bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Byzantine Empress Zoe Porphyrogenita and the quest for eternal youth
Authors: Panas Marios , Poulakou‐Rebelakou Effie , Kalfakis Nicoalos , Vassilopoulos Dimitrios
Published: September 2012

The diachronically continuous struggle for eternal youth as represented by the Byzantine Empress Zoe Porphyrogenita (978–1050). The presentation of a beautiful empress, trying to keep her youth appearance until a prolonged age, applying on herself cosmetic essences and fragrances made in her personal laboratory into the imperial palace. The review of the relevant literature and the historical evidence derived from the historians and chroniclers of her era, as well as the surviving images of Zoe. The eye‐witness chroniclers of the era describe her as blonde, with bright white skin, lack of wrinkles, and a very young girl appearance, preserving her beauty even into her 60s. All the historical sources agree that her main occupation was the manufacture of cosmetic essences, and for this purpose, she had installed a laboratory (myrepseion) in her private quarters, where she prepared various drugs and perfumes, spending much of her time for these activities. It is noteworthy that her first two husbands died under circumstances that aroused suspicions of Zoe’s involvement in their deaths, as she had parallel love affairs. The best known image of Zoe is the mosaic panel in Saint Sophia, the cathedral Church of Constantinople and her representation has been long discussed, as she was 64 years old at the time of the scene apparently depicted in the panel, and maybe she took the opportunity of adding a more pleasing portrait of herself. The preservation of beauty is a timeless quest and cosmetic dermatology has its origins in antiquity and medieval times.
A simple idea for approximating the volume of filler needed for chest‐wall contour‐defects
Authors: Sivathasan Niroshan , Chakrabarty Kaushik H
Published: September 2012

Fillers can be used to correct contour‐defects. Due to the irregularities of defects, estimating the volume of filler required can be difficult. This frequently results in surgeons taking a step‐wise approach to filler‐injection, usually occurring over different appointments. Using a patient with pectus excavatum as an example, we provide a simple tip as to estimating the volume of filler required. In this case, normal saline was poured into the chest‐wall defect until the adequate level was reached (from the lateral aspect), while noting how much liquid was used. The patient then had a comparable volume of filler injected.
Periorbital area rejuvenation using carbon dioxide therapy
Authors: Paolo Fioramonti , Nefer Fallico , Paola Parisi , Nicolò Scuderi
Published: September 2012

Background

Different conservative and surgical approaches are used for periorbital region rejuvenation, but none of them is effective in the treatment of the medial third of the lower eyelid.

Objective

The present study is designed to assess the effectiveness of carboxytherapy in the treatment of wrinkles on the median and medial region of the lower eyelid and dark circles around the eyes.

Methods and Materials

From January 2008 to December 2010, 90 patients with moderate to severe periorbital wrinkles and/or dark circles underwent subcutaneous injections of CO2 once a week for 7 weeks. Patients were assessed before and 2 months after the treatment through photographic documentation and the compilation of visual analog scales.

Results

At the end of the study period, patients reported a reduction of facial fine lines and wrinkles as well as a decrease in periorbital hyperpigmentation. A few side effects were observed but they were all transient and did not require discontinuation of treatment.

Conclusion

Carbon dioxide therapy results as an effective noninvasive modality for the rejuvenation of the periorbital area.
Patterns of Welfare Dependence before and after a Reform: Evidence from First Generation Immigrants and Natives in Germany
Authors: Riphahn Regina T. , Wunder Christoph
Published: September 2012

This paper studies the patterns of welfare dependence among first generation immigrants and natives in Germany before and after a substantial recent reform of the welfare system. Using data from the German Socio‐Economic Panel Study, the analysis presents life cycle trajectories of transfer receipt for immigrants and natives and studies the correlation between contextual factors and transfer receipt. We find no statistically significant differences in the probability of transfer receipt between immigrants and natives once socioeconomic characteristics are taken into account. Being a single parent, labor market status, and human capital are most closely correlated with the incidence of transfer receipt for both natives and immigrants. Interestingly, recent welfare reforms did not reverse prior patterns of welfare dependence.
Seizing the Opportunity: Euroscepticism and Extremist Party Success in the Post-Maastricht Era
Authors: Buhr Renee L.
Published: September 2012

Can extremist parties benefit from a backlash against European Union integration? A theoretical model that integrates demand-side, supply-side and political opportunity space explanations for extremist party success is used here in an effort to predict the conditions under which extremist parties may have utilized increased public discontent with EU integration to increase their vote share in national legislative elections. The plausibility of the model is then tested against the evidence in 14 EU member states from 1992 to 2006, with the use of matrices and political opportunity space maps. In the majority of the elections examined, extremist parties increased their vote share in circumstances fitting the theoretical model.
Policy Entrepreneurs and Foreign Policy Change: The Greek–Turkish Rapprochement in the 1990s
Authors: Blavoukos Spyros , Bourantonis Dimitris
Published: September 2012

