bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Calibration of hybrid species distribution models: the value of general‐purpose vs. targeted monitoring data
Authors: De Cáceres Miquel , Brotons Lluís
Published: February 2012

Aim  Temporally replicated observations are essential for the calibration and validation of species distribution models (SDMs) aiming at making temporal extrapolations. We study here the usefulness of a general‐purpose monitoring programme for the calibration of hybrid SDMs. As a benchmark case, we take the calibration with data from a monitoring programme that specifically surveys those areas where environmental changes expected to be relevant occur.

Location  Catalonia, north‐east of Spain.

Methods  We modelled the distribution changes of twelve open‐habitat bird species in landscapes whose dynamics are driven by fire and forest regeneration. We developed hybrid SDMs combining correlative habitat suitability with mechanistic occupancy models. We used observations from two monitoring programmes to provide maximum‐likelihood estimates for spread parameters: a common breeding bird survey (CBS) and a programme specifically designed to monitor bird communities within areas affected by wildfires (DINDIS).

Results  Both calibration with CBS and DINDIS data yielded sound spread parameter estimates and range dynamics that suggested dispersal limitations. However, compared to calibration with DINDIS data, calibration with CBS data leads to biased estimates of spread distance for seven species and to a higher degree of uncertainty in predicted range dynamics for six species.

Main conclusions  We have shown that available monitoring data can be used in the calibration of the mechanistic component of hybrid SDMs. However, if the dynamics of the target species occur within areas not well covered, general‐purpose monitoring data can lead to biased and inaccurate parameter estimates. To determine the potential usefulness of a given monitoring data set for the calibration of the mechanistic component of a hybrid SDM, we recommend quantifying the number of surveyed sites that are predicted to undergo habitat suitability changes.
Masting uncoupling: mast seeding does not follow all mast flowering episodes in a dioecious juniper tree
Authors: Montesinos Daniel , García‐Fayos Patricio , Verdú Miguel
Published: February 2012

Evolutionary selective forces, like predator satiation and pollination efficiency, are acknowledged to be major causes of masting (the variable, periodic and synchronic production of seeds in a population). However, a number of recent studies indicate that resources might also play an important role on shaping masting patterns. Dioecious masting species offer a privileged framework to study the role of resources on masting variation, since male and female plants often experience different reproductive costs and selective pressures. We followed masting and reproductive investment (RI) of the dioecious tree Juniperus thurifera in two populations along 10 years and studied the different response of males and females to experimentally increased water and nutrient availability in a third population.

Juniperus thurifera females invested in reproduction three times more resources than males. Such disparity generated different resource‐use strategies in male and female trees. Tree‐ring growth and water use efficiency (WUE) confirmed that sexes differed in their resource investment temporal pattern, with males using current resources for reproduction and females using resources accumulated during longer periods. Watered and fertilized female trees presented significantly higher flowering reproductive investments than males and experienced an extraordinary mast‐flowering event. However, seeding RI and mast seeding were not affected by the treatment. This suggests that although resource availability affects the reproductive output of this species, there are other major forces regulating masting on J. thurifera.

During 10 years, J. thurifera male and female trees presented high and low flowering years more or less synchronously. However, not all mast flowering episodes resulted in mast seeding, leading to masting uncoupling between flowering and seeding. Since flowering costs represent only 1% of females’ total reproductive investments, masting uncoupling could be a beneficial bet‐hedging strategy to maximize reproductive output in spite of unpredictable catastrophic events.
A Mutation of OSOTP 51 Leads to Impairment of Photosystem I Complex Assembly and Serious Photo‐damage in Rice
Authors: Ye Jian‐Wei , Gong Zi‐Ying , Chen Chun‐Guang , Mi Hua‐Ling , Chen Gen‐Yun
Published: February 2012

Gene expression in chloroplasts is regulated by many nuclear‐encoded proteins. In this study, we isolated a rice (Oryza sativa subsp. japonica) mutant osotp51 with significant reduction in photosystem I (PSI). The osotp51 is extremely sensitive to light and accumulates a higher level of reactive oxygen species. Its leaves are almost albino when grown at 40 μmol photons/m2 per s. However, grown at 4 μmol photons/m2 per s, osotp51 has a similar phenotype to the wild‐type. 77K chlorophyll fluorescence analysis showed a blue shift in the highest peak emission from PSI in osotp51. In addition, the level of PSI and PSII dimer is dramatically reduced in osotp51. OSOTP 51 encodes a pentatricopeptide repeats protein, homologous to organelle transcript processing 51 in Arabidopsis. Loss‐of‐function OSOTP51 affects intron splicing of a number of plastid genes, particularly the ycf3 coding a protein involved in the assembly of PSI complex. OSOTP51 is functionally conserved in higher plants. The mutation of osotp51 indirectly leads to a widespread change in the structure and functions of PSI, results in severe photoinhibition, and finally dies, even when grown under very low light intensity.
Conceptual Design of a 4 × 300 MW Modular Nuclear Plant
Authors: Vuorinen Asko
Published: February 2012

