bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mycorrhizal interactions of orchids colonizing Estonian mine tailings hills
Authors: Shefferson Richard P. , Kull Tiiu , Tali Kadri
Published: February 2008

Northeastern Estonia is home to extensive oil shale mines. Associated with these are desolate and environmentally damaging hills of ash and semicoke tailings. Interestingly, some of the first plants to colonize these hills are rare orchids. Here, we assess the identities of the mycorrhizal fungi associated with these orchids, in particular Epipactis atrorubens, Orchis militaris, and Dactylorhiza baltica, and compare them with mycorrhizal fungi from orchids from pristine habitat. Epipactis atrorubens associated with the widest breadth of fungi, including unnamed members of the basidiomycete family Tulasnellaceae and the potentially ectomycorrhizal ascomycetes Trichophaea woolhopeia and Geopora cooperi. Orchis militaris also associated with unnamed members of the Tulasnellaceae. Dactylorhiza baltica associated with Ceratobasidium albasitensis. In Epipactis and Orchis, the same fungi associated with plants in the pristine habitat as with those on ash hills. The tulasnelloid and ceratobasidioid fungi mycorrhizal with these orchids appear closely related to common orchid mycorrhizal fungi, while one of the ascomycetes mycorrhizal with E. atrorubens is closely related to a mycorrhizal fungus with E. microphylla. Our results suggest that these orchids and their fungi are not limited to pristine habitats and that environmentally polluted sites may present novel habitats that may be exploited for endangered plant conservation.
Molecular phylogenetics of the species‐rich neotropical genus Swartzia (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae) and related genera of the swartzioid clade
Authors: Torke Benjamin M. , Schaal Barbara A.
Published: February 2008

Swartzia (ca. 180 spp.) is a characteristic and diverse element of neotropical rainforest tree communities. As such, it has been identified as a focal group in studies of evolutionary diversification and community assembly in rainforests. However, progress is impeded by the lack of a phylogenetic hypothesis for the genus and its close relatives, which together constitute the descendents of one of the first branches of the papilionoid phylogeny. Here we present a molecular phylogenetic study with extensive sampling of species of Swartzia and with complete sampling of genera of the “swartzioid” clade. The results, based on analysis of chloroplast (atpB–rbcL, trnL intron, and trnL–F) and nuclear (AAT1 and ITS) DNA sequences, add substantially to our understanding of relationships within this diverse group and call for taxonomic changes, particularly within Swartzia. The monophyly of a redefined Swartzia is weakly to moderately supported. Within Swartzia, the analyses identify 11 nonoverlapping subclades, few of which correspond exactly to previously published taxa. The analyses support the recent segregations of Bobgunnia from Swartzia and of Trischidium from Bocoa, as well as the resurrection of the monospecific genus Fairchildia. The analyses identify a “core swartzioid” clade comprising the remainder of Swartzia, Bocoa, and Candolleodendron.
An exploration of LEAFY expression in independent evolutionary origins of rosette flowering in Brassicaceae
Authors: Bosch Justin A. , Heo Kweon , Sliwinski Marek K. , Baum David A.
Published: February 2008

Whereas most Brassicaceae produce flowers on an elongated inflorescence, a few lineages produce flowers directly from the vegetative rosette on elongated pedicels. Knowing the extent to which independent origins of rosette flowering involve the same developmental and genetic mechanisms could clarify the constraints acting on plant architectural evolution. Prior work in Idahoa, Ionopsidium, and Leavenworthia suggested that changes in the activity or expression of the flower meristem identity gene, LEAFY (LFY), played a role in all three origins of rosette flowering. Here we studied the developmental morphology of L. crassa and immunolocalization of LFY protein in Leavenworthia and Ionopsidium to further compare independent origins of rosette flowering. Leavenworthia crassa differs from Ionopsidium and Idahoa in producing ebracteate flowers. Flowers are, however, associated with “squamules,” here interpreted as stipules of a cryptic bract. LFY was detected in L. crassa flower primordia but not in inflorescence meristems. In contrast, the rosette flowering Io. acaule accumulated LFY protein in the inflorescence meristem, whereas its inflorescence‐flowering close relative, Io. prolongoi, did not. Thus, although different cases of rosette flowering likely entailed modifications of the same meristem identity program, distinct developmental genetic mechanisms appear to be involved in each case.
Todea from the Lower Cretaceous of western North America: implications for the phylogeny, systematics, and evolution of modern Osmundaceae
Authors: Jud Nathan A. , Rothwell Gar W. , Stockey Ruth A.
Published: February 2008

