bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implementation of a multichannel soft x-ray diagnostic for electron temperature measurements in TJ-II high-density plasmas
Authors: Baião D. , Medina F. , Ochando M. , Pastor I. , Varandas C. , Molinero A. , Chércoles J.
Published: June 2012

Based on the multi-foil technique, a multichannel soft x-ray diagnostic for electron temperature measurements has been recently implemented in the TJ-II stellarator. The diagnostic system is composed by four photodiodes arrays with beryllium filters of different thickness. An in-vacuum amplifier board is coupled to each array, aiming at preventing induced noise currents. The Thomson scattering and the vacuum ultraviolet survey diagnostics are used for assessing plasma profiles and composition, being the analysis carried out with the radiation code IONEQ. The electron temperature is determined through the different signal-pair ratios with temporal and spatial resolution. The design and preliminary results from the diagnostic are presented.
Nonthermal effects on the Wannier threshold law for the correlated two-electron continuum in Lorentizan plasmas
Authors: Ki Dae-Han , Jung Young-Dae
Published: June 2012

The nonthermal effects on the Wannier threshold law for the correlated two-electron continuum near the ionization threshold are investigated in nonthermal generalized Lorentzian plasmas. The screened renormalized electron charge and Wannier exponent for the ionization cross section are obtained in the Wannier ridge as functions of the spectral index, Debye length, and charge of the residual ion. It is found that the nonthermal effect strongly reduces the renormalized electron charge, especially in the intermediate distance domain. Hence, we have found that the renormalized electron charge in Lorentzian plasmas is always smaller than that in Maxwellian plasmas. It is also found that the ionization cross sections near the thresholds in Lorentzian plasmas are always greater than those in Maxwellian plasmas since the nonthermal effect suppresses the Wannier exponent in Lorentzian plasmas. In addition, it is found that the plasma screening effect on the Wannier exponent would be more significant in nonthermal plasmas rather than in thermal plasmas.
Programmably structured plasma waveguide for development of table-top photon and particle sources
Authors: Hung T.-S. , Ho Y.-C. , Chang Y.-L. , Wong S.-J. , Chu H.-H. , Lin J.-Y. , Wang J. , Chen S.-Y.
Published: June 2012

Programmable fabrication of longitudinal spatial structures in an optically preformed plasma waveguide in a gas jet was achieved, by using laser machining with a liquid-crystal spatial light modulator as the pattern mask. Fabrication of periodic structures with a minimal period of 200 μm and density-ramp structures with a minimal slope length of 100 μm was attained. The technique is useful for the optimization of various laser-plasma-based photon and particle sources.
Systematics of new subsocial and solitary Australasian Anelosimus species (Araneae:Theridiidae)
Authors: Agnarsson Ingi
Published: June 2012

Species of the cobweb spider genus Anelosimus range from solitary to subsocial to social, and sociality has evolved repeatedly within the genus. Thus, this genus allows studies of the traits that play a role in social evolution. However, taxonomic knowledge of Anelosimus is geographically narrow and nearly all sociobiological studies have been done in the Americas. Only one behaviourally unknown species has been described from all of Australasia. Here, I describe seven new Anelosimus from Papua New Guinea (Anelosimus potmosbi, sp. nov., Anelosimus pomio, sp. nov., Anelosimus eidur, sp. nov. and Anelosimus luckyi, sp. nov.), Bali (Anelosimus bali, sp. nov.), Australia (Anelosimus pratchetti, sp. nov.) and an unknown locality (Anelosimus terraincognita, sp. nov.), ranging from solitary to subsocial. A phylogenetic analysis supports the inclusion of these species in Anelosimus, and suggests that solitary Papuan species represent a second reversal from subsocial behaviour. Both solitary species inhabit the beachfront, a habitat that appears not to be conducive to social behaviour in spiders. Subsocial species, as in other parts of the world, are found in montane tropical forests of Papua New Guinea, and at relatively high latitudes in Australia. Thus, a global ecological pattern of sociality in Anelosimus is emerging as taxonomic, phylogenetic and ethological knowledge extends beyond the Americas.
Optimizing the analysis of metaphor in discourse
Authors: Kimmel Michael
Published: June 2012

This article presents a software-based methodology for studying metaphor in discourse, mainly within the framework of Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT). Despite a welcome recent swing towards methodological reflexivity, a detailed explication of the pros and cons of different procedures is still in order as far as qualitative research (i.e. a context-sensitive manual coding of a text corpus) is concerned. Qualitatively oriented scholars have to make difficult decisions revolving around the general research design, the transfer of linguistic theory into method, good workflow management, and the aimed at scope of analysis. My first task is to pinpoint typical tasks and demonstrate how they are optimally dealt with by using qualitative annotation software like ATLAS.ti. Software not only streamlines metaphor tagging itself, it systematizes the interpretive work from grouping text items into systematic/conceptual metaphor sets, via data surveys and checks, to quantitative comparisons and a cohesion-based analysis. My second task is to illustrate how a good research design can provide a step-wise procedure, offer systematic validation checks, keep the code system slim and many analytic options open. When we aim at complex data searches and want to handle high metaphor diversity I recommend compositional coding, i.e. tagging source and target domains separately (instead of adopting a “one mapping-one code” strategy). Furthermore, by tagging metaphors for image-schematic and rich semantic source domains in parallel, i.e. two-tier coding, we get multiple options for grouping metaphors into systematic sets.
A simple proof of 𝐿^{𝑞}-estimates for the steady-state Oseen and Stokes equations in a rotating frame. Part I: Strong solutions
Authors: Galdi Giovanni , Kyed Mads
Published: June 2012

