bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
‘Small change of the universal’: beyond modernity?
Authors: Maharaj Sarat
Published: September 2010

The paper is a sounding of Ulrich Beck's and Edgar Grande's conceptual map of the varieties of second modernity – Western and Non‐Western, European and beyond – that makes up today's world. Their mapping is examined in the light of two, striking analytical perspectives associated with Ulrich Beck: everyday ‘cosmopolitization’ and his call for a methodological cosmopolitanism. A line of inquiry explores whether contemporary modernities are essentially expressions of a single, underlying modernization drive or whether they are utterly disparate entities. The implications of treating them as ‘variants and variations’ are unpacked with reference to musical models and how they generate difference. The probe into methodological cosmopolitanism touches on ‘de‐provincialization’ that is somewhat at odds with the postcolonial project of ‘provincializing’ Europe. It looks at the attempt to go beyond ‘nation‐bound’ sociological dualisms in determining the appropriate ‘unit of analysis’ for our ever‐morphing current reality. Does this imply engaging with ‘singularity’– with a mode of conceptualization that sidesteps the universal/particular couple and related either/or thinking? References to the making of the ‘first modernity’ under unequal centre/periphery relations of colonial power are aired for possible lessons in mappings of the second.

Ulrich Beck's ‘impure, really‐existing cosmopolitanism’– in contrast to its speculative counterpart derived from the realm of pure ideas – springs from humdrum global economic and political links and institutions that span out across, above and beyond the ‘container of the national space’. With the inadvertent cosmopolitical impact of the migrations it amounts in practice to a functioning ‘cosmopolitan realpolitik’. Is there room for it to develop or will it stall as a mere front for national, tribal‐territorial interests – going the way of ‘multiculturalism and diversity’ that seem increasingly to serve as governmental ideologies for managing global difference? Whether each of the varieties of second modernity throws up a ‘cosmopolitan vision’ of its own remains to be determined more fully. It seems possible that friction between the modernities might fetch up on a higher plane as clashing cosmopolitanisms. Historical precedents give scant comfort if we look at the fate of the ecumenic empires of the ancient world of the ‘first cosmopolitan age’ or at landmark cosmopolitan endeavours such as Aby Warburg's and WEB Du Bois' on the eve of counter‐cosmopolitan currents of the 1930s. An abiding scepticism prevails about the capacity of ‘impure cosmopolitanism’ to bootstrap and elaborate itself from an involuntary, reflex condition into a self‐reflexive, critical dispensation.
The experimental investigation of soil gas radon migration mechanisms and its implication in earthquake forecast
Authors: CHYI L. L. , QUICK T. J. , YANG T. F. , CHEN C. H.
Published: September 2010

Laboratory experiments were performed to help understand the fluctuations and the spike‐like anomalies of Rn in a time series that was recorded continuously at monitoring stations. One of the experiments indicated that Rn is adsorbed on the surface of sand particles and can be liberated with minor changes in the physical conditions of the containing medium. Another experiment indicated that the liberation of ultra‐trace Rn, adsorbed on the surface of sand, was not very sensitive to small temperature and pressure changes but was responsive to the flow of carrier gases. Among the carrier gases tested, CO2 was preferred because it has a boiling point similar to that of Rn. However, all other gases that are inert to Rn can also be carrier gases. Temperature variation in the supra soil layer can be measured fairly accurately inside double‐insulated PVC pipes that also house the Rn detecting system. Temperature variation appears to be related to localized strain heating that is a part of the earthquake energy variation cycle. Up‐flow of soil gas, caused by the strain heating, induced the sudden release of Rn, which thus appears as a spike‐like anomaly. The migration of soil gases is expected to follow the thermal cycle corresponding to each earthquake cycle. Therefore, the spike‐like anomalies can be used, in conjunction with the temperature variation cycle, as time markers to forecast the time, place, and magnitude of a coming earthquake.
Game restocking and the introduction of sarcoptic mange in wild rabbit in north‐eastern Spain
Authors: Navarro‐Gonzalez N. , Serrano E. , Casas‐Díaz E. , Velarde R. , Marco I. , Rossi L. , Lavín S.
Published: September 2010

The European wild rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus has been recently reclassified as Near Threatened in its natural range in the Red List of Endangered Species by the IUCN, and a huge conservation effort is being undertaken in Spain for this keystone species. Restocking is a frequent measure for wild rabbit population reinforcements and it is also part of predator conservation programmes. However, it can have a negative influence on the resident rabbit population when it is not carried out carefully. In our work, using a model selection procedure based on a theoretic information approach, we analyze which factors favor the presence of sarcoptic mange in some wild rabbit populations in Catalonia (north‐eastern Spain), as well as the trend of rabbit abundance in affected and non‐affected hunting estates. Presence of mange depends on animal abundance and on restocking numbers (22.09%). From the mean rabbit abundance (30 rabbits hunted km−2) and the mean restocking rate (18 rabbits km−2), the probability of being affected increased in nearly 5% when the restocking rate increased in one unit. Rabbit abundance (2001–2007) depends on the presence of mange and on the effect of the year (23.86%), and clearly declined in the hunting estates with mange, whereas abundance is maintained in mange‐free zones. Our results indicate that a sanitary control is necessary when restocking wild rabbit populations. Furthermore, restocking is shown to be a potential way of introducing pathogens to resident populations, especially under conditions of high density.
Signaling a switch: Neural correlates of task switching guided by task cues and transition cues
Authors: West Robert , Langley Moses M. , Bailey Kira
Published: September 2010