The first fossil evidence for the fern genus Todea has been recovered from the Lower Cretaceous of British Columbia, Canada, providing paleontological data to strengthen hypotheses regarding patterns of evolution and phylogeny within Osmundaceae. The fossil consists of a branching rhizome, adventitious roots, and leaf bases. The dictyoxylic stem has up to eight xylem bundles around a sclerenchymatous pith. Leaf traces diverge from cauline bundles in a typical osmundaceous pattern and leaf bases display a sheath of sclerenchyma around a C‐shaped xylem trace with 2–8 protoxylem strands. Within the adaxial concavity of each leaf trace, a single sclerenchyma bundle becomes C‐shaped as it enters the cortex. The sclerotic cortex is heterogeneous with an indistinct outer margin. The discovery of Todea tidwellii sp. nov. reveals that the genus Todea evolved by the Lower Cretaceous. A phylogenetic analysis combining morphological characters of living and extinct species with a previously published nucleotide sequence matrix confirms the taxonomic placement of T. tidwellii. Results also support the hypothesis that Osmunda s.l. represents a paraphyletic assemblage and that living species be segregated into two genera, Osmunda and Osmundastrum. Fossil evidence confirms that Osmundaceae originated in the Southern Hemisphere during the Permian, underwent rapid diversification, and species extended around the world during the Triassic. Crown group Osmundaceae originated by the Late Triassic, with living species appearing by the Late Cretaceous.
Scutifolium jordanicumgen. et sp. nov. (Cabombaceae), an aquatic fossil plant from the Lower Cretaceous of Jordan, and the relationships of related leaf fossils to living genera
Authors: Taylor David Winship , Brenner Gilbert J. , Basha Sa'd Hasan
Published: February 2008

A new species of aquatic plant,Scutifolium jordanicumgen. et sp. nov., Taylor, Brenner & Basha, is described from the Albian of Jordan. The leaves are microphyllous with a symmetrical, elliptical to suborbiculate shape, convex to rounded apex and base, and actinodromous to palinactinodromous primary venation. The peltate, centrally attached petioles are narrow, elongate, and alternately arranged on similarly sized stems. The leaves appear to be thick and have aerenchyma. Comparisons to plants with centrally peltate leaves and palmate venation and to aquatic plants with floating leaves suggest thatS. jordanicumbelongs to the Cabombaceae lineage within the Nymphaeales. Cladistic analysis including the fossil and living members of the Nymphaeales shows that theS. jordanicumis basal to the living members of the family and has unique characters not found in any living genera. This is the oldest evidence of the Cabombaceae from the Old World. Inclusion of two other Early Cretaceous peltate leaf fossils in the phylogenetic analysis indicates their affinities to Cabombaceae and that some of the shared derived characters for the living members are progressively acquired in the fossils. These data show the Cabombaceae were widespread in Gondwana and Laurasia by the mid‐Cretaceous.
An AFLP marker approach to lower‐level systematics in Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae)
Authors: McKinnon Gay E. , Vaillancourt René E. , Steane Dorothy A. , Potts Bradley M.
Published: February 2008

Genus Eucalyptus, with over 700 species, presents a number of systematic difficulties including taxa that hybridize or intergrade across environmental gradients. To date, no DNA marker has been found capable of resolving phylogeny below the sectional level in the major subgenera. Molecular markers are needed to support taxonomic revision, assess the extent of genetic divergence at lower taxonomic levels, and inform conservation efforts. We examined the utility of 930 amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) for analyzing relationships among Tasmanian taxa of subgenus Symphyomyrtus section Maidenaria. Phenetic and cladistic analyses resolved species into clusters demonstrating significant genetic partitioning, largely concordant with series defined in the most recent taxonomic revision of Eucalyptus. Some departures from current taxonomy were noted, indicating possible cases of morphological convergence and character reversion. Although the resolution obtained using AFLP was greatly superior to that of single sequence markers, the data demonstrated high homoplasy and incomplete resolution of closely related species. The results of this study and others are consistent with recent speciation and reticulate evolution in Maidenaria. We conclude that a combination of phylogenetic and population genetic approaches using multiple molecular markers offers the best prospects for understanding taxonomic relationships below the sectional level in Eucalyptus.
Evolution of Synthyris sect. Dissecta (Plantaginaceae) on sky islands in the Northern Rocky Mountains
Authors: Marlowe K. , Hufford Larry
Published: February 2008

We examined the phylogeography of Synthyris sect. Dissecta (Plantaginaceae), which is restricted to the Olympic (S. lanuginosa) and Northern Rocky Mountains (S. dissecta and S. canbyi), to infer effects of sky islands and modes of speciation. Sequences of cpDNA trnT‐trnL and psbA‐trnH intergenic spacers resolved 22 haplotypes among 185 individuals sampled from 16 populations of the three species. Gene flow in the ancestral lineage and random capture of haplotypes in species lineages of sect. Dissecta have resulted in haplotype clades that are not exclusive to species. Nested clade analysis (NCA) indicates that allopatric fragmentation separated Olympic and Northern Rocky Mountain populations, giving rise to the Olympic endemic S. lanuginosa, which is characterized by unique haplotypes consistent with long temporal isolation. Low haplotype and nucleotide diversity in S. canbyi are consistent with newly founded populations experiencing a bottleneck. Furthermore, we infer S. canbyi evolved as a peripheral isolate of S. dissecta. NCA indicated limited migration in S. dissecta with possible isolation by distance. Both isolation on interglacial sky islands and valley glaciers during at least the last glaciation limited gene flow among populations of S. dissecta in different ranges of the Northern Rocky Mountains.
Geographic diversity cline of R gene homologs in wild populations of Solanum pimpinellifolium (Solanaceae)
Authors: Caicedo Ana L.
Published: February 2008

