bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bringing Blue Skies Down to Earth
Authors: Kirkpatrick Bill
Published: June 2011

The introduction of cable television in the United States represented an unprecedented opportunity for citizens to exercise media policy-making power but required that they translate general federal guidelines into specific solutions tailored to local conditions. This moment thus provides an example of bottom–up, “vernacular” policy making that challenges top–down approaches to policy. Taking the experience of Madison, Wisconsin, as its case study, this essay explores the processes of local policy translation, including metaphors of outcomes, constructions of community identity and power, and struggles over locally dominant understandings of the community within local political-economic conditions. It also draws conclusions about the conditions within which a media-minded public can emerge and organize itself for reform, the relative power of utopian and dystopian rhetoric in citizen policy making, the conflict between citizen activism and bureaucratic governmentality, and the mechanisms by which citizens might secure policy advantages relative to economically and politically more powerful parties.
Review: Minimally Invasive Versus Conventional Dynamic Hip Screw Fixation in Elderly Patients With Intertrochanteric Fractures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Tao Cheng  , Guoyou Zhang  , Xianlong Zhang
Published: June 2011

The classic dynamic hip screw fixation of intertrochanteric fractures may be associated with significant blood loss and soft tissue damage, which may worsen existing comorbidities of frail elderly patients. Recently, minimally invasive dynamic hip screw (MIDHS) technique was developed for osteosynthesis of intertrochanteric fractures. A highly sensitive search strategy was used to identify all published randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials (RCTs/ qRCTs) and comparative observational studies comparing the MIDHS technique with the conventional dynamic hip screw (CDHS) technique in patients with intertrochanteric fractures. A pooled estimate of effect size was produced using both random and fixed effects models. Four RCTs/qRCTs and 2 retrospective comparative studies were identified. The MIDHS technique resulted in less blood loss, shorter hospitalization, lower pain level, faster fracture healing, and better hip function when compared with the CDHS technique. There was no significance difference between the 2 groups with regard to postoperative complications and implant position. The MIDHS technique may achieve perioperative benefits when compared with the CDHS technique.
School Governing Bodies in England Under Pressure: The Effects of Socio-economic Context and School Performance
Authors: James Chris , Brammer Steve , Connolly Michael , Fertig Mike , James Jane , Jones Jeff
Published: June 2011

This article reports research into the nature and functioning of school governing bodies in different socio-economic and performance contexts. The research analysed 5000 responses from a national questionnaire-based survey and undertook 30 case studies of school governing. The research confirmed that school governing in England is a complex and onerous responsibility that places governing bodies under considerable pressure. The socio-economic and performance contexts can be particularly demanding additional pressures. Governing bodies interact with those contexts in a complex way which we explain using the notions of governance capital and governance agency. Governance capital is the network of individuals and their capabilities, relationships and motivations that are available for the governing of a school. It is likely to be greater for schools that: are well regarded; are in high socio-economic status settings; and have high levels of pupil attainment. These effects may add and mutually reinforce creating an ‘amplifier effect’, which may significantly impact on the governing of a school. Governance agency is the capacity of those involved in the governing of a school to act. It is significant; can ameliorate the effects of low governance capital; and complicates the relationship between governing, performance and socio-economic context.
Redesigning Urban Districts in the USA: Mayoral Accountability and the Diverse Provider Model
Authors: Wong Kenneth K.
Published: June 2011

In response to public pressure, urban districts in the USA have initiated reforms that aim at redrawing the boundaries between the school system and other major local institutions. More specifically, this article focuses on two emerging reform strategies. We will examine an emerging model of governance that enables big-city mayors to establish authority over the school system, a significant departure from the dominant practice of district governance under an independently elected school board. Mayors in New York, Chicago, Boston and Washington DC, among others, have taken control over the school system with the authority to appoint the school board and/or the superintendent. Further, this article examines a reform strategy that allows for a closer working partnership between public schools and outside providers. This ‘diverse provider’ strategy significantly shifts power from traditionally powerful stakeholders (such as organized teachers’ union) by enabling non-profit and for-profit organizations to manage schools and other services. To illustrate the design and implementation of this type of reform, we will discuss the experience in Chicago (a mayor-led district) and Philadelphia (a district jointly governed by the governor and the mayor). In short, mayoral accountability and the diverse provider model constitute the latest reconfigurations in urban school governance in the USA.
School Governance in Switzerland: Tensions between New Roles and Old Traditions
Authors: Huber Stephan Gerhard
Published: June 2011

This article analyses school governance in Switzerland. It elaborates on the different actors involved, their roles and functions, and how these change as school governance in the cantons changes. Quality management is identified as a core activity at all levels and for all actors involved in school governance. In these re-structuring processes, various conflicts and tensions between and within groups of actors become evident. In particular, the governing body experiences an overlap of its tasks with those of other actors. Models to modify the roles and functions of the school governing body on the meso-level are discussed as it becomes clear that all the other actors at both macro- and micro-levels are professionalizing and becoming more differentiated in their functions.
Reflections on Developments in School Governance: International Perspectives on School Governing under Pressure
Authors: Connolly Michael , James Chris
Published: June 2011

