bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantification of the Feedback between Phytoplankton and ENSO in the Community Climate System Model
Authors: Jochum Markus , Yeager Steve , Lindsay Keith , Moore Keith , Murtugudde Ragu
Published: February 2010

The current coarse-resolution version of the Community Climate System Model is used to assess the impact of phytoplankton on El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The experimental setup allows for the separation of the effects of climatological annual cycle of chlorophyll distribution from its interannually varying part. The main finding is that the chlorophyll production by phytoplankton is important beyond modifying the mean and seasonal cycle of shortwave absorption; interannual modifications to the absorption have an impact as well, and they dampen ENSO variability by 9%. The magnitude of damping is the same in the experiment with smaller-than-observed, and in the experiment with larger-than-observed, chlorophyll distribution. This result suggests that to accurately represent ENSO in GCMs, it is not sufficient to use a prescribed chlorophyll climatology. Instead, some form of an ecosystem model will be necessary to capture the effects of phytoplankton coupling and feedback.
Framing Globalization and Work: A Research Agenda
Authors: Murray Gregor
Published: February 2010

Drawing on vignettes of the contested nature of change at work in a context of globalization, this article presents four contending narratives of this relationship. It argues that such frames open up or close down the possibility for actors to envisage the evolution of work and employment. The first two (overdetermined convergence and the crisis of capitalism) limit our understanding of important features of the processes underway. A third (balancing the economic and the social) opens up more space for varied outcomes and social choices, but is faulted for its problematical assumptions about social engineering and institutional trade-offs. A fourth frame focused on actor capacity and power offers the most interesting analytical avenues for the development of research. Four consequences are envisaged for the development of a research agenda: first, a focus on four types of fault line of deep societal change (internationalization of economic relations, the reorganization of production, the gender contract and decent, socially useful and healthy work) and the intersections of these fault lines; second, identifying and tracking the articulations and hierarchies between sources and sites of social regulation; third, studying the decline and revitalization of existing actors and the emergence of new actors and their capacities and power; finally, making research on work and employment matter through values, a proximity to social actors and a normative dialogue with change.
Daggy Shirts, Daggy Slogans? Marketing Unions to Young People
Authors: Bailey Janis , Price Robin , Esders Lin , McDonald Paula
Published: February 2010

In light of declining trade union density, specifically among young workers, this article explores how trade unions recruit, service and organize young people. Our focus is the way in which trade unions market their services to the young. We use, as a lens of analysis, the services and social marketing literature and the concept of an ‘unsought, experience good’ to explore trade union strategy. Based on interviews with a number of union officials in the state of Queensland, it is clear that unions see the issue of recruitment of young people as significant, and that innovative strategies are being used in at least some unions. However, the research also indicates that despite union awareness, strategies are uneven and resource allocation is patchy. While the research was carried out in one state, the results and conclusion are broadly applicable to the Australian labour movement as a whole, and have implications for union movements in other Anglophone countries.
‘Anomalies’, Damned ‘Anomalies’ and Statistics: Construction Industry Productivity in Australia
Authors: Allan Cameron , Dungan Andrew , Peetz David
Published: February 2010

The exercise by an Australian state agency of coercive powers against construction industry workers has been justified by reference to claimed gains in productivity and hence national welfare. Yet the literature suggests that a more cooperative approach to union—management relations would offer better opportunities for productivity improvement. This article examines the data behind the productivity claims and finds that they were erroneous, probably due to incorrect transcription, and that the source data indicated no relative productivity gains against the identified benchmark. Despite being made aware of this, the state agency and its consultant maintained the original claims about the size of productivity and welfare gains from the use of coercive powers. Official cross-industry and time series data also showed no productivity gains arising from the use of coercive powers. However, there is some evidence that there has been a shift of income shares in the industry from labour to capital. The findings have implications for understanding the role of commissioned studies in public debate, and for regulation of the construction industry.
A Typology of Employee Explanations of Misbehaviour: An Analysis of Unfair Dismissal Cases
Authors: Southey Kim
Published: February 2010

This article investigates an aspect of employee misbehaviour research that has received limited attention: the explanations employees provide for their behaviour. In Australia, employees dismissed for inappropriate behaviour may be able to pursue an unfair dismissal claim. To progress our understanding of employee misbehaviour, this research examines the explanations that employees provide to defend their behaviour at unfair dismissal hearings before the Australian Industrial Relations Commission. In this investigation, organizational behaviour theories of cognitive dissonance and organizational justice, and criminal sociology theory of neutralization, underpin the contention that employees’ explanations of their behaviour may reflect rationalizations of their behaviour that may differ from actual events. This article presents the ‘employee explanation model’, a conceptual framework categorizing the range of rationale employees provide to their employer. The model identifies three domains of rationalization: workplace related; personal-inside; and personal-outside. These domains may or may not operate independently, with mutual occurrence demanding the employer interpret and manage a ‘conflated’ rationale. This model further develops the description of organizational misbehaviour contained in Vardi and Weitz’s (2004) general framework.
Immigration and Socio-spatial Segregation in Dublin, 1996-2006
Authors: Fahey Tony , Fanning Bryan
Published: February 2010

