bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Theatrical Life in Republican Rome and Italy
Authors: Rawson Elizabeth
Published: August 2013

LA VITA TEATRALE NELLA ROMA REPUBBLICANA

Nell'articolo si esamina la vita teatrale in Italia, in particolare in Campania e nel Lazio dal III secolo a.C. fino alla fine della Repubblica, e si sostiene che tra queste regioni e Roma vi fosse in questo campo uno scambio maggiore di quanto normalmente si creda. Le compagnie che parlavano in greco, osco e latino venivano a Roma, e quelle romane facevano tournées fuori Roma, come dimostra un passo frainteso di Lucilio. La Campania guidava ed influenzava Roma non solo nell'architettura teatrale, ma anche sotto altri aspetti: molti autori ‘Romani’, in particolare Titinio, autore delle togatae ambientate nelle città a sud di Roma, forse non nacquero nella capitale, ma solo vi rappresentarono per la prima volta le loro commedie. Molti attori inoltre, a giudicare dal loro nome, sembrano italiani invece che latini, oppure liberti da padroni che lo erano.
Differentielle Klassifikation schulvermeidenden Verhaltens
Authors: Knollmann Martin , Reissner Volker , Kiessling Susanne , Hebebrand Johannes
Published: August 2013

Fragestellung: Welche Subgruppen von schulvermeidenden Kindern und Jugendlichen lassen sich anhand welcher Merkmale mittels einer Clusteranalyse voneinander unterscheiden? Methodik: An einer Inanspruchnahme-Stichprobe von 169 Schulvermeidern wurde eine Hauptkomponentenanalyse mit Variablen zur Qualität des schulvermeidenden Verhaltens und der assoziierten Symptomatik (u. a. Beschäftigung während der Fehlzeiten, CBCL, YSR) berechnet. Anschließend wurden die Faktorwerte für eine Clusteranalyse herangezogen. Die Cluster wurden dann hinsichtlich weiterer Merkmale (z. B. schulische/familiäre Variablen, IQ, AFS) verglichen. Ergebnisse: «Schulverweigerer» mit niedrigen externalisierenden Symptomen hielten sich während der Fehlzeiten primär mit ihren Eltern, die meist von Beginn an über das Fehlen informiert waren, zu Hause auf. «Schulschwänzer», deren Eltern meist initial nicht von der Schulvermeidung wussten, zeigten die höchsten externalisierenden Symptome und waren während der Fehlzeiten meist alleine oder mit Gleichaltrigen unterwegs. Das größte Cluster fasste Patienten zusammen, die hinsichtlich externalisierender Symptome höhere Werte als Schulverweigerer und niedrigere Werte als Schulschwänzer aufwiesen. Sie fehlten meist mit initialem Wissen ihrer Eltern in der Schule und hielten sich während der Fehlzeiten überwiegend alleine zu Hause auf. Internalisierende Symptome spielten keine Rolle bei der Clusterbildung, waren in anschließenden Vergleichen jedoch stärker bei den Schulverweigerern und dem zuletzt beschriebenen Cluster ausgeprägt, das entsprechend als «Schulvermeidung mit gemischter Symptomatik» interpretiert wurde. Ergebnisse und Schlussfolgerung: Bezüglich weiterer Variablen (z. B. Klassenwiederholung, Mobbing, psychische Störungen bei Eltern) dominierten die Gemeinsamkeiten.
Häufigkeit und Intensität von Alpträumen bei traumatisierten im Vergleich zu nicht traumatisierten Kindern und Jugendlichen
Authors: Ossa Fanny Carina , Bering Robert , Pietrowsky Reinhard
Published: August 2013

Fragestellung: Alpträume können bei Kindern, wie auch bei Erwachsenen, als Symptom für eine Traumatisierung gelten. Daher ist zu vermuten, dass bei traumatisierten Kindern und Jugendlichen die Alptraumbelastung höher ist als bei nicht traumatisierten Kindern und Jugendlichen. Methodik: Insgesamt nahmen 38 traumatisierte und 40 nicht traumatisierte Kinder und Jugendliche an der Untersuchung teil. Anhand eines Fragebogens wurde die Alptraumbelastung (u. a. die Alptraumhäufigkeit und die empfundene Intensität) erfasst. Ergebnisse: Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass traumatisierte Kinder und Jugendliche signifikant mehr Alpträume berichten (9.7 Alpträume pro Monat) und diese als intensiver und furchtauslösender bewerten als die Teilnehmer der Kontrollgruppe (1.7 Alpträume pro Monat). Die Anzahl der Alpträume bei traumatisierten Mädchen ist im Vergleich zu der Anzahl der Alpträume bei traumatisierten Jungen doppelt so hoch. Zudem geben traumatisierte Kinder und Jugendliche signifikant häufiger an, Angst vor einer Traumwiederholung zu haben, sich während des Alptraums hilflos und sich am Tag durch den Traum nachhaltig beeinträchtigt zu fühlen. Schlussfolgerung: Patienten mit einer Traumatisierung erleben in ihren Träumen mehr Gewalt und Lebensbedrohung. Eine erhöhte Alptraumbelastung ist damit auch bei Kindern und Jugendlichen ein Merkmal einer vorausgegangenen Traumatisierung.
Acoustic-like dynamics of amorphous drugs in the THz regime
Authors: Pogna E. A. A. , Rodríguez-Tinoco C. , Krisch M. , Rodríguez-Viejo J. , Scopigno T.
Published: August 2013

