bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mencius
Authors: B. Wong David
Published: January 2013

After Confucius (
see
Confucius), Mencius (the name is the Latinized form of “Mengzi” or “Master Meng”) is the most influential Confucian philosopher of the classical period. In his life during the fourth century
BCE
, the authority of the Zhou king became increasingly nominal and various Chinese states vied for power and sought territorial expansion. Mencius' philosophy presents a diagnosis of China's problems and a remedy that consisted in the ethical transformation of character, most especially that of rulers. His argumentation in defense of Confucian ethics (
see
Confucian Ethics) against rival ethical philosophies, his theory of human nature as containing the beginnings of ethical virtue (a character attribute of an ideal of the
junzi
or exemplary person) that needs nurturance through the appropriate social environment and by the agent's personal efforts in self‐cultivation, and his nuanced picture of self‐cultivation as involving emotion, discretion, and analogical reasoning laid the foundation for a version of Confucianism that arguably has occupied the center of a complex and diverse Chinese philosophical tradition.
Ring of Gyges
Authors: Morris Christopher W. , Singpurwalla Rachel
Published: January 2013

Plato's Socrates holds that we always have reason to be just, since being just is essential for living a happy and successful life (seePlato;Socrates). In Book II of Plato'sRepublic, Socrates' main interlocutor, Glaucon, raises a vivid and powerful challenge to this claim. He presents the case of Gyges, a Lydian shepherd who possesses a ring that gives him the power of invisibility. Glaucon's contention is that Gyges does not have reason to be just in this circumstance, since being just will not promote his happiness. Thus, the argument poses the following challenge: what reason do we have to be just, particularly in circumstances where we can get away with injustice? (seeReasons For Action, morality and; Why Be Moral; Justice; Happiness; Well‐Being. In this essay, we describe Glaucon's challenge, highlight its similarity to challenges offered by other skeptical figures in the history of philosophy, namely, Hobbes' Foole and Hume's sensible knave, and present three broad lines of response.
Motivation, Moral
Authors: Schroeder Timothy
Published: January 2013

Sometimes there is something you ought to do, and you do it. Perhaps you ought to return a book to a friend, and so you bundle up the book and bring it to your friend. Or perhaps you ought to do a little more to help prevent parasitic infection in a distant country, and so you donate to a charity specializing in that cause. The theory of moral motivation is concerned with explaining the motivations people have to do these sorts of things: the things that they have good moral reasons to do.
Medieval Ethics
Authors: Osborne, Thomas M.
Published: January 2013

The medieval period contains an extraordinarily rich variety of approaches to ethics. Until the end of the twelfth century, much of moral philosophy was developed in the context of theological debates within the intellectual tradition of Western Christianity. Monks and teachers in cathedral schools developed the thought of the earlier Christian Fathers, which was heavily influenced by Stoicism and Neo‐Platonism (seeAncient Ethics; Hellenistic Ethics; Stoicism). In the late twelfth century universities arose, and in the thirteenth century Aristotle'sNicomachean Ethicsbecame a part of the educational tradition (seeAristotle). Theologians and Masters of Arts developed a complicated moral philosophy and moral theology which took into account both the thought of Aristotle and the earlier Christian tradition. In particular, there were lengthy discussions of the relationship between happiness and ethics (seeHappiness; Eudaimonism), the role of nature in the natural law, and the subject and connection of the virtues (seeVirtue; Virtue Ethics). These medieval discussions provide the background for late scholastic and early modern treatments of the relationship between happiness and the virtues, as well as the importance of will for moral obligation. The scholastic thinkers were greatly influential until the politically motivated closing of university theological faculties and religious houses of formation in the late eighteenth century.
Metaethics and Ethics
Authors: Brunero John , Wiland Eric
Published: January 2013

In this essay, we'll consider the relationship between metaethics (
see
Metaethics) and ethics. Specifically, we'll consider the question of whether philosophers can answer questions within metaethics while remaining neutral on substantive questions within ethics. We'll outline and evaluate some recent challenges to the idea that metaethics can remain neutral with respect to ethical issues.
Murdoch, Iris
Authors: Cokelet Bradford
Published: January 2013

This essay provides a broad overview of Dame Iris Murdoch's work in moral philosophy. Although Murdoch is best known as a novelist, the focus here will be on her philosophic work. Throughout her life, Murdoch (1919–99) characterized herself as a Platonic realist and attacked other approaches to moral philosophy for obscuring our understanding of what she calls “the moral life” – roughly, our attempts to understand, evaluate, and improve ourselves and our lives together. While most philosophers are skeptical about her positive views, many also believe we can enrich our moral theories by engaging with her work and attending to the aspects of ordinary moral life it highlights.
Moral Psychology
Authors: Mason Michelle
Published: January 2013

