bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A New Measure for Assessing the Physical Activity Behaviors of Persons with Disabilities and Chronic Health Conditions: The Physical Activity and Disability Survey
Authors: Rimmer James H. , Riley Barth B. , Rubin Stephen S.
Published: November 2011

Purpose.

Assess the psychometric properties of the Physical Activity and Disability Survey (PADS), a new physical activity measure for persons with disabilities and chronic health conditions.

Design.

Cross-sectional and pre-post designs were employed.

Setting.

A Midwestern university fitness center.

Subjects.

Participants were 103 individuals with disabilities and/or chronic health conditions.

Measures.

The Physical Activity and Disability Survey (PADS), peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2), maximum workload (MW), and time to exhaustion (TE) during exercise.

Results.

Factor analysis revealed a four-factor model that generally corresponded to PADS subscales. Cronbach alpha coefficients ranged from .67 (Exercise) to .77 (Time Indoors). Test-retest reliability (1-week interval) ranged from .78 (Time Indoors) to .95 (Leisure Time Physical Activity). Interrater reliability ranged from .92 (Household Activities) to .99 (Exercise, Leisure Time Physical Activity, Total Activity). Significant (p < .05) correlations were found between PADS subscales and absolute peak VO2 (Leisure Time Physical Activity, Household Activity, Total Activity), relative peak VO2 (Exercise, Time Indoors), MW (Time Indoors, Household Activity), and TE (Household Activity, Total Activity). Analyses of variance revealed that, unlike controls, health promotion program participants evidenced significant pre-post gains as measured by the Exercise subscale and Total Activity score.

Conclusions.

The findings lend support for the reliability and validity of the PADS as a measure of physical activity of groups who are sedentary and disabled.
Measuring Stage of Change for Assessing Readiness to Increase Fruit and Vegetable Intake among 18- to 24-Year-Olds
Authors: Ma Jun , Betts Nancy M. , Horacek Tanya
Published: November 2011

Purpose.

To examine the appropriateness of the five-stage schema developed for addictive behaviors when applied to nonaddictive behaviors such as fruit and vegetable consumption.

Design.

A cross-sectional mail survey was conducted.

Setting.

Self-administered questionnaires were mailed to the home addresses of respondents recruited in 10 states and returned upon completion.

Subjects.

In all, 116 male and 185 female young adults (response rate = 70%) completed the questionnaires. Most respondents were Caucasian (74.4%) and college students (62.2%).

Measures.

Statistical analyses included analysis of variance with Scheffe's test, Pearson correlation and Cronbach's a coefficients, factor analysis, and cluster analysis.

Results.

Staging algorithms for fruits and vegetables were developed according to the five-stage schema, and their construct validity was verified by the incremental trend of food intakes. The algorithms identified more than 80% of the subjects as precontemplators, preparers, or maintainers for both food groups. This distribution pattern agreed well with the three-factor solution generated from the stages of change questionnaire, for which internal reliability and validity were confirmed. Seven cluster profiles of the respondents were derived based on the three generated factors and appeared to represent stage subgroupings of those factors. The two food groups shared marked similarities regarding the profiling of the clusters, which was validated by comparing food intake. The results, however, cannot be generalized because of limitations involved in the current sample.

Conclusions.

The original five stages of change and traditional staging measures may need to be adapted and/or extended for dietary change.
Construct Validity of the Stages of Change of Exercise Adoption for Different Intensities of Physical Activity in Four Samples of Differing Age Groups
Authors: Schumann Anja , Nigg Claudio R. , Rossi Joseph S. , Jordan Patricia J. , Norman Gregory J. , Garber Carol Ewing , Riebe Deborah , Benisovich Sonya V.
Published: November 2011

Purpose.

To examine whether the stages of change of exercise adoption appropriately address strenuous, moderate, and mild intensities of physical activity.

Design and Setting.

Secondary analysis of four data sets investigating transtheoretical model (TTM) constructs for exercise adoption.

Subjects.

Four samples of differing age groups (adolescents, n = 400; college students, n = 240; adults, n = 346; seniors, n = 504).

Measures.

Stage of change algorithm for exercise adoption and self-reported physical activity.

Results.

Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) results showed that stages of change were distinguished by strenuous and moderate but not mild exercise in the adolescent, college student, and adult sample. In the senior sample, stage differences were found in the frequency of exercising (equivalent for moderate to strenuous exercise) and the frequency of walking (equivalent for mild exercise). Bivariate correlation coefficients as well as sensitivity, specificity, and related quality indices decreased respectively from strenuous to moderate to mild exercise and from exercising to walking.

Conclusions.

Results provide additional support for the construct validity of the stages of change for strenuous and moderate intensities of physical activity. Development of a new stage assessment instrument for mild intensities of physical activity is recommended. Limitations include use of a different validation measure of exercise behavior in the senior sample.
Hour of birth and birth assistance: From a primate to a medicalized pattern?
Authors: Bernis Cristina , Varea Carlos
Published: November 2011

Objectives:

Previous studies generally agree that in Homo sapiens births without medical intervention occur mostly at night, although with a less accentuated pattern than in other primate species. The present study has three main objectives: (a) to establish the hourly pattern of births in a modern medicalized population, (b) to explore the association between the hour of birth and maternal and fetal variables and mode of delivery, and (c) to evaluate the risk for medical intervention at different hours of the day.

