bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Do VIP programs always work well? The moderating role of loyalty
Authors: Kim Donghoon , Lee Seung‐yon , Bu Kyunghee , Lee Seho
Published: June 2009

This paper addresses some important issues involving the effective deployment of ever‐increasing VIP program budgets. Recent research results on the effects of VIP programs have been somewhat mixed. Some studies have found a positive influence on consumer behavior, while others report no significant impact. The purpose of this research is to provide a possible explanation for such contradictory evidence in the literature. The results of this study reveal that customer responses to VIP programs depend on their loyalty traits. Specifically, two loyalty dimensions—behavioral loyalty and attitudinal loyalty—interact with each other in moderating the impact of VIP programs on customer response. A VIP program may produce positive results even for customers who are low in behavioral loyalty, with low spending levels, if their attitudinal loyalty is high. Conversely, such a program may not produce significant results even for high‐spending customers if their attitudinal loyalty is not high enough. Thus, analysis that overlooks the moderating role of loyalty dimensions may have led to erroneous conclusions. Finally, at the managerial level, this paper points out the potential problems of relying solely on behavioral loyalty measures, such as purchase amount, in identifying VIP customers. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The investigation of Chinese consumer values, consumption values, life satisfaction, and consumption behaviors
Authors: Xiao Ge , Kim Jai‐Ok
Published: June 2009

The primary objective of this study was to investigate how the changing value systems of modern Chinese consumers affect their consumption behaviors and life satisfaction through the mediating variables of consumption values. The results of the multivariate data analysis show that three out of four types of consumer values (i.e., functional, emotional, and social) were positively related to foreign brand purchasing. Among all accepted relationships, the one between collectivism and functional value was the highest, whereas the collectivism and epistemic value relationship was the lowest. Individualism and collectivism were both found to be positively related to foreign brand purchasing and life satisfaction. Compared to collectivists, individualists were less satisfied with their current lives, but they held a more favorable attitude toward foreign brands. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Value‐based segmentation of luxury consumption behavior
Authors: Wiedmann Klaus‐Peter , Hennigs Nadine , Siebels Astrid
Published: June 2009

Following a broader perspective in exploring customer perceptions of and motives for purchasing luxury brands, it is not sufficient to explain the whole picture of luxury consumption in terms of socially oriented consumer motives and the desire to impress others. The main contribution here is to explore a multidimensional framework of luxury value as a general basis for identifying value‐based consumer segments. The empirical results can be seen as a first step toward a better understanding of consumers' luxury value perceptions as based on social, individual, functional, and financial aspects. ©2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
MIBG scintigraphy for differentiating Parkinson's disease with autonomic dysfunction from Parkinsonism‐predominant multiple system atrophy
Authors: Chung Eun Joo , Lee Won Yong , Yoon Won Tae , Kim Byeong Joon , Lee Gyeong Han
Published: June 2009

Parkinson's disease (PD) with autonomic dysfunction is difficult to differentiate from Parkinsonism‐predominant multiple system atrophy (MSA‐p). This study aimed to analyze the validity of MIBG scintigraphy for PD with autonomic dysfunction and MSA‐p. Thirty‐nine patients (PD: 27 patients, MSA‐p type: 12) and 12 age‐matched controls were prospectively enrolled and underwent MIBG scintigraphy and autonomic function test (AFT). We separately calculated early and delayed heart‐to‐mediastinal (H/M) ratio and washout rates (WRs). AFT was composed of sympathetic skin reflex and parasympathetic tests based on heart rate variability. Abnormal AFT was observed in 17 (63%) of PD and 10 (83%) of MSA‐p. On comparing PD with abnormal AFT with MSA‐p, either the early or delayed H/M ratio in PD was not different from that in MSA‐p (P > 0.05). Only the WR could differentiate PD with abnormal AFT from MSA‐p (47.07 ± 57.48 vs. 31.39 ± 31.52, respectively) (P = 0.026). According to the results, WR may be more useful than the early and delayed H/M ratio to distinguish MSA‐p from PD with abnormal AFT. Furthermore, the MIBG uptake did not reflect the disease duration or severity. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society
Online process mean estimation usingL1norm exponential smoothing
Authors: Jiang Wei , Zhu Yongzhong
Published: June 2009

A basic assumption in process mean estimation is that all process data are clean. However, many sensor system measurements are often corrupted with outliers. Outliers are observations that do not follow the statistical distribution of the bulk of the data and consequently may lead to erroneous results with respect to statistical analysis and process control. Robust estimators of the current process mean are crucial to outlier detection, data cleaning, process monitoring, and other process features. This article proposes an outlier‐resistant mean estimator based on theL1norm exponential smoothing (L1‐ES) method. TheL1‐ES statistic is essentially model‐free and demonstrably superior to existing estimators. It has the following advantages: (1) it captures process dynamics (e.g., autocorrelation), (2) it is resistant to outliers, and (3) it is easy to implement. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 2009
Policy incentives and the extension of mortgage credit: Increasing market discipline for subprime lending
Authors: An Xudong , Bostic Raphael W.
Published: June 2009

