bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crux et Vocatio
Authors: Jorgenson Allen
Published: July 2009

This article examines Luther's theology of the cross in relation to his treatment of vocation and explores the contemporary utility of both. It is argued that theologians who reduce Luther's theology of the cross to an existential descriptor fail on two accounts. First, they do not comprehend the manner in which a theology of the cross does not describe anxiety but rather induces it so as to create theologians of the cross out of theologians of glory. Second, a reduction of a theology of the cross to an existential descriptor fails to apprehend the public significance of the same insofar as a theology of the cross is intimately related to Luther's treatment of vocation and its concomitant explication of the two reigns of God. Luther's treatment of vocation points to the manner in which the Christian is shaped by the cross in the give and take of human community. This is not to gainsay certain deficiencies in Luther's treatment of vocation. Chief among these are Luther's tendency to restrict language of vocation to individuals and his insistence on vocational intransigence. A contemporary engagement of the cross and vocation entails both a critical analysis of the manner in which the private has now eclipsed the public and an attempt to move beyond Luther by way of Luther in underscoring the gift of ecclesial vocation.
Jonathan Edwards and the lapsarian debate
Authors: Allen Michael
Published: July 2009

Contrary to what might be expected from such a thinker, Jonathan Edwards was restrained in conversation with the Reformed debate about the order of the divine decrees, known as the infralapsarian/supralapsarian debate. I will address Edwards's caution regarding this particular debate: first, by tracing the contours of the broader Reformed debate on the divine decrees and its evolution from engagement of Arminian theology to that of theodicy; second, by noting where Edwards does not speak to this debate and exegeting the few passages where he does take it up; third, by analysing the particular questions that Edwards addresses when he does engage the debate; fourth, by pointing to constructive lessons gained by understanding why a careful thinker might be atypically silent. I will demonstrate that Edwards engaged the lapsarian debate insofar as was necessary to rebuke the Arminian denial of unconditional election, yet he refused to engage the debate as a means of articulating a theodicy. In both his engagement and disengagement, Edwards refused to answer the debate on its standard terms and offers an example of carefully crafting doctrine according to theological and contextual concerns.
Cana leopard change its spots?: Augustine and the crypto-Manichaeism question
Authors: Eddy Paul Rhodes
Published: July 2009

Throughout his life, Augustine faced the charge that, despite his apparent conversion to the orthodox Christian faith of the Catholic Church, his thought nonetheless retained vestiges of his roughly ten-year sojourn with the Manichees. No one was more relentless in this accusation than Augustine's Pelagian nemesis of his twilight years, Julian of Eclanum. Throughout most of church history, Augustine's reputation was little troubled by these allegations of crypto-Manichaeism. However, over the last century or so, the charge has once again taken on life. This article begins with a brief orientation to some of the main philosophical and theological tenets of Manichaeism, with an emphasis on those elements that will be important for assessing the Augustine question. Next, the history of the accusation that the Christian Augustine remained, in important if unconscious ways, a crypto-Manichaean will be traced from the time of Augustine to the present. Finally, one methodological direction in which an eventual resolution to this long-standing question may lie will be considered.
Understandings of nature and grace in John Milbank and Thomas Aquinas
Authors: Mawson Michael
Published: July 2009

John Milbank is one of the most recent and arguably most radical proponents of an understanding of nature as graced. This article critically examines Milbank's understanding of nature and grace, specifically as elaborated within his reading of Thomas Aquinas. In the first part I will outline Aquinas's most direct discussions of nature and grace in the Summa Theologica, drawing attention to several central, albeit subtle, distinctions that these contain. In the second and third parts, I will examine Milbank's reading of Aquinas in Truth in Aquinas, and examine whether it adequately reflects and negotiates Aquinas's distinctions. On this basis I will argue Milbank's reading, while drawing attention to some important and often neglected areas of Aquinas's thought, ultimately remains limited.
Closer to Dan Brown than to Gregor Mendel: on Dawkins'The God Delusion
Authors: Jenkins Timothy
Published: July 2009

The aim of this paper is to place Richard Dawkins' bookThe God Delusion(2006) within a particular literary genre and, by so doing, to account for certain features of its written style, to identify its structuring claims and to offer an explanation for the popularity it has enjoyed with a broad readership. By offering a description of this kind, I hope to avoid engaging in the polemics which the book both offers and has elicited; the argument is situated at another level. My proposal may seem a surprising one: Dawkins' work comes within a spectrum that includes in its modern forms both science fiction and fantasy literature, a spectrum that uses the products of science to think with, in order to explore human dilemmas. In a word, this is a moderntheodicy. I shall begin by sketching out the notion of thinking with science, before turning to characteristic stylistic features of Dawkins' work, and then examining the core claims of the book in the perspective outlined. I shall offer some concluding remarks, but there is little to be said about the author's argument with respect to religion or faith; his topic is a pretext for another kind of exercise.
Bringing History Back In To the Study of Transnational Networks in European Integration
Authors: Kaiser Wolfram
Published: July 2009