Besides systemic changes that lead to the re-prioritization of foreign policy objectives, foreign policy change is also a result of domestic policy entrepreneurs’ pursuit of a political return. Their potential to orchestrate change depends on the existing entry barriers that emanate from the political and institutional features of the domestic policy-making process. It is accentuated by system-wide developments and security crises that illustrate old policy failure. This article discusses the role of policy entrepreneurs in foreign policy change by reference to the Greek–Turkish rapprochement in the late 1990s that resulted in Turkey receiving the status of EU candidate country in 1999.
A Symptomatic Analysis of the Justice and Development Party's Populism in Turkey, 2007–2010
Authors: Dinçşahin Şakir
Published: September 2012

This article focuses on the populist strategy of the Turkish Justice and Development Party between the 2007 presidential election, when Turkish politics experienced an impasse, and the 2010 referendum over the constitutional amendments. As a means of analysing populism, the symptomatic approach is preferred over other theoretical perspectives, including empiricism and historicism. An analysis of the discourse articulated by Prime Minister Erdoğan leads us to the conclusion that he has continually appealed to the masses with an anti-institutional rhetoric that divides society into ‘the people’ and ‘the elite’, thereby fulfilling the criteria of populism according to the symptomatic approach.
Systematized Epidermal Nevus with Epidermolytic Hyperkeratosis Improving with Topical Calcipotriol/Betametasone Dipropionate Combination Ointment
Authors: Koh Mark Jean‐Aan , Lee Joyce Siong‐See , Chong Wei‐Sheng
Published: September 2012

Abstract:  We present the case of a 5‐year‐old boy who presented with systematized epidermal nevus with evidence of epidermolytic hyperkeratosis on skin biopsy. He was otherwise well, with normal growth and development and no evidence of other organ system involvement. He had experienced only mild improvement with potent topical corticosteroids. He reported more‐marked improvement after 2 months of topical calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate combination ointment once a day to the lesions. Extensive epidermal nevi can lead to severe cosmetic disfigurement. We recommend a trial of topical calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate ointment for patients with extensive epidermal nevus not amenable to surgical treatment.
Hair‐Thread Tourniquet Syndrome: A Hidden Hazard
Authors: Álvarez‐Pérez Adriana , Mateo Sandra , Fernández‐Redondo Virginia , Toribio Jaime
Published: September 2012

Abstract:  Hair‐thread tourniquet syndrome (HTTS) is a rare disorder characterized by the encircling of an appendage by a hair or thread. We report an 8‐month‐old boy with toe HTTS. Early recognition is required to avoid the serious consequences of its delayed diagnosis.
Varicella‐Zoster Virus As a Possible Cause of Pityriasis Lichenoides et Varioliformis Acuta
Authors: Cho Eujin , Jun Hee Jin , Cho Sang Hyun , Lee Jeong Deuk
Published: September 2012

Abstract:  The etiologic agents for pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta (PLEVA) are largely unknown, although it has been suggested that foreign antigens such as infectious agents are the pathogenic mechanism. We present a case suggesting a possible relationship between varicella‐zoster virus and PLEVA.
Acquired Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis in a Child with Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: Fernandez Kristen H. , Rady Peter , Tyring Steven , Stone Mary S.
Published: September 2012

Abstract:  A 4‐year‐old girl with an established diagnosis of atopic dermatitis, previously severe and treated with cyclosporine, developed widespread papules that demonstrated changes consistent with epidermodysplasia verruciformis on biopsy. Human papilloma virus (HPV) typing was performed and was consistent with epidermodysplasia verruciformis‐type HPV (type 5). These lesions rapidly resolved with a 2‐week course of imiquimod. Rapid resolution and no family history of epidermodysplasia verruciformis make this most consistent with acquired epidermodysplasia verruciformis. This case is the first reported case of acquired epidermodysplasia verruciformis in a child without the human immunodeficiency virus and may be linked to cyclosporine use, which also has never been previously reported.
Cutaneous and Mucosal Blistering Secondary to “Huffing”
Authors: Lasala Brandie J. , Zaenglein Andrea L.
Published: September 2012

Abstract:  Hydrocarbons are a diverse group of organic compounds found in many households. Volatile substance abuse most often occurs in teenagers and younger adults. Recognition of the cutaneous side effects of hydrocarbon exposure by physicians is important because teens may not always admit to their abuse.
Congenital Smooth Muscle Hamartoma on the Face Treated Using Vascular Laser
Authors: Grillo Emiliano , Boixeda Pablo , Ballester Asuncion , Vano‐Galvan Sergio , Gonzalez Carmen , Jaén Pedro
Published: September 2012

