bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Breaking barriers and creating inclusiveness: Lessons of organizational transformation to advance women faculty in academic science and engineering
Authors: Bilimoria Diana , Joy Simy , Liang Xiangfen
Published: August 2008

To increase the representation and participation of women and other minorities in organizations, workplaces must become more inclusive. For such change to be successful and sustainable, organizations must systematically break down the barriers constraining women's participation and effectiveness; improve their prevailing structures, policies, and practices; and engender transformation in their climates. This article presents the experience of 19 U.S. universities, funded by the National Science Foundation's ADVANCE Institutional Transformation program, that have embraced comprehensive transformation for improved gender representation and inclusion in science and engineering disciplines. It describes the facilitating factors, program initiatives, institutionalization, and outcomes of their transformation, and suggests a transformation model that all organizations can use to create an inclusive and productive workplace for a diverse workforce. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Time out for family: Shift work, fathers, and sports
Authors: Root Lawrence S. , Wooten Lynn Perry
Published: August 2008

Shift work is a fact of life for many workers. Almost one in six full‐time hourly and salary employees works a shift outside the 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. window that researchers use to define the temporal bounds of the traditional workday. Almost half of those working in restaurants and bars work such alternate shifts, as do more than a quarter of workers in hospitals and manufacturing facilities. Drawing on interviews and observations in a Midwestern auto parts plant, this study explores how individuals in this predominantly male workforce talk about fulfilling family responsibilities in the face of relatively inflexible shift schedules. Interviews and observations reveal how the time pressures of shift work, particularly the afternoon‐evening shift, affect the ability of fathers to participate in their children's activities, especially organized sports. Without formal options for scheduling flexibility, workers turn to a variety of informal approaches, such as ad hoc arrangements with sympathetic supervisors or the assistance of coworkers in covering for absences. In extreme cases, workers may engage in independent actions, often placing their jobs at risk. These findings contribute to the literature on work‐family conflict and the gender dynamics of work‐family life programs. By emphasizing the importance of including fathers in the work‐family equation, they have practical implications for both employers and policymakers concerned with addressing the challenges of helping a contemporary workforce strike an equitable balance between work and family life. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Preliminary evaluation of the toxicity of some synthetic furan derivatives in two cell lines andArtemia salina
Authors: Amaro María I. , Monasterios Melina , Avendaño Milagros , Charris Jaime
Published: August 2008

This study describes the preliminary toxicity evaluation of five new furan derivatives, 2‐[2‐acetylamino‐2‐[(benzothiazolyl‐substituted)aminocarbonyl]vinyl]‐5‐nitro furane (compounds A, B, D and E) and 2‐[2‐phenylamino‐2‐[benzothiazolylaminocarbonyl]vinyl]furane (compound C). Cytotoxicity was determined using the MTT (tetrazolium salt) method over BHK21 (Syrian baby hamster kidney) and Hep‐2 (human larynx carcinoma) cells, which had previously been used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of the 5‐nitrofuran derivatives. The lethal concentration 50 (LC50) was determined using brine shrimp (Artemia salina) bioassay. Nitrofurantoin was used as reference compound. The results demonstrate that BHK21 cells are more sensitive than Hep‐2 cells. This structurally related serial of compounds shows a differential toxicity, which is an indication that the toxicity naturally arising from the nitro group can be modulated by the substituents over the furan ring. Additionally, compound C, the only derivative with no nitro group, was least toxic to Hep‐2, but exhibits toxicity to BHK21 cells and brine shrimp. The LC50brine shrimp test (BST) bioassay results were as follows: A, 654.2 µg ml−1; B, 50.0 µg ml−1; C, 533.4 µg ml−1; D, 172.1 µg ml−1; E, 76.4 µg ml−1, and NF, >1000 µg ml−1. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The hidden costs of outsourcing
Authors: Juras Paul E.
Published: August 2008

Many outsourcing arrangements fail to deliver the expected cost savings. Why is this so? The author argues that management hasn't calculated the total cost of outsourcing, which includes your risks—and he shows you how to do it. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Corporate governance and auditor fees
Authors: Dickins Denise , Young George
Published: August 2008

The authors find that when a company's corporate governance rating is worse than its competitors, fee disclosure preparers are more likely to classify nonaudit services as audit services. This creates a perception of higher financial quality. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Recombinant adeno‐associated virus‐mediated gene delivery of long chain acyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase (LCAD) into LCAD‐deficient mice
Authors: Beattie Stuart G. , Goetzman Eric , Tang Qiuishi , Conlon Thomas , Campbell‐Thompson Martha , Matern Dietrich , Vockley Jerry , Flotte Terence R.
Published: August 2008

Background

Very long chain acyl coenzyme A (CoA) dehydrogenase (VLCAD) deficiency is a relatively common mitochondrial β‐oxidation disorder. The most severe form of VLCAD deficiency presents with neonatal cardiomyopathy and hepatic failure and is generally fatal within the first year of life. Mice deficient for long chain acyl CoA dehydrogenase (LCAD) closely resemble the clinical syndrome observed in VLCAD‐deficient humans. Recombinant adeno‐associated viral (rAAV) vectors with pseudotype capsids were investigated for their potential towards correcting the phenotype observed in mice heterozygous (+/−) for LCAD (i.e. liver and muscle steatosis).

