bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CARBON/NUTRIENT BALANCE IN RELATION TO BIOMASS PRODUCTION AND HALOGENATED COMPOUND CONTENT IN THE RED ALGA ASPARAGOPSIS TAXIFORMIS (BONNEMAISONIACEAE)1
Authors: Mata Leonardo , Gaspar Helena , Santos Rui
Published: December 2011

We tested how the availability of carbon and nitrogen determines both the production of Asparagopsis taxiformis (Delile) V. Trevis. and content of the two major halocarbons, bromoform and dibromoacetic acid. The halogenated secondary metabolites of Asparagopsis species are particularly interesting from an applied perspective due to their remarkable antimicrobial activity. Terrestrial ecologists named the relationship between resources and secondary metabolites as the carbon (C)/nutrient balance (CNB) hypothesis. This relationship was tested both in the laboratory, with a factorial analysis using different concentrations of total ammonia (TAN) and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), and in an integrated aquaculture system where TAN and DIC fluxes of fish effluent were manipulated. The total C/N content of A. taxiformis biomass cultivated in laboratory was highly significantly linearly related to the content of both halocarbons, as predicted by the CNB hypothesis. A. taxiformis cultivated at low levels of carbon and high levels of nitrogen (N) (lowest C/N ratio) had the lowest content in both halogenated metabolites. Increased availability of CO2 in the medium resulted in a general higher halocarbon content in the biomass, even though the effect was only statistically significant for bromoform at high levels of N. The farm experiments supported the results of the laboratory experiments. DIC fluxes had the highest effect on the production of both bromoform and biomass, as shown by multiple regression analysis. In A. taxiformis integrated aquaculture, C, rather than N, is the most important factor affecting the production of biomass and of valuable halocarbon secondary metabolites.
Evolution in a centralized transfusion service
Authors: AuBuchon James P. , Linauts Sandra , Vaughan Mimi , Wagner Jeffrey , Delaney Meghan , Nester Theresa
Published: December 2011

The metropolitan Seattle area has utilized a centralized transfusion service model throughout the modern era of blood banking. This approach has used four laboratories to serve over 20 hospitals and clinics, providing greater capabilities for all at a lower consumption of resources than if each depended on its own laboratory and staff for these functions. In addition, this centralized model has facilitated wider use of the medical capabilities of the blood center's physicians, and a county‐wide network of transfusion safety officers is now being developed to increase the impact of the blood center's transfusion expertise at the patient's bedside. Medical expectations and traffic have led the blood center to evolve the centralized model to include on‐site laboratories at facilities with complex transfusion requirements (e.g., a children's hospital) and to implement in all the others a system of remote allocation. This new capability places a refrigerator stocked with uncrossmatched units in the hospital but retains control over the dispensing of these through the blood center's computer system; the correct unit can be electronically cross‐matched and released on demand, obviating the need for transportation to the hospital and thus speeding transfusion. This centralized transfusion model has withstood the test of time and continues to evolve to meet new situations and ensure optimal patient care.
National Feelings or Rational Dealings? The Role of Procedural Priming on the Perceptions of Cross‐Border Acquisitions
Authors: Tong Yuk‐yue , Pun‐Zee Hui Pamsy , Kwan Letty , Peng Siqing
Published: December 2011

Cross‐border transactions are often perceived by the general public as national threats instead of rational business deals. We propose two interpretational mindsets that attenuate (transactional mindset) and agitate (categorization mindset) these culturally motivated responses. Three studies were conducted in Singapore and the United States with various cross‐border acquisition scenarios. As predicted, transactional mindset, which centers around cost–benefit calculations, nudged participants to evaluate the foreign acquisition more rationally and evoked fewer social–cultural considerations than categorization mindset, which focuses on categorizing and comparison procedures, and when no mindset was primed. Furthermore, the effects of categorization mindset are particularly strong when one perceives the two transacting parties as dissimilar and when he/she identifies closely with the local culture. We conclude that while economic activities such as cross‐border acquisitions can inadvertently evoke nationalistic reactions, it is possible to mitigate them or even encourage rational evaluations by influencing people's interpretational mindset.
Going Beyond the Multicultural Experience—Creativity Link: The Mediating Role of Emotions
Authors: Cheng Chi‐Ying , Leung Angela K.‐y. , Wu Tsung‐Yu
Published: December 2011

This research examines the mediating role of emotions implicated in the multicultural experience—creativity link. We propose that when individuals are dealing with apparent cultural contradictions upon encountering two cultures simultaneously, mentally juxtaposing dissonant cultural stimuli could lower positive affect or increase negative affect, which could in turn induce a deeper level of cognitive processing of cultural discrepancies and inspire creativity. Two studies compared dual cultural exposure versus single cultural exposure among bicultural Singaporeans (Study 1) and compared self‐relevant (jointly presenting local and foreign cultures) versus self‐irrelevant (jointly presenting foreign cultures only) dual cultural exposure among monocultural Taiwanese (Study 2). As in past research, dual cultural exposure promotes creativity, particularly if one presented culture is self‐relevant. Further, this effect was mediated by a less positive or a more negative emotional state. These findings illuminate the underlying influence of emotions activated by simultaneous exposure to diverse cultures.
Processing and Properties of Textured Potassium Strontium Niobate (KSr2Nb5O15) Ceramic Fibers – Texture Development
Authors: Alkoy Sedat , Dursun Sinan
Published: December 2011

