bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A comparative study of TiO2 and surface‐treated TiO2 nanoparticles on thermal and mechanical properties of poly(ε‐caprolactone) nanocomposites
Authors: Wang Guangshuo , Chen Guangyi , Wei Zhiyong , Yu Teng , Liu Lian , Wang Pei , Chang Ying , Qi Min 
Published: February 2012

AbstractPolymer/inorganic nanocomposites were significant hybrid materials because of their unique properties. The surface of bare nanoparticles (b‐TiO2) was modified by aminopropyl trimethoxy silane to obtain grafted TiO2 (g‐TiO2) nanoparticles for the improvement of nanoparticles dispersion. The b‐TiO2 and resulting g‐TiO2 nanoparticles were introduced into poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) matrix to prepare PCL/TiO2 nanocomposites by in situ polymerization. The effects of b‐TiO2 and g‐TiO2 nanoparticles on the structure, morphology, and properties of nanocomposites were characterized and compared. The results showed that the crystalline structure of PCL matrix was not affected significantly by adding b‐TiO2 or g‐TiO2 nanoparticles. The g‐TiO2 nanoparticles had a finer dispersion and better compatibility than bare TiO2. The introduction of g‐TiO2 into PCL matrix increased the crystallization temperature and improved thermal stability of the nanocomposites with respect to untreated TiO2. The surface‐treated nanoparticles played an important role in strengthening mechanical properties of the nanocomposites because of its well dispersion and strong interfacial interaction between the nanoparticles and PCL matrix. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Airflow obstruction, lung function, and risk of incident heart failure: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study
Authors: Agarwal Sunil K. , Heiss Gerardo , Barr R. Graham , Chang Patricia P. , Loehr Laura R. , Chambless Lloyd E. , Shahar Eyal , Kitzman Dalane W. , Rosamond Wayne D. 
Published: February 2012

AimsWe examined the relationship between forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), airflow obstruction, and incident heart failure (HF) in black and white, middle‐aged men and women in four US communities.Methods and resultsLung volumes by standardized spirometry and information on covariates were collected on 15 792 Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) cohort participants in 1987–89. Incident HF was ascertained from hospital records and death certificates up to 2005 in 13 660 eligible participants. Over an average follow‐up of 14.9 years, 1369 (10%) participants developed new‐onset HF. The age‐ and height‐adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for HF increased monotonically over descending quartiles of FEV1 for both genders, race groups, and smoking status. After multivariable adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors and height, the HRs [95% confidence intervals (CIs)] of HF comparing the lowest with the highest quartile of FEV1 were 3.91 (2.40–6.35) for white women, 3.03 (2.12–4.33) for white men, 2.11 (1.33–3.34) for black women, and 2.23 (1.37–3.59) for black men. The association weakened but remained statistically significant after additional adjustment for systemic markers of inflammation. The multivariable adjusted incidence of HF was higher in those with FEV1/forced vital capacity <70% vs. ≥70%: HR 1.44 (95% CI 1.20–1.74) among men and 1.40 (1.13–1.72) among women. A consistent and positive association with HF was seen for self‐reported diagnosis of emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but not for asthma.ConclusionsIn this large population‐based cohort with long‐term follow‐up, low FEV1 and an obstructive respiratory disease were strongly and independently associated with the risk of incident HF.
Phylogenetic analysis of the north‐east Atlantic and Mediterranean species of the genus Stenosoma (Isopoda, Valvifera, Idoteidae)
Authors: Xavier Raquel , Santos António M. , Harris D. J. , Sezgin Murat , Machado Margarida , Branco Madalena 
Published: February 2012

