bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electrokinetic Methods For Dewatering Of Phosphatic Clay Slurries
Authors: McKinney James P. , Orazem M. E.
Published: October 2009

Phosphatic clay slurries constitute a waste product of the Florida phosphate mining industry. The clay slurries currently occupy as much as 40% of the land that has been mined. Water removal from the clays greatly reduces the amount of land they occupy. Application of an electric field is demonstrated as an approach to increase the rate of water removal from the clays. A set of benchtop experiments was used to develop parameters that could be used for design of a water removal system. A design equation was established which predicts the time required for the clays to reach an acceptable solids content as a function of the applied electric field. A mathematical model CP3D, developed at the University of Florida, was used to simulate different electrode configurations in a large-scale clay settling pond. This comparison illustrated the effects of design on energy efficiency and the behavior of the electric field.
A Droplet Size Dependent Multiphase Mixture Model and Three-dimensional Simulation of PEM Fuel Cells
Authors: He Guangli , Yamazaki Yohtaro , Abudula Abuliti
Published: October 2009

A droplet size dependent multiphase mixture model is developed for the two-phase transport in PEM fuel cells. And the droplet size in the gas channel can be considered as a parameter in this mixture model, which includes the effect of gas diffusion layer(GDL) properties and the gas drag function. The three-dimensional non-isothermal two phase simulation of the PEMFCs with a straight flow field is performed. The results are shown for oxygen fraction, water saturation, water vapor fraction and temperature. The comparison between simulation results and experimental results is performed for the I-V curve, which shows the present model is better than the PEMFC module in Fluent® software. Then it provides a new way for the simulation of PEMFCs. The results for different flow pattern show there are large temperature difference and water saturation in the PEMFCs operated under coflow pattern compared under counter flow pattern.
The Investigation of Ni-Co-Mn Alloy Electroforming
Authors: Chen Min-Hua , Hsieh Pei-Huan
Published: October 2009

The goal of this research is to arrive with a new additive for Ni-Co-Mn ternary alloy electroforming. To control the composition of Ni-Co-Mn, the electroformed Ni-Co-Mn alloy has better mechanical properties compared to electroformed Ni layer and Ni-Co alloy. This research also discusses the effect of Mn concentration on the resulting mechanical properties of electroformed Ni-Co-Mn alloys. The cathodic reduction of Ni-Co-Mn alloy was studied by using nickel plate as anode containing Ni, Co, and Mn mixture aqueous sulfate solution. The influences of current density, the concentration of Mn2+ in electrolyte, the component of additive, and the composite of metal ion (Ni2+, Co2+, Mn2+) on the texture, Vickers hardness, depositing rate and current efficiency were studied.
A Study of Ni-Co Alloy Electroforming by Using High Frequency Pulse Electric and Magnetic Fields
Authors: Hsieh Pei-Huan , Chen Min-Hua
Published: October 2009

In general, the use of additives which raises the density of metal-ion in electroforming solution and the application of impulse current are the common methods to improve the mechanical characteristic of electroforming layer. However, our study exhibits that it is possible to obtain better results by tailoring the relative intensity of the electric and applied magnetic fields and the flow rate of the electrolyte. The MHD (Magnetohydrodynamic Effect) arising from the application of an external magnetic field can have remarkable influence on the crystal behavior, yielding more uniform electroforming layer and electric current distribution, while providing higher deposition rate and better mechanical properties of the Ni-Co electroforming layer.
Finite-Elements Simulation for True 3D Structure Generation of Anisotropic Electrochemical Wet-Etching Processes
Authors: Kroener Michael , Ivanov Alexey , Goldschmidtböing Frank , Mescheder Ulrich , Woias Peter
Published: October 2009

We report on a novel 2D-axisymmetric finite elements simulation model for the accurate prediction of the wet-etching process in MEMS technology. The simulation model consists of a purely resistive description of all parts, assuming that effects, such as electrolyte diffusion are negligible. A "lost square" and a "moving interface" approach were realized. Both approaches are described in detail, and simulation results are verified with axis-symmetric test structures. Process characteristics are determined for circular front and back side masking. The structures were made using a porous silicon wet-etching process in an aqueous HF:Ethanol solution with low to intermediate current densities.
Large Cation Model of Dissociative Reduction of WO3-x Lattice Studied by EQCN and AFM
Authors: Hepel Maria , Wickham David
Published: October 2009

