bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Product and Service Complexity and High Performance Work Practices in the Aerospace Industry
Authors: Jan Angelis Jannis , Thompson Marc
Published: November 2007

Offering products or services with high specification and complexity is often used as a competitive business strategy for organizations that cannot compete on cost. Theories on high performance work practices suggest that the combination of high employee involvement and aligned human resources and industrial relations allows firms to achieve higher performance. This study explores the adoption of such work practices in the UK aerospace industry. The results are based on responses from 225 firms across the value chain, ranging from service providers and systems integrators to component and material suppliers. The study identifies relevant work practices at each level of product and service complexity and discusses the varying needs firms have depending on their product offerings, and the implications on their work practices.
Taking the Low Road: Minimum Wage Determination under Work Choices
Authors: Cowling Sally , Mitchell William
Published: November 2007

The Workplace Relations Amendment (Work Choices) Act 2005 changes the architecture of labour market regulation in Australia in a significant way. The focus of this article is on changes to the regulatory framework for minimum wage determination and the rationale for, and likely consequences of, conferring this power on the Australian Fair Pay Commission. Underpinning the Work Choices package is the view that Safety Net wage rises awarded by the Australian Industrial Relations Commission have had negative effects on employment. In this article we establish that the evidence to support this claim is weak, and is being used to engineer a historic shift in the objectives of the Australian wage setting process. We argue that the new legislation will act as a downward drag on the pay and conditions of minimum wage workers and advance an alternative policy approach in which attaining full employment does not require us to abandon the principle of fairness or a decent wage floor.
Applying Union Mobilization Theory to Explain Gendered Collective Grievances: Two UK Case Studies
Authors: Cox Annette , Sung Sirin , Hebson Gail , Oliver Gwen
Published: November 2007

This article draws on Kelly's mobilization theory to identify potential stages in developing gendered collective articulation of grievances and discusses the barriers to such articulation within two case sites in the UK telecommunications sector. It focuses on employee concerns surrounding pay and working time issues arising from organizational change in two case studies from the UK telecommunications sector. Findings showed that organizational change had brought work intensification that exacerbated long hours cultures and that concerns were common to both sexes, although organizational variations in career ambitions and sense of entitlement occurred. In contrast, there was evidence that women were less willing to articulate concerns over unfair pay practices, shaped partly by a low sense of entitlement and also perceived weaknesses in potential for collective redress. The activation of grievances was severely limited by the gendered occupational and organizational structure of both workplaces and union organization within them. We conclude that there are opportunities for unions to pursue a two-pronged approach to worker mobilization by mainstreaming concerns about working time that are common to workers of both sexes with families and to activate gendered concerns around pay at workplace level.
A Model for Obstacles to be used in Simulations of Wireless Sensor Networks and its Application in studying Routing Protocol Performance
Authors: Chatzigiannakis Ioannis , Mylonas Georgios , Nikoletseas Sotiris
Published: November 2007

We propose a simple obstacle model to be used while simulating wireless sensor networks. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time such an integrated and systematic obstacle model for these networks has been proposed. We define several types of obstacles that can be found inside the deployment area of a wireless sensor network and provide a categorization of these obstacles based on their nature (physical and communication obstacles, i.e. obstacles that are formed out of node distribution patterns or have physical presence, respectively), their shape and their change of nature over time. We make an eXtension to a custom-made sensor network simulator ( simDust) and conduct a number of simulations in order to study the effect of obstacles on the performance of some representative (in terms of their logic) data propagation protocols for wireless sensor networks. Our findings confirm that obstacle presence has a significant impact on protocol performance, and also that different obstacle shapes and sizes may affect each protocol in different ways. This provides an insight into how a routing protocol will perform in the presence of obstacles and highlights possible protocol shortcomings. Moreover, our results show that the effect of obstacles is not directly related to the density of a sensor network, and cannot be emulated only by changing the network density.
Deposition of Polyelectrolyte Multilayers to Improve the Color Fastness of Silk
Authors: Dubas Stephan T. , Chutchawalkulchai Eakaphon , Egkasit Sanong , Iamsamai Chularat , Potiyaraj Pranut
Published: November 2007

The color fastness to washing of silk fibers dyed with scarlet dye was improved by the deposition of a thin polymer film which prevented desorption of the dye in standard soap solution. Dyed silk fibers were coated with polyelectrolytes multilayers (PEM) by following the so-called layer-by-layer deposition method in which up to 30 layers of cationic poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) and anionic poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) were deposited. The growth of the film was confirmed using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry and the dye exhaustion from the silk fiber was monitored using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The ability of the PEM to act as an electrostatic barrier against the release of the negatively charged dye was investigated as a function of the terminating top layer. The results showed that the negative layer-terminated PEM is more efficient at preventing the release of the dye than the positively terminated PEM.
Mother-Adolescent Communication About Tobacco Use in Urban Puerto Rican and Dominican Families
Authors: Guilamo-Ramos Vincent , Bouris Alida M. , Dittus Patricia , Jaccard James
Published: November 2007

