The capital cities of the ten new European Union countries in selected bibliographic databases

Summary The aim is to investigate the cities based on the author-affiliation data from Web of Science, Biosis Previews, CAB Abstracts, Chemical Abstracts, Compendex/Inspec, Francis, Medline, Pascal, and Sociological Abstracts databases. Specifics of particular cities and publishing patterns and trends with reference to particular disciplines are studied. Characteristics of city-data collection with regard to retrieval accuracy are investigated. Databases are compared regarding document coverage and input consistency. A city as an emerging supranational unit is proposed as a scientometric object and indicator in its own right as a complement to the traditional notion of a country or a nation-state.     

Minimum protein oscillator based on multisite phosphorylation∕dephosphorylation

The authors propose a novel minimum oscillator whereby a protein with multiple phosphorylation sites directly embedded in a negative feedback loop can exhibit oscillation. They demonstrate that if the fully phosphorylated substrate inhibits the first phosphorylation step in a cooperative manner, multisite substrates can exhibit oscillatory behaviour at the presence of a kinase and phosphatase. With a fixed number of sites, the non-linearity of the negative feedback and the substrate∕enzyme ratio must be above certain threshold values to generate undamped oscillation. There is an inverse relationship between the number of phosphorylation sites and the minimum non-linearity of the negative feedback required for oscillation; that is, the ultrasensitivity and time delay rooted in multisite phosphorylation compensate for the explicit non-linearity in the negative feedback. The period and amplitude of oscillation are mainly determined by the number of phosphorylation sites and the substrate∕enzyme ratio. The authors' results suggest that a multisite protein can be exploited for the construction of a synthetic protein oscillator featuring simplicity, robustness and tunability.     

The nosocomial transmission rate of animal-associated ST398 meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

The global epidemiology of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is characterized by different clonal lineages with different epidemiological behaviour. There are pandemic hospital clones (hospital-associated (HA-)MRSA), clones mainly causing community-acquired infections (community-associated (CA-)MRSA, mainly USA300) and an animal-associated clone (ST398) emerging in European and American livestock with subsequent spread to humans. Nosocomial transmission capacities (R_A) of these different MRSA types have never been quantified. Using two large datasets from MRSA outbreaks in Dutch hospitals (dataset 1, the UMC Utrecht for 144 months; dataset 2, 51 hospitals for six months) and a recently developed mathematical model, we determined the genotype-specific R_A for ST398 and non-ST398 isolates (categorized as HA-MRSA), using observational data, the detection rate of MRSA carriage and the discharge rate from hospital as the input. After detection of 42 MRSA index cases in dataset 1 (all non-ST398 MRSA) 5076 people were screened, yielding 30 secondary cases. In dataset 2, 75 index cases (51 non-ST398 MRSA and 24 ST398) resulted in 7892 screened individuals and 56 and three secondary cases for non-ST398 MRSA and ST398, respectively. The ratio between discharge and the detection rate was 2.7. R_A values (95% confidence interval (CI)) were 0.68 (0.47–0.95) for non-ST398 MRSA in dataset 1, 0.93 (0.71–1.21) for non-ST398 MRSA in dataset 2 and 0.16 (0.04–0.40) for ST398. The R_A ratio between non-ST398 MRSA and ST398 was 5.90 (95% CI 2.24–23.81). ST398 is 5.9 times less transmissible than non-ST398 MRSA in Dutch hospitals, which may allow less stringent transmission-control measures for ST398 MRSA.     

Scientific collaboration of researchers and organizations: a two-level blockmodeling approach

Scientometrics - The development and successful implementation of R&D policies depends on understanding patterns of scientific collaboration (SC). Existing studies on SC typically focus on...     

The application of atomic absorption spectrometry for the determination of residual active pharmaceutical ingredients in cleaning validation samples

The objective of this work was the development and validation of atomic absorption spectrometric (AAS) methods for the determination of residual active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) in rinse samples for cleaning validation. AAS as an indirect method for the determination of API in rinse samples can be applied when it is in the form of salt with metal ions or when the metal ion is a part of the API's structure. The electrothermal AAS methods (aqueous and ethanol medium) for the determination of magnesium in esomeprazole magnesium and the flame AAS method for the determination of lithium in lithium carbonate in rinse samples were developed. Various combinations of solvents were tested and a combination of 1% aqueous or ethanol solution of nitric acid for esomeprazole magnesium and 0.1% aqueous solution of nitric acid for lithium carbonate were found to be the most suitable. The atomization conditions in the graphite furnace and in the flame were carefully studied to avoid losses of analyte and to achieve suitable sensitivity. The cleaning verification methods were validated with respect to accuracy, precision, linearity, limit of detection, and quantification. In all the cases, the limits of detection were at the microgram level. The methods were successfully applied for the determination of esomeprazole magnesium and lithium carbonate in rinse samples from cleaning procedures.     

Finances and Well-Being: A Dynamic Equilibrium Model of Resources.

