bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ginsenoside Rg3 Improves Erectile Function in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats
Authors: Liu Tao , Peng Yi-Feng , Jia Chao , Yang Ben-Hai , Tao Xia , Li Jing , Fang Xiang
Published: December 2014

Introduction

Ginsenoside Rg3 is one of the active ingredients isolated from Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer. Previous studies demonstrated that Rg3 has antioxidant and neuroprotective abilities.

Aim

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of Rg3 on erectile function in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.

Methods

Two-month-old Sprague-Dawley male rats received a one-time intraperitoneal (IP) STZ (60 mg/kg) or vehicle injection after a 16-hour fast. Three days later, rats were randomly divided into four groups and were treated with daily gavage feedings of a mix of distilled saline water and 0.5% carboxymethylcellulose or Rg3 dissolved in the mix at doses of 10 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg for 3 months. A sham group underwent IP injection of saline followed by daily gavage of the above mix for 3 months.

Main Outcome Measure

Erectile function was assessed by cavernosal nerve electrostimulation at 3 months. The penis was then harvested and deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) was performed. Western blot was performed to examine cleaved caspase-3, platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM)-1, and smooth muscle actin (SMA). Neural regeneration was measured by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-diaphorase staining. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were detected by colorimetry.

Results

In the negative control group, the functional evaluation showed a lower mean intracavernosal pressure (ICP) with cavernosal nerve stimulation than in the sham group; there was a significant change in the expression of cleaved caspase-3, bcl-2, bcl-xl, PECAM-1, and SMA, as well as in the SOD and MDA production in the corpus cavernosum. Histological analysis of specimens stained for NADPH showed a significant change in the staining quality of the neurons in the dorsal nerves; TUNEL showed a greater apoptotic index in corpus cavernosum cells. With daily oral gavage with 100 mg/kg Rg3, the ICP/mean arterial pressure value was significantly higher than in the controls. The level of cleaved caspase-3, bcl-2, bcl-xl, PECAM-1, and SMA and the number of positively stained nerve fibers tended to revert to normal after Rg3 treatment. The apoptotic index in corpus cavernosum cells was lowered.

Conclusion

Oral gavage with Rg3 appears to both prevent degeneration of neurons in the dorsal nerves and exert an antioxidant effect in the corpus cavernosum of rats.
Long‐term comparison of structure and dynamics of the red coral metapopulation of the Portofino Promontory (Ligurian Sea): a case‐study for a Marine Protected Area in the Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Bavestrello Giorgio , Bo Marzia , Bertolino Marco , Betti Federico , Cattaneo‐Vietti Riccardo
Published: December 2014

A large amount of data on the precious coral Corallium rubrum has attested to a dramatic shift in the size structure of its over‐harvested Mediterranean populations in recent decades. One of the main problems for the conservation of this species is the substantial lack of data concerning the time span necessary for a population subjected to pluri‐decennial harvesting pressure to return to its pristine status. Here, we present a multi‐annual data set gathered from the Marine Protected Area (MPA) of Portofino, which hosts the most important shallow‐water coral populations in the Ligurian Sea and was subjected to strong harvesting pressure from the 1950s to the early 1970s. Quantitative comparison of the population structure data recorded in 1964, 1990 and 2012 indicated a strong size increase of the colonies (from 3 to 8 g mean weight), resulting in an increase in colony biomass from 300 to the current 1500 g·m−2. As a consequence, over the same span of time, the density of colonies has slightly decreased. The role of mass mortality phenomena, like that occurred in this area during 1999, as possible biological features triggering the switch of red coral populations from a ‘grass plain‐like’ towards a ‘forest‐like’ structure, is discussed. All these data indicate that the instigation of MPAs is a winning strategy in the conservation of this precious species and similar management plans should also be evaluated for the protection of the deep benthic communities thriving on off‐shore banks.
Sequencing the head and neck cancer genome: implications for therapy
Authors: Sun Wenyue , Califano Joseph A.
Published: December 2014

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a disease with significant morbidity and mortality. The advancement of next‐generation sequencing technologies now enables the landscape of genetic alterations in HNSCCs to be deciphered. In this review, we describe the mutation spectrum discovered in HNSCCs, especially human papilloma virus–associated and/or tobacco smoke exposure–associated HNSCCs. We also describe related research from two independent investigators and from the Cancer Genome Atlas. Emphasis is placed on the therapeutic implications of genes frequently altered in HNSCCs (i.e., TP53, PIK3CA, and NOTCH1) and their corresponding pathways, with a particular focus on recent findings of Notch signaling pathway activation in HNSCC. We also discuss the application of integrated genomic pathway–based analysis for precision cancer therapy in HNSCC.
Low‐level Laser (Light) Therapy Increases Mitochondrial Membrane Potential and ATP Synthesis in C2C12 Myotubes with a Peak Response at 3–6 h
Authors: Ferraresi Cleber , Kaippert Beatriz , Avci Pinar , Huang Ying‐Ying , de Sousa Marcelo V. P. , Bagnato Vanderlei S. , Parizotto Nivaldo A. , Hamblin Michael R.
Published: December 2014