Event‐related brain potentials were used to examine the neural correlates of task switching directed by task cues and transition cues. Task cues signal both a change of task set and the task to implement; in contrast, transition cues signal a change of task set but do not indicate the required task. The data from two experiments revealed that the frontal P2 and reconfiguration slow wave were elicited by task and transition cues and may reflect processes associated with the change detector and task set configuration. Experiment 2 revealed that the frontal positivity and transition parietal slow wave are associated with the retrieval of the prior task set from memory. These data indicate that distinct neural processes that are related to the change detector, task set configuration, and the retrieval of a recently utilized task set from memory support task switching that is guided by task and transition cues.
Best management of threatened preterm labour – how to implement the evidence into practice
Authors: Berghella V
Published: September 2010

Please cite this paper as: Berghella V. Best management of threatened preterm labour – how to implement the evidence into practice. BJOG 2010;117:1313–1315.
Assessing the implications of the loss of set‐aside for farmland birds
Authors: GILLINGS SIMON , HENDERSON IAN G. , MORRIS ANTONY J. , VICKERY JULIET A.
Published: September 2010

Between 1988 and 2007, set‐aside, a European Commission production control measure, took an average of 10% of arable farmland in the EU out of production each year. In 2007, the set‐aside rate was set to 0% and the scheme was later abandoned altogether. By assessing associations of farmland birds with set‐aside and quantifying the extent of set‐aside loss, this study aims to assess the implications of set‐aside loss for farmland bird conservation. During the lifespan of set‐aside, a large number of studies assessed the biodiversity value of set‐aside and other agricultural crops and habitats. Where possible we considered measurable benefits of set‐aside. However, some studies did not specify the type of set‐aside and in some cases set‐aside fields were grouped with cereal stubble fields. In these cases, we took the pragmatic approach of assessing the value of generic stubble fields as a conservative minimum estimate of the value of set‐aside fields. A re‐analysis of data from 30 intensive studies demonstrates that farmland bird densities tended to be higher on set‐aside than on either cereal or oilseed rape crops. Without mitigation, these are the two crops likely to replace most set‐aside fields. We estimate that 26–52% of the farmland populations of key granivorous passerines were present on stubble fields, giving an indication of the proportion of birds likely to be present on set‐aside fields within this broader category. An extensive survey of lowland farmland during winters 1999/2000, 2000/2001 and 2002/2003, repeated in February 2008, showed a doubling of the number of 1‐km squares with no stubble and a halving of the number of squares with more than 10 ha of stubble. After set‐aside abandonment, 72% of squares had no stubble in the important late winter period, confirming that many of the former stubble fields were retained as set‐aside. A simple correlative model suggests that this could cause a small increase in the rate of decline of Skylark Alauda arvensis and Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella populations, assuming causal links between stubble area and demography. However, even if this assumption cannot be supported, these results clearly indicate that a significant proportion of some farmland bird populations will need to find alternative breeding and foraging habitats.
IBERIAN CERAMIC PRODUCTION FROM BASTI (BAZA, SPAIN): FIRST GEOCHEMICAL, MINERALOGICAL AND TEXTURAL CHARACTERIZATION
Authors: CULTRONE G. , MOLINA E. , GRIFA C. , SEBASTIÁN E.
Published: September 2010

Ceramic fragments from the archaeological excavation of the Iberian–Roman city of Basti (Spain) were studied from a geochemical point of view and by applying a statistical tool to X‐ray fluorescence data to discover similarities between ceramic materials. The analysis of these samples was completed by performing a mineralogical analysis, textural observation, and by characterizing the porous system and the colour of the pieces. Our results enabled us to identify the source area of the clayey raw material in the surroundings of Basti and to estimate the firing temperature of the ceramics. Differences in the chemistry were confirmed by characteristics of the pastes and the mineralogical composition of the pieces. Some samples show black cores, which would suggest the presence of organic matter in the raw material and fast firing of the ceramics. The main types of temper were quartz grains and gneiss fragments, although carbonate grains were also identified. Our evidence suggests that most of the samples were well fired. New silicate phases were found to be present in several samples. The mercury intrusion porosimetry verified and confirmed the firing temperature of non‐carbonated samples. Colorimetry showed that the colour of the ceramics varied according to the amount of CaO that they contained.
Considerations on a Time‐Democratic Electoral System*
Authors: BARRICELLI LUISA AALL
Published: September 2010

By ‘Time‐Democracy’ is understood a system of representation and government formation in which the relative strength of a party or a coalition determines the fraction of an election period during which the party/coalition will be in executive office. This system is based upon the assumption that the structure of the legislative body as well as the length of the electoral period will be laid down in the constitution. Some questions related to the applicability and practical implementation of the system are discussed.
Canine pedal injury resulting from metal landscape edging
Authors: Duffy Amanda L. , Hackett Timothy B.
Published: September 2010

Background
–
This study was performed to document the frequency and severity of limb injuries that occur when dogs come in contact with metal landscape edging. A retrospective study from 1997 to 2007 was performed at Colorado State University veterinary teaching hospital. Sixty dogs were admitted to hospital for traumatic limb injuries resulting from metal landscape edging identified by a computerized medical records search.

