bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Restructuring Managerial Labour in the USA, the UK and Japan: Challenging the Salience of ‘Varieties of Capitalism’
Authors: McCann Leo , Hassard John , Morris Jonathan
Published: May 2010

This article provides a cross‐national, qualitative investigation into the experiences of middle managers in large organizations in the USA, the UK and Japan, following organizational restructuring. Despite well‐documented national differences in administrative heritage, institutional regimes or ‘varieties of capitalism’, our data point towards considerable similitude across the three countries in terms of a general expression of the need for change, and the concrete impacts of organizational reforms on managerial work. Specifically we analyse the changing nature of work roles, career paths, working hours and spans of control of mid‐level managers in five large firms in each of the three countries. The data demonstrate that middle managers in all three countries face fundamental changes to key areas of their work experience. In Japan, although changes do not amount to a genuine shift towards ‘Anglo‐Saxon’ institutions or business practices, the robust use of organizational reforms with very similar aims and underpinning assumptions to those used in the USA and the UK entails similar impacts in terms of work processes of middle managers across the three nations. This shared experience involved the augmentation of middle management skill levels, responsibilities and span of control, but alongside the downgrading of career expectations, and increased workload and work intensity. We argue that these changes are in keeping with some, but not all, of the features explained and predicted in Bravermanian labour process theory.
An Econometric Analysis of Dividends and Share Repurchases by US Firms
Authors: Bhargava Alok
Published: May 2010

The paper analyses longitudinal Compustat data on dividend payments and share repurchases of over 2000 US industrial firms by using 2-yearly averages for the period 1992–2007. First, dynamic auto-regressive models for dividends and share repurchases were estimated by maximum likelihood to yield consistent and efficient estimates. Second, because firms pay dividends at different rates, comprehensive dynamic and static random-effects models for dividends were estimated. Third, models were estimated for share repurchases and the interrelationships between dividends and repurchases were investigated, tackling endogeneity issues. The results showed that dividend decisions are likely to precede those regarding share repurchases, and higher dividend payments decreased the magnitudes of repurchases; the effects of repurchases on dividends were generally insignificant.
AUGUSTINE ON MORAL CONSCIENCE
Authors: SVENSSON MANFRED
Published: May 2010

There are widely differing accounts of Augustine's place in the early history of the notion of conscience. While some regard his contribution as groundbreaking, others consider that he only stressed interiority more than earlier authors. Starting with a contrast with Jerome, the present article aims at clarifying Augustine's specific contribution and the place of conscience in his moral thought.
Late‐Quaternary palaeoclimatic research in Fennoscandia – A historical review
Authors: BIRKS H. JOHN B. , SEPPÄ HEIKKI
Published: May 2010

Birks, H. J. B. & Seppä, H. 2010: Late‐Quaternary palaeoclimatic research in Fennoscandia – A historical review. Boreas, Vol. 39, pp. 655–673. 10.1111/j.1502‐3885.2010.00160.x. ISSN 0300‐9483.

Ideas and understanding of Late‐Quaternary climatic history, especially in the Lateglacial and the postglacial, were initiated in Fennoscandia in the 19th century with pioneering studies on peat stratigraphy, megafossils and macrofossils. This review traces the history of palaeoclimatic research and the development of current ideas about climatic changes, with particular reference to the Lateglacial and its rapid climatic fluctuations, such as the Younger Dryas period, and to the Holocene, with its thermal maximum and shifts in precipitation.
Changes in Sensation Seeking and Risk‐Taking Propensity Predict Increases in Alcohol Use Among Early Adolescents
Authors: MacPherson Laura , Magidson Jessica F. , Reynolds Elizabeth K. , Kahler Christopher W. , Lejuez C. W.
Published: May 2010

Background:  Conceptual models implicating disinhibitory traits often are applied to understanding emergent alcohol use, but, little is known of how inter‐individual changes in these constructs relate to increases in alcohol use in early adolescence. The current study utilized behavioral and self‐report instruments to capture the disinhibitory‐based constructs of sensation seeking and risk‐taking propensity to examine if increases in these constructs over time related to increases in early adolescent alcohol use.

Methods:  Participants included a community sample of 257 early adolescents (aged 9 to 12) who completed a self‐report measure of sensation seeking, a behavioral task assessing risk‐taking propensity, and a self‐report of past year alcohol use, at 3 annual assessment waves.

Results:  Both sensation seeking and risk‐taking propensity demonstrated significant increases over time, with additional evidence that change in the behavioral measure of risk‐taking propensity was not because of practice effects. Greater sensation seeking and greater risk‐taking propensity demonstrated concurrent relationships with past year alcohol use at each assessment wave. Prospective analyses indicated that after accounting for initial levels of alcohol use, sensation seeking, and risk‐taking propensity at the first assessment wave, larger increases in both constructs predicted greater odds of alcohol use at subsequent assessment waves.