The lax underwriting in non‐prime mortgage markets is widely perceived as one cause of the recent difficulties in the housing market. Policymakers are currently considering moves such as enforcing more careful underwriting to provide additional discipline to mortgage markets. This research explores the possibility of another approach to supplement or replace some of these efforts, namely the use of policy to create incentives for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (together, the GSEs) to help “check” behavior in non‐prime markets. The hypothesis is that the GSE Act affordable housing goals have increased GSE focus on targeted loan purchases, which in turn has led prime market lenders to compete more aggressively for borrowers on the margin between prime and subprime credit quality. As a consequence, these marginal borrowers will be more inclined to take prime mortgages rather than higher‐cost subprime loans. We test this hypothesis and find empirical support for it. We observe a negative relationship between the growth in GSE market share and the growth in subprime market share over time, and find that the impact of the GSEs on subprime lending tends to be stronger in high‐minority neighborhoods, where subprime lending has been concentrated and growing the fastest. Simulations show that a 10 percent increase in GSE market share (for example, from 20 to 22 percent) can cause 45,000 borrowers using prime instead of subprime loans a cost savings of about $1.7 billion. These results suggest that the GSEs, regardless of their postconservatorship form, should continue to devote attention to serving underserved populations and suggest that significant welfare benefits will accrue. © 2009 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.
Harming the best: How schools affect the black‐white achievement gap
Authors: Hanushek Eric A. , Rivkin Steven G.
Published: June 2009

Sizeable achievement differences by race appear in early grades, but substantial uncertainty exists about the impact of school quality on the black‐white achievement gap and particularly about its evolution across different parts of the achievement distribution. Texas administrative data show that the overall growth in the achievement gap between third and eighth grades is larger for students with higher initial achievement and that specific teacher and peer characteristics explain a substantial share of the widening. The adverse effect of attending school with a high black enrollment share appears to be an important contributor to the larger growth in the achievement differential in the upper part of the test score distribution. This evidence reaffirms the major role played by peers and school quality, but also presents a policy dilemma. Teacher labor market complications, current housing patterns, legal limits to desegregation efforts, and uncertainty about the overall effects of specific desegregation programs indicate that effective policy responses will almost certainly involve a set of school improvements beyond simple changes in peer racial composition and the teacher experience distribution. © 2009 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.
A better budget rule
Authors: Dothan Michael , Thompson Fred
Published: June 2009

Debt limits, interest coverage ratios, one‐off balanced budget requirements, pay‐as‐you‐go rules, and tax and expenditure limits are among the most important fiscal rules for constraining intertemporal transfers. There is considerable evidence that the least costly and most effective of such rules are those that focus directly on the rate of spending growth, even with their seemingly ad hoc nature and possibilities for circumvention. In this paper, we use optimal control theory and martingale methods to justify a transparent, nonarbitrary rule governing maximum sustainable rate of spending growth, treating the revenue structure of a jurisdiction as a given continuous‐time stochastic process. Our results can be used to determine whether a proposed rate of spending growth is sustainable or not. © 2009 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management
NSF's Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR): Subsidizing academic research or state budgets?
Authors: Wu Yonghong
Published: June 2009

This cross‐state empirical study focuses on the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) and examines its impact on the academic research and development (R&D) expenditures financed by state governments. Based on a panel of 50 states during 1979–2006, the empirical results indicate that EPSCoR, while increasing federal R&D support to EPSCoR states, crowded out financial support for academic research from the governments of EPSCoR states. About one‐third of EPSCoR funds went to subsidize state budgets. The crowd‐out effect calls for some reconsideration of EPSCoR program design in order to maintain or even increase the state government financial support for academic research activities deemed critical to academic competitiveness and economic prospects. © 2009 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.
School reintegration for children and adolescents with cancer: The role of school psychologists
Authors: Harris Mekel S.
Published: June 2009

As a result of advancements in medical expertise and technology, children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer now have opportunities to participate in many typical activities, including school. To some extent, school reintegration reflects positive adjustment to their illness. Nevertheless, children and adolescents with cancer may experience consequences that result in problems with school functioning and performance, along with other psychosocial difficulties. Accordingly, school personnel may not be equipped to appropriately intervene with this unique population of students. One means of offsetting such consequences, and thus facilitating successful school reintegration, is consultation between children or adolescents, parents and/or caregivers, school personnel, and health professionals. The eco‐triadic model of educational consultation may be useful as a means of providing indirect and direct services to children and adolescents with cancer. This article provides a description of the model, describes the model's application to school psychologists' work with this unique population of children, provides checklists to help guide school psychologists' intervention throughout the school reintegration process, and highlights implications for school psychology practice. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Analysis of author affiliation across four school psychology journals from 2000 to 2008: Where is the practitioner research?
Authors: Carroll Erin E. , Skinner Christopher H. , McCleary Daniel F. , von Mizener Briana Hautau , Bliss Stacy L.
Published: June 2009