Previous research on the impact of immigration on urban socio-spatial inequalities has focused on cities with long immigration histories where successive waves of new arrivals impacted on segregation patterns established by preceding waves, usually in a context where immigrants in each wave were poor and had low education. This paper focuses on Dublin as an example of a city where immigration is new and recent, is dominated by the well educated and occurs against a backdrop of a mono-ethnic existing population. In that context, it examines the impact of immigrant settlement patterns on socio-spatial inequalities in the city in the years 1996—2006, a period of economic boom. It finds that, while immigrants in Dublin were segregated to a certain degree, with a slight tendency to cluster in disadvantaged areas, clustering provided a small element of social lift to disadvantaged areas and generally contributed to a significant reduction in socio-spatial inequalities that occurred in the city in the period.
Growth and Change in Human Capital across the Canadian Urban Hierarchy, 1996—2001
Authors: Brown W. Mark , Newbold K. Bruce , Beckstead Desmond
Published: February 2010

University degree holders in large cities are more prevalent and are growing at a more rapid pace than in smaller cities and rural areas. This relatively high rate of growth stems from net migratory flows and/or higher rates of degree attainment in large cities. Using data from the 1996 and 2001 Canadian censuses, this paper tests the relative importance of these two sources of human capital growth by decomposing degree-holder growth across cities into net migratory flows (domestic and foreign) and in situ growth: that is, growth resulting from higher rates of degree attainment among the resident populations of cities. It is found that both sources are important. Hence, it is the ability of cities both to attract and to generate degree holders that underlies the high rates of degree attainment observed across city populations.
Spatial Implications of New Dynamics in Production Organisation: The Case of the Automotive Industry in the Basque Country
Authors: Bilbao-Ubillos Javier
Published: February 2010

This paper sets out to determine whether proximity constraints are more significant in new forms of production organisation in the automotive industry. An analysis is made of the extent to which new organisational technologies condition the internationalisation strategies of firms, with particular reference to whether geographical proximity requirements may condition the development of the automotive industry in the institutional and productive context of an intermediate region (such as the Basque Country) at risk from potential relocation towards central and eastern European countries (CEECs). The results derived from field work indicate that proximity constraints are not significant in the organisational configuration of the Basque automotive industry except in highly specific cases, thanks to the availability of solutions such as temporary agglomerations, new communication technologies and logistical systems.
Manchester’s Film and Television Industry: Project Ecologies and Network Hierarchies
Authors: Johns Jennifer
Published: February 2010

This paper presents a film and television production system theoretically framed using a network approach. The organisation and geographies of production are examined using the notion of project ecologies to incorporate non-firm actors including freelance individuals. Empirical findings from quantitative and qualitative data collection in Manchester are used to illustrate different hierarchical networks within and between production stages. The paper argues that inherent multiscalar network inequalities impact on the capacity for the film and television industry in Manchester to secure financing and distribution, and on the organisational logics of production.
‘Urban Transformation’ as State-led Property Transfer: An Analysis of Two Cases of Urban Renewal in Istanbul
Authors: Kuyucu Tuna , Ünsal Özlem
Published: February 2010

Since 2001, there has been a radical shift in the governance of urban land and housing markets in Turkey from a ‘populist’ to a ‘neo-liberal’ mode. Large ‘urban transformation projects’ (UTPs) are the main mechanisms through which a neo-liberal system is instituted in incompletely commodified urban areas. By analysing two UTPs implemented in an informal housing zone and an inner-city slum in Istanbul, the paper discusses the motivations behind, the socioeconomic consequences of and grassroots resistance movements to the new urban regime. The analysis shows that the UTPs predominantly aim at physical and demographic upgrading of their respective areas rather than improving the living conditions of existing inhabitants, thus instigating a process of property transfer and displacement. It also demonstrates that the property/ tenure structure of an area plays the most important role in determining the form and effectiveness of grassroots movements against the UTPs.
Impact of Land Use Regulations: Evidence from India’s Cities
Authors: Kala Seetharam Sridhar
Published: February 2010

India’s cities are characterised by strong land use controls, but their impacts on city growth and the urban poor have drawn little attention. This paper deals with strong land use regulations prevalent in India’s cities, which have negative impacts on urban form, the consumption of floor space and affordable housing. The impact of land use controls, such as floor area ratio and urban land ceiling, on suburbanisation in India is studied using standard econometric techniques. It is found that population suburbanises in response to a relaxation of floor area ratio norms in the suburbs. However, land use controls have no impact on the suburbanisation of jobs in India’s cities. The paper concludes by summarising policy implications of the research.
Evolving Residential and Employment Locations and Patterns of Commuting under Hyper Growth: The Case of Guangzhou, China
Authors: Li Si-ming
Published: February 2010

