bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
COALITION-PROOF NASH EQUILIBRIA IN A NORMAL-FORM GAME AND ITS SUBGAMES
Authors: SHINOHARA RYUSUKE
Published: February 2011

The relationship between coalition-proof (Nash) equilibria in a normal-form game and those in its subgame is examined. A subgame of a normal-form game is a game in which the strategy sets of all players in the subgame are subsets of those in the normal-form game. In this paper, focusing on a class of aggregative games, we provide a sufficient condition for the aggregative game under which every coalition-proof equilibrium in a subgame is also coalition-proof in the original normal-form game. The stringency of the sufficient condition means that a coalition-proof equilibrium in a subgame is rarely a coalition-proof equilibrium in the whole game.
Cilia movement regulates expression of the Raf-1 kinase inhibitor protein
Authors: Sas Kelli M. , Janech Michael G. , Favre Elizabeth , Arthur John M. , Bell P. Darwin
Published: February 2011

Renal epithelial cell primary cilia act as mechanosensors in response to changes in luminal fluid flow. To determine the role of cilia bending in the mechanosensory function of cilia, we performed proteomic analysis of collecting duct cell lines with or without cilia that were kept stationary or rotated to stimulate cilia bending. Expression of the Raf-1 kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP), an inhibitor of the MAPK pathway, was significantly elevated in rotated cilia (+) cells. This was compared with RKIP levels in cilia (−) cells that were stationary or rotated as well as in cilia (+) cells that were stationary. This result was confirmed in cilia knockout adult mice that had lower renal RKIP levels compared with adult mice with cilia. Downstream of RKIP, expression of phosphorylated ERK was decreased only in cells that had cilia and were subjected to constant cilia bending. Furthermore, elevated RKIP levels were associated with reduced cell proliferation. Blockade of PKC abrogated ciliary bending-induced increases in RKIP. In summary, we found that ciliary movement may help control the expression of the Raf-1 kinase inhibitor protein and thus maintain cell differentiation. In terms of polycystic kidney disease, loss of cilia and therefore sensitivity to flow may lead to reduced RKIP levels, activation of the MAPK pathway, and contribute to the formation of cysts.
Modeling constraints to redundancy in bimanual force coordination
Authors: Hu Xiaogang , Newell Karl M.
Published: February 2011

This study investigated the interactive influence of organismic, environmental, and task constraints on the organization of redundant force coordination patterns and the hypothesis that each of the three categories of constraints is weighted based on their relative influence on coordination patterns and the realization of the task goal. In the bimanual isometric force experiment, the task constraint was manipulated via different coefficients imposed on the finger forces such that the weighted sum of the finger forces matched the target force. We examined three models of task constraints based on the criteria of task variance (minimum variance model) and efficiency of muscle force output (coefficient-independent and coefficient-dependent efficiency models). The environmental constraint was quantified by the perceived performance error, and the organismic constraint was quantified by the bilateral coupling effect (i.e., symmetric force production) between hands. The satisficing approach was used in the models to quantify the constraint weightings that reflect the interactive influence of different categories of constraints on force coordination. The findings showed that the coefficient-dependent efficiency model best predicted the redundant force coordination patterns across trials. However, the within-trial variability structure revealed that there was not a consistent coordination strategy in the online control of the individual trial. The experimental findings and model tests show that the force coordination patterns are adapted based on the principle of minimizing muscle force output that is coefficient dependent rather than on the principle of minimizing signal-dependent variance. Overall, the results support the proposition that redundant force coordination patterns are organized by the interactive influence of different categories of constraints.
Inductively Coupled Plasma Sources and Applications
Authors: Okumura Tomohiro
Published: February 2011

The principle of inductively coupled plasma (ICP) and perspective of ICP development are reviewed. Multispiral coil ICP (MSC-ICP), which has the advantages of low inductance, high efficiency, and excellent uniformity, is discussed in detail. Applications to thin film processing technologies and the future prospects of ICP are also described.
Microstructure Evolution of Grade X100 Pipeline under Plastic Deformation Condition
Authors: Qi Lihua , Yang Long , Niu Jing , Feng Yaorong , Zhang Jianxun
Published: February 2011

The effects of plastic deformation on the microstructure evolution of grade X100 pipeline were investigated by SEM, TEM and EBSD tests. The result shows that quasipolygon ferrite deforms firstly under plastic strain initial stage, then both acicular ferrite and granular bainite change remarkably with the value of plastic strain increase. When the tension stress reaches the tensile strength, microcracks nucleate around the inclusion and M/A constitute, expand with the plastic deformation increases, and finally cracks connection causes the crack penetration until the expiration. Furthermore, the microscopic orientation concentrates in{110} 〈111〉direction before the deformation, while crystal orientation in{110}and{112}direction enhanced after the deformation.
Design of Cyberwar Laboratory Exercises to Implement Common Security Attacks against IEEE 802.11 Wireless Networks
Authors: Malekzadeh Mina , Abdul Ghani Abdul Azim , Subramaniam Shamala
Published: February 2011