Consider a rigid body moving in a three-dimensional Navier-Stokes liquid with a prescribed velocity

ξ
∈

R

3

\xi \in \mathbb {R}^3

and a non-zero angular velocity

ω
∈

R

3

∖
{
0
}

\omega \in \mathbb {R}^3\setminus \{ 0\}

that are constant when referred to a frame attached to the body. By linearizing the associated equations of motion, we obtain the Oseen (

ξ
≠
0

\xi \neq 0

) or Stokes (

ξ
=
0

\xi =0

) equations in a rotating frame of reference. We will consider the corresponding steady-state whole-space problem. Our main result in this first part concerns elliptic estimates of the solutions in terms of data in

L

q

(

R

3

)

L^{q}(\mathbb {R}^3)

. Such estimates have been established by R. Farwig in Tohoku Math. J., Vol. 58, 2006, for the Oseen case, and R. Farwig, T. Hishida, and D. Müller in Pacific J. Math., Vol. 215 (2), 2004, for the Stokes case. We introduce a new approach resulting in an elementary proof of these estimates. Moreover, our method yields more details on how the constants in the estimates depend on

ξ
\xi

and

ω
\omega

. In part II we will establish similar estimates in terms of data in the negative order homogeneous Sobolev space

D
0

−
1
,
q

(

R

3

)

D^{-1,q}_0(\mathbb {R}^3)

.
The physical Church–Turing thesis and non-deterministic computation over the real numbers
Authors: Dowek Gilles
Published: June 2012

On the real numbers, the notions of a semi-decidable relation and that of an effectively enumerable relation differ. The second only seems to be adequate to express, in an algorithmic way, non-deterministic physical theories, where magnitudes are represented by real numbers.
Turing's three philosophical lessons and the philosophy of information
Authors: Floridi Luciano
Published: June 2012

In this article, I outline the three main philosophical lessons that we may learn from Turing's work, and how they lead to a new philosophy of information. After a brief introduction, I discuss his work on the method of levels of abstraction (LoA), and his insistence that questions could be meaningfully asked only by specifying the correct LoA. I then look at his second lesson, about the sort of philosophical questions that seem to be most pressing today. Finally, I focus on the third lesson, concerning the new philosophical anthropology that owes so much to Turing's work. I then show how the lessons are learned by the philosophy of information. In the conclusion, I draw a general synthesis of the points made, in view of the development of the philosophy of information itself as a continuation of Turing's work.
Symbolic functions from neural computation
Authors: Smolensky Paul
Published: June 2012

Is thought computation over ideas? Turing, and many cognitive scientists since, have assumed so, and formulated computational systems in which meaningful concepts are encoded by symbols which are the objects of computation. Cognition has been carved into parts, each a function defined over such symbols. This paper reports on a research program aimed at computing these symbolic functions without computing over the symbols. Symbols are encoded as patterns of numerical activation over multiple abstract neurons, each neuron simultaneously contributing to the encoding of multiple symbols. Computation is carried out over the numerical activation values of such neurons, which individually have no conceptual meaning. This is massively parallel numerical computation operating within a continuous computational medium. The paper presents an axiomatic framework for such a computational account of cognition, including a number of formal results. Within the framework, a class of recursive symbolic functions can be computed. Formal languages defined by symbolic rewrite rules can also be specified, the subsymbolic computations producing symbolic outputs that simultaneously display central properties of both facets of human language: universal symbolic grammatical competence and statistical, imperfect performance.
Assessment of Coumarin Levels in Ground Cinnamon Available in the Czech Retail Market
Authors: Blahová Jana , Svobodová Zdeňka
Published: June 2012

The objective of this study was to determine the coumarin content of ground cinnamon purchased from retail markets in the Czech Republic. No sample was labelled with information on the botanical source, but, in some cases, the countries of origin were specified. For comparison, a single cinnamon sample imported directly from a plantation in Sri Lanka that came fromCinnamomum verumwas analyzed. Results from 60 ground cinnamon samples comprising twelve brands confirmed a high content of coumarin, with mean levels ranging from 2 650 to 7 017 mg · kg−1. The high coumarin content confirmed that these cinnamon samples obtained from cassia cinnamon were in contrast to the sample from Sri Lanka, which was coumarin-free.
The Shaker Potassium Channel Is No Target for Xenon Anesthesia in Short-SleepingDrosophila melanogasterMutants
Authors: Schaper C. , Höcker J. , Böhm R. , Roeder T. , Bein B.
Published: June 2012

