bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Retrospective Analysis of Portuguese Elite Athletes' Involvement in International Competitions
Authors: Barreiros André N. , Fonseca António M.
Published: September 2012

The primary purpose of the present study was to determine how many international senior athletes competed at the international level during their development. This examination was conducted across different sports, genders, and levels of success. 532 international senior athletes of four Olympic sports (soccer, volleyball, swimming, and judo) who were born between 1974 and 1983 and competed at National squads between 1988 and 2008. The results showed, particularly at team sports, that a significant number of athletes did not have any international experience during their development as a youth. Overall, results suggest that early involvement in international events and selection of talent during early ages is not a prerequisite of success, particularly in team and male sports.
Influence of Synthesis Conditions on the Formation of a Kaolinitemethanol Complex and Simulation of its Vibrational Spectra
Authors: Matusik Jakub , Scholtzová Eva , Tunega Daniel , Rueda Elsa H.
Published: September 2012

Kaolinite is often used as a base for the synthesis of new organo-mineral nanomaterials designed for applications in industry and in environmental protection. To make the mineral structure more likely to interact with organic molecules, a kaolinite-methanol complex (KM) can be used. In the present study, different experimental procedures were tested to investigate the formation of the KM. The kaolinitedimethyl sulfoxide intercalation compound (KDS), either wet or dried, was used as a pre-intercalate. The samples obtained were characterized using X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, CHNS elemental analysis, 13C CP-magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR), and 27Al and 29Si MAS NMR techniques. The method of density functional theory with dispersion corrections (DFT-D2) was used to explain the structure and to simulate the vibrational spectra of KM. Theoretical results were compared with experimental data. The most effective formation of the KM (d001 = 11.1 Å — wet; d001 = 8.7 Å — dried) was observed when the dried KDS precursor was used. In such conditions the degree of intercalation reached ~98% after 24 h of reaction time. As indicated by the CHNS elemental analysis, ~1/6 of the inner-surface OH groups were grafted by OCH3 groups. The esterification reaction was less efficient at higher temperatures or when wet KDS was used. In the latter case, the excess of very polar dimethyl sulfoxide molecules prevented intercalation of methanol and further grafting. Detailed analysis of the results of theoretical simulations revealed that the reaction of the KDS with methanol led to the formation of kaolinite with both grafted methoxy groups and intercalated methanol, and water molecules in the interlayer space. The spectra calculated revealed the contribution of individual vibrational modes into the complex bands, i.e. the energy of C-H vibrations was in the order: νasCHmet > νasCHmtx > νsCHmet > νsCHmtx.
Character degrees of extensions of PSL2(q) and SL2(q)
Authors: White Donald L.
Published: September 2012

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Comparison of left ventricular cardiac dimensions between small and appropriate for gestational age preterm infants below 30 weeks of gestation
Authors: Czernik Christoph , Rhode Stefanie , Metze Boris , Bührer Christoph , Schmitz Lothar
Published: September 2012

Objective: The development of the left cardiac structures in the early life of small for gestational age (SGA) preterm infants has been inadequately studied. The aim of the study was to compare the left ventricular cardiac dimensions between SGA and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) preterm infants.

Methods: Echocardiography was performed on day 2 (T1) and at age 1 month (T2) in 19 SGA preterm infants (birthweight <3rd percentile) and 21 AGA controls (P25-50) matched for gestational age (<30 weeks).

Results: The left ventricular cardiac dimensions did not differ significantly between SGA and AGA infants at either T1 or T2 after correction for body length. The left ventricular mass was similar for SGA and AGA infants at T1 and T2 after correction for body weight or body length. The left ventricular output increased significantly from T1 to T2 in both SGA and AGA infants [SGA: 350 (T1)–640 (T2) mL/kg/min, P<0.05; AGA: 300 (T1)–510 (T2) mL/kg/min, P<0.05].

Conclusions: The left cardiac structures related to body length are comparable between SGA and AGA preterm infants in the first month of life and show similar development.
Characterization ofDrosophilaLarval Crawling at the Level of Organism, Segment, and Somatic Body Wall Musculature
Authors: Heckscher Ellie S. , Lockery Shawn R. , Doe Chris Q.
Published: September 2012

Understanding rhythmic behavior at the developmental and genetic levels has important implications for neurobiology, medicine, evolution, and robotics. We studied rhythmic behavior—larval crawling—in the genetically and developmentally tractable organism,Drosophila melanogaster. We used narrow-diameter channels to constrain behavior to simple, rhythmic crawling. We quantified crawling at the organism, segment, and muscle levels. We showed thatDrosophilalarval crawling is made up of a series of periodic strides. Each stride consists of two phases. First, while most abdominal segments remain planted on the substrate, the head, tail, and gut translocate; this “visceral pistoning” moves the center of mass. The movement of the center of mass is likely powered by muscle contractions in the head and tail. Second, the head and tail anchor while a body wall wave moves each abdominal segment in the direction of the crawl. These two phases can be observed occurring independently in embryonic stages before becoming coordinated at hatching. During forward crawls, abdominal body wall movements are powered by simultaneous contraction of dorsal and ventral muscle groups, which occur concurrently with contraction of lateral muscles of the adjacent posterior segment. During reverse crawls, abdominal body wall movements are powered by phase-shifted contractions of dorsal and ventral muscles; and ventral muscle contractions occur concurrently with contraction of lateral muscles in the adjacent anterior segment. This work lays a foundation for use ofDrosophilalarva as a model system for studying the genetics and development of rhythmic behavior.
Elimination of Dendritic Spines with Long-Term Memory Is Specific to Active Circuits
Authors: Sanders Jeff , Cowansage Kiriana , Baumgärtel Karsten , Mayford Mark
Published: September 2012

