bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plasma Surface Modification of Biodegradable Polymers: A Review
Authors: Morent Rino , De Geyter Nathalie , Desmet Tim , Dubruel Peter , Leys Christophe
Published: February 2011

Besides their use as packaging materials, biodegradable polymers can play a major role in tissue engineering as three‐dimensional porous structures (scaffolds). The success of these biodegradable scaffolds is, however, determined by the response it elicits from the surrounding biological environment and this response is governed, to a large extent, by the surface characteristics of the scaffold. Multiple approaches have been developed to obtain the desired surface properties, however, in the past decade, the use of non‐thermal plasmas for selective surface modification has been a rapidly growing research field. This paper therefore presents a critical overview on recent advances in plasma‐assisted surface modification of biodegradable polymers.

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Shallow ground temperatures and periglacial processes on Iztaccíhuatl volcano, Mexico
Authors: Andrés Nuria , Palacios David , Zamorano José Juan , Vázquez‐Selem Lorenzo
Published: February 2011

Shallow ground temperatures and the extent of periglacial processes were examined and modelled on Iztaccíhuatl volcano (19°10′20″N, 98°38′30″W, 5230 m asl). Air and ground temperatures (to 0.6 m depth) were measured at five sites from 4137 m to 5020 m asl on the southwest slope of the volcano between 2001 and 2007. Snow lies on the ground for only a few days each year and has almost no effect on periglacial process distribution. Daily freeze‐thaw cycles at the ground surface are numerous at the summit (around 212 days annually), but cycles cease only a few centimetres below the surface, so that frost action does not occur below 60 cm depth. Permafrost is present at 4900 m asl on north‐facing slopes with a 60 cm thick active layer. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Insecticidal and repellent activities of insecticide–sucrose solutions to Culex pipiens molestus (Diptera: Culicidae) under laboratory and field conditions
Authors: Shin Ehyun , Park Chan , Ahn Young‐Joon , Lee Dong‐Kyu , Chang Kyu‐Sik
Published: February 2011

BACKGROUND: Culex pipiens molestus Forskal has been reported as a dominant species in underground structures of urban areas in the Republic of Korea (ROK) during all seasons and becomes bothersome to humans in late autumn and winter. Most Cx. pipiens molestus in septic tanks are controlled in the ROK using larvicides such as Bt and IGR. However, there are a number of problems associated with larvicides, such as high cost and requirement for frequent use. In the present work, a new control method for Cx. pipiens molestus in septic tanks by using mixtures of sucrose solution with insecticides was investigated.

RESULTS: The insecticidal and repellent activities of ten insecticides were evaluated for best control of Cx. pipiens molestus in septic tanks. Firstly, differences in susceptibilities to insecticides were evaluated in topical assays by forced direct contact bioassay and in a screened wire cage by free direct contact bioassay. The difference in insecticide susceptibility in the mosquitoes was the result of repellency by the insecticides. In three septic tanks, the density of Culex mosquitoes was sharply reduced by a deltamethrin–sucrose solution kit.

CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrated the potential for mosquito control by deltamethrin–sucrose solution, and the study offers basic information related to mosquito control in septic tanks. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Neuroglobin–prion protein interaction: what's the function?
Authors: Palladino Pasquale , Scaglione Giovanni Luca , Arcovito Alessandro , Maria Vitale Rosa , Amodeo Pietro , Vallone Beatrice , Brunori Maurizio , Benedetti Ettore , Rossi Filomena
Published: February 2011

Neuroglobin and cellular prion protein (PrPC) are expressed in the nervous system and co‐localized in the retinal ganglion cell layer. Both proteins do not have an unambiguously assigned function, and it was recently reported that PrPC aggregates rapidly in the presence of neuroglobin, whereas it does not aggregate in the presence of myoglobin, another globin with different tissue specificity. Electrostatic complementarity between the unstructured PrPC N‐terminus and neuroglobin has been proposed to mediate this specific interaction. To verifythis hypothesis experimentally, we have used a combined approach of automated docking and molecular dynamics (MD) studies carried out on short stretches of prion protein (PrP) N‐terminus to identify the minimal electrostatically interacting aminoacidic sequences with neuroglobin. Subsequently, we have performed the synthesis of these peptides by solid phase methods, and we tested their interaction with neuroglobin by surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Preliminary results confirm unequivocally the specific interaction between synthetic PrP peptides and neuroglobin suggesting a crucial role of PrPC positively charged regions in thisprotein–protein association. Copyright © 2011 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Kinetics of dynamic recrystallization in cobalt: A study using the Avrami relation
Authors: Sarkar A. , Chakravartty J. K. , Paul B. , Suri A. K.
Published: February 2011

The progress of dynamic recrystallization (DRX) in polycrystalline wrought cobalt (Co) during hot deformation has been studied using a newly developed mechanical approach. The approach is based upon the analysis of the flow curve of the material to quantify the softening which is attributed to DRX. Avrami plots for Co during DRX have been generated using stress–strain curves under various deformation conditions. The values of the Avrami time exponents are ∼3.0. The dependence of the time of half‐softening on strain rate is found to exhibit similar behavior to that of other materials.
Moving range charts for monitoring the Weibull shape parameter with single observation samples
Authors: Pascual Francis , Nguyen Diem
Published: February 2011

