bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dorsal spinous process impingement syndrome (‘kissing spine’) in a cat: Imaging appearance and surgical management
Authors: Gutierrez-Quintana Rodrigo , Lindley Samantha , Sullivan Martin , Penderis Jacques , Wessmann Annette
Published: July 2011

Spinal pain is an important clinical presentation in feline patients, but the underlying causes can often be difficult to elucidate. Dorsal spinous process impingement syndrome (‘kissing spine’ or in human patients ‘Baastrup syndrome’) is a significant cause of spinal pain in equine and human patients and radiographically is characterised by a close approximation of adjacent spinous processes with reactive bone sclerosis affecting these spinous processes. In this report we describe the first reported case of dorsal spinous process impingement syndrome in a cat causing spinal pain, and successful surgical management of the syndrome. The affected cat presented at 5 years of age for evaluation of a 7-month history of progressive thoracolumbar pain. Radiographs revealed close approximation of the dorsal spinous processes of the seventh, eighth and ninth thoracic vertebrae (T7, T8 and T9), with associated reactive bone sclerosis. Surgical resection of the T8 dorsal spinous process resulted in complete resolution of the clinical signs with no evidence of recurrence 9 months after surgery.
Depoliticisation and the Changing Trajectories of Grassroots Women's Leadership in Peru: From Empowerment to Service Delivery?
Authors: JENKINS KATY
Published: July 2011

This paper examines how practices of leadership have been negotiated and have changed over time in the context of a grassroots health promotion project in Lima, Peru. Tracing these trajectories in the context of the evolution of women's organising in Peru informs a broader analysis of the changing role of grassroots women in development projects, feeding into debates around the professionalisation and depoliticisation of grassroots activism and providing new empirical material on gendered experiences of grassroots leadership. The paper recognises the increasing dominance of neoliberal management mechanisms but argues that the depoliticisation of grassroots women leaders is not simply a straightforward trickledown of neoliberal development practices but is produced through the interplay of local socio-political processes and personal biographies of activism with more macro-level development trends and discourses.
AN EARLY ROYAL MAYA TOMB FROM CHAN CHICH, BELIZE
Authors: Houk Brett A. , Robichaux Hubert R. , Valdez Fred
Published: July 2011

In 1997, the Chan Chich Archaeological Project excavated a Terminal Preclassic/Early Classic period Maya tomb at Chan Chich, Belize. Tomb 2 represents the earliest royal tomb in the Three Rivers Region of the east-central Yucatan Peninsula and has striking similarities to Burial 85 at Tikal, the tomb of the dynastic founder Yax Ehb' Xook. This paper describes Tomb 2 and its contents and considers its significance within the context of the significant political and cultural changes that marked the transition from the Late Preclassic to the Early Classic period. We argue that the tomb is an early example of a regional expression of elite competition for status and power in the Central Lowlands that included the use of a subcomplex of ceramics and exotic artifacts to express prestige. Tomb 2 is also an example of an early royal burial pattern that may be more widespread than believed but has been overlooked due to excavation bias.
Oral feeding outcomes in neonates with congenital cardiac disease undergoing cardiac surgery
Authors: Sables-Baus Sharon , Kaufman Jon , Cook Paul , da Cruz Eduardo M.
Published: July 2011

Background

Achievement of adequate oral nutrition is a challenging task after early neonatal cardiac surgery. This study aims to describe predictors of oral feeding outcomes for neonates after early surgical interventions.

Materials and methods

A retrospective review of neonates admitted with congenital cardiac disease over a period of 1 year. We analysed predictors of the need for a feeding tube at discharge and the amount taken at each feeding. Multilevel modelling was used to look at individual change over time predicting oral amount at each feeding.

Results

We identified 56 neonates. Diagnoses were heterogeneous; 23% of the infants had associated genetic syndromes and 45% required pre-operative mechanical ventilation. The median time from birth to surgery was 8.4 days, with 29 infants fed orally before surgery. The mean time from surgery to first oral feeding attempt was 12 hours. Time from surgery to oral feeding, the amount taken with first feeding, and cross-clamp times were significant predictors of oral feeding success, whereas the presence of a comorbidity – genetic abnormality – and longer ventilator dependency predicted failure. Almost half of the neonates required a feeding tube upon discharge, and no infant discharged was solely breastfed. Discharge with a feeding tube was associated with greater weight gain at that time.

Conclusions

Neonates with congenital cardiac disease face significant barriers to successfully achieving oral feeding on hospital discharge. Enteral feeding guidelines focus on physiological stabilisation and do not always address the developmental milestones necessary to support oral feeding. Future prospective studies are necessary to identify multimodal strategies to optimise early feeding.
Welcome from the Program Committee
Authors: Giovannucci David , Brewer Luke , Watanabe Masashi , Susan Donald , Ruiz Teresa , Smentkowski Vincent , Turnquist Dustin
Published: July 2011

Microscopy & Microanalysis (M&M) stands as the premier meeting of the Microscopy Society of America, the Microanalysis Society, and the International Metallographic Society, Inc. We are pleased welcome to all the physical, life, and analytical scientists whose work encompasses the full range of microscopic and analytical techniques. In particular, we extend a warm welcome to those researchers who are new to our meeting, and are confident that you will find areas of specific interest in our meeting this year and for many years to come.
In-Week Intensive Workshops
Authors: Marko Mike
Published: July 2011

These In-depth courses will be held Monday–Thursday from 1:00 PM–5:00 PM (additional fees are required)
Microanalysis Society
Authors: Scott John Henry J.
Published: July 2011

