bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Use of honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) to detect the presence of Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann) larvae in Valencia oranges
Authors: Chamberlain Keith , Briens Mathilde , Jacobs Jennifer H , Clark Suzanne J , Pickett John A
Published: June 2012

BACKGROUND: When fruit deteriorates a characteristic profile of volatile chemicals is produced that is different from that produced by healthy fruits. The identification of such chemicals allows the possibility of monitoring the fruit for early signs of deterioration with biological sensors. The use of honey bees and other insects as biological sensors is well known. This study aimed to identify the volatiles produced by oranges infested with larvae of the Mediterranean fruit fly and to test the ability of honey bees, conditioned to this volatile chemical profile, to detect such oranges.

RESULTS: Seventeen compounds that were present in higher concentrations in the volatile profiles of infested oranges than in those of insect‐free fruits were mixed at the same relative concentrations as those in the collected volatiles of infested oranges. The synthetic mixture was used to train honey bees by classical Pavlovian conditioning and subsequent tests showed that they were then able to discriminate between medfly‐infested and uninfested oranges.

CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates an innovative way of detecting, at an early stage, the symptoms of damage to oranges by the Mediterranean fruit fly. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Risk of superficial squamous cell carcinoma developing in the head and neck region in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Katada Chikatoshi , Muto Manabu , Nakayama Meijin , Tanabe Satoshi , Higuchi Katsuhiko , Sasaki Tohru , Azuma Mizutomo , Ishido Kenji , Katada Natsuya , Yamashita Keishi , Nemoto Masayuki , Shibata Tomotaka , Masaki Takashi , Okamoto Makito , Koizumi Wasaburo
Published: June 2012

Objectives/Hypothesis:

Multicentric squamous dysplasia in the esophagus can be visualized by Lugol chromoendoscopy as multiple Lugol‐voiding lesions (LVLs). Narrow‐band imaging combined with magnifying endoscopy (NBI‐ME) facilitates the detection of superficial squamous cell carcinoma within the head and neck region (HNSCC). We investigated risk factors for superficial HNSCC in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Study Design:

Case‐control study.

Methods:

We studied 71 patients with synchronous or former ESCC. All patients underwent screening of the head and neck by NBI‐ME and Lugol chromoendoscopy of the esophageal mucosa. The history of tobacco and alcohol use was documented. Genetic polymorphisms of aldehyde dehydrogenase type 2 (ALDH2) were identified by the sequence‐specific primer polymerase chain reaction. Clinical factors related to superficial HNSCC were analyzed.

Results:

All patients with superficial HNSCC were drinkers. On univariate analysis, multiple LVLs (odds ratio [OR], 56.92; 95% confidence interval [CI] 6.93‐467.38; P < .001), ALDH2‐2 allele (OR, 14.48; 95% CI, 1.8‐116.56; P = .01), current smoker (OR, 4.25; 95% CI, 1.44‐12.57; P = .009), and smoking index ≥1,000 (OR, 3.45; 95% CI, 1.19‐9.99; P = .02) were associated with superficial HNSCC. On multivariate analysis, multiple LVLs (OR, 61.12; 95% CI, 5.4‐691.64; P = .001), ALDH2‐2 allele (OR, 16.19; 95% CI, 1.15‐228.06; P = .04), and current smoker (OR, 8.02; 95% CI, 1.09‐59.22; P = .04) were associated with superficial HNSCC.

Conclusions:

Patients with ESCC, particularly drinkers, current smokers, and those with the ALDH2‐2 allele and multiple LVLs, have an increased risk of superficial HNSCC.
The Dynamics of Emergence: Cognition and Cohesion in Work Teams
Authors: Kozlowski Steve W. J. , Chao Georgia T.
Published: June 2012

Emergence as a multilevel process has received limited research attention in the micro–meso disciplines of organizational science. Our intent is to explain the conceptual underpinnings of emergence and to advance a more dynamic, process‐oriented conceptualization. We discuss emergence as a bottom‐up, multilevel process and focus attention on three neglected issues: (a) emergence is dynamic, (b) manifests in different idealized forms, and (c) can vary in form over time. We consider two core phenomena in work teams—cognition and cohesion—to illustrate how this dynamic and multifaceted perspective on emergence can advance theory development and new research directions. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cerebrospinal fluid proteomic patterns discriminate Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy
Authors: Ishigami Noriko , Tokuda Takahiko , Ikegawa Masaya , Komori Mika , Kasai Takashi , Kondo Takayuki , Matsuyama Yumiko , Nirasawa Takashi , Thiele Herbert , Tashiro Kei , Nakagawa Masanori
Published: June 2012

