bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diffusion Across Political Systems: The Global Spread of National Human Rights Institutions
Authors: Pegram Thomas
Published: August 2010

This article examines the proliferation of national human rights institutions (NHRIs) and seeks to explain the drivers of this institutional innovation across contrasting political regimes. This article suggests that the NHRI phenomenon can be attributed to increasingly sophisticated international organizational platforms and three distinct, but complementary, mechanisms of diffusion: (1) coercion, (2) acculturation, and (3) persuasion. The article argues that a powerful international process of diffusion is at work and NHRIs are no longer the exclusive preserve of liberal democratic regimes. Instead NHRIs have diffused to a wide range of political systems, subjecting these human rights institutions to new and often competing demands and expectations.
The Rights of Religious Associations to External Relations: A Comparative Study of the OSCE and the Council of Europe
Authors: Langlaude Sylvie
Published: August 2010

This article argues that religious associations have a number of substantive rights when it comes to their external relations. It does so though comparing the position of the OSCE and the Council of Europe. This article considers whether the emerging framework includes: (1) a right to legal entity status, (2) a right to establish and run charitable or educational institutions, (3) a right to privileges and substantive benefits and (4) a right to anything else. It concludes that the current developments are welcome because religious freedom has a collective aspect that is essential to the lives of many believers.
Legal Mobilization for Human Rights Protection in North Korea: Furthering Discourse or Discord?
Authors: Goedde Patricia
Published: August 2010

International human rights networks have publicized the exigencies of human rights violations in North Korea and have mobilized international and domestic laws as part of their respective movements to pressure North Korea on human rights. This article asks how effective these attempts at legal mobilization have been. While leveraging law has found success in other parts of the world for human rights improvement, this article argues that legal mobilization has had very limited impact in North Korea due to larger political impediments such as denuclearization priorities, ideological polarization between human rights groups, and North Korea’s own counter-discourse to human rights.
The Human Rights Ombudsman in Russia: The Evolution of Horizontal Accountability
Authors: Gilligan Emma
Published: August 2010

Establishing state mechanisms for the protection of human rights in post-Soviet Russia has been an uncertain endeavor. While the nongovernment sector quickly embraced the public space created by perestroika , the evolution of state-sponsored initiatives has taken a more problematic course. The judicial system has witnessed substantial reform, yet continues to face enormous challenges, which have been determined by a number of constituent factors: psychological, financial, and political. This study seeks to examine the performance of another agency of state accountability, the Russian human rights ombudsman, and to consider its contribution to democracy building in Russia. In discussing the historical context in which the office was established, the direction in which it has developed, and its performance and attendant political responses, this article contends that despite the vicissitudes that shaped its beginnings, the office of the human rights ombudsman is making a valuable contribution to the expansion of administrative justice in contemporary Russia, as it begins to hold government agencies accountable for state human rights violations.
Practice of United Nations Human Rights Treaty Bodies in the Reconciliation of Cultural Diversity with Universal Respect for Human Rights
Authors: Addo Michael K.
Published: August 2010

The traditional scholarly narrative on the relationship between cultural diversity and universal respect for human rights suggests a tension which must, at best, be managed. There is, however, no consensus among scholars as to the best way to reconcile or manage this tension and so creating an intellectual gap between universalist and cultural relativist schools of thought which has come to inform important aspects of diplomatic practice. This article analyses an alternative approach to the management of this tension based on the practice of the United Nations human rights treaty bodies. The working methods of these supervisory bodies, especially the constructive dialogue on national periodic reports, suggest that they adopt a legal approach in which cultural diversity and universal respect for human rights complement and reinforce each other. At the same time, focusing on effective protection, the treaty bodies challenge specific cultural practices that they consider to be harmful or contrary to human rights guarantees. Although the treaty bodies’ approach to this subject is still evolving, it reveals interesting doctrinal lessons concerning the universality of human rights norms.
The Parliamentary Library as a Bridge between Congress and Citizenship: The Mexican Chamber of Deputies Reference Service
Authors: Salinas Fabiola Elena Rosales
Published: August 2010

The scope of parliamentary information is vast and is enhanced by communication technologies. Therefore, parliamentary libraries face the challenge of offering services to Members of Parliament (MPs) that are faster, more efficient, and more diverse. In Mexico the Parliamentary Library represents one of the bridges to democracy, a conduit that disseminates information generated by the Mexican Congress. The Internet ensures the public's access to parliamentary information. But this is not enough. The human factor, the librarian's experience and expertise, is fundamental in assisting citizens to retrieve relevant information. This paper highlights the new services provided by the Analysis, Information and Documentation Center (CEDIA) of the Mexican Chamber of Deputies, particularly the products used by the Reference Service to provide information and assistance to the Mexican MP staff as well as to the general public seeking government information.
Emerging Library and Research Services for Legislatures in Africa: The Case of the Parliament of Uganda
Authors: Rugambwa Innocent
Published: August 2010

