bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Properties of the (DSS)n triplet repeat domain of rat dentin phosphophoryn
Authors: Veis Arthur , Wei Kuiru , Sfeir Charles , George Anne , Malone James
Published: January 2015

Phosphophoryns (PPs) are unique aspartic acid and phosphoserine‐rich proteins present in all species of dentin. Rat incisor odontoblast cDNA libraries contain messages encoding several acidic phosphorylated, serine‐rich proteins. At least two of these share a common C‐terminal domain coding region sequence. The polypeptide sequences in the N‐terminal direction immediately adjacent to the conserved C‐terminal domains of these two proteins (DMP2, DMP3) are distinctly different. In this domain, the DMP2 has extensive sequences of (DSS)n repeats with n as large as 24. DMP3 has fewer and shorter triplet sequences, n = 3, 4. The major rat incisor PPs (90–95 kDa) probably have the (DSS)n ≫ 3. We propose that the name phosphophoryn be reserved for the extracellular matrix proteins with these extended repeats. DMP1, although strongly acidic, does not fit this category. If the S residues are phosphorylated and n > 3. conformational energy minimization computations show the (DSS)n sequence to assume a unique extended structure with parallel arrays of carboxylate and phosphate groups which may function as Ca2+ ion interaction edges. The phosphorylation of recombinant DMP2 C‐terminal domain by various kinases has been examined. The repeat domains are not direct substrates for the CK2‐like kinases but the kinases act in concert, so that the phosphorylation is hierarchical, apparently controlled by the presence of specific interruptions between the triplet domains.
Tuftelin – aspects of protein and gene structure
Authors: Deutsch Dan , Palmon Aaron , Dafni Leah , Mao Zhengkuan , Leytin Valery , Young Marian , Fisher Larry W.
Published: January 2015

The acidic enamel protein tuftelin has now been cDNA cloned, sequenced and characterized in a number of vertebrate species. Recently, the bovine tuftelin gene structure was elucidated. Cloning of the human tuftelin gene and partial sequencing of a number of exons have also been achieved. Immunologically, the protein has been shown to be conserved throughout 550 million years of vertebrate evolution. The gene has been localized to the long arm of the autosomal chromosome 1. The mapping of the human tuftelin gene to a well‐defined cytogenetic region could be important in understanding the etiology of autosomally inherited amelogenesis imperfecta, the most common hereditary disease of enamel. The present paper reviews the primary structure, mRNA/cDNA structure, and gene structure of tuftelin. It describes its immunolocalization at the light microscope level and at the ultrastructural level in both the ameloblast cells and in the extracellular enamel matrix. The timing of tuftelin expression and its possible roles in enamel formation are discussed.
Purification and sequencing of a 21 kDa and 25 kDa bovine enamel metalloproteinase
Authors: Den Besten Pamela K. , Punzi John S. , Li Wu
Published: January 2015

The developing enamel matrix contains metalloproteinases that are presumed to have a role in hydrolysis of enamel matrix proteins. Determination of the identity and function of these proteinases requires further information such as their amino acid composition and sequence. In this study, we purified the 21 kDa and 25 kDa matrix metalloproteinase from secretory stage bovine enamel matrix. After extraction, these proteinases were further purified by sequential separation by ion exchange. Con A affinity chromatography, and reversed phase HPLC. The proteinases were separated by SDS PAGE, transferred to a PVDF membrane and the N‐terminus was sequenced. The N‐terminal sequences of both proteinases were the same, and showed homology to the porcine enamelysin (MMP 20) cDNA sequence. A cDNA for bovine MMP 20 was isolated from a bovine enamel organ cDNA library using a probe generated by PCR amplification. The coding regions of bovine and porcine MMP 20 cDNAs were highly homologous and contained the same regions of predicted amino acid sequence homology with the proteinase N‐terminal sequences. These results suggest that the 21 kDa and 25 kDa enamel matrix metalloproteinases are cleavage products of the initially secreted MMP 20, and that the sequence for MMP 20 is conserved across species.
Isolation of murine cementoblasts: unique cells or uniquely‐positioned osteoblasts?
Authors: MacNeil R. L. , D'Errico J. A. , Ouyang H. , Berry J. , Strayhorn C. , Somerman M. J.
Published: January 2015

While cementoblasts express a number of mineral‐related proteins, including bone sialoprotein (BSP), osteopontin (OPN) and osteocalcin (OC), these proteins do not appear to be expressed by cells of the intermediate dental follicle/periodontal ligament (PDL). This information was utilized in an experimental strategy to isolate presumptive cementoblasts from the root surface of day 24 murine mandibular first molars. Using microscopic dissection techniques, molars were carefully extracted from their alveolar crypts and subjected to trypsin‐collagenase digestion to remove adherent cells. Primary cultures were established and assayed for expression of proteins known to be expressed by cementoblasts at this timepoint in vivo (i.e. BSP, OPN, OC) and also an odontoblast‐specific protein (i.e. DSP) to rule out contamination by pulpal cells. A subgroup of cells were found to express Type I collagen (89% of cells), BSP (46%), OPN (23%) and OC (30%); DSP was not detected within these cultures. We propose that cells within this heterogeneous population, which express this profile of osteogenic proteins, represent cementoblasts. The availability of a cementoblast cell line will make possible rigorous and controlled in vitro analysis of these cells and allow for determination of the unique characteristics of these cells not shared with other cells, particularly osteoblasts.
Cementum attachment protein manifestation is restricted to the mineralized tissue forming cells of the periodontium
Authors: Bar‐Kana I. , Savion N. , Narayanan A. S. , Pitaru S.
Published: January 2015

