bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microstructure of metallocene isotactic propylene‐co‐1‐pentene‐co‐1‐hexene terpolymers
Authors: García‐Peñas Alberto , Gómez‐Elvira José M. , Pérez Ernesto , Cerrada María L.
Published: June 2014

This study aims at characterizing in depth the microstructure of propylene‐co‐1‐pentene‐co‐1‐hexene terpolymers, which have been recently reported to develop the isotactic polypropylene δ trigonal polymorph when the total comonomer content is high enough. Such a specific crystalline form had been only reported so far in the analogous copolymers containing either 1‐pentene or 1‐hexene. A comparative 13C NMR study in solution of the aforementioned terpolymers and copolymers allows asserting the random insertion of both comonomers during chain growth under the polymerization conditions used. The reaction parameters, mainly catalyst and temperature, have been chosen for the purpose of assuring relatively high molar mass polymers. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014, 52, 2537–2547
The estimation of calibration equations for variables with heteroscedastic measurement errors
Authors: Tian Lu , Durazo‐Arvizu Ramón A. , Myers Gary , Brooks Steve , Sarafin Kurtis , Sempos Christopher T.
Published: June 2014

In clinical chemistry and medical research, there is often a need to calibrate the values obtained from an old or discontinued laboratory procedure to the values obtained from a new or currently used laboratory method. The objective of the calibration study is to identify a transformation that can be used to convert the test values of one laboratory measurement procedure into the values that would be obtained using another measurement procedure. However, in the presence of heteroscedastic measurement error, there is no good statistical method available for estimating the transformation. In this paper, we propose a set of statistical methods for a calibration study when the magnitude of the measurement error is proportional to the underlying true level. The corresponding sample size estimation method for conducting a calibration study is discussed as well. The proposed new method is theoretically justified and evaluated for its finite sample properties via an extensive numerical study. Two examples based on real data are used to illustrate the procedure. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bond behaviour of normal‐ and high‐strength recycled aggregate concrete
Authors: Prince M. John Robert , Singh Bhupinder
Published: June 2014

The effect of concrete grade on the bond between 12 mm diameter deformed steel bars and recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) has been investigated with the help of 45 pullout tests with concentric rebar placement for coarse recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) replacement levels of 25, 50, 75 and 100%. For all the three concrete grades, the measured bond‐slip relationships indicate similar mechanisms of bond resistance in the RAC and the natural aggregate (NA) concrete. The most accurate and least conservative predictions of the measured bond strengths were obtained from the local bond‐slip model in the fib Model Code for Concrete Structures 2010. Bond strength normalized to fc(3/4) resulted in an improved match with test data and increased with an increase in the RCA replacement levels and decreased with an increase in compressive strength. An attempt to explain this behaviour has been sought in terms of brittleness index, an analogous parameter from rock mechanics. An empirical bond stress versus slip relationship has been proposed for the 12 mm diameter bar and it is conservatively suggested that similar anchorage lengths for this bar in all three concrete grades can be adopted for the RAC and the NA concretes.
Nepal Votes for Peace
Authors: Pokharel Bhojraj , Rana Shrishti
Published: June 2014

Nepal has a long history of political struggle and popular uprisings have often threatened the existing regimes of this landlocked, predominantly Hindu state. In 1996, radical Maoists launched what would become the protracted armed struggle, known as The People's War, with the aim of replacing the parliamentary system and the constitutional monarchy with a people's republic. Thousands of people died and even more were injured over the next ten years in bitter fighting which ravaged the country and shocked the world. The gruesome murder of King Birendra, his wife and seven other royal family members in 2001 prompted more international concern about the future of Nepal. The violence eventually came to an end in 2005-2006 when the demand for a Constituent Assembly election was agreed upon. The election was finally held on 10 April 2008, marking one of the most significant events in Nepal's political history because it abolished the country's 239-year-old monarchy and established a multiparty democratic republic.

This book, penned by the former Chief Election Commissioner of Nepal, narrates the country's transformation from a kingdom to a multiparty democratic republic holding Constituent Assembly election. It also discusses the roles of national and international organizations, including the United Nations, in the ongoing peace process of Nepal.
Does prenatal exposure to vitamin D-fortified margarine and milk alter birth weight? A societal experiment
Authors: Jensen Camilla B. , Berentzen Tina L. , Gamborg Michael , Sørensen Thorkild I. A. , Heitmann Berit L.
Published: June 2014