This paper proposes an approach to monitor shifts in the Weibull shape parameter bfβ via control charts based on the moving range of single‐point samples from a smallest extreme value distribution. The average run length (ARL) of the proposed charts are computed using Fredholm integral equations of the second kind. The derived control limits for one‐sided and two‐sided control charts are unbiased in the sense that the ARL when β has shifted is shorter than the desired stable‐process ARL. These control limits depend only on the desired stable‐process ARL and the stable value of β. The paper also discusses the sample size requirements for Phase I so that the run length distributions are similar under standards‐given scenario (β is given) and retrospective scenario (β is estimated from past data). The proposed methods are then applied to data on the breaking strengths of carbon fibers. The results suggest that one‐sided control charts can detect small shifts in β sooner than two‐sided charts. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structural and vibrational analysis of the OH torsional motion in difluorohydroxyborane
Authors: Melendez F. J. , Muñoz‐Caro C. , Niño A. , Sandoval‐Lira J. , Rangel‐Huerta A.
Published: February 2011

In this work, we present a complete structural and vibrational analysis of the OH torsional motion in difluorohydroxyborane (BF2OH) at the HF/aug‐cc‐pVTZ, MP2(full)/aug‐cc‐pVTZ, and CCSD/aug‐cc‐pVTZ theory levels. After full relaxation of the geometry, the equilibrium structure is found in a planar conformation of Cs symmetry. The difference in the two BF distances suggests the existence of a nonbonded interaction between the fluorine and oxygen atoms. The structural and energetic variation of BF2OH as a function of the OH torsional angle is considered. The torsional barrier, at the CCSD/aug‐cc‐pVTZ level, and including the effect of the zero‐point energy of the remaining vibrations, is found 2,728 cm−1. In addition, an anharmonic Hamiltonian for the OH torsional mode is presented and variationally solved. To simplify the treatment and to classify the energy levels, BF2OH is classified under a G4 nonrigid group accounting for the inversion symmetry of the molecule and the interchange of the fluorine atoms. The computed torsional energy levels exhibit a very small inversion splitting. The torsional spectrum is simulated considering the dipole moment components along the principal axes of inertia as an explicit function of the torsional coordinate. We observe three dominant bands in the spectrum formed by doublets corresponding to ν9 = 0 → 1, 2 transitions. The fundamental is an a‐type, Franck–Condon, transition. This is the strongest and appears at 466.80 cm−1 with relative intensity 0.4312. The ν9 = 0 → 2 bands correspond to doublets of b‐ and c‐type, i.e., Herzberg–Teller transitions. These are two overlapping bands found at 890.92 and 890.94 cm−1 with intensity 0.2207 for the b‐type band and 0.2193 for the c‐type band. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011
Generating oscillations in inertia wheel pendulum via two‐relay controller
Authors: Aguilar Luis T. , Boiko Igor M. , Fridman Leonid M. , Freidovich Leonid B.
Published: February 2011

The problem of generating oscillations of the inertia wheel pendulum is considered. We combine exact feedback linearization with two‐relay controller, tuned using frequency‐domain tools, such as computing the locus of a perturbed relay system. Explicit expressions for the parameters of the controller in terms of the desired frequency and amplitude are derived. Sufficient conditions for orbital asymptotic stability of the closed‐loop system are obtained with the help of the Poincaré map. Performance is validated via experiments. The approach can be easily applied for a minimum phase system, provided the behavior of the states of the zero dynamics is of no concern. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
SEASONAL PATTERNS OF RIVER CONNECTIVITY AND SALTWATER INTRUSION IN TIDAL FRESHWATER FORESTED WETLANDS
Authors: Anderson Christopher J. , Lockaby B. Graeme
Published: February 2011

Hydrology can be difficult to interpret in tidal freshwater forested wetlands because of several influencing factors including river discharge, tidal stage, local precipitation, evapotranspiration, groundwater and prevailing winds. River discharge and tidal stage are considered the primary factors affecting these wetlands and both vary on a seasonal basis and have potential implications for wetland saltwater intrusion. We examined the hydrologic patterns of tidal freshwater swamps along the lower reach (20 km) of the Apalachicola River system in northwest Florida, USA. Water level recorders were installed in five wetlands along this reach and recorded ground and surface water levels at 15‐min intervals from December 2006 to April 2009 (non‐continuously). Seasonal trends related to flooding frequency and duration were compared to long term (2000–2008) records of creek and river salinities measured in the tidal freshwater forested zone. Tidal freshwater swamps tended to maintain a narrow water level range (often ±20 cm of the ground surface) except during high river flows (>680 cms or 24 000 cfs) when levels increased 1 to 2 m above ground and dampened tidal effects. All tidal forested wetlands had the highest mean water levels and most days tidally pulsed during the Jul–Oct season which coincided with peak river/creek salinities and low river‐flows associated with drought conditions. We explored the implications for the timing of salt water intrusion in these swamps and potential changes related to sea level rise and water management in the Apalachicola River drainage basin. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A REGIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF UNREGULATED STREAM FLOWS: SPATIAL RESOLUTION AND HIERARCHICAL FRAMEWORKS
Authors: McManamay Ryan A. , Orth Donald J. , Dolloff Charles A. , Frimpong Emmaneul A.
Published: February 2011