The intercalation of uncommon cations into WO3 lattice channels, including large monovalent cations (K+, Et4N+, CtMe3N+), transition metal dications (Ni2+) and heavy metal ions (Cd2+) in competition with H+ ions, have been investigated using pulse-nanogravimetric technique. For all metal ions, a large increase in the apparent mass uptake (up to 8-fold) in comparison to pure H+ ion ingress was observed upon film coloration, induced by a cathodic pulse. The experiments indicate that the apparent mass gains are insufficient for a predominant metal ion transport along the channels in WO3 lattice. The low de-coloration rate for Ni2+ ions has been attributed to slow dis-association of Ni2+ ions from lattice bound oxygen atoms. For the tetraethylammonium cation, a dissociative reduction of the WO3 and a severe lattice damage was observed. Among the metal ions, only K+ have been found to cause a dissociative reduction of WO3 and near-surface lattice damage.
Electrochemical Generation of Fp-Silanes
Authors: Neuhold Susanna , Albering Jörg , Flock Michaela , Grogger Christa
Published: October 2009

Electrolysis of Fp2 (cyclopentadienyl iron(II) dicarbonyl dimer) in the presence of different chlorosilanes led to the formation of substances of the type FpSiR3 (R = H, Me, Ph) containing iron-silicon bonds. These compounds could be isolated and crystallized. Due to this success the reaction was also performed in the presence of germanium and tin chlorides.
Simulated Martian Environment Chamber (SMEC)
Authors: Loutzenhiser Derek , DiCarlo Cory , Bouley Renee , Reid Ryan
Published: October 2009

Using a test chamber composed of components common to most universities a Martian environmental chamber is constructed and operated at very low cost. New purchase of all components still results in a relatively low cost alternative to commercially available environmental chambers, opening the door to smaller research group access to non-terrestrial chemistry research opportunities. A discussion of expanding the simulated environments to additional non-terrestrial locations at no additional cost is also included.
Laparoscopic Heller-Dor Surgery for Esophageal Achalasia: Impact of Intraoperative Real-Time Manometric Feedback on Postoperative Outcomes
Authors: Endo Shunji , Nakajima Kiyokazu , Nishikawa Kazuhiro , Takahashi Tsuyoshi , Souma Yoshihito , Taniguchi Eiji , Ito Toshinori , Nishida Toshirou
Published: October 2009

Background: Laparoscopic Heller myotomy with Dor fundoplication (LHD) is one of the most established surgical procedures for esophageal achalasia. Preoperative esophageal manometry has been reported as useful to evaluate lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure. However, the feasibility, safety, and impact of its intraoperative use have not been fully evaluated, especially when enhanced with real-time 3-D pressure imaging. Methods: LHD was attempted on 24 consecutive patients with esophageal achalasia. Manometry was performed at 3 time points during LHD: before myotomy, after myotomy, and after fundoplication. Investigations included esophagography, manometry, and 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring in the preoperative, short-term (0–5 months) and long-term (1–3 years) follow-up periods. Results: The 3-D intraoperative manometric images were presented to the surgical crew on a monitor screen immediately after each measurement in all attempted cases (n = 13). Any residual high pressure zone of the LES was easily recognized and resolved with additional myotomy. Postoperative esophagographies showed resolution of esophageal dilatation. Manometric examination revealed significant reduction of LES pressure in the short-/long-term follow-up periods. PH monitoring showed no increase in acid reflux. Overall outcomes were satisfactory (symptom relief = 95%). Conclusion: Intraoperative manometry with real-time pressure feedback is a feasible, safe, and useful adjunct in LHD.
Pharmacogenomics: Role in Medicines Approval and Clinical Use
Authors: Novelli G. , Borgiani P. , Ciccacci C. , Di Daniele N. , Sirugo G. , Papaluca Amati M.
Published: October 2009

Pharmacogenomics (PGx) and pharmacogenetics (PGt) are emerging interdisciplinary areas recently defined by the regulatory authorities at an international level as ‘the investigation of variations of DNA and RNA characteristics as related to drug response’ (PGx), and the study of ‘the influence of variations in DNA sequence on drug efficacy and toxicity’ (PGt). In recent years a number of studies have in fact produced growing evidence that, besides the effects of age, sex, diseases, and different drugs interactions, genetic factors play a role in the inter-individual variability of drugs response. The increasing genomic knowledge has also raised the profile and role of the so called ‘genomic biomarkers’ (GBs) in drug development, approval, and clinical use. The aims of this review are to (a) revisit the general understanding of the role of genomics and genetics in drug response, (b) provide an update on the definition and classification criteria of GBs as recently defined at a global level by regulatory agencies such as the European Medicines Agency and the Food and Drug Administration, and (c) illustrate with some examples current and potential applications of biomarkers in clinical practice and in drug development.
Proportional Assist Ventilation Improves Exercise Capacity in Patients with Obesity
Authors: Dreher Michael , Kabitz Hans-Joachim , Burgardt Verena , Walterspacher Stephan , Windisch Wolfram
Published: October 2009

