Showing papers by "University of Valencia published in 2005"
TL;DR: Older monozygous twins exhibited remarkable differences in their overall content and genomic distribution of 5-methylcytosine DNA and histone acetylation, affecting their gene-expression portrait, indicating how an appreciation of epigenetics is missing from the understanding of how different phenotypes can be originated from the same genotype.
Abstract: Monozygous twins share a common genotype. However, most monozygotic twin pairs are not identical; several types of phenotypic discordance may be observed, such as differences in susceptibilities to disease and a wide range of anthropomorphic features. There are several possible explanations for these observations, but one is the existence of epigenetic differences. To address this issue, we examined the global and locus-specific differences in DNA methylation and histone acetylation of a large cohort of monozygotic twins. We found that, although twins are epigenetically indistinguishable during the early years of life, older monozygous twins exhibited remarkable differences in their overall content and genomic distribution of 5-methylcytosine DNA and histone acetylation, affecting their gene-expression portrait. These findings indicate how an appreciation of epigenetics is missing from our understanding of how different phenotypes can be originated from the same genotype.
3,330 citations
TL;DR: Structural equation modeling analyses were consistent with a full mediation model in which organizational resources and work engagement predict service climate, which in turn predicts employee performance and then customer loyalty.
Abstract: This study examined the mediating role of service climate in the prediction of employee performance and customer loyalty. Contact employees (N=342) from 114 service units (58 hotel front desks and 56 restaurants) provided information about organizational resources, engagement, and service climate. Furthermore, customers (N=1,140) from these units provided information on employee performance and customer loyalty. Structural equation modeling analyses were consistent with a full mediation model in which organizational resources and work engagement predict service climate, which in turn predicts employee performance and then customer loyalty. Further analyses revealed a potential reciprocal effect between service climate and customer loyalty. Implications of the study are discussed, together with limitations and suggestions for future research.
2,047 citations
TL;DR: The past, present and future of medicinal plants are analyzed, both as potential antimicrobial crude drugs as well as a source for natural compounds that act as new anti-infection agents.
1,665 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors analyzed how visitors' emotions in a theme park environment influence satisfaction and behavioral intentions, and found that visitors' willingness to pay more for the service is more likely to be induced by disconfirmation than by satisfaction alone.
804 citations
TL;DR: Fasciolopsiasis has become a re-emerging infection in recent years and gastrodiscoidiasis, initially supposed to be restricted to Asian countries, is now being reported in African countries.
785 citations
TL;DR: This paper is a summary up-dated version of the recommendations published by the European Society of Hypertension Working Group on Blood Pressure Monitoring for conventional (CBPM), ambulatory (ABPM) and self (SBPM) blood pressure measurement in 2003.
Abstract: Introduction Blood pressuremeasurement is the basis for the diagnosis, management, treatment, epidemiology and research of hypertension, and the decisions affecting these aspects of hypertensionwill be influenced, for better or worse, by the accuracyofmeasurement.Anaccuratebloodpressure reading is a prerequisite, therefore, regardless of which technique is used, yet all too often the accuracy of measurement is taken for granted or ignored. This paper is a summary up-dated version of the recommendations published by the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) Working Group on Blood Pressure Monitoring for conventional (CBPM), ambulatory (ABPM) and self (SBPM) blood pressure measurement in 2003 ([1], from where further detailed information can be obtained).
730 citations
TL;DR: The different approaches currently being explored in order to achieve multifunctionality in SCO materials are discussed.
Abstract: This article reviews the most relevant chemical and structural aspects that influence the spin-crossover phenomenon (SCO). Special attention is focussed on the recent development of SCO coordination polymers. The different approaches currently being explored in order to achieve multifunctionality in SCO materials are discussed.
601 citations
TL;DR: Primary outcomes included return of bowel function and ability to tolerate solid food, ambulation, suture removal, and duration of hospitalization and none of the secondary outcomes varied significantly between the 2 treatment groups.
