bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Power generation transducer from magnetostrictive materials
Authors: Zhang Hui
Published: June 2011

In this letter, on the basis of Stoner-Wohlfarth model, the changes in magnetization of Tb0.3Dy0.7Fe2 alloy have been calculated with a compressive stress along the [111] and [112] axes. The results have shown that the significant change in magnetization for Tb0.3Dy0.7Fe2 alloy can be induced by the compressive stress. A feasible application of power generation floor which can convert the energy from the vibration created by a walking person on it into electric energy has been proposed, and its structure and performance also have been revealed.
Charge modulated interfacial conductivity in SrTiO3-based oxide heterostructures
Authors: Chen Y. Z. , Stamate E. , Pryds N. , Sun J. R. , Shen B. G. , Linderoth S.
Published: June 2011

When depositing amorphous SrTiO3 (STO) films on crystalline STO substrates by pulsed laser deposition, metallic interfaces are observed, though both materials are band-gap insulators. The interfacial conductivity exhibits strong dependence on oxygen pressure during film growth, which is closely related to the STO plasma expansion in the background gas of oxygen. By controlling the charge balance in the STO plasma with an external bias, Vbias, of −10 V≤Vbias≤5 V at an oxygen pressure of 10−4 Pa, the interfacial conduction can be tuned to be metallic or semiconducting. These results provide a new opportunity to tailor low-dimensional interface states of complex oxide heterostructures.
Upgraded multipulse laser and multipoint Thomson scattering diagnostics on EAST
Authors: Zang Qing , Zhao Junyu , Yang Li , Hu Qingsheng , Xi Xiaoqi , Dai Xingxing , Yang Jianhua , Han Xiaofeng , Li Mengting , Hsieh C. L.
Published: June 2011

Recently a new Thomson scattering diagnostic system was upgraded in EAST tokamak experiment using a multipulse Nd:YAG (neodymium—yttrium aluminium garnet) laser and a multipoint observation volumes. This diagnostic uses a new optical laser alignment technique that was made to determine accurately the laser position, and a new lens collection system that enables the measurement of wider plasma's object. A composite control system made we can get the results in several seconds. Furthermore, a new data processing method was adopted for much exact results.
Ac magnetic susceptibility study of in vivo nanoparticle biodistribution
Authors: Gutiérrez L , Mejías R , Barber D F , Veintemillas-Verdaguer S , Serna C J , Lázaro F J , Morales M P
Published: June 2011

We analysed magnetic nanoparticle biodistribution, before and after cytokine conjugation, in a mouse model by ac susceptibility measurements of the corresponding resected tissues. Mice received repeated intravenous injections of nanoparticle suspension for two weeks and they were euthanized 1 h after the last injection. In general, only 10% of the total injected nanoparticles after multiple exposures were found in tissues. The rest of the particles may probably be metabolized or excreted by the organism. Our findings indicate that the adsorption of interferon to DMSA-coated magnetic nanoparticles changes their biodistribution, reducing the presence of nanoparticles in lungs and therefore their possible toxicity. The specific targeting of the particles to tumour tissues by the use of an external magnetic field has also been studied. Magnetic nanoparticles were observed by transmission electron microscopy in the targeted tissue and quantified by ac magnetic susceptibility.
Structural and transport properties in alloyed Ti/Al Ohmic contacts formed on p-type Al-implanted 4H-SiC annealed at high temperature
Authors: Frazzetto A , Giannazzo F , Nigro R Lo , Raineri V , Roccaforte F
Published: June 2011

In this paper, the transport properties of alloyed Ti/Al Ohmic contacts formed on p-type Al-implanted silicon carbide (4H-SiC) were studied. The morphology of p-type implanted 4H-SiC was controlled using a capping layer during post-implantation activation annealing at 1700 °C. The different morphological conditions do not affect the macroscopic electrical properties of the implanted SiC (such as the sheet resistance or the mobility). On the other hand, the improved morphology of implanted SiC allows us to achieve a flatter Ti/Al surface and a lower specific contact resistance. The temperature dependence of the specific resistance of the contacts was studied to obtain physical insights into the carrier transport mechanism at the metal/SiC interface. The fit comparing several models shows that thermionic field emission is the dominant transport mechanism through the metal/SiC interface, and that a reduction in the barrier height from 0.51 to 0.46 eV is associated with the improvement of the Ohmic properties. Transmission electron microscopy analysis showed the presence of a laterally inhomogeneous microstructure of the metal/SiC interface. The reduction in the barrier height could be correlated with the different microstructures of the interfacial region.
The variant call format and VCFtools
Authors: Danecek Petr , Auton Adam , Abecasis Goncalo , Albers Cornelis A. , Banks Eric , DePristo Mark A. , Handsaker Robert E. , Lunter Gerton , Marth Gabor T. , Sherry Stephen T. , McVean Gilean , Durbin Richard ,   1000 Genomes Project Analysis Group
Published: June 2011

Summary: The variant call format (VCF) is a generic format for storing DNA polymorphism data such as SNPs, insertions, deletions and structural variants, together with rich annotations. VCF is usually stored in a compressed manner and can be indexed for fast data retrieval of variants from a range of positions on the reference genome. The format was developed for the 1000 Genomes Project, and has also been adopted by other projects such as UK10K, dbSNP and the NHLBI Exome Project. VCFtools is a software suite that implements various utilities for processing VCF files, including validation, merging, comparing and also provides a general Perl API.