Plant resistance (R) genes tend to be highly variable within plant species and are thought to be under natural selection; however, little is known about the geographic distribution of R gene diversity within and among plant populations. To determine the possible roles of demography and selection on R gene evolution, patterns of diversity at the multigenic Cf‐2 R gene family were studied in Solanum pimpinellifolium populations along the northern coast of Peru. Population diversity levels of Cf‐2 homologs follow a latitudinal cline, consistent with the species's history of gradual colonization of the Peruvian coast and population variation in outcrossing levels. Although previous evidence suggests that selection has shaped the DNA sequence content of the Cf‐2 genes, current results imply that the geographic distribution of Cf‐2 homolog diversity has been shaped primarily by demographic factors or by selective pressures with a clinal distribution.
Using a Model-Aided Sampling Paradigm Instead of a Traditional Sampling Paradigm in a Nationally Representative Establishment Survey
Authors: Berzofsky Marcus , Welch Brandon , Williams Rick , Biemer Paul
Published: February 2008

We compare traditional survey inference, which is based on probability sample selection and weighting, with a model-based approach based on sampling quotas and model-based weighting. Compared with the traditional approach, the model-based approach more efficiently controls subgroup sample sizes when a large number of rare subgroups are studied. Using data from a national survey of US businesses, we simulated a model-based paradigm and compared estimates with those under the traditional paradigm. In this study, the findings suggest that the model-based approach offers advantages over the traditional sampling approach; however, a hybrid approach capturing the advantages of both paradigms proved best.
A Target-Based Model of Efficient Allocation of Federal Resources to the States for Emergency Preparedness
Authors: Cromwell Jerry , Drozd Edward
Published: February 2008

In the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Congress provided a fund to help states offset costs for protecting against terrorist attacks and for emergency preparedness. More than one-third of this money is shared equally by all states, with the rest distributed based on the states’ population share, regardless of the potential targets in each state. This paper develops a rational public finance framework for distributing money to states for protecting against terrorist attacks. We propose two allocation criteria: (1) an efficiency criterion that equalizes the marginal expected loss (human and monetary) across all targets and (2) an equity criterion that adjusts payments to states based on their ability to pay for their own protection. These criteria imply a much more concentrated distribution of protection spending in a few highly populated, target-rich states than is now the case. We then explore the additional information required to protect against all types of terrorists. Limiting the set of protected targets to a few that are highly valued by well-funded terrorist groups produces an even more geographically concentrated funding portfolio. Terrorist insurance is preferable for low-likelihood, difficult-to-protect targets, or targets attractive to individual terrorists.
In situ WAXS synchrotron radiation study on particle formation of precipitated barium sulfate
Authors: Kucher Martin , Beierlein Tobias , Kind Matthias
Published: February 2008

The particle formation process during the precipitation of barium sulfate from aqueous solutions of barium chloride and sodium sulfate was studied experimentally and numerically. Particle formation was examined offline and in situ on timescales ranging from 55 ms to 1 s. Precipitation experiments were performed in a tubular reactor of adjustable length equipped with a flow‐through cuvette. The mass fraction of the crystalline precipitate was followed time‐resolved using wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (WAXS), performed at the synchrotron radiation facility ANKA of FZK Karlsruhe GmbH. A high degree of correspondence between numerical and experimental results was achieved using nucleation kinetics based on experimental findings in combination with diffusion‐controlled growth kinetics in the population balance equation. Furthermore, the online measurements showed that the lattice ion ratio (educt ratio) has no influence on nucleation kinetics, which means that the adsorption of lattice ions on pre‐nuclei has no influence on their respective interfacial energy. © 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2008
Transmission and Amplification of Information and Properties in Nanostructured Liquid Crystals
Authors: Goodby John W. , Saez Isabel M. , Cowling Stephen J. , Görtz Verena , Draper Michael , Hall Alan W. , Sia Susan , Cosquer Guirac , Lee Seung‐Eun , Raynes E. Peter
Published: February 2008

In recent years the design of chemical structures of liquid‐crystalline materials has developed rapidly, and in many cases changed radically. Since Reinitzer's days, liquid crystals have either been classed as rodlike or disclike, with combinations of the two leading to phasmidic liquid crystals. The discovery that materials with bent molecular structures exhibited whole new families of mesophases inspired investigations into the liquid‐crystal properties of materials with widely varying molecular topologies—from pyramids to crosses to dendritic molecules. As a result of conformational change, supermolecular materials can have deformable molecular structures, which can stabilize mesophase formation, and some materials that are non‐mesogenic, on complexation form supramolecular liquid crystals. The formation of mesophases by individual molecular systems is a process of self‐organization, whereas the mesophases of supramolecular systems are formed by self‐assembly and self‐organization. Herein we show 1) deformable molecular shapes and topologies of supermolecular and self‐assembled supramolecular systems; 2) surface recognition processes of superstructures; and 3) that the transmission of those structures and their amplification can lead to unusual mesomorphic behavior where conventional continuum theory is not suitable for their description.
Control of structure formation of polycarbosilane synthesized from polydimethylsilane by Kumada rearrangement
Authors: Chen Jiangxi , He Guomei , Liao Zhinan , Zeng Birong , Ye Jianglei , Chen Lifu , Xia Haiping , Zhang Litong
Published: February 2008

