bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Environmental Factors on Nutrients Release at Sediment‐Water Interface and Assessment of Trophic Status for a Typical Shallow Lake, Northwest China
Authors: Hou Dekun , He Jiang , Lü Changwei , Sun Ying , Zhang Fujin , Otgonbayar Khureldavaa
Published: August 2013

Surface sediment and water samples were collected from Daihai Lake to study the biogeochemical characteristics of nitrogen and phosphorus, to estimate the loads of these nutrients, and to assess their effects on water quality. The contents and spatial distributions of total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), and different nitrogen forms in sediments were analyzed. The results showed that concentrations of TN and TP in surface sediments ranged from 0.27 to 1.78 g/kg and from 558.31 to 891.29 mg/kg, respectively. Ratios of C : N ranged between 8.2 and 12.1, which indicated that nitrogen accumulated came mainly from terrestrial source. Ratios of N : P in all sampling sites were below 10, which indicated that N was the limiting nutrient for algal growth in this lake. Effects of environment factors on the release of nitrogen and phosphorus in lake sediments were also determined; high pH values could encourage the release of nitrogen and phosphorus. Modified Carlson’s trophic state index (TSIM) and comprehensive trophic state index (TSIC) were applied to ascertain the trophic classification of the studied lake, and the values of TSIM and TSIC ranged from 53.72 to 70.61 and from 47.73 to 53.67, respectively, which indicated that the Daihai Lake was in the stage of hypereutropher.
The Lattice Compatibility Theory: Supports from the Generalized Simha-Somcynsky Chemical Physics-Related Theory
Authors: Boubaker K. , Colantoni A. , Petkova P.
Published: August 2013

The earliest models used in the study of lattice structures are mean field theories, which do not contain structural dependence. The Lattice Compatibility Theory (LCT) proposes here a novel framework where the measure of the disorder is based on Urbach tailing features and lattice matching features between the host matrix and doping agent intrinsic structures. This study has been implemented on a particular compound (BTO:Co) and refers to the Simha-Somcynsky (SS) theory, a mean field theory where the measure of the disorder is stated as holes.
Admissible Differential Bases in Banach Spaces
Authors: Berezhnoj Evgenii I.
Published: August 2013

In the present work, a new method for constructing differential bases is presented. The bases constructed by this method allow us to distinguish symmetric spaces with different behaviour of fundamental functions at zero, as in the case of Hayes and Stokolos, and even allow us to distinguish Lorentz and Marzinkiewicz spaces or Lebesgue and Marzinkiewicz spaces whose fundamental functions are the same.
Engineering Parameters in Bioreactor’s Design: A Critical Aspect in Tissue Engineering
Authors: Salehi-Nik Nasim , Amoabediny Ghassem , Pouran Behdad , Tabesh Hadi , Shokrgozar Mohammad Ali , Haghighipour Nooshin , Khatibi Nahid , Anisi Fatemeh , Mottaghy Khosrow , Zandieh-Doulabi Behrouz
Published: August 2013

Bioreactors are important inevitable part of any tissue engineering (TE) strategy as they aid the construction of three-dimensional functional tissues. Since the ultimate aim of a bioreactor is to create a biological product, the engineering parameters, for example, internal and external mass transfer, fluid velocity, shear stress, electrical current distribution, and so forth, are worth to be thoroughly investigated. The effects of such engineering parameters on biological cultures have been addressed in only a few preceding studies. Furthermore, it would be highly inefficient to determine the optimal engineering parameters by trial and error method. A solution is provided by emerging modeling and computational tools and by analyzing oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nutrient and metabolism waste material transports, which can simulate and predict the experimental results. Discovering the optimal engineering parameters is crucial not only to reduce the cost and time of experiments, but also to enhance efficacy and functionality of the tissue construct. This review intends to provide an inclusive package of the engineering parameters together with their calculation procedure in addition to the modeling techniques in TE bioreactors.
Osteogenesis Capability and Degradation Property Evaluation of Injectable Biomaterials: Comparison of Computed Tomography and Ultrasound
Authors: Chen Yan , Yan Yuting , Li Xiaoming , Li He , Yuan Yue , Gao Xiaoying , Wu Xixi , Zhong Jisheng , Lin Bomiao , Fan Yubo , Yu Bo
Published: August 2013

