bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Role of Insolvency Practitioners in the UK Pre‐pack Administrations: Challenges and Control
Authors: Xie Bo 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThe pre‐pack administrations (‘pre‐packs’) in the UK have repeatedly been criticised for allowing the exploitation of certain types of unsecured creditors. In this context, the role of the administrators (who are qualified insolvency practitioners) is one of the key elements. This article examines the new challenges brought by the pre‐pack strategy to the conventional role of insolvency practitioners as the administrators. It suggests that the pre‐determination nature of pre‐packs is likely to make the administration proceedings less manager‐displacing in practice than the formal rules would suggest. Although this tendency can be expected to facilitate information gathering during the rescue negotiations, it raises urgent questions with respect to the potential alignment of interests between the inside players that may impair the impartiality of the administrators. In response to such challenges, the article argues that, in spite of the recent proposals of introducing drastic statutory regulation to control the controversy of the pre‐pack practice, a proportionate way is to see how the existing control mechanisms can contribute more in reinforcing the independence of administrators. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Proteomic analysis of the function of spot in Helicobacter pylori anti‐oxidative stress in vitro and colonization in vivo
Authors: Sun Yundong , Li Xinpeng , Li Wen , Zhao Min , Wang Lixiang , Liu Shili , Zeng Jiping , Liu Zhifang , Jia Jihui 
Published: June 2012

AbstractAs a microaerobe, Helicobacter pylori employs the global regulator SpoT for defending against oxidative stress in vitro. However, the mechanisms how SpoT affects bacterial gene expression is still unknown. Moreover, the function of SpoT in H. pylori colonization in the host is remaining undetermined. To explore the functions of the SpoT in H. pylori pathogenesis, we constructed H. pylori 26695 spoT‐deficient mutant (ΔspoT). While grown in ambient atmosphere, protein expression profile of the ΔspoT was analyzed with 2D gel electrophoresis and real‐time PCR. Compared to the wild type, the spoT‐deficient strain downregulated its transcription of the oxidative‐induced genes, as well as the genes responsible for protein degradation and that related to energy metabolism. Meanwhile, the colonization ability of ΔspoT strains in Mongolian gerbil was tested, the results demonstrated a decayed colonization in the mouse stomach with ΔspoT than the wild type. As a matter of facts, the AGS cells infected with the ΔspoT strains excreted increased level of the gastric inflammation cytokines IL‐8, and the ΔspoT strains showed poor survival ability when treated with reactive oxygen stress (sodium nitroprusside). The elevated capacity of stimulating cytokines and fragility to reactive oxygen stress may be contribute to decreased colonization of the spoT‐deficient mutant in the mouse stomach. Conclusively, we speculate that spoT is a key regulator of the genes for H. pylori spreading in the air and colonization in host stomach. J. Cell. Biochem. 113: 3393–3402, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A yeast two‐hybrid screen identifies histone H2A.Z as a transcription factor ZNF24 interactor
Authors: Li Jianzhong , Chen Xia , He Jielu , Li Mengwen , Liu Ying , Zi Haiyang , Hu Zhenlin , Zhang Junping 
Published: June 2012

AbstractZNF24 is a pleiotropic factor that has a role in transcription regulation, hematopoiesis, brain development, and cancers, but the molecular mechanisms underlying its functions are not clearly understood. In this study, histone variant H2A.Z has been identified in yeast‐two‐hybrid assays with ZNF24 as bait. GST pull‐down, co‐immunoprecipitation and co‐localization assays confirm the interaction between ZNF24 and H2A.Z. H2A.Z has been implicated in many diverse biological processes. High expression of H2A.Z is ubiquitously detected in the progression of breast cancer, and is significantly associated with lymph node metastasis and patient survival. Thus, our results provide important information for the molecular mechanisms of ZNF24 functions and suggest that ZNF24 may be is implicated in transcriptional regulation of genes associated with oncogenesis by interaction with H2A.Z. J. Cell. Biochem. 113: 3411–3418, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
MicroRNA 26b encoded by the intron of small CTD phosphatase (SCP) 1 has an antagonistic effect on its host gene
Authors: Sowa Naoya , Horie Takahiro , Kuwabara Yasuhide , Baba Osamu , Watanabe Shin , Nishi Hitoo , Kinoshita Minako , Takanabe‐Mori Rieko , Wada Hiromichi , Shimatsu Akira , Hasegawa Koji , Kimura Takeshi , Ono Koh 
Published: June 2012