The differential diagnosis of Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy can be challenging, especially in the early stages of the diseases. We developed a proteomic profiling strategy for parkinsonian diseases using mass spectrometry analysis for magnetic‐bead‐based enrichment of cerebrospinal fluid peptides/proteins and subsequent multivariate statistical analysis. Cerebrospinal fluid was obtained from 37 patients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, 32 patients diagnosed with multiple system atrophy, and 26 patients diagnosed with other neurological diseases as controls. The samples were from the first cohort and the second cohort. Cerebrospinal fluid peptides/proteins were purified with C8 magnetic beads, and spectra were obtained by matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. Principal component analysis and support vector machine methods are used to reduce dimension of the data and select features to classify diseases. Cerebrospinal fluid proteomic profiles of Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy, and control were differentiated from each other by principal component analysis. By building a support vector machine classifier, 3 groups were classified effectively with good cross‐validation accuracy. The model accuracy was well preserved for both cases, training by the first cohort and validated by the second cohort and vice versa. Receiver operating characteristics proved that the peak of m/z 6250 was the most important to differentiate multiple system atrophy from Parkinson's disease, especially in the early stages of the disease. A proteomic pattern classification method can increase the accuracy of clinical diagnosis of Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy, especially in the early stages. © 2012 Movement Disorder Society
Twenty‐five years of deep brain stimulation: Celebrations and apprehensions
Authors: Hariz Marwan
Published: June 2012

The year 2012 marks the 25th anniversary of the birth of modern deep brain stimulation (DBS), which was introduced by Benabid et al in 1987, initially to treat tremor with DBS of the ventral intermediate nucleus of the thalamus. The subsequent extension of DBS to the subthalamic nucleus (STN), demonstrating its efficacy on virtually all symptoms of advanced Parkinson's disease (PD), sparked an era of intense clinical and research activities, eventually transcending PD and movement disorders to encompass mood and mind. Investigations of the role of DBS in a variety of neurological, psychiatric, cognitive, and behavioral conditions is ongoing. Serendipitous discoveries and advances in functional imaging are providing “new” brain targets for an increasing number of pathologies. Toward the end of this quarter of a century of DBS, there have been some indications that the field may be at risk of gliding down a slippery slope, reminiscent of the excesses of the old‐era DBS. Although there are many reasons this year to celebrate the achievements of 25 years of modern DBS, there are also reasons to fear the opening of a new Pandora's box. © 2012 Movement Disorder Society
The tractability index of memristive circuits: branch‐oriented and tree‐based models
Authors: García‐Redondo Fernando , Riaza Ricardo
Published: June 2012

The memory‐resistor or memristor is a new electrical element characterized by a nonlinear charge‐flux relation. This device poses many challenging problems, in particular from the circuit modeling point of view. In this paper, we address the index analysis of certain differential‐algebraic models of memristive circuits; specifically, our attention is focused on so‐called branch‐oriented models, which include in particular tree‐based formulations of the circuit equations. Our approach combines results coming from differential‐algebraic equation theory, matrix analysis and theory of digraphs. This framework should be useful in future studies of dynamical aspects of memristive circuits. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
LBM–DEM modeling of fluid–solid interaction in porous media
Authors: Han Yanhui , Cundall Peter A.
Published: June 2012

Three porous media flow problems, in which the fluid mechanical interactions are critical, are studied in a mesoscopic–microscopic coupling system. In this system, fluid flow in the pore space is explicitly modeled at mesoscopic level by the lattice Boltzmann method, the geometrical representation and the mechanical behavior of the solid skeleton are modeled at microscopic level by the particulate distinct element method (DEM), and the interfacial interaction between the fluid and the solids is resolved by an immersed boundary scheme. In the first benchmark problem, the well‐known and frequently utilized Ergun equation is validated in periodic particle and periodic pore models. In the second problem, the upward seepage problem is simulated over three stages: The settlement of the column of sphere under gravity loading is measured to illustrate the accuracy of the DEM scheme; the system is solved to hydrostatic state with pore space filled with fluid, showing that the buoyancy effect is captured correctly in the mesoscopic–microscopic coupling system; then, the flow with constant rate is supplied at the bottom of the column; the swelling of the ground surface and pore pressure development from the numerical simulation are compared with the predictions of the macroscopic consolidation theory. In the third problem, the fluid‐flow‐induced collapse of a sand arch inside a perforation cavity is tested to illustrate a more practical application of the developed system. Through comparing simulation results with analytical solutions, empirical law and physical laboratory observations, it is demonstrated that the developed lattice Boltzmann–distinct element coupling system is a powerful fundamental research tool for investigating hydromechanical physics in porous media flow. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stable time step estimates for mesh‐free particle methods
Authors: Joldes Grand Roman , Wittek Adam , Miller Karol
Published: June 2012

Real‐time computational biomechanics for medicine usually uses explicit time integration, because of its efficiency and suitability for parallel implementation. Explicit time integration is only conditionally stable and therefore requires an estimation of the maximum stable time step that can be used. In this paper we develop a method of estimating the stable time step for mesh‐free particle methods for a specific case of mass lumping: the mass associated with an integration point is distributed equally to all nodes found in the support domain of that integration point. Two estimates of the stable time step for each integration point are developed: one that is very accurate but more costly to compute and one less accurate but easier to implement. The results are also valid for the FEM and beyond computational biomechanics for medicine. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An eigenerosion approach to brittle fracture
Authors: Pandolfi A. , Ortiz M.
Published: June 2012

