bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spaceflight reduces vasoconstrictor responsiveness of skeletal muscle resistance arteries in mice
Authors: Stabley John N. , Dominguez James M. , Dominguez Catherine E. , Mora Solis Fredy R. , Ahlgren Joslyn , Behnke Bradley J. , Muller-Delp Judy M. , Delp Michael D.
Published: September 2012

Cardiovascular adaptations to microgravity undermine the physiological capacity to respond to orthostatic challenges upon return to terrestrial gravity. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the influence of spaceflight on vasoconstrictor and myogenic contractile properties of mouse gastrocnemius muscle resistance arteries. We hypothesized that vasoconstrictor responses acting through adrenergic receptors [norepinephrine (NE)], voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (KCl), and stretch-activated (myogenic) mechanisms would be diminished following spaceflight. Feed arteries were isolated from gastrocnemius muscles, cannulated on glass micropipettes, and physiologically pressurized for in vitro experimentation. Vasoconstrictor responses to intraluminal pressure changes (0–140 cmH2O), KCl (10–100 mM), and NE (10−9-10−4 M) were measured in spaceflown (SF; n = 11) and ground control (GC; n = 11) female C57BL/6 mice. Spaceflight reduced vasoconstrictor responses to KCl and NE; myogenic vasoconstriction was unaffected. The diminished vasoconstrictor responses were associated with lower ryanodine receptor-2 (RyR-2) and ryanodine receptor-3 (RyR-3) mRNA expression, with no difference in sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic Ca2+ ATPase 2 mRNA expression. Vessel wall thickness and maximal intraluminal diameter were unaffected by spaceflight. The data indicate a deficit in intracellular calcium release via RyR-2 and RyR-3 in smooth muscle cells as the mechanism of reduced contractile activity in skeletal muscle after spaceflight. Furthermore, the results suggest that impaired end-organ vasoconstrictor responsiveness of skeletal muscle resistance arteries contributes to lower peripheral vascular resistance and less tolerance of orthostatic stress in humans after spaceflight.
Aerobic exercise training induces skeletal muscle hypertrophy and age-dependent adaptations in myofiber function in young and older men
Authors: Harber Matthew P. , Konopka Adam R. , Undem Miranda K. , Hinkley James M. , Minchev Kiril , Kaminsky Leonard A. , Trappe Todd A. , Trappe Scott
Published: September 2012

To examine potential age-specific adaptations in skeletal muscle size and myofiber contractile physiology in response to aerobic exercise, seven young (YM; 20 ± 1 yr) and six older men (OM; 74 ± 3 yr) performed 12 wk of cycle ergometer training. Muscle biopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis to determine size and contractile properties of isolated slow [myosin heavy chain (MHC) I] and fast (MHC IIa) myofibers, MHC composition, and muscle protein concentration. Aerobic capacity was higher ( P < 0.05) after training in both YM (16 ± 2%) and OM (13 ± 3%). Quadriceps muscle volume, determined via MRI, was 5 ± 1 and 6 ± 1% greater ( P < 0.05) after training for YM and OM, respectively, which was associated with an increase in MHC I myofiber cross-sectional area (CSA), independent of age. MHC I peak power was higher ( P < 0.05) after training for both YM and OM, while MHC IIa peak power was increased ( P < 0.05) with training in OM only. MHC I and MHC IIa myofiber peak and normalized (peak force/CSA) force were preserved with training in OM, while MHC I peak force/CSA and MHC IIa peak force were lower ( P < 0.05) after training in YM. The age-dependent adaptations in myofiber function were not due to changes in protein content, as total muscle protein and myofibrillar protein concentration were unchanged ( P > 0.05) with training. Training reduced ( P < 0.05) the proportion of MHC IIx isoform, independent of age, whereas no other changes in MHC composition were observed. These data suggest relative improvements in muscle size and aerobic capacity are similar between YM and OM, while adaptations in myofiber contractile function showed a general improvement in OM. Training-related increases in MHC I and MHC IIa peak power reveal that skeletal muscle of OM is responsive to aerobic exercise training and further support the use of aerobic exercise for improving cardiovascular and skeletal muscle health in older individuals.
Endogenous hydrogen peroxide in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus regulates sympathetic nerve activity responses to l-glutamate
Authors: Cardoso Leonardo M. , Colombari Eduardo , Toney Glenn M.
Published: September 2012

The hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) is important for maintenance of sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) and cardiovascular function. PVN-mediated increases of SNA often involve the excitatory amino acid l-glutamate (l-glu), whose actions can be positively and negatively modulated by a variety of factors, including reactive oxygen species. Here, we determined modulatory effects of the highly diffusible reactive oxygen species hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on responses to PVN l-glu. Renal SNA (RSNA), arterial blood pressure, and heart rate were recorded in anesthetized rats. l-Glu (0.2 nmol in 100 nl) microinjected unilaterally into PVN increased RSNA ( P < 0.05), without affecting mean arterial blood pressure or heart rate. Effects of endogenously generated H2O2 were determined by comparing responses to PVN l-glu before and after PVN injection of the catalase inhibitor 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (ATZ; 100 nmol/200 nl, n = 5). ATZ alone was without effect on recorded variables, but attenuated the increase of RSNA elicited by PVN l-glu ( P < 0.05). PVN injection of exogenous H2O2 (5 nmol in 100 nl, n = 4) and vehicle (artificial cerebrospinal fluid) were without affect, but H2O2, like ATZ, attenuated the increase of RSNA to PVN l-glu ( P < 0.05). Tonic effects of endogenous H2O2 were determined by PVN injection of polyethylene glycol-catalase (1.0 IU in 200 nl, n = 5). Whereas polyethylene glycol-catalase alone was without effect, increases of RSNA to subsequent PVN injection of l-glu were increased ( P < 0.05). From these data, we conclude that PVN H2O2 tonically, but submaximally, suppresses RSNA responses to l-glu, supporting the idea that a change of H2O2 availability within PVN could influence SNA regulation under physiological and/or disease conditions.
Phase II Clinical and Pharmacokinetic Study of Aflibercept in Patients with Previously Treated Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Tang Patricia A. , Cohen Steven J. , Kollmannsberger Christian , Bjarnason Georg , Virik Kiran , MacKenzie Mary J. , Lourenco Lillian , Wang Lisa , Chen Alice , Moore Malcolm J.
Published: September 2012

Purpose: Aflibercept is a recombinant fusion protein of the VEGF receptor (VEGFR) 1 and VEGFR2 extracellular domains. We assessed the safety and efficacy of aflibercept in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (MCRC) who had received at least one prior palliative regimen.

Experimental Design: Seventy-five patients were enrolled onto this two-stage phase II trial in two cohorts, bevacizumab naïve (n = 24) and prior bevacizumab (n = 51). Aflibercept was administered at 4 mg/kg i.v. in two-week cycles. The primary endpoint was a combination of objective response rate and 16-week progression-free survival (PFS).

Results: In the bevacizumab-naïve cohort (n = 24), the best response was stable disease for 16 weeks or more in five of 24 patients. In the prior bevacizumab cohort (n = 50), one patient achieved a partial response and six patients had stable disease for 16 weeks or more. The median PFS in the bevacizumab-naïve and prior bevacizumab cohorts was two months [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.7–8.6 months] and 2.4 months (95% CI: 1.9–3.7 months), respectively. Median overall survival (OS) was 10.4 months (95% CI: 7.6–15.5) and 8.5 months (95% CI: 6.2–10.6), respectively. The most common grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse events were hypertension, proteinuria, fatigue, and headache. Ten patients discontinued study treatment due to toxicity. Mean free to VEGF-bound aflibercept ratio was 1.82, suggesting that free aflibercept was present in sufficient amount to bind endogenous VEGF.

Conclusion: Aflibercept showed limited single-agent activity in patients with pretreated MCRC with moderate toxicity. Further study of aflibercept with chemotherapy is ongoing. Clin Cancer Res; 18(21); 6023–31. ©2012 AACR.
Clinical and Genetic Association of Serum Paraoxonase and Arylesterase Activities With Cardiovascular Risk
Authors: Tang W.H. Wilson , Hartiala Jaana , Fan Yiying , Wu Yuping , Stewart Alexandre F.R. , Erdmann Jeanette , Kathiresan Sekar ,   The CARDIoGRAM Consortium, Roberts Robert , McPherson Ruth , Allayee Hooman , Hazen Stanley L.
Published: September 2012

Objective—

Diminished serum paraoxonase and arylesterase activities (measures of paraoxonase-1 [PON-1] function) in humans have been linked to heightened systemic oxidative stress and atherosclerosis risk. The clinical prognostic use of measuring distinct PON-1 activities has not been established, and the genetic determinants of PON-1 activities are not known.

Methods and Results—

We established analytically robust high-throughput assays for serum paraoxonase and arylesterase activities and measured these in 3668 stable subjects undergoing elective coronary angiography without acute coronary syndrome and were prospectively followed for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE= death, myocardial infarction, stroke) over 3 years. Low serum arylesterase and paraoxonase activities were both associated with increased risk for MACE, with arylesterase activity showing greatest prognostic value (quartile 4 versus quartile 1; hazard ratio 2.63; 95% CI, 1.97–3.50;
P
<0.01). Arylesterase remained significant after adjusting for traditional risk factors, C-reactive protein, and creatinine clearance (hazard ratio, 2.20; 95% CI, 1.60–3.02;
P
<0.01), predicted future development of MACE in both primary and secondary prevention populations, and reclassified risk categories incrementally to traditional clinical variables. A genome-wide association study identified distinct single nucleotide polymorphisms within the PON-1 gene that were highly significantly associated with serum paraoxonase (1.18×10
-303
) or arylesterase (4.99×10
−116
) activity but these variants were not associated with either 3-year MACE risk in an angiographic cohort (n=2136) or history of either coronary artery disease or myocardial infarction in the Coronary Artery Disease Genome-Wide Replication and Meta-Analysis consortium (n≈80 000 subjects).

