bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psychosocial Influences on Vaccine Responses
Authors: Phillips Anna C.
Published: September 2011

Interdisciplinary work between psychologists and immunologists has shown that factors like stress could be the trigger that leads to the development of a bout of illness. By studying the response to vaccination, we can examine immune function in the context of the rest of the body in a clinically meaningful way. This technique has been used to demonstrate consistent relationships between stress and the response to influenza vaccination and other vaccines, as well as links between other factors, such as social support and personality, and vaccination‐induced protection against disease. There are several ways the vaccination response can be used to understand more about how stress influences immunity. In addition, specific types of stress and other factors that influence our immune response appear to differ across different populations, which emphasises the importance of taking a life course approach to studying these relationships.
Resilience in the Context of Chronic Stress and Health in Adults
Authors: Schetter Christine Dunkel , Dolbier Christyn
Published: September 2011

Over the past several decades, stress research has experienced a broadening of its pathologic focus to encompass the concept of resilience. There is a wealth of research on resilience but no general consensus regarding its conceptualization. Some define resilience as attaining eventual favorable outcomes following exposure to adversity. Others define it as specific relatively short‐term responses characterized by a return to homeostasis after initial disruption due to a stressor, and still others refer to resilience as resources that enable the individual to withstand or recover from major stressors. Many of the existing conceptualizations of resilience are not applicable in the context of chronic stress which is particularly harmful to health. How do adults who experience chronic stress survive, manage, and thrive, and what resources enable them to do so? In this paper, we consider these questions by reviewing traditions of research and definitions of resilience in order to inform an understanding of resilience in general, and for the study of chronic stress in adults. Based on a review of the literature, we developed a taxonomy of resilience resources that can be applied broadly, and guide future research.
Hypervelocity capture of meteoritic particles in nonsilica aerogels
Authors: JONES Steven M. , FLYNN George
Published: September 2011

Abstract– The Stardust mission captured particles from the comet 81P/Wild 2 in gradient density silica aerogel and returned the collected samples to earth in 2006. The analyses of these particles have revealed several new insights into the formation of our solar system. However, since the aerogel used as the capture material was silica, the elemental analyses of the silica‐rich particles were made more complicated in certain ways due to the mixing of the silicon of the particles and that of the aerogel. By using a nonsilica aerogel, future elemental analyses of silica–rich particles captured in aerogel could be made more straightforward. Resorcinol/formaldehyde (RF), alumina, and zirconia aerogels were impact tested with meteoritic fragments and the captured fragments were mapped with synchrotron‐based X‐ray microprobe (XRM) and the particles were analyzed with X‐ray fluorescence (XRF). The resorcinol/formaldehyde aerogel proved to be the best capture material, in that it could be keystoned and XRF could be used to locate and analyze particles that were less than 10 μm.
Characterization of multiple lithologies within the lunar feldspathic regolith breccia meteorite Northeast Africa 001
Authors: SNAPE Joshua F. , JOY Katherine H. , CRAWFORD Ian A.
Published: September 2011

Abstract– Lunar meteorite Northeast Africa (NEA) 001 is a feldspathic regolith breccia. This study presents the results of electron microprobe and LA‐ICP‐MS analyses of a section of NEA 001. We identify a range of lunar lithologies including feldspathic impact melt, ferroan noritic anorthosite and magnesian feldspathic clasts, and several very‐low titanium (VLT) basalt clasts. The largest of these basalt clasts has a rare earth element (REE) pattern with light‐REE (LREE) depletion and a positive Euanomaly. This clast also exhibits low incompatible trace element (ITE) concentrations (e.g., <0.1 ppm Th, <0.5 ppm Sm), indicating that it has originated from a parent melt that did not assimilate KREEP material. Positive Eu‐anomalies and such low‐ITE concentrations are uncharacteristic of most basalts returned by the Apollo and Luna missions, and basaltic lunar meteorite samples. We suggest that these features are consistent with the VLT clasts crystallizing from a parent melt which was derived from early mantle cumulates that formed prior to the separation of plagioclase in the lunar magma ocean, as has previously been proposed for some other lunar VLT basalts. Feldspathic impact melts within the sample are found to be more mafic than estimations for the composition of the upper feldspathic lunar crust, suggesting that they may have melted and incorporated material from the lower lunar crust (possibly in large basin‐forming events). The generally feldspathic nature of the impact melt clasts, lack of a KREEP component, and the compositions of the basaltic clasts, leads us to suggest that the meteorite has been sourced from the Outer‐Feldspathic Highlands Terrane (FHT‐O), probably on the lunar farside and within about 1000 km of sources of both Low‐Ti and VLT basalts, the latter possibly existing as cryptomaria deposits.
Correlated microanalysis of cometary organic grains returned by Stardust
Authors: De GREGORIO Bradley T. , STROUD Rhonda M. , CODY George D. , NITTLER Larry R. , DAVID KILCOYNE A. L. , WIRICK Sue
Published: September 2011