The Finnish companies have built four medium size nuclear power plants. In addition they have constructed two nuclear icebreakers and several floating power plants. The latest 1650 MWe nuclear power plant under construction Olkiluoto-3 has had many problems, which have raised the costs of the plant to €3500/kWe from its original estimate of €2000/kWe and constriction schedule from four to eight years. It is possible to keep the costs down and schedule short by making the plant in shipyard and transport it to site by sea. The plant could be then lifted to its place by pumping seawater into the channel. This kind of concept was developed by the author in 1991, when he was making his thesis of modular gas fired power plants in Helsinki University of Technology. The modular construction of nuclear plants has made in a form of two nuclear icebreakers, which Wa¨rtsila¨ Marine has built in Helsinki Shipyard. The latest modular nuclear plant was launched in 2010 in St Petersburg shipyard. One of the benefits of modular construction is a possibility to locate the plant under rock by making the transportation channels in tunnels. This will give the plant external protection for aircraft crash and make the outer containment unnecessary. The water channels could also be used as pressure suppression pools in case of venting steam from the containment. This could reduce the radioactive releases in case of possible reactor accidents. The two 440 MW VVER plants build in Finland had construction costs of €1600 /kWe at 2011 money. The author believes that a 1200 MW nuclear plant with four 300 MW units can be constructed in five years and with €3300/kW costs, where the first plant could be generating power within 40 months and next units with 6 month intervals.
Quick Design Method for Lead Cooled Battery Fast Reactor BORIS
Authors: Son Hyung M. , Halimi B. , Suh Kune Y.
Published: February 2012

This paper focuses on developing design methodologies that can quickly generate pre-conceptual design of battery reactor by means of first principle calculations, starting from core region to reactor vessel assembly and power conversion system. First, given the core composition and weight fraction data, the MCNP code is run to generate a neutron flux spectrum for homogenized geometry that is used with the available cross section data to generate the single group constants for neutron diffusion calculation. The bucklings of the critical core found from Neutronics Optimized Reactor Analysis (NORA) based on the diffusion equation are then compared against those obtained by trial and error utilizing the MCNP code over the range of design variables to generate a linear relationship used to adjust the buckling computed by the neutron diffusion equation. Next, key design parameters and constraints are chosen for the reactor vessel assembly considering technical specifications such as the thermal limits and manufacturing difficulties. Two objective functions are picked based on thermohydrodynamic and economic grounds. A first principle system code Optimized Supercritical Cycle Analysis (OSCA) is run to generate boundary conditions at heat exchanger interface with a view to optimizing the design of the supercritical fluid driven Brayton cycle. Selected design parameters are made available to the Momentum Integral Numerical Analysis (MINA) code to evaluate steady-state mass flow rate and coolant temperature distribution of the reactor vessel assembly. They are compared against the prescribed engineering constraints. The steps are repeated until an optimum value is obtained. The proposed methodology may help reduce the amount of computational effort required in initial stages of small reactor design. The resulting geometric information can be used as a starting point for detailed design procedure.
Digital Voltage Regulators and Speed Controllers for Class 1E Safety Related Applications
Authors: Weber Robert
Published: February 2012

This paper discusses the design and implementation of both a Voltage Regulator and Speed Controller that are designed to meet the stringent requirements of a Nuclear Power Plant environment. These control systems will be utilized along with an Emergency Diesel Generator (EDG) to enable safe and seamless operation of the power plant in the event of a power grid failure. Although Small Modular Reactor (SMR) plants operate at lower power levels and require less cooling after shutdown, there remains a need for an Emergency Diesel Generator to deal with various accident scenarios and/or Loss of Offsite Power (including extended outages). During normal operation the power plant operational control systems will be powered by the power grid. In the event of a grid failure the EDG, which is controlled by the Voltage Regulator and Speed Controller, will be brought on line to supply power to the power plant’s operational control systems. This paper describes the design requirements and the key features of the Voltage Regulator and Speed Controller design that allow it to function in a “safety” critical application. The overall system is a Class 1E rated system (including Class 1E seismic requirements) and is rated to operate continuously over a 0–50°C ambient air temperature range.
Saquinavir Inhibits the Malaria Parasite's Chloroquine Resistance Transporter
Authors: Martin Rowena E. , Butterworth Alice S. , Gardiner Donald L. , Kirk Kiaran , McCarthy James S. , Skinner-Adams Tina S.
Published: February 2012

The antiretroviral protease inhibitors (APIs) ritonavir, saquinavir, and lopinavir, used to treat HIV infection, inhibit the growth of
Plasmodium falciparum
at clinically relevant concentrations. Moreover, it has been reported that these APIs potentiate the activity of chloroquine (CQ) against this parasite
in vitro
. The mechanism underlying this effect is not understood, but the degree of chemosensitization varies between the different APIs and, with the exception of ritonavir, appears to be dependent on the parasite exhibiting a CQ-resistant phenotype. Here we report a study of the role of the
P. falciparum
chloroquine resistance transporter (PfCRT) in the interaction between CQ and APIs, using transgenic parasites expressing different PfCRT alleles and using the
Xenopus laevis
oocyte system for the heterologous expression of PfCRT. Our data demonstrate that saquinavir behaves as a CQ resistance reverser and that this explains, at least in part, its ability to enhance the effects of CQ in CQ-resistant
P. falciparum
parasites.
SUPER-RESOLUTION OF HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGERY USING COMPLEX RIDGELET TRANSFORM
Authors: CHEN GUANGYI , QIAN SHEN-EN , ARDOUIN JEAN-PIERRE , XIE WENFANG
Published: February 2012