Chinese cities have experienced rapid growth and restructuring in recent times. This paper examines the evolving residential and employment locations and the changes in the patterns of commuting in Guangzhou, China. Tabulations derived from household surveys conducted in 2001 and 2005 show rapid suburbanisation of both residence and employment. Intrazone traffic today dominates the commuting scene in both the central core and the suburbs. The mean commute distance and mean commute time have increased, but the increases are quite modest. Estimation of residential and employment density gradients reveals differential decentralisation of different population groups. Multivariate analysis indicates that commute distance generally increases with income and occupational status. Males in Guangzhou used to have appreciably shorter commutes than females; but the difference has decreased in recent years, suggesting convergence in commuting behaviour between the Chinese and Western cases.
Attitudes Toward Dating Violence Among Jewish and Arab Youth in Israel
Authors: Sherer Moshe
Published: February 2010

The objectives of this research were to assess the attitudes toward dating violence among Jewish and Arab male and female adolescents in Israel. The random sample consisted of 1,357 participants from among 9th to 12th grade pupils enrolled in eight Arab and eight Jewish junior and senior high schools. The study assessed attitudes toward psychological dating violence, physical dating violence, and sexual dating violence. Although Israeli youths in general reported supportive attitudes toward dating violence, Jewish participants’ attitudes reflect lower endorsement of dating violence than Arab participants’. On all three dating violence measures, females reported less endorsement of dating violence than males. The discussion focuses on explanations for the differences between the two national groups and genders and presents the theoretical and practical implications of the study.
Risk and Resilience: The Ordinary and Extraordinary Everyday Lives of Young People Living in a High Crime Area
Authors: Haw Kaye
Published: February 2010

The article draws on research carried out with groups of young people living in one of the highest crime areas in the United Kingdom, Urbanfields, as they made videos reflecting aspects of their lives. One of the main aims of the research was to add an alternative voice to existing work on risk and resilience by focusing on the social processes involved in their construction of risk. Their work revealed the substantial role of strongly held local cultural beliefs or myths in their perception of Urbanfields and the relevance of emotions as they negotiated risk in their daily lives. Through an analytical framework using mythcourse rather than discourse and one that acknowledges the importance of locality and local social relationships, the article examines the contradictions presented to the participants in their ordinary and extraordinary lives. In doing so, it presents a fuller account of their agency to critique current risk factor models.
An Integrated Framework for the Analysis of Adolescent Cigarette Smoking in Middle School Latino Youth
Authors: Guilamo-Ramos Vincent , Dittus Patricia , Holloway Ian , Bouris Alida , Crossett Linda
Published: February 2010

A framework based on five major theories of health behavior was used to identify the correlates of adolescent cigarette smoking. The framework emphasizes intentions to smoke cigarettes, factors that influence these intentions, and factors that moderate the intention—behavior relationship. Five hundred sixteen randomly selected Latino middle school youth in New York completed self-administered questionnaires. Adolescents reported their intentions to smoke, smoking-related expectancies, normative pressures to smoke, image implications of smoking, emotional reactions to smoking, and self-efficacy with respect to smoking. The framework yielded high levels of association with intentions to smoke. Specific smoking-related emotions, norms, and expectancies were associated with the likelihood of smoking. The framework can help guide the development of effective interventions tailored to specific populations.
Job Satisfaction Among Psychologists Working in State Prisons
Authors: MacKain Sally J. , Myers Bryan , Ostapiej Lara , Newman R. Arne
Published: February 2010

There is growing demand for psychologists to work in correctional settings, and high vacancy rates indicate that efforts are needed to attract and retain employees. Job satisfaction has been associated with a variety of work-related outcomes such as productivity and turnover. In this study, 73 master’s- and doctoral-level psychologists working in one state prison system responded to a job satisfaction survey based on one developed by Boothby and Clements (2002). Respondents rated their overall job satisfaction along with satisfaction of 18 individual job facets. Three general facets, (a) economics, (b) perceived organizational support, and (c) interpersonal relationships, all significantly predicted overall job satisfaction scores. Ratings of facet importance did not moderate the relationship between facet satisfaction and overall satisfaction with employment as a prison psychologist. Suggestions for the future use of the scale in other correctional systems are outlined, including supplementing ratings with open-ended questions to better target setting-specific sources of discontent.
Women’s Risk Factors and Their Contributions to Existing Risk/Needs Assessment
Authors: Van Voorhis Patricia , Wright Emily M. , Salisbury Emily , Bauman Ashley
Published: February 2010