Articles published between 2000 and 2008 in four major school psychology journals—School Psychology Review, Journal of School Psychology, Psychology in the Schools, and School Psychology Quarterly—were classified based on type (empirical or narrative) and on the primary and secondary authors' affiliations. Results showed that more than 90% of the primary and secondary authors were university affiliated with little difference across article type. Although more than 85% of school psychologists are practitioners, these results suggest that their contributions to these school psychology journals are limited because they account for less than 10% of the authors of articles. Discussion focuses on practitioners' involvement in the research base that is intended to inform their professional behaviors. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Stand by me: The effects of peer and teacher support in mitigating the impact of bullying on quality of life
Authors: Flaspohler Paul D. , Elfstrom Jennifer L. , Vanderzee Karin L. , Sink Holli E. , Birchmeier Zachary
Published: June 2009

Bullying is one of the most common forms of school violence. Engagement in bullying has been shown to have adverse effects on perpetrators and victims of bullying. In this study, the impact of bullying on well‐being (quality of life/life satisfaction) was explored in a sample of elementary and middle school children (N = 4,331). Results suggest that students who bully and/or are bullied experience reduced life satisfaction and support from peers and teachers compared to “bystanders” (children who are neither victims nor perpetrators of bullying). Mediational analyses demonstrate that peer and teacher support might mitigate the impact of bullying on the quality of life of victims. This study underscores the value of efforts to promote social support from peers and teachers in both universal bullying prevention programs and school climate initiatives. Furthermore, results support further investigation into the possible contributions of bystanders in supporting school‐wide bullying prevention/school climate strategies. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Synthesis of high fluorescent silica hybrid materials by immobilization of orange peel extract in silica‐silsesquioxane matrix
Authors: Lacatusu I. , Badea N. , Nita R. , Giurginca M. , Bojin D. , Iosub I. , Meghea A.
Published: June 2009

Sol–gel chemistry can be easily modified to the changing needs of society to produce fine‐tuned sol–gel nanostructured materials for relevant applications. In this context, there is an increasing need for natural and versatile raw materials as well as biocompatible compounds that could be extensively used as biomarkers for bioimaging in diagnosis or therapy. Silica‐based materials are widely used in the field of biomedicine due to their chemical inertness and biocompatibility. In the present paper, orange peel extract was immobilized inside inorganic silica and hybrid silica‐silsesquioxane polymeric networks. Silica and organo‐modified silica matrices were synthesized through a templated sol–gel route of TEOS and an organosilsesquioxane (octaisobutyltetracyclo[7.3.3.15,11] octasiloxane‐endo‐3,7‐diol), with D‐glucose as template, and for comparison a non‐ionic surfactant (tetraethylene glycol mono‐hexadecyl ether) was also used. The bioactive properties of the molecules from orange peel extract were preserved after immobilization in both silica and silica‐silsesquioxane networks. Moreover, the fluorescence properties were amplified by 10–20 times more than the native orange peel extract. The structural properties of the final materials have been studied by FT‐IR, UV–Vis‐NIR, and fluorescence spectroscopy. Dynamic light scattering measurements and transmission electron microscopy were used to estimate the size and morphology of the hybrid materials with orange peel extract immobilized in silica networks. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Long‐term cohort study of women at intermediate risk of familial breast cancer: experiences of living at risk
Authors: Bennett P. , Parsons E. , Brain K. , Hood K. ,   on behalf of the reTrace Study Team
Published: June 2009

Aims: To identify how women adjusted to living at intermediate risk of breast cancer six years following risk assessment, and what factors contributed to health service usage.

Method: Two studies are reported. Both report data from a cohort of women found at intermediate risk of breast cancer six years previously. In the first, 30 women with a range of Cancer Worry Scale (Lerman et al. Health Psychol 1991;10:259–267) scores were interviewed about how they lived with their risk of cancer and their use of health resources. The generalisability of these findings was tested in a sample of 387 women from the same cohort using psychometrically appropriate measures.

Findings: In study 1, women scoring above the median baseline BCWS scale score were most likely to perceive their family history as a burden, exaggerate their susceptibility to breast cancer, not be reassured by genetic counselling, be focussed on the need for mammographic screening, and have a low reliance on breast self‐examination. Key findings of the second study were that over a quarter of the cohort were experiencing at least moderate levels of intrusive worries. Worries were associated with perceptions of high personal vulnerability to and severity of cancer and breast cancer being highly salient. Women aged over 50 years with high levels of worry‐related distress were most likely to request a mammogram.