The present work is concerned with the verification and validation of a variant of the eigenfracture scheme of Schmidt et al. (2009) based on element erosion, which we refer to aseigenerosion. Eigenerosion is derived from the general eigenfracture scheme by restricting the eigendeformations in a binary sense: they can be either zero, in which case the local behavior is elastic, or they can be equal to the local displacement gradient, in which case the corresponding material neighborhood is failed oreroded. When combined with a finite‐element approximation, this scheme gives rise toelement erosion, i.e., the elements can be either intact, in which case their behavior is elastic, or be completly failed, or eroded, and have no load bearing capacity. We verify the eigenerosion scheme through comparisons with analytical solutions and through convergence studies for mode I fracture propagation, both in two and three dimensions and for structured and random meshes. Finally, by way of validation, we apply the eigenerosion scheme to the simulation of mixed modes I–III experiments in poly‐methyl methacrylate plates.Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tandem catalytic enantio‐ and diastereoselective synthesis of cyclopropyl alcohols using aryl aldehydes
Authors: Kim Hun Young , Walsh Patrick J.
Published: June 2012

The prevalence of cyclopropanes in biologically active compounds has fueled many investigations into their preparation. Despite significant advances, more efficient methods for their catalytic enantioselective synthesis remain in demand. Previously, we reported a novel tandem approach to diastereo‐ and enantioenriched cyclopropyl alcohols. Our method involved an initial asymmetric C–C bond formation by addition of organozinc reagents to aldehydes catalyzed by a (−)‐MIB‐based catalyst. The resulting allylic zinc alkoxides were then subject to directed cyclopropanations. Although this approach provided cyclopropyl alcohols with very high enantio‐ and diastereoselectivity, it was successful with only aliphatic aldehydes. Aryl aldehyde substrates, on the other hand, exhibited low conversion and variable diastereomeric ratios. The present study is aimed at raising the stereoselectivity and yield of the aforementioned tandem reaction with aryl aldehyde substrates to make the method synthetically useful. Herein, we report the successful optimization of aryl aldehyde substrates in our one‐pot tandem approach leading to cyclopropyl alcohols with high yields and enantio‐ and diastereoselectivities. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Plasma proteomics of differential outcome to long‐term therapy in children with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Yeager Michael E. , Colvin Kelley L. , Everett Allen D. , Stenmark Kurt R. , Ivy D. Dunbar
Published: June 2012

Purpose

The prognosis for children with IPAH unresponsive to therapy is poor. We investigated the plasma proteome for a molecular basis of good versus poor outcome to long‐term vasodilator therapy.

Experimental design

Plasma was collected at baseline or shortly after therapy initiation and following chronic vasodilator therapy, then divided into those with good outcome (n = 8), and those with a poor outcome (n = 7). To identify proteins unique to either outcome, we used differential gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Results were confirmed by commercial enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

Before and after therapy, SAA‐4 was 4‐fold lower in those with good outcome compared to those with poor outcome, while serum paraoxonase/arylesterase‐1 was increased 2‐fold in those with good outcome versus poor outcome. After therapy, haptoglobin and hemopexin were 1.45‐ and 1.8‐fold lower, respectively, in those with a good versus poor outcome. Among those with a good outcome, SAP was 1.3‐fold lower prior to therapy.

Conclusions and clinical relevance

SAP and SAA‐4 regulate circulating mononuclear phagocytes. As such, they may contribute to the differential response to chronic vasodilator therapy in the context of inflammation in IPAH.
Wigner‐Smith delay times and the non‐Hermitian Hamiltonian for the HOCl molecule
Authors: Barr A.M. , Reichl L.E.
Published: June 2012

We construct the scattering matrix for a two‐dimensional model of a Cl atom scattering from an OH dimer. We show that the scattering matrix can be written in terms of a non‐Hermitian Hamiltonian whose complex energy eigenvalues can be used to compute Wigner‐Smith delay times for the Cl‐OH scattering process. We compute the delay times for a range of energies, and show that the scattering states with the longest delay times are strongly influenced by unstable periodic orbits in the classical dynamics.
Stepwise introduction of model complexity in a generalized master equation approach to time‐dependent transport
Authors: Gudmundsson V. , Jonasson O. , Arnold Th. , Tang C‐S. , Goan H.‐S. , Manolescu A.
Published: June 2012

We demonstrate that with a stepwise introduction of complexity to a model of an electron system embedded in a photonic cavity and a carefully controlled stepwise truncation of the ensuing many‐body space it is possible to describe the time‐dependent transport of electrons through the system with a non‐Markovian generalized quantum master equation. We show how this approach retains effects of the geometry of an anisotropic electronic system. The Coulomb interaction between the electrons and the full electromagnetic coupling between the electrons and the photons are treated in a non‐perturbative way using “exact numerical diagonalization”.
Bianchi identities for non‐geometric fluxes from quasi‐Poisson structures to Courant algebroids
Authors: Blumenhagen R. , Deser A. , Plauschinn E. , Rennecke F.
Published: June 2012

Starting from a (non‐associative) quasi‐Poisson structure, the derivation of a Roytenberg‐type algebra is presented. From the Jacobi identities of the latter, the most general form of Bianchi identities for fluxes (H, f, Q, R) is then derived. It is also explained how this approach is related to the mathematical theory of quasi‐Lie and Courant algebroids.
Bradykinin enhances cell migration in human prostate cancer cells through B2 receptor/PKCδ/c‐Src dependent signaling pathway
Authors: Yu Hsin‐Shan , Lin Tien‐Huang , Tang Chih‐Hsin
Published: June 2012

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy in men and shows a predilection for metastasis to the bone. Bradykinin (BK) is an inflammatory mediator, and shows elevated levels in regions of severe injury and inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Bradykinin is associated with migration of prostate cancer cells.

