bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Travels into Bokhara
Authors: Burnes Alexander
Published: November 2014

Aged sixteen, Alexander Burnes (1805–41) took up a post in the Bombay army, and speedily learned both Hindustani and Persian. His skills led him to political work, and he himself proposed a covert expedition to Bukhara, to survey the country, but also to observe the expansionist activities of the Russians in central Asia. In 1832, he set off, with an army doctor, and two Indians as surveyor and secretary. They travelled in local dress and adopted whatever personas a situation required. Having reached Bukhara, they continued overland to the Caspian Sea, and then to Tehran, returning to Bombay by sea in 1833. This three-volume account of his adventures, published in 1834, was an instant bestseller. Volume 3 is an account of Burnes' earlier diplomatic mission up the Indus to Lahore in 1831. He continued his diplomatic activities in Afghanistan, but was murdered there by a mob in 1841.
Logical Fictions in Medieval Literature and Philosophy
Authors: Greene Virginie
Published: November 2014

In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, new ways of storytelling and inventing fictions appeared in the French-speaking areas of Europe. This new art still influences our global culture of fiction. Virginie Greene explores the relationship between fiction and the development of neo-Aristotelian logic during this period through a close examination of seminal literary and philosophical texts by major medieval authors, such as Anselm of Canterbury, Abélard, and Chrétien de Troyes. This study of Old French logical fictions encourages a broader theoretical reflection about fiction as a universal human trait and a defining element of the history of Western philosophy and literature. Additional close readings of classical Greek philosophers Plato and Aristotle, and modern analytic philosophy including the work of Bertrand Russell and Rudolf Carnap, demonstrate peculiar traits of Western rationalism and expose its ambivalent relationship to fiction.
Elite Parties, Poor Voters
Authors: Thachil Tariq
Published: November 2014

Why do poor people often vote against their material interests? This puzzle has been famously studied within wealthy Western democracies, yet the fact that the poor voter paradox also routinely manifests within poor countries has remained unexplored. This book studies how this paradox emerged in India, the world's largest democracy. Tariq Thachil shows how arguments from studies of wealthy democracies (such as moral values voting) and the global south (such as patronage or ethnic appeals) cannot explain why poor voters in poor countries support parties that represent elite policy interests. He instead draws on extensive survey data and fieldwork to document a novel strategy through which elite parties can recruit the poor, while retaining the rich. He shows how these parties can win over disadvantaged voters by privately providing them with basic social services via grassroots affiliates. Such outsourcing permits the party itself to continue to represent the policy interests of their privileged base.
The Lure and Legacy of Music at Versailles
Authors: Heyer John Hajdu
Published: November 2014

Louis XIV and his court at Versailles had a profound influence on music in France and throughout Europe. In 1660 Louis visited Aix-en-Provence, a trip that resulted in political and cultural transformations throughout the region. Soon thereafter Aix became an important center of sacred music composition, eventually rivaling Paris for the quality of the composers it produced. John Hajdu Heyer documents the young king's visit and examines how he and his court deployed sacred music to enhance the royal image and secure the loyalty of the populace. Exploring the circle of composers at Aix, Heyer provides the most up-to-date and complete biographies in English of nine key figures, including Guillaume Poitevin, André Campra, Jean Gilles, François Estienne, and Antoine Blanchard. The book goes on to reveal how the history of political power in the region was reflected through church music, and how musicians were affected by contemporary events.
Legislative Effectiveness in the United States Congress
Authors: Volden Craig , Wiseman Alan E.
Published: November 2014

This book explores why some members of Congress are more effective than others at navigating the legislative process and what this means for how Congress is organized and what policies it produces. Craig Volden and Alan E. Wiseman develop a new metric of individual legislator effectiveness (the Legislative Effectiveness Score) that will be of interest to scholars, voters, and politicians alike. They use these scores to study party influence in Congress, the successes or failures of women and African Americans in Congress, policy gridlock, and the specific strategies that lawmakers employ to advance their agendas.
Transition Metal Compounds
Authors: Khomskii Daniel I.
Published: November 2014

Describing all aspects of the physics of transition metal compounds, this book provides a comprehensive overview of this unique and diverse class of solids. Beginning with the basic concepts of the physics of strongly correlated electron systems, the structure of transition metal ions, and the behaviours of transition metal ions in crystals, it goes on to cover more advanced topics such as metal-insulator transitions, orbital ordering, and novel phenomena such as multiferroics, systems with oxygen holes, and high-Tc superconductivity. Each chapter concludes with a summary of key facts and concepts, presenting all the most important information in a consistent and concise manner. Set within a modern conceptual framework, and providing a complete treatment of the fundamental factors and mechanisms that determine the properties of transition metal compounds, this is an invaluable resource for graduate students, researchers and industrial practitioners in solid state physics and chemistry, materials science, and inorganic chemistry.
Inside China's Automobile Factories
Authors: Zhang Lu
Published: November 2014

In Inside China's Automobile Factories, Lu Zhang explores the current conditions, subjectivity, and collective actions of autoworkers in the world's largest and fastest-growing automobile manufacturing nation. Based on years of fieldwork and extensive interviews conducted at seven large auto factories in various regions of China, Zhang provides an inside look at the daily factory life of autoworkers and a deeper understanding of the roots of rising labor unrest in the auto industry. Combining original empirical data and sophisticated analysis that moves from the shop floor to national political economy and global industry dynamics, the book develops a multilayered framework for understanding how labor relations in the auto industry and broader social economy can be expected to develop in China in the coming decades.
Anecdotes of British Topography
Authors: Gough Richard
Published: November 2014

