bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Developmental trajectories of structural and pragmatic language skills in school‐aged children with Williams syndrome
Authors: Van Den Heuvel E. , Manders E. , Swillen A. , Zink I.
Published: August 2016

Background

This study aimed to compare developmental courses of structural and pragmatic language skills in school‐aged children with Williams syndrome (WS) and children with idiopathic intellectual disability (IID). Comparison of these language trajectories could highlight syndrome‐specific developmental features.

Method

Twelve monolingual Dutch‐speaking children with WS aged 5.10 to 13.3 years were assessed by means of standardised structural language tests measuring receptive and expressive vocabulary and sentence comprehension and production. Pragmatic language was evaluated by means of an expressive referential communication task and a retelling test. All of these language abilities were re‐evaluated with the same measures after a period of 18 to 24 months. Performance was compared to 12 children with IID pairwise matched for chronological age (CA) and non‐verbal fluid reasoning (Gf) at Time 1. Non‐verbal mental age (NVMA) was taken into account when delineating developmental trajectories.

Results

Children with WS outperformed children with IID on expressive vocabulary development. In contrast, sentence comprehension was significantly poorer than in children with IID at the second time point. Increased variability and rather poor performance on pragmatic language tasks were demonstrated in the WS group. Irrelevant and off‐topic extraneous information transfer continued to be a syndrome‐specific characteristic of children with WS.

Conclusion

The data provide new insights into diverging developmental trajectories across language domains. Expressive structural language skills tend to progress more rapidly than receptive language skills in children with WS causing more distinctive language profiles over time. Some children with WS seem to benefit from the growth in expressive structural language abilities to enhance their expressive pragmatic language skills, while in some others these abilities remain challenging. This study highlights the need for continued follow‐up of language challenges in WS and for a dynamic and individualised interventional approach.
3D analysis of synaptic vesicle density and distribution after acute foot‐shock stress by using serial section transmission electron microscopy
Authors: KHANMOHAMMADI M. , DARKNER S. , NAVA N. , NYENGAARD J.R. , WEGENER G. , POPOLI M. , SPORRING J.
Published: August 2016

Behavioural stress has shown to strongly affect neurotransmission within the neocortex. In this study, we analysed the effect of an acute stress model on density and distribution of neurotransmitter‐containing vesicles within medial prefrontal cortex. Serial section transmission electron microscopy was employed to compare two groups of male rats: (1) rats subjected to foot‐shock stress and (2) rats with sham stress as control group. Two‐dimensional (2D) density measures are common in microscopic images and are estimated by following a 2D path in‐section. However, this method ignores the slant of the active zone and thickness of the section. In fact, the active zone is a surface in three‐dimension (3D) and the 2D measures do not accurately reflect the geometric configuration unless the active zone is perpendicular to the sectioning angle. We investigated synaptic vesicle density as a function of distance from the active zone in 3D. We reconstructed a 3D dataset by estimating the thickness of all sections and by registering all the image sections into a common coordinate system. Finally, we estimated the density as the average number of vesicles per area and volume and modelled the synaptic vesicle distribution by fitting a one‐dimensional parametrized distribution that took into account the location uncertainty due to section thickness. Our results showed a clear structural difference in synaptic vesicle density and distribution between stressed and control group with improved separation by 3D measures in comparison to the 2D measures. Our results showed that acute foot‐shock stress exposure significantly affected both the spatial distribution and density of the synaptic vesicles within the presynaptic terminal.
EXCHANGE RATE‐BASED STABILIZATIONS: A LITERATURE REVIEW
Authors: Aytaç Özlem
Published: August 2016

The exchange rate‐based stabilizations (ERBSs) that have been undertaken in chronic inflation countries have generated a controversial body of literature regarding the effects of disinflation programs, especially those on real consumption and output. This survey provides an extensive overview of the literature on ERBS. The paper covers various empirical studies that have attempted to document the macroeconomic regularities associated with ERBS, discussing both their strengths and their weaknesses. It analyzes diverse theoretical models that have been put forward to replicate the business cycles associated with ERBS, and sheds light on which models perform better using real data. The results suggest that durables incorporated weak credibility and sticky price model proves to be most compatible with the empirical regularities observed in the course of ERBS.
THE IMPACT OF LOCAL WAGE REGULATION ON EMPLOYMENT: A BORDER ANALYSIS FROM ITALY IN THE 1950s*
Authors: de Blasio Guido , Poy Samuele
Published: August 2016

This paper measures the impact of wage zones—compulsory wage differentials at the province level—on Italy's local labor markets during the 1950s. Using spatial regression techniques, it finds that for the industrial sectors covered under wage zones there was an increase in employment when one crossed the border from a high‐wage province into a low‐wage one; the effect diminished, however, as the distance from the boundary increased. The paper also illustrates that the impact on the overall (nonfarm) private sector, which includes both covered and uncovered sectors, was negligible.
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of rocuronium in young adult and elderly patients undergoing elective surgery
Authors: Varrique Renan M , Lauretti Gabriela R , Matsumoto Julia A , Lanchote Vera L , de Moraes Natalia V
Published: August 2016

Objective

To evaluate the impact of advanced age on rocuronium kinetic disposition in ASA I–III patients undergoing elective surgeries.