METHODS

Cancer cells migration activity was examined using the Transwell assay. The c‐Src and PKCδ phosphorylation was examined by using Western blot method. The qPCR was used to examine the mRNA expression of metalloproteinase. A transient transfection protocol was used to examine NF‐κB activity.

RESULTS

We found that bradykinin increased the chemomigration and the expression of MMP‐9 of human prostate cancer cells. Bradykinin‐mediated chemomigration and metalloproteinase expression was attenuated by PKCδ inhibitor (rottlerin), PKCδ siRNA, c‐Src inhibitor (PP2) and c‐Src mutant. Activations of PKCδ, c‐Src and NF‐κB pathways after bradykinin treatment was demonstrated, and bradykinin‐induced expression of metalloproteinase and chemomigration activity was inhibited by the specific inhibitor and mutant of PKCδ, c‐Src, and NF‐κB cascades.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed for the first time that the bradykinin mediates migration of human prostate cancer cells. One of the mechanisms underlying bradykinin directed migration was transcriptional up‐regulation of MMP‐9 and activation of B2 receptor, PKCδ, c‐Src, and NF‐κB pathways. Prostate 73: 89–100, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Peptides as asymmetric catalysts and templates for the controlled formation of Ag nanoparticles
Authors: Wennemers Helma
Published: June 2012

The question whether peptides can fulfill functions for which nature utilizes large macromolecules is an overarching theme of the research in the Wennemers laboratory. The Zervas Award Lecture summarized our research on the development of peptides as asymmetric catalysts and templates for the controlled formation of silver nanoparticles. Tripeptides of the general type Pro‐Pro‐Xaa (Xaa = acidic amino acid) were presented that effectively catalyze aldol and conjugate addition reactions. These peptides are not only highly active, robust, and stereoselective catalysts but have also remarkable chemoselectivities. In the second part, short peptides that allow for the generation of silver nanoparticles in distinctly different sizes were presented. Copyright © 2012 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bauen mit Buddha – Ein Erfahrungsbericht aus Indien
Authors: Göppert Knut , Stockhusen Knut
Published: June 2012

Für die Austragung der Commonwealth Games 2012 in Neu Delhi, Indien, wurden im Zeitraum zwischen 2006 und 2010 mehrere neue Sportstätten von schlaich bergermann und partner geplant. Eine Grenzerfahrung der besonderen Art des Bauens im Ausland wird anhand der Entstehungsgeschichte des Dachs über das bestehende Jawaharlal Nehru Stadion erläutert. Neben dem Mut der Regierung, sich an ein technisch sehr anspruchsvolles Projekt internationalen Standards zu wagen, erforderte das Projekt enormen Einsatz und Erfindergeist der beteiligten Teams und endete glücklich mit einem besonderen Bauwerk in einem wahrlich einzigartigen Land – Incredible India.

Building with Buddha – Experience report from India. Between 2006 and 2010 several sport venues designated for the Commonwealth Games 2010 have been designed by us. Based on the experience during the construction period of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium the following article tells the story of a special borderline experience of working abroad. Besides the courage of the authorities to decide for a complex project of international standard, the work required intensive and devotional commitment and inventive talent by all involved parties and ended luckily with a beautiful venue within a truly unique and incredible India.
Olympiastadion Kiew
Authors: Göppert Knut , Balz Markus , Haspel Lorenz , Moschner Thomas
Published: June 2012

Das Stadion Kiew blickt auf eine lange und wechselvolle Geschichte zurück, die bereits 1914 begann. Damals noch am Rande der Stadt erbaut, liegt es inzwischen im Stadtzentrum Kiews. Das Stadion wurde im Laufe der Zeit mehrmals umgebaut, um es für immer neue Großereignisse zu rüsten. Die maximale Kapazität des Stadions, mit zwei vollständigen Rängen und über 100.000 Plätzen, wurde 1968 erreicht, jedoch im Zuge späterer Umbaumaßnahmen wieder reduziert, um den steigenden Sicherheitsbedürfnissen gerecht zu werden. Noch heute trägt das Stadion den Namen “Olimpijskyj“, da 1980 einige Wettkämpfe der Olympischen Sommerspiele in Kiew durchgeführt wurden. Vor dem Umbau für die Fußball‐EM 2012 waren noch viele, teilweise sehr schlecht erhaltene Relikte wie olympische Reliefs, Mosaiken oder Malereien erhalten, welche von der großen Historie des Stadions zeugten. Im Fokus des neuen architektonischen Konzeptes stand der Entwurf einer unaufdringlichen leichten Struktur, die auf raumgreifende Elemente verzichtet.

