bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Commentary: Modeling the Dynamics of Meaning Construction: Appropriation of the Home Environment
Authors: Lyra Maria C.D.P.
Published: May 2007

In my commentary regarding Giorgi, Padiglione and Pontecorvo's article, I elaborate on building an initial model for the dynamics of meaning construction of the appropriation process in the home environment. Based on principles from dynamic systems and dialogical perspectives, particularly dialogism, as well as an idiographic science framework, I undertake a re-analysis of the data presented by the authors, with the aim of distinguishing possible general aspects of these dynamics and outlining the principles that guided both this re-analysis and the modeling proposed. The re-analysis suggests that the intensity of the dynamic movement of negotiation is greater at moments when we face discernible, close, triggering partners. More intense dynamics lead to a greater involvement of self-affective dimensions as well as a highlighting and clarifying of the oppositions involved in the mechanism of dialogical tensions. However, these features seem to become less pronounced as the intensity of the dynamics rises even more strongly.
The place of culture in sociology
Authors: de la Fuente Eduardo
Published: May 2007

Despite intense debate regarding the `cultural turn', there has been very little framing of these intellectual conflicts in terms of the sociology of ideas or knowledge. Following Gouldner, the article proposes that sociology has oscillated between two major styles of thought: Classicism and Romanticism. The latter stimulated an interest in culture amongst social scientists and also led to an emphasis on the cultural properties of social life. Yet Romanticism has its equal in the opposing tendency to see the sociological study of culture as no different from other forms of social scientific explanation (Classicism). The notion of `style wars' is used to frame debates about the `cultural turn' and its consequences for sociology. Divisions within the sociology of art — a subfield within the sociology of culture — are used to demonstrate that one major fault line in these debates is the notion of aesthetics. It is suggested that theoretical and methodological debates about culture, and its role in sociology, require some degree of sociological reflexivity about the predominant styles of thought present in the discipline.
Executive management and IT innovation in health: identifying the barriers to adoption
Authors: England Ian , Stewart Don
Published: May 2007

This study aims to understand IT investment decisions from the perspective of senior health system executives. A two-stage study was used to investigate this highly influential, very specialized and small population of interest. The first stage involved qualitative interviews with top health executives and analysed their opinions and beliefs using an innovation diffusion theory framework. The second stage involved quantitative surveys of senior health executives to gain an understanding of their opinions regarding the organizational and technological drivers (the independent variables) and the level of IT adoption (the dependent variable). It was found that the majority of drivers identified as being significant to organizational and technological innovation are degraded in respect to IT and health. It was concluded that health executives hold a range of views that potentially inhibit the increased adoption of IT in health. In particular, beliefs about the technology itself have been identified as the most influential deterrents.
The influence of electronic medical record usage on nonverbal communication in the medical interview
Authors: McGrath John M. , Arar Nedal H. , Pugh Jacqueline A.
Published: May 2007

This study examined nonverbal communication in relation to electronic medical record (EMR) use during the medical interview. Six physicians were videotaped during their consultations with 50 different patients at a single setting Veterans Administration Hospital. Three different office spatial designs were identified and named `open,' `closed' and `blocked'. The `open' arrangement put physicians in a position to establish better eye contact and physical orientation than did the alternative `closed' and `blocked' office configurations. Physicians who accessed the EMR and took `breakpoints' (short periods of no computer use and sustained eye contact with patients) used more nonverbal cues than physicians who tended to talk with their patients while continuously working on the computer. Long pauses in conversational turn taking associated with EMR use may have positively influenced doctor—patient communication. High EMR use interviews were associated with patients asking more questions than they did in low EMR use interviews. Implications for medical education and future research are discussed.
Barriers to the adoption of electronic health records: using concept mapping to develop a comprehensive empirical model
Authors: Vishwanath Arun , Scamurra Susan D.
Published: May 2007

The study attempts to unify prior research and develop a comprehensive, empirically based conceptual model of the barriers to EHR adoption among community physicians. The model uses concept mapping, which taps the shared expertise of a group and provides reliable estimates with relatively small sample sizes. The methodology includes brainstorming of barrier statements and sorting and rating of issue statements. The model illuminates the larger structure of barriers as well as the finer details of constituent issues. Core issues are standardization and interoperability; also important are technical issues and the cost—benefit of adopting EHRs. However, psychosocial issues, the main focus of diffusion research, seem relatively peripheral. We believe the development of this model is an important first step in creating effective and measurable interventions that enhance the adoption of EHRs in healthcare.
The impact of electronic patient records on workflow in general practice
Authors: Cauldwell Matthew R. , Beattie Caroline E. , Cox Benita M. , Denby William J. , Ede-Golightly Jessica A. , Linton Fiona L.
Published: May 2007

The Patient Access to Electronic Healthcare Records System (PAERS) allows patients to register their arrival at a GP's surgery and to view their healthcare record electronically whilst in the waiting area. The research reported in this short article was carried out to identify potential changes in clinical and administrative workflow resulting from the introduction of the system. The study considers workflow pre and post the implementation of PAERS. It also makes comparisons between two UK London-based surgeries, one with PAERS (Wells Park Practice) and one without such a system (South Lewisham Group Practice). The impact of PAERS on workflow and the potential benefits for GPs, administrative staff and patients are highlighted.
Grassroots Advocacy Campaign for HIV/AIDS Prevention: Lessons From the Field
Authors: Moseley Caroline , Melton Larry Doug , Francisco Vincent T.
Published: May 2007

