bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bargaining power and the evolution of un-fair, non-mutualistic moral norms
Authors: Guala Francesco
Published: February 2013

Mutualistic theory explains convincingly the prevalence of fairness norms in small societies of foragers and in large contemporary democratic societies. However, it cannot explain the U-shaped curve of egalitarianism in human history. A theory based on bargaining power is able to provide a more general account and to explain mutualism as a special case. According to this approach, social norms may be more variable and malleable than Baumard et al. suggest.
Biological evolution and behavioral evolution: Two approaches to altruism
Authors: Rachlin Howard , Locey Matthew L. , Safin Vasiliy
Published: February 2013

Altruism may be learned (behavioral evolution) in a way similar to that proposed in the target article for its biological evolution. Altruism (over social space) corresponds to self-control (over time). In both cases, one must learn to ignore the rewards to a particular (person or moment) and behave to maximize the rewards to a group (of people or moments).
From partner choice to equity – and beyond?
Authors: Warneken Felix
Published: February 2013

Baumard et al. provide an intriguing model where morality emerges from the dynamics of partner choice in mutualistic interactions. I discuss evidence from human and nonhuman primates that supports the overall approach, but highlights a gap in explaining the human specificity of moral cognition. I suggest that an essential characteristic of human fairness is to override concerns about merit in favor of promoting the welfare in others who are needy.
You can't have it both ways: What is the relation between morality and fairness?
Authors: Machery Edouard , Stich Stephen
Published: February 2013

Baumard and colleagues put forward a new hypothesis about the nature and evolution of fairness. In this commentary, we discuss the relation between morality and their views about fairness.
Competitive morality
Authors: Roberts Gilbert
Published: February 2013

Baumard et al. argue that partner choice leads to fairness and mutualism, which then form the basis for morality. I comment that mutualism takes us only so far, and I apply the theory of competitive altruism in arguing how strategic investment in behaviours which make one a desirable partner may drive moral conduct.
Modeling justice as a natural phenomenon
Authors: Binmore Ken
Published: February 2013

Among other things, Baumard et al.'s “A Mutualistic Approach to Morality” considers the enforcement and establishment of moral norms, the interpersonal comparison of welfare, and the structure of fairness norms. This commentary draws attention to the relevance of the game theory literature to the first and second topic, and the social psychology literature to the third topic.
The paradox of the missing function: How similar is moral mutualism to biofunctional understanding?
Authors: Iran-Nejad Asghar , Bordbar Fareed
Published: February 2013

We explain here how the natural selection theory of people's mutualistic sense of fairness and the biofunctional theory of human understanding are made for each other. We welcome the stage that the target article has already set for this convergence, and invite the authors to consider moving the two independently developed approaches a step closer to the natural selection level of biofunctional understanding.
The role of language system in context-dependent language use in Turkish-speaking versus English-speaking older adults
Authors: MARCH EVRIM G. , PATTISON PHILIPPA
Published: February 2013

Deixis is a linguistic bridge between spoken language and communicative context, and its use is intrinsically dependent on the context as well as the language system itself. This cross-linguistic study examined the impact of two distinct language systems, English and Turkish, on the uses of nouns, spatial deixis, and person deixis in 26 Turkish versus 26 Anglo Australian healthy older adults. The study revealed a predilection for spatial deictic use in Turkish versus person deictic use in English speakers at task-specific levels, and the pattern of relationships between language use forms were partially distinct between the two languages. The study provided empirical evidence to deictic theories regarding the role of language structure in discourse production, with implications on brain–language relationships.
Commissioning social care for older people: influencing the quality of direct care
Authors: CHESTER HELEN , HUGHES JANE , CHALLIS DAVID
Published: February 2013

The delivery of personalised support to vulnerable older people is largely contingent on those staff who provide direct care. These care workers play an invaluable role in supporting vulnerable older people that may have increasingly complex needs either at home or in care homes. Internationally, concern has been raised both about the recruitment and retention of care workers; and their skills and competencies because of their importance in the delivery of quality care services. Using both primary and secondary data, this paper explores commissioning and contracting arrangements for domiciliary care and care home provision in England and their influence on the recruitment and retention of staff in these services. The implications of the findings are discussed in the context of two factors which influence continuity of care, a proxy for quality services for older people: training opportunities for staff and factors affecting the supply of labour from which direct carers are traditionally recruited. It is suggested that some of the drivers of quality in the provision of care may not be susceptible to the influence of commissioners and providers. Nevertheless, training may aid the recruitment and retention of care workers and provide one way in which they can promote a higher standard of care for older people.
Excitation of large amplitude wake electron oscillations in adiabatic plasma
Authors: Wang Youmei , Yu M.Y. , Chen Z.Y. , Lu Gaimin
Published: February 2013

Electron plasma waves excited and/or modified by finite objects such as laser and charged particle pulses are investigated nonperturbatively using a simple model where the driver is unaffected by the interaction. It is shown that smooth as well as sharply peaked electron plasma wake waves of large amplitude can exist. In particular, two charged pulses moving in tandem can excite a highly localized electron plasma wave without producing the expected long wake wave, a configuration that should be particularly useful for efficient trapping and acceleration of electrons to high energies.
Disrupting the Quotidian: Hoaxes, Fires, and Non-theatrical Performance in Nineteenth-century London
Authors: Davis Jim
Published: February 2013

