bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phylogeny and character evolution in Grania (Annelida, Clitellata)
Authors: De Wit Pierre , Rota Emilia , Erséus Christer
Published: July 2011

De Wit, P., Rota, E. & Erséus, C. (2011) Phylogeny and character evolution in Grania (Annelida, Clitellata). —Zoologica Scripta, 40, 509–519.

In this study, DNA sequences from six loci of twenty species are combined with a 54‐character morphological matrix coded for all 72 described species of the marine clitellate genus Grania (Enchytraeidae) in the first ever attempt to illuminate the phylogeny of the group. The data are found to be inadequate for resolving the phylogeny of the entire genus, but a well‐supported, fully resolved phylogeny of the subset of twenty species for which DNA data are available is found through both Bayesian inference and maximum parsimony. Using well‐supported nodes from the Bayesian analysis, we investigate the morphological character evolution using parsimony ancestral state reconstruction. We find that most morphological characters used in standard species descriptions are homoplasious. Morphological characters that are found to be homological within clades (although not globally) include chaetal characters, midventral glands, penial stylets, coloration and possession of a head organ. Surprisingly, the head organ is strongly suggested as having evolved at least twice within the genus, but an alternative hypothesis is that this structure is an ancestral feature of the genus that has been secondarily lost, or simply has not been optically detected, in some lineages. Also, the geographical distributions of the Grania species used in the DNA analysis tend to follow the phylogeny, indicating limited dispersal capabilities.
GOVERNANCE WITHOUT GOVERNMENT? THE CASE OF THE FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL
Authors: BELL STEPHEN , HINDMOOR ANDREW
Published: July 2011

The relationship between state and non‐state actors has been the subject of extensive debate within the governance literature. During this time two influential but very different accounts of governance have emerged: a society‐centred account which talks of governance without government and a state‐centric perspective which maintains that governance largely occurs by and through governments. There are of course alternative and more nuanced positions on offer. These two have nevertheless served to frame the debate around governance by engendering a zero‐sum understanding of the relationship between state and non‐state actors which obscures the way in which the presence of non‐state actors can enhance the policy capacities of state actors and vice versa. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has been lauded as an exemplar of governance without government and has indeed, on occasions, had to overcome the indifference or even outright hostility of governments. But the society‐centred account does not do justice to the range of very different and sometimes mutually beneficial relationships between the FSC and state actors.
North–South Outsourcing, Immigration, and Skilled Wages: Through the Lens of Incomplete Contracts
Authors: Beladi Hamid , Chakrabarti Avik , Marjit Sugata
Published: July 2011

The forces of immigration and offshore outsourcing are subject to factors that leave sufficient room for incompleteness in a contract. The authors present a model that allows one to compare the effects of immigration and offshore outsourcing, on skilled wage, when both are subject to contractual incompleteness. They capture the sensitivity of the effect on the skilled wage, of immigration and offshore outsourcing to complementarities between firm‐specific human capital and human capital that is transferable across firms manufacturing intermediate goods. In particular, the authors show that the North–South gap in skilled wages is likely to (i) increase through the forces of immigration when the intermediate goods' technology is super‐modular in the North but sub‐modular in the South and (ii) decrease through the forces of outsourcing when the intermediate goods' technology is sub‐modular in the North but super‐modular in the South.
Environmental Product Standards in North–South Trade
Authors: Ishikawa Jota , Okubo Toshihiro
Published: July 2011

Consumption is one channel through which the environment is damaged. To protect the environment, various product standards have been introduced across the world. This paper uses a new economic geography framework to explore the effects of environmental product standards on environment in a North–South trade model. It examines the situation in which the North unilaterally introduces an environmental product standard. Specifically, those products that do not meet the standard are not allowed to be sold in the North's market. It is found that such a standard may worsen the North's environment but improve the South's environment as a result of firm relocation.
Intra‐industry Knowledge Spillovers from Foreign Direct Investment in Research and Development: Evidence from China's “Silicon Valley”
Authors: Todo Yasuyuki , Zhang Weiying , Zhou Lei‐An
Published: July 2011

This study examines a specific channel of technology diffusion from multinational enterprises to domestic firms in less developed regions: research and development (R&D) activities of multinational enterprises in the host country. Using firm‐level panel data from a Chinese science park, known as China's “Silicon Valley,” we find that the R&D stock of foreign‐owned firms has a positive effect on the productivity of domestic firms in the same industry, while the capital stock of foreign firms has no such effect. These results suggest that foreign firms' knowledge spills over within industries through their R&D activities, but not through their production activities. In addition, we find no evidence of spillovers from domestic firms or firms from Hong Kong, Macao, or Taiwan, suggesting that the size of knowledge spillovers is larger when the technology gap between source and recipient firms is larger.
What is the expert's option on antiplatelet therapy in moyamoya disease? Results of a worldwide Survey
Authors: Kraemer M. , Berlit P. , Diesner F. , Khan N.
Published: July 2011

Background and purpose:  Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a rare idiopathic vasculopathy characterized by an extensive network of fine collaterals in the setting of bilateral progressive stenosis and finally occlusion of the intracranial portion of the internal carotid artery and proximal anterior and medial arteries of Circle of Willis. Owing to the rarity of the disease and ethical concerns, double‐blinded, randomized controlled trials about treatment options are completely lacking. The appropriate conservative treatment instead, before or after revascularization surgery, is nearly completely neglected in scientific literature, even in Asia.

