bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Low Usutu virusseroprevalence in four zoological gardens in central Europe
Authors: Buchebner Nicola , Zenker Wolfgang , Wenker Christian , Steinmetz Hanspeter W , Sós Endre , Lussy Helga , Nowotny Norbert
Published: August 2013

Background

Usutu virus (USUV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus of the Japanese encephalitis virus antigenic group, caused bird die-offs in Austria, Hungary and Switzerland between 2001 and 2009. While the zoological gardens of Vienna and Zurich recorded USUV-associated mortality in different species of birds during this period, incidences in Budapest were limited to areas outside the zoo, and in the greater Basel area avian mortality due to USUV infection was not observed at all. The objectives of this investigation were to gain insight into USUV infection dynamics in captive birds in zoos with varying degrees of virus exposure and to study differences in susceptibility to USUV of different species of birds.

Results

372 bird sera were collected between October 2006 and August 2007. The samples were tested in parallel by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and 90% plaque reduction neutralization tests (PRNT-90). 8.75%, 5.3% and 6.59% of birds in the zoos of Vienna, Zurich and Basel, respectively, showed USUV-specific antibodies by PRNT-90. No antibodies to USUV were detected in birds of the Budapest zoo. The order Strigiformes (owls) exhibited the highest USUV-seroprevalence, compared to other orders of birds.

Conclusions

USUV seems not to pose an imminent threat to zoo bird populations in central Europe at the moment. Depending on a variety of especially environmental factors, however, this may change at any time in the (near) future, as experienced with West Nile virus (WNV). It is therefore strongly suggested to continue with combined WNV and USUV surveillance activities in affected areas.
Hydrothermal synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using rice as soft biotemplate
Authors: Ramimoghadam Donya , Bin Hussein Mohd Zobir , Taufiq-Yap Yun Hin
Published: August 2013

Background

Rice as a renewable, abundant bio-resource with unique characteristics can be used as a bio-template to synthesize various functional nanomaterials. Therefore, the effect of uncooked rice flour as bio-template on physico-chemical properties, especially the morphology of zinc oxide nanostructures was investigated in this study.

The ZnO particles were synthesized through hydrothermal-biotemplate method using zinc acetate-sodium hydroxide and uncooked rice flour at various ratios as precursors at 120°C for 18 hours.

Results

The results indicate that rice as a bio-template can be used to modify the shape and size of zinc oxide particles. Different morphologies, namely flake-, flower-, rose-, star- and rod-like structures were obtained with particle size at micro- and nanometer range. Pore size and texture of the resulting zinc oxide particles were found to be template-dependent and the resulting specific surface area enhanced compared to the zinc oxide synthesized without rice under the same conditions. However, optical property particularly the band gap energy is generally quite similar.

Conclusion

Pure zinc oxide crystals were successfully synthesized using rice flour as biotemplate at various ratios of zinc salt to rice. The size- and shape-controlled capability of rice to assemble the ZnO particles can be employed for further useful practical applications.
The effective application of a discrete transition model to explore cell-cycle regulation in yeast
Authors: Rubinstein Amir , Hazan Ofir , Chor Benny , Pinter Ron Y , Kassir Yona
Published: August 2013

Background

Bench biologists often do not take part in the development of computational models for their systems, and therefore, they frequently employ them as “black-boxes”. Our aim was to construct and test a model that does not depend on the availability of quantitative data, and can be directly used without a need for intensive computational background.

Results

We present a discrete transition model. We used cell-cycle in budding yeast as a paradigm for a complex network, demonstrating phenomena such as sequential protein expression and activity, and cell-cycle oscillation. The structure of the network was validated by its response to computational perturbations such as mutations, and its response to mating-pheromone or nitrogen depletion. The model has a strong predicative capability, demonstrating how the activity of a specific transcription factor, Hcm1, is regulated, and what determines commitment of cells to enter and complete the cell-cycle.

Conclusion

The model presented herein is intuitive, yet is expressive enough to elucidate the intrinsic structure and qualitative behavior of large and complex regulatory networks. Moreover our model allowed us to examine multiple hypotheses in a simple and intuitive manner, giving rise to testable predictions. This methodology can be easily integrated as a useful approach for the study of networks, enriching experimental biology with computational insights.
Selection and validation of reference genes for quantitative gene expression studies by real-time PCR in eggplant (Solanum melongena L)
Authors: Gantasala Nagavara Prasad , Papolu Pradeep Kumar , Thakur Prasoon Kumar , Kamaraju Divya , Sreevathsa Rohini , Rao Uma
Published: August 2013

Background

Analysis of gene expression patterns leads to functional understanding of biological processes. Quantitative real-time PCR has become the most commonly used technique for in-depth studies of gene expression. To quantify variation in specific gene expression, accurate and reliable normalization across different samples and tissues is necessary. This can be achieved by selecting one or more suitable reference genes to compare the target mRNA transcript levels. In the present work, we illustrate the first evaluation of potential internal control or reference genes across different developmental stages of eggplant for reliable quantification of transcripts by real-time PCR.