On behalf of the membership of the Microanalysis Society (MAS), welcome to Microscopy and Microanalysis 2011 and to Nashville. The Microscopy and Microanalysis (M&M) meeting was established in 1996 as the joint annual meeting of the Microscopy Society of America (MSA) and MAS. Since 2002, M&M has also served as the annual meeting of the International Metallographic Society (IMS), and it is now the premier meeting in our field, spanning the full spectrum of activities in microanalysis and the varied disciplines of microscopy. I thank my counterparts in the joining societies, MSA President Nestor Zaluzec and IMS President Nat Saenz, for all the time and effort they have invested to make this meeting a success.
Kinder psychisch kranker Eltern in teilstationärer Jugendhilfe
Authors: Büttner Peter , Rücker Stefan , Petermann Ulrike , Petermann Franz
Published: July 2011

Kinder psychisch kranker Eltern stellen eine besonders gefährdete Gruppe dar. Es stellt sich die Frage, ob teilstationäre Erziehungshilfen bei Kindern mit elterlicher Psychopathologie die gleiche Wirksamkeit erzielen wie bei Kindern mit gesunden Eltern, oder ob die Hilfen in dieser Gruppe spezifisch angepasst werden müssen. Eine Stichprobe von N=157 Familien erhielt rund zwei Jahre pädagogisch-therapeutische Erziehungshilfe. In einem Prä-Post-Design wurden die Hilfeverläufe beider Gruppen miteinander verglichen. Varianzanalysen mit Messwiederholung ergaben signifikante Belastungsabnahmen in beiden Gruppen. Zwischen den Gruppen jedoch lag am Hilfeende lediglich für Erziehungskompetenz ein signifikanter Unterschied zu Ungunsten psychisch kranker Eltern vor. Therapeutisch orientierte Jugendhilfe-Maßnahmen erreichen in Familien mit psychisch kranken Elternteilen vergleichbare Wirkungen wie bei nicht-betroffenen Familien.
Mütterliche Berufstätigkeit und kindliches Sozialverhalten
Authors: Jaursch Stefanie , Lösel Friedrich
Published: July 2011

Der vorliegende Beitrag widmet sich den Auswirkungen der frühen und der aktuellen mütterlichen Berufstätigkeit auf die Entwicklung des kindlichen Sozialverhaltens. Im Rahmen der Erlangen-Nürnberger Entwicklungs- und Präventionsstudie wurden in einem prospektiv längsschnittlichen Design 660 Kinder im Vorschulalter in fünf Erhebungen über einen Zeitraum von sechs Jahren untersucht. Das kindliche Verhalten wurde mittels Einschätzungen der Erzieherinnen, Lehrerinnen und Mütter im Social Behavior Questionnaire (SBQ; Tremblay et al., 1992 ) erfasst. Weder die frühe noch die spätere Berufstätigkeit sowie deren Wechselwirkungen zeigten kurz- und längerfristige signifikante Zusammenhänge mit dem Ausmaß der kindlichen Erlebens- und Verhaltensprobleme. Es machte auch keinen Unterschied, ob die Mütter vollzeit- oder teilzeitbeschäftigt waren. Die Ergebnisse werden unter methodischen Gesichtspunkten und im Hinblick auf die ideologischen Auseinandersetzungen um Auswirkungen der (frühen) mütterlichen Berufstätigkeit diskutiert.
Disrupted in renal carcinoma 2 (DIRC2), a novel transporter of the lysosomal membrane, is proteolytically processed by cathepsin L
Authors: Savalas Lalu Rudyat Telly , Gasnier Bruno , Damme Markus , Lübke Torben , Wrocklage Christian , Debacker Cécile , Jézégou Adrien , Reinheckel Thomas , Hasilik Andrej , Saftig Paul , Schröder Bernd
Published: July 2011

DIRC2 (Disrupted in renal carcinoma 2) has been initially identified as a breakpoint-spanning gene in a chromosomal translocation putatively associated with the development of renal cancer. The DIRC2 protein belongs to the MFS (major facilitator superfamily) and has been previously detected by organellar proteomics as a tentative constituent of lysosomal membranes. In the present study, lysosomal residence of overexpressed as well as endogenous DIRC2 was shown by several approaches. DIRC2 is proteolytically processed into a N-glycosylated N-terminal and a non-glycosylated C-terminal fragment respectively. Proteolytic cleavage occurs in lysosomal compartments and critically depends on the activity of cathepsin L which was found to be indispensable for this process in murine embryonic fibroblasts. The cleavage site within DIRC2 was mapped between amino acid residues 214 and 261 using internal epitope tags, and is presumably located within the tentative fifth intralysosomal loop, assuming the typical MFS topology. Lysosomal targeting of DIRC2 was demonstrated to be mediated by a N-terminal dileucine motif. By disrupting this motif, DIRC2 can be redirected to the plasma membrane. Finally, in a whole-cell electrophysiological assay based on heterologous expression of the targeting mutant at the plasma membrane of Xenopus oocytes, the application of a complex metabolic mixture evokes an outward current associated with the surface expression of full-length DIRC2. Taken together, these data strongly support the idea that DIRC2 is an electrogenic lysosomal metabolite transporter which is subjected to and presumably modulated by limited proteolytic processing.
HIV-1 gp41 ectodomain enhances Cryptococcus neoformans binding to human brain microvascular endothelial cells via gp41 core-induced membrane activities
Authors: Huang Sheng-He , Wu Chu-Hua , Jiang Shibo , Bahner Ingrid , Lossinsky Albert S. , Jong Ambrose Y.
Published: July 2011