Conclusion: The high levels of distress in this cohort reinforce the need to provide appropriate interventions for vulnerable women following risk assessment. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Returning to work after cancer: quantitative studies and prototypical narratives
Authors: Steiner John F. , Nowels Carolyn T. , Main Deborah S.
Published: June 2009

Objective: A combination of quantitative data and illustrative narratives may allow cancer survivorship researchers to disseminate their research findings more broadly. We identified recent, methodologically rigorous quantitative studies on return to work after cancer, summarized the themes from these studies, and illustrated those themes with narratives of individual cancer survivors.

Methods: We reviewed English‐language studies of return to work for adult cancer survivors through June 2008, and identified 13 general themes from papers that met methodological criteria (population‐based sampling, prospective and longitudinal assessment, detailed assessment of work, evaluation of economic impact, assessment of moderators of work return, and large sample size). We drew survivorship narratives from a prior qualitative research study to illustrate these themes.

Results: Nine quantitative studies met four or more of our six methodological criteria. These studies suggested that most cancer survivors could return to work without residual disabilities. Cancer site, clinical prognosis, treatment modalities, socioeconomic status, and attributes of the job itself influenced the likelihood of work return. Three narratives—a typical survivor who returned to work after treatment, an individual unable to return to work, and an inspiring survivor who returned to work despite substantial barriers—illustrated many of the themes from the quantitative literature while providing additional contextual details.

Conclusion: Illustrative narratives can complement the findings of cancer survivorship research if researchers are rigorous and transparent in the selection, analysis, and retelling of those stories. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of maternal food restriction on fetal rat lung lipid differentiation program
Authors: Karadag Ahmet , Sakurai Reiko , Wang Ying , Guo Pinzheng , Desai Mina , Ross Michael G. , Torday John S. , Rehan Virender K.
Published: June 2009

Although “fetal programming” has been extensively studied in many organs, there is only limited information on pulmonary effects in the offspring following intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). We aimed to determine the effects of nutrient restriction on the lung structure and lung lipid differentiation programs in offspring using an animal mode of maternal food restriction (MFR). We utilized a rodent model of 50% MFR from day 10 of gestation to term and then using lung morphology, Western blotting, Real Time RT‐PCR and Oil Red O staining, lung structure and development of the offspring were examined at postnatal days (p) 1, p21, and 9 months (9M). At postnatal day 1, MFR pups weighed significantly less compared to control pups, but at p21 and 9M, they weighed significantly more. However, lung weight, expressed as a percentage of body weight between the two groups was not different at all time‐points examined. The MFR group had significantly decreased alveolar number and significantly increased septal thickness at p1 and 9M, indicating significantly altered lung structure in the MFR offspring. Furthermore, although at p1, compared to the control group, lung lipid accumulation was significantly decreased in the MFR group, at 9M, it was significantly increased. There were significant temporal changes in the parathyroid hormone‐related protein/peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma signaling pathway and surfactant synthesis. We conclude that MFR alters fetal lung lipid differentiation programming and lung morphometry by affecting specific epithelial–mesenchymal signaling pathways, offering the possibility for specific interventions to overcome these effects. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2009; 44:635–644. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Genetic variants of GSNOR and ADRB2 influence response to albuterol in African‐American children with severe asthma
Authors: Moore Paul E. , Ryckman Kelli K. , Williams Scott M. , Patel Neal , Summar Marshall L. , Sheller James R.
Published: June 2009

African Americans are disproportionately affected by asthma. Social and economic factors play a role in this disparity, but there is evidence that genetic factors may also influence the development of asthma and response to therapy in African American children. Our hypothesis is that variations in asthma related genes contribute to the observed asthma disparities by influencing the response to asthma‐specific therapy. In order to test this hypothesis, we characterized the clinical response to asthma‐specific therapy in 107 African American children who presented to the emergency room in status asthmaticus, with a primary outcome indicator of length of time on continuous albuterol. Single locus analysis indicated that genotype variation in glutathione‐dependent S‐nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) is associated with a decreased response to asthma treatment in African American children. A post hoc multi‐locus analysis revealed that a combination of four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within GSNOR, adrenergic receptor beta 2, and carbamoyl phosphate synthetase‐1 give a 70% predictive value for lack of response to therapy. This predictive model needs replication in other cohorts of patients with asthma, but suggests gene–gene interactions may have greater significance than that identified with single variants. Our findings also suggest that genetic variants may contribute to the observed population disparities in asthma. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2009; 44:649–654. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Bronchiectasis secondary to primary immunodeficiency in children: Longitudinal changes in structure and function
Authors: Haidopoulou Katerina , Calder Alistair , Jones Alison , Jaffe Adam , Sonnappa Samatha
Published: June 2009

Background

Primary immunodeficiency is a common cause of bronchiectasis in children. The term bronchiectasis suggests an irreversible process; however, disease progression following treatment is controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the progression of bronchiectasis in children with primary immunodeficiency after institution of treatment.