Research on parent-adolescent communication about cigarette smoking in Latino families remains relatively scarce. This dearth of information is worrisome given the high rates of tobacco use among Latino adolescents and the large burden borne by adult Latinos in smoking-related morbidity and mortality. This study presents qualitative data on parent-adolescent communication about cigarette smoking in a sample of urban Latino families. The authors conducted 12 focus groups with 40 Puerto Rican and Dominican mother-adolescent dyads ( N = 80) residing in the Bronx community of New York. The findings indicate that the mothers were comfortable discussing smoking-related issues with their children. Adolescents expressed a desire to discuss tobacco-related issues with their mothers, although some feared parental punishment. The results highlight a gap in parental knowledge and efficacy regarding social influences to smoke. Results are discussed in the context of developing focused interventions aimed at reducing cigarette smoking among Latino youth.
A Response
Authors: Bethke Elshtain Jean
Published: November 2007

In this article Professor Elshtain responds to the critiques offered by the symposium and, five years on from 11 September 2001 and three years on from the initial publication of Just War Against Terror, revisits her analysis of the moral issues facing America and the world in the context of the war on terror . She offers a stout defense of her original claim that the war on terror has presented America with many tough decisions to make, decisions regarding emergency ethics and the best way to carry on the struggle against global terrorism. Along the way, she expands upon her understanding of tragedy, her debt to Augustinian just war thought, and her conviction that America must assume some responsibility for the management of international peace and security.
Men's Sex-Dominance Inhibition: Do Men Automatically Refrain From Sexually Dominant Behavior?
Authors: Kiefer Amy K. , Sanchez Diana T.
Published: November 2007

Men receive conflicting messages about their sexual roles in heterosexual relationships. Men are socialized to initiate and direct sexual activities with women; yet societal norms also proscribe the sexual domination and coercion of women. The authors test these competing hypotheses by assessing whether men inhibit the link between sex and dominance. In Studies 1a and b, using a subliminal priming procedure embedded in a lexical decision task, the authors demonstrate that men automatically suppress the concept of dominance following exposure to subliminal sex primes relative to neutral primes. In Studies 2 and 3, the authors show that men who are less likely to perceive sexual assertiveness as necessary, to refrain from dominant sexual behavior, and who do not invest in masculine gender ideals are more likely to inhibit dominant thoughts following sex primes. Implications for theories of automatic cognitive networks and gender-based sexual roles are discussed.
Gender and Ethnic Variation in Arranged Marriages in a Chinese City
Authors: Xiaowei Zang
Published: November 2007

Using a data set ( N = 1,600) collected in the city of Urumchi in 2005, this article examines ethnic differences in arranged marriages in urban China. Data analysis shows a rapid decline in parental arrangement for both Uyghur Muslims and Han Chinese in Urumchi. Han Chinese are less likely than Uyghur Muslims to report arranged marriages, with main background characteristics being controlled. However, the differences between Uyghur men and Han men fade away when background characteristics are controlled, whereas no similar patterns are found among women. These findings indicate that Uyghur women have a lower degree of autonomy in the marriage market than their Muslim brothers do. These findings suggest a new interpretation of the effect of ethnic culture and status attainment on intergroup differences in marriage. They also call for a partial revision of a convergence model and an ethnic culture model for research on marriage in developing societies.
Baudrillard and the Evil Genius
Authors: Bishop Ryan , W.P. Phillips John
Published: November 2007

This article commemorates Jean Baudrillard’s career with an account of the consistency of his interventionist logic, the subtlety of his styles of argument and the prescience of his observations. It provides an account of Baudrillard’s sustained engagement with the intensification of simulation that has increasingly codified trends in communications, technology politics, the social, the psychological and economics in the name of functionality. The consistency of Baudrillard’s arguments belies the many superficial judgements made about them, which were anyway often knowingly encouraged by Baudrillard’s rhetorical strategies.
Effects of Process Conditions on the Mechanical Properties of Microcellular Injection Molded Polycarbonate Parts
Authors: Shia Chung Chen  , Jui Pin Yang  , Jeng Sheng Hwang  , Ming Hsiu Chung
Published: November 2007

In the supercritical fluid (SCF) microcellular injection molding process, the polymer melt is first mixed with controlled SCF, followed by cavity filling, creating millions of micron-sized voids within the solidified parts. Benefits associated with this microcellular foaming process include significant reductions in part weight, processing temperature, clamping force, shrink/ warpage, dimensional instability, and cooling/cycle. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of process conditions on the mechanical properties of PC parts, injection molded via microcellular foaming. The thickness of tensile test specimens was 2.5 and 1.2mm. For Izod impact tests, a specimen of 3.2mm thickness was used. On average, the weight of parts was reduced by 40%. Melt temperature can be lowered by about 20—30°C (from 320 to 290°C) and cycle time reduced by 40—70%. Higher injection rates resulted in a more uniform foaming structure. In addition, the supercritical fluid microcellular process did not reduce the tensile strength of the molded parts; instead, the impact energy values increased slightly over parts molded by convectional injection molding.
Obstacles to Transcultural Caring Relationships: Experiences of Health Care Staff in Pediatric Oncology
Authors: Pergert Pernilla , Ekblad Solvig , Enskär Karin , Björk Olle
Published: November 2007