This article discusses the results of recent historical research on the governance of networks and their impact on policy-making in the formative period of the EU. It concludes that historically aware research on networks in EU governance has great potential. In particular, in can contribute to enhancing our knowledge about the formation and dynamics of networks; conceptualising the role of supranational institutions such as the Commission in instigating network formation and steering new networks; and improving our understanding of change over time in the governance of networks and their policy impact in the EU.
Networks in EU Multi-level Governance: Concepts and Contributions
Authors: Börzel Tanja A. , Heard-Lauréote Karen
Published: July 2009

While there is broad scholarly agreement that policy-making in the European Union (EU) involves a multitude of public and private actors at different levels of government, there is less agreement whether the EU should be conceptualized as a form of governancebynetworks or governanceinnetworks. This article first examines different concepts of networks. It then sets out multiple functions of networks within the EU policy process. Particular attention is paid to the extent to which networks may provide added value to European integration and improve the quality of governance by effectively solving common problems and helping to address the democratic deficit or whether, by acting as mechanisms of exclusion rather than inclusion, they actually contribute to the EU's legitimacy deficit. Since networks can enhance governance quality as well as undermine its democratic credentials, a balance sheet shows both positive and negative consequences.
Networks of Power in the CAP System of the EU-15 and EU-27
Authors: Henning Christian H.C.A.
Published: July 2009

This article utilizes a quantitative network approach to analyze complex interaction patterns of public and private actors in EU multi-level governance, concerning the common agricultural policy. It demonstrates, in particular, that the theoretically founded policy network approach provides a powerful tool for comparative politics allowing a quantitative analysis of complex governmental systems. At the micro level, lobbying strategies of different groups can be identified and compared, while at the macro level the classical Corporatism-Pluralism typology could be generalized using this network approach. Further, due to its explicit integration with a legislative decision-making model the suggested approach is a valuable tool in comparative politics as it allows testing to what extent observed lobbying structures are systematically related with specific policy outcomes. In this article the policy network approach is applied to the lobbying system of the Common European Agricultural policy of the EU-15 and EU-27.
Network Constraints in EU Banking Regulation: The Capital Requirements Directive
Authors: Christopoulos D. , Quaglia Lucia
Published: July 2009

The ongoing financial turmoil has brought into sharp relief the importance of financial services regulation. Yet, we still know relatively little about how financial regulation is negotiated within the EU, in particular which policy actors are most influential and what are the mechanisms that allow them to exercise influence. This paper addresses these questions using Social Network Analysis (SNA), focusing on the banking regulation network and one core piece of legislation: the Capital Requirements Directive (CRD). Of particular interest is the flow of influence among the key actors. Triangulating an in-depth case study with qualitative interview data and social network analysis, this work investigates a number of hypotheses, associating brokerage roles and extroversion with relative influence in the policy making process. We find that influential actors are those that hold key structural positions in this network and by implication appear to have a better understanding of network topography.
Networks of Foundations as Norm Entrepreneurs: Between Politics and Policies in EU Decision-making
Authors: Dakowska Dorota
Published: July 2009

The European Commission has taken significant steps towards the recognition of political party foundations at EU level. Firstly, it has agreed to recognize them as actors of European development policies. Secondly, it has proposed the creation of political foundations at EU level, linked to the European political parties. This article analyses the reasons, modalities and potential impact of this process, which signifies a breakthrough in comparison with the Commission's previous attitude towards party affiliated organisations. For the foundations, network-building turns out to have been a crucial means to attain legitimacy and access to the European institutions: firstly, through the mobilisation of political entrepreneurs in the European Parliament lobbying the Commission and Council representatives; and secondly, by linking the future role of non-state actors such as political foundations to the reconsideration of the EU's communication policy.
Development of health technology assessment in Lithuania
Authors: Danguole Jankauskiene
Published: July 2009

Objectives: To describe how Lithuania is attempting to develop health technology assessment (HTA) structures.

Methods: The case study of the history of development of HTA in Lithuania is presented.

Results: Historical steps of HTA development are as follows: in 1993, a few conferences on HTA; eight people were trained in Sweden at SBU; the book First Steps of HTA in Lithuania (5) was issued together with SBU in 1993; participation in the International Society of Technology Assessment in Health Care (ISTAHC) conferences; participation in development of training courses and European networks of HTA; new people in HTA were trained in health accreditation service, Sickness Fund, and Ministry of Health. The major step was establishment of an evidence-based medicine library.

In 1994, Article 54 in the Health Care System Law, which declares that the use of healthcare technologies that have not been assessed or approved shall be prohibited, except in cases provided by law, was passed. The procedure of healthcare technologies assessment and approval was to be established by the Ministry of Health Care. A policy of HTA was approved with the program for HTA in 1999 in the Ministry of Health. Currently, enthusiasts of HTA fully realize that technology assessment is a developing frontier for creative and constructive thinking from all disciplinary view points.