Methods

rAAV containing the mouse LCAD cDNA (mLCAD) under the transcriptional control of the CMV/chicken β‐actin hybrid promoter were injected intramuscularly into the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle of LCAD+/− mice or injected into the portal vein to transduce hepatocytes.

Results

Ten weeks post‐injection of rAAV1‐mLCAD into the TA muscle, significantly increased levels of mLCAD within mitochondria were demonstrated by immunostaining of TA sections, immunoblotting of mitochondrial isolates and by the electron transfer flavoprotein (ETF) fluorescence reduction enzyme activity assay. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy of vector‐injected TA muscle demonstrated a reduction in the lipid content compared to phosphate‐buffered saline‐injected mice, whereas a systemic effect was observed as a reduction in liver macrosteatosis. Eight weeks after portal vein injection of rAAV8‐mLCAD into LCAD+/− mice, increased levels of mLCAD within hepatocyte mitochondria were demonstrated by immunostaining and also by the ETF assay. Scoring of the hepatosteatosis observed in partially deficient LCAD mice indicated a reduction in the lipid content within livers of vector‐treated mice.

Conclusions

These studies show that rAAV‐mediated delivery of mLCAD was efficient and led to an amelioration of local and systemic pathologies observed in partially deficient LCAD mice. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Molecular characterization of genotype 2 and 4 hepatitis C virus isolates in French blood donors
Authors: Cantaloube Jean‐François , Gallian Pierre , Laperche Syria , Elghouzzi Marie‐Héléne , Piquet Yves , Bouchardeau Françoise , Jordier Francois , Biagini Philippe , Attoui Houssam , de Micco Philippe
Published: August 2008

The subtype distribution of 142 genotype 2 and 97 genotype 4 hepatitis C virus (HCV) isolates from the sera of 1,319 volunteer blood donors in France was determined by gene sequencing and by phylogenetic analysis of the NS5B region and E1 envelope. Findings underlined a wide range of subtypes in both genotypes, that is, 20 in HCV‐2 and 11 in HCV‐4. Eighteen of these 31 subtypes had not been defined previously. Some subtypes, that is, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2i, 2k, 4a, and 4d, showed numerous strains while subtypes in donors from West Africa or Central Africa showed an endemic profile with only a few strains. A Bayesian coalescence approach was used to estimate the demographic history of each HCV subtype. The estimated mean dates of the most recent common ancestors (MRCA) were 1,889 (confidence interval (CI), 1,842–1,930) for HCV‐2a, 1,886 (CI, 1,843–1,921) for HCV‐2b, 1,791 (CI, 1,699–1,848) for HCV‐2c, 1,846 (CI, 1,803–1,878) for HCV‐2i, 1,911 (CI, 1,879–1,937) for HCV‐4a, and 1,957 (CI, 1,943–1,967) for HCV‐4d. The period of spread for subtype 2b, 2c, and 2i was between 1900 and 1960 whereas rapid exponential spread for subtype 2a, 4a, and 4d occurred in the 1960s. The inferred histories of population growth indicated that transmission rates differed according to HCV subtype. These results may help to predict the future burden of HCV in France. J. Med. Virol. 80:1732–1739, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Detection by PCR of adhesins genes and slime production in clinical Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Zmantar Tarek , Chaieb Kamel , Makni Héla , Miladi Hanene , Abdallah Fethi Ben , Mahdouani Kacem , Bakhrouf Amina
Published: August 2008

The presence of the ica loci and adhesins genes in clinical Staphylococcus aureus strains were considered important factors of virulence. In this study, 46 strains of Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from auricular infection, and were investigated for slime production using Congo Red Agar method (CRA). In order to detect the adhesins genes (ica A, ica D, fnb A, cna, Clf A) Polymerase Chain Reaction was used. Qualitative biofilm production of S. aureus using CRA plates revealed that 56.5% of strains were slime producers. In addition 78.26% of strains were ica A and ica D positive. While the fnbA gene was present in 76.1% of isolated strains. Furthermore, 56.5% of strains have the cna gene and 30.4% were clfA positives. Overall this study confirms the presence of fnb A and ica A/ica D genes in the majority of studies S. aureus strains isolated from Staphylococcal sepsis. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Ecophysiological requirements and survival of a Trichoderma atroviride isolate with biocontrol potential
Authors: Longa Claudia Maria Oliveira , Pertot Ilaria , Tosi Solveig
Published: August 2008

