bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Economic Perspective on the Notion of ‘Human Capital’
Authors: Blair Margaret M.
Published: May 2011

This article opens by identifying two principal reasons for looking into the definition of human capital (HC). Defining HC broadly as the ‘skills, knowledge, and capabilities of the workforce’, it argues: first, that these are critical inputs to production; and second, that resources expended on increasing them are investments like more conventional investments in resources, facilities, and equipment. While a person's possessing ‘skills and knowledge’ is an old idea, the article argues that the recent history of HC is its rehabilitation as an additional variable to help explain economic growth not otherwise accounted for by conventional macroeconomic analysis. It reports that despite forty years of objections, HC has become central to macroeconomics, labour economics, growth theory, trade theory, development economics, the economics of education, the theory of the firm, human-resource management, and strategy theory – a very significant impact.
Cognition and Human Capital
Authors: Brymer Rhett A. , Hitt Michael A. , Schijven Mario
Published: May 2011

This article focuses on managerial, operative, and corporate cognition. It argues that ‘the transformation of knowledge into practice is mediated by the cognition of the firm's human capital (HC)’. The article posits a mutually constituting reciprocal relationship between knowledge and behaviour, the exchange being governed by cognition. It argues that managers are able to influence the firm's cognitive states even when these are path dependent and contextualized. Managers set the strategic balance between ‘learning’ and ‘using’, between ‘exploration’ and ‘exploitation’, creating effective alignment between the environment and internal activity systems through adjustments to cognition. The article cites empirical research showing a strong relationship between HC, as measured by education and experience, and firm performance. It also presumes that HC can arise at both individual and collective levels, enabling it to explore the relationship between individual and collective cognition and the value of the firm's HC.
Interdependencies between People in Organizations
Authors: Grant Robert M. , Hayton James C.
Published: May 2011

This article examines interdependencies among people in organizations as a critical aspect of human capital (HC) that organizations must leverage. Its primary focus is organizations which serve some economic purpose; that is, they use HC in order to produce goods or services which are then supplied to outside individuals and organizations. The article takes the perspective that HC is closely bound up with social capital, and that the benefits which organizations are able to appropriate from HC are equally dependent on their ability to encourage the functional interdependence of individuals. From this perspective, HC is more than simply the aggregation of individuals' skills and knowledge. It must also take account of the complementarities among individuals' abilities that allow individuals to perform beyond their perceived limits and permit human skills to be integrated into organizational capabilities.
Human Capital, Capabilities, and the Firm
Authors: Teece David J.
Published: May 2011

This article deals with organizational transformation, noting that twenty-first-century organizations are structured to extend delegation by the senior management team to those whose task-specific expertise is greater than their own. It describes Cisco as ‘a distributed idea engine whose leadership emerges organically, unfettered by a central command’. The article examines the roles in economic development of both human capital (HC) and certain types of firm-level organizational capital. The firm's entrepreneurial, administrative, and transformational capabilities – called dynamic capabilities – undergird its capacity to build and sustain competitive advantage. Maintaining these capabilities in turn requires the business enterprise to recruit, organize, motivate, and deploy highly talented literati and numerati. The basic thesis here is that organizational capabilities and the institutional and legal fabric of society are needed to enable HC – including the literati and numerati – to generate prosperity and economic progress.
Human Capital Formation Regimes
Authors: Ó Riain Seán
Published: May 2011

This article relocates managing human capital (HC) into the larger world of which firms are merely part. A firm's production strategies work in an institutional framework that shapes how the benefits of education are distributed and the nature of skills, work, its control, and rewards. The article builds a complex model of five elements: inputs from firms' production strategies, national welfare production regimes, pertinent labour norms and interests, the firms' goals and interests, and the political system – collectively determining a sixth, the politics of firm-level HC formation. It contrasts notions of work, education, and welfare in Germany, Japan, Sweden, the US, and the UK. This analysis stands on Esping-Andersen's distinction between modes of welfare capitalism: Liberal, Social Democratic, and Christian Democrat.
Speciation in caves: experimental evidence that permanent darkness promotes reproductive isolation
Authors: Riesch Rüdiger , Plath Martin , Schlupp Ingo
Published: May 2011

Divergent selection through biotic factors like predation or parasitism can promote reproductive isolation even in the absence of geographical barriers. On the other hand, evidence for a role of adaptation to abiotic factors during ecological speciation in animals is scant. In particular, the role played by perpetual darkness in establishing reproductive isolation in cave animals (troglobites) remains elusive. We focused on two reproductively isolated ecotypes (surface- and cave-dwelling) of the widespread livebearer
Poecilia mexicana
, and raised offspring of wild-caught females to sexual maturity in a 12-month common-garden experiment. Fish were reared in light or darkness combined with high- or low-food conditions. Females, but not males, of the surface ecotype suffered from almost complete reproductive failure in darkness, especially in the low-food treatment. Furthermore, surface fish suffered from a significantly higher rate of spontaneous, stress-related infection with bacterial columnaris disease. This experimental evidence for strong selection by permanent darkness on non-adapted surface-dwelling animals adds depth to our understanding of the selective forces establishing and maintaining reproductive isolation in cave faunas.
Frequency-dependent variation in the two-dimensional beam pattern of an echolocating dolphin
Authors: Starkhammar Josefin , Moore Patrick W. , Talmadge Lois , Houser Dorian S.
Published: May 2011