The leading antiquary of his day, Richard Gough (1735–1809) promoted the history of the British Isles, particularly the Anglo-Saxon period, rather than pursuing the classical interests of contemporaries who had made the Grand Tour. Gough travelled extensively over the years, sketching and taking detailed notes on what he observed. He believed that the Society of Antiquaries, of which he was director from 1771 to 1797, should preserve the nation's heritage without catering to fashion or the interests of dilettantes. He published this major work anonymously in 1768, and it found a receptive readership. The book is in effect a gazetteer of published and unpublished materials for the local history and topography of the whole of Great Britain and Ireland, discussing public records, printed books, manuscripts, maps, and other sources relating to the antiquities of each county.
Scribal Correction and Literary Craft
Authors: Wakelin Daniel
Published: November 2014

This extensive survey of scribal correction in English manuscripts explores what correcting reveals about attitudes to books, language and literature in late medieval England. Daniel Wakelin surveys a range of manuscripts and genres, but focuses especially on poems by Chaucer, Hoccleve and Lydgate, and on prose works such as chronicles, religious instruction and practical lore. His materials are the variants and corrections found in manuscripts, phenomena usually studied only by editors or palaeographers, but his method is the close reading and interpretation typical of literary criticism. From the corrections emerge often overlooked aspects of English literary thinking in the late Middle Ages: scribes, readers and authors seek, though often fail to achieve, invariant copying, orderly spelling, precise diction, regular verse and textual completeness. Correcting reveals their impressive attention to scribal and literary craft - its rigour, subtlety, formalism and imaginativeness - in an age with little other literary criticism in English.
Language Death
Authors: Crystal David
Published: November 2014

The rapid endangerment and death of many minority languages across the world is a matter of widespread concern, not only among linguists and anthropologists but among all concerned with issues of cultural identity in an increasingly globalized culture. By some counts, only 600 of the 6,000 or so languages in the world are 'safe' from the threat of extinction. A leading commentator and popular writer on language issues, David Crystal asks the fundamental question, 'why is language death so important?', reviews the reasons for the current crisis, and investigates what is being done to reduce its impact. This book contains not only intelligent argument, but moving descriptions of the decline and demise of particular languages, and practical advice for anyone interested in pursuing the subject further.
Evolution of the Social Contract
Authors: Skyrms Brian
Published: November 2014

In this new edition of Evolution of the Social Contract, Brian Skyrms uses evolutionary game theory to analyze the genesis of social contracts and investigates social phenomena including justice, communication, altruism, and bargaining. Featuring new material on evolution and information transfer, and including recent developments in game theory and evolution literature, his book introduces and applies appropriate concepts of equilibrium and evolutionary dynamics, showing how key issues can be modeled as games and considering the ways in which evolution sometimes supports, and sometimes does not support, rational choice. He discusses topics including how bargaining with neighbors promotes sharing of resources, the diversity of behavior in ultimatum bargaining in small societies, the Prisoner's Dilemma, and an investigation into signaling games and the spontaneous emergence of meaningful communication. His book will be of great interest to readers in philosophy of science, social science, evolutionary biology, game and decision theory, and political theory.
Grief and Women Writers in the English Renaissance
Authors: Hodgson Elizabeth
Published: November 2014

Grief and Women Writers in the English Renaissance anatomizes the era's powerful but troubling links between the forgettable dead and the living mourners who are implicated in the same oblivion. Four major women writers from 1570 to 1670 construct these difficult bonds between the spectral dead and the liminal mourner. Mary Sidney Herbert, Countess of Pembroke, reinvents the controversial substitutions of aristocratic funerals. New Protestant ideologies of the sainted dead connect devotional mourning and patronage in Aemelia Lanyer's writing. Mary Wroth's verse enacts a uniquely exalted, imaginative melancholy in which Jacobean subjects dissolve into their mourning artifacts. Among the precarious political mourners of the later half of the period, Katherine Philips's lyric verse plays the shell game of private grief. Forgetting, being forgotten, and being dead are risks that the dead and the living ironically share in these central texts by the English Renaissance's most illustrious women writers.
Dictators and Democracy in African Development
Authors: LeVan A. Carl
Published: November 2014

What are the conditions for good governance in Africa, and why do many democracies still struggle with persistent poverty? Drawing on a historical study of Nigeria since independence, this book argues that the structure of the policy-making process explains variations in government performance better than other commonly cited factors, such as oil, colonialism, ethnic diversity, foreign debt, and dictatorships. The author links the political structure of the policy process to patterns of government performance over half a century to show that the key factor is not simply the status of the regime as a dictatorship or a democracy, but rather it is the structure of the policy-making process by which different policy demands are included or excluded. By identifying political actors with the leverage to prevent policy change and extract concessions, empirical tests demonstrate how these 'veto players' systematically affect the performance of two broad categories of public policy. This Madisonian dilemma has important implications for African countries struggling with the institutional trade-offs presented by different regimes.
The Apocalypse in the Early Middle Ages
Authors: Palmer James
Published: November 2014

