bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Ga1−xAlxAs/GaAs and Ga1−xlnxAs/GaAs quantum wells as dependent on Al and In concentrations under intense laser field
Authors: Ozturk Emine
Published: October 2015

In this study, the electronic properties of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] quantum wells (QWs) are theoretically calculated as dependent on the intense laser field (ILF) and x-concentration value within the effective mass approximation and the envelope function approach. Our results show that the shape of confined potential profile, the energy differences and the dipole moment matrix elements are changed as dependent on the ILF and x-value. The energy levels of different QWs give different values by increasing ILF amplitudes and x-concentrations. In the case of QW under ILF, there are significant modifications of the electrical states of QWs, due to the effects of confining the potential resulting from the applied ILF. I say that the variation of [Formula: see text] QW under ILF is more than [Formula: see text] QW. The numerical results show that the structure parameters have a great effect on the electronic characteristics of these QW structures.
Electron-momentum distribution of cuprate superconductors in a full charge-spin recombination scheme
Authors: Feng Shiping , Kuang Lülin , Zhao Huaisong
Published: October 2015

A long-standing unsolved problem is how a microscopic theory of superconductivity in cuprate superconductors based on the charge-spin separation can produce a large electron Fermi surface (EFS). Within the framework of the kinetic-energy driven superconducting mechanism, a full charge-spin recombination scheme is developed to fully recombine a charge carrier and a localized spin into an electron, and then is employed to study the electron-momentum distribution in cuprate superconductors. In particular, the theory shows that the underlying EFS fulfills Luttinger’s theorem, and the sum rule for the constrained electron is obeyed.
Non-degenerate Invariant Bilinear Forms on Leibniz Algebras
Authors: Wang Song , Zhu Linsheng
Published: October 2015

In this paper, we study Leibniz algebras [Formula: see text] with a non-degenerate Leibniz-symmetric [Formula: see text]-invariant bilinear form B, such a pair [Formula: see text] is called a quadratic Leibniz algebra. Our first result generalizes the notion of double extensions to quadratic Leibniz algebras. This notion was introduced by Medina and Revoy to study quadratic Lie algebras. In the second theorem, we give a sufficient condition for a quadratic Leibniz algebra to be a quadratic Leibniz algebra by double extension.
Assessment of water quality for drinking/irrigation purpose from Mangla dam, Pakistan
Authors: Saleem Muhammad , Iqbal Javed , Shah Munir H.
Published: October 2015

Mangla dam is one of the largest water reservoirs used for irrigation/drinking purposes and power production in Pakistan. The present study is the assessment of physicochemical parameters and selected metals in surface water samples collected from Mangla dam to evaluate water quality for irrigation and drinking purpose. The concentration of selected metals (Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb and Zn) was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Average levels of the metals showed the decreasing concentration order: Ca > Mg > Na > K > Pb > Fe > Cr > Ni> Cd > Zn > Mn > Cu. Multivariate statistical methods evidenced significant anthropogenic contributions of Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb in water samples from the reservoir, which were above the permissible levels. The measured levels of pH, TA, EC, TDS, Cl
–
, PS, KR, Mg/Ca, MAR and PI were within the permissible limits. Based on the TH, the water samples were graded as moderately hard, while HCO
3
–
and RSBC demonstrated that the water samples were categorized as unsuitable for irrigation use. However, the irrigation water quality (IWQ) index revealed medium level suitability of the water for agricultural use. The study revealed elevated concentration of Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb and suggested that future planning and management strategies should address the metal contamination for restoration of water quality of the reservoir.
Depressor effect of chymase inhibitor in mice with high salt-induced moderate hypertension
Authors: Devarajan Sankar , Yahiro Eiji , Uehara Yoshinari , Habe Shigehisa , Nishiyama Akira , Miura Shin-ichiro , Saku Keijiro , Urata Hidenori
Published: October 2015

The aim of the present study was to determine whether long-term high salt intake in the drinking water induces hypertension in wild-type (WT) mice and whether a chymase inhibitor or other antihypertensive drugs could reverse the increase of blood pressure. Eight-week-old male WT mice were supplied with drinking water containing 2% salt for 12 wk (high-salt group) or high-salt drinking water plus an oral chymase inhibitor (TPC-806) at four different doses (25, 50, 75, or 100 mg/kg), captopril (75 mg/kg), losartan (100 mg/kg), hydrochlorothiazide (3 mg/kg), eplerenone (200 mg/kg), or amlodipine (6 mg/kg). Control groups were given normal water with or without the chymase inhibitor. Blood pressure and heart rate gradually showed a significant increase in the high-salt group, whereas a dose-dependent depressor effect of the chymase inhibitor was observed. There was also partial improvement of hypertension in the losartan- and eplerenone-treated groups but not in the captopril-, hydrochlorothiazide-, and amlodipine-treated groups. A high salt load significantly increased chymase-dependent ANG II-forming activity in the alimentary tract. In addition, the relative contribution of chymase to ANG II formation, but not actual average activity, showed a significant increase in skin and skeletal muscle, whereas angiotensin-converting enzyme-dependent ANG II-forming activity and its relative contribution were reduced by high salt intake. Plasma and urinary renin-angiotensin system components were significantly increased in the high-salt group but were significantly suppressed in the chymase inhibitor-treated group. In conclusion, 2% salt water drinking for 12 wk caused moderate hypertension and activated the renin-angiotensin system in WT mice. A chymase inhibitor suppressed both the elevation of blood pressure and heart rate, indicating a definite involvement of chymase in salt-sensitive hypertension.
P53 Contributes to Cisplatin Induced Renal Oxidative Damage via Regulating P66shc and MnSOD
Authors: Yuan Yanggang , Wang Hui , Wu Yingyi , Zhang Bo , Wang Ningning , Mao Huijuan , Xing Changying
Published: October 2015