Structural changes in brain circuits active during learning are thought to be important for long-term memory storage. If these changes support long-term information storage, they might be expected to be present at distant time points after learning, as well as to be specific to the circuit activated with learning, and sensitive to the contingencies of the behavioral paradigm. Here, we show such changes in the hippocampus as a result of contextual fear conditioning. There were significantly fewer spines specifically on active neurons of fear-conditioned mice. This spine loss did not occur in homecage mice or in mice exposed to the training context alone. Mice exposed to unpaired shocks showed a generalized reduction in spines. These learning-related changes in spine density could reflect a direct mechanism of encoding or alternately could reflect a compensatory adaptation to previously described enhancement in transmission due to glutamate receptor insertion.
Anoxia-Induced NMDA Receptor Activation Opens Pannexin Channels via Src Family Kinases
Authors: Weilinger Nicholas L. , Tang Peter L. , Thompson Roger J.
Published: September 2012

Anoxic depolarization of pyramidal neurons results from a large inward current that is activated, in part, by excessive glutamate release during exposure to anoxia/ischemia. Pannexin-1 (Panx1) channels can be activated both by ischemia and NMDA receptors (NMDARs), but the mechanisms of Panx1 activation are unknown. We used whole-cell recordings to show that pharmacological inhibition or conditional genetic deletion of Panx1 strongly attenuates the anoxic depolarization of CA1 pyramidal neurons in acute brain slices from rats and mice. Anoxia or exogenous NMDA activated Src family kinases (SFKs), as measured by increased phosphorylation of SFKs at Y416. The SFK inhibitor PP2 prevented Src activation and Panx1 opening during anoxia. A newly developed interfering peptide that targets the SFK consensus-like sequence of Panx1 (Y308) attenuated the anoxic depolarization (AD) without affecting SFK activation. Importantly, the NMDAR antagonists,d-APV and R-CPP, attenuated AD currents carried by Panx1, and the combined application ofd-APV and10panx (a Panx1 blocker) inhibited AD currents to the same extent as either blocker alone. We conclude that activation of NMDARs during anoxia/ischemia recruits SFKs to open Panx1, leading to sustained neuronal depolarizations.
GluN2B-Containing NMDA Receptors Promote Wiring of Adult-Born Neurons into Olfactory Bulb Circuits
Authors: Kelsch Wolfgang , Li Zhijun , Eliava Marina , Goengrich Christina , Monyer Hannah
Published: September 2012

In the developing telencephalon, NMDA receptors (NMDARs) are composed of GluN1 and GluN2B subunits. These “young” NMDARs set a brake on synapse recruitment in neurons of the neonatal cortex. The functional role of GluN2B for synapse maturation of adult-born granule cells (GCs) in the olfactory bulb has not been established and may differ from that of differentiating neurons in immature brain circuits with sparse activity. We genetically targeted GCs by sparse retroviral delivery in mouse subventricular zone that allows functional analysis of single genetically modified cells in an otherwise intact environment. GluN2B-deficient GCs did not exhibit impairment with respect to the first developmental milestones such as synaptogenesis, dendrite formation, and maturation of inhibitory synaptic inputs. However, GluN2B deletion prevented maturation of glutamatergic synaptic input. This severe impairment in synaptic development was associated with a decreased response to novel odors and eventually led to the demise of adult-born GCs. The effect of GluN2B on GC survival is subunit specific, since it cannot be rescued by GluN2A, the subunit dominating mature NMDAR function. Our observations indicate that, GluN2B-containing NMDARs promote synapse activation in adult-born GCs that integrate in circuits with high and correlated synaptic activity. The function of GluN2B-containing NMDARs on synapse maturation can thus be bidirectional depending on the environment.
Kontaktlose Durchflussmessung in Metallschmelzen
Authors: Buchenau Dominique , Gerbeth Gunter , Priede Janis
Published: September 2012

Bis zum heutigen Zeitpunkt gibt es bezogen auf die Strömungs- und Durchflussmessung elektrisch leitfähiger Metallströmungen nahezu keine kommerziell verfügbare Lösungen. Eines der wichtigsten Einsatz- oder Aktionsfelder ist die metallverarbeitende Industrie. Eisen- und Nichteisenmetalle werden durch den technologisch anspruchsvollen Prozess des Gießens in die Form von weiterverarbeitbaren Halbzeugen oder in aufwendige Endformen gebracht. Wichtige Automationsparameter sind dabei Durchflussrate und Geschwindigkeit, ohne deren Kenntnis und Kontrolle keine Prozessführung möglich ist. Zwei weitere, wichtige Anwendungsfelder für kontaktlos operierende Durchfluss- und Strömungssensoren ergeben sich aus der Notwendigkeit des Verständnisses der thermohydraulischen Vorgänge bezüglich des Energie- und Massentransportes in metallgekühlten Reaktorsystemen sowie in künftig geplanten Transmutationssystemen. Abgesehen von der auf dem Markt etablierten, kontaktbehafteten Durchflussmesstechnik stehen derzeit kaum Alternativen der Durchflussbestimmung in flüssigen Metallen zur Verfügung. Der folgende Beitrag stellt zwei innovative, kontaktlose Messverfahren vor, die in zahlreichen Tests untersucht wurden. Ein Verfahren wird in Kürze auf dem Markt kommerziell verfügbar sein.
Signaling pathways regulating FSH- and amphiregulin-induced meiotic resumption and cumulus cell expansion in the pig
Authors: Prochazka R , Blaha M , Nemcova L
Published: September 2012

