bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
All in a day's work, at home: teleworkers’ management of micro role transitions and the work–home boundary
Authors: Fonner Kathryn L. , Stache Lara C.
Published: October 2012

Based on boundary theory, this study analysed the cues and rituals home‐based teleworkers use to facilitate transitions between work and home roles. Qualitative findings revealed that teleworkers primarily engage in strategies aimed at segmenting work from home roles, although some utilise cues to integrate work and home. Teleworkers used time, space, technology and communication as cues to aid role transitions and manage the work–home boundary. Overall, teleworkers appeared to grapple with the tension between the desire for flexibility and the need for structure, and use cues and rites of passage in order to facilitate this balance. Female teleworkers were more likely to use segmenting cues relative to male teleworkers. Teleworkers with children living in the home were less likely to integrate work and home roles. Extensive teleworkers used space more frequently than less extensive teleworkers, but otherwise, both groups reported similar use of cues.
Causes of human impact to protected vertebrate wildlife parallel long‐term socio‐economical changes in Spain
Authors: Martínez‐Abraín A. , Crespo J. , Berdugo M. , Gutiérrez L. , Lafuente A. , Mañas A. , de Miguel J. M.
Published: October 2012

Obtaining information on the way human activities impact protected wildlife is not an easy task. Here, we analyze the news published by knowledgeable naturalists in Spain's most prestigious and oldest magazine devoted to the study and conservation of nature, during a 28‐year period (1982–2009). We studied the logarithm of the ratio of news published annually on direct (poaching, trapping and poisoning) versus indirect impacts (road casualties, electrocutions and collisions with infrastructure), and it turned out to be negative, strong (5% annual decrease) and statistically significant, suggesting an exponential decrease of the ratio. The decreasing trend was stronger (λ = 9%) when considering only direct impacts excluding cases of poisoning that showed an increasing trend over time, showing a more realistic idea of the decreasing impact by hunters. Our modelling clearly showed that the decreasing trend in the ratio was explained by the decreasing number of hunting licences active on a yearly basis, controlled by the increase in indirect impacts. In order to validate our results, we compared our analysis with the trend shown by vertebrate admissions to a major rescue centre in eastern Spain from 1994 to 2011. The results of this second analysis showed a trend with a similar inversion of causes of impact but of a stronger magnitude (λ = 15%). We discuss our findings within the context of a rapidly changing economy, evolving from a rural structure to an industrialized one, and provide some applied conservation recommendations. Indirect impacts caused by infrastructure should be approached, correcting technical problems, particularly black spots where mortality cases concentrate. Direct impacts, notably the rise in the rate of poisoning cases, need to be handled, managing the causes of increase of generalist predators, such as habitat structure, promoting the return of top predators and removing sources of subsidy, better than only fighting poaching by force.
Do marmots display a ‘dear enemy phenomenon’ in response to anal gland secretions?
Authors: Cross H. B. , Blumstein D. T. , Rosell F.
Published: October 2012

The ‘dear enemy phenomenon’ (DEP) is a form of neighbour–stranger discrimination in which resident territorial individuals respond less agonistically to intrusions by known neighbouring conspecifics than they do to strangers. We tested philopatric female yellow‐bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventris) for the presence of DEP. We hypothesized that dominant females discriminated between the anal gland secretion (AGS) from female neighbours and strangers, and predicted that they would respond more agonistically (as reflected by the duration of both sniffing and physical behaviour) towards AGS from strangers than neighbours. We also hypothesized that female marmots would respond differently to kin and non‐kin female neighbours, and predicted a reduced agonistic response to related individuals. Direct observations of resident marmot's responses to the olfactory trials showed that marmots spent significantly longer durations sniffing the AGS of both neighbours and strangers than a neutral scent‐free control. However, there was no significant difference in the sniffing response duration towards AGS from a neighbour or a stranger. In addition, kinship was not found to influence the responses of residents to neighbours or strangers. We conclude that, although female yellow‐bellied marmots detect AGS, they do not seem to discriminate between neighbours and strangers via AGS scent marks. Other secretions may be used in territorial identification.
Experience of using electromyography of the genioglossus in the investigation of paediatric dysphagia
Authors: VIJAYAKUMAR KAYAL , ROCKETT JULIET , RYAN MARTINA , HARRIS REBECCA , PITT MATTHEW , DEVILE CATHERINE
Published: October 2012

Aim  The aim of the study was to assess, retrospectively, the utility of genioglossus electromyography (gEMG) in evaluating children with suspected neurogenic feeding and swallowing difficulties.

Method  Children who were evaluated using gEMG at a tertiary paediatric neurology dysphagia service were reviewed. Data were analysed by the presence/absence of neurogenic changes on gEMG and the method of feeding at their most recent follow‐up.

