bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Competence Assessment in Higher Education: A Dynamic Approach
Authors: Achcaoucaou Fariza , Guitart‐Tarrés Laura , Miravitlles‐Matamoros Paloma , Núñez‐Carballosa Ana , Bernardo Mercé , Bikfalvi Andrea 
Published: June 2012

AbstractAdvances in the implementation of the European Higher Education Area have had a great impact on university environment and the process of design, evaluation, and implementation of new curricula. Identifying competence levels among students can help course organizers to improve both academic content and teaching/learning processes. The present study addresses this issue by examining the implementation of an Internet‐based competency assessment tool. We analyze the status and evolution of soft skills among students on the Official Masters program Creating and Managing Innovative Technology‐Based Companies at the University of Barcelona, using a tool known as Tricuspoid, specifically designed for evaluating entrepreneurial competences. The results show that the tool, first, enables students to identify their strong and weak points and to develop personal strategies for improvement; second, provides teachers with additional information about the effects of their input on student competences; and third, supplies useful information for quality management of the Master's programs, because it can detect trends in the training needs of new students and help to enhance content accordingly, and therefore match the design of the academic program to the requirements of labor market. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Patterning of retinoic acid signaling and cell proliferation in the hippocampus
Authors: Goodman Timothy , Crandall James E. , Nanescu Sonia E. , Quadro Loredana , Shearer Kirsty , Ross Alexander , McCaffery Peter 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThe nuclear receptor ligand retinoic acid (RA) has been identified as an endogenous regulatory factor in the hippocampus, acting on pyramidal neurons and granule neuron progenitors, but almost nothing is known about the distribution of RA itself in the hippocampus. This study describes the source of RA for the rodent hippocampus in the meninges via the key RA synthetic enzyme retinaldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (RALDH2). Diffusion of RA from the meninges potentially creates a gradient of RA across the infrapyramidal and suprapyramidal blades of the dentate gyrus, enhanced by the expression of the RA catabolic enzyme Cyp26B1 between the blades, and an infrapyramidal and suprapyramidal blade difference is evident in RA‐regulated transcription. This asymmetry may contribute to some of the physiological and molecular differences between the blades, including a disparity in the rates of cell proliferation in the subgranular zone of the two blades through RA inhibition of cell proliferation. Such differences can be altered by either the application of excess RA, its effect dependent on the relative position along the septotemporal axis, or change in RA signaling through mutation of retinol binding protein, while the capacity of RA to inhibit proliferation of cells in the dentate gyrus is demonstrated using in vitro slice culture. Use of synthetic and catabolic enzymes in the hippocampus to create differing zones of RA concentration parallels the mechanisms used in the developing brain to generate patterns of RA‐regulated transcription. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Preoperative scar hyperalgesia is associated with post‐operative pain in women undergoing a repeat Caesarean delivery
Authors: Ortner C.M. , Granot M. , Richebé P. , Cardoso M. , Bollag L. , Landau R. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractBackgroundOver 1.4 million Caesarean deliveries are performed annually in the United States, out of which 30% are elective repeat procedures. Post‐operative hyperalgesia is associated with an increased risk for persistent post‐surgical pain; however, there are no data on whether residual scar hyperalgesia (SHA) from a previous Caesarean delivery (CD) persists until the next delivery. We hypothesized that residual SHA may be present in a substantial proportion of women and is associated with increased post‐operative pain.MethodsOne hundred and sixty‐three women scheduled for a repeat CD under spinal anaesthesia were enrolled into the study. Mechanical temporal summation (mTS) and SHA index were measured preoperatively. SHA was considered present when the index was >0. Post‐operative pain scores at 12, 24 and 48 h and wound hyperalgesia (WHA) at 48 h were recorded.ResultsSHA was present in 67 women 41% with a median SHA index of 0.42 (Q
25 = 0.25; Q
75 = 1.1, range 0.03–4.25). Women with SHA had overall higher post‐operative pain scores and SHA was correlated with preoperative mTS (r = 0.164, p < 0.05), post‐operative pain severity (r = 0.25, p < 0.002) and WHA at 48 h (r = 0.608, p < 0.001). Severe pain (visual analogue pain scale‐S48 ≥ 7, n = 20) was predicted with a sensitivity and specificity of 60% and 62%, respectively. Positive predictive value was 18% and negative predictive value was 92%.ConclusionsPreoperative SHA is present in 41% of women scheduled for repeat CD and is associated with increased mTS and post‐operative pain. Screening for preoperative SHA may predict women at risk for increased post‐operative pain, and guide post‐operative analgesia to include anti‐hyperalgesic drugs.