The mechanisms that regulate cementogenesis are mainly unknown. A specific cementum attachment protein (CAP) has been recently partially characterized and found to be more efficient in supporting the attachment of alveolar bone cells (ABC) and periodontal ligament cells (PLC) than that of gingival fibroblasts (GF). The purpose of this study was to determine the capacity of human periodontal‐derived cells to bind and express CAP and to relate these properties to their capacity to express alkaline phosphatase (AlP) and form mineralized tissue (MTF). ABC. PLC and GF were tested. Human stromal bone marrow cells (SBMC) and a cementoma‐derived cell line (CC) served as controls. CAP binding was determined using 125I‐CAP. The amount of MTF was assessed by alizarin red staining and image analysis determination of the amount of red‐stained material. AlP and CAP expression were examined by histochemistry and immunochemistry, respectively. The highest expression of CAP was observed in CC, followed by PLC and ABC in decreasing order, whereas SBMC and GF did not express CAP, SBMC manifested the highest CAP binding capacity followed by CC, ABC, PLC and GF, MTF and AlP manifestation were greatest in SBMC, followed by ABC, PLC and CC. Collectively, the results indicate that CAP binding and secretion are not linked and that CAP manifestation is restricted to periodontal derived cell lineages with the potential of forming mineralized tissues.
Determination of U–Pb Ages for Young Zircons using Laser Ablation‐ICP‐Mass Spectrometry Coupled with an Ion Detection Attenuator Device
Authors: Sakata Shuhei , Hattori Kentaro , Iwano Hideki , Yokoyama Takaomi D. , Danhara Tohru , Hirata Takafumi
Published: January 2015

We have developed new analytical procedures to measure precise and accurate 238U–206Pb and 235U–207Pb ages for young (~ 1 Ma) zircons using laser ablation‐ICP‐mass spectrometry. For young zircons, both careful correction for the background counts and analysis of very small Pb/U ratios (i.e., 206Pb/238U < 0.00016 and 207Pb/235U < 0.0001 for 1 Ma zircons) are highly desired. For the correction of the background, the contribution of the background signal intensities for the analytes, especially for the residual signal intensities for 206Pb and 207Pb, was defined through laser ablation of synthesised zircons (ablation blank) containing negligible Pb. The measured signal intensities for 202Hg, 206Pb and 207Pb signals obtained by the ablation blank were slightly higher than those obtained by data acquisition without laser ablation (gas blank). For the wider dynamic range measurements on Pb/U ratios, an attenuator device for the ion detection system was employed to extend the capability to monitor high‐intensity signals (i.e., > 3 Mcps). Through the attenuator device, the ion currents were reduced to 1/450 of the signal intensity without the attenuator. Because the switching time for the attenuator was shorter than 1 ms, signal intensities for only specific isotopes could be reduced. With attenuation of the 238U signal, counting statistics on 206Pb and 207Pb isotopes could be improved and counting loss on the 238U signal could be minimised. To demonstrate the reliability of this new analytical technique, 238U–206Pb and 235U–207Pb ages for three young zircon samples (collected from Osaka Group Pink Volcanic Ash, Kirigamine and Bishop Tuff) were measured. The data presented here demonstrate clearly that the present technique could become a major analytical tool for in situ U–Pb age determination of young zircons (~ 1 Ma).
The Effect of Private Information and Monitoring on the Role of Accounting Quality in Investment Decisions
Authors: BEATTY ANNE , SCOTT LIAO W. , WEBER JOSEPH
Published: January 2015

We investigate how private information and monitoring affect the role of accounting quality in reducing the investment–cash flow sensitivity. We argue that access to private information and direct restrictions on investments are likely to affect the extent to which accounting quality reduces financing constraints. Our results suggest that, for financially constrained firms, banks’ access to private information decreases the value of accounting quality. We further find that, for both financially constrained and unconstrained firms, covenants directly restricting capital expenditures also mitigate the importance of accounting quality. Our results suggest that, when information asymmetry problems are likely to be the largest, accounting quality is most important. However, the importance of accounting quality is mitigated if outside capital suppliers have access to private information and is eliminated if they impose contractual restrictions on investment. We also provide evidence that banks’ access to private information reduces the cash flow sensitivity of cash and mitigates the importance of accounting quality in reducing this sensitivity. This additional evidence suggests that our investment–cash flow sensitivity results are not driven by measurement error of the investment opportunity set.
Les conséquences de la proximité de l’information contenue dans les états financiers et de l’information rétroactive relative aux prévisions de flux de trésorerie
Authors: HODGE FRANK D. , HOPKINS PATRICK E. , WOOD DAVID A.
Published: January 2015

