bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mitigating the Effects of Salinity by Foliar Application of Salicylic Acid in Fenugreek
Authors: Babar Sumaira , Siddiqi Ejaz Hussain , Hussain Iqbal , Hayat Bhatti Khizar , Rasheed Rizwan
Published: April 2014

Present research work was conducted to alleviate the salinity-induced harmful effect on biomass production and physiochemical attributes of fenugreek by foliar application of salicylic acid. Two varieties (Deli Kabul and Kasuri) were grown in salt treated (100 mM NaCl) and untreated (0 mM NaCl) growth medium. Two levels of salicylic acid (0 mg L−1 and 100 mg L−1) were applied through foliar method. Salinity stress significantly reduced the growth biomass in both varieties. Higher shoot fresh weight was recorded in Deli Kabul, while lower in Kasuri. Such reduction in growth biomass was mitigated by the foliar application of SA in both plants. Salinity caused a marked reduction in gas exchange attributes including net CO2 assimilation rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and substomatal CO2 concentration. Exogenous applied salicylic acid also overcomes the reduction in gas exchange attributes of the plants. The varieties “Deli Kabul” and “Kasuri” showed higher and lower net CO2 assimilation rate, respectively. These results indicate that growth medium salinity induced reduction in biomass production, gas exchange attributes, and also chlorophyll contents whereas the application of SA through foliar method can be used to protect plant growth and improve these attributes under salt stress.
Montanoa frutescensandMontanoa grandifloraExtracts Reduce Anxiety-Like Behavior during the Metestrus-Diestrus Phase of the Ovarian Cycle in Wistar Rats
Authors: Rodríguez-Landa Juan Francisco , Vicente-Serna Julio , Rodríguez-Blanco Luis Alfredo , Rovirosa-Hernández María de Jesús , García-Orduña Francisco , Carro-Juárez Miguel
Published: April 2014

In previous studies, the anxiolytic-like effects ofMontanoa tomentosaandMontanoa frutescenswere reported in male rats, but the potential anxiolytic-like effects ofMontanoaplants during the different phases of the ovarian cycle in rats remain to be explored. The anxiolytic-like effects of the aqueous crude extracts ofM. frutescens(25 and 50 mg/kg) andM. grandiflora(25 and 50 mg/kg) in the elevated plus maze were investigated in Wistar rats during the estrous cycle and compared with 2 mg/kg diazepam as a reference anxiolytic drug. To investigate any motor effect (i.e., hyperactivity, no changes, or hypoactivity) associated with the treatments, the rats were evaluated in the open field test. TheM. frutescens(25 and 50 mg/kg) andM. grandiflora(50 mg/kg) extracts exerted anxiolytic-like effects during the metestrus-diestrus phase, similar to diazepam, without disrupting spontaneous motor activity. No significant effects of the extracts were detected in either behavioral test during the proestrus-estrus phase, whereas diazepam produced motor hypoactivity in the open field test. These results indicate that theM. frutescensandM. grandifloraextracts possess anxiolytic-like effects that depend on the ovarian cycle phase, supporting the Mexican ancient medicinal use of these plants to ameliorate anxiety disorders.
The Endothelium, A Protagonist in the Pathophysiology of Critical Illness: Focus on Cellular Markers
Authors: van Ierssel Sabrina H. , Jorens Philippe G. , Van Craenenbroeck Emeline M. , Conraads Viviane M.
Published: April 2014

The endotheliumis key in the pathophysiology of numerous diseases as a result of its precarious function in the regulation of tissue homeostasis. Therefore, its clinical evaluation providing diagnostic and prognostic markers, as well as its role as a therapeutic target, is the focus of intense research in patientswith severe illnesses. In the critically ill with sepsis and acute brain injury, the endothelium has a cardinal function in the development of organ failure and secondary ischemia, respectively. Cellular markers of endothelial function such as endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) and endothelialmicroparticles (EMP) are gaining interest as biomarkers due to their accessibility, although the lack of standardization of EPC and EMP detection remains a drawback for their routine clinical use. In this paper we will review data available on EPC, as a general marker of endothelial repair, and EMP as an equivalent of damage in critical illnesses, in particular sepsis and acute brain injury. Their determination has resulted in new insights into endothelial dysfunction in the critically ill. It remains speculative whether their determination might guide therapy in these devastating acute disorders in the near future.
Dietary Flavonoid Intake and Thyroid Cancer Risk in the NIH–AARP Diet and Health Study
Authors: Xiao Qian , Park Yikyung , Hollenbeck Albert R. , Kitahara Cari M.
Published: April 2014