In this paper, a novel super-resolution method for hyperspectral imagery is proposed by using complex ridgelet transform. A Radon transform is first applied to each band image of a datacube to be enhanced to obtain the Radon slices, and then a 1D dual-tree complex wavelet transform is conducted along each Radon slice to generate coefficients of the complex ridgelet transform. The ordinary ridgelet transform or the finite ridgelet transform (FRIT), however, uses the 1D scalar wavelet transform instead of the dual-tree complex wavelet transform along each Radon slice. The reason why the dual-tree complex wavelet is adopted in this paper is because it has the property of approximate shift invariance, which is very important in image super-resolution. Experiments are conducted in this paper to demonstrate the advantages of the proposed method over the wavelet super-resolution, the FRIT image fusion, and the principal component analysis fusion.
HOW TO REFINE POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS
Authors: THIELEMANN HENNING
Published: February 2012

Research on refinable functions in wavelet theory is mostly focused to localized functions. However it is known, that polynomial functions are refinable, too. In our paper we investigate on conversions between refinement masks and polynomials and their uniqueness.
EFFECT OF CARBON NANOTUBES ON THE KINETICS OF IN SITU POLYMERIZATION OF METHYL METHACRYLATE
Authors: SALAMI-KALAJAHI MEHDI , HADDADI-ASL VAHID , BEHBOODI-SADABAD FARID , RAHIMI-RAZIN SAEID , ROGHANI-MAMAQANI HOSSEIN , HEMMATI MAHMOUD
Published: February 2012

The effect of carbon nanotubes on the kinetics of free radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was investigated. To do this, pristine, acid treated, alcoholic and methacrylate-modified carbon nanotubes with different loadings were used and Conversion, molecular weight and polydispersity index (PDI) of all samples were monitored during polymerization. The results show that carbon nanotubes induce an induction time to polymerization system which is independent of modification system while decrease in monomer conversion can be improved by developing organic moieties on surface. Molecular weight and polydispersity index for free and attached-on-surface chains were studied separately and different kinetics behaviors were observed for them. Molecular weight of free chains was increased by adding carbon nanotubes while more modified nanotubes resulted in much increased molecular weight. On the other hand, more system stability of more modified nanotubes, which was tested using UV-Visible spectra, resulted in higher molecular weights. Adding more nanotubes in the case of MMA-modified nanotubes caused to determine an optimum loading value to reach maximum molecular weight of free chains which was ascribed to system stability according to UV-Visible results. In this optimum loading value, free chains had minimum PDI value. However, increasing carbon nanotubes content led to decreased molecular weight of attached chains while PDI values increased because of shielding effect as physical phenomenon.
POLICIES FOR GLOBALIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT: FOUR EXAMPLES
Authors: GOLDIN IAN , REINERT KENNETH A. , BEVERINOTTI JAVIER H.
Published: February 2012

This paper addresses the role of policy in the relationship between globalization and development by considering four examples: trade-related capacity building, standards for multinational enterprises, medical brain drain, and access to medicines. The paper demonstrates that, despite concerns about policy space, there is some room for improving the way that globalisation processes contribute to development and poverty alleviation. None of the policies considered constitutes a fix-all but rather can make some marginal changes that could be significant in the long run.
Coexistence and Competition betweenTomicus yunnanensisandT. minor(Coleoptera: Scolytinae) in Yunnan Pine
Authors: Lu Rong Chun , Wang Hong Bin , Zhang Zhen , Byers John A. , Jin You Ju , Wen Hai Feng , Shi Wen Jian
Published: February 2012

Competition and cooperation between bark beetles,Tomicus yunnanensisKirkendall and Faccoli andTomicus minor(Hartig) (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) were examined when they coexisted together in living Yunnan pine trees (Pinus yunnanensisFranchet) in Yunnan province in Southwest China.T. yunnanensisbark beetles were observed to initiate dispersal from pine shoots to trunks in November, while the majority ofT. minorbegins to transfer in December.T. yunnanensismainly attacks the top and middle parts of the trunk, whereasT. minormainly resides in the lower and middle parts of the trunk. The patterns of attack densities of these two species were similar, but withT. yunnanensiscolonizing the upper section of the trunk andT. minorthe lower trunk. The highest attack density ofT. Yunnanensiswas 297 egg galleries/m2, and the highest attack density ofT. minorwas 305 egg galleries/m2. Although there was significant overlap for the same bark areas, the two species generally colonize different areas of the tree, which reduces the intensity of competition for the relatively thin layer of phloem-cambium tissues where the beetles feed and reside.
Very Compact and Broadband Active Antenna for VHF Band Applications
Authors: Taachouche Y. , Colombel F. , Himdi M.
Published: February 2012

