bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Early Christian Political Philosophy
Authors: Lunn-Rockliffe Sophie
Published: September 2011

Early Christian political philosophy is not a unified, theoretical, and coherent system, but is embedded in a range of Christian works of apology, theology, and exegesis. Literate (and therefore elite) Christians from the apologists to Augustine were subject to a range of political and social pressures, and their political thinking was often contingent and incidental. What is the ultimate goal of political life for Christians? What is the good life for Christians? Between Constantine's reign and that of Theodosius at the close of the fourth century, emperors veered from the pious to the “heretical,” with a single pagan interruption. It was a common rhetorical conceit for Christians to redefine philosophy as Christianity, and one that became more urgent during Julian's reign. He attempted to wrest Greek philosophy and culture from the Christians for his revived paganism, dubbed “Hellenism,” and even barred Christians from teaching in his school edict of 362. This article focuses on early Christian political philosophy as well as ecclesiology, eschatology, and asceticism.
Medieval Political Theory c.1000–1500
Authors: Coleman Janet
Published: September 2011

This article focuses on a selection of Christian political theorists who have been considered by scholars over many generations, indeed centuries, to have contributed to a variety of distinctive discourses about the relationships between individuals and authority. There is a sense in which what political theorizing “is” during the Middle Ages is a set of positions and justificatory explanations about “sovereign power.” The attempt to fix the boundary between sacred and temporal authority during the eleventh-century pontificate of Gregory VII is normally seen to have spawned the major and long-enduring debates in medieval political theory (and beyond) over the relation between temporal and spiritual powers. This article highlights the emergence of legal experts in canon law and civil law, to whom the name “political theorists” should not seem anachronistic. It also considers how political theory was generated as a “civil science.” Finally, it looks at some themes at the heart of medieval political theory, particularly property and poverty, the Dominican political theory of Thomas Aquinas, and Franciscans' political theory.
Renaissance Political Philosophy
Authors: Hörnqvist Mikael
Published: September 2011

Since the idea of Rome and a united Christendom was the horizon within which Renaissance political thought developed, the alternatives to papal and imperial tutelage consisted in subverting the Roman-papal paradigm from within (Niccolò Machiavelli's solution) or rejecting Rome altogether (the road taken by French légistes such as Francis Hotman and Jean Bodin). This article focuses on the two most prominent, and arguably also most influential, political thinkers of the Renaissance period, Niccolò Machiavelli (1469–1527) and Thomas More (1478–1535). Although it is highly unlikely that either author knew of the existence of the other, let alone was familiar with his work, the fact that Machiavelli's Prince (1513) and Discourses on Livy (1514–1518) and More's Utopia (1516) were written only a few years apart invites comparison. While focusing on Machiavelli and More, we must not forget that there were many other Renaissance writers, humanists, philosophers, and others, who commented on politics and contributed to the overall development of political thought and political philosophy in the period.
Contemporary Continental Political Thought
Authors: White Stephen K.
Published: September 2011

“Continental philosophy” is generally understood as a contrast term for “Anglo-American analytic philosophy.” On its face, we seem to have a distinction rooted in geography, the continent in question being Europe. What is the relationship between Continental philosophy and Continental political philosophy—more frequently called Continental political thought (CPT)? There is the common postulation that modern Western social life, despite its many achievements, carries within it a certain “malignancy.” A tool frequently used by CPT is a skepticism of Enlightenment universalism in relation to ethical and political life. Given CPT's postulation of some sort of malignancy in modern Western society, it is hardly surprising that there is usually also sustained attention given to the possibility of some transformation that will overcome or at least combat more effectively the danger or harm that malignancy carries with it.
Democracy
Authors: Warren Mark E.
Published: September 2011

When compared to various forms of autocracy, monarchy, theocracy, oligarchy, and dictatorship, democracies are better at solving, routinizing, and institutionalizing basic problems of common social life and collective action. This article explores the historical origins of ideas that articulate and justify contemporary democratic theory and practice. First, it surveys the conceptual questions embedded in the concept of democracy inherited from the Greek, demokratia—literally, the power (kratos) of the people (demos), though commonly translated as rule of the people. Embedded in this concept of democracy we find at least four basic classes of questions: Who are “the people”? At what level of organization is “self-government” directed? How is the rule of the people translated into collective decisions and actions? Why is democracy good? The answers to these questions form, as it were, the history of democratic theory from the perspective of what historical democratic ideas and practices might contribute to the present and future of democracy.
Imperialism
Authors: Kumar Krishan
Published: September 2011

Imperialism relates to the theory and practice of the European empires of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. There were European empires before that, many of which had a continuous history from those earlier times well into the twentieth century. These include some of the best known: the Ottoman; Portuguese; Spanish; Austrian; Russian; Dutch; British; and French empires, all of which had their origins in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Running alongside these was the even longer-lasting though sometimes ineffectual Holy Roman Empire, whose important role in keeping the imperial idea alive in the Middle Ages and beyond has unfairly been slighted owing to the popularity of Voltaire's quip that it was “neither Holy, nor Roman, nor an Empire.” For some students of empire, empire represents an ever-present possibility, because imperialism is a drive that is inherent in the very nature of human society and politics. The most influential theory of modern imperialism was penned not by a Marxist or even a socialist but by a self-professed English liberal, J. A. Hobson.
Anarchism
Authors: Shatz Marshall
Published: September 2011

