bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Book Reviews
Authors: Harris Scott Jordan , Prout Ryan , Stephens Liz , Allison Deborah , Talbott Michael
Published: May 2009

The B List: The National Society of Film Critics on the Low-Budget Beauties, Genre-Bending Mavericks, and Cult Classics We Love, David Sterritt and John Anderson (eds), (2008) Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press, 240 pp., ISBN 9780306815669 (pbk), $15.95

Cinemachismo:
Masculinities and Sexuality in Mexican Film, Sergio de la Mora, (2006) Austin: University of Texas Press, 256 pp., ISBN 9780292712966 (hbk), $55.00; ISBN 9780292712973 (pbk), $21.95

Sex and the Cinema, Tanya Krzywinska, (2006) London: Wallflower Press,
224 pp., ISBN 9781904764731 (pbk), 16.99; ISBN 9781904764748 (hbk), 45.00

Film Genre: From Iconography to Ideology, Barry Keith Grant, (2007) London: Wallflower Press, 144 pp., ISBN 1904764793 (pbk), 12.99

The Cinematic Tango: Contemporary Argentine Film, Tamara
L. Falicov, (2007) London & New York: Wallflower Press, 188 pp., ISBN 9781904764922 (pbk), $25.00; ISBN 9781904764939 (hbk), $80.00
Travel sickness: Marie NDiaye, Herv Guibert and the liquidation of the White Fantasy-Subject
Authors: Asibong Andrew
Published: May 2009

This paper considers some of the psychic and cultural implications of identity disintegration in works by French writers Marie NDiaye (born 1967) and Herv Guibert (19551991). In Guibert's Le Paradis (1992), the unravelling narrative (part-detective story, part postcolonial travelogue
set in West Africa and the Caribbean) forces the European narrator's fantasy subjectivity apart, yanking him out of a zone of solidly racialised and sexualized privilege, and into a deathly exposure to blistering, sickly, post-white heat. In NDiaye's Rosie Carpe (2001), the eponymous
French heroine, suddenly adrift with her provincial family in Guadeloupe, swings in NDiaye's bizarre narrative between exalted and desirable white-pink woman, and epically humiliated, liquidized, greyish mess. The ethnically inflected privilege of Guibert's and NDiaye's protagonists, seemingly
so secure at the novels' outsets, comes apart at the seams in these narrative spaces of exception and singularity. The aesthetic and ethical implications of becoming-other and of shifting from crisply French (and human) to messily francophone (and barely human) are, in Guibert's and NDiaye's
neo-colonial travellers' tales, anything but easily digestible, but nevertheless demand our rigorous critical interrogation.
Book Reviews
Authors: Aldrich Robert , Charnley Joy , Narbona Inmaculada Daz , Mosley Philip , Oakes Leigh , Oktapoda Efstratia , Oktapoda Efstratia , Parris David L
Published: May 2009

Colons, Croles et Coolies: L'immigration runionnaise en Nouvelle-Caldonie (XIXe sicle) et le tayo de Saint-Louis, Karin Speedy (2007) Paris: L'Harmattan, 218 pp., ISBN 978-2-296-03575-1 (pbk), 19.50

The Living, Pascale Kramer, translated by Tamsin Black (2007)
Lincoln and London: University of Nebraska Press, 136 pp., ISBN 978-0-8032-7823-3 (pbk), $19.95

criture en transhumance entre Maghreb et Afrique subsaharienne. Littrature, oralit, arts visuels, Hlne Tissires (2007) Paris: L'Harmattan, 293 pp., ISBN 978-2-296-02794-7
(pbk), 27,50

La Belgique entre deux sicles: laboratoire de la modernit, 18801914, Nathalie Aubert, Pierre-Philippe Fraiture, Patrick McGuinness (eds) (2007) Bern: Peter Lang, 272 pp, ISBN 3-03910-528-0 (pbk), 52.20, 39.20

French in Canada: Language Issues, Maeve
Conrick and Vera Regan (2007) Bern: Peter Lang, 186 pp, ISBN 978-3-03910-142-9 (pbk), 40, 26

L'autobiographie dans l'espace francophone. II. L'Afrique, Diaz Narbona Inmaculada (d.), (2005) Cadiz: Publicaciones de la Universidad de Cadiz (srie Estudios de Francofonia),
175 pp., ISBN 84-9828-003-6 (pbk), 11.54

Les fruits du cyclone. Une gopotique de la Carabe, Daniel Maximin, (2006) Paris: Seuil, 223 pp., ISBN 2-02-063095-8 (pbk), 22

Migrance compare Comparing Migration: Les littratures du Canada et du Qubec: The literatures of Canada
and Qubec, Marie Carrire & Catherine Khordoc (eds), (2008) Bern, Berlin, Brussels, Frankfurt on Main, New York, Vienna: Peter Lang, 358 pp., ISBN 978-3-03911-317-0 (pbk), 45.30
L'anorexie: entre alination mentale et revendication d'altrit. Le cas des crivaines algriennes.
Authors: Meuret Isabelle
Published: May 2009