This qualitative study explores the caring situation of families with an immigrant background within the context of pediatric oncology care from the perspective of health care staff. Five focus group interviews and 5 complementary individual interviews were conducted after purposive and theoretical sampling, respectively. Grounded theory methodology revealed that obstacles to transcultural caring relationships are a main concern of the health care staff. These obstacles are divided into 4 main categories: linguistic, cultural and religious, social, and organizational. When health care staff fail to recognize obstacles to transcultural caring relationships, the result is inequity in care of families with an immigrant background. Equity in care for all does not mean identical treatment but, rather, care adjusted to the needs of the individual family regardless of background.
When and Why Do People Think There Should Be a Divorce?
Authors: Diefenbach Heike , Opp Karl-Dieter
Published: November 2007

This article focuses on the conditions under which people think that spouses should or should not divorce. In order to explain acceptance of a more or less permissive divorce norm we draw on a theory of norm emergence, arguing that negative externalities of divorces and marriages and integration in divorce-supporting social networks are important determinants for the emergence of norms. We extend this theory by introducing interdependencies between externalities and by arguing that experiencing and suffering from a divorce are related to externalities. Results of a factorial survey indicate that a permissive divorce norm is subscribed to if the quality of the marriage is bad, if both partners have extramarital relationships, and if there are no children. The parents' divorce or having suffered from the parents' divorce does not have the expected direct effects on accepting a permissive divorce norm.
Methodological Issues in Interviews Involving People With Communication Impairments After Acquired Brain Damage
Authors: Carlsson Eva , Paterson Barbara L. , Scott-Findlay Shannon , Ehnfors Margareta , Ehrenberg Anna
Published: November 2007

Qualitative research has made a significant contribution to the body of knowledge related to how people experience living with various chronic diseases and disabilities; however, the voices of certain vulnerable populations, particularly those with impairments that affect their ability to communicate, are commonly absent. In recent years, a few researchers have attempted to explore the most effective ways to ensure that the voices of people with communication impairments from acquired brain damages can be captured in qualitative research interviews; yet several methodological issues related to including this population in qualitative research remained unexamined. In this article, the authors draw on insights derived from their research on the experiences of adult survivors of stroke and traumatic brain injury to describe methodological issues related to sampling, informed consent, and fatigue in participant and researcher while also making some recommendations for conducting qualitative interviews with these populations.
“Focus Groups Can Be Fun”: The Use of Activity-Oriented Questions in Focus Group Discussions
Authors: Colucci Erminia
Published: November 2007

Interest in focus group discussions has grown recently, and so has the recognition of them as a valuable method for qualitative data collection. Despite increasing popularity, they are not an easy option, and moderators must find appropriate ways to approach participants to achieve good-quality data. A path to reach this aim is the inclusion in the focus group agenda of some “exercises” (or activity-oriented questions) that are enjoyable and productive supplements to questions. Exercises provide a different way of gathering information and are beneficial, for instance, for more reflective participants. They can help focus the group's attention on the core study topic and also make subsequent comparative analysis more straightforward. They can also be helpful with young people and to discuss sensitive topics. The author describes and provides suggestions for use and examples of several exercises, illustrating their application in a research project investigating the cultural meaning of youth suicide in university students in Italy, India, and Australia.
The Effect of Neighborhood Characteristics on Traffic Citation Practices of the Police
Authors: Ingram Jason R.
Published: November 2007

Prior research on traffic citation practices has focused largely on the influence of situational factors on officer behavior. Recent research, however, has called for a more contextualized framework for studying traffic enforcement activities. Using multilevel and spatial modeling procedures, the current study examined the role that both immediate and surrounding neighborhood characteristics played on citation issuance within a large, metropolitan department. Findings indicated that neighborhood structural characteristics were significantly related to the number of citations written during traffic encounters, independent of situational factors. Furthermore, the effect of a neighborhood's racial composition on citation issuance extended beyond the immediate neighborhood. The results lend further support to the larger body of research highlighting the importance of neighborhood context on officer behavior.
Review Essay: Selves on the Move
Authors: Wagoner Brady , Kadianaki Irini
Published: November 2007

This review examines how we can use the theoretical and methodological tools of Gillespie's book to become better social scientists. We examine ways of approaching intergroup relations by applying the ideas of the book to the context of immigrants moving to Greece. Issues of the mediation of culture in communication and understanding between people are then examined. Specifically, the paths of understanding through the use of symbolic resources are explored through the contexts of Ladakhi tourism and of immigrants in Greece. Finally, we examine the ways in which social scientists move in their understanding of social phenomena.
New Scales for Assessing Contribution Ratio of Pollutant Sources to Indoor Air Quality
Authors: Kim Taeyeon , Kato Shinsuke , Murakami Shuzo
Published: November 2007

The aim of this study was to provide effective design and control methods for indoor air quality (IAQ). For this it was important to identify each pollutant source and have an understanding of the room air distribution. To design a good system for IAQ both the pollutant sources as well as the ventilation system must be controlled effectively.