Methods

A retrospective review of case notes of children with primary immunodeficiency was undertaken to identify patients with confirmed bronchiectasis. Children who had two high‐resolution computed tomography scans of the chest (HRCT chest) with an interval of at least 2 years were identified. The HRCT‐chest scans at diagnosis and follow up were scored using a Bhalla score. Spirometry results (FEV1, FVC, and FEV1:FVC ratios) were related to HRCT‐chest scores, where available. Statistical analysis was by Wilcoxon signed rank test and Spearman's rank order correlation.

Results

Eighteen subjects were studied. The diagnosis of primary immunodeficiency was established at median (range) age 3.4 (1–13) years, and bronchiectasis at 9.3 (3.1–13.8) years. There was no significant difference between baseline and follow‐up median (range) HRCT‐chest scores (6 [1–13] and 7.5 [0–15], P = 0.21) respectively. The follow‐up FEV1 and FVC percent predicted median (range) were significantly higher than baseline (86% [49–124%] vs. 75% [36–93%], P < 0.005, and 86% [47–112%] vs. 78% [31–96%], P < 0.05), respectively; there was no significant difference between baseline and follow‐up FEV1:FVC ratios. There was no significant correlation between HRCT‐chest score changes and FEV1 or FVC changes.

Conclusions

Bronchiectasis secondary to primary immunodeficiency in childhood is not always a progressive condition, suggesting a potential to slow or prevent disease progression with appropriate treatment. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2009; 44:669–675. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The alchemy of jargon: Etymologies of urologic neologisms. Number 5: Oncology and its vocabulary
Authors: Shelfer Lochlan
Published: June 2009

BACKGROUND

As the scientific community is increasingly severed from the study of linguistics, the underlying significance of their common technical words is becoming blurred. This article will focus on the genesis of terminology in the field of Oncology.

METHODS

These notes will give a detailed background of the history of technical terms, including how they came into being, whence they were derived, and how they impacted the scientific community through the ages.

RESULTS

In this installment, following terms are analyzed: Oncology, Cancer, Carcinoma, Metastasis, Neoplasm, Malignant, and Benign.

CONCLUSIONS

This analysis of the history and significance of scientific terms common to the urological community works towards a fortification of their power by offering a reminder of their origins. Prostate 69: 1369–1371, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The alchemy of jargon: Etymologies of urologic neologisms—part 4: The history of histological nomenclature
Authors: Shelfer Lochlan
Published: June 2009

BACKGROUND

As the scientific community is increasingly severed from the study of linguistics, the underlying significance of their common technical words is becoming blurred. This article will focus on the genesis of terminology in the field of Histology.

METHODS

These notes will give a detailed background of the history of technical terms, including how they came into being, whence they were derived, and how they impacted the scientific community through the ages.

RESULTS

In this installment, following terms are analyzed: organ, gland, tissue, membrane, acinus, fibroblast, epithelium, and endothelium.

CONCLUSIONS

This analysis of the history and significance of scientific terms common to the urological community works toward a fortification of their power by offering a reminder of their origins. Prostate 69:1366–1367, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Nemo‐like kinase induces apoptosis and inhibits androgen receptor signaling in prostate cancer cells
Authors: Emami Katayoon H. , Brown Lisha G. , Pitts Tiffany E.M. , Sun Xizhang , Vessella Robert L. , Corey Eva
Published: June 2009

BACKGROUND

The mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs) regulate cell growth, differentiation, and stress responses, and many critical signaling pathways are subject to cross‐regulation by MAPK signaling. Previous studies have yielded evidence of cross‐talk between the MAPK pathways and androgen receptor (AR) signaling, which plays a critical role in growth control of both normal prostate and prostate cancer (PCa). Objective of this study was to evaluate the expression of MAPK‐like protein nemo‐like kinase (NLK) in PCa and its effects on AR‐mediated transcription.

METHODS

Real‐time PCR and IHC were used to evaluate levels of NLK in prostatic samples. Effects of over‐expression of NLK on apoptosis and proliferation were determined using Western blot and flow cytometry. Effects on AR signaling were evaluated using over‐expression and knockdown of NLK in PCa cells in combination with PCR, Western blotting and reporter assays.

RESULTS

Our results show that the expression of NLK is decreased in PCa metastases in comparison to normal prostate epithelium and primary PCa. Our results also show that over‐expression of NLK resulted in induction of apoptosis, which was more pronounced in AR‐expressing LNCaP versus AR‐negative PC‐3 cells. Higher levels of NLK decreased levels of AR mRNA and protein as well as inhibited AR‐mediated transcription.

