bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Range Expansion of Ambrosia artemisiifolia in Europe Is Promoted by Climate Change
Authors: Cunze Sarah , Leiblein Marion Carmen , Tackenberg Oliver
Published: February 2013

Ambrosia artemisiifolia L., native to North America, is a problematic invasive species, because of its highly allergenic pollen. The species is expected to expand its range due to climate change. By means of ecological niche modelling (ENM), we predict habitat suitability for A. artemisiifolia in Europe under current and future climatic conditions. Overall, we compared the performance and results of 16 algorithms commonly applied in ENM. As occurrence records of invasive species may be dominated by sampling bias, we also used data from the native range. To assess the quality of the modelling approaches we assembled a new map of current occurrences of A. artemisiifolia in Europe. Our results show that ENM yields a good estimation of the potential range of A. artemisiifolia in Europe only when using the North American data. A strong sampling bias in the European Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data for A. artemisiifolia causes unrealistic results. Using the North American data reflects the realized European distribution very well. All models predict an enlargement and a northwards shift of potential range in Central and Northern Europe during the next decades. Climate warming will lead to an increase and northwards shift of A. artemisiifolia in Europe.
Selective Nitration of Chlorobenzene by NO2 in the Alkali Zeolite NaZSM-5
Authors: Kirkby Scott J.
Published: February 2013

Chlorobenzene was reacted with NO2, in the initially acid-free zeolite NaZSM-5, to yield para-chloronitrobenzene exclusively. The precursors were loaded sequentially into self-supporting pellets of the zeolite, contained within a stainless steel cell, from the gas phase. The reaction proceeds spontaneously at room temperature. It is, however, very temperature dependent and effectively ceases at zero degrees Celsius. The reaction was monitored in situ using FT-IR. The active nitrating agent is formed from the partial electron donation by the NO2 to the Na+ cations present in the zeolite lattice. Under the reaction conditions, chlorobenzene is not readily mobile through the pore system; thus, only the molecules adsorbed near a cation site react to form para-chloronitrobenzene.
Multiple Aneurysms of the Inferior Pancreaticoduodenal Artery: A Rare Complication of Acute Pancreatitis
Authors: Klonaris Chris , Psathas Emmanouil , Katsargyris Athanasios , Lioudaki Stella , Chatziioannou Achilleas , Karatzas Theodore
Published: February 2013

Inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery (IPDA) aneurysms are uncommon, representing nearly 2% of all visceral aneurysms, and sporadically associated with celiac artery stenosis. Multiple IPDA aneurysms have been rarely reported. We report a case of a 53-year-old female patient with a history of prior pancreatitis, who presented with two IPDA aneurysms combined with median arcuate ligament-syndrome-like stenosis of the celiac trunk. The patient was treated successfully with coil embolization under local anesthesia. The procedure is described and illustrated in detail and the advantages and technical considerations of such an approach are also being discussed.
Link Expiration Time-Aware Routing Protocol for UWSNs
Authors: Uddin Md. Ashraf , Mamun-or-Rashid
Published: February 2013

We propose a link expiration time-aware routing protocol for UWSNs. In this protocol, a sending node forwards a data packet after being sure that the packet reaches the forwarding node, and acknowledgment is returned to the sending node after receiving the data packet. Node mobility is handled in the protocol through the calculation of the link expiration time and sending the packet based on the link expiration time. Although the protocol employs two types of control packet, it provides less energy consumption and at the same time is providing better reliability of packets reaching to the destination because of using acknowledgement packet. The forwarding decision of node is taken by applying Bayes’ uncertainty theorem. We use depth, residual energy, and distance from the forwarding node to the sending node as evidence in Bayes’ theorem. In this protocol, we use the concept of expert systems ranking potentially true hypothesis. Extensive simulation has been executed to endorse better performance of the proposed protocol.
Noninvasive Monitoring during Interhospital Transport of Newborn Infants
Authors: Schmölzer Georg M. , O’Reilly Megan , Cheung Po-Yin
Published: February 2013

The main indications for interhospital neonatal transports are radiographic studies (e.g., magnet resonance imaging) and surgical interventions. Specialized neonatal transport teams need to be skilled in patient care, communication, and equipment management and extensively trained in resuscitation, stabilization, and transport of critically ill infants. However, there is increasing evidence that clinical assessment of heart rate, color, or chest wall movements is imprecise and can be misleading even in experienced hands. The aim of the paper was to review the current evidence on clinical monitoring equipment during interhospital neonatal transport.
Effect of Modified Formula Radix Hedysari on the Amplification Effect during Peripheral Nerve Regeneration
Authors: Wang Zhi Yong , Zhang Pei Xun , Han Na , Kou Yu Hui , Yin Xiao Feng , Jiang Bao Guo
Published: February 2013

