bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The employability of older workers as teleworkers: An appraisal of issues and an empirical study
Authors: Sharit Joseph , Czaja Sara J. , Hernandez Mario A. , Nair Sankaran N.
Published: July 2009

The aging of the population and, concomitantly, of the workforce has a number of important implications for governments, businesses, and workers. In this article, we examine the prospects for the employability of older workers as home‐based teleworkers. This alternative work could accommodate many of the needs and preferences of older workers and at the same time benefit organizations. However, before telework can be considered a viable work option for many older workers there are a number of issues to consider, including the ability of older workers to adapt to the technological demands that are typically associated with telework jobs and managerial attitudes about older workers and about telework. Through an integrated examination of these and other issues, our goal is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the challenges associated with employing older workers as teleworkers. We also present findings from a questionnaire study that assessed managers' perceptions of worker attributes desirable for telework and how older workers compare to younger workers on these attributes. The sample included 314 managers with varying degrees of managerial experience from a large variety of companies in the United States. The results presented a mixed picture with respect to the employability of older workers as teleworkers, and strongly suggested that less experienced managers would be more resistant to hiring older people as teleworkers. We conclude with a number of recommendations for improving the prospects for employment of older workers for this type of work arrangement. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Body size, adult BMI gain and endometrial cancer risk: the multiethnic cohort
Authors: Park Sungshim Lani , Goodman Marc T. , Zhang Zuo‐Feng , Kolonel Laurence N. , Henderson Brian E. , Setiawan Veronica Wendy
Published: July 2009

The effect of body size and change in BMI on endometrial cancer risk across different racial/ethnic groups has not been studied. We examined the association between body size and endometrial cancer risk and potential effect modification of other risk factors among 50,376 women in the Multiethnic Cohort Study. During 10.3 years of follow‐up, 463 endometrial cancer cases were identified. Epidemiologic data were collected from the baseline questionnaire. “BMI change” was defined as the percentage of body mass index change from age 21 to the time of recruitment. Women who were heavier at age 21 or at baseline (weight ≥ 53.5 kg or ≥ 63.9 kg, respectively) had an increased endometrial cancer risk compared to the lowest quartile of weight during the respective periods. BMI gain ≥ 35% had a RR of 4.12 (95% CI: 2.69, 6.30) compared to the reference group (−5% ≤ BMI change <+5%). Women who averaged an annual BMI gain ≥ 1% had a >3.21‐fold (95% CI: 2.37, 4.33) increased risk compared to women who maintained a stable adult BMI (−0.25 to <+0.25%). The highest risk associated with BMI gain was observed among nulliparous women and postmenopausal women who never used hormone therapy. Although African Americans and Whites showed an increase in risk after ≥35% BMI gain, Japanese Americans showed an increase in risk with much smaller gain (≥5%). In conclusion, adult obesity and increase in adiposity are risk factors for endometrial cancer; and the risk associated with these factors may vary across racial/ethnic groups.
α‐Smooth muscle actin‐expressing cells and lubricin in periprosthetic tissue
Authors: Funakoshi Tadanao , Martin Scott D. , Wolf Bryce T. , Schmid Thomas M. , Thornhill Thomas S. , Spector Myron
Published: July 2009

The objective of the study was to evaluate the distributions of (1) cells expressing the contractile actin isoform, α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA) and (2) a lubricating and antiadhesion glycoprotein, lubricin, in the tissue around loose joint replacement prostheses in human subjects. Periprostehtic tissue resected at revision arthroplasty of noncemented glenoid components of total shoulder arthroplasties was obtained from 10 patients. Samples of periprosthetic tissue were stained with monoclonal antibodies to α‐SMA and lubricin. α‐SMA was found in cells, principally of fibroblast morphology, in many of the fields of view (FOVs) in samples from all patients. Moderate correlations were observed between the percentage of FOVs containing α‐SMA‐expressing cells and the percentages of FOVs containing polyethylene (R2 = 0.79) and metallic (R2 = 0.75) particles. Lubricin was identified (1) as a discrete layer on the surface, (2) within the extracellular matrix, and (3) intracellularly. These lubricin‐positive features were found in samples from all patients. Strong correlations were noted between the percentages of FOVs with matrix and intracellular lubricin staining (R2 = 0.97) and between the percentages of FOVs with surface and matrix staining for lubricin (R2 = 0.96). Having established the presence of α‐SMA and lubricin in periprosthetic tissue, hypotheses regarding their role in the development and persistence of periprosthetic tissue can be synthesized for future study: for example, α‐SMA‐enabled contracture of the fibrous periprosthetic tissue results in its densification, and lubricin‐coated surfaces interfere with integrative repair processes necessary for resorption and remodeling. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2010
Poly(methacrylic acid‐co‐methyl methacrylate) beads promote vascularization and wound repair in diabetic mice
Authors: Martin Daniel C. , Semple John L. , Sefton Michael V.
Published: July 2009

