bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Theoretical Foundations of Inter-Organizational Information Systems
Authors: Madlberger Maria
Published: December 2011

Research on Inter-Organizational Information Systems (IOIS) provided many insights, which, however, are very fragmented in terms of applied theories. This results in a quite isolated understanding of single aspects of IOIS rather than a comprising approach to the research subject. To address these shortcomings, the chapter investigates seven theories in respect of their explanation of IOIS adoption and use, its drivers, IOIS-based collaboration between firms, and benefits and costs of IOIS. The applied theories are social exchange theory and embeddedness theory (organization theories), transaction cost theory and agency theory (economics-related theories), the resource-based view of the firm and network theory (strategic management approaches), and game theory. The findings and the resulting framework imply that all these theories lead to similar recommendations on the use of IOIS although they have very diverse assumptions and lines of argumentation. The chapter stresses that the investigated theories supplement rather than contradict each other.
Trading Anytime Anywhere with Ubiquitous Financial Information Systems
Authors: Yap Alexander Y.
Published: December 2011

Trading anytime anywhere ubiquitously is rapidly becoming a popular trading practice in the financial marketspace. When highly volatile financial global markets are becoming a normal phenomenon, trading stocks, options, and futures requires the flexibility to trade anywhere, anytime. Investors or traders who keep track of the financial market on a daily or hourly basis do so because they want to be able to make immediate buy and sell decisions wherever they are and whenever they see fit. Ubiquitous financial systems empower traders to limit risk or take advantage of trading opportunities by providing the capability to ‘time’ trading executions. Millions and billions of dollars are either lost or gained in a few seconds, and timing is key.
The Persisting Human Element of the Electronic Trading Habit
Authors: van Daalen Roger F.A.
Published: December 2011

The move towards electronic trading was believed by some to narrow the scope of information available to traders, due to the difference between the old paper-based and new IT-enhanced work environment. It was expected that a trader’s job performance would transform from a physical, social, embodied experience, into an individualized, rational, and detached operation. In this chapter, we discuss how the human element to trading has remained central to job performance, by illustrating how particular trading companies have excelled under the new job environment. Drawing on a data collected on electronic trading firms between mid-2007 to late 2010, we focus on a smaller set to illustrate our findings. We find that trading has remained a human endeavor; traders group together for learning and coordination benefits. Furthermore, firms now tap into a global talent pool, and have incorporated monitoring benefits made possible by electronic monitoring of positions for better risk management.
DSP Acceleration for Dynamic Financial Models
Authors: Kelley Joe
Published: December 2011

We present an extensive dynamic financial model that encompasses most models used today in finance and economics. We show that this model is a good match to the capabilities of DSP chips. Particularly, DSP is able to perform the high-speed Monte Carlo simulations that are required to solve many large-scale, intractable financial problems. By simulating a sufficiently large number of future scenarios, DSP chips can rapidly achieve a good approximation of the probable future joint probability distribution function of modeled variables. This probability distribution can be used for the valuation of financial derivatives, computing value at risk, studying macroeconomic policy decisions, and many other purposes. DSP enables such simulations to be faster, cooler, greener, and cheaper than ever before.
AutomatL@bs Consortium
Authors: Dormido Sebastián , Vargas Héctor , Sánchez José
Published: December 2011

This chapter describes the effort of a group of Spanish universities to unify recent work on the use of Web-based technologies in teaching and learning engineering topics. The network was intended to be a space where students and educators could interact and collaborate with each other as well as a meeting space for different research groups working on these subjects. The solution adopted in this chapter goes one step beyond the typical scenario of Web-based labs in engineering education (where research-groups demonstrate their engineering designs in an isolated fashion) by sharing the experimentation resources provided by different research groups that participated in this network. Finally, this work highlights the key points of this project and provides some remarks about the future use of Web-based technologies in school environments.
Architectures and Design Methodologies for Scalable and Sustainable Remote Laboratory Infrastructures
Authors: Thames J. Lane , Abler Randal , Hyder Andrew , Wellman Robert , Schaefer Dirk
Published: December 2011

With the increasing demand for distance learning opportunities in the higher education sector, there is an ever-growing need for the design and deployment of remote laboratories, especially for engineering, science, and technology curricula. In order to accommodate the offering of entire degrees for distance learning students whose curricula require remote laboratories, scalable information technology infrastructures that support the large scale use and deployment of these remote laboratories must exist. This chapter provides a discussion of architectures and design methodologies using technology such as command and control communications, Web 2.0, and cloud computing, which provide a scalable, manageable, and sustainable technological infrastructure-basis for large scale remote laboratory deployment.
Mobile Laboratory Model for Next-Generation Heterogeneous Wireless Systems
Authors: Ngom Ibrahima , Saliah-Hassane Hamadou , Lishou Claude
Published: December 2011

