bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of Cultural Perspectives on Verbal Deception in Competitive Contexts
Authors: Dmytro Dana , Lo Jesse , O’Leary Jennifer , Fu Genyue , Lee Kang , Cameron Catherine Ann
Published: May 2014

Verbal deception may be considered morally reprehensible or acceptable depending on culturally relevant contextual factors and ethical perspectives. In the current study, Euro-Canadian ( n = 180) and Han Chinese ( n = 180) children ages 8 to 16 were recruited to investigate their moral evaluations of lying and truth-telling in competitive situations. The participants classified a story character’s statement told to either harm or help themselves or collectives of various group sizes (i.e., their class, school, or country) as a lie, the truth, or something else. Participants then made moral judgments regarding the statements and provided justifications for their evaluations. Chinese children’s evaluations became more nuanced with age: They evaluated lies told to benefit a collective as less negative than Canadian children, and truths told to harm a collective as more negative. These evaluations became more pronounced with the increasing size of the collectivity. Cultural and contextual factors relevant to evaluations and justifications of verbal deception are discussed.
Facilitation of the SUS-TAS Application with Parsimony, Predictive Validity, and Global Interpretation Examination
Authors: Zhang Ye , Cole Shu Tian , Chancellor Charles Herbert
Published: May 2014

The Sustainable Tourism Attitude Scale (SUS-TAS) has been widely recognized as a promising instrument for evaluating tourism sustainability. Scholars have successfully validated this scale across contexts. This study carries forward the fruitful outcomes of previous SUS-TAS studies by exploring some possible facilitations of the SUS-TAS application efficiency and scope. Using data from 11 Midwestern U.S. counties, this study (1) found a maximally parsimonious 20-item SUS-TAS that facilitates data collection efficiency without compromising the psychometrical properties, (2) verified SUS-TAS’s predictive validity as in predicting residents’ intention to engage in tourism planning at different levels, and (3) suggested that SUS-TAS is best interpreted by seven separate dimensions rather than a global factor. The extended applications and possible further refinements for the scale are also discussed.
Communicating Scientific Uncertainty
Authors: Retzbach Andrea , Maier Michaela
Published: May 2014

Scientific results are always afflicted with some uncertainty, especially where emerging technologies are concerned. While there are normative and practical reasons to call for an open admission of scientific uncertainties, concerns about detrimental effects of such communication on public engagement with science have been raised in the literature. The present study was conducted to investigate how the communication of scientific uncertainty in nanotechnology influences laypeople’s interest in science and new technologies, beliefs about the nature of science, and trust in scientists. In a longitudinal field experiment, 945 participants were exposed to six real-world media reports (TV features and newspaper articles) on nanotechnology. Contrary to our expectations, the communication of scientific uncertainties was unable to change general beliefs about the nature of science. However, it had no detrimental effect on the trust in scientists, and with respect to interest in science and new technologies, slightly positive effects were observed.
The legal regulation of political parties: Contesting or promoting legitimacy?
Authors: Rashkova Ekaterina R , van Biezen Ingrid
Published: May 2014

Recent waves of social protests have brought a renewed interest in the notion of political legitimacy. The increasing adoption of party regulation as a means to secure legitimacy, however, leads to several paradoxes. One such paradox is the fact that those who establish the rules about political parties are representatives of the political parties themselves. Despite this existing contention, the relationship between political legitimacy and party regulation has received little scholarly attention. Addressing this relationship, our special issue brings together articles that seek to answer questions about the potential and actual effects of legal rules. Drawing on rich empirical evidence, the underlying message of the contributions is that while rules are important, they do not give the whole story. After presenting the research included in the volume, we emphasise that regulation in itself does not necessarily promote political legitimacy. Therefore the adoption of additional rules, whether to constrain or liberate party behaviour, is not sufficient to legitimise those in power. Rather, we argue that the more important factor to consider is that of implementation.
Describing Spirituality at the End of Life
Authors: Stephenson Pam Shockey , Berry Devon M.
Published: May 2014

Spirituality is salient to persons nearing the end of life (EOL). Unfortunately, researchers have not been able to agree on a universal definition of spirituality reducing the effectiveness of spiritual research. To advance spiritual knowledge and build an evidence base, researchers must develop creative ways to describe spirituality as it cannot be explicitly defined. A literature review was conducted to determine the common attributes that comprise the essence of spirituality, thereby creating a common ground on which to base spiritual research. Forty original research articles (2002 to 2012) focusing on EOL and including spiritual definitions/descriptions were reviewed. Analysis identified five attributes that most commonly described the essence of spirituality, including meaning, beliefs, connecting, self-transcendence, and value.
Sociology and the critique of neoliberalism
Authors: Johnson Pauline
Published: May 2014

