bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MORAL OBLIGATION AFTER THE DEATH OF GOD: CRITICAL REFLECTIONS ON CONCERNS FROM IMMANUEL KANT, G. W. F. HEGEL, AND ELIZABETH ANSCOMBE
Authors: Engelhardt H. Tristram
Published: June 2010

Once God is no longer recognized as the ground and the enforcer of morality, the character and force of morality undergoes a significant change, a point made by G.E.M. Anscombe in her observation that without God the significance of morality is changed, as the word criminal would be changed if there were no criminal law and criminal courts. There is no longer in principle a God's-eye perspective from which one can envisage setting moral pluralism aside. In addition, it becomes impossible to show that morality should always trump concerns of prudence, concerns for one's own non-moral interests and the interests of those to whom one is close. Immanuel Kant's attempt to maintain the unity of morality and the force of moral obligation by invoking the idea of God and the postulates of pure practical reason (i.e., God and immortality) are explored and assessed. Hegel's reconstruction of the status of moral obligation is also examined, given his attempt to eschew Kant's thing-in-itself, as well as Kant's at least possible transcendent God. Severed from any metaphysical anchor, morality gains a contingent content from socio-historical context and its enforcement from the state. Hegel's disengagement from a transcendent God marks a watershed in the place of God in philosophical reflections regarding the status of moral obligations on the European continent. Anscombe is vindicated. Absent the presence of God, there is an important change in the force of moral obligation.
Transparency as a trade policy tool: the WTO's cloudy windows
Authors: COLLINS-WILLIAMS TERRY , WOLFE ROBERT
Published: June 2010

Transparency, one of the fundamental norms of the trading system, is increasingly seen as an essential tool in the governance of international trade. Enhanced monitoring and surveillance of emergency measures was central to the international effort to mitigate the effects of the financial crisis that began in 2008. This paper develops a new analytic framework for thinking about WTO transparency provisions. We apply this framework to a detailed case study of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, and then compare this experience to other domains within the WTO. We show that the WTO's windows on the trading system are cloudier than they ought to be. We conclude with some recommendations for improving WTO transparency tools.
Recurrence behavior of short‐term slow slip and correlated nonvolcanic tremor episodes in western Shikoku, southwest Japan
Authors: Hirose Hitoshi , Obara Kazushige
Published: June 2010

From the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention Hi‐net tiltmeter data, we determine time‐dependent source processes of seven repeating short‐term slow slip events (SSE) in the western Shikoku region, southwest Japan, over the period from 2002 to 2007. The tiltmeters record clear signals of SSEs characterized by a slow rise, a week‐long duration, and a magnitude on the order of 10−2−10−1μrad. We apply a time‐dependent slip inversion method to the tilt records for the seven SSEs. For each SSE, a slip area migrates in the strike direction of the subducting slab at a rate of ∼10 km d−1. Comparing the slow slip area with epicenters of accompanying nonvolcanic tremors in subday time resolution, we find that the two phenomena are located on a smaller area than previously reported and migrate as a group. A moment rate function for each SSE exhibits good correlation with the temporal change in tremor activity. A comparison of the slip distributions of all of the analyzed SSEs shows that there is a patch of slow slip area (∼30 km in diameter) that is shared by all of the episodes. In addition, the location of the slip patch is in good agreement with the epicenters of tremors and very low frequency earthquakes. These lines of evidence suggest that the identified slip patch is one of the main slow slip patches in the region and a recurrence of SSEs may be controlled by the patch and that these “slow earthquakes” might be different manifestations of a single slip process on the deep plate interface.
Cooling rate of some active lavas determined using an orbital imaging spectrometer
Authors: Wright Robert , Garbeil Harold , Davies Ashley G.
Published: June 2010

The surface temperature of an active lava flow is an important physical property to measure. Through its influence on lava crystallinity, cooling exerts a fundamental control on lava rheology. Remotely sensed thermal radiance data acquired by multispectral sensors such as Landsat Thematic Mapper and the Terra Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer are of insufficient spectral and radiometric fidelity to allow for realistic determination of lava surface temperatures from Earth orbit. This paper presents results obtained from the analysis of active lava flows using hyperspectral data acquired by NASA's Earth Observing‐1 Hyperion imaging spectrometer. The contiguous nature of the measured radiance spectrum in the 0.4–2.5 μm region means that, although sensor saturation most certainly occurs, unsaturated radiance data are always available from even the hottest, and most radiant, active lava flow surfaces. The increased number of wave bands available allows for the assumption of more complex flow surface temperature distributions in the radiance‐to‐temperature inversion processes. The technique is illustrated by using a hyperspectral image of the active lava lake at Erta Ale volcano, Ethiopia, a well‐characterized calibration target, a time series of three Hyperion images of an active lava flow acquired during a 4 day period at Mount Etna, Sicily, as well as a lava flow erupted at Nyamuragira, Democratic Republic of Congo. The results provide insights into the temperature–radiance mixture modeling problem that will aid in the analysis of data acquired by future hyperspectral remote sensing missions, such as NASA's proposed HyspIRI mission.
Evaporation from layered porous media
Authors: Shokri N. , Lehmann P. , Or D.
Published: June 2010

