bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nazareth's Rebellious Son: Deviance and Downward Mobility in the Galilean Jesus Movement
Authors: Talbott Rick F.
Published: January 2009

Using social—scientific criticism, I imagine that Jesus' family and village elders labeled him a “rebellious son” because his kingdom of God agenda threatened their domestic economy and the patriarchal power relations that sustained it. Consequently, Jesus left Nazareth and initiated a movement among Galilean fishing villages that had marked economic impact on a variety of Galileans. The Jesus movement fostered several economic dynamics including exacerbating the downward mobility of peasants alienated from their families, these very families, and even some “wealthy” persons associated with the movement. Passages from Q suggest that new fictive-kin groups quickly emerged and developed their own patron-client economy. By meeting the basic needs of its members, this household-based domestic economy also created a safety-net for its disenfranchised and honored poor. The Jesus movement represented one of the many sub-systems within first-century Galilee, and—with some modification—it resembled later urban Christian households, especially those characteristic of Paul and Luke—Acts.
1 Enoch, 1 Peter, and Social—Scientific Criticism. A Review Article on a Major 1 Enoch Commentary
Authors: Elliott John H.
Published: January 2009

This first volume of George Nickelsburg's commentary on 1 Enoch is a masterful commentary on a major text of Second Temple Israel. Its attention to the relation of 1 Enoch and 1 Peter and its openness to analysis through Social—Scientific Criticism invite further discussion.
The Hope of Heaven... on Earth
Authors: Brueggemann Walter
Published: January 2009

This paper asks about the substance and practice of hope in First Testament faith. The paper was prepared for a conference on the Christian "hope of heaven." In such a context, it is evident that hope in the First Testament is principally a this-worldly act. It is suggested in the paper that (a) Israel's memory of God's miracles permits Israel to expect miracles in the future, (b) Israel's speech practice in complaints is an act of hope, as the complaints characteristically move to affirmation, and (c) the fissure of the exile is the matrix of Israel's hope. Out of these affirmations, Israel can hope for a new community of shalom, a new creation of well-being, and eventually a new personal destiny as a gift of God. Every dimension of hope is hope in the God who is able to do a new thing.
The Politics of Exorcism: Jesus' Reaction to Negative Labels in the Beelzebul Controversy
Authors: Guijarro Santiago
Published: January 2009

Jesus was accused of being possessed by Beelzebul because of the exorcisms he practiced. This kind of view is characteristic of the first-century Mediterranean interpretation of deviant behavior. The purpose of this article is to determine the historical causes of this accusation and the purpose of the reaction of Jesus against it. To accomplish this we apply to the Beelzebul controversy some models developed in the study of deviant behavior. The first step is a source- and tradition-critical study of the sayings contained in it to determine which ot them can be assigned to the historical Jesus. Then the accusation of being possessed by Beelzebul is considered in the framework of societal reactions to deviant behavior. Finally, the responses of Jesus are placed in the scenario of the Mediterranean challenge and riposte game and in the context of other possible reactions to negative labeling.
Textual Indeterminacy and Determinacy: Klaus Berger's History-of-Effect Hermeneutic (Luke 9:57-62)
Authors: Isaak Jon M.
Published: January 2009

This article analyzes the Lucan discipleship text (Luke 9:57-62) using Klaus Berger's history-of-effect ( wirkungsgeschtliche) hermeneutic. After reviewing the text's reception history and Berger's rhetorical approach, it is argued that Berger's history-of-effect hermeneutic explains both why and how Luke 9:57-62 has had a consistent impact within Christian reading communities. The consistent reception is attributed to the teleological orientation of the text's rhetorical strategy as well as to the location of the meaning-center between text and reader. The resulting effect is both indeterminate and determinate. This dual character explains why the text can be experienced in flexible uniformity with its formative situation.
Congenital Intrahepatic Vascular Anomaly in a Clinically Normal Laboratory Beagle
Authors: Booler Helen
Published: January 2009

Routine necropsy examination of a clinically normal, ten-month-old male beagle dog identified disruption of the dorsal aspect of the right median liver lobe by a multiloculated, pale tan-white, thick-walled mass, with diffuse hypertrophy of the left and caudate liver lobes. The nature of the lesion was investigated using a variety of immunohistochemical and histochemical techniques. Histologically, the lesion was characterized by marked, focally extensive vascular hyperplasia and ectasia with lobular atrophy, periportal fibrosis, and biliary hyperplasia. The endothelium of proliferating vessels was positive for von Willebrands factor, and proliferating bile ducts were positive for pancytokeratin. Based on the gross and histologic appearance, this lesion was identified as a vascular hamartoma with arteriovenous fistula. It is important to note that this spontaneous lesion may occur in the laboratory beagle in the absence of clinical signs.
Effects of p38 MAP Kinase Inhibitors on the Differentiation and Maturation of Erythroid Progenitors
Authors: Dalmas Deidre A. , Tierney Lauren A. , Zhang Cindy , Narayanan Padma K. , Boyce Rogely W. , Schwartz Lester W. , Frazier Kendall S. , Scicchitano Marshall S.
Published: January 2009