In this paper, new scales for IAQ that assess the contribution of pollutant sources, that we have named the Contribution Ratio of Pollutant Sources (CRPSs), are developed. The contribution of each pollutant source in a room can be analyzed by evaluating the CRPSs. These new scales assume that the pollutant concentration due to different sources can be added linearly and the airflow is at steady-state.

Using CRPS, the contribution of each pollutant sources in a model room air-conditioned by a displacement ventilation system could be analyzed. The CRPSs were all calculated using the method of computational fluid dynamics (CFD), which can accurately analyze the distribution of the air velocity, temperature, and pollution in the room. The concept of CRPS was found to be very useful in this study.
Beyond reform
Authors: Schlueter John
Published: November 2007

This article assesses the peculiar condition of being `after' theory. Any attempt to better understand why theory now haunts contemporary intellectual practice more than it challenges it must make use of the archive of feminist theory's critical distance with poststructuralism. In fact, feminist theory's traditional concern with the possibilities of/for agency gives us the most useful framework for assessing both the in/adequacy of theory and the in/adequacy of any `after theory' return (whether to aesthetics, intentionality, universalism, liberalism, the literary, etc.). If the question of agency puts pressure on theory's shortcomings, and the continued failure to locate agency within a constructivist framework gives legitimacy to regressive returns, then a more sustained discussion of agency is urgent. In turn, locating agency requires, philosophically and critically, a recuperation of `experience' as a way of knowing. If it can be argued that the constructive process is what occasions experience, and experience, finally, is the site of agency, then we can theorize the `how' of agency without relying on externalized positionalities (which are phenomenologically untenable). Finally, if, politically speaking, the failure to locate agency leaves us oscillating between the avowal and disavowal of reform, then a sustained discussion of agency promises to take us `beyond reform' altogether.
The international education industry
Authors: Bunnell Tristan
Published: November 2007

The dimension of education concerned with international schools has formed a recognizable industry over the past six decades yet little attempt has been made to conceptualize its nature and scale. A diverse conglomeration of educational institutions has been joined by a myriad of support organizations. There is clearly a need for an `alliance' of this largely fragmented industry and this article explores two possible options. A unified industry with common standards could emerge offering an `alliance of international education' or a looser and more flexible `alliance for international education' could be established which could embrace organizations both within and beyond the industry. The latter option has emerged over the past seven years in the form of the `Alliance for International Education', and this article offers an introductory framework for discussing the potential scale of its operation.
A Stadium by Any Other Name
Authors: Leeds Eva Marikova , Leeds Michael A. , Pistolet Irina
Published: November 2007

Since the 1990s, an increasing number of professional sports teams have sold the naming rights for their facilities to private firms. Although some policy makers have protested the private sector's appropriation of naming rights, no one has questioned the value of this strategy to the firms that buy the naming rights. The authors use a one-step version of event analysis to show that naming rights do not have a lasting impact on the profitability of the firms that buy them.
Filamin repeat segments required for photosensory signalling in Dictyostelium discoideum
Authors: Annesley Sarah J , Bandala-Sanchez Esther , Ahmed Afsar U , Fisher Paul R
Published: November 2007

Background

Filamin is an actin binding protein which is ubiquitous in eukaryotes and its basic structure is well conserved – an N-terminal actin binding domain followed by a series of repeated segments which vary in number in different organisms.D. discoideumis a well established model organism for the study of signalling pathways and the actin cytoskeleton and as such makes an excellent organism in which to study filamin. Ddfilamin plays a putative role as a scaffolding protein in a photosensory signalling pathway and this role is thought to be mediated by the unusual repeat segments in the rod domain.

Results

To study the role of filamin in phototaxis, a filamin null mutant, HG1264, was transformed with constructs each of which expressed wild type filamin or a mutant filamin with a deletion of one of the repeat segments. Transformants expressing the full length filamin to wild type levels completely rescued the phototaxis defect in HG1264, however if filamin was expressed at lower than wild type levels the phototaxis defect was not restored. The transformants lacking any one of the repeat segments 2–6 retained defective phototaxis and thermotaxis phenotypes, whereas transformants expressing filaminΔ1 exhibited a range of partial complementation of the phototaxis phenotype which was related to expression levels. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed that filamin lacking any of the repeat segments still localised to the same actin rich areas as wild type filamin. Ddfilamin interacts with RasD and IP experiments demonstrated that this interaction did not rely upon any single repeat segment or the actin binding domain.