Methods:  We developed a questionnaire with response options offered in the multiple choice method. The survey was sent with the request to reply within September 2010 to January 2011 by email to experts in the treatment of MMD. As an international expert, authors were selected who had written more than one scientific article or book chapter on the subject. We took special care not to select only Asian scientists, but also considered experts on the disease in Caucasian patients.

Results:  Among the 77 physicians surveyed, 32 (41.55%) responded. Twenty‐one (65.6%) Asian experts and 11 (34.4%) non‐Asian experts participated in this survey. The majority of experts thought that long‐term antiplatelet therapy is not essential in the treatment of MMD. Ten of 32 (31%) participants agreed to long‐term antiplatelet treatment with acetylsalicylic acid 100 mg/day. There was a significant difference in answers between Asian and non‐Asian experts (P = 0.0128).

Conclusion:  It is interesting that the majority of Non‐Asian respondents recommend antiplatelet drugs, while this is an unusual approach in MMD of the Asian experts. Perhaps, this significant difference is well founded by the different experiences of the experts related to the difference in disease presentation between Asians and Caucasians. The role of conservative and surgical treatment in MMD needs further evaluation with larger cohorts and a focus on long‐term clinical outcome.
Brain endothelial barrier passage by monocytes is controlled by the endothelin system
Authors: Reijerkerk Arie , Lakeman Kim A. M. , Drexhage Joost A. R. , van het Hof Bert , van Wijck Yolanda , van der Pol Susanne M. A. , Kooij Gijs , Geerts Dirk , de Vries Helga E.
Published: July 2011

J. Neurochem. (2012) 121, 730–737.

Homeostasis of the brain is dependent on the blood–brain barrier (BBB). This barrier tightly regulates the exchange of essential nutrients and limits the free flow of immune cells into the CNS. Perturbations of BBB function and the loss of its immune quiescence are hallmarks of a variety of brain diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS), vascular dementia, and stroke. In particular, diapedesis of monocytes and subsequent trafficking of monocyte‐derived macrophages into the brain are key mediators of demyelination and axonal damage in MS. Endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) is considered as a potent pro‐inflammatory peptide and has been implicated in the development of cardiovascular diseases. Here, we studied the role of different components of the endothelin system, i.e., ET‐1, its type B receptor (ETB) and endothelin‐converting enzyme‐1 (ECE‐1) in monocyte diapedesis of a human brain endothelial cell barrier. Our pharmacological inhibitory and specific gene knockdown studies point to a regulatory function of these proteins in transendothelial passage of monocytes. Results from this study suggest that the endothelin system is a putative target within the brain for anti‐inflammatory treatment in neurological diseases.
The cost effectiveness of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in the routine infant immunisation programme of The Gambia
Authors: Touray Morro M L , Hutubessy Raymond , Acharya Arnab
Published: July 2011

Objectives

To evaluate the cost effectiveness of the use of nine-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine in a routine infant immunisation programme based on the Pneumococcal Vaccine Trial (PVT) study in The Gambia.

Methods

This was a clinical trial-based cost-effectiveness study conducted as part of the PVT study. The PVT was an intention-to-treat double-blind placebo-controlled trial of a nine-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine. The trial was conducted in the eastern parts of The Gambia, West Africa and recruited 17 437 children aged 40–364 days. A deterministic static cohort model was developed to evaluate direct benefits and costs of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in The Gambia's routine immunisation programme. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (iCER) is defined as vaccinating infants against pneumococcal disease compared with no vaccination from a public provider's perspective using The Gambia's 2005 projected under-one-year population.

Key findings

The results show the use of the vaccine in The Gambia's routine infant vaccination programme to be cost effective using an assumed price of US$5.00 per vial in single-dose vials. Compared with offering no vaccination, the incremental cost per DALYs averted would be 30 DALYs from the public provider perspective. At least 1569 and 340 invasive childhood pneumococcal illnesses and deaths respectively among the cohort would be prevented. In the absence of the vaccine 16 871 DALYs would be lost while with the use of the vaccine 7804 DALYs would be lost. Given the average treatment cost of pneumococcal illnesses to be US$191 (95% confidence interval 180 to 203) the introduction of the vaccine programme would lead to an additional cost of US$274 279 (about US$8.43/child).