Background: Exercise capacity is reduced in obese patients due to disadvantageous respiratory mechanics that lead to dyspnea. Proportional assist ventilation (PAV) has the potential to unload resistive and elastic burdens of the ventilatory system. Objectives: The present study aimed to test if PAV can increase endurance and reduce exercise-related dyspnea in obese patients. Methods: Two symptom-limited exercise tests were performed at 75% of V·O2max: (1) without PAV and (2) with PAV. Exercise endurance, blood gases, dyspnea and limb discomfort (Borg scale) were assessed. Responders to PAV were defined as those increasing their exercise duration by more than 20%. Results: Eighteen male obese patients (body mass index 35 ± 5 kg/m2) were investigated. Overall, PAV increased exercise duration by 13% (p = 0.037) and improved exercise-induced dyspnea (p = 0.004). In responders (n = 10), PAV increased the exercise duration by 31% from 721 ± 300 to 1,041 ± 454 s (p < 0.001) and reduced dyspnea (p = 0.004) as well as limb discomfort (p = 0.016). Following stepwise multiple linear regression analysis, prolonged exercise time with PAV can only be predicted from total lung capacity (p = 0.02), considering total lung capacity, V·O2max and body mass index. Conclusions: PAV applied during exercise led to an overall prolongation in exercise endurance and a reduction in dyspnea in obese patients. There was a broad spectrum of response to PAV, with more than 50% of patients increasing their exercise endurance by a mean of 31%. Therefore, PAV might serve as a novel treatment option to enhance exercise capacity in a subgroup of obese patients in rehabilitation programs.
Acute and Chronic Effects of Smoking on Inflammation Markers in Exhaled Breath Condensate in Current Smokers
Authors: Koczulla A.-Rembert , Noeske Sarah , Herr Christian , Jörres Rudolf A. , Römmelt Horst , Vogelmeier Claus , Bals Robert
Published: October 2009

Background: Long-term cigarette smoking is associated with pulmonary inflammation, but the acute effects of smoking have been less well studied. Analysis of the exhaled breath condensate (EBC) can provide noninvasive markers that might be indicative of inflammation. Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine whether the pH , electrical conductivity and the levels of ammonium and interleukin 8 (IL-8) of EBC were altered in smokers and whether they changed after smoking a single cigarette. Methods: We included 19 healthy nonsmokers (controls), 29 asymptomatic smokers, 10 patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) [Global Initiativefor Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease stages (GOLD) stages II–III], and 10 patients with exacerbated COPD. In 13 smokers, EBC was also analyzed before and after smoking. EBC was obtained during 10 min tidal breathing with a cooled RTube™. pH was determined after deaeration with argon. Results: Acute smoking did not alter the pH or ammonium and IL-8 levels, but raised conductivity. As in COPD patients, the pH was significantly decreased in chronic smokers with a history of at least 10 pack-years compared to controls. Conclusions: EBC can be used to detect the acute and chronic effects of smoking. The increased conductivity of EBC after smoking suggests acute inflammatory effects. The reduced pH in chronic smokers shows cigarette-induced inflammation.
Angiogenic and Angiostatic Chemokines in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Granulomatous Lung Disease
Authors: Cui Ai , Anhenn Olaf , Theegarten Dirk , Ohshimo Shinichiro , Bonella Francesco , Sixt Stephan U. , Peters Juergen , Sarria Rafael , Guzman Josune , Costabel Ulrich
Published: October 2009

Background: Angiogenesis-angiostasis balance and leukocyte recruitment are influenced by different concentrations of distinct chemokines. Objective: To investigate the relative contribution of angiogenic and angiostatic CXC chemokines to the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and granulomatous lung diseases, we examined the in vitro production of an angiogenic chemokine (IL-8), and 2 angiostatic chemokines (IP-10 and MIG) by alveolar macrophages. Methods: Alveolar macrophages from 16 patients with granulomatous lung diseases [8 with sarcoidosis, 8 with extrinsic allergic alveolitis (EAA)], 16 patients with IPF, and 8 control subjects were cultured for 24 h. IL-8, IL-18, IP-10 and MIG in the culture supernatants were measured by a fluorescent bead-based multiplex technique. Results: In IPF patients, IL-8 was increased and correlated with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) neutrophils, whereas the levels of IP-10 and MIG were normal. In sarcoidosis and EAA patients, IL-8, IP-10, and MIG were all increased and IP-10 and MIG correlated with IL-18, a Th1 cytokine, and the percentage and number of BAL lymphocytes. Conclusions: The difference in the expression of CXC chemokines and a Th1 cytokine may contribute to the different immunopathogenesis, clinical course and responsiveness to treatment of these diseases.
Evidence for a Founder Mutation in the Cathepsin C Gene in Three Families with Papillon-Lefèvre Syndrome
Authors: Kurban Mazen , Wajid Muhammad , Shimomura Yutaka , Bahhady Ruba , Kibbi Abdul-Ghani , Christiano Angela M.
Published: October 2009