River regulation has resulted in substantial losses in habitat connectivity, biodiversity and ecosystem services. River managers are faced with a growing need to protect the key aspects of the natural flow regime. A practical approach to providing environmental flow standards is to create a regional framework by classifying unregulated streams into groups of similar hydrologic properties, which represent natural flow regime targets. Because spatial resolution can influence the structure of regional datasets, it may be advantageous to relate datasets created at different scales in order to establish hierarchical structure and to understand how the relative importance of variables change with regard to scale. The purpose of this study was to classify unregulated streams within an eight‐state region into groups in order to provide environmental flow standards for managers and to relate that dataset to frameworks created at larger scales. Using USGS daily stream gauge information, we used 66 hydrologic statistics to classify 292 streams in groups of similar hydrologic properties. We isolated six flow classes in a sub‐region of the Southeastern US that ranged from extremely stable to highly variable to intermittent. We developed classification trees to reduce the number of hydrologic variables for future classifications. By comparing flow classes in our study to those of the entire US, we found that hierarchical structure did exist and that the divergence of flow classes will largely depend on the spatial resolution. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Investigation on surface activity of cyclodextrins grafting cellulose beads through phenolphthalein probe molecule
Authors: Wang Ting , Li Bin , Si Hongyan , Lin Li
Published: February 2011

The binding constants (Ka) of phenolphthalein/β‐cyclodextrin, phenolphthalein/(2‐hydroxypropyl)‐β‐cyclodextrin, and phenolphthalein/(2,6‐dimethyl)‐β‐cyclodextrin complexes were measured by ultraviolet‐visible spectrophotometer. By regression of van't Hoff plot, thermodynamic parameters (ΔH° and ΔS°) of these complexes' formation were obtained. Based on these parameters, steric hindrance influence, spontaneous and enthalpically driven process for the interaction of phenolphthalein with cyclodextrins were further proved, and phenolphthalein, as a probe molecule, was used to determinate cyclodextrins' content due to less than 0.6% relative standard deviation of these quantifications and recoveries with the range of 90 ∼ 103%. Using microfiltration technique, the detection phenolphthalein probe technique was applied on the determination of surface activity of cyclodextrins grafting cellulose beads by different polycarboxylic acids, and the results exhibit the real encapsulation activity of the cyclodextrins containing these spherical functional biomaterials. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rejoinder: Some methodological issues in biosurveillance
Authors: Fricker Ronald D.
Published: February 2011

This paper is a rejoinder to the commentaries on Some Methodological Issues in Biosurveillance. Published in 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Boards, CEOs, and surviving a financial crisis: Evidence from the internet shakeout
Authors: Dowell Glen W. S. , Shackell Margaret B. , Stuart Nathan V.
Published: February 2011

We examine whether corporate governance matters more for firms facing financial distress. We theorize that financial crisis changes the relative costs and benefits of governance mechanisms and that more independent and smaller boards become more valuable in distressed firms. We further hypothesize that CEO power becomes increasingly beneficial as concentrated power allows the firm to respond more rapidly to the crisis. Event‐history analysis of the failure of publicly traded Internet firms over the period 2000–2002 confirms our hypotheses. Our results suggest that the association between governance and survival depends on firm and environmental context and that one‐size‐fits‐all prescriptions for governance mechanisms are therefore likely to be ineffective. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The benefits of geographic sales diversification: How exporting facilitates capital investment
Authors: Myles Shaver J.
Published: February 2011

Many strategic investments require firms to make upfront outlays to generate profits at a later date. When firms have limited access to external capital, they have to rely on internally generated funds for these investments. In this case, their strategic investments are constrained by cash flow. I predict that by geographically diversifying sales (i.e., exporting), firms can relax this constraint because exporting signals more stable expected cash flows and firm quality, which can increase external capital providers' willingness to fund investments. Examining a representative sample of Spanish manufacturers from 1990 to 1998, I find support that exporting mitigates investment liquidity constraints allowing firms to make strategic investments they would not otherwise be able to make. This highlights how diversification can be a strategy to create and maintain competitive advantage. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Nanochannel/Nanoparticle‐Based Filtering and Sensing Platform for Direct Detection of a Cancer Biomarker in Blood
Authors: de la Escosura‐Muñiz Alfredo , Merkoçi Arben
Published: February 2011

