bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Geospatial examination of lithium in drinking water and suicide mortality
Authors: Helbich Marco , Leitner Michael , Kapusta Nestor D 
Published: June 2012

AbstractBackgroundLithium as a substance occurring naturally in food and drinking water may exert positive effects on mental health. In therapeutic doses, which are more than 100 times higher than natural daily intakes, lithium has been proven to be a mood-stabilizer and suicide preventive. This study examined whether natural lithium content in drinking water is regionally associated with lower suicide rates.MethodsPrevious statistical approaches were challenged by global and local spatial regression models taking spatial autocorrelation as well as non-stationarity into account. A Geographically Weighted Regression model was applied with significant independent variables as indicated by a spatial autoregressive model.ResultsThe association between lithium levels in drinking water and suicide mortality can be confirmed by the global spatial regression model. In addition, the local spatial regression model showed that the association was mainly driven by the eastern parts of Austria.ConclusionsAccording to old anecdotic reports the results of this study support the hypothesis of positive effects of natural lithium intake on mental health. Both, the new methodological approach and the results relevant for health may open new avenues in the collaboration between Geographic Information Science, medicine, and even criminology, such as exploring the spatial association between violent or impulsive crime and lithium content in drinking water.
CD109, a TGF-β co-receptor, attenuates extracellular matrix production in scleroderma skin fibroblasts
Authors: Man Xiao-Yong , Finnson Kenneth W , Baron Murray , Philip Anie 
Published: June 2012

Abstract

Introduction

Scleroderma or systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a complex connective tissue disease characterized by fibrosis of skin and internal organs. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) plays a key role in the pathogenesis of SSc fibrosis. We have previously identified CD109 as a novel TGF-β co-receptor that inhibits TGF-β signaling. The aim of the present study was to determine the role of CD109 in regulating extracellular matrix (ECM) production in human SSc skin fibroblasts.

Methods

CD109 expression was determined in skin tissue and cultured skin fibroblasts of SSc patients and normal healthy subjects, using immunofluorescence, western blot and RT-PCR. The effect of CD109 on ECM synthesis was determined by blocking CD109 expression using CD109-specific siRNA or addition of recombinant CD109 protein, and analyzing the expression of ECM components by western blot.

Results

The expression of CD109 proteinis markedly increased in SSc skin tissue in vivo and in SSc skin fibroblasts in vitro as compared to their normal counterparts. Importantly, both SSc and normal skin fibroblasts transfected with CD109-specific siRNA display increased fibronectin, collagen type I and CCN2 protein levels and enhanced Smad2/3 phosphorylation compared with control siRNA transfectants. Furthermore, addition of recombinant CD109 protein decreases TGF-β1-induced fibronectin, collagen type I and CCN2 levels in SSc and normal fibroblasts.

Conclusion

The upregulation of CD109 protein in SSc may represent an adaptation or consequence of aberrant TGF-β signaling in SSc. Our finding that CD109 is able to decrease excessive ECM production in SSc fibroblasts suggest that this molecule has potential therapeutic value for the treatment of SSc.
Dual-energy contrast-enhanced digital mammography: initial clinical results of a multireader, multicase study
Authors: Dromain Clarisse , Thibault Fabienne , Diekmann Felix , Fallenberg Eva M , Jong Roberta A , Koomen Marcia , Hendrick R Edward , Tardivon Anne , Toledano Alicia 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
Introduction
The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of dual-energy contrast-enhanced digital mammography (CEDM) as an adjunct to mammography (MX) ± ultrasonography (US) with the diagnostic accuracy of MX ± US alone.

Methods
One hundred ten consenting women with 148 breast lesions (84 malignant, 64 benign) underwent two-view dual-energy CEDM in addition to MX and US using a specially modified digital mammography system (Senographe DS, GE Healthcare). Reference standard was histology for 138 lesions and follow-up for 12 lesions. Six radiologists from 4 institutions interpreted the images using high-resolution softcopy workstations. Confidence of presence (5-point scale), probability of cancer (7-point scale), and BI-RADS scores were evaluated for each finding. Sensitivity, specificity and ROC curve areas were estimated for each reader and overall. Visibility of findings on MX ± CEDM and MX ± US was evaluated with a Likert scale.