L'anorexie, pathologie confine au registre des maladies mentales et relevant, par consquent, de la psychiatrie, est avant tout une tentative d'exister autrement. Il existe un rapport intime entre anorexie et criture, deux expriences de la limite. Les anorexiques retracent les contours
de leur existence en se recrant au travers des mots. Le cas des crivaines algriennes apporte un clairage nouveau sur l'anorexie comme expression d'une violence hrite du colonialisme, mais galement stratgie de protestation et proclamation de libert. Au-del de la dmarche morbide, se profile
une rvolte de la chair face l'absurdit de l'existence. L'anorexie destructrice est canalise en nergie cratrice, expression du dsir. Qu'elle incarne l'enfermement des femmes en Algrie (Nina Bouraoui), la difficult de vivre son hybridit (Sabrina Kherbiche), ou la ncessaire sparation familiale
couple d'une faim dvorante d'instruction (Malika Mokeddem), l'anorexie figure par ces auteures permet de rvaluer une pathologie rduite au rang d'alination mentale. L'anorexie concerne une personne en dsquilibre, mais elle s'inscrit aussi dans un contexte socioculturel particulier. Vue sous
cet angle, la faim volontaire s'interprte comme une revendication d'altrit, composante essentielle de l'identit. L'anorexie, folie furieuse tourne contre soi-mme, est l'amorce d'une transformation se prolongeant, chez ces auteures algriennes, par un geste crateur.
Subjects of exile: Alienation in Francophone West African cinema
Authors: Dovey Lindiwe
Published: May 2009

Based on research conducted at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs' African Cinmathque, this article explores the narrative and aesthetic manifestations of alienation in francophone West African films of the past five decades. Rather than examine immigration films, it focuses on
francophone West African films that interrogate the concept of alienation from points of view firmly grounded within Africa, such as Sembene's Niaye (1964), La Noire de (1966), and Xala (1974), Samb-Makharam's Et La Neige N'tait Plus (1965), Mambety's Touki Bouki
(1973), and Sissako's Waiting for Happiness (2002). The choice to centre Africa in this way within Francophone Studies has political value, and seeks to acknowledge the internal (psychological) as well as external (bodily) dimensions of exile. After a theoretical consideration of alienation
in relation to contemporary Africa, the article identifies and analyses similarities that traverse specific films dealing with exilic experience, attempting to account for the prevalence of images of feet, the inscription of voices, and a palimpsestic aesthetic. Ultimately, the article acknowledges
the painful and repetitive nature of exile while also arguing that alienation, in the context of francophone West African cinema, has become a source of creativity and psychological survival against hostility from both without and within.
The never-ending story: Palestine, Israel and The West Wing
Authors: Cass Philip
Published: May 2009

This article examines the way in which the popular American television seriesThe West Wingrepresents the PalestinianIsraeli conflict and the way in which Middle Eastern audiences responded to that depiction. This fictional and highly idealized portrayal of the American presidency has frequently used real storylines that reflect contemporary political discourse to its primary domestic audience. However, the programme is also shown outside the United States where its storylines and the time of broadcast may give an episode an entirely different meaning. This article looks at audience responses to the episode Isaac and Ishmael and the story arc that begins at the end of Season 5 and continues at the beginning of Season 6. This centres on an attempt to settle the PalestinianIsraeli conflict. PlacingThe West Wingwithin a broad political and historical framework, the article uses the idea of American exceptionalism as the basis from which to argue thatThe West Wingpresents real as well as idealized American political stances and in that sense has to be read, in certain contexts, as contributing to audience perceptions of the real world. The article questions whether the asynchronous transmissions of the programme in the domestic US and Middle Eastern markets contribute to this perception. Using the responses of audiences of varying ages, education levels and origins, the article concludes that although it sometimes portrays Arabs negatively, it is usually well intentioned and makes genuine, if occasionally clumsy, attempts to portray Arabs in a favourable light. While episodes ofThe West Wingare the article's main source, I have also drawn heavily on academic and non-academic articles to provide background to mainstream audience reaction and some of the issues religious, political and historical addressed by the series.
Reverse glocalization? Marketing a Turkish cola in the shadow of a giant
Authors: Ogan Christine L , Çiçek Filiz , Kaptan Yesim
Published: May 2009

In the summer of 2003, a Turkish confectionery and cookie company launched a major television advertising campaign through the Young & Rubicam agency in Istanbul. The goal of the campaign was to compete aggressively with the market leaders, Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola, by adopting
some of the strategies used by those colas in dominating the world's soft-drink sales and reversing those strategies to suit the Turkish consumers. This study combines textual analysis of the primary television advertisements for Cola Turka along with interviews with two of the account managers
for the campaign. The analysis is based on the concept of glocalization of the national, gender and sports themes of the campaign. In appealing to potential consumers of the soft drink, the advertisers exploit the local cultural stereotypes to convince the audience that those who adopt the
product will achieve the American dream to become Turkish. American actors, including Chevy Chase, are used in that effort as they try to live out that dream by adopting Turkish customs, eating Turkish foods and following Turkish soccer stars. Advertising agency executives denied they created
anti-American themes, though one of the commercials suggests that if US soldiers drank Cola Turka, they would abandon their goal to win the war in Iraq. The authors argue that the commoditization of nation-making practices has wide implications and real-world effects on public opinion.
What is a blatte? Migration and ethnic identity in contemporary Sweden
Authors: Lacatus Corina
Published: May 2009

Contemporary Sweden is experiencing an interesting sociocultural phenomenon of redefinition of national identity as a result of the rise of awareness of the everyday reality of discrimination and segregation of first- and second-generation immigrants from the Middle East, North Africa and Africa.