Abstract:  A congenital smooth muscle hamartoma is a rare, benign proliferation of smooth muscle bundles in the dermis that is usually diagnosed in the neonatal period or infancy. Surgical excision is the first‐line therapeutic option, but in certain areas such as the face, surgery may be too aggressive, and different treatments should be considered. We present the case of a congenital smooth muscle hamartoma on the face treated using pulsed dye laser with good response.
Perforating Pilomatricoma with Anetodermic Epidermis in an Adolescent with Lymphoma
Authors: Miura Takako , Yamamoto Toshiyuki
Published: September 2012

Abstract:  Pilomatricoma is a benign neoplasm originating from primitive cells of the hair matrix. Occasionally the skin overlying pilomatricomas assumes peculiar clinical features, and anetodermic change of the skin overlying pilomatricomas is sometimes seen, but perforation in pilomatricoma is a rare event. We report a case of perforating pilomatricoma with anetoderma in an adolescent with lymphoma.
Rapidly Involuting Congenital Hemangioma Associated with Profound, Transient Thrombocytopenia
Authors: Rangwala Sophia , Wysong Ashley , Tollefson Megha M. , Khuu Phuong , Benjamin Latanya T. , Bruckner Anna L.
Published: September 2012

Abstract:  Rapidly involuting congenital hemangioma (RICH) is an uncommon, often high‐flow vascular tumor that presents at birth and involutes within the first year of life. It is clinically and histologically distinct from infantile hemangioma, kaposiform hemangioendothelioma, and tufted angioma, the latter two being associated with Kasabach–Merritt phenomenon. We present a female infant with RICH and profound, transient thrombocytopenia and review the extent and clinical course of thrombocytopenia in the context of congenital vascular tumors.
State Intervention in Local Land Use Decision Making: The Case of Massachusetts
Authors: Fisher Lynn M.
Published: September 2012

The permitting process for residential development in the United States is largely administered by local governments. This article empirically assesses the responsiveness of local decision makers to a state‐mandated permitting process that may require them to ignore or override locally adopted land use regulations. I develop a screening model to formalize expectations about permitting outcomes between developers, who hold private information about their projects, and local Zoning Boards of Appeal under the rules of the Massachusetts law known as Chapter 40B. I then analyze a novel data set of 40B permit applications made during the period 1999–2005. I examine summary statistics and estimate a bivariate probit model with selection in order to jointly evaluate the determinants of local permit approvals and developer acceptances of permits. I find that, in general, local institutions comply with the state‐mandated permitting process and that permits granted to developers typically result in housing production. I also find that information asymmetries and community characteristics influence the success of the permitting process in a manner consistent with this study's screening model.
The Impact of Housing Vouchers on Mobility and Neighborhood Attributes
Authors: Eriksen Michael D. , Ross Amanda
Published: September 2012

This article examines the effect of receiving a housing voucher on the mobility and neighborhood attributes of low‐income households. Housing policy has shifted toward vouchers in lieu of public housing projects to allow households to move away from high‐poverty areas. We use administrative records collected from an experiment to examine this issue. We find that households moved immediately after receiving the subsidy but did not relocate to lower poverty neighborhoods until several quarters later. Our findings suggest that recipients initially lease in nearby units to secure the subsidy, while continuing to search for housing in lower poverty neighborhoods.
Mobility: Disability and Life in the Spirit
Authors: Hefner Philip
Published: September 2012

Abstract:  The author employs the narrative of his own personal experience of disability as an entry to several large issues: the place of body; the challenge of mobility; the processes of medical treatment, therapy, and fitness training; the network of dependence upon family, friends, and society; and the challenge to actively avail oneself of the resources of this network. The power of the human spirit is affirmed as the prerequisite for moving the body and attaining the possibilities of one's life. This power is the work of God's Spirit. A concept of body‐spiriting is suggested. The argument is framed in two parts: (1) in the world in my own skin, and (2) living in the presence of God.
On Christ and Healing: Eiesland, Tillich, and Disability Theology
Authors: Wilder Courtney
Published: September 2012

Abstract:  The existentialist interpretation of the biblical texts offered by Protestant theologian Paul Tillich is deeply problematic in its treatment of disability, especially mental illness. Theologian Nancy Eiesland argues against a conflation of sin and illness, and proposes the symbol of the disabled God as a source for a liberation theology of disability. Reading the biblical texts existentially, as Tillich suggests, can advance Eiesland's Christology, while her critique of Christian teaching on disability offers a correction for Tillich.
Invoking Deep Access: Disability beyond Inclusion in the Church
Authors: Reynolds Thomas E.
Published: September 2012

Abstract:  This article seeks to challenge the ways access and inclusion are thought about and practiced in church communities with the hope of encouraging a robust hospitality and deep accessibility among all in the body of Christ. A first step stresses the difference of disability over the sameness of human personhood underneath it. A second step considers possibilities for practices of receiving gifts from one another in ongoing gestures of vulnerable mutuality that negotiate access for all, and thereby create community. The article concludes by proposing this be cultivated by a spirituality of attentiveness that embodies hospitality.
Special Rules for the Church: The “Ministerial” Exception under the Americans with Disabilities Act
Authors: Taylor Robin M.
Published: September 2012

