bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Savoir y être. Production de localité par l’engagement dans un folklore festif
Authors: Bouchat Céline
Published: May 2011

Chaque année, des milliers de Belges défilent habillés en soldats de l’Empire dans les rues d’une centaine de localités de l’Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse, en Belgique francophone. Le succès croissant rencontré par ces Marches folkloriques s’explique notamment par l’important potentiel identificatoire inhérent à la pratique festive. Ces Marches reflètent notamment des dynamiques sociales et identitaires originales qui émergent dans des localités rurales wallonnes en pleine mutation depuis plusieurs décennies. La participation aux Marches permet de recréer un local pouvant faire l’objet d’une identification collective. Cette construction s’accommode de la variété croissante des profils et des trajectoires des participants, en termes d’ancrage généalogique, de mobilité professionnelle ou même de lieu de vie. Elle s’appuie sur une série de dispositifs corporels, matériels et spatiaux, propres au répertoire folklorique. Dans ce cadre, les catégories du rural et de l’urbain sont mobilisées en tant qu’univers de représentations et de pratiques, pour faire valoir et matérialiser contextuellement des formes d’attachement variées aux villages et, plus globalement, à la ruralité.
Modes d’habiter urbains et ruraux : entre continuité et rupture
Authors: Carpentier Samuel
Published: May 2011

Le passage de la ville à l’urbain a marqué l’avènement d’une société postmoderne dans laquelle la polarisation de plus en plus forte des agglomérations sur l’espace local devait conduire à un nivellement des modes de vie. Le processus de périurbanisation, en cours depuis plusieurs décennies, illustre cette diffusion physique et sociale de l’urbain vers des espaces toujours plus éloignés et dépendants de la ville-centre. La problématique de cet article consiste alors à voir s’il existe, de la ville aux zones rurales, des gradients d’urbanité en fonction des caractéristiques morphologiques (notamment les densités) et fonctionnelles (illustrées par la mobilité) de ces espaces. Pour ce faire, une typologie de communes a été élaborée pour caractériser des types d’ancrages résidentiels. Ensuite, une enquête a permis de collecter les pratiques et les représentations de l’habitat et de la mobilité au Luxembourg (N=600) en 2005, en fonction de la zone de résidence des individus. Dès lors, les rapports urbain/rural sont analysés au regard des modes d’habiter, c’est-à-dire de la spatialisation des modes de vie en fonction du couple ancrage/mobilité. Les résultats obtenus mettent en lumière à la fois des gradients comportementaux (tant en termes de pratiques que de représentations), témoignant d’une certaine continuité urbain/rural, et des ruptures qui soulignent certaines spécificités des espaces ruraux.
Popular Literature Discourses in Athenian Suburbia: The Northern Suburbs
Authors: Theodoropoulou Irene
Published: May 2011

Suburbia, home to a life-style many people aspire to, could be seen as a marriage between urban and countryside life, and, as such, it should be seen as a vital arena for interdisciplinary research on the urban-rural paradigm. This paper explores the ways whereby discourses on what is stereotypically seen as posh northern Athens suburban culture (Voreia Proastia) are represented in popular literature. The main argument is that Voreia Proastia suburban culture could be seen as positioned on an urban/countryside continuum. This is grounded on the simple reason that, both at the speech level and in terms of lifestyle, it encompasses features of urban and rural worlds, the former associated with the “new-poor” or “elegant poverty” people, the latter with the “new-rich”.
Changing European borders: from separation to interface? An introduction
Authors: Nelles Jen , Walther Olivier
Published: May 2011

The aim of this special issue is to address the evolution of European borders from a comparative perspective. This collection of papers spans a wide variety of topics in the realm of borderland studies. Although each engages with a single empirical or theoretical case collectively they identify nuances relevant to the theoretical elaboration of borders, and particularly contribute to the field of sub-national cross-border cooperation. In the course of its analysis each paper contributes to a broader understanding of the definition of cross-border regions; identifies a set of barriers to cooperation in these contexts; explores the role of identities on cooperation and of the role of borders in constructing those identities; and reflects on the socio-political meanings and uses of these international boundaries. This introduction discusses theoretical significance of these contributions to major debates in the study of borders and border regions.
From breach to bridge: the Augustów canal, an ecotourism destination across the EU’s border with Belarus
Authors: Marin Anaïs
Published: May 2011

Ecotourism has become a driver for cooperation across the EU’s Eastern borders. This holds true even in the case of such reluctant a partner as Belarus. In studying the resumption of navigation on the Augustów canal – a 180 year old waterway connecting the Vistula and Neman river basins across the Polish-Belarusian border – this paper illustrates how in “alienated” borderlands projects that develop alternative forms of tourism can foster cross-border cooperation. Shared concern for the preservation of the borderland’s natural and cultural heritage enabled a “bridging” of neighbourhood relations and bred trans-boundary region-building initiatives (Euroregion Neman). A multi-scalar screening of how the Augustów canal area is being promoted as a tourism attraction in Belarus reveals the emergence of horizontal cooperation across the border. Despite geopolitical obstacles, this network governance model empowers the local stakeholders and actors of the embryonic Belarusian civil society, thus favouring their gradual socialisation in Europe.
La transformation des formes de la limite
Authors: Retaillé Denis
Published: May 2011