Results
The average per-lesion sensitivity across all readers was significantly higher for MX ± US ± CEDM than for MX ± US (0.78 vs. 0.71 using BIRADS, p = 0.006). All readers improved their clinical performance and the average area under the ROC curve was significantly superior for MX ± US ± CEDM than for MX ± US ((0.87 vs 0.83, p = 0.045). Finding visibility was similar or better on MX ± CEDM than MX ± US in 80% of cases.

Conclusions
Dual-energy contrast-enhanced digital mammography as an adjunct to MX ± US improves diagnostic accuracy compared to MX ± US alone. Addition of iodinated contrast agent to MX facilitates the visualization of breast lesions.
Differential expression of genes and proteins between electric organ and skeletal muscle in the mormyrid electric fishBrienomyrus brachyistius
Authors: Gallant Jason R. , Hopkins Carl D. , Deitcher David L. 
Published: June 2012

SUMMARYElectric organs (EOs) have evolved independently in vertebrates six times from skeletal muscle (SM). The transcriptional changes accompanying this developmental transformation are not presently well understood. Mormyrids and gymnotiforms are two highly convergent groups of weakly electric fish that have independently evolved EOs: while much is known about development and gene expression in gymnotiforms, very little is known about development and gene expression in mormyrids. This lack of data limits prospects for comparative work. We report here on the characterization of 28 differentially expressed genes between SM and EO tissues in the mormyrid Brienomyrus brachyistius, which were identified using suppressive subtractive hybridization (SSH). Forward and reverse SSH was performed on tissue samples of EO and SM resulting in one cDNA library enriched with mRNAs expressed in EO, and a second library representing mRNAs unique to SM. Nineteen expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were identified in EO and nine were identified in SM using BLAST searching of Danio rerio sequences available in NCBI databases. We confirmed differential expression of all 28 ESTs using RT-PCR. In EO, these ESTs represent four classes of proteins: (1) ion pumps, including the α- and β-subunits of Na+/K+-ATPase, and a plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase; (2) Ca2+-binding protein S100, several parvalbumin paralogs, calcyclin-binding protein and neurogranin; (3) sarcomeric proteins troponin I, myosin heavy chain and actin-related protein complex subunit 3 (Arcp3); and (4) the transcription factors enhancer of rudimentary homolog (ERH) and myocyte enhancer factor 2A (MEF2A). Immunohistochemistry and western blotting were used to demonstrate the translation of seven proteins (myosin heavy chain, Na+/K+-ATPase, plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase, MEF2, troponin and parvalbumin) and their cellular localization in EO and SM. Our findings suggest that mormyrids express several paralogs of muscle-specific genes and the proteins they encode in EOs, unlike gymnotiforms, which may post-transcriptionally repress several sarcomeric proteins. In spite of the similarity in the physiology and function of EOs in mormyrids and gymnotiforms, this study indicates that the mechanisms of development in the two groups may be considerably different.
Lateralized behavior in the attacks of largemouth bass on Rhinogobius gobies corresponding to their morphological antisymmetry
Authors: Yasugi Masaki , Hori Michio 
Published: June 2012