Le Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) et l’International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), dans leur projet conjoint de norme relative à la présentation des états financiers, remettent à l’étude les éléments de base de la présentation des états financiers. Les discussions préliminaires des deux organismes dans le cadre de ce projet indiquent qu’ils entendent modifier les états financiers exigés de manière à accroître la proximité de l’information liée à la performance relative à chaque période. Les auteurs apportent des preuves en ce qui a trait à ce changement potentiel en analysant l’incidence de la proximité de l’information contenue dans les états financiers sur la capacité des investisseurs d’assimiler les propriétés sérielles des données relatives aux flux de trésorerie et aux régularisations qui sont présentées, pertinentes à la formulation de prévisions. Ils examinent également le rôle que joue l’information rétroactive dans cette relation. Les résultats expérimentaux de l’étude semblent indiquer que les investisseurs non professionnels sont en mesure d’assimiler plus rapidement la relation entre les flux de trésorerie et les régularisations de la période courante et la matérialisation des flux de trésorerie futurs lorsque l’information contenue dans les états financiers est présentée dans un seul état plutôt que lorsqu’elle est subdivisée en deux états. Les auteurs constatent en outre que les investisseurs non professionnels affichent des degrés plus faibles d’erreurs prévisionnelles absolues et une dispersion des prévisions moins grande lorsque l’information contenue dans les états financiers leur est communiquée dans un seul état. Enfin, les auteurs démontrent que les investisseurs non professionnels à qui sont communiquées sur une seule page des observations rétroactives exhaustives quant aux résultats assimilent plus rapidement l’information au départ et, une fois l’apprentissage intégré, formulent des prévisions exactes avec plus de régularité que les investisseurs à qui sont communiquées en deux pages des observations rétroactives, exhaustives ou limitées. Dans l’ensemble, les résultats de l’étude tendent à démontrer l’efficacité des solutions de rechange quant à la présentation des états financiers et l’utilité potentielle de la communication d’observations rétroactives plus exhaustives.
The Effects of Financial Statement Information Proximity and Feedback on Cash Flow Forecasts
Authors: HODGE FRANK D. , HOPKINS PATRICK E. , WOOD DAVID A.
Published: January 2015

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), in their joint Financial Statement Presentation project, are reconsidering the basic format of financial statements. The Boards’ preliminary discussions related to this joint project indicate that they intend to modify the required financial statements to increase the proximity of performance‐related information for each reported period. We provide evidence related to this potential change by investigating the effects of financial statement information proximity on investors’ ability to learn the forecast‐relevant time series properties of reported cash flows and accruals. We also examine the role feedback plays in this relationship. Our experimental results suggest that nonprofessional investors are able to more quickly learn the relation between current period cash flows and accruals and future cash flow realizations when financial statement information is presented in a single statement rather than separated into two statements. In addition, we find that nonprofessional investors exhibit lower levels of absolute forecast errors and less forecast dispersion when financial statement information is unified into a single statement. Finally, we provide evidence that nonprofessional investors who receive extensive outcome feedback on a single page initially learn more quickly and later, after learning has leveled off, accurately forecast more consistently than do investors who receive extensive or limited feedback spread across two pages. Overall, our results provide evidence on the effectiveness of alternate financial statement presentation formats and the potential usefulness of receiving more extensive feedback.
When Do Analysts Adjust for Biases in Management Guidance? Effects of Guidance Track Record and Analysts’ Incentives
Authors: TAN HUN‐TONG , LIBBY ROBERT , HUNTON JAMES E.
Published: January 2015

Prior research indicates that analysts do not fully adjust for the general downward bias in earnings guidance issued by management. We report the results of two experiments designed to investigate how guidance track record and analysts’ incentives jointly explain the extent to which analysts adjust for guidance bias. Our results suggest that analysts with accuracy incentives adjust for management’s track record of downwardly biased guidance when the bias is relatively small (one cent), but those with relationship incentives do not. Furthermore, the difference in adjustment is larger when the bias track record is inconsistent than when it is consistent. Also, when guidance bias is larger (two cents) relative to smaller (one cent), analysts with relationship incentives partially adjust, as they appear to strike a balance between accuracy and their desire to please management. These findings hold implications for investors, regulators, and the interpretation of prior research.
Analysts’ Use of Nonfinancial Information Disclosures
Authors: SIMPSON ANA
Published: January 2015

In this study I examine how analysts process nonfinancial information and how this is affected by the patterns of firms’ nonfinancial information disclosures. More specifically, I examine the association between analyst earnings forecast errors and the persistence of nonfinancial disclosures, both across information content and over time. The study focuses on firms in the wireless industry for the period 1997–2007. The results show that analysts tend to underreact to the information contained in customer acquisition cost, average revenue per user, and the number of subscribers. These are the performance measures that have significant predictive ability for future earnings of wireless firms. Distinguishing between firms on the basis of their nonfinancial disclosure patterns reveals that the above findings are driven primarily by firms with irregular disclosures. There is no evidence of analysts’ inefficiency in evaluating the content of nonfinancial metrics provided by persistently disclosing firms. This implies that the lack of systematic disclosures of performance measures restricts financial analysts’ ability to fully analyze the contributions of these metrics for future earnings.
Signaling Firm Performance Through Financial Statement Presentation: An Analysis Using Special Items
Authors: RIEDL EDWARD J. , SRINIVASAN SURAJ
Published: January 2015

