bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Expanding the analytical potential of channel locational probability maps using cellular statistics
Authors: Staley Dennis M. , Wasklewicz Thad A.
Published: December 2005

The planimetric shifts in channel location of large alluvial rivers are a critical component in the creation of diverse structures and functions in riverine habitats. Engineered management schemes must also compensate for this type of channel change to protect resources and maintain navigation channels. The stability of the Lower Mississippi River channel was assessed through an analysis of historical records of channel position produced and archived by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Channel location was recorded for the years 1765, 1820, 1881, 1915, 1930, 1937, 1960 and 1970. Channel stability was measured by two introduced metrics on a cell‐by‐cell basis: (1) the standard deviation of Euclidean distance to a channel cell for the entire period of record, and (2) the rate of Euclidean distance change between years in the period of record. At a coarse spatial scale, channel instability increased in the downstream direction. The variability of channel stability also increased in the downstream direction. Analysis of this variability identified alternating areas of high and low stability occurring with greater frequency as distance downstream increased. These findings are validated by past studies of channel stability along the Lower Mississippi River. As a result, the proposed metrics provide a consistent, quantitative, efficient and cost‐effective means of identifying areas of channel instability at several spatial scales. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Causes of mortality of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and brown trout (Salmo trutta) smolts in a restored river and its estuary
Authors: Koed Anders , Baktoft Henrik , Bak Brian Daniel
Published: December 2005

During October 2000 to August 2002, the River Skjern Nature Project was implemented by removing dykes and re‐meandering 20.5 km of the lower canalized river. As a consequence the length of the river stretch increased to 23 km. A lake of 250 ha developed in the river valley 5 km upstream from the river mouth because of subsiding soils caused by reclamation and drainage since the 1960s. Using radiotelemetry, the mortality of wild Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and brown trout (Salmo trutta) smolts in the River Skjern and its estuary was investigated prior to and after the implementation of the project. Altogether, 77 Atlantic salmon and 66 brown trout smolts were caught, tagged and released in the river upstream of the restoration project during the spring of 2000 and 2002. The in‐river smolt mortality was more than double in 2002 for both Atlantic salmon and brown trout compared with 2000. This was primarily due to bird predation in 2002 which was not observed in 2000. The in‐river bird predation in 2002 was mediated by the new lake, which quickly became an important bird rest area. Estuarine mortality mainly caused by cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) differed significantly between species, but was high for both Atlantic salmon (39%) and brown trout (12%) in both years of investigation. The aggregated smolt mortality in the river and in the estuary (48%) may threaten an indigenous self‐sustaining Atlantic salmon population in the River Skjern. When planning river restoration projects, caution should be used, especially where permanently flooded floodplains (lakes) develop due to subsiding soil. In situations where rivers pass directly through newly developed lakes, migratory species such as Atlantic salmon and brown trout may be severely affected due to increased exposure to predation from predatory fish and birds. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Real‐time organ motion tracking and fast image registration system for MRI‐guided surgery
Authors: Tokuda Junichi , Hirano Masaya , Tsukamoto Tetsuji , Dohi Takeyoshi , Hata Nobuhiko
Published: December 2005

The advantage of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)‐guided surgery, in which MR images taken during surgery are used to guide the surgery, has been recognized recently. However, there is a problem, due to long imaging time of MRI, that it is difficult to capture the respiratory organ motion. It is often a constraint that the patient must hold his or her breath, especially in the treatment of the abdominal region. Consequently, this paper proposes a method of eliminating this constraint in MRI‐guided surgery by real‐time monitoring of the movement of the organ involved in the surgery by means of the signal derived from MRI. Specifically, the navigator echo is extracted in imaging during surgery. The movement of the organ involved in surgery is detected on the basis of the change in the calculated projection profile, and the results are presented to the surgeon. In this study, the procedure is built into a 1.5‐T clinical MRI system. The feasibility of the proposed system was examined under clinical conditions by evaluating its accuracy and delay in a phantom experiment, and also in an in vivo experiment on the liver of a volunteer. The results are reported in this paper. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 37(1): 83–92, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.20186
Analysis of Japanese dance movements using motion capture system
Authors: Yoshimura Mitsu , Murasato Hideki , Kai Tamiko , Kuromiya Akira , Yokoyama Kiyoko , Hachimura Kozaburo
Published: December 2005

In this research, the authors evaluate the degree to which dancers copy or follow the techniques of a master, or the degree of proficiency, by analyzing movements in traditional Japanese dance. The data used consist of three‐dimensional time series for traditional Japanese dance movements acquired using optical motion capture system. In the authors' prior research, three moving coordinate systems which would move according to the translation and rotation of the body were used to extract the portion of the target movement. In this research, the authors consider a moving coordinate system which simultaneously takes into consideration translation, rotation, correction of orientation, and correction of waist tremble. In their prior research, the authors defined indices for movement stability and frequency characteristics as indices to quantitatively represent in an objective fashion the degree of proficiency of a dancer. Separate from this, in the current research the authors define an index with the spectrum component using a Gabor transform and an index for the amount of translation. The authors had a total of five people, a master from a particular dance school and four dance students of different genders and at different experience levels (all the master's students), perform dance experiments. The authors then extracted the target movements, measured the indices using the extraction results, and attempted to evaluate the degree of proficiency based on the proposed indices. Extraction was sufficiently precise, and the authors were able to confirm that the indices represent the differences appearing due to degree of proficiency and gender. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 37(1): 71–82, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience. wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.20250
Using pseudo‐data to correct for publication bias in meta‐analysis
Authors: Bowden Jack , Thompson John R. , Burton Paul
Published: December 2005

