bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structures of oncogenic, suppressor and rescued p53 core-domain variants: mechanisms of mutant p53 rescue
Authors: Wallentine Brad D. , Wang Ying , Tretyachenko-Ladokhina Vira , Tan Martha , Senear Donald F. , Luecke Hartmut
Published: September 2013

To gain insights into the mechanisms by which certain second-site suppressor mutations rescue the function of a significant number of cancer mutations of the tumor suppressor protein p53, X-ray crystallographic structures of four p53 core-domain variants were determined. These include an oncogenic mutant, V157F, two single-site suppressor mutants, N235K and N239Y, and the rescued cancer mutant V157F/N235K/N239Y. The V157F mutation substitutes a smaller hydrophobic valine with a larger hydrophobic phenylalanine within strand S4 of the hydrophobic core. The structure of this cancer mutant shows no gross structural changes in the overall fold of the p53 core domain, only minor rearrangements of side chains within the hydrophobic core of the protein. Based on biochemical analysis, these small local perturbations induce instability in the protein, increasing the free energy by 3.6 kcal mol−1(15.1 kJ mol−1). Further biochemical evidence shows that each suppressor mutation, N235K or N239Y, acts individually to restore thermodynamic stability to V157F and that both together are more effective than either alone. All rescued mutants were found to have wild-type DNA-binding activity when assessed at a permissive temperature, thus pointing to thermodynamic stability as the critical underlying variable. Interestingly, thermodynamic analysis shows that while N239Y demonstrates stabilization of the wild-type p53 core domain, N235K does not. These observations suggest distinct structural mechanisms of rescue. A new salt bridge between Lys235 and Glu198, found in both the N235K and rescued cancer mutant structures, suggests a rescue mechanism that relies on stabilizing the β-sandwich scaffold. On the other hand, the substitution N239Y creates an advantageous hydrophobic contact between the aromatic ring of this tyrosine and the adjacent Leu137. Surprisingly, the rescued cancer mutant shows much larger structural deviations than the cancer mutant alone when compared with wild-type p53. These suppressor mutations appear to rescue p53 function by creating novel intradomain interactions that stabilize the core domain, allowing compensation for the destabilizing V157F mutation.
Service user satisfaction with individual psychotherapy for people with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Munir Khan Mahbub , Beail Nigel
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– Psychological therapies are increasingly being made available to adults with intellectual disabilities. However, little is known about service user satisfaction with this type of intervention. The aim was to ascertain quantitative and qualitative data on user satisfaction with the psychological therapy they had received.

Design/methodology/approach

– In total, 20 recipients of psychological therapy completed the Satisfaction with Therapy and Therapist Scale – Revised (STTS-R; Oei and Shuttleword, 1999) and the Experience of Service Questionnaire (Commission for Health Improvement, 2002). The scales were adapted for language and administered in an assisted completion format by an independent researcher after a course of psychological therapy had been completed. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the quantitative data and thematic analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data.

Findings

– Generally, recipients were highly satisfied with their therapist and the therapy they received.

Originality/value

– The results confirm previous findings from two small-scale qualitative studies. Service user satisfaction is a key quality outcome measure and can be collated in routine practice for people with intellectual disabilities. The collation of qualitative responses in addition to quantitative measures is important to enable the expression of dissatisfaction and greater detail in order to inform service improvement.
Nutritional status, self-identification as a traditional food consumer and motives for food choice in six European countries
Authors: Pieniak Zuzanna , Perez-Cueto Federico , Verbeke Wim
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The aim of the study is to analyse whether self-identifying as a traditional food consumer is associated with obesity or overweight, and to investigate the motives for consuming traditional food among people with normal weight, overweight and obesity.

Design/methodology/approach

– Cross-sectional data were collected through a pan-European consumer survey (n=4,828) with samples representative for age, gender and region in Belgium, France, Italy, Norway, Poland and Spain. Data analyses included multivariate logistic regressions and a multi-group structural equation modelling analysis.

Findings

– Individuals with overweight or obesity attach more importance to weight control when purchasing food, and tend to self-identify themselves more as consumers of traditional foods. Among individuals with obesity, importance attached to the natural content of food is directly associated with traditional food consumption, and importance attached to sensory appeal in food choice is indirectly associated with self-identification as a traditional food consumer. Among individuals with normal weight, importance attached to healthiness in food choice associates negatively with self-identification as a traditional food consumer.

Originality/value

– This study provides a unique approach for testing the motives for consuming traditional food among people with different nutritional status, particularly with normal weight, overweight and obesity. The strength of this paper pertains further to its international scope and large representative data set.
Purchase of branded commodity food products: empirical evidence from India
Authors: Mohan Kathuria Lalit , Gill Paramjeet
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The study was conducted with the aim of understanding brand awareness among consumers and analyzing the attitude of consumers towards selected branded commodity food products. An attempt was also made to examine the factors influencing the purchase of selected branded commodity food products.