Cryptococcus neoformans causes life-threatening meningoencephalitis, particularly prevalent in AIDS patients. The interrelationship between C. neoformans and HIV-1 is intriguing, as both pathogens elicit severe neuropathological complications. We have previously demonstrated that the HIV-1 gp41 ectodomain fragments gp41-I33 (amino acids 579–611) and gp41-I90 (amino acids 550–639) can enhance C. neoformans binding to HBMECs (human brain microvascular endothelial cells). Both peptides contain the loop region of gp41. In the present study, we used immunofluorescence microscopy and transmission and scanning electron microscopy to explore the underlying mechanisms. Our findings indicated that both C. neoformans and gp41-I90 up-regulated ICAM-1 (intercellular adhesion molecule 1) on the HBMECs and elicited membrane ruffling on the surface of HBMECs. The HIV-1 gp41 ectodomain could also induce CD44 and β-actin redistribution to the membrane lipid rafts, but it could not enhance PKCα (protein kinase Cα) phosphorylation like C. neoformans. Instead, gp41-I90 was able to induce syncytium formation on HBMECs. The results of the present study suggest HIV-1 gp41-enhanced C. neoformans binding to HBMECs via gp41 core domain-induced membrane activities, revealing a potential mechanism of invasion for this pathogenic fungus into the brain tissues of HIV-1-infected patients.
Divergent agonist selectivity in activating β1- and β2-adrenoceptors for G-protein and arrestin coupling
Authors: Casella Ida , Ambrosio Caterina , Grò Maria Cristina , Molinari Paola , Costa Tommaso
Published: July 2011

The functional selectivity of adrenergic ligands for activation of β1- and β2-AR (adrenoceptor) subtypes has been extensively studied in cAMP signalling. Much less is known about ligand selectivity for arrestin-mediated signalling pathways. In the present study we used resonance energy transfer methods to compare the ability of β1- and β2-ARs to form a complex with the G-protein β-subunit or β-arrestin-2 in response to a variety of agonists with various degrees of efficacy. The profiles of β1-/β2-AR selectivity of the ligands for the two receptor–transducer interactions were sharply different. For G-protein coupling, the majority of ligands were more effective in activating the β2-AR, whereas for arrestin coupling the relationship was reversed. These data indicate that the β1-AR interacts more efficiently than β2-AR with arrestin, but less efficiently than β2-AR with G-protein. A group of ligands exhibited β1-AR-selective efficacy in driving the coupling to arrestin. Dobutamine, a member of this group, had 70% of the adrenaline (epinephrine) effect on arrestin via β1-AR, but acted as a competitive antagonist of adrenaline via β2-AR. Thus the structure of such ligands appears to induce an arrestin-interacting form of the receptor only when bound to the β1-AR subtype.
Catalytic properties of the Gas family β-(1,3)-glucanosyltransferases active in fungal cell-wall biogenesis as determined by a novel fluorescent assay
Authors: Mazáň Marián , Ragni Enrico , Popolo Laura , Farkaš Vladimír
Published: July 2011

BGTs [β-(1,3)-glucanosyltransglycosylases; EC 2.4.1.-] of the GH72 (family 72 of glycosylhydrolases) are GPI (glycosylphosphatidylinositol)-anchored proteins that play an important role in the biogenesis of fungal cell walls. They randomly cleave glycosidic linkages in β-(1,3)-glucan chains and ligate the polysaccharide portions containing newly formed reducing ends to C3(OH) at non-reducing ends of other β-(1,3)-glucan molecules. We have developed a sensitive fluorescence-based method for the assay of transglycosylating activity of GH72 enzymes. In the new assay, laminarin [β-(1,3)-glucan] is used as the glucanosyl donor and LamOS (laminarioligosaccharides) fluorescently labelled with SR (sulforhodamine) serve as the acceptors. The new fluorescent assay was employed for partial biochemical characterization of the heterologously expressed Gas family proteins from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. All the Gas enzymes specifically used laminarin as the glucanosyl donor and a SR–LamOS of DP (degree of polymerization) ≥5 as the acceptors. Gas proteins expressed in distinct stages of the yeast life cycle showed differences in their pH optima. Gas1p and Gas5p, which are expressed during vegetative growth, had the highest activity at pH 4.5 and 3.5 respectively, whereas the sporulation-specific Gas2p and Gas4p were most active between pH 5 and 6. The novel fluorescent assay provides a suitable tool for the screening of potential glucanosyltransferases or their inhibitors.
Aminoaciduria, but normal thyroid hormone levels and signalling, in mice lacking the amino acid and thyroid hormone transporter Slc7a8
Authors: Braun Doreen , Wirth Eva K. , Wohlgemuth Franziska , Reix Nathalie , Klein Marc O. , Grüters Annette , Köhrle Josef , Schweizer Ulrich
Published: July 2011

