bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stability and Change in Times of Fragmentation: The Limits ofPacta Sunt ServandaRevisited
Authors: BINDER CHRISTINA
Published: November 2012

Stability versus change is one of the fundamental debates of the law of treaties. The limits ofpacta sunt servanda– under which conditions a state may derogate from treaty obligations when circumstances change – appears as a constant throughout the history of international law. This article examines the limits ofpacta sunt servandain times of fragmentation. It first discusses the mechanisms of general international law – supervening impossibility of performance and fundamental change of circumstances (Articles 61 and 62 VCLT) in the law of treaties andforce majeureand the state of necessity (Articles 23 and 25 of the ILC Articles on State Responsibility) in the law of state responsibility. It is argued that they provide only insufficient means to accommodate change. Against that background, derogation is examined in specific treaty regimes, including international human rights law, the law of the sea, and international investment law. Treaty-based termination/withdrawal clauses and emergency exceptions are analysed accordingly. Especially the latter are formulated in a regime-specific way, adapting derogation from treaty obligations to the requirements of the respective treaty regimes. On the basis of an empirical analysis of relevant state practice it is argued that this regime-specificity – a sign of fragmentation – is especially important since there is an increased need for temporary derogation in contemporary international law.
Owner-collected swabs of pets: a method fit for the purpose of zoonoses research
Authors: MÖBIUS N. , HILLE K. , VERSPOHL J. , WEFSTAEDT P. , KREIENBROCK L.
Published: November 2012

As part of the preparation of a large cohort study in the entire German population, this study examined the feasibility of cat and dog owners collecting nasal and oral swabs of their animals at home as a method of assessing exposure to zoonoses. In veterinary clinics in Hannover, Germany, 100 pet owners were recruited. Nasal and oral swabs of pets were taken by a veterinarian at the clinic and owners took swabs at home. Swabs were analysed regarding bacterial growth and compared (owner vs. vet) using Cohen's kappa and McNemar's test. The return rate of kits was 92%, and 77% of owners thought it unnecessary to have veterinarian assistance to swab the mouth. McNemar's test results: oral swabs 78% agreement with Gram-positive bacterial growth, 87% agreement with Gram-negative bacterial growth; with similar results for nasal swabs. Although sample quality differed, this method allowed the receipt of swabs from pets in order to obtain information about colonization with zoonotic pathogens.
Validation and reproducibility of an FFQ for use among adults in Botswana
Authors: Jackson Maria D , Motswagole Boitumelo S , Kwape Lemogang D , Kobue-Lekalake Rosemary I , Rakgantswana Tidimalo B , Mongwaketse Tiyapo , Mokotedi Motlalepula , Jackson-Malete Jose
Published: November 2012

Objective

To evaluate the validity and reproducibility of a 122-item interviewer-administered quantitative FFQ developed to determine food and nutrient intakes of adults in Botswana.

Design

Relative validity of the FFQ was evaluated by comparing nutrient and food group intakes against four non-consecutive 24 h recalls administered over 12 months. The FFQ was repeated after 1 year to assess reproducibility.

Setting

Kanye, Botswana.

Subjects

Seventy-nine adults aged 18–75 years.

Results

Spearman correlation coefficients for the validity of energy-adjusted nutrients ranged from 0·42 (carbohydrate) to 0·49 (protein) for macronutrients and from 0·23 (Fe) to 0·44 (PUFA) for micronutrients. Exact agreement of quartile distribution for nutrients between the FFQ and recalls ranged from 27 % to 72 %. Weighted kappa values were lowest for retinol (0·13), Fe (0·22) and β-carotene (0·25) and ranged from 0·33 (SFA) to 0·59 (folate) for other nutrients (energy, carbohydrate, protein, fat, Ca and vitamin E). Spearman correlation coefficients between the recalls and FFQ for food groups ranged from 0·18 (dark green leafy and yellow vegetables) to 0·58 (poultry). Reproducibility correlation coefficients (energy-adjusted) varied between 0·39 for retinol and 0·66 for vitamin E, with most values falling between 0·50 and 0·60.

Conclusions

The FFQ had good relative validity for estimating habitual food group and nutrient intakes, but was poor for some micronutrients (Fe, retinol and β-carotene) and foods (fruits and dark green leafy vegetables).
Effectiveness of subsidies in promoting healthy food purchases and consumption: a review of field experiments
Authors: An Ruopeng
Published: November 2012

Objective

To systematically review evidence from field interventions on the effectiveness of monetary subsidies in promoting healthier food purchases and consumption.

Design

Keyword and reference searches were conducted in five electronic databases: Cochrane Library, EconLit, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Web of Science. Studies were included based on the following criteria: (i) intervention: field experiments; (ii) population: adolescents 12–17 years old or adults 18 years and older; (iii) design: randomized controlled trials, cohort studies or pre–post studies; (iv) subsidy: price discounts or vouchers for healthier foods; (v) outcome: food purchases or consumption; (vi) period: 1990–2012; and (vii) language: English. Twenty-four articles on twenty distinct experiments were included with study quality assessed using predefined methodological criteria.