Conclusion

This paper demonstrates that wild type levels of filamin expression are essential for the formation of functional photosensory signalling complexes and that each of the repeat segments 2–6 are essential for filamins role in phototaxis. By contrast, repeat segment 1 is not essential provided the mutated filamin lacking repeat segment 1 is expressed at a high enough level. The defects in photo/thermosensory signal transduction caused by the absence of the repeats are due neither to mislocalisation of filamin nor to the loss of RasD recruitment to the previously described photosensory signalling complex.
Mitochondrial matR sequences help to resolve deep phylogenetic relationships in rosids
Authors: Zhu Xin-Yu , Chase Mark W , Qiu Yin-Long , Kong Hong-Zhi , Dilcher David L , Li Jian-Hua , Chen Zhi-Duan
Published: November 2007

Background

Rosids are a major clade in the angiosperms containing 13 orders and about one-third of angiosperm species. Recent molecular analyses recognized two major groups (i.e., fabids with seven orders and malvids with three orders). However, phylogenetic relationships within the two groups and among fabids, malvids, and potentially basal rosids including Geraniales, Myrtales, and Crossosomatales remain to be resolved with more data and a broader taxon sampling. In this study, we obtained DNA sequences of the mitochondrialmatRgene from 174 species representing 72 families of putative rosids and examined phylogenetic relationships and phylogenetic utility ofmatRin rosids. We also inferred phylogenetic relationships within the "rosid clade" based on a combined data set of 91 taxa and four genes includingmatR, two plastid genes (rbcL,atpB), and one nuclear gene (18S rDNA).

Results

Comparison of mitochondrialmatRand two plastid genes (rbcLandatpB) showed that the synonymous substitution rate inmatRwas approximately four times slower than those ofrbcLandatpB; however, the nonsynonymous substitution rate inmatRwas relatively high, close to its synonymous substitution rate, indicating that thematRhas experienced a relaxed evolutionary history. Analyses of ourmatRsequences supported the monophyly of malvids and most orders of the rosids. However, fabids did not form a clade; instead, the COM clade of fabids (Celastrales, Oxalidales, Malpighiales, and Huaceae) was sister to malvids. Analyses of the four-gene data set suggested that Geraniales and Myrtales were successively sister to other rosids, and that Crossosomatales were sister to malvids.

Conclusion

Compared to plastid genes such asrbcLandatpB, slowly evolvingmatRproduced less homoplasious but not less informative substitutions. Thus,matRappears useful in higher-level angiosperm phylogenetics. Analysis ofmatRalone identified a novel deep relationship within rosids, the grouping of the COM clade of fabids and malvids, which was not resolved by any previous molecular analyses but recently suggested by floral structural features. Our four-gene analysis supported the placements of Geraniales, Myrtales at basal nodes of the rosid clade and placed Crossosomatales as sister to malvids. We also suggest that the core part of rosids should include fabids, malvids and Crossosomatales.
An optimized procedure greatly improves EST vector contamination removal
Authors: Chen Yi-An , Lin Chang-Chun , Wang Chin-Di , Wu Huan-Bin , Hwang Pei-Ing
Published: November 2007

Background

The enormous amount of sequence data available in the public domain database has been a gold mine for researchers exploring various themes in life sciences, and hence the quality of such data is of serious concern to researchers. Removal of vector contamination is one of the most significant operations to obtain accurate sequence data containing only a cDNA insert from the basecalls output by an automatic DNA sequencer. Popular bioinformatics programs to accomplish vector trimming include LUCY, cross_match and SeqClean.

Results

In a recent study, where the program SeqClean was used to remove vector contamination from our test set of EST data compiled through various library construction systems, however, a significant number of errors remained after preliminary trimming. These errors were later almost completely corrected by simply using a re-linearized form of the cloning vector to compare against the target ESTs. The modified trimming procedure for SeqClean was also compared with the trimming efficiency of the other two popular programs, LUCY2, and cross_match. Using SeqClean with a re-linearized form of the cloning vector significantly surpassed the other two programs in all tested conditions, while the performance of the other two programs was not influenced by the modified procedure. Vector contamination in dbEST was also investigated in this study: 2203 out of the 48212 ESTs sampled from dbEST (2007-04-18 freeze) were found to match sequences in UNIVEC.