This groundbreaking study reveals the distinctive impact of apocalyptic ideas about time, evil and power on church and society in the Latin West, c.400–c.1050. Drawing on evidence from late antiquity, the Frankish kingdoms, Anglo-Saxon England, Spain and Byzantium and sociological models, James Palmer shows that apocalyptic thought was a more powerful part of mainstream political ideologies and religious reform than many historians believe. Moving beyond the standard 'Terrors of the Year 1000', The Apocalypse in the Early Middle Ages opens up broader perspectives on heresy, the Antichrist and Last World Emperor legends, chronography, and the relationship between eschatology and apocalypticism. In the process, it offers reassessments of the worlds of Augustine, Gregory of Tours, Bede, Charlemagne and the Ottonians, providing a wide-ranging and up-to-date survey of medieval apocalyptic thought. This is the first full-length English-language treatment of a fundamental and controversial part of medieval religion and society.
C9orf72 Repeat Expansions in Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behaviour Disorder
Authors: Daoud Hussein , Postuma Ronald B. , Bourassa Cynthia V. , Rochefort Daniel , Gauthier Maude Turcotte , Montplaisir Jacques , Gagnon Jean-Francois , Arnulf Isabelle , Dauvilliers Yves , Charley Christelle Monaca , Inoue Yuichi , Sasai Taeko , Högl Birgit , Desautels Alex , Frauscher Birgit , Cochen De Cock Valérie , Rouleau Guy A. , Dion Patrick A.
Published: November 2014

Background: A large hexanucleotide repeat expansion in C9orf72 has been identified as the most common genetic cause in familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia. Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) is a sleep disorder that has been strongly linked to synuclein-mediated neurodegeneration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of the C9orf72 expansions in the pathogenesis of RBD. Methods: We amplified the C9orf72 repeat expansion in 344 patients with RBD by a repeat-primed polymerase chain reaction assay. Results: We identified two RBD patients carrying the C9orf72 repeat expansion. Most interestingly, these patients have the same C9orf72 associated-risk haplotype identified in 9p21-linked amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia families. Conclusions: Our study enlarges the phenotypic spectrum associated with the C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansions and suggests that, although rare, this expansion may play a role in the pathogenesis of RBD.
On volume-preserving vector fields and finite-type invariants of knots
Authors: KOMENDARCZYK R. , VOLIĆ I.
Published: November 2014

We consider the general non-vanishing, divergence-free vector fields defined on a domain in$3$-space and tangent to its boundary. Based on the theory of finite-type invariants, we define a family of invariants for such fields, in the style of Arnold’s asymptotic linking number. Our approach is based on the configuration space integrals due to Bott and Taubes.
Beta-expansions of -adic numbers
Authors: SCHEICHER KLAUS , SIRVENT VÍCTOR F. , SURER PAUL
Published: November 2014

In the present article, we introduce beta-expansions in the ring $\mathbb{Z}_{p}$ of $p$-adic integers. We characterise the sets of numbers with eventually periodic and finite expansions.
Quantitative norm convergence of double ergodic averages associated with two commuting group actions
Authors: KOVAČ VJEKOSLAV
Published: November 2014

We study double averages along orbits for measure-preserving actions of$\mathbb{A}^{{\it\omega}}$, the direct sum of countably many copies of a finite abelian group$\mathbb{A}$. We show an$\text{L}^{p}$norm-variation estimate for these averages, which in particular re-proves their convergence in$\text{L}^{p}$for any finite$p$and for any choice of two$\text{L}^{\infty }$functions. The result is motivated by recent questions on quantifying convergence of multiple ergodic averages.
ASSESSMENT OF ADVANTAGES OF PEA AND NON-LEGUME WINTER VEGETABLE INTERCROPPING SYSTEMS THROUGH COMPETITION AND ECONOMIC INDICES
Authors: ANJUM MUHAMMAD AKBAR , QASIM SYED ALI , AHMAD SHAKEEL , HUSSAIN SAJJAD
Published: November 2014

Intercropping is considered as a promising system having multi-dimensional advantages such as improved yield on sustained basis, effective use of land and other resources and reduction in cost of production. The present study was carried out using pea and three non-legume winter vegetables, i.e. garlic, turnip and cauliflower, by planting as sole crops and in pea–garlic, pea–turnip and pea–cauliflower intercropping systems to determine the competition among these vegetables and economics of each intercropping system. The intercropping systems were assessed on the basis of existing competition and economic indices such as land equivalent ratio (LER), relative crowding coefficient (K), aggressivity (A), competitive ratio (CR), actual yield loss (AYL), intercropping advantage and monetary advantage index (MAI). Yields of individual vegetables were higher when grown as sole crops compared with their intercropping with pea. Harvest index for pea was higher when grown alone or intercropped with garlic and was significantly reduced when intercropped with turnip or cauliflower. Harvest indices for garlic, turnip and cauliflower were statistically similar when grown as sole crops or intercropped with pea. The partial LER, K, A and CR for pea were higher in pea–garlic intercropping. However, partial LER, K, A and CR for intercrop were significantly higher for cauliflower and turnip in pea–cauliflower and pea–turnip intercropping systems respectively. The product of relative K values was greater for pea–garlic intercropping system, indicating a definite yield advantage. A similar trend to LER was followed by AYL. These results indicate that pea was more competitive than garlic, and cauliflower and turnip were more competitive than pea for exploiting the available growth resources. The highest MAI value was recorded for pea–garlic intercropping, reflecting that this intercropping system was more advantageous compared with other intercropping systems, indicating definite yield and economic advantages. However, pea–cauliflower intercropping system resulted in higher net income and benefit cost ratio.
Identification ofBalanus amphitritelarvae from field zooplankton using species-specific primers
Authors: Gaonkar Chetan C. , Khandeparker Lidita , Desai Dattesh V. , Anil Arga Chandrashekar
Published: November 2014