Experimental studies suggested that flavonoids may influence thyroid carcinogenesis, but epidemiologic evidence is sparse. No study has examined different classes of flavonoids in relation to thyroid cancer risk. Using data from the NIH–AARP Diet and Health Study, which enrolled 491,840 U.S. men and women, ages 50 to 71 years at baseline, we prospectively examined the risk of thyroid cancer in relation to dietary intakes of catechins, flavanones, flavonols, anthocyanidins, flavones, isoflavones, and total flavonoids. Dietary intakes were assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. Cancer cases were ascertained by linkage to state cancer registries. Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate HRs and 95% confidence intervals (CI). During follow up (mean = 9 years), we identified 586 thyroid cancer cases. Thyroid cancer risk was inversely associated with dietary flavan-3-ols [HRQ5 vs. Q1 (95% CI): 0.70 (0.55, 0.91), PTrend = 0.03], but positively associated with flavanones [HRQ5 vs. Q1 (95% CI): 1.50 (1.14, 1.96), PTrend = 0.004]. Other classes of flavonoids and total flavonoids were not associated with thyroid cancer risk. Similar associations were found for papillary thyroid cancer. Our findings suggest that dietary intake of different classes of dietary flavonoids may have divergent effects on thyroid cancer risk. More studies are needed to clarify a role of flavonoids in thyroid cancer development. Results from our study suggest a potential nutritional etiology of thyroid cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 23(6); 1102–8. ©2014 AACR.
Molecular Pathways: Preclinical Models and Clinical Trials with Metformin in Breast Cancer
Authors: Thompson Alastair M.
Published: March 2014

Metformin, an oral biguanide widely used to treat diabetes, has considerable potential and is in clinical trials as an experimental preventive or therapeutic agent for a range of cancers. Direct actions targeting cellular pathways, particularly via AMP-activated protein kinase and through inhibiting mitochondrial ATP synthesis, or systemic mechanisms involving insulin and insulin-like growth factors have been much studied in vitro and in preclinical models. Epidemiologic and retrospective studies also provide clinical evidence in support of metformin as an antitumor agent. Preoperative window-of-opportunity trials confirm the safety of metformin in women with primary breast cancer, and demonstrate reduction in tumor cell proliferation and complex pathways of gene suppression or overexpression attributable to metformin. Confirmation of insulin-mediated effects, independent of body mass index, also supports the potential benefit of adjuvant metformin therapy. Neoadjuvant, adjuvant, and advanced disease trials combining metformin with established anticancer agents are under way or proposed. Companion biomarker studies will utilize in vitro and preclinical understanding of the relevant molecular pathways to, in future, refine patient and tumor selection for metformin therapy. Clin Cancer Res; 20(10); 2508–15. ©2014 AACR.
Steroidogenic Germline Polymorphism Predictors of Prostate Cancer Progression in the Estradiol Pathway
Authors: Lévesque Éric , Laverdière Isabelle , Audet-Walsh Étienne , Caron Patrick , Rouleau Mélanie , Fradet Yves , Lacombe Louis , Guillemette Chantal
Published: March 2014

Purpose: Reliable biomarkers that predict prostate cancer outcomes are urgently needed to improve and personalize treatment approaches. With this goal in mind, we individually and collectively appraised common genetic polymorphisms related to estradiol metabolic pathways to find prostate cancer prognostic markers.

Methods: The genetic profiles of 526 men with organ-confined prostate cancer were examined to find common genetic polymorphisms related to estradiol metabolic pathways and these findings were replicated in a cohort of 213 men with more advanced disease (follow-up time for both cohorts, >7.4 years). Specifically, we examined 71 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in SULT2A1, SULT2B1, CYP1B1, COMT, CYP3A4, CYP3A5, CYP3A43, NQO1, and NQO2 and assessed the impact of the SNPs alone and in combination on prostate cancer progression and on circulating hormone levels.

