bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
‘Vile liars and truth distorters’; Truth, trust and the asylum system (Respond to this article at http://www.therai.org.uk/at/debate)
Authors: Griffiths Melanie
Published: October 2012

Immigration detainees and failed asylum seekers constitute some of the most mistrusted persons in British society. There is some basis to this stereotype – many people do provide information they know to be untrue or request asylum when they have no valid claim under the Refugee Convention. One could of course challenge this picture by critiquing the definition of ‘lies’, identifying flawed bureaucratic assumptions about what information people can be expected to know, and highlighting the reductive narrowness of immigration categorisation. However, rather than examine the association of asylum seekers with lying, this paper draws on ethnographic research to explore how those within the asylum system experience, understand and explain the bureaucracy they are embedded in. It suggests that deception, uncertainty and mistrust are as much characteristics of asylum seekers' perspective of the immigration system as of the reverse. In so doing, the paper contributes to a wider discussion about the fairness and consistency of immigration systems, as recently addressed in this journal by Caroline White and Zachary Whyte (White, 2012; Whyte, 2011).”
Breastfeeding as custom not culture: Cutting meaning down to size (Respond to this article at http://www.therai.org.uk/at/debate)
Authors: O'Connor Richard A. , Van Esterik Penny
Published: October 2012

Seeing breastfeeding as culturally constructed highlights its overall meaning only to hide the activity's inner dynamic and structural separateness. To study breastfeeding in its own terms, our paper flips culture as meaning on its head, asking how the whole (culture) fits the part (breastfeeding). Addressing that question to cultural, regional and cross‐cultural bodies of evidence, we find that what's viable bioculturally is nowhere near as malleable as what's imagined culturally. In understanding these arrangements, history and function need as much consideration as anthropologists currently give meaning.
To Sign or Not to Sign? The Impact of Encouraging Infants to Gesture on Infant Language and Maternal Mind‐Mindedness
Authors: Kirk Elizabeth , Howlett Neil , Pine Karen J. , Fletcher Ben (C)
Published: October 2012

Findings are presented from the first randomized control trial of the effects of encouraging symbolic gesture (or “baby sign”) on infant language, following 40 infants from age 8 months to 20 months. Half of the mothers were trained to model a target set of gestures to their infants. Frequent measures were taken of infant language development and dyadic interactions were scrutinized to assess mind‐mindedness. Infants exposed to gesture did not differ from control conditions on language outcomes; thus, no support was found for previous claims that encouraging gesturing with infants accelerates linguistic development. Microgenetic analysis revealed mothers in the gesture training conditions were more responsive to their infants' nonverbal cues and encouraged more independent action by their infant.
Metabolic engineering of novel lignin in biomass crops
Authors: Vanholme Ruben , Morreel Kris , Darrah Chiarina , Oyarce Paula , Grabber John H. , Ralph John , Boerjan Wout
Published: October 2012

Lignin, a phenolic polymer in the secondary wall, is the major cause of lignocellulosic biomass recalcitrance to efficient industrial processing. From an applications perspective, it is desirable that second‐generation bioenergy crops have lignin that is readily degraded by chemical pretreatments but still fulfill its biological role in plants. Because plants can tolerate large variations in lignin composition, often without apparent adverse effects, substitution of some fraction of the traditional monolignols by alternative monomers through genetic engineering is a promising strategy to tailor lignin in bioenergy crops. However, successful engineering of lignin incorporating alternative monomers requires knowledge about phenolic metabolism in plants and about the coupling properties of these alternative monomers. Here, we review the current knowledge about lignin biosynthesis and the pathways towards the main phenolic classes. In addition, the minimal requirements are defined for molecules that, upon incorporation into the lignin polymer, make the latter more susceptible to biomass pretreatment. Numerous metabolites made by plants meet these requirements, and several have already been tested as monolignol substitutes in biomimetic systems. Finally, the status of detection and identification of compounds by phenolic profiling is discussed, as phenolic profiling serves in pathway elucidation and for the detection of incorporation of alternative lignin monomers.

Contents

Summary
978

I.
Introduction
979

II.
Phenolic metabolism
979

III.
Lignin biosynthesis and structure
983

IV.
Alternative lignin monomers for biofuel applications
985

V.
Candidate alternative monolignols in biomimetic systems
991

VI.
From phenolic profiling to lignomics
992

VII.
Phenolic pathway engineering towards alternative monolignols
993

Acknowledgements
994

References
994
Hepatic Lesions Observed in Hepatitis C Virus Transgenic Mice Infected by Helicobacter hepaticus
Authors: Le Roux‐Goglin Emilie , Dubus Pierre , Asencio Corinne , Jutand Marthe‐Aline , Rosenbaum Jean , Mégraud Francis
Published: October 2012

Background

The heterogeneity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection cannot always be explained by HCV genotypes or host genetic factors, raising the issue of possible cofactors. A new form of hepatitis leading to liver cancer was discovered in 1992 in mice, owing to an infection by Helicobacter hepaticus. Moreover, several studies showed an association between the presence of HCV and Helicobacter in the liver of patients with severe liver diseases suggesting a possible synergism between the two pathogens. In an HCV transgenic mouse model with a B6C3F1 background, the combination of H. hepaticus infection and the HCV transgene resulted in a significantly greater incidence and multiplicity of preneoplastic and neoplastic liver foci in males.