In wireless network communications, radio waves travel through free space; hence, the information reaches any receiving point with appropriate radio receivers. This aspect makes the wireless networks vulnerable to various types of attacks. A true understanding of these attacks provides better ability to defend the network against the attacks, thus eliminating potential threats from the wireless systems. This work presents a series of cyberwar laboratory exercises that are designed for IEEE 802.11 wireless networks security courses. The exercises expose different aspects of violations in security such as confidentiality, privacy, availability, and integrity. The types of attacks include traffic analysis, rogue access point, MAC filtering, replay, man-in-the-middle, and denial of service attacks. For each exercise, the materials are presented as open-source tools along with descriptions of the respective methods, procedures, and penetration techniques.
An Enhanced Inverter Controller for PV Applications Using the dSPACE Platform
Authors: Hannan M. A. , Abd Ghani Z. , Mohamed A.
Published: February 2011

This paper presents the simulation modeling and prototype development of an inverter controller for photovoltaic (PV) applications using the dSPACE DS1104 controller platform. The controller platform can link the simulation model developed in the MATLAB/SIMULINK environment to its prototype hardware. In the dSPACE controller, the voltage regulator controls the inverter by employing a proportional integral (PI) controller and the Park transformation method to generate sinusoidal pulse-width modulation (SPWM) signals. The SPWM signals switch the insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) to stabilize the 50-Hz sinusoidal AC output voltages of the inverter. The simulation was performed with a DC power supply that acts as the PV generator to supply the power to the inverter. The simulation model was then translated into the inverter prototype using the dSPACE platform and tested in the laboratory to prove the efficacy of the proposed controller. The experimental results for the inverter system demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed control strategy by maintaining the THD of the output voltage at 4.6%.
Robotic Mapping and Localization with Real-Time Dense Stereo on Reconfigurable Hardware
Authors: Kalomiros John , Lygouras John
Published: February 2011

A reconfigurable architecture for dense stereo is presented as an observation framework for a real-time implementation of the simultaneous localization and mapping problem in robotics. The reconfigurable sensor detects point features from stereo image pairs to use at the measurement update stage of the procedure. The main hardware blocks are a dense depth stereo accelerator, a left and right image corner detector, and a stage performing left-right consistency check. For the stereo-processor stage, we have implemented and tested a global-matching component based on a maximum-likelihood dynamic programming technique. The system includes a Nios II processor for data control and a USB 2.0 interface for host communication. Remote control is used to guide a vehicle equipped with a stereo head in an indoor environment. The FastSLAM Bayesian algorithm is applied in order to track and update observations and the robot path in real time. The system is assessed using real scene depth detection and public reference data sets. The paper also reports resource usage and a comparison of mapping and localization results with ground truth.
The NO-cGMP-PKG Signaling Pathway Coordinately Regulates ERK and ERK-Driven Gene Expression at Pre- and Postsynaptic Sites Following LTP-Inducing Stimulation of Thalamo-Amygdala Synapses
Authors: Ping Junli , Schafe Glenn E.
Published: February 2011

Long-term potentiation (LTP) at thalamic input synapses to the lateral nucleus of the amygdala (LA) has been proposed as a cellular mechanism of the formation of auditory fear memories. We have previously shown that signaling via ERK/MAPK in both the LA and the medial division of the medial geniculate nucleus/posterior intralaminar nucleus (MGm/PIN) is critical for LTP at thalamo-LA synapses. Here, we show that LTP-inducing stimulation of thalamo-LA inputs regulates the activation of ERK and the expression of ERK-driven immediate early genes (IEGs) in both the LA and MGm/PIN. Further, we show that pharmacological blockade of NMDAR-driven synaptic plasticity, NOS activation, or PKG signaling in the LA significantly impairs high-frequency stimulation-(HFS-) induced ERK activation and IEG expression in both regions, while blockade of extracellular NO signaling in the LA impairs HFS-induced ERK activation and IEG expression exclusively in the MGm/PIN. These findings suggest that NMDAR-driven synaptic plasticity and NO-cGMP-PKG signaling within the LA coordinately regulate ERK-driven gene expression in both the LA and the MGm/PIN following LTP induction at thalamo-LA synapses, and that synaptic plasticity in the LA promotes ERK-driven transcription in MGm/PIN neurons via NO-driven “retrograde signaling”.
Two‐Parametric Conditionally Oscillatory Half‐Linear Differential Equations
Authors: Došlý Ondřej , Fišnarová Simona
Published: February 2011

We study perturbations of the nonoscillatory half‐linear differential equation (r(t)Φ(x′))′ + c(t)Φ(x) = 0, Φ(x): = |x|p−2x, p > 1. We find explicit formulas for the functions , such that the equation is conditionally oscillatory, that is, there exists a constant γ such that the previous equation is oscillatory if μ − λ > γ and nonoscillatory if μ − λ < γ. The obtained results extend the previous results concerning two‐parametric perturbations of the half‐linear Euler differential equation.
Tylosema esculentum (Marama) Tuber and Bean Extracts Are Strong Antiviral Agents against Rotavirus Infection
Authors: Chingwaru Walter , Majinda Runner T. , Yeboah Sam O. , Jackson Jose C. , Kapewangolo Petrina T. , Kandawa-Schulz Martha , Cencic Avrelija
Published: February 2011

