bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New insights into the maternal to zygotic transition
Authors: Langley Alexander R. , Smith James C. , Stemple Derek L. , Harvey Steven A.
Published: October 2014

The initial phases of embryonic development occur in the absence of de novo transcription and are instead controlled by maternally inherited mRNAs and proteins. During this initial period, cell cycles are synchronous and lack gap phases. Following this period of transcriptional silence, zygotic transcription begins, the maternal influence on development starts to decrease, and dramatic changes to the cell cycle take place. Here, we discuss recent work that is shedding light on the maternal to zygotic transition and the interrelated but distinct mechanisms regulating the onset of zygotic transcription and changes to the cell cycle during early embryonic development.
Small molecule-directed specification of sclerotome-like chondroprogenitors and induction of a somitic chondrogenesis program from embryonic stem cells
Authors: Zhao Jiangang , Li Songhui , Trilok Suprita , Tanaka Makoto , Jokubaitis-Jameson Vanta , Wang Bei , Niwa Hitoshi , Nakayama Naoki
Published: October 2014

Pluripotent embryonic stem cells (ESCs) generate rostral paraxial mesoderm-like progeny in 5-6 days of differentiation induced by Wnt3a and Noggin (Nog). We report that canonical Wnt signaling introduced either by forced expression of activated β-catenin, or the small-molecule inhibitor of Gsk3, CHIR99021, satisfied the need for Wnt3a signaling, and that the small-molecule inhibitor of BMP type I receptors, LDN193189, was able to replace Nog. Mesodermal progeny generated using such small molecules were chondrogenic in vitro, and expressed trunk paraxial mesoderm markers such as Tcf15 and Meox1, and somite markers such as Uncx, but failed to express sclerotome markers such as Pax1. Induction of the osteochondrogenically committed sclerotome from somite requires sonic hedgehog and Nog. Consistently, Pax1 and Bapx1 expression was induced when the isolated paraxial mesodermal progeny were treated with SAG1 (a hedgehog receptor agonist) and LDN193189, then Sox9 expression was induced, leading to cartilaginous nodules and particles in the presence of BMP, indicative of chondrogenesis via sclerotome specification. By contrast, treatment with TGFβ also supported chondrogenesis and stimulated Sox9 expression, but failed to induce the expression of Pax1 and Bapx1. On ectopic transplantation to immunocompromised mice, the cartilage particles developed under either condition became similarly mineralized and formed pieces of bone with marrow. Thus, the use of small molecules led to the effective generation from ESCs of paraxial mesodermal progeny, and to their further differentiation in vitro through sclerotome specification into growth plate-like chondrocytes, a mechanism resembling in vivo somitic chondrogenesis that is not recapitulated with TGFβ.
Partial interchangeability of Fz3 and Fz6 in tissue polarity signaling for epithelial orientation and axon growth and guidance
Authors: Hua Zhong L. , Chang Hao , Wang Yanshu , Smallwood Philip M. , Nathans Jeremy
Published: October 2014

In mammals, a set of anatomically diverse polarity processes – including axon growth and guidance, hair follicle orientation, and stereociliary bundle orientation in inner ear sensory hair cells – appear to be mechanistically related, as judged by their dependence on vertebrate homologues of core tissue polarity/planar cell polarity (PCP) genes in Drosophila. To explore more deeply the mechanistic similarities between different polarity processes, we have determined the extent to which frizzled 3 (Fz3) can rescue the hair follicle and Merkel cell polarity defects in frizzled 6-null (Fz6−/−) mice, and, reciprocally, the extent to which Fz6 can rescue the axon growth and guidance defects in Fz3−/− mice. These experiments reveal full rescue of the Fz6−/− phenotype by Fz3 and partial rescue of the Fz3−/− phenotype by Fz6, implying that these two proteins are likely to act in a conserved manner in these two contexts. Stimulated by these observations, we searched for additional anatomical structures that exhibit macroscopic polarity and that might plausibly use Fz3 and/or Fz6 signaling. This search has revealed a hitherto unappreciated pattern of papillae on the dorsal surface of the tongue that depends, at least in part, on redundant signaling by Fz3 and Fz6. Taken together, these experiments provide compelling evidence for a close mechanistic relationship between multiple anatomically diverse polarity processes.
A New Concise Synthesis of (+)-Ipomeamarone, (−)-Ngaione, and Their Stereoisomers
Authors: Usuki Yoshinosuke , Deguchi Taku , Iio Hideo
Published: October 2014

A new concise and enantiocontrolled total synthesis of (+)-ipomeamarone (1), a well-known phytoalexin, is described. The key step involved a tetrahydrofuran ring construction from optically active furyl alcohol 5 via the π-allyl palladium complex with a chiral phosphine ligand. This procedure was also applicable to the synthesis of (−)-ngaione (2) and its stereoisomers.
Soil Endowments, Female Labor Force Participation, and the Demographic Deficit of Women in India
Authors: Carranza Eliana
Published: October 2014