Objectives

Because the mouse genetic background is a major determinant in the development of liver disease, our aim was to test the synergism between HCV and H. hepaticus infection using transgenic mice with a more sensitive genetic background to H. hepaticus infection.

Methods

For this purpose, four groups of mice were followed up to 14 months, the presence of H. hepaticus was monitored by PCR and hepatic lesions were looked for.

Results

We found that H. hepaticus, but not the HCV transgene, increased the number of hepatic lesions. The presence of carcinoma was more likely to occur on a background of hepatitis, and the overall lesions were more frequent in the presence of steatosis. The effect of the mouse genetic background was greater than the effect of the HCV transgene and was sufficient to promote lesions particularly via its sensitivity to H. hepaticus infection.

Conclusions

Genetic susceptibility may be a more important factor than expected. Indeed, the synergism between HCV and H. hepaticus infection involved in liver disease may be highly host dependent.
Adherence to Mediterranean Diet and Decline in Walking Speed over 8 Years in Community‐Dwelling Older Adults
Authors: Shahar Danit R. , Houston Denise K. , Hue Trisha F. , Lee Jung‐Sun , Sahyoun Nadine R. , Tylavsky Frances A. , Geva Diklah , Vardi Hillel , Harris Tamara B.
Published: October 2012

Objectives

To determine the association between Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) score and 20‐m walking speed over 8 years.

Design

Health, Aging and Body Composition Study (Health ABC) beginning in 1997/98.

Setting

Community.

Participants

Two thousand two hundred twenty‐five well‐functioning individuals aged 70 and older.

Measurements

Walking speed was assessed in relation to low, medium, and high adherence to the MedDiet (0–2, 3–5, 6–9 points, respectively).

Results

Individuals in the highest MedDiet adherence group were more likely to be male; less likely to smoke; and more likely to have lower body mass index, higher energy intake, and greater physical activity (P < .05). Usual and rapid 20‐m walking speed were highest in the high MedDiet adherence group than in the other groups (high, 1.19 ± 0.19 m/s; medium, 1.16 ± 0.21 m/s; low, 1.15 ± 0.19 m/s, P = .02, for usual speed; high, 1.65 ±0.30 m/s; medium, 1.59 ± 0.32 m/s; low, 1.55 ± 0.30 m/s, P = .001, for rapid speed). Over 8 years, usual and rapid 20‐m walking speed declined in all MedDiet adherence groups. Higher MedDiet adherence was an independent predictor of less decline in usual 20‐m walking speed (P = .049) in generalized estimating equations adjusted for age, race, sex, site, education, smoking, physical activity, energy intake, health status, depression and cognitive score. The effect decreased after adding total body fat percentage to the model (P = .13). Similar results were observed for MedDiet adherence and rapid 20‐m walking speed; the association remained significant after adjustment for total body fat percentage (P = .01). The interaction between time and MedDiet adherence was not significant in any of the models.

Conclusion

Walking speed over 8 years was faster in those with higher MedDiet adherence at baseline. The differences remained significant over 8 years, suggesting a long‐term effect of diet on mobility performance with aging.
A prospective study on the efficacy of mobilization of autologous peripheral stem cells in pediatric oncohematology patients
Authors: Cesaro Simone , Tintori Veronica , Nesi Francesca , Schiavello Elisabetta , Calore Elisabetta , Dallorso Sandro , Migliavacca Maddalena , Capolsini Ilaria , Desantis Raffaella , Caselli Desirèe , Fagioli Franca , Luksch Roberto , Panizzolo Irene , Tridello Gloria , Prete Arcangelo
Published: October 2012

Background

Peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) are the preferred source in autologous transplantation. We assessed prospectively the efficacy of mobilization in pediatric patients and risk factors associated with its failure.

Study Design and Methods

Patients, aged 0 to 17 years, needing a first collection of PBSCs for autologous stem cell transplantation were eligible. The study period was from July 2008 to September 2010. A blood peak of fewer than 20 × 106 CD34+ cells/L was used as the cutoff to define a poor mobilizer.

Results

A total of 145 patients, 57% male (82) and 43% female (63), with a median age of 7 years, affected by solid tumor, 79% (114), and acute leukemia or lymphoma, 21% (31), were enrolled. Granulocyte–colony‐stimulating factor used was filgrastim in 69%, lenograstim in 26%, and pegfilgrastim in 5% of patients. A total of 83% (121) of patients mobilized successfully, the median CD34+ count being 120 × 106/L (range, 23 × 106‐1840 × 106/L). A single leukapheresis procedure was sufficient to achieve the target CD34+ cell dose in 82% (99/121) of patients. Among 24 poor mobilizer patients, 15 underwent a second mobilizing course and nine required a marrow harvest. Factors associated with poor mobilization were metastatic disease and relapse. Among 99 patients who underwent autologous stem cell transplantation, the median times to neutrophil and platelet engraftment and of hospitalization were longer by 2, 12, and 6 days in poor versus good mobilizer group.

