bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Narrative Reports about Vaccine Adverse Events and Bias-Awareness Disclaimers on Vaccine Decisions
Authors: Betsch Cornelia , Renkewitz Frank , Haase Niels
Published: August 2012

Background. As the number of individuals who search for health information in interactive online environments is increasing, patient networks deserve more scientific attention. Objective. To quantitatively examine if and how reading statistical and/or narrative information as typically displayed in patient networks (e.g., patientslikeme.com ) affects decisions for pharmaceuticals. Previous work suggests that narrative information (e.g., about vaccine adverse events, VAE) affects risk perceptions and intentions. The authors compare the effect of narrative and statistical information about VAE on vaccination decisions and examine if a disclaimer reduces the narrative bias as well as if low numeracy leads to increased use of the narratives. Method and Design. In an online experiment, 458 participants were randomly assigned to a 3 (relative frequency of vaccine adverse events in 1, 7, or 17 of 20 cases) × 3 (type of information: narratives, summary statistics, or both) × 2 (bias awareness v. control disclaimer) between-subjects design. Measurements. Perceived risk, vaccination intention, and subjective numeracy. Results. A higher relative frequency of cases reporting VAE decreased the intention to get vaccinated. This relation was mediated by increased risk perception. The type of information moderated the contents’ impact: Summary statistics had the smallest impact, whereas narrative information was more influential, and the presence of both types of information had the greatest impact on risk perception. Individuals who received the bias-awareness disclaimer were less influenced by the patient network. Highly numerate individuals were generally more sensitive to the provided information independent of its format. Conclusions. Patient networks can influence vaccination decisions by delivering risk-related information. Disclaimers may help to reduce the influence if desired.
A New Tool for Identifying Research Standards and Evaluating Research Performance
Authors: Bacon Donald R. , Paul Pallab , Stewart Kim A. , Mukhopadhyay Kausiki
Published: August 2012

Much has been written about the evaluation of faculty research productivity in promotion and tenure decisions, including many articles that seek to determine the rank of various marketing journals. Yet how faculty evaluators combine journal quality, quantity, and author contribution to form judgments of a scholar’s performance is unclear. A mathematical model of faculty judgment is presented that estimates a scholar’s research productivity that is surprisingly consistent with actual faculty evaluations. The model does not replace human judgment in evaluating a scholar’s research performance, but the model enhances clarity and objectivity in the evaluation process. The method is demonstrated with marketing faculty at one university.
Cultural Differences in Face-ism
Authors: Konrath Sara , Au Josephine , Ramsey Laura R.
Published: August 2012

Women are visually depicted with lower facial prominence than men, with consequences for perceptions of their competence. The current study examines the relationship between the size of this “face-ism” bias (i.e., individual or micro-level sexism) and a number of gender inequality indicators (i.e., institutional or macro-level sexism) at the cross-cultural level. In one of the largest known face-ism databases to date, the authors used politicians’ official online photographs as stimuli ( N = 6,610) to explore how face-ism (as an example of individual-level sexism) covaries with institutional sexism across 25 cultures. The authors found that the face-ism bias was greater in cultures with lower levels of institutional gender inequality, demonstrating that institutional equality does not necessarily imply equality on the individual level. The authors offer a number of potential speculations for this mismatch. For example, it may be due to “postfeminist” backlash that occurs in response to decreases in level of institutional sexism or it may be due to different comparative processes that occur in more versus less gender-equal cultures. Implications for female politicians cross-culturally are discussed. The findings of our study provide empirical evidence to demonstrate how macro-level structural equalities could be related to individual and micro-level sexism, and how different levels of sexism might not necessarily be indicative of each other. Additional online materials for this article are available to PWQ subscribers on PWQ's website at http://pwq.sagepub.com/supplemental.
Perioperative Nutrition Support in Cancer Patients
Authors: Huhmann Maureen B. , August David A.
Published: August 2012

Malnutrition and weight loss negatively affect outcomes in surgical cancer patients. Decades of research have sought to identify the most appropriate use of nutrition support in these patients. National and international guidelines help to direct clinicians’ use of nutrition support in surgical patients, but a number of specific issues concerning the use of nutrition support continue to evolve. This review focuses on 5 key issues related to perioperative nutrition support in cancer patients: (1) Which perioperative cancer patients should receive nutrition support? (2) How can the nutrition status and requirements of these patients be optimally assessed? (3) What is the optimal route of administration (parenteral nutrition vs enteral nutrition) and composition of nutrition support in this setting? (4) When should feedings be initiated? (5) What is the role of glycemic control in these patients?
Remaking the White Wedding? Same-Sex Wedding Photographs’ Challenge to Symbolic Heteronormativity
Authors: Kimport Katrina
Published: August 2012