Design/methodology/approach

– The products selected for the study were branded rice and branded sugar. A sample of 200 respondents was selected from different localities of a city in India.

Findings

– Major sources of awareness, for branded rice and branded sugar, are friends/relatives/reference groups, point-of-purchase display, and retailer's recommendations. Respondents perceive free from adulterants, free from insecticides/pesticides/harmful chemicals and social status as the most important parameters of branded rice and branded sugar. The most important factors influencing the purchase of branded rice and branded sugar were found to be flavor, aroma, free from insecticides or pesticides and free from adulterants.

Research limitations/implications

– Further studies can be conducted with a larger sample size. Importance of brand equity with respect to commodity products can be analyzed.

Practical implications

– Marketers could frame strategies for different market segments based on demographics. Brand awareness needs to be given adequate focus by the marketers.

Originality/value

– This paper has made an attempt to study purchase behaviour with respect to commodity products. Not many studies have been undertaken to analyze brand awareness, and consumers' attitudes towards branded commodity food products in developing countries like India.
Techno-managerial factors related to food safety management system in food businesses
Authors: Milios Kostas , E. Zoiopoulos Pantelis , Pantouvakis Angelos , Mataragas Marios , H. Drosinos Eleftherios
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The aim of this study is to evaluate the food safety management system (HACCP – type system) implemented in Greek food businesses, examine the techno-managerial factors influencing its application according to enterprises' opinion and correlate these answers to the HACCP evaluation results.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study involved 33 slaughterhouses located throughout Greece. Two types of questionnaires were used (IF questionnaire – for the influencing factors and HE questionnaire – for HACCP evaluation). Reliability or item analysis and principal component analysis were applied to the data obtained from the survey.

Findings

– The results showed that the companies identifying the benefits of HACCP implementation as very important have fully understood possible problems and had the best results as regards HACCP evaluation. Companies not identifying the benefits as important had poor score in HACCP evaluation. Businesses with HACCP certification for longer periods and especially those that were certified according to more than one standard had better performance in HACCP evaluation. In addition, slaughterhouses involved in rearing of animals as well, especially those slaughtering only one animal species, and which do not provide services for others, seem to have better performance as regards HACCP evaluation.

Originality/value

– The findings of this study correlate the results of the HACCP evaluation with the factors that affect the implementation of a food safety management system using the hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and canonical correlation analysis (CCA) statistical technique.
Finite element design of CNT-based multilayer absorbers
Authors: d'Elia Ugo , Pelosi Giuseppe , Selleri Stefano , Taddei Ruggero
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– A design procedure for multi-layer absorbers based on carbon nanotubes (CNT) frequency selective surfaces (FSS) sheets is here developed. The paper aims to discuss there issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– Single layer FSS are first analyzed via finite element (FE). Then equivalent sheets admittances are extracted in a transmission line model. Neural networks (NNs) interpolation over this data and subsequent multi-objective genetic algorithm (GA) based optimizations are then performed to design multiple layers absorbing structures. Designs are finally validated via full wave FEM simulations.

Findings

– In this paper, some absorbing structures made of three or four FSS sheets with total thicknesses around 6 mm are synthesized.

Research limitations/implications

– NNs' accuracy used in the equivalent model can be refined with further training.

Practical implications

– Low profile absorbing materials are of relevant industrial interest both for radar cloaking and anechoic chambers.

Originality/value

– The transmission line model combined with NNs and GA optimization is capable of speeding up the design procedure with respect to a conventional full-wave FEM approach.
On the evaluation of input impedance and transient impedance for grounding electrodes using antenna theory
Authors: Cavka Damir , Poljak Dragan
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose a fast, accurate and efficient algorithm for assessment of input impedance and consequently the evaluation of transient impedance of the grounding electrode.

Design/methodology/approach

– The mathematical model is based on the thin wire antenna theory and related Pocklington integro-differential equation in the frequency domain, which is numerically treated via Galerkin-Bubnov variant of the indirect boundary element method (GB-IBEM). Two different approaches, scattered voltage method (ScVM) and induced electromotive force – boundary element method (IEMF-BEM), for input and transient impedance are discussed in detail. Extensive numerical experiments have been undertaken to analyze numerical sensitivity of the methods.

Findings

– Although it was widely used so far, the ScVM, was shown to be unsuitable for the grounding impedance assessment because results are dependent on the number of elements used in the numerical solution. On the other hand, the other method, IEMF-BEM is rather stable, with the respect to the number of elements used and with excellent convergence rate. In addition, IEMF-BEM is much simpler to implement as it requires only multiplication of matrices already assembled within the procedure of current distribution calculation, as opposed to the ScVM which requires numerical integration of quasi-singular integrals which, by it self, can be very demanding.