Conclusions

In pediatric patients undergoing a first mobilization, the incidence of poor mobilization was 17%. Failure of mobilization resulted in an increase in health costs and a longer hospitalization for those who underwent autologous stem cell transplantation.
Scale‐dependent influence of environmental variables on species distribution: a case study on five coastal benthic species in the Baltic Sea
Authors: Nyström Sandman Antonia , Wikström Sofia A. , Blomqvist Mats , Kautsky Hans , Isaeus Martin
Published: October 2012

Statistical modelling can be used to relate biological survey data to environmental factors, thereby providing a basis for predictive mapping of species or communities. Although environmental variables vary and influence biota at different scales, models are often fitted without discussion of how scale dependency influences the results. In this study, we analysed the relative importance of environmental factors for the distribution of aquatic species as a function of extent, using data on the cover of five common benthic species (four macrophytes and one animal), from 1731 sites along the Swedish Baltic Sea coast. We modelled the cover and distribution of the five species in relation to salinity, depth, slope, wave exposure and substrate in scale steps from 25 to 1500 km, and analysed the relative contribution of the environmental variables to each species model. The average total deviance explained by the models was generally quite high, and decreased with increasing scale for all macrophyte species, while it increased for the animal, the Baltic Sea blue mussel Mytilus edulis. The relative contribution of different environmental variables changed with scale, and responses also differed between species. The average contribution of salinity increased for all species when moving from local to Baltic Sea scale, and for the Baltic Sea blue mussel it was the single most important factor at the Baltic Sea scale. The average contribution of depth decreased with increasing scale for all species. However, regardless of scale, depth was the most important environmental factor to explain the distribution of all but one of the investigated macrophyte species. This shows that fine scale predictor variables can be of major importance also for species distribution models covering large areas.
Is Increased Libido an Atypical Symptom of Bipolar Depression? An Interesting Case
Authors: Mahadevan Raynuha , Nik Jaafar Nik Ruzyanei , Sidi Hatta , Midin Marhani , Das Srijit
Published: October 2012

Introduction

Decreased libido is recognized as one of the vegetative symptoms of depression. Increased libido has not been acknowledged as one of its symptoms, neither has it been reported, particularly in depressed bipolar patients.

Aim

We hereby report a case of atypical presentation of increased sexual function in a patient in depressed phase of bipolar II thereby querying the fact, whether increased libido is actually an unrecognized atypical symptom of bipolar depression.

Methods

A 48-year-old male presented with mood swings whereby his sexual function was increased during his depressive phase. Antidepressant, mood stabilizer, and antipsychotic medication were administered. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) was offered for augmentation therapy.

Main Outcome Measures

When sexual dysfunction is not identified, there is a risk of misdiagnosis and mismanagement.

Results

Patient did not attain full remission with medication. Compliance with medication was an issue, most probably due to the sexual side effects. The patient refused ECT.

Conclusion

This case highlights atypical presentation of high libido in a patient in the depressive phase of bipolar II disorder. The uncommon presentation of a common illness posed a diagnostic challenge and complicated the subsequent management. It was concluded that increased sexual function deserves further consideration as a symptom of bipolar depression.
Carbon Fiber Reinforced β‐SiAlON for Ultra High Temperature Ablative Heat Shields
Authors: Bahramian Ahmad R. , Kokabi Mehrdad , Soorbaghi Fatemeh P.
Published: October 2012

The aim of this study is to give information on the influence of the experimental conditions to estimate thermal diffusivity of carbon fiber reinforced β‐SiAlON ablative composite. Here, we present the inverse solution technique to estimate the parameter used to identify the effective thermal diffusivity. The transient temperature measurements, taken from the top surface and through the thickness of the samples in oxyacetylene flame test, are used in the inverse analysis. The results of this study clarify the mechanism of the ablation and thermal diffusivity of the β‐SiAlON‐based composite heat shields due to the ultra high temperature ablation.
The Effect of Groundwater Allocation on Economic Welfare Loss
Authors: Wan Jun , Yang Yi‐Chen E. , Lin Yu‐Feng F.
Published: October 2012

Water scarcity has become a constraint for regional economic development in many cities and regions. Water rationing serves as one instrument to constrain water consumption to persuade users to save water and to moderate their consumption. When the supply of water is unable to satisfy demand, a loss of welfare for the water users will usually occur. This paper conducts an empirical case study on a Chicago suburban county, McHenry County, to evaluate effective water allocation strategies under possible water scarcity scenarios, by specifically taking into consideration of the economic welfare loss under water rationing. It points out the inefficiency of equal rationing and tests a more effective optimal rationing regime which could significantly lower the overall welfare loss for McHenry County. Instead of a conventional watershed‐based approach that would provide little advantage for an area that mostly relies on groundwater, this study adopts regional planning/political boundaries as its spatial analytical units. The outcomes suggest that municipality‐level water resources management models, powered under economic welfare objective functions, are both possible and practical. The planning strategy drawn under such optimization models suggests a variety of promising approaches to manage groundwater resources at county scales.
Monitoring behavior: assessing population status with rapid behavioral assessment
Authors: Wildermuth Robert P. , Anadón José Daniel , Gerber Leah R.
Published: October 2012

