bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cross‐market efficiency in the Indian derivatives market: A test of put–call parity
Authors: Vipul
Published: July 2008

This study examines the cross‐market efficiency of the Indian options and futures market using model‐free tests. The put–call–futures and put–call–index parity conditions are tested for European style Nifty Index options. Thirty‐five‐month time‐stamped transactions data are used to identify mispricing. Frequent violations of both forms of put–call parity are observed. The restriction on short sales largely accounts for the put–call–index parity violations. There are numerous put–call–futures arbitrage profit opportunities even after accounting for transaction costs, which vanish quickly. Put options are overpriced more often than call options. The mispricing shows specific patterns with respect to time of the day, moneyness, volatility, and days to expiry. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 28:889–910, 2008
Tick size reduction, execution costs, and informational efficiency in the regular and E‐mini Nasdaq‐100 index futures markets
Authors: Kurov Alexander
Published: July 2008

On April 2, 2006, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange reduced the minimum tick size of the floor‐traded and E‐mini Nasdaq‐100 futures from 0.5 to 0.25 index points. This study examines the effect of this change in the contract design on execution costs, informational efficiency, and price discovery. The results show a significant reduction in the effective spreads in both of the contract markets but especially in the electronically traded E‐mini futures. The paper also finds that the tick size reduction has improved price discovery and informational efficiency in the E‐mini futures market. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 28:871–888, 2008
The Fusiform Face Area responds automatically to statistical regularities optimal for face categorization
Authors: Caldara Roberto , Seghier Mohamed L.
Published: July 2008

Statistical regularities pervade our perceptual world. Assuming that the human brain is tuned for satisfying the constraints of the visual environment, visual system computations should be optimized for processing such regularities. A socially relevant and highly recurrent homogenous pattern for which the brain has developed sensitivity is certainly the human face. Yet, for which statistical regularities the face sensitive regions are tuned for, and to what extent their detection occurs automatically is largely unexplored. Using fMRI we measured activations within the face sensitive areas for nonface symmetrical and asymmetrical curvilinear patterns with either more high‐contrast elements in the upper or in the lower part. Faceness evaluation performed outside of the scanner showed that these patterns were not perceived as schematic faces. Noticeably, symmetry violations disrupted perception of faceness, despite objective image similarity measures showing high faceness values for those patterns. Among the faces sensitive regions, only the right Fusiform Face Area (FFA) showed sensitivity to symmetry. This region showed also greater responses to patterns with more elements in the upper part. Critically, the FFA's responses were more strongly correlated with the physical objective faceness properties of the stimuli than the perceived subjective faceness ratings of the observers. These findings provide direct evidence that the neural computations of the right FFA are tuned to curvilinear symmetrical patterns with high‐contrasted elements in the upper part, which fit best with the physical structure of human faces. Such low‐level geometrical regularities might be used by the FFA to automatically categorize visual shapes as faces. Hum Brain Mapp 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Phase II study of arsenic trioxide and ascorbic acid for relapsed or refractory lymphoid malignancies: a Wisconsin Oncology Network study
Authors: Chang JE , Voorhees PM , Kolesar JM , Ahuja HG , Sanchez FA , Rodriguez GA , Kim K , Werndli J , Bailey HH , Kahl BS
Published: July 2008

Arsenic trioxide (As2O3) has established clinical activity in acute promyelocytic leukaemia and has pre‐clinical data suggesting activity in lymphoid malignancies. Cell death from As2O3 may be the result of oxidative stress. Agents which deplete intracellular glutathione, such as ascorbic acid (AA), may potentiate arsenic‐mediated apoptosis. This multi‐institution phase II study investigated a novel dosing schedule of As2O3 and AA in patients with relapsed or refractory lymphoid malignancies. Patients received As2O3 0.25 mg/kg IV and AA 1000 mg IV for five consecutive days during the first week of each cycle followed by twice weekly infusions during weeks 2–6. Cycles were repeated every 8 weeks. The primary end point was objective response. In a subset of patients, sequential levels of intracellular glutathione and measures of Bcl‐2 and Bax gene expression were evaluated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells during treatment. Seventeen patients were enrolled between March 2002 and February 2004. The median age was 71, and the majority of enrolled patients had non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (12/17). Sixteen patients were evaluable, and one patient with mantle cell lymphoma achieved an unconfirmed complete response after five cycles of therapy for an overall response rate of 6%. The trial, which had been designed as a two‐stage study, was closed after the first stage analysis due to lack of activity. Haematologic toxicities were the most commonly reported events in this heavily pre‐treated population, and comprised the majority of grade 3 and 4 toxicities. Intracellular depletion of glutathione was not consistently observed during treatment. As2O3 and AA in this novel dosing strategy was generally well tolerated but had limited activity in patients with relapsed and refractory lymphoid malignancies. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Genetic relations between effortful and attentional control and symptoms of psychopathology in middle childhood
Authors: Lemery‐Chalfant Kathryn , Doelger Lisa , Goldsmith H. Hill
Published: July 2008