Highly [001] textured KSr2Nb5O15 (KSN) ceramic fibers were fabricated by a combination of novel alginate gelation method and templated grain growth using acicular KSr2Nb5O15 template particles. The needle‐like KSN template particles were prepared by molten salt synthesis method with salt/powder ratio of 2 giving the highest aspect ratio. Fibers were extruded into CaCl2 salt solutions from alginate‐based slurries without or with 10 wt% KSN template particles using a nozzle with 2 mm diameter and 80 mm length. Varying sintering temperature from 1300°C to 1450°C and time from 2 to 6 h were found to increase the texture. A maximum degree of orientation, ƒ(00l), of 0.95 was obtained, as measured by Lotgering factor, and a grain orientation distribution, r, of 0.28 was obtained as measured by rocking curve analysis.
PEG matrix enables cell‐mediated local BMP‐2 gene delivery and increased bone formation in a porcine critical size defect model of craniofacial bone regeneration
Authors: Wehrhan Falk , Amann Kerstin , Molenberg Aart , Lutz Rainer , Neukam Friedrich W. , Schlegel Karl A.
Published: December 2011

Purpose

This study addressed the suitability of a polyethylene glycol (PEG) matrix as scaffold for cell‐mediated local BMP‐2 gene transfer in a calvarial critical size defect (CSD) model.

Materials and methods

PEG matrix (degradation time 10 days) and PEG membrane (degradation time 120 days) were used in the pig calvarial model. Cylindrical (1 × 1 cm) CSD (9 per animal; 20 animals) were filled with: (i) HA/TCP, covered by PEG membrane (group 1); (ii) HA/TCP, mixed with PEG matrix (group 2); and (iii) HA/TCP mixed with BMP‐2 transfected osteoblasts and PEG matrix (group 3). BMP‐2/4 gene transfer: liposomal in vitro transfection of BMP‐2/V5‐tag fusion‐protein. Quantitative histomorphometry (toluidine blue staining) after 2, 4 and 12 weeks assessed bone formation. Semiquantitative immunohistochemistry estimated the expression of BMP‐2 and V5‐tag.

Results

Group 3 showed significantly higher new bone formation than groups 1, 2 at 4 (P < 0.05) and 12 (P < 0.02) weeks. BMP‐2‐V5‐tag was detected for 4 weeks. BMP‐2 expression in group 3 was higher compared to all other groups after 2 and 4 (P < 0.02) weeks.

Conclusions

The PEG matrix serves as scaffold for cell‐mediated BMP‐2 gene delivery in guided bone regeneration facilitating cell survival and protein synthesis for at least 4 weeks. Local BMP‐2 gene delivery by PEG matrix‐embedded cells leads to increased bone formation during critical size defect regeneration.
Biomechanical evaluation of macro and micro designed screw‐type implants: an insertion torque and removal torque study in rabbits
Authors: Chowdhary Ramesh , Jimbo Ryo , Thomsen Christian , Carlsson Lennart , Wennerberg Ann
Published: December 2011

Objective

To investigate the combined effect of macro and pitch shortened threads on primary and secondary stability during healing, but before dynamic loading.

Materials and methods

Two sets of turned implants with different macro geometry were prepared. The test group possessed pitch shortened threads in between the large threads and the control group did not have thread alterations. The two implant groups were placed in both femur and tibiae of 10 lop‐eared rabbits, and at the time of implant insertion, insertion torques were recorded. After 4 weeks, all implants were subjected to removal torque tests.

Results

The insertion torque values for the control and test groups for the tibia were 15.7 and 20.6 Ncm, respectively, and for the femur, 11.8, and 12.8 Ncm respectively. The removal torque values for the control and test groups in the tibia were 7.9 and 9.1 Ncm, respectively, and for the femur, 7.9 and 7.7 Ncm respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the control and test groups.

Conclusion

Under limited dynamic load, the addition of pitch shortened threads did not significantly improve either the primary or the secondary stability of the implants in bone.
Impact of dietary vitamin D on osseointegration in the ovariectomized rat
Authors: Dvorak Gabriella , Fügl Alexander , Watzek Georg , Tangl Stefan , Pokorny Petra , Gruber Reinhard
Published: December 2011

Aim

Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in the population and associated with impaired peri‐implant bone regeneration. Yet, there is a gap in understanding the impact of vitamin D supplementation on the process of osseointegration. In this study, the effect of vitamin D supplementation on peri‐implant bone regeneration was investigated.

Methods

Fifty ovariectomized Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into three groups. The depletion group was fed a vitamin D‐free diet for 8 weeks. The repletion group received vitamin D‐free diet for 6 weeks, before animals were switched to standard diet containing 2400 IU/kg vitamin D. The control group was fed the standard diet. Two titanium mini‐implants were placed in the tibia. All groups remained on their previous diet until sacrifice. Blood sample testing and histomorphometric analysis were performed.

