bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of stress and pain during rapid maxillary expansion treatments
Authors: GECGELEN M. , AKSOY A. , KIRDEMIR P. , DOGUC D. K. , CESUR G. , KOSKAN O. , OZORAK O.
Published: July 2012

Summary  The purpose of this study was to use salivary cortisol levels, pressure pain threshold (PPT) and Spielberger’s State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC) to assess stress, anxiety and pain during the expansion and retention phase of rapid maxillary expansion (RME) in children and investigate to whether this parameters are associated with gender or skeletal maturity stages. STAIC was used to assess the anxiety levels of the children. Salivary samples were collected for stress hormone determination. Visual Analog Scale was used for pain determination. Pressure pain threshold (PPT) was measured by using algometer. Data collection was performed a week before RME treatment (T0), at the day of the expansion appliance was bonded (T1), at the days of 1st, 4th, 7th, 14th, 25th, 36th activations of expansion screw (T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7) and after the retention period of 3 months (T8). The results of this study showed that the differences were statistically significant within‐day (P < 0·001) and within‐hours (P < 0·001) in cortisol levels during treatment. PPT levels were statistically significant within sex differences and skeletal maturity stages (P < 0·05). State‐trait anxiety scale scores were similar with respect to gender (P > 0·05). There were statistically significant differences of state‐trait anxiety levels between pre and post‐treatment stages (P < 0·05). The maximum number of patients reporting pain were days at T3 and T4. From day T5 the percentage of patients reporting pain then gradually reduced. Based on the findings of this study, it has been shown that RME leads to changes in patients’ state‐trait anxiety and cortisol levels.
Nuclear markers reveal a complex introgression pattern among marine turtle species on the Brazilian coast
Authors: VILAÇA SIBELLE T. , VARGAS SARAH M. , LARA‐RUIZ PAULA , MOLFETTI ÉRICA , REIS ESTÉFANE C. , LÔBO‐HAJDU GISELE , SOARES LUCIANO S. , SANTOS FABRÍCIO R.
Published: July 2012

Surprisingly, a high frequency of interspecific sea turtle hybrids has been previously recorded in a nesting site along a short stretch of the Brazilian coast. Mitochondrial DNA data indicated that as much as 43% of the females identified as Eretmochelys imbricata are hybrids in this area (Bahia State of Brazil). It is a remarkable find, because most of the nesting sites surveyed worldwide, including some in northern Brazil, presents no hybrids, and rare Caribbean sites present no more than 2% of hybrids. Thus, a detailed understanding of the hybridization process is needed to evaluate natural or anthropogenic causes of this regional phenomenon in Brazil, which could be an important factor affecting the conservation of this population. We analysed a set of 12 nuclear markers to investigate the pattern of hybridization involving three species of sea turtles: hawksbill (E. imbricata), loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea). Our data indicate that most of the individuals in the crossings L. olivacea × E. imbricata and L. olivacea × C. caretta are F1 hybrids, whereas C. caretta × E. imbricata crossings present F1 and backcrosses with both parental species. In addition, the C. caretta × E. imbricata hybridization seems to be gender and species biased, and we also found one individual with evidence of multispecies hybridization among C. caretta × E. imbricata × Chelonia mydas. The overall results also indicate that hybridization in this area is a recent phenomenon, spanning at least two generations or ∼40 years.
Interaction of the Escherichia coli transporter DctA with the sensor kinase DcuS: presence of functional DctA/DcuS sensor units
Authors: Witan Julian , Bauer Julia , Wittig Ilka , Steinmetz Philipp Aloysius , Erker Wolfgang , Unden Gottfried
Published: July 2012

The aerobic Escherichia coli C4‐dicarboxylate transporter DctA and the anaerobic fumarate/succinate antiporter DcuB function as obligate co‐sensors of the fumarate responsive sensor kinase DcuS under aerobic or anaerobic conditions respectively. Overproduction under anaerobic conditions allowed DctA to replace DcuB in co‐sensing, indicating their functional equivalence in this capacity. In vivo interaction studies between DctA and DcuS using FRET or a bacterial two‐hybrid system (BACTH) demonstrated their interaction. DctA–YFP bound to an affinity column and was able to retain DcuS. DctA shows substantial sequence and secondary structure conservation to GltPh, the Na+/glutamate symporter of Pyrococcus horikoshii with known 3D structure. Topology studies of DctA demonstrated the presence of eight transmembrane helices in an arrangement similar to that of GltPh. DctA contains an additional predicted amphipathic helix 8b on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane that is specific for DctA and not present in GltPh. Mutational analysis demonstrated the importance of helix 8b in co‐sensing and interaction with DcuS, and the isolated helix 8b showed strong interaction with DcuS. In DcuS, deletion and mutation of the cytoplasmic PASC domain affected the interaction between DctA and DcuS. It is concluded that DctA forms a functional unit or sensor complex with DcuS through specific interaction sites.
RNase Y of Staphylococcus aureus and its role in the activation of virulence genes
Authors: Marincola Gabriella , Schäfer Tina , Behler Juliane , Bernhardt Jörg , Ohlsen Knut , Goerke Christiane , Wolz Christiane
Published: July 2012

