bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ultrafast structural and electronic dynamics of the metallic phase in a layered manganite
Authors: Piazza L. , Ma C. , Yang H. X. , Mann A. , Zhu Y. , Li J. Q. , Carbone F.
Published: December 2013

The transition between different states in manganites can be driven by various external stimuli. Controlling these transitions with light opens the possibility to investigate the microscopic path through which they evolve. We performed femtosecond (fs) transmission electron microscopy on a bi-layered manganite to study its response to ultrafast photoexcitation. We show that a photoinduced temperature jump launches a pressure wave that provokes coherent oscillations of the lattice parameters, detected via ultrafast electron diffraction. Their impact on the electronic structure are monitored via ultrafast electron energy loss spectroscopy, revealing the dynamics of the different orbitals in response to specific structural distortions.
An inter-catchment comparison of groundwater biota in the cotton-growing region of north-western New South Wales
Authors: Korbel K. L. , Lim R. P. , Hose G. C.
Published: December 2013

Groundwater is essential to crop production in many parts of the world, and the provision of clean groundwater is dependent on healthy groundwater ecosystems. To understand better the functioning of groundwater ecosystems, it is necessary to understand how the biota responds to environmental factors, and so distinguish natural variation from human induced changes. This study compares the groundwater biota of the adjacent Gwydir and Namoi River alluvial aquifers, both in the heartland of Australia’s cotton industry, and investigates the relative importance of environmental, anthropogenic, geological, and evolutionary processes on biotic distribution. Distinct differences in biotic assemblages were recorded between catchments at a community level. However, at a functional level (e.g. microbial activity, stygofauna abundances and richness) both ecosystems were similar. The distribution of biota in both catchments was influenced by similar environmental variables (e.g. geology, carbon availability, season, and land use). Broad trends in biotic distribution were evident: stygofauna responded most strongly to geological variables (reflecting habitat) and microbes to water quality and flow. Agricultural activities influenced biota in both catchments. Although possessing different taxa, the groundwater ecosystems of the two aquifers were functionally similar and responded to similar environmental conditions.
Incomplete cytokinesis and re-fusion of small mononucleated Hodgkin cells lead to giant multinucleated Reed–Sternberg cells
Authors: Rengstl Benjamin , Newrzela Sebastian , Heinrich Tim , Weiser Christian , Thalheimer Frederic B. , Schmid Frederike , Warner Kathrin , Hartmann Sylvia , Schroeder Timm , Küppers Ralf , Rieger Michael A. , Hansmann Martin-Leo
Published: December 2013

Significance

Multinucleated giant tumor cells are frequently observed in tissue sections of patients with cancer. In classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), these so-called Reed–Sternberg (RS) cells are pathognomonic for the disease. Despite the well-described disease-promoting functions of multinucleated RS cells, their development remains obscure. Long-term time-lapse microscopy and single-cell tracking of HL cell lines demonstrated that RS cells are generated by re-fusion of small mononuclear progenitors. Importantly, fusing cells share almost exclusively the same ancestor, and visualization of the microtubule network revealed a persistent connection between daughter cells in the majority of re-fusion events. Understanding the mechanisms involved in fusion-based RS cell development will further illuminate giant tumor cell formation and may lead to new therapeutic intervention strategies.
When Knowledge Transfer Goes Global: How People and Organizations Learned About Information Technology, 1945–1970
Authors: Cortada James W.
Published: December 2013

This article argues that an information ecosystem emerged rapidly after World War II that made possible the movement of knowledge about computing and its uses around the world. Participants included engineers, scientists, government officials, business management, and users of the technology. Vendors, government agencies, the military, and professors participated regardless of such barriers as languages, cold war politics, or varying levels of national economic levels of prosperity.
It is all in the face: carotenoid skin coloration loses attractiveness outside the face
Authors: Lefevre C. E. , Ewbank M. P. , Calder A. J. , von dem Hagen E. , Perrett D. I.
Published: December 2013

Recently, the importance of skin colour for facial attractiveness has been recognized. In particular, dietary carotenoid-induced skin colour has been proposed as a signal of health and therefore attractiveness. While perceptual results are highly consistent, it is currently not clear whether carotenoid skin colour is preferred because it poses a cue to current health condition in humans or whether it is simply seen as a more aesthetically pleasing colour, independently of skin-specific signalling properties. Here, we tested this question by comparing attractiveness ratings of faces to corresponding ratings of meaningless scrambled face images matching the colours and contrasts found in the face. We produced sets of face and non-face stimuli with either healthy (high-carotenoid coloration) or unhealthy (low-carotenoid coloration) colour and asked participants for attractiveness ratings. Results showed that, while for faces increased carotenoid coloration significantly improved attractiveness, there was no equivalent effect on perception of scrambled images. These findings are consistent with a specific signalling system of current condition through skin coloration in humans and indicate that preferences are not caused by sensory biases in observers.
Reverse engineering and identification in systems biology: strategies, perspectives and challenges
Authors: Villaverde Alejandro F. , Banga Julio R.
Published: December 2013