Debates about governance, across the public sector, including education, continue to generate a substantial literature. The intention of this article is to engage with these debates by reviewing the articles in this special edition. In this review article, we first consider the wider context of the articles by revisiting some of the central debates in the governance literature. We then consider some of the themes that emerge from the articles, which are: the significance of improving school performance and pupil attainment; the dynamic nature of governance and the problematic nature of managing change in school governance; difference and variety; the contested territory of school governing and the conflicting roles and responsibilities; the complexity of school governing especially the complexity wrought by diversity of provision; the complex and demanding capabilities required for, and participation in, governing; micro—macro issues; and joint modes of institutional governance.
Bone bridge resection for correction of distal radial deformities after partial growth plate arrest: two cases and surgical technique
Authors: Lonjon G. , Barthel P. Y. , Ilharreborde B. , Journeau P. , Lascombes P. , Fitoussi F.
Published: June 2011

Partial closure of the growth plate is an uncommon complication in the distal radius even though distal radial fractures are among the most common injuries in children. We report two cases of resection of a bony bridge in the distal radial growth plate in boys aged 8 and 9 years with a description of the operative technique.
Joint Evaluation as a Real-World Tool for Managing Emotional Assessments of Morality
Authors: Bazerman Max H. , Gino Francesca , Shu Lisa L. , Tsay Chia-Jung
Published: June 2011

Moral problems often prompt emotional responses that invoke intuitive judgments of right and wrong. While emotions inform judgment across many domains, they can also lead to ethical failures that could be avoided by using a more deliberative, analytical decision-making process. In this article, we describe joint evaluation as an effective tool to help decision makers manage their emotional assessments of morality.
Minding the Metaphor: The Elusive Character of Moral Disgust
Authors: Royzman Edward , Kurzban Robert
Published: June 2011

Aiming to circumvent metaphor-prone properties of natural language, Chapman, Kim, Susskind, and Anderson (2009) recently reported evidence for morally induced activation of the levator labii region (manifest as an upper lip raise and a nose wrinkle), also implicated in responding to bad tastes and contaminants. Here we point out that the probative value of this type of evidence rests on a particular (and heavily contested) account of facial movements, one which holds them to be “expressions” or automatic read-outs of internal states. We also observe a largely neglected difference between morally induced disgust and moral disgust proper, arguing that data such as Chapman et al.’s (2009) provide evidence only for the former.
Moral Conviction and Emotion
Authors: Skitka Linda J. , Wisneski Daniel C.
Published: June 2011

People’s feelings about political issues are often experienced as moral convictions, that is, as rooted in beliefs about right and wrong, morality and immorality. The authors tested and found that morally convicted policy preferences are associated with positive as well as negative emotions among policy supporters and opponents, respectively, and that positive and negative emotions partially mediate the effects of moral convictions on relevant behavioral intentions (i.e., willingness to engage in activism).
The Strategic Role of the Emotions
Authors: Frank Robert H.
Published: June 2011

Sympathy and other moral emotions described by David Hume (1740/1978) and Adam Smith (1759/1966) motivate people to incur a host of costs they could easily avoid. Such emotions pose a challenge to evolutionary biologists, who have long stressed the primacy of narrow self-interest in Darwinian selection. In earlier work, I argued (Frank, 1987, 1988) that natural selection might have favored moral sentiments because of their capacity to facilitate solutions to one-shot social dilemmas. Here, I present a capsule summary of the basic argument.
Dual Processes and Moral Rules
Authors: Mallon Ron , Nichols Shaun
Published: June 2011

Recent work proclaims a dominant role for automatic, intuitive, and emotional processes in producing ordinary moral judgment, despite the fact that we have little direct evidence about moral judgment “in the wild.” Indirect support comes via an assumption of dual-process theory: that conscious, reasoning processes are resource intensive. We argue that reasoning that employs consciously available moral rules undermines this assumption, but this has not been appreciated because of a failure to distinguish between explanation and justification. We conclude that it remains unclear what sorts of cognitive processes are dominant in ordinary moral judgments.
Emotion and Morality in Psychopathy and Paraphilias
Authors: Harenski Carla L. , Kiehl Kent A.
Published: June 2011

Understanding the role of emotion in moral judgment has been an active area of investigation and debate. Here we comment on this topic by examining the interaction between emotion and moral judgment in certain psychopathological groups that are characterized by abnormalities in emotion processing, such as psychopaths and sexual offenders with paraphilic disorders.
Unintended Consequences of Moral “Over-Regulation”
Authors: Janoff-Bulman Ronnie , Sheikh Sana
Published: June 2011

A proscriptive moral orientation, involving a focus on “should nots,” is used to resolve a contradiction in the moral socialization literature made evident by findings related to shame. The traditionally accepted view that underregulation of morality (i.e., absence of internalized moral standards) accounts for increased moral transgressions by children of highly restrictive parents is reconceptualized as a problem of overregulation of proscriptive morality, reflected in the internalized focus on prohibitions. Implications of a strong proscriptive orientation for hypocritical punitive responses towards others and for the ironic role of sin emphasized in some religions are briefly discussed.
Emotion and Reliability in Moral Psychology
Authors: Sinnott-Armstrong Walter
Published: June 2011

Instead of arguing about whether moral judgments are based on emotion or reason, moral psychologists should investigate the reliability of moral judgments by checking rates of framing effects in different kinds of moral judgments under different conditions by different people.
Moral Universals and Individual Differences
Authors: Young Liane , Saxe Rebecca
Published: June 2011

