bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Double-Blind, Randomized Trial of Docetaxel Plus Vandetanib Versus Docetaxel Plus Placebo in Platinum-Pretreated Metastatic Urothelial Cancer
Authors: Choueiri Toni K. , Ross Robert W. , Jacobus Susanna , Vaishampayan Ulka , Yu Evan Y. , Quinn David I. , Hahn Noah M. , Hutson Thomas E. , Sonpavde Guru , Morrissey Stephanie C. , Buckle Geoffrey C. , Kim William Y. , Petrylak Daniel P. , Ryan Christopher W. , Eisenberger Mario A. , Mortazavi Amir , Bubley Glenn J. , Taplin Mary-Ellen , Rosenberg Jonathan E. , Kantoff Philip W.
Published: December 2011

Purpose

Vandetanib is an oral once-daily tyrosine kinase inhibitor with activity against vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 and epidermal growth factor receptor. Vandetanib in combination with docetaxel was assessed in patients with advanced urothelial cancer (UC) who progressed on prior platinum-based chemotherapy.

Patients and Methods

The primary objective was to determine whether vandetanib 100 mg plus docetaxel 75 mg/m2 intravenously every 21 days prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) versus placebo plus docetaxel. The study was designed to detect a 60% improvement in median PFS with 80% power and one-sided α at 5%. Patients receiving docetaxel plus placebo had the option to cross over to single-agent vandetanib at progression. Overall survival (OS), overall response rate (ORR), and safety were secondary objectives.

Results

In all, 142 patients were randomly assigned and received at least one dose of therapy. Median PFS was 2.56 months for the docetaxel plus vandetanib arm versus 1.58 months for the docetaxel plus placebo arm, and the hazard ratio for PFS was 1.02 (95% CI, 0.69 to 1.49; P = .9). ORR and OS were not different between both arms. Grade 3 or higher toxicities were more commonly seen in the docetaxel plus vandetanib arm and included rash/photosensitivity (11% v 0%) and diarrhea (7% v 0%). Among 37 patients who crossed over to single-agent vandetanib, ORR was 3% and OS was 5.2 months.

Conclusion

In this platinum-pretreated population of advanced UC, the addition of vandetanib to docetaxel did not result in a significant improvement in PFS, ORR, or OS. The toxicity of vandetanib plus docetaxel was greater than that for vendetanib plus placebo. Single-agent vandetanib activity was minimal.
Shaping sound in space: the regulation of inner ear patterning
Authors: Groves Andrew K. , Fekete Donna M.
Published: December 2011

The inner ear is one of the most morphologically elaborate tissues in vertebrates, containing a group of mechanosensitive sensory organs that mediate hearing and balance. These organs are arranged precisely in space and contain intricately patterned sensory epithelia. Here, we review recent studies of inner ear development and patterning which reveal that multiple stages of ear development – ranging from its early induction from the embryonic ectoderm to the establishment of the three cardinal axes and the fine-grained arrangement of sensory cells – are orchestrated by gradients of signaling molecules.
Transcriptional priming of intrathymic precursors for dendritic cell development
Authors: Moore Amanda J. , Sarmiento Janice , Mohtashami Mahmood , Braunstein Marsela , Zúñiga-Pflücker Juan-Carlos , Anderson Michele K.
Published: December 2011

Specialized dendritic cells (DCs) within the thymus are crucial for the deletion of autoreactive T cells. The question of whether these cells arise from intrathymic precursors with T-cell potential has been hotly debated, and the regulatory pathways and signals that direct their development remain unclear. Here, we compared the gene expression profiles of thymic DC subsets with those of four early thymic precursor subsets: early T-cell precursors (ETPs), double-negative 1c (DN1c), double-negative 1d (DN1d) and double-negative 1e (DN1e) subsets. We found that the DN1d subset expressed Spi-B, HEBCan, Ccr7 and Ccr4, similar to thymic plasmacytoid DCs, whereas the DN1e subset expressed Id2, Ccr7 and Ccr4, similar to thymic conventional DCs. The expression of Ccr7 and Ccr4 in DN1d and DN1e cells suggested that they might be able to migrate towards the medulla (low in Dll proteins) and away from the cortex (high in Dll proteins) where early T-cell development occurs. We therefore assessed the sensitivity of developing DC precursors to Dll-Notch signaling, and found that high levels of Dll1 or Dll4 were inhibitory to DC development, whereas medium levels of Dll4 allowed DC development but not myeloid development. To evaluate directly the lineage potential of the ETP, DN1d and DN1e subsets, we injected them into nonirradiated congenic hosts intrathymically or intravenously, and found that they were all able to form medullary DCs in vivo. Therefore, DN1d and DN1e cells are transcriptionally primed to home to the thymus, migrate into DC-permissive microenvironments and develop into medullary DCs.
Safety and diagnostic image quality of iopromide: results of a large non-interventional observational study of European and Asian patients (IMAGE)
Authors: Palkowitsch Petra , Lengsfeld Philipp , Stauch Kathrin , Heinsohn Christian , Kwon Soon Tae , Zhang Shui-xing , Liang Chang-hong
Published: December 2011

Background

Iodine-based contrast agents such as iopromide play a central role in improving the diagnostic quality of imaging modalities using ionizing radiation.

Purpose

To investigate the safety and diagnostic image quality of iopromide in the routine clinical setting.