Background: Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome (PLS; OMIM 245000) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder. Clinically, PLS is characterized by hyperkeratosis involving the palms, soles, elbows and knees which is followed later on by periodontitis, destruction of alveolar bone and loss of primary and permanent teeth. The condition is caused by mutations in the cathepsin C (CTSC) gene. Methods: We analyzed the DNA of members from 3 consanguineous families for mutations in the CTSC gene by direct sequencing analysis. We then performed haplotype analysis. Results: We identified an identical recurrent missense mutation, R272P, in all 3 families. Microsatellite marker analysis around the CTSC gene revealed the same haplotype on the mutation-carrying allele in all 3 families. Conclusion: The presence of this common mutation in families from 2 different geographical areas provides evidence for a founder effect for CTSC mutations in PLS.
Brain Network Dynamics Underlying Visuospatial Judgment: An fMRI Connectivity Study
Authors: de Graaf Tom A. , Roebroeck Alard , Goebel Rainer , Sack Alexander T.
Published: October 2009

Previous functional imaging research has consistently indicated involvement of bilateral fronto-parietal networks during the execution of visuospatial tasks. Studies with TMS have suggested that the right hemispheric network, but not the left, is functionally relevant for visuospatial judgments. However, very little is still known about the interactions within these fronto-parietal networks underlying visuospatial processing. In the current study, we investigated task modulation of functional connectivity (instantaneous correlations of regional time courses), and task-specific effective connectivity (direction of influences), within the right fronto-parietal network activated during visuospatial judgments. Ten healthy volunteers performed a behaviorally controlled visuospatial judgment task (ANGLE) or a control task (COLOR) in an fMRI experiment. Visuospatial task-specific activations were found in posterior parietal cortex (PPC) and middle/inferior frontal gyrus (MFG). Functional connectivity within this network was task-modulated, with significantly higher connectivity between PPC and MFG during ANGLE than during COLOR. Effective connectivity analysis for directed influence revealed that visuospatial task-specific projections within this network were predominantly in a frontal-to-parietal direction. Moreover, ANGLE-specific influences from thalamic nuclei to PPC were identified. Exploratory effective connectivity analysis revealed that closely neighboring clusters, within visuospatial regions, were differentially involved in the network. These neighboring clusters had opposite effective connectivity patterns to other nodes of the fronto-parietal network. Our data thus reveal that visuospatial judgments are supported by massive fronto-parietal backprojections, thalamo-parietal influence, and multiple stages, or loops, of information flow within the visuospatial network. We speculate on possible functional contributions of the various network nodes and informational loops in a neurocognitive model.
Heterogeneous Structure in Face-selective Human Occipito-temporal Cortex
Authors: Betts Lisa R. , Wilson Hugh R.
Published: October 2009

It is well established that the human visual system contains a distributed network of regions that are involved in processing faces, but our understanding of how faces are represented within these face-sensitive brain areas is incomplete. We used fMRI to investigate whether face-sensitive brain areas are solely tuned for whole faces, or whether they contain heterogeneous populations of neurons tuned to individual components of the face as well as whole faces, as suggested by physiological investigations in nonhuman primates. The middle fusiform gyrus (fusiform face area, or FFA) and the inferior occipital gyrus (occipital face area, or OFA) produced robust BOLD activation to synthetic whole face stimuli, but also to the internal facial features and head outlines. BOLD responses to whole face stimuli in FFA were significantly reduced after adaptation to whole faces, but not after adaptation to features or head outlines, whereas activation to head outlines was reduced after adaptation to both whole faces and head outlines. OFA showed no significant adaptation effects for matching adaptation and test conditions, but did exhibit cross-adaptation between whole faces and head outlines. The internal face features did not produce any significant adaptation within either FFA or OFA. Our results are consistent with a model in which independent populations of whole face-, feature-, and head outline-tuned neurons exist within face-sensitive regions of human occipito-temporal cortex, which in turn would support tasks such as viewpoint processing, emotion classification, and identity discrimination.
Electrophysiological Evidence of Semantic Interference in Visual Search
Authors: Telling Anna L. , Kumar Sanjay , Meyer Antje S. , Humphreys Glyn W.
Published: October 2009

Visual evoked responses were monitored while participants searched for a target (e.g., bird) in a four-object display that could include a semantically related distractor (e.g., fish). The occurrence of both the target and the semantically related distractor modulated the N2pc response to the search display: The N2pc amplitude was more pronounced when the target and the distractor appeared in the same visual field, and it was less pronounced when the target and the distractor were in opposite fields, relative to when the distractor was absent. Earlier components (P1, N1) did not show any differences in activity across the different distractor conditions. The data suggest that semantic distractors influence early stages of selecting stimuli in multielement displays.
Dissociable Roles of the Anterior Temporal Regions in Successful Encoding of Memory for Person Identity Information
Authors: Tsukiura Takashi , Mano Yoko , Sekiguchi Atsushi , Yomogida Yukihito , Hoshi Kaori , Kambara Toshimune , Takeuchi Hikaru , Sugiura Motoaki , Kawashima Ryuta
Published: October 2009