Contemporary moral psychology has focused on the notion of a universal moral sense, robust to individual and cultural differences. Yet recent evidence has revealed individual differences in the psychological processes for moral judgment: controlled cognition, mental-state reasoning, and emotional responding. We discuss this evidence and its relation to cross-cultural diversity in morality.
Dimensions of Moral Emotions
Authors: Gray Kurt , Wegner Daniel M.
Published: June 2011

Anger, disgust, elevation, sympathy, relief. If the subjective experience of each of these emotions is the same whether elicited by moral or nonmoral events, then what makes moral emotions unique? We suggest that the configuration of moral emotions is special—a configuration given by the underlying structure of morality. Research suggests that people divide the moral world along the two dimensions of valence (help/harm) and moral type (agent/patient). The intersection of these two dimensions gives four moral exemplars—heroes, villains, victims and beneficiaries—each of which elicits unique emotions. For example, victims (harm/patient) elicit sympathy and sadness. Dividing moral emotions into these four quadrants provides predictions about which emotions reinforce, oppose and complement each other.
Varieties of Moral Emotional Experience
Authors: Chapman Hanah A. , Anderson Adam K.
Published: June 2011

Although much research on emotion and morality has treated emotion as a relatively undifferentiated construct, recent work shows that moral transgressions can evoke a variety of distinct emotions. To accommodate these results, we propose a multiple-appraisal model in which distinct appraisals lead to different moral emotions. The implications of this model for our understanding of the relationship between appraisals, emotions and judgments are discussed. The complexity of moral emotional experience presents a methodological challenge to researchers, but we submit that a complete understanding of human morality must acknowledge the differentiated nature of moral emotions.
The Virtue in Vice: Short-Sightedness in the Study of Moral Emotions
Authors: Valdesolo Piercarlo , DeSteno David
Published: June 2011

Emotions that are motivated by self-interest, such as jealousy, pride, and revenge, are considered to be vices. We examine the long-term consequences of such states, and suggest that, in addition to promoting immediate individual rewards, they may ultimately function to enhance collective well-being and, as such, contribute importantly to the stability of moral systems.
Clean, Proper and Tidy Are More Than the Absence of Dirty, Disgusting and Wrong
Authors: Schnall Simone
Published: June 2011

The desire to feel clean and pure might not merely be the absence of contamination and resulting feelings of disgust. Instead, it might have a social function because early in evolution social grooming not only involved improved personal hygiene and cleanliness, but also increased group cohesion. Thus, knowing that one’s body is clean, proper and tidy might have social implications that go beyond morality.
Moral Emotions from the Frog’s Eye View
Authors: Cushman Fiery A.
Published: June 2011

To understand the structure of moral emotions poses a difficult challenge. For instance, why do liberals and conservatives see some moral issues similarly, but others starkly differently? Or, why does punishment depend on accidental variation in the severity of a harmful outcome, while judgments of wrongfulness or character do not? To resolve the complex design of morality, it helps to think in functional terms. Whether through learning, cultural evolution or natural selection, moral emotions will tend to guide behavior adaptively in ordinary social situations. Thus, considering possible functions of morality can help us to comprehend its form.
Comment: Laterality and Evaluative Bivalence: A Neuroevolutionary Perspective
Authors: Berntson Gary G. , Norman Greg J. , Cacioppo John T.
Published: June 2011

Rutherford and Lindell (2011) review an extensive literature on lateralization of emotion. As they note, an important issue surrounding this question is the nature of emotion, which bears on what, precisely, is lateralized. The present comments are intended to broaden the context of the review, by considering lateralization from the standpoint of a bivariate model of evaluative processes and a neuroevolutionary perspective.
Current Emotion Research in Psychophysiology: The Neurobiology of Evaluative Bivalence
Authors: Norman Greg J. , Norris Catherine J. , Gollan Jackie , Ito Tiffany A. , Hawkley Louise C. , Larsen Jeff T. , Cacioppo John T. , Berntson Gary G.
Published: June 2011

Evaluative processes have their roots in early evolutionary history, as survival is dependent on an organism’s ability to identify and respond appropriately to positive, rewarding or otherwise salubrious stimuli as well as to negative, noxious, or injurious stimuli. Consequently, evaluative processes are ubiquitous in the animal kingdom and are represented at multiple levels of the nervous system, including the lowest levels of the neuraxis. While evolution has sculpted higher level evaluative systems into complex and sophisticated information-processing networks, they do not come to replace, but rather to interact with more primitive lower level representations. Indeed, there are basic features of the underlying neuroarchitectural plan for evaluative processes that are common across levels of organization—including that of evaluative bivalence.
Emotion, Neuroscience, and Law: A Comment on Darwin and Greene
Authors: Mikhail John
Published: June 2011

Darwin’s (1871/1981) observation that evolution has produced in us certain emotions responding to right and wrong conduct that lack any obvious basis in individual utility is a useful springboard from which to clarify the role of emotion in moral judgment. The problem is whether a certain class of moral judgment is “constituted” or “driven by” emotion (Greene, 2008, p. 108) or merely correlated with emotion while being generated by unconscious computations (e.g., Huebner, Dwyer, & Hauser, 2008). With one exception, all of the “personal” vignettes devised by Greene and colleagues (2001, 2004) and subsequently used by other researchers (e.g., Koenigs et al., 2007), in their fMRI and behavioral studies of emotional engagement in moral judgment, involve violent crimes or torts. These studies thus do much more than highlight the role of emotion in moral judgment; they also support the classical rationalist thesis that moral rules are engraved in the mind.
Moral Judgment and Psychopathy
Authors: Blair R.J.R.
Published: June 2011