Abstract: ContextSupplemental perioperative oxygen has been variously reported to halve
or double the risk of surgical wound infection.ObjectiveTo test the hypothesis that supplemental oxygen reduces infection risk
in patients following colorectal surgery.Design, Setting, and PatientsA double-blind, randomized controlled trial of 300 patients aged 18
to 80 years who underwent elective colorectal surgery in 14 Spanish hospitals
from March 1, 2003, to October 31, 2004. Wound infections were diagnosed by
blinded investigators using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria.
Baseline patient characteristics, anesthetic treatment, and potential confounding
factors were recorded.InterventionsPatients were randomly assigned to either 30% or 80% fraction of inspired
oxygen (FIO2) intraoperatively and for 6 hours after
surgery. Anesthetic treatment and antibiotic administration were standardized.Main Outcome MeasuresAny surgical site infection (SSI); secondary outcomes included return
of bowel function and ability to tolerate solid food, ambulation, suture removal,
and duration of hospitalization.ResultsA total of 143 patients received 30% perioperative oxygen and 148 received
80% perioperative oxygen. Surgical site infection occurred in 35 patients
(24.4%) administered 30% FIO2 and in 22 patients
(14.9%) administered 80% FIO2 (P=.04). The risk of SSI was 39% lower in the 80% FIO2 group (relative risk [RR], 0.61; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.38-0.98)
vs the 30% FIO2 group. After adjustment for important
covariates, the RR of infection in patients administered supplemental oxygen
was 0.46 (95% CI, 0.22-0.95; P = .04).
None of the secondary outcomes varied significantly between the 2 treatment
groups.ConclusionsPatients receiving supplemental inspired oxygen had a significant reduction
in the risk of wound infection. Supplemental oxygen appears to be an effective
intervention to reduce SSI in patients undergoing colon or rectal surgery.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00235456
514 citations
TL;DR: The aim of the present review is to summarise the knowledge about newly isolated acetogenins (ACGs) in the last six years, together with the biological activities and mechanism of action of such interesting natural products.
500 citations
TL;DR: Evidence is reported that decreasing RONS formation prevents activation of important signalling pathways, predominantly the MAPK–NF‐κB pathway; consequently the practice of taking antioxidants before exercise may have to be re‐evaluated.
Abstract: Reactive oxygen or nitrogen species (RONS) are produced during exercise due, at least in part, to the activation of xanthine oxidase. When exercise is exhaustive they cause tissue damage; however, they may also act as signals inducing specific cellular adaptations to exercise. We have tested this hypothesis by studying the effects of allopurinol-induced inhibition of RONS production on cell signalling pathways in rats submitted to exhaustive exercise. Exercise caused an activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs: p38, ERK 1 and ERK 2), which in turn activated nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) in rat gastrocnemius muscle. This up-regulated the expression of important enzymes associated with cell defence (superoxide dismutase) and adaptation to exercise (eNOS and iNOS). All these changes were abolished when RONS production was prevented by allopurinol. Thus we report, for the first time, evidence that decreasing RONS formation prevents activation of important signalling pathways, predominantly the MAPK–NF-κB pathway; consequently the practice of taking antioxidants before exercise may have to be re-evaluated.
456 citations
TL;DR: A Windows program that enables users to obtain a broad range of statistics concerning the properties of word and nonword stimuli in Spanish, including word frequency, syllable frequency, bigram and biphone frequency, orthographic similarity, Orthographic and phonological structure, concreteness, familiarity, imageability, valence, arousal, and age-of-acquisition measures.
Abstract: This article describes a Windows program that enables users to obtain a broad range of statistics concerning the properties of word and nonword stimuli in Spanish, including word frequency, syllable frequency, bigram and biphone frequency, orthographic similarity, orthographic and phonological structure, concreteness, familiarity, imageability, valence, arousal, and age-of-acquisition measures. It is designed for use by researchers in psycholinguistics, particularly those concerned with recognition of isolated words. The program computes measures of orthographic similarity online, with respect to either a default vocabulary of 31,491 Spanish words or a vocabulary specified by the user. In addition to providing standard orthographic and phonological neighborhood measures, the program can be used to obtain information about other forms of orthographic similarity, such as transposed-letter similarity and embedded-word similarity. It is available, free of charge, from the following Web site: www.maccs.mq.edu.au/~colin/B-Pal.
