bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acquisition strategy and the market position of acquiring firms
Authors: Hopkins H. Donald
Published: September 2011

Research suggests that firms which emphasize unrelated diversification through mergers and acquisitions are often located in unfavorable market positions, in terms of the attractiveness of their industries and their competitive positions within these industries. However, these previous research efforts have not established whether such positions will also be linked to firms using non‐conglomerate acquisition strategies. This study utilizes three acquisition strategies—conglomerate, technology‐related, and marketing‐related—to hypothesize differences in the market position of acquisitive firms. Results show that, while acquisitive growth is generally associated with a decline in market position, one particular acquisition strategy, the marketing‐related strategy, is associated with a distinctly superior position. Firms utilizing this strategy were found to be in more profitable industries and to have higher market shares in these industries.
Financial returns and strategic interaction: The case of instant photography
Authors: Bettis Richard A. , Weeks David
Published: September 2011

The purpose of this paper is to examine the use of shareholder returns to study the impact of complex strategic interactions that involve a sequence of moves by competing firms. The paper seeks to begin to build a bridge between the capital asset pricing model of modern financial theory and competitive strategy. Competition in instant photography is used as an example. Results demonstrate how shareholder returns and changes in market risk(β)can be associated with both overall strategies and specific competitive moves.
Strategy, strategy‐making, and performance in a business game
Authors: Segev Eli
Published: September 2011

In a recent study, Segev (1987) examined the relationships among strategy, strategy‐making, and performance, focusing on the connection between two important typologies: Miles and Snow's (1978) concept of strategic types and Mintzberg's (1973) concept of strategy‐making modes. The findings of that study clearly indicated links between the two, and partially supported propositions asserting the effects of the strategy/stategy‐making fit on organizational performance. In the current study a business game served as the vehicle for examining this tripartite relationship. The two typologies were applied to the firms' in the game, and then an inquiry was made into the relationships between them. An hypothesis regarding the effect of fit on performance was tested, and the findings compared with previously reported empirical results.
Breast implants: the good, the bad and the ugly. Can nanotechnology improve implants?
Authors: Puskas Judit E. , Luebbers Matthew T.
Published: September 2011

This advanced review will discuss the history of implants used in breast reconstruction and augmentation, the most frequently performed plastic surgery today. Currently, only silicone rubber‐based silica nanocomposite implants are available in the United States. The most prevalent issues involving breast implants include capsular contracture, gel bleed, implant rupture, and infection. In the past, studies have also been reported which linked breast implants to increased incidence of systemic diseases such as autoimmune disease, various forms of cancer, and psychological disease. The goal of this review is to survey the literature from the perspective of material science. It is also largely unnoticed that nanotechnology is involved: the silicone rubber shell is reinforced with nanosilica so implants appear to be homogeneous and crystal clear. We are hoping that this review will contribute to a better understanding of the controversial issues and motivate material scientists and medical doctors to work together to develop alternatives based on new nanotechnology for the women who opt for a device made of synthetic materials. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2012, 4:153–168. doi: 10.1002/wnan.164

This article is categorized under:

Implantable Materials and Surgical Technologies > Nanomaterials and Implants

Implantable Materials and Surgical Technologies > Nanotechnology in Tissue Repair and Replacement
Abundance of insect seed predators and intensity of seed predation on Shorea (Dipterocarpaceae) in two consecutive masting events in Peninsular Malaysia
Authors: Hosaka Tetsuro , Yumoto Takakazu , Chen Yu-Yun , Sun I-Fang , Wright S. Joseph , Md. Noor Nur Supardi
Published: September 2011

The family Dipterocarpaceae includes 470 tree species from 13 genera in South and South-East Asian tropical forests (Ashton 1982). Many dipterocarp species in aseasonal lowland rain forests of western Malesia flower synchronously during masting (or general flowering) events, which usually occur at irregular intervals of 2–10 y (Ashton et al. 1988). Very few individuals flower at other times, and successful recruitment of seedlings is limited to those masting events (Ashton et al. 1988, Curran et al. 1999).
These are your rights
Authors: Jacobs Howy
Published: September 2011

Science is a vocation, not a job, and requires a degree of dedication and sacrifice that does not apply in a standard workplace. Howy proposes that we should be more upfront about this brutal reality when advising prospective scientists about their career choices.
Analysis of substrate specificity of Schizosaccharomyces pombe Mag1 alkylpurine DNA glycosylase
Authors: Adhikary Suraj , Eichman Brandt F
Published: September 2011

DNA glycosylases specialized for the repair of alkylation damage must identify, with fine specificity, a diverse array of subtle modifications within DNA. The current mechanism involves damage sensing through interrogation of the DNA duplex, followed by more specific recognition of the target base inside the active site pocket. To better understand the physical basis for alkylpurine detection, we determined the crystal structure of Schizosaccharomyces pombe Mag1 (spMag1) in complex with DNA and performed a mutational analysis of spMag1 and the close homologue from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (scMag). Despite strong homology, spMag1 and scMag differ in substrate specificity and cellular alkylation sensitivity, although the enzymological basis for their functional differences is unknown. We show that Mag preference for 1,N6‐ethenoadenine (εA) is influenced by a minor groove‐interrogating residue more than the composition of the nucleobase‐binding pocket. Exchanging this residue between Mag proteins swapped their εA activities, providing evidence that residues outside the extrahelical base‐binding pocket have a role in identification of a particular modification in addition to sensing damage.
Comorbidity indexes from administrative datasets: what is measured?
Authors: Nadathur Shyamala G.
Published: September 2011