Recent interest in emotion as the basis for moral development began with work involving individuals with psychopathic tendencies, and a recent paper with this population has allowed fresh insights (Glenn, Iyer, Graham, Koleva, & Haidt, 2009). Two main conclusions suggested by this paper are: (i) that systems involved in different forms of morality can be differentiated; and (ii) that systems involved in justice reasoning likely include amygdala and/or ventromedial prefrontal cortex, even if the specifics of their functional contribution to justice development remain unidentified.
Laparoendoscopic single-site pyeloplasty
Authors: Clements Thomas , Raman Jay D.
Published: June 2011

Since the inception of laparoscopic surgery, there has been an ongoing effort to develop an even more ‘minimally invasive’ approach to surgery. A novel example of such advancement can be found in laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) surgery. Performing surgery through a single site of access holds the promise of decreased morbidity, lower blood loss, shorter convalescence, and improved cosmesis. Given the nonextirpative nature of the pyeloplasty procedure, this patient cohort has proven to be the ideal candidates for LESS surgery. The driving force behind adaptation of this newer technique can be attributed to innovations in access sites and devices, instrumentation, optics, and robotic-based assistance. There are now several studies in the published literature demonstrating the feasibility and efficacy of LESS pyeloplasty in both children and adults. Although comparative studies have failed to demonstrate any objective advantage of the LESS pyeloplasty operation, it is important to realize that LESS surgery is still a fairly new technique. Further technological developments and additional studies will ultimately define its role in the field of urologic surgery, and subsequently, its application for the pyeloplasty procedure.
Invasive fungal infections in acute leukemia
Authors: Bhatt Vijaya R. , Viola George M. , Ferrajoli Alessandra
Published: June 2011

Invasive fungal infection (IFI) is among the leading causes for morbidity, mortality, and economic burden for patients with acute leukemia. In the past few decades, the incidence of IFI has increased dramatically. The certainty of diagnosis of IFI is based on host factors, clinical evidence, and microbiological examination. Advancement in molecular diagnostic modalities (e.g. non-culture-based serum biomarkers such as β-glucan or galactomannan assays) and high-resolution radiological imaging has improved our diagnostic approach. The early use of these diagnostic tests assists in the early initiation of preemptive therapy. Nonetheless, the complexity of IFI in patients with leukemia and the limitations of these diagnostic tools still mandate astute clinical acumen. Its management has been further complicated by the increasing frequency of infection by non- Aspergillus molds (e.g. zygomycosis) and the emergence of drug-resistant fungal pathogens. In addition, even though the antifungal armamentarium has expanded rapidly in the past few decades, the associated mortality remains high. The decision to initiate antifungal treatment and the choice of antifungal therapy requires careful consideration of several factors (e.g. risk stratification, local fungal epidemiologic patterns, concomitant comorbidities, drug–drug interactions, prior history of antifungal use, overall cost, and the pharmacologic profile of the antifungal agents). In order to optimize our diagnostic and therapeutic management of IFI in patients with acute leukemia, further basic research and clinical trials are desperately needed.
Non-linear adaptive controller with a variable adaptation rate for a simulated model of an electrohydraulic actuator
Authors: Yue M , Sun W
Published: June 2011

An adaptive control method is presented for a single-rod electrohydraulic system with a heavy load force acting on the cylinder piston. Previous adaptive control approaches always used adaptation law to estimate the system parametric uncertainties. However, in a practical hydraulic thrust system with a heavy resistant load force, the system parametric uncertainties can be neglected with respect to the greater load force. The objective of the paper is to present a non-linear adaptive controller with adaptation laws to track the changeable load force automatically. The main feature of the scheme is that an exponential-form function has been introduced to construct an invariable convergence rate of the adaptive controller, by which the conflicting system performances could be satisfied harmonically. The simulation results for an electrohydraulic actuator show that the non-linear control algorithm, together with the variable adaptation scheme, achieves a good synthetic performance in keeping the cylinder thrusting in a smooth and optimal energy-saving operating state.
Effect of low temperature exposure on impact characteristics of epoxy bonded high strength steels
Authors: Zhao H , Ma X , Cai Z , Wang P C
Published: June 2011

In the development of vehicle structures, the proper selection of adhesives to bond the steels is important for safety of operation. In this study, toughened epoxy was tested for the ability to bond steels developed for low temperature use. Lap shear bonded DP600 and DP780 steel joints were prepared and tested in open air at ambient temperature and inside an environmental chamber at −40°C respectively using a split Hopkinson tensile bar machine. The impact properties of bulk adhesive at −40°C were also measured. It was found that the exposure of joints to a −40°C environment had little influence on impact strength and energy absorption. Scanning electron microscopy of fracture surfaces indicates differences in fracture paths and interfacial regions for the −40°C exposed specimens. Changes in the interphase region caused by low temperature exposure may contribute to an increased susceptibility of the adhesive joint to bond degradation.
Measuring the process efficiency of controlled gas metal arc welding processes
Authors: Pépe N , Egerland S , Colegrove P A , Yapp D , Leonhartsberger A , Scotti A
Published: June 2011