La géographie est fondée sur une axiomatique sédentaire qui conduit à privilégier le cloisonnement dans l’observation du monde. La mondialisation, tout comme la construction européenne et le mouvement de manière générale, mettent à mal ce fondement jusqu’à ce que l’idée de crise l’emporte. Contre cela, une proposition théorique portant sur l’espace mobile ouvre la perspective d’un travail sur les nouvelles formes de la limite, l’horizon surtout, qui permettrait de dépasser l’anachronisme des modèles de référence comme l’opposition des réseaux et des territoires.
La difficile gestion de l’eau en contexte transfrontalier : un exemple franco-espagnol
Authors: Maury Caroline , Richard Sophie
Published: May 2011

En se focalisant sur les politiques de gestion de l’eau, cet article aborde la question des usages sociaux de la frontière, de leur complexité et de leur ambiguïté ainsi que l’incidence de ces derniers sur la gouvernance du territoire transfrontalier. L’exemple de la plaine cerdane, à la frontière entre la France et l’Espagne, permet de distinguer plusieurs types d’usage de la frontière: un usage social pour légitimer le maintien de pratiques et un usage politique et institutionnel jouant sur les niveaux d’action publique. Malgré le volontarisme de certains acteurs, la gestion de l’eau peine à trouver une assise et un fonctionnement transfrontaliers. En effet, dès qu’elle menace de modifier les équilibres politiques économiques et sociaux existants, la gestion transfrontalière de l’eau est ainsi rapidement ramenée au Traité des Pyrénées et à l’hétérogénéité des situations nationales. Sur cette frontière, le cas retenu montre donc bien que les acteurs locaux ont un usage « à la carte » de leur situation frontalière en fonction des enjeux auxquels ils sont confrontés.
Les tensions sur le marché du logement à Anvers dans la première moitié du XIXe siècle. Une opportunité d’investissement pour l’élite des affaires ?
Authors: Greefs Hilde
Published: May 2011

Cette contribution examine l'intérêt des élites anversoises pour l'investissement foncier et les procédés mis en oeuvre à une époque de grandes transformations urbaines. Le dix-neuvième siècle s’ouvre sur une phase de forte augmentation démographique, laquelle entraîne des répercussions importantes sur le prix de l'immobilier au centre-ville. Par la reconstruction des investissements fonciers de l’élite d’affaires, l’auteur cherche à savoir dans quelle mesure elle s’est trouvée responsable de l’exploitation (dans un but de profit) des habitations insalubres de la ville d’Anvers.
La résidence urbaine des administrateurs coloniaux de Saint-Domingue dans la seconde moitié du XVIIIe siècle
Authors: Navarro-Andraud Zélie
Published: May 2011

Colonie la plus riche du royaume de France au XVIIIe siècle, Saint-Domingue a connu une structuration spécifique de son territoire en vertu de l’économie de plantation alors développée dans l’île. La présence de deux villes d’importance dans l’île (Port-au-Prince et Le Cap) permet d’aborder cette problématique. Lieu du pouvoir politique et économique, la cité apparaît également comme le lieu de résidence privilégié des administrateurs coloniaux. Cette affirmation, dans le contexte colonial dominguois, n’est en rien l’énoncé d’une évidence. En effet, nombre d’administrateurs préfèrent résider sur leur « habitation », pour des questions personnelles de gestion de biens, plutôt que d’occuper un logement en ville. Ainsi, la question de la résidence urbaine des administrateurs se révèle être pertinente dans l’étude des sociétés coloniales, ouvrant la voie à de multiples interrogations : Quelles spécificités du développement urbain caractérisent la ville coloniale ? Quels sont les divers types de logements urbains occupés par les administrateurs coloniaux ? Quelles en sont les caractéristiques ? Enfin, appréhender ces deux questionnements, n’est-ce pas également s’interroger sur la perception qu’ont les administrateurs de la cité coloniale et sur l’usage qu’ils font de l’espace urbain ?
The Politics of Psychiatric Evaluation: Towards a Critical Anthropology of Forensic Psychiatry
Authors: Lézé Samuel
Published: May 2011

In the legal context, psychiatric evaluations are subject to controversy, considered as either indispensable or flawed, and yet rarely studied in their own right. This article puts forward a political anthropology of mental healthcare that is attentive to social context (the problem of recidivism), professional logic (the evaluation of dangerousness) and liminal practices (at the limits of the correctional and the medical). It thus intends to delimit the methodological and theoretical stakes of a study of (i) the psychiatric creation of the expert witness report (ii) its legal use (iii) its consequences on psychiatric care in prison and beyond. What makes reports authoritative or, on the contrary, how are they contested? What are the political issues at stake? Thus, the complexity of the politics of psychiatric evaluations can be drawn out from delineated ethnographic fields; a complexity linked to the situation of these evaluations between, on the one hand, legal and psychiatric theories of personality and, on the other, how they are received and effectively applied by the legal system.
Expérience et diplôme : une discordance créatrice
Authors: Clot Yves , Prot Bernard
Published: May 2011

Cet article, qui présente aussi l’ensemble du numéro, porte sur le problème des connaissances et de leur développement à partir de la distinction établie par Vygotski entre « concepts quotidiens » et « concepts scientifiques ». Expérience et diplômes ne sont pourtant pas antagonistes par nature. À partir de trois études récentes menées par l’équipe de Clinique de l’Activité sur la validation des acquis professionnels, cet article propose de voir le dispositif de validation des acquis comme une « méthode indirecte », nécessaire, selon Vygotski, pour comprendre le développement de la pensée. C’est sous cet angle qu’on peut comprendre la fonction du dossier du candidat ainsi que celle des référentiels de diplôme, et du travail des accompagnateurs : ils contribuent à multiplier les contextes d’énonciation.
Analyse du travail des jurys en validation des acquis : l’usage du référentiel
Authors: Prot Bernard
Published: May 2011