Availability:  http://vcftools.sourceforge.net

Contact:  rd@sanger.ac.uk
The role of fisheries data in the development evaluation and impact assessment in support of European fisheries plans
Authors: Simmonds E. J. , Döring R. , Daniel P. , Angot V.
Published: June 2011

Simmonds, E. J., Döring, R., Daniel, P., and Angot, V. 2011. The role of fisheries data in the development evaluation and impact assessment in support of European fisheries plans. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 68: 1689–1698. The European Commission has two formal requirements for developing multi-annual management plan policies: evaluation of the past performance of existing plans and impact assessments (IAs) of the potential benefits of new proposals. The new policies require the evaluation of fishery management in terms of three specific criteria: (i) effectiveness, i.e. the best method to achieve the objectives; (ii) efficiency, the cost-effectiveness, and proportionality; and (iii) consistency, i.e. limiting trade-offs across economic, social, and environmental domains. To develop policy, there is a need to collect relevant information, then to conduct appropriate analyses that provide documentation to support the policy objectives. This paper discusses the data requirements for good environmental, economic, and social understanding of fishery dynamics and management, describing how fishery data are currently linked to the analytical and management evaluation process using examples from 2009 and 2010. The type of information currently used is considered, along with the timetable of data availability, and its effect on historical evaluation and IAs, which are now formally required when any changes to legislation are proposed in the European Union, including following stakeholder consultation. The possibilities and future needs for such data are discussed.
Remembrance of things past: modelling the relationship between species' abundances in living communities and death assemblages
Authors: Olszewski Thomas D.
Published: June 2011

Accumulations of dead skeletal material are a valuable archive of past ecological conditions. However, such assemblages are not equivalent to living communities because they mix the remains of multiple generations and are altered by post-mortem processes. The abundance of a species in a death assemblage can be quantitatively modelled by successively integrating the product of an influx time series and a post-mortem loss function (a decay function with a constant half-life). In such a model, temporal mixing increases expected absolute dead abundance relative to average influx as a linear function of half-life and increases variation in absolute dead abundance values as a square-root function of half-life. Because typical abundance distributions of ecological communities are logarithmically distributed, species' differences in preservational half-life would have to be very large to substantially alter species' abundance ranks (i.e. make rare species common or vice-versa). In addition, expected dead abundances increase at a faster rate than their range of variation with increased time averaging, predicting greater consistency in the relative abundance structure of death assemblages than their parent living community.
Metamorphosing reef fishes avoid predator scent when choosing a home
Authors: Vail Alexander L. , McCormick Mark I.
Published: June 2011

Most organisms possess anti-predator adaptations to reduce their risk of being consumed, but little is known of the adaptations prey employ during vulnerable life-history transitions when predation pressures can be extreme. We demonstrate the use of a transition-specific anti-predator adaptation by coral reef fishes as they metamorphose from pelagic larvae to benthic juveniles, when over half are consumed within 48 h. Our field experiment shows that naturally settling damselfish use olfactory, and most likely innate, predator recognition to avoid settling to habitat patches manipulated to emit predator odour. Settlement to patches emitting predator odour was on average 24–43% less than to control patches. Evidence strongly suggests that this avoidance of sedentary and patchily distributed predators by nocturnal settlers will gain them a survival advantage, but also lead to non-lethal predator effects: the costs of exhibiting anti-predator adaptations. Transition-specific anti-predator adaptations, such as demonstrated here, may be widespread among organisms with complex life cycles and play an important role in prey population dynamics.
Explaining the heritability of an ecologically significant trait in terms of individual quantitative trait loci
Authors: Scoville Alison G. , Lee Young Wha , Willis John H. , Kelly John K.
Published: June 2011

Most natural populations display substantial genetic variation in behaviour, morphology, physiology, life history and the susceptibility to disease. A major challenge is to determine the contributions of individual loci to variation in complex traits. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping has identified genomic regions affecting ecologically significant traits of many species. In nearly all cases, however, the importance of these QTLs to population variation remains unclear. In this paper, we apply a novel experimental method to parse the genetic variance of floral traits of the annual plantMimulus guttatusinto contributions of individual QTLs. We first use QTL-mapping to identify nine loci and then conduct a population-based breeding experiment to estimateVQ, the genetic variance attributable to each QTL. We find that three QTLs with moderate effects explain up to one-third of the genetic variance in the natural population. Variation at these loci is probably maintained by some form of balancing selection. Notably, the largest effect QTLs were relatively minor in their contribution to heritability.
Alzheimer's disease: rapid and slow progression
Authors: Thalhauser Craig J. , Komarova Natalia L.
Published: June 2011