COMPARISON OF MODEL AVERAGING TECHNIQUES: ASSESSING GROWTH DETERMINANTS
Authors: Amini Shahram M. , Parmeter Christopher F. 
Published: June 2012

SUMMARYThis paper investigates the replicability of three important studies on growth theory uncertainty that employed Bayesian model averaging tools. We compare these results with estimates obtained using alternative, recently developed model averaging techniques. Overall, we successfully replicate all three studies, find that the sign and magnitude of these new estimates are reasonably close to those produced via traditional Bayesian methods and deploy a novel strategy to implement one of the new averaging estimators. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Transfection of HCVc improves hTERT expression through STAT3 pathway by epigenetic regulation in Huh7 cells
Authors: Guo Ning , Cheng Di , Li Zhi Hua , Zhou Quan Bo , Zhou Jia Jia , Lin Qing , Zeng Bing , Liao Qiaofang , Chen Ru Fu 
Published: June 2012

AbstractPrevious studies showed that transient transfection of HCVc improved hTERT expression in hepatoma cell lines and it was noteworthy that phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (pSTAT3) and DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) were up regulated simultaneously. This study was designed to investigate the role of epigenetic regulation in the process of hTERT up regulation after HCVc transfection. Q‐PCR and Western blot were used to analyze the expression of pSTAT3, DNMT1, and hTERT after the transfection of HCVc in hepatoma cell line Huh7. Proliferation and hTERT activity of Huh7 after HCVc transfection were examined by CCK8 and ELISA, respectively. Then, we blocked the JAK/STAT3 pathway or inhibited DNMT1 expression to investigate the regulation of pSTAT3, DNMT1, and hTERT. Methylation status of the promoter of hTERT gene was monitored by MS‐PCR. Cell proliferation, hTERT expression level and activity of hTERT were promoted after HCVc transfection. The expression of pSTAT3 and DNMT1 were up‐regulated simultaneously. DNMT1 and hTERT were down‐regulated after blocking JAK/STAT3 pathway and the expression of hTERT weakened with DNMT1 inhibition. MS‐PCR showed HCVc transfection increased the methylation level of hTERT promoter, and this effect was weakened after blocking the JAK/STAT3 pathway or with the treatment with DNMT1 inhibitor. HCVc transfection improved hTERT expression via epigenetic regulation. JAK/STAT3 pathway could be one of the essential factors in regulating DNMT1 expression during this process. J. Cell. Biochem. 113: 3419–3426, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
TULA‐family proteins: A new class of cellular regulators
Authors: Tsygankov Alexander Y. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractProteins of the UBASH3/STS/TULA family recently emerged as potent regulators of cellular functions. They are characterized by a unique architecture, featuring at least three functional domains. One of them is a histidine phosphatase domain, which mediates the protein tyrosine phosphatase activity of these proteins. Recent studies demonstrated that UBASH3/STS/TULA‐family proteins play a key role in down‐regulating receptor‐mediated signal transduction and physiologic responses of T cells and platelets in vitro and in vivo. The Syk‐family protein tyrosine kinases Syk and Zap‐70 were identified as major targets of TULA‐2 in full agreement with the suppressive effect of this phosphatase in systems where Syk and Zap‐70 carry out the essential early steps of signal transduction. In spite of significant similarity between TULA and TULA‐2, there are also considerable functional differences between them. Thus, TULA‐2 is expressed ubiquitously in mammalian tissues and exhibits high phosphatase activity, whereas TULA is expressed specifically in lymphocytes and exhibits low phosphatase activity. However, TULA also functions as a down‐regulator of cellular responses, and therefore its role may be mediated by dephosphorylation of yet‐unknown substrates or by promoting T‐cell apoptosis (the latter activity is unique for this UBASH3/STS/TULA family member). The down‐regulatory role of TULA and TULA‐2 revealed in experimental systems is consistent with the recently discovered association of several autoimmune diseases with certain risk alleles encoding for these proteins. J. Cell. Physiol. 228: 43–49, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The characterization of Sn‐based corrosion products in ancient bronzes: a Raman approach