Differences in relative female employment by soil texture are used to explain the heterogeneous deficit of female children across districts within India. Soil texture varies exogenously and determines the depth of land tillage. Deep tillage, possible in loamy but not in clayey soil textures, reduces the demand for labor in agricultural tasks traditionally performed by women. Girls have a lower economic value where female labor opportunities are fewer. Consistently, higher relative female employment in agriculture improves the ratio of female to male children in districts that have a smaller fraction of loamy relative to clayey soils. (JEL J16, J23, J43, O13)
When the Floodgates Open: “Northern” Firms' Response to Removal of Trade Quotas on Chinese Goods
Authors: Utar Hale
Published: October 2014

Using the dismantling of the Multi-fibre Arrangement quotas on Chinese textile products in conjunction with China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), within firms adjustments to intensified low-wage competition is analyzed. Employing Danish employer-employee matched data covering from 1995 to 2007, the analysis shows a significant change in the workforce composition of firms in response to heightened competition. Competition is found to negatively affect employment, value-added, and intangible assets of the Danish firms, and firms refocus away from products, where China's competitive advantage becomes higher. The results show an important role of the distributional impact of low-wage competition within firms in restructuring the industry. (JEL F13, F14, F16, L25, L67, P33)
Team Incentives for Education in Developing Countries: A Randomized Field Experiment in Benin
Authors: Blimpo Moussa P.
Published: October 2014

I examine the impact of student incentives in Benin, using three different designs that can be implemented relatively cheaply and with administrative data. The first design is a standard incentive structure where students receive monetary rewards for reaching a performance target. In the other two designs, teams of four students receive incentives based on either their performance level as a group or in a team tournament scheme. I find a large and similar average treatment effect across designs, ranging from 0.27 to 0.34 standard deviations (Standard errors do not allow to rule out that the three designs are equally effective). (JEL C93, D82, I21, I28, O15)
Niche Genetic Algorithms are better than traditional Genetic Algorithms for de novo Protein Folding
Authors: Brown Michael Scott , Bennett Tommy , Coker James A.
Published: October 2014

Here we demonstrate that Niche Genetic Algorithms (NGA) are better at computing de novo protein folding than traditional Genetic Algorithms (GA). Previous research has shown that proteins can fold into their active forms in a limited number of ways; however, predicting how a set of amino acids will fold starting from the primary structure is still a mystery.  GAs have a unique ability to solve these types of scientific problems because of their computational efficiency. Unfortunately, GAs are generally quite poor at solving problems with multiple optima.  However, there is a special group of GAs called Niche Genetic Algorithms (NGA) that are quite good at solving problems with multiple optima.  In this study, we use a specific NGA: the Dynamic-radius Species-conserving Genetic Algorithm (DSGA), and show that DSGA is very adept at predicting the folded state of proteins, and that DSGA is better than a traditional GA in deriving the correct folding pattern of a protein.
First-person account on psychiatric disability: a case of bipolar disorder
Authors: Axer Andrzej
Published: October 2014

This “first-person account” on recovery from psychiatric disability has been written by the mental health care practitioner diagnosed with a bipolar disorder. In sharing this personal account with professional colleagues, the author has three goals in mind: 1) explore the factors, which delayed his entering treatment
for in spite of obvious clinical symptoms; 2) emphasize the importance of the long-term relationship with a
compassionate and competent psychiatrist in supporting recovery, and 3) describe how the author’s personal experience change his view of patients’ struggles with accepting their own psychiatric impairments.
Finally. The paper shows self-care strategies that have proven to be helpful for the author and that might
be helpful for other professional colleagues with similar problems.
Time to choose – DSM-5, ICD-11 or both?
Authors: Tyrer Peter
Published: October 2014

Abstract: DSM-5 was published in May 2013, and ICD 11 is not due to be published until the end of 2015 at the earliest. Nevertheless, it is possible to make a comparison at this early stage as much of the main decisions have been made with both classifications. DSM-5 aimed to make a paradigm shift by providing objective, independent measures of classification, but in this respect it clearly failed. It did respond to previous criticisms that there were too many diagnoses in the classification and that eliminated some conditions in favour of larger groupings (eg, autism spectrum disorder), but it has still come in for heavy criticism. ICD 11 deviates from DSM-5 in radically different classifications of personality and stress disorders and in general has pursued a different pathway, concentrating on clinical utility as the main guide to the classification. It is up to practitioners to choose which they prefer, but ICD 11 will be in a much stronger position than ICD 10 was when it was published in 1992.
A clinician’s guide to the neurobiology underlying the
presentation and treatment of PTSD and subsequent
growth
Authors: Antunes-Alves Sara , Comeau Thea
Published: October 2014

While there has been an abundance of research on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the past
several decades, clinical studies on the neurobiological mechanisms involved in the disorder are only recently receiving attention. This paper will collate available information on the neurobiology of PTSD for
clinical and lay audiences.
This paper reviews the literature surrounding typical symptoms of PTSD, with a specific focus on the neurobiological evidence suggesting altered brain functioning among those with the condition.
It will also present literature reviewing common treatment methods of PTSD and their potential effects on
brain functioning, including attention, working memory, and emotional regulation.
The concept of post-traumatic growth will also be introduced, indicating an alternate trajectory of PTSD.
Mirror processes in the protected space of psychoanalytic supervision
Authors: Schmolke Margit , Hoffmann Nataly
Published: October 2014