In rodents, p38 MAP kinase inhibitors (p38is) induce bone marrow hypocellularity and reduce reticulocyte and erythrocyte counts. To identify target cell populations affected, a differentiating primary liquid erythroid culture system using sca-1+cells from mouse bone marrow was developed and challenged with p38is SB-203580, SB-226882, and SB-267030. Drug-related alterations in genes involved at different stages of erythropoiesis, cell-surface antigen expression (CSAE), burst-forming unit erythroid (BFU-E) colony formation, and cellular morphology (CM), growth (CG), and viability were evaluated. CSAE, CM, and decreases in BFU-E formation indicated delayed maturation, while CG and viability were unaffected. Terminal differentiation was delayed until day 14 versus day 7 in controls. CSAE demonstrated higher percentages of sca-1+cells after day 2 and reduced percentages of ter119+ cells after day 7 in all treated cultures. Real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction revealed a transient delay in expression of genes involved at early, intermediate, and late stages of erythropoiesis, followed by rebound expression at later time points. Results demonstrate p38is do not irreversibly inhibit erythrogenesis but induce a potency-dependent, transient delay in erythropoietic activity. The delay in activity is suggestive of effects on sca-1+bone marrow cells caused by alterations in expression of genes related to erythroid commitment and differentiation resulting in delayed maturation.
Walking in Fear
Authors: Waymer Damion
Published: January 2009

For decades, scholars have studied the powerful effects of media. More specifically, researchers have found that media can be considered agents of socialization—shaping and influencing people's identities and identity formations. Because media is often our only “gateway” to witness what occurs outside of our view, it becomes the lens in which we use to view our world—especially when it comes to the framing of crime in the inner city. In this essay, I use the events surrounding Cincinnati, Ohio, and its race riots of 2001 as the case for analysis. Specifically, I use an autoethnographic account to detail the impact that news coverage on crime in Cincinnati can have on minority individuals who do not reside in the inner city. Finally, this essay further establishes the role—intentional or unintentional—that reporters and journalists play in community and public relations issues.
The Boundary Dataset
Authors: Furlong Kathryn , Gleditsch Nils Petter
Published: January 2009

Geographical factors in general and proximity in particular have a pervasive influence on negative as well as positive interaction between states. Traditionally, proximity has been measured by contiguity or by great-circle distance. We argue that it is important to distinguish between the different levels of interaction opportunities open to contiguous states and propose to operationalize this as the length of the shared land boundary. Data on boundary lengths can be used, e.g., in the study of the relationship between natural resources and conflict or in the study of the diffusion of conflict. To date, such datasets have only been available for the most recent years. We present a new dataset covering the entire Correlates of War period, explain the measurement procedures, and offer comparisons with other more limited datasets.
The Power-Conflict Story: a Synopsis
Authors: Kadera Kelly M.
Published: January 2009

The focus of this article is the development of a differential equations model that integrates balance of power and power transition theories. This integration is achieved by proposing three different conditions, each of which is associated with specialized conflict behavior. Extrapolation from the traditional theories' arguments about war to the forces governing the ebb and flow of conflict is another integration technique. Most notably, the formal model predicts three types of power transitions: deflections, tortoise and hare transitions, and single transitions. Only the single transition is similar to the type of transition predicted by power transition theory. The other two types are important because they account for unsuccessful challenges. Important differences in conflict patterns also distinguish the three transition types from one another. The model also makes predictions concerning the relationship between two rivals' conflict levels and the timing of conflict peaks.

Using a case study for each of the three types of transitions, the predictions are tested using MID data supplemented with historical analyses. Empirical support is strong. Substantive conclusions include recommendations for slowing rates of reaction, cautions concerning the dangers of the post-transition phase, and advice for tortoises to conserve their resources. This project also advocates the usefulness of a broader collection of events data than is currently available and the possible need for variables that trace the evolution of bonds that tie nations together.
Academic Transitions in Education
Authors: Earle Reybold L. , Alamia Jennifer J.
Published: January 2009

Becoming and being a faculty is a dynamic journey defined by various career transitions, such as moving up through promotion and tenure, moving on to other institutions, and sometimes moving out of the academy altogether. This longitudinal qualitative study explored women faculty experiences of academic transitions and their impact on faculty identity development and transformation. Using the constant comparative method, the authors analyzed multiple interviews with 23 female faculty members in education, focusing on their transition experiences across their early career. Academic transitions are described in terms of provisional professional identity (transient or resilient) and transition responses (professional equilibrium, professional advancement, and professional integration). Transition patterns are discussed as both social and developmental; implications for career counseling, faculty preparation, and development are noted. The findings and discussion highlight professional growth across the academic career spectrum and the importance of humanistic career enrichment beyond the traditional role-based training in teaching and research.
The Effects of Perceived Career Plateau on Employees' Attitudes
Authors: Jung Ji-hyun , Tak Jinkook
Published: January 2009

