bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Subdivision shells with exact boundary control and non‐manifold geometry
Authors: Cirak Fehmi , Long Quan
Published: June 2011

We introduce several new extensions to subdivision shells that provide an improved level of shape control over shell boundaries and facilitate the analysis of shells with non‐smooth and non‐manifold joints. To this end, extended subdivision schemes are used that enable to relax the continuity of the limit surface along prescribed crease edges and to create surfaces with prescribed limit positions and normals. Furthermore, shells with boundaries in the form of conic sections, such as circles or parabolas, are represented with rational subdivision schemes, which are defined in analogy to rational b‐splines. In terms of implementation, the difference between the introduced and conventional subdivision schemes is restricted to the use of modified subdivision stencils close to the mentioned geometric features. Hence, the resulting subdivision surface is in most parts of the domain identical to standard smooth subdivision surfaces. The particular subdivision scheme used in this paper constitutes an improved version of the original Loop's scheme and is as such based on triangular meshes. As in the original subdivision shells, surfaces created with the modified scheme are used for interpolating the reference and deformed shell configurations. At the integration points, the subdivision surface is evaluated using a newly developed discrete parameterization approach. In the resulting finite elements, the only degrees of freedom are the mid‐surface displacements of the nodes and additional Lagrange parameters for enforcing normal constraints. The versatility of the newly developed elements is demonstrated with a number of geometrically nonlinear shell examples. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On a cellular division method for topology optimization
Authors: Pedro Hugo‐Tiago C. , Kobayashi Marcelo H.
Published: June 2011

This paper concerns a comparative analysis of a novel biologically inspired method for topology optimization. The proposed methodology develops each individual topology according to a set of rules that regulate a ‘cellular division’ process. These rules are then evolved using a genetic algorithm to minimize objective functions while satisfying a set of constraints. The results reported in this work show that the methodology suits engineering design and represents an improvement over existing topology optimization methods based on evolutionary algorithms. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Iron chelation treatment with deferasirox prior to high‐dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation may reduce the risk of hepatic veno‐occlusive disease in children with high‐risk solid tumors
Authors: Chueh Hee Won , Sung Ki Woong , Lee Soo Hyun , Yoo Keon Hee , Koo Hong Hoe , Kim Ju Youn , Cho Eun Joo
Published: June 2011

Background

We evaluated whether iron chelation treatment during induction chemotherapy could safely reduce serum iron levels and thereby reduce the frequency of hepatic veno‐occlusive disease (VOD) during high‐dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (HDCT/autoSCT) in children with high‐risk solid tumors.

Procedure

Children diagnosed with high‐risk solid tumors between August 2008 and July 2009 were enrolled. Deferasirox treatment (25 mg/kg/day) was initiated when serum ferritin levels increased to more than 1,000 ng/ml during induction chemotherapy. Patients who were diagnosed with the same disease between April 2005 and June 2007 and treated in the same way without any iron chelation treatment formed the control group. Efficacy and toxicity of deferasirox treatment were compared between the two groups.

Results

Eighteen of 20 patients enrolled received deferasirox treatment. Deferasirox treatment was completed as scheduled in 11 (61.1%) of them without dose reduction or discontinuation. The serum ferritin levels prior to HDCT/autoSCT were lower in the deferasirox group than in the control group (median 1,268 ng/ml vs. 1,828 ng/ml, P < 0.001), although there was no difference in the RBC transfusion amount between the two groups. While 7 (17.9%) VODs developed during 39 HDCT/autoSCTs in the control group, there was no VOD during 40 HDCT/autoSCTs in the deferasirox group (P = 0.005). However, renal dysfunction (38.9%) including Fanconi syndrome (16.7%) was a frequently observed adverse effect of deferasirox treatment.

Conclusions

Deferasirox treatment during induction chemotherapy reduces the frequency of VOD during HDCT/autoSCT. The development of renal dysfunction should be closely monitored during deferasirox treatment. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2012; 58: 441–447. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Proteomic changes related to “bewildered” circulating platelets in the acute coronary syndrome
Authors: López‐Farré Antonio J. , Zamorano‐Leon Jose J. , Azcona Luis , Modrego Javier , Mateos‐Cáceres Petra J. , González‐Armengol Juan , Villarroel Pedro , Moreno‐Herrero Rosario , Rodríguez‐Sierra Pablo , Segura Antonio , Tamargo Juan , Macaya Carlos
Published: June 2011

Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are associated with platelet activation. The aim of the present study was to study the protein expression level associated with glycolysis, oxidative stress, cytoskeleton and cell survival in platelets obtained during an ACS. Platelets from 42 coronary ischemic patients, divided into patients admitted within 24 h after the onset of chest pain (ACS group; n=16) and patients with stable coronary ischemic disease (CAD, n=26), were analyzed using proteomics. The expression levels of proteins involved in cellular cytoskeleton (F‐actin capping, β‐tubulin, α‐tubulin isotypes 1 and 2, vinculin, vimentin and two Ras‐related protein Rab‐7b isotypes), glycolysis pathway (glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase and two pyruvate kinase isotypes) and cellular‐related antioxidant system (manganese superoxide dismutase) and even the expression and activity of glutathione‐S‐transferase were significantly reduced in platelets from ACS patients compared to CAD patients. Moreover, reduction in the expression of proteins associated with cell survival such as proteasome subunit β type 1 was also observed in ACS platelets compared with CAD platelets. Principal component and logistic regression analysis suggested the existence of factors (proteins) expressed in the platelets inversely associated with acute coronary ischemia. In summary, these results suggest the existence of circulating antioxidant, cytoskeleton and glycolytic‐“bewildered” platelets during the acute phase of a coronary event.
A proteomic view of the host–pathogen interaction: The host perspective
Authors: Hartlova Anetta , Krocova Zuzana , Cerveny Lukas , Stulik Jiri
Published: June 2011