Trichoderma atroviride SC1, isolated from decayed hazelnut wood in northern Italy in 2000, is a promising fungal agent for biological control of soil‐borne plant pathogens. The objective of this research was to characterize the biology and ecology of this fungus, in order to determine its environmental parameter tolerance levels and its behavior in the phylloplane and soil systems. To better characterize T. atroviride SC1, the influences of pH, temperature, water activity and different nitrogen and carbon sources on its in vitro growth were evaluated. T. atroviride SC1 survival was assessed on strawberry leaves under controlled conditions in a greenhouse and in sterilized and non‐sterilized soil samples kept at room temperature. Results showed that isolate SC1 is mesophilic and grows best at 25 °C. The fungus tolerates a wide range of pH levels, but growth was reduced on alkaline media (pH ≥ 8). The nitrogen and carbon sources peptone, tryptone, nitrate, mannose, galactose and sucrose were associated with the highest mycelial biomass production, as compared with other potential sources of nitrogen and carbon. The fungus survived on strawberry leaves under greenhouse conditions (25 ± 2 °C, RH = 60 ± 10%) and grew in sterilized soils at room temperature (23 ± 2 °C) for 45 d. However, no increase in mycelial dry weight was observed in non‐sterilized soils. T. atroviride SC1 survived under the test conditions, showing a good potential for use in soil and foliar biocontrol applications. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Case control MR‐CISS and 3D TOF MRA imaging study of medullary compression and hypertension in hemifacial spasm
Authors: Chan Ling‐Ling , Lee Esther , Fook‐Chong Stephanie , Tan Eng‐King
Published: August 2008

The association between ventro‐lateral medulla (VLM) compression and hypertension has not been compared between hemifacial spasm (HFS) and healthy controls using advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques specific for detecting neurovascular compression. We conducted a MR‐constructive interference in a steady state (CISS) and Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) imaging study of VLM compression in hypertensive HFS patients and hypertensive controls compared with healthy controls without hypertension. A total of 125 subjects, including 45 HFS, 51 healthy controls, and 29 hypertensive controls were included. When compared with healthy controls, there was a higher prevalence of VLM compression in hypertensive HFS (82.2% vs. 41.2%, P < 0.001, odds ratio = 6.61, 95% CI 2.37–19.48), and hypertensive controls (72.4% vs. 41.2%, P = 0.007, odds ratio = 3.75, 95% CI 1.42–9.89). Although the prevalence in hypertensive HFS was higher compared to controls with hypertension, this was not significant (82.2% vs. 72.4%). Compared to healthy controls, there was an increasing proportion of higher compression scores on the right (P = 0.001) and left (P = 0.038) (chi square for trend) in hypertensive HFS and hypertensive controls. Kruskal‐Wallis test revealed that the mean right compression score on the right (P = 0.003), left (P = 0.026) and the mean bilateral compression score (P < 0.0001) was higher in hypertensive HFS and hypertensive controls compared to healthy controls. MR‐CISS and MRA imaging revealed a greater likelihood of VLM compression in hypertensive HFS and hypertensive controls compared to healthy controls. Our case control study provides further support that VLM compression is associated with hypertension in HFS. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society
Psychogenic movement disorders in children
Authors: Ferrara Joseph , Jankovic Joseph
Published: August 2008

Psychogenic movement disorders (PMDs) are well characterized in adults, but childhood‐onset PMDs have not been extensively studied. We reviewed the medical records of children who were diagnosed in our clinic with PMDs since 1988 and identified 54 patients with PMDs, representing 3.1% of our pediatric movement disorder population and 5.7% of all PMD cases. The mean age at symptom onset was 14.2 years (±2.11, range 7.6–17.7). Similar to published data in adults, two‐thirds of children exhibited multiple PMD phenotypes, the most common being tremor followed by dystonia and myoclonus. Most PMDs were abrupt in onset, paroxysmal and triggered by identifiable physical or psychological trauma. As in adults, childhood PMDs were more likely to affect females, but there was no female predominance in children less than 13 years old. Although prior studies suggest that medically unexplained symptoms beginning in childhood often follow a benign course, this cohort of children experienced marked disability and morbidity related to PMDs, including prolonged school absences and unnecessary surgical procedures in more than one‐fifth of patients. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society
On solving periodic Riccati equations
Authors: Varga A.
Published: August 2008

Numerically reliable algorithms to compute the periodic non‐negative definite stabilizing solutions of the periodic differential Riccati equation (PRDE) and discrete‐time periodic Riccati equation (DPRE) are proposed. For the numerical solution of PRDEs, a new multiple shooting‐type algorithm is developed to compute the periodic solutions in an arbitrary number of time moments within one period by employing suitable discretizations of the continuous‐time problems. In contrast to single shooting periodic generator methods, the multiple shooting‐type methods have the main advantage of being able to address problems with larger periods. Three methods are discussed to solve DPREs. Two of the methods represent extensions of the periodic QZ algorithm to non‐square periodic pairs, whereas the third method represents an extension of a quotient‐product swapping and collapsing ‘fast’ algorithm. All proposed approaches are completely general, being applicable to periodic Riccati equations with time‐varying dimensions as well as with singular weighting matrices. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preface: phys. stat. sol. (b) 245/9
Authors: Ellmer Klaus , Fiechter Sebastian
Published: August 2008

The present Festschrift entitled “Solar energetics – from photovoltaics to water splitting” is dedicated to Professor Helmut Tributsch on the occasion of his 65th birthday.