LAT2 (system L amino acid transporter 2) is composed of the subunits Slc7a8/Lat2 and Slc3a2/4F2hc. This transporter is highly expressed along the basolateral membranes of absorptive epithelia in kidney and small intestine, but is also abundant in the brain. Lat2 is an energy-independent exchanger of neutral amino acids, and was shown to transport thyroid hormones. We report in the present paper that targeted inactivation of Slc7a8 leads to increased urinary loss of small neutral amino acids. Development and growth of Slc7a8−/− mice appears normal, suggesting functional compensation of neutral amino acid transport by alternative transporters in kidney, intestine and placenta. Movement co-ordination is slightly impaired in mutant mice, although cerebellar development and structure remained inconspicuous. Circulating thyroid hormones, thyrotropin and thyroid hormone-responsive genes remained unchanged in Slc7a8−/− mice, possibly because of functional compensation by the thyroid hormone transporter Mct8 (monocarboxylate transporter 8), which is co-expressed in many cell types. The reason for the mild neurological phenotype remains unresolved.
Down‐regulation of c‐Myc expression inhibits the invasion of bile duct carcinoma cells
Authors: Li Zhuo‐Ri , Wu Yi‐Fei , Ma Chun‐Yang , Nie Shen‐Dan , Mao Xian‐Hai , Shi Yong‐Zhong
Published: July 2011

Cholangiocarcinoma is the second most common primary hepatic tumour originating from biliary tract epithelial cells with poor prognosis. Enhanced c‐Myc protein expression contributes to many aspects of tumour cell biology. Although the ability of c‐Myc to drive unrestricted cell proliferation and to inhibit cell differentiation had been well recognized, whether down‐regulated c‐Myc expression can inhibit tumour cell invasion still remains to be explored. The c‐Myc ASODN (antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotide) and NSODN (nonsense oligodeoxyribonucleotide) were designed, synthesized and transfected into human QBC939 bile duct carcinoma cells using the Lipofectamine 2000 reagent. The protein expression of c‐Myc was detected by Western blot. A transwell experiment was applied to evaluate the invasive capacity of the QBC939 cells. c‐Myc ASODN could significantly suppress the c‐Myc protein expression (P<0.05) and the invasion (P<0.01) of QBC939 cells transfected with c‐Myc ASODN compared with that in the control and c‐Myc NSODN‐transfected group. Thus in the present study we show that down‐regulation of c‐Myc expression can inhibit the invasion of QBC939 cells in vitro.
Experimental characterization of temperature sensitive dyes for laser induced fluorescence thermometry
Authors: Estrada-Pérez Carlos E. , Hassan Yassin A. , Tan Sichao
Published: July 2011

Laser induced fluorescence (LIF) is a non-intrusive optical technique that uses fluorescent dyes to measure whole-field fluid scalars such as temperature, concentration, pH, etc. LIF measurements’ accuracy is strongly influenced by the fluorescent dye's behavior under different experimental conditions. In particular, ratiometric LIF thermometry accuracy depends on the correct selection of fluorescent dyes mixtures. Therefore, a thorough characterizations of fluorescent dyes is needed to obtain optimal mixtures and suitable optical configurations for given experimental conditions. This work presents the experimental characterization of fluorescein-27 (FL27) and rhodamine-B (RhB) mixtures to determine suitable aqueous solutions for ratiometric LIF thermometry. The mixtures' fluorescence emission intensity was measured with a spectrofluorometer, and the influence of concentration ratio (\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}$C_{\text{RhB}}/C_{\text{FL27}}$\end{document}CRhB/CFL27), temperature, excitation wavelength (λext), and pH were analyzed. The results show that the temperature dependence of FL27 emission intensity changed from a negative to a positive value as the excitation wavelength increased. The temperature sensitivity (4.0% per °C) of RhB and FL27 mixture under 532 nm excitation wavelength was found to be higher than that of the commonly used mixture of RhB and Rh110 (2.0% per °C) at the same excitation wavelength. While the emission intensities of the dyes are sensitive to pH value, the temperature dependence is unaffected. The influence of concentration ratio on temperature sensitivity depends on both the detected bands of the emitted spectrum and the temperature; the concentration ratio should be selected based on the measured temperature scope. A new multicolor method or advanced two color method with high temperature sensitivity (6.0% or 10.0% per °C) is presented. This technique was specially developed to improve whole-field temperature measurements.
A study of Sn addition on bonding arrangement of Se-Te alloys using far infrared transmission spectroscopy
Authors: Kumar Rajneesh , Sharma Parikshit , Katyal S. C. , Sharma Pankaj , Rangra V. S.
Published: July 2011

Far infrared transmission spectra of Se92Te8−xSnx (x = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) glassy alloys are obtained in the spectral range 50–600 cm−1 at room temperature. The results are interpreted in terms of the vibrations of the isolated molecular units in such a way so as to preserve fourfold and twofold coordination for Sn and chalcogen atoms (Se,Te), respectively. With the addition of Sn, Far-IR spectra shift toward high frequency side and some new bands start appearing. Sn atoms appear to substitute for the selenium atoms in the outrigger sites due to large bond formation probability. Theoretical calculations of bond energy, relative probability of bond formation, force constant, and wave number were also made to justify the result.
Time flow in graphene and its implications on the cutoff frequency of ballistic graphene devices
Authors: Dragoman D. , Dragoman M.
Published: July 2011

This manuscript deals with time flow in ballistic graphene devices. It is commonly believed that in the ballistic regime the traversal time of carriers in gated graphene at normal incidence is just the ratio of the length of the device and the Fermi velocity. However, we show that the traversal time is much slower if the influence of metallic contacts on graphene is considered. Even the transmission at normal incidence becomes smaller than 1, contradicting yet another common belief. These unexpected effects are due to the transformation of Schrödinger electrons in the metallic contact into Dirac electrons in graphene and vice versa. As a direct consequence of these transformations, the ultimate performance of gated ballistic devices are much lower than expected, in agreement with experimental results.
Unusual dielectric behavior and domain structure in rhombohedral phase of BaTiO3 single crystals
Authors: Wang Y. L. , He Z. B. , Damjanovic D. , Tagantsev A. K. , Deng G. C. , Setter N.
Published: July 2011