Evaporation rates from porous media may vary considerably due to changes in internal transport mechanisms and potential interruption of hydraulic continuity; both are influenced by media pore space properties. Evaporation behavior in layered porous media is affected by thickness and sequence of layering and capillary characteristics of each layer. We propose a composite characteristic length for predicting drying front depth at the end of a period with a high and constant drying rate (stage 1 evaporation) from layered porous media. The model was tested in laboratory experiments using Hele‐Shaw cells filled with alternating layers of coarse and fine sands considering different combinations of thicknesses and positions. The presence of textural interfaces affects drying rate, modifies liquid phase configuration, and affects the dynamics of the receding drying front. Neutron radiography measurements were used to delineate dynamics of liquid phase distribution with high temporal and spatial resolution. Results show that air invading an interface between fine and coarse sand layers results in a capillary pressure jump and subsequent relaxation that significantly modify liquid phase distribution compared with evaporation from homogeneous porous media. Insights are potentially useful for designing mulching strategies and capillary barriers aimed at reducing evaporative losses.
Observation and numerical prediction of torrential rainfall over Korea caused by Typhoon Rusa (2002)
Authors: Lee Dong‐Kyou , Choi Suk‐Jin
Published: June 2010

On landfall in 2002, Typhoon Rusa caused record‐breaking rainfall (870.5 mm/d) in Gangneung at the foot of the Taebaek Mountain range, Korea. In this study, the predictability of the torrential rainfall associated with the typhoon and the detailed mesoscale precipitation distribution were investigated through numerical simulation. The weather research and forecasting (WRF) model successfully simulates the mesoscale rainfall distibution and timing. With a 10 km (3.3 km) horizontal grid, the model predicted 830.8 mm (1307.9 mm) of rain with some uncertainty in the observed local maximum in coverage. This study shows that the complexity of forecasting is associated with the interactions between environmental flows, typhoon flow, and topography. In bogus and 1‐day‐earlier initial‐time experiments, the typhoon track and intensity are substantially improved, although this has little impact on successful rainfall simulation. The interaction between the large‐scale features and the proper vertical structure of the typhoon is key. The simulated rainfall at the cloud‐resolving spacing of 3.3 km is greater than that at 10 km because of the increased terrain height and not the greater resolution. Analysis of observed and simulated data shows that the torrential rainfall had two different causes with two peaks in the hourly rainfall at Gangneung. The first peak links to a mesoscale frontal structure, characterized by strong moisture and thermal gradients formed by the intrusion of cold, dry northerly air from a midlatitude trough and moist southerly air from the typhoon. The second peak results from the direct effect of the typhoon and the lifting of the moisture‐laden typhoon winds.
Predicting the dry deposition of aerosol‐sized particles using layer‐resolved canopy and pipe flow analogy models: Role of turbophoresis
Authors: Katul G. G. , Grönholm T. , Launiainen S. , Vesala T.
Published: June 2010

A number of synthesis activities, mathematical modeling, and experiments on dry deposition of aerosol‐sized particles over forested surfaces point to three disjointed findings: (1) deposition velocities measured over tall forests do not support a clearly defined minimum for particle sizes in the range of 0.1–2 μm; (2) when measurements of the normalized deposition velocity (Vd+) are presented as a function of the normalized particle timescale (τp+), where the normalizing variables are the friction velocity and air viscosity, a power law scaling in the form of Vd+ ∼ (τp+)2 emerges in the so‐called inertial‐impaction regime for many laboratory and crop experiments, but none of the forest measurements fall on this apparent scaling law; and (3) two recent models with entirely different assumptions about the representation of the particle deposition process reproduce common data sets for forests. We show that turbophoresis, when accounted for at the leaf scale in vertically resolved or multilayer models (MLMs), provides a coherent explanation for the first two findings and sheds light on the third. The MLM resolves the canopy vertical structure and its effects on both the flow statistics and the leaf particle collection mechanisms. The proposed MLM predictions agree with a recent two‐level particle‐resolving data set collected over 1 year duration for a Scots pine stand in Hyytiälä (southern Finland). Such an approach can readily proportion the particle deposition onto foliage and forest floor and can take advantage of recent advances in measurements of canopy structural properties derived from remote sensing platforms.
Scale dependence of intragranular porosity, tortuosity, and diffusivity
Authors: Ewing Robert P. , Hu Qinhong , Liu Chongxuan
Published: June 2010

Diffusive exchange of solutes between intragranular pores and flowing water is a recognized but poorly understood contributor to dispersion. Intragranular porosity may also contribute to the “slow sorption” phenomenon. Intragranular pores may be sparsely interconnected, raising the possibility that accessible porosity and diffusive exchange are limited by pore connectivity. We used a pore‐scale network model to examine pore connectivity effects on accessible porosity, tortuosity, and diffusivity in spherical particles. The diffusive process simulated was release of a nonsorbing solute initially at equilibrium with the surrounding solution. High‐connectivity results were essentially identical to Crank's analytical solution. Low‐connectivity results were consistent with observations reported in the literature, with solute released at early times more quickly than indicated by the analytical solution, and more slowly at late times. Values of accessible porosity, tortuosity, and diffusivity scaled with connection probability, distance to the sphere's exterior, and/or the sphere's radius, as predicted by percolation theory. When integrated into a conventional finite difference model, the scaling relationships provide a consistent and physically sound way to incorporate such nonuniformities into models of intragranular diffusion.
Are tropical SST trends changing the global teleconnection during La Niña?
Authors: Kumar Arun , Jha Bhaskar , L'Heureux Michelle
Published: June 2010