It is important to factor-in the characteristics of patients that may affect treatment, outcome and resource when making clinical and administrative decisions, plans or policies. For some two and half decades there have been efforts to construct and refine instruments that endeavour to capture the concept of comorbidity. This paper focuses on such comorbidity measures that are derived from diagnoses information recorded in administrative datasets. The pros and cons of the popular weighted Charlson and Charlson-based indexes are discussed. Means to improve the comorbidity indexes are considered including the very concept and definition of comorbidity.
The social mission of Australian medical schools in a time of expansion
Authors: Biggs John S. G. , Wells Robert W.
Published: September 2011

The social mission, or accepted social responsibility of Australian medical schools, was assessed at a time of rapid expansion and resulting pressure on staff and facilities. Nine new schools have been established in 2005–10 and there has been particular concern about adequacy of clinical training places. Discussions with most of the deans revealed their strong social commitments. We consider two of these in depth – raising the status and thus the involvement of students in general and especially rural practice; and increasing the numbers of Indigenous students and the knowledge of Indigenous health and culture among all students. We examine a system by which medical schools in the USA have been ranked for social mission achievements and suggest this approach might be used in Australia to measure the response of medical schools to Government initiatives and policies. What is known about this topic? The rapid expansion of medical schools and student numbers has given rise to much concern. Encouragement of training for general practice is well described. Many medical schools have worked to increase intake of Indigenous students. Data on medical graduates are being gathered. What does this paper add? The social mission and responsibility of medical schools is new to Australia; information was obtained by interview of medical deans and review of the international literature. Matters of special note are rural healthcare, developments in general practice and expansion of support for Indigenous students. Recent studies of graduate output in the USA are considered. What are the implications for practitioners? Expansion of medical student numbers has brought increased demand for general practitioner involvement in training of students and graduates, which affects practice resources. The need for workforce planning to match training paths and places with future national needs means medical schools have new responsibilities for career guidance of students.
Soil temperature moderates grapevine carbohydrate reserves after bud break and conditions fruit set responses to photoassimilatory stress
Authors: Rogiers Suzy Y. , Smith Jason P. , Holzapfel Bruno P. , Hardie W. James
Published: September 2011

In cultivated grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.), suboptimal photoassimilatory conditions during flowering can lead to inflorescence necrosis and shedding of flowers and young ovaries and, consequently, poor fruit set. However, before this study it was not known whether carbohydrate reserves augment fruit set when concurrent photoassimilation is limited. Carbohydrate reserves are most abundant in grapevine roots and soil temperature moderates their mobilisation. Accordingly, we grew potted Chardonnay grapevines in soil at 15°C (cool) or 26°C (warm) from bud break to the onset of flowering to manipulate root carbohydrate reserve status. Then to induce photoassimilatory responses we subjected the plants to low (94 µmol mol–1) CO2 or ambient (336 µmol mol–1) CO2 atmospheres during fruit setting. Analyses of photoassimilation and biomass and carbohydrate reserve distribution confirmed that fruit set was limited by concurrent photoassimilation. Furthermore, the availability of current photoassimilates for inflorescence development and fruit set was conditioned by the simultaneous demands for shoot and root growth, as well as the restoration of root carbohydrate reserves. Results indicate that great seasonal variability in grapevine fruit set is a likely response of cultivated grapevines to photoassimilatory stresses, such as shading, defoliation and air temperature and to variations in carbohydrate reserve status before flowering.
A phylogenetic analysis of Stenostomum and its neotropical congeners, with a description of a new species from the Peruvian Amazon Basin
Authors: Damborenea Cristina , Brusa Francisco , Almagro Io , Noreña Carolina
Published: September 2011

This study reports Peruvian freshwater species of Stenostomum (Catenulida) from the upper Yurúa River of the Amazon Basin. A total of 11 species were found. One of them, Stenostomum ashanika, sp. nov., is described. It can be distinguished by: a pre-pharyngeal constriction; a small cauda; a small, rounded, mobile and ventrally directed pharynx; and a tri-radiate mouth. The remaining 10 species are reviewed and illustrated; eight are first records for Peru. A preliminary phylogenetic analysis of neotropical stenostomid species based on morphological data is undertaken, including all Rhynchoscolex, Stenostomum and Myostenostomum species described for the area. The Rhynchoscolex species are basal and paraphyletic; the species of Myostenostomum are monophyletic, within the Stenostomum clade, supported by the presence of a muscular gizzard in the anterior region of the intestine. Ciliated pits and rhabdoids are synapomorphies of the Stenostomum + Myostenostomum clade. This is the first morphological study of the relationships between stenostomid species. The most relevant characters in the phylogenetic analysis are those related to cerebral brain lobes. The results also show that many of the morphological characteristics of the species under study are poorly known and should be studied in more depth.
Large area and structured epitaxial graphene produced by confinement controlled sublimation of silicon carbide
Authors: de Heer Walt A. , Berger Claire , Ruan Ming , Sprinkle Mike , Li Xuebin , Hu Yike , Zhang Baiqian , Hankinson John , Conrad Edward
Published: September 2011