Xavier, R., Santos, A. M., Harris, D. J., Sezgin, M., Machado, M., Branco, M. (2012). Phylogenetic analysis of the north‐east Atlantic and Mediterranean species of the genus Stenosoma (Isopoda, Valvifera, Idoteidae). —Zoologica Scripta, 41, 386–399.The marine isopod genus Stenosoma is widespread in the northern hemisphere. However, 12 of its 14 known species are found within the Mediterranean basin and adjacent regions of the north‐east Atlantic and the Black Sea. Such a high level of diversity confined to a limited region of a much larger circumglobal distribution suggests that the Mediterranean region may have played a crucial role in the evolutionary history of this genus. In the present work, the phylogeny of the genus Stenosoma was investigated on the basis of DNA sequencing data from one nuclear (28SrRNA) and two mitochondrial (COI, ND4) gene fragments obtained for nine of 12 Atlantic–Mediterranean species. Divergence time estimates point to a Tethyan origin of Stenosoma and suggest that the speciation events from which stem most of the extant species took place well before the Messinian Salinity Crisis. Stenosoma spinosum and Stenosoma appendiculatum are the only exceptions, as they apparently arose within the Mediterranean during the Pleistocene. Phylogenetic reconstruction agrees with current taxonomic status of most species. However, Stenosoma capito clustered in two distinct and well‐supported clades, one composed of eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea specimens and the other by western Mediterranean and Atlantic ones. Such polyphyly suggests the existence of a previously unrecognized species, Stenosoma sp., which so far has been confounded with S. capito.
The Role of Bank Reputation in “Certifying” Future Performance Implications of Borrowers’ Accounting Numbers
Authors: BUSHMAN ROBERT M. , WITTENBERG‐MOERMAN REGINA 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTWe investigate the role played by the reputation of lead arrangers of syndicated loans in mitigating information asymmetries between borrowers and lenders. We hypothesize that syndications by more reputable arrangers are indicative of higher borrower quality at loan inception and more rigorous monitoring during the term of the loan. We investigate whether borrowers with more reputable lead arrangers realize superior performance subsequent to loan origination relative to borrowers with less reputable arrangers. We further examine whether certification by high‐reputation lead banks extends to the quality of borrowers’ reported accounting numbers. Controlling for endogenous matching of borrowers and lead banks, we find that higher bank reputation is associated with higher profitability and credit quality in the three years subsequent to loan initiation. We also show that bank reputation is associated with long‐run sustainability of earnings via higher earnings persistence, and debt contracting value of accounting via a stronger connection between pre‐loan profitability and future credit quality. We further document that the enhanced earnings sustainability associated with higher reputation lead banks reflects both superior fundamentals and accruals more closely linked with future cash flows.
Establishing an emergency department syndromic surveillance system to support the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games
Authors: Elliot Alex J , Hughes Helen E , Hughes Thomas C , Locker Thomas E , Shannon Tony , Heyworth John , Wapling Andy , Catchpole Mike , Ibbotson Sue , McCloskey Brian , Smith Gillian E 
Published: February 2012

BackgroundThe London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is a mass gathering event that will present a major public health challenge. The Health Protection Agency, in collaboration with the College of Emergency Medicine, has established the Emergency Department Sentinel Syndromic Surveillance System (EDSSS) to support the public health surveillance requirements of the Games.MethodsThis feasibility study assesses the usefulness of EDSSS in monitoring indicators of disease in the community. Daily counts of anonymised attendance data from six emergency departments across England were analysed by patient demographics (age, gender, partial postcode), triage coding and diagnosis codes. Generic and specific syndromic indicators were developed using aggregations of diagnosis codes recorded during each attendance.ResultsOver 339 000 attendances were recorded (26 July 2010 to 25 July 2011). The highest attendances recorded on weekdays between 10:00 and 11:00 and on weekends between 12:00 and 13:00. The mean daily attendance per emergency department was 257 (range 38–435). Syndromic indicators were developed including: respiratory, gastrointestinal, cardiac, acute respiratory infection, gastroenteritis and myocardial ischaemia. Respiratory and acute respiratory infection indicators peaked during December 2010, concomitant with national influenza activity, as monitored through other influenza surveillance systems.ConclusionsThe EDSSS has been established to provide an enhanced surveillance system for the London 2012 Olympics. Further validation of the data will be required; however, the results from this initial descriptive study demonstrate the potential for identifying unusual and/or severe outbreaks of infectious disease, or other incidents with public health impact, within the community.
Prognostic Role of KiSS-1 and Possibility of Therapeutic Modality of Metastin, the Final Peptide of the KiSS-1 Gene, in Urothelial Carcinoma
Authors: Takeda Toshikazu , Kikuchi Eiji , Mikami Shuji , Suzuki Eriko , Matsumoto Kazuhiro , Miyajima Akira , Okada Yasunori , Oya Mototsugu 
Published: February 2012

