated relating to kobuviruses and their host species. This review summarises the current knowledge on kobuviruses including taxonomy, biology and viral characteristics, and covers all aspects of infection including epidemiology, clinical picture, host species diversity, laboratory diagnosis and it gives a summary about possible future perspectives. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cooperative control of multiple surface vessels with discrete‐time periodic communications
Authors: Almeida J. , Silvestre C. , Pascoal A. M.
Published: February 2011

This paper addresses the problem of cooperative path‐following of networked autonomous surface vessels with discrete‐time periodic communications. The objective is to steer a group of autonomous vehicles along given spatial paths, while holding a desired inter‐vehicle formation pattern. For a given class of marine vessels, we show how Lyapunov‐based techniques, graph theory, and results from networked control systems can be brought together to yield a decentralized control structure where the dynamics of the cooperating vessels and the constraints imposed by the topology of the inter‐vehicle communication network are explicitly taken into account. Cooperation is achieved by adjusting the speed of each vessel along its path according to information exchanged periodically on the positions of a subset of the other vessels, as determined by the communications topology adopted. The closed‐loop system that is obtained by putting together the path‐following and cooperation strategies takes an interconnected feedback form where both systems are input‐to‐state stable with respect to the outputs of each other. Using a small‐gain theorem, stability and convergence of the overall system are guaranteed for adequate choices of the controller gains. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Networked‐based stabilization via discontinuous Lyapunov functionals
Authors: Liu Kun , Fridman Emilia
Published: February 2011

This paper presents a new stability and L2‐gain analysis of linear Networked Control Systems (NCS). The new method is inspired by discontinuous Lyapunov functions that were introduced by Naghshtabrizitextitet al. (Syst. Control Lett. 2008; 57:378–385; Proceedings 26th American Control Conference, New York, U.S.A., July 2007) in the framework of impulsive system representation. Most of the existing works on the stability of NCS (in the framework of time delay approach) are reduced to some Lyapunov‐based analysis of systems with uncertain and bounded time‐varying delays. This analysis via time‐independent Lyapunov functionals does not take advantage of the sawtooth evolution of the delays induced by sample‐and‐hold. The latter drawback was removed by Fridman (Automatica 2010; 46:421–427), where time‐dependent Lyapunov functionals for sampled‐data systems were introduced. This led to essentially less conservative results. The objective of the present paper is to extend the time‐dependent Lyapunov functional approach to NCS, where variable sampling intervals, data packet dropouts, and variable network‐induced delays are taken into account. The Lyapunov functionals in this paper depend on time and on the upper bound of the network‐induced delay, and these functionals do not grow along the input update times. The new analysis is applied to the state‐feedback and to a novel network‐based static output‐feedback H∞ control problems. Numerical examples show that the novel discontinuous terms in Lyapunov functionals essentially improve the results. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A privacy‐aware overlay routing scheme in WSNs
Authors: Kazatzopoulos L. , Delakouridis K. , Marias G. F.
Published: February 2011

In most of the wireless sensor networks (WSNs) configurations, the sensors are statically deployed and configured to propagate the captured information towards a sink‐sensor, a gateway with legacy systems or the internet. The captured information might be unclassified, such as environmental data, or classified as private information, such as the location of an important asset, person, or actuator. In the latter case, privacy enhancement mechanisms might be essential to ensure the confidentiality of the propagated information, as well as the location of the information source (i.e., a sensor). Light cryptographic cyptosystems, such us Elliptic Curve, might be useful to cipher the information that is relayed towards the sink. On the other hand, the static deployment of sensors in WSN simplifies the reveal of the information source. An eavesdropper might use reverse packet‐routing to identify the location of the source sensor, i.e., the one that captured and reported the information. To deal with these issues, and enhance source‐location privacy, information secrecy in WSNs, ensure source‐to‐sink unlinkability, without complex and demanding crypto‐operations, we have introduced a novel approach that uses a non–geographical, overlay routing method for packet forwarding, routing, and delivery. This paper introduces the architecture of the approach, and assesses its performance through simulation experiments, providing comparisons with relative approaches. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A non‐associative lattice‐based public key cryptosystem
Authors: Malekian Ehsan , Zakerolhosseini Ali
Published: February 2011