From 1950 to 2008, the linear trend of tropical sea surface temperature (SST) indicates the largest warming across the Indian and western Pacific Oceans, while the eastern Pacific trend is slightly negative. The interannual SST variations due to the El Niño‐ Southern Oscillation (ENSO) are superimposed onto these longer‐term SST trends, which can potentially influence the structure and amplitude of the resulting atmospheric teleconnections. In this study, the cold phase of ENSO, or La Niña, is examined using composite differences based on the observations and the model‐simulated response to SSTs. The analyses show that during the recent period (1980–2008), the global teleconnection pattern associated with La Niña has been associated with higher heights from the tropics to the mid‐latitudes. The model simulations attribute these apparent changes in the teleconnections, across the tropics and the Northern Hemisphere, to warmer SSTs in the Indian Ocean and warm pool region. The implications of these results are discussed within the context of seasonal predictions in an evolving climate.
A Retinoic Acid Receptor Agonist Am80 Rescues Neurons, Attenuates Inflammatory Reactions, and Improves Behavioral Recovery after Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Mice
Authors: Matsushita Hideaki , Hijioka Masanori , Hisatsune Akinori , Isohama Yoichiro , Shudo Koichi , Katsuki Hiroshi
Published: June 2010

Am80 (tamibarotene) is a retinoic acid receptor (RAR) agonist clinically available for treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia. As intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) accompanies inflammatory reactions in the brain and also because retinoids may suppress activation of microglia, we investigated the effect of Am80 on collagenase-induced experimental model of ICH in adult mice. Daily oral administration of Am80 (5 mg/kg) starting from 1 day before or from up to 6 hours after intrastriatal injection of collagenase significantly inhibited the decrease in the number of striatal neurons at 3 days after the insult. Am80 showed no significant effect on the hematoma size and the extent of edema associated with hemorrhage. Prominent expression of RARα was observed in activated microglia/macrophages, and the number of activated microglia/macrophages in the perihematoma region was lower in Am80-treated mice than in vehicle-treated mice. Am80 treatment also reduced areas affected by hemorrhage-associated oxidative stress as indicated by nitrotyrosine immunoreactivity, and attenuated heme oxygenase-1 expression in activated microglia/macrophages. Moreover, Am80-treated mice exhibited better recovery from hemorrhage-induced neurologic deficits than vehicle-treated mice. These results suggest that RAR is a promising target of neuroprotective therapy for ICH.
Role of vacancies in transport and magnetic properties of nickel ferrite thin films
Authors: Anjum Safia , Jaffari G Hassnain , Rumaiz Abdul K , Rafique M Shahid , Shah S Ismat
Published: June 2010

Nickel ferrite thin films were synthesized by pulsed laser deposition. It was determined that the monotonic increase in saturation magnetization and the non-monotonic increase in electrical conductivity depend on the oxygen partial pressure during the growth of the thin films. A substantial reduction in magnetization was found which ranged between 0.4% and 40% of the bulk value as the oxygen partial pressure increased from 0.2 × 10−6 Torr to 500 mTorr during the deposition of the films. There was a three orders of magnitude increase in conductivity for the sample prepared under the most oxygen deficient environment (partial pressure of oxygen 0.2 × 10−6 Torr). These variations in saturation magnetization and conductivity are described within the framework of cation/oxygen vacancies in an inverse spinel nickel ferrite structure. The changes in the electronic structure due to the presence of the vacancies were investigated using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, which confirmed the formation of lower valent Ni for the samples prepared in an oxygen deficient atmosphere.
Grain boundaries controlled magnetic and magnetotransport properties of reactively sputtered polycrystalline and epitaxial Fe3O4 films
Authors: Li Peng , Jiang E Y , Bai H L
Published: June 2010

Polycrystalline and epitaxial Fe3O4 films were fabricated by facing-target reactive sputtering on glass and 400 °C heated MgO (1 0 0) substrates. The formation of disordered and amorphous grain boundaries in the polycrystalline Fe3O4 films on glass was suppressed by substrate heating, and antiphase boundaries were found to form in the epitaxial Fe3O4 films grown on lattice matched MgO (1 0 0) substrates, which were directly verified by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The magnetic and magnetotransport properties of the Fe3O4 films are controlled by the type of boundaries and the antiferromagnetic coupling strength at the boundaries which are associated with the bond angle subtended by iron–oxygen–iron. The stronger the antiferromagnetic interaction across the boundaries, the slower is the saturation behaviour of magnetization. The magnetoresistance depends mainly on the gradually saturating magnetization at high fields and the antiferromagnetic coupling strength across the boundaries.
Single crystal diamond detector for radiotherapy
Authors: Schirru F , Kisielewicz K , Nowak T , Marczewska B
Published: June 2010

The new generation of synthetic diamonds grown as a CVD single crystal on a high pressure high temperature substrate offers a wide range of applications. In particular, because of the near tissue equivalence and its small size (good spatial resolution), CVD single crystal diamond finds applicability in radiotherapy as a dosemeter of ionizing radiation. In this paper we report the electrical and dosimetric properties of a new diamond detector which was fabricated at IFJ based on a single crystal detector-grade CVD diamond provided with a novel contact metallization. Diamond properties were assessed at IFJ using a Theratron 680E therapeutic 60Co gamma rays unit and at COOK with 6 and 18 MV x-rays Varian Clinac CL2300 C/D accelerator. The new dosemeter showed high electric and dosimetric performances: low value of dark current, high current at the level of some nanoamperes during irradiation, very fast dynamic response with a rise time amounting to parts of a second, good stability and repeatability of the current and linearity of the detector signal at different dose and dose rate levels typically applied in radiotherapy. The results confirm the potential applicability of diamond material as a dosemeter for applications in radiotherapy.
Noise properties of Pb/Cd-free thick film resistors
Authors: Stadler Adam Witold , Kolek Andrzej , Zawiślak Zbigniew , Mleczko Krzysztof , Jakubowska Małgorzata , Kiełbasiński Konrad Rafał , Młożniak Anna
Published: June 2010