Authors: Ospitali Francesca , Chiavari Cristina , Martini Carla , Bernardi Elena , Passarini Fabrizio , Robbiola Luc 
Published: June 2012

The characterization of corrosion patinas on bronzes is preliminarily connected to the determination of proper conservation strategies. Moreover, it also provides an essential contribution to the comprehension of the mechanisms of formation of patinas.Concerning the last aspect, several studies highlighted that bronze corrosion behaviour cannot be assimilated to that of pure copper. In particular, decuprification and relative enrichment of tin in the corrosion layers were observed. Tin therefore, together with its insoluble salts, plays an important role in the mechanism of formation of bronze patinas. Thus, the characterization of Sn‐based corrosion products becomes fundamental, although remaining quite problematic. This work reports several case studies where Sn‐based corrosion products grown in bronzes have been identified, thanks to the hyphenated system scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive spectrometry–Raman structural and chemical analyser. Combining the main characteristics of these techniques, different Sn‐containing compounds, mainly crystalline and nano‐sized tin dioxides, were detected in bronze patinas exposed to different environments (to the atmosphere, in both natural and accelerated ageing conditions, and to the soil). The main issues regarding the interpretation of Raman spectra of these compounds are presented and discussed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Summary of current therapeutic options for peritoneal metastases from colorectal cancer
Authors: Chua Terence C. , Esquivel Jesus , Pelz Joerg O.W. , Morris David L. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractBackgroundPeritoneal metastases remain an under addressed problem for which this review serves to investigate the efficacy of systemic chemotherapy and radical surgical treatments in this disease entity.MethodsThe literature between 1995 and June 2009 was surveyed systematically through a review of published studies on the treatment outcomes of metastatic colorectal cancer to the peritoneum on the Medline and PubMed databases.ResultsA total of 2,492 patients from 19 studies were reviewed. One thousand and eighty‐four patients treated with complete cytoreductive surgery (CCS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) and 1,408 patients were treated with palliative surgery and/or systemic chemotherapy. For CCS HIPEC, the overall survival ranged between 20 and 63 (median 33) months, and 5‐year survival ranged between 17% and 51% (median 40%). For palliative surgery and/or systemic chemotherapy, the overall survival ranged between 5 and 24 (median 12.5) months, and 5‐year survival ranged between 13% and 22% (median 13%).ConclusionSystemic therapies have not proved effective and randomised clinical trials have not sufficiently addressed patient subpopulations with metastatic disease of this entity. Current evidence have demonstrated the efficacy associated with CCS HIPEC for which should now be embraced as the standard of care. J. Surg. Oncol. 2013;107:566–573. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Failure patterns correlate with the tumor response after preoperative chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer
Authors: Lim Seok‐Byung , Yu Chang Sik , Hong Yong Sang , Kim Tae Won , Park Jin‐Hong , Kim Jong Hoon , Kim Jin Cheon 
Published: June 2012