In many ways, adjustment for publication bias in meta‐analysis parallels adjustment for ascertainment bias in genetic studies. We investigate a previously published simulation‐based method for dealing with complex ascertainment bias and show that it can be modified for use in meta‐analysis when publication bias is suspected. The method involves simulating sets of pseudo‐data under the assumed model using guesses for the unknown parameters. The pseudo‐data are subjected to the same selection criteria as are believed to have operated on the original data. A conditional likelihood is then used to estimate the adjusted values of the unknown parameters. This method is used to re‐analyse a published meta‐analysis of the effect of theMTHFRgene on homocysteine levels. Simulation studies show that the pseudo‐data method is unbiased; they give an indication of the number of pseudo‐data values required and suggest that a two‐stage adjustment produces less variable estimates. This method can be thought of as an example of the selection model approach to publication bias correction. As the selection mechanism must be assumed, it is important to investigate the sensitivity of any conclusions to this assumption. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparison of misclassification rates of search partition analysis and other classification methods
Authors: Marshall Roger J.
Published: December 2005

Search partition analysis (SPAN) is a method to develop classification rules based on Boolean expressions. The performance of SPAN is compared against the trials reported by Lim et al. of 33 other methods of classification, including tree, neural network and regression methods on 16 data sets, most of which were health related. Each data set was augmented with noise variables in further trials. Lim et al. assessed the performance of the methods by estimates of misclassification rate, either cross‐validated or test sample based. In this paper, the same data sets are analysed by SPAN and misclassification rates of the SPAN classifiers are estimated. Comparison is made of the performance of SPAN against the other methods that were considered by Lim et al. In terms of average misclassification error rate, taken over all data sets, SPAN was among the best five methods. In terms of average ranking of misclassification, that is, for each data set ranking the misclassification rates from lowest to highest, SPAN was second only to polyclass logistic regression. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Existence and blow up of solutions to certain classes of two-dimensional nonlinear Neumann problems
Authors: Medville Kai , Vogelius Michael S.
Published: December 2005

In this paper we study, analytically and numerically, the existence and blow up of solutions to two-dimensional boundary value problems of the form

\mathrm{\Delta }u_{\lambda } = 0

in

Ω

,

\partial u_{\lambda }/ \partial \mathbf{n} = Du_{\lambda } + \lambda f(u_{\lambda })

on

∂Ω

. We place particular emphasis on

f(u) = \mathrm{\sinh }(u) = {(\mathrm{e}^{u}−\mathrm{e}^{−u})}/{2}

, in which case the nonlinear flux boundary condition is frequently associated with the names of Butler and Volmer.

Dans cet article nous étudions, analytiquement et numériquement, l'existence et l'explosion de solutions de problèmes aux limites bi-dimensionnels de la forme

\mathrm{\Delta }u_{\lambda } = 0

dans

Ω

,

\partial u_{\lambda }/ \partial \mathbf{n} = Du_{\lambda } + \lambda f(u_{\lambda })

sur

∂Ω

. Nous portons une attention particulière à

f(u) = \mathrm{\sinh }(u) = {(\mathrm{e}^{u}−\mathrm{e}^{−u})}/{2}

, situation dans laquelle la condition non linéaire sur le flux au bord est fréquemment associée aux noms de Butler et Volmer.
Induction of BAALC and down regulation of RAMP3 in astrocytes treated with differentiation inducers
Authors: Moodbidri Madhavi S. , Shirsat Neelam V.
Published: December 2005

Genes controlling proliferation and differentiation of astrocytes are likely to play an important role in the pathogenesis of astrocytic gliomas and could serve as therapeutic targets. mRNA differential display analysis identified two genes, viz. BAALC and RAMP3, whose expression is altered in primary astrocytes treated with differentiation inducers. BAALC, which has been reported to be expressed in neural progenitor cells, was found to be up regulated in both normal and malignant astrocytes on inhibition of proliferation. RAMP3 functions as a modulator of the receptor for adrenomedullin (AM). AM has been suggested to act as autocrine/paracrine growth factor for gliomas. Our studies show RAMP3 down regulation on staurosporine treatment of astrocytes, suggesting protein kinase C inhibition as a possible strategy for inhibiting AM activity and thereby growth of glioma cells.
Presenilin‐1 controls the growth and differentiation of endothelial progenitor cells through its β‐catenin‐binding region
Authors: Nakajima Mitsunari , Ogawa Minetaro , Shimoda Yuri , Hiraoka Shuichi , Iida Midori , Koseki Haruhiko , Shirasawa Takuji , Furukawa Kiyoshi
Published: December 2005