Setting

Interventions were conducted in seven countries: the USA (n 14), Canada (n 1), France (n 1), Germany (n 1), Netherlands (n 1), South Africa (n 1) and the UK (n 1). Subsidies applied to different types of foods such as fruits, vegetables and low-fat snacks sold in supermarkets, cafeterias, vending machines, farmers’ markets or restaurants.

Subjects

Interventions enrolled various population subgroups such as school/university students, metropolitan transit workers and low-income women.

Results

All but one study found subsidies on healthier foods to significantly increase the purchase and consumption of promoted products. Study limitations include small and convenience samples, short intervention and follow-up duration, and lack of cost-effectiveness and overall diet assessment.

Conclusions

Subsidizing healthier foods tends to be effective in modifying dietary behaviour. Future studies should examine its long-term effectiveness and cost-effectiveness at the population level and its impact on overall diet intake.
Charmed by China? Popular Perceptions of Chinese Influence in Asia
Authors: NELSON TRAVIS , CARLSON MATTHEW
Published: November 2012

Chinese influence in Asia is complicated by many factors. There are those who argue that China's growing military and economic power make this influence an automatic threat, while others maintain that China's recent attempts at a ‘charm offensive’ mute this threat and have succeeded in creating a positive image for many of its regional neighbors. Drawing on survey data collected across 23 countries, we enter this debate by asking what individuals in and across Asia think about Chinese influence. Do they see this influence as positive or negative? What factors at the individual and national levels most clearly shape their perceptions? Using multilevel statistical analysis, we find that Asian opinions of Chinese influence are on the whole quite positive and are influenced by a range of factors, including foreign policy interest, national identification, foreign contact, and recent military conflict.
Who's Afraid of the Dragon? Asian Mass Publics’ Perceptions of China's Influence
Authors: LINLEY MATTHEW , REILLY JAMES , GOLDSMITH BENJAMIN E.
Published: November 2012

In what countries and among which individuals in Asia is China's influence seen as least favorable? Drawing upon AsiaBarometer survey data from 12 Asian societies between 2006 and 2008, this study tests a series of hypotheses aimed at identifying those variables that most consistently predict individuals’ perceptions of China. With the exceptions of Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam, a clear plurality or a majority of respondents in each polity views China's influence positively. Concerns about domestic economic management were most consistently associated with perceptions of China that are more unfavorable, while greater levels of contact with the Chinese film and television culture were consistently associated with perceptions of China that are more favorable. These results suggest that China is more likely to be seen as an economic rather than military threat by Asian publics, and that Asia may prove responsive to a nuanced soft power campaign by Beijing in the future.
Countertransference in the Rorschach Situation as a Clue to the Patient’s Affective Functioning
Authors: Deschenaux Emilie , Lecours Serge , Doyon Julie , Briand-Malenfant Rachel
Published: November 2012

The Rorschach inkblot method (RIM) is a procedure that challenges an individual’s capacities for regulating affective experience. An individual who cannot self-regulate and needs an external agent to do so will find the Rorschach task particularly difficult. Distress is a manifestation of self-regulating difficulties which can lead to interpersonal regulation. Projective identification is a mechanism for regulating intense affects which has been linked with countertransference, and has been defined as the reactions and manifestations in the person of the analyst to the contents projected into him by the patient. Therefore, the clinician’s reactions to his patient are now considered important sources of information about the patient’s mental functioning. In the present study, we empirically evaluated the examiner’s experience and CS variables related to affect regulation, in order to see if it can be used as a source of information about the mental functioning of patients. A sample of 30 participants were administered the Rorschach, and both participants and examiners self-reported their affective experience of the Rorschach situation with the PANAS-m. We found that the emotional experiences of the examinee that have the strongest impact on the examiner (hostile, overwhelmed-invaded, emptied) seem to possess a specific quality. They appear to consist of important aspects of the experience of distress (overwhelmed-invaded and emptied), with hostile features. When looking at CS variables, affect regulation linked variables were found to be generally unrelated to the examiner’s affective experience during the administration of the RIM, except for the affective ratio (Afr), which appeared to be somewhat protective of an interpersonal communication of sadness and emptiness. However, indicators of self and interpersonal perceptions from the CS were found to be quite strongly related to the examiner’s experience during the administration: Morbid content (MOR) and aggressive movement (AG). Thus, a reduced interest in emotional events, a pessimistic view of the self and the anticipation of aggressive exchanges with others appear to be associated with a tendency to regulate painful affects or distress interpersonally.
Mentalization and the Rorschach
Authors: Conklin Adam C. , Malone Johanna C. , Fowler Jeb T.
Published: November 2012

The concept of mentalization – the ability to think about mental states (e.g., feelings, intentions, motivations) of self and others – has become increasingly influential in psychoanalysis ( Bateman & Fonagy, 2004 ; Fischer-Kern et al., 2010 ; Fonagy, 1991 ). Unfortunately, the clinical application and further exploration of the construct has been limited by the time-consuming and highly specialized methods used to assess it ( Choi-Kain & Gunderson, 2008 ; Meehan, Levy, Reynoso, Hill, & Clarkin, 2009 ). In that mentalization operates predominantly outside of conscious awareness and involves the assessment of mental representations of self and other, projective measures such as the Rorschach are possibly the most efficient to evaluate and further explore this construct. In this paper we present a conceptual framework for how texture responses (T) as they relate to the ability to form attachments, and human and human movement responses (M+/M–, GHR:PHR) as they relate to empathy, social understanding, and boundary formation, may be utilized in the assessment of mentalization.
Developing new algorithms for estimating river discharge from space
Authors: Pavelsky Tamlin , Durand Michael
Published: November 2012