To define signaling pathways that drive FSH- and epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like peptide-induced cumulus expansion and oocyte meiotic resumption, in vitro cultured pig cumulus–oocyte complexes were treated with specific protein kinase inhibitors. We found that FSH-induced maturation of oocytes was blocked in germinal vesicle (GV) stage by protein kinase A (PKA), MAPK14, MAPK3/1, and EGF receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (H89, SB203580, U0126, and AG1478 respectively) whereas phosphoinositide-3-kinase/v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog (PI3K/AKT) inhibitor (LY294002) blocked maturation of oocytes in metaphase I (MI). Amphiregulin (AREG)-induced maturation of oocytes was efficiently blocked in GV by U0126, AG1478, and low concentrations of LY294002; H89, SB203580, and high concentrations of LY294002 allowed the oocytes to undergo breakdown of GV and blocked maturation in MI. Both FSH- and AREG-induced cumulus expansion was incompletely inhibited by H89 and completely inhibited by SB203580, U0126, AG1478, and LY294002. The inhibitors partially or completely inhibited expression of expansion-related genes (HAS2, PTGS2, and TNFAIP6) with two exceptions: H89 inhibited only TNFAIP6 expression and LY294002 increased expression of PTGS2. The results of this study are consistent with the idea that PKA and MAPK14 pathways are essential for FSH-induced transactivation of the EGFR, and synthesis of EGF-like peptides in cumulus cells and MAPK3/1 is involved in regulation of transcriptional and posttranscriptional events in cumulus cells required for meiotic resumption and cumulus expansion. PI3K/AKT signaling is important for regulation of cumulus expansion, AREG-induced meiotic resumption, and oocyte MI/MII transition. The present data also indicate the existence of an FSH-activated and PKA-independent pathway involved in regulation of HAS2 and PTGS2 expression in cumulus cells.
Market oriented occupational medicine
Authors: Rurik Imre , Cseh Károly
Published: September 2012

The history and the recent state of occupational medicine in Hungary, and its relation with governmental labor organizations are analyzed. In the past 20 years, large “socialist” factories were replaced by smaller companies employing fewer workers. They have been forced to establish contract with occupational health providers. Many of them offer primary care services, whereas family physicians having a board examination in occupational medicine are allowed to work in this field as well. The market of occupational medicine is less regulated, and ethical rules are not always considered. Undercutting prices is a common practice. The recent system could be improved by some regulations which should be respected. There is no reason to make rough changes establishing a new market for profit oriented insurance companies, and to allow employees and employers to work without specification neglecting international agreements. Occupational medicine should be supervised again by the health authorities instead of economists who have quite different, short-term priorities. Orv. Hetil., 2012, 153, 1433–1439.
Comparação de dois modelos experimentais de hipertensão pulmonar
Authors: Polonio Igor Bastos , Acencio Milena Marques Pagliarelli , Pazetti Rogério , Almeida Francine Maria de , Canzian Mauro , Silva Bárbara Soares da , Pereira Karina Aparecida Bonifácio , Souza Rogério de
Published: September 2012

OBJETIVO: Comparar dois modelos de hipertensão pulmonar (monocrotalina e monocrotalina+pneumonectomia) em relação à gravidade hemodinâmica, estrutura de artérias pulmonares, marcadores inflamatórios (IL-1 e PDGF) e sobrevida em 45 dias. MÉTODOS: Foram utilizados 80 ratos Sprague-Dawley em dois protocolos de estudo: análise estrutural e de sobrevida. Os animais foram divididos em quatro grupos: controle, monocrotalina (M), pneumonectomia (P) e monocrotalina+pneumonectomia (M+P). Para a análise estrutural, 40 animais (10/grupo) foram cateterizados após 28 dias para a medição dos valores hemodinâmicos e sacrificados, obtendo-se tecidos cardíaco e pulmonar. O ventrículo direito (VD) foi dissecado do septo interventricular (SI), e a relação do peso do VD e do peso do ventrículo esquerdo (VE) com o SI foi obtida como índice de hipertrofia de VD. No tecido pulmonar, foram realizadas análises histológicas e dosados IL-1 e PDGF por ELISA. Para o estudo de sobrevida, 40 animais (10/grupo) foram observados por 45 dias. RESULTADOS: Os grupos M e M+P apresentaram hipertensão pulmonar em relação aos demais. Houve um aumento significativo da relação VD/VE+S no grupo M+P em relação aos demais. Não houve diferenças significativas entre os grupos M e M+P quanto à área da camada média das artérias pulmonares, dosagens de IL-1 e PDGF ou sobrevida. CONCLUSÕES: Baseados nos resultados, não podemos afirmar que o modelo de monocrotalina+pneumonectomia é superior ao modelo de monocrotalina.
Agenesia pulmonar unilateral
Authors: Malcon Maura Cavada , Malcon Claudio Mattar , Cavada Marina Neves , Caruso Paulo Eduardo Macedo , Real Lara Flório
Published: September 2012