There are many guides written for developing strategies and tactics related to advocacy, and many pages of text are devoted to developing advocacy plans. Less well described is the context within which grassroots advocacy campaigns can be successful. This article describes a successful campaign to establish a needle-exchange program (NEP) in Guilford County, North Carolina. The authors briefly describe NEPs in general, the history of NEPs in North Carolina, the mission of the North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition (NCHRC), and why this approach was considered particularly important for Guilford County. Then the context of the successful adoption of an NEP in Guilford County and the progress to make it legal will be examined, including describing the specific advocacy activities facilitated by members of NCHRC. The article concludes with a discussion of lessons learned that may be applicable to other grassroots advocacy initiatives.
p16INK4A tumor suppressor gene expression and CD3ϵ deficiency but not pre-TCR deficiency inhibit TAL1-linked T-lineage leukemogenesis
Authors: Fasseu Magali , Aplan Peter D. , Chopin Martine , Boissel Nicolas , Bories Jean-Christophe , Soulier Jean , von Boehmer Harald , Sigaux François , Regnault Armelle
Published: May 2007

Inactivation of the CDKN2 genes that encode the p16INK4A and p14ARF proteins occurs in the majority of human T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias (T-ALLs). Ectopic expression of TAL1 and LMO1 genes is linked to the development of T-ALL in humans. In TAL1xLMO1 mice, leukemia develops in 100% of mice at 5 months. To identify the molecular events crucial to leukemic transformation, we produced several mouse models. We report here that expression of P16INK4A in developing TAL1xLMO1 thymocytes blocks leukemogenesis in the majority of the mice, and the leukemias that eventually develop show P16INK4A loss of expression. Events related to the T-cell receptor β selection process are thought to be important for leukemic transformation. We show here that the absence of the pTα chain only slightly delays the appearance of TAL1xLMO1-induced T-ALL, which indicates a minor role of the pTα chain. We also show that the CD3ϵ-mediated signal transduction pathway is essential for this transformation process, since the TAL1xLMO1xCD3ϵ-deficient mice do not develop T-ALL for up to 1 year.
Hot spots of retroviral integration in human CD34+ hematopoietic cells
Authors: Cattoglio Claudia , Facchini Giulia , Sartori Daniela , Antonelli Antonella , Miccio Annarita , Cassani Barbara , Schmidt Manfred , von Kalle Christof , Howe Steve , Thrasher Adrian J. , Aiuti Alessandro , Ferrari Giuliana , Recchia Alessandra , Mavilio Fulvio
Published: May 2007

Insertional oncogenesis is a possible consequence of the integration of gamma-retroviral (RV) or lentiviral (LV) vectors into the human genome. RV common insertion sites (CISs) have been identified in hematopoietic malignancies and in the nonmalignant progeny of transduced hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSCs), possibly as a consequence of clonal selection in vivo. We have mapped a large number of RV and LV integrations in human CD34+ HSCs, transduced in vitro and analyzed without selection. Recurrent insertion sites (hot spots) account for more than 21% of the RV integration events, while they are significantly less frequent in the case of LV vectors. RV but not LV hot spots are highly enriched in proto-oncogenes, cancer-associated CISs, and growth-controlling genes, indicating that at least part of the biases observed in the HSC progeny in vivo are characteristics of RV integration, already present in nontransplanted cells. Genes involved in hematopoietic and immune system development are targeted at high frequency and enriched in hot spots, suggesting that the CD34+ gene expression program is instrumental in directing RV integration. The lower propensity of LV vectors for integrating in potentially dangerous regions of the human genome may be a factor determining a better safety profile for gene therapy applications.
Adenoviral vectors persist in vivo and maintain activated CD8+ T cells: implications for their use as vaccines
Authors: Tatsis Nia , Fitzgerald Julie C. , Reyes-Sandoval Arturo , Harris-McCoy Kimberly C. , Hensley Scott E. , Zhou Dongming , Lin Shih-Wen , Bian Ang , Xiang Zhi Quan , Iparraguirre Amaya , Lopez-Camacho Cesar , Wherry E. John , Ertl Hildegund C. J.
Published: May 2007

CD8+ T cell-numbers rapidly expand and then contract after exposure to their cognate antigen. Here we show that the sustained frequencies of transgene product-specific CD8+ T cells elicited by replication-defective adenovirus vectors are linked to persistence of low levels of transcriptionally active adenovirus vector genomes at the site of inoculation, in liver, and lymphatic tissues. Continuously produced small amounts of antigen maintain fully active effector CD8+ T cells, while also allowing for their differentiation into central memory cells. The long-term persistence of adenoviral vectors may be highly advantageous for their use as vaccines against pathogens for which T-cell–mediated protection requires both fully activated T cells for immediate control of virus-infected cells and central memory CD8+ T cells that, because of their higher proliferative capacity, may be suited best to eliminate cells infected by pathogens that escaped the initial wave of effector T cells.
Comparative analysis of differentially expressed genes in normal and white spot syndrome virus infected Penaeus monodon
Authors: Leu Jiann-Horng , Chang Chih-Chin , Wu Jin-Lu , Hsu Chun-Wei , Hirono Ikuo , Aoki Takashi , Juan Hsueh-Fen , Lo Chu-Fang , Kou Guang-Hsiung , Huang Hsuan-Cheng
Published: May 2007

Background

White spot syndrome (WSS) is a viral disease that affects most of the commercially important shrimps and causes serious economic losses to the shrimp farming industry worldwide. However, little information is available in terms of the molecular mechanisms of the host-virus interaction. In this study, we used an expressed sequence tag (EST) approach to observe global gene expression changes in white spot syndrome virus (WSSV)-infected postlarvae of Penaeus monodon.

