bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disease confined within the ovary and smaller amount of ascites are good prognostic factors for survival of patients with squamous cell carcinoma arising from mature cystic teratoma of the ovary: A case series in Korea and review of the published reports
Authors: Kim Hee Seung , Kim Jae Weon , Chung Hyun Hoon , Park Noh‐Hyun , Song Yong‐Sang , Kang Soon‐Beom
Published: January 2009

Aim:  To identify clinical prognostic factors for survival of patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC) arising from mature cystic teratoma (MCT) of the ovary with review of the published reports.

Methods:  Clinical data of 55 patients with SqCC arising from MCT of the ovary who were reported in the Korean Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Korean Journal of Gynecologic Oncology and Colposcopy between 1992 and 2006 were reviewed. Clinical factors were analyzed to identify their association with disease‐free survival and overall survival (OS), which were evaluated using the Kaplan‐Meier analysis with the log‐rank test. Clinical prognostic factors were identified using Cox's proportional hazard analysis.

Results:  Patients with disease confined within the ovary (n = 31) or ascites <500 mL (n = 15) had the benefit of a higher mean OS than those with advanced disease (n = 8) (116 vs 21 months, P = 0.004) and ascites ≥500 mL (n = 7) (106 vs 8 months, P = 0.005), respectively. Disease confined within the ovary and ascites <500 mL were good prognostic factors by univariate but not multivariate Cox's proportional hazard analyses (HR = 0.123 and 0.139, 95% confidence interval = 0.022–0.670 and 0.027–0.722, respectively).

Conclusions:  Disease confined within the ovary and a smaller amount of ascites may be good prognostic factors for the OS of patients with SqCC arising from MCT of the ovary.
Quantification of constraint effects in fracture mechanism transition for cracked structures under mixed mode loading
Authors: MOSTAFAVI M. , SMITH D. J. , PAVIER M. J.
Published: January 2009

The objective of the study is to evaluate the effects of plastic constraint on transition between tensile‐type and shear‐type fracture. The T‐stress is employed as the quantifying parameter for constraint and is incorporated into the existing theoretical criteria for modelling this transition. It is found that different constraint levels can dramatically alter the transition point. To verify this finding, two sets of mixed mode tests with different constraint levels are carried out. Alongside the theoretical and experimental study, finite element simulation is performed to verify and support these findings. Substantially improved agreement is observed with experimental data if the effect of plastic constraint on transition is included.
Numerical simulation of interfacial crack growth under fatigue load
Authors: SHI Z. , ZHANG R.
Published: January 2009

In the present paper, the interfacial crack growth of fibre reinforced composites under tension–tension cyclic load was simulated through the secondary development of the commercial finite element package ANSYS. For the importance of frictional degradation on the debonded interface during fatigue process, the modified power degradation model proposed in the authors' previous work is introduced into the present finite element analysis. Energy release rates rather than stress intensity factors are calculated in terms of difference approximation and utilized in Paris formula. Both looping cyclic load, calculating energy release rate, defining debond criterion and crack propagation law; updating parameters are programmed in ANSYS parametric design language, and the relationships between the parameters (such as the damage factor) and the number of cycles are obtained; the non‐uniform stiffness degradation of matrix is taken into account. The numerical results are compared and discussed with the analytical solutions and good agreement is found. At the same time, a comparison between the present investigation and an experiment study is addressed.
On the relation of microstructure and impact toughness characteristics of DSAW steel of grade API X70
Authors: HASHEMI S. H. , MOHAMMADYANI D. , POURANVARI M. , MOUSAVIZADEH S. M.
Published: January 2009

In this research, mechanical characteristics of double submerged arc‐welded line pipe steel of grade API X70 (70 ksi yield strength) were investigated. Different experimental examinations including chemical analysis, microstructural investigation, microhardness, tensile and Charpy tests and standard fractography were carried out on different zones of test material. Impact properties of the fusion zone, the heat‐affected zone (HAZ) and the base metal were measured on an instrumented Charpy rig and correlated then to their microstructural features. The experimental results showed that the base metal was the toughest, and fusion zone was the least tough region with average Charpy energy of 222 and 128 J, respectively. The latter fulfilled service requirements set by API 5L, despite its relatively low impact energy. Interestingly, the cast microstructure and presence of grain boundary phases such as proeutectoid ferrite in fusion zone confirmed its low energy characteristics. Reduction in HAZ impact energy (compared to base metal) was observed too, together with grain coarsening and the associated HAZ softening adjacent to the weld.
Characterization of cellulose production in Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 and its biological consequences
Authors: Monteiro Cláudia , Saxena Inder , Wang Xiaoda , Kader Abdul , Bokranz Werner , Simm Roger , Nobles David , Chromek Milan , Brauner Annelie , Brown R. Malcolm , Römling Ute
Published: January 2009