A agenesia pulmonar é uma anomalia congênita rara. Relatamos um caso de um menino de 8 anos de idade com agenesia pulmonar à esquerda sem associação com outras malformações. O diagnóstico foi realizado por achados de imagem quando o paciente apresentou sintomas como tosse, sibilância e dispneia sem melhora do quadro clínico após evolução de 30 dias.
Cleft Palate Associated with Hairy Polyp: A Case Report
Authors: Desai Anil , Kumar Niranjan , Wajpayee Madhukar , Jatania Himanshu
Published: September 2012

Congenital tumors of the oral cavity are extremely uncommon, and hairy polyps are rare nonneoplastic growths. Most hairy polyps arise from the oronasopharynx and may cause impairment of the upper aerodigestive tract in newborns. Cleft palate is one of the most common congenital anomalies but its association with hairy polyp has been rarely reported. We report a case of hairy polyp with cleft palate and its management.
Two new genera of peccaries (Mammalia, Artiodactyla, Tayassuidae) from upper Miocene deposits of the Amazon Basin
Authors: Frailey Carl David , Campbell Kenneth E.
Published: September 2012

Two new, extinct taxa of peccaries from upper Miocene deposits of the western Amazon Basin provide the first data documenting the presence of these North American mammals in South America in the Miocene. One,Sylvochoerus woodburnein. gen. n. sp., is allied morphologically toTayassu pecari, whereas the second,Waldochoerus basslerin. gen. n. sp., is more similar toPecari tajacu. Both new taxa reflect an intermediate position between middle Miocene peccaries and modernTayassuandPecari. The specimens reported here were unstudied, but when collected they were referred to living species ofTayassuandPecaribased on their general similarity to species of those two living genera, and they were dated to the Pleistocene, presumably based on a long–standing model of the Great American Faunal Interchange. The presence of peccaries in South America at approximately the same time that South American ground sloths began appearing in upper Miocene deposits of North America, and soon after the appearance of gomphotheres in South America, indicates that dispersal between the Americas was earlier and involved more taxa than previously interpreted. Molecular divergence data are consistent, in part, with a late Miocene dispersal of peccaries to South America.
How reliable are odour assessments?
Authors: Bokowa A. , Beukes J. A.
Published: September 2012

This paper will demonstrate the differences found in odour test results, when odour sampling is performed at the same sources by two different consultants. By examining two case studies, this paper will highlight that the difference between the results can be significant. Both studies are based on odour sampling programs determining the odour removal efficiency of odour control units installed at two different facilities: a pet food facility and an oil/grease recycling facility. The first study is based on odour measurements at the inlet and outlet of the unit installed by Applied Plasma Physics AS at the pet food facility. Odour assessments were performed by two separate consultants at the same time. The second study is based on testing of the odour removal effectiveness of two units: a scrubber and a biofilter at an oil/grease recycling facility. During this study two odour sampling programs were performed by two consultants at different times, but under the same process conditions. This paper will show how varying results can play a role in choosing the adequate odour control technologies. The final results suggest that although, an odour control unit may appear to be insufficient, it actually is successful at removing the odours.
Static Analysis of Run-Time Errors in Embedded Real-Time Parallel C Programs
Authors: Miné Antoine
Published: September 2012

We present a static analysis by Abstract Interpretation to check for run-time
errors in parallel and multi-threaded C programs. Following our work on
Astr\'ee, we focus on embedded critical programs without recursion nor dynamic
memory allocation, but extend the analysis to a static set of threads
communicating implicitly through a shared memory and explicitly using a finite
set of mutual exclusion locks, and scheduled according to a real-time
scheduling policy and fixed priorities. Our method is thread-modular. It is
based on a slightly modified non-parallel analysis that, when analyzing a
thread, applies and enriches an abstract set of thread interferences. An
iterator then re-analyzes each thread in turn until interferences stabilize. We
prove the soundness of our method with respect to the sequential consistency
semantics, but also with respect to a reasonable weakly consistent memory
semantics. We also show how to take into account mutual exclusion and thread
priorities through a partitioning over an abstraction of the scheduler state.
We present preliminary experimental results analyzing an industrial program
with our prototype, Th\'es\'ee, and demonstrate the scalability of our
approach.
A Reduction-Preserving Completion for Proving Confluence of Non-Terminating Term Rewriting Systems
Authors: Aoto Takahito , Toyama Yoshihito
Published: September 2012