Background. Xenon seems to be an ideal anesthetic drug. To explore if next to the antagonism at the NMDA-receptor other molecular targets are involved, we tested the xenon requirement in short sleepingDrosophilashaker mutants and in .Methods. TheDrosophila melanogasterstrains wildtype Canton-S, , and , were raised and sleep was measured. Based on the response of the flies at different xenon concentrations, logEC50 values were calculated.Results. The logEC50-values for WT Canton-S were 1.671 (1.601–1.742 95%-confidence intervall; ;Pversus > 0,05), for 1.711 (1.650–1.773; ;Pversus WT Canton-S > 0,05). The logEC50-value for was 1.594 (1.493–1.694; ;Pversus > 0.05). The logEC-value of was 2.076 (1.619–2.532; ;Pversus < 0.05, versus < 0.05, versus WT Canton-S < 0.05).Pvalues for all shaker mutants were , while was found to be hyposensitive compared to wildtype (P< 0.05).Conclusions. The xenon requirement inDrosophila melanogasteris not influenced by a single gene mutation at the shaker locus, whereas a reduced expression of a nonselective cation channel leads to an increased xenon requirement. This supports the thesis that xenon mediates its effects not only via an antagonism at the NMDA-receptor.
Daptomycin: Local Application in Implant-Associated Infection and Complicated Osteomyelitis
Authors: Rosslenbroich Steffen B. , Raschke Michael J. , Kreis Carolin , Tholema-Hans Nancy , Uekoetter Andreas , Reichelt Rudolf , Fuchs Thomas F.
Published: June 2012

Background. The rise of highly resistant bacteria creates a persistent urge to develop new antimicrobial agents. This paper investigates the application of the lipopeptide antibiotic daptomycin in infections involving the human bone.Methods. Compressive and tensile strength testing of daptomycin-laden PMMA was performed referring to the ISO 5833. The microstructure of the antibiotic-laden PMMA was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. Intracellular activity of daptomycin was determined by a human osteoblast infection model. Elution kinetics of the antibiotic-laden bone cement was measured by using a continuous flow chamber setup.Results. There was no significant negative effect of adding 1.225% and 7.5% per weight of daptomycin to the PMMA. There was no significant difference in intracellular activity comparing gentamicin to daptomycin. Elution of daptomycin from PMMA showed within the first-hour initial peak values of 15–20 μg/mL.Conclusion. Daptomycin has a certain degree of activity in the intracellular environment of osteoblasts. Daptomycin admixed to PMMA remains bactericidal and does not significantly impair structural characteristics of the PMMA. The results of this paper suggest that daptomycin might be a potent alternative for treating osteomyelitis and implant-associated infection in trauma and orthopedic surgery caused by multiresistant strains.
Simulation of Soil Temperature Dynamics with Models Using Different Concepts
Authors: Sándor Renáta , Fodor Nándor
Published: June 2012

This paper presents two soil temperature models with empirical and mechanistic concepts. At the test site (calcaric arenosol), meteorological parameters as well as soil moisture content and temperature at 5 different depths were measured in an experiment with 8 parcels realizing the combinations of the fertilized, nonfertilized, irrigated, nonirrigated treatments in two replicates. Leaf area dynamics was also monitored. Soil temperature was calculated with the original and a modified version of CERES as well as with the HYDRUS-1D model. The simulated soil temperature values were compared to the observed ones. The vegetation reduced both the average soil temperature and its diurnal amplitude; therefore, considering the leaf area dynamics is important in modeling. The models underestimated the actual soil temperature and overestimated the temperature oscillation within the winter period. All models failed to account for the insulation effect of snow cover. The modified CERES provided explicitly more accurate soil temperature values than the original one. Though HYDRUS-1D provided more accurate soil temperature estimations, its superiority to CERES is not unequivocal as it requires more detailed inputs.
Low frequency oscillations in cephalic vessels assessed by near infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Phillip Dorte , Schytz Henrik W , Selb Juliette , Payne Stephen , Iversen Helle K , Skovgaard Lene T , Boas David A , Ashina Messoud
Published: June 2012

Eur J Clin Invest 2012; 42 (11): 1180–1188

Background and Methods  Low frequency oscillations (LFO) of cerebral vessels are believed to reflect cerebral autoregulation. We investigated day‐to‐day and hemispheric variations in 0·1 Hz LFO with near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and transcranial Doppler (TCD) to determine phase shift and gain of oxygenated haemoglobin (oxyHb) and the velocity of the middle cerebral artery (Vmca) to the arterial blood pressure (ABP). The direct left–right phase shifts of oxyHb and Vmca were also assessed. We examined 44 healthy volunteers by simultaneous recordings of ABP, oxyHb and Vmca during spontaneous and paced breathing at 6 breaths per minute on two separate days.

Results  The variation between hemispheres had a prediction interval (PI) of ±39° for ABP–oxyHb phase shift and ±69% for gain. ABP–Vmca showed ±57° PI phase shift and ±158% PI for gain. The variation from day to day showed ±61° PI for ABP–oxyHb phase shift and ±297% PI for gain. ABP–Vmca showed ±45° PI phase shift and ±166% PI for gain. We found a linear relation between phase shift of oxyHb and Vmca at paced breathing (P = 0·0005), but not at rest (P = 0·235).