Failure to integrate heterogeneous wireless systems generally makes it difficult, if not impossible, for the continuation of remote working or remote experiments when human operators and equipment coexist through networks in a collaborative environment. Mobile laboratories using ubiquitous mobile communication for next-generation heterogeneous wireless systems have prospects for increasing the operation of distributed communication and mobile ubiquitous systems. All “technology assessors” concur that tomorrow’s society will have access to smart objects (mobile devices or apparatuses, mobile equipment, e.g. robots) that contain “programs” that will assist with communication in everyday life. However one of the tomorrow’s challenges will consist of programming those objects to cooperate with and control telecommunications technologies. For a Mobile Laboratory to ensure consistent mobility in an environment, it must combine various wireless networks as a single integrated system. In this chapter we propose a Mobile Laboratory Model with mobile devices that take advantage of multiple mobile gateways by using Internet Protocol (IP) as the interconnection protocol to achieve the objective stated above.
Information Technology Exception Messages
Authors: Amer T. S. , Maris Jo-Mae B.
Published: December 2011

Users of information technology (IT) frequently encounter “exception messages” during their interactions with computing systems. Exception messages are important points of communication with users of IT and are similar in principle to compliance and warning messages that appear on consumer products and equipment (e.g., cigarettes, power tools, etc.), in various environments (e.g., around machinery), and on chemicals. This study reviews the normative elements and information that are included in product, chemical, and environment compliance and warning messages and combines these with recommendations in the IT literature to propose that five elements and information should be included in IT exception messages with a standard format. It is argued that including these elements in the proposed format will improve the consistency and effectiveness of exception messages. Also reported are the results of an investigation of a sample of actual exception messages to determine their degree of conformity with the proposed elements. Results indicate that IT exception messages lack descriptive content.
The Many Sides of Human Resource Information Systems
Authors: Poutanen Hilkka , Puhakka Vesa
Published: December 2011

The history of human resource information systems stretches to the 1960s, when human resource data were separated from payroll systems. In the 1980s, researchers and practitioners became more interested in human resource information systems, and in the 1990s several studies, articles, user experiences, opinions and descriptions were published in journals, magazines and on the internet. Still, despite the number of literature, no survey or framework exists that constructs a synthesis of the fragmented issues of human resource information systems from both of these viewpoints, that is, information systems and human resource management. In this paper, an initial framework for human resource information systems is introduced to underline the importance and the need for consolidating the knowledge on the phenomenon.
The Role of the Organizational Structure in the IT Appropriation
Authors: Oiry Ewan , Ologeanu-Taddeï Roxana , Bondarouk Tanya
Published: December 2011

The concept of appropriation is frequently used in IT implementation research. Rooted in the analysis of the diffusion of innovation, this concept is usually linked with characteristics of an organization’s structure, size, and sector. Since the 1980s, appropriation has been actively studied by IT researchers, who linked it with technological attributions and characteristics of users. In this paper, the authors observed the application of the appropriation concept developed from the extreme of giving full credit to technology, and the other extreme of fully crediting end-users. The authors argue that to capture a full range of benefits from technology and human interaction, researchers cannot ignore organizational structure. By presenting three case studies, this paper shows that it is necessary to reintroduce this “side” to have a complete analysis of appropriation.
Using OLAP Tools for e-HRM
Authors: Prado Alysson Bolognesi , Freitas Carmen , Sbrici Thiago Ricardo
Published: December 2011

In the growing challenge of managing people, Human Resources need effective artifacts to support decision making. On Line Analytical Processing is intended to make business information available for managers, and HR departments can now encompass this technology. This paper describes a project in which the authors built a Data Warehouse containing actual Human Resource data. This paper provides data models and shows their use through OLAP software and their presentation to end-users using a web portal. The authors also discuss the progress, and some obstacles of the project, from the IT staff’s viewpoint.
The Comparability of Event-Related and General Social Support
Authors: Hlebec Valentina , Mrzel Maja , Kogovšek Tina
Published: December 2011

Some studies (e.g., Kogovšek & Hlebec, 2008, 2009) have shown that the name generator and the role relation approaches to measuring social networks are to some extent comparable, but less so the name generator and the event-related approaches (Hlebec, Mrzel, & Kogovšek, 2009). In this chapter, the composition of the social support network assessed by both the general social support approach and the event-related approach (support during 15 major life events) is analyzed and compared. In both cases, the role relation approach is used. In addition, in both approaches a more elaborate (16 possible categories ranging from partner, mother, father, friend to no one) and a more simple (6 possible categories ranging from family member, friend, neighbor to no one) response format is applied and compared. The aim of the chapter is to establish, in a controlled quasi-experiment setting, whether the different approaches (i.e. the general social support and the event-related approach) produce similar social networks regardless of the response format (long vs. short).
Akt Induces Osteoclast Differentiation through Regulating the GSK3β/NFATc1 Signaling Cascade
Authors: Moon Jang Bae , Kim Jung Ha , Kim Kabsun , Youn Bang Ung , Ko Aeran , Lee Soo Young , Kim Nacksung
Published: December 2011

