bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy for previously untreated solitary hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Takeda Atsuya , Sanuki Naoko , Eriguchi Takahisa , Kobayashi Takashi , Iwabutchi Shogo , Matsunaga Kotaro , Mizuno Tomikazu , Yashiro Kae , Nisimura Shuichi , Kunieda Etsuo
Published: August 2013

Background and Aims

Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) is a relatively new treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The outcomes of SABR for previously untreated solitary HCC unfit for ablation and surgical resection were evaluated.

Methods

Untreated solitary HCC patients treated with SABR were retrospectively studied. Between 2005 and 2012, 221 HCC patients underwent SABR. Among them, patients with untreated solitary HCC, treated with only SABR or SABR preceded by transarterial chemoembolization, were eligible. Based on baseline liver function and liver volume receiving ≥ 20 Gy, 35–40 Gy in five fractions was prescribed to the planning target volume surface.

Results

Sixty‐three patients were eligible, with a median follow‐up duration of 31.1 (range 12.0–88.1) months. No patients were lost to follow‐up. Twenty patients were treated with only SABR. In 43 patients treated with SABR preceded by transarterial chemoembolization, accumulation of lipiodol in the tumor remained complete in five, a partial defect in 38 on pre‐SABR computed tomography. The 1‐, 2‐, and 3‐year local control rates were 100%, 95%, and 92%, respectively; the intrahepatic recurrence‐free rates were 76%, 55%, and 36%, respectively; and the overall survival rates were 100%, 87%, and 73%, respectively. Grade 3 laboratory toxicities in the acute, subacute, and chronic phases were observed in 10, 9, and 13 patients, respectively, and ascites occurred in one patient.

Conclusions

Local control and overall survival after SABR for untreated solitary HCC were excellent despite the candidates being unfit for resection and ablation. SABR is safe and might be an alternative to resection and ablation.
Predictive factors for erythema nodosum and pyoderma gangrenosum in inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Ampuero Javier , Rojas‐Feria María , Castro‐Fernández Manuel , Cano Cristina , Romero‐Gómez Manuel
Published: August 2013

Background and Aim

To identify predictive factors related to the development of erythema nodosum and pyoderma gangrenosum, in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods

Epidemiological and clinical data from 270 patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and 125 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) were collected between 2003 and 2011. The variables retrospectively analyzed were: gender, age at diagnosis, type of IBD (CD or UC), smoking habit, pattern of disease (IBD), location and extension, family history, previous IBD‐related surgery, other extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs), and previous biological and immunosuppressive therapy.

Results

Thirty‐seven patients showed at least one cutaneous manifestation. These lesions were more frequent in women (15.4%) than in men (4.2%; P = 0.0001) and in CD (12.2%) than in UC patients (3.2%; P = 0.005). These manifestations were more frequently associated with other EIMs (25% vs 7.2%; P = 0.0001), and they were less frequent in patients who received a previous biological therapy for IBD (6.8% vs 11.2%; P = 0.1). Patients with skin manifestations were younger at diagnosis of IBD than those patients without them (26.3 ± 10 vs 32.9 ± 14.5, P = 0.008). Independent variables significantly associated with development of skin manifestations were: female (P = 0.008), previous biological therapy (P = 0.007), age at diagnosis (young, P = 0.026), type of IBD (CD, P = 0.043) and presence of other EIMs (P = 0.0001).

Conclusion

Predictive factors involved in the development of main cutaneous manifestations are: female, CD, young age at diagnosis of IBD, and presence of other EIMs. Early use of biological therapies prevents the development of cutaneous manifestations.
Older Adults Recently Discharged from the Hospital: Effect of Aerobic Interval Exercise on Health‐Related Quality of Life, Physical Fitness, and Physical Activity
Authors: Brovold Therese , Skelton Dawn A. , Bergland Astrid
Published: August 2013

Objectives

To compare the effect of high‐intensity aerobic interval exercise (HIA) with home‐based exercise (HB) in older adults with chronic disease soon after discharge from the hospital.

Design

Randomized controlled trial.

Setting

Hospital.

Participants

Community‐dwelling older adults aged 70 to 92 (N = 115) were recruited while in the hospital. After discharge, they were randomized to HIA group (n = 59) or HB (n = 56).

Intervention

High‐intensity aerobic interval exercise (HIA) consisted of endurance, strength, and balance exercises. The HB consisted of low‐intensity exercises and telephone follow‐up from a physical therapist.

Measurements

Health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study 36‐item Short Form Survey, physical fitness was measured using the Senior Fitness Test, and physical activity was assessed using the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly.

Results

Intention‐to‐treat analysis showed that both groups improved their HRQOL and physical activity after 3 months. Improvements on the Senior Fitness Test (chair stand, arm curl and 6‐minute walk (6MWT)) were significantly greater in the HIA group than the HB group. The mean difference was 25.9 m on the 6MWT (P = .001, effect size d = 0.2), 1.3 per 30 seconds on the chair stands mean (P = .001, effect size d = 0.3), and 1.6 per 30 seconds on the arm curl (P = .001, effect size d = 0.4).