Presenilin‐1 (PS1) is a gene responsible for the development of early‐onset familial Alzheimer's disease. Targeted disruption of the PS1 gene in mice suggested that PS1 might be involved in angiogenesis. We have used an in vitro embryonic stem (ES) cell culture system to prepare endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) lacking PS1 and investigated the roles of PS1 in endothelial cell lineage. With this system, Flk‐1+ E‐cadherin− EPC were generated from PS1‐deficient ES cells, and the EPC lacking PS1 as well as wild‐type EPC grew to form VE‐cadherin+ endothelial colonies supported by a layer of OP9 stromal cells. Although the endothelial colonies from PS1‐deficient EPC showed morphology similar to those from wild‐type EPC, the PS1‐deficient EPC formed a large number of the colonies compared to wild‐type EPC. The enhanced colony‐forming ability of PS1‐deficient EPC was attenuated by the inductions of wild‐type human PS1. To differentiate multiple activities of PS1 for colony‐forming ability, we used two types of human PS1 mutants: one (hPS1D257A) with the aspartate to alanine mutation at residue 257 that impairs the proteolytic activity of PS1, and the other (hPS1Δcat) deleting amino acids 340–371 of the cytosolic loop sequence essential for β‐catenin binding. hPS1D257A showed activity to regulate the colony‐forming ability of PS1‐deficient EPC, while hPS1Δcat failed to exhibit this activity. These results suggest that PS1 regulates the growth and differentiation of endothelial progenitor cells through its β‐catenin‐binding region and that the defect of PS1 function in endothelial cell lineage could contribute to the induction of vascular pathology.
Stage‐dependent analgesia of electro‐acupuncture in a mouse model of cutaneous cancer pain
Authors: Mao‐Ying Qi‐Liang , Cui Ke‐Mi , Liu Qiong , Dong Zhi‐Qiang , Wang Wei , Wang Jun , Sha Hong , Wu Gen‐Cheng , Wang Yan‐Qing
Published: December 2005

Acupuncture is one of the most effective alternative medical treatments in pain management with the advantages of simple application, low cost and minimal side effects. However its scientific evidence and laws of action are not very clear in cancer pain relieving. The aim of this study was to examine the immediate and therapeutic anti‐hyperalgesic effect of electro‐acupuncture (EA) on a mouse model of cutaneous cancer pain. B16‐BL6 melanoma cells were inoculated into the plantar region of unilateral hind paw and the thermal hyperalgesia was measured by using radiant heat test and hot plate test. C57BL/6 mice showed moderate and marked hyperalgesia during days 8–12 and from day 14 after the orthotopic inoculation of B16‐BL6 melanoma cells into the hind paw. Single EA on day 8 after inoculation showed significant analgesic effect immediately after the treatment, the analgesic effect reached its maximum within 15–30 min and declined to its minimum at 50 min after EA treatment. Single EA treatment on day 20 showed no significant analgesic effect; Repeated EA treatments (started from day 8, once every other day) showed therapeutic analgesic effect, while it showed no therapeutic effect when started from day 16, a relatively late stage of this cancer pain model. The results demonstrated that EA had anti‐hyperalgesic effect on early stage of cutaneous cancer pain but not on late stage. These results indicated a tight correlation of EA anti‐hyperalgesic effects with the time window of cancer pain.
The translocation mechanism of P‐glycoprotein
Authors: Callaghan Richard , Ford Robert C. , Kerr Ian D.
Published: December 2005

Multidrug transporters are involved in mediating the failure of chemotherapy in treating several serious diseases. The archetypal multidrug transporter P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp) confers resistance to a large number of chemically and functionally unrelated anti‐cancer drugs by mediating efflux from cancer cells. The ability to efflux such a large number of drugs remains a biological enigma and the lack of mechanistic understanding of the translocation pathway used by P‐gp prevents rational design of compounds to inhibit its function. The translocation pathway is critically dependent on ATP hydrolysis and drug interaction with P‐gp is possible at one of a multitude of allosterically linked binding sites. However, aspects such as coupling stoichiometry, molecular properties of binding sites and the nature of conformational changes remain unresolved or the centre of considerable controversy. The present review attempts to utilise the available data to generate a detailed sequence of events in the translocation pathway for this dexterous protein.
On the contribution of stereochemistry to human ITPK1 specificity: Ins(1,4,5,6)P4 is not a physiologic substrate
Authors: Riley Andrew M. , Deleu Sandrine , Qian Xun , Mitchell Jennifer , Chung Sung-Kee , Adelt Stephan , Vogel Günter , Potter Barry V.L. , Shears Stephen B.
Published: December 2005