The thermal or process efficiency in gas metal arc welding (GMAW) is a crucial input to numerical models of the process and requires the use of an accurate welding calorimeter. In this paper, the authors compare a liquid nitrogen calorimeter with an insulated box calorimeter for measuring the process efficiency of Fronius cold metal transfer, Lincoln surface tension transfer and RapidArc, Kemppi FastRoot and standard pulsed GMAW. All of the controlled dip transfer processes had a process efficiency of ∼85% when measured with the liquid nitrogen calorimeter. This value was slightly higher when welding in a groove and slightly lower for the RapidArc and pulsed GMAW. The efficiency measured with the insulated box calorimeter was slightly lower, but it had the advantage of a much smaller random error.
Quality improvement in resistance spot weld of advanced high strength steel using external magnetic field
Authors: Li Y B , Shen Q , Lin Z Q , Hu S J
Published: June 2011

Electromagnetic stirring method has been used in casting and arc welding processes to refine crystal grains. In this paper, the authors describe an experiment where an external magnetic field (EMF) produced by a pair of permanent magnets was used to study the effect of electromagnetic stirring on resistance spot welding of advanced high strength steel DP780. Experimental results show that under the same welding current, the EMF could refine the crystal grains, increase the weld nugget diameter, reduce the risk of shrinkage cavities and significantly improve the joint's tensile–shear strength and ductility. However, when the welds with and without the EMF were compared under the same weld diameter, because of the greatly reduced nugget thickness, the tensile–shear strength of the weld made under the EMF is a little bit lower than the normal weld.
Nordgauite, MnAl2(PO4)2(F,OH)2·5H2O, a new mineral from the Hagendorf-Süd pegmatite, Bavaria, Germany: description and crystal structure
Authors: Birch W. D. , Grey I. E. , Mills S. J. , Pring A. , Bougerol C. , Ribaldi-Tunnicliffe A. , Wilson N. C. , Keck E.
Published: June 2011

Nordgauite, MnAl2(PO4)2(F,OH)2·5H2O, is a new secondary phosphate from the Hagendorf-Süd pegmatite, Bavaria, Germany. It occurs as white to off-white compact waxy nodules and soft fibrous aggregates a few millimetres across in altered zwieselite—triplite. Individual crystals are tabular prismatic, up to 200 μ long and 10 μ wide. Associated minerals include fluorapatite, sphalerite, uraninite, a columbite—tantalite phase, metastrengite, several unnamed members of the whiteite—jahnsite family, and a new analogue of kingsmountite. The fine-grained nature of nordgauite meant that only limited physical and optical properties could be obtained; streak is white; fracture, cleavage and twinning cannot be discerned. Dmeas. and Dcaic. are 2.35 and 2.46 g cm–3, respectively; the average RI is n = 1.57; the Gladstone-Dale compatibility is —0.050 (good). Electron microprobe analysis gives (wt.%): CaO 0.96. MgO 0.12, MnO 14.29, FeO 0.60, ZnO 0.24, A12O3 22.84, P2O5 31.62, F 5.13 and H2O 22.86 (by CHNX less F=O 2.16, total 96.50. The corresponding empirical formula is (Mn0.90Ca0.08Fe0.04Zn0.01Mg0.01)-Σi.04Ai2.0i(PO4)2[F1.21,(OH)0.90]Σ2.11·5.25H2O. Nordgauite is triclinic, space group P1̄, with the unit-cell parameters: a = 9.920(4), b = 9.933(3), c = 6.087(2) Å, α = 92.19(3), β = 100.04(3), γ = 97.61(3)°, V = 584.2(9) Å3 and Z = 2. The strongest lines in the XRD powder pattern are [d in Å (I) (hkl)] 9.806 (100)(010), 7.432 (40)(l1̄0), 4.119 (20)(210), 2.951 (16)(031), 4.596 (12)(21̄O), 3.225 (12)(220) and 3.215 (12)(121). The structure of nordgauite was solved using synchrotron XRD data collected on a 60 μm × 3 μm × 4 μm needle and refined to R1 = 0.0427 for 2374 observed reflections with F > 4σ(F). Although nordgauite shows stoichiometric similarities to mangangordonite and kastningite, its structure is more closely related to those of vauxite and montgomeryite in containing zig-zag strings of corner-connected Al-centred octahedra along [011], where the shared corners are alternately in cis and trans configuration. These chains link through corner-sharing with PO4 tetrahedra along [001] to form (100) slabs that are interconnected via edge-shared dimers of MnO6 polyhedra and other PO4 tetrahedra.
A LA-ICP-MS sulphide calibration standard based on a chalcogenide glass
Authors: Ding Lihua , Yang Guang , Xia Fang , Lenehan Claire E. , Qian Gujie , McFadden Aoife , Brugger Joël , Zhang Xianghua , Chen Guorong , Pring Allan
Published: June 2011

The accurate measurement of trace element concentrations in natural sulphides by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) has been limited by the lack of matrix-matched calibration standards. The synthesis of a standard, IMER-1, by incorporating four minor and 34 trace elements into a chalcogenide glass matrix Ge28Sb12S60is reported here. Chemical analysis by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), LA-ICP-MS, solution ICP-MS, and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) confirmed the excellent homogeneity of major elements (1-σ relative standard deviation (RSD) <1% for S, Sb and Ge) and acceptable homogeneity of most trace elements (1-σ RSD <10%). The standard was validated by analysing trace-elements concentrations in three geological pyrite specimens using IMER-1 as the calibration standard and comparing the results to previously reported values also determined by LA-ICP-MS but using a different calibration standard. STDGL2b-2. The results suggest that IMER-1 may be an appropriate calibration standard for LA-ICP-MS analysis of trace elements in natural sulphides.
Iangreyite: a new secondary phosphate mineral closely related to perhamite
Authors: Mills S. J. , Kampf A. R. , Sejkora J. , Adams P. M. , Birch W. D. , Plášil J.
Published: June 2011