A growing body of scholarship faults existing risk/needs assessment models for neglecting the risk factors most relevant to women offenders. In response, a series of gender-responsive assessment models were tested for their contributions to widely used gender-neutral risk needs assessments. In six of eight samples studied, subsets of the gender-responsive scales achieved statistically significant contributions to gender-neutral models. Promising results were found for the following: (a) parental stress, family support, self-efficacy, educational assets, housing safety, anger/hostility, and current mental health factors in probation samples; (b) child abuse, anger/hostility, relationship dysfunction, family support, and current mental health factors among prisoners; and (c) adult victimization, anger/hostility, educational assets, and family support among released inmates. The predictive validity of gender-neutral assessments was strong in seven of eight samples studied. However, findings for both gender-neutral and gender-responsive domains suggested different treatment priorities for women from those currently put forward in correctional theory and policy.
Uniform verification of workflow soundness
Authors: Barkaoui Kamel , Ben Ayed Rahma
Published: February 2010

The development of work process-oriented applications in various domains leads to workflow systems where a large number of flow instances run concurrently. A challenging problem is to provide methods for the uniform verification of these parameterized workflows, ie, proving the soundness of the workflow for any number of instances. In this paper, we show the ability of structure theory of Petri nets to conduct a uniform verification for large subclasses of parameterized workflow nets modelling control flow patterns associated with complex synchronization mechanisms, routing constructs and resource allocation constraints. We can take advantage of these results in domains where collaborative activities and competition for resources are preponderant such as agile manufacturing systems, web service applications or grid computing.
Software architectural modelling and verification: a Petri net and temporal logic approach
Authors: Jiacun Wang  , Xianzhong Zhou  , Junhua Ding
Published: February 2010

Component-based software development has been well recognized as an effective methodology in software engineering. Components’ constraints play a critical role in high-quality software product development. In this paper we present a systematic approach for component-based software architectural modelling, constraints specification and consistency verification. In this approach, computational tree logic and Petri Nets are used as the underlying formalisms to describe software constraints and design compositions, respectively. System-wide constraints are decomposed to component constraints. The consistency between system-wide constraints and component constraints are verified purely on Petri net models after replacing black-box components with equivalent Petri nets while preserving component properties specified by the constraints. An example is used throughout the paper to illustrate the approach.
Stabilization and control of general unstable processes with large dead time
Authors: See Chek Lee  , Wang Qing-Guo , Wei Xing Zheng  , Sivakumaran N.
Published: February 2010

A control scheme is presented to achieve stabilization, satisfactory dynamic and steady-state control performance for a general unstable process with dead time, where the rational function part of the process could be of non-first order and the dead time of it larger than the upper bound for stabilization by PID control. The idea is to remove the stable lag part of the process by an internal model control-like compensation with intended preservation of internal stabilizability so that the compensated plant becomes a minimal order one with unstable poles only (the first order in most realistic cases) and its internal stabilization and effective control can be carried out much easier than that for the original process. The proposed scheme can thus overcome the limitations due to presence of stable lag terms inherent in almost any process on its stabilization and effective control. The design details of the proposed scheme are given, and its performance and robustness demonstrated through examples in comparison with the domain work.
Utility of saccadic eye movement analysis as an objective biomarker to detect the sedative interaction between opioids and sleep deprivation in opioid-naive and opioid-tolerant populations
Authors: Grace P M , Stanford T , Gentgall M , Rolan P E
Published: February 2010

Analysis of saccadic eye movements (SEMs) has previously been used to detect drug- and sleep-deprivation-induced sedation, but never in combination. We compared the effects of sleep deprivation and opioids on 10 opioid-naive with nine opioid-tolerant participants. The naive-participant study evaluated the effects of sleep deprivation alone, morphine alone and the combination; the tolerant-participant study compared day-to-day effects of alternate-daily-dosed buprenorphine and the combination of buprenorphine on the dosing day with sleep deprivation. Psychomotor impairment was measured using SEMs, a 5-minute pupil adaptation test (PAT), pupil light reflex (PLR) and alertness visual analogue scale (AVAS). The PAT and PLR did not detect sleep deprivation, in contrast to previous studies. Whilst consistently detecting sleep deprivation, the AVAS also detected buprenorphine in the tolerant study, but not morphine in the naive study. SEMs detected morphine alone and sleep deprivation alone as well as an additive interaction in the naive study and the effect of sleep deprivation in the tolerant study. The alternate-day buprenorphine dosing did not alter SEMs. The current study revealed greater SEMs, but not AVAS impairment in tolerant versus naive participants. The current study demonstrates that objective measures provide additional information to subjective measures and thus should be used in combination.
Further evidence supporting the influence of brain-derived neurotrophic factor on the outcome of bipolar depression: independent effect of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and harm avoidance
Authors: Mandelli Laura , Mazza Marianna , Martinotti Giovanni , Tavian Daniela , Colombo Elisa , Missaglia Sara , Di Nicola Marco , De Ronchi Diana , Negri Gloria , Colombo Roberto , Janiri Luigi , Serretti Alessandro
Published: February 2010

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is a candidate gene for response to antidepressant treatment. However, response to pharmacological treatments is moderated by both genetic and other factors within individuals. For example, there is evidence of an influence of the temperamental trait of harm avoidance on the outcome of depressive disorders. In the present study we aimed to investigate the effect of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene on medium-term outcome in a naturalistic sample of 86 depressed bipolar spectrum patients, taking into account harm avoidance.