We give a method to prove confluence of term rewriting systems that contain
non-terminating rewrite rules such as commutativity and associativity. Usually,
confluence of term rewriting systems containing such rules is proved by
treating them as equational term rewriting systems and considering E-critical
pairs and/or termination modulo E. In contrast, our method is based solely on
usual critical pairs and it also (partially) works even if the system is not
terminating modulo E. We first present confluence criteria for term rewriting
systems whose rewrite rules can be partitioned into a terminating part and a
possibly non-terminating part. We then give a reduction-preserving completion
procedure so that the applicability of the criteria is enhanced. In contrast to
the well-known Knuth-Bendix completion procedure which preserves the
equivalence relation of the system, our completion procedure preserves the
reduction relation of the system, by which confluence of the original system is
inferred from that of the completed system.
A type reduction theory for systems with replicated components
Authors: Mazur Tomasz , Lowe Gavin
Published: September 2012

The Parameterised Model Checking Problem asks whether an implementation
Impl(t) satisfies a specification Spec(t) for all instantiations of parameter
t. In general, t can determine numerous entities: the number of processes used
in a network, the type of data, the capacities of buffers, etc. The main theme
of this paper is automation of uniform verification of a subclass of PMCP with
the parameter of the first kind, i.e. the number of processes in the network.
We use CSP as our formalism. We present a type reduction theory, which, for a
given verification problem, establishes a function \phi that maps all
(sufficiently large) instantiations T of the parameter to some fixed type T^
and allows us to deduce that if Spec(T^) is refined by \phi(Impl(T)), then
(subject to certain assumptions) Spec(T) is refined by Impl(T). The theory can
be used in practice by combining it with a suitable abstraction method that
produces a t-independent process Abstr that is refined by {\phi}(Impl(T)) for
all sufficiently large T. Then, by testing (with a model checker) if the
abstract model Abstr refines Spec(T^), we can deduce a positive answer to the
original uniform verification problem. The type reduction theory relies on
symbolic representation of process behaviour. We develop a symbolic operational
semantics for CSP processes that satisfy certain normality requirements, and we
provide a set of translation rules that allow us to concretise symbolic
transition graphs. Based on this, we prove results that allow us to infer
behaviours of a process instantiated with uncollapsed types from known
behaviours of the same process instantiated with a reduced type. One of the
main advantages of our symbolic operational semantics and the type reduction
theory is their generality, which makes them applicable in a wide range of
settings.
Analysis of wild sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) germplasm diversity in south-east Serbia
Authors: Mratinic Evica , Fotiric-Aksic Milica , Jovkovic Radmila
Published: September 2012

Ten wild growing sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) genotypes from South-East
Serbia with different fruit skin color were analyzed for its phenological,
morphological and chemical traits. Agronomic evaluation of germplasm
accessions revealed considerable diversity among different accessions for all
the characters studied. The analysis of variance revealed significant
differences among all genotypes for almost all examined properties. Cluster
analysis showed adequate grouping of wild sweet cherry genotypes according to
pomological characterization and distinguished them into two distinct groups.
The first group had two subgroups and consisted of seven genotypes, while the
second one included only three accessions. Despite of the significant
differences among genotypes, the total concentration of phenols made a clear
separation between the clusters. The level of genetic diversity in these wild
sweet cherry genotypes is very high and therefore these trees are useful
sources of variability for attributes studied and can be employed in further
breeding programs or conservation.
Key principles and roles of stakeholders of educational change
Authors: Djeric Ivana , Vujacic Milja
Published: September 2012

Knowledge about educational change teaches us that educational reform is a
complex and multidimensional enterprise with an uncertain outcome. Besides
the existence of a clear education development strategy, one of the most
important factors of success of reform initiatives is responsible change
management. This paper provides an overview of Fullan?s theoretical
assumptions and research data on the key principles of effective change
management and the roles of stakeholders in the process of change
development, planning and implementation. Reform processes in Serbia in the
field of education, which took place during the previous decade, are observed
through the prism of Fullan?s assumptions and findings on the responsible
management of educational change. It is presumed that the lack of success of
educational reforms in our country stemmed from the lack of knowledge about
educational change and inadequate management of reform processes, which had a
negative effect on the efficiency of reform implementation and motivation of
key stakeholders in those changes. For successful creation of future
educational policies and change implementation in our country, it is vital to
count in the ?voice? of practice, to join forces and potentials of employees
in the relevant institutions and schools, in order to decrease risks and
increase the possibilities for accepting change in practice.
Captive-Taking and Conventions of Encounters on the Northwest Coast, 1789-1810
Authors: Igler David
Published: September 2012

Captivity in a variety of forms frequently punctuated culture encounters in the early modern Pacific world. In few places was captivity more common than on the Northwest Coast, where a lively fur trade brought indigenous communities together with European and American traders. Between 1789 and 1792, the taking of captives and exchange of hostages was a strategy used to advantage by both native peoples and foreign ship crews. The captivity account of John Jewitt, 1803-1805, illustrates both the changing dynamics of the trade and of growing language vehicles of communication. The captivity accounts by both native and Russian chroniclers of the 1808-1810 Sv. Nikolai survivors demonstrate the complex motives and internal divisions among both elements. All of these cases draw attention to how many of the actors in the cultural contacts in the East Pacific Basin were "unfree," challenged in their status, and driven by competition in a short-lived market.
Connecting Lines: L.A.'s Telephone History and the Binding of the Region
Authors: Bills Emily
Published: September 2012