After the pioneering investigations into graphene-based electronics at Georgia Tech, great strides have been made developing epitaxial graphene on silicon carbide (EG) as a new electronic material. EG has not only demonstrated its potential for large scale applications, it also has become an important material for fundamental two-dimensional electron gas physics. It was long known that graphene mono and multilayers grow on SiC crystals at high temperatures in ultrahigh vacuum. At these temperatures, silicon sublimes from the surface and the carbon rich surface layer transforms to graphene. However the quality of the graphene produced in ultrahigh vacuum is poor due to the high sublimation rates at relatively low temperatures. The Georgia Tech team developed growth methods involving encapsulating the SiC crystals in graphite enclosures, thereby sequestering the evaporated silicon and bringing growth process closer to equilibrium. In this confinement controlled sublimation (CCS) process, very high-quality graphene is grown on both polar faces of the SiC crystals. Since 2003, over 50 publications used CCS grown graphene, where it is known as the “furnace grown” graphene. Graphene multilayers grown on the carbon-terminated face of SiC, using the CCS method, were shown to consist of decoupled high mobility graphene layers. The CCS method is now applied on structured silicon carbide surfaces to produce high mobility nano-patterned graphene structures thereby demonstrating that EG is a viable contender for next-generation electronics. Here we present for the first time the CCS method that outperforms other epitaxial graphene production methods.
Different brain mechanisms between stereotype activation and application: Evidence from an ERP study
Authors: Jia Lei , Dickter Cheryl L. , Luo Junlong , Xiao Xiao , Yang Qun , Lei Ming , Qiu Jiang , Zhang Qinglin
Published: September 2011

Stereotyping involves two processes in which first, social stereotypes are activated (stereotype activation), and then, stereotypes are applied to given targets (stereotype application). Previous behavioral studies have suggested that these two processes are independent of each other and may have different mechanisms. As few psychophysiological studies have given an integrated account of these stages in stereotyping so far, this study utilized a trait categorization task in which event‐related potentials (ERPs) were used to explore the brain mechanisms associated with the processes of stereotype activation and its application. The behavioral (reaction time) and electrophysiological data showed that stereotype activation and application were elicited respectively in an affective valence identification subtask and in a semantic content judgment subtask. The electrophysiological results indicated that the categorization processes involved in stereotype activation to quickly identify stereotypic and nonstereotypic information were quite different from those involved in the application. During the process of stereotype activation, a P2 and N2 effect was observed, indicating that stereotype activation might be facilitated by an early attentional bias. Also, a late positive potential (LPP) was elicited, suggesting that social expectancy violation might be involved. During the process of the stereotype application, electrophysiological data showed a P2 and P3 effect, indicating that stereotype application might be related to the rapid social knowledge identification in semantic representation and thus may be associated with an updating of existing stereotypic contents or a motivation to resolve the inconsistent information. This research strongly suggested that different mechanisms are involved in the stereotype activation and application processes.
The Turkmen of Iran: A Brief Research Report
Authors: Irons William
Published: September 2011

The Turkmen inhabit a portion of the Central Asian steppe extending cast from the Caspian Sea to the Amu Darya, a region divided among three countries--Iran, Afghanistan, and the Soviet Union. The central part of this area is the Kara Kum, or “black sand,” a vast, largely uninhabited desert. The majority of the Turkmen are concentrated in two somewhat more fertile regions bordering the Kara Kum. One area consists of the banks of the Amu Darya; the other is a long strip of plains and low mountains, lying south of the Kara Kum and separating it from the Iranian Plateau (see Map below). The Turkmen number about a million and a half, with approximately a million living in the Soviet Union, and roughly a quarter of a million each in Iran and Afghanistan.
On the Distribution of Crop Yields: Does the Central Limit Theorem Apply?
Authors: Koundouri Phoebe , Kourogenis Nikolaos
Published: September 2011

In this article, we investigate the applicability of the central limit theorem (CLT) to aggregate crop yields. We argue that the aggregation of elementary crop yields is likely to produce nonnormal distributions if, contrary to the standard CLT case, the number of crop acres exhibits substantial time variation. This case is covered by limit theorems for random sums of random variables, which predict nonnormal limiting distributions. The case of substantial variation in the number of summands produces an empirical hypothesis that we test using data from U.S. aggregate state crop yields. The results provide empirical support against the applicability of the CLT.
Unsupervised detection of genes of influence in lung cancer using biological networks
Authors: Goldenberg Anna , Mostafavi Sara , Quon Gerald , Boutros Paul C. , Morris Quaid D.
Published: September 2011

Motivation: Lung cancer is often discovered long after its onset, making identifying genes important in its initiation and progression a challenge. By the time the tumors are discovered, we only observe the final sum of changes of the few genes that initiated cancer and thousands of genes that they have influenced. Gene interactions and heterogeneity of samples make it difficult to identify genes consistent between different cohorts. Using gene and gene–product interaction networks, we propose a principled approach to identify a small subset of genes whose network neighbors exhibit consistently high expression change (in cancerous tissue versus normal) regardless of their own expression. We hypothesize that these genes can shed light on the larger scale perturbations in the overall landscape of expression levels.