The variability in the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) across patients has made identification of disease-delaying treatments difficult. Quantitative analysis of this variability has important implications in understanding the pathophysiology of AD and identifying disease-delaying treatments. The functional assessment staging (FAST) procedure characterizes seven stages in the course of AD from normal ageing to severe dementia. The present study applied statistical methods to analyse FAST stage durations from a dataset of 648 AD patients. These methods uncovered two distinct types of disease progression, characterized by different mean progression rates. We identified two separate distributions of FAST stage progression times differing by up to 2 years in mean duration within each stage. These results further indicate that if a patient progresses rapidly through a given FAST stage, then their further progression is also likely to be rapid. These findings support the hypothesis that progression of AD can occur via two different pathophysiological mechanisms that lead to distinct average rates of decline.
Limited potential for adaptation to climate change in a broadly distributed marine crustacean
Authors: Kelly Morgan W. , Sanford Eric , Grosberg Richard K.
Published: June 2011

The extent to which acclimation and genetic adaptation might buffer natural populations against climate change is largely unknown. Most models predicting biological responses to environmental change assume that species' climatic envelopes are homogeneous both in space and time. Although recent discussions have questioned this assumption, few empirical studies have characterized intraspecific patterns of genetic variation in traits directly related to environmental tolerance limits. We test the extent of such variation in the broadly distributed tidepool copepodTigriopus californicususing laboratory rearing and selection experiments to quantify thermal tolerance and scope for adaptation in eight populations spanning more than 17° of latitude.Tigriopus californicusexhibit striking local adaptation to temperature, with less than 1 per cent of the total quantitative variance for thermal tolerance partitioned within populations. Moreover, heat-tolerant phenotypes observed in low-latitude populations cannot be achieved in high-latitude populations, either through acclimation or 10 generations of strong selection. Finally, in four populations there was no increase in thermal tolerance between generations 5 and 10 of selection, suggesting that standing variation had already been depleted. Thus, plasticity and adaptation appear to have limited capacity to buffer these isolated populations against further increases in temperature. Our results suggest that models assuming a uniform climatic envelope may greatly underestimate extinction risk in species with strong local adaptation.
Leaf evolution in Southern Hemisphere conifers tracks the angiosperm ecological radiation
Authors: Biffin Ed , Brodribb Timothy J. , Hill Robert S. , Thomas Philip , Lowe Andrew J.
Published: June 2011

The angiosperm radiation has been linked to sharp declines in gymnosperm diversity and the virtual elimination of conifers from the tropics. The conifer family Podocarpaceae stands as an exception with highest species diversity in wet equatorial forests. It has been hypothesized that efficient light harvesting by the highly flattened leaves of several podocarp genera facilitates persistence with canopy-forming angiosperms, and the angiosperm ecological radiation may have preferentially favoured the diversification of these lineages. To test these ideas, we develop a molecular phylogeny for Podocarpaceae using Bayesian-relaxed clock methods incorporating fossil time constraints. We find several independent origins of flattened foliage types, and that these lineages have diversified predominantly through the Cenozoic and therefore among canopy-forming angiosperms. The onset of sustained foliage flattening podocarp diversification is coincident with a declining diversification rate of scale/needle-leaved lineages and also with ecological and climatic transformations linked to angiosperm foliar evolution. We demonstrate that climatic range evolution is contingent on the underlying state for leaf morphology. Taken together, our findings imply that as angiosperms came to dominate most terrestrial ecosystems, competitive interactions at the foliar level have profoundly shaped podocarp geography and as a consequence, rates of lineage diversification.
Conflict, sticks and carrots: war increases prosocial punishments and rewards
Authors: Gneezy Ayelet , Fessler Daniel M. T.
Published: June 2011

Unlike most species, humans cooperate extensively with group members who are not closely related to them, a pattern sustained in part by punishing non-cooperators and rewarding cooperators. Because internally cooperative groups prevail over less cooperative rival groups, it is thought that violent intergroup conflict played a key role in the evolution of human cooperation. Consequently, it is plausible that propensities to punish and reward will be elevated during intergroup conflict. Using experiments conducted before, during and after the 2006 Israel–Hezbollah war, we show that, during wartime, people are more willing to pay costs to punish non-cooperative group members and reward cooperative group members. Rather than simply increasing within-group solidarity, violent intergroup conflict thus elicits behaviours that, writ large, enhance cooperation within the group, thereby making victory more likely.
Trophic network structure emerges through antagonistic coevolution in temporally varying environments
Authors: Poisot Timothée , Thrall Peter H. , Hochberg Michael E.
Published: June 2011

Understanding the mechanisms underlying ecological specialization is central to our understanding of community ecology and evolution. Although theoretical work has investigated how variable environments may affect specialization in single species, little is known about how such variation impacts bipartite network structure in antagonistically coevolving systems. Here, we develop and analyse a general model of victim–enemy coevolution that explicitly includes resource and population dynamics. We investigate how temporal environmental heterogeneity affects the evolution of specialization and associated community structure. Environmental productivity influences victim investment in resistance, which will shape patterns of specialization through its regulating effect on enemy investment in infectivity. We also investigate the epidemiological consequences of environmental variability and show that enemy population density is maximized for intermediate lengths of productive seasons, which corresponds to situations where enemies can evolve higher infectivity than victims can evolve defence. We discuss our results in the light of empirical studies, and further highlight ways in which our model applies to a range of natural systems.
ROP GTPases Act with the Receptor-Like Protein PAN1 to Polarize Asymmetric Cell Division in Maize
Authors: Humphries John A. , Vejlupkova Zuzana , Luo Anding , Meeley Robert B. , Sylvester Anne W. , Fowler John E. , Smith Laurie G.
Published: June 2011