Anarchism rejects the state as an inherently despotic institution that must be abolished in order for human nature to flower. This does not mean the absence of social order, however, for anarchism also contains a positive vision of the kind of community it expects to arise when political authority is eliminated. Although it shares liberalism's commitment to individual autonomy and Marxism's commitment to social justice, anarchism claims that it can implement those principles more fully and effectively without utilizing the mechanism of the state. Anarchism as a secular political philosophy originated as a product of the Enlightenment and the French Revolution, and anarchist thought was the cumulative product of a number of different individuals in different countries who elaborated its basic principles. This article examines the views of several thinkers on anarchism, including William Godwin, Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, Michael Bakunin, and Prince Peter Kropotkin. It also considers the link between anarchism and terrorism.
Introduction
Authors: Klosko George
Published: September 2011

Although this volume is a text on the history of political philosophy, dividing lines between that field and the closely related history of political theory and of political thought are not hard and fast. Part I of the book covers questions of method. This part includes discussion of the contextual method, classically articulated by Quentin Skinner, which is widely regarded as the standard method for studying the history of ideas, including the history of political philosophy. Currently, the chief alternative methods are those associated with Leo Strauss and his followers and a less clearly defined postmodern approach. Part II provides an overview of the entire history of Western political philosophy, with some articles tackling thematic topics such as the influence of Roman law or medieval Arabic political philosophy, socialism, and Marxism. Part III addresses aspects of the history of political philosophy that transcend specific periods and generally change and develop in interesting ways between periods. Part IV explores three major non-Western traditions: Confucianism, Islam, and Hinduism.
The Possibility of Discrete Time
Authors: Van Bendegem Jean Paul
Published: September 2011

This chapter examines the possibility of discrete time. At first sight, the answer seems trivial, but actually, it raises a number of interesting questions, both philosophical and scientific. First, the chapter explains what interpretations of discrete time are not considered. Then, it addresses two key philosophical problems: if there are such things as chronons, smallest “bits” of time, do they have extensions and can a distance function, that is, a duration, be defined on them? Second, the chapter discusses the relation between discrete time and discrete space, showing that the former implies the latter. Thus, with applications in mind, both time and space are to be seen as discrete. This leads, third, to the hardest problem of all: whether discrete time is applicable in physical theories.
Prospects for Temporal Neutrality
Authors: Brink David O.
Published: September 2011

The temporal locations of benefits and harms matter to us. People prefer past pain to future pain, even when this choice includes more total pain. But should the location of benefits and harms matter to us, all else being equal? This question is an ethical one. This chapter deals with defending temporal neutrality, the thesis that agents should attach no normative significance to the temporal location of benefits and harms, all else being equal. A powerful argument for temporal neutrality comes from prudence. However, prudence also assigns normative significance only to benefits and harms that occur to oneself, not other agents. It also suggests that the fact that one is later compensated for present sacrifice is crucial to assigning equal importance to all parts of an agent's life, but not equally to all agents.
The CPT Theorem
Authors: Arntzenius Frank
Published: September 2011

The CPT theorem says that any Lorentz invariant quantum field theory must also be invariant under the combined operation of charge conjugation C, parity P, and time reversal T, even though none of those individual invariances need hold. It is quite strange. Why should a quantum field theory be invariant under the combination of two spatiotemporal discrete transformations, and then a quite different type of transformation (matter–anti-matter transformation)? In one of the first attacks on these and related questions by a philosopher, this chapter argues that CPT symmetry is better understood as PT symmetry. If the author is right, CPT symmetry is really saying that quantum field theory does not care about temporal orientation or spatial handedness.
Informational Interdependence
Authors: Jacobs Lawrence R. , Shapiro Robert Y.
Published: September 2011

This chapter introduces a new model of information interdependence, studying the characteristic features of public opinion and the media that help define the conditions where they interact. It also identifies some of the general implications of the new information interdependence for public deliberation and democracy.
The Internet and Four Dimensions of Citizenship
Authors: Neuman W. Russell , Bimber Bruce , Hindman Matthew
Published: September 2011

This chapter studies the implications of the various technical developments for citizenship, relying mostly on the term ‘Internet’ as a synecdoche. It then identifies the four dimensions of citizenship, looking at how they relate to media, and also tries to determine how the Internet interacted – and possibly revolutionized – these dimensions of citizenship.
Tocqueville's Interesting Error
Authors: Schudson Michael
Published: September 2011