Many studies have demonstrated a compensatory amplification phenomenon during nerve regeneration. When a relatively fine nerve is used as a donor to connect to a distal nerve after transection, the donor nerve regenerates more collaterals than its own fibers, which extend to the distal stump, grow into distal endoneurial tubes, and finally reach and dominate the target organs. This is known as the amplification phenomenon. In this study, we investigated the amplification phenomenon in rats treated with Modified Formula Radix Hedysari (MFRH) as adjuvant therapy for 12 weeks. The rats were divided into three groups at random (six animals in each group). In the model group and the treatment group, the proximal common peroneal nerve was used as a donor nerve to connect to the distal tibial nerve. Rats in the normal group did not undergo surgery. After surgery, the treatment group was administered MFRH as systemic therapy, while the model group and the normal group were not given treatment. The results demonstrated that the nerve conduction velocity, the fiber diameter, the axon diameter, the number of regenerating nerve fibers, and the amplification ratio were better in the treatment group than in the model group, suggesting that MFRH promoted the nerve amplification effect.
Slow Down and Concentrate: Time for a Paradigm Shift in Fall Prevention among People with Parkinson’s Disease?
Authors: Stack Emma L. , Roberts Helen C.
Published: February 2013

Introduction. We know little about how environmental challenges beyond home exacerbate difficulty moving, leading to falls among people with Parkinson’s (PwP).Aims. To survey falls beyond home, identifying challenges amenable to behaviour change.Methods. We distributed 380 questionnaires to PwP in Southern England, asking participants to count and describe falls beyond home in the previous 12 months.Results. Among 255 responses, 136 PwP (diagnosed a median 8 years) reported falling beyond home. They described 249 falls in detail, commonly falling forward after tripping in streets.Single fallers(one fall in 12 months) commonly missed their footing, walking, or changing position and recovered to standing alone or with unfamiliar help.Repeat fallers(median falls, two) commonly felt shaken or embarrassed and sought medical advice.Very frequent fallers(falling at least monthly; median falls beyond home, six) commonly fell backward, in shops and after collapse but often recovered to standing alone.Conclusion. Even independently active PwP who do not fall at home may fall beyond home, often after tripping. Falling beyond home may result in psychological and/or physical trauma (embarrassment if observed by strangers and/or injury if falling backwards onto a hard surface). Prevention requires vigilance and preparedness: slowing down and concentrating on a single task might effectively prevent falling.
Optimum Path Synthesis of a Geared Five-Bar Mechanism
Authors: Lin Wen-Yi
Published: February 2013

Most studies on path synthesis problems are to trace simple or smooth trajectories. In this work, an optimum synthesis for several special trajectories generated by a geared five-bar mechanism is studied using the one-phase synthesis method. The synthesis problem for the special trajectories, which is originally studied using the two-phase synthesis method discussed in the literature, is a real challenge due to very few dimensionally proportioned mechanisms that can generate the special trajectories. The challenging special trajectories with up to 41 discrete points include a self-overlapping curve, nonsmooth curves with straight segments and vertices, and sophisticated shapes. The error function of the square deviation of positions is used as the objective function and the GA-DE evolutionary algorithm is used to solve the optimization problems. Findings show that the proposed method can obtain approximately matched trajectories at the cost of a tremendous number of evaluations of the objective function. Therefore, the challenging problems may serve as the benchmark problems to test the effectiveness and efficiency of synthesis methods and/or optimization algorithms. All the synthesized solutions have been validated using the animation of the SolidWorks assembly so that the obtained mechanisms are sound and usable.
Energy Efficiency Performance Improvements for Ant-Based Routing Algorithm in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Zungeru Adamu Murtala , Seng Kah Phooi , Ang Li-Minn , Chong Chia Wai
Published: February 2013

The main problem for event gathering in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) is the restricted communication range for each node. Due to the restricted communication range and high network density, event forwarding in WSNs is very challenging and requires multihop data forwarding. Currently, the energy-efficient ant based routing (EEABR) algorithm, based on the ant colony optimization (ACO) metaheuristic, is one of the state-of-the-art energy-aware routing protocols. In this paper, we propose three improvements to the EEABR algorithm to further improve its energy efficiency. The improvements to the original EEABR are based on the following: (1) a new scheme to intelligently initialize the routing tables giving priority to neighboring nodes that simultaneously could be the destination, (2) intelligent update of routing tables in case of a node or link failure, and (3) reducing the flooding ability of ants for congestion control. The energy efficiency improvements are significant particularly for dynamic routing environments. Experimental results using the RMASE simulation environment show that the proposed method increases the energy efficiency by up to 9% and 64% in converge-cast and target-tracking scenarios, respectively, over the original EEABR without incurring a significant increase in complexity. The method is also compared and found to also outperform other swarm-based routing protocols such as sensor-driven and cost-aware ant routing (SC) and Beesensor.
TiO2and ZnO Nanoparticles in Photocatalytic and Hygienic Coatings
Authors: Jašková Veronika , Hochmannová Libuše , Vytřasová Jarmila
Published: February 2013