Conclusion  Our results show that LFO phase shift ABP–oxyHb may be used as a robust measurement of differences in autoregulation between hemispheres and over time. In addition, we found a strong relation between oxyHb and Vmca during paced breathing. Gain showed too large variation for clinical use, as the SD was up to 100‐fold of mean values.
Deletion of carboxypeptidase N delays onset of experimental cerebral malaria
Authors: DARLEY M. M. , RAMOS T. N. , WETSEL R. A. , BARNUM S. R.
Published: June 2012

Complement contributes to inflammation during pathogen infections; however, less is known regarding its role during malaria and in the severest form of the disease, cerebral malaria. Recent studies have shown that deletion of the complement anaphylatoxins receptors, C3aR and C5aR, does not alter disease susceptibility in experimental cerebral malaria (ECM). This does not, however, preclude C3a‐ and C5a‐mediated contributions to inflammation in ECM and raises the possibility that carboxypeptidase regulation of anaphylatoxin activity rapidly over rides their functions. To address this question, we performed ECM using carboxypeptidase N‐deficient (CPN−/−) mice. Unexpectedly, we found that CPN−/− mice survived longer than wild‐type mice, but they were fully susceptible to ECM. CD4+ and CD8+ T cell infiltration was not reduced at the peak of disease in CPN−/− mice, and there was no corresponding reduction in pro‐inflammatory cytokine production. Our results indicate that carboxypeptidases contribute to the pathogenesis of ECM and that studies examining the contribution of other carboxypeptidase families and family members may provide greater insight into the role these enzymes play in malaria.
Recruitment, habitat selection and larval photoresponse of Paraleucilla magna (Porifera, Calcarea) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Authors: Padua André , Lanna Emilio , Zilberberg Carla , Paiva Paulo César de , Klautau Michelle
Published: June 2012

Little is known about the recruitment and behaviour of sponge larvae, especially of the class Calcarea. The calcareous sponge Paraleucilla magna is very common in Southeast Brazil, where it is considered a cryptogenic species. This study quantified recruitment rates in shaded and illuminated habitats for 2 years in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and analyzed larval photoresponses of this species. Four structures, each containing a shaded and an illuminated surface, were exchanged every 3 months for 2 years. The number of recruits was quantified on each plate. In the laboratory, larvae of P. magna were placed in half‐shaded Petri dishes and the number of settlers in each side was counted after 24 h. Paraleucilla magna recruited continuously throughout the experiment. Recruits occurred in greater abundance on shaded surfaces than on illuminated surfaces, and the larvae were negatively phototactic in vitro. Despite the possible influence of other factors in the recruitment of sponges (such as sedimentation, competition and predation), the prevalence of P. magna in shaded habitats may also be related to larval choice.
Frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TDP‐43 proteinopathy and chromosome 9p repeat expansion in C9ORF72: clinicopathologic correlation
Authors: Bigio Eileen H. , Weintraub Sandra , Rademakers Rosa , Baker Matt , Ahmadian Saman S. , Rademaker Alfred , Weitner Bing Bing , Mao Qinwen , Lee Kyung‐Hwa , Mishra Manjari , Ganti Rakhee A. , Mesulam M‐Marsel
Published: June 2012

Mutations in C9ORF72 resulting in expanded hexanucleotide repeats were recently reported to be the underlying genetic abnormality in chromosome 9p‐linked frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TAR DNA‐binding protein of 43 kD (TDP‐43) proteinopathy (FTLD‐TDP), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and frontotemporal lobar degeneration with motor neuron disease (FTLD‐MND). Several subsequent publications described the neuropathology as being similar to that of FTLD‐TDP and ALS without C9ORF72 mutations, except that cases with mutations have p62 and ubiquitin positive, TDP‐43 negative inclusions in cerebellum, hippocampus, neocortex, and basal ganglia. The identity of this protein is as yet unknown, and its significance is unclear. With the goal of potentially uncovering the significance of these inclusions, we compared the clinical, pathologic and genetic characteristics in cases with C9ORF72 mutations to those without. We confirmed the apparent specificity of p62 positive, TDP‐43 negative inclusions to cases with C9ORF72 mutations. In hippocampus, these inclusions correlated with hippocampal atrophy. No additional correlations were uncovered. However, this is the first report to show that although most cases with C9ORF72 mutations were TDP type B, some of the pathologic characteristics in these cases were more similar to TDP types A and C than to type B cases. These include greater cortical and hippocampal atrophy, greater ventricular dilatation, more neuronal loss and gliosis in temporal lobe and striatum, and TDP‐43 positive fine neuritic profiles in the hippocampus, implying that the C9ORF72 mutation modifies the pathologic phenotype of FTLD‐TDP type B.
ICTs and Remembering the 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade in Britain: An Occasion for Celebration or Remorse?
Authors: HUGHES CHRISTOPHER R.
Published: June 2012

This paper will take the 2007 commemoration of the bicentenary of the abolition of the trans‐Atlantic slave trade by the United Kingdom as a case study to explore some of the dynamics that are generated when Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are used to shape social memory. Halbwach's proposition that memory is the product of a social group poses a fascinating challenge to many of the individualistic assumptions of the Western philosophical tradition.1 One of the major weaknesses of this theory, however, is that it says little about how memories are passed on within the same social group or transmitted from one generation to another.2 Existing work on this process of communication is in fact quite limited and tends to emphasise the role of commemorative ceremonies and bodily practices (such as gestures and manners).3 Even less attention has been paid to the role played by technological development.
Lifespan differences in nonlinear dynamics during rest and auditory oddball performance
Authors: Müller Viktor , Lindenberger Ulman
Published: June 2012