Recent scholarship has identified the modern wedding as a principal site for the construction of heteronormativity. This article examines whether and how the participation of same-sex couples in the wedding ritual can challenge this construction. Photographs from the 2004 San Francisco same-sex weddings were quantitatively content-coded for subjects’ gender presentation and for the extent to which the couple embodied the heteronormative wedding standard of one bride and one groom. I find that all the men in these photographs conformed to gender norms and thus no male couple conformed to the wedding standard. In contrast, approximately one-fifth of the women presented non-normative gender, and more than two-thirds of the formally dressed lesbian couples conformed to the wedding standard of a bride and a groom. In a close reading of four photographs, I argue that these images have the potential to challenge assumptions about normative sex, gender, and sexuality at the level of the symbolic when understood in relation to the institution of marriage. Nonetheless, the enactment of weddings depicted in these images may also reify weddings as heteronormative by conforming to expectations about how individuals and couples present themselves when marrying. These findings point to the importance of distinguishing symbolic and enacted heteronormativity.
Semaphorin 3A – a marker for disease activity and a potential putative disease-modifying treatment in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Vadasz Z , Toubi E
Published: August 2012

Semaphorin 3A (sema3A) and neuropilin-1 (NP-1) play a regulatory role in immune responses and have a demonstrated effect on the course of collagen-induced arthritis. Sema3A was also found to be involved in other immune-mediated diseases, e.g. psoriasis and allergic rhinitis. In this review we concentrated on the involvement of sema3A and NP-1 in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and on the specific effect of sema3A on the auto-reactive properties of B cells in SLE patients. We demonstrated the expression of sema3A in renal biopsies from lupus glomerulonephritis patients. This expression was found to be inversely correlated with proteinuria and kidney function tests. Sema3A serum levels in SLE patients were found to be significantly lower than in RA patients (disease control) and lower yet than in normal individuals. Altered serum sema3A levels were found to be in inverse correlation with SLE disease activity, mainly with renal damage and the presence of anti-cardiolipin antibodies. The expression of both sema3A and NP-1 on B cells from SLE patients was significantly different in comparison with normal healthy individuals. Finally, we demonstrated that when sema3A was co-cultured with CpG-ODN-stimulated memory B cells of SLE patients, their TLR-9 expression was significantly reduced by almost 50% ( p = 0.001). These findings, along with the observation of sema3A being reduced in SLE patients in correlation with disease severity and autoimmunity, and memory B cells being beneficially responsive to sema3A, suggest this regulatory molecule may be considered as a potential therapy for SLE. Such focused therapies will help in achieving the maintenance of self-tolerance and alter pro-inflammatory status in lupus.
Does Latency in Recording Data Make a Difference? Confirming the Accuracy of Teachers’ Data
Authors: Taber-Doughty Teresa , Jasper Andrea D.
Published: August 2012

The effects of latency on the accuracy of data recorded by three special education teachers were examined in this study. Teachers recorded data on the target behaviors of three students with varying disabilities. The accuracy of data recorded was assessed during three time periods: immediately after the target behavior occurred, at the end of the school day, and the following school day. A multielement design was used to evaluate data accuracy. Results were interpreted to confirm that data recorded immediately after a behavior occurred were more accurate and reliable than data documented at the end of the school day or the start of the following school day. In addition, data recorded by each teacher had a mean agreement of 97% or above for the time period immediately after a student’s behavior occurred. Furthermore, each teacher reported that it was beneficial to record data immediately after the target behavior occurred. Implications and future research directions are provided.
Effects of operating parameters on mode transition between low-temperature combustion and conventional combustion in a light-duty diesel engine
Authors: Han Sangwook , Bae Choongsik , Choi Seibum B
Published: August 2012

An experimental study on the mode transition between low-temperature combustion and conventional combustion was carried out in a light-duty diesel engine. The characteristics of combustion mode transition with various operating parameters, including rate of exhaust gas recirculation change, residual gas, exhaust gas recirculation path length, fuel injection pressure and engine speed, were analysed based on the in-cylinder pressure and hydrocarbon emission of each cycle. In the case of mode transition from low-temperature combustion to conventional combustion, rapid decreases in indicated mean effective pressure and hydrocarbon emission occurred due to the improper injection timing and the decrease of the exhaust gas recirculation rate. On the other hand, indicated mean effective pressure and hydrocarbon emission changed slowly during mode transition from conventional combustion to low-temperature combustion owing to the thermal effect of hot residual gas from conventional combustion. Faster mode transition could be achieved by the use of a shorter exhaust gas recirculation path. Although the trends of mode transition in terms of indicated mean effective pressure were similar, the noise levels, as represented by the maximum pressure rise rate, and hydrocarbon emissions were significantly affected by residual gas, fuel injection pressure and engine speed. In addition, smooth combustion mode transition could be achieved by cycle-by-cycle injection modulation without rapid changes of indicated mean effective pressure and maximum pressure rise rate.
Demographic Predictors of HIV Serostatus among HIV Counseling and Testing Clients in Rural Nigeria
Authors: Akinwande Oluyemisi A. , Ele Prince U. , Gebi Usman I. , Igboelina Donald O. , Dakum Patrick S. , Alkan Michael L.
Published: August 2012