The high frequency dynamics of Indomethacin and Celecoxib glasses has been investigated by inelastic x-ray scattering, accessing a momentum-energy region still unexplored in amorphous pharmaceuticals. We find evidence of phonon-like acoustic dynamics and determine the THz behavior of sound velocity and acoustic attenuation. Connections with ordinary sound propagation are discussed, along with the relation between fast and slow degrees of freedom as represented by non-ergodicity factor and kinetic fragility, respectively.
Reduced‐order dynamic observer error linearisation for discrete‐time systems: an extension of the classical observer error linearisation
Authors: Yun Hyeonjun , Yang Jongwook , Seo Jin Heon
Published: August 2013

This study addresses reduced‐order dynamic observer error linearisation (RDOEL) for discrete‐time systems, which is a modified version of dynamic observer error linearisation (DOEL). The authors define the concept of RDOEL and provide a necessary and sufficient condition for RDOEL. Moreover, the relation between RDOEL and DOEL is discussed when the auxiliary dynamics is an arbitrary linear controllable system. Using the relationship and an existing algorithm for DOEL, an algorithm for RDOEL also proposed, which offers lower‐dimensional observers than DOEL. Finally, the authors illustrate the theory by applying it to the discrete‐time hyperchaotic system due to Wang, which was derived from the generalised Rössler system via a first‐order difference algorithm.
Decentralised output‐feedback control for a class of stochastic non‐linear systems using homogeneous domination approach
Authors: Zhai Jun‐Yong
Published: August 2013

This study discusses the problem of decentralised output‐feedback control for a class of stochastic non‐linear systems under weaker conditions. Based on the adding one power integrator technique and homogeneous domination approach, a homogeneous observer and controller are constructed for each nominal subsystem without the perturbing non‐linearities. Then, a scaling gain is introduced into the homogeneous observers and controllers to render the closed‐loop system to be globally asymptotically stable in probability. Two simulation examples are provided to show the effectiveness of the control scheme.
Input‐to‐state stability of non‐linear impulsive and switched delay systems
Authors: Wang Yue‐E , Wang Rui , Zhao Jun
Published: August 2013

This study addresses the input‐to‐state stability (ISS) of non‐linear impulsive and switched delay systems. Based on the piecewise Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional method, the authors show that when only some of the constituent subsystems are ISS, the ISS property still can be retained for the non‐linear impulsive and switched delay system, if the dwell time of the ISS subsystems satisfies a lower bound condition and the activation time of the non‐ISS subsystems satisfies an upper bound condition, respectively. In common parlance, some of the intervals must be overly long, whereas the others must be short enough between impulses. Compared with existing results on related problems, the theory can be applied to a larger class of systems. The proposed approach also enables us to give the analysis of systems involving actuator failure, controller failure or temporary uncertain switching signal. As an example, the authors employ the method to analyse the problem of reliable control for a mechanical rotational cutting process.
Optimal Hi /H∞ fault‐detection filter design for uncertain linear time‐invariant systems: an iterative linear matrix inequality approach
Authors: Li Wei , Zhu Zhencai , Zhou Gongbo , Chen Guoan
Published: August 2013

An iterative linear matrix inequality (LMI) approach is proposed to design fault‐detection filters (FDFs) of uncertain linear time‐invariant (LTI) systems. The obtained FDF is the optimal solution for the Hi /H∞ (with H∞ /H∞ and H− /H∞ being two extreme cases) optimisation problem of FDF design and can achieve the best trade‐off between robustness against unknown disturbances and sensitivity to system faults. The authors first derive the theoretical optimal Hi /H∞ FDFs for uncertain LTI systems based on the co‐inner–outer factorisation technique. Then a new optimisation problem is formulated to obtain the optimal FDFs that can approach the theoretical optimal ones as much as possible. An iterative LMI approach is presented to find the solution in the state‐space form. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is illustrated by a numerical example.
Identification and location of long‐term voltage instability based on branch equivalent
Authors: Yu Juan , Li Wenyuan , Ajjarapu Venkataramana , Yan Wei , Zhao Xia
Published: August 2013

A new branch equivalent is proposed to identify and locate long‐term voltage instability in both distribution and transmission network. In the proposed equivalent, not only the power flow and the sensitivity information remain consistent before and after the equivalence, but also the equivalent voltages and admittances are completely independent of loads, which ensure the equivalent accuracy in voltage stability analysis. Based on the proposed equivalent, an approach is presented to identify system voltage stability. The proposed approach also locates weak branches and buses, where an enhancement or operational measure can be used to improve system voltage stability. The effectiveness of the proposed equivalent and approach is demonstrated using two radial systems, five IEEE systems and four actual utility systems with a system size from 5‐buses to 3120‐buses.
Interdomain contacts control folding of transcription factor RfaH
Authors: Tomar Sushil Kumar , Knauer Stefan H. , NandyMazumdar Monali , Rösch Paul , Artsimovitch Irina
Published: August 2013