CONCLUSIONS

NLK expression is altered during PCa progression and it is involved in regulation of AR signaling in these cells. A deeper understanding of the roles of NLK in regulation of AR‐mediated transcription and control of PCa progression may point the way to new modes of therapeutic intervention in this disease. Prostate 69: 1481–1492, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Towards the elucidation of molecular determinants of cooperativity in the liver bile acid binding protein
Authors: Pedò Massimo , D'Onofrio Mariapina , Ferranti Pasquale , Molinari Henriette , Assfalg Michael
Published: June 2009

Bile acid binding proteins (BABPs) are cytosolic lipid chaperones contributing to the maintenance of bile acid homeostasis and functional distribution within the cell. Liver BABPs act in parallel with ileal transporters to ensure vectorial transport of bile salts in hepatocytes and enterocytes, respectively. We describe the investigation of ligand binding to liver BABP, an essential step in the understanding of intracellular bile salt transport. Binding site occupancies were monitored in NMR titration experiments using 15N‐labelled ligand, while the relative populations of differently bound BABP forms were assessed by mass spectrometry. This site‐specific information allowed the determination of intrinsic thermodynamic parameters and the identification of an extremely high cooperativity between two binding sites. Protein‐observed NMR experiments revealed a global structural rearrangement which suggests an allosteric mechanism at the basis of the observed cooperativity. The view of a molecular tool capable of buffering against significant concentrations of free bile salts in a large range of solution conditions emerges from the observed pH‐dependence of binding. We set to determine the molecular determinants of cooperativity by analysing the binding properties of a protein containing a mutated internal histidine. Both mass spectrometry and NMR experiments are consistent with an overall decreased binding affinity of the mutant, while the measured diffusion coefficients of ligand species reveal that the affinity loss concerns essentially one of the two binding sites. We therefore identified a mutation able to disrupt energetic communication functional to efficient binding and conclude that the buried histidine establishes contacts that stabilize the ternary complex. Proteins 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hypertension targets: improving control and concordance
Authors: Broomhead Charles
Published: June 2009

The benefits of antihypertensive treatment are well established and the Quality and Outcomes Framework provides rewards for effective control. Here, the author discusses the issues facing GPs trying to meet hypertension targets and when exception reporting may be appropriate. Copyright © 2009 Wiley Interface Ltd
Dislocation structure in interfaces between Si wafers with hybrid crystal orientation
Authors: Vdovin Vladimir , Zakharov Nikolai , Pippel Eckhard , Werner Peter , Milvidskii Mikhail , Ries Mike , Seacrist Mike , Falster Robert
Published: June 2009

Dislocation structure in Si(110)/Si(001) wafer bonding (WB) structures have been studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The behavior of intermediate native oxide layers during high temperature annealing, the nature of interfacial dislocations and dislocation generation mechanisms are the main issues of this work. Samples were fabricated by direct hydrophilic WB of 200 mm wafers with native oxide. The as‐bonded structures containing 140‐nm thick layers were thermally annealed in the temperature range 1150 to 1200 °C. The dislocation structure composed of a pattern of unidirectional parallel but broken dislocation arrays is formed in the structures with partial or entire dissolution of the oxide layer. The contrast of broken dark lines usually observed in TEM bright field micrographs is supposed to be caused by integral effect of steps compensating twist misorientation and arrays of 60‐degree dislocations. We suggest that nucleation of dislocation loops at the interface due to the agglomeration of intrinsic point defects is a plausible mechanism of dislocation generation. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Extended free‐volume defects in chalcogenide glassy semiconductors induced by high‐energy γ‐irradiation
Authors: Balitska Valentina , Filipecki Jacek , Shpotyuk Oleh
Published: June 2009

It was shown that under‐coordinated topological defects induced by high‐energy γ‐irradiation can be a reason for significant changes in positron annihilation lifetime spectra of multicomponent chalcogenide glassy semiconductors within ternary Ge‐As(Sb)‐S systems. In the case of negatively‐charged sulphur and arsenic atoms, the excess of free volume is quite enough to produce additional input in the second defect‐related channel of positron trapping, while under‐coordinated germanium atoms are practically non‐detectable with this technique because of low associated free volume. Despite radiation‐induced densification, the average positron lifetime demonstrate both growing and decaying tendencies after γ‐irradiation depending on glass composition. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Point and extended defects in irradiated silicon and consequences for detectors
Authors: Lazanu Sorina , Ciurea Magdalena Lidia , Lazanu Ionel
Published: June 2009

The interactions by which ions lose their energy in silicon are investigated at the microscopic level. This theoretical study put in evidence that the ionization could also represent a source of structural defects, and, contrary to the processes initiated by elementary particles, could generate extended primary defects, as, e.g. four‐fold coordinated defects, due to the simultaneous breaking of bonds for more neighbouring atoms in the lattice in a single interaction, in the ionisation core. The average energy transferred per atom is calculated, and also the energy spent by ionisation. The time dependence of the temperature in the ionisation core is derived in some simplifying assumptions. These contributions were not considered yet in the studies of degradation of silicon detectors in radiation fields and could account for the discrepancies observed between models and measurements at microscopic versus device level for hadrons and ions. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Extended defects in ion assisted MBE grown SiGe/Si‐nanostructures
Authors: Gaiduk P. I.
Published: June 2009