Memory for person identity information consists of three main components: face-related information, name-related information, and person-related semantic information, such as the person's job title. Although previous studies have demonstrated the importance of the anterior temporal lobe (ATL) in the retrieval of associations between these kinds of information, there is no evidence concerning whether the ATL region contributes to the encoding of this memory, and whether ATL roles are dissociable between different levels of association in this memory. Using fMRI, we investigated dissociable roles within the ATL during successful encoding of this memory. During encoding, participants viewed unfamiliar faces, each paired with a job title and name. During retrieval, each learned face was presented with two job titles or two names, and participants were required to choose the correct job title or name. Successful encoding conditions were categorized by subsequent retrieval conditions: successful encoding of names and job titles (HNJ), names (HN), and job titles (HJ). The study yielded three main findings. First, the dorsal ATL showed greater activations in HNJ than in HN or HJ. Second, ventral ATL activity was greater in HNJ and HJ than in HN. Third, functional connectivity between these regions was significant during successful encoding. The results are the first to demonstrate that the dorsal and ventral ATL roles are dissociable between two steps of association, associations of person-related semantics with name and with face, and a dorsal–ventral ATL interaction predicts subsequent retrieval success of memory for person identity information.
Optimizing Design Efficiency of Free Recall Events for fMRI
Authors: Öztekin Ilke , Long Nicole M. , Badre David
Published: October 2009

Free recall is a fundamental paradigm for studying memory retrieval in the context of minimal cue support. Accordingly, free recall has been extensively studied using behavioral methods. However, the neural mechanisms that support free recall have not been fully investigated due to technical challenges associated with probing individual recall events with neuroimaging methods. Of particular concern is the extent to which the uncontrolled latencies associated with recall events can confer sufficient design efficiency to permit neural activation for individual conditions to be distinguished. The present study sought to rigorously assess the feasibility of testing individual free recall events with fMRI. We used both theoretically and empirically derived free recall latency distributions to generate simulated fMRI data sets and assessed design efficiency across a range of parameters that describe free recall performance and fMRI designs. In addition, two fMRI experiments empirically assessed whether differential neural activation in visual cortex at onsets determined by true free recall performance across different conditions can be resolved. Collectively, these results specify the design and performance parameters that can provide comparable efficiency between free recall designs and more traditional jittered event-related designs. These findings suggest that assessing BOLD response during free recall using fMRI is feasible, under certain conditions, and can serve as a powerful tool in understanding the neural bases of memory search and overt retrieval.
Contributions of Spatial Working Memory to Visuomotor Learning
Authors: Anguera Joaquin A. , Reuter-Lorenz Patricia A. , Willingham Daniel T. , Seidler Rachael D.
Published: October 2009

Previous studies of motor learning have described the importance of cognitive processes during the early stages of learning; however, the precise nature of these processes and their neural correlates remains unclear. The present study investigated whether spatial working memory (SWM) contributes to visuomotor adaptation depending on the stage of learning. We tested the hypothesis that SWM would contribute early in the adaptation process by measuring (i) the correlation between SWM tasks and the rate of adaptation, and (ii) the overlap between the neural substrates of a SWM mental rotation task and visuomotor adaptation. Participants completed a battery of neuropsychological tests, a visuomotor adaptation task, and an SWM task involving mental rotation, with the latter two tasks performed in a 3.0-T MRI scanner. Performance on a neuropsychological test of SWM (two-dimensional mental rotation) correlated with the rate of early, but not late, visuomotor adaptation. During the early, but not late, adaptation period, participants showed overlapping brain activation with the SWM mental rotation task, in right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the bilateral inferior parietal lobules. These findings suggest that the early, but not late, phase of visuomotor adaptation engages SWM processes.
The Role of the Left Head of Caudate in Suppressing Irrelevant Words
Authors: Ali Nilufa , Green David W. , Kherif Ferath , Devlin Joseph T. , Price Cathy J.
Published: October 2009

Suppressing irrelevant words is essential to successful speech production and is expected to involve general control mechanisms that reduce interference from task-unrelated processing. To investigate the neural mechanisms that suppress visual word interference, we used fMRI and a Stroop task, using a block design with an event-related analysis. Participants indicated with a finger press whether a visual stimulus was colored pink or blue. The stimulus was either the written word “BLUE,” the written word “PINK,” or a string of four Xs, with word interference introduced when the meaning of the word and its color were “incongruent” (e.g., BLUE in pink hue) relative to congruent (e.g., BLUE in blue) or neutral (e.g., XXXX in pink). The participants also made color decisions in the presence of spatial interference rather than word interference (i.e., the Simon task). By blocking incongruent, congruent, and neutral trials, we identified activation related to the mechanisms that suppress interference as that which was greater at the end relative to the start of incongruency. This highlighted the role of the left head of caudate in the control of word interference but not spatial interference. The response in the left head of caudate contrasted to bilateral inferior frontal activation that was greater at the start than at the end of incongruency, and to the dorsal anterior cingulate gyrus which responded to a change in the motor response. Our study therefore provides novel insights into the role of the left head of caudate in the mechanisms that suppress word interference.
Graded Effects of Regularity in Language Revealed by N400 Indices of Morphological Priming
Authors: Kielar Aneta , Joanisse Marc F.
Published: October 2009