Conclusions:  Results indicate the role of individual changes in disinhibitory traits in initial alcohol use in early adolescents. Specifically, findings suggest it is not simply initial levels of sensation seeking and risk‐taking propensity that contribute to subsequent alcohol use but in particular increases in each of these constructs that predict greater odds of use. Future work should continue to assess the development of sensation seeking and risk‐taking propensity in early adolescence and target these constructs in interventions as a potential means to reduce adolescent alcohol use.
Hepatitis C infection in hemodialysis patients in Iran: A systematic review
Authors: ALAVIAN Seyed‐Moayed , KABIR Ali , AHMADI Amir Bahrami , LANKARANI Kamran Bagheri , SHAHBABAIE Mohammad Ali , AHMADZAD‐ASL Masoud
Published: May 2010

Hemodialysis (HD) patients are recognized as one of the high‐risk groups for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The prevalence of HCV infection varies widely between 5.5% and 24% among different Iranian populations. Preventive programs for reducing HCV infection prevalence in these patients require accurate information. In the present study, we estimated HCV infection prevalence in Iranian HD patients. In this systematic review, we collected all published and unpublished documents related to HCV infection prevalence in Iranian HD patients from April 2001 to March 2008. We selected descriptive/analytic cross‐sectional studies/surveys that have sufficiently declared objectives, a proper sampling method with identical and valid measurement instruments for all study subjects, and proper analysis methods regarding sampling design and demographic adjustments. We used a meta‐analysis method to calculate nationwide prevalence estimation. Eighteen studies from 12 provinces (consisting 49.02% of the Iranian total population) reported the prevalence of HCV infection in Iranian HD patients. The HCV infection prevalence in Iranian HD patients is 7.61% (95% confidence interval: 6.06–9.16%) with the recombinant immunoblot assay method. Iran is among countries with low HCV infection prevalence in HD patients.
Correlation between coping style and quality of life among hemodialysis patients from a low‐income area in Brazil
Authors: SANTOS Paulo Roberto
Published: May 2010

Quality of life (QOL) is an important outcome among end‐stage renal disease patients and can be associated with modifiable behaviors. We analyzed the correlation between coping style and QOL among hemodialysis patients. We studied 166 end‐stage renal disease patients undergoing hemodialysis. They were older than 18 years, under hemodialysis for at least 3 months, and had never received a transplant. Quality of life was assessed by SF‐36 and coping style was scored by the Jalowiec Coping Scale. Emotion‐oriented coping and problem‐oriented coping scores were compared according to sex, comorbidity, and socioeconomic status by the Mann‐Whitney test. Correlations between QOL and 2 coping styles (emotion‐oriented coping and problem‐oriented coping) were adjusted for age, time on dialysis, hemoglobin, creatinine, albumin, calcium–phosphorus product, and Kt/V by backward stepwise linear regression. There was no difference between coping scores according to sex, comorbidity, and socioeconomic status. Emotion‐oriented coping was independently and negatively associated with 4 QOL dimensions: physical functioning, role‐physical, role‐emotional, and mental health. Our results indicate that patients with high emotion‐oriented coping scores should be seen at risk for poor QOL. Patient education in coping skills may be used to change the risk of poor QOL.
Influence of dietary yeasts onDrosophila melanogasterlife‐history traits
Authors: Anagnostou Christiana , Dorsch Monika , Rohlfs Marko
Published: May 2010

An organism’s fitness is highly dependent on resource quality. The diet of saprobiotic organisms often comprises a variety of microorganisms. SaprophagousDrosophila melanogasterMeigen (Diptera: Drosophilidae) is known to feed on various yeast species, both as larva and adult. The yeasts encountered by the insects may differ in composition and quality, and thus in their influence on larval and adult performance. Our study explores life‐history consequences of larval diet on selected larval and adult traits, as well as larval and adult food choice and egg‐laying behaviour. The chosen yeast species could be shown to influence several life‐history traits ofD. melanogaster, such as survival, development time, and adult body weight. Additionally, the amount of yeast biomass initially fed to the larvae significantly influenced development time and adult body weight, whereby the effect depended on the yeast species offered. There were also yeast‐specific influences on the measured fitness traits when larvae were reared at different densities. Larvae exhibited a preference for those yeast species that had shown to favour most of the measured life‐history traits. Adults, on the other hand, exhibited a different preference. Contrary to our expectation based on the preference‐performance hypothesis, female adult flies did not prefer to lay their eggs on substrates inoculated with yeast species that had been shown to favourably influence larval development time. Possible reasons for this seemingly ‘bad mother’‐behaviour are being discussed.
Risk factors for obesity in childhood survivors of suprasellar brain tumours: a retrospective study
Authors: Lek Ngee , Prentice Philippa , Williams Rachel M , Ong Ken K , Burke Gladstone Austin Amos , Acerini Carlo L
Published: May 2010

Aim:  To characterize postdiagnosis changes in body mass index (BMI) among childhood survivors of suprasellar brain tumours, and to determine the risk factors associated with obesity.

Methods:  We conducted a retrospective analysis of 46 children (16 boys and 30 girls) with median (IQR) age of 7.49 (3.47–11.59) years at tumour diagnosis, and followed up for 3.93 (1.68–7.27) years. Survival analyses were used to identify risks of developing obesity.