A rapid nanochannel‐based immunoassay capable of the filtering and subsequent detection of proteins in whole blood without any sample preparation is described. This is accomplished by using a nanoporous/nanochannel membrane modified with antibodies, the conductivity of which toward a redox indicator is tuned by primary and secondary immunoreactions with proteins and gold nanoparticles. This interesting nanopore blockage by gold nanoparticles is enhanced by silver deposition that further decreases the diffusion of the signaling indicator through the nanochannel. The efficiency of the nanochannels to act as immunoreaction platforms including the use of nanoparticles is also monitored by microscopic techniques. Successful detection of immunoglobulins including a cancer biomarker is achieved in buffer as well as in whole blood. This system constitutes an efficient immunoassay capable of detecting up to 52 U mL−1 of CA15‐3. The developed nanochannel/nanoparticle‐based device can be used for several other proteins and extended also to DNA detection with interest not only for diagnostics but also environmental monitoring, food analysis, safety, and security applications.
E‐MAC: an elastic MAC layer for IEEE 802.11 networks
Authors: Wei Qing , Aad Imad , Scalia Luca , Widmer Jörg , Hofmann Philipp , Loyola Luis
Published: February 2011

We present a system for real‐time traffic support in infrastructure and ad hoc IEEE 802.11 networks. The proposed elastic MAC (E‐MAC) protocol provides a distributed transmission schedule for stations with real‐time traffic requirements, while allowing a seamless coexistence with standard IEEE 802.11 clients, protecting best‐effort 802.11 traffic from starvation by means of admission control policies. Our scheduling decisions are based on an ‘elastic’ transmission opportunity (TXOP) assignment which allows for efficient wireless resource usage: whenever a real‐time station does not use the assigned TXOP, the other real‐time stations can take over the unused access opportunity, thus preventing the well‐known inefficiencies of static time division multiple access (TDMA) schemes. Unlike other TDMA‐based solutions for 802.11, E‐MAC does not require a tight synchronization among the participating clients, thus allowing its implementation on commodity WLAN hardware via minor software changes at the client side, and no changes at the access points (APs). We studied the performance of our mechanism via ns‐2 simulations and a mathematical model, showing that it outperforms IEEE 802.11e in terms of throughput, delay, and jitter. We finally provide a proof of concept through the results obtained in a real testbed where we implemented the E‐MAC protocol. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Inverse Perovskite (Ca2EuNx)Sn: A Rare Example for a Homogeneously Mixed‐Valent Compound?
Authors: Gäbler Frank , Bräunling Daniel , Schnelle Walter , Schellenberg Inga , Pöttgen Rainer , Niewa Rainer
Published: February 2011

The cubic Perovskite (Ca2EuN0.75)Sn was synthesized in a solid state reaction from EuN, Ca, and Sn. Nitrogen deficiency and Ca/Eu disorder is in agreement with results from chemical analysis, X‐ray diffraction, and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Magnetic susceptibility measurements as well as Mössbauer and X‐ray absorption spectroscopy indicate a mixed‐valent situation with di‐ and trivalent europium, apparently situated together with calcium on one crystallographic site. According to electrical resistivity measurements the title compound represents a heavily doped semiconductor.
Cooperative Action of Cellulase Enzyme and Carboxymethyl Cellulose on Cotton Fabric Cleanability from a Topographical Standpoint
Authors: Calvimontes Alfredo , Lant Neil J. , Dutschk Victoria
Published: February 2011

In this study, the effect of cotton treatment with cellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose on soil release of three different types of fabric: woven plain, woven twill and knitted were systematically studied. A recent study of the effect of a cleaning cellulase enzyme on cellulose films has proven that this substance selectively attacks amorphous cellulose regions, consisting of small hills in a matrix of flat crystalline regions. According to our previous investigations, where carboxymethyl cellulose is present in the formula, the enzyme seems to drive soil release performance. However, the mechanism has not yet been sufficiently studied from the topographical standpoint. In the present study, topographical changes caused by the treatment with cleaning cellulase enzyme and carboxymethyl cellulose on the fabrics by conditioning while washing were analysed on three different length scales in order to interpret their cooperation on water and oil absorption mechanisms and, hence, on cleanability of cotton fabrics stained with liquid–solid, liquid and solid soils.
Synthesis, Characterization and Surface Activity of New Eco‐friendly Schiff Bases Vanillin Derived Cationic Surfactants
Authors: Negm Nabel A. , Kandile Nadia G. , Mohamad Mohamad A.
Published: February 2011

Three eco‐friendly cationic surface active agents were synthesized from the chemical modification of vanillin. The chemical structures of these surfactants were confirmed using elemental analysis, IR and NMR spectra. The surface activity measurements showed their high tendency towards adsorption and micellization and their good surface tension reduction, low interfacial tension. The emulsion stability measurements showed acceptable efficiency as emulsifying agents for short term emulsions. The biodegradability tests revealed that these compounds are eco‐friendly and had completely degraded in 30 days.
The elements of human cyclin D1 promoter and regulation involved
Authors: Guo Zhi-yi , Hao Xiao-hui , Tan Fei-Fei , Pei Xin , Shang Li-Mei , Jiang Xue-lian , Yang Fang
Published: February 2011