Nnewi is a rural Nigerian town with a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) counseling and testing center which tests about 120 clients/d. The objective of this study is to determine the factors predicting positive HIV status at Nnewi. Review of records was done with age, gender, marital status, and occupation as variables. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors linked to a positive HIV test. Overall HIV prevalence was 31.14%. Drivers and married clients had a high risk of being HIV+ (odds ratio [OR], 3.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.17-5.96 and OR, 2.78; 95% CI, 2.42-3.19). Housewives were 2 times more likely to be positive (OR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.35-3.29). After adjustment, females had 22% higher risk (OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.03-1.45) with the highest chance found in married females (OR, 6.70; 95% CI, 4.45-10.09). The study succeeded in panning out an unexpected risk group: married women. Drivers have been known to be a risk group. Preventive methods must be tailored to and acceptable by each risk group.
Benefits, Challenges, and Dynamism of Positionalities Associated With Mixed Methods Research in Developing Countries
Authors: Teye Joseph Kofi
Published: August 2012

Although mixed methods designs have gained visibility in recent years, most of the publications on this methodological strategy have been written by scholars in the developed world. Consequently, the practical challenges associated with mixed methods research in developing countries have not been adequately discussed in the literature. Relying on a case study in Ghana, this article examines the benefits and challenges of combining quantitative and qualitative approaches in a single research. The article also demonstrates how the positionality of a mixed methods researcher varies from one context to another. Based on the findings of this study, some recommendations have been made for managing the challenges associated with mixed methods researches.
Avatar: Stereoscopic Cinema, Gaseous Perception and Darkness
Authors: Brown William
Published: August 2012

This article offers a theoretical analysis of the 3D cinema experience, paying particular attention to the paradoxical manner in which a further apparatus, medium, or filter – namely 3D glasses – enables what many viewers perceive as a greater level of realism in the cinematic image. That 3D glasses constitute a further apparatus, medium or filter between the image and the viewer ultimately will lead to a more abstract discussion of the differences between ‘solid’ and ‘gaseous’ perception – or, briefly, between seeing objects as solid barriers or as permeable, and of the importance of ‘darkness’ in perception itself. The author’s argument is that darkness, equated here with the extra medium of the 3D glasses, is a key but overlooked aspect of film viewing, something made clear by 3D cinema. Into this argument, he includes analysis of Avatar (James Cameron, 2009), which enacts some of the theoretical arguments that he wishes to make.
Perpetuation, imagination, and subjectivity: Investigating the effects of expressed traditionalist Caymanian memories
Authors: Williams Christopher A
Published: August 2012

In the context of the Cayman Islands and their people, this article examines the dynamic relationship between history, traditionalism, subjectivity, and memory. First, the author contends that expressed traditionalist memories are automatically accompanied by vibrant mental images that work to capture, perpetuate, and immortalize any perceived underlying past spirit in Caymanianness-affirming terms. Second, the attempt is made to explain how the subjective nature of expressed traditionalist Caymanian memories can be understood from the uncomplicated standpoint that people are keen to remember and talk about their lived past. The author also applies the concept of subjectivity to those more complex strains of expressed traditionalist memories that lament the loss of certain Caymanian traditions in a diluted, globalized present. Finally, the author demonstrates how younger Caymanians keen to cherish their ancestral past necessarily depend on expressed traditionalist memories, and in so doing, refashion such expressions in highly personalized, idealistic, and oftentimes problematic ways.
Therapeutic options in older patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Quoix Elisabeth
Published: August 2012

The increase in life expectancy, with its concomitant increase in the risk of cancer, has led to an increased incidence of lung cancer in older people. The median age at diagnosis of lung cancer is between 63 and 70 years. For a long time, there has been a pessimistic attitude by doctors, patients and their relatives and thus an undertreatment of older patients. Older patients have some specific differences compared with younger patients: more comorbidities with concomitant medications that may interfere with chemotherapy, geriatric syndromes, frailty and so on. The first trial devoted to older patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was a comparison between vinorelbine and best supportive care. There was a significant benefit of survival in the chemotherapy arm. Doublet therapy with gemcitabine plus vinorelbine did not give better results than either of these drugs alone. Thus, the recommendations for the treatment of older patients with advanced NSCLC were to give monotherapy. In some clinical trials not dedicated to older patients it appeared that patients might benefit from platinum-based doublet therapy like their younger counterparts. A randomized trial conducted by the French intergroup, IFCT, in patients aged at least 70 years comparing vinorelbine or gemcitabine alone with monthly carboplatin combined with weekly paclitaxel demonstrated that there was a highly significant benefit of survival in the doublet arm. This study resulted in a modification of the recommendations on the treatment of older patients with advanced NSCLC.
Unusual suspects: pulmonary opportunistic infections masquerading as tumor metastasis in a patient with adrenocorticotropic hormone-producing pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer
Authors: Chowdry Rajasree P. , Bhimani Chandar , Delgado Maria A. , Lee Daniel J. , Dayamani Priya , Sica Gabriel L. , Owonikoko Taofeek K.
Published: August 2012

