bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Regulation of
gbpC
Expression in
Streptococcus mutans
Authors: Biswas Indranil , Drake Laura , Biswas Saswati 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACT

Streptococcus mutans
, the principal causative agent of dental caries, produces four glucan-binding proteins (Gbp) that play major roles in bacterial adherence and pathogenesis. One of these proteins, GbpC, is an important cell surface protein involved in biofilm formation. GbpC is also important for cariogenesis, bacteremia, and infective endocarditis. In this study, we examined the regulation of
gbpC
expression in
S. mutans
strain UA159. We found that
gbpC
expression attains the maximum level at mid-exponential growth phase, and the half-life of the transcript is less than 2 min. Expression from P
gbpC
was measured using a P
gbpC-gusA
transcriptional fusion reporter and was analyzed under various stress conditions, including thermal, osmotic, and acid stresses. Expression of
gbpC
is induced under conditions of thermal stress but is repressed during growth at low pH, whereas osmotic stress had no effect on expression from P
gbpC
. The results from the expression analyses were further confirmed using semiquantitative reverse transcription-PCR analysis. Our results also reveal that CovR, a global response regulator in many
Streptococcus
spp., represses
gbpC
expression at the transcriptional level. We demonstrated that purified CovR protein binds directly to the promoter region of P
gbpC
to repress
gbpC
expression. Using a DNase I protection assay, we showed that CovR binds to DNA sequences surrounding P
gbpC
from bases −68 to 28 (where base 1 is the start of transcription). In summary, our results indicate that various stress conditions modulate the expression of
gbpC
and that CovR negatively regulates the expression of the
gbpC
gene by directly binding to the promoter region.
The Primacy of Interrelating: Practicing Ecological Psychology with Buber, Levinas, and Merleau-Ponty
Authors: Adams Will 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThis study explores the primacy of interrelating and its ecopsychological significance. Grounded in evidence from everyday experience, and in dialogue with the phenomenology of Martin Buber, Emmanuel Levinas, and Maurice Merleau-Ponty, we discover that humans are inherently relational beings, not separate egoic subjects. When experienced intimately (not just conceptually), this realization may transform our (often pathological) interrelationship with the beings and presences in the community of nature. Specifically, interrelating is primary in three ways: 1) interrelating is always already here, transpiring from the beginning of the human species and human culture, from the beginning of every infant's life, and (most significantly) from the continuously arising beginning of every presencing moment; 2) the quality of our interrelating is truly what matters most, the most important expression of and facilitator of health, compassion, and justice for humankind and the rest of nature; and 3) interrelating is the ever-present path via which we discover/create and carry on our (inter)existence. Interrelating is an existential given—indeed we are our interrelating—yet we are summoned ethically to cultivate our way of interrelating so as to serve others and the non-human natural community. Thus interrelating is our essence, our calling, and our path.
G-CSF mobilizes slanDCs (6-sulfo LacNAc+ dendritic cells) with a high proinflammatory capacity
Authors: Baumeister Susanne H. C. , Hölig Kristina , Bornhäuser Martin , Meurer Michael , Rieber E. Peter , Schäkel Knut 
Published: July 2007

Abstract
Donor dendritic cells (DCs) play a pivotal role in the induction of immunity and tolerance after peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). Treatment of healthy donors with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) increases the numbers of tolerogenic DCs and T cells among mobilized blood leukocytes in the graft. SlanDCs (6-sulfo LacNAc+ DCs), a major source of IL-12 and TNF-α in blood, have not been studied in this respect. Here, we demonstrate that slanDCs (14.9 × 106/L to 64.0 × 106/L) are efficiently mobilized by G-CSF and retain their capacity to produce IL-12 and TNF-α at high levels. Furthermore, G-CSF–mobilized slanDCs programmed the differentiation of Th1 cells and displayed a particularly strong capacity to stimulate the proliferation of naive allogeneic T cells. Thus, slanDCs transfused into recipients of allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplants are functionally fully capable and may be critical in supporting graft-versus-host disease as well as graft-versus-leukemia effects.
Mesangial cells of lupus-prone mice are sensitive to chemokine production
Authors: Ka Shuk-Man , Cheng Chao-Wen , Shui Hao-Ai , Wu Wen-Mein , Chang Deh-Ming , Lin Yu-Chu , Chen Ann 
Published: July 2007