AbstractTissue‐specific patterns of gene expression play an important role in the distinctive features of each organ. Small CTD phosphatases (SCPs) 1–3 are recruited by repressor element 1 (RE‐1)‐silencing transcription factor/neuron‐restrictive silencer factor (REST/NRSF) to neuronal genes that contain RE‐1 elements, leading to neuronal gene silencing in non‐neuronal cells. SCPs are highly expressed in the heart and contain microRNAs (miR)‐26b, 26a‐2, and 26a‐1 with the same seed sequence in their introns. Therefore, we tried to investigate the roles of miR‐26b and its host gene in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Overexpression of miR‐26b suppressed the mRNA expression levels of ANF, βMHC, and ACTA1 and reduced the cell surface area in cardiomyocytes. We confirmed that miR‐26b targets the 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR) of GATA4 and canonical transient receptor potential channel (TRPC) 3. Conversely, silencing of the endogenous miR‐26b family enhanced the expression levels of TRPC3 and GATA4. On the other hand, overexpression of SCP1 induced the mRNA expression of ANF and βMHC and increased the cell surface area in cardiomyocytes. Next, we compared the effect of overexpression of SCP1 with its introns and SCP1 cDNA to observe the net function of SCP1 expression on cardiac hypertrophy. When the expression levels of SCP1 were the same, the overexpression of SCP1 cDNA had a greater effect at inducing cardiac hypertrophy than SCP1 cDNA with its intron. In conclusion, SCP1 itself has the potential to induce cardiac hypertrophy; however, the effect is suppressed by intronic miR‐26b in cardiomyocytes. miR‐26b has an antagonistic effect on its host gene SCP1. J. Cell. Biochem. 113: 3455–3465, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Response to “comment on density functional theory study of 1,2‐dioxetanone decomposition in condensed phase”
Authors: Silva Luís Pinto da , Esteves da Silva Joaquim C.G. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractRoca‐Sanjuan et al. commented on our paper “Density Functional Theory Study of 1,2‐Dioxetanone Decomposition in Condensed Phase”, by criticizing the use of a closed‐shell approach and the differences encountered regarding other previous studies. However, our suggested reaction mechanism was in line with experimental findings, contrary to other computational studies. Moreover, we have presented data to support our use of a closed‐shell approach. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Canadian RCM projected changes to short‐ and long‐term drought characteristics over the Canadian Prairies
Authors: PaiMazumder Debasish , Sushama Laxmi , Laprise René , Khaliq M. Naveed , Sauchyn Dave 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThe Canadian Prairies have experienced severe and extended droughts that have had significant impacts on agriculture, energy and other socio‐economic sectors; it is therefore desirable to assess future changes to drought characteristics in this drought prone region, in the context of a changing climate. This study addresses validation and projected changes to short‐ and long‐term drought characteristics, i.e. severity, frequency and duration, over the Canadian Prairies, using an ensemble of ten Canadian RCM (CRCM) simulations, of which five correspond to the current 1971–2000 period and the other five are the matching simulations for the future 2041–2070 period. These five pairs of current and future CRCM simulations were driven by five different members of a Canadian Global Climate Model ensemble. Validation of CRCM simulated precipitation suggests that the model reproduces the observed precipitation distribution for all seasons, except summer, across a large portion of the Canadian Prairies. However, comparison of CRCM simulated drought characteristics with those observed suggests that the model has difficulties in reproducing observed severity, frequency and duration of drought events, particularly those associated with longer events, possibly due to the overestimation of summer precipitation by the model. Analysis of projected changes to precipitation and drought characteristics between the 1971–2000 and 2041–2070 periods suggests a decrease in mean precipitation in summer and an increase for the other seasons, while the severity, frequency and maximum duration of both short‐ and long‐term droughts are projected to increase over the southern Prairies, with the largest projected changes associated with longer drought events. Classification of the watersheds spanning the southern Prairies based on changes to both severity and frequency further reveal the vulnerability of this region in a changing climate. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society
An authentication case study: Antonio Palomino versus Vicente Guillo paintings in the vaulted ceiling of the Sant Joan del Mercat church (Valencia, Spain)
Authors: Doménech‐Carbó María Teresa , Edwards Howell G.M. , Doménech‐Carbó Antonio , del Hoyo‐Meléndez Julio M. , de la Cruz‐Cañizares Juana 
Published: June 2012