Human beings confront the question of how they should live, a question posed by the gap between animal inclination and human choice. The presupposition of this gap supports the thought that human beings, unlike other animals, possess uniquely moral, or more broadly ethical, capacities: capacities of thought and feeling that equip them to act rightly or wrongly, display virtuous or vicious characters, or live morally good or bad lives. The field of moral psychology investigates these capacities. While philosophers may disagree over the precise delineation of the moral domain, philosophical work in moral psychology pursues questions whose foci include: (1) emotions and forms of regard directed toward persons as moral agents (e.g., respect and the various modes of moral approval and disapproval); (2) capacities key to moral judgment and the motivational sources that account for such judgments' practical influence (e.g., perception, reason, emotion/pleasure/desire, belief, and intention; altruism versus egoism); (3) the development and education of moral character (including the cultivation of virtue); and (4) the prerequisites of moral responsibility. Social scientific approaches to moral psychology bring experimental methods to bear on these topics. In modern parlance, “moral psychology” is a domain of study systematically pursued by a subfield of philosophy, a subfield of psychology, and a collaborative research program that draws on both disciplines.
Regret
Authors: Baron Marcia
Published: January 2013

We are all familiar with regret. And there doesn't seem to be anything puzzling about it, the way there is about, say, self‐deception (seeSelf‐deception) or survivor guilt (seeGuilt). So what philosophical significance does it have?
Public Goods
Authors: Lippert‐Rasmussen Kasper
Published: January 2013

Some important goods are public. An example is national defense. Suppose the Netherlands were to build an anti‐ballistic missile system. Because the Netherlands is a very small country, to protect one Dutch person – the Dutch queen – the system would have to be able to eliminate any ballistic missile targeting any part of the Netherlands. Once such a system has been built it will, at no extra cost, protect all Dutch citizens, so the good produced by the system will be joint in supply. Moreover, the good will be non‐exclusive. It is impossible to withhold protection specifically from Dutch citizens who are unwilling to pay for it. Other examples of public goods include unpolluted air, the ozone layer, avoidance of global warming (seeClimate Change), radio signals, and the rule of the law.
Conscience
Authors: Wicclair Mark R.
Published: January 2013

Conscience is an important concept in moral philosophy. It is a subject that gives rise to challenging conceptual, metaphysical, and epistemological questions, and it has generated broad multidisciplinary scholarly interest. It also is a phenomenon that figures prominently in everyday life, as evidenced by expressions such as “I can't do that in good conscience,” “I must follow my conscience,” and “I have a bad conscience.”
Globalization
Authors: Dower Nigel
Published: January 2013

“Globalization” is a general term used to describe the process of increasing connectedness and interdependence of relationships across the world, in which cultural, moral, political, and economic activities in one part of the world have significant effects in other parts of the world. These effects may be causal, like economic or environmental impacts, or psychological, in terms of a greater sense of global connectedness. While many would argue that globalization goes back much further, it is a phenomenon that most associate with changes in the last 30–40 years because of the scale of these effects and relationships. There really is not any serious debate whether globalization has occurred; it has. This is not a process we can completely stop or wholly undo. But there is debate about the extent to which it has occurred. The “skeptics” interpret the phenomena globalization describes as making relatively little difference to how people live or how political institutions and businesses operate; whereas the “hyper‐globalizers” claim that it has completely transformed – or is in the process of completely transforming – the world. This essay assumes a middle position, namely that there is a significant process going on.
Particularism
Authors: McNaughton David , Rawling Piers
Published: January 2013

The term “particularist” was coined by Hare (1963: 18), and particularism arose, in part, as a response to his views (seeHare, R. M.). As he defined it, moral particularism is, at least in its “extremest” form, the rejection of the supervenience of the moral upon the nonmoral – that is, the rejection of the notion that if two circumstances are alike in all nonmoral respects, then they must be alike in all moral respects. As contemporary exponents of the position use the term, however, it does not refer to a denial of supervenience. On one broad usage (e.g., Blum 1994), the particularist is someone who expresses hostility to the view that a decision about what we ought to do in some particular case can be mechanically ‘read off' from a general moral principle or principles. Rather, it is urged, a correct moral verdict can only be reached by paying close attention to the individual case – to what differentiates it from other cases as much as what it has in common with them. As well as an understanding of the correct moral principles, we need fine judgment, sensitivity, and even something approaching a perceptual capacity (seePerception, Moral) to appreciate the saliences of the circumstances in which we find ourselves. Particularism in this broad sense, which claims that a grasp of moral principles is insufficient for the correct moral appreciation of the particular case, has won many adherents in recent years. It is a position explicitly held, for example, by those known by some as intuitionists (Urmson 1975), as can be seen from Rawls' definition, which we shall adopt:
Bioethics
Authors: Battin Margaret Pabst
Published: January 2013

Bioethics, as it has emerged from its beginnings in the 1960s and 1970s, has become a complex and highly interdisciplinary field involving multiple disciplines. Its three dominant strains – philosophy, medicine, and law – coexist in amicable tension, supplemented by anthropology, sociology, economics, humanities and literary studies, theology, political science, and many others. Bioethics is in part an academic field (a trait it inherits from philosophy and to some extent theology); it is partly a set of clinical attitudes and resources (a trait grounded in medicine as well as anthropology and sociology); and it is partly a policy‐oriented form of social analysis (a trait it derives from law and related fields like economics and political science). Yet however complex its ancestry and its hybrid, essentially tripartite nature, bioethics is an intellectual and social phenomenon that has developed extremely rapidly and now represents a significant cultural force as well as an important practical one.
Economic Sanctions
Authors: Rosenthal Joel H.
Published: January 2013