Low‐level laser (light) therapy has been used before exercise to increase muscle performance in both experimental animals and in humans. However, uncertainty exists concerning the optimum time to apply the light before exercise. The mechanism of action is thought to be stimulation of mitochondrial respiration in muscles, and to increase adenosine triphosphate (ATP) needed to perform exercise. The goal of this study was to investigate the time course of the increases in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and ATP in myotubes formed from C2C12 mouse muscle cells and exposed to light‐emitting diode therapy (LEDT). LEDT employed a cluster of LEDs with 20 red (630 ± 10 nm, 25 mW) and 20 near‐infrared (850 ± 10 nm, 50 mW) delivering 28 mW cm2 for 90 s (2.5 J cm2) with analysis at 5 min, 3 h, 6 h and 24 h post‐LEDT. LEDT‐6 h had the highest MMP, followed by LEDT‐3 h, LEDT‐24 h, LEDT‐5 min and Control with significant differences. The same order (6 h > 3 h > 24 h > 5 min > Control) was found for ATP with significant differences. A good correlation was found (r = 0.89) between MMP and ATP. These data suggest an optimum time window of 3–6 h for LEDT stimulate muscle cells.
Eliminating Treatable Deaths Due to Acute Kidney Injury in Resource‐Poor Settings
Authors: Schieppati Arrigo , Perico Norberto , Remuzzi Giuseppe
Published: December 2014

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is imposing a severe burden of morbidity and mortality both in developed and developing countries. Also AKI has a major economic impact on healthcare expenditure. This is particularly so in poor countries where AKI especially impacts young productive people, imposing severe penury upon their families. The mission is to lessen the high burden in terms of death consequent to this disorder in low‐resource regions, which in many cases is preventable and treatable with simple measures. The International Society of Nephrology has launched a long‐term program, called “0 by 25”, which advocates that zero people should die of untreated AKI in the poorest part of Africa, Asia, and Latin America by 2025. This paper illustrates how the project will be developed.
How to Describe It? Why the Term Coming Out Means Different Things in the United States and France
Authors: Stambolis‐Ruhstorfer Michael , Saguy Abigail C.
Published: December 2014

Drawing on 30 in‐depth interviews with U.S. and French lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals, we find important similarities in how U.S. and French respondents strategically managed the visibility of their sexual identities but differences in the vocabulary used to discuss those experiences. Specifically, all of the Americans used the expression coming out spontaneously while only five French respondents did so. Instead, French respondents typically rejected coming out in favor of other words or expressions. Rather than simple effects of speaking different languages, these differences stemmed from distinct connotations given to the same—widely diffused—expressions within each local context. Unlike their American peers, who saw the expression's origin in their own history and used in everyday lives, most French respondents resisted what they perceived to be an American cultural object imported by the French media. We also find evidence that the meaning of coming out is changing in both contexts such that in the future, the French and Americans may perceive and use it more similarly. This research contributes to our understanding of the intersection between language, meaning, and political context, within a cross‐national setting.
How the Right Usurped the Queer Agenda: Frame Co‐optation in Political Discourse
Authors: Burke Mary C. , Bernstein Mary
Published: December 2014

This article draws on a case study of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) and queer politics in Vermont to explain the conditions under which radical discourse gains and loses a public voice. In contrast to claims that the marginalization of queer discourse is due to silencing byLGBTrights activists or to litigation strategies, we argue that variation in queer discourse over time is the result of the co‐optation of queer discourse and goals by opponents. Extending the social movement literature on frame variation, we argue that opponents co‐opt discourse when they adopt aspects of the content of a movement's discourse, while subverting its intent. We show that conservativeLGBTrights opponents co‐opted queer discourse. As a result, queer positions lost their viability as the discursive field in which those arguments were made was fundamentally altered. Because queer positions became less tenable, we see the withdrawal of queer discourse from the mainstream and alternativeLGBTmedia. Our work both supports and builds on research on frame variation by demonstrating how discourse can change over time in response to the interplay between changing aspects of the political and cultural landscape and the discourse of opponents.
Monotheistic Theodicy as Imaginary Face‐Work
Authors: Sharp Shane
Published: December 2014

In this article, I outline the cognitive process involved in accomplishing monotheistic theodicy, or the act of reconciling the belief in an omnipotent and morally perfect God with personal experiences of suffering. Based on in‐depth interviews with intimate partner violence victims, I argue that believers accomplish monotheistic theodicy by performing imaginary face‐work—or protective face‐work on the behalf of significant imagined others—that saves God's face as a morally perfect being. Believers perform this imaginary face‐work by constructing accounts that portray God as morally innocent of their suffering. These accounts fall into three main types: (1) fidelity to a higher principle, (2) ultimate benefit, and (3) shifting blame. These accounts serve as new cognitions that resolve the cognitive dissonance and concomitant negative emotions believers experience because of their suffering. Overall, the findings and analysis contribute to sociological theory by further extending the concepts of face and face‐work to imagined others.
Shifting Boundaries and Splintering Movements: Abortion Rights in the Feminist and New Right Movements
Authors: Kretschmer Kelsy
Published: December 2014