SWOT River Discharge Algorithms Workshop;Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 18–20 June 2012 Flow of water through rivers is a critical component of the global hydrologic cycle, yet present‐day discharge on many rivers remains poorly observed. The planned NASA/Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES) Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite mission will provide concurrent observations of water surface elevation, its spatial derivative (surface slope), and inundated area for rivers wider than 50–100 meters, which will allow a step‐change improvement in characterization of river discharge from space. Researchers in remote sensing of river discharge recently attended a NASA‐funded workshop to discuss new approaches for incorporation of SWOT's unprecedented observations into discharge estimation algorithms.
Case studies for initialized decadal hindcasts and predictions for the Pacific region
Authors: Meehl Gerald A. , Teng Haiyan
Published: November 2012

Case studies involving notable past decadal climate variability are analyzed for the mid‐1970s climate shift, when the tropical Pacific warmed over a decade and globally averaged temperature rapidly increased, and the early 2000s hiatus when the tropical Pacific cooled over a decade and global temperatures warmed little. Ten year hindcasts following the CMIP5 decadal climate prediction experiment design are analyzed for those two periods using two different initialization techniques in a global coupled climate model, the CCSM4. There is additional skill in the initialized hindcasts for surface temperature patterns over the Pacific region for those two case studies over and above that in free‐running historical simulations with the same model. A 30 year hindcast also shows added skill over the Pacific compared to the historical simulations. A 30 year prediction from the initialized model simulations shows less global warming for the 2016–2035 period than the free‐running model projection for that same time period.
Characteristics of the plasma distribution in Mercury's equatorial magnetosphere derived from MESSENGER Magnetometer observations
Authors: Korth Haje , Anderson Brian J. , Johnson Catherine L. , Winslow Reka M. , Slavin James A. , Purucker Michael E. , Solomon Sean C. , McNutt Ralph L.
Published: November 2012

Localized reductions in the magnetic field associated with plasma pressure in Mercury's magnetospheric cusp and nightside plasma sheet have been routinely observed by the Magnetometer on the MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft. We present a statistical analysis of near‐equatorial magnetic depressions to derive the structure of Mercury's plasma sheet pressure. Because the plasma pressure in the magnetosphere correlates with solar wind density, the pressures were normalized to a Mercury heliocentric distance of 0.39 AU. A model magnetic field was used to map observations obtained on the ascending and descending orbit nodes to the magnetic equator and revealed the presence of plasma in a toroidal section extending on the nightside from dusk to dawn. Mapping the data to invariant magnetic latitude shows that the pressure is symmetric about the magnetic equator. The average pressure normalized for heliocentric distance is 1.45 nPa and exhibits a weak, 0.05 nPa/h, dusk‐to‐dawn gradient with local time. The plasma sheet pressure can vary between successive orbits by an order of magnitude. Unlike the predictions of some global simulations of Mercury's magnetosphere, the plasma enhancements do not form a closed distribution around the planet. This difference may arise from the idealized solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field conditions used in the simulations, which maximize the size and stability of the magnetosphere, thus promoting the formation of drift paths that close around the planet. For typical plasma sheet energies, 5 keV, the first adiabatic invariant for protons fails to be conserved even within 500 km altitude at midnight, implying that stochastic processes must be considered in plasma sheet transport.
Assessing the performance of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change AR5 climate models in simulating and projecting wind speeds over China
Authors: Chen Lian , Pryor S. C. , Li Dongliang
Published: November 2012

The ability of nine current generation (Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5, CMIP‐5) coupled atmosphere‐ocean general circulation models (AOGCMs) to accurately simulate the near‐surface wind climate over China is evaluated by comparing output from the historical period (1971–2005) with an observational data set and reanalysis output. Results suggest the AOGCMs show substantial positive bias in the mean 10 m wind speed relative to observations and the ERA‐40, National Centers for Environmental Prediction–Department of Energy, and National Centers for Environmental Prediction–National Center for Atmospheric Research reanalysis. Given that the models generally produce the upper level geopotential height gradients comparatively well, it is postulated that one major reason for the discrepancy between observed and modeled wind fields is the surface characterization used in the AOGCMs. All models exhibit lower interannual variability than reanalysis data and observations, and none of the models reproduce the recent decline in wind speed that is manifest in the near‐surface observations. The wind speed of individual model runs during the historical period does not exhibit much influence from the initial atmospheric conditions. The output for the current century from seven of the AOGCMs is examined relative to the historical wind climate. The results indicate that spatial fields of wind speed at the end of the 21st century are very similar to those of the last 35 years with comparatively little response to the precise representative concentration pathway scenario applied.
Characterizing the uncertainty in river stage forecasts conditional on point forecast values
Authors: Yan Jun , Liao Gong‐Yi , Gebremichael Mekonnen , Shedd Robert , Vallee David R.
Published: November 2012