My article examines the formation and manifestations of a new kind of collective consciousness of immigrants living in Sweden calledblatteidentity, defined by ethnic markers constructed by opposition to the nationalistic ideals of an ethnically pure Swedish identity. More specifically, my article examines the construction and affirmation of a special kind ofblatte. identity, called athought sultan (tankesultan). Briefly, atankesuktanis a Swede of Arabic descent, proud of his Muslim background, and actively engaging in resisting the assimilative forces within Swedish society. The concept was coined by the author Jonas Hassen Khemiri in his debut novel entitledAn Eye Red (Ett ga Rtt)published in 2003. My argument discusses the trajectory of the concept from the artistic and literary realm into public discourse through the help of mass media, as well as the relation to other terms in the official and public discourse, such as immigrant,black skull (svartskalle), or ethnic Swede(svenne). From being an individual marker of ethnic belonging to the community of Arabic-speaking, Muslim immigrants to Sweden, a thought sultan(tankesultan)is used as a common denominator for some of the members of the immigrant community living in Sweden who like to consider their marginal social status and their everyday life marked by ethnic and religious discrimination. An instance of such use can be found in the magazineGringothat is distributed for free in Sweden's large urban areas, which made use of this concept as a categorizational tool of ethnic otherness forblattar, or immigrants, alongside other stereotyping concepts and images circulating in the public discourse of contemporary Sweden.
Winds of change in the Arab world: a comparative look at a political gratification and effects study of the Al-Jazeera satellite channel and Kuwaiti government television
Authors: Abdulrahim Masoud A , al-Kandari Ali Jamal , Haque S. M. Mazharul
Published: May 2009

A telephone survey was conducted of Kuwaiti citizens' preferences for two types of national news programmes. Of the 490 Kuwaiti respondents, about 82 viewed the Al-Jazeera satellite channel (JSC), a liberal television model that provides news and political programming, while 98 watched the news and political programmes on Kuwaiti Television (KTV), a government television model. Two factor analyses comparing gratifications sought and obtained from the two television models revealed that Kuwaitis were similarly gratified by both, but ranked importance and magnitude differently. While regression tests and partial correlations revealed that trust in the Kuwaiti government correlated with all gratifications obtained by watching KTV, they did not correlate with any of the gratifications obtained by viewing JSC. Political apathy was negatively predicted by the quality of the JSC's news coverage and by programme gratification, while it was positively predicted by the KTV's free provision of information. Endorsement of the establishment of political parties in Kuwait was predicted by the JSC's information gratification. The study concluded that the programming made available through the JSC might seriously provide the impetus for change in the Arab world.
Media influence on the attitudes and knowledge of York adolescents towards Islam, Muslims, the Middle East and Arabs
Authors: Brockett A. A , Baird P. D
Published: May 2009

That the media is negative towards Islam, Muslims, the Middle East and Arabs was the view of the vast majority of 1,515 adolescents surveyed in York in 2004. When measured against the Attitudes towards Muslim Proximity Index (AMPI) the data showed a significant association between
the media as their primary source of information and negative attitudes towards Muslims. But when measured against their level of knowledge of Islam, Muslims, the Middle East and Arabs the media had only a very slight association, and none when measured against their responses to specific
questions on their attitudes in this area. Indeed, when measured against their attitudes towards the British National Party (BNP), an organization known for its anti-Muslim stance, the data showed a relationship between watching the news on television and strong disagreement with BNP views.
The conclusion is that what negative attitudes the adolescents had were not a direct result of media influence.
Solubility of Pu and rare-earths in LiCl-Li2O melt
Authors: Kato Testuya , Sakamura Y. , Iwai T. , Arai Y.
Published: May 2009

The solubility of Pu and rare-earths (REs) were measured in LiClLi2O melt where individually the oxides precipitated. The solubility of Pu(III) was measured at 923 K as a function of Li2O concentration. After every addition of Li2O to increase the Li2O concentration in the melt, the Pu concentration increased and showed a saturation in several hours. The stepwise variation means that the Pu concentrations at the saturation are regarded as the Pu solubility at the respective Li2O concentrations. The solubility of Nd(III), Gd(III), Pu(IV), and Ce(IV) were also measured as a fanction of Li2O concentration, and all of them increased with increased Li2O concentration. Especially, the solubility of the trivalent Pu and REs were related almost proportionally with the Li2O concentration. The solubility of La(III) and Pr(III) were measured in molten LiCl saturated with Li2O between 883 and 973 K. The logarithmic solubility was related linearly with the reciprocal temperature. The systematic measurement indicated that the solubility was higher for the element with a larger ionic radius as to the trivalent Pu and REs.
In search of an optimum plutonium density measurement fluid
Authors: Dziewinska K. M. , Peters A. M. , La Verne J. A. , Martinez P. , Dziewinski J. J , Davenhall L.B. , Rajesh P.
Published: May 2009