Injectable biomaterials, which can be physically inserted into a target site without the use of surgery, have received increasing attention in tissue engineering during the last decade. There is also a growing need for quantitative evaluation of the injectable biomaterial directly and noninvasively. The objectives of this study are to originate a quantitative noninvasive technique for evaluation of in situ forming bone biomaterials and to validate the feasibility of diagnostic ultrasound images analysis technique. The potential of ultrasound for quantitative evaluation of tissue development was compared with computed tomography (CT) in vivo. A strong correlation was witnessed between ultrasound gray‐scale values (GV) and volumetric mean of CT value (HUm) (r = 0.95). Meanwhile, the volume of the material area could be estimated by ultrasound maximum cross‐section pixel, which demonstrates a certain consistency with CT mask volume in 3D reconstruction images (r = 0.87). In conclusion, ultrasound imaging, which is corresponding with the traditional CT, can be used to evaluate osteogenesis capability and degradation property of injectable biomaterials. It may be a noninvasive, nonradioactive, and effective aid to monitor ossification and reconstruction of biomaterials at the implant region for bone defect repair.
MicroRNA: Not Far from Clinical Application in Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Li Yun , Liu Yahong , Wang Zhaojun , Hou Huajuan , Lin Ying , Jiang Yongjun
Published: August 2013

Ischemic stroke predominates in all types of stroke and none neuroprotective agents success in the clinical trial. MicroRNAs are small endogenous noncoding RNA molecules that act as negative or positive regulators of gene expressions by binding completely or partially to complementary target sequences in the mRNAs. The genes which could be modulated by microRNAs play a role in the etiology and pathophysiology ischemic stroke. Therefore, microRNAs may have function on ischemic stroke. A lot of previous studies have investigated the roles of microRNAs in the ischemic stroke. This mini review would highlight the recent progress of microRNAs on the ischemic stroke. Accumulating evidence demonstrated that microRNAs contributed to the etiology of ischemic stroke and modulated the pathophysiological process such as brain edema, local inflammation, and apoptosis in the brain tissues after stroke. And we also discussed the potential application of microRNAs in ischemic stroke such as a biomarker of stroke and drug target. In conclusion, microRNAs play an important role in stroke etiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and therapy for ischemic stroke. It needs further research to investigate the biological function in ischemic stroke before it enters the clinical practice.
Abstract 32: PER3 gene in association with plasma melatonin in Caucasian men.
Authors: Gu Fangyi , Chu Lisa W. , Yu Kai , Wang Zhaoming , Chanock Stephen , Hsing Ann , Caporaso Neil E.
Published: August 2013

Circadian rhythm disruption is classified as a possible human carcinogen, and has been associated with incidence, survival and prognosis of multiple cancers. Melatonin is the central circadian rhythm biomarker and identifying its genetic determinants will shed light on the mechanisms of the circadian rhythm-cancer relationship.

We have conducted what we believe is the first genome wide association scan (GWAS) of morning circulating melatonin levels in humans. We used data from 1250 Caucasian men from the screening arm of the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial (PLCO). Serum used for melatonin measurements were prospectively collected and prediagnostic of cancer; all serum were collected in the morning (7:00-11:00 am). We evaluated ∼ 2.5 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), and gave priority to 1298 SNPs in 20 candidate genes related to melatonin and circadian rhythm (20 kb upstream-10 kb downstream). Single SNP analyses were performed using linear models for log transformed melatonin concentrations, coding SNPs additively, and adjusting for age (≤59, 60-64, 65-69, ≥70 years) time of blood draw (6-7, 8, 9, 10, 11 am), study center, prostate cancer status, and eigenvectors that captured population stratification. Gene based P-values (Pgene) were computed using the minP method and 10,000 permutations. For the most significant SNPs, we also performed sensitivity analyses by restricting the analysis to men who were not subsequently diagnosed with prostate cancer. We did not detect a signal at the genome-wide significance level (10-8). However, we observed that PER3, one of the 9 core circadian rhythm regulating genes, was significantly associated with serum melatonin after Bonferroni correction for the 20 a priori candidate genes (Pgene=9×10−4). The top SNP (SNP1-7763877 G>T) achieved significance after Bonferroni correction that takes into account the total number of SNPs (1298) in the 20 candidate genes selected (P=1.24×10−5). For this SNP, serum melatonin decreased by 28% (14.8-40%) per T allele.

Our study suggests that PER3 gene polymorphisms might be associated with melatonin production, the velocity of diurnal decrease, or its diurnal pattern. This results warrant replication in independent samples, in females, and in urine for metabolites of melatonin.

Citation Format: Fangyi Gu, Lisa W. Chu, Kai Yu, Zhaoming Wang, Stephen Chanock, Ann Hsing, Neil E. Caporaso. PER3 gene in association with plasma melatonin in Caucasian men. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Post-GWAS Horizons in Molecular Epidemiology: Digging Deeper into the Environment; 2012 Nov 11-14; Hollywood, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2012;21(11 Suppl):Abstract nr 32.
Abstract 46: A review of the gene-environment interaction literature in cancer: What do we know?
Authors: Mechanic Leah E. , Simonds Naoko I. , Ghazarian Armen , Benedicto Camilla B. , Schully Sheri D. , Ellison Gary L. , Gillanders Elizabeth M.
Published: August 2013