Abstract:  In the Hosanna‐Tabor case, the United States Supreme Court held that there is a broad exception under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for employees who are ministers. A Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod school could fire an elementary school teacher with a disability because she was a “called teacher,” even though the termination would otherwise have violated the ADA. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America supported this decision, but this contradicts the ELCA's position with respect to persons living with disabilities. It also reflects an “idolatry of the call” inconsistent with the priesthood of all believers. A better course for the ELCA is to agree to be bound by those standards that it advocates for the secular world.
Low Temperature Synthesis, Structural, Optical and Magnetic Properties of Bismuth Ferrite Nanoparticles
Authors: Srivastav Simant Kumar , S. Gajbhiye Namdeo
Published: September 2012

Phase pure nanosized BiFeO3 (BFO) powder was synthesized by sol–gel method based on the propylene glycol‐gel reaction. The formation mechanism, crystal structure, magnetic and optical properties were investigated by thermogravimetry, differential thermal analysis, infrared spectroscopy, X–ray diffractometry, Rietveld analysis, Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, SQUID magnetometry and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. X–ray diffraction and Raman studies revealed the formation of pure and well‐crystallized BFO nanocrystallites at a low temperature of 400°C. The BFO nanoparticles showed weak ferromagnetic property at room temperature due to size‐confinement effects. The UV–visible spectra showed strong band‐gap absorption at ~590 nm (2.1 eV) for BFO nanoparticles suggesting their potential application as visible‐light‐response photocatalyst.
Sintering, Crystallization, and Dielectric Behavior of Barium Zinc Borosilicate Glasses—Effect of Barium Oxide Substitution for Zinc Oxide
Authors: Monteiro Regina C. C. , Lopes Andreia A. S. , Lima Maria M. A. , Veiga João P. , Silva Rui J. C. , Dias Carlos J. , Davim Erika J. R. , Fernandes Maria H. V.
Published: September 2012

Barium zinc borosilicate glasses with a molar composition xBaO‐(60−x)ZnO‐30B2O3‐10SiO2, where x ranged from 0 to 60 mol%, were prepared using melt‐quenching method. The effect of BaO substitution for ZnO on the sintering, crystallization, and dielectric characteristics has been investigated. The behavior of the studied barium zinc borosilicate glasses was mainly determined by the relative amount of the structural modifier oxides (BaO and ZnO) and the ionic size, and field strength of the modifying cations (Ba2+, Zn2+). Increased amounts of BaO decreased both glass transition temperature and crystallization temperature, while increasing the relative dielectric constant. Sintering occurred before crystallization for glasses where substitution of BaO for ZnO was up to 30 mol%, but for higher substitution levels, crystallization occurred during the sintering process hindering densification.
Sport promotion policies in the European Union: results of a contents analysis
Authors: Christiansen N. V. , Kahlmeier S. , Racioppi F.
Published: September 2012

Although sport promotion may play an important role in achieving the recommended levels of physical activity for health, until now, there has been no comprehensive assessment of how sport policies in Europe address health. This article aimed at filling this gap by reviewing and analyzing recent national policy developments in the area of sport promotion, with a focus on synergies and discrepancies with the promotion of health‐enhancing physical activity. By applying various search methods, 130 documents focusing on sport and physical activity were identified in the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region. An analysis grid covering key indicators was developed for a systematic content analysis of 25 documents, selected according to established criteria. Analysis showed that general recommendations for good policy making were followed, such as establishing general goals, specifying time frame and responsible body for implementation and addressing different target groups. Furthermore, all sport strategies addressed health on an overall level and recognized the importance of Sport for All. However, in several strategies, there was a lack of measurable targets, specified budgets, and evaluation plans. The analysis showed that there is a great opportunity for health and sport sectors to work more closely together in the future, and identified areas where this could take place.
Improving stress testing compliance following chest pain presentations to the emergency department
Authors: Chung Kevin , Playford David , Macdonald Stephen PJ
Published: September 2012

Objectives

To determine whether a booked appointment time improves early outpatient exercise stress testing (EST) guideline adherence in patients discharged from the ED following assessment for possible acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods

In this pre and post study with a historical control group, patients classified as intermediate risk after negative ECG and serial troponin work‐up for possible ACS were referred for EST. The intervention group were given an appointment time for EST at discharge, and the control group were given a referral but asked to book their own appointment. The primary outcome measure was the proportion in each group who attended for EST. Secondary outcomes were time to EST and rates of death, myocardial infarction and coronary revascularisation within 30 days in both groups. In addition, we explored reasons for non‐attendance for EST for the intervention group.

Results

There were 96 participants in the intervention group (mean age 55 ± 3 years) and 121 controls (mean age 62 ± 3 years). Seventy‐two (75%) of the intervention group attended for EST compared with 38 (31%) of the control group, P < 0.001 after adjustment for differences in baseline variables. A poor understanding of the rationale for EST was a significant factor in patient non‐attendance.