Results:  There were no sex differences in age at tumour diagnosis, duration of follow‐up, tumour types, endocrinopathies, treatment modalities or baseline BMI SDS. In the first year after tumour diagnosis, ΔBMI SDS (median; IQR) was greater in girls (1.32; 0.07–2.08) than in boys (0.48; −0.40 to 0.89) (p = 0.01). At diagnosis, 3/46 children (6%) were obese; this increased to 20/46 (43%) by last follow‐up (p < 0.001) and was more common in girls (17/30; 57%) than in boys (3/16; 19%). Female gender (hazard ratio 5.0, 95% CI 1.2–21.7; p = 0.04) and greater than average baseline BMI (hazard ratio 4.7, 95% CI 1.1–20.8; p = 0.02) were risk factors for subsequent obesity.

Conclusion:  Accurate prediction of obesity risk is important and would allow early targeted intervention in high‐risk patients.
Myristoylation of the dual‐specificity phosphatase c‐JUN N‐terminal kinase (JNK) stimulatory phosphatase 1 is necessary for its activation of JNK signaling and apoptosis
Authors: Schwertassek Ulla , Buckley Deirdre A. , Xu Chong‐Feng , Lindsay Andrew J. , McCaffrey Mary W. , Neubert Thomas A. , Tonks Nicholas K.
Published: May 2010

Activation of the c‐JUN N‐terminal kinase (JNK) pathway is implicated in a number of important physiological processes, from embryonic morphogenesis to cell survival and apoptosis. JNK stimulatory phosphatase 1 (JSP1) is a member of the dual‐specificity phosphatase subfamily of protein tyrosine phosphatases. In contrast to other dual‐specificity phosphatases that catalyze the inactivation of mitogen‐activated protein kinases, expression of JSP1 activates JNK‐mediated signaling. JSP1 and its relative DUSP15 are unique among members of the protein tyrosine phosphatase family in that they contain a potential myristoylation site at the N‐terminus (MGNGMXK). In this study, we investigated whether JSP1 was myristoylated and examined the functional consequences of myristoylation. Using mass spectrometry, we showed that wild‐type JSP1, but not a JSP1 mutant in which Gly2 was mutated to Ala (JSP1‐G2A), was myristoylated in cells. Although JSP1 maintained intrinsic phosphatase activity in the absence of myristoylation, the subcellular localization of the enzyme was altered. Compared with the wild type, the ability of nonmyristoylated JSP1 to induce JNK activation and phosphorylation of the transcription factor c‐JUN was attenuated. Upon expression of wild‐type JSP1, a subpopulation of cells, with the highest levels of the phosphatase, was induced to float off the dish and undergo apoptosis. In contrast, cells expressing similar levels of JSP1‐G2A remained attached, further highlighting that the myristoylation mutant was functionally compromised.
Post‐translational modification of the deubiquitinating enzyme otubain 1 modulates active RhoA levels and susceptibility to Yersinia invasion
Authors: Edelmann Mariola J. , Kramer Holger B. , Altun Mikael , Kessler Benedikt M.
Published: May 2010

Microbial pathogens exploit the ubiquitin system to facilitate infection and manipulate the immune responses of the host. In this study, susceptibility to Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis invasion was found to be increased upon overexpression of the deubiquitinating enzyme otubain 1 (OTUB1), a member of the ovarian tumour domain‐containing protein family. Conversely, OTUB1 knockdown interfered with Yersinia invasion in HEK293T cells as well as in primary monocytes. This effect was attributed to a modulation of bacterial uptake. We demonstrate that the Yersinia‐encoded virulence factor YpkA (YopO) kinase interacts with a post‐translationally modified form of OTUB1 that contains multiple phosphorylation sites. OTUB1, YpkA and the small GTPase ras homologue gene family member A (RhoA) were found to be part of the same protein complex, suggesting that RhoA levels are modulated by OTUB1. Our results show that OTUB1 is able to stabilize active RhoA prior to invasion, which is concomitant with an increase in bacterial uptake. This effect is modulated by post‐translational modifications of OTUB1, suggesting a new entry point for manipulating Yersinia interactions with the host.

Structured digital abstract

MINT‐7717124: ypkA (uniprotkb:Q05608) physically interacts (MI:0915) with OTUB1 (uniprotkb:Q96FW1) by anti bait coimmunoprecipitation (MI:0006)

MINT‐7717229: rhoA (uniprotkb:P61586) physically interacts (MI:0915) with OTUB1 (uniprotkb:Q96FW1) by affinity chromatography technology (MI:0004)

MINT‐7717075, MINT‐7717207, MINT‐7717193, MINT‐7717170: ypkA (uniprotkb:Q56921)  physically interacts (MI:0915) with OTUB1 (uniprotkb:Q96FW1) by anti tag coimmunoprecipitation (MI:0007)

MINT‐7717390: ypkA (uniprotkb:Q56921) physically interacts (MI:0914) with OTUB1 (uniprotkb:Q96FW1) and RhoA (uniprotkb:P61586) by anti tag coimmunoprecipitation (MI:0007)
Detection and Hemodynamic Significance of Cardiac Pacemaker–Induced Phrenic Nerve Stimulation
Authors: Zuber Michel , Roos Markus , Kobza Richard , Toggweiler Stefan , Meier Rolf , Erne Paul
Published: May 2010