In this essay Jim Davis considers two examples of everyday non-theatrical performance in nineteenth-century London: hoaxes and fires. Whereas an element of hoaxing can be perceived in some contemporary performance events and in the practice of ‘invisible theatre’, usually with some ethical intention, hoaxes in early nineteenth-century London were perpetrated for the sake of creating disruption and making dupes of unsuspecting witnesses. A more visible form of disruption and spectacle was created by fires and firefighting itself, which, at least after Captain Eyre Massie Shaw took control of the London fire brigade, became a form of public performance. Although hoaxes were common in pantomime and farce, and conflagrations often strengthened the impact of sensation melodramas, the disruptive effects of extra-theatrical hoaxes and fires on everyday life created a less reassuring and more dystopian sense of the metropolis. An earlier version of this paper was originally delivered at ‘The Audience through Time’ conference at Queen Mary College, University of London, in December 2011. Jim Davis is Professor of Theatre Studies at the University of Warwick. His his most recent books are Victorian Pantomime: a Collection of Critical Essays (2010) and Lives of the Great Shakespearian Actors: Edmund Kean (2009). He is also joint author of Reflecting the Audience: London Theatregoing 1840–1880 (2001).
Theatre Provision and Decentralization in a Region of Southern Italy
Authors: Serino Marco
Published: February 2013

Since the mid-twentieth century, urban cultural policies have tended to broaden citizens’ access to cultural and arts facilities in most European cities. Italy saw its theatre infrastructure being enhanced by the teatri stabili which have emerged since the late 1940s, in developed urban contexts, and the decentralization of theatre activities during the 1970s, in the suburbs of cities as well as in small regional towns. This changed the distribution of theatregoing accessibility, but not sufficiently to make opportunities equal across the country's different geographical areas. In the present article Marco Serino discusses the decentralization of theatre in Italy, in particular as it has affected the southern Campania region, basing his argument on his own census of the venues in existence in southern Campania in 2008. Social, economic, and political issues are involved in the discussion since these always influence theatre policy and practice. Marco Serino was awarded his PhD in Sociology, Social Analysis, and Public Policies in 2010 at the University of Salerno, Italy. His research focuses on cultural and communication processes, particularly on theatre organizations and audiences.
Restructuring a Rehabilitation Program for Older Adults: Effects on Patient Outcomes and Staff Perspectives
Authors: Klein Jennifer , Hopper Tammy
Published: February 2013

L’objectif de cette étude utilisant des méthodes mixtes était d’examiner l’impact du changement organisationnel sur les résultats pour les patients et les expériences du personnel dans un programme de réadaptation pour les personnes âgées. La restructuration du programme a mis l’accent sur la réduction de la longueur du séjour des patients et l’augmentation de l’admission dans le programme de réhabilitation. Les résultats de cette étude ont révélé que les patients admis après la restructuration, par rapport à la periode avant cette restructuration, ont connu des séjours plus courts, et pourtant ont réalisé des progrès similaires vers la réadaptation. Les scores moyens à la décharge, Mesure d’indépendence fonctionnelle (MIF), ne diffèrent pas significativement entre ces deux périodes. Pourtant, les scores d’efficience MIF sont améliorés après la restructuration. Avec cette réorganisation, le personnel de réadaptation ont déclaré travailler plus fort pour aider les patients à obtenir des résultats, même si, au départ, le personnel a signalé un abaissement de moral. Ces résultats étendent la littérature actuelle et offrent des implications pratiques pour les professionnels de la santé qui sont intéressés à faciliter le changement organisationnel réussi.
Acute gastrointestinal illness in adults in Germany: a population-based telephone survey
Authors: WILKING H. , SPITZNAGEL H. , WERBER D. , LANGE C. , JANSEN A. , STARK K.
Published: February 2013

Population-based estimates of incidence and risk factors for acute gastrointestinal illness (AGI) are important for infectious disease surveillance and healthcare planning. We conducted a nationwide representative cross-sectional telephone survey of 21 262 adults over a 12-month period during 2008–2009 in Germany. Participants were asked if they had either AGI-related diarrhoea or vomiting in a 4-week recall period. We estimated 0·95 episodes/person per year (95% confidence interval 0·90–0·99), corresponding to 64·9 million episodes of AGI annually in adults, which results in 24·5 million outpatient visits, 19·9 million hospital days and 63·2 million days of work lost. We observed an overall declining trend of AGI with increasing age. Diarrhoea was more often reported than vomiting. The mean duration of illness was 3·8 days and did not differ between age groups. Social factors seemed to be weak predictors compared to state of health and health behaviour characteristics. This study allows international comparisons and contributes to the estimation of the global burden of AGI.
Dengue surveillance by proxy: travellers as sentinels for outbreaks in the Pacific Islands
Authors: LAU C. L. , WEINSTEIN P. , SLANEY D.
Published: February 2013