Supervision is a useful instrument in psychodynamic psychotherapy as well as in a multi-disciplinary teamwork. Precondition is a confidential setting in which the trainee is able to open him/herself in the relationship to his/her supervisor. Institutional conditions and rules as well as the personal background and professional experience of the trainee play an important role. The specific interest of the authors is the phenomenon of what happens within the trainee-supervisor-relationship, in particular the mirror processes: In general, the patient’s emotions, wishes, fantasies may induce in the therapist specific reactions which psychoanalysts call “counter-transference”. These processes are both conscious and unconscious. The counter-transference feelings can be used in a constructive way as important information about the actual state of the patient’s feelings or can deliver hints to relationship experiences in his life history. These phenomena may take place between patient and psychotherapist as well as between therapist and supervisor. A short empirical questionnaire has been applied to trainees in psychodynamic training to give short examples. The results illustrate that the trainees could be sensibilized for these mirror processes in a cognitive and emotional manner and were able to continue their psychotherapeutic work with deeper understanding for their patients.
Abnormal antibodies: what do you do?
Authors: Mouyis Maria , Leandro Maria
Published: October 2014

Systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases encompass a vast array of autoantibodies which are very useful to confirm a suspected diagnosis. This article gives an overview of the most common autoantibodies, how they are tested and the significance of a positive test in a clinical context.
Awareness under general anaesthesia
Authors: Rule Edward , Reddy Shilpa
Published: October 2014

Awareness under anaesthesia is a rare but important phenomenon which has become a source of fear – and of fascination – to the public and anaesthetists alike. This article discusses the incidence, aetiology, sequelae and prevention of awareness.
Why do medical trainees take time out of their specialty training programmes?
Authors: Agius Steven J , Tack Gurinder , Murphy Philip , Holmes Stuart , Hayden Jacky
Published: October 2014

Postgraduate medical trainees may take time out of programme for personal or professional reasons which can delay completion of training. This survey of out of programme trainees in England explores a phenomenon that impacts significantly upon medical careers and workforce planning.
Successful use of a gastrocnemius flap for an exposed PTFE femorodistal graft: a case report
Authors: Nabulyato W.M. , Alsahiem H. , Szepelak K. , Boyle J.R. , Malata C.M.
Published: October 2014

Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is a condition requiring aggressive management to minimise the associated increased morbidity and mortality. Femoro-distal bypass grafting is used in patients with extensive occlusion affecting the crural arteries and poor limb function, but is associated with infection, wound dehiscence and graft exposure. We report a case of a 73-year-old male with history of PVD and occluded ipsilateral femoro-distal bypass graft who underwent limb salvage surgery with a left 6 mm heparin-bonded polytetrafluoroethylene femoro-distal bypass graft in September 2011. He later presented with exposure of the graft over the lateral aspect of the knee following wound dehiscence. During surgery, the exposed portion of the graft was covered by a lateral gastrocnemius muscle flap with an overlying split thickness skin graft. Minor donor site healing problems were noted, but he otherwise made an excellent recovery. While gastrocnemius muscle flaps have been used to cover soft tissue tibial defects secondary to sarcoma and exposed knee joint prostheses, our case adds to the limited literature demonstrating successful salvage of an exposed synthetic graft as a viable alternative to amputation. We therefore recommend prompt referral to plastic services for the management of these complex wounds.
Circulating Long Noncoding RNA TapSAKI Is a Predictor of Mortality in Critically Ill Patients with Acute Kidney Injury
Authors: Lorenzen Johan M , Schauerte Celina , Kielstein Jan T , Hübner Anika , Martino Filippo , Fiedler Jan , Gupta Shashi K , Faulhaber-Walter Robert , Kumarswamy Regalla , Hafer Carsten , Haller Hermann , Fliser Danilo , Thum Thomas
Published: October 2014

BACKGROUND

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are novel intracellular noncoding ribonucleotides regulating gene expression. Intriguingly, these RNA transcripts are detectable and stable in the blood of patients with cancer and cardiovascular disease. We tested whether circulating lncRNAs in plasma of critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) at inception of renal replacement therapy were deregulated and might predict survival.

METHODS

We performed a global lncRNA expression analysis using RNA isolated from plasma of patients with AKI, healthy controls, and ischemic disease controls. This global screen revealed several deregulated lncRNAs in plasma samples of patients with AKI. lncRNA-array–based alterations were confirmed in kidney biopsies of patients as well as in plasma of 109 patients with AKI, 30 age-matched healthy controls, and 30 disease controls by quantitative real-time PCR.