Results: We benchmark our method on simulated data, and show that we can recover a true gene list in noisy measurement data. We then apply our method to four non-small cell lung cancer and two pancreatic cancer cohorts, finding several genes that are consistent within all cohorts of the same cancer type.

Conclusion: Our model is flexible, robust and identifies gene sets that are more consistent across cohorts than several other approaches. Additionally, our method can be applied on a per-patient basis not requiring large cohorts of patients to find genes of influence. Our approach is generally applicable to gene expression studies where the goal is to identify a small set of influential genes that may in turn explain the much larger set of genome-wide expression changes.

Availability: The code is available at http://morrislab.med.utoronto.ca/~anna/cannet.zip

Contact:  anna.goldenberg@utoronto.ca

Supplementary Information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Lower confidence bounds for prediction accuracy in high dimensions via AROHIL Monte Carlo
Authors: Dobbin Kevin K. , Cooke Stephanie
Published: September 2011

Motivation: Implementation and development of statistical methods for high-dimensional data often require high-dimensional Monte Carlo simulations. Simulations are used to assess performance, evaluate robustness, and in some cases for implementation of algorithms. But simulation in high dimensions is often very complex, cumbersome and slow. As a result, performance evaluations are often limited, robustness minimally investigated and dissemination impeded by implementation challenges. This article presents a method for converting complex, slow high-dimensional Monte Carlo simulations into simpler, faster lower dimensional simulations.

Results: We implement the method by converting a previous Monte Carlo algorithm into this novel Monte Carlo, which we call AROHIL Monte Carlo. AROHIL Monte Carlo is shown to exactly or closely match pure Monte Carlo results in a number of examples. It is shown that computing time can be reduced by several orders of magnitude. The confidence bound method implemented using AROHIL outperforms the pure Monte Carlo method. Finally, the utility of the method is shown by application to a number of real microarray datasets.

Availability: The R computer program for forming confidence bounds is freely available for download at the URL http://dobbinke.myweb.uga.edu/RprogramAROHILloweraccuracybound.txt.

Contact:  dobbinke@uga.edu

Supplementary Information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Fast filtering for RNA homology search
Authors: Kolbe Diana L. , Eddy Sean R.
Published: September 2011

Motivation: Homology search for RNAs can use secondary structure information to increase power by modeling base pairs, as in covariance models, but the resulting computational costs are high. Typical acceleration strategies rely on at least one filtering stage using sequence-only search.

Results: Here we present the multi-segment CYK (MSCYK) filter, which implements a heuristic of ungapped structural alignment for RNA homology search. Compared to gapped alignment, this approximation has lower computation time requirements (O(N4) reduced to O(N3)), and space requirements (O(N3) reduced to O(N2)). A vector-parallel implementation of this method gives up to 100-fold speed-up; vector-parallel implementations of standard gapped alignment at two levels of precision give 3- and 6-fold speed-ups. These approaches are combined to create a filtering pipeline that scores RNA secondary structure at all stages, with results that are synergistic with existing methods.

Availability:  http://selab.janelia.org/publications.html#KolbeEddy11

Contact:  eddys@janelia.hhmi.org
Molecular cloning and characterization of the STAT gene in Hyphantria cunea haemocytes
Authors: Kim H. J. , Kwon Y. M. , Kim Y. I. , Lee I. H. , Jin B. R. , Han Y. S. , Cheon H. M. , Kang Y. J. , Seo S. J.
Published: September 2011

A new insect member of the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) family of transcription factors, Hyphantria cunea STAT (HcSTAT), was cloned from the lepidopteran H. cunea. The domain involved in DNA interaction and the Src homology 2 (SH2) domain were well conserved. During all developmental stages, the gene was expressed at a low level in the haemocytes, fat body cells, midgut, epidermis and Malpighian tubules. The haemocytes and Malpighian tubules showed transcriptional activation of HcSTAT upon Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacterial challenges. These challenges increased the induction and nuclear translocation of the HcSTAT protein that recognizes a STAT target site in H. cunea haemocytes. In vivo treatment with sodium orthovanadate translocated HcSTAT to the haemocyte nucleus. This study shows the involvement of the haemocyte Janus kinase/STAT pathway after microbial infection in lepidopteran insects.
Functional analysis of the integration host factor site of the σ54Pu promoter of Pseudomonas putida by in vivo UV imprinting
Authors: Valls Marc , Silva‐Rocha Rafael , Cases Ildefonso , Muñoz Amalia , de Lorenzo Víctor
Published: September 2011