Plant Rho family GTPases (ROPs) have been investigated primarily for their functions in polarized cell growth. We previously showed that the maize (Zea mays) Leu-rich repeat receptor-like protein PANGLOSS1 (PAN1) promotes the polarization of asymmetric subsidiary mother cell (SMC) divisions during stomatal development. Here, we show that maize Type I ROPs 2 and 9 function together with PAN1 in this process. Partial loss of ROP2/9 function causes a weak SMC division polarity phenotype and strongly enhances this phenotype in pan1 mutants. Like PAN1, ROPs accumulate in an asymmetric manner in SMCs. Overexpression of yellow fluorescent protein-ROP2 is associated with its delocalization in SMCs and with aberrantly oriented SMC divisions. Polarized localization of ROPs depends on PAN1, but PAN1 localization is insensitive to depletion and depolarization of ROP. Membrane-associated Type I ROPs display increased nonionic detergent solubility in pan1 mutants, suggesting a role for PAN1 in membrane partitioning of ROPs. Finally, endogenous PAN1 and ROP proteins are physically associated with each other in maize tissue extracts, as demonstrated by reciprocal coimmunoprecipitation experiments. This study demonstrates that ROPs play a key role in polarization of plant cell division and cell growth and reveals a role for a receptor-like protein in spatial localization of ROPs.
Charge-density analysis of 1-nitroindoline: refinement quality using free R factors and restraints. Corrigendum
Authors: Zarychta Bartosz , Zaleski Jacek , Kyzioł Janusz , Daszkiewicz Zdzisław , Jelsch Christian
Published: June 2011

The D
e (dissociation energy) values in Table 6 of the article by Zarychta et al. [(2011). Acta Cryst. B67, 250–262] are corrected.
Quantification and causes of the terrigeneous sediment budget at the scale of a continental margin: a new method applied to the Namibia–South Africa margin
Authors: Guillocheau F. , Rouby D. , Robin C. , Helm C. , Rolland N. , Le Carlier de Veslud C. , Braun J.
Published: June 2011

The terrigeneous sediment budget of passive margin basins records variations in continental relief triggered by either deformation or climate. Consequently, it becomes a major challenge to determine sediment accumulation histories in a large number of basins found in various geodynamic contexts. In this study, we developed a GIS‐based method to determine the sediment budget at the scale of a whole basin (from the upstream continental onlap to the most distal deepest marine deposits) and the associated uncertainties. The volume of sediments preserved in the basin for each time interval was estimated by interpolation between cross‐sections and then corrected from in situ production and porosity to obtain terrigeneous solid volumes. This approach was validated by applying it to Namibia–South African passive margin basins for which independent data are available. We determined by a statistical approach the variances associated with each parameter of the method: the geometrical extrapolation of the section (8–43%), the uncertainties on seismic velocities for the depth conversion (2–10%), on the absolute ages of stratigraphic horizons (0.2–12%), on the carbonate content (0.2–46%) and on remaining porosities estimation (3–5%). Our estimates of the accumulated volumes were validated by comparison with previous estimates at a lower temporal resolution in the same area. We discussed variations in accumulation rates observed in terms of relief variations triggered by climate and/or deformation. The high accumulation rates determined for the Lower Cretaceous, progressively decreasing to a minimum in the Mid‐Cretaceous, are consistent with the progressive relaxation of a rift‐related relief. The following increase to an Upper Cretaceous maximum is consistent with a major relief reorganization driven either by an uplift and/or a change to more humid climate conditions. The lower accumulation rate in the Cenozoic suggests a relief reorganization of lesser amplitude over that period.
Anti‐platelet therapy: phosphodiesterase inhibitors
Authors: Gresele Paolo , Momi Stefania , Falcinelli Emanuela
Published: June 2011

Inhibition of platelet aggregation can be achieved either by the blockade of membrane receptors or by interaction with intracellular signalling pathways. Cyclic adenosine 3′,5′‐monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine 3′,5′‐monophosphate (cGMP) are two critical intracellular second messengers provided with strong inhibitory activity on fundamental platelet functions. Phosphodiesterases (PDEs), by catalysing the hydrolysis of cAMP and cGMP, limit the intracellular levels of cyclic nucleotides, thus regulating platelet function. The inhibition of PDEs may therefore exert a strong platelet inhibitory effect. Platelets possess three PDE isoforms (PDE2, PDE3 and PDE5), with different selectivity for cAMP and cGMP. Several nonselective or isoenzyme‐selective PDE inhibitors have been developed, and some of them have entered clinical use as antiplatelet agents. This review focuses on the effect of PDE2, PDE3 and PDE5 inhibitors on platelet function and on the evidence for an antithrombotic action of some of them, and in particular of dipyridamole and cilostazol.
Haemophilia management: time to get personal?
Authors: HOWARD T. E. , YANOVER C. , MAHLANGU J. , KRAUSE A. , VIEL K. R. , KASPER C. K. , PRATT K. P.
Published: June 2011