Conclusion—

Diminished serum arylesterase activity, but not the genetic determinants of PON-1 functional measures, provides incremental prognostic value and clinical reclassification of stable subjects at risk of developing MACE.
Association of Oxidative DNA Damage and C-Reactive Protein in Women at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Noren Hooten Nicole , Ejiogu Ngozi , Zonderman Alan B. , Evans Michele K.
Published: September 2012

Objective—

The aim of the current study was to examine the relationship between clinical markers of inflammation and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG), an oxidative stress marker, in middle-aged women drawn from the HANDLS study, a longitudinal epidemiological study.

Methods and Results—

We examined commonly assayed markers of inflammation, the DNA base adduct 8-oxodG, a marker of oxidative stress, and cardiovascular risk factors in a cohort of women matched on age and race in 3 groups (n=39 per group) who had low (<3 mg/L) high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), mid (>3–20 mg/L), and high (>20 mg/L) hsCRP. We found a significant relationship between hsCRP level and the oxidative stress marker, 8-oxodG. 8-oxodG was positively correlated with systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, and interleukin-23. hsCRP was associated with obesity variables, high-density lipoprotein, serum insulin levels, interleukin-12p70 and intracellular adhesion molecule-1. Incubation of primary human endothelial cells with hsCRP generated reactive oxygen species in vitro. Furthermore, hsCRP specifically induced DNA base lesions, but not other forms of DNA damage, including single and double strand breaks.

Conclusion—

These data suggest that in women 8-oxodG is associated with hsCRP and is independently related to select cardiovascular risk factors. Our data in women suggest that hsCRP may contribute to cardiovascular disease by increasing oxidative stress.
Identifying the MJO, Equatorial Waves, and Their Impacts Using 32 Years of HIRS Upper-Tropospheric Water Vapor
Authors: Schreck Carl J. , Shi Lei , Kossin James P. , Bates John J.
Published: September 2012

The Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) and convectively coupled equatorial waves are the dominant modes of synoptic-to-subseasonal variability in the tropics. These systems have frequently been examined with proxies for convection such as outgoing longwave radiation (OLR). However, upper-tropospheric water vapor (UTWV) gives a more complete picture of tropical circulations because it is more sensitive to the drying and warming associated with subsidence. Previous studies examined tropical variability using relatively short (3–7 yr) UTWV datasets. Intersatellite calibration of data from the High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder (HIRS) has recently produced a homogeneous 32-yr climate data record of UTWV for 200–500 hPa. This study explores the utility of HIRS UTWV for identifying the MJO and equatorial waves.

Spectral analysis shows that the MJO and equatorial waves stand out above the low-frequency background in UTWV, similar to previous findings with OLR. The fraction of variance associated with the MJO and equatorial Rossby waves is actually greater in UTWV than in OLR. Kelvin waves, on the other hand, are overshadowed in UTWV by horizontal advection from extratropical Rossby waves.

For the MJO, UTWV identifies subsidence drying in the subtropics, poleward of the convection. These dry anomalies are associated with the MJO’s subtropical Rossby gyres. MJO events with dry anomalies over the central North Pacific Ocean also amplify the 200-hPa flow pattern over North America 7 days later. These events cannot be identified using equatorial OLR alone, which demonstrates that UTWV is a useful supplement for identifying the MJO, equatorial waves.
Comparative Strengths of SCaMPR Satellite QPEs with and without TRMM Ingest versus Gridded Gauge-Only Analyses
Authors: Zhang Yu , Seo Dong-Jun , Kitzmiller David , Lee Haksu , Kuligowski Robert J. , Kim Dongsoo , Kondragunta Chandra R.
Published: September 2012

This paper assesses the accuracy of satellite quantitative precipitation estimates (QPEs) from two versions of the Self-Calibrating Multivariate Precipitation Retrieval (SCaMPR) algorithm relative to that of gridded gauge-only QPEs. The second version of SCaMPR uses the QPEs from Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Precipitation Radar and Microwave Imager as predictands whereas the first version does not. The assessments were conducted for 22 catchments in Texas and Louisiana against National Weather Service operational multisensor QPE. Particular attention was given to the density below which SCaMPR QPEs outperform gauge-only QPEs and effects of TRMM ingest. Analyses indicate that SCaMPR QPEs can be competitive in terms of correlation and CSI against sparse gauge networks (with less than one gauge per 3200–12 000 km2) and over 1–3-h scale, but their relative strengths diminish with temporal aggregation. In addition, the major advantage of SCaMPR QPEs is its relatively low false alarm rates, whereas gauge-only QPEs exhibit better skill in detecting rainfall—though the detection skill of SCaMPR QPEs tends to improve at higher rainfall thresholds. Moreover, it was found that ingesting TRMM QPEs help mitigate the positive overall bias in SCaMPR QPEs, and improve the detection of moderate–heavy and particularly wintertime precipitation. Yet, it also tends to elevate the false alarm rate, and its impacts on detection rates can be slightly negative for summertime storms. The implications for adoption of TRMM and Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) QPEs for NWS operations are discussed.
Statistical Assessment of Tropical Convection-Permitting Model Simulations Using a Cell-Tracking Algorithm
Authors: Caine Simon , Lane Todd P. , May Peter T. , Jakob Christian , Siems Steven T. , Manton Michael J. , Pinto James
Published: September 2012