Background/Aims: Cisplatin is widely used to treat malignancies. However, its major limitation is the development of dose-dependent nephrotoxicity. The precise mechanisms of cisplatin-induced kidney damage remain unclear. Previous study demonstrated the central role of mitochondrial ROS (mtROS) in the pathogenesis of cisplatin nephrotoxicity. The purpose of this study was to explore the mechanism of mtROS regulation in cisplatin nephrotoxicity. Methods: p53, MnSOD and p66shc were detected at mRNA and protein levels by qPCR and western blot in HK2 cells. mtROS levels were determined by DCFDA and MitoSOX staining. Cell viability and cell apoptosis were accessed by CCK-8 assay, TUNEL assay and flow cytometry, respectivesly. siRNAs were used to knock down p53 and p66shc expression and subsequent changes were observed. In vivo assays using a mouse model of cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury were used to validate the in vitro results. Results: In HK2 cells, cisplatin exposure decreased the MnSOD and increased the expression of p53 and p66shc. MnTBAP, a MnSOD mimic, blocked cisplatin-induced the generation of mtROS and cell injury. P66shc and p53 siRNAs rendered renal cells resistant to cisplatin-induced mtROS production and cell death. Furthermore, knockdown of p53 restored MnSOD and inhibiting p66shc. Consistent with these results, we revealed that p53 inhibitor reduced cisplatin-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis by regulating MnSOD and p66shc in the kidney of cisplatin-treated mice. Conclusion: Our study identifies activation of p53 signalling as a potential strategy for reducing the nephrotoxicity associated with cisplatin treatments and, as a result, broadens the therapeutic window of this chemotherapeutic agent.
Bone Morphogenetic Protein-7 Inhibits EMT-Associated Genes in Breast Cancer
Authors: Ying Xuexiang , Sun Yunpo , He Pingqing
Published: October 2015

Background/Aims: Bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP7) has been shown to reduce the severity of injury-induced fibrosis through counteracting the fibrotic effects of transforming growth factor β 1 (TGFβ1). However, this model in the carcinogenesis of breast cancer is unknown. Methods: We analyzed the effects of BMP7 and TGFβ1 on gene transcripts and protein levels of EMT-related factors in breast cancer cells by RT-qPCR and Western blot, respectively. The effects of BMP7 and TGFβ1 on cell invasiveness and migration were evaluated by scratch wound healing assay and transwell cell migration assay. The cell growth was measured by MTT assay. Results: BMP7 did not alter the TGFβ1-stimulated phosphorylation of TGFβ receptor, but significantly inhibited the TGFβ1-activated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes in breast cancer cells, resulting in a significant reduction in TGFβ1-triggered cell growth and cell metastasis. Conclusion: Our data suggest that besides being a well-known antagonist for TGFβ1 in fibrosis, BMP7 may also antagonize TGFβ1 in tumorigenesis-associated EMT in breast cancer. Thus, BMP7 may be a promising therapeutic target for treating breast cancer.
What Develops in Moral Identities? A Critical Review
Authors: Krettenauer Tobias , Hertz Steven
Published: October 2015

According to the standard model of moral identity development, moral identities emerge during adolescence and early adulthood. Contrary to this assumption, however, moral identity research has consistently failed to demonstrate any age-related change in this developmental period. The present paper discusses implications of this non-finding. It is argued that researchers need to broaden the scope of inquiry and include developmental aspects of the moral identity construct that have been neglected in the past. Three areas are identified where moral identity development likely occurs in adolescence and beyond: (1) context-dependent differentiation and integration of the self-importance of moral values, (2) growth in internal moral motivation and (3) unfolding of narratives of moral responsibility. It is suggested that any systematic investigation into these areas will reveal important developmental changes in moral identities and, thus, will confirm the developmental nature of the moral identity construct.
Bioinformatics Analysis of Proteome Changes in Calu-3 Cell Infected by Influenza A Virus (H5N1)
Authors: Dong Qing , Zhu Haibo , Zhang Yunyan , Yang Daren
Published: October 2015