RESULTS

Circulating concentrations of the novel intronic antisense lncRNA TrAnscript Predicting Survival in AKI (TapSAKI) (P < 0.0001) were detectable in kidney biopsies and upregulated in plasma of patients with AKI. Cox regression and Kaplan–Meier curve analysis revealed TapSAKI as an independent predictor of 28-day survival (P < 0.01). TapSAKI was enriched in tubular epithelial cells subjected to ATP depletion (P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

The alteration of circulating concentrations of lncRNAs in patients with AKI supports TapSAKI as a predictor of mortality in this patient cohort.
Respuesta hidrológica al evento de precipitación de junio de 2013 en el Pirineo central
Authors: Serrano Notivoli Roberto , Mora Mur Daniel , Ollero Ojeda Alfredo , Sánchez Fabre Miguel , Saz Sánchez Miguel Ángel
Published: October 2014

El presente trabajo analiza la respuesta hidrológica de la cabecera del Cinca, cuenca del Ésera y cabecera del Esca al episodio de precipitación intensa que se produjo en el Pirineo central durante los días 17 a 19 de junio de 2013. Se utilizan 122 observatorios meteorológicos para estudiar el comportamiento de la precipitación a diferentes escalas temporales, y 7 estaciones de aforo para observar la temporalidad y la intensidad de la respuesta de los caudales. La intensidad de la descarga de lluvia, sin ser extraordinaria en la serie histórica, se sumó a la fusión de un almacenamiento de nieve todavía presente en la cabecera de las cuencas, lo que produjo un incremento de caudal de magnitud destacada en los tramos altos de las cuencas. Las consecuencias de las avenidas han reactivado procesos geomorfológicos fluviales, reocupando antiguos llanos de inundación, aunque la intensa ocupación territorial de los últimos 50 años en el Valle de Benasque ha producido que la exposición al riesgo sea mucho mayor como consecuencia del escasamente controlado y desordenado crecimiento urbanístico.
Predicción meteorológica estacional y su comunicación al pequeño agricultor en el nordeste de Brasil
Authors: Cabalar Fuentes Manuel
Published: October 2014

Muchos aspectos de la vida cotidiana de las personas son influenciadas por las condiciones meteorológicas. Este hecho es más claro si la actividad se desarrolla al aire libre, expuesta directamente a los avatares atmosféricos. Bien conocido es el caso de la agricultura y la ganadería, que para tener éxito y rendir adecuadamente necesitan de agua y temperaturas dentro de unos determinados umbrales. En este contexto, las predicciones meteorológicas importan mucho, pues ayudan a los productores a planificar mejor sus actividades, anticiparse a circunstanciales eventos negativos y mejorar, por tanto, las cosechas. Son más vulnerables los pequeños agricultores familiares, sin medios técnicos y con poco o ningún acceso a la información meteorológica, y es peor aún en áreas de Clima irregular como las semiáridas, donde las lluvias caen erráticamente y de vez en cuando las sequías causan grandes estragos precisamente en esos pequeños productores. En este trabajo vamos a hacer una aproximación teórica a la problemática de la comunicación de las predicciones meteorológicas a pequeños agricultores, con atención especial en el Sertão (el espacio semiárido del Nordeste de Brasil), completado con una visión previa de los mecanismos atmosféricos y oceánicos que influencian su clima, bien conocidos y monitoreados continuamente, facilitando la predicción anticipada de las condiciones meteorológicas estacionales.
Estudio de la isla de calor de la ciudad de Alicante
Authors: Martínez Martínez Jorge
Published: October 2014

El fenómeno de isla de calor es tema actual y de gran trascendencia dentro de los estudios de clima urbano. A pesar de ello y de su tamaño poblacional, la ciudad de Alicante todavía no ha sido objeto de una investigación a fondo sobre dicha anomalía térmica. En este sentido, este artículo pretende de alguna manera iniciar estas investigaciones, dando lugar a unas primeras pautas de localización del máximo térmico y distribución de la isla de calor. Utilizando el método de los transectos se ha realizado la toma de temperaturas durante 10 días, dando lugar a la aparición de tres morfologías de isla de calor claramente definidas: la fuerte, débil y desplazada, que cuenta con un importante carácter geográfico. Así pues, podemos dar respuesta a una primera hipótesis sobre la existencia de este fenómeno en Alicante, puesto que de media, el centro de la isla marca 4,5ºC más de temperatura sobre el punto frío o áreas urbanas menos cálidas.
El coste energético de la desalinización en el Programa A.G.U.A.
Authors: Villar García Alberto del
Published: October 2014

Tras la derogación del trasvase del Ebro por el Real Decreto 2/2004 y la promulgación de la Ley 11/2005 de modificación del Plan Hidrológico Nacional, se reorientó la política del agua para satisfacer las nuevas necesidades de agua en el arco mediterráneo peninsular por medio de la desalinización. Esta política se ha centrado en un conjunto de actuaciones a través del llamado Programa A.G.U.A. (Actuaciones para la Gestión y Utilización del Agua). Las actuaciones en materia de desalinización de dicho programa se han materializado en la construcción de 16 nuevas plantas desalinizadoras con una capacidad de producción de casi 350 hm3. Del conjunto de estas actuaciones, al menos 6 de ellas pretendían satisfacer, de manera parcial, las necesidades de agua de unas 244.000 hectáreas de regadío, con un volumen de unos 155,37 hm3. En 2008, el coste por metro cúbico estimado de producción, en las seis plantas destinadas a riego agrícola ascendía a 0,8634 €. El coste energético suponía aproximadamente un 52% de los costes de operación y mantenimiento, y un 39% de los costes totales (0,3373 €/m3). Este coste se estimó con una factura energética que recogía un precio de la energía en el entorno de 0,08 €/kwh. En 2012 el precio de la energía se sitúa por encima de 0,14 €/kwh, un 65% superior al calculado para 2008. Este incremento se traduce en un aumento de la factura por esta fuente de recursos calculado en unos 0,21 €/m3.
GÓMEZ ESPÍN, J.Mª. (2012): Elevación de aguas para riego en la Cuenca del Segura. Cien años del Motor Resurrección (1912-2012). Murcia: Fundación Séneca. Regional Campus of International Excellence “Campus Mare Nostrum”. Comunidad de Regantes “Motor Resurrección”. Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, 143 pp.
Authors: Morote Seguido Álvaro Francisco
Published: October 2014