Results

Sequencing of the complementary DNA clones of two libraries constructed from normal and WSSV-infected postlarvae produced a total of 15,981 high-quality ESTs. Of these ESTs, 46% were successfully matched against annotated genes in National Center of Biotechnology Information (NCBI) non-redundant (nr) database and 44% were functionally classified using the Gene Ontology (GO) scheme. Comparative EST analyses suggested that, in postlarval shrimp, WSSV infection strongly modulates the gene expression patterns in several organs or tissues, including the hepatopancreas, muscle, eyestalk and cuticle. Our data suggest that several basic cellular metabolic processes are likely to be affected, including oxidative phosphorylation, protein synthesis, the glycolytic pathway, and calcium ion balance. A group of immune-related chitin-binding protein genes is also likely to be strongly up regulated after WSSV infection. A database containing all the sequence data and analysis results is accessible at http://xbio.lifescience.ntu.edu.tw/pm/.

Conclusion

This study suggests that WSSV infection modulates expression of various kinds of genes. The predicted gene expression pattern changes not only reflect the possible responses of shrimp to the virus infection but also suggest how WSSV subverts cellular functions for virus multiplication. In addition, the ESTs reported in this study provide a rich source for identification of novel genes in shrimp.
Global gene expression analysis of the mouse colonic mucosa treated with azoxymethane and dextran sodium sulfate
Authors: Suzuki Rikako , Miyamoto Shingo , Yasui Yumiko , Sugie Shigeyuki , Tanaka Takuji
Published: May 2007

Background

Chronic inflammation is well known to be a risk factor for colon cancer. Previously we established a novel mouse model of inflammation-related colon carcinogenesis, which is useful to examine the involvement of inflammation in colon carcinogenesis. To shed light on the alterations in global gene expression in the background of inflammation-related colon cancer and gain further insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying inflammation-related colon carcinogenesis, we conducted a comprehensive DNA microarray analysis using our model.

Methods

Male ICR mice were given a single ip injection of azoxymethane (AOM, 10 mg/kg body weight), followed by the addition of 2% (w/v) dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) to their drinking water for 7 days, starting 1 week after the AOM injection. We performed DNA microarray analysis (Affymetrix GeneChip) on non-tumorous mucosa obtained from mice that received AOM/DSS, AOM alone, and DSS alone, and untreated mice at wks 5 and 10.

Results

Markedly up-regulated genes in the colonic mucosa given AOM/DSS at wk 5 or 10 included Wnt inhibitory factor 1 (Wif1, 48.5-fold increase at wk 5 and 5.7-fold increase at wk 10) and plasminogen activator, tissue (Plat, 48.5-fold increase at wk 5), myelocytomatosis oncogene (Myc, 3.0-fold increase at wk 5), and phospholipase A2, group IIA (platelets, synovial fluid) (Plscr2, 8.0-fold increase at wk 10). The notable down-regulated genes in the colonic mucosa of mice treated with AOM/DSS were the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor binding protein (Pparbp, 0.06-fold decrease at wk 10) and the transforming growth factor, beta 3 (Tgfb3, 0.14-fold decrease at wk 10). The inflammation-related gene, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (Pparγ 0.38-fold decrease at wk 5), was also down-regulated in the colonic mucosa of mice that received AOM/DSS.

Conclusion

This is the first report describing global gene expression analysis of an AOM/DSS-induced mouse colon carcinogenesis model, and our findings provide new insights into the mechanisms of inflammation-related colon carcinogenesis and the establishment of novel therapies and preventative strategies against carcinogenesis.
Do longer consultations improve the management of psychological problems in general practice? A systematic literature review
Authors: Hutton Catherine , Gunn Jane
Published: May 2007

Background

Psychological problems present a huge burden of illness in our community and GPs are the main providers of care. There is evidence that longer consultations in general practice are associated with improved quality of care; but this needs to be balanced against the fact that doctor time is a limited resource and longer consultations may lead to reduced access to health care.

The aim of this research was to conduct a systematic literature review to determine whether management of psychological problems in general practice is associated with an increased consultation length and to explore whether longer consultations are associated with better health outcomes for patients with psychological problems.

Methods

A search was conducted on Medline (Ovid) databases up to7 June 2006. The following search terms, were used:

general practice or primary health care (free text) or family practice (MeSH)

AND consultation length or duration (free text) or time factors (MeSH)

AND depression or psychological problems or depressed (free text).