Escherichia coli RfaH activates gene expression by tethering the elongating RNA polymerase to the ribosome. This bridging action requires a complete refolding of the RfaH C-terminal domain (CTD) from an α-helical hairpin, which binds to the N-terminal domain (NTD) in the free protein, to a β-barrel, which interacts with the ribosomal protein S10 following RfaH recruitment to its target operons. The CTD forms a β-barrel when expressed alone or proteolytically separated from the NTD, indicating that the α-helical state is trapped by the NTD, perhaps co-translationally. Alternatively, the interdomain contacts may be sufficient to drive the formation of the α-helical form. Here, we use functional and NMR analyses to show that the denatured RfaH refolds into the native state and that RfaH in which the order of the domains is reversed is fully functional in vitro and in vivo. Our results indicate that all information necessary to determine its fold is encoded within RfaH itself, whereas accessory factors or sequential folding of NTD and CTD during translation are dispensable. These findings suggest that universally conserved RfaH homologs may change folds to accommodate diverse interaction partners and that context-dependent protein refolding may be widespread in nature.
Zhihengliuella flava sp. nov., an actinobacterium isolated from sea sediment, and emended description of the genus Zhihengliuella
Authors: Hamada Moriyuki , Shibata Chiyo , Tamura Tomohiko , Suzuki Ken-ichiro
Published: August 2013

A novel Gram-staining-positive actinobacterium, designated H85-3T, was isolated from a sea sediment sample and its taxonomic position was investigated by a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons revealed that strain H85-3Twas closely related to the members of the genusZhihengliuellawith pairwise sequence similarities of 97.4–98.6 %. The peptidoglycan of strain H85-3Twas found to be of the A4α type with lysine as the diagnostic diamino acid. The menaquinones were MK-9, MK-10 and MK-8 (56 : 30 : 14) and the major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0and anteiso-C17 : 0. These data supported the affiliation of strain H85-3Tto the genusZhihengliuella. Meanwhile, the results of DNA–DNA hybridization, along with the differences in some phenotypic characteristics, indicated that strain H85-3Tshould be distinguished from the recognized species of the genusZhihengliuella. Therefore, strain H85-3Trepresents a novel species of the genusZhihengliuella, for which the nameZhihengliuella flavasp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is H85-3T( = NBRC 109021T = DSM 26152T). An emended description of the genusZhihengliuellais also proposed.
Multiple RNA recognition patterns during microRNA biogenesis in plants
Authors: Bologna Nicolás G. , Schapire Arnaldo L. , Zhai Jixian , Chorostecki Uciel , Boisbouvier Jerome , Meyers Blake C. , Palatnik Javier F.
Published: August 2013

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) derive from longer precursors with fold-back structures. While animal miRNA precursors have homogenous structures, plant precursors comprise a collection of fold-backs with variable size and shape. Here, we design an approach to systematically analyze miRNA processing intermediates and characterize the biogenesis of most of the evolutionarily conserved miRNAs present in Arabidopsis thaliana. We found that plant miRNAs are processed by four mechanisms, depending on the sequential direction of the processing machinery and the number of cuts required to release the miRNA. Classification of the precursors according to their processing mechanism revealed specific structural determinants for each group. We found that the complexity of the miRNA processing pathways occurs in both ancient and evolutionarily young sequences and that members of the same family can be processed in different ways. We observed that different structural determinants compete for the processing machinery and that alternative miRNAs can be generated from a single precursor. The results provide an explanation for the structural diversity of miRNA precursors in plants and new insights toward the understanding of the biogenesis of small RNAs.
The influence of genomic context on mutation patterns in the human genome inferred from rare variants
Authors: Schaibley Valerie M. , Zawistowski Matthew , Wegmann Daniel , Ehm Margaret G. , Nelson Matthew R. , St. Jean Pamela L. , Abecasis Gonçalo R. , Novembre John , Zöllner Sebastian , Li Jun Z.
Published: August 2013

Understanding patterns of spontaneous mutations is of fundamental interest in studies of human genome evolution and genetic disease. Here, we used extremely rare variants in humans to model the molecular spectrum of single-nucleotide mutations. Compared to common variants in humans and human–chimpanzee fixed differences (substitutions), rare variants, on average, arose more recently in the human lineage and are less affected by the potentially confounding effects of natural selection, population demographic history, and biased gene conversion. We analyzed variants obtained from a population-based sequencing study of 202 genes in >14,000 individuals. We observed considerable variability in the per-gene mutation rate, which was correlated with local GC content, but not recombination rate. Using >20,000 variants with a derived allele frequency ≤10−4, we examined the effect of local GC content and recombination rate on individual variant subtypes and performed comparisons with common variants and substitutions. The influence of local GC content on rare variants differed from that on common variants or substitutions, and the differences varied by variant subtype. Furthermore, recombination rate and recombination hotspots have little effect on rare variants of any subtype, yet both have a relatively strong impact on multiple variant subtypes in common variants and substitutions. This observation is consistent with the effect of biased gene conversion or selection-dependent processes. Our results highlight the distinct biases inherent in the initial mutation patterns and subsequent evolutionary processes that affect segregating variants.
The shared genomic architecture of human nucleolar organizer regions
Authors: Floutsakou Ioanna , Agrawal Saumya , Nguyen Thong T. , Seoighe Cathal , Ganley Austen R.D. , McStay Brian
Published: August 2013