The integration host factor (IHF) of Pseudomonas putida connects cell growth to transcriptional activity of distinct promoters. The IHF site of the σ54 promoter Pu of the TOL (m‐xylene biodegradation) plasmid pWW0 of P. putida has been examined to define experimentally a relationship between occupation of the promoter by this factor, the biological activity of the protein and the tolerance of the target site to single‐base changes through the bound DNA core sequence. The use of an in vivo high‐intensity UV imprinting procedure to examine such an occupation of Pu by IHF allowed inspection of the interplay between the factor and cognate site variants under the physiologically relevant conditions of monocopy gene dosage. The resulting data were merged in a structural model for establishing key features of the IHF–DNA interaction. A functional consensus for first‐order IHF binding was instrumental for a genome‐wide survey of sequences with potential regulatory value. This search revealed that very few, if any, of the maximum 330 sites within intergenic regions were placed in locations controlling expression of central metabolic genes. It thus seems that the IHF regulon of P. putida has a degree of functional specialization that is not evenly distributed through all gene categories.
Response properties of the prothoracic AN2 auditory interneurone to model calling songs in the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus
Authors: STOUT JOHN , STUMPNER ANDREAS , JEFFERY JASON , SAMUEL LESLIE , ATKINS GORDON
Published: September 2011

Sound processing properties for calling song (CS) models, as described for the prothoracic L3 auditory neurone in Acheta domesticus, are investigated for the homologous auditory neurone 2 (AN2) in female Gryllus bimaculatus De Geer. AN2 of G. bimaculatus responds selectively to the syllable period (SP) of models of a male CS. The selectiveness of this response parallels the selectivity of phonotaxis females perform in response to the same SPs. Both, the responses of AN2 and female behaviour show clear interindividual variability. The SP‐selective responses of AN2 result from an SP‐dependent reduction in the spiking to subsequent syllables of the model CSs, measured as the percentage decrement. This SP‐dependent response does not primarily result from inbuilt properties of the AN2 membrane. Rather, it is dependent on inhibitory input to the AN2. However, clear inhibitory postsynaptic potentials in dendritic recordings of the AN2 are not encountered. This immediate response of AN2 to CSs is followed by an increased rate of tonic firing between stimulus CSs, which is termed the prolonged response, and is dependent on the carrier frequencies that make up the male CSs. With stimulation on the contralateral side of the soma of AN2s, more than 50% of AN2s exhibit a prolonged response. However, with stimulation from the ipsilateral side of the soma, most AN2s exhibit a prolonged response. The prolonged response of AN2 at 5 kHz may be even more sensitive than the immediate response. Thus, the AN2 neurone could provide a basis for phonotaxis that is selective for both the SPs and the carrier frequencies of potentially attractive calling songs.
Meta‐analysis of the studies of bleeding complications of platelets pathogen‐reduced with the Intercept system
Authors: Vamvakas E. C.
Published: September 2011

Background  The eligibility criteria of a previously reported meta‐analysis (Transfusion 2011;51:1058–1071) of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of pathogen reduction of platelets in patients with hypoproliferative thrombocytopenia were modified to examine the impact on the findings of: (1) inclusion of a (previously excluded) RCT; (2) restriction of eligibility to RCTs of the Intercept (amotosalen‐HCl/ultraviolet‐A‐light) system; and (3) differences in the methods used to assess bleeding complications.

Materials and Methods  Five RCTs comparing the risk of all, clinically significant (grades 2 through 4) and/or severe (grades 3 and 4) bleeding complications between recipients of platelets treated with Intercept vs. standard unmanipulated platelets were included. Odds ratios (ORs) of bleeding complications of similar severity recorded during similar periods of observation were calculated across all studies and across homogeneous subsets of studies by random‐effects methods.

Results  Treatment with Intercept increased all bleeding complications when four RCTs meeting the eligibility criteria of the previous meta‐analysis were integrated, but not across all the five currently available studies [summary OR = 1·24; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0·79–1·93]. Clinically significant bleeding complications increased when the results of the SPRINT RCT were based on the expanded safety analysis (summary OR = 1·52; 95% CI, 1·09–2·12) – but not the initial report (summary OR = 1·30; 95% CI, 0·54–3·14) – of that study.