A similar search was done in Web of Science, Pubmed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library and no other papers were found.

Studies were included if they contained data comparing consultation length and management or detection of psychological problems in a general practice or primary health care setting. The studies were read and categories developed to enable systematic data extraction and synthesis.

Results

29 papers met the inclusion criteria. Consultations with a recorded diagnosis of a psychological problem were reported to be longer than those with no recorded psychological diagnosis. It is not clear if this is related to the extra time or the consultation style. GPs reported that time pressure is a major barrier to treating depression. There was some evidence that increased consultation length is associated with more accurate diagnosis of psychological problems.

Conclusion

Further research is needed to elucidate the factors in longer consultations that are associated with greater detection of psychological problems, and to determine the association between the detection of psychological problems and the attitude, gender, age or training of the GP and the age, gender and socioeconomic status of the patient. These are important considerations if general practice is to deal more effectively with people with psychological problems.
Biomechanical and system analysis of the human femoral bone: correlation and anatomical approach
Authors: Samaha Ali A , Ivanov Alexander V , Haddad John J , Kolesnik Alexander I , Baydoun Safaa , Yashina Irena N , Samaha Rana A , Ivanov Dimetry A
Published: May 2007

Background

The human femur is the subsystem of the locomotor apparatus and has got four levels of its organization. This phenomenon is the result of the evolution of the locomotor apparatus, encompassing both constitutional and individual variability. The main aim of this investigation was to study the organization of the human femur as a system of collaborating anatomical structures and, on the basis of system analysis, to define the less stable parameters, whose reorganization can cause the exchange of the system's status.

Methods

Twenty-five (25) linear and non-linear (angle) parameters were, therefore, investigated by specially designed tool and caliper on a material of 166 macerated human femurs of adult individuals of both sexes. The absolute values were transformed into the relative one (1.0) by the meaning of the transverse diameter of the femoral diaphysis, and handled with current methods of descriptive statistical analysis. By the value of variance (q2), the results were distributed into four major classes.

Results

The belonging of each group to the class was subsequently estimated in grades. According to this method, the excerpt was distributed into four classes as well depending on the total grades. The Pearson's coefficient in each class was calculated between the relative values of the investigated parameters. Two generations of system parameters were subsequently defined and analyzed.

Conclusion

This study has derived that the system meaning of each level of the femoral organization is related to the 'shaping effect' of femoral units' functions. Inasmuch as the angular parameters were most instable at this system, they were defined as morphological substrates of the individual variety.
Simvastatin inhibits IFN-γ-induced CD40 gene expression by suppressing STAT-1α
Authors: Lee Sun Jung , Qin Hongwei , Benveniste Etty N
Published: May 2007

CD40, a member of the TNF receptor superfamily, is critical for productive immune responses. Macrophages constitutively express CD40 at low levels, which are enhanced by IFN-γ. IFN-γ-induced CD40 expression involves activation of STAT-1α as well as NF-κB activation through an autocrine response to IFN-γ-induced TNF-α production. Statins are 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl (HMG)-CoA reductase inhibitors, which exert anti-inflammatory effects independent of their cholesterol-lowering actions. Herein, we describe that simvastatin (SS) inhibits IFN-γ-induced CD40 expression via the suppression of STAT-1α expression. This results in diminished STAT-1α recruitment to the CD40 promoter upon IFN-γ treatment, in addition to reduced RNA Polymerase II recruitment and diminished levels of H3 and H4 histone acetylation. SS-mediated inhibition of STAT-1α occurs through suppression of constitutive STAT-1α mRNA and protein expression. The inhibitory effect of SS on CD40 and STAT-1α is dependent on HMG-CoA reductase activity, as the addition of mevalonate reverses the inhibitory effect. In addition, CD40 and/or STAT-1α expression is inhibited by GGTI-298 or Clostridium difficile Toxin A, a specific inhibitor of Rho family protein prenylation, indicating the involvement of small GTP-binding proteins in this process. Collectively, these data indicate that SS inhibits IFN-γ-induced CD40 expression by suppression of STAT-1α, and altering transcriptional events at the CD40 promoter.
Local Actions of Atrial Natriuretic Peptide Counteract Angiotensin II Stimulated Cardiac Remodeling
Authors: Kilić Ana , Bubikat Alexander , Gaßner Birgit , Baba Hideo A. , Kuhn Michaela
Published: May 2007

The cardiac hormones atrial and brain natriuretic peptides (NPs) counteract the systemic, hypertensive, and hypervolemic actions of angiotensin II (Ang II) via their guanylyl cyclase-A (GC-A) receptor. In the present study, we took advantage of genetically modified mice with conditional, cardiomyocyte (CM)-restricted disruption of GC-A (CM GC-A knockout mice) to study whether NPs can moderate not only the endocrine but also the cardiac actions of Ang II in vivo. Fluorometric measurements of [Ca2+]i transients in isolated, electrically paced adult CMs showed that atrial NP inhibits the stimulatory effects of Ang II on free cytosolic Ca2+ transients via GC-A. Remarkably, GC-A-deficient CMs exhibited greatly enhanced [Ca2+]i responses to Ang II, which was partly related to increased activation of the Na+/H+-exchanger NHE-1. Chronic administration of Ang II to control and CM GC-A knockout mice (300 ng/kg body weight per minute via osmotic minipumps during 2 wk) provoked significant cardiac hypertrophy, which was markedly exacerbated in the later genotype. This was concomitant to increased cardiac expression of NHE-1 and enhanced activation of the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent prohypertrophic signal transducers Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II and calcineurin. On the basis of these results, we conclude that NPs exert direct local, GC-A-mediated myocardial effects to antagonize the [Ca2+]i-dependent hypertrophic growth response to Ang II.
Differential Regulation of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 through Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Transactivation in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells
Authors: Lauzier Marie-Claude , Pagé Elisabeth L. , Michaud Maude D. , Richard Darren E.
Published: May 2007