The short arms of the five acrocentric human chromosomes harbor sequences that direct the assembly and function of the nucleolus, one of the key functional domains of the nucleus, yet they are absent from the current human genome assembly. Here we describe the genomic architecture of these human nucleolar organizers. Sequences distal and proximal to ribosomal gene arrays are conserved among the acrocentric chromosomes, suggesting they are sites of frequent recombination. Although previously believed to be heterochromatic, characterization of these two flanking regions reveals that they share a complex genomic architecture similar to other euchromatic regions of the genome, but they have distinct genomic characteristics. Proximal sequences are almost entirely segmentally duplicated, similar to the regions bordering centromeres. In contrast, the distal sequence is predominantly unique to the acrocentric short arms and is dominated by a very large inverted repeat. We show that the distal element is localized to the periphery of the nucleolus, where it appears to anchor the ribosomal gene repeats. This, combined with its complex chromatin structure and transcriptional activity, suggests that this region is involved in nucleolar organization. Our results provide a platform for investigating the role of NORs in nucleolar formation and function, and open the door for determining the role of these regions in the well-known empirical association of nucleoli with pathology.
Information disclosure by family-controlled firms
Authors: Darmadi Salim , Sodikin Achmad
Published: August 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of family control on the extent of voluntary disclosure in the annual report of Indonesian listed firms. Further, it seeks to investigate the role of corporate governance mechanisms in explaining the association between family control and voluntary disclosure. Governance mechanisms addressed here include board independence and institutional ownership.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study employs a sample comprising non-financial firms on the Indonesia stock exchange that published the 2010 annual report. The voluntary disclosure index is computed for each sample firm, based on content analysis of the annual report. Cross-sectional regressions are performed to test research hypotheses.

Findings

– Our evidence reveals that family control negatively and significantly influences the extent of information disclosure. This finding suggests that family-controlled firms have lower motivation to disclose additional voluntary information, which might unexpectedly expose private benefits maintained by the controlling family. We also find that the relationship between institutional ownership and disclosure is stronger in family firms. However, independent commissioners do not contribute to improving the extent of disclosure by family firms.

Originality/value

– The present study contributes to the rare existing literature addressing the relation of family control to information disclosure. Further, the role of corporate governance mechanisms in promoting greater information transparency in family-controlled firms is still very rarely examined.
Determination of grape juice concentrate composition
Authors: Mohamadi Sani Ali
Published: August 2013

Purpose

Grape juice concentrate (GJC) composition is affected by different factors including grape type and production conditions. So this study aimed to determine composition and nutrition value of GJC in eight cities in Khorasan province in north east of Iran in order to use the data in nutrition value tables.

Design/methodology/approach

The GJC samples (20) were supplied from local supermarkets in nine cities in Khorasan province in Iran. Total and soluble dry matter, total sugar, protein, fat, soluble fiber, ash and pH were determined according to standard methods. Nutritious minerals including calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and iron were detected using atomic absorption spectroscopy method.

Findings

The chemical properties of GJC samples were determined as follows: total dry matter 73.66 percent; protein 1.46 percent, total sugar 68.03 percent; soluble fiber 2.69 percent, ash 0.71 percent and fat 1.08 percent. The average values of pH and brix were, respectively, 4.25 and 65.5°. The mineral content was found as follows: calcium 817 ppm; sodium 0.9 percent; phosphorus 492 ppm; magnesium 1,704 ppm and iron 60 ppm.

Originality/value

The composition and nutritional value of GJC in Iran had not been determined before. The findings on nutritive properties of GJC can be used in nutrition value tables.
Cash acquirers
Authors: Gregory Alan , Wang Yuan‐Hsin
Published: August 2013

Purpose

This paper investigates the Jensen's free cash flow (FCF) hypothesis in the context of UK cash acquisitions. Under this hypothesis, financial slack induces mangers to acquire targets for cash if such behaviour generates either pecuniary or non‐pecuniary rewards for them, giving rise to a potential agency problem around cash takeovers. We argue that the stronger position of shareholders, as opposed to firm managers, in the UK should help in constraining such potential agency problems around such mergers. Compared to the USA, position, this should make the FCF hypothesis less relevant in the UK.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses short‐run announcement period returns and long‐run calendar‐time returns in testing our hypotheses.

Findings

This paper shows that low leverage and high FCF may be advantageous provided shareholder monitoring is adequate. By analysing both announcement period and long‐term returns, we show that acquirers with high levels of FCF are superior performers, and that any long‐run under‐performance of cash acquirers appears to be associated with low cash resources and low institutional ownership.

Research limitations/implications

Inevitably, long‐run returns measurement is contentious, although we present results from alternative models to mitigate this. Limitations are necessarily imposed by the sample size, meaning that multi‐way partitioning of the data is not feasible.

Practical implications

The practical implications are that the UK regulatory and institutional ownership regime may actually protect the interests of shareholders and mitigate agency problems.

