bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sickness Presenteeism, Sickness Absenteeism, and Health Following Restructuring in a Public Service Organization
Authors: Caverley Natasha , Cunningham J. Barton , MacGregor James N.
Published: February 2007

abstract  This study examined the relationship between sickness presenteeism, sickness absenteeism, organizational outcomes and employee health. In particular, we wanted to investigate to what degree employees were substituting sickness presence for sickness absence. Three hypotheses were tested to formalize this ‘substitution proposition’. We surveyed a Canadian public service organization which was involved in a large scale downsizing initiative. For this study, 237 Personnel Corporation (pseudonym used) employees responded to the survey, representing a 66 per cent response rate. Survey results indicated that, while the workforce was of average health, sickness absenteeism was less than half that of the national average. The difference could be accounted for by sickness presenteeism – the average number of days employees attended work while ill or injured was greater than the number of days of sickness absence. The pattern of results supported the notion that employees were substituting presenteeism for absenteeism. The frequency and type of self‐reported health problems were highly similar for presenteeism and absenteeism. Work factors (e.g. job security, supervisor support and job satisfaction) tested were significantly correlated with presenteeism. Presenteeism appears to be a stronger predictor of health than absenteeism, suggesting that efforts to improve workplace health may have a more immediate impact on presenteeism than on absenteeism.
GLOBALISATION, FACTOR PRICES, AND POVERTY IN COLONIAL INDIA
Authors: Roy Tirthankar
Published: February 2007

Analytical accounts of South Asian economic history often suggest that the principal effects of nineteenth century globalisation on the region were deindustrialisation and agrarian expansion, and that deindustrialisation contributed to an increase in poverty despite agricultural growth. Available wage datasets show that artisans did relatively well and rural workers relatively worse in the period in question, suggesting that poverty did increase but deindustrialisation was an unlikely cause. I discuss the wage statistics to show this, and propose that, in order to complete the globalisation story, we need to consider three local factors: limits to deindustrialisation, limits to labour mobility, and limits to agrarian expansion.
Sampling People or People in Places? The BES as an Election Study
Authors: Johnston Ron , Harris Richard , Jones Kelvyn
Published: February 2007

Electoral surveys conducted as part of the regular series of British Election Studies have used a stratified, clustered sampling design. This is constructed to ensure a nationally representative sample of voters (after weighting) but does not necessarily ensure a representative sample of the different social areas within the country. Much recent work has indicated the important role of local social and electoral milieux in the structuring of electoral behaviour but these are not reflected in the sampling design. An analysis of the geography of the face-to-face pre-election component of the 2005 BES shows not only that it was unrepresentative of certain types of area (defined using bespoke neighbourhood data) but also that it was less representative of such areas than the two (larger) internet samples (pre- and post-election) also undertaken as part of the 2005 BES. This suggests the need to reconsider the nature of the sample designs (even the entire survey methodology) to be deployed at future election studies in Great Britain.
Human Rights Discourse in Domestic Settings: How does it Emerge?
Authors: Gordon Neve , Berkovitch Nitza
Published: February 2007

Building on the literature that analyzes the impact of norms and ideas on international and domestic politics, it is our assumption that the widespread introduction and dissemination of a human rights discourse enables oppressed groups to translate events into rights language and to appeal to courts, politicians and media in order to seek remedies for their grievances. In so far as human rights discourse actually helps introduce more ethical policies and legislation, it is crucial to understand how this discourse, which in the past 55 years evolved and proliferated on the global level, emerges and develops in domestic settings. Using Israel as a case study, and more specifically analyzing the Israeli press, we further develop some of the existing theoretical claims about how the global and local interact. We argue that in order to understand how the rights discourse is imported into the domestic arena and how it expands once it enters the local scene, it is crucial to employ a broader conception of the global and a more differentiated view of the local. We emphasize the significance of local events and practices in determining the impact of the global on national settings, suggesting that one cannot understand transnational flows without unveiling the black box of the domestic arena.
Slashed and burned: war, environment, and resource insecurity in West Borneo during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries
Authors: Wadley Reed L.
Published: February 2007

European colonial efforts to pacify ‘rebellious’ Iban in western Borneo during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries produced chronic resource insecurity and may have contributed to the recorded destructiveness of Iban swidden cultivation. Negative European opinions towards swiddening may have thus been reinforced by a context that the Europeans themselves created. Drawing on anthropological theories linking swidden cultivation and Iban warfare, this article presents a historical case for the relationship between pacification, resource insecurity, and swidden destructiveness. It also re‐evaluates Derek Freeman's original diagnosis of Iban as ‘prodigal’ farmers, suggesting that there may have been more to Iban pioneering destruction than the wide availability of ‘virgin’ forest.
Why Multinationals Help Reduce Poverty1
Authors: Bhagwati Jagdish
Published: February 2007