Sensitive surveillance systems are crucial for effective control of infectious disease outbreaks, and regional surveillance could provide valuable data to supplement global systems, improve sensitivity and timeliness of reporting, or capture otherwise undetected outbreaks. In New Zealand (NZ), there are no endemic arboviral diseases in humans, and the majority of dengue cases are imported from neighbouring Pacific Islands where comprehensive surveillance systems are under development. From 1997 to 2009, 679 cases of dengue were reported in NZ (74·2% acquired from the Pacific Islands), and the patterns of reported incidence of dengue acquired from different islands closely reflected local reported incidence in those areas. NZ is therefore in a unique position to provide early alerts on dengue outbreaks in the Pacific Islands. Such a strategy would reduce disease burden in both the Pacific Islands and NZ, and provide a model for transnational collaboration in disease surveillance with regional as well as global benefits.
Effect of mouse cumulus cells on the in vitro maturation and developmental potential of bovine denuded germinal vesicle oocytes
Authors: Zhao Xue-Ming , Ren Jing-Jing , Du Wei-Hua , Hao Hai-Sheng , Liu Yan , Qin Tong , Wang Dong , Zhu Hua-Bin
Published: February 2013

We investigated the effect mouse cumulus cells (mCCs) on the in vitro maturation (IVM) and developmental potential of bovine denuded germinal vesicle oocytes (DOs). Cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs), DOs and DOs cocultured with either mCCs (DOs + mCCs) or bovine cumulus cells (bCCs; DOs + bCCs) were subjected to IVM. The meiosis II (MII) rates of DOs, glutathione (GSH) contents, zona pellucida (ZP) hardening and parthenogenetic blastocyst rates of MII oocytes were determined. The relative expression levels of bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP-15) and growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF-9) in MII oocytes were measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). mCCs significantly increased the MII rate of DOs from 53.5 ± 3.58% to 69.67 ± 4.72% (p < 0.05) but had no effect on the GSH content (2.17 ± 0.31 pmol/oocyte with mCCs, 2.14 ± 0.53 pmol/oocyte without mCCs). For the DOs + mCCs group, the BMP-15 and GDF-9 expression levels were significantly higher and the ZP dissolution time was significantly lower (162.49 ± 12.51 s) than that of the DOs group (213.95 ± 18.87 s; p < 0.05). The blastocyst rate of the DOs + mCCs group (32.56 ± 4.94%) was similar to that of the DOs group (31.75 ± 3.65%) but was significantly lower than that of the COCs group (43.52 ± 5.37%; p < 0.05). In conclusion, mCCs increased the MII rate of DOs and expression of certain genes in MII oocytes, and decreased the ZP hardening of MII oocytes, but could not improve their GSH content or developmental potential.
Selection of developmentally competent immature equine oocytes with brilliant cresyl blue stain prior to in vitro maturation with equine growth hormone
Authors: Pereira Gabriel R. , Lorenzo Pedro L. , Carneiro Gustavo F. , Bilodeau-Goeseels Sylvie , Kastelic John P. , Esteller-Vico Alejandro , Lopez-Bejar Manel , Liu Irwin K.M.
Published: February 2013

Immature oocytes synthesize a variety of proteins that include the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH). Brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) is a vital blue dye that assesses intracellular activity of G6PDH, an indirect measure of oocyte maturation. The objective was to evaluate the BCB test as a criterion to assess developmental competence of equine oocytes and to determine if equine growth hormone (eGH) enhanced in vitro maturation (IVM) of equine oocyte. Cumulus–oocytes complexes (COCs) were recovered by aspirating follicles <30 mm in diameter from abattoir-derived ovaries and were evaluated morphologically. Thereafter, COCs were exposed to BCB (26 μM) for 90 min at 39°C and selected based on the colour of their cytoplasm (BCB positive/BCB+ or BCB negative/BCB–). The COCs were allocated as follows: (a) IVM medium; (b) eGH group; (c) BCB–/IVM; (d) BCB+/IVM; (e) BCB–/eGH; and (f) BCB+/eGH. Then, COCs were cultured in vitro for 30 h, at 39°C in a 5%CO2 humidified air atmosphere. Cumulus-free oocytes were incubated in 10 μg/ml of bis-benzamide for 20 min at 39°C and nuclear maturation was evaluated with epifluorescence microscopy. Of the 39 COCs selected morphologically and subjected to BCB staining, 18/39 (46.2%) were classified as BCB+ and 21/39 (53.8%) as BCB– (P > 0.05). Maturation was not affected significantly by BCB classification, but the maturation rate was higher for oocytes that had been exposed to exogenous eGH versus controls (16/28, 57.1% versus 8/26, 30.8%, P < 0.05). In the present study, the BCB test was not useful for predicting competent equine oocytes prior to IVM. However, eGH enhanced equine oocyte maturation in vitro.
Glutamate system as target for development of novel antidepressants
Authors: Catena-Dell'Osso Mario , Fagiolini Andrea , Rotella Francesco , Baroni Stefano , Marazziti Donatella
Published: February 2013