Elucidating the genetic and environmental aetiology of effortful control (mother and father reports at two time points), attentional control (observer reports), and their associations with internalizing and externalizing symptoms (mother and father reports) is the central focus of this paper. With a sample of twins in middle childhood participating in the Wisconsin Twin Project, broad sense heritability for parental‐report effortful control ranged from 68% to 79%, with a slightly higher heritability estimate of 83% for observer report attentional control, and no influence of the shared environment on either trait. Further, measures of control were negatively correlated with internalizing and externalizing symptoms longitudinally, concurrently, and across reporters. Importantly, shared additive genetic influence accounted for the covariation between the control variables and symptoms of psychopathology. These results encourage identification of common genes that affect both effortful control and symptoms, and environmental triggers that uniquely influence symptoms of psychopathology. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Homotypic and heterotypic continuity of fine‐grained temperament during infancy, toddlerhood, and early childhood
Authors: Putnam Samuel P. , Rothbart Mary K. , Gartstein Maria A.
Published: July 2008

Longitudinal continuity was investigated for fine‐grained and factor‐level aspects of temperament measured with the Infant Behaviour Questionnaire‐Revised (IBQ‐R), Early Childhood Behaviour Questionnaire (ECBQ), and Children's Behaviour Questionnaire (CBQ). Considerable homotypic continuity was found. Convergent and discriminant validity of the measures was supported, as all fine‐grained dimensions exhibited stability across adjacent measurement periods, and all scales found on both the ECBQ and CBQ were most highly correlated with their equivalent scales. At the factor level, Surgency and Negative Affect factors were stable across all time points, and Effortful Control/Regulatory Capacity was stable across adjacent time periods. High‐Intensity Pleasure, Activity Level, and Impulsivity contributed strongly to continuity of Surgency, and Sadness, Frustration, and Falling Reactivity played strong roles in the continuity of Negative Affect. Heterotypic continuity was also found. High levels of Infant Surgency predicted high toddler Effortful Control, whereas high toddler Surgency predicted low Effortful Control in preschoolers. Infant Surgency dimensions especially predicted Toddler Attention Shifting and Low‐Intensity Pleasure, and toddler Activity Level was most closely associated with later deficits in Effortful Control. Inverse relations were also obtained between Negative Affect and Effortful Control, with substantial negative connections between toddler Negative Affect and preschool Attention Focusing and Inhibitory Control. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reactivity and regulation: the impact of Mary Rothbart on the study of temperament
Authors: Putnam Samuel P. , Stifter Cynthia A.
Published: July 2008

Through her theoretical and empirical work, Mary Rothbart has had a profound impact on the scientific understanding of infant and child temperament. This special issue honors her contributions through the presentations of original, contemporary studies relevant to three primary themes in Rothbart's conceptual approach: the expansive scope and empirically‐derived structure of temperament, the importance of considering developmental change, and the interplay of reactive and regulatory processes. In addition to summarizing these themes, this introductory article acknowledges the ways Mary has spurred progress in the field through methodological advances, institutional service, and pedagogy. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fearful temperament and stress reactivity among preschool‐aged children
Authors: Talge Nicole M. , Donzella Bonny , Gunnar Megan R.
Published: July 2008

In this study, we examined the relationship between physiological stress reactivity and temperamental fearfulness in 162 preschool‐aged children. Both the autonomic and neuroendocrine arms of the mammalian stress system were examined. Larger stress responses were defined as greater sympathetic activation, parasympathetic withdrawal and cortisol increases to stressor tasks. Fearful temperament was examined using parent report and behaviour in response to fear‐evocative laboratory tasks. There was little evidence that larger sympathetic activation or parasympathetic withdrawal was associated with fearful temperament. Greater cortisol reactivity, however, was associated with fearful temperament. Additional analyses examined those children who were consistently fearful across all measures, and the results remained largely the same. However, there was some suggestion that consistently fearful compared with non‐fearful children might be more likely to exhibit sympathetic activation to the fear‐evocative stimuli. These findings provide support for the argument that fearful temperament is associated with greater stress reactivity in young children. Nonetheless, the size of the associations was small and future studies will need to determine whether reactivity of stress‐sensitive physiological systems contributes to the development of individual differences in fearful temperament or merely reflects these differences. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In vivo performance of simvastatin‐loaded electrospun spiral‐wound polycaprolactone scaffolds in reconstruction of cranial bone defects in the rat model
Authors: Pişkin Erhan , İşoğlu İ. Alper , Bölgen Nimet , Vargel İbrahim , Griffiths Sarah , Çavuşoğlu Tarık , Korkusuz Petek , Güzel Elif , Cartmell Sarah
Published: July 2008