Low-frequency noise spectroscopy has been used to examine noise properties of Pb/Cd-free RuO2- and CaRuO3-based thick films screen printed on alumina substrates. Experiments were performed in the temperature range 77–300 K and the frequency range 0.5–5000 Hz with multiterminal devices. The measured noise has been recognized as resistance noise that consists of background 1/f noise and components generated by several thermally activated noise sources (TANSs) of different activation energies. The total noise has been composed of the contributions generated in the resistive layer and in the resistive/conductive layers interface. These noise sources are non-uniformly distributed in the resistor volume. Noise intensity of new-resistive layers has been described by the noise parameter C
bulk. Pb/Cd-free layers turned out to be noisier than their Pb-containing counterparts; however, the removal of Pb and Cd from resistive composition is hardly responsible for the increase in the noise. In the case of RuO2 layers noise increases most likely due to larger grain size of RuO2 powder used to prepare resistive pastes. Information on the quality of the resistive-to-conductive layers interface occurred to be stored in the values of noise parameter C
int. Pb/Cd-free RuO2-based resistive pastes form well-behaved interfaces with various Ag-based conductive pastes. In contrast, CaRuO3-based paste forms bad contacts with AgPd terminations because the density of TANSs increases in the interface area.
Diffraction measurements for evaluating plastic strain in A533B ferritic steel—a feasibility study
Authors: Lewis S J , Truman C E
Published: June 2010

It is known that the physical properties of many engineering materials may be strongly affected by previous loading, in particular prior plastic deformation. Most obviously, work hardening will alter subsequent yielding behaviour. Plastic deformation may also preferentially align the material microstructure, resulting in anisotropy of subsequent behaviour and a change in material fracture resistance.

When physical characterization is undertaken by experimental testing it is, therefore, important to have some knowledge of the current state of the material. As a result, it is desirable to have methods of quantitatively evaluating the level of plastic deformation which specimen material may have experienced prior to testing.

This paper presents the results of a feasibility study, using a ferritic reactor pressure vessel steel, into the use of diffractive methods for plastic strain evaluation. Using neutron diffraction, changes in diffraction peak width and anisotropy of peak response were correlated with plastic deformation in a tensile test. The relationships produced were then used to evaluate permanent deformation levels in large samples, representative of standard fracture toughness test specimens.
A Water‐Soluble Polysaccharide from the Fruit Bodies of Bulgaria inquinans (Fries) and Its Anti‐Malarial Activity
Authors: Bi Hongtao , Han Han , Li Zonghong , Ni Weihua , Chen Yan , Zhu Jingjing , Gao Tingting , Hao Miao , Zhou Yifa
Published: June 2010

A water‐soluble polysaccharide (BIWS‐4b) was purified from the fruit bodies of Bulgaria inquinans (Fries). It is composed of mannose (27.2%), glucose (15.5%) and galactose (57.3%). Its molecular weight was estimated to be 7.4 kDa (polydispersity index, Mw/Mn: 1.35). Structural analyses indicated that BIWS‐4b mainly contains (1 → 6)‐linked, (1 → 5)‐linked and (1 → 5,6)‐linked β‐Galf units; (1 → 4)‐linked and non‐reducing terminal β‐Glcp units; and (1 → 2)‐linked, (1 → 6)‐linked, (1 → 2,6)‐linked and non‐reducing terminal α‐Manp units. When examined by the 4‐day method and in a prophylactic assay in mice, BIWS‐4b exhibited markedly suppressive activity against malaria while enhancing the activity of artesunate. Immunological tests indicated that BIWS‐4b significantly enhanced macrophage phagocytosis and splenic lymphocyte proliferation in malaria‐bearing mice and normal mice. The anti‐malarial activity of BIWS‐4b might be intermediated by enhancing immune competence and restoring artesunate‐suppressed immune function. Thus, BIWS‐4b is a potential adjuvant of anti‐malaria drugs.
Antiatherogenic Potential of Nigella sativa Seeds and Oil in Diet‐Induced Hypercholesterolemia in Rabbits
Authors: Al-Naqeep Ghanya , Al-Zubairi Adel S. , Ismail Maznah , Amom Zulkhairi Hj , Esa Norhaizan Mohd
Published: June 2010