Aim: This paper aimed to identify the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in Calu-3 cells infected by influenza A virus (IAV) subtype H5N1. Methods: We downloaded proteome data (BTO: 0000762) from the Proteomics Identifications database and identified the DEPs in the IAV-infected Calu-3 cells. Then we constructed a protein-protein interaction network and a transcriptional regulatory network of the proteins. Finally, we performed gene ontology (GO) analysis to study the IAV infection at a functional level. Results: A total of 4 protein groups between the normal cells and the Calu-3 cells infected by IAV, severe acute respiratory syndrome or swine influenza were identified. In the networks, we found 5 significant proteins including FAN, CPSF2, AGO1, AGO2 and PAX5. In addition, we demonstrated those proteins were associated with GO terms such as phosphate metabolic process, calcium ion transport, cell division and regulation of cell motion. STAT1, NS2, CD5, NCKX6 and PDGFB were significant DEPs in these GO terms. Conclusions: By referring to the previous studies, we suggest that proteins including FAN, CPSF2, AGO1, AGO2, PAX5, STAT1 and PDGFB can be used as therapeutic targets of IAV infection.
Differences in Postoperative Hearing Outcomes and Vertigo in Patients with Otosclerosis Treated with Laser-Assisted Stapedotomy versus Stapedectomy
Authors: Sakamoto Takashi , Kikuta Shu , Kikkawa Yayoi S. , Tsutsumiuchi Katsuhiro , Kanaya Kaori , Fujimaki Yoko , Ueha Rumi , Saito Yuki , Yamasoba Tatsuya
Published: October 2015

Background: Otosclerosis is an abnormal bone growth in the otic capsule that can result in hearing loss. In this study, we compared postoperative hearing outcomes and vestibular symptoms between patients treated with laser-assisted stapedotomy versus stapedectomy. Methods: The medical charts of 99 ears treated with stapes surgery were retrospectively reviewed. Results: A stapedotomy, partial stapedectomy, or total stapedectomy was conducted in 77, 16, and 56 ears, respectively. The ears treated with partial- and total stapedectomies were unified into one stapedectomy group. The postoperative changes in the air-bone gap after stapedotomies were significantly larger than those after stapedectomies at 1, 2, and 4 kHz. The postoperative changes in the air conduction threshold after stapedotomies were significantly larger than those after stapedectomies at 1, 2, 4, and 8 kHz. The postoperative changes in the bone conduction threshold at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz did not differ between the groups. The postoperative vertigo duration after stapedotomies was significantly shorter than that after stapedectomies. Conclusions: Surgery-induced sensorineural hearing losses were similar for stapedotomies and stapedectomies. However, stapedotomies were more effective and atraumatic than stapedectomies because of the better postoperative hearing results at middle and high frequencies and the shorter postoperative vertigo.
Avaliação da glutamina, amônia e cortisol em cavalos de enduro durante corridas de diferentes distâncias
Authors: Siqueira Renata Farinelli de , Fernandes Wilson Roberto
Published: October 2015

A glutamina e o aminoácido livre mais abundante no organismo de mamíferos, muito importante para a proliferação celular, metabolismo da amônia e para produção de energia na musculatura esquelética, principalmente durante o exercício aeróbico. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi investigar se os níveis séricos de glutamina, amônia e cortisol, em cavalos de enduro, podem ser modelos de estudo da dinâmica deste importante aminoácido durante o exercício, pois estes animais são submetidos a esforço aeróbico prolongado e intenso. Foram utilizados 33 cavalos de enduro que competiram nas categorias de 80 km (n = 13), 120 km (n = 14) e 160 km (n = 5) em quatro provas. Não houve diferença estatística nos níveis de glutamina entre os momentos de coleta (P > 0,05). Houve aumento significativo dos níveis plasmáticos de amônia apos o termino das provas (P < 0,05). Esse aumento foi mais marcado nos cavalos de 80 km, seguido pelos de 120 e por ultimo os de 160 km. Houve correlação positiva entre os níveis de amônia e glutamina nas categorias de 160, 120 e 80 km (r = 0,209, r = 0,151 e r = 0,176, respectivamente; P < 0,05). Oscilações séricas dos níveis de glutamina são difíceis de se detectar em cavalos de enduro, já que as fibras musculares oxidativas são importantes reservatórios desse aminoácido. Ainda, e difícil saber sobre consumo de glutamina dadas as reservas orgânicas e a facilidade de metabolização. A concentração sérica de amônia pode servir como indicador indireto do consumo de glutamina. Assim, concluiu-se que as dosagens de amônia e cortisol podem servir como medidas indiretas da utilização da glutamina durante o exercício aeróbico e ambas como marcadores de esforço. 
Influência das fases de anestro e diestro na competência meiótica oocitária de cadelas
Authors: Pereira Leda Maria Costa , Bersano Paulo Ricardo De Oliveira , Lima Alfredo Feio da Maia , Pantoja José Carlos De Figueiredo , Lopes Maria Denise
Published: October 2015

A cadela apresenta particularidades reprodutivas que a diferencia de outras espécies. Diversos experimentos têm sido realizados visando estabelecer protocolos eficientes para a maturação, entretanto os resultados mostram-se insatisfatórios. Nesse aspecto, a fase reprodutiva da fêmea doadora deve ser considerada, já que pode ser um fator de variabilidade dos achados ate então presenciados nessa espécie. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a influencia das fases do ciclo estral (anestro e diestro) na maturação in vitro (MIV) de cadelas. Os ovários foram transportados em solução de cloreto de sódio 0,9% e seccionados em solução salina fosfato tamponado (PBS) e os complexos cumulus-oócito (COCs) selecionados em meio de cultura de tecidos (TCM) 199 suplementado com HEPES. Foram obtidos 469 oócitos grau 1 de cadelas em anestro e diestro. Esses oócitos selecionados foram transferidos para o meio de maturação por um período de 72 horas, sendo posteriormente submetidos a solução de hialuronidase e corados com HOESCHT 33342 para avaliação da configuração nuclear. A comparação das fases de anestro e diestro não revelou diferença (p > 0,05) entre os estágios de maturação nuclear. Dessa maneira, a fase do ciclo estral não influenciou na maturação in vitro de oócitos caninos, incrementando os índices de M-II nesta espécie.
A noção de competência em informação e a de sociologia da educação e do trabalho: embate epistemológico
Authors: Gomes Marcos Aurelio , Dumont Lígia Maria Moreira
Published: October 2015