Identification of marine invertebrate larvae using morphological characters is laborious and complicated by phenotypic plasticity.Balanus amphitriteis a dominant barnacle, important in the context of intertidal ecology and biofouling of manmade structures. Morphological identification of barnacle larval forms in a mixed population is difficult because of their intricacy and similarity in size, shape and developmental stages. We report the development and application of a nucleic acid-based Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method for the specific identification of the barnacle,B. amphitrite, from the heterogeneous zooplankton sample. This method is reliable and accurate thereby overcoming taxonomic ambiguity. Sequence alignment of the 18S rRNA gene region of selected species of barnacles allowed the design ofB. amphitrite-specific PCR primers. Assay specificity was evaluated by screening DNA obtained from selected species of barnacles. The oligonucleotide primers used in the study flanked a 1600 bp region within the 18S rRNA gene. The primer is specific and can detect as few as 10 individuals ofB. amphitritelarvae spiked in a background of ~186 mg of zooplankton. This technique facilitates accurate identification and the primer can be used as a marker for enumeration ofB. amphitritelarvae in the plankton.
INTERMEDIATE TRACES AND INTERMEDIATE LEARNERS
Authors: Miller A. Kate
Published: November 2014

This study reports on a sentence processing experiment in second language (L2) French that looks for evidence of trace reactivation at clause edge and in the canonical object position in indirect object cleft sentences with complex embedding and cyclic movement. Reaction time (RT) asymmetries were examined among low (n = 20) and high (n = 20) intermediate L2 learners and native speakers (n = 15) of French in a picture-classification-during-reading task. The results show that a subgroup of learners (13 from the low intermediate and 9 from the high intermediate group) as well as the native speakers produced response patterns consistent with reactivation—with the shortest RTs for antecedent-matching probes presented concurrently with the gap—at clause edge, followed by a second reactivation in the canonical object position. This finding suggests that L2 learners may be able to process real-time input in nativelike ways, despite arguments set forth in previous research of this kind.
Immunity to polio, measles and rubella in women of child-bearing age and estimated congenital rubella syndrome incidence, Cambodia, 2012
Authors: MAO B. , CHHENG K. , WANNEMUEHLER K. , VYNNYCKY E. , BUTH S. , SOEUNG S. C. , REEF S. , WELDON W. , QUICK L. , GREGORY C. J.
Published: November 2014

Significant gaps in immunity to polio, measles, and rubella may exist in adults in Cambodia and threaten vaccine-preventable disease (VPD) elimination and control goals, despite high childhood vaccination coverage. We conducted a nationwide serological survey during November–December 2012 of 2154 women aged 15–39 years to assess immunity to polio, measles, and rubella and to estimate congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) incidence. Measles and rubella antibodies were detected by IgG ELISA and polio antibodies by microneutralization testing. Age-structured catalytic models were fitted to rubella serological data to predict CRS cases. Overall, 29·8% of women lacked immunity to at least one poliovirus (PV); seroprevalence to PV1, PV2 and PV3 was 85·9%, 93·4% and 83·3%, respectively. Rubella and measles antibody seroprevalence was 73·3% and 95·9%, respectively. In the 15–19 years age group, 48·2% [95% confidence interval (CI) 42·4–54·1] were susceptible to either PV1 or PV3, and 40·3% (95% CI 33·0–47·5) to rubella virus. Based on rubella antibody seroprevalence, we estimate that >600 infants are born with CRS in Cambodia annually. Significant numbers of Cambodian women are still susceptible to polio and rubella, especially those aged 15–19 years, emphasizing the need to include adults in VPD surveillance and a potential role for vaccination strategies targeted at adults.
Toxoplasma gondiiseroprevalence in wild boars (Sus scrofa) in Sweden and evaluation of ELISA test performance
Authors: WALLANDER C. , FRÖSSLING J. , VÅGSHOLM I. , UGGLA A. , LUNDÉN A.
Published: November 2014

Toxoplasma gondiiis a zoonotic protozoan parasite, infecting a wide range of warm-blooded animals. The Swedish wild boar population is expanding and increased hunting provides its meat to a growing group of consumers. We performed a spatio-temporal investigation ofT. gondiiseroprevalence in Swedish wild boars. An ELISA was set up and evaluated against a commercial direct agglutination test, using Bayesian latent class analysis. The ELISA sensitivity and specificity were estimated to 79% and 85%, respectively. Of 1327 serum samples, 50% were positive. Thirty-four per cent of young wild boars and 55% of adults were positive (P< 0·001). The total seroprevalence ranged from 72% in 2005 to 38% in 2011 (P< 0·001), suggesting a declining trend. The highest seroprevalence, 65%, was recorded in South Sweden. In other regions it varied from 29% in Stockholm to 46% in East Middle Sweden.
Is translation priming asymmetry due to partial awareness of the prime?
Authors: WANG XIN , FORSTER KENNETH
Published: November 2014

A 50ms prime duration is often adopted in both L1-L2 and L2-L1 directions in the cross-language priming paradigm. It is unknown how aware bilinguals are of the briefly presented primes of different scripts; and whether the degree of awareness of L1 and L2 primes is at a similar level. Kouider and Dupoux's (2004) proposal of partial awareness suggests that 50ms English primes were sufficient to make a semantic interpretation. It is unclear whether this is the case when processing one's L2 or a different script. Experiment 1 was designed to measure the comparable prime durations for semantic interpretation of Chinese primes vs. English primes. Experiment 2 tested whether partial awareness of primes would cause priming asymmetry. Our findings demonstrate that a 50ms prime duration gave rise to different degrees of semantic activation in different scripts and L1/L2. However, increasing prime duration on L2 primes did not produce L2-L1 priming.
The environmental cost of protein food choices
Authors: Sabaté Joan , Sranacharoenpong Kitti , Harwatt Helen , Wien Michelle , Soret Samuel
Published: November 2014

Objective

To investigate the resource efficiency and environmental impacts of producing one kilogram of edible protein from two plant- and three animal-protein sources.