Abstract
The KiSS-1 gene has been reported to be a metastasis suppressor gene in human melanoma. The gene product was isolated from human placenta as the ligand of GPR54, a G protein–coupled receptor, and the C-terminally amidated peptide of 54 amino acids is called metastin. The binding of metastin to GPR54 has been shown to inhibit tumor metastasis in some tumor cells; however, its function remains unclear in urothelial carcinoma. We first evaluated KiSS-1 expression and GPR54 expression in 151 patients with upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma to determine their prognostic significance. Next, we examined the role of metastin in the invasiveness and lung metastasis of MBT-2 variant (MBT-2V), which is a highly metastatic murine bladder cancer cell. Multivariate analysis revealed that KiSS-1 expression was an independent predictor of metastasis and overall survival. However, GPR54 expression was not selected. Hematogeneous metastasis had a significantly lower level of KiSS-1 expression compared with lymph node metastasis. Metastin treatment significantly reduced the invasiveness of MBT-2V cells and inhibited the DNA-binding activity of NF-κB by blocking its nuclear translocation, leading to a reduction in the expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase-9. Metastin treatment dramatically prevented the occurrence of lung metastatic nodules (6.3 ± 2.3, n = 15) compared with controls (30.4 ± 5.1, n = 15; P &lt; 0.01), as well as had survival benefit. KiSS-1 plays an important role in the prognosis of upper tract urothelial carcinoma and metastin may be an effective inhibitor of metastasis in urothelial carcinoma through its blockade of NF-κB function. Mol Cancer Ther; 11(4); 853–63. ©2012 AACR.
Analysis of vascular endothelial growth factor gene expression in the tissues of patients with chronic venous insufficiency
Authors: Florez A , De Haro J , Bleda S , Varela C , Esparza L , Acin F 
Published: February 2012

Objective: Immunohistochemical techniques have revealed the presence of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the epidermis of patients with chronic venous disease (CVD). Our objective was to perform a quantitative analysis of the VEGF gene transcription in tissues that are potential sources of this factor (skin, varicose veins [VV] and great saphenous vein [GSV]) in patients with CVD. Methods: In all, 212 skin and venous tissue samples were collected from patients diagnosed with CVD and controls. The VEGF gene expression was analysed using quantitative realtime polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: The skin VEGF expression was lower in the CVD group than in the control group ( P = 0.04). There were no significant differences between the insufficient GSV of the CVD group and the control healthy vein ( P = 0.22). There was a greater expression of VEGF in the VV of the CVD group than in the control healthy vein ( P = 0.03). Comparison of the VEGF expression between the different tissue types in the CVD group revealed significant differences between the skin and GSV ( P = 0.02) and between the skin and the VV ( P = 0.004), and between the VV and the GSV ( P = 0.02). Conclusions: The results of the present study show an over-expression of VEGF gene in the VV tissue of patients with CVD. Based on the data in patients with C2 disease, the VVs appear to be the source of increased VEGF expression.
Long-Term, Longitudinal Follow-Up of Individuals with Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate after the Gothenburg Primary Early Veloplasty and Delayed Hard Palate Closure Protocol: Speech Outcome
Authors: Lohmander Anette , Friede Hans , Lilja Jan 
Published: February 2012

Objective To investigate long-term, longitudinal speech outcome in patients born with unilateral cleft lip and palate treated according to a two-stage primary palatal protocol with early veloplasty and delayed hard palate closure. Design Retrospective, longitudinal cohort study. Setting A university hospital in western Sweden. Subjects A consecutive series of 55 patients from the total cohort of 65 were included. All patients had surgical procedures at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. Methods Standardized audio recordings were blindly analyzed at 5, 7, 16, and 19 years of age and after at a clinical visit at 10 years of age. Typical cleft speech variables were rated independently on ordinal scales. Intelligibility and perceived velopharyngeal function were assessed also. Prevalences of speech characteristics were determined, and interrater and intrarater agreement were calculated. Results Prominent hypernasality, nasal air leakage, and retracted oral articulation at 5 years were markedly reduced throughout the years with low prevalences at ages 16 and 19 years. Perceived velopharyngeal competence was noted in 82% at age 16 and 87% at age 19 years along with normal intelligibility. Pharyngeal flap surgery was performed in 6 of the 55 patients (11%). Conclusions Long-term speech outcome in patients with two-stage palatoplasty with early soft palate repair was considered good and improved even before hard palate repair. The typical retracted oral articulation was quite frequent during the early ages; whereas, nonoral misarticulations were almost nonexistent, implying good velopharyngeal competence.
Les emplois de la virgule en italien contemporain
Authors: Ferrari Angela , Lala Letizia 
Published: February 2012