Apresenta a dimensão social e científica que a noção de competência assume na contemporaneidade ao traçar nexos com qualificação e as implicações estabelecidas por meio da relação entre educação e trabalho e pela reestruturação dos meios de produção. A competência em informação é exposta como resultado dessas mudanças sociais, principalmente, educacionais, dessa forma, impactando espaços tradicionais de acumulação e disseminação de recursos informacionais, como as bibliotecas.
Palavras-chave: Competência; Competência em informação; Educação; Trabalho.
O piloto-aprendiz e o engenheiro-mestre: O ensino esportivo do automobilismo em Dias de Trovão e Carros
Authors: Venancio Rafael Duarte Oliveira
Published: October 2015

A proposta da resenha é de apresentar dois filmes que relatam o ensino do automobilismo através da relação entre um mestre e um aprendiz, sendo um filme blockbuster (Dias de Trovão, 1990, de Tony Scott) e outro uma animação focada no público infantil (Carros, 2006, de John Lasseter). A ideia central é mostrar como a aprendizagem do esporte, no caso o automobilismo, é midiatizada pelo cinema através da ideia de uma educação calcada na figura de um aprendiz e de um mestre, construindo um imaginário do esporte próximo daqueles postos pelas narrativas maravilhosas.
Sergio Adorno: reflexões sobre a violência e a intolerância na sociedade brasileira
Authors: Nonato Claudia
Published: October 2015

Referência nos estudos sobre violência, Sérgio Adorno é cientista social e doutor em sociologia pela Universidade de São Paulo, com pós-doutorado pelo Centre de Recherches Sociologiques sur le Droit et les Institutions Pénales, França. Atualmente é professor titular e diretor da Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas da USP e coordenador científico do NEV - Núcleo de Estudos da Violência da USP. É também representante da Comunidade Científica no Conselho Deliberativo do CNPq. Nesta entrevista, Adorno reflete sobre questões que incomodam a sociedade brasileira: o crescimento exacerbado da violência e da intolerância, em todas as esferas; a ambiguidade dos meios de comunicação nesse processo; a discussão em torno da redução da maioridade penal, e o papel da escola. Para ele, a situação da violência no país é grave e tende a piorar, por falta de planejamento estratégico do Estado.
CONSTRUÇÃO DE MÉTRICA PARA AVALIAÇÃO DA QUALIDADE DA INFORMAÇÃO CONTÁBIL SOB A ÓTICA DE ANALISTAS FUNDAMENTALISTAS
Authors: Barbosa Josilene Da Silva , Scherer Luciano Márcio , Scarpin Jorge Eduardo , Murcia Fernando Dal-Ri
Published: October 2015

Este estudo objetivou construir uma Métrica de Qualidade da Informação Contábil (MQIC) sob a ótica de analistas fundamentalistas, os quais, enquanto intermediários informacionais, utilizam informações públicas para fazer suas previsões e recomendações, mostrando por meio de seus relatórios as melhores oportunidades de investimentos. O estudo é classificado como exploratório e utilizou abordagem qualitativa. Para atingir o objetivo foi utilizada a técnica Delphi, com a aplicação aos analistas fundamentalistas de um questionário elaborado a partir da literatura sobre qualidade da informação contábil. Os resultados do estudo possibilitaram construir uma MQIC com 17 componentes, cuja nota varia entre 0 (pior nota) e 100 (melhor nota). A média geral dos 17 componentes da métrica final é 4,3, indicando uma concordância elevada entre os analistas sobre os itens que compõem a MQIC. Além disso o Coeficiente de Variação é de 18,4% o que indica uma dispersão média dos dados. O resultado do Alfa de Cronbach, de 0,89, mostra que a MQIC possui consistência interna.
Novel CREB3L3 Nonsense Mutation in a Family With Dominant Hypertriglyceridemia
Authors: Cefalù Angelo B. , Spina Rossella , Noto Davide , Valenti Vincenza , Ingrassia Valeria , Giammanco Antonina , Panno Maria D. , Ganci Antonina , Barbagallo Carlo M. , Averna Maurizio R.
Published: October 2015

Objective—

Cyclic AMP responsive element–binding protein 3–like 3 (
CREB3L3
) is a novel candidate gene for dominant hypertriglyceridemia. To date, only 4 kindred with dominant hypertriglyceridemia have been found to be carriers of 2 nonsense mutations in
CREB3L3
gene (245fs and W46X). We investigated a family in which hypertriglyceridemia displayed an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance.

