bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
INDUSTRIAL ESPIONAGE: THE DARK SIDE OF THE “DIGITAL AGE”
Authors: Nodoushani Omid , Nodoushani Patricia A.
Published: February 2008

Amid all enthusiasm regarding the rise of the Digital Age, industrial espionage remains the dark side of the post‐industrial revolution. The Federal Industrial Espionage Act of 1996 aimed at leveling the field regarding widespread cheating and stealing of intellectual properties by competitors in the marketplace. In this paper we aim at defining various forms of industrial espionage in the light of the ongoing information technology revolution.
FROM ECONOMY TO MILITARIZATION: THE END OF THE NATION STATE
Authors: Ali Abbas J.
Published: February 2008

Recently, Foreign Policy and the Center for Global Development published the Commitment to Development Index (CDI). The Index ranked 21 rich nations on whether their aid, trade, migration, investment, peacekeeping, and environmental policies help or hurt poor nations. It reported that countries like Japan, the United States, and Australia ranked very low in alleviating poverty in the world. In contrast, countries such as the Netherlands, Denmark and Portugal contributed significantly to helping poor countries and world economic integration.
THE USE OF AN ONLINE COMMERCIAL DATABASE AS A SOURCE OF COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE FOR DEVELOPING MARKETING STRATEGIES AND TACTICS
Authors: Dale Wilson R.
Published: February 2008

The availability of online databases provides corporate executives with a valuable set of resources for the development of marketing strategies and tactics. This paper provides an example of how an online “mailing file” can be used to guide a company's efforts to identify new business prospects. As a result, this paper demonstrates how the management of Internet databases, if used properly, can enhance a company's competitive position.
VERTICAL INTEGRATION: STRATEGIC CHARACTERISTICS AND COMPETITIVE IMPLICATIONS
Authors: Mpoyi Richard T.
Published: February 2008

The purpose of the paper is to identify the main characteristics of vertical integration strategies and discuss the effects of those characteristics on companies' ability to compete. Using a sample of 316 parent companies, the study found that industry uncertainty affected companies' decisions regarding their levels of vertical integration, but not companies' decisions to change those levels. The study also suggests that a significant number of companies have disintegrated to become more competitive.
THE DYNAMICS OF REAL OPTIONS THINKING ON COMPETITION THROUGH INNOVATION: THE CASE OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY
Authors: De Schryver Tom , Asselbergh Greet
Published: February 2008

Too often, when the effectiveness of an innovation policy is examined, the uncertain nature of innovations is discarded. Through a real option lens an examination of the effectiveness becomes more sound. The real option framework allows taking on an incremental view on innovation, deriving optimal innovation strategies, and capturing the external linkages arrangements. More specific, we will show that under technical uncertainty and imperfect competition, large profit maximizing incumbents have strong incentives to encourage new innovative competitors to enter the market. Once the uncertainty is resolved, the incumbents will exercise their options, kill competition and benefit from intellectual property rights.
BOEING VS. AIRBUS: COMPETING FOR THE FUTURE
Authors: Tong Carl H. , Tong Lee‐Ing
Published: February 2008

Boeing Company has been the world's leading producer of large commercial airplanes for several decades. However, in the late 1990s, Europe‐based Airbus Industrie competed with Boeing aggressively and captured almost fifty percent of the over‐100‐seat airplane market. This paper examines the battle between Boeing and Airbus, including a concise report on Airbus' launch of its A380 superjumbo project. The paper also contains the authors' recommendations to Boeing and the U.S. government.
HOW TO SUCCEED IN E‐BUSINESS BY TAKING THE HAIER ROAD: FORMULATING E‐BUSINESS STRATEGY THROUGH NETWORK BUILDING
Authors: Steven Chang Tung‐lung , Ping Li Peter
Published: February 2008

Legendary Chinese firms have employed e‐business strategies to strengthen their competitive positions in China for market expansion since the late 1990s. E‐business practices have resulted from the convergence of digital technology, intellectual property and customer supremacy. Such convergence is transforming the “old” industrial economy, which was built primarily on tangible assets, standardization, and stand‐alone players, into a “new and virtual” economy, which is being based primarily on intangible assets, customization, and connected players. E‐business requires an integrated alignment of technology, operation, strategy, structure, and human interaction in a continuously expanding network. Consequently, e‐business facilitates a new system—the Paradigm of Network Capitalism, which removes the boundaries of space, time, organization and individuals, and creates virtual communities of stakeholders with new demands for product/service and shared interest and cooperation.
COMPETITIVENESS OF POLISH FIRMS AND THE EUROPEAN UNION ENLARGEMENT
Authors: Gorynia Marian
Published: February 2008