Notre étude porte sur les emplois de la virgule dans l’italien contemporain, plus précisément, sur des textes de scripteurs compétents, appartenant à un registre s’étendant de moyen à haut et, pour des raisons de méthode, non littéraires. D’un point de vue descriptif, nous montrerons que la virgule obéit de plus en plus à des régularités de caractère « textuel », qu’elle vise la création et la hiérarchisation d’unités textuelles. D’un point de vue explicatif, nous démontrerons d’abord que tout traitement des emplois de la virgule en termes exclusivement syntaxiques et intonatifs est voué à l’échec, car les généralisations auxquelles il conduit sont ou bien fausses ou bien désintégrées dans une ramification d’exceptions et de cas particuliers ; ensuite, nous argumenterons qu’un ensemble important des emplois syntaxiques peut être réinterprété dans une perspective textuelle, ce qui permet une représentation des usages de la virgule plus rationnelle, cohérente et proche de la réalité de l’écriture.
L'appel-renvoi de note comme observatoire de l'interpénétration des ponctuations blanche et noire
Authors: Lefebvre Julie 
Published: February 2012

Prendre en compte la complémentarité des ponctuations noire et blanche permet de comprendre le fonctionnement de certaines marques de ponctuation ainsi que leur rôle dans l’élaboration d’une textualité caractérisée par la discontinuité spatiale. Nous décrivons ici une marque double résultant de l’association de la marque d’appel de note à la marque de « renvoi » qui initie une note. Nous montrons que cette marque double à la fois intérieure et extérieure au texte sert à articuler deux linéarités à travers l’espace graphique, générant ainsi des possibilités discursives originales.
Plurisystème ponctuationnel, dimension, intensité des signes et architecturation du texte poétique
Authors: Favriaud Michel 
Published: February 2012

Cet article poursuit notre construction d’un plurisystème de ponctuation, dont chaque volet actualiserait non seulement des unités discursives spécifiques, mais une structuration particulière. Nous testons ici, sur un corpus de poésie moderne, la notion d’intensité, en la rattachant à la manifestation visuo-phonique du ponctuant et à son emploi énonciatif d’hétérogénéité. Si l’intensité semble bien rendre compte de la dimension graduée du blanc et du marquage visuel zéro de certains accents, peut-elle éclairer aussi la multiplicité des ponctuants noirs médians, voire la variation sensible de chaque ponctuant selon le cotexte ?
Peut-on établir un système de ponctuation des transcriptions de textes oraux linguistiquement fondé ? Les propositions du groupe Rhapsodie
Authors: Deulofeu Henri-José 
Published: February 2012

L’objectif principal de l’article est de comparer deux systèmes de ponctuation de l’oral mis au point dans la perspective du traitement automatique du langage : un système intuitif et sous-déterminé et un système fondé théoriquement et surdéterminé. On montre à partir d’exemples concrets qu’une ponctuation « intuitive » aboutit à une segmentation du texte qui, comme on pouvait s’y attendre, manque de consistance. L’examen critique des conventions du projet Rhapsodie souligne la difficulté qu’il y a à construire un système de signes démarcatifs univoques. Une des conclusions qui émerge du travail est que les propositions de ponctuation de l’oral sont étroitement dépendantes de l’utilisation qui est faite de la transcription.
Passive and Dynamic Shoulder Rotation Range in Uninjured and Previously Injured Overhead Throwing Athletes and the Effect of Shoulder Taping
Authors: McConnell Jenny , Donnelly Cyril , Hamner Samuel , Dunne James , Besier Thor 
Published: February 2012