Approach and Results—

The proband was a 49-year-old woman with high plasma triglycerides (≤1300 mg/dL; 14.68 mmol/L). Her father had a history of moderate hypertriglyceridemia, and her 51-year-old brother had triglycerides levels as high as 1600 mg/dL (18.06 mmol/L). To identify the causal mutation in this family, we analyzed the candidate genes of recessive and dominant forms of primary hypertriglyceridemia by direct sequencing. The sequencing of
CREB3L3
gene led to the discovery of a novel minute frame shift mutation in exon 3 of
CREB3L3
gene, predicted to result in the formation of a truncated protein devoid of function (c.359delG–p.K120fsX20). Heterozygosity for the c.359delG mutation resulted in a severe phenotype occurring later in life in the proband and her brother and a good response to diet and a hypotriglyceridemic treatment. The same mutation was detected in a 13-year-old daughter who to date is normotriglyceridemic.

Conclusions—

We have identified a novel pathogenic mutation in
CREB3L3
gene in a family with dominant hypertriglyceridemia with a variable pattern of penetrance.
Stress in the Absence of Morphological Conditioning: An Experimental Investigation of Stress in Greek Acronyms
Authors: Revithiadou Anthi , Nikolou Kalomoira , Papadopoulou Despina
Published: October 2015

Greek is a morphology-dependent stress system, where stress is lexically specified for a number of individual morphemes (e.g., roots and suffixes). In the absence of lexically encoded stress, a default stress emerges. Most theoretical analyses of Greek stress that assume antepenultimate stress to represent the default (e.g., Malikouti-Drachman & Drachman 1989; Ralli & Touratzidis 1992; Revithiadou 1999) are not independently confirmed by experimental studies (e.g., Protopapas et al. 2006; Apostolouda 2012; Topintzi & Kainada 2012; Revithiadou & Lengeris in press). Here, we explore the nature of the default stress in Greek with regard to acronyms, given their lack of overt morphology and fixed stress pattern, with a goal of exploring how stress patterns are shaped when morphological information (encapsulated in the inflectional ending) is suppressed. For this purpose, we conducted two production (reading aloud) experiments, which revealed, for our consultants, first, an almost complete lack of antepenultimate stress and, second, a split between penultimate and final stress dependent on acronym length, the type of the final segment and the syllable type of the penultimate syllable. We found two predominant correspondences: (a) consonant-final acronyms and end stress and (b) vowel-final acronyms and the inflected word the vowel represents, the effect being that stress patterns for acronyms are linked to the inflected words they represent only if enough morphonological information about the acronym’s segments is available to create familiarity effects. Otherwise, we find a tendency for speakers to prefer stress at stem edges.
A Linguistic Analysis of the Modern Greek Dekapentasyllavo Meter
Authors: Topintzi Nina , Versace Stefano
Published: October 2015

Dekapentasyllavo (DPS), the dominant poetic meter in the Modern Greek poetic tradition since several centuries, has barely received any attention by modern linguistic theories. Basing our discussion on the analysis of several dimotiká tragoúdia (folk songs), we seek to understand the structure underlying the meter. Our investigation reveals which patterns are frequently attested, which are less frequent and those which are (virtually) inexistent. DPS verifies the oft-cited L-R asymmetry in verselines (cf. Ryan 2013), which renders L-edges looser than the stricter R-edges. It also tolerates stress lapses much more than stress clashes. Our ensuing account captures this distribution by referring to, primarily, the relation of phonological phrasing to counting of metrical positions and, secondarily, to rhythm. These components are then integrated within a formal analysis along the lines of the Bracketed Grid Theory (Fabb & Halle 2008). We conclude by outlining how DPS poses a challenge for theories of poetic meter and by contemplating its contribution to the field.
African Women in Ecclesiastical Documents, Benguela, 1760–1860
Authors: Candido Mariana P.
Published: October 2015

Based on the analysis of ecclesiastical documents, this study explores how African women lived in the port town of Benguela from about 1760 to 1860. This period includes the height of the transatlantic slave trade, its decline and abolition, and the slow shift towards legitimate trade. Through specific cases revealed in baptism, marriage and burial records, the article presents short stories and explores African women’s interaction with foreign men, their economic roles, and their participation in a Christian community. The study also discusses how African women made use of parish venues to establish rights and to record their wishes in order to protect loved ones, in a process that secured social and economic mobility for the next generations.
Revision of the genus Rhondes (Araneae: Salticidae) from New Caledonia
Authors: Patoleta Barbara M.
Published: October 2015

The genusRhondesSimon, 1901 is revised to include six New Caledonian species, five of them new to science:R.neocaledonicus(Simon 1889) (♂♀),R.atypicussp.n. (♂♀),R.flexibilissp.n. (♂♀),R.berlandisp.n. (♀),R.sarasinisp.n. (♀),R.zofiaesp.n. (♀). All species are diagnosed, described, and illustrated. The genus is re-defined and its distribution analyzed on the basis of actual and predicted distribution maps.
Arm Chair Perspective Preferences
Authors: Koenderink Jan , van Doorn Andrea , Pinna Baingio , Pepperell Robert
Published: October 2015