This chapter takes a look at Alexis de Tocqueville's error with regards to the role of newspapers in democratic life, and tries to show where his view of the press went off course. It suggests that news organizations can only be understood as one part of a multi-institutional complex of monitorial institutions and activities which hold the government accountable. The chapter stresses that journalism is one of the essential contributing factors to an effective democracy and examines the accountability function of journalism.
Soft News and the Four Oprah Effects
Authors: Baum Matthew A. , Jamison Angela
Published: September 2011

This chapter discusses the concept of soft news and introduces the Oprah Effect, defining the Oprah Effect as the influence of consuming soft news political content on vote choice. It then lists and discusses the four Oprah Effects, namely attention, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour. The next section studies the responses of politicians to the Oprah effects.
Issue Framing
Authors: Nelson Thomas E.
Published: September 2011

This chapter addresses two important questions on issue frames, namely what they do and what they are. It notes that while framing has attracted a rather wide and diverse assortment of scholars and revealed a number of valuable empirical findings, it has left the entire field fragmented. The chapter then shows whether frames cheapen public discourse or not, and reveals that framing research can serve as a representation of the best in social science. It concludes that while political language may be confusing and disorderly, framing can serve as a tool to help people understand it.
Media Influences on Political Trust and Engagement
Authors: Moy Patricia , Hussain Muzammil M.
Published: September 2011

This chapter studies the influence of the media on political trust and engagement, first defining political trust and political engagement, and then identifying its antecedents. Next, it looks at the key political outcomes of media coverage and the consumption of such coverages, showing that there are different key mechanisms where mass media can improve or limit political trust and political participation.
The Accuracy of Opinion Polling and its Relation to its Future
Authors: Traugott Michael
Published: September 2011

This chapter discusses the concept of accuracy and how to measure it. It presents a chronology of the accuracy of the presidential pre-election polls during the 2008 election, and then studies the various ways to estimate election outcomes that do not include polls conducted by the analyst. The chapter also examines the impact of new technologies and evolving voting procedures on the accuracy of polls.
Emotion and Public Opinion
Authors: Brader Ted , Marcus George E. , Miller Kristyn L.
Published: September 2011

This chapter looks at the role of emotion in public opinion, first discussing how emotion has been understood and theorized by various scholars. Next, it views the present research on the consequences of emotion for political behaviour and public opinion, and ends with a review of the contribution of emotion to the study of certain substantive domains. The chapter notes that the study of public opinion and emotion is a new but fast-growing field, one which promises to make huge contributions to the understanding of politics.
Attitude Organization in the Mass Public
Authors: Jacoby William G.
Published: September 2011

This chapter studies the attitude structure or organization within American public opinion, paying special attention to the three general questions from the research literature. It first explains how attitude structure can be differentiated and measured, and then looks at the contribution of ideology and partisanship in individual attitude structures. Finally, the chapter tries to determine whether there are any alternative mechanisms that serve to organize citizens' feelings on the different elements of the political world.
Public Opinion, the Media, and Economic Well‐Being
Authors: Barabas Jason
Published: September 2011

This chapter centres on economic welfare and how it relates to the mass media and public opinion, defining ‘economic welfare’ as the financial well-being of the citizens in a nation. It lists the factors that contribute to economic well-being, such as personal or household income and housing conditions, and also examines the scholarly evidence which connects economic welfare experience or trends to public opinion through the mass media. The chapter also considers the policies, programs, and macroeconomic changes that can directly affect economic outcomes.
Public Opinion, the Media, and Social Issues
Authors: Egan Patrick J.
Published: September 2011

This chapter studies the characteristics that social issues have in common, as well as their implications for public opinion, and then takes a look at empirical efforts, in order to define the set of political debates that should be called social issues. The next section discusses the broad trends in opinion on social issues and considers how much media coverage of these issues has changed along with public opinion. It also discusses the three explanations for the sources of attitudes on social issues, their strengths, and the extent to which they suggest the etiology of public opinion on social issues is unusual.
Big Government and Public Opinion
Authors: Panagopoulos Costas , Shapiro Robert Y.
Published: September 2011

This chapter explains how the public opinion towards big government in the United States can be best described, showing that the tensions between egalitarianism and individualism have continued, despite the high levels of public support for the American welfare state. It describes some patterns and trends, which may continue until changing conditions and circumstances modify them, and identifies some patterns and trends that should be carefully observed, such as the economy and partisan conflict.
Public Opinion, Foreign Policy, and the Media
Authors: Foyle Douglas C.
Published: September 2011

This chapter reviews some areas of research that are related to foreign policy, public opinion, and the media, first suggesting that although the public attitudes on foreign policy seem to be structured and reasonable, there are still some relevant controversies which influence it. Next, it takes a look at the research on public opinion rallies, the use of force, the media, elections, and audience costs. The final part of the chapter discusses practical future directions for research, and concludes that opportunities still exist for development in public opinion and foreign policy research, international relations and American politics literature, and public opinion and foreign policy literature.
The Democratic Paradox
Authors: Shapiro Robert Y. , Jacobs Lawrence R.
Published: September 2011