Over the years, multinationals have attracted both friends and enemies. Foes have argued that they exert adverse influences on the well‐being of poor countries in general, and their poorer citizens in particular. Friends have argued that in their wake, multinational corporations bestow on host economies a variety of benefits primarily, but not exclusively, via spillover effects of various sorts. This paper provides a detailed reappraisal of the issues involved and argues that if their adverse effects can be removed by appropriate domestic policies, multinationals can have a potentially major role to play in the alleviation of poverty.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE OF POLLUTING PLANTS: A SPATIAL ANALYSIS*
Authors: Gray Wayne B. , Shadbegian Ronald J.
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACT This paper uses plant‐level EPA and Census data to examine spatial factors affecting environmental performance, as measured by air pollutant emissions and regulatory compliance. We find significant effects for compliance, but not for emissions. Compliance is positively spatially correlated, partly explained by spatial correlations in observed plant characteristics, suggesting influences of industry agglomeration. The use of spatial econometric methods shows only small effects of spatially lagged compliance status, and does not greatly change the estimated contributions of other spatially explicit factors. Regulatory activity has the expected effect of increasing environmental performance, both at the inspected plant and at neighboring plants, but only for plants in the same state, demonstrating the importance of jurisdictional boundaries.
GROWTH, COMMODITY PRICES, INFLATION AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF INCOME
Authors: Bloch Harry , Dockery A. Michael , Morgan C. Wyn , Sapsford David
Published: February 2007

A primary commodity price boom is underway. Given the role of internationally traded primary commodities as inputs into the productive process in the industrialized world, an important question arises: namely what effects will this price‐boom exert upon wage and price inflation in industrialized countries? In order to address this question, we specify and estimate a system of equations in which the key dependent variables are world commodity prices, the domestic inflation rate for finished goods and the rate of domestic industrial wage inflation. This model is estimated against data for each of three major industrialized countries: Japan, the UK and the USA and the implications of the results thus obtained are explored.
WORKFORCE AGEING AND THE SUBSTITUTION OF LABOUR: THE ROLE OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND OF LABOUR IN AUSTRIA
Authors: Prskawetz Alexia , Fent Thomas
Published: February 2007

We study the sensitivity of projected economic productivity (output per worker) with respect to alternative projections of labour supply and alternative assumptions on the substitutability of workers at different ages. We show that in a pure labour economy assuming imperfect substitution of workers at different ages implies an increase in relative productivity during the next two decades. For a decreasing or hump‐shaped age‐specific productivity profile a negative tradeoff between an increasing labour force at older ages and aggregate productivity results. A decline in productivity can be attenuated by adjusting labour force participation rates to levels currently observed in Nordic countries.
IS A THEORY OF TOTAL FACTOR PRODUCTIVITY REALLY NEEDED?
Authors: Felipe Jesus , McCombie John S. L.
Published: February 2007

This paper addresses the question of whether or not a theory of total factor productivity (TFP) is needed in order to explain the observed large per capita income differences across countries. As the argument that it is needed has been reached by calculating TFP empirically, we show that the way the estimates of TFP have been computed is not an innocuous issue. To illustrate our point, we discuss how two well‐known textbooks on growth theory present the arguments and the problems associated with these expositions. We conclude that the tautological nature of the estimates of TFP lies at the heart of an important question that the empirical literature on economic growth has been dealing with during recent years. Hence, our arguments cast doubt on the need for a theory of TFP.
Implications of the New Common Assessment Framework and Lead Professional Working for Pastoral Care Staff in Schools
Authors: DAGLEY VALERIE , HOWE AMANDA , SALTER CHARLOTTE , BRANDON MARIAN , WARREN CATHERINE , BLACK JANE
Published: February 2007

The common assessment framework (CAF) and lead professional (LP) working are being introduced into all local authorities in the next 2 years as part of the Every Child Matters agenda. This article describes some elements of an evaluation of 12 pilot trials. It was found that schools and pastoral staff in particular played a major part in the trials. The majority of the research participants thought that this was a worthwhile initiative and examples were collected of successful implementation of the scheme. However, issues of missing skills, lack of time and limited practical support for staff in schools were highlighted. It is suggested that these issues may be magnified in the full‐scale implementation of CAF and LP work. Considerable effort by pastoral staff and education managers will be required if this ‘good idea’ is to deliver improved outcomes for children in need.
Turcot syndrome confirmed with molecular analysis
Authors: Lebrun C. , Olschwang S. , Jeannin S. , Vandenbos F. , Sobol H. , Frenay M.
Published: February 2007

Turcot syndrome is clinically characterized by the occurrence of primary brain tumor and colorectal tumor and has, in previous reports, been shown associated with germline mutations in the genes APC, MLH1, MHS6, and PMS2. To date, only few families have been documented by molecular analysis. We report two new families with Turcot syndrome to illustrate and review its characteristics and facilitate diagnosis. Molecular analysis revealed two germline mutations, one in the MLH1 gene and one in MSH2. The latter has never been describe in the literature. Personal and familial relevant anamnestic data from patients with glioma might aid in the diagnosis of genetic disorders. The subsequent molecular characterization may contribute to the appropriate care of affected patients and asymptomatic gene carriers.
The importance of understanding the shape of diverse ethnic female consumers for developing jeans sizing systems
Authors: Shin Su‐Jeong Hwang , Istook Cynthia L.
Published: February 2007