Bacterial species of the Enterobacteriaceae family produce cellulose and curli fimbriae as extracellular matrix components, and their synthesis is positively regulated by the transcriptional activator CsgD. In this group of bacteria, cellulose biosynthesis is commonly regulated by CsgD via the GGDEF domain protein AdrA, a diguanylate cyclase that produces cyclic‐diguanylic acid (c‐di‐GMP), an allosteric activator of cellulose synthase. In the probiotic Escherichia coli strain Nissle 1917 and its recent clonal isolates, CsgD activates the production of curli fimbriae at 28°C, but neither CsgD nor AdrA is required for the c‐di‐GMP‐dependent biosynthesis of cellulose at 28°C and 37°C. In these strains, the GGDEF domain protein YedQ, a diguanylate cyclase that activates cellulose biosynthesis in certain E. coli strains, is not required for cellulose biosynthesis and it has in fact evolved into a novel protein. Cellulose production in Nissle 1917 is required for adhesion of bacteria to the gastrointestinal epithelial cell line HT‐29, to the mouse epithelium in vivo, and for enhanced cytokine production. The role of cellulose in this strain is in contrast to the role of cellulose in the commensal strain E. coli TOB1. Consequently, the role of cellulose in bacterial–host interaction is dependent on the E. coli strain background.
Tobacco‐induced alterations to Porphyromonas gingivalis–host interactions
Authors: Bagaitkar Juhi , Williams Lisa R. , Renaud Diane E. , Bemakanakere Manjunatha R. , Martin Mike , Scott David A. , Demuth Donald R.
Published: January 2009

Smokers are more susceptible than non‐smokers to persistent infection by Porphyromonas gingivalis, a causative agent of periodontitis. Patients who smoke exhibit increased susceptibility to periodontitis and are more likely to display severe disease and be refractory to treatment. Paradoxically, smokers demonstrate reduced clinical inflammation. We show that P. gingivalis cells exposed to cigarette smoke extract (CSE) induce a lower proinflammatory response (tumour necrosis factor‐α, interleukin‐6, interleukin‐12 p40) from monocytes and peripheral blood mononuclear cells than do unexposed bacteria. This effect is reversed when CSE‐exposed bacteria are subcultured in fresh medium without CSE. Using microarrays representative of the P. gingivalis genome, CSE‐exposure resulted in differential regulation of 6.8% of P. gingivalis genes, including detoxification and oxidative stress‐related genes; DNA repair genes; and multiple genes related to P. gingivalis virulence, including genes in the major fimbrial and capsular operons. Exposure to CSE also altered the expression of outer membrane proteins, most notably by inducing the virulence factors RagA and RagB, and a putative lipoprotein cotranscribed with the minor fimbrial antigen. Therefore, CSE represents an environmental stress to which P. gingivalis adapts by altering gene expression and outer membrane proteins. These changes may explain, in part, the altered virulence and host–pathogen interactions that have been documented in vivo in smokers with periodontal disease.
A phylogenetic supertree of the fowls (Galloanserae, Aves)
Authors: Eo Soo Hyung , Bininda‐Emonds Olaf R. P , Carroll John P
Published: January 2009

The fowls (Anseriformes and Galliformes) comprise one of the major lineages of birds and occupy almost all biogeographical regions of the world. The group contains the most economically important of all bird species, each with a long history of domestication, and is an ideal model for studying ecological and evolutionary patterns. Yet, despite the relatively large amount of systematic attention fowls have attracted because of their socio‐economic and biological importance, the species‐level relationships within this clade remain controversial. Here we used the supertree method matrix representation with parsimony to generate a robust estimate of species‐level relationships of fowls. The supertree represents one of the most comprehensive estimates for the group to date, including 376 species (83.2% of all species; all 162 Anseriformes and 214 Galliformes) and all but one genera. The supertree was well‐resolved (81.1%) and supported the monophyly of both Anseriformes and Galliformes. The supertree supported the partitioning of Anseriformes into the three traditional families Anhimidae, Anseranatidae, and Anatidae, although it provided relatively poor resolution within Anatidae. For Galliformes, the majority‐rule supertree was largely consistent with the hypothesis of sequential sister‐group relationships between Megapodiidae, Cracidae, and the remaining Galliformes. However, our species‐level supertree indicated that more than 30% of the polytypic genera examined were not monophyletic, suggesting that results from genus‐level comparative studies using the average of the constituent species’ traits should be interpreted with caution until analogous species‐level comparative studies are available. Poorly resolved areas of the supertree reflect gaps or outstanding conflict within the existing phylogenetic database, highlighting areas in need of more study in addition to those species not present on the tree at all due to insufficient information. Even so, our supertree will provide a valuable foundation for understanding the diverse biology of fowls in a robust phylogenetic framework.
Mathematical power of special‐needs pupils: An ICT‐based dynamic assessment format to reveal weak pupils' learning potential1
Authors: Peltenburg Marjolijn , Van Den Heuvel‐Panhuizen Marja , Doig Brian
Published: January 2009