Reconstruction of large bone defects is still a major problem. Tissue‐engineering approaches have become a focus in regeneration of bone. In particular, critical‐sized defects do not ossify spontaneously. The use of electrospinning is attracting increasing attention in the preparation of tissue‐engineering scaffolds. Recently, acellular scaffolds carrying bioactive agents have been used as scaffolds in “in situ” tissue engineering for soft and hard tissue repair. Poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) (PCL) with two different molecular weights were synthesized, and the blends of these two were electrospun into nonwoven membranes composed of nanofibers/micropores. To stimulate bone formation, an active drug, “simvastatin” was loaded either after the membranes were formed or during electrospinning. The matrices were then spiral‐wound to produce scaffolds with 3D‐structures having both macro‐ and microchannels. Eight‐millimeter diameter critical size cranial defects were created in rats. Scaffolds with or without simvastatin were then implanted into these defects. Samples from the implant sites were removed after 1, 3, and 6 months postimplantation. Bone regeneration and tissue response were followed by X‐ray microcomputed tomography and histological analysis. These in vivo results exhibited osseous tissue integration within the implant and mineralized bone restoration of the calvarium. Both microCT and histological data clearly demonstrated that the more successful results were observed with the “simvastatin‐containing PCL scaffolds,” in which simvastatin was incorporated into the PCL scaffolds during electrospinning. For these samples, bone mineralization was quite significant when compared with the other groups. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2009
Effect of head surface roughness and sterilization on wear of UHMWPE acetabular cups
Authors: Jedenmalm A. , Affatato S. , Taddei P. , Leardini W. , Gedde U.W. , Fagnano C. , Viceconti M.
Published: July 2008

The impact of femoral head surface roughness on wear of γ‐irradiation sterilized (3 MRad in nitrogen, crosslinked) and nonsterilized (not crosslinked) UHMWPE acetabular cups has been evaluated. Gravimetric wear testing was performed in a hip joint simulator for 2 × 106 cycles. CoCrMo heads were used with different surface roughness (Ra = 15 nm and Ra = 400 nm). The surface roughness after wear test was unchanged for the roughened heads, whereas the initially smooth heads showed a few scratches. The roughened heads increased the wear of the acetabular cups 2‐fold. The γ‐irradiated cups tested against rough heads underwent the highest wear. The absorption of water was highest for the γ‐irradiated cups (0.0204% compared to 0.0031% after 85 days). Raman spectroscopy showed small but significant crystallinity changes in the wear zone, where the γ‐irradiated cups with the most extensive abrasion increased in crystallinity, whereas the nonsterilized cups underwent a crystallinity decrease. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2009
Preparation, characterization,in‐vitrodrug release and cellular uptake of poly(caprolactone) grafted dextran copolymeric nanoparticles loaded with anticancer drug
Authors: Prabu P. , Chaudhari Atul A. , Dharmaraj N. , Khil M. S. , Park S. Y. , Kim H. Y.
Published: July 2008

Biodegradable and biocompatible polymers that are engineered to nanostructures play a key role in providing solution for sustained chemotherapy. This study is focused on preparation, drug encapsulation efficiency,in‐vitrodrug release,in‐vitrocellular uptake and cell viability of poly(caprolactone) grafted dextran (PGD) nanoparticles (NPs) formulation containing vinblastine as the anticancer drug. Drug‐loaded PGD NPs were prepared by a modified oil/water emulsion method and characterized by laser light scattering, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and zeta potential. The drug encapsulation efficiency was determined spectrophotometrically andin‐vitrodrug release was estimated using dialysis bag. Breast cancer cell line (MCF‐7) was used to image and measure the cellular uptake of fluorescent PGD NPs. Cancer cell viability was assessed by treating MCF‐7 cells with vinblastine‐loaded PGD NPs by crystal violet staining method. Result showed that the vinblastine‐loaded PGD NPs were superior in properties such as drug encapsulation efficiency, the cellular uptake and the cancer cell mortality. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2009
A novel model and experimental analysis of hydrophilic and hydrophobic agent release from biodegradable polymers
Authors: Lao Luciana Lisa , Venkatraman Subbu S. , Peppas Nicholas A.
Published: July 2008

Many factors affect the rate of drug release from biodegradable polymers. Here, we focus on investigating the effect of drug type on the degradation of P(DL)LGA 53/47 films and their ultimate release profiles. A freely water‐soluble drug (metoclopramide monohydrochloride) exhibited an initial burst, whereas a water‐insoluble drug (paclitaxel) exhibited an initial latent period with very little drug release. The onset of the second‐stage release of the hydrophobic drug was delayed as compared with the hydrophilic drug. Overall, complete release of metoclopramide monohydrochloride was achieved much earlier than paclitaxel. In addition, the hydrophobic drug exhibited an extra stage of release when compared with the two‐stage release for the hydrophilic drug. A novel model was developed to describe the underlying drug release mechanisms and kinetics. The model postulated that the total fraction of drug release from bulk‐degrading polymer is a summation of three mechanisms: burst release, relaxation induced/drug‐dissolution controlled release, and diffusional release. All the three steps are important for hydrophobic drugs. However, for hydrophilic drugs, burst and diffusional release steps are sufficient to account for the whole release process. The proposed model showed very good match with the experimental data. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2009
Accelerated growth of preosteoblastic cells on ultrafine grained titanium
Authors: Estrin Y. , Kasper C. , Diederichs S. , Lapovok R.
Published: July 2008

