bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nano structures via laser interference patterning for guided cell growth of neuronal cells
Authors: Bremus-Koebberling Elke A. , Beckemper Stefan , Koch Beate , Gillner Arnold
Published: July 2012

Laser interference patterning is a versatile tool for the fabrication of nano patterns. For this study, regular nano line patterns with feature sizes between 100 and 1000 nm were produced on polymers polyimide, polyetheretherketone, and polydimethylsiloxane. Cell culture experiments with B35 neuronal cells revealed the alignment of cellular extensions along nano grooves of different feature sizes. Especially, when feature depth exceeds a distinct threshold (aspect ratio > 0.6), more than 50% of cells are oriented parallel, i.e., within angles of 0°–30° to the direction of the line pattern. The presented techniques enable new materials to be processed and offer a promising approach for nerve repair in the central nervous system.
Measurement of 10Be Concentration of Modern Falling Dust in Northern China
Authors: Xian Feng , Zhou Weijian , Kong Xianghui , Jiang Jun , Wu Zhenkun , Chen Ning , Zhao Guoqing
Published: July 2012

Paleoenvironmental and paleogeomagnetic tracing studies from Chinese loess 10Be have progressed in recent years (Zhou et al. 2007a,b, 2010). In this approach, 10Be flux determined from sediment concentration and accumulation rate may be used to recover information about paleomonsoon rainfall rates as well as past variations in the geomagnetic field strength. However, these methods require that a correction be made for residual undecayed 10Be in remobilized dust. To better understand the feature of the 10Be signals related to the remobilized dust, we report the first observational study on 10Be concentration of modern falling dust using the 3MV multi-element accelerator mass spectrometer (AMS) in the Xi'an AMS Center. Ten samples collected at Ansai observation station (109°19′E, 36°51′N) in northern China from May 2008 to June 2009 are measured along with 3 chemical blanks. The results clearly show that the 10Be content of modern falling dust is relatively uniform, with a mean value of 1.21 x 108 atoms/g, a measurement similar to that of Chinese loess (Zhou et al. 2007a) and to the value found in the study by Shen et al. (2009) on dust 10Be falling near Dingbian, China (1.25 ± 0.06 x 108 atoms/g). Despite the fact that modern dust flux is much higher in spring relative to summer in northern China, 10Be concentration in falling dust remains fairly constant. In addition, we find that dust 10Be concentration is roughly independent of the local precipitation changes. This feature might be considered as an analogue to improve our understanding on the fundamental information of the source component contained in loess 10Be records and its spatial/temporal distribution features.
Translators’ Choices in Tartuffe
Authors: Senior Nancy
Published: July 2012

Selected passages from twelve English translations of Molière’s Tartuffe are studied. The passages are chosen because of questions they raise about the language of everyday life and of religion in seventeenth-century France. The translators choose the extent to which they will keep the structures and references of the original text, or adapt them for easier access by a contemporary audience. They also choose between the French tradition of a dark, menacing interpretation, and the North American one of seeking the maximum of laughs.
Nouvelles données sur l’érosion du schorre supérieur à Montmagny, moyen estuaire du Saint-Laurent
Authors: Dionne Jean-Claude , Bouchard Marie-Claude
Published: July 2012

À Montmagny, le schorre supérieur est en voie d'érosion depuis au moins le début de la décennie de 1980. Entre 1984 et 1986, la micro-falaise a reculé à un taux moyen de 129 cm par année sur l'ensemble du secteur étudié (environ 4 km). Les mesures effectuées au même endroit, entre 1996 et 1999, indiquent une augmentation du taux d'érosion et de l'aire touchée. La micro-falaise recule maintenant à un taux moyen de 168 cm par année. Comme plus de la moitié du recul se produit au cours de la période interglacielle, les vagues et les courants de marée constituent le principal agent responsable. Toutefois, l'érosion est accentuée par l'activité intensive des oies sur la batture, au printemps et à l'automne. Les glaces, qui arrachent de grands radeaux de végétation sur le rebord externe du schorre supérieur, contribuent pour environ 25 à 30 % de l'érosion totale. Par ailleurs, le dégel ameublit les matériaux limono-sableux de la micro-falaise et la rend ainsi vulnérable à l'activité des vagues à marée haute. En période de vive eau, la micro- falaise est exposée aux vagues pendant environ six heures par jour.
Paléoécologie de la tourbière du lac Malbaie, dans le massif des Laurentides (Québec) : évaluation du rôle du climat sur l’accumulation de la tourbe
Authors: Lavoie Martin , Richard Pierre J.H.
Published: July 2012

Des analyses microfossiles (pollen, rhizopodes, charbons de bois) et des macrorestes végétaux ont été réalisées sur trois profils d'une tourbière du massif des Laurentides, au Québec. Les objectifs sont de reconstituer la succession de la végétation locale et les conditions hydrologiques qui ont présidé à l'accumulation de la tourbe en trois points d'échantillonnage, afin d'en inférer certaines conditions du climat, notamment sous l'angle du régime hydrique. Des conditions hydrologiques locales contrastées se sont établies entre les différents secteurs de la tourbière durant son développement. Sauf au cours de l'Holocène supérieur, les analyses paléobotaniques n'ont pas révélé d'influences hydriques claires de nature climatique sur l'accumulation de la tourbe. Le dépôt des premiers sédiments organiques a débuté au sein d'un petit étang vers 10 300 ans BP (années étalonnées) dans un environnement de toundra arbustive, plus de 2000 ans après le retrait régional des glaces. À l'Holocène inférieur, après des conditions climatiques initiales rigoureuses, l'augmentation des températures semble avoir été déterminante sur la productivité végétale et sur la dynamique de l'entourbement. De 8000 jusque vers 3000 ans BP, un ralentissement généralisé du rythme de l'accumulation sédimentaire s'est produit dans l'ensemble de la tourbière. Il est attribué en partie à une décomposition anaérobique par des cyanobactéries fixatrices d'azote. Une importante reprise de l'entourbement vertical est survenue au cours des trois derniers millénaires, sans doute en réponse à l'établissement de conditions climatiques plus fraîches et plus humides.
Little Ice Age history of Tzeetsaytsul Glacier, Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, British Columbia
Authors: Smith Dan J. , Desloges Joseph R.
Published: July 2012