When a parliament establishes a library and research service or enhances the capacity and scope of an existing service, there is much to be learned from the experience of international counterparts and partnerships with relevant stakeholders. Each segment of society has a specific role to play and resources to share. After presenting a brief background on the Parliament of Uganda and the recent establishment of library and research services therein, this paper discusses the factors that have led to expediting the growth of parliamentary library and research services, despite many challenges. Experiences are reported in regard to the role and reporting mechanism of the Uganda Parliamentary Library, its clientele, information requests from Members of Parliament, the impact of information technology, and other issues affecting the Legislative Library and Information Service. The paper highlights an overview of parliamentary library and research services in Africa and explores opportunities for building effective partnerships between parliamentary library and research services and relevant stakeholders with a view to achieving best practices. Examples of partnerships are cited with reference to the Parliament of Uganda.
Members Use of Information and Changing Visions of the Parliamentary Library
Authors: Watt Iain
Published: August 2010

The assumption underlying parliamentary libraries is that Members have a fundamental need for high-quality information services to support their decision-making processes. This assumption can be questioned. The historical importance of the parliamentary library is assessed as a necessary myth projecting the modernity of the parliament and the legitimacy of its decisions. The standard narrative of parliamentary library history—that the evolving visions of parliamentary libraries are responses to the needs of Members—is not supported by the evidence. The origins of the service visions lie more in the copying of other services, responses to expert opinion, and wider professional developments. The library no longer signifies modernity and the myth has become a liability. An alternative paradigm of Members' information work is proposed, based on the concept of bounded rationality and, in particular, the work of Gigerenzer on "fast and frugal" decision making. Recent research confirms the importance of heuristics in decision making by Members. In this model of decision making, the parliamentary library makes its impact through improved environmental understanding and the framing of matters for decision, rather than the delivery of information at the point of decision. Giving easier access to information, and focusing on information for specialist Members, may have more impact on the quality of information actually used than efforts to improve product quality. A focus on the deployment of library competences in new areas of parliamentary information work is part of a vision for the future.
Pakistan Parliamentary Libraries: A Historical Excursion and Hopes for the Future
Authors: Valentine Ellie
Published: August 2010

Pakistan's parliamentary libraries reflect the challenges that the democratic institutions they serve have faced since independence in 1948. This article provides a historical context to the development of the bicameral parliament in Pakistan and four provincial assemblies. It describes the founding and development of parliamentary library and research services in that context and presents some of the newest innovations and reforms that the institutions have initiated in recent years.
The New Zealand Parliamentary Library and the Wider Development of Parliamentary Libraries over 150 Years
Authors: Fraser Moira , Martin John E.
Published: August 2010

This paper discusses the development of the New Zealand Parliamentary Library in the context of other significant parliamentary libraries in the English-speaking world. There are four phases of development in New Zealand's 150 years, which are also observable in other parliamentary libraries. The four phases are: getting established, building a strong library collection, supporting library functions, and focusing upon Parliament. This paper tells the story of one library's development, highlighting the influences, connections, and similarities with other well-known examples. Although the world's parliamentary libraries take varying paths because of the different cultures, parliamentary models, and national library frameworks in which they operate, comparisons can be fruitful.
Parliamentary Libraries: An Uncertain Future?
Authors: Galluzzi Anna
Published: August 2010

Parliamentary libraries serve parliamentary institutions on a national or local level. Usually they are founded at the same time as the parliament itself and organized according to the parliamentary model of the country in which they are located. The parliamentary library's mission is to support and facilitate parliamentary activities and make available all useful sources of information to the parliament as a whole. Thus, the parliamentary library is a specialized library from the point of view of the collections' coverage and of patrons as well. Today, parliamentary libraries are at a turning point in their history. All over the world they are radically changing their nature and are reinventing themselves. They are facing two main challenges: the convergence toward a digital and networked society and the changing role of parliaments themselves. Parliamentary libraries are heading in two main directions: they are becoming documentation centers by integrating their services with other parliamentary offices and departments, meaning that they sometimes give up their physical structure; and they are extending themselves beyond their traditional roles by also serving the general public, by acquiring the status of national libraries, or by becoming central research libraries for a specific field such as political science and law.
British Parliamentary Libraries: History, International Comparisons, and Some Lessons for Tomorrow's Legislature Libraries
Authors: Murphy Christopher
Published: August 2010

Britain's House of Commons and House of Lords Libraries have a lengthy history beginning with small collections of books and papers in the eighteenth century and evolving into today's large organizations offering a sophisticated range of services. The central theme of this article is the conservatism of these institutions over most of their history, with the creation of modern library facilities only beginning in 1945 for the Commons Library (a process that did not accelerate until some three decades later) and in 1976 for the Lords. By way of comparison I will discuss: the U.S. Library of Congress (founded in 1800); Japan's National Diet Library (created in the postwar reconstruction in 1948); and, to offer an example of a smaller country, Ireland's Oireachtas Library. In summarizing the history of the British parliamentary libraries, I have also tried to indicate some ways in which we might draw upon this historical experience to identify fruitful new future directions for libraries supporting legislatures throughout the world.
The Sejm Library, 1919-2009
Authors: Kulisiewicz Wojciech
Published: August 2010