Results  The study group comprised 59 individuals (36 males, 23 females; median age 20mo; range 1mo–15y). The study cohort included individuals with heterogeneous neurological phenotypes (n=40), craniofacial syndrome (n=10), and congenital bulbar palsy (n=9). gEMG identified 35 out of 59 (60%) with neurogenic changes. At follow‐up, 24 individuals were on oral feeds and 35 were on alternative methods of feeding (nasogastric /gastrostomy). Eight out of 24 children on oral feeds showed neurogenic changes compared with 27 out of 35 on alternative feeds. χ2 analysis of feeding method at follow‐up and the presence or absence of neurogenic change on EMG was highly significant (p≤0.002). When confounding factors for alternative feeds were accounted for on univariate analysis, the neurogenic changes, severe gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease, and respiratory comorbidities were statistically significant in predicting the alternative feeding, whereas growth failure and behavioural difficulties were not significant confounders. Moreover, multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the neurogenic changes were independently predictive of an alternative method of feeding after adjusting for other confounders with an odds ratio of 29.6 (95% confidence interval 3.97–220; p<0.007).

Conclusion  gEMG is a valuable complementary tool in the evaluation of children with neurogenic dysphagia as the degree of severity is independently correlated with long‐term feeding outcomes.
A Lateglacial–early Holocene tephrochronology for SW Sweden
Authors: Lilja Carl , Lind Ewa M. , Morén Björn , Wastegård Stefan
Published: October 2012

Four cores from southwestern Sweden are presented together with their tephra geochemistry. Two cryptotephra horizons were confirmed geochemically in the cores, the Vedde Ash and the Hässeldalen Tephra. The Lateglacial Hässeldalen Tephra (11 360–11 300 cal. a BP) offers great potential as a regional isochrone to add a new degree of certainty to the deglaciation chronology of southern Sweden, including the extent of glacial Lake Bolmen. In addition, the geographical distribution of the Hässeldalen Tephra has recently been extended outside of Sweden, making it an important time‐marker horizon in northern Europe. There are potential difficulties, however. Proper identification of the actual isochrone is complicated by the vertical pattern of shard distribution, which could be the result of several eruptive events, as well as by the fact that shards from the 10‐ka Askja horizon (10 500–10 350 cal. a BP) were found in close stratigraphical proximity. The geochemical data presented are the result of improved EPMA methodology, which significantly reduces sodium mobilization. The results therefore have slightly altered values, which has consequences for classifying new finds when they are compared with previous data for geochemically similar tephras. Finally, potential indications of the Borrobol/Penifiler horizon are presented, although the existence of the horizon could not be confirmed geochemically. This highlights the need to retrieve cores from different locations within a basin based on an analysis of basin morphology if horizons are to be located.
The prognosis of idiopathic generalized epilepsy
Authors: Seneviratne Udaya , Cook Mark , D’Souza Wendyl
Published: October 2012

Prognosis describes the trajectory and long‐term outcome of a condition. Most studies indicate a better prognosis in idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) in comparison with other epilepsy syndromes. Studies looking at the long‐term outcome of different IGE syndromes are relatively scant. Childhood absence epilepsy appears to have a higher rate of remission compared to juvenile absence epilepsy. In absence epilepsies, development of myoclonus and generalized tonic–clonic seizures predicts lower likelihood of remission. Although most patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) achieve remission on antiepileptic drug therapy, <20% appear to remain in remission without treatment. Data on the prognosis of other IGE syndromes are scarce. There are contradictory findings reported on the value of electroencephalography as a predictor of prognosis. Comparisons are made difficult by study heterogeneity, particularly in methodology and diagnostic criteria.
Extracellular ATP differentially affects epileptiform activity via purinergic P2X7 and adenosine A1 receptors in naive and chronic epileptic rats
Authors: Klaft Zin‐Juan , Schulz Steffen B. , Maslarova Anna , Gabriel Siegrun , Heinemann Uwe , Gerevich Zoltan
Published: October 2012

Purpose:  Adenosine is considered an endogenous anticonvulsant. However, much less is known about the putative effects of its precursor, ATP, on epilepsy. Therefore, we tested whether ATP and its receptors are able to modulate epileptiform activity in the medial entorhinal cortex of the rat.

Methods:  Recurrent epileptiform discharges (REDs) were induced by elevating extracellular potassium concentration combined with application of bicuculline in brain slices from naive and pilocarpine‐treated chronic epileptic rats. Field potentials were recorded from layer V/VI of the medial entorhinal cortex.

Key Findings:  REDs in slices from naive animals had a higher incidence and a shorter duration than in slices from chronic epileptic animals. Exogenous application of ATP reversibly reduced the incidence of REDs in naive and chronic epileptic slices via activation of adenosine A1 receptors without discernible P2 receptor effects. This effect was stronger in slices from chronic epileptic rats. In slices from naive rats, the P2X7 receptor antagonist A 740003 slightly but significantly reduced the amplitude of slow field potentials of REDs. In slices from chronic epileptic rats, none of the P2 receptor antagonists affected the parameters of REDs.

Significance:  Our results suggest that endogenously released ATP differentially modulates REDs by activation of A1 and P2X7 receptors. Although it has a minor proepileptic effect by direct activation of P2X7 receptors, its metabolite adenosine reduces the epileptiform activity via activation of A1 receptors. The exact effect of ATP on neural activity depends on the actual activity of ectonucleotidases and the expression level of the purinergic receptors, which both alter during epileptogenesis. In addition, our data suggest that P2X7 receptor antagonists have a minor antiepileptic effect.
Biomechanical and Histomorphometric Evaluation of Osseointegration of Fusion‐Sputtered Zirconia Implants
Authors: Salem Noha A. , Abo Taleb Ahmed L. , Aboushelib Moustafa N.
Published: October 2012

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate osseointegration of fusion‐sputtered zirconia implants in comparison with sandblasted, acid‐etched titanium implants in a biomechanical and histomorphometric study.