Recent recordings of dolphin echolocation using a dense array of hydrophones suggest that the echolocation beam is dynamic and can at times consist of a single dominant peak, while at other times it consists of forward projected primary and secondary peaks with similar energy, partially overlapping in space and frequency bandwidth. The spatial separation of the peaks provides an area in front of the dolphin, where the spectral magnitude slopes drop off quickly for certain frequency bands. This region is potentially used to optimize prey localization by directing the maximum pressure slope of the echolocation beam at the target, rather than the maximum pressure peak. The dolphin was able to steer the beam horizontally to a greater extent than previously described. The complex and dynamic sound field generated by the echolocating dolphin may be due to the use of two sets of phonic lips as sound sources, or an unknown complexity in the sound propagation paths or acoustic properties of the forehead tissues of the dolphin.
The effects of inbreeding, genetic dissimilarity and phenotype on male reproductive success in a dioecious plant
Authors: Austerlitz Frédéric , Gleiser Gabriela , Teixeira Sara , Bernasconi Giorgina
Published: May 2011

Pollen fate can strongly affect the genetic structure of populations with restricted gene flow and significant inbreeding risk. We established an experimental population of inbred and outbred
Silene latifolia
plants to evaluate the effects of (i) inbreeding depression, (ii) phenotypic variation and (iii) relatedness between mates on male fitness under natural pollination. Paternity analysis revealed that outbred males sired significantly more offspring than inbred males. Independently of the effects of inbreeding, male fitness depended on several male traits, including a sexually dimorphic (flower number) and a gametophytic trait (
in vitro
pollen germination rate). In addition, full-sib matings were less frequent than randomly expected. Thus, inbreeding, phenotype and genetic dissimilarity simultaneously affect male fitness in this animal-pollinated plant. While inbreeding depression might threaten population persistence, the deficiency of effective matings between sibs and the higher fitness of outbred males will reduce its occurrence and counter genetic erosion.
The evolutionary history of division of labour
Authors: Simpson Carl
Published: May 2011

Functional specialization, or division of labour (DOL), of parts within organisms and colonies is common in most multi-cellular, colonial and social organisms, but it is far from ubiquitous. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the evolutionary origins of DOL; the basic feature common to all of them is that functional differences can arise easily. These mechanisms cannot explain the many groups of colonial and social animals that exhibit no DOL despite up to 500 million years of evolution. Here, I propose a new hypothesis, based on a multi-level selection theory, which predicts that a reproductive DOL is required to evolve prior to subsequent functional specialization. I test this hypothesis using a dataset consisting of the type of DOL for living and extinct colonial and social animals. The frequency distribution of DOL and the sequence of its acquisition confirm that reproductive specialization evolves prior to functional specialization. A corollary of this hypothesis is observed in colonial, social and also within multi-cellular organisms; those species without a reproductive DOL have a smaller range of internal variation, in terms of the number of polymorphs or cell types, than species with a reproductive DOL.
Human papillomavirus infection in nasal polyps in a Chinese population
Authors: Pei Fei , Chen Xiao-Ping , Zhang Yi , Wang Yan , Chen Qun , Tan Xue-Jun , Zhang Jing-Fei , Xue Xiao-Cheng , Wu Jian , Qing Zhi-Rong
Published: May 2011

In order to determine the prevalence and genotype distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in patients with nasal polyps, a total of 204 patients with nasal polyps and 36 healthy controls were recruited for this study. Genomic DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded tissue sections. HPV DNA genotyping was achieved by a flow-through hybridization and gene-chip method. HPV-positive infection was identified in 82 of 204 (40.2 %) patients, while HPV DNA was not found in healthy controls (P<0.05). Genotyping analysis showed that low-risk HPV genotype 11 was the most prevalent type of HPV in nasal polyps (45.28 %). Both single and multiple HPV genotype infections were found in these HPV-positive cases, although most (74.39 %) were infected with a single genotype. In addition, there was no correlation between HPV infection or HPV subtypes and the clinicopathological characteristics of patients, such as age, gender, number of surgery and disease course. The data from our study clearly demonstrated that HPV infection was associated with nasal polyps. Both high-risk HPV and low-risk HPV (LR-HPV) genotypes were identified in nasal polyp tissues, and LR-HPV-11 was the most prevalent type. Future research will explore the association of HPV infection with the development and progression of nasal polyps.
Enhanced Seed Oil Production in Canola by Conditional Expression of Brassica napus LEAFY COTYLEDON1 and LEC1-LIKE in Developing Seeds
Authors: Tan Helin , Yang Xiaohui , Zhang Fengxia , Zheng Xiu , Qu Cunmin , Mu Jinye , Fu Fuyou , Li Jiana , Guan Rongzhan , Zhang Hongsheng , Wang Guodong , Zuo Jianru
Published: May 2011