La monografía titulada Elevación de aguas para riego en la Cuenca del Segura. Cien años del Motor Resurrección (1912-2012) es una obra que compila los resultados de dos proyectos de investigación: “Uso eficiente y sostenible del agua en la Cuenca del Segura. Modernización de regadíos”, financiado por el Plan Nacional de Investigación del Ministerios de Economía y Competitividad, y “El interés geográfico de la Ordenación del Territorio en el Sureste de España, auspiciada por el Trasvase del Tajo-Segura”, financiado por la Fundación Séneca, Agencia de Ciencia y Tecnología de la Región de Murcia.
Adaptation of the science motivation scale into Turkish and chemistry: Analysis of validity
Authors: Cetin-Dindar Ayla , Geban Ömer
Published: October 2014

This study is an adaptation of Science Motivation Scale, developed by Glynn and Koballa, into Turkish and reports validity and reliability of the adapted scale. The sample consisted of 1354 high school students from Ankara and Edirne. The data collected from different types of high schools was analyzed and moderately similar factor structures were found as in the original scale. Based on the principal component analysis, four dimensions which were self-efficacy in learning science, anxiety about science assessment, extrinsically motivated science learning, and intrinsically motivated science learning were determined. These four dimensioned model was analyzed via confirmatory factor analysis and moderate fit was determined. In addition, validity analysis supports the validity of scores on the four-factor model. The Cronbach alpha reliability was found to be 0.913. This scale aims to determine high school students' motivation to learn chemistry. The distinction of this scale is that determining student motivation on learning chemistry rather than asking for general questions in science. The findings of the study are meant to contribute to the chemistry education field by providing an adapted scale.
A planar bi-Lipschitz extension theorem
Authors: Daneri Sara , Pratelli Aldo
Published: October 2014

We prove that, given a planar bi-Lipschitz map u defined on the boundary of the unit square, it is possible to extend it to a function v of the whole square, in such a way that v is still bi-Lipschitz. In particular, denoting by L and L˜ the bi-Lipschitz constants of u and v, with our construction one has L˜ ≤ C
L
4 (C being an explicit geometric constant). The same result was proved in 1980 by Tukia (see [Ann. Acad. Sci. Fenn. Ser. A I Math. 5 (1980), no. 1, 49–72]), using a completely different argument, but without any estimate on the constant L˜. In particular, the function v can be taken either smooth or (countably) piecewise affine.
On the type number of a hypersurface in the 6-dimensional sphere
Authors: Erdoğan Mehmet , Pirinççi Beran , Alo Jeta , Yilmaz Gülşen
Published: October 2014

We prove that if a hypersurface M with constant scalar curvature in S6 (1) has the sectional curvatures ≤ 1, then the type number of M is not greater than 1.
On the equality case in Ehrhart’s volume conjecture
Authors: Nill Benjamin , Paffenholz Andreas
Published: October 2014

Ehrhart’s conjecture proposes a sharp upper bound on the volume of a convex body whose barycenter is its only interior lattice point. Recently, Berman and Berndtsson proved this conjecture for a class of rational polytopes including reflexive polytopes. In particular, they showed that the complex projective space has the maximal anticanonical degree among all toric Kähler- Einstein Fano manifolds.

In this note, we prove that projective space is the only such toric manifold with maximal degree by proving the corresponding convex-geometric statement. We also discuss a generalized version of Ehrhart’s conjecture involving an invariant corresponding to the so-called greatest lower bound on the Ricci curvature.
On quartics with lines of the second kind
Authors: Rams Sławomir , Schütt Matthias
Published: October 2014

We study the geometry of quartic surfaces in P3 that contain a line of the second kind over algebraically closed fields of characteristic different from 2; 3. In particular, we correct Segre’s claims made for the complex case in 1943.
Slope stability of Fano fourfolds with respect to smooth surfaces
Authors: Kim Hosung , Won Joonyeong
Published: October 2014

Let (X,-KX) be a Fano fourfold and let S⊂X be a smooth surface. We show that (X,-KX) is slope semistable with respect to S if c1(NS|X) is a nontrivial and nef class.
Harmonising European Public Sector Accounting Standards (EPSAS): Issues and Perspectives for Europe’s Economy and Society
Authors: Biondi Yuri
Published: October 2014