An active receiving antenna with small size consisting of a monopole loaded with a transistor bipolar is presented in this paper. A transistor is used in order to miniaturize the receiving active antenna size in VHF band. The vertical size of the structure is equal toλ/175, whereλis the wavelength at the lower frequency of the bandwidth. Despite the very small size of the antenna, the frequency bandwidth is very wide and the gain is suitable for FM application with sensitive receivers.
LiF Reduces MICs of Antibiotics against Clinical Isolates of Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria
Authors: Syed H. C. , Ravaoarinoro M.
Published: February 2012

Antibiotic resistance is an ever-growing problem yet the development of new antibiotics has slowed to a trickle, giving rise to the use of combination therapy to eradicate infections. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the combined inhibitory effect of lithium fluoride (LiF) and commonly used antimicrobials on the growth of the following bacteria:Enterococcus faecalis,Staphyloccoccus aureus,Escherichia coli,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Acinetobacter baumannii,Klebsiella pneumoniae,Serratia marcescens, andStreptococcus pneumoniae. Thein vitroactivities of ceftazidime, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, streptomycin, erythromycin, amoxicillin, and ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, alone or combined with LiF were performed by microdilution method. MICs were determined visually following 18–20 h of incubation at 37°C. We observed reduced MICs of antibiotics associated with LiF ranging from two-fold to sixteen-fold. The strongest decreases of MICs observed were for streptomycin and erythromycin associated with LiF againstAcinetobacter baumanniiandStreptococcus pneumoniae. An eight-fold reduction was recorded for streptomycin againstS. pneumoniaewhereas an eight-fold and a sixteen-fold reduction were obtained for erythromycin againstA. baumanniiandS. pneumoniae. This suggests that LiF exhibits a synergistic effect with a wide range of antibiotics and is indicative of its potential as an adjuvant in antibiotic therapy.
HIV Infection and TLR Signalling in the Liver
Authors: Crane Megan , Visvanathan Kumar , Lewin Sharon R.
Published: February 2012

Despite the availability of effective combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), liver disease is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-infected individuals, specifically, in the presence of viral hepatitis coinfection. HIV, a single stranded RNA virus, can bind to and activate both Toll-like receptor (TLR)7 and TLR8 in circulating blood mononuclear cells, but little is known about the effect of HIV on TLRs expressed in the liver. HIV can directly infect cells of the liver and HIV-mediated depletion of CD4+ T-cells in the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract) results in increased circulating lipopolysaccharide (LPS), both of which may impact on TLR signaling in the liver and subsequent liver disease progression. The potential direct and indirect effects of HIV on TLR signaling in the liver will be explored in this paper.
The Effect of Mg Dopant and Oxygen Partial Pressure on Microstructure and Phase Transformation of ZnTiO3 Thin Films
Authors: Teoh Lay Gaik , Lu Wei-Hau , Lin Ting Hsiang , Lee Ying-Chieh
Published: February 2012

Mg‐doped zinc titanate (ZnTiO3) films were prepared using RF magnetron sputtering. Subsequent annealing of the as‐deposited films was performed at a temperature ranging from 600 to 900∘C for 2 hours with a heating rate of 5∘C/min in air. It was found that the as‐deposited films were amorphous and contained 2.77 at.% magnesium. This was further confirmed by the onset of crystallization that took place at annealing temperatures of 600∘C. The results showed that single Zn2Ti3O8 phase was existed at 600∘C. When annealing is at 700∘C, the results revealed that mainly a hexagonal ZnTiO3 phase accompanying a Zn2Ti3O8 minor phase was observed. When annealing is at 900∘C, the results showed that single hexagonal ZnTiO3 phase is stable at 900∘C. It means that ZnTiO3 phase containing no Mg is unstable at 900∘C and is decomposed from hexagonal ZnTiO3 to cubic Zn2TiO4 and rutile TiO2 at 900∘C. In addition, the effect of oxygen partial pressure for the films deposited on the phase transformations and microstructures of zinc titanites thin film was investigated.
The Circumnuclear Environment of IRAS 20551-4250: A Case Study of AGN/Starburst Connection forJWST
Authors: Sani E. , Nardini E.
Published: February 2012

We present a general review of the current knowledge of IRAS 20551-4250 and its circumnuclear environment. This Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxy is one of the most puzzling sources of its class in the nearby Universe: the near-IR spectrum is typical of a galaxy experiencing a very intense starburst, but a highly obscured active nucleus is identified beyond ~5 μm and possibly dominates the mid-IR energy output of the system. At longer wavelengths star formation is again the main driver of the global spectral shape and features. We interpret all the available IR diagnostics in the framework of simultaneous black hole growth and star formation and discuss the key properties that make this source an ideal laboratory for the forthcomingJames Webb Space Telescope.
Valuing Improvement in Value-Based Purchasing
Authors: Borden William B. , Blustein Jan
Published: February 2012

Background—

Medicare will soon implement hospital value-based purchasing (VBP) using a scoring system that rewards both
achievement
(absolute performance) and
improvement
(performance increase over time). However
,
improvement is defined so as to give less credit to initial low performers than initial high performers. Because initial low performers are disproportionately hospitals in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas, these institutions stand to lose under Medicare's VBP proposal.