Conclusion

Vector contamination remains a serious concern to the data quality in the public sequence database nowadays. Based on the results presented here, we feel that our modified procedure with SeqClean should be recommended to all researchers for the task of vector removal from EST or genomic sequences.
Age at developmental cortical injury differentially Alters corpus callosum volume in the rat
Authors: Threlkeld Steven W , Rosen Glenn D , Fitch R Holly
Published: November 2007

Background

Freezing lesions to developing rat cortex induced between postnatal day (P) one and three (P1 – 3) lead to malformations similar to human microgyria, and further correspond to reductions in brain weight and cortical volume. In contrast, comparable lesions on P5 do not produce microgyric malformations, nor the changes in brain weight seen with microgyria. However, injury occurring at all three ages does lead to rapid auditory processing deficits as measured in the juvenile period. Interestingly, these deficits persist into adulthood only in the P1 lesion case [1]. Given prior evidence that early focal cortical lesions induce abnormalities in cortical morphology and connectivity [1–4], we hypothesized that the differential behavioral effects of focal cortical lesions on P1, P3 or P5 may be associated with underlying neuroanatomical changes that are sensitive to timing of injury. Clinical studies indicate that humans with perinatal brain injury often show regional reductions in corpus callosum size and abnormal symmetry, which frequently correspond to learning impairments [5–7]. Therefore, in the current study the brains of P1, 3 or 5 lesion rats, previously evaluated for brain weight, and cortical volume changes and auditory processing impairments (P21-90), were further analyzed for changes in corpus callosum volume.

Results

Results showed a significant main effect of Treatment on corpus callosum volume [F (1,57) = 10.2, P < .01], with lesion subjects showing significantly smaller callosal volumes as compared to shams. An Age at Treatment × Treatment interaction [F(2,57) = 3.2, P < .05], indicated that corpus callosum size decreased as the age of injury decreased from P5 to P1. Simple effects analysis showed significant differences between P1 and P3 [F(1,28) = 8.7, P < .01], and P1 and P5 [F(1,28) = 15.1, P < .001], subjects. Rats with P1 injury resulting in microgyria had the greatest reduction in corpus callosum volume (22% reduction), followed by the P3 group (11% reduction), which showed a significant reduction in corpus callosum volume compared to shams [F(1,31) = 5.9, P < .05]. Finally, the P5 lesion group did not significantly differ from the sham subjects in callosal volume.

Conclusion

Decrements in corpus callosum volume in the P1 and 3 lesion groups are consistent with the reductions in brain weight and cortical volume previously reported for microgyric rats [1, 8]. Current results suggest that disruption to the cortical plate during early postnatal development may lead to more widely dispersed neurovolumetric anomalies and subsequent behavioral impairments [1], compared with injury that occurs later in development. Further, these results suggest that in a human clinical setting decreased corpus callosum volume may represent an additional marker for long-term behavioral outcome.
A model to control the epidemic of H5N1 influenza at the source
Authors: Guan Y , Chen H , Li KS , Riley S , Leung GM , Webster R , Peiris JSM , Yuen KY
Published: November 2007

Background

No country is fully prepared for a 1918-like pandemic influenza. Averting a pandemic of H5N1 influenza virus depends on the successful control of its endemicity, outbreaks in poultry and occasional spillage into human which carries a case-fatality rate of over 50%. The use of perimetric depopulation and vaccination has failed to halt the spread of the epidemic. Blanket vaccination for all poultry over a large geographical area is difficult. A combination of moratorium, segregation of water fowls from chickens and vaccination have been proved to be effective in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) since 2002 despite endemicity and outbreaks in neighbouring regions. Systematic surveillance in southern China showed that ducks and geese are the primary reservoirs which transmit the virus to chickens, minor poultry and even migratory birds.

Presentation of the hypothesis

We hypothesize that this combination of moratorium, poultry segregation and targeted vaccination if successfully adapted to an affected district or province in any geographical region with high endemicity would set an example for the control in other regions.

Testing the hypothesis

A planned one-off moratorium of 3 weeks at the hottest month of the year should decrease the environmental burden as a source of re-infection. Backyard farms will then be re-populated by hatchlings from virus-free chickens and minor poultry only. Targeted immunization of the ducks and geese present only in the industrial farms and also the chickens would be strictly implemented as blanket immunization of all backyard poultry is almost impossible. Freely grazing ducks and geese would not be allowed until neutralizing antibodies of H5 subtype virus is achieved. As a proof of concept, a simple mathematical model with susceptible-infected-recovered (SIR) structure of coupled epidemics between aquatic birds (mainly ducks and geese) and chickens was used to estimate transmissibility within and between these two poultry populations. In the field the hypothesis is tested by prospective surveillance of poultry and immunocompetent patients hospitalized for severe pneumonia for the virus before and after the institution of these measures.

Implications of the Hypothesis

A combination of targeted immunization with the correct vaccine, segregation of poultry species and moratorium of poultry in addition to the present surveillance, biosecurity and hygienic measures at the farm, market and personal levels could be important in the successful control of the H5N1 virus in poultry and human for an extensive geographical region with continuing outbreaks. Alternatively a lesser scale of intervention at the district level can be considered if there is virus detection without evidence of excess poultry deaths since asymptomatic shedding is common in waterfowls.
BMP-6 promotes E-cadherin expression through repressing δEF1 in breast cancer cells
Authors: Yang Shuang , Du Jun , Wang Zhaoqi , Yuan Wei , Qiao Yuhuan , Zhang Ming , Zhang Jie , Gao Songyuan , Yin Jian , Sun Baocun , Zhu Tianhui
Published: November 2007

Background

Bone morphogenetic protein-6 (BMP-6) is critically involved in many developmental processes. Recent studies indicate that BMP-6 is closely related to tumor differentiation and metastasis.