In this paper we will prove that a lattice‐based public key cryptosystem based on non‐associative algebra is not only feasible but also arguably more secure than the existing lattice based cryptosystems such as NTRU, because its lattice does not fully fit within circular and convolutional modular lattice (CCML).

The underlying algebraic structure of the proposed non‐associative cryptosystem is the power‐associative and alternative octonions algebra which can be defined over any Dedekind domain such as convolution polynomial ring.

Besides the detailed specification of the proposed cryptosystem, we have proved that the security of the proposed scheme relies on the difficulty of the finding shortest vector in a certain kind of lattice. Since there is no isomorphic matrix representation for octonions, the only method for attacking the proposed cryptosystem and finding a spurious key for decryption is to form a lattice of dimension 16.N which is eight times larger than the NTRU lattice. By reducing the dimension of the underlying convolution polynomial ring (N) and using optimization techniques, we can increase the encryption and decryption speed, to a level equal to NTRU.

Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 94A60, 11T71 Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quantifying bias in a health survey: Modeling total survey error in the National Immunization Survey
Authors: Molinari NoelleAngelique M. , Wolter Kirk M. , Skalland Benjamin , Montgomery Robert , Khare Meena , Smith Philip J. , Barron Martin L. , Copeland Kennon , Santos Kathleen , Singleton James A.
Published: February 2011

Random‐digit‐dial telephone surveys are experiencing both declining response rates and increasing under‐coverage due to the prevalence of households that substitute a wireless telephone for their residential landline telephone. These changes increase the potential for bias in survey estimates and heighten the need for survey researchers to evaluate the sources and magnitudes of potential bias.

We apply a Monte Carlo simulation‐based approach to assess bias in the NIS, a land‐line telephone survey of 19–35 month‐old children used to obtain national vaccination coverage estimates. We develop a model describing the survey stages at which component nonsampling error may be introduced due to nonresponse and under‐coverage. We use that model and components of error estimated in special studies to quantify the extent to which noncoverage and nonresponse may bias the vaccination coverage estimates obtained from the NIS and present a distribution of the total survey error.

Results indicated that the total error followed a normal distribution with mean of 1.72 per cent(95 per cent CI: 1.71, 1.74 per cent) and final adjusted survey weights corrected for this error. Although small, the largest contributor to error in terms of magnitude was nonresponse of immunization providers. The total error was most sensitive to declines in coverage due to cell phone only households. These results indicate that, while response rates and coverage may be declining, total survey error is quite small. Since response rates have historically been used to proxy for total survey error, the finding that these rates do not accurately reflect bias is important for evaluation of survey data. Published in 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Estimation of reliability in a three‐factor model
Authors: Wang Luqiang , Keen Kevin John , Holland Burt
Published: February 2011

Reliability measures have been well studied over many years. Such measures have been thoroughly studied for two‐factor models. Motivated by a medical research problem, point and confidence interval estimates of the intraclass correlation coefficient are extended to models containing three crossed random factors—subjects, raters, and occasions. The estimation is conducted using both analysis of variance and Monte Carlo Markov chain methods. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nanotoxicology: Advanced Optical Imaging Reveals the Dependence of Particle Geometry on Interactions Between CdSe Quantum Dots and Immune Cells (Small 3/2011)
Authors: Aaron Jesse S. , Greene Adrienne C. , Kotula Paul G. , Bachand George D. , Timlin Jerilyn A.
Published: February 2011