Conclusion

High‐intensity aerobic interval exercise (HIA) participants significantly improved their physical fitness. Both groups increased their HRQOL and physical activity. The findings suggest that exercise therapy should be incorporated as a part of the treatment for older people at risk for functional decline.
Advancing Age and 30‐Day Adverse Outcomes After Nonemergent General Surgeries
Authors: Gajdos Csaba , Kile Deidre , Hawn Mary T. , Finlayson Emily , Henderson William G. , Robinson Thomas N.
Published: August 2013

Objectives

To determine whether 30‐day postoperative mortality, complications, failure‐to‐rescue (FTR) rates, and postoperative length of stay increase with advancing age.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Hospitals participating in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program.

Participants

Individuals undergoing nonemergent major general surgeries between 2005 and 2008 were studied (N = 165,600).

Measurements

Postoperative outcomes of interest were complications occurring within 30 days of the index operation, return to the operating room within 30 days, FTR after a postoperative complication, postsurgical length of stay, and 30‐day mortality.

Results

Postoperative mortality, overall morbidity, and each type of postoperative complication increased with increasing age. Rates of FTR after each type of postoperative complication also increased with age. Mortality in individuals aged 80 and older after renal insufficiency (43.3%), stroke (36.5%), myocardial infarction (MI) (35.6%), and pulmonary complications (25–39%) were particularly high. Median postoperative length of stay increased with age after surgical site infection, urinary tract infection, pneumonia, return to the operating room, and overall morbidity but not after venous thromboembolism, stroke, MI, renal insufficiency, failure to wean from the ventilator, or reintubation.

Conclusion

Thirty‐day mortality and complication and FTR rates increase with age after nonemergent general surgeries. Individuals aged 80 and older have especially high mortality after renal, cardiovascular, and pulmonary complications. Surgeons need to be more selective with advancing age regarding who will benefit from the surgical intervention.
Kisspeptin Neurones do not Directly Signal to RFRP‐3 Neurones but RFRP‐3 may Directly Modulate a Subset of Hypothalamic Kisspeptin Cells in Mice
Authors: Poling M. C. , Quennell J. H. , Anderson G. M. , Kauffman A. S.
Published: August 2013

The neuropeptides kisspeptin (encoded by Kiss1) and RFamide‐related peptide‐3 (also known as GnIH; encoded by Rfrp) are potent stimulators and inhibitors, respectively, of reproduction. Whether kisspeptin or RFRP‐3 might act directly on each other's neuronal populations to indirectly modulate reproductive status is unknown. To examine possible interconnectivity of the kisspeptin and RFRP‐3 systems, we performed double‐label in situ hybridisation (ISH) for the RFRP‐3 receptors, Gpr147 and Gpr74, in hypothalamic Kiss1 neurones of adult male and female mice, as well as double‐label ISH for the kisspeptin receptor, Kiss1r, in Rfrp‐expressing neurones of the hypothalamic dorsal‐medial nucleus (DMN). Only a very small proportion (5‐10%) of Kiss1 neurones of the anteroventral periventricular region expressed Gpr147 or Gpr74 in either sex, whereas higher co‐expression (approximately 25%) existed in Kiss1 neurones in the arcuate nucleus. Thus, RFRP‐3 could signal to a small, primarily arcuate, subset of Kiss1 neurones, a conclusion supported by the finding of approximately 35% of arcuate kisspeptin cells receiving RFRP‐3‐immunoreactive fibre contacts. By contrast to the former situation, no Rfrp neurones co‐expressed Kiss1r in either sex, and Tacr3, the receptor for neurokinin B (NKB; a neuropeptide co‐expressed with arcuate kisspeptin neurones) was found in <10% of Rfrp neurones. Moreover, kisspeptin‐immunoreactive fibres did not readily appose RFRP‐3 cells in either sex, further excluding the likelihood that kisspeptin neurones directly communicate to RFRP‐3 neurones. Lastly, despite abundant NKB in the DMN region where RFRP‐3 soma reside, NKB was not co‐expressed in the majority of Rfrp neurones. Our results suggest that RFRP‐3 may modulate a small proportion of kisspeptin‐producing neurones in mice, particularly in the arcuate nucleus, whereas kisspeptin neurones are unlikely to have any direct reciprocal actions on RFRP‐3 neurones.
Alveolar Nerve Repositioning with Rescue Implants for Management of Previous Treatment. A Clinical Report
Authors: Amet EDward M. , Uehlein Chris
Published: August 2013

The goal of modern implant dentistry is to return patients to oral health in a rapid and predictable fashion, following a diagnostically driven treatment plan. If only a limited number of implants can be placed, or some fail and the prosthetic phase of implant dentistry is chosen to complete the patient's treatment, the final outcome may result in partial patient satisfaction and is commonly referred to as a “compromise.” Previous All‐on‐4 implant treatment for the patient presented here resulted in a compromise, with an inadequate support system for the mandibular prosthesis and a maxillary complete denture with poor esthetics. The patient was unable to function adequately and also was disappointed with the resulting appearance. Correction of the compromised treatment consisted of bilateral inferior alveolar nerve elevation and repositioning without bone removal for lateral transposition, to gain room for rescue implants for a totally implant‐supported and stabilized prosthesis. Treatment time to return the patient to satisfactory comfort, function, facial esthetics, and speech was approximately 2 weeks. The definitive mandibular prosthesis was designed for total implant support and stability with patient retrievability. Adequate space between the mandibular bar system and the soft tissue created a high water bridge effect for self‐cleansing. Following a short interim mandibular healing period, the maxillary sinuses were bilaterally grafted to compensate for bone inadequacies and deficiencies for future maxillary implant reconstruction.
Personality‐Relationship Transactions Revisited
Authors: Neyer Franz J. , Mund Marcus , Zimmermann Julia , Wrzus Cornelia
Published: August 2013