Tylosema esculentum (marama) beans and tubers are used as food, and traditional medicine against diarrhoea in Southern Africa. Rotaviruses (RVs) are a major cause of diarrhoea among infants, young children, immunocompromised people, and domesticated animals. Our work is first to determine anti‐RV activity of marama bean and tuber ethanol and water extracts; in this case on intestinal enterocyte cells of human infant (H4), adult pig (CLAB) and adult bovine (CIEB) origin. Marama cotyledon ethanolic extract (MCE) and cotyledon water extract (MCW) without RV were not cytotoxic to all cells tested, while seed coat and tuber extracts showed variable levels of cytotoxicity. Marama cotyledon ethanolic and water extracts (MCE and MCW, resp.) (≥0.1 mg/mL), seed coat extract (MSCE) and seed coat water extract (MSCW) (0.01 to 0.001 mg/mL), especially ethanolic, significantly increased cell survival and enhanced survival to cytopathic effects of RV by at least 100% after in vitro co‐ and pre‐incubation treatments. All marama extracts used significantly enhanced nitric oxide release from H4 cells and enhanced TER (Ω/cm2) of enterocyte barriers after coincubation with RV. Marama cotyledon and seed coat extracts inhibited virion infectivity possibly through interference with replication due to accumulation of nitric oxide. Marama extracts are therefore promising microbicides against RV.
Improvement of Hypertension after Parathyroidectomy of Patients Suffering from Primary Hyperparathyroidism
Authors: Broulik P. D. , Brouliková A. , Adámek S. , Libanský P. , Tvrdoň J. , Broulikova K. , Kubinyi J.
Published: February 2011

Background. Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is one of the most common endocrine conditions and is accompanied by hypertension and increased cardiovascular mortality. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of parathyroidectomy on systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) in hypertensive patients with PHPT and whether hypertension occurs more frequently in PHPT than in control group.Methods. A total of 1020 patients with proved PHPT who underwent surgery were compared with with 1020 age, sex, BMI, and smoking status matched controls. We evaluated changes in serum calcium, parathyroid hormone (PTH), uric acid, and BP before and 6 months after surgery.Results. Parathyroidectomy corrected PHPT and resulted in a substantial fall in both mean systolic (150±3.8to138±3.6 mmHg) and mean diastolic pressures (97±3to88±2.8 mmHg) of the hypertensive subjects;P<.01. In these patients, PTH, calcium, and uric acid normalized. 726 patients from 1020 with PHPT (69.8%) were found to be hypertensive whilst only 489 (47.8%) from 1020 of our control group.Conclusion. Parathyroidectomy in hypertensive patients reduces systolic and diastolic BP. PHPT is accompanied by a variety of metabolic complications, which are a risk factor for hypertension, and parathyroidectomy can improve these metabolic complications.
Existence and Stability of Solutions for Implicit Multivalued Vector Equilibrium Problems
Authors: Wang Sanhua , Li Qiuying
Published: February 2011

A class of implicit multivalued vector equilibrium problems is studied. By using the generalized Fan-Browder fixed point theorem, some existence results of solutions for the implicit multivalued vector equilibrium problems are obtained under some suitable assumptions. Moreover, a stability result of solutions for the implicit multivalued vector equilibrium problems is derived. These results extend and unify some recent results for implicit vector equilibrium problems, multivalued vector variational inequality problems, and vector variational inequality problems.
Osteosarcomagenesis: Modeling Cancer Initiation in the Mouse
Authors: Jones Kevin B.
Published: February 2011

Osteosarcoma remains a deadly malignancy afflicting adolescents and young adults. The lack of a precursor and the panoply of genetic aberrations present in identified osteosarcomas makes study of its initiation difficult. A number of candidate hypotheses have been tested in the mouse, a species with a higher background incidence of osteosarcoma. Chemical carcinogens, external beam radiation, and bone-seeking heavy metal radioisotopes have all proven to be osteosarcomagenic in wild-type mice. A number of oncogenes, introduced via integrating viruses or aberrantly activated from heritable genetic loci, participate in and can individually drive osteosarcomagenesis. Germline and conditional gene ablations in the form of some but not all aneuploidy-inducing genes, conventional tumor suppressors, and factors that function normally in mesenchymal differentiation have also proven osteosarcomagenic, especially in combinations that silence theRb1andp53pathways. This paper reviews the rich history of mouse models of osteosarcomagenesis, what they have taught us about the human disease, and what future mouse experiments yet promise to teach.
Performance Analysis of Distributed Incremental LMS Algorithm with Noisy Links
Authors: Khalili Azam , Tinati Mohammad Ali , Rastegarnia Amir
Published: February 2011

Recently proposed distributed adaptive estimation algorithms for wireless sensor networks (WSNs) do not consider errors due to noisy links, which occur during the transmission of local estimates between sensors. In this paper, we study the effect of noisy links on the performance of distributed incremental least-mean-square (DILMS) algorithm for the case of Gaussian regressors. More specifically, we derive theoretical relations which explain how steady-state performance of DILMS algorithm (in terms of mean-square deviation (MSD), excess mean-square error (EMSE), and mean-square error (MSE)) is affected by noisy links. In our analysis, we use a spatial-temporal energy conservation argument to evaluate the steady-state performance of the individual nodes across the entire network. Our simulation results show that there is a good match between simulations and derived theoretical expressions. However, the important result is that unlike the ideal links case, the steady-state MSD, EMSE and MSE are not monotonically increasing functions of step size parameter when links are noisy. In addition, the optimal step size is found in a closed form for a special case which minimizes the steady-state values of MSD, EMSE, and MSE in each node.
The Functional Crosstalk between HER2 Tyrosine Kinase and TGF-βSignaling in Breast Cancer Malignancy
Authors: Wang Shizhen Emily
Published: February 2011