Results

We have evaluated the stability in expression of six candidate reference genes (18s rRNA, APRT, GAPDH, Cyclophilin, Actin, and RuBP) in a set of tissues representing six developmental stages of eggplant. The candidate genes were cloned from cDNA and analysed by real-time PCR. The expression data analyzed by three statistical methods (geNorm, NormFinder and BestKeeper) identified 18s rRNA, Cyclophilin and APRT as the most stable and suitable reference genes in eggplant. This was further confirmed in four different varieties, two representative lines of transgenic eggplant as well as in nematode infected eggplant.

Conclusion

18s rRNA, Cyclophilin and APRT have been found to be appropriate for the normalization of real-time PCR data for gene expression studies in eggplant.
Identification of an age-dependent biomarker signature in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders
Authors: Ramsey Jordan M , Guest Paul C , Broek Jantine AC , Glennon Jeffrey C , Rommelse Nanda , Franke Barbara , Rahmoune Hassan , Buitelaar Jan K , Bahn Sabine
Published: August 2013

Background

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are neurodevelopmental conditions with symptoms manifesting before the age of 3, generally persisting throughout life and affecting social development and communication. Here, we have investigated changes in protein biomarkers in blood during childhood and adolescent development.

Methods

We carried out a multiplex immunoassay profiling analysis of serum samples from 37 individuals with a diagnosis of ASD and their matched, non-affected siblings, aged between 4 and 18 years, to identify molecular pathways affected over the course of ASDs.

Results

This analysis revealed age-dependent differences in the levels of 12 proteins involved in inflammation, growth and hormonal signaling.

Conclusions

These deviations in age-related molecular trajectories provide further insight into the progression and pathophysiology of the disorder and, if replicated, may contribute to better classification of ASD individuals, as well as to improved treatment and prognosis. The results also underline the importance of stratifying and analyzing samples by age, especially in ASD and potentially other developmental disorders.
Fully integrated, fully automated generation of short tandem repeat profiles
Authors: Tan Eugene , Turingan Rosemary S , Hogan Catherine , Vasantgadkar Sameer , Palombo Luke , Schumm James W , Selden Richard F
Published: August 2013

Background

The generation of short tandem repeat profiles, also referred to as ‘DNA typing,’ is not currently performed outside the laboratory because the process requires highly skilled technical operators and a controlled laboratory environment and infrastructure with several specialized instruments. The goal of this work was to develop a fully integrated system for the automated generation of short tandem repeat profiles from buccal swab samples, to improve forensic laboratory process flow as well as to enable short tandem repeat profile generation to be performed in police stations and in field-forward military, intelligence, and homeland security settings.

Results

An integrated system was developed consisting of an injection-molded microfluidic BioChipSet cassette, a ruggedized instrument, and expert system software. For each of five buccal swabs, the system purifies DNA using guanidinium-based lysis and silica binding, amplifies 15 short tandem repeat loci and the amelogenin locus, electrophoretically separates the resulting amplicons, and generates a profile. No operator processing of the samples is required, and the time from swab insertion to profile generation is 84 minutes. All required reagents are contained within the BioChipSet cassette; these consist of a lyophilized polymerase chain reaction mix and liquids for purification and electrophoretic separation.

Profiles obtained from fully automated runs demonstrate that the integrated system generates concordant short tandem repeat profiles. The system exhibits single-base resolution from 100 to greater than 500 bases, with inter-run precision with a standard deviation of ±0.05 - 0.10 bases for most alleles. The reagents are stable for at least 6 months at 22°C, and the instrument has been designed and tested to Military Standard 810F for shock and vibration ruggedization. A nontechnical user can operate the system within or outside the laboratory.

Conclusions

The integrated system represents the first generation of a turnkey approach to short tandem repeat profiling and has the potential for use in both the field (for example, police booking stations, the battlefield, borders and ports) and the forensic laboratory.
CSF Presenilin-1 complexes are increased in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: García-Ayllón María-Salud , Campanari María-Letizia , Brinkmalm Gunnar , Rábano Alberto , Alom Jordi , Saura Carlos A , Andreasen Niels , Blennow Kaj , Sáez-Valero Javier
Published: August 2013

Background

Presenilin-1 (PS1) is the active component of the amyloid precursor protein cleaving γ-secretase complex. PS1 protein is a transmembrane protein containing multiple hydrophobic regions which presence in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has not been measured to date. This study assesses whether PS1 and other components of the γ-secretase complex are present in CSF.