This study has been conducted to investigate the fit issues related to the current apparel pants and jeans sizing system for diverse consumers, identifying body shape differences among ethnic groups. A total of 1335 women in a certain size range (Misses figure type sizes 2–20) were selected in the study. A Misses figure type size category is commonly used for adult women of average proportion and height. First, the body dimension differences among ethnic groups were examined with a single factor analysis of variance. Second, the fit of pants and jeans for the diverse consumers within the same size category was examined with the current standard sizing system, ASTM D5585 for adult female Misses figure type sizes 2–20. Three cases were programmed within a database: When each consumer selects a size for a pair of jeans based on (1) waist size; (2) hip size; and (3) waist height (usually pants length). And last, the results were analysed with fit comparison plots. Current jean consumers are racially diversified in the US and globally as well. This study revealed that ethnic groups had different fit problems and significant body shape differences. Even within the same figure type size category, a variety of body dimensions existed in each ethnic group. According to the fit problem assessment in this study, consumers within the same body figure type size category could not find the right fit of the pants and jeans within the current sizing system. Half of the female consumers could not find a garment to fit based on waist height (pants length) because the current sizing systems overlooked the effect of diverse consumers. This study will be useful for standardizing organizations to modify current sizing systems for diverse ethnic consumer groups as a demographic factor so that apparel companies could provide better quality of fit for their consumers in the global and local market.
Baclofen intoxication in a dog successfully treated with hemodialysis and hemoperfusion coupled with intensive supportive care
Authors: Scott Nancy E. , Francey Thierry , Jandrey Karl
Published: February 2007

Objective: To describe a case of confirmed baclofen intoxication in a dog that was successfully treated with hemodialysis and hemoperfusion (HD/HP) and to report the serum baclofen kinetics.

Case summary: A 2.5‐year‐old, 23 kg, spayed female Brittany Spaniel‐mix was treated after ingesting 21‐52 mg/kg of baclofen. The dog was comatose and was receiving manual ventilation at the time of presentation. Extracorporeal HD/HP was started 10 hours after admission. Within 3 hours of starting HD/HP the dog began initiating breaths and was extubated 18 hours after admission. Serial serum samples that were obtained during the first 24 hours of hospitalization were later analyzed for baclofen concentrations. The dog had elevated creatine phosphokinase and liver enzymes that correlated with an agitated recovery period. The dog had thrombocytopenia that resolved by 10 days after presentation.

New or unique information provided: HD/HP shortened the baclofen serum elimination half‐life from 5 to 1.5 hours in the initial 2 hours of treatment. The intrinsic elimination rate constant (Kintr) for this dog was 0.138/hour and the total elimination rate constant (Ktot) during the first 2 hours of HD/HP treatment was 0.458/hour. In this dog, HD/HP was an effective method for rapidly decreasing serum baclofen concentration after an acute overdose.
Circulation of Arab Silver in Medieval Afro‐Eurasia: Preliminary Observations
Authors: Kovalev Roman K. , Kaelin Alexis C.
Published: February 2007

Dirhams or medieval Islamic silver coins offer a unique and indispensable primary source for the study of many fundamental issues pertaining to Afro‐Eurasian history during the Middle Ages that cannot be studied using any other evidence. When found in hoards, or deposits of five or more dirhams, they are especially useful, since historical numismatists can study the profiles of the contents of the hoards to discern numerous questions. Thus, the 1656 hoards, containing almost half a million dirhams, recorded to date show that close to three quarters of them were deposited not in the Muslim world, but in northern Europe from c.800 to c.1100 and that they were brought there mostly via Russia. This finding brings many questions that need answering in the future. One of the key conclusions of the present study is that this silver gravitated to silver‐scarce northern Europe and was exchanged for items in great demand in the ‘House of Islam’– furs and slaves.
Traffick of Empire: Trade, Treaty andTerra Nulliusin Australia and North America, 1750–1800
Authors: Buchan Bruce
Published: February 2007

It will be argued in this article that British colonial authorities in Australia employed a framework of concepts, ideas and assumptions then current in European thought in their efforts to translate the difference of the Indigenous inhabitants to the terms of European familiarity. This framework was also buttressed by a previous extensive experience of colonial diplomacy and trade in North America. By drawing on these intellectual and experiential sources, colonisers in Australia sought to represent the Indigenous inhabitants as ‘savage’– lacking their own property rights or sovereignty. Some historians in Australia have focussed most attention on the concepts of legal thought – notablyterra nullius– in seeking to explain the colonial dispossession of Indigenous peoples. A more potent if long neglected source for this dispossession, I argue, lies in the ways that Europeans thought about and practiced trade or ‘traffick’.
Popular [Mis]conceptions of Medieval Warfare
Authors: Burkholder Peter
Published: February 2007

Popular portrayals of war in the Middle Ages, such as medieval‐themed films and video games, draw large crowds, big money, and tremendous interest among the general public. As a result, certain dubious stereotypes now overwhelm depictions of medieval combat, and further reinforce extant misconceptions. However, there is a long history of this, both at the hands of popular entertainers and professional military historians. This article identifies the causes of a number of these fallacies, and points out that popular entertainment sometimes merely reflects ongoing disputes among medieval and military historians. Finally, it suggests that, even if factually problematic, historians should not simply dismiss these popular media. Rather, films and games can be employed to help clarify the general public's misunderstandings about medieval warfare.
Inherent War and Executive Powers and Prerogative Politics
Authors: PIOUS RICHARD M.
Published: February 2007