Nigella sativa or Black seed (N. sativa L.) is traditionally used for several ailments in many Middle Eastern countries. It is an annual herbaceous plant that belongs to the Ranuculacea family with many beneficial properties as antitumor, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, antioxidative and antibacterial. This work attempted to study the effect of N. sativa seeds powder and oil on atherosclerosis in diet‐induced hypercholesterolemic (HC) rabbits in comparison with simvastatin (ST). Twenty‐five adult New Zealand male white rabbits, weighing 1.5–2.5 kg, were divided into five groups; normal group (NC, n = 5) and four hypercholesterolemic groups (n = 20): a positive control (PC) and three HC groups force fed diet supplemented with 1000 mg Kg−1 body weight of N. sativa powder (NSP), 500 mg Kg−1 body N. sativa oil (NSO) and 10 mg Kg−1 ST for 8 weeks. Feeding HC rabbits with N. sativa either in powder or oil forms was shown to significantly reduce (P < .05) total cholesterol (TC) and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) levels and enhance high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) levels after treatment for 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks compared to the PC group. Plaque formation was significantly inhibited while the intima: media ratio was significantly reduced in the NSP and NSO supplemented groups compared to the PC group. In conclusion, treatment of HC rabbits with N. sativa seeds powder or oil showed hypocholesterolemic and antiatherogenic cardioprotective properties.
Garlic Oil Alleviates MAPKs‐ and IL‐6‐mediated Diabetes‐related Cardiac Hypertrophy in STZ‐induced DM Rats
Authors: Chang Sheng-Huang , Liu Chung-Jung , Kuo Chia-Hua , Chen Hong , Lin Wen-Yuan , Teng Kun-Yu , Chang Sheng-Wei , Tsai Chang-Hai , Tsai Fuu-Jen , Huang Chih-Yang , Tzang Bor-Show , Kuo Wei-Wen
Published: June 2010

Garlic oil has been reported to protect the cardiovascular system; however, the effects and mechanisms behind the cardioprotection of garlic oil on diabetes‐induced cardiaomyopathy are unclear. In this study, we used streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced diabetic rats to investigate whether garlic oil could protect the heart from diabetes‐induced cardiomyopathy. Wistar STZ‐induced diabetic rats received garlic oil (0, 10, 50 or 100 mg kg−1 body weight) by gastric gavage every 2 days for 16 days. Normal rats without diabetes were used as control. Cardiac contractile dysfunction and cardiac pathologic hypertrophy responses were observed in diabetic rat hearts. Cardiac function was examined using echocardiography. In addition to cardiac hypertrophy‐related mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPK) pathways (e.g., p38, c‐Jun N‐terminal kinases (JNK) and extracellularly responsive kinase (ERK1/2)), the IL‐6/MEK5/ERK5 signaling pathway was greatly activated in the diabetic rat hearts, which contributes to the up‐regulation of cardiac pathologic hypertrophy markers including atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and B‐type natriuretic peptide (BNP), and leads to cardiac contractile dysfunction. Garlic oil treatment significantly inhibited the up‐regulation in MAPK (e.g., p38, JNK and ERK1/2) and IL‐6/MEK5/ERK5 signaling pathways in the diabetic rat hearts, reducing the levels of cardiac pathologic hypertrophy markers such as ANP and BNP, and improving the cardiac contractile function. Collectively, data from these studies demonstrate that garlic oil shows the potential cardioprotective effects for protecting heart from diabetic cardiomyopathy.
Back to the Future: Modeling Time Dependence in Binary Data
Authors: Carter David B. , Signorino Curtis S.
Published: June 2010

Since Beck, Katz, and Tucker (1998), the standard method for modeling time dependence in binary data has been to incorporate time dummies or splined time in logistic regressions. Although we agree with the need for modeling time dependence, we demonstrate that time dummies can induce estimation problems due to separation. Splines do not suffer from these problems. However, the complexity of splines has led substantive researchers (1) to use knot values that may be inappropriate for their data and (2) to ignore any substantive discussion concerning temporal dependence. We propose a relatively simple alternative: including t, t2, and t3 in the regression. This cubic polynomial approximation is trivial to implement—and, therefore, interpret—and it avoids problems such as quasi-complete separation. Monte Carlo analysis demonstrates that, for the types of hazards one often sees in substantive research, the polynomial approximation always outperforms time dummies and generally performs as well as splines or even more flexible autosmoothing procedures. Due to its simplicity, this method also accommodates nonproportional hazards in a straightforward way. We reanalyze Crowley and Skocpol (2001) using nonproportional hazards and find new empirical support for the historical-institutionalist perspective.
RB's original CIN?: Figure 1.
Authors: Sage Julien , Straight Aaron F.
Published: June 2010

The retinoblastoma tumor suppressor RB is the downstream mediator of a cellular pathway that is thought to prevent cancer by controlling the ability of cells to enter or exit the cell cycle in G0/G1. Recently, however, accumulating evidence has suggested that RB, its family members p107 and p130, and their partners, the E2F family of transcription factors, may have important cellular functions beyond the G1/S transition of the cell cycle, including during DNA replication and at the transition into mitosis. In this issue of Genes & Development, three studies demonstrate a critical role for RB in proper chromosome condensation, centromeric function, and chromosome stability in mammalian cells, and link these cellular functions of RB to tumor suppression in mice. Here we discuss how transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms under the control of the RB pathway ensure accurate progression through mitosis, thereby preventing cancer development.
Loss of Rb proteins causes genomic instability in the absence of mitogenic signaling
Authors: van Harn Tanja , Foijer Floris , van Vugt Marcel , Banerjee Ruby , Yang Fentang , Oostra Anneke , Joenje Hans , te Riele Hein
Published: June 2010