Antimicrobial paints were based on the aqueous acrylic dispersion and various nanoparticles of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Antimicrobial ability and photoactivity were assumed in these paints. It was possible to observe the photoactivity thanks to change of organic dyes due to oxidative-reductive reaction. The best photocatalytic effect showed the coating containing the mixture of the first type of TiO2and nano-ZnO despite the fact that the first type of TiO2was not better in the photocatalytic test than the other types of TiO2. The agar dilution method was used to test antimicrobial ability. TheEscherichia coli,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,andStaphylococcus aureuswere chosen as test bacteria andPenicillium chrysogenumandAspergillus nigeras test molds. The antimicrobial effect of coatings with the mixture of the first type of TiO2and nano-ZnO was the best of all the tested samples.
Subamolide A Induces Mitotic Catastrophe Accompanied by Apoptosis in Human Lung Cancer Cells
Authors: Hung Jen-Yu , Wen Ching-Wen , Hsu Ya-Ling , Lin En-Shyh , Huang Ming-Shyan , Chen Chung-Yi , Kuo Po-Lin
Published: February 2013

This study investigated the anticancer effects of subamolide A (Sub-A), isolated fromCinnamomum subavenium, on human nonsmall cell lung cancer cell lines A549 and NCI-H460. Treatment of cancer cells with Sub-A resulted in decreased cell viability of both lung cancer cell lines. Sub-A induced lung cancer cell death by triggering mitotic catastrophe with apoptosis. It triggered oxidant stress, indicated by increased cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and decreased glutathione level. The elevated ROS triggered the activation of ataxia-telangiectasia mutation (ATM), which further enhanced the ATF3 upregulation and subsequently enhanced p53 function by phosphorylation at Serine 15 and Serine 392. The antioxidant, EUK8, significantly decreased mitotic catastrophe by inhibiting ATM activation, ATF3 expression, and p53 phosphorylation. The reduction of ATM and ATF3 expression by shRNA decreased Sub-A-mediated p53 phosphorylation and mitotic catastrophe. Sub-A also caused a dramatic 70% reduction in tumor size in an animal model. Taken together, cell death of lung cancer cells in response to Sub-A is dependent on ROS generation, which triggers mitotic catastrophe followed by apoptosis. Therefore, Sub-A may be a novel anticancer agent for the treatment of nonsmall cell lung cancer.
Chondrolysis of the Hip following Septic Arthritis: A Rare Complication of Magnetic Resonance Arthrography
Authors: Haviv Barak , Thein Rafael , Burg Alon , Heller Snir , Bronak Shlomo , Velkes Steven
Published: February 2013

Magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) is commonly used to detect labral tears of the hip. Complications of MRA are unusual and include minor reactions such as chemical synovitis and urticaria. This paper presents a rapidly progressive chondrolysis of the hip in a young patient after arthrography. The patient had suffered from acute septic arthritis and was treated by emergent arthroscopic surgery followed by appropriate antibiotics. At 18 months of followup, there were no signs of active infection but evidence of joint chondrolysis. Magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) of the hip is an invasive procedure and should therefore be recommended judiciously. Post-MRA pain is common but often mild and temporary, while post-MRA joint infection is rare; nevertheless, severe joint pain and limitation should raise suspicion for septic hip.
Physical Activity Improves Verbal and Spatial Memory in Older Adults with Probable Mild Cognitive Impairment: A 6-Month Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Nagamatsu Lindsay S. , Chan Alison , Davis Jennifer C. , Beattie B. Lynn , Graf Peter , Voss Michelle W. , Sharma Devika , Liu-Ambrose Teresa
Published: February 2013

We report secondary findings from a randomized controlled trial on the effects of exercise on memory in older adults with probable MCI. We randomized 86 women aged 70–80 years with subjective memory complaints into one of three groups: resistance training, aerobic training, or balance and tone (control). All participants exercised twice per week for six months. We measured verbal memory and learning using the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) and spatial memory using a computerized test, before and after trial completion. We found that the aerobic training group remembered significantly more items in the loss after interference condition of the RAVLT compared with the control group after six months of training. In addition, both experimental groups showed improved spatial memory performance in the most difficult condition where they were required to memorize the spatial location of three items, compared with the control group. Lastly, we found a significant correlation between spatial memory performance and overall physical capacity after intervention in the aerobic training group. Taken together, our results provide support for the prevailing notion that exercise can positively impact cognitive functioning and may represent an effective strategy to improve memory in those who have begun to experience cognitive decline.
New Brodatz-Based Image Databases for Grayscale Color and Multiband Texture Analysis
Authors: Abdelmounaime Safia , Dong-Chen He
Published: February 2013

Grayscale and color textures can have spectral informative content. This spectral information coexists with the grayscale or chromatic spatial pattern that characterizes the texture. This informative and nontextural spectral content can be a source of confusion for rigorous evaluations of the intrinsic textural performance of texture methods. In this paper, we used basic image processing tools to develop a new class of textures in which texture information is the only source of discrimination. Spectral information in this new class of textures contributes only to form texture. The textures are grouped into two databases. The first is the Normalized Brodatz Texture database (NBT) which is a collection of grayscale images. The second is the Multiband Texture (MBT) database which is a collection of color texture images. Thus, this new class of textures is ideal for rigorous comparisons between texture analysis methods based only on their intrinsic performance on texture characterization.
Potassium Current Is Not Affected by Long-Term Exposure to Ghrelin or GHRP-6 in Somatotropes GC Cells
Authors: Domínguez Mancera Belisario , Monjaraz Guzman Eduardo , Flores-Hernández Jorge L. V. , Barrientos Morales Manuel , Martínez Hernandez José M. , Hernández Beltran Antonio , Cervantes Acosta Patricia
Published: February 2013