The establishment of the Sejm Library followed Poland's regaining of independence in 1918 and the ensuing parliamentary election of 1919. The library was set up at the end of 1919, and after many organizational changes it came to incorporate the Senate Library and the parliamentary archives. By 1939 the library's collection amounted to 78,000 volumes, including parliamentary and official publications as well as books and journals on law and the social, economic, and historical sciences. In September 1939, a fire destroyed part of the collection, while the remaining 62,000 volumes were transported by the Germans to Berlin where they disappeared in circumstances that were never clarified. Only a small part of the collection, deposited before the end of the war in Castle Houska in Czechoslovakia, returned to Poland. In a one-chamber parliament set up after World War II, the library, functioning under the name of the "Sejm Library," had to rebuild its collections almost from scratch. In 1991, the library took over the 145,000 volume library collection of the former Archives of the Polish Left, and in 1993 the Sejm Archives was incorporated into it. Currently, the entirely automated library has a collection of about 500,000 volumes and provides services for both chambers of the Polish Parliament.
The Parliamentary Library of Montenegro: Coming out from the Past
Authors: Aligrudić Svjetlana
Published: August 2010

This paper presents a short historical overview of Montenegrin parliamentarism and activities in connection with the Library of the Parliament of Montenegro since its establishment in 1953. An emphasis is placed on the need to bring this library up-to-date and to turn it into a modern parliamentary library. The status of the library within its parent organization, the Parliament of Montenegro, is analyzed, as well as the library collections (acquisition policy and organization), user profile, use and nonuse of sources and services, and staffing. Finally, the inevitability of structural changes in the Library of the Parliament of Montenegro's activity is discussed along with its goal to step into the twenty-first century.
The Semantics, Pragmatics, and Evolution of Two Verbless Negative Constructions in Nyulnyul
Authors: McGregor William B.
Published: August 2010

This investigation is a contribution to understudied areas of Australian Aboriginal linguistics and linguistic typology: the negation of existential and possessive clauses. It focuses on two structurally unusual negative verbless constructions in Nyulnyul (Nyulnyulan, Kimberley, Western Australia): a negative possessive indicating that a possessor lacks possessions of a specified type; and a negative existential indicating the absence of entities of the specified type at a particular location. Formal and semantic evidence is presented showing that these represent two distinct constructions. It is suggested that the negative existential emerged via reanalysis of a subtype of the negative possessive construction through a diachronic process that was not motivated by metaphorical or metonymic transfer, but by purely formal and pragmatic reinterpretations.
Irrealis and Indefinites in Unua
Authors: Pearce Elizabeth
Published: August 2010

This paper presents an account of the uses and functions of irrealis morphology on quantificational expressions in noun phrases in Unua, an Oceanic language of Vanuatu. I will show that, when present on such quantificational expressions, the irrealis morphology encodes two distinct semantic functions for the arguments so quantified. In the context of negation and/or of irrealis modality, the irrealis-marked argument identifies a low-scope existential. In contexts in which the irrealis-marked argument is the argument of an individual-level predicate, it identifies a high-scope universal.
Passives and Resultatives in Marshallese
Authors: Willson Heather
Published: August 2010

In the literature, Marshallese verbs are often categorized as perfective or as passive. However, sentences containing perfectives and passives share numerous morphological, syntactic, and semantic similarities. As a result, it is difficult to tell whether these sentences are perfective or passive. In this paper, I examine perfective and passive verbs and sentences and provide semantic and syntactic evidence supporting the existence of two verb categories. First, I show that while passive verbs denote events, so-called perfective verbs denote the resulting state of events and are thus resultatives rather than perfectives. Second, I show that passive verbs are syntactically different from resultatives in that they may cooccur with an agent phrase preceded by in . Lastly, I make a case for the existence of a passive construction in Marshallese and argue that in is the head of a Voice projection.
Southeast Solomonic: A View from Possessive Constructions
Authors: Lichtenberk Frantisek
Published: August 2010

Investigation of possessive constructions in Southeast Solomonic languages offers additional evidence for the validity of the group and one of its primary subgroups, as argued by Pawley (1972). Evidence for Southeast Solomonic is counterevidence to Blust's (1984) claim that the Cristobal-Malaitan and the Nuclear Micronesian languages form a group. The investigation also reveals a gradual reduction in the number of contrasts originally expressed by three subtypes of indirect possessive constructions in Proto-Oceanic, with complete neutralization of the contrasts in some languages.
Endangered Languages in Borneo: A Survey among the Iban and Murut (Lun Bawang) in Temburong, Brunei
Authors: Coluzzi Paolo
Published: August 2010

This paper presents the results of a survey carried out in 2008 on language use and attitudes among the Iban and Murut (Lun Bawang) living in the Temburong district of Brunei Darussalam. The article opens with a brief outline of the research conducted so far, a sociolinguistic sketch of Brunei, and an introduction to Temburong and the Iban and Murut peoples, followed by an analysis of the data gathered. The central part of the article compares the results obtained from the younger and the older age groups in the two communities in order to determine the degree of language shift that is taking place toward Malay, the national language. The article closes with some general considerations, including the possible reasons for the situations observed.
Maranao and Madurese Revisited: A Follow-up
Authors: Lobel Jason William
Published: August 2010