The present study examined whether exposure to vitamin D from fortified margarine and milk during prenatal life influenced mean birth weight and the risk of high or low birth weight. The study was based on the Danish vitamin D fortification programme, which was a societal intervention with mandatory fortification of margarine during 1961–1985 and voluntary fortification of low-fat milk between 1972 and 1976. The influence of prenatal vitamin D exposure on birth weight was investigated among 51 883 Danish children, by comparing birth weight among individuals born during 2 years before or after the initiation and termination of vitamin D fortification programmes. In total, four sets of analyses were performed. Information on birth weight was available in the Copenhagen School Health Record Register for all school children in Copenhagen. The mean birth weight was lower among the exposed than non-exposed children during all study periods (milk initiation − 20·3 (95 % CI − 39·2, − 1·4) g; milk termination − 25·9 (95 % CI − 46·0, − 5·7) g; margarine termination − 45·7 (95 % CI − 66·6, − 24·8) g), except during the period around the initiation of margarine fortification, where exposed children were heavier than non-exposed children (margarine initiation 27·4 (95 % CI 10·8, 44·0) g). No differences in the odds of high (>4000 g) or low ( < 2500 g) birth weight were observed between the children exposed and non-exposed to vitamin D fortification prenatally. Prenatal exposure to vitamin D from fortified margarine and milk altered birth weight, but the effect was small and inconsistent, reaching the conclusion that vitamin D fortification seems to be clinically irrelevant in relation to fetal growth.
Antipatharian corals of Ascension Island
Authors: Opresko Dennis M.
Published: June 2014

Seven species of antipatharian corals (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Antipatharia) are recorded from Ascension Island; five of these for the first time. Tanacetipathes spinescens and Stichopathes occidentalis were the two most commonly collected species.
The quality of the interparental relationship does not moderate the etiology of child conduct problems
Authors: Burt S. A. , Wildey M. N. , Klump K. L.
Published: June 2014

Background

Although there is a clear phenotypic relationship between the quality of the interparental or marital relationship and child conduct problems (CP), the etiology of this association is as yet unclear. One possibility is that this association takes the form of a genotype–environment interaction (G × E), whereby the quality of the interparental relationship acts to moderate the etiology of child CP. The current study sought to evaluate this possibility.

Method

We examined multiple measures and informant reports of the quality of the interparental relationship in a sample of more than 700 child twin families from the Michigan State University Twin Registry (MSUTR). Analyses consisted of a series of latent G × E models.

Results

The ‘no moderation’ model provided the best fit to the data in nearly all cases, findings that collectively provide strong evidence against the possibility that the etiology of CP is moderated by the quality of the interparental relationship.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that, contrary to implicit (and sometimes explicit) assumptions in the field, it is not the case that every environmental risk (or protective) factor exacerbates (or suppresses) genetic influences on CP. Future research should seek to delineate the specific environmental experiences that do serve as etiologic moderators of CP, and to clarify how this G × E interplay might change over the course of development.
Adsorption and reaction of sub-monolayer films of an ionic liquid on Cu(111)
Authors: Uhl Benedikt , Buchner Florian , Gabler Stephan , Bozorgchenani Maral , Jürgen Behm R.
Published: June 2014

The reactive interaction of the ionic liquid 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [BMP][TFSA] with Cu(111) was investigated by scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions.
Quantum chemical and matrix-IR characterization of CH3CN–BCl3: a complex with two distinct minima along the B–N bond potential
Authors: Wrass John P. , Sadowsky Daniel , Bloomgren Kaitlin M. , Cramer Christopher J. , Phillips James A.
Published: June 2014

Distinct structures were predicted for CH3CN–BCl3, and IR bands for one form were observed in neon matrices. EDA analyses explain the origin of the barrier along the B–N potential.
Halogen-abstraction reactions from chloromethane and bromomethane molecules by alkaline-earth monocations
Authors: Redondo Pilar , Largo Antonio , Rayón Víctor Manuel , Molpeceres Germán , Sordo José Ángel , Barrientos Carmen
Published: June 2014

Gas-phase reactions between alkaline-earth metal monocations (Mg+, Ca+, Sr+, Ba+) and halogenated methanes (CH3X; X = Cl, Br) have been theoretically analyzed.
Continuous production of sugars from pyrolysis of acid-infused lignocellulosic biomass
Authors: Dalluge Dustin L. , Daugaard Tannon , Johnston Patrick , Kuzhiyil Najeeb , Wright Mark M. , Brown Robert C.
Published: June 2014

Although pyrolysis of carbohydrate-rich biomass should theoretically yield large amounts of sugar, the presence of alkali and alkaline earth metals (AAEMs) in most biomass prevents this from happening.
Room-temperature transfer hydrogenation and fast separation of unsaturated compounds over heterogeneous catalysts in an aqueous solution of formic acid
Authors: Gong Ling-Hong , Cai Yi-Yu , Li Xin-Hao , Zhang Ya-Nan , Su Juan , Chen Jie-Sheng
Published: June 2014

Transfer hydrogenation of unsaturated compounds can be conducted over Pd/CN catalysts at room temperature in an aqueous solution of formic acid.
Tuning the electrical property via defect engineering of single layer MoS2 by oxygen plasma
Authors: Islam Muhammad R. , Kang Narae , Bhanu Udai , Paudel Hari P. , Erementchouk Mikhail , Tetard Laurene , Leuenberger Michael N. , Khondaker Saiful I.
Published: June 2014

We have demonstrated tuning of the electrical property of single layer MoS2 from semiconducting to the insulating regime by oxygen plasma.
Chain-growth cationic polymerization of 2-halogenated thiophenes promoted by Brønsted acids
Authors: Balasubramanian Arumugam , Ku Ting-Chia , Shih Hong-Pin , Suman Alishetty , Lin Huang-Jyun , Shih Ting-Wen , Han Chien-Chung
Published: June 2014