The interplay of mathematical modelling with experiments is one of the central elements in systems biology. The aim of reverse engineering is to infer, analyse and understand, through this interplay, the functional and regulatory mechanisms of biological systems. Reverse engineering is not exclusive of systems biology and has been studied in different areas, such as inverse problem theory, machine learning, nonlinear physics, (bio)chemical kinetics, control theory and optimization, among others. However, it seems that many of these areas have been relatively closed to outsiders. In this contribution, we aim to compare and highlight the different perspectives and contributions from these fields, with emphasis on two key questions: (i) why are reverse engineering problems so hard to solve, and (ii) what methods are available for the particular problems arising from systems biology?
Review of statistical energy analysis hypotheses in vibroacoustics
Authors: Lafont T. , Totaro N. , Le Bot A.
Published: December 2013

This paper is a discussion of the equivalence between rain-on-the-roof excitation, diffuse field and modal energy equipartition hypotheses when using statistical energy analysis (SEA). A first example of a simply supported plate is taken to quantify whether a field is diffuse or the energy is equally distributed among modes. It is shown that the field can be diffuse in a certain region of the frequency-damping domain with a single point force but without energy equipartition. For a rain-on-the-roof excitation, the energy becomes equally distributed, and the diffuse field is enforced in all regions. A second example of two plates coupled by a light spring is discussed. It is shown that in addition to previous conclusions, the power exchanged between plates agrees with the statistical prediction of SEA if and only if the field is diffuse. The special case of energy equipartition confirms this observation.
The
magneto-elastica
: from self-buckling to self-assembly
Authors: Vella Dominic , du Pontavice Emmanuel , Hall Cameron L. , Goriely Alain
Published: December 2013

Spherical neodymium–iron–boron magnets are permanent magnets that can be assembled into a variety of structures owing to their high magnetic strength. A one-dimensional chain of these magnets responds to mechanical loadings in a manner reminiscent of an elastic rod. We investigate the macroscopic mechanical properties of assemblies of ferromagnetic spheres by considering chains, rings and chiral cylinders of magnets. Based on energy estimates and simple experiments, we introduce an effective magnetic bending stiffness for a chain of magnets and show that, used in conjunction with classic results for elastic rods, it provides excellent estimates for the buckling and vibration dynamics of magnetic chains. We then use this estimate to understand the dynamic self-assembly of a cylinder from an initially straight chain of magnets.
Interaction complexity matters: disentangling services and disservices of ant communities driving yield in tropical agroecosystems
Authors: Wielgoss Arno , Tscharntke Teja , Rumede Alfianus , Fiala Brigitte , Seidel Hannes , Shahabuddin Saleh , Clough Yann
Published: December 2013

Owing to complex direct and indirect effects, impacts of higher trophic levels on plants is poorly understood. In tropical agroecosystems, ants interact with crop mutualists and antagonists, but little is known about how this integrates into the final ecosystem service, crop yield. We combined ant exclusion and introduction of invasive and native-dominant species in cacao agroecosystems to test whether (i) ant exclusion reduces yield, (ii) dominant species maximize certain intermediate ecosystem services (e.g. control of specific pests) rather than yield, which depends on several, cascading intermediate services and (iii) even, species-rich ant communities result in highest yields. Ants provided services, including reduced leaf herbivory and fruit pest damage and indirect pollination facilitation, but also disservices, such as increased mealybug density, phytopathogen dissemination and indirect pest damage enhancement. Yields were highest with unmanipulated, species-rich, even communities, whereas ant exclusion decreased yield by 27%. Introduction of an invasive-dominant ant decreased species density and evenness and resulted in 34% lower yields, whereas introduction of a non-invasive-dominant species resulted in similar species density and yields as in the unmanipulated control. Species traits and ant community structure affect services and disservices for agriculture in surprisingly complex ways, with species-rich and even communities promoting highest yield.
Drivers of protogynous sex change differ across spatial scales
Authors: Taylor Brett M.
Published: December 2013

The influence of social demography on sex change schedules in protogynous reef fishes is well established, yet effects across spatial scales (in particular, the magnitude of natural variation relative to size-selective fishing effects) are poorly understood. Here, I examine variation in timing of sex change for exploited parrotfishes across a range of environmental, anthropogenic and geographical factors. Results were highly dependent on spatial scale. Fishing pressure was the most influential factor determining length at sex change at the within-island scale where a wide range of anthropogenic pressure existed. Sex transition occurred at smaller sizes where fishing pressure was high. Among islands, however, differences were overwhelmingly predicted by reefal-scale structural features, a pattern evident for all species examined. For the most abundant species,
Chlorurus spilurus
, length at sex change increased at higher overall densities and greater female-to-male sex ratios at all islands except where targeted by fishermen; here the trend was reversed. This implies differing selective pressures on adult individuals can significantly alter sex change dynamics, highlighting the importance of social structure, demography and the selective forces structuring populations. Considerable life-history responses to exploitation were observed, but results suggest potential fishing effects on demography may be obscured by natural variation at biogeographic scales.
Ecological effects of ocean acidification and habitat complexity on reef-associated macroinvertebrate communities
Authors: Fabricius K. E. , De'ath G. , Noonan S. , Uthicke S.
Published: December 2013