The paper has two aims. The first one is to present a three‐dimensional concept of competitiveness of an enterprise. The concept of firm competitiveness discussed in the paper covers three dimensions: • competitive position of an enterprise, • competitive potential of an enterprise, • competitive strategy of an enterprise. Each of the above‐mentioned dimensions was subject to operationalization — sets of variables describing particular dimensions of firm competitiveness were suggested. The second aim of the paper is to present the results of empirical studies on the competitiveness of Polish firms in comparison with the European Union firms in the light of Poland's anticipated entry into the EU. The research is based on the concept of firm competitiveness developed in the first part of the paper. The studies were carried out in the year 2000 and included 68 firms of the manufacturing industry registered in Poland. The results obtained indicate that according to managers from those 68 enterprises, there is a significant competitive gap between the Polish firms and their rivals from the EU. This gap concerns all the three dimensions of firm competitiveness: competitive position, competitive potential and competitive strategy.
CUSTOMER‐FOCUSED PERFORMANCE AND ITS KEY RESOURCE‐BASED DETERMINANTS: AN INTEGRATED FRAMEWORK
Authors: Wang Yonggui , Lo Hing‐Po
Published: February 2008

Unlike previous studies which emphasize market oriented performance from the perspective of firms or customers, but mainly internally, the paper proposes that firms should prioritize customer‐focused performance defined totally externally from the perspective of targeted customers, which are the fundamental drivers of purchasing or repurchasing behaviors of customers and consequently the key to successful competition in the customer‐centered era. Then, the role of customer‐focused performance in the overall business performance system is examined. After the components and dynamics of customer‐focused performance are analyzed, much attention is given to its key determinants in perspective of a resource‐based view, which aims mainly at bridging the current gaps between strategic management and service management. In addition, important propositions are presented and future implications are discussed.
ENABLING A TQM STRUCTURE THROUGH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Authors: Jabnoun Naceur , Sahraoui Sofiane
Published: February 2008

Organization structure has been rather ignored by TQM Gurus. It is not even clear whether a TQM organization is centralized or not. Many companies superimpose their TQM programs on their existing structures overlooking the fact that the success of any organization rests heavily on the compatibility between its strategy and its structure. The absence of a clear perspective on a TQM structure inhibits the effective use of information technology (IT) as a quality enabling factor. This paper presents the main characteristics of a TQM structure and delineates the enabling role of IT for each.
PURSUING THE GLOBAL ECONOMY: ASSISTANCE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
Authors: Lesher Taylor Ruth
Published: February 2008

Trade barriers between countries, especially cash‐strapped countries, are being revised and/or dropped as a means of promoting international trade. Even the U.S. is aggressively seeking trade with countries as a way to create jobs, boost our economy, and improve our trade balance Because of the importance of international trade, governmental agencies assist this process by “greasing the wheels of investment” through the provision of information, consultation, and exploration as they attempt to assist small‐ and medium‐size businesses gain international trade experience (Business Korea, June 1999). For the U.S., SMEs will be the engine of economic growth over the next few years (Field, 1997). SMEs can go it alone, using internet technology, or they can seek low‐cost assistance in learning the ropes relative to international trade.
LEGAL ASPECTS OF E‐COMMERCE PRACTICES IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE EUROPEAN UNION
Authors: Füstös János T. , López Larry M.
Published: February 2008

The new millennium has arrived with fundamental changes in our daily lives. The extensive use of modern technology has influence on almost everything at work, in school, at home, in the economy, in the government. We are moving to an Internet based society. Many of the changes are already here, and many more are approaching.
Seeding cool‐season grasses into unimproved warm‐season pasture in the southern Great Plains of the United States
Authors: Bartholomew P. W. , Williams R. D.
Published: February 2008

Limited availability of herbage during the cool season creates a problem of a supply of nutrients for livestock producers throughout the southern Great Plains of the USA and, particularly, on small farms where resource constraints limit possible mitigating strategies. Six cool‐season grasses were individually sown into clean‐tilled ground, no‐till drilled into stubble of Korean lespedeza [Kummerowia stipulacea (Maxim) Makino] or no‐till over‐sown into dormant unimproved warm‐season pastures. The dry matter (DM) yields of mixtures of cool and warm‐season herbage species were measured to test their potential for increasing cool‐season herbage production in a low‐input pasture environment. Only mixtures containing Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam) produced greater year‐round DM yields than undisturbed warm‐season pasture with all establishment methods. When cool‐season grass was no‐till seeded into existing warm‐season pasture, there was on average a 0·61 kg DM increase in year‐round herbage production for each 1·0 kg DM of cool‐season grass herbage produced. Sowing into stubble of Korean lespedeza, or into clean‐tilled ground, required 700 or 1400 kg DM ha−1, respectively, of cool‐season production before the year‐round DM yield of each species equalled that of undisturbed warm‐season pasture. Productive pastures of perennial cool‐season grasses were not sustained beyond two growing seasons with tall wheatgrass [Elytrigia elongata (Host) Nevski], intermediate wheatgrass [Elytrigia intermedia (Host) Nevski] and a creeping wheatgrass (Elytrigia repens L.) × bluebunch wheatgrass [Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh)] hybrid. Lack of persistence and low productivity limit the usefulness of cool‐season perennial grasses for over‐seeding unimproved warm‐season pasture in the southern Great Plains.
Involvement of Foxp3‐expressing CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells in the development of tolerance induced by transforming growth factor‐β2‐treated antigen‐presenting cells
Authors: Zhang Haining , Yang Peizeng , Zhou Hongyan , Meng Qianli , Huang Xiangkun
Published: February 2008

