bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Single‐fiber EMG and clinical correlation in Lambert‐Eaton myasthenic syndrome
Authors: Oh Shin J. , Ohira Masayuki
Published: October 2012

Objectives: We analyzed 82 single‐fiber EMG (SFEMG) tests in the extensor digitorum communis muscle in 30 Lambert‐Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) patients to study the relationship between electrodiagnostic findings and clinical severity. Methods: The repetitive nerve stimulation test was performed in the abductor digiti quinti and flexor carpi ulnaris muscles. SFEMG was performed in the extensor digitorum communis muscle using the conventional method. Results: Fiber density was normal in all patients. Jitter was abnormal in all patients at the first evaluation regardless of clinical severity. The jitter was increasingly abnormal with worsening disease severity. Mean MCD correlated well with clinical and electrophysiological severity. In 5 potential pairs in 3 patients, MCD analysis in relation to firing rate showed improvement with increasing firing rates, which is consistent with presynaptic neuromuscular transmission disorders. Conclusions: In all LEMS studies, SFEMG was abnormal on the first evaluation. The mean MCD correlated well with clinical and electrophysiological disease severity on the repetitive nerve stimulation test. Muscle Nerve 47: 664–667, 2013
Skeletal muscle–derived cell cultures as potent models in regenerative medicine research
Authors: Kelc Robi , Trapecar Martin , Vogrin Matjaz , Cencic Avrelija
Published: September 2012

Cell cultures have been used extensively by many scientists in recent decades to study various cell and tissue mechanisms. The use of cell cultures has many advantages over use of in vivo experimental models, but there are also limitations. As skeletal muscle–derived cell cultures become more commonly utilized in studies of muscle regeneration processes the question of their relevance in experimentation is highlighted with regard to in vivo experimental models. This article reviews studies that have been performed simultaneously in in vivo and in vitro experiments on skeletal muscle and assesses the correlation of results. Although they seem to correlate, no such studies on humans have been performed so far. Muscle Nerve, 2013
Quantitative muscle ultrasound and muscle force in healthy children: A 4‐year follow‐up study
Authors: Jacobs Joost , Jansen Merel , Janssen Henny , Raijmann Wilma , Van Alfen Nens , Pillen Sigrid
Published: September 2012

Introduction

No longitudinal data on the normal development of muscle thickness (MT), quantitative muscle ultrasound echo intensity (EI), and muscle force (MF) in healthy children are yet available.

Methods

Reference values of MT, EI, and MF of 4 muscles from infancy to age 16 years were established during a 4‐year follow‐up period and correlated with age and growth.

Results

For most muscles, MT and MF correlated with growth and aging, with almost equal influences of weight and height. EI increased only slightly (1% per year) with height, weight, and age.

Conclusions

To use these reference values for repeated measurements, MF and MT can be corrected for either weight or height. It does not seem necessary to correct EI for these factors during follow‐up of a few years. These results provide a basis for more precise detection of changes in muscle structure or force in neuromuscular disorders. Muscle Nerve 47: 856–863, 2013
Preparation, characterization and dielectric properties of polycyanurate films cyclotrimerized in the presence of different catalysts
Authors: Gürşen Sibel , Yıldırım Saffettin , Deligöz Hüseyin
Published: September 2012

The article deals with the preparation and characterization of a series of functional polycyanurate (PCN) films obtained from bisphenol E dicyanate (BDECy) by thermal cyclotrimerization in the presence of four different catalysts. Thermal, structural, and dielectrical analyses of PCN films are performed as well as some physical properties such as solubility, adhesion, hardness, and contact angle measurements are studied. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results reveal that cyclotrimerized structure is formed from BDECy not only in the presence of catalyst but also free of catalyst. While 55.5% of BDECy is cylotrimerized without catalyst, the conversion of BDECy into triazine significantly increases and reaches to 82.1% and 84.8% for PCNPh1‐2 and PCNPh3‐2, respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis results reveal that PCN films prepared in the presence of catalyst are thermally stable up to 240°C and exhibit two degradation steps. Dielectric constant and dielectrical breakdown strength of the PCN film cyclotrimerized with 1 wt% phenol as catalyst are found to be 3.16 at 1 MHz and 194 kV/mm, respectively, while the catalyst‐free PCN film has the dielectric constant of 4.92 at the same frequency. On the other hand, chemical stability, hardness, and adhesion properties of the prepared films are found to be excellent. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2013. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers.
Effect of the nanoclay types on the rheological response of unsaturated polyester–clay nanocomposites
Authors: Rezadoust Amir Masoud , Esfandeh Masoud , Beheshty Mohammad Hosain , Heinrich Gert
Published: September 2012

