bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
L'Italie et l'escalade de la guerre du Vietnam
Authors: Nuti Leopoldo
Published: May 2012

Résumé Le but de cet essai est de comprendre les réactions de l’Italie face à l’escalade de la guerre du Vietnam et de vérifier les effets de la guerre sur les relations entre Rome et Washington, ainsi que sur la politique étrangère de l’Italie et sur l’évolution de sa politique intérieure. Dans sa première partie, l’article vise à montrer comment la guerre du Vietnam devient, en Italie, un thème de politique intérieure, parallèlement au mécontentement croissant à l’égard de la formule de Centre-gauche. Dans la partie suivante, on montre que la préoccupation italienne vis-à-vis de la guerre est strictement liée à une série de questions de nature internationale que les décideurs politiques italiens ont eu à affronter dans la seconde moitié des années 1960. Toutes ces préoccupations, au niveau de politique intérieure et internationale, sont à l’origine des efforts italiens pour faciliter un règlement du conflit du Vietnam, du voyage à Hanoi du maire de Florence Giorgio La Pira à les tentatives Marigold et Killy – qui sont analysés dans la dernière partie de l’article.
L'Italie et la crise congolaise au début des années 1960
Authors: Rognoni Maria Stella
Published: May 2012

Résumé Le 30 juin 1960, le Congo obtint son indépendance. Les craintes de la veille, liées à une transition que beaucoup considéraient comme trop rapide, ne tardèrent pas à se révéler bien fondées. Cette contribution vise à analyser le rôle joué par l’Italie face à une crise qui attira, en un bref laps de temps, l’attention de tous les principaux acteurs du système international. En effet, le Congo du début des années 1960 n’était pas seulement un lieu de conflits entre des conceptions opposées d’indépendance ; il devint aussi très vite le banc d’essai pour tester la résistance des alliances historiques et explorer de nouveaux équilibres possibles. Les exigences en matière de politique intérieure, les ambitions internationales et les intérêts économiques marquèrent les limites d’une action que l’Italie chercha à accomplir de manière autonome et c’est en soutenant les initiatives des Nations unies qu’elle forgea le dynamisme tempéré qui allait devenir son trait distinctif.
Des intérêts difficilement conciliables : l'Italie, l'Europe et la crise des Falkland (avril-juin 1982)
Authors: Mechi Lorenzo , Chiampan Andrea
Published: May 2012

Résumé Lorsque éclate la guerre anglo-argentine des Falkland, au printemps 1982, le Gouvernement de Spadolini soutint l’embargo de la cee contre les importations provenant du pays sud-américain, coupable d’avoir déchainé la crise. Mais bientôt, à cause d’importants intérêts économiques et de la forte présence italienne en Argentine, la majorité des forces politiques de la péninsule impose au Gouvernement de s’en dissocier, en provoquant ainsi une fracture entre l’Italie et les autres pays européens. La fracture fut rapidement réparée grâce à la victoire britannique et à la bonne volonté de tous les pays impliqués, mais elle mit en lumière les difficultés du monde politique italien d’élaborer une politique étrangère cohérente sur des questions controversées et avec des intérêts difficilement conciliables.
Existence et manifestation. Le johannisme platonicien de Marius Victorinus
Authors: Petit Alain
Published: May 2012

Résumé Si la manifestation a donné à l’ exsistentia ses lettres de noblesse, l’on découvre une irréductibilité de l’existence eu égard à sa manifestation, une réserve de ce qui est par rapport à ce qu’il laisse apparaître de lui-même. Parce qu’il a relayé le platonisme en son élaboration plotinienne, le johannisme a mis l’accent sur une extase de l’être hors de lui-même, condition même de l’émergence du vocabulaire de l’ex-sistence ; mais parce qu’il a poursuivi son chemin au-delà du plotinisme, Marius Victorinus a reconnu une indépendance de l’existence à l’égard de son apparaître extatique. Cette indépendance de l’existence (l’existence paternelle) à l’égard de ce qu’il laisse transparaître tient au fait que cette extase est commandée par la volonté. Avec le Logos, la « puissance » de Dieu, par elle-même inconnaissable, prend l’apparence d’une « sagesse ». Le johannisme platonicien de Marius Victorinus occupe en ce sens une place centrale entre l’« expressionnisme » origénien et l’« idéalisme » augustinien.
L'argument de l'image dans la défense de la consubstantialité par Marius Victorinus
Authors: Vasiliu Anca
Published: May 2012

Résumé L’image sert à la fois de preuve et d’ argument en faveur de l’unité substantielle entre Dieu, dont Victorinus affirme qu’il n’est pas substance, et le Fils qui a substance, forme et subsistance propres. L’image est ainsi une preuve d’existence pour ce qui ne peut pas être connu autrement. Victorinus y fait appel dans l’analyse de l’engendrement et dans la structure des relations trinitaires, en s’appuyant sur la visibilité des existants. La référence princeps pour l’image comme preuve d’existence se trouve dans un passage du Timée . Mais l’image entre dans la démonstration de la consubstantialité aussi comme un argument qui associe l’acte et la substance, l’existant et l’essence, l’être et la species , sur le modèle dialectique de la puissance et de l’acte. Une application similaire se retrouve chez Plotin qui fait de l’image l’enveloppe de visibilité ou de luminosité des choses, comme une sorte de présence hypostatique participante au principe substantiel des choses. Ces deux fonctions de l’image vont ensemble et ne peuvent pas être séparées, bien qu’elles relèvent en réalité de deux genres d’image ( eikôn-imago et eidos-species ) aussi distincts que leurs fonctions sont différentes sur le plan ontologique et métaphysique.
Substance, sujet, acte. La première réception latine d'Aristote : Marius Victorinus et Boèce
Authors: Trégo Kristell
Published: May 2012