This study of 513 Dutch farmers tested a dynamic equilibrium model of resources (an extension of the conservation of resources theory; S. E. Hobfoll, 1989, 1998, 2001). With structural equation modeling, the advantages of a 3-wave longitudinal design were comprehensively used, such as addressing bidirectional causal effects and within-individual vs. between-individual change. This allowed for a careful analysis of the management function of resources in the stress process. Results showed that well-being had stronger within-person stability than finances. Increased levels of financial problems temporarily increased psychological distress but not self-reported illness. Conversely, farmers with higher stable baselines of psychological distress also had higher baselines of self-reported illness and experienced more negative changes in their financial situation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A supplier offer modification approach based on fuzzy systems for automated negotiation in e-commerce

In E-commerce, numbers of transactions are increasing day by day in B2B and B2C trade. Online negotiation is possible because of automated negotiation. Autonomous entities such as agents could help in these situations. Providing an offer which has maximum utilities for both trading parties into possible shortest time is the main aim of this work. Proposed model applies issue trade-offs strategy in which multiple issues are traded-offs against one another to maximize participant satisfaction. To make trade-offs the model applies a fuzzy system approach. The automated negotiation model in this article has a process without offer generating and exchanging between buyer and supplier agents to explore time-consuming negotiation process in earlier researches. Mediator component searches an optimal offer that satisfies buyer and supplier requirements. The system will utilize fuzzy inference systems to automate negotiation process and considers two effective factors in the negotiation process: requirements and preferences. Requirements are qualitative or quantitative values which the participants assign to issues for negotiation. Preferences of the participants are priorities assigned to the issues. These values express an importance measure of the issues from a participant perspective. Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is used to get preferences of the issues. Proposed model applies different Fuzzy Inference System (FIS) schemes for qualitative and quantitative negotiation issues to enhance the satisfaction level of buyers and suppliers. Experimental results show that how the model fulfills the main aim of our work.     

Treg-Resistant Cytotoxic CD4+ T Cells Dictate T Helper Cells in Their Vicinity: TH17 Skewing and Modulation of Proliferation

Cytotoxic CD4⁺ T cells (CD4 CTL) are terminally differentiated T helper cells that contribute to autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis. We developed a novel triple co-culture transwell assay to study mutual interactions between CD4 CTL, conventional TH cells, and regulatory T cells (Tregs) simultaneously. We show that, while CD4 CTL are resistant to suppression by Tregs in vitro, the conditioned medium of CD4 CTL accentuates the suppressive phenotype of Tregs by upregulating IL-10, Granzyme B, CTLA-4, and PD-1. We demonstrate that CD4 CTL conditioned medium skews memory TH cells to a TH17 phenotype, suggesting that the CD4 CTL induce bystander polarization. In our triple co-culture assay, the CD4 CTL secretome promotes the proliferation of TH cells, even in the presence of Tregs. However, when cell−cell contact is established between CD4 CTL and TH cells, the proliferation of TH cells is no longer increased and Treg-mediated suppression is restored. Taken together, our results suggest that when TH cells acquire cytotoxic properties, these Treg-resistant CD4 CTL affect the proliferation and phenotype of conventional TH cells in their vicinity. By creating such a pro-inflammatory microenvironment, CD4 CTL may favor their own persistence and expansion, and that of other potentially pathogenic TH cells, thereby contributing to pathogenic responses in autoimmune disorders.     

Regulation of Anti-Apoptotic SOD2 and BIRC3 in Periodontal Cells and Tissues

The aim of the study was to clarify whether orthodontic forces and periodontitis interact with respect to the anti-apoptotic molecules superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) and baculoviral IAP repeat-containing protein 3 (BIRC3). SOD2, BIRC3, and the apoptotic markers caspases 3 (CASP3) and 9 (CASP9) were analyzed in gingiva from periodontally healthy and periodontitis subjects by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. SOD2 and BIRC3 were also studied in gingiva from rats with experimental periodontitis and/or orthodontic tooth movement. Additionally, SOD2 and BIRC3 levels were examined in human periodontal fibroblasts incubated with Fusobacterium nucleatum and/or subjected to mechanical forces. Gingiva from periodontitis patients showed significantly higher SOD2, BIRC3, CASP3, and CASP9 levels than periodontally healthy gingiva. SOD2 and BIRC3 expressions were also significantly increased in the gingiva from rats with experimental periodontitis, but the upregulation of both molecules was significantly diminished in the concomitant presence of orthodontic tooth movement. In vitro, SOD2 and BIRC3 levels were significantly increased by F. nucleatum, but this stimulatory effect was also significantly inhibited by mechanical forces. Our study suggests that SOD2 and BIRC3 are produced in periodontal infection as a protective mechanism against exaggerated apoptosis. In the concomitant presence of orthodontic forces, this protective anti-apoptotic mechanism may get lost.     

Low-cost synthesis of nano-hydroxyapatite from carp bone waste: Effect of calcination time and temperature

The aim of this study was to synthesize Hydroxyapatite (HA) from carp bone waste by calcination treatment. The effects of calcination temperature and time on crystallite size, crystallinity%, powder size and morphology, formed phases, and Ca/P ratio were analyzed. The XRD analyses indicated that for 1 h calcination time, HA was the only phase produced at all temperatures. However, for 5 h calcination time, temperatures other than 700ºC resulted in formation of TCP+HA. The HA obtained at 700ºC at both times had less crystallinity compared to other temperatures. Crystallite size increased by increase in temperature at 1 h calcination time. The smallest and largest particulate sizes were obtained at 800ºC for 1 h and 900ºC for 5 h, respectively. The Ca/P ratio close to theoretical value (1.67) was obtained for 5 h calcination time. Finally, the results showed the usefulness of the methodology used in natural HA production that can be used in orthopedics and dentistry.