Both single marker and haplotypes were significantly associated with severity of depression at month 6 after treatment initiation. The haplotype comprising the A-C alleles was associated with a poorer outcome. Harm avoidance maintained a significant effect on depressive outcome in bipolar disorder, independently from brain-derived neurotrophic factor genotypes. However, harm avoidance s influence appeared to be more consistent in patients carrying the protective G-T combination of alleles.

Our results indicate brain-derived neurotrophic factor as involved in the outcome of depression in bipolar disorder. Harm avoidance did not interact with brain-derived neurotrophic factor genotypes, though its effect was still significant. Given that many factors may influence response to pharmacological treatments, studies that consider personality and other individual characteristics are warranted also in pharmacogenetic investigations.
The long-term effectiveness of clozapine and lamotrigine in a patient with treatment-resistant rapid-cycling bipolar disorder
Authors: Bastiampillai TJ , Reid CE , Dhillon R.
Published: February 2010

The challenges in the management of treatment-resistant rapid-cycling bipolar disorder are multifaceted and represent a significant burden to the patient. There is a need for more exploration into the potential utility of various combination therapies in the setting of severe affective states. A 52-year-old woman with a history of severe treatment-resistant rapid-cycling bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) was hospitalized for the treatment of a severe mixed episode. The introduction of lamotrigine and clozapine in combination proved remarkably effective and well tolerated in both the acute management and in subsequent maintenance. The patient has remained asymptomatic during the 5-year follow-up without any further mood disturbance. Lamotrigine and clozapine are among the less-prescribed agents for BPAD and there is as yet little research into their use in combination. It is possible that these agents have complementary modes of action on various facets of the affective pathology, resulting in superior mood stabilization in this patient.
Desmopressin as a pharmacological tool in vasopressinergic hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis modulation: neuroendocrine, cardiovascular and coagulatory effects
Authors: Jacobs GE , Hulskotte EGJ , van Gerven JMA , Zuurman L , de Kam ML , Elassaiss-Schaap J , Ruigt G , van Pelt J , Peeters BWMM , Peeters PAM , Burggraaf J
Published: February 2010

Arginine-vasopressin (AVP) is a physiological co-activator of the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, together with corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH). A synthetic analogue of AVP, desmopressin (dDAVP), is often used as a pharmacological tool to assess co-activation in health and disease. The relation between dDAVP’s neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, pro-coagulatory, anti-diuretic and non-specific stress effects has not been studied. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, three-way crossover study was performed in 12 healthy male and female volunteers (6 : 6). dDAVP was administered intravenously as a 10 μg bolus (over 1 min) or a 30 μg incremental infusion (over 60 min). Neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, pro-coagulatory, anti-diuretic effects and adverse events (AEs) were recorded, and autonomic nervous system (ANS) activation evaluated. The incremental infusion reached 1.8-fold higher dDAVP concentrations than the bolus. Neuroendocrine effects were similar for the 10 μg dDAVP bolus and the 30 μg incremental infusion, while cardiovascular and coagulatory effects were greater with the 30 µg dose. Osmolality and ANS activity remained uninfluenced. AEs corresponded to dDAVP’s side-effect profile. In conclusion, the neuroendocrine effects of a 10 μg dDAVP bolus administered over 1 min are similar to those of a 30 μg incremental infusion administered over one hour, despite higher dDAVP concentrations after the infusion. Cardiovascular and coagulatory effects showed clear dose-related responses. A 10 μg dDAVP bolus is considered a safe vasopressinergic function test at which no confounding effects of systemic or autonomic stress were seen.
Effects of aRhodiola roseaL. extract on acquisition and expression of morphine tolerance and dependence in mice
Authors: Mattioli Laura , Perfumi Marina
Published: February 2010