The control of structure formation of polycarbosilane (PCS) synthesized from polydimethylsilane (PDMS) was studied. It was found that the molecular structure of PCS was strongly dependent on the reaction time and reaction temperature. Shorter reaction time or lower reaction temperature is preferred to produce higher concentration of HSiC3group and less SiC4group in PCS skeleton, which was confirmed by29Si NMR analysis. Higher reaction temperature or longer reaction time tended to dissociate more Si–Si chains to give PCS with higher molecular weight and broader distribution, as verified by GPC characterization. By interrupting the structure evolution of PCS from PDMS at low reaction temperature with short reaction time, solid PCS with controllable molecular structure can be obtained after the removal of the low molecular fraction by precipitation with ethanol. A scissor‐couple rearrangement model was proposed for the formation of the PCS skeleton. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Mechanical properties of an ultrahigh‐molecular‐weight polyethylene/polypropylene blend containing poly(ethylene glycol) additives
Authors: Xie Meiju , Li Huilin
Published: February 2008

It was recently reported that poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) additives (PEG and its hybrids with inorganic fillers) could significantly improve the processability of ultrahigh‐molecular‐weight polyethylene (UPE)/polypropylene (PP) blends. The influence of PEG additives on the mechanical properties of UPE/PP blends was investigated in this study. With the addition of small amounts of PEG additives, the tensile properties of UPE/PP blends were little affected, whereas the loss in impact strength was relatively noticeable; however, the toughness was maintained at a high level. Stress–relaxation and stress–strain tests showed that the PEG additives acted mainly in the amorphous phase, reducing the entanglement density of the blends. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Clinical validation of the watershed sign as a marker for neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Driver Catherine B. , Wallace Daniel J. , Lee Jessica C. , Forbess Chelsey J. , Pourrabbani Shahram , Minoshima Satoshi , Waxman Alan D. , Weisman Michael H.
Published: February 2008

Objective

To study the relationship between single‐photon–emission computed tomography (SPECT) brain imaging and neuropsychiatric signs/symptoms in a cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), analyzed using a stereotactic surface projection (SSP) technique.

Methods

Thirty‐seven SLE patients were referred for 99mTc–ethyl cysteinate dimer SPECT brain imaging because of neuropsychiatric signs/symptoms. Nineteen normal controls were studied with the identical protocol. Reconstructed images were computed and Z scores were calculated using the SSP technique with the 2‐sample t‐tests comparing normal controls with SLE patients, and patients with mild cognitive dysfunction with those with severe cognitive dysfunction. The clinical characteristics of SLE patients were collected by retrospective chart review and categorized according to American College of Rheumatology case definitions for neuropsychiatric SLE. Cognitive dysfunction was rated by the treating physician on a scale of 0–3.

Results

Thirty of 37 SLE patients had abnormal SPECT results. SLE patients had reduced perfusion in the watershed areas of the frontal lobes bilaterally compared with controls. Additionally, SLE patients with severe cognitive dysfunction had more severe perfusion deficits than those with mild cognitive dysfunction. In some patients with severe cognitive dysfunction, the watershed areas had Z scores ≥4 SDs below controls.

Conclusion

A convenience sample of patients with SLE and neuropsychiatric signs/symptoms demonstrated reduced perfusion in the watershed areas of the frontal lobes on SPECT scanning analyzed by the SSP technique. The severity of findings correlated with severity of cognitive dysfunction. The area of the brain affected is one that is susceptible to ischemia.
Tendinous disorders attributed to statins: A study on ninety‐six spontaneous reports in the period 1990–2005 and review of the literature
Authors: Marie Isabelle , Delafenêtre Hélène , Massy Nathalie , Thuillez Christian , Noblet Catherine ,   Network of the French Pharmacovigilance Centers
Published: February 2008

Objective

To date, statins have more often been considered a safe medication. However, with the wider use of statins, severe side effects have also been reported to occur in statin‐treated patients, especially myositis and rhabdomyolysis. Currently, however, statin‐associated tendon impairment has only been described anecdotally. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate tendon manifestations occurring in statin‐treated patients.

Methods

All reports in which a statin was listed spontaneously as a causative suspect medication of tendon complications in the network of the 31 French Pharmacovigilance Centers from 1990–2005 were included in this study. Data collection included patient characteristics and tendon adverse effects (time to onset of adverse effects, pattern, site of injury, and outcome). The percentage of the reports was further calculated for each statin.

Results

Data were collected from 96 patients with a median age of 56 years; patients exhibited tendinitis (n = 63) and tendon rupture (n = 33). Tendinopathy more often occurred within the first year after statin initiation (59%). Tendon manifestations were related to atorvastatin (n = 35), simvastatin (n = 30), pravastatin (n = 21), fluvastatin (n = 5), and rosuvastatin (n = 5). Statin was reinitiated in 7 patients, resulting in recurrence of tendinopathy in all cases.