Economic sanctions are an instrument of foreign policy. They are used as a means to achieve particular goals. Therefore an ethical assessment of economic sanctions relies on evaluating the goal being sought in each case as well as a comprehensive analysis of the impact of the policy chosen (seeconsequentialism). Drawing upon the literature of economists, international relations theorists, and just war philosophers (Baldwin 1985; Nye 2011; Gordon 2010), it is evident that an ethical analysis of economic sanctions includes three essential questions. First, is the goal just? Second, do sanctions work as the appropriate means to achieve the goal? And third, are sanctions the most just and humane policy option available?
An Efficient Synthesis of N‐Substituted‐3‐aryl‐3‐(4‐hydroxy‐6‐methyl‐2‐oxo‐2H‐pyran‐3‐yl)propanamides by Four‐Component Reaction in Aqueous Medium
Authors: Dou Guo‐Lan , Wang De‐Ming , Zhong Xiao‐Xing , Shi Da‐Qing
Published: January 2013

A mild and efficient synthesis of N‐substituted‐3‐aryl‐3‐(4‐hydroxy‐6‐methyl‐2‐oxo‐2H‐pyran‐3‐yl)propanamides via four‐component reaction of an aldehyde, amine, Meldrum's acid, and 4‐hydroxy‐6‐methyl‐2H‐pyran‐2‐one in the presence of benzyltriethylammonium chloride (TEBAC) in aqueous medium is described. This method has the advantages of accessible starting materials, good yields, mild reaction conditions, and begin environmentally friendly.
Synthesis of trans/cis‐3,4‐Disubstituted 1,2,3,4‐Tetrahydroisoquinolines by Nucleophilic Acyl Substitution of Homophthalic Anhydride with Aldimines
Authors: Hammad Sherif F . , Smith Forrest T.
Published: January 2013

The reaction of the functionalized N‐protected imines 3 and 7 containing either the chloromethyl or ethyl ester moieties, respectively, attached to the imine carbon with homophthalic anhydride 2 afforded cis/tran‐3‐subsituted‐1‐oxo‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinoline‐4‐caboxylic acids appropriate for further synthetic elaboration.
The First Synthesis of Furoxan and 1,3,4‐Oxadiazole Ring Ensembles
Authors: Finogenov Aleksey O. , Kulikov Alexander S. , Epishina Margarita A. , Ovchinnikov Igor V. , Nelyubina Yu. V. , Makhova Nina N.
Published: January 2013

Previously unknown furoxan and 1,3,4‐oxadiazole ring ensembles incorporating two, three, and five furoxan and 1,3,4‐oxadiazole rings in different combinations were for the first time synthesized from accessible azides and hydrazides of furoxancarboxylic acids. An interdependence of furoxan and 1,3,4‐oxadiazole rings on their geometric parameters was revealed by the X‐ray diffraction method.
Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity of 2‐(Pyridine‐3‐yl)‐4H‐chromen‐4‐one Derivatives
Authors: Chate Asha V. , Ghotekar Dattatraya S. , Bhagat, Sunil S. , Gill Charansingh H.
Published: January 2013

An efficiently synthesis of chromones via cyclodehydration of corresponding 1‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐3‐(pyridine‐3‐yl)propane‐1,3‐dione is described under ultrasound irradiation. A series of novel 2‐(pyridine‐3‐yl)‐4H‐chromen‐4‐one derivatives was confirmed on the basis of 1H‐NMR, mass, IR spectral data, and elemental analysis. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for their antibacterial and antifungal activities. Most of the compounds were found to be comparable potent than the reference standard drugs. Utilization of ultrasound irradiation, simple reaction conditions, isolation, and purification makes this manipulation very interesting from an economic and environmental perspective.
Synthesis of Tetrazoloquinoline‐Based Mono‐ and Bisphosphonate Esters as Potent Anti‐Inflammatory Agents
Authors: Abdou Wafaa M. , Khidre Rizk E. , Shaddy Abeer A.
Published: January 2013

Several new α‐alkoxy‐ and α‐hydroxyphosphonate derivatives of tetrazole‐quinolines were synthesized from the reaction of 2‐azidoquinolines 3‐carboxaldehyde 1a,b with trialkyl phosphites and dialkyl phosphites. On the other hand, azaphospholes 12a,b were obtained by treating 1a,b with tris(dimethylamino)phosphine. Furthermore, Perkin‐type condensation of 1a,b and tetraethyl methylenebisphosphonate provided the corresponding tetrazoloquinoline‐based bisphosphonate esters 14a,b. Based on the prediction results (PASS program), the anti‐inflammatory activity of the prepared compounds was determined in vivo by the acute carrageenin‐induced paw edema in rats. Many of the new compounds exhibit considerable anti‐inflammatory properties at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight. Especially 14a and 14b revealed remarkable activities compared with indomethacin, which was used as a reference standard in this study.
Brominated Trihalomethylenones as Versatile Precursors to 3‐Ethoxy, ‐Formyl, ‐Azidomethyl, ‐Triazolyl, and 3‐Aminomethyl Pyrazoles
Authors: Martins Marcos A. P. , Sinhorin Adilson P. , Frizzo Clarissa P. , Buriol Lilian , Scapin Elisandra , Zanatta Nilo , Bonacorso Helio G.
Published: January 2013