Risk of cancer is determined by a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors. Therefore, the study of gene-environment interactions has been an active area of research for several years. To examine the state of the science in the field of gene-environment interactions research in cancer, we performed a systematic review of the published literature. A total of 3019 articles were identified using the gene-environment or pharmacogenomic flags from the HuGE literature finder and CancerGAMAdb, curated databases of genetic association studies, from January 1, 2001 to January 31, 2010. From these articles, 243 articles were determined to be relevant based on the inclusion criteria of at least 1000 cases in the interaction studied, examining the combination of genes and environment, and investigating the interaction as related to cancer risk. Information from these articles was abstracted regarding cancer type, environmental exposure variables, genetic variables, and estimates of interaction effects. In these papers, over 3500 interactions were investigated. The majority of these interactions were examined in colon, rectal, or colorectal cancer types (40%) followed by breast cancer (30%). Most of these interactions were explored using candidate gene polymorphisms (82%) compared with polymorphisms identified from genome wide association studies (GWAS). The most common environmental exposure categories observed were “energy balance” (41%), e.g. BMI or diet, followed by “Lifestyle” (21%), e.g. smoking or alcohol intake. Further analysis regarding commonly observed interactions, analytical tests performed, number of statistically significant interactions and magnitudes of interactions is on-going. In conclusion, observations of published literature suggest that opportunity exists for more of an agnostic approach to the study of gene-environment interactions and exploring alternative environmental exposures.

Citation Format: Leah E. Mechanic, Naoko I. Simonds, Armen Ghazarian, Camilla B. Benedicto, Sheri D. Schully, Gary L. Ellison, Elizabeth M. Gillanders. A review of the gene-environment interaction literature in cancer: What do we know? [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Post-GWAS Horizons in Molecular Epidemiology: Digging Deeper into the Environment; 2012 Nov 11-14; Hollywood, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2012;21(11 Suppl):Abstract nr 46.
Abstract 60: Combined effects of low-penetrance variants on breast cancer risk: Results from the Seoul Breast Cancer Study.
Authors: Sung Hyuna , Choi Ji-Yeob , Park Sue K. , Han Wonshik , Yoo Keun-Young , Ahn Sei-Hyun , Noh Dong-Young , Kang Daehee
Published: August 2013

Background: Although several low-penetrance loci associated with breast cancer risk were identified and confirmed, knowledge of the effect of multiple risk alleles is limited especially in Asian women. Therefore we evaluated the association between the polygenic risk scores and breast cancer risk in Korean women using the most recent list of breast cancer susceptibility loci.

Methods: We analyzed 51 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in 34 loci in 1,774 cases and age-frequency matched 1,774 control subjects participating in Seoul Breast Case-Control Study. The fourteen independent SNPs associated with breast cancer risk were selected based on the results of single SNP analysis. The genetic risk score (GRS) were calculated using simple count method and weighted method. Tests of association were conducted using the logistic regression for quintiles of each GRS with or without adjustment. The c-statistic was estimated to evaluate the contribution of GRS to risk prediction model including non-genetic factors (age, family history of breast cancer, education, BMI, menopausal status, age at menarche, age at first full-term pregnancy, and number of children).

Results: Fourteen SNPs (rs13393577, rs4973768, rs7716600, rs1092913, rs889312, rs9485372, rs2046210, rs1562430, rs704010, rs10736303, rs7107217, rs10771399, rs3803662, and rs4784227), each of which reflected a genetically independent locus, were found to be associated with breast cancer risk. A highly significant trend was observed between the GRS and the risk of breast cancer. The adjusted odds ratios for women in the highest quintile of count GRS or weighted GRS vs. those in the lowest were 2.64 (95% confidence interval (95% CI), 2.09- 3.35; Ptrend=9.3E-19) and 2.76 (95% CI, 2.18- 3.50; Ptrend=5.9E-21), respectively. The c-statistic for model including the GRS in additional to the conventional risk factors was 0.6389 (95% CI, 0.620-0.658) vs. 0.6041 (95% CI, 0.585-0.623) with the conventional risk factors only.

Conclusions: Supporting the polygenic inheritance model of breast cancer, our study showed that GRS based on low-penetrance SNPs adds very modest improvement to risk prediction models.