Abstract– Carbonaceous matter in Stardust samples returned from comet 81P/Wild 2 is observed to contain a wide variety of organic functional chemistry. However, some of this chemical variety may be due to contamination or alteration during particle capture in aerogel. We investigated six carbonaceous Stardust samples that had been previously analyzed and six new samples from Stardust Track 80 using correlated transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure spectroscopy (XANES), and secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS). TEM revealed that samples from Track 35 containing abundant aliphatic XANES signatures were predominantly composed of cometary organic matter infilling densified silica aerogel. Aliphatic organic matter from Track 16 was also observed to be soluble in the epoxy embedding medium. The nitrogen‐rich samples in this study (from Track 22 and Track 80) both contained metal oxide nanoparticles, and are likely contaminants. Only two types of cometary organic matter appear to be relatively unaltered during particle capture. These are (1) polyaromatic carbonyl‐containing organic matter, similar to that observed in insoluble organic matter (IOM) from primitive meteorites, interplanetary dust particles (IDPs), and in other carbonaceous Stardust samples, and (2) highly aromatic refractory organic matter, which primarily constitutes nanoglobule‐like features. Anomalous isotopic compositions in some of these samples also confirm their cometary heritage. There also appears to be a significant labile aliphatic component of Wild 2 organic matter, but this material could not be clearly distinguished from carbonaceous contaminants known to be present in the Stardust aerogel collector.
BEING WITH
Authors: DARWALL STEPHEN
Published: September 2011

abstract

What is it for two or more people to be with one another or together? And what role do empathic psychological processes play, either as essential constituents or as typical elements? As I define it, to be genuinely with each other, persons must be jointly aware of their mutual openness to mutual relating. This means, I argue, that being with is a second‐personal phenomenon in the sense I discuss in The Second‐Person Standpoint. People who are with each other are in one another's presence, where the latter is a matter of second‐personal standing or authority, as in the divine presence or in the king's presence. To be with someone is, therefore, to give the other second‐personal standing, implicitly, to claim it for oneself and, thus, to enter into a relation of mutual accountability. Second‐personal relating, I argue, requires a distinctive form of empathy, projective empathy, through which we imaginatively occupy others' perspectives and view ourselves as if from their point of view. Projective empathy is thus an essential constituent of “being with.” But it is not the only form of empathy that being with typically involves. Further, I discuss ways in which emotional contagion, affect attunement, as well as projective empathy typically enter into the complex psychological (and ethical) phenomenon of being with another person.
WILL THE REAL EMPATHY PLEASE STAND UP? A CASE FOR A NARROW CONCEPTUALIZATION
Authors: COPLAN AMY
Published: September 2011

abstract

A longstanding problem with the study of empathy is the lack of a clear and agreed upon definition. A trend in the recent literature is to respond to this problem by advancing a broad and all‐encompassing view of empathy that applies to myriad processes ranging from mimicry and imitation to high‐level perspective taking. I argue that this response takes us in the wrong direction and that what we need in order to better understand empathy is a narrower conceptualization, not a broader one. I propose that empathy be conceptualized as a complex, imaginative process through which an observer simulates another person's situated psychological states while maintaining clear self–other differentiation. I defend my view through an examination of three processes: emotional contagion, a process of self‐oriented perspective taking that I call “pseudo‐empathy,” and empathy proper. Drawing on recent findings in social neuroscience, I highlight the differences among these processes and discuss conceptual, empirical, and normative reasons for keeping them theoretically and conceptually distinct.
DEFINING EMPATHY: THOUGHTS ON COPLAN'S APPROACH
Authors: MILLER CHRISTIAN
Published: September 2011

abstract

In this paper, I raise three sets of issues inspired by Amy Coplan's paper, “Will the Real Empathy Please Stand Up.” They concern whether we need to distinguish between the three phenomena as Coplan suggests, what method(s) should be used in making those distinctions, and whether they are in fact made correctly.
REPLY TO JUSTIN D'ARMS AND LORI WATSON
Authors: SLOTE MICHAEL
Published: September 2011

abstract

Justin D'Arms says that moral disapproval is more closely tied to anger than to the “empathic chill” effect I emphasized in Moral Sentimentalism, but I argue that anger is in several ways inappropriate or unsatisfactory as a basis for understanding disapproval. I go on to explain briefly why I think we need not share D'Arms's worries about the possibility of nonveridical empathy but then focus on what he says about the reference‐fixing theory of moral terminology defended in Moral Sentimentalism. I explain why I think his interpretations of my view—both at the Spindel Conference and subsequently—misunderstand the (Kripkean) character of that view. My reply to Lori Watson questions whether her criticisms of Moral Sentimentalism's account of morality are sufficiently sensitive to the self−other asymmetry that typifies so much of ordinary moral thinking.
IMAGINING REASONS
Authors: KENNETT JEANETTE
Published: September 2011

abstract

In this article, I explore the implications of Karsten Stueber's account of imaginative resistance, particularly as it relates to the phenomenon of moral dumbfounding described by Jonathan Haidt and colleagues. I suggest that Stueber's account allows us to redescribe the phenomenon as a failure of the folk psychological project of interpretation and so to challenge Haidt's metaethical conclusions. I close by considering some implications for moral deliberation and judgment in those, such as autistic people, whose interpretive capacities are impaired.
KANT ON ENLIGHTENED MORAL PEDAGOGY
Authors: MERRITT MELISSA MCBAY
Published: September 2011

