bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the effects of soil management on runoff generation in olive orchards using a physically based model.
Authors: Gómez J.A. , Orgaz F. , Villalobos F.J. , Fereres E.
Published: June 2009

Abstract. A numerical model that incorporates the spatial variability of infiltration, surface storage and resistance to overland flow was developed, calibrated and validated for olive orchards. The model reproduced accurately amounts of runoff used in validation, and predicted runoff in olive orchards managed in different ways, in line with published results. The model was used to analyse the runoff generation in a virtual, 180 m length, 5% steep, olive grove, using 54 different scenarios which combined three different soil types, two tree canopy sizes and nine soil management techniques (four tillage scenarios: freshly or degraded tillage with and without a compacted plough layer; no‐till, and four cover crops in strips differing in width and plant density). The results of the numerical experiment showed that no‐till had the highest runoff coefficient, while a dense cover crop had the lowest. Recently tilled soils also exhibited some of the lowest runoff coefficients. The effects of increasing soil cover due to a greater tree canopy on runoff were significant and caused by the greater area of high infiltration beneath the canopy. Effects of tree canopy size were less important than the impact of soil management practices on runoff.
On‐farm evaluation of ridging and residue management options in a Sahelian millet‐cowpea intercrop. 1. Soil quality changes
Authors: Bielders C.L. , Michels K. , Bationo A.
Published: June 2009

Abstract. In the Sahel, promising technologies for agricultural intensification include millet stover mulching and ridging. A four year on‐farm experiment was set‐up in order to assess the effect of various combinations of these two technologies on soil chemical and physical quality in a millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) –‐ cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) relay intercropping system. Treatments included bare surface, ridging, a surface applied banded millet stover mulch (2 t ha–1) and a banded millet stover mulch (2 t ha–1) buried in ridges. The latter three treatments were implemented exclusively in the cowpea rows, with an annual rotation between the millet and cowpea rows. Both the bare and ridge plots experienced a rapid loss of organic carbon, acidification and the development of extensive surface crusts but no increase in bulk density or penetration resistance. In the year of application, mulching improved soil quality in the cowpea row with respect to pH, organic carbon and exchangeable K+ and Mg++ content, penetration resistance and bulk density, and it reduced the decline in exchangeable Ca++ and total N content. In the year following mulch application, a general decline in soil chemical quality was observed in the millet row, except for organic carbon content, and a positive residual effect was observed on penetration resistance and bulk density. As a rule, the effects of mulching in the year of application tended to be stronger in the ridged treatment with buried residue than in the banded surface mulch. In the year following application, this tendency was reversed. For the purpose of reducing soil degradation by nutrient mining and wind erosion, a banded surface mulch therefore appeared more effective than buried mulch.
The cost of soil lost from fields due to removal on harvested sugarbeet: a case study in Turkey
Authors: Oztas T. , Ozbek A.K. , Turan & M.
Published: June 2009

Abstract.Soil removed on sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) at harvest may be an important factor in soil degradation causing significant decline in soil productivity. This study evaluated soil losses on sugarbeet and estimated the cost of plant nutrients lost by this process. The losses were calculated using data from the agricultural reports published by the General Directorate of the Turkish Sugar Industry. Organic matter and plant available nutrient contents of soils removed from sugarbeet fields were determined. It was estimated that approximately 30 000 t of soil is lost annually in Erzurum, and 1.2 million t in the whole of Turkey. The cost of N, P and K losses is approximately 60 000 US$ annually for the study area.
Identification of key soil and terrain properties that influence the spatial variability of soil moisture throughout the growing season
Authors: Baggaley N. , Mayr T. , Bellamy P.
Published: June 2009

Combining soils and terrain information is the key to understanding hydrological processes at a landscape scale. Increasing the scale of soil maps has been shown to allow the spatial patterns of soil moisture to be more fully represented in the landscape, but soil data are often only available at reconnaissance scales (e.g. 1:250 000). It is widely acknowledged that soil hydrological properties vary within the landscape and there are widely available digital terrain models at a 10‐m grid resolution in the UK. The aim of this study was to investigate soil moisture variations and how soil and terrain data can be used in combination to explain the spatial variation in soil moisture contents. Field monitoring of surface soil moisture content on eight occasions in three different fields in Bedfordshire (UK) was undertaken between April and July in 2004 and 2005. Between 100 and 120 points were sampled in each survey using a Delta‐T ML2x™ Theta Probe. The results from regression models show that up to 80% of the variation in surface soil moisture can be explained using 1:10 000 soil series maps and terrain variables. Short‐wave radiation on a sloping surface (SWRSS), calculated by SRAD, and a topographic wetness index combined explained a maximum of 44% of the variation. The results show that the terrain effect on soil moisture is modified by soils. The additional variation explained by adding 1:10 000 soil series information to terrain variables was up to 50% and adding 1:25 000 soil series information increased the variation explained by up to 29%. The interactions in the variation explained by soils and landscape indices at different scales tie in with the concept of hydropedology. It also has implications for data requirements for modelling soil hydrological response and associated soil functions.
The politicisation of migrant minors: Italo‐Romanian geopolitics and EU integration
Authors: Mai Nick
Published: June 2009