Topical application of beads made from poly(methacrylic acid‐co‐methyl methacrylate) (45 mol % methacrylic acid, MAA) increased the number of blood vessels and improved 1.5 × 1.5 cm full thickness wound closure in a diabetic mouse (db/db) model. Three groups were compared: MAA beads, control poly(methyl methacrylate) beads (PMMA), and no bead blanks. MAA bead treatment significantly increased percent wound closure at all timepoints (7, 14, and 21 days) with MAA bead‐treated wounds almost closed at day 21 (91 ± 5.4% MAA vs. 79 ± 3.2% PMMA or 76 ± 4.8% no beads; p < 0.05). This was consistent with the expected significant increase in vascularity in the MAA group at days 7 and 14. For example at day 14, MAA bead‐treated wounds had a vascular density of 22.7 ± 2.6 vessels/hpf compared with 17.0 ± 2.0 vessels/hpf in the PMMA bead group (p < 0.05). Epithelial gap and migration measurements suggested that the increased vascularity leads to enhanced epithelial cell migration as a principal means of wound closure. Although studies are underway to elucidate the mechanism of this angiogenic response, the results presented here support the notion that such materials, perhaps in other forms, may be useful in wound care or in other situations where vascularity is to be enhanced without the use of exogenous growth factors. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2010
Surface‐induced cell signaling events control actin rearrangements and motility
Authors: Miller Ian S. , Lynch Iseult , Dowling Denis , Dawson Kenneth A. , Gallagher William M.
Published: July 2009

Understanding the interrelationship between material surface properties and the biological response to such materials remains a fundamental scientific challenge, as well as being of considerable practical importance in medicine. Through the use of a homologous series of copolymers of increasing hydrophobicity, we aimed to illuminate the interplay between material surface hydrophobicity and signalling events within cells in contact with this model system. Extending previous work, we hereby unravel key pathways controlling cell motility and the formation of a stellate phenotype, following interaction with polymer‐coated surfaces. We reveal a comparative increase in cellular motility with increasing surface hydrophilicity, conjoint with an arrest in cell cycle progression. We also show an anomalous turnover of actin within the cell as a function of changing surface hydrophobicity. Finally, we show that cyclic adenosine monophosphate may be an effector of the cellular phenotype, as its production is increased in response to changes in the surface properties. These results highlight important signaling events which control actin rearrangements and the subsequent motility and its effectors. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2010
W7FW14F apomyoglobin amyloid aggregates‐mediated apoptosis is due to oxidative stress and AKT inactivation caused by Ras and Rac
Authors: Sirangelo Ivana , Iannuzzi Clara , Vilasi Silvia , Irace Gaetano , Giuberti Gaia , Misso Gabriella , D'Alessandro Annamaria , Abbruzzese Alberto , Caraglia Michele
Published: July 2009

We have previously reported that addition of prefibrillar aggregates (PFAs) derived from W7FW14F apomyoglobin mutant to NIH‐3T3 cells affects their viability. In this article, we have found that cytotoxicity induced by PFAs in NIH 3T3 and SH‐SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells was due to early activation of apoptotic cell death dependent from a caspase‐3‐ and ‐9‐mediated mitochondrial pathway. A time‐dependent increase of intracellular ROS and an about twofold decrease of mitochondrial localization of scavenger protein MnSOD was found. The use of the anti‐oxidant agent N‐acetyl‐cysteine (NAC) antagonized both the increase of intracellular ROS and apoptosis induced by PFAs. PFAs caused an about 60% increase of the activity of both Ras and Erk‐1/2 at 30 and 45 min while they were restored to basal levels at later time points. This effect was paralleled by a time‐dependent decrease of the activity of the survival enzyme Akt. Effects similar to those on Ras activity were also recorded on the activity of the stress involved small GTP binding protein Rac that was about 75% increased after 30 min but resumed to basal levels at later time points. This effect was paralleled by a time‐dependent activation of p38 kinase activity and HSP‐70 expression. The use of both the ras farnesyltransferase inhibitor tipifarnib and the Rac geranyl‐geranyltransferase GGTI‐298, but not of the MEK‐1 inhibitor U0126 partially antagonized the effects of PFAs on apoptosis occurrence. On the other hand, the PI3K/Akt inhibitor LY 294002 potentiated apoptosis induced by PFAs. Our results indicate a role for Ras and Rac in the induction of both intracellular ROS increased levels and apoptosis mediated by PFAs and disclose a new scenario of intervention in neurodegenerative diseases. J. Cell. Physiol. 221: 412–423, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ring transformation of spirocyclopropanepyrazoles into pyrano[2,3‐c]pyrazoles
Authors: Maruoka Hiroshi , Masumoto Eiichi , Eishima Takafumi , Okabe Fumi , Nishida Sho , Yoshimura Yuki , Fujioka Toshihiro , Yamagata Kenji
Published: July 2009

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An approach to pyrano[2,3‐c]pyrazoles starting from spirocyclopropanepyrazoles via a ring‐opening/cyanomethylation and intramolecular cyclization is described. Reactions of spirocyclopropanepyrazoles 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d with chloroacetonitrile in the presence of sodium hydride gave the corresponding cyanomethoxypyrazoles 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d. Treatment of 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d with sodium hydride at room temperature caused intramolecular Michael addition reaction to afford the corresponding pyrano[2,3‐c]pyrazoles 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2009).
One‐pot synthesis of quinazoline‐2,4(1H,3H)‐diones and 2‐thioxoquinazolinones with the aid of low‐valent titanium reagent
Authors: Dou Guo‐Lan , Wang Man‐Man , Huang Zhi‐Bin , Shi Da‐Qing
Published: July 2009