This chapter identifies the problems associated with the American democracy, particularly those related to the government's political leaders and other elites. It takes a look at the factors which drive the policy goals of the political elites, and notes that most of the new online media and traditional press have focused on strategically manipulating the political elites. The chapter also highlights the possible solutions for the American democracy, such as reform.
Learning from the time and length redefinitions, and the metre demotion
Authors: Hall John L.
Published: September 2011

After discussing several issues in a future redefinition of the kilogram, this paper considers the lessons that one might have learned from the analogous redefinitions of the metre and the second. The progress of length metrology was slow and steady, from seven digits reproducibility with the 1889 X-shaped metre prototype, to nine digits with Kr lamps, to 11 digits with the 1983 redefinition of the metre using the speed of light. With laser cooling, the Cs clock improved to 15, now 16, digits (and so also astronomical distance measurements could improve). Laser-cooled ions, and now atoms captured and cooled in an optical lattice, enable accuracy capability of three different optical frequency references to exceed 17 digits, i.e. better than time itself. The optical comb and related techniques vastly simplify frequency comparisons. Such progress stimulates a new satellite experiment, the STAR Mission (Space–Time Asymmetry Research). The goal is to test at the 1E–18 level frequency shifts owing to spatial anisotropy, position, gravitational potential and boost. The onboard optical clock will use stabilization to a molecular transition in I
2
or HCCH or CO
2
. The length etalons will be multiply redundant, with stability at the thermo-mechanical mirror motion limit. For a ULE glass etalon spacer (1987), I measure length creep approximately −1.5E–12/d, i.e. below 1E–14 over the 500 s satellite spin period.
Use of a coenzyme by the
glmS
ribozyme-riboswitch suggests primordial expansion of RNA chemistry by small molecules
Authors: Ferré-D'Amaré Adrian R.
Published: September 2011

The
glmS
ribozyme-riboswitch is the first known example of a naturally occurring catalytic RNA that employs a small molecule as a coenzyme. Binding of glucosamine-6-phosphate (GlcN6P) activates self-cleavage of the bacterial ribozyme, which is part of the mRNA encoding the metabolic enzyme GlcN6P-synthetase. Cleavage leads to negative feedback regulation. GlcN6P binds in the active site of the ribozyme, where its amine could function as a general acid and electrostatic catalyst. The ribozyme is pre-folded but inactive in the absence of GlcN6P, demonstrating it has evolved strict dependence on the exogenous small molecule. The ribozyme showcases the ability of RNA to co-opt non-covalently bound small molecules to expand its chemical repertoire. Analogue studies demonstrate that some molecules other than GlcN6P, such as
l
-serine (but not
d
-serine), can function as weak activators. This suggests how coenzyme use by RNA world ribozymes may have led to evolution of proteins. Primordial cofactor-dependent ribozymes may have evolved to bind their cofactors covalently. If amino acids were used as cofactors, this could have driven the evolution of RNA aminoacylation. The ability to make covalently bound peptide coenzymes may have further increased the fitness of such primordial ribozymes, providing a selective pressure for the invention of translation.
Energy flows, metabolism and translation
Authors: Pascal Robert , Boiteau Laurent
Published: September 2011

Thermodynamics provides an essential approach to understanding how living organisms survive in an organized state despite the second law. Exchanges with the environment constantly produce large amounts of entropy compensating for their own organized state. In addition to this constraint on self-organization, the free energy delivered to the system, in terms of potential, is essential to understand how a complex chemistry based on carbon has emerged. Accordingly, the amount of free energy brought about through discrete events must reach the strength needed to induce chemical changes in which covalent bonds are reorganized. The consequence of this constraint was scrutinized in relation to both the development of a carbon metabolism and that of translation. Amino acyl adenylates involved as aminoacylation intermediates of the latter process reach one of the higher free energy levels found in biochemistry, which may be informative on the range in which energy was exchanged in essential early biochemical processes. The consistency of this range with the amount of energy needed to weaken covalent bonds involving carbon may not be accidental but the consequence of the abovementioned thermodynamic constraints. This could be useful in building scenarios for the emergence and early development of translation.
Biogeographic patterns in the Australian chondrichthyan fauna
Authors: Last P. R. , White W. T.
Published: September 2011