Conclusions

The availability of a cost-effective vaccine that can prevent thousands of pneumococcal illnesses and related deaths is a major development towards improving the disease burden in sub-Saharan African countries. This study supports the introduction of nine-valent pneumococcal vaccine into the infant immunisation programme of The Gambia as it is cost effective and will avert many preventable deaths and illnesses. Despite differences in distribution of serotypes between countries, the static model used in the analysis makes the results applicable to other developing countries, particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa.
EndothelinA-endothelinB receptor cross-talk and endothelin receptor binding
Authors: Rapoport Robert M , Zuccarello Mario
Published: July 2011

Background and objective

The magnitude of inhibition of an endothelin (ET)-1 response by selective blockade of the ETA or ETB receptors can be limited by apparent compensation mediated by the unblocked receptor. While the mechanism underlying this functionally defined interaction, or ‘cross-talk’, is not clear, binding studies suggest an interaction between the ET receptor subtypes.

Key findings

These binding studies are reviewed and suggest that, in general, they support the hypothesis that ETA and ETB receptor activation of intracellular signalling pathways influence ET-1 binding to these receptor subtypes.

However, the relationship of these binding studies to functional effects and, thus, functional ETA-ETB receptor cross-talk, remains largely untested.
Comparison of echolocation clicks from geographically sympatric killer whales and long-finned pilot whales (L)
Authors: Eskesen Ida G. , Wahlberg Magnus , Simon Malene , Larsen Ole Næsbye
Published: July 2011

The source characteristics of biosonar signals from sympatric killer whales and long-finned pilot whales in a Norwegian fjord were compared. A total of 137 pilot whale and more than 2000 killer whale echolocation clicks were recorded using a linear four-hydrophone array. Of these, 20 pilot whale clicks and 28 killer whale clicks were categorized as being recorded on-axis. The clicks of pilot whales had a mean apparent source level of 196 dB re 1 μPa pp and those of killer whales 203 dB re 1 μPa pp. The duration of pilot whale clicks was significantly shorter (23 μs, S.E. = 1.3) and the centroid frequency significantly higher (55 kHz, S.E. = 2.1) than killer whale clicks (duration: 41 μs, S.E. = 2.6; centroid frequency: 32 kHz, S.E. = 1.5). The rate of increase in the accumulated energy as a function of time also differed between clicks from the two species. The differences in duration, frequency, and energy distribution may have a potential to allow for the distinction between pilot and killer whale clicks when using automated detection routines for acoustic monitoring.
Experimental investigation on reversal of secondary Bjerknes force between two bubbles in ultrasonic standing wave
Authors: Yoshida Kenji , Fujikawa Takaaki , Watanabe Yoshiaki
Published: July 2011

The direction of the secondary Bjerknes force between a free bubble and an attached bubble was experimentally investigated. The behavior of the two bubbles in an ultrasonic standing wave of 27 kHz was observed using an imaging system with a high-speed video camera. It was demonstrated experimentally that the direction of the force reversed at a specific separation distance between the two bubbles, which was defined as the threshold distance. The threshold distance changed with the radius of the attached bubble. In addition, a theoretical calculation was performed using a previously derived model that coupled the vibrations of two free bubbles [Ida, Phys. Lett. A 297, 210–217 (2002)]. The experiment data for the threshold distance qualitatively agreed with the theoretical predictions, except when the separation distance was very small. Then, it was discovered that the free bubble became trapped near the attached bubble when the separation distance between the two bubbles was very small. This indicated that a stable equilibrium point for the separation distance exists that cannot be predicted by the theoretical model.
Modal depth function estimation using time-frequency analysis
Authors: Bonnel J. , Gervaise C. , Roux P. , Nicolas B. , Mars J. I.
Published: July 2011

Acoustic propagation in shallow water is characterized by a set of depth-dependent modes, the modal depth functions, which propagate in range according to their horizontal wavenumbers. For inversion purposes, modal depth function estimation in shallow water is an issue when the environment is not known. Classical methods that provide blind mode estimation rely on the singular value decomposition of the received field at different frequencies over a vertical array of transducers. These methods require that the vertical array spans the full water column. This is obviously a strong limitation for the application of such methods in an operational context. To overcome these shortcomings, this study proposes to replace the spatial diversity constraint by a frequency diversity condition, and thus considers the case of a field emanating from an impulsive source. Indeed, because of the discrete nature of the wavenumber spectrum and due to their dispersive behavior, the modes are separated in the time-frequency domain. This phenomenon enables the design of a modal filtering scheme for signals received on a single receiver. In the case of a vertical receiver array, the modal contributions can be isolated for each receiver even when using a partial water column spanning array. This method thus eliminates the receiving constraints of classical methods of modal depth function estimation, although it imposes the use of an impulsive source. The developed algorithm is benchmarked on numerical simulations and validated on laboratory experimental data recorded in an ultrasonic waveguide. Practical applications are also discussed.
Automatic estimation of voice onset time for word-initial stops by applying random forest to onset detection
Authors: Lin Chi-Yueh , Wang Hsiao-Chuan
Published: July 2011