5‐Bromo[5,5‐dibromo]‐1,1,1‐trihalo‐4‐methoxy‐3‐penten[hexen]‐2‐ones are explored as precursors to the synthesis of 3‐ethoxymethyl‐5‐trifluoromethyl‐1H‐pyrazoles from a cyclocondensation reaction with hydrazine monohydrate in ethanol. 3‐Ethoxymethyl‐carboxyethyl ester pyrazoles were formed as a result of a substitution reaction of bromine and chlorine by ethanol. The dibrominated precursor furnished 3‐acetal‐pyrazole that was easily hydrolyzed to formyl group. In addition, brominated precursors were used in a nucleophilic substitution reaction with sodium azide to synthesize the 3‐azidomethyl‐5‐ethoxycarbonyl‐1H‐pyrazole from the reaction with hydrazine monohydrate. These products were submitted to a cycloaddition reaction with phenyl acetylene furnishing the 3‐[4(5)‐phenyl‐1,2,3‐triazolyl]5‐ ethoxycarbonyl‐1H‐pyrazoles and to reduction conditions resulting in 3‐aminomethyl‐1H‐pyrazole‐5‐carboxyethyl ester. The products were obtained by a simple methodology and in moderate to good yields.
Microstructure and corrosion behaviour of low copper 7xxx aluminium alloy
Authors: Cassell A. , Thompson G. E. , Zhou X. , Afseth A. , Dunlop H. , Kulas M‐A. , Peguet L. , Scamans G.
Published: January 2013

High strength aluminium alloys provide benefits in vehicle efficiency and energy consumption. Weldable, lean 7xxx aluminium alloys are currently being developed for body‐in‐white production. In the present study, the influences of thermomechanical history on microstructure and, consequently, on the corrosion behaviour of lean 7xxx aluminium alloys have been investigated. Accelerated corrosion testing has been carried out to assess the corrosion behaviour of the alloys. Conventional electron microscopy, together with electron energy loss spectroscopy, was employed to characterise the alloy microstructure in the as‐fabricated condition, and to examine the microstructural changes after corrosion testing, with the aim of identifying the microstructural features associated with the propagation of corrosion in the alloys. Further, alloys before and after EXCO corrosion testing were examined using a newly developed SEM nanotomography approach; it was demonstrated that the degradation of the microstructure, in particular sub‐surface cracking advancing along the rolling plane is related to thermomechanical processing. Further, this may be associated with the distribution of fine η phase AlMgZn2 particles at elongated grain boundaries; additionally, the η phase distribution is associated with thermomechanical history. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Moral judgments and emotions: Adolescents' evaluations in intergroup social exclusion contexts
Authors: Cooley Shelby , Elenbaas Laura , Killen Melanie
Published: January 2013

This article examines children's moral judgments and emotional evaluations in the context of social exclusion. As they age, children and adolescents face increasingly complex situations in which group membership and allegiance are in opposition with morally relevant decisions, such as the exclusion of an individual from a group. While adolescents are often characterized as being conformists to group norms, research demonstrates that their judgments about fairness, justice, and rights can supersede negative or exclusive norms espoused by groups. Additionally, young people's emotional evaluations of members who do not conform to a group norm are in concert with these fairness judgments. Implications for social and moral development will be discussed in the context of empirical findings.
Neglect and Failures of Human Security in Humanitarian Settings: Challenges and Recommendations
Authors: Macpherson Robert , Burkle Frederick M.
Published: January 2013

The lack of attention to basic safety and security standards by the humanitarian community is endemic. The tragic bombing and loss of life of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq in 2003 is but one of many unfortunate examples; these incidents are increasing in number. Tools for establishing an organizational security framework are readily available. Capacity to implement this framework requires understanding the culture of safety and security and individual and organizational leadership. This report outlines the essential steps and components necessary to meet this requirement.

MacphersonR, Burkle FM Jr. Neglect and failures of human security in humanitarian settings: challenges and recommendations. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2013;28(2):1-5.
Measurement of Empathy Levels in Undergraduate Paramedic Students
Authors: Williams Brett , Boyle Mal , Earl Tracy
Published: January 2013

Introduction

Paramedics rely on establishing a health provider-patient relationship with patients that promotes two-way communication, patient satisfaction, and facilitates appropriate patient assessment and treatment. Paramedics also must have an ability to empathize with patients and their family members in order to develop a successful health provider-patient relationship. The objective of this study was to assess paramedics’ empathy and attitudes toward patients with specific conditions.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study using a convenience sample of first-, second-, and third-year, Australian undergraduate paramedic students. Student empathy levels were assessed using two standardized self-reporting instruments: the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy (JSPE) Health Professional (HP) version and the Medical Condition Regard Scale (MCRS).

Results

A total of 94 paramedic students participated in the study. The JSPE demonstrated that male paramedic students had higher mean empathy scores than did female paramedic students (113.25 and 107.5, respectively; P = .042). The JSPE empathy level scores were lowest among first-year paramedic students (mean = 107.53); age was not found to be a significant variable on empathy scores. The Medical Condition Regard Scale revealed lowest scores in compassion towards substance abuse (mean = 46.42).