Conclusions  Treatment with Intercept may increase the risk of all and clinically significant (albeit not severe) bleeding complications in RCTs maintaining a platelet count of ≥10 × 109 or ≥20 × 109/l through increased platelet transfusions.
Towards candidate genes affecting body fatness at the SSC7 QTL by expression analyses
Authors: Gondret F. , Riquet J. , Tacher S. , Demars J. , Sanchez M.P. , Billon Y. , Robic A. , Bidanel J.P. , Milan D.
Published: September 2011

A quantitative trait locus (QTL) affecting fatness in a way opposite to expectations based on breed means was mapped to swine chromosome 7 (SSC7) using crosses between Large White (LW) and Meishan (MS) founders. Defining the molecular fatness trait more explicitly would allow deducing positional candidate genes, for which expression differences must be analysed in experimental populations. First, mRNA levels of genes representing sequential steps in adipogenesis or involved in lipid metabolism were studied in backfat of pigs having homozygous LWQTL7/LWQTL7 or heterozygous LWQTL7/MSQTL7 alleles and considered at two ages. mRNA level of DLK1 expressed in preadipocytes was greater in MSQTL7/LWQTL7 pigs than in homozygous pigs at 28 days. Transcript abundances of CEBPA involved in differentiation, the prolipogenic FASN gene and the adipocyte‐specific marker FABP4 were lower in MSQTL7/LWQTL7 pigs compared with LWQTL7/LWQTL7 pigs at 150 days. Because these results suggest a lag time in terminal differentiation associated with the MS allele, seven genes in the QTL interval were deduced as promising candidates for the QTL effect by bioinformatics analysis. Among them, PPARD and CDKN1A had lower expression levels in MSQTL7/LWQTL7 pigs at both ages. Genotype‐related differences were observed in mRNA levels of PPARD target genes involved in cell differentiation (FZD7) or fatty acid oxidation (ACADL and ACOX1) at 150 days. These results re‐evaluate the potential of PPARD to explain part of variation in pig adiposity.
Unusual presentation of herpes simplex virus infection in a boxer: ‘Boxing glove herpes’
Authors: García‐García Begoña , Galache‐Osuna Cristina , Coto‐Segura Pablo , Suárez‐Casado Héctor , Mallo‐García Susana , Jiménez Jorge Santos‐Juanes
Published: September 2011

Herein, we describe a patient with lesions of cutaneous herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV‐1) infection over the knuckles of both hands in the context of an outbreak among boxers. Interestingly, the infection had an unusually long duration (4 weeks), and was not acquired directly through skin‐to‐skin contact, as it usually does among athletes (herpes gladiatorum). In our case, transmission was acquired through the use of shared boxing gloves contaminated by HSV‐1. To the best of our knowledge, herpes gladiatorum, or wrestler's herpes, has not been described previously in boxers and infection over the knuckles is not commonly reported.
Stigma, Social Comparison and Self‐Esteem in Adults with an Intellectual Disability
Authors: Paterson Lucy , McKenzie Karen , Lindsay Bill
Published: September 2011

Background  The paper examines the perception of stigma in 43 adults with an intellectual disability, the relationship this has with their psychological well‐being and whether the process of social comparison has a moderating effect on this relationship.

Materials and Methods  A questionnaire‐based, within‐participant design was used. Participants completed three self‐report measures of perception of stigma, self‐esteem and social comparison.

Results  Perception of stigma was found to be significantly related to negative social comparisons, which in turn was significantly related to low self‐esteem. No difference was found between social comparisons made with other service users and those made with people in the community. Social comparison was not found to have a moderating effect on the relationship between stigma and self‐esteem.

Conclusion  This study provides support for the influence of the perception of stigma and social comparison on the self‐concept of individuals with an intellectual disability.
Does Household Structure Affect Adolescent Smoking?
Authors: Razaz‐Rahmati Neda , Nourian Sayed Reza , Okoli Chizimuzo T. C.
Published: September 2011

Objectives

To examine household structure when studying determinants of youth smoking, as the configuration of a family is an important factor in the etiology of adolescent problem behaviors.

Design and Sample

The study sample (n = 13,001) included respondents aged 12–19 years who were either living in two‐parent households, single‐parent households, or no‐parent households, and with valid response to the smoking status questions from the Canadian Community Health Survey.

Measures

Multivariate logistic regression was used to test the presence and strength of the association between household structure and the likelihood of smoking while controlling for age, sex, household education, and exposure to secondhand smoking.

Results

The odds of youth smoking in the single‐parent household was 1.78 times greater than the odds of youth smoking in two‐parent households. Similarly, the odds of youth smoking in no‐parent households was 1.47 times greater than the odds of youth smoking in two‐parent households.

Conclusions

The results indicate that there is an association between household structure and smoking among adolescents in Canada. Findings might be helpful for decision makers to recognize the context within which adolescents initiate and sustain smoking when developing strategies for the prevention and cessation of smoking among youth.
Influence of bone augmentation procedures on the short‐term prognosis of simultaneously placed implants
Authors: Rammelsberg Peter , Schmitter Marc , Gabbert Olaf , Lorenzo Bermejo Justo , Eiffler Constantin , Schwarz Stefanie
Published: September 2011

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of simultaneous bone‐augmentation procedures, and their combination, on the survival of dental implants and on the incidence of complications.

Material and methods

Within a retrospective analysis, 958 implants placed in 404 patients (mean age 58.18) were selected from a prospective clinical study. In 304 cases of reduced bone width, bone spreading (n = 217) with hand osteotomes, or bone splitting (n = 15), or guided bone regeneration (n = 72) combined with autogenous bone grafts were also performed. Eighty‐eight implants were placed in combination with simultaneous internal sinus floor elevation without using graft material. For 194 additional implants, several augmentation procedures were combined because of extensive bone deficits. Three‐hundred and seventy‐two conventionally placed implants served as controls. Implant failures and complications were recorded after a mean observation period of 2.1 years (maximum 6.9 years).