Social movement boundaries are fundamentally about deciding who “we” are by defining who we are not. However, newly salient issues in a movement community can shift these boundaries by changing the membership criteria for both insiders and outsiders. Through a comparative case study of two relatively conservative feminist organizations, Women's Equity Action League (WEAL) and Feminists for Life (FFL), I examine how shifting boundaries around abortion rights in the feminist movement led to movement splintering, as organizations struggled and sometimes failed to maintain their relationships in a movement that increasingly defined them as outsiders. This analysis reveals how abortion rights' growing importance to both the feminist movement and the New Right resulted in the realignment ofFFLwith the feminist countermovement. This process had important consequences for both the organization and the countermovement with which it was realigned. This article contributes to our understanding of how shifting boundaries affect individual organizations, the movements in which they participate, and the relationships between countermovements.
Negotiating With the Growth Machine: Community Benefits Agreements and Value‐Conscious Growth
Authors: Cain Colleen
Published: December 2014

Scholars have extended, challenged, and molded growth machine theory to examine growth—in terms of population, basic industry, labor force participation, commerce, financial activity, and land development—in a variety of contexts. The theory's core, however, has remained the same: cities are conceptualized as growth machines, which consist of unified and powerful growth coalitions. These coalitions pursue a pro‐growth agenda, seeking to enhance the exchange value of local land and property. They often face opposition from local residents, who are more oriented toward use values of land. Resident opposition, however, tends to be unsuccessful in the face of large‐scale commercial development. Aware of this, communities across the country are pursuing new strategies to address development projects in their backyards. In particular, some have formed coalitions to negotiate for benefits from developers through legally binding community benefits agreements (CBAs). Drawing from a case study of Pittsburgh's first CBA, this article analyzes the implications of CBAs for pro‐growth agendas. Pittsburgh's CBA surrounded the construction of a professional sports facility, a development project that presents an ideal example of growth processes in today's cities. Ultimately, CBAs can achieve “value‐conscious” growth, but they do not fundamentally alter dominant standards of growth or growth machine processes.
Ontology and Method in Cognitive Sociology
Authors: Ignatow Gabe
Published: December 2014

The sociology of cognition could serve as a more effective bridge between sociology and other disciplines, and more of a two‐way thoroughfare, if we would consider doing the following two things, which we are already doing here and there. First, we need to take a stand in philosophy of social science debates. Second, we need to show how what we do contributes to sociological methods, and not only say that what we do contributes to sociological theory, however fundamental that contribution may be.
Continuing the Story: Maximizing the Intersections of Cognitive Science and Sociology
Authors: Cerulo Karen A.
Published: December 2014

This article is part of a special journal section addressing the sociology of culture and cognition and its future. In this essay, I use the areas of “serial position effects” and “sequencing” to illustrate ways of creating interdisciplinary dialogue between sociologists of culture and cognition and cognitive scientists. I view the body as an integral link in connecting these two fields.
Seed dormancy cycling in Arabidopsis: chromatin remodelling and regulation of DOG1 in response to seasonal environmental signals
Authors: Footitt Steven , Müller Kerstin , Kermode Allison R. , Finch‐Savage William E.
Published: December 2014

The involvement of chromatin remodelling in dormancy cycling in the soil seed bank (SSB) is poorly understood. Natural variation between the winter and summer annual Arabidopsis ecotypes Cvi and Bur was exploited to investigate the expression of genes involved in chromatin remodelling via histone 2B (H2B) ubiquitination/de‐ubiquitination and histone acetylation/deacetylation, the repressive histone methyl transferases CURLY LEAF (CLF) and SWINGER (SWN), and the gene silencing repressor ROS1 (REPRESSOR OF SILENCING1) and promoter of silencing KYP/SUVH4 (KRYPTONITE), during dormancy cycling in the SSB. ROS1 expression was positively correlated with dormancy while the reverse was observed for CLF and KYP/SUVH4. We propose ROS1 dependent repression of silencing and a sequential requirement of CLF and KYP/SUVH4 dependent gene repression and silencing for the maintenance and suppression of dormancy during dormancy cycling. Seasonal expression of H2B modifying genes was correlated negatively with temperature and positively with DOG1 expression, as were histone acetyltransferase genes, with histone deacetylases positively correlated with temperature. Changes in the histone marks H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 were seen on DOG1 (DELAY OF GERMINATION1) in Cvi during dormancy cycling. H3K4me3 activating marks remained stable along DOG1. During relief of dormancy, H3K27me3 repressive marks slowly accumulated and accelerated on exposure to light completing dormancy loss. We propose that these marks on DOG1 serve as a thermal sensing mechanism during dormancy cycling in preparation for light repression of dormancy. Overall, chromatin remodelling plays a vital role in temporal sensing through regulation of gene expression.
Blood group genotype analysis of Australian reagent red blood cell donors across three genotyping platforms: consistent detection of 7·0% phenotype genotype nonconcordance
Authors: McBean R. S. , Hyland C. A. , Davis A. C. , Condon J. , Parsons K. , Flower R. L.
Published: December 2014

Background and Objectives

Standards mandate reagent red blood cells (RBCs) must be homozygous for certain antigens. Genotyping provides an enhanced approach to characterizing RBCs as mutations encoding weakened antigen expression may be detected. This study aimed to genotype reagent RBC donors and compare outcomes with serological phenotype. Genotyping was undertaken using three commercially available platforms.