This study presents a method for comparing convection-permitting model simulations to radar observations using an innovative object-based approach. The method uses the automated cell-tracking algorithm, Thunderstorm Identification Tracking Analysis and Nowcasting (TITAN), to identify individual convective cells and determine their properties. Cell properties are identified in the same way for model and radar data, facilitating comparison of their statistical distributions. The method is applied to simulations of tropical convection during the Tropical Warm Pool-International Cloud Experiment (TWP-ICE) using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model, and compared to data from a ground-based radar. Simulations with different microphysics and model resolution are also conducted. Among other things, the comparisons between the model and the radar elucidate model errors in the depth and size of convective cells. On average, simulated convective cells reached higher altitudes than the observations. Also, when using a low reflectivity (25 dBZ) threshold to define convective cells, the model underestimates the size of the largest cells in the observed population. Some of these differences are alleviated with a change of microphysics scheme and higher model resolution, demonstrating the utility of this method for assessing model changes.
Genesis of the Goshen County, Wyoming, Tornado on 5 June 2009 during VORTEX2
Authors: Kosiba Karen , Wurman Joshua , Richardson Yvette , Markowski Paul , Robinson Paul , Marquis James
Published: September 2012

The genesis of a strong and long-lived tornado observed during the second Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (VORTEX2) in Goshen County, Wyoming, on 5 June 2009 is studied. Mobile radar, mobile mesonet, rawinsonde, and photographic data are used to produce an integrated analysis of the evolution of the wind, precipitation, and thermodynamic fields in the parent supercell to deduce the processes that resulted in tornadogenesis. Several minutes prior to tornadogenesis, the rear-flank downdraft intensifies, and a secondary rear-flank downdraft forms and cyclonically wraps around the developing tornado. Kinematic and thermodynamic analyses suggest that horizontal vorticity created in the forward flank and hook echo is tilted and then stretched near the developing tornado. Tilting and stretching are enhanced in the developing low-level circulation as the secondary rear-flank downdraft develops, intensifies, and wraps around the circulation center. Shortly thereafter, the tornado forms. Tornadogenesis does not proceed steadily. Strengthening, weakening, and renewed intensification of the tornado are documented in photographic, reflectivity, Doppler velocity, and dual-Doppler fields and are associated with, and shortly follow, changes in the secondary rear-flank downdraft, convergence, location of the vortex relative to the updraft/downdraft couplet, tilting and stretching near and in the developing tornado, and the evolution of total circulation.
Covariance Localization with the Diffusion-Based Correlation Models
Authors: Yaremchuk Max , Nechaev Dmitry
Published: September 2012

Improving the performance of ensemble filters applied to models with many state variables requires regularization of the covariance estimates by localizing the impact of observations on state variables. A covariance localization technique based on modeling of the sample covariance with polynomial functions of the diffusion operator (DL method) is presented. Performance of the technique is compared with the nonadaptive (NAL) and adaptive (AL) ensemble localization schemes in the framework of numerical experiments with synthetic covariance matrices in a realistically inhomogeneous setting. It is shown that the DL approach is comparable in accuracy with the AL method when the ensemble size is less than 100. With larger ensembles, the accuracy of the DL approach is limited by the local homogeneity assumption underlying the technique. Computationally, the DL method is comparable with the NAL technique if the ratio of the local decorrelation scale to the grid step is not too large.
How Employees’ Prior Affiliations Constrain Organizational Network Change
Authors: Rider Christopher I.
Published: September 2012

This paper investigates how organizations’ reliance on employees’ prior educational and employment affiliations for both employment relationships and interorganizational relationships contributes to inertia in organizational networks. Analyses of data from U.S. venture capital and private equity firms support the theory I develop. First, increasing differences in educational prestige decrease both interpersonal co-employment rates and interorganizational co-investment rates. Second, two individuals who share a prior educational or a prior employment affiliation are more likely to be employed by the same organization than are two individuals who do not share such an affiliation. Third, the likelihood of two organizations forming a co-investment relationship increases with the number of prior educational or employment affiliations shared by their employees. I propose that these tendencies stabilize advantaged organizations’ positions and limit disadvantaged organizations’ positional mobility, thereby constraining change in interorganizational networks. Implications for studies of network evolution and socioeconomic inequality are discussed.
Reexamining Climate Change Debates
Authors: Freudenburg William R. , Muselli Violetta
Published: September 2012