ObjectivesTo investigate: (1) the passive and dynamic shoulder internal (IR) and external (ER) rotation range of motion (ROM) of 2 groups of asymptomatic overhead throwing athletes: one group who had never experienced shoulder symptoms and another who had shoulder symptoms >12 months ago, (2) the effect of taping on the passive and dynamic IR‐ER ROM in both these groups.DesignA within‐subject repeated measures analysis of variance design to determine the differences in passive and dynamic shoulder rotation range and the effect of shoulder taping on the rotation range in a group of uninjured and previously injured overhead throwing athletes.SettingAcademic institution sports medicine setting.ParticipantsTwenty‐six overhead throwing collegiate athletes: 17 with no history of shoulder injury and 9 with previous shoulder injury.MethodsPassive shoulder ROM was measured with a goniometer with the subject in the supine position. To measure dynamic ROM, the subjects sat on a chair and threw a handball into a net. An 8‐camera Vicon Motion Capture system recorded markers placed on the upper limb and trunk. Dynamic ROM was calculated with inverse kinematics by using OpenSim.Main Outcome MeasurementShoulder IR‐ER ROM.ResultsDynamic IR‐ER ROM was significantly greater than passive IR‐ER ROM (P < .0001). There was no difference in passive IR‐ER ROM between the uninjured and previously injured overhead throwing athletes. However, there was a significant difference in the total dynamic IR‐ER ROM, whereby the overhead throwing athletes who had never experienced shoulder symptoms had less IR‐ER ROM than the previously injured group (173.9° versus 196.9°, respectively; P = .049). Taping the shoulder increased the passive ROM in both groups of subjects (P < .001), increased the dynamic IR‐ER ROM in the uninjured subjects, but decreased the dynamic IR‐ER ROM in the previously injured subjects, although this was not statistically significant (P = .07).ConclusionsPassive IR‐ER ROM is a poor indication of dynamic shoulder function. Athletes who have had a previous shoulder injury demonstrate a greater dynamic IR‐ER ROM than athletes who have never had a shoulder injury. Shoulder taping decreased the dynamic range of the previously injured athlete, so that it was nearer the dynamic range of the uninjured athlete. Shoulder taping might provide increased protection for the injured athlete by decreasing the dynamic IR‐ER ROM and by facilitating better shoulder and scapular muscle control. Further studies are necessary to demonstrate whether this finding is clinically significant.
Arabidopsis Hexokinase-Like1 and Hexokinase1 Form a Critical Node in Mediating Plant Glucose and Ethylene Responses
Authors: Karve Abhijit , Xia Xiaoxia , Moore Brandon d. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractArabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) Hexokinase-Like1 (HKL1) lacks glucose (Glc) phosphorylation activity and has been shown to act as a negative regulator of plant growth. Interestingly, the protein has a largely conserved Glc-binding domain, and protein overexpression was shown previously to promote seedling tolerance to exogenous 6% (w/v) Glc. Since these phenotypes occur independently of cellular Glc signaling activities, we have tested whether HKL1 might promote cross talk between the normal antagonists Glc and ethylene. We show that repression by 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) of the Glc-dependent developmental arrest of wild-type Arabidopsis seedlings requires the HKL1 protein. We also describe an unusual root hair phenotype associated with growth on high Glc medium that occurs prominently in HKL1 overexpression lines and in glucose insensitive 2-1 (gin2-1), a null mutant of Hexokinase1 (HXK1). Seedlings of these lines produce bulbous root hairs with an enlarged base after transfer from agar plates with normal medium to plates with 6% Glc. Seedling transfer to plates with 2% Glc plus ACC mimics the high-Glc effect in the HKL1 overexpression line but not in gin2-1. A similar ACC-stimulated, bulbous root hair phenotype also was observed in wild-type seedlings transferred to plates with 9% Glc. From transcript expression analyses, we found that HKL1 and HXK1 have differential roles in Glc-dependent repression of some ethylene biosynthesis genes. Since we show by coimmunoprecipitation assays that HKL1 and HXK1 can interact, these two proteins likely form a critical node in Glc signaling that mediates overlapping, but also distinct, cellular responses to Glc and ethylene treatments.
Just do it – a case study in Gestalt experimental coaching
Authors: Wright Nick 
Published: February 2012

PurposeThis paper aims to demonstrate the value of physical experimentation in coaching to raise client awareness and enhance transformational potential.Design/methodology/approachThis action research case study involved working with an individual coaching client using an experimental Gestalt‐oriented approach.FindingsThis study finds that physical experimentation during coaching can raise awareness for both client and coach and create powerful dynamics in and between them to catalyse change.Originality/valueThis case study will help other coaching professionals to understand and apply a Gestalt‐oriented approach to their own thinking and practice.