SUMMARY
Vertebrates show left–right biases in turning direction, limb usage, predator-escape response and use of sensory organs. In particular, some fishes are known to have lateral biases in predatory behaviors corresponding to their morphological antisymmetry. To reveal the effects of these laterally biased behaviors on predator–prey interaction, we conducted behavioral tests of predatory events between largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, and freshwater gobies, Rhinogobius sp., both of which have individuals with a well-developed left side and individuals with a well-developed right side. The left-developed bass tended to approach the goby clockwise from behind, whereas right-developed individuals tended to approach counterclockwise. Congruently, left-developed gobies began their escape maneuvers at a longer distance from bass when they were approached clockwise than when they were approached counterclockwise, whereas right-developed gobies showed the reverse tendency. The longer the distance between bass and gobies at the start of goby escape, the more the subsequent bass strike or dash was delayed. Under these conditions, predation should be more successful when a left (right)-developed bass meets a right (left)-developed goby, and less successful when a left (right)-developed bass meets a left (right)-developed goby. This prediction was consistent with the difference in predation success in our test and in field data from Lake Biwa, Japan. We conclude that lateral biases in the behavioral direction of each morphological type will generate bias in predation success between different combinations of predator and prey types, leading to the maintenance of antisymmetric dimorphism through negative frequency-dependent natural selection.
Deciphering the signature of cuticular lipids with contact sex pheromone function in a parasitic wasp
Authors: Kühbandner Stephan , Sperling Sergej , Mori Kenji , Ruther Joachim 
Published: June 2012

SUMMARY
The surface of insects is covered by a complex mixture of cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) to prevent desiccation. In many species these lipids also have communicative functions, but often it is unknown which components are crucial for the behavioural response. Furthermore, it is often ignored that polar lipids also occur on the insects' cuticle and might interact with CHCs. In the parasitic wasp Lariophagus distinguendus, CHCs function as a contact sex pheromone eliciting wing-fanning in males. Interestingly, not only females but also newly emerged males have the pheromone, resulting regularly in homosexual courtship. However, males deactivate the pheromone within the first two days after emergence. This deactivation is accompanied by the disappearance of 3-methylheptacosane (3-MeC27) and some minor components from the CHC profile of males. Here we show that 3-MeC27 is a key component of the contact sex pheromone which, however, triggers courtship behaviour only if an olfactory background of other cuticular lipids is present. Males responded to (S)-3-MeC27 enantioselectively when applied to filter paper but on three-dimensional dummies both enantiomers were behaviourally active, suggesting that physical stimuli also play a role in sexual communication of the wasps. Finally, we report that triacylglycerides (TAGs) are also essential components of the pheromone, and present evidence that TAGs actually occur on the cuticle of L. distinguendus. Our data provide novel insights into the semiochemical function of cuticular lipids by showing that the bioactivity of CHCs may be influenced by the stereochemistry and a synergetic interaction with long time ignored TAGs.
Ultrafast Vibrational Dynamics of a Charged Aqueous Interface by Femtosecond Time-Resolved Heterodyne-Detected Vibrational Sum Frequency Generation
Authors: Nihonyanagi Satoshi , Singh Prashant C , Yamaguchi Shoichi , Tahara Tahei 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
Newly developed time-, frequency-, and phase-resolved heterodyne-detected vibrational sum frequency generation (TR-HD-VSFG) spectroscopy opens a new door to explore ultrafast vibrational dynamics of interfacial water. Here, we present the first observation of TR-HD-VSFG spectra of water at a charged monolayer/aqueous solution interface.
Peptide-Induced Formation of Crystalline Sn6O4(OH)4 Nanoparticles under Ambient Conditions
Authors: Matsuno Hisao , Kawashima Yuki , Serizawa Takeshi 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
The short peptides that specifically bind to SnO2 nanoparticles (NPs) were selected by using a phage display method. After the fourth round selection, ten kinds of amino acid sequences were identified, and it was revealed that affinities of the obtained phages for SnO2 NPs were relatively higher than that of the unselected library phages. The identified peptide sequences showed that amino acids having a hydroxy group and hydrophobic amino acids were enriched in the selection process. Binding constants (Ka) of the chemically synthesized heptapeptides having the identified sequences were quantitatively estimated. The pTO-7 peptide (Ser–Ser–Ile–Leu–Arg–Phe–Pro) showed the greatest Ka value (5.80 × 105 M−1 at 25 °C) among the investigated peptides, and also showed binding specificity to SnO2. The SnO2-recognizing peptides functioned as nanostructure stabilizer during pH-dependent preparation of water-insoluble tin-based compound (Sn6O4(OH)4) at room temperature. These effects as stabilizers to disperse nanostructures in water phase were greater than that of a general purpose stabilizer poly(vinylpyrrolidone). Dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscope analyses revealed that the formed structures in the presence of the pTO-7 peptide were squarish NPs with an approximately 60 nm diameter, and wide-angle powder X-ray diffraction analyses suggested that its crystallinity was increased by existence of the peptide.
Book Reviews
Authors: Rand Graham K. 
Published: June 2012