The rheological behavior of styrene‐free unsaturated polyester resin–nanoclay (Cloisite 15A and 30B) nanocomposites at various nanoclay contents prepared by melt mixing was investigated. To investigate the effect of shear and diffusion induced phenomena as well as nanoclay surface modification on the rheological behavior, samples were prepared at two different temperatures of 40°C (cold mixed) and 150°C (hot mixed) and tested in a range of 40–120°C using dynamic rheometry. Viscosity–temperature curves for the cold mixed samples showed a decrease in viscosity with increasing temperature followed by the formation of a plateau with onset temperature which depends on the nanoclay type and content. The results of small angle X‐ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy analysis were in agreement with the formation of a physical network in which nanoclay particles act as the nodes, whereas polymer chains serve as the links. It is believed that for the cold‐mixed samples, higher shear forces break the nanoclay stacks associations efficiently, and hence more nanoparticles are available for polymer chains to form the network. In this context, the initial d‐spacing was much more effective than the nanoclay modification type. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2013. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers.
Crystallization behavior of poly(vinylidene fluoride) composites containing zinc phenylphosphonate
Authors: Tsuboi Tomoya , Katayama Hiromu , Itoh Takashi
Published: September 2012

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) composites with different ratios of zinc phenylphosphonate (ZPP) were prepared by mixing in a kneader. The crystallization behavior of the composites from the melt was investigated by polarized optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD). The POM observations directly showed that nucleation of the PVDF crystal was promoted by adding ZPP. The data obtained from DSC measurements also indicated that the crystallization temperature of the composites became higher than that of pure PVDF. These results suggested that ZPP acted as a good nucleating agent for PVDF. Nonisothermal crystallization behavior was analyzed by Avrami equation adopted by Jeziorny. The results of the analysis were found to be consistent with the POM observations for the composites. WAXD analysis suggested that the PVDF crystal structure was influenced by ZPP addition. These results proved that as a nucleating agent, ZPP increased the crystallization rate and temperature of PVDF. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2013. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers
Nanosecond‐scale time‐resolved electron imaging during laser crystallization of GeTe
Authors: Santala Melissa K. , Reed Bryan W. , Raoux Simone , Topuria Teya , LaGrange Thomas , Campbell Geoffrey H.
Published: September 2012

Laser crystallization of amorphous phase change materials (PCMs) occurs on the nanosecond scale, during which it is challenging to probe the details of microstructural development experimentally. In this study, in situ laser‐induced crystallization of amorphous GeTe thin films was imaged with transmission electron microscopy with 15‐ns time resolution. These data provide insight into the crystallization process of PCMs during laser crystallization. The initial results allow us to begin to develop a detailed picture of the crystallization process when high spatial and temporal temperature gradients exist. Differences in the nucleation rate may be distinguished within the laser‐affected area and changes in the microstructure before crystallization suggest the occurrence of melting of the amorphous phase at the laser energy used. The amorphous melting temperature is estimated based on the thermodynamic data available.
Magnetic properties of Ni and Ni–Cu nanoparticles
Authors: Leontyev Vladimir
Published: September 2012

Nanoparticles of pure Ni and Ni–Cu solid solution were synthesized by the sol–gel method at 400–600 °C. The particle sizes and values of specific surface of powders were dependent on the synthesis temperature. The magnetization of the obtained powders was studied using a high‐temperature magnetic balance. The Curie temperature for particles of pure nickel did not depend on their size but the specific magnetization at 300 K decreased linearly with increasing specific surface area of particles. For particles of the Ni–Cu binary solid solutions, the Curie temperature and values of magnetization increased with decreasing particle size for particles with diameters up to values less than 100 nm. The amount of adsorbed copper on the particles surface, the change of nickel concentration in the volume of the particles and the Curie temperatures, depending on the Cu (Ni) concentration in a volume of particles, were calculated using the Gibbs equation. The calculations made in the framework of a perfect solution showed qualitative agreement between experimental and calculated values of the Curie temperature for the system Ni–Cu.
Spin‐current rectification in the presence of spin‐flip in a quantum dot using temperature bias
Authors: Tagani M. Bagheri , Soleimani H. Rahimpour
Published: September 2012

We analyze spin‐dependent transport through a spin‐diode in the presence of spin‐flip and under influence of temperature bias. The current polarization and the spin accumulation are investigated in detail by means of reduced density matrix. Results show that the spin accumulation is linearly increased when the metallic electrode is warmer whereas, its behavior is more complicated when the ferromagnetic lead is warmer. Spin‐flip causes that the current polarization becomes not only a function of spin‐flip rate but also a function of temperature. The current polarization is reduced up to 90% if the time of spin‐flip is equal to the tunneling time. The behavior of spin‐dependent current is also studied as a function of temperature, spin‐flip rate, and polarization.
Persistent layer‐by‐layer growth for pulsed‐laser homoepitaxy of $(000\bar 1)$ ZnO
Authors: Zippel Jan , Lorenz Michael , Benndorf Gabriele , Grundmann Marius
Published: September 2012

Persistent layer‐by‐layer growth is demonstrated for pulsed‐laser homoepitaxy of ZnO thin films on $(000\bar 1)$ ZnO single crystals. Employing interval pulsed‐laser deposition (PLD), RHEED oscillations are stabilized over a film thickness of about 90 nm. For interval pulsed laser deposited films a considerably decreased root‐mean‐square surface roughness of 0.26 nm was found, in comparison to 0.74 nm for conventional PLD. A small asymmetry in the X‐ray diffraction (XRD) 2θ –ω scan reveals compressive strain in the thin film being slightly larger for interval PLD as compared to conventional PLD. The FWHM of the photoluminescence (PL) I6 line is higher with about 500 µeV as compared to 350 µeV for the conventional PLD. Consequently, both XRD as well as PL indicate a slightly higher amount of charged defects for the interval PLD.

magnified image

Evolution of RHEED intensity as function of time for interval PLD. The green and red line marks the start and the end of the ablation interval, respectively.

(© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Structure, stability and electronic properties of tricycle type graphane
Authors: He Chaoyu , Zhang C. X. , Sun L. Z. , Jiao N. , Zhang K. W. , Zhong Jianxin
Published: September 2012

We propose a new allotrope of graphane (named as ‘tricycle') with equivalent 4up/2down UUUDUD hydrogenation in each six‐carbon ring, which can be considered as the combination of previously proposed 3up/3down chair graphane and stirrup graphane. We find that tricycle graphane is more stable than stirrup graphane and its negative Gibbs free energy (–91 meV/atom) is very close to that of the most stable chair one (–103 meV/atom). Investigations on its vibrational property confirm its dynamical stability. Such a new two‐dimensional hydrocarbon may be produced in the process of graphene hydrogenation with a relatively high probability due to its remarkable stability.

magnified image

Tricycle graphane with 4up/2down (UUUDUD) hydrogenation in each hexagonal carbon ring, which can be considered as the combination of chair (3up/3down: UDUDUD) and stirrup (3up/3down: UUUDDD) graphane.

(© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
A new futility test approach in clinical interim data monitoring
Authors: Xue Dixi
Published: September 2012

Sequential monitoring of efficacy and safety data has become a vital component of modern clinical trials. It affords companies the opportunity to stop studies early in cases when it appears as if the primary objective will not be achieved or when there is clear evidence that the primary objective has already been met. This paper introduces a new concept of the backward conditional hypothesis test (BCHT) to evaluate clinical trial success. Unlike the regular conditional power approach that relies on the probability that the final study result will be statistically significant based on the current interim look, the BCHT was constructed based on the hypothesis test framework. The framework comprises a significant test level as opposed to the arbitrary fixed futility index utilized in the conditional power method. Additionally, the BCHT has proven to be a uniformly most powerful test. Noteworthy features of the BCHT method compared with the conditional power method will be presented. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Adsorption and inhibition properties of mild steel corrosion in ground water medium by 1‐(4‐methoxy benzyl)‐1H‐imidazole: experimental and theoretical investigations
Authors: Gopi D. , Surendiran M. , Sudha N. , Saraswathy R. , Madhammal R. , Kavitha L.
Published: September 2012

Corrosion inhibitive performance of a newly synthesized imidazole derivative 1‐(4‐methoxy benzyl)‐1H‐ imidazole (MBI) on mild steel in ground water medium was investigated. Gravimetric and electrochemical measurements incorporated with quantum chemical calculation were used to study the corrosion inhibition characteristics of MBI in ground water medium. The inhibition efficiency increased with the increase of inhibitor concentration, while the adsorption followed the Langmuir isotherm. To clarify the inhibition efficiency of MBI for the corrosion prevention of mild steel in ground water medium, a density functional theory study was also carried out using 6‐31 G* basis set. Quantum chemical descriptors such as the energy of highest occupied molecular orbital, energy of lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, chemical potential (Pi), electronegativity (χ), global hardness (η), softness (σ), the energy gap (ΔE), and dipole moment (μ) were calculated. The quantum chemical calculations based on density functional theory results show that the new imidazole derivative can adsorb on the mild steel surface, which forms a barrier against corrosion. Thus, MBI acts as a good corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in ground water medium. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Work–Family Conflict and Job Satisfaction: Emotional Intelligence as a Moderator
Authors: Gao Yongdong , Shi Junqi , Niu Qikun , Wang Lei
Published: September 2012

The negative impact of work–family conflict (WFC) on employees' well‐being and job‐related outcomes has attracted much research attention recently. A major gap in the literature is which factors could potentially buffer its negative effect on employees. The present study examined the moderating effect of emotional intelligence on the relationship between WFC and job satisfaction in a sample of 212 Chinese high school teachers. On the basis of conservation of resource theory, we hypothesized that emotional intelligence would weaken the negative effect of family‐to‐work and work‐to‐family interference on job satisfaction. Results suggested that WFC (work‐to‐family interference and family‐to‐work interference) was negatively related to job satisfaction and that emotional intelligence weakened the effect of WFC on job satisfaction. These findings provide implications for theories on WFC and emotional intelligence, such as conservation of resource theory. The current study also provides a test of these theories in Chinese culture to support the generalizability of theories developed in previous research. Practical implications for reducing the negative influence of WFC on employees' job satisfaction are also provided, such as the potential value of emotional intelligence for the training and development of employees in teaching professions. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Spin‐Polarized Semiconductors: Tuning the Electronic Structure of Graphene by Introducing a Regular Pattern of sp3 Carbons on the Graphene Plane
Authors: Jing Long , Huang Ping , Zhu Huarui , Gao Xueyun
Published: October 2012