It was noticed long time ago that the dielectric permittivity of BaTiO3 single crystals in the rhombohedral phase varies from observation to observation, but the microstructure mechanism behind this phenomenon remained unclear. We show that the variations in susceptibility can be related to the variable domain structure introduced by different pre-treatments at higher temperatures: Electrical depoling at room temperature leads to nano-sized domains and ultrahigh susceptibility in rhombohedral phase, whereas thermal annealing at 450 °C results in micro-sized domains and relatively lower dielectric permittivity. The influence of the pre-treatments on domains evolution is tentatively rationalized with a stress accommodation mechanism. The ultrahigh dielectric permittivity could be ascribed to the by-produced 180°-domain walls in the ultrafine domain structure.
Observation of overstrain in the coalescence zone of AlAs/AlOx oxidation fronts
Authors: Chouchane F. , Almuneau G. , Gauthier-Lafaye O. , Monmayrant A. , Arnoult A. , Lacoste G. , Fontaine C.
Published: July 2011

Strain from oxidation-induced volume shrinkage is studied by micro-photoluminescence. An InGaAs/GaAs quantum well (QW) placed at the vicinity of the selectively oxidized AlAs layer is used to probe the spatial distribution of the strain with a resolution of 1 µm. A QW wavelength shift of 1 nm imputed to the embedded strain is observed in agreement with finite element calculations. With this method, an overstrained zone is highlighted where the counter-propagative oxidation fronts merge.
Clogged systems and toxic assets
Authors: Horner Jennifer R.
Published: July 2011

The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, also known as the “Wall Street Bailout,” authorized the allocation of $700B US to address the financial crisis of 2008. The “bailout” did not pass easily; members of the United States Congress reported feedback from angry constituents urging them to vote against it, and the measure failed its first vote in the House of Representatives. This essay focuses on metaphors used in public discourse to describe the “bailout” in the ten days between its introduction to Congress and its failure in the House. Advocates of the economic stimulus plan relied on metaphors that evacuated human agency, portraying the plan as an emergency measure necessitated by crises such as illness, natural disasters, and mechanical failures. Opponents to the plan extended and modified the administration’s metaphors to communicate a critique of the transfer of federal funds to private entities for the good of the public.
Changing ecological constraints of practice alters coordination of dynamic interceptive actions
Authors: Renshaw Ian , Oldham Anthony R.H. , Davids Keith , Golds Tim
Published: July 2011

The ecological constraints of practice have a significant effect on the acquisition of functional information–movement couplings and learners need to converge on information‐specifying perceptual variables. Consequently, the prolonged and widespread use of ball projection machines for the practice of interceptive actions may lack theoretical foundation because they afford information‐specifying variables that are not present in competition. The timing and coordination of the forward defensive stroke in cricket batting were examined in experienced batters under two typical practice task constraints: batting against a representative “real” bowler and a representative bowling machine (mean delivery velocity 26.76 m·s−1 under both conditions). Significant adaptation of coordination and timing was observed under the different practice task constraints. For example, initiation of the backswing was later against a bowler and downswing was faster with a different ratio of backswing–downswing when batting against the bowling machine (47%–53%) compared with the bowler (54%–46%). Peak bat height differed under the two constraints (bowling machine: mean 1.56 m, s=19.89; bowler: 1.72 m, s=10.36 m). Mean length of front foot stride was shorter against the bowling machine (0.55 m, s=0.07 m) than the bowler (0.59 m, s=0.06 m). The correlation between initiation of backswing and front foot movement was much higher against the bowler (r = 0.88) than the bowling machine (r=0.65).
Spongiibacterium flavum gen. nov., sp. nov., a member of the family Flavobacteriaceae isolated from the marine sponge Halichondria oshoro, and emended descriptions of the genera Croceitalea and Flagellimonas
Authors: Yoon Byoung-Jun , Oh Duck-Chul
Published: July 2011

A Gram-negative, strictly aerobic, non-flagellated, non-gliding, oxidase- and catalase-positive, yellow-pigmented rod, designated A11T, was isolated from a marine sponge,Halichondria oshoro, collected on the coastline of Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. Phylogenetic analysis based on nearly complete 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain A11Twas a member of the familyFlavobacteriaceae. Its closest relatives were members of the generaMuricauda,FlagellimonasandCroceitalea(94.4–94.8 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). The only polar lipid detected in strain A11Twas phosphatidylethanolamine. The dominant fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0(30.4 %), iso-C15 : 1G (26.7 %), iso-C17 : 03-OH (12.4 %) and iso-C15 : 03-OH (7.3 %). The DNA G+C content of strain A11Twas 41.7 mol% and its major respiratory quinone was MK-6. On the basis of combined data from phenotypic and phylogenetic analyses, strain A11Trepresents a novel genus and species within the familyFlavobacteriaceae, for which the nameSpongiibacterium flavumgen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is A11T( = KCTC 22665T = DSM 22638T). Emended descriptions of the generaCroceitaleaandFlagellimonasare also given.
Lysinibacillus macroides sp. nov., nom. rev.
Authors: Coorevits An , Dinsdale Anna E. , Heyrman Jeroen , Schumann Peter , Van Landschoot Anita , Logan Niall A. , De Vos Paul
Published: July 2011