Cet article porte sur une analyse du travail menée avec des membres d’un jury de validation des acquis professionnels dans une perspective de clinique de l’activité. Après avoir brièvement présenté les méthodes d’autoconfrontation croisée, on analyse les commentaires de deux membres de jury sur les images de leur activité filmée pendant une session. En mobilisant la théorie instrumentale de Vygotski et sa reprise récente par Clot et par Rabardel, on montre que le référentiel de diplôme remplit plusieurs fonctions dans cette situation. L’une de ces fonctions retient particulièrement l’attention, étudiée à partir d’un second exemple : la mise en rapport des concepts quotidiens de la candidate avec un concept du référentiel, sous la forme d’un « concept potentiel ».
L’évaluation collective : l’exemple d’un jury de validation des acquis
Authors: Werthe Christiane
Published: May 2011

La loi instaure un nouveau cadre d’évaluation des connaissances construites par les salariés dans leur expérience professionnelle : la validation des acquis. Cet article porte sur l’activité des membres de jury de validation des acquis, à partir des méthodes d’analyse du travail en Clinique de l’Activité. On montre, à partir d’un exemple, comment plusieurs points de vue disciplinaires se croisent sur un même élément du dossier dans lequel le candidat décrit ses activités. En analysant leur propre activité en autoconfrontation croisée, les membres de jury trouvent une occasion de développer leurs techniques d’évaluation et de prise de décision, individuelles et collectives. Cet article met également en lumière le fait que la recherche de critères d’évaluation concerne aussi les accompagnateurs qui doivent conseiller le candidat en amont du dispositif.
Relations entre feuilletons documentaires et choix de métier chez les adolescents
Authors: Beullens Kathleen , Bulck Jan Van den
Published: May 2011

L’objectif de cette étude est d’explorer, chez les adolescents, la relation entre le fait de regarder des feuilletons documentaires et leurs projets de métier. Les résultats montrent que, parmi un échantillon de 369 adolescents en dernière année d’enseignement secondaire, le fait de regarder régulièrement un feuilleton documentaire portant sur les sages-femmes, les vétérinaires ou les parachutistes a été un prédicteur significatif d’une perception plus positive de cette profession. Des données écologiques sur les effectifs d’étudiants suggèrent que ceux-ci ont augmenté au cours des périodes qui ont suivi la diffusion d’un feuilleton documentaire à succès portant sur des professions particulières. La probabilité de s’inscrire comme étudiant dans un métier récemment montré dans un feuilleton documentaire a augmenté de 15 %. La discussion se centre sur les implications de ces résultats et met l’accent sur la nécessité de continuer des recherches dans cette sphère.
Que montre la télévision des professions et des professionnel(le)s ?
Authors: Bigeon Christine , Dosnon Odile , Guichard Jean
Published: May 2011

Différents travaux en psychologie de l'orientation ont souligné le rôle que pouvaient jouer les personnages ou les personnes montrés à la télévision dans la formation des intentions d'avenir des adolescents. Par ailleurs, les spécialistes de l'étude des médias ont étudié comment la télévision pouvait infléchir certaines conduites ou représentations, voire certains styles de vie des téléspectateurs. Après avoir passé en revue ces travaux, l'article se focalise sur les professionnel(le)s donné(e)s à voir par la télévision au moyen d'une analyse systématique de tous les programmes diffusés en « prime time » sur les chaînes hertziennes françaises pendant une semaine. Si l'échantillon des professionnels représentés est sans rapport avec les réalités sociologiques du travail aujourd'hui, les activités professionnelles montrées  – aussi bien dans les fictions que dans les documentaires – sont généralement réalistes. Elles occultent néanmoins certaines tâches importantes et épousent sans réserve les stéréotypes de genre relatifs aux professions. Les émissions destinées aux jeunes enfants apparaissent particulièrement caricaturales tant elles vont dans le sens d'un renforcement massif de ces rôles sociaux de sexe.
Coproduire des programmes TV aidant à réfléchir sur l’avenir professionnel ?
Authors: Vergnas Olivier Las
Published: May 2011

Avertissement de l’auteur : le texte qui suit reprend celui d’une intervention prononcée à la journée Inetop-Université de Paris III du 14 mars 2008, consacrée à « Médias, travail, orientation » : une contribution à la réflexion fondée sur l’expérience de coproduction télévisuelle de la Cité des métiers. Il s’agit ici de décrire un cheminement et une pratique clinique suivis des interrogations et hypothèses qui en découlent aujourd’hui.De sa création en 1993 jusqu’à 2002, la Cité des métiers (CDM) s’est impliquée dans des coproductions TV. Produite en 1999 et 2000 avec l’aide du FSE, l’émission « Le temps des souris » a ainsi touché 36 millions de téléspectateurs. Mais, ensuite, les grilles de TV hertzienne de la période 2003-2007 proposant moins de cases consacrées régulièrement à ces thématiques, les opportunités de coproduction se sont raréfiées. Pour la CDM, cette période ne s’est soldée que par deux très petites séries de courts portraits dans le cadre de projets FSE. Refusant d’accepter que la TV hertzienne puisse n’être plus qu’un divertissement, dans le cadre duquel le fait de présenter une vision distordue de la société et de ses métiers et emplois importe peu, la CDM relance aujourd’hui la production d’une série documentaire destinée à France 3 et consacrée à la relation innovations territoires et emplois.
Les dialogues avec, autour et au travers des technologies éducatives
Authors: Baker Michael
Published: May 2011

