bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Place status, place loyalty and well being: an exploratory investigation of Israeli residents
Authors: Gilboa Shaked , Herstein Ram 
Published: July 2012

PurposeThe purpose of the current exploratory study is to examine whether place status (ordinary or prestigious) and place loyalty can be related to personal well being (measured by happiness and self‐esteem).Design/methodology/approachData were collected through a field survey with 150 respondents.FindingsSignificant differences were found between residents of prestigious versus ordinary communities. Among those who perceive their community as ordinary, the paper found no relationship between place loyalty and self esteem, and a marginally significant negative relationship between place loyalty and happiness. In contrast, among those who perceive their community as prestigious, the paper found a positive relationship between place loyalty and happiness, and a marginally significant positive relationship between place loyalty and self esteem.Research limitations/implicationsThe present study is based on a rather small non‐representative sample. As it is unclear whether place loyalty predicts happiness or vice versa, future research is needed to further examine this relationship.Practical implicationsThe current findings suggest that place branding efforts have the potential of strengthening residents' loyalty to their living places on the one hand, and enhancing their well being on the other.Originality/valueThe current study examines for the first time the relationship between the marketing parameters of brand status and customer loyalty, and the psychological constructs of happiness and self‐esteem, in the unique context of living place. This relationship has not been previously studied and has much relevance to the literature about place branding.
Associations between body mass index and clinico‐pathological characteristics of papillary thyroid cancer
Authors: Kim Hye Jeong , Kim Na Kyung , Choi Ji Hun , Sohn Seo Young , Kim Se Won , Jin Sang‐Man , Jang Hye Won , Suh Sunghwan , Min Yong‐Ki , Chung Jae Hoon , Kim Sun Wook 
Published: July 2012

SummaryObjectiveEpidemiological studies have demonstrated that excess weight increases the risk of thyroid cancer. However, the associations between excess weight and prognostic factors for thyroid cancer are uncertain. We evaluated the relationships between body mass index (BMI) and clinico‐pathological features and outcomes of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC).Patients and MethodsRetrospective analysis of 2057 patients with PTC was performed. Patients were grouped according to BMI (underweight, normal weight, overweight and obesity)‐based World Health Organization standardized categories. Logistic regression models were used to assess the relationships between BMI and clinico‐pathological features of PTC. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to examine the association between BMI and disease recurrence.ResultsA 5‐kg/m2 increase in BMI was associated with PTC tumours larger than 1 cm [odds ratio (OR) 1·31, P < 0·001], with microscopic extrathyroidal invasion (OR 1·23, P = 0·006), and with advanced tumour‐node‐metastasis (TNM) stage (OR, 1·30, P = 0·003), which is independent of confounding variables such as gender, age, serum TSH, total cholesterol and fasting glucose level. The multivariate‐adjusted OR [95% confidence intervals (CI)] in the overweight (25·0–29·9 kg/m2) and obese (BMI ≥ 30) groups for tumours larger than 1 cm were 1·41 (1·10–1·81) and 2·17 (1·23–3·82), respectively, compared to the normal weight group (BMI 18·5–24·9). The multivariate‐adjusted OR (95% CI) for microscopic extrathyroidal extension in the obesity group was 1·88 (1·06–3·32), and the OR for advanced TNM stage in the overweight group was 1·35 (1·02–1·79) compared to the normal weight group. During follow‐up (median, 84 month; range, 1–185), 43 patients (2·1%) experienced recurrence. There were no significant differences in recurrence of PTCs among BMI groups.ConclusionsHigher BMI was strongly associated with larger tumour size, extrathyroidal invasion and advanced TNM stage of PTCs. However, there was no difference in recurrence rate among BMI groups. This study suggests that excess weight is associated with aggressive features of PTCs. Further studies with long‐term follow‐up are needed to confirm this finding.
Measurement of salivary cortisol in 2012 – laboratory techniques and clinical indications
Authors: Inder Warrick J. , Dimeski Goce , Russell Anthony 
Published: July 2012