From the 1881 incorporation of Los Angeles' first telephone company, telecommunications spread rapidly in the city and its surrounding region. This article details the proliferation of telephony, and its role in the region's rapid growth and in the formation of region-wide economic networks. Conversely, Pomona, 30 miles from Los Angeles, serves as an example of how local telephone systems could also facilitate sub-regional economic blocs. The history of the telephone, this article argues, is essential to understanding the L.A. region's multi-nucleated development and its economic structure.
A Gold Rush Salvadoran in California's Latino World, 1857
Authors: Hayes-Bautista David E. , Chamberlin Cynthia L. , Zuniga Nancy
Published: September 2012

A close analysis of an 1857 open letter to the Spanish-speaking press in Los Angeles by Ángel Mora, a departing Salvadoran miner, provides hints to the opportunities that drew Central Americans to the California gold rush, as well as the personal and historical reasons for their disillusion and departure. It also illuminates Central Americans' national identity, their sense of community with Hispanics from other countries, and their response to events in their homelands.
The Audit Reporting Model: Current Research Synthesis and Implications
Authors: Mock Theodore J. , Bédard Jean , Coram Paul J. , Davis Shawn M. , Espahbodi Reza , Warne Rick C.
Published: September 2012

This research synthesis evaluates relevant research concerning the audit report. For too long, there has been a significant “expectations gap” between what financial statement users expect an audit is delivering and what the audit profession believes it is providing. This gap becomes particularly problematic for auditors when there is a “business crisis” and attention is directed to the role of the auditor. Two related gaps are considered in this synthesis, a communications gap, and an information gap. All of these gaps relate to the demand for, understanding of, and use of auditor communications, which is the focus of this synthesis.

Our synthesis is driven by two primary research questions: What do financial statement users perceive as information that should be communicated, and what does research show to be the effects on users of existing and other auditor communications currently being considered?

As we discuss in detail, prior research does address many aspects of these two questions, but many of the findings are mixed and some important aspects have not been studied. Further research, particularly in areas regarding changes to the audit reporting model currently being considered, could lead to the improvement of the value relevance of auditor services, disclosures, and assurances. The clear interest by regulators and standard setters in such applied research should serve as a strong incentive for academics to conduct such research and for the practicing profession to support it.
Charities in Competition: Effects of Accounting Information on Donating Adjustments
Authors: van der Heijden Hans
Published: September 2012

Following the emergence of high-profile charity comparison websites, donors are increasingly able to evaluate accounting information of several competing charities before they make a donation. Previous literature has primarily examined the effects of accounting information on donations to single charities. This study looks at the giving intentions of individual donors in settings with several charities, where charities directly compete with each other for the individual donation. The study presents an experiment (n = 226) where individuals adjust their donations after studying the program-spending ratios of the charities. The results indicate a flight to extremes—accounting information affects donations to charities at the extreme ends of the shortlist, but charities that are in the middle do not benefit. Threshold information (i.e., information whether each charity meets generally accepted guidelines for program-spending ratios) affects donation adjustments only if this information influences the positions of the charities at the top and bottom of the shortlist.
Evidence on the Cost Hierarchy: The Association between Resource Consumption and Production Activities
Authors: Anderson Shannon W. , Sedatole Karen L.
Published: September 2012

Modern cost accounting posits that manufacturing overhead costs vary with production unit volume, batches of production, and with the variety of products produced. However, many studies fail to find an association between manufacturing overhead costs and activities associated with production batches and product variety; rather, the traditional fixed and (unit) variable cost structure is validated. One explanation is that flexible manufacturing methods and optimized production scheduling restore the relevance of the traditional cost model. Another explanation is that the relation holds, but is not detectable because of limitations of the data used in these studies. We explore the separate and joint impacts of these data limitations using data from a modern float glass manufacturing plant and a new time-driven activity-based costing model suggested by Kaplan and Anderson (2004, 2007). We find that: (1) batch and product-variety-related activities are significantly associated with resource consumption, (2) crude measures of activity promote incorrect conclusions about the strength of the relation between activities and resource consumption, and (3) monthly aggregation of data obscures important aspects of the relation between daily production activities and resource consumption. In sum, even in a highly automated setting that is biased against finding evidence of the cost hierarchy because production scheduling is optimized to minimize batch and product-variety-related resource consumption, the cost hierarchy is an apt description of the association between resource consumption and production activity. However, improved measurement and cost model specification are necessary to reveal this association.

Data Availability: Data are the property of the firm and may not be redistributed by the authors.
Existence and uniqueness of solution for a class of nonlinear sequential differential equations of fractional order
Authors: Klimek Małgorzata , Błasik Marek
Published: September 2012

Two-term semi-linear and two-term nonlinear fractional differential equations (FDEs) with sequential Caputo derivatives are considered. A unique continuous solution is derived using the equivalent norms/metrics method and the Banach theorem on a fixed point. Both, the unique general solution connected to the stationary function of the highest order derivative and the unique particular solution generated by the initial value problem, are explicitly constructed and proven to exist in an arbitrary interval, provided the nonlinear terms fulfil the corresponding Lipschitz condition. The existence-uniqueness results are given for an arbitrary order of the FDE and an arbitrary partition of orders between the components of sequential derivatives.
Sensitivity of MUC5AC to Topical Corticosteroid is Negatively Associated with Interleukin-17A in Patients with Allergic Rhinitis
Authors: Tang Haocheng , Wang Hongtian , Bai Jing , Ding Minghong , Liu Wenlong , Xia Wentong , Luo Qing , Xu Geng , Li Huabin , Fang Jugao
Published: September 2012

Background

Although Interleukin (IL)-17A has been suggested to play a role in corticosteroid hyporesponsiveness, whether IL-17A is able to affect the sensitivity of MUC5AC to intranasal corticosteroid treatment in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) is unclear.