The biocompatibility and possible toxicological consequences of engineered nanomaterials, including quantum dots (QDs) due to their unique suitability for biomedical applications, remain intense areas of interest. We utilized advanced imaging approaches to characterize the interactions of CdSe QDs of various sizes and shapes with live immune cells. Particle diffusion and partitioning within the plasma membrane, cellular uptake kinetics, and sorting of particles into lysosomes were all independantly characterized. Using high‐speed total internal reflectance fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy, we show that QDs with an average aspect ratio of 2.0 (i.e., rod‐shaped) diffuse nearly an order of magnitude slower in the plasma membrane than more spherical particles with aspect ratios of 1.2 and 1.6, respectively. Moreover, more rod‐shaped QDs were shown to be internalized into the cell 2‐3 fold more slowly. Hyperspectral confocal fluorescence microscopy demonstrates that QDs tend to partition within the cell membrane into regions containing a single particle type. Furthermore, data examining QD sorting mechanisms indicate that endocytosis and lysosomal sorting increases with particle size. Together, these observations suggest that both size and aspect ratio of a nanoparticle are important characteristics that significantly impact interactions with the plasma membrane, uptake into the cell, and localization within intracellular vesicles. Thus, rather than simply characterizing nanoparticle uptake into cells, we show that utilization of advanced imaging approaches permits a more nuanced and complete examination of the multiple aspects of cell‐nanoparticle interactions that can ultimately aid understanding possible mechanisms of toxicity, resulting in safer nanomaterial designs.
An exercise in flexible formal modeling under realistic assumptions
Authors: Wedde Horst F.
Published: February 2011

A brief introduction into the Theory of Interaction Systems is given. This is an innovative general formal tool for adequately modeling very large and complex dynamical systems (distributed systems). The formalism is purely built on interaction primitives. In order to demonstrate its possible use as a modeling and communication tool for the design and development phase of a large real modeling/reorganization process a developing elevator problem is defined and discussed which adequately reflects essential aspects of a real modeling process: Uncertainty of observations, partial autonomy of subsystems, limited range of decisions or of responsibility, interrelation of requirements on different design levels, partial reorganization/redesign. A formal solution is constructed for this problem in various iterative steps using standard constructions which describe the local change of requirements and which have a well‐defined global effect without influencing, or changing, the formal specification at, or for, distant locations or activities. So we prove the adequacy of our tools regarding the mentioned modeling aspects, in particular their flexibility. It is explained how the formal approach of interaction systems may help to constitute innovative forms of formal reasoning and of systems thinking needed for a practice‐oriented systematic way of solving organizational/design problems in large real systems.
Holons: Three conceptions
Authors: Bahm Archie J.
Published: February 2011

Recent advances in systems theory have required a new term, ‘holon’ (a whole of parts functioning as part of a larger whole). These advances are complicated by differing interpretations provided by three competing kinds of general systems theory: Emergentism, structuralism and organicism. For emergentism, use of the term signifies a shift in emphasis from focusing on the dynamic equilibrium between a whole and its parts to that between the whole and the larger whole of which it is a part. For structuralism, the term serves in explaining subsystem adaptation to environmental and hierarchical constraints and determinations by invariant principles. By incorporating ideas from both emergentism and structuralism into its more intricate interpretations, the author claims that organicism presents a more adequate conception of the nature of holons—now regarded as essential to general systems thinking.
Toward systemic education of systems scientists
Authors: Gharajedaghi Jamshid , Ackoff Russell L.
Published: February 2011

The systems view of the world includes a system of concepts, a body of theory, a theory of practice and methodologies of research on, planning for and design of systems. The making of systems scientists involves their learning all these things. But the educational media used in systems education are mechanistically conceived however systemic the messages they deliver. Therefore, there is a fundamental contradiction between the media and the message, and, we believe, the media dominate.

Mechanically conceived education is analytic. It disassembles that which is to be learned reducing it to a number of discrete and disconnected parts. But systems learning is a whole that cannot be easily divided into independent parts. The essential properties of this whole are lost when it is taken apart. The parts, as well, lose their essential properties when they are separated from the whole.