This work is part of a general effort to demonstrate the effect of the bulk microstructure of titanium as a model bone implant material on viability of osteoblasts (bone‐forming cells). The objective of this work was to study the proliferation of preosteoblastic MC3T3‐E1 cells extracted from mice embryos on commercial purity titanium substrates. Two distinct states of titanium were considered: as‐received material with an average grain size of 4.5 μm and that processed by equal channel angular pressing (ECAP), with an average grain size of 200 nm. We report the first results of anin vitrostudy into the effect of this extreme grain refinement on viability and proliferation of MC3T3‐E1 cells. By means of MTT assays it was demonstrated that ECAP processing of titanium enhances MC3T3‐E1 culture proliferation in a spectacular way. This finding suggests that bone implants made from ECAP processed titanium may promote bone tissue growth. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2009
Regulation of valvular interstitial cell calcification by components of the extracellular matrix
Authors: Rodriguez Karien J. , Masters Kristyn S.
Published: July 2008

Understanding the interactions between extracellular matrix (ECM) components and valvular interstitial cells (VICs) is relevant to both treating heart valve disease and designing heart valve tissue engineering scaffolds, yet the VIC‐ECM relationship has not been well characterized. Thus, the aim of this study was to characterize VIC‐ECM interactions, paying specific attention to whether ECM composition affected the in vitro calcification of VICs. Our results show that the number and size of calcific nodules formed in VIC cultures, as well as the expression of the mineralization markers alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and CBFa1, were highly dependent upon the composition of the culture surface. VICs cultured on certain ECM components, that is, collagen and fibronectin, were resistant to calcification, even upon treatment with mineralization‐inducing growth factors. Meanwhile, cultures of VICs on fibrin, laminin, and heparin coatings had a high number of calcified nodules, although only VICs on fibrin expressed significantly elevated levels of ALP and CBFa1. Nodule composition analysis revealed the presence of multiple types of mineralization. Although apoptotic and necrotic cells were more concentrated in nodules, these nodules did contain a strong majority population of viable cells. Characterizing this ECM‐dependence of VIC calcification will help us to identify appropriate biomaterial environments for heart valve tissue engineering as well as elucidate mechanisms of valvular disease. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2009
Negative‐mode MALDI mass spectrometry for the analysis of pigments using tetrathiafulvalene as a matrix
Authors: Asakawa Daiki , Chen Lee Chuin , Hiraoka Kenzo
Published: July 2008

Negative‐mode matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization‐mass spectrometry (MALDI‐MS) analysis of industrial pigments was performed using tetrathiafulvalene (TTF), an electron donating compound, as a matrix. Comparing with other matrices such as tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ), dithranol, 2‐hydroxy‐6‐nitroaniline (HNA), and harmine hydrochloride, the most abundant analyte ions were produced by the TTF as radical or deprotonated anions. In addition, fragment ions in the negative mode of operation are also found to be much less abundant than those in the positive mode of operation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Macromol. Biosci. 7/2008
Authors: Wondraczek Holger , Heinze Thomas
Published: July 2008

Cover: The picture shows the modification of the biopolymer dextran via esterification with photoactive moieties like coumarine and azobenzene. The photochemical behavior of the synthesized dextran esters as well as the possibility to create photo responsible nano scaled particles is presented. Further details can be found in the article by H. Wondraczek and T. Heinze* on page 606.
Successful thalamic deep brain stimulation for orthostatic tremor
Authors: Guridi Jorge , Rodriguez‐Oroz Maria C. , Arbizu Javier , Alegre Manuel , Prieto Elena , Landecho Ignacio , Manrique Miguel , Artieda Julio , Obeso Jose A.
Published: July 2008

We report a patient with severe orthostatic tremor (OT) unresponsive to pharmacological treatments that was successfully controlled with thalamic (Vim, ventralis intermedius nucleus) deep brain stimulation (DBS) over a 4‐year period. Cortical activity associated with the OT revealed by EEG back‐averaging and fluoro‐deoxi‐glucose PET were also suppressed in parallel with tremor arrest. This case suggests that Vim‐DBS may be a useful therapeutic approach for patients highly disabled by OT. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society
Urinary isoprostanes in Friedreich ataxia: Lack of correlation with disease features
Authors: Myers Lauren M. , Lynch David R. , Farmer Jennifer M. , Friedman Lisa S. , Lawson John A. , Wilson Robert B.
Published: July 2008

To assess the utility of urinary isoprostanes as markers of oxidative injury in Friedreich ataxia (FA), we compared levels of urinary F2‐isoprostanes in patients with FA and healthy control subjects. Levels of urinary F2‐isoprostanes in FA patients were not different from controls and were not significantly associated with age, GAA repeat length, disability level, or the use of antioxidants. Thus, urinary F2‐isoprostanes are not a useful biomarker in FA. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society.
Lewis–Sumner syndrome associated with infliximab therapy in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Hooper Davyd R. , Tarnopolsky Mark A. , Baker Steven K.
Published: July 2008