This paper describes licheno- metric and dendroglaciological investigations of Little Ice Age (LIA) deposits at Tzeetsaytsul Glacier, Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, British Columbia. The glacier originates from an ice- field on the northeast flank of Tzeetsaytsul Peak and terminates in a moraine-dammed lake. A stream draining the lake has incised the moraine dam and flows through nested moraines into a second lake. Two end moraines near the lower lake record separate advances, with numerous morainic ridges found between the two lakes. A locally calibrated Rhizocarpon geographicum growth curve was constructed and provides relative ages for all the moraines. Absolute dates from wood fragments collected from within the morainic debris were determined by matching their annual growth ring patterns to a local Abies lasiocarpa tree-ring chronology. The outermost terminal moraine was deposited by a 17th century advance that culminated in ca. 1700. Following subsequent recession, Tzeetsaytsul Glacier readvanced to build a second terminal moraine by the mid-1800s. Recession of this glacier occurred within 40 years and by 1935 the glacier was beginning to calve into the uppermost lake. The research shows that the most recent LIA advance of Tzeetsaytsul Glacier was not the most extensive, and that multiple events characterized the late-LIA. Application of the Rhizocarpon growth curve indicates a previously unreported 17th century advance at other glaciers in the region. These findings serve to reinforce the synchroneity of late-LIA glacier fluctuations within the coastal cordillera of NW North America suggesting that they record regional climate forcing.
Dis-moi comment tu filmes — et comment tu montes — tes dialogues et je te dirai quel genre de film tu réalises
Authors: Baetens Jan
Published: July 2012

Le présent article se propose d’analyser le jeu dutwo-shotet du champ-contrechamp dans une scène dialoguée tirée des quatre films suivants :It Happened One Night,Bringing Up Baby,OrlandoetThe Color Purple. Son propos est triple : montrer que la manière de filmer un dialogue peut ne pas se réduire à l’enchaînement traditionnel « two-shot+ champ-contrechamp » ; indiquer que l’interprétation traditionnelle de ces deux types de plans que proposent les théoriciens du montage invisible (two-shot= plan d’ensemble ouestablishing shot, champ-contrechamp = action) est parfois insuffisante ; suggérer, essentiellement à des fins didactiques, que le dialogue filmé peut fonctionner, surtout dans la perspective d’une didactique de l’analyse du cinéma, comme une sorte de modèle réduit du film qui l’incorpore.
Divine Words, Cramped Actions: Walter Benjamin ― an Unlikely Icon in Translation Studies
Authors: Sanders Janet
Published: July 2012

For the last half century Walter Benjamin has had almost legendary status in the world of translation studies. Scholars have been fascinated by the ideas in The Task of the Translator, but almost none has looked at how—or even whether—Benjamin actualized his philosophy, either in his own practice of translation or in his criticism of translations by others. This is the purpose of the present article.
Le concept de « développement professionnel » en enseignement : approches théoriques
Authors: Uwamariya Angélique , Mukamurera Joséphine
Published: July 2012

Appliqué au domaine de l’enseignement, le concept de développement professionnel est généralement flou et prend divers sens suivant les théories en présence. Les chercheurs ne s’entendent pas sur l’appellation, le contenu et les limites des étapes du développement professionnel. S’agit-il d’une simple traversée de stades successifs, valable pour tous ? S’agit-il d’un acquis assuré automatiquement par l’évolution personnelle ou l’approche basée sur le soutien externe ? S’agit-il d’un phénomène dynamique qui se réalise dans un contexte bien particulier, en fonction des défis auxquels l’enseignant fait face durant toute sa carrière ? Dans ce texte, nous entendons contribuer à clarifier le concept et le domaine du développement professionnel en enseignement dans deux perspectives théoriques : la perspective développementale et la perspective de la professionnalisation.
Five-Year Growth of Rock Lichens in a Low-Arctic Mountain Environment, Northern Labrador
Authors: Rogerson R. J. , Evans D. J. A. , McCoy W. D.
Published: July 2012

In 1978, three lichen growth stations were established for Rhizocarpon section Rhizocarpon species and one for Alectoria miniscula in the Cirque Mountain area of the Torngat mountains. Five years later, in 1983, the lichens were remeasured. The five-year growth represented by the change in the theoretical diameter is very variable, between 0.10 and 0.54 mm per year. These rates are larger than expected and exceed rates previously determined for an eastern Arctic area, the Northern Cumberland Peninsula of Baffin Island, by more than 3 to more than 20 times. Similar rates are known for 'great period' growth outside Arctic regions. If the growth rates represent long-term growth, the ages of recessional moraines in the Torngat Mountains should be recalculated. Moraines formerly described as Late Wisconsin to mid-Holocene may be of Neoglacial age. Variability of growth rates from one individual to another precludes using these data for constructing growth curves which may be used, even locally, in lichenometric dating.
Écriture mineure et expérience minoritaire : la rhétorique du quotidien chez Patrice Desbiens
Authors: Lasserre Élizabeth
Published: July 2012