Analysis of a system reveals its structure; synthesis is also required to appreciate its function. Thus analysis and synthesis are complementary; neither replaces the other. Systems learning incorporates both.
Complexity: Some general observations
Authors: Klir George J.
Published: February 2011

An attempt is made in this article to develop a general framework for dealing with the various issues associated with the notion of complexity. It is argued that complexity, in the epistemological and methodological sense, is associated with systems defined on objects of interest rather than the objects themselves. Basic types of systems are outlined in the article. It is shown that systems complexity has different meanings for different types of systems while, at the same time, it possesses some general features that are invariant of systems types. Two general kinds of complexity of a system are proposed, which are connected with the amounts of information required to describe the system and to resolve uncertainty associated with it. A general simplification problem, which is applicable to systems of any type, is formulated, and some fundamental simplification strategies are overviewed.
Political health as an integrating model in political systems theory
Authors: Riemer Neal
Published: February 2011

The concept of political health, correctly understood and employed, can serve as an integrating model in the discipline of political science. A realistic theory of the political system should welcome such a concept which seeks to do justice to the three central concerns of political science. First, political health makes explicit the preferred ethical concern of political science: Its dedication to such values as peace, freedom, justice, and welfare. Second, the concept enables political scientists to explore, as empirical social scientists, the necessary and sufficient conditions of these same values, and to arrive at generalizations about the state of our political health. And, thirdly, the concept of political health encourages political scientists—ethically motivated, and scientifically equipped—to sustain and improve the health of political communities by helping to sharpen the capacity of all political actors (but especially politicians, administrators, and statesmen) to make prudent political judgments in politics.
Societal learning, political systems and education: Some prospects and priorities for the future
Authors: Keen James P. , Deutsch Karl W.
Published: February 2011

During the last fifty years many of the world's political systems have learned to perform new operations they could not perform before. The challenges that face humankind now and in the next decades will require even more dramatic learning, invention and innovation. Conditions for increased learning performance that pertain to any large system help to clarify how societies and political systems learn. What will it mean to tune our educational systems to increase our learning capacity, to facilitate our transition to an intensive information society and to meet the economic, political and social challenges of the coming decades?
An attempt toward an integrated theory of consumer psychology and decision‐making
Authors: Joseph Sirgy M. , Tyagi Pradeep K.
Published: February 2011

This paper makes an attempt to integrate a number of selected theories of motivation (performance) and satisfaction. Specifically, this was accomplished by (1) reviewing selected major theories dealing with these concepts (expectancy‐value theory, assimilation‐contrast theory, social comparison theory, exchange theory, discrepancy theory, decision‐making theory and self‐concept theory), (2) reviewing selected major theories linking performance with satisfaction (March and Simon's theory, Porter and Lawler's theory, cybernetics/control theory and Raynor's theory of motivation), (3) presenting a set of criteria for developing a general theory of motivation and emotion, (4) introducing a general theory of motivation and emotion (evaluative congruity theory) and (5) translating the concepts of the selected traditional theories of performance and satisfaction into the language of evaluative congruity theory.
Transformation and regeneration in social systems: A dissipative structure perspective
Authors: Smith Charles
Published: February 2011

This paper focuses on the study of transformation and regeneration processes in social systems, and identifies aspects of these processes that have parallels across systems levels. A paradigm originating within physical science research is used to frame a model of social system transformation. Social system change literature is presented in terms of the model and implications for change agents and researchers are discussed. An illustrative case study from the NASA Apollo organization is presented.
Toward a consistent terminology for management theory building
Authors: Acar William
Published: February 2011