Electroencephalographic recordings (EEG) were used to assess age‐associated differences in nonlinear brain dynamics during both rest and auditory oddball performance in children aged 9.0–12.8 years, younger adults, and older adults. We computed nonlinear coupling dynamics and dimensional complexity, and also determined spectral alpha power as an indicator of cortical reactivity. During rest, both nonlinear coupling and spectral alpha power decreased with age, whereas dimensional complexity increased. In contrast, when attending to the deviant stimulus, nonlinear coupling increased with age, and complexity decreased. Correlational analyses showed that nonlinear measures assessed during auditory oddball performance were reliably related to an independently assessed measure of perceptual speed. We conclude that cortical dynamics during rest and stimulus processing undergo substantial reorganization from childhood to old age, and propose that lifespan age differences in nonlinear dynamics during stimulus processing reflect lifespan changes in the functional organization of neuronal cell assemblies.
Anti‐Immigrant Propaganda by Radical Right Parties and the Intellectual Performance of Adolescents
Authors: Appel Markus
Published: June 2012

In recent years radical right political parties have become a substantial electoral force in many countries around the world. Based on the vision of a mono‐ethnic state, anti‐immigration is these parties' core message. Connecting research on discrimination, social exclusion, and social identity threat, it was assumed that this anti‐immigrant propaganda undermines the intellectual performance of immigrant adolescents. In an experiment conducted at Austrian schools, the intelligence test performance of adolescents with an immigration background decreased after they were exposed to radical right election posters whereas ethnic majority adolescents remained unaffected. The results further suggest that individuals with a strong ethnic minority identity are less vulnerable to the detrimental impact of the radical right propaganda.
Potential of Regional and Seasonal Requirements in US Regulation of Fresh Lemon Imports
Authors: Cororaton Caesar B. , Peterson Everett B.
Published: June 2012

Peterson regional destination and seasonal access restrictions are regulatory options available to mitigate pest risk on imported fresh fruits and vegetables rather than impose an import ban. This paper analyses the economic effects of potential entry of Argentine lemons into the United States under alternative geographic and seasonal restrictions. One challenge to assessing the economic effect of entry is determining the post‐entry quantity of Argentine exports. Using a homothetic trans‐log expenditure function, we calibrate a set of reservation prices for US demand for Argentine lemons based on observed prices and quantities of other lemon varieties. These are compared with a set of projected entry prices to determine whether entry will occur and post‐entry export levels. Across the policy scenarios, Argentine lemon exports to the United States range from 8.0 to 14.9 million kg. Higher prices for Argentine lemons reduce its exports to the European Union and other markets, while lemon exports from Chile and Mexico are adversely affected. Broader applications of regional and/or seasonal restrictions may be effective policies for achieving pest risk mitigation goals in a manner consistent with WTO obligations to minimise distortions to trade.
Morphology and ultrastructure of the chorioallantoic placenta of the Iberian mole (Talpa occidentalis) with special reference to heterophagous areolas and the nature of interhaemal barrier
Authors: Siniza Swetlana , Lupiañez Dario G. , Jiménez Rafael , Zeller Ulrich
Published: June 2012

This study provides a contribution to the reconstruction of the eulipotyphlan placental morphotype and also may help resolving a long‐standing conflict about the interhaemal barrier in moles. As detailed descriptions of talpid placentation, only available for Talpa europaea and Scalopus aquaticus, led to a controversial debate on the nature of interhaemal barrier, the collection of more placental data of further mole species was strongly desired. Hence, the placentas of six gestational stages of Talpa occidentalis have been studied concerning their morphogenesis and ultrastructure with special focus on the structure of the interhaemal barrier and heterophagous regions. Generally, the mode of placentation in T. occidentalis resembles that of T. europaea, including a broad, discoid, antimesometrial, definitive chorioallantoic placenta of labyrinthine type being still villous in earlier stages. Within the labyrinth, the zona intima shows an endotheliochorial interhaemal barrier with a two‐layered trophoblast. This clearly contradicts former statements on the S. aquaticus placenta made by Prasad et al. (1979), although their findings cannot exclude a totally different interpretation. Regardless, the placenta of moles represents the least invasive mode of placentation among Eulipotyphla, which otherwise have highly invasive placentas. Although the phagocytic areolas situated above uterine gland openings are heterophagous, they mainly seem to serve fetal histiotrophic nutrition, at least early in pregnancy. In later stages the number of glands and areolas decreases. This special type of additional phagocytic region is usually most common in species with noninvasive, epitheliochorial placentation, which suggests a correlation between placental invasiveness and the occurrence and type of phagocytic placental structures. The compact and invasive mode of placentation of Talpidae and all other Eulipotyphla seems to be plesiomorphic within Laurasiatheria and is always correlated with an altricial neonate.
Mechanism of Mn(II)‐mediated dysregulation of glutamine–glutamate cycle: focus on glutamate turnover
Authors: Sidoryk‐Wegrzynowicz Marta , Lee Eunsook , Aschner Michael
Published: June 2012