SHIP is an SH2-containing inositol-5-phosphatase expressed in hematopoietic cells. It hydrolyzes the PI3K product PI(3,4,5)P3 and blunts the PI3K-initiated signaling pathway. Although the PI3K/Akt pathway has been shown to be important for osteoclastogenesis, the molecular events involved in osteoclast differentiation have not been revealed. We demonstrate that Akt induces osteoclast differentiation through regulating the GSK3β/NFATc1 signaling cascade. Inhibition of the PI3K by LY294002 reduces formation of osteoclasts and attenuates the expression of NFATc1, but not that of c-Fos. Conversely, overexpression of Akt in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) strongly induced NFATc1 expression without affecting c-Fos expression, suggesting that PI3K/Akt-mediated NFATc1 induction is independent of c-Fos during RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis. In addition, we found that overexpression of Akt enhances formation of an inactive form of GSK3β (phospho-GSK3β) and nuclear localization of NFATc1, and that overexpression of a constitutively active form of GSK3β attenuates osteoclast formation through downregulation of NFATc1. Furthermore, BMMs from SHIP knockout mice show the increased expression levels of phospho-Akt and phospho-GSK3β, as well as the enhanced osteoclastogenesis, compared with wild type. However, overexpression of a constitutively active form of GSK3β attenuates RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation from SHIP-deficient BMMs. Our data suggest that the PI3K/Akt/GSK3β/NFATc1 signaling axis plays an important role in RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis.
Eosinophils Preserve Parasitic Nematode Larvae by Regulating Local Immunity
Authors: Gebreselassie Nebiat G. , Moorhead Andrew R. , Fabre Valeria , Gagliardo Lucille F. , Lee Nancy A. , Lee James J. , Appleton Judith A.
Published: December 2011

Eosinophils play important roles in regulation of cellular responses under conditions of homeostasis or infection. Intestinal infection with the parasitic nematode, Trichinella spiralis, induces a pronounced eosinophilia that coincides with establishment of larval stages in skeletal muscle. We have shown previously that in mouse strains in which the eosinophil lineage is ablated, large numbers of T. spiralis larvae are killed by NO, implicating the eosinophil as an immune regulator. In this report, we show that parasite death in eosinophil-ablated mice correlates with reduced recruitment of IL-4+ T cells and enhanced recruitment of inducible NO synthase (iNOS)-producing neutrophils to infected muscle, as well as increased iNOS in local F4/80+CD11b+Ly6C+ macrophages. Actively growing T. spiralis larvae were susceptible to killing by NO in vitro, whereas mature larvae were highly resistant. Growth of larvae was impaired in eosinophil-ablated mice, potentially extending the period of susceptibility to the effects of NO and enhancing parasite clearance. Transfer of eosinophils into eosinophil-ablated ΔdblGATA mice restored larval growth and survival. Regulation of immunity was not dependent upon eosinophil peroxidase or major basic protein 1 and did not correlate with activity of the IDO pathway. Our results suggest that eosinophils support parasite growth and survival by promoting accumulation of Th2 cells and preventing induction of iNOS in macrophages and neutrophils. These findings begin to define the cellular interactions that occur at an extraintestinal site of nematode infection in which the eosinophil functions as a pivotal regulator of immunity.
Season of Birth and Exceptional Longevity: Comparative Study of American Centenarians, Their Siblings, and Spouses
Authors: Gavrilov Leonid A. , Gavrilova Natalia S.
Published: December 2011

This study explores the effects of month of birth (a proxy for early-life environmental influences) on the chances of survival to age 100. Months of birth for 1,574 validated centenarians born in the United States in 1880–1895 were compared to the same information obtained for centenarians' 10,885 shorter-lived siblings and 1,083 spouses. Comparison was conducted using a within-family analysis by the method of conditional logistic regression, which allows researchers to control for unobserved shared childhood or adulthood environment and common genetic background. It was found that months of birth have significant long-lasting effect on survival to age 100: siblings born in September–November have higher odds to become centenarians compared to siblings born in March. A similar month-of-birth pattern was found for centenarian spouses. These results support the idea of early-life programming of human aging and longevity.
Improved Laccase Production by Trametes pubescens MB89 in Distillery Wastewaters
Authors: Strong P. J.
Published: December 2011

Various culture parameters were optimised for laccase synthesis by Trametes pubescens MB89, including pH, carbon source, nitrogen source, lignocellulosic supplements, and reported inducers. Glucose, in conjunction with a complex nitrogen source at pH 5.0, resulted in the highest laccase yield. Adding ethanol, copper, or 2,5-xylidine prior to inoculation further improved laccase concentrations. The addition of 2,5-xylidine was further investigated with multiple additions applied at varying times. This novel application substantially improved laccase production when applied regularly from inoculation and during the growth phase, and also countered glucose repression of laccase synthesis. Single and multiple factor changes were studied in three distillery wastewaters and a wine lees. A synergistic increase in laccase synthesis was observed with the addition of glucose, copper, and 2,5-xylidine. Single addition of 2,5-xylidine proved most beneficial with distillery wastewaters, while copper addition was most beneficial when using the wine lees as a culture medium.
High Grade Leiomyosarcoma of the Testes
Authors: Bakhshi Girish D. , Wankhede Kishor R. , Tayade Mukund B. , Shenoy Sachin S. , Mundhe Shankar T. , Patel Chintan
Published: December 2011

Testicular leiomyosarcoma is a rare tumor. It may arise secondarily following exposure to radiotherapy, chronic inflammation, or usage of high dose anabolic steroids. However, in absence of risk factors, it is rarely seen. Only 15 cases of Primary Intra testicular leiomyosarcoma have been reported in world literature. We present a case of testicular tumor in an elderly male. Preoperative work up showed raised Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) levels. He underwent high orchidectomy. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry confirmed it to be a primary intra testicular leiomyosarcoma. A brief case report with review of literature is presented.
A Case of Orbital Apex Syndrome Due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection
Authors: Kusunoki Takeshi , Kase Kaori , Ikeda Katsuhisa
Published: December 2011