abstract

For Kant, the ideal of enlightenment is most fundamentally expressed as a self‐developed soundness of judgment. But what does this mean when the judgment at issue is practical, that is, concerns the good to be brought about through action? I argue that the moral context places special demands on the ideal of enlightenment. This is revealed through an interpretation of Kant's prescription for moral pedagogy in the Critique of Practical Reason. The goal of the pedagogy is to cultivate the moral disposition, and the method consists of training in judgment. Unfortunately, Kant seems to wind up somewhere short of this goal, leaving the young person with only an idle wish for a properly cultivated moral disposition. In this paper, I argue that when we address the special issues that arise when the enlightenment ideal is brought to bear on practical judgment—issues that stem from the intrinsic connection between practical judgment and agency—we will see that there is no lacuna in Kant's account.
IN DEFENSE OF THE WHAT‐IT‐IS‐LIKENESS OF EXPERIENCE
Authors: JANZEN GREG
Published: September 2011

abstract

It is common parlance among philosophers who inquire into the nature of consciousness to speak of there being something it is like for the subject of a mental state to be in it. The popularity of the ‘what‐it‐is‐like’ phrase stems, in part, from the assumption that it enables us to distinguish, in an intuitive and illuminating way, between conscious and unconscious mental states: conscious mental states, unlike unconscious mental states, are such that there is something it is like for their subjects to be in them. The ‘what‐it‐is‐like’ phrase, however, has not gone unopposed; some very clever philosophers have vigorously disputed it. Peter Hacker, for example, argues that the phrase should be abandoned because it is ungrammatical, and Paul Snowdon argues that it should be abandoned because the propositions expressed by its usage are either trivial or false. This paper mounts a case for the claim that neither of these conclusions is warranted. Against Hacker, it is argued that the arguments he produces for the ungrammaticality of the phrase are unpersuasive; and, against Snowdon, it is argued that he fails to consider a plausible and independently motivated interpretation of the phrase and that on this interpretation, the propositions expressed by its usage are nontrivially true.
Understanding catastrophizing from a misdirected problem‐solving perspective
Authors: Flink Ida K. , Boersma Katja , MacDonald Shane , Linton Steven J.
Published: September 2011

Objectives. The aim is to explore pain catastrophizing from a problem‐solving perspective. The links between catastrophizing, problem framing, and problem‐solving behaviour are examined through two possible models of mediation as inferred by two contemporary and complementary theoretical models, themisdirected problem solving model(Eccleston & Crombez, 2007) and thefear‐anxiety‐avoidance model(Asmundson, Norton, & Vlaeyen, 2004).

Design. In this prospective study, a general population sample (n= 173) with perceived problems with spinal pain filled out questionnaires twice; catastrophizing and problem framing were assessed on the first occasion and health care seeking (as a proxy for medically oriented problem solving) was assessed 7 months later.

Methods. Two different approaches were used to explore whether the data supported any of the proposed models of mediation. First, multiple regressions were used according to traditional recommendations for mediation analyses. Second, a bootstrapping method (n= 1000 bootstrap resamples) was used to explore the significance of the indirect effects in both possible models of mediation.

Results. The results verified the concepts included in the misdirected problem solving model. However, the direction of the relations was more in line with the fear‐anxiety‐avoidance model. More specifically, the mediation analyses provided support for viewing catastrophizing as a mediator of the relation between biomedical problem framing and medically oriented problem‐solving behaviour.

Conclusion. These findings provide support for viewing catastrophizing from a problem‐solving perspective and imply a need to examine and address problem framing and catastrophizing in back pain patients.
The benefits of a critical stance: A reflection on past papers on the theories of reasoned action and planned behaviour
Authors: Manstead Antony S. R
Published: September 2011

In this paper, I reflect on past papers published in the British Journal of Social Psychology (BJSP) that have played a role in the development of the theory of reasoned action (TRA) and the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). I focus on seven papers that fall into five categories: (1) those that critique the TRA/TPB for taking insufficient account of social factors; (2) those that critique the models on the grounds that many social behaviours are ‘habitual’; (3) those that critically examine the construct of perceived behavioural control; (4) those that argue for the importance of affective factors, which appear to be overlooked in the TRA/TPB; and (5) those that argue for the importance of studying the role of moderating factors and interaction effects in the TRA/TPB. I conclude that BJSP's traditional focus on criticism and theory development is one that benefits the journal and the field.
Fifty‐odd years of inter‐group contact: From hypothesis to integrated theory
Authors: Hewstone Miles , Swart Hermann
Published: September 2011

We review 50‐odd years of research on Allport's (1954)‘contact hypothesis’, to assess progress, problems, and prospects. We chart the progress that has been made in understanding two distinct forms of contact: direct and indirect. We highlight the progress made in understanding the effects of each type of contact, as well as both moderating and mediating factors, and emphasize the multiple impacts of direct contact, especially. We then consider some of the main critiques of inter‐group contact, focusing on empirical issues and whether contact impedes social change, and provide a research agenda for the coming years. We conclude that this body of work no longer merits the modest title of ‘hypothesis’, but fully deserves acknowledgement as an integrated and influential theory.
Analysis of the Structure and Evolution of an Open-Source Community
Authors: Huang Hao-Yun , Le Qize , Panchal Jitesh H.
Published: September 2011