Conclusions: Unfortunately, in this country, there is still a very small demand for HTA reports from the decision-maker's side. Hopefully joining the network of European Union Network for Health Technology Assessment (EUnetHTA) will give a new challenge for further policy development.
Health technology assessment development in China
Authors: Chen Yingyao , Banta David , Tang Zhiliu
Published: July 2009

Objectives:This study is to review health technology assessment (HTA) development in China during the past two decades, and to facilitate further development of HTA and its integration into policy making.

Methods:The study depends very much on the extensive experiences of the authors in involvement of HTA in China. In addition, literature review and Web site searching have been used to trace the process of growth of HTA in China.

Results:With its rapid economic development, the Chinese health system has had many achievements in the past 30 years. However, there are some weaknesses that have developed during this period. HTA is traced back to the early 1990s in China. First, HTA knowledge transfer and establishment of HTA units were effective ways to develop HTA in China. By the end of 1990s, the policy makers of the Ministry of Health (MoH) made efforts to merge HTA with policy making to improve the quality and efficiency of health care. The main government authorities related to health technology are the State Food and Drug Administration, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, and the MoH. Their involvements in HTA are varied.

Conclusion:A technology licensure mechanism based on HTA, including technology permission for use, institution licensure, and workforce licensure, is being gradually carried out by the MoH in China. Moreover, HTA can play an important role in technology market entry, insurance benefit coverage, formulary, clinical pathway, reimbursement, and so on. There is a great opportunity for HTA to be an important part of health reform, especially to help policy makers within the health sector to make difficult decisions.
What are the real risks of sport-related concussion, and are they modifiable?
Authors: RANDOLPH CHRISTOPHER , KIRKWOOD MICHAEL W.
Published: July 2009

Over the past two decades, the management of sport-related concussion has been the topic of increased attention in the scientific literature and in the popular media. Despite a proliferation of competing guidelines for concussion management, the widespread use of neuropsychological “baseline” testing designed to monitor postinjury recovery, and several prospective controlled studies of the natural history of concussion, there has been virtually no attempt to quantify the risks associated with sport-related concussion or to determine whether these risks are modifiable via management strategies. Using American football as a model, the short- and long-term risks of sport-related concussion are reviewed. It is concluded that serious short-term consequences of sport-related concussion are extremely rare and unlikely to be significantly modified via management strategies that rely on baseline testing. Other less serious short-term adverse outcomes are also quite rare, transient, and not likely to be altered by specific management guidelines. The long-term consequences of multiple sport-related head trauma remain unclear but are potentially of greater public health concern and should be the focus of increased research. Based on available evidence, there is little rationale for the use of rigid strategies or guidelines in the place of individual clinical decision-making in the management of these injuries. (JINS, 2009, 15, 512–520.)
Healthy children and adolescents obtain some low scores across a battery of memory tests
Authors: BROOKS BRIAN L. , IVERSON GRANT L. , SHERMAN ELISABETH M.S. , HOLDNACK JAMES A.
Published: July 2009

Obtaining some low memory scores across a battery of tests is common. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of low scores on the Children’s Memory Scale (CMS). Participants were 1000 children and adolescents between 5 and 16 years of age from the CMS standardization sample. Consistent with research on other batteries, having some low memory scores is common in healthy children and adolescents. The prevalence of low memory scores also increases with lower intelligence. Clinicians should be cautious when interpreting isolated low memory scores as sole evidence of memory impairment. Knowing the prevalence of low scores as a supplement to clinical judgment should reduce the likelihood of misdiagnosing memory problems. (JINS, 2009, 15, 613–617.)
Localization of cortical dysfunction based on auditory and visual naming performance
Authors: HAMBERGER MARLA J. , SEIDEL WILLIAM T.
Published: July 2009

Naming is generally considered a left-hemisphere function without precise localization. However, recent cortical stimulation studies demonstrate a modality-related anatomical dissociation, in that anterior temporal stimulation disrupts auditory description naming (“auditory naming”) but not visual object naming (“visual naming”), whereas posterior temporal stimulation disrupts naming on both tasks. We hypothesized that patients with anterior temporal abnormalities would exhibit impaired auditory naming, yet normal range visual naming, whereas patients with posterior temporal abnormalities would exhibit impaired performance on both tasks. Thirty-four patients with documented anterior temporal abnormalities and 14 patients with documented posterior temporal abnormalities received both naming tests. As hypothesized, patients with anterior temporal abnormalities demonstrated impaired auditory naming, yet normal range visual naming performance. Patients with posterior temporal abnormalities were impaired in visual naming; however, auditory naming scores were intact. Although these group patterns were statistically significant, on an individual basis, auditory–visual naming asymmetries better predicted whether individual patients had anterior or posterior temporal abnormalities. These behavioral findings are generally consistent with stimulation results, suggesting that modality specificity is inherent in the organization of language, with predictable neuroanatomical correlates. Results also carry clinical implications regarding localizing dysfunction, identifying and characterizing naming deficits, and potentially, in treating neurologically based language disorders. (JINS, 2009, 15, 529–535.)
IQ estimate smackdown: Comparing IQ proxy measures to the WAIS-III
Authors: SPINKS RUTH , MCKIRGAN LOWELL W. , ARNDT STEPHAN , CASPERS KRISTIN , YUCUIS REBECCA , PFALZGRAF CHRISTOPHER J.
Published: July 2009