J. Neurochem. (2012) 122, 856–867.

Manganese (Mn) has been implicated in the impairment of the glutamate–glutamine cycling (GGC) by deregulation of Glu and glutamine (Gln) turnover in astrocytes. Here, we have examined possible mechanisms involved in the Mn(II)‐mediated disruption of Glu turnover, including those related to protein degradation, such as the proteasomal and lysosomal machinery. Our study revealed that lysosome but not proteasomal inhibition is responsible for down‐regulation of the Glu transporter after Mn(II) treatment. Because protein kinase C (PKC) activation leads to the down‐regulation of Glu carriers, and Mn(II) increases PKC activity, we hypothesized that the PKC signaling contributes to the Mn(II)‐mediated disruption of Glu turnover. Our results show that PKC activation causes a decrease in Glu uptake and that inhibition of PKC reverses Mn(II)‐dependent down‐regulation of Glu influx as well as glutamate transporter 1 (GLT1) and glutamate–aspartate transporter (GLAST) protein level. Co‐immunoprecipitation studies show association of GLT1 with the PKCδ and PKCα isoforms and Mn(II)‐induced specific increase in PKCδ‐GLT1 interaction. In addition, astrocytes transfected with shRNA against PKCδ show decreased sensitivity to Mn(II) compared with those transfected with control shRNA or shRNA targeted against PKCα. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that PKCδ signaling is involved in the Mn(II)‐induced deregulation of Glu turnover in astrocytes.
Entering a World with No Future: A phenomenological study describing the embodied experience of time when living with severe incurable disease
Authors: Ellingsen Sidsel , Roxberg Åsa , Kristoffersen Kjell , Rosland Jan Henrik , Alvsvåg Herdis
Published: June 2012

Scand J Caring Sci; 2013; 27; 165–174

A phenomenological study describing the embodied experience of time when living with severe incurable disease

This article presents findings from a phenomenological study exploring experience of time by patients living close to death. The empirical data consist of 26 open‐ended interviews from 23 patients living with severe incurable disease receiving palliative care in Norway. Three aspects of experience of time were revealed as prominent: (i) Entering a world with no future; living close to death alters perception of and relationship to time. (ii) Listening to the rhythm of my body, not looking at the clock; embodied with severe illness, it is the body not the clock that structures and controls the activities of the day. (iii). Receiving time, taking time; being offered – not asked for – help is like receiving time that confirms humanity, in contrast to having to ask for help which is like taking others time and thereby revealing own helplessness. Experience of time close to death is discussed as an embodied experience of inner, contextual, relational dimensions in harmony and disharmony with the rhythm of nature, environment and others. Rhythms in harmony provide relief, while rhythms in disharmony confer weakness and limit time.
COERCION, AUTONOMY, AND THE PREFERENTIAL OPTION FOR THE POOR IN THE ETHICS OF ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION
Authors: JAYCOX MICHAEL P.
Published: June 2012

The debate concerning whether to legalize and regulate the global market in human organs is hindered by a lack of adequate bioethical language. The author argues that the preferential option for the poor, a theological category, can provide the grounding for an inductive moral epistemology adequate for reforming the use of culturally Western bioethical language. He proposes that the traditional, Western concept of bioethical coercion ought to be modified and expanded because the conditions of the market system, as viewed from the perspective of organ vendors systemically deprived of access to sufficient resources, are sufficiently exploitative as to diminish the possibility of these vendors giving informed consent. Moreover, empirical studies conducted by professionals in medicine, sociology, psychiatry, economics, and medical anthropology continue to contribute support to the growing interdisciplinary consensus that functionally coercive structural factors exert the most significant influence upon a vendor's decision to sell an organ within any market, regardless of legality or degree of regulation. Therefore any proposal to legalize and regulate the organ market remains patently unethical because doing so would likely function to constrain further the agency of poor potential vendors.
FROM INTEGRATIVE BIOETHICS TO PSEUDOSCIENCE
Authors: BRACANOVIĆ TOMISLAV
Published: June 2012

Integrative bioethics is a brand of bioethics conceived and propagated by a group of Croatian philosophers and other scholars. This article discusses and shows that the approach encounters several serious difficulties. In criticizing certain standard views on bioethics and in presenting their own, the advocates of integrative bioethics fall into various conceptual confusions and inconsistencies. Although presented as a project that promises to deal with moral dilemmas created by modern science and technology, integrative bioethics does not contain the slightest normativity or action‐guiding capacity. Portrayed as a scientific and interdisciplinary enterprise, integrative bioethics displays a large number of pseudoscientific features that throw into doubt its overall credibility.
Time constraints related to sexual maturation and prolonged copulation in the female‐dimorphic damselfly Ischnura senegalensis
Authors: Takahashi Yuma , Watanabe Mamoru
Published: June 2012