Do generic observers in their free-style viewing of postcard-size pictures have a preference for specific modes of perspective rendering? This most likely depends upon the phrasing of the question. Here we consider the feeling of ‘presence’: does the observer experience a sense of being ‘immersed in the scene’? We had 40 Italian naïve participants and 19 British art students rate three types of rendering of ten ‘typical holiday pictures’. All pictures represented 130° over the width of the picture. They were rendered in linear perspective, Hauck maps, and Postel maps. The results are clearcut. About a quarter of the participants prefer linear perspective, whereas the Hauck map is preferred by more than half of the participants. Naïve observers and art students agree. Architectural scenes are somewhat more likely to be preferred in perspective. Preferences are not randomly distributed, but participants have remarkable idiosyncratic affinities, a small group for perspective projection, a larger group for the Hauck map. Such facts might find application in the viewing of photographs on handheld electronic display devices.
Devoted Politics: Jesuits and Elite Catholic Women at the Later Sixteenth-century Valois Court
Authors: Broomhall Susan
Published: October 2015

This essay analyses how elite women at the sixteenth-century French court interacted with the Jesuits, in the context of the spiritual and political ambitions of all participants. Focusing particularly on the dynamic relationship between Catherine de Medici and the Jesuits, contextualized by the experiences of other elite women and men, it explores the period from the 1560s to the end of the 1580s during which Catherine occupied a powerful role and when individual members of the Society of Jesus rose to prominence at the court. To date, the scholarship of elite Catholic politics in which the Jesuits were involved has prioritized the activities of France’s monarchs, Charles ix and Henri iii, and its leading men in dynasties such as the Gonzaga-Nevers and Guise. Re-reading many of the same sources with an eye to the contribution and activities of women offers the potential for a broader narrative.
“A Perfect Jesuit in Petticoats”: The Curious Figure of the Female Jesuit
Authors: Verhoeven Timothy
Published: October 2015

This article investigates one of the most curious figures in the anti-Jesuit arsenal, the female Jesuit, or Jesuitess. In the middle decades of the nineteenth century, opponents of the Jesuits in a range of nations warned that the bedrock institutions of society were vulnerable to infiltration by this figure who in their mind combined Jesuit cunning with feminine charm. This made the female Jesuit, in words that were repeated in exposés of the Society, even more dangerous than the male Jesuit. Perhaps paradoxically, the female Jesuit tells us a great deal about the imagined nature of Jesuit masculinity. The existence of such a creature could seem plausible because Jesuitism itself appeared to be shrouded in an ambiguous masculinity. As an imagined space where gender confusion rather than clarity was thought to reign, the Society of Jesus naturally spawned a figure like the female Jesuit.
The Degeneration of Meniscus Roots Is Accompanied by Fibrocartilage Formation, Which May Precede Meniscus Root Tears in Osteoarthritic Knees
Authors: Park Do Young , Min Byoung-Hyun , Choi Byung Hyune , Kim Young Jick , Kim Mijin , Suh-Kim Haeyoung , Kim Joon Ho
Published: October 2015

Background:

Fibrocartilage metaplasia in tendons and ligaments is an adaptation to compression as well as a pathological feature during degeneration. Medial meniscus posterior roots are unique ligaments that resist multidirectional forces, including compression.

Purpose:

To characterize the degeneration of medial meniscus posterior root tears in osteoarthritic knees, with an emphasis on fibrocartilage and calcification.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Samples of medial meniscus posterior roots were harvested from cadaveric specimens and patients during knee replacement surgery and grouped as follows: normal reference, no tear, partial tear, and complete tear. Degeneration was analyzed with histology, immunohistochemistry, and real-time polymerase chain reaction. Uniaxial tensile tests were performed on specimens with and without fibrocartilage. Quantifiable data were statistically analyzed by the Kruskal-Wallis test with the Dunn comparison test.

Results:

Thirty, 28, and 42 samples harvested from 99 patients were allocated into the no tear, partial tear, and complete tear groups, respectively. Mean modified Bonar tendinopathy scores for each group were 3.97, 9.31, and 14.15, respectively, showing a higher degree of degeneration associated with the extent of the tear ( P < .05 for all groups). The characterization of root matrices revealed an increase in fibrocartilage according to the extent of the tear. Tear margins revealed fibrocartilage in 59.3% of partial tear samples and 76.2% of complete tear samples, with a distinctive cleavage-like shape. Root tears with a similar shape were induced within fibrocartilaginous areas during uniaxial tensile testing. Even in the no tear group, 56.7% of samples showed fibrocartilage in the anterior margin of the root, adjacent to the meniscus. An increased stained area of calcification and expression of the ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1 gene were observed in the complete tear group compared with the no tear group ( P < .0001 and P = .24, respectively).

Conclusion:

Fibrocartilage and calcification increased in medial meniscus posterior roots, associated with the degree of the tear. Both findings, which impair the ligament’s resistance to tension, may play a pivotal role during the pathogenesis of degenerative meniscus root tears in osteoarthritic knees. Fibrocartilage and calcification may be useful as diagnostic markers as well as markers of degeneration, which may aid in determining the treatment modality in meniscus root tears. The presence of fibrocartilage in intact roots may suggest an impending tear in osteoarthritic knees.
The Stressors and Coping Strategies of Older Adults With Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Prior to and Following Direct Current Cardioversion
Authors: Rush Kathy L. , Hatt Linda , Shay Matt , Gorman Nicole , Laberge Carol G. , Reid R. Colin , Wilson Ryan
Published: October 2015