The sohonoured now looks back on an impressive scientific work spanning the entire range from questions in physics and chemistry to biology, with an emphasis on deciphering electro‐chemical and electrocatalytic processes. This research was carried out in collaboration with his group at the former Hahn‐Meitner‐Institut

Now “Helmholtz‐Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie” (HZB), or “Helmholtz Centre Berlin for Materials and Energy”.

in Berlin‐Wannsee as well as on sabbaticals in other institutes worldwide. Beginning with his Ph.D. thesis in Munich on the sensitization of zinc oxide, most of his scientific work was devoted to the conversion of solar energy for a future‐oriented energy supply of mankind. The sixteen contributions of this Special Issue of pss (b) were written by friends, colleagues, and former co‐workers of Professor Helmut Tributsch and reflect the broad field of physics and chemistry related to solar energy and catalysis where he has been very active during his scientific life, i.e.:

– Sensitization of oxidic semiconductors

– New materials for photovoltaics and catalysis

– Novel heterostructures for water splitting

– Ex‐situ and in‐situ characterization methods

As reported in the laudatio on the following pages, Helmut Tributsch has made significant contributions to each of the above‐mentioned research fields.

We hope that this issue, besides acting as a tribute to Professor Tributsch's long and successful scientific career, will stimulate the research in these emerging and rapidly developing fields.

We, and surely also all contributors, friends, colleagues and collaborators, retrospectively wish Helmut Tributsch all the best for his 65th birthday and for his new phase in his life, which he is planning to spend in his homeland Friuli in the Alpes of North‐Italy.

We woud like to take the opportunity to thank the team of physica status solidi, especially its Editor‐in‐Chief Martin Stutzmann and Sabine Bahrs from the editorial office for the courtesy of publishing this Festschrift and for the excellent support in the implementation of the book edition at hand. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Cisplatin functionalized single‐walled carbon nanotubes
Authors: Tripisciano Carla , Borowiak‐Palen Ewa
Published: August 2008

The use of chemotherapeutic agents is nowadays limited by the damage they inflict to healthy tissues. Due to the fact that Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) possess the characteristic feature of being not degraded in the human body, they can be used to deliver small organic drug molecules into the diseased cells thus preventing normal tissue damages. Here, the functionalization of acid treated Single‐Walled CNTs with Cisplatin (Cis‐Diamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP)), a potent anticancer agent which suffers of toxic side‐effects and lack of selectivity, is presented. Raman Spectroscopy was exploited to estimate the purity of SWNTs sample and via Infrared (IR) analysis the characterization of the functional groups formed upon the acid treatment was performed. The morphology characterization was carried out with high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR‐TEM), and Raman spectroscopy. Additionally, the CDDP release from the samples in physiological solution was studied using UV‐VIS Spectroscopy and Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analysis. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
An experimental study of the interaction between single walled carbon nanotubes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Authors: Debnath Sourabhi , Cheng Qiaohuan , Hedderman Theresa G. , Byrne Hugh J.
Published: August 2008

In this work to study the interaction between single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), PAHs of two oligomer series, the polyacene series and polyphenyl series are used. The interaction between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) has been studied by using a fluorescence model based on the adsorption/desorption equilibrium of SWNTs and PAHs. By using this model the binding energy between SWNTs and organic dyes is also obtained. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Electron beam induced electronic transport in alkyl amine‐intercalated VOx nanotubes
Authors: O'Dwyer C. , Lavayen V. , Clavijo‐Cedeño C. , Torres C. M. Sotomayor
Published: August 2008

The electron beam induced electronic transport in primary alkyl amine‐intercalated V2O5 nanotubes is investigated where the organic amine molecules are employed as molecular conductive wires to an aminosilanized substrate surface and contacted to Au interdigitated electrode contacts. The results demonstrate that the high conductivity of the nanotubes is related to the non‐resonant tunnelling through the amine molecules and a reduced polaron hopping conduction through the vanadium oxide itself. Both nanotube networks and individual nanotubes exhibit similarly high conductivities where the minority carrier transport is bias dependent and nanotube diameter invariant. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Species identification of Oetzi's clothing with matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry based on peptide pattern similarities of hair digests
Authors: Hollemeyer Klaus , Altmeyer Wolfgang , Heinzle Elmar , Pitra Christian
Published: August 2008

Identification of ancient biological samples from the 1991‐discovered and more than 5300‐year‐old Tyrolean mummy, also called iceman or Oetzi, is very difficult. The species of origins of four animal‐hair‐bearing samples of the accoutrement of the mummy not yet diagnosed were identified by a special proteomics method. Ha 43/91/130 and Ha 6/91, two samples from his coat, and Ha 5/91, a sample from his leggings, were assigned to sheep. The upper leather of his moccasins, Ha 2/91, was made from cattle. Despite the enormous age of these samples with partial (bio)chemical alterations, reliable identification was possible using a recently developed matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometric ((MALDI‐TOF MS)‐based analytical method. The method is exclusively based on the analysis of proteins and uses minute amounts of peptides directly derived from tryptic hair digests without any separation or enrichment steps. Unknown species are identified by comparison of their peptide ion patterns with known spectra stored in existing databases. Hereby, the correlation distance, a form of Euclidean distance, and deduced parameters are used to measure similarities.

