bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cytologic findings in two cases of dermoid cysts with malignant transformation
Authors: Mensi David W.
Published: November 2010

While dermoid cysts are fairly commonly seen in the surgical pathology practice, rarely is the malignant transformation of dermoid cysts seen. Even rarer still is the cytopathologic report of this manifestation. In both of these case reports, the diagnosis of the malignant transformation of a dermoid cyst was made only after the initial cytologic diagnosis of malignancy had been reported and further investigation identified the source of the malignant cells. Unfortunately in both of these cases, the disease was detected at an advanced stage. To my knowledge and with a thorough literature search, the first case will be the first reported case of an adenocarcinoma in a dermoid cyst present in a Pap smear as the initial diagnosis. While the second case of malignant melanoma in a dermoid has been reported in ascitic fluid, such reports are rare. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2011. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Far From Solved: A Perspective on What We Know About Early Mechanisms of Left–Right Asymmetry
Authors: Vandenberg Laura N. , Levin Michael
Published: November 2010

The frog embryo knows its left from its right as early as the first cell cleavage. Here, at the 2‐cell stage, one blastomere was injected with the fluorescent dye Oregon Green, while the other blastomere was injected with Rhodamine. The resulting pattern in the mature tadpole reveals the concordance of the first cell division with the midplane of the bilaterally‐symmetric vertebrate body‐plan. From Vandenberg and Levin et al., Developmental Dynamics 239:3131–3146, 2010.
Potential plant species distribution in the Yellow River Delta under the influence of groundwater level and soil salinity
Authors: Fan Xiaomei , Pedroli Bas , Liu Gaohuan , Liu Hongguang , Song Chuangye , Shu Longcang
Published: November 2010

This article describes a multidisciplinary approach to assessing potential vegetation types. The relation between vegetation distribution as derived from field survey and habitat characteristics in the Yellow River Delta (YRD) was analyzed using detrended canonical correspondence analysis (DCCA). The three‐dimensional groundwater numerical simulation model MODFLOW yielded an accurate distribution of the shallow groundwater table within the study area. Groundwater table and soil salinity appeared to have the largest influence on the distribution patterns of specific indicator species. The quantitative relationships between species presence and environmental factors were further explored using logistic regression, allowing for the prediction of potential species distribution in relation to fluctuations in groundwater depth and soil salinity. Based on this, potential distribution maps for specific plant species and their communities were generated using ArcGIS. The potential vegetation map was compared to the actual vegetation map (interpreted from SPOT imagery), which leads to a discussion of the main factors responsible for fragmentation and degradation of the local vegetation system. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Biohydrology: coupling biology and soil hydrology from pores to landscapes
Authors: Hallett Paul D. , Lichner L'ubomír , Cerdà Artemi
Published: November 2010

The articles in this issue are a selection of the presentations made at the 2nd International Conference of Biohydrology. This special issue ‘Biohydrology—coupling biology and soil hydrology from pores to landscapes’ contains a range of articles on biological and hydrological interactions in soil, including large‐scale systems research on the influence of forests on catchments and small‐scale reductionist research on processes operating at the scale of soil pores. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Factors influencing the occurrence of water stress at field scale
Authors: Orfánus Tomáš , Eitzinger Josef
Published: November 2010

Across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales, the soil water content (SWC) can be perceived as an integral component of the hydrological cycle. The concept of field capacity is insufficient to characterize the limits of ideal moisture conditions for plants and the concept of SWC of limited plant availability (θla) has been introduced to characterize the available SWC threshold value, below which the relative transpiration drops under 1. θla is not a stable property of soil but also depends on the actual evapotranspiration demand of the atmosphere (potential evapotranspiration, Ep). To avoid water stress and ensure high biomass production, water should be supplied to vegetation in order to maintain the optimal range of SWC above θla during important ontogenetic phases. The influence of two factors, one of which is pedological (soil texture) and another is biological (8‐m high hedgerow) on field‐scale fluctuations of θla, was studied in western Slovakia near Moravský Svätý Ján (MSJ) village and in north‐eastern Austria near the village Rutzendorf, respectively. In the MSJ‐field θla values reflected the textural heterogeneity of soil. The intrapopulation range Δθla was 0·15 m3 m−3 in a clay loam Mollic Gleysol, but only 0·08 m3 m−3 in a loamy sand Arenic Regosol. The interpopulation differences in mean θla between two textural classes were 0·06–0·09 m3 m−3. The maximum Δθla caused by changes in textural composition over the 4·5 ha field was 0·18 m3 m−3. It was found during two SWC measurement campaigns with different boundary conditions [Ep and ground water (GW) table] that the loamy sand soil is much more susceptible to the occurrence of water stress than the clay loam. The actual SWC falls below the θla threshold more frequently in loamy sand because of its small water retention capacity, rapid drainage and poorer hydraulic connection with GW. The seasonal variability of θla in 2002 reached 0·06–0·09 m3 m−3, depending on textural class. The hedgerow at Field‐Rutzendorf had a small effect on the spatial variation in θla during days with low Ep rates. Δθla was less then 0·01 m3 m−3 when potential evapotranspiration was less then 1 mm day−1. However, during days with great atmospheric demand for evapotranspiration (6 mm day−1) Δθla reached 0·19 m3 m−3 during the 2004 growing season. The results illustrate that both evapotranspiration intensity and soil texture influence the occurrence of soil water stress. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparison of long‐term monitoring of temperature and precipitation between wetland and other ecosystems
Authors: Kovářová Milena , Pokorný Jan
Published: November 2010