Conclusion

Pre‐booked appointment times for EST improve timely attendance among patients discharged from the ED with intermediate‐risk ACS. Compliance might improve further with patient education.
Evaluation of spatial and temporal patterns of insect damage and aflatoxin level in the pre‐harvest corn fields to improve management tactics
Authors: Ni Xinzhi , Wilson Jeffrey P. , Toews Michael D. , Buntin G. David , Lee R. Dewey , Li Xin , Lei Zhongren , He Kanglai , Xu Wenwei , Li Xianchun , Huffaker Alisa , Schmelz Eric A.
Published: September 2012

Spatial and temporal patterns of insect damage in relation to aflatoxin contamination in a corn field with plants of uniform genetic background are not well understood. After previous examination of spatial patterns of insect damage and aflatoxin in pre‐harvest corn fields, we further examined both spatial and temporal patterns of cob‐ and kernel‐feeding insect damage, and aflatoxin level with two samplings at pre‐harvest in 2008 and 2009. The feeding damage by each of the ear/kernel‐feeding insects (i.e., corn earworm/fall armyworm damage on the silk/cob, and discoloration of corn kernels by stink bugs) and maize weevil population were assessed at each grid point with five ears. Sampling data showed a field edge effect in both insect damage and aflatoxin contamination in both years. Maize weevils tended toward an aggregated distribution more frequently than either corn earworm or stink bug damage in both years. The frequency of detecting aggregated distribution for aflatoxin level was less than any of the insect damage assessments. Stink bug damage and maize weevil number were more closely associated with aflatoxin level than was corn earworm damage. In addition, the indices of spatial–temporal association (χ) demonstrated that the number of maize weevils was associated between the first (4 weeks pre‐harvest) and second (1 week pre‐harvest) samplings in both years on all fields. In contrast, corn earworm damage between the first and second samplings from the field on the Belflower Farm, and aflatoxin level and corn earworm damage from the field on the Lang Farm were dissociated in 2009.
A correlation between the intrinsic brightness and average decay rate of Swift/UVOT gamma-ray burst optical/ultraviolet light curves
Authors: Oates S. R. , Page M. J. , De Pasquale M. , Schady P. , Breeveld A. A. , Holland S. T. , Kuin N. P. M. , Marshall F. E.
Published: September 2012

We examine a sample of 48 Swift/UVOT long gamma-ray burst light curves and find a correlation between the logarithmic luminosity at 200 s and average decay rate determined from 200 s onwards, with a Spearman rank coefficient of −0.58 at a significance of 99.998 per cent (4.2σ). We discuss the causes of the log L200 s–α>200 s correlation, finding it to be an intrinsic property of long gamma-ray bursts, and not resulting from the selection criteria. We find two ways to produce the correlation. One possibility is that there is some property of the central engine, outflow or external medium that affects the rate of energy release so that the bright afterglows release their energy more quickly and decay faster than the fainter afterglows. Alternatively, the correlation may be produced by variation of the observer’s viewing angle, with observers at large viewing angles observing fainter and slower decaying light curves.
Influence of Expectations Created by Label on Consumers Acceptance of Uruguayan Low‐Fat Cheeses
Authors: Arcia P.L. , Curutchet A. , Costell E. , Tárrega A.
Published: September 2012

This work focuses on how the expectation created by the label influences the consumer's acceptance and willingness to purchase low‐fat Uruguayan cheeses. Six commercial low‐fat cheeses were evaluated by a group of consumers who rated their expected liking by observing the label and the degree of liking on tasting the samples under blind and informed conditions. To identify the underlying relationships between product attributes and consumers' personal beliefs motivating their purchasing decision, laddering interviews were performed with another group of consumers. Results indicated that the label had a positive or neutral effect on consumers' hedonic perception. When hedonic expectations were not fulfilled, assimilation took place, either completely or incompletely, indicating that positive consumer expectations had a positive effect on acceptability ratings of these cheeses. For consumers, the two main components influencing the final decision on purchasing Uruguayan low‐fat cheese were trust and expected pleasure. The brand, appearance and previous knowledge of the product were the characteristics on the label with most impact on consumers. In addition, certain brands and images on the label elicited differentiating responses, like the sense of natural or traditional manufacture, which motivated some consumers to purchase the product.