Methods and Results—

We developed an alternative improvement scale and applied it to hospital performance throughout the United States. By using 2005 to 2008 Medicare process measures for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and heart failure (HF), we calculated hospital scores using Medicare's proposal and our alternative. Hospital performance scores were compared across 5 locational dimensions of socioeconomic disadvantage: poverty, unemployment, physician shortage, and high school and college graduation rates. Medicare's proposed scoring system yielded higher overall scores for the most locationally advantaged hospitals for 4 of 5 dimensions in AMI and 2 of 5 dimensions for HF. By using our alternative, differences in overall scores between hospitals in the most and least advantaged areas were attenuated, with locationally advantaged hospitals having higher overall scores for 3 of 5 dimensions for AMI and 1 of 5 dimensions for HF.

Conclusions—

Using an alternative VBP formula that reflects the principle of “equal credit for equal improvement” resulted in a more equitable distribution of overall payment scores, which could allow hospitals in both socioeconomically advantaged and disadvantaged areas to succeed under VBP.
Blood Pressure and Risk of Cancer Incidence and Mortality in the Metabolic Syndrome and Cancer Project
Authors: Stocks Tanja , Van Hemelrijck Mieke , Manjer Jonas , Bjørge Tone , Ulmer Hanno , Hallmans Göran , Lindkvist Björn , Selmer Randi , Nagel Gabriele , Tretli Steinar , Concin Hans , Engeland Anders , Jonsson Håkan , Stattin Pär
Published: February 2012

Observational studies have shown inconsistent results for the association between blood pressure and cancer risk. We investigated the association in 7 cohorts from Norway, Austria, and Sweden. In total, 577799 adults with a mean age of 44 years were followed for, on average, 12 years. Incident cancers were 22184 in men and 14744 in women, and cancer deaths were 8724 and 4525, respectively. Cox regression was used to calculate hazard ratios of cancer per 10-mmHg increments of midblood pressure, which corresponded with 0.7 SDs and, for example, an increment of systolic/diastolic blood pressure of 130/80 to 142/88 mmHg. All of the models used age as the time scale and were adjusted for possible confounders, including body mass index and smoking status. In men, midblood pressure was positively related to total incident cancer (hazard ratio per 10 mmHg increment: 1.07 [95% CI: 1.04–1.09]) and to cancer of the oropharynx, colon, rectum, lung, bladder, kidney, malignant melanoma, and nonmelanoma skin cancer. In women, midblood pressure was not related to total incident cancer but was positively related to cancer of the liver, pancreas, cervix, uterine corpus, and malignant melanoma. A positive association was also found for cancer mortality, with HRs per 10-mmHg increment of 1.12 (95% CI: 1.08–1.15) for men and 1.06 (95% CI: 1.02–1.11) for women. These results suggest a small increased cancer risk overall in men with elevated blood pressure level and a higher risk for cancer death in men and women.
Single beat 3D echocardiography for the assessment of right ventricular dimension and function after endurance exercise: Intraindividual comparison with magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Schattke Sebastian , Wagner Moritz , Hättasch Robert , Schroeckh Sabrina , Durmus Tahir , Schimke Ingolf , Sanad Wasiem , Spethmann Sebastian , Scharhag Jürgen , Huppertz Alexander , Baumann Gert , Borges Adrian C , Knebel Fabian
Published: February 2012

Background

Our study compares new single beat 3D echocardiography (sb3DE) to cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) for the measurement of right ventricular (RV) dimension and function immediately after a 30 km run. This is to validate sb3DE against the "gold standard" CMR and to bring new insights into acute changes of RV dimension and function after endurance exercise.

Methods

21 non-elite male marathon runners were examined by sb3DE (Siemens ACUSON SC2000, matrix transducer 4Z1c, volume rates 10-29/s), CMR (Siemens Magnetom Avanto, 1,5 Tesla) and blood tests before and immediately after each athlete ran 30 km. The runners were not allowed to rehydrate after the race. The order of sb3DE and CMR examination was randomized.

Results

Sb3DE for the acquisition of RV dimension and function was feasible in all subjects. The decrease in mean body weight and the significant increase in hematocrit indicated dehydration. RV dimensions measured by CMR were consistently larger than measured by sb3DE.

Neither sb3DE nor CMR showed a significant difference in the RV ejection fraction before and after exercise. CMR demonstrated a significant decrease in RV dimensions. Measured by sb3DE, this decrease of RV volumes was not significant.

Conclusion

First, both methods agree well in the acquisition of systolic RV function. The dimensions of the RV measured by CMR are larger than measured by sb3DE. After exercise, the RV volumes decrease significantly when measured by CMR compared to baseline.

Second, endurance exercise seems not to induce acute RV dysfunction in athletes without rehydration.
University students and HIV in Namibia: an HIV prevalence survey and a knowledge and attitude survey
Authors: de Beer Ingrid H , Gelderblom Huub C , Schellekens Onno , Gaeb Esegiel , van Rooy Gert , McNally Alta , Wit Ferdinand W , Tobias Rinke de Wit F
Published: February 2012

Background

With an overall adult HIV prevalence of 15.3%, Namibia is facing one of the largest HIV epidemics in Africa. Young people aged 20 to 34 years constitute one of the groups at highest risk of HIV infection in Namibia. However, little is known about the impact of HIV on this group and its access to healthcare. The purpose of this study was to estimate HIV prevalence, to assess the knowledge of and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS, and to assess access to healthcare among university students in Namibia.