Orbital apex syndrome is commonly been thought to have a poor prognosis. Many cases of this syndrome have been reported to be caused by paranasal sinus mycosis. We encountered a very rare case (60-year-old woman) of sinusitis with orbital apex syndrome due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. She had received insulin and dialysis for diabtes and diabetic nephropathy, moreover anticoagulants after heart by-pass surgery. She underwent endoscopic sinus operation and was treated with antibiotics, but her loss of left vision did not improve. Recently, sinusitis cases due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa were reported to be a increasing. Therefore, we should consider the possibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa as well as mycosis as infections of the sinus, especially inpatients who are immunocompromised body.
Giant Recurrent Retroperitoneal Liposarcoma Presenting as a Recurrent Inguinal Hernia
Authors: Bhandarwar Ajay H. , Bakhshi Girish D. , Borisa Ashok D. , Shenoy Sachin S. , Kori Channabasappa G. , Vora Sameer
Published: December 2011

Retroperitoneal liposarcoma presenting as an inguinal hernia is a rare entity. We present the first case of Giant recurrent liposarcoma presenting as a recurrent inguinal hernia in a 40-year-old male. Physical examination showed an irreducible lump in the right inguinal region and a scar in the right lumbar and right inguinal region. Computed tomography (CT) scan of abdomen revealed it to be a retro peritoneal mass extending into the right inguinal region along and involving the cord structures. Wide local excision of the tumour with right orchidectomy and inguinal hernioplasty was performed. Histo-pathology confirmed it to be a liposarcoma. Patient received postoperative radio therapy. Follow up of two years has shown him to be disease free. Retroperitoneal liposarcoma can grow along cord structures into the inguinal canal and mimic an irreducible indirect inguinal hernia.
Open Re-Rupture of the Achilles Tendon after Surgical Treatment
Authors: Hanada Mitsuru , Takahashi Masaaki , Matsuyama Yukihiro
Published: December 2011

The rate of re-rupture of Achilles tendon after surgical treatment were reported to 1.7-5.6% previously. Re-rupture of Achilles tendon generally occurs subcutaneously. We experienced two rare cases of the open re-ruptures of Achilles tendon with a transverse wound perpendicular to the primary surgical incision. Re-rupture occurred 4 and 13 weeks after surgical treatment. We suggest that open re-rupture correlates more closely with skin scaring and shortening. Another factor may be adhesion between the subcutaneous scar and the suture of the paratenon and Achilles tendon with post-operative immobilization.
The Financial Impact of Smoking on Health-Related Costs: A Review of the Literature
Authors: Max Wendy
Published: December 2011

Purpose.

To summarize our knowledge of the economic impact of smoking on health-related outcomes and to discuss the quality of this evidence. The potential effect of smoking-related health promotion programs on reducing costs is discussed.

Data Sources.

Studies reviewed were cited in recently published reviews, identified through database searches of MEDLINE/HealthSTAR, PsychINFO, and ABI/Inform or obtained from reference lists of other studies.

Study Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria.

Included are studies of the health care and other costs of smoking published in English in peer-reviewed journals during the last 20 years. Studies of annual and lifetime costs are included as are studies of employer costs. Forty-nine studies were reviewed.

Data Extraction Methods.

Data extracted were total costs, medical care and other direct costs, lost productivity, and mortality costs. Underlying methodologies were described and compared.

Data Synthesis.

The annual cost of smoking is between 6 and 14% of personal health expenditures. Estimates have increased over time, reflecting better and more comprehensive methodologies. Smoking appears to result in increased lifetime costs, although some studies have found contrary results. In the workplace, smokers incur greater medical costs and more lost productivity than nonsmokers. They also impose costs on their nonsmoking coworkers.

Major Conclusions.

The overwhelming body of evidence in the literature asserts that smoking imposes costs on an annual basis, that it leads to increased medical costs over the life span, and that many of these costs are borne by employers. Although the methods for studying this issue have evolved over time and are presently quite comprehensive, future research is needed to further substantiate the findings and develop further refinements.
Shining Lights: Studies That Have Most Influenced the Understanding of Health Promotion's Financial Impact
Authors: Golaszewski Thomas
Published: December 2011

Purpose.

To examine the literature from the past 20 years and identify those studies that support the economic merit of health promotion.

Data Source.

A panel of experts was used to identify the top studies supporting the purpose of this article.

Study Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria.

Studies were chosen based on the following criteria: the study (1) examined the relationship between health risks and financial outcomes, or health promotion programs and financial outcomes; (2) provided strong and compelling financial data supporting the worth of health promotion; (3) had a high-quality methodology; (4) answered an important question or replicated important findings with superior methodology; and (5) represented U.S.-based initiatives published since 1980. After initially nominating a group of studies for consideration, panelists rated each on a scale from 1 to 3 representing their opinion of importance. Studies rating the highest were included for this discussion.

Data Extraction Methods.