Pour le poète franco-ontarien qu'est Patrice Desbiens, le quotidien est une notion à la fois centrale et problématique. Centrale parce qu'elle affecte tous les aspects de son écriture, tant dans la forme que dans le contenu ; problématique parce qu'elle est fondamentalement ambivalente, défendant et dénonçant à la fois la condition de minoritaire. À travers le fonctionnement de certains aspects du texte (représentation du quotidien, cercle énonciatif, langue) l'étude tente de démont(r)er cette « rhétorique du quotiden ».
Translating Culture: Reading the Paratexts to Aimé Césaire’s Cahier d’un retour au pays natal
Authors: Watts Richard
Published: July 2012

Translating Culture: Reading the Paratexts to Aimé Césaire's Cahier d'un retour au pays natal — This article is concerned not with the linguistic translation of a Caribbean text, but with its cultural translation. It presents the argument that the paratexts to the multiple editions of Aimé Césaire's Cahier d'un retour au pays natal fonction principally as instruments of cultural translation. It also describes how the transfigurations of the Cahier's paratext over time and across cultures serve as markers for the changing epistemes of "Caribbean culture" and "Francophone Caribbean Literature."
La compassion comme valeur romanesque : l’exemple de Marie-Claire Blais
Authors: Biron Michel
Published: July 2012

Cet article propose une lecture comparée des romans Une saison dans la vie d’Emmanuel (1965) et Soifs (1995) de Marie-Claire Blais. Autant le premier est marqué par l’ironie et le rire du personnage de Jean Le Maigre, autant le second se caractérise par une compassion généralisée à l’égard de personnages qui ont en commun d’être des marginaux. La compassion devient une valeur romanesque non pas seulement comme thème, mais aussi comme principe de composition. Au-delà du seul cas de Marie-Claire Blais, un tel déplacement paraît symptomatique d’un changement plus général qui tient à la fonction réparatrice ou rédemptrice que le romancier contemporain assume de plus en plus ouvertement.
Les Premières Nations et la Guerre de la Conquête (1754-1765)
Authors: Delâge Denys
Published: July 2012

Comment désigner cette guerre en Amérique opposant Français, Amérindiens, Britanniques de 1754 à 1765 ? Guerre de Sept Ans (1756-1763) selon sa durée en europe ? French indian War du point de vue des Britanniques ? Guerre de la Conquête selon celui des Canadiens ? Quelle période ? Les guerriers des Premières Nations ont combattu pour la défense de leurs pays contre l’invasion européenne de 1754 à 1765, c’est-à-dire, après la défaite française, encore cinq ans sous le leadership de Pontiac.

Au cours du conflit, la majorité des nations se sont rangées du côté des Français jugés moins menaçants et capables de les soutenir. Les tensions furent néanmoins nombreuses entre alliés. Pour vaincre les Français dont la force tenait à leur alliance avec les Amérindiens, les Britanniques ont travaillé avec succès à briser celle-ci. La participation amérindienne à cette guerre fut majeure : raids de frontières, petite guerre, embuscades, rôles d’éclaireurs et d’espions. Les guerriers ont toujours refusé leur intégration dans les troupes et la manière européenne de faire la guerre. ils ont été 1200 à 1800 à défendre Québec en 1759. Les sources distinguent régulièrement troupes régulières d’une part et, de l’autre, « Canadiens et Sauvages ». Les Canadiens ont combattu l’envahisseur avec la dernière énergie. Une identité canadienne a émergé et la proximité physique et culturelle avec les Amérindiens en constitue un trait certain. Cela fut source de tensions pour les conquis placés dans l’œil du vainqueur dont la tradition était celle de l’apartheid, non pas du métissage. enfin, si les Canadiens furent conquis, les Amérindiens ne le furent pas, cependant leur position dans le rapport de force s’en trouva grandement affaiblie.
Putting Pleasure First: Localizing Japanese Video Games
Authors: O’Hagan Minako
Published: July 2012

Since their humble beginnings, video games have undergone huge technological advances,
becoming a significant global industry today and highlighting the role played by translation
and localization. Despite the continuing localization activities undertaken in the industry,
translation studies (TS) have not paid much attention to video games as a research domain.
Drawing on the author’s previous work on the Japanese Role Playing Game (RPG) Final Fantasy titles, this paper attempts to demonstrate the
ample research scope that this domain presents for TS scholars. In particular, it discusses
the unique localization model used by Final
Fantasy’s Japanese publisher, illustrating how the games’ new digital platform
allows the (re)creation of a new gameplaying pleasure directly through the localization
process itself. In this model, the original game merely sets off a chain of improvements
through localization. In turn, understanding the different pleasures drawn from different
localized versions of games will contribute useful insights into emerging games
research.
Spectacles douloureux, exhibitions malsaines. Présentations et représentations de la mort à Paris au xixe siècle
Authors: Désile Patrick
Published: July 2012