The article will address the different political connotations achieved by Romanian young people's migration to Italy (Rome) and their involvement in illegal activities by drawing on the findings of a two‐year (2006–2008) research project. The research took place during the final phase of negotiation of Romania's entry into the EU, and was aimed at understanding the nexus between young people's migration, their recourse to illegal activities and the role of social intervention. The article will argue that the (geo)political situation encompassing Romania's entry into the EU shaped the power dynamics and the discursive fields within which young migrants, institutions and NGOs acted according to their contrasting priorities and mandates, by deploying different strategic understandings of what constitutes ‘the best interest of the child’.
Biodiversity Conservation and Indigenous Land Management in the Era of Self‐Determination
Authors: SCHMIDT PAIGE M. , PETERSON MARKUS J.
Published: June 2009

Abstract:  Indigenous people inhabit approximately 85% of areas designated for biodiversity conservation worldwide. They also continue to struggle for recognition and preservation of cultural identities, lifestyles, and livelihoods—a struggle contingent on control and protection of traditional lands and associated natural resources (hereafter, self‐determination). Indigenous lands and the biodiversity they support are increasingly threatened because of human population growth and per capita consumption. Application of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to tribal lands in the United States provides a rich example of the articulation between biodiversity conservation and indigenous peoples' struggle for self‐determination. We found a paradoxical relationship whereby tribal governments are simultaneously and contradictorily sovereign nations; yet their communities depend on the U.S. government for protection through the federal‐trust doctrine. The unique legal status of tribal lands, their importance for conserving federally protected species, and federal environmental regulations' failure to define applicability to tribal lands creates conflict between tribal sovereignty, self‐determination, and constitutional authority. We reviewed Secretarial Order 3206, the U.S. policy on “American Indian tribal rights, federal–tribal trust responsibilities, and the ESA,” and evaluated how it influences ESA implementation on tribal lands. We found improved biodiversity conservation and tribal self‐determination requires revision of the fiduciary relationship between the federal government and the tribes to establish clear, legal definitions regarding land rights, applicability of environmental laws, and financial responsibilities. Such actions will allow provision of adequate funding and training to tribal leaders and resource managers, government agency personnel responsible for biodiversity conservation and land management, and environmental policy makers. Increased capacity, cooperation, and knowledge transfer among tribes and conservationists will improve biodiversity conservation and indigenous self‐determination.
Pheromone Monitoring of Rare and Threatened Insects: Exploiting a Pheromone–Kairomone System to Estimate Prey and Predator Abundance
Authors: LARSSON MATTIAS C. , SVENSSON GLENN P.
Published: June 2009

Abstract:  Pheromone‐based monitoring is a promising new method for assessing the conservation status of many threatened insect species. We examined the versatility and usefulness of pheromone‐based monitoring by integrating a pheromone–kairomone trapping system and pitfall trapping system in the monitoring of two saproxylic beetles, the hermit beetle Osmoderma eremita (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) and its predator Elater ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Elateridae), which live inside hollow trees. We performed mark–recapture studies of both species with unbaited pitfall traps in oak hollows combined with pheromone‐baited funnel traps suspended from oak branches to intercept dispersing individuals. For O. eremita, the integrated trapping system showed that the population in the study sites may be considerably higher than estimates based on extrapolation from pitfall trapping alone (approximately 3400 vs. 1100 or 1800 individuals, respectively). Recaptures between odor‐baited funnel traps showed that males and females had similar dispersal rates, but estimating the number of dispersing individuals was problematic due to declining recapture probability between subsequent capture events. Our conservative estimate, assuming a linear decrease in capture probability, suggested that around 1900 individuals, or at least half of the O. eremita population, may perform flights from their natal host trees, representing higher dispersal rates than previous estimates. E. ferrugineus was rarely caught in pitfall traps. One hundred thirty‐nine individuals, likely almost exclusively females, were caught in odor‐baited funnel traps with approximately 4% recapture probability. If recapture probability over consecutive capture events follows that of O. eremita, this would correspond to a total population size of 2500–3000 individuals of the predator; similar to its supposed prey O. eremita. Our results demonstrate that pheromone‐based monitoring is a valuable tool in the study of species or life‐history stages that would otherwise be inaccessible.
Mediastinal and Neck Kaposiform Hemangioendothelioma: Report of Three Cases
Authors: O’Regan Grainne M. , Irvine Alan D. , Yao Nana , O’Marcaigh Aengus , Sheridan‐Pereira Margaret , Phelan Eithne , McDermott Michael B. , Twomey Anne , Russell John , Watson Rosemarie
Published: June 2009