This squib briefly compares relevant portions of the phonology of Maranao, as described by Lobel and Riwarung (2009), with that of Madurese, as described by Cohn (1993), pointing out the striking similarities between these two languages, and the implications thereof.
The Fish and the Loom: Toward a United Semantic Reconstruction
Authors: Nothofer Bernd
Published: August 2010

In his foundation-laying study of the early Austronesian lexicon, Dempwolff (1938) proposed the reconstructions *bali[dD]a 'k.o. fish' and *balija 'weaver's sword'. Although these formally similar lexical reconstructions show no obvious semantic connection, both are assignable to Proto-Austronesian *baRija 'weaver's sword'. This etymon became Proto–Malayo-Polynesian *balija, which is reconstructed with the meanings 'weaver's sword' and 'k.o. fish', since reflexes of this form refer not only to a part of the loom, but also metaphorically to certain kinds of fish or, less frequently, kinds of plants, landscapes, or parts of constructions (musical instrument, house, etc.). The use of metaphorical extensions taking "cultural" objects as the model for representing "natural" objects is also discussed briefly.
A Preliminary Phonological History of the Sogeram Languages of Papua New Guinea
Authors: Daniels Don R.
Published: August 2010

While scholars agree that Z'graggen's lexicostatistical subgrouping of the South Adelbert languages is inaccurate in many respects, to date there has been no published subgrouping based on application of the comparative method. In this paper, I examine the history of a subset of eight South Adelbert languages, for which I propose the name Sogeram. I reconstruct the phonological system and 102 lexemes of Proto-Sogeram and argue, primarily on the basis of shared phonological innovations, for a tripartite split into West, Central, and East Sogeram branches, and for subsequent splits and developments within each branch. One innovation of potential theoretical interest is the loss of all word-initial consonants, regardless of place or manner of articulation, from polysyllabic words in West Sogeram.
The Grammar of hitting, breaking , and cutting in Kimaragang Dusun
Authors: Kroeger Paul R.
Published: August 2010

The hit, break , and cut classes of verbs are grammatically relevant in Kimaragang, as in English. The relevance of such classes for determining how arguments are expressed suggests that the meaning of a verb is composed of (a) systematic components of meaning (the event template ); and (b) idiosyncratic properties of the individual root. Assuming this approach to be essentially correct, I compare grammatical phenomena in Kimaragang that are sensitive to verb class membership with phenomena that are not class-sensitive. The tendency that emerges is that class-sensitive alternations do not seem to be affix-dependent, and are quite restricted in their ability to introduce new arguments into the argument structure.
Early Weaning From Incubator and Early Discharge of Preterm Infants: Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Zecca Enrico , Corsello Mirta , Priolo Francesca , Tiberi Eloisa , Barone Giovanni , Romagnoli Costantino
Published: August 2010

OBJECTIVE:

The goal was to assess the feasibility of earlier weaning from the incubator for preterm infants.

METHODS:

This was a prospective, randomized study with preterm infants with birth weights of <1600 g who were admitted to a neonatal subintensive ward. Findings for 47 infants who were transferred from an incubator to an open crib at >1600 g (early transition group) were compared with those for 47 infants who were transferred from an incubator to an open crib at >1800 g (standard transition [ST] group). The primary outcome of the study was length of stay. Secondary outcomes were the number of infants returned to an incubator, the growth velocity in an open crib and during the first week at home, the proportions of breastfeeding at discharge and during the first week at home, and the hospital readmission rate.

RESULTS:

The length of stay was significantly shorter in the early transition group than in the standard transition group (23.5 vs 33 days; P = .0002). No infants required transfer back to the incubator. Only 1 infant in the standard transition group was readmitted to the hospital during the first week after discharge. Growth velocities and individual amounts of breastfeeding were similar between the 2 groups.

CONCLUSION:

In this study, weaning of moderately preterm infants from incubators to open cribs at 1600 g was safe and resulted in earlier discharge.
Pediatric HIV Costs Across Three Treatment Eras From 1986 to 2007
Authors: Wilson Leslie S. , Basu Rituparna , Christenson Maria , Hensic Lori , Paoli Carly , Wara Diane , Moskowitz Judith T.
Published: August 2010

OBJECTIVE:

Life has changed dramatically for infants exposed perinatally to HIV to HIV primarily because of a successful translational research program that has also affected treatment costs. We compared treatment costs among HIV+ patients in an HIV/AIDS specialty clinic across 3 treatment eras: monotherapy (pre-1990), combination therapy (1990–1996), and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) (1997–2007). We also estimated cumulative health care costs among pediatric HIV/AIDS patients born in each era.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Data on health care use were collected from medical records of 126 infants born to HIV+ mothers during a 21-year period (1986–2007) (728 person-years). The Drug Topics Red Book 1999 was used for drug costs, the Current Procedural Terminology Medicare Fee Schedule codes for outpatient costs, and the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Kids' Inpatient Database for inpatient costs. Generalized estimating equations and bootstrapped ordinary least-squares models were used to determine 2007 costs, cumulative costs, and cost savings.