Citation Format: Hyuna Sung, Ji-Yeob Choi, Sue K. Park, Wonshik Han, Keun-Young Yoo, Sei-Hyun Ahn, Dong-Young Noh, Daehee Kang. Combined effects of low-penetrance variants on breast cancer risk: Results from the Seoul Breast Cancer Study. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Post-GWAS Horizons in Molecular Epidemiology: Digging Deeper into the Environment; 2012 Nov 11-14; Hollywood, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2012;21(11 Suppl):Abstract nr 60.
Abstract IA07: The phenome and pleiotropy: Dissecting the architecture of complex traits.
Authors: Ritchie Marylyn D. , Sarah Pendergrass A.
Published: August 2013

The efforts of the human genome project are beginning to provide important findings for human health. Technological advances in the laboratory, particularly in characterizing human genomic variation, have created new approaches for studying the human genome. However, current statistical and computational strategies are taking only partial advantage of this wealth of information. In the quest for disease susceptibility genes for common, complex disease, we are faced with many challenges. Selecting genetic, clinical, and environmental factors important for the trait of interest is increasingly more difficult as high throughput data generation technologies are developed. We know that genes do not act in isolation, thus numerous other factors are likely important in complex disease phenotypes. Ultimately, we want to know what factors are important to provide superior prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of human disease. Unfortunately, interpretation of statistical models in a meaningful way for biomedical research has been lacking due to the inherent difficulty in making such connections.

One of the emerging areas for exploring the architecture of complex traits includes phenome-wide association studies, or PheWAS. It is conceivable that be exploiting the interrelationships between traits, we can uncover novel mechanistic insights and identify evidence for pleiotropy. A number of strategies are being explored to capitalize on the network of phenotypes to then test for association with genotypes. In this presentation, a number of PheWAS examples will be provided as well as next steps in the quest for understanding the architecture of complex traits.

Citation Format: Marylyn D. Ritchie, Pendergrass A. Sarah. The phenome and pleiotropy: Dissecting the architecture of complex traits. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Post-GWAS Horizons in Molecular Epidemiology: Digging Deeper into the Environment; 2012 Nov 11-14; Hollywood, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2012;21(11 Suppl):Abstract nr IA07.
Abstract IA08: Characterizing the exposome.
Authors: Smith Martyn T.
Published: August 2013

The exposome is defined as the totality of environmental exposures from conception onwards. It offers a conceptual leap towards understanding the environmental causes of human disease through comprehensive studies of the internal chemical environment using repeated blood and other biological samples taken during critical life stages (Rappaport, S.M. and M.T. Smith, Science, 2010. 330:460-1). It augments the chemical-by-chemical approach to finding causes of disease as it includes both endogenous and exogenous exposures. From a toxicological viewpoint it is the chemicals present in biological fluids, such as the plasma, that the body's cell and tissues encounter that then cause aberrant health conditions. Hence, it is the internal exposome that represents the total target dose of chemical agents in the body, no matter what their source or how they are derived. This includes chemicals arising from inflammation, oxidative stress and other endogenous sources. Several ‘omic’ technologies can be applied to characterize the exposome of specific diseases and may promote discovery of the key exposures responsible for chronic diseases. Characterizing the human exposome represents a challenge similar to the human genome project, which began when DNA sequencing was in its infancy and has generated by some accounts $140 for every $1 invested. Given the magnitude of the exposome challenge international participation is of paramount importance. Thus, we have formed the Exposome Alliance (http://www.exposomealliance.org) to promote investment in a human exposome project. The European Union recently took the first steps in this regard by funding a European Exposome initiative that will support several international projects.

Citation Format: Martyn T. Smith. Characterizing the exposome. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Post-GWAS Horizons in Molecular Epidemiology: Digging Deeper into the Environment; 2012 Nov 11-14; Hollywood, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2012;21(11 Suppl):Abstract nr IA08.
Abstract IA11A: Tumor heterogeneity: Making the most of diversity.
Authors: Couch Fergus J.
Published: August 2013

Initial genome wide association studies (GWAS) of common cancers focused on combining all available cases in order to maximize the statistical power of the studies. While many genome wide significant associations (p < 5 × 10−8) were observed, this approach overlooked the possibility that certain genetic risk factors might have greater effects in specific populations. With this in mind more recent studies have focused on associations between common genetic variants and disease in populations other than those of northern European ancestry. In addition, GWAS of predisposed individuals, such as carriers of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations, have been conducted based on the hypothesis that unique modifiers of breast and ovarian cancer risk might influence disease in these populations. More recently, associations with histological subtypes of tumors have been observed for a number of different cancer types. In the setting of breast cancer, specific associations with estrogen receptor status of tumors and even triple negative tumors (estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2 negative) have been reported. Ongoing studies further suggest that specific associations with histochemical markers and tumor grade may also exist in the general population. Here we will discuss recent associations between genetic variants and subpopulations of disease using breast cancer as a model, and consider the importance of these findings for an improved understanding of the etiology of breast cancer and enhanced cancer risk assessment.