RNase Y of Bacillus subtilis is a key member of the degradosome and important for bulk mRNA turnover. In contrast to B. subtilis, the RNase Y homologue (rny/cvfA) of Staphylococcus aureus is not essential for growth. Here we found that RNase Y plays a major role in virulence gene regulation. Accordingly, rny deletion mutants demonstrated impaired virulence in a murine bacteraemia model. RNase Y is important for the processing and stabilization of the immature transcript of the global virulence regulator system SaePQRS. Moreover, RNase Y is involved in the activation of virulence gene expression at the promoter level. This control is independent of both the virulence regulator agr and the saePQRS processing and may be mediated by small RNAs some of which were shown to be degraded by RNase Y. Besides this regulatory effect, mRNA levels of several operons were significantly increased in the rny mutant and the half‐life of one of these operons was shown to be extremely extended. However, the half‐life of many mRNA species was not significantly altered. Thus, RNase Y in S. aureus influences mRNA expression in a tightly controlled regulatory manner and is essential for coordinated activation of virulence genes.
Capreomycin susceptibility is increased by TlyA‐directed 2′‐O‐methylation on both ribosomal subunits
Authors: Monshupanee Tanakarn , Johansen Shanna K. , Dahlberg Albert E. , Douthwaite Stephen
Published: July 2012

The binding site of the cyclic peptide antibiotics capreomycin and viomycin is located on the ribosomal subunit interface close to nucleotides C1409 in 16S rRNA and C1920 in 23S rRNA. In Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the 2′‐hydroxyls of both nucleotides are methylated by the enzyme TlyA. Loss of these methylations through inactivation of TlyA confers resistance to capreomycin and viomycin. We report here that TlyA orthologues occur in diverse bacteria and fall into two distinct groups. One group, now termed TlyAI, has shorter N‐ and C‐termini and methylates only C1920; the second group (now TlyAII) includes the mycobacterial enzyme, and these longer orthologues methylate at both C1409 and C1920. Ribosomal subunits are the preferred substrates for both groups of orthologues. Amino acid substitutions at the N‐terminus of TlyAII reduce its ability to methylate these substrates. Growing pairs of recombinant TlyAIIEscherichia coli strains in competition shows that even subtle changes in the level of rRNA methylation lead to significant differences in susceptibility to sub‐inhibitory concentrations of capreomycin. The findings reveal that 2′‐O‐methyls at both C1409 and C1920 play a role in facilitating the inhibitory effects of capreomycin and viomycin on the bacterial ribosome.
Modulation of Leishmania major aquaglyceroporin activity by a mitogen‐activated protein kinase
Authors: Mandal Goutam , Sharma Mansi , Kruse Martin , Sander‐Juelch Claudia , Munro Laura A. , Wang Yong , Vilg Jenny Veide , Tamás Markus J. , Bhattacharjee Hiranmoy , Wiese Martin , Mukhopadhyay Rita
Published: July 2012

Leishmania major aquaglyceroporin (LmjAQP1) adventitiously facilitates the uptake of antimonite [Sb(III)], an active form of Pentostam® or Glucantime®, which are the first line of defence against all forms of leishmaniasis. The present paper shows that LmjAQP1 activity is modulated by the mitogen‐activated protein kinase, LmjMPK2. Leishmania parasites coexpressing LmjAQP1 and LmjMPK2 show increased Sb(III) uptake and increased Sb(III) sensitivity. When subjected to a hypo‐osmotic stress, these cells show faster volume recovery than cells expressing LmjAQP1 alone. LmjAQP1 is phosphorylated in vivo at Thr‐197 and this phosphorylation requires LmjMPK2 activity. Lys‐42 of LmjMPK2 is critical for its kinase activity. Cells expressing altered T197A LmjAQP1 or K42A LmjMPK2 showed decreased Sb(III) influx and a slower volume recovery than cells expressing wild‐type proteins. Phosphorylation of LmjAQP1 led to a decrease in its turnover rate affecting LmjAQP1 activity. Although LmjAQP1 is localized to the flagellum of promastigotes, upon phosphorylation, it is relocalized to the entire surface of the parasite. Leishmania mexicana promastigotes with an MPK2 deletion showed reduced Sb(III) uptake and slower volume recovery than wild‐type cells. This is the first report where a parasite aquaglyceroporin activity is post‐translationally modulated by a mitogen‐activated protein kinase.
Genome‐wide association study of a quantitative disordered gambling trait
Authors: Lind Penelope A. , Zhu Gu , Montgomery Grant W. , Madden Pamela A. F. , Heath Andrew C. , Martin Nicholas G. , Slutske Wendy S.
Published: July 2012