AbstractInfectious antigens may be triggers for the exacerbation of systemic lupus erythematosus. The underlying mechanism causing acceleration and exacerbation of lupus nephritis (LN) is largely unknown. Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is capable of inducing an accelerated model of LN in NZB/W mice, featuring diffuse proliferation of glomerular resident cells. We hypothesized that mesangial cells (MCs) from LN subjects are more responsive to LPS than normal subjects. Cultured primary NZB/W and DBA/W (nonautoimmune disease-prone strain with MHC class II molecules identical to those of NZB/W) MCs were used. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and osteopontin (OPN) expressions either in the baseline (normal culture) condition or in the presence of LPS were evaluated by real-time PCR, ELISA, or western blot analysis. NF-κB was detected by ELISA, electrophoresis mobility-shift assay, and immunofluorescence. First, either in the baseline condition or in the presence of LPS, NZB/W MCs produced significantly higher levels of MCP-1 and OPN than the DBA/W MC controls. Second, NZB/W MCs expressed significantly higher levels of Toll-like receptor 4, myeloid differentiation factor 88, and NF-κB than the DBA/W MC controls, both receiving exactly the same LPS treatment. In conclusion, NZB/W MCs are significantly more sensitive than their normal control DBA/W MCs in producing both MCP-1 and OPN. With LPS treatment, the significantly elevated levels of both chemokines produced by NZB/W MCs are more likely due to a significantly greater activation of the Toll-like receptor 4-myeloid differentiation factor 88-associated NF-κB pathway. The observed abnormal molecular events provide an intrarenal pathogenic pathway involved in an accelerated type of LN, which is potentially infection triggered.
Subjective confidence in forecasts
Authors: Fischhoff Baruch , MacGregor Don 
Published: July 2007

AbstractForecasts have little value to decision makers unless it is known how much confidence to place in them. Those expressions of confidence have, in turn, little value unless forecasters are able to assess the limits of their own knowledge accuratelyPrevious research has shown very robust patterns in the judgements of individuals who have not received special training in confidence assessment: Knowledge generally increases as confidence increases. However, it increases too swiftly, with a doubling of confidence being associated with perhaps a 50 per cent increase in knowledge. With all but the easiest of tasks, people tend to be overconfident regarding how much they knowThese results have typically been derived from studies of judgements of general knowledge. The present study found that they also pertained to confidence in forecasts. Indeed, the confidence‐knowledge curves observed here were strikingly similar to those observed previously. The only deviation was the discovery that a substantial minority of judges never expressed complete confidence in any of their forecasts. These individuals also proved to be better assessors of the extent of their own knowledgeApparently confidence in forecasts is determined by processes similar to those that determine confidence in general knowledge. Decision makers can use forecasters assessments in a relative sense, in order to predict when they are more and less likely to be correct. However, they should be hesitant to take confidence assessments literally. Someone is more likely to be right when he or she is ‘certain’than when he or she is ‘fairly confident’; but there is no guarantee that the certain forecast will come true.
The filtering of transitory noise in earnings numbers
Authors: Lieber Z. , Melnick E. I. , Ronen J. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThis paper applies the Kalman filtering procedure to estimate persistent and transitory noise components of accounting earnings. Designating the transitory noise component separately (under a label such as extraordinary items) in financial reports should help users predict future earnings. If a firm has no foreknowledge of future earnings, managers can apply a filter to a firm's accounting earnings more efficiently than an interested user. If management has foreknowledge of earnings, application of a filtering algorithm can result in smoothed variables that convey information otherwise not available to users. Application of a filtering algorithm to a sample of firms revealed that a substantial number of firms exhibited a significant transitory noise component of earnings. Also, for those firms whose earnings exhibited a significant departure from the random walk process, the paper shows that filtering can be fruitfully applied to improve predictive ability.
Predicting long‐term earnings growth: Comparisons of expected return models, submartingales and value line analysts
Authors: Rozeff M. S. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThis paper derives four–five year predictions of growth rates of accounting earnings per share implicit in four expected return models commonly used in financial research. A comparison of such growth rates with those produced and reported by Value Line analysts and those generated by a submartingale model revealed the following: two expected return models—the Sharpe–Lintner–Mossin model and the Black model—were significantly more accurate than the submartingale model, though not significantly more accurate than the other return models. However, the growth rate forecasts provided by Value Line significantly outperformed all the other models tested—none of which relied on the direct input of a security analyst.
Decentralization and culture: The case of Monrovia, Liberia
Authors: Werlin Herbert 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe World Bank's urban development project in Monrovia, Liberia attempted, between 1979 and 1987, to promote decentralization, enabling the municipality to pay for services and infrastructure provided under this project. Because of cultural barriers and a blueprint approach, the project resulted in charity rather than institutional reform. However, effective approaches and procedures require more attention to the underlying causes of existing problems. In as much as politics, even more than culture, affects decentralization, the World Bank needs to be more open with its borrowers about political requirements.
Environmental problems of third world cities: A global issue ignored?
Authors: Hardoy J. E. , Satterthwaite D. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThis article describes the massive scale and range of environmental problems in Third World cities, considered in terms of the impact mainly on human health. The first half of the article is an overview of these problems at different geographic scales, ranging from the home and workplace to the city region. It also discusses the interaction between city‐based production/ consumption and environmental degradation in the wider region. The main problems identified include unsafe and inadequate water supplies, inadequate provision for sanitation and solid waste disposal (including toxic waste), overcrowding, hazardous working conditions and ineffective pollution control. The second half presents some conclusions. The poorer groups in cities suffer most of the environmental burden. Governments and aid agencies allocate little to addressing the most serious environmental problems; local government is weak and ineffective in most Third World nations and citizen groups and NGOs that might offer some redress are often repressed. But without representative local government, and without NGOs and citizen group action, these problems are unlikely to be solved. Finally, different perceptions as to what constitute the World's major environmental problems threaten to divide North from South. If the North wants the South's co‐operation in addressing global problems, it must help the South address those environmental problems which impact most on the health and livelihoods of its poorer citizens.
Decentralization and development: Theory and evidence from Bangladesh
Authors: Ingham Barbara , Kalam A. K. M. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThere is a view that decentralization brings tangible benefits to the developing world, increasing material welfare and reducing the alienation of traditional societies when faced with centralized and modernizing bureaucracies. In theory, this is plausible, but in practice decentralization seldom lives up to its promises. Only strong states are in a position to cede a realistic range of powers. ‘Successful’ decentralization often takes place in conscious opposition to the state, and for that reason it is likely to be short‐lived. This paper draws on the past history and more recent experience of decentralization in Bangladesh, to conclude that the reform of local government structures has not in practice been of benefit to rural areas, the villages and the rural poor. The delivery of basic needs has not improved, nor has there been any significant increase in popular participation. The conclusion emphasizes the need to view decentralization in its social and political context. Proper account needs to be taken of the interests that dominate the political process in a highly stratified society such as Bangladesh.
A shrinking state? Politics, economics and private health care in Thailand
Authors: Bennett Sara , Tangcharoensathien Viroj 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThis article explores the political and economic forces involved in the development of privatization policies within the health care sector in Thailand. It is suggested that many of the motivating factors behind private sector growth are outside of the health sector; the general macroeconomic environment and tax incentives have stimulated private sector expansion. Within the Ministry of Public Health a preoccupation with improving care in rural areas and an unclear policy line on the private sector has facilitated this expansion. Only recently has private sector growth come to the policy agenda. During this lag period a number of interest groups have developed. It will be difficult to overcome these entrenched interests in order to change policy direction. Meanwhile, problems of rapid cost inflation and inequity face the Thai health care system. Although this case study focuses upon the health care sector in Thailand it would appear relevant both to other sectors and to other countries. The relationship between development models based upon pro‐private, pro‐market tenets and the establishment of a satisfactory social policy is questioned.
Lessons from institution building in Kenya
Authors: Catlett Marcus , Schuftan Claudio 
Published: July 2007