We report 2 cases of Lewis–Sumner syndrome (LSS) diagnosed in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis undergoing treatment with the antitumor necrosis factor α (TNF‐α) monoclonal antibody infliximab. While experiencing clinical improvement in their arthritic symptoms, both patients experienced sensory deficits and weakness in multiple nerve distributions. They had electrodiagnostic evidence of motor conduction block and subsequent improvement with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg). We describe the details of the cases and review the literature on immune‐mediated neuropathies associated with anti‐TNF‐α therapy. Muscle Nerve, 2008
Effects of combined lower body endurance and upper body resistance training on the satellite cell pool in elderly subjects
Authors: Verney Julien , Kadi Fawzi , Charifi Nadia , Féasson Léonard , Saafi Mohamed Ali , Castells Josiane , Piehl‐Aulin Karin , Denis Christian
Published: July 2008

To distinguish the respective potential of endurance and resistance training to increase the satellite cell pool, we investigated the effects of 14 weeks of concurrent lower body endurance and upper body resistance training (3 sessions/week) on vastus lateralis (VLat) and deltoid (Del) muscles of 10 active elderly men. NCAM+ satellite cells and myonuclear number were assessed in VLat and Del. After 14 weeks of training the NCAM+ satellite cell pool increased similarly (+38%) in both muscles, mainly in type II muscle fibers (P < 0.05). There was no significant change in myonuclear number or myonuclear domain in either muscle. Combining resistance training in the upper limbs with endurance training in the lower limbs is an efficient strategy to enhance the satellite cell pool in upper and lower body muscles in elderly subjects. Our results provide a practical reference for the determination of optimal exercise protocols to improve muscle function and regeneration in the elderly. Muscle Nerve, 2008
Validation of a sham for percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS)
Authors: Peters Kenneth , Carrico Donna , Burks Frank
Published: July 2008

Aim

Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) supposedly demonstrates 50–60% improvement in OAB symptoms with no sham‐controlled trials reported. This study determined the efficacy of a sham for PTNS.

Methods

Thirty healthy volunteers (15 women; 15 men) in this blinded pilot study were randomized into two equal groups: one group had PTNS on the right and sham on the left; the other group had PTNS on the left and sham on the right. A drape obscured their lower extremities. The sham utilized a placebo needle placed at the PTNS site along with a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS) pad on the ipsilateral foot. The unit was activated until stimulation was felt. PTNS was performed on the opposite leg, with the grounding pad mimicking the sham pad placement. PTNS stimulation was given until the subject felt stimulation in the foot. Subjects had 1 simultaneous 15 min testing of the PTNS vs. sham. Subjects then completed a questionnaire stating which leg they thought had the sham and PTNS (or “unknown”). The primary endpoint of the study was the ability to accurately identify the sham.

Results

In total, 10/30 (33%) of the shams were identified correctly. We would expect 50% to be identified by guessing, but only 33% were correctly identified. Females identified the sham correctly more often than males (40% vs. 27%). This procedure was validated as a feasible sham for PTNS.

Conclusions

This is the first validation of a sham for PTNS that may be used in future placebo‐controlled research. Neurourol. Urodynam. 28:58–61, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Arabic validation of the Urogenital Distress Inventory and Adapted Incontinence Impact Questionnaires—short forms
Authors: El‐Azab Ahmed S. , Mascha Edward J.
Published: July 2008

Aims

The purpose of this study was to adapt the IIQ‐7 to suit the Egyptian culture and then to assess validity and reliability of the adapted and translated IIQ‐7 and UDI‐6.

Methods

IIQ‐7 was modified to suit Egyptian culture. Linguistic validation of the two questionnaires was done. Initial test–retest reliability and internal consistency of adapted translated questionnaires were done in a pilot study. The final validity, test–retest reliability and internal consistency study included 204 women with urinary incontinence (UI). Participants completed the two questionnaires at enrollment and after 2 weeks. All participants underwent urodynamics. Baseline urodynamic diagnosis was compared with diagnoses made by questionnaires to assess validity.

Results

Test–retest reliability was excellent for both the IIQ‐7 and UDI‐6. For the UDI‐6, the mean difference (SD) between first and second visits was −1.63 (7.0), and the 95% CI for the mean difference was −2.6 and −0.68. The 95% limits of agreement were −15.3 and 12.0. Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (LCCC) (95% CI) for the UDI was 0.89 (0.85 and 0.91). For the IIQ‐7, the mean difference (SD) was 0.37 (7.1), and the 95% CI for the mean difference was −0.60 and 1.3. The 95% limits of agreement were −13.5 and 14.2. LCCC (95% CI) for the IIQ was 0.90 (0.87 and 0.92). Internal consistency as assessed using Cronbach's α was 0.32 and 0.31 for the UDI‐6 and IIQ‐7, respectively. Validity assessments indicated that both IIQ and UDI scales can distinguish objective disease states. Conclusions: UDI‐6 and the modified IIQ‐7 are easy to administer, test–retest reliable, and valid questionnaires, with relatively low internal consistency. Neurourol. Urodynam. 28:33–39, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Towards ‘reinventing government’: the changing perspectives of democratic governance for development
Authors: Kura Sulaiman Balarabe
Published: July 2008