The transactional paradigm states that people create, maintain, and change their environments according to their personalities. At the same time, the environment reacts back on personality. As social relationships are part of an individual's environment, this likewise implies that there are reciprocal transactions between personality and relationships. However, earlier studies have concluded that adult personality traits are so stable that they have a stronger effect on later relationships, but that relationship effects on personality are negligible. In this article, we contend that personality‐relationship transactions should be revisited. We submit that the relative powers of personality versus relationship effects depend on the type of life transition during which the effects take place: Relationship effects on personality development are more likely to emerge in the context of rather normative and highly scripted life transitions, whereas personality effects on relationship development are more likely to occur in the context of rather non‐normative life transitions that are less regulated by social expectations. We illustrate these assumptions with examples from our own work and other findings reported in the literature. Furthermore, we theorize that effects of personality‐relationship transactions on health also vary with the normativeness of the eliciting life transition.
Protist distribution in the Western Fram Strait in summer 2010 based on 454‐pyrosequencing of 18S rDNA
Authors: Kilias Estelle , Wolf Christian , Nöthig Eva‐Maria , Peeken Ilka , Metfies Katja
Published: August 2013

In this study, we present the first comprehensive analyses of the diversity and distribution of marine protist (micro‐, nano‐, and picoeukaryotes) in the Western Fram Strait, using 454‐pyrosequencing and high‐pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) at five stations in summer 2010. Three stations (T1; T5; T7) were influenced by Polar Water, characterized by cold water with lower salinity (<33) and different extents of ice concentrations. Atlantic Water influenced the other two stations (T6; T9). While T6 was located in the mixed water zone characterized by cold water with intermediate salinity (~33) and high ice concentrations, T9 was located in warm water with high salinity (~35) and no ice‐coverage at all. General trends in community structure according to prevailing environmental settings, observed with both methods, coincided well. At two stations, T1 and T7, characterized by lower ice concentrations, diatoms (Fragilariopsis sp., Porosira sp., Thalassiosira spp.) dominated the protist community. The third station (T5) was ice‐covered, but has been ice‐free for ~4 weeks prior to sampling. At this station, dinoflagellates (Dinophyceae 1, Woloszynskia sp. and Gyrodinium sp.) were dominant, reflecting a post‐bloom situation. At station T6 and T9, the protist communities consisted mainly of picoeukaryotes, e.g., Micromonas spp. Based on our results, 454‐pyrosequencing has proven to be an adequate tool to provide comprehensive information on the composition of protist communities. Furthermore, this study suggests that a snap‐shot of a few, but well‐chosen samples can provide an overview of community structure patterns and succession in a dynamic marine environment.
Explicit tests of palaeodrainage connections of southeastern North America and the historical biogeography of Orangethroat Darters (Percidae: Etheostoma:Ceasia)
Authors: Bossu Christen M. , Beaulieu Jeremy M. , Ceas Patrick A. , Near Thomas J.
Published: August 2013

The alteration in palaeodrainage river connections has shaped patterns of speciation, genetic diversity and the geographical distribution of the species‐rich freshwater fauna of North America. The integration of ancestral range reconstruction methods and divergence time estimates provides an opportunity to infer palaeodrainage connectivity and test alternative palaeodrainage hypotheses. Members of the Orangethroat Darter clade, Ceasia, are endemic to southeastern North America and occur north and south of the Pleistocene glacial front, a distributional pattern that makes this clade of closely related species an ideal system to investigate the number and location of glacial refugia and compare alternative hypotheses regarding the proposed evolution of the Teays‐Mahomet palaeodrainage. This study utilized time‐calibrated mitochondrial and nuclear gene phylogenies and present‐day geographical distributions to investigate hypothesized Teays‐Mahomet River connections through time using a dispersal–extinction–cladogenesis (DEC) framework. Results of DEC ancestral area reconstructions indicate that the Teays‐Mahomet River was a key dispersal route between disjunct highland regions connecting the Mississippi River tributaries to the Old‐Ohio Drainage minimally at two separate occasions during the Pleistocene. There was a dynamic interplay between palaeodrainage connections through time and postglacial range expansion from three glacial refugia that shaped the current genetic structure and geographical distributions of the species that comprise Ceasia.
Accumulation, Structural Change and External Balances in a World with Internationally Traded Environmental Assets
Authors: Razmi Arslan
Published: August 2013