Results

Vitamin D depletion caused a significant reduction in 25‐hydroxvitamin D in rat serum that returned to control levels in the repletion group. This vitamin deficiency was associated with a decrease in bone‐to‐implant contact in the cortical area, which was leveled to controls in the repletion group. No significant changes by vitamin D depletion were noticed in the medullar compartment. Moreover, also the peri‐implant bone area and the mineral apposition rate remained unchanged upon vitamin D depletion.

Conclusion

These results indicate that vitamin D deficiency has a negative impact on cortical peri‐implant bone formation in ovariectomized rats, which can be compensated by vitamin D supplementation. This study provides first insight into the potential beneficial effect of vitamin D supplementation in implant dentistry.
Overweight and obesity predict time to periodontal disease progression in men
Authors: Gorman Andrea , Kaye Elizabeth Krall , Apovian Caroline , Fung Teresa T. , Nunn Martha , Garcia Raul I.
Published: December 2011

Aims

To examine whether overweight and obesity indicators – body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and WC‐to‐height ratio – predict progression of periodontal disease in men.

Material and Methods

Participants were 1038 medically healthy, non‐Hispanic, white males in the VA Dental Longitudinal Study who were monitored with triennial oral and medical examinations between 1969 and 1996. Periodontal disease progression in an individual was defined as having two or more teeth advance to levels of alveolar bone loss ≥40%, probing pocket depth ≥5 mm, or clinical attachment loss ≥5 mm after baseline. Extended Cox regression analyses estimated hazards of experiencing periodontal disease progression events due to overweight/obesity status, controlling for age, smoking, education, diabetes, recent periodontal treatment, recent prophylaxis, and number of filled/decayed surfaces.

Results

Body mass index and WC‐to‐height ratio were significantly associated with hazards of experiencing periodontal disease progression events regardless of periodontal disease indicator. Adjusted hazard ratios for periodontal disease progression were 41–72% higher in obese men (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) relative to men with both normal weight and WC‐to‐height ratio (≤50%).

Conclusion

Both overall obesity and central adiposity are associated with an increased hazards of periodontal disease progression events in men.
Extracellular deoxyribonuclease production by periodontal bacteria
Authors: Palmer L. J. , Chapple I. L. C. , Wright H. J. , Roberts A. , Cooper P. R.
Published: December 2011

Palmer LJ, Chapple ILC, Wright HJ, Roberts A, Cooper PR. Extracellular deoxyribonuclease production by periodontal bacteria. J Periodont Res 2012; 47: 439–445. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S

Background and Objective:  Whilst certain bacteria have long been known to secrete extracellular deoxyribonuclease (DNase), the purpose in microbial physiology was unclear. Recently, however, this enzyme has been demonstrated to confer enhanced virulence, enabling bacteria to evade the host’s immune defence of extruded DNA/chromatin filaments, termed neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). As NETs have recently been identified in infected periodontal tissue, the aim of this study was to screen periodontal bacteria for extracellular DNase activity.

Material and Methods:  To determine whether DNase activity was membrane bound or secreted, 34 periodontal bacteria were cultured in broth and on agar plates. Pelleted bacteria and supernatants from broth cultures were analysed for their ability to degrade DNA, with relative activity levels determined using an agarose gel electrophoresis assay. Following culture on DNA‐supplemented agar, expression was determined by the presence of a zone of hydrolysis and DNase activity related to colony size.

Results:  Twenty‐seven bacteria, including red and orange complex members Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Parvimonas micra, Prevotella intermedia, Streptococcus constellatus, Campylobacter rectus and Prevotella nigrescens, were observed to express extracellular DNase activity. Differences in DNase activity were noted, however, when bacteria were assayed in different culture states. Analysis of the activity of secreted DNase from bacterial broth cultures confirmed their ability to degrade NETs.

Conclusion:  The present study demonstrates, for the first time, that DNase activity is a relatively common property of bacteria associated with advanced periodontal disease. Further work is required to determine the importance of this bacterial DNase activity in the pathogenesis of periodontitis.
Human Papillomavirus L2 Facilitates Viral Escape from Late Endosomes via Sorting Nexin 17
Authors: Bergant Marušič Martina , Ozbun Michelle A. , Campos Samuel K. , Myers Michael P. , Banks Lawrence
Published: December 2011

The human papillomavirus (HPV) L2 capsid protein plays an essential role during the early stages of viral infection, but the molecular mechanisms underlying its mode of action remain obscure. Using a proteomic approach, we have identified the adaptor protein, sorting nexin 17 (SNX17) as a strong interacting partner of HPV L2. This interaction occurs through a highly conserved SNX17 consensus binding motif, which is present in the majority of HPV L2 proteins analysed. Using mutants of L2 defective for SNX17 interaction, or siRNA ablation of SNX17 expression, we demonstrate that the interaction between L2 and SNX17 is essential for viral infection. Furthermore, loss of the L2–SNX17 interaction results in enhanced turnover of the L2 protein and decreased stability of the viral capsids, and concomitantly, there is a dramatic decrease in the efficiency with which viral genomes transit to the nucleus. Indeed, using a range of endosomal and lysosomal markers, we show that capsids defective in their capacity to bind SNX17 transit much more rapidly to the lysosomal compartment. These results demonstrate that the L2–SNX17 interaction is essential for viral infection and facilitates the escape of the L2–DNA complex from the late endosomal/lysosomal compartments.
Redesigning the ICU Nursing Discharge Process: A Quality Improvement Study
Authors: Chaboyer Wendy , Lin Frances , Foster Michelle , Retallick Lorraine , Panuwatwanich Kriengsak , Richards Brent
Published: December 2011

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of a redesigned intensive care unit (ICU) nursing discharge process on ICU discharge delay, hospital mortality, and ICU readmission within 72 hours.