Accumulating evidence indicates a functional crosstalk between the HER2 (ErbB2) tyrosine kinase and the TGF-βsignaling mediated by its serine/threonine kinase receptors. In HER2-overexpressing breast cancer, this crosstalk results in increased cancer cell proliferation, survival and invasion, accelerated cancer progression and metastasis in animal models, and resistance to chemotherapy and HER2-targeted therapy. The transformed cellular context with constitutively active HER2 signaling, as a consequence of HER2 gene amplification or overexpression, converts TGF-βfrom a tumor suppressor to a malignancy-promoting factor. TGF-β, in turn, potentiates oncogenic HER2 signaling by inducing shedding of the ErbB ligands and clustering of HER2 with integrins. In addition, TGF-βis associated with resistance to trastuzumab, an anti-HER2 therapeutic antibody. Recent mechanistic studies indicate that TGF-βand HER2 cooperate through both Smad-dependent and independent mechanisms. Blockade of HER2:TGF-βcrosstalk may significantly enhance the efficiency of conventional therapies in breast cancer patients with HER2 overexpression.
Positive Solutions for a Class of Fourth‐Order Boundary Value Problems in Banach Spaces
Authors: Cai Jingjing , Liu Guilong
Published: February 2011

Using a specially constructed cone and the fixed point index theory, this work shows existence and
nonexistence results of positive solutions for fourth‐order boundary value problem with two different parameters in Banach spaces.
Young Women Have Poorer Outcomes than Men after Stroke
Authors: Martínez-Sánchez Patricia , Fuentes Blanca , Fernández-Domínguez Jessica , Ortega-Casarrubios María de los Ángeles , Aguilar-Amar María José , Abenza-Abildúa María José , Idrovo-Freire Luis , Díez-Tejedor Exuperio
Published: February 2011

Background and Purpose: Gender differences in stroke outcome have not been fully assessed in young patients. Methods: We conducted an observational study of consecutive young ischemic stroke patients (≤50 years of age) admitted to a stroke unit (January 1999 to December 2009). Basal data, subtype of ischemic stroke, stroke severity [Canadian Neurological Scale (CNS)], length of hospital stay, inhospital complications, mortality and functional outcome at discharge [modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score] were analyzed. For stroke severity and outcome analyses, 2 age groups were established: 15–30 (very young group) and 31–50 years old (middle-aged young group). Results: A total of 310 patients were enrolled; 128 females and 182 males. The mean age was similar in women and men (41.07 ± 8.6 vs. 42.12 ± 8.2, NS). Migraine was more frequent in women, whereas arterial hypertension, hyperlipidemia, alcohol abuse, current smoking and atherothrombotic infarction were more frequent in men (p < 0.05). Females presented greater stroke severity than men [median CNS (IQR) = 8 (3.5) vs. 9 (2.5), p = 0.014] except in the very young group [median CNS (IQR) = 9 (1.8) vs. 8 (5), p = 0.022]. Female sex was a predictor of unfavorable outcomes (mRS >2) at discharge in the total sample (OR = 3.33; 95% CI = 1.41–7.84) and in the middle-aged young group (OR = 2.62; 95% CI = 1.05–6.53), adjusted by baseline data, stroke subtype, inhospital complications, length of stay and stroke severity. Conclusions: Female gender is associated with worse outcomes in adult ischemic stroke patients up to 50 years old. However, this effect is not observed in younger patients (15–30 years).
Usability of Multi-Scale Interfaces for 3D Workbench Displays
Authors: Oh Ji-Young , Hua Hong
Published: February 2011

We consider that multi-scale visualization interfaces support users to view different levels of scales simultaneously and to understand large-scale, complex 3D information in 3D display environments. This article presents a user evaluation on three multi-scale interfaces on a 3D workbench display: focus + context (f + c), fixed f + c, and overview + detail (o + d). The interfaces differ in terms of (1) window arrangement and (2) positioning of detailed information relative to the user. Our goal is to identify the effect of these interface differences in large scale information visualization on a 3D workbench. To address the usability of the interfaces for a wide range of applications, we designed two tasks that differ by the level of information integration and cognitive demand. The evaluation results suggest that focus-based interfaces (i.e., the f + c and fixed f + c interfaces) are useful for tasks that require tight coupling between information layers and the o + d interface is useful for tasks performed in a densely populated information space. In terms of interface design on a 3D workbench, it is important to provide an up-close view of the current region of interest for fast scene navigation and an easy way to change viewing direction to see the 3D information from more comfortable directions. The detailed design guidelines based on the evaluation analysis are presented in this article.
Comparison of Affirm VPIII and Papanicolaou Tests in the Detection of Infectious Vaginitis
Authors: Levi Angelique W. , Harigopal Malini , Hui Pei , Schofield Kevin , Chhieng David C.
Published: February 2011

