bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Under Which Lyre
Authors: Hobbs Angela
Published: May 2014

In a response to two essays by Jan Zwicky on “lyric philosophy,” this piece questions whether there are positions that cannot be fully articulated in conventional, linear prose without contradiction and, if so, whether or in what sense they can be considered philosophical positions. Zwicky's experimental deployment of polyphonic textual structures to render her conception of a patterned and resonant whole is, Hobbs argues, part of a tradition, going back to ancient Greece, of radical philosophers struggling to express themselves without pragmatic self-refutation. In particular, Hobbs explores Zwicky's acknowledged debt to the paradoxes and aphorisms of Heraclitus, in whose thought the “backward-turning connection” of the lyre plays a central role. Hobbs suggests that, although both Heraclitus and Zwicky use language to stimulate profound changes in the reader's perception, understanding, and ethical outlook, there are important divergences in their projects: Zwicky assumes that humans have access to the resonant whole, while Heraclitus chooses to write in paradoxes partly in order to highlight the inevitable limitations of mortal knowledge of the Logos, which is known fully only to god. Zwicky's depiction of a generalized “analytic” philosopher may also be thought oversimplified: few analytic philosophers, if any, would claim that meaning can only be “linguistic in form,” and it is unclear what is meant by “technocratically acceptable prose.” Nevertheless, Zwicky's claim that the practice of philosophy is “better understood as an exercise of attention disciplined by discernment of the live, metaphorical relation between things and the resonant structure of the world” is an important one, and the challenges that it poses to our conceptions of what philosophy is and how to write it are not ones that should be ignored.
Tenkô And Writing: The Case of Nakano Shigeharu
Authors: Shigeto Yukiko
Published: May 2014

In 1934 Nakano Shigeharu (1902 – 79), a Marxist writer and key figure in the Japanese proletarian literature movement since the mid-1920s, renounced his ties with the Japan Communist Party by way of vowing not to participate in social movements, an act known in Japanese as tenkô. It was a time when a large number of Marxists committed tenkô under increasingly heavy state suppression of leftists. The most common English rendering of the term tenkô is “ideological conversion.” While apt for many cases, this does not adequately describe Nakano's case because he did not convert to an alternate ideological position. Through a close reading of two of his works, “Suzuki, Miyakoyama, Yasojima” (1935) and “The Novelist Who Cannot Write a Novel” (“Shôsetsu no kakenu shôsetsuka,” 1936), this article investigates the “position” Nakano turned “to” and the critical potency of his thinking and writing from there.
Dynamic use of optic flow during pheromone tracking by the male silkmoth, Bombyx mori
Authors: Pansopha Poonsup , Ando Noriyasu , Kanzaki Ryohei
Published: May 2014

Several insects require both olfactory and visual cues during odour-source localisation to successfully locate an odour source. In the male silkmoth, Bombyx mori, detection of the female sex pheromone triggers a programmed walking pattern, starting from a surge (straight-line walking) followed by zigzag walking. Although pheromone-triggered behaviour in silkmoths is well understood, the role of visual cues remains obscure. To address this question, we performed behavioural experiments on tethered-walking moths by recording their locomotion during stimulation with a pheromone and a visual motion pattern (optic flow). The experiments were conducted under open- and closed-loop visual stimuli. We found that the use of optic flow input was determined by the behavioural state of surge and zigzagging. Silkmoths exhibited an optomotor response, which is a behavioural visual response, by turning towards the same direction as optic flow stimuli only during surge, but not during zigzagging. In addition, modulation of the zigzag walking pattern was observed when the moths were presented with biased closed-loop visual stimuli (visual feedback with biased constant optic flow); however, the directional preference mechanism was different from that of the optomotor response. Based on these findings, we suggest that the optomotor response is utilised for course control during straight-line walking, whereas the absence of optomotor response during zigzagging is used to effectively perform the programmed walking pattern. Considering the neural basis of programmed behaviour, we speculate that at least two visual pathways are involved in the state-dependent use of optic flow during odour tracking behaviour in silkmoths.
Biomimetic shark skin: design, fabrication and hydrodynamic function
Authors: Wen Li , Weaver James C. , Lauder George V.
Published: May 2014

Although the functional properties of shark skin have been of considerable interest to both biologists and engineers because of the complex hydrodynamic effects of surface roughness, no study to date has successfully fabricated a flexible biomimetic shark skin that allows detailed study of hydrodynamic function. We present the first study of the design, fabrication and hydrodynamic testing of a synthetic, flexible, shark skin membrane. A three-dimensional (3D) model of shark skin denticles was constructed using micro-CT imaging of the skin of the shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus). Using 3D printing, thousands of rigid synthetic shark denticles were placed on flexible membranes in a controlled, linear-arrayed pattern. This flexible 3D printed shark skin model was then tested in water using a robotic flapping device that allowed us to either hold the models in a stationary position or move them dynamically at their self-propelled swimming speed. Compared with a smooth control model without denticles, the 3D printed shark skin showed increased swimming speed with reduced energy consumption under certain motion programs. For example, at a heave frequency of 1.5 Hz and an amplitude of ±1 cm, swimming speed increased by 6.6% and the energy cost-of-transport was reduced by 5.9%. In addition, a leading-edge vortex with greater vorticity than the smooth control was generated by the 3D printed shark skin, which may explain the increased swimming speeds. The ability to fabricate synthetic biomimetic shark skin opens up a wide array of possible manipulations of surface roughness parameters, and the ability to examine the hydrodynamic consequences of diverse skin denticle shapes present in different shark species.
Immunogene and viral transcript dynamics during parasitic Varroa destructor mite infection of developing honey bee (Apis mellifera) pupae
Authors: Kuster Ryan D. , Boncristiani Humberto F. , Rueppell Olav
Published: May 2014