The voice onset time (VOT) of a stop consonant is the interval between its burst onset and voicing onset. Among a variety of research topics on VOT, one that has been studied for years is how VOTs are efficiently measured. Manual annotation is a feasible way, but it becomes a time-consuming task when the corpus size is large. This paper proposes an automatic VOT estimation method based on an onset detection algorithm. At first, a forced alignment is applied to identify the locations of stop consonants. Then a random forest based onset detector searches each stop segment for its burst and voicing onsets to estimate a VOT. The proposed onset detection can detect the onsets in an efficient and accurate manner with only a small amount of training data. The evaluation data extracted from the TIMIT corpus were 2344 words with a word-initial stop. The experimental results showed that 83.4% of the estimations deviate less than 10 ms from their manually labeled values, and 96.5% of the estimations deviate by less than 20 ms. Some factors that influence the proposed estimation method, such as place of articulation, voicing of a stop consonant, and quality of succeeding vowel, were also investigated.
PreTCR and TCRγδ Signal Initiation in Thymocyte Progenitors Does Not Require Domains Implicated in Receptor Oligomerization
Authors: Mahtani-Patching Juliet , Neves Joana F. , Pang Dick John , Stoenchev Kostadin V. , Aguirre-Blanco Ana M. , Silva-Santos Bruno , Pennington Daniel J.
Published: July 2011

T cell receptor chains lacking oligomerization domains can drive the development of early thymocyte progenitors.
Adenosine and Seizures—What’s the Big Fat Deal?
Authors: Evans-Molina Carmella
Published: July 2011

A ketogenic diet that suppresses drug-resistant seizures points to a new therapeutic target for epilepsy.
JET RESULTS AND JET RECONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES IN p+p AND THEIR PROSPECTS IN HEAVY-ION COLLISIONS IN ATLAS
Authors:   FOR THE ATLAS COLLABORATION, SPOUSTA MARTIN
Published: July 2011

We present the measurement of jet production performed with the ATLAS detector in proton-proton collisions at center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV, using an integrated luminosity of 17 nb−1. We show the inclusive jet cross sections and jet shapes. The expected performance and strategy for the jet reconstruction in heavy ion collisions is also discussed.
JET RECONSTRUCTION IN CMS USING CHARGED TRACKS ONLY
Authors:   FOR THE CMS COLLABORATION, HINZMANN ANDREAS
Published: July 2011

We present results on the performance of jet reconstruction in CMS, using charged tracks only. Jet reconstruction with tracks is completely independent from jet finding with calorimeter towers and is an extremely clean and efficient way to find jets, and determine their directions with good precision. A commissioning analysis using approximately 100 μb−1 of minimum bias pp collision data at [Formula: see text] shows that for jets with pT > 10 GeV/c the agreement between the data and PYTHIA predictions for properties of minimum bias events appears to be good, and there is consistency of track jets and calorimeter-based jets.
Chemotherapeutic Resistance: Surviving Stressful Situations
Authors: Gilbert Luke A. , Hemann Michael T.
Published: July 2011

Chemotherapeutic regimens involve the systemic administration of genotoxic compounds that induce cancer cell death via well-established DNA damage response signaling networks. Less understood is how the treatment of other cell types within the tumor microenvironment affects the therapeutic response. Here we discuss recent work that shows that tumor-adjacent cells can respond to genotoxic stress by activating a paracrine secretory program. Although this secretory response serves to protect progenitor cells and promote tissue regeneration in conditions of cellular stress, it can also be coopted by tumor cells to survive frontline chemotherapy. Thus, local prosurvival signaling may present a fundamental barrier to tumor clearance by genotoxic agents, suggesting that effective treatments need to target both cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment. Cancer Res; 71(15); 5062–6. ©2011 AACR.
Evaluation of a Summary Score of Cognitive Performance for Use in Trials in Perioperative and Critical Care
Authors: Burkhart Christoph S. , Birkner-Binder Dagmar , Gagneux Alexa , Berres Manfred , Strebel Stephan P. , Monsch Andreas U. , Steiner Luzius A.
Published: July 2011

Background/Aims: Cognitive dysfunction after medical treatment is increasingly being recognized. Studies on this topic require repeated cognitive testing within a short time. However, with repeated testing, practice effects must be expected. We quantified practice effects in a demographically corrected summary score of a neuropsychological test battery repeatedly administered to healthy elderly volunteers. Methods: The Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease (CERAD) Neuropsychological Assessment Battery (for which a demographically corrected summary score was developed), phonemic fluency tests, and trail-making tests were administered in healthy volunteers aged 65 years or older on days 0, 7, and 90. This battery allows calculation of a demographically adjusted continuous summary score. Results: Significant practice effects were observed in the CERAD total score and in the word list (learning and recall) subtest. Based on these volunteer data, we developed a threshold for diagnosis of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) with the CERAD total score. Conclusion: Practice effects with repeated administration of neuropsychological tests must be accounted for in the interpretation of such tests. Ignoring practice effects may lead to an underestimation of POCD. The usefulness of the proposed demographically adjusted continuous score for cognitive function will have to be tested prospectively in patients.
Matthew Effects in Young Readers
Authors: Cain Kate , Oakhill Jane
Published: July 2011