Methods:

The hourly distribution of 25,779 deliveries at the “La Paz” Madrid University Maternity Hospital (Spain) has been analyzed. Two different multivariate analyses have been used to evaluate, respectively, the relationships between maternal and fetal characteristics and the type of birth and hour of delivery.

Results:

The increasing of unnecessary hospital interventions seems to have transformed the nocturnal pattern of birth into a diurnal one and may be contributing to the rise of preterm and low birth weight deliveries, reducing their probability of being breastfeed, and eliminating or transforming emotional and social support. Immigrant women present a higher frequency of the nocturnal pattern of delivery than their Spanish counterparts.

Conclusions:

The predominant nocturnal pattern of birth seems to have disappeared in a Spanish highly medicalized population. However, the hallmark of primate nocturnal deliveries is evident when multiple births, malpresentation, Caesarean sections, and vaginal interventions are excluded. Possible consequences of diurnal birth include reduced infant–mother bonding, breast feeding, and later life reductions to health. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A two‐dimensional approach to performance evaluation for a large number of research institutions
Authors: Kuan Chung‐Huei , Huang Mu‐Hsuan , Chen Dar‐Zen
Published: November 2011

We characterize the research performance of a large number of institutions in a two‐dimensional coordinate system based on the shapes of their h‐cores so that their relative performance can be conveniently observed and compared. The 2D distribution of these institutions is then utilized (1) to categorize the institutions into a number of qualitative groups revealing the nature of their performance, and (2) to determine the position of a specific institution among the set of institutions. The method is compared with some major h‐type indices and tested with empirical data using clinical medicine as an illustrative case. The method is extensible to the research performance evaluation at other aggregation levels such as researchers, journals, departments, and nations.
A Highly Efficient Friedel–Crafts Reaction of 3‐Hydroxyoxindoles and Aromatic Compounds to 3,3‐Diaryl and 3‐Alkyl‐3‐aryloxindoles Catalyzed by Hg(ClO4)2⋅3 H2O
Authors: Zhou Feng , Cao Zhong‐Yan , Zhang Jing , Yang Hai‐Bo , Zhou Jian
Published: November 2011

We report a highly efficient Friedel–Crafts reaction of 3‐alkyl or 3‐aryl 3‐hydroxyoxindoles with a variety of aromatic and heteroaromatic compounds to unsymmetrical 3,3‐diaryloxindoles or 3‐alkyl‐3‐aryloxindoles, which are interesting medicinal targets and useful building blocks for the synthesis of natural products. Hg(ClO4)2⋅3 H2O was identified as a powerful catalyst for this reaction, and is significantly more efficient than other screened metal perchlorate hydrates and Brønsted acids such as HOTf and HClO4. The high catalytic property of Hg(ClO4)2⋅3 H2O originates from the unprecedented dual activation effects of aromatic mercuration, which could generate a strong protic acid to facilitate the generation of a carbocation at the C3‐position of oxindoles and simultaneously form the more reactive nucleophilic reaction partner.
An Increased Endothelial‐Independent Vasodilation Is the Hallmark of the Neurally Mediated Syncope
Authors: Santini Luca , Capria Ambrogio , Brusca Valentina , Violo Arianna , Smurra Francesca , Scarfò Iside , Forleo Giovanni B. , Papavasileiou Lida P. , Borzi Mauro , Romeo Francesco
Published: November 2011

Background:

The neurally mediated syncope (NMS) is sustained by complex cardiac and vascular reflexes, acting on and amplified by central autonomic loops, resulting in bradycardia and hypotension.

Hypothesis:

Our aim was to assess whether the pathophysiology of NMS is also related to an abnormal peripheral vasoreactivity.

Methods:

We evaluated by ultrasound the flow‐mediated vasodilation (FMD) and the nitrate‐mediated dilation (NMD) in 17 patients with NMS, induced by drug‐free tilt test in 6 subjects and by nitrate‐potentiated tilt test in the other 11 cases; the syncope was classified as vasodepressive (VD) in 8 cases, cardioinhibitory (CI) in 7, and mixed in 2.

Results:

The FMD was not different from controls (10.2 ± 4.5 vs 11.4 ± 3.9, P = ns), with normal recovery times; the NMD was greater in fainting subjects than in controls (26.7 ± 7.3 vs 19.0 ± 3.6, P < 0.05), with higher values in VD than in CI syncope (31.1 ± 7.0 vs 23.1 ± 5.0, P = ns); compared to controls, subjects with NMS showed normal recovery times after FMD but longer recovery times after nitrate administration (13.0 ± 5.6 vs 6.3 ± 0.7 minutes, P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

The evaluation of endothelial function supports evidence that NMS is characterized by a marked and sustained endothelial‐independent vasodilation, in the presence of a normal FMD; vascular hyperreactivity in response to nitrate administration is particularly overt in vasodepressive syncope and can explain the high rate of responses to nitrate administration during tilt test. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The authors have no funding, financial relationships, or conflicts of interest to disclose.
Simulation of a Planar Emissive Probe in a Mid‐Sized Tokamak Plasma
Authors: Kovačič J. , Gyergyek T.
Published: November 2011