Abstract:  Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma is an aggressive vascular tumor, named for its striking histologic resemblance to Kaposi sarcoma and locally invasive growth. Mortality is high, and ranges from 10% to 24% for all kaposiform hemangioendothelioma lesions, with a significantly higher mortality for deep soft‐tissue or visceral lesions occurring in infants less than 6 months. Mediastinal and neck kaposiform hemangioendothelioma in particular merit special discussion, as involvement of these critical anatomic locations results in significant site‐specific therapeutic challenges due to invasion of vital structures, inherent delays in establishing histopathologic confirmation, and difficulties in monitoring disease status. We report our experience with three cases of mediastinal and neck kaposiform hemangioendothelioma, emphasizing the unique diagnostic and management challenges, variable response to treatment and outcome of this anatomic variant of kaposiform hemangioendothelioma.
Role of Positron Emission Tomography in the Management of Neurocutaneous Melanocytosis
Authors: CABANILLAS MIGUEL , GINARTE MANUEL , MONTEAGUDO BENIGNO , TORIBIO JAIME
Published: June 2009

Abstract:  Management of large congenital melanocytic nevi and neurocutaneous melanocytosis represents a difficult challenge for clinicians, due to the high risk of malignancy in both entities and the difficulty of an early diagnosis of this complication. We report a new case of neurocutaneous melanocytosis (NCM) in association with large congenital melanocytic nevi (LCMN) that illustrates a possible role of positron emission tomography in the work‐up of these patients.
Short‐Term Alcohol Administration Alters KiSS‐1 Gene Expression in the Reproductive Hypothalamus of Prepubertal Female Rats
Authors: Srivastava Vinod K. , Hiney Jill K. , Dees W. Les
Published: June 2009

Background:  Kisspeptins bind to the G‐protein‐coupled receptor (GPR54) to activate hypothalamic luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) secretion at the time of puberty. Alcohol (ALC) causes depressed prepubertal LHRH release, resulting in depressed luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion and delayed puberty. Because KiSS‐1 and GPR54 are important to the onset of puberty, we assessed the effects of chronic ALC administration on basal expression of these puberty‐related genes within the reproductive hypothalamus, as well as hormones and transduction signaling pathways contributing to their activity.

Methods:  Immature female rats were fed a liquid diet containing ALC for 6 days beginning when 27 days old. Controls received either companion isocaloric liquid diet or rat chow and water. Animals were decapitated on day 33, in the late juvenile stage of development. Blood was collected for the assessment of serum hormone levels. Brain tissues containing the anteroventral periventricular (AVPV) and arcuate (ARC) nuclei were obtained for assessing expression of specific puberty‐related genes and proteins.

Results:  KiSS‐1 mRNA levels in the AVPV and ARC nuclei were suppressed (p < 0.001) in the ALC‐treated rats. GPR54 gene and protein expressions were both modestly increased (p < 0.05) in AVPV nucleus, but not in ARC nucleus. Alcohol exposure also resulted in suppressed serum levels of insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1), LH, and estradiol (E2). As IGF‐1, in the presence of E2, can induce expression of the KiSS‐1 gene, we assessed the potential for ALC to alter IGF‐1 signaling in the reproductive hypothalamus. IGF‐1 receptor gene and protein expressions were not altered. However, protein expression of phosphorylated Akt, a transduction signal used by IGF‐1, was suppressed in the AVPV (p < 0.05) and ARC (p < 0.01) nuclei.

Conclusions:  Alcohol causes suppressed KiSS‐1 gene expression in the reproductive hypothalamus; hence, contributing to this drug’s ability to cause suppressed LHRH secretion and disruption of the pubertal process. We suggest that this action, at least in part, is through altered IGF‐1 signaling.
Health Care for Older Persons in Colombia: A Country Profile
Authors: Gómez Fernando , Curcio Carmen‐Lucía , Duque Gustavo
Published: June 2009

Colombia is a country of approximately 42 million inhabitants, with some 2.5 million being aged 65 and older. Currently, life expectancy in Colombia is 72.3. By 2025, the population life expectancy at birth will be 77.6 for women and 69.8 for men. The quality of care that people receive as they age in Colombia varies according to where they live. Individuals living in the highly urbanized areas of Colombia receive high‐quality care, whereas elderly subjects living in rural areas and in the southern and northern regions are exposed to unemployment, low income, inequity of access to health care, drug trafficking, and armed conflict. In spite of these problems, characteristics of aging of older people in terms of functionality and healthcare access are similar to those of people living in developing countries around the world. This article reviews the particular characteristics of the elderly population in Colombia, especially the significant changes that have happened in recent years, when social instability and conflict have determined that health resources be redirected to other budget priorities such as defense and security.
Brain‐Derived Neurotrophic Factor Predicts Mortality Risk in Older Women
Authors: Krabbe Karen S. , Mortensen Erik L. , Avlund Kirsten , Pedersen Agnes N. , Pedersen Bente K. , Jørgensen Torben , Bruunsgaard Helle
Published: June 2009

OBJECTIVES: To test the hypothesis that low circulating brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a secretory member of the neurotrophin family that has a protective role in neurodegeneration and stress responses and a regulatory role in metabolism, predicts risk of all‐cause mortality in 85‐year‐old men and women.