Studies were analyzed by population characteristics, design, statistical tests, limitations, and results. This information was summarized for each identified article.

Major Conclusions.

A relationship between modifiable health risk factors and health care costs is supported by research. Health promotion interventions appear to provide positive financial returns, most notably for health care costs and absenteeism reduction. Private sector initiatives seem to be driving economic-based research. Overall, health promotion shows promising results for providing financial advantages for its sponsors; however, if this discipline is to show its true worth, considerable funding is needed from government or philanthropic sources to cover the substantial costs of quality research.
Vertical mixing in the lower troposphere by mountain waves over Arctic Scandinavia
Authors: Mihalikova M. , Kirkwood S.
Published: December 2011

Abstract. Measurements made by ozonesondes and by a 52 MHz wind-profiling radar during February and March 1997 are studied. The radar is located at Esrange, near Kiruna in Arctic Sweden, on the eastern flank of the Scandinavian mountains. Daily ozonesondes were launched from the same site. The radar vertical and horizontal wind measurements are used to identify times when mountain waves were present. Mean vertical gradients in ozone mixing ratio in the lower troposphere are determined in conditions with mountain waves present and when they were absent. Back-trajectories were calculated so that only air-masses with their origin to the west of the mountains were included in the final averages. The vertical gradient in ozone mixing ratio is found to be about twice as steep outside wave conditions as it is during mountain waves. This suggests a very high rate of vertical mixing, with an average eddy diffusivity of order 5000 m2 s−1. This is consistent with an earlier estimate of the occurrence rate of complete mixing by wave breaking over the mountain range.
Magnetopause displacements: the possible role of dust
Authors: Treumann R. A. , Baumjohann W.
Published: December 2011

Abstract. Large compressions of the magnetopause are proposed to occasionally result from temporary encounters of the magnetosphere with dust streams in interplanetary space. Such streams may have their origin in cometary dust tails or asteroids which cross the inner heliosphere or in meteoroids in Earth's vicinity. Dust ejected from such objects when embedding the magnetosphere for their limited transition time should cause substantial global deformations of the magnetopause/magnetosphere due to the very large dust grain mass and momentum which compensates for the low dust density when contributing to the upstream pressure variation.
Volcanic synchronisation between the EPICA Dome C and Vostok ice cores (Antarctica) 0–145 kyr BP
Authors: Parrenin F. , Petit J.-R. , Masson-Delmotte V. , Basile-Doelsch I. , Jouzel J. , Lipenkov V. , Rasmussen S. , Schwander J. , Severi M. , Udisti R. , Veres D. , Vinther B. , Wolff E.
Published: December 2011

Abstract. This study aims at refining the synchronisation between the EPICA Dome C (EDC) and Vostok ice cores in the time interval 0–145 kyr BP by using the volcanic signatures. 111 common volcanic events were identified by using continuous electrical conductivity (ECM), di-electrical profiling (DEP) and sulfate measurements while trying to minimize the distortion of the glaciological chronologies. This is an update and a continuation of previous works performed over the 0–45 kyr interval which provided 56 tie points to the ice core chronologies (Udisti et al., 2004). This synchronisation will serve for the establishment of the next synchronised Antarctic dating. A change of slope in the EDC-depth/Vostok-depth diagram is probably related to a change of accumulation regime as well as to a change of ice thickness upstream of the Vostok lake, but we did not invoke any significant temporal change of surface accumulation at EDC relative to Vostok. A significant phase difference is detected between the EDC and Vostok isotopic records during the 95–120 kyr interval, but not during Termination II. Three possible candidates for the Toba volcanic super-eruption ~73 kyr ago are suggested in the Vostok and EDC volcanic records. However the ECM, DEP and sulfate fingerprints for these three events are not significantly larger than many others in the records.
Arctic Ocean circulation and variability – advection and external forcing encounter constraints and local processes
Authors: Rudels B.
Published: December 2011

Abstract. The first hydrographic data from the Arctic Ocean, the section from the Laptev Sea to the passage between Greenland and Svalbard obtained by Nansen on the drift by Fram 1893–1896, aptly illustrate the main features of Arctic Ocean oceanography and indicate possible processes active in transforming the water masses in the Arctic Ocean. Many, perhaps most, of these processes were identified already by Nansen, who put his mark on almost all subsequent research in the Arctic Ocean. Here we shall revisit some key questions and follow how our understanding has evolved from the early 20th century to present. What questions, if any, can now be regarded as solved and which remain still open? Five different but connected topics will be discussed: (1) The low salinity surface layer and the storage and export of freshwater. (2) The vertical heat transfer from the Atlantic water to sea ice and to the atmosphere. (3) The circulation and mixing of the two Atlantic inflow branches. (4) The formation and circulation of deep and bottom waters in the Arctic Ocean. (5) The exchanges through Fram Strait. Foci will be on the potential effects of increased freshwater input and reduced sea ice export on the freshwater storage and residence time in the Arctic Ocean, on the deep waters of the Makarov Basin and on the circulation and relative importance of the two inflows, over the Barents Sea and through Fram Strait, for the distribution of heat in the intermediate layers of the Arctic Ocean.
Fallopian Tube Sperm Perfusion in Treatment of Nontubal Subfertility: Is It Crucial Step prior to ART?
Authors: Shams eldeen Hassan Maher
Published: December 2011