Planar emissive probe is studied for the first time using a massively parallel particle‐in‐cell code BIT1 [22]. The probe is immersed in a plasma similar to edge plasmas of mid‐sized tokamaks. Dependence of the floating potential on electron emission from the probe is studied. With increasing emission the floating potential increases, but then saturates ∼2Te below the actual plasma potential (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Synthesis and activity evaluation of 3′‐floxuridinyl 4‐[3‐(3, 5‐di‐t‐butyl‐4‐methoxyphenyl)‐3‐oxo‐propenyl]benzoate: in vitro and in vivo as a potential dual‐acting antitumor prodrug
Authors: Du Lixue , Jin Juqing , Wu Wei , Chen Jiangang , Shan Ailin , Zhang Sanqi
Published: November 2011

BOBA (4‐[3‐(3, 5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐methoxyphenyl)‐3‐oxo‐propenyl]benzoic acid), a substituted chalcone derivative, exhibits an excellent inducing differentiation on neoplastic cellular differentiation. FUDR (5‐fluoro‐2′‐deoxyuridine, floxuridine) inhibits DNA biosynthesis and has been used extensively to treat various cancers. In our efforts to find a new dual‐action antitumor prodrug, 3′‐floxuridinyl 4‐[3‐(3, 5‐di‐t‐butyl‐4‐methoxyphenyl)‐3‐oxo‐propenyl] benzoate (3′‐O‐BOBA‐ FUDR) was synthesized, and its antiproliferative activity in vitro and antitumor efficacy in vivo were evaluated. Compared with FUDR, the antiproliferative activity of 3′‐O‐BOBA‐FUDR was improved by 3–7‐fold. In rat hepatocellular carcinoma xenografts, 3′‐O‐BOBA‐FUDR‐treated rats had smaller tumors than were found in controls. In addition, the expression of Bcl‐2 protein was significantly downgraded, whereas the expression of Bax protein was upregulated in neoplastic tissues. The early apoptotic ratio of 3′‐O‐BOBA‐FUDR‐treated rat group was increased dose‐dependently. These findings strongly support the concept that 3′‐O‐BOBA‐FUDR may be a novel and effective dual‐action antitumor prodrug. Drug Dev Res 72:1–9, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Learning from Experiences in Adaptive Action Research: a Critical Comparison of two Case Studies Applying Participatory Scenario Development and Modelling Approaches
Authors: Ravera Federica , Hubacek Klaus , Reed Mark , Tarrasón David
Published: November 2011

This paper contributes to the emerging debate on participatory modelling at the core of adaptive action research. We compare and reflect upon lessons learned from two projects in very different bio‐physical and socio‐economic contexts, the UK and Nicaragua, and outline a shared theoretical and methodological framework to assist researchers and local stakeholders to jointly assess, monitor and adapt to climatic and other changes. We discuss opportunities and obstacles, specifically: (1) incorporating uncertainty and surprises; (2) combining epistemologies; (3) dealing with representativeness and power dynamics; (4) creating opportunities for improving stakeholders' agency; and (5) facilitating dialogue and negotiation by using models as heuristics. Our analysis emphasizes the importance of dealing with unavoidable trade‐offs when engaging in participatory and interdisciplinary research in complex and uncertain decision‐making contexts. The participatory modelling experiences show that stakeholders' involvement throughout the process, epistemological plurality, flexibility and sensitivity to context‐dependent socio‐cultural processes need to be considered by researchers who wish to enhance the adaptive capacity of the communities they work with. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Concise Total Synthesis of Permethylated Anigopreissin A, a New Benzofuryl Resveratrol Dimer
Authors: Chiummiento Lucia , Funicello Maria , Lopardo Maria Teresa , Lupattelli Paolo , Choppin Sabine , Colobert Françoise
Published: November 2011

The versatile preparation of permethylated anigopreissin A (1) has been accomplished from methyl 3,5‐dihydroxybenzoate. The key steps of the synthesis are sequential Sonogashira and Suzuki cross‐couplings for the construction of the 2,3‐diarylbenzo[b]furan moiety and Wittig olefination for the introduction of the styryl group.
Genetic epidemiology with a Capital E, ten years after
Authors: Khoury Muin J. , Gwinn Marta , Clyne Mindy , Yu Wei
Published: November 2011