Environmental literature has largely neglected macroeconomic considerations, especially open economy and asset market ones. This paper develops a small country framework that seeks to address these issues. Medium‐ and long‐run aspects are explored using standard trade and portfolio balance models, modified to incorporate trade in claims on non‐renewable resources (environmental assets). In the medium run, changes in environmental regulations, saving behavior and other variables affect the current account, investment and composition of output. In the long run, both the sectoral intensity of environment use and the structure of the economy are affected, as are the capital stock and the global distribution of claims on resources.
When the swimming gets tough, the tough form a biofilm
Authors: Belas Robert
Published: August 2013

Bacteria live either as independent planktonic cells or as members of surface‐attached communities called biofilms. Motility and biofilm development are mutually exclusive events, and control of the phase of this ‘swim‐or‐stick’ switch involves the ability of the bacterium to sense and respond appropriately to a surface. Cairns et al. (2013) report that the Bacillus subtilis flagellum functions in surface‐sensing. Using mutants of B. subtilis that prevent flagellum rotation, they measured the expression and activity of DegU, the response regulator of the two‐component DegS–DegU circuit. DegU activity and degU transcription increased when flagellum rotation was prevented, and were dependent on the DegS kinase. Inhibiting flagellar rotation by overexpressing the EpsE flagellar ‘clutch’ or addition of anti‐flagellin antiserum also increased degU transcription and activity. These results suggest B. subtilis senses restriction of flagellum rotation as the cell nears a surface. Inhibition of the flagellum activates the DegS–DegU circuit to turn on biofilm formation, i.e. the flagellum is acting as a mechanosensor of surfaces. B. subtilis joins an ever‐expanding group of bacteria, including species of Vibrio, Proteus and Caulobacter that use the flagellum as a surface sensor.
OPTIMIZING THE PERFORMANCE OF IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE IN EASTERN ENGLAND UNDER DIFFERENT WATER PRICING AND REGULATION STRATEGIES
Authors: VASILEIOU KONSTANTINOS , MITROPOULOS PANAGIOTIS , MITROPOULOS IOANNIS
Published: August 2013

Irrigation water shortage is becoming an increasingly serious problem in agricultural production. Growing pressure on water resources is leading to increasing restrictions on abstraction for irrigation and consideration of the use of economic instruments, such as increased abstraction charges and/or tradable licences, to restrict demand and encourage wiser use of water.

We evaluate irrigation using selected economic, social, and environmental indicators of performance, including the value of water used for irrigation. A linear programming model is developed and used to simulate possible responses by irrigators and the impact on irrigation performance of intervention measures, namely abstraction quota restrictions and volumetric pricing that might be used to ration water and/or increase water use efficiency. Through the use of parametric programming a scenario analysis is performed to a case study in eastern England with regard to perturbations of irrigation water under alternative policy instruments.
Growth rate affects the responses of the green alga Tetraselmis suecica to external perturbations
Authors: FANESI ANDREA , RAVEN JOHN A. , GIORDANO MARIO
Published: August 2013

We hypothesized that the duration of the perturbation relative to the reproduction rate influences the response mode to external perturbations and the degree of (organic) compositional homeostasis. Our findings are consistent with this hypothesis.

When different growth rates were imposed to cells of the same species, the degree of compositional homeostasis following an external perturbation was significantly higher in the cells with slower growth rate. The ability to maintain a constant composition was however vinculated by the availability of sufficient energy.
Effect of Light Environment on Growth and Phenylpropanoids of Yarrow (Achillea collina cv. SPAK) Grown in the Alps
Authors: Giorgi Annamaria , Manzo Alessandra , Vagge Ilda , Panseri Sara
Published: August 2013

A 2‐year field study on the effect of different light environments, obtained by using cladding materials (polyethylene films and shade net) able to cut off specific regions of the photosynthetically active radiation and ultraviolet wavebands, on the growth and phenylpropanoids content of Achillea collina grown in the Alps was conducted. Overall the plant growth was strongly enhanced in the second growing season irrespective of radiation treatment. The light environment did not affect total biomass accumulation, but only carbon allocation to leaves or inflorescences. Indeed the phenylpropanoid levels in inflorescences appeared to be more sensitive to the light environment than leaves as the latter showed high constitutive amounts of these compounds. However, the use of polyethylene films improved to some extent the content of caffeic acid derivatives in leaves. Our results showed that yarrow production, in the alpine situation considered, is influenced by the growing season and the light environment, providing a basis to optimize its quality, depending on the concentration of bioactive compounds, by means of proper agronomic practices.
Glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase of the parasitic nematode Haemonchus contortus binds to complement C3 and inhibits its activity
Authors: Sahoo S. , Murugavel S. , Devi I. K. , Vedamurthy G. V. , Gupta S. C. , Singh B. P. , Joshi P.
Published: August 2013