SummaryThe utility of measuring salivary cortisol has become increasingly appreciated since the early 1980s. Salivary cortisol is a measure of active free cortisol and follows the diurnal rhythm of serum or plasma cortisol. The saliva sample may be collected by drooling or through the use of absorbent swabs which are placed into the mouth until saturated. Salivary cortisol is therefore convenient for patients and research participants to collect noninvasively on an outpatient basis. Several assay techniques have been used to measure salivary cortisol, including radioimmunoassay and more recently liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. The analytical sensitivity varies between these assay methods, as does the potential for cross‐reactivity with other steroids. The interpretation of salivary cortisol levels relies on rigorous standardization of sampling equipment, sampling protocols and assay technology with establishment of a local reference range. Clinically, the commonest use for salivary cortisol is measuring late‐night salivary cortisol as a screening test for Cushing's syndrome. Several studies have shown diagnostic sensitivities and specificities of over 90%, which compares very favourably with other screening tests for Cushing's syndrome such as the 24‐h urinary‐free cortisol and the 1‐mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test. There are emerging roles for the use of salivary cortisol in diagnosing adrenal insufficiency, particularly in conditions associated with low cortisol–binding globulin levels, and in the monitoring of glucocorticoid replacement. Finally, salivary cortisol has been used extensively as a biomarker of stress in a research setting, especially in studies examining psychological stress with repeated measurements.
Synthesis strategy: building a culturally sensitive mid‐range theory of risk perception using literary, quantitative, and qualitative methods
Authors: Siaki Leilani A. , Loescher Lois J. , Trego Lori L. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractAimThis article presents a discussion of development of a mid‐range theory of risk perception.BackgroundUnhealthy behaviours contribute to the development of health inequalities worldwide. The link between perceived risk and successful health behaviour change is inconclusive, particularly in vulnerable populations. This may be attributed to inattention to culture.Data sourcesThe synthesis strategy of theory building guided the process using three methods: (1) a systematic review of literature published between 2000–2011 targeting perceived risk in vulnerable populations; (2) qualitative and (3) quantitative data from a study of Samoan Pacific Islanders at high risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.DiscussionMain concepts of this theory include risk attention, appraisal processes, cognition, and affect. Overarching these concepts is health‐world view: cultural ways of knowing, beliefs, values, images, and ideas. This theory proposes the following: (1) risk attention varies based on knowledge of the health risk in the context of health‐world views; (2) risk appraisals are influenced by affect, health‐world views, cultural customs, and protocols that intersect with the health risk; (3) strength of cultural beliefs, values, and images (cultural identity) mediate risk attention and risk appraisal influencing the likelihood that persons will engage in health‐promoting behaviours that may contradict cultural customs/protocols.ImplicationsInterventions guided by a culturally sensitive mid‐range theory may improve behaviour‐related health inequalities in vulnerable populations.ConclusionsThe synthesis strategy is an intensive process for developing a culturally sensitive mid‐range theory. Testing of the theory will ascertain its usefulness for reducing health inequalities in vulnerable groups.
Cross‐cultural adaptation and translation of a quality of life tool for new mothers: a methodological and experiential account from six countries
Authors: Symon Andrew , Nagpal Jitender , Maniecka‐Bryła Irena , Nowakowska‐Głąb Agata , Rashidian Arash , Khabiri Roghayeh , Mendes Isabel , Pinheiro Ana Karina Bezerra , de Oliveira Mirna Fontenele , Wu Liping 
Published: July 2012