Materials and Methods

Blood samples were collected from donors (n = 300) who contribute to reagent RBC panels. Genotyping was performed on at least one of three commercial platforms; BLOODchip Reference v4.1 (Progenika); human erythrocyte antigen (HEA) and RHD BeadChip (BioArray Solutions Ltd); Hemo ID Blood Group Genotyping Panel (Agena Bioscience).

Results

Genotype and phenotype were concordant for 279 of 300 donors (21 of 300; 7·0% nonconcordance). Five donors carried RH mutations and fifteen donors carried FY mutations, including two donors who had an incorrect phenotype reported. One donor carried RH and FY mutations.

Conclusion

Discrepancies between genotype and phenotype were detected in 7·0% of reagent RBC donors tested in clinically significant blood group systems. Genotyping of reagent RBC donors can improve transfusion safety by optimizing sensitivity of antibody screening and identification panels.
The mitochondrial genome of the water spider Argyroneta aquatica (Araneae: Cybaeidae)
Authors: Liu Mingxin , Zhang Zhisheng , Peng Zuogang
Published: December 2014

We sequenced nearly the entire mitochondrial genome of Argyroneta aquatica, a wholly underwater‐living spider, thereby enhancing the available genomic information for Arachnida. The confirmed sequences contained the complete set of known genes present in other metazoan mitochondrial genomes. However, the mitochondrial gene order of A. aquatica was distinctly different from that of the most distant Chelicerata Limulus polyphemus (Xiphosura), probably because of a series of gene translocations and/or inversions. Comparison of arachnid mitochondrial gene orders for the purpose of phylogenetic inference is only minimally useful, but provides a strong signal in closely related lineages. To test the basal relationships and the evolutionary pattern of tRNA gene rearrangements among Arachnida, phylogenetic analyses using amino acid sequences of the 13 protein‐coding genes were performed. An interesting feature, the five 135‐bp tandem repeats and two 363‐bp tandem repeats, was identified in the putative control region. Although control region tandem repeats have been reported in many other arachnid and metazoan species, this is the first time it has been described in spiders.
Atomic layer deposition of ultrathin platinum films on tungsten atomic layer deposition adhesion layers: Application to high surface area substrates
Authors: Clancey Joel W. , Cavanagh Andrew S. , Kukreja Ratandeep S. , Kongkanand Anusorn , George Steven M.
Published: December 2014

Platinum (Pt) atomic layer deposition (ALD) usually yields Pt nanoparticles during initial film growth. In contrast, deposition of continuous and ultrathin Pt films is needed for many important applications, such as the oxygen reduction reaction in polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells. A continuous and high radius of curvature Pt film is more stable and has a higher area-specific activity than the Pt nanoparticles commonly used in PEM fuel cells. However, the Pt film must be ultrathin and have a large surface area to be cost effective. In this paper, a review of earlier Pt ALD studies on flat substrates is presented that demonstrates that tungsten, with a higher surface energy than platinum, can serve as an adhesion layer to achieve Pt ALD films that are continuous at ultrathin thicknesses of ∼1.5 nm. This work utilized MeCpPtMe3 and H2 plasma as the Pt ALD reactants. The deposition of continuous and ultrathin Pt ALD films using MeCpPtMe3 and H2 plasma as the reactants is then studied on two high surface area substrate materials: TiO2 nanoparticles and 3M nanostructured thin film (NSTF). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed uniform and continuous Pt films with thicknesses of ∼4 nm on the TiO2 nanoparticles. TEM with electron energy loss spectroscopy analysis revealed W ALD and Pt ALD films with thicknesses of ∼3 nm that were continuous and conformal on the high aspect ratio NSTF substrates. These results demonstrate that cost effective use of Pt ALD on high surface area substrates is possible for PEM fuel cells.
BAYESIAN SOFTWARE RELIABILITY MODEL COMBINING TWO PRIORS AND PREDICTING TOTAL NUMBER OF FAILURES AND FAILURE TIME
Authors: DAMODARAN D. , RAVIKUMAR B. , RAMACHANDRAN VELIMUTHU
Published: December 2014

Reliability statistics is divided into two mutually exclusive camps and they are Bayesian and Classical. The classical statistician believes that all distribution parameters are fixed values whereas Bayesians believe that parameters are random variables and have a distribution of their own. Bayesian approach has been applied for the Software Failure data and as a result of that several Bayesian Software Reliability Models have been formulated for the last three decades. A Bayesian approach to software reliability measurement was taken by Littlewood and Verrall [A Bayesian reliability growth model for computer software, Appl. Stat. 22 (1973) 332–346] and they modeled hazard rate as a random variable. In this paper, a new Bayesian software reliability model is proposed by combining two prior distributions for predicting the total number of failures and the next failure time of the software. The popular and realistic Jelinski and Moranda (J&M) model is taken as a base for bringing out this model by applying Bayesian approach. It is assumed that one of the parameters of JM model N, number of faults in the software follows uniform prior distribution and another failure rate parameter Φi follows gama prior distribution. The joint prior p(N, Φi) is obtained by combining the above two prior distributions. In this Bayesian model, the time between failures follow exponential distribution with failure rate parameter with stochastically decreasing order on successive failure time intervals. The reasoning for the assumption on the parameter is that the intention of the software tester to improve the software quality by the correction of each failure. With Bayesian approach, the predictive distribution has been arrived at by combining exponential Time between Failures (TBFs) and joint prior p(N, Φi). For the parameter estimation, maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) method has been adopted. The proposed Bayesian software reliability model has been applied to two sets of act. The proposed model has been applied to two sets of actual software failure data and it has been observed that the predicted failure times as per the proposed model are closer to the actual failure times. The predicted failure times based on Littlewood–Verall (LV) model is also computed. Sum of square errors (SSE) criteria has been used for comparing the actual time between failures and predicted time between failures based on proposed model and LV model.
Emergency Rescue Location Model with Uncertain Rescue Time
Authors: Guan Jing
Published: December 2014