The authors report data from a longitudinal study of the reading development of children who were assessed in the years of their 8th, 11th, 14th, and 16th birthdays. They examine the evidence for Matthew effects in reading and vocabulary between ages 8 and 11 in groups of children identified with good and poor reading comprehension at 8 years. They also investigate evidence for Matthew effects in reading and vocabulary between 8 and 16 years, in the larger sample. The poor comprehenders showed reduced growth in vocabulary compared to the good comprehenders, but not in word reading or reading comprehension ability. They also obtained lower scores on measures of out-of-school literacy. Analyses of the whole sample revealed that initial levels of reading experience and reading comprehension predicted vocabulary at ages 11, 14, and 16 after controlling for general ability and vocabulary skills when aged 8. The authors discuss these findings in relation to the influence of reading on vocabulary development.
Task Avoidance, Number Skills and Parental Learning Difficulties as Predictors of Poor Response to Instruction
Authors: Niemi Pekka , Nurmi Jari-Erik , Lyyra Anna-Liisa , Lerkkanen Marja-Kristiina , Lepola Janne , Poskiparta Elisa , Poikkeus Anna-Maija
Published: July 2011

Altogether 1,285 Finnish children were followed up from the end of kindergarten through Grade 1. All were nonreaders at school entrance. The aim was to delineate predictors of resistance to treatment that are evidenced as little or no reading progress during Grade 1. On the basis of reading achievement in Grade 1 spring, four subgroups were formed. These were fast, average, and slow reading acquisition and slow progress in both reading and math. Kindergarten spring scores in phonological awareness, letter knowledge, rapid naming, and number skills differentiated well among the groups, the latter two being more robust predictors. Task avoidance added to the prediction over and above cognitive skills. Its effect disappeared when parental history of reading and math difficulties was included in the equation. The present results depict poor response to instruction as a general learning problem rather than a specific reading difficulty. Poor response to instruction differs from dyslexia also in that treatment resisters start school with cognitive prerequisites that do not indicate severe reading and math problems.
Prisons Do Not Reduce Recidivism
Authors: Cullen Francis T. , Jonson Cheryl Lero , Nagin Daniel S.
Published: July 2011

One of the major justifications for the rise of mass incarceration in the United States is that placing offenders behind bars reduces recidivism by teaching them that “crime does not pay.” This rationale is based on the view that custodial sanctions are uniquely painful and thus exact a higher cost than noncustodial sanctions. An alternative position, developed mainly by criminologists, is that imprisonment is not simply a “cost” but also a social experience that deepens illegal involvement. Using an evidence-based approach, we conclude that there is little evidence that prisons reduce recidivism and at least some evidence to suggest that they have a criminogenic effect. The policy implications of this finding are significant, for it means that beyond crime saved through incapacitation, the use of custodial sanctions may have the unanticipated consequence of making society less safe.
Institutional Predictors of Volunteer Retention
Authors: McBride Amanda Moore , Lee YungSoo
Published: July 2011

Institutional predictors of volunteer service retention in AmeriCorps*State and National are assessed using data from the quasiexperimental, longitudinal study of AmeriCorps. Multilevel logistic regression is used, with individual member characteristics at the first level and institutional facilitation at the second level (across 107 program sites). Members are more likely to complete their terms of service if the program sites involve members in planning their service activities, match the activities to their career interests, help them develop a relationship with a mentor, and facilitate their reflection on the service experience with others. This study identifies strategies that may promote retention as an intermediate yet fundamental outcome.
Work–Family Enrichment and Satisfaction
Authors: Carlson Dawn S. , Hunter Emily M. , Ferguson Merideth , Whitten Dwayne
Published: July 2011

Previous research has been inconsistent in the prediction and empirical findings regarding work–family enrichment and satisfaction. The current research seeks to clarify this inconsistency by examining both directions of work–family enrichment (work-to-family enrichment and family-to-work enrichment) with both job satisfaction and family satisfaction to determine if their effects are similar or diverse. Building on the theoretical foundation of Fredrickson’s broaden-and-build theory, the authors explore the mediating roles of psychological distress and positive mood in this process. Using a sample of 310 working respondents, the authors found that psychological distress was a mediator to both job satisfaction and family satisfaction, while positive mood was a mediator to job satisfaction but not family satisfaction. Further, the authors found that the direct effect of work-to-family enrichment was on job satisfaction, the originating domain. In addition, the total effect of enrichment to satisfaction (through the mediation mechanisms of distress and mood) was again in the pattern of the originating domain such that work-to-family enrichment more strongly influenced job satisfaction. However, family-to-work enrichment did not directly impact family satisfaction, nor was it significantly stronger than work-to-family in its total effect on family satisfaction.
The Noise From Wind Turbines: Potential Adverse Impacts on Children’s Well-Being
Authors: Bronzaft Arline L.
Published: July 2011