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An efficient, convenient, one‐pot synthesis of 2,4(1H,3H)‐quinazolinediones and 2‐thioxoquinazolinones was accomplished in good yields via the novel reductive cyclization of ethyl 2‐nitrobenzoates with isocyanates or isothiocyanates mediated by TiCl4/Zn system. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2009).
Kinetic strategies of patients with shoulder impingement syndrome
Authors: Doiron Yan , Delacroix Sébastien , Denninger Marc , Simoneau Martin
Published: July 2009

Our aim was to determine whether subjects with shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS) have abnormal multijoint torque patterns compared to healthy subjects during normalized isometric force along specific directions. Subjects had to generate an isometric force corresponding to 40% of the maximal pain‐free force. Eight targets were displayed on a monitor (0, 45, 90, 135, 180, 225, 270, and 315°). We calculated shoulder and elbow torques (kinetic strategies) using a biomechanical model. Regardless of the target location, the SIS group succeeded in reaching the target; however, when compared to the healthy subjects, they needed more time to do so, suggesting that SIS may slow down the execution of the kinetic strategies. Moreover, the SIS group produced lower shoulder external/internal torque to reach the targets located at 0° and 225°, and they generated greater abduction/adduction torque for targets located at 0, 135, and 180°. In addition, they had lower elbow extension/flexion torque for the target located at 315°. The investigation of atypical kinetic strategies is essential to provide an understanding of the pathomechanics of the SIS and to develop more effective treatment strategies. © 2009 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 28:6–11, 2010
Amorphous Carbazole‐based (Co)polymers for OFET Application
Authors: Souharce Benjamin , Kudla Christof J. , Forster Michael , Steiger Jürgen , Anselmann Ralf , Thiem Heiko , Scherf Ullrich
Published: July 2009

In this contribution, we present the synthesis and characterization of poly[9‐(4‐alkylphenyl)carbazole‐3,6‐diyl] and poly[1,3‐bis(3′‐alkylcarbazole‐9′‐yl)‐5‐alkylphenylene‐6′,6″‐diyl]. The amorphous solid state structure, reasonably good field effect mobility and on/off ratios of these novel carbazole‐based polymers make them promising candidates as hole conducting materials for printed organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs).

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Non‐contrast‐enhanced perfusion and ventilation assessment of the human lung by means of fourier decomposition in proton MRI
Authors: Bauman Grzegorz , Puderbach Michael , Deimling Michael , Jellus Vladimir , Chefd'hotel Christophe , Dinkel Julien , Hintze Christian , Kauczor Hans‐Ulrich , Schad Lothar R.
Published: July 2009

Assessment of regional lung perfusion and ventilation has significant clinical value for the diagnosis and follow‐up of pulmonary diseases. In this work a new method of non‐contrast‐enhanced functional lung MRI (not dependent on intravenous or inhalative contrast agents) is proposed. A two‐dimensional (2D) true fast imaging with steady precession (TrueFISP) pulse sequence (TR/TE = 1.9 ms/0.8 ms, acquisition time [TA] = 112 ms/image) was implemented on a 1.5T whole‐body MR scanner. The imaging protocol comprised sets of 198 lung images acquired with an imaging rate of 3.33 images/s in coronal and sagittal view. No electrocardiogram (ECG) or respiratory triggering was used. A nonrigid image registration algorithm was applied to compensate for respiratory motion. Rapid data acquisition allowed observing intensity changes in corresponding lung areas with respect to the cardiac and respiratory frequencies. After a Fourier analysis along the time domain, two spectral lines corresponding to both frequencies were used to calculate the perfusion‐ and ventilation‐weighted images. The described method was applied in preliminary studies on volunteers and patients showing clinical relevance to obtain non‐contrast‐enhanced perfusion and ventilation data. Magn Reson Med, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Application of subsecond spiral chemical shift imaging to real‐time multislice metabolic imaging of the rat in vivo after injection of hyperpolarized 13C1‐pyruvate
Authors: Mayer Dirk , Yen Yi‐Fen , Tropp James , Pfefferbaum Adolf , Hurd Ralph E. , Spielman Daniel M.
Published: July 2009