Neoliberalism’s project of making the market the model for all modern freedoms means that critique needs to be able to unmask the distortions and to weigh the costs of its cultural appropriations and resignifications. This diagnostic/evaluative task presents a seeming challenge to the sociologist who is also answerable to scientific purposes that demand objectivity and impartiality. This article investigates two very different attempts to grasp this nettle. It contrasts Peter Wagner’s proposal to reclaim critique as ‘an essential feature of the social sciences’ with Axel Honneth’s call for a reinvigoration of the ‘sociologizing dimension’ of a critical theory tradition. It is argued that neither approach is fully adequate to the challenges set by neoliberalism. The final section of the article suggests that to demonstrate the efficacy of sociology’s contribution to a critique of neoliberalism we need to review the relationship between theoretical reflection and everyday thinking and permit the former to do more analytic/evaluative work.
The effects of direct sunlight on light shelf performance under tropical sky
Authors: Lim Yaik-Wah , Ahmad Mohd Hamdan
Published: May 2014

As daylight is dynamic, there is no one common solution for all scenarios. Understanding of sky conditions is the fundamental to effective daylighting. It is more critical in tropical climate where the sky is predominantly intermediate with inconsistent presence of direct sunlight (DSL). Thereby, daylighting performances of several light shelf configurations were experimented with physical scaled model under actual tropical sky conditions. External illuminance and indoor work plane illuminance (WPI) levels were measured concurrently in a reference model and a test model for comparisons. Daylight ratio or daylight factor and WPI uniformity ratio were computed for analysis. From the results, different optimum cases were identified for various sky conditions. Light shelves performed the best under intermediate sky with DSL from low angle. The highest improvement in WPI at deep room area and WPI uniformity were 24.87% and 364.96%, respectively. The performances of light shelves under overcast sky were better than light shelf under intermediate sky without DSL. This paper concluded that designing light shelf by responding to changeable sky conditions and DSL is more crucial than considering the façade orientations. Dynamic light shelf was proposed to configure the optimum cases for each tropical sky conditions.
Heritage conservation futures in an age of shifting global power
Authors: Winter Tim
Published: May 2014

This article argues that international conservation and heritage governance are now entering new and historically important phases. The economic and political shifts that characterize globalization today are providing a platform for non-Western modes of heritage governance to gain newfound legitimacy on the international stage. With the appropriation of cultural heritage for commercial and political purposes occurring at all levels within the emerging economies of Asia, South America, the Middle East, and Africa, heritage conservation aid now plays an important role in the cultural diplomacy and soft power strategies of numerous countries in these regions. Analyses of the globalization of heritage governance in the mid–late 20th century have focused primarily on intergovernmental bodies, such as UNESCO, at the expense of critically reading the role nation-states continue to play in international conservation and heritage governance policy. Using examples from Asia, this paper addresses this imbalance by re-centering the nation-state in an account that argues the rise of heritage diplomacy, coupled with today’s shifting global order and ongoing reduction in UNESCO’s capacity, hold important implications for heritage conservation over the coming decades.
From experience to action in recovery-oriented mental health practice: A first person inquiry
Authors: Kidd Susan , Kenny Amanda , McKinstry Carol
Published: May 2014

This article reports on the development of critical subjectivity, in a cooperative inquiry study, which aimed to use principles of consumer participation to explore and develop recovery-oriented care in a regional mental health service in rural Australia. The development of critical subjectivity occurred when the lead researcher began to understand her role as an ‘insider’ in perpetuating dominant institutional culture through her work practices. The findings illustrate the way lived experience perspectives were excluded, invisible and considered ‘outsider’ in relation to dominant biomedical epistemology. As the researcher participated in a more relational participatory process and documented her thinking, her knowledge of her work practices began to change and this contributed to the transformation in her practice. Action research is a tool that supports shared dialogue to enable culture change necessary for recovery-oriented practice.
Sulodexide as Adjunctive Therapy in Diabetic Foot Patients With Critical Limb Ischemia Treated With Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty
Authors: Piaggesi Alberto , Abbruzzese Lorenza , Mattaliano Chiara , Bargellini Irene , Cicorelli Antonello , Iacopi Elisabetta , Lunardi Alessandro , Coppelli Alberto , Goretti Chiara , Cioni Roberto
Published: May 2014

We evaluated the safety and efficacy of sulodexide, a biocompound of glycosamin-glicans, as adjunct medical therapy to percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI). We studied 27 consecutive DM patients with CLI successfully subjected to PTA who, on top of standard antiplatelet therapy, received sulodexide 25 mg bid, and were followed-up for 24 weeks, monitoring adverse events, transcutaneous oxygen tension (TcPO2), ankle–brachial pressure index, pain, and ulcer dimension. At the end of follow-up, ulcer healing, amputation rates, and cardiovascular risk profile of patients were evaluated. Patients were compared with a historical superimposable control group that was treated for the same indications in the same way as the study group, except for sulodexide inception. No differences in ulcer healing and amputation rates were found at the end of follow-up between the groups. In the study group, TcPO2 was significantly ( P < .05) higher at the end of follow-up, and pain intensity was reduced more rapidly. Plasma fibrinogen and plasma creatinine concentration were significantly ( P < .05) reduced in study group at the end of follow-up. No differences in adverse events were observed between the groups during follow-up. Our data suggest that sulodexide administration after PTA, on top of antiplatelet therapy, may improve the outcome of PTA in DM patients with CLI by improving microcirculatory function.
Urogenital atrophy
Authors: Sturdee David
Published: May 2014