Résumé On sait comment le choix du terme latin substantia est inséparable d’une interprétation de l’ ousia aristotélicienne comme d’un sujet (stable) recevant des propriétés ou accidents. Cette interprétation de l’étant n’a toutefois pas été exclusive chez les premiers auteurs latins qui se sont approprié la doctrine aristotélicienne des catégories. Marius Victorinus et Boèce se sont en effet attachés, l’un comme l’autre, mais selon des approches distinctes, à un autre sens de l’être : dans cette optique, ce qui est demande à être envisagé, non pas en termes de sujet (subiectum) , mais en termes d’acte ( actus , mais aussi opus/operatio ). L’article examine la manière dont cette attention portée à l’acte transmet sans doute, mais en même temps modifie la thématique aristotélicienne de l’ ousia hôs energeia .
Variabilité inter- et intra‑individuelle des stratégies de réalisation d'une tâche d'assemblage assistée par un document multimédia
Authors: Houard Olivier , Bellet L. , Vom Hofe Alain
Published: May 2012

Résumé Cette recherche empirique vise à montrer l’intérêt que peut présenter, pour l’analyse d’une tâche procédurale assistée par une notice multimédia, l’étude des stratégies mises en œuvre par les utilisateurs. Abordées à l’échelle de la variabilité intra‑individuelle dans le cours de la tâche, et selon les influences de facteurs internes (niveau d’aptitude spatiale des participants) et de facteurs externes (formats de présentation multimédia « pop‑up » vs classique), les stratégies apparaissent à la fois pertinentes au regard de l’activité et suffisamment prédictibles pour qu’elles soient exploitées comme descripteurs aussi bien dans les taxonomies de tâches que dans la spécification de solutions ergonomiques centrées‑utilisateurs.
Les comportements pro- et antisociaux au travail : une recherche exploratoire testant deux échelles de mesure et leurs liens avec des inducteurs organisationnels et individuels
Authors: Desrumaux Pascale , Léoni Véronique , Bernaud Jean-Luc , Defrancq C.
Published: May 2012

Résumé Les recherches sur les comportements antisociaux au travail ( caat ) sont nombreuses et permettent de distinguer les comportements anti‑organisationnels et anti‑individuels (Bennett & Robinson, 2000 ; Berry et al. , 2007 ; Courcy, et al. , 2004 ; Gruys & Sackett, 2003 ; Hershcovis et al., 2007). La même distinction pourrait être opérée pour les comportements prosociaux (Bierhoff, 2002 ; Podsakoff et al. , 2000) qui ont été moins étudiés. Dans le but de comprendre les inducteurs de ces deux catégories de comportements, notre recherche a deux objectifs. Le premier est exploratoire et vise à développer une démarche nomologique afin de valider une première version de deux échelles, l’une de comportements prosociaux et l’autre de comportements antisociaux. Le second objectif, dans la lignée du modèle de Leblanc et al. (2004), consiste à étudier les liens entre des variables de l’organisation (justice, engagement au travail) et personnologiques (personnalité, satisfaction) non seulement avec les comportements antisociaux au travail ( caat ) mais aussi avec les comportements prosociaux au travail ( cpst ). Un questionnaire de 205 questions a été soumis à 256 salariés du Nord-Pas-de-Calais. Deux analyses des données sur les comportements pro- puis antisociaux ont validé deux échelles comprenant chacune une structure factorielle en 4 dimensions. La première analyse relative aux comportements prosociaux met en évidence quatre facteurs : F1 : Mobilisation‑Dynamisation‑Autonomisation, F2 : Prosocialité de propriété, F3 : Prosocialité de Production/Politique, F4 : Aide. Une opposition entre F1 (comportements pro‑individuels) et F2 (comportements pro‑organisationnels) a été trouvée. La prosocialité de propriété occupe une place centrale dans le facteur 2 et les prosocialités de production et de propriété saturent F3. L’analyse relative aux comportements antisociaux au travail produit quatre facteurs : F1 : Agression, F2 : Déviances de Production et de Propriété, F3 : Déviance de propriété, F4 : Déviance politique. L’opposition F1/F2 (organisation/individus) pertinente pour les comportements antisociaux est retrouvée et justifie l’idée d’une classification distincte en fonction des cibles (organisation/individu) dans les champs de l’anti et de la prosocialité. Ensuite, les analyses de régression ont mis en évidence les liens entre d’une part, les comportements prosociaux et d’autre part, les différentes formes d’engagement et la justice procédurale. De leur côté, les caat sont expliqués par les différentes formes de justice organisationnelle et l’extraversion.
Accessibilité pour et dans l'usage : concevoir des situations d'activité adaptées à tous et à chacun
Authors: Folcher Viviane , Lompré Nicole
Published: May 2012