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (p-NETs) are a rare group of neoplasms but with increasing incidence. The atypical complications that arise in the setting of functional endocrine tumors are underreported and therefore have not received sufficient attention and the necessary mention in the oncology literature. The clinical implications of these complications pose management challenges starting with the difficulty in establishing diagnosis, accurate staging and optimal treatment of the primary process. We present the case of a middle-aged woman diagnosed with adrenocorticotropic hormone-producing carcinoma arising from the pancreas whose case was complicated by excessive uncontrolled hypercortisolism and reactivation of pulmonary opportunistic infections that confounded her management. We believe that this case illustration will be of value to practicing oncologists and other groups of physicians who are called upon to participate in the multidisciplinary treatment of these relatively rare but highly challenging cases.
Energized by Television
Authors: Derrick Jaye L.
Published: August 2012

Enacting effortful self-control depletes a finite resource, leaving less self-control available for subsequent effortful tasks. Positive social interaction can restore self-control, but hurtful or effortful social interaction depletes self-control. Given this conflict, people might seek an alternative to social interaction to restore self-control. The current research examines social surrogate restoration—the possibility that people seek a social surrogate when depleted, and that seeking social surrogacy restores self-control. One experiment (Study 1) and one daily diary (Study 2) demonstrate that people seek familiar fictional worlds (e.g., a favorite television program) after exerting effortful self-control. Moreover, immersion in this familiar fictional world restores self-control. Supplementary analyses suggest that it is the social nature of this familiar fictional world that contributes to restoration.
Mitigating an undesirable immune response of inherent susceptibility to cutaneous leishmaniosis in a mouse model: the role of the pathoantigenic HISA70 DNA vaccine
Authors: Domínguez-Bernal Gustavo , Horcajo Pilar , Orden José A , De La Fuente Ricardo , Herrero-Gil Aldara , Ordóñez-Gutiérrez Lara , Carrión Javier
Published: August 2012

Leishmania majoris the major cause of cutaneous leishmaniosis (CL) outside of the Americas. In the present study we have cloned sixLeishmaniagenes (H2A, H2B, H3, H4, A2 and HSP70) into the eukaryotic expression vector pCMVβ-m2a, resulting in pCMV-HISA70m2A, which encodes all six pathoantigenic proteins as a single polyprotein. This expression plasmid has been evaluated as a novel vaccine candidate in the BALB/c mouse model of CL. The DNA vaccine shifted the immune response normally induced byL. majorinfection away from a Th2-specific pathway to one of basal susceptibility. Immunization with pCMV-HISA70m2A dramatically reduced footpad lesions and lymph node parasite burdens relative to infected control mice. Complete absence of visceral parasite burden was observed in all 12 immunized animals but not in any of the 24 control mice. Moreover, vaccinated mice produced large amounts of IFN-γ, IL-17 and NO at 7 weeks post-infection (pi), and they showed lower arginase activity at the site of infection, lower IL-4 production and a weaker humoral immune response than infected control mice. Taken together, these results demonstrate the ability of the HISA70 vaccine to shift the murine immune response toL. majorinfection away from an undesirable, Th2-specific pathway to a less susceptible-like pathway involving Th1 and Th17 cytokine profiles.
Sequencing the genome of Marssonina brunnea reveals fungus-poplar co-evolution
Authors: Zhu Sheng , Cao You-Zhi , Jiang Cong , Tan Bi-Yue , Wang Zhong , Feng Sisi , Zhang Liang , Su Xiao-Hua , Brejova Brona , Vinar Tomas , Xu Meng , Wang Ming-Xiu , Zhang Shou-Gong , Huang Min-Ren , Wu Rongling , Zhou Yan
Published: August 2012

Background

The fungus Marssonina brunnea is a causal pathogen of Marssonina leaf spot that devastates poplar plantations by defoliating susceptible trees before normal fall leaf drop.

Results

We sequence the genome of M. brunnea with a size of 52 Mb assembled into 89 scaffolds, representing the first sequenced Dermateaceae genome. By inoculating this fungus onto a poplar hybrid clone, we investigate how M. brunnea interacts and co-evolves with its host to colonize poplar leaves. While a handful of virulence genes in M. brunnea, mostly from the LysM family, are detected to up-regulate during infection, the poplar down-regulates its resistance genes, such as nucleotide binding site domains and leucine rich repeats, in response to infection. From 10,027 predicted proteins of M. brunnea in a comparison with those from poplar, we identify four poplar transferases that stimulate the host to resist M. brunnea. These transferas-encoding genes may have driven the co-evolution of M. brunnea and Populus during the process of infection and anti-infection.

Conclusions

Our results from the draft sequence of the M. brunnea genome provide evidence for genome-genome interactions that play an important role in poplar-pathogen co-evolution. This knowledge could help to design effective strategies for controlling Marssonina leaf spot in poplar.
A simple and inexpensive haemozoin-based colorimetric method to evaluate anti-malarial drug activity
Authors: Men Tran Thanh , Huy Nguyen Tien , Trang Dai Thi Xuan , Shuaibu Mohammed Nasir , Hirayama Kenji , Kamei Kaeko
Published: August 2012

Background

The spread of drug resistance in malaria parasites and the limited number of effective drugs for treatment indicates the need for new anti-malarial compounds. Current assays evaluating drugs against Plasmodium falciparum require expensive materials and equipment, thus limiting the search for new drugs, particularly in developing countries. This study describes an inexpensive procedure that is based on the advantage of a positive correlation between the haemozoin level of infected erythrocytes and parasite load.