Methods

Young adult (20–50 years, n = 15) and elderly patients (65–85 years, n = 14) submitted to surgery under general anaesthesia were investigated. All patients were induced with individual intravenous doses of midazolam, rocuronium, fentanyl and propofol. Rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block was monitored by train of four stimulations of the adductor muscle of the thumb on the ulnar nerve. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by non-compartmental analysis. The relationship between rocuronium plasma concentration and the neuromuscular blockade was described by a sigmoidal Emax model.

Key-findings

Elderly patients presented decreased Cl (2.1 ml/kg per min vs 2.8 ml/kg per min; P = 0.0123); increased AUC/dose (507.8 μg min/ml (mg/kg) vs 392.2 μg min/ml/(mg/kg); P = 0.0168) and reduced volume of distribution (285.4 ml/kg vs 435.6 ml/kg, P = 0.0434) compared to young adults. The concentrations required to achieve 50% of maximum neuromuscular block (EC50) were similar for young adult (338.8 ng/ml) and elderly (462.7 ng/ml) patients (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

Elderly patients showed increased AUC/D and reduced total Cl compared to young adult patients due to the age-related reduced renal function. Differences in the PK-PD properties of rocuronium in elderly population are due to changes in drug disposition rather than to alterations in the sensitivity to the drug.
Race, Religion, and Anti‐Poverty Policy Attitudes
Authors: Brown Ronald E. , Brown R. Khari , Phoenix Davin , Jackson James S.
Published: August 2016

Using the 2008 National Politics Study, the present study indicates that while African Americans are more likely than whites to hear sermons about poverty and other political issues, hearing such sermons more consistently associates with support for anti‐poverty government programs among non‐Hispanic whites than among both African Americans and Hispanics. The racially/ethnically marginalized status of blacks and Hispanics may contribute to these groups being more receptive than whites to religious messages emphasizing social inequality. The contrasting racial experiences of dominance and marginalization may also help explain why hearing politicized sermons is more meaningful to the progressive social welfare attitudes of whites than to African Americans and Hispanics. This expectation is rooted in the heightened variability of perspectives among whites and their religious organizations regarding the government's role in aiding the economically disadvantaged. Conversely, the vast majority of blacks and Hispanics support the government helping individuals who fallen upon hard times. The greater variability in opinion among whites may also allow for greater differences in opinion to emerge between whites who attend relative to those outside of religious congregations led by clergy emphasizing spiritual and political solidarity with the poor than is the case for African Americans and Hispanics.
Hepatitis C genotype distribution in patient and blood donor samples in South Africa for the period 2008–2012
Authors: Prabdial‐Sing N. , Chirwa T. , Thaver J. , Smuts H. , Vermeulen M. , Suchard M. , Puren A. J.
Published: August 2016

There are limited molecular epidemiological studies of hepatitis C at a national level in South Africa. The introduction of newer treatment modalities for hepatitis C requires knowledge of the genotypes as these may have different prognostic and therapeutic implications. This retrospective study describes genotype distributions of patients attending specialist clinics and a blood donor group studied during the period 2008–2012 in South Africa. Residual samples from diagnostic viral load testing from specialist clinics in South Africa (n=941) and from the South African National Blood Service (n=294) were analysed quantitatively by real‐time PCR and genotyped using the Versant line probe assay or sequencing. Genotype 1 was predominant in blood donors (34%), whilst genotype 5a was prevalent in patients (36%). In the blood donor group, genotype 4 was detected for the first time. Genotype 2 was rare in the patient group and not detected in blood donors. Genotype 1 was the predominant genotype in the younger age groups (less than 30 years), whereas genotype 5a was found at higher proportions in the older age groups for both the patient and blood donor groups, comprising more than 60% of genotypes in those older than 50 years. Genotypes 1 and 5 were at highest proportions across all provinces compared to other genotypes. In blood donors, genotype 1 was predominant among Caucasians (43%) and genotype 5a among Blacks (54%). Such information is required for planning the impact on the health sector with regard to newly emerging therapies for hepatitis C and burden of disease.
Identification of microbial populations driving biopolymer degradation in acidic peatlands by metatranscriptomic analysis
Authors: Ivanova Anastasia A. , Wegner Carl‐Eric , Kim Yongkyu , Liesack Werner , Dedysh Svetlana N.
Published: August 2016