This paper initiates a dialogue on the meanings of the main concepts of the methodological hierarchy, and attempts to remedy existing confusion by proposing a workable terminology to the management research community. The proposed methodological hierarchy aggregates procedural components and methodological elements into techniques, methods, frameworks, approaches, paradigms and two principal methodologies. These are the scientific or ‘research’ methodology of applied science, and the anthropological or ‘clinical’ methodology. Taken together, these two families constitute methodology, or study of legitimate methods and approaches. Their relationships with the notions of model and theory are also outlined.
Industry—state—university research collaboration: The west german fraunhofer gesellschaft model
Authors: Townsend Miles A. , Gibson John E. , Knausenberger George
Published: February 2011

The West German Fraunhofer Gesellschaft (FhG) is described as a model of a successful industry—state—university research and development institute system. With over 30 separate institutes, its purpose is the advancement of applied research, with a primary mission to work in areas of manufacturing and productivity. All aspects of the FhG and its institutes are discussed: Mission, operation, organization, new institute startup, budgeting, and diversity.
Cognitive models of international decisionmakers and international stability
Authors: De Greene Kenyon B.
Published: February 2011

The evolution to war or peace is discussed in terms of systems evolution and is then described in terms of four stages. Emphasis in this paper is on the stage of precursory or field‐reconfiguration phenomena. A major incongruence is suggested to exist between the realities of system structure, dynamics, and behavior on the one hand and the thought processes of world leaders about these systems on the other. A number of systems constructs are examined in terms of simplistic thinking, policy actions based on simplistic thinking, implications of the policy implementations for international stability, and systems thinking. Briefly, these constructs are linearity, direction of causality, determinacy, equilibrium, complexity, and structural change. The origin and nature of different cognitive styles is then discussed as they impact global systems management. Cognitive dissonance leading to cognitive structural change is stressed as a means of systems education. A program for implementing changes in thinking is sketched.
Autopoiesis: The organizational closure of social systems
Authors: Bednarz John
Published: February 2011

The attempt to define living systems in terms of goal, purpose, function, etc. runs into serious conceptual difficulties. The theoretical biologists Humberto Maturana and Francisco Varela realized that any such attempt cannot capture what is distinctive about them: Their autonomy and unity. Goal, purpose, etc. always define the system in terms of something extrinsic, whereas living systems are unique because they maintain their unitary continuity of pattern despite the ceaseless turnover of their components. So, system‐closure is a prerequisite of their adequate conceptual comprehension. Maturana and Varela themselves found that system‐closure pertains exclusively to their organization, i.e. the set of relations among system‐components which unify them. For living systems this comprises the relation between the system‐components and the processes which they undergo. This relation is self‐referential because it is closed, i.e. it essentially (re)produces itself.

While this model worked very well in the biological domain, attempts to extend it to the social domain met with serious conceptual obstacles. The reason for this is that Maturana did not make a consistent enough application of it. He understood the components of social systems biologically (individuals, persons, etc.) and the relations between them socially (language). This inconsistency ruptured the system's organizational closure. Consequently organizational closure (autopoiesis) can be maintained only when both the components of social systems and their processes are of the same type: Social. This interpretation can be found in the work of Niklas Luhmann who recognizes that the components of social systems are not persons, individuals, actors or subjects but communicative actions themselves. This preserves the organizational closure of the system and permits the concept of autopoiesis to be used as a powerful instrument of social analysis.
Synthesis in a new age: A role for system scientists in the age of design
Authors: Christakis A. N. , Krause L. K. , Prabhu Yamuna
Published: February 2011

Ongoing research in generic design science has provided evidence regarding its capacity to make valuable contributions towards the resolution of the global problématique. This paper defines and clarifies a role for systems scientists in the context of these contributions. The results of an actual generic design session exploring this role in the context of a global problématique is presented for discussion to further work towards implementing generic design science in the systems science community.

We have heard our age described as the age of systems, the information age, and the post‐industrial age. While it may be all of these things, it is surely an age of design. Design is the manifestation of our knowledge and feelings, as translated into the great variety of artifacts that modify our way of life. Design is a process of creating alternatives to augment those provided by nature.