In order to model emergency rescue location problem with uncertain rescue time, an uncertain expected cost minimization model is proposed under uncertain environment. For solving this model, we convert the uncertain model to its equivalent deterministic form. Finally, a numerical example has been presented to illustrate the model. The computational results which were solved by the down mountain algorithm are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the model.
Effects of Fenofibrate on Adiponectin Expression in Retinas of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats
Authors: Hsu Ying-Jung , Wang Lu-Chun , Yang Wei-Shiung , Yang Chung-May , Yang Chang-Hao
Published: December 2014

Adiponectin has been associated with increased risks of microvascular complications in diabetes; however, its role in the development of diabetic retinopathy (DR) is unknown. Fenofibrate is a lipid-lowering agent that has been shown to be capable of preventing DR progression. We investigated the expression of adiponectin and its receptors in DR and evaluated the effects of fenofibrate on their expression. The mRNA and protein levels of adiponectin and its receptors were elevated in retinas of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and were suppressed following fenofibrate treatment. Immunofluorescence staining demonstrated that adiponectin and adipoR1 were expressed in cells located within blood vessels, the retinal ganglion, and the inner nuclear layer. AdipoR1 was strongly expressed whereas adipoR2 was only weekly expressed in vascular endothelial cells. Thein vitroexperiments showed that adiponectin expression was induced by high glucose concentrations in RGC-5 and RAW264.7 cells and was suppressed following fenofibrate treatment. AdipoR1 and adipoR2 levels in RGC-5 cells were elevated in high glucose concentrations and suppressed by fenofibrate. Our results demonstrated that adiponectin may be a proinflammatory mediator in diabetic retinas and fenofibrate appears to modulate the expression of adiponectin and its receptors in diabetic retinas, effectively reducing DR progression.
In Vitro Evaluation of Ethanolic Extracts ofAgeratum conyzoidesandArtemisia absinthiumagainst Cattle Tick,Rhipicephalus microplus
Authors: Parveen S. , Godara R. , Katoch R. , Yadav A. , Verma P. K. , Katoch M. , Singh N. K.
Published: December 2014

In vitro efficacy of ethanolic extracts obtained from the aerial parts ofAgeratum conyzoidesandArtemisia absinthiumwas assessed onRhipicephalus microplususing adult immersion test (AIT). Five concentrations of the extract (1.25%, 2.5%, 5%, 10%, and 20%) with three replications for each concentration were used in the bioassay. In AIT, the maximum mortality was recorded as 40% and 66.7% at 20% concentration forA. conyzoidesandA. absinthium, respectively. Acaricidal activity was found to be higher in the extract ofA. absinthiumwith LC50and LC95values of 11.2% and 61.7%, respectively. Egg mass weight of the live ticks treated with different concentrations of the extracts was significantly(P<0.05)lower than that of control ticks; consequently, the reproductive index and oviposition values of the treated ticks were reduced significantly(P<0.05). TheA. conyzoidesinhibited 90% hatching of eggs at the 20% concentration, whereasA. absinthiumshowed 100% inhibition at 5%, 10%, and 20% concentrations. The results show thatA. absinthiumhas better acaricidal properties thanA. conyzoidesand could be useful in controllingR. microplus.
Stochastic Analysis of a Two-Unit Cold Standby System Wherein Both Units May Become Operative Depending upon the Demand
Authors: Malhotra Reetu , Taneja Gulshan
Published: December 2014

The present paper analyzes a two-unit cold standby system wherein both units may become operative depending upon the demand. Initially, one of the units is operative while the other is kept as cold standby. If the operative unit fails or the demand increases to the extent that one operative unit is not capable of meeting the demand, the standby unit becomes operative instantaneously. Thus, both units may become operative simultaneously to meet the increased demand. Availability in three types of upstates is as follows: (i) when the demand is less than or equal to production manufactured by one unit; (ii) when the demand is greater than whatever produced by one unit but less than or equal to production made by two units; and (iii) when the demand is greater than the produces by two units. Other measures of the system effectiveness have also been obtained in general case as well as for a particular case. Techniques of semi-Markov processes and regenerative processes have been used to obtain various measures of the system effectiveness.
Neural Emotion Regulation Circuitry Underlying Anxiolytic Effects of Perceived Control over Pain
Authors: Salomons Tim V. , Nusslock Robin , Detloff Allison , Johnstone Tom , Davidson Richard J.
Published: December 2014