This article examines the relation of perceived career plateau to job satisfaction and organizational commitment and the moderating effects of career motivation and perceived supervisor support on the relationships between perceived career plateau and the two dependent variables. Data are collected from 209 white-collar employees who are more than 30 years old and who come from a wide variety of organizations. The results of this study show that perceived career plateau is negatively correlated with job satisfaction and organizational commitment. The results of hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicate that career motivation plays a significant moderating role only on the relationship between perceived career plateau and organizational commitment. Perceived supervisor support moderates the relationships between perceived career plateau and the two dependent variables. Based on the results, the implications and limitations of this study and the directions for future research are discussed.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism in arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia: is DD genotype helpful in predicting syncope risk?
Authors: Ozben Beste , Altun Ibrahim , Sabri Hancer Veysel , Bilge Ahmet Kaya , Tanrikulu Azra Meryem , Diz-Kucukkaya Reyhan , Fak Ali Serdar , Yilmaz Ercument , Adalet Kamil
Published: January 2009

Introduction. Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD) is a heritable disorder characterised by fibrofatty replacement of right ventricular myocytes and increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism affects myocardialACE levels. DD genotype favours myocardial fibrosis and is associated with malignant ventricular tachycardia.The aim of this study was to explore ACE gene polymorphism inARVD patients.

Methods. Twenty-nine patients with ARVD and 24 controls were included.AllARVD patients had documented sustained ventricular tachycardia. Thirteen patients had syncopal episodes. Six patients were resuscitated from sudden cardiac death.ACE gene polymorphism was identified by polymerase chain reaction technique.

Results. There was no significant difference in DD genotype frequency between ARVD patients and controls (44.8% vs. 45.8%, p=0.94). However, DD genotype frequency was significantly higher in ARVD patients with syncopal episodes compared to those without syncope (69.2% vs. 25.0%, p=0.017, odds ratio:6.750,95% confidence interval: 1.318—34.565). DD genotype was detected in higher frequency also in patients with a family history of sudden cardiac death (66.7% vs. 39.1%,p=0.36).

Conclusion. High prevalence of DD genotype in ARVD patients with syncope suggests that ACE I/D polymorphism might be useful in identifying high-risk patients for syncope.
Race and the Evaluation of Signal Callers in the National Football League
Authors: Berri David J. , Simmons Rob
Published: January 2009

Until recently, the position of quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) was not an option for Black athletes. Today, many teams use Black quarterbacks, a development that might suggest race is no longer relevant when it comes to the evaluation of signal callers in the NFL. By modeling quarterback performance and salary over 1995-2006, we find that Black quarterbacks are more likely to run with the football, yet this skill is not compensated in the market. Furthermore, we find evidence of performance-related salary discrimination against Black quarterbacks in the top half of the salary distribution.
Cultivating the Regulatory Focus of Followers to Amplify Their Sensitivity to Transformational Leadership
Authors: Moss Simon
Published: January 2009

According to regulatory focus theory, one facet of transformational leadership might inspire only followers who direct their attention to their aspirations, called a promotion focus . Furthermore, followers focus their attention on aspirations only when they experience a sense of security. In this study, 160 employees completed a survey evaluating the leadership style of their supervisors and their own regulatory focus, self-esteem, attachment style, belief in a just world, and work engagement. Visionary leadership was positively associated with engagement in followers, especially when these individuals adopted a promotion focus. This promotion focus was related to factors that confer a sense of security—such as attachment style and just world beliefs—which in turn were associated with the leadership style of their supervisors. Findings imply leaders should first foster a sense of security in followers, which evokes a promotion focus and augments the receptivity of employees to a rousing vision of the future.
A Reply to Commentaries on “How the Object of Affect Guides its Impact”
Authors: Clore Gerald L. , Huntsinger Jeffrey R.
Published: January 2009

Commentaries focused on the emotional appraisal part of our article. Cunningham and Van Bavel argued for distinguishing core disgust from moral disgust, and we describe how the theory might accommodate their proposal. They also suggested that temporal and other comparisons could account for emotional variety. We concur, but see such comparisons as inherent in the different emotional objects. Winkielman emphasized unconscious affect, but we suggest its power flows from the absence of situational constraints on its meaning. He characterized our appraisal model as coldly cognitive rather than embodied, but the complaint is misdirected, as the model addresses emotional structure, not emotional process. Indeed, embodied accounts will still require structural accounts to determine why one emotion rather than another is elicited.
A new method to compute K-mer frequencies and its application to annotate large repetitive plant genomes
Authors: Kurtz Stefan , Narechania Apurva , Stein Joshua C , Ware Doreen
Published: January 2009

Background

The challenges of accurate gene prediction and enumeration are further aggravated in large genomes that contain highly repetitive transposable elements (TEs). Yet TEs play a substantial role in genome evolution and are themselves an important subject of study. Repeat annotation, based on counting occurrences of k-mers, has been previously used to distinguish TEs from low-copy genic regions; but currently available software solutions are impractical due to high memory requirements or specialization for specific user-tasks.