Iangreyite, ideally Ca2Al7(PO4)2(PO3OH)2(OH,F)15·8H2O, is a new mineral (IMA2009-087) from the Silver Coin mine, Nevada, USA and the Krásno ore district, Horní Slavkov, Czech Republic. At Silver Coin, iangreyite occurs as thin, colourless to white or cream, hexagonal tablets up to 0.4 mm in diameter and 0.02 mm thick associated with meurigite-Na, plumbogummite, kidwellite, lipscombite. strengite, chalcosiderite, wardite, leucophosphite, wavellite, goethite, barite, quartz and F-rich perhamite. At Krásno, white, yellowish or light pink iangreyite coatings consist of 0.3 mm wide clusters of minute and very thin intergrown tabular crystals with a maximum diameter of 0.2 mm. Individual iangreyite crystals are transparent with a vitreous lustre, while iangreyite clusters tend to be pearly and translucent. The estimated hardness is 3 on the Mohs scale, the fracture is irregular and the mineral is non-fluorescent under SW and LW ultraviolet light. Individual crystals are somewhat flexible and there is perfect cleavage on ﹛001﹜. The density (Silver Coin), measured by the sink-float method in an aqueous solution of sodium polytungstate, is 2.46(3) g/cm3, while the calculated density is 2.451 g/cm3. Crystals from Silver Coin are uniaxial (+), with the indices of refraction: ε = 1.544(2) and s = 1.554(2), measured in white light, and are non-pleochroic. The empirical formula for iangreyite from Silver Coin (calculated on the basis of 39 anions per formula unit) is: Ca1.42K0.22Na0.09Ba0.03 Sr0.01Al6.51Mg0.09Fe0.02Cu0.01Zn0.01P3.81F5.24H30.21O33.76, while the empirical formula from Krásno is: Ca2.15K0.10Na0.01Ba0.02Sr0.12Al6.28Mg0.01Fe0.12Cu0.08Zn0.01P3.64Si0.43F4.65H29.62O34.35. Iangreyite is trigonal, space group P321 and Z = 1, with the unit-cell parameters (Silver Coin): a = 6.988(1), c = 16.707(3) Å and V= 706.5(2) Å3 and (Krasno): a = 6.989(1), c = 16.782(4) Å and V = 709.8(2) Å3. The structure of iangreyite, modelled from powder data, consists of blocks of the crandallite-type structure that are interconnected along c via corner-sharing of crandallite-block PO4 tetrahedra with A1O2(OH)3 bipyramids. This linkage generates large channels along [110] bounded by 10-member rings of octahedra, tetrahedra and trigonal biyramids, that are occupied by Ca and water molecules.
The crystal structure of Pb5(As3+O3)Cl7from the historic slags of Lavrion, Greece – a novel Pb(II) chloride arsenite
Authors: Siidra O. I. , Krivovichev S. V. , Chukanov N. V. , Pekov I. V. , Magganas A. , Katerinopoulos A. , Voudouris P.
Published: June 2011

The crystal structure of new lead chloride arsenite, Pb5(As3+O3)Cl7[orthorhombic,Pbcn, a =16.894(2),b =10.913 (1),c =16.760(2) Å,V =3090.1(7) Å3], from the historic slags of Lavrion, Greece, has been solved by direct methods and refined toR1= 0.069. The structure contains five symmetrically unique Pb, one As, eight Cl and three O sites. The As atom forms three nearly equal As—O bonds which result in the formation of an AsO3trigonal pyramid with As at the apex. The Pbl. Pb2, Pb3 and Pb4 atoms are bonded to the AsO3groupsviaPb2+—O bonds to form complex [Pb4(AsO3)] chains parallel to thebaxis. The Pb(5) atom is coordinated solely by Cl–anions. The resulting Pb(5)Cl7polyhedra share common edges and corners to produce bent chains parallel to thecaxis. A short compilation of structural features of known lead chloride arsenites is given.
Iron speciation using electron microprobe techniques: application to glassy melt pockets within a spinel lherzolite xenolith
Authors: Fialin M. , Wagner C. , Pascal M.-L.
Published: June 2011

A quantitative determination of Fe3+/ΣFe ratios using the electron microprobe is presented for glasses. The measurements are based on the shift of the Fe-Lα peak position between Fe3+ and Fe2+, resulting from differences in self-absorption. We present new calibration curves for glasses with Fe contents as low as 2 wt.% Fe.