A growing body of evidence has shown that professional antigen‐presenting cells (APC) treated with transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) can induce a systemic antigen (Ag)‐specific tolerance, similar to anterior chamber‐associated immune deviation (ACAID). However, the exact mechanism for immune tolerance induced by TGF‐β‐treated APC has not been elucidated. In this study, we showed that intravenous injection of ovalbumin (OVA)‐pulsed APC treated with TGF‐β2 induced a peripheral tolerance as evidenced by an impaired delayed‐type hypersensitivity (DTH) response. CD4+ T cells from mice receiving an intravenous injection of TGF‐β2‐treated APC pulsed with OVA could adoptively transfer a specific tolerance to naïve mice. An increased frequency of FoxP3‐expressing CD4+ CD25+ T cells was observed in mice with tolerance. CD4+ CD25+ T cells from TGF‐β2‐treated APC‐injected mice produced a large amount of TGF‐β1 and exhibited an in vitro antigen‐specific suppressive activity. CD4+ CD25+ T cells from TGF‐β2‐treated APC‐injected mice were able to inhibit the antigen‐specific DTH response significantly when adoptively transferred to naïve mice. These results indicate that FoxP3‐expressing CD4+ CD25+ T cells might be actively involved in the development of tolerance induced by TGF‐β2‐treated APC.
The relationship between caregiver burden, caregivers’ perceived health and their sense of coherence in caring for elders with dementia
Authors: Andrén Signe , Elmståhl Sölve
Published: February 2008

Aim.  The aim of this study is to examine associations between caregiver burden, perceived health and sense of coherence in family caregivers to persons with dementia living at home.

Background.  Most of the studies on family caregivers have focused on burden and morbidity. However, the caregiver's sense of coherence and perceived health have not been studied earlier in relation to caregiver burden.

Design.  A cross‐sectional investigation design was used.

Methods.  Older persons, 2238 subjects, with any form of social services, were invited to an assessment of cognitive capacity. Those who had cognitive decline (255) were invited for a medical examination and 130 persons were diagnosed as having dementia. The family caregivers to persons with dementia answered a questionnaire including a caregiver burden scale, the Nottingham health profile scale, sense of coherence scale and the Euroqol instrument.

Results.  The family caregivers experienced moderate burden, and strong associations were noted between burden, especially isolation, disappointment and emotional involvement with perceived health and sense of coherence, adjusted for age and relationship. Caregivers with lower burden reported significantly better perceived health and higher mean score of sense of coherence than caregivers with higher burden.

Conclusions.  Assessment of status of family caregivers of persons with dementia living at home seems to be gaining considerable importance. The caregiver burden scale and the sense of coherence scale seem to be highly useful for identifying carers at risk of stress, pattern of burden and coping strategies.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Nurses can help family caregivers to identify their negative experiences about caregiving and can help them reflect upon their coping strategies to find balance in their situation. Risk groups of caregivers may be identified, especially those with low perceived health and sense of coherence, for early interventions to reduce burden.
Effect of blood donation on well‐being of blood donors
Authors: Hinrichs A. , Picker S. M. , Schneider A. , Lefering R. , Neugebauer E. A. M. , Gathof B. S.
Published: February 2008

summary The demand for blood products steadily increases. Concurrently, blood donor recruitment becomes more and more difficult. This study aimed to investigate effects of blood donation on blood donors, which could be helpful for blood donor recruitment and retention. In addition to cortisol measurements in saliva, three questionnaires quantifying mood (good/bad), vigilance (awake/tired), agitation (calm/nervous), actual strain and asking for donation‐related effects perceived were distributed to 110 whole blood donors (DON). Results obtained were compared with 109 control subjects (CON) lacking the blood donation experience. Overall, 216 subjects completed the questionnaires. Sixty‐eight percent of DON reported at least one effect perceived with blood donation. Exclusively, positive, negative or mixed effects were described by 26·5%, 23·5% and 17·6%, respectively. Among positive effects (i.e. physical/psychological well‐being, feeling satisfied, happy, proud), no significant differences were observed between males and females (P = 0·07), whereas mixed or negative effects (i.e. vertigo, dizziness, tiredness, pain) were significantly (P = 0·03; P = 0·049) more associated with females. DON showed higher levels of well‐being than CON as indicated by better mood (P = 0·004), higher vigilance (P = 0·015) and relaxation (P = 0·003). The latter even increased after donation with maximum values after 15 and 30 min. Despite significantly higher initial strain scores (P = 0·008), first‐time donors maintained a better mood (P = 0·025) than repeat donors. DON showed a statistically better psychological well‐being than CON, although the donation experience was perceived as stressful, especially for first‐time donors. The results may facilitate donor recruitment and retention as blood donation may become less frightening and perhaps even attractive.
Contribution of the Reelin signaling pathways to nociceptive processing
Authors: Akopians Alin L. , Babayan Alex H. , Beffert Uwe , Herz Joachim , Basbaum Allan I. , Phelps Patricia E.
Published: February 2008