Conclusions

The results of this study provide the discipline of paramedic health care with useful data, and provide students, academics, and other educators with important information regarding the improvement of the health provider-patient relationship and paramedic education curriculum development.

WilliamsB, BoyleM, EarlT. Measurement of empathy levels in undergraduate paramedic students. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2013;28(2):1-5.
Convective washout reduces the antidiarrheal efficacy of enterocyte surface–targeted antisecretory drugs
Authors: Jin Byung-Ju , Thiagarajah Jay R. , Verkman A.S.
Published: January 2013

Secretory diarrheas such as cholera are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. We previously introduced the concept of antisecretory therapy for diarrhea using chloride channel inhibitors targeting the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator channel pore on the extracellular surface of enterocytes. However, a concern with this strategy is that rapid fluid secretion could cause convective drug washout that would limit the efficacy of extracellularly targeted inhibitors. Here, we developed a convection–diffusion model of washout in an anatomically accurate three-dimensional model of human intestine comprising cylindrical crypts and villi secreting fluid into a central lumen. Input parameters included initial lumen flow and inhibitor concentration, inhibitor dissociation constant (Kd), crypt/villus secretion, and inhibitor diffusion. We modeled both membrane-impermeant and permeable inhibitors. The model predicted greatly reduced inhibitor efficacy for high crypt fluid secretion as occurs in cholera. We conclude that the antisecretory efficacy of an orally administered membrane-impermeant, surface-targeted inhibitor requires both (a) high inhibitor affinity (low nanomolar Kd) to obtain sufficiently high luminal inhibitor concentration (>100-fold Kd), and (b) sustained high luminal inhibitor concentration or slow inhibitor dissociation compared with oral administration frequency. Efficacy of a surface-targeted permeable inhibitor delivered from the blood requires high inhibitor permeability and blood concentration (relative to Kd).
Avaliação da presença de microrganismos indicadores higiênico-sanitários em alimentos servidos em escolas públicas de Porto Alegre, Brasil
Authors: Oliveira Ana Beatriz Almeida de , Capalonga Roberta , Silveira Joice Trindade , Tondo Eduardo Cesar , Cardoso Marisa Ribeiro de Itapema
Published: January 2013

Este estudo tem por objetivo avaliar a presença de microrganismos indicadores higiênico-sanitários em amostras de alimentos servidos em escolas públicas de Porto Alegre. Foram analisados todos os alimentos servidos na refeição do turno da visita, quanto à presença de Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus coagulase positiva, Salmonella sp. e Shigella sp. No total de 196 alimentos analisados de 120 escolas, 4 apresentavam contagem de Escherichia coli acima do permitido e dois tinham a presença de Staphylococcus coagulase positiva. Os gêneros Shigella e Salmonella não foram encontrados. Foi observado que a maioria das escolas estudadas servia alimentos dentro de padrões higiênico-sanitários adequados. Foi evidenciado que somente escolas municipais contavam com a orientação de responsável técnico pela alimentação escolar. Das escolas estaduais 60% nunca haviam recebido visita de nutricionista nas quais foram encontrados procedimentos em desacordo com as exigências da legislação. Na maioria das escolas, os alimentos servidos estavam dentro de padrões adequados, porém os problemas detectados demonstram a necessidade da implantação das Boas Práticas no ambiente escolar.
Estimation of Porosity and Permeability from Conventional Logs in Tight Sandstone Reservoirs of North Ordos Basin
Authors: Deng Jiang-Ming , Liu Xiao-Peng , Wu Xin-Min , Hu Xiao-Xin
Published: January 2013

The statistical histograms of core porosities and permeabilities illustrate that the distribution of reservoir porosity for Chang 6 Formation is from 5.0% to 12.0%, the average value is 8.2%, reservoir permeabilities range from 0.71 to 3.98 mD, and the average permeability is 1.26mD, belongs to typical tight sandstone reservoirs. In this study, based on the core scale logging method, the relationship between core derived porosity and interval travel time (the only acquired conventional porosity logging series in Chang 6 Formation of north Ordos basin) is established to estimate tight sandstone reservoir porosity. The relationship between core porosity and permeability is not classical power or exponential function. The tendency between core porosity and permeability is disparate for rocks with 9% as the boundary. When porosities are higher than 9%, permeabilities increase much faster when rock porosity increase. To establish the unified permeability estimation model, the cubic function is applied after the data set of reservoir permeabilities are taken logarithmic. Several wells that processed with the established models illustrate that the estimated porosities and permeabilities are coincided with the core analyzed results very well. The absolute errors between the estimated porosity and core analyzed results are lower than 0.45%, and the relative errors between them are lower than 5%. This meets the regulation of petroleum reserves estimation, and can be used for evaluation of reserves directly.
Optimization of a Low Magnesium, Cholesterol-Containing Diet for the Development of Atherosclerosis in Rabbits
Authors: Smith Brendon W. , King Jennifer L. , Miller Rita J. , Blue Jr. James P. , Sarwate Sandhya , O'Brien Jr. William D. , Erdman Jr. John W.
Published: January 2013