Density measurements of plutonium metal and its alloys are performed at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) using a technique based on the Archimedes principle. The goal is to find and characterize a fluid for density determination of large objects made of plutonium to replace the currently used monobromobenzene. Physical and chemical properties must be considered while selecting the fluid. Chemical properties of the fluid must ensure low corrosion rates and good resistance to radiological decomposition. The study was carried on to evaluate the corrosion rates of Pu metal cause by FC-43 and the FC-43 decomposition products of radiolysis. The results of these studies proved favourable for this application. The evaluation of the surface reactions between FC-43 and Pu metal will be conducted in the near future.
Excitation spectra of near-infrared photoluminescence from Np(VI) in Cs2U(Np)O2Cl4
Authors: Wilkerson M. P. , Berg J. M.
Published: May 2009

Excitation spectra between 13200 and 21275 cm-1 at 75 K are reported for single crystals of Cs2U(Np)O2Cl4. These excitation spectra are collected from an infra-5f near-infrared luminescence origin of the neptunyl ion, and the energies and intensities of the spectral transitions are consistent with 4.2 K plane-polarized absorption spectra reported by Denning.
Study of reaction of curium oxy-compound formation in molten chlorides
Authors: Osipenko A. G. , Mayorshin A. A. , Bychkov A. V.
Published: May 2009

The method of potentiometric titration using oxygen sensors with solid electrolyte membrane was applied to study the interaction of curium cations with oxygen anions in the molten alkali metal chlorides in the temperature range of 450–850 °C depending on oxy-acidity of melt. Assumptions were made concerning the ion and phase composition of the obtained compounds and the chemical reactions that take place in the melts at high temperature. Basic thermodynamic values were calculated for the resultant curium oxy-compounds.
Extraction behaviour of actinides and lanthanides in TALSPEAK, TRUEX and NPEX processes of UREX+
Authors: Gelis A. V. , Vandegrift Georg F. , Bakel Allen , Bowers Delbert L. , Hebden Andrew S. , Pereira Candido , Regalbuto Monica
Published: May 2009

Bench-scale studies to determine the extraction behavior of Pu, Np, Am and lanthanides with the organophosphorus extractants TBP, CMPO and HDEHP have been carried out. Based on the results obtained using actual spent nuclear fuel solutions, enhancements to the NPEX, TRUEX and TALSPEAK processes have been successful. In NPEX, >99.94% of both Np and Pu were separated from the fission products. In TRUEX, essentially complete recovery of the actinides (An) and the lanthanides (Ln) was achieved. In TALSPEAK, the complete separation of Pu, Np and Am from the lanthanides was demonstrated several times under various process conditions. The recovery of transuranics (TRU), including Am and Cm, is nearly 100% (below detection limit in the Ln stream), while the total recovery of Ln in the product stream exceeded 99.97%.
Solid phase precipitates in (Zr,Th)-OH-(oxalate, malonate) ternary aqueous system
Authors: Kobayashi Taishi , Sasaki Takayuki , Takagi I. , Moriyama Hirotake
Published: May 2009

The solubility-limiting solid phases in the ternary aqueous systems of Zr(IV)/OH/oxalate, Zr(IV)/OH/malonate, Th(IV)/OH/oxalate and Th(IV)/OH/malonate were characterized by elemental analysis, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis. The ternary solid phase of M(IV)/OH/carboxylate was observed to form, even under acidic conditions, depending on the pH and the concentration of carboxylate ligand. In the presence of a large excess of carboxylic acid, however; the binary M(IV)-carboxylate solid phase formed.
The adsorption of ammonia on polycrystalline thorium
Authors: Bishop A. J. , Carley A. F. , Roussel P. , Nevitt P.
Published: May 2009

The chemistry of the actinides has long been an area of great interest to many researchers, due to the unusual nature of the f-orbital electrons. Electron spectroscopies provide a useful means to study the electronic structure of the 5f states, and how they affect the interactions of the actinide elements with various molecules. In this study the interaction of ammonia with a polycrystalline thorium surface at two different temperatures has been investigated using X-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopic techniques. Exposure to ammonia at ambient temperature results in the formation of both nitride (Th-N) and NHx species, characterised by N1s photoemission peaks at 396.5 and 398.8 eV binding energy respectively, on the thorium surface. Exposure to ammonia at 100 K gives rise to an additional signal at 401.2 eV corresponding to physisorbed ammonia. Additional UPS results provided corroborating evidence for the effect of the surface temperature on the reaction with ammonia.
Unveiling the history of seized plutonium through nuclear forensic investigations
Authors: Mayer Klaus , Wallenius Maria , Hedberg M. , Lützenkirchen Klaus
Published: May 2009

Illicit incidents involving nuclear or other radioactive materials and the threat of nuclear terrorism are reasons for serious concern. Since 1993 more than 1300 incidents have been reported to the IAEA Illicit Trafficking Database. Only a small number of cases involve plutonium or plutonium containing materials. However, these cases are attributed particular attention in view of the proliferation aspects and of the radiotoxicity associated with plutonium. Efforts focus on prevention, detection and response to cases of illicit trafficking of nuclear material. If the place of theft or diversion of the material can be identified, then measures of safeguards and physical protection can be implemented to prevent future thefts.