The authors investigated acoustic cardiography, the digital analysis of electrocardiogram (ECG) and heart sounds, to detect phrenic nerve stimulation (PNS) and assess its hemodynamic significance. They studied 42 patients and induced 46 instances of PNS induced through cardiac pacing at various locations in the heart. These 46 instances of PNS were either independently documented using fluoroscopy or were symptomatic. The authors collected acoustic cardiography data including the electromechanical activation time (interval from Q onset to the first heart sound [S1]) as a percentage of the RR interval (%EMAT) to assess systolic function. Acoustic cardiography provided evidence of PNS when it occurred. They also found significant %EMAT prolongation when right ventricular pacing was associated with PNS (Δ%EMAT=2.7, P=.012), but none beyond the normal range with right ventricular pacing in the absence of PNS. Documented PNS occurred in 33 episodes (60%) in patients with noticeable symptoms. Stimulation amplitudes could be found that generated asymptomatic PNS for all of the five participants explicitly tested for it. PNS can be asymptomatic. PNS due to right ventricular pacing is associated with impaired left ventricular systolic function. Acoustic cardiography is an effective method of detecting and assessing the hemodynamic significance of pacemaker‐related PNS. Congest Heart Fail. 2010;16:147–152. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Older people maintaining mental health well‐being through resilience: an appreciative inquiry study in four countries
Authors: Moyle Wendy , Clarke Charlotte , Gracia Natalie , Reed Jan , Cook Glenda , Klein Barbara , Marais Sandra , Richardson Elsie
Published: May 2010

moyle w, clarke c, gracia n, reed j, cook g, klein b, marais s & richardson e (2010) Journal of Nursing and Healthcare of Chronic Illness 2, 113–121 Older people maintaining mental health well‐being through resilience: an appreciative inquiry study in four countries

Aim.  To explore the experience and strategies of mental health well‐being through resilience in older people across the four participating countries.

Background.  While there is increasing evidence of the way older people maintain physical well‐being, there has not been the same emphasis when examining the ways in which older people enhance their resilience and so promote mental health well‐being.

Design.  An Appreciative Inquiry approach was used.

Method.  A convenience sample of 58 people over the age of 65 years from Australia, UK, Germany, and South Africa were interviewed. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results.  Participants described their experiences of mental health well‐being in relation to: social isolation and loneliness; social worth; self‐determination; and security. Strategies utilised include promoting resilience by maintaining community connections and relationships, keeping active, and emotional, practical and spiritual coping.

Conclusion.  The findings highlight the importance of maintaining mental health well‐being through resilience. Although there were some variations between countries, these strategies for maintaining well‐being transcended culture and nation.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Listening to older people through research such as the current study will help to determine what help is needed and how healthcare and policy makers can assist.
Implementation of a diabetes nurse case management program in a primary care clinic: a process evaluation
Authors: Wolber Teresa , Ward Deborah
Published: May 2010

wolber t & ward d (2010)
 Journal of Nursing and Healthcare of Chronic Illness 2, 122–134 Implementation of a diabetes nurse case management program in a primary care clinic: a process evaluation

Aims and objectives.  The aim was to evaluate the design and implementation of a diabetes nurse case management program in a busy primary care practice. The process outcomes include: (1) demonstration of nurse competence in motivational interviewing techniques, collaborative use of medication protocols, and identification of achievable self‐management goals; (2) achieving a caseload of 15 to 20 patients; (3) evidence of weekly patient contacts; (4) demonstration of collaboration with primary care providers; (5) sustainability of the program through staff changes.

Background.  Program success or failure is determined not only by sound assumptions regarding how the interventions work but also by the strategy of implementation used and whether it was implemented properly. The utilisation of nurse case managers skilled in motivational interviewing techniques, independent use of medication protocols, and application of patient self‐management goals have improved patient diabetic outcomes in multiple settings. There is little literature on how to translate this evidence into busy primary care settings.

Method.  Four generalist nurses, trained in motivational interviewing, medication protocols and diabetes self‐management contacted patients by phone at one to two week intervals over a six‐month period. Quantitative evaluation was done through chart review and taped nurse encounters. Qualitative information was obtained using structured nurse interviews and participant observations at monthly nurse/provider meetings.

Conclusions.  Key attributes necessary for successful implementation include embracing principles of redesign at all levels, access to a central data base and electronic medical records for time efficiency, constant redistribution of tasks among team members, continuous constructive feedback to reach nurse competency, and a frank discussion of nursing scope of practice and autonomy.

Relevance to clinical practice.  This study identifies a promising model to implement nurse case management in primary care. Early outcome results favour dissemination across the organization. Adaptation of this program to other settings is possible using process evaluation planning.
Exploring the role of family history and lay understanding of genetics on the self‐management of disease
Authors: Lindsay Sally
Published: May 2010

lindsay s (2010) Journal of Nursing and Healthcare of Chronic Illness2, 135–143 Exploring the role of family history and lay understanding of genetics on the self‐management of disease

Aims and objectives. This project drew a sample from coronary heart disease registries (n = 108) to explore how people incorporate knowledge of lay genetics and family history of a disease to manage their health. Questionnaires and focus groups were analysed to explore whether having a family history of coronary heart disease (CHD) influenced how patients’ self‐managed their health.