Methods

The relationship between parasitaemia and the haemozoin level of infected erythrocytes was investigated after converting haemozoin into monomeric haem. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of chloroquine, quinine, artemisinin, quinidine and clotrimazole against P. falciparum K1 and 9A strains were determined using the novel assay method.

Results

The haemozoin of parasites was extracted and converted into monomeric haem, allowing the use of a colorimeter to efficiently and rapidly measure the growth of the parasites. There was a strong and direct linear relationship between the absorbance of haem converted from haemozoin and the percentage of the parasite (R2 = 0.9929). Furthermore, the IC50 values of drugs were within the range of the values previously reported.

Conclusion

The haemozoin-based colorimetric assay can be considered as an alternative, simple, robust, inexpensive and convenient method, making it applicable in developing countries.
Transgene therapy for rat anti-Thy1.1 glomerulonephritis via mesangial cell vector with a polyethylenimine/decorin nanocomplex
Authors: Sun Jian-Yong , Sun Yu , Wu Hui-Juan , Zhang Hong-Xia , Zhao Zhong-Hua , Chen Qi , Zhang Zhi-Gang
Published: August 2012

Polyethylenimine (PEI), a cationic polymer, is one of the most efficient non-viral vectors for transgene therapy. Decorin (DCN), a leucine-rich proteoglycan secreted by glomerular mesangial cells (MC), is a promising anti-fibrotic agent for the treatment of glomerulonephritis. In this study, we used PEI–DCN nanocomplexes with different N/P ratios to transfect MC in vitro and deliver the MC vector with PEI–DCN expressing into rat anti-Thy1.1 nephritis kidney tissue via injection into the left renal artery in vivo. The PEI–plasmid DNA complex at N/P 20 had the highest level of transfection efficiency and the lowest level of cytotoxicity in cultured MC. Following injection, the ex vivo gene was transferred successfully into the glomeruli of the rat anti-Thy1.1 nephritis model by the MC vector with the PEI–DCN complex. The exogenous MC with DCN expression was located mainly in the mesangium and the glomerular capillary. Over-expression of DCN in diseased glomeruli could result in the inhibition of collagen IV deposition and MC proliferation. The pathological changes of rat nephritis were alleviated following injection of the vector. These findings demonstrate that the DCN gene delivered by the PEI–DNA nanocomplex with the MC vector is a promising therapeutic method for the treatment of glomerulonephritis.
Comparative host protein interactions with HTLV-1 p30 and HTLV-2 p28: insights into difference in pathobiology of human retroviruses
Authors: Doueiri Rami , Anupam Rajaneesh , Kvaratskhelia Mamuka , Green Kari B , Lairmore Michael D , Green Patrick L
Published: August 2012

Background

Human T lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1) and type 2 (HTLV-2) are closely related human retroviruses, but have unique disease associations. HTLV-1 is the causative agent of an aggressive T-cell leukemia known as adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), HTLV-1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), and other inflammatory diseases. HTLV-2 infection has not been clearly associated with any disease condition. Although both viruses can transform T cells in vitro, the HTLV-1 provirus is mainly detected in CD4+ T cells whereas HTLV-2 is mainly detected in CD8+ T cells of infected individuals. HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 encode accessory proteins p30 and p28, respectively, which share partial amino acid homology and are required for viral persistence in vivo. The goal of this study was to identify host proteins interacting with p30 and p28 in order to understand their role in pathogenesis.

Results

Affinity-tag purification coupled with mass spectrometric (MS) analyses revealed 42 and 22 potential interacting cellular partners of p30 and p28, respectively. Of these, only three cellular proteins, protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5), hnRNP K and 60 S ribosomal protein L8 were detected in both p30 and p28 fractions. To validate the proteomic results, four interacting proteins were selected for further analyses using immunoblot assays. In full agreement with the MS analysis two cellular proteins REGγ and NEAF-interacting protein 30 (NIP30) selectively interacted with p30 and not with p28; heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein H1 (hnRNP H1) bound to p28 and not to p30; and PRMT5 interacted with both p30 and p28. Further studies demonstrated that reduced levels of PRMT5 resulted in decreased HTLV-2 viral gene expression whereas the viral gene expression of HTLV-1 was unchanged.