Open-source processes are based on the paradigm of self-organized communities as opposed to the traditional hierarchical teams. These processes have not only been successful in the software development domain but are also increasingly being used in the development of physical products. In order to successfully adapt open-source processes to product realization, there is a need to understand how open-source communities self-organize and how this impacts the development of products. Toward the direction of fulfilling this need, we present an analysis of an existing open-source community involved in developing a web-based content-management platform, Drupal. The approach is based on the analysis of networks using techniques such as social network analysis, degree distribution, and hierarchical clustering. Openly available information on the Drupal website is utilized to perform the analysis of the community. The data are transformed into two weighted undirected networks: networks of people and networks of Drupal modules. Both the structures of these networks and their evolution during the past 6 years are studied. Based on the analysis, it is observed that the structure of the Drupal community has the characteristics of a scale-free network, which is similar to many other complex networks in diverse domains. Key trends in the evolution of the networks are identified. Finally, a predictive model is presented to provide potential explanations for the observed structures and evolutionary trends.
Small Scale Waste-to-Energy Technologies
Authors: Ellyin Claudine , Themelis Nickolas J.
Published: September 2011

The dominant technology for large Waste-to-Energy (WTE) facilities is combustion on a moving grate of “as-received” municipal solid wastes (MSW). However, there are circumstances where a low-capacity plant (<100,000 tons per year) is required. This study examines the technical, economic, and environmental aspects of some small-scale WTE technologies currently in operation. The Energos technology was developed in Norway, in order to provide relatively small communities with an economically efficient alternative to mass-burn incineration with equally low emissions to the atmosphere and flexibility in feedstock. All operating plants treat MSW plus additional streams of commercial or industrial wastes. Prior to thermal treatment, the materials are shredded in a high-torque, low-rpm shredder and ferrous metals are removed magnetically. The feedstock is partially oxidized on a moving grate in the gasification chamber where the fixed carbon is completely burnt off. The volatilized gases are fully combusted in a second chamber and the heat is transferred to a heat recovery system for steam generation. The Energos gasification technology is currently in operation at six plants in Norway, one in Germany, and one in the UK. As expected, the capital cost per ton of annual ton of capacity increases with decreasing plant capacity, while there is a linear relationship between energy recovery and capacity. Some other small-scale technologies are investigated in this study and will be reported at the NAWTEC meeting. Low capacity (<80,000 tons) WTE facilities require a relatively small footprint (1.5 to 2 acres; <1 hectare) and it is believed that these facilities can be built at a capital cost per ton that is as low, or lower, than that of large mass burn WTE facilities.
Organic thin-film transistors with electron-beam cured and flash vacuum deposited polymeric gate dielectric
Authors: Abbas Gamal , Assender Hazel , Ibrahim Mervat , Martin Taylor D.
Published: September 2011

The electrical characteristics of pentacene organic field effect transistors (OFETs) based on cross-linked acrylic insulator as the gate dielectric are reported. Vacuum deposited thin films of cross-linked tripropyleneglycol diacrylate could be obtained by ultrahigh flash evaporation rate and subsequent irradiation using an electron-beam source. The characteristics of common gate OFETs, on highly conductive Si substrate, were tuned through the ease of control of the acrylic dielectric thickness achieving, without surface modification of the dielectric layer, a field effect mobility value of 0.09 cm2 V−1 s−1, a threshold voltage of 10 V, and an on/off current ratio of 1.3 × 103. This work could provide an alternative route to low cost and large area organic electronics manufacturing.
Universal Digital Quantum Simulation with Trapped Ions
Authors: Lanyon B. P. , Hempel C. , Nigg D. , Müller M. , Gerritsma R. , Zähringer F. , Schindler P. , Barreiro J. T. , Rambach M. , Kirchmair G. , Hennrich M. , Zoller P. , Blatt R. , Roos C. F.
Published: September 2011

A series of trapped calcium ions was used to simulate the complex dynamics of an interacting spin system.
Light Propagation with Phase Discontinuities: Generalized Laws of Reflection and Refraction
Authors: Yu Nanfang , Genevet Patrice , Kats Mikhail A. , Aieta Francesco , Tetienne Jean-Philippe , Capasso Federico , Gaburro Zeno
Published: September 2011

Light propagation can be controlled with plasmonic interfaces that introduce abrupt phase shifts along the optical path.
Diffusion NMR and bicelle morphology
Authors: Macdonald Peter M. , Soong Ronald
Published: September 2011