Nuclear Forensic Science aims at providing clues on the origin and intended use of nuclear or other radioactive material involved in illicit incidents. The paper provides a brief description of the nuclear forensic methodology and describes in detail the challenges associated with age determination of plutonium materials.
The King's Two Bodies Today
Authors: Jussen Bernhard
Published: May 2009

Ernst Kantorowicz's central image of the king's doubled body has been very influential, but his main concern, medieval constitutional history, has gone largely unnoticed. His long-term constitutional narrative has hardly been discussed, and his methodological endeavor—he once called it "constitutional semantics"—has not left much of an impression on medieval scholarship. Both—his narrative and his methodological endeavor—are far from being outdated.
Imagining Justice: Kantorowicz and Shakespeare
Authors: Hutson Lorna
Published: May 2009

Ernst Kantorowicz's The King's Two Bodies is concerned with tracing the development, through the Middle Ages, of abstract concepts of the public good as separable from the monarch. Renaissance scholars, however, tend to read Kantorowicz as if English Renaissance drama collapses representations of the polity and public good into the monarch's sacred person. Renaissance equity, in particular, has recently been defined as the sacred monarch's prerogative, and has been confused with Carl Schmitt's sovereign decision on the exception. This essay argues by contrast that Renaissance thinkers saw equity as an enlargement of the law by fictions of intention for the public good, and that, accordingly, Renaissance drama invites audiences and citizens alike to engage in compassionate and equitable fiction-making by critiquing monarchical claims to sacred status.
Passive Integrated Transponder Tag Retention Rates in Headwater Populations of Coastal Cutthroat Trout
Authors: Bateman Douglas S. , Gresswell Robert E. , Berger Aaron M.
Published: May 2009

Passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags have desirable qualities (e.g., unique identification, indefinite tag life, and capacity for remote detection) that make them useful for evaluating survival, growth, and movement of fish, but low tag retention rates can confound data interpretation. Although the effects of PIT tags on short-term growth and survival have been minimal and tag retention rates in laboratory and field studies using only juvenile individuals have been high, tag retention rates for fish at different ontological stages (including reproductively active males and females) remain unknown. We evaluated tag retention rates in wild populations of coastal cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii in three catchments of western Oregon using a double-marking approach (i.e., the adipose fin was removed from all fish that were PIT-tagged). Tags were inserted into the body cavities of fish 100 mm or more in length (fork length; range = 100–250 mm). In the study catchments, this size range includes both juvenile and mature fish. Tag retention rates were approximately 25% lower than those reported by previous studies of juvenile salmonids alone. A number of PIT tags were recovered in redds, indicating that mature individuals eject tags during spawning. Although some coastal cutthroat trout retained PIT tags for up to 4 years, others expelled them repeatedly and were implanted with a minimum of three different PIT tags during the same period. These data are concordant with those of other studies in which PIT tags had been inserted into the body cavity of salmonids and the population of tagged fish comprised both juvenile and mature individuals. Therefore, for multiple-year studies, it may be prudent to double-mark fish when PIT tags are to be inserted in the body cavity.
The Effect of Forestry Roads on Access to Remote Fishing Lakes in Northern Ontario, Canada
Authors: Hunt Len M. , Lester Nigel
Published: May 2009

Lakes without road or vehicular trail access (i.e., remote lakes) are becoming increasingly scarce in North America. In the Boreal Shield, road construction for forestry operations is probably the prime factor affecting the scarcity of remote lakes. To assess the effects of forestry roads on lake access, this paper develops and tests a model that predicts the occurrence of road or vehicular trail access to lakes in northern Ontario. The results of a probit model support the hypothesis that increased forestry activity near lakes (as measured by road density within 1 km of the lake and the proximity of the lake to two-lane roads) results in increased likelihood of access. We also hypothesized that lake size, the presence of particular fish species, and the proximity of the lake to human communities would increase the likelihood of access. Except for no effect from the presence of trout Salvelinus species, the analyses supported these hypotheses. The predictive validity of the model was tested with holdout data from two other areas of northern Ontario. Strong support for the model was found from analyses of receiver operating characteristic curves for the two holdout data sets. Management scenarios from the model were used to illustrate the potential effects of forestry roads on access development to remote lakes. Our model predicts that in areas where forestry operations occur, development of access to lake shorelines will probably occur, especially on large-sized lakes containing walleyes Sander vitreus. Proactive management involving the closure of forestry roads is probably needed to retain remote lakes in areas with high levels of forestry activity.
Evaluation of Largemouth Bass Length Limits and Catch-and-Release Regulations, with Emphasis on the Incorporation of Biologists' Perceptions of Largemouth Bass Length Frequency Distributions
Authors: Radomski Paul , Anderson Charles S. , Page Kevin S.
Published: May 2009