Despite strong scientific consensus that global climate disruption is real and due in significant part to human activities, stories in the U.S. mass media often still present the opposite view, characterizing the issue as being “in dispute.” Even today, the U.S. media devote significant attention to small numbers of denialists, who claim that scientific consensus assessments, such as those by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), are “exaggerated” and “political.” Such claims, however, are testable hypotheses—and just the opposite expectation is hypothesized in the small but growing literature on Scientific Certainty Argumentation Methods, or SCAMs. The work on SCAMs suggests that, rather than being a reflection of legitimate scientific disagreement, the intense criticisms of climate science may reflect a predictable pattern that grows out of “the politics of doubt”: If enough doubt can be raised about the relevant scientific findings, regulation can be avoided or delayed for years or even decades. Ironically, though, while such a pattern can lead to a bias in scientific work, the likely bias is expected to be just the opposite of the one usually feared. The underlying reason has to do with the Asymmetry of Scientific Challenge, or ASC—so named because certain theories or findings, such as those indicating the significance of climate disruption, are subjected to systematically greater challenges than are those supporting opposing conclusions. As this article shows, available evidence provides significantly more support for SCAM and ASC perspectives than for the concerns that are commonly expressed in the U.S. mass media. These findings suggest that, if current scientific consensus is in error, it is likely because global climate disruption may be even worse than commonly expected to date.
Paradiplomats Against the State
Authors: Tatham Michaël
Published: September 2012

Literature on substate mobilization in Europe has provided some useful insights into the factors and mechanisms shaping territorial interest representation in Brussels. Although recent studies have enhanced our understanding of the determinants of cooperative and bypassing paradiplomacy, those underpinning conflict have remained rather obscure. Using a new data set with information on more than 100 substate offices in Brussels, this article sheds some light on the determinants of conflict between member state diplomacy and substate paradiplomacy. It argues that they are very different from those of bypassing and cooperation and that resource richness and diplomatic accreditation significantly affect its frequency. These findings not only are robust to multilevel modeling and nonparametric bootstrapping but also are of theoretical import as they highlight that devolution and party political incongruence fail to affect the frequency of conflict in Brussels.
Religion, demography and attitudes toward civil marriage in Israel 1969–2009
Authors: Bystrov Evgenia
Published: September 2012

In the developed world, Israel is the only country without a civil option for regulating personal status. Determinants of changes in attitudes toward the introduction of the civil marriage in 1969–2009 among the Jewish population are the focus of this article. According to the Human Empowerment framework, the support for civil marriage should increase over time, and the younger generation should be more permissive than the older. However, despite growing support among all population groups, there is stagnation in the overall attitude due to changes in population composition. Being religious, the younger cohorts oppose the trend of permitting couples to marry any way they choose. Besides religiosity and traditionalism, this attitude can be predicted by national identity, education and being a 1990s immigrant from the former Soviet Union. The relative impact of the two demographic forces – the natural increase of the religious versus immigration – is analyzed. The article shows the relevance of internal and external national identity for the institution of civil marriage in Israel. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
The mental health of internally displaced persons: An epidemiological study of adults in two settlements in Central Sudan
Authors: Salah Tarig Taha Mohamed , Abdelrahman Abdallah , Lien Lars , Eide Arne Henning , Martinez Priscilla , Hauff Edvard
Published: September 2012

Aims:

There is a scarcity of data on mental health problems among Sudanese internally displaced persons (IDPs). This study aims to assess the prevalence of mental disorders of IDPs in Sudan, and to determine and compare the association between mental disorders and socio-demographic variables between the rural and urban long-term IDP populations.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study was implemented in two IDP areas in Central Sudan. Data were collected during face-to-face interviews using structured questionnaires to assess socio-demographic factors and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) to determine psychiatric diagnoses. A total of 1,876 adults were enrolled from both study areas.

Results:

The overall prevalence of having any mental health disorder in the IDP population was 52.9%. The most common disorders were major depressive disorder (24.3%), generalized anxiety disorder (23.6%), social phobia (14.2%) and post-traumatic stress disorder (12.3%). Years of displacement and education were associated with different mental disorders between the two areas, and there were no gender differences in prevalence of mental disorders in either area.

Conclusion:

This study shows high prevalence rates of mental disorders in both urban and rural IDP populations in Sudan, indicating a need to explore the circumstances for these high rates and to develop appropriate responses.
Beyond the subaltern syndrome: Amitav Ghosh and the crisis of the bhadrasamaj
Authors: Paranjape Makarand R.
Published: September 2012