Haemonchus contortus is an economically important gastrointestinal parasite that infects primarily sheep and goats. To survive inside the host, the parasite must overcome the host immune response. In this study, we have identified and characterized a complement‐C3‐binding protein (H.c‐C3BP) from this parasite employing biochemical and molecular biology tools. Initially, a truncated form of the protein was isolated from the excretory–secretory products of the parasite using C3–Sepharose column that facilitated its identification by mass spectroscopy. Subsequently, the parent molecule was generated in E. coli, and sequence analysis confirmed it as glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). GAPDH reacted with the antiserum raised against the truncated protein, and the truncated protein reacted with anti‐GAPDH antiserum. The protein inhibited complement function as measured by haemolytic assay and membrane attack complex (MAC) formation. Sera from H. contortus‐infected animals reacted with GAPDH as well as the truncated form of the protein, which further lend support to protein secretion. Thus, the C3‐binding property of H. contortus GAPDH is a new function, and it represents a new entity of complement‐binding protein. Identification and characterization of H.c‐C3BP should facilitate development of new therapeutics considering a key role of this protein in immune modulation.
Actin cytoskeleton and organelle movement in the sporangiophore of the zygomycete Phycomyces blakesleeanus
Authors: Grolig F. , Moch J. , Schneider A. , Galland P.
Published: August 2013

Growth, photo‐ and gravitropism of sporangiophores of the zygomycete Phycomyces blakesleeanus occur within the apical growing zone, a cylindrical structure (diameter about 100 μm) that reaches about 1.5–2.5 mm below the tip and has growth rates up to 50 μm·min−1. To better understand morphogenesis and growth of the giant aerial hypha, we investigated with confocal microscopy and inhibitors the actin cytoskeleton and by in‐vivo particle tracking the associated organelle movement. We found stage‐1 sporangiophores (without sporangium) possess an actin cytoskeleton with polar zonation. (i) In the apex, abundant microfilaments without preferential orientation entangled numerous nuclei as well as a conspicious complex of some 200 lipid globules. Microfilament patches (≈ 1.6‐μm diameter) are clustered in the tip and were found in the apical cortex, whereas short, curved microfilament bundles (≈ 2.3‐μm long) prevailed in the subapex. (ii) In a transition zone downwards to the shaft, the microfilaments rearranged into a dense mat of longitudinal microfilaments that was parallel close to the periphery but more random towards the cell centre. Numerous microfilament patches were found near the cortex (≈ 10/100 μm2); their number decreased rapidly in the subcortex. In contrast, the short, curved microfilament bundles were found only in the subcortex. (iii) The basal shaft segment of the sporangiophore (with central vacuole) exhibited bidirectional particle movement over long distances (velocity ≈ 2 μm·s−1) along massive longitudinal, subcortical microfilament cables. The zonation of the cytoskeleton density correlated well with the local growth rates at the tip of the sporangiophore, and appears thus as a structural prerequisite for growth and bending.
Interactions and competition processes among tree species in young experimental mixed forests, assessed with chlorophyll fluorescence and leaf morphology
Authors: Pollastrini M. , Holland V. , Brüggemann W. , Koricheva J. , Jussila I. , Scherer‐Lorenzen M. , Berger S. , Bussotti F.
Published: August 2013

Chlorophyll a fluorescence (ChlF) and leaf morphology were assessed in two sites in Europe (Kaltenborn, Germany, and Satakunta, Finland) within a forest diversity experiment. Trees at Satakunta, planted in 1999, form a stratified canopy, while in Kaltenborn the trees are 7 years old, with no apparent canopy connection among broadleaf species. The following ChlF parameters from measured OJIP transient curves were examined: FV/FM (a proxy for maximum quantum yield); ΨEo (a proxy for efficiency in transferring an electron from reduced QA to the electron transport chain); I‐P phase (a proxy for efficiency of reducing final acceptors beyond PSI); and PItot (total performance index for potential energy conservation from photons absorbed by PSII to reduction of PSI end acceptors). At Satakunta FV/FM and ΨEo in Betula pendula were higher in monocultures and lower in mixed plots, perhaps due to increasing light availability in mixed plots, which can induce photoinhibition. The opposite trend was observed in Picea abies, which was shaded in mixed plots. At Kaltenborn FV/FM decreased in Fagus sylvatica and P. abies in mixed plots due to competition both above‐ and belowground. At Satakunta LMA increased in B. pendula leaves with increasing species richness. Leaf area of ten leaves was reduced in F. sylvatica in mixed plots at Kaltenborn. By up‐scaling the overall fluorescence response to plot level (PItot_plot), a significant positive correlation with tree diversity was found at Kaltenborn, but not at Satakunta. This could suggest that competition/facilitation processes in mixed stands play a significant role in the early stages of forest establishment, but then tend to be compensated in more mature stands.
Is Safe Production an Oxymoron?
Authors: Pagell Mark , Johnston David , Veltri Anthony , Klassen Robert , Biehl Markus
Published: August 2013

This research examines how organizations simultaneously manage their operations and occupational health and safety. Although both safety and operations scholars conduct research in the same operational settings, they have reached different, yet untested, conclusions about the relationship between creating a safe workplace and creating a productive workplace. The results from a series of 10 case studies show that it is possible to create safe and productive workplaces, but that many facilities fail at this task because of problems associated with the culture management creates and the practices management adopts.
Impeding the Juggernaut of Innovation Diffusion: A Production‐Constrained Model
Authors: Balakrishnan P. V. (Sundar) , Pathak Surya
Published: August 2013