Differential electrophysiological effects for regular and irregular linguistic forms have been used to support the theory that grammatical rules are encoded using a dedicated cognitive mechanism. The alternative hypothesis is that language systematicities are encoded probabilistically in a way that does not categorically distinguish rule-like and irregular forms. In the present study, this matter was investigated more closely by focusing specifically on whether the regular–irregular distinction in English past tenses is categorical or graded. We compared the ERP priming effects of regulars (baked–bake), vowel-change irregulars (sang–sing), and “suffixed” irregulars that display a partial regularity (suffixed irregular verbs, e.g., slept–sleep), as well as forms that are related strictly along formal or semantic dimensions. Participants performed a visual lexical decision task with either visual (Experiment 1) or auditory prime (Experiment 2). Stronger N400 priming effects were observed for regular than vowel-change irregular verbs, whereas suffixed irregulars tended to group with regular verbs. Subsequent analyses decomposed early versus late-going N400 priming, and suggested that differences among forms can be attributed to the orthographic similarity of prime and target. Effects of morphological relatedness were observed in the later-going time period, however, we failed to observe true regular–irregular dissociations in either experiment. The results indicate that morphological effects emerge from the interaction of orthographic, phonological, and semantic overlap between words.
Cannabinoid Modulations of Resting State EEG Theta Power and Working Memory Are Correlated in Humans
Authors: Böcker Koen B. E. , Hunault Claudine C. , Gerritsen Jeroen , Kruidenier Maaike , Mensinga Tjeert T. , Kenemans J. Leon
Published: October 2009

Object representations in working memory depend on neural firing that is phase-locked to oscillations in the theta band (4–8 Hz). Cannabis intake disrupts synchronicity of theta oscillations and interferes with memory performance. Sixteen participants smoked cigarettes containing 0.0, 29.3, 49.1, or 69.4 mg Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in a randomized crossover design and performed working memory and general attention tasks. Dose-dependent effects of THC were observed for resting state EEG theta and beta power, working memory (per-item search time), and attentional performance (percent errors and RT). The THC effects on EEG theta power and memory performance were correlated, whereas other EEG and behavioral effects were not. These findings confirm and extend previous results in rodents and humans, and corroborate a neurocomputational model that postulates that temporal aspects of information processing in working memory depend causally on nested oscillations in the theta and gamma (>30 Hz) bands.
Hemispheric Asymmetry in the Remapping and Maintenance of Visual Saliency Maps: A TMS Study
Authors: van Koningsbruggen Martijn Gerbrand , Gabay Shai , Sapir Ayelet , Henik Avishai , Rafal Robert D.
Published: October 2009

Parietal cortex has been implicated in the updating, after eye movements, of a salience map that is required for coherent visual experience and for the control of visually guided behavior. The current experiment investigated whether TMS over anterior intraparietal cortex (AIPCx), just after a saccade, would affect the ability to update and maintain a salience map. In order to generate a salience map, we employed a paradigm in which an uninformative cue was presented at one object in a display to generate inhibition of return (IOR)—an inhibitory tag that renders the cued object less salient than others in the display, and that slows subsequent responses to visual transients at its location. Following the cue, participants made a saccade to either left or right, and we then probed for updating of the location of IOR by measuring manual reaction time to targets appearing at cued location of the cued compared to an uncued object. Between the time of saccade initiation and target appearance, dual-pulse TMS was targeted over right (Experiment 1) or left AIPCx (Experiment 2), and a vertex control side. Updating of the location of IOR was eliminated by TMS over right, but not the left, AIPCx, suggesting that right parietal cortex is involved in the remapping of IOR. Remapping was eliminated by right AIPCx, regardless of whether the saccade was made to the left (contralateral), or right (ipsilateral) visual field, and regardless of which field the target appeared in. We conclude that right AIPCx is the neural substrate for maintaining a salience map across saccades, and not simply for propagating an efference copy of saccade commands.
Thebes Revisited: Theodicy and the Temporality of Evil
Authors: Manoussakis John Panteleimon
Published: October 2009

This essay gives a close reading of Sophocles' Oedipus Rex in light of Schelling's discussion of theodicy as teleology. The article raises the question of the connection between ethics and time, and it argues that ethical categories are really temporal ones, so much so that it would make little sense to posit a choice between good and evil as if there were two simultaneous options. Instead, the story of Oedipus shows us how Thebes is always to precede if one is to reach Colonus, that evil precedes and enables the good.
Careers in the Dutch civil service: a gender perspective
Authors: Groeneveld Sandra
Published: October 2009

This article focuses upon gender differences in the satisfaction with career opportunities of civil servants in the Netherlands. Women have become better represented at all levels in the Dutch civil service in recent years, but they are still underrepresented in the higher level positions. Nevertheless, women are slightly more satisfied with their career opportunities than men are and they seem to be increasingly so. Their relatively positive evaluation of extrinsic aspects of their work situation is one of the explanations of this finding, as is their higher intrinsic work motivation compared to that of men. It is suggested that the career orientations and aspirations of women better fit the changing context of career formation in the Dutch civil service and the accompanying new psychological contract.