Materials and Methods

Sixty zirconia implants were manufactured using CAD/CAM. Half received fusion sputtering surface treatment through spraying the green body implants with a jet of zirconia suspension. Standard Ti implants of the same shape and dimensions served as control. Thirty adult New Zealand white male rabbits were used in this study. Each animal received one fusion‐sputtered and one Ti implant in one femur site and control zirconia in the other, for a healing period of 4, 8, and 12 weeks. At each healing time, a removal torque (RTQ) test was used to assess implant stability, while histological and histometric analyses were used to evaluate osseointegration.

Results

Fusion‐sputtered zirconia implants demonstrated a statistically higher mean RTQ than control zirconia. When compared to Ti, however, although still higher, the differences were not significant. Histomorphometric evaluation revealed significantly greater bone‐implant contact for fusion‐sputtered zirconia implants compared to Ti after 4 and 8 weeks of healing time; however, at 12 weeks, the difference did not reach statistical significance. There were no significant differences in the measured bone density between fusion‐sputtered and Ti implants, although the difference was significant when compared to the control zirconia.

Conclusion

Fusion‐sputtered zirconia implants demonstrated a degree of osseointegration and interfacial biomechanical stability comparable to Ti implants.
Application of the Functionally Generated Path Technique to Restore Mandibular Molars in Bilateral Group Function Occlusion
Authors: DuVall Nicholas B. , Rogers Paul M.
Published: October 2012

The functionally generated path (FGP) is a static representation of the opposing cusps’ dynamic eccentric movements from a centric position to achieve optimal articulation and occlusal harmony. When understood and appreciated, use of the FGP technique is a straightforward and practical method to achieve harmonious occlusal anatomy of restorations with the anterior determinant/anterior guidance, the posterior determinant/condylar guidance, existing occlusal and cuspal anatomy, and the neuromuscular system. Although the FGP technique is normally used in the fabrication of maxillary posterior indirect restorations, it is described and applied here in the fabrication of mandibular posterior restorations that maintained the patient's bilateral group function occlusion while eliminating the nonworking side and protrusive interferences. This novel procedure involved the use of a stone crib to intraorally construct a stone core that captured the FGP recording while simultaneously indexing to the contralateral and ipsilateral mandibular dentition. This technique lends additional stability to the stone core to minimize error during the mounting process.
Improving Screening Decision Making through Transactive Memory Systems: A Field Study
Authors: Hammedi Wafa , van Riel Allard C. R. , Sasovova Zuzana
Published: October 2012

In screening decisions, senior managers from various disciplines need to collaborate to evaluate innovation project proposals and decide about the allocation of scarce resources to selected projects. Screening decisions are complex and made under high levels of uncertainty, and are considered to be one of senior management's most challenging tasks. In the present field study, screening decision making is investigated from the perspective of a Transactive Memory System (TMS). TMS theory explains how cross‐disciplinary groups of people in interdependent relationships gain, store, combine, and utilize their knowledge in solving complex problems. According to this theory, a TMS emerges to the extent that team members manage to synchronize three core socio‐cognitive processes—specialization, building credibility, and coordination—to achieve team objectives. A theoretical model summarizing antecedents and consequences of the emergence of a TMS in a screening context is proposed and investigated using structural equation modeling. Data from 136 screening committees were used. Results show that the degree to which a committee acts as a TMS is positively related to decision‐making effectiveness as well as efficiency in a screening context. Transformational leadership and an open organizational climate are shown to act as antecedents of TMS emergence. Theoretical and managerial implications of these findings are discussed.
Through a Dark Lens: Effects of Depressed Mood on Perceived Equity in Intergenerational Relationships
Authors: Kalmijn Matthijs
Published: October 2012

Objectives

Many studies have examined how equity in personal relationships affects mental health and well‐being. Often, such studies use measures based on how people perceive the balance in a relationship. In this study, the reverse causal path is studied, from well‐being to perceived equity. The expectation is that depressed mood would lead to more negative views of the degree of equity in a relationship.

Methods

The reciprocal relationships between depressive symptoms and perceived equity are studied using a large representative survey with two waves of measurement. The focus is on intergenerational relationships and the perspective taken is that of the elderly parent.

Findings

Analyses show that there is little effect of equity on depressed mood once this is analyzed in a longitudinal fashion. More evidence is obtained for the reverse path: mothers (but not fathers) who are depressed develop a more negative view of the degree of equity in the relationships they have with their children, even when reports of actual support exchange are taken into account.