Design

Primary source data were collected and applied to commodity production statistics to calculate the indices required to compare the environmental impact of producing 1 kg of edible protein from kidney beans, almonds, eggs, chicken and beef. Inputs included land and water for raising animals and growing animal feed, total fuel, and total fertilizer and pesticide for growing the plant commodities and animal feed. Animal waste generated was computed for the animal commodities.

Setting

Desk-based study at the Department of Nutrition and Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Loma Linda University.

Subjects

None.

Results

To produce 1 kg of protein from kidney beans required approximately eighteen times less land, ten times less water, nine times less fuel, twelve times less fertilizer and ten times less pesticide in comparison to producing 1 kg of protein from beef. Compared with producing 1 kg of protein from chicken and eggs, beef generated five to six times more waste (manure) to produce 1 kg of protein.

Conclusions

The substitution of beef with beans in meal patterns will significantly reduce the environmental footprint worldwide and should also be encouraged to reduce the prevalence of non-communicable chronic diseases. Societies must work together to change the perception that red meat (e.g. beef) is the mainstay of an affluent and healthy diet.
Why Zambia failed
Authors: BARTON STUART JOHN
Published: November 2014

Daron Acemoglu, James Robinson and others are explaining divergent economic histories with qualitative measures of institutional quality – including Acemoglu and Robinson's popular inclusive/extractive dichotomy. While quantitative studies have sort to confirm these links using econometric proxies, few empirical accounts have shownhowthese proxies, or indeed the institutions they seek to represent actually influenced economic growth. This study helps fill that gap by testing whether evidence in Zambia's post-colonial history supports a proposed econometric link between its institutional quality and its slow economic growth. Support for this link is found in foreign investors’ interpretation of declining institutional constraint on Zambia's President as the potential for increased policy volatility, and as such an economic inducement to delay critical investment to Zambia's capital constrained economy. These findings add weight to the institutional argument in general, as well as present one concrete example in history of a mechanism through which institutional quality affected economic growth.
Time trends in method-specific suicide rates in Japan, 1990–2011
Authors: Yoshioka E. , Hanley S. J. , Kawanishi Y. , Saijo Y.
Published: November 2014

Background.

Little is known about whether particular suicide methods have contributed differently to the recent unfavourable suicide mortality trends in Japan. Analysing such trends may shed light on the effect of potentially preventable factors, such as the impact of restricting access to certain popular suicide methods, on overall rates. Therefore, we assessed recent trends in method-specific suicide by gender and age in Japan.

Method.

Suicide mortality and population data between 1990 and 2011 were obtained from the Vital Statistics of Japan and used to calculate method-specific mortality rates. Suicide methods were divided into seven groups: overdose, gases, hanging, drowning, cutting, jumping and other means. Age was divided into four groups: 15–24, 25–44, 45–64 and 65+ years. We applied joinpoint regression to the data and quantified the observed changes.

Results.

The results of the joinpoint regression analyses showed a sharp increase in overall suicide rates for males and females of all ages until the late 1990s. Suicide from hanging and jumping, in particular, contributed to this increase. After 2000, an increasing trend in overall suicide rates in both males and females aged 15–24 and 25–44 years was observed, with overdose, gases and hanging contributing to this increasing trend.

Conclusions.

Our findings revealed that different suicide methods varied in their contribution to the recent overall suicide transition in Japan. Regarding factors associated with the recent increase in suicides by overdose, gases, hanging and jumping, further research is needed in order to promote and implement effective means restriction strategies.
PGC-1α buffers ROS-mediated removal of mitochondria during myogenesis
Authors: Baldelli S , Aquilano K , Ciriolo M R
Published: November 2014

Mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy are recognized as critical processes underlying mitochondrial homeostasis. However, the molecular pathway(s) coordinating the balance between these cellular programs is still poorly investigated. Here, we show an induction of the nuclear and mitochondrial peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, coactivator 1 alpha (PGC-1α) during myogenesis, which in turn co-activates the transcription of nuclear and mtDNA-encoded mitochondrial genes. We demonstrate that PGC-1αalso buffers oxidative stress occurring during differentiation by promoting the expression of antioxidant enzymes. Indeed, by downregulating PGC-1α,we observed an impairment of antioxidants expression, which was accompanied by a significant reactive oxygen species (ROS) burst and increase of oxidative damage to proteins. In parallel, we detected a decrease of mitochondrial mass and function as well as increased mitophagy through the ROS/FOXO1 pathway. Upon PGC-1αdownregulation, we found ROS-dependent nuclear translocation of FOXO1 and transcription of its downstream targets including mitophagic genes such as LC3 and PINK1. Such events were significantly reverted after treatment with the antioxidant Trolox, suggesting that PGC-1αassures mitochondrial integrity by indirectly buffering ROS. Finally, the lack of PGC-1αgave rise to a decrease in MYOG and a strong induction of atrophy-related ubiquitin ligases FBXO32 (FBXO32), indicative of a degenerative process. Overall, our results reveal that in myotubes, PGC-1αtakes center place in mitochondrial homeostasis during differentiation because of its ability to avoid ROS-mediated removal of mitochondria.
Genetic characterization of Greek population isolates reveals strong genetic drift at missense and trait-associated variants
Authors: Panoutsopoulou Kalliope , Hatzikotoulas Konstantinos , Xifara Dionysia Kiara , Colonna Vincenza , Farmaki Aliki-Eleni , Ritchie Graham R. S. , Southam Lorraine , Gilly Arthur , Tachmazidou Ioanna , Fatumo Segun , Matchan Angela , Rayner Nigel W. , Ntalla Ioanna , Mezzavilla Massimo , Chen Yuan , Kiagiadaki Chrysoula , Zengini Eleni , Mamakou Vasiliki , Athanasiadis Antonis , Giannakopoulou Margarita , Kariakli Vassiliki-Eirini , Nsubuga Rebecca N. , Karabarinde Alex , Sandhu Manjinder , McVean Gil , Tyler-Smith Chris , Tsafantakis Emmanouil , Karaleftheri Maria , Xue Yali , Dedoussis George , Zeggini Eleftheria
Published: November 2014