In Book Reviews, we review an extensive and diverse range of books. They cover theory and applications in operations research, statistics, management science, econometrics, mathematics, computers, and information systems. In addition, we include books in other fields that emphasize technical applications. The editor will be pleased to receive an e-mail from those willing to review a book, with an indication of specific areas of interest. If you are aware of a specific book that you would like to review, or that you think should be reviewed, please contact the editor. The following books are reviewed in this issue of Interfaces, 42(3), May–June 2012: Introduction to Discrete Event Simulation and Agent-based Modeling: Voting Systems, Health Care, Military, and Manufacturing, Theodore T. Allen; Benchmarking with DEA, SFA, and R, Peter Bogetoft and Lars Otto; Linear Programming and Generalizations: A Problem-based Introduction with Spreadsheets, Eric V. Denardo; The Linear Ordering Problem: Exact and Heuristic Methods in Combinatorial Optimization, Rafael Martí and Gerhard Reinelt.
RNA regulons and the RNA-protein interaction network
Authors: Imig Jochen , Kanitz Alexander , Gerber André P. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThe development of genome-wide analysis tools has prompted global investigation of the gene expression program, revealing highly coordinated control mechanisms that ensure proper spatiotemporal activity of a cell’s macromolecular components. With respect to the regulation of RNA transcripts, the concept of RNA regulons, which – by analogy with DNA regulons in bacteria – refers to the coordinated control of functionally related RNA molecules, has emerged as a unifying theory that describes the logic of regulatory RNA-protein interactions in eukaryotes. Hundreds of RNA-binding proteins and small non-coding RNAs, such as microRNAs, bind to distinct elements in target RNAs, thereby exerting specific and concerted control over posttranscriptional events. In this review, we discuss recent reports committed to systematically explore the RNA-protein interaction network and outline some of the principles and recurring features of RNA regulons: the coordination of functionally related mRNAs through RNA-binding proteins or non-coding RNAs, the modular structure of its components, and the dynamic rewiring of RNA-protein interactions upon exposure to internal or external stimuli. We also summarize evidence for robust combinatorial control of mRNAs, which could determine the ultimate fate of each mRNA molecule in a cell. Finally, the compilation and integration of global protein-RNA interaction data has yielded first insights into network structures and provided the hypothesis that RNA regulons may, in part, constitute noise ‘buffers’ to handle stochasticity in cellular transcription.
Viscoelasticity in thermoforming
Authors: Johnson Leann M. , Giacomin A. Jeffrey , Mix Adam W. 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
This analysis for thermoforming cones from a viscoelastic melt gives the speed of the stresses in the deforming melt. We follow the mechanics of Kershner and Giacomin developed for thermoforming cones from a Newtonian melt, deriving an analytical solution for the corotational Maxwell (CM) model. We have distinguished what happens before and after the melt touches the conical mold (free vs. constrained forming). The CM reduces to the Newtonian solution of Kershner and Giacomin. The upper convected Maxwell (UCM) model is also investigated, but does not yield an analytical solution for conical thermoforming. Our results are confined to forming with a conical mold, the simplest relevant problem in thermoforming, using the simplest relevant constitutive equation, the CM model.
Osteomalacia: The Missing Link in the Pathogenesis of Bisphosphonate-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaws?
Authors: Bedogni Alberto , Saia Giorgia , Bettini Giordana , Tronchet Anita , Totola Andrea , Bedogni Giorgio , Tregnago Paolo , Valenti Maria Teresa , Bertoldo Francesco , Ferronato Giuseppe , Nocini Pier Francesco , Blandamura Stella , Dalle Carbonare Luca 
Published: June 2012