Originality/value

– The IEMF-BEM is originally developed by the authors and used for the first time for grounding impedance assessment. It is simple and very efficient and can easily be extended to arbitrary grounding configurations.
Employment status and job satisfaction
Authors: Sutherland John
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– Motivated by the concept of procedural utility, which emphasises the salience of process-related job aspects, the purpose of this paper is to addresses three questions: first, “is job satisfaction different for the self-employed with no employees and the self-employed with employees?”; second, “is job satisfaction different for managers employed in smaller establishments and managers employed in larger establishments?”; and third, for both the self-employed and those in waged work, is job satisfaction overall correlated with satisfaction with ten identified job aspects’?

Design/methodology/approach

– A data set which has its origins in the (UK) 2006 Skills survey is examined, making use of ordinal logit estimations.

Findings

– There are differences in job satisfaction between the self-employed with no employees and those with employees, with the latter tending to be more likely to be satisfied. There are differences in job satisfaction between managers in smaller establishment and managers in larger establishments, but not for the three process-related job aspects associated with procedural utility. For the self-employed, there is a predominantly positive and sometimes statistically significant correlation between an individual's job satisfaction overall and satisfaction with the ten job aspects. For the waged worker, there is a uniformly positive and predominantly statistically significant correlation between an individual's job satisfaction overall and satisfaction with the ten job aspects.

Research limitations/implications

– The self-employed and those in waged work cannot be assumed to constitute homogeneous groups. Consequently, when future research seeks to examine the manner in which job satisfaction may differ across employment status groups, these groups cannot be treated as mere dichotomous dummy variables.

Originality/value

– This is an empirically based reappraisal of hypotheses associated with procedural utility which focuses upon within group differences for two sub-populations in the data set, the self-employed and waged workers.
Attitudes and orientation toward vegetarian food in the restaurant industry
Authors: Rivera Manuel , Shani Amir
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The current paper aims to explore the attitudes of decision makers in restaurants in Puerto Rico toward vegetarian food, and examine the restaurants' orientation toward vegetarianism and the challenges they face in catering to vegetarian patrons.

Design/methodology/approach

– A survey instrument was developed to include 21 items representing the various attitudes and views toward vegetarian food; restaurant characteristics; and participant's demographic information. A total of 92 face-to-face structured interviews were conducted among various independent family restaurants located in the metropolitan area of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Findings

– The findings suggest that although the participants certainly recognize the value of vegetarian food for their restaurants, they are still unaware or uninformed about many issues related to vegetarianism and vegetarian customers. Moreover, the study also raises some worrying concerns as to the attentiveness of restaurants to the needs of vegetarians.

Originality/value

– The study raised important practical implications for restaurants in San Juan and, potentially, for restaurants in other destinations that share the same challenges. Perhaps the most important implication that emerges is the need to educate the decision makers in restaurants (i.e. owners, managers and chefs) regarding critical issues related to vegetarians and vegetarian food.
Self-construals, conflict styles, and religious identification in India
Authors: Michael Croucher Stephen
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– This paper aims to explore the relationships between self-construals, religious identification, and conflict styles in India.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were gathered in India (n=1,108) among Hindus (n=744) and Muslims (n=364) in various organizations throughout India. Conflict styles were measured using Oetzel's conflict style measure. Self-construal was measured using Singelis' self-construal measure. Pearson correlations and multiple regressions were conducted.

Findings

– Correlation analysis showed significant negative correlation between the independent and interdependent self-construal. Multiple hierarchical regression modeling demonstrated significant interactions between religious identification, self-construal, and conflict style. Hindus are more likely to dominate in conflict situations, while Muslims are more likely to avoid conflict and prefer more group-oriented conflict styles.

Research limitations/implications

– Self-report measure is a possible limitation and the sample is religiously homogeneous.

Practical implications

– The results of this study could assist community organizers and others who work in conflict mediation resolve conflict among religious groups.

Originality/value

– Few studies have examined conflict styles in India and this study employs a macro and micro-level approach to the study of conflict.
Knowledge governance mechanisms and repatriate's knowledge sharing: the mediating roles of motivation and opportunity
Authors: Huang Ming-Chang , Chiu Ya-Ping , Lu Ting-Chun
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– Several studies have explored the relationships among the multiple dimensions of knowledge governance mechanisms (KGMs) and knowledge sharing. However, knowledge governance issues and knowledge transfer processes remain under-researched. The empirical results of the relationships among KGMs, motivations to share knowledge and knowledge sharing behavior remain inconsistent. This paper aims at re-examining the mediating effects of knowledge sharing motivations and knowledge sharing opportunities on the relationship between KGMs and knowledge sharing behavior of repatriates at multinational corporations.

Design/methodology/approach

– Survey data were collected from 140 repatriates from 66 multinational companies that operated in five different geographic locations. Structural equation modelling was used to assess the research model.

Findings

– The empirical results indicate the mediating roles of knowledge sharing motivation and opportunity in the relationship between KGMs and the knowledge sharing behavior of repatriates. Two sets of KGMs – formal and informal mechanisms – have significant influence on knowledge sharing motivation and opportunity.