Ins(1,4,5,6)P4, a biologically active cell constituent, was recently advocated as a substrate of human Ins(3,4,5,6)P4 1‐kinase (hITPK1), because stereochemical factors were believed relatively unimportant to specificity [Miller, G.J., Wilson, M.P., Majerus, P.W. and Hurley, J.H. (2005) Specificity determinants in inositol polyphosphate synthesis: crystal structure of inositol 1,3,4‐triphosphate 5/6‐kinase. Mol. Cell. 18, 201–212]. Contrarily, we provide three examples of hITPK1 stereospecificity. hITPK1 phosphorylates only the 1‐hydroxyl of both Ins(3,5,6)P3 and the meso‐compound, Ins(4,5,6)P3. Moreover, hITPK1 has >13,000‐fold preference for Ins(3,4,5,6)P4 over its enantiomer, Ins(1,4,5,6)P4. The biological significance of hITPK1 being stereospecific, and not physiologically phosphorylating Ins(1,4,5,6)P4, is reinforced by our demonstrating that Ins(1,4,5,6)P4 is phosphorylated (K
m
= 0.18 μM) by inositolphosphate‐multikinase.
Novel bioactive parathyroid hormone and related peptides in teleost fish
Authors: Canario Adelino V.M. , Rotllant Josep , Fuentes Juan , Guerreiro Pedro M. , Rita Teodósio H. , Power Deborah M. , Clark Melody S.
Published: December 2005

We report the identification, gene expression and biological activity of two parathyroid hormones (PTH; PTHA and PTHB), two PTH‐related peptides (PTHrP; PTHrPA and PTHrPB) and a PTH‐like ligand (PTH‐L) with hybrid characteristics in puffer fishes (Takifugu rubripes and Tetraodon fluviatilis). Experimental data are consistent with PTH‐L and PTHrPA having calciotropic activities equivalent, respectively, to tetrapod PTH and PTHrP. We hypothesise on the basis of phylogenetic and functional analysis that PTH‐L could be a fish relic of an ancestral PTH/PTHrP gene.
The mechanisms of regulation of Hdm2 protein level by serum growth factors
Authors: Phillips Anna , Jones Chris J. , Blaydes Jeremy P.
Published: December 2005

Cell cycle progression in response to serum growth factors is dependent on the expression of functional Hdm2 (Mdm2), which inhibits p53‐dependent transcription of anti‐proliferative genes. In a well characterised non‐transformed human fibroblast model, growth factors induce the expression of Hdm2 with rapid kinetics. Here we dissect the mechanistic basis for this critical response. In contrast to previous studies in which components of the growth factor signalling pathways were overexpressed, hdm2 mRNA expression is not induced with immediate‐early kinetics in these cells. Rather, the elevated Hdm2 protein levels which follow growth factor stimulation are primarily a consequence of phosphatidylinositol‐3 kinase‐dependent stabilisation of the Hdm2 protein combined with a global increase in protein synthesis.
Insulin regulation of glucokinase gene expression: Evidence against a role for sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 in primary hepatocytes
Authors: Gregori Claudine , Guillet-Deniau Isabelle , Girard Jean , Decaux Jean-François , Pichard Anne-Lise
Published: December 2005

Liver key genes for carbohydrate and lipid homeostasis are regulated by insulin and glucose. The sterol regulatory‐element binding protein‐1c (SREBP‐1c) has emerged as a mediator of insulin effects on gene transcription, particularly on glucokinase (GK). In this paper, we show that despite stimulation of GK promoter transcription by overexpression of mature SREBP‐1c, insulin induced GK transcription at least 4 h ahead of accumulation of mature SREBP‐1c in the nucleus. Importantly, the knockdown of SREBP‐1 mRNA using a RNA‐interference technique reduced the level of nuclear SREBP‐1 protein, diminished fatty acid synthase mRNA level, but did not affect GK and L‐pyruvate kinase mRNA levels. We concluded that SREBP‐1 is unlikely to be the mediator of the early insulin effect on GK gene transcription.
Adaptive response induced by lipid peroxidation products in cell cultures
Authors: Chen Zhi-Hua , Yoshida Yasukazu , Saito Yoshiro , Noguchi Noriko , Niki Etsuo
Published: December 2005

The adaptive response induced by the lipid peroxidation products, such as phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide, lysophosphatidylcholine (LysoPC), 15‐deoxy‐Δ12,14‐prostaglandin J2, 4‐hydroxynonenal (4‐HNE), hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid, 7‐hydroxycholesterol, and cholesterol 5β,6β‐epoxide, was investigated in this study. Although these products have been implicated in oxidative stress‐related diseases, pretreatment with such compounds at sublethal concentrations significantly protected PC12 cells against subsequent oxidative stress induced by 6‐hydroxydopamine. Moreover, 4‐HNE and LysoPC also exhibited adaptive protection in human arterial endothelial cells. These findings suggest a general hormetic effect of such compounds in cell cultures and may lead to a reappraisal of the eventual role of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation in organisms.
Cepharanthine triggers apoptosis in a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HuH‐7) through the activation of JNK1/2 and the downregulation of Akt
Authors: Biswas Kamal Krishna , Tancharon Salunya , Sarker Krishna Pada , Kawahara Ko-ichi , Hashiguchi Teruto , Maruyama Ikuro
Published: December 2005