Isolated populations are emerging as a powerful study design in the search for low-frequency and rare variant associations with complex phenotypes. Here we genotype 2,296 samples from two isolated Greek populations, the Pomak villages (HELIC-Pomak) in the North of Greece and the Mylopotamos villages (HELIC-MANOLIS) in Crete. We compare their genomic characteristics to the general Greek population and establish them as genetic isolates. In the MANOLIS cohort, we observe an enrichment of missense variants among the variants that have drifted up in frequency by more than fivefold. In the Pomak cohort, we find novel associations at variants on chr11p15.4 showing large allele frequency increases (from 0.2% in the general Greek population to 4.6% in the isolate) with haematological traits, for example, with mean corpuscular volume (rs7116019, P=2.3 × 10−26). We replicate this association in a second set of Pomak samples (combined P=2.0 × 10−36). We demonstrate significant power gains in detecting medical trait associations.
Potassium fluoride as a selective moisture trapping agent for SPE-TD-GC-FID determination of volatile organic compounds in air
Authors: Rodinkov O. V. , Zhuravlyova G. A. , Vaskova E. A. , Platonov I. A.
Published: November 2014

Anhydrous potassium fluoride has been proposed as a novel selective moisture trapping agent for gas chromatography to remove water vapor during adsorption concentration of low molecular weight volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from moist air.
Qualitative and quantitative analysis of Angelica sinensis using near infrared spectroscopy and chemometrics
Authors: Li Boxia , Wang Chengqi , Xi Lili , Wei Yuhui , Duan Haogang , Wu Xinan
Published: November 2014

Random forests and GA-MLR with NIRS were applied to build qualitative and quantitative models, respectively, for Angelicae sinensis.
DNA photocleavage in anaerobic conditions by a Ru(ii) complex: a new mechanism
Authors: Zheng Yue , Zhou Qianxiong , Lei Wanhua , Hou Yuanjun , Li Ke , Chen Yongjie , Zhang Baowen , Wang Xuesong
Published: November 2014

Photoinduced homolytic cleavage of the Ru–O bond of a novel Ru(ii) complex leads to formation of ligand-based reactive radicals capable of breaking DNA in an oxygen-dependent manner and Ru fragments capable of binding DNA covalently.
A robust and modular synthesis of ynamides
Authors: Mansfield Steven J. , Campbell Craig D. , Jones Michael W. , Anderson Edward A.
Published: November 2014

A flexible, modular ynamide synthesis is reported that uses a wide range of amides and electrophiles, including acyclic carbamates, hindered sulfonamides, and aryl amides.
Magnetic cellulose–TiO2nanocomposite microspheres for highly selective enrichment of phosphopeptides
Authors: Duan Jiangjiang , He Xiaomei , Zhang Lina
Published: November 2014

Novel magnetic cellulose–TiO2nanocomposite microspheres were prepared successfully byin situsynthesis of TiO2nanoparticles in the micro/nanopores of cellulose–Fe3O4microsphere, which exhibited highly selective enrichment of trace phosphopeptides, as a result of the high-efficiency Lewis acid–base reaction.
Integrative self-sorting: a versatile strategy for the construction of complex supramolecular architecture
Authors: He Zhenfeng , Jiang Wei , Schalley Christoph A.
Published: November 2014

Integrative self-sorting expands the concepts of self-assembly and allows the programming of supramolecular architecture on a higher level of complexity.
Green synthesis of stable Cu(0) nanoparticles onto reduced graphene oxide nanosheets: a reusable catalyst for the synthesis of symmetrical biaryls from arylboronic acids under base-free conditions
Authors: Hussain Najrul , Gogoi Pranjal , Azhaganand Vedi Kuyil , Shelke Manjusha V. , Das Manash R.
Published: November 2014

The Cu(0) nanoparticle-rGO composites exhibit excellent catalytic activity for the synthesis of symmetrical biaryls from arylboronic acids under microwave irradiation.
Visible-light initiated copper(i)-catalysed oxidative C–N coupling of anilines with terminal alkynes: one-step synthesis of α-ketoamides
Authors: Sagadevan Arunachalam , Ragupathi Ayyakkannu , Lin Chun-Cheng , Hwu Jih Ru , Hwang Kuo Chu
Published: November 2014