Ghrelin is a growth hormone (GH) secretagogue (GHS) and GHRP-6 is a synthetic peptide analogue; both act through the GHS receptor. GH secretion depends directly on the intracellular concentration of Ca2+; this is determined from the intracellular reserves and by the entrance of Ca2+through the voltage-dependent calcium channels, which are activated by the membrane depolarization. Membrane potential is mainly determined by K+channels. In the present work, we investigated the effect of ghrelin (10 nM) or GHRP-6 (100 nM) for 96 h on functional expression of voltage-dependent K+channels in rat somatotropes: GC cell line. Physiological patch-clamp whole-cell recording was used to register the K+currents. With Cd2+(1 mM) and tetrodotoxin (1 μm) in the bath solution recording, three types of currents were characterized on the basis of their biophysical and pharmacological properties. GC cells showed a K+current with a transitory component sensitive to 4-aminopyridine, which represents ~40% of the total outgoing current; a sustained component named delayed rectifier , sensitive to tetraethylammonium; and a third type of K+current was recorded at potentials more negative than −80 mV, permitting the entrance of K+named inward rectifier (KIR). Chronic treatment with ghrelin or GHRP-6 did not modify the functional expression of K+channels, without significant changes () in the amplitudes of the three currents observed; in addition, there were no modifications in their biophysical properties and kinetic activation or inactivation.
Extensive Bilateral Intracranial Calcifications: A Case of Iatrogenic Hypoparathyroidism
Authors: Zisimopoulou Vaso , Siatouni Anna , Tsoukalos Grigorios , Tavernarakis Antonios , Gatzonis Stylianos
Published: February 2013

This is a case of a 69-year-old male patient with long-standing iatrogenic hypoparathyroidism after total thyroidectomy. The clinical evaluation revealed mild neurological symptoms and excessive brain calcinosis. Intracranial calcification that affects structures other than the basal ganglia and the cerebellum is a rare manifestation of postoperative hypoparathyroidism. Detection of brain calcinosis in patients who had total thyroidectomy can motivate clinicians in further investigation of possible hypoparathyroidism with measurement of calcium and phosphorus serum levels.
Lifestyle Characteristics and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A Population-Based Study in Albania
Authors: Çela Lulzim , Kraja Bledar , Hoti Kliti , Toçi Ervin , Muja Herion , Roshi Enver , Burazeri Genc
Published: February 2013

Aim. We aimed to assess the prevalence and lifestyle correlates of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in the adult population of Albania, a Mediterranean country in Southeast Europe which has experienced major behavioral changes in the past two decades.Methods. A cross-sectional study, conducted in 2012, included a population-representative sample of 845 individuals (≥18 years) residing in Tirana (345 men, mean age: ; 500 women, mean age: ; response rate: 84.5%). Assessment of GERD was based on Montreal definition. Covariates included socioeconomic characteristics, lifestyle factors, and body mass index. Logistic regression was used to assess the association of socioeconomic characteristics and lifestyle factors with GERD.Results. The overall prevalence of GERD was 11.9%. There were no significant sex differences, but a higher prevalence among the older participants. In fully adjusted models, there was a positive relationship of GERD with smoking, physical inactivity, fried food consumption, and obesity, but not so for alcohol intake and meat consumption.Conclusion. We obtained important evidence on the prevalence and lifestyle correlates of GERD in a Western Balkans' country. Smoking, physical inactivity, and obesity were strong “predictors” of GERD in this population. Findings from this study should be replicated in prospective studies in Albania and other transitional settings.
CoReHA 2.0: A Software Package forIn VivoMREIT Experiments
Authors: Jeon Kiwan , Lee Chang-Ock
Published: February 2013

Magnetic resonance electrical impedance tomography (MREIT) is a new medical imaging modality visualizing static conductivity images of electrically conducting subjects. Recently, MREIT has rapidly progressed in its theory, algorithm, and experiment technique and now reached to the stage ofin vivoanimal experiments. In this paper, we present a software, named CoReHA 2.0 standing for the second version of conductivity reconstructor using harmonic algorithms, to facilitatein vivoMREIT reconstruction of conductivity image. This software offers various computational tools including preprocessing of MREIT data, identification of 2D geometry of the imaging domain and electrode positions, and reconstruction of cross-sectional scaled conductivity images from MREIT data. In particular, in the new version, we added several tools including ramp-preserving denoising, harmonic inpainting, and local harmonicBzalgorithm to deal with data fromin vivoexperiments. The presented software will be useful to researchers in the field of MREIT for simulation, validation, and further technical development.
Combined Effects of PPARγAgonists and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitors in Human Proximal Tubule Cells
Authors: Pegg Katherine , Zhang Jie , Pollock Carol , Saad Sonia
Published: February 2013