TL;DR: In this paper, the design and preparation of stable cyanide-bearing six-coordinate complexes of formula [MIII(L)(CN)x](x+l−−m)− (M = trivalent transition metal ion and L = polydentate blocking ligand) are summarized and the appropriate choice of the end-cap ligand L whose denticity determines the number of coordinated cyanide groups in the mononuclear precursors.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors analyzed the evolution of market power in the main banking sectors of the European Union and showed that the explanatory factors of the relative margins most directly related to market power are not significant, and even have a negative influence (concentration in the deposits market).
Abstract: We analyze the evolution of market power in the main banking sectors of the European Union. The evolution of the relative margins does not show an increase in the degree of competition within the EU. The explanatory factors of the relative margins most directly related to market power are not significant, and even have a negative influence (concentration in the deposits market). The size and efficiency of banks, default risk, and the economic cycle have a notable capacity to explain the behavior of the market power. The results show the inadequacy of using concentration measures as proxy for the competition environment in banking markets.
TL;DR: This article investigated the influence of personality dimensions on wage settings and found that emotional stability is positively associated with the wage of both women and men, while agreeableness is significantly associated with lower wages for women.
TL;DR: A global analysis of the distribution of human cases shows that the expected correlation between animal and human fascioliasis only appears at a basic level, and well-known epidemiological patterns of fasciliasis may not always explain the transmission characteristics in any given area and control measures should consider the results of ecoepidemiological studies undertaken in the zones concerned.
Abstract: Considered a secondary zoonotic disease until the mid-1990s, human fascioliasis is at present emerging or re-emerging in many countries, including increases of prevalence and intensity and geographical expansion. Research in recent years has justified the inclusion of fascioliasis in the list of important human parasitic diseases. At present, fascioliasis is a vector-borne disease presenting the widest known latitudinal, longitudinal and altitudinal distribution. Fasciola hepatica has succeeded in expanding from its European original geographical area to colonize five continents, despite theoretical restrictions related to its biology and in turn dependent upon environmental and human activities. Among the different epidemiological situations, human hypo- to hyperendemic areas, including epidemics, are noteworthy. A global analysis of the distribution of human cases shows that the expected correlation between animal and human fascioliasis only appears at a basic level. Areas presenting very high human prevalences and intensities, especially in children and females, have been recently described. In hypo- to hyperendemic areas of Central and South America, Europe, Africa and Asia, human fascioliasis presents a range of epidemiological characteristics related to a wide diversity of environments. Thus far well-known epidemiological patterns of fascioliasis may not always explain the transmission characteristics in any given area and control measures should consider the results of ecoepidemiological studies undertaken in the zones concerned.
TL;DR: In this article, the decay of B{bar B} events collected at the BaBar detector at the PEP-II e{sup +}e{sup -} asymmetric energy storage ring was studied.
Abstract: The authors study the decay B{sup -} {yields} J/{psi}K{sup -}{pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -} using 117 million B{bar B} events collected at the {Upsilon}(4S) resonance with the BaBar detector at the PEP-II e{sup +}e{sup -} asymmetric-energy storage ring. They measure the branching fractions {Beta}(B{sup -} {yields} J/{psi}K{sup -} {pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -}) = (116 {+-} 7(stat.) {+-} 9(syst.)) x 10{sup -5} and {Beta}(B{sup -} {yields} X(3872)K{sup -}) x {Beta}(X(3872) {yields} J/{psi}{pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -}) = (1.28 {+-} 0.41) x 10{sup -5} and find the mass of the X(3872) to be 3873.4 {+-} 1.4MeV/c{sup 2}. They search for the h{sub c} narrow state in the decay B{sup -} {yields} h{sub c} K{sup -}, h{sub c} {yields} J/{psi}{pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -} and for the decay B{sup -} {yields} J/{psi}D{sup 0}{pi}{sup -}, with D{sup 0} {yields} K{sup -}{pi}{sup +}. They set the 90% C.L. limits {Beta}(B{sup -} {yields} h{sub c}K{sup -}) x {Beta}(h{sub c} {yields} J/{psi}{pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -}) < 3.4 x 10{sup -6} and {Beta}(B{sup -} {yields} J/{psi}D{sup 0}{pi}{sup -}) < 5.2 x 10{sup -5}.