The host–pathogen interaction represents a complex and dynamic biological system. The outcome of this interaction is dependent on the microbial pathogen properties to establish infection and the ability of the host to control infection. Although bacterial pathogens have evolved a variety of strategies to subvert host defense functions, several general mechanisms have been shown to be shared among these pathogens. As a result, host effectors that are critical for pathogen entry, survival and replication inside the host cells have become a new paradigm for antimicrobial targeting. This review focuses on the potential utility of a proteomics approach in defining the host–pathogen interaction from the host's perspective.
Experimental consideration of covalent‐bonding interactions in stacks of singlet biradicals having Kekulé structures
Authors: Shimizu Akihiro , Nakano Masayoshi , Hirao Yasukazu , Kubo Takashi
Published: June 2011

Kekulé singlet biradicals stabilized by phenalenyl rings afford one‐dimensional stacks in the solid state, in which covalent‐bonding interactions exist not only within a molecule but also between molecules. Through the covalent‐bonding interactions spreading over the stack, the lowest‐energy absorption band shifts to a lower‐energy region in the solid state relative to the solution band, and an electro‐conductive property in a single component state is also observed. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Developing hybrid approaches to predict pKavalues of ionizable groups
Authors: Witham Shawn , Talley Kemper , Wang Lin , Zhang Zhe , Sarkar Subhra , Gao Daquan , Yang Wei , Alexov Emil
Published: June 2011

Accurate predictions of pKa values of titratable groups require taking into account all relevant processes associated with the ionization/deionization. Frequently, however, the ionization does not involve significant structural changes and the dominating effects are purely electrostatic in origin allowing accurate predictions to be made based on the electrostatic energy difference between ionized and neutral forms alone using a static structure and the subtle structural changes be accounted by using dielectric constant larger than two. On another hand, if the change of the charge state is accompanied by a large structural reorganization of the target protein, then the relevant conformational changes have to be explicitly taken into account in the pKa calculations. Here we report a hybrid approach that first predicts the titratable groups whose ionization is expected to cause large conformational changes, termed “problematic” residues, and then applies a special protocol on them, while the rest of the pKas are predicted with rigid backbone approach as implemented in multi‐conformation continuum electrostatics (MCCE) method. The backbone representative conformations for “problematic” groups are generated with either molecular dynamics simulations with charged and uncharged amino acid or withab‐initiolocal segment modeling. The corresponding ensembles are then used to calculate the titration curves of the “problematic” residues and then the results are averaged to obtain the corresponding pKa. Proteins 2011; © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Atomic force microscopy demonstration of cytoskeleton instability in mouse erythrocytes with dematin‐headpiece and β‐adducin deficiency
Authors: Liu Fei , Khan Anwar A. , Chishti Athar H. , Ostafin Agnes E.
Published: June 2011

The pattern of disassembly of the cytoskeletal network of murine erythrocytes with deficiency of either dematin‐headpiece or β‐adducin or both proteins were investigated using atomic force microscopy. A heterogeneous complex structure with fine filament features and coarse features was observed in the cytoskeleton of wild type mouse erythrocytes, whereas a significant amount of rearrangement and aggregation occurred in the mutants, particularly in the cells carrying double gene mutations. These results are consistent with the cellular and biochemical phenotype of the mutant cell membranes as being more fragile due to weakened vertical connections with the plasma membrane. SCANNING 33:426–436, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Alzheimer's disease: β‐amyloid plaque formation in human brain
Authors: Seeman Philip , Seeman Neil
Published: June 2011

Although the precise cause of Alzheimer's disease is not known, the β‐amyloid peptide chains of 40–42 amino acids are suspected to contribute to the disease. The β‐amyloid precursor protein is found on many types of cell membranes, and the action of secretases (β and γ) on this precursor protein normally releases the β‐amyloids at a high rate into the plasma and the cerebrospinal fluid. However, the concentrations of the β‐amyloids in the plasma and the spinal fluid vary considerably between laboratories. The β‐amyloids adsorb in the nanomolar concentration range to receptors on neuronal and glial cells. The β‐amyloids are internalized, become folded in the β‐folded or β‐pleated shape, and then stack on each other to form long fibrils and aggregates known as plaques. The β‐amyloids likely act as monomers, dimers, or multimers on cell membranes to interfere with neurotransmission and memory before the plaques build up. Treatment strategies include inhibitors of β‐ and γ‐secretase, as well as drugs and physiological compounds to prevent aggregation of the amyloids. Several immune approaches and a cholesterol‐lowering strategy are also being tested to remove the β‐amyloids. Synapse, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Identifying the serotonin transporter signal in Western blot studies of the neurotoxic potential of MDMA and related drugs
Authors: Mclane Michael W. , Mccann Una , Ricaurte George
Published: June 2011