The ecological effects of ocean acidification (OA) from rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO
2
) on benthic marine communities are largely unknown. We investigated
in situ
the consequences of long-term exposure to high CO
2
on coral-reef-associated macroinvertebrate communities around three shallow volcanic CO
2
seeps in Papua New Guinea. The densities of many groups and the number of taxa (classes and phyla) of macroinvertebrates were significantly reduced at elevated CO
2
(425–1100 µatm) compared with control sites. However, sensitivities of some groups, including decapod crustaceans, ascidians and several echinoderms, contrasted with predictions of their physiological CO
2
tolerances derived from laboratory experiments. High CO
2
reduced the availability of structurally complex corals that are essential refugia for many reef-associated macroinvertebrates. This loss of habitat complexity was also associated with losses in many macroinvertebrate groups, especially predation-prone mobile taxa, including crustaceans and crinoids. The transition from living to dead coral as substratum and habitat further altered macroinvertebrate communities, with far more taxa losing than gaining in numbers. Our study shows that indirect ecological effects of OA (reduced habitat complexity) will complement its direct physiological effects and together with the loss of coral cover through climate change will severely affect macroinvertebrate communities in coral reefs.
The consequences of balanced harvesting of fish communities
Authors: Jacobsen Nis S. , Gislason Henrik , Andersen Ken H.
Published: December 2013

Balanced harvesting, where species or individuals are exploited in accordance with their productivity, has been proposed as a way to minimize the effects of fishing on marine fish communities and ecosystems. This calls for a thorough examination of the consequences balanced harvesting has on fish community structure and yield. We use a size- and trait-based model that resolves individual interactions through competition and predation to compare balanced harvesting with traditional selective harvesting, which protects juvenile fish from fishing. Four different exploitation patterns, generated by combining selective or unselective harvesting with balanced or unbalanced fishing, are compared. We find that unselective balanced fishing, where individuals are exploited in proportion to their productivity, produces a slightly larger total maximum sustainable yield than the other exploitation patterns and, for a given yield, the least change in the relative biomass composition of the fish community. Because fishing reduces competition, predation and cannibalism within the community, the total maximum sustainable yield is achieved at high exploitation rates. The yield from unselective balanced fishing is dominated by small individuals, whereas selective fishing produces a much higher proportion of large individuals in the yield. Although unselective balanced fishing is predicted to produce the highest total maximum sustainable yield and the lowest impact on trophic structure, it is effectively a fishery predominantly targeting small forage fish.
A low-cost X-ray-transparent experimental cell for synchrotron-based X-ray microtomography studies under geological reservoir conditions
Authors: Fusseis Florian , Steeb Holger , Xiao Xianghui , Zhu Wen-lu , Butler Ian B. , Elphick Stephen , Mäder Urs
Published: December 2013

A new modular X-ray-transparent experimental cell enables tomographic investigations of fluid rock interaction under natural reservoir conditions (confining pressure up to 20 MPa, pore fluid pressure up to 15 MPa, temperature ranging from 296 to 473 K). The portable cell can be used at synchrotron radiation sources that deliver a minimum X-ray flux density of 109 photons mm−2s−1in the energy range 30–100 keV to acquire tomographic datasets in less than 60 s. It has been successfully used in three experiments at the bending-magnet beamline 2BM at the Advanced Photon Source. The cell can be easily machined and assembled from off-the-shelf components at relatively low costs, and its modular design allows it to be adapted to a wide range of experiments and lower-energy X-ray sources.
Influence of abiotic factors on the antimicrobial activity of chitosan
Authors: Tavaria Freni K. , Costa Eduardo M. , Gens Eduardo J. , Malcata Francisco Xavier , Pintado Manuela E.
Published: December 2013

In an effort to bypass the adverse secondary effects attributed to the traditional therapeutic approaches used to treat skin disorders (such as atopic dermatitis), alternative antimicrobials have recently been suggested. One such antimicrobial is chitosan, owing to the already proved biological properties associated with its use. However, the influence of abiotic factors on such activities warrants evaluation. This research effort assessed the antimicrobial activity of chitosan upon skin microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli) in vitro when subject to a combination of different abiotic factors such as pH, ionic strength, organic acids and free fatty acids. Free fatty acids, ionic strength and pH significantly affected chitosan's capability of reducing the viable numbers of S. aureus. This antimicrobial action was potentiated in the presence of palmitic acid and a lower ionic strength (0.2% NaCl), while a higher ionic strength (0.4% NaCl) favored chitosan's action upon the reduction of viable numbers of S. epidermidis and E. coli. Although further studies are needed, these preliminary results advocate that chitosan can in the future be potentially considered as an antimicrobial of choice when handling symptoms associated with atopic dermatitis.
Evaluation of the antihistamine effects of olopatadine and levocetirizine during a 24‐h period: A double‐blind, randomized, cross‐over, placebo‐controlled comparison in skin responses induced by histamine iontophoresis
Authors: Takeo Tomohiro , Kasugai Chikatoshi , Tanaka Rui , Ando Takashi , Ogawa Akina , Akita Yoichi , Watanabe Daisuke
Published: December 2013