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is a decisive element for the transcriptional regulation of many genes expressed in hypoxic conditions. In vascular smooth muscle cells, the vasoactive hormone angiotensin II (Ang II) is a very potent inducer and activator of HIF-1. As opposed to hypoxia, which induces HIF-1α by protein stabilization, Ang II induced HIF-1α through transcriptional and translational mechanisms. Interestingly, a number of intracellular signaling events triggered by Ang II are mediated by the transactivation of receptor tyrosine kinases. The major receptor tyrosine kinases shown to be transactivated by Ang II in vascular smooth muscle cells are the epidermal growth factor receptor and the IGF-I receptor. In this study, we demonstrate that the transactivation of both these receptor tyrosine kinases is involved in HIF-1 complex activation by Ang II. More interestingly, this modulation of HIF-1 is at different degrees and through different pathways. Our results show that transactivation of IGF-I receptor is essential for HIF-1α protein translation through phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/p70S6 kinase pathway activation, and epidermal growth factor receptor transactivation is implicated in HIF-1 complex activation through the stimulation of the p42/p44 MAPK pathway. Our results therefore show that Ang II-induced receptor tyrosine kinase transactivation is essential in both the induction and activation of HIF-1. These findings identify novel and intricate signaling mechanisms involved in HIF-1 complex activation.
The generation of adipocytes by the neural crest
Authors: Billon Nathalie , Iannarelli Palma , Monteiro Miguel Caetano , Glavieux-Pardanaud Corinne , Richardson William D. , Kessaris Nicoletta , Dani Christian , Dupin Elisabeth
Published: May 2007

Fat cells (adipocytes) develop from adipocyte precursor cells(preadipocytes) that themselves derive from mesenchymal progenitors. Although the events controlling preadipocyte differentiation into mature adipocytes have been largely explored, the mechanisms that direct mesenchymal progenitors down the adipocyte pathway remain unknown. Similarly, although adipocytes are generally thought to derive from mesoderm, key information is lacking regarding the origin and the development of the adipose tissue during embryogenesis. The aim of this study was to gain insight into the ontogeny of fat cells, both in mouse embryonic stem (mES) cell-derived cultures and during normal development. We first used genetically engineered mES cells to produce and select ES cell-derived neuroepithelial progenitors and showed that neuroectoderm, rather than mesoderm, may be a source of adipocytes in mES cell-derived cultures. We then used primary and secondary cultures of developing quail neural crest (NC) cells to demonstrate that NC cells are able, upon stimulation with defined factors, to differentiate into adipocytes,thus providing a powerful system to study the earliest stages of adipocyte differentiation. Finally, we mapped NC derivatives in vivo using Cre-mediated recombination in transgenic mice and demonstrated that a subset of adipocytes originates from the NC during normal development.
Progressive activation of Delta-Notch signaling from around the blastopore is required to set up a functional caudal lobe in the spiderAchaearanea tepidariorum
Authors: Oda Hiroki , Nishimura Osamu , Hirao Yukako , Tarui Hiroshi , Agata Kiyokazu , Akiyama-Oda Yasuko
Published: May 2007

In the development of most arthropods, the caudal region of the elongating germ band (the growth zone) sequentially produces new segments. Previous work with the spider Cupiennius salei suggested involvement of Delta-Notch signaling in segmentation. Here, we report that, in the spider Achaearanea tepidariorum, the same signaling pathway exerts a different function in the presumptive caudal region before initiation of segmentation. In the developing spider embryo, the growth zone becomes morphologically apparent as a caudal lobe around the closed blastopore. We found that, preceding caudal lobe formation, transcripts of a Delta homolog, At-Delta,are expressed in evenly spaced cells in a small area covering the closing blastopore and then in a progressively wider area of the germ disc epithelium. Cells with high At-Delta expression are likely to be prospective mesoderm cells, which later express a twist homolog, At-twist, and individually internalize. Cells remaining at the surface begin to express a caudal homolog, At-caudal, to differentiate as caudal ectoderm. Knockdown of At-Delta by parental RNA interference results in overproduction of At-twist-expressing mesoderm cells at the expense of At-caudal-expressing ectoderm cells. This condition gives rise to a disorganized caudal region that fails to pattern the opisthosoma. In addition, knockdown of Notch and Suppressor of Hairless homologs produces similar phenotypes. We suggest that, in the spider, progressive activation of Delta-Notch signaling from around the blastopore leads to stochastic cell fate decisions between mesoderm and caudal ectoderm through a process of lateral inhibition to set up a functional caudal lobe.
Virtual NO sensor for spark-ignition engines
Authors: Brand D , Onder C , Guzzella L
Published: May 2007

A control-oriented, physics-based model for the estimation of the NO emissions of spark-ignition engines has been developed.