Air temperature and precipitation changes in the decades 1961–2006 at Wet Meadows wetland ecosystem near Třeboň, South Bohemia were compared with the changes in these characteristics at other stations in the Czech Republic. Mean daily maximum air temperature measured during the vegetation growing season at wetland station Wet Meadows rose from 19·7 °C during the period 1961–1970 to 21·5 °C in the period 2001–2006 (i.e. 1·8 °C during 40 years). At Churáňov, a mountain forest station, this increase was from 14·7 to 15·8 °C (1·1 °C) and at Praha Ruzyně, a city station, the increase was from 20·0 to 20·7 °C (0·7 °C) during the same time. Mean number of precipitation days changed at Wet Meadows from 94·5 to 80·7 days per vegetation season, at Churáňov from 101·2 to 105·0 days per vegetation season and at Praha Ruzyně from 83·9 to 83·0 days per vegetation season during this time. We attribute the rise in temperature at Wet Meadows to a combined effect of climate change and a local change of the hydrological cycle. The disturbances in the short water cycle are attributed to the decrease in vegetation cover and the lack of water in the landscape. The consequent increase in the incoming direct solar radiation along with the rise in the heat coming into the area via precipitation as well as a decrease in and redistribution of precipitation events are considered major drivers of the meteorological changes that have resulted in the observed warming at Wet Meadows. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Uniform Fe3O4 Octahedra with Tunable Edge Length – Synthesis by a Facile Polyol Route and Magnetic Properties
Authors: Zhao Lijun , Duan LianFeng
Published: November 2010

A straightforward and effective polyol route for the controllable synthesis of high‐quality magnetite (Fe3O4) octahedra with uniform edge length in ethylene glycol (EG) solution is presented. Fe3O4 octahedra with edge length in the range 70–1000 nm were selectively synthesized in high yield. The surfaces of octahedral Fe3O4 crystals correspond to (111) planes. Formation of Fe3O4 octahedra was attributed to the preferential adsorption of OH– ions onto the (111) planes of Fe3O4 nuclei, which inhibits the growth rate along the <111> direction. The release rate of Fe2+ ions in the synthesis can be rationally manipulated by varying the dose of N2H4·H2O. Control of the nucleation and growth rate by N2H4·H2O provides a facile and effective route to harvest Fe3O4 octahedra with different dimensions. The magnetic analysis shows that Fe3O4 octahedra with sharp tips possess attractive magnetic properties.
Structural and Spectroscopic Evidence of Strong Electronic Delocalization through a Cyanido Bridge in a Mixed‐Valence Os–Ru Complex
Authors: Rossi Melina B. , Abboud Khalil A. , Alborés Pablo , Baraldo Luis M.
Published: November 2010

We report the properties of a trinuclear cyanido‐bridged complex, trans‐(dmap)4RuII(µ‐NC)OsIII(CN)524– [14–; dmap = 4‐(dimethylamino)pyridine], whose structure and electronic and vibrational spectra present strong evidence of partial redox states for the three metal ions, an unprecedented feature for cyanido‐bridged systems.
Modeling and Spectroscopic Studies of Synthetic Diazabicyclo Analogs of the HIV‐1 Inhibitor BMS‐378806 and Evaluation of Their Antiviral Activity
Authors: Legnani Laura , Colombo Diego , Cocchi Elena , Solano Lucrezia , Villa Stefania , Lopalco Lucia , Asti Valeria , Diomede Lorenzo , Marinone Albini Franca , Toma Lucio
Published: November 2010

Three diazabicyclo analogs of BMS‐378806, in which theaxial methyl group present on its piperazine ring is replaced by a carbon bridge, were synthesized and tested, through a viral neutralization assay, on a panel of six pseudoviruses. The diazabicyclooctane and ‐nonane derivatives maintained a significant infectivity reduction power, whereas the diazabicycloheptane derivative was much less effective. A modeling study allowed to relate the antiviral activity to the conformational preferences of the compounds. Moreover, similarly to BMS‐378806, theoretical calculations predict the existence of different conformational families corresponding to the possible arrangements at the two planar amido functions of the compounds. High‐field 1H NMR spectra confirm these results, as they show two distinct series of signals.
An Efficient Synthesis of Polysubstituted Naphthalene Derivatives by Gold‐Catalyzed Cyclization of 1‐Arylalka‐2,3‐dienyl Acetates (Eur. J. Org. Chem. 34/2010)
Authors: Kong Wangqing , Fu Chunling , Ma Shengming
Published: November 2010