Key Findings
–
Most dogs were young, large breed dogs. All 60 dogs suffered traumatic pedal lacerations when contacting metal landscape edging, the majority of which occurred on the forelimbs. Eighty‐five percent required surgical repair. All 60 dogs were discharged from the hospital and 30 were available for long‐term follow‐up. While most dogs healed with a perfect cosmetic outcome, 3 dogs with tendon involvement developed residual digital deformities.

Significance
–
Dogs are at risk of injury when exposed to metal landscape edging. Severity of pedal injury determines treatment protocol and prognosis for recovery.
Applying close range digital photogrammetry in soil erosion studies
Authors: Peter Heng B. C. , Chandler Jim H. , Armstrong Alona
Published: September 2010

Soil erosion due to rainfall and overland flow is a significant environmental problem. Studying the phenomenon requires accurate high‐resolution measurements of soil surface topography and morphology. Close range digital photogrammetry with an oblique convergent configuration is proposed in this paper as a useful technique for such measurements, in the context of a flume‐scale experimental study. The precision of the technique is assessed by comparing triangulation solutions and the resulting DEMs with varying tie point distributions and control point measurements, as well as by comparing DEMs extracted from different images of the same surface. Independent measurements were acquired using a terrestrial laser scanner for comparison with a DEM derived from photogrammetry. The results point to the need for a stronger geometric configuration to improve precision. They also suggest that the camera lens models were not fully adequate for the large object depths in this study. Nevertheless, the photogrammetric output can provide useful topographical information for soil erosion studies, provided limitations of the technique are duly considered.
A Digital Medium‐Format Camera for Metric Applications—Alpa 12 Metric
Authors: Rieke‐Zapp Dirk H.
Published: September 2010

The Alpa 12 Metric, a medium‐format digital camera system, is presented along with an accuracy assessment in accordance with VDI/VDE 2634 (2002). The camera combines the advantages of a modular medium‐format camera system with high accuracy in object space. Camera calibration revealed a maximum length measurement error of 0·043 mm for a lens with mechanically fixed focusing distance and 0·063 mm for a lens where the focusing ring was taped during image acquisition. Only in the latter case did the maximum length measuring error improve, yielding 0·050 mm when calibrated with image‐variant parameters of interior orientation. A bias towards positive length measurement errors indicated that the set‐up for calibration could be improved and that even better accuracy in object space may be accomplished. The Alpa 12 camera system provides several unique features including lenses with fixed displacement of the principal point for terrestrial and other special applications, rigid tilt adaptors for Scheimpflug correction, shim kits for the fine adjustment of flange focal distance as well as the possibility of mounting a monochrome digital medium‐format back, sensitive to visible and near infrared light. The camera is well suited for terrestrial applications requiring high accuracy and/or large pixel counts.
Assessment of Erosion, Deposition and Rill Development On Irregular Soil Surfaces Using Close Range Digital Photogrammetry
Authors: Gessesse Gizaw D. , Fuchs Helmut , Mansberger Reinfried , Klik Andreas , Rieke‐Zapp Dirk H.
Published: September 2010

Understanding the spatial pattern of erosion in inter‐rill and rill areas can be useful in locating sources of sediment and in determining down‐slope sediment delivery. However, spatial information about erosion processes in the inter‐rill and rill areas under field conditions is often limited owing to the non‐availability of a detailed microtopography. This paper aims to present a method for the survey of microtopographic soil surface changes caused by erosion and to investigate the development of sediment transport and rill erosion in the inter‐rill and rill areas for a given rainfall event. The approach is based on the application of close range digital photogrammetry to produce differences of digital elevation models (DEMs), automatically measured and generated but with manual 3D point editing. Quality analysis of the DEM measurements has shown that erosion and deposition can be detected with a relative error of ±2·8 to ±5·3 mm. The minimum average sediment yield from plots with an area of 53 m

2

after the occurrence of 46 to 70 mm of erosive rainfall was estimated to be 1·24 to 3·5 kg m

−2

. The spatial pattern of erosion and deposition on inter‐rill and rill areas has proved the relative efficiency of rills to transport sediments from inter‐rill areas with a sediment delivery ratio greater than one. Thus at erosive rainfall events, the transport capacity of the rill flow was not a limiting condition. The rill network was controlled by abrupt change in surface microtopography where rough surfaces produced many smaller rills but fewer contributing rills than relatively smooth surfaces. Tillage‐induced surface roughness, the presence of stones and sparse vegetation, and the borders of individual plots were found to present challenges to the photogrammetric techniques, and to introduce errors which inhibit fully automatic DEM generation. The precision of the DEMs was constrained by the precision of ground control points (GCPs), camera lens distortion towards format edges and DEM extraction parameters. Despite this limitation, however, the application of digital photogrammetry enabled the measurement of high‐frequency microtopographic surfaces and characterisation of the spatial distribution of erosion and deposition and of rill erosion development during highly erosive rainfall events.
Pet therapy in elderly patients with mental illness
Authors: MORETTI Francesca , DE RONCHI Diana , BERNABEI Virginia , MARCHETTI Lucia , FERRARI Barbara , FORLANI Claudia , NEGRETTI Francesca , SACCHETTI Cleta , ATTI Anna Rita
Published: September 2010

Background:  To evaluate the effects of pet therapy on cognitive function, mood and perceived quality of life on elderly inpatients (mean age 84.7 years; 95.2% women) affected by dementia, depression and psychosis.