This paper investigates whether managers’ presentation of special items within the financial statements reflects economic performance or opportunism. Specifically, we assess special items presented as a separate line item on the income statement (income statement presentation) to those aggregated within another line item with disclosure only in the footnotes (footnote presentation). Our study is motivated by standard‐setting interest in performance reporting and financial statement presentation, as well as prior research investigating managers’ presentation choices in other contexts. Empirical results reveal that special items receiving income statement presentation are less persistent relative to those receiving footnote presentation. These results are consistent across numerous alternative specifications. Overall, the findings are consistent with managers using the income statement versus footnote presentation to assist users in identifying those special items most likely to differ from other components of earnings — that is, for informational, as opposed to opportunistic, motivations.
The relationship between motivation and achievement in interdependent situations
Authors: Johnson David W. , Johnson Roger T. , Roseth Cary , Shin Tae Seob
Published: January 2015

This meta‐analysis investigates the degree to which achievement is positively associated with motivation within situations characterized by positive, negative, and no interdependence. First, the relative effects of positive, negative, and no interdependence on motivation and achievement were determined. Then the amount of variance in achievement explained by motivation (and vice versa) was calculated. In all, 629 independent studies were included, representing 26 different countries. Results also showed that motivation accounted for 14% of the variance in achievement (and vice versa). When the lowest‐quality studies were eliminated, the percentage of achievement explained by motivation increased to 24%. Positive interdependence resulted in greater motivation and achievement than did negative or no interdependence. Implications for theory and application are discussed.
Development of Sediment and Nutrient Export Coefficients for U.S. Ecoregions
Authors: White Michael , Harmel Daren , Yen Haw , Arnold Jeff , Gambone Marilyn , Haney Richard
Published: January 2015

Water quality impairment due to excessive nutrients and sediment is a major problem in the United States (U.S.). An important step in the mitigation of impairment in any given water body is determination of pollutant sources and amount. The sheer number of impaired waters and limited resources makes simplistic load estimation methods such as export coefficient (EC) methods attractive. Unfortunately ECs are typically based on small watershed monitoring data, which are very limited and/or often based on data collected from distant watersheds with drastically different conditions. In this research, we seek to improve the accuracy of these nutrient export estimation methods by developing a national database of localized EC for each ecoregion in the U.S. A stochastic sampling methodology loosely based on the Monte‐Carlo technique was used to construct a database of 45 million Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) simulations. These simulations consider a variety of climate, topography, soils, weather, land use, management, and conservation implementation conditions. SWAT model simulations were successfully validated with edge‐of‐field monitoring data. Simulated nutrient ECs compared favorably with previously published studies. These ECs may be used to rapidly estimate nutrient loading for any small catchment in the U.S. provided the location, area, and land‐use distribution are known.
Identifying and Evaluating a Suitable Index for Agricultural Drought Monitoring in the Texas High Plains
Authors: Moorhead Jerry E. , Gowda Prasanna H. , Singh Vijay P. , Porter Dana O. , Marek Thomas H. , Howell Terry A. , Stewart B.A.
Published: January 2015

Drought is a complex and highly destructive natural phenomenon that affects portions of the United States almost every year, and severe water deficiencies can often become catastrophic for agricultural production. Evapotranspiration (ET) by crops is an important component in the agricultural water budget; thus, it is advantageous to include ET in agricultural drought monitoring. The main objectives of this study were to (1) conduct a literature review of drought indices with a focus to identify a simple but simultaneously adequate drought index for monitoring agricultural drought in a semiarid region and (2) using the identified drought index method, develop and evaluate time series of that drought index for the Texas High Plains. Based on the literature review, the Standardized Precipitation‐Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) was found to satisfy identified constraints for assessing agricultural drought. However, the SPEI was revised by replacing reference ET with potential crop ET to better represent actual water demand. Data from the Texas High Plains Evapotranspiration network was used to calculate SPEIs for the major irrigated crops. Trends and magnitudes of crop‐specific, time‐series SPEIs followed crop water demand patterns for summer crops. Such an observation suggests that a modified SPEI is an appropriate index to monitor agricultural drought for summer crops, but it was found to not account for soil water stored during the summer fallow period for winter wheat.
Seeking, Thinking, Acting: Understanding Suburban Resident Perceptions and Behaviors Related to Stream Quality
Authors: Slagle Kristina M. , Wilson Robyn S. , Heeren Alexander
Published: January 2015