Despite years of effort from behavioral ecologists, animal behavior has not been fully integrated into the field of conservation biology. We propose a novel framework to join these fields through the use of demographic models. We present three strategies for incorporating behavior in demographic models, outline the costs of each strategy through decision analysis, and build on previous work in behavioral ecology and demography. We then provide practical recommendations for applying this framework to management programs. First, relevant behavioral mechanisms should be included in demographic models used for conservation decision making. Second, rapid behavioral assessment is a useful tool to approximate demographic parameters through regression of demographic phenomena on observations of related behaviors. Behaviorally estimated parameters may be included in population viability analysis for use in management. Finally, behavioral indices can be used as indicators of population trends. Rapid behavioral assessment holds promise as a cost‐effective tool, but also represents a cost to model accuracy. We provide a framework for implementing rapid behavioral assessment through case studies of reproductive, foraging, and antipredator behaviors. We use a decision‐theoretic approach to provide quantitative rules for identifying when metrics of animal behavior may be more meaningful than traditional population assessment.
Should Medicare rely on high drug spending as a criterion for medication therapy management programmes?
Authors: Simoni-Wastila Linda , Qian Jingjing , Wei Yu-Jung Jenny , Stuart Bruce , Zuckerman Ilene H , Shaffer Thomas , Dalal Anand A , Bryant-Comstock Lynda
Published: October 2012

Objectives

The goal of Medicare Part D medication therapy management programmes (MTMPs) is to optimize medication use by beneficiaries. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services require prescription drug plans (PDPs) to consider numbers of chronic medications and conditions, and total Part D spending when targeting beneficiaries for MTMPs. However, there is no explicit evidence base establishing these criteria. The objectives were to examine the associations of Part D spending with medication use and adherence among Medicare beneficiaries with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods

This retrospective cross-sectional study used a 5% random sample of Medicare beneficiaries with COPD enrolled in stand-alone PDPs and Medicare Parts A and B in 2006–2007 (n = 72 912). Maintenance medication use and adherence for COPD were measured in three domains: discontinuation, duration of therapy and proportion of days covered.

Key findings

Proportions of beneficiaries using COPD maintenance medications increased with Part D spending, from 33.4% (quintile 1) to 60.5% (quintile 5), after covariant adjustment. Among maintenance medication users, the adjusted proportions of beneficiaries exhibiting better adherence also increased with spending, with the top 20% of spenders having the highest proportion of beneficiaries exhibiting good adherence. Adjusted proportions of beneficiaries discontinuing medications decreased with increased Part D spending.

Conclusions

The Part D MTMP spending criterion (US$4000 in 2007; US$3000 in 2010) may be an inappropriate target for identifying Medicare beneficiaries in need of adherence counselling. Findings suggest higher spenders may have learned healthy adherence behaviours, whereas lower spenders may be prone to discontinue medication and/or demonstrate poor adherence behaviours.
Effects of dietary red pepper on egg yolk colour and histological intestinal morphology in laying hens
Authors: Lokaewmanee K. , Yamauchi K. , Okuda N.
Published: October 2012

To evaluate the effect of three kinds of red pepper supplementation ‘Kagawa Hontaka’ produced at Shiwaku Islands (KHS), Miki (KHM) and Takanotsume (TKT) on production performance, egg quality and intestinal histology in laying hens. A total of 32 laying hens (39 weeks of age) were randomly allotted to four groups, each comprising eight hens. Birds were fed a basal diet supplemented with red pepper at 0% (control), 0.5% KHS, 0.5% KHM and 0.5% TKT, respectively. Compared with the control group, no significant difference (p > 0.05) in feed consumption, final body weight, hen‐day production, egg mass, feed efficiency, shell‐breaking strength, shell thickness, shell ratio, albumen ratio, yolk ratio and Haugh units was observed among the experimental groups. Roche yolk colour fan (RYCF) value increased significantly in all experimental groups (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the KHS and KHM groups showed higher RYCF values than the TKT group (p < 0.05). Spectrophotometric measurements of yolk colour, redness (a*) and yellow index (YI) values were higher in the KHS and KHM groups (p < 0.0001). The yellowness (b*) value was lower in the TKT group (p < 0.05). The lightness (L*) value was lower in the KHS and KHM groups (p < 0.05). Villus height, villus area, cell area and cell mitosis in all intestinal segments tended to be higher in all experimental groups. Jejunal cell area and cell mitosis were higher in experimental groups than in the control group (p < 0.05). The cells on the villus tip surface were protuberated in all experimental groups. In conclusion, the KHS, KHM and TKT groups showed hypertrophied intestinal villi and epithelial cell functions. These results indicate that dietary red pepper has stimulating effect on intestinal villi and the structure of epithelial cells, and the 0.5% KHS and KHM groups improved in egg yolk colour.
Impact of Atrial Fibrillation Termination on Clinical Outcome after Ablation in Relation to the Duration of Persistent Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: KOMATSU YUKI , TANIGUCHI HIROSHI , MIYAZAKI SHINSUKE , NAKAMURA HIROAKI , KUSA SHIGEKI , UCHIYAMA TAKASHI , KAKITA KEN , KAKUTA TSUNEKAZU , HACHIYA HITOSHI , IESAKA YOSHITO
Published: October 2012

Background: Whether procedural termination of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) is necessary for optimal clinical efficacy still remains controversial. We sought to characterize the patients with persistent AF in whom procedural AF termination impacted an improved clinical outcome after ablation.