Background. Although evidence suggests that genes have an important influence on susceptibility to many diseases, little is known about how people use this knowledge to manage their health. Most research on lay perceptions of genetic causes of disease focuses on people atriskof particular genetic condition, rather than on those who already have a disease.

Results. Four key themes emerged from the data that people used to understand their heart disease while incorporating family history in different ways including: (1) being ‘doomed’ because of bad genes; (2) not wanting to change health behaviours; (3) wanting to be careful and lead a healthy lifestyle because of a known family history of heart disease and (4) uncertainty of the role of family history in heart disease.

Conclusions. Knowledge of family history of the disease influenced how people experienced health and was inherently embedded within social context to shape new meanings of health.

Implications for practice. The recommendations based on this research are to encourage health care providers to develop an understanding of patients’ conception of how their disease was caused so they can give them advice that will fit within their framework. It is important to understand the different ways in which patients conceptualise and respond to their illness.
Patients’ decision making in seeking care for suspected malignant melanoma
Authors: Hajdarevic Senada , Hörnsten Åsa , Sundbom Elisabet , Brulin Christin , Schmitt‐Egenolf Marcus
Published: May 2010

hajdarevic s, hörnsten a, sundbom e, brulin c, schmitt‐egenolf m (2010) Journal of Nursing and Healthcare of Chronic Illness 2, 164–173 Patients’ decision making in seeking care for suspected malignant melanoma

Aim.  To explore patients’ decision making about seeking care for malignant melanoma (MM).

Background.  Unlike other cancers, MM is generally visible and can be easily and cheaply cured if treated in time. It is the delay in diagnosis, most often attributable to the patient rather than to care providers, that results in mortality. Self‐examination of suspicious lesions is important, but it is not a guarantee of immediate care‐seeking, nor is early detection and increased melanoma awareness associated with early care‐seeking.

Method.  During 2009, men (n = 10) and women (n = 11) diagnosed with malignant melanoma were interviewed within two years after excision and the text was analysed according to Grounded Theory.

Results.  The perception of a critical level of severity, feelings of fear and threat were found to be a key motivator for patients to seek care for suspected melanomas; as soon as sufficient insight into the severity of the disease was achieved, the patient reached a turning point and sought care immediately.

Conclusions.  Most of the participants described the process from the discovery of the lesion to the decision to seek care as a time‐consuming inner negotiation about the severity of the disease, personal and social considerations, and interactions with the healthcare system.

Relevance to clinical practice.  We analysed the complex reasoning of the patients leading up to the turning point when they sought care. This study illustrates for caregivers the importance of simplifying the pathways to care, emphasising the seriousness of MM, and taking worried patients seriously from their first contact with health care. Health professionals, through their attitudes in contact with patients, can either facilitate or obstruct the patient’s decision making process.
Using AFLP markers and the Geneland program for the inference of population genetic structure
Authors: GUILLOT GILLES , SANTOS FILIPE
Published: May 2010

The use of dominant markers such as amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) for population genetics analyses is often impeded by the lack of appropriate computer programs and rarely motivated by objective considerations. The point of the present note is twofold: (i) we describe how the computer program Geneland designed to infer population structure has been adapted to deal with dominant markers; and (ii) we use Geneland for numerical comparison of dominant and codominant markers to perform clustering. AFLP markers lead to less accurate results than bi‐allelic codominant markers such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) markers but this difference becomes negligible for data sets of common size (number of individuals n≥100, number of markers L≥200). The latest Geneland version (3.2.1) handling dominant markers is freely available as an R package with a fully clickable graphical interface. Installation instructions and documentation can be found on http://www2.imm.dtu.dk/~gigu/Geneland.
Comparison of the Mantel test and alternative approaches for detecting complex multivariate relationships in the spatial analysis of genetic data
Authors: LEGENDRE PIERRE , FORTIN MARIE‐JOSÉE
Published: May 2010

The Mantel test is widely used to test the linear or monotonic independence of the elements in two distance matrices. It is one of the few appropriate tests when the hypothesis under study can only be formulated in terms of distances; this is often the case with genetic data. In particular, the Mantel test has been widely used to test for spatial relationship between genetic data and spatial layout of the sampling locations. We describe the domain of application of the Mantel test and derived forms. Formula development demonstrates that the sum‐of‐squares (SS) partitioned in Mantel tests and regression on distance matrices differs from the SS partitioned in linear correlation, regression and canonical analysis. Numerical simulations show that in tests of significance of the relationship between simple variables and multivariate data tables, the power of linear correlation, regression and canonical analysis is far greater than that of the Mantel test and derived forms, meaning that the former methods are much more likely than the latter to detect a relationship when one is present in the data. Examples of difference in power are given for the detection of spatial gradients. Furthermore, the Mantel test does not correctly estimate the proportion of the original data variation explained by spatial structures. The Mantel test should not be used as a general method for the investigation of linear relationships or spatial structures in univariate or multivariate data. Its use should be restricted to tests of hypotheses that can only be formulated in terms of distances.
Detecting strong positive selection in the genome
Authors: STEPHAN WOLFGANG
Published: May 2010