AbstractParticipant observation of institution building in a public sector organization in Kenya provides a basis for a critical discussion of key facets of the institution‐building process. Problems identified include: flawed needs assessments; overambitious project designs; poor selection and briefing of consultants; and countervailing vested interests on the parts of external agents. Recommendations include narrowing the gap between development rhetoric and reality; more careful project formulation; greater emphasis on in‐house training; more careful selection of project team leaders; and the provision of funding for post‐project sustainability evaluations.
Results and lessons from Canada's PS2000
Authors: Caiden Gerald E. , Halley Alexis A. , Maltais Daniel 
Published: July 2007

AbstractCanada has been a world leader in administrative reform, eager to experiment during turbulent times in public administration. Public Service 2000, an attempt to instill the Canadian public service into a people‐ and results‐oriented management culture, has been widely heralded as among the boldest of recent Canadian administrative reforms. Results from implementing PS2000 were expected within a decade of its 1990 launch. Halfway through that timeframe, the results are surprising, complex, contradictory and paradoxical. For example, in the second year of implementation, the longer term solutions of PS2000 conflicted with a financial crisis demanding fast results, and PS2000 principles, throughout implementation, contradicted certain traditional public service values. Reflecting on their experience, individuals who participated in PS2000 confirmed lessons in the extant literature, and suggested lessons specific to Canadian circumstances. PS2000 has been an unavoidable and much‐needed effort to reform the Canadian public service, though perhaps inevitably it fell short of expectation. Yet, inside opinion remains mixed, seeking rationalist explanations, and expressing dissatisfaction over the progress of implementation. PS2000 has been absorbed into a much broader plan to reinvent federal government administration and the role of the state in Canadian society. Continuing difference of opinion may well call for a more fundamental change in administrative and managerial doctrine, especially with respect to launching future comprehensive administrative reform projects.
Inclusive Reactions: Models of Multi‐Particle Production
Authors: Ranft Gisela , Ranft J. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractModel independent predictions such as Feynman scaling and the hypothesis of limiting fragmentation (HLF) for multi‐particle production are reviewed. The thermodynamic model and the multi‐Regge model and their description of inclusive spectra are outlined and the connection of both models is discussed with special emphasis on the predictions of these models fulfilling Feynman scaling and HLF. Various possibilities for data presentation are discussed as well as tests are proposed to distinguish between different models.
Models of Elastic pp and p̄p Scattering with Spin Included
Authors: Majerotto W. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractElastic pp and p̄p scattering at high energies is discussed in various types of models paying particular attention to spin effects. The most popular models are: Conventional Regge pole models, models of the eikonal type and geometric (optical) models. A special model of the eikonal type which is able to reproduce the observed experimental features, is developed and studied in more detail.
Urbaryon Model Approach to Unified Understanding of Large and Small PT Spectra
Authors: Kinoshita Kisei 
Published: July 2007