The major biogeographic structure and affinities of the Australian chondrichthyan fauna were investigated at both interregional and intraregional scales and comparisons made with adjacent bioregions. Faunal lists were compiled from six geographical regions with species from these regions assigned to distributional classes and broad habitat categories. Australian species were further classified on provincial and bathomic structure following bioregionalization outputs from regional marine planning. About 40% of the world's chondrichthyan fauna occurs in Indo‐Australasia (482 species) of which 323 species are found in Australian seas. The tropical Australian component, of which c. 46% of taxa are regional endemics, is most similar to faunas of Indonesia, New Guinea and New Caledonia. The temperate Australian component is most similar to New Zealand and Antarctica with about half of its species endemic. Highest levels of Australian endemism exist in bathomes of the outer continental shelf and upper slope. A relatively high proportion of regional endemism (57% of species) on the slope in the poorly surveyed but species‐rich Solanderian unit is probably due to high levels of large‐scale habitat complexity in the Coral Sea. The richness of demersal assemblages on the continental shelf and slope appears to be largely related to the spatial complexity of the region and the level of exploration. Much lower diversity off Antarctica is consistent with the pattern in teleosts. The complex chondrichthyan fauna of Australia is confirmed as being amongst the richest of the mega‐diverse Indo‐West Pacific Ocean. Species‐level compositions of regional faunas across Indo‐Australasia differ markedly because of moderate to high levels of intraregional speciation. Faunal assemblages in Australian marine provinces and bathomes differ from each other, supporting a broader pattern for fishes that underpins a marine planning framework for the region.
Spatial variations of microinvertebrates across different microhabitats of temporary floodplains of lower Okavango Delta, Botswana
Authors: Siziba Nqobizitha , Chimbari Moses J. , Masundire Hillary , Mosepele Ketlhatlogile
Published: September 2011

Temporary floodplains of the Okavango Delta have been suggested as important nursery sites for juvenile fish. Fish production in the Delta is dependent on how well temporary floodplains are maintained. A study was conducted to understand how floodplains function so as to put measures in place that will sustain temporary floodplains in a high productive state. During high floods, distinct microhabitats (open water, sedges and inundated terrestrial grasses) develop in which microinvertebrate community structure was assessed across such habitats during the 2009–2010 flooding season. Depth was highest (ANOVA, P < 0.05) in the open‐water microhabitat and lowest within inundated grasses. Conductivity, total phosphorus and chlorophyll a were all highest (ANOVA, P < 0.05) within inundated grasses than in other microhabitats. A total of 46 microinvertebrate taxa were identified, and they were most diverse within the sedges. The abundance of microinvertebrates was highest (ANOVA, P < 0.05) within the inundated grasses and lowest within the open‐water zone. Given that microinvertebrates are an important food source for juvenile fish, their presence in high densities within inundated terrestrial grasses is a key determinant of fish production. This suggests the need for serious consideration of the importance of temporary floodplains when formulating conservation strategies for the Okavango Delta.
Protected area gap analysis of important bird areas in Tanzania
Authors: Sritharan Shakthi , Burgess Neil D.
Published: September 2011

Analyses of gaps in protected area (PA) coverage of species distributions have been carried out extensively for the past two decades, aiming to better locate new PAs and conserve species. In this study, progress to close gaps in the protection of the Important Bird Areas (IBAs) of Tanzania is assessed between 2002 and 2009, with a detailed GIS analysis from 2007 to 2009. Remaining gaps are ranked according to biological factors such as numbers of red list and restricted range avian species and social pressures such as human population, agriculture and density of the road network. Results show that there has been a 5.3% increase (7615.1 km2) in protection of IBAs between 2007 and 2009. Of the 27 remaining IBA protection gaps, three are of high, nine of medium and fifteen of low priority for action. The current IBA ‘gap area’ of 17,133.3 km2 contains around 26% forest, 13% shrubland, 9% grassland, 36% wetland and 12% agricultural land. This analysis provides a simple template for defining where further action to protect remaining IBA sites in Tanzania would lead to enhanced conservation of avian biodiversity in that country and provides a methodology for analysis leading to conservation action elsewhere in Africa.
The selective adhesion molecule inhibitor Natalizumab decreases multiple myeloma cell growth in the bone marrow microenvironment: therapeutic implications
Authors: Podar Klaus , Zimmerhackl Alexander , Fulciniti Mariateresa , Tonon Giovanni , Hainz Ursula , Tai Yu‐Tzu , Vallet Sonia , Halama Niels , Jäger Dirk , Olson Dian L. , Sattler Martin , Chauhan Dharminder , Anderson Kenneth C.
Published: September 2011

Recent advances regarding the introduction of anti‐adhesion strategies as a novel therapeutic concept in oncology hold great promise. Here we evaluated the therapeutic potential of the new‐in‐class‐molecule selective‐adhesion‐molecule (SAM) inhibitor Natalizumab, a recombinant humanized IgG4 monoclonal antibody, which binds integrin‐α4, in multiple myeloma (MM). Natalizumab, but not a control antibody, inhibited adhesion of MM cells to non‐cellular and cellular components of the microenvironment as well as disrupted the binding of already adherent MM cells. Consequently, Natalizumab blocked both the proliferative effect of MM‐bone marrow (BM) stromal cell interaction on tumour cells, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)‐induced angiogenesis in the BM milieu. Moreover, Natalizumab also blocked VEGF‐ and insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1)‐induced signalling sequelae triggering MM cell migration. In agreement with our in vitro results, Natalizumab inhibited tumour growth, VEGF secretion, and angiogenesis in a human severe combined immunodeficiency murine model of human MM in the human BM microenvironment. Importantly, Natalizumab not only blocked tumour cell adhesion, but also chemosensitized MM cells to bortezomib, in an in vitro therapeutically representative human MM‐stroma cell co‐culture system model. Our data therefore provide the rationale for the clinical evaluation of Natalizumab, preferably in combination with novel agents (e.g. bortezomib) to enhance MM cytotoxicity and improve patient outcome.
Development of a novel set of Gateway‐compatible vectors for live imaging in insect cells
Authors: Maroniche G. A. , Mongelli V. C. , Alfonso V. , Llauger G. , Taboga O. , del Vas M.
Published: September 2011