Objective:The purpose of this study was to explore the stressors and coping strategies of older adults with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) before and after direct current cardioversion. Method: The study used a qualitative descriptive design. Sixteen patients were recruited through an AF clinic to participate in individual interviews prior to the cardioversion and at 6 and 12 weeks post procedure. Results: Pre-cardioversion, older adults experienced symptom and health care–related stressors superimposed on existing non-AF stressors. They used a range of emotion and problem-focused coping. Non-AF stressors increased post procedure at the same time that participants perceived less need for coping strategies with a return to regular rhythm. Discussion: There was a shift from AF to non-AF related stressors following the cardioversion but a decrease in coping strategies. Older adults with AF should be encouraged to maintain use of coping strategies to manage ongoing stress and reduce the risk of AF recurrence.
Les inégalités dans l’accès aux soins du cancer au Canada
Authors: Purificacion Sunshine J. , French John G. , d’Agincourt-Canning Lori
Published: October 2015

La capacité d’offrir des soins du cancer de qualité dépend en grande partie de l’accessibilité des services à ceux qui en ont besoin. Dans l’état actuel des choses, on constate des disparités en matière d’accès aux services de cancérologie au Canada, ce qui constitue un problème sur le plan de l’éthique. Le présent article fait ressortir les points de vue éthiques et stratégiques liés à l’équité dans l’accès aux soins du cancer au Canada. S’inspirant des principes de la bioéthique, soit la bénéficience, la non-maléficience et la justice, plusieurs stratégies sont recommandées pour améliorer l’accès aux soins du cancer au pays.
School Choice, Racial Segregation, and Poverty Concentration: Evidence From Pennsylvania Charter School Transfers
Authors: Kotok Stephen , Frankenberg Erica , Schafft Kai A. , Mann Bryan A. , Fuller Edward J.
Published: October 2015

This article examines how student movements between traditional public schools (TPSs) and charters—both brick and mortar and cyber—may be associated with both racial isolation and poverty concentration. Using student-level data from the universe of Pennsylvania public schools, this study builds upon previous research by specifically examining student transfers into charter schools, disaggregating findings by geography. We find that, on average, the transfers of African American and Latino students from TPSs to charter schools were segregative. White students transferring within urban areas transferred to more racially segregated schools. Students from all three racial groups attended urban charters with lower poverty concentration.
A tangential microslip model for circularly and elliptically loaded structures
Authors: Lord Charles E , Rongong Jem A
Published: October 2015

It is well known that the noise and vibration control of structures is a continuing challenge. With many structures this is commonly achieved through passive vibration damping, often using viscoelastic materials. It is sometimes, however, that the use of such materials is not permitted as their properties change over time, or when they are subjected to low and high temperature environments. For these structures and structural elements, it is often that clamping or applied boundary conditions are critical for providing the energy dissipation through microslip. This makes it necessary to understand the level of damping that arises from the clamping zones. In general, the estimation of damping is complicated in that most structures are not unidirectionally loaded and can have a planar path of motion (e.g. gas turbine blades, circular motion valves). Although it is typical during experiments and simulations to reduce a structure into a single axis of excitation, this can often be an over simplification which does not describe the dynamics of the system; but should be included. This paper presents a biaxial planar motion tangential microslip model that accounts for the vibratory loads arising from circular and elliptical motion. This model vectorially decouples and reduces the planar vibratory circular and elliptical motion into two separate independent tangential microslip models. The models account for tip loading and for centroid loading within the microslip region of the clamping zone. Each analytical microslip model is presented and is compared to numerical simulations using finite elements. The analytical models are then coupled to demonstrate the net effect that various eccentricities have on the overall energy dissipation within the structure. The coupled models are then compared to numerical simulations using finite elements through ANSYS.
A Fleeting Glory
Authors: Miller Danny , Xu Xiaowei
Published: October 2015

Recent studies have criticized MBA programs for their association with self-serving behavior, although there is little empirical research to establish the firm-level consequences of that relationship. We explored whether MBAs versus non-MBAs in a sample of celebrated CEOs of major U.S. companies—thus CEOs who have achieved and had opportunity to exploit their fame—were more apt than their counterparts to engage in self-serving behavior that benefits them but disadvantages their companies. We assessed this behavior via the pursuit of costly growth strategies, an inability to sustain performance, and the capacity to obtain superior private benefits in compensation. Our analysis of 444 star CEOs celebrated on the covers of major business publications confirmed that an MBA education either fosters or is related to such behavior among these executives.
Continuum damage mechanics-based approach to the fatigue life prediction for 7050-T7451 aluminum alloy with impact pit
Authors: Zhan Zhixin , Hu Weiping , Meng Qingchun , Shi Sidian
Published: October 2015

A continuum damage mechanics-based approach is proposed to predict the fatigue life of 7050-T7451 aluminum alloy that has undergone foreign object impact damage. Lemaitre’s plasticity damage model is adopted to evaluate the damage field arisen from impact. Then Chaudonneret’s damage model is applied to the fatigue damage accumulation caused by cyclic loading. The numerical dynamic analysis simulating the foreign object impact process is conducted to obtain the plastic strain history and the residual stress field. Fatigue damage evolution is implemented by the finite element method via coupling operations on the damage field and the stress field. The fatigue test for specimens with an impact pit is conducted to validate the aforementioned approach. The predicted life and the site of crack initiation are in accordance with the test results. Finally, the effects of impact plastic damage, residual stress, impact pit depth, and radius on the fatigue life are investigated.
Low sense of coherence during postoperative recovery is associated with a poorer lumbar spinal stenosis – surgical outcome: A 5-year follow-up study
Authors: Pakarinen Maarit , Sinikallio Sanna , Koivumaa-Honkanen Heli , Aalto Timo , Airaksinen Olavi , Lehto Soili M , Viinamäki Heimo
Published: October 2015