Anxiolytic effects of perceived control have been observed across species. In humans, neuroimaging studies have suggested that perceived control and cognitive reappraisal reduce negative affect through similar mechanisms. An important limitation of extant neuroimaging studies of perceived control in terms of directly testing this hypothesis, however, is the use of within-subject designs, which confound participants' affective response to controllable and uncontrollable stress. To compare neural and affective responses when participants were exposed to either uncontrollable or controllable stress, two groups of participants received an identical series of stressors (thermal pain stimuli). One group (“controllable”) was led to believe they had behavioral control over the pain stimuli, whereas another (“uncontrollable”) believed they had no control. Controllable pain was associated with decreased state anxiety, decreased activation in amygdala, and increased activation in nucleus accumbens. In participants who perceived control over the pain, reduced state anxiety was associated with increased functional connectivity between each of these regions and ventral lateral/ventral medial pFC. The location of pFC findings is consistent with regions found to be critical for the anxiolytic effects of perceived control in rodents. Furthermore, interactions observed between pFC and both amygdala and nucleus accumbens are remarkably similar to neural mechanisms of emotion regulation through reappraisal in humans. These results suggest that perceived control reduces negative affect through a general mechanism involved in the cognitive regulation of emotion.
The Association between Gray Matter Volume and Reading Proficiency: A Longitudinal Study of Beginning Readers
Authors: Linkersdörfer Janosch , Jurcoane Alina , Lindberg Sven , Kaiser Jochen , Hasselhorn Marcus , Fiebach Christian J. , Lonnemann Jan
Published: December 2014

Neural systems involved in the processing of written language have been identified by a number of functional imaging studies. Structural changes in cortical anatomy that occur in the course of literacy acquisition, however, remain largely unknown. Here, we follow elementary school children over their first 2 years of formal reading instruction and use tensor-based morphometry to relate reading proficiency to cortical volume at baseline and follow-up measurement as well as to intraindividual longitudinal volume development between the two measurement time points. A positive relationship was found between baseline gray matter volume in the left superior temporal gyrus and subsequent changes in reading proficiency. Furthermore, a negative relationship was found between reading proficiency at the second measurement time point and intraindividual cortical volume development in the inferior parietal lobule and the precentral and postcentral gyri of the left hemisphere. These results are interpreted as evidence that reading acquisition is associated with preexisting structural differences as well as with experience-dependent structural changes involving dendritic and synaptic pruning.
Cetoniinae (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) diversity of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda and surrounding areas
Authors: Moore Daniel C. , Orozco Jesús
Published: December 2014

During the period of October 1996 to September 1999 cetoniine beetles were collected directly from the vegetation and using fruits traps and flight intercept traps in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP) and surrounding farmland. Additional records were obtained from collections. A total of 52 species were recorded. Information on collecting locality, distribution, ecology, seasonality, and collecting methods is presented for each species. Two species, Eudicella allardi (Marais & Holm) and Pachnoda alluaudi Bourgoin, are recorded for Uganda for the first time.
WHAT IS CHRISTIANITY GOOD FOR? Religion as Assurance of Ethical and Economic Action
Authors: Koslowski Peter
Published: December 2014

There is a gap between self-interest and morality that is caused not only by individual shortcomings but also by the interdependence of the outcome of individual action with the actions of others. If the others can be expected to be ethical this uncertainty about the others’ behaviour is reduced but not eliminated. Failure of economic motivation will be followed by failure of ethical motivation. Christianity or monotheistic religion in general comes into the picture to assure ethical behaviour of being advantageous in the long run. The paper analyses the sequence ethics as compensation of the failure of economic motivation — religion as the compensation of the failure of ethical motivation.
KAN GOD EEN GOEDE VERKLARING ZIJN? OVER THEÏSTISCHE VERKLARINGEN IN DE WETENSCHAP
Authors: de Ridder Jeroen
Published: December 2014

Veel wetenschappers, filosofen en theologen zijn van mening dat God nooit opgevoerd mag worden als verklaring voor een verschijnsel. Eén argument dat ze hiervoor aandragen is dat het op de een of andere manier in de aard van wetenschap zit dat God er geen rol in kan spelen. In dit artikel ga ik in op een specifieke versie van dit argument. Ik vraag me af of de aard van wetenschappelijke verklaringen uitsluit dat God als verklaringsgrond wordt genoemd. Om die vraag te beantwoorden ga ik na of de door wetenschapsfilosofen ontwikkelde standaardmodellen van wetenschappelijk verklaren ruimte bieden aan theïstische verklaringen. Dat blijkt inderdaad zo te zijn, enige kwalificaties daargelaten. De conclusie moet dan ook luiden dat de aard van wetenschappelijke verklaringen niet zodanig is dat theïstische verklaringen uitgesloten zijn.
COMMENTS ON FRIESEN’S 95 THESES ON HERMAN DOOYEWEERD
Authors: Geertsema Henk G.
Published: December 2014