Points for practitioners

The Dutch civil service has set ambitious targets with respect to the representation of women at all levels in the service, but insight into the determinants of women’s careers in the public sector is still very scarce. The findings in this article show that there are gender differences in the weighting of intrinsic and extrinsic aspects of the work in evaluating one’s career opportunities. Besides, the article may assist human resource management practitioners in anticipating the impact of changing career trajectories on the career satisfaction of male and female civil servants.
Contextualizing the Dutch drop in political trust: connecting underlying factors
Authors: Hendriks Frank
Published: October 2009

How can it be that a country — one that was envied until the very end of the twentieth century for its enduring high level of trust in the political system — could have suffered so much damage in just a few years at the beginning of the new century when it comes to reported rates of trust in political institutions? This article maps the loss of political trust in the Netherlands and sets out to explain the developments that the statistics describe. A thought-provoking article that Bovens and Wille published in this journal names a number of temporary factors (fluctuations in the national economy and incumbent national governments) to explain the Dutch drop. This article points to the influence of more structural, systematic factors or underlying ‘currents’ that are concealed behind the factors that Bovens and Wille address: the persistence of consensus democracy on the one hand and the surge of the emotional culture and the risk society on the other. The accumulation and interaction of these three currents form the basis for the explication of the declining levels of trust in politics.

Points for practitioners

This article maps the loss of political trust in the Netherlands at the beginning of the new millennieum, and sets out to explain this phenomenon. The analysis points to the influence of more structural and systematic factors — the persistence of consensus democracy on the one hand and the surge of the emotional culture and the risk society on the other — concealed behind the more temporal and transitory factors that Bovens and Wille have highlighted in an earlier issue of this journal. Restoring trust is contingent on the accumulation and interaction of these three currents.
Understanding the relationship between a national award scheme and performance
Authors: Radnor Zoe
Published: October 2009

This article, drawing on a large data set collected as part of the national evaluation of a UK public service award scheme, aims to understand its relationship with performance measurement, reporting and management. The data set collected over three years includes case study analyses, two national surveys and a staff survey. Through a framework of performance measurement and management, the article illustrates how there is little direct connection made between the award scheme and performance measurement and management, although recognition is made that they do support each other in driving and supporting improvement and performance. The article highlights the complexities of the current improvement landscape for many public services but supports the finding that many of the organizations in the sample are taking a corporate approach to the engagement with improvement activities and initiatives in order to support performance.

Points for practitioners

This article illustrates that award schemes can support performance, maybe not always directly with performance measures but in recognizing good ideas and practice for service improvement. Applying for an award, disseminating good practice or taking time to understand awarded practice from another organization all appear to have a positive impact on performance. It is also important to take a corporate approach to improvement. For many public service organizations, the number of initiatives focused on performance, improvement and service delivery is vast, from award schemes to audit and inspection regimes. Organizations need to decide which, what and when to engage with in order to support focused improvement and performance.
Impact of administrative reform of the European Commission: results from a survey of heads of unit in policy-making directorates
Authors: Bauer Michael W.
Published: October 2009

The Kinnock reform has changed the European Commission. This article discusses the link between reform effects and policy output. A survey of more than 100 heads of unit (HoU) of policy-making Directorates-General serves as the empirical basis. It is concluded that the recent reform of the Commission does indeed comprehensively redefine the role of the HoU. Their resource base to focus on policy drafting has been hugely reduced. Negative consequences for the organization’s potential to deliver policy draft of high quality are therefore very likely.

Points for practitioners

This article deals with the following areas:

• Middle management as organizational backbone

• The perils of decentralizing management functions

• The impact of administrative reform on policy output.
Investigating differences in the writing performance of international and Generation 1.5 students
Authors: di Gennaro Kristen
Published: October 2009