A number of published studies have questioned the serotonin neurotoxic potential of 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “ecstasy”) and related drugs (fenfluramine, p‐chloroamphetamine) based upon results from Western blot studies using a custom synthesized serotonin transporter (SERT) antibody that found no reduction in the abundance of a 50kDa protein after substituted amphetamine treatment. The purpose of this study was to collect Western blot data using the same SERT antibody used in those studies, but with positive and negative controls to identify the SERT protein signal. A 63–68 kDa band that had the regional distribution expected of rat brain SERT, was decreased by 5,7‐DHT, and was absent in SERT KO animals was identified as the SERT protein. Significant, lasting decreases in the abundance of the 63–68 kDa band were evident in the rat brain after treatment with MDMA and related drugs (FEN, PCA). Thus, when the band corresponding to the SERT protein is identified in Western blots through the use of positive and negative controls, reduced abundance of the SERT protein can be readily demonstrated after substituted amphetamine treatment. These data provide further evidence of lasting loss of the SERT protein after exposure to MDMA and other substituted amphetamines. Synapse, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Changes in dynorphin immunoreactivity but unaltered density of enkephalin immunoreactive neurons in basal ganglia nuclei of genetically dystonic hamsters
Authors: Kreil Annette , Hamann Melanie , Sander Svenja E. , Richter Angelika
Published: June 2011

Dystonia is regarded as a basal ganglia disorder. In the dtsz hamster, a genetic animal model of paroxysmal dystonia, previous studies demonstrated a reduced density of striatal GABAergic interneurons which inhibit striatal GABAergic projection neurons. Although the disinhibition of striatal GABAergic projection neurons was evidenced in the dtsz hamster, alterations in their density have not been elucidated so far. Therefore, in the present study, the density of striatal methionin‐(met‐) enkephalin (ENK) immunoreactive GABAergic neurons, which project to the globus pallidus (indirect pathway), was determined in dtsz and control hamsters to clarify a possible role of an altered ratio between striatal interneurons and projection neurons. Furthermore, the immunoreactivity of dynorphin A (DYN), which is expressed in entopeduncular fibers of striatal neurons of the direct pathway, was verified by gray level measurements to illuminate the functional relevance of an enhanced striato‐entopeduncular neuronal activity previously found in dtsz hamsters. While the density of striatal ENK immunoreactive (ENK+) neurons did not significantly differ between mutant and control hamsters, there was a significantly enhanced ratio between the DYN immunoreactive area and the whole area of the EPN in dtsz hamsters compared to controls. These results support the hypothesis that a disbalance between a reduced density of striatal interneurons and an unchanged density of striatal projection neurons causes imbalances in the basal ganglia network. The consequentially enhanced striato‐entopeduncular inhibition leads to an already evidenced reduced activity and an altered firing pattern of entopeduncular neurons in the dtsz hamster. Synapse 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An improved control strategy for hybrid series active filter dealing with unbalanced load
Authors: Tung Nguyen Xuan , Fujita Goro , Horikoshi Kazuhiro
Published: June 2011

This article presents an improved control strategy for hybrid series active power filters (HSAFs) working with nonlinear and unbalanced three‐phase three‐wire loads. An algorithm based on the instantaneous power theory is introduced to precisely extract only harmonic components from supply current, even this current is contaminated with negative sequence components due to the imbalance of the load. An improved control strategy based on that sequence extraction algorithm is proposed and investigated in detail by numerical simulations. The proposed control method has shown a better performance in mitigating harmonics, especially for the nonlinear and unbalanced loads. © 2011 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Endoscopic stenting for post‐transplant biliary stricture: usefulness of a novel removable covered metal stent
Authors: Hu Bing , Gao Dao‐jian , Yu Feng‐hai , Wang Tian‐tian , Pan Ya‐min , Yang Xiao‐ming
Published: June 2011

Background

Endoscopic management of biliary anastomotic stricture (AS) following liver transplantation (LT) remains challenging. There are no dedicated self‐expandable metal stents (SEMS) for this setting.

Methods

A short fully covered SEMS (FCSEMS) with a retrieval suture was designed. Between July 2008 and June 2010, 13 patients with post‐LT AS had this FCSEMS placed endoscopically, keeping the whole stent inside the bile duct across the AS with the retriever out of the papilla. The stents were removed by forceps under endoscopy according to a schedule. Technical success, complications, AS resolution and the outcome for the patients were observed.

Results

Placement of the FCSEMS was successful on the first attempt in all patients. One patient with complicated infection did not respond to the stenting therapy and underwent stent retrieval ahead of schedule. Others kept well during stenting for a mean (SD) duration of 5.4 (1.7) months (range 2–8) without stent migration. All stents were removed successfully without great difficulty. AS resolution was obtained in all 12 patients, who were closely followed up for a mean (SD) time of 12.1 (8.0) months (range 1–26.5) after stent removal. Stricture recurrence occurred in one, who underwent a successful re‐intervention with a second FCSEMS. Others remain free from symptoms and have normal liver function up to now.