This method was used for glasses from a metasomatized spinel Iherzolite (Massif Central, France) in which highly vesicular glass associated with secondary minerals occurs in reaction pockets around corroded Cr-spinels. The glass was found to be oxidized homogeneously with Fe3+/ΣFe ≈ 0.70 (measured with an uncertainty of ±0.06), in contrast with the value of ∼0.15 that would correspond to the former melt under fo2 conditions inferred from secondary minerals. The glass oxidation probably results from the dissociation of the melt-water content under degassing, prior to local hematite depositions (spinel rims and crack fillings).
Chlorine content and crystal chemistry of dellaite from the Birkhin gabbro massif, Eastern Siberia, Russia
Authors: Armbruster T. , Lazic B. , Gfeller F. , Galuskin E. V. , Galuskina I. O. , Savelyeva V. B. , Zadov A. E. , Pertsev N. N. , Dzierżanowski P.
Published: June 2011

Dellaite crystals of close to end-member composition, Ca6(Si2O7)(SiO4)(OH)2, and with ∼1.5 wt.% Cl. yielding Ca6(Si2O7)(SiO4)(OH)1.75Cl0.25 have been found in skarns within the gabbroid rocks of the Birkhin complex (Eastern Siberia, Russia). The greatest Cl content analysed in a dellaite domain in this skarn is 5.2 wt.% Cl corresponding to 0.8 Cl p.f.u. Dellaite occurs in altered merwmite-larnite-bredigite-gehlenite skarns and also in calcio-olivine skarns with residual larnite. The crystal structures of Cl-free and Cl-bearing (∼1.5 wt.% Cl) dellaite have been refined, including hydrogen positions, from single-crystal X-ray data to R1 = 3.7 and 3.8%, respectively. In addition, both dellaite varieties were studied by Raman spectroscopy indicating stronger hydrogen bonds for the Cl-bearing sample, which agrees with the structural data. Cl is strongly selective and enriches at one (O6) of the two OH positions allowing for the formation of a stronger hydrogen bond O8—H8…C16 compared to O8—H8…O6. Raman spectra of the domain with ∼0.8 Cl p.f.u. confirm the general enhancement of a low-frequency band in the OH range suggesting the dominance of the O—H…Cl hydrogen bond systems.

Dellaite and killalaite, Ca3.2(H0.6Si2O7)(OH), have related modular structures, differentiated only by the Si2O7 units in killalaite and alternating Si2O7 and SiO4 units in dellaite. The similarity in cell dimensions and chemical composition suggests that trabzonite, Ca4Si3Oi0-2H2O, with Si3Oi0 trimers also belongs to the same family of structures.
Protein alignment algorithms with an efficient backtracking routine on multiple GPUs
Authors: Blazewicz Jacek , Frohmberg Wojciech , Kierzynka Michal , Pesch Erwin , Wojciechowski Pawel
Published: June 2011

Background

Pairwise sequence alignment methods are widely used in biological research. The increasing number of sequences is perceived as one of the upcoming challenges for sequence alignment methods in the nearest future. To overcome this challenge several GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) computing approaches have been proposed lately. These solutions show a great potential of a GPU platform but in most cases address the problem of sequence database scanning and computing only the alignment score whereas the alignment itself is omitted. Thus, the need arose to implement the global and semiglobal Needleman-Wunsch, and Smith-Waterman algorithms with a backtracking procedure which is needed to construct the alignment.

Results

In this paper we present the solution that performs the alignment of every given sequence pair, which is a required step for progressive multiple sequence alignment methods, as well as for DNA recognition at the DNA assembly stage. Performed tests show that the implementation, with performance up to 6.3 GCUPS on a single GPU for affine gap penalties, is very efficient in comparison to other CPU and GPU-based solutions. Moreover, multiple GPUs support with load balancing makes the application very scalable.

Conclusions

The article shows that the backtracking procedure of the sequence alignment algorithms may be designed to fit in with the GPU architecture. Therefore, our algorithm, apart from scores, is able to compute pairwise alignments. This opens a wide range of new possibilities, allowing other methods from the area of molecular biology to take advantage of the new computational architecture. Performed tests show that the efficiency of the implementation is excellent. Moreover, the speed of our GPU-based algorithms can be almost linearly increased when using more than one graphics card.
A multiplex real-time PCR assay targeting virulence and resistance genes in Salmonella entericaserotype Typhimurium
Authors: Bugarel Marie , Granier Sophie A , Weill François-Xavier , Fach Patrick , Brisabois Anne
Published: June 2011

Background

Typhimurium is the main serotype of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica implicated in food-borne diseases worldwide. This study aimed to detect the prevalence of ten markers combined in a macro-array based on multiplex real-time PCR. We targeted characteristic determinants located on pathogenicity islands (SPI-2 to -5, virulence plasmid pSLT and Salmonella genomic island 1 (SGI1)) as well as a specific 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer sequence of definitive type 104 (DT104). To investigate antimicrobial resistance, the study also targeted the presence of genes involved in sulfonamide (sul1) and beta-lactam (bla
TEM) resistance. Finally, the intI1 determinant encoding integrase from class 1 integron was also investigated.

Results

A total of 538 unrelated S. Typhimurium strains isolated between 1999 and 2009 from various sources, including food animals, food products, human and environmental samples were studied. Based on the combined presence or absence of these markers, we distinguished 34 different genotypes, including three major genotypes encountered in 75% of the studied strains, Although SPI determinants were almost always detected, SGI1, intI1, sul1 and bla
TEM determinants were found 47%, 52%, 54% and 12% of the time respectively, varying according to isolation source. Low-marker patterns were most often detected in poultry sources whereas full-marker patterns were observed in pig, cattle and human sources.