Objective. To evaluate the efficacy of double Fallopian tube sperm perfusion in comparison with single-sperm perfusion in patients with nontubal subfertility undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation. Study Design. Sixty-six patients undergoing standard ovarian stimulation regimen were randomized to receive either single-sperm perfusion group 1 (n = 33) or double-sperm perfusion group 2 (n = 33). The same insemination method was performed in subsequent cycles if the patient does not become pregnant in the first one. A maximum of three cycles was performed. Fallopian tube sperm perfusion was carried out with pediatric Foleys catheter, which prevents reflux of sperm suspension. Semen was prepared by a classical swim-up technique. Results. A total of 133 cycles performed 68 single FSP cycles and 65 FSP cycles. There were group, 19 clinical pregnancies (29.2% per cycle) of which 16 ongoing pregnancies (24.6% per cycle) were obtained. These differences were statistically significant. The prevalence of multiple pregnancies, abortions, and ectopic pregnancies was similar in both groups. Conclusion. The results of this study indicate that there is a significant improvement of pregnancy rates in patients with nontubal subfertility when treated with double-sperm perfusion after controlled ovarian stimulation in comparison with single-sperm perfusion. Double-sperm perfusion is simple, easy to perform, inexpensive, and convenient for the patients with nontubal subfertility before adoption of other methods of assisted reproduction.
On the Brittleness of Handwritten Digit Recognition Models
Authors: Seewald Alexander K.
Published: December 2011

Handwritten digit recognition is an important benchmark task in computer vision. Learning algorithms and feature representations which offer excellent performance for this task have been known for some time. Here, we focus on two major practical considerations: the relationship between the the amount of training data and error rate (corresponding to the effort to collect training
data to build a model with a given maximum error rate) and the transferability of models' expertise between different datasets (corresponding to the usefulness for general handwritten digit recognition). While the relationship between amount of training data and error rate is very stable and to some extent independent of the specific dataset used—only the classifier and feature representation have significant effect—it has proven to be impossible to transfer low error rates on one or two pooled datasets to similarly low error rates on another dataset. We have called this weakness brittleness, inspired by an old Artificial Intelligence term that means the same thing. This weakness may be a general weakness of trained image classification systems.
Prevalence of Abnormalities Influences Cytologists' Error Rates in Screening for Cervical Cancer
Authors: Evans Karla K , Tambouret Rosemary H , Evered Andrew , Wilbur David C , Wolfe Jeremy M
Published: December 2011

Context.—Medical screening tasks are often difficult, visual searches with low target prevalence (low rates of disease). Under laboratory conditions, when targets are rare, nonexpert searchers show decreases in false-positive results and increases in false-negative results compared with results when targets are common. This prevalence effect is not due to vigilance failures or target unfamiliarity.

Objective.—To determine whether prevalence effects could be a source of elevated false-negative errors in medical experts.

Design.—We studied 2 groups of cytologists involved in cervical cancer screening (Boston, Massachusetts, and South Wales, UK). Cytologists evaluated photomicrographs of cells at low (2% or 5%) or higher (50%) rates of abnormality prevalence. Two versions of the experiment were performed. The Boston, Massachusetts, group made decisions of normal or abnormal findings using a 4-point rating scale. Additionally, the group from South Wales localized apparent abnormalities.

Results.—In both groups, there is evidence for prevalence effects. False-negative errors were 17% (higher prevalence), rising to 30% (low prevalence) in the Boston, Massachusetts, group. The error rate was 27% (higher prevalence), rising to 42% (low prevalence) in the South Wales group. (Comparisons between the 2 groups are not meaningful because the stimulus sets were different.)

Conclusions.—These results provide the first evidence, to our knowledge, that experts are not immune to the effects of prevalence even with stimuli from their domain of expertise. Prevalence is a factor to consider in screening for disease by human observers and has significant implications for cytology-based cervical cancer screening in the post–human papillomavirus vaccine era, when prevalence rates of high-grade lesions in the population are expected to decline.
Meta-analysis of Clinical Studies of Diagnostic Tests: Developments in How the Receiver Operating Characteristic “Works”
Authors: Hurley James
Published: December 2011

Meta-analytic summaries are needed on clinical studies of diagnostic tests. Meta-analyses on clinical studies of diagnostic tests commonly use the receiver operating characteristic method, which differs conceptually and computationally from the more widely known meta-analytic methods applicable in other contexts, such as in studies of randomized controlled trials. Important conceptual differences for clinical studies of diagnostic tests versus randomized controlled trials are that the study subpopulations are not defined by random allocation and the test threshold typically varies across studies to accommodate “rule in” versus “rule out” testing strategies. The receiver operating characteristic method has evolved substantially in the past decade, and the most recent approaches use multilevel regression methods that require iterative computational solutions to estimate the influence of the study-level variables. Using current methodology, a meta-analysis on clinical studies of diagnostic tests can address questions relevant to the clinical application of a diagnostic test that cannot be answered at the level of the individual study.
Evaluation of Weight Reducing Effect of Evening Primrose Oil
Authors: Riaz Azra , Khan Rafeeq Alam , Siddiqi Afaq Ahmed , Mirza Talat
Published: December 2011