Conclusion

Our series suggests that statin‐attributed tendinous complications are rare, considering the huge number of statin prescriptions. We suggest that prescribers should be aware of tendinous complications related to statins, particularly in risky situations, including physical exertion and association with medications known to increase the toxicity of statins.
Reliability of the hip examination in osteoarthritis: Effect of standardization
Authors: Cibere Jolanda , Thorne Anona , Bellamy Nicholas , Greidanus Nelson , Chalmers Andrew , Mahomed Nizar , Shojania Kam , Kopec Jacek , Esdaile John M.
Published: February 2008

Objective

To assess the reliability of the physical examination of the hip in osteoarthritis (OA) among rheumatologists and orthopedic surgeons, and to evaluate the benefits of standardization.

Methods

Thirty‐five physical signs and techniques were evaluated using a 6 × 6 Latin square design. Subjects with mild to severe hip OA, based on physical and radiographic signs, were examined in random order prior to and following standardization of physical examination techniques. For dichotomous signs, agreement was calculated as the prevalence‐adjusted bias‐adjusted kappa (PABAK), whereas for continuous and ordinal signs a reliability coefficient was calculated using analysis of variance. A PABAK >0.60 and a reliability coefficient >0.80 were considered to indicate adequate reliability.

Results

Adequate post‐standardization reliability was achieved for 25 (71%) of 35 signs. The most highly reliable signs included true and apparent leg length discrepancy ≥1.5 cm; hip flexion, abduction, adduction, and extension strength; log roll test for hip pain; internal rotation and flexion range of motion; and Thomas test for flexion contracture. The standardization process was associated with substantial improvements in reliability for a number of physical signs, although minimal or no change was noted for some. Only 1 sign, Trendelenburg's sign, was highly unreliable post‐standardization.

Conclusion

With the exception of gait, a comprehensive hip examination can be performed with adequate reliability. Post‐standardization reliability is improved compared with pre‐standardization reliability for some physical signs. The application of these findings to future OA studies will contribute to improved outcome assessments in OA.
Association of regional racial/cultural context and socioeconomic status with arthritis in the population: A multilevel analysis
Authors: Cañizares Mayilee , Power J. Denise , Perruccio Anthony V. , Badley Elizabeth M.
Published: February 2008

Objective

To examine the extent to which differences in individual‐ and regional‐level socioeconomic status and racial/cultural origin account for geographic variations in the prevalence of self‐reported arthritis, and to determine whether regional characteristics modify the effect of individual characteristics associated with reporting arthritis.

Methods

Analyses were based on the 2000–2001 Canadian Community Health Survey (>15 years, n = 127,513). Arthritis was self‐reported as a long‐term condition diagnosed by a health professional. A 2‐level logistic regression model was used to identify predictors of reporting arthritis. Individual‐level variables included age, sex, income, education, immigration status, racial/cultural origin, smoking, physical activity, and body mass index. Regional‐level variables included the proportion of low‐income families, low education, unemployment, recent immigrants, Aboriginals, and Asians.

Results

At the individual level, age, sex, low income, low education, Aboriginal origin, current smoking, and overweight/obesity were positively associated with reporting arthritis; recent immigration and Asian origin were negatively associated with reporting arthritis. At the regional level, percentages of low‐income families and the Aboriginal population were independently associated with reporting arthritis. Regional income and racial/cultural origin moderated the effects of individual income and racial/cultural origin; low‐income individuals residing in regions with a higher proportion of low‐income families reported arthritis more than low‐income individuals living in better‐income regions.

Conclusion

Both individual and regional factors were found to contribute to variations in the prevalence of arthritis, although significant unexplained variation remained. Further research is required to better understand the mechanisms that underlie these regional effects and to identify other contributing factors to the remaining variation.
Clinical implications of rotator cuff degeneration in the rheumatic shoulder
Authors: Van de Sande Michiel A. J. , De Groot Jurriaan H. , Rozing Piet M.
Published: February 2008

Objective

In rheumatoid arthritis (RA) of the shoulder, loss of cartilage and soft tissue degeneration coexists with pain and reduced range of motion. We evaluated the presence of bony and rotator cuff degeneration in RA of the shoulder joint and assessed their relationship with pain and loss of functioning. We hypothesized that rotator cuff degeneration plays an important role in the presence of pain and loss of functioning of the rheumatic shoulder.

Methods

We used a cross‐sectional study to assess both bony and rotator cuff involvement using plain anteroposterior radiographs, ultrasound, and computed tomography images. Additionally, we used an electromagnetic tracking device and a force transducer to evaluate range of motion and maximum force of the shoulder muscles. Between January 2003 and July 2004 we included 26 consecutive patients (51 shoulders). Twenty‐one shoulders showed no or slight joint destruction, 15 showed intermediate destruction, and 15 showed severe destruction.

Results

Only 19 shoulders showed an intact rotator cuff. Proximal migration of the humeral head and fatty degeneration of the infraspinatus muscle especially showed a significantly strong correlation with increased pain and function loss (R2 = 0.36, P < 0.001). In a multivariate regression analysis, proximal migration and fatty degeneration of the infraspinatus muscle were related most significantly with pain and reduced functioning in the shoulder joint.