The model consists of three submodels for the estimation of the in-cylinder pressure, of the burned gas temperature, and of the formation of NO. All submodels are based on physics first principles and chemical reactions. However, they are simplified in order to allow for an efficient evaluation in a control-oriented environment. The submodel of the pressure estimation incorporates a combustion model whose parameters are continuously adapted using the feedback of crankshaft angular velocity measurements.

Measurement data have been acquired from a V6 3.2 1 engine at a set of reference operating points, each of them serving as a support point of the model parameters. Measurement data were obtained from variations of the operating conditions and compared with the corresponding simulations.

The simulation results for the in-cylinder pressure and the engine-out NO emissions agree well with measured values, while the evaluation time of the model was shorter than the duration of one engine cycle. The calibration effort was found to be small, while the model demonstrated its capability to extrapolate engine behaviour beyond the calibration data set.
Effect of split injection on stratified charge formation of direct injection spark ignition engines
Authors: Li T , Nishida K , Zhang Y , Hiroyasu H
Published: May 2007

The effects of split injection with various dwells and mass ratios on the spray and mixture characteristics in an ambient environment similar to the late stage of compression stroke in direct injection spark ignition (DISI) engines were investigated by using the laser absorption scattering (LAS) technique. Through splitting the fuel injection process with appropriate dwells and mass ratios, some benefits for the stratified charge formation of DISI engines can be achieved. First, the phenomenon of high-density liquid phase fuel piling up at the leading edge of the spray can be circumvented and the subsequent reduction in the spray penetration length for both liquid and vapour phases is seen. Second, the radial width of the ‘combustible mixture’ (equivalence ratio of vapour φv in a range of 0.7 ≤ φv ≤ 1.3) is significantly extended. Finally, the quantity of ‘over lean’ (φv < 0.7) mixture in the spray is significantly reduced. These results are believed to contribute to the stratified lean operation and the reduction in smoke and unburned hydrocarbons (UBHC) emissions of DISI engines. Further, the mechanism behind these effects of the split injection was clarified by analysing the interactions between the two pulsed sprays and the spray-induced ambient air motion using the LIF-PIV technique.
Specific trans-acting proteins interact with auxiliary RNA polyadenylation elements in the COX-2 3′-UTR
Authors: Hall-Pogar Tyra , Liang Songchun , Hague Lisa K. , Lutz Carol S.
Published: May 2007

Two cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, COX-1 and COX-2, are present in human cells. While COX-1 is constitutively expressed, COX-2 is inducible and up-regulated in response to many signals. Since increased transcriptional activity accounts for only part of COX-2 up-regulation, we chose to explore other RNA processing mechanisms in the regulation of this gene. Previously, we showed that COX-2 is regulated by alternative polyadenylation, and that the COX-2 proximal polyadenylation signal contains auxiliary upstream sequence elements (USEs) that are very important in efficient polyadenylation. To explore trans-acting protein factors interacting with these cis-acting RNA elements, we performed pull-down assays with HeLa nuclear extract and biotinylated RNA oligonucleotides representing COX-2 USEs. We identified PSF, p54nrb, PTB, and U1A as proteins specifically bound to the COX-2 USEs. We further explored their participation in polyadenylation using MS2 phage coat protein-MS2 RNA binding site tethering assays, and found that tethering any of these four proteins to the COX-2 USE mutant RNA can compensate for these cis-acting elements. Finally, we suggest that these proteins (p54nrb, PTB, PSF, and U1A) may interact as a complex since immunoprecipitations of the transfected MS2 fusion proteins coprecipitate the other proteins.
Profiling the Antibody Immune Response against Blood Stage Malaria Vaccine Candidates
Authors: Gray Julian C , Corran Patrick H , Mangia Elena , Gaunt Michael W , Li Qiuxiang , Tetteh Kevin KA , Polley Spencer D , Conway David J , Holder Anthony A , Bacarese-Hamilton Tito , Riley Eleanor M , Crisanti Andrea
Published: May 2007

Background: The complexity and diversity of the antibody immune response to the antigen repertoire of a pathogen has long been appreciated. Although it has been recognized that the detection of antibodies against multiple antigens dramatically improves the clinical sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic assays, the prognostic value of serum reactivity profiles against multiple microbial antigens in protection has not been investigated.

Methods: Using malaria as a model we investigated whether antigen reactivity profiles in serum of children with different levels of clinical immunity to Plasmodium falciparum malaria correlated with protection. We developed a microarray immunoassay of 18 recombinant antigens derived from 4 leading blood-stage vaccine candidates for P. falciparum [merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1), MSP2, MSP3, and apical membrane antigen (AMA)-1]. Associations between observed reactivity profiles and clinical status were sought using k-means clustering and phylogenetic networks.

Results: The antibody immune response was unexpectedly complex, with different combinations of antigens recognized in different children. Serum reactivity to individual antigens did not correlate with immune status. By contrast, combined recognition of AMA-1 and allelic variants of MSP2 was significantly associated with protection against clinical malaria. This finding was confirmed independently by k-means clustering and phylogenetic networking.