Methods

Twenty patients with moderate to severe AR were enrolled in this study and the expression of MUC5AC, IL-17A, and glucocorticoid receptor beta (GR beta) was detected using immunochemical staining and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) before and after treatment with fluticasone propionate (FP) nasal spray for 4 weeks, respectively. In addition, the effects of FP on IL-13– and IL-17A–induced MUC5AC and GR beta were also evaluated in the primarily cultured human nasal epithelial cells (HNECs) in vitro.

Results

The increased MUC5AC expression was associated with IL-17A levels in AR, and IL-17A was found to affect the inhibition of MUC5AC by corticosteroid treatment. Both IL-13 and IL-17A significantly promoted MUC5AC mRNA expression in HNECs, and FP treatment was able to significantly inhibit MUC5AC mRNA expression in HNECs induced by IL-13 but not for that induced by IL-17A. Also, IL-17A but not IL-13 promoted GR beta mRNA expression in HNECs, which was not affected by administration of corticosteroid.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that the sensitivity of MUC5AC to topical corticosteroid is negatively associated with IL-17A in AR patients. This might help us to gain more insight into the pathophysiology and the pharmacotherapeutic mechanisms on AR treatment.
Silastic Splints Reduce Middle Meatal Adhesions after Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
Authors: Baguley Campbell J. , Stow Nicholas W. , Weitzel Erik K. , Douglas Richard G.
Published: September 2012

Background

Adhesions frequently form between the middle turbinate and lateral nasal wall after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) and are a possible cause for surgical failure. Many absorbable and nonabsorbable spacers have been tried to improve healing. This study was designed to ascertain whether placement of a thin silastic splint into the middle meatus after sinus surgery for 2 weeks reduces adhesion formation and whether a reduction in the adhesion rate improves patient outcomes in the early postoperative phase.

Methods

Forty-two patients who were scheduled to undergo ESS for chronic rhinosinusitis were randomized to have a silastic splint placed into the middle meatus on one side of the nose but not the other at the completion of surgery. Splints were removed 2 weeks postoperatively. Symptom scores were recorded for each side of the nose up to 12 weeks after surgery and ethmoid cavities were graded at the 6- and 12-week visits along with assessment of adhesions. Patients were blinded to which side was splinted as was the surgeon assessing ethmoid cavities at 6 and 12 weeks.

Results

Thirty-three patients completed 12 weeks of follow-up. Nasal obstruction and facial pain/discomfort were significantly higher on splinted sides for the first 2 weeks. More interventions were performed to debride adhesions in nonsplinted sides. Endoscopy revealed no adhesions at 12 weeks for sides treated with a splint whereas 9 of 33 nonsplinted sides had persistent adhesions. There were no significant differences in symptom or ethmoid cavity scores at 6 or 12 weeks between sides treated with splints versus sides treated without splints or between sides with adhesions versus without adhesions.

Conclusion

Middle meatal silastic splints reduce adhesions after ESS but increase early nasal obstruction and discomfort. Their use did not significantly change symptom or ethmoid cavity scores at 12 weeks.
Cartesian Fingerprints in Beckett's Imagination Dead Imagine
Authors: Degani-Raz Irit
Published: September 2012

The idea that Beckett investigates in his works the limits of the media he uses has been widely discussed. In this article I examine the fiction Imagination Dead Imagine as a limiting case in Beckett's exploration of limits at large and the limits of the media he uses in particular. Imagination Dead Imagine is shown to be the self-reflexive act of an artist who imaginatively explores the limits of that ultimate medium – the artist's imagination itself. My central aim is to show that various types of structural homologies (at several levels of abstraction) can be discerned between this poetic exploration of the limits of imagination and Cartesian thought.

The homologies indicated here transcend what might be termed as ‘Cartesian typical topics’ (such as the mind-body dualism, the cogito, rationalism versus empiricism, etc.). The most important homologies that are indicated here are those existing between the role of imagination in Descartes' thought - an issue that until only a few decades ago was quite neglected, even by Cartesian scholars - and Beckett's perception of imagination. I suggest the use of these homologies as a tool for tracing possible sources of inspiration for Beckett's Imagination Dead Imagine.
An Intelligent Multiagent System for Autonomous Microgrid Operation
Authors: Kim Hak-Man , Lim Yujin , Kinoshita Tetsuo
Published: September 2012