The seed oil content in oilseed crops is a major selection trait to breeders. In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), LEAFY COTYLEDON1 (LEC1) and LEC1-LIKE (L1L) are key regulators of fatty acid biosynthesis. Overexpression of AtLEC1 and its orthologs in canola (Brassica napus), BnLEC1 and BnL1L, causes an increased fatty acid level in transgenic Arabidopsis plants, which, however, also show severe developmental abnormalities. Here, we use truncated napin A promoters, which retain the seed-specific expression pattern but with a reduced expression level, to drive the expression of BnLEC1 and BnL1L in transgenic canola. Conditional expression of BnLEC1 and BnL1L increases the seed oil content by 2% to 20% and has no detrimental effects on major agronomic traits. In the transgenic canola, expression of a subset of genes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis and glycolysis is up-regulated in developing seeds. Moreover, the BnLEC1 transgene enhances the expression of several genes involved in Suc synthesis and transport in developing seeds and the silique wall. Consistently, the accumulation of Suc and Fru is increased in developing seeds of the transgenic rapeseed, suggesting the increased carbon flux to fatty acid biosynthesis. These results demonstrate that BnLEC1 and BnL1L are reliable targets for genetic improvement of rapeseed in seed oil production.
DOLICHOL PHOSPHATE MANNOSE SYNTHASE1 Mediates the Biogenesis of Isoprenyl-Linked Glycans and Influences Development, Stress Response, and Ammonium Hypersensitivity in Arabidopsis
Authors: Jadid Nurul , Mialoundama Alexis Samba , Heintz Dimitri , Ayoub Daniel , Erhardt Mathieu , Mutterer Jérôme , Meyer Denise , Alioua Abdelmalek , Van Dorsselaer Alain , Rahier Alain , Camara Bilal , Bouvier Florence
Published: May 2011

The most abundant posttranslational modification in nature is the attachment of preassembled high-mannose-type glycans, which determines the fate and localization of the modified protein and modulates the biological functions of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored and N-glycosylated proteins. In eukaryotes, all mannose residues attached to glycoproteins from the luminal side of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) derive from the polyprenyl monosaccharide carrier, dolichol P-mannose (Dol-P-Man), which is flipped across the ER membrane to the lumen. We show that in plants, Dol-P-Man is synthesized when Dol-P-Man synthase1 (DPMS1), the catalytic core, interacts with two binding proteins, DPMS2 and DPMS3, that may serve as membrane anchors for DPMS1 or provide catalytic assistance. This configuration is reminiscent of that observed in mammals but is distinct from the single DPMS protein catalyzing Dol-P-Man biosynthesis in bakers’ yeast and protozoan parasites. Overexpression of DPMS1 in Arabidopsis thaliana results in disorganized stem morphology and vascular bundle arrangements, wrinkled seed coat, and constitutive ER stress response. Loss-of-function mutations and RNA interference–mediated reduction of DPMS1 expression in Arabidopsis also caused a wrinkled seed coat phenotype and most remarkably enhanced hypersensitivity to ammonium that was manifested by extensive chlorosis and a strong reduction of root growth. Collectively, these data reveal a previously unsuspected role of the prenyl-linked carrier pathway for plant development and physiology that may help integrate several aspects of candidate susceptibility genes to ammonium stress.
Pause-and-Stop: The Effects of Osmotic Stress on Cell Proliferation during Early Leaf Development in Arabidopsis and a Role for Ethylene Signaling in Cell Cycle Arrest
Authors: Skirycz Aleksandra , Claeys Hannes , De Bodt Stefanie , Oikawa Akira , Shinoda Shoko , Andriankaja Megan , Maleux Katrien , Eloy Nubia Barbosa , Coppens Frederik , Yoo Sang-Dong , Saito Kazuki , Inzé Dirk
Published: May 2011

Despite its relevance for agricultural production, environmental stress-induced growth inhibition, which is responsible for significant yield reductions, is only poorly understood. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying cell cycle inhibition in young proliferating leaves of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana when subjected to mild osmotic stress. A detailed cellular analysis demonstrated that as soon as osmotic stress is sensed, cell cycle progression rapidly arrests, but cells are kept in a latent ambivalent state allowing a quick recovery (pause). Remarkably, cell cycle arrest coincides with an increase in 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate levels and the activation of ethylene signaling. Our work showed that ethylene acts on cell cycle progression via inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase A activity independently of EIN3 transcriptional control. When the stress persists, cells exit the mitotic cell cycle and initiate the differentiation process (stop). This stop is reflected by early endoreduplication onset, in a process independent of ethylene. Nonetheless, the potential to partially recover the decreased cell numbers remains due to the activity of meristemoids. Together, these data present a conceptual framework to understand how environmental stress reduces plant growth.
The dynamics of the urge‐to‐smoke following smoking cessation via pharmacotherapy
Authors: Javitz Harold S. , Swan Gary E. , Lerman Caryn
Published: May 2011

Aims  To examine person‐specific urge‐to‐smoke trajectories during the first 7 days of abstinence and the relationship of trajectory parameters to continuous abstinence, demographics, medication and smoking history.

Design  Hierarchical linear modeling was used to model person‐specific trajectories for urge‐to‐smoke.

Setting  Two university‐based smoking cessation trials.

Participants  Treatment‐seeking smokers in a clinical trial of transdermal nicotine (n = 275) versus nicotine spray (n = 239) and of bupropion (n = 223) versus placebo (n = 198).