Loss of G1/S control is a hallmark of cancer, and is often caused by inactivation of the retinoblastoma pathway. However, mouse embryonic fibroblasts lacking the retinoblastoma genes RB1, p107, and p130 (TKO MEFs) are still subject to cell cycle control: Upon mitogen deprivation, they enter and complete S phase, but then firmly arrest in G2. We now show that G2-arrested TKO MEFs have accumulated DNA damage. Upon mitogen readdition, cells resume proliferation, although only part of the damage is repaired. As a result, mitotic cells show chromatid breaks and chromatid cohesion defects. These aberrations lead to aneuploidy in the descendent cell population. Thus, our results demonstrate that unfavorable growth conditions can cause genomic instability in cells lacking G1/S control. This mechanism may allow premalignant tumor cells to acquire additional genetic alterations that promote tumorigenesis.
The Relationships between Xylem Safety and Hydraulic Efficiency in the Cupressaceae: The Evolution of Pit Membrane Form and Function
Authors: Pittermann Jarmila , Choat Brendan , Jansen Steven , Stuart Stephanie A. , Lynn Lucy , Dawson Todd E.
Published: June 2010

Water transport in conifers occurs through single-celled tracheids that are connected to one another via intertracheid pit membranes. These membranes have two components: the porous margo, which allows water to pass through the membrane, and the impermeable torus, which functions to isolate gas-filled tracheids. During drought, tracheids can become air filled and thus hydraulically dysfunctional, a result of air entering through the pit membrane and nucleating cavitation in the water column. What are the hydraulic tradeoffs associated with cavitation resistance at the pit level, and how do they vary within the structural components of the intertracheid pit? To address these questions, we examined pit structure in 15 species of Cupressaceae exhibiting a broad range of cavitation resistances. Across species, cavitation resistance was most closely correlated to the ratio of the torus to pit aperture diameter but did not vary systematically with margo porosity. Furthermore, our data indicate that constraints on pit hydraulic efficiency are shared: the pit aperture limits pit conductivity in more drought-resistant taxa, while increased margo resistance is more likely to control pit conductivity in species that are more vulnerable to cavitation. These results are coupled with additional data concerning pit membrane structure and function and are discussed in the context of the evolutionary biogeography of the Cupressaceae.
Crystal Structures of DNA-Whirly Complexes and Their Role in Arabidopsis Organelle Genome Repair
Authors: Cappadocia Laurent , Maréchal Alexandre , Parent Jean-Sébastien , Lepage étienne , Sygusch Jurgen , Brisson Normand
Published: June 2010

DNA double-strand breaks are highly detrimental to all organisms and need to be quickly and accurately repaired. Although several proteins are known to maintain plastid and mitochondrial genome stability in plants, little is known about the mechanisms of DNA repair in these organelles and the roles of specific proteins. Here, using ciprofloxacin as a DNA damaging agent specific to the organelles, we show that plastids and mitochondria can repair DNA double-strand breaks through an error-prone pathway similar to the microhomology-mediated break-induced replication observed in humans, yeast, and bacteria. This pathway is negatively regulated by the single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) binding proteins from the Whirly family, thus indicating that these proteins could contribute to the accurate repair of plant organelle genomes. To understand the role of Whirly proteins in this process, we solved the crystal structures of several Whirly-DNA complexes. These reveal a nonsequence-specific ssDNA binding mechanism in which DNA is stabilized between domains of adjacent subunits and rendered unavailable for duplex formation and/or protein interactions. Our results suggest a model in which the binding of Whirly proteins to ssDNA would favor accurate repair of DNA double-strand breaks over an error-prone microhomology-mediated break-induced replication repair pathway.
MOTHER OF FT AND TFL1Regulates Seed Germination through a Negative Feedback Loop Modulating ABA Signaling inArabidopsis
Authors: Xi Wanyan , Liu Chang , Hou Xingliang , Yu Hao
Published: June 2010

Abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellin (GA) are two antagonistic phytohormones that regulate seed germination in response to biotic and abiotic environmental stresses. We demonstrate here that MOTHER OF FT AND TFL1 (MFT), which encodes a phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein, regulates seed germination via the ABA and GA signaling pathways in Arabidopsis thaliana. MFT is specifically induced in the radical-hypocotyl transition zone of the embryo in response to ABA, and mft loss-of-function mutants show hypersensitivity to ABA in seed germination. In germinating seeds, MFT expression is directly regulated by ABA-INSENSITIVE3 (ABI3) and ABI5, two key transcription factors in ABA signaling pathway. MFT is also upregulated by DELLA proteins in the GA signaling pathway. MFT in turn provides negative feedback regulation of ABA signaling by directly repressing ABI5. We conclude that during seed germination, MFT promotes embryo growth by constituting a negative feedback loop in the ABA signaling pathway.
Syntheses, spectroscopic study and X-ray crystallography of some new phosphoramidates and lanthanide(III) complexes of N-(4-nitrobenzoyl)-N′,N′′-bis(morpholino)phosphoric triamide
Authors: Gholivand Khodayar , Mostaanzadeh Hossein , Koval Tomas , Dusek Michal , Erben Mauricio F. , Stoeckli-Evans Helen , Della Védova Carlos O.
Published: June 2010