Executive power in the Constitution was left ambiguous and underdefined. Commentators have questioned presidential claims of inherent executive and war powers. Have the president and his subordinates obeyed the Constitution and adhered to the letter and spirit of the law? Have legal commentators and courts properly construed constitutional clauses, especially those dealing with war powers? I start with the idea that the Constitution is a power base for government officials and that construing the Constitution is a political act. As political scientists, we can observe presidents and their counsel substitute novel interpretations of presidential prerogatives when they claim the president has inherent war powers and related diplomatic and national security powers that override statute law or bypass the constitutional prerogatives of Congress, and we can analyze the conditions under which their substitution of executive prerogative power will succeed or fail.
The Effect of Herbaceous Understory Cover on Fruit Removal and Seedling Survival in Coastal Dune Forest Trees in South Africa
Authors: Tsvuura Zivanai , Griffiths Megan E. , Lawes Michael J.
Published: February 2007

Regeneration of forest canopy trees can be inhibited by understory thickets. We hypothesized that Isoglossa woodii, a large‐leaved herbaceous plant, limits tree recruitment in subtropical coastal dune forests by providing habitat to fruit and seedling consumers. Using uncaged and caged treatments in I. woodii gaps and thickets, we found that frugivore and herbivore behavior is not influenced by I. woodii. We conclude that direct effects of I. woodii on postemergence processes in seedlings contribute to tree recruitment limitation.
CAN TUNISIA MOVE TO INFLATION TARGETING?
Authors: BOUGHRARA Adel
Published: February 2007

Inflation targeting has become an alternative monetary strategy that has been followed by many industrial and emerging countries. This study considers whether the adoption of inflation targeting would be relevant for Tunisia. More specifically, this paper aims at checking whether the necessary conditions for the successful implementation of such a strategy are fulfilled or not. It is found that fiscal dominance does not constitute the main hindrance to the adoption of inflation targeting. Other impediments have been identified, especially a weak financial system in general, the unsound and fragile banking system in particular, and the glaring lack of knowledge about the monetary transmission mechanism. Furthermore, it has been pointed out that if Tunisian monetary authorities continue to carry out the present exchange rate regime, namely, the constant real exchange rate rule, an inflation targeting regime will not be sufficient to properly contain the inflation pressures caused by demand shocks.
Proteomic Identification of Novel Proteins in Cortical Lewy Bodies
Authors: Leverenz James B. , Umar Imran , Wang Qing , Montine Thomas J. , McMillan Pamela J. , Tsuang Debby W. , Jin Jinghua , Pan Catherine , Shin Jenny , Zhu David , Zhang Jing
Published: February 2007

Lewy body (LB) inclusions are one of the pathological hallmarks of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). One way to better understand the process leading to LB formation and associated pathogenesis responsible for neurodegeneration in PD and DLB is to examine the content of LB inclusions. Here, we performed a proteomic investigation of cortical LBs, obtained by laser capture microdissection from neurons in the temporal cortex of dementia patients with cortical LB disease. Analysis of over 2500 cortical LBs discovered 296 proteins; of those, 17 had been associated previously with brainstem and/or cortical LBs. We validated several proteins with immunohistochemical staining followed by confocal microscopy. The results demonstrated that heat shock cognate 71 kDa protein (also known as HSC70, HSP73, or HSPA10) was indeed not only colocalized with the majority of LBs in the temporal cortex but also colocalized to LBs in the frontal cortex of patients with diffuse LB disease. Our investigation represents the first extensive proteomic investigation of cortical LBs, and it is expected that characterization of the proteins in the cortical LBs may reveal novel mechanisms by which LB forms and pathways leading to neurodegeneration in DLB and/or advanced PD. Further investigation of these novel candidates is also necessary to ensure that the potential proteins in cortical LBs are not identified incorrectly because of incomplete current human protein database.
Temporal response of medical liquid crystal displaysa)
Authors: Liang Hongye , Badano Aldo
Published: February 2007

Displays based on liquid crystal technology suffer from slow temporal response due to the dynamics of the molecular rearrangement in response to a pixel voltage change. A slow display can affect the visualization by the human observer of subtle contrast in dynamic presentation of volumetric image datasets or real‐time image sequences. In this paper, we describe a measurement method for the characterization of the temporal response of medical liquid crystal displays (LCDs). The ratio of luminance difference to noise at the gray levels of concern determines the reliability of measurements. Coefficients of variations are used to represent the measurement reliability. We optimized the repeatability of most response time measurements to less than 10%. However, poor repeatability is encountered for the response of adjacent gray levels. inter‐gray‐level transition time matrices were measured for four medical displays and one high‐definition TV LCD display. Response times range from below to above . For each display, response times are not uniformly distributed, with a faster response for large gray‐level transitions. Transition times are smaller when the starting gray level is between 10 and 20 for a target between 25 and 150. The difference could be over for different transitions within a display. For transitions with poor temporal response, the luminance after 1, 3, and 5 frames reaches only 12, 45, and 75% of the target value, respectively. We also found that LCD response time depends on temperature, with warm‐up reducing the response time by a factor of 2.
Variable depth recursion algorithm for leaf sequencing
Authors: Siochi R. Alfredo C.
Published: February 2007