The antihistamine effects of olopatadine and levocetirizine, in standard‐dose application described in their information (5 mg twice a day for olopatadine; 5 mg once daily for levocetirizine), were examined from 11.5 to 24 h after application. The test was designed in a double‐blind, randomized, cross‐over, placebo‐controlled study of 12 healthy volunteers on histamine‐induced flare and wheal response using an iontophoresis technique. The suppressive effect of olopatadine on the wheals induced by a 0.1‐mA histamine iontophoresis lasted for 24 h after dosing. Both drugs inhibited flare induced by histamine iontophoresis almost completely until 24 h after the first administration. Suppression of the 0.2‐mA‐induced wheal response by levocetirizine, taken once daily, decreased with time, although 0.1‐mA‐induced flare was almost completely suppressed by the drug. Olopatadine completely suppressed even the wheal response induced by a 0.2‐mA histamine iontophoresis. Compared with the placebo, the two drugs significantly suppressed the subjective itching assessed by visual analog scale at all intervals. There were no significant differences in subjective drowsiness and objective cognitive function between drug‐ and placebo‐treated subjects. These results demonstrate that olopatadine seems to be more potent than levocetirizine when administrated in a standard dose. In conclusion, mild to moderate urticaria could be controlled by standard application as described in their information. On the other hand, severe urticaria could be managed by a standard application of olopatadine, but levocetirizine may need an additional dose to control severe urticaria.
Antimicrobial effect of an ultrasonic levitation washer disinfector with silver electrolysis and ozone oxidation on methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Tamai Mariko , Matsushita Shigeto , Miyanohara Hiroaki , Imuta Naoko , Ikeda Ryuji , Kawai Kazuhiro , Nishi Junichiro , Sakamoto Akihiro , Shigihara Takanori , Kanekura Takuro
Published: December 2013

Methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has rapidly emerged as a cause of severe and intractable skin infection. At present, there are no effective topical treatments, and infection or colonization by MRSA of the skin raises serious medical problems. We developed an ultrasonic levitation washer that generates silver ions (Ag+) and ozone (O3) to clean and sterilize medical devices. We report the effect of ultrasonic levitation (levitation) with Ag+ and O3 on MRSA in vitro and in vivo. Antimicrobial effect against six MRSA strains of all agr types was examined under three in vitro conditions; cells floating in a water tank, cells infiltrating‐, and cells forming a biofilm on an atelocollagen membrane. In the in vivo studies, we assayed the number of MRSA organisms that survived treatment on murine skin ulcers and evaluated the ulcer size. Levitation with Ag+ dramatically decreased the survival of MRSA floating in a water tank. Levitation with Ag+ and O3 significantly decreased the viability of MRSA that had infiltrated or formed a biofilm on atelocollagen membranes regardless of the level of biofilm production. In vivo studies showed that the number of MRSA on murine skin ulcers was significantly decreased when 15‐min treatment was performed for 7 consecutive days and that the ulcer size was significantly decreased after the seventh treatment course. Levitation with Ag+ and O3 may be a valuable tool for treating MRSA infestation of the skin and for accelerating wound healing.
Expression of midkine in normal human skin, dermatitis and neoplasms: Association with differentiation of keratinocytes
Authors: Monma Fumiko , Hozumi Yutaka , Ikematsu Shinya , Kawaguchi Masakazu , Kadomatsu Kenji , Suzuki Tamio
Published: December 2013

Midkine is a 13‐kDa heparin‐binding growth factor. It promotes growth, survival, migration and gene expression of various target cells and play roles in many diseases. In normal adult tissues, midkine expression is highly restricted; however, midkine expression levels are high in various malignant tumors. The major biological roles of midkine can be categorized into three areas, namely, the nervous system, cancer and inflammation. Thus far, midkine has not been studied extensively in diseased human skin. We performed immunohistochemistry tests by using anti‐midkine antibodies to study the expression of midkine in normal skin and skin samples of 26 different cutaneous diseases. In addition, we investigated the expression pattern of the midkine gene in cultured keratinocytes. In normal skin, midkine expression was observed in the secretory coils of the eccrine sweat glands, outer root sheath and inner root sheath. Among the cutaneous tumors, the majority of keratinocyte‐derived neoplasms were positive for midkine. Tumors that were not derived from keratinocytes were negative for midkine. In cultured keratinocytes, the midkine gene was expressed earlier than the genes required for keratinization, for example, cytokeratin 10 and transglutaminase 1. Because midkine is expressed in the keratinized areas of normal skin, neoplasms and inflammation, it may play a role as a modulator of keratinization in the skin.
Factors involved in the development of diaper‐area granuloma of the aged
Authors: Isogai Rieko , Yamada Hidekazu
Published: December 2013