Brønsted acids are found to be effective and generally applicable catalysts for inducing the cationic chain-growth polymerization of a wide variety of 2-halogenated-3-substituted-thiophenes.
An overview of the recent developments on Hg2+ recognition
Authors: Mahato Prasenjit , Saha Sukdeb , Das Priyadip , Agarwalla Hridesh , Das Amitava
Published: June 2014

Adverse influences of mercury on living organisms are well known. Despite efforts from various regulatory agencies, the build-up of Hg2+ concentration in the environment is of serious concern. This necessitates the search for new and efficient reagents for recognition and detection of Hg2+ in environmental samples.
New organic dyes based on a dibenzofulvene bridge for highly efficient dye-sensitized solar cells
Authors: Capodilupo Agostina Lina , De Marco Luisa , Fabiano Eduardo , Giannuzzi Roberto , Scrascia Angela , Carlucci Claudia , Corrente Giuseppina Anna , Cipolla Maria Pia , Gigli Giuseppe , Ciccarella Giuseppe
Published: June 2014

We demonstrate that carbon-bridged dibenzofulvene (DBF)-linked dyes serve as a novel and efficient structural architecture for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC)s.
Time‐domain augmented electric field integral equation for a robust marching on in time solver
Authors: Tian Xuezhe , Xiao Gaobiao
Published: June 2014

A time domain augmented electric field integral equation (TD‐AEFIE) is proposed to render a more stable marching on in time (MOT) solver. Owing to the good operator spectral property in low frequencies, TD‐AEFIE is an effective remedy for the low frequency instabilities of the MOT solutions. To obtain a robust MOT solver, the filtering/averaging scheme is also adopted to alleviate the high frequency instabilities. Compared with the traditional TD‐EFIE MOT solver, the unknowns of charge density are introduced based on the current continuity equation. Numerical results of the transient scattering problems of perfectly electrical conducting scatterers demonstrate the stability and accuracy of the proposed technique.
Inclusion of trial functions in the Langevin equation path integral ground state method: Application to parahydrogen clusters and their isotopologues
Authors: Schmidt Matthew , Constable Steve , Ing Christopher , Roy Pierre-Nicholas
Published: June 2014

We developed and studied the implementation of trial wavefunctions in the newly proposed Langevin equation Path Integral Ground State (LePIGS) method [S. Constable, M. Schmidt, C. Ing, T. Zeng, and P.-N. Roy, J. Phys. Chem. A 117, 7461 (2013)]. The LePIGS method is based on the Path Integral Ground State (PIGS) formalism combined with Path Integral Molecular Dynamics sampling using a Langevin equation based sampling of the canonical distribution. This LePIGS method originally incorporated a trivial trial wavefunction, ψT, equal to unity. The present paper assesses the effectiveness of three different trial wavefunctions on three isotopes of hydrogen for cluster sizes N = 4, 8, and 13. The trial wavefunctions of interest are the unity trial wavefunction used in the original LePIGS work, a Jastrow trial wavefunction that includes correlations due to hard-core repulsions, and a normal mode trial wavefunction that includes information on the equilibrium geometry. Based on this analysis, we opt for the Jastrow wavefunction to calculate energetic and structural properties for parahydrogen, orthodeuterium, and paratritium clusters of size N = 4 − 19, 33. Energetic and structural properties are obtained and compared to earlier work based on Monte Carlo PIGS simulations to study the accuracy of the proposed approach. The new results for paratritium clusters will serve as benchmark for future studies. This paper provides a detailed, yet general method for optimizing the necessary parameters required for the study of the ground state of a large variety of systems.
Pressure effect on elastic anisotropy of crystals from ab initio simulations: The case of silicate garnets
Authors: Mahmoud A. , Erba A. , Doll K. , Dovesi R.
Published: June 2014

A general methodology has been devised and implemented into the solid-state ab initio quantum-mechanical Crystal program for studying the evolution under geophysical pressure of the elastic anisotropy of crystalline materials. This scheme, which fully exploits both translational and point symmetry of the crystal, is developed within the formal frame of one-electron Hamiltonians and atom-centered basis functions. Six silicate garnet end-members, among the most important rock-forming minerals of the Earth's mantle, are considered, whose elastic anisotropy is fully characterized under high hydrostatic compressions, up to 60 GPa. The pressure dependence of azimuthal anisotropy and shear-wave birefringence of seismic wave velocities for these minerals are accurately simulated and compared with available single-crystal measurements.
Synthesis of graphene nanoribbons from amyloid templates by gallium vapor-assisted solid-phase graphitization
Authors: Murakami Katsuhisa , Dong Tianchen , Kajiwara Yuya , Hiyama Takaki , Takahashi Teppei , Takai Eisuke , Ohashi Gai , Shiraki Kentaro , Fujita Jun-ichi
Published: June 2014