Results

Here we introduce the Tallymer software, a flexible and memory-efficient collection of programs for k-mer counting and indexing of large sequence sets. Unlike previous methods, Tallymer is based on enhanced suffix arrays. This gives a much larger flexibility concerning the choice of the k-mer size. Tallymer can process large data sizes of several billion bases. We used it in a variety of applications to study the genomes of maize and other plant species. In particular, Tallymer was used to index a set of whole genome shotgun sequences from maize (B73) (total size 109 bp.). We analyzed k-mer frequencies for a wide range of k. At this low genome coverage (≈ 0.45×) highly repetitive 20-mers constituted 44% of the genome but represented only 1% of all possible k-mers. Similar low-complexity was seen in the repeat fractions of sorghum and rice. When applying our method to other maize data sets, High-C
0
t derived sequences showed the greatest enrichment for low-copy sequences. Among annotated TEs, the most highly repetitive were of the Ty3/gypsy class of retrotransposons, followed by the Ty1/copia class, and DNA transposons. Among expressed sequence tags (EST), a notable fraction contained high-copy k-mers, suggesting that transposons are still active in maize. Retrotransposons in Mo17 and McC cultivars were readily detected using the B73 20-mer frequency index, indicating their conservation despite extensive rearrangement across cultivars. Among one hundred annotated bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs), k-mer frequency could be used to detect transposon-encoded genes with 92% sensitivity, compared to 96% using alignment-based repeat masking, while both methods showed 92% specificity.

Conclusion

The Tallymer software was effective in a variety of applications to aid genome annotation in maize, despite limitations imposed by the relatively low coverage of sequence available. For more information on the software, see http://www.zbh.uni-hamburg.de/Tallymer.
The first case of isolated facial cutanenous leishmaniasis in a Down syndrome infant: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Abass Kotb , Saad Hekma , Abd-Elsayed Alaa A
Published: January 2009

Background

Cutaneous leishmaniasis can be caused by several Leishmania species and is transmitted to human beings and animals by sand flies, Down syndrome is known to cause immunodeficiency that might lead to increase the susceptibility to infection with Leishmania.

Up to our knowledge this is the first case of isolated facial cutaneous leshmaniasis in association with Down syndrome.

Case presentation

A 2 month old Saudi Arabian male infant was admitted in the pediatric ward of maternity and children's hospital, Buraidah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the management of multiple ulcers on his face, two ulcers were big and were surrounded by edema, causing severe disfigurement. This disfigurement caused difficulty in recognizing the facial feature of Down syndrome. The presence of hypotonia, microcephaly, low set ears, bilateral simian creases and wide separation between big toe and other toes directed us to request karyotyping. The result of karyotyping confirmed the diagnosis of Down syndrome.

Conclusion

Children with Down syndrome are immunodeficient, they have been reported to have a complex of immunological alterations which might lead to increased susceptibility to infection.
Rel A Is an Independent Biomarker of Clinical Outcome in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Authors: Hewamana Saman , Lin Thet Thet , Rowntree Clare , Karunanithi Kamaraj , Pratt Guy , Hills Robert , Fegan Chris , Brennan Paul , Pepper Chris
Published: January 2009

Purpose

We recently demonstrated the biologic importance of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) subunit Rel A in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and hypothesized that Rel A DNA binding would have prognostic significance in this disease.

Patients and Methods

Rel A DNA binding was quantified in nuclear extracts derived from 131 unselected CLL patient samples using a quantitative DNA-binding enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay–based method. We then investigated the ability of Rel A to predict for the requirement for treatment and survival and compared our findings with other established prognostic markers.

Results

Rel A DNA binding was strongly associated with advanced Binet stage (P < .0001) but did not correlate with immunoglobulin VH (IgVH) mutation status (P = .25), CD38 expression (P = .87), or zeta-chain–associated protein kinase 70 (ZAP-70) expression (P = .55). It was predictive of time to first treatment (P = .02) and time to subsequent treatment (P = .0001). In addition, Rel A was the most predictive marker of survival both from date of diagnosis (hazard ratio [HR], 9.1; P = .01) and date of entry into the study (HR, 3.9; P = .05) and retained prognostic significance in multivariate analysis for both time to first treatment and overall survival in the presence of Binet stage, IgVH mutation status, CD38, and ZAP-70.

Conclusion

Rel A is an independent prognostic marker of survival in CLL and seems to have the unique capacity to predict the duration of response to therapy. Prospective assessment of Rel A as a marker of clinical outcome and as a therapeutic target are now warranted.
A 0–1 LP Model for the Integration and Consolidation of Air Cargo Shipments
Authors: Leung Lawrence C. , Van Hui Yer , Wang Yong , Chen Gang
Published: January 2009

This paper addresses the problem of determining the optimal integrations and consolidations of air cargo shipments. A freight forwarder arranges for the execution of many jobs (shipments) on behalf of several clients. Each job consists of a number of sequential activities, such as pickup, truck transportation, warehousing, and air transportation. Each activity can be performed by a number of processing units, such as trucking companies, warehouses, and airlines. If a number of consecutive activities of a job are integrated, i.e., performed by the same processing unit, then it typically costs less. If a number of similar activities of different jobs are consolidated, i.e., performed by the same processing unit, then it also typically costs less. Given a number of jobs and processing units, the sets of activities that can be integrated and consolidated, and the associated costs, the decision problem is to determine which processing unit should perform each activity of each job to minimize the total cost. This problem of assigning shipment activities to processing units is formulated as a linear 0–1 program. Principal properties of the model are established. Exploiting the special structure of this model, we design a solution procedure that includes heuristics and a branch-and-bound algorithm.
Region-specific Differentiation Potential of Adult Rat Spinal Cord Neural Stem/Precursors and Their Plasticity in Response to In Vitro Manipulation
Authors: Kulbatski Iris , Tator Charles H.
Published: January 2009