First‐principles calculations (generalized gradient approximation, density functional therory (DFT) with dispersion corrections, and DFT plus local atomic potential) are carried out on the stability and electronic structures of superlattice configurations of nitrophenyl diazonium functionalized graphene with different coverage. In the calculations, the stabilities of these structures are strengthened significantly since van der Waals interactions between nitrophenyl groups are taken into account. Furthermore, spin‐polarized and wider‐bandgap electronic structures are obtained when the nitrophenyl groups break the sublattice symmetry of the graphene. The unpaired quasi‐localized p electrons are responsible for this itinerant magnetism. The results provide a novel approach to tune graphene's electronic structures as well as to form ferromagnetic semiconductive graphene.
Experimental evidence for the involvement of amino acid residue Glu398 in the autocatalytic processing of Bacillus licheniformis γ‐glutamyltranspeptidase
Authors: Chi Meng-Chun , Chen Yi-Yu , Lo Huei-Fen , Lin Long-Liu
Published: September 2012

The role of glutamate 398 in the autocatalytic processing of Bacillus licheniformis γ‐glutamyltranspeptidase (BlGGT) was explored by site‐directed mutagenesis. This glutamate was substituted by either alanine, aspartate, arginine or glutamine and the expressed mutant enzymes were purified to apparent homogeneity with metal‐affinity chromatography. SDS–PAGE analysis showed that E398A, E398D and E398K were unable to process themselves into a large and a small subunit. However, E398Q was not only able to process itself, but also had a catalytic activity comparable to that of BlGGT. As compared with the wild‐type enzyme, no significant change in circular dichroism spectra was observed for the mutant proteins. Thermal unfolding of BlGGT, E398A, E398D, E398K and E398Q followed the two‐state unfolding process with a transition point (T
m) of 47.7–69.4 °C. Tryptophan fluorescence spectra of the mutant enzymes were different from the wild‐type protein in terms of fluorescence intensity. Native BlGGT started to unfold beyond ∼1.92 M guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl) and reached an unfolded intermediate, [GdnHCl]0.5, N–U, at 3.07 M equivalent to free energy change (
) of 14.53 kcal/mol for the N → U process, whereas the denaturation midpoints for the mutant enzymes were 1.31–2.99 M equivalent to
of 3.29–12.05 kcal/mol. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that the explored glutamate residue is indeed important for the autocatalytic processing of BlGGT.
Gas flow in ultra-tight shale strata
Authors: Darabi Hamed , Ettehad A. , Javadpour F. , Sepehrnoori K.
Published: September 2012

We study the gas flow processes in ultra-tight porous media in which the matrix pore network is composed of nanometre- to micrometre-size pores. We formulate a pressure-dependent permeability function, referred to as the apparent permeability function (APF), assuming that Knudsen diffusion and slip flow (the Klinkenberg effect) are the main contributors to the overall flow in porous media. The APF predicts that in nanometre-size pores, gas permeability values are as much as 10 times greater than results obtained by continuum hydrodynamics predictions, and with increasing pore size (i.e. of the order of the micrometre), gas permeability converges to continuum hydrodynamics values. In addition, the APF predicts that an increase in the fractal dimension of the pore surface leads to a decrease in Knudsen diffusion. Using the homogenization method, a rigorous analysis is performed to examine whether the APF is preserved throughout the process of upscaling from local scale to large scale. We use the well-known pulse-decay experiment to estimate the main parameter of the APF, which is Darcy permeability. Our newly derived late-transient analytical solution and the late-transient numerical solution consistently match the pressure decay data and yield approximately the same estimated value for Darcy permeability at the typical core-sample initial pressure range and pressure difference. Other parameters of the APF may be determined from independent laboratory experiments; however, a pulse-decay experiment can be used to estimate the unknown parameters of the APF if multiple tests are performed and/or the parameters are strictly constrained by upper and lower bounds.
Dynamics of complete turbulence suppression in turbidity currents driven by monodisperse suspensions of sediment
Authors: Shringarpure Mrugesh , Cantero Mariano I. , Balachandar S.
Published: September 2012

Turbidity currents derive their motion from the excess density imposed by suspended sediments. The settling tendency of sediments is countered by flow turbulence, which expends energy to keep them in suspension. This interaction leads to downward increasing concentration of suspended sediments (stable stratification) in the flow. Thus in a turbidity current sediments play the dual role of sustaining turbulence by driving the flow and damping turbulence due to stable stratification. By means of direct numerical simulations, it has been shown previously that stratification above a threshold can substantially reduce turbulence and possibly extinguish it. This study expands the simplified model by Cantero et al. (J. Geophys. Res., vol. 114, 2009a, C03008), and puts forth a proposition that explains the mechanism of complete turbulence suppression due to suspended sediments. In our simulations it is observed that suspensions of larger sediments lead to stronger stratification and, above a threshold size, induce an abrupt transition in the flow to complete turbulence suppression. It has been widely accepted that hairpin and quasi-streamwise vortices are key to sustaining turbulence in wall-bounded flows, and that only vortices of sufficiently strong intensity can spawn the next generation of vortices. This auto-generation mechanism keeps the flow populated with hairpin and quasi-streamwise vortical structures and thus sustains turbulence. From statistical analysis of Reynolds stress events and visualization of flow structures, it is observed that settling sediments damp the Reynolds stress events (Q2 events), which means a reduction in both the strength and spatial distribution of vortical structures. Beyond the threshold sediment size, the existing vortical structures in the flow are damped to an extent where they lose their ability to regenerate the subsequent generation of turbulent vortical structures, which ultimately leads to complete turbulence suppression.
Consciousness, Supervenience, and Identity: Marras and Kim on the Efficacy of Conscious Experience
Authors: DEMPSEY LIAM P.
Published: September 2012