Disordered gambling is a moderately heritable trait, but the underlying genetic basis is largely unknown. We performed a genome‐wide association study (GWAS) for disordered gambling using a quantitative factor score in 1312 twins from 894 Australian families. Association was conducted for 2 381 914 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using the family‐based association test in Merlin followed by gene and pathway enrichment analyses. Although no SNP reached genome‐wide significance, six achieved P‐values < 1 × 10−5 with variants in three genes (MT1X, ATXN1 and VLDLR) implicated in disordered gambling. Secondary case‐control analyses found two SNPs on chromosome 9 (rs1106076 and rs12305135 near VLDLR) and rs10812227 near FZD10 on chromosome 12 to be significantly associated with lifetime Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition pathological gambling and South Oaks Gambling Screen classified probable pathological gambling status. Furthermore, several addiction‐related pathways were enriched for SNPs associated with disordered gambling. Finally, gene‐based analysis of 24 candidate genes for dopamine agonist‐induced gambling in individuals with Parkinson's disease suggested an enrichment of SNPs associated with disordered gambling. We report the first GWAS of disordered gambling. While further replication is required, the identification of susceptibility loci and biological pathways will be important in characterizing the biological mechanisms that underpin disordered gambling.
What primary health‐care services are Australian consumers willing to accept from nurse practitioners? A National Survey
Authors: Parker Rhian , Forrest Laura , McCracken James , McRae Ian , Cox Darlene
Published: July 2012

Background

Nurses are becoming increasingly important as providers of primary health care in Australia. In November 2010, Medicare provider rights and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme rights for nurse practitioners, working in private practice and in collaboration with a medical practitioner, were introduced in Australia. Although international evidence suggests that nurse practitioners would be appropriate and acceptable providers of care at the first point of contact, such as primary health care, there is little Australian evidence about what care consumers are willing to accept from nurse practitioners.

Objectives

To ascertain what care Australian health‐care consumers would accept from nurse practitioners in this setting.

Participants

Australian adults over 18 years of age.

Methods

National Survey delivered online. Information about the survey was disseminated through a media campaign, stakeholder engagement and through the health‐care consumer networks nationally.

Results

The total number of respondents that started the survey was n = 1883. Ninety‐five percentage (n = 1784) of respondents completed the survey. The majority of respondents were women, aged 25–54 years, had completed tertiary education and had an annual household income of more than A$80 000. The majority of the respondents (n = 1562, 87%) said they would be prepared to see a nurse practitioner for some of their primary health‐care needs.

Conclusions

The findings of this study suggest consumers are accepting of a range of activities undertaken by nurse practitioners in primary health care and this has relevance for primary health‐care workforce mix and organization, particularly for areas that are underserved by medical practitioners.
Similar slow down in running speed progression in species under human pressure
Authors: Desgorces F.‐D. , Berthelot G. , Charmantier A. , Tafflet M. , Schaal K. , Jarne P. , Toussaint J.‐F.
Published: July 2012

Running speed in animals depends on both genetic and environmental conditions. Maximal speeds were here analysed in horses, dogs and humans using data sets on the 10 best performers covering more than a century of races. This includes a variety of distances in humans (200–1500 m). Speed has been progressing fast in the three species, and this has been followed by a plateau. Based on a Gompertz model, the current best performances reach 97.4% of maximal velocity in greyhounds to 100.3 in humans. Further analysis based on a subset of individuals and using an ‘animal model’ shows that running speed is heritable in horses (h2 = 0.438, P = 0.01) and almost so in dogs (h2 = 0.183, P = 0.08), suggesting the involvement of genetic factors. Speed progression in humans is more likely due to an enlarged population of runners, associated with improved training practices. The analysis of a data subset (40 last years in 800 and 1500 m) further showed that East Africans have strikingly improved their speed, now reaching the upper part of the human distribution, whereas that of Nordic runners stagnated in the 800 m and even declined in the 1500 m. Although speed progression in dogs and horses on one side and humans on the other has not been affected by the same genetic/environmental balance of forces, it is likely that further progress will be extremely limited.
Morphological Analysis and Osteometry of the Foramen Magnum of the One‐Humped Camel (Camelus dromedarius)
Authors: Yahaya A. , Olopade J. O. , Kwari H. D.
Published: July 2012

The foramen magnum (FM) has been an integral component of studies on the ontogeny and evolutionary transformation of the skull. While its shape is variable in different species and breeds, the morphological variations and metrical indices of the foramen have scarcely been studied in camels. A total of 30 adult camel heads with equal sex disparity from three different locations ofNorthernNigeria were used in this study for determining the morphological characteristics and osteometry of their foramen magnum. The study reported a mean foramen magnum height and width of 4.04 ± 0.15 and 3.70 ± 0.16 cm, and 3.65 ± 0.27 and 3.45 ± 0.21 cm in the overall males and females, respectively, and a foramen magnum index (FMI) in adult camels, which was over 100. We propose a classification for the morphology of foramen magnum in camels demarcating them into three types. The dorsal border of the foramen presented either a smoothly curved bony margin (Type I), a small, ventrally directed, median bony protrusion (TypeII) or a dorsal notch (TypeIII). No significant osteometric differences were found in any of the variables of the foramen magnum measured in the adult camels (FMH,FMWandFMI) of the various geographical locations, nor between animals of either gender except for theFMHthat had a significantly higher mean value in overall males.
Influence of sample size on ecological status assessment using marine benthic invertebrate‐based indices
Authors: Mavrič Borut , Urbanič Gorazd , Lipej Lovrenc , Simboura Nomiki
Published: July 2012