We aimed to determine whether epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibition, in addition to a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) agonist, prevents high-glucose-induced proximal tubular fibrosis, inflammation, and sodium and water retention in human proximal tubule cells exposed to normal glucose; high glucose; high glucose with the PPARγagonist pioglitazone or with the P-EGFR inhibitor, gefitinib; or high glucose with both pioglitazone and gefitinib. We have shown that high glucose increases AP-1 and NFκB binding activity, downstream phosphorylation of EGFR and Erk1/2, and fibronectin and collagen IV expression. Pioglitazone reversed these effects but upregulated NHE3 and AQP1 expression. Gefitinib inhibited high glucose induced fibronectin and collagen IV, and EGFR and Erk1/2 phosphorylation and reversed pioglitazone-induced increases in NHE3 and AQP1 expression. Our data suggests that combination of an EGFR inhibitor and a PPARγagonist mitigates high-glucose-induced fibrosis and inflammation and reverses the upregulation of transporters and channels involved in sodium and water retention in human proximal tubule cells. Hence EGFR blockade may hold promise, not only in limiting tubulointerstitial pathology in diabetic nephropathy, but also in limiting the sodium and water retention observed in patients with diabetes and exacerbated by PPARγagonists.
Toxicity of silver, titanium and silicon nanoparticles on the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, and growth parameters of tomato
Authors: Ardakani Abbas Salahi
Published: February 2013

The toxicity of three nanoparticles, silver (AgNP, 20 nm), silicon oxide (SiO2NP, 11-14 nm) and titanium oxide (TiO2NP, 20 nm), to the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, was studied in laboratory and pot experiments. Application rates of all nanoparticles were 1.5, 3, 6, 12.5, 25, 50, 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg nanoparticles (ml water)−1 for laboratory experiment to determine their effects on motility and mortality of second-stage juveniles (J2). In pot experiment, 0.02, 0.01, 0.005, 0.0025, 0.00125 and 0.0007% (w/w) of nano-silver and nano-titanium were applied to examine effects on nematode activity and plant growth components of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Results showed 100% J2 immobility and mortality in treatments of 800, 400 and 200 mg ml−1 of AgNP; the LC50 for AgNP was 100 mg ml−1. J2 mortality was 48, 16 and 7.3% in 100, 50 and 25 mg ml−1 of AgNP, respectively. J2 mortality was 4.3 and 2% in 800 and 400 mg ml−1 of TiO2NP, respectively. No J2 mortality was seen in all other treatments after 24 h exposure. In a pot experiment, all treatments of AgNP and 0.02% TiO2NP completely controlled M. incognita. Treatments of 0.02, 0.01 and 0.005% of AgNP as well as 0.02% of TiO2NP were toxic to tomato plants and significantly reduced tomato root and stem length and fresh weights in comparison to control.
Membership, Associate Membership and Pre-accession Arrangements of CERN, ESO, ESA, and EUMETSAT
Authors: Cogen Marc
Published: February 2013

Although there is abundant literature on membership of international organizations such as the United Nations, the European Union or the WTO, membership issues concerning European scientific organizations are rarely looked upon. This can be explained by the focus of the legal community on political and economic organizations. The introduction of the article clarifies why separate European scientific organizations were needed and how the scientific community created European cooperation on a sectoral basis, sometimes aided by US scientists. The scientific organizations maintained themselves as independent organizations notwithstanding the absorptive capacity demonstrated by the dynamics of the European Union. The article argues that the four European scientific organizations developed a similar but not identical legal practice regarding admission of new member states and membership obligations. CERN and ESA are the two conceptual models for the development of legal solutions to membership questions which contributes to the formation of a similar law pattern of European scientific organizations. Treaty amendment has been avoided and legal practice is developed by the plenary organ, the Council. Legal similarities offer the advantage to states, as members of the four scientific organizations, to understand better the particular nature of scientific organizations and their operations. The article pays attention to recent expansion of membership as a complex issue which reinforced the adoption of similar legal solutions and the introduction of a pre-accession policy with increased membership conditionality.
The Articles on the Responsibility of International Organizations: Magnifying the Fissures in the Law of International Responsibility
Authors: d’Aspremont Jean
Published: February 2013

It is against the backdrop of the conceptual impairment inherited from the Articles on State Responsibility (hereafter ASR) that this note, rather than zeroing in on what could have been better devised at the micro-level of the Articles on the Responsibility of International Organizations (hereafter ARIO), adopts a holistic view on the approaches to the law of international responsibility. In so doing, the ARIO are not approached in isolation but together with the ASR. This paper argues that, envisaged together with the ASR, the ARIO magnify the structural straits of the law of international responsibility. It more particularly argues that the ARIO reveal that the minor and almost invisible defects at the level of the ASR have enlarged on the occasion of their transposition to the responsibility of international organizations, unveiling the conceptual fissures of the whole law of international responsibility (Section 1). It then formulates a few epistemological considerations on how a normative instrument that so openly lays bare the limits of the current law of international responsibility could nonetheless be usefully received by our professional community (Section 2).
Going Against the Grain: When Private Rules Shouldn’t Apply to Public Institutions
Authors: Martha Rutsel S.J. , Dadush Sarah
Published: February 2013