Theories in risk, psychology, and communication suggest aiming to inform the public about basic ecological facts may not be enough to influence knowledge of risks or behaviors to mitigate water quality risks. The risk information‐seeking and processing model and the theory of planned behavior suggest several additional variables that are likely to influence risk‐mitigating behaviors. We used data from a survey of watershed residents in Ohio to explore a model of behavioral intentions to positively impact stream health. Residents' informational norms, or the perceived pressure to know about local stream health, strongly predicted their information‐seeking behaviors. Active‐seeking behaviors predicted positive attitudes toward behaviors impacting stream health, which predicted intentions to positively impact stream health. Implications for outreach include couching communication in terms of risk found important to the local community, here wildlife were seen as negatively influenced by water quality, as opposed to plain reports typically provided by utility companies. Increasing social pressure to feel informed by emphasizing the existing knowledge of stream ecology among residents could change the norm for the less informed. A low response rate limits the generalizability of findings here, but leveraging these findings in outreach efforts could prove more successful in engaging the public to improve stream health and support policies to improve stream health.
Comparative phylogeography of land snail species in mountain refugia in the European Southern Alps
Authors: Nägele Kathrin‐Lisa , Hausdorf Bernhard
Published: January 2015

Aim

We investigated the location of Pleistocene mountain refugia in the European Southern Alps based on distribution data for four endemic land snail taxa and tested the hypothesis that the subdivision of species into endemic subspecies may be attributed to the same vicariance events.

Location

The European Southern Alps between Lago di Como and Lago di Garda in Italy.

Methods

We compiled distributional data for four land snail species (Cochlostoma porroi, Clausilia brembina, Clausilia whateliana and Charpentieria itala), which are subdivided into endemic subspecies in the study region, and investigated to what extent their distribution areas are congruent and correspond to regions that remained unglaciated during the glacials. To examine also whether their phylogeographic patterns are concordant, as would be expected if the subdivision of the species was caused by the same vicariance events, we reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships between the subspecies of the four species using 16S rDNA sequences and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) data.

Results

The endemic subspecies were found to be concentrated in mountain regions that remained unglaciated during the glacials, consistent with these regions acting as Pleistocene refugia for these snails. Although the Oglio glacier did not equally affect the differentiation of the investigated species, the repeated contractions of their ranges into these refugia resulted in similar patterns of colonization and differentiation.

Main conclusions

Climate change such as the recurrent glaciations during the Pleistocene can result in similar distribution and colonization patterns, but the patterns in different species and their evolutionary trajectories are rarely completely identical because of their different histories, the randomness of dispersal, and small differences in ecology or dispersal capability.
Structuring the peer assessment process: a multilevel approach for the impact on product improvement and peer feedback quality
Authors: Gielen M. , De Wever B.
Published: January 2015

In order to optimize students' peer feedback processes, this study investigates how an instructional intervention in the peer assessment process can have a beneficial effect on students' performance in a wiki environment in first‐year higher education. The main aim was to study the effect of integrating a peer feedback template with a varying structuring degree. The present study involved three conditions: a no structure, a basic structure and an elaborate structure condition. Due to a clear hierarchical structure, in which over time (level 1), 168 students (level 2) are nested within 37 groups (level 3), multilevel analysis was performed to examine the effect of time, student and group level influences on students' peer feedback quality and product scores. The results revealed that both peer feedback quality and product scores increase significantly for all conditions over time, after multiple practice occasions. In addition, after several practice occasions, significant differences were found between the conditions in both peer feedback (elaborate higher than no structure) and product scores (elaborate and basic higher than no structure). Building on this, limitations, directions for future research and practical implications are presented.
Mitochondrial proteomics with siRNA knockdown to reveal ACAT1 and MDH2 in the development of doxorubicin‐resistant uterine cancer
Authors: Lo Yi‐Wen , Lin Szu‐Ting , Chang Shing‐Jyh , Chan Chia‐Hao , Lyu Kevin W. , Chang Jo‐Fan , May Eugenie Wong Soon , Lin Dai‐Ying , Chou Hsiu‐Chuan , Chan Hong‐Lin
Published: January 2015

Mitochondria are key organelles in mammary cells in responsible for a number of cellular functions including cell survival and energy metabolism. Moreover, mitochondria are one of the major targets under doxorubicin treatment. In this study, low‐abundant mitochondrial proteins were enriched for proteomic analysis with the state‐of‐the‐art two‐dimensional differential gel electrophoresis (2D‐DIGE) and matrix‐assistant laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF MS) strategy to compare and identify the mitochondrial protein profiling changes in response to the development of doxorubicin resistance in human uterine cancer cells. The mitochondrial proteomic results demonstrate more than fifteen hundred protein features were resolved from the equal amount pooled of three purified mitochondrial proteins and 101 differentially expressed spots were identified. In which, 39 out of these 101 identified proteins belong to mitochondrial proteins. Mitochondrial proteins such as acetyl‐CoA acetyltransferase (ACAT1) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH2) have not been reported with the roles on the formation of doxorubicin resistance in our knowledge. Further studies have used RNA interference and cell viability analysis to evidence the essential roles of ACAT1 and MDH2 on their potency in the formation of doxorubicin resistance through increased cell viability and decreased cell apoptosis during doxorubicin treatment. To sum up, our current mitochondrial proteomic approaches allowed us to identify numerous proteins, including ACAT1 and MDH2, involved in various drug‐resistance‐forming mechanisms. Our results provide potential diagnostic markers and therapeutic candidates for the treatment of doxorubicin‐resistant uterine cancer.
Functionalization of titanium implants using a modular system for binding and release of VEGF enhances bone‐implant contact in a rodent model
Authors: Schliephake Henning , Rublack Jennifer , Förster Anne , Schwenzer Bernd , Reichert Judith , Scharnweber Dieter
Published: January 2015