Time constraints are critical for reproductive success. To understand the spatiotemporal dynamics of morph frequency in the female‐dimorphic damselfly Ischnura senegalensis, we compared two different morphs for two important time constraints on female reproductive output, i.e. post‐emergence sexual maturation and prolonged copulation. The females of both morphs achieved sexual maturation 4–5 days after emergence, suggesting that the rate of sexual mutation does not result in morph‐specific fitness. The copulation durations declined with the time of onset of copulation in both morphs. Consequently, all copulations terminated at approximately 12:00 hours. Because females show foraging and oviposition activity only after copulation, the copulation duration does not result in morph‐specific time constraints. These two important time constraints do not account for morph‐specific reproductive success and do not affect the evolutionary equilibrium of morph frequency in I. senegalensis.
Climate Change Risk Perception and Communication: Addressing a Critical Moment?
Authors: Pidgeon Nick
Published: June 2012

Climate change is an increasingly salient issue for societies and policy‐makers worldwide. It now raises fundamental interdisciplinary issues of risk and uncertainty analysis and communication. The growing scientific consensus over the anthropogenic causes of climate change appears to sit at odds with the increasing use of risk discourses in policy: for example, to aid in climate adaptation decision making. All of this points to a need for a fundamental revision of our conceptualization of what it is to do climate risk communication. This Special Collection comprises seven papers stimulated by a workshop on “Climate Risk Perceptions and Communication” held at Cumberland Lodge Windsor in 2010. Topics addressed include climate uncertainties, images and the media, communication and public engagement, uncertainty transfer in climate communication, the role of emotions, localization of hazard impacts, and longitudinal analyses of climate perceptions. Climate change risk perceptions and communication work is critical for future climate policy and decisions.
Comments on the Model Testing by Goodwin and Meeran (2012): Comparison of the Utility‐based and the Gompertz Curve Approach for High‐technology Product Sales Forecasting
Authors: Gnibba‐Yukawa Kumiko , Decker Reinhold
Published: June 2012

Starting from a comprehensive examination of recent empirical studies focusing on consumer behavior in high‐technology markets and the resulting identification of factors probably affecting individual buying decisions as well as aggregate product sales, Decker and Gnibba‐Yukawa developed and empirically verified a utility‐based sales forecasting approach in their earlier work. Based on data for 14 consumer electronic products and using the Gompertz curve as a benchmark, Goodwin and Meeran carried out a “more extensive testing” of this proposal. However, at least from a practical point of view, the plausibility of their testing framework regarding the market potential m is not unquestionable.

This paper, therefore, first discusses some theoretical aspects of both approaches by addressing issues challenged by Goodwin and Meeran, especially regarding the use of short time series and the consideration of replacement purchases. Then, the quasi‐endogenous estimation method for m favored by Goodwin and Meeran for the Gompertz curve is examined in terms of sensitivity to better understand its influence on sales forecasts, and the adequacy of the suggested range for m in the case of the approach by Decker and Gnibba‐Yukawa is investigated. In addition, the results presented in Goodwin and Meeran are considered from a more distant perspective, and possible causes of the variations in forecasting accuracy are discussed, which finally reveals that the forecasting performance of the utility‐based approach is not that “disappointing” as claimed. It provides more accurate (or at least equivalent) forecasts than the Gompertz curve approach in 64% of the cases considered. Furthermore, if product 14 (portable MP3 players) is excluded from the analysis because of the nonconsideration of probably existing product improvement effects, then the utility‐based approach, on average, outperforms the benchmark in all forecasting years.

Altogether, this suggests that the approach by Decker and Gnibba‐Yukawa could achieve more accurate forecasts when applying a more reasonable range for m, rather than varying it between 2 and 15 times the cumulative sales by the end of year 7 as proposed by Goodwin and Meeran. It turns out that the Gompertz curve approach can perform on a par with the utility‐based approach in high‐technology product sales forecasting based on short time series if the market potential m is estimated exogenously. A combination of the outcomes of both approaches can even lead to more accurate forecasts as when being used individually insofar as composite forecasting seems to be a practicable approach to the problem of shorter time series compelled by the accelerated diffusion speed in high‐technology markets, rather than relying on one presumably “best” model.
Current cell models for bioengineering a salivary gland: a mini‐review of emerging technologies
Authors: Nelson J , Manzella K , Baker OJ
Published: June 2012

Oral Diseases (2013) 19, 236–244

Saliva plays a major role in maintaining oral health. Patients afflicted with a decrease in saliva secretion (symptomatically, xerostomia) exhibit difficulty in chewing and swallowing foods, tooth decay, periodontal disease, and microbial infections. Despite recent improvements in treating xerostomia (e.g., saliva stimulants, saliva substitutes, and gene therapy), there is a need of more scientific advancements that can be clinically applied toward restoration of compromised salivary gland function. Here we provide a summary of the current salivary cell models that have been used to advance restorative treatments via development of an artificial salivary gland. These models represent initial steps toward clinical and translational research, to facilitate creation of clinically safe salivary glands. Further studies in salivary cell lines and primary cells are necessary to improve survival rates, cell differentiation, and secretory function. Additionally, the characterization of salivary progenitor and stem cell markers are necessary. Although these models are not fully characterized, their improvement may lead to the construction of an artificial salivary gland that is in high demand for improving the quality of life of many patients suffering from salivary secretory dysfunction.
Effects of photoperiod and temperature on diapause induction in Conogethes punctiferalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)
Authors: Xu Li‐Rong , Ni Xinzhi , Wang Zhen‐Ying , He Kang‐Lai
Published: June 2012