Olympic Stadium Kiev. The Stadium Kiev boasts a long and varied history that began in 1914. Built on the former fringes of the city, it is now in the center of Kiev. Over the years the stadium was rebuilt several times, in order to prepare for more and bigger events. The maximum capacity of the stadium, with two complete tiers and more than 100,000 seats, was reached in 1968, but then in subsequent conversion work reduced for more security. The stadium still bears the name “Olimpijskyj” since in 1980 several competitions of the Olympic Summer Games took place in Kiev. Before the conversion for the Euro 2012 the stadium still had a lot of sometimes very badly preserved relics, such as Olympic‐reliefs, mosaics and paintings, received which testified it´s great history. The focus of the new architectural concept was to design a lightweight unobtrusive structure, which dispensed from space‐consuming elements.
Dorsal and Ventral Stimuli in Cell–Material Interactions: Effect on Cell Morphology
Authors: Ballester-Beltrán José , Lebourg Myriam , Rico Patricia , Salmerón-Sánchez Manuel
Published: June 2012

Cells behave differently between bidimensional (2D) and tridimensional (3D) environments. While most of the in vitro cultures are 2D, most of the in vivo extracellular matrices are 3D, which encourages the development of more relevant culture conditions, seeking to provide more physiological models for biomedicine (e.g., cancer, drug discovery and tissue engineering) and further insights into any dimension-dependent biological mechanism. In this study, cells were cultured between two protein coated surfaces (sandwich-like culture). Cells used both dorsal and ventral receptors to adhere and spread, undergoing morphological changes with respect to the 2D control. Combinations of fibronectin and bovine serum albumin on the dorsal and ventral sides led to different cell morphologies, which were quantified from bright field images by calculating the spreading area and circularity. Although the mechanism underlying these differences remains to be clarified, excitation of dorsal receptors by anchorage to extracellular proteins plays a key role on cell behavior. This approach—sandwich-like culture—becomes therefore a versatile method to study cell adhesion in well-defined conditions in a quasi 3D environment.
Policing Epistemic Deviance: Albert von Schrenck-Notzing and Albert Moll1
Authors: Sommer Andreas
Published: June 2012

Shortly after the death of Albert von Schrenck-Notzing (1862–1929), the doyen of early twentieth century German para psychology, his former colleague in hypnotism and sexology Albert Moll (1862–1939) published a treatise on the psychology and pathology of parapsychologists, with Schrenck-Notzing serving as a prototype of a scientist suffering from an ‘occult complex’. Moll’s analysis concluded that parapsychologists vouching for the reality of supernormal phenomena, such as telepathy, clairvoyance, telekinesis and materialisations, suffered from a morbid will to believe, which paralysed their critical faculties and made them cover obvious mediumistic fraud. Using Moll’s treatment of Schrenck-Notzing as an historical case study of boundary disputes in science and medicine, this essay traces the career of Schrenck-Notzing as a researcher in hypnotism, sexology and parapsychology; discusses the relationship between Moll and Schrenck-Notzing; and problematises the pathologisation and defamation strategies of deviant epistemologies by authors such as Moll.
The late Aeronian graptolitesedgwickiiEvent, associated positive carbon isotope excursion and facies changes in the Prague Synform (Barrandian area, Bohemia)
Authors: ŠTORCH PETR , FRÝDA JIŘÍ
Published: June 2012

Study of the lower Silurian black shale succession of the Prague Synform has enabled detailed insight into graptolite faunal dynamics and diversity trends from the mid-Aeronian diversity maximum through to the late Aeronian crisis. Graptolite diversity decreased from 33 taxa in theLituigraptus convolutusBiozone to 17 taxa in the upper part of theStimulograptus sedgwickiiBiozone and newly erectedLituigraptus rastrumBiozone. The graptolite assemblages of the latter biozones exhibit low species richness along with high dominance. Many graptolite species that became extinct in the early part of thesedgwickiiZone were promptly replaced by new forms. In the later part of thesedgwickiiZone, however, replacement of extinct species by new forms considerably decelerated. The increased rate of graptolite extinction recorded in theconvolutus–sedgwickiibiozone boundary beds coincided with subtle changes in black shale lithologies and a positive shift in δ13Corg(of 2.2 ‰) compared to baseline values. Sea-level drawdown can be inferred from siltstones and/or temporary nondeposition in the middlesedgwickiiZone. This level also sees total organic carbon (TOC) fluctuations and a strong positive δ13Corgexcursion with a peak shift of at least 7 ‰. ThesedgwickiiEvent exhibits substantial reorganization of the graptolite fauna, its taxonomic impoverishment and concomitant increase in species dominance rather than a sudden collapse of the pre-extinction assemblage. Associated changes in lithology, TOC and the pronounced δ13Corgexcursion suggest a relatively extended and probably multi-phase period of stressed conditions that affected the pelagic realm inhabited by graptolites in the course of the late Aeronian interval.
A review of the impact of charcoal rot (Macrophomina phaseolina) on sunflower
Authors: IJAZ S. , SADAQAT H. A. , KHAN M. N.
Published: June 2012

Charcoal rot, caused by Macrophomina phaseolina, is the most prevalent and important disease of crop plants such as sunflower. Although it is monotypic and no physiological races have been reported, it has high genetic variability resulting in a wide host range, which in turn means that crop rotation is not an effective strategy to combat the disease. The current paper reviews the adverse effects of this disease and summarizes the present state of knowledge about charcoal rot severity and its impact on crop production.
Staging Diaspora: South Asian American Theater Today
Authors: SENGUPTA ASHIS
Published: June 2012