A green photochemical method is reported for synthesis of biologically active α-ketoamides at room temperature using commercially available substrates.
A metabolomic and pharmacokinetic study on the mechanism underlying the lipid-lowering effect of orally administered berberine
Authors: Gu Shenghua , Cao Bei , Sun Runbin , Tang Yueqing , Paletta Janice L. , Wu Xiao-Lei , Liu Linsheng , Zha Weibin , Zhao Chunyan , Li Yan , Radlon Jason M. , Hylemon Phillip B. , Zhou Huiping , Aa Jiye , Wang Guangji
Published: November 2014

The turnover of bile acids was involved in the lipid lowering effect of orally administered berberine.
Cell-penetrating poly(disulfide)s: the dependence of activity, depolymerization kinetics and intracellular localization on their length
Authors: Chuard Nicolas , Gasparini Giulio , Roux Aurélien , Sakai Naomi , Matile Stefan
Published: November 2014

We report that, with the increasing length, cell-penetrating poly(disulfide)s preferably accumulate in the endosomes, cytosol and then the nucleoli.
Mechanisms of imine exchange reactions in organic solvents
Authors: Ciaccia Maria , Di Stefano Stefano
Published: November 2014

Updated mechanisms operating in imine chemistry in organic solvents are reviewed and critically discussed.
1,2-Alkylarylation of activated alkenes with dual C–H bonds of arenes and alkyl halides toward polyhalo-substituted oxindoles
Authors: Liu Yu , Zhang Jia-Ling , Song Ren-Jie , Li Jin-Heng
Published: November 2014

Alkylarylation of N-arylacrylamides with alkyl halides through selective scission of the C(sp3)–H bond adjacent to halide atoms is presented.
Self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS) for oral delivery of arteether: pharmacokinetics, toxicity and antimalarial activity in mice
Authors: Dwivedi Pankaj , Khatik Renuka , Khandelwal Kiran , Srivastava Richa , Taneja Isha , Rama Raju Kanumuri Siva , Dwivedi Hemlata , Shukla Prashant , Gupta Pramod , Singh Sarika , Tripathi Renu , Paliwal Sarvesh Kumar , Wahajuddin Wahajuddin , Dwivedi Anil Kumar , Mishra Prabhat Ranjan
Published: November 2014

The nontoxic SNEDDS of arteether, improved arteether bioavailability and anti-malarial efficacy.
The adsorption of water-soluble ionic liquids on graphene oxide of different oxygen content
Authors: Longlong Tian , Xin Zhang , Wei Qi , Dan Liu , Qiang Jin , Jin Lin , Yuanlv Ye , Zhan Li , Wangsuo Wu
Published: November 2014

This work may advance the understanding of the adsorption behavior of ILs on graphene oxide and find a possible way to remove ILs in the environmental systems.
Development and characterization of nano-multifunctional materials for advanced applications
Authors: Varaprasad Kokkarachedu , Ramam Koduri , Mohan Reddy G. Siva , Sadiku Rotimi
Published: November 2014

Multifunctional zinc oxide–bismuth ferrite and tin dioxide–bismuth ferrite have been synthesized using a double precipitation technique.
Effect of magnetic modulation of mitochondrial voltage-dependent anion channel 2 against beta-amyloid induced neurotoxicity
Authors: Lee Sujin , Lee Junghoon , Sim Sang Jun , Cha Misun
Published: November 2014

The capture of VDAC2 channel with BMPs–VDAC2 antibody complexes significantly decreases the expressed intracellular calcium levels induced by Aβ.
Two novel ambipolar donor–acceptor type electrochromic polymers with the realization of RGB (red-green-blue) display in one polymer
Authors: Zhao Hui , Tang Daidi , Zhao Jinsheng , Wang Min , Dou Jianmin
Published: November 2014

Two novel D–A type polymers were synthesized and characterized, which realized the valuable full color display in a single polymer.
Alendronate as a robust anchor for ceria nanoparticle surface coating: facile binding and improved biological properties
Authors: Yang Zhang-You , Luo Sheng-Lin , Li Hong , Dong Shi-Wu , He Jian , Jiang Hong , Li Rong , Yang Xiao-Chao
Published: November 2014

Using alendronate as anchor, functional molecules could be easily grafted onto ceria nanoparticle leading to enhanced bioproperties of the nanoparticles.
New ternary bipyridine–terpyridine copper(ii) complexes as self-activating chemical nucleases
Authors: Gama Sofia , Rodrigues Inês , Marques Fernanda , Palma Elisa , Correia Isabel , Carvalho M. Fernanda N. N. , Pessoa João Costa , Cruz Andreia , Mendo Sónia , Santos Isabel C. , Mendes Filipa , Santos Isabel , Paulo António
Published: November 2014

New copper complexes with an impressive DNA cleaving ability in the absence of any exogenous oxidants or reductants.
Comparison between SnSb–C and Sn–C composites as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Fan Long , Zhang Jingjing , Zhu Yongchun , Zhu Xiaobo , Liang Jianwen , Wang Lili , Qian Yitai
Published: November 2014

Benefiting from the synergistic effect of Sn and Sb, the SnSb–C composite exhibited better electrochemical performance than that of the Sn–C composite.
Making a better organic–inorganic composite electrolyte to enhance the cycle life of lithium–sulfur batteries
Authors: Choi Il Young , Kim Hoon , Park Moon Jeong
Published: November 2014

The development of a high performance Li–S battery based on a composite gel polymer electrolyte with unique density gradients of silica nanoparticles.
Structural stability of BTTB-based metal–organic frameworks under humid conditions
Authors: Karra Jagadeswara R. , Jasuja Himanshu , Huang You-Gui , Walton Krista S.
Published: November 2014