The ectoparasitic Varroa destructor mite is a major contributor to the ongoing honey bee health crisis. Varroa interacts with honey bee viruses, exacerbating their pathogenicity. In addition to vectoring viruses, immunosuppression of the developing honey bee hosts by Varroa has been proposed to explain the synergy between viruses and mites. However, the evidence for honey bee immune suppression by V. destructor is contentious. We systematically studied the quantitative effects of experimentally introduced V. destructor mites on immune gene expression at five specific time points during the development of the honey bee hosts. Mites reproduced normally and were associated with increased titers of deformed wing virus in the developing bees. Our data on different immune genes show little evidence for immunosuppression of honey bees by V. destructor. Experimental wounding of developing bees increases relative immune gene expression and deformed wing virus titers. Combined, these results suggest that mite feeding activity itself and not immunosuppression may contribute to the synergy between viruses and mites. However, our results also suggest that increased expression of honey bee immune genes decreases mite reproductive success, which may be explored to enhance mite control strategies. Finally, our expression data for multiple immune genes across developmental time and different experimental treatments indicates co-regulation of several of these genes and thus improves our understanding of the understudied honey bee immune system.
Elevated carboxyhemoglobin in a marine mammal, the northern elephant seal
Authors: Tift Michael S. , Ponganis Paul J. , Crocker Daniel E.
Published: May 2014

Low concentrations of endogenous carbon monoxide (CO), generated primarily through degradation of heme from heme-proteins, have been shown to maintain physiological function of organs and to exert cytoprotective effects. However, high concentrations of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb), formed by CO binding to hemoglobin, potentially prevent adequate O2 delivery to tissues by lowering arterial O2 content. Elevated heme-protein concentrations, as found in marine mammals, are likely associated with greater heme degradation, more endogenous CO production and, consequently, elevated COHb concentrations. Therefore, we measured COHb in elephant seals, a species with large blood volumes and elevated hemoglobin and myoglobin concentrations. The levels of COHb were positively related to the total hemoglobin concentration. The maximum COHb value was 10.4% of total hemoglobin concentration. The mean (±s.e.m.) value in adult seals was 8.7±0.3% (N=6), while juveniles and pups (with lower heme-protein contents) had lower mean COHb values of 7.6±0.2% and 7.1±0.3%, respectively (N=9 and N=9, respectively). Serial samples over several hours revealed little to no fluctuation in COHb values. This consistent elevation in COHb suggests that the magnitude and/or rate of heme-protein turnover is much higher than in terrestrial mammals. The maximum COHb values from this study decrease total body O2 stores by 7%, thereby reducing the calculated aerobic dive limit for this species. However, the constant presence of elevated CO in blood may also protect against potential ischemia–reperfusion injury associated with the extreme breath-holds of elephant seals. We suggest the elephant seal represents an ideal model for understanding the potential cytoprotective effects, mechanisms of action and evolutionary adaptation associated with chronically elevated concentrations of endogenously produced CO.
Adsorption of Boron by Metallurgical Slag and Iron Nanoparticles
Authors: Mercado-Borrayo B.M. , Schouwenaars R. , Litter M.I. , Ramirez-Zamora R.M.
Published: May 2014

Boron is a problematic pollutant because of the difficulty involved in removing it from water with an acceptable cost-to-benefit ratio, especially at extremely high concentrations (600 mg B/l). It is also necessary to remove the pollutant to comply with the quality criteria for drinking water (1 mg B/l) and even for agricultural irrigation purposes (0.5–15 mg B/l depending on crop tolerance). Although some newly proposed water-treatment technologies use economical adsorbents, they are unable to achieve the residual concentrations. The aim of this work is to show that adsorption using metallurgical slags (SL) can be used either as a pre-treatment of the zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nano-Fe0) or as a final treatment itself for removing boron at high concentrations to obtain effluents complying with the standards established for drinking water and wastewater reuse. Adsorption tests (kinetics and isotherms) were carried out for both adsorbents. The slags showed good results as an adsorbent for boron removal in the pre-treatment and final treatment stages, with a very low cost compared with nano-Fe0. The use of slags instead of expensive commercial adsorbents makes adsorption of water with high boron concentrations feasible, and allows obtaining treated wastewater for agricultural irrigation of very tolerant crops.
A Heuristic Procedure to Optimize the Design of a Permeable Reactive Barrier for In Situ Groundwater Remediation
Authors: Nardo A. Di , Bortone I. , Natale M. Di , Erto A. , Musmarra D.
Published: May 2014