DESIGN: Longitudinal study with 50‐ to 58‐month follow‐up.

SETTING: The 1914 cohort, a population‐based cohort established in 1964 by the Research Center for Prevention and Health at Glostrup Hospital.

PARTICIPANTS: One hundred eighty‐eight unselected 85‐year‐old Danes.

MEASUREMENTS: BDNF was measured in plasma and serum. The Danish National Register of Patients was used to collect data on morbidity. The primary outcome in Cox regression analyses was all‐cause mortality.

RESULTS: Women with low plasma BDNF (lowest tertile) had greater all‐cause mortality risk than women with high plasma BDNF (highest tertile) (hazard ratio=2.2, 95% confidence interval=1.1–4.7). Low plasma BDNF predicted mortality independently of activities of daily living; education; and a history of central nervous system disease, cerebrovascular accidents, cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory disease, and low‐grade inflammation. No association was found between plasma BDNF and mortality in men, and serum BDNF did not influence mortality in either sex.

CONCLUSION: Low plasma BDNF is a novel, independent, and robust biomarker of mortality risk in old women. BDNF may be a central factor in the network of multimorbidity in old populations.
Esthetic Interim Acrylic Resin Prosthesis Reinforced with Metal Casting
Authors: Verri Fellippo Ramos , Pellizzer Eduardo Piza , Mazaro José Vitor Quinelli , De Almeida Erika Oliveira , Antenucci Rosse Mary Falcón
Published: June 2009

Fabrication of an interim prosthesis is an important procedure in oral rehabilitation because it aids in determining the esthetics, phonetics, and occlusal relationship of the definitive restoration. The typical material (acrylic resin) used in interim prostheses commonly fails due to fractures. During extended oral rehabilitation with fixed partial prostheses, high strength interim prostheses are often required to protect hard and soft tissues, avoid dental mobility, and to allow the clinician and patient a chance to evaluate cosmetics and function before the placement of the definitive prosthesis. Furthermore, a satisfactory interim prosthesis can serve as a template for the construction of the definitive prosthesis. The maintenance of this prosthesis is important during treatment for protection of teeth and occlusal stability. Procedures to reinforce interim prostheses help to improve performance and esthetics in long‐term treatment. Due to the low durability of acrylic resin in long‐term use, the use of reinforcing materials, such as metal castings or spot‐welded stainless steel matrix bands, is indicated in cases of extensive restoration and long‐term treatment. This paper describes an easy technique for fabricating a fixed interim prosthesis using acrylic resin and a cast metallic reinforcement.
Surgical and Prosthodontic Treatment of a Patient with Significant Trauma to the Middle and Lower Face Secondary to a Gunshot Wound: A Clinical Report
Authors: Kelly Paul , Drago Carl J.
Published: June 2009

Large defects of dentofacial structures may result from trauma, disease (including neoplasms), and congenital anomalies. The location and size of the defects are related to difficulties that patients report relative to speech, mastication, swallowing, facial esthetics, and self‐image. This article reports on the evaluation and treatment of a patient who suffered significant trauma to the lower and mid‐face secondary to a gunshot injury. It describes the initial presentation, life‐saving procedures, and subsequent bone grafts, implant placement, and prosthetic treatments required to rehabilitate the patient to a condition that closely approximated his preoperative condition. This clinical report confirms that no matter the degree of complexity involved in treating the results of significant facial trauma, successful treatment is dependent on thorough physical and radiographic examinations, development of the appropriate diagnoses, and treatment based on sound prosthodontic and surgical principles.
A Christian Rationale for Vegetarianism
Authors: Largen Kristin Johnston
Published: June 2009

Abstract:  This article lays out an argument for vegetarianism based on a Christian theological rationale, specifically on a new articulation of a Christian anthropology for the 21st century. What I suggest is that an exploration of what it means to be human in a contemporary first world context leads to the conclusion that vegetarianism is a logical expression of one's understanding of oneself as a Christian, and one's exercise of one's Christian faith and discipleship.
Human Dignity—A Theological and Confucian Discussion
Authors: LO Pilgrim W.K.
Published: June 2009

Abstract:  There is no doubt in the Christian tradition that humans are created in the image of God, which establishes the fundamental difference between humans and animals. However, problems concerning differences between humans have become more serious in theological discussions today with regard to human dignity. While theologians of the West argue for recognition of and respect for human dignity for every individual human being through legislation in the political system, one must not overlook the fact that in China, the emphasis of Confucian anthropology on the cultivation of moral personality is of vital importance for the practice and domination of politicians.
Listening to God: Using Meta–Terminology to Describe Revelation in a Comparative Theistic Context1
Authors: Watson A. J.
Published: June 2009