Research linking loud sounds to hearing loss in youngsters is now widespread, resulting in the issuance of warnings to protect children’s hearing. However, studies attesting to the adverse effects of intrusive sounds and noise on children’s overall mental and physical health and well-being have not received similar attention.This, despite the fact that many studies have demonstrated that intrusive noises such as those from passing road traffic, nearby rail systems, and overhead aircraft can adversely affect children’s cardiovascular system, memory, language development, and learning acquisition. While some schools in the United States have received funds to abate intrusive aircraft noise, for example, many schools still expose children to noises from passing traffic and overhead aircraft. Discussion focuses on the harmful effects of noise on children, what has to be done to remedy the situation, and the need for action to lessen the impacts of noise from all sources. Furthermore, based on our knowledge of the harmful effects of noise on children’s health and the growing body of evidence to suggest the potential harmful effects of industrial wind turbine noise, it is strongly urged that further studies be conducted on the impacts of industrial wind turbines on their health, as well as the health of their parents, before forging ahead in siting industrial wind turbines.
Wind Turbine Noise
Authors: Harrison John P.
Published: July 2011

Following an introduction to noise and noise regulation of wind turbines, the problem of adverse health effects of turbine noise is discussed. This is attributed to the characteristics of turbine noise and deficiencies in the regulation of this noise. Both onshore and offshore wind farms are discussed.
Policy trends of extended producer responsibility in Malaysia
Authors: Agamuthu P. , Victor Dennis
Published: July 2011

This paper seeks to examine the provisions for extended producer responsibility (EPR) within the Malaysian environmental and waste management policies and to determine its existing practice and future prospects in Malaysia. Malaysian waste generation has been increasing drastically where solid waste generation was estimated to increase from about 9.0 million tonnes in 2000 to about 10.9 million tonnes in 2010, to about 12.8 million tonnes in 2015 and finally to about 15.6 million tonnes in 2020. Malaysian e-waste was estimated to be about 652 909 tonnes in 2006 and was estimated to increase to about 706 000 tonnes in 2010 and finally to about 1.2 million tonnes in 2020. The projected increasing generation of both solid waste and scheduled wastes is expected to burden the country’s resources and environment in managing these wastes in a sustainable manner. The concept of EPR is provided for in the Malaysia waste management system via the Environmental Quality Act 1974 and the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007. However, these provisions in the policy are generic in nature without relevant regulations to enable its enforcement and as such the concept of EPR still remains on paper whereas the existing practice of EPR in Malaysia is limited through voluntary participation. In conclusion, policy trends of EPR in Malaysia seem to indicate that Malaysia may be embarking on the path towards EPR through the enactment of an EPR regulation.
Site-Specific Changes in Brain Extra-SCN Oscillators during Early Pregnancy in the Rat
Authors: Schrader Jessica A. , Nunez Antonio A. , Smale Laura
Published: July 2011

The influence of circadian timekeeping systems on behavior and physiology can change substantially as female mammals undergo the transition from a nonpregnant to a pregnant state. Here, we examined the possibility that site-specific changes in extra-SCN oscillators and in local rhythms might coincide with the emergence of new patterns of temporal organization among various behavioral and physiological rhythms. Specifically, we compared daily patterns of immunoreactive FOS and PER2 in 3 brain regions of pregnant and diestrous rats. We found that, in the oval nucleus of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BnST-ov), the peak of the PER2 rhythm occurred approximately 12 hours out of phase in pregnant and diestrous females. In contrast, the phase of the rhythm in FOS was the same, but pregnant rats expressed more FOS in the BnST-ov than diestrous ones. In the central amygdala (CEA) of diestrous females, PER2 expression was arrhythmic, but Fos expression was elevated at night. No rhythms were seen in this region of pregnant females, nor were any rhythms seen in the basolateral amygdala of either group. Overall, the patterns in the BnST-ov and the CEA were consistent with the hypothesis that differential changes in daily rhythms within some extra-SCN brain regions might mediate the changes in the temporal organization of several behavioral and endocrine functions that occur during the transition from a nonpregnant to a pregnant state.
Duper
Authors: Monecke Stefanie , Brewer Judy McKinley , Krug Stefanie , Bittman Eric L.
Published: July 2011

Three animals born to homozygous tau mutant (τss, “super short”) Syrian hamsters showed extremely short free-running periods of locomotor activity (τDD of approximately 17.8 hours). Inbreeding produced 33 such “super duper” animals, which had a τDD of 18.09 ± 0.05 hours, which was shorter than that of τss hamsters (20.66 ± 0.07 hours, p < 0.001). To test the hypothesis that a gene ( Duper) is responsible for a 2-hour shortening of τDD, we backcrossed super duper hamsters to unrelated τss animals. The F1 pups uniformly had a τDD similar to that of τss hamsters (19.89 ± 0.15 hours), but F2 animals showed a 1:1 ratio of the 18- to 20-hour phenotypes. In contrast, the F1 of a cross between super duper hamsters and τss animals presumed heterozygous for duper showed a 1:1 ratio of 18- to 20-hour phenotypes, and inbreeding of the super duper F1 offspring uniformly produced F2 pups with extremely short τDD (17.86 ± 0.5 hours). We isolated the duper mutation on a wild-type background through crossing of super duper with wild-type animals. Restriction digests identified short-period F2 pups that lack the mutant CK1ε allele, and these animals had a mean τDD of 23.11 ± 0.04 hours. τDD of duper hamsters born and raised in DD was significantly shorter than in hamsters raised in 14L:10D (21.92 ± 0.12 hours, p < 0.0001). τDD shortened twice as much in τs and τss hamsters than in wild-type animals that were homozygous for duper, indicating the presence of epistatic interactions. Assortment of phenotypes in the F2 generation fit the expected distribution for expression of duper as recessive (χ2 = 6.41, p > 0.1). Neither CK1ε nor CK1δ coding region base sequences differed between super duper and τss hamsters. The growth rate of super duper mutants is similar to that of τss animals but slightly but significantly reduced at particular postweaning time points. We conclude that duper represents a new mutation that substantially reduces τDD and has significant effects on physiology and metabolism.
A Study to Determine the Correlation Between Clinical, Fiber‐Optic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing and Videofluoroscopic Evaluations of Swallowing After Prolonged Intubation
Authors: Noordally S. Oaleed , Sohawon Schoeb , De Gieter Michèle , Bellout Hocine , Verougstraete Georges
Published: July 2011