Les recherches menées ces dernières décades sur la psychologie de l’apprentissage ont vu l’émergence d’un consensus sur le rôle primordial des interactions de tutelle et des interactions entre apprenants. Si l’étude de ces interactions produites en relation avec les technologies éducatives répond à une réalité socio-économique, elle contribue également au renouvellement des problématiques dans la mesure où d’une part, elle permet de dégager a contrario la nature de tout dialogue productif, et d’autre part, elle peut s’appuyer sur de nouveaux dispositifs de recherche. Sur la base d’un concept du dialogue défini comme une interaction communicative finalisée et évolutive, cet article propose un bilan critique de l’évolution des recherches sur les dialogues produits avec, autour et au travers des technologies éducatives. Il en ressort que ces technologies sont capables de favoriser un dialogue minimal, au sens de l’échange et de l’évolution des connaissances. Cependant, ces dialogues s’avèrent limités sur les plans langagier, corporel et interpersonnel.
Analyse interlocutoire, dynamiques interactives et étude des mécanismes des progrès cognitifs en situation asymétrique de résolution de problèmes
Authors: Roux Jean-Paul
Published: May 2011

Le présent travail s’inscrit dans une approche psycho-sociale du développement cognitif. Il est fondé à la fois par les idées théoriques de Vygotski et ses prolongements européens et par la pragmatique, qui étudie la coordination entre la pensée, le langage et les comportements sociaux. Il s’agit de montrer, grâce à la théorie de la logique interlocutoire, que les avancées cognitives individuelles peuvent être considérées comme le produit d’un apprentissage en contexte interactionnel, et que les médiations sémiotiques (et parmi elles tout particulièrement les échanges de signes langagiers) s’accomplissant au sein même du contexte interlocutoire sont consubstancielles aux processus constructeurs eux-mêmes. Les résultats de deux expériences conduites en contexte scolaire attestent d’une part que des enfants jeunes peuvent tirer des bénéfices cognitifs d’une situation asymétrique de résolution de problèmes et d’autre part que les progrès cognitifs constatés peuvent être imputables à des mécanismes différents.
L’identité sexuée du jeune enfant : actualisation des modèles théoriques et analyse de la contribution paternelle
Authors: Zaouche-gaudron Chantal , Rouyer Véronique
Published: May 2011

À travers une lecture actualisée des théories de référence de la construction de l’identité sexuée du jeune enfant, les auteurs examinent la contribution paternelle au processus de sexuation du jeune enfant. Par cette analyse, elles montrent que le père constitue un modèle de la sexuation pour l’enfant et un modèle masculin qui participe de manière singulière à la construction de l’identité sexuée de son enfant.
FIZZ2/RELM-β Induction and Role in Pulmonary Fibrosis
Authors: Liu Tianju , Baek Hyun Ah , Yu Hongfeng , Lee Ho Jin , Park Byung-Hyun , Ullenbruch Matthew , Liu Jianhua , Nakashima Taku , Choi Yoon Young , Wu Gary D. , Chung Myoung Ja , Phan Sem H.
Published: May 2011

Found in inflammatory zone (FIZZ) 2, also known as resistin-like molecule (RELM)-β, belongs to a novel cysteine-rich secreted protein family named FIZZ/RELM. Its function is unclear, but a closely related family member, FIZZ1, has profibrotic activities. The human ortholog of rodent FIZZ1 has not been identified, but human FIZZ2 has significant sequence homology to both rodent FIZZ2 (59%) and FIZZ1 (50%). Given the greater homology to rodent FIZZ2, analyzing the role of FIZZ2 in a rodent model of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis would be of greater potential relevance to human fibrotic lung disease. The results showed that FIZZ2 was highly induced in lungs of rodents with bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis and of human patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. FIZZ2 expression was induced in rodent and human lung epithelial cells by Th2 cytokines, which was mediated via STAT6 signaling. The FIZZ2 induction in murine lungs was found to be essential for pulmonary fibrosis, as FIZZ2 deficiency significantly suppressed pulmonary fibrosis and associated enhanced extracellular matrix and cytokine gene expression. In vitro analysis indicated that FIZZ2 could stimulate type I collagen and α-smooth muscle actin expression in lung fibroblasts. Furthermore, FIZZ2 was shown to have chemoattractant activity for bone marrow (BM) cells, especially BM-derived CD11c+ dendritic cells. Notably, lung recruitment of BM-derived cells was impaired in FIZZ2 knockout mice. These findings suggest that FIZZ2 is a Th2-associated multifunctional mediator with potentially important roles in the pathogenesis of fibrotic lung diseases.
β2-Glycoprotein I and Protection from Anti-SSA/Ro60–Associated Cardiac Manifestations of Neonatal Lupus
Authors: Reed Joanne H. , Clancy Robert M. , Purcell Anthony W. , Kim Mimi Y. , Gordon Tom P. , Buyon Jill P.
Published: May 2011