Abstract:  Starting from the assertion that comparative theology is inherently dialogical in nature, this paper examines the use of non‐confessional meta‐terminology and its application in interfaith dialogue. In so doing, it examines potential meta‐terms for describing revelation as related in the Bhagavad‐Gita, the Qur’an, and the Gospel of John, and concludes that non‐confessional terms aid in the dismissal of normative viewpoints, leading to greater appreciation of commonality and meaning in the truth claims of other faiths and dialogue partners.
A Theology of the Cross and Ministry in Our Time: How Do You Call a Thing What It Is When You Don't Know What the Thing Is?
Authors: Root Andrew
Published: June 2009

Abstract:  This article explores our cultural context and the issues it raises for ministry and theology in our time, especially as it relates to a theology of the cross. By drawing on the work of Jean Baudrillard the article asserts that we live in a time of hyper‐reality, when nihilism is ever‐present under the thin crust of our entertainment and information‐saturated society. In responding to this world, it is argued that a theology of the cross has too often been misappropriated to serve as justification for taking on either the style of a postmodern aesthetic, which provides people a brand in new, hip forms of ministry, or adopting a fundamentalist stance, which provides people with a foundation in a world where it seems there is nowhere stable to stand. By returning to Luther's Heidelberg disputation, it is argued that “calling a thing what it is” in thesis 21 is not a style or foundation, but the invitation to enter (and do theology and ministry) in the nihilism of despair. Therefore, ministry and theology in our time should begin in the nihilism (the nihilism of the crucified Christ).
Cox Regression in Nested Case–Control Studies with Auxiliary Covariates
Authors: Liu Mengling , Lu Wenbin , Tseng Chi‐hong
Published: June 2009

SummaryNested case–control (NCC) design is a popular sampling method in large epidemiological studies for its cost effectiveness to investigate the temporal relationship of diseases with environmental exposures or biological precursors. Thomas' maximum partial likelihood estimator is commonly used to estimate the regression parameters in Cox's model for NCC data. In this article, we consider a situation in which failure/censoring information and some crude covariates are available for the entire cohort in addition to NCC data and propose an improved estimator that is asymptotically more efficient than Thomas' estimator. We adopt a projection approach that, heretofore, has only been employed in situations of random validation sampling and show that it can be well adapted to NCC designs where the sampling scheme is a dynamic process and is not independent for controls. Under certain conditions, consistency and asymptotic normality of the proposed estimator are established and a consistent variance estimator is also developed. Furthermore, a simplified approximate estimator is proposed when the disease is rare. Extensive simulations are conducted to evaluate the finite sample performance of our proposed estimators and to compare the efficiency with Thomas' estimator and other competing estimators. Moreover, sensitivity analyses are conducted to demonstrate the behavior of the proposed estimator when model assumptions are violated, and we find that the biases are reasonably small in realistic situations. We further demonstrate the proposed method with data from studies on Wilms' tumor.
Development and Use of Visual Explanations: Harnessing the Power of the “Seeing” Brain to Enhance Student Learning
Authors: Schmidt Shelly J.
Published: June 2009

ABSTRACT:  When students come to class, they bring with them the most powerful processor known to man—the human brain! Our job as teachers is to discover and implement practices that will make the most effective use of those brains. The human brain is a very powerful processor of sensory information, especially with regard to the sense of vision. We can harness the power of the “seeing” brain to enhance students' learning by providing (“feeding”) our students with concrete experiences that are replete with information‐rich visual explanations, such as images, diagrams, graphs, video clips, animations, anthropomorphic images, cartoons, samples, demonstrations, experiments, and performances of our subject matter, rather than relying on word‐only (verbal and/or text) explanations. As far as our brains are concerned, the old saying “A picture's worth a thousand words” is really true! Thus, the focus of this teaching tip is to explore the benefits and practical aspects of “feeding” visual explanations (“food”) to the sensory portion of our students' brains to enhance their learning and to encourage others to not only use visual explanations in their teaching, but also to develop visual explanations specific to their subject matter and to share them with others. This article also provides students and instructors alike with 3 animations, in QuickTime format, and a PowerPoint presentation containing a number of example visual explanations. These materials are available as supplementary materials on the journal website and can be downloaded for free educational use.
Discussion of Nonconventional Effects in Solid‐State Sintering of Cemented Carbides
Authors: Bounhoure Valerie , Missiaen Jean‐Michel , Lay Sabine , Pauty Emmanuel
Published: June 2009

WC–Co materials are usually produced through a powder metallurgy route, including a liquid‐phase sintering step in the 1350°–1450°C temperature range. However, it is well established that a large part of sintering already occurs in the solid‐state for micrometer or submicrometer WC particles. Solid‐state spreading of the Co‐rich binder phase and local rearrangement of WC particles are responsible for the compact densification. But important issues still remain unexplained. First, densification by pure rearrangement should stop at a critical packing fraction of the WC refractory phase. Second, a strong influence of the C/W ratio on the spreading and sintering kinetics is observed experimentally. Both these effects are discussed in this paper, based on experimental dilatometric results, microstructural investigations by SEM and transmission electron microscopy, and considerations about interfacial energies in the system.
Effect of Different Particle Size Distributions on Solid‐State Sintering: A Microscopic Simulation Approach
Authors: Wonisch Andreas , Kraft Torsten , Moseler Michael , Riedel Hermann
Published: June 2009