Résumé L’accessibilité consiste à offrir les mêmes droits et chances et permettre la pleine participation de tous à la société. Question sociale de portée générale, l’accessibilité fait l’objet d’un cadre réglementaire qui couvre l’ensemble des activités humaines : emploi, conditions de travail, accès et circulation dans les cadres bâtis, transports, usage de ressources en ligne, éducation et formation. Les multiples textes de loi et directives, les règlementations et normes techniques spécifient de façon disjointe les caractéristiques souhaitables des environnements (cadre bâti, transports, espaces publics, nouvelles technologies...). En conséquence, alors que l’accessibilité est porteuse d’une démarche universelle d’inclusion de tous à la société, elle se concrétise dans une juxtaposition d’actions de façon fragmentaire. Transversale aux différents domaines d’activité humaine et adressée à la diversité et la dynamique évolutive des personnes, l’accessibilité peut être appréhendée en ergonomie dans une démarche systémique accordant le primat à l’intrinsèque et visant la contribution à la conception d’environnement accessible à tous et à chacun. Nous débutons par une définition de l’accessibilité et exposons les raisons pour lesquelles ce problème de société intéresse l’ergonomie. Nous présentons ensuite les évolutions politiques législatives qui ont eu cours dans les champs du handicap et de l’accessibilité ces dernières décennies. Enfin, nous positionnons notre contribution au problème de l’accessibilité dans les termes de la conception de situations d’activité adaptées à tous et à chacun qui se réalise dans la rencontre entre l’accessibilité‑pour‑l’usage et l’accessibilité‑dans‑l’usage. Prenant appui sur les nombreuses contributions en ergonomie et en psychologie, nous articulons notre proposition aux apports historiques dans lesquels elle puise.
Haute et basse police selon Jean-Paul Brodeur
Authors: Manning Peter K.
Published: May 2012

Cet article se divise en trois parties. La première partie procède à une lecture détaillée de « High policing and low policing… », l’article en anglais le plus influent de Jean-Paul Brodeur qui formula en 1983 les concepts de haute et de basse police. Cette discussion tient compte de la version plus détaillée de ce cadre théorique qui est contenue dans The Policing Web, son dernier livre. La deuxième partie examine la prescience de l’article sur la haute et la basse police, qui anticipa les développements actuels dont le rythme s’est accéléré depuis les attentats du 11 septembre. La troisième partie se penche sur l’importance d’inclure la haute police dans une théorie émergente du policing.
Jean-Paul Brodeur on High and Low Policing
Authors: Manning Peter K.
Published: May 2012

Cet article se divise en trois parties. La première partie procède à une lecture détaillée de « High policing and low policing… », l’article en anglais le plus influent de Jean-Paul Brodeur qui formula en 1983 les concepts de haute et de basse police. Cette discussion tient compte de la version plus détaillée de ce cadre théorique qui est contenue dans The Policing Web, son dernier livre. La deuxième partie examine la prescience de l’article sur la haute et la basse police, qui anticipa les développements actuels dont le rythme s’est accéléré depuis les attentats du 11 septembre. La troisième partie se penche sur l’importance d’inclure la haute police dans une théorie émergente du policing.
Kv1.3 Deletion Biases T Cells toward an Immunoregulatory Phenotype and Renders Mice Resistant to Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
Authors: Gocke Anne R. , Lebson Lori A. , Grishkan Inna V. , Hu Lina , Nguyen Hai M. , Whartenby Katharine A. , Chandy K. George , Calabresi Peter A.
Published: May 2012

Increasing evidence suggests ion channels have critical functions in the differentiation and plasticity of T cells. Kv1.3, a voltage-gated K+ channel, is a functional marker and a pharmacological target for activated effector memory T cells. Selective Kv1.3 blockers have been shown to inhibit proliferation and cytokine production by human and rat effector memory T cells. We used Kv1.3 knockout (KO) mice to investigate the mechanism by which Kv1.3 blockade affects CD4+ T cell differentiation during an inflammatory immune-mediated disease. Kv1.3 KO animals displayed significantly lower incidence and severity of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) peptide-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Kv1.3 was the only KV channel expressed in MOG 35–55-specific CD4+ T cell blasts, and no KV current was present in MOG-specific CD4+ T cell-blasts from Kv1.3 KO mice. Fewer CD4+ T cells migrated to the CNS in Kv1.3 KO mice following disease induction, and Ag-specific proliferation of CD4+ T cells from these mice was impaired with a corresponding cell-cycle delay. Kv1.3 was required for optimal expression of IFN-γ and IL-17, whereas its absence led to increased IL-10 production. Dendritic cells from Kv1.3 KO mice fully activated wild-type CD4+ T cells, indicating a T cell-intrinsic defect in Kv1.3 KO mice. The loss of Kv1.3 led to a suppressive phenotype, which may contribute to the mechanism by which deletion of Kv1.3 produces an immunotherapeutic effect. Skewing of CD4+ T cell differentiation toward Ag-specific regulatory T cells by pharmacological blockade or genetic suppression of Kv1.3 might be beneficial for therapy of immune-mediated diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
Negative Feedback Regulation of Antigen Receptors through Calmodulin Inhibition of E2A
Authors: Verma-Gaur Jiyoti , Hauser Jannek , Grundström Thomas
Published: May 2012

Signaling from the BCR is used to judge Ag-binding strengths of the Abs of B cells. BCR signaling enables the selection for successive improvements in the Ag affinity over an extremely broad range of affinities during somatic hypermutation. We show that the mouse BCR is subject to general negative feedback regulation of the receptor proteins, as well as many coreceptors and proteins in signal pathways from the receptor. Thus, the BCR can downregulate itself, which can enable sensitive detection of successive improvements in the Ag affinity over a very large span of affinities. Furthermore, the feedback inhibition of the BCR signalosome and most of its proteins, as well as most other regulations of genes by BCR stimulation, is to a large extent through inhibition of the transcription factor E2A by Ca2+/calmodulin.
L-Plastin Regulates Polarization and Migration in Chemokine-Stimulated Human T Lymphocytes
Authors: Freeley Michael , O’Dowd Francis , Paul Toby , Kashanin Dmitry , Davies Anthony , Kelleher Dermot , Long Aideen
Published: May 2012