To compare the Affirm VPIII molecular test (Becton Dickinson, Burlington, NC) with morphologic identification used in routine Papanicolaou (Pap) test screening in the detection and identification of Candida species, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Gardnerella vaginalis, we identified 431 cases with a concomitant Pap test and Affirm VPIII assay performed from the archives of a large academic institution. The study population consisted of women ranging in age from 17 to 79 years (mean and median ages, 33 and 31 years, respectively). With a routine Pap test, 60 patients (13.9%) were found to have bacterial vaginosis, 60 (13.9%) candidiasis, and 3 (0.7%) Trichomonas infection. With the Affirm VPIII assay, 183 (42.5%) patients tested positive for G vaginalis, 70 (16.2%) positive for Candida species, and 10 (2.3%) positive for T vaginalis. The differences were statistically significant. The results demonstrate that our patient population had a high incidence of bacterial vaginosis/Candida vaginitis; however, the Affirm VPIII was a more sensitive diagnostic test for the detection and identification of all 3 organisms compared with the Pap test.
New Voices in Women's Health: Perceptions of Women With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Authors: Brown Allison A. , Gill Carol J.
Published: February 2011

This study explored aging and health experiences and concerns of women with intellectual and developmental disabilities, using a participatory approach that captured the direct reports of the women, in their own words and from their own perspectives. The results of a qualitative analysis of 6 focus groups, composed of 34 women with intellectual and developmental disabilities, Age 30 years and older are reported. The focus groups addressed health knowledge, body awareness, developmental and age-related changes, life satisfaction, health behaviors, health service experiences, and perceptions of disability. Findings indicated that the women held misconceptions and limited knowledge regarding health and aging. The results are discussed in relation to disability, women's health, and social support issues, including recommendations for health professionals and care providers.
On the Uses of Obscenity in Live Stand-Up Comedy
Authors: Seizer Susan
Published: February 2011

This essay explores the use of swear words in stand-up comedy. Employing examples from the performances of two comedians who work the Midwest regional comedy club circuit, I analyze the non-referential pragmatic functions served by employing the register of dirty words. I critique flat-footed readings of the comedic use of obscenity, including that which informs recent Supreme Court censorship rulings, and argue instead for recognition of the communicative artistry displayed in such work.
Who Asked You, Condom Head?
Authors: Haviland John B.
Published: February 2011

One kind of Mexican street vendor is a foulmouthed clown, whose off-color spiel uses racism, sexism, double-entendre, and nationalist chauvinism to assemble and entertain a crowd and, ultimately, to part its members from their money. Vulgar and highly formulaic, the clown's language reaches its creative peaks when the clown engages individuals—whether passers-by, shills, or marks—in direct interaction and subjects them to insult and verbal abuse for manipulative effect. I consider not the interactive insulation of taboo language but, in this highly public context, its subversive exploitation for both entertainment and commercial gain.
Word Avoidance as a Relation-Making Act: A Paradigm for Analysis of Name Utterance Taboos
Authors: Stasch Rupert
Published: February 2011

This article outlines several layers of the relation-making indexicality of name avoidance in a New Guinea society. These layers include: avoidance's paradoxical logic of achieving relational intensification through relational restraint; the enthusiasm with which people seize on avoidance to create or define relations anew; the ways avoidance extends social involvement beyond spaces and times of face-to-face copresence; the emergence of micro-communities of common alignment around specific avoidances; and speakers' active engagement with powers of transgressing avoidance norms. I also suggest that the efficacy of avoidance in interaction can usefully be understood as similar to a religious logic of sacrifice.
Name Taboos and Rigid Performativity
Authors: Fleming Luke
Published: February 2011

Cross-culturally personal names are frequently avoided to the point of being taboo. The paper seeks to give a semiotically grounded analysis of why names in particular are so often taboo, and in so doing attempts to shed light on the species of performativity which undergirds the unmentionability of verbal taboos. From the avoidance of names in second-person address to the unmentionability of forms phonetically similar to the avoided name, a gradient scale of unmentionability is sketched out for the case of name taboos. Through the analysis of a wealth of examples, the paper shows how the patterning of the avoidance of a form is inextricably linked to its performative function and ideological conceptualization.
Containing Castilian in Catalan Talk Radio: Heteroglossia and the Projection of Monoglot Identities
Authors: Frekko Susan E.
Published: February 2011

This article describes a mechanism that permits speakers to draw on a heteroglossic repertoire of verbal forms while simultaneously reinforcing a boundary between their own language-based identity ("Catalan") and the state language (Castilian). In doing so, they opt for monoglot identities over heteroglossic ones, despite widespread heteroglossic practice. I show that Catalan speakers draw on "speech modeling" (Errington 1998) in ways that contain responsibility for their use of Castilian.
Partisanship, Power Contenders, and Colonial Politics in Puerto Rico, 1920s
Authors: Solá José O.
Published: February 2011