Conclusion

The comparisons of p30 and p28 host protein interaction proteome showed striking differences with some degree of overlap. PRMT5, one of the host proteins that interacted with both p30 and p28 differentially affected HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 viral gene expression suggesting that PRMT5 is involved at different stages of HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 biology. These findings suggest that distinct host protein interaction profiles of p30 and p28 could, in part, be responsible for differences in HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 pathobiology. This study provides new avenues of investigation into mechanisms of viral infection, tropism and persistence.
The Responsibility to Protect: The Time Is Now
Authors: Woodward Scott
Published: August 2012

This essay examines the theory of responsibility to protect, particularly as it clashes and melds with the concept of state sovereignty. The shift in focus takes center stage and highlights the progression of the premise that states everywhere are responsible for ensuring that mass atrocities against civilians do not occur, and culpable if they do.
Convergent repression of Foxp2 3′UTR by miR-9 and miR-132 in embryonic mouse neocortex: implications for radial migration of neurons
Authors: Clovis Yoanne M. , Enard Wolfgang , Marinaro Federica , Huttner Wieland B. , De Pietri Tonelli Davide
Published: August 2012

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are rapidly emerging as a new layer of regulation of mammalian brain development. However, most of the miRNA target genes remain unidentified. Here, we explore gene expression profiling upon miRNA depletion and in vivo target validation as a strategy to identify novel miRNA targets in embryonic mouse neocortex. By this means, we find that Foxp2, a transcription factor associated with speech and language development and evolution, is a novel miRNA target. In particular, we find that miR-9 and miR-132 are able to repress ectopic expression of Foxp2 protein by targeting its 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR) in vivo. Interestingly, ectopic expression of Foxp2 in cortical projection neurons (a scenario that mimics the absence of miRNA-mediated silencing of Foxp2 expression) delays neurite outgrowth in vitro and impairs their radial migration in embryonic mouse neocortex in vivo. Our results uncover a new layer of control of Foxp2 expression that may be required for proper neuronal maturation.
Homicide–suicide events in Southwestern Croatia, 1986–2009
Authors: Cengija Morana , Cuculic Drazen , Petaros Anja , Sosa Ivan , Bosnar Alan
Published: August 2012

The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence and characteristics of homicide-suicide events in Southwestern Croatia from 1986–2009 relying on autopsy reports of the Department of Forensic Medicine and Criminalistics, Rijeka and police records. A total of 17 cases involving 19 victims were identified. The perpetrators were most often men (82%), living in a spousal relationship with the victim. In 76.5% cases, suicide was committed immediately after homicide, and the same mean (most often an illegal firearm) was used for both. After examining the belongings of those involved in homicide-suicides, two factors differentiated our study from others, i.e. more victims and perpetrators were from the lower socioeconomic class and explosives were used in two homicide-suicide (12%) cases. The greater frequency of explosive used in homicide-suicide events may be a result of factors associated with the recent war fought in Croatia. These data prove the influence of sociological, historical and also political factors on the characteristics of a rare event such as homicide-suicide.
Influence of Specimen Geometry on Sample Disturbance Observed in Oedometric Testing of Clay Shales
Authors: Powell J. Suzanne , Siemens Greg , Take W. Andy , Remenda Vicki
Published: August 2012

There has been a significant amount of research investigating the relationship between sample disturbance and laboratory test results in soft soils. As a result of this research, the general rule adopted is that using larger specimens results in less sample disturbance. When testing these larger specimens in the laboratory, the results are more representative of in situ behavior of the materials. In contrast, there has been relatively little corresponding research performed on hard soils whose behavior typically lies on the boundary between rock and soil. Extensive unloading in hard soils, from sampling, results in large suctions (negative pore pressures) and the formation of fractures that are uncharacteristic of the material in its natural state. This poses the question of whether the use of small specimens would produce more reliable laboratory results. This paper investigates the following two hypotheses within the context of oedometric testing: (1) testing smaller diameter specimens will produce results more representative of the in situ behavior of the material, and (2) an aspect ratio of 2.5 may reduce disturbance to the specimen during preparation are tested. The results of this testing program, including the intact material properties, and a characterization of the compression behaviour of clay shale from the Bearpaw Formation is also presented herein. Results show that a reduced specimen size, when working with a hard clay shale, minimizes the effect of disturbance and produces results that are the most representative of the intact material. Decreased specimen size also aids in determining preconsolidation pressure by not only reducing the disturbance to the sample resulting from unloading, but also by enabling these high stresses to be achieved in conventional testing equipment. Two criteria from the literature were used to assess disturbance within the oedometer specimens. Overall, the methods provide a good baseline of assessing disturbance, however, there is less gradation to the quality of a specimen in a hard soil. Parameters Cc and σ′p were sensitive to sample disturbance, however, other parameters such as cv and K were less dramatically affected by disturbance. Therefore, care must be taken when assessing the compression of a hard soil as failing to achieve sufficiently higher stresses and the presence of disturbed specimens may lead to misleading Cc and σ′p values.
Testing Methane-Hydrate-Saturated Soil Using a Line Dissociation Apparatus
Authors: Falser S. , Palmer A. C. , Tan T. S. , Loh M.
Published: August 2012