In this paper, I argue that while supervenience accounts of mental causation in general have difficulty avoiding epiphenomenalism, the situation is particularly bad in the case of conscious experiences since the function-realizer relation, arguably present in the case of intentional properties, does not obtain, and thus, the metaphysical link between supervenient and subvenient properties is absent. I contend, however, that the identification of experiential types with their neural correlates dispels the spectre epiphenomenalism, squares nicely both with the phenomenology of embodiment and the subjectivity of experience, and does not conflict with the supposed multiple realizability of consciousness.
Streamer propagation in non-uniform gaps at ambient atmospheric air pressures
Authors: PAPADAKIS ANTONIS P.
Published: September 2012

The streamer propagation in point-plane, non-uniform gaps under high applied electric fields, prior to the impact of primary streamer on cathode, is analyzed. The configuration used is an anode hyperboloid with 50-μm radius of curvature, and a flat plate as the cathode. The applied voltage is 130-kV direct current, and an initial electron is assumed to exist close to the anode in ambient air. The geometry used is a two-dimensional axisymmetry with a gap of 5 cm between the anode and the cathode. It is shown that the streamer is formed on the anode tip as expected, and midway toward the cathode, it separates into two streamers, the primary streamer that continues its propagation toward the cathode, and the branched streamer expanding radially toward the outer boundaries. The qualitative behavior of the discharge is analyzed in terms of streamer speeds, radial and axial electric fields, charged particle densities, and conductive currents. A branched streamer plasma structure was observed along the path of the primary plasma structure expanding radially outwards.
Apis melliferavenom induces different cell death pathways inTrypanosoma cruzi
Authors: ADADE CAMILA M. , CHAGAS GABRIELA S. F. , SOUTO-PADRÓN THAÏS
Published: October 2012

Chagas disease chemotherapy is based on drugs that exhibit toxic effects and have limited efficacy, such as Benznidazole. Therefore, research into new chemotherapeutic agents from natural sources needs to be exploited.Apis melliferavenom consists of many biologically active molecules and has been reported to exhibit remarkable anti-cancer effects, often promoting an apoptosis-like death phenotype. This study demonstrates thatA. melliferavenom can affect the growth, viability and ultrastructure of allTrypanosoma cruzidevelopmental forms, including intracellular amastigotes, at concentrations 15- to 100-fold lower than those required to cause toxic effects in mammalian cells. The ultrastructural changes induced by the venom in the different developmental forms led us to hypothesize the occurrence of different programmed cell death pathways. Autophagic cell death, characterized by the presence of autophagosomes-like organelles and a strong monodansyl cadaverine labelling, appears to be the main death mechanism in epimastigotes. In contrast, increased TUNEL staining, abnormal nuclear chromatin condensation and kDNA disorganization was observed in venom-treated trypomastigotes, suggesting cell death by an apoptotic mechanism. On the other hand, intracellular amastigotes presented a heterogeneous cell death phenotype profile, where apoptosis-like death seemed to be predominant. Our findings confirm the great potential ofA. melliferavenom as a source for the development of new drugs for the treatment of neglected diseases such as Chagas disease.
Only connect? Older lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) adults and social capital
Authors: CRONIN ANN , KING ANDREW
Published: September 2012

The concept of social capital is widely used in the social sciences and has, to an extent, been applied to the lives and social networks of older lesbian, gay and bisexual (hereafter LGB) adults. Developing existing research, this paper argues that while not without its problems, the concept of social capital enriches our understanding of these networks, whilst simultaneously deconstructing the negative stereotypes surrounding homosexuality in later life. However, little attention has been paid to the social factors that mediate access and participation in lesbian and gay communities and the implications of this on the quality and experience of later life. Drawing on qualitative research conducted in the United Kingdom, this paper illustrates how biography, gender and socio-economic status are significant mediators in the development and maintenance of social capital by older LGB adults. It concludes with a set of recommendations aimed at improving the social capital of older LGB adults, together with the importance of ‘queering’ the concept itself.
Three polymorphisms in the IL-10 gene and the risk of HCV infection: a meta-analysis plus a Chinese Association Study involving 1140 subjects
Authors: LI J. , LIU Y. , XU F. , CHEN J. , CHEN Y.
Published: September 2012