Chemokines such as SDF-1α play a crucial role in orchestrating T lymphocyte polarity and migration via polymerization and reorganization of the F-actin cytoskeleton, but the role of actin-associated proteins in this process is not well characterized. In this study, we have investigated a role for L-plastin, a leukocyte-specific F-actin–bundling protein, in SDF-1α–stimulated human T lymphocyte polarization and migration. We found that L-plastin colocalized with F-actin at the leading edge of SDF-1α–stimulated T lymphocytes and was also phosphorylated at Ser5, a site that when phosphorylated regulates the ability of L-plastin to bundle F-actin. L-plastin phosphorylation was sensitive to pharmacological inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC), and several PKC isoforms colocalized with L-plastin at the leading edge of SDF-1α–stimulated lymphocytes. However, PKC ζ, an established regulator of cell polarity, was the only isoform that regulated L-plastin phosphorylation. Knockdown of L-plastin expression with small interfering RNAs demonstrated that this protein regulated the localization of F-actin at the leading edge of chemokine-stimulated cells and was also required for polarization, lamellipodia formation, and chemotaxis. Knockdown of L-plastin expression also impaired the Rac1 activation cycle and Akt phosphorylation in response to SDF-1α stimulation. Furthermore, L-plastin also regulated SDF-1α–mediated lymphocyte migration on the integrin ligand ICAM-1 by influencing velocity and persistence, but in a manner that was independent of LFA-1 integrin activation or adhesion. This study, therefore, demonstrates an important role for L-plastin and the signaling pathways that regulate its phosphorylation in response to chemokines and adds L-plastin to a growing list of proteins implicated in T lymphocyte polarity and migration.
EVI1 Acts as an Inducible Negative-Feedback Regulator of NF-κB by Inhibiting p65 Acetylation
Authors: Xu Xiangbin , Woo Chang-Hoon , Steere Rachel R. , Lee Byung Cheol , Huang Yuxian , Wu Jing , Pang Jinjiang , Lim Jae Hyang , Xu Haidong , Zhang Wenhong , Konduru Anuhya S. , Yan Chen , Cheeseman Michael T. , Brown Steve D. M. , Li Jian-Dong
Published: May 2012

Inflammation is a hallmark of many important human diseases. Appropriate inflammation is critical for host defense; however, an overactive response is detrimental to the host. Thus, inflammation must be tightly regulated. The molecular mechanisms underlying the tight regulation of inflammation remain largely unknown. Ecotropic viral integration site 1 (EVI1), a proto-oncogene and zinc finger transcription factor, plays important roles in normal development and leukemogenesis. However, its role in regulating NF-κB–dependent inflammation remains unknown. In this article, we show that EVI1 negatively regulates nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae- and TNF-α–induced NF-κB–dependent inflammation in vitro and in vivo. EVI1 directly binds to the NF-κB p65 subunit and inhibits its acetylation at lysine 310, thereby inhibiting its DNA-binding activity. Moreover, expression of EVI1 itself is induced by nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae and TNF-α in an NF-κB–dependent manner, thereby unveiling a novel inducible negative feedback loop to tightly control NF-κB–dependent inflammation. Thus, our study provides important insights into the novel role for EVI1 in negatively regulating NF-κB–dependent inflammation, and it may also shed light on the future development of novel anti-inflammatory strategies.
Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Signaling Is Required for Lung Protection during Pneumonia
Authors: Quinton Lee J. , Mizgerd Joseph P. , Hilliard Kristie L. , Jones Matthew R. , Kwon Candice Y. , Allen Eri
Published: May 2012

Lung infections represent a tremendous disease burden and a leading cause of acute lung injury. STAT3 signaling is essential for controlling lung injury during pneumonia. We previously identified LIF as a prominent STAT3-activating cytokine expressed in the airspaces of pneumonic lungs, but its physiological significance in this setting has never been explored. To do so, Escherichia coli was intratracheally instilled into C57BL/6 mice in the presence of neutralizing anti-LIF IgG or control IgG. Anti-LIF completely eliminated lung LIF detection and markedly exacerbated lung injury compared with control mice as evidenced by airspace albumin content, lung liquid accumulation, and histological analysis. Although lung bacteriology was equivalent between groups, bacteremia was more prevalent with anti-LIF treatment, suggestive of compromised barrier function rather than impaired antibacterial defense as the cause of dissemination. Inflammatory cytokine expression was also exaggerated in anti-LIF–treated lungs, albeit after injury had ensued. Interestingly, alveolar neutrophil recruitment was modestly but significantly reduced compared with control mice despite elevated cytokine levels, indicating that inflammatory injury was not a consequence of excessive neutrophilic alveolitis. Lastly, the lung transcriptome was dramatically remodeled during pneumonia, but far more so following LIF neutralization, with gene changes implicating cell death and epithelial homeostasis among other processes relevant to tissue injury. From these findings, we conclude that endogenous LIF facilitates tissue protection during pneumonia. The LIF–STAT3 axis is identified in this study as a critical determinant of lung injury with clinical implications for pneumonia patients.
HIV-1 Capture and Antigen Presentation by Dendritic Cells: Enhanced Viral Capture Does Not Correlate with Better T Cell Activation
Authors: Rodriguez-Plata Maria T. , Urrutia Alejandra , Cardinaud Sylvain , Buzón Maria J. , Izquierdo-Useros Nuria , Prado Julia G. , Puertas Maria C. , Erkizia Itziar , Coulon Pierre-Grégoire , Cedeño Samandhy , Clotet Bonaventura , Moris Arnaud , Martinez-Picado Javier
Published: May 2012