The combination of energy source and geohazardous potential of natural gas hydrate has raised the need to understand the processes related to hydrate dissociation within the sediment. In this article, several existing methane hydrate dissociation apparatuses are listed and their sample size capabilities given. A new design for line dissociation tests by combined electrical heating and pressure reduction from a miniature wellbore is presented. The 180-mm-diameter × 225-mm-length hydrate-bearing soil samples can be tested over a wide range of near in situ conditions, with pore pressures of up to 15 MPa, temperatures as low as −5°C and a maximum effective stress of 5.5 MPa. During testing, the pore pressure, local temperature changes, vertical strain, the extracted gas and water volumes, and radial density changes are measured. The devices used are shown and described in detail. The sample formation steps by the water excess method are described, and the dissociation behaviour of a typical 40 % hydrate-saturated sand sample during local heating and pressure reduction are illustrated.
Performance Evaluation of SBS Modified Asphalt with Different Anti-aging Additives
Authors: Feng Zhengang , Xu Song , Sun Yubin , Yu Jianying
Published: August 2012

The effects of three different types of anti-aging additives (bumetrizole, octabenzone, and tinuvin770) on the physical and rheological properties of styrene butadiene styrene (SBS) modified asphalt were investigated by means of conventional physical properties tests and dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) tests. In order to evaluate the aging properties of different anti-aging additive/SBS modified asphalts, the thin film oven test and ultraviolet (UV) radiation test were performed, and different aging parameters were compared. The results show that the penetration, ductility, and softening point are increased, whereas the viscosity is decreased, with the addition of different anti-aging additives. The DSR analysis indicates that anti-aging additives can enhance the elastic behavior and improve the thermal stability of SBS modified asphalt. Improvement in the thermal-oxidative aging properties of SBS modified asphalt can be achieved with the three different anti-aging additives, but the UV aging properties of anti-aging additive/SBS modified asphalts are dependent on the type of anti-aging additive. Of the three different anti-aging additives, tinuvin770 improves both the thermal- and the photo-oxidative aging resistance of SBS modified asphalt significantly.
Nonlinear Response Characterization of Bituminous Mortar
Authors: Woldekidan M. F. , Huurman M. , Mo L. T.
Published: August 2012

In mesomechanics performance studies of porous asphalt concrete (PA), one of the crucial component materials influencing the raveling performance of the mixture is bituminous mortar. In relation fatigue performance, the viscoelastic response of the mortar for loads corresponding to the magnitude and frequency of the truck loading is important. In this paper, the mechanical response of a bituminous mortar material is investigated at various shear stress levels and loading frequencies. A dynamic shear rheometer setup with a specimen geometry specially developed for mortar testing is utilized. The mortar, which consists of bitumen, filler, and fine fractions of sand, is produced with a composition similar to that of a standard PA mixture. The tests were conducted at various temperatures in the frequency domain. The results show that the selected mortar test setup produces results with good repeatability. The results of high shear measurements show the presence of nonlinear behavior at shear stress levels in the range of 10 kPa for temperatures of 30°C and above. At temperatures of 0°C and below, the mortar exhibits linear viscoelastic behavior at shear stress levels of up to 1 MPa. The observed nonlinear viscoelastic behavior is described using Schapery nonlinear theory. The paper discusses the testing methods and the interpretation and description of results with the nonlinear theory. It also discusses the implications of the results for mechanistic based PA performance models.
African Religions and Art in the Americas
Authors: Smith Katherine
Published: August 2012

This print symposium of Nova Religio is devoted to African religions and arts in the Americas, focusing specifically on devotional arts inspired by the Yoruba people of West Africa. The authors presented here privilege an emic approach to the study of art and religion, basing their work on extensive interviews with artists, religious practitioners, and consumers. These articles contribute an understanding of devotional arts that shows Africa, or the idea of Africa, remains a powerful political and aesthetic force in the religious imagination of the Americas.
Isolated Voids in Amorphous Silicon and Related Materials Measured by Effusion of Implanted Helium
Authors: Beyer W. , Hilgers W. , Lennartz D. , Pennartz F. , Prunici P.
Published: August 2012

Effusion measurements of hydrogen and implanted helium are reported for (undoped) amorphous and crystalline Si:H and related materials. Effusion of helium observed at temperatures > 600°C is attributed to isolated voids present in the material from the preparation process. While rather high void densities are detected for amorphous silicon films prepared by such deposition techniques like vacuum evaporation or sputtering, much smaller densities are found for plasma grown hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H). For device-grade a-Si:H, the density of cavities which can trap helium is estimated to be about 2x1018/cm3at most, suggesting that crystalline silicon type divacancies are not the major hydrogen incorporation site.
Intermetallic Formation in PZT for MEMS Structures
Authors: Sharma Kanu priya , Oseroff Thomas , Lunardi Leda
Published: August 2012

Crack free lead zirconate titanate (PZT) films for piezoelectric based MEMS devices have been prepared by a multiple coating sol gel process on platinized silicon (100) substrates. Rapid thermal annealing and Conventional furnace annealing were used for densification and crystallization of the amorphous PZT films. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to observe surface film morphology and grain growth. The phase content of the films was analyzed using X-ray diffraction. The role of intermetallics formed during the heat treatment in the growth of different orientations has also been observed. Film aging critical for device performance has been observed and methods to revert aging effects have been examined and discussed.
Remoulded shear strength at plastic and semi-solid states
Authors: Vinod P. , Sridharan A. , Deepa K. A.
Published: August 2012