Citation Format: Fergus J. Couch. Tumor heterogeneity: Making the most of diversity. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Post-GWAS Horizons in Molecular Epidemiology: Digging Deeper into the Environment; 2012 Nov 11-14; Hollywood, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2012;21(11 Suppl):Abstract nr IA11A.
Prokaryotic Proteasomes: Nanocompartments of Degradation
Authors: Humbard Matthew A. , Maupin-Furlow Julie A.
Published: August 2013

Proteasomes are self-compartmentalized energy-dependent proteolytic machines found in Archaea, Actinobacteria species of bacteria and eukaryotes. Proteasomes consist of two separate protein complexes, the core particle that hydrolyzes peptide bonds and an AAA+ ATPase domain responsible for the binding, unfolding and translocation of protein substrates into the core particle for degradation. Similarly to eukaryotes, proteasomes play a central role in protein degradation and can be essential in Archaea. Core particles associate with and utilize a variety of ATPase complexes to carry out protein degradation in Archaea. In actinobacterial species, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, proteasome-mediated degradation is associated with pathogenesis and does not appear to be essential. Interestingly, both actinobacterial species and Archaea use small proteins to covalently modify proteins, prokaryotic ubiquitin-like proteins (Pup) in Actinobacteria and ubiquitin-like small archaeal modifier proteins (SAMP) in Archaea. These modifications may play a role in proteasome targeting similar to the ubiquitin-proteasome system in eukaryotes.
Molecular Motors in Bacterial Secretion
Authors: Peña Alejandro , Arechaga Ignacio
Published: August 2013

Secretion of effectors across bacterial membranes is usually mediated by large multisubunit complexes. In most cases, the secreted effectors are virulent factors normally associated to pathogenic diseases. The biogenesis of these secretion systems and the transport of the effectors are processes that require energy. This energy could be directly obtained by using the proton motive force, but in most cases the energy associated to these processes is derived from ATP hydrolysis. Here, a description of the machineries involved in generating the energy required for system biogenesis and substrate transport by type II, III and IV secretion systems is provided, with special emphasis on highlighting the structural similarities and evolutionary relationships among the secretion ATPases.
On “Translating” History: A Rejoinder to Ramsay MacMullen
Authors: Ekelund Robert B. , Tollison Robert D.
Published: August 2013

The impatience with “rational behavior” that Ramsay MacMullen expresses in his review essay, “The Translation of History,” has apparently led him to misinterpret portions of our book, Origins of Roman Christianity. Moreover, in addition to locating so-called “factual errors” in our work, he recommends the Kahneman-Tversky attempt to inject psychology (and neuroscience) into market behavior as a kind of “new economics” that challenges the “rational-agent model” and thus supposedly has value in religious history and the social sciences as well. He is incorrect as regards both methods and facts.
The Dissociation between Early and Late Selection in Older Adults
Authors: Alperin Brittany R. , Haring Anna E. , Zhuravleva Tatyana Y. , Holcomb Phillip J. , Rentz Dorene M. , Daffner Kirk R.
Published: August 2013

Older adults exhibit a reduced ability to ignore task-irrelevant stimuli; however, it remains to be determined where along the information processing stream the most salient age-associated changes occur. In the current study, ERPs provided an opportunity to determine whether age-related differences in processing task-irrelevant stimuli were uniform across information processing stages or disproportionately affected either early or late selection. ERPs were measured in young and old adults during a color-selective attention task in which participants responded to target letters in a specified color (attend condition) while ignoring letters in a different color (ignore condition). Old participants were matched to two groups of young participants on the basis of neuropsychological test performance: one using age-appropriate norms and the other using test scores not adjusted for age. There were no age-associated differences in the magnitude of early selection (attend–ignore), as indexed by the size of the anterior selection positivity and posterior selection negativity. During late selection, as indexed by P3b amplitude, both groups of young participants generated neural responses to target letters under the attend versus ignore conditions that were highly differentiated. In striking contrast, old participants generated a P3b to target letters with no reliable differences between conditions. Individuals who were slow to initiate early selection appeared to be less successful at executing late selection. Despite relative preservation of the operations of early selection, processing delays may lead older participants to allocate excessive resources to task-irrelevant stimuli during late selection.
The ANDEEP Tanaidacea (Crustacea: Peracarida) revisited II: the family Anarthruridae and family incertae sedis, with descriptions of three new species and the erection of a new genus
Authors: LARSEN KIM
Published: August 2013

Specimens collected during the ANDEEP I and II expeditions revealed three new species belonging to the family Anarthruridae and family incertae sedis. One new species of Anarthruridae, Ithyomus antarcticus n. sp. is described. Also described are two new species belonging to genera currently not assigned to a family; one in the genus Parafilitanais (P. denticulus n. sp.) and one in Pseudoarthrura (P. tuberculata n. sp.). The genus Cristatotanais is removed from Anarthruridae, while P. setoserrata is removed from Pseudoarthrura and elevated to genus rank under the name Selvagentanais gen. nov.
Tropical insect collections and DNA extraction, using Rhodnius Stål 1859 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae)
Authors: DALE CAROLINA , JUSTI SILVIA ANDRADE , GALVÃO CLEBER
Published: August 2013