Tenant pour acquis que le thème central du cinéma d’horreur est la mort, l’auteur s’interroge sur le contexte de son émergence en examinant (dans les limites du domaine français) des spectacles qui lui sont antérieurs et dont la mort était l’objet. Le xixe siècle a connu, à côté d’innombrables représentations, des spectacles de présentation de la mort. L’exposition publique à la Morgue et les exécutions capitales étaient offertes à une large fréquentation ; des récits accompagnaient ces visions. Mais le cinéma d’horreur ne constitue pas pour autant leur prolongement par d’autres moyens. L’auteur expose en effet un processus plus complexe. Le regard sur la mort change au cours du siècle. À partir des années 1870 s’amorce un processus d’occultation. L’exposition à la Morgue cesse en 1907 ; l’abolition de la peine de mort est envisagée en 1908. Pourtant, dans le même temps, le cinéma montre des scènes d’exécutions. Quand les décapitations, un temps suspendues, reprennent spectaculairement en 1909, elles sont, semble-t-il, filmées. Mais toute projection de scène d’exécution est aussitôt interdite : c’est la naissance de la censure cinématographique en France. Le spectacle de la décapitation réelle est dès lors tabou au cinéma. C’est qu’il peut être considéré comme spectacle de l’horreur par excellence, pour plusieurs raisons que l’examen de l’imaginaire de la décapitation fait apparaître.
Le « bouleversement intime »
Authors: Gallichan Gilles
Published: July 2012

La défaite de la France devant l’Allemagne nazie en juin 1940 a provoqué un choc douloureux au Québec. L’Église catholique a voulu rappeler à ses ﬁdèles les « péchés » de la France républicaine et laïque, quelques esprits étroits se sont réjouit du fait que la Grande-Bretagne serait désormais la cible d’Hitler, mais, surtout, la très grande majorité des Québécois ont été atterrés en apprenant cette nouvelle. Les malheurs de la France ont été ressentis avec une empathie particulière qui traduisait les liens profonds unissant les deux peuples, malgré une séparation ofﬁcielle de 175 ans. Les Québécois ont réagi comme si la chute de la vieille France réactualisait celle de la Nouvelle-France ; une capitulation ancienne, mais toujours rivée dans la mémoire collective. Cet article résume les circonstances et les principaux événements ayant entouré les premiers mois de guerre et l’invasion allemande de mai et juin 1940.
Observations sur les caractéristiques physiques du couvert de neige et sur le régime thermique du sol à Poste-de-la-Baleine, Nouveau-Québec
Authors: Filion Louise , Payette Serge
Published: July 2012

Les auteurs présentent des observations effectuées sur les caractéristiques physiques du couvert de neige (hiver 1973-1974) et le régime thermique du sol (automne 1973 — été 1975) à Poste-de-la-Baleine, Nouveau-Québec. En milieu ouvert, le couvert de neige est plus dense qu’en milieu forestier. Cette caractéristique conditionne l’efficacité de son pouvoir isolant. En forêt, le pouvoir isolant du couvert de neige est relativement élevé; de la surface de la neige à la base du profil, s’établit un gradient marqué que traduisent une augmentation de la température et de la densité du couvert de neige, de même que l’accroissement de la taille des particules. Le gradient est le plus fort en janvier; il est faible ou nul l’automne et au moment de la fonte printanière. Les courbes permettant de caractériser le régime thermique du sol sous un couvert forestier démontrent que le refroidissement du sol est un processus plus lent que son réchauffement. La température enregistrée sous la couronne d’un arbre à 7 cm de la surface est nettement inférieure à celle enregistrée dans une ouverture de la forêt; elle démontre l’effet de l’interception des rayons solaires et de la neige par le feuillage sur le régime thermique du sol.
Farmers, Phantoms and Princes. The Canadian Pacific Railway and Filmmaking from 1899-1919
Authors: Eamon Greg
Published: July 2012

The development of motion pictures coincided with the development of active publicity campaigns by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company. It did not take the CPR long to realize the potential of the new medium and capitalize on the public's fascination with train and motion. In order to encoutage immigration and settlement to western Canada, the company developed an extensive system of promotion which included the use of films. CPR filmmaking fell broadly into two categories, those which were designed with a specific intent to educate, inform and persuade and those which were primarily intended as entertainment. If CPR did not define the type of filmmaking rathet it facilitated the production of contemporary appeal.
Cinéma ambulant et implantation urbaine : l’activité de William Shaw dans le contexte des Cantons-de-l’Est
Authors: Véronneau Pierre
Published: July 2012

Le projectionniste ambulant William Shaw, qui a sillonné pendant plus de 30 ans la région des Cantons-de-l’Est, devient dans cette étude le riche cas d’espèce d’une étude plus large des projections ambulantes et des rapports entre le monde rural et urbain autour du cinéma des premiers temps. La ville est alors un lieu de sédentarisation pour les exploitants et un lieu d’arrêt pour les projectionnistes ambulants, tandis que la foire agricole joue le rôle d’interface entre la ville et la campagne et devient le lieu de rencontre privilégié avec le cinéma. Au cours de l’histoire, les projections ambulantes développent des pratiques particulières de plus en plus en décalage avec les pratiques urbaines. Le cas le plus flagrant est la permanence de la projection muette alors que le cinéma devient parlant.
Analyse des perceptions du soutien d’un enseignant associé à la formation du stagiaire
Authors: Portelance Liliane
Published: July 2012