This minireview focuses on diffusion NMR studies in bicelles. Following a discourse on diffusion fundamentals, and a comparative overview of fluorescence and NMR-based techniques for measuring diffusion, the pulsed field gradient (PFG) NMR diffusion method is introduced, emphasizing its specific advantages and limitations when applied to diffusion measurements in macroscopically oriented lamellar systems such as magnetically aligned bicelles. The utility of PFG NMR diffusion measurements in bicellar model membrane systems for examining lateral diffusion of membrane-bound molecular species is demonstrated, along with certain features of lateral diffusion that such studies illuminate. Further, those aspects of bicelle morphology that have been resolved using PFG NMR diffusion studies of various molecular weight soluble polymeric species are reviewed. The discussion concludes with an outline of future prospects for diffusion NMR studies in bicelles.
2H double- and zero-quantum filtered NMR spectroscopy for probing the environments of water in Nafion
Authors: Vanderveen Jesse R. , Blackburn Mark A. , Ooms Kristopher J.
Published: September 2011

Multiple quantum 2H NMR spectroscopy is used to study the structure and dynamics of D2O in Nafion membranes as a function of membrane hydration. By employing both double- and zero-quantum filtered experiments, residual quadrupolar coupling constants and T2 relaxation values are obtained. The residual couplings vary from 240 to 20 Hz and the T2 values range from 20 to 180 ms, with the high hydration values having smaller couplings and longer T2 values. Analysis of the data using a water-exchange model suggests that the changes in parameters arise from a change in the fraction of time water spends in the anisotropic environments and not from changes in the order parameters that characterize the anisotropic sites. It has been found that a two-site model is needed to accurately fit the spectra above a hydration level of 10 D2O per sulfonate, with the second site having a negligible residual quadrupolar coupling. The data supports a model with two different hydration layers at high hydration and can be understood in terms of the recently proposed parallel-channel model for Nafion hydration.
Structural analysis of lanthanum-containing battery materials using 139La solid-state NMR
Authors: Spencer Leigh , Coomes Eric , Ye Eric , Terskikh Victor , Ramzy Adam , Thangadurai Venkataraman , Goward Gillian R.
Published: September 2011

139La solid-state NMR spectra, acquired at 21.1 and 11.7 T, have been used to evaluate the structural properties of the lithium ion battery materials, La32Li16Fe6.4O67 and Li3xLa2/3–xTiO3. In particular, atomic-level disorder in the second coordination sphere environment of lanthanum in these materials has been indicated by the observation of a distribution in the asymmetry parameters and the quadrupolar coupling constants derived from experimental NMR spectra, and supported by theoretical calculations. For comparison, 139La NMR has been obtained for the two model compounds La2O3 and LaNbO4, in which there is no atomic-level disorder. Quadrupolar coupling constants in the range of 17 to 59 MHz have been measured, and these values are supported by previous work as well as theoretical predictions performed in CASTEP. It has been shown that 139La NMR is a useful tool for the structural analysis of lithium ion battery materials, and when combined with 7Li MAS NMR and powder X-ray diffraction, can be used to determine the structure of complex solid-state electrolyte and electrode materials.
Daily responses of mouflon (Ovis gmelini musimon ×Ovis sp.) activity to summer climatic conditions
Authors: Bourgoin G. , Garel M. , Blanchard P. , Dubray D. , Maillard D. , Gaillard J.-M.
Published: September 2011

Investigating the factors shaping the activity of large herbivores is of prime importance because changes in their activity patterns may indicate physiological stress, which can affect reproduction and survival of individuals, and thereby population growth. Although climatic conditions are known to impact the activity patterns of large herbivores, few studies have investigated this relationship at a fine temporal scale. From a continuous monitoring of activity, we assessed the influence of temperature and wind on the summer activity of female mouflon ( Ovis gmelini musimon Pallas, 1811 × Ovis  sp.) facing summer droughts. Females showed a marked bimodal activity pattern, with activity peaks occurring after dawn and before dusk. When temperature increased and wind speed decreased, the morning activity peak occurred earlier, while the evening activity peak was delayed. Hence, under stressing climatic conditions, female mouflon decreased their diurnal activity while increasing their nocturnal activity. However, this nocturnal increase did not prevent the activity rate over 24 h to decrease during hot nonwindy days compared with cool windy days. Although the occurrence of wind mitigated the negative influence of heat on the diurnal activity, wind had no effect at the daily scale. These findings emphasize the importance of working at different temporal scales when assessing the activity patterns of free-ranging vertebrates.
Climate limitations on the distribution and phenology of a large carpenter bee,Xylocopa virginica(Hymenoptera: Apidae)
Authors: Skandalis Dimitri A. , Richards Miriam H. , Sformo Todd S. , Tattersall Glenn J.
Published: September 2011

We studied climatic correlates of the geographic range of a common large carpenter bee ( Xylocopa virginica (L., 1771)), which reaches farther north than any other Xylocopa in North America. Computational models of the species’ range predicted that summer and winter temperatures limit its northern extent, whereas summer precipitation limits its western extent. We empirically evaluated the climatic constraints imposed by different seasons by examining the winter low-temperature tolerance of X. virginica, and the timing of activity during spring and summer. The bee’s absolute low-temperature tolerance (supercooling point) did not differ between two populations at mid- and high latitudes, and was in excess of requirements of a mean winter minimum temperature. Absolute minimum temperature tolerances may not directly influence the range of X. virginica, whereas other measures of cold tolerance, like exposure duration, might be more relevant. Between years within a study population, spring emergence dates of bees were significantly predicted by spring temperatures and weather (April: 6–11 °C; May: 13–17 °C). Between populations across the bee’s geographic range, bees in warmer climates were observed as much as 2–3 months earlier in the year. This suggests that a major constraint on the bee’s range is the length of the active season, which may be too short for brood development at high latitudes.
Effects of levels of human exposure on flight initiation distance and distance to refuge in foraging eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis)
Authors: Engelhardt S.C. , Weladji R.B.
Published: September 2011