During HIV-1 infection, dendritic cells (DC) facilitate dissemination of HIV-1 while trying to trigger adaptive antiviral immune responses. We examined whether increased HIV-1 capture in DC matured with LPS results in more efficient Ag presentation to HIV-1–specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. To block the DC-mediated trans-infection of HIV-1 and maximize Ag loading, we also evaluated a noninfectious integrase-deficient HIV-1 isolate, HIVNL4-3ΔIN. We showed that higher viral capture of DC did not guarantee better Ag presentation or T cell activation. Greater HIVNL4-3 uptake by fully LPS-matured DC resulted in higher viral transmission to target cells but poorer stimulation of HIV-1–specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Conversely, maturation of DC with LPS during, but not before, viral loading enhanced both HLA-I and HLA-II HIV-1–derived Ag presentation. In contrast, DC maturation with the clinical-grade mixture consisting of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, and PGE2 during viral uptake only stimulated HIV-1–specific CD8+ T cells. Hence, DC maturation state, activation stimulus, and time lag between DC maturation and Ag loading impact HIV-1 capture and virus Ag presentation. Our results demonstrate a dissociation between the capacity to capture HIV-1 and to present viral Ags. Integrase-deficient HIVNL4-3ΔIN was also efficiently captured and presented by DC through the HLA-I and HLA-II pathways but in the absence of viral dissemination. HIVNL4-3ΔIN seems to be an attractive candidate to be explored. These results provide new insights into DC biology and have implications in the optimization of DC-based immunotherapy against HIV-1 infection.
Global risk of radioactive fallout after major nuclear reactor accidents
Authors: Lelieveld J. , Kunkel D. , Lawrence M. G.
Published: May 2012

Abstract. Major reactor accidents of nuclear power plants are rare, yet the consequences are catastrophic. But what is meant by "rare"? And what can be learned from the Chernobyl and Fukushima incidents? Here we assess the cumulative, global risk of exposure to radioactivity due to atmospheric dispersion of gases and particles following severe nuclear accidents (the most severe ones on the International Nuclear Event Scale, INES 7), using particulate 137Cs and gaseous 131I as proxies for the fallout. Our results indicate that previously the occurrence of INES 7 major accidents and the risks of radioactive contamination have been underestimated. Using a global model of the atmosphere we compute that on average, in the event of a major reactor accident of any nuclear power plant worldwide, more than 90% of emitted 137Cs would be transported beyond 50 km and about 50% beyond 1000 km distance before being deposited. This corroborates that such accidents have large-scale and trans-boundary impacts. Although the emission strengths and atmospheric removal processes of 137Cs and 131I are quite different, the radioactive contamination patterns over land and the human exposure due to deposition are computed to be similar. High human exposure risks occur around reactors in densely populated regions, notably in West Europe and South Asia, where a major reactor accident can subject around 30 million people to radioactive contamination. The recent decision by Germany to phase out its nuclear reactors will reduce the national risk, though a large risk will still remain from the reactors in neighbouring countries.
Radiative impacts of cloud heterogeneity and overlap in an atmospheric General Circulation Model
Authors: Oreopoulos L. , Lee D. , Sud Y. C. , Suarez M. J.
Published: May 2012

Abstract. The radiative impacts of introducing horizontal heterogeneity of layer cloud condensate, and vertical overlap of condensate and cloud fraction are examined with the aid of a new radiation package operating in the GEOS-5 Atmospheric General Circulation Model. The impacts are examined in terms of diagnostic top-of-the atmosphere shortwave (SW) and longwave (LW) cloud radiative effect (CRE) calculations for a range of assumptions and parameter specifications about the overlap. The investigation is conducted for two distinct cloud schemes, the one that comes with the standard GEOS-5 distribution, and another which has been recently used experimentally for its enhanced cloud microphysical capabilities; both are coupled to a cloud generator allowing arbitrary cloud overlap specification. We find that cloud overlap radiative impacts are significantly stronger for the operational cloud scheme for which a change of cloud fraction overlap from maximum-random to generalized results to global changes of SW and LW CRE of ∼4 W m−2, and zonal changes of up to ∼10 W m−2. This is because of fewer occurrences compared to the other scheme of large layer cloud fractions and of multi-layer situations with large numbers of atmospheric layers being simultaneously cloudy, conditions that make overlap details more important. The impact on CRE of the details of condensate distribution overlap is much weaker. Once generalized overlap is adopted, both cloud schemes are only modestly sensitive to the exact values of the overlap parameters. We also find that if one of the CRE components is overestimated and the other underestimated, both cannot be driven towards observed values by adjustments to cloud condensate heterogeneity and overlap alone.
Copper‐Catalyzed Coupling of (E)‐Bromostilbene with Phenols/Azole: ESI‐MS Detection of Intermediates by Using an Ionically‐Tagged Ligand
Authors: Limberger Jones , Leal Bárbara C. , Back Davi F. , Dupont Jairton , Monteiro Adriano L.
Published: May 2012

A system based on copper/1,10‐phenanthroline efficiently promotes the coupling between phenols or pyrazole with (E)‐bromostilbene. (E)‐1‐Aryloxy‐1,2‐diphenylethenes were obtained from the coupling with phenols in good to excellent yields (69–90%). The exception was the reaction involving a phenol containing an electron‐withdrawing cyano group that required a longer reaction time and gave only 49% yield. Kinetic studies indicated the participation of the vinyl halide in the rate‐determining step. Under the conditions employed, the activation of the vinyl halide via a radical pathway was discarded using a radical scavenger test. By using an ionically‐tagged 1,10‐phenanthroline derivative as the ligand, various copper‐based ions were detected through ESI(+)‐MS. These ions suggested that formation of the active species [phenCuOAr(HOAr)2] precedes the vinyl halide activation.
Regioselective Enzymatic Acylation of Aureolic Acids to Obtain Novel Analogues with Improved Antitumor Activity
Authors: González‐Sabín Javier , Núñez Luz Elena , Braña Alfredo F. , Méndez Carmen , Salas José A. , Gotor Vicente , Morís Francisco
Published: May 2012