AbstractAimTo examine the challenges and solutions encountered in the translation and cross‐cultural adaptation of an English language quality of life tool in India, China, Iran, Portugal, Brazil, and Poland.BackgroundThose embarking on research involving translation and cross‐cultural adaptation must address certain practical and conceptual issues. These include instrument choice, linguistic factors, and cultural or philosophical differences, which may render an instrument inappropriate, even when expertly translated. Publication bias arises when studies encountering difficulties do not admit to these, or are not published at all. As an educative guide to the potential pitfalls involved in the cross‐cultural adaptation process, this article reports the conceptual, linguistic, and methodological experiences of researchers in six countries, who translated and adapted the Mother‐Generated Index, a quality of life tool originally developed in English.Data sourcesPrincipal investigator experience from six stand‐alone studies (two published) ranging from postgraduate research to citywide surveys.Discussion/implications for nursingThis analysis of a series of stand‐alone cross‐cultural studies provides lessons about how conceptual issues, such as the uniqueness of perceived quality of life and the experience of new motherhood, can be addressed. This original international approach highlights practical lessons relating to instrument choice, and the resources available to researchers with different levels of experience. Although researchers may be confident of effective translation, conceptual and practical difficulties may be more problematic.ConclusionInstrument choice is crucial. Researchers must negotiate adequate resources for cross‐cultural research, including time, translation facilities, and expert advice about conceptual issues.
The phosphotransferase protein EIIANtr modulates the phosphate starvation response through interaction with histidine kinase PhoR in Escherichia coli
Authors: Lüttmann Denise , Göpel Yvonne , Görke Boris 
Published: July 2012

SummaryMany Proteobacteria possess the paralogous PTSNtr, in addition to the sugar transport phosphotransferase system (PTS). In the PTSNtr phosphoryl‐groups are transferred from phosphoenolpyruvate to protein EIIANtr via the phosphotransferases EINtr and NPr. The PTSNtr has been implicated in regulation of diverse physiological processes. In Escherichia coli, the PTSNtr plays a role in potassium homeostasis. In particular, EIIANtr binds to and stimulates activity of a two‐component histidine kinase (KdpD) resulting in increased expression of the genes encoding the high‐affinity K+ transporter KdpFABC. Here, we show that the phosphate (pho) regulon is likewise modulated by PTSNtr. The pho regulon, which comprises more than 30 genes, is activated by the two‐component system PhoR/PhoB under conditions of phosphate starvation. Mutants lacking EIIANtr are unable to fully activate the pho genes and exhibit a growth delay upon adaptation to phosphate limitation. In contrast, pho expression is increased above the wild‐type level in mutants deficient for EIIANtr phosphorylation suggesting that non‐phosphorylated EIIANtr modulates pho. Protein interaction analyses reveal binding of EIIANtr to histidine kinase PhoR. This interaction increases the amount of phosphorylated response regulator PhoB. Thus, EIIANtr is an accessory protein that modulates the activities of two distinct sensor kinases, KdpD and PhoR, in E. coli.
Double locking of an Escherichia coli promoter by two repressors prevents premature colicin expression and cell lysis
Authors: Butala Matej , Sonjak Silva , Kamenšek Simona , Hodošček Milan , Browning Douglas F. , Žgur‐Bertok Darja , Busby Stephen J. W. 
Published: July 2012

SummaryThe synthesis of Eschericha coli colicins is lethal to the producing cell and is repressed during normal growth by the LexA transcription factor, which is the master repressor of the SOS system for repair of DNA damage. Following DNA damage, LexA is inactivated and SOS repair genes are induced immediately, but colicin production is delayed and induced only in terminally damaged cells. The cause of this delay is unknown. Here we identify the global transcription repressor, IscR, as being directly responsible for the delay in colicin K expression during the SOS response, and identify the DNA target for IscR at the colicin K operon promoter. Our results suggest that, IscR stabilizes LexA at the cka promoter after DNA damage thus, preventing its cleavage and inactivation, and this cooperation ensures that suicidal colicin K production is switched on only as a last resort. A similar mechanism operates at the regulatory region of other colicins and, hence, we suggest that many promoters that control the expression of ‘lethal’ genes are double locked.
Intraclonal diversity of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa cystic fibrosis airway isolates TBCF10839 and TBCF121838: distinct signatures of transcriptome, proteome, metabolome, adherence and pathogenicity despite an almost identical genome sequence
Authors: Klockgether Jens , Miethke Norbert , Kubesch Peter , Bohn Yu‐Sing , Brockhausen Inka , Cramer Nina , Eberl Leo , Greipel Joachim , Herrmann Christian , Herrmann Susanne , Horatzek Sonja , Lingner Meike , Luciano Liliana , Salunkhe Prabhakar , Schomburg Dietmar , Wehsling Maria , Wiehlmann Lutz , Davenport Colin F. , Tümmler Burkhard 
Published: July 2012