This paper reports a study aimed at revealing special‐educational‐needs pupils' learning potential by means of an ICT‐based assessment including a dynamic visual tool that might help pupils when solving mathematics problems. The study focused on subtraction problems up to 100, which require ‘borrowing’. These problems, in which the value of the ones‐digit of the subtrahend is larger than the ones‐digit of the minuend, are known as a serious difficulty for weak pupils in mathematics. Seven of such problems from a standardised test were placed in the ICT environment. Data were collected from two test conditions: the standardised written test format and the ICT version of the test items including the tool that provided pupils with a set of virtual manipulatives. The 37 pupils involved in the study were 8–12 years old and from two special‐education schools in the Netherlands. Comparison of the performance scores in the two formats showed that an ICT‐based assessment format, including a dynamic visual tool, can reveal weak pupils' learning potential and strategy use. The study also pointed out that ‘partial‐tool use’, ie, not carrying out the complete subtraction operation with the tool, can provide sufficient support to find the correct answer.
e‐Assessment for learning? The potential of short‐answer free‐text questions with tailored feedback
Authors: Jordan Sally , Mitchell Tom
Published: January 2009

A natural language based system has been used to author and mark short‐answer free‐text assessment tasks. Students attempt the questions online and are given tailored and relatively detailed feedback on incorrect and incomplete responses, and have the opportunity to repeat the task immediately so as to learn from the feedback provided. The answer matching has been developed in the light of student responses to the questions. A small number of the questions are now in low‐stakes summative use, alongside other e‐assessment tasks and tutor‐marked assignments, to give students instantaneous feedback on constructed response items, to help them to monitor their progress and to encourage dialogue with their tutor. The answer matching has been demonstrated to be of similar or greater accuracy than specialist human markers. Students have been observed attempting the questions and have been seen to respond in differing ways to both the questions themselves and the feedback provided. We discuss features of appropriate items for assessment of this type.
Example‐based Multiple Local Color Transfer by Strokes
Authors: Wen Chung‐Lin , Hsieh Chang‐Hsi , Chen Bing‐Yu , Ouhyoung Ming
Published: January 2009

This paper investigates a new approach for color transfer. Rather than transferring color from one image to another globally, we propose a system with a stroke‐based user interface to provide a direct indication mechanism. We further present a multiple local color transfer method. Through our system the user can easily enhance a defect (source) photo by referring to some other good quality (target) images by simply drawing some strokes. Then, the system will perform the multiple local color transfer automatically. The system consists of two major steps. First, the user draws some strokes on the source and target images to indicate corresponding regions and also the regions he or she wants to preserve. The regions to be preserved which will be masked out based on an improved graph cuts algorithm. Second, a multiple local color transfer method is presented to transfer the color from the target image(s) to the source image through gradient‐guided pixel‐wise color transfer functions. Finally, the defect (source) image can be enhanced seamlessly by multiple local color transfer based on some good quality (target) examples through an interactive and intuitive stroke‐based user interface.
Shrinkability Maps for Content‐Aware Video Resizing
Authors: Zhang Yi‐Fei , Hu Shi‐Min , Martin Ralph R.
Published: January 2009

A novel method is given for content‐aware video resizing, i.e. targeting video to a new resolution (which may involve aspect ratio change) from the original.

We precompute a per‐pixel cumulative shrinkability map which takes into account both the importance of each pixel and the need for continuity in the resized result. (If both x and y resizing are required, two separate shrinkability maps are used, otherwise one suffices). A random walk model is used for efficient offline computation of the shrinkability maps. The latter are stored with the video to create a multi‐sized video, which permits arbitrary‐sized new versions of the video to be later very efficiently created in real‐time, e.g. by a video‐on‐demand server supplying video streams to multiple devices with different resolutions. These shrinkability maps are highly compressible, so the resulting multi‐sized videos are typically less than three times the size of the original compressed video. A scaling function operates on the multi‐sized video, to give the new pixel locations in the result, giving a high‐quality content‐aware resized video.

Despite the great efficiency and low storage requirements for our method, we produce results of comparable quality to state‐of‐the‐art methods for content‐aware image and video resizing.
Context Aware Terrain Visualization for Wayfinding and Navigation
Authors: Möser Sebastian , Degener Patrick , Wahl Roland , Klein Reinhard
Published: January 2009

To assist wayfinding and navigation, the display of maps and driving directions on mobile devices is nowadays commonplace. While existing system can naturally exploit GPS information to facilitate orientation, the inherently limited screen space is often perceived as a drawback compared to traditional street maps as it constrains the perception of contextual information. Moreover, occlusion issues add to this problem if the environment is shown from the popular egocentric perspective.