Methods: We retrospectively assessed 132 patients (61.0 ± 9.3 years, 114 males) undergoing catheter ablation of persistent AF (duration 3 years, median). A stepwise ablation approach including pulmonary vein isolation and atrial substrate ablation targeting complex fractionated and high‐frequency electrograms was performed with desired endpoint of AF termination.

Results: Overall, 90 patients (68%) were free from recurrent arrhythmias at 20 ± 11 months of follow‐up after one or two procedures. The left atrial diameter and continuous AF duration according to medical history were associated with the outcome (P = 0.002 and P< 0.001, respectively). In multivariate Cox regression analysis, the continuous AF duration was the only independent predictor of recurrent arrhythmias (hazard ratio 1.17, 95% confidence interval 1.10–1.23, P < 0.001). In patients with AF duration of ≥3 years, the clinical success was comparable regardless of whether AF termination was achieved or not (log‐rank, P = 0.27). In the remaining patients with AF duration of <3 years, procedural AF termination was associated with a higher arrhythmia‐free rate than when AF was sustained after ablation (log‐rank, P = 0.023).

Conclusion: Extensive ablation to terminate AF might not be warranted in patients with a longer AF duration. On the contrary, procedural AF termination could be associated with maintenance of sinus rhythm in patients with a shorter AF duration with a less proarrhythmic substrate. (PACE 2012;35:1436–1443)
Three-Dimensional Optical and Thermal Numerical Model of Solar Tubular Receivers in Parabolic Trough Concentrators
Authors: Wirz Men , Roesle Matthew , Steinfeld Aldo
Published: October 2012

Monte Carlo ray tracing, coupled to a finite volume solver, is used to model 3D heat transfer in a parabolic trough solar concentrator system. The nonuniform distribution of the incident solar radiation, the radiative exchange between the various receiver surfaces, and the heat gain/loss around the receiver's circumference and along the system's axis are determined for spectral radiative properties of the receiver and concentrator surfaces. The computed heat losses and thermal efficiencies agree well with experimental data. Besides the beneficial information on peak temperatures and heat flux, the 3D model is able to predict glass temperatures more accurately than previous gray models and temperature correlations.
Study of defect mechanisms in partly filled stamp cavities for thermal nanoimprint control
Authors: Mayer Andre , Dhima Khalid , Möllenbeck Saskia , Wang Si , Scheer Hella-Christin , Sakamoto Junji , Kawata Hiroaki , Hirai Yoshihiko
Published: October 2012

Self-assembly defects limit the suitability of partial cavity filling in thermal nanoimprint for residual layer minimization. As they represent thermodynamically stable structures already the formation of such defects has to be avoided—because once developed they cannot be removed. One impact parameter for the formation of self-assembly defects is the quality of the stamp surface, in particular its roughness. The authors compared stamps with flat surfaces obtained by potassium hydroxide etching of (110)-Si with stamps prepared by dry-etching, featuring vertical grooves or horizontal scallops (typical of deep-etching in a Bosch process). Under comparable conditions, the stamps with the vertical grooves feature the highest amount of self-assembly defects. In contrast, horizontal scallops avoid defect formation. Thus, the surface quality of the stamp sidewalls is important for a high quality imprint.
Residual-type mask defect printability for extreme ultraviolet lithography
Authors: Amano Tsuyoshi , Iida Susumu , Hirano Ryoichi , Terasawa Tsuneo , Watanabe Hidehiro , Inazuki Yuichi
Published: October 2012

To evaluate the impact of residual-type mask defects on wafer printing during extreme ultraviolet lithography, a number of programmed residual-type defects were fabricated by etching line-bridging defects with full-height and with lateral dimensions of 900 × 225 nm in hp 225 nm line-and-space (L/S) patterns using electron beam (EB) induced gas-assisted etching (GAE). The heights of the fabricated defects were 33.1, 17.8, 8.2, and 2.9 nm, and after etching, no damage of any kind on the multilayer surface in the proximity of the etched area was observed using SEM and AFM. The wafer printability test was performed using an exposure tool with sufficient capabilities for resolving hp 45 nm L/S patterns. By analyzing the wafer printed images, the full etched defect was found to cause less than 0.6 nm of critical dimension (CD) change, which corresponded to 1.3% of CD error within a focus range of ±100 nm. This means that the EB induced GAE method can be considered quite suitable for the fabrication of residual-type programmed defects for wafer printability tests. The residual-type defects apparently did cause some CD errors on the wafer printed images, even where the residual-type defects happened to be only 8.2 nm high. The 33.1- and 17.8-nm-high residual-type defects caused line-bridging on the wafer printed images, whereas the 2.9-nm-high residual-type defect resulted in a 10% or higher CD error in the region outside the focus range.
The Shortest-Known–Period Star Orbiting Our Galaxy’s Supermassive Black Hole
Authors: Meyer L. , Ghez A. M. , Schödel R. , Yelda S. , Boehle A. , Lu J. R. , Do T. , Morris M. R. , Becklin E. E. , Matthews K.
Published: October 2012

Close to a Black Hole

At the center of our Galaxy, there is a black hole that is 4 million times as massive as the Sun. Using data from the Keck Observatory,

Meyer
et al.