New statistical tests have been developed in the past decade that enable us to infer evidence of recent strong positive selection from genome‐wide data on single‐nucleotide polymorphism and to localize the targets of selection in the genome. Based on these tests, past demographic events that led to distortions of the site‐frequency spectrum of variation can be distinguished from selection, in particular if linkage disequilibrium is taken into account. These methods have been successfully applied to species from which complete sequence information and polymorphism data are available, including Drosophila melanogaster, humans, and several plant species. To make full use of the available data, however, the tests that were primarily designed for panmictic populations need to be extended to spatially structured populations.
Applying lessons from China's Wenchuan earthquake to medical rescue following the Yushu earthquake
Authors: Deng Shaolin , Zheng Shangwei , Shi Yingkang
Published: May 2010

A 7.1‐magnitude earthquake hit China's Qinghai province—4000 meters above sea level, on April 14, 2010, just 702 days after Wenchuan Earthquake. As of 12:00 on April 19, the death toll stood at 1706, with 256 missing and 12,128 injured. West China Hospital (WCH), a regional state‐level hospital of the Ministry of Health, sent a medical team with relief supplies within the first hour after Yushu earthquake and the team rushed to Yushu in the first day participating golden seventy‐two hours rescue effort. The second day after Yushu earthquake, medical apparatuses and drugs valued at 5 million RMB were delivered to the rescue site and the second batch of medical team were positioned. Within 33 hours of the earthquake, 102 people, including 93 with earthquake‐related injuries and 9 armed police with severe altitude sickness, were send to WCH by air in four batches. WCH organized its medical rescue efforts based on first‐hand experience with medical rescue following Wenchuan earthquake, a series of evidence‐based diagnosis and treatment standards, and “four concentration principles,” namely concentrating the wounded, experts, resources, and treatments. Of the 93 cases with earthquake‐related injuries, 54 were seriously wounded, and in the five days immediately following the earthquake, 58 underwent operations and none died. The experience learned from Wenchuan earthquake have been used, improved and sublimated more rapidly, appropriately, and effectively in the Yushu earthquake medical rescue.
Negotiations and the Anti‐Taliban Counterinsurgency in Pakistan
Authors: Abbas Zaidi Syed Manzar
Published: May 2010

This article engages with the Pakistani government's tendency to negotiate peace settlements with Taliban militants as a primary element of their counterinsurgency (COIN) policy. These peace settlements have consistently broken down, exacerbating a causal spiral of violence, as elaborated by an analytical matrix by the author. This COIN strategy has been seen by many, particularly in the United States, as a beacon for militants to regroup, with a consequent renewal of insurgency and terror attacks. This article attempts to contextualize the peace processes reached by negotiations of the Pakistani government with the militants, with projections for a successful COIN policy being articulated at the empirical level.
Writing History in the Voice of an Other: Debyser's Immeuble at the Advanced Level
Authors: Péron Mélanie
Published: May 2010

Abstract: This article presents a writing project whose primary goal is the development of linguistic, cross‐cultural, and meta‐cognitive competencies through the study of a dark episode in French history—the German Occupation. Students create personas who all lived in the same building in 1939 and write their memoirs 60 years later. Following a brief description of global simulation, I present an outline of the project and student commentaries to provide empirical evidence of the value of narratives in foreign language learning to create a collaborative community of active learners.
Spanish for Heritage Speakers: A Statewide Survey of Secondary School Teachers
Authors: Bateman Blair E. , Wilkinson Sara L.
Published: May 2010

Abstract: Although much attention has been given in recent literature to the teaching of Spanish as a heritage language (HL), few studies have been published on specific Spanish HL programs, especially in states such as Utah that have only recently seen a large increase in the number of heritage students of Spanish. This study reports the results of a statewide survey of Spanish teachers in Utah secondary schools regarding their preparation to work with Spanish HL students, the prevalence of Spanish HL classes and the teaching approaches used in these classes, the accommodations that teachers make for Spanish HL students enrolled in traditional foreign language classes, and teachers' perceptions of the success of both types of classes. The study concludes with recommendations for improving instructional opportunities for Spanish HL students.
Effect of Palmitoyl Nanogold Particles on the Subzero Thermal Properties of Phosphate Buffered Saline Solutions
Authors: Guha A. , Devireddy R. V.
Published: May 2010

Extensive studies document the effect of nanoparticles on thermal properties of fluids, such as thermal conductivity, although very few exist at subzero temperatures. The current study reports the effect of 1.4 nm palmitoyl nanogold particles (NPs) on the freezing properties of phosphate buffered saline solutions with the help of a differential scanning calorimeter. The results show that NPs have a complex effect on the two properties of interest, i.e., homogeneous nucleation temperature (Th) and phase change temperature (or the melting temperature, Tm). The homogeneous nucleation temperature was significantly elevated at a concentration of 1 nM/ml NPs with 0.167% (v/v) DMSO, and 3 nM/ml NPs with 0.50% (v/v) DMSO concentration, whereas at the other concentrations (1.2 nM/ml NPs with 0.20% DMSO, 1.5 nM/ml NPs with 0.25% DSMO, and 6 nM/ml NPs with 1% DMSO), it was significantly depressed. A similar phenomenon was also noticed in the measured values of the melting temperature of PBS solutions.
A Nonhierarchical Formulation of Analytical Target Cascading
Authors: Tosserams S. , Kokkolaras M. , Etman L. F. P. , Rooda J. E.
Published: May 2010