Depression is a common psychiatric condition characterized by affective, cognitive, psychomotor, and neurovegetative symptoms that interfere with a person's ability to work, study, deal with interpersonal relationships, and enjoy once-pleasurable activities. After the serendipitous discovery of the first antidepressants, for years the only pharmacodynamic mechanisms explored in the search of novel antidepressants were those related to the 3 main monoamines: serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. New-generation monoaminergic antidepressants, such as selective-serotonin and dual-acting serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, improved treatment and quality of life of depressed patients. Nevertheless, there are still important clinical limitations: the long latency of onset of the antidepressant action; side effects, which can lead to early discontinuation; low rate of response; and high rate of relapse/recurrence. Therefore, in the last several years, the focus of research has moved from monoamines toward other molecular mechanisms, including glutamatergic (Glu) neurotransmission. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge on the Glu system and on its relationships with mood disorders. Up to now, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists, in particular ketamine, provided the most promising results in preclinical studies and produced a consistent and rapid, although transient, antidepressant effect with a good tolerability profile in humans. Although data are encouraging, more double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials are needed to clarify the real potentiality of ketamine, and of the other Glu modulators, in the treatment of unipolar and bipolar depression.
Everyday Cognition in Older Adults: Associations with Neuropsychological Performance and Structural Brain Imaging
Authors: Farias Sarah Tomaszewski , Park Lovingly Quitania , Harvey Danielle J. , Simon Christa , Reed Bruce R. , Carmichael Owen , Mungas Dan
Published: February 2013

The recently developed Everyday Cognition scales (ECog) measure multiple cognitively relevant functional domains (e.g., Everyday Memory, Everyday Language, Everyday Visuospatial abilities, and three everyday executive domains). The present study further evaluated the validity of the ECog by examining its relationship with objective measures of neuropsychological function, and neurobiological markers of disease as reflected by structural neuroimaging. Participants included 474 older adults (244 normals, 142 with MCI, 88 with dementia). The neuropsychological domains measured were episodic memory, semantic memory, spatial ability, and executive functioning. Brain MRI volumes included total brain (BV), hippocampus (HC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Neuropsychological measures of episodic memory and executive function were most consistently related to the ECog domains; spatial abilities had a specific relationship to the Everyday Visuospatial ECog domain. HC and BV volumes were related to most ECog domains, while DLPFC volume was independently related to two everyday executive domains (Everyday Planning and Everyday Organization). The pattern of associations varied somewhat as a function of diagnosis. Episodic memory and HC had more consistent associations with the ECog domains in older adults with MCI/dementia than in cognitively normal elderly. (JINS, 2013,19, 1–12)
PERSISTENCE IN CONVERGENCE
Authors: Stengos Thanasis , Yazgan M. Ege
Published: February 2013

In this paper, we examine the convergence hypothesis using a long memory framework that allows for structural breaks and does not rely on a benchmark country. We find that even though the long memory framework of analysis is much richer than the simple I(1)/I(0) alternative, a simple absolute divergence and rapid convergence dichotomy produced by the latter is sufficient to capture the behavior of the gaps in per capita GDP levels and growth rates results respectively. This is in contrast to the findings of Dufrénot, Mignon, and Naccache [The Slow Convergence of Per Capita Income between the Developing Countries: Growth Resistance and Sometimes Growth Tragedy. Discussion paper, University of Nottingham (2009)], who found strong evidence of long memory for output gaps. The speed of convergence as captured by the estimated long memory parameter d, is explained by differences in physical and human capital as well as fiscal discipline characteristics of economic policies pursued by different countries.
Anaemia and iron deficiency between 2003 and 2007 in Amazonian children under 2 years of age: trends and associated factors
Authors: Granado Fernanda Serra , Augusto Rosangela Aparecida , Muniz Pascoal Torres , Cardoso Marly Augusto ,   the ACTION Study Team
Published: February 2013

Objective

To describe trends in the prevalence of anaemia and Fe deficiency in children under 2 years of age living in a town in western Brazilian Amazonia.

Design

Temporal analysis of two cross-sectional population-based surveys. Information on socio-economic status, morbidity and breast-feeding was obtained using a structured questionnaire. Child weight and length were measured for anthropometric evaluation. Concentrations of blood Hb, plasma ferritin and soluble transferrin receptor were measured.

Setting

The town of Acrelândia, state of Acre, north-west Brazil.

Subjects

A total of 170 and 224 participants of the 2003 and 2007 surveys, respectively.

Results

Comparison between the 2003 and 2007 surveys revealed no statistically significant differences in the prevalence of anaemia (48 (95 % CI 39, 56) % to 40 (95 % CI 33, 47) %) or Fe-deficiency anaemia (39 (95 % CI 30, 48) % to 37 (95 % CI 30, 45) %), respectively. However, an increase in the overall prevalence of Fe deficiency from 62 (95 % CI 51, 68) % to 81 (95 % CI 75, 86) % was observed (χ2 test, P ≤ 0·001). In age- and sex-adjusted analyses for risk of Fe deficiency, only early introduction of cow's milk (<90 d) was associated with Fe deficiency in 2003 (prevalence ratio (PR) = 0·76; 95 % CI 0·57, 1·01), while caesarean section (PR = 1·18; 95 % CI 1·03, 1·35) and birth weight <3500 g (PR = 1·15; 95 % CI 1·00, 1·34) were associated with Fe deficiency in 2007.