Northern peatlands play a crucial role in the global carbon balance, serving as a persistent sink for atmospheric CO2 and a global carbon store. Their most extensive type, Sphagnum‐dominated acidic peatlands, is inhabited by microorganisms with poorly understood degradation capabilities. Here, we applied a combination of barcoded pyrosequencing of SSU rRNA genes and Illumina RNA‐Seq of total RNA (metatranscriptomics) to identify microbial populations and enzymes involved in degrading the major components of Sphagnum‐derived litter and exoskeletons of peat‐inhabiting arthropods: cellulose, xylan, pectin and chitin. Biopolymer addition to peat induced a threefold to fivefold increase in bacterial cell numbers. Functional community profiles of assembled mRNA differed between experimental treatments. In particular, pectin and xylan triggered increased transcript abundance of genes involved in energy metabolism and central carbon metabolism, such as glycolysis and TCA cycle. Concurrently, the substrate‐induced activity of bacteria on these two biopolymers stimulated grazing of peat‐inhabiting protozoa. Alveolata (ciliates) was the most responsive protozoa group as confirmed by analysis of both SSU rRNA genes and SSU rRNA. A stimulation of alphaproteobacterial methanotrophs on pectin was consistently shown by rRNA and mRNA data. Most likely, their significant enrichment was due to the utilization of methanol released during the degradation of pectin. Analysis of SSU rRNA and total mRNA revealed a specific response of Acidobacteria and Actinobacteria to chitin and pectin, respectively. Relatives of Telmatobacter bradus were most responsive among the Acidobacteria, while the actinobacterial response was primarily affiliated with Frankiales and Propionibacteriales. The expression of a wide repertoire of carbohydrate‐active enzymes (CAZymes) corresponded well to the detection of a highly diverse peat‐inhabiting microbial community, which is dominated by yet uncultivated bacteria.
Standing chromosomal variation in Lake Whitefish species pairs: the role of historical contingency and relevance for speciation
Authors: Dion‐Côté Anne‐Marie , Symonová Radka , Lamaze Fabien C. , Pelikánová Šárka , Ráb Petr , Bernatchez Louis
Published: August 2016

The role of chromosome changes in speciation remains a debated topic, although demographic conditions associated with divergence should promote their appearance. We tested a potential relationship between chromosome changes and speciation by studying two Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) lineages that recently colonized postglacial lakes following allopatry. A dwarf limnetic species evolved repeatedly from the normal benthic species, becoming reproductively isolated. Lake Whitefish hybrids experience mitotic and meiotic instability, which may result from structurally divergent chromosomes. Motivated by this observation, we test the hypothesis that chromosome organization differs between Lake Whitefish species pairs using cytogenetics. While chromosome and fundamental numbers are conserved between the species (2n = 80, NF = 98), we observe extensive polymorphism of subtle karyotype traits. We describe intrachromosomal differences associated with heterochromatin and repetitive DNA, and test for parallelism among three sympatric species pairs. Multivariate analyses support the hypothesis that differentiation at the level of subchromosomal markers mostly appeared during allopatry. Yet we find no evidence for parallelism between species pairs among lakes, consistent with colonization effect or postcolonization differentiation. The reported intrachromosomal polymorphisms do not appear to play a central role in driving adaptive divergence between normal and dwarf Lake Whitefish. We discuss how chromosomal differentiation in the Lake Whitefish system may contribute to the destabilization of mitotic and meiotic chromosome segregation in hybrids, as documented previously. The chromosome structures detected here are still difficult to sequence and assemble, demonstrating the value of cytogenetics as a complementary approach to understand the genomic bases of speciation.
Ectopic expression of wheat expansin gene TaEXPA2 improved the salt tolerance of transgenic tobacco by regulating Na+/K+ and antioxidant competence
Authors: Chen Yanhui , Han Yangyang , Kong Xiangzhu , Kang Hanhan , Ren Yuanqing , Wang Wei
Published: August 2016

High salinity is one of the most serious environmental stresses that limit crop growth. Expansins are cell wall proteins that regulate plant development and abiotic stress tolerance by mediating cell wall expansion. We studied the function of a wheat expansin gene, TaEXPA2, in salt stress tolerance by overexpressing it in tobacco. Overexpression of TaEXPA2 enhanced the salt stress tolerance of transgenic tobacco plants as indicated by the presence of higher germination rates, longer root length, more lateral roots, higher survival rates and more green leaves under salt stress than in the wild type (WT). Further, when leaf disks of WT plants were incubated in cell wall protein extracts from the transgenic tobacco plants, their chlorophyll content was higher under salt stress, and this improvement from TaEXPA2 overexpression in transgenic tobacco was inhibited by TaEXPA2 protein antibody. The water status of transgenic tobacco plants was improved, perhaps by the accumulation of osmolytes such as proline and soluble sugar. TaEXPA2‐overexpressing tobacco lines exhibited lower Na+ but higher K+ accumulation than WT plants. Antioxidant competence increased in the transgenic plants because of the increased activity of antioxidant enzymes. TaEXPA2 protein abundance in wheat was induced by NaCl, and ABA signaling was involved. Gene expression regulation was involved in the enhanced salt stress tolerance of the TaEXPA2 transgenic plants. Our results suggest that TaEXPA2 overexpression confers salt stress tolerance on the transgenic plants, and this is associated with improved water status, Na+/K+ homeostasis, and antioxidant competence. ABA signaling participates in TaEXPA2‐regulated salt stress tolerance.
How I use clinical decision support to improve red blood cell utilization
Authors: Tim Goodnough Lawrence , Andrew Baker Steven , Shah Neil
Published: August 2016

Despite 20 years of published medical society guidelines for blood transfusion and a pivotal clinical trial in 1999 providing Level 1 evidence that restrictive transfusion practices can be utilized safely, blood transfusions did not begin to decline in the United States until 2010. Widespread adoption of electronic medical records allowed implementation of computerized systems such as clinical decision support (CDS) with best practice alerts to improve blood utilization. We describe our own experience using well‐designed and highly targeted CDS to promote restrictive transfusion practices and improve red blood cell utilization, with a 42% reduction in blood transfusions from 2009 through 2015, accompanied by improved clinical outcomes.
Treatment of chronic lateral ankle instability using the Broström-Gould procedure in athletes: long-term results
Authors: Russo Adriano , Giacchè Paolo , Marcantoni Enrico , Arrighi Annalisa , Molfetta Luigi
Published: August 2016

Purpose: this study was conducted to evaluate longterm results following treatment of chronic lateral ankle instability using the Broström-Gould technique in athletes.