AbstractSingle‐particle distributions in the entire Peyrou plot at CERN‐PS ∼ ISR energies are unifiedly described by the whole‐region formula, which incorporates both parton model results at large pT and all of the Mueller‐Regge forms at small pT. The quantum number dependence of the distributions is explained by the formula as due to the intimate relation between the energy‐momentum flow and the quantum‐number flow carried by valence urbaryons. A field theoretical basis of the formula is provided by a covariant model of the hadron‐urbaryon amplitude which is parametrized in terms of valence urbaryon lines and pair effects. Two‐body reactions at all angles are also described by the formula as the exclusive limit of inclusive reactions. The construction of a formula for inclusive two‐particle distribution is briefly discussed.
Arrhenius and the temperature dependence of non‐constant failure rate
Authors: Blanks Henry S. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThis paper examines the temperature dependence of component hazard rate for the cases of log‐normal and Weibull failure‐time distributions and shows that the common belief that the temperature variation of component failure rate follows the Arrhenius rule can be substantially in error. Although most failures in present‐day equipment are not due to defective components, the paper also examines the temperature dependence of equipment rate of occurrence of failure having a power‐law or negative exponential variation with time for the temperature range where the majority of failures are due to rate processes obeying the Arrhenius equation. The consequences of a Gaussian distribution of failure‐mechanism activation energy in a device population are also considered.Although the temperature dependence of failure rate can be very high, in most situations it is much less than that of the Arrhenius acceleration factor. It is very improbable that the temperature dependence of component failure rate can be meaningfully modelled for reliability prediction purposes or for the purpose of optimizing thermal design component layout.Attention is drawn to the invalidity of determining the failure activation energy from the average failure rates in accelerated high‐temperature time‐terminated life tests.
The reliability physics approach to failure prediction modelling
Authors: Pecht Michael , Dasgupta Abhijit , Barker Donald , Leonard Charles T. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractEmpirically based failure rate modelling methodologies employed in reliability prediction handbooks, and deterministic modelling methods are both critically examined using microelectronic packages as vehicles. As an alternative, a coupled mechano‐stochastic approach to reliability prediction modelling is presented. The goal is to use physics of failure principles with appropriate failure probability density distributions to design for failure‐free operation and predict failure times for components now available, as well as new components resulting from new materials, technologies and processes. In addition, an approach for extending the model to aid in logistics support analysis is discussed.
Recent humidity accelerations, a base for testing standards
Authors: Hallberg Örjan , Peck D. Stewart 
Published: July 2007

AbstractAccelerated humidity test data on plastic ICs are analysed, showing higher thermal acceleration and longer life for modern components compared to older ones. Accelerations for total test time in humidity are given, and the effect of assumed moisture ingress time through the plastic is also treated. A procedure for formal qualification of moisture life is proposed.
Accelerated ageing with in situ electrical testing: A powerful tool for the building‐in approach to quality and reliability in electronics
Authors: de Schepper L. , de Ceuninck W. , Lekens G. , Stals L. , Vanhecke B. , Roggen J. , Beyne E. , Tielemans L. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractA new technique for reliability and quality optimization of electronic components and assemblies, the so called in situ accelerated ageing technique with electrical testing, is presented. This technique is extremely useful for the building‐in approach to quality and reliability. First, it can be used to optimize an electronic component or assembly with respect to its quality and reliability performance at a very early stage, i.e. at the design level, at the level of materials selection, and at the level of identifying production techniques and defining production parameters. The typical test time is of the order of 24 hours, which is sufficiently short to allow a design of experiments type approach to quality and reliability optimization. Furthermore, the technique is also very useful for obtaining a deeper understanding of the physico‐chemical processes which lead to failure. A number of practical examples where the technique has been successfully applied are discussed.