Conclusion

Rotator cuff degeneration plays an important role in the daily functioning of the rheumatic shoulder. Prevention of rotator cuff degeneration may therefore play an important part in the treatment of the rheumatic shoulder.
Chromatographic separation of three monoclonal antibody variants using multicolumn countercurrent solvent gradient purification (MCSGP)
Authors: Müller‐Späth Thomas , Aumann Lars , Melter Lena , Ströhlein Guido , Morbidelli Massimo
Published: February 2008

Multicolumn countercurrent solvent gradient purification (MCSGP) is a continuous chromatographic process developed in recent years (Aumann and Morbidelli, 2007a; Aumann et al., 2007) that is particularly suited for applications in the field of bioseparations. Like batch chromatography, MCSGP is suitable for three‐fraction chromatographic separations and able to perform solvent gradients but it is superior in terms of solvent consumption, yield, purity, and productivity due to the countercurrent movement of the liquid and the solid phases. In this work, the MCSGP process is applied to the separation of three monoclonal antibody variants on a conventional preparative cation exchange resin. The experimental process performance was compared to simulations based on a lumped kinetic model. Yield and purity values of the target variant of 93%, respectively were obtained experimentally. The batch reference process was clearly outperformed by the MCSGP process. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;100: 1166–1177. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Utilization of cellulosic waste from tequila bagasse and production of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) bioplastics by Saccharophagus degradans
Authors: Alva Munoz Luis Esteban , Riley Mark R.
Published: February 2008

Utilization of wastes from agriculture is becoming increasingly important due to concerns of environmental impact. The goals of this work were to evaluate the ability of an unusual organism, Saccharophagus degradans (ATCC 43961), to degrade the major components of plant cell walls and to evaluate the ability of S. degradans to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs, also known as bioplastics). S. degradans can readily attach to cellulosic fibers, degrade the cellulose, and utilize this as the primary carbon source. The growth of S. degradans was assessed in minimal media (MM) containing glucose, cellobiose, avicel, and bagasse with all able to support growth. Cells were able to attach to avicel and bagasse fibers; however, growth on these insoluble fibers was much slower and led to a lower maximal biomass production than observed with simple sugars. Lignin in MM alone did not support growth, but did support growth upon addition of glucose, although with an increased adaptation phase. When culture conditions were switched to a nitrogen depleted status, PHA production commences and extends for at least 48 h. At early stationary phase, stained inclusion bodies were visible and two chronologically increasing infrared light absorbance peaks at 1,725 and 1,741 cm−1 confirmed the presence of PHAs. This work demonstrates for what we believe to be the first time, that a single organism can degrade insoluble cellulose and under similar conditions can produce and accumulate PHA. Additional work is necessary to more fully characterize these capabilities and to optimize the PHA production and purification. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;100: 882–888. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Subclinical late cardiac toxicity in childhood cancer survivors
Authors: Cox Cheryl L. , Rai Shesh N. , Rosenthal David , Phipps Sean , Hudson Melissa M.
Published: February 2008

BACKGROUND

The authors analyzed how self‐reported health and self‐reported modified New York Heart Association (NYHA) cardiac function scores were related to cardiac systolic function, cardiac risk factors, and cancer treatment history in childhood cancer survivors who reported no symptoms of cardiac disease.

METHODS

Long‐term survivors of pediatric cancer who were treated between 1971 and 1995 (current ages, 16–39.7 years) underwent noninvasive clinical and laboratory cardiac risk evaluation and responded to selected subscales of the Medical Outcomes Study 36‐item Short Form Health Survey. Results were compared with survivor history of anthracycline therapy alone or with radiotherapy (n = 127 patients; mean, 10 years after diagnosis) versus no anthracycline therapy (n = 32 patients; mean, 11 years after diagnosis).

RESULTS

Sex, current age, highest school grade completed, race, age at diagnosis, diagnostic group, years off therapy, fractional shortening (FS), heart rate, and smoking status were found to be independently predictive of self‐reported health. Interaction between female sex and higher low‐density lipoprotein values and between diagnosis and abnormal FS variably predicted low reported vitality and low reported modified New York Heart Association (NYHA) scores. Echocardiographic findings, cardiac risk factors, and treatment history explained 13% to 28% of the variance in perceived health and self‐reported modified NYHA scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Systolic function and cardiac risk factors were linked to lower self‐reported health and NYHA scores even in the absence of clinically evident cardiotoxicity. Cancer 2008. ©2008 American Cancer Society.
Projections of the paraventricular and paratenial nuclei of the dorsal midline thalamus in the rat
Authors: Vertes Robert P. , Hoover Walter B.
Published: February 2008