The reeler gene encodes Reelin, a secreted glycoprotein that binds to the very‐low‐density lipoprotein receptor (Vldlr) and apolipoprotein E receptor 2 (Apoer 2), and induces Src‐ and Fyn‐mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of the intracellular adaptor protein Disabled‐1 (Dab1). This Reelin–Dab1 signaling pathway regulates neuronal positioning during development. A second Reelin pathway acts through Apoer 2–exon 19 to modulate synaptic plasticity in adult mice. We recently reported positioning errors in reeler dorsal horn laminae I–II and V, and the lateral spinal nucleus. Behavioral correlates of these positioning errors include a decreased mechanical and increased thermal sensitivity in reeler mice. Here we examined mice with deletions or modifications of both the Reelin–Dab1 signaling pathway and the Reelin–Apoer 2–exon 19 pathway on a Vldlr‐deficient background. We detected reeler‐like dorsal horn positioning errors only in Dab1 mutant and Apoer 2/Vldlr double mutant mice. Although Dab1 mutants, like reeler, showed decreased mechanical and increased thermal sensitivity, neither the single Vldlr or Apoer 2 knockouts, nor the Apoer 2–exon 19 mutants differed in their acute pain sensitivity from controls. However, despite the dramatic alterations in acute ‘pain’ processing in reeler and Dab1 mutants, the exacerbation of pain processing after tissue injury (hindpaw carrageenan injection) was preserved. Finally, we recapitulated the reeler dorsal horn positioning errors by inhibiting Dab1 phosphorylation in organotypic cultures. We conclude that the Reelin–Dab1 pathway differentially contributes to acute and persistent pain, and that the plasticity associated with the Reelin–Apoer 2–exon 19 pathway is distinct from that which contributes to injury‐induced enhancement of ‘pain’ processing.
Endo‐sponge treatment of anastomotic leakage after ileo‐anal pouch anastomosis: report of two cases
Authors: Koperen P. J. Van , Henegouwen M. I. Van Berge , Slors J. F. M. , Bemelman W. A.
Published: February 2008

Objective  The endo‐sponge was used in two patients in the treatment of anastomotic leakage following ileo‐anal J‐pouch reconstruction. Recently, local vacuum sponge treatment has shown to be effective to treat contained anastomotic leakage after low anterior anastomosis in rectal cancer patients.

Method  Two patients (male, 18 years; female, 40 years) who underwent restorative proctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis developed localized anastomotic leakage without general peritonitis. This was endoscopically managed by transanal placement of an endo‐sponge (B. Braun Medical B.V., Melsungen, Germany) after a diverting ileostomy was performed.

Results  The sponge was frequently replaced until resolution of the sinus was achieved in 35 and 56 days.

Conclusion  Vacuum endo‐sponge treatment can help anastomotic leakage after ileo‐anal pouch surgery.
Intrafusal effects of botulinum toxin in post‐stroke upper limb spasticity
Authors: Trompetto C. , Bove M. , Avanzino L. , Francavilla G. , Berardelli A. , Abbruzzese G.
Published: February 2008

A previous study in subjects with focal dystonia suggested that the greater and longer‐lasting effect induced by botulinum toxin type A (BoNT‐A) on the tonic vibration reflex (TVR) than on the maximal M‐wave (M‐max) might be the physiological marker of the toxin’s action at the level of intrafusal muscle fibres. With this approach, we investigated the possible effect of BoNT‐A on fusimotor synapses in eight patients with post‐stroke spasticity (four with no residual motor capacity before treatment and four with partially spared muscle strength and residual motor capacity). TVR and M‐max were recorded from the wrist and finger flexor muscles before treatment and at 1, 4 and 7 months afterwards. The TVR reduction was greater than the M‐max reduction and remained fairly constant over time only in the subjects with a residual motor capacity before the treatment. This pilot study suggests that some degree of strength and active movement is necessary for the action of BoNT‐A on intrafusal fibres.
The prevalence of maternal medical conditions during pregnancy and a validation of their reporting in hospital discharge data
Authors: HADFIELD Ruth M. , LAIN Samantha J. , CAMERON Carolyn A. , BELL Jane C. , MORRIS Jonathan M. , ROBERTS Christine L.
Published: February 2008

Population health datasets are a valuable resource for studying maternal and obstetric health outcomes. However, their validity has not been thoroughly examined. We compared medical records from a random selection of New South Wales (NSW) women who gave birth in a NSW hospital in 2002 with coded hospital discharge records. We estimated the population prevalence of maternal medical conditions during pregnancy and found a tendency towards underreporting although specificities were high, indicating that false positives were uncommon.
Nonparametric Tests for Continuous Covariate Effects with Multistate Survival Data
Authors: Peng L. , Fine J. P.
Published: February 2008

SummaryIn clinical trials and observational studies, it is often of scientific interest to evaluate the effects of covariates on complex multistate event probabilities. With discrete covariates, nonparametric tests may be constructed using estimates of the relevant quantities. With continuous covariates, a common approach is to arbitrarily discretize the covariates, which may lead to substantial information loss. Another strategy is to formulate the covariate effects in a regression model. Model‐based tests may have either low power or be biased under misspecification. We propose nonparametric tests not requiring arbitrary discretization. The tests involve integrals of estimates continuously indexed by dichotomizations of the covariates. General asymptotic results are derived under null and alternative hypotheses, and verified using empirical process theory in several special cases. The tests are consistent under stochastic ordering, which arises naturally with multistate data. A novel nonparametric measure of covariate effect is studied as a natural byproduct of the testing procedure. Simulation studies and two real data analyses demonstrate the gains of the new testing procedure over those based either on categorization or on regression models.
Comparison of Properties of Tests for Assessing Tumor Clonality
Authors: Ostrovnaya Irina , Seshan Venkatraman E. , Begg Colin B.
Published: February 2008