In this paper we describe an interactive visualization system that addresses these problems by reallocating the available screen space. At the heart of our system are three novel visualization techniques: First, we propose a non‐standard perspective that allows to blend between the familiar pedestrian perspective and a standard map depiction with reduced occlusion. Second, we derive an efficient deformation technique that allows an interactive allocation of screen space to areas of interest like e.g. nearby touristic attractions. Finally, a path adaptive isometric perspective is proposed that reveals otherwise hidden facades in top‐down views. We describe efficient implementations of all techniques and exemplify our interactive system on real world urban models.
A Hidden‐picture Puzzles Generator
Authors: Yoon Jong‐Chul , Lee In‐Kwon , Kang Henry
Published: January 2009

A hidden‐picture puzzle contains objects hidden in a background image, in such a way that each object fits closely into a local region of the background. Our system converts image of the background and objects into line drawing, and then finds places in which to hide transformed versions of the objects using rotation‐invariant shape context matching. During the hiding process, each object is subjected to a slight deformation to enhance its similarity to the background. The results were assessed by a panel of puzzle‐solvers.
Real‐time Animation of Sand‐Water Interaction
Authors: Rungjiratananon Witawat , Szego Zoltan , Kanamori Yoshihiro , Nishita Tomoyuki
Published: January 2009

Recent advances in physically‐based simulations have made it possible to generate realistic animations. However, in the case of solid‐fluid coupling, wetting effects have rarely been noticed despite their visual importance especially in interactions between fluids and granular materials.

This paper presents a simple particle‐based method to model the physical mechanism of wetness propagating through granular materials; Fluid particles are absorbed in the spaces between the granular particles and these wetted granular particles then stick together due toliquid bridgesthat are caused by surface tension and which will subsequently disappear when over‐wetting occurs. Our method can handle these phenomena by introducing awetness valuefor each granular particle and by integrating those aspects of behavior that are dependent on wetness into the simulation framework. Using this method, a GPU‐based simulator can achieve highly dynamic animations that include wetting effects in real time.
Interactive Glossy Reflections using GPU‐based Ray Tracing with Adaptive LOD
Authors: Yu Xuan , Wang Rui , Yu Jingyi
Published: January 2009

We present an interactive GPU‐based algorithm for accurately rendering high‐quality, dynamic glossy reflection effects from both HDR environment maps and local scene objects. Our method uses hardware rasterization to produce primary pixels, and GPU‐based BRDF importance sampling [CK07] to quickly generate reflected rays. We utilize a fast GPU ray tracer proposed by Carr et al. [CHCH06] to compute reflection hits. Our main contribution is an adaptive level‐of‐detail (LOD) control algorithm that greatly improves ray tracing performance during reflection shading. Specifically, we use the solid angle represented by each reflected ray to adaptively pick the level of termination in the BVH traversal step during ray tracing. This leads to 2 ∼ 3x speedup over an unmodified implementation of [CHCH06]. Based on the same solid angle measure, we derive a texture filtering formula to reduce reflection aliasing artifacts, taking advantage of hardware MIP mapping. This extends the filtering algorithm presented in [CK07] from environment mapping to local scene reflection. Using our algorithm, we demonstrate interactive rendering rates for several scenes featuring dynamic lighting and material changes, spatially varying BRDF parameters, and rigid‐body object movement.
Fetal Testosterone Predicts Sexually Differentiated Childhood Behavior in Girls and in Boys
Authors: Auyeung Bonnie , Baron-Cohen Simon , Ashwin Emma , Knickmeyer Rebecca , Taylor Kevin , Hackett Gerald , Hines Melissa
Published: January 2009

Mammals, including humans, show sex differences in juvenile play behavior. In rodents and nonhuman primates, these behavioral sex differences result, in part, from sex differences in androgens during early development. Girls exposed to high levels of androgen prenatally, because of the genetic disorder congenital adrenal hyperplasia, show increased male-typical play, suggesting similar hormonal influences on human development, at least in females. Here, we report that fetal testosterone measured from amniotic fluid relates positively to male-typical scores on a standardized questionnaire measure of sex-typical play in both boys and girls. These results show, for the first time, a link between fetal testosterone and the development of sex-typical play in children from the general population, and are the first data linking high levels of prenatal testosterone to increased male-typical play behavior in boys.
Reward Priority of Visual Target Singletons Modulates Event-Related Potential Signatures of Attentional Selection
Authors: Kiss Monika , Driver Jon , Eimer Martin
Published: January 2009

We examined visual search for color singleton targets, whose shape was discriminated. Critically, we varied the reward priority of singleton colors (correct fast performance was worth more bonus points for red singletons than for green singletons, or vice versa) to test whether event-related potential signatures of visual selection can be affected by distinct reward priorities for different target types, even when every target has to be selected for report. The N2pc component was earlier and larger for high- than for low-reward targets. This influence of reward on the N2pc correlated with the subject-by-subject impact of reward level on efficiency of behavioral performance. Later postselection processing was also affected by reward level. These results demonstrate that visual selection of task-relevant items is rapidly modulated by reward-related priorities, even when every target has to be selected for response.
The Role of Gender in Mental-Illness Stigma
Authors: Wirth James H. , Bodenhausen Galen V.
Published: January 2009