MBE‐grown SiGe nano‐structures assisted with in situ implantation of 1 keV Ge+ ions are investigated by transmission electron (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Self‐assembled Ge islands of small size and no extended defects are observed by TEM after low ion fluence pre‐implantation at high temperature. Implanted SiGe nano‐structures of larger size produce threading dislocations. High dose implantation at low temperature results in formation of semi‐spherical SiGe/Si nanostructures of a twin‐related type. Epitaxial islands of 30‐40 nm in base diameter and 11 nm in height, and a density of about 6x1010 cm–2 are produced in this case. It is evidenced by XTEM that the islands have a complicated inner structure and consist of micro‐twin nucleus and semi‐spherical nano‐layers of a various SiGe composition. The results are discussed in terms of strain relaxation through implantation induced defects. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Misfit dislocations and surface morphology of InGaAs/GaAs heterostructures grown by MOVPE
Authors: Gelczuk Łukasz , Dąbrowska‐Szata Maria , Masalska Agata , Łusakowska Elżbieta , Dłużewski Piotr
Published: June 2009

A two‐dimensional network of misfit dislocations at the interface of the partially relaxed Inx Ga1‐x As epitaxial layers grown on (001)‐oriented GaAs substrates by metalorganic vapor‐phase epitaxy (MOVPE) has been revealed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A close correspondence between the distribution of interfacial misfit dislocations and undulating surface morphology in the form of a characteristic cross‐hatch pattern has been observed by means of atomic force microcopy (AFM). Anisotropic strain relaxation attributed to the asymmetry in the formation of misfit dislocations has been also reproduced on the surface in the form of a fine pattern, cutting the cross‐hatch one. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Makyoh topography for the studies of extended defects: possibilities and limitations
Authors: Riesz Ferenc
Published: June 2009

The sensitivity of Makyoh topography is analysed using analytic model calculations for the study of surface topographical fingerprints of localised defects. The effects of non‐ideal collimation of the illumination is considered. Supporting experimental data on the investigation of the swirl defect in p‐type Si wafers are presented. A height sensitivity of better than 30 nm over 1.5 mm spatial period is demonstrated by comparison to surface stylus profiling. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Effect of dislocation trails on gold diffusion in Si
Authors: Feklisova O. V. , Yakimov E. B.
Published: June 2009

Gold diffusion in plastically deformed Si containing dislocation trails has been carried out at temperatures 700 and 750 °C. The substitutional gold depth profile has been studied by successive sample etching and DLTS profiling. It is observed that the gold concentration in plastically deformed Si is about 10 times higher than that in defect‐free Si. Moreover, it is at least 10 times higher than that estimated for the dislocation density revealed in the samples under study. It is concluded that the observed increase in the substitutional gold concentration is associated with defects in the dislocation trails formed behind moving dislocations. It is assumed that both sinks for self‐interstitials and traps for interstitial gold present in the samples under study. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Is there an impact of threading dislocations on the characteristics of devices fabricated in strained‐Ge substrates?
Authors: Simoen Eddy , Brouwers Gijs , Yang Rui , Eneman Geert , Gonzalez Mireia Bargallo , Leys Frederick , De Jaeger Brice , Mitard Jerome , Brunco David , Souriau Laurent , Cody Nyles , Thomas Shawn , Lajaunie Luc , David Marie‐Laure , Meuris Marc
Published: June 2009

The electrical impact of threading dislocations in strained‐germanium (s‐Ge) grown on a strain‐relaxed Si0.2Ge0.8 buffer is investigated by means of the current‐voltage (I‐V) and capacitance‐voltage (C‐V) characteristics of p+n and n+p junctions fabricated in these layers. For comparison, reference devices with a two to three orders of magnitude lower threading dislocation density (TDD) have also been studied. While the leakage current of the s‐Ge diodes is about two decades higher, indicating an overall correlation with TDD, the impact of a post‐growth anneal cannot be explained by a removal of TDs. Instead, it is believed that the heat‐treatment‐induced improvement of the reverse current is associated with the removal of point defect clusters from the SiGe buffer layers. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Integrated modeling and verification of 2D grown‐in microdefect distributions in Cz dislocation‐free silicon single crystals
Authors: Prostomolotov Anatoly
Published: June 2009