This essay attempts to show how contemporary South Asian American theater deals with a wide range of South Asian American experience and in so doing has created a “new aesthetic” within American theater. The South Asian American experience is a diaspora experience, but in the contemporary wider sense of the term. The plays under study are about the old and new home, about people assimilating into the mainstream or navigating between two cultures or even negotiating a transnational identity. They deal with contested ideas of nation, nationality and allegiance, and also explore the South Asian female body in the new culture. Central to my study are the works of emerging South Asian American playwrights. I have carefully chosen a full-length play by each of them, two only in the case of short plays, and paired them under separate rubrics in such a way as to argue how they represent the diverse yet connected, changing yet pervasive, historical, cultural and psychological tropes of the South Asian American diaspora. The essay, however, does not claim that the body of work chosen for the current essay – or the rubrics, for that matter – fully expresses “South Asian America” or its theater.
DELIVERING POST-ABORTION CARE THROUGH A COMMUNITY-BASED REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH VOLUNTEER PROGRAMME IN PAKISTAN
Authors: AZMAT SYED KHURRAM , SHAIKH BABAR T , MUSTAFA GHULAM , HAMEED WAQAS , BILGRAMI MOHSINA
Published: June 2012

This qualitative study was conducted in May–June 2010 with women using post-abortion care (PAC) services provided by the Marie Stopes Society in Pakistan during the six month period preceding the study, more than 70% of whom had been referred to the clinics by reproductive health volunteers (RHVs). The aim of the study was to establish the socio-demographic profile of clients, determine their preferred method of treatment, explore their perceptions of the barriers to accessing post-abortion services and to understand the challenges faced by RHVs. The sample women were selected from six randomly selected districts of Sindh and Punjab. Eight focus group discussions were conducted with PAC clients and fifteen in-depth interviews with RHVs. In addition, a quantitative exit interview questionnaire was administered to 76 clients. Medical, rather than surgical, treatment for incomplete and unsafe abortions was preferred because it was perceived to ‘cause less pain’, was ‘easy to employ’ and ‘having fewer complications’. Household economics influence women's decision-making on seeking post-abortion care. Other restraining factors include objection by husbands and in-laws, restrictions on female mobility, the views of religious clerics and a lack of transport. The involvement of all stakeholders could secure social approval and acceptance of the provision of safe post-abortion care services in Pakistan, and improve the quality of family planning services to the women who want to space their pregnancies.
The historical geography of north-central Anatolia in the Hittite period: texts and archaeology in concert
Authors: Matthews Roger , Glatz Claudia
Published: June 2012

In this paper we deploy both archaeological evidence, principally from survey, as well as topographic textual evidence in an integrated attempt to localise a broad range of place-names attested in the Hittite period of the Late Bronze Age. The geographical focus is on the north-central region of Anatolia, particularly relating to the survey area of Inner Paphlagonia. Investigated toponyms include rivers, mountains, regions and settlement names. By these means we aim to situate the recurrent Hittite-Kaska conflict of the Late Bronze Age more firmly within its physical environment.
Three inscriptions from Konya in the epigraphic collections of the British Institute at Ankara
Authors: Metcalfe M.
Published: June 2012

This note presents two unpublished inscriptions that Alan Hall recorded in the Konya Archaeological Museum in the late 1970s and early 1980s, together with a significantly different reading of a third that was published by B.H. McLean in 2002.
The invention of history in the later Roman world. The conversion of Isauria inThe Life of Conon
Authors: Wood Philip
Published: June 2012

The historiography of the later Roman Empire has emphasised the centripetal results of Christianisation, in which the new religion completed the earlier Hellenisation and destroyed independent languages, histories and notions of identity in Anatolia and much of Syria. However, the discourse of ethnic origins, drawn from Christian stories as well as the Classical past, allowed different kinds of cultural independence to survive this process on the edges of the Empire. While more famous cases are provided by the Armenians, Suryoye and Goths, here I examine an ultimately unsuccessful attempt at historical invention and cultural independence, that of the Isaurians from the end of the fifth century. I begin by discussing the stereotypes employed by a Roman élite to distinguish themselves from ‘barbarians’, both within and outside the empire, before examining the attempts of Isaurians to contest this in history and hagiography.
The apse decoration of the Akhiza cathedral: documents and materials in the museums of Georgia
Authors: Skhirtladze Zaza
Published: June 2012

The meagre evidence, based on reports in sources and the material gleaned in the course of surveys by several researchers, of the fortress of Akhiza (northeast Turkey), which was renovated in the reign of King Vakhtang Gorgasali (446–522), and on the Episcopal See set up there, may be supplemented by archival material preserved at the Sh. Amiranashvili Museum of Art, as well as by recourse to the artefacts deposited at the S. Janashia Museum of Georgia, both in Tbilisi. In particular, a letter of A. Florenski, a collaborator with the Caucasian Museum in Tbilisi, written early in the 20th century to D. Gordeev (1889–1964) makes it clear that, at that time, a mosaic image of the Virgin Orans existed in the chancel of the ruined cathedral. According to Florenski, the mosaic was destroyed by a resident of Ardanuch, Usta-Gevork, at the beginning of the 20th century. Some of the material collected by Florenski from Akhiza (including a finger-ring with a cameo bearing the image of the Archangel Michael and distinguished for its high artistic features) found its way to St Petersburg, while two antefixes with representations of leaved crosses and deer, as well as up to three dozen mosaic tesserae are kept in the S. Janashia Museum of Georgia. At the time of the creation of the mosaic, it is worth noting that, after the Arab conquests (in the 730s), Akhiza, with its cathedral, must have ceased to exist as an Episcopal See. In this connection, the antefixes supply additional dating evidence, the artistic peculiarities of the images adorning them clearly pointing to the fifth to sixth century.
A Hittite seal from Kavuşan Höyük
Authors: d'Alfonso Lorenzo
Published: June 2012