Conclusions

Depressed mood can bias perceptions of equity. In a more general way, the findings are in line with some recent experimental studies that have emphasized the importance of feelings for perceptions.
Student Teachers' Classroom Management Anxiety: A Study on Behavior Management and Teaching Management
Authors: Oral Behçet
Published: October 2012

The purpose of this study is to examine student teachers' anxiety related to classroom management in terms of behavior and teaching management. The study is carried out with the participation of 700 student teachers attending Ziya Gökalp Education Faculty at Dicle University in the 2007–2008 academic year. In order to determine their anxiety levels concerning behavior management and teaching management, the scales of “behavior management anxiety” and “teaching management anxiety” are used. Data are analyzed with correlation (Pearson), t test, and analysis of variance techniques. The Scheffé test is used to test significance. According to the student teachers' participation to school experience and to their branches, significant differences are determined between all subscales of behavior management anxiety levels.
Predator–prey interactions in a grassland food chain vary with temperature and food quality
Authors: Laws Angela Nardoni , Joern Anthony
Published: October 2012

Because species interactions are often context‐dependent, abiotic factors such as temperature and biotic factors such as food quality may alter species interactions with potential consequences to ecosystem structure and function. For example, altered predator–prey interactions may influence the dynamics of trophic cascades, affecting net primary production. In a three‐year field experiment, we manipulated a plant–grasshopper–spider food chain in mesic tallgrass prairie to investigate the effects of temperature and food quality on grasshopper performance, and to understand the direct and indirect tritrophic interactions that contribute to trophic cascades. Because spiders are active at cooler temperatures than grasshoppers in our system, we hypothesized that predator effects would be strongest in cooled treatments, and weakest in warmed treatments. Grasshopper spider interactions were highly context‐dependent and varied significantly with food quality, temperature treatment and year. Spiders most often reduced grasshopper survival in the cooled and ambient temperature treatments, but had little to no effect on grasshopper survival in the warmed treatments, as hypothesized. In some years, plants compensated for grasshopper herbivory and trophic cascades were not observed despite significant effects of predators on grasshopper survival. However, in the year they were observed, trophic cascades only occurred in cooled treatments where predator effects on grasshoppers were strongest. Predicting ecosystem responses to climate change will require an understanding of how temperature influences species interactions. Our results demonstrate that changes in daily temperature regimes can alter predator–prey interactions among arthropods with consequences for ecosystem processes such as primary production and the relative importance of top–down and bottom–up processes.
Ecological correlates of the popularity of birds and butterflies in Internet information resources
Authors: Żmihorski Michał , Dziarska‐Pałac Joanna , Sparks Tim H. , Tryjanowski Piotr
Published: October 2012

The success of conservation programs depends on using appropriate methods to demonstrate the importance of conservation to society. For example, flagship species are among the key marketing tools to motivate public support. However, they are rarely selected in a systematic, manner. In this study we addressed the issue of the colonization of human information resources by birds and butterflies in the context of wildlife conservation. We used a simple method to measure the popularity of species based on Google browsing and made an attempt to link biological characteristics of the species with their popularity in human information resources. Biological traits of species contributed significantly to explaining the occupancy (invasion) of cyberspace by the species. Commonness and body size of the species appeared to be the most informative predictors of their Google score. We believe that these results may be used by conservation organizations to assist in the selection of flagship/charismatic species, and their use in logos, for TV programs or for other public presentations. Moreover, we showed that some biological traits can affect the popularity of wildlife in society and in virtual resources.
Older Australians' views about the impact of ageing on their nutritional practices: Findings from a qualitative study
Authors: Brownie Sonya
Published: October 2012

Aim:  To explore older people's views about how getting older has influenced their dietary practices.

Methods:  Focus groups with independently living residents aged 60 years and older in northern NSW, Australia. An inductive approach to thematic analysis was used.

Results:  Five focus groups (n= 29) were conducted. The majority of participants were women (79%), mean age 73 years. The main findings were that reduced ability to eat large meals; health maintenance and disease management; food messages; food taste and convenience; and living arrangements appear to impact food choices and eating behaviour in this sample.

Conclusion:  In the presence of reduced and/or modified food intake, older people might benefit from an understanding of the concept of nutrient density in order to help them attain and maintain nutritional adequacy. Lifelong exposure to food messages (sometimes conflicting) resulted in many participants feeling confused about appropriate dietary practices for this age group.
Arsenic Control During Aquifer Storage Recovery Cycle Tests in the Floridan Aquifer
Authors: Mirecki June E. , Bennett Michael W. , López‐Baláez Marie C.
Published: October 2012

Implementation of aquifer storage recovery (ASR) for water resource management in Florida is impeded by arsenic mobilization. Arsenic, released by pyrite oxidation during the recharge phase, sometimes results in groundwater concentrations that exceed the 10 µg/L criterion defined in the Safe Drinking Water Act. ASR was proposed as a major storage component for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), in which excess surface water is stored during the wet season, and then distributed during the dry season for ecosystem restoration. To evaluate ASR system performance for CERP goals, three cycle tests were conducted, with extensive water‐quality monitoring in the Upper Floridan Aquifer (UFA) at the Kissimmee River ASR (KRASR) pilot system. During each cycle test, redox evolution from sub‐oxic to sulfate‐reducing conditions occurs in the UFA storage zone, as indicated by decreasing Fe2+/H2S mass ratios. Arsenic, released by pyrite oxidation during recharge, is sequestered during storage and recovery by co‐precipitation with iron sulfide. Mineral saturation indices indicate that amorphous iron oxide (a sorption surface for arsenic) is stable only during oxic and sub‐oxic conditions of the recharge phase, but iron sulfide (which co‐precipitates arsenic) is stable during the sulfate‐reducing conditions of the storage and recovery phases. Resultant arsenic concentrations in recovered water are below the 10 µg/L regulatory criterion during cycle tests 2 and 3. The arsenic sequestration process is appropriate for other ASR systems that recharge treated surface water into a sulfate‐reducing aquifer.
The Revisionists Revived: The Libertarian Historiography of Education
Authors: Gaither Milton
Published: October 2012