Analytical target cascading (ATC) is a method developed originally for translating system-level design targets to design specifications for the components that comprise the system. ATC has been shown to be useful for coordinating decomposition-based optimal system design. The traditional ATC formulation uses hierarchical problem decompositions, in which coordination is performed by communicating target and response values between parents and children. The hierarchical formulation may not be suitable for general multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) problems. This paper presents a new ATC formulation that allows nonhierarchical target-response coupling between subproblems and introduces system-wide functions that depend on variables of two or more subproblems. Options to parallelize the subproblem optimizations are also provided, including a new bilevel coordination strategy that uses a master problem formulation. The new formulation increases the applicability of the ATC to both decomposition-based optimal system design and MDO. Moreover, it belongs to the class of augmented Lagrangian coordination methods, having thus convergence properties under standard convexity and continuity assumptions. A supersonic business jet design problem is used to demonstrate the flexibility and effectiveness of the presented formulation.
Bayesian Approach for Structural Reliability Analysis and Optimization Using the Kriging Dimension Reduction Method
Authors: Choi Jooho , An Dawn , Won Junho
Published: May 2010

An efficient method for a structural reliability analysis is proposed under the Bayesian framework, which can deal with the epistemic uncertainty arising from a limited amount of data. Until recently, conventional reliability analyses dealt mostly with the aleatory uncertainty, which is related to the inherent physical randomness and its statistical properties are completely known. In reality, however, epistemic uncertainties are prevalent, which makes the existing methods less useful. In the Bayesian approach, the probability itself is treated as a random variable of a beta distribution conditional on the provided data, which is determined by conducting a double loop of reliability analyses. The Kriging dimension reduction method is employed to promote efficient implementation of the reliability analysis, which can construct the PDF of the limit state function with favorable accuracy using a small number of analyses. Mathematical examples are used to demonstrate the proposed method. An engineering design problem is also addressed, which is to find an optimum design of a pigtail spring in a vehicle suspension, taking material uncertainty due to limited test data into account.
Passive Aerodynamic Drag Balancing in a Flapping-Wing Robotic Insect
Authors: Sreetharan P. S. , Wood R. J.
Published: May 2010

Flapping-wing robotic platforms based on Dipteran insects have demonstrated lift to weight ratios greater than 1, but research into regulating the aerodynamic forces produced by their wings has largely focused on active wing trajectory control. In an alternate approach, a flapping-wing drivetrain design that passively balances aerodynamic drag torques is presented. A discussion of the dynamic properties of this millimeter-scale underactuated planar linkage accompanies an experimental test of an at-scale device. This mechanism introduces a novel strategy for regulating forces and torques from flapping wings, using passive mechanical elements to potentially simplify control systems for mass and power limited flapping-wing robotic platforms.
Perspective in Nanoneural Electronic Implants With Wireless Power-Feed and Sensory Control
Authors: Lee Uhn , Song Kyo D. , Park Yeonjoon , Varadan Vijay K. , Choi Sang H.
Published: May 2010

New medical device technology is essential for diagnosing, monitoring, and curing wide spectrum of diseases, anomalies, and inflictions. For neural applications, currently available devices are generally limited to either a curing or a probing function. In this paper, we review the technology requirements for a new neural probe and cure device technology currently under development. The concept of the probe-pin device that integrates the probes for neurochemistry, neuroelectricity, temperature, and pressure into a single embodiment with a wireless power transmission was designed for the purpose of deep brain feedback stimulation (DBFS) with in situ neural monitoring. The probe considered for monitoring neurochemistry is a microspectrometer. The feature and size of the microspectrometer are defined for the DBFS device. Two types of wireless power transmission technology were studied for the DBFS device operation. The test results of pig skin showed that both power transmission technologies demonstrated the feasibility of power feed through human tissue.
Magnetic Drug Targeting in the Permeable Blood Vessel—The Effect of Blood Rheology
Authors: Shaw S. , Murthy P. V. S. N.
Published: May 2010