Insect genomics is a growing area of research. To exploit fully the genomic data that are being generated, high‐throughput systems for the functional characterization of insect proteins and their interactomes are required. In this work, a Gateway‐compatible vector set for expression of fluorescent fusion proteins in insect cells was developed. The vector set was designed to express a protein of interest fused to any of four different fluorescent proteins [green fluorescent protein (GFP), cyan fluorescent protein (CFP), yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) and mCherry] by either the C‐terminal or the N‐terminal ends. Additionally, a collection of organelle‐specific fluorescent markers was assembled for colocalization with fluorescent recombinant proteins of interest. Moreover, the vector set was proven to be suitable for simultaneously detecting up to three proteins by multiple labelling. The use of the vector set was exemplified by defining the subcellular distribution of Mal de Río Cuarto virus (MRCV) outer coat protein P10 and by analysing the in vivo self‐interaction of the MRCV viroplasm matrix protein P9‐1 in Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) experiments. In conclusion, we have developed a valuable tool for high‐throughput studies of protein subcellular localization that will aid in the elucidation of the function of newly described insect and virus proteins.
Reducing surgical nurses’ aseptic practice‐related stress
Authors: Aholaakko Teija‐Kaisa
Published: September 2011

Aims and objectives.  This paper aims to explore aseptic practice‐related stress in surgery. The objectives are to define stress‐related factors and the means to reduce the stress.

Background.  Occupational stress is related to personal characteristics: job satisfaction and physiological and psychological well‐being. The stress symptoms are often classified as part of a negative mood. Nurses have expressed stress when deadening their conscience to external demands with co‐workers or internal working role‐related demands. Surgery nurses expect fair division of work and compliance with rules. The hospital management, technology and the medical profession, instead of the needs of the patient, are recognised as a danger in the development of surgery nurses’ role.

Design.  A qualitative stimulated recall interview was performed in the surgery of the university hospital.

Methods.  Thirty‐one operations were videotaped, and 31 nurses interviewed during videotape stimulation. The 1306 text pages were transcripted and analysed by a qualitative membership categorisation device analysis.

Results.  The analysis revealed aseptic practice‐related stress which constructed a sixteen level category. The membership categorisation identified connections between qualitatively attributed personnel and seven stress factors: working experience; time; equipment; person; patient; working morals and power. Final analysis revealed nurses reducing aseptic practice‐related stress by safe, peaceful, competent and relative means.

Conclusions.  The aseptic practice‐related stress varied from positive motivating feelings to exhaustion. The stress was experienced by medical and nursing co‐workers and reduced by means which varied according to expertise and co‐workers.

Relevance to clinical practice.  This study showed needs for both the shared multiprofessional documentation of aseptic practice and better adherence to recommendations. Constructive means are useful when solving conflicts and replacing person‐related aseptic practice with evidence‐based. They may support nurses’ professional growth, reduce their stress and increase the surgical patient’s safety.
Distribution patterns of tropical woody species in response to climatic and edaphic gradients
Authors: Toledo Marisol , Peña‐Claros Marielos , Bongers Frans , Alarcón Alfredo , Balcázar Julio , Chuviña José , Leaño Claudio , Licona Juan Carlos , Poorter Lourens
Published: September 2011

1. The analysis of species distribution patterns along environmental gradients is important for understanding the diversity and ecology of plants and species responses to climate change, but detailed data are surprisingly scarce for the tropics.

2. Here, we analyse the distribution of 100 woody species over 220 1‐ha forest plots distributed over an area of c. 160 000 km2, across large environmental gradients in lowland Bolivia and evaluate the relative importance of climate and soils in shaping species distribution addressing four multivariate environmental axes (rainfall amount and distribution, temperature, soil fertility and soil texture).

3. Although species abundance was positively related to species frequency (the number of plots in which the species is found), this relationship was rather weak, which challenges the view that most tropical forests are dominated at large scales by a few common species.

4. Species responded clearly to environmental gradients, and for most of the species (65%), climatic and soil conditions could explain most of the variation in occurrence (R2 > 0.50), which challenges the idea that most tropical tree species are habitat generalists.

5. Climate was a stronger driver of species distribution than soils; 91% of the species were affected by rainfall (distribution), 72% by temperature, 47% by soil fertility and 44% by soil texture. In contrast to our expectation, few species showed a typical unimodal response to the environmental gradients.