This study investigated the association between the 3-month postoperative sense of coherence and the 5-year postoperative outcome of decompressive surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis. The participants with a lower sense of coherence at the 3-month follow-up had a poorer functional ability and lower satisfaction with surgery, higher pain ratings, lower life satisfaction and more depressive symptoms 5 years postoperatively. A low 3-month sense of coherence associated with greater pain and a poorer functional ability 5 years postoperatively. Evaluating sense of coherence and depressive symptoms in patients who have had lumbar spinal stenosis surgery may help in identifying those in need of enhanced support for postoperative recovery.
Emotional management and quality of life in mother living versus multi-organ donor renal transplant recipients
Authors: Calia Rosaria , Lai Carlo , Aceto Paola , Pascolo Giovanna , Lai Silvia , Romagnoli Jacopo , Citterio Franco
Published: October 2015

The aim of this study was to evaluate psychological differences and quality of life between kidney recipients from living (mother) and multi-organ donor. Overall, 40 patients who had undergone both living (mother) and multi-organ kidney transplantation 3–6 months before were asked to complete four self-report instruments: Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Short Form Health Survey, Regulatory Emotional Self-efficacy, and Attachment Style Questionnaire. A greater difficulty in emotional, social, and mental health functioning was found in recipients receiving kidney from mother living donor. Moreover, in these patients, higher levels of avoidant attachment dimensions were associated with a worse quality of life.
‘They need our help’: Non-governmental organizations and the subjectifying dynamics of the military as social cause
Authors: Millar Katharine M
Published: October 2015

The invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan spurred a range of popular activity – from anti-war protests to war boosterism to veterans’ advocacy – purporting to ‘support the troops’. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), from veterans’ welfare organizations to anti-war groups, are crucial to this transformation of ‘the troops’ into a social cause and matter of collective concern. As such, this article proposes an initial qualification of NGO representative practices as a form of media genre, characterized by striking similarity in presentation, structure and, particularly, explicitly normative tone. A poststructural discursive approach is utilized to examine the implications of this genre for the production of subjectivities and power relations inherent to ‘supporting the troops’ via a structured analysis of the public-produced texts of a selection of typologically identified NGOs in the US and the UK. The article goes on to highlight the ways in which NGO representations counterintuitively objectify those they seek to support, while simultaneously limiting the political possibilities of supporters. Overall, it is argued that within the context of the liberal state, the representations of support produced across the advocacy spectrum work to not only depoliticize conflict but to ‘apoliticize’ support for the troops as a matter of morality.
Contralateral recurrence of tumefactive demyelination
Authors: Khan Mohammed Nazir , Guranda Mihail , Essig Marco
Published: October 2015

Tumefactive demyelination refers to large focal demyelinating lesions in the brain, which can be mistaken for malignancy. In some patients, these lesions are monophasic with a self-limited course; however, other patients demonstrate recurrent disease with new tumefactive or non-tumefactive lesions, and a subsequent diagnosis of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis is not uncommon. Owing to the limited data available in the literature, many questions about the patterns and prognostic significance of recurrent tumefactive lesions remain unanswered. The current case report involves a patient who recovered from tumefactive demyelination and presented two years later with a new recurrent tumefactive lesion in the contralateral brain.
Actor proliferation and the fragmentation of violent groups in conflict
Authors: Dowd Caitriona
Published: October 2015

This paper proposes a novel application of a measure of actor fragmentation drawn from electoral studies to the growing field of conflict event data. The application facilitates comparison of conflict environments over time and across cases, while enabling researchers to take account of the relative activity levels of diverse actors. Analysis of the measure suggests that a fragmentation index diverges from a simple count of active conflict agents in important instances, including in providing a more accurate measure of dominant and weaker conflict agents, capturing dynamics of escalation and continuation of conflict over time and across country cases, and reflecting the coalescence of conflict agents around dominant conflict cleavages. The findings suggest that future research may benefit from combining measures of the discrete count of groups and their relative activity levels in order to accurately capture evolving conflict dynamics.
MDS-associated somatic mutations and clonal hematopoiesis are common in idiopathic cytopenias of undetermined significance
Authors: Kwok Brian , Hall Jeff M. , Witte John S. , Xu Yin , Reddy Prashanti , Lin Keming , Flamholz Rachel , Dabbas Bashar , Yung Aine , Al-Hafidh Jenan , Balmert Emily , Vaupel Christine , El Hader Carlos , McGinniss Matthew J. , Nahas Shareef A. , Kines Julie , Bejar Rafael
Published: October 2015

Key Points

Over 30% of patients with unexplained cytopenias who do not meet diagnostic criteria for MDS carry MDS-associated somatic mutations. Clonal cytopenias of undetermined significance are more common than MDS and show comparable variant allele frequencies and blood counts.