Methods: eighteen athletes involved in competitive sports at different levels, who suffered from chronic lateral ankle instability, underwent Broström-Gould ligamentoplasty between 2000 and 2005. The results of the surgery were evaluated using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scale.

Results: the results at 10-15 years of follow-up were excellent in 94.5% of these cases and good in the remaining 5.5%. An increase of 31.2 points in the AOFAS scale score was recorded at follow-up (with the score rising to 98.8, from 67.6 preoperatively). All the athletes returned to their respective sports at the same level as prior to the surgery. Imaging at longterm follow-up showed no signs of arthritic degeneration.

Conclusions: the results of this study show that the Broström-Gould technique is an effective procedure for the treatment of chronic lateral ankle instability in the athlete, giving excellent long-term results.

Level of evidence: therapeutic case series, level IV.
Physical Modeling for Selective Laser Sintering Process
Authors: Gobal Arash , Ravani Bahram
Published: August 2016

The process of selective laser sintering (SLS) involves selective heating and fusion of powdered material using a moving laser beam. Because of its complicated manufacturing process, physical modeling of the transformation from powder to final product in the SLS process is currently a challenge. Existing simulations of transient temperatures during this process are performed either using finite-element (FE) or discrete-element (DE) methods which are either inaccurate in representing the heat-affected zone (HAZ) or computationally expensive to be practical in large-scale industrial applications. In this work, a new computational model for physical modeling of the transient temperature of the powder bed during the SLS process is developed that combines the FE and the DE methods and accounts for the dynamic changes of particle contact areas in the HAZ. The results show significant improvements in computational efficiency over traditional DE simulations while maintaining the same level of accuracy.
Nonmuscle Myosin IIA Regulates Platelet Contractile Forces Through Rho Kinase and Myosin Light-Chain Kinase
Authors: Feghhi Shirin , Tooley Wes W. , Sniadecki Nathan J.
Published: August 2016

Platelet contractile forces play a major role in clot retraction and help to hold hemostatic clots against the vessel wall. Platelet forces are produced by its cytoskeleton, which is composed of actin and nonmuscle myosin filaments. In this work, we studied the role of Rho kinase, myosin light-chain kinase, and myosin in the generation of contractile forces by using pharmacological inhibitors and arrays of flexible microposts to measure platelet forces. When platelets were seeded onto microposts, they formed aggregates on the tips of the microposts. Forces produced by the platelets in the aggregates were measured by quantifying the deflection of the microposts, which bent in proportion to the force of the platelets. Platelets were treated with small molecule inhibitors of myosin activity: Y-27632 to inhibit the Rho kinase (ROCK), ML-7 to inhibit myosin light-chain kinase (MLCK), and blebbistatin to inhibit myosin ATPase activity. ROCK inhibition reduced platelet forces, demonstrating the importance of the assembly of actin and myosin phosphorylation in generating contractile forces. Similarly, MLCK inhibition caused weaker platelet forces, which verifies that myosin phosphorylation is needed for force generation in platelets. Platelets treated with blebbistatin also had weaker forces, which indicates that myosin's ATPase activity is necessary for platelet forces. Our studies demonstrate that myosin ATPase activity and the regulation of actin–myosin assembly by ROCK and MLCK are needed for the generation of platelet forces. Our findings illustrate and explain the importance of myosin for clot compaction in hemostasis and thrombosis.
Biases and uncertainties in the use of autocovariance and height–height covariance functions to characterize roughness
Authors: Mack Chris A.
Published: August 2016

Measuring the frequency response of roughness is necessary in many applications, leading to the common use of the power spectral density (PSD) of the roughness. But biases and random uncertainties in the PSD have led some to explore the use of the autocovariance function (ACF) and the height–height covariance function (HHCF) instead. These functions also entail systematic biases and random uncertainties when applied to measured roughness, requiring detailed characterization. A combination of analytical derivations and simulations of rough edges have led to a thorough characterization of these biases and uncertainties for the measurement of line-edge and linewidth roughness of lithographically produced features. The results show that ACF estimation is problematic, but that HHCF estimation is a reasonable alternative to PSD analysis under conditions typical of linewidth roughness measurement in the semiconductor industry.
Masters in clinical veterinary research
Authors: Barr Frances
Published: August 2016

A new masters qualification from the BSAVA aims to encourage and support clinical research in practice. As Frances Barr explains, it is aimed at those looking for a professional challenge
Novel low temperature sintered Li4Ti5O12 microwave dielectric ceramics with MoO2 addition
Authors: Liu Cheng , Zhang Huaiwu , Su Hua , Jin Lichuan , Li Jie , Liao Yulong , Jia Lijun , Li Yuanxun
Published: August 2016