More than a decade after Duncan Thomas gave his presidential address at the International Society for Genetic Epidemiology entitled “Genetic Epidemiology with a Capital E,” genetic epidemiology has gone mainstream. Epidemiology has taken its place not only in gene discovery studies but also in characterizing genetic effects and gene‐environment interactions in populations. Furthermore, epidemiologic principles are being applied to the evaluation of genetic tests. We used an online informatics tool, the HuGE Navigator, to describe the growth in the field in the past decade. We developed the HuGE Navigator as a means to continuously monitor the evolving information obtained from epidemiologic studies of the human genome. Between 2001 and 2010, the HuGE Navigator included 57,005 articles published in 2,396 journals. During that period, the annual number of publications increased almost four‐fold. The articles included 986 genome‐wide association studies and 1,879 meta‐analyses of gene‐disease associations. The total number of authors of published studies grew from 12,907 in 2001 to 48,389 in 2010. The number of diseases also increased over time, from 697 medical subject headings in 2001 to 1,404 in 2010. Gene‐environment interaction was mentioned explicitly in 17% of published abstracts, almost half of which focused on gene‐drug interactions. Clearly, genetic epidemiology has gone “capital E” in the past decade; however, the ever‐expanding volume and variety of genomic information poses a formidable challenge for developing appropriate methods for analysis, synthesis, and inference on complex genetic and environmental effects. We extend Duncan Thomas' capital E to include “Evaluation” as the tools of epidemiology are increasingly used to assess how genome‐based information can be applied in medicine and public health.Genet. Epidemiol. 35:845–852, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cervicovaginal human papillomavirus (HPV)‐infection before and after hysterectomy: evidence of different tissue tropism for oncogenic and nononcogenic HPV types in a cohort of HIV‐positive and HIV‐negative women
Authors: D'Souza Gypsyamber , Burk Robert D. , Zhong Ye , Minkoff Howard , Stewart Massad L. , Xue Xiaonan , Heather Watts D. , Anastos Kathryn , Palefsky Joel M. , Levine Alexandra M. , Colie Christine , Castle Philip E. , Strickler Howard D.
Published: November 2011

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is detected in nearly all cervical cancers and approximately half of vaginal cancers. However, vaginal cancer is an order of magnitude less common than cervical cancer, not only in the general population but also among women with HIV/AIDS. It is interesting therefore that recent studies found that HPV was common in both normal vaginal and cervical tissue, with higher prevalence of nononcogenic HPV types in the vagina. In our investigation, we prospectively examined HPV infection in 86 HIV‐positive and 17 HIV‐negative women who underwent hysterectomy during follow‐up in a longitudinal cohort. Cervicovaginal lavage specimens were obtained semi‐annually and tested for HPV DNA by polymerase chain reaction. To address possible selection biases associated with having a hysterectomy, subjects acted as their own comparison group—before versus after hysterectomy. The average HPV prevalence was higher in HIV‐positive than HIV‐negative women both before (59% vs. 12%; p < 0.001) and after hysterectomy (56% vs. 6%; p < 0.001). Multivariate random effects models (within‐individual comparisons) demonstrated significantly lower HPV prevalence [odds ratio (OR) = 0.71; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.59–0.85) after hysterectomy. The association of HPV prevalence with hysterectomy was similar among HIV‐positive and HIV‐negative women. However, hysterectomy had greater effects on oncogenic (OR = 0.48; 95% CI = 0.35–0.66) than nononcogenic HPV types (OR = 0.89; 95% CI = 0.71–1.11; Pinteraction = 0.002). Overall, we observed greater reductions in oncogenic than nononcogenic HPV prevalence after hysterectomy. If correct, these data could suggest that oncogenic HPV have greater tropism for cervical compared to vaginal epithelium, consistent with the lower incidence of vaginal than cervical cancer.
Altruistic values, satisfaction and loyalty among first‐time blood donors
Authors: Boenigk Silke , Leipnitz Sigrun , Scherhag Christian
Published: November 2011

This article is related to the recently initiated discussion on mechanisms of charitable giving and the lack of research on the mix of those mechanisms. On the basis of a comprehensive and interdisciplinary literature review in the area of blood donation management (1970–2010), the authors found that pure altruism, respectively altruistic values, is very often seen as the most important mechanism for giving blood the first time and, moreover, for building blood donor loyalty. This study argues that more knowledge on the mix of mechanisms in blood giving is needed. Therefore, this research examined the impact of altruistic values and the donors' satisfaction with the treatment on blood donor loyalty. Using survey data of the German Red Cross (N = 2149), the authors found that the impact of satisfaction with the treatment on blood donor loyalty is higher compared with altruistic values. Consequently and as one managerial implication, satisfaction measurement and management systems should be reflected more critically by blood donation centres in order to increase blood donations in the future. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis and optical characterization of photoactive poly(2‐phenoxyethyl acrylate) copolymers containing azobenzene units, prepared by frontal polymerization using novel ionic liquids as initiators
Authors: Illescas Javier , Ramirez‐Fuentes Yessica S. , Rivera Ernesto , Morales‐Saavedra Omar G. , Rodríguez‐Rosales Antonio A. , Alzari Valeria , Nuvoli Daniele , Scognamillo Sergio , Mariani Alberto
Published: November 2011