Conclusions

No improvements were observed in the prevalence of anaemia, exposing a worrying scenario for public health, while a significant increase was found in the prevalence of Fe deficiency in the studied infants and toddlers.
Relationship of white potato to other vegetable consumption by schoolchildren and adolescents in the USA: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2003–2008
Authors: Olsho Lauren EW , Fernandes Meenakshi M
Published: February 2013

Objective

Intake of white potatoes in and out of school was estimated to provide context for a recent proposal by the US Department of Agriculture to limit provision of white potatoes in US school meals.

Design

Mean daily servings of white potatoes and other vegetables consumed in and out of school for school-aged children were estimated from two days of 24 h dietary recall data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES). Total energy intake and percentage energy contribution from discretionary oils and solid fats were also estimated for all white potato dishes consumed.

Setting

The NHANES is nationally representative of the US civilian non-institutionalized population.

Subjects

Children and adolescents aged 6–19 years (n8466) from three combined NHANES cycles (2003–2004, 2005–2006 and 2007–2008).

Results

White potatoes represented 32 % of all vegetable servings consumed by US children and adolescents. Preparations high in fats and oils, including French fries, were most popular both in and out of school. Mean consumption of white potatoes obtained from school cafeterias was approximately 0·05 servings/d among all children and adolescents, and about 0·15 servings/d among children and adolescents acquiring at least one item from the school cafeteria, implying current weekly intake levels well below the limit of 2 servings/week proposed by the US Department of Agriculture.

Conclusions

Although white potatoes represent a substantial proportion of vegetable consumption among school-aged children, it is unclear that proposed limits would influence white potato intake from school cafeterias. Policy makers should consider targeting preparation methods to improve the healthfulness of white potato dishes.
Analysis of oxysterols and cholesterol in prefrontal cortex of suicides
Authors: Freemantle Erika , Chen Gary Gang , Cruceanu Cristiana , Mechawar Naguib , Turecki Gustavo
Published: February 2013

Brain oxysterol levels, which are enzymatic oxidation products of cholesterol (Chl), have been proposed to reflect the dynamic process of physiological synapse maintenance and repair of nerve terminals within the central nervous system (CNS), due to the turnover of membrane Chl. Modifications of oxysterols have important implications in neurological conditions, especially in neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders in which alterations of synaptic plasticity or cell signalling are implicated, such as depression. Oxysterols can diffuse across the blood–brain barrier and have been hypothesized to provide a mechanism by which the brain can eliminate excess Chl to maintain a steady state. Relations of 24-hydroxycholesterol (24OH) and 27-hydroxycholesterol (27OH) specifically may provide a depiction of CNS Chl homeostasis. Thus, the objective of this study was to integrate oxysterol measures and gene expression measures in an effort to identify how they may relate to depression and suicide. Using post-mortem human prefrontal cortex tissue, quantification of metabolites by GC–MS and gene expression by qRT-PCR were performed with the aim to provide a characterization of enzymatic oxidative Chl homeostasis. Results show a significant increase in 24OH, which suggests a higher turnover of Chl to 24OH in the prefrontal cortex of suicide cases. An increase in 24OH may, in combination with liver-X receptor activation, explain the observed reduction of low central and peripheral Chl in suicide and would have implications for synapse maintenance and loss in the neuropathology of depression and suicide.
“Why We Sing”: David Mahler's Communities
Authors: BEAL AMY C.
Published: February 2013

American composer David Mahler (b. 1944) has nurtured a career that is independent, diverse, and hard to classify. Democratic, inclusive, and community oriented, Mahler thinks deeply about sound in specific environments, and how music gets made, both by amateurs and professionals. Mahler's work is thus integrally connected to places, to the people in them, and to the songs those people sing. He is influenced and inspired by U.S. traditions of band music arrangements, the ragtime of Joseph Lamb, the songs of Stephen Foster, the bitonality of Charles Ives, the simple harmonic motion of classic minimalism, and the indeterminacy of John Cage. His teachers included Harold Budd, Morton Subotnick, and James Tenney, and he has been an important influence on many composers of his generation, including Michael Byron, Peter Garland, Larry Polansky, Thom Miller, and Stuart Dempster. Defining himself as a “Listener-in-Residence,” he has composed, performed, taught, organized, and directed, all while remaining almost completely unaffiliated with academic institutions. This article provides a portrait of Mahler's career in the context of the communities that have shaped his work and explores how his music responds to the world around him.
Doubled Selves: Eleanor Powell and the MGM Backstage Musical, 1935–37
Authors: ROBBINS ALLISON
Published: February 2013

Beginning in the mid-1930s, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios released a series of backstage musicals starring Eleanor Powell, a dancer known for her tuxedoes as well as her virtuosic tapping. Powell's tap routines are in and of themselves commanding, with her male dress seeming to originate from her confidence and the masculine aura of tap dance. Yet it is the narratives of her films, inspired by the so-called Cinderella stage musicals of the 1920s, that hold the key to her tuxedoed performances. MGM's backstage stories feature a young dancer, who dreams of Broadway stardom, and her show business boyfriend, who expresses reservations about her desire to perform. This tension between the couple's burgeoning romance and her desire for a stage career shapes the costumes, choreography, music, and camerawork of the show-within-the-film production number; ultimately, Powell's character impersonates her boyfriend in order to achieve theatrical success, a performance that illuminates a Depression-era understanding of a woman's place in show business as well as the backstage musical's “doubled” approach to narrative and number.
Circles in the desert
Authors: Jacobs Howy
Published: February 2013