Simulations based on the discrete element method (DEM) are used to investigate the relationship between the distribution of particle sizes and the macroscopic sintering behavior of ceramic powders. This is achieved by generalizing the DEM force laws for solid‐state sintering in such a way that sintering of particles with different sizes can be simulated. A generation scheme for initial particle packings with realistic physical properties is presented, which allows for different distributions, ranging from monomodal to normal, log‐normal, and bimodal distributions. It is shown that the type and width of the distribution has a significant effect on the strain rates and viscosity during sintering. Broader size distributions lead to reduced sintering rates, although particle rearrangement is enhanced. However, the accelerating effect of rearrangement is overcompensated by an increase of the contact area between particles when the size distribution becomes wider. The simulation results are in good agreement with experimental results on a commercial Al2O3 power.
Determinism, Agency, and Justice
Authors: Moberg Mark
Published: June 2009

This article examines Richard Manning's book with critical attention to the role of agriculture, technology, and population as agents of cultural evolutionary change. It also attends to the critical role of agriculture and the food system in contemporary issues of sustainability and social justice.
The Flaw is Fatal
Authors: Manning Richard
Published: June 2009

This article provides a summary comment of Manning's encounter with the anthropologists who read and commented on his book.
Correlating implant stability to bone structure
Authors: Rozé Julie , Babu Stéphanie , Saffarzadeh Afchine , Gayet‐Delacroix Marie , Hoornaert Alain , Layrolle Pierre
Published: June 2009

Objectives: The aim of this study was to demonstrate a possible correlation between bone microarchitecture and primary implant stability.

Material and methods: Twenty‐two implants (Ankylos® and Straumann®) were inserted into the maxillae and mandibles of human cadavers. Bone structure was determined by computed tomography in three specimens (male, age 53; female, 67; female, 80). A strict clinical protocol was used for implantation. Primary implant stability was measured by resonance frequency analysis (Osstell Mentor). The bone structure was analyzed by micro‐computed tomography (CT). Bone histomorphometrical parameters were calculated and correlated to primary implant stability.

Results: Implant stability quotients (ISQ) ranged from 50 to 70% depending on the specimens and sites. Histomorphometry indicated differences in the bone microstructures of the specimens. However, ISQ values were not related to trabecular bone histomorphometrical parameters. The sole correlation was found between ISQ values and cortical bone thickness.

Conclusion: This study confirms the relevance for primary stability of cortical thickness around implants. The thickness of cortical bone can be assessed using a standard clinical CT.
Factors associated with early‐stage diagnosis of oral and pharyngeal cancer
Authors: Watson Jennifer M. , Logan Henrietta L. , Tomar Scott L. , Sandow Pamela
Published: June 2009

Abstract –  Objectives:  The objective of this study was to examine the characteristics and treatment‐seeking behaviors of patients diagnosed with oral and pharyngeal cancer (OPC) and to determine whether seeing an oral healthcare provider in the preceding year was associated with an earlier stage of diagnosis.

Methods:  Trained interviewers administered a pretested survey instrument to a sample of 131 patients newly diagnosed with OPC at two cancer centers in Florida. Analyses were conducted to compare characteristics of patients by cancer summary stage (early or advanced) on receipt of OPC examination, patterns of dental care, and number of initial signs and symptoms. In addition, analyses were also conducted for characteristics of patients’ dental care utilization (regular primary care dentist, time of most recent dental visit, and regular dental care) by receipt of OPC examination.

Results:  Overall, 25.3% of participants reported receiving an OPC examination at their last dental visit and participants who received an OPC examination were significantly more likely (79%) to be diagnosed at early stages than those who did not receive an oral cancer examination (48%). Patients with a regular primary care dentist were more likely to be diagnosed at early stages (65%) than those without a regular primary care dentist (41%). Factors significantly associated with receiving an OPC examination included having a regular primary care dentist (P < 0.001), having a dental visit in the preceding 12 months (P < 0.001), and receiving regular care (P < 0.001). The number of signs or symptoms reported by the patient was significantly associated with the stage at diagnosis (P = 0.002) and the most common initial symptom reported by patients was soreness in the mouth.