The British Menopause Society Council aims to aid health professionals in providing up to date and informed advice about post reproductive health. This guidance refers to the long-term, but often ignored condition of urogenital atrophy resulting from postmenopausal estrogen deficiency. Treatment should be based on up to date information and targeted to the needs of the individual woman. Non-estrogen- and estrogen-containing treatments are discussed.
Cytochrome P450 site of metabolism prediction from 2D topological fingerprints using GPU accelerated probabilistic classifiers
Authors: Tyzack Jonathan D , Mussa Hamse Y , Williamson Mark J , Kirchmair Johannes , Glen Robert C
Published: May 2014

Background

The prediction of sites and products of metabolism in xenobiotic compounds is key to the development of new chemical entities, where screening potential metabolites for toxicity or unwanted side-effects is of crucial importance. In this work 2D topological fingerprints are used to encode atomic sites and three probabilistic machine learning methods are applied: Parzen-Rosenblatt Window (PRW), Naive Bayesian (NB) and a novel approach called RASCAL (Random Attribute Subsampling Classification ALgorithm). These are implemented by randomly subsampling descriptor space to alleviate the problem often suffered by data mining methods of having to exactly match fingerprints, and in the case of PRW by measuring a distance between feature vectors rather than exact matching. The classifiers have been implemented in CUDA/C++ to exploit the parallel architecture of graphical processing units (GPUs) and is freely available in a public repository.

Results

It is shown that for PRW a SoM (Site of Metabolism) is identified in the top two predictions for 85%, 91% and 88% of the CYP 3A4, 2D6 and 2C9 data sets respectively, with RASCAL giving similar performance of 83%, 91% and 88%, respectively. These results put PRW and RASCAL performance ahead of NB which gave a much lower classification performance of 51%, 73% and 74%, respectively.

Conclusions

2D topological fingerprints calculated to a bond depth of 4-6 contain sufficient information to allow the identification of SoMs using classifiers based on relatively small data sets. Thus, the machine learning methods outlined in this paper are conceptually simpler and more efficient than other methods tested and the use of simple topological descriptors derived from 2D structure give results competitive with other approaches using more expensive quantum chemical descriptors. The descriptor space subsampling approach and ensemble methodology allow the methods to be applied to molecules more distant from the training data where data mining would be more likely to fail due to the lack of common fingerprints. The RASCAL algorithm is shown to give equivalent classification performance to PRW but at lower computational expense allowing it to be applied more efficiently in the ensemble scheme.
Association of diabetic peripheral arterial disease and objectively-measured physical activity: NHANES 2003-2004
Authors: Loprinzi Paul D , Abbott Kalen
Published: May 2014

Background

Although much is known about the management of peripheral arterial disease among adults in the general population, the management of this disease among those with diabetes, and the effects of diabetic-induced peripheral arterial disease on objectively-measured physical activity, is unclear. Here, we examined the association between accelerometer-assessed physical activity and peripheral arterial disease among a national sample of U.S. adults with diabetes.

Methods

Data from the 2003–2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used. Physical activity was measured using an accelerometer in 254 adults with diabetes. Peripheral arterial disease was assessed via ankle brachial index. Negative binomial regression analysis was used to examine the association between physical activity and peripheral arterial disease.

Results

Results were adjusted for age, gender, race-ethnicity, comorbidity index, smoking, HgbA1C, C-reactive protein, homocysteine, glomerular filtration rate, microalbuminuria, peripheral neuropathy, physical functioning, and medication use. After adjustments, participants with peripheral arterial disease engaged in 23% less physical activity (RR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.62-0.96) than those without peripheral arterial disease.

Conclusions

These findings demonstrate an inverse association between accelerometer-assessed physical activity and peripheral arterial disease in a national sample of U.S adults with diabetes.
Rapid ultra-performance liquid chromatography assay of losartan potassium in bulk and formulations
Authors: Ahmad Tarab J , Raj Amruth , Radhika Rayapura T , Ananda Sannaiah , Gowda Netkal M , Venkatesha Bellale M
Published: May 2014

Background

Losartan potassium is a non-peptide AT1 receptor drug used in the treatment of hypertension.