La recherche a pour objet l’apport du formateur de terrain, nommé l’enseignant associé, à la formation du stagiaire en enseignement. Autant selon la littérature scientifique que selon les documents ministériels québécois, les attentes à l’égard de l’enseignant associé sont élevées. Le texte présente une analyse de cas. Il contient l’examen des propos d’un enseignant associé au sujet de son rôle en période de renouveau pédagogique au secondaire ainsi que de la perception qu’il a de son apport à la formation de son stagiaire. Les perceptions du stagiaire sont également analysées. L’analyse des données recueillies au moyen d’entrevues individuelles semi-structurées met en évidence une faible concordance entre les perceptions des deux partenaires de la dyade. L’interprétation de ce résultat n’est pas univoque. Elle laisse libre cours à de nombreuses interrogations sur la dynamique relationnelle au sein de la dyade. Elle comprend également un questionnement sur l’utilisation de l’entretien comme outil d’investigation portant sur des objets mentaux que sont les représentations et les perceptions. La valeur des propos des acteurs est toutefois affirmée comme représentant un moyen valable d’analyser en profondeur une situation ou un phénomène, et ce, en empruntant le regard des participants à la recherche.
Effets des variations des températures saisonnières sur les modifications des phosphates dans des eaux usées
Authors: Narasiah S. , Shoiry J. , Morasse C.
Published: July 2012

Le phosphore est l'élément responsable de l'eutrophisation des lacs et des cours d'eau. Ainsi, il faudrait prendre les précautions nécessaires pour que la concentration maximale de phosphate total dans l'effluent des usines d'épuration soit 1 mg/l. On sait que l'élimination biologique du phosphore peut conduire à une réduction des phosphates totaux d'environ 40 %. Ici les facteurs comme la température de l'eau et de l'air ambiant peuvent influencer les divers processus de modification des phosphates. La présente étude évalue l'importance de ces paramètres sur les modifications telles que l'orthophosphate filtrable et le phosphate total. Les résultats obtenus sont utilisés pour définir les rapports entre les diverses modifications à l'aide de modèles mathématiques simples et utilisables dans la pratique.
Critères de « scientificité » de la recherche-action
Authors: Morin André
Published: July 2012

À partir de caractéristiques de la recherche expérimentale et de la recherche ethnographique, l’objectif de cette étude consiste non à opposer deux tendances, mais à les mettre en relation. On verra ainsi surgir des critères autonomes de la recherche-action qui permettront de porter des jugements d’appréciation sur des points fondamentaux comme le but, les valeurs, le contexte, le schème opérationnel. Cette réflexion propose d’envisager la science de façon analogique pour favoriser la production d’un savoir pratique.
Stereophotogrammetry of the perineum during vaginal delivery
Authors: Zemčík Robert , Karbanova Jaroslava , Kalis Vladimir , Lobovský Libor , Jansová Magdalena , Rusavy Zdenek
Published: July 2012

Objective

To analyze deformation of the perineum during normal vaginal delivery in order to identify clinical steps that might be beneficial when executing manual perineal protection.

Methods

The present prospective study at Charles University Hospital, Pilsen, Czech Republic, enrolled 10 primiparous women at term undergoing non‐instrumental vaginal delivery assisted by the same obstetrician between September 2009 and September 2010. A modified hands‐poised technique performed concurrently with stereophotogrammetry was used to analyze and quantify perineal deformation and strain at the final stage of delivery.

Results

The highest tissue strain (mean, 177%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 106.3–248.5) was in a transverse direction and occurred at the level of the fourchette (i.e. 1 cm was transversely stretched and deformed to 2.77 cm during the final stage of vaginal delivery). This strain was more than 4 times higher than the maximum anteroposterior strain (mean, 43%; 95% CI, 28.6–57.4).

Conclusion

On the basis of these stereophotogrammetry data, a technique of perineal protection executed by fingers of the posterior (right) hand can be proposed. Further experimental and clinical studies are needed to evaluate whether this technique might assist in reducing obstetric perineal trauma.
Spontaneous fetal reduction and early pregnancy complications in multiple pregnancies following in vitro fertilization
Authors: Oloyede Olufemi A. , Iketubosin Faye , Bamgbopa Kehinde
Published: July 2012

Objective

To determine the incidence of spontaneous pregnancy reduction and early pregnancy complications among multiple pregnancies conceived via in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Methods

Spontaneous pregnancy reduction was assessed among multiple pregnancies conceived after IVF treatment in a private assisted reproduction center in Lagos, Nigeria, between January 2008, and June 2011. The pregnancies were diagnosed at 6–8 weeks of gestation by ultrasound scan, which was repeated at 11–14 weeks to determine the incidence of spontaneous reduction.

Results

The incidence of multiple pregnancies was 35.2%. There were 11 (20.0%) twin, 6 triplet (10.5%), and 2 quintuplet (3.6%) pregnancies. Spontaneous reduction occurred in 9 (47.7%) of these pregnancies, including 15.8% of twins, 21% of triplets, and 10.5% of quintuplets. Spontaneous reduction was significant among triplets and quintuplets (P < 0.05). Six women (31.5%) older than 36 years had spontaneous reduction (P < 0.05). Vaginal bleeding occurred in 3 (15.5%) women, 2 (66.7%) of whom had spontaneous abortion. In all instances of monochorionic placentation, spontaneous reduction resulted in spontaneous abortion.