Results

Here, we show that PS1 is present in ventricular post-mortem and lumbar ante-mortem CSF, and plasma as 100–150-kDa hetero-complexes containing both the N- and C-terminal fragments (NTF and CTF) of the protein. Immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting with different antibodies confirmed the identity of the PS1 species. The γ-secretase components, APH-1 (anterior pharynx-defective 1) and PEN-2 (presenilin enhancer 2), as well as presenilin-2 (PS2) fragments, co-exist within these CSF complexes, while nicastrin is not detected. These CSF-PS1 complexes differ from active γ-secretase membrane-complexes, and may represent nonspecific aggregation of the PS1 protein. Levels of PS1 complexes are increased in CSF samples from autopsy-confirmed Alzheimer’s disease (AD) cases and were found to be more stable than complexes in CSF from control subjects. Despite similar levels of total PS1 in CSF from probable AD patients and cognitively normal subjects, an increased proportion of highly stable PS1 complexes were observed in AD CSF.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that fragments of the PS1 protein present in CSF as complexes may be useful as a biomarker for AD.
FDG kinetic modeling in small rodent brain PET: optimization of data acquisition and analysis
Authors: Alf Malte F , Martić-Kehl Marianne I , Schibli Roger , Krämer Stefanie D
Published: August 2013

Background

Kinetic modeling of brain glucose metabolism in small rodents from positron emission tomography (PET) data using 2-deoxy-2-[18 F]fluoro-d-glucose (FDG) has been highly inconsistent, due to different modeling parameter settings and underestimation of the impact of methodological flaws in experimentation. This article aims to contribute toward improved experimental standards. As solutions for arterial input function (IF) acquisition of satisfactory quality are becoming available for small rodents, reliable two-tissue compartment modeling and the determination of transport and phosphorylation rate constants of FDG in rodent brain are within reach.

Methods

Data from mouse brain FDG PET with IFs determined with a coincidence counter on an arterio-venous shunt were analyzed with the two-tissue compartment model. We assessed the influence of several factors on the modeling results: the value for the fractional blood volume in tissue, precision of timing and calibration, smoothing of data, correction for blood cell uptake of FDG, and protocol for FDG administration. Kinetic modeling with experimental and simulated data was performed under systematic variation of these parameters.

Results

Blood volume fitting was unreliable and affected the estimation of rate constants. Even small sample timing errors of a few seconds lead to significant deviations of the fit parameters. Data smoothing did not increase model fit precision. Accurate correction for the kinetics of blood cell uptake of FDG rather than constant scaling of the blood time-activity curve is mandatory for kinetic modeling. FDG infusion over 4 to 5 min instead of bolus injection revealed well-defined experimental input functions and allowed for longer blood sampling intervals at similar fit precisions in simulations.

Conclusions

FDG infusion over a few minutes instead of bolus injection allows for longer blood sampling intervals in kinetic modeling with the two-tissue compartment model at a similar precision of fit parameters. The fractional blood volume in the tissue of interest should be entered as a fixed value and kinetics of blood cell uptake of FDG should be included in the model. Data smoothing does not improve the results, and timing errors should be avoided by precise temporal matching of blood and tissue time-activity curves and by replacing manual with automated blood sampling.
Facile and efficient one-pot synthesis of benzimidazoles using lanthanum chloride
Authors: Venkateswarlu Yekkirala , Kumar Sudhagani Ramesh , Leelavathi Panuganti
Published: August 2013

Background

We report the synthesis of benzimidazoles using lanthanum chloride as an efficient catalyst. One-pot synthesis of 2-substituted benzimidazole derivatives fromo-phenylenediamine and a variety of aldehydes were developed under mild reaction conditions.

Results

We have examined the effect of different solvents using the same reaction conditions. The yield of the product varied with the nature of the solvents, and better conversion and easy isolation of products were found with acetonitrile. In a similar manner, the reaction witho-phenylenediamine and 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzaldehyde was carried out without any solvents. The observation shows that the reaction was not brought into completion, even after starting for a period of 9 h, and the reaction mixture showed a number of spots in thin-layer chromatography.

Conclusions

In conclusion, lanthanum chloride has been employed as a novel and efficient catalyst for the synthesis of benzimidazoles in good yields fromo-phenylenediamine and a wide variety of aldehydes. All of the reactions were carried out in the presence of lanthanum chloride (10 mol%) in acetonitrile at room temperature.
Why did unemployment respond so differently to the global financial crisis across countries? Insights from Okun’s Law
Authors: Cazes Sandrine , Verick Sher , Al Hussami Fares
Published: August 2013

The global financial crisis deeply impacted labour markets around the globe. In the case of the United States, some commentators have argued that the subsequent rise in unemployment exceeded previous estimates of the elasticity of the unemployment rate with respect to output growth, a statistical relationship known as Okun’s law. In contrast, others find a stable, long-term estimate of Okun’s coefficient implying that the deviation in unemployment during the crisis resulted from a larger output gap (not a structural shift in the trend). Ultimately, estimates of this relationship will depend on the methodology and data period utilized. Focusing more on short-term fluctuations, changes in unemployment are decomposed to identify the association with other channels of labour market adjustment (hours, productivity and labour force). Results presented in this paper confirm the cross-country variation in the responsiveness of unemployment in the wake of the Great Recession. In the United States, Canada, Spain and other severely affected economies, estimates of Okun’s coefficient increased sharply, departing from pre-crisis levels. In other countries, where unemployment has remained subdued, such as Germany and the Netherlands, the coefficient has fallen dramatically over the short-term. While other factors can explain the heterogeneous impact of the global financial crisis on labour markets in OECD countries, this paper focuses on the contribution of labour market institutions (employment protection legislation) in explaining cross-country differences and shifts in the estimated Okun’s coefficient. In this regard, empirical evidence confirms that the responsiveness in the unemployment rate during the global downturn was lower in countries where workers are afforded greater employment protection such as Germany.