The cover picture shows the efficient synthesis of polysubstituted naphthalene derivatives and the mechanism, which proceeds through the gold‐catalyzed cyclization of 1‐arylalka‐2,3‐dienyl acetates. The six‐membered cyclohexenyl gold species is formed from the coordination of the allene moiety to the gold followed by nucleophilic attack of the electron‐rich benzene to the metal‐activated electrophilic C=C bond. Subsequent elimination of acetic acid affords the β‐naphthyl gold intermediate, which may be trapped by iodonolysis to release the gold catalyst into the catalytic cycle and afford the target iodonaphthalene. Details are discussed in the article by S. Ma et al. on p. 6545 ff. The background picture depicts the typical scenery of West Lake in Hangzhou during the summer season where the lake is covered with lotus leaves. Zhejiang University, a university with a history of over 110 years, is located very close to West Lake.
The existence of ‘complete similarities’ in the response of seismic isolated structures subjected to pulse‐like ground motions and their implications in analysis
Authors: Makris Nicos , Vassiliou Michalis F.
Published: November 2010

In this paper the seismic response of isolated structures supported on bearings with bilinear and trilinear behavior is revisited with dimensional analysis in an effort to better understand the relative significance of the various parameters that control the mechanical behavior of isolation systems. An isolation system that consists of lead rubber bearings or of single concave spherical sliding bearings exhibits bilinear behavior; whereas, when a double concave configuration is used the behavior is trilinear. For the case of bilinear behavior it is well known that the value of the normalized yield displacement is immaterial to the response of the isolated superstructure—or, in mathematical terms, that the response of the bilinear oscillator exhibits complete similarity in the dimensionless yield displacement. Similarly, for the case of trilinear behavior the paper shows that the presence of the intermediate slope is immaterial to the peak response of most isolated structures—a finding that shows the response of the trilinear oscillator exhibits a complete similarity in the difference between the coefficients of friction along the two sliding surfaces as well as in the ratio of the intermediate to the final slope. This finding implies that even when the coefficients of friction of the two sliding surfaces are different, the response of isolated structures for most practical configurations can be computed with confidence by replacing the double concave spherical bearings with single concave spherical bearings with an effective radius of curvature and an effective coefficient of friction. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Influence of irregular topography and random soil properties on coherency loss of spatial seismic ground motions
Authors: Bi Kaiming , Hao Hong
Published: November 2010

Coherency functions are used to describe the spatial variation of seismic ground motions at multiple supports of long span structures. Many coherency function models have been proposed based on theoretical derivation or measured spatial ground motion time histories at dense seismographic arrays. Most of them are suitable for modelling spatial ground motions on flat‐lying alluvial sites. It has been found that these coherency functions are not appropriate for modelling spatial variations of ground motions at sites with irregular topography (Struct. Saf. 1991; 10(1):1–13). This paper investigates the influence of layered irregular sites and random soil properties on coherency functions of spatial ground motions on ground surface. Ground motion time histories at different locations on ground surface of the irregular site are generated based on the combined spectral representation method and one‐dimensional wave propagation theory. Random soil properties, including shear modulus, density and damping ratio of each layer, are assumed to follow normal distributions, and are modelled by the independent one‐dimensional random fields in the vertical direction. Monte‐Carlo simulations are employed to model the effect of random variations of soil properties on the simulated surface ground motion time histories. The coherency function is estimated from the simulated ground motion time histories. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the proposed method. Numerical results show that coherency function directly relates to the spectral ratio of two local sites, and the influence of randomly varying soil properties at a canyon site on coherency functions of spatial surface ground motions cannot be neglected. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fabrication of BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.2O3 – δ ‐Based Proton‐Conducting Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Co‐Fired at 1,150 °C
Authors: Sun W. , Tao Z. , Shi Z. , Yan L. , Zhu Z. , Liu W.
Published: November 2010

Dense proton‐conducting BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.2O3 – δ (BZCY) electrolyte membranes were successfully fabricated on NiO–BZCY anode substrates at a low temperature of 1,150 °C via a combined co‐press and co‐firing process. To fabricate full cells, the LaSr3Co1.5Fe1.5O10 – δ–BZCY composite cathode layer was fixed to the electrolyte membrane by two means of one‐step co‐firing and two‐step co‐firing, respectively. The SEM results revealed that the cathode layer bonded more closely to the electrolyte membrane via the one‐step co‐firing process. Correspondingly, determined from the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measured under open current conditions, the electrode polarisation and Ohmic resistances of the one‐step co‐fired cell were dramatically lower than the other one for its excellent interface adhesion. With humidified hydrogen (2% H2O) as the fuel and static air as the oxidant, the maximum power density of the one‐step co‐fired single cell achieved 328 mW cm–2 at 700 °C, showing a much better performance than that of the two‐step co‐fired single cell, which was 264 mW cm–2 at 700 °C.
Distribution of model‐based multipoint heterogeneity lod scores
Authors: Xing Chao , Morris Nathan , Xing Guan
Published: November 2010

The distribution of two‐point heterogeneity lod scores (HLOD) has been intensively investigated because the conventional χ2 approximation to the likelihood ratio test is not directly applicable. However, there was no study investigating th e distribution of the multipoint HLOD despite its wide application. Here we want to point out that, compared with the two‐point HLOD, the multipoint HLOD essentially tests for homogeneity given linkage and follows a relatively simple limiting distribution , which can be obtained by established statistical theory. We further examine the theoretical result by simulation studies. Genet. Epidemiol. 34: 912‐916, 2010.© 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Meta‐analysis of sex‐specific genome‐wide association studies
Authors: Magi Reedik , Lindgren Cecilia M. , Morris Andrew P.
Published: November 2010