Methods: A quality improvement study using a time series design and statistical process control analysis was conducted in one Australian general ICU. The primary outcome measure was hours of discharge delay per patient discharged alive per month, measured for 15 months prior to, and for 12 months after the redesigned process was implemented. The redesign process included appointing a change agent to facilitate process improvement, developing a patient handover sheet, requesting ward staff to nominate an estimated transfer time, and designing a daily ICU discharge alert sheet that included an expected date of discharge.

Results: A total of 1,787 ICU discharges were included in this study, 1,001 in the 15 months before and 786 in the 12 months after the implementation of the new discharge processes. There was no difference in in‐hospital mortality after discharge from ICU or ICU readmission within 72 hours during the study period. However, process improvement was demonstrated by a reduction in the average patient discharge delay time of 3.2 hours (from 4.6 hour baseline to 1.0 hours post‐intervention).

Conclusions: Involving both ward and ICU staff in the redesign process may have contributed to a shared situational awareness of the problems, which led to more timely and effective ICU discharge processes. The use of a change agent, whose ongoing role involved follow‐up of patients discharged from ICU, may have helped to embed the new process into practice.
Investigating conservation of the albaflavenone biosynthetic pathway and CYP170 bifunctionality in streptomycetes
Authors: Moody Suzy C. , Zhao Bin , Lei Li , Nelson David R. , Mullins Jonathan G. L. , Waterman Michael R. , Kelly Steven L. , Lamb David C.
Published: December 2011

Albaflavenone, a tricyclic sesquiterpene antibiotic, is biosynthesized in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) by enzymes encoded in a two‐gene operon. Initially, sesquiterpene cyclase catalyzes the cyclization of farnesyl diphosphate to the terpenoid epi‐isozizaene, which is oxidized to the final albaflavenone by cytochrome P450 (CYP)170A1. Additionally, this CYP is a bifunctional enzyme, being able to also generate farnesene isomers from farnesyl diphosphate, owing to a terpene synthase active site moonlighting on the CYP molecule. To explore the functionality of this operon in other streptomycetes, we have examined culture extracts by GC/MS and established the presence of albaflavenone in five Streptomyces species. Bioinformatics examination of the predicted CYP170 primary amino acid sequences revealed substitutions in the CYP terpene synthase active site. To examine whether the terpene synthase site was catalytically active in another CYP170, we characterized the least related CYP170 orthologue from Streptomyces albus (CYP170B1). Following expression and purification, CYP170B1 showed a normal reduced CO difference spectrum at 450 nm, in contrast to the unusual 440‐nm peak observed for S. coelicolor A3(2) CYP170A1. CYP170B1 can catalyze the conversion of epi‐isozizaene to albaflavenone, but was unable to catalyze the conversion of farnesyl diphosphate to farnesene. Molecular modeling with our crystal structure of CYP170A1 suggests that the absence of key amino acids for binding the essential terpene synthase cofactor Mg2+ may be the explanation for the loss of CYP170B1 bifunctionality.
Metabolic glycoengineering through the mammalian GalNAc salvage pathway
Authors: Pouilly Sabrina , Piller Véronique , Piller Friedrich
Published: December 2011

GalNAc is the initial sugar of mucin‐type O‐glycans, and is a component of several tumor antigens. The aim of this work was to determine whether synthetic GalNAc analogs could be taken up from the medium and incorporated into complex cellular O‐glycans. The cell line employed was CHO ldlD, which can only use GalNAc and Gal present in the medium for the synthesis of its glycans. All GalNAc analogs with modified N‐acyl groups (N‐formyl, N‐propionyl, N‐glycolyl, N‐azidoacetyl, N‐bromoacetyl, and N‐chloroacetyl) were incorporated into cellular O‐glycans, although to different extents. The GalNAc analogs linked to Ser or Thr could be extended by the β3‐galactosyltransferase glycoprotein‐N‐acetylgalactosamine 3β‐galactosyl transferase 1 in vitro and in vivo and by α6‐sialyltransferase α‐N‐acetylgalactosaminide‐α‐2,6‐sialyltransferase 1. At the surface of CHO ldlD cells, all analogs were incorporated into sialylated O‐glycan structures like those present on wild‐type CHO cells, indicating that the GalNAc analogs do not change the overall structure of core‐1 O‐glycans. In addition, this study shows that the unnatural synthetic GalNAc analogs can be incorporated into human tumor cells, and that a tumor antigen modified by an analog can be readily detected by a specific antiserum. GalNAc analogs are therefore potential targets for tumor immunotherapy.
ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITIES OF CLOVE OIL AGAINST RHIZOPUS NIGRICANS, ASPERGILLUS FLAVUS AND PENICILLIUM CITRINUM IN VITRO AND IN WOUNDED FRUIT TEST
Authors: XING YAGE , XU QINGLIIAN , LI XIHONG , CHE ZHENMIN , YUN JUAN
Published: December 2011