The influence of an immunosuppressive cytokine, interleukin-10 (IL-10), on the outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been increasingly reported recently. A number of polymorphisms appear to control the level of IL-10 production. Among them, −592C/A, −819C/T and −1082G/A in the IL-10 gene are three most studied single nucleotide polymorphisms. To provide a more definitive conclusion about their association with the risk of HCV infection, a meta-analysis was performed by combining and summarizing a total of 17 studies. A biological justification for the choice of genetic model was provided. The results indicated no significant association between these IL-10 polymorphisms and the susceptibility to HCV infection [–592C/A: odds ratio (OR) 0·99, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0·78–1·25; –819C/T: OR 0·90, 95% CI 0·69–1·18; –1082G/A: OR 1·34, 95% CI 0·90–2·00]. However, this analysis did not account for the possible risk modifications by other factors, such as ethnicity and virus persistence. Therefore, the effects of ethnicity and virus persistence were investigated using Bayesian meta-regression and subgroup analysis. Finally, an extended case-control association study was conducted in a Chinese population involving 1140 subjects. Both serum level and genotype data of IL-10 −1082G/A were determined. As a result, a low prevalence of G allele was observed. Significantly higher IL-10 production was observed in HCV patients, especially patients with the GG genotype.
Early retinoic acid deprivation in developing zebrafish results in microphthalmia
Authors: LE HONG-GAM T. , DOWLING JOHN E. , CAMERON D. JOSHUA
Published: September 2012

Vitamin A deficiency causes impaired vision and blindness in millions of children around the world. Previous studies in zebrafish have demonstrated that retinoic acid (RA), the acid form of vitamin A, plays a vital role in early eye development. The objective of this study was to describe the effects of early RA deficiency by treating zebrafish with diethylaminobenzaldehyde (DEAB), a potent inhibitor of the enzyme retinaldehyde dehydrogenase (RALDH) that converts retinal to RA. Zebrafish embryos were treated for 2 h beginning at 9 h postfertilization. Gross morphology and retinal development were examined at regular intervals for 5 days after treatment. The optokinetic reflex (OKR) test, visual background adaptation (VBA) test, and the electroretinogram (ERG) were performed to assess visual function and behavior. Early treatment of zebrafish embryos with 100μM DEAB (9 h) resulted in reduced eye size, and this microphthalmia persisted through larval development. Retinal histology revealed that DEAB eyes had significant developmental abnormalities but had relatively normal retinal lamination by 5.5 days postfertilization. However, the fish showed neither an OKR nor a VBA response. Further, the retina did not respond to light as measured by the ERG. We conclude that early deficiency of RA during eye development causes microphthalmia as well as other visual defects, and that timing of the RA deficiency is critical to the developmental outcome.
Policing the Perimeter: Disgust and Purity in Democratic
Debate
Authors: Hatemi Peter , McDermott Rose
Published: September 2012

We explicate the precise role that one specific emotion, disgust, plays in
generating political acrimony. We do this by identifying the link between the
different dimensions along which moral judgments are made by those espousing
different political ideologies and the different emotions which undergird these
evaluations. These assessments reliably track along liberal and conservative
dimensions and are linked to the way values associated with purity and sanctity
elicit greater degrees of disgust among conservatives. Here, we review a growing
literature showing how disgust affects the psychology of politics through its
influence on the cognitive and emotional processes that govern judgments of
morality, as well as its direct impact on specific policy preferences. We then apply
these findings to the nature and tenor of political discourse and suggest some ways
that disgust might affect the character and function of democratic debate and
tolerance. Finally, we discuss what these findings mean for public policy.
An Economic Ranking of the US Presidents, 1789–2009: A Data-Based
Approach
Authors: Taylor Mark Zachary
Published: September 2012

How relatively good or bad were the economic performances of our past presidents?
The answers to this question remain unclear. Most evaluations of presidential
performance cloud the issue with partisan bias and subjective judgments or mix
economics together with other policy areas. To address these shortcomings, this
article uses new data from the Measuring Worth Project to calculate the relative
economic rankings of the United States presidents who served from 1789 until 2009.
It analyzes up to 220 years of data on economic growth, unemployment, inflation,
government debt, balance of payments, income inequality, currency strength, interest
rates, and stock market returns to estimate an economic grade point average for each
president. Then, these estimates are used to test for correlations with other
variables to generate hypotheses regarding the conditions for superior and inferior
economic performance.
Obama and 2012: Still a Racial Cost to Pay?
Authors: Tien Charles , Nadeau Richard , Lewis-Beck Michael S.
Published: September 2012

Will President Obama lose votes in 2012 because of racial prejudice? For 2008, we estimated, via a carefully controlled, national survey-based study, that on balance he lost about five percentage points in popular vote share due to intolerance for his race on the part of some voters. What about 2012? There are at least three possibilities: (1) the presidency has become postracial, and the vote will register no racial cost; (2) intolerance has increased, and the vote will register an increased racial cost; and (3) intolerance has decreased, and the vote will register a decreased racial cost. Our evidence, drawn from an analysis comparable to that carried out for 2008, suggests Obama will pay a racial cost of three percentage points in popular vote share. In other words, his candidacy will experience a decrease in racial cost, if a small one. In 2008, this racial cost denied Obama a landslide victory. In the context of a closer election in 2012, this persistent racial cost, even smaller in size, could perhaps cost him his reelection.
When Plato Meets Popkin: Combining Political Philosophy and Empirical
Content in the Classroom
Authors: Knoll Benjamin R.
Published: September 2012