Material and Methods

This was an international, multicenter, prospective, single-arm, non-interventional study (NIS). The study was performed in out- and inpatients in 738 study centers in 21 countries in Europe and Asia. Iopromide was administered in a routine manner, in compliance with the local package insert. The use of premedication was at the discretion of the attending physician. Case report forms for 44,835 patients were analyzed (57.4% men). The median age of the patients was 55 years.

Results

For the vast majority of patients (94.8%), the contrast quality was rated as ‘good’ (55.8%) or ‘excellent’ (39.0%). For 1265 (2.8%) patients, there were reports of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) excluding tolerance indicators (TIs) (i.e. injection site warmth, feeling hot, or injection site pain of mild intensity). At least one ADR including TIs was reported in 2415 (5.4%) patients. There were 11 (0.02%) patients with serious ADRs, and no drug-related deaths. Events of injection site warmth and/or feeling hot were reported by 3.5%, nausea and/or vomiting by 0.96%, and urticaria, erythema, and/or rash by 0.54% of patients. Patients at risk for an acute idiosyncratic reaction (i.e. patients with a history of bronchial asthma, allergies, and/or contrast media reaction) had a higher incidence of ADRs compared with the overall study population. At-risk patients who did not receive premedication reported distinctly more ADRs compared with those who received premedication (12.0% versus 5.9%).

Conclusion

Iopromide was shown to be a well-tolerated contrast agent whose usage resulted in high image quality. No unknown ADRs were observed. Premedication with antiallergy drugs should be considered in at-risk patients.
Semantic structuring and nominalization processes: the case of agent and instrument nouns in Bantu languages
Authors: Ambadiang Théophile
Published: December 2011

The semantic relationship between derived agent and instrument nouns patterns in significantly diverse ways across human languages. Thus, for instance, in Germanic and Romance languages a correlation is commonly found between the semantic and formal affinity of agent and instrument nouns and processes of semantic extension which result in syncretism or polysemy. In contrast, some languages not only tend to constrain formal identity among derived nouns but also disallow processes of semantic extension. This is the case with the Bantu languages, in which derived agent and instrument nouns are formed in different noun classes whose classificatory function, together with the semantic content of noun prefixes, severely constrains the processes of semantic extension. We suggest that such semantic content, inseparable from the classificatory function of Bantu noun classes, accounts for this peculiarity. The lack of such content in Germanic and Romance derivational suffixes and inflectional endings explains, at least in part, their inability to constrain the semantics of verb bases with similar effects.
Polysemous agent nominals in Kambaata (Cushitic)
Authors: Treis Yvonne
Published: December 2011

Kambaata has a morpheme ­aan with which agent nominals can be derived from verbs and nouns. The present article discusses, firstly, the morphological and syntactic characteristics of ­aan nominals and the specific problem of which word class they should be assigned to. Secondly, it is shown that the -aan morpheme is multifunctional. Apart from agent nominals, it is used to derive instrument, place and patient nominals.
An Innocent Abroad? Caterina Galli's Finances in New Handel Documents
Authors: Duncan Cheryll , Mateer David
Published: December 2011

New documents relating to Handel and one of his singers have come to light at The National Archives in London. In a legal dispute between Caterina Galli and two of her servants, the singer provides an outline of her earnings for the period 1744–48 which mentions the names not only of Handel, but also of Francesco Geminiani, Niccolo Pasquali, and a “Mr Glooc” (almost certainly, Christoph Willibald Gluck). From the documents we learn of the singer's alleged extravagance and financial difficulties in London, her peripatetic lifestyle, and the probable reasons why she returned to the continent in 1754. They also add to our scant knowledge of singers' salaries and, in particular, record what Handel paid Galli for performing in his oratorios. The complainant's bill and interrogatories mention several significant patrons of the London music scene, and the defense's case is supported by a series of signed depositions, including one from John Christopher Smith the elder, Handel's secretary, treasurer, and principal copyist. Galli's claims to have sung for Handel as early as 1744 are examined and largely dismissed; nevertheless, the fees she says she earned are credible because they accord with Smith's testimony and the little we know about singers' salaries in the 1740s and 1750s.
Janáhček's Chronoscope
Authors: Steege Benjamin
Published: December 2011

Leoš Janáček's fascination with the trappings of experimental psychology has boosted his image as a kind of realist, for whom empirical engagement with psychological experience was a prerequisite for aesthetic value. Yet careful contextualization of the sources he drew upon in later years suggests that such discourses—above all, the work of Wilhelm Wundt—work ironically against the constitution of the expressive subjectivity we are used to inferring in his work. An emblematic case in point is Janáček's use of an experimental research instrument known as the “chronoscope,” which psychologists had traditionally used for studying reaction times, a formative concern for the discipline since its emergence in the 1870s. While remarkable for its utility in accurately measuring extremely short durations, the chronoscope also highlighted the temporal limits of perception. It appealed to the composer's obsession with minute details of sensation, but it can also be seen to raise questions about the integrity or continuity of the very image of subjectivity it was meant to ascertain. The conjunction of the chronoscope's dramatization of short timespans and Janáček's related concern for the calibrated gesture together suggest a mode of interpretation through which the expressive impulse in his music may be sensed as incipient, in a state of deferral, rather than as the immediate manifestation of an integral lyrical self.
Chronic pulsatile hyperglycemia reduces insulin secretion and increases accumulation of reactive oxygen species in fetal sheep islets
Authors: Green Alice S , Chen Xiaochuan , Macko Antoni R , Anderson Miranda J , Kelly Amy C , Hart Nathaniel J , Lynch Ronald M , Limesand Sean W
Published: December 2011