In this article, in vitro and in vivo antifungal activities of clove oil to inactivate Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium citrinum and Rhizopus nigricans were investigated. The result showed that eugenol (approximately 83.02%) is the main constituent of clove oil. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of clove oil against A. flavus, P. citrinum and R. nigricans were 25, 25 and 50 µL/mL, respectively. In an in vitro experiment, the results revealed that clove oil possessed stronger antifungal activities against A. flavus and P. citrinum than against R. nigricans, and the antifungal activity improved with increasing its concentration. In an in vivo study, clove oil treatments significantly reduced fungal decay, and clove oil at a concentration of 3.0% showed complete control of A. flavus and P. citrinum in wound‐inoculated fruit. These results indicated that clove oil has a good potential to be a natural antifungal agent for fruit applications.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Postharvest decay caused by fungi is the major cause of rapid deterioration of fruits, which affects the quality and shortens the shelf life of fruits and vegetables. The major problems for the application of chemical preservatives are the increasing resistance to antibiotics and chemotherapeutics and health risk concerns. So, most consumers demand less use of synthetic additives to ensure food safety. There is a growing need to develop alternative approaches, such as the application of essential oils, for controlling postharvest diseases.
FOODBORNE YEASTS SERVE AS RESERVOIRS OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI
Authors: SALMANIAN ALI‐HATEF , SIAVOSHI FARIDEH , BEYRAMI ZAHRA , LATIFI‐NAVID SAEID , TAVAKOLIAN ATEFEH , SADJADI ALIREZA
Published: December 2011

It is not clear where Helicobacter pylori establishes in the environment and how it is transmitted to humans. Fifteen yeasts were isolated from 15 food samples. Microscopic examination of yeasts revealed fast‐moving bacterium‐like bodies (BLBs) inside the vacuoles of yeasts. Yeasts were identified as Candida species. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was recruited to detect H. pylori‐specific ureAB (urease) and babAB (BabA/B adhesins) genes in the total DNAs of yeasts. The ureAB gene was amplified from 9/15 yeasts and babAB from 2/15. Sequencing of the PCR products of ureAB (406 bp) and babAB (980 bp) genes that were amplified from one yoghurt yeast showed 98% homology with those of control H. pylori. Fluorescent microscopy of stained yeasts showed live BLBs inside the vacuoles. It is proposed that foodborne yeast which originates from the environment could accommodate H. pylori in nature and act as a vehicle for its transmission to the human gastrointestinal tract.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Helicobacter pylori is a gastric pathogen and its entrance occurs through the ingestion of food. However, there is no strong evidence to show that food materials support the survival and growth of H. pylori and could play a crucial role in the bacterial transmission to humans. The intracellular existence of H. pylori in yeast could be important in the bacterial survival in the environment and its transmission. We propose that foodborne yeasts, which survive the stressful conditions during food processing, such as heat and sanitizers, could serve as potent reservoirs of H. pylori and facilitate its transmission to human. Occurrence of yeast in food materials could be considered as a possible marker for the bacterial contamination. Accordingly, reducing the yeast content of foods, through proper hygienic practice in food processing, might be crucial for the control of H. pylori and probably other bacterial infections.
The Impact of Divided Government on the Supreme Court Appointment Process: An Assessment of Judicial Extremism, 1946‐2009
Authors: SHARMA HEMANT , SCHEB II JOHN M.
Published: December 2011

Using the data from the Supreme Court Database, we test the hypothesis that Supreme Court justices appointed under conditions of divided party government behave more moderately in decision making than justices appointed under unified government. We create a dependent variable that provides term‐by‐term measures of judicial extremism for 31 justices from 1946 through 2009. For the independent variables, we expand the conception of divided government not only by using a dichotomous measure of split party control but also by considering the president's approval rating and ideological distance to the filibuster pivot. We use our variables to create time series regression models for civil rights/liberties cases and economic cases. In both models, we find strong support for our hypothesis and observe the statistical significance of several control variables. Ultimately, our regression models may prove useful for explaining and predicting the behavior of Supreme Court justices relative to a variety of confirmation conditions.

Usando datos de la Supreme Court Database, ponemos a prueba la hipótesis que los ministros de la Suprema Corte elegidos en condiciones de gobiernos sin mayoría partidista tienden a efectuar decisiones más moderadas que los ministros elegidos bajo gobiernos unificados. Creamos una variable dependiente que proporciona una medida de extremismo judicial en cada periodo para 31 ministros desde 1946 hasta 2009. Para las variables independientes, expandimos la noción de gobierno dividido no sólo usando una noción dicotómica de control sin mayoría partidista, también consideramos el índice de popularidad del presidente en turno y la distancia ideológica para un pivote filibustero. Usamos nuestras variables para crear un modelo de regresión de series temporales para casos de libertades/derechos civiles y otro para casos económicos. En ambos modelos, encontramos un gran sustento a nuestra hipótesis y observamos relevancia estadística para muchas variables de control. De tal manera, nuestros modelos de regresión pueden ser útiles para explicar y predecir el comportamiento de los ministros de la Corte de Justicia con relación a una variedad de condiciones.
Public Opinion and Nuclear Zero: A Domestic Constraint on Ditching the Bomb
Authors: RIPBERGER JOSEPH T. , RABOVSKY THOMAS M. , HERRON KERRY G.
Published: December 2011