Influence of the thermal shield on temperature zones, microdefect formation and occurrence of diameter distortion in Cz dislocation‐free silicon single crystal is analyzed. Results of integrated modeling of thermal field and distributions of intrinsic point defects (IPD) in the ingot shoulder and across the cylindrical body of grown silicon crystal are discussed. An application of the pre sent model of defect formation to rapid thermal annealing (RTA) of silicon wafers is shown. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Modeling of nucleation and evolution of hydrogen‐induced platelets in silicon crystals
Authors: Velichko Oleg , Shaman Yury , Fedotov Alexander
Published: June 2009

A model for nucleation and evolution of hydrogen induced platelets (HIPs) in silicon crystals during plasma treatment is proposed and analyzed. The derived equations allow one to trace the evolution of the concentration distribution for platelets depending on their size and to calculate the total concentration of hydrogen trapped by HIPs. The results of numerical simulation agree well with the available experimental data confirming the validity of the assumptions made to develop the model. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Profile of EBIC dislocation contrast in semiconductors with small diffusion length
Authors: Yakimov E. B.
Published: June 2009

The contrast of dislocation perpendicular to the surface in the Electron Beam Induced Current mode in GaN films has been studied by a computer simulation and has been measured experimentally. It is shown that contrary to the case of traditional semiconductors, the profile width of dislocation EBIC contrast in the crystals with small diffusion length decreases with beam energy increasing. It is shown that the contrast decay with distance to a dislocation could not be used for the direct diffusion length measurements. Instead, to estimate the diffusion length value a comparison of total simulated dislocation profile with the experimental one should be used. The similar conclusion could be made for the dislocation contrast in the cathodoluminescence mode. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Empirical Bayes models of Poisson clinical trials and sample size determination
Authors: Zaslavsky Boris G.
Published: June 2009

Bayesian methods are often used to reduce the sample sizes and/or increase the power of clinical trials. The right choice of the prior distribution is a critical step in Bayesian modeling. If the prior not completely specified, historical data may be used to estimate it. In the empirical Bayesian analysis, the resulting prior can be used to produce the posterior distribution. In this paper, we describe a Bayesian Poisson model with a conjugate Gamma prior. The parameters of Gamma distribution are estimated in the empirical Bayesian framework under two estimation schemes. The straightforward numerical search for the maximum likelihood (ML) solution using the marginal negative binomial distribution is unfeasible occasionally. We propose a simplification to the maximization procedure. The Markov Chain Monte Carlo method is used to create a set of Poisson parameters from the historical count data. These Poisson parameters are used to uniquely define the Gamma likelihood function. Easily computable approximation formulae may be used to find the ML estimations for the parameters of gamma distribution. For the sample size calculations, the ML solution is replaced by its upper confidence limit to reflect an incomplete exchangeability of historical trials as opposed to current studies. The exchangeability is measured by the confidence interval for the historical rate of the events. With this prior, the formula for the sample size calculation is completely defined. Published in 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Beurteilung von Korrosionsschutzsystemen für Offshore‐Windenergietürme – Teil 2: Ergebnisse und Schlussfolgerungen
Authors: Momber Andreas , Plagemann Peter , Stenzel Volkmar , Schneider Michael
Published: June 2009

Im Rahmen von Auslagerungs‐ und Laborprüfungen wurde die Korrosionsschutzwirkung verschiedener, für den Schutz von Offshore‐Windenergietürmen geeigneter Systeme untersucht. Zu den untersuchten Systemen gehörten Duplexsysteme mit Zn/Al‐Metallisierung, mehrschichtige organische Systeme, ein einschichtiges organisches System, eine Zn/Mg‐Metallisierung sowie unbeschichtete Bereiche mit kathodischem Korrosionsschutz. Alle Systeme wurden an speziell gefertigten Auslagerungsprobekörpern sowie an Laborprobekörpern geprüft. Die im Labormaßstab durchgeführten Prüfungen umfassten Tauchversuche, Alterungsversuche, Versuche zur kathodischen Verträglichkeit und Messungen mittels elektrochemischer Impedanzspektroskopie. Im Teil 1 des Beitrages, veröffentlicht im Heft 4/2009, wurden Konzeption und Durchführung der Prüfungen sowie die verwendeten Probekörper und Korrosionsschutzsysteme detailliert beschrieben. Über die Ergebnisse der Prüfungen wird im Teil 2 berichtet.

Assessment of corrosion protection systems for offshore wind energy towers – part 2: Results and conclusions.

Based on field and on laboratory tests, the corrosion protective performance of different corrosion protection systems for offshore wind energy towers was investigated. The systems under investigation included duplex systems with Zn/Al metallization, multi‐layered organic systems, a single‐layer thick organic system, Zn/Mg metallization and cathodic protection of uncoated sections. Special field specimens and laboratory specimens were utilized in order to investigate the systems. Laboratory tests included immersion tests, ageing tests, test on cathodic compatibility and electro‐chemical impedance spectroscopy. Part 1 of the paper (Stahlbau, No. 4/2009) covererd the general experimental design and details of the experimental procedures, whereas Part 2 deals with the results of the test programme.