(p.
84
) detected a star orbiting this black hole with a period of 11.5 years, the shortest period among the stars orbiting it. The star is the second well-sampled star with an orbital period under 20 years. Having detailed knowledge about two stars with short periods and full orbit coverage will be crucial in testing Einstein's theory of general relativity in the gravitational field close to a massive black hole.
Brain Teasers
Authors: Miller Greg
Published: October 2012

The brain poses many more than just the five quandaries highlighted in this package.
Science
summarizes six more mysteries of the brain that any neuroscientist should be proud to tackle.
Protection by a Recombinant Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Vaccine Expressing Shiga Toxin 2 B Subunit against Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli in Mice
Authors: Fujii Jun , Naito Mariko , Yutsudo Takashi , Matsumoto Sohkichi , Heatherly Daniel P. , Yamada Takeshi , Kobayashi Hideyuki , Yoshida Shin-ichi , Obrig Tom
Published: October 2012

We have developed a novel vaccine against Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing
Escherichia coli
(STEC) infection using a recombinant
Mycobacterium bovis
BCG (rBCG) system. Two intraperitoneal vaccinations with rBCG expressing the Stx2 B subunit (Stx2B) resulted in an increase of protective serum IgG and mucosal IgA responses to Stx2B in BALB/c mice. When orally challenged with 10
3
CFU of STEC strain B2F1 (O91: H21), the immunized mice survived statistically significantly longer than the nonvaccinated mice. We suggest that intraperitoneal immunization with rBCG expressing Stx2B would be a potential vaccine strategy for STEC.
Disseminated Trichosporon mycotoxinivorans, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Scedosporium apiospermum Coinfection after Lung and Liver Transplantation in a Cystic Fibrosis Patient
Authors: Hirschi Sandrine , Letscher-Bru Valérie , Pottecher Julien , Lannes Béatrice , Jeung Mi Young , Degot Tristan , Santelmo Nicola , Sabou Alina Marcela , Herbrecht Raoul , Kessler Romain
Published: October 2012

Trichosporon mycotoxinivorans
is a novel pathogen recently found in cystic fibrosis patients. We report the first case of a disseminated fatal infection with
T. mycotoxinivorans
associated with invasive
Aspergillus fumigatus
and
Scedosporium apiospermum
infection after lung and liver transplantation in a cystic fibrosis patient.
A Systematic Approach to Identifying Engineering Generational Knowledge Transfer Boundaries
Authors: Davis Santia M. , Sarkani Shahram , Mazzuchi Thomas
Published: October 2012

As organisations evaluate increasing retirement rates coupled with the rate of entering engineers, there is a need to address the presence of generational knowledge transfer boundaries. These unidentified boundaries impede the strategic transfer of engineering and architectural knowledge (STEAK) required for continued engineering growth. Using an interdisciplinary approach to define the engineering generational knowledge transfer boundaries provided useful knowledge sharing characteristics and procedures which all generations and disciplines can utilise. This research study provided a level of insight not previously explored and presented a model that can be used to evaluate how organisations will react to and leverage the knowledge across generations. Specifically, this study helps close the generational knowledge transfer boundary research gap with proper identification of the engineering generational knowledge transfer boundaries. This will allow management to propose strategies to attract and retain the next generation of knowledge workers. The article discusses these findings in detail and summarises the results in a proposed STEAK model and framework.
Exploring the Correlation Between Knowledge Management Maturity and Intellectual Capital Efficiency in Mainland Chinese Listed Companies
Authors: Chan Kin Hang , Chu Samuel Kai Wah , Wu Wendy W. Y.
Published: October 2012

In today's knowledge-based society, discussion on intellectual capital (IC) has become intertwined with knowledge management (KM). KM may be viewed as the activities and processes to create and maximise IC. It may be possible to suggest that an organisation's level of knowledge utilisation is associated with its level of intellectual capital. The purpose of this research was to explore whether there is an association between KM maturity level, as a proxy of assessing the level of KM efficacy and IC utilisation efficiency in companies listed on CSI 100 (China Securities Index Co., Ltd.) in mainland China. A self-assessment of KM maturity level, developed based on the KM self-assessment framework proposed by Collison and Parcell, was used to gauge the knowledge utilisation of an organisation. The intellectual capital efficiency coefficient (ICE), component of the Value Added Intellectual Coefficient (VAIC™), was used to assess the efficiency of intellectual capital. Overall, 26 questionnaires were collected from the surveyed organisations to evaluate their level of KM, which accounted for 25% of the sample. Finally, correlation analysis with SPSS was performed to examine if there was a correlation between ICE and the maturity level of KM in the sampled companies in mainland China. The results showed that the association between the two variables was not statistically significant. In fact, no conclusive evidence was found to support an association between efficiency of utilising intellectual capital, and KM maturity score. The lack of an association may suggest that there may be other intervening variables yet to be identified in the relationship between KM and IC. This study is an attempt to explore the above assertion and to conduct empirical studies in studying their applicability in China, one of the fastest growing economies in the world. While we are not seeking to generalise the results, it may serve as a good reference for further studies in examining the intricate "relationship" between IC and KM, that is, linking a process view of KM to the measurement of value creating intangibles of a corporation epitomised by IC.
Factors Affecting Virtual Team Works Collaboration: A Case Study in the Jordanian Royal Medical Services
Authors: Alhawary Faleh Abdelgader
Published: October 2012