An infant skin disease with clusters of nodules in the diaper contact area was reported as granuloma gluteale infantum. Recently, the number of elderly patients with this condition has increased, and it has been reported as diaper‐area granuloma of the aged. These lesions are presumably caused by irritation from feces and urine. We observed similar cutaneous symptoms in six elderly patients, five of whom revealed clusters of nodules arranged in a circular pattern in the gluteal region presenting a peculiar clinical picture. They were all bedridden and wore cloth diapers. We speculate that wearing a cloth diaper seems to be a major factor behind this condition. Another factor was sitting during the day. A subject had lesions with nodules on the scrotum. The distribution of nodules appeared to be related to the body position and vigorous movement of the patient. In all cases, topical steroid therapies were not effective. They were all positive for bacteriuria. Chronic urinary tract infection further irritates the skin. It is necessary to reduce urine contact and keep the lesion clean.
Mapping biopsy with punch biopsies to determine surgical margin in extramammary Paget's disease
Authors: Kato Takeshi , Fujimoto Noriki , Fujii Norikazu , Tanaka Toshihiro
Published: December 2013

It is difficult to determine the appropriate resection margin of extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD). A high recurrence rate is reported in spite of using Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS), which is performed commonly. Preoperative mapping biopsy is easier to perform than MMS. In Japan, the following method is recommended instead of MMS: well‐defined border and margins histologically confirmed by mapping biopsy should be resected with 1‐cm margin and ill‐defined border with 3‐cm margin. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the Japanese guideline and to assess our mapping biopsy method compared with MMS. Preoperative mapping biopsy specimens were obtained beyond the clinical border for at least four directions in each patient. To confirm the presence of residual Paget's cells postoperatively, narrow specimens were obtained along the surgical margin. Retrospective evaluation of 17 EMPD patients was conducted concerning histological spread of Paget's cells and recurrence ratio. There were 86 directions showing a well‐defined border, and in 9.3% (8/86), Paget's cells were still observed at 1‐cm resection line. On the other hand, there were 21 directions showing an ill‐defined border, and unnecessary radical resection was performed in 90% (19/21) of directions with 3‐cm resection line. Although postoperative histological examination showed residual Paget's cells in 47% (8/17) of patients and additional resections were not performed, recurrence rate was only 5.9% (1/17). The resection line of EMPD should be based not on clinical features, but on mapping biopsy. Mapping biopsy is equivalent to MMS concerning recurrence rate and, though conventional, is useful method to treat EMPD.
Assessment of intelligibility using children's spontaneous speech: methodological aspects
Authors: Lagerberg Tove B. , Åsberg Jakob , Hartelius Lena , Persson Christina
Published: December 2013

Background

Intelligibility is a speaker's ability to convey a message to a listener. Including an assessment of intelligibility is essential in both research and clinical work relating to individuals with communication disorders due to speech impairment. Assessment of the intelligibility of spontaneous speech can be used as an overall indicator of the severity of a speech disorder. There is a lack of methods for measuring intelligibility on the basis of spontaneous speech.

Aims

To investigate the validity and reliability of a method where listeners transcribe understandable words and an intelligibility score is calculated on the basis of the percentage of syllables perceived as understood.

Methods & Procedures

Spontaneous speech from ten children with speech‐sound disorders (mean age = 6.0 years) and ten children with typical speech and language development (mean age = 5.9 years) was recorded and presented to 20 listeners. Results were compared between the two groups and correlation with percentage of consonants correct (PCC) was examined.

Outcomes & Results

The intelligibility scores obtained correlated with PCC in single words and differed significantly between the two groups, indicating high validity. Inter‐judge reliability, analysed using intra‐class correlation (ICC), was excellent in terms of the average measure for several listeners.

Conclusions & Implications

The results suggest that this method can be recommended for assessing intelligibility, especially if the mean across several listeners is used. It could also be used in clinical settings when evaluating intelligibility over time, provided that the same listener makes the assessments.
Relative clause constructions in children with specific language impairment
Authors: Frizelle Pauline , Fletcher Paul
Published: December 2013

Background

It is well documented that children with specific language impairment (SLI) experience significant grammatical deficits. While much of the focus in the past has been on morphosyntactic difficulties, less is known about their acquisition of multi‐clausal constructions such as those containing relative clauses.

Aims

To investigate relative clause constructions in English‐speaking, school‐aged children with SLI using a sentence‐recall task.

Methods & Procedures

Children with SLI (mean age = 6;10; n = 32) and two control groups, a typically developing group matched for age (AM‐TD; mean age = 6;11; n = 32) and a younger typically developing group (YTD; mean age = 4;9; n = 20), repeated sentences that contained relative clauses which represented a range of syntactic roles. The relative clauses were attached either to the predicate nominal of a copular clause or to the direct object of a transitive clause.

Outcomes & Results

Children with SLI showed significantly greater difficulty than both the AM‐TD and the YTD groups overall, but found some relative clause types easier than others, displaying a similar profile to typically developing children but at a lower level of performance.