Uncertainty information about river level forecast is as important as the forecast itself for forecast users. This paper presents a flexible, statistical approach that processes deterministic forecasts into probabilistic forecasts. The model is a smoothly changing conditional distribution of river stage given point forecast and other information available, such as lagged river level at the time of forecasting. The parametric distribution is a four‐parameter skewt distribution, with each parameter modeled as a smooth function of the point forecast and the 1 day ago observed river level. The model was applied to 9 years of daily 6 h lead forecasts and 24 h lead forecasts in the warm season and their matching observations at the Plymouth station on the Pemigewasset River in New Hampshire. For each point forecast, the conditional distribution and resulting prediction intervals provide uncertainty information that are potentially very important to forecast users and algorithm developers in decision making and improvement of forecast quality.
New developments in the biomedical chemistry of metal complexes: from small molecules to nanotheranostic design
Authors: Arrowsmith Rory L. , Pascu Sofia I. , Smugowski Hubert
Published: November 2012

Recent advancements in bioimaging involving metal complexes with a focus on organometallic and coordination complexes are discussed with the aim to highlight their applications towards a new era in diagnostics: personalised medicine. The use of small molecules encapsulated within or attached to nanostructures for multimodal imaging and/or theranostic applications will be also discussed. Probes for imaging methods such as luminescence, PET, SPECT and MRI will be included as each modality possessing its own advantages and limitations. The current drive towards combination of techniques which will lead to complementary information on processes in cells and tissues and a more accurate, earlier diagnosis of tumours will also be discussed. The possibility of simultaneous diagnosis and therapy draws closer the advancement of probes from ‘bench to bedside’ and will be underlined in this review.
Numerical simulation of turbulent sediment transport, from bed load to saltation
Authors: Durán Orencio , Andreotti Bruno , Claudin Philippe
Published: November 2012

Sediment transport is studied as a function of the grain to fluid density ratio using two phase numerical simulations based on a discrete element method for particles coupled to a continuum Reynolds averaged description of hydrodynamics. At a density ratio close to unity (typically under water), vertical velocities are so small that sediment transport occurs in a thin layer at the surface of the static bed, and is called bed load. Steady, or “saturated” transport is reached when the fluid borne shear stress at the interface between the mobile grains and the static grains is reduced to its threshold value. The number of grains transported per unit surface is therefore limited by the flux of horizontal momentum towards the surface. However, the fluid velocity in the transport layer remains almost undisturbed so that the mean grain velocity scales with the shear velocity u*. At large density ratio (typically in air), the vertical velocities are large enough to make the transport layer wide and dilute. Sediment transport is then called saltation. In this case, particles are able to eject others when they collide with the granular bed, a process called splash. The number of grains transported per unit surface is selected by the balance between erosion and deposition, and saturation is reached when one grain is statistically replaced by exactly one grain after a collision, which has the consequence that the mean grain velocity remains independent of u*. The influence of the density ratio is systematically studied to reveal the transition between these two transport regimes. Based on the mechanisms identified in the steady case, we discuss the transient of saturation of sediment transport and, in particular, the saturation time and length. Finally, we investigate the exchange of particles between the mobile and static phases and we determine the exchange time of particles.
Probing interfacial charge accumulation in ITO/α-NPD/Alq3/Al diodes under two electroluminescence operational modes by electric-field induced optical second-harmonic generation
Authors: Sadakata Atsuo , Osada Kenshiro , Taguchi Dai , Yamamoto Tetsuya , Fukuzawa Masahiro , Manaka Takaaki , Iwamoto Mitsumasa
Published: November 2012

By using electric field induced optical second harmonic generation measurement, charge accumulation at the double-layer interface of ITO/α-NPD/Alq3/Al diodes was verified under two electroluminescence (EL) operational modes, which were activated in the low and high frequency regions, respectively, with application of large ac square voltage. Results supported our proposed idea [A. Sadakata et al., J. Appl. Phys. 110, 103707 (2011)] that accumulated holes suppress hole injection in the low frequency region and lead to the decrease of the EL intensity activated by the recombination of holes and electrons injected from opposite electrodes. On the one hand, the accumulated holes assist electron injection in the high frequency region and result in the increase of EL intensity activated by the recombination of the interfacial accumulated holes and injected electrons from Al electrode.
Theoretical study of the predissociation of the A2Π state of ZnF including quasi-diabatisation of the spin-orbit coupling
Authors: Léonard C. , Le Quéré F.
Published: November 2012