Over a decade ago Jurgen Herbst, in a retrospective review of the field of educational history, noted with considerable perturbation that educational historiography had grown tired and dull. “The revisionist surge, whether traditional or radical, has spent itself,” said Herbst, and nothing new or interesting has emerged to replace it. A year later, in March of 2000, a major invitation-only conference sponsored by the Spencer Foundation was held to discuss the state of the field. Some of the conference's conclusions were published by Ruben Donato and Marvin Lazerson, who prefaced their comments on the current state of the field with a refresher on the “Golden Era” of the late 1960s and 1970s, noting that for many, in the words of one attendee, the passion of those days “is somehow lost. We don't know where we're heading. We don't know what we're doing.”
A Mission on the Frontier: Edward P. Tenney, Colorado College, the New West Education Commission, and the School Movement for Mormons and “Mexicans”
Authors: Dunn Joe P.
Published: October 2012

Inspired by Manifest Destiny and lured by prospects of economic gain, Eastern entrepreneurs migrated to the Western frontier in the mid nineteenth century. As they pursued wealth through railroads, mining, land speculation, and other endeavors, many succeeded and had their names recorded in the pages of the history of the region; others passed from historical memory. Alongside economic titans were other pioneers. Just as zealous New England reformers sought to bring Yankee enlightenment to the benighted South after the Civil War, other New Englanders looked to the West. For several of these pioneers, establishing Christian churches and colleges to serve the new populations was their mission. One of these individuals was Congregationalist minister Edward P. Tenney, whose conceived life's goal was to found a Christian college that would serve as the centerpiece of education on the frontier. Tenney was not unique, but he was exceptional in the scope and passion of his vision.
The Effect of Food Type (Fish Nuggets or French Fries) on Oil Blend Degradation during Repeated Frying
Authors: Del Carmen Flores‐Álvarez María , Molina‐Hernández Erika F. , Hernández‐Raya José Concepción , Sosa‐Morales María Elena
Published: October 2012

Abstract:  Oil that is reused multiple times for deep frying goes through changes in chemical composition and physical characteristics, affecting the quality of the fried foods. In this study, the effect of the food type (fish nuggets or French fries) on the degradation of an oil blend during the deep‐fat frying of each food at 180°C during 12 days was determined, and the characteristics of the fried products were evaluated. The degradation of oil during repeated use was relatively faster when fish nuggets were fried than when French fries were fried, as higher values of total polar compounds were obtained.

Practical Application:  The results are useful for producers of French fries and fish nuggets, such as restaurants or fast foods sellers, providing them with practical guidelines within the permitted values established by the regulatory authorities. The studied foods have high economic importance and are different in their composition. Under the studied conditions, the tested oil blend may be used during 4 d (4 h per day) with a daily replenishment, without discarding the oil when frying fish nuggets, and must be discarded after 8 d when French fries are processed. This suggestion allows preparing safe fried foods for consumers.
Characteristics of Milankovitch Cycles in the Mid‐Permian Liangshan and Qixia Formations of the Sichuan Basin—Examples from Well‐Long17 and Well‐Wujia1
Authors: Yunbo ZHANG , Chengzao JIA , Zongju ZHAO , Zaixing JIANG , Jie XU
Published: October 2012

The Liangshan and Qixia formations in the Sichuan Basin of central China were formed in the earlier middle Permian. Based on outcrop observation of the Changjianggou section at Shangsi, Guangyuan region and 3rd‐order sequence division in typical drillings, one‐dimensional spectrum analysis has been used to choose the better curve between the natural gamma ray spectrometry log(ln (Th/K)) in Well‐Long17 and the gamma ray log(GR) in Well‐Wujia1, respectively, for identifying Milankovitch cycles in Sequence PSQ1 which comprises the Liangshan and Qixia formations, and then to identify the variation in the Milankovitch cycle sequences. On this basis, the system tract and 4th‐order sequence interfaces in Sequence PSQ1 were found via two‐dimensional spectral analysis and digital filtering. Finally, a high‐frequency sequence division program was established. Among these cycles, long eccentricity (413.0 ka) and short eccentricity (123.0 ka) are the most unambiguous, and they are separately the major control factors in forming 4th‐order (parasequence sets) and 5th‐order (parasequences) sequences, with the average thicknesses corresponding to the main cycles being 11.47 m and 3.32 m in Well‐Long17, and 14.21 m and 3.79 m in Well‐Wujia1, respectively. In other words, the deposition rate in the beach subfacies is faster than that of the inner ramp facies. The ln(Th/K) curve is more sensitive than the GR as the index of relatively ancient water depth in carbonate deposition. One‐dimensional spectrum analysis of ln(Th/K) curve could distinguish the Milankovitch cycle sequences that arose from the Precession cycle (20.90 ka), with a much higher credibility. Sequence PSQ1 in Well‐Long17 contains 10 4th‐order sequences, and the growth span of Sequence PSQ1 consisting of the Liangshan and Qixia formations is about 4.13 Ma. The single deposition thickness of the long eccentricity cycle sequence has the characteristics of thinning and then thickening in the two‐dimensional spectrum, which could be used to identify the system tract interface of the 3rd‐order sequence. The precession sequence thickness remains stationary. As a result, the early deposition rate in the mid‐Permian of the Sichuan basin was very slow, remaining nearly stationary, and this reflects a sustained depositional environment. Whole‐rock carbon and oxygen isotope curves could also prove this point Milankovitch cycle sequence studies provide a basis for paleoenvironmental analysis and, as such, can be used to analyze ancient climate change, calculate deposition rate and deposition time, and carry out fine isochronous stratigraphic correlation.
Post‐Late Paleozoic Collisional Framework of Southern Great Altai
Authors: CHIKOV Boris M. , ZINOVIEV Sergei V. , DEYEV Eugene V.
Published: October 2012