Good governance has now become a passion as all governments and regimes appropriate and/or misappropriate the term for development or populist reasons. However, democratic good governance is the catalyst for development. The idea of reinventing government is necessary in order to confront the dynamics and challenges of development in the era of globalisation. This is the main thrust of this review article. The article reviews three major books, the focus of which provides analytical insight towards reinventing government for achieving the MDGs and other development agenda. The books argue that to redesign and reinvent governments for development, attributes of democratic good governance must be articulated, localised and contextualised based on individual country's historical–political experiences and socio‐economic capabilities. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Legitimacy and context: implications for public sector reform in developing countries
Authors: Andrews Christina W.
Published: July 2008

This article examines the interplay between legitimacy and context as key determinants of public sector reform outcomes. Despite the importance of variables such as legitimacy of public institutions, levels of civic morality and socio‐economic realities, reform strategies often fail to take such contextual factors into account. The article examines, first, relevant literature – both conceptual and empirical, including data from the World Values Survey project. It is argued that developing countries have distinctive characteristics which require particular reform strategies. The data analysed shows that in Latin American countries, there is no clear correlation between confidence in public institutions and civic morality. Other empirical studies show that unemployment has a negative impact on the level of civic morality, while inequality engenders corruption. This suggests that poorer and socio‐economically stratified countries face greater reform challenges owing to the lack of legitimacy of public institutions. The article concludes that reforms should focus on areas of governance that impact on poverty. This will in turn help produce more stable outcomes. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Policy networks, politics and decentralisation policies in Ghana
Authors: Koranteng Roger Oppong , Larbi George A.
Published: July 2008

Policy‐making is a political process involving a network of actors with varied interests. This article uses policy network as an analytical framework to understand the politics of decentralisation policy‐making in Ghana from the perspective of interactions among interest groups. The article is based on a research study, which utilised semi‐structured interviews and documentary sources in its data collection. It argues that the lack of progress in decentralisation in Ghana can be explained by the politics surrounding government–interest group relations. The article also provides evidence to indicate how varied interests represented within the decentralisation policy networks affected politics and in turn influenced decentralisation policy‐making and outcomes. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Local governance and water resource management: experiences from Northern Namibia
Authors: Hossain Farhad , Helao Tuhafeni
Published: July 2008

Like many semi‐arid countries in Africa, Namibia has been experiencing water shortage for a long period of time. Prior to its independence in 1990, most of Namibia's water points—namely, the boreholes—served white‐Namibians (about 7% of the national population of predominantly German descent) and their commercial farming areas. But their water needs have been satisfied at the expense of those indigenous Namibians and their communal areas (where some 80% of the national population originates). Independence, however, brought with it a new hope for the indigenous population: since 1990, the government has been working diligently to reform the country's local governance, and make local government agencies more effective, efficient and responsive to common people and their needs. This article sheds light on how, within the background of the government's decentralisation efforts, the management and distribution of water resources have changed in an independent Namibia, reporting findings from research conducted in a newly emerged village council in the north of the country. Drawing on historical and contemporary practices, we describe and analyse the role of decentralised local government in water resource management in northern Namibia, where today, more than 50% of the national population (i.e. the indigenous Oshiwambo‐speaking people) resides. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Unique morphological spectrum of lymphomas in Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS) patients with high frequency of consecutive lymphoma formation
Authors: Gładkowska‐Dura M , Dzierżanowska‐Fangrat K , Dura WT , van Krieken JHJM , Chrzanowska KH , van Dongen JJM , Langerak AW
Published: July 2008

Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by microcephaly, immunodeficiency, radiation hypersensitivity, chromosomal instability and increased incidence of malignancies. In Poland 105 NBS cases showing mutations in the NBS gene (nibrin, NBN), have been diagnosed, ∼53% of which have developed cancer, mainly (>90%) lymphoid malignancies. This study is based upon the largest reported group of NBS‐associated lymphomas. The predominant lymphoma types found in these 14 NBS children were diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and T cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T‐LBL/ALL), all showing monoclonal Ig/TCR rearrangements. The spectrum of NBS lymphomas is completely different from sporadic paediatric lymphomas and lymphomas in other immunodeficient patients. Morphological and molecular analysis of consecutive lymphoproliferations in six NBS patients revealed two cases of true secondary lymphoma. Furthermore, 9/13 NBS patients with lymphomas analysed by split‐signal FISH showed breaks in the Ig or TCR loci, several of which likely represent chromosome aberrations. The combined data would fit a model in which an NBN gene defect results in a higher frequency of DNA misrejoining during double‐strand break (DSB) repair, thereby contributing to an increased likelihood of lymphoma formation in NBS patients. Copyright © 2008 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quantum dots light up pathology
Authors: Tholouli E , Sweeney E , Barrow E , Clay V , Hoyland JA , Byers RJ
Published: July 2008