TL;DR: In this paper, the complete post-Newtonian limit of both the metric and Palatini formulations of gravities using a scalar-tensor representation was derived by comparing the predictions of these theories with laboratory and solar system experiments, and they found a set of inequalities that any lagrangian $f(R)$ must satisfy.
Abstract: We compute the complete post-Newtonian limit of both the metric and Palatini formulations of $f(R)$ gravities using a scalar-tensor representation. By comparing the predictions of these theories with laboratory and solar system experiments, we find a set of inequalities that any lagrangian $f(R)$ must satisfy. The constraints imposed by those inequalities allow us to find explicit bounds to the possible nonlinear terms of the lagrangian. We conclude that in both formalisms the lagrangian $f(R)$ must be almost linear in $R$ and that corrections that grow at low curvatures are incompatible with observations. This result shows that modifications of gravity at very low cosmic densities cannot be responsible for the observed cosmic speed-up.
TL;DR: In this paper, the effects of uniaxial stress on the pressure-induced α → ω transition in pure titanium (Ti) are investigated by means of angle dispersive X-ray diffraction in a diamond-anvil cell.
Abstract: The effects of uniaxial stress on the pressure-induced α → ω transition in pure titanium (Ti) are investigated by means of angle dispersive X-ray diffraction in a diamond-anvil cell. Experiments under four different pressure environments reveal that: (1) the onset of the transition depends on the pressure medium used, going from 4.9 GPa (no pressure medium) to 10.5 GPa (argon pressure medium); (2) the α and ω phases coexist over a rather large pressure range, which depends on the pressure medium employed; (3) the hysteresis and quenchability of the ω phase is affected by differences in the sample pressure environment; and (4) a short-term laser heating of Ti lowers the α → ω transition pressure. Possible transition mechanisms are discussed in the light of the present results, which clearly demonstrate the influence of uniaxial stress in the α → ω transition.
TL;DR: In this article, a conformal traceless formulation of the Einstein equations is presented for the study of the gravitational collapse of uniformly rotating neutron stars to Kerr black holes, where the initial stellar models are modeled as relativistic polytropes with angular velocities ranging from slow rotation to the mass shedding limit.
Abstract: We present a new three-dimensional fully general-relativistic hydrodynamics code using high-resolution shock-capturing techniques and a conformal traceless formulation of the Einstein equations. Besides presenting a thorough set of tests which the code passes with very high accuracy, we discuss its application to the study of the gravitational collapse of uniformly rotating neutron stars to Kerr black holes. The initial stellar models are modeled as relativistic polytropes which are either secularly or dynamically unstable and with angular velocities which range from slow rotation to the mass-shedding limit. We investigate the gravitational collapse by carefully studying not only the dynamics of the matter, but also that of the trapped surfaces, i.e., of both the apparent and event horizons formed during the collapse. The use of these surfaces, together with the dynamical horizon framework, allows for a precise measurement of the black-hole mass and spin. The ability to successfully perform these simulations for sufficiently long times relies on excising a region of the computational domain which includes the singularity and is within the apparent horizon. The dynamics of the collapsing matter is strongly influenced by the initial amount of angular momentum in the progenitor star and, for initial models with sufficiently high angular velocities, the collapse can lead to the formation of an unstable disc in differential rotation. All of the simulations performed with uniformly rotating initial data and a polytropic or ideal-fluid equation of state show no evidence of shocks or of the presence of matter on stable orbits outside the black hole.
TL;DR: This work shows that the gravity Lagrangian at relatively low curvatures in both metric and Palatini formalisms is a bounded function that can only depart from the linearity within the limits defined by well-known functions.