The processes of extraction and sweep are basic segmentation steps that are used in leaf sequencing algorithms. A modified version of a commercial leaf sequencer changed the way that the extracts are selected and expanded the search space, but the modification maintained the basic search paradigm of evaluating multiple solutions, each one consisting of up to 12 extracts and a sweep sequence. While it generated the best solutions compared to other published algorithms, it used more computation time. A new, faster algorithm selects one extract at a time but calls itself as an evaluation function a user‐specified number of times, after which it uses the bidirectional sweeping window algorithm as the final evaluation function. To achieve a performance comparable to that of the modified commercial leaf sequencer, 2–3 calls were needed, and in all test cases, there were only slight improvements beyond two calls. For the 13 clinical test maps, computation speeds improved by a factor between 12 and 43, depending on the constraints, namely the ability to interdigitate and the avoidance of the tongue‐and‐groove under dose. The new algorithm was compared to the original and modified versions of the commercial leaf sequencer. It was also compared to other published algorithms for 1400, random, , test maps with 3–16 intensity levels. In every single case the new algorithm provided the best solution.
Energy dependence ( to ) of radiochromic films assessed using a real‐time optical dosimeter
Authors: Rink Alexandra , Vitkin I. Alex , Jaffray David A.
Published: February 2007

The response of radiochromic film, GafChromic EBT, was investigated for dependence on x‐ray beam energy using a previously reported real‐time optical readout approach. X‐ray beams of energy from to were employed. The dose‐induced change in optical density for the EBT film was compared to values obtained for GafChromic HS and MD‐55 films, exposed under the same conditions. All responses were normalized to that obtained for irradiation. While change in optical density for of applied dose as measured with HS and MD‐55 films decreased by approximately 40% at low energies, the mean change in optical density of EBT film remained within 3% of that in the beam over the entire energy range.
Clarification of aspects in in‐line phase‐sensitive x‐ray imaging
Authors: Wu Xizeng , Liu Hong
Published: February 2007

In this report we clarify two aspects for in‐line phase‐sensitive x‐ray imaging, which includes phase‐contrast imaging and phase imaging. First, we point out that there is confusion in the literature about the lateral coherence length, which is widely adopted as the coherence criteria for implementing phase‐sensitive imaging. The confusion exaggerates the coherence requirement for clinical implementation of in‐line phase‐sensitive imaging. Instead we show that the ratio of the phase‐space shearing length to lateral coherence length is a good measure for gauging the partial coherence realized in a specific image setting. Second, based on the general intensity equation for in‐line phase‐sensitive imaging, we discuss the differences between the phase‐contrast imaging and phase imaging in terms of the physics mechanism, image acquisition approaches, computation algorithm development, and the potentials for tissue quantitative characterization.
Registration of lung nodules using a semi‐rigid model: Method and preliminary results
Authors: Sun Shaohua , Rubin Geoffrey D. , Paik David , Steiner Robert M. , Zhuge Feng , Napel Sandy
Published: February 2007

The tracking of lung nodules across computed tomography (CT) scans acquired at different times for the same patient is helpful for the determination of malignancy. We are developing a nodule registration system to facilitate this process. We propose to use a semi‐rigid method that considers principal structures surrounding the nodule and allows relative movements among the structures. The proposed similarity metric, which evaluates both the image correlation and the degree of elastic deformation amongst the structures, is maximized by a two‐layered optimization method, employing a simulated annealing framework. We tested our method by simulating five cases that represent physiological deformation as well as different nodule shape/size changes with time. Each case is made up of a source and target scan, where the source scan consists of a nodule‐free patient CT volume into which we inserted ten simulated lung nodules, and the target scan is the result of applying a known, physiologically based nonrigid transformation to the nodule‐free source scan, into which we inserted modified versions of the corresponding nodules at the same, known locations. Five different modification strategies were used, one for each of the five cases: (1) nodules maintain size and shape, (2) nodules disappear, (3) nodules shrink uniformly by a factor of 2, (4) nodules grow uniformly by a factor of 2, and (5) nodules grow nonuniformly. We also matched 97 real nodules in pairs of scans (acquired at different times) from 12 patients and compared our registration to a radiologist's visual determination. In the simulation experiments, the mean absolute registration errors were (s.d.), (s.d.), (s.d.), (s.d.), and (s.d.) for the five cases, respectively. For the 97 nodule pairs in 12 patient scans, the mean absolute registration error was (s.d.).
Antennal Mechanosensors Mediate Flight Control in Moths
Authors: Sane Sanjay P. , Dieudonné Alexandre , Willis Mark A. , Daniel Thomas L.
Published: February 2007

Flying insects have evolved sophisticated sensory capabilities to achieve rapid course control during aerial maneuvers. Among two-winged insects such as houseflies and their relatives, the hind wings are modified into club-shaped, mechanosensory halteres, which detect Coriolis forces and thereby mediate flight stability during maneuvers. Here, we show that mechanosensory input from the antennae serves a similar role during flight in hawk moths, which are four-winged insects. The antennae of flying moths vibrate and experience Coriolis forces during aerial maneuvers. The antennal vibrations are transduced by individual units of Johnston's organs at the base of their antennae in a frequency range characteristic of the Coriolis input. Reduction of the mechanical input to Johnston's organs by removing the antennal flagellum of these moths severely disrupted their flight stability, but reattachment of the flagellum restored their flight control. The antennae thus play a crucial role in maintaining flight stability of moths.
Toward Cost-Effective Solar Energy Use
Authors: Lewis Nathan S.
Published: February 2007