A variety of aureolic acids was efficiently obtained by lipase‐catalyzed regioselective acylation reactions of mithramycin and its analogues mithramycin SK and mithramycin SDK. The acylation took place in the aglycone moiety or in the B sugar unit, depending on the substrate, lipase and acyl donor considered. Most of the novel acylated derivatives showed antitumor activity at double digit nanomolar concentrations, in some cases significantly improving the activity of the parent drugs.
Supersymmetric solution of Schrödinger equation by using the asymptotic iteration method
Authors: Kocak G. , Bayrak O. , Boztosun I.
Published: May 2012

In this work, the exact analytical solutions of the radial Schrödinger equation are presented for the harmonic oscillator, Hulthén and Pöschl‐Teller potentials within the framework of the asymptotic iteration method by using supersymmetry. The energy eigenvalues and the corresponding eigenfunctions are obtained analytically.
Co‐poly(vinyl chloride‐vinyl acetate‐vinyl alcohol)‐silica nanocomposites from sol–gel process: Morphological, mechanical, and thermal investigations
Authors: Nadeem Uzma , Ahmad Zahoor , Zulfiqar Sonia , Sarwar Muhammad Ilyas
Published: May 2012

Organic–inorganic nanocomposites consisting of co‐poly(vinyl chloride‐vinyl acetate‐vinyl alcohol) and silica were prepared via sol–gel process. Two types of hybrids were prepared, one in which interactions between hydroxyl group present in the copolymer chain and silanol groups of silica network were developed. In the second set, extensive chemical bonding between the phases was achieved through the reaction of hydroxyl groups on the copolymer chains with 3‐isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane (ICTS). Hydrolysis and condensation of tetraethoxysilane and pendant ethoxy groups on the chain yielded inorganic network structure. Mechanical and thermal behaviors of the hybrid films were studied. Increase in Young's modulus, tensile strength, and toughness was observed up to 2.5 wt % silica content relative to the neat copolymer. The system in which ICTS was employed as binding agent, the tensile strength and toughness of hybrid films increased significantly as compared to the pure copolymer. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that these nanocomposite materials were stable up to 250°C. The glass transition temperature increases up to 2.5 wt % addition of silica in both the systems. Field emission scanning electron microscope results revealed uniform distribution of silica in the copolymer matrix. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Rheological and mechanical behavior of LDPE/calcium carbonate nanocomposites and microcomposites
Authors: Mantia Francesco Paolo La , Morreale Marco , Scaffaro Roberto , Tulone Simona
Published: May 2012

The increase of the interest in polymer nanocomposites has been leading to continuous growing search toward nanofillers alternative to the widely known clay‐based ones. One of these possible alternatives is represented by calcium carbonate nanoparticles, which have not been widely investigated in such context. In this article, a study on the rheological and morphological behavior of different low density polyethylene‐calcium carbonate nanocomposites, compared with a reference calcium carbonate microcomposite, is presented. Several different nanosized calcium carbonates at different amounts were used. The results from the rheological and mechanical tests outlined that only minor changes occur when the amount is up to 2 wt %. The use of higher filler concentrations or the increase in the processing time can significantly affect this behavior. SEM analysis allowed deeper understanding of these phenomena. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Synthesis of 3,4‐Dihalogenated Furan‐2‐(5 H)‐ones by Electrophilic Cyclization of 4‐Hydroxy‐2‐alkynoates
Authors: Zhu Hai‐Tao , Wang Li‐Jing , Ji Ke‐Gong , Liu Xue‐Yuan , Liang Yong‐Min
Published: May 2012

Functionalized 3,4‐dihalogenated furan‐2(5 H)‐ones can be readily prepared in moderate to good yields by treating 4‐hydroxy‐4‐arylbut‐2‐ynoate derivatives with ICl, IBr, and I2. Both halogen atoms of the electrophile are incorporated in the product. The resulting halides can further afford polycyclic aromatic compounds using known palladium‐catalyzed coupling reactions.
Effect of Calcination Temperature and Pretreatment with Reaction Gas on Properties of Co/γ‐Al2O3 Catalysts for Partial Oxidation of Methane
Authors: Zhang Nuo‐Wei , Huang Chuan‐Jing , Zhu Xiao‐Quan , Xu Jing‐Dong , Weng Wei‐Zheng , Wan Hui‐Lin
Published: May 2012

The effects of calcination temperature and feedstock pretreatment on the catalytic performance of Co/γ‐Al2O3 catalysts were studied for partial oxidation of methane (POM) to synthesis gas, with emphasis on the role of feedstock pretreatment. The physicochemical properties of the catalysts were characterized by N2 adsorption, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), H2 temperature‐programmed reduction (H2‐TPR), and Raman spectroscopy. The results showed that the pretreatment of the catalyst by reaction gas significantly improved the catalytic activity and stability for the POM reaction. On the other hand, the effect of calcination temperature was less significant. Although the initial activity was increased by an increased calcination temperature, the catalyst without the feedstock pretreatment suffered a rapid deactivation. The reaction‐atmosphere pretreatment was revealed as a process that mainly modified the surface structure of the catalyst. In that process, the formation of a CoAl2O4‐like compound led to high Co metal dispersion after reduction, and the transformation of the carrier into α‐Al2O3 occurred over the catalyst surface. Both the high dispersion of cobalt and the presence of α‐Al2O3 surface phase were assumed as the important factors resulting in an excellent catalytic performance in terms of high activity and high stability.
Which Corporate Sustainability Activities are Associated with Greater Financial Payoffs?
Authors: Kurapatskie Brent , Darnall Nicole
Published: May 2012