Science often takes a meandering path, and sometimes seems to be going in circles. Howy ponders some unresolved issues regarding the replication of extrachromosomal elements.
Efficient RNA virus control in Drosophila requires the RNA methyltransferase Dnmt2
Authors: Durdevic Zeljko , Hanna Katharina , Gold Beth , Pollex Tim , Cherry Sara , Lyko Frank , Schaefer Matthias
Published: February 2013

Drosophila use small‐interfering RNA mechanisms to limit the amplification of viral genomes. However, it is unclear how small RNA interference components recognize and separate viral from cellular RNA. Dnmt2 enzymes are highly conserved RNA methyltransferases with substrate specificity towards cellular tRNAs. We report here that Dnmt2 is required for efficient innate immune responses in Drosophila. Dnmt2 mutant flies accumulate increasing levels of Drosophila C virus and show activated innate immune responses. Binding of Dnmt2 to DCV RNA suggests that Dnmt2 contributes to virus control directly, possibly by RNA methylation. These observations demonstrate a role for Dnmt2 in antiviral defence.
Zinc-dependent lysosomal enlargement in TRPML1-deficient cells involves MTF-1 transcription factor and ZnT4 (Slc30a4) transporter
Authors: Kukic Ira , Lee Jeffrey K. , Coblentz Jessica , Kelleher Shannon L. , Kiselyov Kirill
Published: February 2013

Zinc is critical for a multitude of cellular processes, including gene expression, secretion and enzymatic activities. Cellular zinc is controlled by zinc-chelating proteins and by zinc transporters. The recent identification of zinc permeability of the lysosomal ion channel TRPML1 (transient receptor potential mucolipin 1), and the evidence of abnormal zinc levels in cells deficient in TRPML1, suggested a role for TRPML1 in zinc transport. In the present study we provide new evidence for such a role and identify additional cellular components responsible for it. In agreement with the previously published data, an acute siRNA (small interfering RNA)-driven TRPML1 KD (knockdown) leads to the build-up of large cytoplasmic vesicles positive for LysoTracker™ and zinc staining, when cells are exposed to high concentrations of zinc. We now show that lysosomal enlargement and zinc build-up in TRPML1-KD cells exposed to zinc are ameliorated by KD of the zinc-sensitive transcription factor MTF-1 (metal-regulatory-element-binding transcription factor-1) or the zinc transporter ZnT4. TRPML1 KD is associated with a build-up of cytoplasmic zinc and with enhanced transcriptional response of mRNA for MT2a (metallothionein 2a). TRPML1 KD did not suppress lysosomal secretion, but it did delay zinc leak from the lysosomes into the cytoplasm. These results underscore a role for TRPML1 in zinc metabolism. Furthermore, they suggest that TRPML1 works in concert with ZnT4 to regulate zinc translocation between the cytoplasm and lysosomes.
A small organic compound enhances the religation reaction of human topoisomerase I and identifies crucial elements for the religation mechanism
Authors: Arnò Barbara , Coletta Andrea , Tesauro Cinzia , Zuccaro Laura , Fiorani Paola , Lentini Sara , Galloni Pierluca , Conte Valeria , Floris Barbara , Desideri Alessandro
Published: February 2013

The different steps of the human Top1 (topoisomerase I) catalytic cycle have been analysed in the presence of a pentacyclic-diquinoid synthetic compound. The experiments indicate that it efficiently inhibits the cleavage step of the enzyme reaction, fitting well into the catalytic site. Surprisingly the compound, when incubated with the binary topoisomerase–DNA cleaved complex, helps the enzyme to remove itself from the cleaved DNA and close the DNA gap, increasing the religation rate. The compound also induces the religation of the stalled enzyme–CPT (camptothecin)–DNA ternary complex. Analysis of the molecule docked over the binary complex, together with its chemical properties, suggests that the religation enhancement is due to the presence on the compound of two oxygen atoms that act as hydrogen acceptors. This property facilitates the deprotonation of the 5′ DNA end, suggesting that this is the limiting step in the topoisomerase religation mechanism.
Requirements for the import of neisserial Omp85 into the outer membrane of human mitochondria
Authors: Ott Christine , Utech Mandy , Goetz Monika , Rudel Thomas , Kozjak-Pavlovic Vera
Published: February 2013

β-Barrel proteins are present only in the outer membranes of Gram-negative bacteria, chloroplasts and mitochondria. Fungal mitochondria were shown to readily import and assemble bacterial β-barrel proteins, but human mitochondria exhibit certain selectivity. Whereas enterobacterial β-barrel proteins are not imported, neisserial ones are. Of those, solely neisserial Omp85 is integrated into the outer membrane of mitochondria. In this study, we wanted to identify the signal that targets neisserial β-barrel proteins to mitochondria. We exchanged parts of neisserial Omp85 and PorB with their Escherichia coli homologues BamA and OmpC. For PorB, we could show that its C-terminal quarter can direct OmpC to mitochondria. In the case of Omp85, we could identify several amino acids of the C-terminal β-sorting signal as crucial for mitochondrial targeting. Additionally, we found that at least two POTRA (polypeptide-transport associated) domains and not only the β-sorting signal of Omp85 are needed for its membrane integration and function in human mitochondria. We conclude that the signal that directs neisserial β-barrel proteins to mitochondria is not conserved between these proteins. Furthermore, a linear mitochondrial targeting signal probably does not exist. It is possible that the secondary structure of β-barrel proteins plays a role in directing these proteins to mitochondria.
A novel rheo-optical device for studying complex fluids in a double shear plate geometry
Authors: Boitte Jean-Baptiste , Vizcaïno Claude , Benyahia Lazhar , Herry Jean-Marie , Michon Camille , Hayert Murielle
Published: February 2013