6. Synthesis. Tropical tree species specialize for different parts of the environmental gradients, and climate is a stronger driver of species distribution than soils. Because climate change scenarios predict increases in annual temperature and a stronger dry season for tropical forests, we may expect potentially large shifts in the distribution of tropical trees.
Changes in the Intensity of Maternal Aggression and Central Oxytocin and Vasopressin V1a Receptors Across the Peripartum Period in the Rat
Authors: Caughey S. D. , Klampfl S. M. , Bishop V. R. , Pfoertsch J. , Neumann I. D. , Bosch O. J. , Meddle S. L.
Published: September 2011

Maternal aggressive behaviour, which protects the offspring from harm, is one component of maternal behaviour. Not only maternal aggression, but also maternal care and social behaviour in general, is regulated by the brain oxytocin (OXT) and vasopressin (AVP) systems. In the present study, we quantified the intensity of maternal aggression using the maternal defence test at key time points throughout pregnancy, parturition and lactation. Furthermore, we quantified changes in central OXT and arginine AVP V1a receptor (V1a‐R) binding in brain regions known to be important in regulating maternal aggression, aiming to investigate whether central changes coincide with the intensity of this behaviour. The intensity of aggression was found to dramatically change over the peripartum period, with its first appearance on the day before parturition. Aggression intensity fell immediately after parturition, although it increased during days 4–7 of lactation, before almost disappearing at weaning. OXT receptor (OTR) and V1a‐R binding also showed changes through the peripartum period. OTR binding was highest at parturition within the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and medial preoptic area and on days 4–7 of lactation in the lateral septum (LS) compared to any other time point during the peripartum period. OTR binding positively correlated with the peak of maternal aggression, suggesting that OXT may act in the LS to facilitate the expression of aggressive behaviour. At parturition, V1a‐R binding was at its highest levels in the paraventricular nucleus and central amygdala (CeA) and, in the LS, V1a‐R binding positively correlated with aggressive behaviour. V1a‐R mRNA expression was also increased within the CeA at parturition. Taken together, the observed fluctuations in OTR and V1a‐R binding in the neural circuitry important for regulating maternal behaviour may ensure that maternal aggression is expressed at the correct time during the peripartum period.
New species of Blepharicera Macquart (Diptera: Blephariceridae) from eastern North America, with a discussion of the phylogenetic relationships and biogeography of all Nearctic species
Authors: JACOBSON AMANDA J. , CURLER GREGORY R. , COURTNEY GREGORY W. , MOULTON JOHN K.
Published: September 2011

The eastern Nearctic fauna of Blepharicera Macquart (Diptera: Blephariceridae) is revised to include 23 species, six of which are new to science. Descriptions of the larvae, pupae and adults of B. amniculasp.n., B. coniferasp.n., B. cristasp.n., B. enoristerasp.n., B. hillabeesp.n. and B. opisterasp.n. are presented. Keys to instar IV larvae, pupae and adults of all eastern Blepharicera, except B. caudata for which pupae and adults remain unknown, are provided. Phylogenetic studies were conducted to determine the relationships between eastern and western Nearctic Blepharicera and among species within these groups. Morphological data for 44 characters were used to test previous phylogenetic hypotheses on the historical relationships and biogeography of Nearctic Blepharicera. Maximum parsimony analyses support monophyly of the B. tenuipes and B. micheneri groups.
Neotyphodium endophyte increases Achnatherum inebrians (drunken horse grass) resistance to herbivores and seed predators
Authors: ZHANG X X , LI C J , NAN Z B , MATTHEW C
Published: September 2011

Zhang XX, Li CJ, Nan ZB & Matthew C (2011). Neotyphodium endophyte increases Achnatherum inebrians (drunken horse grass) resistance to herbivores and seed predators. Weed Research 52, 70–78.

Achnatherum inebrians (drunken horse grass), a grass that is intoxicating to grazing animals and commonly found within native grasslands of China, is host to a symbiotic endophyte, Neotyphodium gansuense. In laboratory tests, N. gansuense infections of A. inebrians increased mortality rates and reduced the survival of an aphid Rhopalosiphum padi and a mite Tetranychus cinnabarinus. Both species demonstrated a quantitative preference for feeding on endophyte‐free (E−) compared with endophyte‐infected (E+) leaves. In the field, populations of the two species were lower on E+ compared with E− specimens for most of the growing season. Results of tests with a grasshopper species (Oedaleus decorus) gave similar results. A species of seed‐harvesting ant (Messor aciculatus) showed a preference for collecting E− seeds. These results demonstrate that the anti‐herbivore activity of E+ A. inebrians is effective against a wide range of arthropod groups. Thus, the Neotyphodium endophyte may help this grass to improve its invasive ability and, therefore, broaden its range.
Risk factors for severe pediatric food anaphylaxis in Italy
Authors: Calvani Mauro , Cardinale Fabio , Martelli Alberto , Muraro Antonella , Pucci Neri , Savino Francesco , Zappalà Daniela , Panetta Valentina ,   the Italian Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology (SIAIP) anaphylaxis’ study group
Published: September 2011

To cite this article: Calvani M, Cardinale F, Martelli A, Muraro A, Pucci N, Savino F, Zappalà D, Panetta V, the Italian Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology (SIAIP) anaphylaxis’ study group. Risk factors for severe pediatric food anaphylaxis in Italy. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2011: 22: 813–819.