Using some of Amitav Ghosh’s influential non-fictional writings to understand his own novels, this paper problematizes Ghosh’s works in terms of the crisis of the bhadrasamaj or the middle class makers of the nation and civil society in India. Indeed, we may detect a direct line of literary and cultural descent from the two iconic figures of recent Bangla culture, Rabindranath Tagore and Satyajit Ray, to Ghosh’s complex career. But instead of a continuity, Ghosh’s works are a record of epistemic ruptures engendered by the breakdown of grand narratives of nations and the eruption of civic violence. The crisis in Tagore is a combination of private and public failures exemplified in a text such as Nashtonir, filmed so eloquently as Charulata by Ray. A similar crisis in the private and public domain is seen in Ray’s Ganashatru and Agantuk, his last works. While versions of similar crises are visible in Ghosh’s novels including The Shadow Lines, The Calcutta Chromosome, and The Hungry Tide, I argue that instead of confronting them head on as his predecessors did, Ghosh tends to be evasive, either by not allowing them fully to develop or escaping into coincidence, “doubling”, or romanticism. Does such a retreat into narratives of exodus or romanticized celebrations of failed experiments such as the Morichjhapi settlement signify a shift in both the self-confidence and the priorities of the bhadrasamaj, whose product and representative Ghosh is?
Randomized Trial of Partial vs. Stepwise Caries Removal
Authors: Maltz M. , Garcia R. , Jardim J.J. , de Paula L.M. , Yamaguti P.M. , Moura M.S. , Garcia F. , Nascimento C. , Oliveira A. , Mestrinho H.D.
Published: September 2012

This randomized, multicenter clinical trial evaluated the effectiveness of 2 treatments for deep caries lesions — partial caries removal (PCR) and stepwise excavation (SW) — with respect to the primary outcome of pulp vitality for a 3-year follow-up period. Inclusion criteria were as follows: patients with permanent molars presenting deep caries lesions (lesion affecting ≥ 1/2 of the dentin on radiographic examination), positive response to a cold test, absence of spontaneous pain, negative sensitivity to percussion, and absence of periapical lesions (radiographic examination). Teeth randomly assigned to PCR (test) received incomplete caries removal and filling in a single session. Outcome success was evaluated by assessment of pulp vitality, determined by pulp sensitivity to a cold test and the absence of periapical lesions. Data were analyzed by a Weibull regression model with shared frailty term (survival analysis). At baseline, 299 treatments were executed: PCR, 152 and SW, 147. By the end of the 3-year follow-up period, 213 teeth had been evaluated. Adjusted survival rates were 91% for PCR and 69% for SW (p = 0.004). These results suggest that there is no need to re-open a cavity and perform a second excavation for pulp vitality to be preserved (Clinical trials registration NCT00887952).
Reading Disability and Adult Attained Education and Income
Authors: McLaughlin Margaret J. , Speirs Katherine E. , Shenassa Edmond D.
Published: September 2012

This study examined the impact of childhood reading disability (RD) on adult educational attainment and income. Participants’ ( N = 1,344) RD was assessed at age 7, and adult educational attainment and income were assessed in midlife using categorical variables. Participants with RD at age 7 were 74% (95% CI: 0.18, 0.37) less likely to attain a higher level of education and 56% (95% CI: 0.32, 0.61) less likely to attain a higher level of income as an adult than participants with average or above reading achievement at age 7. Attained education was found to mediate the relationship between RD and attained income.
A meta-heuristic based three-dimensional path planning environment for unmanned aerial vehicles
Authors: Oz Isil , Topcuoglu Haluk Rahmi , Ermis Murat
Published: September 2012

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are used for many missions, including weather reconnaissance, search and rescue assisting operations over seas and mountains, aerial photographing and mapping, fire detection, and traffic control. Autonomous operation of UAVs requires the development of control systems that can work without human support for long time periods. The path planners, which generate collision-free and optimized paths, are needed to provide autonomous operation capabilities to the UAVs. The optimization of the flight trajectory is a multi-objective problem dealing with variable terrain features as well as dynamic environment conditions. This paper presents a simulation environment for offline path planning of unmanned aerial vehicles on three-dimensional terrains. Our path planner aims to identify the shortest path and/or flight envelope in a given line of sight by avoiding terrain collisions, traveling on a path that stays within the restricted minimum and maximum distances above the terrain, traveling far from the specified threat zones, and maneuvering with an angle greater than the minimum curvature radius. We present two meta-heuristics (genetic algorithms and hyper-heuristics) in order to construct the paths for UAV navigation and compare our results with a reference work given in the literature. A comparative study over a set of terrains with various characteristics validates the effectiveness of the proposed meta-heuristics, where the quality of a solution is measured with the total cost of a constructed path, including the penalties of all constraints.
Walter Isard’s Evolving Sense of the Scientific in Regional Science
Authors: Donaghy Kieran P.
Published: September 2012

Toward the end of his life, a shift occurred in Walter Isard’s thinking about how graduate study in regional science should proceed. This shift and its implications for the discipline itself have led me to problematize Walter’s sense of the scientific in regional science. In this article, I offer a highly stylized characterization of what Walter thought regional science should be about at various points of his life and relate the evolution of his thinking to recent work in the philosophy of science. I shall argue that Walter’s view of what made regional science a science did not change much, nor did his view of what in general regional scientists needed to study. I shall also argue that his view of what constituted adequate scholarship did change considerably, as did his views of what regional science should encompass in the way of theory and methods and what future progress in the field will entail.
The Leading Role of Manufacturing in China’s Regional Economic Growth
Authors: Guo Dong , Dall’erba Sandy , Gallo Julie Le
Published: September 2012