Cet article explore les conditions politiques et la réorganisation du paysage politique à Porto Rico durant la décennie de 1920. Il examine comment, vers la fin des années 1910, la montée d’un puissant bloc politique de base ouvrière a bouleversé les partis politiques de l’époque ( Unión, Republicano, Socialista ). L’article montre ensuite comment ces trois partis politiques ont remis en question leur rôle en tant que témoins de l’appareil colonial sans remettre en cause la présence américaine pour autant, et comment ils concevaient l’aboutissement de la situation entre l’île et les Etats-Unis. Afin d’expliquer les nuances de la politique portoricaine pendant cette période, nous étudierons les causes de la recrudescence de la violence politique, et nous verrons comment cette violence ressemble à d’autres épisodes de violence qui ont eu lieu au début du siècle. De même, nous présenterons les transformations politiques et économiques qui ont promu la réorganisation politique des partis établis à cette époque-là. Enfin, pour mieux comprendre comment se sont manifestées la dynamique de la partisanerie politique et la violence à Porto Rico, nous nous limiterons à analyser le parcours politique de la municipalité de Caguas, considérée comme l’un des bastions de la politique Unionista , ainsi que les changements politiques qui ont eu lieu dans cette municipalité au cours des années 1920.
Una aproximación al clero puertorriqueño del siglo XVIII: El clero y el curato de San Felipe Apóstol de Arecibo (1708–1791)
Authors: Stark David M.
Published: February 2011

Les études conduites sur le clergé portoricain décrivent des prêtres mal formés au service de paroisses en «sous effectif» sur l’étendue de l’île. Leur manque de formation ainsi que leur niveau de vie irrégulière a prétendument entraîné un laxisme moral parmi les habitants de l’île. Jusqu’à présent, les ressources primaires nécessaires pour évaluer ces affirmations font défaut. Avec l’appui des registres paroissiaux de baptêmes, de mariages et de décès de la paroisse de San Felipe Apôtre d’Arecibo, Porto Rico, il est possible d’identifier les prêtres qui ont occupé divers postes au cours des années 1708 à 1791. En outre, les origines sociales ainsi que leur formation peuvent être examinées comme un moyen de (re)évaluer l’image négative du clergé portoricain. Dans le contexte plus large du XVIII siècle, la vie, la formation et le schéma de carrière des prêtres portoricains paraissent typiques de celles de prêtres d’autres parties du continent américain.
The Absence of an African Presence in Argentina and the Dominican Republic: Caught Between National Folklore and Myth
Authors: Usanna Karin Weyland
Published: February 2011

Cet article analyse l’absence de la présence africaine dans l’histoire officielle de l’Argentine et de la République Dominicaine, en mettant en regard les descendants africains et une culture nationale homogène de l’absence d’une perspective africaine et de genre. Le chercheur essaie de démontrer ce paradoxe à travers une profonde analyse du rôle des femmes dans les mouvements sociaux et contemporains, de l’identification d’une relation de lutte domestique et de résistance des femmes durant la période coloniale.
Rape as Weapon of War in the Eastern DRC?: The Victims’ Perspective
Authors: Maedl Anna
Published: February 2011

Rampant sexual violence is one of the most horrendous human rights abuses taking place within Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) armed conflict. The UN has called these abuses “strategic” and a “weapon of war.” Both labels carry specific implications within the human rights discourse. However, there is a lack of structured data exploring these concepts in the context of the DRC. To address this empirical gap, twenty-five rape survivors were interviewed. In the eyes of the victims the rapes served a multitude of different purposes and appear to be both endemic and indiscriminate. The rapes are the modus operandi of the war.
Protection of Human Rights through the Mechanism of UN Special Rapporteurs
Authors: Subedi Surya P.
Published: February 2011

The institution of UN special rapporteurs has been described as the “crown jewel” of the UN human rights system. Indeed, the appointment of such rapporteurs represents an attempt by the United Nations “to pierce the veil of the national sovereignty” of states to handle serious cases of violations of human rights worldwide. However, this institution has come under pressure from those states with a poor record of human rights in the recent past. The forthcoming review of the work and status of the Human Rights Council by the General Assembly should be of value to this institution and make it stronger.
Advancing Transgender Family Rights through Science: A Proposal for an Alternative Framework
Authors: Sabatello Maya
Published: February 2011

This article examines the impact of the scientific revolution on the family rights of transgender individuals from an international human rights perspective. It reviews how the European Court of Human Rights has responded to quandaries arising in this context and observes the inequalities that surface at the intersection between law, gender identities, culture, and science with regard to transgender family relations. To close the gaps, the article suggests pursuing family rights from a different venue: a relational approach to the universal right to enjoy scientific progress and its application under Article 15 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights.
The First Online Olympics: The Interactions between Internet Use and Sports Viewing
Authors: Tang Tang , Cooper Roger
Published: February 2011

The 2008 Beijing Olympics represented a broad expansion and emphasis on online sports content. This study integrated variables associated with uses and gratifications, technology adoption theories, and sports fanship literature to examine the influence of the Internet on "big-event" sports viewing. The study found that four statistically significant factors—the amount of time that individuals spent watching television online, perceived benefits of watching the Olympics online, time spent following sports news online, and preferences for various Olympic sports—combined to explain 34.6% of the variance in Web use for the Olympics. Those who used the Internet for Olympic content watched the Olympics more and indicated stronger motivations to watch sports than non-users. The findings suggest that networks should continue to increase emphasis on Web content, especially for event sports programming.
Viewer Attention to ESPN's Mosaic Screen: An Eye-Tracking Investigation
Authors: Cummins R. Glenn , Tirumala Lakshmi N. , Lellis Jillian M.
Published: February 2011