A new rheo-optical shearing device was designed to investigate the structural evolution of complex material under shear flow. Seeking to keep the area under study constantly within the field of vision, it was conceived to produce shear flow by relying on the uniaxial translation of two parallel plates. The device features three modes of translation motion: step strain (0.02–320), constant shear rate (0.01–400 s−1), and oscillation (0.01–20 Hz) flow. Because the temperature is controlled by using a Peltier module coupled with a water cooling system, temperatures can range from 10 to 80 °C. The sample is loaded onto a user-friendly plate on which standard glasses can be attached with a depression vacuum pump. The principle innovation of the proposed rheo-optical shearing device lies in the fact that this suction system renders the microscopy glasses one with the plates, thereby ensuring their perfect planarity and parallelism. The gap width between the two plates can range from 0 to 5 mm. The device was designed to fit on any inverted confocal laser scanning microscope. In terms of controlled deformation, the conception and technical solutions achieve a high level of accuracy. Moreover, user-friendly software has been developed to control both shear flow parameters and temperature. The validation of specifications as well as the three modes of motion was carried out, first of all without a sample, and then by tracking fluorescent particles in a model system, in our case a micro-gel. Real values agreed well with those we targeted. In addition, an experiment with bread dough deformation under shear flow was initiated to gain some insight into the potential use of our device. These results show that the RheOptiCAD® promises to be a useful tool to better understand, from both a fundamental and an industrial point of view, the rheological behavior of the microstructure of complex fluids under controlled thermo-mechanical parameters in the case of food and non-food systems.
Ab initio quantum study of the photodynamics and absorption spectrum for the coupled 11A2 and 11B1 states of SO2
Authors: Lévêque Camille , Komainda Adrian , Taïeb Richard , Köppel Horst
Published: February 2013

The nonadiabatic photoinduced dynamics occurring in the coupled 11A2 and 11B1 excited states of SO2 is investigated using ab initio quantum dynamical methods. To this end, large scale calculations of the potential energy surfaces have been carried out at the multireference configuration interaction level. All vibrational degrees of freedom of the molecule are considered in the potential energy surface calculations and the quantum dynamical treatment. To deal with the symmetry-allowed conical intersection which occurs between the potential energy surfaces, we use the diabatic picture in the framework of regularized diabatic states. Wave-packet propagation on the coupled surfaces was performed and allowed to reproduce with good accuracy the complex absorption band observed experimentally in the 29 000–42 000 cm−1 range. This provides a basis for a subsequent theoretical treatment of the high order harmonic spectra of SO2.
Theory of reversible associative-dissociative diffusion-influenced chemical reaction. II. Bulk reaction
Authors: Kipriyanov Alexey A. , Doktorov Alexander B.
Published: February 2013

A many-particle homogeneous reacting system of reactants, where bulk reversible reaction A + B ↔ C takes place, is considered in the framework of the kinetic theory approach. The various forms of kinetic equations in the thermodynamic limit are obtained, and important relations between kinetic coefficients characterizing the course of bulk and the corresponding geminate reactions are established. Based on the kinetic equations derived, different results available in the literature have been analyzed. Universal long-term kinetic laws of the reaction course are deduced.
Graphene nanoribbon based negative resistance device for ultra-low voltage digital logic applications
Authors: Khatami Yasin , Kang Jiahao , Banerjee Kaustav
Published: February 2013

Negative resistance devices offer opportunities in design of compact and fast analog and digital circuits. However, their implementation in logic applications has been limited due to their small ON current to OFF current ratios (peak to valley ratio). In this paper, a design for a 2-port negative resistance device based on arm-chair graphene nanoribbon is presented. The proposed structure takes advantage of electrostatic doping, and offers high ON current (∼700 μA/μm) as well as ON current to OFF current ratio of more than 105. The effects of several design parameters such as doping profile, gate workfunction, bandgap, and hetero-interface characteristics are investigated to improve the performance of the proposed devices. The proposed device offers high flexibility in terms of the design and optimization, and is suitable for digital logic applications. A complementary logic is developed based on the proposed device, which can be operated down to 200 mV of supply voltage. The complementary logic is used in design of an ultra-compact bi-stable switching static memory cell. Due to its compactness and high drive current, the proposed memory cell can outperform the conventional static random access memory cells in terms of switching speed and power consumption.
Molecular dynamics study of self-agglomeration of charged fullerenes in solvents
Authors: Banerjee Soumik
Published: February 2013