Flight initiation distance (FID), the distance at which an organism begins to flee from an approaching predator or threat, is associated to prey escape decision-making processes with benefit and cost trade-offs to remaining in a patch. Factors that may affect FID can be altered by human-stimulated predation risk, although the magnitude of response may depend on human exposure. We investigated how FID and distance to refuge of foraging eastern gray squirrels ( Sciurus carolinensis Gmelin, 1788), vary in seven sites corresponding to three levels of human exposure. We predicted that both FID and distance to refuge increase as exposure to human stimuli decreases; FID increases with the starting distance of the approaching human; and FID increases with distance to refuge. We found that FID increased with decreasing human exposure and that FID increased with increasing starting distance. We found no difference in distance to refuge between exposure levels. Our results suggest that risk posed to gray squirrels in areas frequently visited by humans is minimized or reduced, leading to differences in FID between exposure levels and may be attributed to habituation to increased nonlethal stimuli in the form of exposure to humans.
A new way to estimate the age of bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) using ovarian corpora counts
Authors: George J.C. , Follmann E. , Zeh J. , Sousa M. , Tarpley R. , Suydam R. , Horstmann-Dehn L.
Published: September 2011

We used lengths and reproductive data for bowhead whales ( Balaena mysticetus L., 1758) harvested by Alaskan Eskimos to estimate female reproductive parameters and age. Data from 117 females determined that 75 were sexually mature and 42 were immature. Estimated length at sexual maturity was 13.35 m. Counts of ovarian corpora were obtained from 50 mature females. Corpora and baleen data were used with aspartic acid racemization (AAR) data to obtain estimated age at sexual maturity (ASM) at ≈26 years. The number of corpora counted in both ovaries (or estimated when only one ovary was counted) was used with ASM and estimated ovulation rate (OR) to obtain corpora age estimates ranging from 26 to 149 years. A stone harpoon tip recovered from whale 92B2 was consistent with her corpora age of 133 years. The correlation between corpora and AAR age estimates was 0.77. Estimated standard errors of corpora ages tended to be somewhat higher than those for comparable AAR ages. A sample of potentially mature females examined for maturity and presence of a corpus luteum and (or) fetus provided an OR value of 0.332·year–1and an estimated pregnancy rate of 0.326·year–1, implying intervals between ovulations and pregnancies of 3.0 and 3.1 years.
Geographic variation of skeletal ontogeny and skull shape in the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)
Authors: Galatius A. , Gol’din P.E.
Published: September 2011

All extant porpoise species show paedomorphic skeletal traits. These traits are hypothesized to be connected with rapid growth to reproductive size and could thus show geographic variation according to ecological circumstances. To investigate this, skeletal ontogeny was compared among harbour porpoises from California, West Greenland, the inner Danish waters, and the Sea of Azov. Porpoises from California grew to larger sizes than Danish porpoises, which were again larger than Greenlandic porpoises, whereas Azov porpoises were smallest. Size differences were largely attributable to differences in timing of offset of growth. Expression of paedomorphosis followed the same pattern among populations and sexes as adult sizes; Californian porpoises were less paedomorphic than the other populations across all assessed traits, whereas porpoises from Azov were the most paedomorphic. We propose that the larger size and less profound paedomorphism seen in Californian porpoises are attributable to fluctuation of prey availability, owing to variation in upwelling on which productivity in Californian waters depends. Skull shapes after correction for allometry were significantly different among all populations, Sea of Azov porpoises being most divergent. There was no overlap of skull shapes between the Atlantic, the Pacific, and Azov, supporting the current division of harbor porpoises ( Phocoena phocoena (L., 1758)) into three subspecies ( Phocoena phocoena phocoena (L., 1758), Phocoena phocoena relicta Abel, 1905, and Phocoena phocoena vomerina Gill, 1865).
Sperm depletion and a test of the phenotype-linked fertility hypothesis in Gray Treefrogs (Hyla versicolor)
Authors: Doyle Jacqueline M.
Published: September 2011

The phenotype-linked fertility hypothesis (PLFH) predicts that ejaculate characteristics correlate with male phenotype, and that females may select for exaggerated phenotypes to guarantee high fertilization success. Female Gray Treefrogs ( Hyla versicolor LeConte, 1825) prefer males with long-duration calls and (or) calls produced at a fast rate. I tested the prediction that call duration or call rate were indicators of sperm number or viability. To assess whether female H. versicolor might benefit by identifying males with low sperm numbers, I examined the effect of mating history on sperm number and looked for evidence of sperm depletion. My study found no support for the PLFH in relation to call quality, as neither sperm number nor viability was related to call duration. I found that sperm stores are severely reduced after a single mating, and that sperm stores of males calling late in the season are often more similar to those of depleted males than unmated males. Thus, calling males may attempt to attract females without the sperm numbers necessary to fertilize the entire clutch. However, selection for females to identify males with high fertilization success may be low when all other factors that affect reproductive success (e.g., genetic benefits) are considered.
VAN DER WAALS EQUATION OF STATE REVISED: GAS MOLECULAR VOLUME CORRECTION
Authors: DAI WEI , HU SHI-DE
Published: September 2011