Methods

We assessed HIV/AIDS knowledge and attitudes, HIV prevalence and access to healthcare among students at the Polytechnic of Namibia and the University of Namibia. HIV prevalence was tested through anonymous oral fluid‐based tests.

Results

Half (n = 2790/5568) of the university students and 45% (n = 2807/6302) of the Polytechnic students participated in the knowledge and attitudes surveys. HIV/AIDS knowledge was reasonable, except for misperceptions about transmission. Awareness of one's own HIV status and risks was low. In all, 55% (n = 3055/5568) of university students and 58% (n = 3680/6302) of Polytechnic students participated in the HIV prevalence survey; 54 (1.8%) university students and 103 (2.8%) Polytechnic students tested HIV positive. Campus clinics were not the major providers of healthcare to the students.

Conclusions

Meaningful strategies addressing the gap between knowledge, attitude and young people's perception of risk of HIV acquisition should be implemented. HIV prevalence among Namibian university students appears relatively low. Voluntary counselling and testing should be stimulated. Efforts should be made to increase access to healthcare through the campus clinics.
A genome-wide view of the expression and processing patterns of Thermus thermophilus HB8 CRISPR RNAs
Authors: Juranek Stefan , Eban Tali , Altuvia Yael , Brown Miguel , Morozov Pavel , Tuschl Thomas , Margalit Hanah
Published: February 2012

The CRISPR-Cas system represents an RNA-based adaptive immune response system in prokaryotes and archaea. CRISPRs (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) consist of arrays of short repeat-sequences interspaced by nonrepetitive short spacers, some of which show sequence similarity to foreign phage genetic elements. Their cistronic transcripts are processed to produce the mature CRISPR RNAs (crRNAs), the elements that confer immunity by base-pairing with exogenous nucleic acids. We characterized the expression and processing patterns of Thermus thermophilus HB8 CRISPRs by using differential deep-sequencing, which differentiates between 5′ monophosphate and 5′ non-monophosphate-containing RNAs and/or between 3′ hydroxyl and 3′ non-hydroxyl-containing RNAs. The genome of T. thermophilus HB8 encodes 11 CRISPRs, classified into three distinct repeat-sequence types, all of which were constitutively expressed without deliberately infecting the bacteria with phage. Analysis of the differential deep sequencing data suggested that crRNAs are generated by endonucleolytic cleavage, leaving fragments with 5′ hydroxyl and 3′ phosphate or 2′,3′-cyclic phosphate termini. The 5′ ends of all crRNAs are generated by site-specific cleavage 8 nucleotides upstream of the spacer first position; however, the 3′ ends are generated by two alternative, repeat-sequence-type–dependent mechanisms. These observations are consistent with the operation of multiple crRNA processing systems within a bacterial strain.
Freud as a Father: The Testimony of His Letters to His Five Older Children
Authors: Schröter Michael
Published: February 2012

This paper is based on Freud’s surviving letters to his five older children that have been recently published in German. They attest to the degree of Freud’s involvement in upholding his family network, which for him was a crucial value. Freud as a father felt particularly responsible in the areas of money and health. His main concern for his sons and sons-in-law was their professional position, for his daughters their choice of a husband. He was not a father for everyday, but rather for exceptional situations, as seen in his “emergency letters.” Without hiding his own views, he was never reproachful or moralizing to his children, but assured them of his solidarity even in situations of conflict. Freud transferred his materialistically solid humanism, which is reflected in these letters, to the theory and practice of psychoanalysis, thus contributing to its lasting attraction.
Beyond Bedrock
Authors: Poland Warren S.
Published: February 2012

That one can go no further in a search for meaning does not imply that there is no further that can be gone. The biological basis of psychoanalysis does not provide a legitimate conceptual escape hatch when one reaches personal limitations in psychological inquiry.
An extension of the Hardy-Ramanujan circle method and applications to partitions without sequences
Authors: Bringmann Kathrin , Mahlburg Karl
Published: February 2012

We develop a generalized version of the Hardy-Ramanujan "circle method" in order to derive asymptotic series expansions for the products of modular forms and mock theta functions. Classical asymptotic methods (including the circle method) do not work in this situation because such products are not modular, and in fact, the "error integrals" that occur in the transformations of the mock theta functions can (and often do) make a significant contribution to the asymptotic series. The resulting series include principal part integrals of Bessel functions, whereby the main asymptotic term can also be identified. To illustrate the application of our method, we calculate the asymptotic series expansion for the number of partitions without sequences. Andrews showed that the generating function for such partitions is the product of the third order mock theta function $\chi$ and a (modular) infinite product series. The resulting asymptotic expansion for this example is particularly interesting because the error integrals in the modular transformation of the mock theta function component appear in the exponential main term.
Generic bounds for Frobenius closure and tight closure
Authors: Brenner Holger , Fischbacher-Weitz Helena
Published: February 2012