This paper deals with a procedure to optimize the design of permeable reactive barrier (PRB) built with activated carbon for the in situ remediation of a polluted aquifer. A simulation-based heuristic procedure is developed to define, with an iterative procedure, the optimal position and geometrical dimensions of the barrier itself, which simultaneously assure the respect of pollutant concentration limits and minimum barrier size. A computer code is used to describe the field motion of the aquifer, the contaminant transport and the adsorption phenomena occurring inside the barrier. A real aquifer polluted by tetrachloroethylene (PCE) situated in the area north of Naples (Italy) is presented as a case study. Simulation results show that a PRB formed by sections of different width, tuned to the different values of PCE concentration in the plume, can assure an effective remediation of the site.
A Study of the Adsorption of Aromatic Compounds Using Activated Carbons Prepared from Chestnut Shell
Authors: Paredes-Doig Ana L. , Sun-Kou Maria del Rosario , Picasso-Escobar Gino , Cannata José Lazo
Published: May 2014

Activated carbons (ACs) prepared from chestnut shell were used as adsorbents for the removal of benzoic acid, salicylic acid and phenol from aqueous solutions. Adsorption studies were carried out by modifying activation temperature, concentration of activating acid and pH. The samples presented a microporous texture with acidic groups on the surface. It was found that the adsorption process not only depended on the porosity and the functional groups present in the AC, but was also affected by the solubility, the number and type of substituent groups, the superficial acidity in the adsorbate and the adsorbate–adsorbent interactions. The order of removal capacity was determined as follows: salicylic acid > benzoic acid > phenol. The differences in energy between the orbital frontier of the electronic densities of the adsorbent and the adsorbates, predicted by the HyperChem program, explained the experimental data pretty well.
Lliures volen: el blog com a espai lingüístic. Un treball sociolingüístic transversal amb alumnat de segon de batxillerat
Authors: Doménech Oreto
Published: May 2014

Aquest article és el balanç, des del punt de vista didàctic, de tres cursos lectius amb l’ús del blog com a suport de l’aprenentatge presencial de l’assignatura de Valencià: Llengua i Literatura per a segon de batxillerat. L’ús de les eines digitals i de la web 2.0 es va concretar en el blog Lliures volen (http://2nbatpacomolla.blogspot.com.es/) i es va dedicar a la reflexió sociolingüística. La consciència lingüística, la diglòssia, l’autoodi, són aspectes essencials de la nostra realitat lingüística quotidiana que no hauríem de defugir en l’ensenyament del català al País Valencià, on la llengua i la literatura encara es troben lluny d’una situació normalitat plena. L’ús del blog al llarg de tres cursos lectius es va centrar en l’assertivitat i l’autoestima lingüístiques i l’eliminació de prejudicis lingüístics entre l’alumnat de segon de batxillerat de l’IES Poeta Paco Mollà de Petrer (País Valencià) procedent de diversos pobles i ciutats del migjorn valencià com ara Petrer, Elda, Monòver, Novelda, Sax, Montfort, Pinós i Villena. En la valoració d’aquesta experiència també considerem aquells aspectos menys reeixits: l’autocrítica i les propostes de millora són dos punts innegociables en el camí per poder seguir endavant. Cal, però, ser conscients de la naturalesa experimental i canviant de les nostres experiències didàctiques, siguen amb eines digitals o amb altres tipus d’eines. Buscar nous camins i maneres amb les TIC en el present i en futur, amb tot, es presenta com una pràctica fonamental i necessària, amb un potencial fins ara impossible d’imaginar que hem d’aprofitar per a la reflexió sociolingüística en l’aula.
La imagen de Venezuela en la prensa española. Una visión desde los diarios: El País, El Mundo, ABC y La Vanguardia
Authors: Urdaneta García Marianela
Published: May 2014

La presente investigación tiene como objetivo analizar el tratamiento periodístico que los diarios El País, El Mundo, ABC y La Vanguardia hacen sobre Venezuela para difundir y proyectar su imagen. Se utilizó el análisis de contenido sustentado en autores como: McCarteney, Butler y Bennett, (2008); González, (2008); Noya y col., (2007); Igartua y Humanes, (2004); Dhoest, (2004); Martínez y Díaz, (2003); Bodas y Gragoevic, (1994); entre otros. Como conclusión se obtuvo que los tres principales temas con los que se vinculó a Venezuela fueron la situación interna del país a causa de su sistema de gobierno (31,2%), la relación con los países latinoamericanos no miembros del ALBA (21,6%), relación con los países miembros del ALBA (19,7%). Hubo un predominio de la noticia como género periodístico (58,7%), no obstante se observó que en el 53,9% de las noticias publicadas el redactor hacía juicios de valores y que el 56% de las noticias difundidas tienen entre cero y una fuente, lo cual permite señalar que las informaciones publicadas son escuetas y sin profundidad periodística. En cuanto al tratamiento que se le dio a las informaciones difundidas sobre Venezuela se precisó que el 81,7% tuvieron una cobertura negativa y sólo en un 2,8% hubo un enfoque positivo.
Integración de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (TIC) en la universidad: diez propuestas de aprendizaje
Authors: Martínez Gutiérrez Fátima , Acosta Yanet
Published: May 2014