Routine monitoring of the quality status of water bodies demands the best cost‐benefit relation and sample‐size reduction is therefore welcomed. However, great caution is needed because such reduction affects the accuracy and variation of the results. In the present study we tested the influence of sample size (number of replicate samples) on reference condition values and within‐sample ecological quality ratio (EQR) variability of six commonly used ecological indices (taxa richness, Shannon–Wiener diversity, AMBI, Medocc index, Bentix and M‐AMBI). Analysis of soft‐bottom benthic invertebrate data from Slovenian coastal waters showed that sample size influenced the reference condition values of richness/diversity indices (taxa richness and Shannon–Wiener diversity) but not of the sensitivity/tolerance indices (AMBI, Medocc index, Bentix). Increased sample size decreased the within‐sample EQR variability and, concomitantly, increased the accuracy of site ecological status classification for all indices. The size of EQR variability differed depending on the index used. EQR variability of M‐AMBI, an index composed of metrics with different within‐sample EQR variability, was statistically the same as that of the metric with the lowest within‐sample EQR variability. Whether this is a common principle for multimetric indices remains to be confirmed. Based on these results, the use of at least three replicates is suggested to obtain reliable measures of reference condition and EQR for the assessment of ecological status. This level of replication is particularly necessary in areas with high diversity and environmental patchiness, and when richness/diversity measures and indices that include these measures are used.
Effects of early oral feeding on relapse and symptoms of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in peptic ulcer disease
Authors: Khoshbaten Manouchehr , Ghaffarifar Saeideh , Jabbar Imani Afshin , Shahnazi Tahere
Published: July 2012

Background:  Peptic ulcer is the most common cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) and nutritional support is a helpful strategy in malnutrition prevention during treatment. As early oral feeding in patients with GIB may shorten hospital stay and decrease costs and risk of infection, the present study was carried out to investigate the effects of early oral feeding on relapse and symptoms of upper GIB.

Methods:  The present clinical trial was conducted with the participation of 100 patients with upper GIB due to gastric or duodenum ulcer at Emam Reza University Hospital in Tabriz. Subjects were randomly allocated to two groups (n = 50). In one group, patients received oral diet from day 1 and in other group patients were nil by mouth until day 3 and then received oral diet. Endoscopic and clinical findings of patients were recorded from day 1 to 3.

Results:  The mean age of subjects was 57.6 ± 1.7 and 63% were male. Sclerotherapy was used in most cases as a hemostasis treatment. There was no significant difference in laboratory findings and rebleeding between the two groups. In the group with early oral feeding, the time of hospital stay was significantly shorter than in the control group (P < 0.001).

Conclusion:  Although early oral feeding had no significant effects on electrolyte balance and treatment outcomes in patients with upper GIB who were treated with endoscopic hemostasis, it could effectively shorten the hospital stay. Consequently, early oral feeding in these patients enables early discharge and reduces the costs of treatment.
Endoscopic radial incision and cutting method for refractory esophageal stricture after endoscopic submucosal dissection of superficial esophageal carcinoma
Authors: Minamino Hiroaki , Machida Hirohisa , Tominaga Kazunari , Sugimori Satoshi , Okazaki Hirotoshi , Tanigawa Tetsuya , Yamagami Hirokazu , Watanabe Kenji , Watanabe Toshio , Fujiwara Yasuhiro , Arakawa Tetsuo
Published: July 2012

A 59‐year‐old woman and a 69‐year‐old man had esophageal strictures that were refractory to over 10 therapeutic attempts with endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) after endoscopic submucosal dissections (ESD) for superficial esophageal carcinoma (SEC). The strictured lesions in both patients improved remarkably with a new endoscopic modality (endoscopic radial incision and cutting [ERIC]), which was carried out one to three times, and stricture recurrence was not noted throughout the follow‐up period. ERIC is a safe and efficient method for treating refractory strictures after EBD caused by ESD for SEC.
Unsedated transnasal percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy carried out by a single physician
Authors: Lin Lian‐Feng , Shen Hsiu‐Chu
Published: July 2012

Aim:  The present prospective observational study investigates the safety of transnasal percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (T‐PEG) carried out by a single physician using an ultrathin endoscope.

Methods:  A single endoscopist attempted the unsedated transnasal insertion of a 20‐Fr PEG tube using a pull‐method in 31 dysphagic patients: 11 females and 20 males aged 76.5 ± 10.6 (46–96) years, using a 5‐mm‐diameter endoscope. The indications for PEG, cardiopulmonary function before and after T‐PEG, operation time, success or failure, and any immediate adverse events that occurred during each procedure were recorded. Complications, including peristomal infection, systemic infection, tube lifespan, and patient mortality were monitored throughout the post‐T‐PEG follow‐up period.

Results:  Thirty (96.8%) of the transnasal PEG insertions were successful. The mean operation time was 14.7 ± 2.9 (10–20) min, and cardiopulmonary function did not change before and after T‐PEG. Complications included three (10%) cases of epistaxis, eight (26.6%) cases of minor Pseudomonas wound infection and two cases of Foley‐related urinary tract infection (UTI). No self‐extubation was observed, and the mean lifespan of the PEG tubes was 10.7 ± 2.2 months. Four patients died from pneumonia 10 months after T‐PEG insertion.