JEL codes

E24, J64, G01
The working hours of immigrants in Germany: temporary versus permanent
Authors: Kahanec Martin , Shields Michael P
Published: August 2013

Migration is often viewed as an investment decision. Temporary migrants can be expected to invest less in accumulating human capital specific to the host country. Instead, they work more hours in order to accumulate savings and invest in financial capital that can be transferred back to their country of origin upon return. In this paper, using German panel data, we explore how temporary migrants differ from permanent migrants in their labor supply decisions and behavior. After correcting for endogeneity bias, male temporary migrants are found to work more hours than permanent ones. The effect for females is statistically insignificant.

Jel codes

J22, J61, F22
Metformin Use and All-Cause and Prostate Cancer–Specific Mortality Among Men With Diabetes
Authors: Margel David , Urbach David R. , Lipscombe Lorraine L. , Bell Chaim M. , Kulkarni Girish , Austin Peter C. , Fleshner Neil
Published: August 2013

Purpose

To evaluate the association between cumulative duration of metformin use after prostate cancer (PC) diagnosis and all-cause and PC-specific mortality among patients with diabetes.

Patients and Methods

We used a population-based retrospective cohort design. Data were obtained from several Ontario health care administrative databases. Within a cohort of men older than age 66 years with incident diabetes who subsequently developed PC, we examined the effect of duration of antidiabetic medication exposure after PC diagnosis on all-cause and PC-specific mortality. Crude and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated by using a time-varying Cox proportional hazard model to estimate effects.

Results

The cohort consisted of 3,837 patients. Median age at diagnosis of PC was 75 years (interquartile range [IQR], 72 to 79 years). During a median follow-up of 4.64 years (IQR, 2.7 to 7.1 years), 1,343 (35%) died, and 291 patients (7.6%) died as a result of PC. Cumulative duration of metformin treatment after PC diagnosis was associated with a significant decreased risk of PC-specific and all-cause mortality in a dose-dependent fashion. Adjusted HR for PC-specific mortality was 0.76 (95% CI, 0.64 to 0.89) for each additional 6 months of metformin use. The association with all-cause mortality was also significant but declined over time from an HR of 0.76 in the first 6 months to 0.93 between 24 and 30 months. There was no relationship between cumulative use of other antidiabetic drugs and either outcome.

Conclusion

Increased cumulative duration of metformin exposure after PC diagnosis was associated with decreases in both all-cause and PC-specific mortality among diabetic men.
Surgical Treatment of 127 Anterior Choroidal Artery Aneurysms A Cohort Study of Resultant Ischemic Complications
Authors: Bohnstedt Bradley N. , Kemp William J. , Li Yiping , Payner Troy D. , Horner Terry G. , Leipzig Thomas J. , Cohen-Gadol Aaron A.
Published: August 2013

BACKGROUND:

The anterior choroidal artery (AChA) supplies important areas of the nervous system, particularly the posterior limb of the internal capsule and optic radiation. Treatment of AChA aneurysms poses particular challenges because of the complex anatomy of the aneurysm associated with the relatively small diameter of AChAs, making preservation of the parent vessel during clip ligation or endosaccular coiling challenging.

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the incidence and features of ischemia in treatment of AChA aneurysms.

METHODS:

A prospectively maintained database of patients who underwent treatment of aneurysms from 1985 to 2011 was queried to find patients with AChA aneurysms. Age, sex, Hunt and Hess grade, treatment modality, and complications were analyzed by use of the unpaired Student t test and Fisher exact test.

RESULTS:

One hundred twenty-two patients harbored 127 AChA aneurysms, and 67% (82 of 122) had multiple aneurysms. Treatment included 112 microsurgical clip ligations, 8 endosaccular coil embolizations, 5 aneurysmal wrappings, and 2 surgical explorations. Complications developed in 53% (67 of 127) of AChA aneurysms. Postoperative ischemia occurred in 12% (15 of 127) of treated aneurysms. The number of temporary clip applications was most closely associated with postoperative ischemia. Glasgow Outcome Scale scores of 4 or 5 were obtained by 78% at discharge, 89% at 6 months, and 85% at 1 year.

CONCLUSION:

The ischemic complication rate from surgical treatment of AChA aneurysms is most closely associated with higher frequency of temporary clip applications for proximal control and may be lower than previously reported. Supplementary intraoperative tools and limitation of vessel manipulation should be used to improve outcomes.
Time Use During the Great Recession
Authors: Aguiar Mark , Hurst Erik , Karabarbounis Loukas
Published: August 2013

Using data from the American Time Use Survey between 2003 and 2010, we document that home production absorbs roughly 30 percent of foregone market work hours at business cycle frequencies. Leisure absorbs roughly 50 percent of foregone market work hours, with sleeping and television watching accounting for most of this increase. We document significant increases in time spent on shopping, child care, education, and health. Job search absorbs between 2 and 6 percent of foregone market work hours. We discuss the implications of our results for business cycle models with home production and non-separable preferences. (JEL D31, E32, J22)
The Political Resource Curse
Authors: Brollo Fernanda , Nannicini Tommaso , Perotti Roberto , Tabellini Guido
Published: August 2013