Children from diabetic pregnancies have a greater incidence of type 2 diabetes. Our objective was to determine if exposure to mild–moderate hyperglycemia, by modeling managed diabetic pregnancies, affects fetal β-cell function. In sheep fetuses, β-cell responsiveness was examined after 2 weeks of sustained hyperglycemia with 3 pulses/day, mimicking postprandial excursions, and compared to saline-infused controls (n=10). Two pulsatile hyperglycemia (PHG) treatments were studied: mild (mPHG,n=5) with +15% sustained and +55% pulse; and moderate (PHG,n=10) with +20% sustained and +100% pulse. Fetal glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and glucose-potentiated arginine insulin secretion were lower (P<0.05) in PHG (0.86±0.13 and 2.91±0.39 ng/ml plasma insulin) but not in mPHG fetuses (1.21±0.08 and 4.25±0.56 ng/ml) compared to controls (1.58±0.25 and 4.51±0.56 ng/ml). Islet insulin content was 35% lower in PHG and 35% higher in mPHG vs controls (P<0.01). Insulin secretion and maximally stimulated insulin release were also reduced (P<0.05) in PHG islets due to lower islet insulin content. Isolated PHG islets also had 63% greater (P<0.01) reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation at 11.1 mmol/l glucose than controls (P<0.01), but oxidative damage was not detected in islet proteins. PHG fetuses showed evidence of oxidative damage to skeletal muscle proteins (P<0.05) but not insulin resistance. Our findings show that PHG induced dysregulation of islet ROS handling and decreased islet insulin content, but these outcomes are independent. The β-cell outcomes were dependent on the severity of hyperglycemia because mPHG fetuses had no distinguishable impairments in ROS handling or insulin secretion but greater insulin content.
Use of Palivizumab in Primary Practice
Authors: Perrin Keith M. , Bégué Rodolfo E.
Published: December 2011

Objective:

To describe the implementation of a program for the use of palivizumab in a general pediatrics office and evaluate adherence to the 2009 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines.

Methods:

Pediatricians in a large practice were educated in the diagnosis and management of bronchiolitis, with specific attention to the AAP’s palivizumab administration guidelines. During the 2009–2010 and 2010–2011 respiratory syncytial virus seasons, children were systematically identified and enrolled for palivizumab administration. Indication for administration was determined by gestational age, age at the beginning of the respiratory syncytial virus season, pertinent diagnoses, and presence of risk factors.

Results:

In the 2009–2010 season, 161 children were enrolled to receive palivizumab, 86 of whom (53%) conformed with AAP guidelines. In contrast, in 2010–2011, a total of 85 children were enrolled to receive palivizumab, and 73 (86%) conformed with the guidelines. As a consequence, the total cost of palivizumab (US $: 511 559 vs 1 500 670) and the cost per child (US $: 6018 vs 9438) were lower in 2010–2011 than in 2009–2010. However, of the children selected within the AAP guidelines, only 29% received the appropriate number of doses, whereas 62% and 9% received fewer or excessive doses, respectively; these findings were similar for the 2 seasons.

Conclusions:

In a primary practice, use of palivizumab outside of the AAP guidelines was frequent and manifested as inadequate indications or inadequate number of doses. The former improved with education and standardization of care (suggesting provider problems), while the latter did not (suggesting system problems). Additional interventions are required.
Bovine Lactoferrin Prevents Invasive Fungal Infections in Very Low Birth Weight Infants: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Manzoni Paolo , Stolfi Ilaria , Messner Hubert , Cattani Silvia , Laforgia Nicola , Romeo Mario G. , Bollani Lina , Rinaldi Matteo , Gallo Elena , Quercia Michele , Maule Milena , Mostert Michael , Decembrino Lidia , Magaldi Rosario , Mosca Fabio , Vagnarelli Federica , Memo Luigi , Betta Pasqua M. , Stronati Mauro , Farina Daniele ,   on behalf of the Italian Task Force for the Study and Prevention of Neonatal Fungal Infections–the Italian Society of Neonatology
Published: December 2011

Background:

Lactoferrin is a mammalian milk glycoprotein involved in innate immunity. Recent data show that bovine lactoferrin (bLF) prevents late-onset sepsis in preterm very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates.

Methods:

This is a secondary analysis of data from a multicenter randomized controlled trial where preterm VLBW neonates randomly received bLF (100 mg/day; group A1), bLF + Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (106 colony-forming units per day; group A2), or placebo (group B) for 6 weeks. Here we analyze the incidence rates of fungal colonization, invasive fungal infection (IFI), and rate of progression from colonization to infection in all groups.

Results:

This study included 472 neonates whose clinical, nutritional, and demographical characteristics were similar. Overall, the incidence of fungal colonization was comparable (17.6%, 16.6%, and 18.5% in A1, A2, and B, respectively; P = .89 [A1] and .77 [A2]). In contrast, IFIs were significantly decreased in A1 and A2 (0.7% and 2.0%, respectively) compared with B (7.7%; P = .002 [A1] and .02 [A2]), and this was significantly true both in <1000 g (0.9% [A1] and 5.6% [A2], vs 15.0%) and in 1001 to 1500 g infants (0% and 0% vs 3.7%). The progression rate colonization-infection was significantly lower in the bLF groups: 3.7% (A1) and 12% (A2), vs 41.9%; P < .001 (A1) and P = .02 (A2). No IFI-attributable deaths occurred in the treatment groups, versus 2 in placebo. No adverse effects or intolerances occurred.