We use geometric and cohomological methods to show that given a degree bound for membership in ideals of a fixed degree type in the polynomial ring $P=k[x_0, \ldots, x_{d}]$, one obtains a good generic degree bound for membership in the tight closure of an ideal of that degree type in any standard-graded $k$-algebra $R$ of dimension $d+1$. This indicates that the tight closure of an ideal behaves more uniformly than the ideal itself. Moreover, if $R$ is normal, one obtains a generic bound for membership in the Frobenius closure. If $d \leq 2$, then the bound for ideal membership in $P$ can be computed from the known cases of the Fr\"oberg conjecture and yields explicit generic tight closure bounds.
Chow flag variety and Lawson homology
Authors: Chu Chenghao
Published: February 2012

The Chow flag varieties are introduced and studied. In a family of pure dimensional projective complex
varieties defined via Chow flag varieties, the isomorphism type of Lawson homology of a general member
in the family is discussed. Applications to morphic cohomology and motivic cohomology on smooth
projective complex varieties are discussed.
Duality between GL( n ,R), GL( n ,Q p ), and the degenerate affine Hecke algebra for gl( n )
Authors: Ciubotaru Dan , Trapa Peter E.
Published: February 2012

We define an exact functor $F_{n,k}$ from the category of Harish-Chandra modules for ${\rm GL}(n,\Bbb{R})$
to the category of finite-dimensional representations for the degenerate affine Hecke algebra for
$\frak{g}\frak{l}(k)$. Under certain natural hypotheses, we prove that the functor maps
standard modules to standard modules (or zero) and irreducibles to irreducibles (or zero).
Reinventing the Central Asian Rawap in Modern China: Musical Stereotypes, Minority Modernity, and Uyghur Instrumental Music
Authors: Wong Chuen-Fung
Published: February 2012

This article concerns the centrality of musical stereotypes in minority representation in modern China, with examples from the post-1950s concert tradition of the rawap , a Central Asian long-necked plucked lute used extensively today in traditional and modern music of the Uyghur, Turkic Muslims in northwest China. An icon of the official version of minority modernity, the rawap has been recreated to constitute a stereotypical portrayal of minorities as joyful merrymakers while also to embody the discourses of progress and enlightenment. Minority musicians have selectively co-opted certain stereotyped representations as aesthetic resources for subaltern performances.
The Luiseño Absolutive Suffix: Diachronic Perspectives
Authors: Mamet Ingo
Published: February 2012

The absolutive suffix, a semantically empty nominal increment, is a typical feature of Uto-Aztecan languages. As has been suggested since the early days of comparative Uto-Aztecan research, the distribution of its allomorphs in languages of the Takic branch provides insight into specific phonological processes of the protolanguage. In Luiseño, the suffix allomorphy is especially variable and, at the same time, archaic. The purpose of this article is to correlate the prosodic structure of Luiseño nominale with that of their cognate forms outside the Takic branch and to derive conclusions about the historical developments governing the distribution of the absolutive allomorphs, especially the extent to which the stress patterns of Proto-Uto-Aztecan and a hypothetical stress-controlled consonant strengthening can account for the situation in Luiseño. There is a clear diachronic contrast between stems with the shapes CVCV or CVC , which are regularly of Uto-Aztecan origin, and those exhibiting the shape CVCV , added to the lexicon more recently. Furthermore, stem-forming suffixes are argued to play an important role in Luiseño noun formation, affecting stress patterns and choice of absolutive allomorph.
Pride and Shame in Ghana: Collective Memory and Nationalism among Elite Students
Authors: McDonnell Erin Metz , Fine Gary Alan
Published: February 2012

Based on an original dataset of university students, this article investigates Ghanaian collective memories of past events that are sources of national pride or shame. On average, young elite Ghanaians express more pride than shame in their national history, and they report shame mostly over actions that caused some physical, material, or symbolic harm. Such actions include not only historic events and the actions of national leaders, but also mundane social practices of average Ghanaians. Respondents also report more “active” than "receptive" shame; that is, they are more ashamed of events or practices that caused harm to others and less ashamed about events in which they were the “victims.” We advance the idea of a standard of “reasonableness” that Ghanaians apply in their evaluation of events, behaviors, or circumstances: they apply contemporary standards of morality to past events, but they temper their judgment based on considerations of whether past actions were “reasonable” given the power and material imbalances at that time. Ghanaian students identify strongly with both national and pan-African identities, and they frequently evoke their international image to judge a national event as either honorable or shameful. Ethnicity can be one factor in an individual's judgment of precolonial events, whereas political party affiliation is the stronger predictor of attitudes toward postindependence events.
Andrew T. Tsubaki
Authors: Swain John D.
Published: February 2012

Andrew Tsubaki’s touring productions using nō and kyōgen techniques, his lectures, and his teaching at the University of Kansas and beyond were important avenues for alerting American scholars and students to traditional Japanese theatre forms.
The Public, the Private, and the Intimate: Richard Sennett’s and Lauren Berlant’s Cultural Criticism in Dialogue
Authors: Linke Gabriele
Published: February 2012

This essay investigates similarities and differences in Sennett’s and Berlant’s understanding and assessment of the altered balance between the public and the intimate in American society since the nineteenth century. While Sennett warns of the growing tyranny of intimacy, Berlant stresses the power of shared intimate knowledge and experience. Both views are problematized in a brief discussion of a sample of contemporary autobiographical texts.
Duelling Sonnets: The Battle of the Lovers in Lope de Vega's El perro del hortelano
Authors: Howe Elizabeth Teresa
Published: February 2012