We outline the post‐Late Paleozoic (latest Permian to Cenozoic) collisional framework of the southern Great Altai (Central Asia) produced by the convergence between the Tuva‐Mongolia and Junggar continental terranes (microplates). The collisional structures in the region classified on the basis of their geometry and deformation style, dynamic metamorphism, and compositions of tectonites are of three main types: (1) mosaic terranes made up of large weakly deformed Paleozoic blocks separated by younger shear zones; (2) contractional deformation systems involving structures formed in post‐Late Paleozoic time, parallel faults oriented along collisional deformation systems, and relict lenses of Paleozoic orogenic complexes; and (3) isolated zones of dynamic metamorphism composed mostly of collisional tectonites different in composition and alteration grade.
Xiba Granitic Pluton in the Qinling Orogenic Belt, Central China: Its Petrogenesis and Tectonic Implications
Authors: Fan ZHANG , Shuwen LIU , Xu CHEN , Qiugen LI , Junzhi DAI , Kai YANG , Fenghui WU , Youzhang CHEN
Published: October 2012

Xiba granitic pluton is located in South Qinling tectonic domain of the Qinling orogenic belt and consists mainly of granodiorite and monzogranite with significant number of microgranular quartz dioritic enclaves. SHRIMP zircon U–Pb isotopic dating reveals that the quartz dioritic enclaves formed at 214±3 Ma, which is similar to the age of their host monzogranite (218±1 Ma). The granitoids belong to high‐K calc‐alkaline series, and are characterized by enriched LILEs relative to HFSEs with negative Nb, Ta and Ti anomalies, and right‐declined REE patterns with (La/Yb)N ratios ranging from 15.83 to 26.47 and δEu values from 0.78 to 1.22 (mean= 0.97). Most of these samples from Xiba granitic pluton exhibit εNd(t) values of –8.79 to –5.38, depleted mantle Nd model ages (TDM) between 1.1 Ga and 1.7 Ga, and initial Sr isotopic ratios (87Sr/86Sr)i from 0.7061 to 0.7082, indicating a possible Meso‐ to Paleoproterozoic lower crust source region, with exception of samples XB01‐2‐1 and XB10‐1 displaying higher (87Sr/86Sr)i values of 0.779 and 0.735, respectively, which suggests a contamination of the upper crustal materials. Quartz dioritic enclaves are interpreted as the result of rapid crystallization fractionation during the parent magmatic emplacement, as evidenced by similar age, texture, geochemical, and Sr‐Nd isotopic features with their host rocks. Characteristics of the petrological and geochemical data reveal that the parent magma of Xiba granitoids was produced by a magma mingling process. The upwelling asthenosphere caused a high heat flow and the mafic magma was underplated into the bottom of the lower continent crust, which caused the partial melting of the lower continent crustal materials. This geodynamic process generated the mixing parent magma between mafic magma from depleted mantle and felsic magma derived from the lower continent crust. Integrated petrogenesis and tectonic discrimination with regional tectonic evolution of the Qinling orogen, it is suggested that the granitoids are most likely products in a post‐collision tectonic setting.
Paleoceanographic Indicators for Early Cambrian Black Shales from the Yangtze Platform, South China: Evidence from Biomarkers and Carbon Isotopes
Authors: Lan CHEN , Hong ZHONG , Ruizhong HU , Jiafei XIAO , Louis Loung‐Yie TSAI , Andrew Tien‐Shun LIN , Yanrong ZOU
Published: October 2012

The lower Cambrian Niutitang Formation, a widespread black shale deposition, is of geological interest because of its polymetallic beds, Cambrian explosion, depositional ages, dramatic environmental changes and so on. Previous study focused mainly on inorganic geochemistry and few studies have investigated the organic fractions of upper Neoproterozoic‐lower Cambrian strata in South China. Here we report a study of biomarkers plus organic carbon isotopes for black shales from Ganziping, Hunan Province (China). All the saturated hydrocarbon fractions have a unimodal distribution of n‐alkanes, a high content of short‐chain alkanes and maximize at C19 or C20 (C23 for sample Gzh00–1). The C27/C29 sterane ratio ranges from 0.77 to 1.20 and 4‐methylsteranes are in low abundance. These parameters indicate that algae and bacteria are the important primary producers. Furthermore, biomarker maturity proxies show the samples to be higher maturity. The low Pr/Ph values (<0.7) suggest that the samples were deposited under anoxic conditions and, likely, under stratified water columns. In addition, 25‐norhopanes and gammacerane are present as diagnostic indicators of normal marine salinity and dysoxic to anoxic conditions. During the Early Tommotian, known to coincide with a transgression event, small shelly fossils increased in abundance and diversity. Moreover, positive δ13Corg excursions close to 1.4‰ occur at the base of the Tommotian stage. In summary, the Early Cambrian black shales were deposited under dramatic paleoenvironmental changes, including oceanic anoxia, higher primary productivity and sea‐level rise.
Geochemical Evidence for Coal and Carbonaceous Mudstone as the Possible Major Oil Source Rock in the Jurassic Turpan Basin, Northwest China
Authors: Jianghui MENG , Min ZHANG , Hongjing ZHAO , Luofu LIU , Zhiyong WANG , Jieli ZHOU , Ying WANG
Published: October 2012