The present investigation deals with finding the trajectories of the drug dosed magnetic carrier particle in a microvessel, which is subjected to the external magnetic field. We consider the physical model that was given in the work of Furlani and Furlani (2007, “A Model for Predicting Magnetic Targeting of Multifunctional Particles in the Microvasculature,” J. Magn. Magn. Mater., 312, pp. 187–193), but deviating by taking the non-Newtonian fluid model for the blood in the permeable microvessel. Both the Herschel–Bulkley fluid and Casson models are considered to analyze the present problem. The expression for the fluid velocity in the permeable microvessel is obtained using the analogy given by Decuzzi et al. (2006, “The Effective Dispersion of Nanovectors Within the Tumor Microvasculature,” Ann. Biomed. Eng., 34, pp. 633–641) first. Then the expression for the fluidic force for the carrier particle traversing in the non-Newtonian fluid is obtained. Several factors that influence the magnetic targeting of the carrier particles in the microvasculature, such as the permeability of the inner wall, size of the carrier particle, the volume fraction of embedded nanoparticles, and the diameter of the microvessel are considered in the present problem. The trajectories of the carrier particles are found in both invasive and noninvasive targeting systems. A comparison is made between the trajectories in these cases in both the Casson and Herschel–Bulkley fluid models. The present results for the permeable microvessel are compared with the impermeable inner wall trajectories given by Shaw et al. (2010, “Effect of Non-Newtonian Characteristics of Blood on Magnetic Targeting in the Impermeable Micro Vessel,” J. Magn. Magn. Mater., 322, pp. 1037–1043). Also, a prediction of the capture of therapeutic magnetic nanoparticle in the human permeable microvasculature is made for different radii and volume fractions in both the invasive and noninvasive cases.
Glucose Driven Nanobiopower Cells for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Rai Pratyush , Ho Thang , Xie Jining , Hestekin Jamie A. , Varadan Vijay K.
Published: May 2010

Power supply is an important aspect of micronanobiomedical devices. Implantable devices are required to stay inside of the body for longer period of time to provide continuous monitoring, detection, and therapeutics. The constricted areas of the human body, accessed by these devices, imply that the power source should not increase the payload significantly. Conventional on-board power sources are big, as compared with the device themselves, or involve wire-outs. Both provisions are liable to develop complications for sensor/actuator implant packaging. A plausible approach can be innovative solutions for sustainable bio-energy harvesting. Research studies have reported feasibility of miniature power sources, running on redox reactions. The device design, reported in this study, is a combination of nano-engineered composites and flexible thin film processing to achieve high density packaging. Of which, the end goal is production of energy for sensor applications. Both the bio-electrodes were successfully functionalized by amide bond cross-linkage between the carbon nanotube surface and the enzyme molecules: catalase and glucose oxidase for cathode and anode, respectively. The nanocomposite based biopower cell was evaluated as a steady power supply across the physiological range of glucose concentration. The power cell was able to deliver a steady power of 3.2 nW at 85 mV for glucose concentrations between 3 mM and 8 mM. Electron microscopy scanning of the functionalized electrode surface and spectroscopic evaluation of nanotube surface were used for evaluation of the biofunctionalization technique. Cyclic voltametric (CV) scans were performed on the cathodic and anodic half cells to corroborate bioactivity and qualitatively evaluate the power cell output against the redox peaks on the CV scans. The importance of these results has been discussed and conclusions have been drawn pertaining to further miniaturization (scale down) of the cell.
Design Criterion for the Space-Curve Meshing Wheel Mechanism Based on Elastic Deformation of the Tines
Authors: Chen Yang-Zhi , Hu Qiang , Sun Lei-Hou
Published: May 2010

The space-curve meshing wheel (SCMW) is a novel mechanical transmission mechanism suitable for small devices. It operates on the principle of space-curve meshing, which is quite different from traditional gearing mechanisms based on the surface meshing principle. Excessive elastic deformation of the tines is one of the main failure modes of the SCMW mechanism. In this study, formulas for elastic deformation and the allowable deformation of the driving tines are deduced and a main design criterion for the SCMW mechanism is established. A calculation example illustrates the concepts and equations presented, and the result for elastic deformation of the driving tines is consistent with that produced by the commercial finite element analysis software.
Molecular Characterization of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition in Human Prostatic Epithelial Cells
Authors: Lin Victor K. , Wang Shih-Ya , Wu Lanxiao , Rao Smitha M. , Chiao J. C. , Roehrborn Claus G.
Published: May 2010

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been believed to play a critical role in cancer metastasis. TGFβ has been described as an inducer of EMT in normal mammary epithelial cells by signaling through receptor serine/threonine kinase pathways to regulate epithelial cell plasticity and invasion. In this study, we investigated the EMT cellular responses, including morphologic changes, phenotype switches, invasiveness enhancement, and cellular contraction alteration, in TGFβ stimulated human prostate normal epithelial cells (PZ-HPV-7). Migration of TGFβ treated PZ-HPV-7 cells across matrigel was measured in invasion chambers (8 μm pore size). The cells were treated with or without TGFβ (2 ng/ml) in PrEGM media for 3 days. Immunoblot assay was conducted and it was demonstrated that the induction of vimentin when stimulated by TGFβ was accompanied by a downregulation of E-cadherin, though p-cadherin level was not altered. It was also observed that there was a decrease in cytokaretin 5/6 expression associated with the downregulation of E-cadherin during the induction of EMT. In order to study the cell contraction, three-dimensional collage lattice assay was performed. It was demonstrated that TGFβ-stimulated PZ-HPV-7 cells gained contractility. Our results showed that TGFβ stimulation induced PZ-HPV-7 cells to undergo epithelial to mesenchymal transition. EMT characteristics such as acquisition of mesenchymal markers and loss of epithelial markers were evident in the induction of vimentin and downregulation of E-cadherin and cytokeratins, as well as phenotypic alterations including increased contraction and enhanced mobility were detected.