The excited 2Π electronic states of ZnF have been diabatized in order to simulate the 2Π ← X2Σ+ vibronic spectrum using a wavepacket propagation technique. The spin-orbit coupling functions within the 2Π states and between the 2Π and B2Σ+ states have also been diabatized, as well as the dipole and transition moment functions. As the adiabatic electronic 2Π states are strongly multi-configurational, the quasi-diabatisation scheme was based on the electronic wavefunction overlap along the reaction coordinate. The procedure leads to a repulsive 2Π state reaching the first dissociation limit, Zn(1Sg) + F(2Pu), and a bound one associated with the second limit, Zn(3Pu) + F(2Pu). The adiabatic electronic potentials and coupling functions have been determined at the multi-reference-configuration-interaction level of theory. The vibrational energies and the spin-orbit splittings are in agreement with early experimental data. The wavepacket propagation approach, coupled with a Prony analysis, allowed also to analyze the resonances and the bound vibronic states of the 2Π manifold. The 2Π ← X2Σ+ vibronic spectra have been determined for Ω = 1/2 and 3/2 originating to the v′′ = 0 level of the X2Σ+ state.
Determination of Kohn–Sham effective potentials from electron densities using the differential virial theorem
Authors: Ryabinkin Ilya G. , Staroverov Viktor N.
Published: November 2012

We present an accurate method for constructing the Kohn–Sham effective potential corresponding to a given electron density in one-dimensional and spherically symmetric systems. The method is based on the differential virial theorem—an exact relation between the effective potential, the electron density, and the kinetic energy density. A distinctive feature of the proposed technique is that it employs a size-consistent bosonic reference potential to ensure the correct asymptotic behavior of the resulting Kohn–Sham potential. We describe a practical implementation of our method and use it to obtain high-quality exchange-correlation and correlation potentials of the neon and argon atoms from ab initio densities generated in large Slater- and Gaussian-type basis sets.
Development of thin-film tunable band-pass filters based hyper-spectral imaging system applied for both surface enhanced Raman scattering and plasmon resonance Rayleigh scattering
Authors: Iga Mitsuhiro , Kakuryu Nobuyuki , Tanaami Takeo , Sajiki Jiro , Isozaki Katsumi , Itoh Tamitake
Published: November 2012

We describe the development of a hyper-spectral imaging (HSI) system composed of thin-film tunable band-pass filters (TF-TBPFs) and its application to inhomogeneous sample surfaces. Compared with existing HSI systems, the system has a simpler optical arrangement and has an optical transmittance of up to 80% owing to polarization independence. The HSI system exhibits a constant spectral resolution over a spectral window of 80 nm (530 to 610 nm) and tunable spectral resolution from 1.5 to 3.0 nm, and requires only 5.4 s per measurement. Plasmon resonance and surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) from inhomogeneous surfaces dispersed with Ag nanoparticles (NP) have been measured with the HSI system. The measurement of multiple Ag NPs is consistent with conventional isolated NP measurements as explained by the electromagnetic mechanism of SERS, demonstrating the validity of the HSI system.
Design and optimization of voice coil actuator for six degree of freedom active vibration isolation system using Halbach magnet array
Authors: Kim MyeongHyeon , Kim Hyunchang , Gweon Dae-Gab
Published: November 2012

This paper describes the design, modeling, optimization, and validation of an active vibration isolation system using a voice coil motor. The active vibration isolating method was constructed with a passive isolator and an active isolator. A spring was used for passive isolating; an actuator was used for active isolating. The proposed active vibration isolation system (AVIS) can isolate disturbances for many kinds of instruments. Until now, developed AVIS were able to isolate a six degree-of-freedom disturbance effectively. This paper proposes the realization of such a six degree-of-freedom active vibration isolation system that can work as a bench top device for precision measuring machines such as atomic force microscope, scanning probe microscope, etc.
X-ray luminescence based spectrometer for investigation of scintillation properties
Authors: Varney C. R. , Khamehchi M. A. , Ji Jianfeng , Selim F. A.
Published: November 2012

A new x-ray luminescence based spectrometer was developed and installed to examine the scintillation properties of materials while revealing the origins of luminescence and investigating trapping defects. Measurements were performed on a number of undoped and Ce doped yttrium aluminum garnet crystals and various luminescence centers were characterized. The measured x-ray luminescence spectra provide information about the spectral range and the scintillation efficiency and linearity. The efficiency of charge-carriers production due to x ray, their energy transfer to the luminescence centers, and the efficiency of luminescence are all reflected in the efficiency of x-ray luminescence.
Powdery mildew resistance genes in barley varieties grown in Australia
Authors: Dreiseitl Antonín , Platz Gregory
Published: November 2012

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is a major crop in Australia and powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei) is one of its most common diseases. Genes for resistance to powdery mildew were postulated for 86 Australian barley varieties and nine advanced breeding lines using 40 reference isolates of the pathogen. Fifty isolates collected in Australia in 2011 were used for additional tests of some varieties. In total, 22 known resistance genes [mlo, Mla1, MlaAl2, Mla3, Mla6, Mla7, Mla8, Mla9, Mla12, Mla13, Mlat, Mlg, MlGa, Mlk1, MlLa, Mlra, Ml(Ab), Ml(Ch), Ml(Dr2), Ml(He2), Ml(Lo) and Ml(St)] were detected. The most frequent genes were Mla8 and Mlg present in 43 and 34 varieties, respectively, while MlGa was found in 12 varieties. Each of the specific resistance genes Mla1, Mla3, Mla6, Mla9, Mla13, Ml(St) and the non-specific recessive gene mlo was found in one variety only. The varieties Maritime and Stirling appear to carry no specific resistance genes. Fifteen unknown resistances were detected. It is recommended that Australian barley breeding programs exploit European varieties possessing mlo to improve the resistance to powdery mildew in new varieties.
Gain-of-function Na
v
1.8 mutations in painful neuropathy
Authors: Faber Catharina G. , Lauria Giuseppe , Merkies Ingemar S. J. , Cheng Xiaoyang , Han Chongyang , Ahn Hye-Sook , Persson Anna-Karin , Hoeijmakers Janneke G. J. , Gerrits Monique M. , Pierro Tiziana , Lombardi Raffaella , Kapetis Dimos , Dib-Hajj Sulayman D. , Waxman Stephen G.
Published: November 2012