Models of innovation diffusion typically depict an inexorable momentum once the process begins to roll. Limited production capacity, however, can place a cap on this process, leading to waiting lines of potential customers, thus diminishing overall service quality and the speed of diffusion. Identifying the minimum production capacity needed for unimpeded and unimpaired diffusion can ensure that there are no customers waiting to adopt the product. We propose a production‐capacity‐constrained diffusion model that considers an exogenous industry production capacity and accounts for word‐of‐mouth effects from adopters as well as waiting customers. We derive analytical expressions for minimum capacity needed under multiple production scenarios. We present a dual‐objective non‐linear least squares procedure with large‐scale grid search for estimating the parameters. We apply our model to several new product innovation data sets, ranging from vacuum cleaners to sports utility vehicles in the United States to iPhones globally. Our estimates show that product shortages exist, ranging from mild to severe, in all of these product markets. We are able to corroborate some of our findings with independent external sources of evidence. We find that information on industry capacity can be recovered with as few as 5 years of sales data. Our model has practical implications for policy makers and can help equity analysts triangulate industry capacity better, particularly when such information is closely held.
A School Feeding Supply Chain Framework: Critical Factors for Sustainable Program Design
Authors: Kretschmer Andreas , Spinler Stefan , Van Wassenhove Luk N.
Published: August 2013

School feeding is an established development aid intervention with multiple objectives including education, nutrition, and value transfer. Traditionally run by international organizations in low‐income settings, school feeding programs have had a substantial impact in many less‐developed countries. However, recent rethinking by the World Bank and the World Food Programme has prompted a shift toward long‐term, sustainable solutions that rely more upon local resources, local capacity, and community participation. Supply chain management, which is critical to program delivery, is vital to developing a sustainable approach to school feeding. We propose a theoretical framework that identifies the internal and external factors that shape the supply chain and connects them to the objectives and performance measures of sustainable programs. Drawing upon supply chain management theory, current school feeding practices, and expert feedback, this article contributes to development aid logistics and program transitioning with a focus on sustainable program design. It aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to school feeding and relevant supply chain issues, a framework to identify sustainability problems in school feeding supply chains, and a starting point for further research on program design.
Learning Disabilities and Inequality
Authors: Shifrer Dara
Published: August 2013

Functionally speaking, students are labeled with learning disabilities (LDs) and placed into special education to enable them to achieve up to their potential. Nonetheless, potential links between LDs and inequality have been a dominant research theme. Inequality may determine who experiences LDs, or who receives the LD label, just as inequality may result from LDs, or from the LD label. This article reviews broad theoretical perspectives of LDs, as well as research focused specifically on LDs and inequality. With significant data and methodological limitations hindering this body of research, this article also demonstrates how theoretical perspectives and methodologies from sociology of education and sociology of health could make significant contributions to the literatures and policy focused on this group of students.
Social Stratification and the Body: Gender, Race, and Class
Authors: Mason Katherine
Published: August 2013

This article introduces the study of social stratification and the body in sociology. Two major fields of social inequality, race and sex, are characterized by visible, physical markers (such as skin tone or body shape) that people use to attribute meaning to the bodies of those around them. Class, on the other hand, offers far subtler bodily clues to the casual observer. Drawing on studies of racialized and sexed bodies, this article derives two principles for studying bodies, class, and social stratification more broadly. First, the relationship between bodies and inequality is bidirectional and co‐constitutive: while beliefs about the meanings of bodily difference are used to legitimate social inequality, preexisting inequalities also shape the appearance, health, and capabilities of the body. Second, the mechanism by which bodily difference is used to justify inequality is the ideology of self‐control: claims about the bodies of marginalized groups tend to frame them as reflecting a lack of self‐discipline, thereby “proving” their moral or evolutionary unfitness for power. The article ends by identifying emerging areas of study that promise to advance the study of embodied stratification and by highlighting the continuing centrality of intersectisonal theories of difference and inequality in embodiment research.
Social Capital and Internet Use: The Irrelevant, the Bad, and the Good
Authors: Neves Barbara Barbosa
Published: August 2013

The social effects of Internet use have been a major concern for social scientists and society alike. How the Internet affects social capital has been a hot topic in sociology and other social sciences: Is the Internet reinforcing and complementing social capital? Or is it isolating people and diminishing their social capital? Social capital is here defined as the resources that are embedded in one's social ties. This article reviews the literature on the subject, looking at three perspectives: one that suggests no relationship between the Internet and social capital, a second that suggests a negative relationship between the Internet and social capital, and a third that suggests a positive relationship between the Internet and social capital. I conclude by showing that despite the prominent dystopian view of the Internet in the public and in some academic discourse (and the moral panic associated with it), research supports a positive relationship between Internet use and social capital. In addition, I discuss new trends and directions for future research.
Understanding Popularity and Relational Aggression in Adolescence: The Role of Social Dominance Orientation
Authors: Mayeux Lara
Published: August 2013

This study investigated a potential moderator of the association between popularity and relational aggression: social dominance orientation (SDO), the degree to which an individual endorses the importance of social hierarchy. One hundred eighty‐five ninth graders completed a sociometric assessment of RA and popularity, and a self‐report SDO measure. SDO was positively associated with popularity for both boys and girls, and with RA for girls. Popularity and RA were positively correlated for both genders. Regression analyses showed that SDO moderated the association between popularity and RA for girls, but not for boys. Girls who were both popular and who were social dominance‐oriented were particularly high in peer‐nominated RA. SDO may provide a useful framework for understanding the role of popularity in adolescent peer groups.
Circulating levels of matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases in patients with incisional hernia
Authors: Henriksen Nadia A. , Sørensen Lars T. , Jorgensen Lars N. , Ågren Magnus S.
Published: August 2013