Originality/value

As far as we are aware, this is the first paper to systematically test FCF, leverage and institutional ownership effects in the context of UK cash acquisitions.
Managerial gambling attitudes: evidence from bank acquisitions
Authors: Doukas John A. , Zhang Wenjia
Published: August 2013

Purpose

This study investigates the implications of the cumulative prospect theory in the context of US bank acquisitions, with particular emphasis on its probability weighting component. Specifically, we examine whether gambling attitudes matter in US bank takeover decisions. The evidence demonstrates that offer price premiums and target announcement returns are much higher in bank takeover transactions involving targets with gambling (lottery) features (high skewness, high volatility, and low price). Overall, the results indicate that banking acquisitions are influenced by gambling attitudes.

Design/methodology/approach

To measure idiosyncratic skewness, we follow Harvey and Siddique (2000) and Kumar (2009) and decompose total skewness into its idiosyncratic and systematic components.

Findings

The evidence demonstrates that offer price premiums and target announcement returns are much higher in bank takeover transactions involving targets with gambling (lottery) features (high skewness, high volatility, and low price). In addition, we find that synergies and bidder announcement returns are lower in lottery‐type acquisitions. The patterns we document are stronger when bidding banks are bigger, target banks are smaller, investor sentiment is above the median, and the Chicago Fed National Activity Index is negative.

Originality/value

This is an original piece of work in the field of banking.
A review of building/infrastructure sustainability reporting tools (SRTs)
Authors: Y. J. Siew Renard , C. A. Balatbat Maria , G. Carmichael David
Published: August 2013

Purpose

– Buildings/infrastructure are recognised to have a significant impact on the environment and the community, and hence there is pressure on industry practitioners to incorporate environmental and social considerations in addition to the traditional cost, time and quality. The development of sustainability reporting tools (SRTs) to assist in the management of “green” building/infrastructure projects is pivotal in informing on progress in sustainability practices. However, the rapid growth of SRTs in the last decade, with different criteria and methodology, has created complications for stakeholders.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper provides a comprehensive review of tools to guide practitioners, property investors, policy makers and developers towards making informed choices in “green” building/infrastructure projects. Comparative analyses, benefits and limitations of these tools are discussed in the paper.

Findings

– Some of the findings from the analysis of SRTs include: an emphasis on environmental issues; scoring which does not account for uncertainty or variability in assessors’ perceptions; lack of published reasoning behind the allocation of scores; inadequate definition of scales to permit differentiation among projects; and the existence of non-scientific benchmarks.

Originality/value

– The paper departs from earlier reviews to include a discussion on infrastructure SRTs, life cycle tools, and issues broader than the environment. Changes and additions, subsequent to earlier reviews, have been made to SRTs, making the updated review provided here useful.
Membrane vesicle formation is associated with pyocin production under denitrifying conditions in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1
Authors: Toyofuku Masanori , Zhou Shengmin , Sawada Isao , Takaya Naoki , Uchiyama Hiroo , Nomura Nobuhiko
Published: August 2013

Many Gram‐negative bacteria produce membrane vesicles (MVs) that serve as vehicles to mediate intraspecies and interspecies interactions. Despite their ubiquity in Gram‐negative bacteria and their biological importance, how MV formation is regulated is poorly understood. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a ubiquitous bacterium that is one of the most extensively studied model organism in MVs. Recent studies highlight the importance of a quorum‐sensing signal, Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS), in the formation of MVs; however, PQS synthesis requires oxygen and is not produced under anoxic conditions. This situation leads to the question of MV production under anoxic conditions. Here, we examined whether MVs are produced under denitrifying conditions and what kind of factors are involved in the MV production under such condition. Under denitrifying condition, P. aeruginosa PAO1 produced a considerable amount of MVs. Interestingly, pyocin components were found to be accumulated in the isolated MVs. Pyocin‐related protein mutants produced less MVs compared with the wild type. We further indicate that pyocin production is activated by nitric oxide, in which the SOS response is involved. This study presents a regulatory mechanism where pyocin is associated with MV production, and further implies how the environment impacts MV production in P. aeruginosa.
Reconstituting the Possible: Lefebvre, Utopia and the Urban Question
Authors: Pinder David
Published: August 2013

What roles can utopia play in contemporary critical urban studies? The concept has often been treated warily, sidelined or dismissed. Recent years, however, have seen a revival of interest, as writers, activists and artists have sought openings to urban worlds that are different and better. By returning to aspects of the urban thought and practice of Henri Lefebvre in the 1960s and early 1970s, this article challenges common understandings of utopia and clarifies some of its potential uses for critical urban studies today. It explores Lefebvre's emphasis on the possible, and in particular the importance he attached to extending and realizing the possible through struggling for what seems impossible. Rather than being a free‐floating or endlessly open project, however, this engagement with the ‘possible‐impossible' emerged in critical dialogue with other currents of utopian urbanism, including prospective thought then influential in France. It was also rooted in long‐ standing concerns with the critique of everyday life and with experimentation through projects with urbanists, architects and others. By attending to these often neglected aspects of Lefebvre's utopianism, a series of provocations emerge for addressing the urban question in ways that take seriously not only what urbanization processes and urban life are but also what they could become and how they might be constituted differently.
The Influence of Fannie and Freddie on Mortgage Loan Terms
Authors: Kaufman Alex
Published: August 2013