Abstract

Background.
Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) is a well-documented adverse event from treatment with nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates (NBPs). During a preliminary histomorphometric study aimed at assessing the rate of bone remodeling in the jaws of patients with surgically resected BRONJ, we found a defect of bone mineralization (unpublished data). We hypothesized that osteomalacia could be a risk factor for BRONJ in patients taking NBPs. Therefore, we looked for static and dynamic histomorphometric evidence of osteomalacia in biopsies from subjects with and without BRONJ.

Methods.
This case-control study used histomorphometric analysis of bone specimens of patients using NBPs (22 patients with BRONJ and 21 patients without BRONJ) who required oral surgical interventions for the treatment/prevention of osteonecrosis. Patients were given tetracycline hydrochloride according to a standardized protocol before taking bone biopsies from their jaws. Biopsies with evidence of osteomyelitis or necrosis at histology were excluded from the study. Osteomalacia was defined as a mineralization lag time &gt;100 days, a corrected mean osteoid thickness &gt;12.5 mm, and an osteoid volume &gt;10%.

Results.
In all, 77% of patients with BRONJ were osteomalacic compared with 5% of patients without BRONJ, according to histomorphometry. Because osteomalacia was found almost exclusively in NBP users with BRONJ, this is likely to be a generalized process in which the use of NBPs further deteriorates mechanisms of bone repair.

Conclusions.
Osteomalacia represents a new and previously unreported risk factor for disease development. This finding may contribute to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of this disease and help with the development of strategies to increase the safety of NBP administration.
Determinants of the Persistence of Internal Control Weaknesses
Authors: Klamm Bonnie K. , Kobelsky Kevin W. , Watson Marcia Weidenmier 
Published: June 2012

SYNOPSIS
This paper analyzes the degree to which material weaknesses (MWs) in internal control reported under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) affect the future reporting of MWs. Particularly, we examine information technology (IT) and non-IT MWs and their breakdown into specific IT-related entity-level, non-IT-related entity-level, and account-level deficiencies. Analysis reveals that most account-level and entity-level deficiencies occur at a significantly higher rate in SOX 404 reports with at least one IT MW than in MW reports with only non-IT MWs. Further, the presence and count of both types of MWs and all three types of deficiencies are associated with increased future MWs, as are lower profitability, non-Big 6 auditor, and firm complexity. Specific control deficiencies related to senior management, training, and IT control environment have the strongest impact on future MWs. These results indicate that effective corporate governance of both the IT and non-IT domains is pivotal in establishing and maintaining strong internal controls over financial reporting.
Data Availability:  Data are available from the public sources identified in the paper.
Reward System Design and Group Creativity: An Experimental Investigation
Authors: Chen Clara Xiaoling , Williamson Michael G. , Zhou Flora H. 
Published: June 2012

ABSTRACT
In an environment where three-person groups develop a creative solution to an important problem, we examine whether the efficacy of either individual- or group-based creativity-contingent incentives depends on whether they take the piece-rate or tournament form. We predict and find that group (intergroup) tournament pay increases group cohesion and collaborative efforts, which ultimately lead to a more creative group solution, relative to group piece-rate pay. While individual (intragroup) tournament pay increases individual efforts, we find that it does not enhance the creativity of group solutions relative to individual piece-rate pay. Our results advance the burgeoning management accounting literature on creativity-contingent incentives by demonstrating that reward systems are more likely to promote group creativity through collaborative efforts rather than independent individual efforts. We also provide important insights into when and why tournament pay can boost group creativity in organizations. In doing so, we contribute to a better understanding of observations from practice suggesting that organizations valuing creativity often induce intergroup competition.
Data Availability: The experimental data are available upon request.