Incisional hernia formation is a common complication to laparotomy and possibly associated with alterations in connective tissue metabolism. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) are closely involved in the metabolism of the extracellular matrix. Our aim was to study serum levels of multiple MMPs and TIMPs in patients with and without incisional hernia. Out of 305 patients who underwent laparotomy, 79 (25.9%) developed incisional hernia over a median follow‐up period of 3.7 years. Pooled sera from a subset (n = 72) of these patients were screened for MMP‐1, MMP‐2, MMP‐3, MMP‐7, MMP‐8, MMP‐9, MMP‐10, MMP‐12, MMP‐13, TIMP‐1, TIMP‐2, and TIMP‐4 using a multiplex sandwich fluorescent immunoassay supplemented with gelatin zymography. The screening indicated differences in serum MMP‐9 and TIMP‐1 levels. Consequently, MMP‐9 and TIMP‐1 levels were measured in serum in the whole patient cohort with enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. There were no significant differences in either MMP‐9 (p = 0.411) or TIMP‐1 (p = 0.679) levels between hernia and hernia‐free patients. MMP‐9 was significantly increased in smokers compared with nonsmokers (p = 0.016). In conclusion, a possible involvement of MMPs and TIMPs in the pathogenesis of incisional hernia formation was not reflected systemically.
Wound hypoxia in deep tissue after incision in rats
Authors: Kang Sinyoung , Lee Dongchul , Theusch Brett E. , Arpey Christopher J. , Brennan Timothy J.
Published: August 2013

Our previous studies using rat models of incisional pain have shown that tissue lactate levels increase and pH decreases for several days after incision, suggesting the presence of an ischemic‐like condition. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the time course and the extent of tissue hypoxia that develops in incised muscle and skin. We directly measured oxygen tension at several time points after incisions of the gastrocnemius muscle, the paraspinal skin, and the plantar hindpaw in anesthetized rats using an oxygen‐sensitive microelectrode. In vivo hypoxia of the incised tissues was also evaluated immunohistochemically using a hypoxia marker, pimonidazole hydrochloride. To minimize intersubject variability, unincised contralateral tissues were used as a control. Tissue oxygen tension was decreased in both skeletal muscle and skin compared with control, for several days after incision. When measured directly, oxygen tension decreased immediately and remained low for several days after incisions. Pimonidazole immunostaining revealed hypoxic areas in incised muscle and skin for several days. By postoperative day 10, tissue oxygen tension recovered to that of control tissue. These results support the evidence that a hypoxic condition is present in deep tissue after incisions and that an ischemic‐like mechanism may contribute to postoperative pain.
Evaporation and thermal cracking of dimeric parylenes
Authors: Franz Gerhard , Schamberger Florian
Published: August 2013

The common industrial technique for the deposition of coatings of polyparylene on three-dimensional substrates is the so-called Gorham method, which makes use of thermally cracked, dimeric precursors that form a polymeric film on a cold substrate. Although this method is easily applied, it is still a challenge to coat surfaces with thin, homogeneous layers less than 1 μm in thickness since mass flow controllers cannot be applied. To overcome this deficiency, several methods have been developed. The authors present here a new technique which allows sudden starts and stops simply by variation of the chamber pressure with an inert gas. Moreover, deposition of reproducible, precise layers of polymeric parylenes requires knowledge of the vapor pressures of the dimeric precursors, the equilibrium for the dissociation into monomers, and the flow of dimers into the reactor. Two straightforward manometric methods are used to measure the vapor pressure, whereas the equilibrium is measured by mass spectrometry. The flow into the reactor is precisely determined under various conditions. Modeling of the equilibrium performed with gaussian simulation software at the ab-initio level yields unexpected, good agreement with the measured data.
The robustness of speech representations obtained from simulated auditory nerve fibers under different noise conditions
Authors: Jürgens Tim , Brand Thomas , Clark Nicholas R. , Meddis Ray , Brown Guy J.
Published: August 2013

Different methods of extracting speech features from an auditory model were systematically investigated in terms of their robustness to different noises. The methods either computed the average firing rate within frequency channels (spectral features) or inter-spike-intervals (timing features) from the simulated auditory nerve response. When used as the front-end for an automatic speech recognizer, timing features outperformed spectral features in Gaussian noise. However, this advantage was lost in babble, because timing features extracted the spectro-temporal structure of babble noise, which is similar to the target speaker. This suggests that different feature extraction methods are optimal depending on the background noise.
Spatial Dynamics of Chromosome Translocations in Living Cells
Authors: Roukos Vassilis , Voss Ty C. , Schmidt Christine K. , Lee Seungtaek , Wangsa Darawalee , Misteli Tom
Published: August 2013

Chromosome Choreography

Chromosome translocations arise through the illegitimate pairing of broken chromosome ends and are commonly found in many cancers.