Brief assessments of general cognitive ability are frequently needed by neuropsychologists, and many methods of estimating intelligence quotient (IQ) have been published. While these measures typically present overall correlations with the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) Full Scale IQ, it is tacitly acknowledged that these estimates are most accurate within 1 standard deviation of the mean and that accuracy diminishes moving toward the tails of the IQ distribution. However, little work has been done to systematically characterize proxy measures at the tails of the IQ distribution. Additionally, while these measures are all correlated with the WAIS, multiple proxy measures are rarely presented in one manuscript. The current article has two goals: (1) Examine various IQ proxies against Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (Third Version) scores, showing the overall accuracy of each measure against the gold standard IQ measure. This comparison will assist in selecting the best proxy measure for particular clinical constraints. (2) The sample is then divided into three groups (below, average, and above-average ability), and each group is analyzed separately to characterize proxy performance at the tails of the IQ distribution. Repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance compares the different proxy measures across ability levels. All IQ estimates are represented in tables so that they can be examined side by side. (JINS, 2009, 15, 590–596.)
Compensating for anterograde amnesia: A new training method that capitalizes on emerging smartphone technologies
Authors: SVOBODA EVA , RICHARDS BRIAN
Published: July 2009

Following a neuropathological event, individuals left with moderate-to-severe memory impairment are unable to reliably form new memories. The most common challenges involve the capacity to perform a task in the future and to consciously recall a recent event. Disruption of these memory processes leaves the individual trapped in the present, unable to stay on track, and alienated from ongoing events. Memory research has demonstrated that implicit memory is often preserved despite severe explicit memory impairment and that preserved memory systems can provide avenues for acquiring new skills and knowledge. A within-subject single-case A1-B1-A2-B2experimental design was used to introduce an established theory-driven training program of technology use for individuals with moderate-to-severe memory impairment. We describe its application to enabling RR, an individual with memory impairment postcolloid cyst removal, to independently support her memory using a commercial smartphone. RR showed successful outcome on both objective and qualitative measures of memory functioning. Moreover, she demonstrated consistent and creative generalization of acquired smartphone skills across a broad range of real-life memory-demanding circumstances. Our findings suggest that individuals with moderate-to-severe memory impairment are able to capitalize on emerging commercial technology to support their memory. (JINS, 2009,15, 629–638.)
Affective decision-making predictive of Chinese adolescent drinking behaviors
Authors: XIAO LIN , BECHARA ANTOINE , GRENARD L. JERRY , STACY W. ALAN , PALMER PAULA , WEI YONGLAN , JIA YONG , FU XIAOLU , JOHNSON C. ANDERSON
Published: July 2009

The goal of the current investigation was to address whether affective decision making would serve as a unique neuropsychological marker to predict drinking behaviors among adolescents. We conducted a longitudinal study of 181 Chinese adolescents in Chengdu city, China. In their 10th grade (ages 15–16), these adolescents were tested for their affective decision-making ability using the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) and working memory capacity using the Self-Ordered Pointing Test. Self-report questionnaires were used to assess academic performance and drinking behaviors. At 1-year follow-up, questionnaires were completed to assess drinking behaviors, and the UPPS Impulsive Behavior Scale was used to examine four dimensions of impulsivity: urgency, lack of premeditation, lack of perseverance, and sensation seeking. Results indicated that those adolescents who progressed to binge drinking or exhibited consistent binge drinking not only performed poorly on the IGT but also scored significantly higher in urgency compared to those who never or occasionally drank. Moreover, better IGT scores predicted fewer drinking problems and fewer drinks 1 year later after controlling for demographic variables, the previous drinking behaviors, working memory, and impulsivity. These findings suggest that deficits in affective decision making may be important independent determinants of compulsive drinking and potentially addictive behavior in adolescents. (JINS, 2009, 15, 547–557.)
Why cognitive performance in ADHD may not reveal true potential: Findings from a large population-based sample
Authors: KUNTSI JONNA , WOOD ALEXIS C. , VAN DER MEERE JAAP , ASHERSON PHILIP
Published: July 2009