2‐Phenoxyethyl acrylate (2‐PEA) was polymerized alone and in the presence of an azobenzene comonomer derived from Disperse Red‐1, N‐ethyl‐N‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐4‐(4‐nitrophenylazo)aniline (MDR‐1), by using the frontal polymerization technique. Two novel ionic liquids, recently synthesized by us, were used as initiators: tetrabutylphosphonium persulfate (TBPPS) and trihexyltetradecylphosphonium persulfate (TETDPPS). Even if their concentrations were smaller than those found when benzoyl peroxide and terbutylperoxy neodecanoate were used, these compounds gave rise to stable propagating polymerization fronts characterized by relatively low maximum temperatures and good velocities. Moreover, at variance to these latter, TBPPS and TETDPPS prevent bubble formation, thus allowing the use of the obtained materials in optical applications. The obtained polymers were characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), their thermal properties were determined by differential scanning calorimetry, and their optical properties were studied by absorption spectroscopy in the UV–vis region. Finally, the nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of the 2‐PEA/MDR‐1 copolymers obtained with TBPPS and TETDPPS were performed according to the Z‐Scan technique with prepared film samples. It has been proven that samples with higher MDR‐1 content (0.05 mol %) exhibited outstanding cubic NLO activity with negative NLO refractive coefficients around n2 = −1.7 × 10−3 esu. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012
A series of poly[N‐(2‐hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide] copolymers with anthracene‐derived fluorophores showing aggregation‐induced emission properties for bioimaging
Authors: Lu Hongguang , Su Fengyu , Mei Qian , Zhou Xianfeng , Tian Yanqing , Tian Wenjing , Johnson Roger H. , Meldrum Deirdre R.
Published: November 2011

A series of new poly[N‐(2‐hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide]‐based amphiphilic copolymers were synthesized through a radical copolymerization of a monomeric/hydrophobic fluorophore possessing aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) properties with N‐(2‐hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide. Photophysical properties were investigated using UV–Vis absorbance and fluorescence spectrophotometry. Influences of the polymer structures with different molar ratios of the AIE fluorophores on their photophysical properties were studied. Results show that the AIE fluorophores aggregate in the cores of the micelles formed from the amphiphilic random copolymers and polymers with more hydrophobic AIE fluorophores facilitate stronger aggregations of the AIE segments to obtain higher quantum efficiencies. The polymers reported herein have good water solubility, enabling the application of hydrophobic AIE materials in biological conditions. The polymers were endocytosed by two experimental cell lines, human brain glioblastoma U87MG cells and human esophagus premalignant CP‐A, with a distribution into the cytoplasm. The polymers are noncytotoxic to the two cell lines at a polymer concentration of 1 mg/mL. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012
Unintentional incorporation of H and related structural and free‐electron properties of c‐ and a‐plane InN
Authors: Darakchieva V. , Lorenz K. , Xie M.‐Y. , Alves E. , Schaff W. J. , Yamaguchi T. , Nanishi Y. , Ruffenach S. , Moret M. , Briot O.
Published: November 2011

In this work, we present a comprehensive study on the hydrogen impurity depth profiles in InN films with polar c‐plane and nonpolar a‐plane surface orientations in relation to their structural and free‐electron properties. We find that the as‐grown nonpolar films exhibit generally higher bulk and near‐surface H concentrations compared to the polar InN counterparts. The latter may be partly associated with a change in the growth mode from 2D to 3D and a decrease in the grain size. Thermal annealing leads to a reduction of H concentrations and the intrinsic H levels are influenced by the structural characteristics of the films. The factors allowing reduction of bulk H and free electron concentrations in a‐plane films are discussed.
Immunocytochemical localization of calretinin‐containing neurons in the rat periaqueductal gray and colocalization with enzymes producing nitric oxide: A double, double‐labeling study
Authors: Barbaresi Paolp , Quaranta Alexia , Amoroso Salvatore , Mensà Emanuela , Fabri Mara
Published: November 2011

The pattern of distribution and colocalization of the calcium‐binding protein calretinin (Cal) and of enzymes producing nitric oxide (NO) was examined in the rat periaqueductal gray matter (PAG) using two different experimental approaches, by combining Cal immunocytochemistry with NADPH‐diaphorase (NADPH‐d) histochemistry and with NOS immunocytochemistry, respectively. Cal‐immunopositive neurons were found throughout the rostrocaudal extension of both dorsolateral (PAG‐dl) and ventrolateral PAG (PAG‐vl). Double‐labeled neurons were found only in PAG‐dl. The first experimental approach indicated that 33–41% of the NADPH‐d‐positive (Nadph+) cells were immunoreactive for Cal, whereas NADPH‐d activity appeared in 19–26% of the Cal‐immunopositive (CalIP) neurons. Two‐color immunofluorescence revealed that ∼39–43% of NOS‐immunoreactive (NOSIR) neurons were double‐labeled with Cal and ∼23% of CalIPneurons expressed NOS immunoreactivity. Measurement in semithin sections of the size of the three neuronal populations found in PAG‐dl, showed that CalIPneurons had a cross‐sectional area of 94.7 μm2, whereas Nadph+ neurons and double‐labeled neurons were slightly smaller, having a cross‐sectional area of 90.5 and 91.4 μm2, respectively. On electron microscopy, CalIPaxon terminals formed either symmetric or asymmetric synapses; although the latter synapses were more numerous, both types contacted preferentially CalIPdendrites. These experiments suggest that PAG‐dl is characterized by a high degree of heterogeneity. Synapse, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Load variation impact on allowable output power of distributed generator with loss consideration
Authors: Saksornchai Titti , Eua‐arporn Bundhit
Published: November 2011