Cepharanthine (CEP), a biscoclaurine alkaloid, has been reported to induce cell death, however, the molecular mechanism of this phenomenon remains unclear. We herein report that CEP induced apoptosis in HuH‐7 cells through nuclear fragmentation, DNA ladder formation, cytochrome c release, caspase‐3 activation and poly‐(ADP‐ribose)‐polymerase cleavage. CEP triggered the generation of reactive oxygen intermediates, the activation of mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) p38, JNK1/2 and p44/42, and the downregulation of protein kinase B/Akt. Antioxidants and SP600125, an inhibitor of JNK1/2, but not inhibitors of p38 MAPK and MEK1/2, significantly prevented cell death, thus implying that reactive oxygen species and JNK1/2 play crucial roles in the CEP‐induced apoptosis of HuH‐7 cells.
The A‐loop, a novel conserved aromatic acid subdomain upstream of the Walker A motif in ABC transporters, is critical for ATP binding
Authors: Ambudkar Suresh V. , Kim In-Wha , Xia Di , Sauna Zuben E.
Published: December 2005

ATP‐binding cassette (ABC) transporters represent one of the largest families of proteins, and transport a variety of substrates ranging from ions to amphipathic anticancer drugs. The functional unit of an ABC transporter is comprised of two transmembrane domains and two cytoplasmic ABC ATPase domains. The energy of the binding and hydrolysis of ATP is used to transport the substrates across membranes. An ABC domain consists of conserved regions, the Walker A and B motifs, the signature (or C) region and the D, H and Q loops. We recently described the A‐loop (Aromatic residue interacting with the Adenine ring of ATP), a highly conserved aromatic residue ∼25 amino acids upstream of the Walker A motif that is essential for ATP‐binding. Here, we review the mutational analysis of this subdomain in human P‐glycoprotein as well as homology modeling, structural and data mining studies that provide evidence for a functional role of the A‐loop in ATP‐binding in most members of the superfamily of ABC transporters.
Neuroinflammation and regeneration in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease pathology
Authors: Hoozemans J.J.M. , Veerhuis R. , Rozemuller J.M. , Eikelenboom P.
Published: December 2005

The initial stages of Alzheimer's disease pathology in the neocortex show upregulation of cell cycle proteins, adhesion and inflammation related factors, indicating the early involvement of inflammatory and regenerating pathways in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis. These brain changes precede the neurofibrillary pathology and the extensive process of neurodestruction and (astro)gliosis. Amyloid β deposition, inflammation and regenerative mechanisms are also early pathogenic events in transgenic mouse models harbouring the pathological Alzheimer's disease mutations, while neurodegenerative characteristics are not seen in these models. This review will discuss the relationship between neuroinflammation and neuroregeneration in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis.
Differential transcription ofBarhl1homeobox gene in restricted functional domains of the central nervous system suggests a role in brain patterning
Authors: Rachidi Mohammed , Lopes Carmela
Published: December 2005

The mouseBarhl1homeogene, member of theBarHsubfamily, play a crucial role in the cerebellum development and its human orthologBARHL1has been proposed as a positional and functional candidate gene for the Joubert syndrome, a form of cerebellar ataxia. TheBarhl1expression has been demonstrated to be induced by the transcription factor Math1 involved in BMP responses. We isolated the mouseBarhl1by screening of a cDNA library with theXenopus Xvent‐2, member of theBarHsubfamily, which acts in the BMP4 pathway during embryonic patterning and neural plate differentiation. We studied the detailedBarhl1expression pattern and showed its transcription in spatio‐temporally and functionally restricted domains of the developing central nervous system (CNS). Using our new optical microscopy technology, we compare the transcript steady state level and cell density in theBarhl1‐expressing regions. We found thatBarhl1was transcribed in superior and inferior colliculi in the dorsal mesencephalon at a relatively low transcriptional level. In the diencephalon,Barhl1was found higher expressed first within the basal plate and later in the mammillary region. In the cerebellum,Barhl1showed the highest transcriptional level restricted to the anterior and posterior rhombic lips giving rise to the external and internal cerebellar granular cells and to the deep nuclei. In the spinal cord,Barhl1showed similar expression level than in the cerebellum and is delimited to a subset of dorsal interneurons. Therefore, our results indicated thatBarhl1homeodomain gene is exclusively transcribed in restricted CNS domain at differential transcription levels which suggest a highly regulated transcriptional mechanism. In addition, these regional and cellular specificities indicated thatBarhl1may be involved in the differentiation of the specific subsets of neuronal progenitors.
Learning, communication, and the bullwhip effect
Authors: Wu Diana Yan , Katok Elena
Published: December 2005

We investigate the effect of learning and communication on the bullwhip effect in supply chains. Using the beer distribution game in a controlled laboratory setting, we test four behavioral hypotheses – bounded rationality, experiential learning, systems learning, and organizational learning – by systematically manipulating training and communication protocols. We find that order variability decreases significantly in a setting in which participants start with hands‐on experience, and are then allowed to formulate team strategies collaboratively. This result indicates that while training may improve individuals’ knowledge and understanding of the system, it does not improve supply chain performance unless supply chain partners are allowed to communicate and share this knowledge. Our results indicate that the bullwhip effect is, at least in part, caused by insufficient coordination between supply chain partners.
Faster, better, cheaper: A study of NPD project efficiency and performance tradeoffs
Authors: Swink Morgan , Talluri Srinivas , Pandejpong Temyos
Published: December 2005

In this paper, we develop a theory of efficiency and performance tradeoffs for new product development (NPD) projects. Data from 137 completed NPD projects are analyzed for evidence pointing to tradeoffs in performance patterns manifested in the data. In addition, we investigate hypothesized relationships between certain NPD practices and a holistic, efficiency based measure of NPD performance. We demonstrate a new approach to the operationalization of holistic new product development (NPD) project performance, employing a sequential data envelopment analysis (DEA) methodology that simultaneously incorporates multiple factors including new product development cost, product cost, product quality, and project lead time.