Research limitations/implications

– This investigation focuses on the functions of KGMs that facilitate the knowledge sharing behavior of repatriates. The contextual effects of task-level, firm-level, and external environmental characteristics on knowledge sharing may need further studies to substantiate.

Originality/value

– This study argues that even when employees are encouraged and rewarded by extrinsic and intrinsic motivations to share knowledge, effective knowledge sharing would not necessarily be guaranteed. This paper offers a conceptual framework where knowledge sharing motivations and opportunities simultaneously play the mediating roles in a successful knowledge sharing. The framework associates KGMs with knowledge sharing behavior and echoes the growing acknowledgement of the need for additional research on micro-foundations of knowledge sharing to complement the macro research.
Understanding and managing knowledge loss
Authors: Daghfous Abdelkader , Belkhodja Omar , C. Angell Linda
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– Research on knowledge loss is at an early stage of evolution. This paper seeks to extend the existent literature through an exploratory investigation of the drivers and impacts of knowledge loss, as well as associated retention strategies within manufacturing and service operations.

Design/methodology/approach

– Multiple research streams are used to explore and capture the complexities and intricacies of knowledge loss within four firms. The author follows a multiple case study approach with theoretical sampling of manufacturing and service firms.

Findings

– The results of this study suggest that organizations should retain and diffuse architectural knowledge, improve strategic coordination among units, develop existing capabilities through different networking strategies and more effective networks, and transform these capabilities into effective organizational routines to mitigate knowledge loss and increase knowledge retention. Meanwhile, relying solely on standard operating procedures, information systems, and codification of knowledge in databases could undermine knowledge retention and lead to knowledge loss.

Practical implications

– A comprehensive strategy to guide knowledge management efforts and actions should be adopted. Moreover, knowledge cannot be retained without the adoption of an integrative approach that comprises various strategies and without management commitment and drive.

Originality/value

– The findings of this exploratory investigation add to the understanding of the knowledge loss phenomenon by showing that it is much more complex than was found in earlier studies emanating from various research streams. The paper proposes directions for future research.
Teaching as constructive-developmental leadership
Authors: M. Novicevic Milorad , Humphreys John , Ronald Buckley M. , Roberts Foster , Hebdon Andrew , Kim Jaemin
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to derive practical recommendations from Follett's conceptualization of the student-teacher relations.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper employs a narrative historical interpretation of Follett's speech, which was originally given at the Boston University in the late Fall of 1928, but for the first time published in 1970.

Findings

– Follett's conceptualization of the teacher-student relation resonated well with the contemporary conceptualization of constructive-developmental theory of leadership.

Research limitations/implications

– The findings of this study should be interpreted with recognition that the single case study has inherent limitations in terms of generalization.

Originality/value

– This paper offers unique practical recommendations for instructional methods of experiential learning based on reflection, problem solving and critical thinking, which are based on the authors' analysis of Follett's works and constructive-developmental scholarship.
The growing threat of money laundering to Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Le Chat
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The paper aims to sketch out the scenario of money laundering (ML) in Vietnam and the harm ML may cause to the country.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper first, based on the general concept of ML, scrutinizes actual and potential ML in Vietnam as well as ML threat to Vietnam. The typical cases of predicate offences, which were associated with ML activity, will be provided to illustrate the fact. Then a brief of Vietnam's response to ML will be examined.

Findings

– ML has actually occurred since early in Vietnam. The potential for ML in Vietnam is substantial and poses growing harm to Vietnam in both the respects of economy and security. Although Vietnam has the primary legal framework of AML and set out AML countermeasures, the implementation has been hindered by several factors.

Originality/value

– This paper would attract the attention of people who are concerned about ML in Vietnam.
Enforcement of foreign restraining orders
Authors: Dante Cassella Stefan
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– This article aims to discuss the problems that the USA encountered when it first attempted to enact and apply legislation designed to facilitate the enforcement of foreign asset-preservation orders, the remedial legislation enacted to address those problems, and the recent success the US Government has had under that new legislation in restraining assets at the request of foreign courts so that they may be forfeited under foreign law.

Design/methodology/approach

– The article reviews the legislative history of the statute enacted to permit the enforcement of foreign restraining orders and analyzes the cases applying that statute before and after its amendment in 2010.

Findings

– Legislation in the USA now permits the federal courts to register and enforce orders issued by foreign courts for the purpose of preserving assets that are subject to forfeiture under foreign law.

Originality/value

– This is a cutting edge topic in which there has been a great deal of new law in the past three years.
Educational use of smart phone technology
Authors: Reese Bomhold Catharine
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– This paper aims to present the results of a survey of undergraduate student use of smart phone applications.

Design/methodology/approach

– Undergraduate students currently enrolled in an information literacy course answered an online survey regarding their use of applications (apps) on their smart phones.