Summary In a recent article Begg et al. (2007, Biometrics 63, 522–530) proposed a statistical test to determine whether or not a diagnosed second primary tumor is biologically independent of the original primary tumor, by comparing patterns of allelic losses at candidate genetic loci. The proposed concordant mutations test is a conditional test, an adaptation of Fisher's exact test, that requires no knowledge of the marginal mutation probabilities. The test was shown to have generally good properties, but is susceptible to anticonservative bias if there is wide variation in mutation probabilities between loci, or if the individual mutation probabilities of the parental alleles for individual patients differ substantially from each other. In this article, a likelihood ratio test is derived in an effort to address these validity issues. This test requires prespecification of the marginal mutation probabilities at each locus, parameters for which some information will typically be available in the literature. In simulations this test is shown to be valid, but to be considerably less efficient than the concordant mutations test for sample sizes (numbers of informative loci) typical of this problem. Much of the efficiency deficit can be recovered, however, by restricting the allelic imbalance parameter estimate to a prespecified range, assuming that this parameter is in the prespecified range.
Stable Isotope Analysis of Human Hair and Nail Samples: The Effects of Storage on Samples
Authors: Fraser Isla , Meier‐Augenstein Wolfram , Kalin Robert M.
Published: February 2008

Abstract:  When submitting samples for analysis, maintaining sample integrity is essential. Appropriate packaging must be used to prevent damage, contamination or loss of sample. This is particularly important for stable isotope analysis by isotope ratio mass spectrometry as this technique is capable of detecting subtle differences in isotopic composition with great precision. In a novel study, scalp hair and fingernail samples were placed in five different types of packaging, routinely used in forensic laboratories and stored for 6 weeks and 6 months. Samples were subsequently cleaned and submitted for 13C/12C, 15N/14N, 2H/1H and 18O/16O analysis. Results from 13C analysis indicate that type of packaging can cause slight changes in 13C abundance over time. Differences were noted in the 15N isotope signatures of both hair and nail samples after 6‐week storage, but not after 6 months. This apparent discrepancy could be a result of the packaging not being properly sealed in the 6 weeks study. Fewer differences were noted when analyzing samples for 2H and 18O abundance.
Skull‐Photo Superimposition and Border Deaths: Identification Through Exclusion and the Failure to Exclude*
Authors: Fenton Todd W. , Heard Amber N. , Sauer Norman J.
Published: February 2008

Abstract:  We report on the application of video skull‐photo superimposition as an identification method in a case from Ajo, Arizona in which five individuals died after crossing into southern Arizona from Mexico. Initial analyses at the Pima County Forensic Science Center in Tucson, Arizona determined that the disarticulated skeletal remains represented two adult Hispanic males and three adult Hispanic females. Based on biological profiles, both the males and one of the females were tentatively identified and assigned names. The other two females were too similar in age and height, making skeletal separation and identification difficult. As a result, the Michigan State University Forensic Anthropology Laboratory assisted in the identification efforts by performing video skull‐photo superimposition on the two unknown females. The skulls were compared to a photograph reported to be one of the missing females. By evaluating facial proportionality and by comparing a number of morphological features of the face and skulls, one skull was excluded as a possible match and one skull was not excluded as a match to the antemortem photo. Because this case was presumed to be a closed disaster, the exclusion of one skull and the failure to exclude the other represented circumstantial identifications.
Internal deformation of the human crystalline lens during accommodation
Authors: Weeber Henk A. , Van Der Heijde Rob G. L.
Published: February 2008

Purpose:  To describe the internal deformations in the crystalline lens that occur during accommodation.

Methods:  A computer‐based mechanical model of accommodation was created using the finite element method. The lens geometry of the model was based on in vivo measurements of human lenses in the accommodated state. The mechanical properties of the lens were based on ex vivo measurements of human lenses. To achieve a state of disaccommodation, the lens equator was stretched by 7%. The internal strains and displacements were calculated for a young accommodating lens, a lens of pre‐presbyopic age and a lens of presbyopic age (20, 40 and 60 years old, respectively).

Results:  The model showed that the radial strain was maximal in the nucleus for the young accommodating lens and minimal in the nucleus for the oldest non‐accommodating lens. In the young lens the deformations occurred throughout the entire lens, whereas in the older non‐accommodating lens the deformations were concentrated in the equatorial region.