Results: According to a multivariate analysis, CYP1B1 (rs1800440), COMT (rs16982844), and SULT2B1 (rs12460535, rs2665582, rs10426628) were significantly associated with prostate cancer progression and hormone levels. Remarkably, by combining the SNP information with previously identified HSD17B2 markers, the patients could be stratified into four distinct prognostic subgroups. The most prominent association was observed for the eight-marker combination [CYP1B1 (rs1800440), SULT2B1 (rs12460535, rs2665582, and rs10426628), and HSD17B2 (rs4243229, rs1364287, rs2955162, and rs1119933)].

Conclusion: This study identified specific germline variations in estradiol metabolism–related pathways, namely CYP1B1, SULT2B1, and HSD17B2, as novel prognostic markers that are cumulatively associated with increased risk of prostate cancer progression. This panel of markers warrants additional investigation and validation to help stratify patients according to their risk of progression. Clin Cancer Res; 20(11); 2971–83. ©2014 AACR.
Leelamine Mediates Cancer Cell Death through Inhibition of Intracellular Cholesterol Transport
Authors: Kuzu Omer F. , Gowda Raghavendra , Sharma Arati , Robertson Gavin P.
Published: April 2014

Leelamine is a promising compound for the treatment of cancer; however, the molecular mechanisms leading to leelamine-mediated cell death have not been identified. This report shows that leelamine is a weakly basic amine with lysosomotropic properties, leading to its accumulation inside acidic organelles such as lysosomes. This accumulation leads to homeostatic imbalance in the lysosomal endosomal cell compartments that disrupts autophagic flux and intracellular cholesterol trafficking as well as receptor-mediated endocytosis. Electron micrographs of leelamine-treated cancer cells displayed accumulation of autophagosomes, membrane whorls, and lipofuscin-like structures, indicating disruption of lysosomal cell compartments. Early in the process, leelamine-mediated killing was a caspase-independent event triggered by cholesterol accumulation, as depletion of cholesterol using β-cyclodextrin treatment attenuated the cell death and restored the subcellular structures identified by electron microscopy. Protein microarray–based analyses of the intracellular signaling cascades showed alterations in RTK–AKT/STAT/MAPK signaling cascades, which was subsequently confirmed by Western blotting. Inhibition of Akt, Erk, and Stat signaling, together with abnormal deregulation of receptor tyrosine kinases, was caused by the inhibition of receptor-mediated endocytosis. This study is the first report demonstrating that leelamine is a lysosomotropic, intracellular cholesterol transport inhibitor with potential chemotherapeutic properties leading to inhibition of autophagic flux and induction of cholesterol accumulation in lysosomal/endosomal cell compartments. Importantly, the findings of this study show the potential of leelamine to disrupt cholesterol homeostasis for treatment of advanced-stage cancers. Mol Cancer Ther; 13(7); 1690–703. ©2014 AACR.
The Tumor Microenvironment Shapes Lineage, Transcriptional, and Functional Diversity of Infiltrating Myeloid Cells
Authors: Elpek Kutlu G. , Cremasco Viviana , Shen Hua , Harvey Christopher J. , Wucherpfennig Kai W. , Goldstein Daniel R. , Monach Paul A. , Turley Shannon J.
Published: April 2014

Myeloid cells play important regulatory roles within the tumor environment by directly promoting tumor progression and modulating the function of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, and as such, they represent a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of cancer. Although distinct subsets of tumor-associated myeloid cells have been identified, a broader analysis of the complete myeloid cell landscape within individual tumors and also across different tumor types has been lacking. By establishing the developmental and transcriptomic signatures of infiltrating myeloid cells from multiple primary tumors, we found that tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) and tumor-associated neutrophils (TAN), while present within all tumors analyzed, exhibited strikingly different frequencies, gene expression profiles, and functions across cancer types. We also evaluated the impact of anatomic location and circulating factors on the myeloid cell composition of tumors. The makeup of the myeloid compartment was determined by the tumor microenvironment rather than the anatomic location of tumor development or tumor-derived circulating factors. Protumorigenic and hypoxia-associated genes were enriched in TAMs and TANs compared with splenic myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Although all TANs had an altered expression pattern of secretory effector molecules, in each tumor type they exhibited a unique cytokine, chemokine, and associated receptor expression profile. One such molecule, haptoglobin, was uniquely expressed by 4T1 TANs and identified as a possible diagnostic biomarker for tumors characterized by the accumulation of myeloid cells. Thus, we have identified considerable cancer-specific diversity in the lineage, gene expression, and function of tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells. Cancer Immunol Res; 2(7); 655–67. ©2014 AACR.
Targeting Immune Suppression with PDE5 Inhibition in End-Stage Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Noonan Kimberly A. , Ghosh Nilanjan , Rudraraju Lakshmi , Bui Marilyn , Borrello Ivan
Published: March 2014