Accounting systems play a hidden but fundamental role as mode and instrument of representation, coordination and organisation for the public sector and its specific public action. Therefore, financial and accounting reforms transform, implement and reshape public policies as well as the working and very existence of public administration. Last March 2013, the European Commission started a relevant project with the intention to create harmonised “European Public Sector Accounting Standards” (EPSAS) and implement them in the Member States. Between 1995 and 2002, a similar project was already achieved for private sector accounting standards-setting, leading to adoption and implementation of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) issued by International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). The EPSAS project should decide if public sector accounting standards-setting shall follow a similar pattern to converge towards the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) that transplant the IFRS in the public sector. This choice may have fundamental implications for the European (Monetary) Union, since public sector accounting and public finances are fundamental elements of its institutional framework. This thematic issue aims to provide analyses and perspectives on this ongoing public sector accounting harmonisation process in Europe, addressing its governance and contents, as well as its consequences and implications for Europe’s economy and society.
Antitrust as Facilitating Factor for Collusion
Authors: Bos Iwan , Letterie Wilko , Vermeulen Dries
Published: October 2014

This paper examines collusion among firms whose discount factors are private information. Mutual uncertainty regarding intentions to restrict competition might undermine the possibility of tacit collusion. Firms that want to collude may, however, reveal their intentions by consciously acting in breach of antitrust laws. As antitrust activity makes explicit collusion costly in expected terms, it can potentially be (ab)used as signaling device. We show that the fight against cartels may indeed facilitate collusion.
A multivariate analysis of the Old English ACC+DAT double object alternation
Authors: De Cuypere Ludovic
Published: October 2014

In Old English, the ditransitive construction with an accusative (direct) object and a dative (indirect) object occurred with two alternating object orders: ACC-DAT vs. DAT-ACC. This study examines the motivations behind the OE speakers’ choice for one of both orders. The effect of 16 factors was evaluated based on a corpus sample of N = 2409 sentences drawn from the York-Toronto-Helsinki Parsed Corpus of Old English Prose (Taylor et al. 2003). The data was analysed by means of a mixed-effects logistic regression analysis. The results indicate that the ACC+DAT alternation was largely driven by the same factors that motivate the dative alternation in later stages of British English. However, no evidence was found for specific verb preferences in Old English, which suggests that the OE object alternation was less driven by semantics than the dative alternation in PDE. It is argued that the results further substantiate Wolk et al.’s (2012) claim that the cognitive mechanisms underlying present-day probabilistic patterns also underlie past variation.
Cooking from cold to hot: goal-directedness in simulation and language
Authors: Welke Tinka , Raisig Susanne , Nowack Kati , Schaadt Gesa , Hagendorf Herbert , van der Meer Elke
Published: October 2014

The present study explores the processing of temporal information in event knowledge by focusing on the transition from an earlier, source state to a later, goal state. Participants were presented with an event verb followed by antonymous adjectives or adverbs denoting an earlier state and a later state. The states were presented either chronologically (to cook: cold – hot) or inversely (to cook: hot – cold) with regard to the denoted event. Participants were asked to identify either the earlier or the later state. We found that later states are identified faster and more accurately than earlier states. Later states presented chronologically were identified even more quickly than later states presented inversely. We attribute our results to the fact that directedness towards the goal state is a general principle of cognition which plays a fundamental role in language and in simulation, whereby language processing provides faster and more direct access to goals even than simulation.
Palindromic width of wreath products, metabelian groups, and max-n solvable groups
Authors: Riley Tim R. , Sale Andrew W.
Published: October 2014

A group has finite palindromic width if there exists
Large Sample Bounds on the Survivor Average Causal Effect in the Presence of a Binary Covariate with Conditionally Ignorable Treatment Assignment
Authors: Freiman Michael H. , S. Small Dylan
Published: October 2014

A common problem when conducting an experiment or observational study for the purpose of causal inference is “censoring by death,” in which an event occurring during the experiment causes the desired outcome value – such as quality of life (QOL) – not to be defined for some subjects. One approach to this is to estimate the Survivor Average Causal Effect (SACE), which is the difference in the mean QOL between the treated and control arms, considering only those individuals who would have had well-defined QOL regardless of whether they received the treatment of interest, where the treatment is imposed by the researcher in an experiment or by the subject in the case of an observational study. Zhang and Rubin [
Heat Transfer during Steaming of Bread
Authors: Ananingsih Victoria K. , Sim Edda Y. L. , Chen Xiao Dong , Zhou Weibiao
Published: October 2014

Understanding of heat transfer during steaming is important to optimize the processing of steamed bread and to produce desired qualities in the final product. Physicochemical changes occur during steaming of the dough which might be impacted upon by the heat transfer system. In this study, a mathematical model was developed to describe the heat transfer system in the bread being steaming throughout the heating process. The Forward Euler method was employed for solving the three-dimensional partial differential equation set for heat transfer to produce temperature profiles at a number of individual locations in the steamed bread during its steaming. All the comparisons between the model-predicted values and the experimental results produced root mean square error values ranged from 1.391 to 3.545 and R
2 values of all greater than 0.93. Therefore, it is confirmed that the model has a good performance and can be used to predict temperature profiles in the bread during steaming.
Hypolipidaemic and haematological evaluation of the hydromethanolic extract of Ficus glumosa stem bark in alloxan-induced diabetic rats
Authors: Onoja Samuel O. , Omeh Yusuf N. , Ezeja Maxwell I. , Chukwu Vincent N.
Published: October 2014

Background: Diabetes mellitus is associated with dyslipidaemia and haematological disorders which lead to cardiovascular complications and anaemia respectively. In this study, hydromethanolic extract of Ficus glumosa was evaluated for its hypolipidaemic and haematological effects in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Methods: Treatment was done orally using 62.5, 125 and 250 mg/kg of F. glumosa extract (FGE) with glibenclamide (2 mg/kg) as standard reference drug for 21 days. At the end of the treatment, blood collected through direct heart puncture was used for evaluation of serum lipid profile and determination of haematological parameters. Organosomatic index evaluation of the liver, spleen and kidney was also done using standard procedures.