Conclusion:  Unsedated T‐PEG insertion carried out by a single physician is a feasible and safe procedure. No major complications or mortality were observed following the procedures; only minor Pseudomonas aeruginosa wound infections were noted. It is an alternative method for dysphagic patients when transoral insertion of endoscopy is impossible.
Sharpening and formation: two distinct neuronal mechanisms of repetition priming
Authors: Martens Ulla , Gruber Thomas
Published: July 2012

The repetition of an object stimulus results in faster and better recognition of this object (repetition priming). This phenomenon is neuronally associated with a reduced firing rate of neurons (repetition suppression). It has been interpreted as a sharpening mechanism within the cell assembly representing the object. In the case of an unfamiliar stimulus for which no object representation exists, the repetition of the stimulus results in an increase in the firing rate (repetition enhancement).It has been hypothesized that this increase reflects the formation of a cortical object representation. We aimed to investigate cortical object representations as well as repetition suppression and enhancement by means of the steady‐state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) in the healthy human brain. To that end, we used a repetition paradigm with familiar and unfamiliar objects, each presented with 12‐Hz flicker, producing an oscillatory brain response at the same frequency (i.e. an SSVEP). Results showed significantly smaller SSVEP amplitudes for repeated familiar objects compared to their first presentation (repetition suppression). For unfamiliar objects, SSVEP amplitudes increased with stimulus repetition (repetition enhancement). Source reconstruction revealed inferior temporal regions as generators for the repetition suppression effect, probably reflecting a sharpening mechanism within the cortical representations of the constituting features of an object. In contrast, repetition enhancement was localised in the superior parietal lobe, possibly reflecting the formation of a structural object representation. Thus, the mechanisms underlying repetition priming (i.e. sharpening and formation) depend on the semantic content of the incoming information.
Dynamics of anticipatory mechanisms during predictive context processing
Authors: Bidet‐Caulet Aurélie , Barbe Pierre‐Guillaume , Roux Sylvie , Viswanath Humsini , Barthélémy Catherine , Bruneau Nicole , Knight Robert T. , Bonnet‐Brilhault Frédérique
Published: July 2012

We employed an electroencephalography paradigm manipulating predictive context to dissociate the neural dynamics of anticipatory mechanisms. Subjects either detected random targets or targets preceded by a predictive sequence of three distinct stimuli. The last stimulus in the three‐stimulus sequence (decisive stimulus) did not require any motor response but 100% predicted a subsequent target event. We showed that predictive context optimises target processing via the deployment of distinct anticipatory mechanisms at different times of the predictive sequence. Prior to the occurrence of the decisive stimulus, enhanced attentional preparation was manifested by reductions in the alpha oscillatory activities over the visual cortices, resulting in facilitation of processing of the decisive stimulus. Conversely, the subsequent 100% predictable target event did not reveal the deployment of attentional preparation in the visual cortices, but elicited enhanced motor preparation mechanisms, indexed by an increased contingent negative variation and reduced mu oscillatory activities over the motor cortices before movement onset. The present results provide evidence that anticipation operates via different attentional and motor preparation mechanisms by selectively pre‐activating task‐dependent brain areas as the predictability gradually increases.
Bacterial pathogens: from natural ecosystems to human hosts
Authors: Martínez José L.
Published: July 2012

The analysis of the genomes of bacterial pathogens indicates that they have acquired their pathogenic capability by incorporating different genetic elements through horizontal gene transfer. The ancestors of virulent bacteria, as well as the origin of virulence determinants, lay most likely in the environmental microbiota. Studying the role that these determinants may have in non‐clinical ecosystems is thus of value for understanding in detail the evolution and the ecology of bacterial pathogens. In this article, I propose that classical virulence determinants might be relevant for basic metabolic processes (for instance iron‐uptake systems) or in modulating prey/predator relationships (toxins) in natural, non‐infective ecosystems. The different role that horizontal gene transfer and mutation may have in the evolution of bacterial pathogens either for their speciation or in short‐sighted evolution processes is also discussed.
AUTOMATIC ANNOTATION OF AMBIGUOUS PERSONAL NAMES ON THE WEB
Authors: Bollegala Danushka , Matsuo Yutaka , Ishizuka Mitsuru
Published: July 2012

Personal name disambiguation is an important task in social network extraction, evaluation and integration of ontologies, information retrieval, cross‐document coreference resolution and word sense disambiguation. We propose an unsupervised method to automatically annotate people with ambiguous names on the Web using automatically extracted keywords. Given an ambiguous personal name, first, we download text snippets for the given name from a Web search engine. We then represent each instance of the ambiguous name by a term‐entity model (TEM), a model that we propose to represent the Web appearance of an individual. A TEM of a person captures named entities and attribute values that are useful to disambiguate that person from his or her namesakes (i.e., different people who share the same name). We then use group average agglomerative clustering to identify the instances of an ambiguous name that belong to the same person. Ideally, each cluster must represent a different namesake. However, in practice it is not possible to know the number of namesakes for a given ambiguous personal name in advance. To circumvent this problem, we propose a novel normalized cuts‐based cluster stopping criterion to determine the different people on the Web for a given ambiguous name. Finally, we annotate each person with an ambiguous name using keywords selected from the clusters. We evaluate the proposed method on a data set of over 2500 documents covering 200 different people for 20 ambiguous names. Experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms numerous baselines and previously proposed name disambiguation methods. Moreover, the extracted keywords reduce ambiguity of a name in an information retrieval task, which underscores the usefulness of the proposed method in real‐world scenarios.
Tasks, Teacher Feedback, and Learner Modified Output in Naturally Occurring Classroom Interaction
Authors: Gurzynski‐Weiss Laura , Révész Andrea
Published: July 2012