A survey of fisheries biologists was used to assess changes in size structure of populations of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides in relation to additional harvest regulations and to associate biologists' perceptions with various measures of length frequency changes. Biologists were presented with largemouth bass population data from regulated and control fisheries and then were asked to judge whether they perceived that the population size structure had improved over time. A blind survey approach was used (biologists did not know which populations received the additional regulations or which were control fisheries). We developed statistical models that include lake, regulation type, and biologist effects and compared them with traditional statistical analyses of regulation effectiveness. Based on perceptions of fisheries biologists about length frequency changes, 12-in maximum length limits and catch-and-release regulations were about four times more likely to improve the size structure than just reliance on standard bag limits (the regulation on control fisheries). Improvement in size structure substantially beyond a statistically significant change was often needed before a regulation was considered successful by fisheries biologists. Individuals differed in their propensity to see changes as improvements. The advantages and caveats of using biologists' perceptions as a component of regulation analyses were discussed. A similar approach using angler questionnaires may yield informative data on what constitutes an improved fishery.
Accumulation of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine by the earthwormEisenia andreiin a sandy loam soil
Authors: Sarrazin Manon , Dodard Sabine G. , Savard Kathleen , Lachance Bernard , Robidoux Pierre Y. , Kuperman Roman G. , Hawari Jalal , Ampleman Guy , Thiboutot Sonia , Sunahara Geoffrey I.
Published: May 2009

The heterocyclic polynitramine hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) is a highly energetic compound found as a soil contaminant at some defense installations. Although RDX is not lethal to soil invertebrates at concentrations up to 10,000 mg/kg, it decreases earthworm cocoon formation and juvenile production at environmentally relevant concentrations found at contaminated sites. Very little is known about the uptake of RDX in earthworms and the potential risks for food-chain transfer of RDX in the environment. Toxicokinetic studies were conducted to quantify the bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) using adult earthworms (Eisenia andrei) exposed for up to 14 d to sublethal concentrations of nonlabeled RDX or [14C]RDX in a Sassafras sandy loam soil. High-performance liquid chromatography of acetonitrile extracts of tissue and soil samples indicated that nonlabeled RDX can be accumulated by the earthworm in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. The BAF, expressed as the earthworm tissue to soil concentration ratio, decreased from 6.7 to 0.1 when the nominal soil RDX concentrations were increased from 1 to 10,000 mg/kg. Tissue concentrations were comparable in earthworms exposed to nonlabeled RDX or [14C]RDX. The RDX bioaccumulation also was estimated using the kinetically derived model (BAFK), based on the ratio of the uptake to elimination rate constants. The established BAFK of 3.6 for [14C]RDX uptake was consistent with the results for nonlabeled RDX. Radioactivity also was present in the tissue residues of [14C]RDX-exposed earthworms following acetonitrile extraction, suggesting the formation of nonextractable [14C]RDX metabolites associated with tissue macromolecules. These findings demonstrated a net accumulation of RDX in the earthworm and the potential for food-chain transfer of RDX to higher-trophic-level receptors.
Soil-diffusive gradient in thin films partition coefficients estimate metal bioavailability to crops at fertilized field sites
Authors: Pérez Angela L. , Anderson Kim A.
Published: May 2009

Field trials in four distinct agricultural soils were conducted to examine changes to total recoverable and labile soil Cd and Ni concentrations with applications of commercial phosphate fertilizers. The edible portion of wheat and potato crops grown at the field plots were analyzed for recoverable Cd and Ni. Total recoverable Ni and Cd concentrations in agricultural soils increased by 10 and 22%, respectively, each year of the study at recommended application rates. Labile Cd and Ni were measured using diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT), a passive sampling device reported to estimate the plant bioavailable metal fraction. Nickel concentrations measured with DGT did not significantly change with treatment nor did they change over time. Cadmium concentrations measured with DGT increased with application rate and over time from 2003 to 2005, then decreased in 2006. Wheat grain Cd concentrations and Cd and Ni levels in tubers increased significantly with fertilizer treatment level. Grain and tuber Cd values exceeded the minimal risk levels for chronic oral exposure. At agronomical P-fertilizer application rates, 25% of plant samples deviated from the Cd minimal risk levels. The present study reports the use of Kd-BIO, defined as the ratio of total recoverable metal to DGT measured metal, as a significant indicator of crop metal accumulation in the edible portion. The Kd-BIO values were well correlated with both grain and tuber concentrations over multiple growing seasons. Results from long-term field trials emphasize Kd-BIO as a dynamic term that provides risk characterization information about the fate of Cd and Ni in aged, fertilized agricultural soils and crops.
Chromatographic method for quick estimation of DNA interaction potency of environmental pollutants
Authors: Feng Yong-Lai , Lian Hong-Zhen , Liao Xiang-Jun , Zhu Ji-Ping
Published: May 2009

The DNA interaction potency of a chemical has been defined in the present study as the degree of a chemical's ability to interact with DNA. An estimation method of such a potency has been established based on the peak reduction of an oligonucleotide probe resulting from its interaction with chemicals based on high-performance liquid chromatography. A DNA interaction potency equivalency (PEQ) also has been proposed to evaluate the relative interaction potency of test chemicals against benzo[a]pyrene-7, 8-dihydrodiol-9, 10-epoxide (BPDE). Five known direct DNA interaction chemicals were employed to demonstrate the method. Two known inactive chemicals were used as negative controls. Both the potency and PEQ(50) values (PEQ of testing chemical at 50% of the probe peak reduction) of these five chemicals were determined as BPDE > phenyl glycidyl ether (PGE) > tetrachlorohydroquinone (Cl4HQ) > methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) > styrene-7,8-oxide (SO). Among the reactive chemicals, MMS was found to break the oligonucleotide into smaller fragments, whereas BPDE, PGE, and SO form covalent adducts with the oligonucleotide. In the latter case, the formation of multi-chemical-oligonucleotide adducts also was observed by mass spectrometry. The method was employed to estimate the DNA interaction potency equivalency of diesel vehicle exhaust gas to demonstrate the applicability of this approach in evaluating the interaction potency of environmental pollutants in both gas and liquid phases.
Impact of Advances in Invasive Cardiology on Cardiac Surgery
Authors: Alsaddique Ahmed A
Published: May 2009

Background:

There is a noticeable decline in the number of patients who undergo coronary artery revascularization procedures. The change is definite as it is reported by many centers around the world. This trend is of great concern to cardiac surgeons because of its impact on their practice, its adverse effect on training and the degree of uncertainty it throws into future of the specialty.