Stability of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) under humid environments is of particular interest for their potential commercial and industrial uses.
Synthesis of core–shell Au–Pt nanodendrites with high catalytic performance via overgrowth of platinum on in situ gold nanoparticles
Authors: Li Yijing , Ding Wenchao , Li Mingrui , Xia Haibing , Wang Dayang , Tao Xutang
Published: November 2014

Well-dispersed, core–shell Au–Pt nanodendrites were synthesizedviaovergrowth of platinum onin situ5.5 nm gold nanoparticles at room temperature.
A new magnetic nanocomposite for selective detection and removal of trace copper ions from water
Authors: Qiu Xun , Li Najun , Yang Shun , Chen Dongyun , Xu Qingfeng , Li Hua , Lu Jianmei
Published: November 2014

A new core–shell structured magnetic nanocomposite (SDMA) was successfully prepared for simultaneous detection and removal of trace Cu2+. In this facile strategy, the new nanocomposites could detect and adsorb trace Cu2+from water with high capacity and good removal efficiency.
Diagnostics for studies of novel laser ion acceleration mechanisms
Authors: Senje Lovisa , Yeung Mark , Aurand Bastian , Kuschel Stephan , Rödel Christian , Wagner Florian , Li Kun , Dromey Brendan , Bagnoud Vincent , Neumayer Paul , Roth Markus , Wahlström Claes-Göran , Zepf Matthew , Kuehl Thomas , Jung Daniel
Published: November 2014

Diagnostic for investigating and distinguishing different laser ion acceleration mechanisms has been developed and successfully tested. An ion separation wide angle spectrometer can simultaneously investigate three important aspects of the laser plasma interaction: (1) acquire angularly resolved energy spectra for two ion species, (2) obtain ion energy spectra for multiple species, separated according to their charge to mass ratio, along selected axes, and (3) collect laser radiation reflected from and transmitted through the target and propagating in the same direction as the ion beam. Thus, the presented diagnostic constitutes a highly adaptable tool for accurately studying novel acceleration mechanisms in terms of their angular energy distribution, conversion efficiency, and plasma density evolution.
The role of the transition state in polyatomic reactions: Initial state-selected reaction probabilities of the H + CH4 → H2 + CH3 reaction
Authors: Welsch Ralph , Manthe Uwe
Published: November 2014

Full-dimensional calculations of initial state-selected reaction probabilities on an accurate ab initio potential energy surface (PES) have been communicated recently [R. Welsch and U. Manthe, J. Chem. Phys. 141, 051102 (2014)]. These calculations use the quantum transition state concept, the multi-layer multi-configurational time-dependent Hartree approach, and graphics processing units to speed up the potential evaluation. Here further results of these calculations and an extended analysis are presented. State-selected reaction probabilities are given for many initial ro-vibrational states. The role of the vibrational states of the activated complex is analyzed in detail. It is found that rotationally cold methane mainly reacts via the ground state of the activated complex while rotationally excited methane mostly reacts via H–H–CH3-bending excited states of the activated complex. Analyzing the different contributions to the reactivity of the vibrationally states of methane, a complex pattern is found. Comparison with initial state-selected reaction probabilities computed on the semi-empirical Jordan-Gilbert PES reveals the dependence of the results on the specific PES.
Nuclear resonant scattering measurements on 57Fe by multichannel scaling with a 64-pixel silicon avalanche photodiode linear-array detector
Authors: Kishimoto S. , Mitsui T. , Haruki R. , Yoda Y. , Taniguchi T. , Shimazaki S. , Ikeno M. , Saito M. , Tanaka M.
Published: November 2014

We developed a silicon avalanche photodiode (Si-APD) linear-array detector for use in nuclear resonant scattering experiments using synchrotron X-rays. The Si-APD linear array consists of 64 pixels (pixel size: 100 × 200 μm2) with a pixel pitch of 150 μm and depletion depth of 10 μm. An ultrafast frontend circuit allows the X-ray detector to obtain a high output rate of >107 cps per pixel. High-performance integrated circuits achieve multichannel scaling over 1024 continuous time bins with a 1 ns resolution for each pixel without dead time. The multichannel scaling method enabled us to record a time spectrum of the 14.4 keV nuclear radiation at each pixel with a time resolution of 1.4 ns (FWHM). This method was successfully applied to nuclear forward scattering and nuclear small-angle scattering on 57Fe.
Magnetocaloric effect in gadolinium-oxalate framework Gd2(C2O4)3(H2O)6⋅(0⋅6H2O)
Authors: Sibille Romain , Didelot Emilie , Mazet Thomas , Malaman Bernard , François Michel
Published: November 2014

Magnetic refrigerants incorporating Gd3+ ions and light organic ligands offer a good balance between isolation of the magnetic centers and their density. We synthesized the framework material Gd2(C2O4)3(H2O)6⋅0.6H2O by a hydrothermal route and characterized its structure. The honeycomb lattice of Gd3+ ions interlinked by oxalate ligands in the (a,c) plane ensures their decoupling in terms of magnetic exchange interactions. This is corroborated by magnetic measurements indicating negligible interactions between the Gd3+ ions in this material. The magnetocaloric effect was evaluated from isothermal magnetization measurements. The maximum entropy change −ΔSMmax reaches 75.9 mJ cm−3 K−1 (around 2 K) for a moderate field change (2 T).