Given that students often express a desire for course content to be more “relevant”
and applicable to their lives, I describe one method for effectively addressing this
concern through the organization of the course syllabus. The content of empirically
driven courses can be framed within the context of philosophically driven normative
questions. In other words, instructors can explicitly construct course narratives
that frame the empirically based course content as an attempt to answer (or, at
least, shed new light on) important, relevant, and on-going questions raised by
political philosophy. I offer examples from two of my own courses, Political
Psychology and Local Politics, and discuss the various pedagogical and instructional
advantages of such a method.
Who Wants to Have a Tea Party? The Who, What, and Why of the Tea Party Movement
Authors: Arceneaux Kevin , Nicholson Stephen P.
Published: September 2012

In the wake of the 2008 election, disgruntled conservatives organized opposition to President Obama's policies under a new movement dubbed the Tea Party. As an emerging force in American politics, we seek to understand who supports the Tea Party and the political attitudes these individuals hold. Using a nationally representative survey of respondents during the 2010 midterm elections, we examine whether the emerging narrative surrounding the Tea Party is accurate. The survey included a novel embedded experiment designed to investigate claims that animosity toward racial minorities drives Tea Party opposition to welfare. We find support for the contention that the Tea Party is predominately white, male, conservative, and strongly opposed to tax increases. Tea Party supporters, however, are not simply libertarians. In spite of appeals to freedom and liberty common in Tea Party rhetoric, a strong authoritarian pulse exists among its most ardent supporters. Furthermore, although we find evidence that racial resentment colors Tea Party members' judgments about government aid to the poor, racial animus does not appear to be the primary force behind their opposition to government aid. Lastly, we uncover some evidence of heterogeneity within the movement, with a small minority of Tea Party supporters voicing less-extreme political attitudes and evincing a rejection of negative racial stereotypes.
Teaching the Middle East: Pedagogy in a Charged
Classroom
Authors: Kirschner Shanna A.
Published: September 2012

Students in courses about the Middle East want to learn, and they crave discussion.
Yet they enter the classroom with a set of beliefs about the region that interact
with their fears of offending or contradicting their peers. Together, these can
produce a classroom dynamic that ultimately stymies student learning. In this
article, several strategies are described to ameliorate this concern. These range
from short lessons that directly confront student biases about the Middle East, to
close analysis of journal articles and empirical evidence, to structured debates and
simulations, to specific classroom management techniques. Together, these strategies
can promote engaged, lively debate; generate student self-awareness of their
presuppositions; and enhance learning.
Why Just Two Parties? A Voting Game to Illustrate Duverger's
Law
Authors: Smith Keith
Published: September 2012

With the 2012 presidential elections approaching, student interest in (and
frustration with) the US two-party system is likely to grow. Although many
explanations exist for this phenomenon, their number and complexity often overwhelm
students. This article describes an iterative game, designed for a single class
session, that illustrates one of the major institutional explanations for the US
two-party system—Duverger's Law. The game can also spur discussion of some of the
major criticisms of the Law.
Editors' Perceptions of Ethical and Managerial Problems in Political
Science Journals
Authors: Jordan Sara R. , Hill Kim Quaile
Published: September 2012

Within the medical and physical sciences journals evidence suggests that problems
of authorship ethics and journal management bedevil the editors of these journals.
Although anecdotal evidence suggests that similar problems persist in political
science, the extent of these problems within political science is not well
established. Here we report the results of a survey of political science journal
editors' perceptions of ethical and managerial issues associated with their
journals. We find that unlike ethical publication concerns in the clinical and
natural sciences fields, these issues are not of significant concern among our
sample. Ethical problems are of low concern and editors report high levels of
confidence to address these problems. Managerial problems, such as the adequacy of
reviewer pools, are of higher concern to our sample.
How We Write: Understanding Scholarly Writing through
Metaphor
Authors: Boyd Michelle
Published: September 2012

This article introduces the writing metaphor and examines why
political scientists should consider developing one to describe their own writing
process. Drawing on the author's experience with writing accountability groups, it
defines the components of the writing metaphor, provides an example, and discusses
its advantages and disadvantages. The article argues that the writing metaphor can
clarify scholars' implicit assumptions about the act of writing and the writing
product and reveal unexpected information about their work habits and thinking
process. By doing so, the writing metaphor can increase scholars' productivity and
may ultimately enhance their writing experience.
Forecasting the 2012 American National Elections
Authors: Campbell James E.
Published: September 2012

This symposium presents 13 articles forecasting the 2012 US national elections.
Included in this collection are the eight national and one state presidential vote
forecasting models published in PS: Political Science &
Politics during the 2008 elections along with three additional forecasts
and one article offering a composite of the forecasts. Although the focus remains on
the presidential contest, as in past years, several articles extend their scope to
cover the congressional elections as well.
History and Primary: The Obama Reelection
Authors: Norpoth Helmut , Bednarczuk Michael
Published: September 2012