Methods

A simple, rapid, sensitive, and validated isocratic reverse-phase ultra-performance liquid chromatographic (RP-UPLC) method was developed and validated for the determination of losartan potassium (LOS) in bulk drug and tablets. The assay was developed using Waters Acquity BEH C18 (100 mm × 2.1 mm), 1.7-μm column with a mobile phase consisting of a mixture of phosphate buffer (pH 3.2) and acetonitrile (50:50 v/v).

Results

An assay with a total run time of only 5 min was developed. The method monitored at 245 nm exhibited linearity over a concentration range of 2.0 to 15.0 μg mL−1 LOS. The limits of detection and quantification (signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) = 10) were found be 0.018 and 0.054 μg mL−1, respectively. The intraday and interday RSDs were less than 1.0%. The method was validated by the determination of LOS levels in tablets where the percentage on the label claim was 100 ± 2. The accuracy of the method was further ascertained by recovery studies via the standard addition procedure, which yielded satisfactory results.

Conclusion

A rapid UPLC assay of LOS in bulk drug and tablets was developed and validated.
“Ain’t One Limb Enough?” Historicizing Disability in the American Novel
Authors: Altschuler Sari
Published: May 2014

This essay traces disability’s entry into the American novel. It argues that disability was largely absent from the first US novels and that it emerged into US fiction only after the War of 1812 (1812-1815). The cultural logic of disability in later periods was largely incompatible with the historical circumstances and the generic conventions of the early national novel. Furthermore, when impaired figures entered American fiction in the late 1810s and 1820s, their bodies were not stigmatized, but rather crippled bodies most often signified a legible and laudable history of patriotism. I conclude by returning to Moby-Dick to demonstrate how this genealogy of disability representation opens up new ways of reading canonical disability-studies texts and of illuminating the cultural shift from impairment to identity. More broadly, this essay urges scholars to carefully historicize discussions of disability in American literary and cultural studies.
Place-Names in Mexico-Tenochtitlan
Authors: Mundy Barbara E.
Published: May 2014

The place-names that residents of the Mexica capital of Tenochtitlan (today Mexico City) gave to their city were both descriptive of topography and commemorative of history. Largely effaced from the Spanish historical register, Mexico City's Nahuatl place-names were rescued from historical oblivion by José Antonio Alzate in the eighteenth century and again by Alfonso Caso in the twentieth. However, effacement is not equal to extinction, and this article argues for the continued use, even creation, of Nahuatl place-names into the eighteenth century. It suggests that the scholar's desire to use place-names as an index to a pre-Hispanic past has obscured the vital presence of the city's Nahua people, and their language, in the colonial period.
Migrations of the Holy: Explaining Religious Change in Medieval and Early Modern Europe
Authors: Walsham Alexandra
Published: May 2014

This reflective essay focuses upon the theoretical problem of explaining religious change in medieval and early modern Europe without perpetuating inherited paradigms of progress and modernization. First, it assesses and challenges prevailing models of periodization through an analytical overview of recent historiographical interpretations of four interconnected processes: conversion and Christianization, reform and reformation, “disenchantment” and desacralization, and religious persecution and pluralization. Secondly, it examines the consequences of the range of methodological approaches and conceptual frameworks adopted by scholars of these topics, together with the impact of interdisciplinary tendencies and influences. Thirdly, it explores the strengths and weaknesses of thinking less in terms of linear historical development than in terms of a series of cycles of religious change. A critical theme underpinning the discussion is the insight that the epistemological conventions that shape our understanding of the past are the product of the very religious and intellectual movements that are the subject of our study.
Annulated Borepin-1-ol: Coordinative Control of Aromaticity and Photophysical Properties
Authors: Lee Hyekyung , Cha Inhwan , Lee Eun Ji , Lee Yunmi , Kim Yong Ho , Song Changsik
Published: May 2014

Annulated borepinol 1 was designed and synthesized. Borepinol 1 exhibited aromaticity that could be controlled by coordination at the boron center. Disrupted coordination by nucleophiles resulted in blue shifts in the UV–vis spectra, and this coordination was affected by the molecular structure of the nucleophiles. Borepinol 1 appeared to selectively bind to dopamine over norepinephrine, which are normally difficult to differentiate.
Direct Fabrication of LaTiO2N Photoanode for Visible-light-driven Water Splitting
Authors: Izawa Chihiro , Watanabe Tomoaki
Published: May 2014

This study demonstrates direct fabrication of a visible-light-responsive LaTiO2N film via nitridation of the La2Ti2O7 film hydrothermally prepared on a titanium substrate as an oxide precursor. The thickness and surface morphology of the film were not significantly affected by nitridation. An anodic photocurrent was observed for the LaTiO2N film fabricated using colloidal IrO2 as a cocatalyst for the oxidation of water, indicating the oxidation of water. This implies that the fabricated LaTiO2N film functions as an n-type semiconductor electrode under visible-light irradiation.
Development of a Hand-Held near Infrared System Based on an Android OS and MicroNIR, and its Application in Measuring Soluble Solids Content in Fuji Apples
Authors: Yan Hui , Lu Dao-Li , Chen Bin , Hansen Wei G.
Published: May 2014