Practitioners working closely with second language (L2) writers in the US recognize at least two types of L2 students: international (IL2) and Generation 1.5 (G1.5) students. Some argue that specific differences in each group’s writing performance are evident (cf. Harklau, 2003; Reid, 2006); however, investigations into observable and measurable differences have been minimal. Using a Rasch measurement model, this study offers empiri cal evidence of how these students may differ in their writing performance, specifically with regard to grammatical, rhetorical, cohesive, sociolinguistic, and content c ontrol, in addition to essay length. Two separate statistical analyses were conducted: the first examined differences between IL2 and G1.5 students when modeled together as a single group; the second looked at how the groups compared when modeled separately. Results from the whole-group analysis showed the two groups differed only with regard to rhetorical control; the separate-group analysis revealed differences in length and in the difficulty rankings of the scoring components, with content control ranked at opposite extremes for the two groups. In neither analysis did the groups d iffer with regard to grammatical, cohesive, or sociolinguistic control as defined in this study. Results are interpreted in terms of students’ strengths and weaknesses relevant to placement decisions and instruction.
Discourse synthesis in integrated second language writing assessment
Authors: Plakans Lia
Published: October 2009

As integrated tasks become more common in assessing writing for academic purposes, it is necessary to investigate how test takers approach these tasks. The present study explores the processes of test takers undertaking reading-to-write tasks developed for a university English placement exam. Think-aloud protocols and interviews of university-level non-native writers of English were collected to capture the writers’ composing processes. These data were analysed to determine if the tasks elicited an academic writing process of discourse synthesis and to identify what language issues were present. The results revealed some writers use discourse synthesis subprocesses in composing responses to the reading-to-write tasks, with apparent d ifferences across writers. Language difficulties that emerged for writers were vocabulary knowledge and use, as well as stylistic concerns. The implications of the study suggest that reading-to-write tasks may elicit a discourse synthesis process that could be used for validity evidence in some contexts and lead to more appropriate placement into academic writing courses.
Appropriateness of the TOEIC® Bridge test for students in three countries of South America
Authors: Sinharay Sandip , Powers Donald E. , Feng Ying , Saldivia Luis , Giunta Anthony , Simpson Annabelle , Weng Vincent
Published: October 2009

In order to facilitate the interpretation of test scores from the TOEIC® Bridge as a measure of English language proficiency, one form of the test was administered to more than 6000 test takers in three South American c ountries — Colombia, Chile and Ecuador. The appropriateness of the TOEIC Bridge test as a measure of English language skill was evaluated using several approaches, such as factor analysis and computation of correla tions between the TOEIC Bridge scores and other measures like local English test scores, student self-assessment scores, and teacher ratings. The evidence collected was generally consistent with the interpretation of TOEIC Bridge scores as indicators of English language competencies for the students examined.
Manchester Business Answers 24/7
Authors: Greenwood Mark , Bradshaw Karen
Published: October 2009

The Manchester Business School (MBS) library service of the John Rylands University Library at the University of Manchester has a wide variety of customers, some of whom are not in a position to visit the library buildings frequently. Manchester Business Answers 24/7 is an online enquiry-type service to help them get the most out of a large range of e-resources and, crucially, the expert specialist knowledge of library staff. It is based around a searchable database of frequently asked questions and answers. For any online service, technology is important: we have adopted the ‘Business FAQ’ system from the University of Pennsylvania library. We focus on a service perspective, as our experience is that two general service issues are more important than technology. The first is service definition: how users will understand what the new service can do for them. The second is the service monitoring and improvement process: this is essential for deciding how to develop the service based on how it has actually been used rather than on the assumptions of service providers.
What’s most businesses’ missing link? — a filing strategy
Authors: Vallis Clinton
Published: October 2009

Records and Information Management have become buzzwords in today’s modern business environment. Although they have been topics of debate through the decades among our often cosmopolitan and diverse working forces across the globe, the issue is now more than ever making its importance and impact felt and known across just about every sector due to compliance regulations and statutes. So the question currently posed, is just what is Records and Information Management and how can it be effectively managed or brought up to speed (inline with current definitions) without upsetting an organization’s expediency?
Is the bell tolling for the death of the Corporate Information Unit?
Authors: Edgar Sue
Published: October 2009

The short article attempts to offer up a potted history of how Corporate Information Units find themselves increasingly under the spotlight, under threat or with a closed sign on the door. By looking at the early 2000s and into this current climate it is clear that circumstance, technology, economics and resistance to change have been major factors in the demise. Going forward there will be challenges and excitement for those Information Managers who have a thirst for adventure. With thanks to those corporate librarians in London and New York for sharing their observations and predictions.
The Puzzle of Weak Pocketbook Voting
Authors: Grafstein Robert
Published: October 2009

This article investigates why predominantly self-interested voters exhibit weak pocketbook voting. Focusing on the USA, it estimates partisan government’s impact on household income and, based on the Permanent Income Hypothesis, models the conversion of that income into consumption, the source of voters’ utility in the model. The analysis implies that pocketbook voting is weak because anticipated policy is already incorporated in household consumption plans. Sociotropic variables are more powerful because they determine the relative value of partisan policies in the longer term. Using PSID data, estimates of the US parties’ impact on income generate a measure of partisan utility differences. This measure enters into a probit analysis using 1952—2000 ANES presidential election data. The pocketbook measure performs as predicted both independently and in relation to sociotropic variables.