Background: Clinical evaluation of swallowing disorders postextubation is often neglected. Videofluoroscopy is the gold standard with fiber‐optic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) having a high sensitivity. The aim of this study was to analyze the correlations between clinical, FEES, and videofluoroscopic evaluations in the intensive care unit. Methods: Twenty‐one patients extubated after prolonged intubation were subjected to a clinical evaluation of swallowing and FEES within 24 hours. This was repeated at 48 hours with a videofluoroscopic evaluation with identical swallowing—namely, boluses of liquid and thickened water. The patients were scored from 0 (normal) to 3 (worst). Results: There was no correlation between the oral phase (bedside evaluation) and FEES. The correlation between pharyngeal phase (palatal and laryngeal elevation, pharyngeal rales, and gag reflex) before and after swallowing at 24 and 48 hours was statistically significant (liquid water P = .025 [24 hours] vs P < .001 [48 hours]; thickened water P < .001 [24 and 48 hours]). Clinical assessment, although not statistically significant, failed to detect silent aspiration (P = .58). There was a good correlation between FEES and videofluoroscopy as opposed to clinical assessment and videofluoroscopy (P < .001 vs P = .762). Conclusion: Cough is a reliable sign of swallowing disorder but does not exclude silent aspiration and contraindicates oral feeding. Cough induced by liquid water should lead to modification of diet in terms of consistency and viscosity with cough reassessment.
Feasibility Study of Fusion Bonding for Carbon Fabric Reinforced Polyphenylene Sulphide by Hot-Tool Welding
Authors: De Baere I. , Van Paepegem W. , Degrieck J.
Published: July 2011

In recent years, there is a growing interest in joining techniques for thermoplastic composites as an alternative to adhesive bonding. In this article, a fusion bonding process called hot-tool welding is investigated for this purpose and the used material is a carbon fabric reinforced polyphenylene sulphide. The welds are first observed through a microscope, after which the quality is experimentally assessed using a short three-point bending setup. A comparison is made between the welded specimens and the equivalent hot pressed specimens. It can be concluded that the hot-tool welding process is very promising for the welding of material under study and that the short three-point bending setup proves interesting for evaluating bonds between composite specimens.
Taking La Lucha to Heart 1
Authors: Medina Lara
Published: July 2011

A reflection on the significance of the work of Ada María Isasi-Díaz for Latinas and their communities in the United States. Beginning with her first co-authored publication in 1988, this essay considers the central tenets of a Mujerista Theology, a theological reflective praxis grounded in a feminist consciousness. The emergence of Mujerista Theology is set in the context of other dynamic changes occurring for the consciousness of Chicanas and Latinas in the late 1980s. La lucha, or the struggle for justice and liberation of grassroots Latinas is the guiding principle of Mujerista Theology. Latina narratives, lo cotidiano or daily life, moral agency and scriptural critical consciousness are highlighted as among the key tenets of this theology. Twenty-first century issues are referenced to underscore the on-going significance of Isasi-Díaz’s work.
Mujerista Theology: Strategies for Social Change
Authors: Hernandez-Díaz Rodolfo J.
Published: July 2011

Mujerista Theology, the name given to the groundbreaking work of Ada María Isasi-Díaz, can be understood as a constellation, with each star symbolizing its various concepts, themes, and theories, all forming a pattern that can be perceived from a distance. This pattern — the legacy of mujerista theology — changes as these stars shift against the celestial backdrop over time. This essay explores the implications of Mujerista Theology for social change by exploring three ‘stars’ of the Mujerista Theology constellation — mestizaje-mulatez, lo cotidiano, and subversive narratives — and examining some of the underlying presuppositions operative in Mujerista Theology. It contends that Mujerista Theology significantly contributes to the social change strategies of liberationist, feminist, and Hispanic theologies.
Internationalisation of the Sport Management Curriculum
Authors: de Haan Donna , Sherry Emma
Published: July 2011