Tasks and interactional feedback have received much attention in instructed second language acquisition research in recent years. However, little research exists that has investigated feedback and task factors together during naturally occurring teacher–student interaction in classroom settings. To bridge this gap, the current study explored the amount, type, and immediate use of teacher feedback during naturally occurring classroom interaction depending on: (1) whether feedback is provided during tasks versus nontasks; (2) during focused versus unfocused tasks; and (3) whether it occurs during pre‐, during‐, or posttask phases. The data set included transcripts of 23 videotaped lessons from nine university‐level intermediate Spanish foreign language classrooms. Our analyses revealed that task factors affected the amount and type of teacher feedback as well as the number of opportunities for and incidence of learner modified output. Our findings suggest the value of taking task‐related variables into account in classroom feedback research and with respect to teacher feedback decisions.
Rating Agencies as Gatekeepers to the Capital Market: Practical Implications of 40 Years of Research
Authors: Lagner Thomas , Knyphausen‐Aufseß Dodozu
Published: July 2012

This paper gives an extensive overview on the avenues academic research has taken in exploring the role of credit ratings. In doing so, it relies on a strict methodological approach for the collection and evaluation of relevant studies to address the criticisms on the lack of profoundness in prior literature reviews in business research. It provides therefore to both academics and practitioners an exhaustive compendium on the role and relevance of credit ratings for each key stakeholder over the past 40 years. Second, it pinpoints specifically to how credit ratings impact corporate strategy. In this matter, it suggests to focus on this underresearched aspect in future as it has become a critical factor in the decision‐making of company boards.
Situational Contracting: Building Reciprocity between Rights and Obligations
Authors: WOLFSON DIRK J.
Published: July 2012

Individualism, cultural pluralism, and pressures from globalization are putting a strain on matching demand and supply of public services. Citizens want tailor‐made solutions, professionals in delivery systems need degrees of freedom to customize supply, and complexity brings along information asymmetries and strategic behavior. All this calls for a new look at interactive governance. This article develops a mode of situational contracting that reveals preference at the level of the individual actor, generates trust in mutual adjustment, and creates scope for customization and innovation in public management. It sets out a strategy, presents results of an early application in the Netherlands, and suggests further applications.
Financial stress is associated with reduced treatment adherence in HIV‐infected adults in a resource‐rich setting
Authors: McAllister J , Beardsworth G , Lavie E , MacRae K , Carr A
Published: July 2012

Objectives

Financial stress has been identified as a barrier to antiretroviral adherence, but only in resource‐ limited settings. Almost half of HIV‐infected Australian adults earn no regular income and, despite highly subsidised antiretroviral therapy and universal health care, 3% of HIV‐infected Australians cease antiretroviral therapy each year. We studied the relationship between financial stress and treatment adherence in a resource‐rich setting.

Methods

Out‐patients attending the HIV clinic at St Vincent's Hospital between November 2010 and May 2011 were invited to complete an anonymous survey including questions relating to costs and adherence.

Results

Of 335 HIV‐infected patients (95.8% male; mean age 52 years; hepatitis coinfection 9.2%), 65 patients (19.6%) stated that it was difficult or very difficult to meet pharmacy dispensing costs, 49 (14.6%) reported that they had delayed purchasing medication because of pharmacy costs, and 30 (9.0%) reported that they had ceased medication because of pharmacy costs. Of the 65 patients with difficulties meeting pharmacy costs, 19 (29.2%) had ceased medication vs. 11 (4.1%) of the remaining 270 patients (P < 0.0001). In addition, 19 patients (5.7%) also stated that it was difficult or very difficult to meet travel costs to the clinic. Treatment cessation and interruption were both independently associated with difficulty meeting both pharmacy and clinic travel costs. Only 4.9% had been asked if they were having difficulty paying for medication.

Conclusions

These are the first data to show that pharmacy dispensing and clinic travel costs may affect treatment adherence in a resource‐rich setting. Patients should be asked if financial stress is limiting their treatment adherence.
Combinations of classical time‐honoured topicals in plaque psoriasis: a systematic review
Authors: Hendriks A.G.M. , Keijsers R.R.M.C. , de Jong E.M.G.J. , Seyger M.M.B. , van de Kerkhof P.C.M.
Published: July 2012

Background  Despite the availability of newer topical treatments, classical topical treatments for chronic plaque psoriasis still have an important position for selected patient populations. The vast majority of patients are treated with a combination of topicals. The question arises: what is the evidence behind these approaches?