Background:  Little is known about the cause of food‐induced anaphylaxis in children or about the factors that might affect its clinical severity.

Objective:  The aim of this study was to investigate the cause of food‐induced anaphylaxis in children in Italy and to identify factors that could influence the appearance of symptoms and the severity of anaphylaxis.

Methods:  One hundred and sixty‐three children with anaphylaxis consecutively attending 29 outpatient allergy clinics throughout Italy were enrolled in this prospective study. Information about past anaphylaxis episodes was collected with a standardized questionnaire. Food sensitization was evaluated by skin‐prick test.

Results:  A clinical history of asthma increased the risk of wheezing [odds ratio (OR) 2.2; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1–4.5] and respiratory arrest (OR 6.9; 95% CI 1.4–34.2). A clinical history of chronic/relapsing gastrointestinal symptoms increased the risk of vomiting (OR 2.1; 95% CI 0.9–4.3), hypotension (OR 7.9; 95% CI 1.9–32.0), and bradycardia/cardiac arrest (OR 9.2; 95% CI 0.9–91.3). The severity of present and previous episodes was similar only in patients with mild or moderate anaphylaxis. Peanut and egg were the most frequent causes of severe anaphylaxis.

Conclusions:  A clinical history of asthma and chronic/relapsing gastrointestinal symptoms (probably linked to food allergy) may predict the development of respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms and the severity of anaphylaxis.
First Report of an Aster Yellows Phytoplasma as the Cause of Rose Balsam Phyllody in China
Authors: Li Zhengnan , Zhang Lei , Liu Ping , Bai Yaobo , Wu Yunfeng
Published: September 2011

In July 2010, symptoms suggestive of phytoplasma infection were observed on Rose Balsam (Impatiens balsamina) around Yangling, China. Nested polymerase chain reaction with universal 16S rDNA phytoplasma primers P1/P6 and R16F2n/R16R2 yielded amplicons of expected size (1.2 kb) from all symptomatic, but not asymptomatic, leaf samples. Sequencing results and NCBI BLASTn analysis of the 1246 bp products (R16F2n/R16R2) showed that the phytoplasma belonged to group 16SrI. Restriction fragment length polymorphism and phylogenetic analysis showed the phytoplasma had a close relationship to subgroup 16SrI‐D. This is the first report of a phytoplasma infecting Rose Balsam.
Screening performance of K6/K10 and other screening instruments for mood and anxiety disorders in Japan
Authors: Sakurai Keiko , Nishi Akihiro , Kondo Kyoko , Yanagida Kosuke , Kawakami Norito
Published: September 2011

Aims:  This study aimed to establish the screening performance and optimal cut‐off points for the Japanese version of Kessler (K)6, K10 and the Depression and Suicide Screen (DSS).

Methods:  A self‐report questionnaire including K6, K10 and DSS, as well as the Center for Epidemiologic Studies – Depression Scale (CES‐D), was administered to a random sample of community residents in Japan (non‐cases, n = 147) and psychiatric outpatients diagnosed with mood or anxiety disorders according to DSM‐IV (cases, n = 17). A receiver–operator characteristics (ROC) curve was drawn to estimate the area under the curve (AUC), the sensitivity, and specificity with the optimal cut‐off points for K6, K10, and DSS, which were then compared with those of CES‐D. The community sample was also asked to rate each measure on a scale from ‘very easy’ to ‘very hard’ to use.

Results:  K6 and K10 showed a high AUC (0.93–0.94), which was comparable to that of CES‐D (0.95), but DSS showed a significantly smaller AUC (0.89) than CES‐D (P < 0.05). The optimal cut‐off points were estimated as 4/5 for K6, 9/10 for K10, and 1/2 for DSS. The sensitivity of these three scales was similar, but the specificity was lower for DSS than for the other two. K6, K10 and DSS were rated as being ‘very easy’ or ‘easy to use’ significantly more than CES‐D (P < 0.01).

Conclusion:  The screening performance of the Japanese versions of K6 and K10 was comparable with that of CES‐D, and better than that of DDS. K6/K10, particularly K6, might have an advantage, even over the CES‐D, because of its similar screening performance and better acceptability.
Comparative study of suicide risk in depressive disorder patients with and without problem drinking
Authors: Matsumoto Toshihiko , Azekawa Takaharu , Uchikado Hirotake , Ozaki Shigeru , Hasegawa Naomi , Takekawa Yoshikazu , Matsushita Sachio
Published: September 2011

The present study sought to determine whether the co‐occurrence of problem drinking heightens suicide risk in individuals with depression in Japan, using a sample of 784 outpatients (287 men and 497 women) with depressive disorder. Female subjects with at least a moderate problem drinking showed significantly more severe depression and suicidality than those without, but no such difference was identified in men.