Dynamic nuclear polarization can create hyperpolarized compounds with MR signal‐to‐noise ratio enhancements on the order of 10,000‐fold. Both exogenous and normally occurring endogenous compounds can be polarized, and their initial concentration and downstream metabolic products can be assessed using MR spectroscopy. Given the transient nature of the hyperpolarized signal enhancement, fast imaging techniques are a critical requirement for real‐time metabolic imaging. We report on the development of an ultrafast, multislice, spiral chemical shift imaging sequence, with subsecond acquisition time, achieved on a clinical MR scanner. The technique was used for dynamic metabolic imaging in rats, with measurement of time‐resolved spatial distributions of hyperpolarized 13C1‐pyruvate and metabolic products 13C1‐lactate and 13C1‐alanine, with a temporal resolution of as fast as 1 s. Metabolic imaging revealed different signal time courses in liver from kidney. These results demonstrate the feasibility of real‐time, hyperpolarized metabolic imaging and highlight its potential in assessing organ‐specific kinetic parameters. Magn Reson Med, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Bolus‐tracking MRI with a simultaneous T1‐ and T‐measurement
Authors: Sourbron S. , Heilmann M. , Biffar A. , Walczak C. , Vautier J. , Volk A. , Peller M.
Published: July 2009

The aim of this study was to propose and evaluate a methodology to analyze simultaneously acquired T‐weighted dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) MRI and T1‐weighted dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI data. Two generalized models of T‐relaxation are proposed to account for tracer leakage, and a two‐compartment exchange model is used to separate tracer in intra‐ and extravascular spaces. The methods are evaluated using data extracted from ROIs in three mice with subcutaneously implanted human colorectal tumors. Comparing plasma flow values obtained from DCE‐MRI and DSC‐MRI data defines a practical experimental paradigm to measure T‐relaxivities, and reveals a factor of 15 between values in tissue and blood. Comparing mean transit time values obtained from DCE‐MRI and DSC‐MRI without leakage correction, indicates a significant reduction of susceptibility weighting in DSC‐MRI during tracer leakage. A one‐parameter gradient correction model provides a good approximation for this susceptibility loss, but redundancy of the parameter limits the practical potential of this model for DSC‐MRI. Susceptibility loss is modeled more accurately with a variable T‐relaxivity, which allows to extract new parameters that cannot be derived from DSC‐MRI or DCE‐MRI alone. They reflect the cellular and vessel geometry, and thus may lead to a more complete characterization of tissue structure. Magn Reson Med, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Reduction of B1 sensitivity in selective single‐slab 3d turbo spin echo imaging with very long echo trains
Authors: Park Jaeseok , Mugler John P. , Hughes Timothy
Published: July 2009

Single‐slab 3D turbo/fast spin echo (SE) imaging with very long echo trains was recently introduced with slab selection using a highly selective excitation pulse and short, nonselective refocusing pulses with variable flip angles for high imaging efficiency. This technique, however, is vulnerable to image degradation in the presence of spatially varying B1 amplitudes. In this work we develop a B1 inhomogeneity‐reduced version of single‐slab 3D turbo/fast SE imaging based on the hypothesis that it is critical to achieve spatially uniform excitation. Slab selection was performed using composite adiabatic selective excitation wherein magnetization is tipped into the transverse plane by a nonselective adiabatic‐half‐passage pulse and then slab is selected by a pair of selective adiabatic‐full‐passage pulses. Simulations and experiments were performed to evaluate the proposed technique and demonstrated that this approach is a simple and efficient way to reduce B1 sensitivity in single‐slab 3D turbo/fast SE imaging with very long echo trains. Magn Reson Med, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Evaluation of a positron emission tomography (PET)‐compatible field‐cycled MRI (FCMRI) scanner
Authors: Gilbert Kyle M. , Scholl Timothy J. , Handler William B. , Alford Jamu K. , Chronik Blaine A.
Published: July 2009

Field‐cycled MRI (FCMRI) uses two independent, actively controlled resistive magnets to polarize a sample and to provide the magnetic field environment during data acquisition. This separation of tasks allows for novel forms of contrast, reduction of susceptibility artifacts, and a versatility in design that facilitates the integration of a second imaging modality. A 0.3T/4‐MHz FCMRI scanner was constructed with a 9‐cm‐wide opening through the side for the inclusion of a photomultiplier‐tube–based positron emission tomography (PET) system. The performance of the FCMRI scanner was evaluated prior to integrating PET detectors. Quantitative measurements of the system's signal, phase, and temperature were recorded. The polarizing and readout magnets could be operated continuously at 100 A without risk of damage to the system. Transient instabilities in the readout magnet, caused by the pulsing of the polarizing magnet, dissipated in 50 ms; this resulted in a steady‐state homogeneity of 32 Hz over a 7‐cm‐diameter volume. The short‐ and long‐term phase behaviors of the readout field were sufficiently stable to prevent visible readout or phase‐encode artifacts during imaging. Preliminary MR images demonstrated the potential of the FCMRI scanner and the efficacy of integrating a PET system. Magn Reson Med, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Time‐resolved three‐dimensional (3D) phase‐contrast (PC) balanced steady‐state free precession (bSSFP)
Authors: Santini Francesco , Wetzel Stephan G. , Bock Jelena , Markl Michael , Scheffler Klaus
Published: July 2009