Biological collections are central databases for information concerning morphology and diversity in all living groups (Marinoni et al. 2005). According to Blaxter (2004), valuable information about taxonomic identification and phylogenetic inference can be provided by DNA sequences. Common methods for DNA extraction normally involve partial destruction of the specimen; this kind of extraction is not attractive for use in the case of historical specimens. The application of that idea in insect collections became possible once Gilbert et al. (2007) published a new protocol that allows the extraction of this useful DNA from dry-preserved collection specimens for genetic analyses. However, the authors used specimens from four different collections located only in temperate zones (California Academy of Sciences, Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, and the National Science Museum, Tokyo).
Indian and American Perspectives on Food Security
Authors: Purushothaman Uma
Published: August 2013

This essay examines how the definition of food security has evolved over the years and the causes of food insecurity. It looks at the state of food security in India and the US. It analyzes the food assistance programmes or short-term responses (other than the long-term goals of increasing agricultural productivity, controlling population growth, etc.) of the Indian and American governments to the problem of food insecurity and the challenges they face in implementing these responses. It identifies the target groups for these schemes and the eligibility requirements. Further, the essay analyzes the steps the US and India have taken to attain and maintain food security at the domestic level and makes an assessment of how far they have succeeded. Finally, it compares the programmes and policies of the two governments and concludes that the US has been more effective in dealing with food insecurity than India mainly because its mechanisms target the groups better and deliver the benefits more efficiently.
The Process of China’s Accession to the World Trade Organization: Obstacles and Implications
Authors: Kanungo Anil Kumar
Published: August 2013

The process of China’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) is considered to be one of the toughest challenges faced by any country. Denied the status of a developing economy because of pressure from the US, the European Union and Japan, it has had to make commitments to cut tariffs and open its markets. China has been slow in abiding by its commitment with considerations of national sovereignty and security taking precedence over the issue of allowing greater access to the Chinese market and greater trade liberalization. Thus, the country’s sovereignty and security were considered more important than consumer satisfaction, development of telecommunications network, innovation and, to a large extent, its services sector.
Coping with natural disasters in Yogyakarta, Indonesia: A study of elementary school teachers
Authors: Seyle D Conor , Widyatmoko C.Siswa , Silver Roxane Cohen
Published: August 2013

The nation of Indonesia is in an area of geological instability, resulting in repeated and severe natural disasters including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis. Teachers, as adult authority figures and people with whom students spend a majority of their day, can play a major role in the lives of children in a disaster-prone community. Four years after a 6.3 magnitude earthquake that devastated a primarily rural community in Central Java, we studied 43 elementary school teachers from six primary schools who are responsible for educating hundreds of students annually. First, we examined the relationship between post-earthquake distress and teacher beliefs about efficacy and teacher-reported classroom behavior. Second, we designed a brief psychosocial skills-based intervention to reduce teacher distress and support their capacity to reduce student distress and improve student achievement. Finally, we assessed the impact of this intervention on reducing teacher distress and on improving student behavior and school performance over time. Analyses revealed a significant relationship between teachers’ depression and self-reported negative classroom behavior, a significant relationship between teachers’ posttraumatic distress and general beliefs about teacher efficacy, and a significant drop in depression and posttraumatic stress symptoms from before to after the intervention. This research extends a growing body of research on the potential role of teachers in assisting students in coping with chronic stress in their community. Lessons learned from this program of research can inform schools, school personnel, and long-term community intervention efforts following disasters across the world.
Self-concepts and educational outcomes of Indigenous Australian students in urban and rural school settings
Authors: Yeung Alexander Seeshing , Craven Rhonda G. , Ali Jinnat
Published: August 2013

Indigenous Australians have been known to be disadvantaged in many ways although higher art and physical self-concepts have been reported with Indigenous samples. Given recent research demonstrating the reciprocal effects of achievement and self-concept in academic domains, Indigenous students may experience further disadvantages in both academic performance and self-concept. A sample of Indigenous and non-Indigenous students ( N = 1,342) from schools in New South Wales (NSW), Australia were asked to respond to a survey measuring: five domains of self-concept (i.e., school, reading, mathematics, art, and physical abilities), two learning-related factors (enjoyment and participation), and a self-assessment of their school work. Their scores in a NSW state-wide assessment of students’ literacy and numeracy were also obtained. Confirmatory factor analysis established the self-concept and learning-related factors. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) using a 2 (identity: Indigenous vs. Non-Indigenous) × 2 (region: urban vs. rural) design found significant effects of identity for all variables except for art self-concept. That is, non-Indigenous students scored higher than Indigenous students in literacy and numeracy tests, self-concepts, learning-related factors, and self-ratings of school work, irrespective of region. The results did not support previous research demonstrating a relatively higher art self-concept for Indigenous children based on stereotypical perspectives. These results imply that school personnel would be well advised to not assume stereotypic differences between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian students or assume a great difference between Indigenous students from urban and rural school settings. However, there seems to be a need for improving the school environment so as to promote Indigenous students’ performance and enjoyment of school life.
Bi-cultural Aotearoa/New Zealand: Provision of psychological services to the Māori population of rural New Zealand: Combining best practice with cultural considerations
Authors: Little Steven G. , Akin-Little Angeleque , Johansen Anita
Published: August 2013