It is no easy task to respond to the 95 theses on Herman Dooyeweerd by J. Glenn Friesen. The theses are not complete in rendering Dooyeweerd’s thought. For example, his analyses of the history of philosophy and his legal philosophy are hardly touched upon. Yet the theses cover a wide range of topics that are central to Dooyeweerd’s philosophy. Therefore, to give a wellargued assessment of all of them would require more than one issue of this journal. Fortunately the editors have put severe restrictions on the amount of space that is available. So I will limit myself to some comments. My first comment concerns the method of Friesen and the misunderstandings it sometimes leads to. Second I mention some points where I disagree with his interpretation. Third I discuss the idea of supratemporality. I agree with Friesen that it is central to Dooyeweerd’s philosophy but I have problems with the views of Dooyeweerd himself. Then I will deal with another issue where my main problem is with Dooyeweerd, the idea of theoretical thought as opening up naïve thinking. I end with some concluding remarks. They concern my general assessment of the theses and what I see as the importance of Dooyeweerd’s philosophy.
RESPONSE TO CARL MITCHAM
Authors: Griffioen Sander
Published: December 2014

I feel honored to be asked to respond to the text of Carl Mitcham’s Van Riessen lecture. Although philosophy of technology is not my field, there is much to make this task attractive, as Hendrik Van Riessen’s personality and philosophy have been formative influences on my own development, and this Lecture contains so much that is stimulating (as well as debatable). The setting in which Mitcham situates Van Riessen’s contribution seems to be the right one. Van Riessen’s seriousness and analytic depth are praised. Mitcham is also very positive about his focus on the internal structure of technology (techniek),1 and is convinced of the fruitfulness of this approach. He not only holds that it deserves greater attention than it has received, but also that it is still relevant today, comparing favourably with the now prevalent ‘social constructionist reflection on science and technology’.
TOWARDS A PHILOSOPHY OF GOD. A STUDY IN WILLIAM DESMOND’S THOUGHT
Authors: Griffioen Sander
Published: December 2014

William Desmond is professor of philosophy at the Hoger Instituut of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, a position he has held since 1994. Before this he held several positions in the US. Until 2009 he was President of the American Catholic Philosophical Association, and has formerly served as President of the Hegel Society of America and the Metaphysical Society of America. He was born in Ireland. God and the Between (2008) completes the trilogy on the ‘philosophy of the between’. The first volume was Being and the Between (1995); the second one Ethics and the Between (2001).
WHENCE THE QUESTION MARK?
Authors: Wolfinger Russ
Published: December 2014

This essay focuses on four fundamental issues underlying Klapwijk’s development of emergent evolution: presuppositions, mechanism, creation, and evil, building on two guiding principles relating to irreducible modalities and religious control of theories. Although more questions are raised than answered, the hope is that an appropriately structured framing of some of the key difficulties can be helpful in resolving them.
CREATION AND BECOMING IN JACOB KLAPWIJK’S THEORY OF EMERGENCE
Authors: Cook Harry
Published: December 2014

It is remarkable that emergence is seldom mentioned in the discussions by Christians who accept the idea of a biological evolutionary process. Thus, Jacob Klapwijk’s 2008 book fills a need. It is to be hoped that it will broaden the discussions on emergence. Klapwijk’s discussions about Augustine’s concept of time, and his distinction between creation and becoming, should also lead to fruitful dialogue. I was translator and editor for Purpose, and this led to some fascinating discussions with Jacob Klapwijk during the translation process. These were, to mention some of the major issues we covered, about emergence, Augustine’s ideas, and continuity and discontinuity. I also translated Klapwijk’s follow-up article for this issue of Philosophia Reformata. I value the contribution that Klapwijk has made in both the book and the article, and I welcome being asked to respond to Creation Belief. The topics Klapwijk raises are indeed important in the religion-science discussion. In addition to his views on emergence, Klapwijk has also explained his views on creation and becoming (creation and evolution) which, in his opinion, should be sharply distinguished. In this article, I will make some comments about Klapwijk’s position on emergence and about emergence in general. In the second part of this paper, I will discuss Klapwijk’s views on Theistic Evolution and on Genesis 1 and 2.
REPLY TO J. GLENN FRIESEN
Authors: Clouser Roy
Published: December 2014

Although Friesen’s recent article on “Clouser’s Aristotelian Interpretation of Dooyeweerd” (in this journal, volume 75(2010), 97-116) directs its criticisms mainly to me, I will not be at pains in what follows to reply to all of them. What I will concentrate upon instead is the correct understanding of Dooyeweerd. It is far more important that readers of this journal get Dooyeweerd straight than that they get me straight, and Friesen has proposed a number of misconstruals of fundamental concepts and ideas in Dooyeweerd’s philosophy. Therefore, in part one I will try to clear up only a few of the more glaring misrepresentations of my position in order to clear the way for considering the more serious mis-understandings of Dooyeweerd in part two. Part three will focus on Friesen’s panentheism.
SUSTAINABILITY, VALUES AND QUALITY OF LIFE WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES
Authors: Vonk Martine
Published: December 2014