RESULTS:

Lifetime cost savings with HAART were $6.7 to $23.3 million, depending on incidence. Average total costs per HIV+ person per month were $1306 ($318 for drugs, $896 for total medical) in the monotherapy era, $2289 ($891 for drugs, $1180 for total medical) in the combination-therapy era, and $1814 ($1241 for drugs, $320 for total medical) in the HAART era. Total costs during the HAART era were 25.2% lower than costs during the combination-therapy era, because the 34% higher HAART drug costs were compensated for by total medical costs (inpatient + outpatient) that were 57% lower, which was a significant change (P < .001). The cumulative costs for treatment of an HIV+ patient were highest during the monotherapy era ($196 860) and lowest during the HAART era ($181 436).

CONCLUSIONS:

Our results show that the cost burden for the treatment of HIV+ pediatric patients has decreased over time. This historical examination of treatment-era costs demonstrates the value of technologic advances in treatment.
Quality colonoscopy: assumptions and expectations
Authors: Herszényi László , Lakatos Gábor , Tulassay Zsolt
Published: August 2010

A kolonoszkópia a vastagbél neoplasztikus elváltozásai szűrésének általánosan elfogadott módszere. A vizsgálatok száma igen jelentős mértékben növekedett az elmúlt években, elsősorban a CRC szűrésének növekvő aránya miatt. A vastagbéltükrözés hatékonysága és biztonságossága függ a vizsgálat minőségétől; mind több adat igazolja, hogy a vizsgálatok minősége a klinikai gyakorlatban igen eltérő lehet. Az endoszkópia minőségének mérése javíthatja a betegek ellátását. Bizonyítékon alapuló, mérhető mutatók szükségesek a vastagbéltükrözés minőségének javításához. Összefoglalónkban áttekintjük a vastagbéltükrözés gyakorlati szempontjait, a fontos minőségi mutatókat, ismertetjük a témához kapcsolódó újabb ajánlásokat.
Sepsis-associated encephalopathy
Authors: Szatmári Szilárd , Végh Tamás , Antek Csaba , Takács István , Síró Péter , Fülesdi Béla
Published: August 2010

A szepszishez társuló encephalopathia a szisztémás gyulladásos reakció korai szakaszában jelentkező, gyakori, de klinikai szempontból elhanyagolt tünete. A szisztémás szepszis okozta diffúz agyi működészavar, újabb elnevezés szerint a szepszishez társuló encephalopathia (sepsis-associated encephalopathy – SAE) változatos megjelenésű lehet: az átmeneti, reverzíbilis encephalopathiával jellemezhető formától egészen a visszafordíthatatlan agyi károsodással járó súlyos formáig terjedhet a klinikai spektrum. A jelen közleményben a hazai és a nemzetközi szakirodalom áttekintése alapján össze kívántuk foglalni a kórkép kórélettani hátterét, a leggyakrabban előforduló klinikai tüneteket és a kezelés lehetséges módjait. Fel kívántuk hívni a figyelmet arra, hogy szepszisben a különböző súlyosságú tudatzavar az egyik legkorábbi figyelmeztető tünet, ezért a szepszis szempontjából veszélyeztetett betegekben felismerése nagy klinikai jelentőségű.
Hormonal imprinting – the unforeseeable future
Authors: Csaba György
Published: August 2010

A hormonális imprinting a receptor és a hormon első találkozása alkalmával jön létre, a perinatalis periódusban, és a receptor kötési képességét, illetve az általa befolyásolt indexeket életre szólóan változtatja meg. A perinatalis hormonális imprintingre szükség van, hiányában a receptor érését nem fejezi be, azonban ilyenkor a célhormonhoz hasonló molekulák (rokon hormonok, szintetikus, receptorszinten ható gyógyszerek, vegyszerek, környezetszennyezők stb.) hibás imprintinget hozhatnak létre, ugyancsak életre szóló – morfológiai, biokémiai, receptoriális és magatartási – következményekkel. Bár az imprinting elsősorban a perinatalis időszakra jellemző és szükségszerű, létrejöhet az élet bármely szakaszában a fejlődésben (osztódásban) lévő sejteken (különösen az elválasztási és serdülőkorban: késői imprinting). Imprinting alkalmával mutáció nem történik, de megváltozik a gének metilációs mintázata, ami epigenetikusan sejtről sejtre örökíti az imprintinget, és ez betegségekre való hajlamban vagy betegségekben (daganatképződés, metabolikus szindróma stb.) mutatkozik meg. Bizonyítottnak látszik az imprinting generációról generációra való átörökítése is, aminek – az egyre jobban kemizálódó világban – akár evolúciós következménye is lehet. Megfontolandó tehát – különösen a kritikus periódusokban – a receptorszinten ható gyógyszerek és preventív szerek (például terhességvédők, fogamzásgátlók) alkalmazása. A hormonális imprinting esetében a következmények ugyanis mindig hosszú idő (akár évtizedek) vagy generációk múlva mutatkoznak meg.
Overview of Advanced 3D Charge-trapping Flash Memory Devices
Authors: Lue Hang-Ting , Hsieh Kuang-Yeu , Lu Chih-Yuan
Published: August 2010