The results of the data analysis support our hypothesis that tradeoffs among NPD performance outcomes are manifested more strongly in highly efficient projects when compared to inefficient projects. The presence of three distinct subgroups in highly efficient projects is suggestive of several modes of efficiency which appear to achieve equally effective market success. The absence of such patterns in less efficient projects supports a theory of performance frontiers that may impose the need for tradeoffs more strongly as NPD projects achieve higher levels of efficiency. The findings also point to the importance of project management experience, balanced management commitment, and cross‐functional integration in achieving high levels of NPD project efficiency. We discuss the implications of the findings for practice and for future research.
TQM practice in maquiladora: Antecedents of employee satisfaction and loyalty
Authors: Jun Minjoon , Cai Shaohan , Shin Hojung
Published: December 2005

In this study, we investigate the transferability of TQM practices to offshore manufacturing firms by validating direct and indirect relationships among top management commitment, HR‐focused TQM practices, employee satisfaction, and employee loyalty. Our research objective is to isolate critical TQM practices that would enhance employee satisfaction and loyalty among maquiladora workers. On‐site surveys were conducted at two leading maquiladora firms that have long implemented TQM. The statistical results indicate that employee empowerment, teamwork, and employee compensation have a significant and positive influence on employee satisfaction. The improved employee satisfaction leads to a higher level of employee loyalty. In addition, the results indicate that the effects of top management commitment on employee empowerment and teamwork are significantly mediated by employee training, implying that the success of employee empowerment and quality teams can be dependent upon the level of employee training.
Information systems outsourcing: Replicating an existing framework in a different cultural context
Authors: Samaddar Subhashish , Kadiyala Savitha
Published: December 2005

In order for any field of study to refine the promising concepts and weed out the weaker concepts it is necessary that researchers revisit earlier studies from time to time and evaluate their general applicability to new contexts. Replication is an important technique for researchers to embrace in order to achieve this goal. In this study, we test one of the frameworks of technology outsourcing developed in the West, by changing the cultural context. Following Kodak's historic outsourcing decision, technology outsourcing has assumed significant importance among researchers and practitioners. Most of the research in relation to technology outsourcing has been conducted in the Western culture (including the USA and the UK), so our goal in this study is to extend the understanding of technology outsourcing research conducted in the West to another culture‐that of Korea, through replication.

We focused on information systems (IS) outsourcing decision making as a case in point and found both similarities and dissimilarities in relation to the current understanding of the same. These similarities and differences in turn, reveal the distinctions between the Western and the Korean approaches toward achieving outsourcing success. The similarities are the partial preference for short‐term contracts and contracting out to external vendors. However, the two cultures differed in their decision making in the way they pursue contractual completeness, whether in‐house departments competes or not, design of contract to include partnership measures, criticality of tasks outsourced, familiarity with the outsourced task, postponing a few outsourcing decisions, and withholding a piece of a contract as bait. We also found “trust” and “task partitioning to gain advantage of varied expertise” to be important for achieving outsourcing success in the Korean organization. In addition, we observed that outsourcing success is achieved by maximizing reliability and relationship in the Korean context rather than by maximizing flexibility and control, as was observed in the Western context. We argue that this difference is a function of cultural diversity.
Airway Complications from Topical Mitomycin C
Authors: Hueman Elizabeth McCurdy , Simpson C. Blake
Published: December 2005

OBJECTIVE

Topical application of mitomycin C appears to be a useful adjunct in reducing cicatricial scarring of the airways. Human and animal studies have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of mitomycin C topically in the treatment of airway stenosis at concentrations ranging from 0.4 mg/mL to 10 mg/mL. Although no reports of mitomycin C toxicity have been reported in the otolaryngology literature, the ophthalmologic literature has documented serious, vision‐threatening complications resulting from the use of topical mitomycin C. The purpose of this study is to report complications related to mitomycin C use in the treatment of glottic and subglottic stenosis. Risk factors associated with these complications are identified.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING

A retrospective chart review of all patients treated by the senior author for laryngotracheal stenosis with endoscopic CO2 laser incisions/dilation and adjuvant topical mitomycin C was performed to determine the incidence of complications. Variables studied included patient age and gender, location and severity of stenosis, medical comorbidities, length of procedure, postoperative instrumentation of the airway, and mitomycin C concentration.

RESULTS

Eighty‐five cases of adjuvant topical mitomycin C use after CO2 laser endoscopic treatment and dilation for upper airway stenosis were identified in a total of 44 patients. Complications that were believed to be caused by the local toxicity of mitomycin C occurred in 4 cases out of 85 (or 4.7%), manifested by accumulation of fibrinous debris at the operative site, resulting in partial airway obstruction and the need for emergent airway intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

Caution should be exercised when topical mitomycin C is used in the treatment of airway stenosis.