Methods

Quantitative RT-PCR was used to determine the expression of BMP-6, E-cadherin, and δEF1 at the mRNA level in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, as well as in 16 breast cancer specimens. Immunoblot analysis was used to measure the expression of δEF1 at the protein level in δEF1-overexpressing and δEF1-interfered MDA-MB-231 cells. Luciferase assay was used to determine the rhBMP-6 or δEF1 driven transcriptional activity of the E-cadherin promoter in MDA-MB-231 cells. Quantitative CHIP assay was used to detect the direct association of δEF1 with the E-cadherin proximal promoter in MDA-MB-231 cells.

Results

MCF-7 breast cancer cells, an ER+ cell line that expressed high levels of BMP-6 and E-cadherin exhibited very low levels of δEF1 transcript. In contrast, MDA-MB-231 cells, an ER- cell line had significantly reduced BMP-6 and E-cadherin mRNA levels, suggesting an inverse correlation between BMP-6/E-cadherin and δEF1. To determine if the same relationship exists in human tumors, we examined tissue samples of breast cancer from human subjects. In 16 breast cancer specimens, the inverse correlation between BMP-6/E-cadherin and δEF1 was observed in both ER+ cases (4 of 8 cases) and ER- cases (7 of 8 cases). Further, we found that BMP-6 inhibited δEF1 transcription, resulting in an up-regulation of E-cadherin mRNA expression. This is consistent with our analysis of the E-cadherin promoter demonstrating that BMP-6 was a potent transcriptional activator. Interestingly, ectopic expression of δEF1 was able to block BMP-6-induced transactivation of E-cadherin, whereas RNA interference-mediated down-regulation of endogenous δEF1 in breast cancer cells abolished E-cadherin transactivation by BMP-6. In addition to down-regulating the expression of δEF1, BMP-6 also physically dislodged δEF1 from E-cadherin promoter to allow the activation of E-cadherin transcription.

Conclusion

We conclude that repression of δEF1 plays a key role in mediating BMP-6-induced transcriptional activation of E-cadherin in breast cancer cells. Consistent with the fact that higher level of δEF1 expression is associated with more invasive phenotype of breast cancer cells, our collective data suggests that δEF1 is likely the switch through which BMP-6 restores E-cadherin-mediated cell-to-cell adhesion and prevents breast cancer metastasis.
Simultaneous Aurora-A/STK15 overexpression and centrosome amplification induce chromosomal instability in tumour cells with a MIN phenotype
Authors: Lentini Laura , Amato Angela , Schillaci Tiziana , Di Leonardo Aldo
Published: November 2007

Background

Genetic instability is a hallmark of tumours and preneoplastic lesions. The predominant form of genome instability in human cancer is chromosome instability (CIN). CIN is characterized by chromosomal aberrations, gains or losses of whole chromosomes (aneuploidy), and it is often associated with centrosome amplification. Centrosomes control cell division by forming a bipolar mitotic spindle and play an essential role in the maintenance of chromosomal stability.

However, whether centrosome amplification could directly cause aneuploidy is not fully established. Also, alterations in genes required for mitotic progression could be involved in CIN.

A major candidate is represented by Aurora-A/STK15 that associates with centrosomes and is overexpressed in several types of human tumour.

Methods

Centrosome amplification were induced by hydroxyurea treatment and visualized by immunofluorescence microscopy. Aurora-A/STK15 ectopic expression was achieved by retroviral infection and puromycin selection in HCT116 tumour cells. Effects of Aurora-A/STK15 depletion on centrosome status and ploidy were determined by Aurora-A/STK15 transcriptional silencing by RNA interference. Changes in the expression levels of some mitotic genes were determined by Real time RT-PCR.

Results

We investigated whether amplification of centrosomes and overexpression of Aurora-A/STK15 induce CIN using as a model system a colon carcinoma cell line (HCT116). We found that in HCT116 cells, chromosomally stable and near diploid cells harbouring a MIN phenotype, centrosome amplification induced by hydroxyurea treatment is neither maintained nor induces aneuploidy. On the contrary, ectopic overexpression of Aurora-A/STK15 induced supernumerary centrosomes and aneuploidy. Aurora-A/STK15 transcriptional silencing by RNA interference in cells ectopically overexpressing this kinase promptly decreased cell numbers with supernumerary centrosomes and aneuploidy.