Conclusions:

Prophylactic oral administration of bLF reduces the incidence of IFI in preterm VLBW neonates. No effect is seen on colonization. The protective effect on IFI is likely due to limitation of ability of fungal colonies to progress toward invasion and systemic disease in colonized infants.
Education composition and growth: A pooled mean group analysis of OECD countries
Authors: Simões Marta
Published: December 2011

This paper uses the pooled mean group (PMG) estimator and a dataset
restricted to OECD countries to examine the relationship between different
levels of education, i.e. between education composition and growth. The PMG
estimator allows a greater degree of parameter heterogeneity than the usual
estimator procedures used in empirical growth studies by imposing common
long run relationships across countries while allowing for heterogeneity in
the short run responses and intercepts. Results point to a significant
longterm relationship not only between higher education and growth but also
between lower schooling levels and growth. This indicates that public
spending on education in OECD countries should be spread across the
different levels of education in a balanced way.
Integrated management of causal agents of postharvest fruit rot of apple
Authors: Grahovac Mila , Indjic Dusanka , Tanovic Brankica , Lazic Sanja , Vukovic Slavica , Hrustic Jovana , Gvozdenac Sonja
Published: December 2011

One of the major causes of poor quality and fruit loss (during storage and
transport) are diseases caused by phytopathogenic fungi. Economic losses
which are the consequence of the phytopathogenic fungus activity after
harvest exceed the losses in the field. The most important postharvest fungal
pathogens of apple fruits are: Botrytis cinerea Pers. ex Fr., Penicillium
expansum (Lk.) Thom., Cryptosporiopsis curvispora (Peck.) Grem.,
Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz.) Sacc., Monilinia sp., Gloeosporium
album Osterw, Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler, Cladosporium herbarium
Link., Cylindrocarpon mali (Alles.) Wollenw., Stemphylium botryosum Wallr.
The use of available protection technologies can significantly reduce losses
caused by pathogens in storage. The concept of integrated pest management
(IPM) in apple fruits i.e. sustainable approach in control of causal agents
of postharvest fruit rot, using cultural, physical, biological and chemical
measures, to minimize economic, health and risks to consumers and
environment, is presented in the paper.
Alterations of T cell receptor Vβ repertoire of CD8 T lymphocytes in immune tolerance induction in two hemophilia A patients with inhibitors
Authors: Sakurai Yoshihiko , Matsutani Takaji , Yoshioka Takeshi , Takeda Tomohiro , Yoshioka Akira , Shima Midori
Published: December 2011

Background/Aim. Hemophilia A patients with inhibitors are treated effectively
with immune tolerance induction (ITI) therapy. Although anti-idiotypic
antibodies may play a certain role in the underlying mechanism, the detailed
mechanism by which ITI produces a curative effect remains unknown. The aim of
this study was to clarify the immunological aspect of ITI. Methods.
Longitudinal T-cell receptor (TCR) analysis was performed during ITI. TCR
variable region ?-chain and ?-chain repertoires were serially analyzed for
peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), CD4 T cells, and CD8 T cells from
2 hemophilia inhibitor patients treated with ITI (Patients 1 and 2).
Furthermore, to see whether skewing observed in TCR analysis resulted from
clonality alterations, T-cell clonality was investigated using
complementarity-determining region 3 (CDR3) size spectratyping. Results. In
the patient 1, inhibitor titer remained to be 19.6 BU/mL for 596 days after
ITI commencement, and ITI was unsuccessful. In the patient 2, inhibitor titer
disappeared 434 days after ITI commencement, and ITI was successful. In both
cases, skewing of TCR variable region ?/?-chain repertoires was observed in
CD8 T cell subset, whereas not in CD4 T cell subset. Conclusion. Alteration
of TCR repertoires, especially TCR variable region ?-chain repertoire of CD8
T cells, was distinct between successful and unsuccessful cases, suggesting
that immunological response in the early phase affected the ITI outcomes.
Hypothalamic Leucine Metabolism Regulates Liver Glucose Production
Authors: Su Ya , Lam Tony K.T. , He Wu , Pocai Alessandro , Bryan Joseph , Aguilar-Bryan Lydia , Gutiérrez-Juárez Roger
Published: December 2011

Amino acids profoundly affect insulin action and glucose metabolism in mammals. Here, we investigated the role of the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH), a key center involved in nutrient-dependent metabolic regulation. Specifically, we tested the novel hypothesis that the metabolism of leucine within the MBH couples the central sensing of leucine with the control of glucose production by the liver. We performed either central (MBH) or systemic infusions of leucine in Sprague-Dawley male rats during basal pancreatic insulin clamps in combination with various pharmacological and molecular interventions designed to modulate leucine metabolism in the MBH. We also examined the role of hypothalamic ATP-sensitive K+ channels (KATP channels) in the effects of leucine. Enhancing the metabolism of leucine acutely in the MBH lowered blood glucose through a biochemical network that was insensitive to rapamycin but strictly dependent on the hypothalamic metabolism of leucine to α-ketoisocaproic acid and, further, insensitive to acetyl- and malonyl-CoA. Functional KATP channels were also required. Importantly, molecular attenuation of this central sensing mechanism in rats conferred susceptibility to developing hyperglycemia. We postulate that the metabolic sensing of leucine in the MBH is a previously unrecognized mechanism for the regulation of hepatic glucose production required to maintain glucose homeostasis.
Synthesis of fluorescent long-chain thiols/disulfides as building-blocks for self-assembled monolayers preparation
Authors: Jadhav Sushilkumar
Published: December 2011