Measurements  Self‐reported urge‐to‐smoke for 7 days after the planned quit date, and 7‐day point prevalence and continuous abstinence at end of treatment (EOT) and 6 months.

Findings  Urge‐to‐smoke trajectory parameters (average level, slope, curvature and volatility) varied substantially among individuals, had modest intercorrelations and predicted continuous and point prevalence abstinence at EOT and at 6 months. Higher trajectory level, slope and volatility were all significantly (P ≤ 0.001) associated with a reduced likelihood of abstinence at EOT (odds ratios 0.44–0.75) and at 6‐month follow‐up (odds ratios from 0.63 to 0.78), controlling for demographic, medication and smoking use variables.

Conclusion  Higher urge‐to‐smoke trajectory parameters of level, slope and volatility (measured over 7 days) predict continuous and 7‐day point prevalence at EOT and 6 months. Although there were some associations of trajectory parameters with demographics and smoking history, the associations of trajectory parameters with relapse were relatively uninfluenced by demographics and smoking history.
Preservation of fertility in females with haematological malignancy
Authors: Donnez Jacques , Dolmans Marie‐Madeleine
Published: May 2011

Several options are currently available for the preservation of fertility in cancer patients: embryo cryopreservation, oocyte cryopreservation or ovarian tissue cryopreservation. The choice of the most suitable strategy for preserving fertility depends on different parameters: the type and timing of chemotherapy, the type of cancer, the patient’s age and the partner status. Cryopreservation of ovarian tissue is the only option available for prepubertal girls and woman who cannot delay the start of chemotherapy. So far, 15 live births have been obtained after orthotopic transplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue.
The influence of gender and atopy on the natural history of rhinitis in the first 18 years of life
Authors: Kurukulaaratchy R. J. , Karmaus W. , Raza A. , Matthews S. , Roberts G. , Arshad S. H.
Published: May 2011

Cite this as: R. J. Kurukulaaratchy, W. Karmaus, A. Raza, S. Matthews, G. Roberts and S. H. Arshad, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2011 (41) 851–859.

Background
Longitudinal studies of the natural history of childhood and adolescent rhinitis are lacking.

Objectives
To investigate the natural history of rhinitis up to 18 years of age, and how that is influenced by gender and atopy.

Methods
The Isle of Wight birth cohort was recruited in 1989 (n=1456). Questionnaire data on nasal symptoms (rhinitis) were collected at 1, 2, 4, 10 and 18 years of age. To define atopy, skin prick tests were conducted at 4, 10 and 18 years. The 12‐month period prevalence plus positive and negative transitions (defined as change in disease status in two consecutive study assessments) were stratified by gender and atopic status.

Results
Overall rhinitis prevalence increased from 5.4% at 4 years to 35.8% at 18 years (P<0.001), without gender difference. Atopic rhinitis prevalence increased steadily from 3.4% at 4 years to 27.3% at 18 years (P<0.001), was commoner in boys at 18 years (P=0.02) and associated with greater positive transition in boys from 10 to 18 years (P=0.01). Prevalence of non‐atopic rhinitis also increased from 4 to 18 years (P=0.003) and was greater in girls at 18 years (P<0.001) reflecting higher female positive transition from 10 to 18 years (P<0.001). Non‐atopic rhinitis negative transition (remission) was highest in early life and reduced in later childhood/adolescence.

Conclusion
Atopic rhinitis becomes increasingly common as children grow into adolescents, with stronger associations to male gender. Non‐atopic rhinitis shows a female predominance at 18 years as girls ‘grow into’ it more during adolescence. Our findings suggest differential gender effects on the increasing prevalence of both atopic and non‐atopic rhinitis in adolescence.

Clinical Relevance
A better understanding of how gender and atopic status influence rhinitis during adolescence emerges from this study. Application of such knowledge could help to improve clinical recognition, judge prognosis and ultimately improve management of this common condition.
In vitro fermentation patterns and methane production of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) hay with different condensed tannin contents
Authors: Guglielmelli A. , Calabro` S. , Primi R. , Carone F. , Cutrignelli M. I. , Tudisco R. , Piccolo G. , Ronchi B. , Danieli P. P.
Published: May 2011

Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) is a perennial legume recently reappraised for some positive characteristics leading to highly satisfactory animal performance. Sainfoin’s characteristics may be partly explained by the presence of moderate levels of condensed tannins (CTs) able to protect dietary protein from microbial degradation in the rumen. Decreased CH4 emissions have been reported for ruminants consuming CT‐containing forage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of CT content on the in vitro fermentation characteristics and kinetics and methane production of four samples of O. viciifolia cut at different phenological stages. Sainfoin hays and one sample of alfalfa hay were incubated at 39°C in anaerobiosis using the in vitro gas production technique. The chemical composition, tannin content and fermentation characteristics and kinetics of sainfoin samples were significantly affected by phenological stage. After 48 h, the CH4 production in sainfoin hays showed a tendency to increase with the advancement of phenological stage [from 38·6 to 49·8 mL g−1 of degraded organic matter (OM)]. The best period to cut sainfoin for hay making is between early and late flowering, when the forage combines high OM digestibility, low CH4 production and more efficient microbial fermentation.
The use of hermeneutic interpretation statements in EPR documentation to capture qualities of caring
Authors: von Krogh Gunn , Nåden Dagfinn
Published: May 2011

Aims and objectives.  To present an examination of hermeneutic interpretations statements in documentation; occurrences, nature and significant patterns, before and after the implementation of an electronic patient record and the documentation model quality assurance, problem solving and caring.