This study characterized the differentiation of neural stem/precursor cells (NSPCs) isolated from different levels of the spinal cord (cervical vs lumbar cord) and different regions along the neuraxis (brain vs cervical spinal cord) of adult male Wistar enhanced green fluorescent protein rats. The differentiation of cervical spinal cord NSPCs was further examined after variation of time in culture, addition of growth factors, and changes in cell matrix and serum concentration. Brain NSPCs did not differ from cervical cord NSPCs in the percentages of neurons, astrocytes, or oligodendrocytes but produced 26.9% less radial glia. Lumbar cord NSPCs produced 30.8% fewer radial glia and 6.9% more neurons compared with cervical cord NSPCs. Spinal cord NSPC differentiation was amenable to manipulation by growth factors and changes in in vitro conditions. This is the first study to directly compare the effect of growth factors, culturing time, serum concentration, and cell matrix on rat spinal cord NSPCs isolated, propagated, and differentiated under identical conditions. (J Histochem Cytochem 57:405–423, 2009)
Voyage without constellation: evaluating the performance of three uncalibrated process-oriented models
Authors: Tominaga K. , Aherne J. , Watmough S. A. , Alveteg M. , Cosby B. J. , Driscoll C. T. , Posch M.
Published: January 2009

Unfortunately an incorrect version of the Acknowledgements section appears on p. 270 of this paper; the correct version is as printed below.
Water mixing processes within a crystalline massif: Sudety mountains, SW Poland
Authors: Rzonca Bartłomiej , Buczyński Sebastian
Published: January 2009

We present the results of a water circulation study in a small drainage basin in a mountainous area of a complicated structure. Two types of waters were found in the basin; the sulphate waters were linked to gneiss and crystalline schist rocks, while the bicarbonate waters were linked to a marble interbed. The paper looks at a number of water circulation and mixing scenarios and discusses the origin of the bicarbonate waters. Measurements and calculations helped to identify two karst water circulation systems within the marble interbed that were probably not connected to each other. The primary system collects waters migrating via fissures from a non-carbonate section of the drainage basin above. Initially these waters are of the sulphate type: acidic and corrosive to the carbonate rocks. After passing into the marble interbed, they gradually assume a bicarbonate nature by becoming saturated with products of the chemical dissolution of carbonate rocks. This karst system is drained by springs. The other system begins in a sinkhole that intercepts a portion of the stream discharge (or all of it during extreme droughts) and ends with dispersed outflows directly into the channel lower down in the drainage basin.
Characterization of proton and copper binding properties of natural organic matter from an Australian drinking water source by differential absorbance spectroscopy
Authors: Dryer D. J. , Korshin G. V. , Heitz A. , Joll C.
Published: January 2009

This study examined the effects of changes in pH and copper concentration on the absorbance spectra of natural organic matter (NOM) from a reservoir in Western Australia. Differential absorbance spectra generated for this NOM under changing pH and copper concentration conditions revealed features that could be correlated to the activity of distinct types of chromophores. A comparison of results with those generated for experiments with standard Suwannee River fulvic acid highlighted important differences in chemistry between the two samples.
Comparison of methods for the determination of biodegradable dissolved organic carbon in potable water supply: use of a novel biofilm
Authors: Zappia L. R. , Alessandrino M. , Garbin S. , Pringle P. , Heitz A. , Joll C. , Masters D. , Hiller B. , Capewell S. , Franzmann P. D. , Plumb J. J. , Vitzthum Von Eckstaedt S. , Cadee K.
Published: January 2009

Potable water treatment in the state of Western Australia is challenged in many instances by the presence of high and variable levels of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), particularly in surface water supplies. In recent years the effects of climate change on local sources, in combination with the ever-present requirement for on-going disinfection effectiveness and disinfection by-product regulation has driven the need for the development of innovative, sustainable processes for the removal of DOC. Extensive pilot plant studies over a number of years have demonstrated the effectiveness of biological filtration for cost-effectively managing a variety of high DOC source waters, consequently biofiltration is seen as a process of choice for organics removal in drinking water in Western Australia. Although there are a number of indicators for measuring the efficacy of organic carbon reduction across biological treatment processes (e.g., DOC concentration, SUVA, etc), none currently are able to reliably inform on the change in the “non-refractory” organic carbon component of DOC (i.e. biodegradable dissolved organic carbon [BDOC]) which arises from microbiological metabolic activity in the biological treatment process. Knowledge of this parameter is of critical importance to the understanding of biological stability of the finished water entering a distribution system. We have therefore investigated a number of analytical procedures in order to develop a robust test method to accurately quantify this important aspect of biofilter performance. The paper reports a comparison between conventional and rapid methods for the determination of BDOC using immobilised biofilms enriched on deep aquifer water. Effective sample collection, preparation and method of analytical analysis, method validation using natural source water with and without addition of standard amounts of assimilable organic carbon (e.g. acetate), and reproducibility of test results are discussed.
An urban water cycle perspective of natural organic matter (NOM): NOM in drinking water, wastewater effluent, storm water, and seawater
Authors: Baghoth S. A. , Maeng S. K. , Rodríguez S. G. Salinas , Ronteltap M. , Sharma S. , Kennedy M. , Amy G. L.
Published: January 2009