Objectives  To systematically review all available literature on efficacy and safety of combinations of classical topical treatments in chronic plaque psoriasis, including all combinations with dithranol, coal tar and penetration enhancers, and ultimately, to propose recommendations for combination treatment.

Methods  Standardized literature searches in PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Controlled Clinical Trial Register, and allocation of the degree of evidence was carried out.

Results  In total 2918 publications on topical combination therapy were revealed, of which 48 articles on combinations of classical treatments. In this article, the results concerning the 19 included publications are stated. The majority of combination regimens is at least as effective as monotherapies, and is generally well tolerated.

Conclusions  Methods of classical treatments are not standardized and different protocols in different treatment settings are used. Therefore the interpretation of study results cannot be generalized. Most evidence was found to recommend the use of a combination regimen of topical corticosteroids and salicylic acid, above monotherapy with either component. Also, the combinations of dithranol with superpotent corticosteroids or with coal tar may be preferred above both monotherapies. In case first‐line treatments and systemic therapies are not effective or contraindicated, combinations of classical topicals may provide an important opportunity.
Cranial muscles in amphibians: development, novelties and the role of cranial neural crest cells
Authors: Schmidt Jennifer , Piekarski Nadine , Olsson Lennart
Published: July 2012

Our research on the evolution of the vertebrate head focuses on understanding the developmental origins of morphological novelties. Using a broad comparative approach in amphibians, and comparisons with the well‐studied quail‐chicken system, we investigate how evolutionarily conserved or variable different aspects of head development are. Here we review research on the often overlooked development of cranial muscles, and on its dependence on cranial cartilage development. In general, cranial muscle cell migration and the spatiotemporal pattern of cranial muscle formation appears to be very conserved among the few species of vertebrates that have been studied. However, fate‐mapping of somites in the Mexican axolotl revealed differences in the specific formation of hypobranchial muscles (tongue muscles) in comparison to the chicken. The proper development of cranial muscles has been shown to be strongly dependent on the mostly neural crest‐derived cartilage elements in the larval head of amphibians. For example, a morpholino‐based knock‐down of the transcription factor FoxN3 in Xenopus laevis has drastic indirect effects on cranial muscle patterning, although the direct function of the gene is mostly connected to neural crest development. Furthermore, extirpation of single migratory streams of cranial neural crest cells in combination with fate‐mapping in a frog shows that individual cranial muscles and their neural crest‐derived connective tissue attachments originate from the same visceral arch, even when the muscles attach to skeletal components that are derived from a different arch. The same pattern has also been found in the chicken embryo, the only other species that has been thoroughly investigated, and thus might be a conserved pattern in vertebrates that reflects the fundamental nature of a mechanism that keeps the segmental order of the head in place despite drastic changes in adult anatomy. There is a need for detailed comparative fate‐mapping of pre‐otic paraxial mesoderm in amphibians, to determine developmental causes underlying the complicated changes in cranial muscle development and architecture within amphibians, and in particular how the novel mouth apparatus in frog tadpoles evolved. This will also form a foundation for further research into the molecular mechanisms that regulate rostral head morphogenesis. Our empirical studies are discussed within a theoretical framework concerned with the evolutionary origin and developmental basis of novel anatomical structures in general. We argue that a common developmental origin is not a fool‐proof guide to homology, and that a view that sees only structures without homologs as novel is too restricted, because novelties must be produced by changes in the same framework of developmental processes. At the level of developmental processes and mechanisms, novel structures are therefore likely to have homologs, and we need to develop a hierarchical concept of novelty that takes this into account.
The perception and identification of facial emotions in individuals with autism spectrum disorders using the Let’s Face It! Emotion Skills Battery
Authors: Tanaka James W. , Wolf Julie M. , Klaiman Cheryl , Koenig Kathleen , Cockburn Jeffrey , Herlihy Lauren , Brown Carla , Stahl Sherin S. , South Mikle , McPartland James C. , Kaiser Martha D. , Schultz Robert T.
Published: July 2012

Background:  Although impaired social–emotional ability is a hallmark of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the perceptual skills and mediating strategies contributing to the social deficits of autism are not well understood. A perceptual skill that is fundamental to effective social communication is the ability to accurately perceive and interpret facial emotions. To evaluate the expression processing of participants with ASD, we designed the Let’s Face It! Emotion Skills Battery (LFI! Battery), a computer‐based assessment composed of three subscales measuring verbal and perceptual skills implicated in the recognition of facial emotions.

Methods:  We administered the LFI! Battery to groups of participants with ASD and typically developing control (TDC) participants that were matched for age and IQ.

Results:  On the Name Game labeling task, participants with ASD (N = 68) performed on par with TDC individuals (N = 66) in their ability to name the facial emotions of happy, sad, disgust and surprise and were only impaired in their ability to identify the angry expression. On the Matchmaker Expression task that measures the recognition of facial emotions across different facial identities, the ASD participants (N = 66) performed reliably worse than TDC participants (N = 67) on the emotions of happy, sad, disgust, frighten and angry. In the Parts–Wholes test of perceptual strategies of expression, the TDC participants (N = 67) displayed more holistic encoding for the eyes than the mouths in expressive faces whereas ASD participants (N = 66) exhibited the reverse pattern of holistic recognition for the mouth and analytic recognition of the eyes.