Findings

– However, still a small percentage of most frequently used apps (10.4 percent), search engines, online encyclopedias, and libraries are used by undergraduate students. The apps used most often are familiar to them and allow mobile access to popular web sites available on personal computers. Furthermore, a significant number (76 percent) of undergraduate students also report that they use apps to find academic information. The type of app most frequently used to find academic information is search engines.

Originality/value

– This research provides evidence on the actual use of mobile devices by students for library administrators and educators interested in developing integrated mobile academic library applications.
Service quality measurement for secondary school setting
Authors: Ramseook-Munhurrun Prabha , Nundlall Pushpa
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop and evaluate a service quality measurement scale for a secondary school setting in Mauritius.

Design/methodology/approach

– Research was conducted in two stages. First, a focus group method with the educators was used to identify the service quality dimensions and scale items. Study 2 used the exploratory factor analysis to group the service dimensions into latent “service factors”. The sample data were collected through a survey among educators from secondary schools.

Findings

– Factor analysis was used to develop a valid and reliable service quality measurement scale. The results of this study indicated that secondary education service quality is a multidimensional construct made up of five dimensions, namely school facilities, reliability, responsiveness, empathy and assurance-discipline.

Research limitations/implications

– Since, the study took place in only one of the four secondary educational zones in Mauritius, increasing the sample base in terms of zones, number of schools and respondents could provide safer generalisations of findings.

Practical implications

– This study provided insights for school administrators. The five dimensions clarified how educators form their quality perceptions toward the secondary schools. The study provides a useful tool for regular monitoring of quality in order to identify strengths and areas of improvement in the secondary education setting.

Originality/value

– This paper extends the service quality scale into the secondary school context. The proposed new scale expresses main service quality parameters that secondary schools could cater for to evaluate service delivery.
Individual personalities predict social behaviour in wild networks of great tits (Parus major)
Authors: Aplin L. M. , Farine D. R. , Morand‐Ferron J. , Cole E. F. , Cockburn A. , Sheldon B. C.
Published: September 2013

Social environments have an important effect on a range of ecological processes, and form a crucial component of selection. However, little is known of the link between personality, social behaviour and population structure. We combine a well‐understood personality trait with large‐scale social networks in wild songbirds, and show that personality underpins multiple aspects of social organisation. First, we demonstrate a relationship between network centrality and personality with ‘proactive’ (fast‐exploring) individuals associating weakly with greater numbers of conspecifics and moving between flocks. Second, temporal stability of associations relates to personality: ‘reactive’ (slow‐exploring) birds form synergistically stable relationships. Finally, we show that personality influences social structure, with males non‐randomly distributed across groups. These results provide strong evidence that songbirds follow alternative social strategies related to personality. This has implications not only for the causes of social network structure but also for the strength and direction of selection on personality in natural populations.
The responses of healthcare professionals to the admission of people with cognitive impairment to acute hospital settings: an observational and interview study
Authors: Clissett Philip , Porock Davina , Harwood Rowan H , Gladman John RF
Published: September 2013

Aims and objectives

To explore the responses of healthcare professionals to the admission of people with cognitive impairment to the acute hospital setting.

Background

While improving care for people with dementia has been identified as a national priority, providing appropriate care in acute hospitals for people with comorbid cognitive impairment presents challenges to healthcare professionals.

Design

Based on the principles of ethnography, this was a qualitative interview and nonparticipation observational study.

Methods

Seventy‐two hours of nonparticipant observations of care together with semi‐structured interviews with family carers of 34 older people who had been admitted to a UK general hospital and had a cognitive impairment. Interviews and observations were conducted in 2009 and 2010. Analysis was undertaken using Strauss and Corbin's framework.

Results

The results identified a core problem, ‘disruption’, and a core process, ‘gaining or giving a sense of control to cope with disruption’. Healthcare professionals respond to the disruption in three ways: by acting to preserve the personhood of the individual; by seeking to protect themselves from the stresses associated with caring for the person with cognitive impairment; and by suspending the personhood of the individual.

Conclusion

Where healthcare professionals acted to suspend the personhood of the patient, they appeared to be demonstrating signs of ‘burnout’.

Relevance to clinical practice

There is a need both to challenge poor practice and for positive development work with healthcare professionals who work in acute hospitals with people with dementia and cognitive impairment so that they are equipped with the skills, emotional resilience and organisational support to be effective in meeting the needs of people with dementia and cognitive impairment.
Climate‐driven tree mortality: insights from the piñon pine die‐off in the United States
Authors: Hicke Jeffrey A. , Zeppel Melanie J. B.
Published: September 2013

Featured paper: See also the Editorial by McDowell et al
Characterization of “Bulk Lithography” Process for Fabrication of Three-Dimensional Microstructures
Authors: Gandhi Prasanna , Bhole Kiran
Published: September 2013