New symmetrical disulfides together with the corresponding thiols bearing fluorescent end-groups have been synthesized as building-blocks for self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). The synthesis has been accomplished starting from aromatic nitrogen heterocycles in three steps. The conversion of the tosylated intermediate into the final disulfide is accomplished by use of sodium hydrogen sulfide (NaSH). Both products (thiols and disulfides) were isolated and characterized.
The effect of manganese on the structural and surface properties of nanocrystalline cobalt catalyst for ammonia synthesis
Authors: Lendzion-Bieluń Zofia
Published: December 2011

Based on the active surface model of the iron catalyst for ammonia synthesis, the assumptions which led to obtaining the cobalt catalyst for ammonia synthesis were described. The incorporation into the system small amounts of manganese, an element which binds oxygen stronger than cobalt, has influence the development of the catalyst’s specific surface area. The activity of manganese modified catalysts is higher than that of cobalt catalyst without manganese addition. The obtained catalysts were characterized with the following methods: ICP-OES, XRD, BET
On Generalized Absolute Cesàro Summability
Authors: Bor Hüseyin
Published: December 2011

On Generalized Absolute Cesàro Summability

In this paper, a main theorem dealing with |C, 1 |ksummability factors has been generalized under more weaker conditions for |C, α, β |ksummability factors. This theorem also includes some new results.
Uniqueness of Entire Functions
Authors: Zhang Yi , Xiong Wei-Ling
Published: December 2011

Uniqueness of Entire Functions

In this paper, we study the uniqueness problems on meromorphic functions sharing a finite set. The results extend and improve some theorems obtained earlier by Fang (2002) and Zhang-Lin (2008).
Toward an Interdisciplinary Understanding of Educational Equity and Difference
Authors: Artiles Alfredo J.
Published: December 2011

The author argues for an interdisciplinary perspective to study the complexities of educational equity and transcend the limits of previous research. He focuses on the racialization of disability as a case in point; specifically, he reviews the visions of justice that inform the scholarship on racial and ability differences and situates their interlocking in a historical perspective to illustrate how race and ability differences have elicited paradoxical educational responses. The author also examines how the convergence of contemporary reforms is creating fluid markers of difference that change meanings across contexts, thus having distinct consequences for students’ identities and schools’ responses. He concludes with an outline of guiding ideas for interdisciplinary research on inequities that emerge at the intersections of race and ability differences.
Very Low Pressure Plasma Spray—A Review of an Emerging Technology in the Thermal Spray Community
Authors: Smith Mark F. , Hall Aaron C. , Fleetwood James D. , Meyer Philip
Published: December 2011

A fundamentally new family of thermal spray processes has emerged. These new processes, collectively known as very low pressure plasma spray or VLPPS, differ from traditional thermal spray processes in that coatings are deposited at unusually low chamber pressures, typically less than ~800 Pa (6 Torr). Depending upon the specific process, deposition may be in the form of very fine molten droplets, vapor phase deposition, or a mixture of vapor and droplet deposition. Resulting coatings are similar in quality to coatings produced by alternative coating technologies, such as physical vapor deposition (PVD) or chemical vapor deposition (CVD), but deposition rates can be roughly an order of magnitude higher with VLPPS. With these new process technologies modified low pressure plasma spray (LPPS) systems can now be used to produce dense, high quality coatings in the 1 to 100 micron thickness range with lamellar or columnar microstructures. A history of pioneering work in VLPPS technology is presented, deposition mechanisms are discussed, potential new applications are reviewed, and challenges for the future are outlined.
Phyllopshere Bacterial Community Structure of Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) as Affected by Cultivar and Environmental Conditions at Time of Harvest
Authors: Lopez-Velasco Gabriela , Welbaum Gregory E. , Falkinham III Joseph O. , Ponder Monica A.
Published: December 2011

Modern molecular ecology techniques were used to demonstrate the effects of plant genotype and environmental conditions prior to harvest on the spinach epiphytic bacterial community. Three cultivars of spinach with different leaf topographies were collected at three different periods during the fall growing season. Leaf surface topography had an effect on diversity and number of culturable bacteria on the phylloepiphtyic community of spinach. Savoy cultivars, which had larger surface area and more stomata and glandular trichomes, where bacterial aggregates were observed, featured more diverse communities with increased richness and larger bacterial populations compared to flat-leaved cultivars. Bacterial community richness was compared using denaturant gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), while abundance was quantified using 16s rRNA primers for major phyla. The most diverse communities, both in richness and abundance, were observed during the first sampling period, immediately following a period of rapid spinach growth. Exposure to lower air and soil temperatures and decreased precipitation resulted in significantly reduced bacterial population size and bacterial community richness in November and December. This study describes the effect of the plant characteristics and environmental conditions that affect spinach microbiota population size and diversity, which might have implications in the survival of food and plant bacterial pathogens.
Eigenvalue Estimates Using the Kolmogorov-Sinai Entropy
Authors: Shieh Shih-Feng
Published: December 2011