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesTo determine whether the patterns of failure are correlated with the degree of response to preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and to evaluate outcomes after recurrence in rectal cancer patients who underwent CRT followed by resection.MethodsResponse to CRT was evaluated according to tumor regression grade (TRG), with 581 patients categorized into two groups, a good response (GR, TRG 3/4, n = 224) and a poor response (PR, TRG 1/2, n = 357) group.ResultsAt a mean follow‐up of 61 months, the 5‐year overall (88.2% vs. 71.3%, P < 0.001) and disease‐free (86.7% vs. 63.6%, P < 0.001) survival rates were higher in the GR group. In patients with recurrence, time to recurrence was shorter (13.5 months vs. 18.7 months, P = 0.01), and the cumulative 2‐year recurrence rates (92.9% vs. 73.4%, P = 0.024) was higher in the GR group. Rates of local (1.3% vs. 9.5% P < 0.001) and systemic (11.6% vs. 27.2%, P < 0.001) recurrence were significantly lower in the GR group, as were rates of pulmonary (3.6% vs. 15.1%, P < 0.001) and systemic lymph node (1.3% vs. 5.9%, P = 0.009) recurrences. The 5‐year overall survival rates after recurrence were similar (GR: 23.7% vs. PR: 16.0%, P = 0.911).ConclusionsMore than one‐third of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer showed good response to CRT, with improved local and systemic recurrence rates, especially low rates of pulmonary and systemic lymph node recurrence. Recurrence occurred earlier in the GR than the PR group, and oncologic outcomes after recurrence did not differ between the two groups. J. Surg. Oncol. 2012; 106:667–673. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The utility of normalized difference vegetation index for predicting African buffalo forage quality
Authors: Ryan Sadie J. , Cross Paul C. , Winnie John , Hay Craig , Bowers Justin , Getz Wayne M. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractMany studies of mammalian herbivores have employed remotely sensed vegetation greenness, in the form of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) as a proxy for forage quality. The assumption that reflected greenness represents forage quality often goes untested, and limited data exist on the relationships between remotely sensed and traditional forage nutrient indicators. We provide the first study connecting NDVI and forage nutrient indicators within a free‐ranging African herbivore ecosystem. We examined the relationships between fecal nutrient levels (nitrogen and phosphorus), forage nutrient levels, body condition, and NDVI for African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) in a South African savanna ecosystem over a 2‐year period (2001 and 2002). We used an information‐theoretic approach to rank models of fecal nitrogen (Nf) and phosphorus (Pf) as functions of geology, season, and NDVI in each year separately. For each year, the highest ranked models for Nf accounted for 61% and 65% of the observed variance, and these models included geology, season, and NDVI. The top‐ranked model for Pf in 2001, although capturing 54% of the variability, did not include NDVI. In 2002, we could not identify a top ranking model for phosphorus (i.e., all models were within 2 AICc of each other). Body condition was most highly correlated ($R_{adj}^{2} = 0.75$; P ≤ 0.001) with NDVI at a 1 month time lag and with Nf at a 3 months time lag ($R_{adj}^{2} = 0.65$; P ≤ 0.001), but was not significantly correlated with Pf. Our findings suggest that NDVI can be used to index nitrogen content of forage and is correlated with improved body condition in African buffalo. Thus, NDVI provides a useful means to assess forage quality where crude protein is a limiting resource. We found that NDVI accounted for more than a seasonal effect, and in a system where standing biomass may be high but of low quality, understanding available nutrients is useful for management. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.
Fracture modeling using meshless methods and level sets in 3D: Framework and modeling
Authors: Zhuang X. , Augarde C.E. , Mathisen K.M. 