Aims

To test the immobilization of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF165) on the surface of titanium implants using DNA oligonucleotide (ODN) anchor strands for the ability to enhance periimplant bone formation.

Materials and Methods

DNA oligonucleotides were anchored to the surface of sandblasted acid‐etched (SAE) titanium screw implants and were hybridized with complementary strands of ODN conjugated to rhVEGF165. The implants were tested against blank SAE implants and SAE implants with nano‐anchored ODN. The implants were inserted into the tibiae of 36 Sprague–Dawley rats. Primary outcome parameters were bone‐implant contact (BIC), amount of new bone formation and periimplant bone density (BD). density after 1, 4 and 13 weeks. Unit of analysis has been the individual implant.

Results

Implants with rhVEGF165 hybridized to ODN anchor strands exhibited significantly increased average BIC after 1 month compared to blank implants and implants with anchored ODN strands.

Conclusions

It is concluded that rhVEGF165immobilized on the surface of titanium implants through nano‐anchored oligonucleotide strands can accelerate BIC of sandblasted and etched titanium implants to a certain extent. The radius of effect of the growth factor appears to be limited to tissue immediately adjacent to the implant surface.
Impact of extracorporeal shockwave therapy on tooth mobility in adult orthodontic patients: a randomized single‐center placebo‐controlled clinical trial
Authors: Falkensammer Frank , Rausch‐Fan Xiaohui , Schaden Wolfgang , Kivaranovic Danijel , Freudenthaler Josef
Published: January 2015

Aim

This RCT investigated the effect of non‐invasive extracorporeal shockwaves on tooth mobility in orthodontic patients after active treatment.

Materials and methods

Seventy‐two adult patients were included in the study. Immediately after active orthodontic treatment, patients were assigned to a treatment or a placebo group based on block randomization. The orthodontic patients were required to be otherwise healthy. The region of interest was the anterior portion of the mandible. The treatment group received a single shockwave treatment with 1000 impulses while the placebo group was treated with an acoustic sham. Tooth mobility was evaluated over a period of 6 months using a Periotest and manual testing. Pocket probing depths, bleeding on probing and the irregularity index were also assessed.

Results

Tooth mobility reduced significantly over 6 months in both groups, but shockwaves achieved significantly more rapid reduction on manual testing. Probing depth was significantly reduced while the irregularity index remained stable. Bleeding on probing was significantly reduced in the treatment group. No anti‐inflammatory effect could be derived due to possible initial group differences.

Conclusions

The mobility of teeth aligned by orthodontic treatment reduces over time. Shockwave treatment appeared to reduce tooth mobility more rapidly.
Establishment of maturity‐onset diabetes of the young‐induced pluripotent stem cells from a Japanese patient
Authors: Yabe Shigeharu G , Iwasaki Naoko , Yasuda Kazuki , Hamazaki Tatsuo S , Konno Masamitsu , Fukuda Satsuki , Takeda Fujie , Kasuga Masato , Okochi Hitoshi
Published: January 2015

Maturity‐onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is a heterozygous monogenic diabetes; more than 13 disease genes have been identified. However, the pathogenesis of MODY is not fully understood, because the pancreatic β‐cells of the patients are inaccessable. Therefore, we attempted to establish MODY patient‐derived induced pluripotent stem cells (MODY‐iPS) cells to investigate the pathogenic mechanism of MODY by inducing pancreatic β‐cells. We established MODY5‐iPS cells from a Japanese patient with MODY5 (R177X), and confirmed that MODY5‐iPS cells possessed the characteristics of pluripotent stem cells. In the course of differentiation from MODY5‐iPS cells into pancreatic β‐cells, we examined the disease gene, HNF1B messenger ribonucleic acid. We found that the amount of R177X mutant transcripts was much less than that of wild ones, but they increased after adding cycloheximide to the medium. These results suggest that these R177X mutant messenger ribonucleic acids are disrupted by nonsense‐mediated messenger ribonucleic acid decay in MODY‐iPS cells during the developmental stages of pancreatic β‐cells.
Corneal confocal microscopy: Recent progress in the evaluation of diabetic neuropathy
Authors: Papanas Nikolaos , Ziegler Dan
Published: January 2015