The scope of this paper is twofold. First, we use the Kolmogorov-Sinai Entropy to estimate lower bounds for dominant eigenvalues of nonnegative matrices. The lower bound is better than the Rayleigh quotient. Second, we use this estimate to give a nontrivial lower bound for the gaps of dominant eigenvalues of A and A + V.
Geoscience of the Built Environment: Pollutants and Materials Surfaces
Authors: Alves Carlos , Sanjurjo-Sánchez Jorge
Published: December 2011

An overview of issues with environmental relevance that arise from the interaction between pollutants and surfaces of the built environment is presented in this paper. Two broad perspectives are considered: decay of materials and recording of pollution characteristics. In relation to the former, we consider the possible implications on human activities restrictions, materials and morphological options, consumption of resources and release of pollutants resulting from the alteration of materials, conservation and restoration procedures. In terms of pollution recording, the interest of the stony materials as passive monitors of pollution, the question of heterogeneous conditions on buildings and the interest of qualitative and quantitative studies are highlighted. The importance of longitudinal studies on new and cleaned surfaces is considered, both for the understanding of materials decay and for the assessment of pollution conditions. The use of tracers to record the characteristics of pollution sources, interaction with materials and pathways of pollutants is also discussed. Finally, some recommendations are presented, based on the issues discussed on this paper that might be relevant for environmental management programs, including environmental education.
Q Fever Endocarditis in Romania: The First Cases Confirmed by Direct Sequencing
Authors: Cotar Ani Ioana , Badescu Daniela , Oprea Mihaela , Dinu Sorin , Banu Otilia , Dobreanu Dan , Dobreanu Minodora , Ionac Adina , Flonta Mirela , Straut Monica
Published: December 2011

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious, life-threatening disease with highly variable clinical signs, making its diagnostic a real challenge. A diagnosis is readily made if blood cultures are positive, but in 2.5 to 31% of all infective endocarditis cases, routine blood cultures are negative. In such situations, alternative diagnostic approaches are necessary. Coxiella burnetii and Bartonella spp. are the etiological agents of blood culture-negative endocarditis (BCNE) most frequently identified by serology. The purpose of this study is to investigate the usefulness of molecular assays, as complementary methods to the conventional serologic methods for the rapid confirmatory diagnostic of Q fever endocarditis in patients with BCNE. Currently, detection of C. burnetii by culture or an antiphase I IgG antibody titers >800 represents a major Duke criterion for defining IE, while a titers of >800 for IgG antibodies to either B. henselae or B. quintana is used for the diagnosis of endocarditis due to Bartonella spp. We used indirect immunofluorescence assays for the detection of IgG titers for C. burnetii, B. henselae and B. quintana in 57 serum samples from patients with clinical suspicion of IE. Thirty three samples originated from BCNE patients, whereas 24 were tested before obtaining the blood cultures results, which finally were positive. The results of serologic testing showed that nine out of 33 BCNE cases exhibited antiphase I C. burnetii IgG antibody titer >800, whereas none has IgG for B. henselae or B. quintana. Subsequently, we used nested-PCR assay for the amplification of C. burnetii DNA in the nine positive serum samples, and we obtained positive PCR results for all analyzed cases. Afterwards we used the DNA sequencing of amplicons for the repetitive element associated to htpAB gene to confirm the results of nested-PCR. The results of sequencing allowed us to confirm that C. burnetii is the causative microorganism responsible for BCNE. In conclusion, the nested PCR amplification followed by direct sequencing is a reliable and accurate method when applied to serum samples, and it may be used as an additional test to the serological methods for the confirmatory diagnosis of BCNE cases determined by C. burnetii.
Women’s Voice and Religious Utterances in Ancient Greece
Authors: Giordano Manuela
Published: December 2011

This paper tackles the issue of women and religion through a particular looking glass: religious utterances such as curses, supplication, and prayer, as reflected in some passages from ancient Greek epic and tragedy—pivotal literary genres in the ideological discourse of the Greek polis.
Validation of Islet Transport from a Geographically Distant Isolation Center Enabling Equitable Access and National Health Service Funding of a Clinical Islet Transplant Program for England
Authors: Aldibbiat Ali , Huang Guo Cai , Zhao Min , Holliman Graham N. , Ferguson Linda , Hughes Stephen , Brigham Ken , Wardle Julie , Williams Rob , Dickinson Anne , White Steven A. , Johnson Paul R. V. , Manas Derek , Amiel Stephanie A. , Shaw James A. M.
Published: December 2011

Islet transplantation has become established as a successful treatment for type 1 diabetes complicated by recurrent severe hypoglycemia. In the UK access has been limited to a few centrally located units. Our goal was to validate a quality-assured system for safe/effective transport of human islets in the UK and to successfully undertake the first transplants with transported islets. Pancreases were retrieved from deceased donors in the north of England and transported to King's College London using two-layer method (TLM) or University of Wisconsin solution alone. Islets were isolated and transported back to Newcastle in standard blood transfusion or gas-permeable bags with detailed evaluation pre- and posttransport. In the preclinical phase, islets were isolated from 10 pancreases with mean yield of 258,000 islet equivalents. No significant differences were seen between TLM and University of Wisconsin solution organ preservation. A significant loss of integrity was demonstrated in islets shipped in gas-permeable bags, whereas sterility, number, purity, and viability were maintained in blood transfusion bags. Maintenance of secretory granules and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was confirmed following transport. A Standard Operating Procedure enabling final pretransplant quality control from a simple side-arm sample was validated. Moreover, levels of insulin and cytokines in transport medium were low, enabling transplant without centrifugation/resuspension at the recipient site. Six clinical transplants of transported islets were undertaken in five recipients with 100% primary graft function and resolution of severe hypoglycemia. Safe and clinically effective islet transport has been established facilitating sustainable NHS funding of a clinical islet transplant program for the UK.
Transformation of the German Armed Forces after the End of the Cold War
Authors: Kucera Tomas
Published: December 2011