The cholesterol-fed rabbit is useful for atherosclerosis research. We describe development of a low-magnesium (Mg) cholesterol-containing diet to accelerate atherosclerosis in this model. Male New Zealand White rabbits were fed either chow or one of four atherogenic diets: 1% cholesterol 10% fat 0.11% Mg, 1% cholesterol 10% fat 0.40% Mg, 2% cholesterol 20% fat 0.11% Mg, or 2% cholesterol 20% fat 0.40% Mg. While feed intake decreased in cholesterol-fed rabbits, they were able to maintain their body weights. Rabbits consuming cholesterol experienced profound hypercholesterolemia and tissue lipid accumulation, with plasma cholesterol levels above 1500 mg/dl for all groups at the completion of the study. Liver and spleen lipid content and liver cholesterol content also increased. Aortic arch atheroma thickness was greatest in 1% cholesterol 10% fat 0.11% Mg animals. Tissue Mg levels decreased in cholesterol-fed animals compared to chow-fed controls, despite equal or greater serum Mg levels. Our results indicate that the 1% cholesterol 10% fat 0.11% Mg diet was optimal at promoting hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis while minimizing health complications for the animals. The low Mg cholesterol diet will be useful to other biomedical researchers interested in utilizing the rabbit for cardiovascular disease research.
Osteoblastic cellular responses on ionically crosslinked chitosan‐tripolyphosphate fibrous 3‐D mesh scaffolds
Authors: Pati Falguni , Kalita Hemjyoti , Adhikari Basudam , Dhara Santanu
Published: January 2013

Tripolyphosphate (TPP) crosslinked chitosan (CH)‐based fibrous matrices have potential as bioactive scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. This study describes mechanical, biomineralization, and in vitro bone cell growth and differentiation properties of CH‐TPP (chitosan‐tripolyphosphate) fibrous scaffolds and compared with that of uncrosslinked CH one. The hydrated CH‐TPP scaffolds were viscoelastic in nature and their compressive strength was ∼2.9 MPa, which is greater than recent polymer experimental bone scaffolds. This improvement in mechanical properties of CH‐TPP scaffold may be beneficial toward cancellous bone graft application. Furthermore, CH‐TPP fibers supported in vitro biomineralization with phosphate as nucleation site; however, no significant difference in biomineralization morphology was observed with uncrosslinked CH fibers. Interestingly, a significant improvement in cellular responses (>33% increase in cell number based on DNA quantification) was observed when osteoblast like cells were cultured on the CH‐TPP scaffolds than that of CH scaffolds without phosphate group. Enhanced osteoblastic differentiation of MG63 cells on CH‐TPP scaffolds was also evidenced. Altogether, the results show that the CH‐TPP fibrous scaffolds are encouraging for bone tissue engineering. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 101A: 2526–2537, 2013.
Myocardin and microRNA‐1 modulate bladder activity through connexin 43 expression during post‐natal development
Authors: Imamura Masaaki , Sugino Yoshio , Long Xiaochun , Slivano Orazio J. , Nishikawa Nobuyuki , Yoshimura Naoki , Miano Joseph M.
Published: January 2013

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a pervasive clinical problem involving alterations in both neurogenic and myogenic activity. While there has been some progress in understanding neurogenic inputs to OAB, the mechanisms controlling myogenic bladder activity are unclear. We report the involvement of myocardin (MYOCD) and microRNA‐1 (miR‐1) in the regulation of connexin 43 (GJA1), a major gap junction in bladder smooth muscle, and the collective role of these molecules during post‐natal bladder development. Wild‐type (WT) mouse bladders showed normal development from early post‐natal to adult including increases in bladder capacity and maintenance of normal sensitivity to cholinergic agents concurrent with down‐regulation of MYOCD and several smooth muscle cell (SMC) contractile genes. Myocardin heterozygous‐knockout mice exhibited reduced expression of Myocd mRNA and several SMC contractile genes concurrent with bladder SMC hypersensitivity that was mediated by gap junctions. In both cultured rat bladder SMC and in vivo bladders, MYOCD down‐regulated GJA1 expression through miR‐1 up‐regulation. Interestingly, adult myocardin heterozygous‐knockout mice showed normal increases in bladder and body weight but lower bladder capacity compared to WT mice. These results suggest that MYOCD down‐regulates GJA1 expression via miR‐1 up‐regulation, thereby contributing to maintenance of normal sensitivity and development of bladder capacity. J. Cell. Physiol. 228: 1819–1826, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Single v. multiple measures of skin carotenoids by resonance Raman spectroscopy as a biomarker of usual carotenoid status
Authors: Scarmo Stephanie , Cartmel Brenda , Lin Haiqun , Leffell David J. , Ermakov Igor V. , Gellermann Werner , Bernstein Paul S. , Mayne Susan T.
Published: January 2013