One mechanism to molecularly explain the strong association of maternal anti-Ro60 Abs with cardiac disease in neonatal lupus (NL) is that these Abs initiate injury by binding to apoptotic cardiomyocytes in the fetal heart. Previous studies have demonstrated that β2-glycoprotein I (β2GPI) interacts with Ro60 on the surface of apoptotic Jurkat cells and prevents binding of anti-Ro60 IgG. Accordingly, the current study was initiated to test two complementary hypotheses, as follows: 1) competition between β2GPI and maternal anti-Ro60 Abs for binding apoptotic induced surface-translocated Ro60 occurs on human fetal cardiomyocytes; and 2) circulating levels of β2GPI influence injury in anti-Ro60–exposed fetuses. Initial flow cytometry experiments conducted on apoptotic human fetal cardiomyocytes demonstrated dose-dependent binding of β2GPI. In competitive inhibition experiments, β2GPI prevented opsonization of apoptotic cardiomyocytes by maternal anti-Ro60 IgG. ELISA was used to quantify β2GPI in umbilical cord blood from 97 neonates exposed to anti-Ro60 Abs, 53 with cardiac NL and 44 with no cardiac disease. β2GPI levels were significantly lower in neonates with cardiac NL. Plasmin-mediated cleavage of β2GPI prevented binding to Ro60 and promoted the formation of pathogenic anti-Ro60 IgG-apoptotic cardiomyocyte complexes. In aggregate these data suggest that intact β2GPI in the fetal circulation may be a novel cardioprotective factor in anti-Ro60–exposed pregnancies.
TLR2 Mediates the Innate Response of Retinal Muller Glia to Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Shamsuddin Nazeem , Kumar Ashok
Published: May 2011

Muller cells, the principal glia of the retina, play several key roles in normal and various retinal diseases. To date, their direct involvement in retinal innate defense against bacterial pathogens has not been investigated. In this article, we show that Muller cells express TLR2, a key sensor implicated in recognizing Gram-positive bacteria. We found that intravitreal injection of TLR2 agonist Pam3Cys and Staphylococcus aureus activated Muller glia in C57BL/6 mouse retina. Similarly, Pam3Cys or S. aureus elicited the expression of TLR2 and activated the NF-κB and p38 MAPK signaling cascade. Concomitant with the activation of signaling pathways, transcriptional expression and secretion of various proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β), chemokines (IL-8), and antimicrobial peptide (LL-37) were also induced in Muller glia. Importantly, the culture media derived from TLR2-activated Muller glia exhibited robust bactericidal activity against S. aureus. Furthermore, use of neutralizing Ab, small interfering RNA, and pharmacological inhibitors revealed that Muller glial innate response to S. aureus is mediated via the TLR2–NF-κB axis. Collectively, this study for the first time, to our knowledge, establishes that the retinal Muller glia senses pathogens via TLR2 and contributes directly to retinal innate defense via production of inflammatory mediators and antimicrobial peptides.
Human Lung Hydrolases Delineate Mycobacterium tuberculosis–Macrophage Interactions and the Capacity To Control Infection
Authors: Arcos Jesús , Sasindran Smitha J. , Fujiwara Nagatoshi , Turner Joanne , Schlesinger Larry S. , Torrelles Jordi B.
Published: May 2011

Pulmonary surfactant contains homeostatic and antimicrobial hydrolases. When Mycobacterium tuberculosis is initially deposited in the terminal bronchioles and alveoli, as well as following release from lysed macrophages, bacilli are in intimate contact with these lung surfactant hydrolases. We identified and measured several hydrolases in human alveolar lining fluid and lung tissue that, at their physiological concentrations, dramatically modified the M. tuberculosis cell envelope. Independent of their action time (15 min to 12 h), the effects of the hydrolases on the M. tuberculosis cell envelope resulted in a significant decrease (60–80%) in M. tuberculosis association with, and intracellular growth of the bacteria within, human macrophages. The cell envelope-modifying effects of the hydrolases also led to altered M. tuberculosis intracellular trafficking and induced a protective proinflammatory response to infection. These findings add a new concept to our understanding of M. tuberculosis–macrophage interactions (i.e., the impact of lung surfactant hydrolases on M. tuberculosis infection).
Cardiac Hypertrophy and Fibrosis in the Metabolic Syndrome: A Role for Aldosterone and the Mineralocorticoid Receptor
Authors: Essick Eric E. , Sam Flora
Published: May 2011

Obesity and hypertension, major risk factors for the metabolic syndrome, render individuals susceptible to an increased risk of cardiovascular complications, such as adverse cardiac remodeling and heart failure. There has been much investigation into the role that an increase in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) plays in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome and in particular, how aldosterone mediates left ventricular hypertrophy and increased cardiac fibrosis via its interaction with the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR). Here, we review the pertinent findings that link obesity with elevated aldosterone and the development of cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis associated with the metabolic syndrome. These studies illustrate a complex cross-talk between adipose tissue, the heart, and the adrenal cortex. Furthermore, we discuss findings from our laboratory that suggest that cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in the metabolic syndrome may involve cross-talk between aldosterone and adipokines (such as adiponectin).
Mini-Workshop: Shearlets
Authors: Kutyniok Gitta , Labate Demetrio
Published: May 2011

Over the last 20 years, multiscale methods and wavelets have revolutionized the field of applied mathematics by providing an efficient means for encoding isotropic phenomena. Directional multiscale systems, particularly shearlets, are now having the same dramatic impact on the encoding of multivariate signals. Since its introduction about five years ago, the theory of shearlets has rapidly developed and gained wide recognition as the superior way of achieving a truly unified treatment in both the continuum and digital setting. By now, shearlet analysis has reached maturity as a research field, with deep mathematical results, efficient numerical methods, and a variety of high-impact applications. The main goal of the Mini-Workshop
Shearlets
was to gather the world’s experts in this field in order to foster closer interaction, attack challenging open problems, and identify future research directions.
Amorphous and Crystalline GeTe Nanocrystals
Authors: Arachchige Indika U. , Soriano Ronald , Malliakas Christos D. , Ivanov Sergei A. , Kanatzidis Mercouri G.
Published: May 2011