China has experienced fast industrialization and long-lasting economic growth since the end of the 1970s. However, the manufacturing sector is not evenly distributed over the Chinese territory, which resulted in an unequal economic development across regions. The aim of this article is to measure whether Kaldor’s engine of growth hypothesis holds true in the case of the Chinese regions over 1996–2006. We believe this is an appropriate model for this country given that manufacturing still represents around half of the Chinese gross domestic product. In order to obtain more reliable results, our approach pays attention to the endogeneity of our explanatory variables, heteroscedasticity, and spillovers effects across regional economies by means of spatial econometric techniques and the spatial heteroscedasticity and autocorrelation consistent estimator.
Racial Perceptions of Baseball at Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Authors: Cooper Joseph N. , Gawrysiak Joey , Hawkins Billy
Published: September 2012

The purpose of this study is to identify demographic backgrounds, participation patterns, and racial perceptions of baseball student-athletes at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the Southeastern United States. HBCUs were selected for this study because of the dearth of research on student-athletes at these institutions. An 11-item questionnaire and a focus group interview were used for data collection. Data were retrieved from student-athletes who participate in baseball at two selected HBCUs in the Southeastern United States. A grounded theoretical approach was used to examine demographic backgrounds, participation patterns, and racial perceptions of baseball student-athletes at HBCUs. The findings from this study revealed that increasing opportunities at all levels for Blacks to succeed in baseball is the most important way to increase Black participation in baseball.
Playing in the New Media Game or Riding the Virtual Bench
Authors: Kassing Jeffrey W. , Sanderson Jimmy
Published: September 2012

This essay explores a set of new media user trends that are (re)shaping fan–athlete interaction through (para)social connections. Acting as bonding agents, the trends considered either contribute to or detract from membership in the community of sport. Accordingly, social leveling practices, invitational uses, and bridging functions serve to connect people within the community of sport, whereas policing, maladaptive parasocial interaction, and hypermasculinity function to disconnect people from the community of sport. The essay looks at these trends in detail and provides examples of each in practice. It concludes with a discussion of the digital literacy implications that fan–athlete interaction via new media introduces.
Sport on the Move
Authors: Hutchins Brett
Published: September 2012

The increased popularity of mobile smartphones and tablet computers in developed economies is transforming how and where sports footage, highlights and information are accessed. These developments are contributing to new commercial arrangements in the media sport sector, as well as legal conflicts over sought-after content that is transferable and reproduced across broadcast (pay-for-view and free-to-air television), online (desktop and laptop computers), and mobile platforms (smartphone and tablets). In particular, mobile and wireless communications highlight that the media sport content economy is now “on the move” from technology, commercial, regulatory, and legal perspectives. This article outlines factors that are determining how this economy functions in relation to mobile media, with an emphasis on the complex and sometimes unpredictable relationship between content production, distribution, platforms, and access.
Numerical study on the effects of yarn mechanical transverse properties on the ballistic impact behaviour of textile fabric
Authors: Ha-Minh Cuong , Imad Abdellatif , Boussu François , Kanit Toufik , Crépin David
Published: September 2012

A numerical model of ballistic impact on a two-dimensional Kevlar KM2® plain-woven fabric has been validated by experiment. This paper shows that it is necessary to experimentally measure material constants of yarns for having good input parameters of the model. Effects of yarn Poisson’s ratio, transverse and shear modulus on impact behaviors of a simple crimped yarn and a complete fabric have been carried out. The effect of the Poisson’s ratio can be negligible in both impact cases: on a single crimped yarn and a complete fabric. The same conclusion has been proven for the effect of the transversal modulus except the cases of its so low values that can cause yarn early damage. The shear modulus of a yarn appears to be an important material parameter that mainly influences the ballistic performance of a two-dimensional plain-woven fabric. When using a very high value of a shear modulus of yarn, a crimped single yarn is broken immediately after contact with projectile in pure shearing mode.
Effects of Demineralized Bone Matrix on Tendon-Bone Healing in an Intra-articular Rodent Model
Authors: Lovric Vedran , Chen Dong , Yu Yan , Oliver Rema A. , Genin Francois , Walsh William R.
Published: September 2012

Background:

Techniques to improve and accelerate tendon-bone healing could be advantageous in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Effects of demineralized bone matrix (DBM) on intra-articular tendon-bone healing have not been examined.

Hypothesis:

Demineralized bone matrix has the potential to convey osteoinductive growth proteins to the site of healing at the tendon-bone interface. We hypothesized that the presence of DBM will result in more bone formation and hasten tendon-bone healing.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Fifty-six female athymic rnu/rnu (nude) rats were used. Rats were randomly allocated into 2 groups (control or treatment). The control group underwent an ACL reconstruction, while the treatment group had human DBM implanted in the tendon graft and bone tunnel before reconstruction. Rats were sacrificed at 2 (n = 8), 4 (n = 24), and 6 (n = 24) weeks for histological, and immunohistochemical (t = 2, 4, and 6 weeks), and biomechanical testing and micro–computed tomography (t = 4 and 6 weeks) end points.