Results

Seventeen failures and nine additional implant‐related complications were observed. After 4 years, Kaplan–Meier curves revealed a probability of survival without complication of 97.5% for conventionally placed implants, and 95.8% for implants placed in combination with a single augmentation technique. If several augmentation techniques were combined, success decreased to 94.1%. Complication‐free survival differences between combined augmentation techniques and conventionally placed implants were significant (P = 0.004). Age, gender, and location showed no effect on implant survival.

Conclusions

It can be concluded that simultaneous bone‐augmentation techniques slightly reduce short‐term prognosis for dental implants. This effect was more pronounced when advanced defects required the combination of several augmentation procedures.
Design of therapeutic vaccines: hepatitis B as an example
Authors: Kutscher Sarah , Bauer Tanja , Dembek Claudia , Sprinzl Martin , Protzer Ulrike
Published: September 2011

Therapeutic vaccines are currently developed for chronic viral infections, such as human papillomavirus (HPV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), herpesvirus and hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) virus infections. As an alternative to antiviral treatment or to support only partially effective therapy a therapeutic vaccine shall activate the patient's immune system to fight and finally control or ideally even eliminate the virus. Whereas the success of prophylactic vaccination is based on rapid neutralization of the invading pathogen by antibodies, virus control and elimination of infected cells require T cells. Therefore, induction of a multi‐specific and multifunctional T‐cell response against key viral antigens is a paradigm of therapeutic vaccination – besides activation of a humoral immune response to limit virus spread. In this review, we describe options to develop a therapeutic vaccine for chronic viral infections using HBV as a promising example.
Intracellular monitoring of target protein production in Staphylococcus aureus by peptide tag‐induced reporter fluorescence
Authors: Gauger Tina , Weihs Felix , Mayer Sonja , Krismer Bernhard , Liese Jan , Kull Melanie , Bertram Ralph
Published: September 2011

An intracellular approach for monitoring protein production in Staphylococcus aureus is described. mCherry, fused to the dodecapeptide Tip, was capable of inducing tetracycline repressor (TetR). Time‐ and concentration‐dependent production of mCherry could be correlated to TetR‐controlled GFPmut2 activity. This approach can potentially be extended to native S. aureus proteins.
Addressing psychological aspects of physical problems through sandplay: A grounded theory study of therapists’ views
Authors: Lagutina Larissa , Sperlinger David , Esterhuyzen Alexander
Published: September 2011

Objectives. This study aimed to explore therapists’ understanding of how people with a wide range of physical problems address the psychological aspects of these problems through sandplay, what happens for them in the process, what changes they experience and what sandplay can contribute to working with such people.

Design. This exploratory qualitative study used grounded theory to systematically analyse the data and construct a substantive theory of therapists’ understanding of the processes and themes involved in sandplay therapy with people with physical problems.

Methods. Semi‐structured interviews were carried out with nine sandplay therapists with the participants asked about their experiences of using sandplay to address physical problems.

Results. The participants offered evidence of their clients’ ability to address their physical problems and the corresponding psychological issues through symbolic expression in the sand. The emergent theory suggested that such symbolic expression could facilitate access to feelings and experiences that can be difficult to address through verbal therapy alone, thus facilitating the process of integration and recovery.

Conclusions. The theory suggests how therapists thought that clients may address their physical problems through sandplay and what is important in that process. There was also a suggestion that the focus and themes unfolding in sandplay process may vary depending on whether the clients present with somatisation, chronic illness, or terminal illness.
Optical emission characteristics of medium- to high-pressure N2 dielectric barrier discharge plasmas during surface modification of polymers
Authors: Liu Dongping , Niu Jinhai , Yu Naisen
Published: September 2011

The authors measured the band spectra (first and second positive systems) of the nitrogen molecule by optical emission spectroscopy with an aim to understand the mechanism of surface processing by medium- to high-pressure dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasmas. The experimentally measured and calculated spectra were compared to determine the vibrational and rotational temperatures of the N2 (C3Πu) state in the generated plasmas. The authors generated the N2 DBD plasmas at a driving frequency of 1–7 kHz and a discharge pressure of 20–105 Pa for the surface modification of a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) sample. It was found that the vibrational temperature was greatly affected by the N2 pressure while the rotational temperature remained constant in the N2 pressure range of 20–105 Pa. The emission intensity of N2 first positive system (B3Π → A3Σ) rapidly decreased at an increasing N2 pressure due to the collisional relaxation process of the B3Π state with N2 molecules. The N2+(B2Σu+→X2Σg+) radiative transition was observed in the low-pressure DBD plasmas, which was attributed to the direct electron impact ionization of N2 molecules. The surface characterizations of treated PET samples by contact angle measurement and atomic force microscopy indicate that the low-pressure N2 DBD plasma is an effective method for the surface modification of polymers. Analysis indicates the plasma characteristics such as electron temperature and ion energy are mainly dependent on the N2 pressure, which turn to determine the surface properties of treated PET samples.
LINGUISTIC EVALUATION SYSTEM AND INSURANCE
Authors: HSIEH CHIH HSUN , WANG PAUL P.
Published: September 2011