SummaryMicroevolution of closely related Pseudomonas aeruginosa was compared in the clone TB strains TBCF10839 and TBCF121838 which had been isolated from two unrelated individuals with cystic fibrosis who had acquired clone TB during a local outbreak. Compared with the strain PAO1 reference sequence the two clone TB genomes shared 23 155 nucleotide exchanges, 32 out‐of‐frame indels in the coding region and another repertoire of replacement and genomic islands such as PAGI‐1, PAGI‐2, PAGI‐5, LESGI‐1 and LES‐prophage 4. Only TBCF121838 carried a genomic island known from Ralstonia pickettii. Six of the seven strain‐specific sequence variations in the core genome were detected in genes affecting motility, biofilm formation or virulence, i.e. non‐synonymous nucleotide substitutions in mexS, PA3729, PA5017, mifR, a frameshift mutation in pilF (TBCF121838) and an intragenic deletion in pilQ (TBCF10839). Despite their almost identical genome sequence the two strains differed strongly from each other in transcriptome and metabolome profiles, mucin adherence and phagocytosis assays. TBCF121838 was susceptible to killing by neutrophils, but TBCF10839 could grow in leucocytes. Microevolution in P. aeruginosa apparently can generate novel complex traits by few or even single mutations provided that predisposing mutational events had occurred before in the clonal lineage.
Probing for the influence of atmospheric CO2 and climate change on forest ecosystems across biomes
Authors: Silva Lucas C. R. , Anand Madhur 
Published: July 2012

AbstractAimRising atmospheric CO
2 and climate warming have induced changes in tree growth and intrinsic water‐use efficiency (iWUE) world‐wide, but the long‐term impact of such changes on terrestrial productivity remains unknown. Based on a synthesis of the literature, here we investigate the net impact of recent atmospheric changes across forest biomes.LocationA range of sites covering major forest biomes.MethodsWe use dendrochronological and isotopic records to provide an integrated analysis of changes in growth and iWUE, evaluating the impacts of atmospheric changes in tree growth. In our analysis, positive relationships between changes in growth and iWUE reflect CO
2 stimulation, while neutral effects yield inflections in growth curves (plotted against iWUE), and negative relationships indicate the prevalence of stressors. To estimate net effects (since 1960) and compare responses across biomes, we use a response contrast (RC) index, based on the ratio between cumulative changes in growth and iWUE.ResultsIn 37 recently published case studies changes in iWUE were consistently positive, increasing by between 10 and 60%, but shifts in growth varied widely within and among forest biomes. Positive RC values were observed in high latitudes (> 40°N), while progressively lower (always negative) responses were observed toward lower latitudes. Growth rates declined between 15 and 55% in tropical forests. In subtropical sites growth declined by between 7 and 10%, while mixed responses occurred in other regions.Main conclusionsOver the past 50 years, tree growth decline has prevailed despite increasing atmospheric CO
2. The impact of atmospheric changes on forest productivity is latitude dependent (R
2 = 0.9, P < 0.05), but our results suggest that, globally, CO
2 stimulation of mature trees will not counteract emissions. In most surveyed case studies warming‐induced stress was evoked to explain growth decline, but other factors, such as nutrient limitation, could have overridden the potential benefits of rising CO
2 levels.
Weighting Positive Versus Negative: The Fundamental Nature of Valence Asymmetry
Authors: Pietri Evava S. , Fazio Russell H. , Shook Natalie J. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractObjectiveThe relation between weighting of valence information in attitude generalization and evaluation of novel/hypothetical situations was explored.MethodUndergraduate participants played a computer game requiring them to learn which stimuli (beans) would increase/decrease their points. Later, participants classified the valence of game beans and novel ones varying in resemblance to game beans. The weighting bias in attitude generalization was estimated as the average response to novel beans, controlling for game bean learning. We examined whether this bias related to judgments of hypothetical situations concerning interpersonal relationships (Study 1), threat assessment (Study 2), risk propensities (Study 3), and risk behavior (Study 6). We also assessed whether valence weighting is specifically predictive of novel situations (Studies 4 and 5). Finally, we explored participants' ability to self‐report their weighting bias (Study 7).ResultsValence weighting in attitude generalization was related to judgments of novel situations and risk behavior. The performance‐based measure did not correlate with responses to various questionnaires related to valence weighting.ConclusionsThere is a fundamental individual difference associated with valence weighting, resulting in the relation between two processes unrelated in content, but sharing the essential characteristic of valence weighting—attitude generalization and evaluation of novel situations.
How Does “Being Real” Feel? The Experience of State Authenticity
Authors: Lenton Alison P. , Bruder Martin , Slabu Letitia , Sedikides Constantine 
Published: July 2012