This study investigated the effect of Rhodiola rosea L. extract on acquisition and expression of morphine tolerance and dependence in mice. Therefore animals were injected with repeated administration of morphine (10 mg/kg, subcutaneous) twice daily for five or six days, in order to make them tolerant or dependent. Rhodiola rosea L. extract (0, 10, 15 and 20 mg/kg) was administered by the intragastric route 60 min prior to each morphine injection (for acquisition) or prior the last injection of morphine or naloxone on test day (for tolerance or dependence expression, respectively). Morphine tolerance was evaluated by testing its analgesic effect in the tail flick test at the 1st and 5th days. Morphine dependence was evaluated by counting the number of withdrawal signs (jumping, rearing, forepaw tremor, teeth chatter) after naloxone injection (5 mg/kg; intraperitoneal) on the test day (day 6). Results showed that Rhodiola rosea L. extract significantly reduced the expression of morphine tolerance, while it was ineffective in modulating its acquisition. Conversely, Rhodiola rosea L. extract significantly and dose-dependently attenuated both development and expression of morphine dependence after chronic or acute administration. These data suggest that Rhodiola rosea L. may have human therapeutic potential for treatment of opioid addiction.
Age-dependent effects of methylphenidate in the prefrontal cortex: evidence from electrophysiological and Arc gene expression measurements
Authors: Benjamin Gronier , James Aston , Claire Liauzun , Zetterström Tyra
Published: February 2010

Methylphenidate, a drug widely used for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children, may affect neuronal function differently in young and adult subjects, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, a brain structure that does not fully develop until adulthood. We compared the impact of development on the effects of methylphenidate on single unit electrical activity and mRNA expression of the effector immediate early gene activity-regulated cytoskeletal-associated protein (Arc) following methylphenidate in the prefrontal cortex in adult (more than 60 days old) and juvenile (25—35 days old) rats. Methylphenidate, administered under urethane anaesthesia to adult rats, at doses ranging from 1 mg/kg to 3 mg/kg intravenously, exerts a progressive activation of firing of prefrontal cortex neurones (30% to 84% from baseline). This activation was significantly lower in the juvenile rats, reaching only 37% of baseline levels at the highest dose (3 mg/kg, intravenous). In adults, methylphenidate (4 mg/kg intraperitoneal) produced marked increases in Arc mRNA levels compared with saline controls by 123% and 164% in cingulated and orbital cortex, respectively. Corresponding values for the juvenile rats were significantly lower (42% and 79%). In summary, this multi-approach investigation showed that the reactivity of prefrontal cortex neurones to methylphenidate differs markedly in juvenile and adult rats.
Effect of natural pozzolans as mineral admixture on the performance of cemented-paste backfill of sulphide-rich tailings
Authors: Ercikdi Bayram , Cihangir Ferdi , Kesimal Ayhan , Deveci Haci , Alp Ìbrahim
Published: February 2010

This paper presents the effect of the natural pozzolans as mineral additives on the short- and long-term strength and stability performance of cemented paste backfill (CPB) samples. Prior to their use in CPB studies, the natural pozzolans — the volcanic tuffs (Akkus Trass [AT] and Fatsa Trass [FT]) and pumice (KP) — were tested for their pozzolanic characteristics. These tests revealed that the pozzolanic activity of the natural pozzolans is closely inter-related with their content of reactive silica and, accordingly, KP has the highest pozzolanic activity. The addition, or increasing the amount, of natural pozzolans in the binder phase resulted in a slower rate of strength development of CPB samples. The deterioration in stability of CPB samples prepared from Portland cement (PC) alone ( i.e. a strength loss of 24.6%) occurred following 56 days. The replacement of PC with FT and AT led to even higher losses in strength. However, the addition of KP (up to 30 wt%) mitigated, to a certain extent, long-term strength and stability problems with the losses in strength of CPB samples consistently lower than 20%. It can be inferred that the performance of the natural pozzolans as a mineral additive in CPB is dependent intimately on their pozzolanic characteristics.
Application of dynamic programming to evaluate the slope stability of a vertical extension to a balefill
Authors: Kremen Arie , Tsompanakis Yiannis
Published: February 2010

The slope-stability of a proposed vertical extension of a balefill was investigated in the present study, in an attempt to determine a geotechnically conservative design, compliant with New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection regulations, to maximize the utilization of unclaimed disposal capacity. Conventional geotechnical analytical methods are generally limited to well-defined failure modes, which may not occur in landfills or balefills due to the presence of preferential slip surfaces. In addition, these models assume an a priori stress distribution to solve essentially indeterminate problems. In this work, a different approach has been applied, which avoids several of the drawbacks of conventional methods. Specifically, the analysis was performed in a two-stage process: (a) calculation of stress distribution, and (b) application of an optimization technique to identify the most probable failure surface. The stress analysis was performed using a finite element formulation and the location of the failure surface was located by dynamic programming optimization method. A sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of the various waste strength parameters of the underlying mathematical model on the results, namely the factor of safety of the landfill. Although this study focuses on the stability investigation of an expanded balefill, the methodology presented can easily be applied to general geotechnical investigations.
Effect of mixture ratio, solids concentration and hydraulic retention time on the anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste
Authors: Fongsatitkul Prayoon , Elefsiniotis Panagiotis , Wareham David G.
Published: February 2010