Conclusions:  The model predicted that during accommodation, changes in lens thickness are mainly caused by deformation of the nucleus. In the older, non‐accommodating lens, the deformations occur predominantly in the equatorial region and do not affect the central curvatures of the lens.
Identification of differentially expressed genes in spontaneously regressing melanoma using the MeLiM Swine Model
Authors: Rambow F. , Malek O. , Geffrotin C. , Leplat J.‐J. , Bouet S. , Piton G. , Hugot K. , Bevilacqua C. , Horak V. , Vincent‐Naulleau S.
Published: February 2008

Partial and some few cases of complete spontaneous regression have been observed in cutaneous melanoma patients but little is known about the molecular mechanisms involved. The Melanoblastoma‐bearing Libechov Minipig (MeLiM) is a suitable animal model to study the phenomenon of spontaneous regression because MeLiM pigs exhibit naturally occurring melanomas which regress completely 6 months after birth. In this study, we used suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) to identify molecular determinants of melanoma regression within swine melanoma tissues and melanoma cell cultures. Several markers involved in cell‐adhesion, ‐communication, ‐motility, signal transduction, negative regulation of cell proliferation, transport and immune response were identified that correlated with melanoma regression whereas the main genes involved in melanin synthesis showed a strong downregulation. For the most differentially expressed genes, we validated the results obtained by SSH with qRT‐PCR and with immunohistochemistry for some of them (CD9, MITF, RARRES1). Most notable, for the first time in melanoma, we identified the retinoic acid responder 1 gene (RARRES1) as a main actor of the regression process in melanoma. This first gene expression study in swine melanoma regression, may contribute to the finding of new therapeutic targets for human melanoma treatment.
Neonatal programming of skeletal development in sheep is mediated by somatotrophic axis function
Authors: Tatara Marcin R.
Published: February 2008

Nutritional and metabolic exposure during critical periods of prenatal and neonatal development in animals and humans may induce long‐term effects on health status in later life. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of neonatal treatment with β‐hydroxy‐β‐methylbutyrate (HMB) during the first 3 weeks of life on programming of skeletal development in sheep. The study was performed on 12 male sheep divided into two groups. While the control group was treated with placebo, the lambs in the HMB group received the calcium salt of β‐hydroxy‐β‐methylbutyrate at a daily dose of 0.1 g (kg body weight)−1. The assessment of growth hormone (GH), insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) and biochemical bone turnover markers in serum was performed in 21‐ and 130‐day‐old animals. Post mortem, volumetric bone mineral density, morphological and mechanical properties were determined in femur and lumbar vertebrae. Neonatal treatment with HMB increased serum concentrations of bone‐specific alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, GH and IGF‐1 in 21‐day‐old lambs by 125.2, 93.8, 71.8 and 70.9%, respectively (P≤ 0.05). The C‐terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX) concentration was increased in 130‐day‐old animals from the HMB group by 33.1% (P= 0.03). Furthermore, HMB administration improved bone weight, volumetric bone mineral density and bone morphological and mechanical properties of femur and lumbar spine. In conclusion, this study showed long‐term beneficial effects of neonatal treatment with HMB on programming of peripheral and axial skeleton properties that were mediated by a transient improvement of somatotrophic axis function and acceleration of bone metabolism.
The Berry phase: A simple derivation and relation to the electric dipole moment experiments with ultracold neutrons
Authors: Ignatovich V. K.
Published: February 2008

I derive the effective phase of the spin precession for a neutral particle with spin 1∕2 moving in a superposition of constant and radio frequency fields. The fields are perpendicular to each other at all times, and the radio frequency field is slowly rotating with angular speed ω. The derivation is accomplished with the help of the exact solution of the Schrödinger equation. I show that the geometrical (or Berry) phase is the linear term in the power series expansion of the effective phase in terms of ω. I also discuss the role of the Berry phase in the experimental search for an electric dipole moment of the neutron with ultracold neutrons.
Wavefront sensor with Fresnel zone plates for use in an undergraduate laboratory
Authors: Migdał Piotr , Fita Piotr , Radzewicz Czesław , Mazurek Łukasz
Published: February 2008

We propose a modification of the Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensor in which the lens array is made of Fresnel zone plates. The modification allows students to construct the sensor in an undergraduate laboratory at little cost. In spite of its simplicity the sensor has a sensitivity of λ∕50 in relative measurements, which is sufficient to measure a wavefront of a laser beam distorted by various optical elements as well as by a turbulent airflow. Such an experiment is an excellent supplement to a course in optics, gives students a deeper understanding of the wavefront concept, and demonstrates the wavefront measurement technique widely used in physics, astronomy, and medicine.
Investigation of exciton ground state in quantum dots via Hamiltonian diagonalization method
Authors: Schultz Zachary M. , Essick John M.
Published: February 2008

We analyze the electron-hole (exciton) ground state associated with the first peak in the optical absorption spectra of semiconductor quantum dots. We assume the effective mass approximation and a dot radius R on the order of the exciton Bohr radius aB. A Hamiltonian diagonalization method which accounts for the exciton’s kinetic, direct Coulomb, and surface polarization energies is used. We obtain a representation of the exciton ground-state wavefunction and a value for its energy using a basis set consisting of only three composite infinite spherical well wavefunctions. We discuss the precision obtained by this basis set by comparing with results from a much more extended basis set. Our results are used to predict the radius-dependent energy of the first peak in visible-light absorption spectra for CdSe quantum dots. Our analysis accurately describes the experimental data for dots with radii in the range aB<R<2aB. We discuss why our model breaks down for smaller radii.
How batteries discharge: A simple model
Authors: Saslow W. M.
Published: February 2008

A typical battery is a set of nominally identical voltaic cells in series and/or parallel. We consider the discharge of a single voltaic cell. As the cell discharges due to current-carrying chemical reactions, the densities of the chemical components decrease, which leads to an increase in the internal resistance of the voltaic cell and, upon discharge, a decrease in its terminal voltage and current. A simple model yields behavior similar to what is observed, although accurate battery models are more complex.
Alignment of Genetic and Physical Maps of
Gibberella zeae
Authors: Lee Jungkwan , Jurgenson James E. , Leslie John F. , Bowden Robert L.
Published: February 2008