Despite the success of genome‐wide association studies, much of the genetic contribution to complex human traits is still unexplained. One potential source of genetic variation that may contribute to this “missing heritability” is that which differs in magnitude and/or direction between males and females, which could result from sexual dimorphism in gene expression. Such sex‐differentiated effects are common in model organisms, and are becoming increasingly evident in human complex traits through large‐scale male‐ and female‐specific meta‐analyses. In this article, we review the methodology for meta‐analysis of sex‐specific genome‐wide association studies, and propose a sex‐differentiated test of association with quantitative or dichotomous traits, which allows for heterogeneity of allelic effects between males and females. We perform detailed simulations to compare the power of the proposed sex‐differentiated meta‐analysis with the more traditional “sex‐combined” approach, which is ambivalent to gender. The results of this study highlight only a small loss in power for the sex‐differentiated meta‐analysis when the allelic effects of the causal variant are the same in males and females. However, over a range of models of heterogeneity in allelic effects between genders, our sex‐differentiated meta‐analysis strategy offers substantial gains in power, and thus has the potential to discover novel loci contributing effects to complex human traits with existing genome‐wide association data. Genet. Epidemiol. 34:846–853, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Using biological knowledge to discover higher order interactions in genetic association studies
Authors: Chen Gary K. , Thomas Duncan C
Published: November 2010

The recent successes of genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) have revealed that many of the replicated findings have explained only a small fraction of the heritability of common diseases. One hypothesis that investigators have suggested is that higher order interactions between SNPs or SNPs and environmental risk factors may account for some of this missing heritability. Searching for these interactions poses great statistical and computational challenges. In this article, we propose a novel method that addresses these challenges by incorporating external biological knowledge into a fully Bayesian analysis. The method is designed to be scalable for high‐dimensional search spaces (where it supports interactions of any order) because priors that use such knowledge focus the search in regions that are more biologically plausible and avoid having to enumerate all possible interactions. We provide several examples based on simulated data demonstrating how external information can enhance power, specificity, and effect estimates in comparison to conventional approaches based on maximum likelihood estimates. We also apply the method to data from a GWAS for breast cancer, revealing a set of interactions enriched for the Gene Ontology terms growth, metabolic process, and biological regulation.Genet. Epidemiol. 34:863–878, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
SNP Selection in genome‐wide and candidate gene studies via penalized logistic regression
Authors: Ayers Kristin L. , Cordell Heather J.
Published: November 2010

Penalized regression methods offer an attractive alternative to single marker testing in genetic association analysis. Penalized regression methods shrink down to zero the coefficient of markers that have little apparent effect on the trait of interest, resulting in a parsimonious subset of what we hope are true pertinent predictors. Here we explore the performance of penalization in selecting SNPs as predictors in genetic association studies. The strength of the penalty can be chosen either to select a good predictive model (via methods such as computationally expensive cross validation), through maximum likelihood‐based model selection criterion (such as the BIC), or to select a model that controls for type I error, as done here. We have investigated the performance of several penalized logistic regression approaches, simulating data under a variety of disease locus effect size and linkage disequilibrium patterns. We compared several penalties, including the elastic net, ridge, Lasso, MCP and the normal‐exponential‐γ shrinkage prior implemented in thehyperlassosoftware, to standard single locus analysis and simple forward stepwise regression. We examined how markers enter the model as penalties andP‐value thresholds are varied, and report the sensitivity and specificity of each of the methods. Results show that penalized methods outperform single marker analysis, with the main difference being that penalized methods allow the simultaneous inclusion of a number of markers, and generally do not allow correlated variables to enter the model, producing a sparse model in which most of the identified explanatory markers are accounted for.Genet. Epidemiol. 34:879–891, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Evaluating haplotype effects in case‐control studies via penalized‐likelihood approaches: prospective or retrospective analysis?
Authors: Koehler Megan L. , Bondell Howard D. , Tzeng Jung‐Ying
Published: November 2010

Penalized likelihood methods have become increasingly popular in recent years for evaluating haplotype‐phenotype association in case‐control studies. Although a retrospective likelihood is dictated by the sampling scheme, these penalized methods are typically built on prospective likelihoods due to their modeling simplicity and computational feasibility. It has been well documented that for unpenalized methods, prospective analyses of case‐control data can be valid but less efficient than their retrospective counterparts when testing for association, and result in substantial bias when estimating the haplotype effects. For penalized methods, which combine effect estimation and testing in one step, the impact of using a prospective likelihood is not clear. In this work, we examine the consequences of ignoring the sampling scheme for haplotype‐based penalized likelihood methods. Our results suggest that the impact of prospective analyses depends on (1) the underlying genetic mode and (2) the genetic model adopted in the analysis. When the correct genetic model is used, the difference between the two analyses is negligible for additive and slight for dominant haplotype effects. For recessive haplotype effects, the more appropriate retrospective likelihood clearly outperforms the prospective likelihood. If an additive model is incorrectly used, as the true underlying genetic mode is unknown a priori, both retrospective and prospective penalized methods suffer from a sizeable power loss and increase in bias. The impact of using the incorrect genetic model is much bigger on retrospective analyses than prospective analyses, and results in comparable performances for both methods. An application of these methods to the Genetic Analysis Workshop 15 rheumatoid arthritis data is provided.Genet. Epidemiol. 34:892–911, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The impact of job embeddedness on innovation‐related behaviors
Authors: Ng Thomas W. H. , Feldman Daniel C.
Published: November 2010