The purpose of this study is to examine the extent to which some factors such as trust, cultural differences, time differences, language have a significant effect on virtual team's work collaboration. Study population comprised of Jordanian Royal Medical Services; two most largest medical services were selected as a study sample; King Hussein Medical Centre and Queen Alia Medical Centre both located at Amman (the capital of Jordan). A purposive sampling technique was used to select the respondents surveyed for this study and a questionaire was used to collect primary data from the respondents, a total of 120 questionnaires were administered to potential respondents chosen from the two medical services; a total of 105 usable questionnaires were returned, giving a response rate of 87.5 %. Simple regression analysis was performed to test the study hypothesis. The study findings of this research show that there is a statistical significant effect at cultural differences, time differences and language on virtual team's collaboration, whereas, trust factor did not show a statistical significant effect. This study is delimited to only Jordanian royal medical services, as a case study, thus the results of this study cannot be generalised to other medical services.
Calcium-binding protein 39 facilitates molecular interaction between Ste20p proline alanine-rich kinase and oxidative stress response 1 monomers
Authors: Ponce-Coria José , Gagnon Kenneth B. , Delpire Eric
Published: October 2012

X-ray crystallography of the catalytic domain of oxidative stress response 1 (OSR1) has provided evidence for dimerization and domain swapping. However, the functional significance of dimer formation or domain swapping has yet to be addressed. In this study, we used nine glutamine residues to link the carboxyl end of one SPAK (related Ste20 kinase) monomer to the amino end of another SPAK monomer to assess the role of kinase monomers versus dimers in Na-K-2Cl cotransporter 1 (NKCC1) activation. Transport studies in Xenopus laevis oocytes show that forcing dimerization of two wild-type SPAK molecules results in cotransporter activation when calcium-binding protein 39 (Cab39) is coexpressed, indicating that the presence of Cab39 can bypass the upstream phosphorylation requirement of SPAK normally associated with kinase activation. We determined that monomers are the functional units of the kinase as concatamers consisting of an active and various inactive monomers were still functional. Furthermore, we found that two different nonfunctional SPAK mutants could be linked together in a concatamer and activated, presumably by domain swapping, indicating that dimerization and domain swapping are both important components of kinase activation. Finally, we demonstrate rescue of a nonfunctional SPAK mutant by domain swapping with wild-type OSR1, indicating that heterodimers of the two Ste20-related kinases are possible and therefore potentially relevant to the regulation of NKCC1 activity.
Nucleation Mechanisms of Aromatic Polyesters, PET, PBT, and PEN, on Single‐Wall Carbon Nanotubes: Early Nucleation Stages
Authors: Espinoza-Martínez Adriana , Avila-Orta Carlos , Cruz-Delgado Víctor , Olvera-Neria Oscar , González-Torres Julio , Medellín-Rodríguez Francisco
Published: October 2012

Nucleation mechanisms of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT), and poly(ethylene naphthalate) (PEN) on single‐wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are proposed, based on experimental evidence, theoretical epitaxy analysis, and semiempirical quantum chemical calculations. In order to elucidate early nucleation stages polyester‐coated nanotubes were obtained from highly diluted solutions. High‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) revealed helical morphologies for PET/SWNTs and PEN/SWNTs and the formation of lobules with different orientations for PBT/SWNTs. To explain the morphological behavior one model was proposed based on crystallographic interactions, that is, epitaxy. Theoretical epitaxy calculations indicated that epitaxy is not possible from the strict epitaxy point of view. Instead, aromatic self‐assembly mechanism was proposed based on π‐π interactions and the chirality of the nanotube. It was proposed that the mechanism implies two steps to produce helical or lobular morphologies with different orientations. In the first step polymer chains were approached, aligned parallel to the nanotube axis and adsorbed due to electrostatic interactions and the flexibility of the molecule. However, due to π‐π interactions between the aromatic rings of the polymer and the nanotube, in the second step chains reoriented on the nanotube surface depending on the chirality of the nanotube. The mechanism was supported by semi‐empirical calculations.
Gorlin-Goltz Syndrome
Authors: Pandeshwar Padma , Jayanthi K. , Mahesh D.
Published: October 2012

The Gorlin-Goltz syndrome (GGS) (the nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome—NBCCS) is a rare autosomal dominant syndrome caused due to mutations in thePTCH(patched) gene found on chromosome arm 9q. The syndrome, characterized by increased predisposition to develop basal cell carcinoma and associated multiorgan anomalies, has a high level of penetrance and variable expressiveness. GGS is a multidisciplinary problem, early diagnosis of which allows introduction of secondary prophylaxis and following an appropriate treatment to delay the progress of the syndrome. The following report emphasizes the need for awareness of the diagnostic criteria of this syndrome in cases with no typical skin lesions.
Miniaturized Mass-Spectrometry-Based Analysis System for Fully Automated Examination of Conditioned Cell Culture Media
Authors: Weber Emanuel , Pinkse Martijn W. H. , Bener-Aksam Eda , Vellekoop Michael J. , Verhaert Peter D. E. M.
Published: October 2012