Background.  The problem‐solving and caring model facilitates the systematisation and formatting of nursing documenting in electronic patient record. Text formats are designed for record notes to indicate how the text is to be presented and organised. A narrative text format is designed to facilitate a caring perspective in nursing report notes. This format allows the inclusion of hermeneutic interpretations statements to visualise the understanding of the patient.

Design.  Documentation material was examined in a pretest–post‐test design.

Method.  Report notes were analysed with the aid of Gadamer’s hermeneutic interpretation process. The horizon of interpretation was formed by qualities of caring described in caring philosophy and caring theory.

Results.  One hundred and six reports containing hermeneutic interpretation statements reflecting caring were identified. The finding shows that the number of such information is small and decreases during the project.

Conclusion.  The result may indicate that hermeneutic interpretation statements in documentation may diminish with the introduction of electronic patient records. This can lead to incomplete information exchange if face‐to‐face reporting is discontinued. For that reason, electronic patient records need an information structure facilitating information formatted to reflect caring. The use of such a format requires training to a larger extent that was offered during this project.

Relevance to clinical practice.  This study might enhance the clinician’s awareness of materialising both analytical and hermeneutical thinking processes in clinical reasoning when documenting nursing care. New documentation tools and routines might favour documentation based on analytical thinking processes with the consequence that essential information of importance for the individual patient’s care might be lost.
Occupational social class, coping responses and infertility‐related stress of women undergoing infertility treatment
Authors: Lykeridou Katerina , Gourounti Kleanthi , Sarantaki Antigoni , Loutradis Dimitrios , Vaslamatzis Grigorios , Deltsidou Anna
Published: May 2011

Aim and objectives.  The aims of this study were to examine the association between (1) occupational social class and coping responses, (2) coping responses and infertility‐related stress and (3) occupational social class and infertility‐related distress.

Background.  The coping strategies that individuals use in most of the stressful situations vary according to certain factors, such as, the appraised characteristics of the stressful condition, personality dispositions and social resources.

Design.  This study was a cross‐sectional survey.

Methods.  The study involved 404 women undergoing infertility treatment at a public clinic in Athens, Greece. State and trait anxiety (State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory), infertility‐related stress (Copenhagen Multi‐centre Psychosocial Infertility) and coping strategies (Copenhagen Multi‐centre Psychosocial Infertility) were measured.

Results.  Women of low/very low social class reported higher levels of active‐confronting coping compared with women of higher social class (p < 0·001). A positive correlation between active‐avoidance coping and both state and trait anxiety (r = 0·278 and 0·233, respectively, p < 0·01) was observed. The passive‐avoidance coping scale was positively correlated with marital and personal stress (r = 0·186 and 0·146, respectively, p < 0·01). All three kinds of stress (marital, personal and social) were positively correlated with both active‐avoidance (r = 0·302, 0·423 and 0·211, respectively, p < 0·01) and active‐confronting scale (r = 0·150, 0·211 and 0·141, respectively, p < 0·01).

Conclusions.  Infertile women of the lowest social class used more active‐confronting coping and more passive‐avoidance coping than women of the highest social class. Factors such as low social class and maladaptive coping strategies might contribute to infertility‐related stress and anxiety.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Nurses and midwives who work in infertility clinics should aim to identify individuals who are at high risk for infertility stress and adjustment difficulties and they should minimise the identified risk factors for infertility‐related stress and strengthen the protective factors.
A two‐component system, an anti‐sigma factor and two paralogous ECF sigma factors are involved in the control of general stress response in Caulobacter crescentus
Authors: Lourenço Rogério F. , Kohler Christian , Gomes Suely L.
Published: May 2011

The extracytoplasmic function sigma factor σT is the master regulator of general stress response in Caulobacter crescentus and controls the expression of its paralogue σU. In this work we showed that PhyR and NepR act, respectively, as positive and negative regulators of σT expression and function. Biochemical data also demonstrated that NepR directly binds σT and the phosphorylated form of PhyR. We also described the essential role of the histidine kinase gene CC3474, here denominated phyK, for expression of σT‐dependent genes and for resistance to stress conditions. Additionally, in vivo evidence of PhyK‐dependent phosphorylation of PhyR is presented. This study also identified a conserved cysteine residue (C95) located in the periplasmic portion of PhyK that is crucial for the function of the protein. Furthermore, we showed that PhyK, PhyR and σT regulate the same set of genes and that σT apparently directly controls most of its regulon. In contrast, σU seems to have a very modest contribution to the expression of a subset of σT‐dependent genes. In conclusion, this report describes the molecular mechanism involved in the control of general stress response in C. crescentus.
Mutational analysis of glucose transport regulation and glucose‐mediated virulence gene repression in Listeria monocytogenes
Authors: Aké Francine M. D. , Joyet Philippe , Deutscher Josef , Milohanic Eliane
Published: May 2011