Conclusions

Endoscopic treatment of post‐LT AS using a removable FCSEMS is technically feasible, safe, and effective. This dedicated method may play an increasing role in the future management of benign biliary strictures.
Land‐use and edge effects unbalance seed dispersal and predation interactions under habitat fragmentation
Authors: Magrach Ainhoa , Guitián José , Larrinaga Asier R. , Guitián Javier
Published: June 2011

The process of fragmentation can greatly influence plant–animal interactions. To assess the degree to which it affects the balance between two interactions of opposite sign, namely seed dispersal and post‐dispersal seed predation, we selected 16 patches of chestnut forest in O Courel and El Bierzo, northwestern Spain. We assessed the effect of fragmentation over two different seed dispersal–predation systems usingHelleborus foetidusandIlex aquifoliumas model species. In the first case, field experiments consisted of seed‐offering trays with selective exclusion of rodents and ants in a two‐way orthogonal design. In the second experiment, we placed experimental branches and trays on the floor to assess seed dispersal and predation. The interactions between several fragment traits and the relative contribution of rodents, ants and birds to seed removal were analyzed by means of generalized linear mixed models. Results show that forH. foetidus, differences in seed dispersal–predation were accounted for by patch shape, which affected mainly the dispersal phase. Major seed dispersal took place in patches with a smaller edge to core ratio and high plant cover (abandoned patches), whilst the latter also showed maximum seed predation. ForI. aquifolium, fragmentation effects were significant only for seed predation, which was increased in abandoned patches. This shows that the effects of habitat fragmentation can emerge at different phases depending on specific traits of the interacting animals. It also highlights the importance of traditional land‐use practices in species interactions.
Synthesis and Properties of Novel Double‐Tail Trisiloxane Surfactants with High Spreading Ability
Authors: Peng Zhongli , Huang Shangfu , Cao Meina
Published: June 2011

A new type of double‐tail trisiloxane surfactants of the general formula R1NR2CH2CH(OH)CH2O(CH2CH2O)xCH3 (x = 8.4, 12.9, 17.5, 22; R1 = Me3SiOSiMe(CH2)3OSiMe3, R2 = CH2CH(OH)CH2OR3, R3 = CH2CH(C2H5)CH2(CH2)2CH3) has been synthesized by reacting single‐tail trisiloxane surfactants with 2‐ethylhexyl glycidyl ether. Their structures were characterized with 1H‐NMR and 13C‐NMR spectroscopy. These double‐tail trisiloxane surfactants reduce the surface tension of water to less than 24 mN/m at a level of 10−5 mol/L. The spreading ability (SA) of the double‐tail trisiloxane surfactant solution on Parafilm (or Ficus microcarpa leaf) surfaces is better than that on polyethylene terephthalate surface. The SA of the solution of the double‐tail trisiloxane surfactants 1J with average ethoxy units of 8.4 is far better than the others, and its solution (5.0 × 10−3 mol/L) possesses an SA value of over 15 within 10 min on Parafilm and Ficus microcarpa leaf surfaces. The surface tension values of aqueous solutions (1.0 × 10−3 mol/L) of the double‐tail trisiloxane surfactants 1J are still less than 25 mN/m over 21 days in an acidic environment (pH 4.0) and 139 days in an alkaline environment (pH 10.0), respectively. It is suggested that the SA and hydrolysis resistance of double‐tail trisiloxane surfactants are able to be improved by changing the structure of the hydrophobic group, such as increasing the molar ratio of methyl to methylene.
Dietary Conjugated Linoleic Acid Induces Lipolysis in Adipose Tissue of Coconut Oil‐Fed Mice but not Soy Oil‐Fed Mice
Authors: Ippagunta S. , Hadenfeldt T. J. , Miner J. L. , Hargrave‐Barnes K. M.
Published: June 2011

Mice fed diets containing conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) are leaner than mice not fed CLA. This anti‐obesity effect is amplified in mice fed coconut oil‐containing or fat free diets, compared to soy oil diets. The present objective was to determine if CLA alters lipolysis in mice fed different base oils. Mice were fed diets containing soy oil (SO), coconut oil (CO), or fat free (FF) for 6 weeks, followed by 10 or 12 days of CLA or no CLA supplementation. Body fat, tissue weights, and ex vivo lipolysis were determined. Relative protein abundance and activation of perilipin, hormone sensitive lipase (HSL), adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), and adipose differentiation related protein (ADRP) were determined by western blotting. CLA feeding caused mice to have less (P < 0.05) body fat than non‐CLA fed mice. This was enhanced in CO and FF‐fed mice (CLA × oil source, P < 0.05). There was also a CLA × oil source interaction on lipolysis as CO + CLA and FF + CLA‐fed mice had increased (P < 0.05) rates of lipolysis but SO + CLA‐fed mice did not. However, after 12 days of CLA consumption, activated perilipin was increased (P < 0.05) only in SO + CLA‐fed mice and total HSL and ATGL were decreased (P < 0.05) in CO + CLA‐fed mice. Therefore, the enhanced CLA‐induced body fat loss in CO and FF‐fed mice appears to involve increased lipolysis but this effect may be decreasing by 12 days of CLA consumption.
Managing the Winds of Change in the Mediterranean: Europe's Challenge
Authors: Calleya Stephen C.
Published: June 2011