This piece analyzes the institutional challenges and tensions generated by applying the privately produced International Financial Reporting Standards to the financial reporting practices of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), an inter-governmental organization, and specialized agency of the United Nations. The authors question whether the application of the Standards is carried out in the interest of the organization or whether it is rather a product of pressure, both external and internal, to adopt rules that reflect a particular understanding of what constitutes ‘best practice’. The authors draw attention to the fact that best practices often become benchmarks for a wide range of institutions, notwithstanding fundamental institutional differences. They argue that the adoption of externally generated rules must be pursued in a systematically cautious, coordinated, and critical manner in order to avoid producing practices that run against the very grain of a public institution’s constitution and mandate. They also argue that robust governance structures are necessary to avoid institutional digressions.
Responsibility of International Organizations ‘in connection with acts of States’
Authors: Nedeski Nataša , Nollkaemper André
Published: February 2013

This article offers some reflections on the way in which the ILC Articles on the Responsibility of International Organizations (ARIO) have addressed the responsibility of international organizations for conduct of member States implementing their normative acts. The ILC has chosen to deal with this issue through the concept of responsibility ‘in connection with’ acts of States, which it had already included in its Articles on State Responsibility (ASR), and more in particular through article 17 on ‘circumvention’. Focusing primarily on this provision, we argue that the attempt to address this particular type of responsibility forced the ILC to relax the conceptual straightjackets it had opted for in the ASR, thereby exposing certain ambiguities in the foundations of the law of international responsibility.
UN Peacekeeping Operations and Article 7 ARIO: The Missing Link
Authors: Sari Aurel
Published: February 2013

Peacekeeping operations conducted by international organizations raise difficult questions of international responsibility. In principle, breaches of international law committed by national contingents serving on such operations may be attributed either to the international organization leading the operation or to the State to which the personnel implicated in the wrongful conduct belongs. The ARIO suggests a seemingly simple solution to this dilemma: wrongful conduct should be attributed to the party exercising effective control over that conduct. The present note argues that this solution is misguided. It deliberately ignores the legal and institutional status of national contingents, does not reflect consistent international practice and may not serve the best interests of potential claimants. In the case of peacekeeping operations incorporated into the institutional structure of an international organization, a more appropriate solution to the dilemma of multiple attribution is to proceed on the basis of a rebuttable presumption that the wrongful acts committed by national contingents are attributable to the international organization and not to their contributing State.
Are All International Organizations Created Equal?
Authors: Wouters Jan , Odermatt Jed
Published: February 2013

This contribution briefly discusses the methodological and conceptual issues faced by the ILC during its work on the responsibility of international organizations. It examines some of the key challenges faced by the ILC, including the lack of relevant international practice, and the diversity of international organizations. It argues that while the responsibility of international organizations remains an important topic for international law, the law is not yet developed enough for codification of secondary rules to apply to all international organizations. In some cases, this led the ILC to rely heavily on its Articles of States Responsibility. This approach pushed the work of the ILC closer to ‘progressive development’ of the law than to codification.
Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) of Reunion Island: a catalogue of the local species, including 18 new taxa and a key to species
Authors: ROUSSE PASCAL , GUPTA ANKITA
Published: February 2013

Microgastrine wasps (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) are primary parasitoids of Lepidoptera. Some of them parasitise major economic pests and have been largely used for biocontrol programs. We revise here the fauna of Reunion Island: 34 spe-cies were recorded, belonging to 13 genera. One genus and 18 species are newly described: Dodogaster gen. nov, Apan-teles minatchy sp. nov., A. pashmina sp. nov., A. romei sp. nov., Cotesia xavieri sp. nov., Dolichogenidea ashoka sp. nov., D. broadi sp. nov., D. lumba sp. nov., D. uru sp. nov., D. villemantae sp. nov., Distatrix yunae sp. nov., Dodogaster grangeri sp. nov., Exoryza safranum sp. nov., Glyptapanteles chidra sp. nov., Nyereria ganges sp. nov., N. mayurus sp. nov., Parapanteles covino sp. nov., P. darignac sp. nov. and Wilkinsonellus narangahus sp. nov.. On the remaining 16 species, 12 are new distribution records. Finally, Glyptapanteles antsirabensis (Granger) comb. nov., G. ficus (Granger) comb. nov., G. subandinus (Blanchard) comb. nov., and Venanides curticornis (Granger) comb. nov. are reassigned from the traditionally defined Apanteles genus to these respective genera. A key to all genera and species is provided.
Redescription and taxonomic status of Paguristes weddellii (H. Milne Edwards) (Crustacea: Anomura: Paguroidea: Diogenidae) from the eastern Pacific
Authors: AYÓN-PARENTE MANUEL , HENDRICKX MICHEL E.
Published: February 2013

The type and additional material of Paguristes weddellii (H. Milne Edwards, 1848) were examined. The species is redescribed and illustrated in details. Comparison of P. weddellii with the monotypic genus Tetralobistes Ayón-Parente & Hendrickx, 2010b, shows many similarities, principally in the armature of the distal margin of the male first pleopod and the shape of the telson, which in both cases feature a tetralobular posterior margin, a character considered unique among the Diogenidae. Consequently, Pagurus weddellii is transfered to the genus Tetralobistes. Paguristes hirtus Dana, 1851, a subjective junior synonym of Pagurus weddellii is removed from the synonymy based on lack of direct evidences.
A new Frenguelliidae (Insecta: Odonata) from the early Eocene of Laguna del Hunco, Patagonia, Argentina
Authors: PETRULEVIČIUS JULIÁN F. , NEL ANDRÉ
Published: February 2013