Resonance Raman spectroscopy (RRS) is a non-invasive method of assessing carotenoid status in the skin, which has been suggested as an objective indicator of fruit/vegetable intake. The present study assessed agreement and identified predictors of single v. multiple RRS measures of skin carotenoid status. A total of seventy-four participants had their skin carotenoid status measured in the palm of the hand by RRS at six time points over 6 months. Questionnaires were administered to collect information on demographic, lifestyle and dietary data. Mean age of the participants was 36·6 years, 62·2 % were female, 83·8 % Caucasian and 85·1 % were non-smoking at baseline. There was a good agreement between a single measure of skin carotenoids by RRS and multiple measures (weighted κ = 0·80; 95 % CI 0·72, 0·88). The same variables were significantly associated with carotenoid status based on single or multiple measures, including a positive association with intake of total carotenoids (P< 0·01) and an inverse association with season of measurement (P≤ 0·05). The exception was recent sun exposure, which emerged as a significant predictor of lower carotenoid status only when using multiple RRS measures (P≤ 0·01). A single RRS measure was reasonably accurate at classifying usual skin carotenoid status. Researchers using RRS may want to take into account other factors that are associated with the biomarker, including season of measurement and recent sun exposure.
Leaf morpho-anatomical variations in Billbergia elegans and Neoregelia mucugensis (Bromeliaceae) exposed to low and high solar radiation
Authors: Rodrigues Pereira Tiago Augusto , da Silva Luzimar Campos , Azevedo Aristéa Alves , Francino Dayana Maria Teodoro , dos Santos Coser Thiago , Pereira Jaqueline Dias
Published: January 2013

The morpho-anatomical leaf structure may be directly affected by variations in the environmental conditions to which plants are exposed during development. The “campos rupestres” vegetation (rocky fields) is subjected to several stress conditions and microclimatic variations that result in important adaptations that enable the survival in these environments. In this study, we analyzed the leaf morpho-anatomy of two bromeliads, Billbergia elegans Martius ex Schultes f. and Neoregelia mucugensis Leme, occurring in the rock fields of Itacolomi State Park, southeastern Brazil, and tested for morpho-anatomical variations in response to light conditions. The analysis followed usual techniques in plant anatomy. Both species exhibited variations in the shape of the rosette, leaf color, and size of leaf sheath and blade. Scale density was higher on both leaf surfaces of individuals exposed to high solar radiation. Thickness of the leaf blade, water-storage parenchyma, chlorenchyma, and stomatal density were higher in individuals exposed to low solar radiation, which disagrees with most previous studies and may be related to the environment where these species occur, where water availability is one of the main limiting factors. Our observations point out a need for studies on herb species from xeric environments, which may bring new information on adaptations to these environments.
A Validated Stability-Indicating RP-HPLC Method for the Simultaneous Determination of Tenofovir, Emtricitabine, and a Efavirenz and Statistical Approach to Determine the Effect of Variables
Authors: Devrukhakar Prashant S. , Borkar Roshan , Shastri Nalini , Surendranath K. V.
Published: January 2013

A simple, rapid, and stability-indicating RP-HPLC method for a combination of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), emtricitabine (FTC), and efavirenz (EFV) was developed and validated with the help of a suitable statistical software as an application tool for the quality by design. The drugs individually, and in combination, were subjected to forced degradation (thermal, photolytic, hydrolytic, and oxidative stress conditions) and accelerated stability studies (40 ± 1°C/75 ± 3% RH for three months). Successful separation of combined drugs from degradation products was achieved by gradient elution on a reverse-phase C18 column, using a mobile phase containing phosphate buffer (pH 3.5): acetonitrile at 1.5 mL min−1 flow rate, detection wavelength 256 nm, column oven temperature 25°C, and injection volume 10 μL. Linearity was established in the range of 20–300 μg mL−1, 24.5–367.5 μg mL−1 and 60–900 μg mL−1 for FTC, TDF, and EFV, respectively. The method was successfully applied for quantifying the drugs in marketed dosage forms and on stability samples.
Equine sarcoids: Bovine Papillomavirus type 1 transformed fibroblasts are sensitive to cisplatin and UVB induced apoptosis and show aberrant expression of p53
Authors: Finlay Margaret , Yuan ZhengQiang , Morgan Iain M , Campo M Saveria , Nasir Lubna
Published: January 2013

Bovine papillomavirus type 1 infects not only cattle but also equids and is a causative factor in the pathogenesis of commonly occurring equine sarcoid tumours. Whilst treatment of sarcoids is notoriously difficult, cisplatin has been shown to be one of the most effective treatment strategies for sarcoids. In this study we show that in equine fibroblasts, BPV-1 sensitises cells to cisplatin-induced and UVB-induced apoptosis, a known cofactor for papillomavirus associated disease, however BPV-1 transformed fibroblasts show increased clonogenic survival, which may potentially limit the therapeutic effects of repeated cisplatin treatment. Furthermore we show that BPV-1 increases p53 expression in sarcoid cell lines and p53 expression can be either nuclear or cytoplasmic. The mechanism and clinical significance of increase/abnormal p53 expression remains to be established.
Selective Silicon-Germanium Source/Drain Technology for Nanoscale Cmos
Authors: Öztürk M. C. , Pesovic N. , Liu J. , Mo H. , Kang I. , Gannavaram S.
Published: January 2013