Li4Ti5O[Formula: see text] ceramics with different amount of MoO2addition were densified at 850[Formula: see text]C via a solid-state reaction route. Pure phases and dense crystal morphology were obtained. Our experimental results indicated that the [Formula: see text] value of the Li4Ti5O[Formula: see text] ceramic can be adjusted to near zero via adopting suitable amount of MoO2addition. Among all the modified Li4Ti5O[Formula: see text] specimens, the sample with 4 wt.% of MoO2addition (marked as LM4 in this paper) possessed good microwave dielectric properties: [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] GHz (7.99 GHz), [Formula: see text] ppm/[Formula: see text]C. It is suggested that the MoO2modified Li4Ti5O[Formula: see text] ceramics are suitable candidates for LTCC applications in microwave devices.
Qutrit teleportation under intrinsic decoherence
Authors: Jafarpour Mojtaba , Naderi Negar
Published: August 2016

We study qutrit teleportation and its fidelity in the presence and absence of intrinsic decoherence through a qutrit channel. The channel consists of a Heisenberg chain with [Formula: see text] interaction model and the intrinsic decoherence is implemented through the Milburn model. It is shown that while the fidelity diminishes due to intrinsic decoherence, it may be enhanced if the channel is initially in an entangled state. It is also observed that, for stronger intrinsic decoherence, the initial entanglement of the channel is more effective in enhancing of fidelity.
Dielectric relaxation studies of binary mixture of β-picoline and methanol using time domain reflectometry at different temperatures
Authors: Trivedi C. M. , Rana V. A. , Hudge P. G. , Kumbharkhane A. C.
Published: August 2016

Complex permittivity spectra of binary mixtures of varying concentrations of [Formula: see text]-picoline and Methanol (MeOH) have been obtained using time domain reflectometry (TDR) technique over frequency range 10 MHz to 25 GHz at 283.15, 288.15, 293.15 and 298.15 K temperatures. The dielectric relaxation parameters namely static permittivity ([Formula: see text]), high frequency limit permittivity ([Formula: see text]) and the relaxation time ([Formula: see text]) were determined by fitting complex permittivity data to the single Debye/Cole-Davidson model. Complex nonlinear least square (CNLS) fitting procedure was carried out using LEVMW software. The excess permittivity ([Formula: see text]) and the excess inverse relaxation time (1/[Formula: see text] which contain information regarding molecular structure and interaction between polar–polar liquids were also determined. From the experimental data, parameters such as effective Kirkwood correlation factor (geff), Bruggeman factor (fB) and some thermo dynamical parameters have been calculated. Excess parameters were fitted to the Redlich–Kister polynomial equation. The values of static permittivity and relaxation time increase nonlinearly with increase in the mol–fraction of MeOH at all temperatures. The values of excess static permittivity ([Formula: see text]E) and the excess inverse relaxation time (1/[Formula: see text] are negative for the studied [Formula: see text]-picoline — MeOH system at all temperatures.
Comunicação, consumo e entretenimento: a construção diegética da marca Apple no filme Jobs: a construção diegética da marca Apple no filme Jobs
Authors: Bezerra Beatriz Braga
Published: August 2016

As estratégias publicitárias objetivam persuadir o consumidor sobre um produto ou serviço; o cinema visa o entretenimento, mas também informa e pode defender uma ideia ou conceito. A constante mudança do perfil dos consumidores, mais críticos e munidos de diferentes tecnologias que alteram suas práticas sociais – para a publicidade e o cinema – faz com que as mensagens persuasivas sejam reformuladas diante do público, incluindo o universo fílmico como um campo a ser, cada vez mais, valorizado. Dito isso, o trabalho pretende investigar a construção diegética de marcas inseridas em filmes, observando de que forma os elementos referentes ao produto ou serviço são utilizados nas tramas. Para atingir tal objetivo, analisa-se um roteiro fílmico visando dissecar trechos e estabelecer conexões com as teorias referenciadas.
Exposição e significação: uma análise sobre os retratos de prisioneiros do Camboja
Authors: Bracchi Daniela
Published: August 2016

Este artigo busca discutir as diferenças nos modos de exibição de fotografias como produção de formas distintas de compreensão das imagens. O exemplo dos retratos de prisioneiros políticos do Camboja é o ponto de partida para se compreender que as escolhas expográficas relativas a essas imagens podem valorizá-las tanto do ponto de vista estético quanto político. Apresenta-se, portanto, diferentes níveis de análise que organizam melhor a reflexão sobre o sentido das imagens em seu contexto expográfico.
O olho da imagem: reflexões metaestéticas no cinema de Abbas Kiarostami
Authors: Oliveira Junior Luiz Carlos
Published: August 2016

O artigo aborda a dimensão metaestética da obra de Abbas Kiarostami, analisando sequências de filmes em que o cineasta iraniano oferece uma reflexão sobre o dispositivo da representação e suas condições de possibilidade. A análise destaca o diálogo que Kiarostami estabelece com a tradição artística ocidental, como fica claro nos planos em que ele retoma padrões formais da iconografia espacial da Anunciação (tema recorrente na pintura italiana do Renascimento), bem como nas discussões centrais do filme Copie conforme (Cópia fiel, 2010), que concernem a temas como o estatuto da cópia e da mimese no sistema de valores da arte ocidental.
O documentário como “mídia de memória”: afeto, símbolo e trauma como estabilizadores da recordação
Authors: Tomaim Cássio Dos Santos
Published: August 2016