Painful peripheral neuropathy often occurs without apparent underlying cause. Gain-of-function variants of sodium channel Na
v
1.7 have recently been found in ∼30% of cases of idiopathic painful small-fiber neuropathy. Here, we describe mutations in Na
v
1.8, another sodium channel that is specifically expressed in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and peripheral nerve axons, in patients with painful neuropathy. Seven Na
v
1.8 mutations were identified in 9 subjects within a series of 104 patients with painful predominantly small-fiber neuropathy. Three mutations met criteria for potential pathogenicity based on predictive algorithms and were assessed by voltage and current clamp. Functional profiling showed that two of these three Na
v
1.8 mutations enhance the channel’s response to depolarization and produce hyperexcitability in DRG neurons. These observations suggest that mutations of Na
v
1.8 contribute to painful peripheral neuropathy.
Noting and other language management processes of a learner of Japanese in his bilingual social networks
Authors: Kurata Naomi
Published: November 2012

This case study examines the language problems that are noted and further managed by a Japanese language learner studying at an Australian university. Through the use of interviews as well as the analysis of the learner’s natural conversation, the study mainly focuses on some major factors that affect these management processes. To date, there has been little research on noting and other management processes in out-of-class natural contexts, in particular that on presentational problems noted by foreign language learners. Utilising an approach that incorporates language management theory and activity theory, this study reveals that these problems seem to be perceived and managed seriously by the learner in his conversation.

The findings also indicate that one of the major factors that affect the learner’s language management processes is a contradiction that emerges between two activities of the communities where the learner and his interactants are situated. This contradiction, in turn, seems to lead to a number of other contradictions between the three interactants’ goals of the conversation, which possibly affect the learner’s evaluations of language deviations and consequent adjustments in complex ways. Other factors include the learner’s L2 use history, such as formal Japanese study, which might contribute to his correctness-oriented approach, and the strength of indication of each participant’s preference for English or Japanese.
Learners’ language management in internet-based communication with Japanese peers
Authors: Pasfield-Neofitou Sarah E.
Published: November 2012

This paper reports on an empirical analysis of the language management strategies of Australian learners of Japanese in Internet communication with their Japanese native-speaking peers, in order to evaluate the interpersonal and technological factors that contribute to learner noting processes. The paper makes use of the language management model, including the concept of “noting”, to explore learners’ Internet communication, not only in terms of occurrence of noting and perceptions of norm deviations on the micro-level, but also the impact of macro-level language planning in Internet communities.
Rule‐breaking in an anonymous situation: When people decide to deviate from existing rules
Authors: Nogami Tatsuya , Yoshida Fujio
Published: November 2012

The present study examined how soon people would make a decision to break existing rules in an anonymous situation, with particular attention paid to the degree of anonymity. A total of 100 participants were randomly assigned to either a self‐reward condition or an other‐reward condition, in both of which they were asked to flip a coin twice in each of the four coin‐flip trials to win the assigned reward. As predicted, the results showed that only participants in the self‐reward condition broke the assignment rules for obtaining the reward, and they only did so in the very last coin‐flip trial. In sum, the present findings suggest that people do not break existing rules for material gain as soon as they become anonymized, but some may do so at the very last moment.
Incorporating Movement Patterns to Improve Survival Estimates for Juvenile Bull Trout
Authors: Bowerman Tracy , Budy Phaedra
Published: November 2012

Populations of many fish species are sensitive to changes in vital rates during early life stages, but our understanding of the factors affecting growth, survival, and movement patterns is often extremely limited for juvenile fish. These critical information gaps are particularly evident for bull trout Salvelinus confluentus, a threatened Pacific Northwest char. We combined several active and passive mark–recapture and resight techniques to assess migration rates and estimate survival for juvenile bull trout (70–170 mm total length). We evaluated the relative performance of multiple survival estimation techniques by comparing results from a common Cormack–Jolly–Seber (CJS) model, the less widely used Barker model, and a simple return rate (an index of survival). Juvenile bull trout of all sizes emigrated from their natal habitat throughout the year, and thereafter migrated up to 50 km downstream. With the CJS model, high emigration rates led to an extreme underestimate of apparent survival, a combined estimate of site fidelity and survival. In contrast, the Barker model, which allows survival and emigration to be modeled as separate parameters, produced estimates of survival that were much less biased than the return rate. Estimates of age-class-specific annual survival from the Barker model based on all available data were 0.218±0.028 (estimate±SE) for age-1 bull trout and 0.231±0.065 for age-2 bull trout. This research demonstrates the importance of incorporating movement patterns into survival analyses, and we provide one of the first field-based estimates of juvenile bull trout annual survival in relatively pristine rearing conditions. These estimates can provide a baseline for comparison with future studies in more impacted systems and will help managers develop reliable stage-structured population models to evaluate future recovery strategies.