In 1695, the Valencian artist Vicente Guillo was engaged in painting the vault of the Sant Joan del Mercat church in Valencia, Spain. After preliminary work was carried out, his contract was cancelled. In 1697, Antonio Palomino, renowned for the publication of his technical treatise entitled El Museo Pictorio y Escala Optica, was finally selected as the painter in charge of decorating the vaulted ceiling of Sant Joan del Mercat. This paper reports an analytical study focused on the characterisation and discrimination of the palette and painting procedures used by Palomino and Guillo in the frescoes of Sant Joan del Mercat. For this purpose, Raman spectroscopy combined with light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy–X‐ray microanalysis, voltammetry of microparticles, X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry has been employed.The use of gypsum as stucco material for the ground layers contrasts with the recommendations made by Palomino in his treatise about the convenience of using slaked lime‐sand mortars according to traditional fresco recipes. Although lead‐based pigments were not traditionally recommended for frescoes because of their empirically known alterations when subjected to strong alkaline fresco medium, both Guillo and Palomino used them. Palomino, probably supported by his personal experience as a painter, recommended and used Naples yellow, which has been found in a good state of preservation. In contrast, white lead areas found on Guillo's paintings have transformed into lead oxides. Other pigments found in the vaulted ceiling such as smalt, goethite, haematite, azurite and malachite have also undergone substantial changes because of the extreme temperature conditions to which they were subjected in the church. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Environmental analysis of the logistics of agricultural products from roof top greenhouses in Mediterranean urban areas
Authors: Sanyé‐Mengual Esther , Cerón‐Palma Ileana , Oliver‐Solà Jordi , Montero Juan Ignacio , Rieradevall Joan 
Published: June 2012

AbstractBACKGROUND: As urban populations increase so does the amount of food transported to cities worldwide, and innovative agro‐urban systems are being developed to integrate agricultural production into buildings; for example, by using roof top greenhouses (RTGs). This paper aims to quantify and compare, through a life cycle assessment, the environmental impact of the current linear supply system with a RTG system by using a case study for the production of tomatoes.RESULTS: The main results indicate that a change from the current linear system to the RTG system could result in a reduction, per kilogram of tomatoes (the functional unit), in the range of 44.4–75.5% for the different impact categories analysed, and savings of up to 73.5% in energy requirements. These savings are associated with re‐utilisation of packaging systems (55.4–85.2%), minimisation of transport requirements (7.6–15.6%) and reduction of the loss of product during transportation and retail stages (7.3–37%).CONCLUSIONS: The RTG may become a strategic factor in the design of low‐carbon cities in Mediterranean areas. Short‐term implementation in the city of Barcelona could result in savings of 66.1 tonnes of CO2 eq. ha−1 when considering the global warming potential, and of 71.03 t ha−1 when considering that the transformation from woodland to agricultural land is avoided. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Effects of 1‐methylcyclopropene and post‐controlled atmosphere air storage treatments on fresh‐cut Ambrosia apple slices
Authors: Tardelli Francesca , Guidi Lucia , Massai Rossano , Toivonen Peter MA 
Published: June 2012