‘Bacillus macroides’ ATCC 12905T ( = DSM 54T = LMG 18474T), isolated in 1947 from cow dung, was not included in the Approved Lists of Bacterial Names and so it lost standing in bacteriological nomenclature. Reinvestigation of the strain, including DNA–DNA relatedness experiments, revealed that ‘Bacillus macroides’ is genomically distinct from its closest relatives

Lysinibacillus xylanilyticus

,

Lysinibacillus boronitolerans

and

Lysinibacillus fusiformis

(as determined by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, with pairwise similarity values of 99.2, 98.8 and 98.5 %, respectively, with the type strains of these species). Further analysis showed that ‘Bacillus macroides’ shares the A4α l-Lys–d-Asp peptidoglycan type with other members of the genus

Lysinibacillus

and can thus be attributed to this genus. These results, combined with additional phenotypic data, justify the description of strain LMG 18474T ( = DSM 54T = ATCC 12905T) as Lysinibacillus macroides sp. nov., nom. rev.
Flavobacterium xueshanense sp. nov. and Flavobacterium urumqiense sp. nov., two psychrophilic bacteria isolated from glacier ice
Authors: Dong Kun , Liu Hongcan , Zhang Jianli , Zhou Yuguang , Xin Yuhua
Published: July 2011

Two Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacteria, designated strains Sr22T and Sr25T, were isolated from water of melted ice from the China No.1 glacier, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. Cells formed yellow, circular, convex colonies. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strains Sr22T and Sr25T belong to the genus

Flavobacterium

, sharing ≤99.1  and ≤99.6 % similarity, respectively, with the type strains of recognized species of the genus. Strain Sr22T shared highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with

Flavobacterium tiangeerense

CGMCC 1.6847T (98.6 %),

Flavobacterium fryxellicola

LMG 22022T (98.1 %) and

Flavobacterium omnivorum

CGMCC 1.2747T (99.1 %). Strain Sr25T shared highest similarity with

Flavobacterium sinopsychrotolerans

CGMCC 1.8704T (98.5 %),

Flavobacterium degerlachei

NBRC 102677T (98.4 %) and

Flavobacterium xinjiangense

CGMCC 1.2749T (99.5 %). The predominant fatty acids of strain Sr22T were iso-C15 : 1 G (6.01 %), iso-C15 : 0 (8.93 %), iso-C16 : 1 H (12.68 %), iso-C16 : 0 (10.4 %), C15 : 1ω6c (8.97 %), C17 : 1ω6c (5.96 %), iso-C16 : 0 3-OH (11.14 %) and summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c, 12.33 %). The major fatty acids of strain Sr25T were iso-C15 : 0 (10.8 %), anteiso-C15 : 0 (5.23 %), C15 : 1ω6c (11.79 %), C17 : 1ω6c (5.43 %), iso-C16 : 0 3-OH (7.04 %) and summed feature 3 (20.42 %). The genomic DNA G+C contents of strains Sr22T and Sr25T were 37.2 and 35.1 mol%. On the basis of differential phenotypic and phylogenetic characteristics, these strains are considered to represent two novel species of the genus

Flavobacterium

, for which the names Flavobacterium xueshanense sp. nov. (type strain Sr22T  = CGMCC 1.9227T  = NBRC 106479T) and Flavobacterium urumqiense sp. nov. (type strain Sr25T  = CGMCC 1.9230T  = NBRC 106480T) are proposed.
Lactobacillus nasuensis sp. nov., a lactic acid bacterium isolated from silage, and emended description of the genus Lactobacillus
Authors: Cai Yimin , Pang Huili , Kitahara Maki , Ohkuma Moriya
Published: July 2011

Two strains of lactic acid bacteria, designated SU 18T and SU 83, were isolated from silage prepared with Sudan grass [Sorghum sudanense (Piper) Stapf.]. The isolates were Gram-stain-positive, catalase-negative, facultatively anaerobic rods that did not produce gas from glucose. The isolates exhibited ≥93.5 % DNA–DNA relatedness to each other and shared the same phenotypic characteristics, which indicated that they belonged to a single species. The DNA G+C content was 58.5–59.2 mol%. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the isolates were placed in the genus

Lactobacillus

. Their closest phylogenetic neighbours were

Lactobacillus manihotivorans

JCM 12514T and

Lactobacillus camelliae

JCM 13995T (95.9 and 96.8 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, respectively, with strain SU 18T). Ribotyping revealed that strain SU 18T was well separated from

L. manihotivorans

JCM 12514T and

L. camelliae

JCM 13995T. Strain SU 18T exhibited ≤23.7 % DNA–DNA relatedness with its closest phylogenetic neighbours. The isolates represent a novel species in the genus

Lactobacillus

, for which the name Lactobacillus nasuensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SU 18T ( = JCM 17158T  = CGMCC 1.10801T). The description of the genus

Lactobacillus

is also amended.
Muricauda beolgyonensis sp. nov., isolated from a tidal flat
Authors: Lee Soo-Young , Park Sooyeon , Oh Tae-Kwang , Yoon Jung-Hoon
Published: July 2011

The taxonomic position of a Gram-staining-negative, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterium, strain BB-My12T, which was isolated from a sediment sample collected from a tidal flat in Korea, was investigated by using a polyphasic approach. Strain BB-My12T grew optimally at 37 °C, at pH 7.0–7.5 and in the presence of 2–3 % (w/v) NaCl. In phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain BB-My12T fell within the cluster comprising species of the genus