As more renewable energy is being utilized, the number of distributed generators (DGs) is continuously increasing. In general, DGs provide considerable benefits from both economic and engineering aspects. Determination of the appropriate DG capacity is generally performed under certain operating conditions. However, the system demand varies with the time of the day. Therefore, appropriate DG output power, taking into account distribution feeder loss reduction, also changes over time. This paper investigates the impact of load variation on determining the appropriate DG output power for feeder loss reduction purposes. The branch current decomposition loss allocation based method is further developed to determine an appropriate DG output power taking into account customer load profiles. It is anticipated that the proposed method would help planning engineers to determine the suitable DG power output to be fed into their systems in a short period of time. The obtained results also show that the feeder loss can be managed effectively with appropriate output power of the DG. © 2011 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Communists and the Fight for Jobs and Revolution
Authors: Green Rodney D. , Isaacson Michael S.
Published: November 2011

Winning in the battle for jobs is two-fold: making gains in jobs and relief, and making gains in the development of anti-racist revolutionary class consciousness. Marxists and institutionalists have shown theoretically that unemployment is endemic to capitalism. The global experience of the 20th century validates this view. Efforts to ease the negative social effects of unemployment can modestly and temporarily assist distressed unemployed workers and their families, but only when there is a significant grassroots mobilization—at both local and national levels—to struggle for such improvements. Communist organizers have often been the most effective leaders of struggles against unemployment and its effects by relying on mobilizations of unemployed, employed, and unionized workers. Communist organizations have often combined efforts to win “survival” reforms (i.e., attempts to keep unemployed workers’ heads above water) with agitation and education about the need to end unemployment permanently with socialist and/or communist revolution. Two examples of these struggles are described: the Unemployed Council of St. Petersburg in 1905–06 and the unemployed councils initiated by the Communist International (the Comintern) during the early 1930s, with an emphasis on the U.S. experience. Lessons for today's global struggle against unemployment are drawn from these earlier experiences.
Profits or People? Rubber plantations and everyday technology in rural Indochina
Authors: ASO MICHITAKE
Published: November 2011

This paper examines the relationship between rubber plantations and changes in everyday technologies in rural Indochina. It also explores the effects that improvement projects had on the countryside in which those who were targeted by these programmes lived. Speeches given at the opening of the Bến Cát agricultural school in Thủ Dầu Một province in 1918, for example, show that this school was designed both to train Vietnamese assistants to work on large agricultural exploitations and to improve native agricultural practices. Officials used journals, such as the bilingual French-VietnameseCochinchine Agricole, which appeared between 1927 and 1930, to popularize latex-producing science and techniques. Though their motivations often differed from those of officials, the Vietnamese elite, ranging from those in the anti-colonialDuy Tân Hội(Modernisation Society) to French-trained physicians, scientists, and engineers, also often sought to address the problems of rural southern Vietnam through improvements in everyday agricultural technologies. This paper suggests that plantation agriculture, which structured the everyday meanings of rubber in Vietnam, along with the failures of native improvement, began to weaken the support of the Vietnamese elite for the colonial regime during the 1930s. Uneasy compromises and contradictions meant that neither economic profit nor social improvement alone existed in the rubber-producing industry.
Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network releases search widget
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: November 2011

The Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network (CLEAN) has launched a widget that can be embedded in any Web site to search the network's catalog of online resources relating to climate and energy topics for students in grades 6–12 and for general audiences. The catalog includes more than 300 high‐quality existing digital resources, including learning activities, videos, visualizations, and short investigations that have been reviewed and annotated for scientific accuracy and pedagogical potential. The widget allows users to search keywords and then access the full catalog record of resources from the search. The CLEAN Web site includes a section on teaching climate and energy topics.
AGU's 2010 annual report now available online
Authors: Buhrman Joan
Published: November 2011

AGU president Michael McPhaden, in a letter introducing the Union's recently released 2010 annual report, said that “2010 was a historic year for Earth and space science, and for AGU as an organization.” He went on to say, “It is my honor to report on how our organization addressed challenges and created opportunities for growth and advancement throughout 2010, building on our core strengths of scientific excellence and groundbreaking research.” The report tells the story of AGU's science and its commitment to promoting discovery in Earth and space science for the benefit of humanity through a series of profiles of individual members. The profiles focus on the impact these scientists' work is having on the world around them and how it relates to the goals outlined in AGU's new strategic plan.
High‐resolution peatland photos show change with global warming
Authors: Schultz Colin
Published: November 2011

As global average temperatures rise, vast tracks of peatland currently encased in permafrost will be affected. As the ground thaws, peatlands will evolve in either of two directions. Along one path, land that was previously propped up by supportive permafrost subsides, forming a shallow basin that fills with water—a thermokarst lake. In the new lake, peat undergoes anaerobic bacterial decay, releasing methane to the environment. Alternatively, permafrost thawing can result in lake drainage. In the drained lake beds, fen vegetation and mosses can grow, drawing down atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. The prevalence of these two processes, and their relationship to changing temperatures, remains an important question in understanding the consequences of permafrost thaw on the global carbon cycle.
Small‐scale turbulence detected in Mercury's magnetic field
Authors: Schultz Colin
Published: November 2011