Dating back to Harry S. Truman, a number of presidents and prominent political leaders have tried, in some way or another, to reduce the reliance on nuclear weapons in U.S. foreign policy. Throughout the years, such attempts have prompted countless international debates and spawned a cottage industry of security research related to the eventual elimination of nuclear arms. However, aside from the occasional foray, this research paradigm generally overlooks the domestic political obstacles that policy makers should expect to encounter if national security policy continues down the path toward nuclear zero. In pursuit of this goal, this article empirically examines public attitudes concerning the continued pursuit of nuclear abolition. In doing so, we highlight the beliefs and perceptions that inform public preferences concerning the importance assigned to retaining nuclear weapons today.

Desde la época de Harry S. Truman, muchos presidentes y líderes políticos han intentado, de una u otra forma, reducir la dependencia de la política exterior de los Estados Unidos en armas nucleares. A través de los años estos intentos han provocado sinnúmero de debates internacionales y generado una pequeña industria dedicada a la investigación de una posible eliminación de armas nucleares. Sin embargo, este enfoque investigativo generalmente pasa por alto los obstáculos políticos domésticos que los legisladores deberían esperar si la política de seguridad nacional continúa por el camino de la abolición nuclear. En búsqueda de este objetivo, este artículo examina empíricamente las actitudes públicas respecto a la contínua búsqueda de una abolición nuclear. Al mismo tiempo, destacamos las creencias y percepciones que informan las preferencias públicas atribuidas a la importancia de preservar armas nucleares en la actualidad.
Is Local Spending Responsive to the Poor? An Appraisal of Resource Allocation and Electoral Rewards in Mexico
Authors: MORENO‐JAIMES CARLOS
Published: December 2011

This article analyzes the performance of local resource allocation in Mexico drawing on the concepts of impartiality and responsiveness suggested by quality of government theories. Focusing on an important poverty‐alleviation transfer fund aimed at improving the provision of basic infrastructure, it evaluates to what extent the fund's territorial distribution has followed a compensatory logic, and whether the current management of resources at the local level has improved people's access to basic services. Finally, the article investigates the consequences of local spending choices on electoral behavior. The evidence suggests that, even if the distribution of resources is not entirely sensitive to regional poverty conditions, their use by local authorities has in fact improved basic service coverage, particularly for people who live in the most disadvantaged areas. Local spending choices are, in any case, electorally motivated, as voters reward public works investments at the ballot box.

Este artículo analiza el desempeño de la distribución de recursos locales en México basándose en los conceptos de imparcialidad y responsabilidad sugeridos por las teorías de la calidad de gobierno. Enfocado en un fondo para la reducción de la pobreza dirigido a mejorar el suministro de infraestructura básica, este estudio analiza hasta qué punto la distribución territorial de éste ha seguido una lógica compensatoria, y si el manejo actual de estos fondos ha mejorado el acceso a los servicios básicos para la población a nivel local. Por último, este artículo investiga las consecuencias de las decisiones de gasto local en el comportamiento electoral. La evidencia sugiere que, aún cuando la distribución de los recursos no es completamente receptiva a las condiciones regionales de pobreza, su uso por parte de autoridades locales ha mejorado la cobertura de los servicios básicos, en especial para las personas que viven en las regiones más desfavorecidas. Las decisiones de gasto local son, en todo caso, electoralmente motivadas, ya que los votantes recompensan las inversiones en obra pública en las urnas.
Why People (Dis)like the Public Service: Citizen Perception of the Public Service and the NPM Doctrine
Authors: ARIELY GAL
Published: December 2011

This article examines how the components of the New Public Management (NPM) doctrine are related to the ways citizens evaluate the public service. It investigates how five macro‐level explanations—free‐market orientations, public‐sector size, tax burdens, administration decentralization, and public‐service quality—affect citizen evaluation of the public service. Data from the International Social Survey Project Citizenship 2004, The Role of Government 2006 Modules, and country‐level data are used to study the relationship across 25 countries, employing multilevel analyses of the data to analyze the relationship between country‐level explanations and citizen valuation of the public service. The results indicate that, while a free‐market orientation is related to a negative image of the public service and public‐service quality is related to a positive image of it, public‐sector size, the tax burden, and the level of administration decentralization are not related to the public‐service image. These results are discussed in light of the NPM doctrine.