Focusing on symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a sample obtained from the general population, we aimed to investigate the effects of incentives and event rate on reaction time (RT) performance and response inhibition. We assessed 1156 children, at a mean age of 8 years, on their performance on an inhibition task and a RT task under different experimental conditions that manipulated event rate and incentives. Children with high ADHD (ADHD-H) symptoms showed cognitive performance deficits only under some of the experimental conditions compared to a control group. The fast-incentive condition of the RT task succeeded in normalizing the RT variability, as well as the slow overall speed, in the ADHD-H group. Analyses of ADHD symptom scores as a quantitative trait in the total sample were overall consistent with these findings. The findings suggest that at least some cognitive performance deficits in children with high ADHD symptoms do not reflect stable cognitive deficits. The degree to which cognitive impairments in ADHD can be modulated by energetic or motivational factors has important implications for clinical and educational interventions. (JINS, 2009, 15, 570–579.)
Effects of race and socioeconomic status on the relative influence of education and literacy on cognitive functioning
Authors: DOTSON VONETTA M. , KITNER-TRIOLO MELISSA H. , EVANS MICHELE K. , ZONDERMAN ALAN B.
Published: July 2009

Previous research has shown that reading ability is a stronger predictor of cognitive functioning than years of education, particularly for African Americans. The current study was designed to determine whether the relative influence of literacy and education on cognitive abilities varies as a function of race or socioeconomic status (SES). We examined the unique influence of education and reading scores on a range of cognitive tests in low- and higher-SES African Americans and Whites. Literacy significantly predicted scores on all but one cognitive measure in both African American groups and low-SES Whites, while education was not significantly associated with any cognitive measure. In contrast, both education and reading scores predicted performance on many cognitive measures in higher-SES Whites. These findings provide further evidence that reading ability better predicts cognitive functioning than years of education and suggest that disadvantages associated with racial minority status and low SES affect the relative influence of literacy and years of education on cognition. (JINS, 2009,15, 580–589.)
Examining the effects of two factors on working memory maintenance of bound information in schizophrenia
Authors: LUCK DAVID , BUCHY LISA , LEPAGE MARTIN , DANION JEAN-MARIE
Published: July 2009

Integrating information in space and time is a central feature of episodic memory. Although disturbance of the binding processes in episodic memory is well established in patients with schizophrenia, data on working memory (WM) remain discrepant. In a change detection procedure, two target displays of pairs of letters located in cells of grid were successively presented. Participants attempted to detect changes in binding information (i.e., recombination of studied features) or feature information (i.e., a novel letter and/or a novel spatial location). Recombinations consisted of features belonging to the same display (intradisplay) or different displays (interdisplays). Results showed that patients demonstrated overall lower performance, with no specific deficit for recognizing bound information or feature information. In addition, patients did not demonstrate deficits for interdisplay recombinations or intradisplay recombinations. Patients’ ability to remember temporal occurrence of stimuli was not affected. Together, these results suggest that in patients with schizophrenia, binding processes in WM are not specifically disturbed. (JINS, 2009,15, 597–605.)
Construct validity of cognitive reserve in a multiethnic cohort: The Northern Manhattan Study
Authors: SIEDLECKI KAREN L. , STERN YAAKOV , REUBEN AARON , SACCO RALPH L. , ELKIND MITCHELL S.V. , WRIGHT CLINTON B.
Published: July 2009

Cognitive reserve is a hypothetical construct that has been used to inform models of cognitive aging and is presumed to be indicative of life experiences that may mitigate the effects of brain pathology. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the construct validity of cognitive reserve by examining both its convergent and its discriminant validity across three different samples of participants using structural equation modeling. The cognitive reserve variables were found to correlate highly with one another (thereby providing evidence of convergent validity), but demanding tests of discriminant validity indicated that, in two of the samples, the cognitive reserve construct was highly related to an executive functioning construct. (JINS, 2009, 15, 558–569.)
Dyslexia: The evolution of a scientific concept
Authors: FLETCHER JACK M.
Published: July 2009

In the past 25 years, scientific understanding of dyslexia and other learning disabilities has seen rapid progress in domains involving definition and classification, neuropsychological correlates, neurobiological factors, and intervention. I discuss this progress, emphasizing the central organizing influence of research and theory on basic academic skills on identification and sampling issues. I also emphasize how neuropsychological approaches to dyslexia have evolved and the importance of an interdisciplinary perspective for understanding dyslexia. (JINS, 2009,15, 501–508.)
Cognitive reserve moderates the negative effect of brain atrophy on cognitive efficiency in multiple sclerosis
Authors: SUMOWSKI JAMES F. , CHIARAVALLOTI NANCY , WYLIE GLENN , DELUCA JOHN
Published: July 2009