This paper describes how the degradation of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) is affected through codigestion with varying amounts of return activated sludge (RAS). Solid waste that had its inorganic fraction selectively removed was mixed with RAS in ratios of 100% OFMSW, 50% OFMSW/50% RAS, and 25% OFMSW/75% RAS. The total solids (TS) concentration was held at 8% and three anaerobic digester systems treating the mixtures were held (for the first run) at a total hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 28 days. Increasing amounts of RAS did not however improve the mixture’s digestability, as indicated by little change and/or a drop in the main performance indices [including percentage volatile solids (VS) removal and specific gas production]. The optimum ratio in this research therefore appeared to be 100% OFMSW with an associated 85.1 ± 0.6% VS removal and 0.72 ± 0.01 L total gas g- 1 VS. In the second run, the effect of increasing percentage of TS (8, 12% and 15%) at a system HRT of 28 days was observed to yield no improvement in the main performance indices (i.e. percentage VS removal and specific gas production). Finally, during the third run, variations in the total system HRT were investigated at an 8% TS, again using 100% OFMSW. Of the HRTs explored (23, 28 and 33 days), the longest HRT yielded the best performance overall, particularly in terms of specific gas production (0.77 ± 0.01 L total gas g-1 VS).
A Very Rare Neurocutaneous Disorder in 2 Siblings: Sjögren-Larsson Syndrome
Authors: Caglayan Ahmet Okay , Gumus Hakan
Published: February 2010

Sjögren-Larsson syndrome is an autosomal-recessive hereditary disorder involving congenital ichthyosis, mental retardation, and spastic diplegia or tetraplegia. It is caused by the deficient activity of fatty aldehyde dehydrogenase. In this report, the authors describe 2 siblings with Sjögren-Larsson syndrome. Both the patients had generalized ichthyosis, and the older one had spastic paraplegia and mental retardation, and the fundus examination revealed foveal and parafoveal glistening dots. The authors report the large kinship with Sjögren-Larsson syndrome, which is a rare and most probably underdiagnosed syndrome.
Corpus Callosum Morphology and Its Relationship to Cognitive Function in Neurofibromatosis Type 1
Authors: Pride Natalie , Payne Jonathan M. , Webster Richard , Shores E. Arthur , Rae Caroline , North Kathryn N.
Published: February 2010

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is associated with cognitive dysfunction and structural brain abnormalities such as an enlarged corpus callosum. This study aimed to determine the relationship between corpus callosum morphology and cognitive function in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 using quantitative neuroanatomic imaging techniques. Children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (n = 46) demonstrated a significantly larger total corpus callosum and corpus callosum index compared with control participants (n = 30). A larger corpus callosum index in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 was associated with significantly lower IQ, reduced abstract concept formation, reduced verbal memory, and diminished academic ability, specifically reading and math. Our results suggest an enlarged corpus callosum in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 is associated with cognitive impairment and may provide an early structural marker for the children at risk of cognitive difficulties. Cognitive deficits associated with structural brain abnormalities in neurofibromatosis type 1 are unlikely to be reversible and so may not respond to proposed pharmacological therapies for neurofibromatosis type 1-related cognitive impairments.
Outcomes in Treatment of Infantile Spasms With Pulse Methylprednisolone
Authors: Mytinger John R. , Quigg Mark , Taft William C. , Buck Marcia L. , Rust Robert S.
Published: February 2010

The authors report their experience with intravenous methylprednisolone for the treatment of infantile spasms. A pulse dose of 20 mg/kg intravenous methylprednisolone on each of 3 successive days, followed by a 2-month oral prednisolone taper, led to the rapid remission (range, 2-6 days) of infantile spasms in 5 of 10 (50%) infants. In the subgroup of infants treated within 1 month of onset, 5 of 6 (83%) experienced remission within 6 days. The authors estimate the medication cost of intravenous methylprednisolone with prednisolone taper to be less than $200. In comparison, the cost of a typical course of adrenocorticotropic hormone in the United States can exceed $70 000. Initial treatment with intravenous methylprednisolone and/or oral corticosteroids is a reasonable cost-effective approach to infantile spasms. The lack of serious side effects, low cost, availability, ease of administration, and comparable efficacy suggests that intravenous methylprednisolone merits consideration for study in randomized prospective trials.
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: The Alexander v. Provident Life and Accident Insurance Company Opinion and Other Consequences of Being Generous Under ERISA
Authors: Sharman Joelle C.
Published: February 2010

A recent case from a federal district court in Tennessee reminds employers that they should familiarize themselves with the basic tenets of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) before providing welfare benefits to their employees. In that case, the employer unknowingly created an ERISA plan just by allowing its employees to buy individual insurance policies and obtain a group discount that they would not have received but for the employment relationship. Unknowingly creating an ERISA plan thus exposed that employer to a host of ERISA issues, including reporting and disclosure requirements, fiduciary responsibilities, and monetary penalties for violating those requirements and responsibilities.
Factors Influencing Driving Status in an Older Latino Population
Authors: Segal-Gidan Freddi , Varma Rohit , Salazar Xavier , Mack Wendy J.
Published: February 2010