Natural organic matter (NOM) occurs throughout the hydrologic cycle, varying in both amount and character. In this paper, a description of NOM in surface and drinking water, in groundwater and in seawater is presented. Water samples representing these environments were collected and characterized using multiple NOM characterization techniques, including fluorescence excitation emission matrices (F-EEM) and size exclusion liquid chromatography with organic carbon detection (LC-OCD). The results show that the raw surface water as well as the treated water comprises mainly (>70%) of humic substances. The biopolymers, which are more readily biodegradable, contribute up to 2% of the NOM in the raw water but this is completely removed after treatment. For sea water samples, humic substances represent about 50% of the dissolved organic carbon concentration (DOC), while the fraction with size bigger than 20 kDa (biopolymers) represents about 7%. During soil passage, there was preferential removal of non-humic substances (i.e., biopolymers) from wastewater effluent-impacted surface water while the specific ultraviolet absorbance (SUVA), which reflects the aromatic characteristics of organics in a sample, showed an increasing trend along the depth of the soil column. This is a consequence of the removal of non-humic substances (biopolymers) which results in an increase in aromaticity.
Oxidation efficiencies of natural organic matter by the different ozone contact systems
Authors: Lee Byoung-Ho , Song Won-Chul , Yang Hyun-Joo , Kim Jeong-Hyun , Kim Young-Suk
Published: January 2009

Owing to the strong oxidation potential, ozone has been used widely in advanced water treatment. However, degradation and oxidation efficiencies of NOM (Natural Organic Matter) by the traditional ozone contact system are normally believed to be low. Oxidation efficiency of NOM by the PHOC (Pressurized High Ozone Contact) method was compared with that by the MOC (Mechanical Ozone Contact, the traditional system) method for the drinking water treatment. Sand filtered water of the drinking water treatment plant was used for experimental samples. Removal rates of UV254 absorbance, KMnO4 consumption and DOC by the MOC system were 18.4%, 2.39%, and 2.72% respectively with 1 mg-O3/L. On the other hand, removal rates of KMnO4 consumption, TOC, DOC, UV254 absorbance and SUVA by the PHOC system were 8–20%, 7.52–34.4%, 6.65–18.2%, 37.4–60.8% and 33.8–60% with 1–3 mg/L of ozone concentrations. Concentration of BDOC after ozone application was 0.003–0.044 mg/L by the MOC method, while 0.084–0.044 mg/L by the PHOC method with 1–3 mg/L of ozone concentrations. Concerning molecular weight distribution, fractions of NOM below 1 kDa were increased by the PHOC method of ozone application. Analysis shows that the reason for overall enhancement of the treatment efficiencies by the PHOC system is because contacting surface area of numerous micro ozone bubbles was increased dramatically in the PHOC system, and oxidation potential was enhanced by increased ozone concentrations in the ozone contact tank. Thus, it is understood that the PHOC method is a more efficient system for ozone application than the traditional MOC system in drinking water treatment process.
Do Neoliberal Economic Policies Kill or Save Lives?
Authors: Gerring John , Thacker Strom C.
Published: January 2009

Do neoliberal economic policies help or hinder human development? Many have argued that such policies promote economic stability and growth, which may have indirect positive effects on human welfare. Others claim that neoliberal policies retard human development. We argue that neoliberal economic policies may improve the human welfare in ways that are independent of their effects on economic performance. Specifically, this paper hypothesizes that open international trade policies, low-inflation macroeconomic environments, and market-oriented property rights regimes promote human development across the world. We test this argument by examining the impact of several measures of neoliberal policies on infant mortality rates across the world between 1960 and 1999. Results suggest that openness to imports, long-term membership in the GATT and WTO, low rates of inflation, and effective contract enforcement are each associated with lower rates of infant mortality across the world, even when controlling for countries' economic performance.
Six-year Clinical Evaluation of Packable Composite Restorations
Authors: Kiremitci A. , Alpaslan T. , Gurgan S.
Published: January 2009

Clinical Relevance

As a posterior composite, Filtek P60 exhibited very good clinical performance in Class II cavities for six years.
An In-vitro Investigation of the Effects of Variable Operating Parameters on Alumina Air-abrasion Cutting Characteristics
Authors: Paolinelis G. , Banerjee A. , Watson T. F.
Published: January 2009