We previously published a genetic map of
Gibberella zeae
(
Fusarium graminearum
sensu lato) based on a cross between Kansas strain Z-3639 (lineage 7) and Japanese strain R-5470 (lineage 6). In this study, that genetic map was aligned with the third assembly of the genomic sequence of
G. zeae
strain PH-1 (lineage 7) using seven structural genes and 108 sequenced amplified fragment length polymorphism markers. Several linkage groups were combined based on the alignments, the nine original linkage groups were reduced to six groups, and the total size of the genetic map was reduced from 1,286 to 1,140 centimorgans. Nine supercontigs, comprising 99.2% of the genomic sequence assembly, were anchored to the genetic map. Eight markers (four markers from each parent) were not found in the genome assembly, and four of these markers were closely linked, suggesting that >150 kb of DNA sequence is missing from the PH-1 genome assembly. The alignments of the linkage groups and supercontigs yielded four independent sets, which is consistent with the four chromosomes reported for this fungus. Two proposed heterozygous inversions were confirmed by the alignments; otherwise, the colinearity of the genetic and physical maps was high. Two of four regions with segregation distortion were explained by the two selectable markers employed in making the cross. The average recombination rates for each chromosome were similar to those previously reported for
G. zeae
. Despite an inferred history of genetic isolation of lineage 6 and lineage 7, the chromosomes of these lineages remain homologous and are capable of recombination along their entire lengths, even within the inversions. This genetic map can now be used in conjunction with the physical sequence to study phenotypes (e.g., fertility and fitness) and genetic features (e.g., centromeres and recombination frequency) that do not have a known molecular signature in the genome.
Inhibition of Species of the
Aspergillus
Section
Nigri
and Ochratoxin A Production in Grapes by Fusapyrone
Authors: Favilla Mara , Pascale Michelangelo , Ricelli Alessandra , Evidente Antonio , Amalfitano Carmine , Altomare Claudio
Published: February 2008

Fusapyrone (FP), an antifungal natural compound, was tested against the three main ochratoxigenic species of the
Aspergillus
section
Nigri
. The MICs at 24 h were 6.0, 11.6, and 9.9 μg/ml for
Aspergillus carbonarius
,
Aspergillus tubingensis
, and
Aspergillus niger
, respectively. Strong inhibition of growth and morphological changes were still observed at half the MIC after 7 days. The application of a 100 μg/ml FP solution in a laboratory assay on artificially inoculated grapes resulted in a significant reduction (up to 6 orders of magnitude) of
A. carbonarius
CFU counts. Dramatic reductions of the ochratoxin A (OTA) content, compared to the content of the positive control (average amount of OTA, 112.5 ng/g of grape; three experiments), were obtained with the application of either 100 or 50 μg/ml of FP (0.6 or 5.1 ng/g of grape, respectively).
Differences in Carotenoid Composition among
Hymenobacter
and Related Strains Support a Tree-Like Model of Carotenoid Evolution
Authors: Klassen Jonathan L. , Foght Julia M.
Published: February 2008

Carotenoids are structurally diverse pigments of biotechnological interest as natural colorants and in the prevention of human disease. The carotenoids present in 19 strains taxonomically related to the poorly described, nonphotosynthetic bacterial genus
Hymenobacter
, including 10 novel isolates cultivated from Victoria Upper Glacier, Antarctica, were characterized using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Nine chemically distinct carotenoids, present in various combinations irresolvable by conventional crude spectrophotometric analyses, were purified by preparative HPLC and characterized using UV-visible light absorption spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry. All major
Hymenobacter
carotenoids appear to be derived from a common backbone of 2′-hydroxyflexixanthin and include previously unreported presumptive hexosyl, pentosyl, and methyl derivatives. Their distribution does not, however, correlate perfectly with 16S rRNA gene phylogeny. Carotenoid composition, therefore, may be strain specific and does not follow a strictly homogeneous pattern of vertical evolutionary descent.
Markerless Multiple-Gene-Deletion System for
Streptococcus mutans
Authors: Banerjee Anirban , Biswas Indranil
Published: February 2008

Inactivation or selective modification is essential to elucidate the putative function of a gene. The present study describes an improved Cre-
loxP
-based method for markerless multiple gene deletion in
Streptococcus mutans
, the principal etiological agent of dental caries. This modified method uses two mutant
loxP
sites, which after recombination creates a double-mutant
loxP
site that is poorly recognized by Cre recombinase, facilitating multiple gene deletions in a single genetic background. The effectiveness of this modified strategy was demonstrated by the construction of both single and double gene deletions at the
htrA
and
clpP
loci on the chromosome of
Streptococcus mutans
. HtrA and ClpP play key roles in the processing and maturation of several important proteins, including many virulence factors. Deletion of these genes resulted in reducing the organism's ability to withstand exposure to low pH and oxidative agents. The method described here is simple and efficient and can be easily implemented for multiple gene deletions with
S. mutans
and other streptococci.
Solvent Stress Response of the Denitrifying Bacterium “
Aromatoleum aromaticum
” Strain EbN1
Authors: Trautwein Kathleen , Kühner Simon , Wöhlbrand Lars , Halder Thomas , Kuchta Kenny , Steinbüchel Alexander , Rabus Ralf
Published: February 2008