Internationalisation of the sport industry has resulted in a demand for integration of international perspectives into the sport management higher education curriculum, to produce graduates capable of working within this rapidly developing global industry. Internationalisation of the curriculum can occur both abroad (i.e., study tour) or at home (i.e., within institution). A collaborative internationalisation at home (IaH) sport management curriculum research project was undertaken between the University of Worcester (the United Kingdom) and La Trobe University (Australia) sport management programmes in 2010. Reflections from the student cohorts and participating academics are presented to provide a case study of a teaching and learning collaboration and to address the lack of individual voice in internationalisation discourse. The results of this study indicate that there are benefits to classroom-level intervention. However, working within the institutional environment presents challenges to the development and implementation of such projects.
Pregnancy and Intimate Partner Violence: Risk Factors, Severity, and Health Effects
Authors: Brownridge Douglas A. , Taillieu Tamara L. , Tyler Kimberly A. , Tiwari Agnes , Ko Ling Chan  , Santos Susy C.
Published: July 2011

The current study compares female victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) who were and were not victimized during pregnancy. Victims of pregnancy violence are more likely to report having experienced all forms of violence, particularly severe forms, and have higher odds of experiencing several postviolence indicators of severity and adverse health consequences. The significance of predictors disappears in a post hoc analysis controlling for proxies of battering behavior (i.e., repeated and severe violence), suggesting that victims who experience violence during pregnancy may be more likely to be in a current intimate relationship with an abuser who inflicts repeated and severe IPV.
We Are All Stakeholders of Gaia: A Normative Perspective on Stakeholder Thinking
Authors: Waddock Sandra
Published: July 2011

This essay takes the normative perspective that we, including humans, institutions and enterprises, other living beings, and ecological systems, are all stakeholders of a core focal entity—the Earth conceived as the living system Gaia. The argument is that for the purposes of considering the long-term health and well-being of humanity, Gaia rightly should be conceived as the ultimate focal entity with a huge variety of other living beings, systems, and future generations, whose well-being is also at stake in the relationship. This perspective highlights the ways in which Gaia affects and is affected by her various stakeholders. It incorporates a rationale for such thinking that relies on recognizing the normative elements of stakeholder theory, particularly those that derive from interactions of stakeholders and planetary elements. It presents a framework of mutual influence and interdependence, with implications for the ways in which humanity needs to act with respect to Gaia.
The Effect of Ergothioneine on Clastogenic Potential and Mutagenic Activity
Authors: Schauss Alexander G. , Béres Erzsébet , Vértesi Adél , Frank Zsuzsanna , Pasics Ilona , Endres John , Aruoma Okezie I. , Hirka Gábor
Published: July 2011

L-(+)-ergothioneine has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in vitro and in vivo and has uses as a dietary supplement and as an ingredient in foods, cosmetics, and as a pharmaceutical additive. The clastogenic potential and mutagenic of ergothioneine were assessed in vitro and in vivo. Ergothioneine concentrations up to 5000 μg/mL, with and without metabolic activation, was tested in the chromosome aberration assay with CHL cells and found not to induce structural chromosome aberrations. In the in vivo mammalian erythrocyte micronucleus test, ergothioneine was administered orally to male mice at doses up to 1500 mg/kg for potential genotoxic activity. No increase in the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes was observed.  Overall, ergothioneine was not genotoxic in these studies and provides additional experimental evidence supporting the safety of its use as a potential dietary supplement.
Proactive Policing Effects on Repeat and Near-Repeat Shootings in Houston
Authors: Wells William , Wu Ling
Published: July 2011

The spatial analysis of crime and community problems can inform police operations by revealing where resources can be most effectively deployed. Advances in understanding the spatial concentrations of crime show that some locations are repeatedly victimized and that some nearby locations are at an elevated risk for a subsequent crime during a relatively short period of time. These are known as repeat and near-repeat phenomena. Police may be able to have a strong preventive impact on crime if these risk patterns can be identified and disrupted. This analysis reports on whether a specialized, proactive patrol unit deployed to high-crime areas was effective in disrupting repeat and near-repeat patterns of shootings. Results suggest the proactive unit did not disrupt concentrations of shootings in a meaningful way. To improve effectiveness, police practitioners and researchers should seek to understand the factors driving these patterns and then design specific interventions to address them.
The Danish Civil Registration System
Authors: Pedersen Carsten Bøcker
Published: July 2011

Introduction: The Danish Civil Registration System (CRS) was established in 1968, and all persons alive and living in Denmark were registered for administrative use. Content: CRS includes individual information on the unique personal identification number, name, gender, date of birth, place of birth, citizenship, identity of parents and continuously updated information on vital status, place of residence and spouses. Validity and coverage: Since 1968, CRS has recorded current and historical information on all persons living in Denmark. Among persons born in Denmark in 1960 or later it contains complete information on maternal identity. For women born in Denmark in April 1935 or later it contains complete information on all their children. CRS contains complete information on immigrations and emigrations from 1969 onwards, permanent residence in a Danish municipality from 1971 onwards, and full address in Denmark from 1977 onwards. Conclusion: CRS in connection with other registers and biobanks will continue to provide the basis for significant knowledge relevant to the aetiological understanding and possible prevention of human diseases.