A facile method for the synthesis of crystalline and amorphous GeTe nanoparticles (NPs) using bis((trimethylsilyl)amido)germanium(II), Ge[N(SiMe3)2]2, and elemental tellurium dispersed in tri‐n‐octylphosphine (TOP) is reported. As synthesized, crystalline particles exhibit narrow dispersity at smaller sizes and tend to grow into anisotropic shapes with increasing reaction time (growth). Furthermore, crystalline GeTe NPs possess rhombohedral symmetry with absorption band energies in near IR region (0.76–0.86 eV). Amorphous GeTe particles prepared at low temperatures are nearly spherical in morphology and display amorphous‐to‐crystalline phase transition at 209–237 °C depending on their primary particle size. Detailed investigation of the local structure of the amorphous GeTe using pair distribution function (PDF) method reveals that it is closely related to that of the pressure‐ and temperature‐stabilized orthorhombic GeTe.
Electrospun poly(D,L)‐lactide nonwoven mats for biomedical application: Surface area shrinkage and surface entrapment
Authors: Xie Zhiwei , Buschle‐Diller Gisela , DeInnocentes Patricia , Bird R. Curtis
Published: May 2011

Nanofibrous poly(D,L)‐lactide mats prepared by electrospinning are useful for numerous biomedical applications. However, it was observed that these mats tend to shrink under physiological conditions. In this research, a physical entrapment method to modify the polymer surface with poly(ethylene glycol) was developed to ensure dimensional stability and to increase the hydrophilicity of the surface of the mats. Nanofiber morphology was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Surface element analysis was performed by high resolution X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Water contact angles were determined to identify surface properties before and after surface entrapment. Canine fibroblasts were prepared and seeded onto the poly(D,L)‐lactide mats, followed by cell morphology study by SEM and cell viability tests by MTT assay, which confirmed the improvement of biocompatibility by surface modification. Taking the results into account, hydrophilic and area‐stable nanofibrous nonwoven mats were successfully produced, with potential applications as in vivo biomedical material. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
Dielectric dispersion and AC conductivity of acrylonitrile butadiene rubber‐poly(vinyl chloride)/graphite composite
Authors: Mansour S. A. , Al‐ghoury M. E. , Shalaan E. , El Eraki M. H. I. , Abdel‐Bary E. M.
Published: May 2011

Dielectric properties and ac electrical conductivity of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Rubber‐poly(vinyl chloride)/Graphite Composite were studied at different frequencies (102−106 Hz) in the temperature range (298–423 K). The results show that the dielectric constant (ε′), dielectric loss (ε″), ac electrical conductivity (σac) and, the electric modulus are strongly dependent on the frequency and temperature. The dielectric constant ε′ increases with temperature and decreases with frequency, whereas the dielectric loss ε″ displays a broad maximum peak whose position shifts with temperature to a higher frequency region. Cole–Cole diagrams have been used to investigate the frequency dependence of the complex impedance at different temperature and graphite loading. Interfacial or Maxwell‐Wagner‐Sillars relaxation process was revealed in the frequency range and temperature interval of the measurements, which was found to follow the Havriliak–Negami approach for the distribution of relaxation times. At constant temperature, the frequency dependence of ac conductivity was found to fit with the established equation σac(ω) = Aωs quite well. The values of S for the investigated samples lie between 0.88 and 0.11. The conduction mechanism of ac conduction was discussed by comparing the behavior of the frequency exponent S(T) with different theoretical models. It was found that the correlated barrier hopping (C.B.H.) is the dominant conduction mechanism. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
Preparation and characterization of bipolar membranes modified using photocatalyst nano‐TiO2 and nano‐ZnO
Authors: Chen Riyao , Hu Yanyu , Chen Zhen , Chen Xiao , Zheng Xi
Published: May 2011

The nano‐ZnO and nano‐TiO2 were added into chitosan (CS) anion layer to prepare polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) ‐ sodium alginate (SA)/ TiO2‐ZnO‐CS (here, PVA:polyvinyl alcohol; SA:sodium alginate) bipolar membrane (BPM), which was characterized using scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), electric universal testing machine, contact angle measurer, and so on. Experimental results showed that nano‐TiO2‐ZnO exhibited better photocatalytic property for water splitting at the interlayer of BPM than nano‐TiO2 or nano‐ZnO. The membrane impedance and voltage drop (IR drop) of the BPM were obviously decreased under the irradiation of high‐pressure mercury lamps. At a current density of 60 mA/cm2, the cell voltage of PVA‐SA/TiO2‐ZnO‐CS BPM‐equipped cell decreased by 1.0 V. And the cell voltages of PVA‐SA/TiO2‐CS BPM‐equipped cell and PVA‐SA/ZnO‐CS BPM‐equipped cell were only reduced by 0.7 and 0.6 V, respectively. Furthermore, the hydrophilicity, thermal stability, and mechanical properties of the modified BPM were increased. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
Efficient synthesis of zwitterionic sulfobetaine group functional polyurethanes via “click” reaction
Authors: Huang Jingjing , Xu Weilin
Published: May 2011