Practical Application

To develop or improve products, it is necessary to provide the characteristics consumers seek in a product. Sensory properties are considered determining factors when choosing a product; however, they are not the only ones. The label is one of the extrinsic components of a product, playing an important role in consumer buying behavior, acting as a means to attract attention and provide information. This work shows how the expectation created by the label affected the acceptance of Uruguayan low‐fat cheeses. To develop products with a higher likelihood of success, it is important to know which label characteristics are relevant to consumers and their underlying motivation.
The impact of cattle farming best management practices on surface water nutrient concentrations, faecal bacteria and algal dominance in the Lake Oconee watershed
Authors: Burt Christopher , Bachoon Dave S. , Manoylov Kalina , Smith Marka
Published: September 2012

The objective of this study was to assess water quality in the Lake Oconee watershed and evaluate the best management practices used by cattle farms to reduce water contamination. Inorganic nutrient concentrations, algal abundance and faecal bacteria were highest in the cattle farming areas. The diatom community where cattle had no access was dominated by Achnanthidium minutissimum (Kützing) Czarnecki and Fragilaria crotonensis Kitton, and in sites where cattle were allowed direct access to the lake, Asterionella formosa Hassal, Nitzschia palea (Kützing) Smith and Navicula rostellata Kützing dominated. The latter three taxa are well‐known high‐nutrient diatoms. High populations of green algae (coccoid Desmidiaceae) were found where cattle had access. Sources of faecal pollution were identified using polymerase chain reaction detection, with Bifidobacterium adolescentis as a marker of human faecal pollution and Bacteroides (BoBac) indicating cattle faecal pollution. Overall, riparian buffers were most effective at reducing pollution from cattle operations.
Optimizing rainwater collection from droplets falling through crosswinds during the north‐east monsoons
Authors: Damala Vishnu Teja , Ghosh Satyajit , Roy Rohit , Veluchamy Balasubramanian
Published: September 2012

The quantity of precipitation received by the monsoons is enormous. The south‐west monsoons, unlike the north‐east monsoons, have been studied in great detail. This study deals with rainwater collection during the NE monsoons and involves an examination of the stochastic nature of a turbulent boundary layer and the effect of crosswinds on rain droplet trajectories and thence their collection. It must be borne in mind that whilst mid latitude precipitations typically range from a few millimetres per hour, the north‐east monsoon showers experience rainfall rates often 10 times higher than this value and their calculations deserve special attention. Probability distribution functions are calculated to quantify the coordinates of the landing trajectories on rooftop collectors. This investigation was essential to emulate the prevalent conditions of intense driving rain on top of high rises where setting up of a collector will be most suitable to directly harness rainwater in its purest form before contamination.
Idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis in six dogs: MRI, CSF and histological findings, treatment and outcome
Authors: Roynard P. , Behr S. , Barone G. , Llabrés‐Diaz F. , Cherubini Giunio Bruto
Published: September 2012

Idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis has been described in humans as a rare, chronic progressive non‐specific inflammatory and fibrotic disease of the dura mater. This is a case series of six canine cases of presumptive or confirmed intracranial idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis. These dogs were included in this retrospective study, based on magnetic resonance imaging findings. All presented with pachymeningeal thickening and enhancement without involvement of the leptomeninges on magnetic resonance imaging and no underlying cause identified on cerebrospinal fluid analysis, complete blood count, serum biochemistry and infectious disease titres. Histopathological examination was available in one case. Response to immunomodulatory treatment (corticosteroids and cytosine arabinoside) was achieved in five cases. Idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis should be considered as a possible differential diagnosis for dogs with pachymeningeal thickening on magnetic resonance imaging and no identified underlying cause. The prognosis appears to be fair to poor.
Ecological correlates of invasion impact for Burmese pythons in Florida
Authors: REED Robert N. , WILLSON John D. , RODDA Gordon H. , DORCAS Michael E.
Published: September 2012

An invasive population of Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) is established across several thousand square kilometers of southern Florida and appears to have caused precipitous population declines among several species of native mammals. Why has this giant snake had such great success as an invasive species when many established reptiles have failed to spread? We scored the Burmese python for each of 15 literature‐based attributes relative to predefined comparison groups from a diverse range of taxa and provide a review of the natural history and ecology of Burmese pythons relevant to each attribute. We focused on attributes linked to spread and magnitude of impacts rather than establishment success. Our results suggest that attributes related to body size and generalism appeared to be particularly applicable to the Burmese python's success in Florida. The attributes with the highest scores were: high reproductive potential, low vulnerability to predation, large adult body size, large offspring size and high dietary breadth. However, attributes of ectotherms in general and pythons in particular (including predatory mode, energetic efficiency and social interactions) might have also contributed to invasion success. Although establishment risk assessments are an important initial step in prevention of new establishments, evaluating species in terms of their potential for spreading widely and negatively impacting ecosystems might become part of the means by which resource managers prioritize control efforts in environments with large numbers of introduced species.
Environmental temperatures, physiology and behavior limit the range expansion of invasive Burmese pythons in southeastern USA
Authors: JACOBSON Elliott R. , BARKER David G. , BARKER Tracy M. , MAULDIN Richard , AVERY Michael L. , ENGEMAN Richard , SECOR Stephen
Published: September 2012