A simple modification has been introduced to the volume correction term in the original van der Waals equation of state based on the intermolecular attractions for real gases, and the new equation of state has been established. While the proposed equation is simpler than other modified equation of state, it produces the best agreement with experiment for density predictions of hydrogen, nitrogen and argon at the pressures up to 100 MPa at a temperature of 298 K. The results show that the proposed equation of state would greatly improve thermodynamic properties studies for real gases, especially at higher pressures.
OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF AsSeTl THIN FILMS DEPOSITED BY e-BEAM EVAPORATION TECHNIQUE
Authors: ABD EL-RAHEEM M. M.
Published: September 2011

Five compositions of the system As 25 Se 75-x Tl x (x = 12, 16, 20, 24 and 28%) have been prepared using melt quench technique. Thin films of the same thickness (200 nm) were deposited by electron beam evaporation technique. Optical and other parameters of the films have been studied. The optical band gap E op found to decrease by increasing the coordination number r and average number of bonds per atom N av and by decreasing the heat of atomization H s . Other parameters as an oscillator energy E o , dispersion energy E d and plasma frequency ω p found to be affected by changing thallium content.
HIGH RESOLUTION SOLUTIONS FOR THE SUPERSONIC FORMATION OF SHOCKS IN TRANSONIC FLOW
Authors: TESDALL ALLEN M.
Published: September 2011

We present numerical solutions of two problems for the unsteady transonic small disturbance equations whose solutions contain shocks. The first problem is a two-dimensional Riemann problem with initial data corresponding to a slightly supersonic flow hitting the corner of an expanding duct at t = 0. The second problem is a boundary value problem that describes steady transonic flow over an airfoil. In both cases, the solutions contain regions of supersonic and subsonic flow, and an expansion wave interacts with a sonic line to produce a shock. We use high resolution methods, together with local grid refinement, to investigate the nature of the solution in the neighborhood of the point where the shock forms. We find that the shock originates in the supersonic region as originally proposed by Guderley, and very close to, but not at, the sonic line.
Impacts of radio-identification on cryo-conservation centers
Authors: Housseman Sylvain , Absi Nabil , Feillet Dominique , Dauzére-Pèrés Stéphane
Published: September 2011

This article deals with the use of discrete-event simulation as a decision support tool for estimating the impact of Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) technologies on processes and activities of biological sample storage areas (called biobanks). We first give a detailed description of biobank flows and identify subprocesses improved using RFID technologies. Several indicators, such as inventory reliability and human resource utilization, are compared and discussed for different scenarios involving the use of different RFID technologies. A special emphasis is put on the so-called rewarehousing activity, which RFID makes possible and which consists in reassigning tubes to empty places when boxes are emptied. For this particular activity, optimization algorithms are developed and embedded in the simulator. This study shows the potential use of RFID in biobanks and the value of simulation for estimating and optimizing its introduction in such complex socio-technical systems.
Managing the Flow of Information in Social Networks: How do you do it?
Authors: Venable Melissa A. , Hilbelink Amy J.
Published: September 2011

As we become increasingly connected via social media, the amount of information available to us is mounting. How can we manage it all? Aggregating, filtering, and curating are all approaches to consider. Content curation can include a wide range of sources such as professional associations, publications, and vendors and there are techniques and applications to help with the process. Social networks also play a role, offering more than just member profiles. This article presents several sources of information and conversations you may want to follow, as well as tools and techniques for making the flow of information more manageable and relevant to you.
The Art of Storyboarding
Authors: Thorn Kevin
Published: September 2011

The art of storyboarding is simply a matter of style and letting go of the rules. Whether your style is textual, visual, or both it's an integral part of the eLearning design process.
Force control of quadriceps muscle is bilaterally impaired in subacute stroke
Authors: Chow John W. , Stokic Dobrivoje S.
Published: September 2011