Conclusion

The incidence of spontaneous reduction among multiple pregnancies conceived after IVF was high. Vaginal bleeding was a warning sign of eventual abortion. Early pregnancy complications were fewer among pregnancies with dichorionic and trichorionic placentation.
KORA-Studie: Ergebnisse aus 20 Jahren Gesundheitsforschung in Augsburg
Authors: Kirchberger Inge , Meisinger Christa
Published: July 2012

Einleitung

KORA (Kooperative Gesundheitsforschung in der Region Augsburg) ist eine seit 1996 bestehende Forschungsplattform für bevölkerungsbezogene Gesundheitssurveys. Das Spektrum der Studien, die auf den KORA Daten basierend durchgeführt wurden, reicht von bevölkerungsbezogenen epidemiologischen Datenanalysen z.B. zu Herzinfarkt und Diabetes mellitus, über Studien zur Identifikation von Risikofaktoren einschließlich Risikomarkern und genetischen Faktoren, bis hin zu Studien zur Versorgungsforschung.
Variations in amenable mortality: a comparison of sixteen high-income nations
Authors: Nolte Ellen , McKee Martin
Published: July 2012

There has been growing interest in the comparison of health system performance within and between countries. Yet, identifying practical and understandable ways to make these comparisons remains challenging. Health systems are complex, with multiple functions, so any framework must use a range of indicators to capture their different aspects. A fundamental issue relates to how to attribute population health outcomes to activities in the health system. Amenable mortality has been suggested as one way to address this.
Wie werden ambulant behandelte Tumorpatienten zuhause versorgt? Eine versorgungsepidemiologische Studie
Authors: Räbiger Jutta , Kies Sabine
Published: July 2012

Einleitung

Chemo- und Strahlentherapie sind mit z.T. erheblichen Nebenwirkungen für die ohnehin belasteten Tumorpatienten verbunden. Das hier vorgestellte Forschungsprojekt ist der Frage nachgegangen, welche Versorgungsbedarfe onkologische Patienten entwickeln, die ambulant eine Chemo- und /oder Strahlentherapie erhalten, und wie die Patienten zuhause versorgt werden. Wenige Patienten (20%) erhalten eine professionelle Behandlungspflege, die Mehrzahl wird (nur) von Angehörigen, Nachbarn oder Freunden versorgt. Die Versorgungssituation scheint insb. für ältere Menschen unzureichend zu sein, die allein leben bzw. deren Partner selbst hilfsbedürftig ist.
What really happened with pneumonia mortality in Finland in 2000–2008?: a cohort study
Authors: MANDERBACKA K. , ARFFMAN M. , LYYTIKÄINEN O. , SAJANTILA A. , KESKIMÄKI I.
Published: July 2012

This cohort study examines trends in pneumonia mortality in Finland and the effects of a WHO recommendation restricting the registering of pneumonia as the underlying cause of death (COD) for several chronic diseases. All cases having pneumonia in any COD fields in 2000–2008 were extracted from the COD statistics. We examined trends in underlying-cause pneumonia mortality where pneumonia was also the immediate COD. Results are presented as age-specific and age-standardized rates. In the study period 2000–2008, there were 90 626 deaths with pneumonia in COD fields, while the underlying-cause pneumonia mortality rate decreased from 32 to 6/100 000 person-years. Immediate-cause pneumonia was less often chosen as underlying-cause towards 2008 suggesting an effect from changing coding practices. Changes in coding practices need to be considered when comparing different countries or time periods in pneumonia mortality.
Sperm-mediated gene transfer: effect on bovine in vitro embryo production
Authors: Simões Renata , Nicacio Alessandra Corallo , Binelli Mario , de Paula-Lopes Fabiola Freitas , Milazzotto Marcella Pecora , Visintin José Antonio , D'Ávila Assumpção Mayra Elena Ortiz
Published: July 2012

The technique of sperm-mediated gene transfer (SMGT) can be used to delivery exogenous DNA into the oocyte. However, it has low repeatability and produces inconsistent results. In order to optimize this technique, it is necessary to study the mechanism by which DNA enters the sperm cell and integrates in the sperm genome. Furthermore, studies must focus in the maintenance of sperm cell viability and function. The aim of this study was to evaluate different SMGT protocols of sperm electroporation or capacitation (CaI) aiming to maintain sperm viability in the production of bovine embryos in vitro. Frozen–thawed semen was divided in two experimental groups (electroporation or CaI) and one control group (non-treated cells). For the electroporation method, five different voltages (100, 500, 750, 1000 or 1500 V) with 25 μF capacitance were used. For CaI treatment, combinations of two CaI concentrations (250 nM or 500 nM), two incubation periods of sperm cells with CaI (1 or 5 min) and two incubation periods that mimicked time of sperm cell interaction with exogenous DNA molecules (1 or 2 h) were evaluated. According to our data, electroporation and CaI treatments do not prevent sperm penetration and oocyte fertilization and can be an alternative method to achieve satisfactory DNA delivery in SMGT protocols.
What's in a word?
Authors: Dale Brian
Published: July 2012

To mark the 20th edition of Zygote I felt it appropriate to include this paper by Professor Herranz from Spain on the origin of the words zygote, gamete and embryo. On reading this manuscript it came as little surprise to me that over the years the passage of information has distorted the origin of these terms and assigned merit to other more popular authors. Professor Herranz has painstakingly reviewed the literature, using both the Internet and hard copies, to get to the bottom of this argument, and in doing so has raised two questions of fundamental importance to science, the misappropriation of ideas and the incorrect use of biological definitions.
Priority setting in health care: from arbitrariness to societal values
Authors: BATIFOULIER PHILIPPE , BRADDOCK LOUISE , LATSIS JOHN
Published: July 2012