Listeria monocytogenes transports glucose/mannose via non‐PTS permeases and phosphoenolpyruvate:carbohydrate phosphotransferase systems (PTS). Two mannose class PTS are encoded by the constitutively expressed mpoABCD and the inducible manLMN operons. The man operon encodes the main glucose transporter because manL or manM deletion significantly slows glucose utilization, whereas mpoA deletion has no effect. The PTSMpo mainly functions as a constitutively synthesized glucose sensor controlling man operon expression by phosphorylating and interacting with ManR, a LevR‐like transcription activator. EIIBMpo plays a dual role in ManR regulation: P∼EIIBMpo prevailing in the absence of glucose phosphorylates and thereby inhibits ManR activity, whereas unphosphorylated EIIBMpo prevailing during glucose uptake is needed to render ManR active. In contrast to mpoA, deletion of mpoB therefore strongly inhibits man operon expression and glucose consumption. A ΔptsI (EI) mutant consumes glucose at an even slower rate probably via GlcU‐like non‐PTS transporters. Interestingly, deletion of ptsI, manL, manM or mpoB causes elevated PrfA‐mediated virulence gene expression. The PTSMan is the major player in glucose‐mediated PrfA inhibition because the ΔmpoA mutant showed normal PrfA activity. The four mutants showing PrfA derepression contain no or only little unphosphorylated EIIABMan (ManL), which probably plays a central role in glucose‐mediated PrfA regulation.
Retracted: Maf acts downstream of ComGA to arrest cell division in competent cells of B. subtilis
Authors: Briley Jr Kenneth , Prepiak Peter , Dias Miguel J. , Hahn Jeanette , Dubnau David
Published: May 2011

Transformable (competent) cells of Bacillus subtilis are blocked in cell division because the traffic ATPase ComGA prevents the formation of FtsZ rings. Although ComGA‐deficient cells elongate and form FtsZ rings, cell division remains blocked at a later stage and the cells become mildly filamented. Here we show that the highly conserved protein Maf is synthesized predominantly in competent cells under the direct control of the transcription factor ComK and is solely responsible for the later block in cell division. In vivo and in vitro data show that Maf binds to both ComGA and DivIVA. A point mutation in maf that interferes with Maf binding to DivIVA also interferes with the ability of Maf to inhibit cell division. Based on these findings, we propose that Maf and ComGA mediate mechanisms for the inhibition of cell division in competent cells with Maf acting downstream of ComGA. We further suggest that Maf must interact with DivIVA to inhibit cell division.
A phage protein that binds φC31 integrase to switch its directionality
Authors: Khaleel Thanafez , Younger Ellen , McEwan Andrew R. , Varghese Anpu S. , Smith Margaret C. M.
Published: May 2011

The serine integrase, Int, from the Streptomyces phage φC31 mediates the integration and excision of the phage genome into and out of the host chromosome. Integrases usually require a recombination directionality factor (RDF) or Xis to control integration and excision and, as φC31 Int only mediates integration in the absence of other phage proteins, we sought to identify a φC31 RDF. Here we report that the φC31 early protein, gp3 activated attL x attR recombination and inhibited attP x attB recombination. Gp3 binds to Int in solution and when Int is bound to the attachment sites. Kinetic analysis of the excision reaction suggested that gp3 modifies the interactions between Int and the substrates to form an active recombinase. In the presence of gp3, Int assembles an excision synaptic complex and the accumulation of the integration complex is inhibited. The structure of the excision synaptic complex, like that of the hyperactive mutant of Int, IntE449K, appeared to be biased towards one that favours the production of correctly joined products. The functional properties of φC31 gp3 resemble those of the evolutionarily unrelated RDF from phage Bxb1, suggesting that these two RDFs have arisen through convergent evolution.
Use of spray‐dried porcine blood by‐products in diets for young chickens
Authors: Jamroz D. , Wiliczkiewicz A. , Orda J. , Kuryszko J. , Stefaniak T.
Published: May 2011

Spray‐dried porcine blood plasma (SDBP) or blood cells (SDBC) at amounts of 20 or 40 g/kg were included to the feed mixtures that were given to young chickens within 1–28 (Exp. 1) or 1–30 (Exp. 2) days post‐hatch. In comparison with the group fed mixtures containing plant components, chickens fed mixtures supplemented with 40 g/kg of SDBP significantly (p < 0.01) increased the body weight estimated on 14 day of life (Exp. 1). At the age of 28 or 30 days post‐hatch, the body weight was improved significantly (p < 0.01 or 0.05) in both experiments. Significant differences (one‐factorial anova) in feed conversion among particular feeding groups were stated in Exp. 1 only; however, calculations using two‐factorial anova show insignificant differences depending on the used animal meal. In selected blood parameters (IgG, Ht, Hb), insignificant differences between feeding groups were stated. The use of SDBP in feed mixture significantly increased the Na retention in both experiments, and K accretion in Exp. 1 only. Application of SDBC and 40 g/kg of SDBP significantly or insignificantly improved Fe retention. Insignificant diversification of apparent ileal digestibility of nutrients was stated; the crude fat was significantly better digested in treatments fed mixtures with animal meals but kind of animal meal was without any significant effect. Significant differences in digestibility of amino acids were recorded for Pro, Cys, Val, His, Lys and Arg. In chickens fed mixture with SDBC, higher coefficients of apparent digestibility of Cys, Val and His (Exp. 1) and Cys and His (Exp. 2) than in other feeding groups were obtained. The kind of used blood by‐products has not affected the histological structure of intestine wall.
Prospective audit of patients with haemophilia: Bleeding episodes and management
Authors: Alexander Matthew , Barnes Chris , Barnett Peter
Published: May 2011