Received February 1, 2012; accepted July 31, 2012
Size effects on the wave propagation and deformation pattern in copper nanobars under symmetric longitudinal impact loading
Authors: Jiang Shan , Chen Zhen , Gan Yong , Oloriegbe Suleiman Y , Sewell Thomas D , Thompson Donald L
Published: November 2012

Molecular dynamics simulations were performed to study the influence of system size on wave propagation and deformation patterns in 〈1 0 0〉/{1 0 0} copper nanobars with square cross-section under symmetric longitudinal impact loading. Nanobars of longitudinal length 100a with cross-sectional edge lengths h = 10a, 20a, and 40a were impacted on both ends by flyers of size 20a × h × h, where a is the Cu unit cell length, and impact speed 500 m s−1. For reference, quasi-infinite slab samples with periodic cross-sectional edge lengths 10a and 40a were also studied. It was found that the wave propagation speed increases with increasing cross-sectional area and eventually approaches the value obtained for a quasi-infinite sample. Extensive plasticity occurs across the entire length of the nanobars, whereas the quasi-infinite samples remain in the elastic regime and exhibit a vibrating (ringing) behaviour. The deformation pattern in the nanobars is strongly dependent on the cross-sectional area. For the nanobar with h = 10a the material fully reorients from 〈1 0 0〉/{1 0 0} to 〈1 1 0〉/{1 1 1} with few stacking faults and twins. Material in the nanobar with h = 20a does not reorient completely; the local crystal deformation is mediated mainly by a partial dislocation activity leading to predominantly non-intersecting stacking faults and twins. Nanobars with h = 40a exhibit behaviour similar to that for the h = 20a case but with greater propensity for intersecting stacking faults.
Decent intersection and Tor-rigidity for modules over local hypersurfaces
Authors: Dao Hailong
Published: November 2012

We study two properties for a pair of finitely generated modules over a local hypersurface

R
R

: decency, which is close to proper intersection of the supports, and

Tor
\operatorname {Tor}

-rigidity. We show that the vanishing of Hochster’s function

θ
R

(
M
,
N
)

\theta ^R(M,N)

, known to imply decent intersection, also implies rigidity. We investigate the vanishing of

θ
R

(
M
,
N
)

\theta ^R(M,N)

to obtain new results about decency and rigidity over hypersurfaces. Many applications are given.
Ice sheets viewed from the ocean: the contribution of marine science to understanding modern and past ice sheets
Authors: Cofaigh Colm Ó
Published: November 2012

Over the last two decades, marine science, aided by technological advances in sediment coring, geophysical imaging and remotely operated submersibles, has played a major role in the investigation of contemporary and former ice sheets. Notable advances have been achieved with respect to reconstructing the extent and flow dynamics of the large polar ice sheets and their mid-latitude counterparts during the Quaternary from marine geophysical and geological records of landforms and sediments on glacier-influenced continental margins. Investigations of the deep-sea ice-rafted debris record have demonstrated that catastrophic collapse of large (10
5
–10
6
 km
2
) ice-sheet drainage basins occurred on millennial and shorter time scales and had a major influence on oceanography. In the last few years, increasing emphasis has been placed on understanding physical processes at the ice–ocean interface, particularly at the grounding line, and on determining how these processes affect ice-sheet stability. This remains a major challenge, however, owing to the logistical constraints imposed by working in ice-infested polar waters and ice-shelf cavities. Furthermore, despite advances in reconstructing the Quaternary history of mid- and high-latitude ice sheets, major unanswered questions remain regarding West Antarctic ice-sheet stability, and the long-term offshore history of the East Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets remains poorly constrained. While these are major research frontiers in glaciology, and ones in which marine science has a pivotal role to play, realizing such future advances will require an integrated collaborative approach between oceanographers, glaciologists, marine geologists and numerical modellers.
p53 controls hepatitis C virus non-structural protein 5A-mediated downregulation of GADD45α expression via the NF-κB and PI3K–Akt pathways
Authors: Cheng Du , Zhao Lei , Zhang Leiliang , Jiang Yongfang , Tian Yi , Xiao Xinqiang , Gong Guozhong
Published: November 2012