Although conventional floating gate (FG) Flash memory has already gone into the sub-30 nm node, the technology challenges are formidable beyond 20nm. The fundamental challenges include FG interference, few-electron storage caused statistical fluctuation, poor short-channel effect, WL-WL breakdown, poor reliability, and edge effect sensitivity. Although charge-trapping (CT) devices have been proposed very early and studied for many years, these devices have not prevailed over FG Flash in the > 30nm node. However, beyond 20nm the advantage of CT devices may become more significant. Especially, due to the simpler structure and no need for charge storage isolation, CT is much more desirable than FG in 3D stackable Flash memory. Optimistically, 3D CT Flash memory may allow the Moore's law to continue for at least another decade. In this paper, we review the operation principles of CT devices and several variations such as MANOS and BE-SONOS. We will then discuss 3D memory architectures including the bit-cost scalable approach. Technology challenges and the poly-silicon thin film transistor (TFT) issues will be addressed in detail.
Synthesis and Sensing Properties of N-doped ZnO Nanorod Arrays on Quartz
Authors: Yang Boqian , Peng Xiaoyan , Zhang Hongxin , Feng Peterxian , Achermann Marc
Published: August 2010

Using different pressures of nitrogen, N-doped ZnO nanorod arrays of various densities have been synthesized on quartz substrates by pulsed laser deposition techniques. The nanorods grow preferentially perpendicular to the quartz surface. X-ray diffraction patterns revealed some degradation of the crystal structure at elevated nitrogen pressures. High concentrations of nitrogen doping in ZnO nanorods were estimated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Raman scattering spectra confirmed the wurtzite structure of N-doped ZnO nanorods. A prototype sensor based on the N-doped ZnO nanorod arrays demonstrates a linear dependence of the conductivity with operating temperature and pressure of a test gas pollutant.
Engendering Change: Organizational Dynamics and Workplace Gender Desegregation, 1975–2005
Authors: Huffman Matt L. , Cohen Philip N. , Pearlman Jessica
Published: August 2010

We examine workplace-level sources of gender inequality to explore the link between organizational change and levels of workplace gender integration over time. To do so, we analyze the gender division of labor and key structural aspects of U.S. private-sector work establishments, using longitudinal data from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from 1975 to 2005. We find that women's presence in managerial positions is positively related to gender integration, as is both establishment size and growth. Additionally, the results show that trends toward gender integration are due to change within workplaces rather than new, relatively integrated workplaces entering the population overtime. Our results also provide compelling evidence that the effect of female managers varies dramatically across organizational contexts, with the strongest desegregating effects in larger and growing establishments. Finally, the effect of women's access to organizational power structures has sharply diminished overtime.
Stealthy Footsteps to the Boardroom: Executives' Backgrounds, Sophisticated Interpersonal Influence Behavior, and Board Appointments
Authors: Stern Ithai , Westphal James D.
Published: August 2010

Drawing from theory and research on interpersonal attraction, as well as interviews with 42 directors of large U.S. industrial and service firms, we identified a set of social influence tactics that are less likely to be interpreted by the influence target as manipulative or political in intent and are therefore more likely to engender social influence. We consider who among top managers and directors of large firms is most likely to exercise such tactics and how their use affects the likelihood of garnering board appointments at other firms. An analysis of survey data on interpersonal influence behavior from a large sample of managers and chief executive officers (CEOs) at Forbes 500 companies strongly supports our theoretical arguments: managers' and directors' ingratiatory behavior toward colleagues is more likely to yield board appointments at other firms to the extent that it comprises relatively subtle forms of flattery and opinion conformity, which our theory suggests are less likely to elicit cynical attributions of motive. Supplementary analyses also indicate that these relationships are mediated by an increased likelihood of receiving a colleague's recommendation for the appointment. Moreover, we theorize and find that managers and directors who have a background in politics, law, or sales, or an upper-class background, are more sophisticated and successful in their ingratiatory behavior.
Evaluation of Anthocyanin Content in Red and Blue Flowers
Authors: Vankar Padma S , Srivastava Jyoti
Published: August 2010

Anthocyanins are natural colorants which have gained a growing interest due to their extensive range of colors and beneficial health effects. The red and blue shades of 15 flowers were extracted with 1 % acidic methanol and these extracts were then screened for Total Anthocyanin content (TAC) using the pH method. In this paper the overall anthocyanin content of red and blue flowers was determined at room temperature (25°C). TAC accounts for the antioxidant activity of red and blue flowers. A quantitative relationship between acid-base and redox chemistry was also drawn.
Multiplicatively and non-symmetric multiplicatively norm-preserving maps
Authors: Hosseini Maliheh , Sady Fereshteh
Published: August 2010