Various ways of fabricating a three-dimensional (3D) component in a single-layer exposure using spatial variation of exposure dose have been presented in the literature. While some of them are based on dynamic mask process, more recently, a process based on varying intensity of a scanning Gaussian laser beam termed as “bulk lithography” has been proposed. In bulk lithography, the entire varying depth 3D microstructure gets fabricated because of spatial variation of intensity of laser imposed at every point in single layer scan. For the bulk lithography process, this paper first presents experimental characterization of unconstrained depth photopolymerization of resin upon exposure to Gaussian laser beam. Experimental characterization carried out for two resins systems: namely 1,6 hexane diol-diacrylate (HDDA) and trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA), over relatively wider range of Ar+ laser exposure dose and time, show behavior well beyond Beer–Lambert law. A unified empirical model is proposed to represent the nondimensional depth variation with respect to the time and energy of exposure for both resins. Finally, using these models, successful fabrication of several microstructures including micro-Fresnel lens, textured curved surface, otherwise difficult or impossible to fabricate, is demonstrated. Several advantages of the bulk lithography as compared to other similar processes in the literature are highlighted.
A Stable Inversion Method for Feedforward Control of Constrained Flexible Multibody Systems
Authors: Brüls Olivier , Bastos Guaraci Jr. , Seifried Robert
Published: September 2013

The inverse dynamics of flexible multibody systems is formulated as a two-point boundary value problem for an index-3 differential-algebraic equation (DAE). This DAE represents the equation of motion with kinematic and trajectory constraints. For so-called nonminimum phase systems, the remaining dynamics of the inverse model is unstable. Therefore, boundary conditions are imposed not only at the initial time but also at the final time in order to obtain a bounded solution of the inverse model. The numerical solution strategy is based on a reformulation of the DAE in index-2 form and a multiple shooting algorithm, which is known for its robustness and its ability to solve unstable problems. The paper also describes the time integration and sensitivity analysis methods that are used in each shooting phase. The proposed approach does not require a reformulation of the problem in input-output normal form, which is known from nonlinear control theory. It can deal with serial and parallel kinematic topology, minimum phase and nonminimum phase systems, and rigid and flexible mechanisms.
Evaluation of the Effects of Carbon to Hydrogen Ratio and Sulfur Level in Fuel on Particulate Matters From Micro Gas Turbine Engine
Authors: Akamatsu Takeshi , Hack Richard , McDonell Vince , Samuelsen Scott
Published: September 2013

The present work investigated the effects of fuel components on particulate matter (PM) from a natural gas-fueled micro gas turbine engine. A variety of fuel compositions were prepared considering atomic ratio of hydrogen to carbon (H/C ratio) and sulfur level. In the first test, controlled amounts of propane were injected into natural gas to establish H/C ratios between 3.23 and 3.99. In the second test, fuel-bound sulfur was scrubbed and controlled amounts of methyl mercaptan were injected into natural gas to establish sulfur levels between 0.0 ppm and 12.9 ppm. Sonic orifices were used for H/C ratio and fuel sulfur management. In each test, PM was collected from engine exhaust and analyzed. In the second test, total gaseous sulfur in the exhaust was also measured to establish the ratio of PM and gaseous sulfur formed from fuel sulfur. Test result showed no correlation between H/C ratio and PM, and strong correlation between fuel sulfur and PM. 82.4% of fuel sulfur contributed to form gaseous sulfur and 17.6% contributed to form PM in the exhaust. An increase of 1.0 ppm fuel sulfur produced an increase of approximately 4.7μg/m3 PM. By removing fuel-bound sulfur, PM levels from micro gas turbine engine exhaust are comparable to ambient levels of PM.
Glassy Dynamics in Condensed Isolated Polymer Chains
Authors: Tress Martin , Mapesa Emmanuel U. , Kossack Wilhelm , Kipnusu Wycliffe K. , Reiche Manfred , Kremer Friedrich
Published: September 2013

Polymer Dynamics

While free surfaces should allow polymer chains to move faster than in the bulk, the presence of a substrate might slow down the motion if there is an attraction between the two.

Tress
et al.

(p.
1371
; see the Perspective by

Russell

) used dielectric spectroscopy to study “polymer islands” deposited on a substrate from dilute solution, where some islands contained just a few or only one polymer chain. The confinement of the polymer chain to small-surface geometries had virtually no influence on the dynamics of the polymers, aside from the segments in direct contact with the substrate.
Causes of the Cambrian Explosion
Authors: Smith M. Paul , Harper David A. T.
Published: September 2013

The rapid diversification of animal species in the early Cambrian was the result of a range of interacting biotic and abiotic processes.
An Epidermal MicroRNA Regulates Neuronal Migration Through Control of the Cellular Glycosylation State
Authors: Pedersen Mikael Egebjerg , Snieckute Goda , Kagias Konstantinos , Nehammer Camilla , Multhaupt Hinke A.B. , Couchman John R. , Pocock Roger
Published: September 2013

Extracellular Regulation

During
Caenorhabditis elegans
development, the hermaphrodite-specific neurons (HSNs) migrate and then extend axons toward their functional targets. Posttranslational modification of heparan sulfate proteoglycans are important for HSN development, and so

Pedersen
et al.