Single- and double-layer graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) with widths of around 10 nm were synthesized directly onto an insulating substrate by solid-phase graphitization using a gallium vapor catalyst and carbon templates made of amyloid fibrils. Subsequent investigation revealed that the crystallinity, conductivity, and carrier mobility were all improved by increasing the temperature of synthesis. The carrier mobility of the GNR synthesized at 1050 °C was 0.83 cm2/V s, which is lower than that of mechanically exfoliated graphene. This is considered to be most likely due to electron scattering by the defects and edges of the GNRs.
Experimental and computational studies on stacking faults in zinc titanate
Authors: Sun W. , Ageh V. , Mohseni H. , Scharf T. W. , Du J.
Published: June 2014

Zinc titanate (ZnTiO3) thin films grown by atomic layer deposition with ilmenite structure have recently been identified as an excellent solid lubricant, where low interfacial shear and friction are achieved due to intrafilm shear velocity accommodation in sliding contacts. In this Letter, high resolution transmission electron microscopy with electron diffraction revealed that extensive stacking faults are present on ZnTiO3 textured (104) planes. These growth stacking faults serve as a pathway for dislocations to glide parallel to the sliding direction and hence achieve low interfacial shear/friction. Generalized stacking fault energy plots also known as γ-surfaces were computed for the (104) surface of ZnTiO3 using energy minimization method with classical effective partial charge potential and verified by using density functional theory first principles calculations for stacking fault energies along certain directions. These two are in qualitative agreement but classical simulations generally overestimate the energies. In addition, the lowest energy path was determined to be along the [451¯] direction and the most favorable glide system is {104} ⟨451¯⟩ that is responsible for the experimentally observed sliding-induced ductility.
Measuring inside damage of individual multi-walled carbon nanotubes using scanning transmission X-ray microscopy
Authors: Liu Jinyin , Bai Lili , Wang Jian , Zhao Guanqi , Sun Xuhui , Zhong Jun
Published: June 2014

The electronic structure of individual multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) has been probed using scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM). Although transmission electron microscope (TEM) images show that the exterior of the MWCNTs are clean and straight; the inside structure of some of the MWCNTs is much less well ordered, as revealed by STXM. The amorphization of the interior tubes can be introduced in the growth or modification processes. Moreover, TEM measurement with high dose may also lead to the inside damage. Our results reveal that the structure of individual MWCNTs can be complex and suggest that electronic structure measurements are an important tool for characterizing carbon nanomaterials.
PDK1 regulates B cell differentiation and homeostasis
Authors: Baracho Gisele V. , Cato Matthew H. , Zhu Zilu , Jaren Olav R. , Hobeika Elias , Reth Michael , Rickert Robert C.
Published: June 2014

Significance

Phosphatidyl inositol-3 kinase (PI3K) activity is central to B lymphocyte survival, growth, and differentiation. Recent clinical studies also indicate that inhibiting the activity of the PI3Kδ isoform will be effective in treating human B cell malignancies. Here we focus on the B cell-specific role of the Ser/Thr kinase phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1 (PDK1), a pivotal downstream effector of PI3K signaling that is required for the activation of most members of the AGC kinase family (e.g., Akt, S6K, RSK, PKC). Using conditional gene-targeting approaches, we show that the B cell receptor and a subset of cytokine receptors require PDK1 for B cell generation in the bone marrow as well as for mature B cell survival and activation.
Hydroclimate of the western Indo-Pacific Warm Pool during the past 24,000 years
Authors: Niedermeyer Eva M. , Sessions Alex L. , Feakins Sarah J. , Mohtadi Mahyar
Published: June 2014

Significance

The Indo-Pacific Warm Pool (IPWP) is the largest source of atmospheric water vapor, and region of highest rainfall, on Earth. At irregular intervals, this high-rainfall regime weakens, causing severe droughts with massive consequences for the local population. Research into the underlying mechanisms is limited by the temporal coverage of climate data. We produced a record of rainfall over the western IPWP covering the past 24,000 years. Our data indicate that topography and coastline position govern regional IPWP hydrology on glacial−interglacial timescales. During the Holocene, western IPWP rainfall is linked to that of East Africa through a precipitation dipole. Fluctuations of this dipole identified in our study serve as an impetus for future studies to advance our understanding of IPWP dynamics.
The civilizing process in London’s Old Bailey
Authors: Klingenstein Sara , Hitchcock Tim , DeDeo Simon
Published: June 2014

Significance

One of the characteristics of the modern era is the emergence of new bureaucratic and social mechanisms for the management and control of violence. Our analysis of 150 y of spoken word testimony in the English criminal justice system provides new insight into this critical process. We show how, beginning around the 1800s, trials for violent and nonviolent offenses become increasingly distinct. Driven by a shifting set of underlying signals, this long-term shift in the underlying norms of the system involves both changes in bureaucratic practice and in civil society as a whole.
Context effects produced by question orders reveal quantum nature of human judgments
Authors: Wang Zheng , Solloway Tyler , Shiffrin Richard M. , Busemeyer Jerome R.
Published: June 2014