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) play a significant role in tumor-induced immune suppression. Targeting their function could improve antitumor therapies. Previously, we demonstrated that phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibition in MDSCs augmented antitumor immunity in murine models. Here, we show how the addition of the PDE5 inhibitor, tadalafil, in a patient with end-stage relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma reduced MDSC function and generated a dramatic and durable antimyeloma immune and clinical response. Strategies targeting MDSC function with PDE5 inhibitors represent a novel approach that can augment the efficacy of tumor-directed therapies. Cancer Immunol Res; 2(8); 725–31. ©2014 AACR.
MDM2 rs2279744 and TP53 rs1042522 Polymorphisms Associated with Etoposide- and Cisplatin-Induced Grade III/IV Neutropenia in Chinese Extensive-Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients
Authors: Wang Xu , Wang Yi-Zhuo , Ma Ke-Wei , Chen Xiao , Li Wei
Published: April 2014

Background/Aims: Etoposide and cisplatin (EP) chemotherapy is the most frequently used regimen in extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients, although the side effects (e.g., neutropenia) are high. This study investigates the association of the MDM2 rs2279744 and TP53 rs1042522 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with EP-induced grade III/IV neutropenia and with response to EP in extensive-stage SCLC patients. Methods: Blood samples from 119 extensive-stage SCLC patients were subjected to genotyping of these 2 SNPs, using the allele-specific matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry for determining the association with neutropenia in the patients. Results: The data showed that patients carrying the MDM2 rs2279744-GG genotype were associated with a lower incidence of grade III/IV neutropenia in the recessive and additive models, while the TP53 rs1042522-CC genotype was associated with a higher incidence in the recessive model. Furthermore, the combination of the MDM2 rs2279744-TT+TG and the TP53 rs1042522-CC genotype was associated with a significantly higher incidence of grade III/IV neutropenia. And the combination of the MDM2 rs2279744-GG and the TP53 rs1042522-GG+GC genotype was associated with the lowest incidence of grade III/IV neutropenia. Conclusions: MDM2 rs2279744 and TP53 rs1042522 SNPs were associated with EP-induced high-grade neutropenia in extensive-stage SCLC patients. Further studies are needed to investigate the underlying mechanisms.
Feasibility and cost-effectiveness of stroke prevention through community screening for atrial fibrillation using iPhone ECG in pharmacies
Authors: Lowres Nicole , Neubeck Lis , Salkeld Glenn , Krass Ines , McLachlan Andrew J. , Redfern Julie , Bennett Alexandra A. , Briffa Tom , Bauman Adrian , Martinez Carlos , Wallenhorst Christopher , Lau Jerrett K. , Brieger David B. , Sy Raymond W. , Freedman S. Ben
Published: April 2014

Atrial fibrillation (AF) causes a third of all strokes, but often goes undetected before stroke. Identification of unknown AF in the community and subsequent anti-thrombotic treatment could reduce stroke burden. We investigated community screening for unknown AF using an iPhone electrocardiogram (iECG) in pharmacies, and determined the cost-effectiveness of this strategy. Pharmacists performed pulse palpation and iECG recordings, with cardiologist iECG over-reading. General practitioner review/12-lead ECG was facilitated for suspected new AF. An automated AF algorithm was retrospectively applied to collected iECGs. Cost-effectiveness analysis incorporated costs of iECG screening, and treatment/outcome data from a United Kingdom cohort of 5,555 patients with incidentally detected asymptomatic AF. A total of 1,000 pharmacy customers aged ≥65 years (mean 76 ± 7 years; 44% male) were screened. Newly identified AF was found in 1.5% (95% CI, 0.8–2.5%); mean age 79 ± 6 years; all had CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥2. AF prevalence was 6.7% (67/1,000). The automated iECG algorithm showed 98.5% (CI, 92–100%) sensitivity for AF detection and 91.4% (CI, 89–93%) specificity. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of extending iECG screening into the community, based on 55% warfarin prescription adherence, would be $AUD5,988 (€3,142; $USD4,066) per Quality Adjusted Life Year gained and $AUD30,481 (€15,993; $USD20,695) for preventing one stroke. Sensitivity analysis indicated cost-effectiveness improved with increased treatment adherence. Screening with iECG in pharmacies with an automated algorithm is both feasible and cost-effective. The high and largely preventable stroke/thromboembolism risk of those with newly identified AF highlights the likely benefits of community AF screening. Guideline recommendation of community iECG AF screening should be considered.