Conclusion

Our results show that centrosome amplification alone is not sufficient to induce chromosomal instability in colon cancer cells with a MIN phenotype. Alternatively, centrosome amplification has to be associated with alterations in genes regulating mitosis progression such as Aurora-A/STK15 to trigger CIN.
Inflammation: a way to understanding the evolution of portal hypertension
Authors: Aller María-Angeles , Arias Jorge-Luis , Cruz Arturo , Arias Jaime
Published: November 2007

Background

Portal hypertension is a clinical syndrome that manifests as ascites, portosystemic encephalopathy and variceal hemorrhage, and these alterations often lead to death.

Hypothesis

Splanchnic and/or systemic responses to portal hypertension could have pathophysiological mechanisms similar to those involved in the post-traumatic inflammatory response.

The splanchnic and systemic impairments produced throughout the evolution of experimental prehepatic portal hypertension could be considered to have an inflammatory origin. In portal vein ligated rats, portal hypertensive enteropathy, hepatic steatosis and portal hypertensive encephalopathy show phenotypes during their development that can be considered inflammatory, such as: ischemia-reperfusion (vasodilatory response), infiltration by inflammatory cells (mast cells) and bacteria (intestinal translocation of endotoxins and bacteria) and lastly, angiogenesis. Similar inflammatory phenotypes, worsened by chronic liver disease (with anti-oxidant and anti-enzymatic ability reduction) characterize the evolution of portal hypertension and its complications (hepatorenal syndrome, ascites and esophageal variceal hemorrhage) in humans.

Conclusion

Low-grade inflammation, related to prehepatic portal hypertension, switches to high-grade inflammation with the development of severe and life-threatening complications when associated with chronic liver disease.
Blood parameters in growing pigs fed increasing levels of bacterial protein meal
Authors: Hellwing Anne Louise F , Tauson Anne-Helene , Skrede Anders
Published: November 2007

The experiment investigated the effects of increasing dietary levels of bacterial protein meal (BPM) on various blood parameters reflecting protein and fat metabolism, liver function, and purine base metabolism in growing pigs. Sixteen barrows were allocated to four different experimental diets. The control diet was based on soybean meal. In the other three diets soybean meal was replaced with increasing levels of BPM, approximately 17%, 35%, and 50% of the nitrogen being derived from BPM. Blood samples from the jugular vein were taken when the body weights of the pigs were approximately 10 kg, 21 kg, 45 kg, and 77 kg. The blood parameters reflecting fat metabolism and liver function were not affected by diet. Both the plasma albumin and uric acid concentrations tended to decrease (P = 0.07 and 0.01, respectively) with increasing dietary BPM content, whereas the plasma glucose concentration tended to increase (P = 0.07) with increasing dietary BPM content. It was concluded that up to 50% of the nitrogen could be derived from BPM without affecting metabolic function, as reflected in the measured blood parameters.
Prevalence and Predictors of Complementary Therapy Use in Advanced-Stage Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: Gross Abigail M. , Liu Qin , Bauer-Wu Susan
Published: November 2007

Purpose

Information on the use of complementary therapies in patients with advanced-stage cancer is limited. Given the disease and treatment complexities associated with the care of patients with metastatic cancer, oncology clinicians would benefit from having an appreciation of the extent of usage of unconventional, adjunctive therapies among these patients. This study evaluated the prevalence and demographic predictors of complementary therapy use in a sample of women with metastatic breast cancer.

Methods

Subjects with stage IV breast cancer were recruited from six treatment facilities in New England. A written, mailed survey assessing complementary therapy use and sociodemographic information was completed by each subject, while disease and treatment information was obtained from medical records. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted.

Results

Of the 173 participants, 78% used at least one type of complementary therapy, 43% used two or more types, and 23% used three or more types, excluding spiritual practices and physical exercise. When including spiritual practices and physical exercise, 90% used at least one complementary therapy, 70% used two or more types, and 45% used three or more types. Visits to alternative health practitioners were predicted by younger age (P = .009) and higher education level (P = .002). Younger participants (P = .045) were more likely to use and spend more money on vitamins and herbal products (P = .02).

Conclusions

Use of unconventional therapies is pervasive among metastatic breast cancer patients, particularly among those who are younger and highly educated. Oncology providers need to assess patients' complementary therapy use and consider potential interactions with prescribed treatment protocols.
Motion planning for mobile robots in dynamic environments using a potential field immune network
Authors: Luh G-C , Liu W-W
Published: November 2007

This paper proposes a potential field immune network (PFIN) for dynamic motion planning of mobile robots in an unknown environment with moving obstacles and a fixed/moving goal. The velocity obstacle method is utilized to determine the imminent collision obstacle. Subsequently, PFIN is implemented to guide robots to avoid collision with the most dangerous objects at every time instant. The overall response of the immune network is calculated with the aid of fuzzy logic and genetic algorithms. Simulation results are presented to verify the effectiveness of the proposed architecture in dynamic environments with single and multiple fixed/moving obstacles.