The discovery of a new specimen of Frenguelliidae, attributed to the new species Frenguellia Argentina, is noteworthy for the knowledge of the diversity within this little-known family.
Sponges associated with octocorals in the Indo-Pacific, with the description of four new species
Authors: CALCINAI BARBARA , BAVESTRELLO GIORGIO , BERTOLINO MARCO , PICA DANIELA , WAGNER DANIEL , CERRANO CARLO
Published: February 2013

Sponges are characterised by high levels of phenotypic plasticity, thus allowing the same species to live in different habitats by taking different shapes. Here we describe 28 sponge species associated with the octocorals Carijoa riisei, Paratelesto rosea and Alertigorgia hoeksemai in Indonesia, Hawai’i and Vietnam, including four species that are new to science (Chondropsis subtilis, Hymedesmia (Hymedesmia) spinata, Hymedesmia (Stylopus) perlucida, Mycale (Aegogropila) furcata). Moreover, a large proportion of the described sponge species (21.4%) represent new records for the studied areas (Indonesia and Hawai’i). In total, we have studied 47 colonies of C. riisei associated with 24 sponge species, 5 colonies of P. rosea associated with 4 species and one colony of A. hoeksemai associated with one sponge species. Collectively, these examples of associations highlight the importance of epibiosis as a biodiversity enhancing process.
The Relationship Between Right-Wing Ideological Attitudes and Psychological Well-Being
Authors: Onraet Emma , Van Hiel Alain , Dhont Kristof
Published: February 2013

The relationship between right-wing ideological attitudes and psychological well-being has been intensively studied. Although some studies supported the hypothesis that right-wing attitudes are negatively related with well-being, other research yielded positive or nonsignificant relationships. We conducted a meta-analysis (total samples = 97, total N = 69,221) of measures of well-being, including positive and negative affect, life satisfaction, self-esteem, and intrinsic goal pursuit. The obtained effect sizes were generally weak and nonsignificant, except for a moderate relationship between intrinsic goal pursuit and social dominance orientation. Our results thus do not support previous theories that claim that right-wing attitudes yield substantial relationships with psychological well-being.
Effects of Implementation Intentions on Anxiety, Perceived Proximity, and Motor Performance
Authors: Stern Chadly , Cole Shana , Gollwitzer Peter M. , Oettingen Gabriele , Balcetis Emily
Published: February 2013

Anxiety leads to exaggerated perceptions of distance, which may impair performance on a physical task. In two studies, we tested one strategy to reduce anxiety and induce perceived proximity to increase performance. We predicted implementation intentions that reduce anxiety would increase perceived visual proximity to goal-relevant targets, which would indirectly improve performance. In two studies, we induced performance anxiety on a physical task. Participants who formed implementation intentions to reduce anxiety perceived goal-relevant targets (e.g., golf hole, dartboard) as physically closer and performed better than both participants without a strategy (Study 1) and participants with only a goal to regulate anxiety (Study 2). Furthermore, perceived proximity improved performance indirectly by increasing subjective task ease (Study 2). Results suggest that implementation intentions can reduce anxiety and lead to perceived proximity of goal-relevant targets, which helps perceivers make progress on goals.
Concussion Management, Education, and Return-to-Play Policies in High Schools
Authors: Esquivel Amanda , Haque Sadiq , Keating Patrick , Marsh Stephanie , Lemos Stephen
Published: February 2013

Background:

Concussions represent 8.9% to 13.2% of all high school athletic injuries. How these injuries are managed is currently unknown.

Hypothesis:

There are differences in concussion management and awareness among boys football, boys ice hockey, and boys and girls soccer.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiologic study.

Methods:

High school athletic directors were contacted via e-mail and asked to complete, and request that their staff complete, an online survey with 4 sections aimed at athletic directors, head coaches, team physicians, and certified athletic trainers.

Results:

According to coaches, concussion awareness education was provided for football (97%), hockey (65%), and boys and girls soccer (57% and 47%, respectively) ( P < 0.01). Use of sideline screening tools was significantly greater for football ( P = 0.03). All participants agreed that a player who has suffered a concussion cannot return to play the same day.

Conclusion:

There is a difference in concussion management and awareness among the 4 sports. Concussion education is well promoted in football but should be expanded in soccer and hockey. Players are not allowed to return to play the same day, and the majority are referred to a physician.

Clinical Relevance:

Study results highlight the differences in concussion education among sports. Health care providers should address these gaps.
Blacks and whites in Cuba have equal prevalence of hypertension: confirmation from a new population survey
Authors: Ordúñez Pedro , Kaufman Jay S , Benet Mikhail , Morejon Alain , Silva Luis C , Shoham David A , Cooper Richard S
Published: February 2013

Background

The excess burden of hypertension among blacks has been a prominent feature of the heath disparities literature, and many scientists presume it to be a stable and inevitable phenomenon. The underlying causes of this disparity can only be disentangled in a setting in which the population does not experience racial stratification of socioeconomic opportunities. While such conditions of racial equality remain uncommon, they may be approximated in Cuba, a country with a persistent policy of social inclusion over the last 5 decades.