New Zealand is considered a bi-cultural country with both the majority European and the minority/indigenous Māori cultures are supposedly given equal weight within the psyche and policies of the country. In reality, however, individuals of Māori descent tend to be over-represented in negative socio-economic and educational dimensions. A higher percentage of Māori than Europeans live in rural areas which makes the provision of services to this segment of the population even more challenging. The New Zealand government has, however, recognized its obligations to Māori citizenry and has developed a number of initiatives in an attempt to better meet the needs of Māori students and to increase the number of Māori children achieving positive educational outcomes. This article summarizes initiatives currently in place and presents information concerning Māori educational achievement and progress that has been made to bring in Māori children to a level commensurate with rates of other children.
Cultural models of education and academic performance for Native American and European American students
Authors: Fryberg Stephanie A. , Covarrubias Rebecca , Burack Jacob A.
Published: August 2013

We examined the role of cultural representations of self (i.e., interdependence and independence) and positive relationships (i.e., trust for teachers) in academic performance (i.e., self-reported grades) for Native American ( N = 41) and European American ( N = 49) high school students. The Native American students endorsed marginally more interdependent representation of self and marginally less trust for teachers than did the European American students. While interdependent representations of self and trust for teachers were positively related for the Native American students, neither cultural representations of self were related to trust for teachers for the European American students. However, with respect to academic performance, interdependent representations of self and trust for teachers were positively related to academic performance for the Native American students. Conversely, independent and interdependent representations of self were positively related to academic performance for the European American students, but trust for teachers was not associated with academic performance. Finally, as predicted, culturally congruent representations of self predicted academic performance. Specifically, trust for teachers and interdependent representations of self positively predicted academic performance for Native American students, whereas only independent representations of self predicted academic performance for European American students. Implications for culturally congruent models of education are discussed.
Liberal Thanatopolitics and the HIV/AIDS Pandemic
Authors: Ailio Jaakko
Published: August 2013

The strength of Roberto Esposito’s immunitary reading of biopolitics lies in its ability to bring together biopolitics and thanatopolitics without fully collapsing them into each other. However, although Esposito has carefully elaborated the thanatopolitical tendency within Nazi biopolitics, the very idea of liberal thanatopolitics appears to be foreign to him. Despite the neglect of such a combination in Esposito’s thought, this article considers precisely this possibility. Befitting Esposito’s theory of immunity, this is done by focusing on the liberal efforts to halt the pandemic caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We discuss the hypothesis that the liberal insistence on the primacy of personified human life in the face of a dehumanizing pandemic systematically places many HIV-positive people in a zone of indistinguishability between full human existence and merely being alive in a thanatopolitical fashion.
Invisible-hand explanations: From blindness to lack of we-ness
Authors: Tieffenbach Emma
Published: August 2013

The unintendedness of the phenomenon that is to be explained is a constraint visible in the various applications and clarifications of invisible-hand explanations. The article casts doubt on such a requirement and proposes a revised account. To have a role in an invisible-hand process, it is argued, agents may very well act with a view to contributing to the occurrence of the social outcome that is to be explained, provided they see what they do as an aggregation of their individual actions rather than as something they jointly perform.
Modernity, modernities and modernization: Tradition reappraised
Authors: Lee Raymond LM
Published: August 2013

The current discourse of modernity has produced many new terms to reflect the multiple conditions of social change. However, they do not automatically suggest a direct transition from the traditional but rather support a recursive modality in which present changes are not construed as fully independent of reclaimed past beliefs and actions. By comparing these terms in relation to globality, reflexivity and multiplicity, the fate of traditions is once again given due attention through a focus on their revival and reinvention. This attention is vital for elucidating the privileging of tradition rather than its displacement in social change.
Facilitation of arm movements by their outcome desirability
Authors: Aue Tatjana , Scherer Klaus R
Published: August 2013

A large body of research suggests arm extension and arm flexion to be indicators of automatically generated withdrawal and approach motivation, respectively. However, such a view has not remained unchallenged. Recent research suggests that the motivational significance of arm movements may be largely context dependent. The aim of this research was to demonstrate that an essential facilitating context factor for arm movements relies on the desirability of their expected outcomes. Participants viewed negative and positive stimulus material (pictures and words) and were asked to concurrently perform either an arm extension or an arm flexion. Arm movements were embedded in a meaningful context, leading to a stimulus size decrease or increase; and thus giving the visual illusion of withdrawing from the stimulus or approaching it. Results show that the significance of arm movements is indeed influenced by the desirability of their respective effects.
Is rational choice theory still a rational choice of theory? A response to Opp
Authors: Manzo Gianluca
Published: August 2013