A well‐established population of Burmese pythons resides in the Everglades of southern Florida. Prompted in part by a report that identified much of southern USA as suitable habitat for expansion or establishment of the Burmese python, we examined the plausibility of this snake to survive winters at sites north of the Everglades. We integrated daily low and high temperatures recorded from October to February from 2005–2011 at Homestead, Orlando and Gainesville, Florida; and Aiken, South Carolina, with minimum temperatures projected for python digestion (16 °C), activity (5 °C) and survival (0 °C). Mean low and high temperatures decreased northward from Homestead to Aiken and the number of days of freezing temperatures increased northward. Digestion was impaired or inhibited for 2 months in the Everglades and up to at least 5 months in Aiken, and activity was increasingly limited northward during these months. Reports of overwinter survivorship document that a single bout of low and freezing temperatures results in python death. The capacity for Burmese pythons to successfully overwinter in more temperate regions of the USA is seemingly prohibited because they lack the behaviors to seek refuge from, and the physiology to tolerate, cold temperatures. As tropical Southeast Asia is the source of the Everglades Burmese pythons, we predict it is unlikely that they will be able to successfully expand to or colonize more temperate areas of Florida and adjoining states due to their lack of behavioral and physiological traits to seek refuge from cold temperatures.
Alien mammals in Europe: updated numbers and trends, and assessment of the effects on biodiversity
Authors: GENOVESI Piero , CARNEVALI Lucilla , ALONZI Anna , SCALERA Riccardo
Published: September 2012

This study provides an updated picture of mammal invasions in Europe, based on detailed analysis of information on introductions occurring from the Neolithic to recent times. The assessment considered all information on species introductions, known extinctions and successful eradication campaigns, to reconstruct a trend of alien mammals' establishment in the region. Through a comparative analysis of the data on introduction, with the information on the impact of alien mammals on native and threatened species of Europe, the present study also provides an objective assessment of the overall impact of mammal introductions on European biodiversity, including information on impact mechanisms. The results of this assessment confirm the constant increase of mammal invasions in Europe, with no indication of a reduction of the rate of introduction. The study also confirms the severe impact of alien mammals, which directly threaten a significant number of native species, including many highly threatened species. The results could help to prioritize species for response, as required by international conventions and obligations.
Effects of temperature change on mussel,Mytilus
Authors: ZIPPAY Mackenzie L. , HELMUTH Brian
Published: September 2012

An increasing body of research has demonstrated the often idiosyncratic responses of organisms to climate‐related factors, such as increases in air, sea and land surface temperatures, especially when coupled with non‐climatic stressors. This argues that sweeping generalizations about the likely impacts of climate change on organisms and ecosystems are likely less valuable than process‐based explorations that focus on key species and ecosystems. Mussels in the genusMytilushave been studied for centuries, and much is known of their physiology and ecology. Like other intertidal organisms, these animals may serve as early indicators of climate change impacts. As structuring species, their survival has cascading impacts on many other species, making them ecologically important, in addition to their economic value as a food source. Here, we briefly review the categories of information available on the effects of temperature change on mussels within this genus. Although a considerable body of information exists about the genus in general, knowledge gaps still exist, specifically in our ability to predict how specific populations are likely to respond to the effects of multiple stressors, both climate and non‐climate related, and how these changes are likely to result in ecosystem‐level responses. Whereas this genus provides an excellent model for exploring the effects of climate change on natural and human‐managed ecosystems, much work remains if we are to make predictions of likely impacts of environmental change on scales that are relevant to climate adaptation.
Destabilized eYFP variants for dynamic gene expression studies in Corynebacterium glutamicum
Authors: Hentschel Eva , Will Cornelia , Mustafi Nurije , Burkovski Andreas , Rehm Nadine , Frunzke Julia
Published: September 2012

Fluorescent reporter proteins are widely used for the non‐invasive monitoring of gene expression patterns, but dynamic measurements are hampered by the extremely high stability of GFP and homologue proteins. In this study, we used SsrA‐mediated peptide tagging for the construction of unstable variants of the GFP derivative eYFP (enhanced yellow fluorescent protein) and applied those for transient gene expression analysis in the industrial platform organism Corynebacterium glutamicum.
From Makeover Media to Remaking Culture: Four Directions for the Critical Study of Self‐Help Culture
Authors: McGee Micki
Published: September 2012

The popularity of self‐improvement literature has lead to an abundance of scholarly considerations of the self‐help literature and lifestyle media. This interdisciplinary review article considers the dominant trends in these discussions and suggests four new directions for fruitful inquiry: (1) investigating self‐help literature from the global South and the evolving Asian economies in cross‐cultural comparative analyses; (2) more thoroughly assessing the role of religious movements and discourses in these self‐help discourses and practices; (3) exploring more fully the impact of interactive media on self‐help practices; and (4) continued creative explorations of strategies to transform makeover culture into a broader movement to make over our culture.
Racializing Redemption, Reproducing Racism: The Odyssey of Magical Negroes and White Saviors
Authors: Hughey Matthew W.
Published: September 2012