Published: June 2012

SUMMARYIn 3D fracture modeling, the complexity of the evolving crack geometry during propagation raises challenges in stress analysis because the accuracy of results mainly relies on the accurate description of the crack geometry. In this paper, a numerical framework is developed for 3D fracture modeling where a meshless method, the element‐free Galerkin method, is used for stress analysis and level sets are used accurately to describe and capture crack evolution. In this framework, a simple and general formulation for associating the displacement jump in the field approximation with an arbitrary 3D curved crack surface is proposed. For accurate closure of the crack front, a tying procedure is extended to 3D from its original use in 2D in the previous paper by the authors. The benefits of level sets in improving the results accuracy and reducing the computational cost are explored, particularly in the model refinement and the confinement of the displacement jump. Issues arising in level sets updating are discussed and solutions proposed accordingly. The developed framework is validated with a number of 3D crack examples with reference solutions and shows strong potential for general 3D fracture modeling. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A global hexagonal C‐grid non‐hydrostatic dynamical core (ICON‐IAP) designed for energetic consistency
Authors: Gassmann Almut 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThis study describes a new global non‐hydrostatic dynamical core (ICON‐IAP: Icosahedral Nonhydrostatic model at the Institute for Atmospheric Physics) on a hexagonal C‐grid which is designed to conserve mass and energy. Energy conservation is achieved by discretizing the antisymmetric Poisson bracket which mimics correct energy conversions between the different kinds of energy (kinetic, potential, internal). Because of the bracket structure this is even possible in a complicated numerical environment with (i) the occurrence of terrain‐following coordinates with all the metric terms in it, (ii) the horizontal C‐grid staggering on the Voronoi mesh and the complications induced by the need for an acceptable stationary geostrophic mode, and (iii) the necessity for avoiding Hollingsworth instability. The model is equipped with a Smagorinsky‐type nonlinear horizontal diffusion. The associated dissipative heating is accounted for by the application of the discrete product rule for derivatives. The time integration scheme is explicit in the horizontal and implicit in the vertical. In order to ensure energy conservation, the Exner pressure has to be off‐centred in the vertical velocity equation and extrapolated in the horizontal velocity equation.Test simulations are performed for small‐scale and global‐scale flows. A test simulation of linear non‐hydrostatic flow over a rough mountain range shows the theoretically expected gravity wave propagation. The baroclinic wave test is extended to 40 days in order to check the Lorenz energy cycle. The model exhibits excellent energy conservation properties even in this strongly nonlinear and dissipative case. The Held–Suarez test confirms the reliability of the model over even longer time‐scales. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society
Fish fins as non‐lethal surrogates for muscle tissues in freshwater food web studies using stable isotopes
Authors: Tronquart Nicolas Hette , Mazeas Laurent , Reuilly‐Manenti Liana , Zahm Amandine , Belliard Jérôme 
Published: June 2012

RATIONALEDorsal white muscle is the standard tissue analysed in fish trophic studies using stable isotope analyses. However, sampling white muscle often implies the sacrifice of fish. Thus, we examined whether the non‐lethal sampling of fin tissue can substitute muscle sampling in food web studies.METHODSAnalysing muscle and fin δ15N and δ13C values of 466 European freshwater fish (14 species) with an elemental analyser coupled with an isotope ratio mass spectrometer, we compared the isotope values of the two tissues. Correlations between fin and muscle isotope ratios were examined for all fish together and specifically for 12 species. We further proposed four methods of assessing muscle from fin isotope ratios and estimated the errors made using these muscle surrogates.RESULTSDespite significant differences between isotope values of the two tissues, fin and muscle isotopic signals are strongly correlated. Muscle values, estimated with raw fin isotope ratios (1st method), induce an error of ca. 1‰ for both isotopes. In comparison, specific (2nd method) or general (3rd method) correlations provide meaningful corrections of fin isotope ratios (errors <0.6‰). On the other hand, relationships, established for Australian tropical fish, only give poor muscle estimates (errors >0.8‰).CONCLUSIONSThere is little chance that a global model can be created. However, the 2nd and 3rd methods of estimating muscle values from fin isotope ratios should provide an acceptable level of error for the studies of European freshwater food web. We thus recommend that future studies use fin tissue as a non‐lethal surrogate for muscle. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inferring superior capabilities from sustained superior performance: A Bayesian analysis
Authors: Denrell Jerker , Fang Christina , Zhao Zhanyun 
Published: June 2012

AbstractTo what extent can one infer that superior capabilities are driving sustained superior performance? Modeling performance as some combination of differences in capabilities and processes of cumulative advantage, we argue that a Bayesian framework in which decision makers take into account the differences in cumulative advantage provides for a correct inference. We show, using both simulated and real performance data, that the Bayesian method gives rise to estimates relevant for the inference problem. The estimates also illustrate why a firm with superior performance during a longer period can be less likely to possess superior capabilities than a firm with superior performance during a shorter period. Our work has implications for the origins of competitive advantages and for organization learning in strategy research. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.