Clinical Relevance

Changing air-abrasion operating parameters has an effect on the cutting rate and, ultimately, the depth and shape of cavities produced in Macor (an enamel analogue).
Active Fault Diagnosis Based on Stochastic Tests
Authors: Poulsen Niels , Niemann Henrik
Published: January 2009

Active Fault Diagnosis Based on Stochastic Tests

The focus of this paper is on stochastic change detection applied in connection with active fault diagnosis (AFD). An auxiliary input signal is applied in AFD. This signal injection in the system will in general allow us to obtain a fast change detection/isolation by considering the output or an error output from the system. The classical cumulative sum (CUSUM) test will be modified with respect to the AFD approach applied. The CUSUM method will be altered such that it will be able to detect a change in the signature from the auxiliary input signal in an (error) output signal. It will be shown how it is possible to apply both the gain and the phase change of the output signal in CUSUM tests. The method is demonstrated using an example.
A Method for Sensor Placement Taking into Account Diagnosability Criteria
Authors: Yassine Abed , Ploix Stéphane , Flaus Jean-Marie
Published: January 2009

A Method for Sensor Placement Taking into Account Diagnosability Criteria

This paper presents a new approach to sensor placement based on diagnosability criteria. It is based on the study of structural matrices. Properties of structural matrices regarding detectability, discriminability and diagnosability are established in order to be used by sensor placement methods. The proposed approach manages any number of constraints modelled by linear or nonlinear equations and it does not require the design of analytical redundancy relations. Assuming that a constraint models a component and that the cost of the measurement of each variable is defined, a method determining sensor placements satisfying diagnosability specifications, where all the diagnosable, discriminable and detectable constraint sets are specified, is proposed. An application example dealing with a dynamical linear system is presented.
Helminths of the lumpsucker (Cyclopterus lumpus) from the Gulf of Gdańsk and Vistula Lagoon (Poland)
Authors: Rolbiecki Leszek , Rokicki Jerzy
Published: January 2009

The lumpsucker (Cyclopterus lumpus Linnaeus, 1758) is a marine fish inhabiting shallow coastal areas of North Atlantic. In 1996-2006, 224 lumpsucker individuals caught in the Gulf of Gdańsk and Vistula Lagoon (Poland) were examined for metazoan parasites. The fish were found to support the cestode Eubothrium crassum (Bloch, 1779), the nematodes Contracaecum osculatum (Rudolphi, 1802) L3, Dichelyne minutus (Rudolphi, 1819), and Hysterothylacium aduncum (Rudolphi, 1802) L3, L4, ad. as well as the acanthocephalans Corynosoma strumosum (Rudolphi, 1802) cyst., Echinorhynchus gadi Zoega in Müller, 1776, and Pomphorhynchus laevis (Müller, 1776). The total (both areas) prevalence of parasites was 63.4% at a mean intensity of 2.1 inds. In the Gulf of Gdańsk, 66.3% of all the lumpsucker examined were infected (intensity 2 inds), the level of infection in the Vistula Lagoon being 46.5% of the fish (intensity 2.3 inds). The Gulf of Gdańsk lumpsucker supported all the parasitic species listed, while 4 species only (E. crassum, H. aduncum, E. gadi, and P. laevis) were recorded in the Vistula Lagoon. The dominant parasites were H. aduncum (43.3%, 2.1 inds) and E. gadi (21.0%, 1.2 inds). All the parasitic species, except C. strumosum, are being reported from the southern Baltic lumpsucker for the first time.
Pseudo-Concrete Ideals of a Good Life
Authors: Mistrík Erich
Published: January 2009

Pseudo-Concrete Ideals of a Good Life

What has happened in the late and concluding stages of postmodern culture is that concrete ideas of a good life have been reduced to pseudo-concrete ideals. With the aid of simulacra, the experience of everyday life is turning into a show, into narcissistic emptiness and single bodily pleasures.
The Good Life and the Ideal of Flexibility
Authors: Šulavíková Blanka
Published: January 2009

The Good Life and the Ideal of Flexibility

The author focuses on the issue of the "good life" in relation to a strong ideal of flexibility that operates in contemporary western culture. The era we live in may be called a "continuous stream of innovations" and can be characterized by a fundamental requirement "to adapt flexibly and cope with the new". The need for such flexibility is mentally and physically demanding; the demands also mark the approach to values, the ideas of the good life and the project of the paths in life. Contemporary people in western civilization are exposed to the pressure of modern culture that has caused problems in the past decades as a result of the incompatibility of its fragmentary value systems. People today apply their abilities in a never-ending whirl of activities and effort where there is no more space available for becoming aware of and for perceiving the deeper meaning of and formulating their specific ideal of the good life.
Body Dissatisfaction
Authors: Sejčová L'Uboslava
Published: January 2009

Body Dissatisfaction

The author concentrates on the preference of the values of "the cult of the body" increasingly affecting the behaviour of young people and their position in the value system relating to generally recognized values. Too much emphasis on physical beauty and outward appearance significantly determines behaviour and can lead to a reduction in values relating to the body and body shape but also to unhealthy eating disorders such as bulimia or anorexia nervosa. The focus is on the pathological perception of the body, on how culture and cultural norms affect body dissatisfaction. A research questionnaire on universal values and the cult of the body (2006) was used. The research sample consisted of 508 respondents aged between 18 and 26 (292 women and 216 men).
Funeral Orations as Indicators of what a Good Life Ought to Be
Authors: Maduka Chukwugozie
Published: January 2009