This paper studies the effect of additional government revenues on political corruption and on the quality of politicians, both with theory and data. The theory is based on a political agency model with career concerns and endogenous entry of candidates. The data refer to Brazil, where federal transfers to municipal governments change exogenously at given population thresholds, allowing us to implement a regression discontinuity design. The empirical evidence shows that larger transfers increase observed corruption and reduce the average education of candidates for mayor. These and other more specific empirical results are in line with the predictions of the theory. (JEL D72, D73, H77, O17, O18)
When Should Sellers Use Auctions?
Authors: Roberts James W , Sweeting Andrew
Published: August 2013

A bidding process can be organized so that offers are submitted simultaneously or sequentially. In the latter case, potential buyers can condition their behavior on previous entrants' decisions. The relative performance of these mechanisms is investigated when entry is costly and selective, meaning that potential buyers with higher values are more likely to participate. A simple sequential mechanism can give both buyers and sellers significantly higher payoffs than the commonly used simultaneous bid auction. The findings are illustrated with parameters estimated from simultaneous entry USFS timber auctions where our estimates predict that the sequential mechanism would increase revenue and efficiency. (JEL D44, L73, Q23)
Immigration, Offshoring, and American Jobs
Authors: Ottaviano Gianmarco I. P , Peri Giovanni , Wright Greg C
Published: August 2013

Following Grossman and Rossi-Hansberg (2008) we present a model in which tasks of varying complexity are matched to workers of varying skill in order to develop and test predictions regarding the effects of immigration and offshoring on US native-born workers. We find that immigrant and native-born workers do not compete much due to the fact that they tend to perform tasks at opposite ends of the task complexity spectrum, with offshore workers performing the tasks in the middle. An effect of offshoring and a positive effect of immigration on native-born employment suggest that immigration and offshoring improve industry efficiency. (JEL J24, J41, J61, L24)
Limited Life Expectancy, Human Capital and Health Investments
Authors: Oster Emily , Shoulson Ira , Dorsey E. Ray
Published: August 2013

Human capital theory predicts that life expectancy will impact human capital attainment. We estimate this relationship using variation in life expectancy driven by Huntington disease, an inherited neurological disorder. We compare investments for individuals who have ex-ante identical risks of HD but differ in disease realization. Individuals with the HD mutation complete less education and job training. The elasticity of demand for college attendance with respect to life expectancy is around 1.0. We relate this to cross-country and over-time differences in education. We use smoking and cancer screening data to test the corollary that health capital responds to life expectancy. (JEL I11, I12, I20, I31, J24)
Modeling in communication: general trends
Authors: Решетников  , Reshetnikov Sergey
Published: August 2013

The author overviews the main factors concerning human conscience: both individual and collective conscience of the national group concerning the communicative function. Particular reference is being made to priority of national pictures of the world in the process of intercultural communication and need to consider this phenomenon in order to raise the efficiency of international relations on all levels.
Modern stage pseudonyms through the prism of cross-cultural communication
Authors: Прокопьева  , Prokopeva O.
Published: August 2013

The article presents difficulties which translators meet due to the name system during the translation from Russian into English and vice versa. The factors which influence the choice of this or that form during translation are described.
Methods for improving the efficiency of Korean language teaching for Russian students
Authors: Ен
Published: August 2013

The article presents the need of exploring the methodology and teaching theory, following which the teacher produces a maximum interest and motivation for students. Teaching methods, encouraging on goals achievement of certain class, taking into account the current environment and the position of the students. The author describes interesting and effective teaching methods in an active game form. The author studies the teaching strategies depending on the character and the role-playing form games. The theoretical description of the teaching and learning methods features, the practical use of Korean language teaching methods, using training aids published in Russia.
Business communication and factors impeding its success
Authors: Кивилева  , Kivileva E.
Published: August 2013

The article analyses verbal and non-verbal forms of business communication and considers the causes of a communicative failure among which cultural differences in speech etiquette, stereotypes, biases and ethnocentrism are foregrounded.
Entertaining activity as a specific form of asvertising communication in tourist services
Authors: Николаева  , Nikolaeva A.
Published: August 2013

Entertaining activity in a holiday center or a tourist attraction is some form of advertising that is aimed at promoting tourist services. Entertaining activity is intended for not only the actual tourist entertainment, but for providing so called «tourist complex services». This type of activity is personal and individual, so it gives us a unique opportunity to make a kind of an advertising medium out of a tourist. This type of advertising is obviously advantageous, and may help you to avoid some drawbacks on advertising in general. But only if organized in a proper way within the bounds of the general strategy of the tourist attraction can this advertising form be used.
The forms of direct nomination and speech game in modern commercial names
Authors: Тортунова  , Tortunova I.
Published: August 2013

The article is devoted to the analysis of artistic means used in modern commercial names. The author examines the linguistic terms that reflect the process of modern nomination, describes the forms of direct nomination, precedential and “speaking” names, varieties and principles of speech game.
Synaesthesia as Phenomenon of Consciousness: Psychological and Philosophic Analysis
Authors: Медова  , Medova Anastasia
Published: August 2013