AbstractBACKGROUND: The effect of 1‐methylcyclopropene (1‐MCP) treatment and two different post‐controlled atmosphere air storage (PCAAS) durations on the quality and chemistry of fresh‐cut Ambrosia apple slices was studied.RESULTS: PCAAS for 1 or 2 weeks prior to slicing had an overall positive effect on the resultant quality of fresh‐cut apple slices. The most significant responses to PCAAS were the suppression of both phenolic and o‐quinone accumulation in slices, and this was related to the significantly lower browning potential values obtained for slices from PCAAS‐treated apples. Polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POX) and ascorbate peroxidase (APOX) activities were not affected by 1‐MCP or PCAAS treatments. PPO and POX activities were almost completely inhibited by a 50 g L−1 calcium ascorbate anti‐browning dip of apple slices from all treatments.CONCLUSION: The most dramatic effect of the PCAAS treatments was to reduce the accumulation of soluble phenolics, which is likely the reason that o‐quinone accumulation was also inhibited in treated fruits. The consequent reduction in browning potential may be the explanation as to why PCAAS treatment has been shown to reduce fresh apple slice browning in previous work. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Surface roughness effects in porous inclined stepped composite bearings lubricated with micropolar fluid
Authors: Siddangouda A. 
Published: June 2012

ABSTRACTIn this paper, the effect of surface roughness on the performance characteristic of porous inclined stepped composite bearings is studied. A generalised form of surface roughness is mathematically modelled by a stochastic random variable with non‐zero mean, variance and skewness. The generalised average Reynolds‐type equation is derived for the rough porous inclined stepped composite bearings with micropolar fluid. The closed‐form expressions are obtained for the fluid film pressure, load‐carrying capacity and frictional force. The results are presented for three different types of bearing system. The numerical computations of the results show that the negatively skewed surface roughness pattern increases fluid film pressure and load‐carrying capacity and decreases the coefficient of friction, whereas adverse effects were found for the positively skewed surface roughness pattern. Further, the rough porous inclined stepped composite bearing provides the largest load‐carrying capacity and the least coefficient of friction as compared with the porous plane slider and porous composite tapered concave bearings. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Diversity in the Biomedical Research Workforce: Developing Talent
Authors: McGee Jr Richard , Saran Suman , Krulwich Terry A. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractMuch has been written about the need for and barriers to achievement of greater diversity in the biomedical workforce from the perspectives of gender, race, and ethnicity; this is not a new topic. These discussions often center around a “pipeline” metaphor that imagines students flowing through a series of experiences to eventually arrive at a science career. Here we argue that diversity will only be achieved if the primary focus is on (1) what is happening within the pipeline, not just counting individuals entering and leaving it; (2) de‐emphasizing the achievement of academic milestones by typical ages; and (3) adopting approaches that most effectively develop talent. Students may develop skills at different rates based on factors such as earlier access to educational resources, exposure to science (especially research experiences), and competing demands for time and attention during high school and college. Therefore, there is wide variety among students at any point along the pipeline. Taking this view requires letting go of imagining the pipeline as a sequence of age‐dependent steps in favor of milestones of skill and talent development decoupled from age or educational stage. Emphasizing talent development opens up many new approaches for science training outside of traditional degree programs. This article provides examples of such approaches, including interventions at the postbaccalaureate and PhD levels, as well as a novel coaching model that incorporates well‐established social science theories and complements traditional mentoring. These approaches could significantly impact diversity by developing scientific talent, especially among currently underrepresented minorities. Mt Sinai J Med 2012 DOI: 10.1002/msj.21310
Indications for Heart Transplantation in Current Era of Left Ventricular Assist Devices
Authors: Milla Federico , Pinney Sean P. , Anyanwu Anelechi C. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractAlthough both heart transplantation and left ventricular assist device therapy have enjoyed clinical success in the treatment of patients with end‐stage heart disease, newer left ventricular assist devices currently undergoing testing are likely to have a tremendous impact on the management of these patients. Smaller, more durable devices with improved safety profiles will allow for longer duration of therapy and make biventricular support more feasible, obviating the need for the total artificial heart. In this article we review the historical aspects of both forms of therapy and highlight the current use of left ventricular assist device therapy on patients awaiting heart transplantation. Mt Sinai J Med 2012 DOI: 10.1002/msj.21313
Hepatitis C and Renal Transplantation
Authors: Lerner Susan M. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractHepatitis C is a widespread problem, and the prevalence is higher in patients on hemodialysis than in the general population. In addition, hepatitis C reduces survival in dialysis patients and renal‐transplant recipients. Kidney transplantation offers a survival advantage to those patients with chronic hepatitis C infection faced with the alternative of remaining on dialysis. Kidney transplantation should therefore be considered the treatment of choice for patients with end‐stage renal disease and hepatitis C infection. However, these patients need to be chosen appropriately, and there are no well‐established guidelines for the workup or selection of these of these patients. Liver biopsy is an essential tool to determine the degree of fibrosis in these patients and also will prove useful in the management of the patients after transplantation. Transplantation of kidneys from hepatitis C‐positive donors to hepatitis C‐positive recipients has been shown to be safe and confers a significant advantage in terms of waiting time in this population where death on the waiting list is significant. Treatment prior to transplantation should be considered by the hepatology team, although it is often more difficult to treat given the constraints of a patient in renal failure. Although interferon treatment in hepatitis C‐positive kidney‐transplant candidates is recommended, treatment posttransplant remains controversial. Simultaneous kidney/liver transplantation should be considered for those candidates with evidence of portal hypertension or decompensated cirrhosis. Mt Sinai J Med 2012 DOI: 10.1002/msj.21318
Micro‐inertia effects in nonlinear heterogeneous media
Authors: Fish Jacob , Filonova Vasilina , Kuznetsov Sergey 
Published: June 2012