According to the cognitive reserve hypothesis, neuropsychological expression of brain disease is attenuated among persons with higher education or premorbid intelligence. The current research examined cognitive reserve in multiple sclerosis (MS) by investigating whether the negative effect of brain atrophy on information processing (IP) efficiency is moderated by premorbid intelligence. Thirty-eight persons with clinically definite MS completed a vocabulary-based estimate of premorbid intelligence (Wechsler Vocabulary) and a composite measure of IP efficiency (Symbol Digit Modalities Test and Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task). Brain atrophy was estimated from measurements of third ventricle width using high-resolution anatomical brain magnetic resonance imaging (magnetization-prepared rapid gradient echo). In a hierarchical regression analysis controlling for age and depressive symptomatology, brain atrophy predicted worse IP efficiency (R2 = .23, p = .003) and cognitive reserve predicted better IP efficiency (R2 = .13, p = .013), but these effects were moderated by an Atrophy × Cognitive Reserve interaction (R2 = .15, p = .004). The negative effect of brain atrophy on IP efficiency was attenuated at higher levels of reserve, such that MS subjects with higher reserve were better able to withstand MS neuropathology without suffering cognitive impairment. Results help explain the incomplete and inconsistent relationship between brain atrophy and IP efficiency in previous research. (JINS, 2009, 15, 606–612.)
Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: Neuropsychological profile in an extended series of cases
Authors: HAWKINS KARI , CHOHAN GURJIT , KIPPS CHRISTOPHER , WILL ROBERT , KAPUR NARINDER
Published: July 2009

Neuropsychological data on an extended series of cases of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) are presented, complementing earlier findings from smaller sample studies of this condition. Distinct neuropsychological features in this extended series included relatively preserved verbal knowledge, immediate verbal memory span, and elementary visual processing. This sparing contrasted with ubiquitous impairment in every vCJD patient on timed tests of verbal fluency and digit-symbol substitution. There were also high rates of impairment on tests of memory, and of visuoperceptual and visuospatial reasoning. Our findings lend support to the view that distinctive neuropsychological features may be one of the diagnostic markers of the condition. (JINS, 2009, 15, 807–810.)
What else happened to English? A brief for the Celtic hypothesis
Authors: McWHORTER J. H.
Published: July 2009

This article argues that despite traditional skepticism among most specialists on the history of English that Brythonic Celtic languages could have had any significant structural impact on English's evolution, the source of periphrasticdoin Cornish's equivalent construction is virtually impossible to deny on the basis of a wide range of evidence. That Welsh and Cornish borrowed the construction from English is impossible given its presence in Breton, whose speakers left Britain in the fifth century. The paucity of Celtic loanwords in English is paralleled by equivalent paucity in undisputed contact cases such as Uralic's on Russian. Traditional language-internal accounts suffer from a degree of ad hocness. Finally, periphrasticdois much rarer cross-linguistically than typically acknowledged, which lends further support to a contact account.
DC Photoelectron Gun Parameters for Ultrafast Electron Microscopy
Authors: Berger Joel A. , Hogan John T. , Greco Michael J. , Schroeder W. Andreas , Nicholls Alan W. , Browning Nigel D.
Published: July 2009

We present a characterization of the performance of an ultrashort laser pulse driven DC photoelectron gun based on the thermionic emission gun design of Togawa et al. [Togawa, K., Shintake, T., Inagaki, T., Onoe, K. & Tanaka, T. (2007). Phys Rev Spec Top-AC10, 020703]. The gun design intrinsically provides adequate optical access and accommodates the generation of ∼1 mm2 electron beams while contributing negligible divergent effects at the anode aperture. Both single-photon (with up to 20,000 electrons/pulse) and two-photon photoemission are observed from Ta and Cu(100) photocathodes driven by the harmonics (∼4 ps pulses at 261 nm and ∼200 fs pulses at 532 nm, respectively) of a high-power femtosecond Yb:KGW laser. The results, including the dependence of the photoemission efficiency on the polarization state of the drive laser radiation, are consistent with expectations. The implications of these observations and other physical limitations for the development of a dynamic transmission electron microscope with sub-1 nm·ps space-time resolution are discussed.
Novel Radio-Frequency Gun Structures for Ultrafast Relativistic Electron Diffraction
Authors: Musumeci P. , Faillace L. , Fukasawa A. , Moody J.T. , O'Shea B. , Rosenzweig J.B. , Scoby C.M.
Published: July 2009

Radio-frequency (RF) photoinjector-based relativistic ultrafast electron diffraction (UED) is a promising new technique that has the potential to probe structural changes at the atomic scale with sub-100 fs temporal resolution in a single shot. We analyze the limitations on the temporal and spatial resolution of this technique considering the operating parameters of a standard 1.6 cell RF gun (which is the RF photoinjector used for the first experimental tests of relativistic UED at Stanford Linear Accelerator Center; University of California, Los Angeles; Brookhaven National Laboratory), and study the possibility of employing novel RF structures to circumvent some of these limits.
The Development and Applications of Ultrafast Electron Nanocrystallography
Authors: Ruan Chong-Yu , Murooka Yoshie , Raman Ramani K. , Murdick Ryan A. , Worhatch Richard J. , Pell Aric
Published: July 2009