Summary.  The possibility of alloimmunization in patients receiving protein replacement therapy depends on (at least) three risk factors, which are necessary concomitantly but insufficient alone. The first is the degree of structural difference between the therapeutic protein and the patient’s own endogenous protein, if expressed. Such differences depend on the nature of the disease mutation and the pre‐mutation endogenous protein structure as well as on post‐translational changes and sequence‐engineered alterations in the therapeutic protein. Genetic variations in the recipients’ immune systems comprise the second set of risk determinants for deleterious immune responses. For example, the limited repertoire of MHC class II isomers encoded by a given person’s collection of HLA genes may or may not be able to present a ‘foreign’ peptide(s) produced from the therapeutic protein – following its internalization and proteolytic processing – on the surface of their antigen‐presenting cells (APCs). The third (and least characterized) variable is the presence or absence of immunologic ‘danger signals’ during the display of foreign‐peptide/MHC‐complexes on APCs. A choice between existing therapeutic products or the manufacture of new proteins, which may be less immunogenic in some patients or patient populations, may require prior definition of the first two of these variables. This leads then to the possibility of developing personalized therapies for disorders due to genetic deficiencies in endogenous proteins, such as haemophilia A and B. [Correction made after online publication 11 July 2011: several critical corrections have been made to the abstract].
Clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction following total joint replacement in haemophilia – 23‐year experience in knees, hips and elbows
Authors: WANG K. , STREET A. , DOWRICK A. , LIEW S.
Published: June 2011

Summary.  Joint replacement surgery is an available option for end‐stage haemophilic arthropathy. However, reports with long‐term follow‐up are limited. Moreover, patient satisfaction in this setting has never been measured. We share our institution’s experience with joint arthroplasty in haemophilic arthropathy and report on clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction. Between 1985 and 2007, 65 consecutive joints in 45 patients (mean age: 48.6; range: 22–83) underwent joint replacement surgery. Of these, 40 total knee replacements in 31 patients, 18 total hip replacements in 16 patients and 6 total elbow replacements in 3 patients were included. Average follow‐up was 10.7 years (2.4–24.3). Charts were reviewed retrospectively and patients were asked to return for clinical assessment and completion of questionnaires. According to the Knee Society clinical score, postoperative results were good to excellent in 83% of knees. According to the Harris Hip Score, results were good to excellent in 31% of hips. According to the Mayo Elbow Performance Score, results were good to excellent in 83% of elbows. Complication rates are higher than in the non‐haemophilic population, while prosthesis survival rates are lower. Patient satisfaction with pain relief is higher than satisfaction with functional improvement. For 88% of joints, patients are willing to have the same operation again. This study confirms previous knowledge on the role of total joint arthroplasty in haemophilic arthropathy. Despite high complication rates and modest functional outcomes, the operations are valuable for achieving pain relief. In general, patients find that risks are outweighed by the benefits.
A study of variations in the reported haemophilia B prevalence around the world
Authors: STONEBRAKER J. S. , BOLTON‐MAGGS P. H. B. , MICHAEL SOUCIE J. , WALKER I. , BROOKER M.
Published: June 2011

Summary.  The objectives of this article were to study the reported prevalence of haemophilia B (HB) on a country‐by‐country basis and to analyse whether the prevalence of HB varied by national economy. The prevalence of HB is the proportion of diagnosed, reported cases of HB in a population at a specific point of time. We collected data on the HB prevalence for 105 countries from the World Federation of Hemophilia annual global surveys. Our results showed that the HB prevalence varied considerably among countries, even among the wealthiest of countries. The HB prevalence (per 100 000 males) for the highest income countries was 2.69 ± 1.61 (mean ± SD), whereas the prevalence for the rest of the world was 1.20 ± 1.33 (mean ± SD). Ireland had the highest reported HB prevalence of 8.07 per 100 000 males. There was a strong trend of increasing HB prevalence (per 100 000 males) over time. Prevalence data reported from the WFH compared well with prevalence data from the literature. The WFH annual global surveys have some limitations, but they are the best available source of worldwide haemophilia data. Prevalence data are extremely valuable information for the planning efforts of national healthcare agencies in setting priorities and allocating resources for the treatment of HB.
Economical comparison of APCC vs. rFVIIa for mild‐to‐moderate bleeding episodes in haemophilia patients with inhibitors
Authors: HAY J. W. , ZHOU Z. Y.
Published: June 2011