Near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy has been widely applied in the areas of agriculture, food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries because of its advantages such as its speed, non-destructive nature and simultaneous detection of multiple components. However, most existing NIR instruments are too large to be carried into the field. Herein, we have developed an interface by which the application (app) runs on a smart phone (or tablet) to drive a miniature NIR spectrometer (MicroNIR, a product of the JDSU Uniphase Corporation). This app has three modules; the first drives the hardware to control the spectrometer; the second facilitates graphical display of spectral data, spectral pretreatment according to method provided by the model file and production of a calculated result while the third is the management of models, samples, spectral parameter setting and an address book. We have used this app with the MicroNIR to measure soluble solids content (SSC) in Fuji apples in the field; results were compatible with the reference results based on an Abbé refractometer analysis. To conclude, this new hand-held NIR spectroscopy system based on android device is convenient and practical in rapid measurement of SSC of Fuji apples in the field. It has potential to be used for in situ measurement of other constituents of agriculture products.
Elaboration of Measures for Improvement of Labor Conditions and Labor Protection of Agro-Industrial Complex Workers
Authors: Гаврикова  , Gavrikova E.
Published: May 2014

The analysis related to air’s bacterial content in working zone of livestock and poultry-farming rooms, and plants on

utilization of veterinary and sanitary rejects has been carried out. Regression dependences between bacterial aerosol

concentration, level of immunity and incidence of workers have been established. An overall having higher protective

characteristics at contact with bacterial factor on comparison with existing overalls has been developed. A way and device

for express definition of microorganisms’ content in overalls materials have been offered. Extraction of microorganisms

from overalls’ fabrics and materials is carried out by condensation method on Peltier module cooled surface. Calculation

of module’s elements has been made. A new disinfecting additive to detergent based on peroxide compounds allowing

combine operations of special clothes’ washing and disinfection has been developed and approved in laboratory conditions.
Role of State Communications Policy in the Process of Learner Sociocultural Competence Development
Authors: Юдин Михаил , Yudin Mikhail , Абрамов Андрей , Abramov Andrey
Published: May 2014

The article presents the results of the authors’ research into the role of state communications policy in the process of learner sociocultural competence development (case study: higher education institutions offering the tourism industry personnel training programmes). The driving force behind the research was the authors’ belief in the unmonitored and frequently destructive influence of the media in general and the Internet in particular on the personality development of the youth, especially on the development of the system of values and social competences of those majoring in tourism-related disciplines. The research was empirically based of the starting data obtained from media publications content and interviews with educational process participants. The analysis of the data shows the disbalanced representation such dominants as ethics and communication standards, the ethics of cross-cultural communication, specifics of cross-cultural communication, tolerance, human ecology, human capital development, all of which are significant in terms of their positive contribution to the students’ moral development. The results of the research bring the authors to the conclusion that it is imperative that the state should initiate a professional inspection of the Internet content, especially the media publications concerning Russian history and the strategic objectives of modern Russian social development. The authors also propose a revised model of the state communications policy implementation as applied to the development of sociocultural competences of students majoring in tourism-related disciplines. The three levels of the model structure are the content level, the index level, and the reference level. The content level presupposes a targeted development of content; the index level involves quality inspections of media publications; the reference level concerns the creation of expert consultation mechanisms available for web communities and blogger to ensure high quality consistency and data soundness of the content produced.
Surveying Act Hunger and Role Accessibility in Training Groups
Authors: Hale Ann E.
Published: May 2014

Managing the choice process for highly valued roles in psychodrama training groups is shared by the trainee, their peers, and the trainers. Access to these roles is essential for those studying to become psychodramatists. This article introduces an experimental sociometric tool designed to examine underlying perceptions held individually that have a collective impact on the students' choice-making process. Data from the Role Accessibility Perception Survey1 reveals to the participants an underlying hierarchy that, over time, may develop into subgroups. The survey results, when discussed, may be used to facilitate role relief for some while suggesting greater access to roles for others less highly chosen in the past. The impact of absences, ride sharing, and less visible norms on an ongoing training group's choice process may also be revealed. The survey is offered as an alternative to J. L. Moreno's sociometric test. A case example is included with participant's names changed.
Inpatient management of diabetes in adults: safety and good practice
Authors: Abou-Saleh Ahmad , Haq Masud , Barnes Dennis
Published: May 2014

Patients with diabetes typically occupy 15–20% of all inpatient hospital beds at any one time. The hospital physician therefore requires a good understanding of the safe and effective management of such patients in both the emergency and ward setting.
Diagnosing coeliac disease in children
Authors: Paul Siba P , Spray Christine
Published: May 2014