If more than one potential hit remains, specific diagnostic peptide ions are used to stepwise exclude incorrect matches. These ions are specific for orders, families, subfamilies/genera and/or even species. Peptide mass fingerprinting data combined with those from collision‐induced dissociation spectra (combined MS & MS/MS) were used for interpretation with the MASCOT search engine and the NCBI database to find the potential parentage of hair proteins. For this technique, selected precursor ions were identified as specific diagnostic peptide ions. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Random walks on the vertices of transportation polytopes with constant number of sources
Authors: Cryan Mary , Dyer Martin , Müller Haiko , Stougie Leen
Published: August 2008

We consider the problem of uniformly sampling a vertex of a transportation polytope with m sources and n destinations, where m is a constant. We analyze a natural random walk on the edge‐vertex graph of the polytope. The analysis makes use of the multicommodity flow technique of Sinclair [Combin Probab Comput 1 (1992), 351–370] together with ideas developed by Morris and Sinclair [SIAM J Comput 34 (2004), 195–226] for the knapsack problem, and Cryan et al. [SIAM J Comput 36 (2006), 247–278] for contingency tables, to establish that the random walk approaches the uniform distribution in time n. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2008
Elementary school teachers as “targets and agents of change”: Teachers' learning in interaction with reform science curriculum
Authors: Metz Kathleen E.
Published: August 2008

This article examines teachers' perspectives on the challenges of using a science reform curriculum, as well as their learning in interaction with the curriculum and parallel professional development program. As case studies, I selected 4 veteran teachers of 2nd or 3rd grade, with varying science backgrounds (including 2 with essentially none). Capitalizing on the first activity of the monthly teacher meetings, wherein each teacher described an issue/challenge in using the curriculum, I analyzed how their conceptualization of issues changed over 5 points in time, 2 in the fall of 1 school year and 3 in the spring of the next. Exit interviews extend the time span under analysis to 32 months. Across this span, I examined the extent to which their thinking about the issues they raised reflected the problematic, in Dewey's sense of catalyst for fruitful taking up of the problem in ways supporting learning. Given the importance of understanding science as a way of knowing, I also analyzed their thinking vis‐à‐vis S. Carey and C. Smith's (1993) scientific knowledge‐construction continuum from “knowledge unproblematic” to “knowledge problematic.” Analyses indicate that 3 of the 4 achieved fundamental advancements in their thinking, although of different forms and through different mechanisms of change. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed 93:915–954, 2009
Correction
Authors: Senn Stephen , Graf Erika , Caputo Angelika
Published: August 2008

‘Stratification for the propensity score compared with linear regression techniques to assess the effect of treatment or exposure’ (Statistics in Medicine 2007; 26:5529–5544, DOI: 10.1002/sim.3133).

In Section 4.2.1 entitled ‘Marginal inference’, \documentclass{article}\footskip=0pc\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${\rm{Var}}(\hat{\beta_{1}})$\end{document} is incorrect. It should read

Therefore, ${\rm{Var}}(\hat{\Delta}){<}{\rm{Var}}(\hat{\beta_1})$ if and only if $1 + {\tilde{\beta}{}^2}/{\sigma^2}{<}(n-3)/(n-4)$. If $|\tilde{\beta}|$, the effect of the covariate, is sufficiently small, its inclusion in the linear model will inflate the marginal variance, so that the PS estimator outperforms the LS estimator for the linear model including the covariate in terms of marginal variance. However, provided $\tilde{\beta} \neq 0$, for sufficiently large sample size, the inclusion of the covariate in the linear model will be beneficial.
Microtubule Alignment and Manipulation Using AC Electrokinetics
Authors: Uppalapati Maruti , Huang Ying‐Ming , Jackson Thomas N. , Hancock William O.
Published: August 2008

The kinesin‐microtubule system plays an important role in intracellular transport and is a model system for integrating biomotor‐driven transport into microengineered devices. AC electrokinetics provides a novel tool for manipulating and organizing microtubules in solution, enabling new experimental geometries for investigating and controlling the interactions of microtubules and microtubule motors in vitro. By fabricating microelectrodes on glass substrates and generating AC electric fields across solutions of microtubules in low‐ionic‐strength buffers, bundles of microtubules are collected and aligned and the electrical properties of microtubules in solution are measured. The AC electric fields result in electro‐osmotic flow, electrothermal flow, and dielectrophoresis of microtubules, which can be controlled by varying the solution conductivity, AC frequency, and electrode geometry. By mapping the solution conductivity and AC frequency over which positive dielectrophoresis occurs, the apparent conductivity of taxol‐stabilized bovine‐brain microtubules in PIPES buffer is measured to be 250 mS m−1. By maximizing dielectrophoretic forces and minimizing electro‐osmotic and electrothermal flow, microtubules are assembled into opposed asters. These experiments demonstrate that AC electrokinetics provides a powerful new tool for kinesin‐driven transport applications and for investigating the role of microtubule motors in development and maintenance of the mitotic spindle.
Understanding the Kinetics and Nanoscale Morphology of Electron‐Beam‐Induced Deposition via a Three‐Dimensional Monte Carlo Simulation: The Effects of the Precursor Molecule and the Deposited Material
Authors: Smith Daryl A. , Fowlkes Jason D. , Rack Philip D.
Published: August 2008