The southern Mediterranean is a geo-strategically sensitive part of the world that lacks a proper security arrangement. Territorial conflicts, economic stagnation and terrorism are the main obstacles hindering the region from achieving a desirable level of stability and engaging in a new Euro-Mediterranean partnership. Europe must develop a way of achieving long-term success in promoting economic and political reforms and the improvement of economic governance. Given its geographical proximity to the southern Mediterranean, Europe's tall order for the next few decades is to create a Mediterranean area of functioning market economies that fully respect the rule of law.
L’ectopie testiculaire pénienne: à propos d’un cas
Authors: Diabaté I. , Bray K. , Sow I.
Published: June 2011

L’ectopie testiculaire pénienne (ETP) est une anomalie congénitale rare dont l’étiopathogénie est encore mal connue. Nous rapportons un cas d’ETP dorsale chez un enfant de deux ans. Le diagnostic évident n’a nécessité aucune exploration complémentaire. L’orchidopexie in dartos après avoir abaissé le testicule a été facile en raison de la longueur suffisante du cordon spermatique. Après trois ans, le testicule abaissé présentait un aspect normal. Au regard de la littérature, nous passons en revue les autres formes d’ETP et celles nécessitant une exploration complémentaire.
Perspectives on cloud computing: interviews with five leading scientists from the cloud community
Authors: Blair Gordon , Kon Fabio , Cirne Walfredo , Milojicic Dejan , Ramakrishnan Raghu , Reed Dan , Silva Dilma
Published: June 2011

Cloud computing is currently one of the major topics in distributed systems, with large numbers of papers being written on the topic, with major players in the industry releasing a range of software platforms offering novel Internet-based services and, most importantly, evidence of real impact on end user communities in terms of approaches to provisioning software services. Cloud computing though is at a formative stage, with a lot of hype surrounding the area, and this makes it difficult to see the true contribution and impact of the topic.

Cloud computing is a central topic for the Journal of Internet Services and Applications (JISA) and indeed the most downloaded paper from the first year of JISA is concerned with the state-of-the-art and research challenges related to cloud computing. The Editors-in-Chief, Fabio Kon and Gordon Blair, therefore felt it was timely to seek clarification on the key issues around cloud computing and hence invited five leading scientists from industrial organizations central to cloud computing to answer a series of questions on the topic.
White paper on radiation protection by the European Society of Radiology
Authors:   European Society of Radiology (ESR)
Published: June 2011

In the past decade, the medical effective dose per caput has increased in most European countries because of CT; it now ranges between 0.4 and 2 mSv/year. The biological impact of diagnostic imaging exposure is dominated by stochastic effects: based on the linear-no-threshold hypothesis, the risk of cancer induction is estimated to increase proportionally to organ dose, reaching around 0.5% at an effective dose of 100 mSv. The risk is higher the younger the age at the time of exposure, it is different for different organs, and women are more susceptible than men. Fluoroscopy-based imaging, above all intervention, may reach the dose threshold for deterministic effects, observed most often at the skin above around 3 Gy, and it is also the major source of occupational exposure in radiology. This white paper discusses the role of justification, evidence-based referral guidelines, optimization, diagnostic reference levels, clinical audits and quality assurance programs. The ESR strongly supports education and training of the medical staff involved in imaging by ionizing radiation. It disseminates information regarding radiation protection, takes initiatives, cooperates with partners and supports projects in justification as well as optimization. To reach these aims, the ESR cooperates with other organizations involved in radiation protection.
The Black Gender Gap in Educational Attainment: Historical Trends and Racial Comparisons
Authors: McDaniel Anne , DiPrete Thomas A. , Buchmann Claudia , Shwed Uri
Published: June 2011

It is often asserted that the gender gap in educational attainment is larger for blacks than whites, but historical trends comparing the black and white gender gap have received surprisingly little attention. Analysis of historical data from the U.S. census IPUMS samples shows that the gender gap in college completion has evolved differently for whites and blacks. Historically, the female advantage in educational attainment among blacks is linked to more favorable labor market opportunities and stronger incentives for employment for educated black women. Blacks, particularly black males, still lag far behind whites in their rates of college completion, but the striking educational gains of white women have caused the racial patterns of gender differences in college completion rates to grow more similar over time. While some have linked the disadvantaged position of black males to their high risk of incarceration, our estimates suggest that incarceration has a relatively small impact on the black gender gap and the racial gap in college completion rates for males in the United States.
Does Market Orientation Make Sense?
Authors: Wensley Robin
Published: June 2011

Rong and Wilkinson (2011) correctly argue that survey data reveals more about the cognitive maps of key informants than the underlying relations among MO and performance. I argue that treating MO as a latent variable is problematic, analysis should focus on individual observations or cases rather than “variate traces.” There is critical concern about the ability of surveys of key informants to elicit individual cognitive causal maps or to produce an “objective” causal map that can be generalised. These issues lead to the need for different types of research methodologies.
Repeat traumatic brain injury in the developing brain
Authors: Prins M.L. , Giza C.C.
Published: June 2011