Summary.  To construct a cost‐minimization model comparing activated prothrombin complex concentrates (APCC) vs. recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) in haemophilia patients with inhibitors from a US third party payer perspective. A literature‐based decision model was used to model inhibitor treatment costs and outcomes. As existing clinical trials fail to demonstrate differences in the relative efficacy or safety of APCC vs. rFVIIa, we assumed the same efficacy for both products in the base‐case. Regimens of APCC (75 IU kg−1 × 2 doses) and rFVIIa (90 μg kg−1 × 3 doses) were assumed according to manufacturer recommendations. If the first‐line treatment failed, patients chose to continue the current treatment or switch to another drug. All costs were adjusted to 2009 US dollars. Sensitivity analyses on the infusion frequency, efficacy, unit price, switch rate, re‐bleed rate and body weight were performed to assess model robustness. In the base‐case, the total medical cost to treat a bleed with APCC or rFVIIa as first‐line medication was US$25 969 and US$35 838, respectively. One‐way sensitivity analyses showed that results were insensitive to the efficacy of rFVIIa, unit price of APCC or rFVIIa, switch rate, re‐bleed rate or body weight. The rFVIIa will reach cost neutrality when the efficacy of APCC is as low as 60%, or rFVIIa is infused only twice for each line, or APCC is infused three times for each line. Two‐way sensitivity analyses showed that results were quite sensitive to the assumed infusion frequency for both products. First‐line APCC compared with rFVIIa can be a cost‐saving alternative for home treatment of mild‐to‐moderate bleeds in haemophilia patients with inhibitors.
Analysis of five polymorphic DNA markers for indirect genetic diagnosis of haemophilia A in the Brazilian population
Authors: MASSARO J. D. , WIEZEL C. E. V. , MUNIZ Y. C. N. , REGO E. M. , De OLIVEIRA L. C. O. , MENDES‐JUNIOR C. T. , SIMÕES A. L.
Published: June 2011

Summary.  Hemophilia A is an X‐linked, inherited, bleeding disorder caused by the partial or total inactivity of the coagulation factor VIII (FVIII). Due to difficulties in the direct recognition of the disease‐associated mutation in the F8 gene, indirect diagnosis using polymorphic markers located inside or close to the gene is used as an alternative for determining the segregation of the mutant gene within families and thus for detecting carrier individuals and/or assisting in prenatal diagnosis. This study characterizes the allelic and haplotype frequencies, genetic diversity, population differentiation and linkage disequilibrium of five microsatellites (F8Int1, F8Int13, F8Int22, F8Int25.3 and IKBKG) in samples of healthy individuals from São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul and Pernambuco and of patients from São Paulo with haemophilia A to determine the degree of informativeness of these microsatellites for diagnostic purposes. The interpopulational diversity parameters highlight the differences among the analyzed population samples. Regional differences in allelic frequencies must be taken into account when conducting indirect diagnosis of haemophilia A. With the exception of IKBKG, all of the microsatellites presented high heterozygosity levels. Using the markers described, diagnosis was possible in 10 of 11 families. The F8Int22, F8Int1, F8Int13, F8Int25.3 and IKBKG microsatellites were informative in seven, six, five and two of the cases, respectively, demonstrating the effectiveness of using these microsatellites in prenatal diagnosis and in carrier identification in the Brazilian population.
TGF‐β1, EGF and FGF4 synergistically induce differentiation of the seminoma cell line TCam‐2 into a cell type resembling mixed non‐seminoma
Authors: Nettersheim D. , Gillis A. J. M. , Looijenga L. H. J. , Schorle H.
Published: June 2011

Malignant germ‐cell tumours arise from a neoplastic precursor, the carcinoma in situ, and develop into seminomas and/or non‐seminomas (embryonal carcinomas, teratomas, yolk‐sac tumours and choriocarcinomas). Based on histological and clinical findings, it has been postulated that seminomas can eventually transform into non‐seminomas. Here, we used the cell line TCam‐2 as model for seminomas and interrogated their differentiation potential. We demonstrate that TCam‐2 cells are able to differentiate into mixed non‐seminomatous lineages after supplementing the media with TGF‐β1, EGF and FGF4. On a molecular level, the differentiation is initiated by repression of BMP/SMAD signalling. As a consequence, BLIMP1, a molecule known to inhibit the differentiation of murine primordial germ cells, is down‐regulated and differentiation‐inhibiting histone modifications are lost. The appearance of multinucleated giant cells and the expression of marker genes indicate that cells differentiate predominantly into extra‐embryonic choriocarcinoma‐like cells. This is most likely due to the presence of components of the Hippo pathway, TEAD4 and YAP1. These molecules have been described to trigger extra‐embryonic fate determination in the murine system. This study supports the model that seminomas indeed have an intrinsic ability to transform into a non‐seminoma. In addition, the data suggest that the transformation does not require an additional mutation, but can be triggered by changes in the tumour microenvironment.
Different experiences and perspectives between head and neck cancer patients and their care‐givers on their daily impact of a gastrostomy tube
Authors: Mayre‐Chilton K. M. , Talwar B. P. , Goff L. M.
Published: June 2011

Background:  Gastrostomy feeding in head and neck cancer patients is recognised standard practice in some cancer centres with beneficial effects on outcomes for appropriately selected patients. However, the impact on patients and care‐givers needs consideration. The present study aimed to understand the daily impact of gastrostomy feeding on head and neck cancer patients and their care‐givers to identify improvements to services.

Methods:  Twenty‐one adult patients were randomly selected from the Head and Neck centre at University College London Hospital. Six head and neck cancer patients and three care‐givers participated in focus groups. The sessions were recorded, fully transcribed and qualitatively thematically analysed, and the resulting data were tabulated.