In this study the feasibility of a time‐resolved, three‐dimensional (3D), three‐directional flow‐sensitive balanced steady‐state free precession (bSSFP) sequence is demonstrated. Due to its high signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) this type of sequence is particularly effective for acquisition of blood and CSF flow velocities. Flow sensitivity was achieved with the phase‐contrast (PC) technique, implementing a custom algorithm for calculation of optimal gradient parameters. Techniques to avoid the most important sources of bSSFP‐related artifacts (including distortion due to eddy currents and signal voids due to flow‐related steady‐state disruption) are also presented. The technique was validated by means of a custom flow phantom, and in vivo experiments on blood and CSF were performed to demonstrate the suitability of this sequence for human studies. Accurate depiction of blood flow in the cerebral veins and of CSF flow in the cervical portion of the neck was obtained. Possible applications of this technique might include the study of CSF flow patterns, direct in vivo study of pathologies such as hydrocephalus and Chiari malformation, and validation for the existing CSF circulation model. Magn Reson Med, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Peer victimization and pediatric obesity: A review of the literature
Authors: Gray Wendy N. , Kahhan Nicole A. , Janicke David M.
Published: July 2009

Childhood obesity is associated with a variety of medical and psychosocial consequences. Children who are obese are at an increased risk of being victims of weight‐based stigmatization by their peers. Negative views toward obese individuals may be expressed through children's friendship selections and expressed levels of overt (e.g., pushing, hitting) and relational (e.g., spreading rumors, weight‐based teasing) forms of aggression. This report provides a review of the existing research on peer victimization and its impact on children's psychological, social, and behavioral functioning. Interventions for weight‐based stigmatization and victimization are reviewed, and recommendations to improve the effectiveness of such interventions are provided. Future directions for the research literature are suggested to address limitations in the extant literature and highlight potential areas of inquiry that can provide information for the development of effective interventions for the victimization of obese youth. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Role of Project Management Maturity and Organizational Culture in Perceived Performance
Authors: Yazici Hulya Julie
Published: July 2009

This study investigates whether project management maturity (PMM) relates to perceived organizational performance and how an organization's cultural orientation is a contributing factor. Perceived organizational performance is defined as project effectiveness and efficiency followed by resulting business performance. A survey-based research was conducted with 86 project professionals from various U.S. service and manufacturing organizations. The study revealed that PMM is significantly related to business performance but not to project performance. Furthermore, while clan organizational culture is a sole contributing factor for project and business performances, PMM interacts with market culture in improving business performance. This study shows that in order to deal with project time, budget, and expectations issues, an organizational culture change toward sharing, collaboration, and empowerment is a must. Furthermore, an increasing project management maturity along with a results-oriented organizational culture improves an organization's competitiveness, resulting in cost savings and increased sales. PMM efforts are therefore crucial. PMM accompanied by an understanding of cultural orientation is a best strategy for today's project-based organizations.
Value Creation by Building an Intraorganizational Common Frame of Reference concerning Project Management
Authors: Eskerod Pernille , Riis Eva
Published: July 2009

In this article, we suggest that organizations should not focus on selecting between various project management approaches, tools, or behaviors. Instead, we claim that the real benefit from project management implementations comes from the mere creation of a common frame of reference. Based on four case studies, we identify elements that enhance such a common frame of reference: (1) a common project management model, (2) common project management training, (3) common project management examinations/certifications, and (4) activities for knowledge sharing. Values created, especially when the application of the elements was mandatory, were better communication, better customer satisfaction, and easier knowledge sharing.
Optimal protein‐RNA area, OPRA: A propensity‐based method to identify RNA‐binding sites on proteins
Authors: Pérez‐Cano Laura , Fernández‐Recio Juan
Published: July 2009

Protein‐RNA interactions are essential in living organisms and they are involved in very different and important cellular processes. Thus, understanding protein‐RNA recognition at molecular level is a key goal not only from a basic biological point of view but also for biotechnological and therapeutic purposes. On basis of the most updated available set of nonredundant X‐ray structures of protein‐RNA complexes, we have computed protein‐RNA interface propensities for ribonucleotides and aminoacid residues. The results show several protein residues with high tendency to bind RNA, such as arginine, lysine, and histidine. However, we could not observe any clear preferences for protein binding among the different ribonucleotides. We applied these propensity values to predict RNA‐binding areas on proteins, using an ad hoc algorithm called OPRA (Optimal Protein‐RNA Area). First, for each protein residue, we derived a predictive score from its corresponding protein‐RNA interface propensity weighed by its accessible surface area (ASA). Then, optimal patch energy scores were computed for each residue by adding up the individual scores of the neighboring surface residues. The resulting patch scores correlate well with the known RNA‐binding sites on protein surfaces. The OPRA method has been benchmarked on a test set of 30 unbound proteins involved in protein‐RNA complexes of known structure, where it is able to successfully predict RNA‐binding sites on protein surfaces with around 80% positive predictive value. This can be useful for identifying potential RNA‐binding sites on proteins, and can help to model protein‐RNA interactions of biological and therapeutic interest. Proteins 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Preface: Phys. Status Solidi B 246/7
Authors: Esser Norbert , Zahn Dietrich R.T.
Published: July 2009

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Dr. Walter Braun inspecting a mirror device (construction of the TGM 2 beamline at BESSY I in 1982)