Authoritative rational choice theorists continue to argue that wide variants of rational choice theory should be regarded as the best starting-point to formulate theoretical hypotheses on the micro foundations of complex macro-level social dynamics. Building on recent writings on neo-classical rational choice theory, on behavioral economics and on cognitive psychology, the present article challenges this view and argues that: (1) neo-classical rational choice theory is an astonishingly malleable and powerful analytical device whose descriptive accuracy is nevertheless limited to a very specific class of choice settings; (2) the ‘wide’ sociological rational choice theory does not add anything original to the neo-classical framework on a conceptual level and it is also methodologically weaker; (3) at least four alternative action-oriented approaches that reject portrayal of actors as computational devices operating over probability distributions can be used to design sociological explanations that are descriptively accurate at the micro level.
Africa 2050: Jobs and Prosperity in a Multipolar Global Economy— Moving Out of Fragility and Conflict
Authors: Michailof Serge
Published: August 2013

Most African states are unfortunately prone to some level of “inherent” fragility, influenced by the level of government inclusiveness and legitimacy and the quality of the state’s main institutions. Inclusive political systems and/or a well-functioning democracy may lower inherent fragility. But democracy and political inclusiveness are no guarantee of state resilience; basic economic reforms and strong growth are not incompatible with state fragility. The deeply ingrained social and historical character of inherent fragility explains why moving out of fragility is so difficult. Institution-building during times of crisis—specific tensions, stresses, and shocks—is usually necessary to transition from fragility to resilience.
The Centennial Resilience Index: Measuring Countries’ Resilience to Shock
Authors: Boorman Jack , Fajgenbaum José , Ferhani Hervé , Bhaskaran Manu , Arnold Drew , Kohli Harpaul Alberto
Published: August 2013

At the Emerging Markets Forum in October 2010, initial results were presented from an exercise that attempted to measure the resilience of emerging market and developing countries (EMDCs) to deal with shocks to their economies. This paper updates, improves upon, and draws conclusions from that index. A key conclusion is that the Resilience Index appears to have the power both to identify economies that are heading to trouble and to identify the specific policy areas of weakness that lie behind their increasing vulnerablility. The Resilience Index can add to the tools of the economic surveillance process—at least as a device to help insure that weaknesses are surfaced, and that deeper analysis is conducted to assess those weaknesses and suggest corrective policies. It is clear from this analysis that building resilience—and making it a priority of policymakers—can pay high dividends. In particular, we show that the Resilience Index clearly demonstrates that emerging weaknesses in many economies were evident well before the global crisis and the crisis in Europe.
Effects of non-surgical periodontal treatment on the l-arginine-nitric oxide pathway and oxidative status in platelets
Authors: Siqueira Mariana Alves de Sá , Fischer Ricardo Guimarães , Pereira Natália Rodrigues , Martins Marcela Anjos , Moss Monique Bandeira , Mendes-Ribeiro Antônio Cláudio , Figueredo Carlos Marcelo da Silva , Brunini Tatiana Marlowe Cunha
Published: August 2013

Several studies have suggested an increase of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk on periodontitis patients. An enhancement has been demonstrated on both platelet activation and oxidative stress on periodontitis patients, which may contribute for this association. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of non-surgical periodontal treatment on the l-arginine-nitric oxide (NO)-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) pathway and oxidative status in platelets. A total of eight periodontitis patients and eight controls were included in this study. Clinical, laboratory and experimental evaluations were performed on baseline and 90 days after periodontal treatment (except for western blot analysis). The clinical periodontal evaluation included measurements of probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), % of sites with plaque and % of sites with bleeding on probing. We evaluated: l-[3H]arginine influx; nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and arginase enzymes activity and expression; expression of guanylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase-5 enzymes; cGMP levels; platelet aggregation; oxidative status through superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities, and measurement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. The initial results showed an activation of both l-arginine influx and via system y + L associated with reduced intraplatelet cGMP levels in periodontitis patients and increased systemic levels of CRP. After periodontal treatment, there was a significant reduction of the % of sites with PPD 4–5mm, % of sites with CAL 4–5 mm, and an enhancement in cGMP levels and SOD activity. Moreover, CRP levels were reduced after treatment. Therefore, alterations in the intraplatelet l-arginine-NO-cGMP pathway and oxidant–antioxidant balance associated with a systemic inflammatory response may lead to platelet dysfunction, which may contribute to a higher risk of CVD in periodontitis.