Ao pensar o documentário como “mídia de memória”, reconhecemos o afeto, o símbolo e o trauma como estabilizadores da recordação neste tipo de cinema que, a partir da década de 1960, interessou-se não mais apenas pelos vestígios, mas também pelas testemunhas. O testemunho oral ascendeu como principal dispositivo do documentário para acessar as memórias coletivas. Se na contemporaneidade presenciamos uma “cultura da memória”, o documentário tem um lugar nesta história, mais como uma atividade “artesanal da memória”, ao preservar/armazenar uma memória experiencial do vivido, do que como uma ameaça ao passado recordado.
New Black Fungus Gnats (Diptera, Sciaridae) of North America. Part II. Genus Bradysiopsis Tuomikoski, 1960
Authors: MOHRIG WERNER , KAUSCHKE ELLEN
Published: August 2016

The genus Bradysiopsis Tuomikoski is new for the sciarid fauna of North America. It includes 6 species. Four of them are new for science. These are Bradysiopsis postvittigera sp. n., Br. praevittata sp. n., Br. praevittigera sp. n. and Br. subvittigera sp. n.. Two species, Br. vittata (Meigen, 1830) and Br. vittigera (Zetterstedt, 1851), are distributed in the Holarctic but new for North America. In this paper species are described, illustrated by figures and a key for classification as well as distribution data are given.
Land-Cover Characterization and Aridity Changes of South America (1982–2006): An Attribution by Ecohydrological Diagnostics
Authors: Cai Danlu , Fraedrich Klaus , Sielmann Frank , Guan Yanning , Guo Shan
Published: August 2016

To quantify impacts of climate change and anthropogenic activities on land surface dynamics a novel diagnostic tool is introduced, an application to the South American continent is presented, and the results are compared with observational studies. The diagnostics are performed in an ecohydrological state space spanned by surface flux ratios of excess energy U (loss by sensible heat H over supply by net radiation N) versus excess water W [loss by runoff (Ro) over gain by precipitation P]. The attribution of a changing state is deduced by rotating the (U, W) coordinates of its trajectory onto the external (or climate) and internal (or anthropogenic) forcings dependent of the regional state of aridity at the origin of the trajectory of change. Vegetation greenness (NDVI) is included in the attribution analysis as an active tracer. The first and second periods (1982–93 and 1994–2006; ERA-Interim) are chosen for change attribution analysis. 1) State space climates are characterized by a bimodal distribution with two distinct geobotanic regimes (forest and steppe) of high and moderate vegetation greenness. 2) Area changes between the first and second period are attributed to external (or climate)-induced (about 83%) and internal (or human)-induced (17%) processes. 3) In regions of significant (U, W) changes the significant vegetation greenness decreases in 36.2% (increases in 63.8%) of the area independent of vegetation type and aridity. 4) In these regions the water-limited areas tend to become drier, while energy-limited parts get wetter.
Reconstructions Improvements Using Iteratively Adjusted Statistics, Demonstrated Using Model-Output Annual SST Anomalies and Historical Sampling
Authors: Smith Thomas M.
Published: August 2016

Historical reconstructions of climate fields, such as sea surface temperature (SST), are important for climate studies and monitoring. Reconstructions use statistics from a well-sampled base period to analyze a sparsely sampled historical period. Here a method is shown for adjusting the base-period statistics using the available historical data so that statistics better represent historical variations. The method is demonstrated using annual SST anomalies from a coupled GCM historical run, 1861–2005, forced by greenhouse gases and aerosols. Simulated data are constructed from the model’s SST using observed historical SST sampling with error estimates added. Reconstructions are performed using the simulated data, and the results are compared to the full model SST without added errors. The results from applying other reconstruction methods to the simulated data are compared. The tests show that the method improves annual SST reconstructions, especially in the early years, when sampling is most sparse and in the extratropics. In particular, the 1881–1900 correlation averaged over 30°–60°S and over 30°–60°N improves from about 0.4 using noniterative reconstruction to about 0.6 using iterative reconstruction. The correlations of annual values in the tropics are about 0.7 with both methods. Incorporating those improvements into an SST reconstruction could better represent extratropical climate variations in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and improve the value of the reconstruction for long-period climate studies and for validating climate models.
Acts and Christian Beginnings: A Review Essay
Authors: Gregory Andrew
Published: August 2016

This article reviews recent claims that the Acts of the Apostles should be dated in the second century, not in the first century as most scholars currently argue. It notes a range of works that make such claims in passing, but focuses on the multi-authored work Acts and Christian Beginnings, and on some of the publications on which its authors depend. Particular attention is given to the work of Richard Pervo and his case that Acts used both Josephus and a collection of Paul’s letters, and his claim that this requires a second-century date for Acts. The article notes the strength of the case for Luke’s use of both Josephus’ Antiquities and some of Paul’s letters, but questions whether this requires a second-century date, and reflects on the wider issues that are at stake.
Intratextual Persuasive Messages as Catalysts for HigherOrder Thinking
Authors: Murphy P. Karen , Andiliou Andria , Firetto Carla M. , Bowersox Carissa M. , Baker Markus , Ramsay Crystal M.
Published: August 2016