With its closest approach a mere 46 million kilometers from the Sun, the blast of the solar wind was supposed to wash away any chance that Mercury could hold on to a magnetic field—an idea rejected by the observations of the Mariner 10 spacecraft in 1974. Though Mercury was shown to harbor a weak magnetic field (one‐hundredth the strength of Earth's), its structure, behavior, and interactions with the solar wind remained heavily debated, yet untested, until the 14 January 2008 approach of NASA's MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) orbiter. Using a continuous scalogram analysis—a novel statistical technique in space research—Uritsky et al. analyzed the high‐resolution magnetic field strength observations taken by MESSENGER as it flew within a few hundred kilometers of the planet's surface. The authors found turbulence in Mercury's magnetosphere, which they attributed to small‐scale interactions between the solar wind plasma and the magnetic field. At large spatial and temporal scales the solar wind can be thought of as a fluid with some magnetic properties—a domain well explained by the theories of magnetohydrodynamics.
Sulfur isotope evidence of little or no stratospheric impact by the 1783 Laki volcanic eruption
Authors: Lanciki Alyson , Cole‐Dai Jihong , Thiemens Mark H. , Savarino Joël
Published: November 2011

Historic records and research have suggested that the 1783–1784 eruption of the Laki fissure volcano in Iceland impacted Northern Hemisphere climate significantly, probably as a result of the direct injection of volcanic materials into the stratosphere where the volcanic aerosols would linger for years to cause surface cooling across the Northern Hemisphere. However, recent modeling work indicates the Laki climatic impact was limited to the Northern Hemisphere and only in the second half of 1783. We measured sulfur‐33 isotope excess (Δ33S) in volcanic sulfate of historical eruptions including Laki found in Summit, Greenland ice cores. No Δ33S excess is found in sulfate of apparently tropospheric eruptions, while sulfate of stratospheric eruptions is characterized by significant Δ33S excess and a positive‐to‐negative change in Δ33S during its gradual removal from the atmosphere. Because the same characteristics have been previously found in volcanic sulfate in Antarctica snow, the results from Greenland indicate similar global processes of stratospheric chemical conversion of SO2 to sulfate. The isotopic composition of Laki sulfate is essentially normal and shows no characteristics of sulfate produced by stratospheric photochemical reactions. This clearly indicates that the Laki plume did not reach altitudes of the stratospheric ozone layer. Further, the short aerosol residence time (<6 months) suggests that the bulk of the Laki plume and subsequent aerosols were probably confined to the middle and upper troposphere. These conclusions support the hypothesis of D'Arrigo and colleagues that the unusually cold winter of 1783–1784 was not caused by Laki.
Abstracting Grammar from Social–Cognitive Foundations: A Developmental Sketch of Learning
Authors: Ibbotson Paul
Published: November 2011

Although the understanding of the development of infants’ social cognition and cooperative reasoning has progressed significantly, to date, it has yet to be worked through in any detail how this knowledge interacts with and constrains emerging syntactic representations. This review is a step in that direction, aiming to offer a more integrated account of the learning mechanisms that support linguistic generalizations. First, I review the developmental literature that suggests social–cognitive foundations get linguistic constructions “off the ground.” Second, I focus on building layers of abstractions on top of this foundation and the kind of cognitive processes that are involved. Crucially important in this explanation will be the fact that humans possess a unique set of social–cognitive and social motivational-skills that allows language to happen. Furthermore, early linguistic categories are formed around the underlying functional core of concepts and on the basis of their communicative discourse function. This, combined with powerful pattern-detection skills, enables distributional regularities in the input to be paired with what the speakers intend to communicate.
Can Behavioral Speech-In-Noise Tests Improve the Quality of Hearing Aid Fittings?
Authors: Moore Robert , Gordon-Hickey Susan
Published: November 2011

The purpose of this article is to propose 4 dimensions for consideration in hearing aid fittings and 4 tests to evaluate those dimensions. The 4 dimensions and tests are (a) working memory, evaluated by the Revised Speech Perception in Noise test (Bilger, Nuetzel, & Rabinowitz, 1984); (b) performance in noise, evaluated by the Quick Speech in Noise test (QSIN; Killion, Niquette, Gudmundsen, Revit, & Banerjee, 2004); (c) acceptance of noise, evaluated by the Acceptable Noise Level test (ANL; Nabelek, Tucker, & Letowski, 1991); and (d) performance versus perception, evaluated by the Perceptual–Performance test (PPT; Saunders & Cienkowski, 2002). The authors discuss the 4 dimensions and tests in the context of improving the quality of hearing aid fittings.
Immunolocalisation of microcystins in colonies of the cyanobacterium Rivularia in calcareous streams
Authors: Marco Sergio , Aboal Marina , Chaves Elena , Mulero Iván , García-Ayala Alfonsa
Published: November 2011

The cyanobacterium Rivularia is often the dominant genus in unpolluted stretches of many calcareous streams. Previous studies have detected microcystins in field-collected colonies from Mediterranean streams in Spain. Because sheaths and mucilage represent a substantial part of the colonies, the localisation of microcystins within Rivularia colonies was tested with immunological methods to elucidate the role of mucilage in toxicity. Microcystins were localised inside the trichomes, in the filament sheaths and in the colonial mucilage. The presence of microcystins was also shown in some heterocysts, but no mircocystins were detected in multicellular hairs. We suggest that microcystins are important for a benthic organism growing slowly for much of the time, that some labour division may exists between the cells in the colony and that these immunological methods may be a useful alternative for microcystin detection.
Sensing data centres for energy efficiency
Authors: Liu Jie , Terzis Andreas
Published: November 2011