Petroleum geologists have debated whether the hydrocarbons from Jurassic coal measures are derived from the coals, carbonaceous mudstones or coal‐measure mudstones in the Turpan Basin. Based on the geochemistry analysis of the 20 crude oils and 40 source rocks from the Turpan Basin, some data have been obtained as follows: carbon preference index and methylphenanthrene index of the Jurassic oils are 1.16–1.45 and 0.28–0.80, and the ααα C29 sterane 20S/(20S+20R) and C29 sterane ββ/(ββ+αα) are 0.44–0.51 and 0.4–0.54 respectively, which show the normal maturity of oils; the vitrinite reflectance of the source rocks from the Xishanyao to Badaowan Formations range from 0.47% to 0.97%, which indicate immature to mature thermal evolutionary stage and sufficient conditions for generating mass mature oil. The effect of hydrocarbon expulsion should be considered when studying the source of coal‐derived oil by using Biomarkers. Biomarkers in the Jurassic oils from the basin are similar to those in the coals and carbonaceous mudstones, with a strong predominant content of pristane, relatively high ratio of C15/C16 sesquiterpenoids (>1), a relatively high content of low carbon number tricyclic terpanes and C24 tetracyclic terpane, little gammacerane and C29 Ts detected, an absolute predominant content of C29 sterane and a relatively high content of diasterane. However, the opposite characteristics are shown in mudstones, with an approximately equal content of pristane and phytane, relatively low ratio of C15/C16 sesquiterpenoids (<1), a relatively high content of high carbon number tricyclic terpanes and a low content of C24 tetracyclic terpane, peaks of gammacerane and C29 Ts detected obviously and an increasing C27 sterane content All of these characteristics identify the coals and carbonaceous mudstones as the possible major oil source rocks in this area, and they were formed in the stronger oxidizing environment with shallower water than mudstones.
Reliability of Relative Paleointensity Recorded in Chinese Loess–Paleosol Sediments
Authors: Tianshui YANG , Haiyan LI , Huaichun WU , Zhenyu YANG , Shihong ZHANG , Masayuki HYODO
Published: October 2012

A detailed paleomagnetic and rock‐magnetic investigation spanning loess L7 to paleosol S8 has been carried out at the Baoji and Xifeng sections. Results of anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility confirm that the studied loess–paleosol sediments retain primary sedimentary fabrics. Stepwise thermal demagnetization shows that two well‐defined magnetization components can be isolated from both loess and paleosol specimens. A low‐temperature component, isolated between 100°C and 200°C, is consistent with the present geomagnetic field direction, and a high‐temperature component, isolated between 200–300°C and 620–680°C, includes clearly normal and reversed polarities. Isothermal remanent magnetization and thermomagnetic analyses indicate that characteristic remanent magnetization is mainly carried by magnetite and hematite. The Day plot, together with the stratigraphic variations of rock‐magnetic parameters, shows that the uniformity of magnetic mineralogy and grain size fulfills the criteria for relative paleointensity (RPI) studies. RPI records have been constructed using natural remanent magnetization (NRM) intensity after thermal demagnetization at 300°C normalized by low‐frequency magnetic susceptibility (NRM300/χ). The results show that the RPI record from the Baoji section, where pedogenesis is quite weak, is compatible with the stacked PISO‐1500 paleointensity record, suggesting that it might reflect the paleointensity variation of the geomagnetic field. The RPI record from the Xifeng section, where pedogenesis is rather strong, indicates a clear dissimilarity with the stacked PISO‐1500 paleointensity record, implying that it does not reflect the paleointensity variation of the geomagnetic field. Our new results show that the NRM300/χ from the strongly pedogenetic paleosols does not completely eliminate the pedogenetic (climatic) influence, so it might be unsuitable for a reliable paleointensity study.
Separation and Precise Measurement of Lithium Isotopes in Three Reference Materials Using Multi Collector‐Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Shihong TIAN , Zengqian HOU , Aina SU , Kejun HOU , Wenjie HU , Zhenzhen LI , Yue ZHAO , Yanguang GAO , Yanhe LI , Dan YANG , Zhusen YANG
Published: October 2012