The paraventricular (PV) and paratenial (PT) nuclei are prominent cell groups of the midline thalamus. To our knowledge, only a single early report has examined PV projections and no previous study has comprehensively analyzed PT projections. By using the anterograde anatomical tracer, Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin, and the retrograde tracer, FluoroGold, we examined the efferent projections of PV and PT. We showed that the output of PV is virtually directed to a discrete set of limbic forebrain structures, including ‘limbic’ regions of the cortex. These include the infralimbic, prelimbic, dorsal agranular insular, and entorhinal cortices, the ventral subiculum of the hippocampus, dorsal tenia tecta, claustrum, lateral septum, dorsal striatum, nucleus accumbens (core and shell), olfactory tubercle, bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BST), medial, central, cortical, and basal nuclei of amygdala, and the suprachiasmatic, arcuate, and dorsomedial nuclei of the hypothalamus. The posterior PV distributes more heavily than the anterior PV to the dorsal striatum and to the central and basal nuclei of amygdala. PT projections significantly overlap with those of PV, with some important differences. PT distributes less heavily than PV to BST and to the amygdala, but much more densely to the medial prefrontal and entorhinal cortices and to the ventral subiculum of hippocampus. As described herein, PV/PT receive a vast array of afferents from the brainstem, hypothalamus, and limbic forebrain, related to arousal and attentive states of the animal, and would appear to channel that information to structures of the limbic forebrain in the selection of appropriate responses to changing environmental conditions. Depending on the specific complement of emotionally associated information reaching PV/PT at any one time, PV/PT would appear positioned, by actions on the limbic forebrain, to direct behavior toward a particular outcome over a range of outcomes. J. Comp. Neurol. 508:212–237, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Detection of series arcing in low‐voltage electrical installations
Authors: Hadziefendic Nedzad , Kostic Miomir , Radakovic Zoran
Published: February 2008

Series arcing, which can occur at any point of a line or neutral conductor between the switchboard and a load (mechanically damaged conductor, clamps in the switchboard or in the equipment, connections in outlets, receptacles, and switches), is the most frequent electrical cause of fire. This paper presents an original and simple algorithm for the detection of series arcing, based on permanent spectral analysis of the circuit current signal. A prototype of a simple and cheap detector of series arcing has also been developed. The target group for the application of the protective device are residential premises, the most numerous and most critical buildings in which series arcing occurs. In such buildings a range of potential loads is limited, which enables the application of the presented simple algorithm. Its applicability is confirmed through an extensive set of tests. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Input‐to‐state stability, numerical dynamics and sampled‐data control
Authors: Grüne Lars
Published: February 2008

We investigate the relation between asymptotic stability for dynamical systems and families of approximations. Using suitably perturbed systems and the input‐to‐state stability property we develop a framework which yields necessary and sufficient conditions on the stability of the approximations ensuring stability of the approximated system. The results are formulated for numerical one step schemes for ordinary differential equations and for sampled‐data systems. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Bone morphogenic protein 3 inactivation is an early and frequent event in colorectal cancer development
Authors: Loh Kim , Chia June A. , Greco Sonia , Cozzi Sarah‐Jane , Buttenshaw Ron L. , Bond Catherine E. , Simms Lisa A. , Pike Tanya , Young Joanne P. , Jass Jeremy R. , Spring Kevin J. , Leggett Barbara A. , Whitehall Vicki L. J.
Published: February 2008

Bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs) are members of the TGFB growth factor superfamily with well‐described functions in bone formation. Although disrupted BMP signalling in tumor development has more recently been investigated, a role for BMP3 in colorectal cancer (CRC) has remained largely unexplored. The aim of this study was to investigate BMP3 disruption in CRCs in relation to both the traditional and serrated pathways of tumor progression. BMP3 was down‐regulated as assessed by real‐time PCR in 50 of 56 primary tumors (89%). Bisulfite sequencing of the putative promoter revealed extensive hypermethylation in the cell line HT29, in which expression could be restored by treatment with a methyltransferase inhibitor. Aberrant hypermethylation was observed in 33/60 (55%) tumors and was highly correlated with microsatellite instability (P < 0.01), the CpG Island Methylator Phenotype (P < 0.01), BRAF oncogene mutation (P < 0.01), and proximal location (P < 0.001). Methylation was also frequently observed in serrated and traditional adenomatous polyps (22/29, 76%). Re‐introduction of BMP3 into cell lines revealed marked growth suppression supporting the functional relevance of this alteration in colorectal tumor development. This study provides molecular and functional data supporting the importance of BMP3 silencing as an early and frequent event in colorectal tumors progressing via the serrated and traditional pathways. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Wilms tumor genetics: Mutations in WT1, WTX, and CTNNB1 account for only about one‐third of tumors
Authors: Ruteshouser E. Cristy , Robinson Stephen M. , Huff Vicki
Published: February 2008