Conclusions:  These results emphasize the importance of periodic and thorough OPC examinations.
Tropical rat mites (Ornithonyssus bacoti) – serious ectoparasites
Authors: Beck Wieland , Fölster‐Holst Regina
Published: June 2009

In Germany there is limited information available about the distribution of the tropical rat mite (Ornithonyssus bacoti) in rodents. A few case reports show that this hematophagous mite species may also cause dermatitis in man. Having close body contact to small rodents is an important question for patients with pruritic dermatoses. The definitive diagnosis of this ectopara‐sitosis requires the detection of the parasite, which is more likely to be found in the environment of its host (in the cages, in the litter or in corners or cracks of the living area) than on the hosts’ skin itself. A case of infestation with tropical rat mites in a family is reported here. Three mice that had been removed from the home two months before were the reservoir. The mites were detected in a room where the cage with the mice had been placed months ago. Treatment requires the eradication of the parasites on its hosts (by a veterinarian) and in the environment (by an exterminator) with adequate acaricides such as permethrin.
Effects of topiramate on weight and metabolism in children with epilepsy
Authors: Li Hai‐feng , Zou Yan , Xia Zhe‐zhi , Gao Feng , Feng Jian‐hua , Yang Cui‐wei
Published: June 2009

Aim:  To explore the mechanism of topiramate‐induced weight loss in epilepsy children by monitoring metabolism indices.

Methods: Children with epilepsy were treated with topiramate at their first clinical visit. Metabolism indices including body mass index (BMI) and its SD scores, leptin, adiponectin, leptin/adiponectin (L/A), lipid profile‐insulin and Homeostasis Model Assessments (HOMA) index were collected before and after treatment.

Results:  Topiramate treatment significantly reduced L/A (t = 2.156, p = 0.031), and markedly increased the serum level of adiponectin (t = 3.124, p = 0.002). Moreover, there were no relationships between the metabolism indices and dosages of topiramate (p > 0.05).

Conclusion:  Our studies find that topiramate treatment in epilepsy children increases energy metabolism, resulting in weight loss. It has been demonstrated that adiponectin play a significant role in metabolic regulations.
Pluralism and diversity: trends in the use and application of ordination methods 1990‐2007
Authors: Von Wehrden Henrik , Hanspach Jan , Bruelheide Helge , Wesche Karsten
Published: June 2009

Question: What are the trends and patterns in the application of ordination techniques in vegetation science since 1990?

Location: Worldwide literature analysis.

Methods: Evaluation of five major journals of vegetation science; search of all ISI‐listed ecological journals. Data were analysed with ANCOVAs, Spearman rank correlations, GLMs, biodiversity indices and simple graphs.

Results: The ISI search retrieved fewer papers that used ordinations than the manual evaluation of five selected journals. Both retrieval methods revealed a clear trend in increasing frequency of ordination applications from 1990 to the present. Canonical Correspondence Analysis was far more frequently detected by the ISI search than any other method. Applications such as Correspondence Analysis/Reciprocal Averaging and Detrended Correspondence Analysis have increasingly been used in studies published in “applied” journals, while Canonical Correspondence Analysis, Redundancy Analysis and Non‐Metric Multidimensional Scaling were more frequently used in journals focusing on more “basic” research. Overall, Detrended Correspondence Analysis was the most commonly applied method within the five major journals, although the number of publications slightly decreased over time. Use of Non‐Metric Multidimensional Scaling has increased over the last 10 years.

Conclusion: The availability of suitable software packages has facilitated the application of certain techniques such as Non‐Metric Multidimensional Scaling. However, choices of ordination techniques are currently less driven by the constraints imposed by the software; there is also limited evidence that the choice of methods follows social considerations such as the need to use fashionable methods. Methodological diversity has been maintained or has even increased over time and reflects the researcher's need for diverse analytical tools suitable to address a wide range of questions.
Can X-rays provide a solution to the abundance discrepancy problem in photoionized nebulae?
Authors: Ercolano B.
Published: June 2009

We re-examine the well-known discrepancy between ionic abundances determined via the analysis of recombination lines (RLs) and collisionally excited lines (CELs). We show that abundance variations can be mimicked in a chemically homogeneous medium by the presence of dense (nH > rsim 104 cm−3) X-ray irradiated regions which present different ionization and temperature structures from those of the more diffuse medium they are embedded in, which is predominantly ionized by extreme-ultraviolet radiation. The presence of X-ray ionized dense clumps or filaments also naturally explains the lower temperatures often measured from O ii RLs and from the Balmer jump when compared to temperatures determined by CELs. We discuss the implications for abundances determined via the analysis of CELs and RLs and provide a simple analytical procedure to obtain upward corrections for CEL-determined abundance. While we show that the abundance discrepancy factor and the Balmer Jump temperature determined from observations of the Orion Nebula can simultaneously be reproduced by this model (implying upward corrections for CELs by a factor of 1.15), we find that the required X-ray fluxes exceed the known Orion's stellar and diffuse X-ray budget, if we assume that the clumps are located at the edge of the blister. We propose, however, that spatially resolved observations may be used to empirically test the model, and outline how the framework developed in this Letter may be applied in the future to objects with better constrained geometries (e.g. planetary nebulae).
H1N1 swine origin influenza infection in the United States and Europe in 2009 may be similar to H1N1 seasonal influenza infection in two Australian states in 2007 and 2008
Authors: Kelly Heath , Grant Kristina , Williams Simon , Smith David
Published: June 2009

Background  The population‐based impact of infection with swine origin influenza A (H1N1) virus infection was not clear in the early days of the epidemic towards the end of May 2009. Australia had seven confirmed cases by 22 May 2009. We aimed to compare available data on swine origin influenza A (H1N1) virus infection overseas with seasonal influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in Australia to assist with forward planning.