The stigma of mental illness imposes substantial costs on both the individuals who experience mental illness and society at large. Understanding the psychological underpinnings of this stigma is therefore a matter of practical and theoretical significance. In a national, Web-based survey experiment, we investigated the role played by gender in moderating mental-illness stigma. Respondents read a case summary in which the gender of the person was orthogonally manipulated along with the type of disorder; the cases reflected either a male-typical disorder or a female-typical disorder. Results indicated that when cases were gender typical, respondents felt more negative affect, less sympathy, and less inclination to help, compared to when cases were gender atypical. This pattern can be explained by the fact that gender-typical cases were significantly less likely to be seen as genuine mental disturbances.
Translation style and participant roles in court interpreting1
Authors: Angermeyer Philipp Sebastian
Published: January 2009

This paper investigates the translation styles of court interpreters in New York City and the styles' social and pragmatic implications for multilingual interactions in court. Interpreters are found to vary between using first or third person to represent the voice of a translated source speaker, thereby varying between adherence to explicit institutional norms that require first person and accommodation to non‐professional interpreting practices that favor the use of reported speech. In a quantitative and qualitative analysis, this variation is shown to be influenced by several pragmatic and social factors, and to index the interpreters' stances towards source speakers and towards the immigrant court users who are the recipients of translations from English. It is argued that translation styles have profound consequences for limited English speakers, as the insistence on institutional norms in translating to them is viewed as a gatekeeping behavior that may impede their full participation in the proceedings.
Dreaming and Imagination
Authors: ICHIKAWA JONATHAN
Published: January 2009

Abstract: What is it like to dream? On an orthodox view, dreams involve misleading sensations and false beliefs. I argue, on philosophical, psychological, and neurophysiological grounds, that orthodoxy about dreaming should be rejected in favor of animagination model of dreaming. I am thus in partial agreement with Colin McGinn, who has argued that we do not have misleading sensory experiences while dreaming, and partially in agreement with Ernest Sosa, who has argued that we do not form false beliefs while dreaming. Rather, on my view, dreams involve mental imagery and propositional imagination. I defend the imagination model of dreaming from objections.
Mammography-Related Breast Pain is Associated With Migraine
Authors: Mattsson P
Published: January 2009

There is little information about the perception of experimentally induced extracephalic pain in migraine. This study investigates the associations between mammography-related pain and migraine. A neurologist clinically assessed 630 women aged 40–74 years attending a population-based breast cancer screening programme. Headache criteria proposed by the International Headache Society were used. Mammography-related pain was measured on a 100-mm visual analogue scale. High levels of mammography-related pain were associated with migraine. This association was related to mammographic examination during the early follicular phase and menopausal status, but unrelated to differences in age, compression pressure, education, current use of hormonal replacement therapy, anxiety, and recent use of analgesics and antimigraine medication. The results of the present study indicate that migraine and compression-induced breast pain are related.
Space Headache: A New Secondary Headache
Authors: Vein AA , Koppen H , Haan J , Terwindt GM , Ferrari MD
Published: January 2009

Headache is a common, but rarely voiced, complaint during space flights, usually attributed to space motion sickness (SMS). We used a specifically designed questionnaire based on the criteria of the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd edn (ICHD-II). Of the 16 male and one female astronauts who participated in the survey, 12 (71%) reported having experienced at least one headache episode while in space, whereas they had not suffered from headache when on earth. There were in total 21 space headache episodes, of moderate to severe intensity in 71%. In two astronauts (12%) the headache and associated symptoms would match the ICHD-II criteria for migraine and in three (18%) astronauts for tension-type headache; in 12 (70%) astronauts the headache was non-specific. The vast majority of headache episodes (76%) were not associated with symptoms of SMS. We conclude that space flights may trigger headaches without other SMS symptoms in otherwise ‘super-healthy’ male subjects. We propose to classify space headache as a separate entity among the secondary headaches attributed to disorders of homeostasis.
What We Owe the Dead
Authors: WISNEWSKI J. JEREMY
Published: January 2009

abstract  My aim in this paper is to argue that we have at least some obligations to the dead. After briefly considering some previous (unsuccessful) attempts to establish such obligations, I offer a reductio argument which establishes at least some obligations to the dead. Following this, the surprising extent of these obligations (given a few roughly Kantian assumptions) is considered. I then argue that there are and must be some significant limitations on the duties of the living in relation to the dead. My aim in this paper is not to sort out how we should deal with all of the particular cases in which the question of obligations to the dead emerge — in archaeological digs, research involving the newly dead, the execution of wills, or the fulfilment of last requests — but I will attempt to lay some groundwork for the future assessment of these questions.
The Economic Determinants of Conditional Conservatism
Authors: Lara Juan Manuel García , Osma Beatriz García , Penalva Fernando
Published: January 2009