Significance

In recent years, quantum probability theory has been used to explain a range of seemingly irrational human decision-making behaviors. The quantum models generally outperform traditional models in fitting human data, but both modeling approaches require optimizing parameter values. However, quantum theory makes a universal, nonparametric prediction for differing outcomes when two successive questions (e.g., attitude judgments) are asked in different orders. Quite remarkably, this prediction was strongly upheld in 70 national surveys carried out over the last decade (and in two laboratory experiments) and is not one derivable by any known cognitive constraints. The findings lend strong support to the idea that human decision making may be based on quantum probability.
Invisible RNA state dynamically couples distant motifs
Authors: Lee Janghyun , Dethoff Elizabeth A. , Al-Hashimi Hashim M.
Published: June 2014

Significance

We recently showed, using NMR relaxation dispersion, that the HIV-1 transactivation response element (TAR) RNA forms a transient state (lifetime ∼45 μs and population ∼13%) through localized changes in base pairing within the apical loop. Here, we report a second transient TAR state that has longer lifetime (∼2 ms) and smaller population (∼0.4%) that simultaneously remodels the bulge and apical loop, which are separated by four Watson–Crick base pairs. This is accomplished by a global change in the register of bulge residues, which pair up with residues in the upper stem, causing reshuffling of base pairs that propagates to the apical loop and creation of three noncanonical base pairs. Thus, transient states provide a mechanism for dynamically coupling distant RNA motifs.
Identification of the n-1 fatty acid as an antibacterial constituent from the edible freshwater cyanobacteriumNostoc verrucosum
Authors: Oku Naoya , Yonejima Kohsuke , Sugawa Takao , Igarashi Yasuhiro
Published: June 2014

The cyanobacterium Nostoc verrucosum occurs in cool, clear streams and its gelatinous colonies, called “ashitsuki,” have been eaten in ancient Japan. Its ethanolic extract was found to inhibit the growth of Gram-positive bacteria and activity-guided fractionation yielded an unusual n-1 fatty acid, (9Z,12Z)-9,12,15-hexadecatrienoic acid (1), as one of the active principles. It inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus at MIC 64 μg/mL.
Unstable mutant lysozymes are degraded through the interaction with calnexin homolog Cne1p in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Azakami Hiroyuki , Uehara Masayoshi , Matsuo Ryohei , Tsurunaga Yuta , Yamashita Yuichiro , Usui Masakatsu , Kato Akio
Published: June 2014

Cne1p is a yeast homolog of calnexin, which is a constituent of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated protein quality control system in mammals. Cne1p may be involved in the degradation of misfolded lysozymes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To test this, c-Myc-tagged lysozymes were expressed in CNE1-deficient S. cerevisiae. The expression and secretion of an unstable lysozyme mutant G49N/D66H were enhanced and its intracellular localization was changed in the CNE1-deficient strain. Furthermore, when Cne1p was co-expressed with unstable lysozyme mutants (G49N/D66H, G49N/C76A, and K13D/G49N), its affinity to the misfolded mutant proteins was revealed by co-immunoprecipitation. The interaction with Cne1p was abrogated by the addition of tunicamycin, an inhibitor of N-glycosylation, indicating that N-linked carbohydrates might be necessary for protein binding to Cne1p. These results suggest that in yeasts, Cne1p interacts with misfolded lysozyme proteins possibly causing their retention in the ER and subsequent elimination via ER-associated degradation.
Identity
Authors: Smith Stuart Tyson
Published: June 2014

Issues of identity have never been far away from archaeology. Ethnic and racial categories, sex and gender (conflated early on), age, status, and other axes of differentiation have been core concepts underpinning archaeological interpretation since the days of early antiquarianism. Recent approaches emphasize identity as multi-scalar, multidimensional, situational, and overlapping, constructed and negotiated by individuals in specific social contexts. Theoretical approaches revolve around structure/agency debates, with a practice approach providing an effective tool to examine identity in the past. Studies of various dimensions of identity have moved beyond the essentialist models that characterized older research, particularly with ethnicity and race. Gender research embraces not only feminist but also masculinist and queer approaches. Areas of identity taken for granted, including age, sexuality, and religion, have now become a locus of archaeological investigation. The post-processual and postcolonial calls for a return to essentialism to empower subaltern groups have met with some success but also created ethical dilemmas.
Numerical and Arithmetic Abilities in Non-primate Species
Authors: Agrillo Christian
Published: June 2014

In the last decade, several studies have suggested that dozens of animal species are capable of processing numerical information. Animals as diverse as mammals, birds, amphibians, fish, and even some invertebrates have been successfully investigated through extensive training and the observation of spontaneous behaviour, providing evidence that numerical abilities are not limited to primates. The study of non-primate species represents a useful tool to broaden our comprehension of the uniqueness of our cognitive abilities, particularly with regard to the evolutionary roots of the mathematical mind. In this chapter, I will summarize the current state of our understanding of non-primate numerical abilities in the comparative literature, focusing on three main topics: the relationship between discrete (numerical) and continuous quantity, the debate surrounding the existence of a precise subitizing-like process, and the ontogeny of numerical abilities.
Contributions from Sociology
Authors: Trzebiatowska Marta
Published: June 2014