Facilitating students’ acquisition of higherorder thinking skills is imperative in the 21st century. Although some types of text have been shown to enhance higherorder thinking, the effects of many novel forms of text have yet to be investigated. As such, the purpose of the present study was to explore the extent to which a relatively novel form of text (i.e., intratextual persuasive message) served as a catalyst for students’ higherorder thinking as evidenced in the quantity, quality, and content of their arguments before and after reading. The findings revealed that the quantity of students’ arguments increased from prereading to postreading and the content of the reasons provided by the students was more in line with those of the authors, whereas the quality of students’ arguments decreased over time. Interestingly, relatively few students altered their position on the central question from the text. Rather, the nature of the data indicated that students engaged in case-building as they read the text. As a result, the intratextual persuasive message was only minimally effective at enhancing students’ higherorder thinking. Implications for research and practice are forwarded.
“No Matter How You Word It, It’s For Me”
Authors: MacGillivray Laurie , Curwen Margie Sauceda , Ardell Amy
Published: August 2016

This case study is part of a larger investigation of literacy practices at New Beginnings shelter, a long-term transitional homeless shelter for addicted mothers and their children. We asked, “What is the nature of writing in a homeless shelter committed to the rehabilitation and recovery of mothers from addiction?” At New Beginnings, mandated writing serves as a way to help women confront their addictions and develop necessary skills to live independently. The social nature of writing is partly determined through explicit norms and routines for purpose, format, and audience and includes regular feedback from shelter staff and/or peers. Of the various writing practices undertaken, we discuss (a) required letters addressed to one’s inner child, one’s body, and one’s disease; (b) “staff actions,” which is on-demand writing on a required topic due to a shelter infraction; and (c) daily journaling. Drawing upon complementary theories of literacy as a social practice, literacy events and practices, a community of practice, and Foucault’s concept of power as relations, we explore the social processes surrounding mandated writing among members of this shelter community. We note how writing can be a signal of legitimate participation in the rehabilitation process and how it serves as a form of dialogue between participants. Although these practices were sometimes filled with tension, their shared nature strengthened the shelter community through a productive process.
Additive methods for genomic signatures
Authors: Karamichalis Rallis , Kari Lila , Konstantinidis Stavros , Kopecki Steffen , Solis-Reyes Stephen
Published: August 2016

Background

Studies exploring the potential of Chaos Game Representations (CGR) of genomic sequences to act as “genomic signatures” (to be species- and genome-specific) showed that CGR patterns of nuclear and organellar DNA sequences of the same organism can be very different. While the hypothesis that CGRs of mitochondrial DNA sequences can act as genomic signatures was validated for a snapshot of all sequenced mitochondrial genomes available in the NCBI GenBank sequence database, to our knowledge no such extensive analysis of CGRs of nuclear DNA sequences exists to date.

Results

We analyzed an extensive dataset, totalling 1.45 gigabase pairs, of nuclear/nucleoid genomic sequences (nDNA) from 42 different organisms, spanning all major kingdoms of life. Our computational experiments indicate that CGR signatures of nDNA of two different origins cannot always be differentiated, especially if they originate from closely-related species such as H. sapiens and P. troglodytes or E. coli and E. fergusonii. To address this issue, we propose the general concept of . One particular instance, the , combines information from nDNA fragments and organellar (mitochondrial, chloroplast, or plasmid) genomes. We demonstrate that, in this dataset, composite DNA signatures originating from two different organisms can be differentiated in all cases, including those where the use of CGR signatures of nDNA failed or was inconclusive. Another instance, the , combines information from many short DNA subfragments (e.g., 100 basepairs) of a given DNA fragment, to produce its signature. We show that an assembled DNA signature has the same distinguishing power as a conventionally computed CGR signature, while using shorter contiguous sequences and potentially less sequence information.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that, while CGR signatures of nDNA cannot always play the role of genomic signatures, composite and assembled DNA signatures (separately or in combination) could potentially be used instead. Such additive signatures could be used, e.g., with raw unassembled next-generation sequencing (NGS) read data, when high-quality sequencing data is not available, or to complement information obtained by other methods of species identification or classification.
SHIVA - a web application for drug resistance and tropism testing in HIV
Authors: Riemenschneider Mona , Hummel Thomas , Heider Dominik
Published: August 2016

Background

Drug resistance testing is mandatory in antiretroviral therapy in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients for successful treatment. The emergence of resistances against antiretroviral agents remains the major obstacle in inhibition of viral replication and thus to control infection. Due to the high mutation rate the virus is able to adapt rapidly under drug pressure leading to the evolution of resistant variants and finally to therapy failure.

Results

We developed a web service for drug resistance prediction of commonly used drugs in antiretroviral therapy, i.e., protease inhibitors (PIs), reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs and NNRTIs), and integrase inhibitors (INIs), but also for the novel drug class of maturation inhibitors. Furthermore, co-receptor tropism (CCR5 or CXCR4) can be predicted as well, which is essential for treatment with entry inhibitors, such as Maraviroc. Currently, provides 24 prediction models for several drug classes. can be used with single RNA/DNA or amino acid sequences, but also with large amounts of next-generation sequencing data and allows prediction of a user specified selection of drugs simultaneously. Prediction results are provided as clinical reports which are sent via email to the user.