Recent research on the intersection of race and media describes a trend of progressive, even antiracist, narratives that showcase close inter‐racial friendships and camaraderie on the silver screen. Films in which one character saves or helps another from some unholy or disastrous plight are common in films like The Green Mile (1999), Bruce Almighty (2003), Amistad (1997) and The Blind Side (2009). While these films present a stark change from the patently racist and on‐screen segregationist history of Hollywood cinema, these films often trade on racist meanings and expectations. Many of these films are what critics call “Magical Negro” or “White Savior” films – cinema in which implicit and explicit racial stereotypes are employed to structure the inter‐racial interactions where one character labors to redeem another. In comparing these two genres, this article provides an overview for how both cinematic forms reproduce racist messages by naturalizing the supposed cerebral rationality, work ethic, and paternalistic morality of select White characters while normalizing Black characters as primordially connected with nature, spiritually connected to the carnal, and possessive of exotic and magical powers. Together, these films subversively reaffirm the social order and relations of racial domination by reproducing centuries’ old understandings of racial difference.
“A Literature Review of Women and The Martial Arts: Where are We Right Now?”
Authors: Follo Giovanna
Published: September 2012

Women who participate in male dominated sports engage in sport that is framed from a gendered ideology. Sports, within this society, is identified as masculine and, as a result, values masculine characteristics. Femininity, women in particular, have been marginalized. The focus of this paper is to examine the female martial arts practitioner within a gendered society. As Title IX has enabled women to gain access to participate in sports, it has yet to fully challenge dominate gender ideology. The female martial arts practitioner not only has to battle masculine traits within the martial arts studio, but also within gendered norms. Unfortunately, the research focusing on the experience of female martial arts practitioners is limited; however, when they are examined these women are either placed in the margins or in gendered terms. Upon further examination, the female martial arts practitioner challenges the gender norm in a unique manner; she questions the male as protector and the female as victim.
Choosing to be Childfree: Research on the Decision Not to Parent
Authors: Blackstone Amy , Stewart Mahala Dyer
Published: September 2012

Decisions about whether to have or rear children, as well as perceptions of people who choose not to parent are linked to a variety of social processes and identities. We review literature from a variety of disciplines that focuses on voluntarily childless adults. Early research in this area, emerging in the 1970s, focused almost exclusively on heterosexual women and utilized a childless rather than a childfree framework. Later work saw a shift to a “childless‐by‐choice” or “childfree” framework, emphasizing that for some, not being parents is an active choice rather than an accident. While more recent research includes lesbian women and gay and heterosexual men, greater diversity within studies of adults without children is one suggested focus for future work in this area.
The Understudied Case of Black Professional Men: Advocating an Intersectional Approach
Authors: Wingfield Adia Harvey , Alston Renee Skeete
Published: September 2012

This paper considers potential new areas for sociology of work research. Specifically, we review some key studies in the sociology of work that identify the processes by which workplaces and labor markets recreate racial and gendered inequality. We then examine the ways that intersectionality theory has generated additional insights into how certain groups are disadvantaged at work. Finally, we make the case that using an intersectional approach to explore the occupational challenges, opportunities, and issues facing black professional men offers a new and important direction for research in the sociology of work.
Individual Differences in Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia and Physiological–Emotional Responses to Pictures
Authors: DelVentura Jennifer L. , Rhudy Jamie L.
Published: September 2012

Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) is the modulation of heart rate along with respiration. Individual differences in RSA reflect parasympathetic cardiac control. Low RSA is linked to emotional dysregulation, perhaps from an inability to modulate the parasympathetic nervous system to emotion. For the current study, pictures of varying emotional contents were presented to participants with low and high RSA. During some pictures, acoustic probes were delivered to elicit startle. Emotional responding was assessed from subjective and physiological reactions to pictures. Results suggested that low RSA participants exhibited attenuated cardiac orienting compared to high RSA participants. Startle, corrugator electromyogram, and subjective responses to pictures were similar across groups. Thus, differences in RSA account for differences in orienting to emotional pictures but not physiological–emotional responding.
The Effect of Temporal Framing on Behavioral Intentions, Expectations, and Behavior: The Case of Healthy Eating
Authors: Lo Siu Hing , Smith Samuel G. , Taylor Michael , Good Anna , von Wagner Christian
Published: September 2012

Temporal framing has been heralded as a promising strategy to make risks appear more proximal and concrete and thus counter temporal discounting effects that are often limiting the appeal of long‐term benefits of health behaviors. Previous research has shown that temporal framing affects behavioral intention. This study extends on this previous research by examining the effects of temporal framing on behavioral expectations—which are said to better reflect feasibility concerns than intentions—and actual behavior in the context of eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Results show that while temporal framing has effects on behavioral expectations similar to those on behavioral intentions, this effect was not significant for actual behavior.