The modal version of consciousness organization presuming

the interpretation of all its functions and elements as moods, i.e. projections of one and the same ability or entity, is considered in this paper. As evidence in favor of this version, demonstrations of synaesthesia or intermodal translation are analyzed. Synaesthesia is interpreted as phenomenon indicating the primary premodal matrix of perception or amodal semantic code that not differentiated onto aural, visual, tactile, or other modalities.
State Reforms of Russian Primary Education in XVIII—XIX Centuries
Authors: Захаратос  , Zakharatos Dmitriy
Published: August 2013

In this work the analysis related to main stages of Russian primary education development system in XVIII—XIX centuries is given, the main problems facing elementary school during the studied period are revealed.
Interactive and remote technologies of training students in the higher school
Authors: Колокатова  , Kolokatova Larisa , Чубаров  , Chubarov M.
Published: August 2013

The questions of distance and interactive education, as well as its internal essence are analyzed in this paper. One of the distance education’s basic tasks is content’s composition and improvement, for which purpose it is necessary to manage the theory of pedagogical measurements, to know their key concepts.
Identity’s Psychological Safety and Personality’s Psychological Protection
Authors: Базылевич  , Bazylyevich Tatyana , Дубинин  , Dubinin A.
Published: August 2013

In presented work the forms of personality’s psychological protection and type of complete identity are correlated. The allocated communications allow analyze structurally the compensatory relations in the typological factors mediating the internal conditions of subject interaction with the universe. The research materials are actual ones for creation of identity’s psychological safety.
Problem of Human Life’s Value in Modern Society
Authors: Кутеева  , Kuteeva Valentina
Published: August 2013

In this paper the attention is focused on a problem of human life’s value which can't be made dependent on the subjective relation to it, and also on degree of its usefulness for society and mankind as a whole. The human life’s value, according to the author, is concluded, first of all, in the life itself.
Racial and Ethnic Differences in U.S. Women's Choice Of Reversible Contraceptives, 1995–2010
Authors: Jacobs Josephine , Stanfors Maria
Published: August 2013

Context

In the United States, unintended pregnancies disproportionately affect minority populations. Persistent disparities in contraceptive use between black and Hispanic women and white women have been identified, but it is unclear whether racial and ethnic differences in use of the most effective methods have changed.

Methods

Data on 4,727 women from the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth and 5,775 women from the 2006–2010 cycle were used to examine the association between race and ethnicity and women's choice of reversible contraceptives according to level of method effectiveness. Stepwise multinomial logistic regressions were used to identify changes in this association between cycles. Analyses controlled for demographic, socioeconomic, family, religious, behavioral and geographic characteristics.

Results

The proportion of women using the most effective reversible contraceptive methods increased from 46% in 1995 to 53% in 2006–2010. In 1995, black and Hispanic women's use of the most effective reversible contraceptives did not differ from that of white women. By 2006–2010, however, black women were substantially less likely than white women to use highly effective reversible contraceptive methods rather than no method (relative risk ratio, 0.6). An analysis that combined the two data sets and included a term for the interaction between survey year and race and ethnicity found that relative to white women, black women were less likely in 2006–2010 than in 1995 to use more effective methods rather than no method (0.6).

Conclusions

Further research is needed to identify factors that may be causing racial and ethnic disparities in contraceptive decisions to widen.
Nahum Stutchkoff's Yiddish Play and Radio Scripts in the Dorot Jewish Division, New York Public Library
Authors: Seigel Amanda (Miryem-Khaye)
Published: August 2013

The Nahum Stutchkoff collection in the Dorot Jewish Division of The New York Public Library contains Yiddish translations, plays, song lyrics, and radio programs created by Yiddish linguist and playwright Nahum Stutchkoff (1893–1965). This article describes the collection in the context of the Jewish Division’s holdings, using bibliographic details about his known works to trace Stutchkoff’s career as a Yiddish actor, translator, director, playwright, and linguist. Stutchkoff’s radio scripts in particular provide rare documentation of the golden era of Yiddish radio explored by Henry Sapoznik and Ari Y. Kelman. A detailed bibliography of Stutchkoff’s published and unpublished works is included.
The National Library of Israel and OCLC
Authors: Adler Elhanan , Goldsmith Marina
Published: August 2013

OCLC published the following announcement in December 2008: "The National Library of Israel and OCLC have completed a pilot project that has resulted in the addition of more than 788,000 new bibliographic records and 1.1 million holdings from the national library to WorldCat." The successful completion of this project was the result of a number of policy decisions and technological developments on the part of both parties. This article describes the motivation, history, and challenges of this project.
The Changing Terms in Sears
Authors: Rofofsky Marcus Sara
Published: August 2013