EBM RATING: B‐3
Fractional integration in daily stock market indexes
Authors: Gil‐Alana L.A.
Published: December 2005

I use parametric and semiparametric methods to test for the order of integration in stock market indexes. The results, which are based on the EOE (Amsterdam), DAX (Frankfurt), Hang Seng (Hong Kong), FTSE100 (London), S&P500 (New York), CAC40 (Paris), Singapore All Shares, and the Japanese Nikkei, show that in almost all of the series the unit root hypothesis cannot be rejected. The Hang Seng and the Singapore All Shares seem to be the most nonstationary series with orders of integration higher than one, and the S&P500 is the less nonstationary series, with values smaller than one and showing mean reversion.
Marriage Choices in a Plantation Society: Bahia, Brazil
Authors: Holt Katherine
Published: December 2005

This article examines the evolving significance of formal marriage and of partner selection in nineteenth-century Santiago do Iguape Brazil. Across social divides, racial and class endogamy were the norm for marriage partners, but consensual unions were far more likely to unite couples of different races. The information about enslaved couples was more sporadic, but I found that most slaves married partners who shared their country of origin, and that there was a higher slave-marriage rate on larger plantations. My research suggests that free and enslaved people constantly violated the borders separating them within a stratified plantation society, but that formal marriage retained a special significance and was reserved for unions between social equals.
Homogamy in a Society Orientated towards Stability: A Micro-study of a South Tyrolean Market Town, 1700–1900
Authors: Lanzinger Margareth
Published: December 2005

In the German-speaking areas of Habsburg Tyrol, investigated here, the aim of regional politicians and communal representatives was to perpetuate the status quo of ownership and social structure. The most important instruments for realizing that aim were policies on marriage and settlement. In addition, inheritance was based on male primogeniture, which supported a tendency for the sizes of property to remain stable. Throughout the region there was an attitude generally hostile to industry, so when, in the nineteenth century, branches of the crafts producing wares for translocal markets became unprofitable, industrialization offered no alternative. In those circumstances, marriage can be regarded as practically a privilege. Does that relativize or augment the consideration of homogamy? It seems both cases are possible: slight tendencies to socially downward marriage support the first assumption; the second appears to be supported by the various shifts in marriage habits – reactions to changed social positions – among the most important groups over the course of the nineteenth century.
Finding the Right Partner: Rural Homogamy in Nineteenth-Century Sweden
Authors: Dribe Martin , Lundh Christer
Published: December 2005

In pre-industrial society, choosing a marriage partner was a crucial process, and especially so for landowners. This study focuses on social aspects of mate selection in five rural parishes in southern Sweden between 1829 and 1894, using an individual-level database containing information on a large number of marriages and the social origins of the marrying couple regardless of whether they were born in the relevant parish or not. The information makes it possible to study homogamy without introducing the possible selection biases implicit in looking only at non-migrating population, a consideration which is of great importance in a society characterized by very high levels of geographical mobility. The results show a community marked by quite strong homogamy but with pronounced differences among social groups. Landholding peasants were the most homogamous. The pattern of homogamy also remained fairly constant despite fundamental economic and social change.
Evaluation of surface air temperature change due to the greenhouse gases increase with a statistical‐dynamical model
Authors: Moraes Elisabete C. , Franchito Sergio H. , Rao V. Brahmananda
Published: December 2005

A statistical‐dynamical climate model is used for investigating the relative contribution of the changes in the radiation budget and surface air temperature due to the increase of the anthropogenic greenhouse gases predicted for 2100 on the basis of IPCC SRES A1FI (the highest greenhouse level scenario). Five experiments are performed considering the changes in concentrations of (1) CO2, (2) CH4, (3) N2O, (4) tropospheric O3, and (5) all the changes together. The results show that the mean global planetary absorbed solar radiation increases in response to the predicted conditions according to the scenario A1FI for year 2100 (A1FI‐2100). This is due to the effect of O3 absorptions. This increase leads to a decrease in the mean global planetary net thermal infrared radiation emitted to space by the Earth‐atmosphere system to space and to an increase in mean global planetary net radiation. These changes are controlled mainly by the increase in CO2 concentration. The changes in the radiation budget due to N2O and CH4 are small. The mean global surface air temperature response to the predicted conditions for A1FI‐2100 was +0.59°C. The change in CO2 concentration is responsible for an increase of +0.49°C. The higher increases occur in the polar regions: +2.15°C (at 85°S) and +1.55°C (at 85°N) in the case of the predicted conditions for A1FI‐2100. Additional experiments indicate that the changes in surface air temperature are similar in the cases of the predicted conditions for A1FI‐2100 and 4 × CO2, 2 × CO2 and 4 × N2O, and in 2 × N2O and 4 × CH4.
Characterization of footprint‐scale surface soil moisture variability using Gaussian and beta distribution functions during the Southern Great Plains 1997 (SGP97) hydrology experiment
Authors: Ryu Dongryeol , Famiglietti James S.
Published: December 2005