Conclusions

represents a novel high performing alternative for hitherto developed drug resistance testing approaches able to process data derived from next-generation sequencing technologies. is publicly available via a user-friendly web interface.
A research note regarding "Variation in cancer risk among tissues can be explained by the number of stem cell divisions"
Authors: Tarabichi Maxime , Detours Vincent
Published: August 2016

Tomasetti and Vogelstein argued that 2/3 of human cancers are due to ‘bad luck’ and that “primary prevention measures [against cancer] are not likely to be very effective”. We demonstrate that their calculations for hepatocellular carcinomas overlooked a major subset of these cancers proven to be preventable through vaccination. The problem, which is not limited to hepatocellular carcinoma, arises from the general reliance of their analysis on average incidences in the United States and the omission of incidences in specific risk groups.
Empleo y desempleo desde la perspectiva del bienestar subjetivo
Authors: Ansa Eceiza Miren Maite
Published: August 2016

No es muy corriente encontrar planteamientos novedosos en economía. Las aproximaciones convencionales dificultan la entrada a las nuevas ideas. Los estudios conducidos desde la perspectiva de la economía de la felicidad pretenden ofrecer una medida del bienestar fundamentada en el grado de satisfacción subjetiva declarada por los individuos, yendo más allá del planteamiento tradicional que tiende a medir el bienestar general en función de la producción y de la renta generada. En este artículo ofrecemos una revisión de la literatura relevante en lo referente a la relación existente entre el empleo y la felicidad o el bienestar subjetivo declarado por las personas. Encontramos que estar empleada resulta esencial para la felicidad personal y la salud mental de todas y todos. Concluimos que las políticas públicas han de estar alineadas hacia la consecución de niveles altos de empleo de calidad.
Efectos sobre el empleo de la reducción del tiempo de trabajo: Aprendizajes de la experiencia francesa
Authors: De la Fuente Lavín Mikel , Bernat Zubiri Rey Jon
Published: August 2016

En este artículo trataremos de aportar algunos elementos de diagnóstico de la política de reducción del tiempo de trabajo (RTT) en Francia. Tras comprobar el mal reparto de los aumentos de productividad de las últimas décadas, tanto en España como en Euskal Herria y Francia, nos sumergiremos en la experiencia francesa, partiendo de los precedentes que dieron lugar a una apuesta de RTT a priori diseñada para ser progresivamente generalizada. Expondremos la mecánica básica de Leyes Aubry (1998-2000) y especialmente la obligación de RTT en todas las empresas del sector mercantil de más de 20 asalariados a partir del 1 de enero del 2000. Haremos mayor hincapié en una valoración crítica de los efectos de estas dos leyes sobre la duración de las jornadas, el empleo y los salarios. Abordaremos las evoluciones posteriores de regresión sarkozysta en las políticas de RTT, así como la «última vuelta de tuerca» del Gobierno «socialista» de Valls, en actual liza contra un movimiento social y sindical de alto calado. El objetivo de este artículo es hacer un balance del pasado de la experiencia francesa, tratando de conectarla con nuestra vocación de importar sus enseñanzas a nuestra realidad concreta.
Régimen jurídico básico de las materias directamente vinculadas a la reducción del tiempo de trabajo
Authors: Bengoetxea Alkorta Aitor
Published: August 2016

El Derecho del Trabajo ha conocido una evolución histórica lineal de reducción del tiempo de trabajo. Sin embargo el siglo xxi observamos cómo están tomando fuerza corrientes revisionistas que abogan por ampliar la jornada laboral, para mejorar la competitividad de los países más desarrollados con respecto a los países emergentes, donde la jornada laboral es más amplia. Centrándonos en el derecho positivo actual, y desde el prisma de Gipuzkoa, debemos empezar por constatar que el marco jurídico que regula el tiempo de trabajo, condicionando la implementación de una política de reducción del tiempo de trabajo en Gipuzkoa, es ciertamente complejo. En lo que respecta a la distribución competencial, nos encontramos ante una materia donde inciden competencias de la Unión Europea, del Estado, de la Comunidad Autónoma Vasca, del Territorio Histórico de Gipuzkoa, y de la autonomía colectiva (reconocida conjuntamente a representantes de empresas y personas trabajadoras).Además, conviene dividir la materia genérica del tiempo de trabajo en cuatro elementos, a los que el derecho del trabajo actual dota de régimen jurídico específico: jornada máxima; horas extraordinarias; trabajo a tiempo parcial; y reducción del tiempo de trabajo.
Diagnóstico del empleo en Gipuzkoa
Authors: Castrillón Serna Verónica , Zendoia Sainz Jose Mari , Bernat Zubiri Rey Jon
Published: August 2016

En el presente artículo hacemos un repaso a diferentes variables relacionadas con la ocupación laboral y el empleo asalariado en Gipuzkoa, observando su evolución a lo largo de los últimos años, con especial atención en los años posteriores a la crisis global iniciada en 2007, que como efecto más evidente han producido un aumento del paro y de la precariedad. A lo largo de los diferentes apartados se va exponiendo la evolución de la población, la actividad, la ocupación laboral y diferentes aspectos relacionados con las condiciones del empleo asalariado, atendiendo escuetamente a las múltiples tendencias que pueden obtenerse de un análisis de los principales datos disponibles. Se finaliza esta primera etapa de nuestro diagnóstico con un estudio más exhaustivo a nivel sectorial sobre la jornada laboral, que no hace sino indicar las líneas de profundización que siguen en Castrillón et al. (2016b; 2016c y 2016d).