The following collection of 15 publications is dedicated to Dr. Walter Braun on the occasion of his 60th birthday. The contributions were written by close friends and colleagues who collaborated with Walter Braun very often for a very long time. Since Walter Braun is known to many people as the key person at BESSY (now the Helmholtz‐Zentrum Berlin) who looks after the users and organises their beam times, the work presented, of course, all deals with synchrotron radiation research. The selected publications thus cover a wide range of synchrotron applications predominantly in the fields of surfaces, interfaces, semiconductors, and material science. So we believe that this collection also well mirrors the breadth of research fields which were and are influenced by Walter Braun's activities at BESSY. Everyone who ever visited BESSY I in Berlin‐Wilmersdorf or BESSY II in Adlershof as a user knows Walter Braun very well as he usually gets in touch with users and offers his support. But it is not just the usual user support or coordinating beam times, it is much more than this which distinguishes Walter Braun from many others. He formed and forms networks of researchers by setting up contacts and bringing people together. With his excellent judgement of people he has the right flair for those who can co‐operate well. It is fair to say that Walter Braun in such a way had and has great influence on the scientific development at BESSY and thus also on its success. Many of us are grateful to Walter Braun not only for his support for all these years and his permanent encouragement but also for his friendship (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
A learning progression for deepening students' understandings of modern genetics across the 5th–10th grades
Authors: Duncan Ravit Golan , Rogat Aaron D. , Yarden Anat
Published: July 2009

Over the past several decades, there has been a tremendous growth in our understanding of genetic phenomena and the intricate and complicated mechanisms that mediate genetic effects. Given the complexity of content in modern genetics and the inadequacy of current instructional methods and materials it seems that a more coherent and extensive approach to teaching modern genetics is needed. Learning progressions provide such an approach by describing the learning of core concepts in a domain as it unfolds over multiple grades and grade bands. In this paper we suggest a learning progression for modern genetics that spans grades 5–10. We describe the learning progression in terms of three key aspects of teaching and learning modern genetics: (1) the big ideas in modern genetics, and the knowledge and abilities that students should master by the end of compulsory education; and (2) the progression of learning that students are expected to make over several grades; and (3) the identification of learning performances and development of assessments for the proposed progression. We conclude by identifying the implications for instruction and research that stem from our analysis of the research base in genetics education, and our development of a theoretical progression for learning the big ideas in modern genetics. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 46: 655–674, 2009
Image restoration
Authors: Qiu Peihua
Published: July 2009

True images are usually degraded during image acquisition. Image restoration is for restoring true images from their observed but degraded versions; it is often used for preprocessing observed images so that subsequent image processing and analysis become more reliable. Among many different types of degradations, point degradations (or noise) and spatial degradations (or blurring) are most common in applications. This article introduces some fundamental image denoising and image deblurring methods. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

This article is categorized under:

Data: Types and Structure > Image and Spatial Data
Service oriented architecture
Authors: Laskey Kathryn B. , Laskey Kenneth
Published: July 2009

Service oriented architecture (SOA) is a paradigm for organizing a set of capabilities, often distributed across the network and possibly under the control of different ownership domains. The organized capabilities can be used to provide solutions to business problems. A business problem is broadly defined as any problem, in any domain of interest, encountered by an individual or organization as it goes about its business. SOA is applied to business problems that are amenable to information technology solutions. Services are made visible to potential users, interact with users through a series of information exchanges, and produce real‐world effects. Invocation and information exchange rely on standard languages and protocols that facilitate interoperability. From a user's perspective, invoking a service to produce an intended effect is experienced as a single, atomic operation. The detailed sequence of actions carried out by the service may involve any number of operations such as database queries, data transformations, execution of models, and formatting of displays. These operations may themselves be composed of lower level operations. The data and/or software modules required to perform the operations may reside at different physical locations and be controlled by different organizations. The details of composing the sequence of actions that produces the real world effect are transparent to the user interacting with the service. SOA frees users to concentrate on their business problem, leaving the details of the solution to the service. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

This article is categorized under:

Software for Computational Statistics > Software/Statistical Software
Arbitrage‐free construction of the swaption cube
Authors: Johnson Simon , Nonas Bereshad
Published: July 2009

In this paper we look at two areas in the interest rate options market where arbitrage could be hiding. In the first section we derive a no‐arbitrage condition for swaption prices with complementary expiry dates and tenors within the swaption cube. In the second section we propose an alternative European option approximation for the widely used SABR dynamics that reduces the possibility of arbitrage for long maturities and low strikes. Copyright © 2009 Wilmott Magazine Ltd
Mucobilia: current aspects in the management of a rare cause of malignant biliary obstruction
Authors: Brown Melanie‐Antonietta , Sakpal Sujit Vijay , Chamberlain Ronald Scott
Published: July 2009