Cyclin D1 is a cell cycle machine, a sensor of extracellular signals and plays an important role in G1-S phase progression. The human cyclin D1 promoter contains multiple transcription factor binding sites such as AP-1, NF-қB, E2F, Oct-1, and so on. The extracellular signals functions through the signal transduction pathways converging at the binding sites to active or inhibit the promoter activity and regulate the cell cycle progression. Different signal transduction pathways regulate the promoter at different time to get the correct cell cycle switch. Disorder regulation or special extracellular stimuli can result in cell cycle out of control through the promoter activity regulation. Epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation and histone acetylation may involved in cyclin D1 transcriptional regulation.
Multidimensionality of microarrays: Statistical challenges and (im)possible solutions
Authors: Michiels Stefan , Kramar Andrew , Koscielny Serge
Published: February 2011

A typical array experiment yields at least tens of thousands of measurements on often not more than a hundred patients, a situation often denoted as the curse of dimensionality. With a focus on prognostic multi‐biomarker scores derived from microarrays, we highlight the multidimensionality of the problem and the issues in the multidimensionality of the data. We go over several statistical challenges raised by this curse occurring in each step of microarray analysis on patient data, from the hypothesis and the experimental design to the analysis methods, interpretation of results and clinical utility. Different analytical tools and solutions to answer these challenges are provided and discussed.
CAREGIVERS' ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES: INFLUENCE ON CHILDHOOD BODY WEIGHT
Authors: COSTA FABIANA SILVA , PINO DAISY LOPES DEL , FRIEDMAN ROGÉRIO
Published: February 2011

Childhood excess weight is probably associated with, or reflected in, parental attitudes. The objective of this study was to study the relationships between childhood excess weight and parental attitudes. The study subjects were 53 boys and 56 girls, aged 6–10, regularly attending schools in Porto Alegre, south Brazil, and one of their parents or caregivers. Attitudes of the parents or caregivers were assessed by the Child Feeding Questionnaire (CFD). Weight and height of the children were measured, parents self-reported their weight and height and body mass indexes were calculated for both. The WHO criteria for overweight and obesity were used for the adults. The CDC criteria for overweight and risk for overweight were used for the corresponding children. Boys presented excess weight more often than girls. The parents of children with excess weight showed higher scores for perceived child weight, concern about child weight, restriction and monitoring. In logistic regression, excess weight in children was associated with perceived child weight, restriction and male sex; pressure to eat was negatively associated with excess BMI. In Porto Alegre, south Brazil, excess body weight in children aged 6–10 is associated with parental perceived child weight and concern about it, monitoring and restriction; being a boy increases the odds of being overweight.
ASSOCIATION BETWEEN HEALTHY LIFE EXPECTANCY AT BIRTH AND CONSANGUINEOUS MARRIAGES IN 63 COUNTRIES
Authors: SAADAT MOSTAFA
Published: February 2011

In order to investigate the association between mean inbreeding coefficient (α) and healthy life expectancy at birth (HALE; years) the present ecological study on 63 countries was done. Statistical analysis showed that HALE negatively and positively correlated with log10α and log10GNI per capita, respectively (p<0.001). It should be noted that log10α and log10GNI per capita were significantly correlated with each other (p<0.001). After controlling for log10GNI per capita, significant negative correlations between log10α and HALE were observed. The countries were stratified according to their GNI per capita into low- and high-income countries. In countries with high income, after controlling for log10GNI per capita, the correlation between HALE at birth and log10α was significant (for males r=−0.399, df=32, p=0.001; for females r=−0.683, df=32, p<0.001). In high-income Asian and African countries, where consanguineous marriage is common, after controlling for log10GNI per capita, the correlation between HALE at birth and log10α was significant (for males r=−0.819, df=8, p=0.004; for females r=−0.936, df=8, p<0.001). It seems that consanguinity influences HALE independent of country income.
Helminth parasites of eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) from southern Indiana, USA
Authors: Moraga P. , Kinsella J.M. , Sepúlveda M.S.
Published: February 2011

Very little is known about parasitic diseases of eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina). The objective of this study was to examine the parasitic fauna of eastern box turtles collected from southern Indiana, USA. Turtles (n = 40) were salvaged mostly as road kills from southern Indiana between May and October 2009. Seven species of helminths in total were found parasitizing the gastrointestinal tract, including two digenean trematodes (Brachycoelium salamandrae and Telorchis robustus) and five nematodes (Oswaldocruzia pipiens, Cosmocercoides dukae, Falcaustra affinis, F. chelydrae and Serpinema trispinosus). We report prevalence, abundance and mean intensity of infection for all helminths. Helminths were not found in any other organs examined (heart, gonads, liver, heart, kidney and urinary bladder) and no ectoparasites were found. Overall, mean intensity of infections was low (1–14 parasites/host), suggesting that these parasites are unlikely to be associated with negative health impacts. This constitutes the first study of this kind for Indiana.
The Emergency as Prehistory of the New Indian Middle Class
Authors: RAJAGOPAL ARVIND
Published: February 2011