Funeral Orations as Indicators of what a Good Life Ought to Be

The central aim of this study was to uncover, based on funeral orations, what the Igbo of South-East Nigeria regard as the good life. Over two hundred and fifty funeral orations/tributes were investigated. These were classified into: tributes by spouses; by offspring; by close family members; by friends, associates and organizations. The study revealed that the notion of the good life among the Igbo was based on primary duties and obligations at each of the four levels identified above and on related secondary duties and obligations. The good life was measured by the extent to which these duties and obligations were discharged and in the way their performance manifested in the provision of social amenities, help to educate members of the community and so on. What would ordinarily be regarded as virtues were considered desirable only in so far as they helped people fulfill their primary and secondary obligations, otherwise they were regarded as sterile or "bottled" virtues.
Seeking a Mnemonic Turn: Interior Reflections in Gadamer's Post-Platonic Thought
Authors: Sims Jeffrey
Published: January 2009

Seeking a Mnemonic Turn: Interior Reflections in Gadamer's Post-Platonic Thought

This paper reflects on trajectories and pathways for philosophical hermeneutics, now, after the death of its founder, Hans-Georg Gadamer in 2002. More specifically, it challenges the notion that Gadamer's thought is simply tied to the linguistic turn of the 20th century. Instead, it considers the possibility that Gadamer's thinking makes for an implicit declaration of its own kind, calling for a mnemonic turn in modern philosophy and present day hermeneutics. Some reference will be made to both rationalist and empiricist models of inquiry insofar as Gadamer attempts to take philosophy beyond, for example, the Ur-grammar of Chomsky's linguistic theories, and into a world of post-Platonic memory.
Changes in Glucose, Fructose and Sucrose Contents in Storage Roots of Asparagus During Vegetation Period
Authors: Gąsecka Monika , Stachowiak Jerzy , Krzesiński Włodzimierz , Knaflewski Mikołaj , Goliński Piotr
Published: January 2009

Changes in Glucose, Fructose and Sucrose Contents in Storage Roots of Asparagus During Vegetation Period

The objective of the field experiment conducted during 2000-2002 was to determine changes in glucose, fructose and sucrose contents in storage roots of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) cv. ‘Thielim’ during vegetation period. The aim of the study was also to estimate the correlation between yield and the content of carbohydrates. Sum of glucose, fructose and sucrose contents (GFS) and sucrose contents in storage roots of asparagus decreased at the beginning and increased at the end of harvest. Generally glucose and fructose for carbohydrate contents increased, while that of sucrose decreased. A possitive correlation was observed for sucrose and GFS between asparagus spears and storage roots (r=0.821 and r=0.641, respectively). A negative correlation between the yield of spears and glucose, sucrose and GFS contents in storage roots was found (r=0.595, r=0.624, r=0.794, respectively). Positive correlations were found between total yield during harvest and year of cropping, average GFS content in storage roots during harvest, sum of radiation during harvest, while negative correlation between total yield and sum of average daily air temperature during harvest was found.
Dietary Fibre Content and its Fractional Composition in Cabbage as Affected by Cultivar Earliness and Sauerkraut Storage Period
Authors: Elkner Krystyna , Kosson Ryszard
Published: January 2009

Dietary Fibre Content and its Fractional Composition in Cabbage as Affected by Cultivar Earliness and Sauerkraut Storage Period

The aim of the study was to determine the dietary fibre content and its fractional composition in white head cabbage cultivars of different maturity earliness and also in fermented cabbage (sauerkraut) after several months of storage, as well as the level of fibre and its composition in sauerkraut in relation to the method of fermentation.

It was found that there were significant differences in fibre content and its fractions composition among the white cabbage cultivars studied. The early cultivar Tekila F1, had a lower total fibre content and smaller cellulose and pectin fractions than the later-maturing cultivars, Tolerator F1 and Agresor F1. The fermented cabbage, as compared with the raw material, contained a significantly larger cellulose fraction, a significantly reduced pectin fraction, slightly reduced amounts of hemicelluloses, and a similar amount of lignin. There was no obvious effect of inoculating cabbage with starter cultures containing strains of Lactobacillus plantarum on the level of fibre and its fractions in the resulting sauerkraut in comparison with the traditionally fermented cabbage. Water-absorbing capacity of cabbage fibre depended on the cultivar, the length of sauerkraut storage period and fermentation method. The fibre of the early cabbage variety had a significantly lower water-binding capacity than the fibre of the later-maturing cultivars. Rehydration capacity of dried sauerkraut increased for up to 30 days from the end of fermentation, with longer storage period having no longer any effect on the levels of water absorption. Water-holding capacity of the fibre in the sauerkraut produced with the addition of a starter culture was lower than that of the fibre of the traditionally fermented cabbage over the entire storage period of the fermented sauerkraut samples.