Abstract:  We study the economic determinants of conditional conservatism. Consistent with prior literature, we find that contracting induces only conditional conservatism and litigation induces both conditional and unconditional conservatism. We extend prior evidence by Qiang (2007) by showing that taxation and regulation induce not only unconditional conservatism, but conditional conservatism as well. We show that in certain scenarios taxation and regulation create incentives to shift income from periods with high taxation pressure and high public scrutiny to periods with lower taxation pressure and lower public scrutiny. These income shifting strategies are implemented by recognising current economic losses that, given managerial incentives to report aggressively, would not have been recognized otherwise, or by delaying the recognition of current economic gains that would have been recognized had circumstances been different.
Exploring the Determinants of CAP Reform: A Delphi Survey of Key Decision‐Makers*
Authors: CUNHA ARLINDO , SWINBANK ALAN
Published: January 2009

A panel of key decision‐makers, closely involved in the 1992, 1999 and 2003 CAP reforms, participated in a Delphi survey designed to ascertain what had prompted the European Commission to launch these reform initiatives and what factors were relevant in determining the reform packages subsequently decided by the Council.
The Choices for Europe: National Preferences in New and Old Member States*
Authors: COPSEY NATHANIEL , HAUGHTON TIM
Published: January 2009

Drawing on the existing body of literature that deals with national preference formation and building on the role played by vulnerability and deficits in shaping policy choices at the European level, this article provides a synthetic framework to explain the stances of the Older Member States (OMS) and New Member States (NMS). We subsequently apply the model to NMS, focusing largely, although not exclusively, on Poland. We argue that although many of the policy preferences can be explained by the framework, the size of states, especially with regard to ambition and capacity, and the nature of the country's post‐communist transition appear significant for the NMS and need to be incorporated into future theory‐building. We conclude by highlighting areas in need of further empirical research.
The Myths of Turkish Influence in the European Union*
Authors: PAHRE ROBERT , UÇARAY‐MANGITLI BURCU
Published: January 2009

Among the many objections to Turkish membership of the European Union lie claims that Turkey will be a powerful actor in the future EU, with a population as large as or larger than Germany. Many also claim that this power will have negative effects on the EU. We examine such claims analytically, influenced strongly by spatial models of EU policy‐making. We find that Turkey's preferences lie sufficiently outside the EU mainstream that it will have little influence in day‐to‐day policy‐making under the assent, co‐decision, consultation and co‐operation procedures (or the common procedure in the Constitutional Treaty). Its influence may be more evident in areas such as the CFSP or JHA, where unanimity remains the normal procedure. Still, Turkey's veto power here is no different from that of other, much smaller countries. Furthermore, veto power can only block changes and cannot be used to pull the EU in undesirable new directions. Even this veto power can be avoided if the EU‐27 establish whatever policies they desire prior to Turkish membership, forcing Turkey to accept a fait accompli. Despite these limitations to its power, Turkey may have some influence in purely intergovernmental settings such as negotiations over new treaties that might occur some decades hence.
Networking in Brussels: Nationality over a Glass of Wine
Authors: SUVARIEROL SEMIN
Published: January 2009

This article provides an insight into the Brussels informal networking scene by providing empirical evidence on the networks of European Commission officials. It is argued that Commission officials tend to separate work and private contacts and that nationality rather forms a bonding factor for leisure purposes.
Exercise and osteoarthritis
Authors: Hunter David J. , Eckstein Felix
Published: January 2009

Exercise remains an extremely popular leisure time activity in many countries throughout the western world. It is widely promoted in the lay press as having salutory benefits for weight control, disease management advantages for cardiovascular disease and diabetes, in addition to improving psychological well‐being amongst an array of other benefits. In contrast, however, the lay press and community perception is also that exercise is potentially deleterious to one's joints. The purpose of this review is to consider what osteoarthritis (OA) is and provide an overview of the epidemiology of OA focusing on validated risk factors for its development. In particular the role of both exercise and occupational activity in OA will be described as well as the role of exercise to the joints’ tissues (particularly cartilage) and the role of exercise in disease management. Despite the common misconception that exercise is deleterious to one's joints, in the absence of joint injury there is no evidence to support this notion. Rather it would appear that exercise has positive salutory benefits for joint tissues in addition to its other health benefits.
Morphometric variability of minicolumns in the striate cortex of Homo sapiens, Macaca mulatta, and Pan troglodytes
Authors: Casanova Manuel F. , Trippe II Juan , Tillquist Christopher , Switala Andrew E.
Published: January 2009

Radially oriented ensembles of neurons and their projections, termed minicolumns, are hypothesized to be the basic microcircuit of mammalian cerebral cortex. Minicolumns can be divided into a core and a peripheral neuropil space compartment. The core of minicolumns is constrained by the migratory path of pyramidal cells and their attendant radially oriented projections. Variation in minicolumnar morphometry and density is observed both within and across species. Using a scale‐independent measure of variability in minicolumnar width (VCW), we demonstrated a significant increase in VCW in layers III–V of striate cortex in humans relative to macaques and chimpanzees. Despite changes in minicolumnar width (CW) across species, their core space (w) remained the same. Given that cellular elements and processes within the peripheral neuropil space of minicolumns are derived from assorted sources, cross‐species differences in VCW may result from genetic and epigenetic influences acting primarily on this compartment of the minicolumn.
Effects of feeding on medicinal leech swimming performance
Authors: Claflin S. B. , Pien C. L. , Rangel E. N. , Utz K. E. , Walther H. V. , Wright A. N. , Ellerby D. J.
Published: January 2009