Results:  Patients and care‐givers expressed opposite experiences within knowledge and understanding of why the tube was necessary; their personal perceptions and objectives of nutritional support. Themes expressing similar experiences included: developing positive coping strategies; preventing nutritional decline; tube dependency; dentures; finance; active care; and psychological support. Furthermore, both groups expressed the benefits of retaining a support network for rehabilitation with the hospital‐based specialist team. Also patients and carers recognised that the gastrostomy tube helped patient survival and, with timely dietetic management, helped them wean off the tube reliance with more confidence.

Conclusions:  It is essential that patients and care‐givers attend pretreatment clinics to discuss nutritional support via the artificial route; their quality of life can be enhanced if guided through a specialist support pathway based at the clinical site where they initiated their care, with links to key agencies.
Body mass, frequency of eating and breakfast consumption in 9–13‐year‐olds
Authors: Coppinger T. , Jeanes Y. M. , Hardwick J. , Reeves S.
Published: June 2011

Background:  Unhealthy eating patterns in childhood can lead to adverse health conditions, particularly obesity. However, debate remains around the precise eating behaviours that lead to these conditions. The present study aimed to address this lack of evidence by reporting on the eating frequency, breakfast consumption and body mass index (BMI, kg m–2) of youth in the UK.

Methods:  A total of 264 (133 boys and 131 girls) participants, aged 10–13 years, completed self‐report measures of dietary intake via 3‐day food/drink diaries (Friday to Sunday). Trained researchers recorded height and weight to calculate the BMI. Diaries were analysed using dietplan 6 nutritional analysis software (Forestfield Software, Horsham, UK) and multivariate linear regression was used to examine any association between breakfast consumption, frequency of eating and BMI.

Results:  No relationship existed between BMI Z‐score, eating frequency and breakfast consumption. However, frequent breakfast consumers had significantly lower mean (SD) BMI Z‐scores [0.18 (1.06) versus 0.57 (1.23)] and higher intakes of iron, calcium and vitamin E than those who did not eat breakfast regularly. Those aged ≥11 years consumed breakfast less frequently [0.92 (0.20)] and were less likely to eat regularly [4.6 (1.4)] than those aged ≤10 years.

Conclusions:  Older boys were the least likely to eat regularly and the least likely to consume breakfast. Promoting the importance of regular eating, particularly breakfast consumption to these boys, may be essential to ensure healthier, long‐term eating patterns. Furthermore, the lower breakfast intakes in 11–13‐year‐olds and higher BMI Z‐scores of those who did not eat breakfast regularly should be monitored.
Exome sequencing in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Bras JM , Singleton AB
Published: June 2011

Bras JM, Singleton AB. Exome sequencing in Parkinson's disease.

Exome sequencing is rapidly becoming a fundamental tool for genetics and functional genomics laboratories. This methodology has enabled the discovery of novel pathogenic mutations causing mendelian diseases that had, until now, remained elusive. In this review, we discuss not only how we envisage exome sequencing being applied to a complex disease, such as Parkinson's disease, but also what are the known caveats of this approach.
Is PATCHED an important candidate gene for neural tube defects? Cranial and thoracic neural tube defects in a family with Gorlin syndrome: a case report
Authors: Roudgari H , Farndon P A , Murray A D , Hardy C , Miedzybrodzka Z
Published: June 2011

Roudgari H, Farndon PA, Murray AD, Hardy C, Miedzybrodzka Z. Is PATCHED an important candidate gene for neural tube defects? Cranial and thoracic neural tube defects in a family with Gorlin syndrome: a case report.

The relationship of mutations in the patched gene PTCH and nevoid basal cell carcinoma (NBCC) or Gorlin syndrome is well established. Animal studies have implicated the hedgehog‐patched signalling pathway in neurulation and neural tube defects (NTDs). Spina bifida occulta and bifid vertebrae are well recognized in NBCCS, but there appears to be only one report of open spina bifida. We report a father and two sons with a truncating PTCH mutation and the major features of NBCCS. One son had open thoracic spina bifida and the other had an occipital meningocoele. We believe this to be the first report of cranial NTD in NBCCS and suggest that consideration be given to including PTCH analysis in genetic association studies in NTDs as the hedgehog pathway is integral to normal human neurulation.
Sampling forest canopy arthropod biodiversity with three novel minimal‐cost trap designs
Authors: Bar‐Ness Yoav D , McQuillan Peter B , Whitman Melissa , Junker Robert R , Cracknell Matthew , Barrows Abigail
Published: June 2011

Sampling arthropods in the upper canopy of tall trees presents a range of challenges associated with portability, cost, placement, replication and collection. Detailed schematics and instructions are presented here for three trap designs: sticky CD cases, plastic bottle hanging flight‐intercept traps and drink bottleneck funnel crawl traps. By using simple and salvageable materials such as plastic drink bottles and compact disc cases, the financial cost of an arthropod sampling regime in the crowns of old‐growth Tasmanian stringybark trees Eucalyptus obliqua (L'Herit) was kept to a minimum. The traps collected comparatively diverse communities: the sticky traps catching high levels of Diptera, Hymenoptera and Coleoptera; the funnel traps catching Diptera, Hemiptera and Coleoptera; and the hanging traps catching Diptera, Coleoptera and Lepidoptera. The sticky traps were ranked best, and the funnels worst, when integrating relative merits of cost, transport, durability, construction, placement, retrieval, sorting and arthropod condition.
The formal analogy between Tanaka–Mura and Weibull models for high‐cycle fatigue
Authors: BALDISSERA P. , DELPRETE C.
Published: June 2011