The present brief review discusses recent progress with corneal confocal microscopy for the evaluation of diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy. Corneal confocal microscopy is a new, non‐invasive and reproducible diagnostic modality, and it can also be easily applied for patient follow up. It enables new perspectives of studying the natural history of diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy, severity of nerve fiber pathology and documenting early nerve fiber regeneration after therapeutic intervention. It shows moderate to high sensitivity and specificity for the timely diagnosis of diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy. Currently, corneal confocal microscopy is mainly used in specialized centers, but deserves more widespread application for the assessment of diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy. Finally, further progress is required in terms of technical improvements for automated nerve fiber quantification and for analysis of larger images.
Adverse Selection and Moral Hazard in Equity Partnerships: Evidence from Hollywood's Slate Financing Agreements
Authors: Opitz Christian , Hofmann Kay H.
Published: January 2015

We use a movie industry project‐by‐project data set to analyze the principal–agent problem in slate financing arrangements. Under this specific film financing regime, which has become a significant mode of raising capital in Hollywood over the past decade, an external investor concludes a long‐term contract with a film producer and commits to cofinance a larger number of future film projects of that particular partner. In line with our theoretical conjectures, slate cofinanced movies receive poorer quality ratings and yield considerably lower return rates. Our data suggests that a substantial part of these performance differences may be attributed to adverse project selection and producer moral hazard.
Selection Biases in Complementary R&D Projects
Authors: Choi Jay Pil , Gerlach Heiko
Published: January 2015

This paper analyzes selection biases in the project choice of complementary technologies that are used in combination to produce a final product. In the presence of complementary technologies, patents allow innovating firms to hold up rivals who succeed in developing other system components. This hold‐up makes innovation rewards independent of project difficulties and firms excessively cluster their R&D efforts on a relatively easier technology in order to preemptively claim stakes on component property rights. This selection bias is persistent and robust to several model extensions. Implications for the optimal design of intellectual property rights are discussed.
Experimental Study of Firm Bounded Rationality and the Pattern of Trade
Authors: Kelley Hugh
Published: January 2015

This paper describes an experiment and simulation with features of a spatially explicit trading environment. Decision makers repeatedly make decisions about firm headquarters, input demands, and export patterns. A goal of this research is to determine if subjects’ management decisions reflect profit maximization, learning, or heuristic decision making. It also considers what impact decision makers’ bounded rationality has on the aggregate pattern of trade. Results indicate that bounded rationality in the form of learning and heuristic decision making are ubiquitous features of subjects’ decisions. This manifests as under‐reaction to trade‐driver stimuli and produces Trefler's missing trade, suggesting a behavioral basis for this anomaly.
Preliminary Evidence That Bioactive Cements Occlude Artificial Marginal Gaps
Authors: Jefferies Steven R. , Fuller Alexander E. , Boston Daniel W.
Published: January 2015

Purpose

The objective of this preliminary laboratory study was to explore whether bioactive dental cements have the ability to seal marginal gaps as compared with other classes of dental cements.

Materials and Methods

Tooth discs (dentin/enamel) were positioned adjacent to a second disc of one of five possible dental cements (two bioactive and three conventional) and separated by a 50‐μm Mylar film, creating a controlled gap between the two discs. The edges of the tooth segments were abraded to expose dentin such that the dentin interface was positioned opposite the cement. The artificial gap assembly was stabilized with adhesive and composite resin. Artificial gap assemblies for each cement type were immersed in a phosphate‐containing, simulated body fluid (phosphate buffered saline) for up to 8 months. Occlusion of artificial marginal gaps (including deposition of crystal‐like, mineralized deposits within the gaps) was observed and scored categorically during the observation period. Deposition of radiodense material within the artificial marginal gap space was confirmed by micro‐computerized tomography analysis.

Results

There was no evidence of marginal gap occlusion for the three conventional control cements, whereas both bioactive, surface apatite‐forming cements demonstrated occlusion of the artificial marginal gaps.

Conclusions

The preliminary findings of this initial study suggest the possible capability of surface apatite‐forming, calcium‐based, bioactive dental cements to seal or reseal artificial marginal gaps in simulated aqueous physiological conditions.

Clinical Significance

The results of this laboratory study, although preliminary in nature, suggest a new functional property for bioactive dental materials, namely the ability to significantly improve marginal stability with tooth/restorative material interface. Such behavior in a restorative material could improve the survival and serviceability of dental restorations.
Structural Properties and Mechanical Durability of Extruded Fish Feed
Authors: Haubjerg A.F. , Veje C.T. , Jørgensen B.N. , Simonsen B. , Løvgreen S.
Published: January 2015

This article investigates the possible correlation between mechanical properties of fish feed pellets and their mechanical durability. Mechanical properties were obtained by texture profile analysis (TPA) and stress relaxation test (SRT) of different types of fish feed. The results were correlated against a conventional test of mechanical durability (DORIS, Durability On a Realistic, test). From SRT it was found that for achieving a high durability, pellets should be able to relax an applied force nonelastically. From TPA, it was found that a durable pellet should also be able to return its original state after a deformation. By fitting SRT data with a two time constant generalized Maxwell model, it was found that the largest time constant is ∼7 s. The waiting time in‐between the two impacts in TPA was increased from 5 to 15 s, which significantly improved the correlations against mechanical durability.