Sociologists are concerned with the way human behaviour is patterned. They look for plausible explanations of phenomena that strike them as important due to their objective prevalence in social life. This chapter outlines the social scientific tools for studying religion, gender, and sexuality. Drawing on a range of examples from sociology of religion it explores the significance of individuals’ dispositions on the one hand and opportunities they encounter in their everyday lives on the other. The overall argument emphasizes the need for more collaboration between social scientists and theologians, or religious studies scholars. It suggests that secular sociologists would do well to consider the possibility of change in gender relations within religious contexts, and religious scholars could learn from the sociological method of inquiry to understand better the structurally determined mechanisms which make the symbolic gender order so resistant to change.
Contributions from Biology
Authors: Messer Neil
Published: June 2014

This chapter surveys biological research on selected topics in human sexuality and reproduction. It begins with a brief introduction to the approaches of evolutionary biology and behavioural genetics. Subsequent sections survey insights offered by these disciplines into the evolutionary origins of sex, sexual selection theory and human mating strategies, sexual diversity (particularly same-sex attraction and sexual behaviour), and sexual dimorphism and intersex. Critical perspectives on these topics from biologists and others are discussed, and a concluding section outlines some issues of concern to theologians engaging with this material.
Gene-by-Environment Interactions in Primates
Authors: Barr Christina S.
Published: June 2014

Because of their complex social structures, behaviors, and genetic similarities to humans, nonhuman primates are useful for studying how genetic factors influence alcohol consumption. The neurobiological systems that influence addiction vulnerability may do so by acting on alcohol response, reward pathways, behavioral dyscontrol, and vulnerability to stress and anxiety. Rhesus macaques show individual differences in alcohol response and temperament, and such differences are influenced by genetic variants that are similar functionally to those present in humans. Genes in which variation moderates these phenotypes provide opportunities for modeling how genetic and environmental factors (i.e., stress exposure, individual’s sex, or alcohol response) interact to influence alcohol consumption. Studies in primates may also reveal selective factors that have driven maintenance or fixation of alleles that increase risk for alcohol use disorders in modern humans.
Obsessions and Compulsions During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period
Authors: Fairbrother Nichole , Abramowitz Jonathan S.
Published: June 2014

Although for most women the perinatal period is an exciting and joyful time, some new mothers experience the onset (or intensification) of emotional distress during this period. Whereas a great deal of attention has been paid to depression and psychotic symptoms during the postpartum period, pre- and postpartum anxiety disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), have received relatively less consideration. This is despite the fact that anxiety disorders are, as a group, the most prevalent of all psychological disorders. Anxiety disorders are more common among women compared with men, and OCD is the only anxiety disorder for which there is evidence of an increased risk of onset and exacerbation in the perinatal period; this risk is most apparent for women giving birth to their first child. In this chapter, we provide an overview and description of the clinical features of perinatal obsessive-compulsive disorder and consider the degree to which perinatal OCD is related to OCD in general. We review the data pertaining to the incidence and prevalence of perinatal OCD and discuss the relation between perinatal OCD and postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis. Theoretical perspectives on perinatal OCD are then presented before turning to treatment. Lastly, two interventions have been shown to be effective for perinatal OCD are described: cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and pharmacotherapy.
Political Discussion and Deliberation Online
Authors: Stromer-Galley Jennifer
Published: June 2014

As information and communication technologies have diffused, scholars have turned attention to online informal political discussion and formal deliberation because of the importance of online political talk for constructing society and informing government policy. This chapter examines the research on both formal deliberation and informal discussion online, identifies the importance of this research area, signals its major findings, and examines key unanswered questions. Along the way it argues that more research is needed to understand why women and minorities are less likely to talk politics online; better conceptual clarity is needed about the phenomenon of interest; more experimental work is required to isolate the causes and consequences of channel characteristics and mechanics that produce higher-quality discussion and decisions; and more work is needed that extends across information and communication technologies (ICTs), cross-culturally, and beyond democratically-governed societies.
Carl Schmitt’s Concept of History
Authors: Lievens Matthias
Published: June 2014

In many of his political writings, Carl Schmitt seeks to render conflict and struggle visible and recognizable. He wages a metapolitical struggle against depoliticizing types of spirit and for the political. The meaning of history, as this chapter shows, is a crucial terrain for this metapolitical struggle: friends and enemies are symbolized and rendered (in)visible through historical discourses. The analysis demonstrates that Schmitt strongly rejects representations of history that tend to obfuscate its political nature, such as ideologies of progress or the idea of repetition in history. Instead, he advocates a sober and profane image of history, acknowledging its plural and contingent nature. Paradoxically, a figure of theological provenance, the katechon, is the minimal rest of an eschatological vision that Schmitt considers necessary to keep history and theology apart and to maintain an open and profane understanding of history.
The Political Theology of Carl Schmitt
Authors: Vatter Miguel
Published: June 2014