The micro‐mechanical model for fatigue crack initiation proposed by K. Tanaka and A. Mura in 1981 is analysed and rewritten in a different form, which allows highlighting its formal analogy with an empirical model previously introduced by W. Weibull in 1934. The result is a unified phenomenological model that can be used for both fatigue data fitting and life predictions. Strengths and limitations of the model are discussed and a case study of experimental data fitting is presented. In the example application, the model parameters of 18NiCrMo5 carburized steel are obtained through the likelihood maximization over fatigue test data. A comparison between the estimated parameters for the material in two different conditions (untreated and deep cryogenically treated) is then given to confirm the micro‐mechanical changes that should be induced by the cold processing and to point out the direction for further investigations.
The Consequences of Implementing a Child Care Voucher Scheme: Evidence from Australia, the Netherlands and the USA
Authors: Warner Mildred E. , Gradus Raymond H. J. M.
Published: June 2011

In the Netherlands, the USA and Australia, public funding has promoted parental choice by introducing a voucher scheme for child care, where parents are free to choose the provider. The policy experiments and the outcomes in these three countries provide useful information about the consequences of introducing a voucher scheme in the child care market. We show the voucher system can be effective in increasing demand, but there can be uneven supply responses. The structure of the voucher income scheme and quality controls affect the nature of the supply response. We argue that voucher schemes must take into account the complex nature of the child care market and the substitutability among free public care, private market care and unpaid household care. To secure quality and access, government also must play a coordinating role that vouchers alone cannot supply.
Effectiveness of Social Welfare Programmes in East Asia: A Case Study of Taiwan
Authors: Huang Chien‐Chung , Ku Yeun‐Wen
Published: June 2011

Using the 2008 Family Income and Expenditure Survey, this study examined the effectiveness of social welfare programmes in Taiwan. The empirical evidence shows that most types of social welfare spending were limited in 2008. However, the social welfare programmes that were in place substantially reduced income inequality in Taiwan. Using the Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development (OECD) poverty threshold, the results reveal that 14 per cent of the sample's families were poor in terms of market income, but this figure decreased to 7 per cent after government intervention. Income inequality in Taiwan was similar to that of other East Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea, but Taiwan spent much less money on social welfare programmes than OECD countries, and therefore Taiwan's reduction of poverty was much lower as well.
A Bedrock of Support? Trends in Welfare State Attitudes in Sweden, 1981–2010
Authors: Svallfors Stefan
Published: June 2011

This article reports findings about Swedes' attitudes towards the welfare state from 1981 to 2010, building on data from the Swedish Welfare State Surveys. Attitudes towards social spending, willingness to pay taxes, attitudes towards collective financing and public organization, suspicion about welfare abuse, and trust in the task performance of the welfare state are tracked. Overall, there is a large degree of stability in attitudes, and where change is registered, it tends to go in the direction of increasing support. More people state their willingness to pay higher taxes for welfare policy purposes; more people want collective financing of welfare policies; and fewer people perceive extensive welfare abuse in 2010 than was the case in previous surveys. Class patterns change so that the salaried and the self‐employed become more similar to workers in their attitudes. Hence, the unprecedented election loss of the Swedish Social Democrats in 2010, and the rise of the Moderates (conservatives) as the dominant party cannot be explained by changing attitudes towards the welfare state. Nor can any corrosive effects from increased marketization of the Swedish welfare state on public support for welfare policies be detected.
The Crucial Role of Nomothetic and Idiographic Conceptions of Time: Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Nuclear Waste Management
Authors: Moser Corinne , Stauffacher Michael , Krütli Pius , Scholz Roland W.
Published: June 2011

The disposal of nuclear waste involves extensive time scales. Technical experts consider up to 1 million years for the disposal of spent fuel and high‐level waste in their safety assessment. Yet nuclear waste is not only a technical but also a so‐called sociotechnical problem and, therefore, requires interdisciplinary collaboration between technical, natural, social sciences, and the humanities in its management. Given that these disciplines differ in their language, epistemics, and interests, such collaboration might be problematic. Based on evidence from cognitive psychology, we suggest that, in particular, a concept like time is presumably critical and can be understood differently. This study explores how different scientific disciplines understand extensive time scales in general and then focuses on nuclear waste. Eighteen qualitative exploratory interviews were conducted with experts for time‐related phenomena of different disciplines, among them experts working in nuclear waste management. Analyses revealed two distinct conceptions of time corresponding to idiographic and nomothetic research approaches: scientists from the humanities and social sciences tend to have a more open, undetermined conception of time, whereas natural scientists tend to focus on a more determined conception that includes some undetermined aspects. Our analyses lead to reflections on potential difficulties for interdisciplinary teams in nuclear waste management. We focus on the understanding of the safety assessment, on potential implications for communication between experts from different disciplines (e.g., between experts from the humanities and engineering for risk assessment and risk communication), and we reflect on the roles of different disciplines in nuclear waste management.