The Center for Disease Control estimates that there are 1.7 million brain injuries in the US each year with 51% of these injuries occurring during periods of cerebral development. Among this population there is a growing population of individuals with repeat traumatic brain injury (RTBI). While the exact incidence is unknown, estimates range from 5.6 to 36% of the TBI population. This review summarizes the clinical problems/challenges and experimental research models that currently exist. It is intended to reveal the critical areas that need to be addressed so that age‐relevant clinical management guidelines can be established to protect this population.
Building capacity for cervical cancer screening in outpatient HIV clinics in the Nyanza province of western Kenya
Authors: Huchko Megan J. , Bukusi Elizabeth A. , Cohen Craig R.
Published: June 2011

Objective

To evaluate outcomes of cervical cancer screening within HIV care and treatment clinics in Kenya.

Methods

Beginning in October 2007, visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA), colposcopy, and loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) were added to the clinical services offered at Family AIDS Care and Education Services (FACES) clinics in Kisumu, Kenya, after a systematic campaign to build capacity and community awareness.

Results

From October 2007 to October 2010, 3642 women underwent VIA as part of routine HIV care. Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3 was identified in 259 (7.1%) women, who were offered excisional treatment by LEEP in the clinic. Among those women offered screening, uptake was 87%. Clinical staff reported a high level of satisfaction with training for and implementation of cervical cancer screening strategies.

Conclusion

Cervical cancer screening and prevention are feasible, acceptable, and effective within HIV care and treatment clinics. Screening test performance characteristics need to be defined for an HIV‐positive population to determine the cost/benefit ratio of lower cost strategies that will ultimately be necessary to provide universal access to cervical cancer screening in low‐resource settings.
Experimental investigation of laminar turbulent intermittency in pipe flow
Authors: SAMANTA DEVRANJAN , DE LOZAR ALBERTO , HOF BJÖRN
Published: June 2011

In shear flows, turbulence first occurs in the form of localized structures (puffs/spots) surrounded by laminar fluid. We here investigate such spatially intermittent flows in a pipe experiment showing that turbulent puffs have a well-defined interaction distance, which sets their minimum spacing as well as the maximum observable turbulent fraction. Two methodologies are employed. Starting from a laminar flow, puffs are first created by locally injecting a jet of fluid through the pipe wall. When the perturbation is applied periodically at low frequencies, as expected, a regular sequence of puffs is observed where the puff spacing is given by the ratio of the mean flow speed to the perturbation frequency. At large frequencies however puffs are found to interact and annihilate each other. Varying the perturbation frequency, an interaction distance is determined which sets the highest possible turbulence fraction. This enables us to establish an upper bound for the friction factor in the transitional regime, which provides a well-defined link between the Blasius and the Hagen-Poiseuille friction laws. In the second set of experiments, the Reynolds number is reduced suddenly from fully turbulent to the intermittent regime. The resulting flow reorganizes itself to a sequence of constant size puffs which, unlike in Couette and Taylor–Couette flow are randomly spaced. The minimum distance between the turbulent patches is identical to the puff interaction length. The puff interaction length is found to be in agreement with the wavelength of regular stripe and spiral patterns in plane Couette and Taylor–Couette flow.
Having or Doing Intellectual Property Rights? Transgenic Seed on the Edge between Refeudalisation and Napsterisation
Authors: Schubert Johannes , Böschen Stefan , Gill Bernhard
Published: June 2011

In contrast to neoliberal rhetoric, the commercialisation of knowledge has proved to be an intricate endeavour that implies unexpected effects. Taking Monsanto’s transgenic canola and its propertisation regime as an example, we will shed some light on the counterintuitive phenomenon that strong intellectual property rights are in heavy contrast to the liberal utopia of full commodification,i.e.universal competition and ideal type market relationships. We will find that Monsanto, in order to avoid Napsterisation, has established and still maintains a rather repressive commercialisation regime that maximises property control by strongly reducing the exchangeability of seed and crops. It can therefore be interpreted as a new form of landlord dominion which contradicts the modernist idea of concordance between market liberalisation and individual emancipation.
Transborder Membership Politics in Germany and Korea
Authors: Brubaker Rogers , Kim Jaeeun
Published: June 2011

This paper examines changing German and Korean policies towards transborder coethnics (Germans in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, and Koreans in Japan and China) during the high Cold War and post-Cold War eras. The paper contributes to the emerging literature on transborder forms of membership and belonging by highlighting and explaining the selective, variable, contingent, contested, and revocable nature of states’ embrace of transborder coethnics. The explanation highlights the relationship of transborder populations to predecessor polities; changing geopolitical contexts and domestic political conjunctures; the constitutive, group-making – and group-unmaking – power of state categorization practices; and the enduring institutional legacies and unintended consequences of such practices.
Administering Secularization: Religious Education in New South Wales since 1960
Authors: Mayrl Damon
Published: June 2011