Growth arrest and DNA-damage-inducible gene 45-α (GADD45α) protein has been shown to be a tumour suppressor and is implicated in cell-cycle arrest and suppression of cell growth. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) non-structural 5A (NS5A) protein plays an important role in cell survival and is linked to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the role of HCV NS5A in the development of HCC remains to be clarified. This study sought to determine whether GADD45α mediates HCV NS5A-induced cellular survival and to elucidate the molecular mechanism of GADD45α expression regulated by HCV NS5A. It was found that HCV NS5A downregulated GADD45α expression at the transcriptional level by decreasing promoter activity, mRNA transcription and protein levels. Knockdown of p53 resulted in a similar decrease in GADD45α expression to that caused by HCV NS5A, whilst overexpression of p53 reversed the HCV NS5A-mediated downregulation of GADD45α. HCV NS5A repressed p53 expression, which was followed by a subsequent decrease in GADD45α expression. Further evidence was provided showing that HCV NS5A led to increases of phosphorylated nuclear factor-κB and Akt levels. Inhibition of these pathways using pharmacological inhibitors or specific small interfering RNAs rescued HCV NS5A-mediated downregulation of p53 and GADD45α. It was also found that HCV NS5A protein and depletion of GADD45α increased cell growth, whereas ectopic expression of GADD45α eliminated HCV NS5A-induced cell proliferation. These results indicated that HCV NS5A downregulates GADD45α expression and subsequently triggers cellular proliferation. These findings provide new insights suggesting that HCV NS5A could contribute to the occurrence of HCV-related HCC.
Antigenic diversity and seroprevalences of Torque teno viruses in children and adults by ORF2-based immunoassays
Authors: Chen Tingting , Väisänen Elina , Mattila Petri S. , Hedman Klaus , Söderlund-Venermo Maria
Published: November 2012

Torque teno viruses (TTVs) circulate widely among humans, causing persistent viraemia in healthy individuals. Numerous TTV isolates with high genetic variability have been identified and segregated into 29 species of five major phylogenetic groups. To date, the diversity of TTV sequences, challenges in protein expression and the subsequent lack of serological assays have hampered TTV seroprevalence studies. Moreover, the antigenic relationships of different TTVs and their specific seroprevalences in humans remain unknown. For five TTV strains – belonging to different species of four genogroups – we developed, using recombinant glutathione S-transferase (GST)-fused TTV ORF2 proteins, glutathione–GST capture enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) detecting antibodies towards conformational epitopes. We then analysed serum samples from 178 healthy adults and 108 children; IgG reactivities were observed either towards a single strain or towards multiple strains, which pointed to antigenic distinction of TTV species. The overall seroprevalence for the five TTVs peaked at 43 % (18 of 42) in children 2–4 years of age, subsequently declined, and again reached 42 % (74 of 178) among adults. TTV6 species-specific IgG predominated in children, whereas that for TTV13 predominated in adults. During a 3 year follow-up of the same children, both species-specific seroconversions and seroreversions occurred. This is the first EIA-based study of different TTVs, providing a new approach for seroepidemiology and diagnosis of TTV infections. Our data suggest that different TTVs in humans may differ in antiviral antibody profiles, infection patterns and epidemiology.
Street rabies virus causes dendritic injury and F-actin depolymerization in the hippocampus
Authors: Song Yan , Hou Jinli , Qiao Bin , Li Yanchao , Xu Ye , Duan Ming , Guan Zhenhong , Zhang Maolin , Sun Liankun
Published: November 2012

Rabies is an acute viral infection of the central nervous system and is typically fatal in humans and animals; however, its pathogenesis remains poorly understood. In this study, the morphological changes of dendrites and dendritic spines in the CA1 region of the hippocampus were investigated in mice that were infected intracerebrally with an MRV strain of the street rabies virus. Haematoxylin and eosin and fluorescence staining analysis of brain sections from the infected mice showed very few morphological changes in the neuronal bodies and neuronal processes. However, we found a significant decrease in the number of dendritic spines. Primary neuronal cultures derived from the hippocampus of mice (embryonic day 16.5) that were infected with the virus also showed an obvious decrease in the number of dendritic spines. Furthermore, the decrease in the number of dendritic spines was related to the depolymerization of actin filaments (F-actin). We propose that the observed structural changes can partially explain the severe clinical disease that was found in experimental models of street rabies virus infections.
Human Elimination of Phthalate Compounds: Blood, Urine, and Sweat (BUS) Study
Authors: Genuis Stephen J. , Beesoon Sanjay , Lobo Rebecca A. , Birkholz Detlef
Published: November 2012

Background. Individual members of the phthalate family of chemical compounds are components of innumerable everyday consumer products, resulting in a high exposure scenario for some individuals and population groups. Multiple epidemiological studies have demonstrated statistically significant exposure-disease relationships involving phthalates and toxicological studies have shown estrogenic effects in vitro. Data is lacking in the medical literature, however, on effective means to facilitate phthalate excretion.Methods. Blood, urine, and sweat were collected from 20 individuals (10 healthy participants and 10 participants with assorted health problems) and analyzed for parent phthalate compounds as well as phthalate metabolites using high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.Results. Some parent phthalates as well as their metabolites were excreted into sweat. All patients had MEHP (mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate) in their blood, sweat, and urine samples, suggesting widespread phthalate exposure. In several individuals, DEHP (di (2-ethylhexl) phthalate) was found in sweat but not in serum, suggesting the possibility of phthalate retention and bioaccumulation. On average, MEHP concentration in sweat was more than twice as high as urine levels.Conclusions. Induced perspiration may be useful to facilitate elimination of some potentially toxic phthalate compounds including DEHP and MEHP. Sweat analysis may be helpful in establishing the existence of accrued DEHP in the human body.