Conclusions & Implications

Children with SLI who are close to 7 years of age have significantly greater difficulty with relative clauses than their age peers and typically developing children who are on average 2 years younger. Their performance is influenced by the matrix clause type, the role of the relativized element within the relative clause, and in object relative clauses, lexical choices within the matrix clause and the relative clause.
Plundering the Commons: The Growth Imperative in Neoliberal Times
Authors: Antonio Robert J.
Published: December 2013

Unplanned, exponential economic growth has been the liberal standard for evaluating economies, societies and effectiveness of political leaders and for addressing problems of all sorts. In the later twentieth century, the American conservative movement revived market liberalism to restore growth after the long post-World War II boom ended. The neoliberal policy regime stressed the growth imperative to the exclusion of other social ends, which were alleged to undermine innovation and growth. Neoliberalism conflates growth with development, precludes sustainable growth, and trends toward plutocratic dedemocratization. This immoderate policy regime denies the reality of the commons and disregards the interdependence of nature and culture and individual and society. This paper addresses crisis tendencies, which have been exacerbated by neoliberal policies, and concludes with a departure point for an alternative. John Dewey's naturalism stressed the need to secure the commons, biotic and social, and to balance individualism with community, efficiency with social justice, and markets with planning to cultivate uncoerced cooperation and preserve democracy, in the face of crises.
Moderation Impossible? on Hype, Honesty and Trust in the Context of Modern Academic Life
Authors: Nerlich Brigitte
Published: December 2013

This article deals with issues of hype in science and science journalism. It examines two cases of ‘hype’, one surrounding the discovery that neutrinos travel faster than light, or not; the other surrounding the discovery that the earth is warming, or not. These two cases are compared and contrasted, especially with a focus on discovering some of the pitfalls of ‘making science public’ in an era of hype. The analysis is carried out against the backdrop of an emerging ‘post-normal science’, the increasing pressure to make science public at an ever-faster pace, as well as the impact agenda in the UK. The paper shows that with relation to hype in science and science journalism, it might be useful to distinguish between honest hype and what one might call politicized hype. Using honest hype to make science public may be an option in fields of science that are relatively a-political, such as particle physics, an option that is probably unavailable in a highly politicized science, such as climate science. In this context, moderation seems as impossible as modesty on the part of the scientists involved.
Blurred Visions: Experts, Evidence and the Promotion of Moderate Drinking
Authors: Yeomans Henry
Published: December 2013

Public discourse and public policy relating to alcohol tend to concentrate on the social problem of ‘excessive’ drinking. Rather than concentrating on forms of ‘excess’, this paper investigates its counter-point, moderation, which, in regards to alcohol consumption, is a poorly understood concept. Official definitions of moderate drinking vary considerably between different countries and change across time. These fluid definitions are often connected to political or moral values, including temperance in the nineteenth century and personal responsibility today. This situation is complicated by the blurry nature of scientific evidence on the relationship between alcohol consumption and various forms of harm. There is an absence of compelling evidence about what amount or form of drinking can be considered responsible, safe or engendering an acceptable level of risk. In current understandings, risk cannot be precisely calculated or expressed on an individual basis and, hence, scientific discourse offers little certainty. Concentrating on the interpretation of evidence and the role of expertise, this article examines how experts and policy-makers arrive, nonetheless, at definitions of moderate drinking as well as policies that seek to promote them. It is argued that this process circumvents rather than confronts uncertainty and hence is damaging to both scientific validity and governmental credibility.
The ‘Urban Age’ in Question
Authors: Brenner Neil , Schmid Christian
Published: December 2013

Foreboding declarations about contemporary urban trends pervade early twenty‐first century academic, political and journalistic discourse. Among the most widely recited is the claim that we now live in an ‘urban age’ because, for the first time in human history, more than half the world's population today purportedly lives within cities. Across otherwise diverse discursive, ideological and locational contexts, the urban age thesis has become a form of doxic common sense around which questions regarding the contemporary global urban condition are framed. This article argues that, despite its long history and its increasingly widespread influence, the urban age thesis is a flawed basis on which to conceptualize world urbanization patterns: it is empirically untenable (a statistical artifact) and theoretically incoherent (a chaotic conception). This critique is framed against the background of postwar attempts to measure the world's urban population, the main methodological and theoretical conundrums of which remain fundamentally unresolved in early twenty‐first century urban age discourse. The article concludes by outlining a series of methodological perspectives for an alternative understanding of the contemporary global urban condition.
Happy Tinbergen: Switzerland's New Direct Payment System
Authors: Mann Stefan , Lanz Simon
Published: December 2013