A novel polyurethane material containing zwitterionic sulfobetaine groups has been synthesized using the copper‐catalyzed 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition (azide‐alkyne click chemistry). A standard two‐step polyaddition method was used to produce the well‐defined polyurethane based on polycarbonatediol (PCDL) with alkyne groups. These polyurethanes containing alkyne units were then efficiently clicked using 3‐((2‐azidoethyl)dimethylammonio)propane‐1‐sulfonate (DMPS‐N3). The novel PU material was characterized by 1H NMR, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). This facile “click” reaction provides a useful tool for the development of novel functional polyurethanes for biomedical applications. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
Fabrication of self‐cleaning poly(vinylidene fluoride) membrane with micro/nanoscaled two‐tier roughness
Authors: Zheng Zhenrong , Gu Zhenya , Huo Ruiting , Luo Zhishan
Published: May 2011

Based on the “lotus effect” principle, smooth microreliefs of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane were prepared via thermally induced phase separation process. Hydroxyl groups were introduced into PVDF membrane by pretreatment with KOH/alcohol solution. Subsequently, these hydroxyl groups grafted with (CH3)2SiCl2/CH3SiCl3 to form nano‐clusters, which were decorated on the microreliefs of PVDF membrane. Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) analysis showed the micro‐ and nano‐scale structures, similar to lotus leaf, were successfully fabricated on the PVDF membrane surface. The water contact angle and sliding angle on the fabricated lotus‐leaf‐like PVDF membrane surface were 154 and 4°, respectively. Self‐cleaning test indicated that the lotus‐leaf‐like surface of PVDF membrane has excellent superhydrophobic and self‐cleaning properties. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
Delay‐dependent stability for Markovian genetic regulatory networks with time‐varying delays
Authors: Zhang Baoyong , Xu Shengyuan , Chu Yuming , Zong Guangdeng
Published: May 2011

This paper is concerned with the problem of stochastic stability analysis for a class of genetic regulatory networks with Markovian jump parameters and time‐varying delays. A delay‐dependent stability criterion is derived by using a novel mode‐dependent Lyapunov functional. The derived stability criterion is expressed in terms of linear matrix inequalities and is less conservative than the existing ones in the literature. A numerical example is provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed stability criterion.

Copyright © 2011 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society
Preclinical Evaluation of Raman Nanoparticle Biodistribution for their Potential Use in Clinical Endoscopy Imaging
Authors: Zavaleta Cristina L. , Hartman Keith B. , Miao Zheng , James Michelle L. , Kempen Paul , Thakor Avnesh S. , Nielsen Carsten H. , Sinclair Robert , Cheng Zhen , Gambhir Sanjiv S.
Published: May 2011

Raman imaging offers unsurpassed sensitivity and multiplexing capabilities. However, its limited depth of light penetration makes direct clinical translation challenging. Therefore, a more suitable way to harness its attributes in a clinical setting would be to couple Raman spectroscopy with endoscopy. The use of an accessory Raman endoscope in conjunction with topically administered tumor‐targeting Raman nanoparticles during a routine colonoscopy could offer a new way to sensitively detect dysplastic lesions while circumventing Raman's limited depth of penetration and avoiding systemic toxicity. In this study, the natural biodistribution of gold surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) nanoparticles is evaluated by radiolabeling them with 64Cu and imaging their localization over time using micropositron emission tomography (PET). Mice are injected either intravenously (IV) or intrarectally (IR) with approximately 100 microcuries (μCi) (3.7 megabecquerel (MBq)) of 64Cu‐SERS nanoparticles and imaged with microPET at various time points post injection. Quantitative biodistribution data are obtained as % injected dose per gram (%ID g−1) from each organ, and the results correlate well with the corresponding microPET images, revealing that IV‐injected mice have significantly higher uptake (p < 0.05) in the liver (5 h = 8.96% ID g−1; 24 h = 8.27% ID g−1) than IR‐injected mice (5 h = 0.09% ID g−1; 24 h = 0.08% ID g−1). IR‐injected mice show localized uptake in the large intestine (5 h = 10.37% ID g−1; 24 h = 0.42% ID g−1) with minimal uptake in other organs. Raman imaging of excised tissues correlate well with biodistribution data. These results suggest that the topical application of SERS nanoparticles in the mouse colon appears to minimize their systemic distribution, thus avoiding potential toxicity and supporting the clinical translation of Raman spectroscopy as an endoscopic imaging tool.
The effect of pain on training‐induced plasticity of the corticomotor system
Authors: Ingham Damian , Tucker Kylie J. , Tsao Henry , Hodges Paul W.
Published: May 2011

Pain is thought to interfere with training‐induced plasticity of corticomotor pathways. Although this implies direct interference with plastic processes, it may be explained by compromised performance in the training task during pain. Repeated finger movements can induce plasticity and change the amplitude/direction of acceleration of finger movement evoked by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). We hypothesized that if pain interferes with plasticity, acceleration of finger movement would not change when the training task was painful, despite control of training task performance. TMS was applied over the optimal scalp site to evoked index finger abduction movements in nine participants. Participants then trained finger adduction with feedback of finger acceleration for three 8‐min sessions, in three conditions on separate days. Conditions: first dorsal interosseus (FDI) pain and control (no‐pain), with injection of 5% and 0.9% hypertonic saline, respectively, into FDI; and remote pain (5% saline injection into infrapatellar fat pad). Peak acceleration of TMS‐evoked finger movement and amplitude of motor evoked potentials (MEPs) in FDI were measured at baseline, between training sessions, and at three 5‐min intervals after training ceased. Plastic change was observed (reduced TMS evoked peak finger acceleration in the abduction direction) after motor training during control and FDI pain, but not during the remote pain. There was no change in FDI MEPs in any conditions. These data do not support direct effects of nociceptive input (pain) on training‐induced plasticity of corticomotor pathways. Remote pain may compromise learning due to distraction from the training task or other complex central pain processes.
Transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation inhibits nociceptive spinal pathway conduction and increases pain tolerance in humans
Authors: Truini A. , Vergari M. , Biasiotta A. , La Cesa S. , Gabriele M. , Di Stefano G. , Cambieri C. , Cruccu G. , Inghilleri M. , Priori A.
Published: May 2011