Methods:  Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) and 15‐items Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) were administered to 10 patients (pet group) and 11 controls (control group) together with a self‐perceived quality‐of‐life questionnaire, before and after a pet therapy intervention that lasted 6 weeks. MMSE and GDS mean scores were compared between and within groups by Student's t‐test.

Results:  Both the pet group and control group improved on GDS and MMSE. Within the pet group, GDS symptoms decreased by 50% (from 5.9 to 2.7, P= 0.013), whereas mean MMSE score increased by 4.5 (P= 0.060). The between group comparison showed a positive effect of pet therapy intervention on GDS (P= 0.070). Most of the participants reported an improvement of their perceived quality of life.

Conclusions:  Pet therapy is efficient in improving depressive symptoms and cognitive function in residents of long‐term care facilities with mental illness.
Double‐Dose, New‐Generation Proton Pump Inhibitors Do Not Improve Helicobacter pylori Eradication Rate
Authors: Choi Hyo Sun , Park Dong Il , Hwang Sang Jun , Park Jung Sik , Kim Hong Joo , Cho Yong Kyun , Sohn Chong Il , Jeon Woo Kyu , Kim Byung Ik
Published: September 2010

Background:  Up to present, omeprazole plus two antibiotics are used for Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy . Few studies have compared double‐dose new‐generation, proton pump inhibitors (PPI) with omeprazole. Therefore, we conducted a randomized, prospective study to evaluate differences in H. pylori eradication rates by PPI type.

Material and Methods:  Between January 2006 and December 2006, 576 consecutive patients with proven H. pylori infection were enrolled prospectively. Four different PPIs [omeprazole 20 mg b.i.d. (old generation), or pantoprazole 40 mg b.i.d., rabeprazole 20 mg b.i.d., or esomeprazole 40 mg b.i.d. (new generation)] were added to clarithromycin (500 mg b.i.d.) and amoxicillin (1 g b.i.d.) for 1 week.

Results:  By intention‐to‐treat analysis, no difference was found between the eradication rates of these four PPIs: 64.9% (omeprazole, n = 148), 69.3% (pantoprazole, n = 140), 69.3% (rabeprazole, n = 140), and 72.9% (esomoprazole, n = 148). When eradication rates were analyzed according to whether patients had an ulcer or not on a per‐protocol basis, no difference was found between the eradication rates of the four PPIs. However, side‐effects were more common in the esomeprazole‐based triple therapy group than in the other groups (p < .05).

Conclusions:  No convincing evidence was obtained that double‐dose new‐generation PPIs have better H. pylori eradication rates and tolerability than omeprazole.
Conventional, Regulatory, and Unconventional T Cells in the Immunologic Response to Helicobacter pylori
Authors: O’Keeffe Joan , Moran Anthony P.
Published: September 2010

Infection by the gastroduodenal pathogen Helicobacter pylori elicits a complex immunologic response in the mucosa involving neutrophils, plasma cells, eosinophils, and lymphocytes, of which T cells are the principal orchestrators of immunity. While so‐called classical T cells (e.g. T‐helper cells) that are activated by peptide fragments presented on antigen‐presenting cells have received much attention in H. pylori infection, there exists a diverse array of other T cell populations that are potentially important for the outcome of the ensuing immune response, some of which have not been extensively studied in H. pylori infection. Pathogen‐specific regulatory T cells that control and prevent the development of immunopathology associated with H. pylori infection have been investigated, but these cells can also benefit the bacterium in helping to prolong the chronicity of the infection by suppressing protective immune responses. An overlooked T cell population, the more recently described Th17 cells, may play a role in H. pylori‐induced inflammation, due to triggering responses that ultimately lead to the recruitment of polymorphs, including neutrophils. The so‐called innate or unconventional T cells, that include two conserved T cell subsets expressing invariant antigen‐specific receptors, the CD1d‐restricted natural killer T cells which are activated by glycolipids, and the mucosal‐associated invariant T cells which play a role in defense against orally acquired pathogens in the intestinal mucosa, have only begun to receive attention. A greater knowledge of the range of T cell responses induced by H. pylori is required for a deeper understanding of the pathogenesis of this bacterium and its ability to perpetuate chronic infection, and could reveal new strategies for therapeutic exploitation.
Effects of Aspirin on the Development of Helicobacter pylori‐Induced Gastric Inflammation and Heterotopic Proliferative Glands in Mongolian Gerbils
Authors: Li Guo Qing , Xia Harry H. X. , Chen Min Hu , Tsukamoto Tetsuya , Tatematsu Masae , Gu Qing , Qiao Liang , Cho C. H. , So Wallace H. L. , Yuen M. F. , Hu Pin Jin , Liang Ying Jie , Lin Han Liang , Chan Annie O. O. , Wong Benjamin C. Y.
Published: September 2010

Background:  Helicobacter pylori infection is a major cause of gastritis and gastric carcinoma. Aspirin has anti‐inflammatory and antineoplastic activity. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of aspirin on H. pylori‐induced gastritis and the development of heterotopic proliferative glands.