Let A and B be Banach function algebras on compact Hausdorff spaces X and Y and let ‖.‖X and ‖.‖Y denote the supremum norms on X and Y, respectively. We first establish a result concerning a surjective map T between particular subsets of the uniform closures of A and B, preserving multiplicatively the norm, i.e. ‖Tf Tg‖Y = ‖fg‖X, for certain elements f and g in the domain. Then we show that if α ∈ ℂ {0} and T: A → B is a surjective, not necessarily linear, map satisfying ‖fg + α‖X = ‖Tf Tg + α‖Y, f,g ∈ A, then T is injective and there exist a homeomorphism φ: c(B) → c(A) between the Choquet boundaries of B and A, an invertible element η ∈ B with η(Y) ⊆ {1, −1} and a clopen subset K of c(B) such that for each f ∈ A, $$
Tf\left( y \right) = \left\{ \begin{gathered}
\eta \left( y \right)f\left( {\phi \left( y \right)} \right) y \in K, \hfill \\
- \frac{\alpha }
{{\left| \alpha \right|}}\eta \left( y \right)\overline {f\left( {\phi \left( y \right)} \right)} y \in c\left( B \right)\backslash K \hfill \\
\end{gathered} \right.
$$. In particular, if T satisfies the stronger condition R
π(fg + α) = R
π(Tf Tg + α), where R
π(.) denotes the peripheral range of algebra elements, then Tf(y) = T1(y)f(φ(y)), y ∈ c(B), for some homeomorphism φ: c(B) → c(A). At the end of the paper, we consider the case where X and Y are locally compact Hausdorff spaces and show that if A and B are Banach function algebras on X and Y, respectively, then every surjective map T: A → B satisfying ‖Tf Tg‖Y = ‖fg‖, f, g ∈ A, induces a homeomorphism between quotient spaces of particular subsets of X and Y by some equivalence relations.
Studies on the genetic diversity of pointed gourd using biochemical methods (Isozyme analysis)
Authors: Khan ASMMR , Rabbani MG , Siddique MA , Islam MA
Published: August 2010

Biochemical characterizations of 64 pointedgourds were done using three isozyme viz., acid phosphatase, peroxidase and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase. A wide range of diversity among the gremplasm based on their acid phosphatase, peroxidase and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase isoenzyme banding patterns were observed. In respect of isoenzyme activity; 8 acid phosphatase, 7 peroxidase and 9 glutamate oxaloacetate transminase electrophoretic zymotypes were formed by 19, 11, and 19 bands at different Rf values varying from 0.19 to 0.82, 0.38 to 0.69 and 0.15 to 0.95, respectively. The wide range of similarity co-efficient of 0.0-80.0, 0.0-66.0, and 0.0-80.0 as found among the electrophoretic patterns in acid phosphatase, peroxidase, and glutamate oxaloacetate transminase, respectively, indicating wide genetic diversity among the accessions. Based on the polymorphic activity of these three enzymes, 27 combinations of electrophoretic zymotypes were identified, each of which can he equated to genotypes. Each of the groups consisted of one to eight genotypes. Sixty four accessions of pointed gourd were grouped into 12 clusters. The genotypes collected from the same location were grouped into different clusters. Key Words: Genetic diversity; pointed gourd; biochemical methods. DOI: 10.3329/bjar.v34i1.5762Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 34(1) : 123-141, March 2009
A Software Architecture for Adaptive Modular Sensing Systems
Authors: Lyle Andrew C. , Naish Michael D.
Published: August 2010

By combining a number of simple transducer modules, an arbitrarily complex sensing system may be produced to accommodate a wide range of applications. This work outlines a novel software architecture and knowledge representation scheme that has been developed to support this type of flexible and reconfigurable modular sensing system. Template algorithms are used to embed intelligence within each module. As modules are added or removed, the composite sensor is able to automatically determine its overall geometry and assume an appropriate collective identity. A virtual machine-based middleware layer runs on top of a real-time operating system with a pre-emptive kernel, enabling platform-independent template algorithms to be written once and run on any module, irrespective of its underlying hardware architecture. Applications that may benefit from easily reconfigurable modular sensing systems include flexible inspection, mobile robotics, surveillance, and space exploration.
Toxin Mediated Diarrhea in the 21st Century: The Pathophysiology of Intestinal Ion Transport in the Course of ETEC, V. cholerae and Rotavirus Infection
Authors: Kopic Sascha , Geibel John P.
Published: August 2010

An estimated 4 billion episodes of diarrhea occur each year. As a result, 2–3 million children and 0.5–1 million adults succumb to the consequences of this major healthcare concern. The majority of these deaths can be attributed to toxin mediated diarrhea by infectious agents, such as E. coli, V. cholerae or Rotavirus. Our understanding of the pathophysiological processes underlying these infectious diseases has notably improved over the last years. This review will focus on the cellular mechanism of action of the most common enterotoxins and the latest specific therapeutic approaches that have been developed to contain their lethal effects.
Can a Century Old Experiment Reveal Hidden Properties of Water?
Authors: Fuchs Elmar C.
Published: August 2010

In 1893 Sir William Armstrong placed a cotton thread between two wine glasses filled with chemically pure water. After applying a high voltage, a watery connection formed, and after some time, the cotton thread was pulled into one of the glasses, leaving a rope of water suspended between the two glasses. Although being a very simple experiment, it is of special interest since it comprises a number of phenomena currently tackled in modern water science like electrolysis-less charge transport and nanobubbles. This work gives some background information about water research in general and describes the water bridge phenomenon from the viewpoint of different fields such as electrohydrodynamics and quantum field theory. It is shown that the investigation of the floating water bridge led to new discoveries about water, both in the macroscopic and microscopic realm – but these were merely “hidden” in that sense that they only become evident upon application of electric fields.
Cellular Responses to Cisplatin‐Induced DNA Damage
Authors: Basu Alakananda , Krishnamurthy Soumya
Published: August 2010