Lithium separation technique for three reference materials has been established together with precise determination of lithium isotope using a Neptune multi collector‐inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC‐ICP‐MS). The solutions of lithium element standard reference materials, potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium and iron single element, were used to evaluate analytical methods applied. Three separate stages of ion‐exchange chromatography were carried out using organic cation‐exchange resin (AG 50W‐X8). Lithium was enriched for the three stages using different eluants, which are 2.8 M HCl, 0.15 M HCl and 0.5 M HCl in 30% ethanol, respectively. The columns for the first and second stages are made of polypropylene, and those for the third stage are made of quartz. Total reagent volume for the entire chemical process was 35 mL for three reference materials. The recovery yielded for the three stages is 98.9–101.2% with an average of 100.0%, 97.6–101.9% with an average of 99.9%, and 99.8–103.3% with an average of 100.6%, respectively. The precision of this technique is conservatively estimated to be ±0.72–1.04‰ (2σ population), which is similar to the precision obtained by different authors in different laboratories with MC‐ICP‐MS. The δ7Li values (7Li/6Li relative to the IRMM‐016 standard) determined for andesite (AGV‐2) and basalt (BHVO‐2) are 5.68‰ (n= 18), 4.33‰ (n= 18), respectively. The δ7Li value (7Li/6Li relative to the L‐SVEC standard) determined for IRMM‐016 is –0.01‰ (n= 15). All these analytical results are in good agreement with those previously reported. In addition, the results for the same kinds of samples analyzed at the MLR Key Laboratory of Metallogeny and Mineral Assessment, Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, are consistent with those obtained at the Plasma Laboratory, University of Maryland, within analytical uncertainty. According to these experiment results, it is concluded that this proposed procedure is a suitable method for determining the lithium isotopic composition of natural samples.
Combined hepatocellular carcinoma and neuroendocrine carcinoma with sarcomatous change of the liver after transarterial chemoembolization
Authors: Nakanishi Chikashi , Sato Koichiro , Ito Yasushi , Abe Takayuki , Akada Tetsuya , Muto Ryo , Sakashita Keita , Konno Takuro , Kato Hirotaka , Satomi Susumu
Published: October 2012

Primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma is rare and its origin is not clearly understood. An admixture of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and neuroendocrine carcinoma is particularly rare. Here, we report a patient with an extremely rare combination of HCC and neuroendocrine carcinoma of the liver. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case in which the carcinoma showed sarcomatous change. The patient was a 76‐year‐old man who had received outpatient treatment for chronic hepatitis C. On abdominal computed tomography (CT), the hepatic tumor was enhanced in the arterial phase but its density was lower than that of normal liver in the portal phases. His serum α‐fetoprotein (AFP) level was very high. Therefore, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) was performed based on the diagnosis of HCC. Ten months after TACE, his serum AFP level had increased to the level measured before TACE. Partial hepatectomy was performed because CT revealed poor enhancement of the recurrent tumor. Histopathologically, the tumor consisted of two distinct components: moderately differentiated HCC was intermingled with a neuroendocrine carcinoma, which was accompanied by sarcomatous changes. Immunohistochemically, the neuroendocrine carcinoma cells were positive for CD56, chromogranin A and neuron‐specific enolase, and negative for AFP. The sarcomatous area was positive for AE1/3 and CD56, consistent with sarcomatous change of neuroendocrine carcinoma. The neuroendocrine carcinoma and/or sarcomatous change may have been due to phenotypic changes and/or dedifferentiation of HCC induced by TACE. Six months after surgery, the patient was diagnosed with metastasis of the neuroendocrine carcinoma to sacral bone. He died 7 months after surgery.
Political Bargaining and the Timing of Congressional Appropriations
Authors: Woon Jonathan , Anderson Sarah
Published: October 2012

Although Congress passes spending bills every year, there is great variation in the amount of time it takes. Drawing from rational models of bargaining, we identify factors that systematically affect the duration of legislative bargaining in the appropriations process. Analysis of spending bills for fiscal years 1977 to 2009 shows that delays are shorter when the ideological distance between pairs of key players decreases and distributive content is higher, but they are longer following an election. We find that congressional parties matter but that intraparty conflict matters as well, which suggests that Appropriations Committees retain significant autonomy in Congress.
District Complexity and the Personal Vote
Authors: Wichowsky Amber
Published: October 2012

Incumbents tend to win with higher margins in less ideologically constrained districts. I argue that incumbents are advantaged by this electoral landscape in part because they work harder to cultivate a personal vote. Utilizing data on earmarks, I find that despite winning with a larger margin of victory, these incumbents act much like their colleagues who narrowly escaped electoral defeat. By more accurately measuring perceptions of electoral vulnerability, we also see stronger evidence linking district marginality to distributive politics. Such incentives appear to stem not from the risks of position taking, but from the weaker party attachments among constituents.
The Responsiveness of Direct and Indirect Elections
Authors: Rogers Steven
Published: October 2012

Previous research argues the Seventeenth Amendment made Senate elections more responsive. To make this claim, existing work compares the vote‐seat relationships of direct and indirect elections before and after the Seventeenth Amendment. I argue this approach is problematic because it does not account for regional variation and compares elections from different time periods using presidential instead of Senate vote. I overcome these problems by simulating indirect elections using state legislatures’ partisan compositions to evaluate the responsiveness of direct and indirect elections after the Seventeenth Amendment. With this counterfactual approach, my findings suggest direct elections are not necessary for electoral responsiveness.