Since the 1990s, Switzerland's agricultural policy has relied on land‐ and animal‐based direct payments being subject to cross‐compliance. Both scientists, environmentalists and industry representatives have criticised this system for handing out support without a strict orientation on the constitutional goals of Swiss agriculture. The Swiss Parliament has recently enacted a new direct payment system which, from 2014, assigns societal objectives to each kind of payment, paying tribute to the Tinbergen principle according to which each objective has to be followed by at least one instrument. Payments for Ensuring Food Supplies, for example, will be paid per hectare dependent on the production capacity, Biodiversity Payments will be paid only for land with a lot of species on it. Animal‐based payments which still play an important role today are being abandoned. Although the new system is neither changing the amount of money transferred to farmers nor expected to rapidly change the structure of Swiss agriculture, it is argued that the system change may well be historic, because it makes societal transfers to agriculture more prone to critical analysis and evaluation and because it shows for the first time what the application of the Tinbergen principle to multifunctionality policy design could look like.
Ricardo on Trade
Authors: King John E.
Published: December 2013

This paper considers the context, the details and some of the criticisms levied against the well‐known numerical example of comparative advantage that David Ricardo set out in chapter 7 of his PRINCIPLES. Particular attention is paid to the distribution of the gains from trade, to the relative importance of static and dynamic factors and to the political dimensions of trade theory. The paper concludes by relating Ricardo's trade theory to current controversies over globalization, unequal exchange, Third World poverty and the existence of different varieties of capitalism.
Children's resistance to parents' smoking in the home and car: a qualitative study
Authors: Rowa‐Dewar Neneh , Amos Amanda , Cunningham‐Burley Sarah
Published: December 2013

Background and Aims

Reducing second‐hand smoke exposure in the home is a key tobacco control goal, yet few studies have explored children's views and experiences of this. This study aimed to explore children's accounts of family members' smoking in the home and car and the impact of their socio‐economic circumstances.

Design

Individual and friendship group interviews using topic guides and visual stimulus methods.

Setting

Two communities in Edinburgh, Scotland, one socio‐economically advantaged, one socio‐economically disadvantaged.

Participants

Thirty‐eight children aged 10–15 years who had a close family member who smoked.

Measurements

Focus group and interview topic guides.

Findings

Participants in both communities expressed a strong dislike of family members' smoking and concern about the potential impact on the smoker's health. Participants described overt and covert acts of resistance, including challenging relatives about their smoking, expressing disgust and concern, hiding or destroying cigarettes. Some acts were carried out in collusion with a non‐smoking parent and/or sibling. Resistant acts were constrained by expectations of negative responses, which appeared to increase with age, wider social norms around smoking and whether or not the young person smoked.

Conclusions

Some children and young people in the United Kingdom, irrespective of socio‐economic status, may actively oppose parents' smoking in the home and car, although their influence may be limited by their position in the family and social norms.
Treatment retention, drug use and social functioning outcomes in those receiving 3 months versus 1 month of supervised opioid maintenance treatment. Results from the Super C randomized controlled trial
Authors: Holland Richard , Maskrey Vivienne , Swift Louise , Notley Caitlin , Robinson Angela , Nagar Jess , Gale Tim , Kouimtsidis Christos
Published: December 2013

Aim

Supervised consumption of opioid maintenance treatment (OMT) is standard in many drug centres reducing drug diversion, but is costly. We aimed to determine whether supervised consumption of OMT improved retention and other measures of drug use.

Design

Pragmatic randomized controlled trial comparing 3 months of daily supervised consumption of OMT with 1 month or less of daily supervised OMT, then daily unsupervised consumption.

Setting

Four community drug services in the United Kingdom.

Participants

A total of 293 opioid‐dependent patients entering OMT.

Measurements

Primary outcome: retention in treatment at 12 weeks. Secondary: retention at 6 months; illicit drug use [Maudsley Addiction Profile (MAP)]; quality of life (SF‐12 and MAP); criminality (MAP); and social functioning.

Findings

No significant between‐group difference was observed for the primary outcome: 69% (100 of 145) supervised and 74% (109 of 148) unsupervised were retained [odds ratio (OR) = 0.74, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.43–1.27]. Per protocol survival analysis suggested that supervised patients were less well retained (hazard ratio for retention = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.51–1.00). Illicit opioid use reduced in both groups and, while not statistically significant by intention‐to‐treat analysis, favoured unsupervised patients in per protocol analysis (odds of positive opioid screen for supervised versus unsupervised = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.05–4.06). Data on criminal activity also favoured unsupervised patients with 21% supervised patients committing crime versus 9% unsupervised (OR = 3.37, 95% CI = 1.28–8.86).

Conclusions

There was no evidence of a difference in treatment retention or opioid use rates between patients whose consumption of opioid maintenance treatment was supervised for 3 months daily (except Saturdays) compared with supervision for 1 month. There was some evidence that longer periods of supervised consumption were associated with higher levels of criminality.
Maintenance treatment for opioid dependence with slow‐release oral morphine: a randomized cross‐over, non‐inferiority study versus methadone
Authors: Beck Thilo , Haasen Christian , Verthein Uwe , Walcher Stephan , Schuler Christoph , Backmund Markus , Ruckes Christian , Reimer Jens
Published: December 2013

Aims

To compare the efficacy of slow‐release oral morphine (SROM) and methadone as maintenance medication for opioid dependence in patients previously treated with methadone.