The electron‐beam‐induced deposition of silicon oxide from tetraethyorthosilicate and tungsten from tungsten hexafluoride is simulated via a Monte Carlo simulation. Pseudo one‐dimensional nanopillars are grown using comparable electron‐beam parameters and a comparison of the vertical and lateral growth rate and the pillar morphology is correlated to the precursor and deposited material parameters. The primary and secondary electrons (type I) are found to dominate the vertical growth rate and the lateral growth rate is dominated by forward and secondary electrons (type II). The resolution and morphology of the nanopillars are affected by the effective electron interaction volume and the resultant surface coverage of the precursor species in the effective electron interaction region. Finally, the simulated results are compared to previously reported experimental results.
Cocaine abuse and sensitization of striatal dopamine transmission: A critical review of the preclinical and clinical imaging literature
Authors: Narendran Rajesh , Martinez Diana
Published: August 2008

Much effort has been devoted in the preclinical addiction literature to understanding the phenomenon of sensitization, an enhanced dopaminergic response in the nucleus accumbens that occurs after repeated exposure to psychostimulant drugs. Although sensitization has been reported in preclinical studies, studies of sensitization in humans measuring behavioral and physiological responses have been mixed and inconclusive. However, imaging studies with positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using a stimulant challenge to induce dopamine (DA) release provide a unique opportunity to probe DA transmission in cocaine dependent human subjects. In contrast to the basic science literature that predicted sensitization, three independent cohorts have shown a blunted DA response, or the opposite of sensitization, in human cocaine dependent subjects. This article reviews the methodological differences between the preclinical and clinical PET studies that have investigated DA sensitization in order to address the discrepancy between the human and animal literature. Synapse 62:851–869, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Decision support system in the design of steel moment‐resisting frames using a realistic cost model
Authors: Choi Byoung Han , Kim Young Moon
Published: August 2008

Structural design and performance evaluation involve complex decision‐making tasks that are both time and cost intensive. Decision support systems that combine engineer interaction with computer‐based tools to provide a joint cognitive decision‐making environment can significantly help engineers. In this study, computational approaches that can become part of such a decision support system are proposed. These approaches use simulation‐based design to assist engineers with the design of steel moment‐resisting frames (SMRFs). A genetic algorithm (GA)‐based optimization approach is presented for the design of SMRFs with rigid connections that enables designers to identify the best locations for rigid connections in a frame. The optimization approach uses a unique cost function to carry out a trade‐off study between overall cost and rigid connections. Unlike some studies that express the connection cost as a factor of the entire frame weight, in this study, the connections and their associated cost factors are explicitly represented at the member level in order to evaluate the cost of the connections associated with each beam. The optimization formulation is then modified in order to generate alternatives that will have a cost comparable to that of the optimal solution, and that also might be more suitable for design than the optimal solution. The proposed approach enables engineers to compare different solutions on the basis of a number of practical criteria for the decision of the final design. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Spectrophotometric Determination of Cationic Surfactants Using Patent Blue V: Application to the Wastewater Industry in Algiers
Authors: Idouhar M. , Tazerouti A.
Published: August 2008

Patent Blue V has been applied in a solvent extraction spectrophotometric method for the determination of cationic surfactants (CS) in industrial wastewaters. The method is based on the introduction of Patent Blue V as an anionic dye, and the formation of an ion pair association with CS in chloroform under the studied extraction conditions. The maximum wavelength of absorption for the ion pair is located at 627 nm, and a molar absorption coefficient of higher than 3.6 × 105 l mol−1 cm−1 was obtained. The calibration curve was linear between 0 and 5.48 × 10−6 M, and exhibited a significant coefficient of correlation. Based on the calculated values for the relative standard deviation (%) over the studied concentration range, the method was found to be highly sensitive, and the deduced limit of detection for the method was found to be very low (8.6 × 10−8 M of CTAB). It was also found that a washing step was necessary for the organic extract in order to remove interferences caused by foreign ions and species present in unknown samples. To validate this method, the procedure was used to determine the CS contents of samples collected from textile industry wastewaters in the Algiers region. The results obtained showed good agreement for the proposed method.
hOLFML1, a novel secreted glycoprotein, enhances the proliferation of human cancer cell lines in vitro
Authors: Wan Bingbing , Zhou Yu-Bo , Zhang Xin , Zhu Hong , Huo Keke , Han Ze-Guang
Published: August 2008

We describe a novel secreted protein, named hOLFML1 (human olfactomedin‐like protein 1), with an olfectamine domain in its C‐terminus, mainly expressed in the small intestine, liver, lung and heart. Immunohistochemical staining on human small intestine indicated that the protein localizes preferentially in the intestinal villi. Interestingly, ectopic hOLFML1 promoted proliferation of HeLa cells and increased the percentage of cells in S phase. In contrast, knock down of hOLFML1 protein expression by siRNA inhibited cell proliferation and delayed the entry of cells into S phase. Our data also revealed that hOLFML1 is N‐glycosylated and its secretion is triggered by serum. Taken together, these findings suggest that hOLFML1 may play a significant role in the regulation of cell proliferation in vitro.
Seed dormancy in red rice. XIII: Interaction of dry-afterripening and hydration temperature
Authors: Gianinetti Alberto , Cohn Marc Alan
Published: August 2008