Results: All doses of the extract and glibenclamide (2 mg/kg) caused dose-dependent and significant (p<0.05) reduction in serum levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) of the treated rats when compared with the control group. The extract and glibenclamide produced significant (p<0.05) increase in the serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in the treated rats. The extract (62.5 mg/kg) and glibenclamide (2 mg/kg) caused a significant (p<0.05) increase in red blood cell (RBC), haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) in the treated rats when compared to the negative control group. However, FGE (62.5 mg/kg) and glibenclamide (2 mg/kg) produced a significant (p<0.05) decrease in mean corpuscular volume (MCV) value of the treated rats. FGE (125 and 250 mg/kg) produced a significant (p<0.05) increase in the organosomatic index of kidney in treated rats.

Conclusions: The results suggest that F. glumosa may be of help in diabetes-induced anaemia and dyslipidaemia associated with diabetes mellitus.
A short note on the notion of register in Latin: on the interplay between register, diastratic variety, and communicative intention
Authors: Cuzzolin Pierluigi
Published: October 2014

In the present paper the notion of register is discussed in some detail. The claim that the register is determined by the intersection of what is actually taking place, who is taking part, and what part the language is playing shows some shortcomings. A new, slightly different definition of register is proposed, where also the notion of communicative intention plays a crucial role. The new definition of register will be illustrated in the present paper with examples concerning the use of the Greek language, the use of colloquial speech, and the use of archaisms in Latin.
Guidelines for checking performance and verifying accuracy of rotational rheometers: viscosity measurements in steady and oscillatory shear (IUPAC Technical Report)
Authors: Laun Martin , Auhl Dietmar , Brummer Rüdiger , Dijkstra Dirk J. , Gabriel Claus , Mangnus Marc A. , Rüllmann Maximilian , Zoetelief Wim , Handge Ulrich A.
Published: October 2014

The paper addresses techniques for checking the performance of rotational rheometers with cone–plate, plate–plate, or concentric cylinder geometry. We focus on the determination of the viscosity as a function of the shear rate and of the magnitude of the complex viscosity as a function of the angular frequency. After summarizing the relevant definitions and test modes, we show examples of measurements in the linear viscoelastic range, and applications of the Cox–Merz relationship. Sources of reference fluids with defined viscosities are presented, and their use in tests for verification of accuracy is demonstrated. Relevant issues, predominantly for Newtonian reference liquids, are the exploration of measurement limits, related either to the shear rate range or to reliably accessible viscosity levels. Viscoelastic reference samples are also discussed. Prerequisites for sample preparation and loading are addressed. In particular, we present recommendations based on experience from various laboratories. Finally, we discuss the problem of temperature calibration, presenting techniques that allow the determination of the true sample temperature for a given set temperature of the rheometer. This paper summarizes contributions from various industrial and academic laboratories.
Enhanced bioactivity of transform growth factor-β1 from sulfated chitosan microspheres for in vitro chondrogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Li Feifei , Ma Lie , Li Bo , Gao Changyou
Published: October 2014

Transform growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is an extremely powerful protein to induce the chondrogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) both in vitro and in vivo. However, due to the short-life of TGF-β1, the direct application of TGF-β1 may deteriorate its bioactivity and thereby the repair effect. In this study, uniform sulfated chitosan microspheres (SCMs) with a mean diameter of ∼ 2 μm were fabricated by membrane emulsification as a carrier for TGF-β1. The in vitro release study showed that TGF-β1 could be sustainedly released from the microspheres up to 16 days. Under the protection of SCMs, about 13 % TGF-β1 was preserved even after stored for 14 days. The microspheres cytotoxicity was evaluated by coculture of MSCs with different concentrations SCMs and no obvious deterioration of cell viability was observed when the concentration of SCMs is lower than 2 μg/1.0 × 104 cells. In comparison with the blank group, the addition of TGF-β1 either in free state or loaded in SCMs inhibited the proliferation trend of MSCs. Quantitative analysis of GAGs production and genes expression of COL II and aggrecan by qRT-PCR revealed that enhanced bioactivity of TGF-β1 was obtained in the group of TGF-β1/SCMs, indicating that SCMs could be functioned as a promising carrier of TGF-β1 for the in vitro chondrogenesis of MSCs.
Film Impact Performance and Adhesion Study in Multilayered Systems
Authors: Reynaud Sara , Fang Jun , Fang Liang , Crocker Evan
Published: October 2014