Librarians are considered the keepers of knowledge. However, the very method in which this knowledge is kept can cause confusion, not only for patrons seeking the knowledge held, but also for librarians unfamiliar with methods used in classifying books. Changing terms, or terms that do not change and thus portray what today could be considered bias or prejudice, cause confusion or even embarrassment in searching the vast knowledge base available. Librarians are known for organizational work, particularly catalogers who organize knowledge in the library into a seemingly accessible order. This article focuses on selected concepts of importance to the Judaic library and Judaic library collection: Judaism, Jews, Israelis, and the Holocaust, which have increased in coverage in small and medium-sized libraries; and it traces how the subjects for these concepts have changed over time. The focus is on the headings used in the Sears List of Subject Headings, and those used in the Library of Congress Subject Headings list are not addressed.
Cookbooks: Preserving Jewish Tradition
Authors: Feinberg Daniel , Crosetto Alice
Published: August 2013

Culinary traditions have played an integral role in the Jewish religion from its very beginning. Families have continually passed down these traditions from one generation to the next as a means to preserve Jewish culture as well as to maintain their Jewish identity. The authors propose that one of the methods of preserving and transmitting these culinary traditions, traditions clearly rooted in oral tradition, has been through the cookbook. While the written cookbook continues to be popular and marketable, traditional cookbook contents are becoming increasingly available online. In saving recipes for future generations, cookbooks preserve religious, cultural, and traditional elements of Jewish life. As important as it is for Jewish libraries to consider the value of cookbooks in preserving Judaism, non-Jewish libraries, from academic to public, and from K-12 to special, can also share in this mission. Passing cookbooks down through genera- tions not only strengthens culinary cuisine and traditions, but also preserves memories, both familial and religious.
Encyclopedia Interrupta, or Gale's Unfinished: the Scandal of the EJ2
Authors: Walfish Barry
Published: August 2013

Encyclopedias are important reference works. They are meant to summarize the state of knowledge in any given field and convey it to both the layperson and the scholar in a clear, concise manner. For Jews and Judaism, the first major effort in this regard was the Jewish Encyclopedia of 1906, which drew upon the knowledge of a cadre of European and American scholars of the Science of Judaism (Wissenschaft des Judentums). Its successor the German Encyclopaedia Judaica began to appear in 1929 but was interrupted in 1934 by the rise of Nazism. It had only reached the end of the letter L. After the war, efforts resumed which resulted in the production of two major encyclopedias, The Hebrew Encyclopaedia Hebraica (ha-Entsiklopedyah ha-‘Ivrit), completed in 1982, and the English Encyclopaedia Judaica (henceforth EJ1), which first appeared in 1971 followed by a corrected edition in 1972. Both works were published in Israel and are considered to be major achievements. The latter used a lot of material from both its German and Hebrew predecessors.
Erratum to
Central sequence C*
-algebras and tensorial absorption of the Jiang–Su algebra
(J. reine angew. Math. 695 (2014), 175–214)
Authors: Kirchberg Eberhard , Rørdam Mikael
Published: August 2013

Erratum to http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/crelle-2012-0118.
Efficiency of visual strength grading of timber with respect to origin, species, cross section, and grading rules: a critical evaluation of the common standards
Authors: Stapel Peter , van de Kuilen Jan-Willem G.
Published: August 2013

Strength grading is essential for the efficient use of structural timber. Although international standards exist for machine strength grading, visual grading is still regulated based on national rules, which are expected to allow safe and economic grading results. Although there are large differences in the graded output because the species, the cross section, and the origin of the timber influence the results, some of these standards are considered to be applicable universally. The present article demonstrates how the chosen standards influence the grading results. Depending on the parameters, the yields or the mechanical properties are low compared with the declared values. The results also show the efficiency and applicability of different national standards for strength grading of timber from various origins. Furthermore, it is recommended to reconsider the existing limits for source areas and cross sections given in the standard EN 1912.
Wood decay by indoor basidiomycetes at different moisture and temperature
Authors: Stienen Tristan , Schmidt Olaf , Huckfeldt Tobias
Published: August 2013

Some of the most important indoor wood-decay basidiomycetes were investigated in Erlenmeyer flask experiments, in which 50 Pinus sylvestris sapwood samples with moisture content (MC) of 16% were piled, in view of the parallel influence of wood moisture and temperature on decay in buildings. In the piles, the moisture flow from the liquid at the bottom was interrupted by a metal ring at layer 7. Laboratory incubations with Antrodia xantha, Coniophora puteana, Donkioporia expansa, and Gloeophyllum abietinum over the temperature range of 10°C–25°C showed that fungi are able to colonize, moisten, and thereafter degrade wood samples below fiber saturation, if a moisture source nearby is available. In extreme cases, mycelium grew on wood with 17.4% final MC, and wood mass loss of more than 2% occurred at 24.6% moisture.
Detection of complex vascular system in bamboo node by X-ray μCT imaging technique
Authors: Peng Guanyun , Jiang Zehui , Liu Xing’e , Fei Benhua , Yang Shumin , Qin Daochun , Ren Haiqing , Yu Yan , Xie Honglan
Published: August 2013