Carl Schmitt once defined himself as a theologian of jurisprudence. This chapter argues that his concept of political theology must be understood within the context of jurisprudence and not as a thesis concerning the use of religion within politics. In its earlier configuration, Schmitt’s political theology is a multifaceted response to two juridical critiques of sovereignty: those of Hans Kelsen; and those of Otto von Gierke and the English pluralist school. In this early phase, Schmitt’s political theology is centered on the juridical conception of representation and on the state as fictional personality, primarily as it is found in Thomas Hobbes. Through his extensive engagement with Hobbes’s interpretation of the Trinity or persons of God, Schmitt shows howjurisprudence aids in the understanding of theology rather than the other way around. Schmitt’s later work is a defense against Erik Peterson’s critique of political theology, itself based on a juridical interpretation of Christology.
Violence against Catholics in East Asia
Authors: Rausch Franklin
Published: June 2014

This article examines anti-Catholic violence in Japan, China, and Korea from the 1600s to the early 1900s. It shows that the governments of each of these three countries chose to use violence against Catholics when the threat posed by Catholicism outweighed the benefits the religion offered. While each state chose violence, the shape of that violence and its intensity differed based on the particular historical contexts of Japan, China, and Korea. Foreign pressure in the form of imperialism ended such state-directed violence in all three of these countries by the last quarter of the nineteenth century. However, in China and Korea, anti-Catholic violence broke out at the popular level as a reaction to the increasing power of the foreign-backed Catholic communities. In contrast, the development of a strong, Western-style state dedicated to protecting religious freedom prevented this same phenomenon from occurring in Japan. This paper thus shows that while there were certain similarities in anti-Catholic violence in these three countries, there were also significant differences.
A Legal Approach to Questions About Religious Diversity
Authors: Walker Nathan C.
Published: June 2014

Academic legal research and the associated method of legal analysis can significantly enhance the study of religion. Scholars of American religions cite legal cases but often do not apply the necessary legal methods to ground their claims. For instance, in approaching questions about religious diversity, scholars may inadvertently work from an inaccurate legal definition of religion. In US constitutional law, the legal definition of the term religion has meant different things at different points in history and it remains highly contested. These contradictory definitions reflect society’s struggle with religious diversity, defining who is and who is not protected by American law. This chapter summarizes the evolving legal definitions of religion, surveys some central legal questions regarding American religions, and introduces a five-step legal methodology for scholars of religion to apply to questions of religious diversity. The purpose is to enable scholars of religion to demonstrate a sophisticated level of legal literacy and thus to more effectively assist the courts in achieving religious literacy.
On the role of acoustic feedback in boundary-layer instability
Authors: Wu Xuesong
Published: June 2014

In this paper, the classical triple-deck formalism is employed to investigate two instability problems in which an acoustic feedback loop plays an essential role. The first concerns a subsonic boundary layer over a flat plate on which two well-separated roughness elements are present. A spatially amplifying Tollmien–Schlichting (T–S) wave between the roughness elements is scattered by the downstream roughness to emit a sound wave that propagates upstream and impinges on the upstream roughness to regenerate the T–S wave, thereby forming a closed feedback loop in the streamwise direction. Numerical calculations suggest that, at high Reynolds numbers and for moderate roughness heights, the long-range acoustic coupling may lead to absolute instability, which is characterized by self-sustained oscillations at discrete frequencies. The dominant peak frequency may jump from one value to another as the Reynolds number, or the distance between the roughness elements, is varied gradually. The second problem concerns the supersonic ‘twin boundary layers’ that develop along two well-separated parallel flat plates. The two boundary layers are in mutual interaction through the impinging and reflected acoustic waves. It is found that the interaction leads to a new instability that is absent in the unconfined boundary layer.
Unlocking epigenetic codes in neurogenesis
Authors: Yao Bing , Jin Peng
Published: June 2014

During embryonic and adult neurogenesis, neuronal stem cells follow a highly conserved path of differentiation to give rise to functional neurons at various developmental stages. Epigenetic regulation—including DNA modifications, histone modifications, and noncoding regulatory RNAs, such as microRNA (miRNA) and long noncoding RNA (lncRNA)—plays a pivotal role in embryonic and adult neurogenesis. Here we review the latest in our understanding of the epigenetic regulation in neurogenesis, with a particular focus on newly identified cytosine modifications and their dynamics, along with our perspective for future studies.
Young and old Pavlovian fear memories can be modified with extinction training during reconsolidation in humans
Authors: Steinfurth Elisa C.K. , Kanen Jonathan W. , Raio Candace M. , Clem Roger L. , Huganir Richard L. , Phelps Elizabeth A.
Published: June 2014

Extinction training during reconsolidation has been shown to persistently diminish conditioned fear responses across species. We investigated in humans if older fear memories can benefit similarly. Using a Pavlovian fear conditioning paradigm we compared standard extinction and extinction after memory reactivation 1 d or 7 d following acquisition. Participants who underwent extinction during reconsolidation showed no evidence of fear recovery, whereas fear responses returned in participants who underwent standard extinction. We observed this effect in young and old fear memories. Extending the beneficial use of reconsolidation to older fear memories in humans is promising for therapeutic applications.
Repetition strengthens target recognition but impairs similar lure discrimination: evidence for trace competition
Authors: Reagh Zachariah M. , Yassa Michael A.
Published: June 2014