Este artículo examina cómo los componentes de la doctrina NPM están relacionados a la forma en la que los ciudadanos evalúan el servicio público. Investiga cómo cinco explicaciones a nivel macro—una orientación de libre mercado, tamaño del sector público, cargas fiscales, descentralización de la administración y calidad del servicio público—afectan cómo los ciudadanos evalúan el servicio público. Con datos de la International Social Survey Project Citizenship 2004, el Role of Government 2006 Modules e información a nivel nacional, los datos son usados para estudiar dicha relación en 25 países, empleando un análisis multinivel para analiza la relación entre explicaciones a nivel nacional y evaluaciones ciudadanas del servicio público. Los resultados indican que, mientras que una orientación de libre mercado se relaciona de manera negativa con la imagen del servicio público y la calidad del servicio público se relaciona de forma positiva, el tamaño del sector público, el carga fiscal, y el nivel de descentralización en la administración no son relacionados con la imagen del servicio público. Los resultados son discutidos considerando la doctrina NPM.
Out and Serving Proudly: Repealing “Don't Ask, Don't Tell”
Authors: REINKE SAUNDRA J. , SMITH TIMOTHY G.
Published: December 2011

The U.S. military's “don't ask, don't tell” (DADT) policy has been controversial since its adoption in 1993. The policy has been criticized as discriminatory for tolerating or fostering homophobic attitudes and behavior, and as detrimental to military effectiveness. This article examines the results of recent votes in the U.S. Congress to repeal DADT to identify factors that may predict members' votes on morality issues, such as DADT. Our results demonstrate that the members' political ideology and the political party preference of the members' home district or state are strong predictors of how the members voted on repeal of DADT. For members of the House of Representatives, freshmen members were more likely than their colleagues to vote in ways that coincided with the political preferences of their home district.

La política militar “don't ask, don't tell” (DADT) del ejército de los Estados Unidos ha sido controversial desde su adopción en 1993. Esta medida ha sido calificada como discriminatoria, por tolerar o promover actitudes y conductas homofóbicas, y como perjudicial para la efectividad militar. Este artículo examina los resultados de votos recientes en el Congreso de los Estados Unidos para eliminar DADT con el fin de identificar los factores que pueden predecir el voto de los miembros en cuestiones morales como DADT. Nuestros resultados demuestran que la ideología política de los miembros y la afiliación política de los distritos locales o estatales de cada miembro son fuertes indicadores del voto realizado en el Congreso respecto a la eliminación de DADT. Para la Cámara de Representantes, los miembros recién electos mostraron una mayor probabilidad que sus colegas más antiguos en votar de forma tal que coincidiese con las preferencias políticas de su distrito local.
TRIPS‐plus Border Measures and Access to Medicines
Authors: Micara Anna Giulia
Published: December 2011

In 2008, Dutch customs authorities blocked generic medicines in transit in the Dutch territory on suspicion of their being counterfeit. India and Brazil subsequently claimed that external transit control of medicines is inconsistent with the Trade‐Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), the Doha Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health and international provisions on access to medicines. This article aims to shed light on the consistency of external transit control of generics with international law, and on the interrelations between issues of intellectual property, free trade and public health at the international level; it shows that TRIPS makes possible a broad extension of IP rights protection while ceilings present some weaknesses.
The Right of Access in Digital Copyright: Right of the Owner or Right of the User?
Authors: Favale Marcella
Published: December 2011

In the last decade, copyright scholarship has been suggesting the existence of a new right in copyright law: the right of access—that is, the right to control access to copyright works for the rightholder, and the right to access copyright works for the user. According to some authors, this new right was effected through the implementation and the legal protection of technological protection measures (TPMs). On the other hand, advocates of freedom of expression suggest that users have the right to access and use copyright works.

This article investigates whether a right of access exists either for owners or users of copyright works in the European Union (EU) law or international law impacting on it. It finds that no express reference to a right of access can be detected, on either side. However, the EU Copyright Directive (EUCD) gives de facto copyright holders the possibility of controlling access and use of copyright works beyond their exclusive rights, which is not counterbalanced by a user's right of access in the occurrence of copyright limits. Legislative action therefore needs to be taken to re‐establish this balance. This action can be shaped by universal principles recognized in international human rights treaties and charters. From both owners’ and users’ side, the limits of the right of access can be drafted by bearing in mind the ultimate goal of copyright protection: the circulation of culture.
Hand‐rearing and reintroduction of Woolly monkey Lagothrix lagotricha at Monkey World – Ape Rescue Centre, UK
Authors: Barnes H. A. , Cronin A.
Published: December 2011

Woolly monkey populations are decreasing in the wild and in captivity. Woolly monkeys have a reputation for being difficult to keep and breed, infant mortality is high and hand‐rearing is rarely attempted or successful. Between 2006 and 2008, three ♂ Woolly monkeys Lagothrix lagotricha born at Monkey World – Ape Rescue Centre, UK, failed to suckle and these infants were removed for hand‐rearing. Because no published information was available to inform our procedures, detailed records of the hand‐rearing and reintroduction process were kept, and an account is provided here. Although parent‐rearing is always the best option, this paper details the hand‐rearing and reintroduction process used successfully at Monkey World in order to encourage other keepers who are managing suboptimal birth circumstances in captive Woolly monkey populations.
Long Distance Indefinites and Choice Functions
Authors: Schwarz Bernhard
Published: December 2011