Data centres are large energy consumers today, and their consumption is expected to increase further, driven by the growth in cloud services. The large monetary cost and the environmental impact of this consumption have motivated operators to optimize data centre management. We argue that one of the underlying reasons for the low-energy utilization is the lack of visibility into a data centre's highly dynamic operating conditions. Wireless sensor networks promise to remove this veil of uncertainty by delivering large volumes of data collected at high spatial and temporal fidelities. The paper summarizes data centre operations in order to describe the parameters that a data centre sensing network should collect and motivate the challenges that such a network faces. We present technical approaches for the problems of data collection and management and close with an overview of a data centre genome, an end-to-end data centre sensing system.
Reproductive Performance of Anoestrous High‐Producing Dairy Cows Improved by Adding Equine Chorionic Gonadotrophin to a Progesterone‐Based Oestrous Synchronizing Protocol
Authors: Garcia‐Ispierto I , López‐Helguera I , Martino A , López‐Gatius F
Published: November 2011

Contents

This study sought to improve the reproductive performance of anoestrous high‐producing dairy cows by including equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG) after progesterone‐releasing intravaginal device (PRID) removal. In Experiment I, 806 cows at 51–57 days post‐partum were randomly assigned to a PRID (treated with PRID), PRID‐500 (treated with PRID plus 500 IU of eCG) or PRID‐750 (treated with PRID plus 750 IU of eCG) group. In Experiment II, 422 cows showing a long anoestrus period (animals with no oestrus signs nor luteal tissue 35 days before treatment) were randomly assigned to the PRID, PRID‐500 or PRID‐750 groups. The dependent variables considered in binary logistic regression analyses for both experiments were the rates of oestrus, ovulation and conception after treatment, the cumulative conception rate on Day 120 post‐partum and pregnancy loss. In Experiment I, interaction between treatment and season showed a significant effect on the oestrous response. Thus, during the warm season, PRID group cows were 8.9 times more likely to express oestrus than the remaining cows. Moreover, inseminated cows with two or more corpora lutea 8–14 days after treatment were more likely to become pregnant (by a factor of 2.4) than cows with a single corpus luteum. Finally, cows without luteal structures treated with PRID were 0.4 less likely to be pregnant on Day 120 post‐partum, compared with the remaining cows. In Experiment II, cows in the PRID group treated during the warm or cool season were less likely to exhibit oestrus (by a factor of 0.06 or 0.2, respectively) or ovulate (by a factor of 0.004 or 0.14, respectively) than the remaining cows. In conclusion, in anoestrous cows in both experiments, the addition of eCG to the use of an intravaginal progesterone device to induce oestrus was beneficial. The recommended dose of eCG is 500 IU.
Intestinal colonization by enteroaggregative Escherichia coli supports long‐term bacteriophage replication in mice
Authors: Maura Damien , Morello Eric , du Merle Laurence , Bomme Perrine , Le Bouguénec Chantal , Debarbieux Laurent
Published: November 2011

Bacteriophages have been known to be present in the gut for many years, but studies of relationships between these viruses and their hosts in the intestine are still in their infancy. We isolated three bacteriophages specific for an enteroaggregative O104:H4 Escherichia coli (EAEC) strain responsible for diarrhoeal diseases in humans. We studied the replication of these bacteriophages in vitro and in vivo in a mouse model of gut colonization. Each bacteriophage was able to replicate in vitro in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Each bacteriophage individually reduced biofilms formed on plastic pegs and a cocktail of the three bacteriophages was found to be more efficient. The cocktail was also able to infect bacterial aggregates formed on the surface of epithelial cells. In the mouse intestine, bacteriophages replicated for at least 3 weeks, provided the host was present, with no change in host levels in the faeces. This model of stable and continuous viral replication provides opportunities for studying the long‐term coevolution of virulent bacteriophages with their hosts within a mammalian polymicrobial ecosystem.
Current controversies in colorectal surgery: the way to resolve uncertainty and move forward
Authors: Rosenberg J. , Fischer A. , Haglind E. ,   on behalf of Scandinavian Surgical Outcomes Research Group
Published: November 2011

The are currently a number of unsolved clinical questions in colorectal surgery with new surgical principles being introduced without proper scientific high‐level evidence. These include complete mesocolic excision with central ligation for colonic cancer, extralevator abdominoperineal excision for low rectal cancer, robotic surgery for various colorectal procedures, laparoscopic lavage without resection for Hinchey Stage III perforated sigmoid diverticulitis, and the use of the single port technique for laparoscopic surgery. Before general implementation the new modalities should ideally be evalueted in randomized studies and meta‐analyses. Many randomized studies, however, cannot give the final answer to the research question because they are underpowered and it is therefore important to perform well‐designed studies that are large enough to provide the final answer. A way forward could therefore be to form multicenter and even multinational research groups in order to ensure accrual of sufficient sample sizes.