Mucobilia is a rare pathologic condition characterized by the abnormal secretion and accumulation of abundant mucus within the biliary tree. It is usually seen in association with mucin‐producing hepatobiliary and pancreatic tumors. Neoplastic transformation of these tumors can range from low‐grade dysplasia to invasive adenocarcinoma. Mucobilia usually presents with signs and symptoms of biliary obstruction, which may span from jaundice to cholangitis with progression to septic complications in severe cases. Occurrence of hepatolithiasis has also been attributed to mucobilia, which raises the concern of an increased risk for the development of cholangiocarcinoma. Precise radiological evaluation and detailed histopathological tissue diagnosis followed by execution of appropriate surgical therapy is vital in the integrated management of mucin‐producing biliary neoplasms. This review will address the etiologies and symptomatology of mucobilia as well as discuss current aspects in the management of mucobilia and its causative etiologies.
Meniscal ossicle
Authors: Rohilla Seema , Yadav Rohtas K. , Singh Raj , Devgan Ashish , Dhaulakhandi Dhara B.
Published: July 2009

Meniscal ossicle, or bone within the substance of meniscus, is a rare entity and commonly confused with a loose body both clinically and radiologically. MRI is the modality that can definitely diagnose meniscal ossicle and avoid unnecessary diagnostic arthroscopy. Here we report one such case diagnosed using MRI; this patient is doing well without surgery one year after diagnosis.
Menstrual knowledge and practices of female adolescents in urban Karachi, Pakistan
Authors: Ali Tazeen Saeed , Rizvi Syeda Naghma
Published: July 2009

Menstruation is a normal physiological process that is managed differently according to various social and cultural understandings. Therefore, this cross‐sectional study was conducted to explore the menstrual practices among 1275 female adolescents of urban Karachi, Pakistan from April to October 2006 by using interviews. Data was entered and analyzed in Epi Info Version 9 and SPSS Version 10. Descriptive findings showed that 50% of the girls lacked an understanding of the origin of menstrual blood and those with a prior knowledge of menarche had gained it primarily through conversations with their mothers. Many reported having fear at the first experience of bleeding. Nearly 50% of the participants reported that they did not take baths during menstruation. In univariate analysis, factors of using unhygienic material, using washcloths, and not drying under sun were found to be significant in the Chi square test among those going and not going to schools. This study concludes that there are unhygienic practices and misconceptions among girls requiring action by health care professionals.
Understanding the Australian Environmental Volunteering Market: A Basis for Behavioural Change and a Sustainable Future
Authors: Randle Melanie , Dolnicar Sara
Published: July 2009

The world is facing an environmental crisis. Long-term environmental sustainability requires social change: individuals need to take personal responsibility for the environment and change their behaviour. Environmental volunteering organisations play a key role in this process: they create opportunities for individuals to improve their natural environment, they facilitate behavioural change. Successful facilitation of behavioural change requires in-depth understanding of the environmental volunteering market to identify those individuals most likely to volunteer, compete successfully and create targeted, motivating marketing campaigns.

The present study (1) assesses the usefulness of a novel method (PBMS) to explore volunteering markets, and (2) provides insight into the Australian environmental volunteering market structure. Results indicate PBMS analysis provides unique insights into the volunteering market with respect to image, competition and suitable market segments. The environmental volunteering organisation considered in this study, Bushcare, is perceived as “outdoorsy”, “Aussie” and “supporting local community” and competes primarily with Surf Life Saving and the Rural Fire Service for volunteers.
Prenatal methamphetamine exposure affects the mesolimbic dopaminergic system and behavior in adult offspring
Authors: Bubenikova‐Valesova Vera , Kacer Petr , Syslova Kamila , Rambousek Lukas , Janovsky Martin , Schutova Barbora , Hruba Lenka , Slamberova Romana
Published: July 2009

Methamphetamine is a commonly abused psychostimulant that causes addiction and is often abused by pregnant women. Acute or chronic administration of methamphetamine elevates the levels of the extracellular monoamine neurotransmitters, such as dopamine.

The aim of the present study was to show whether prenatal exposure to methamphetamine (5 mg/kg, entire gestation) or saline in Wistar rats induces changes in dopamine levels and its metabolites in the nucleus accumbens, and in behavior (locomotor activity, rearing, and immobility) after the administration of a challenge dose of methamphetamine (1 mg/kg) or saline in male offspring.

We found that adult offspring prenatally exposed to methamphetamine had higher basal levels of dopamine (about 288%), dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (about 67%) and homovanillic acid (about 74%) in nucleus accumbens. An increased basal level of dopamine corresponds to lower basal immobility in offspring prenatally exposed to methamphetamine. The acute injection of methamphetamine in adulthood increased the level of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens, which is related to an increase of locomotion and rearing (exploration). In addition, prenatally methamphetamine‐exposed rats showed higher response to the challenge dose of methamphetamine, when compared to prenatally saline‐exposed rats.