Abstract: In this work we show that the gravity Lagrangian $f(R)$ at relatively low curvatures in both metric and Palatini formalisms is a bounded function that can only depart from the linearity within the limits defined by well-known functions. We obtain those functions by analyzing a set of inequalities that any $f(R)$ theory must satisfy in order to be compatible with laboratory and solar system observational constraints. This result implies that the recently suggested $f(R)$ gravity theories with nonlinear terms that dominate at low curvatures are incompatible with observations and, therefore, cannot represent a valid mechanism to justify the cosmic speedup.
TL;DR: The selectivity and sensitivity of two colorimetric sensors based on the ruthenium complexes N719 and N749 are described, found that mercury ions coordinate reversibly to the sulfur atom of the dyes' NCS groups, which induces a color change in the dye groups at submicromolar concentrations of mercury.
Abstract: The selectivity and sensitivity of two colorimetric sensors based on the ruthenium complexes N719 [bis(2,2‘-bipyridyl-4,4‘-dicarboxylate)ruthenium(II) bis(tetrabutylammonium) bis(thiocyanate)] and ...
TL;DR: In this article, a database of ground-based LSTs corresponding to morning, cloud-free overpasses of Envisat/Advanced Along Track Scanning Radiometer (AATSR) and Terra/Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) is presented.
TL;DR: Solifenacin, with a flexible dosing regimen, was found to be superior to tolterodine ER with respect to the majority of the efficacy variables.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated long-term changes in soil hydrological properties and erodibility during the regrowth of different types and densities of vegetation following a severe wildfire in the Serra Grossa Range, eastern Spain.
Abstract: The present study investigates long-term changes in soil hydrological properties and erodibility during the regrowth of different types and densities of vegetation following a severe wildfire in the Serra Grossa Range, eastern Spain. Twelve plots of similar slope and soil characteristics, naturally recolonized by four different plant species (trees, herbs, shrubs and dwarf shrubs) were examined using rainfall simulations during an 11-year period. The mean erosion rate was 80 g m−2 h−1, 6 months after the fire under wet-winter conditions, declining to 30 g m−2 h−1 in the following summer and reaching <10 g m−2 h−1 after 2 years. Considerable variation under the different vegetation types was observed. Herbs and shrubs reduced erosion and overland flow coefficients to negligible values 2 years after fire, whereas under trees and dwarf shrubs, appreciable overland flow and soil loss still occurred after 5 years. On tree-covered plots (Pinus halepensis), overland flow actually increased over time in association with the development of topsoil hydrophobicity, reaching a coefficient of 27% 10 years after burning. Rates of post-fire overland flow and erosion reduction were strongly influenced not only by vegetation coverage but also by the type of cover and its effects on soil hydrophobicity.
TL;DR: The objective of this paper is to show that justification is a simple technique that can be easily incorporated in diverse algorithms for the resource-constrained project scheduling problem––improving the quality of the schedules generated without generally requiring more computing time.
TL;DR: The recent advances in crystalline conducting molecular materials based on polyoxometalates (POMs) and organic donors of the tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) family or perylene are discussed in this article.
TL;DR: The role of the composition, conformation, and dynamics of the integrin inhibitory loop acting in concert with the C-terminal tail in determining the selective inhibition of integrin receptors is discussed.
TL;DR: The importance of monoterpenes on varietal flavour of must and other fruit juices has been reviewed and analytical techniques developed to study these compounds, in both free or glycosidically forms, are discussed.
Abstract: The importance of monoterpenes on varietal flavour of must and other fruit juices has been reviewed. These compounds were mainly found linked to sugar moieties in grape juice and wines, showing no olfactory characteristics. In this way, analytical techniques developed to study these compounds, in both free or glycosidically forms, are discussed. Mechanisms to liberate terpenes were studied, making a comparative study between acidic and enzymic hydrolysis of terpene glycosides; as enzymic hydrolysis seems to be the most natural way to liberate terpenes, the ability to use glycosidases from grapes, yeasts, bacterial or exogenous, i.e. fungal commercial preparations, were reviewed. Re-arrangements of terpenes after acidic hydrolysis of glycoconjugated are discussed as well as potential adverse effects of enzyme preparations.