The yellow peach moth, Conogethes punctiferalis (Guenée), a multivoltine species that overwinters as diapausing larvae, is one of the most serious insect pests on maize in China. Effect of photoperiod and temperature on larval diapause was examined under empirical laboratory conditions. Short‐day treatments caused larval diapause at 25°C, and the critical photoperiod was between 12 and 13 h (or 12 h 51 min) light per day. No sensitive instar was identified for diapause induction under alternated short‐ (L : D 11 : 13 h) and long‐day (L : D 14 : 10 h) treatments at different larval stages. However, accumulative treatment of three instars and 10 d under short‐day treatment was required for the induction of 50% larval diapause. All larvae entered diapause at 20°C, whereas less than 3% did so at 30°C, irrespective of the long‐ or short‐day treatment. Furthermore, under the short‐day treatment, more than 90% of larvae went into diapause with temperatures ≤ 25°C, but less than 17% did so at 28°C. In contrast, under the long‐day treatment, less than 19% of larvae went into diapause with temperatures ≥ 23°C. The forward shift (5°C) of critical temperature under the long‐day regime demonstrated the compensatory effect of temperature and photoperiod on diapause induction. In conclusion, C. punctiferalis had a temperature‐dependent type I photoperiodic diapause response; there was no sensitive instar for diapause determination, but the photoperiodic accumulation time countermeasures both of the short‐day cycles and the number of instars exposed, and the photoperiodic diapause response, was a temperature‐compensated phenomenon.
Mosquito autogeny in Aedes caspius (Diptera: Culicidae): alterations of larval nourishments reservation upon bacterial infection
Authors: Ahmed Ashraf M.
Published: June 2012

The present study recorded mosquito autogeny for the first time amongst Aedes caspius species in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia. Laboratory rearing showed an obligatory autogenous species of Ae. caspius since it foregoes blood feeding during its first ovarian cycle, even in the presence of the hosts (CD mouse), but produces its second egg batch only if ingested a blood meal. Both morphological and molecular identification confirmed that both autogenous and anautogenous strains belong to the same species of Ae. caspius. Data from biochemical analysis showed significant 2, 1.6, and 1.4 folds higher total carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids reserves respectively in the fourth larval instar of the autogenous strain compared to that of the anautogenous ones. In addition, exposing the fourth larval instars of autogenous strain to the infection stress by the mosquito larvicidal bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis var kurstaki has significantly reduced total carbohydrates, proteins and lipids reserves by 29%, 35%, and 46%, respectively, at 12 h postinfection compared to those of uninfected ones. These reductions in nourishment reserves were more pronounced at 24 h postinfection in the case of proteins and lipids, but not carbohydrates. These results may indicate that bacterial infection is a health stress that significantly reduced nourishments reservation, which may interrupt the success of adult autogeny. However, the impact of infection‐induced decline in larval nourishments reservation on successful adult autogeny is still to be investigated.
Improving water supply and sanitation programme effectiveness: lessons from WaterAid's outcome evaluation studies
Authors: Cotton Andrew , Adams Jerry , Shaw David
Published: June 2012

Many low income countries are off‐track to reach the Millennium Development Goals for water supply and sanitation. This paper develops a theoretical framework and methodology to improve the evaluation of water and sanitation programme outcomes, focusing on relevance, effectiveness and sustainability. The resulting set of evaluation questions are applied to seven independent evaluations of WaterAid's country programmes. Results are synthesised by assigning an ordinal ranking to the findings which are aggregated to assess overall outcome status that has validity at an organisational level, rather than just at country programme level. Strong areas of performance are partnership development, policy advocacy, equity and inclusion. Areas requiring attention are organisational learning, programme structure and government partner capacity for sustainability. The findings will be used to prioritise future programme management and are clustered into seven outcome areas that are of generic interest and significance to other organisations managing water supply and sanitation programmes.
Numerical Evaluation of Spherical Geometry Approximation for Heating and Cooling of Irregular Shaped Food Products
Authors: Uyar Rahmi , Erdogdu Ferruh
Published: June 2012

Abstract:  Irregular shapes of food products add difficulties in modeling of food processes, and using actual geometries might be in expense of computing time without offering any advantages in heating and cooling processes. In this study, a three‐dimensional scanner was used to obtain geometrical description of strawberry, pear, and potato, and cooling–heating simulations were carried out in a computational heat transfer program. Then, spherical assumption was applied to compare center and volume average temperature changes using volume to surface area ratios of these samples to define their characteristic length. In addition, spherical assumption for a finite cylinder and a cube was also applied to demonstrate the effect of sphericity. Geometries with sphericity values above 0.9 were determined to hold the spherical assumption.

Practical Applications:  Irregular shapes of food products add difficulties in modeling of heating and cooling processes of food products. In addition, using actual geometries are in expense of computational time without offering any advantages. Hence, spherical approximation for irregular geometries was demonstrated under sphericity values of 0.9. This approach might help in developing better heating and cooling processes.