It has often been argued that low turnover leads to less innovation in organizations, not only because fewer job vacancies are available for outsiders with new ideas, but also because longer‐tenured employees might be more resistant to change. In this study, we propose that job embeddedness may actually strengthen employees' motivation to generate, spread, and implement innovative ideas in organizations. In a longitudinal study with a diverse sample, we found that job embeddedness was positively and significantly related to innovation‐related behaviors, even after controlling for demographic variables, the job attitudes, and the job perceptions that are frequently associated with job embeddedness. In addition, we found some support for the proposed moderating effects of career stage; that is, the relationship between job embeddedness and implementing innovative ideas was stronger for individuals in the mid‐ and late stages of their careers than for those in the early stage of their careers. This article concludes with directions for developing future theory. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The human resource department's role and conditions that affect its development: Explanations from Austrian CEOs
Authors: Brandl Julia , Pohler Dionne
Published: November 2010

Using a qualitative approach, this study fills a void in the literature on strategic HRM by analyzing Austrian CEOs' perceptions of the role of the HR department in their organizations, and the conditions that affect the development of a strategic role. The results suggest that even if CEOs have an overall positive evaluation of their HR departments and are willing to delegate responsibility for higher‐level decision‐making, to develop the HR department's role, CEOs must also feel they have the scope to do so. A framework for future research and practical implications for opportunities and constraints confronting HR managers are discussed. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
“A GEM” for increasing the effectiveness of diversity training
Authors: Cocchiara Faye K. , Connerley Mary L. , Bell Myrtle P.
Published: November 2010

Questions about diversity training's utility and effectiveness remain despite its widespread use and the significant investments many firms make in such training. As a result, some HR practitioners have doubts about its relevance in the workplace. In this paper, we envision a future state of diversity training whereby diversity is embedded into work practices and programs through direct knowledge transfer, continuous skill development, and accountability for learning. We recommend four specific guidelines that HR leaders can follow to achieve this “future state” called A.G.E.M.—Approach, Goals, Executive Commitment, and Mandatory Attendance. We suggest that following the A.G.E.M. approach will lead to the kind of transformative behavioral changes required for effective diversity training programs.
Does structuring of human resource management processes enhance employee creativity? The mediating role of psychological availability
Authors: Binyamin Galy , Carmeli Abraham
Published: November 2010

In this study, we develop a theoretical conceptualization and an operational definition of structuring of human resource management (HRM) processes and examine how this structuring enables employee creativity at work. Analyzing the data collected from employees and their managers in knowledge‐intensive workplace settings, we examine a mediation model that suggests that the relationship between structuring of HRM processes and employee creativity is best explained in terms of the intervening variables of perceived uncertainty, stress, and psychological availability. Results suggest that structuring of HRM processes is negatively associated with perceived uncertainty and stress. These perceptions produce a sense of psychological availability, which in turn enhances employee creativity. This study offers new insights about diagnosing the level of structuring of HRM processes and the ways managers and HR directors facilitate its implementation in their organization. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
An identification‐robust test for time‐varying parameters in the dynamics of energy prices
Authors: Bernard Jean‐Thomas , Dufour Jean‐Marie , Khalaf Lynda , Kichian Maral
Published: November 2010

We test for the presence of time‐varying parameters (TVP) in the long‐run dynamics of energy prices for oil, natural gas and coal, within a standard class of mean‐reverting models. We also propose residual‐based diagnostic tests and examine out‐of‐sample forecasts. In‐sample LR tests support the TVP model for coal and gas but not for oil, though companion diagnostics suggest that the model is too restrictive to conclusively fit the data. Out‐of‐sample analysis suggests a random‐walk specification for oil price, and TVP models for both real‐time forecasting in the case of gas and long‐run forecasting in the case of coal. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Term structure surprises: the predictive content of curvature, level, and slope
Authors: Moench Emanuel
Published: November 2010

This paper analyzes the predictive content of the term structure components level, slope, and curvature within a dynamic factor model of macroeconomic and interest rate data. Surprise changes of the three components are identified using sign restrictions, and their macroeconomic underpinnings are studied via impulse response analysis. The curvature factor is found to carry predictive information both about the future evolution of the yield curve and the macroeconomy. In particular, unexpected increases of the curvature factor precede a flattening of the yield curve and announce a significant decline of output more than 1 year ahead. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cross‐polarization optical coherence tomography for early bladder‐cancer detection: statistical study
Authors: Gladkova Natalia , Streltsova Olga , Zagaynova Elena , Kiseleva Elena , Gelikonov Valentin , Gelikonov Grigory , Karabut Maria , Yunusova Katerina , Evdokimova Olga
Published: November 2010