The agglomeration of fullerenes in solvents is an important phenomenon that is relevant to controlled synthesis of fullerene-based nanowires as well as fullerene-based composites. The molecular aggregation in solvents depends on the atomistic interactions of fullerene with the solvent and is made complicated by the fact that fullerenes accrue negative surface charges when present in solvents such as water. In the present work, we simulated fullerenes of varying size and shape (C60, C180, C240, and C540) with and without surface charges in polar protic (water), polar aprotic (acetone), and nonpolar (toluene) solvents using molecular dynamics method. Our results demonstrate that uncharged fullerenes form agglomerates in polar solvents such as water and acetone and remain relatively dispersed in nonpolar toluene. The presence of surface charge significantly reduces agglomerate size in water and acetone. Additionally, the relative influence of surface charge on fullerene agglomeration depends on the size and geometry of the fullerene with larger fullerenes forming relatively smaller agglomerates. We evaluated the diffusion coefficients of solvent molecules within the solvation shell of fullerenes and observed that they are much lower than the bulk solvent and are strongly associated with the fullerenes as seen in the corresponding radial distribution functions. To correlate agglomerate size with the binding energy between fullerenes, we evaluated the potential of mean force between fullerenes in each solvent. Consistent with the solubility of fullerenes, binding energy between fullerenes is the greatest in water followed by acetone and toluene. The presence of charge decreases the binding energy of fullerenes in water and thus results in dispersed fullerenes.
Metal-insulator-semiconductor tunnel emitter transistor as a spintronic device: a concept
Authors: Vexler M. I. , Grekhov I. V. , Lutsev L. V.
Published: February 2013

A possibility of exploiting the reversely biased metal–tunnel-thin insulator–n-type silicon structure as a bipolar spintronic transistor, is theoretically analyzed. Transistor action is due to an asymmetry between the tunnel leakage of holes and the electron injection current from the metal emitter. If ferromagnetic materials are used for the contact metallization, the gain value and other characteristics will be depending on the mutual orientation of the emitter and base magnetizations. Device operation, therefore, relies on both spin injection and the amplification properties. With different combinations of magnetization, a response of the transistor parameters and the current component evolution, to the feeding of base current, is simulated. The systems Fe3Si/SiO2(CaF2)/n-Si were chosen for exemplary illustrations.
An actuated elastic sheet interacting with passive and active structures in a viscoelastic fluid
Authors: Chrispell J. C. , Fauci L. J. , Shelley M.
Published: February 2013

We adapt the classic Taylor swimming sheet set-up to investigate both the transient and long-time dynamics of an actuated elastic sheet immersed in a viscoelastic fluid as it interacts with neighboring structures. While the preferred kinematics of the sheet are specified, the flexible sheet interacts with the surrounding fluid and other structures, and its realized kinematics emerges from this coupling. We use an immersed boundary framework to evolve the Oldroyd-B/Navier-Stokes equations and capture the spatial and temporal development of viscoelastic stresses and sheet shape. We compare the dynamics when the actuated sheet swims next to a free elastic membrane, with and without bending rigidity, and next to a fixed wall. We demonstrate that the sheets can exploit the neighboring structures to enhance their swimming speed and efficiency, and also examine how this depends upon fluid viscoelasticity. When the neighboring structure is likewise an actuated elastic sheet, we investigate the viscoelastic dynamics of phase-locking.
Optical tweezers with fluorescence detection for temperature-dependent microrheological measurements
Authors: Shundo Atsuomi , Hori Koichiro , Penaloza David P. , Tanaka Keiji
Published: February 2013

We introduce a setup of optical tweezers, capable of carrying out temperature-dependent rheological measurements of soft materials. In our setup, the particle displacement is detected by imaging a bright spot due to fluorescence emitted from a dye-labeled particle against a dark background onto a quadrant photodiode. This setup has a relatively wide space around the sample that allows us to further accessorize the optical tweezers by a temperature control unit. The applicability of the setup was examined on the basis of the rheological measurements using a typical viscoelastic system, namely a worm-like micelle solution. The temperature and frequency dependences of the local viscoelastic functions of the worm-like micelle solution obtained by this setup were in good accordance with those obtained by a conventional oscillatory rheometer, confirming the capability of the optical tweezers as a tool for the local rheological measurements of soft materials. Since the optical tweezers measurements only require a tiny amount of sample (∼40 μL), the rheological measurements using our setup should be useful for soft materials of which the available amount is limited.
Magnetic stochasticity and transport due to nonlinearly excited subdominant microtearing modes
Authors: Hatch D. R. , Pueschel M. J. , Jenko F. , Nevins W. M. , Terry P. W. , Doerk H.
Published: February 2013

Subdominant, linearly stable microtearing modes are identified as the main mechanism for the development of magnetic stochasticity and transport in gyrokinetic simulations of electromagnetic ion temperature gradient driven plasma microturbulence. The linear eigenmode spectrum is examined in order to identify and characterize modes with tearing parity. Connections are demonstrated between microtearing modes and the nonlinear fluctuations that are responsible for the magnetic stochasticity and electromagnetic transport, and nonlinear coupling with zonal modes is identified as the salient nonlinear excitation mechanism. A simple model is presented, which relates the electromagnetic transport to the electrostatic transport. These results may provide a paradigm for the mechanisms responsible for electromagnetic stochasticity and transport, which can be examined in a broader range of scenarios and parameter regimes.