Quantum dots (QDs) are novel nanocrystal fluorophores with extremely high fluorescence efficiency and minimal photobleaching. They also possess a constant excitation wavelength together with sharp and symmetrical tunable emission spectra. These unique optical properties make them near‐perfect fluorescent markers and there has recently been rapid development of their use for bioimaging. QDs can be conjugated to a wide range of biological targets, including proteins, antibodies, and nucleic acid probes, rendering them of particular interest to pathology researchers. They have been used in multiplex immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, which when combined with multispectral imaging, has enabled quantitative measurement of gene expression in situ. QDs have also been used for live in vivo animal imaging and are now being applied to an ever‐increasing range of biological problems. These are detailed in this review, which also acts to outline the important advances that have been made in their range of applications. The relative novelty of QDs can present problems in their practical use and guidelines for their application are given. Copyright © 2008 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Towards identifying Brassica proteins involved in mediating resistance to Leptosphaeria maculans: A proteomics‐based approach
Authors: Sharma Nidhi , Hotte Naomi , Rahman Muhammad H. , Mohammadi Mohsen , Deyholos Michael K. , Kav Nat N. V.
Published: July 2008

To better understand the pathogen‐stress response of Brassica species against the ubiquitous hemi‐biotroph fungus Leptosphaeria maculans, we conducted a comparative proteomic analysis between blackleg‐susceptible Brassica napus and blackleg‐resistant Brassica carinata following pathogen inoculation. We examined temporal changes (6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h) in protein profiles of both species subjected to pathogen‐challenge using two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis. A total of 64 proteins were found to be significantly affected by the pathogen in the two species, out of which 51 protein spots were identified using tandem mass spectrometry. The proteins identified included antioxidant enzymes, photosynthetic and metabolic enzymes, and those involved in protein processing and signaling. Specifically, we observed that in the tolerant B. carinata, enzymes involved in the detoxification of free radicals increased in response to the pathogen whereas no such increase was observed in the susceptible B. napus. The expression of genes encoding four selected proteins was validated using quantitative real‐time PCR and an additional one by Western blotting. Our findings are discussed with respect to tolerance or susceptibility of these species to the pathogen.
The Ser/Thr/Tyr phosphoproteome of Lactococcus lactis IL1403 reveals multiply phosphorylated proteins
Authors: Soufi Boumediene , Gnad Florian , Jensen Peter Ruhdal , Petranovic Dina , Mann Matthias , Mijakovic Ivan , Macek Boris
Published: July 2008

Recent phosphoproteomics studies of several bacterial species have firmly established protein phosphorylation on Ser/Thr/Tyr residues as a PTM in bacteria. In particular, our recent reports on the Ser/Thr/Tyr phosphoproteomes of bacterial model organisms Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli detected over 100 phosphorylation events in each of the bacterial species. Here we extend our analyses to Lactococcus lactis, a lactic acid bacterium widely employed by the food industry, in which protein phosphorylation at Ser/Thr/Tyr residues was barely studied at all. Despite the lack of almost any prior evidence of Ser/Thr/Tyr protein phosphorylation in L. lactis, we identified a phosphoproteome of a size comparable to that of E. coli and B. subtilis, with 73 phosphorylation sites distributed over 63 different proteins. The presence of several multiply phosphorylated proteins, as well as over‐representation of phosphothreonines seems to be the distinguishing features of the L. lactis phosphoproteome. Evolutionary comparison and the conservation of phosphorylation sites in different bacterial organisms indicate that a majority of the detected phosphorylation sites are species–specific, and therefore have probably co‐evolved with the adaptation of the bacterial species to their present‐day ecological niches.
Thawing permafrost and thicker active layers in sub‐arctic Sweden
Authors: Åkerman H. Jonas , Johansson Margareta
Published: July 2008

Observations of active‐layer thickness from nine sites with up to 29 years of gridded measurements located in the Torneträsk region, northernmost Sweden, were examined in relation to climatic trends. Mean annual air temperatures in this area have warmed and recently rose above 0°C. Active layers at all sites have become thicker, at rates ranging from 0.7 to 1.3 cm per year. This trend has accelerated in the past decade, especially in the westernmost site where rates have reached 2 cm per year and permafrost has disappeared at 81 per cent of the sampling points. Increased active‐layer thicknesses are correlated with increases in mean summer air temperature, thawing degree‐days and, in five of the nine sites, with increases in snow depth. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Detonation Performance of TATP/AN‐Based Explosives
Authors: Matyáš Robert , Zeman Svatopluk , Trzciński Waldemar , Cudziło Stanisław
Published: July 2008

The detonation velocity and performance were determined for four mixtures of triacetone triperoxide (3,3,6,6,9,9‐hexamethyl‐1,2,4,5,7,8‐hexoxonane, TATP), ammonium nitrate (AN) and water (W) by cylinder expansion tests. The composition of these mixtures varied in the following ranges: 21–31% TATP, 37–54% AN and 19–32% W. The obtained results were compared with those of powdery 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene (TNT), AN‐fuel oil explosive (ANFO) and emulsion explosive. It was found that the tested TATP/AN/W mixtures represent typical non‐ideal explosives with relatively low critical diameter and with high sensitivity to initiation despite the high content of water due to the presence of the primary explosive (TATP). The detonation velocity is comparable to that of powdery TNT (at similar density). However, the acceleration ability is significantly lower than that of powdery TNT.
Polarization properties of ferroelectric thin films on transverse ising model
Authors: Sun Punan , Lü Tianquan , Chen Hui , Cao Wenwu
Published: July 2008