SUMMARYThe manuscript presents a dispersive nonlinear continuum theory for the case where the shortest wavelength is several times larger than the characteristic size of the microstructure and the observation window is large. We develop a general purpose computational framework, which is valid for nonlinear problems and requires standard C 0 continuous formalism. The fine‐scale inertia effect is accounted for by formulating a quasi‐dynamic unit cell problem where the fine‐scale inertia effect is represented by so‐called inertia induced eigenstrain. The solution of the nonlinear quasi‐dynamic unit cell problem gives rise to the modification of either coarse‐scale mass matrix in the implicit solvers or internal force in the explicit solvers. Similarly to the classical homogenization theory, scale‐separation is assumed, but higher order homogenization is not pursued to avoid higher order coarse‐scale gradients, higher order continuity, and higher order boundary conditions. Numerical examples for both the one‐dimensional model problem and three‐dimensional heterogeneous medium with layered and fibrous composite microstructure are used to validate the computational framework proposed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Relaxed incremental variational formulation for damage at large strains with application to fiber‐reinforced materials and materials with truss‐like microstructures
Authors: Balzani Daniel , Ortiz Michael 
Published: June 2012

SUMMARYIn this paper, an incremental variational formulation for damage at finite strains is presented. The classical continuum damage mechanics serves as a basis where a stress‐softening term depending on a scalar‐valued damage function is prepended an effective hyperelastic strain energy function, which describes the virtually undamaged material. Because loss of convexity is obtained at some critical deformations, a relaxed incremental stress potential is constructed, which convexifies the original nonconvex problem. The resulting model can be interpreted as the homogenization of a microheterogeneous material bifurcated into a strongly and weakly damaged phase at the microscale. A one‐dimensional relaxed formulation is derived, and a model for fiber‐reinforced materials based thereon is given. Finally, numerical examples illustrate the performance of the model by showing mesh independency of the model in an extended truss, analyzing a numerically homogenized microtruss material and investigating a fiber‐reinforced cantilever beam subject to bending and an overstretched arterial wall. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Perspectives on the leadership of chairs of nonprofit organization boards of directors: A grounded theory mixed‐method study
Authors: Harrison Yvonne D. , Murray Vic 
Published: June 2012

AbstractComparatively little empirical attention has been paid to the leadership of nonprofit board chairs. This article reports findings from a two‐year mixed‐method grounded theory research investigation exploring perceptions of board chair leadership and impact from the perspective of those who interact with chairs (board members, chief executives, and stakeholders). It provides a review of the literature on the leadership role and impact of board chairs and a conceptual framework for its study in nonprofit and voluntary organizations. We present and discuss findings from two phases of the research and offer theoretical perspectives on board chair leadership effectiveness and practical suggestions to increase it.