This article uses a novel instrumental variables approach to quantify the effect that government‐sponsored enterprise (GSE) purchase eligibility had on equilibrium mortgage loan terms in the period from 2003 to 2007. The technique is designed to eliminate sources of bias that may have affected previous studies. GSE eligibility appears to have lowered interest rates by about ten basis points, encouraged fixed‐rate loans over ARMs and discouraged low documentation and brokered loans. There is no measurable effect on loan performance or on the prevalence of certain types of “exotic” mortgages. The overall picture suggests that GSE purchases had only a modest impact on loan terms during this period.
The Government‐Sponsored Enterprises and the Mortgage Crisis: The Role of the Affordable Housing Goals
Authors: Bolotnyy Valentin
Published: August 2013

I use regression discontinuity analysis to measure the effect of one of the Affordable Housing Goals, the Underserved Areas Goal (UAG), on the number of whole single‐family mortgages purchased by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (GSEs) in undeserved census tracts for 1996–2002. Focusing additionally on tracts that became UAG‐eligible in 2005–2006, I measure the effect of the UAG during peak years for the subprime market. The results suggest a small UAG effect and challenge the view that the goals caused the GSEs to supply substantially more credit to high‐risk borrowers than they otherwise would have supplied during the subprime boom.
The utility of distribution data in predicting phenology
Authors: Bishop Tom R. , Botham Marc S. , Fox Richard , Leather Simon R. , Chapman Daniel S. , Oliver Tom H.
Published: August 2013

The phenology of many species has been shown to shift under climate change. However, because species respond at different rates, ecological communities may be disrupted leading to species extinctions and loss of ecosystem services. Hence, there is a need to monitor and understand phenological change.

Population data, gathered by standardised monitoring schemes, can be used to this end. However, such schemes require significant organisation and financial resources. Distribution data (georeferenced biological records with dates) are easier and cheaper to collect and may be an unexploited resource for phenology analyses. This would allow analysis of more taxa from more regions of the world. However, distribution data are potentially biased due to the unstandardised behaviour of biological recorders.

Here, the ability of distribution data record dates to accurately predict phenology is investigated by using the British butterfly fauna as a model system. We used the total number of distribution records per unit time across Great Britain as a proxy for butterfly abundance. Phenology metrics of mean flight date and flight period length were then calculated from the resulting abundance–time relationships for each year in a 15‐year time series. These estimates were validated against those generated from a standardised‐effort population monitoring scheme.

We analysed 1 078 328 records from 30 British butterflies and found that distribution data accurately predicted the mean flight date for 22 of the 30 species tested. Flight period length was only predicted accurately for seven of 30 species.

We found a nonlinear but consistent positive relationship between the accuracy of mean flight date estimates and sample size (number of records) at both inter‐ and intraspecific scales. Our results suggest that a threshold sample size of c. 6500 distribution records (430 per year) is a pragmatic compromise between accuracy and recording effort, leading to little loss of accuracy in phenology predictions (an average decrease in accuracy of 2·9 days was observed).

The results suggest that distribution data are a potentially useful resource for phenology research. This may allow practitioners to monitor particular regions and previously unstudied species relatively cheaply using existing mapping schemes.
UGT1A1 Gene Mutations in Pakistani Children Suffering from Inherited Nonhemolytic Unconjugated Hyperbilirubinemias
Authors: Khan Suliman , Irfan Muhammad , Sher Gulab , Zubaida Bibi , Alvi Muhammad Arshad , Yasinzai Masoom , Naeem Muhammad
Published: August 2013

Two inherited unconjugated hyperbilirubinemias, Crigler–Najjar syndrome and Gilbert syndrome, arise due to deficiency of UGT1A1 enzyme activity. Crigler–Najjar syndrome type 1 (CN1) lies at the extreme severe end of the spectrum of UGT1A1 activity characterized by complete absence, followed by the less severe Crigler–Najjar syndrome type 2 (CN2). Gilbert syndrome is the mild form having only partial loss of UGT1A1 activity. The present study aimed to identify molecular genetic defects underlying unconjugated hyperbilirubinemias in children from six consanguineous Pakistani families. The patients were clinically diagnosed by exclusion of other unconjugated hyperbilirubinemias. Differential diagnosis of CN1 and CN2 was made on the basis of patient's response to phenobarbitone. The promoter region, coding exons, and adjacent splice sites of the UGT1A1 gene were PCR amplified from genomic DNA of all patients and their families, and were sequenced. DNA sequence analysis identified five different homozygous mutations: two novel missense mutations p.Y230C (proband A) and p.D36N (proband B), a 4‐bp insertion c.622–625dupCAGC/p.Q208QfsX50 (probands C and E), a nonsense mutation p.R341X (proband D), and a TA insertion A(TA)7TAA in the promoter region (proband F). The present study extends the spectrum of UGT1A1 gene mutations and may be helpful in the diagnosis of Crigler–Najjar syndrome and Gilbert syndrome.
The GPCR, class C, group 6, subtype A (GPRC6A) receptor: from cloning to physiological function
Authors: Clemmensen C , Smajilovic S , Wellendorph P , Bräuner‐Osborne H
Published: August 2013