We present a fully automated setup for performing in-line mass spectrometry (MS) analysis of conditioned media in cell cultures, in particular focusing on the peptides therein. The goal is to assess peptides secreted by cells in different culture conditions. The developed system is compatible with MS as analytical technique, as this is one of the most powerful analysis methods for peptide detection and identification. Proof of concept was achieved using the well-known mating-factor signaling in baker’s yeast,Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Our concept system holds 1 mL of cell culture medium and allows maintaining a yeast culture for, at least, 40 hours with continuous supernatant extraction (and medium replenishing). The device’s small dimensions result in reduced costs for reagents and open perspectives towards full integration on-chip. Experimental data that can be obtained are time-resolved peptide profiles in a yeast culture, including information about the appearance of mating-factor-related peptides. We emphasize that the system operates without any manual intervention or pipetting steps, which allows for an improved overall sensitivity compared to non-automated alternatives. MS data confirmed previously reported aspects of the physiology of the yeast-mating process. Moreover, matingfactor breakdown products (as well as evidence for a potentially responsible protease) were found.
Positive Solutions of Nonlinear Fractional Differential Equations with Integral Boundary Value Conditions
Authors: Caballero J. , Cabrera I. , Sadarangani K.
Published: October 2012

We investigate the existence and uniqueness of positive solutions of the following nonlinear fractional differential equation with integral boundary value conditions  CDαu(t) + f(t, u(t)) = 0, 0 < t < 1, , where 2 < α < 3, 0 < λ < 2 and   CDα is the Caputo fractional derivative and f : [0,1]×[0, ∞)→[0, ∞) is a continuous function. Our analysis relies on a fixed point theorem in partially ordered sets. Moreover, we compare our results with others that appear in the literature.
Two-Stage Adaptive Optimal Design with Fixed First-Stage Sample Size
Authors: Lane Adam , Flournoy Nancy
Published: October 2012

In adaptive optimal procedures, the design at each stage is an estimate of the optimal design based on all previous data. Asymptotics for regular models with fixed number of stages are straightforward if one assumes the sample size of each stage goes to infinity with the overall sample size. However, it is not uncommon for a small pilot study of fixed size to be followed by a much larger experiment. We study the large sample behavior of such studies. For simplicity, we assume a nonlinear regression model with normal errors. We show that the distribution of the maximum likelihood estimates converges to a scale mixture family of normal random variables. Then, for a one parameter exponential mean function we derive the asymptotic distribution of the maximum likelihood estimate explicitly and present a simulation to compare the characteristics of this asymptotic distribution with some commonly used alternatives.
Extent of East-African Nurse Leaders’ Participation in Health Policy Development
Authors: Shariff N. , Potgieter E.
Published: October 2012

This paper reports part of a bigger study whose aim was to develop an empowerment model that could be used to enhance nurse leaders’ participation in health policy development. A Delphi survey was applied which included the following criteria: expert panelists, iterative rounds, statistical analysis, and consensus building. The expert panelists were purposively selected and included national nurse leaders in leadership positions at the nursing professional associations, nursing regulatory bodies, ministries of health, and universities in East Africa. The study was conducted in three iterative rounds. The results reported here were gathered as part of the first round of the study and that examined the extent of nurse leaders’ participation in health policy development. Seventy-eight (78) expert panelists were invited to participate in the study, and the response rate was 47%. Data collection was done with the use of a self-report questionnaire. Data analysis was done by use of SPSS and descriptive statistics were examined. The findings indicated that nurse leaders participate in health policy development though participation is limited and not consistent across all the stages of health policy development. The recommendations from the findings are that health policy development process needs to be pluralistic and inclusive of all nurse leaders practicing in positions related to policy development and the process must be open to their ideas and suggestions.
Application of Homotopy Perturbation and Variational Iteration Methods for Fredholm Integrodifferential Equation of Fractional Order
Authors: Elbeleze Asma Ali , Kiliçman Adem , Taib Bachok M.
Published: October 2012

This paper presents the application of homotopy perturbation and variational iteration methods as numerical methods for Fredholm integrodifferential equation of fractional order with initial‐boundary conditions. The fractional derivatives are described in Caputo sense. Some illustrative examples are presented.
Non‐Gaussian Linear Mixing Models for Hyperspectral Images
Authors: Bajorski Peter
Published: October 2012

Modeling of hyperspectral data with non‐Gaussian distributions is gaining popularity in recent years. Such modeling mostly concentrates on attempts to describe a distribution, or its tails, of all image spectra. In this paper, we recognize that the presence of major materials in the image scene is likely to exhibit nonrandomness and only the remaining variability due to noise, or other factors, would exhibit random behavior. Hence, we assume a linear mixing model with a structured background, and we investigate various distributional models for the error term in that model. We propose one model based on the multivariate t‐distribution and another one based on independent components following an exponential power distribution. The former model does not perform well in the context of the two images investigated in this paper, one AVIRIS and one HyMap image. On the other hand, the latter model works reasonably well with the AVIRIS image and very well with the HyMap image. This paper provides the tools that researchers can use for verifying a given model to be used with a given image.