Methods:

The data of the cardiac catheterization laboratory at the King Fahad Cardiac Center in the period between 1986 and 2006 was examined looking at the changing pattern of management of patients who undergo cardiac catheterization.

Results:

In the early years, angioplasty was attempted in around 10% of patients leaving the rest for surgical consideration or medical therapy. Currently only 15% of patients who undergo selective coronary angiography are referred for surgery. The majority are offered angioplasty and stenting. The trend is towards more catheter-based interventions and less towards surgery.

Conclusions:

Our findings are in agreement with the general consensus about the specialty. Cardiac surgeons should perhaps consider acquiring new skills which may be outside the operating room. Adding catheter based intervention particularly in valves to cardiac surgery training would be a bonus for the future surgeons that will give them the necessary edge to meet the new challenges. It is incumbent on the leaders in the field to establish a clear strategy for the future.

Mini-Abstract:

Impact of advances in invasive cardiology on cardiac surgery, based on actual analysis of the pattern of referrals to surgery of over two decades.
Implementation of Guidelines for the Management of Arterial Hypertension. The Impulsion Study
Authors: Karagiannis Asterios , Hatzitolios Apostolos I , Athyros Vasilios G , Deligianni Kalliopi , Charalambous Charalambos , Papathanakis Christos , Theodosiou Georgios , Drakidis Theodoros , Chatzikaloudi Veronika , Kamilali Chysanthi , Matsiras Sotirios , Matziris Athanasios , Savopoulos Christos , Baltatzi Maria , Rudolf Jobst , Tziomalos Konstantinos , Mikhailidis Dimitri P
Published: May 2009

This study assessed the effects of a pilot best practice implementation enhancement program on the control of hypertension. We enrolled 697 consecutive known hypertensive patients with other vascular risk factors but free from overt vascular disease. There was no “control” group because it was considered unethical to deprive high-risk patients from “best medical treatment”. Following a baseline visit, previously trained physicians aimed to improve adherence to lifestyle measures and drug treatment for hypertension and other vascular risk factors. Both at baseline and at study completion (after 6 months), a 1-page form was completed showing if patients achieved treatment targets. If not, the reasons why were recorded. This program enhanced compliance with lifestyle measures and increased the use of evidence-based medication. There was a substantial increase in the number of patients who achieved treatment targets for blood pressure (p<0.0001) and other vascular risk factors. In non-diabetic patients (n=585), estimated vascular risk (PROCAM risk engine) was significantly reduced by 41% (p<0.0001). There was also a 12% reduction in vascular risk according to the Framingham risk engine but this did not achieve significance (p=0.07). In conclusion, this is the first study to increase adherence to multiple interventions in hypertensive patients on an outpatient basis, both in primary care and teaching hospitals. Simple, relatively low cost measures (e.g. educating physicians and patients, distributing printed guidelines/brochures and completing a 1-page form) motivated both physicians and patients to achieve multiple treatment goals. Further work is needed to establish if the improvement observed is sustained. [ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00416611].
How Solar Activity Influences Earth's Molecular Processes
Authors: K. Evstafyev Vladimir
Published: May 2009

The paper presents a solution to the two-century old problem of how solar activity influences biological objects
on Earth. It gives a description of the modern state of the kT-problem, which for a long time has been the most difficult
obstacle in the way of explaining solar activity effects. Based on recent advances in spin chemistry, magnetoplasticity
physics, and physics of critical conditions, it is shown that a "molecular target" sensitive to weak electromagnetic fields
and corresponding radio emissions of the Sun has spin dynamics in non-equilibrium and is near the lower critical point of
dividing into layers. A way is proposed as to how solar activity can have an influence on Earth's molecular, including
biological, processes through a "transparency window" of the Earth's atmosphere at the 80Mhz frequency.
Rainfall and Temperature Scenario for Bangladesh
Authors: Islam Md. Nazrul
Published: May 2009