By taking into account surface transition layers (STL), an improved transverse ising model (TIM) with a depolarization field effect also considered is used to describe the polarization properties of ferroelectric thin films in the framework of the mean‐field approximation. Functions representing the intralayer and interlayer couplings are introduced to characterize STL, which makes the model more realistic compared to previous treatment of surface layers using uniform surface exchange interactions and a transverse field. By comparison with the results obtained from the traditional treatments for the thin films using only the single surface layer (SSL), some new results are derived by adding the STL in the model. The results also show that the effect of the transverse field is notable when tunneling is essential. The influence of the depolarization field is to flatten the spontaneous polarization profile and make the polarization distribution of films more homogeneous, which is consistent with the results obtained from the Ginzburg–Landau–Devonshire (GLD) theory. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Cr‐related energy levels and mechanism of Cr2+ ion photorecharge in ZnS:Cr
Authors: Vlasenko N. A. , Oleksenko P. F. , Denisova Z. L. , Mukhlyo M. O. , Veligura L. I.
Published: July 2008

It is shown that published data and interpretation concerning the energy and origin of Cr‐related defects in ZnS:Cr as well as the mechanism of the Cr2+ → Cr+ photorecharge are ambiguous and contradictory. New data concerning these questions obtained by means of photodepolarization (PDP) spectroscopy methods for the first time are given. Several peaks of the impurity photocurrent are revealed in the PDP spectrum of ZnS:Cr thin‐film structures, which was measured from 0.7 eV to 3.9 eV. Two peaks are due to the photoionization of Cr2+ and Cr+ ions (2.8–3 eV and 1.3–1.5 eV, respectively). Three peaks are attributed to Cr‐related lattice defects, namely, a $ [{\rm Cr}^{2+}_{\rm Zn}]^0 $ isovalent trap (∼3.5 eV) and a $ [{\rm Cr}^{+}_{\rm Zn}]^- $ acceptor isolated (∼2.7 eV) and associated with a donor (1.8–2.2 eV). A new interpretation of the mechanism of the photorecharge of Cr2+ ions is also proposed. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Development of an automated in situ fracture stage for a ToF‐SIMS system
Authors: Wood Arran R. , Benedetto Nicolas , Hooker Nigel , Scullion Edward , Smith Paul A. , Watts John F.
Published: July 2008

The design philosophy and implementation of an ultra high vacuum (UHV), PC controlled, automated in situ fracture stage for a surface analysis system is described. ToF‐SIMS spectra are shown to illustrate the improvement in spectral quality obtained from micro‐compact tension (CT) tests of polymer matrix fracture surfaces produced using the fracture stage in UHV compared to those obtained from a sample tested at air. This system is flexible in that by changing the capacity of the load cell it is possible to reduce or increase maximum loads as the specimen type and material demands. The stage has been designed with instrumental flexibility in mind, utilising commercial SEM‐stub type sample mounts, and can thus be used for AES/SAM and XPS investigations, as well as ToF‐SIMS analysis, in the authors' laboratory. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Strategy making, novelty and analogical reasoning — commentary on Gavetti, Levinthal, and Rivkin (2005)
Authors: Farjoun Moshe
Published: July 2008

This commentary responds to and builds upon a recent article about the role of analogical reasoning in strategy making (Gavetti, Levinthal, and Rivkin, 2005). Based on conceptual and formal analysis, the authors state that in complex and novel contexts, analogical reasoning may be superior to two established models: rational choice and local incremental search. I show that given an alternative conceptualization of the strategy‐making context and main models, analogical reasoning is not necessarily superior. Furthermore, in novel and complex contexts, this model and other approaches such as mental experimentation can play a larger role, particularly in inventing effective strategies. I further extend the analysis by considering some boundary conditions in which analogical reasoning and its alternatives best apply, exploring the idea that blending and adapting several search strategies may be more effective than using only one method, such as analogical reasoning, and advancing new directions for empirical research. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Market orientation, job satisfaction, product quality, and firm performance: evidence from China
Authors: Zhou Kevin Zheng , Li Julie Juan , Zhou Nan , Su Chenting
Published: July 2008

This article examines the processes by which market orientation (MO) affects performance using a cross‐level approach. The results of a survey of 2,754 employees from 180 firms in China show that organization‐level MO culture leads to unit‐level MO behavior, which improves employee‐level job satisfaction and then product quality, which in turn fosters organizational performance. In particular, MO behavior fully mediates the effects of MO culture on employee satisfaction, product quality, and organizational performance. Leadership quality strengthens the effect of MO culture on unit‐level MO behavior. Moreover, MO behavior enhances firm performance indirectly through employee job satisfaction and product quality. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.