In July 2011 Germany abandoned conscription. This step is the most significant part of the ongoing reform of the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) and by no stretch also the greatest change in the entire history of the Bundeswehr. The current reform, however, is only the last one in the long line of attempts to adapt the Bundeswehr to post-Cold-War circumstances and missions. The German Armed Forces have been undergoing an almost uninterrupted process of transformation since the end of the Cold War. In the course of the last two decades the anticipated end-state of the reform has been changing accordingly with respect to the changing perception of strategic assumptions. The strategic reasoning behind the distinct reform attempts is to be analysed in this article.
Predictioneers Game: the Collective Violence in Ecuador
Authors: Mochtak Michal
Published: December 2011

The paper analyses collective violence in Ecuador from the end of September 2010. The situation was characterized as a Coup d'état when violent clashes between hostile camps were identified. The president was attacked by rebellious units of state police that had protested against the planned cuts of benefits and salaries in the law enforcement sector. The society was threatened by local riots, temporary anarchy and violent clashes that led to the declaration of state of emergency by president Correa. On the basis of empirical data, the prediction model is designed according to the analytical tool "Predictioneer's Game" defined by Bruce Bueno de Mesquita. The prediction is aimed at the forecast of the stability of regime in the context of the events from the 30th September 2010.
Comparison of the Use of Private Military Companies Services by the Administrations of George W. Bush and Barack Obama
Authors: Bures Oldrich , Nedvedicka Vendula
Published: December 2011

The article deals with the phenomenon of Private Military Companies (PMCs) and their utilization by the United States of America (US). Its objective is the comparison of the use of PMC services by the administrations of President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama, respectively. It specifically focuses on the following four areas: capacity (numbers of PMCs deployed and the number of their employees), funding (costs of PMC services), regulation (its forms and laws covering PMCs), control and monitoring (supervision of PMCs and their staff by relevant public bodies). The main finding is that there have been few major changes in the use of PMCs' services, which contradicts president Obama's rhetoric both before and after he assumed office.
The Defence of the Czech Republic at the Crossroad: Quo vadis?
Authors: Kolin Vilem
Published: December 2011

When becoming a member of the NATO, the Czech Republic subscribed to the responsibility for the protection of values of Western civilization. At the same time, it made other NATO members responsible for its own protection in exchange of a promise to contribute to their protection, as well. But the military and economic power of the West, including the Czech Republic, seems to fade away, raising the need to find new solutions, how meet future challenges in securing the defence of the Czech Republic. One possible way, which this article proposes and further describes, is the creation of a strong regional platform of collaboration in defence among countries of the East and Central Europe, a platform that would support a joint build-up of defence capabilities among countries in the region, enhance their interoperability and, in doing so, help to meet their commitments to allies and partners in the NATO and the EU more effectively.
Espaces de la mémoire du génocide des Tutsis au Rwanda
Authors: Dumas Hélène , Korman Rémi
Published: December 2011

Résumé Trop souvent décrite sous l’angle exclusif de son instrumentalisation politique, la mémoire du génocide des Tutsis relève pourtant d’une histoire complexe. Fondé sur l’exploration d’archives rwandaises et d’entretiens, cet article revisite l’histoire de la mémoire du génocide à travers les lieux dans lesquels elle s’incarne. Marqués par l’hybridité, les mémoriaux rwandais inscrivent dans le paysage des volontés de mémoire diverses. Cet essai de reconstitution de l’archéologie mémorielle rwandaise témoigne de la difficulté à articuler deuil personnel et collectif dans un pays où les politiques de réconciliation nationale tendent aujourd’hui à occulter la violence du passé.
Cinquante ans de coopération française avec l'Afrique subsaharienne
Authors: Jacquemot Pierre
Published: December 2011

Résumé La vocation africaine de la coopération française n’a jamais été sérieusement mise en cause en cinquante ans d’histoire. Elle en a été l’un de ses fondements. En revanche, la singularité de sa démarche originelle, appuyée sur une doctrine du développement qui en faisait sa force et lui donnait son identité, s’est progressivement estompée : d’abord, avec l’alignement sur les thèses dominantes au plan international, puis avec les réformes des quinze dernières années. Elles ont modifié en profondeur le projet initial des développeurs, plus soucieuses de satisfaire ses contraintes d’organisation que de répondre aux attentes des bénéficiaires de l’aide. De cette aventure, autant politique qu’humaine, il reste un formidable héritage de savoir-faire façonnés dans une pratique engagée.
L'industrie du cinéma en Afrique
Authors: Forest Claude
Published: December 2011

Résumé Si quelques pays du continent africain sont des exceptions dans l’industrie du cinéma en Afrique, sans pour autant pouvoir devenir des modèles pour contrer la fermeture massive des salles et l’anomie de la production, il n’est pas certain que la numérisation contemporaine de la filière aide à surmonter radicalement les difficultés structurelles. Au-delà des discours convenus d’apitoiement ou de déploration, il faut analyser ces symptômes aux multiples causes, à commencer par les attentes et comportements des publics, mais aussi de les ramener aux dysfonctionnements politiques et économiques plus larges qui gangrènent une majorité de ces pays et empêchent la structuration pérenne d’une industrie culturelle.
La production vidéo nigériane
Authors: Barrot Pierre
Published: December 2011