At present, solar energy conversion technologies face cost and scalability hurdles in the technologies required for a complete energy system. To provide a truly widespread primary energy source, solar energy must be captured, converted, and stored in a cost-effective fashion. New developments in nanotechnology, biotechnology, and the materials and physical sciences may enable step-change approaches to cost-effective, globally scalable systems for solar energy use.
Preparing to Capture Carbon
Authors: Schrag Daniel P.
Published: February 2007

Carbon sequestration from large sources of fossil fuel combustion, particularly coal, is an essential component of any serious plan to avoid catastrophic impacts of human-induced climate change. Scientific and economic challenges still exist, but none are serious enough to suggest that carbon capture and storage will not work at the scale required to offset trillions of tons of carbon dioxide emissions over the next century. The challenge is whether the technology will be ready when society decides that it is time to get going.
Antimicrobial Activities of Daptomycin, Vancomycin, and Oxacillin in Human Monocytes and of Daptomycin in Combination with Gentamicin and/or Rifampin in Human Monocytes and in Broth against
Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Baltch Aldona L. , Ritz William J. , Bopp Lawrence H. , Michelsen Phyllis B. , Smith Raymond P.
Published: February 2007

We investigated the antistaphylococcal activity of daptomycin, vancomycin, oxacillin, gentamicin, and rifampin in human monocyte-derived macrophages. Compared with vancomycin and oxacillin, daptomycin had the most rapid and greatest antibacterial activity, but that of oxacillin was most sustained. The combination of daptomycin, gentamicin, and rifampin was most effective intracellularly, while daptomycin plus gentamicin and the three-drug combination were most effective extracellularly, completely eliminating viable
Staphylococcus aureus
.
Fitness Cost of Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome
mec
in Methicillin-Resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
by Way of Continuous Culture
Authors: Lee Sui Mae , Ender Miriam , Adhikari Rajan , Smith John M. B. , Berger-Bächi Brigitte , Cook Gregory M.
Published: February 2007

We examined the effect of introducing type I or IV staphylococcal cassette chromosome
mec
(SCC
mec
) elements on the growth yield of
Staphylococcus aureus
in glucose-limited continuous culture. Type I showed increased glucose consumption and ATP demand per gram of cells synthesized and decreased cell yield compared to those of the parent strain. In contrast, type IV SCC
mec
elements had no adverse energetic effect.
National Survey on the Susceptibility of
Bacteroides fragilis
Group: Report and Analysis of Trends in the United States from 1997 to 2004
Authors: Snydman D. R. , Jacobus N. V. , McDermott L. A. , Ruthazer R. , Golan Y. , Goldstein E. J. C. , Finegold S. M. , Harrell L. J. , Hecht D. W. , Jenkins S. G. , Pierson C. , Venezia R. , Yu V. , Rihs J. , Gorbach S. L.
Published: February 2007

The susceptibility trends for the species of the
Bacteroides fragilis
group against various antibiotics from 1997 to 2004 were determined by using data for 5,225 isolates referred by 10 medical centers. The antibiotic test panel included ertapenem, imipenem, meropenem, ampicillin-sulbactam, piperacillin-tazobactam, cefoxitin, clindamycin, moxifloxacin, tigecycline, chloramphenicol, and metronidazole. From 1997 to 2004 there were decreases in the geometric mean (GM) MICs of imipenem, meropenem, piperacillin-tazobactam, and cefoxitin for many of the species within the group.
B. distasonis
showed the highest rates of resistance to most of the β-lactams.
B. fragilis
,
B. ovatus
, and
B. thetaiotaomicron
showed significantly higher GM MICs and rates of resistance to clindamycin over time. The rate of resistance to moxifloxacin of
B. vulgatus
was very high (MIC range for the 8-year study period, 38% to 66%).
B. fragilis
,
B. ovatus
, and
B. distasonis
and other
Bacteroides
spp. exhibited significant increases in the rates of resistance to moxifloxacin over the 8 years. Resistance rates and GM MICs for tigecycline were low and stable during the 5-year period over which this agent was studied. All isolates were susceptible to chloramphenicol (MICs < 16 μg/ml). In 2002, one isolate resistant to metronidazole (MIC = 64 μg/ml) was noted. These data indicate changes in susceptibility over time; surprisingly, some antimicrobial agents are more active now than they were 5 years ago.
A Caspase-Independent Pathway Mediates Macrophage Cell Death in Response toMycobacterium tuberculosisInfection
Authors: O'Sullivan Mary P. , O'Leary Seonadh , Kelly Deirdre M. , Keane Joseph
Published: February 2007

Macrophages can undergo apoptosis after infection withMycobacterium tuberculosis. This macrophage response deprives the bacillus of its niche cell and supports the host response through better antigen presentation. The intracellular pathways of apoptosis that elaborate this macrophage response are not well understood. To address this issue, we investigated the contribution of various apoptosis pathways toM. tuberculosis-induced macrophage cell death. We found that macrophages die in a caspase-independent manner after infection withM. tuberculosis(at multiplicities of infection ranging from 1 to 20). There was evidence for the involvement of both the mitochondria (cleavage of Bid) and the lysosomes (cathepsin-mediated DNA fragmentation) in this cell death pathway. Dying macrophages displayed several features typical of apoptosis, including DNA fragmentation, nuclear condensation, and exposure of phosphatidylserine on the plasma membrane. However, nuclear fragmentation was not observed, which suggests thatM. tuberculosis-induced cell death differs in some respects from classical apoptosis. This novel mechanism of cell death was blocked by serine protease inhibitors. A better understanding of this protective macrophage response may direct new vaccine and treatment options.
Induction of Monocyte Chemotactic Protein 1 in Colonic Epithelial Cells by
Entamoeba histolytica
Is Mediated via the Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/p65 Pathway
Authors: Kammanadiminti Srinivas J. , Dey Indranil , Chadee Kris
Published: February 2007