Small bowel biopsies and histology had been the gold standard for diagnosis of coeliac disease, an immune-mediated systemic disorder. European guidelines recommend that in certain symptomatic patients, coeliac disease can be diagnosed without small bowel biopsies. A gluten-free diet is the only method of managing coeliac disease.
Why ‘parity of esteem’ for mental health is every hospital doctor's concern
Authors: Bailey Dame Sue , Smith Gregory
Published: May 2014

Mental health is every doctor's business and society's business. This article illustrates current gaps which reflect the poor status of mental health within medicine, and efforts to address these by delivering ‘parity of esteem’ for mental health. It suggests ways in which hospital doctors can play a part in achieving parity.
The genetic characterization of Myrmelachista spp. Roger (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) specimens collected in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil
Authors: Nakano Márcia Akemi , Miranda Vitor Fernandes , Feistosa Rodrigo Machado , Morini Maria Santina
Published: May 2014

Arboreal ants of the genus Myrmelachista, which have ecologically important relationships with different vegetable species, are found exclusively in the Neotropical region. These ant species are difficult to identify, and their taxonomy remains controversial; moreover, little is known regarding their biology. The objective of the present work is to assess the genetic similarities and dissimilarities between and within Myrmelachista species, with the goal of expanding knowledge of the relationships among the taxa of this genus. Sample collection in selected regions of the dense ombrophile forest of southeastern Brazil yielded 256 nests, which were found in vegetation or among scattered twigs in the leaf litter; eight species were recorded. A total of 180 specimens were analyzed, producing 123 molecular characters. Data analyses revealed similarity relationships that allowed the examined species to be classified into the following groups: (1) Myrmelachista sp. 4, M. nodigera, M. ruszkii and M. gallicola; (2) M. catharinae and M. arthuri; (3) M. reticulata; and (4) Myrmelachista sp. 7. The study results also revealed the existence of two morphological variants of M. catharinae; M. arthuri was more closely related to one of these M. catharinae variants than to the other variant. The present work provides important information regarding genetic variation among Myrmelachista species that may contribute to interpreting the complex morphology of this genus.
Methodology for Internal Damage Percentage Assessment by Subterranean Termites in Urban Trees
Authors: Zorzenon Francisco José , Campos Ana Eugênia de Carvalho
Published: May 2014

One of the most important problems in urban trees is termite infestation. Simple observations of damages on outside trunks or dead branches and leaves do not always confirm infestations. Several trees may present severe termite damage internally that can only be observed through drilling. This paper presents a methodology to evaluate estimated percentages of internal damage caused by termites in urban trees. Tests were made on 1,477 plants in a neighborhood in the city of São Paulo, Brazil and 27% of them were infested by subterranean termites. The results showed that the methodology is simple to use, fast and inexpensive, and it allows assessment of termite internal damage which may help in making decisions on tree management. The trees did not show any phytosanitary problems along the 9 year study after being submitted to the new technique.
Co-existence of ants and termites in Cecropia pachystachya Trécul (Urticaceae)
Authors: Neves Ana Carolina de Oliveira , Bernardo Carolina Tavares , Dos santos Flavio Antonio Maës
Published: May 2014

Individuals of Cecropia pachystachya Trécul (Urticaceae) host Azteca (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) colonies in their hollow internodes and feed them with glycogen bodies produced in modified petiole bases (trichilia). In turn, ants keep trees free from herbivores and lianas. Here, we report for the first time the association of nests of Nasutitermes ephratae Rambur (Isoptera: Termitidae) with these trees, in South-Pantanal (Brazil). We aimed to describe the Cecropia-ant-termite system and to investigate how their coexistence is made possible. For this we compared the frequency of termitaria between C. pachystachya and another tree species, and the patrol activity of ants between individuals of C. pachystachya with and without termite nests. We verified how long ants took to find and remove live termite baits in C. pachystachya trees and we described the architecture of C. pachystachya individuals with and without termite nests. Termitaria occurred in C. pachystachya at the same frequency as in other tree species. There was no relationship between ant patrol activity and the occurrence of termite nests in C. pachystachia. These results suggest that there is no effect of ant patroling activity on termitaria frequency. However, they occurred mainly in the tallest and more branched individuals, and generally were set in the lower portion of the trees, associated with the trunk, fork or basal branches. There, N. ephratae find the opportunity to establish their nests, because ants remain close to young-active trichilia at the tip of branches, leaving the bottom of the tree almost free of patrol. The physical segregation of termite and ant life-areas may represent a escape strategy of termites in relation to ants inhabiting C. pachystachya.
The structure and evolution of production, employment and human capital in Portugal: an input‑output approach
Authors: Lopes João Carlos , Do Amaral João Ferreira
Published: May 2014