Roukos
et al.

(p.
660
) used ultrahigh-throughput time-lapse imaging on human tissue culture cells containing marked chromosomes to capture very rare translocation events. Double-strand breaks in the DNA underwent an initial “partner search,” with a fraction of the ends moving into spatial proximity to each other, which resulted in persistent pairing and the merging of DNA repair foci. Most paired ends arose from breaks in close proximity, but occasionally translocations formed from more distantly positioned breaks. Proteins of the DNA repair machinery could influence the pairing and/or translocation process.
Writing and Deleting Single Magnetic Skyrmions
Authors: Romming Niklas , Hanneken Christian , Menzel Matthias , Bickel Jessica E. , Wolter Boris , von Bergmann Kirsten , Kubetzka André , Wiesendanger Roland
Published: August 2013

Controlling Skyrmions

Magnetic skyrmions—tiny vortex patterns of spins—hold promise for information storage because of their robustness to perturbations. Skyrmions have been observed experimentally, but manipulating them individually remains a challenge.

Romming
et al.

(p.
636
; see the cover) used spin-polarized electrons generated by a scanning tunneling microscope to reversibly create and destroy skyrmions in a thin iron film covered by a layer of palladium. The energy of the tunneling electrons was the decisive factor determining the probability of the process; atomic defects in the film acted as pinning sites for the skyrmions. The work demonstrates the feasibility of using spin-polarized tunnel currents for the controlled manipulation of individual skyrmions.
Wayfinding in the Information Age

The Lost Art of Finding Our Way
by John Edward Huth

Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 2013. 538 pp. $35, £25.00, €31.50. ISBN 9780674072824.
Authors: Lockwood Deirdre
Published: August 2013

Huth offers a clear, comprehensive, and entertaining survey of the ways in which people find their way without GPS.
Lymphatics Are in My Veins
Authors: Simons Michael , Eichmann Anne
Published: August 2013

Molecular mechanisms regulating lymphangiogenesis may be exploited as potential treatments for disorders of lymphatic circulation.
Preparing for Disasters
Authors: McNutt Marcia , Leshner Alan
Published: August 2013

Disasters are inevitable and can strike anywhere at any time. Whether it's a natural event (such as a hurricane, flood, or earthquake), a disease pandemic, or a purposeful or accidental human action (such as an act of terrorism or fire), the consequences can be wide-ranging and devastating. Scientifically trained personnel often play vital roles in emergency response and recovery efforts. Under the right circumstances, they can mobilize research to better understand the nature of the event and how best to respond to similar events in the future. But the scientific community also needs to plan carefully for disaster preparedness and mitigation for its own infrastructure and resources.
*
Embezzlement Casts Harsh Light on China's Grant System
Authors: Larson Christina
Published: August 2013

In an usually egregious case of grant fraud, a well-connected Chinese scientist has been charged with embezzling $1.6 million.
How to Make a Great Ice Age, Again and Again and Again
Authors: Kerr Richard A.
Published: August 2013

A new computer model may hold the key to what makes Earth's ice ages wax and wane.
Lab Burger Adds Sizzle to Bid for Research Funds
Authors: Kupferschmidt Kai
Published: August 2013

The world's first in vitro beef patty was cooked and tasted at a media event in London.
Unconventional Vaccine Shows Promise Against Malaria
Authors: Kaiser Jocelyn
Published: August 2013

An unusual malaria vaccine made from whole parasites has shown impressive levels of protection in a small study.
Antibody Avidity in Humoral Immune Responses in Bangladeshi Children and Adults following Administration of an Oral Killed Cholera Vaccine
Authors: Alam Mohammad Murshid , Leung Daniel T. , Akhtar Marjahan , Nazim Mohammad , Akter Sarmin , Uddin Taher , Khanam Farhana , Mahbuba Deena Al , Ahmad Shaikh Meshbahuddin , Bhuiyan Taufiqur Rahman , Calderwood Stephen B. , Ryan Edward T. , Qadri Firdausi
Published: August 2013

Antibody avidity for antigens following disease or vaccination increases with affinity maturation and somatic hypermutation. In this study, we followed children and adults in Bangladesh for 1 year following oral cholera vaccination and measured the avidity of antibodies to the T cell-dependent antigen cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) and the T cell-independent antigen lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in comparison with responses in other immunological measurements. Children produced CTB-specific IgG and IgA antibodies of high avidity following vaccination, which persisted for several months; the magnitudes of responses were comparable to those seen in adult vaccinees. The avidity of LPS-specific IgG and IgA antibodies in vaccinees increased significantly shortly after the second dose of vaccine but waned rapidly to baseline levels thereafter. CTB-specific memory B cells were present for only a short time following vaccination, and we did not find significant memory B cell responses to LPS in any age group. For older children, there was a significant correlation between CTB-specific memory T cell responses after the second dose of vaccine and CTB-specific IgG antibody avidity indices over the subsequent year. These findings suggest that vaccination induces a longer-lasting increase in the avidity of antibodies to a T cell-dependent antigen than is measured by a memory B cell response to that antigen and that early memory T cell responses correlate well with the subsequent development of higher-avidity antibodies.