Este artículo pretende resaltar la enorme importancia que pueden adquirir la integración de las Tecnologías de la Información y de la Comunicación (TIC) si se realiza un nuevo planteamiento docente en las aulas universitarias. Los profesores han de embarcarse en nuevos conocimientos informáticos y los alumnos han de aprender a adaptar espacios virtuales destinados para el ocio y el entretenimiento, como Facebook, Tuenti o MySpace, en escenarios de aprendizaje y formación, favoreciéndoles al mismo tiempo una mayor interactividad con el profesor. Al mismo tiempo que se reflexiona sobre la nueva docencia universitaria con la ayuda de herramientas 2.0, reseñaremos 10 plataformas online, gratuitas y de fácil manejo, para impulsar la información entre los alumnos, basado en la experiencia de las autoras con el desarrollo de esta nueva metodología en línea. Este nuevo modelo pedagógico se apoyaría en el concepto entendido como blended-learning, es decir, en la manera de compatibilizar clases magistrales con aquellas clases trasladadas a la esfera digital. En consecuencia, a la reflexión teórica se añaden ejemplos concretos como Facebook, Google groups, Twitter o Ning. Advertimos que este artículo no presenta resultados concretos puesto que su pretensión es la de elaborar una propuesta de innovación docente que pueda ser aplicable a la hora de impartir clases en la universidad.
Historia de la competencia entre el cine y la televisión. Los efectos de las nuevas tecnologías en la formas de consumir y producir cine en España: la explosión del cine en la televisión y el posible fin de las películas en celuloide
Authors: Hernández Rodríguez Ciro Enrique
Published: May 2014

Descripción del proceso de estrecha competencia entre dos grandes medios audiovisuales tradicionales, la televisión y el cine, a través de aquellas innovaciones tecnológicas de las se han podido beneficiar cada uno, hasta acabar señalando la forma en la que uno se está convirtiendo en el medio preferente o exclusivo para el disfrute del otro.
Los Simpson, un fenómeno social con 20 años de permanencia en la programación televisiva
Authors: Marta Lazo Carmen , Tovar Lasheras Alejandro
Published: May 2014

El hecho de que una serie de animación se convierta en un clásico de la antena televisiva, con veinte años de vigencia, no es casualidad. Son muchos los factores que repercuten en que un espacio mediático se instaure impertérrito en la parrilla de programación: el formato, el tratamiento, el contenido o el horario de emisión, entre otros. En el presente artículo analizamos cada una de las claves por las que consideramos que Los Simpson se han convertido en un referente para todos los públicos, en especial para los niños. Incluimos un estudio llevado a cabo con dieciséis grupos de discusión compuestos por niños entre 7 y 12 años, para definir los motivos por los que esta serie es una de sus preferidas de toda la programación televisiva y justificar de qué modo entienden la violencia que contiene.
Hacer televisión desde la comunicación, propuesta de rediseño de la identidad visual corporativa de Telecubanacán
Authors: Torres Figueroa Oneibys , Díaz-Guzmán Corrales Kirk
Published: May 2014

La presente investigación se desarrolló en el telecentro provincial “Telecubanacán”, del Sistema de la Televisión Cubana, con el objetivo de proponer el diseño de su identidad visual a partir de identificar los elementos que contribuyan a formar la imagen deseada. El estudio se abordó desde la metodología cualitativa y el método investigación-acción, desde abril de 2009 a mayo de 2010. Las técnicas de investigación empleadas fueron: análisis de documentos, observaciones participantes, entrevistas semiestructuradas, sesiones grupales y briefing operativo. Consejo de Dirección, fundadores, promociones recientes de la Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” de la Villas en el telecentro y expertos fueron las unidades de análisis. Se expusieron puntos de vista en torno a la identidad visual corporativa y su integración a las acciones de comunicación como verdadero valor añadido, distinguiendo elementos básicos del diseño para el caso particular de la televisión. Inicialmente, fue caracterizada la identidad visual de Telecubanacán. Para la propuesta de diseño se precisaron los elementos de identidad visual necesarios, a partir de la imagen deseada de ser un telecentro de proximidad, cercano a las prácticas comunitarias y elevar su status e indicadores de prestigio, reconociéndose como un colectivo profesional. Se propuso la aplicación de la nueva identidad visual en los distintos espacios de emisión y la disposición de sus aplicaciones en la arquitectura de la organización. Ello devino un elemento integrador que los hace singulares, comunes, sinérgicos y coherentes en aras de una emisión integrada de comunicación.
El complejo mundo de la interactividad: emociones y redes sociales
Authors: Martínez Rodrigo Estrella , Segura García Rosario , Sánchez Martín Lourdes
Published: May 2014

El objetivo de la presente investigación es discernir cómo debe plantearse un aprendizaje en nuevas tecnologías, en especial, en redes sociales. Para esto, se analizará la dinámica neurológica y psicológica de las emociones y cómo se desenvuelven en el ámbito de las redes sociales. La metodología que emplearemos será acudir a diversos estudios neurológicos y psicológicos actuales, en especial de Antonio Damasio, para analizar posteriormente qué sucede con las emociones cuando nos comunicamos a través de redes sociales, tomando como referente un experimento neurológico de dicho autor en el cerebro de varios voluntarios que muestra la aparición de diversos tipos de emociones. Por último, extrapolaremos este experimento a la aparición de emociones si se utiliza como medio de comunicación las redes sociales y realizaremos algunas conclusiones acerca de la dirección a la que debe tender el aprendizaje de nuevas tecnologías, en especial, redes sociales, teniendo en cuenta dichas observaciones.
Arte y Publicidad: Producción científica en universidades españolas (1998- 2010)
Authors: De Vicente Domínguez Aída María
Published: May 2014