Muricauda

and appeared most similar to the type strains of

Muricauda aquimarina

,

Muricauda lutimaris

and

Muricauda ruestringensis

(97.5–97.6 % sequence similarity). The DNA G+C content was 45.0 mol%. Strain BB-My12T contained MK-6 as the predominant menaquinone and iso-C15 : 1, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and iso-C15 : 0 as the major cellular fatty acids. The polar lipids of strain BB-My12T were phosphatidylethanolamine and four unidentified lipids. The DNA–DNA relatedness values between strain BB-My12T and the type strains of the three species of the genus

Muricauda

that appeared most closely related were in the range 5–7 %. The genetic distinctiveness and some phenotypic properties indicated that strain BB-My12T did not belong to any established species of the genus

Muricauda

. Strain BB-My12T is therefore considered to represent a novel species of the genus

Muricauda

, for which the name Muricauda beolgyonensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BB-My12T ( = KCTC 23501T  = CCUG 60800T).
Streptomyces pharmamarensis sp. nov. isolated from a marine sediment
Authors: Carro Lorena , Zúñiga Paz , de la Calle Fernando , Trujillo Martha E.
Published: July 2011

A Gram-stain-positive actinobacterium, strain PM267T, was isolated from a marine sediment sample in the Mediterranean Sea. The novel strain produced extensively branched substrate and aerial hyphae that carried spiral spore chains. Substrate and aerial mycelia were cream–white and white, respectively. Diffusible pigments were not observed. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain PM267T belonged to the genus

Streptomyces

and shared a gene sequence similarity of 97.1 % with

Streptomyces artemisiae

YIM 63135T and

Streptomyces armeniacus

JCM 3070T. Values <97 % were obtained with other sequences representing members of the genus

Streptomyces

. The cell wall peptidoglycan contained ll
-diaminopimelic acid. MK-9(H8) was the major menaquinone. The phospholipid pattern included phosphatidylethanolamine as diagnostic lipid (type II). Major fatty acids found were iso- and anteiso- fatty acids. The G+C content of the DNA was 71.2 mol%. The strain was halotolerant and was able to grow in the presence of 9 % (w/v) NaCl (with an optimum of 2 %). On the basis of these results and additional physiological data obtained in the present study, strain PM267T represents a novel species within the genus

Streptomyces

for which the name Streptomyces pharmamarensis sp. nov. is proposed (type strain PM267T  = CECT 7841T  = DSM 42032T).
Micronutrient contents in organic and conventional tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.)
Authors: Ordóñez‐Santos Luis Eduardo , Vázquez‐Odériz M. Lourdes , Romero‐Rodríguez M. Angeles
Published: July 2011

Organic food is associated by the general public with improved nutritional properties, and this has led to increasing demand for organic vegetables. The objective of this study was to investigate whether there were any differences in the micronutrient contents in organic and conventional tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Two tomato cultivars ‘Lladó’ and ‘Antillas’ grown organically and conventionally were compared regarding their micronutrient in terms of K, Ca, Na, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, lycopene, ß‐carotene, ascorbic, malic and citric acids, and total phenolic compound content. Cultivar ‘Lladó’ had the highest concentration of the nutrient lycopene, ß‐carotene, Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu. Where cultivation method affected the concentration of ascorbic acid and Mn, only one cultivar was affected. For all nutrients examined, cultivar differences were greater than differences because of cultivation method. This study confirms that the most important variable in the micronutrient content of tomatoes is cultivar; organically grown tomato is no more nutritious than conventionally grown tomato when soil fertility is well managed.
An empowerment framework for nursing leadership development: supporting evidence
Authors: MacPhee Maura , Skelton‐Green Judith , Bouthillette France , Suryaprakash Nitya
Published: July 2011

macphee m., skelton‐green j., bouthillette f. & suryaprakash n. (2012) An empowerment framework for nursing leadership development: supporting evidence. Journal of Advanced Nursing68(1), 159–169.

Aim.  This article is a report on a descriptive study of nurse leaders’ perspectives of the outcomes of a formal leadership programme.

Background.  Effective nurse leaders are necessary to address complex issues associated with healthcare systems reforms. Little is known about the types of leadership development programmes that most effectively prepare nurse leaders for healthcare challenges. When nurse leaders use structural and psychological empowerment strategies, the results are safer work environments and better nurse outcomes. The leadership development programme associated with this study is based on a unifying theoretical empowerment framework to empower nurse leaders and enable them to empower others.

Methods.  Twenty seven front‐line and mid‐level nurse leaders with variable years of experience were interviewed for 1 year after participating in a formal leadership development programme. Data were gathered in 2008–2009 from four programme cohorts. Four researchers independently developed code categories and themes using qualitative content analysis.

Results.  Evidence of leadership development programme empowerment included nurse leader reports of increased self‐confidence with respect to carrying out their roles and responsibilities; positive changes in their leadership styles; and perceptions of staff recognition of positive stylistic changes. Regardless of years of experience, mid‐level leaders had a broader appreciation of practice environment issues than front‐line leaders. Time for reflection was valuable to all participants, and front‐line leaders, in particular, appreciated the time to discuss nurse‐specific issues with their colleagues.

Conclusion.  This study provides evidence that a theoretical empowerment framework and strategies can empower nurse leaders, potentially resulting in staff empowerment.
Measuring patient and visitor violence in general hospitals: feasibility of the SOVES‐G‐R, internal consistency and construct validity of the POAS‐S and the POIS
Authors: Hahn Sabine , Müller Marianne , Needham Ian , Dassen Theo , Kok Gerjo , Halfens Ruud JG
Published: July 2011

Aims.  To investigate the feasibility of a survey measuring patient and visitor violence after translation and modification, namely the Survey of Violence Experienced by Staff (German version revised) and to validate the shortened Perception of Aggression Scale (POAS‐S) and the Perception of Importance of Intervention Skills Scale (POIS) after adaptation for use in a general hospital setting.