This paper examines the development of religious education policy in the government schools of New South Wales (Australia) since 1960. The New South Wales religious education curriculum features three components: (1) teacher-led “general religious education” (gre); (2) right-of-entry denominational instruction provided by visiting clergy (“special religious education”, orsre); and (3) occasional additional devotional exercises such as hymns and prayers. Between 1960 and 1980, this system underwent a partial secularization.grewas transformed from a straightforward course in Christianity built around government-produced Scripture readers to a flexible curricular component built around the academic study of multiple religions. At the same time,srewas strengthened and had its position in the curriculum secured; and devotional exercises were allowed to continue only in those settings where they formed an “appropriate” match with the community. I find that “secularizing” reforms were most consistently driven by teachers and administrators with practical motives: avoiding controversy, improving working conditions, and facilitating class management. This finding both challenges and complements recent works that interpret secularization as a political process driven by politicians and professionals primarily interested in enhancing their power or prestige at the expense of religious actors.
Thick Concepts and the Moral Brain
Authors: Abend Gabriel
Published: June 2011

Drawing on Williams’ distinction between thin and thick ethical concepts, I argue that current moral neuroscience and psychology unwarrantedly restrict their researches to thin morality only. Experiments typically investigate subjects’ judgments about rightness, appropriateness, or permissibility, that is, thin concepts. The nature and workings of thick concepts –e.g., dignity, integrity, humanness, cruelty, pettiness, exploitation, or fanaticism – have not been empirically investigated; hence, they are absent from recent theories about morality. This may seem like a minor oversight, which some additional research can redress. I argue that the fix is not that simple: thick concepts challenge one of the theoretical backbones of much moral psychology and neuroscience; they challenge the conception of a hardwired and universal moral capacity in a way that thin concepts do not. In the conclusion I argue that the burgeoning science of morality should include both thin and thick, and that it should include the contributions of psychologists and neuroscientists as well as those of anthropologists, historians, and sociologists.
AN ELEMENTARY PROOF OF JAMES’ CHARACTERIZATION OF WEAK COMPACTNESS
Authors: MOORS WARREN B.
Published: June 2011

In this paper we provide an elementary proof of James’ characterization of weak compactness in separable Banach spaces. The proof of the theorem does not rely upon either Simons’ inequality or any integral representation theorems. In fact the proof only requires the Krein–Milman theorem, Milman’s theorem and the Bishop–Phelps theorem.
Long-term dietary antioxidant cocktail supplementation effectively reduces renal inflammation in diabetic mice
Authors: Park Na-Young , Park Seul-Ki , Lim Yunsook
Published: June 2011

Diabetic nephropathy is a serious complication for diabetic patients, yet the precise mechanism that underlies the development of diabetic complications remains unknown. We hypothesised that dietary antioxidant supplementation with singleN-acetylcysteine (NAC) or vitamin C combined with either vitamin E or vitamin E and NAC improves diabetic renal inflammation through the modulation of blood glucose levels, oxidative stress and inflammatory response. Experimental animals were treated with alloxan monohydrate to induce diabetes. Mice were divided into five groups and supplemented with single or a combination of antioxidants. Body weights and blood glucose levels were measured once a week. After 8 weeks of dietary antioxidant supplementation, mice were killed and blood urea N (BUN) and plasma creatinine levels were measured to evaluate renal function. NF-κB protein was indirectly demonstrated by the phosphorylated IκBα (pIκBα) level, and the expressions of oxidative stress- and inflammatory response-related proteins were also determined. We demonstrated that dietary antioxidant supplementation decreased lipid peroxidation levels demonstrated by thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances, BUN and plasma creatinine levels in diabetic kidneys. Moreover, dietary antioxidant cocktail supplementation improved blood glucose levels and selectively regulated the expressions of Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase, haeme oxygenase-1, pIκBα, inducible NO synthase, cyclo-oxygenase-2 and C-reactive protein in diabetic kidneys effectively. These findings demonstrated that diabetic renal failure was associated with inflammatory responses induced by hyperglycaemia. In addition, results in the study suggest that antioxidant cocktail supplementation may have beneficial effects on diabetic nephropathy through selective reduction of blood glucose levels and inflammatory response.
Diet × genotype interactions in hepatic cholesterol and lipoprotein metabolism in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in response to replacement of dietary fish oil with vegetable oil
Authors: Morais Sofia , Pratoomyot Jarunan , Torstensen Bente E. , Taggart John B. , Guy Derrick R. , Gordon Bell J. , Tocher Douglas R.
Published: June 2011

The present study investigates the effects of genotype on responses to alternative feeds in Atlantic salmon. Microarray analysis of the liver transcriptome of two family groups, lean or fat, fed a diet containing either a fish oil (FO) or a vegetable oil (VO) blend indicated that pathways of cholesterol and lipoprotein metabolism might be differentially affected by the diet depending on the genetic background of the fish, and this was further investigated by real-time quantitative PCR, plasma and lipoprotein biochemical analysis. Results indicate a reduction in VLDL and LDL levels, with no changes in HDL, when FO is replaced by VO in the lean family group, whereas in fat fish fed FO, levels of apoB-containing lipoproteins were low and comparable with those fed VO in both family groups. Significantly lower levels of plasma TAG and LDL-TAG were measured in the fat group that was independent of diet, whereas plasma cholesterol was significantly higher in fish fed the FO diet in both groups. Hepatic expression of genes involved in cholesterol homeostasis, β-oxidation and lipoprotein metabolism showed relatively subtle changes. A significantly lower expression of genes considered anti-atherogenic in mammals (ATP-binding cassette transporter A1, apoAI, scavenger receptor class B type 1, lipoprotein lipase (LPL)b (TC67836) and LPLc (TC84899)) was found in lean fish, compared with fat fish, when fed VO. Furthermore, the lean family group appeared to show a greater response to diet composition in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway, mediated by sterol-responsive element-binding protein 2. Finally, the presence of three different transcripts for LPL, with differential patterns of nutritional regulation, was demonstrated.
Cultural-practice packages and trash management effects on sugarcane ratoons under sub-tropical climatic conditions of India
Authors: SINGH S. N. , SINGH A. K. , MALIK J. P. S. , KUMAR R. , SUNDERPAL  , SHARMA M. L.
Published: June 2011