Methods

We report on a 2010–2011 stratified probability sample of those aged 15–74 years from the urban population of Cienfuegos in central Cuba. A total of 1496 adults (880 women and 616 men) were recruited and assessed for blood pressure and anthropometrics according to standardized protocols, as well as medication use, educational attainment and observed skin tone (dichotomized into “black” and “white”). Weighted tabular and regression analyses were conducted to estimate adjusted prevalences of hypertension (> 140/90 mmHg) and adjusted prevalence odds ratios for contrasts between the two skin color groups.

Results

Mean pressures were higher for men than for women, but overall did not differ importantly between racial groups. About half of all diagnosed hypertensive men were on medication, a proportion that did not vary by racial group. For women, however, adjusted prevalence was somewhat higher among blacks, and treatment and control rates were also somewhat advantaged for white women.

Conclusions

Overall, skin color was unrelated to mean blood pressure or hypertensive status in this population, although among women specifically some racial advantage appears evident in adjusted prevalence and control, and should be investigated further. The overall null result suggests that Cuba may exemplify the social conditions in which racial excess in hypertension, characteristic of much of the western world, is not a necessary reality.
Gastrointestinal function development and microbiota
Authors: Di Mauro Antonio , Neu Josef , Riezzo Giuseppe , Raimondi Francesco , Martinelli Domenico , Francavilla Ruggiero , Indrio Flavia
Published: February 2013

The intestinal microbiota plays an important role in the development of post-natal gastrointestinal functions of the host. Recent advances in our capability to identify microbes and their function offer exciting opportunities to evaluate the complex cross talk between microbiota, intestinal barrier, immune system and the gut-brain axis. This review summarizes these interactions in the early colonization of gastrointestinal tract with a major focus on the role of intestinal microbiota in the pathogenesis of feeding intolerance in preterm newborn. The potential benefit of early probiotic supplementation opens new perspectives in case of altered intestinal colonization at birth as preventive and therapeutic agents.
An Ecofriendly synthesis of silver nano-bioconjugates by Penicillium citrinum (MTCC9999) and its antimicrobial effect
Authors: Goswami Achintya Mohan , Sarkar Tuhin Subhra , Ghosh Sanjay
Published: February 2013

This report provides for the first time a novel environment friendly extracellular synthesis of stable silver nano-bioconjugates (SNBCs) at room temperature at pH 5.0 using Penicillium citrinum MTCC 9999 biomass. The UV-Visible spectral scan of dispersed SNBCs solution showed absorption in the region 340–450 nm due to surface plasma resonance (SPR). Typical Transmission Electron Microscopic (TEM) images showed that although two populations were present but most of them were in 20–30 nm range. Average zeta potential of SNBCs was −21 mV suggesting some biomolecules capped the nanoparticles imparting a net negative charge over it. FTIR analysis also showed that biomolecules were involved in stabilization. SNBCs showed strong antibacterial activity against both Gram positive (Bacillus subtilis) and Gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli). SNBCs also showed strong antifungal activity as assessed against Schizosaccharomyces pombe. In the case of E. coli the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of SNBCs was 4 μg/ml while in B. subtilis it was 8 μg/ml. In the case of E. coli the minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) of SNBCs was 8 μg/ml while in B. subtilis it was 32 μg/ml. The SNBCs exerted its antibacterial and antifungal activity through generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) inside the cell.
The influence of current speed and vegetation density on flow structure in two macrotidal eelgrass canopies
Authors: Lacy Jessica R. , Wyllie‐Echeverria Sandy
Published: February 2013

Lay Abstract

The influence of eelgrass (Zostera marina) on near‐bed currents, turbulence, and drag was investigated at three sites in two eelgrass canopies of differing density and at one unvegetated site in the San Juan archipelago of Puget Sound, Washington, USA. The data were compared to the canopy shear‐layer model, which has been shown to describe flow through submerged vegetation in laboratory studies. Although most of the data were consistent with the model, velocity profiles from the site with lowest eelgrass density were not, particularly when currents were strong. The eelgrass attenuated tidal currents by at least 40%. Attenuation decreased with increasing current speed, and was greater than 70% at the site with greatest eelgrass density. The attenuation produces a region of low velocities within the canopy that provides a sheltered environment for zooplankton, benthic invertebrates, juvenile fishes, and microalgae. In contrast, the top of the canopy is a region of strong turbulent mixing, exhibiting large‐scale velocity fluctuations. Friction velocity (an indicator of turbulence intensity) at the canopy top was 1.5–2 times greater than at the sea floor of the unvegetated site. This strong turbulence creates a very different habitat type than within the canopy and promotes exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and organic matter between the canopy and the water above it. The eelgrass canopies generated significantly more roughness and drag than the unvegetated sea floor. The drag coefficient CD for flow over the canopies was 3–8 times greater than at the unvegetated site (0.01–0.023 vs. 2.9 × 10− 3).