While red rice (Oryza sativaL.) can remain dormant and viable for many years when fully imbibed, the environmental factors that stimulate germination or induce secondary dormancy in the field have not been characterized. In this study, the interactions between the extent of dry-afterripening and germination temperature have been evaluated as possible factors. Red rice dispersal units (florets) were afterripened for 0–10 weeks at 30°C and incubated in water at 1, 5, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35°C for 2 weeks; then, all the ungerminated florets were transferred to 30°C for two additional weeks. Germination at the end of each of the two sequential treatments was compared to define both the effect of differing temperatures on germination (first treatment), and the effect of these temperatures on subsequent germination at the optimum temperature (30°C, second treatment). In afterripening red rice, the opening of the temperature window for germination begins at 25–35°C. Fully dormant florets acquired the ability to germinate ≥ 90% at 30°C after 4 weeks of dry-afterripening. However, imbibing florets for 2 weeks at 15°C followed by 2 weeks at 30°C, yielded suboptimal germination and induced a degree of secondary dormancy, dependent upon the extent of previous dry-afterripening. Cold stratification (1°C) had a consistent promotive effect on the subsequent germination, particularly when preceded by 1–2 weeks of dry-afterripening at 30°C. To monitor the effects of germination temperature, median afterripening time was utilized as a relative dormancy index, and changes in this index have been interpreted as an overlapping of germination and the temperature-induced changes in the dormancy status. Field weather data suggested that low-temperature stratification may be a germination trigger in the field, even in southern Louisiana, and this merits further investigation in studies of soil-buried seeds.
Innovative constructions in Dutch Turkish: An assessment of ongoing contact-induced change
Authors: DOĞRUÖZ A. SEZA , BACKUS AD
Published: August 2008

Turkish as spoken in the Netherlands (NL-Turkish) sounds “different” (unconventional) to Turkish speakers in Turkey (TR-Turkish). We claim that this is due to structural contact-induced change that is, however, located within specific lexically complex units copied from Dutch. This article investigates structural change in NL-Turkish through analyses of spoken corpora collected in the bilingual Turkish community in the Netherlands and in a monolingual community in Turkey. The analyses reveal that at the current stage of contact, NL-Turkish is not copying Dutch syntax as such, but rather translates lexically complex individual units into Turkish. Perceived semantic equivalence between Dutch units and their Turkish equivalents plays a crucial role in this translation process. Counter to expectations, the TR-Turkish data also contained unconventional units, though they differed in type, and were much less frequent than those in NL-Turkish. We conclude that synchronic variation in individual NL-Turkish units can contain the seeds of future syntactic change, which will only be visible after an increase in the type and token frequency of the changing units.
Oscillation of electron counts at 500 eV downstream of the quasi‐perpendicular bow shock
Authors: Matsui H. , Torbert R. B. , Baumjohann W. , Kucharek H. , Schwartz S. J. , Mouikis C. G. , Vaith H. , Kistler L. M. , Lucek E. A. , Fazakerley A. N. , Miao B. , Paschmann G.
Published: August 2008

We investigate an event with oscillations of electron counts at 500 eV, with a period of ∼3 s measured by the electron drift instrument (EDI) on Cluster. These oscillations are detected at the overshoot of a quasi‐perpendicular bow shock and in its downstream region. During this event, the Alfvén Mach number is supercritical, and the proton β is >1. The correlation of the electron counts between three pitch angle ranges (∼10°, ∼90°, and ∼170°) is in‐phase. However, the correlation between the electron counts and the magnitude of the magnetic fields is antiphase. As EDI has a higher time resolution than that of conventional particle instruments, the correlation at a period of ∼3 s is examined for the first time. The oscillations are inferred as mirror mode waves with oblique propagation angles to the magnetic field. The oscillation of electron counts in the parallel direction might indicate the oscillation of the parallel electric potential. We have estimated this electric potential by Liouville's mapping, taking into account the shape of the electron distribution function as well as using the linear hot plasma dispersion relation. We have found that this kind of parallel electric potential is related to heating of particles with a comparable magnitude as the cross‐shock potential. The elliptical polarization of these waves indicates a possible interaction with gyrating particles so that the waves would be related to the particle dynamics. Finally, in‐phase correlation between parallel and perpendicular counts is explained in terms of Liouville's mapping.
Influence of subhumid climate and water table depth on groundwater recharge in shallow outwash aquifers
Authors: Smerdon B. D. , Mendoza C. A. , Devito K. J.
Published: August 2008

Hypothetical one‐dimensional models of unsaturated flow were used to estimate the probability of groundwater recharge to shallow, glacial outwash aquifers. Simulations were supported by field data, previous three‐dimensional modeling, and cross‐sectional models of water table response to precipitation events for a research area in northern Alberta, Canada. Groundwater recharge rates were found to depend on the year‐to‐year climate variation, the depth to the water table, and were largely driven by annual snowmelt. Simulations indicate that in summer months, when transpiration and canopy interception were considered explicitly, groundwater recharge was negligible. For water table depths less than 6 m below ground surface, the occurrence of recharge depends on climatic conditions (water deficit or surplus) of the current and previous year, and can vary from 0 to 266 mm yr−1. For water table depths of 6 m or more, recharge will depend on climate conditions from the most recent decade, have less annual variability, and a mean annual rate of approximately 45 mm yr−1.
Tropospheric impact of reflected planetary waves from the stratosphere
Authors: Kodera Kunihiko , Mukougawa Hitoshi , Itoh Shingo
Published: August 2008