The denitrifying betaproteobacterium “
Aromatoleum aromaticum
” strain EbN1 degrades several aromatic compounds, including ethylbenzene, toluene,
p
-cresol, and phenol, under anoxic conditions. The hydrophobicity of these aromatic solvents determines their toxic properties. Here, we investigated the response of strain EbN1 to aromatic substrates at semi-inhibitory (about 50% growth inhibition) concentrations under two different conditions: first, during anaerobic growth with ethylbenzene (0.32 mM) or toluene (0.74 mM); and second, when anaerobic succinate-utilizing cultures were shocked with ethylbenzene (0.5 mM), toluene (1.2 mM),
p
-cresol (3.0 mM), and phenol (6.5 mM) as single stressors or as a mixture (total solvent concentration, 2.7 mM). Under all tested conditions impaired growth was paralleled by decelerated nitrate-nitrite consumption. Additionally, alkylbenzene-utilizing cultures accumulated poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) up to 10% of the cell dry weight. These physiological responses were also reflected on the proteomic level (as determined by two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis), e.g., up-regulation of PHB granule-associated phasins, cytochrome

cd
1

nitrite reductase of denitrification, and several proteins involved in oxidative (e.g., SodB) and general (e.g., ClpB) stress responses.
Codon-Optimized Bacterial Genes Improve
l
-Arabinose Fermentation in Recombinant
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Wiedemann Beate , Boles Eckhard
Published: February 2008

Bioethanol produced by microbial fermentations of plant biomass hydrolysates consisting of hexose and pentose mixtures is an excellent alternative to fossil transportation fuels. However, the yeast
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
, commonly used in bioethanol production, can utilize pentose sugars like
l
-arabinose or
d
-xylose only after heterologous expression of corresponding metabolic pathways from other organisms. Here we report the improvement of a bacterial
l
-arabinose utilization pathway consisting of
l
-arabinose isomerase from
Bacillus subtilis
and
l
-ribulokinase and
l
-ribulose-5-P 4-epimerase from
Escherichia coli
after expression of the corresponding genes in
S. cerevisiae
.
l
-Arabinose isomerase from
B. subtilis
turned out to be the limiting step for growth on
l
-arabinose as the sole carbon source. The corresponding enzyme could be effectively replaced by the enzyme from
Bacillus licheniformis
, leading to a considerably decreased lag phase. Subsequently, the codon usage of all the genes involved in the
l
-arabinose pathway was adapted to that of the highly expressed genes encoding glycolytic enzymes in
S. cerevisiae
. Yeast transformants expressing the codon-optimized genes showed strongly improved
l
-arabinose conversion rates. With this rational approach, the ethanol production rate from
l
-arabinose could be increased more than 2.5-fold from 0.014 g ethanol h
−1
(g dry weight)
−1
to 0.036 g ethanol h
−1
(g dry weight)
−1
and the ethanol yield could be increased from 0.24 g ethanol (g consumed
l
-arabinose)
−1
to 0.39 g ethanol (g consumed
l
-arabinose)
−1
. These improvements make up a new starting point for the construction of more-efficient industrial
l
-arabinose-fermenting yeast strains by evolutionary engineering.
Cultivation-Independent Characterization of
Methylobacterium
Populations in the Plant Phyllosphere by Automated Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer Analysis
Authors: Knief Claudia , Frances Lisa , Cantet Franck , Vorholt Julia A.
Published: February 2008

Bacteria of the genus
Methylobacterium
are widespread in the environment, but their ecological role in ecosystems, such as the plant phyllosphere, is not very well understood. To gain better insight into the distribution of different
Methylobacterium
species in diverse ecosystems, a rapid and specific cultivation-independent method for detection of these organisms and analysis of their community structure is needed. Therefore, 16S rRNA gene-targeted primers specific for this genus were designed and evaluated. These primers were used in PCR in combination with a reverse primer that binds to the tRNA
Ala
gene, which is located upstream of the 23S rRNA gene in the 16S-23S intergenic spacer (IGS). PCR products that were of different lengths were obtained due to the length heterogeneity of the IGS of different
Methylobacterium
species. This length variation allowed generation of fingerprints of
Methylobacterium
communities in environmental samples by automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis. The
Methylobacterium
communities on leaves of different plant species in a natural field were compared using this method. The new method allows rapid comparisons of
Methylobacterium
communities and is thus a useful tool to study
Methylobacterium
communities in different ecosystems.
Solid-Phase Capture of Pathogenic Bacteria by Using Gangliosides and Detection with Real-Time PCR
Authors: Desai Prerak T. , Walsh Marie K. , Weimer Bart C.
Published: February 2008

We developed a method for concentrating pathogens from samples without enrichment. Immobilized gangliosides concentrated bacteria for detection with real-time PCR. A sensitivity of ∼4 CFU/ml (3 h) in samples without competing microflora was achieved. Samples with competing microflora had a sensitivity of 40,000 CFU/ml. The variance was less than one cycle.