Methods:  H. pylori strain SS1 was inoculated into the stomachs of Mongolian gerbils. Two weeks after inoculation, the animals were fed with the powder diets containing 0 p.p.m. (n = 10), 150 p.p.m. (n = 10), or 500 p.p.m. (n = 10) aspirin. Mongolian gerbils were killed after 36 weeks of infection. Uninfected Mongolian gerbils (n = 10) were used as controls. Histologic changes, epithelial cell proliferation and apoptosis, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels of gastric tissue were determined.

Results:  H. pylori infection induced gastric inflammation. Administration of aspirin did not change H. pylori‐induced gastritis, but alleviated H. pylori‐induced hyperplasia and the development of heterotopic proliferative glands. Administration of aspirin accelerated H. pylori‐associated apoptosis but decreased H. pylori‐associated cell proliferation. In addition, the increased gastric PGE2 levels due to H. pylori infection were suppressed by treatment with aspirin, especially at the dose of 500 p.p.m.

Conclusions:  Aspirin alleviates H. pylori‐induced hyperplasia and the development of heterotopic proliferative glands. Moreover, aspirin increases H. pylori‐induced apoptosis. We demonstrated the antineoplastic activities of aspirin in H. pylori‐related gastric carcinogenesis.
Genetics of Epilepsy: An Overview
Authors: Treiman Lucy J.
Published: September 2010

Studies of the genetics of epilepsy have, until recently, involved epidemiologic or segregation analyses of phenotypic characteristics of a number of seizure disorders. Technical advances in molecular biology involving gene mapping and gene identification have made it possible to examine the heritability of various epilepsy syndromes. Using “reverse genetics” or positional cloning, it is possible to identify an abnormal protein through gene isolation and cloning. Genes are localized through analysis of linkage to phenotypic markers (proteins) or DNA markers such as restriction fragment length polymorphisms, variable number of tandem repeats, and dinucleotides. Methods used to obtain DNA of interest involve digestion of genomic DNA with specific restriction endonucleases or amplification of DNA by polymerase chain reaction technology. Gel electrophoresis is the basis for the separation of different sized DNA. Inherited disorders for which a gene has been cloned or localized have highly penetrant, well‐defined clinical phenotypes with no remissions and abundant clinical material. Genetic epilepsies, however, are variably penetrant age‐dependent disorders with heterogenous clinical phenotypes. Despite these difficulties, three genetic epilepsies have been mapped to specific chromosomes: benign familial neonatal convulsions to 20q, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy to 6p, and Baltic progressive myoclonus epilepsy to 21q. Further progress in understanding genetic epilepsies will depend on better definition of syndrome phenotypes, isolation of the epilepsy gene(s), and identification of the abnormal protein(s).
The Absence Epilepsies
Authors: Porter Roger J.
Published: September 2010

Four syndromes comprise the absence epilepsies. Each is classically associated with the absence seizure, although other syndromes also have absence attacks as part of their repertoire. The most common syndrome is childhood absence epilepsy; it usually occurs in the age range of 6–7 years. The absence seizures may occur many times daily, and the electroencephalographic (EEG) characteristics are the most typical of the absence epilepsies. The second form of absence epilepsies is juvenile absence epilepsy; it begins near puberty and may represent a continuum from the childhood form. Myoclonic seizures are more common than in the childhood form, and the spike‐wave discharges in the EEG are often faster than that seen in childhood absence epilepsy. The third form of absence epilepsy is juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, characterized especially by myoclonic jerks in the morning; these attacks occasionally progress to generalized tonic‐clonic seizures. The final form of absence epilepsy is epilepsy with myoclonic absences, a rare disorder with a specific form of absence seizures. The absence seizure itself is observed to a greater or lesser extent in all of these syndromes. This seizure is a curious event, and its causes are poorly explained by current knowledge of the fundamental mechanisms of the epilepsies. Although the etiology of the absence seizure at a biochemical level is unknown, some studies suggest that certain low‐threshold calcium ion currents (T currents), which are partially controlled by GABA‐B mechanisms, may activate burst firing of thalamic neurons, initiating an absence seizure. The evidence of a genetic predisposition for the absence epilepsies is overwhelming. Although the nature of the genetic abnormality remains unclear, promising investigations may soon reveal the location and the nature of the genetic defect.
Benign Focal Epilepsies of Childhood
Authors: Holmes Gregory L.
Published: September 2010

Until relatively recently, genetic influences in partial seizures were thought to be of minimal importance. However, with further identification of childhood benign partial seizures it is becoming clear that inheritance plays a major role in the pathogenesis of these seizures. Diagnostic criteria proposed for benign partial seizures include absence of neurologic or intellectual deficits, family history of epilepsy, onset of seizures after age 2 years, stereotyped brief seizures, frequent nocturnal occurrence, spontaneous remission in adolescence, and electroencephalograms (EEGs) demonstrating spikes with a distinctive morphology and localization superimposed on normal background activity. The two most commonly described benign partial epilepsies of childhood are benign Rolandic epilepsy (BRE) and benign occipital epilepsy (BOE). Both disorders begin in childhood, are associated with characteristic EEG patterns, have seizures that are easily controlled with medication, often are familial, and have an excellent prognosis. The other benign partial seizure disorders in children that have been described are not as well studied as BOE and BRE, and the role of inheritance pattern, if any, is less clear.
Metabolic and Degenerative Diseases Associated with Epilepsy
Authors: Cohen Bruce H.
Published: September 2010