El objeto de estudio es averiguar las investigaciones que se han realizado en las Universidades españolas sobre las conexiones entre el Arte y la Publicidad. Una revisión del status quo que será de interés para delimitar los futuros objetivos de cualquier investigación que verse sobre este campo de estudio. Para la búsqueda científica se han consultado diversas bases de datos que ofrecen información de tesis doctorales. Tras recopilar la información y realizar un análisis de contenido, se exponen las conclusiones de la investigación: estudios, temática sobre la que han versado, universidades y facultades en las que se han realizado. Una recopilación interesante para cualquier investigación centrada en el Arte y la Publicidad.
La televisión pública en 2011. TVE sin publicidad
Authors: Jiménez Marín Gloria , Polo Serrano David , Jódar Marín Juan Ángel
Published: May 2014

El día 28 de agosto de 2009 aparecía publicado en BOE la ley 8/2009, de financiación de la Corporación de Radio y Televisión Española en la que se concebía un nuevo formato de financiación de la televisión pública que no partía de la venta de espacios publicitarios. Esta ley ha traído consigo numerosas críticas, posturas y observaciones, así como alguna denuncia a cargo de organizaciones políticas, asociaciones de consumidores y usuarios o sujetos privados en nombre propio. En el siguiente artículo realizamos un estudio cuyos objetivos son verificar la percepción que los estudiantes encuestados tienen acerca de la nueva política legislativa y la aplicación efectiva de la Ley de Financiación de RTVE. Para ello, seleccionamos una muestra consistente en 324 sujetos a los cuales realizamos un cuestionario para, posteriormente, extraer unos datos muy acordes a las hipótesis que proponemos.
Juventud y discurso mediático. El tratamiento periodístico de las personas jóvenes en los medios de Cataluña
Authors: Mauri de los Rios Marcel , Figueras Maz Mònica
Published: May 2014

En este artículo se presentan parte de los resultados de una investigación más amplia: el análisis de la presencia de los jóvenes en los medios informativos de más audiencia en Cataluña y cómo estos medios elaboran el discurso sobre este colectivo atendiendo a las fuentes periodísticas usadas, las formas de titular o la propia actitud del narrador a partir de una metodología que aplica técnicas cualitativas y cuantitativas. El artículo contempla también la reflexión que existe sobre el tratamiento periodístico de las personas jóvenes entre los propios periodistas, por un lado, y los agentes de juventud, por otro a través de las respuestas obtenidas con técnicas cualitativas.
What makes an ad enjoyable? Analysing advertising appeals as viewed by Portuguese consumers
Authors: Freitas Elsa-Simões-Lucas , Ribeiro-Cardoso Paulo
Published: May 2014

Nowadays, consumers are faced with a variety of media that convey myriad advertising messages, which struggle amidst a highly competitive environment, with a view to drawing the viewers’ attention, raising awareness, creating interest and inspiring desire and, ultimately, leading to the purchase of the product/service at stake. For this, advertising professionals deliberately intertwine their selling arguments with emotionally-charged creative concepts. It is the aim of this study to analyse the impact of the main creative appeals and to identify groups of consumers based on their attitudes towards them. We have undertaken a quantitative study, by means of a survey administered to a convenience sample with a list of creative appeals, which had to be classified by the respondents according to their attitudes. Globally speaking, the preferred appeals were humour, music and animation. Nonetheless, it was possible to divide the respondents into three groups. ‘Advertising fans’, the ‘rationally-minded’ and the ‘emotionally-minded’. This study presents some limitations, especially as to the sample used. Apart from the reduced number of respondents and lack of more widespread geographic reach, some academic qualifications were underrepresented. The results of this study offer some avenues to be explored by marketing and advertising professionals when it comes to deciding on the best creative approach to select for their advertising campaigns. Besides, this study paves the way to the development of future research on the issue of advertising appeals and its relationship with the psychographic characteristics of consumers.
Desarrollo cultural en las organizaciones. Un modelo de estudio basado en la Grounded Theory
Authors: Álvarez-Nobell Alejandro , Romero-Calmache María , Sánchez-Sanvicente Manuel , Aragüés-Dufol Paz
Published: May 2014

La cultura organizacional se configura a partir de la interrelación de los procesos de apropiación de la filosofía, la pertenencia, la adaptación, la satisfacción y el liderazgo compartidos por un grupo. Este conjunto de categorías puede ser reconocido mediante el uso de una matriz que incluye en su estructura subcategorías o conceptos y un conjunto de propiedades observables en el público interno. El presente artículo tiene por objetivo describir un modelo de estudio construido a partir de la Grounded Theory o Teoría Fundamentada que nos permita comprender el desarrollo cultural de las organizaciones. El estudio de caso se realizó en una compañía líder en Europa del sector de la distribución.
Nostalgic representation of reality in television fiction: an empirical study based on the analysis of the Spanish television series Cuéntame cómo pasó
Authors: Oller Alonso Martín , Barredo Ibáñez Daniel
Published: May 2014