A Hittite seal was found recently in a cinerary urn, as a grave-good of a child, in the Iron Age cremation cemetery at Kavuşan Höyük, in the upper Tigris region. This article attempts to read the inscription on the seal and to discuss its date and place of production. The reading of the name of the owner of the seal, written in Anatolian Hieroglyphic, remains problematic because of the uncertainty of the phonetic value of sign *177. Tentatively, one can read it Ḫatanu. On the basis of some parallels, the author suggests that the seal could have been produced locally in the southern region of the Hittite Empire, and that, therefore, on the basis of historic considerations, it should date to the second half of the 14th century BC.
Patterns of Iron Age interaction in central Anatolia: three sites in Yozgat province
Authors: Kealhofer Lisa , Grave Peter , Marsh Ben , Steadman Sharon , Gorny Ronald L. , Summers Geoffrey D.
Published: June 2012

The cultural and political changes that happened in Anatolia after the collapse of the Hittite Empire have only recently been recognised as a significant, but as yet unexplained, phenomenon. Here we present the results of analyses of ceramics from three sites south and southwest of the present-day town of Sorgun – Çadır Höyük, Kerkenes Dağ and Tilkigediği Tepe – to identity how regional groups within the Hittite core area regrouped in the aftermath of the collapse. Ceramic analyses provide a means to assess both cultural continuity and the scale and nature of interaction in a region. Results suggest some evidence of cultural continuity at Çadır Höyük from the Late Bronze Age into the Middle Iron Age, and highlight the variable local responses in the aftermath of Hittite collapse.
A Pannonian auxiliary's epitaph from Roman Gordion
Authors: Goldman Andrew L.
Published: June 2012

A funerary stele of a Pannonian auxiliary soldier recovered in 1996 at Gordion (Turkey) provided the first concrete evidence of Roman military activity at the site. The Latin epitaph on the monument revealed the presence of a unit (cohors VII Breucorum c.R. equitata), previously unattested in central Turkey, within the rural environs of northern Galatia. Little is currently known about the garrisons and movements of auxiliary forces in that region, and the monument's discovery permits a fresh examination of military deployment within Rome's comparatively lightly-garrisoned provinces of Asia Minor. New archaeological fieldwork in the Roman settlement at Gordion has provided a firm context for the stele, and recently published epigraphical finds relating to the soldier's unit and its deployment strongly link the monument's presence to activities surrounding Trajan's Parthian War (AD 114–117).
Predation on exposed and leaf-rolling artificial caterpillars in tropical forests of Papua New Guinea
Authors: Tvardikova Katerina , Novotny Vojtech
Published: June 2012

Although predation is generally seen as one of the key factors determining the abundance and composition of insect herbivore communities in tropical rain forests, quantitative estimates of predation pressure in rain-forest habitats remain rare. We compared incidence of attacks of different natural enemies on semi-concealed and exposed caterpillars (Lepidoptera) in lowland and montane tropical rain forests, using plasticine models of caterpillars. We recorded attacks on caterpillars in four habitats: primary forest, secondary forest and forest fragment in lowlands (200 m asl), and montane primary forest (1700 m asl). We used 300 exposed and 300 semi-concealed caterpillars daily, and conducted the experiment for 6 d in every habitat. Daily incidence of attacks was higher on exposed caterpillars (4.95%) than on semi-concealed (leaf-rolling) caterpillars (2.99%). Attack pressure of natural enemies differed also among habitats. In the lowlands, continuous primary and secondary forests had similar daily incidence of attacks (2.39% and 2.36%) which was however lower than that found in a primary forest fragment (4.62%). This difference was caused by higher incidence of attacks by birds, ants and wasps in the forest fragment. The most important predators were birds in montane rain forests (61.9% of identified attacks), but insect predators, mostly ants, in the lowlands (58.3% of identified attacks). These results suggest that rapid decrease in the abundance of ants with altitude may be compensated by increased importance of birds as predators in montane forests. Further, it suggests that small rain-forest fragments may suffer from disproportionately high pressure from natural enemies, with potentially serious consequences for survival of their herbivorous communities.
Do birds bias measurements of seed rain?
Authors: Reid J. Leighton , Katsuki Karisa N. , Holl Karen D.
Published: June 2012

Accurate measurements of seed rain are important for understanding tree reproduction (Greene & Johnson 1994), forest regeneration (Cole et al. 2010, Cubiña & Aide 2001, Howe et al. 2010, Zahawi & Augspurger 2006), forest ecology (Muller-Landau et al. 2008, Terborgh et al. 2011) and maintenance of community diversity (Harms et al. 2000). Seed traps generally consist of a bucket or net of a fixed area suspended 0.3–1 m above the ground, and seeds are typically collected once or twice per month. An implicit assumption of all seed-rain studies is that traps do not influence seed dispersal. Should birds perch on and defecate seeds into seed traps, seed abundance will be overestimated. This behaviour could produce a directional bias if birds perch on seed traps in one habitat more than others. To our knowledge, no study has considered this potential bias.
From whichOcotea diospyrifoliatrees doesAlouatta caraya(Primates, Atelidae) eat fruits?
Authors: Bravo Susana Patricia
Published: June 2012