The main purpose of this paper is to analyse the structure and evolution of production, employment and human capital in Portugal, using an inter‑industry approach. A descriptive analysis of the sector composition of gross output, value added and employment is made, followed by a quantification of changes in relative labour productivity and primary input content of final demand components. Next, the evolution of employment multipliers is quantified, as well as the structure of labour force qualifications by sector. Although remarkable improvements have been achieved in the past, the low educational levels of its workers, on average, remains one the main vulnerabilities of Portugal in the global and knowledge economy of our days. In this context, the main contribution of the paper is the quantification of human capital requirements of final demand changes by component. Using an input ‑output approach combining sector productivities and labour qualifications, output multipliers and final demand structure, it is possible to quantify the growth in employment by level of qualification resulting from a unitary growth of private and public consumption, investment and exports. This exercise is made for 1995 and 2008, using input‑output domestic flow tables from INE and DPP and employment qualifications from Quadros de Pessoal database.
Contexto socio‑económico e o conhecimento sobre economia
Authors: Varum Celeste Amorim , Ferreira Abigail
Published: May 2014

A presente crise veio relançar os temas económicos para o centro da vida quotidiana das famílias. As crianças estão também em constante interação com o ambiente no qual estão inseridas e, a partir dessas interações, vão estabelecendo as suas perceções da realidade, e sentem à sua escala os efeitos dos desenvolvimentos económicos recentes. O entendimento das crianças sobre a economia e realidade que as rodeia poderá ter também um impacto na forma como as famílias decidem e escolhem. Apesar da relevância da criança enquanto elemento participante da unidade de decisão familiar, e da necessidade de, desde muito cedo, se criarem as bases do que será um adulto ativo num futuro próximo, a análise da literacia das crianças tem sido relativamente negligenciada na literatura. Assim, o presente estudo analisa o nível de conhecimentos e interesse de um grupo de crianças Portuguesas em relação à economia. Investiga‑se adicionalmente o efeito do contexto familiar e escolar da criança no seu grau de conhecimento sobre as questões económicas. A análise empírica baseia‑se em dados recolhidos por questionário a um total de 587 crianças portuguesas. Os resultados permitem concluir que, por um lado, as crianças mostram, na sua generalidade, forte interesse nestes temas e expressam vontade de saber mais sobre os mesmos. Por outro lado, os resultados demonstram que as crianças possuem conhecimentos limitados sobre assuntos económicos, existindo logo em tenra idade elevada variabilidade entre elas. A variabilidade do conhecimento de natureza económica aparece significativamente explicada por atributos individuais e de escola, mas, preponderantemente pelo contexto familiar.
Estudo do endividamento da administração local portuguesa: evidência empírica usando modelos de análise de dados em painel
Authors: Ribeiro Nuno , Jorge Susana , Oliver Mercedes
Published: May 2014

O objetivo desta investigação é identificar, tendo como base o período de 2004 a 2009, os fatores determinantes do endividamento dos municípios portugueses, tentando perceber quais o influenciam e de que forma. São estudados fatores institucionais, políticos, fiscais e económico‑financeiros. Utiliza‑se a metodologia de tratamento de dados em painel aplicada aos municípios da região de Lisboa. Esta metodologia mostra‑se adequada ao tipo de estudo que se pretende elaborar, pois permite analisar simultaneamente as variações intermunicípios (dimensão seccional) e ao longo do tempo (dimensão temporal). Os resultados indicam ‑nos que os fatores mais importantes na determinação do grau de endividamento, dos municípios da região de Lisboa, são a capacidade turística e as receitas de capital.
Precision Versus Fuzziness: An Analysis of the Discreteness of Linguistic Signs
Authors: Zhuanghuan Ma
Published: May 2014

Discreteness, one of the design features of language, along with arbitrariness, etc., makes language much more flexible, productive and precise than other communicative systems. Although it mainly applies to the description of the secondary level of language structure, discreteness can also explain meaningful units, such as morphemes or words, at the primary level. Due to its discreteness, language is regarded, in semiotics, as "digital", in contrast with "analogical". Partially owing to the discreteness or discontinuity, language enables humankind to conceptualize and perceive the world and themselves with a kind of precision. However, this does not mean that language can mirror the world. Actually many things ( especially intangible things) in the world are not so discrete but rather gradable or continuous. Therefore, linguistic signs or words used to deal with them do not match them absolutely. There are gaps between words and what they refer to. To deal with this gap, sense and reference, two aspects of meaning, are employed in this paper, though with certain modification. While the sense of a word (or its dictionary meaning) is explicitly definable, its referential meaning may not. Some emotive and evaluative words may have certain variation of references continuously on a scale though their senses are discrete. Some common nouns' extensions or their referential meanings are also continuous. Words of this kind are found vague or fuzzy though they are clearly definable and in contrast in their senses. It is a worthwhile effort to probe into the nature of discreteness in both linguistic and semiotic contexts. To do this job presupposes reconsidering the classification of meaning, especially when taking into account the dichotomy between precision and vagueness of linguistic signs.
A Semiotic Study of Characters in French Novels
Authors: Qiuxia Dai , Xinmu Zhang
Published: May 2014