Sports broadcasters have traditionally pioneered innovative techniques for the broadcast of media sports. One recent technique is a mosaic screen, which presents multiple streams of video simultaneously. This study used eye tracking to examine how viewer attention is distributed among multiple screen elements. Attention varied as a function of element size, game play, and repeated exposure. In addition, participants with greatest interest in sports evaluated the format more positively than those with less interest in sports.
A Comparison of Online Media and Traditional Newspaper Coverage of the Men's and Women's U.S. Open Tennis Tournaments
Authors: Kian Edward M. , Clavio Galen
Published: February 2011

The purpose of this study was to determine any significant differences in how reporters for newspapers and online sites framed men's and women's tennis. Articles on the 2007 U.S. Open in The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, USA Today, and online sites produced by ESPN, Fox Sports, and Sports Illustrated were examined. Results showed newspapers were more likely to minimize the athleticism of female athletes, thus strengthening hegemonic masculinity more than the newer medium of online journalism, which produced mixed results.
New Media, New Audiences, and New Questions: Exploring a Communication Research Agenda for Fantasy Sports
Authors: Hill Steven G. , Woo Chang Wan
Published: February 2011

Despite the popularity of fantasy sports, scholarly exploration of the topic has been rare. This study explores a communication-oriented research agenda in that area, using a qualitative analysis of data from in-depth interviews with U.S. fantasy-sports industry leaders. In addition to extending the limited body of literature on fantasy sports, the analysis revealed potentially fruitful research topics, including consumer motivations to use fantasy sports products, information and services; perceptions of gambling; content quality of fantasy sports information; and others.
On Bases with a T-Order
Authors: Yang Quan-Hui , Chen Feng-Juan
Published: February 2011

For any set
Neural Correlates of an Injury-Free Model of Central Sensitization Induced by Opioid Withdrawal in Humans
Authors: Wanigasekera Vishvarani , Lee Michael C. H. , Rogers Richard , Hu Philip , Tracey Irene
Published: February 2011

Preclinical evidence suggests that opioid withdrawal induces central sensitization (CS) that is maintained by supraspinal contributions from the descending pain modulatory system (DPMS). Here, in healthy human subjects we use functional magnetic resonance imaging to study the supraspinal activity during the withdrawal period of the opioid remifentanil. We used a crossover design and thermal stimuli on uninjured skin to demonstrate opioid withdrawal-induced hyperalgesia (OIH) without a CS-inducing peripheral stimulus. Saline was used in the control arm to account for effects of time. OIH in this injury-free model was observed in a subset of the healthy subjects (responders). Only in these subjects did opioid infusion and withdrawal induce a rise in activity in the mesencephalic-pontine reticular formation (MPRF), an area of the DPMS that has been previously shown to be involved in states of CS in humans, which became significant during the withdrawal phase compared with nonresponders. Paradoxically, this opioid withdrawal-induced rise in MPRF activity shows a significant negative correlation with the behavioral OIH score indicating a predominant inhibitory role of the MPRF in the responders. These data illustrate that in susceptible individuals central mechanisms appear to regulate the expression of OIH in humans in the absence of tissue injury, which might have relevance for functional pain syndromes where a peripheral origin for the pain is difficult to identify.
Effect of Subzero-Balanced Ultrafiltration on Lung Gas Exchange Capacity after Cardiopulmonary Bypass in Adult Patients with Heart Valve Disease
Authors: Zhang Tao , Jiang Sheng-li , Gao Chang-qing , Luo Jin , Ma Lan , Li Jia-chun
Published: February 2011

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a new ultrafiltration techniquethe subzerobalanced ultrafiltration (SBUF)on lung gas exchange capacity after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in adult patients with heart valve disease.Background: Attenuation of lung gas exchange capacity is one of the most common manifestations of an inflammatory response after CPB.Methods: Ninety-four patients who required CPB for cardiac surgery were randomized into 2 groups according to whether they received SBUF. Gas exchange capacity expressed as the oxygen index (OI), the respiratory index (RI), and the alveolar-arterial oxygen pressure difference (P(A-a)O2) were measured after intubation (T1), at the termination of CPB (T2), on admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) (T3), at postoperative hour 6 (T4), and at postoperative hour 12 (T5).Results: There were no significant differences in gas exchange capacity between the 2 groups at T1, T4, and T5. CPB produced significant changes in OI, RI, and P(A-a)O2 in the control group, whereas these changes were not significantly different in the study group. The OI in the study group was significantly higher at T2, and RI and P(A-a)O2 were significantly lower at T2 and T3. In the study group, the intubation time was shorter, and the transfusion volume within 24 hours postoperatively was less. The 2 groups were comparable with respect to the incidence of respiratory complications, length of stay in the ICU, duration of hospital stay, need for infusions of inotropic agents, and drainage volumes within 24 hours postoperatively.Conclusions: SBUF during CPB can produce an immediate improvement in lung gas exchange capacity, which may effectively minimize pulmonary dysfunction in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
Syphilitic Aortitis Causing Bilateral Coronary Ostial Stenosis
Authors: Hosoba Soh , Suzuki Tomoaki , Koizumi Yusuke , Asai Tohru
Published: February 2011