While many company managers and academic researchers have argued that businesses that develop a sustainability focus also may improve their financial performance, little information is known about whether firms' different types of sustainability activities are related to varying degrees of financial gain. This paper assesses the economic relationship between two types of sustainability activities – lower‐ and higher‐order – derived from the sustainability value framework of Hart and Milstein (2003). Our analysis reveals that both types of sustainability activities are similarly associated with firms' financial performance in terms of direction and trend. However, the average level of financial benefits related to firms' higher‐order sustainability activities (which develop new products and processes) is greater than the average level of financial benefits related to firms' lower‐order sustainability activities (which modify existing products and processes). These findings offer initial evidence that companies that reach further by developing higher‐order sustainability activities may reap greater financial benefits, while improving the natural environment to a greater degree. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Synthesis of an Enlarged Library of Dynamic DNA Activators with Oxime, Disulfide and Hydrazone Bridges
Authors: Montenegro Javier , Bang Eun‐Kyoung , Sakai Naomi , Matile Stefan
Published: May 2012

Dynamic amphiphiles have a “bridge” between their charged head and their hydrophobic tails. The presence of dynamic covalent bonds is of interest for differential and biosensing applications as well as for rapid access to the libraries needed to screen for gene delivery or cellular uptake of siRNA. However, efforts to develop libraries have so far concentrated on hydrazone bridges to monocationic heads. Here, we report synthesis efforts to enlarge this focused library with oxime and disulfide bridges and dynamic amphiphiles with more than one positive charge. Evaluation in fluorogenic vesicles reveals best activation of DNA as ion transporters by dynamic amphiphiles with dendritic scaffolds, doubly charged heads and four tails. Moreover, oximes, contrary to hydrazones, remain active under acidic conditions. Linear elongation of dendritic head‐groups seems to cause increasing detergent effects and should therefore be avoided.
A truncating mutation of Alms1 reduces the number of hypothalamic neuronal cilia in obese mice
Authors: Heydet Déborah , Chen Lesley X. , Larter Claire Z. , Inglis Chrystal , Silverman Michael A. , Farrell Geoffrey C. , Leroux Michel R.
Published: May 2012

Primary cilia are ubiquitous cellular antennae whose dysfunction collectively causes various disorders, including vision and hearing impairment, as well as renal, skeletal, and central nervous system anomalies. One ciliopathy, Alström syndrome, is closely related to Bardet–Biedl syndrome (BBS), sharing amongst other phenotypic features morbid obesity. As the cellular and molecular links between weight regulation and cilia are poorly understood, we used the obese mouse strain foz/foz, bearing a truncating mutation in the Alström syndrome protein (Alms1), to help elucidate why it develops hyperphagia, leading to early onset obesity and metabolic anomalies. Our in vivo studies reveal that Alms1 localizes at the base of cilia in hypothalamic neurons, which are implicated in the control of satiety. Alms1 is lost from this location in foz/foz mice, coinciding with a strong postnatal reduction (∼70%) in neurons displaying cilia marked with adenylyl cyclase 3 (AC3), a signaling protein implicated in obesity. Notably, the reduction in AC3‐bearing cilia parallels the decrease in cilia containing two appetite‐regulating proteins, Mchr1 and Sstr3, as well as another established Arl13b ciliary marker, consistent with progressive loss of cilia during development. Together, our results suggest that Alms1 maintains the function of neuronal cilia implicated in weight regulation by influencing the maintenance and/or stability of the organelle. Given that Mchr1 and Sstr3 localization to remaining cilia is maintained in foz/foz animals but known to be lost from BBS knockout mice, our findings suggest different molecular etiologies for the satiety defects associated with the Alström syndrome and BBS ciliopathies. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2013
A local modified chan–vese model for segmenting inhomogeneous multiphase images
Authors: Gao Shangbing , Yang Jian , Yan Yunyang
Published: May 2012

In this article, we propose a novel model to overcome the drawbacks of the modified Chan–Vese (MCV) model. Our model is devoted to find an optimal partition of inhomogeneous regions accurately and computationally efficient. MCV model was proposed on the concept of using one level‐set function for one region. It needs fewer numbers of iterations and improves the efficiency of image segmentation in contrast to the multiphase Chan–Vese model. The MCV model, however, is highly dependent on initial curves placement and often leads to erroneous segmentations on images with intensity inhomogeneity. In our model, to eliminate the affection of background information on the curve evolution and speed up the curve evolution, we first use the k‐means algorithm to presegment the image to get the initial curves and then add the local image information to the total energy functional of MCV model to deal with the intensity inhomogeneity. Finally, extensive experiments are done and the segmentation results on homogeneous multiphase images verify that the proposed method has the better accuracy and efficiency comparing to MCV model. Moreover, we show results on challenging multiphase inhomogeneous image to illustrate the robust and accurate segmentation that are possible with this novel model. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 22, 103–113, 2012
In vivo correlation between semi‐quantitative hemodynamic parameters and Ktrans derived from DCE‐MRI of brain tumors
Authors: Chih‐Feng Chen , Ling‐Wei Hsu , Chun‐Chung Lui , Chen‐Chang Lee , Hsu‐Huei Weng , Yuan‐Hsiung Tsai , Ho‐Ling Liu
Published: May 2012