The Spanish transition from dictatorship to democracy is often described as an example of negotiation or agreement between the elites (Sánchez Cuenca and Aguilar, 2009: 433). Journalistic and political elites, aware of their important historical role, agreed a consensus on certain issues (democracy, constitution, amnesty) or characters (King Juan Carlos I), in order to ensure the stability of the democratic process (Zugasti, 2007, 2008). Television, which articulates the discourse of the masses, has been one of the basic means used to illustrate the development. Among the highlights of recent major audiovisual content, Cuéntame cómo pasó (2001-present) -a TV-series designed to explain changes with a nostalgic tone in Spanish society since 1968 until today- stands out. By choosing a random sample of episodes for this research we propose to verify the validity of the representation of the political process which contextualizes the series. By analyzing many elements, such as the opinions of the main characters, their personal, political and geographical situations, we try to show the construction of a focal point that sanctifies the official version. We also stress the pacifying and nostalgic tone, which constructs stereotypes and taboos about the process and which characterizes this series as a symbolic culmination of the democratization undertaken by the elites.
Claudia Bianchi - Review of Martin Gustafsson and Richard Sørli. The Philosophy of J. L. Austin
Authors: Bianchi Claudia
Published: May 2014

Martin Gustafsson and Richard Sørli. The Philosophy of

J. L. Austin. Oxford. Oxford University Press, 2011.

ISBN: 9780199219759

Reviewed by Claudia Bianchi
Comparative Strength and Dendritic Organization of Thalamocortical and Corticocortical Synapses onto Excitatory Layer 4 Neurons
Authors: Schoonover Carl E. , Tapia Juan-Carlos , Schilling Verena C. , Wimmer Verena , Blazeski Richard , Zhang Wanying , Mason Carol A. , Bruno Randy M.
Published: May 2014

Thalamus is a potent driver of cortical activity even though cortical synapses onto excitatory layer 4 neurons outnumber thalamic synapses 10 to 1. Previousin vitrostudies have proposed that thalamocortical (TC) synapses are stronger than corticocortical (CC) synapses. Here, we investigated possible anatomical and physiological differences between these inputs in the ratin vivo. We developed a high-throughput light microscopy method, validated by electron microscopy, to completely map the locations of synapses across an entire dendritic tree. This demonstrated that TC synapses are slightly more proximal to the soma than CC synapses, but detailed compartmental modeling predicted that dendritic filtering does not appreciably favor one synaptic class over another. Measurements of synaptic strength in intact animals confirmed that both TC and CC synapses are weak and approximately equivalent. We conclude that thalamic effectiveness does not rely on enhanced TC strength, but rather on coincident activation of converging inputs.
Activation of Neurotensin Receptor 1 Facilitates Neuronal Excitability and Spatial Learning and Memory in the Entorhinal Cortex: Beneficial Actions in an Alzheimer's Disease Model
Authors: Xiao Zhaoyang , Cilz Nicholas I. , Kurada Lalitha , Hu Binqi , Yang Chuanxiu , Wada Etsuko , Combs Colin K. , Porter James E. , Lesage Florian , Lei Saobo
Published: May 2014

Neurotensin (NT) is a tridecapeptide distributed in the CNS, including the entorhinal cortex (EC), a structure that is crucial for learning and memory and undergoes the earliest pathological alterations in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Whereas NT has been implicated in modulating cognition, the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which NT modifies cognitive processes and the potential therapeutic roles of NT in AD have not been determined. Here we examined the effects of NT on neuronal excitability and spatial learning in the EC, which expresses high density of NT receptors. Brief application of NT induced persistent increases in action potential firing frequency, which could last for at least 1 h. NT-induced facilitation of neuronal excitability was mediated by downregulation of TREK-2 K+channels and required the functions of NTS1, phospholipase C, and protein kinase C. Microinjection of NT or NTS1 agonist, PD149163, into the EC increased spatial learning as assessed by the Barnes Maze Test. Activation of NTS1 receptors also induced persistent increases in action potential firing frequency and significantly improved the memory status in APP/PS1 mice, an animal model of AD. Our study identifies a cellular substrate underlying learning and memory and suggests that NTS1 agonists may exert beneficial actions in an animal model of AD.
The Representation of Order Information in Auditory-Verbal Short-Term Memory
Authors: Kalm Kristjan , Norris Dennis
Published: May 2014

Here we investigate how order information is represented in auditory-verbal short-term memory (STM). We used fMRI and a serial recall task to dissociate neural activity patterns representing the phonological properties of the items stored in STM from the patterns representing their order. For this purpose, we analyzed fMRI activity patterns elicited by different item sets and different orderings of those items. These fMRI activity patterns were compared with the predictions made by positional and chaining models of serial order. The positional models encode associations between items and their positions in a sequence, whereas the chaining models encode associations between successive items and retain no position information. We show that a set of brain areas in the postero-dorsal stream of auditory processing store associations between items and order as predicted by a positional model. The chaining model of order representation generates a different pattern similarity prediction, which was shown to be inconsistent with the fMRI data. Our results thus favor a neural model of order representation that stores item codes, position codes, and the mapping between them. This study provides the first fMRI evidence for a specific model of order representation in the human brain.
Balanced Cortical Microcircuitry for Spatial Working Memory Based on Corrective Feedback Control
Authors: Lim Sukbin , Goldman Mark S.
Published: May 2014