AbstractObjectiveWe propose that the experience of state authenticity—the subjective sense of being one's true self—ought to be considered separately from trait authenticity as well as from prescriptions regarding what should make people feel authentic.MethodsIn Study 1 (N = 104), online participants rated the frequency of and motivation for experiences of authenticity and inauthenticity. Studies 2 (N = 268) and 3 (N = 93) asked (local or online, respectively) participants to describe their experiences of authenticity or inauthenticity. Participants in Studies 1 and 2 also completed measures of trait authenticity, and participants in Study 3 rated their experience with respect to several phenomenological dimensions.ResultsStudy 1 demonstrated that people are motivated to experience state authenticity and avoid inauthenticity and that such experiences are common, regardless of one's degree of trait authenticity. Coding of Study 2's narratives identified the emotions accompanying and needs fulfilled in each state. Trait authenticity generally did not qualify the nature of (in)authentic experiences. Study 3 corroborated the results of Study 2 and further revealed positive mood and nostalgia as consequences of reflecting on experiences of authenticity.ConclusionsWe discuss implications of these findings for conceptualizations of authenticity and the self.
Production of highly concentrated, heat‐stable hepatitis B surface antigen in maize
Authors: Hayden Celine A. , Egelkrout Erin M. , Moscoso Alessa M. , Enrique Cristina , Keener Todd K. , Jimenez‐Flores Rafael , Wong Jeffrey C. , Howard John A. 
Published: July 2012

SummaryPlant‐based oral vaccines are a promising emergent technology that could help alleviate disease burden worldwide by providing a low‐cost, heat‐stable, oral alternative to parenterally administered commercial vaccines. Here, we describe high‐level accumulation of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) at a mean concentration of 0.51%TSP in maize T1 seeds using an improved version of the globulin1 promoter. This concentration is more than fourfold higher than any previously reported lines. HBsAg expressed in maize seeds was extremely heat stable, tolerating temperatures up to 55 °C for 1 month without degradation. Optimal heat stability was achieved after oil extraction of ground maize material, either by supercritical fluid extraction or hexane treatment. The contributions of this material towards the development of a practical oral vaccine delivery system are discussed.
Causal Inference by Independent Component Analysis: Theory and Applications*
Authors: Moneta Alessio , Entner Doris , Hoyer Patrik O. , Coad Alex 
Published: July 2012

AbstractStructural vector‐autoregressive models are potentially very useful tools for guiding both macro‐ and microeconomic policy. In this study, we present a recently developed method for estimating such models, which uses non‐normality to recover the causal structure underlying the observations. We show how the method can be applied to both microeconomic data (to study the processes of firm growth and firm performance) and macroeconomic data (to analyse the effects of monetary policy).