This paper develops an account of the normative basis of priority setting in health care as combining the values which a given society holds for the common good of its members, with the universal provided by a principle of common humanity. We discuss national differences in health basket in Europe and argue that health care decision-making in complex social and moral frameworks is best thought of as anchored in such a principle by drawing on the philosophy of need. We show that health care needs are ethically ‘thick’ needs whose psychological and social construction can best be understood in terms of David Wiggins's notion of vital need: a person's need is vital when failure to meet it leads to their harm and suffering. The moral dimension of priority setting which operates across different societies’ health care systems is located in the demands both of and on any society to avoid harm to its members.
REVISION REVISITED
Authors: HORSTEN LEON , LEIGH GRAHAM E. , LEITGEB HANNES , WELCH PHILIP
Published: July 2012

This article explores ways in which the Revision Theory of Truth can be expressed in the object language. In particular, we investigate the extent to which semantic deficiency, stable truth, and nearly stable truth can be so expressed, and we study different axiomatic systems for the Revision Theory of Truth.
Civil–military relations in natural disasters: a case study of the 2010 Pakistan floods
Authors: Madiwale Ajay , Virk Kudrat
Published: July 2012

In 2010, Pakistan was struck by devastating floods, the latest in a series of disasters to strike the country in recent years. As it had during the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, the Pakistan military played a significant operational and co-ordination role in the humanitarian response that followed. Its role raised important questions about civil–military relations between humanitarian actors and national (as opposed to international) militaries. This article looks at the interaction between the humanitarian community and the Pakistan military in responding to the 2010 floods in order to identify key successes and challenges. It also highlights a number of issues that emerged in the context of Pakistan but that may also be relevant to civil–military relations – particularly between the humanitarian community and the national military of an affected state – in other natural disaster and complex emergency settings.
A probabilistic model for the identification of confinement regimes and edge localized mode behavior, with implications to scaling laws
Authors: Verdoolaege Geert , Van Oost Guido
Published: July 2012

Pattern recognition is becoming an important tool in fusion data analysis. However, fusion diagnostic measurements are often affected by considerable statistical uncertainties, rendering the extraction of useful patterns a significant challenge. Therefore, we assume a probabilistic model for the data and perform pattern recognition in the space of probability distributions. We show the considerable advantage of our method for identifying confinement regimes and edge localized mode behavior, and we discuss the potential for scaling laws.
A compact multichannel spectrometer for Thomson scattering
Authors: Schoenbeck N. L. , Schlossberg D. J. , Dowd A. S. , Fonck R. J. , Winz G. R.
Published: July 2012

The availability of high-efficiency volume phase holographic (VPH) gratings and intensified CCD (ICCD) cameras have motivated a simplified, compact spectrometer for Thomson scattering detection. Measurements of Te < 100 eV are achieved by a 2971 l/mm VPH grating and measurements Te > 100 eV by a 2072 l/mm VPH grating. The spectrometer uses a fast-gated (∼2 ns) ICCD camera for detection. A Gen III image intensifier provides ∼45% quantum efficiency in the visible region. The total read noise of the image is reduced by on-chip binning of the CCD to match the 8 spatial channels and the 10 spectral bins on the camera. Three spectrometers provide a minimum of 12 spatial channels and 12 channels for background subtraction.
2D full wave modeling for a synthetic Doppler backscattering diagnostic
Authors: Hillesheim J. C. , Holland C. , Schmitz L. , Kubota S. , Rhodes T. L. , Carter T. A.
Published: July 2012

Doppler backscattering (DBS) is a plasma diagnostic used in tokamaks and other magnetic confinement devices to measure the fluctuation level of intermediate wavenumber (kθρs ∼ 1) density fluctuations and the lab frame propagation velocity of turbulence. Here, a synthetic DBS diagnostic is described, which has been used for comparisons between measurements in the DIII-D tokamak and predictions from nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations. To estimate the wavenumber range to which a Gaussian beam would be sensitive, a ray tracing code and a 2D finite difference, time domain full wave code are used. Experimental density profiles and magnetic geometry are used along with the experimental antenna and beam characteristics. An example of the effect of the synthetic diagnostic on the output of a nonlinear gyrokinetic simulation is presented.
Molecular modeling of mechanical stresses on proteins in glassy matrices: Formalism
Authors: Hatch Harold W. , Debenedetti Pablo G.
Published: July 2012

We present an expression for the calculation of microscopic stresses in molecular simulation, which is compatible with the use of electrostatic lattice sums such as the Ewald sum, with the presence of many-body interactions, and which allows local stresses to be calculated on surfaces of arbitrarily complex shape. The ultimate goal of this work is to investigate microscopic stresses on proteins in glassy matrices, which are used in the pharmaceutical industry for the long-term storage and stabilization of labile biomolecules. We demonstrate the formalism's usefulness through selected results on ubiquitin and an α-keratin fragment, in liquid and glassy states. We find that atomic-level normal stresses on hydrophilic side-chains exhibit a similar fingerprint in both proteins, and protein-level normal stresses increase upon vitrification. Both proteins experience compressive stresses of the order of 102 bar in the glassy state.
Counterion adsorption theory of dilute polyelectrolyte solutions: Apparent molecular weight, second virial coefficient, and intermolecular structure factor
Authors: Muthukumar M.
Published: July 2012