Identifying the specific etiology of epilepsy is often difficult. The search for the cause often leads the clinician to suspect inborn errors of intermediary metabolism and other degenerative metabolic diseases. Although these uncommon diseases are often difficult to determine, a correct diagnosis is critical for treatment and genetic counseling. A review of the relavent biochemistry will aid in understanding the pathophysiology of seizures in these conditions. The streamlined approach to the initial laboratory evaluation that is offered will enable the clinician to screen for most metabolic and degenerative diseases that are associated with epilepsy.
Axon Sprouting and Synaptic Reorganization of GABAergic Interneurons: A Focused Look at a General Question
Authors: Dudek F. Edward
Published: September 2010

Surviving Hilar Somatostatin Interneurons Enlarge, Sprout Axons, and Form New Synapses with Granule Cells in a Mouse Model of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. Zhang W, Yamawaki R, Wen X, Uhl J, Diaz J, Prince DA, Buckmaster PS. J Neurosci 2009;29(45):14247–14256. In temporal lobe epilepsy, seizures initiate in or near the hippocampus, which frequently displays loss of neurons, including inhibitory interneurons. It is unclear whether surviving interneurons function normally, are impaired, or develop compensatory mechanisms. We evaluated GABAergic interneurons in the hilus of the dentate gyrus of epileptic pilocarpine-treated GIN mice, specifically a subpopulation of somatostatin interneurons that expresses enhanced green fluorescence protein (GFP). GFP-immunocytochemistry and stereological analyses revealed substantial loss of GFP-positive hilar neurons (GPHNs) but increased GFP-positive axon length per dentate gyrus in epileptic mice. Individual biocytin-labeled GPHNs in hippocampal slices from epileptic mice also had larger somata, more axon in the molecular layer, and longer dendrites than controls. Dual whole-cell patch recording was used to test for monosynaptic connections from hilar GPHNs to granule cells. Unitary inhibitory postsynaptic currents (uIPSCs) recorded in control and epileptic mice had similar average rise times, amplitudes, charge transfers, and decay times. However, the probability of finding monosynaptically connected pairs and evoking uIPSCs was 2.6 times higher in epileptic mice compared to controls. Together, these findings suggest that surviving hilar somatostatin interneurons enlarge, extend dendrites, sprout axon collaterals in the molecular layer, and form new synapses with granule cells. These epilepsy-related changes in cellular morphology and connectivity may be mechanisms for surviving hilar interneurons to inhibit more granule cells and compensate for the loss of vulnerable interneurons.
Coram Meipso: Presence, Privilege, and Vocations in Feminist and Lutheran Languages
Authors: Riswold Caryn D.
Published: September 2010

Abstract:  Themes of simultaneity and complex identity emerge when considering the human person using Lutheran theological constructs and feminist theoretical analysis. Focusing on human life coram meipso does not mean committing the error of pride that Luther and his Augustinian brothers so feared. Instead, coupled with a robust understanding of interlocking systems of privilege and oppression, looking into ourselves illuminates multiple vocations for justice that we have in the world.
Theme Articles: Luther, Feminism, Friendship and the Future
Authors: Thompson Deanna
Published: September 2010

Abstract:  This article traces the author's journey of becoming a Lutheran feminist theologian. Drawing on insights from both Lutheran and feminist traditions, the author proposes a shift in Christian vocation imagery from that of servant to friend. She then argues that call to friendship includes subverting global structures of domination. The article ends with an invitation to join the expanding conversation about how Lutheran and feminist frameworks address the needs of our contemporary world.
Theme Articles: Mujerismo and The Two Kin‐doms: Distinction and Reconciliation
Authors: Vargas Alicia
Published: September 2010

Abstract:  The theological ethics underlining mujeristas' theological praxis and Luther's Two Kingdoms doctrine may seem to be contradictory to some. Mujerista theology calls for active engagement in the public sphere. Despite its utilization to the contrary, Luther's Two Kingdoms doctrine calls for that same active engagement of the Christian in civic matters. As a Lutheran Latina, I posit that the theological ethics of mujeristas and Luther's Two Kingdoms are distinct but reconcilable.
Quick Resolution of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy: A Brief Review
Authors: Kumar Sanjay , Mostow Nelson , Grimm Richard A.
Published: September 2010

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is characterized by transient mid‐ and apical ventricular dysfunction disguising as acute coronary syndrome but carries a good prognosis. Though spontaneous resolution is common, clinical manifestations may last weeks. We describe a case of quick resolution of left ventricular dysfunction and clinical symptom. We also reviewed the literature regarding timing and possible sources of variation in improvement in ventricular function.
THE NEIGHBOURHOOD EFFECT IN A LOCAL ELECTION
Authors: Wolfe J.S. , Burghardt A.F.
Published: September 2010