Democrat Barack Obama is going to defeat Republican Mitt Romney by a comfortable
margin in the 2012 presidential election. This forecast comes from a statistical
model that uses the primary performance of the candidates and a cycle in
presidential elections to predict the presidential vote. In plain English, Obama has
history on his side as well as the fact that he was unchallenged in the primaries.
The model, called The Primary Model because of its heavy reliance on primaries,
covers elections from 1912, the beginning of presidential primaries. Since 1952,
however, only the New Hampshire Primary is used; we justify the choice of New
Hampshire at some length.
The Objective and Subjective Economy and the Presidential
Vote
Authors: Erikson Robert S. , Wlezien Christopher
Published: September 2012

The importance of the economy in US presidential elections is well established.
Voters reward or punish incumbent party candidates based on the state of the
economy. The electorate focuses particularly on economic change, not the level of
the economy per se, and pays more attention to late-arriving change than earlier
change. On these points there is a good amount of scholarly agreement (see e.g.,
Erikson and Wlezien 1996; Hibbs 1987). There is less agreement, however, on what
specific indicators matter to voters. Some scholars rely on income growth, others on
GDP growth, and yet others on subjective perceptions (see Abramowitz 2008; Campbell
2008; Holbrook 1996b; also see Campbell and Garand 2000). In our work, we have used
the index of leading economic indicators, a composite of ten variables, including
the University of Michigan's index of consumer expectations, stock prices, and eight
other objective indicators.
Obama's Reelection Prospects under “Bread and Peace” Voting in the 2012
US Presidential Election
Authors: Hibbs Douglas A.
Published: September 2012

According to the Bread and Peace Model postwar, American presidential elections
should be interpreted as a sequence of referendums on the incumbent party's record
during its four-year mandate period. In fact postwar aggregate votes for president
are well explained by just two objectively measured fundamental determinants: (1)
weighted-average growth of per capita real disposable personal income over the term,
and (2) cumulative US military fatalities due to unprovoked, hostile deployments of
American armed forces in foreign wars. No other outside variable systematically
affects postwar aggregate votes for president.
Forecasting the 2012 Presidential Election with the Fiscal
Model
Authors: Cuzán Alfred G.
Published: September 2012

In March 2009, at a time when President Obama was basking in the glow of the
honeymoon with the public every new president enjoys, I asked, “Will Barack Obama be
a one-term president?” What prompted me to pose so impertinent a question at so
hopeful a time was that the Office of Management and Budget was projecting that that
year the federal government would spend 28% of gross domestic product (GDP). This
amounted to a 7% point increase compared to the previous year, the largest peacetime
one-year jump since 1930. The most recent estimate for 2012 is that federal outlays
will take up 24.3% of GDP, up 3.5% points since 2008. This is the second-largest
peacetime increase from one election year to the next since 1880, edged out only by
Franklin D. Roosevelt's first-term surge of 3.6% points.
State-Level Forecasts of the 2012 Federal and Gubernatorial
Elections
Authors: Klarner Carl E.
Published: September 2012

The election forecasts presented in this article indicate that control of the White
House after the 2012 election is a tossup, that control of the US House will likely
remain in Republican hands, and that although closely fought, the Republicans have
the edge for control of the US Senate. These forecasts were made on July 15, 2012.
Obama was predicted to receive 51.3% of the two-party popular vote, 301 electoral
votes, and to have a 57.1% chance of winning the Electoral College. The year 2012
was forecast to be one of stasis for the US House, with almost no change in the
number of seats controlled by the Republicans: they were forecast to pick up two
seats, and to have a 75.6% chance of maintaining their majority. Lastly, the
Republicans were predicted to pick up five seats in the US Senate and have about a
61.6% chance of attaining majority control.
Forecasting the 2012 US Presidential Election: Lessons from a
State-by-State Political Economy Model
Authors: Jerôme Bruno , Jerôme-Speziari Véronique
Published: September 2012

Since 2008, the economic fallout from the subprime mortgage crisis has led to the
defeat of a number of incumbents in the world's major democracies. For instance, in
the former EU-15, eight countries (including France) have ousted their incumbents in
favor of new leaders. The United States is no exception, and the 2012 US
presidential election will see Barack Obama running for a second term during
difficult economic times. After hitting a high of 10% in October 2009, the nation's
unemployment rate decreased to 8.2% in May 2012. Nonetheless, this is still 0.7
percentage point higher than what Ronald Reagan faced in 1984 or what confronted
George H.W. Bush in 1992 as they ran for their second terms. Looking at measures of
presidential popularity for the month of May since 1980, Barack Obama's approval
rating is at 46% in the Gallup polls, which is the third-worst rating after George
W. Bush (30% in 2008) and George H.W. Bush (39.4% in 1992). Given Barack Obama's
approval rating and the current national unemployment level, must we conclude that
Barack Obama is irremediably on the ropes against Mitt Romney in 2012?