Warfield [12, p. 725]
On structural prerequisites to strategic stability in europe without nuclear weapons: Conclusions from the analysis of a model of conventional conflict
Authors: Huber Reiner K.
Published: February 2011

There are several reasons which suggest that the role of nuclear weapons for deterrence in Europe is gradually diminishing. Thus, Europeans are confronted with the question as to whether and under what conditions strategic stability can be obtained in a post‐nuclear world. From the analysis of a simple conceptual model of military conflict the conclusion is reached that, in order to preserve crisis stability in a non‐nuclear Europe and to dampen the arms race, the antagonistic land forces need to be gradually restructured in a manner so that neither side may perceive the other as a potential threat to its territorial integrity. There would be military as well as economic incentives for the implementation of structural changes toward a reduction of the offensive capabilities of conventional forces if the so‐called ‘Defense Efficiency Hypothesis’ were to be validated. Otherwise, a deterioration of crisis stability must be expected during the transition period.
Systems thinking and a proposal for a neurological positivism
Authors: Vandervert Larry R.
Published: February 2011

Three traditional positivisms are reviewed briefly; these positivisms are subsumed under a newly proposed neurological positivism. Neurological positivism links world, brain and mind in a conceptual model which will guide research efforts in all three domains; it proposes that the preinferential data for what is knowable are in the organization and algorithms of the neurological order. Four postulates arise from this assertion: 1. the neurological order represents the ‘prime calculus’ for all knowing; 2. homological rules of transformation fully link world, brain and mind; 3. everything knowable emerges as the result of reciprocal projective mapping between the environment and the neurological order; 4. knowledge, through reciprocal projective mapping, emerges in a Darwinian fashion. Three interrelated theoretical models which underlie neurological positivism are described: 1. the computational characteristics of collective‐decision neuron circuitry; 2. Darwinian neuron group selection; and 3. reciprocal projective mapping between brain and environment. Implications of neurological positivism are discussed briefly. It is concluded that neurological positivism is a systems view of world, brain and mind relationships and, that systems thinking may represent, in a general sense, a close approximation of the prime calculus of the neurological order of all nervous systems.

Man is the measure of all things: Of that which it is, and that which it is not
Ethical dilemmas in systems research
Authors: Bailey Kenneth D.
Published: February 2011

As a relatively young field, systems science is fortunate in experiencing few if any major ethical controversies. However, as a multidisciplinary approach ranging from pure to applied and from theory to method, systems science faces the potential for ethical dilemmas posed by its member specialties. The purpose of this paper is to begin discussion of the contemporary status of ethical concerns in systems research. We begin by discussing five reasons for increased interest in ethics. We next present an interaction model of ethical dilemmas in systems research, including a discussion of systems concerns in a related field (statistics). We next turn to eight methods by which ethical dilemmas can be avoided or diminished, and discuss these in detail for systems research. We close with a discussion of three salient features of systems (holistic analysis, system state, and boundary) and the ramification of these systems features for the problem of ethics in research.
Self‐organization of/in hierarchically structured systems
Authors: Salthe Stanley N.
Published: February 2011

Scalar hierarchies represent the structure of the world of matter in motion, the overall extensive system. Subsystems within this undergo changes that can be dichotomized into development and evolution (individuation). At a higher scalar level these modes of change are united under the rubric ‘self‐organization’. Development finds a very general, indeed, lawful description in non‐equilibrium thermodynamics discourse. Subsystems in the scalar hierarchical world are all dissipative structures. In their development at least living dissipative structures traverse a specification hierarchy of increasingly intensive being. At a higher temporal scalar level, developing dissipative structures form ontogenetic trajectories, the seat of self‐organization. At these higher scalar levels ontogenetic trajectories multiply to fill space as the dissipative structures that make them up access more and more geographical coordinates in a thrust outward toward what can be called a virtual thermodynamic equilibrium.