Most theories of memory assume that representations are strengthened with repetition. We recently proposed Competitive Trace Theory, building on the hippocampus’ powerful capacity to orthogonalize inputs into distinct outputs. We hypothesized that repetition elicits a similar but nonidentical memory trace, and that contextual details of traces may compete for representation over time. We designed a task in which objects were incidentally encoded either one or three times. Supporting our theory, repetition improved target recognition, but impaired rejection of similar lures. This suggests that, in contrast to past beliefs, repetition may reduce the fidelity of memory representations.
(R,S)-2′-Amino-6′-methyl-2,5′,5′-trioxo-6′H-spiro[indoline-3,4′-pyrano[3,2-c][2,1]benzothiazine]-3′-carbonitrile dimethylformamide monosolvate
Authors: Shishkina Svitlana V. , Ukrainets Igor V. , Petrushova Lidiya A.
Published: June 2014

The title solvate, C20H14N4O4S·C3H7NO, comprises a stereogenic centre but the centrosymmetric space group causes the presence of the racemate in the crystal. The spiro-joined fragments are almost orthogonal, with a dihedral angle of 86.8 (2)° between the mean planes of the pyrane ring and the dihydroindolone ring system. The atoms of the indolinone bicycle are coplanar, with an r.m.s. deviation of 0.005 Å. In the crystal, pairs of N—H...O hydrogen bonds link the molecules into centrosymmetric dimers which are linked to the dimethylformamide solvent molecules by further N—H...O hydrogen bonds. N—H...N hydrogen bonds link neighbouring dimers into [010] chains.
The impact of telecommunication revenue on economic growth: evidence from Ghana
Authors: Atsu Francis , Agyei Charles , Phanuel Darbi William , Adjei-Mensah Sussana
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the long-run impact of telecommunications revenue and telecommunications investment on economic growth of Ghana for the time horizon 1976-2007.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper uses the Augmented Dickey Fuller and Phillips Perron unit root test to explore the stationarity property of the variables and the Engle-Granger residual-based test of cointegration to model an appropriate restricted error correction model.

Findings

– The outcome of the analysis produced mixed results. Telecommunications revenue does not contribute significantly whilst telecommunications investment does.

Practical implications

– Policy makers will have to deal with a conundrum; while designing targeted policies that will attract more telecommunication investment in order to maximize the corresponding revenues and the economic growth it brings in its wake, they must at the same time find ways and resources to grow the economy to a point or threshold where revenue from telecommunications can have the much needed impact on their economies.

Originality/value

– The study is one of the first that has investigated the line of causality between telecommunication revenue and economic growth unlike previous research that mainly focused on the impact of telecommunication infrastructure on economic development.
The impact of the Greek crisis on the consumers’ behaviour: some initial evidences?
Authors: Duquenne Marie-Noelle , Vlontzos George
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the changes on food consumption patterns of households, due to the ongoing economic crisis in Greece.

Design/methodology/approach

– A sample survey among a random sample of 932 households living in the region of Thessaly, central Greece, was carried out, with the consuming behaviour to be focused on 20 basic food products. An exploratory factor analysis, followed by a hierarchical classification of the households, was implemented.

Findings

– Six patterns of food consumption's behaviour have been detected, revealing that most of the households have modified their eating habits, by reducing the quantities consumed and/or looking for less expensive brands. Only 15 per cent of the households do not seem to be affected by the crisis and the austerity policy. The spatial dimension of the research signify that low-income households in urban areas, where the majority of the population lives, are deeply affected by the crisis, with these percentages to be even higher at semi-urban and rural areas.

Originality/value

– This is the first attempt of assessment of the impact of the economic crisis in Greece on food consumption pattern, verifying its significant negative impact on an inelastic need, such food consumption is.
Escalation of commitment in entrepreneurship-minded groups
Authors: G. Markovitch Dmitri , Huang Dongling , Peters Lois , Phani B.V. , Philip Deepu , Tracy William
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate commitment escalation tendencies and magnitude in groups of entrepreneurship-minded decision makers.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper uses a software-based management simulation to expose 447 graduate business students in the USA and India to research stimuli under conditions that resemble important aspects of entrepreneurs’ business environment, such as a focus on overall firm performance. Unlike most previous escalation research that studied individuals, the primary unit of analysis is a three-person group.

Findings

– The paper demonstrates a positive relationship between the groups’ entrepreneurial intentions and escalation magnitude. The paper also finds a direct relationship between sunk costs and subsequent investment amounts, suggesting an additional route through which sunk costs may impact escalation behavior – anchoring and insufficient adjustment.

Practical implications

– The authors hope that the findings will stimulate further research on commitment escalation modalities and mechanisms among entrepreneurship-minded decision makers and provide impetus for efforts to develop effective debiasing strategies.

Originality/value

– The study addresses a long-standing gap in entrepreneurship research, by demonstrating a significant positive relationship between entrepreneurial intentions and escalation behaviors. Also noteworthy, the results are generated using a different research method (simulation) than the experimental approach used in most extant escalation research. As such, the exploration provides important triangulating evidence that is currently lacking from the rich escalation literature.