A hallmark of working memory is the ability to maintain graded representations of both the spatial location and amplitude of a memorized stimulus. Previous work has identified a neural correlate of spatial working memory in the persistent maintenance of spatially specific patterns of neural activity. How such activity is maintained by neocortical circuits remains unknown. Traditional models of working memory maintain analog representations of either the spatial location or the amplitude of a stimulus, but not both. Furthermore, although most previous models require local excitation and lateral inhibition to maintain spatially localized persistent activity stably, the substrate for lateral inhibitory feedback pathways is unclear. Here, we suggest an alternative model for spatial working memory that is capable of maintaining analog representations of both the spatial location and amplitude of a stimulus, and that does not rely on long-range feedback inhibition. The model consists of a functionally columnar network of recurrently connected excitatory and inhibitory neural populations. When excitation and inhibition are balanced in strength but offset in time, drifts in activity trigger spatially specific negative feedback that corrects memory decay. The resulting networks can temporally integrate inputs at any spatial location, are robust against many commonly considered perturbations in network parameters, and, when implemented in a spiking model, generate irregular neural firing characteristic of that observed experimentally during persistent activity. This work suggests balanced excitatory–inhibitory memory circuits implementing corrective negative feedback as a substrate for spatial working memory.
Feature Interactions Enable Decoding of Sensorimotor Transformations for Goal-Directed Movement
Authors: Barany Deborah A. , Della-Maggiore Valeria , Viswanathan Shivakumar , Cieslak Matthew , Grafton Scott T.
Published: May 2014

Neurophysiology and neuroimaging evidence shows that the brain represents multiple environmental and body-related features to compute transformations from sensory input to motor output. However, it is unclear how these features interact during goal-directed movement. To investigate this issue, we examined the representations of sensory and motor features of human hand movements within the left-hemisphere motor network. In a rapid event-related fMRI design, we measured cortical activity as participants performed right-handed movements at the wrist, with either of two postures and two amplitudes, to move a cursor to targets at different locations. Using a multivoxel analysis technique with rigorous generalization tests, we reliably distinguished representations of task-related features (primarily target location, movement direction, and posture) in multiple regions. In particular, we identified an interaction between target location and movement direction in the superior parietal lobule, which may underlie a transformation from the location of the target in space to a movement vector. In addition, we found an influence of posture on primary motor, premotor, and parietal regions. Together, these results reveal the complex interactions between different sensory and motor features that drive the computation of sensorimotor transformations.
Regulation of estrogen receptor α function in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells by FAK signaling
Authors: Chang Yi-Lin , Hsu Yu-Kan , Wu Tsung-Fan , Huang Chieh-Ming , Liou Li-Yin , Chiu Ya-Wen , Hsiao Yu-Hsuan , Luo Fuh-Jinn , Yuan Ta-Chun
Published: May 2014

Estrogen receptor α (ERA) is a DNA-binding transcription factor that plays an important role in the regulation of cell growth. Previous studies indicated that the expression of ERα in cell lines and tumors derived from oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The aim of this study was to examine the activity and function of ERα in OSCC cells and the mechanism underlying ERα activation. Immunochemical analyses in benign (n=11) and malignant (n=21) lesions of the oral cavity showed that ERα immunoreactivity was observed in 43% (9/21) of malignant lesions, whereas none of benign lesions showed ERα immunoreactivity. The ERα expression was also found in three OSCC cell lines and its transcriptional activity was correlated with cell growth. Addition of estradiol stimulated cell growth, whereas treatment of tamoxifen or knockdown of ERα expression caused reduced cell growth. Interestingly, the expression and activity of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) were associated with the phosphorylation of ERα at serine 118 in OSCC cells. Elevated expression of FAK in the slow-growing SCC25 cells caused increases in ERα phosphorylation, transcriptional activity, and cell growth rate, whereas knockdown of FAK expression in the rapid-growing OECM-1 cells led to reduced ERα phosphorylation and activity and retarded cell growth. Inhibition of the activity of protein kinase B (AKT), but not ERK, abolished FAK-promoted ERα phosphorylation. These results suggest that OSCC cells expressed functional ERα, whose activity can be enhanced by FAK/AKT signaling, and this was critical for promoting cell growth. Thus, FAK and ERα can serve as the therapeutic targets for the treatment of OSCC.
Dependence of the strength of van der Waals interactions on the details of the dielectric response variation
Authors: Hopkins Jaime C. , Dryden Daniel M. , Ching Wai-Yim , French Roger H. , Parsegian V. Adrian , Podgornik Rudolf
Published: May 2014

We will present a simplified approximate model showing how even small changes in the dielectric response result in substantial variations in the Hamaker coefficient of the van der Waals interactions. Since all the terms in the Matsubara summation depends on the variation of the dielectric response spectra at one particular frequency, the total change in the Hamaker coefficient depends on the spectral changes not only at that frequency but also at the rest of the spectrum properly weighted. The Matsubara terms most affected by the addition of a single peak are not those close to the position of the added peak, but are distributed over the entire range of frequencies. We comment on the possibility of eliminating van der Waals interactions and/or drastically reducing them by spectral variation in a narrow regime of frequencies.
Revision of Nosekiella (Protura: Acerentomidae, Nipponentominae)
Authors: Shrubovych Julia , Rusek Josef , Bernard Ernest C
Published: May 2014