GPRC6A (GPCR, class C, group 6, subtype A) is a class C GPCR that has been cloned from human, mouse and rat. Several groups have shown that the receptor is activated by a range of basic and small aliphatic L‐α‐amino acids of which L‐arginine, L‐lysine and L‐ornithine are the most potent compounds with EC50 values in the mid‐micromolar range. In addition, several groups have shown that the receptor is either directly activated or positively modulated by divalent cations such as Ca2+ albeit in concentrations above 5 mM, which is above the physiological concentration in most tissues. More recently, the peptide osteocalcin and the steroid testosterone have also been suggested to be endogenous GPRC6A agonists. The receptor is widely expressed in all three species which, along with the omnipresence of the amino acids and divalent cation ligands, suggest that the receptor could be involved in a broad range of physiological functions. So far, this has mainly been addressed by analyses of genetically modified mice where the GPRC6A receptor has been ablated. Although there has been some discrepancies among results reported from different groups, there is increasing evidence that the receptor is involved in regulation of inflammation, metabolism and endocrine functions. GPRC6A could thus be an interesting target for new drugs in these therapeutic areas.

Linked Articles

This article is part of a themed section on Molecular Pharmacology of GPCRs. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2014.171.issue‐5
Representational Constraints on Language Development: Thinking and Learning About Absent Things
Authors: Ganea Patricia A. , Saylor Megan M.
Published: August 2013

In this article, we illustrate the role that representational strength plays in infants' ability to communicate and learn about absent things. When understanding speech about things that are absent, infants retrieve the representation of the referent from long‐term memory upon hearing its name, and maintain that representation in working memory to plan an action toward the object or to manipulate the representation on the basis of new information. Strong representations of referents better support retrieval and maintenance operations than weak representations.
Neuroprotection by Sildenafil: Neuronal Networks Potentiation in Acute Experimental Stroke
Authors: Chen Xue‐Mei , Wang Nan‐Nan , Zhang Tian‐Yu , Wang Fang , Wu Chun‐Fu , Yang Jing‐Yu
Published: August 2013

Aims

Sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, has been found to produce functional recovery in ischemic rats by increasing the cGMP level and triggering neurogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate further sildenafil mechanisms.

Methods

Male Sprague‐Dawley rats underwent middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion, followed by intraperitoneal or intravenous treatment of sildenafil starting 2 h later. Behavioral tests were performed on day 1 or day 7 after reperfusion, while cerebral infarction, edema, Nissl staining, Fluoro‐Jade B staining, and electron microscopy studies were carried out 24 h poststroke. The cGMP‐dependent Nogo‐66 receptor (Nogo‐R) pathway, synaptophysin, PSD‐95/neuronal nitric oxide synthases (nNOS), brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)/tropomyosin‐related kinase B (TrkB), and nerve growth factor (NGF)/tropomyosin‐related kinase A (TrkA) were measured.

Results

Sildenafil enhanced neurological recovery and inhibited infarction, even following delayed administration 4 h after stroke onset. Furthermore, sildenafil reduced the loss of neurons and modulated the expressions of the cGMP‐dependent Nogo‐R pathway. Moreover, sildenafil protected the structure of synapses and mediated the expressions of synaptophysin, PSD‐95/nNOS, BDNF/TrkB, and NGF/TrkA.

Conclusions

Sildenafil produces significant neuroprotective effects on injured neurons in acute stroke, and these are mediated by the cGMP‐dependent Nogo‐R pathway, NGF/TrkA, and BDNF/TrkB.
Going beyond taxonomic diversity: deconstructing biodiversity patterns reveals the true cost of iceplant invasion
Authors: Jucker Tommaso , Carboni Marta , Acosta Alicia T. R.
Published: August 2013

Aim

Although invasion has been linked to species losses in native plant communities, it is unclear how invasive species affect other important aspects of native community biodiversity, such as the composition of functional traits or the degree of phylogenetic relatedness. Here, we ask whether declines in taxonomic diversity (TD) associated with the spread of a highly invasive South African species (iceplant) are linked to similar losses in functional (FD) and phylogenetic diversity (PD). Motivated by recent advances in coexistence theory, we aim to infer the mechanisms involved in driving the exclusion of native species following invasion.

Location

Coastal dunes of central Italy.

Methods

We sampled 2 × 2 m vegetation plots characterized by varying degrees of abundance of iceplant (Carpobrotus spp.), and combined species occurrence data with life‐history trait information and a dated phylogeny of the native species pool. Rao's quadratic entropy index was used to quantify the TD, FD and PD of each plot, which we then related to iceplant abundance via linear models. Finally, to better understand the mechanisms driving changes in diversity, we characterized both species and communities according to phylogenetic relatedness to iceplant and functional strategy.

Results

We found that the negative association between the level of invasion and native community TD is mirrored by quantitatively similar declines in FD, as well as a shift in community phylogenetic structure. These changes appear to result from the selective exclusion of specific functional groups/clades, likely via a combination of niche‐ and fitness‐related processes.