Recent accounts of the National Emergency of 1975–1977 concur that the deviations it represented, while genuine, did not represent any fundamental change on the part of the Indian state, and that the period offers little distinct insight on the post-independence period as a whole. This paper seeks to argue, to the contrary, that the Emergency was a watershed in post-independence history. With its ban on dissent and suspension of constitutional rights, the Emergency sought to suppress all political disturbances to governance. By doing so, it forefronted the problems of postcolonial politics in at least three respects. First, the Emergency demonstrated that coercion was inextricably combined with consent in state-led development. Second, this led to a heavy reliance on practices of communication to redefine coercion and to stage popular consent. Third, in the process, the boundaries of the political were reinforced, emphasizing the friend/enemy difference fundamental to politics. Governance in the aftermath of the Emergency placed an overt reliance on consent over coercion, but in ways that are themselves significant. Categories of culture and community, and related forms of social distinction, gained in importance over earlier developmental distinctions premised on an authoritarian relationship between state and the people. The change meant a shift away from the Nehruvian focus on the economy as the crucial arena of nation-building, involving labour as the key modality of citizenship. Instead, culture and community became the categories that gained political salience in the period of economic liberalization. The mass media were central to this redefinition of the political, multiplying in size and reach, and acquiring market-sensitive forms of address couched in the rhetoric of individual choice. These events, I suggest, are critical to understanding the formation of the new middle class in India, as a category that increasingly defines itself through cultural and consumerist forms of identity, and is less identified with the state.
Gonna Party Like It's 1899: Party Systems and the Origins of Varieties of Coordination
Authors: Martin Cathie Jo , Swank Duane
Published: February 2011

This article explores the origins of peak employers' associations to understand why countries produce highly centralized macrocorporatist groups, weaker national associations but stronger industry-level groups, or highly fragmented pluralist associations. The authors suggest that the structure of partisan competition played a vital causal role in the development and evolution of these peak associations. The leadership for peak employers' association development came from business-oriented party activists and bureaucrats, who sought both to advance industrial development policy and to solve specific problems of political control. Business-oriented party leaders and bureaucrats in both predemocratic and democratic regimes feared the rising tide of democracy and labor activism and viewed employer organization as a useful tool for political control, to secure parliamentary advantage, and to serve as a societal counterweight to working class activism. Because leadership for association building came from the state, the political rules of the game were crucial to outcomes. The structure of party competition and state centralization shaped incentives for strategic coordination for both political actors and employers. Dedicated business parties were more likely to develop in countries with multiparty systems and limited federal power sharing than in countries with two-party systems and federalism: in a multiparty context where no single party was likely to gain power, each party had an incentive to cooperate with other social groups. Moreover, business-oriented party leaders and bureaucrats in multiparty systems were motivated to delegate policy-making authority to coordinated societal channels for industrial relations, because they anticipated that employers would win more in these channels than in parliamentary settings where the center and left could form a coalition against the right. Again, centralized party systems were more likely than federal ones to develop a dedicated national business party that transcended regional cleavages and to retain a strong role for the state in the governance of industrial relations.
Double venous drainage in scimitar syndrome. Ideal anatomy for percutaneous complete cure
Authors: Sarquella-Brugada Georgia , Prada Fredy , Mortera Carlos
Published: February 2011

Congenital venolobular or scimitar syndrome is a rare congenital cardiopulmonary anomaly consisting in a partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage, lung hypoplasia, and anomalous systemic arterial supply to the lung. It can associate with other congenital disorders which will confer the clinical presentation and prognosis of these patients. In most of the cases, the therapeutic approach is partial, as anatomy allows only aberrant arterial embolisation. We present a 6-year-old girl with recurrent pulmonary infections, diagnosed as scimitar syndrome with double collector drainage to the inferior caval vein and left atrium, undergoing interventional catheterisation for complete correction of her disorder. The anomalous systemic artery supply was embolised and the anomalous venous drainage was occluded. The patient was asymptomatic during follow-up, which supports the interventional catheterisation approach as a valid therapeutic option in cases of scimitar syndrome with double venous drainage.
A qualitative investigation of adherence to nutritional therapy in malnourished adult AIDS patients in Kenya
Authors: Dibari Filippo , Bahwere Paluku , Le Gall Isabelle , Guerrero Saul , Mwaniki David , Seal Andrew
Published: February 2011

Objective

To understand factors affecting the compliance of malnourished, HIV-positive adults with a nutritional protocol using ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF; Plumpy'nut®).

Design

Qualitative study using key informant interviews, focus group discussions and direct observations.

Setting

Ministry of Health HIV/programme supported by Médecins Sans Frontièrs (MSF) in Nyanza Province, Kenya.

Subjects

Adult patients (n 46) currently or previously affected by HIV-associated wasting and receiving anti-retroviral therapy, their caregivers (n 2) and MoH/MSF medical employees (n 8).

Results

Thirty-four out of forty-six patients were receiving RUTF (8360 kJ/d) at the time of the study and nineteen of them were wasted (BMI < 17 kg/m2). Six of the thirteen wasted out-patients came to the clinic without a caregiver and were unable to carry their monthly provision (12 kg) of RUTF home because of physical frailty. Despite the patients’ enthusiasm about their weight gain and rapid resumption of labour activities, the taste of the product, diet monotony and clinical conditions associated with HIV made it impossible for half of them to consume the daily prescription. Sharing the RUTF with other household members and mixing with other foods were common. Staff training did not include therapeutic dietetic counselling.