Our consumption and production patterns lead to an increasing pressure on the environment. These patterns are not just accidental, but are rooted in worldviews, including ideas what constitutes quality of life and how mankind should relate to nature. This article presents the results of a study on the worldview, values and behavioral patterns of four religious communities: Amish, Hutterites, Franciscan and Benedictine communities, in order to investigate whether and in what way their values and principles may lead to an impact on the environment and a structure that helps to maintain their quality of life. These communities appear to base their choices not so much on environmental values, but on values such as community, stability, moderation, humility or modesty, the rhythm of life, and reflection. In many cases, these values lead to behavioral choices with a relatively low environmental impact, while they also contribute to their preferred quality of life. In order to enhance sustainability and quality of life in Western society, we may be challenged by three principles: focus on quality instead of quantity, community building, and a process of reflective change. This study about four religious communities has brought to light values that might still connect to ideas about quality of life rooted in broader Western society, and may stimulate a reflective change towards a sustainable development with a lower impact on the environment.
EDITORIAL
Authors: Glas Gerrit
Published: December 2014

This issue of Philosophia Reformata marks the beginning of a new phase in the history of our journal.
GREAT MINDS THINK (ALMOST) ALIKE THOMAS AQUINAS AND ALVIN PLANTINGA ON DIVINE ACTION IN NATURE
Authors: Silva Ignacio
Published: December 2014

In the first part of this paper I argue that even if at first Alvin Plantinga’s reasons for allowing special divine action seem similar to those of Thomas Aquinas, particularly in De Potentia Dei for allowing miracles, the difference in their metaphysical language makes Aquinas’ account less prone to the objections raised against Plantinga’s. In the second part I argue that Plantinga errs when recurring to quantum mechanics for allowing special divine action, making God to be a cause among causes. Thomas Aquinas, by speaking of primary and secondary causality when referring to God’s activity, avoids taking this step, evading the conclusion that God could be seen as a cause among causes. Aquinas, however, maintains in a statement which goes beyond Plantinga’s, that God’s providence requires the universe to be indeterministic because this indeterministic feature makes the universe more perfect.
The Perceived Importance of Yalom’s Therapeutic Factors in Psychodynamic Group Psychotherapy for Patients with Psychosis
Authors: Restek-Petrović Branka , Bogović Anamarija , Orešković-Krezler Nataša , Grah Majda , Mihanović Mate , Ivezić Ena
Published: December 2014

The aim of this study was to examine the importance of Yalom’s therapeutic factors in psychodynamic group psychotherapy based on the duration of patients’ participation in the group and their sociodemographic characteristics. A total of 57 outpatients with psychosis completed Yalom’s therapeutic factors questionnaire, and were divided into four groups according to the duration of their participation in the group. The instillation of hope, group cohesiveness and existential factors were the highest ranking, whereas identification was the lowest ranking therapeutic factor. Longer participation in the group was associated with greater perceived importance of catharsis and family re-enactment factors. The relationship between the perceived importance of the therapeutic factors and the participant’s gender, age, and level of education was examined. The findings of this study may contribute to an improved understanding of group processes in patients with psychosis, and may assist with the development of more effective therapeutic approaches in this population.
Psychotherapy as a discursive genre: A dialogic approach
Authors: Martinez Claudio , Tomicic Alemka , Medina Lorena
Published: December 2014

This study seeks to display therapeutic dialogue as a discursive genre. By using dialogic discourse analysis, the psychotherapeutic dialogue present in a set of excerpts from a time-limited psychotherapy is analyzed. This micro analytical methodology makes it possible to account for both the dialogal and the dialogic level of therapeutic conversation. The results show the linguistics markers employed by the participants and the voices in their speech. This enables us to illustrate how it is possible to perform a discursive analysis of therapeutic interaction. The value of approaching psychotherapy as a discursive genre and its methodological implications for research are discussed.
Noninvasive mechanical ventilation in high-risk pulmonary infections: a clinical review
Authors: Esquinas Antonio M. , Egbert Pravinkumar S. , Scala Raffaele , Gay Peter , Soroksky Arie , Girault Christophe , Han Fang , Hui David S. , Papadakos Peter J. , Ambrosino Nicolino
Published: December 2014

The aim of this article was to review the role of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in acute pulmonary infectious diseases, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), H1N1 and tuberculosis, and to assess the risk of disease transmission with the use of NIV from patients to healthcare workers.

We performed a clinical review by searching Medline and EMBASE. These databases were searched for articles on “clinical trials” and “randomised controlled trials”. The keywords selected were non-invasive ventilation pulmonary infections, influenza-A (H1N1), SARS and tuberculosis. These terms were cross-referenced with the following keywords: health care workers, airborne infections, complications, intensive care unit and pandemic. The members of the International NIV Network examined the major results regarding NIV applications and SARS, H1N1 and tuberculosis. Cross-referencing mechanical ventilation with SARS yielded 76 studies, of which 10 studies involved the use of NIV and five were ultimately selected for inclusion in this review. Cross-referencing with H1N1 yielded 275 studies, of which 27 involved NIV. Of these, 22 were selected for review. Cross-referencing with tuberculosis yielded 285 studies, of which 15 involved NIV and from these seven were selected. In total 34 studies were selected for this review.

NIV, when applied early in selected patients with SARS, H1N1 and acute pulmonary tuberculosis infections, can reverse respiratory failure. There are only a few reports of infectious disease transmission among healthcare workers.