Objective: The study aims at examining factors associated with driving status and self-reported driving difficulty, with particular attention to vision and cognitive impairment. Method: This study uses cross-sectional data from 421 elderly Latino participants in the Los Angeles Latino Eye Study (LALES) along with cognitive screening, and comparison is by driving status (currently driving, used to drive, never drove) and self-reported difficulty driving among current drivers. Results: Current drivers were more educated and reported better health.Those who never drove were less acculturated.Those who gave up driving had more visual impairment and lower scores on mental status testing. Self-reported difficulties among current drivers were associated with more health problems but not cognitive difficulties. Discussion: Elderly Latinos have a lower driving rate than the general older population. There are significant differences between older Latinos who continue to drive versus those who never drove or have stopped driving. Poorer cognitive performance and poorer vision are associated with driving cessation.
Spontaneous lupus-like syndrome in HLA-DQ2 transgenic mice with a mixed genetic background
Authors: Rashtak S. , Marietta E. , Cheng S. , Camilleri M. , Pittelkow M. , David C. , Grande J. , Murray J.
Published: February 2010

To investigate the role of HLA-DQ2 in the pathogenesis of associated immune disorders, we generated transgenic mice that expressed HLA-DQ2 in the absence of endogenous murine class II molecules (AE0DQ2). These AE0DQ2 mice with a mixed genetic background spontaneously developed skin lesions on their ears, whereas control AE0DQ6 genotype control mice (also with a mixed genetic background) did not. The skin lesions were characterized by deep subepidermal blistering with hydropic degeneration and lymphoid infiltration in the subepidermal area as determined by histopathology. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed thick band-like granular deposition of IgG, IgM, and a thin band of IgA deposition along the basement membrane. AE0DQ2 mice also developed significant and progressive hematuria and proteinuria as compared with the AE0DQ6 mice (p < 0.05). Histopathology showed immune complex deposits in the glomeruli of AE0DQ2 mice. Immunofluorescence analysis showed progressive mesangial and capillary wall deposition of IgA, IgM, IgG and C1q in the kidney. With electron microscopy, the deposits showed a ‘fingerprint’ substructure; and tubuloreticular structures were identified within endothelial cells. Conversely, these changes were not observed in AE0DQ6 mice. Serum anti-double stranded (ds)DNA IgM and IgG levels were also significantly elevated among AE0DQ2 mice compared with AE0DQ6 mice (p < 0.001). In conclusion, AE0DQ2 mice spontaneously develop an autoimmune lupus-like syndrome and are useful model for this disease. It remains to be determined whether genetic admixture played a role in the development of this systemic lupus erythematosus-like syndrome in HLA-DQ2 transgenic mice. Lupus (2010) 19, 815—829.
Fracture Analysis of Bounded Magnetoelectroelastic Layers with Interfacial Cracks under Magnetoelectromechanical Loads: Plane Problem
Authors: Feng W.J. , Su R.K.L. , Liu J.X. , Li Y.S.
Published: February 2010

Fracture behaviors of multiple interfacial cracks between dissimilar magnetoelectroelastic layers subjected to in-plane magnetoelectromechanical loads are investigated by using integral transform method and singular integral equation technique. The number of the interfacial cracks is arbitrary, and the crack surfaces are assumed to be magnetoelectrically impermeable. The field intensity factors including stress, electric displacement and magnetic induction intensity factors as well as the energy release rates (ERRs) are derived. The effects of loading combinations, crack configurations and material property parameters on the fracture behaviors are evaluated according to energy release rate criterion. Numerical results show that both negative electrical and magnetic loads inhibit crack extension, and that the material constants have different and important effects on the ERRs. The results presented here should have potential applications to the design of multilayered magnetoelectroelastic structures.
Adaptive Modified Positive Position Feedback for Active Vibration Control of Structures
Authors: Nima Mahmoodi S. , Ahmadian Mehdi , Inman Daniel J.
Published: February 2010

The modified positive position feedback (MPPF) controller, an active vibration control method that uses collocated piezoelectric actuator actuators and sensors, is developed using an adaptive controller. The adaptive mechanism consists of two main parts: (1) frequency adaptation and (2) adaptive controller. Frequency adaptation only tracks the frequency of vibrations using fast Fourier transforms. The obtained frequency is then fed to MPPF compensators and the adaptive controller. This provides a unique feature for MPPF by extending its domain of capabilities from controlling tonal vibrations to broadband disturbances. The adaptive controller mechanism consists of a reference model that is of the same order as the MPPF system and its compensators. The adaptive law provides the additional control force that is needed for controlling frequency changes caused by broadband vibrations. The experimental results show that the frequency adaptation method that is derived has worked quite well. The results also indicate that the MPPF can provide significant vibration reduction on a cantilever beam that is used throughout the experiments.