Sugarcane (Saccharumspp.) ratoon crops comprise more than 0·50 of India's sugarcane acreage and reduce the cost of cultivation by 25–30%. However, ratooning is seldom practised beyond 1–2 ratoons because the yield declines in successive ratoons due to compacted soils with decreased fertility restricting root development and plant growth. Therefore, a field experiment on sugarcane was conducted from 1998 to 2003 at the Sugarcane Research Institute, Muzzaffarnagar (Uttar Pradesh), India to evaluate the effects of combinations of trash management with key cultural practices (stubble shaving, ridge dismantling, sub-soiling along stubble rows, trash mulching and earthing-up) on growth and yield of sugarcane up to the third ratoon. Two treatment combinations (ridge dismantling+stubble shaving+sub-soiling along stubble rows+trash mulching at 8 t/ha (T5) and all these plus earthing-up in June (T6)) showed similar growth, yield and economics of ratoon crops. Both these treatments produced significantly higher shoot populations, leaf area index (LAI), dry matter (DM) accumulation, net assimilation rate (NAR), number of millable canes, ratoon cane yield and sugar, soil organic carbon (SOC) content at harvest and higher net returns besides lowering weed density, weed dry weight and bulk density of soil compared with other treatments. T6produced the highest cane yield of 77, 72 and 65 tonnes (t)/ha, which was 23, 27 and 29% more than trash burning alone (T1) in first, second and third ratoon crops, respectively. Although T6had the same yield as T5, it led to significantly lower soil bulk density at 0–150 mm depth, higher SOC contents and greater benefit: cost ratios in the first, second and third ratoon crops, respectively compared with trash burning only. Adoption of the crop management components, separately or in combination, improved on trash burning only (the control treatment). Trash mulching sustained the improved yield and economic returns of sugarcane ratoon crops.
‘Ibi Papa, ubi Roma’: Urban V and his Household between Avignon and Rome, 1367
Authors: POLANCEC IVAN
Published: June 2011

This article investigates the financial arrangements put in place by Pope Urban V to pay for his household on his journey from Avignon to Rome in 1367. It shows that the curia's move had a disruptive effect, since its normal routine of paying expenses at the end of each month could not be continued while the court was in transit. In order to deal with these exceptional circumstances, household officials were given a special advance payment in anticipation of the costs that would be incurred on the journey, which in effect set a budget for the pope's domestic expenditure.
X-ray emission of Xe30+ ion beam impacting on Au target
Authors: Zhang Xiaoan , Zhao Yongtao , Hoffmann Dieter H.H. , Yang Zhihu , Chen Ximeng , Xu Zhongfeng , Li Fuli , Xiao Guoqing
Published: June 2011

X-ray emission from Xe30+ ions at 350–600 keV impacting on an Au target was investigated at the Heavy Ion Research Facility at Lanzhou. Characteristic X-rays of Xe ions at energy of about 1.65 keV were observed. This X-ray emission is induced by the decay of very high Rydberg states of Xe ions. It was also found that the yield of such characteristic X-rays is decreasing with increasing the projectile kinetic energy. Simultaneously, the yield of the characteristic Au X-rays from the M shell increases also. These phenomena are qualitatively analyzed with the classical Coulomb over the Barrier Mode (COBM) for highly charged ions interacting with solid state surfaces.
Global strict solutions to continuous coagulation–fragmentation equations with strong fragmentation
Authors: Banasiak Jacek , Lamb Wilson
Published: June 2011

We give an elementary proof of the unique, global-in-time solvability of the coagulation–(multiple) fragmentation equation with polynomially bounded fragmentation and particle production rates and a bounded coagulation rate. The proof relies on a new result concerning domain invariance for the fragmentation semigroup which is based on a simple monotonicity argument.
A mathematical analysis of tsunami generation in shallow water due to seabed deformation
Authors: Iguchi Tatsuo
Published: June 2011

In numerical computations of tsunamis due to submarine earthquakes, it is frequently assumed that the initial displacement of the water surface is equal to the permanent shift of the seabed and that the initial velocity field is equal to zero and the shallow-water equations are often used to simulate the propagation of tsunamis. We give a mathematically rigorous justification of this tsunami model starting from the full water-wave problem by comparing the solution of the full problem with that of the tsunami model. We also show that, in some cases, we have to impose a non-zero initial velocity field, which arises as a nonlinear effect.