Despite concerted efforts from pharmacologic research into neuropathic pain, many patients fail to achieve sufficient pain relief with medication alone. For this reason, increasing interest centres on neurostimulation techniques. We assessed whether transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS) modulates conduction in ascending nociceptive spinal pathways. We measured changes induced by anodal and cathodal tsDCS over the thoracic spinal cord on face‐ and foot‐laser evoked potentials (LEPs) and foot‐cold pressor test responses in 20 healthy subjects. Whereas anodal tsDCS reduced the amplitude of the N1 and N2 components of foot‐LEPs (P < 0.05) neither anodal nor cathodal tsDCS changed LEPs evoked by face stimulation. Pain tolerance to the cold pressor test was significantly higher after anodal than after cathodal tsDCS (P < 0.05). Conversely, no difference was found in the pain threshold or pain ratings to the cold pressor test between the two polarity conditions.

Our data suggest that anodal tsDCS over the thoracic spinal cord might impair conduction in the ascending nociceptive spinal pathways, thus modulating LEPs and increasing pain tolerance in healthy subjects.
Remission amongst elderly schizophrenia patients
Authors: Barak Y. , Swartz M.
Published: May 2011

Remission in elderly patients has been little studied. The present analysis utilized a European database to focus on the elderly. Using five different instruments examining remission, we report that aging did not adversely affect remission in the elderly. Management of elderly schizophrenia patients should thus be targeted towards remission.
The association between anxiety and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels: Results from the Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort Study
Authors: Liukkonen T. , Räsänen P. , Jokelainen J. , Leinonen M. , Järvelin M.-R. , Meyer-Rochow V.B. , Timonen M.
Published: May 2011

Background

Anxiety frequently accompanies low-grade inflammation-associated conditions like depression, insulin resistance, coronary heart disease and metabolic syndrome. The association between anxiety and low-grade inflammation is, unlike between depression and low-grade inflammation, a very sparsely studied area in general populations. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether anxiety symptoms as well as comorbid anxiety and depressive symptoms are associated with low-grade inflammation at population level.

Methods

The general population-based Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort was followed until age 31 (n= 2688 males and 2837 females), when the highly sensitive CRP concentrations were measured. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were defined by Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25).

Results

After adjusting for confounders, logistic regression analyses showed that anxiety symptoms alone increased the probability for elevated hs-CRP levels (> 3.0 mg/L) in males over two-fold (2.19 CI 95% 1.08–4.46), while comorbid anxiety and depressive symptoms caused a 1.7-fold (1.76 CI 95% 1.13–2.74) increase in the probability for elevated hs-CRP levels (1.0–3.0 mg/L).

Conclusions

Our results support the hypothesis that anxiety as well as comorbid anxiety and depression can be associated with an increased risk for low-grade inflammation in males at population level.
The effect of overweight/obesity on cognitive function in euthymic individuals with bipolar disorder
Authors: Yim C.Y. , Soczynska J.K. , Kennedy S.H. , Woldeyohannes H.O. , Brietzke E. , McIntyre R.S.
Published: May 2011

Background

Persistent impairment in cognitive function has been described in euthymic individuals with bipolar disorder. Collective work indicates that obesity is associated with reduced cognitive function in otherwise healthy individuals. This sub-group post-hoc analysis preliminarily explores and examines the association between overweight/obesity and cognitive function in euthymic individuals with bipolar disorder.

Methods

Euthymic adults with DSM-IV-TR-defined bipolar I or II disorder were enrolled. Subjects included in this post-hoc analysis (n= 67) were divided into two groups (normal weight, body mass index [BMI] of 18.5–24.9kg/m2; overweight/obese, BMI≥25.0kg/m2). Demographic and clinical information were obtained at screening. At baseline, study participants completed a comprehensive cognitive battery to assess premorbid IQ, verbal learning and memory, attention and psychomotor processing speed, executive function, general intellectual abilities, recollection and habit memory, as well as self-perceptions of cognitive failures.

Results

BMI was negatively correlated with attention and psychomotor processing speed as measured by the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (P<0.01). Overweight and obese bipolar individuals had a significantly lower score on the Verbal Fluency Test when compared to normal weight subjects (P<0.05). For all other measures of cognitive function, non-significant trends suggesting a negative association with BMI were observed, with the exception of measures of executive function (i.e. Trail Making Test B) and recollection memory (i.e. process-dissociation task).

Conclusion

Notwithstanding the post-hoc methodology and relatively small sample size, the results of this study suggest a possible negative effect of overweight/obesity on cognitive function in euthymic individuals with bipolar disorder. Taken together, these data provide the impetus for more rigorous evaluation of the mediational role of overweight/obesity (and other medical co-morbidity) on cognitive function in psychiatric populations.