New phosphoramidates with the formula RC(O)N(H)P(O)X
2, R = 2-NO2—C6H4, 3-NO2—C6H4 and 4-NO2—C6H4, X = N(CH2CH3) (1)–(3), NC4H8 (4)–(6), and NC4H8O (7)–(9) were synthesized and characterized by 1H, 13C, 31P NMR and IR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. The reaction of (9) with hydrated lanthanide(III) nitrate leads to ten- or nine-coordinated complexes, (10)–(13). The crystal structure has been determined for (3), (5), (9), (10) and (13). In contrast to all of the previously reported similar phosphoramidate compounds, the —C(O)—N(H)—P(O) skeleton in the free ligand (9) shows a cisoid conformation, with the C=O and P=O double bonds adopting a nearly syn conformation. Quantum chemical calculations were applied for clarifying this exceptional conformational behavior. The monodentate neutral ligand (9) is coordinated to the metal ions via the phosphoryl O atom, adopting the usual anti conformation between the C=O and P=O groups.
Reduced airway inflammation in CD26/DPP4‐deficient F344 rats is associated with altered recruitment patterns of regulatory T cells and expression of pulmonary surfactant proteins
Authors: Schmiedl A. , Krainski J. , Schwichtenhövel F. , Schade J. , Klemann C. , Raber K. A. , Zscheppang K. , Beekmann T. , Acevedo C. , Glaab T. , Wedekind D. , Pabst R. , Von Hörsten S. , Stephan M.
Published: June 2010

Introduction
CD26 is highly expressed on lung epithelial cells as well as on immune cells. Ovalbumin (OVA)‐induced airway inflammation induces a further increase of CD26 expression. CD26‐deficient rat strains exhibit blunted clinical courses in models of experimental asthma.

Objective
(1) To investigate the involvement of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and the surfactant system in a rat model of genetic CD26 deficiency. (2) To investigate regulatory mechanisms dependent on the endogenous CD26 expression. (3) To investigate the impact of CD26 on surfactant protein (SP)‐levels under inflammatory conditions.

Methods
Wild‐type and CD26‐deficient F344 rats were sensitized to and challenged with OVA. Subsequently, airway inflammation, SP levels as well as surface tension of the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were evaluated.

Results
CD26 deficiency led to decreased airway inflammation, e.g. reduced numbers of eosinophils and activated T cells in the BAL. Remarkably, the CD26‐deficient rats exhibited a significantly increased influx of FoxP3+ Tregs into the lungs and increased IL‐10‐secretion/production by draining lymph node cells in culture experiments. Furthermore, in OVA‐challenged CD26‐deficient rats, the increase of the expression of the collectins SP‐A and SP‐D as well as of the surface tension‐active SP‐B was significantly less pronounced than in the CD26‐positive strain. Only in the wild‐type rats, functional alterations of the surfactant system, e.g. the increased surface tension were obvious after OVA challenge.

Conclusion
Reduced airway inflammation in CD26‐deficient F344 rats appear to be mediated by differences in the recruitment and activity of Tregs. This altered inflammation is associated with differences in the SP expression as well as function.

Cite this as: A. Schmiedl, J. Krainski, F. Schwichtenhövel, J. Schade, C. Klemann, K. A. Raber, K. Zscheppang, T. Beekmann, C. Acevedo, T. Glaab, D. Wedekind, R. Pabst, S. von Hörsten and M. Stephan, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2010 (40) 1794–1808.
Dental surgery with minimal factor support in the inherited bleeding disorder population at the Alfred Hospital
Authors: HEWSON I. , MAKHMALBAF P. , STREET A. , MCCARTHY P. , WALSH M.
Published: June 2010

Summary.  In oral surgery, patients with inherited bleeding disorders have historically had factor cover where possible. Factor support is expensive, time consuming to administer and places the patient at a potential risk of complications of therapy. A protocol employing rigorous local measures and minimal factor replacement was used to obtain haemostasis following simple and complex oral surgery on 50 consecutive patients with inherited bleeding disorders, referred to the Alfred Health Dental Unit from the Ronald Sawers Haemophilia Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne. Excellent haemostasis was achieved using standardized local measures of 5% tranexamic acid solution, surgicel and monocryl sutures. Oral surgery may be considered safe to perform in patients with inherited bleeding disorders using minimal factor support and meticulous local haemostatic measures.
TOPOIIα and HER‐2/neu overexpression/amplification in Barrett’s oesophagus, dysplasia and adenocarcinoma
Authors: Rossi Elisa , Villanacci Vincenzo , Bassotti Gabrio , Donato Francesco , Festa Andrea , Cengia Gianpaolo , Grisanti Salvatore , Cestari Renzo
Published: June 2010

Rossi E, Villanacci V, Bassotti G, Donato F, Festa A, Cengia G, Grisanti S & Cestari R (2010) Histopathology 57, 81–89 TOPOIIα and HER‐2/neu overexpression/amplification in Barrett’s oesophagus, dysplasia and adenocarcinoma

Aims:  Topoisomerase IIα (TOPOIIα) and HER‐2/neu are chromosome 17q genes coamplified in various cancers; no data exist for Barrett’s oesophagus (BO) and BO adenocarcinoma (ADC). The aim was to investigate gene amplification and protein overexpression of TopoIIα and Her‐2/neu in non‐dysplastic BO, dysplastic BO, Barrett ADC, and chromosome 17 aneusomy.

Methods and results:  Forty‐four patients [18 BO, 13 BO with dysplasia (five low‐grade dysplasia, eight high‐grade dysplasia) and 13 ADC in BO] were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Genes (HER‐2/neu and TOPOIIα) and chromosome 17 were evaluated by FISH. Patients with BO, dysplasia and ADC were compared. A significant association was found between TOPOIIα protein overexpression and TopoIIα gene amplification, chromosome 17 aneusomy, HER‐2/neu gene amplification and HER‐2 protein overexpression as well as between HER‐2 protein and HER‐2/neu gene, TopoIIα gene and aneusomy for chromosome17, and between the genes TOPOIIα and HER‐2/neu. Gene amplification (HER‐2/neu, TOPOIIα), protein overexpression (HER‐2/TOPOIIα), and chromosome 17 aneusomy were associated with dysplasia or ADC. Most BO patients showed no amplification/overexpression/aneusomy for the above genes, proteins and chromosome, with no differences between dysplasia and ADC.