The locomotor system of sanguivorous leeches is presented with a unique challenge: how to maintain mobility while coping with a >500% increase in body mass during feeding. A meal of this size is likely to disrupt the function of the muscular hydrostat during swimming, reducing speed and increasing predation risks. We quantified the effects of feeding to satiety on swimming kinematics, and the time course of recovery of swimming performance post‐feeding in the medicinal leech Hirudo verbana. There was a 5.07 ± 0.04‐fold increase in mass during feeding (mean ±sem, n=7). Despite this, leeches were able to swim immediately after feeding, reaching 27% of their pre‐feeding speed. Reduced speed was a consequence of a reduction in both swimming cycle frequency and stride length to 69 and 42% of the pre‐feeding values, respectively. Recovery of swimming ability was rapid, despite a prolonged increase in body mass. Fifty per cent restoration of swimming speed was achieved in c. 1 h while body mass was still 4.2‐fold greater than before feeding. Rapid mass and volume reduction immediately post‐feeding, and the properties of the obliquely striated swimming muscles appear to aid recovery of swimming performance. Such features that aid post‐feeding recovery of mobility may have been important in the evolution of leech sanguivory.
Marked differences in cholesterol synthesis between neurons and glial cells from postnatal rats
Authors: Nieweg Katja , Schaller Hubert , Pfrieger Frank W.
Published: January 2009

Neurons have a high demand for cholesterol to develop and maintain membrane‐rich structures like axons, dendrites and synapses, but it remains unclear, whether they can satisfy their need by costly de novo synthesis. To address this, we compared cholesterol synthesis in serum‐free cultures of highly purified CNS neurons and glial cells from postnatal rats. We observed marked cell‐specific differences: Compared with glial cells, neurons showed different profiles of biosynthetic enzymes, post‐squalene precursors and cholesterol metabolites, and they produced cholesterol less efficiently, possibly because of very low levels of lanosterol‐converting enzymes. Astrocytes responded to inhibition of cholesterol synthesis with a much stronger up‐regulation of biosynthetic enzymes than neurons. Our results support the idea that neurons cannot produce cholesterol efficiently and that they depend on an external source of this lipid.
Selectivity and functional consequences of interactions of family A G protein‐coupled receptors with neurochondrin and periplakin
Authors: Ward Richard J. , Jenkins Laura , Milligan Graeme
Published: January 2009

A wide range of intracellular proteins have been demonstrated to interact with individual G protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) and, in certain cases, to modulate their function or trafficking. However, in only a few cases have the GPCR selectivity of such interactions been investigated. Interactions between the intracellular C‐terminal tails of 44 GPCRs and both neurochondrin and periplakin were assessed in pull‐down studies. 23 of these interacted with neurochondrin and periplakin, 10 interacted with neither whilst nine interacted with only neurochondrin and two with only periplakin. When appropriate GIP‐interacting Gq/G11‐coupled GPCRs were expressed in cells inducibly expressing neurochondrin or periplakin this resulted in a reduction in the increase in intracellular [Ca2+] in response to agonist. However, induction of neurochondrin or periplakin was without functional consequences for GPCRs with which they did not interact. Unlike intracellular [Ca2+] signals, induction of expression of either interacting protein did not inhibit agonist‐mediated ERK1/2 MAPK phosphorylation. These data indicate that both periplakin and neurochondrin can interact with a wide range of GPCRs and modulate function selectively. Details of the structure of the intracellular C‐terminal tail of individual receptors will be required to fully understand the basis of such selectivity.
Neural precursor cell cultures from GM2 gangliosidosis animal models recapitulate the biochemical and molecular hallmarks of the brain pathology
Authors: Martino Sabata , Di Girolamo Ilaria , Cavazzin Chiara , Tiribuzi Roberto , Galli Rossella , Rivaroli Anna , Valsecchi Manuela , Sandhoff Konrad , Sonnino Sandro , Vescovi Angelo , Gritti Angela , Orlacchio Aldo
Published: January 2009

In this work we showed that genotype‐related patterns of hexosaminidase activity, isoenzyme composition, gene expression and ganglioside metabolism observed during embryonic and postnatal brain development are recapitulated during the progressive stages of neural precursor cell (NPC) differentiation to mature glia and neurons in vitro. Further, by comparing NPCs and their differentiated progeny established from Tay‐Sachs (TS) and Sandhoff (SD) animal models with the wild‐type counterparts, we studied the events linking the accumulation of undegraded substrates to hexosaminidase activity. We showed that similarly to what observed in brain tissues in TS NPCs and progeny, the stored GM2 was partially converted by sialidase to GA2, which can be then degraded in the lysosomes to its components. The latter can be used in a salvage pathway for the formation of GM3. Interestingly, results obtained from ganglioside feeding assays and from measurement of lysosomal sialidase activity suggest that a similar pathway might work also in the SD model.
Essential roles of dopamine D4receptors and the type 1 adenylyl cyclase in photic control of cyclic AMP in photoreceptor cells
Authors: Jackson Chad R. , Chaurasia Shyam S. , Zhou Hong , Haque Rashidul , Storm Daniel R. , Iuvone P. Michael
Published: January 2009