A reflection of stratospheric planetary waves and its impact on the troposphere during a stratospheric sudden warming of March 2007 are investigated. Zonal propagation and reflection of the planetary waves is clearly seen in the longitude‐height sections of the eddy geopotential height and the vertical and zonal component of the three‐dimensional wave activity flux. A wave packet propagating upward and eastward from Eurasian continent was reflected by a negative wind shear in the upper stratospheric westerly jet caused by stratospheric warming. Waves then propagated downward to the American‐Atlantic sector of the troposphere, which led to the formation of a deep trough over the Atlantic and brought cold weather to the northeastern part of the American continent.
Effects of changing precipitation regimes on dryland soil respiration and C pool dynamics at rainfall event, seasonal and interannual scales
Authors: Shen Weijun , Jenerette G. Darrel , Hui Dafeng , Phillips Richard P. , Ren Hai
Published: August 2008

Predicted precipitation regime changes in arid ecosystems have the potential to alter soil C balance, but the influence of changes in different aspects of precipitation (amount, seasonality, and intensity) and the factors contributing to such effects are poorly understood. We used a process‐based ecosystem model (PALS) that was modified, parameterized, and evaluated for a Mojave Desert ecosystem in the southwestern US to simulate how dryland soil respiration (Rs) and soil C pool size responded to precipitation changes at multiple temporal scales. The effects of changing precipitation on Rswere largely mediated by the contrasting respiratory response of plants (Ra) and soil microbes (Rh) and confounded by predrought duration, season, soil temperature, plant phenology, and substrate availability. Increases in precipitation amount stimulated Rsand increased the contribution of Rato Rs, whereas reductions in summer rainfall and strong increases in rainfall event size reduced total Rsand decreased the contribution of Rato Rs. Increases in annual rainfall and decreases in summer rainfall benefited dryland soil C sequestration, whereas strong increases in rainfall event size resulted in a loss of soil C, with labile soil C pools being more responsive to precipitation regime changes than recalcitrant C pools at a decadal scale. These simulation results implied that dryland soils may act as C sinks with increased precipitation amount or C sources with decreased precipitation amount, but the strength of the sink/source may be mediated by accompanying shifts in rainfall seasonality and event size distribution.
Effects of Pravastatin on Obesity, Diabetes, and Adiponectin in Diet‐induced Obese Mice
Authors: Araki Kana , Masaki Takayuki , Katsuragi Isao , Kakuma Tetsuya , Yoshimatsu Hironobu
Published: August 2008

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the in vivo effects of pravastatin on the development of obesity and diabetes in diet‐induced obese (DIO) mice.

Methods and Procedures: We examined food intake, body‐weight changes, visceral white adipose tissue (WAT) adiponectin and resistin levels, and energy metabolism.

Results: Treatment with 100 mg/kg/day pravastatin for 28 days decreased diet‐induced weight gain and visceral adiposity. In addition, the weight of the WAT, the triglyceride (TG) contents of the liver and muscles, and the levels of serum insulin improved in the pravastatin‐treated DIO mice. Furthermore, pravastatin treatment changed the WAT adiponectin and resistin mRNA expression and serum levels compared with the controls. Finally, pravastatin treatment increased oxygen consumption and decreased the respiratory quotient (RQ).

Discussion: Pravastatin treatment prevents the development of obesity and diabetes in DIO mice. The prevention of obesity may be mediated by increased oxygen consumption and a decrease in the RQ. These results provide novel insights into the use of pravastatin as a therapeutic tool for metabolic syndromes.
The PRH/Hex repressor protein causes nuclear retention of Groucho/TLE co-repressors
Authors: Desjobert Cecile , Noy Peter , Swingler Tracey , Williams Hannah  , Gaston Kevin , Jayaraman Padma-Sheela
Published: August 2008

The PRH (proline-rich homeodomain) [also known as Hex (haematopoietically expressed homeobox)] protein is a transcription factor that functions as an important regulator of vertebrate development and many other processes in the adult including haematopoiesis. The Groucho/TLE (transducin-like enhancer) family of co-repressor proteins also regulate development and modulate the activity of many DNA-binding transcription factors during a range of diverse cellular processes including haematopoiesis. We have shown previously that PRH is a repressor of transcription in haematopoietic cells and that an Eh-1 (Engrailed homology) motif present within the N-terminal transcription repression domain of PRH mediates binding to Groucho/TLE proteins and enables co-repression. In the present study we demonstrate that PRH regulates the nuclear retention of TLE proteins during cellular fractionation. We show that transcriptional repression and the nuclear retention of TLE proteins requires PRH to bind to both TLE and DNA. In addition, we characterize a trans-dominant-negative PRH protein that inhibits wild-type PRH activity by sequestering TLE proteins to specific subnuclear domains. These results demonstrate that transcriptional repression by PRH is dependent on TLE availability and suggest that subnuclear localization of TLE plays an important role in transcriptional repression by PRH.