Conclusions

The level of reported compliance with the prescribed dose of RUTF was low. An improved approach to treating malnourished HIV-positive adults in limited resource contexts is needed and must consider strategies to support patients without a caregiver, development of therapeutic foods more suited to adult taste, specific dietetic training for health staff and the provision of liquid therapeutic foods for severely ill patients.
Demographic and socio-economic factors related to food intake and adherence to nutritional recommendations in a cohort of pre-school children
Authors: Dubois Lise , Farmer Anna , Girard Manon , Burnier Daniel , Porcherie Marion
Published: February 2011

Objective

To examine: (i) children's food intake and adherence to both Canada's Food Guide for Healthy Eating and Dietary Reference Intakes; and (ii) the social and demographic factors related to children's food intake.

Design

A cross-sectional study.

Setting

Data were obtained through the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development 1998–2010, a representative sample (n2103) of children born in 1998 in the province of Quebec, Canada. Information on energy, macronutrient and food consumption was derived from responses to a 24 h dietary recall interview addressed to children's mothers and day-care staff when the children were 4 years old.

Subjects

A total of 1549 children aged 4 years who participated in a nutritional sub-study.

Results

The mean daily total energy intake was 6360 kJ (1520 kcal) for girls and 6916 kJ (1653 kcal) for boys. For boys and girls alike, energy intake was comprised of approximately 54 % carbohydrates, 31 % fats and 15 % proteins. The mean number of servings consumed from each of the four essential food groups closely approached the dietary recommendations made by Canada's Food Guide for Healthy Eating; however, <2 % of the children in the present study actually met the full dietary guidelines. The dietary intake of pre-school children was associated with socio-economic and demographic factors, most notably mother's level of education, mother's immigrant status and sex of the child.

Conclusions

Diet-related disparities associated with socio-economic and demographic factors exist from as early as 4 years of age.
A wide variety of putative extremophiles and large beta-diversity at the Mars Desert Research Station (Utah)
Authors: Direito Susana O.L. , Ehrenfreund Pascale , Marees Andries , Staats Martijn , Foing Bernard , Röling Wilfred F.M.
Published: February 2011

Humankind's innate curiosity makes us wonder whether life is or was present on other planetary bodies such as Mars. The EuroGeoMars 2009 campaign was organized at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) to perform multidisciplinary astrobiology research. MDRS in southeast Utah is situated in a cold arid desert with mineralogy and erosion processes comparable to those on Mars. Insight into the microbial community composition of this terrestrial Mars analogue provides essential information for the search for life on Mars: including sampling and life detection methodology optimization and what kind of organisms to expect. Soil samples were collected from different locations. Culture-independent molecular analyses directed at ribosomal RNA genes revealed the presence of all three domains of life (Archaea, Bacteria and Eukarya), but these were not detected in all samples. Spiking experiments revealed that this appears to relate to low DNA recovery, due to adsorption or degradation. Bacteria were most frequently detected and showed high alpha- and beta-diversity. Members of theActinobacteria, Proteobacteria, BacteroidetesandGemmatimonadetesphyla were found in the majority of samples. Archaea alpha- and beta-diversity was very low. For Eukarya, a diverse range of organisms was identified, such as fungi, green algae and several phyla of Protozoa. Phylogenetic analysis revealed an extraordinary variety of putative extremophiles, mainly Bacteria but also Archaea and Eukarya. These comprised radioresistant, endolithic, chasmolithic, xerophilic, hypolithic, thermophilic, thermoacidophilic, psychrophilic, halophilic, haloalkaliphilic and alkaliphilic micro-organisms. Overall, our data revealed large difference in occurrence and diversity over short distances, indicating the need for high-sampling frequency at similar sites. DNA extraction methods need to be optimized to improve extraction efficiencies.
Institutions and growth: the times-series and cross-section evidence
Authors: ROS JAIME
Published: February 2011

In his comprehensive analysis of the relationship between institutions and economic growth, Ha-Joon Chang, in his article ‘Institutions and Economic Development: Theory, Policy and History’, reviews the empirical evidence on this relationship emphasizing the contrast between the conclusions that one can derive from the time-series evidence and the claims often made in favor of ‘liberalized institutions’ based on the results of cross-section studies. Does the time-series evidence contradict the results of cross-section studies regarding the relationship between institutions and growth? In this comment, I argue that in stressing the contrast between these two kinds of evidence, Chang falls short of a full criticism, consistent with his theoretical analysis, of cross-section studies while at the same time failing to infer what the time-series evidence really shows.
FIT – Do Something Different
Authors: Fletcher Ben (C) , Hanson Jill , Page Nadine , Pine Karen
Published: February 2011