In his Arte nuevo de hacer comedias , Lope de Vega suggests that "el soneto está bien en los que aguardan … y para las de amor las redondillas." In his comedia, El perro del hortelano , therefore, it comes as a surprise that the sonnet is used throughout, both to express feelings of love as well as of the frustrations of waiting for that love to be reciprocated by the real object of the characters' affections. In fact, El perro del hortelano has the distinction of including the largest number of sonnets (9) of any of Lope's comedias . This article examines the sonnets, spoken and written by Diana, Teodoro, and Marcela, that appear in the course of the play. In these poems, the characters give voice to the conflicting feelings engendered by love and desire. The duelling sonnets are presented as exercises intended to respond to others' needs, but, as the audience is made aware, actually reveal the characters' real feelings. As the principals interact in scenes surrounding the sonnets, they establish an overt and covert conversation about love, honor, and social standing. Resolution of the convoluted plot occurs in the final act but in a form that underscores the dark comedy of the work as a whole.
La politización de la religión expuesta por Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz en el auto titulado El mártir del sacramento, San Hermenegildo
Authors: Worley Robert D.
Published: February 2012

A primera vista, el auto sacramental de Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, El mártir del sacramento, San Hermenegildo , promueve el dogma político-religioso de los Habsburgo, utilizando como tema el martirio de un príncipe visigodo, convertido a la fe católica en la Iberia del siglo VI. No obstante, esta obra, mirada de cerca, exhibe la bien conocida ambigüedad de los escritos de la Décima Musa: bajo la interpretación tradicional se entrevé subyacente otra perspectiva que cuestiona la legitimidad del sistema social y religioso del Siglo de Oro. El tema se centra en una rebelión llevada a cabo por el príncipe católico, Hermenegildo, contra su padre arriano, el rey Leovigildo. El propósito declarado por el protagonista consiste en defender el catolicismo en Sevilla y la Provincia Bética, las cuales gobierna bajo la autoridad de su padre. Un elemento subversivo consiste en el hecho de que un personaje femenino—Ingunda, la esposa de Hermenegildo—provoca y anima el conflicto entre padre e hijo. Otra discrepancia se ve en la similitud del modo de pensar de los líderes arrianos de la obra y los líderes peninsulares del siglo XVII. Ambos usan la genealogía para exaltar la realeza contemporánea, atribuyen su expansión territorial a la fidelidad a su Iglesia y comparten un propósito preeminente: la sujeción de todos sus vasallos bajo una religión. Finalmente, a lo largo de la obra se cuestiona sutilmente la motivación del protagonista. Estudiado de cerca, en El mártir del sacramento, San Hermenegildo no hay héroes ni villanos, sino figuras ambiguas e inestables.
The 2006 and 2008 Canadian Federal Elections and Minority MPs
Authors: Black Jerome H.
Published: February 2012

This paper investigates how ethnoracial minorities fared in getting elected as MPs in the Canadian general elections of 2006 and 2008—an analysis guided by descriptive characterizations and interpretative themes discerned from studies of minority parliamentary representation over the 1993–2004 period. This paper also examines more specific categories that make up the minority population, thus allowing for perspectives on both inter-group differences and longitudinal effects. A key finding is that for minorities taken as a whole, as well as for the overall category of visible minorities, the 2006 and 2008 results fit an already-established pattern of quite modest increases in minority representation (as in 2006) interrupted by occasional decline (as in 2008). In addition, for both visible minorities as a group and for most of their constituent subcategories, the overwhelming evidence is of persisting representation deficits which are defined by MP percentages that are less than the corresponding population percentages. There is also evidence that the association of minority MPs with the Liberal party, observed as waning over the 1993–2004 period, continued to do so in 2006 and 2008.

Dans cet article nous examinons comment les minorités ethno-raciales ont su faire élire leurs membres au Parlement lors des élections générales canadiennes de 2006 et de 2008 – une analyse guidée par des caractérisations descriptives et des thèmes interprétatifs, tels que discernés dans des études sur la représentation des minorités au Parlement au cours de la période 1993–2004. Nous approfondissons aussi la recherche en examinant des catégories plus spécifiques qui composent la population minoritaire, ouvrant ainsi des perspectives à la fois sur les différences intergroupes et sur les effets longitudinaux. Une conclusion clé relève que pour les minorités, aussi bien celles prises dans leur ensemble que celles vues comme globalement visibles, les résultats de 2006 et de 2008 entrent dans un format déjà établi d’augmentation fort modeste de la représentation minoritaire (comme en 2006), interrompue par un déclin (comme en 2008). De plus, autant pour les minorités visibles en tant que groupe que pour la plupart des catégories qui les composent, l’évidence qui domine absolument est celle de la persistance des déficits de représentation qui se définissent en pourcentage de MP inférieur à celui de la population correspondante. Il est aussi évident que l’association des MP issus des minorités avec le parti Libéral a marqué un affaiblissement au cours de la période 1993–2004, ce qui a continué en 2006 et en 2008.