Ecological and morphological traits of fruiting trees, such as spatial distribution (Leveyet al. 1984), crop size (Howe & vande Kerckhove 1981, Korineet al. 2000, Leighton 1993, Murray 1987), local availability of fruit (Sargent 1990), seed size or pulp/seed mass ratio (Julliot 1996a, Leighton 1993, McConkeyet al. 2002, Russo 2003, Stevensonet al. 2005) and nutritional value and concentration of secondary compounds (Leighton 1993, Milton 1980, Sallabanks 1993), influence fruit preference in animals. In general, frugivores maximize energy intake by consuming ripe fruit with smaller seeds, higher pulp/seed ratio, bigger crop size, more nutritional fruits or fruits with fewer secondary compounds (Howe & vande Kerckhove 1981, Julliot 1996a, Korineet al. 2000, Leighton 1993, Milton 1980, Murray 1987, Russo 2003, Stevensonet al. 2005).
The δ15N signature of the detrital food web tracks a landscape-scale soil phosphorus gradient in a Costa Rican lowland tropical rain forest
Authors: Huang Ching-Yu , Tully Katherine L. , Clark Deborah A. , Oberbauer Steven F. , McGlynn Terrence P.
Published: June 2012

In this study, we investigated whether landscape-scale variation of soil P accounts for13C and15N composition of detrital invertebrates in a lowland tropical rain forest in Costa Rica. The top 10-cm soil, leaf-litter samples and plant foliage were collected among 18 plots representing a three-fold soil P gradient during 2007–2009. Body tissue of litter invertebrates (extracted from leaf-litter samples) along with soil, leaf litter and green foliage were analysed for total C, total N, δ13C and δ15N values. Differences in δ13C and δ15N signatures across plots and relative trophic distances of detrital food webs (Δ δ15N), and their variation with soil P gradient were evaluated. We found soil P gradient had a significantly positive correlation with δ15N ofAsterogyne martianafoliage, leaf litter, collembolans and oribatid mites. The δ15N of the collembolans and pseudoscorpions positively correlated to leaf-litter δ15N. Δ δ15N between the trophic levels remained consistent across the soil P gradient. Higher δ15N in the collembolans and oribatid mites might be derived from their consumption on15N-enriched decayed debris or fungal hyphae growing on it. It suggests that fine-scale soil P variation can affect trophic dynamics of detrital arthropods via regulation of microbial community and nutrient dynamics.
Fragment size and local flower density influence seed set of the understorey tree Paypayrola blanchetiana (Violaceae) in Brazilian Atlantic rain forest
Authors: Braun Marcus , Piechowski Daniel , Kazda Marian , Gottsberger Gerhard
Published: June 2012

Reproductive success of many plant species declines in fragmented habitat, but this effect is little studied in trees of tropical rain forest understorey. Paypayrola blanchetiana (Violaceae) is a continuous-flowering treelet endemic to the Atlantic rain forest of north-east Brazil. Plants are distributed in localized patches. Flower, fruit and seed production of a total of 86 trees was quantified in six forest fragments, each belonging to one of two categories of size (> 300 ha vs. < 50 ha) and fragmentation history (isolated for c. 25–30 y vs. at least c. 50 y). Relative fruit set (fruits/flower) and seed set (seeds/ovule) were calculated for a spatial (total fruit set of tree individuals) and a temporal analysis (combined month-by-month fruit set in patches in response to different flowering intensities). Fruit set (1%) and seed set (0.6%) were very low, but variable among trees. Plants in large fragments had significantly higher fruit set and seed set than plants in small fragments. Trees in older fragments, however, displayed similar fruit and seed set to those in recently created ones. We found no interaction effect on seed set of fragment size and isolation time. Seed set was a negative function of patch flower density. Possible drivers of the observed patterns are discussed.
Diversity of bird feeding guilds in relation to habitat heterogeneity and land-use cover in a human-modified landscape in southern Mexico
Authors: Pineda-Diez de Bonilla Esteban , León-Cortés Jorge L. , Rangel-Salazar José Luis
Published: June 2012

Habitat heterogeneity is an important ecological determinant of species richness. We evaluated the diversity within bird feeding guilds as related to habitat heterogeneity and land-use cover in a human-modified tropical landscape. To quantify this process, fine-scale bird census and habitat heterogeneity data were collected for a bird community in a 22.5-km2fragmented landscape in southern Mexico. Land-use cover data derived from field surveys were used to calculate habitat heterogeneity index values and the extent of each land-use cover type in 239 grid cells of 300 × 300 m. Bird diversity values were obtained based on 1195 point-counts in these cells. Product-moment correlations and linear regression analyses were used to evaluate the relationship between bird-guild diversity values and habitat heterogeneity. A total of 109 resident bird species grouped in six feeding guilds were recorded: insectivores (42%), frugivores (21%), granivores (17%), nectarivores (9%), omnivores (8%) and carnivores (3%). Diversity values for the entire bird community were significantly positively related to habitat heterogeneity, but feeding guilds showed contrasting responses to habitat heterogeneity and the amount of land-use cover: insectivores and frugivores were more diverse and abundant in secondary forests than in any other land-cover. Our findings illustrate the importance of small landscape fragments as potential key refuges for the most diverse and specialized feeding guilds, such as granivores and insectivores.