We tested the hypothesis that force variability and error during maintenance of submaximal isometric knee extension are greater in subacute stroke patients than in controls and are related to motor impairments. Contralesional (more-affected) and ipsilesional (less-affected) legs of 33 stroke patients with sufficiently high motor abilities (62 ± 13 yr, 16 ± 2 days postinjury) and the dominant leg of 20 controls (62 ± 10 yr) were tested in sitting position. After peak knee extension torque [maximum voluntary contraction (MVC)] was established, subjects maintained 10, 20, 30, and 50% of MVC as steady and accurate as possible for 10 s by matching voluntary force to the target level displayed on a monitor. Coefficient of variation (CV) and root-mean-square error (RMSE) were used to quantify force variability and error, respectively. The MVC was significantly smaller in the more-affected than less-affected leg, and both were significantly lower than in controls. The CV was significantly larger in the more-affected than less-affected leg at 20 and 50% MVC, whereas both were significantly larger compared with controls across all force levels. Both more-affected and less-affected legs of patients showed significantly greater RMSE than controls at 30 and 50% MVC. The CV and RMSE were not related to the Fugl-Meyer motor score or to the Rivermead Mobility Index. The CV negatively correlated with MVC in controls but only in the less-affected leg of patients. It is concluded that isometric knee extension strength and force control are bilaterally impaired soon after stroke but more so in the more-affected leg. Future studies should examine possible mechanisms and the evolution of these changes.
Merkel Cell Carcinoma with Lymphoepithelioma-Like Pattern: A Case Report of an Exceedingly Rare Variant of Merkel Cell Carcinoma with Lymph Node Metastases at Presentation
Authors: Ben Abdelkrim Soumaya , Dhouibi Abdelmajid , Moussa Adnène , Hadhri Rim , Njim Leila , Mighri Khalifa , Zakhama Abdelfatteh
Published: September 2011

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) or primary neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin is a rare neoplasm with aggressive behavior. Primary lymphoepithelioma-like (LEL) carcinoma of the skin is a recently described exceptional tumor, with a relatively good prognosis, and is characterized by a neoplastic epithelial component associated with a dense lymphoid stroma. Rarely, MCC shows a marked lymphocytic host response or can even mimic a LEL carcinoma. We report a new case of MCC mimicking an LEL carcinoma in a 72-year-old male; the diagnosis of MCC was made on the basis of the morphology and immunohistochemical findings. We present through this case an exceptional pattern of MCC which can be misleading, and we insist on differential diagnoses.
The Aurora Kinase Inhibitor CCT137690 Downregulates MYCN and SensitizesMYCN-Amplified NeuroblastomaIn Vivo
Authors: Faisal Amir , Vaughan Lynsey , Bavetsias Vassilios , Sun Chongbo , Atrash Butrus , Avery Sian , Jamin Yann , Robinson Simon P. , Workman Paul , Blagg Julian , Raynaud Florence I. , Eccles Suzanne A. , Chesler Louis , Linardopoulos Spiros
Published: September 2011

Aurora kinases regulate key stages of mitosis including centrosome maturation, spindle assembly, chromosome segregation, and cytokinesis. Aurora A and B kinase overexpression has also been associated with various human cancers, and as such, they have been extensively studied as novel antimitotic drug targets. Here, we characterize the Aurora kinase inhibitor CCT137690, a highly selective, orally bioavailable imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine derivative that inhibits Aurora A and B kinases with low nanomolar IC50 values in both biochemical and cellular assays and exhibits antiproliferative activity against a wide range of human solid tumor cell lines. CCT137690 efficiently inhibits histone H3 and transforming acidic coiled-coil 3 phosphorylation (Aurora B and Aurora A substrates, respectively) in HCT116 and HeLa cells. Continuous exposure of tumor cells to the inhibitor causes multipolar spindle formation, chromosome misalignment, polyploidy, and apoptosis. This is accompanied by p53/p21/BAX induction, thymidine kinase 1 downregulation, and PARP cleavage. Furthermore, CCT137690 treatment of MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma cell lines inhibits cell proliferation and decreases MYCN protein expression. Importantly, in a transgenic mouse model of neuroblastoma that overexpresses MYCN protein and is predisposed to spontaneous neuroblastoma formation, this compound significantly inhibits tumor growth. The potent preclinical activity of CCT137690 suggests that this inhibitor may benefit patients with MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma. Mol Cancer Ther; 10(11); 2115–23. ©2011 AACR.
Discovery and Evaluation of Inhibitors of Human Ceramidase
Authors: Draper Jeremiah M. , Xia Zuping , Smith Ryan A. , Zhuang Yan , Wang Wenxue , Smith Charles D.
Published: September 2011

The ceramide/sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) rheostat has been hypothesized to play a critical role in regulating tumor cell fate, with elevated levels of ceramide inducing death and elevated levels of S1P leading to survival and proliferation. Ceramidases are key enzymes that control this rheostat by hydrolyzing ceramide to produce sphingosine and may also confer resistance to drugs and radiation. Therefore, ceramidase inhibitors have excellent potential for development as new anticancer drugs. In this study, we identify a novel ceramidase inhibitor (Ceranib-1) by screening a small molecule library and describe the synthesis of a more potent analogue (Ceranib-2). In a cell-based assay, both compounds were found to inhibit cellular ceramidase activity toward an exogenous ceramide analogue, induce the accumulation of multiple ceramide species, decrease levels of sphingosine and S1P, inhibit the proliferation of cells alone and in combination with paclitaxel, and induce cell-cycle arrest and cell death. In vivo, Ceranib-2 was found to delay tumor growth in a syngeneic tumor model without hematologic suppression or overt signs of toxicity. These data support the selection of ceramidases as suitable targets for anticancer drug development and provide the first nonlipid inhibitors of human ceramidase activity. Mol Cancer Ther; 10(11); 2052–61. ©2011 AACR.