Cisplatin is one of the most effective anticancer agents widely used in the treatment of solid tumors. It is generally considered as a cytotoxic drug which kills cancer cells by damaging DNA and inhibiting DNA synthesis. How cells respond to cisplatin‐induced DNA damage plays a critical role in deciding cisplatin sensitivity. Cisplatin‐induced DNA damage activates various signaling pathways to prevent or promote cell death. This paper summarizes our current understandings regarding the mechanisms by which cisplatin induces cell death and the bases of cisplatin resistance. We have discussed various steps, including the entry of cisplatin inside cells, DNA repair, drug detoxification, DNA damage response, and regulation of cisplatin‐induced apoptosis by protein kinases. An understanding of how various signaling pathways regulate cisplatin‐induced cell death should aid in the development of more effective therapeutic strategies for the treatment of cancer.
Thymic Epithelial Tumor with Heart Metastasis in a Horse
Authors: Shahriar Farshid , Moore Janet
Published: August 2010

Thymic malignancy is rare in horses. Thymic epithelial tumor was diagnosed in an 18-year-old mare with invasion and metastasis to the pericardium and heart. At necropsy, the cranial thoracic cavity was obliterated by a large mass located in the thymic region and the right atrium was also expanded and effaced by a similar mass. Histologically, the neoplasm was composed of sheets of spindle cells with intraparenchymal Hassall's corpuscles and formation of pseudorosettes around blood vessels compatible with type A thymic epithelial tumor according to World Health Organization classification. The neoplastic cells were diffusely immunoreactive for cytokeratin and negative for vimentin, S100, neuron specific enolase, glial fibrillar acidic protein, chromogranin A, synaptophysin, CD3 and CD79a markers. To the authors' knowledge, cardiac invasion and distinct histological pattern of pseudorosette formation have not been described in equine thymic epithelial tumors previously.
An Unusual Cause of Vertebral Artery Dissection: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
Authors: Testai Fernando D. , Gorelick Philip B.
Published: August 2010

Brain-supplying arterial dissection is considered one of the most common vascular causes of stroke in younger patients. Dissections are usually preceded by trauma or mechanical stress; the vascular stressor may be trivial as this condition has been described in association with manipulation and stretching the neck. Here we describe a case of vertebral artery dissection and stroke following esophagogastroduodenoscopy. This case highlights a potentially serious complication that may occur after procedures that require hyperextension of the neck.
Diagnostic Tests for Alzheimer's Disease: Rationale, Methodology, and Challenges
Authors: Mason S. E. , McShane R. , Ritchie C. W.
Published: August 2010

There has been a large increase in the amount of research seeking to define or diagnose Alzheimer's disease before patients develop dementia. If successful, this would principally have clinical benefits both in terms of treatment as well as risk modification. Moreover, a better method for diagnosing predementia disease would assist research which seeks to develop such treatments and risk modification strategies. The evidence-based definition of a diagnostic test's accuracy is fundamental to achieve the above goals and to address this, the Cochrane Collaboration has established a Diagnostic Test Accuracy group dedicated to examining the utility and accuracy of proposed tests in dementia and cognitive impairment. We present here the assumptions and observations underpinning the chosen methodology as well as the initial methodological approach decided upon.
Biological Markers and Alzheimer Disease: A Canadian Perspective
Authors: Schipper Hyman M.
Published: August 2010

Decreased -amyloid1-42and increased phospho-tau protein levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are currently the most accurate chemical neurodiagnostics of sporadic Alzheimer disease (AD). A report (2007) of the Third Canadian Consensus Conference on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia (2006) recommended that biological markers shouldnotbe currently requisitioned by primary care physicians in the routine investigation of subjects with memory complaints. Consideration for such testing should prompt patient referral to a specialist engaged in dementia evaluations or a Memory Clinic. The specialist should consider having CSF biomarkers (-amyloid1-42and phospho-tau) measured at a reputable facility in restricted cases presenting with atypical features and diagnostic confusion, but not as a routine procedure in all individuals with typical sporadic AD phenotypes. We submit that developments in the field of AD biomarker discovery since publication of the 3rd CCCDTD consensus data do not warrant revision of the 2007 recommendations.
Generalized Solution of the Photon Transport Problem
Authors: Chang Yu-Hsien , Hong Cheng-Hong
Published: August 2010

The purpose of this paper is to show the existence of a generalized solution of the photon transport problem. By means of the theory of equicontinuous C0-semigroup on a sequentially complete locally convex topological vector space we show that the perturbed abstract Cauchy problem has a unique solution when the perturbation operator and the forcing term function satisfy certain conditions. A consequence of the abstract result is that it can be directly applied to obtain a generalized solution of the photon transport problem.