Background.  The use of different approaches and research instruments for investigating patient and visitor violence negatively influences the comparability of studies. Typically, general hospitals use self‐administered surveys. However, support for these instruments’ validity is insufficient.

Methods.  Between November 2006–January 2007, 291 nurses working in general hospitals in the German‐speaking region of Switzerland completed the SOVES‐G‐R, the POAS‐S and the POIS (response rate = 71%).

Results.  The participants’ responses demonstrated a need for modifications to enhance the feasibility of the SOVES‐G‐R in two categories, namely experiences with patient and visitor violence in ‘the past 12 months’ and in ‘the past working week’. The POAS‐S revealed the same factor solution as in earlier studies, with two factors explaining 38·0% of variance. In the POIS, two factors were distinguished: (1) structured interventions and evaluation and (2) the importance of preventive measures.

Conclusions.  The SOVES‐G‐R, the POAS‐S and the POIS are adequate for investigating factors influencing the occurrence of patient and visitor violence in general hospitals. Given the changes in the SOVES‐G‐R and the moderate size of our sample, further testing with a larger sample is recommended.

Relevance to clinical practice.  The instruments help determine which clinical settings have a greater risk of patient and visitor violence and the specific factors that influence this risk. This can facilitate the implementation of situation‐specific preventive measures against patient and visitor violence in general hospitals.
Comprehensive versus partial deferred tax liabilities and equity market values
Authors: Wong Jilnaught , Wong Norman , Naiker Vic
Published: July 2011

This study investigates the value relevance of the deferred tax liability recognized using comprehensive versus partial allocation. Our research examines New Zealand firms who, prior to the introduction of International Financial Reporting Standards, were free to choose between comprehensive and partial allocation. We test the joint hypothesis that the partial, as opposed to comprehensive, deferred tax liability is relevant for equity valuation and is sufficiently reliable to be reflected in investors’ valuation assessments. Our results are consistent with this prediction.
The Abuse of Regression in the National Health Service Allocation Formulae: Response to the Department of Health’s 2007 ‘Resource Allocation Research Paper’
Authors: Galbraith Jane , Stone Mervyn
Published: July 2011

Weighted capitation formulae for the allocation of funds to England’s regional health authorities go back decades. In 2006, a paper in the Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series A, criticized the formula that has been used, with little change, from 2003 to 2009. The Department of Health has responded tangentially in a report from a team of academics whose remit was to revise the formula for its continued use beyond 2009. The Series A critique is here renewed and strengthened by analysis of the role of some elementary statistical tools in the construction of the latest formula. The conclusion is that, if the force of the extended critique is accepted, other approaches will have to be considered.
Is the Anchoring Vignette Method Sensitive to the Domain and Choice of the Vignette?
Authors: Voňková Hana , Hullegie Patrick
Published: July 2011

Analysis of self-assessments may yield biased results when respondents use the response categories of survey questions in different ways. An anchoring vignette is a short description of relevant aspects of a hypothetical person’s life and can be used to correct self-assessments for heterogeneity in reporting behaviour. The paper studies the validity of the parametric model for the anchoring vignette method. Rather than testing separately the assumptions of this model, we take the following two approaches. First, we study whether different vignettes within a certain domain lead to similar adjusted self-assessments. Second, we study whether different adjusted self-assessments, each adjusted by using a single vignette, are closer to a measure of the actual situation than the unadjusted self-assessments. We use data from the 2004 and 2007 waves of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe for three domains of health: cognition, breathing and mobility. Our results indicate that the anchoring vignette method is sensitive to the choice of the vignette for cognition and breathing, whereas the results for mobility are more encouraging.
Anchoring Vignettes with Sample Selection due to Non-Response
Authors: Paccagnella Omar
Published: July 2011

Anchoring vignettes are a powerful tool for enhancing self-reported data comparability across countries or socio-economic groups, since they may correct for differential item functioning, i.e. the individual heterogeneity in the interpretation of the survey questions. The parametric solution of this approach is called the compound hierarchical ordinal probit (CHOPIT) model. Since vignettes are particular versions of questionnaires, their collection can suffer from sample selection bias due to non-response. We extend the CHOPIT model to account for this problem. This extension is, however, complicated by the fact that the variable of interest is ordinal, so the procedures that are adopted in the case of a strictly continuous outcome are no longer applicable and the maximum likelihood approach is therefore the suggested solution. The extended model is then applied to investigate and compare across countries the effects of differential item functioning and sample selection on the response scale differences in the self-reported work disability vignettes that were collected in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. When the collected vignette rate is high, the bias that is induced by the selection mechanism on the CHOPIT estimates is negligible. When the collected vignette rate is low, sample selection affects the model estimates, leading to a reversing of the directions of some differential item functioning corrections provided by the standard CHOPIT model.
Whose constituency? Representativeness of the Finnish Paper Workers' Union, innovation strategies, and outsourcing in the Finnish paper industry between 1980 and 2008
Authors: Jonker‐Hoffrén Paul
Published: July 2011

Outsourcing has been a conflictual issue in the Finnish paper industry, which reached a temporary solution in 2005. This article analyses the Paper Workers' Union's stance on outsourcing, arguing that it has been defending acquired rights and perhaps deliberately narrowed its representation of diverse constituencies over time.