In conclusion, rats exposed to methamphetaminein uterohave shown changes in the mesolimbic dopaminergic system and were more sensitive to the administration of the acute dose of methamphetamine in adulthood.
DNA Copy Number Aberrations in Breast Cancer by Array Comparative Genomic Hybridization
Authors: Li Jian , Wang Kai , Li Shengting , Timmermans-Wielenga Vera , Rank Fritz , Wiuf Carsten , Zhang Xiuqing , Yang Huanming , Bolund Lars
Published: July 2009

Array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) has been popularly used for analyzing DNA copy number variations in diseases like cancer. In this study, we investigated 82 sporadic samples from 49 breast cancer patients using 1-Mb resolution bacterial artificial chromosome CGH arrays. A number of highly frequent genomic aberrations were discovered, which may act as “drivers” of tumor progression. Meanwhile, the genomic profiles of four “normal” breast tissue samples taken at least 2 cm away from the primary tumor sites were also found to have some genomic aberrations that recurred with high frequency in the primary tumors, which may have important implications for clinical therapy. Additionally, we performed class comparison and class prediction for various clinicopathological parameters, and a list of characteristic genomic aberrations associated with different clinicopathological phenotypes was compiled. Our study provides clues for further investigations of the underlying mechanisms of breast carcinogenesis.
Bioinformatic Comparison of Bacterial Secretomes
Authors: Song Catharine , Kumar Aseem , Saleh Mazen
Published: July 2009

The rapid increasing number of completed bacterial genomes provides a good opportunity to compare their proteomes. This study was undertaken to specifically compare and contrast their secretomes—the fraction of the proteome with predicted N-terminal signal sequences, both type I and type II. A total of 176 theoretical bacterial proteomes were examined using the ExProt program. Compared with the Gram-positives, the Gram-negative bacteria were found, on average, to contain a larger number of potential Sec-dependent sequences. In the Gram-negative bacteria but not in the others, there was a positive correlation between proteome size and secretome size, while there was no correlation between secretome size and pathogenicity. Within the Gram-negative bacteria, intracellular pathogens were found to have the smallest secretomes. However, the secretomes of certain bacteria did not fit into the observed pattern. Specifically, the secretome of Borrelia burgdoferi has an unusually large number of putative lipoproteins, and the signal peptides of mycoplasmas show closer sequence similarity to those of the Gram-negative bacteria. Our analysis also suggests that even for a theoretical minimal genome of 300 open reading frames, a fraction of this gene pool (up to a maximum of 20%) may code for proteins with Sec-dependent signal sequences.
A Method for Identification of Selenoprotein Genes in Archaeal Genomes
Authors: Li Mingfeng , Huang Yanzhao , Xiao Yi
Published: July 2009

The genetic codon UGA has a dual function: serving as a terminator and encoding selenocysteine. However, most popular gene annotation programs only take it as a stop signal, resulting in misannotation or completely missing selenoprotein genes. We developed a computational method named Asec-Prediction that is specific for the prediction of archaeal selenoprotein genes. To evaluate its effectiveness, we first applied it to 14 archaeal genomes with previously known selenoprotein genes, and Asec-Prediction identified all reported selenoprotein genes without redundant results. When we applied it to 12 archaeal genomes that had not been researched for selenoprotein genes, Asec-Prediction detected a novel selenoprotein gene in Methanosarcina acetivorans. Further evidence was also collected to support that the predicted gene should be a real selenoprotein gene. The result shows that Asec-Prediction is effective for the prediction of archaeal selenoprotein genes.
GALT Protein Database, a Bioinformatics Resource for the Management and Analysis of Structural Features of a Galactosemia-Related Protein and Its Mutants
Authors: d’Acierno Antonio , Facchiano Angelo , Marabotti Anna
Published: July 2009

We describe the GALT-Prot database and its related web-based application that have been developed to collect information about the structural and functional effects of mutations on the human enzyme galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (GALT) involved in the genetic disease named galactosemia type I. Besides a list of missense mutations at gene and protein sequence levels, GALT-Prot reports the analysis results of mutant GALT structures. In addition to the structural information about the wild-type enzyme, the database also includes structures of over 100 single point mutants simulated by means of a computational procedure, and the analysis to each mutant was made with several bioinformatics programs in order to investigate the effect of the mutations. The web-based interface allows querying of the database, and several links are also provided in order to guarantee a high integration with other resources already present on the web. Moreover, the architecture of the database and the web application is flexible and can be easily adapted to store data related to other proteins with point mutations. GALT-Prot is freely available at http://bioinformatica.isa.cnr.it/GALT/.
Field-scale dispersal ofAphodiusdung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in response to avermectin treatments on pastured cattle
Authors: Webb L. , Beaumont D.J. , Nager R.G. , McCracken D.I.
Published: July 2009

Very few studies have examined, at the field scale, the potential for faecal residues in the dung of avermectin-treated cattle to affect dung-breeding insects. The current study examined populations of dung beetles (Scarabaeidae:Aphodius) using pitfall traps baited with dung from untreated cattle on 26 fields across eight farms in southwest Scotland. The fields were grazed either by untreated cattle or by cattle treated with an avermectin product, i.e. doramectin or ivermectin. During the two-year study, significantly more beetles were trapped in fields grazed by treated cattle (n=9377 beetles) than in fields where cattle remained untreated (n=2483 beetles). Additional trials showed that beetles preferentially colonised dung of untreated versus doramectin-treated cattle. This may explain the higher captures of beetles in traps baited with dung of untreated cattle, which were located in fields of treated cattle. Given thatAphodiusbeetles avoided dung of treated cattle in the current study, the potential harmful effects of avermectin residues in cattle dung could be reduced through livestock management practices that maximise the availability of dung from untreated livestock in areas where avermectins are being used.