Conclusions:  HER‐2/neu and TOPOIIα amplification/overexpression might discriminate between BO and dysplasia/ADC. Chromosome 17 aneusomy is associated with dysplasia or ADC in BO.
Managing breastfeeding and work: a Foucauldian secondary analysis
Authors: Payne Deborah , Nicholls David A.
Published: June 2010

payne d. & nicholls d.a. (2010) Managing breastfeeding and work: a Foucauldian secondary analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing 66(8), 1810–1818.

Title.  Managing breastfeeding and work: a Foucauldian secondary analysis.

Aim. This paper is a report of a secondary analysis of the experiences of employed breastfeeding mothers.

Background. Health promotion policies exhort mothers to feed their infants breastmilk exclusively for the first 6 months and partially until the age of 2 years. More mothers are returning to paid employment less than a year after having a baby. Combining breastfeeding and paid work is an issue for nursing and midwifery as predominantly female professions caring for women and their children.

Method. Foucauldian discourse analysis was used for a secondary analysis of interviews performed in 2005 with 20 women who continued to breastfeed on their return to work. The discursive positions and disciplinary practices were identified and analysed.

Findings. Combining breastfeeding and paid work required negotiating the positions of good mother and good worker. Being a good mother conferred health benefits on infants. Being a good worker required the mothers to constrain their breastfeeding practices. The practices performed by the mothers involved stockpiling breastmilk, maintaining milk supply, preparing the baby ready for absence, making sacrifices and remaining silent and invisible as a breastfeeding worker.

Conclusion. Breastfeeding workers have the potential to threaten the focus of the workplace. They discipline themselves to minimize their disruptive potential. Such strategies serve to maintain the marginalization of breastfeeding in the workplace and to keep women’s efforts to continue breastfeeding invisible. The work of breastfeeding workers needs to be better recognized and supported.
The Pregnant Women with HIV Attitude Scale: development and initial psychometric evaluation
Authors: Tyer‐Viola Lynda A. , Duffy Mary E.
Published: June 2010

tyer‐viola l.a. & duffy m.e. (2010) The Pregnant Women with HIV Attitude Scale: development and initial psychometric evaluation. Journal of Advanced Nursing 66(8), 1852–1863.

Title.  The Pregnant Women with HIV Attitude Scale: development and initial psychometric evaluation.

Aim.  This paper is a report of the development and initial psychometric evaluation of the Pregnant Women with HIV Attitude Scale.

Background.  Previous research has identified that attitudes toward persons with HIV/AIDS have been judgmental and could affect clinical care and outcomes. Stigma towards persons with HIV has persisted as a barrier to nursing care globally. Women are more vulnerable during pregnancy. An instrument to specifically measure obstetric care provider’s attitudes toward this population is needed to target identified gaps in providing respectful care.

Methods.  Existing literature and instruments were analysed and two existing measures, the Attitudes about People with HIV Scale and the Attitudes toward Women with HIV Scale, were combined to create an initial item pool to address attitudes toward HIV‐positive pregnant women. The data were collected in 2003 with obstetric nurses attending a national conference in the United States of America (N = 210). Content validity was used for item pool development and principal component analysis and analysis of variance were used to determine construct validity. Reliability was analysed using Cronbach’s Alpha.

Results.  The new measure demonstrated high internal consistency (alpha estimates = 0·89). Principal component analysis yielded a two‐component structure that accounted for 45% of the total variance: Mothering‐Choice (alpha estimates = 0·89) and Sympathy‐Rights (alpha estimates = 0·72).

Conclusion.  These data provided initial evidence of the psychometric properties of the Pregnant Women with HIV Attitude Scale. Further analysis is required of the validity of the constructs of this scale and its reliability with various obstetric care providers.
Living alone with dementia: an interpretive phenomenological study with older women
Authors: De Witt Lorna , Ploeg Jenny , Black Margaret
Published: June 2010

de witt l., ploeg j. & black m. (2010) Living alone with dementia: an interpretive phenomenological study with older women. Journal of Advanced Nursing 66(8), 1698–1707.

Title.  Living alone with dementia: an interpretive phenomenological study with older women.

Aim.  This paper is a report of a study of the meaning of living alone from the perspective of older people with dementia.

Background.  Risks and problems experienced by older women living alone have been investigated mostly through quantitative research. Balancing their safety and autonomy is a serious international community care dilemma. Older people’s perspectives have been muted in qualitative research on living alone with dementia.

Method.  Using an interpretive phenomenological approach and van Manen’s method, 14 interviews were conducted in Ontario, Canada from January 2004 to April 2005 with eight older women diagnosed with Alzheimer disease or a related dementia.

Findings.  The theme holding back time expressed the temporal meaning of living alone. Pharmacological treatments represented stored time, offering the opportunity to hold back future dreaded time. Past experience with others with dementia was a context for holding on to now and facing some risks of living alone with memory loss. The women acknowledged the limited time remaining for, and identified endpoints to, living alone.

Conclusion.  Insight into the impact of past experience with others with dementia could inform nursing assessment and advocacy for health/social services that are sensitive to the potential emotional impact of mixing people with varied levels of dementia in the same programme.