Background:  Haemophilia is a congenital bleeding disorder that requires replacement of factor VIII (haemophilia A) or factor IX (haemophilia B) via intravenous infusions. Children can either be treated with prophylactic treatment to prevent bleeding or be managed with on‐demand therapy and treat specific bleeding episodes.

Aims:  The aim of this paper was to prospectively follow a cohort of haemophilia patients to determine the incidence of bleeding, re‐bleeding, re‐treatment and adjunct management over a period of 5 months.

Methods:  Sixty‐six boys with haemophilia were followed. Age range was 10 months to 19 years; 70% of patients had severe haemophilia and 38 (58%) of all patients were on prophylaxis.

Results:  Twenty‐nine patients experienced at least one episode of bleeding during study period which included 70 home bleeding episodes and 20 emergency department (ED) presentations. Secondary treatments occurred in 38% of all bleeding episodes. The incidence of re‐bleeds occurring within 3 weeks of the initial bleeding episode was 11%.

Conclusions:  Further study focusing on optimising treatment regimes for patients with haemophilia presenting with bleeding episodes is necessary.
Photosynthetic response ofNereocystis luetkeana(Phaeophyta) to high light
Authors: Poulson Mary E. , McNeil Andrew J. , Donahue Raymon A.
Published: May 2011

Photosynthetic response to high light was determined for Bull kelp,Nereocystis luetkeana(K. Mertens) Postels and Ruprecht in order to understand how this species is affected by short‐term fluctuations in irradiance. Exposure ofN. luetkeanablades to high intensity photosynthetically active radiation (1000 µmol photons m−2s–1) caused increased non‐photochemical quenching of fluorescence and higher de‐epoxidation ratios for xanthophyll pigments indicating that energy‐quenching xanthophylls were used to protect blades against photoinhibition. Despite initiation of these photoprotective mechanisms, maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) decreased 40% in response to a 60 min exposure to 1000 µmol photons m−2s–1photosynthetically active radiation indicating that photoinhibition had occurred. Light‐saturated rates of oxygen evolution were not changed significantly by the high light treatment. Recovery of maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II to within 8% of initial values occurred after a 300‐min dim light period. Younger sections of the blades were slightly more susceptible to high light damage than older sections. Middle sections of the blades were more prone to light‐induced damage at water temperatures of 7°C or 18°C, as compared to 13°C. Exposure to biologically effective ultraviolet‐B radiation (UV‐Bbe) (up to 4.5 kJ m–2 day–1) in photoinhibitory light conditions did not significantly affect light‐induced damage to photosystem II.
Incidental small renal mass: current management
Authors: Nalavenkata Sunny , Jarvis Thomas R. , Rashid Prem
Published: May 2011

Background:  To review options for minimally invasive urological surgery in the management of incidental small renal masses (<4 cm in size).

Methods:  The National Library of Medicine (PubMed) and MEDLINE databases were accessed to specifically search the available literature on minimally invasive urological surgery. Identified articles were then selected based on their contribution to the current evidence base.

Results:  There has been an influx of articles pertaining to the management of small renal masses. Treatment options continue to evolve and thus, the scope of articles was reduced to the last ten years. All data are observational statistics, and as such, are subject to selection bias and other problems inherent in non‐randomized retrospective designs.

Conclusion:  Selected cases of small renal masses can be observed with low risk of metastases, but this does not equate to zero risk. Nephron sparing surgery such as laparoscopic partial nephrectomy or open partial nephrectomy offers optimal oncological outcomes, nephron preservation and improved general prognosis. While there are no ‘gold standards’ in the management of the small renal mass, laparoscopic partial nephrectomy has demonstrated improving outcomes and minimal complications in the hands of an experienced surgeon. The challenge will be to encourage adoption of this technique, to ensure proficiency, but also be cognisant of the potential risks for lower volume surgeons. The role of ablative procedures is limited to the poor surgical candidate, and as an alternative to the technically difficult laparoscopic procedure. Until long‐term data is available, this position is unlikely to change.
Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma at the 16th week of a twin pregnancy
Authors: Matsubara Shigeki , Inoue Hirokazu , Takamura Kazuhiro , Kimura Atsushi , Okuno Satsuki , Fujita Akifumi , Seichi Atsushi
Published: May 2011

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma without discernable underlying conditions is a rare complication during pregnancy. We report a pregnant woman who developed the hematoma at 16 weeks of pregnancy; the earliest occurrence ever reported. A 36‐year‐old Japanese primipara with twins felt shoulder, neck and back pain at 16+1 weeks with progressive quadriplegia. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a mass in the C3‐7 epidural space, compatible with a spinal epidural hematoma, and decompression was performed 9 h after symptom onset. Rehabilitation started and she gave birth abdominally to healthy twin infants at the 29th week. Motor, sensory and sphincter disturbances remained. This case demonstrates that spinal epidural hematoma can occur even without known underlying conditions and even at an early gestational age.
Preeclampsia in North Indian women: the contribution of genetic polymorphisms
Authors: Aggarwal Shagun , Dimri Nalini , Tandon Indu , Agarwal Sarita
Published: May 2011

Aim:  To find association of angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D), angiotensinogen (AGT) T704C, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T and factor V Leiden (FVL) G1691A polymorphisms with pre‐eclampsia (PE) in North Indian women.