Future CMOS technology nodes bring new challenges to formation of source/drain junctions and their contacts. To avoid MOSFET performance degradation with scaling, series resistance contribution of each junction must be limited to five percent of the device channel resistance. This requires ultra-shallow junctions with extremely low sheet, spreading and contact resistance. In this paper, we present an overview of the SiGe junction technology recently proposed by this laboratory for nanoscale CMOS. The technology is based on selective deposition of boron or phosphorus doped SiGe alloys in source/drain regions isotropically etched to the desired junction depth. Since the dopant atoms naturally occupy the substitutional sites during growth, the need for an activation anneal is completely eliminated limiting the maximum process temperature to 550°C for boron and 750°C for phosphorus. In this temperature range, dopant diffusion is virtually eliminated resulting in extremely abrupt doping profiles. Elimination of the high temperature implant anneal also makes the process compatible with the thermal stability needs of future high-K gate dielectrics. A key advantage of the technology is its potential to reduce the junction contact resistance. SiGe provides a smaller bandgap under the metal contact resulting in a smaller metal-semiconductor barrier height. Since the contact resistivity is an exponential function of the barrier height, the technology provides a significant advantage in reducing the contact resistivity. The results to date indicate that the technology is a promising alternative for nanoscale CMOS source/drain junctions and their contacts.
Rotary Steerable System Delivers Significant Performance and Cost Benefits for the Operator by Enabling the Use of PDC Bit in Drilling 12 ¼" Section
Authors: Nurzai Jehanzeb , Butt Imran
Published: January 2013

Application of Rotary Steerable Systems (RSS) requires a value proposition that exceeds the conventional method of drilling the well. The most quoted value proposition is savings in time for drilling wells of complex geometry.

This time saving is achieved because drilling of geometrically complex wells requires oriented drilling with conventional motors. This in turn reduces the rate of penetration (ROP) significantly and increases the amount of time required to drill the section. Rotary Steerable Systems on the other hand can be used to drill these wells without stopping rotation and in turn maintaining the rotating ROP throughout the section.

The real value proposition of rotary steerable systems is however in allowing options that would otherwise be impractical i.e. precise control due to closed loop systems, extended drilling due to continuous rotation or ability to utilize components that may be difficult to use with conventional motors.

This paper compares the drilling performance with and without rotary steerable system in the 12 ¼" sections on client wells. It also describes the benefits achieved when a rotary steerable application enabled the use of Polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) bit in drilling 12 ¼" section. This resulted in significant time savings for client by saving a bit trip which was always required when tri cone insert bits (TCI) were used. Additional benefit of higher ROP was also realized due to increased effectiveness of PDC bit in comparison with TCI bits.

This PDC bit was not favored for use with conventional drilling systems due to difficulty in maintaining tool face during oriented drilling operation. Even though the bit was effective in drilling the formation, its unsuitability with drilling system rendered it unusable until the full benefits were realized by incorporating it in a rotary steerable BHA.

The application of Rotary Steerable System with the PDC bit resulted in an average on bottom ROP improvement of 67% as compared to the wells drilled in the same field with conventional motor assemblies. During this run 3590 feet of hole section was drilled with a circulation time of 180 Hrs. In addition to improved ROP, trip time for changing the bit was also saved which at the given depths could be 8 to 10 hrs. of rig time.
An Object-Based Approach for Mapping Shrub and Tree Cover on Grassland Habitats by Use of LiDAR and CIR Orthoimages
Authors: Hellesen Thomas , Matikainen Leena
Published: January 2013

Due to the abandonment of former agricultural management practices such as mowing and grazing, an increasing amount of grassland is no longer being managed. This has resulted in increasing shrub encroachment, which poses a threat to a number of species. Monitoring is an important means of acquiring information about the condition of the grasslands. Though the use of traditional remote sensing is an effective means of mapping and monitoring land cover, the mapping of small shrubs and trees based only on spectral information is challenged by the fact that shrubs and trees often spectrally resemble grassland and thus cannot be safely distinguished and classified. With the aid of LiDAR-derived information, such as elevation, the classification of spectrally similar objects can be improved. In this study, we applied high point density LiDAR data and colour-infrared orthoimages for the classification of shrubs and trees in a study area in Denmark. The classification result was compared to a classification based only on colour-infrared orthoimages. The overall accuracy increased significantly with the use of LiDAR and, for shrubs and trees specifically, producer’s accuracy increased from 81.2% to 93.7%, and user’s accuracy from 52.9% to 89.7%. Object-based image analysis was applied in combination with a CART classifier. The potential of using the applied approach for mapping and monitoring of large areas is discussed.
Value, Fitting‐Attitude Account of
Authors: Rabinowicz Wlodek
Published: January 2013

According to an influential tradition in value analysis,to be valuable is to be a fitting object of a pro‐attitude– a fitting object of favoring (seePro‐Attitudes). If it is fitting to favor an object for its own sake, then, in this view, the object has final value. If it is fitting to favor an object for the sake of its effects, then its value is instrumental (seeInstrumental Value).Disvalue is connected in the analogous way to disfavoring, i.e., to con‐attitudes. For a history of thisfitting‐attitudes analysis, orFA‐analysisfor short, see the following text. The label itself was coined rather recently, though, in Rabinowicz and Rønnow‐Rasmussen (2004).