Design

Prospective, multiple‐dose, open label, randomized, non‐inferiority, cross‐over study over two 11‐week periods. Methadone treatment was switched to SROM with flexible dosing and vice versa according to period and sequence of treatment.

Setting

Fourteen out‐patient addiction treatment centres in Switzerland and Germany.

Participants

Adults with opioid dependence in methadone maintenance programmes (dose ≥50 mg/day) for ≥26 weeks.

Measurements

The efficacy end‐point was the proportion of heroin‐positive urine samples per patient and period of treatment. Each week, two urine samples were collected, randomly selected and analysed for 6‐monoacetyl‐morphine and 6‐acetylcodeine. Non‐inferiority was concluded if the two‐sided 95% confidence interval (CI) in the difference of proportions of positive urine samples was below the predefined boundary of 10%.

Findings

One hundred and fifty‐seven patients fulfilled criteria to form the per protocol population. The proportion of heroin‐positive urine samples under SROM treatment (0.20) was non‐inferior to the proportion under methadone treatment (0.15) (least‐squares mean difference 0.05; 95% CI = 0.02, 0.08; P > 0.01). The 95% CI fell within the 10% non‐inferiority margin, confirming the non‐inferiority of SROM to methadone. A dose‐dependent effect was shown for SROM (i.e. decreasing proportions of heroin‐positive urine samples with increasing SROM doses). Retention in treatment showed no significant differences between treatments (period 1/period 2: SROM: 88.7%/82.1%, methadone: 91.1%/88.0%; period 1: P = 0.50, period 2: P = 0.19). Overall, safety outcomes were similar between the two groups.

Conclusions

Slow‐release oral morphine appears to be at least as effective as methadone in treating people with opioid use disorder.
Microfinance, Mission Drift, and the Impact on the Base of the Pyramid: A Resource‐Based Approach
Authors: Casselman R. Mitch , Sama Linda M.
Published: December 2013

This article draws on resource‐based theory and the literature on strategic intent to develop a theoretical model that explains the concept of mission drift in microfinance institutions (MFIs). We argue that the differential strategic intents of commercially oriented, for‐profit, and socially oriented nonprofit organizations drive the acquisition of disparate resources and capabilities, which in turn drives distinct performance outcomes, including a focus on different markets within the overall base of the pyramid (BOP). The article suggests that it is the dynamic aspects of changing strategic intent and the consequent timing delays in the development of associated resources and capabilities that lead to various issues of mission drift. Finally, we suggest that cross‐sector alliances between for‐profit and nonprofit MFIs may benefit from the unique capabilities of both types of organizations and deliver the most and broadest impact on poverty alleviation in BOP markets.
The Detrimental Side Effects of Minimum Wage Laws
Authors: Hovenga Claire , Naik Devaja , Block Walter E.
Published: December 2013

The adverse effects of minimum wage legislation demonstrate how a government policy presumably intended to help people worst off in society can actually end up causing far more harm than good. In this case, the victims are unskilled laborers. By making it illegal for employers to pay unskilled workers wages equal to their marginal revenue productivity, it causes unemployment for all workers whose productivity happens to be below the minimum wage. It also widens the wage gap between whites and minorities because there are disproportionate numbers of unskilled and uneducated minorities compared with whites.
The Global Food Industry and “Creative Capitalism”: The Partners in Food Solutions Sustainable Business Model
Authors: Hemphill Thomas A.
Published: December 2013

Rising global food prices have driven 44 million additional people into extreme poverty—and malnutrition—in developing countries since June 2010. Partners in Food Solutions (PFS), a nonprofit social enterprise affiliated with General Mills, is proposed as the conduit for food industry managers, engineers, and scientists to initially advise small‐ and medium‐sized African mills and food processors—and later other developing countries—on improving supply chain management by addressing manufacturing problems, developing products, improving packaging, extending product shelf, and finding new product markets. In this article, the “creative capitalism” model of sustainability and social and environmental responsibility is applied to the food manufacturing industry's efforts supporting PFS. Furthermore, the evolution of the sustainable business model developed by PFS is thoroughly described, explained, and analyzed as a generic model of social enterprise to be “scaled up” by the global food manufacturing industry. A summary of salient points conclude the article.
Trust, Morality, and the Privatization of Water Services in Developing Countries
Authors: Rahaman Abu Shiraz , Everett Jeff , Neu Dean
Published: December 2013

This article examines the business of water privatization and the ethics implied in the transformation of the water services sector in developing countries. Drawing on data derived from field visits and semi‐structured interviews held with members of government, nongovernmental organizations, and other stakeholders in one country undergoing transformation in this sector, Ghana, the article considers the ethical perspectives of the various involved stakeholders. The analysis draws on three perspectives—Gilligan's ethic of care, Rawls’ principles of justice, and virtue ethics—which together highlight the economic, class, and gender‐based dimensions of the privatization debate. Finding that endemic mistrust characterizes this debate, the article considers what is needed to re‐instill trust among stakeholders. Specific implications are provided for business leaders and government policymakers.