The capabilities of cross‐polarization optical coherence tomography (CP OCT) for early bladder‐cancer detection are assessed in statistical study and compared with the traditional OCT. Unlike the traditional OCT that demonstrates images only in copolarization, CP OCT acquires images in cross‐polarization and copolarization simultaneously. 116 patients with localized flat suspicious lesions in the bladder were enrolled, 360 CP OCT images were obtained and analyzed. CP OCT demonstrated sensitivity 93.7% (vs. 81.2%, <0.0001), specificity 84% (vs. 70.0%, <0.001) and accuracy 85.3% (vs. 71.5%, <0.001) in detecting flat malignant bladder lesions, which is significantly better than with the traditional OCT. Higher diagnostic efficacy of CP OCT in detecting early bladder cancer is associated with the ability to detect changes in epithelium and connective tissues (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Multi‐dimensional fluorescence microscopy of living cells
Authors: Schneckenburger Herbert , Wagner Michael , Weber Petra , Bruns Thomas , Richter Verena , Strauss Wolfgang S. L. , Wittig Rainer
Published: November 2010

An overview on fluorescence microscopy with high spatial, spectral and temporal resolution is given. In addition to 3D microscopy based on confocal, structured or single plane illumination, spectral imaging and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) are used to probe the interaction of a fluorescent molecule with its micro‐environment. Variable‐angle total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM) permits selective measurements of cell membranes or cell‐substrate topology in the nanometre scale and is also combined with spectral or time‐resolved detection. In addition to single cells or cell monolayers, 3‐dimensional cell cultures are of increasing importance, since they are more similar to tissue morphology and function. All methods reported are adapted to low dose of illumination, which is regarded as a key parameter to maintain cell viability. Applications include cancer diagnosis and cell tomography under different physiological conditions. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Microstructure, microhardness, and biocompatibility characteristics of yttrium hydroxyapatite doped with fluoride
Authors: Toker S. M. , Tezcaner A. , Evis Z.
Published: November 2010

The current study focused on doping of hydroxyapatite (HA) with constant yttrium (Y3+) and varying fluoride (F−) compositions to investigate its microstructure, microhardness, and biocompatibility. HA was synthesized by precipitation method and sintered at 1100°C for 1 h. Y3+ and F− ion dopings resulted in changes in densities. In x‐ray diffraction analysis, no secondary phase formation was observed. Lattice parameters decreased upon ion substitutions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results showed that ion addition resulted in smaller grains. In Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis, F− ion substitution was confirmed. HA doped with 2.5% Y3+ and 1% F− exhibited the highest microhardness. Y3+ and F− ions improved Saos‐2 cell proliferation on discs in Methylthiazolyldiphenyl‐tetrazolium (MTT) assay. In SEM analysis, cells attached and proliferated on all disc surfaces. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assay showed that cell differentiation on the discs was improved by doping HA with an optimum F− amount. Dissolution tests revealed that structural stability of HA was improved with F− ion incorporation. The dissolution behavior of fluoridated samples exhibited a parallel pattern with the cell proliferation and differentiation behavior on these samples. Overall, this work shows that fluoride and yttrium cosubstitution into HA HA2.5Y1F was the most promising material for biomedical applications. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2011.
Increased survival of free fat grafts and vascularization in rats with local delivery of fragmin/protamine microparticles containing FGF‐2 (F/P MP‐F)
Authors: Nakamura Shinichiro , Ishihara Masayuki , Takikawa Megumi , Murakami Kaoru , Kishimoto Satoko , Nakamura Shingo , Yanagibayashi Satoshi , Mori Yasutaka , Fujita Masanori , Kubo Satoshi , Yamamoto Naoto , Kiyosawa Tomoharu
Published: November 2010

We evaluated the effects of fragmin/protamine micro‐particles (F/P MPs) containing FGF‐2 (F/P MP‐F) as carriers for the controlled release of FGF‐2 for adipocyte‐survival and capillary formation in inbred rats with subdivided free fat grafts. F/P MPs could immobilize FGF‐2, thereafter gradually releasing the bound FGF‐2. Inbred Fisher 344 rats weighing around 150 g were anesthetized and implanted with paste comprising harvested fat combined with F/P MP‐F. The effect of F/P MP‐F on the survival, granulation, and capillary formation in fat grafts was histologically compared with control grafts containing either FGF‐2, F/P MPs or PBS. The control fat grafts became attached to tissues adjacent to the implantation site and were significantly resorbed after 30 days. In contrast, pink, soft, supple grafts were compressible and were little resorbed in the group given F/P FP MP‐F at 30–120 days. Normal adipocytes were obviously decreased in the control groups with increased granulation tissues, whereas normal adipocytes with capillary formations were maintained in the F/P MP‐F group. Thus, adding F/P MP‐F to subdivided fat grafts helps to improve graft volume retention and survival in soft‐tissue reconstruction through accelerating adipocyte‐survival rates and angiogenesis. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2011.
Delayed postoperative opacification of foldable hydrophilic acrylic intraocular lenses
Authors: Huang Yusen , Xie Lixin
Published: November 2010