Conclusions: The analysis of reactivity profiles provides a wealth of novel information about the immune response against microbial organisms that would pass unnoticed in analysis of reactivity to antigens individually. Extension of this approach to a large fraction of the proteome may expedite the identification of correlates of protection and vaccine development against microbial diseases.
Film-making in Bhutan: The view from Shangri-La
Authors: Clayton Sue
Published: May 2007

Bhutan until the last decade drastically restricted its contact with the outside world, and recent media interest has focussed only on Bhutan's late reception of global satellite TV and the Internet. To date there has been no scholarly account of its indigenous DV film industry; one
that has produced nearly a hundred featurelength films, none of which have yet been screened outside Bhutan. The author of this report has had unique access to the country and, as a screenwriter and director herself, has by working in collaboration with Bhutanese colleagues gained added insights
into the creative and practical dilemmas faced by film-makers there. She also highlights areas of concern to film theorists with regard to questions of spectatorship, as well as narrative strategies around the notion of the dream.
Cinema at the periphery An International Film Studies Conference, 1517 June 2006, Centre for Film Studies, University of St. Andrews
Authors: Golemi Fani
Published: May 2007

Who would expect that during these three days, from the small, picturesque town of St. Andrews in Scotland, one would be able to travel, with the power of words and moving images, to such places as Iran, Japan, New Zealand, the Middle East, Canada, Denmark and so on, to all these places
that might be considered to be at the periphery of the world? But what is the periphery? And what is the centre? This question was frequently raised throughout the discussions although no definite, clear answer was reached. The centre assumes we already know it, as John Caughie put it, the
periphery always explains itself to the centre. The borders are always shifting and this division tends to be only a schema; a dangerous schema as Bill Marshall maintains, but one that has sparked some heated debates.
Review of Truth or Profit: The Ethics and Business of Public Accounting by Dean Neu and Duncan Green
Authors: Gunz Sally P.
Published: May 2007

Truth or Profit: The Ethics and Business of Public Accounting, by Dean Neu and Duncan Green, addresses timely issues from an original and creative perspective. The subtitle of the book describes its theme ‐ namely, the tension between the business and professional “calling” of the public accounting profession in Canada. It tracks the history of the public accounting profession in Canada from its inception until 2006, often through the eyes of the editor of the principal contemporary professional accounting magazine/journal. A subplot is that of the “normal accident", a term that is used to describe both the inevitability of this tension and the crises it produces from time to time. This work, slim (164 pages) and affordable, would be a useful resource for an upper‐level course that considers accounting ethics.

Dans leur ouvrage Truth or Profit: The Ethics and Business of Public Accounting, Dean Neu et Duncan Green se penchent sur les questions de l'heure sous un angle original et créatif. Le sous‐titre du volume en indique le thème: celui de la tension entre les exigences commerciales de l'expertise comptable et ses exigences professionnelles, au Canada. Les auteurs relatent l'histoire de la profession d'expertise comptable au Canada, de sa création jusqu'en 2006, souvent à travers les yeux de l'éditeur du principal magazine contemporain sur la profession comptable. L'ouvrage traite, au second plan, de l'«accident normal», expression utilisée pour décrire à la fois le caractère inévitable de cette tension et les crises qu'elle provoque, à intervalle. L'ouvrage, succinct (164 pages) et abordable, peut être une ressource utile dans le cadre d'un cours de niveau supérieur portant sur l'éthique de la comptabilité.
La Chevrotière, Coopérative agro‐alimentaire*
Authors: Morissette Raymond , Turbide Johanne
Published: May 2007

L'histoire de La Chevrotière est celle du développement d'une coopérative agricole en milieu rural québécois. Fondée en 1925, la coopérative La Chevrotière a connu une croissance contrôlée en étant à l'affût d'occasions d'affaires correspondant à son orientation de développement, pour et par le milieu agricole régional. Ses principaux secteurs d'activité étaient ceux de la machinerie agricole et de l'approvisionnement de la ferme. Par la suite, La Chevrotière a étendu ses activités aux secteurs de la production porcine, du fromage et de la transformation du lait (beurre et crème glacée). La coopérative emploie aujourd'hui 738 personnes.

Le cas se déroule le 9 janvier 2006, lors d'une réunion du conseil d'administration ayant pour objet l'analyse des résultats financiers de l'exercice terminé le 31 décembre 2005, la révision du plan stratégique triennal et l'approbation du budget de fonctionnement pour le prochain exercice. C'est la première fois en dix ans que la coopérative n'a pas atteint ses objectifs financiers. De plus, les membres du conseil d'administration doivent choisir, parmi trois projets d'investissement majeurs, lequel s'arrime le mieux à leur plan stratégique triennal.

Nota: Une version anglaise de ce cas ainsi que les notes d'enseignement en français et en anglais sont également disponibles. Les notes d'enseignement relatives aux cas didactiques ne sont pas publiées dans la revue mais sont mises à la disposition des abonnés qui sont membres à part entière de l'ACPC, dans une zone du site Web de l'ACPC protégée par un mot de passe. Rendez‐vous à l'adresse https://www.caaa.ca/fr/publications-et-recherche/perspectives-comptables-pc/notes-p%C3%A9dagogiques/ pour pouvoir consulter ces notes.