Polyelectrolyte chains are well known to be strongly correlated even in extremely dilute solutions in the absence of additional strong electrolytes. Such correlations result in severe difficulties in interpreting light scattering measurements in the determination of the molecular weight, radius of gyration, and the second virial coefficient of charged macromolecules at lower ionic strengths from added strong electrolytes. By accounting for charge-regularization of the polyelectrolyte by the counterions, we present a theory of the apparent molecular weight, second virial coefficient, and the intermolecular structure factor in dilute polyelectrolyte solutions in terms of concentrations of the polymer and the added strong electrolyte. The counterion adsorption of the polyelectrolyte chains to differing levels at different concentrations of the strong electrolyte can lead to even an order of magnitude discrepancy in the molecular weight inferred from light scattering measurements. Based on counterion-mediated charge regularization, the second virial coefficient of the polyelectrolyte and the interchain structure factor are derived self-consistently. The effect of the interchain correlations, dominating at lower salt concentrations, on the inference of the radius of gyration and on molecular weight is derived. Conditions for the onset of nonmonotonic scattering wave vector dependence of scattered intensity upon lowering the electrolyte concentration and interpretation of the apparent radius of gyration are derived in terms of the counterion adsorption mechanism.
Photoracemization and excited state relaxation through non-adiabatic pathways in chromium (III) oxalate ions
Authors: Żurek Justyna M. , Paterson Martin J.
Published: July 2012

Computational studies on the photochemistry of the open-shell chromium oxalate [Cr(C2O4)3]3− ion, including its non-adiabatic relaxation pathways, have been performed. The presence of the peaked conical intersection of a quasi-Jahn-Teller type, connecting the 4T state with 4A2 ground state, accounts for the observed photoinduced racemization. This involves the rupture of one of the Cr–O bonds and the complex forms an unstable trigonal bipyramid form that connects both ground state stereoisomers with the excited quartet manifold. Intersystem crossing seams have been located between the 4T and lower lying 2E state which can quench the quartet reaction and lead to 2E → 4A2 emission.
On the use of Fourier averages to compute the global isochrons of (quasi)periodic dynamics
Authors: Mauroy A. , Mezić I.
Published: July 2012

The concept of isochrons is crucial for the analysis of asymptotically periodic systems. Roughly, isochrons are sets of points that partition the basin of attraction of a limit cycle according to the asymptotic behavior of the trajectories. The computation of global isochrons (in the whole basin of attraction) is however difficult, and the existing methods are inefficient in high-dimensional spaces. In this context, we present a novel (forward integration) algorithm for computing the global isochrons of high-dimensional dynamics, which is based on the notion of Fourier time averages evaluated along the trajectories. Such Fourier averages in fact produce eigenfunctions of the Koopman semigroup associated with the system, and isochrons are obtained as level sets of those eigenfunctions. The method is supported by theoretical results and validated by several examples of increasing complexity, including the 4-dimensional Hodgkin-Huxley model. In addition, the framework is naturally extended to the study of quasiperiodic systems and motivates the definition of generalized isochrons of the torus. This situation is illustrated in the case of two coupled Van der Pol oscillators.
Probing the three-dimensional strain inhomogeneity and equilibrium elastic properties of single crystal Ni nanowires
Authors: Fohtung E. , Kim J. W. , Chan Keith T. , Harder Ross , Fullerton Eric E. , Shpyrko O. G.
Published: July 2012

We employ three dimensional x-ray coherent diffraction imaging to map the lattice strain distribution, and to probe the elastic properties of a single crystalline Ni (001) nanowire grown vertically on an amorphous SiO2∥Si substrate. The reconstructed density maps show that with increasing wire width, the equilibrium compressive stress in the core region decreases sharply while the surface tensile strain increases, and gradually trends to a nonzero constant. We use the retrieved projection of lattice distortion to predict the Young’s Modulus of the wire based on the elasticity theory.
Fast switchable grating based on orthogonal photo alignments of ferroelectric liquid crystals
Authors: Srivastava A. K. , Hu Wei , Chigrinov V. G. , Kiselev A. D. , Lu Yan-Qing
Published: July 2012

We demonstrate a fast switchable grating based on ferroelectric liquid crystals and orthogonal planar alignment by means of photo alignments. Both 1D and 2D gratings have been constructed. The proposed diffracting element provides fast response time of around 20 μs, contrast of 7000:1 and high diffraction efficiency, at the electric field of 6 V/μm. The saturated electro-optical (EO) states up to very high frequency (≈5 kHz) are the real advantage of the proposed switchable grating, which opens several opportunities to improve the quality of existing devices and to find new applications.
On the link between electroluminescence, gate current leakage, and surface defects in AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors upon off-state stress
Authors: Montes Bajo M. , Hodges C. , Uren M. J. , Kuball M.
Published: July 2012

The degradation of AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors after off-state stress is studied by means of electroluminescence (EL) analysis, gate leakage current (Ig) monitoring, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) mapping of the semiconductor surface. It is found that the degradation of Ig upon stress is due to the combined effect of the individual defects underlying each of the EL spots, which contribute a few μA each to the total Ig. After removal of contacts and passivation, a direct one-to-one correspondence between EL spots and pits on the semiconductor surface is found. Reverse bias, conducting-tip AFM imaging showed that these surface pits do indeed act as leakage paths. Thus, the direct relationship between EL hot spots, surface pits, and gate current leakage is demonstrated. Discussion on the morphology of the surface pits and their possible origin is also provided.