Résumé Avec une production de fictions vidéo foisonnante et unique en son genre, le Nigeria a su conquérir un immense public populaire dans toute l’Afrique subsaharienne. Mais les films de « Nollywood » sont distribués dans des réseaux qui relèvent le plus souvent du secteur dit « informel ». Leurs budgets de production dérisoires aboutissent la plupart du temps à des niveaux de qualité technique et artistique très en dessous des normes internationales. Ils sont donc absents des festivals et cantonnés au petit écran. L’apparition récente d’un réseau de multiplexes au Nigeria pourrait changer la donne car certains producteurs ont commencé à produire, non sans succès, pour le grand écran.
Quand l'Europe raisonne la raison d'État
Authors: Delmas-Marty Mireille
Published: December 2011

Résumé Alors que la critique de politiques pénales jugées laxistes retrouve de l’audience, la Cour européenne des droits de l’homme s’attache à apporter une réponse ciselée aux excès de la raison d’État. Malgré la rigueur et la capacité d’innovation de ses raisonnements juridiques, le rempart qu’elle dresse contre les tentations autoritaires des États est fragile. Mais indispensable.
Quand mondialisation rime avec prédation
Authors: Minani Rigobert , Merckaert Jean
Published: December 2011

Résumé Entretien – Si un pays connaît la violence du capitalisme prédateur, c’est bien la République démocratique du Congo, où la bataille pour le pouvoir et pour le contrôle des immenses richesses du sous-sol ont fait plus de quatre millions de morts en quinze ans. Face à cette situation, la société civile lutte avec ses armes  : le droit, la formation, les réseaux internationaux de solidarité, le courage
Les malgré-nous du capitalisme
Authors: Merckaert Jean
Published: December 2011

Résumé Les États sont-ils en mesure de remettre en cause le capitalisme prédateur ? Rien n’est moins sûr, quand les 500 plus grandes entreprises pèsent 42 % du produit intérieur brut mondial. Et surtout, quand les peuples adhèrent à leur propre domination.
L'économie sociale et solidaire : contre le productivisme ?
Authors: Laville Jean-Louis
Published: December 2011

Résumé L’ère du productivisme a identifié le marché avec l’économie et l’État avec le social. Mais le marché empiète comme jamais sur le social et même sur le politique. Nombre d’initiatives proposent de réinsuffler dans l’économie un fonctionnement démocratique et d’autres finalités que le profit. Ou comment certaines intentions associationnistes du XIX e siècle aident à affronter les défis d’aujourd’hui.
La société civile laboratoire d'alternatives
Authors: Ricard Xavier
Published: December 2011

Resumé Agroécologie, monnaie locale… Un peu partout dans le monde, la société civile fourmille d’initiatives qui inventent une économie plus respectueuse de l’homme et de la planète. Parfois elle dépasse une démarche très locale ou sectorielle, mais elle peine à se soumettre à une évaluation scientifique qui lui permettrait d’affronter ses contradictions et d’apporter une alternative globale.
Immigration. Pourquoi les chrétiens ne peuvent pas se taire
Authors: Mellon Christian
Published: December 2011

Resumé François Soulage et Geneviève Médevielle, Immigration. Pourquoi les chrétiens ne peuvent pas se taire , L’Atelier, 2011, 96 p., 10 €
50 ans de démocratie locale
Authors: Chauvel Jeanne
Published: December 2011

Resumé Adrien Roux, 50 ans de démocratie locale. Comment la participation citoyenne s’est laissée endormir, pourquoi elle doit reprendre le combat , Yves Michel, 2011, 122 p., 11 €
Vers une société d'abondance frugale. Contresens et controverses sur la décroissance
Authors: Renouard Camille
Published: December 2011

Resumé Serge Latouche, Vers une société d’abondance frugale. Contresens et controverses sur la décroissance , Fayard / Mille et une nuits, 2011, 208 p., 4,50 €
Les contraintes de travail et les stratégies de régulation émotionnelle en centre de relation clientèle
Authors: Ribert-Van De Weerdt Corinne
Published: December 2011

Résumé À l’heure où les risques psychosociaux sont préoccupants dans le monde du travail, les émotions sont de plus en plus examinées et étudiées. Elles sont en effet reconnues comme des agents régulateurs de situations difficiles ou contraignantes. L’étude de la composante émotionnelle du travail permet de mieux comprendre l’activité, ses enjeux, ses effets. Cet article présente une intervention menée en entreprise, portant sur l’analyse des émotions en lien avec l’activité et la santé, chez des conseillers clientèle de centres d’appels. Il décrit comment les émotions sont exprimées, affichées, et dissimulées par les salariés, ainsi que le « travail émotionnel » que les employés réalisent quotidiennement et ses conséquences sur la santé. Il montre quelles sont les contraintes de travail les plus difficiles et les plus pénibles pour les salariés, et les stratégies utilisées pour y faire face. Les risques psychosociaux sont particulièrement examinés. L’exposé des situations les plus compliquées à gérer amène à poser la question de leur impact en termes de stress. Les solutions de prévention mises en place sont discutées, au même titre que le plan d’accompagnement qui a été suivi dans l’entreprise.