Our recent reexamination of NosekiellaRusek, 1974 has shown that only the type species Nosekiella danica (Condé, 1947) and Nosekiella urasi Imadaté, 1981 should remain in this genus. Nosekiella condei (Tuxen, 1955) and Nosekiella hoogstraaliNosek, 1980 differ from N. danica and N. urasi in the number of anterior setae on the metanotum. N. condei is transferred into VesiculentomonRusek, 1974 because of its possession of four pairs of anterior setae on the metanotum and a baculiform sensilium tl. N. hoogstraali differs from both N. danica and N. urasi in having a claviform foretarsal sensilium tl, two pairs of anterior setae on metanotum, and four pairs of anterior setae, and the anterior position of P3 on tergites II-VI. N. hoogstraali is transferred into SugaentidusImadaté, 1978. The original descriptions are corrected and supplemented with new characters, including head chaetotaxy, seta length, and porotaxy.
Neonatal body condition, immune responsiveness, and hematocrit predict longevity in a wild bird population
Authors: Bowers E. Keith , Hodges Christine J. , Forsman Anna M. , Vogel Laura A. , Masters Brian S. , Johnson Bonnie G. P. , Johnson L. Scott , Thompson Charles F. , Sakaluk Scott K.
Published: May 2014

Measures of body condition, immune function, and hematological health are widely used in ecological studies of vertebrate populations, predicated on the assumption that these traits are linked to fitness. However, compelling evidence that these traits actually predict long‐term survival and reproductive success among individuals in the wild is lacking. Here, we show that body condition (i.e., size‐adjusted body mass) and cutaneous immune responsiveness to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) injection among neonates positively predict recruitment and subsequent longevity in a wild, migratory population of House Wrens (Troglodytes aedon). However, neonates with intermediate hematocrit had the highest recruitment and longevity. Neonates with the highest PHA responsiveness and intermediate hematocrit prior to independence eventually produced the most offspring during their lifetime breeding on the study site. Importantly, the effects of PHA responsiveness and hematocrit were revealed while controlling for variation in body condition, sex, and environmental variation. Thus, our data demonstrate that body condition, cutaneous immune responsiveness, and hematocrit as a neonate are associated with individual fitness. Although hematocrit's effect is more complex than traditionally thought, our results suggest a previously underappreciated role for this trait in influencing survival in the wild.
Involvement of cAMP/EPAC/TRPM2 Activation in Glucose- and Incretin-Induced Insulin Secretion
Authors: Yosida Masashi , Dezaki Katsuya , Uchida Kunitoshi , Kodera Shiho , Lam Nien V. , Ito Kiyonori , Rita Rauza S. , Yamada Hodaka , Shimomura Kenju , Ishikawa San-e , Sugawara Hitoshi , Kawakami Masanobu , Tominaga Makoto , Yada Toshihiko , Kakei Masafumi
Published: May 2014

In pancreatic β-cells, closure of the ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channel is an initial process triggering glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. In addition, constitutive opening of background nonselective cation channels (NSCCs) is essentially required to effectively evoke depolarization as a consequence of KATP channel closure. Thus, it is hypothesized that further opening of NSCC facilitates membrane excitability. We identified a class of NSCC that was activated by exendin (ex)-4, GLP-1, and its analog liraglutide at picomolar levels. This NSCC was also activated by increasing the glucose concentration. NSCC activation by glucose and GLP-1 was a consequence of the activated cAMP/EPAC-mediated pathway and was attenuated in TRPM2-deficient mice. The NSCC was not activated by protein kinase A (PKA) activators and was activated by ex-4 in the presence of PKA inhibitors. These results suggest that glucose- and incretin-activated NSCC (TRPM2) works in concert with closure of the KATP channel to effectively induce membrane depolarization to initiate insulin secretion. The current study reveals a new mechanism for regulating electrical excitability in β-cells and for mediating the action of glucose and incretin to evoke insulin secretion, thereby providing an innovative target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Gut Dysbiosis and Detection of “Live Gut Bacteria” in Blood of Japanese Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Sato Junko , Kanazawa Akio , Ikeda Fuki , Yoshihara Tomoaki , Goto Hiromasa , Abe Hiroko , Komiya Koji , Kawaguchi Minako , Shimizu Tomoaki , Ogihara Takeshi , Tamura Yoshifumi , Sakurai Yuko , Yamamoto Risako , Mita Tomoya , Fujitani Yoshio , Fukuda Hiroshi , Nomoto Koji , Takahashi Takuya , Asahara Takashi , Hirose Takahisa , Nagata Satoru , Yamashiro Yuichiro , Watada Hirotaka
Published: May 2014

OBJECTIVE

Mounting evidence indicates that the gut microbiota are an important modifier of obesity and diabetes. However, so far there is no information on gut microbiota and “live gut bacteria” in the systemic circulation of Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Using a sensitive reverse transcription–quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) method, we determined the composition of fecal gut microbiota in 50 Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes and 50 control subjects, and its association with various clinical parameters, including inflammatory markers. We also analyzed the presence of gut bacteria in blood samples.

RESULTS

The counts of the Clostridium coccoides group, Atopobium cluster, and Prevotella (obligate anaerobes) were significantly lower (P < 0.05), while the counts of total Lactobacillus (facultative anaerobes) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in fecal samples of diabetic patients than in those of control subjects. Especially, the counts of Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus plantarum subgroups were significantly higher (P < 0.05). Gut bacteria were detected in blood at a significantly higher rate in diabetic patients than in control subjects (28% vs. 4%, P < 0.01), and most of these bacteria were Gram-positive.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first report of gut dysbiosis in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes as assessed by RT-qPCR. The high rate of gut bacteria in the circulation suggests translocation of bacteria from the gut to the bloodstream.