Coronary ostial stenosis in otherwise normal coronary vessels is a rare complication of syphilitic aortitis. A 47-year-old man with no coronary risk factors developed severe isolated ostial stenosis in the left main coronary artery and right coronary artery. He underwent coronary artery bypass grafting using the bilateral internal thoracic arteries and gastroepiploic artery and recovered uneventfully.
The effect of multiple sclerosis on the professional life of a group of Brazilian patients
Authors: Fragoso Yára Dadalti , Finkelsztejn Alessandro , Giacomo Maria Cristina B. , Russo Liliana , Cruz Wesley Soares
Published: February 2011

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of multiple sclerosis (MS) on the professional life of Brazilian patients. METHOD: One hundred MS patients were randomly selected from the database of the Brazilian Multiple Sclerosis Association (ABEM). An individual interview was carried out by telephone by a member of ABEM, who collected data on the patients' clinical status, educational level and professional lives. RESULTS: Complete data were obtained from 96 patients (27 males and 69 females) aged 55.0±14.1 years, with average disease duration of 4.6±4.0 years). Eighty percent had eleven or more years of schooling. Among the whole group, 66% did not present limitations on walking. The longer the disease duration and the older the patient were, the higher the chances were that the patient was retired or receiving workers' compensation benefits. However, even among patients with MS for less than five years, the rate of non-participation in the workforce was 47.7%. Fatigue, paresthesia, cognitive dysfunction and pain were often cited as the motives for not working. CONCLUSION: MS patients presented high levels of unemployment, retirement and receipt of workers' compensation benefits, despite their high schooling levels. Age, disease duration and disability influenced these results for the whole group. However, even among younger patients with shorter disease duration and low disability, this finding remained.
Resistência de plantas de coffea arabica, coffea canephora e híbridos interespecíficos à cercosporiose
Authors: Patricio Flávia Rodrigues Alves , Braghini Masako Toma , Fazuoli Luiz Carlos
Published: February 2011

O presente estudo objetivou avaliar a resistência de plantas de Coffea arabica, C. canephora e de híbridos interespecíficos, à cercosporiose (Cercospora coffeicola), importante doença da cultura do cafeeiro. Foram realizados dois experimentos em 2003, em Campinas (SP), com mudas das cultivares de C. arabica, Mundo Novo IAC 388-17-1, Mundo Novo IAC 376-4, Bourbon Amarelo, Bourbon Vermelho, Obatã IAC 1669-20, Catuaí Vermelho IAC 144, Catuaí Amarelo IAC 62, Icatu Precoce IAC 3282, Icatu Vermelho IAC 4045, Ouro Verde IAC H5010-5 e Tupi IAC 1669-33; de C. canephora, Robusta IAC 1653-7 e Apoatã IAC 2258, além de dois híbridos interespecíficos Piatã IAC 387 e Híbrido de Timor IAC 1559-13. As mudas foram submetidas à inoculação com uma suspensão de conídios preparada com cinco isolados coletados em diferentes regiões do Estado de São Paulo. Os materiais mais suscetíveis foram Robusta IAC 1653-7, Apoatã IAC 2258, Híbrido de Timor IAC 1559-13, Bourbon Vermelho e Bourbon Amarelo com incidência entre 63,1% e 81,6% no primeiro experimento e entre 70% e 93,3% no segundo e severidade (notas 1-6) entre 2,92 e 3,42 no primeiro experimento e entre 3,64 e 2,79 no segundo. Os materiais mais resistentes foram Piatã IAC 387, Ouro Verde IAC H5010-5 e Tupi IAC 1669-33, com incidência entre 28,4% e 35,5% no primeiro experimento e 21,1% e 55,6% no segundo, e severidade entre 1,44 e 1,73 e entre 1,28 e 1,88, respectivamente, no primeiro e segundo experimentos.
Mineralização e desnitrificação do nitrogênio no solo sob sistema plantio direto
Authors: Siqueira Neto Marcos , Piccolo Marisa de Cássia , Venzke Filho Solismar de Paiva , Feigl Brigitte Josefine , Cerri Carlos Clemente
Published: February 2011

O conhecimento da dinâmica do N no solo pode facilitar na decisão da rotação de culturas empregada e aplicação de fertilizante para as culturas. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os estoques de N, o N-inorgânico, a mineralização do N e a desnitrificação sob sistema plantio direto (SPD). O experimento foi desenvolvido na Fazenda Santa Branca em Tibagi (PR), em Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico de textura argilosa, no período de setembro de 2000 a outubro de 2001. Os tratamentos dispostos em faixas não casualisadas com parcelas subdivididas foram: plantio direto por 12 e 22 anos com as sucessões milho/trigo (M/T) e soja/trigo (S/T). As quantidades de N-inorgânico e a mineralização e nitrificação líquidas foram maiores no SPD com 22 anos que no SPD 12 anos. A sucessão de culturas empregada não influenciou a mineralização líquida e a nitrificação líquida. As emissões de N2O foram 25% superiores na sucessão M/T em relação a S/T. O tempo de SPD aumentou o estoque de N no solo, assim como as quantidades de N-inorgânico e a mineralização e nitrificação, contudo, não foram observados maiores emissões de óxido nitroso.