Practical Applications

The results indicate that a waiting time of more than ∼7 s will allow the extruded fish feed pellet to relax to its equilibrium state. This can be readily implemented in the texture profile analysis method to increase the response in correlations between structural properties and mechanical durability. The specific results presented in this article indicate that the viscoelastic behavior of the pellets should be controlled to increase mechanical durability. The realizations from this work will benefit future research aiming to promote mechanical durability of fish feed pellets in the drying process. The concept and findings will however find use in the assessment and promotion of mechanical durability for a much wider range of dry feed and food products.
Medication Misadventures in Older Adults: Literature from 2013
Authors: Hanlon Joseph T. , Semla Todd P. , Schmader Kenneth E.
Published: January 2015

The objective of this paper is to review articles published in 2013 examining drug‐related problems in the elderly and comment on their potential impact on clinical practice. To identify articles, we did a systematic search of the English‐language literature restricted to those aged 65 + from January 2013 to December 2013 using Medline and Google Scholar and a combination of the following search terms: drug‐related problems, medication‐related problems, medication errors, suboptimal prescribing, inappropriate prescribing, underutilization, polypharmacy, medication monitoring, medication dispensing, medication administration, medication adherence, adverse drug events, and adverse drug withdrawal events. A manual search of major general medicine and clinical pharmacology journals was also conducted to identify additional articles. A total of 51 articles were identified of which 20 were chosen to highlight. Three were annotated and critiqued and the additional 17 articles were summarized in an appendix. One article reported the results of a randomized controlled trial that showed that a pharmacist intervention successfully reduced suboptimal prescribing in older hospital patients. Another paper from this group previously reported data from the same study showing that the intervention also reduced medication related readmissions to the hospital. An observational study compared the use of two thiazide diuretics in older outpatients. They found that chlorthalidone was more likely to cause hypokalemia than hydrochlorothiazide. Finally, in a randomized controlled trial a pharmacist intervention resulted in the reduction of anticholinergic burden but did result in an improvement in cognition. These studies highlight that medication errors and adverse drug events continue to be important issues for health care professionals caring for older adults.
Better Access, Quality, and Cost for Clinically Complex Veterans with Home‐Based Primary Care
Authors: Edes Thomas , Kinosian Bruce , Vuckovic Nancy H. , Olivia Nichols Linda , Mary Becker Margaret , Hossain Monir
Published: January 2015

In successfully reducing healthcare expenditures, patient goals must be met and savings differentiated from cost shifting. Although the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) program for chronically ill individuals has resulted in cost reduction for the VA, it is unknown whether cost reduction results from restricting services or shifting costs to Medicare and whether HBPC meets patient goals. Cost projection using a hierarchical condition category (HCC) model adapted to the VA was used to determine VA plus Medicare projected costs for 9,425 newly enrolled HBPC recipients. Projected annual costs were compared with observed annualized costs before and during HBPC. To assess patient perspectives of care, 31 veterans and caregivers were interviewed from three representative programs. During HBPC, Medicare costs were 10.8% lower than projected, VA plus Medicare costs were 11.7% lower than projected, and combined hospitalizations were 25.5% lower than during the period without HBPC. Patients reported high satisfaction with HBPC team access, education, and continuity of care, which they felt contributed to fewer exacerbations, emergency visits, and hospitalizations. HBPC improves access while reducing hospitalizations and total cost. Medicare is currently testing the HBPC approach through the Independence at Home demonstration.
Expressing an (E)‐β‐farnesene synthase in the chloroplast of tobacco affects the preference of green peach aphid and its parasitoid
Authors: Wang Gen‐Ping , Yu Xiu‐Dao , Fan Jia , Wang Cheng‐She , Xia Lan‐Qin
Published: January 2015

(E)‐β‐Farnesene (EβF) synthase catalyses the production of EβF, which for many aphids is the main or only component of the alarm pheromone causing the repellence of aphids and also functions as a kairomone for aphids' natural enemies. Many plants possess EβF synthase genes and can release EβF to repel aphids. In order to effectively recruit the plant‐derived EβF synthase genes for aphid control, by using chloroplast transit peptide (CTP) of the small subunit of Rubisco (rbcS) from wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), we targeted AaβFS1, an EβF synthase gene from sweet wormwood (Artemisia annua L.), to the chloroplast of tobacco to generate CTP + AaβFS1 transgenic lines. The CTP + AaβFS1 transgenic tobacco plants could emit EβF at a level up to 19.25 ng/day per g fresh tissues, 4–12 fold higher than the AaβFS1 transgenic lines without chloroplast targeting. Furthermore, aphid/parasitoid behavioral bioassays demonstrated that the CTP + AaβFS1 transgenic tobacco showed enhanced repellence to green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) and attracted response of its parasitoid Diaeretiella rapae, thus affecting aphid infestation at two trophic levels. These data suggest that the chloroplast is an ideal subcellular compartment for metabolic engineering of plant‐derived EβF synthase genes to generate a novel type of transgenic plant emitting an alarm pheromone for aphid control.