The undrained shear strength of remoulded soils is of great concern in geotechnical engineering applications. This study aims to develop a reliable approach for determining the undrained shear strength of remoulded fine-grained soils, through the use of index test results, at both the plastic and semi-solid states of consistency. Experimental investigation and subsequent analysis involving a number of fine-grained soils of widely varying plasticity and geological origin have led to a two-parameter linear model of the relationship between logarithm of remoulded undrained shear strength and liquidity index. The numerical values of the parameters are found to be dependent to a lesser extent on the soil group and to a greater extent on the soil state. Based on the values of regression coefficient, ranking index and ranking distance, it seems that the relationship represents the experimental results well. It may be pointed out that the possibility of such a relationship in the semi-solid state of a soil has not been explored in the past. It is also shown that the shear strength at the plastic limit is about 32–34 times that at the liquid limit.
Warabandi as a sociotechnical system for canal water allocation: opportunities and challenges for reform
Authors: Narain Vishal
Published: August 2012

This paper describes and evaluates the warabandi system of irrigation prevalent in NorthWest India and Pakistan. It argues that warabandi needs to be understood as a composite sociotechnical system comprising a physical infrastructure and a corresponding institutional arrangement for rationing and sharing water. This has implications for efforts at replicating the system in other parts of the region. An understanding of these features is also essential in assessing the prospects and potential for irrigation management reform in the region. The paper concludes by identifying some challenges and opportunities for management reform in the warabandi system.
Toxicity reduction in an industrial nitro-aromatic wastewater plant: an assessment and a proposed improvement
Authors: Lu Zhao-Yang , Jiang Bi-Cun , Li Ai-Min , Guo Hong-Yan , Sun Shu-Guang , Chu Li-Mei
Published: August 2012

In this study, the performance of a typical Chinese industrial nitro-aromatic wastewater project (operational capacity: 3,000 m3d−1) was evaluated using chemical properties and toxicity data. Additionally, the relationship between the removal of organic pollutants and toxicity reduction was investigated throughout the whole-process wastewater treatment. Current advanced treatment reduced the dissolved organic carbon by 40% compared with biologically treated wastewater effluent (BTWE), but the acute toxicity and early life-stage toxicity increased significantly. For instance, the acute toxicity of the current advanced treated wastewater was 450% greater than that of the untreated BTWE. With the aim of effectively decreasing the toxicity of the effluent, several efficient adsorption technologies were assessed and compared for further treatment of BTWE. Coagulation and/or oxidation coupled with activated carbon adsorption, hypercrosslinked resin adsorption, or MIEX® technology was helpful for improving chemical indices and reducing toxicity. Among these adsorption treatment technologies, hypercrosslinked resin adsorption was more effective at removing most of the toxicants than MIEX® technology, and it also had better regeneration efficiency and mechanical properties compared with activated carbon. Therefore, hypercrosslinked resin adsorption may be a promising technology for enhancing organic pollutant removal and toxicity reduction of BTWE from nitro-aromatic factories.
Application of hydrologic forecast model
Authors: Hua Xu , Hengxin Xue , Zhiguo Chen
Published: August 2012

In order to overcome the shortcoming of the solution may be trapped into the local minimization in the traditional TSK (Takagi-Sugeno-Kang) fuzzy inference training, this paper attempts to consider the TSK fuzzy system modeling approach based on the visual system principle and the Weber law. This approach not only utilizes the strong capability of identifying objects of human eyes, but also considers the distribution structure of the training data set in parameter regulation. In order to overcome the shortcoming of it adopting the gradient learning algorithm with slow convergence rate, a novel visual TSK fuzzy system model based on evolutional learning is proposed by introducing the particle swarm optimization algorithm. The main advantage of this method lies in its very good optimization, very strong noise immunity and very good interpretability. The new method is applied to long-term hydrological forecasting examples. The simulation results show that the method is feasibile and effective, the new method not only inherits the advantages of traditional visual TSK fuzzy models but also has the better global convergence and accuracy than the traditional model.
Modeling approach to phenol oxidation by a sand-based packed-bed electrode system (SPBEs)
Authors: Wang Lizhang , Li Peng , Yan Qian
Published: August 2012

A comparative study of phenol oxidation using pure electrolysis (PEs) and sand-based packed-bed electrode systems (SPBEs) was performed under conditions of phenol concentration 800 mg L−1, initial pH 6.5, current density 100 A m−2 and sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) 3.0% (w/w) on IrO2–Ta2O5/Ti anode. The results show quartz sand, a non-conducting material is incapable of expanding the electrode area and the phenol oxidation in SPBEs commences only at the electrode surface. From the theoretical description of the mass transport coefficient and chemical oxygen demand (COD), we confirm that the enhancement of the COD removal efficiency, current and space–time yields in SPBEs is due to the improvement of mass transport properties. The proposed SPBEs shows superiority to the PEs on saving energy at the same applied voltage, however, when operated under the same applied current density the energy consumption of the former would be much higher than that of the latter because of the rise of the applied cell voltage.