The “La Chevrotière” case tells the story of the development of a food co‐operative ("Co‐op") located in rural Quebec. Founded in 1925, the La Chevrotière Co‐operative has enjoyed regular growth by pursuing business opportunities aligned with the Co‐op's path of development ‐ for and by means of regional agriculture. Initially, its two main sectors of activities were farm machinery and agricultural supplies. With time, La Chevrotière has extended its activities to include pork production, cheese making, and milk processing (butter and ice cream). Today, the Co‐op has a staff of 738.

The case unfolds on January 9, 2006, during a board of directors meeting whose purpose is to analyze the financial results of the period ended December 31, 2005; to review the three‐year strategic plan; and to approve the operating budget for the next period. This is the first time in 10 years that the Co‐op has not attained its financial objectives. Moreover, the members of the board of directors must take a hard look at three major investment projects and choose the one which fits in best with their three‐year strategic plan.
Functional Analysis of Maize RAD51 in Meiosis and Double-Strand Break Repair
Authors: Li Jin , Harper Lisa C , Golubovskaya Inna , Wang C Rachel , Weber David , Meeley Robert B , McElver John , Bowen Ben , Cande W Zacheus , Schnable Patrick S
Published: May 2007

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Rad51p plays a central role in homologous recombination and the repair of double-strand breaks (DSBs). Double mutants of the two Zea mays L. (maize) rad51 homologs are viable and develop well under normal conditions, but are male sterile and have substantially reduced seed set. Light microscopic analyses of male meiosis in these plants reveal reduced homologous pairing, synapsis of nonhomologous chromosomes, reduced bivalents at diakinesis, numerous chromosome breaks at anaphase I, and that >33% of quartets carry cells that either lack an organized nucleolus or have two nucleoli. This indicates that RAD51 is required for efficient chromosome pairing and its absence results in nonhomologous pairing and synapsis. These phenotypes differ from those of an Arabidopsis rad51 mutant that exhibits completely disrupted chromosome pairing and synapsis during meiosis. Unexpectedly, surviving female gametes produced by maize rad51 double mutants are euploid and exhibit near-normal rates of meiotic crossovers. The finding that maize rad51 double mutant embryos are extremely susceptible to radiation-induced DSBs demonstrates a conserved role for RAD51 in the repair of mitotic DSBs in plants, vertebrates, and yeast.
The Plexin PLX-2 and the Ephrin EFN-4 Have Distinct Roles in MAB-20/Semaphorin 2A Signaling in Caenorhabditis elegans Morphogenesis
Authors: Nakao Fumi , Hudson Martin L , Suzuki Motoshi , Peckler Zachary , Kurokawa Rie , Liu Zhicen , Gengyo-Ando Keiko , Nukazuka Akira , Fujii Takashi , Suto Fumikazu , Shibata Yukimasa , Shioi Go , Fujisawa Hajime , Mitani Shohei , Chisholm Andrew D , Takagi Shin
Published: May 2007

Semaphorins are extracellular proteins that regulate axon guidance and morphogenesis by interacting with a variety of cell surface receptors. Most semaphorins interact with plexin-containing receptor complexes, although some interact with non-plexin receptors. Class 2 semaphorins are secreted molecules that control axon guidance and epidermal morphogenesis in Drosophila and Caenorhabditis elegans. We show that the C. elegans class 2 semaphorin MAB-20 binds the plexin PLX-2. plx-2 mutations enhance the phenotypes of hypomorphic mab-20 alleles but not those of mab-20 null alleles, indicating that plx-2 and mab-20 act in a common pathway. Both mab-20 and plx-2 mutations affect epidermal morphogenesis during embryonic and in postembryonic development. In both contexts, plx-2 null mutant phenotypes are much less severe than mab-20 null phenotypes, indicating that PLX-2 is not essential for MAB-20 signaling. Mutations in the ephrin efn-4 do not synergize with mab-20, indicating that EFN-4 may act in MAB-20 signaling. EFN-4 and PLX-2 are coexpressed in the late embryonic epidermis where they play redundant roles in MAB-20-dependent cell sorting.
Locating Multiple Interacting Quantitative Trait Loci Using Rank-Based Model Selection
Authors: Żak Małgorzata , Baierl Andreas , Bogdan Małgorzata , Futschik Andreas
Published: May 2007

In previous work, a modified version of the Bayesian information criterion (mBIC) was proposed to locate multiple interacting quantitative trait loci (QTL). Simulation studies and real data analysis demonstrate good properties of the mBIC in situations where the error distribution is approximately normal. However, as with other standard techniques of QTL mapping, the performance of the mBIC strongly deteriorates when the trait distribution is heavy tailed or when the data contain a significant proportion of outliers. In the present article, we propose a suitable robust version of the mBIC that is based on ranks. We investigate the properties of the resulting method on the basis of theoretical calculations, computer simulations, and a real data analysis. Our simulation results show that for the sample sizes typically used in QTL mapping, the methods based on ranks are almost as efficient as standard techniques when the data are normal and are much better when the data come from some heavy-tailed distribution or include a proportion of outliers.