Material & Methods:  In this prospective case‐control study, genotyping of 200 pre‐eclamptic women and 200 normotensive pregnant controls was performed for the ACE I/D, AGT T/C,MTHFR C/T and FVL G/A polymorphisms. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS and Epi Info to estimate their association with PE. The association of these polymorphisms with nonsevere PE and severe PE was separately assessed.

Results:  The FVL mutation was found in 4% of women and increased the risk of PE twofold (odds ratio [OR] 2.08, P‐value 0.03). The MTHFR mutant allele was found to be protective (OR 0.59, P‐value 0.01). Both these polymorphisms showed similar association with nonsevere PE (OR 2.149, P‐value 0.038 and OR 0.565, P‐value 0.222, respectively) but not with severe PE. The ACE I/D and AGT T/C polymorphisms were not found to be associated with PE overall (OR 1.26, P‐value 0.11 and OR 1.15, P‐value 0.35, respectively), but ACE I/D polymorphism was found to increase the risk of severe PE (OR 1.53, P‐value 0.019).

Conclusion:  FVL mutation is more common in North Indians than previously believed and it predisposes the women to PE. MTHFR mutant allele is paradoxically protective. ACE polymorphism appears to predispose to severe PE but not nonsevere PE. No significant contribution of AGT polymorphism to PE is found.
Analysis of the polymorphisms of genes coding biotransformation enzymes in recurrent miscarriage in the Japanese population
Authors: Nonaka Taro , Takakuwa Koichi , Tanaka Kenichi
Published: May 2011

Aim:  To investigate the relationship between the genotype of enzymes for detoxification and recurrent miscarriage.

Methods:  The frequency of each genotype of enzymes for detoxification, such as cytochrome P450‐1A1 (CYP1A1), glutathione‐S‐transferase‐pi (GST‐pi), GST‐mu and GST‐theta, was analyzed in patients with unexplained recurrent miscarriage (number of miscarriages ≥3) by polymerase‐chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism. A total of 103 patients were enrolled in the study, and 101 normal fertile women, who had never suffered a miscarriage, were also enrolled. The frequency of each genotype of the enzymes was compared between the patient population and the control group. The χ2‐test and Fisher's exact test were used for statistical evaluation.

Results:  No significant difference was observed concerning the distribution of polymorphic variants among CYP1A1, GST‐pi, GST‐mu and GST‐theta. On the other hand, the frequency of individuals with the GST‐mu deletion was significantly higher in cases of recurrent miscarriage compared with the control population among coffee drinkers (61% vs 41%, P = 0.025).

Conclusion:  There is a possibility that lower GST‐mu enzyme activity may represent a risk factor for recurrent miscarriage, especially in the patient population of coffee consumers, as a result of impaired placental detoxification.
Expression and prognostic value of WISP‐1 in patients with endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma
Authors: Tang Qionglan , Jiang Xuefeng , Li Haigang , Lin Zhongqiu , Zhou Xiaodong , Luo Xin , Liu Li , Chen Gengbiao
Published: May 2011

Aim:  It has been well established that the aberrant activation of the Wnt/β‐catenin signal correlates to endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma (EEC). As an effector of the Wnt/β‐catenin mediated antiapoptotic signal, the role of Wnt‐induced secreted protein‐1 (WISP‐1) in EEC still remains unclear.

Methods:  We used immunohistochemistry and quantitative real‐time RT‐PCR to examine the expression of WISP‐1, the estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) in 86 cases of EEC, with 20 cases of endometrial hyperplasia, 20 of proliferative endometrium and 20 of secretory endometrium used as the control group. We also correlated the expression of WISP‐1 with various clinicopathologic factors and prognostic values in patients with EEC.

Results:  A high expression of WISP‐1 was observed in 26 of the 86 cases of EEC (30.2%). The expression rate of WISP‐1 in EEC was significantly higher than that in secretory endometrium (P < 0.005). Histopathological grades and PR were associated with high WISP‐1 expression (P = 0.002, P = 0.027, respectively). The estimated five‐year survival rate of patients with low‐to‐moderate expression of WISP‐1 was significantly higher than those with high WISP‐1 expression (91.3% vs 65%, P = 0.011). Multivariate analysis revealed that high WISP‐1 expression and positive lymphovascular space invasion were independent prognostic factors for survival.

Conclusions:  High expression of WISP‐1 was related to tumor cell dedifferentiation and PR loss. WISP‐1 might be a new molecular marker to predict the prognosis of patients with EEC.