Light and dopamine regulate many physiological functions in the vertebrate retina. Light exposure decreases cyclic AMP formation in photoreceptor cells. Dopamine D4receptor (D4R) activation promotes light adaptation and suppresses the light‐sensitive pool of cyclic AMP in photoreceptor cells. The key signaling pathways involved in regulating cyclic AMP in photoreceptor cells have not been identified. In the present study, we show that the light‐ and D4R‐signaling pathways converge on the type 1 Ca2+/calmodulin‐stimulated adenylyl cyclase (AC1) to regulate cyclic AMP synthesis in photoreceptor cells. In addition, we present evidence that D4R activation tonically regulates the expression of AC1 in photoreceptors. In retinas of mice with targeted deletion of the gene (Adcy1) encoding AC1, cyclic AMP levels and Ca2+/calmodulin‐stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity are markedly reduced, and cyclic AMP accumulation is unaffected by either light or D4R activation. Similarly, in mice with disruption of the gene (Drd4) encoding D4R, cyclic AMP levels in the dark‐adapted retina are significantly lower compared to wild‐type retina and are unresponsive to light. These changes inDrd4−/−mice were accompanied by significantly lowerAdcy1mRNA levels in photoreceptor cells and lower Ca2+/calmodulin‐stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity in retinal membranes compared with wild‐type controls. Reduced levels ofAdcy1mRNA were also observed in retinas of wild‐type mice treated chronically with a D4R antagonist, L‐745870. Thus, activation of D4R is required for normal expression of AC1 and for the regulation of its catalytic activity by light. These observations illustrate a novel mechanism for cross‐talk between dopamine and photic signaling pathways regulating cyclic AMP in photoreceptor cells.
Strain Localisation and Damage Measurement by Full 3D Digital Image Correlation: Application to 15‐5PH Stainless Steel
Authors: Wu T. , Coret M. , Combescure A.
Published: January 2009

Abstract:  The objective of this paper is to propose a method for measuring damage in ductile materials, from its inception to rupture. In the first stage of damage, which occurs before localisation, the usual method for determining damage through the measurement of stiffness variation is used. A damageable elastic–plastic model of the modified Lemaitre/Chaboche type is identified from these tests. An original method is proposed for measuring damage following the initiation of strain localisation. This method is based on a full 3D image correlation analysis using four cameras. The principle of the method consists in identifying the damage through tensile experiments on thin, flat‐notched specimens subjected to tensile loading. Speckles are applied on both faces of each specimen in order to follow the strain fields on the two faces at the same time. These two strain fields are digitised simultaneously by two synchronised sets of two digital cameras. This paper shows how this method enables one to identify strain localisation and deduce the evolution of damage directly. Here, the method is developed for 15‐5 PH stainless steel.
The dilemma of conducting research back in your own country as a returning student – reflections of research fieldwork in Zimbabwe
Authors: Mandiyanike David
Published: January 2009

The research process is more like finding one's way through a complex maze. ‘Home is where the heart is’, but foreign students face a number of problems upon their return home to do research. This paper chronicles the dilemma of a Zimbabwean student conducting fieldwork for his UK‐based doctoral studies in his own country. The dilemmas were critical in that the fieldwork was undertaken during the ‘Zimbabwe crisis’ and the inherent problems of researching government‐related organisations. This has a bearing on any research process and invokes use of the etic/emic dilemma. This paper contributes to the gaps and growing literature on methods and techniques for conducting qualitative research in human geography.
A parsimonious crop‐water productivity index: an application to Brazil
Authors: Maneta Marco P , Singh Purnendu N , Torres Marcelo , Wallender Wesley W , Vosti Stephen A , Rodrigues Lineu N , Bassoi Luis H , Young Julie A
Published: January 2009

Reducing poverty in rural areas of developing countries requires sustained and sustainable increases in agricultural water productivity. However, aside from traditional measures of precipitation, little is known about water available to farmers or how productively they use it. We present a crop‐water productivity index (a ratio of the value of annual crop production to a dimensionless potential water availability index) for large water basins using readily available low‐resolution data. The index is transferable, permits direct inter‐basin comparisons, and is simple to calculate. We calculate the index for each municipality in the São Francisco river basin in Brazil. No clear patterns linking water availability and value of agricultural output are evident, even though clusters of municípios with high‐ and low‐crop‐water productivity emerge, and the former may be useful in guiding policies aimed at increasing water productivity. Finally, analyses of the effects of information uncertainty on the crop‐water productivity index suggest that the returns to agricultural investments in certain places in the São Francisco river basin are more risky than others. Improvements in data quality and quantity can help refine estimates of the index and reduce their uncertainty.