There are much more publications in open literature on the topic of linguistic variables as compared with Computing With Words (CWW). This paper intends to change that situation by demonstrating the feasibility of a working system. In order to accomplish this goal, a very focused example of an insurance evaluation system, no matter how rudimentary, is presented. Lotfi A. Zadeh has persistently stressed the importance of CWW for a contemporary society and he is absolutely right on target. We have proceeded our project, taking the advantage of the previously established works of Chen, Hsieh and Wang, such as linguistic logic, uncertainty numbers modeling, fuzzifications and defuzzifications schemes, etc. Basically, the Linguistic Evaluating System (LES), consists of Linguistic Descriptions Evaluating Algorithm (LDEA), Linguistic Descriptions Base (LDB), and Fuzzy Knowledge Base (FKB). The previously published works on linguistic methodology and linguistic logic make it possible to develop our LDEA. This main algorithm intends to appraise the linguistic descriptions based upon the newly proposed preferred evaluation rules. In addition, the measuring evaluations of the linguistic descriptions, which have been based on the innovative combination of different IF-THEN fuzzy rules, which in term has been based upon the use of the linguistic distance measurements, reflected the preference of a humane expert. If then, only then, the desired user friendly applications of the essential thrust of risk assessment required for insurance industry has been finally realized.
Characterization of motor patterns in isolated human colon: are there differences in patients with slow-transit constipation?
Authors: Spencer Nick J. , Kyloh Melinda , Wattchow David A. , Thomas Anthony , Sia Tiong Cheng , Brookes Simon J. , Nicholas Sarah J.
Published: September 2011

The patterns of motor activity that exist in isolated full-length human colon have not been described. Our aim was to characterize the spontaneous motor patterns in isolated human colon and determine whether these patterns are different in whole colons obtained from patients with slow-transit constipation (STC). The entire colon (excluding the anus), was removed from patients with confirmed STC and mounted longitudinally in an organ bath ∼120 cm in length, containing oxygenated Krebs' solution at 36°C. Changes in circular muscle tension were recorded from multiple sites simultaneously along the length of colon, by use of isometric force transducers. Recordings from isolated colons from non-STC patients revealed cyclical colonic motor complexes (CMCs) in 11 of 17 colons, with a mean interval and half-duration of contractions of 4.0 ± 0.6 min and 51.5 ± 15 s, respectively. In the remaining six colons, spontaneous irregular phasic contractions occurred without CMCs. Interestingly, in STC patients robust CMCs were still recorded, although their CMC pacemaker frequencies were slower. Intraluminal balloon distension of the ascending or descending colon evoked an ascending excitatory reflex contraction, or evoked CMC, in 8 of 30 trials from non-STC (control) colons, but not from colons obtained from STC patients. In many control segments of descending colon, spontaneous CMCs consisted of simultaneous ascending excitatory and descending inhibitory phases. In summary, CMCs can be recorded from isolated human colon, in vitro, but their intrinsic pacemaker frequency is considerably faster in vitro compared with previous human recordings of CMCs in vivo. The observation that CMCs occur in whole colons removed from STC patients suggests that the intrinsic pacemaker mechanisms underlying their generation and propagation are preserved in vitro, despite impaired transit along these same regions in vivo.
Acute and Delayed Complications from Surgery and Adjuvant Radiotherapy in the Treatment of High-Risk Endometrial Cancer
Authors: Mendivil Alberto A. , Rettenmaier Mark A. , Cox Craig , Abaid Lisa N. , Brown III John V. , Micha John P. , Lopez Katrina L. , Goldstein Bram H.
Published: September 2011

Objectives: This retrospective study assessed the number and type of complications following surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy in the treatment of high-risk endometrial cancer. Methods: Endometrial cancer patients who received surgery and postoperative radiotherapy (pelvic radiotherapy and/or vaginal brachytherapy) from April 1997 until October 2010 were evaluated. Short-term (≤6 months) and long-term (>6 months) complications (e.g., genitourinary/gastrointestinal complications) were comprehensively reviewed. Results: We identified 109 high-risk endometrial cancer patients who completed adjuvant radiotherapy following either a total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH; n = 53) or minimally invasive hysterectomy (MIS; n = 56). The combined impact of surgery and radiotherapy on complication type did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05). However, surgery type and the development of a complication were significantly related (p < 0.001). The MIS patients developed complications at a more accelerated rate compared to the TAH patients (21 vs. 45 months), although the incidence of toxicity of grade 3 or 4 was much higher in the TAH group. Conclusions: The impact of MIS and adjuvant radiotherapy may have adversely affected the development of complications compared to TAH patients who received adjuvant radiotherapy, although higher-grade patient toxicity was more prevalent in the TAH group.