Phacoemulsification and implantation of a foldable intraocular lens for cataract is almost a routine procedure in ophthalmic practice. Late postoperative opacification of hydrophilic acrylic (hydrogel) intraocular lenses (IOLs) has been reported, but the appearance differs from our findings. We report clinical, pathologic, ultrastructural, and spectroscopic analyses of foldable hydrogel IOLs undergoing late opacification resulting in visual disturbances. This retrospective study comprised 486 patients (550 eyes) who had implantation of a foldable hydrogel posterior IOL. Three cases (three eyes) had been found to have opacification of the IOLs. The three lenses were exchanged because of significant visual disturbances, and were examined using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersion X‐ray (EDX) spectroscopy. Incisional biopsies of the capsular membrane in contact with the opacified IOL were performed in one patient. The mean interval between implantation of the hydrogel IOLs and the diagnosis of opacification was 35.3 months (range, 34–36 months). All three of the cases had quiet anterior chamber. No obvious posterior capsular opacification were found. The best corrected visual acuity of the three cases who had exchanged IOLs were all 20/25 or better. Microscopic analysis revealed multiple, fine, granular structures both on the surface and matrix of the opacified IOLs. EDX analysis showed the presence of calcium and phosphorous were within the granular structures. Histological examination of capsular membrane did not reveal any evidence of calcium salts or special pathological exchanges. Further studies should be undertaken to determine the incidence and possible mechanisms of this phenomenon. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2011.
Cross‐linked demineralized dentin maintains its mechanical stability when challenged by bacterial collagenase
Authors: Xu Changqi , Wang Yong
Published: November 2010

The molecular structure, weight loss, and mechanical properties of demineralized dentin of noncrosslinked/crosslinked by glutaraldehyde (GA) were investigated when being challenged by bacterial collagenase solution over time in this study. Raman spectra proved that crosslinking occurred in demineralized dentin matrices after being treated with GA. Meanwhile, the weight of the cross‐linked demineralized dentin matrices did not change after being challenged by bacterial collagenase solution up to 1 week. However, the weight of noncross‐linked dentin collagen fell by almost 45% after degradation for 5 h, and up to 100% after 19 h. The tensile strength of demineralized dentin matrices did not show a significant change after being crosslinked, while the stiffness of demineralized dentin matrices showed more improvement than that of noncross‐linked collagen. The toughness of demineralized dentin matrices decreased slightly after being crosslinked. Importantly, neither the tensile strength of GA‐cross‐linked demineralized dentin nor its stiffness changed over time in either control buffer or collagenase solution compared with that of noncross‐linked controls. These results suggested that improving the degree of crosslinking in dentin collagen could be one method to inhibit its biodegradation and further to increase the durability of dental restorations. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2011.
(Ti, O)/Ti and (Ti, O, N)/Ti composite coatings fabricated via PIIID for the medical application of NiTi shape memory alloy
Authors: Sun Tao , Wang Lang‐Ping , Wang Min
Published: November 2010

In this investigation, the plasma immersion ion implantation and deposition (PIIID) technique was used to fabricate (Ti, O)/Ti or (Ti, O, N)/Ti coatings on a NiTi shape memory alloy (SMA, 50.8 at.% Ni) to improve its corrosion, wear resistance, and bioactivity. After coating fabrication, the structure and properties of composite coatings were studied, and the coated and uncoated NiTi SMA samples were compared with each other. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) examination of coating surfaces and cross‐sections showed that (Ti, O)/Ti and (Ti, O, N)/Ti composite coatings were dense and uniform, having thickness values of 1.16 ± 0.08 μm and 0.95 ± 0.06 μm, respectively. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) results revealed that there were no diffraction peaks corresponding to TiO2 or TiN for (Ti, O)/Ti and (Ti, O, N)/Ti composite coatings, suggesting that after the PIIID treatment, TiO2 and TiN were amorphous or nanosized in the coatings. Energy dispersive X‐ray (EDX) analysis indicated that the interface between the coating and NiTi SMA substrate was gradual rather than sharp. In addition, EDX elemental mapping of coating cross‐sections showed that Ni was depleted from the surface. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curves revealed that the shape memory ability of NiTi SMA was not degraded by the PIIID treatment. The width of wear tracks on (Ti, O, N)/Ti coated NiTi SMA samples was reduced 6.5‐fold, in comparison with that on uncoated samples. The corrosion potential (Ecorr) was improved from −466.20 ± 37.82 mV for uncoated samples to 125.50 ± 21.49 mV and −185.40 ± 37.05 mV for (Ti, O)/Ti coated and (Ti, O, N)/Ti coated samples, respectively. Both types of coatings facilitated bone‐like apatite formation on the surface of NiTi SMA in simulated body fluid (SBF), indicating their in vitro bioactivity. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2011.
Examining rhodopsin retention in endoplasmic reticulum and intracellular localization in vitro and in vivo by using truncated rhodopsin fragments
Authors: Chen Yuh‐Fang , Wang I‐Jong , Lin Luke L.K. , Chen Muh‐Shy
Published: November 2010