Dynamic contrast‐enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become more and more widely applied in cancer diagnosis and treatment follow‐up. Without complicated calculation, a semiquantitative parameter – modified initial area under the curve (mIAUCc) – was proposed for better correlation with volume transfer constant (Ktrans) by computer simulation. In this study, we aim to further investigate the correlation between mIAUCc and Ktrans in clinical. A total of 10 patients with brain tumors participated in this study and images were acquired by using a 3‐Tesla clinical MR scanner. The results showed that mIAUCc was highly correlated with Ktrans with the correlation coefficient of 0.913. Although the ideals of Ktrans and mIAUCc are different, mIAUCc does the trick for brain tumors evaluations in DCE‐MRI. It reveals that mIAUCc could be an alternative for physiological condition evaluation in DCE‐MRI. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 22, 132–136, 2012
SPATIAL FILTERING, MODEL UNCERTAINTY AND THE SPEED OF INCOME CONVERGENCE IN EUROPE
Authors: Crespo Cuaresma Jesús , Feldkircher Martin
Published: May 2012

In this paper we put forward a Bayesian model averaging method aimed at performing inference under model uncertainty in the presence of potential spatial autocorrelation. The method uses spatial filtering in order to account for uncertainty in spatial linkages. Our procedure is applied to a dataset of income per capita growth and 50 potential determinants for 255 NUTS‐2 European regions. We show that ignoring uncertainty in the type of spatial weight matrix can have an important effect on the estimates of the parameters attached to the model covariates. After integrating out the uncertainty implied by the choice of regressors and spatial links, human capital investments and transitional dynamics related to income convergence appear as the most robust determinants of growth at the regional level in Europe. Our results imply that a quantitatively important part of the income convergence process in Europe is influenced by spatially correlated growth spillovers. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Biodegradation behavior of silk fibroin membranes in repairing tympanic membrane perforations
Authors: Lee Ok Joo , Lee Jung Min , Kim Ji Heui , Kim Jin , Kweon HaeYong , Jo You Young , Park Chan Hum
Published: May 2012

Silk fibroin (SF) from silkworms has been widely studied as a biomaterial. The degradation behavior of silk biomaterials is important for medical applications, but few studies have examined long‐term degradation behavior in vivo. In this study, we investigated the degradation behavior of SF membranes in vitro and in vivo. For the in vitro assay, we observed degradation of silk membranes in phosphate buffered saline, culture media, and an enzyme (proteinase K) solution. In the proteinase K solution, 80% of the silk membranes degraded within 10 days. Silk membranes exhibited no cytotoxicity toward L929 cells and rat tissues. To investigate the degradation of silk membranes in vivo, they were implanted subcutaneously in rats and harvested 19 months after surgery. Scanning electron microscopy imaging and histological analysis of silk membrane explants showed that they broke into several pieces after 16 months. Results show that silk membranes are biocompatible and display excellent long‐term degradation behavior when used as biomaterials. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A, 2012.
An investigation into the effect of amphiphilic siloxane oligomers on dermal fibroblasts
Authors: Farrugia Brooke L. , Keddie Daniel J. , George Graeme A. , Lynam Emily C. , Brook Michael A. , Upton Zee , Dargaville Tim R.
Published: May 2012

This study investigates the effect of well‐defined poly(dimethylsiloxane)–poly(ethylene glycol) (PDMS–PEG) ABA linear block co‐oligomers on the proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts. The co‐oligomers assessed ranged in molecular weight (MW) from 1335 to 5208 Da and hydrophilic–lipophilic balance (HLB) from 5.9 to 16.6 by varying the number of both PDMS and PEG units. In general, it was found that co‐oligomers of low MW or intermediate hydrophilicity significantly reduced fibroblast proliferation. A linear relationship between down‐regulation of fibroblast proliferation, and the ratio HLB/MW was observed at concentrations of 0.1 and 1.0 wt % of the oligomers. This enabled the structures with highest efficiency to be determined. These results suggest the possible use of the PEG–PDMS–PEG block co‐oligomers as an alternative to silicone gels for hypertrophic scar remediation. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A:, 2012.
Indirect coating of RGD peptides using a poly‐L‐lysine spacer enhances jaw periosteal cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation into osteogenic tissue
Authors: Ardjomandi N. , Klein C. , Kohler K. , Maurer A. , Kalbacher H. , Niederländer J. , Reinert S. , Alexander D.
Published: May 2012

The aim of our study was to generate a biofunctionalized, three‐dimensional (3D) biomaterial to enhance jaw periosteal cell (JPC) adhesion and differentiation into osteogenic tissue. Therefore, open‐cell polylactic acid (OPLA) scaffolds were coated covalently with different RGD peptides (a conserved recognition sequence of the most ECM proteins—arginine‐glycine‐asparagine) and different coating variants. The linear and cyclic RGD peptides were either applied directly or indirectly via a poly‐L‐lysine (PLL) spacer. JPCs were analyzed on coated constructs in 2D and 3D cultures and showed enhanced rates for indirectly coated scaffolds using the PLL spacer. By gene expression, we detected significantly increased levels of osteogenic marker genes, such as alkaline phosphatase, RUNX2, and AMELY in JPCs seeded onto PLL/linear RGD constructs compared to the otherwise‐coated constructs. An analysis of the JPC mineralization capacity revealed the highest amounts of calcium–phosphate precipitates in cells growing within the PLL/linear scaffolds. Additionally, the JPC adhesion behavior on OPLA scaffolds seems to be mediated by ITGB3, ITGB1, and ITGAV, as shown by blocking assays. We concluded that coating of OPLA constructs with linear RGD peptides via PLL represents a suitable approach for functionalizing the polymer surface and enhancing adhesion, proliferation, and mineralization of JPCs. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A, 2012.