Weight reducing effect of Evening primrose oil in healthy rabbits was assessed following administration of EPO for 60 days in the doses of 90, 180 and 360 ul/Kg. Reduction in weight might be due to significant decrease in cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, blood glucose and increase in HDL-C.
Investigations of In vitro Digestibility of Proteins Bound to Food Colors
Authors: Ghufran Saeed Syed Muhammad , Sayeed Syed Asad , Ashraf Seema , Nassimunnisa Nassimunnisa , Batool Fizza , Ali Rashida , Naz Shahina , Siddiqi Rahmanullah
Published: December 2011

Colorants either synthetic or natural are commonly added to a variety of food systems to make them attractive and acceptable for the consumers. Our previous publications on Carmoisine, Allura Red, Sunset yellow and the present study showed that food colorants such as Erythrosine, Amaranth, Tartrazine, Quinoline yellow, Brilliant Blue bind with the proteins in variety of the food environments and the protein color complexes are digested by the proteolytic enzyme. The present study elaborates the active sites of the proteins involved in binding with various functional groups of food colors and on these sites modifies the tryptic digestibility of the different proteins. Colors show strong binding capacity with proteins which may block the active site for hydrolysis by the enzyme. The effect of the tryptic digestibility on color complexes of the protein such as the BSA a high molecular weight and nisin the low moleculer weight proteins are explored. The result shows the different color binding with protein have not similar effect on digestibility but in all cases digestibility decreases significantly as compared with blank.
Biomineralization: Self‐Assembly Processes
Authors: Yu Shu‐Hong , Chen Shaofeng
Published: December 2011

This article focuses on biomineralization processing involving nanoparticle self‐assembly. Biomineralization is a process of depositing inorganic or inorganic–organic hybrid materials as complex shapes or as hierarchical structures on various size scales having unique properties. Emerging nonclassical crystallization methods of self‐assembly are summarized, including oriented attachment, mesocrystal growth from amorphous precursors, and polymer particle assembly from polymer‐induced liquid precursors. Recent progress in understanding biomineralization in nature and biomimetic mineralization via nanoparticle self‐assembly directed by organic molecules is summarized. Crystallization in organisms commonly involves biopolymer‐induced nucleation and growth, self‐assembly of nanobuilding blocks, and organization of amorphous precursors. A better understanding of biomineralization in organisms and self‐assembly process, in general, will lead to the rational design and synthesis of functional materials having well‐defined hierarchical structures, controlled length scales, and desired properties under environment‐friendly conditions.
Medicinal Inorganic Chemistry: Ligand Design Objectives and Principles
Authors: Thompson Katherine H.
Published: December 2011

Metal‐based pharmaceutical agents are composed of one or more metal ions and at least one ligand. Additional molecular substituents may include targeting moieties, linking groups, antioxidants, or pendant carbohydrates, or some combination of these. There are two main applications of metal‐based pharmaceutical agents: diagnostic and therapeutic. Ligand requirements for the two streams of development differ in some important ways, but are still based on the same basic principles for molecular design, including consideration of thermodynamic and hydrolytic stability, pharmacokinetics, molecular weight and charge, lipophilicity and hydrophilicity, aqueous solubility, functional groups, and ligand nontoxicity (sometimes achieved by using naturally occurring binding groups). Examples of the principles that are discussed in this article include Gd(III)‐based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents, Cu(II)‐clotrimazole, proposed as an antiparasitic agent,67Ga‐citrate for tumor imaging, and99 mTc(I)‐sestamibi for cardiac imaging.
Hemophore
Has
A
Authors: Izadi‐Pruneyre Nadia , Wolff Nicolas , Delepierre Muriel , Lecroisey Anne
Published: December 2011

To satisfy their iron needs, several gram‐negative bacteria use a heme uptake system that relies on the secretion in the extracellular medium of heme‐binding proteins called
HasA hemophores
. These proteins scavenge heme from the host, either free or hemoprotein‐bound, and shuttle it to a specific outer membrane transporter, HasR, whereby it is internalized by a TonB‐dependent process and then used as an iron source. HasA hemophores form a family of highly conserved 19–20 kDa proteins without either sequential or structural similarities to other known proteins.

The HasA hemophore from

Serratia marcescens

, the most deeply studied, is described here with a special focus on its heme binding site and its unusual pair of axial ligands, a histidine and a tyrosine. The spectroscopic properties and the structures of the heme loaded and unloaded hemophore, free or complexed to the HasR transporter are presented. The mechanisms of heme capture by the hemophore and heme transfer to HasR are discussed.
Electrospinning and Imaging
Authors: Merritt Sonia R. , Exner Agata A. , Lee Zhenghong , von Recum Horst A.
Published: December 2011

Polymer processing via electrospinning is a cost effective and scalable method for preparing nanofibers with industrial, electrical, and biomedical applications, particularly tissue engineering and drug delivery. Characterization methods for these fibers include microscopy techniques for vitro surface morphology information, spectroscopy methods to determine in vitro chemical composition, and medical imaging tools for in vivo assessment of morphology and efficacy of implanted material. The focus of this paper is be on recent applications for electrospun nanofibers, in vitro characterization methods, and medical imaging modalities that can be used for in vivo assessment of the fibers, as well as insights in how to adapt existing techniques toward the characterization of electrospun materials.
Nanokristalle mit wohldefinierten Kristallflächen für die Katalyse
Authors: Zhou Kebin , Li Yadong
Published: December 2011