(p.
1404
) tested the effect of disrupting or reducing chondroitin and heparan sulfate synthesis during
C. elegans
development. The results suggest that proteoglycan biosynthesis is tightly regulated by a microRNA pathway to shape the cell surface glycosylation architecture required to direct neuronal migration.
Powerful Opinions, Capable of Harm

Do You Believe in Magic? The Sense and Nonsense of Alternative Medicine
by Paul A. Offit

Harper, New York, 2013. 335 pp. $26.99. ISBN 9780062222961.
Authors: Marcus Donald M.
Published: September 2013

In this wide-ranging critique of alternative medicine, Offit focuses on factors that motivate people to turn to such therapies.
Promiscuous Alzheimer's Amyloid: Yet Another Partner
Authors: Benilova Iryna , De Strooper Bart
Published: September 2013

A neuroimmune receptor has high affinity for Alzheimer's β-amyloid aggregates and mediates a synaptotoxic cascade in neurons.

[Also see Report by

Kim
et al.

]
Secretive and Subjective, Peer Review Proves Resistant to Study
Authors: Couzin-Frankel Jennifer
Published: September 2013

A recent meeting on biomedical publishing underscores how tough it is to study the peer-review process.
Safety and Immunogenicity of a Single Oral Dose of Recombinant Double Mutant Heat-Labile Toxin Derived from Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli
Authors: El-Kamary Samer S. , Cohen Mitchell B. , Bourgeois A. Louis , Van De Verg Lillian , Bauers Nicole , Reymann Mardi , Pasetti Marcela F. , Chen Wilbur H.
Published: September 2013

Enterotoxigenic
Escherichia coli
(ETEC) is a primary cause of traveler's diarrhea for which there is no licensed vaccine. This phase 1 trial determined the safety and immunogenicity of a recombinantly produced double mutant heat-labile enterotoxin (dmLT) of ETEC. It was administered as a single oral dose of dmLT in escalating doses of 5 μg, 25 μg, 50 μg, and 100 μg, followed by a 72-h inpatient observation, outpatient visits at 8, 14, and 28 days, and telephone calls at 2 and 6 months postvaccination. Safety was assessed by frequency of adverse events, and immune responses determined after immunization included dmLT-specific serum IgA and IgG, fecal IgA, antibody-secreting cells (ASC), and antibodies in lymphocyte supernatant (ALS) responses. All doses were well tolerated by the 36 healthy adults enrolled. Immune responses were limited in the 5- and 25-μg dose recipients. The 50-μg dose recipients trended toward stronger responses than the 100-μg dose recipients by serum IgA (67% versus 33%,
P
= 0.22), serum IgG (58% versus 33%,
P
= 0.41), and fecal IgA (58% versus 33%,
P
= 0.41). By day 14 postvaccination, there were significantly more positive responders (≥4-fold increase from baseline) among the 50- versus 100-μg dose recipients for serum IgA (
P
= 0.036) but not serum IgG (
P
= 0.21). In conclusion, a single oral dose of dmLT was well tolerated and immunogenic, with immune responses plateauing at the 50-μg dose. (This clinical trial is registered at
www.clinicaltrials.gov
, registration number NCT01147445.)
Simultaneous Detection and Differentiation of Human Rhino- and Enteroviruses in Clinical Specimens by Real-Time PCR with Locked Nucleic Acid Probes
Authors: Österback Riikka , Tevaluoto Tuire , Ylinen Tiina , Peltola Ville , Susi Petri , Hyypiä Timo , Waris Matti
Published: September 2013

Human rhinoviruses (HRVs) and human enteroviruses (HEVs) are significant respiratory pathogens. While HRV infections are restricted to the respiratory tract, HEV infections may spread to secondary target organs. The method of choice for sensitive specific detection of these viruses is reverse transcription (RT)-PCR with primers targeting the conserved 5′ noncoding region of the viral RNA. On the other hand, sequence similarities between HRVs and HEVs complicate their differential detection. In this study, we describe the use of locked nucleic acid (LNA) analogues in short double-dye probes which contained only two selectively HRV- or HEV-specific bases. The double-stranded DNA dye BOXTO (4-[6-(benzoxazole-2-yl-(3-methyl-)-2,3-dihydro-(benzo-1,3-thiazole)-2-methylidene)]-1-methyl-quinolinium chloride) was used with the LNA probes in a tricolor real-time PCR assay to allow specific detection of HRVs (probes labeled with 6-carboxyfluorescein [FAM] [green]) and HEVs (Cy5 [red]) with additional melting curve analysis (BOXTO [yellow]). The functionality of the probes was validated in PCR and RT-PCR assays using plasmids containing viral cDNA, quantified viral RNA transcripts, cultivated rhino- and enterovirus prototypes, and clinical specimens. Of 100 HRV and 63 HEV prototypes, the probes correctly identified all HEVs except one that produced only a BOXTO signal. Among 118 clinical specimens with sequencing results, concordant results were obtained for 116 specimens. Two specimens were reactive with both probes, but sequencing yielded only a single virus. Real-time PCR with LNA probes allowed sensitive group-specific identification of HRVs and HEVs and would enable relative copy number determination. The assay is suitable for rapid and accurate differential detection of HRVs and HEVs in a diagnostic laboratory setting.
Detection of Streptococcus pyogenes by Use of Illumigene Group A Streptococcus Assay
Authors: Henson Amanda M. , Carter Donna , Todd Kathleen , Shulman Stanford T. , Zheng Xiaotian
Published: September 2013