Conclusion

The GeneDisc® assay developed in this study madeit easier to explore variability within serotype Typhimurium by analyzing ten relevant gene determinants in a large collection of strains. This real-time multiplex method constitutes a valuable tool for strains characterization on epidemiological purposes.
Agreement between pedometer and accelerometer in measuring physical activity in overweight and obese pregnant women
Authors: Kinnunen Tarja I , Tennant Peter WG , McParlin Catherine , Poston Lucilla , Robson Stephen C , Bell Ruth
Published: June 2011

Background

Inexpensive, reliable objective methods are needed to measure physical activity (PA) in large scale trials. This study compared the number of pedometer step counts with accelerometer data in pregnant women in free-living conditions to assess agreement between these measures.

Methods

Pregnant women (n = 58) with body mass index ≥25 kg/m2 at median 13 weeks' gestation wore a GT1M Actigraph accelerometer and a Yamax Digi-Walker CW-701 pedometer for four consecutive days. The Spearman rank correlation coefficients were determined between pedometer step counts and various accelerometer measures of PA. Total agreement between accelerometer and pedometer step counts was evaluated by determining the 95% limits of agreement estimated using a regression-based method. Agreement between the monitors in categorising participants as active or inactive was assessed by determining Kappa.

Results

Pedometer step counts correlated moderately (r = 0.36 to 0.54) with most accelerometer measures of PA. Overall step counts recorded by the pedometer and the accelerometer were not significantly different (medians 5961 vs. 5687 steps/day, p = 0.37). However, the 95% limits of agreement ranged from -2690 to 2656 steps/day for the mean step count value (6026 steps/day) and changed substantially over the range of values. Agreement between the monitors in categorising participants to active and inactive varied from moderate to good depending on the criteria adopted.

Conclusions

Despite statistically significant correlations and similar median step counts, the overall agreement between pedometer and accelerometer step counts was poor and varied with activity level. Pedometer and accelerometer steps cannot be used interchangeably in overweight and obese pregnant women.
Involvement of gut microbial fermentation in the metabolic alterations occurring in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids-depleted mice
Authors: Pachikian Barbara D , Neyrinck Audrey M , Portois Laurence , De Backer Fabienne C , Sohet Florence M , Hacquebard Myrjam , Carpentier Yvon A , Cani Patrice D , Delzenne Nathalie M
Published: June 2011

Backround

Western diet is characterized by an insufficient n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) consumption which is known to promote the pathogenesis of several diseases. We have previously observed that mice fed with a diet poor in n-3 PUFA for two generations exhibit hepatic steatosis together with a decrease in body weight. The gut microbiota contributes to the regulation of host energy metabolism, due to symbiotic relationship with fermentable nutrients provided in the diet. In this study, we have tested the hypothesis that perturbations of the gut microbiota contribute to the metabolic alterations occurring in mice fed a diet poor in n-3 PUFA for two generations (n-3/- mice).

Methods

C57Bl/6J mice fed with a control or an n-3 PUFA depleted diet for two generations were supplemented with prebiotic (inulin-type Fructooligosaccharides, FOS, 0.20 g/day/mice) during 24 days.

Results

n-3/-mice exhibited a marked drop in caecum weight, a decrease in lactobacilli and an increase in bifidobacteria in the caecal content as compared to control mice (n-3/+ mice). Dietary supplementation with FOS for 24 days was sufficient to increase caecal weight and bifidobacteria count in both n-3/+ and n-3/-mice. Moreover, FOS increased lactobacilli content in n-3/-mice, whereas it decreased their level in n-3/+ mice. Interestingly, FOS treatment promoted body weight gain in n-3/-mice by increasing energy efficiency. In addition, FOS treatment decreased fasting glycemia and lowered the higher expression of key factors involved in the fatty acid catabolism observed in the liver of n-3/-mice, without lessening steatosis.

Conclusions

the changes in the gut microbiota composition induced by FOS are different depending on the type of diet. We show that FOS may promote lactobacilli and counteract the catabolic status induced by n-3 PUFA depletion in mice, thereby contributing to restore efficient fat storage.
Survey on medicinal plants and spices used in Beni-Sueif, Upper Egypt
Authors: AbouZid Sameh F , Mohamed Abdelhalim A
Published: June 2011

Background

This study was conducted to identify medicinal plants and spices used for medicine by the community of Beni-Sueif, Upper Egypt.

Methods

Ethnobotanical data from local people was collected using direct interviews and a semi-structured questionnaire.

Results

Forty-eight plant species belonging to twenty-seven families and forty-seven genera were encountered during the study. Their botanical and vernacular names, plant parts used and medicinal uses are given. Results of the study were analyzed using two quantitative tools. The factor informant consensus indicated the agreement in the use of plants and the fidelity level indicated the ratio between the number of informants who independently suggested the use of a species for the same major purpose and the total number of informants who mentioned the plant for any use. The results of the factor informant consensus showed that the cardiovascular category has the greatest agreement, followed by the immunological, gastrointestinal and respiratory categories. The most important species according to their fidelity are: Hibiscus sabdariffa L. for the cardiovascular category; Trigonella foenum-graecum L. for the immunological category; Mentha piperita L. for the gastrointestinal category and Pimpinella anisum L. for the respiratory category.

Conclusions

Medicinal plants are still used for treatment in Beni-Sueif community despite the availability of prescribed medications. Documentation of this ethnomedicinal knowledge is important. Evaluation of pharmacological activity for the promising medicinal plants is suggested.