Conclusion:  In summary, findings from the LFI! Battery show that participants with ASD were able to label the basic facial emotions (with the exception of angry expression) on par with age‐ and IQ‐matched TDC participants. However, participants with ASD were impaired in their ability to generalize facial emotions across different identities and showed a tendency to recognize the mouth feature holistically and the eyes as isolated parts.
Environmental and stoichiometric controls on microbial carbon‐use efficiency in soils
Authors: Manzoni Stefano , Taylor Philip , Richter Andreas , Porporato Amilcare , Ågren Göran I.
Published: July 2012

Carbon (C) metabolism is at the core of ecosystem function. Decomposers play a critical role in this metabolism as they drive soil C cycle by mineralizing organic matter to CO2. Their growth depends on the carbon‐use efficiency (CUE), defined as the ratio of growth over C uptake. By definition, high CUE promotes growth and possibly C stabilization in soils, while low CUE favors respiration. Despite the importance of this variable, flexibility in CUE for terrestrial decomposers is still poorly characterized and is not represented in most biogeochemical models. Here, we synthesize the theoretical and empirical basis of changes in CUE across aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, highlighting common patterns and hypothesizing changes in CUE under future climates. Both theoretical considerations and empirical evidence from aquatic organisms indicate that CUE decreases as temperature increases and nutrient availability decreases. More limited evidence shows a similar sensitivity of CUE to temperature and nutrient availability in terrestrial decomposers. Increasing CUE with improved nutrient availability might explain observed declines in respiration from fertilized stands, while decreased CUE with increasing temperature and plant C : N ratios might decrease soil C storage. Current biogeochemical models could be improved by accounting for these CUE responses along environmental and stoichiometric gradients.
Understanding Rising Income Inequality in Germany, 1999/2000–2005/2006
Authors: Biewen Martin , Juhasz Andos
Published: July 2012

We examine the factors behind rising income inequality in Europe's most populous economy. From 1999/2000 to 2005/2006, Germany experienced an unprecedented rise in net equivalized income inequality and poverty. At the same time, unemployment rose to record levels, part‐time and marginal part‐time work grew, and there was evidence for a widening distribution of labor incomes. Other factors that possibly contributed to the rise in income inequality were changes in the tax and transfer system, changes in the household structure (in particular the rising share of single parent households), and changes in other socio‐economic characteristics (e.g., age or education). We address the question of which factors were the main drivers of the observed inequality increase. Our results suggest that the largest part of the increase was due to increasing inequality in labor incomes, but that changes in employment outcomes and changes in the tax system also contributed considerable shares. By contrast, changes in household structures and household characteristics, as well as changes in the transfer system only seem to have played a minor role.
Higher Motility Enhances Bacterial Density and Inflammatory Response in Dyspeptic Patients Infected with Helicobacter pylori
Authors: Kao Cheng‐Yen , Sheu Bor‐Shyang , Sheu Shew‐Meei , Yang Hsiao‐Bai , Chang Wei‐Lun , Cheng Hsiu‐Chi , Wu Jiunn‐Jong
Published: July 2012

Background

Motility mediated by the flagella of Helicobacter pylori is important for the cells to move toward the gastric mucus in niches adjacent to the epithelium; then, H. pylori uses the adhesin SabA to interact with sialyl‐Lex on inflammatory host cells for persistent infection. Here, we reveal the clinical association of bacterial motility, SabA expression, and pathological outcomes.

Methods

Ninety‐six clinical isolates were screened for bacterial motility, and the expression of SabA of each isolate was confirmed by Western blotting. H. pylori‐infected patients were assessed for their bacterial density, sialyl‐Lex expression, inflammatory scores, and clinical diseases.

Results

The mean diameter in the motility assay was 17 mm, and eight (8.3%) of the strains had impaired motility, with a diameter <5 mm. H. pylori density in cardia, the acute inflammatory score in the body locus, and the prevalence rate of gastric atrophy were increased in patients infected with higher‐motility strains (p = .023, <.001, or <.001, respectively). The total inflammatory scores (both acute and chronic) and bacterial density dramatically increased in patients expressing the sialyl‐Lex antigen and infected with higher‐motility, SabA‐positive H. pylori (p = .016, .01, or .005, respectively).

Conclusion

These results suggest that the higher motility of H. pylori enhances pathological outcomes, and the SabA–sialyl‐Lex interaction has a synergistic effect on virulence of the higher‐motility strains.
Adolescent Work and Alcohol Use Revisited: Variations by Family Structure
Authors: Rocheleau Gregory C. , Swisher Raymond R.
Published: July 2012

Previous research finds adolescent work hours to be associated with increased alcohol use. Most studies, however, fail to account for possible selection effects that lead youth to both work and substance use. Using data from the first two waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (N = 12,620), a fixed effects regression method is employed to control for stable between‐person differences neglected by previous studies. Results show little relationship between work hours and alcohol use when controlling for individual heterogeneity. Results reveal variations, however, by family structure, with work hours being negatively associated with alcohol use among those from single‐parent households. Although exhibiting significant main effects, family and peer processes fail to account for differences by family structure.