We review the development of ultrafast electron nanocrystallography as a method for investigating structural dynamics for nanoscale materials and interfaces. Its sensitivity and resolution are demonstrated in the studies of surface melting of gold nanocrystals, nonequilibrium transformation of graphite into reversible diamond-like intermediates, and molecular scale charge dynamics, showing a versatility for not only determining the structures, but also the charge and energy redistribution at interfaces. A quantitative scheme for 3D retrieval of atomic structures is demonstrated with few-particle (<1,000) sensitivity, establishing this nanocrystallographic method as a tool for directly visualizing dynamics within isolated nanomaterials with atomic scale spatio-temporal resolution.
Reproducibility of Immunostaining Quantification and Description of a New Digital Image Processing Procedure for Quantitative Evaluation of Immunohistochemistry in Pathology
Authors: Bernardo Vagner , Lourenço Simone Q.C. , Cruz Renato , Monteiro-Leal Luiz H. , Silva Licínio E. , Camisasca Danielle R. , Farina Marcos , Lins Ulysses
Published: July 2009

Quantification of immunostaining is a widely used technique in pathology. Nonetheless, techniques that rely on human vision are prone to inter- and intraobserver variability, and they are tedious and time consuming. Digital image analysis (DIA), now available in a variety of platforms, improves quantification performance: however, the stability of these different DIA systems is largely unknown. Here, we describe a method to measure the reproducibility of DIA systems. In addition, we describe a new image-processing strategy for quantitative evaluation of immunostained tissue sections using DAB/hematoxylin-stained slides. This approach is based on image subtraction, using a blue low pass filter in the optical train, followed by digital contrast and brightness enhancement. Results showed that our DIA system yields stable counts, and that this method can be used to evaluate the performance of DIA systems. The new image-processing approach creates an image that aids both human visual observation and DIA systems in assessing immunostained slides, delivers a quantitative performance similar to that of bright field imaging, gives thresholds with smaller ranges, and allows the segmentation of strongly immunostained areas, all resulting in a higher probability of representing specific staining. We believe that our approach offers important advantages to immunostaining quantification in pathology.
Effects of Clitoria ternatea Leaf Extract on Growth and Morphogenesis of Aspergillus niger
Authors: Kamilla L. , Mansor S.M. , Ramanathan S. , Sasidharan S.
Published: July 2009

Clitoria ternatea is known for its antimicrobial activity but the antifungal effects of leaf extract on growth and morphogenesis of Aspergillus niger have not been observed. The extract showed a favorable antifungal activity against A. niger with a minimum inhibition concentration 0.8 mg/mL and minimum fungicidal concentration 1.6 mg/mL, respectively. The leaf extract exhibited considerable antifungal activity against filamentous fungi in a dose-dependent manner with 0.4 mg/mL IC50 value on hyphal growth of A. niger. The main changes observed under scanning electron microscopy after C. ternatea extract treatment were loss of cytoplasm in fungal hyphae and the hyphal wall and its diameter became markedly thinner, distorted, and resulted in cell wall disruption. In addition, conidiophore alterations were also observed when A. niger was treated with C. ternatea leaf extract.
Development Induced Displacement: Issues of Compensation and Resettlement – Experiences from the Narmada Valley and Sardar Sarovar Project
Authors: MAITRA SREYA
Published: July 2009

The paper explores the dynamics of the phenomenon of Development Induced Displacement and the theoretical, legal, and policy level issues which have impeded the fluent process of implementation of development projects in India. Modern India has found itself embroiled in this tussle between the development plans of the State at the macro level and their undesirable consequences for the specific project affected people. Though the exigencies of time and the logic of the liberalization policy demand the continuous articulation of development projects, it is equally imperative to transcend the disempowering effects of displacement on its people. Despite recent initiatives by the government, concrete policy statements and laws governing the issues of compensation and resettlement are found wanting. The paper argues that there is an urgent need for the state to reach a necessary balance between its efforts to augur development and to make it sustainable, just, and equitous. The problems encountered in the allocation of compensation and resettlement in such projects form the focus of the article. The experiences of dam-induced displacement at the Sardar Sarovar Project in the Narmada River Valley Project in Gujarat in India are highlighted to serve as illustrations.
Comparing Political Trust in Hong Kong and Taiwan: Levels, Determinants, and Implications
Authors: WONG TIMOTHY KA-YING , HSIAO HSIN-HUANG MICHAEL , WAN PO-SAN
Published: July 2009

Political trust is a cornerstone of political survival and development. This paper makes use of data from the 2006 AsiaBarometer Survey to examine the level of political trust in Hong Kong and Taiwan. It finds that the people of Hong Kong have a high level of trust in their government and judiciary, but a relatively low level of trust in their legislature. In contrast, the Taiwan people have a lower level of trust in all of their executive, judicial, and legislative branches, reflecting a serious problem with political confidence in Taiwan. A further analysis shows that institutional factors such as ratings of government performance, life satisfaction, and satisfaction with democratic rights and freedoms, and cultural factors such as interpersonal trust, post-materialism, and traditionalism have varying degrees of effect on the different domains of political trust in Hong Kong and Taiwan, but institutional factors appear to be more powerful than cultural factors in explaining the experiences of both societies.
Political Shirking – Proposition 13 vs. Proposition 8
Authors: FUJII SEIJI
Published: July 2009