Wilms tumor is genetically heterogeneous, and until recently only one Wilms tumor gene was known, WT1 at 11p13. However, WT1 is altered in only ∼20% of Wilms tumors. Recently a novel gene, WTX at Xq11.1, was reported to be mutated in Wilms tumors. No overlap between tumors with mutations in WTX and WT1 was noted, suggesting that WT1 and WTX mutations could account for the genetic basis of roughly half of Wilms tumors. To assess the frequency of WTX mutations and their relationship to WT1 mutations in a larger (n = 125) panel of Wilms tumors which had been thoroughly assessed for mutations in WT1, we conducted a complete mutational analysis of WTX that included sequencing of the entire coding region and quantitative PCR to identify deletions of the WTX gene. Twenty‐three (18.4%) tumors carried a total of 24 WTX mutations, a lower WTX mutation frequency than that previously observed. Surprisingly, we observed an equivalent frequency of WTX mutations in tumors with mutations in either or both WT1 and CTNNB1 (20.0%) and tumors with no mutation in either WT1 or CTNNB1 (17.5%). WTX has been reported to play a role in the WNT/β‐catenin signaling pathway, and, interestingly, WTX deletion/truncation mutations appeared to be rare in tumors carrying exon 3 mutations of CTNNB1, encoding β‐catenin. Our findings indicate that WT1 and WTX mutations occur with similar frequency, that they partially overlap in Wilms tumors, and that mutations in WT1, WTX, and CTNNB1 underlie the genetic basis of about one‐third of Wilms tumors. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Learning and fatigue during choice experiments: a comparison of online and mail survey modes
Authors: Savage Scott J. , Waldman Donald M.
Published: February 2008

This study investigates the effect of survey mode on respondent learning and fatigue during repeated choice experiments. Stated preference data are obtained from an experiment concerning high‐speed Internet service conducted on samples of mail respondents and online respondents. We identify and estimate aspects of the error components for different subsets of the choice questions, for both mail and online respondents. Results show mail respondents answer questions consistently throughout a series of choice experiments, but the quality of the online respondents' answers declines. Therefore, while the online survey provides lower survey administration costs and reduced time between implementation and data analysis, such benefits come at the cost of less precise responses. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Linking modularity with problem solving and coordination efforts
Authors: Gomes Paulo J. , Joglekar Nitin R.
Published: February 2008

We explore the relationship between process architecture decisions, problem solving and coordination efforts during distributed product development, i.e., when development work is dispersed across organizational boundaries. Process architecture refers to the manner in which the tasks and interfaces within a project are organized so that a project can be executed in an efficient manner. The theoretical foundation for our investigation draws upon the information processing (IP) view of product development and transaction cost economics. The IP view calls for manipulation of the architecture by making problem‐solving tasks modular, such that reducing task interdependencies minimizes the development time. The transaction cost view calls for transactional efficiency, for example, reduction in the coordination burden for each productive task. We present several measures of modularity based on a design structure matrix (DSM) mapping of the development task structure. Then, we analyze the relation between these measures and transactional efficacy and task completion times. Our empirical evidence comes from 71 tasks carried out in 11 software development projects. Data analyses show that the improvement in the transactional efficacy is associated with increase in task modularity. Our results establish that increasing modularity reduces the development time and the coordination effort. However, these results also suggest trade‐offs: modularity measures do not contribute equally to this gain in efficiency and increasing modularity is negatively associated with the technical problem‐solving efforts. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A situatedness‐based Knowledge Plane for autonomic networking
Authors: Bullot Thomas , Khatoun Rida , Hugues Louis , Gaïti Dominique , Merghem‐Boulahia Leila
Published: February 2008

IP networks, and particularly the Internet, were proposed to be a simple and robust support for homogeneous communications. This implies that only basic control mechanisms have to be performed by network elements. Communication management has to be performed by the terminals. However, the integration of new services and the increasing need for QoS require the network to be increasingly more flexible and adaptive. New algorithms and protocols have been proposed by many research teams to address these issues, but these new algorithms tend to make network management and control more flexible. Thus, manual configuration of such flexible and adaptive network architectures is very complex, if not impossible. Self‐management is then a good opportunity to address this new complexity, and then to integrate more easily new services into the network. However, this self‐management requires the equipment to carry much more knowledge and information than the actual control and management planes do. Global knowledge management schemes are therefore necessary to achieve this, including new policies for knowledge gathering, computing, sharing and providing. To address this particular need for knowledge management, several studies have proposed building a new plane, called the ‘Knowledge Plane’ (KP). This paper studies different propositions for this KP, and presents an original vision of what this KP should be. Our vision of the KP relies on the paradigm of situatedness. This paradigm was developed by research studies in the field of multi‐agent systems, which tend to solve complex problems using collaborative and autonomous agents (multi‐agent technology has been largely described in Artificial Intelligence literature). These agents in our proposition are embedded within the network elements themselves. Their role is to share local and situated knowledge composing the global KP. We have also developed, as an illustration, a distributed intrusion detection system (IDS) based on the local IDS Snort. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On relative perturbation theory for eigenvalues and eigenvectors of block operator matrices
Authors: Grubišić Luka
Published: February 2008

We are concerned with singularly perturbed spectral problems which appear in engineering sciences. Typically under the influence of a singular perturbation the model can be approximated by a simpler, perturbation independent model. Such reduced model is usually better amenable to analytic or numeric analysis. However, the question of the quality of approximation has to be answered. Frequently, correctors which yield an improved solution–capturing important phenomena which the reduced model does not “see”–to the original problems are required. We tackle both question for self‐adjoint eigenvalue/eigenvector problems posed in a general Hilbert space. Our technique is constructive and is based on methods (relative perturbation theory) of modern Numerical Linear Algebra. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)