A regional climate model named Providing REgional Climates for Impacts Studies (PRECIS) adapted in generating rainfall scenarios for the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) region. At first, PRECIS generated rainfall scenario is calibrated with ground-based observed rainfall during baseline period (1961-1990) in Bangladesh. The regression coefficients obtained through calibration are utilized for validation of PRECIS simulated rainfall during 2000-2006. PRECIS overestimated rainfall by 12.37%, 1.58%, 10.81%, 4.79 and 13.18% in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006 respectively. It underestimated by 0.64% and 10.84% in 2001 and 2004 respectively. On an average, PRECIS overestimated about 4.47% of surface rainfall. Better performance of PRECIS through validation encourages employing it in rainfall forecasting for Bangladesh. In the second step, rainfall and temperature forecast for Bangladesh is experimentally obtained for 2010-2020. This work discloses that the PRECIS simulated rainfall and temperature are not directly useful
in application purposes. However, after performing calibration, acceptable result is obtained in estimating annual rainfall in Bangladesh with correlation coefficient is 0.90. Change of rainfall is forecasted from -0.99% (in 2013) to 5.3% (2018) for Bangladesh during 2010 - 2020.
Variability of leaf Cadmium content in tetraploid and hexaploid wheat
Authors: Kraljevic-Balalic Marija , Mladenov Novica , Balalic Igor , Zoric Miroslav
Published: May 2009

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic trace metal pollutant for humans, animals, and plants. It is a heavy metal present in soils from natural and anthropogenic sources. Much of the Cd taken up by plants is retained in the root, but a portion is translocated to the aerial portions of the plant and into the seed. The objective of this research was to determine the variability and diversity of Cd content in the leaves of 30 wheat cultivars with different ploidy level, during two years. Analyses of Cd content (ppm) in the leaves at heading stage were performed with an atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS). Significant differences between the mean values of the genotypes in Cd content were found. Tetraploid wheat genotypes had higher Cd content than hexaploid genotypes. Cd content was predominantly influenced by the year of growing (73%). The influence of genotype on Cd content amounted 16% and the interaction genotype ? year 11%. The cluster of the genotypes consists of four groups. In the groups three and four were some of the genotypes (Kalyan Sona, Partizanka and NS Rana 5) with lowest Cd content in the leaves. They could be chosen as parents in the hybridization for lower cadmium concentration.
The importance of physiological traits in wheat breeding under irrigation and drought stress
Authors: Kandic Vesna , Dodig Dejan , Jovic Miroslava , Nikolic Bogdan , Prodanovic Slaven
Published: May 2009

The correlation analysis and the path coefficient analysis were applied to wheat data set with the objective to determine the effect of five physiological traits (early vigor, early maturity, leaf senescence, flag leaf area and total biomass per plant) on grain yield under irrigation and drought stress conditions. The data set consisted of 100 divergent genotypes tested in four-year field trials. Highly significant correlations were found between grain yield, early vigor and total biomass per plant in both treatments. A highly negative correlation was detected between grain yield and days to flowering, as well as, between grain yield and leaf senescence in both treatments. The path analysis revealed a highly significant direct effect of days to anthesis and total biomass per plant on grain yield. Early vigor, leaf senescence and the flag leaf area had a significant indirect effect on grain yield via days to anthesis and total biomass per plant. Early vigor, early maturity and leaf senescence were found to be suitable for wheat breeding under different moisture regimes. These traits can be evaluated quickly and easily, and thus they can be used for the evaluation of large populations.
Antioxidant activity in seeds of maize genotypes with different percentage of exotic germplasm
Authors: Kravic Natalija , Andjelkovic Violeta , Hadzi-Taskovic-Sukalovic Vesna , Vuletic Mirjana
Published: May 2009

In order to broaden the genetic base of maize (Zea mays L.) germplasm, it is necessary to integrate exotic materials into adapted breeding materials. The aim of the study was to compare antioxidative systems of two adapted maize inbred lines (A and B) with exotic germplasm, Drought Tolerant Population (DTP), and their backcrosses with DTP (A1, A2 and B1, B2). The content of low-molecular weight antioxidants, proline and phenolics, as well as antioxidant capacity, detected as free radical scavenging activities against DPPH radical, were measured in maize seeds. Proline content in both, embryo and endosperm was higher in backcrosses than in inbred lines and DTP, and increased in embryo by getting higher percentage of exotic germplasm. Contrary, phenolic content and DPPH radical scavenging activity of seeds, which were higher in adapted inbred lines than in DTP, were slightly decreased in their backcrosses with DTP.
The radioprotective efficacy of the rat acute-phase protein alpha2-macroglobulin on bone marrow cells
Authors: Mihailovic Mirjana , Vidakovic Melita , Grdovic Nevena , Dinic Svetlana , Uskokovic Aleksandra , Martinovic Vesna , Blagojevic Jelena
Published: May 2009

The rat acute phase protein ?2-macroglobulin (?2M) plays an important role in the restoration of disrupted homeostasis by inhibiting different types of non-specific proteases and facilitating the transport of cytokines, growth factors and hormones. Previously, we observed that administration of ?2M to experimental animals prior to the infliction of life- threatening trauma in the form of scalding or total-body irradiation, significantly improved their survival rates. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the radioprotective effect on blood cells of ?2M that, when administered 30 min before irradiation with 6.7 Gy (LD50/30), provides 100% survival of experimental animals where in unprotected irradiated rats the said dose results in 50% lethality. We observed that rats pretreated with ?2M, after an initial decline, exhibited complete recovery of the leukocyte count due to the preservation of bone marrow cells, observed as a stable mitotic index. In untreated irradiated rats the decrease of the mitotic index reflected the significant destruction of bone marrow cells that resulted in a protracted decline in the leukocyte count. We conclude that the radioprotection provided by ?2M was in part mediated through cytoprotection of new blood cells produced in the bone marrow.