In this work we present a non-conventional approach to evaluate impact performance of polymeric films under a wide range of strain conditions by using a high-throughput mechanical testing (HTMECH) technique. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate how HTMECH can be employed to assess property–performance relationships in freestanding polymeric films and multilayered systems which are not possible to measure by following standard methodologies. Two main studies will be discussed: (1) toughness of freestanding thin films under high strain conditions, and (2) layer to layer adhesion in multilayer systems. In each case, mechanical properties such as critical strength and absorbed deformation energy were found to be correlated to different failure mechanisms and to thermal mechanical behavior of polymeric films.
Multiaxial and Thermomechanical Fatigue of Materials: A Historical Perspective and Some Future Challenges
Authors: Kalluri Sreeramesh
Published: October 2014

Many engineering components in aircraft gas turbine engines, reusable space propulsion systems, and automotive engines must endure cyclic mechanical forces and deformations in multiple directions and non-isothermal conditions. For the design and safety of such engineering components, durability needs to be estimated with robust multiaxial fatigue life prediction models that are validated under such non-isothermal conditions. In this paper, a historical review is presented on the evolution of uniaxial fatigue (thermal, isothermal, bithermal, and thermomechanical) and isothermal, multiaxial fatigue leading to multiaxial, thermomechanical fatigue with several examples on testing techniques and fatigue life prediction methodologies. The necessity for multiaxial, thermomechanical fatigue testing of structural and engine materials, additional cyclic hardening and reduction in fatigue life observed under such service conditions, and ramifications of estimating multiaxial, thermomechanical fatigue life with isothermal multiaxial fatigue data at the greatest temperature of the cycle are discussed. Finally, some of the potential future challenges associated with experimental characterization of materials and fatigue life estimation under these complex but realistic service conditions are highlighted.
Test Development and Materials Characterization Capability for High-Strength Aluminum Alloy Fatigue Crack Growth Response Under Mixed-Mode Loading Conditions
Authors: James M. A. , Bely J. C. , Bucci R. J.
Published: October 2014

To meet operational efficiency and productivity demands of the 21st century marketplace, aerospace and transportation sector platforms are being driven to incorporate increasingly larger and more highly stressed unitized structural components. This recent trend has prompted the need for improved fatigue crack growth characterization methodologies to understand impact of relevant mixed-mode loading conditions on crack growth direction and life estimation. This paper describes the development of an Alcoa capability to study and model fatigue crack growth behavior under combined mode I and mode II loading in high-strength aluminum products. The objective is to demonstrate the experimental capability necessary to improve the basic understanding of the roles and synergistic effects of mixed-mode loading (modes I and II) and microstructural resistance, as they relate to fatigue crack growth direction and life estimation. The particular alloy selected for this study is aluminum alloy (AA) 7050-T7651 thick plate taken to be representative of a widely used material for aircraft thick structural parts. The specimens chosen for this capability study are based on the compact tension shear (CTS) specimen documented in the literature. Results are presented to demonstrate the development of stress-intensity factor and compliance solutions to automate the fatigue precracking step. Full-field strain measurements for a notched specimen are used to further validate the finite element analysis. In addition, preliminary results are presented to explore the feasibility of a Keq approach based on total strain-energy release rate to evaluate similitude in the fatigue crack growth rate relationship for the mixed-mode loading case. Preliminary fatigue crack growth test results show that under combined modes I and II loading, the fatigue crack growth rate and direction depend strongly on the competition between the mixed-mode crack-tip driving force and microstructural planes offering the weakest crack growth resistance.
Load Interaction Effects in a Medium Strength Steel for Railway Axles
Authors: Beretta Stefano , Carboni Michele , Regazzi Daniele
Published: October 2014

As is well known, an interaction effect arises on crack propagation when a specimen or a component is subjected to variable amplitude fatigue loading. Depending on the applied load sequence, a certain amount of retardation or acceleration can then be observed, on the fatigue crack growth rate, with respect to the constant amplitude case. In the case of structural ductile materials, the interaction phenomenon is mainly addressed by the local plasticity at the crack tip and can be explained, from a global point of view, by adopting the crack closure concept. From this point of view, in the present research, load interaction effects in a medium strength steel for railway axles are analyzed. An experimental campaign was carried on this material, using SE(T) specimens, in order to understand and quantify the interaction effects arising from relevant load sequences derived from service. The experimental outcomes were then modeled adopting both a simple no-interaction approach and a more sophisticated strip-yield model in order to quantify the possible interaction effects. The modeling was carried out considering different experimental techniques for deriving the crack growth and threshold behaviors of the material, i.e., the traditional ΔK-decreasing technique and the compression pre-cracking one.
Looking through the Lens of Ricoeur
Authors: Whitton Joy
Published: October 2014

The premise of this essay is that creative strategies are not the sole province of the creative arts. Paul Ricoeur’s theory of imagination is combined with constructivist learning theorists and used as a lens with which to interpret manifestations of imaginative learning and thinking. Using ethnographic methodology, I tell a story about a first-year Medieval European History course and how creative pedagogies equip students with thinking tools to create knowledge in history that may affect their capacity to reformulate and act on contemporary issues.