This paper presents a semiotic study of characters in French novels. It consists of two parts. Part I considers two types of characters: narration characters and action characters, divided according to their different functions in novels. Part II analyzes the elements of semiotic representation of characters: name, person, discourse and so on. We can make use of semiotic studies of characters in France to shed some light on our own researches on characters and promote the development of researches on novel characters.
Self-constructive Ability of Individual Cognitive Semantic Network
Authors: Baojia Li
Published: May 2014

The essence of language is the vivid and dramatic behavior with which human beings express their own feelings, and linguistic system is a semantic network established on the basis of categorization of entities of cognitive symbols and categorical relevance. Individuals have the ability to construct semantic network on the basis of cognitive experiences and linguistic environment. During the process of children' s acquiring their mother tongue, on the one hand, the image of the event to be expressed, with the development of cognitive ability, is separated from the scene, i. e., " particalization of images" or "iexicaiization of expressions"; on the other hand, through the link between the images, the expressive model has been gradually formed on the basis of semantic twisting mechanism, i. e . , "structuralization of images" or "syntacization of expressions". The information to be expressed either by adults or by children in the linguistic communication is complete, and the complementarity between the situational symbol and linguistic symbol is inverse ratio. The nonverbal "cognitive syntactic structure" is prior to the linguistic symbols' " cognitive syntactic structure". In discourse acts, the arrangement of syntactic categories is mainly based on the pragmatic strategies used in specific contexts.
Cassirer’s Cultural Semiotics in Operation
Authors: Hu Geok , Florence  , Yap
Published: May 2014

In my paper, I will attempt to reiterate Cassirer's three stages of the development of the symbolic form, namely, mimetic, analogical, and symbolic, in the Peircean triad, which presents the emergent characteristic of the sign in the metamorphosis of the myth. This is to give a more specific representation of the transformation of the mythical object in the texts. Although there is no evidence of succession of Peircean semeiotics by Cassirer, the Peircean general law of sign can better explicate the metamorphic quality of Cassirer's theory of myth. Finally, I will explain how the specific "original object", plays an important and central role in the construction of the mythical worldview.
Introducing Tartu Semiotics for Chinese Semiosphere
Authors: Kull Kalevi
Published: May 2014

With this issue, Chinese Semiotic Studies introduces a section on the Tartu Semiotics School. This regular feature, appearing potentially in every issue, is justified by several arguments: this school has been persisting on the semiotic scene already since the 1960s; this is the school that founded the semiotics of culture and actively studied it ever since; the Tartu school has the potential to bridge the different approaches of semiotics-structuralist and dynamic, Western and Eastern, cultural and biological; and, as it is situated on many boundaries, the Tartu Semiotics School may be used as a source for creative ideas or new approaches.
On achieving minimal size test sets for scan designs
Authors: Reddy Sudhakar M. , Zhang Zhuo
Published: May 2014

In this paper we provide experimental evidence that digital VLSI circuit
designs using an earlier proposed DFT method called segmented scan may be testable using
fewer tests than needed for unsegmented scan versions of the same designs.
Results on ISCAS 89 benchmark circuits show that the test set sizes for
detecting stuck-at faults in segmented scan designs may be lower than the
lower bounds on test set sizes for unsegmented scan versions. Thus,
segmented scan design may be a way to achieve minimal test set sizes for
digital VLSI circuits.
Testing for gate oxide short defects using the detectability interval paradigm
Authors: Galliere Jean-Marc , Azais Florence , Comte Mariane , Renovell Michel
Published: May 2014

This paper addresses the detection improvement of Gate Oxide Short defect using a delay test strategy. To achieve this objective, the concept of detectability interval is first introduced in the context of detection of short defects using Boolean test technique. Then this paradigm is extended to the detection of Gate Oxide Short defects using delay testing. Finally, it is shown that it is possible to significantly improve the detection of this kind of defect.
Detoxification of Echis ocellatus venom-induced toxicity by Annona senegalensis Pers
Authors: Emmanuel Amlabu , Ebinbin Ajagun , Amlabu Wandayi
Published: May 2014

Different fractions (I–V) of the methanolic leaf extracts of Annona senegalensis were assessed for their anti-snake venom activities. Fractions III neutralized lethal toxicity induced by Echis ocellatus venom and manifested the same potency as the crude extracts against the venom. The anti-snake venom activity of fraction III was clearly shown by the complete abrogation of venom-induced haemorrhage and the 75% record of surviving mice which were injected with a pre-incubate of venom and extract in the ratio 1:30 w/w after a 24 h. Also, fraction III exhibited a weak inhibitory effect on fibrinogen clotting activity of this venom. The key phytochemicals mediating the activity of this fraction are flavonoids and tannins. The detoxification of this venom by fraction III and the possible mode of action in the pathology of snake envenoming is discussed in this report.