More than 100 mutations of rhodopsin have been identified to be associated with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), and mostly autosomal‐dominant RP (ADRP). The majority of rhodopsin‐associated ADRP is caused by protein misfolding and ER retention. In this study, we aimed to evaluate rhodopsin folding, exiting the ER and intracellular localization through expression of the rhodopsin fragments in COS‐1 cells as well as in the transgenic zebrafish. We cloned human rhodopsin cDNA, which was then divided into the N‐terminal domain, the C‐terminal domain, and the fragment between the N‐ and C‐terminal domains, and examine their intracellular expression in vitro and in vivo. We introduced a point mutation, either F45L or G51V, into this fragment and observed the intracellular localization of these mutants in COS‐1 cells and in the zebrafish. The results revealed all of the truncated rhodopsin fragments except for the C‐terminal domain and the full‐length rhodopsin which had some plasma membrane localization, formed aggregates nearby or within the ER in COS‐1 cells; however, the N‐terminally truncated rhodopsin fragment, the C‐terminal domain, and the full‐length rhodopsin could traffic to the ROS in the zebrafish. Besides, the F45L mutation and the G51Vmutation in the rhodopsin fragment between the N‐ and C‐terminal domains produced different effects on the aggresome formation and the intracellular distribution of the mutants both in vivo and in vitro. This current study provides new information about the mutant rhodopsin as well as in treatment of the RP in humans in the future. J. Cell. Biochem. 112: 520–530, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Nuclear translocation of calpain‐2 regulates propensity toward apoptosis in cardiomyocytes of tail‐suspended rats
Authors: Chang Hui , Zhang Lin , Xu Peng‐Tao , Li Quan , Sheng Juan‐Juan , Wang Yun‐Ying , Chen Yan , Zhang Lan‐Ning , Yu Zhi‐Bin
Published: November 2010

The compensatory increase in catecholamine release does not reverse orthostatic intolerance after returning from a long‐term spaceflight, but it is unclear whether high dose of catecholamine induces cardiac damage. The tail‐suspended rat model was used to simulate the effects of weightlessness on the heart. Apoptotic rates in the left ventricular myocardium did not increase in 4‐week of tail‐suspended rats compared with the synchronous control. On the contrary, isoproterenol (intraperitoneal injection) and 1‐day recovery from the 4‐week tail‐suspension increased apoptotic rates in the myocardium. Propranolol and PD150606 inhibited cardiomyocyte apoptosis in the recovery group. PD150606 and calpain‐2 knockdown also blocked isoproterenol‐induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis in tail‐suspended rats. The activity and nuclear translocation of calpain‐2 increased, but the expression of calpain‐1, calpain‐2, and calpastatin was unchanged in the myocardium of tail‐suspended rats. The Ser‐16‐phosphorylated phospholamban of the nuclear envelope was higher in tail‐suspended rats than in the control rats under isoproterenol stimulation. Isoproterenol treatment also induced a large intranuclear Ca2+ transient of cardiomyocytes in tail‐suspended rats. These results suggest that high‐dose isoproterenol phosphorylates phospholamban of the nuclear envelope and increases intranuclear Ca2+ transient. Larger intranuclear Ca2+ further activates nuclear calpain‐2 and hence induces cardiomyocyte apoptosis. J. Cell. Biochem. 112: 571–580, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Oxidized low‐density lipoprotein promotes osteoblast differentiation in primary cultures of vascular smooth muscle cells by up‐regulating Osterix expression in an Msx2‐dependent manner
Authors: Taylor Jesse , Butcher Martin , Zeadin Melec , Politano Amanda , Shaughnessy Stephen G.
Published: November 2010

We have previously shown that oxidized low‐density lipoproteins (oxLDLs) act synergistically with β‐glycerophosphate to induce the osteogenic differentiation of primary bovine aortic smooth muscle cells (BASMCs). In the present study, we attempt to resolve the mechanism responsible for this effect by examining the expression of several osteoblast‐specific transcription factors. Thus, by culturing BASMCs in the absence or presence of β‐glycerophosphate and/or oxLDL, we demonstrate that β‐glycerophosphate induces both Runx2 and Osterix (Osx) expression. In contrast, oxLDL has no effect on Runx2 expression but rather it enhances β‐glycerophosphate‐induced osteoblast differentiation by further up‐regulating Osx expression. In an attempt to elucidate the mechanism responsible for this latter effect, we examined the ability of oxLDL to affect Msh homeobox 2 (Msx2) expression. Similar to its effect on Osx expression, oxLDL was found to synergistically enhance β‐glycerophosphate‐induced Msx2 expression in an extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1 and 2 (Erk 1 and 2)‐dependent manner. Furthermore, oxLDL's ability to enhance both β‐glycerophosphate‐induced Osx expression and alkaline phosphatase activity was prevented when the BASMCs were first transfected with Msx2‐specific siRNA. Taken together, these findings suggest a plausible mechanism by which oxLDL may promote osteoblast differentiation and vascular calcification in vivo. J. Cell. Biochem. 112: 581–588, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.