One of the more popular ideas in electoral geography is that there is a positive correlation between residential proximity and voting behaviour. Often referred to as the neighbourhood effect, the idea is quite simply that individuals within a given local area tend to vote similarly. The process involves, it is suggested, social contacts between neighbours leading to political discussion and information flow which exerts an influence on the way people vote. Closely related to, but distinguishable from the neighbourhood effect is the friends‐and‐neighbours effect whereby neighbours of a particular candidate will tend to know him better, discuss him more, and support him more avidly than they will other candidates. Since the concepts of the neighbourhood effect and the friends‐and‐neighbours effect have been adopted into the literature of political geography, and have become central as explanatory models for certain spatial patterns of voting behaviour,1 the rather inconclusive and contradictory findings of researchers using these concepts require examination, and the concepts and process require an empirical test.
DIRECT PERCEPTION AND PICTORIAL PERCEPTION OF THE PRAIRIE
Authors: Ironside J.A. Sybesma
Published: September 2010

Reply to “Images of the Prairie: Landscape Painting and Perception in the Western Interior of Canada,” an article by Ronald Rees in The Canadian Geographer, xx (1976), 259–78.

Ronald Rees has suggested that insight into the history of pioneer settlements might be gained by studying the paintings of some artists who depicted the prairie. Pointing out that his essay is actually “a study of the perception of artists only,” he surveys briefly a number of prairie landscape painters active during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, with the intention of demonstrating possible changes in the “perceptual environment” on the basis of depictions of the prairie made during the last two centuries.
GOVERNMENT AND THE CANADIAN URBAN SYSTEM: INCOME TAX, TRANSFER PAYMENTS, AND EMPLOYMENT
Authors: Simmons James W.
Published: September 2010

The impact of government on the Canadian urban system is explored using Revenue Canada data from personal income tax returns. Variations in taxes and in certain forms of government expenditure among urban places are linked with city size, economic base, per capita income, and rate of growth. It is found that many locations are heavily dependent on the public sector and that, overall, government programmes redistribute income toward smaller and less prosperous places. The most significant effect, however, is the stabilization of local economies by means of a large and relatively constant public sector.

L'impact du gouvernement sur le système urbain canadien est étudié en utilisant des données de Revenu Canada qui proviennent des déclarations d'impǒt sur le revenu des particuliers. Les variations de taxes et de certains types de dépenses publiques parmi les régions urbaines sont associés avec les variables de taille urbaine, base économique, revenu per capita, et taux de croissance. Il est démontré que plusieurs régions sont fortement dépendantes du secteur public et que, globalement, les programmes gouvernementaux redistribuent le revenue vers les régions les plus petites et les moins prospères. Mais l'effet le plus significatif est celui de la stabilisation des économies locales par le biais d'un large et relativement constant secteur public.
SOME REGIONAL THEMES IN THE WRITINGS OF D.H. LAWRENCE
Authors: Simpson‐Housley Paul , Paul Alec H.
Published: September 2010

The major works of D.H. Lawrence are analysed in a regional sense according to four major themes: the idyllic landscapes of rural England, the despoiled industrial landscapes, the harmonious Italian landscapes, and the awesome American landscapes. Lawrence's mode of perception, the result of his dualistic personal vision and of his cultural conditioning, is shown to be a crucial feature of his landscape description. Geographers should regard the powerful impact of his regional passages as an indication of the importance of feeling — or ‘blood consciousness’—in the understanding of regional differences.

Les oeuvres majeures de D.H. Lawrence sont analysées sous une optique régionale selon quatre thèmes majeurs: les paysages idylliques de la campagne anglaise, la dévastation des paysages industriels, l'harmonie des paysages italiens ainsi que la grandeur impressionnante des paysages américains. Le mode de perception de Lawrence, le résultat de sa vision personnelle dualiste et son conditionnement culturel, semble ětre un aspect crucial de ses descriptions de paysages. Les géographes devraient considérer l'image de choc très forte des paysages régionaux de son oeuvre comme étant une indication de l'importance du sentiment de « conscience des liens du sang » en vue de la compréhension des diversités régionales.
UVB RADIATION DISTRIBUTION IN CANADA DURING 1992 AND 1993
Authors: KRZEMINSKA HANNA B. , JACKSON PETER L. , LOWE ROBERT P.
Published: September 2010

One of the steps leading to an assessment of the biological significance of ozone destruction is to determine the biologically effective ultraviolet radiation (UVB) distribution. The objective of this study is to describe and analyze broadband UVB radiation at 24 locations across Canada, during the period from July 1992 through December 1993. This is the first study of broadband UVB measurements involving such a large number of UVB measuring instruments. Quantitative characteristics and statistical analysis of the surface UVB radiation in Canada with respect to ozone amount, as well as cloudiness, are presented. The results indicate higher UVB irradiance in the second half of 1992, compared with the same period in 1993. Among all the locations, Toronto received the greatest dose of UVB radiation in 1993. Excluding Yellowknife, due to its northernmost location (larger zenith angles), Ste‐Agathe, Quebec received the smallest dose. Unusually high UVB fluxes were found to occur in March 1993 over eastern Canada. A study of the correlation of UVB radiation with total ozone and cloud opacity was carried out for most of the locations. The results suggest that other meteorological parameters have a significant impact on the ultraviolet levels.
CANADA AND ITS MAJOR REGIONS: BOUCHETTE, PARKIN, ROGERS, INNIS, HUTCHISON
Authors: WARKENTIN JOHN
Published: September 2010