The role intestinal epithelial cells play in the pathogenesis of amebic colitis is poorly understood. Herein, we demonstrate that secreted and soluble ameba (
Entamoeba histolytica
) proteins (SAP) induce expression of the chemoattractant monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP) in the colonic epithelial cell lines Caco-2, T84, and LS174T. MCP-1 mRNA induction was both dose and time dependent, with peak induction occurring at 8 h and with 100 μg/ml of SAP. Significant increase in MCP-1 protein expression was observed after 12 h. SAP failed to activate any of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways or IκB kinase activity. Moreover, inhibiting the classical pathway of NF-κB activation did not affect SAP-induced MCP-1 expression. Instead, we find that SAP-induced MCP-1 expression is dependent on posttranslational modification of the NFκB p65 subunit. SAP induced phosphorylation of p65 and enhanced NF-κB transcriptional activity, which are phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3 kinase) dependent. Treatment with PI3 kinase inhibitor LY290004 significantly abrogated the activation of Akt, p65, and MCP-1 mRNA induction. We conclude that colonic epithelial cells play a role in the initiation of inflammation by secreting chemokines in response to soluble ameba components.
The Putative Glycosyltransferase-Encoding Gene
cylJ
and the Group B Streptococcus (GBS)-Specific Gene
cylK
Modulate Hemolysin Production and Virulence of GBS
Authors: Forquin Marie-Pierre , Tazi Asmae , Rosa-Fraile Manuel , Poyart Claire , Trieu-Cuot Patrick , Dramsi Shaynoor
Published: February 2007

Group B streptococcus (GBS) expresses a hemolysin/cytolysin that plays an important role in pathogenesis. Using the
Himar1
transposon mutagenesis system, a hypohemolytic mutant carrying an interrupted
cylJ
gene was characterized.
cylJ
, encoding a putative glycosyltransferase, and
cylK
, whose product is unknown, are both required for the full hemolytic/cytolytic activity, pigment formation, and virulence of GBS.
Identification of “
Haematobacter
,” a New Genus of Aerobic Gram-Negative Rods Isolated from Clinical Specimens, and Reclassification of
Rhodobacter massiliensis
as “
Haematobacter massiliensis
comb. nov.”
Authors: Helsel Leta O. , Hollis Dannie , Steigerwalt Arnold G. , Morey Roger E. , Jordan Jean , Aye Tin , Radosevic Jon , Jannat-Khah Deanna , Thiry Dorothy , Lonsway David R. , Patel Jean B. , Daneshvar Maryam I. , Levett Paul N.
Published: February 2007

Twelve strains of gram-negative, nonfermenting rods recovered mainly from septicemic patients were studied using conventional and molecular methods. The phenotypic profiles of these strains most closely resembled
Psychrobacter phenylpyruvicus
. They produced catalase, oxidase, urease, and H
2
S (lead acetate paper) but did not produce indole, reduce nitrate or nitrite, or hydrolyze gelatin or esculin. No acid production was observed in a King's oxidation-fermentation base containing
d
-glucose,
d
-xylose,
d
-mannitol, sucrose, lactose, or maltose. All strains were nonmotile and nonpigmented. Most strains produced green discoloration on blood agar. All strains grew at 25°C and 35°C and most grew on MacConkey agar. They shared a common cellular fatty acid (CFA) profile characterized by large amounts (56% to 90%) of 18:1ω7c and the presence of 3-OH-10:0, 16:1ω7c, 16:0, and 19:0cycω8c that overall was most similar to that of
Rhodobacter
species but was quite distinct from that of
P. phenylpyruvicus
. The MICs for most β-lactams, fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides, and carbapenems were low. MICs for aztreonam and piperacillin were higher, with MICs for some strains of > 64 mg/liter and > 128 mg/liter, respectively. Polyphasic analysis of these strains, including morphological, biochemical, CFA composition, DNA-DNA hybridization, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and percent guanine-plus-cytosine (G+C) content analysis, demonstrated that these strains and
Rhodobacter massiliensis
represent a new genus, “
Haematobacter
” (proposed name), with the species
H. missouriensis
(type strain H1892
T
= CCUG 52307
T
= CIP 109176
T
) and
H. massiliensis
comb. nov. (type strain Framboise
T
= CCUG 47968
T
= CIP 107725
T
) and an unnamed genomospecies.
Milk of Cow (
Bos taurus
), Buffalo (
Bubalus bubalis
), and Goat (
Capra hircus
): a Better Alternative than Fetal Bovine Serum in Media for Primary Isolation, In Vitro Cultivation, and Maintenance of
Leishmania donovani
Promastigotes
Authors: Muniaraj M. , Lal C. S. , Kumar S. , Sinha P. K. , Das P.
Published: February 2007