This paper considers the efficiency of the political market in the California State legislature. I analyzed the property tax limitation voter initiative, Proposition 13. I found that districts which supported Proposition 13 more strongly were more likely to oppose the incumbents regardless of whether the incumbents had the different preferences for property taxes from their districts. I also studied how legislators voted on the bills adopted after the passage of Proposition 13 to finance local governments. I found that legislators tended to follow the constituents’ will after they received the voters’ tax-cutting message expressed by the passage of Proposition 13.
A software system for tobacco germplasm data
Authors: Ravisankar H. , Sarala K. , Krishnamurthy V. , Rao R.V.S.
Published: July 2009

Tobacco germplasm are of different ‘types’, with large numbers of accessions in each type. In order to effectively manage this tobacco germplasm information, a user-friendly menu-driven software has been developed based on Visual C++ and MS-Access. The system allows the user to store, modify and update germplasm information as and when required, and represents a decision-making tool.
Genetic erosion over time of rice landrace agrobiodiversity
Authors: Ford-Lloyd Brian V. , Brar Darshan , Khush Gurdev S. , Jackson Michael T. , Virk Parminder S.
Published: July 2009

Changes in global biodiversity at the genetic level have proved difficult to determine for most organisms because of lack of standardized, repeated or historical data; this hampers the attempts to meet the convention on biological diversity (CBD) 2010 targets of reducing loss of genetic diversity, particularly of crop species. For rice, where germplasm and genetic data have been collected throughout South and Southeast Asia over many decades, contrary to popular opinion, we have been unable to detect a significant reduction of available genetic diversity in our study material. This absence of a decline may be viewed positively; over the 33-year timescale of our study, genetic diversity amongst landraces grown in traditional agricultural systems was still sufficiently abundant to be collected forex situconservation. However, if significant genetic erosion does take place in the future as a result of accelerating global warming and/or major changes in land use or agricultural practices, will it be catastrophic or gradual, and how will it be detected? We have shown a strong link between numbers of landraces collected (and therefore extant) and genetic diversity; hence, we have a clear indicator to detect loss of genetic diversity in the future. Our findings lend considerable support forex situconservation of germplasm; the more than substantial genetic resources already in genebanks are now safe. On the other hand, it is the germplasm growing in farmers' fields, continually adapting genetically to changing environmental conditions and evolving novel genetic forms, whose future has been much less certain but can now be effectively monitored using our criteria.
Genetic diversity in local barley accessions collected from different geographical regions of Tunisia
Authors: Ould Med Mahmoud M. A. , Hamza S.
Published: July 2009

To assess the genetic diversity among Tunisian local barley, a set of 120 barley accessions representing five distinct geographical regions (North-West, Littoral, South, Jerba and Kerkennah Islands) was characterized with 20 simple sequence repeats (SSR) and 8 expressed sequence tag (EST)-SSR markers. The 28 loci revealed a total of 98 alleles, with an average of 3.76 alleles per locus (range 2–10). Gene diversity averaged 0.50 (range 0.09–0.84). Partitioning analysis of genetic diversity showed that about 95% of the total variation was within regions and no geographical differentiation could be found except for the North-West population. Similarly, neighbour joining clustering of the genotypes did not indicate any clear pattern of division among the barley accessions based on geographical origin. These results may reflect the impact of seed exchange between farmers which is likely to limit highlighting favourable alleles due to local adaptation.
Establishing a core collection of foxtail millet to enhance the utilization of germplasm of an underutilized crop
Authors: Upadhyaya Hari D. , Pundir R. P. S. , Gowda C. L. L. , Gopal Reddy V. , Singh S.
Published: July 2009

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica(L.) Beauv.) is one of the ten small millets and is cultivated in 23 countries. The foxtail millet is valued as a crop of short duration, which is good as food, feed and fodder. In general, grain yield levels of foxtail millet are low in comparison with other staple cereals. The greater use of diverse germplasm in breeding is suggested as a means to improve the productivity of this crop. The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics genebank is presently holding 1474 cultivated germplasm accessions from 23 countries. To utilize this diversity in research, a core collection (10% of the entire collection) was established using the taxonomic and qualitative traits data. The germplasm accessions were stratified into three taxonomic races (Indica, Maxima and Moharia). Principal coordinate analysis was performed on 12 qualitative traits for each of the biological races, separately that resulted in the formation of 29 clusters. From each cluster, 10% of the accessions were selected to constitute a core collection of 155 accessions. The composition and diversity of the core collection was validated by the χ2-tests of the frequencies of origin, races, subraces and data on qualitative traits. The analysis of the quantitative traits for mean, range, variance, Shannon–Weaver diversity index and phenotypic associations indicated that the diversity from the entire collection was optimally represented in the core collection. The core subset will be evaluated in replicated trials to make a more precise assessment of diversity and further efforts to identify the sources of agronomic and grain nutritional traits for utilization in breeding programmes.