Indefinites are notorious for permitting long distance (LD) interpretations, that is, for exhibiting the apparent ability to take scope out of syntactic islands. This article reviews a family of approaches to LD interpretations that appeal to the notion of a choice function. Within this family, we will distinguish two branches. The proposals in one branch take their cue from Discourse Representation Theory (Heim 1982; Kamp 1981), adopting the view that the existential import of indefinites can be separated from the semantics of the indefinite article. Proposals in the second branch capitalize on another striking feature of indefinites, namely the availability of so‐called functional interpretations (e.g. Groenendijk and Stokhof 1984; Hintikka 1986). One main result reported is that LD interpretations come in two different kinds, corresponding to the two choice function approaches reviewed. Another result is that existential quantification over choice functions comes at a cost: to prevent the derivation of unattested interpretations, certain restrictions on the scope of this quantification must be stipulated.
Grammar in English Curricula: Why Should Linguists Care?
Authors: Mulder Jean
Published: December 2011

In Australia, the recently published national curriculum for English embraces not only a return to the explicit teaching of grammar with a commitment to teaching it in context but also includes a distinct strand of knowledge about the English language and how it works. This paper begins with a synopsis of the broader understandings of language encoded in this document, illustrating one approach toward providing a more linguistically informed awareness of language. This is followed by a critical assessment of the grammatical framework, showing that while grammar is positively viewed as a way of describing the language we use as a system, the overall framework has some serious deficits. It is argued that academic linguists have a crucial role to play in shaping a linguistically informed approach to English language education, including engaging with the challenge of elaborating a grammatical approach that is both relevant to students and teachers’ needs and draws on the insights of modern linguistics, and making explicit how grammatical understanding can support the acquisition of skilled language use.
Responses to commentaries
Authors: Sutcliffe Alistair , Dunbar Robin , Binder Jens , Arrow Holly
Published: December 2011

This paper is an author response to three commentaries, by Robert Kraut and Itamar Rosenn (2012), Barry Wellman (2012) and Mark van Vugt (2012), on our article entitled ‘Relationships and the social brain: Integrating psychological and evolutionary perspectives’ (Sutcliffe, Dunbar, Binder, & Arrow, 2012).
Dynamic Compressive Behavior of a Melt Mixed Polypropylene/Organoclay Nanocomposites
Authors: Wang Kui , Boumbimba Rodrigue Matadi , Bahlouli Nadia , Ahzi Saïd , Muller René , Bouquey Michel
Published: December 2011

This work aims to investigate the dynamic behavior of polypropylene organoclay nanocomposites. The nanocomposite was obtained by mixing the polypropylene matrix with a masterbatch of polypropylene modified anhydride maleic and montmorillonite organoclay (pp-nanocor). The dynamic behavior was investigated by using split Hopkinson pressure bars, at different strain rates and different temperatures. The obtained nanocomposite exhibits a good dispersion and a partially exfoliated morphology. To study the effect of nanocomposite dispersion and morphology on the dynamic behavior, another nanocomposite was prepared by melt mixing of polypropylene and a modified montmorillonite (dellite) (PP dellite). The dynamic property results for PP-nanocor show an increase of both Young’s modulus and yield stress with the increasing organoclay concentration. However, PP-dellite nanocomposites present poor mechanical properties compared with those of PP-nanocor.
ON PRIMENESS OF LABELED ORIENTED TREES
Authors: HARLANDER JENS , ROSEBROCK STEPHAN
Published: December 2011

Knot complements are aspherical. Whether this extends to ribbon disc complements, or, equivalently, to standard 2-complexes of labeled oriented trees, remains unresolved. It is known that prime injective labeled oriented trees are diagrammatically reducible, that is, aspherical in a strong combinatorial sense. We show that arbitrary prime labeled oriented trees need not be DR. We conjecture that all injective labeled oriented trees are aspherical and prove the conjecture under natural conditions.
THE STRATEGIC CORES α, β, γ AND δ
Authors: HARADA TAKASHI , NAKAYAMA MIKIO
Published: December 2011

In a strategic coalitional game, we consider the relations among four cores α, β, γ, and the one we call δ which is obtained by slightly weakening the conjectural cooperative equilibria due to Currarini and Marini. We show that the α-core and the γ-core are refined by the δ-core; and, moreover that if every player has a dominant strategy, the β-core is refined by the γ-core, so that the four cores refine themselves in the greek alphabetical order. Two economic games will be considered to show that the refinement of the α-core can vary from the weakest to the strongest. While the four cores are equal in the pure exchange game, a radical reduction of the α-core is obtained in the commons game, a simple version of the Cournot game, bringing about a single strategy profile as the δ-core.
PAYOFF FUNCTIONS IN THE ONE-WAY FLOW MODEL OF NETWORK FORMATION FOR WHICH NASH NETWORKS EXIST
Authors: DERKS JEAN , TENNEKES MARTIJN
Published: December 2011

We study a non-cooperative model of unilateral network formation. Derks et al. [2008b] prove the existence of local-Nash and global-Nash networks for games with payoff functions that satisfy a framework of axiomatic properties. These properties are inspired by the one-way flow model, which is characterized by the following payoff structure. Each agent pays a cost for each formed link and receives profits from being connect to other agents. In this paper we fully characterize the payoff functions in the one-way flow model that satisfy all properties. We show that under certain conditions, payoff functions with heterogeneous link costs and heterogeneous profits satisfy all properties for which the existence of local-Nash networks is proved. Furthermore, we show that all payoff functions with owner-homogeneous link costs and heterogeneous profits satisfy all properties, and therefore imply the existence of global-Nash networks.