Results:

Our findings suggest that in the presence of DBM, tendon-bone healing is augmented by increased woven bone formation and enhanced bone remodeling as indicated by histology and micro–computed tomography. This ultimately resulted in a statistically significant increase in peak load to failure of the tendon-bone interface at 4 weeks (DBM group: 5.96 ± 1.36 N; control group: 2.86 ± 0.7 N) and 6 weeks (DBM group: 9.13 ± 0.97 N; control group: 5.81 ± 1.1 N).

Conclusion:

Demineralized bone matrix at the tendon-bone interface promotes healing between the tendon and bone in a rodent ACL model.

Clinical Relevance:

Introduction of osteoinductive DBM at the tendon-bone interface during ACL reconstructive surgery may improve short-term outcomes.
Flame retardancy of bitumen: A calorimetry study
Authors: Bourbigot Serge , Cerin Oriane , Duquesne Sophie , Clavel Norbert
Published: September 2012

The article investigates the flame retardancy of bitumen for roofing applications using the mass loss calorimeter. Screening of the solid flame retardants, including expandable graphite, boron-based compounds, and silsesquioxanes, shows that they can provide high fire performance. Nevertheless, the settling of these compounds during hot storage stability tests does not permit using them for large-scale application (transportation of bitumen at high temperature). On the contrary, the incorporation of the commercial liquid flame retardant OP 920 (phosphoric acid alkyl ester) in bitumen enhances the reaction to fire of the bitumen, and the mixture is stable during hot storage test. Nanoparticles (organoclay and multiwall carbon nanotubes) have not been found to be appropriate flame retardants for bitumen, but they can be used as synergist with OP 920. Nevertheless, they are not suitable for practical applications because organoclay settles during hot storage tests. Only OP 920 among the evaluated flame retardants can be considered for roofing applications. It provides a very promising fire performance in polymer-modified bitumen and in roofing felts.
Between Rocks and Hard Places
Authors: Nicotera Anne Maydan , Mahon Margaret M.
Published: September 2012

Recurrent interpersonal conflict in organizational settings is common and impedes goal-attainment. Structurational divergence (SD) theory conceptualizes a distinctive negative communication spiral rooted in unresolved conflict resulting from incompatible rules of intersecting meaning structures. This article expands SD theory by examining the function of human agency, positing that the rendering of communication patterns as incomprehensible and untransformable diminishes agency. After explaining and expanding SD theory, an exploratory study examines the relationship of SD to conflict-related organizational- and communication-related constructs. Destructive communication (verbal aggression, ambiguity intolerance, controlling conflict management style, and taking conflict personally) is related to SD whereas constructive communication (solution oriented conflict management style, argumentativeness) is not. Implications are discussed for understanding conflict in nursing and other organizational settings as well as for intervention.
Ethnic Identity During War
Authors: Weber Peter C.
Published: September 2012

Social, economic, and political transformations have traditionally complicated the balance between individual liberties and common good (or national needs). In times of war this balance appears more fragile and—given the role of philanthropy in the formation of identities—philanthropic studies as a field should pay more attention to these dynamics. Accordingly, in this article, the author investigates the impact of World War 1 on the German-American community. Through the historical case study of one German-American voluntary association based in Indianapolis, the author dismisses both ethnic disappearance and ethnic survival theories. In contrast, the author proposes a more nuanced approach to the processes of assimilation of minority groups. The author contends that German-Americans did not lose the battle for survival but for pluralism and suggests that in times of economic as well as social transformations homogenizing forces tend to silence alternative voices in American society.
Energy optimisation in manufacturing systems using virtual engineering-driven discrete event simulation
Authors: Ghani Usman , Monfared Radmehr P , Harrison Robert
Published: September 2012

Increasing the cost of electricity and the global obligations for efficient use of energy have added additional pressure to industrial companies in an already challenging market. Manufacturing companies are adopting methods to have a greater agility to respond quicker to the market dynamics and varying demands by changing production configurations. In recent years, deploying virtual engineering design approaches and extensive simulation methods have facilitated an early insight into how a system may perform, in advance of the physical build. However, the impact of system reconfiguration on the cost of energy consumption is typically unknown.

Much research has been carried out on the development of new energy-efficient drives (e.g. motors and actuators) and also the possibility of turning off the drives when idle to save energy. However, in this article, the authors propose a new method of energy saving for engineering production lines by fine tuning the low level device motions to optimise energy consumption.

An integration method between virtual engineering design and simulation modelling is proposed, and as a result a simulation method for energy optimisation is developed. In this article the method of interpreting virtual design data for use in simulation modelling of a production assembly line in an automotive industry is discussed. Furthermore, a developed algorithm for optimising energy usage based on adjusting dynamic properties of the system components (e.g. accelerations, torque and mass) is discussed and the result of implementing the concept in an experimental application in the powertrain industry is reported.