The performance of the Illumigene group A
Streptococcus
assay was evaluated by comparing it to culture using 437 consecutive throat swabs. The Illumigene assay was also directly compared to PCR with 161 samples. This Illumigene assay is rapid and easy to perform. The assay also has high sensitivity (100%) compared to culture or PCR and high specificity (99.2%) compared to PCR. A total of 8.8% of the isolates were erythromycin resistant, and 6.9% were clindamycin resistant.
Sampling and Decontamination Method for Culture of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in Respiratory Samples of Cystic Fibrosis Patients
Authors: De Bel Annelies , De Geyter Deborah , De Schutter Iris , Mouton Christine , Wellemans Isabelle , Hanssens Laurence , Schelstraete Petra , Malfroot Anne , Pierard Denis
Published: September 2013

We confirmed that chlorhexidine decontamination yielded more nontuberculous mycobacteria than did theN-acetyl-l-cysteine-NaOH-oxalic acid procedure from respiratory samples of cystic fibrosis patients on solid cultures. However, this improved recovery is mostly balanced if the latter is combined with liquid culture. Furthermore, none of the 145 cough swabs, used to sample young children, cultured positive, suggesting that swabs are low-quality samples.
Clinical Evaluation of a Real-Time PCR Assay for Identification of Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter (Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli), and Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Isolates in Stool Specimens
Authors: Buchan Blake W. , Olson Wendy J. , Pezewski Michael , Marcon Mario J. , Novicki Thomas , Uphoff Timothy S. , Chandramohan Lakshmi , Revell Paula , Ledeboer Nathan A.
Published: September 2013

Enteric illness affects millions of individuals annually in the United States and results in >50,000 hospitalizations. The rapid and accurate identification of bacterial pathogens associated with gastroenteritis can aid acute patient management decisions, including the use of antibiotic therapy and infection control. This study compared the ProGastro SSCS multiplex real-time PCR assay (Gen-Probe Prodesse, San Diego, CA) to culture for the identification of
Campylobacter
spp. (
Campylobacter jejuni
and
Campylobacter coli
),
Salmonella
spp., and
Shigella
spp. and to broth enrichment followed by an FDA-cleared enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the identification of Shiga toxin-producing
Escherichia coli
(STEC) isolates in stool specimens. Stool samples submitted in preservatives for routine culture and EIA were prospectively enrolled and tested at four clinical centers. Discrepancies between the ProGastro SSCS assay and culture or EIA were resolved using bidirectional sequencing. The overall prevalence of the pathogens as detected by culture was 5.6% (1.8%
Campylobacter
, 1.8%
Salmonella
, 1.3%
Shigella
, and 0.8% STEC). When results based on the ProGastro SSCS assay and bidirectional sequencing were applied, the overall prevalence increased to 8.3% (2.3%
Campylobacter
, 2.6%
Salmonella
, 1.8%
Shigella
, and 1.6% STEC). Following resolution of the discrepant results, the sensitivity of the ProGastro SSCS assay was 100% for all pathogens, and the specificities ranged from 99.4% to 100%. The sensitivity of culture compared to sequence-confirmed ProGastro SSCS results ranged from 52.9% to 76.9%, with the specificities ranging from 99.9% to 100%. Overall, these results suggest that the ProGastro SSCS assay is highly sensitive and specific in a clinical setting.
West Nile Virus Genome with Glycosylated Envelope Protein and Deletion of Alpha Helices 1, 2, and 4 in the Capsid Protein Is Noninfectious and Efficiently Secretes Subviral Particles
Authors: Roby Justin A. , Hall Roy A. , Khromykh Alexander A.
Published: September 2013

Flavivirus genomes with deletions in the capsid (C) gene are attractive vaccine candidates, as they secrete highly immunogenic subviral particles (SVPs) without generating infectious virus. Here, we report that cytomegalovirus promoter-driven cDNA of West Nile virus Kunjin (KUNV) containing a glycosylation motif in the envelope (E) gene and a combined deletion of alpha helices 1, 2, and 4 in C produces significantly more SVPs than KUNV cDNAs with nonglycosylated E and various other deletions in C.