Through their analyses and interpretations of Canada's major regions, selected significant authors from the early‐19th to the mid‐20th century provide a deeper understanding of Canada. Each author reveals the geographical circumstances and life of the country for the period in which he writes. Joseph Bouchette in the 1830s grapples with devising regional divisions in British North America in a mercantilist era and when parts of the continent were only dimly known; George R. Parkin and J.D. Rogers in the 1890s and 1910s depict Canadian regions in the process of being transformed in the decades when the CPR finally made it possible for Canada to function effectively across an entire continent; Harold Innis in the 1920s links the origin of the CPR to its regional underpinnings, in the context of sectional power relationships; and Bruce Hutchison in the 1940s and 50s portrays the ‘personality’ of Canada's regions, and regional tensions through the lives and perceptions of inhabitants in the various sections. The thick slice of Canadian regional writing represented by these authors shows that regions change profoundly, but regional and cultural distinctiveness persists, and that sectional rivalries have deep roots.

Une sélection d'écrivains connus ayant vécu entre la première moitié du 19ème siècle nous offre une compréhension plus approfondie du Canada grâce à leurs analyses et à leurs interprétations des plus importantes régions du Canada. Chaque auteur révèle les conditions géographiques et la vie du pays à l'époque à laquelle il écrit. Au cours des années 1830, Joseph Bouchette travaille à délimiter les divisions régionales de l'Amérique du Nord britannique à une époque mercantiliste, époque où certaines parties du contient étaient fort peu connues; au cours des années 1890 et 1910, George R. Parkin et J.D. Rogers décrivent les régions du Canada en train d'évoluer au cours des décennies où le CPR rend enfin possible l'ouverture du Canada d'un bout à l'autre du continent, assurant ainsi le fonctionnement efficace du pays; au cours des années 1920, Harold Innis rattache l'origine du CPR aux conditions préexistant dans les régions, dans le contexte d'une dynamique des pouvoirs opérante entre ces régions; au cours des années 1940 et 1950, Bruce Hutchinson fait le portrait de la ‘personnalité’ de chaque région du Canada ainsi que des tensions interrégionales à travers la vie et les perceptions de leurs habitants. L'importante somme des témoignages écrits sur les régions du Canada tels qu'offerts par ces auteurs démontre que les régions se transforment profondément, mais que les distinctions régionales et culturelles demeurent et que les rivalités entre régions ont de profondes racines.
DISPERSED CITY FORM IN CANADA: A KITCHENER CMA CASE EXAMPLE
Authors: BUNTING TRUDI E. , FILION PIERRE
Published: September 2010

This case study illustrates that some Canadian cities are not as compact and centralized as conventional wisdom would have us believe. The spatial structure of Kitchener CMA is shown to be ‘dispersed’ based on empirical trends towards lower population densities, outward spreading of jobs, retailing and other activities, CBD decline, increased open space, a transportation system that is singularly dependent on auto use, and an overriding demand for residential settings deemed to be ‘private’ and ‘rural‐like’. The paper acknowledges factors unique to the case study locale that have precipitated dispersed city form. It argues that some other Canadian cities can be expected to share fundamental features of Kitchener's dispersed city form, most notably metropolitan areas that amalgamate two or more historically autonomous cities, but also smaller metropolitan areas and/or ones specialized in manufacturing industry. As regards Canadian cities in general, the paper also makes the point that most parts of all cities built since World War II are primarily dispersed in form. Conceptually, this paper explains dispersion as a change in balance between three sets of factors ‐ ‘space’, ‘proximity’, and ‘place’ ‐ that configure in the locational decision making that underlies urban development.

Cette étude de cas révèle l'existence d'une plus grande dispersion urbaine au Canada qu'on ne le laisse généralement entendre. Plusieurs facteurs rendent compte du fort niveau de dispersion de la structure spatiale de la région métropolitaine de Kitchener: densité résidentielle en décroissance, mouvement de l'emploi ainsi que des activités commerciales et autres vers la périphèrie, quantité grandissante d'espaces verts, un système de transport orienté presqu'exlusivement vers l'automobile et une prédilection pour les secteurs résidenties qui offrent de grandes quantités d'espace privé ainsi qu'une proximité de la campagne. Cet article attritue la dispersion urbaine de Kitchener à certains facteurs qui sont propres à cette agglomération. Il soutient également la thèse selon laquelle d'autres régions métropolitaines canadiennes partagent les caractéristiques de Kitchener qui en font une agglomération dispersée. Ceci est le cas notamment des agglomérations qui résultent d'une fusion de plusieurs centres, de celles qui sont de petite et de moyenne taille et, enfin, de celles où le secteur manufacturer joue un grand rôle. L'article maintient aussi que dans toutes les agglomérations canadiennes, les secteurs construits depuis la guerre ont adopté une forme dispersée. Sur un plan conceptuel, cet article impute la dispersion urbaine à un changement dans l'importance respective de trois facteurs de localisation: l'espace métropolitain, la proximité sectorielle, et les particularités des sites urbains.