Two 3-month longitudinal studies examined weight loss following a 1-month behavioral intervention (FIT-DSD) focusing on increasing participants’ behavioral flexibility and breaking daily habits. The goal was to break the distal habits hypothesized as playing a role in unhealthy dietary and activity behaviors. The FIT-DSD intervention required participants to do something different each day and to engage in novel weekly activities to expand their behavioral repertoire. These activities were not food- or exercise-related. In Study 1, the FIT-DSD program was compared with a control condition where participants engaged in daily tasks not expected to influence behavioral flexibility. Study 2 used an active or quasicontrol group in which half the participants were also on food diets. Measures in both studies were taken pre-, post-, and post-postintervention. In Study 1, FIT-DSD participants showed greater weight loss that continued post-postintervention. In Study 2, all participants on the FIT-DSD program lost weight, weight loss continued post-postintervention, and participants who were also dieting lost no additional weight. A dose relationship was observed between increases in behavioral flexibility scores and weight loss, and this relationship was mediated by calorie intake. Corresponding reductions in BMI were also present. Increasing behavioral flexibility may be an effective approach for tackling obesity and also provides affective and potential life-skill benefits.
Retrieval from Memory or Procedural Strategies for Addition Problems
Authors: Fanget Muriel , Thevenot Catherine , Castel Caroline , Fayol Michel
Published: February 2011

In this study, we used a paradigm recently developed ( Thevenot, Fanget, & Fayol, 2007 ) to determine whether 10-year-old children solve simple addition problems by retrieval of the answer from long-term memory or by calculation procedures. Our paradigm is unique in that it does not rely on reaction times or verbal reports, which are known to potentially bias the results, especially in children. Rather, it takes advantage of the fact that calculation procedures degrade the memory traces of the operands, so that it is more difficult to recognize them when they have been involved in the solution of an addition problem by calculation rather than by retrieval. The present study sharpens the current conclusions in the literature and shows that, when the sum of addition problems is up to 10, children mainly use retrieval, but when it is greater than 10, they mainly use calculation procedures.
Training Effects with the Observer- Rated Cognitive Errors and the Coping Action Patterns Scales
Authors: Kramer Ueli , de Roten Yves , Drapeau Martin
Published: February 2011

The use of observer-rated scales requires that raters be trained until they have become reliable in using the scales. However, few studies properly report how training in using a given rating scale is conducted or indeed how it should be conducted. This study examined progress in interrater reliability over 6 months of training with two observer-rated scales, the Cognitive Errors Rating Scale and the Coping Action Patterns Rating Scale. The evolution of the intraclass correlation coefficients was modeled using hierarchical linear modeling. Results showed an overall training effect as well as effects of the basic training phase and of the rater calibration phase, the latter being smaller than the former. The results are discussed in terms of implications for rater training in psychotherapy research.
Analytical model of bistatic reflections and radio occultation signals
Authors: Pavelyev A. G. , Zhang K. , Matyugov S. S. , Liou Y. A. , Wang C. S. , Yakovlev O. I. , Kucherjavenkov I. A. , Kuleshov Y.
Published: February 2011

The relationships between the Doppler frequencies, eikonal acceleration, and refractive attenuations of the direct and reflected signals are established for bistatic and radio occultation experiments. These connections allow recalculating the Doppler shifts and the phase delays to the refractive attenuation (reflectivity cross section) and open a new avenue for potentially measuring the total absorption in the atmosphere at low elevation angles. The fundamental characteristics of bistatic remote sensing of the atmosphere and Earth's surface such as the phase delay, reflection coefficient, reflectivity cross section, and Doppler shift of the reflected signals relative to the direct signals are obtained in analytical forms by taking into account the refraction and absorption effects in the atmosphere. Difference in the Doppler frequencies of the reflected and direct signals is proportional to the difference of the modified refractive index at the radio ray perigee and at the Earth's surface. The obtained analytical results are in good agreement with the measurements data obtained during the MIR/GEO (wavelengths 2 and 32 cm), and CHAMP (wavelengths 19 and 24 cm) radio occultation experiments. Detecting the reflected signals in radio occultation data has opened new perspectives for bistatic monitoring of the atmosphere and Earth's surface at low elevation angles. Experimental results of the propagation effects at low elevation angles are of great importance for fundamental theoretical investigation of radio waves propagation.
Mediator is a transducer of amyloid‐precursor‐protein‐dependent nuclear signalling
Authors: Xu Xuan , Zhou Haiying , Boyer Thomas G
Published: February 2011

Regulated intramembrane proteolysis of the amyloid precursor‐protein (APP) produces both a characterstic amyloid‐β peptide that contributes to neuritic plaque formation and neurodegeneration in Alzheimer disease and a small APP intracellular domain (AICD) that transcriptionally activates genes implicated in Alzheimer disease pathology. Although the biochemical events leading to amyloidogenic APP processing at the cell membrane have been described in detail, comparably little is known about the mechanistic basis of AICD‐dependent gene regulation in the nucleus. In this study, we show that the AICD activates transcription by targeting MED12, an RNA polymerase II transcriptional Mediator subunit that is implicated in human cognitive development. The AICD binds to MED12/Mediator in vitro and in vivo. Disruption of the AICD/MED12 interaction inhibits AICD transactivation potential and expression of AICD target genes. Mediator, in a MED12‐dependent manner, occupies only AICD‐bound promoter DNA, indicating that the AICD recruits Mediator to activate transcription. These results identify the MED12 interface in Mediator as a crucial transducer of AICD transactivation and a potential therapeutic target in Alzheimer disease.