Methods  Data on infection with seasonal influenza A (H1N1) virus in patients recruited through sentinel general practices in Victoria and Western Australia in 2007 and 2008 were compared with early publications on infection with swine origin influenza A (H1N1) virus in the United States and Europe.

Results  Influenza A (H1N1) virus infection was predominantly a disease of younger people, regardless of whether the virus was of swine or human origin. The median age of infection with swine origin virus was 20 years in the United States and 22 years in Spain, while the median age of infection with human origin virus was 18 years in Western Australia and 23 years in Victoria.

Conclusions  The median age of infection with influenza A (H1N1) virus was around 20 ± 3 years, independent of the origin of the H1N1 virus but a higher proportion of swine origin influenza infections occurred in people aged 10–18 years. This is at least partially explained by biased sampling among surveillance patients, although it may also reflect a different infection pattern.
Actinopathies and Myosinopathies
Authors: Goebel Hans H. , Laing Nigel G.
Published: June 2009

The currently recognized two forms of “anabolic” protein aggregate myopathies, that is, defects in development, maturation and final formation of respective actin and myosin filaments encompass actinopathies and myosinopathies. The former are marked by mutations in the ACTA1 gene, largely of the de novo type. Aggregates of actin filaments are deposited within muscle fibers. Early clinical onset is often congenital; most patients run a rapidly progressive course and die during their first 2 years of life. Myosinopathies or myosin storage myopathies also commence in childhood, but show a much more protracted course owing to mutations in the myosin heavy chain gene MYH7. Protein aggregation consists of granular material in muscle fibers and few, if any, filaments.
Evidence on the Trade‐Off between Risk and Return for IPO and SEO Firms
Authors: Brav Alon , Michaely Roni , Roberts Michael , Zarutskie Rebecca
Published: June 2009

Do the low long‐run average returns of equity issuers reflect underperformance due to mispricing or the risk characteristics of the issuing firms? We shed new light on this question by examining how institutional lenders price loans of equity issuing firms. Accounting for standard risk factors, we find that equity issuing firms' expected debt return is equivalent to the expected debt return of nonissuing firms, implying that institutional lenders perceive equity issuers to be as risky as similar nonissuing firms. In general, institutional lenders perceive small and high book‐to‐market borrowers as systematically riskier than larger borrowers with low book‐to‐market ratios, consistent with the asset pricing approach in Fama and French (1993). Finally, we find that firms' expected debt returns decline after equity offerings, consistent with recent theoretical arguments suggesting that firm risk should decline following an equity offering. Overall, our analysis provides novel evidence consistent with risk‐based explanations for the observed equity returns following IPOs and SEOs.
The Impact of Fundamentals on IPO Valuation
Authors: Aggarwal Rajesh , Bhagat Sanjai , Rangan Srinivasan
Published: June 2009

We examine how initial public offering (IPO) valuation has changed over time by focusing on three time periods: 1986‐1990, January 1997 to March 2000 (designated as the boom period), and April 2000 to December 2001 (designated as the crash period). Using a sample of 1,655 IPOs, we find that firms with more negative earnings have higher valuations than do firms with less negative earnings and firms with more positive earnings have higher valuations than firms with less positive earnings. Our results suggest that negative earnings are a proxy for growth opportunities for Internet firms and that such growth options are a significant component of IPO firm value.
From renewable energy to fire risk reduction: a synthesis of biomass harvesting and utilization case studies in US forests
Authors: EVANS A. M. , FINKRAL A. J.
Published: June 2009

The volatile costs of fossil fuels, concerns about the associated greenhouse gas emissions from these fuels, and the threat of catastrophic wildfires in western North America have resulted in increased interest and activity in the removal and use of woody biomass from forests. However, significant economic and logistical challenges lie between the forests and the consumers of woody biomass. In this study, we provide a current snapshot of how biomass is being removed from forests and used across the United States to demonstrate the wide variety of successful strategies, funding sources, harvesting operations, utilization outlets, and silvicultural prescriptions. Through an analysis of 45 case studies, we identified three themes that consistently frame each biomass removal and utilization operation: management objectives, ecology, and economics. The variety and combination of project objectives exemplified by the case studies means biomass removals are complex and difficult to categorize for analysis. However, the combination of objectives allows projects to take advantage of unique opportunities such as multiple funding sources and multiparty collaboration. The case studies also provide insight into the importance of ecological considerations in biomass removal both because of the opportunity for forest restoration and the risk of site degradation. The national view of the economic aspects of biomass removal provided by this wide variety of case studies includes price and cost ranges. This study is an important first step that helps define woody biomass removals which are becoming an essential part of forestry in the 21st century.