Bamboo is one of the world’s fastest growing plants. They reach a final height of 15–40 m during a period of 40–120 days. The full height is reached by intercalary growth of each node. However, it is very difficult to detect the complex vascular system in a bamboo node using traditional methods. X-ray computed microtomography (μCT) is a noninvasive novel approach to the three-dimensional (3D) visualization and quantification of biological structures. In the present article, μCT has been applied to provide insights into the internal structure of bamboo node, where three branches are connected. The picture obtained could hardly be obtained by any other means. The bamboo nodal characteristics of three transverse and axial sections are presented. The complex 3D network of vascular bundles has been directly obtained for the first time.
Modelling Framework and the Quantitative Analysis of Distributed Energy Resources in Future Distribution Networks
Authors: Han Xue , Sandels Claes , Zhu Kun , Nordström Lars
Published: August 2013

There has been a large body of statements claiming that the large-scale deployment of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) could eventually reshape the future distribution grid operation in numerous ways. Thus, it is necessary to introduce a framework to measure to what extent the power system operation will be changed by various parameters of DERs. This article proposed a modelling framework for an overview analysis on the correlation between DERs. Furthermore, to validate the framework, the authors described the reference models of different categories of DERs with their unique characteristics, comprising distributed generation, active demand and electric vehicles. Subsequently, quantitative analysis was made on the basis of the current and envisioned DER deployment scenarios proposed for Sweden. Simulations are performed in two typical distribution network models for four seasons. The simulation results show that in general the DER deployment brings in the possibilities to reduce the power losses and voltage drops by compensating power from the local generation and optimizing the local load profiles.
Wirkungen verschiedener physikalischer Behandlungsmethoden auf die arterioläre Vasomotion und mikrohämodynamische Funktionsmerkmale bei Regulationsdefiziten der Organdurchblutung. Ergebnisse einer placebo-kontrollierten Doppelblindstudie
Authors: Klopp Rainer Christian , Niemer Wolfgang , Schmidt Wolfgang
Published: August 2013

Im Rahmen einer placebokontrollierten Studie wurde mit hoch-auflösenden Meßmethoden anhand repräsentativer Funktions-merkmale der Mikrozirkulation geprüft, ob und in welchem Ausmaß 6 verschiedene handelsübliche physikalische Behandlungsgeräte für eine (komplementär-)therapeutische Beeinflussung defizitärer Durchblutungsregulationen geeignet sind. Von den 6 geprüften handelsüblichen Geräten erwiesen sich 2 als unwirksam und 3 als zu gering wirksam, um therapierelevant zu sein. Eine komplemen-tär-therapeutische Wirkung konnte nur bei einem Behandlungsgerät nachgewiesen werden, das ein spezifisch biorhythmisch definiertes Stimulationssignal für die Vasomotion verwendet.
A Pentateuchal Redaction in the Book of Numbers?
Authors: Albertz Rainer
Published: August 2013

Abstract: Since a consensus is developing that a Hexateuchal redaction preceded the final Pentateuchal redaction (Blum, Otto, Römer a.o.), the latter must have addressed the problem of removing the book of Joshua from Israel's charter document without abandoning its central theme within the Pentateuch. According to this view Num 25–36 can be ascribed to a Pentateuchal redactor, who created from existing material a well structured composition which focuses on the conquest and the distribution of the promised land as a task for the future (32–34). Thus, the book of Joshua was replaced and factually corrected. The composition was attached to the Balaam story (22–24*), which had been inserted by the Hexateuchal redactor, by means of several redactional links (22,4.7).

Résumé: Depuis qu’un consensus a été atteint sur le fait qu’une rédaction de l’Hexateuque a eu lieu avant celle, finale, du Pentateuque (Blum, Otto, Römer, etc.), cette dernière a dû retirer le livre de Josué du document constitutif d’Israël, sans renoncer néanmoins à cette thématique centrale du Pentateuque. Dans cette perspective, on peut attribuer Nombres, chaps. 25–36, à un rédacteur du Pentateuque. Celui-ci a utilisé le matériau disponible pour créer une composition littéraire cohérente et bien structurée, centrée sur la conquête et la distribution de la terre promise (chaps. 32–34). Ainsi le livre de Josué a été remplacé et corrigé de facto. Cette composition est rattachée au cycle de Balaam (chaps. 22–24*) et insérée par le rédacteur de l’Hexateuque au moyen de liaisons rédactionnelles (par ex. Nombr. 22,4.7).

Zusammenfassung: Seitdem sich ein Konsens darüber herausschält, dass der Pentateuch- eine Hexateuchredaktion vorausging (Blum, Otto, Römer u. a.), muss erstere mit der Aufgabe befasst gewesen sein, das Buch Josua aus der Gründungsurkunde Israels auszugliedern, ohne dessen zentrale Thematik innerhalb des Pentateuchs aufzugeben. Von dieser Sicht her lassen sich die Kapitel Num 25–36 einem Pentateuchredaktor zuschreiben, der aus vorgegebenem Material an die vom Hexateuchredaktor eingestellte Bileam-Perikope (22–24*; Verknüpfung in 22,4.7) eine literarisch einheitliche und wohl strukturierte Komposition angehängt hat, die um die Eroberung und Verteilung des Landes kreist (32–34), diese aber zu einer Aufgabe für die Zukunft macht. Dadurch wird das Josuabuch ersetzt und zugleich in sachlicher Hinsicht korrigiert.