Main conclusions

We found that iceplant poses a greater threat to biodiversity than previously understood and that on top of causing declines in species richness invasion may also hamper ecosystem functioning and reduce evolutionary potential. Accounting for FD and PD holds promise for gaining a better understanding of how invasive species alter the structure of native communities.
Measuring and monitoring compliance in no‐take marine reserves
Authors: Bergseth Brock J , Russ Garry R , Cinner Joshua E
Published: August 2013

No‐take marine reserves are increasingly popular tools for conservation and fisheries management. While much attention has been paid to evaluating the effects of design aspects (size, location, etc.) in achieving reserve objectives, less emphasis has been placed on the role of stakeholder compliance. Therefore, the first aim of this study was to evaluate the state of compliance literature and examine the methods used to measure compliance in reserves. The state of compliance literature is limited, although publications with compliance information have increased sixfold in the last decade. However, most studies containing compliance information (63%) fail to provide quantitative estimates. Furthermore, most (95%) quantitative estimates of compliance were reported using a single method, which is problematic because each method has biases and limited applicability. Methods used to indicate compliance include (i) direct observation; (ii) indirect observation; (iii) law enforcement records; (iv) direct questioning; (v) expert opinion; and (vi) modelling. Our second aim was to empirically demonstrate the critical role of compliance in reserve outcomes by comparing a mixed‐effects model on compliance data synthesized from 63 marine reserves to that of a null model. The model of best fit demonstrated a negative relationship between non‐compliance and target species biomass response ratios. Thus, without incorporating any aspects of reserve design, compliance data predicted reserve response ratios of fish biomass. Accordingly, researchers should explore ways to better understand and measure non‐compliance. Therefore, future research should triangulate multiple sources of quantitative compliance data collected using standardized techniques and conduct baseline surveys before reserve implementation.
Evidence of transmission and risk factors for influenza A virus in household dogs and their owners
Authors: Ramírez‐Martínez Luis A. , Contreras‐Luna María , De la Luz Jazmín , Manjarrez María E. , Rosete Dora P. , Rivera‐Benitez José F. , Saavedra‐Montañez Manuel , Ramírez‐Mendoza Humberto
Published: August 2013

Background

The possible transmission of influenza A virus between dogs and humans is important, as in Mexico City there are approximately 1·2 million dogs. We present the first evidence of influenza A virus infection in household dogs in Mexico.

Objectives

The objective of this study was to identify the presence of antibodies against influenza A virus in dogs and their owners, as well as the presence of RNA of influenza A virus in nasal exudates of dogs and, thereby, assess the possible transmission of the virus between humans and dogs.

Methods

Serum samples from household dogs and their owners were analyzed to detect the presence of antibodies against three subtypes of human influenza virus (H1N1pdm09, H1N1, and H3N2), as well as subtype H3N8 of equine influenza. We analyzed dog nasal exudates to detect influenza viral RNA. The relationship between the seropositivity of dogs and various factors (age, sex, constantly at home, and seropositivity of owners) was statistically analyzed.

Results

Seroprevalence for human influenza in dogs was 0·9% (1 of 113), and it was 4% (5 of 113) for equine influenza. In humans, seroprevalence was 22% for subtype H1N1pdm09, 20% for subtype H1N1, and 11% for subtype H3N2. No significant association (P > 0·05) was found between seropositivity and any of the assessed factors. Furthermore, no viral RNA was detected in the nasal exudate samples.

Conclusions

Results revealed seroprevalence of the influenza virus in household dogs in Mexico City. It can be assumed that dogs are currently becoming infected with different subtypes of influenza viruses.
Participatory Democracy? Exploring Peru’s Efforts to Engage Civil Society in Local Governance
Authors: McNulty Stephanie
Published: August 2013

As institutions are created to engage citizens and civil society organizations more directly, who participates, and what effect does participation have? This article explores two of Peru’s participatory institutions, the Regional Coordination Councils and the participatory budgets, created in 2002. Specifically it asks, once these institutions are set up, do organizations participate in them? and what effect does this participation have on the organizations? The data show that the participatory processes in Peru are including new voices in decisionmaking, but this inclusion has limits. Limited inclusion has, in turn, led to limited changes specifically in nongovernmental organizations. As a result, the democratizing potential of the participatory institutions is evident yet not fully realized.
Atomic Scale Mechanisms of the Reduction of Nickel–Magnesium Aluminate Spinels
Authors: Hill Brenden E. , Misture Scott T.
Published: August 2013

The dynamics of the reduction reaction of NixMg1−xAl2O4 to form nickel metal and a remnant oxide was quantified to understand spinel behavior in catalysis applications. X‐ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, and pycnometry were employed to track the evolution of high‐Ni spinels to metastable nonstiochiometric spinels during reduction, but before the phase transformation to theta alumina. Rietveld refinements of X‐ray diffraction data were used to quantify structural changes in the spinel and the phase fraction, crystallite size, and microstrain of all phases during H2 reduction. During reduction, one O2− is lost for each Ni2+ reduced to Ni metal. Ni0.25Mg0.75Al2O4 and Ni0.5Mg0.5Al2O4 were shown to form Ni metal and a non‐stoichiometric spinel of the same Mg‐Al ratio as the starting composition. NiAl2O4 and Ni0.75Mg0.25Al2O4 were found to become unstable as full reduction was approached, and metastable spinel, Θ‐Al2O3, and α‐Al2O3 formed sequentially given sufficient time at temperature.