Tyndalized milk of goat, cow, and buffalo was found to be a potential substitute for fetal bovine serum (FBS) in the medium for the cultivation of
Leishmania donovani
promastigotes. The numbers (means) of promastigotes reached 2.6 × 10
7
, 2.3 × 10
7
, and 2.1 × 10
7
/ml, respectively, in the medium supplemented with 10% milk of goat, cow, and buffalo, in comparison to 1.9 × 10
7
/ml in the control with 10% FBS. In primary isolation, the milk-supplemented medium showed that 22 out of 26 samples were positive for promastigotes (84.6%) and the cells were maintained successfully during the observed period of 6 months.
The Nucleocytoplasmic Rabies Virus P Protein Counteracts Interferon Signaling by Inhibiting both Nuclear Accumulation and DNA Binding of STAT1
Authors: Vidy Aurore , El Bougrini Jamila , Chelbi-Alix Mounira K. , Blondel Danielle
Published: February 2007

Rabies virus P protein inhibits alpha interferon (IFN-α)- and IFN-γ-stimulated Jak-STAT signaling by retaining phosphorylated STAT1 in the cytoplasm. Here, we show that P also blocks an intranuclear step that is the STAT1 binding to the DNA promoter of IFN-responsive genes. As P is a nucleocytoplasmic shuttling protein, we first investigated the effect of the cellular distribution of P on the localization of STAT1 and consequently on IFN signaling. We show that the localization of STAT1 is correlated with the localization of P: in cells expressing a nuclear form of P (the short P3 isoform or the complete P in the presence of the export inhibitor leptomycin B), STAT1 is nuclear, whereas in cells expressing a cytoplasmic form of P, STAT1 is cytoplasmic. However, the expression of nuclear forms of P inhibits the signaling of both IFN-γ and IFN-α, demonstrating that the retention of STAT1 in the cytoplasm is not the only mechanism involved in the inhibition of IFN signaling. Electrophoretic mobility shift analysis indicates that P expression in the cell extracts of infected cells or in stable cell lines prevents IFN-induced DNA binding of STAT1. The loss of the DNA binding of STAT1 and ISGF3 was also observed when purified recombinant P or P3 was added to the extracts of IFN-γ- or IFN-α-treated cells, indicating that P directly affects the DNA binding activity of STAT1. Then products of the rabies virus P gene are able to counteract IFN signaling by creating both cytoplasmic and nuclear blocks for STAT1.
Antigenic and Genetic Evolution of Swine Influenza A (H3N2) Viruses in Europe
Authors: de Jong J. C. , Smith D. J. , Lapedes A. S. , Donatelli I. , Campitelli L. , Barigazzi G. , Van Reeth K. , Jones T. C. , Rimmelzwaan G. F. , Osterhaus A. D. M. E. , Fouchier R. A. M.
Published: February 2007

In the early 1970s, a human influenza A/Port Chalmers/1/73 (H3N2)-like virus colonized the European swine population. Analyses of swine influenza A (H3N2) viruses isolated in The Netherlands and Belgium revealed that in the early 1990s, antigenic drift had occurred, away from A/Port Chalmers/1/73, the strain commonly used in influenza vaccines for pigs. Here we show that Italian swine influenza A (H3N2) viruses displayed antigenic and genetic changes similar to those observed in Northern European viruses in the same period. We used antigenic cartography methods for quantitative analyses of the antigenic evolution of European swine H3N2 viruses and observed a clustered virus evolution as seen for human viruses. Although the antigenic drift of swine and human H3N2 viruses has followed distinct evolutionary paths, potential cluster-differentiating amino acid substitutions in the influenza virus surface protein hemagglutinin (HA) were in part the same. The antigenic evolution of swine viruses occurred at a rate approximately six times slower than the rate in human viruses, even though the rates of genetic evolution of the HA at the nucleotide and amino acid level were similar for human and swine H3N2 viruses. Continuous monitoring of antigenic changes is recommended to give a first indication as to whether vaccine strains may need updating. Our data suggest that humoral immunity in the population plays a smaller role in the evolutionary selection processes of swine H3N2 viruses than in human H3N2 viruses.
Sulfated Homologues of Heparin Inhibit Hepatitis C Virus Entry into Mammalian Cells
Authors: Basu Arnab , Kanda Tatsuo , Beyene Aster , Saito Kousuke , Meyer Keith , Ray Ranjit
Published: February 2007

The mechanism of entry of hepatitis C virus (HCV) through interactions between the envelope glycoproteins and specific cell surface receptors remains unclear at this time. We have previously shown with the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)/HCV pseudotype model that the hypervariable region 1 of the HCV E2 envelope glycoprotein helps in binding with glycosaminoglycans present on the cell surface. In this study, we have examined the binding of HCV envelope glycoproteins with chemically modified derivatives of heparin. Furthermore, we have determined the functional relevance of the interaction of heparin derivatives with HCV envelope glycoproteins for infectivity by using a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/HCV pseudotype, a VSV/HCV pseudotype, and cell culture-grown HCV genotype 1a. Taken together, our results suggest that the HCV envelope glycoproteins rely upon O-sulfated esters of a heparin homologue to facilitate entry into mammalian cells.