A microgrid is an eco-friendly power system because renewable sources such as solar and wind power are used as the main power sources. For this reason, much research, development, and demonstration projects have recently taken place in many countries. Operation is one of the important research topics for microgrids. For efficient and economical microgrid operation, a human operator is required as in other power systems, but it is difficult because there are some restrictions related to operation costs and privacy issues. To overcome the restriction, autonomous operation for microgrids is required. Recently, an intelligent agent system for autonomous microgrid operation has been studied as a potential solution. This paper proposes a multiagent system for autonomous microgrid operation. To build the multiagent system, the functionalities of agents, interactions among agents, and an effective agent protocol have been designed. The proposed system has been implemented by using an ADIPS/DASH framework as an agent platform. The intelligent multiagent system for microgrid operation based on the proposed scheme is tested to show the functionality and feasibility on a distributed environment through the Internet.
Hazardous and Harmful Alcohol Use and Associated Factors in Tuberculosis Public Primary Care Patients in South Africa
Authors: Peltzer Karl , Louw Julia , Mchunu Gugu , Naidoo Pamela , Matseke Gladys , Tutshana Bomkazi
Published: September 2012

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of hazardous and harmful alcohol use and associated factors among patients with tuberculosis in South Africa. In a cross-sectional survey new tuberculosis (TB) and TB retreatment patients were consecutively screened using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) within one month of anti-tuberculosis treatment. The sample included 4,900 (54.5% men and women 45.5%) tuberculosis patients from 42 primary care clinics in three districts. Results indicate that, overall 23.2% of the patients were hazardous or harmful alcohol drinkers, 31.8% of men and 13.0% of women were found to be hazardous drinkers, and 9.3% of men and 3.4% of women meet criteria for probable alcohol dependence (harmful drinking) as defined by the AUDIT. Men had significantly higher AUDIT scores than women. In multivariable analyses it was found that among men poor perceived health status, tobacco use, psychological distress, being a TB retreatment patient and not being on antiretroviral therapy (ART), and among women lower education, tobacco use and being a TB retreatment patient were associated with hazardous or harmful alcohol use. The study found a high prevalence of hazardous or harmful alcohol use among tuberculosis primary care patients. This calls for screening and brief intervention and a comprehensive alcohol treatment programme as a key component of TB management in South Africa.
Damaged DNA Binding Protein 2 in Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) Regulation and Premature Senescence
Authors: Roy Nilotpal , Bagchi Srilata , Raychaudhuri Pradip
Published: September 2012

Premature senescence induced by DNA damage or oncogene is a critical mechanism of tumor suppression. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in the induction of premature senescence response. Several pathological disorders such as cancer, aging and age related neurological abnormalities have been linked to ROS deregulation. Here, we discuss how Damaged DNA binding Protein-2 (DDB2), a nucleotide excision repair protein, plays an important role in ROS regulation by epigenetically repressing the antioxidant genes MnSOD and Catalase. We further revisit a model in which DDB2 plays an instrumental role in DNA damage induced ROS accumulation, ROS induced premature senescence and inhibition of skin tumorigenesis.
Tissue Microarray-Based Evaluation of Chromatin Assembly Factor-1 (CAF-1)/p60 as Tumour Prognostic Marker
Authors: Mascolo Massimo , Ilardi Gennaro , Merolla Francesco , Russo Daniela , Vecchione Maria Luisa , De Rosa Gaetano , Staibano Stefania
Published: September 2012

In this study we aimed to confirm the emerging role of Chromatin Assembly Factor 1 (CAF-1 p60) as a new proliferation and prognostic marker for cancer and to test the usefulness of the tissue microarray technique (TMA) for CAF-1 p60 rapid screening in several human malignancies. CAF-1 is a histone chaperone, regulating chromatin dynamics during DNA replication and repair in eukaryotics. TMA is a powerful high-throughput methodology in the study of cancer, allowing simultaneous assessment of different biomarkers within large numbers of tissue specimens. We generated TMA taking 3 mm diameter-core biopsies from oral squamous cell carcinoma, prostate cancer, salivary gland tumours and skin melanoma specimens, which had been previously tested for CAF-1 p60 on routine tissue sections. We also analysed, for the first time, 30 larynx and 30 skin squamous cell carcinomas. CAF-1 p60 resulted over-expressed in both the tissue sections and the TMA specimens, with the highest levels of expression in tumours which were more aggressive and metastasizing. Notably, a high degree of agreement was found between the CAF-1 p60 assessment on TMAs and on routine tissue sections. Our findings confirm the prognostic role of CAF-1 p60 and indicate TMA as a really advantageous method for CAF-1 p60 immunohistochemical screening, allowing savings on both tissue quantity and operator-time.
Microscale Strategies for Generating Cell-Encapsulating Hydrogels
Authors: Selimović Šeila , Oh Jonghyun , Bae Hojae , Dokmeci Mehmet , Khademhosseini Ali
Published: September 2012

Hydrogels in which cells are encapsulated are of great potential interest for tissue engineering applications. These gels provide a structure inside which cells can spread and proliferate. Such structures benefit from controlled microarchitectures that can affect the behavior of the enclosed cells. Microfabrication-based techniques are emerging as powerful approaches to generate such cell-encapsulating hydrogel structures. In this paper we introduce common hydrogels and their crosslinking methods and review the latest microscale approaches for generation of cell containing gel particles. We specifically focus on microfluidics-based methods and on techniques such as micromolding and electrospinning.