Mithilfe von Bottom‐Up‐Verfahren können die Zusammensetzung, Größe und Form jedes beliebigen Nanokristalls gleichmäßig gesteuert werden. Die Erforschung formkontrollierter Nanokristalle hat gezeigt, dass die katalytischen Eigenschaften dieser Materialien wegen ihrer wohldefinierten Kristallflächen nicht nur von der Größe, sondern auch von der Form der Nanokristalle bestimmt werden. Diese Erkenntnis ist für die moderne Heterogenkatalyseforschung von großer Bedeutung: Erstens könnte damit eine rationale Synthese von Katalysatoren ermöglicht werden, da sich die gewünschte katalytische Aktivität und Selektivität mithilfe einer einfachen Regulierung der Größe (d. h. der exponierten Kristallflächen) des Nanokristalls einstellen lassen. Zweitens sind formkontrollierte Nanokristalle einfachere Systeme als herkömmliche, komplexe Festkörper und könnten daher als neuartige Modellkatalysatoren die Lücke zwischen Modelloberflächen und realen Katalysatoren schließen.
Functional analyses of RET mutations in Chinese hirschsprung disease patients
Authors: Leon Thomas Y.Y. , So Man‐Ting , Lui Vincent C.H. , Hofstra Robert M.W. , Tam Paul K.H. , Ngan Elly S.W. , Garcia‐Barceló Maria‐Mercè
Published: December 2011

BACKGROUND

Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a congenital disease characterized by the absence of ganglion cells in various length of distal digestive tract. The rearranged during transfection gene (RET) is considered the major gene in HSCR. Although an increasing number of HSCR‐associated RET coding sequence (CDS) mutations have been identified in recent years, not many have been investigated for functional consequence on the RET protein.

METHODS and RESULTS

We examined the functional implications of the de novo RET‐CDS mutations V145G, Y483X, V636fsX1, and F961L that we first identified in sporadic Chinese patients with HSCR. The V145G disrupted RET glycosylation and F961L RET phosphorylation. Presumably, the truncation mutations would affect the translocation or the anchoring of the RET protein onto the cellular membrane.

CONCLUSION

The study of RET‐CDS mutations that appear de novo is essential not only for understanding the mechanistic of the disease but also for penetrance and recurrence risk estimations, being the ultimate goal for the improvement in disease management and counseling. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
ChemInform Abstract: Oxygen Excess in the “114” Cobaltite Hexagonal Structure: The Ferrimagnet CaBaCo4O7.50.
Authors: Pralong V. , Caignaert V. , Sarkar T. , Lebedev O. I. , Duffort V. , Raveau B.
Published: December 2011

The title compound is obtained by oxidation of CaBaCo4O7 either electrochemically in alkaline medium or by reaction with an aqueous solution of NaClO.
ChemInform Abstract: Host‐Sensitized Emission of LiInW2O8 Wolframites: From Red‐Eu3+ to White‐Dy3+ Phosphors.
Authors: Naidu S. Asiri , Boudin S. , Varadaraju U. V. , Raveau B.
Published: December 2011

Under UV excitation, the LiInW2O8:Eu3+ phosphor exhibits an intense red emission and the LiInW2O8:Dy3+ and LiInW2O8:Dy3+/Eu3+ phosphors show white emission.
ChemInform Abstract: HP‐KB3O5 Highlights the Structural Diversity of Borates: Corner‐Sharing BO3/BO4 Groups in Combination with Edge‐Sharing BO4 Tetrahedra.
Authors: Neumair Stephanie C. , Vanicek Stefan , Kaindl Reinhard , Toebbens Daniel M. , Martineau Charlotte , Taulelle Francis , Senker Juergen , Huppertz Hubert
Published: December 2011

The new high pressure compound KB3O5 is prepared from a stoichiometric mixture of K2CO3 and H3BO3 [1.) 900 °C, 12 h; 2.) 3 GPa, 600 °C, 10 min].
ChemInform Abstract: Synthesis, Crystal Structures and Photoluminescence Properties of New Oxyborates, Mg5NbO3(BO3)3 and Mg5TaO3(BO3)3, with Novel Warwickite‐Type Superstructures.
Authors: Kawano Tetsuya , Yamane Hisanori
Published: December 2011

The new title compounds are synthesized from mixtures of MgO, Nb2O5 or Ta2O5, and H3BO3 (1200 °C, 24 h).
ChemInform Abstract: Structural and Magnetic Characterization of BiFexMn2‐xO5 Oxides (x = 0.5, 1.0).
Authors: Retuerto M. , Martinez‐Lope M. J. , Krezhov K. , Fernandez‐Diaz M. T. , Alonso J. A.
Published: December 2011

The new title compounds are prepared by the citrate route from stoichiometric amounts of Bi2O3, FeC2O4, and MnCO3 dissolved in citric acid (for x = 1.0: air, 800 °C, 15 h; for x = 0.5: 100 bar O2, 825 °C, 10 h).