The behavior of satellite footprint‐scale surface soil moisture probability density functions (PDF) was analyzed using 50‐km‐scale samples taken from soil moisture images collected during the Southern Great Plains 1997 (SGP97) hydrology experiment. Under the observed wetness conditions, soil moisture variability generally peaked in the midrange of mean soil moisture content and decreased toward the wet and dry ends, while in the midrange it was more widely distributed. High variability in the midrange is attributed to the multimodality of soil moisture PDFs, which apparently results from fractional precipitation within the footprint‐scale fields. Single Gaussian, single beta, and mixtures of two Gaussian distributions were utilized to fit observed footprint‐scale soil moisture distributions. As a single‐component density, the Gaussian PDF was shown to be a good choice, compared to the beta distribution, for representing spatial variability, particularly under wet conditions. The performance of the Gaussian PDF was greatly improved by using a mixture of two Gaussian distributions. Implications of this study for the validating spaceborne remotely sensed soil moisture estimates and for parameterization of subgrid‐scale surface soil moisture content in land surface models are discussed.
Glacial/interglacial changes in the isotopes of nitrate from the Greenland Ice Sheet Project 2 (GISP2) ice core
Authors: Hastings Meredith G. , Sigman Daniel M. , Steig Eric J.
Published: December 2005

The 15N/14N and 18O/16O ratios of nitrate in the Greenland Ice Sheet Project 2 (GISP2) (Summit, Greenland) ice core are much higher in ice from the last glacial period than in the pre‐industrial Holocene, despite the lack of a significant glacial/interglacial change in nitrate concentration. While both the 15N/14N and 18O/16O records are anticorrelated with snow accumulation rate, neither is satisfactorily explained by accumulation changes or post‐depositional processes. The similarity in the glacial/interglacial change in 15N/14N from several different Greenland ice cores and the large amplitude of this change relative to observed seasonal variation raise the possibility that the isotopes of nitrate in ice cores indicate a large‐scale glacial/interglacial change in the isotopic composition of atmospheric NOx. The glacial/interglacial change in 18O/16O is best explained by a greater contribution of HNO3 production from hydrolysis of N2O5, which has implications for reconstruction of past atmospheric oxidant levels. Although isotope effects associated with NOx photochemistry and nitrate scavenging have not been fully characterized, the 15N/14N data may indicate glacial/interglacial changes in the relative contributions from different natural sources of NOx on a hemispheric or global scale.
A model of variations in the North Atlantic Oscillation
Authors: Taylor Arnold H.
Published: December 2005

The major source of interannual variability in the atmospheric circulation over the North Atlantic Ocean is the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), which is associated with the strength of the winter surface westerly winds over the Ocean. During the last century, the NAO has shown pronounced multi‐annual and multi‐decadal variations, fluctuations that have been accompanied by changes in the marine and terrestrial ecosystems of the North Atlantic region. This paper presents a simple model which reproduces the major trends in the NAO index from 1866 to 2004. The model is based on climatic resonators that are forced by the global mean temperature and the Southern Oscillation of the Pacific Ocean (SO). The ocean component of the model shows similar variations to time‐series from the North Atlantic.
Maximum warning times for imminent volcanic eruptions
Authors: Kilburn Christopher R. J. , Sammonds Peter R.
Published: December 2005

Accelerations in seismicity are important precursors to eruptions at volcanoes reawakening after extended repose intervals. These have previously been quantified for subduction‐zone settings in terms of the linkage of crustal faults by shearing. Introducing a damage‐mechanics criterion for the weakening of rock between major fractures, the model is here modified for failure in tension, consistent with conditions in crust surrounding a pressurized magma reservoir. The results indicate that final accelerations develop over ∼2–3 weeks at tensile strains of (4.5 ± 3.2) × 10−3. Since a week or more is required to identify an accelerating trend, seismic forecasts of eruptions after long repose are unlikely to be reliable more than days in advance. Improvements will require the integration of additional precursors or extension of the model to earlier stages of fracture growth in stressed crust.
Sharp boundaries of small‐ and middle‐scale solar wind structures
Authors: Riazantseva M. O. , Zastenker G. N. , Richardson J. D. , Eiges P. E.
Published: December 2005

This work reviews the characteristics of sharp (less than 10 min) and large (>0.5 × 108 cm−2 s−1) solar wind ion flux changes which are not due to shocks. These changes are boundaries of small‐ and middle‐scale solar wind plasma structures. We present examples and statistical results from simultaneous plasma and magnetic field measurements by Interball‐1 and Wind from 1996 to 1999. The behavior of the solar wind bulk velocity, temperature, and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) during these changes is described. We show that in many cases pressure balance is not maintained across these structures and discuss possible implications. In 50% of the events the sharp boundaries are pressure balanced structures; these events are probably tangential discontinuities. We use multipoint measurements of the sharp discontinuities to determine the orientation of the plasma fronts; many fronts are at large angles to the solar wind flow direction. We show that these events can be geoeffective and produce sharp changes in the magnetic field at geosynchronous orbit and on the ground.