Previous Presentation: This study was presented in part as an oral presentation at the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand Conference; 9 August 2013; Sydney, Australia, abstract published in Heart Lung Circulation 2013;22:S223.

Trial registration: Australian New Zealand clinical trials registry: ACTRN12612000406808.
Mesenchymal Precursor Cells as Adjunctive Therapy in Recipients of Contemporary Left Ventricular Assist Devices
Authors: Ascheim Deborah D. , Gelijns Annetine C. , Goldstein Daniel , Moye Lemuel A. , Smedira Nicholas , Lee Sangjin , Klodell Charles T. , Szady Anita , Parides Michael K. , Jeffries Neal O. , Skerrett Donna , Taylor Doris A. , Rame J. Eduardo , Milano Carmelo , Rogers Joseph G. , Lynch Janine , Dewey Todd , Eichhorn Eric , Sun Benjamin , Feldman David , Simari Robert , O’Gara Patrick T. , Taddei-Peters Wendy C. , Miller Marissa A. , Naka Yoshifumi , Bagiella Emilia , Rose Eric A. , Woo Y. Joseph
Published: March 2014

Background—

Allogeneic mesenchymal precursor cells (MPCs) injected during left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation may contribute to myocardial recovery. This trial explores the safety and efficacy of this strategy.

Methods and Results—

In this multicenter, double-blind, sham-procedure controlled trial, 30 patients were randomized (2:1) to intramyocardial injection of 25 million MPCs or medium during LVAD implantation. The primary safety end point was incidence of infectious myocarditis, myocardial rupture, neoplasm, hypersensitivity reaction, and immune sensitization (90 days after randomization). Key efficacy end points were functional status and ventricular function while temporarily weaned from LVAD support (90 days after randomization). Patients were followed up until transplant or 12 months after randomization, whichever came first. Mean age was 57.4 (±13.6) years, mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 18.1%, and 66.7% were destination therapy LVADs. No safety events were observed. Successful temporary LVAD weaning was achieved in 50% of MPC and 20% of control patients at 90 days (
P
=0.24); the posterior probability that MPCs increased the likelihood of successful weaning was 93%. At 90 days, 3 deaths (30%) occurred in control patients, and none occurred in MPC patients. Mean left ventricular ejection fraction after successful wean was 24.0% (MPC=10) and 22.5% (control=2;
P
=0.56). At 12 months, 30% of MPC patients and 40% of control patients were successfully temporarily weaned from LVAD support (
P
=0.69), and 6 deaths (30%) occurred in MPC patients. Donor-specific HLA sensitization developed in 2 MPC and 3 control patients and resolved by 12 months.

Conclusions—

In this preliminary trial, administration of MPCs appeared to be safe, and there was a potential signal of efficacy. Future studies will evaluate the potential for higher or additional doses to enhance the ability to wean LVAD recipients off support.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT01442129.
Inclusive Growth: When May We Expect It? When May We Not?
Authors: Sen Kunal
Published: March 2014

Episodes of economic growth that lead to reductions in poverty and inequality are relatively rare in developing countries. In this paper, we examine the institutional foundations of such growth episodes. We argue that the institutional factors that lead to accelerations in economic growth will be different from those that lead to growth maintenance and avoidance of growth decline, and that the institutional preconditions for growth accelerations suggest that these growth episodes may not be inclusive. We present empirical evidence drawn from descriptive and cross-country econometric analyses that support these theoretical propositions.
Time of Society and Time of Experience: Multiple Times and Social Change
Authors: Leccardi Carmen
Published: March 2014

Abstract

J. T. Fraser highlighted the distinctive connections between the different levels of temporality that characterize the human timescape. In this context, he also demonstrated a clear awareness of the relationship between sociotemporality and the existential processing of time. Human experience, in its myriad expressions, bears the mark of the social processes and dynamics within which it takes shape. Analyzing this relationship, we can assert that identity itself is marked by the conception of time that characterizes a given historical period. Processes of social change, forms of experience, identities and expressions of subjectivity are therefore interwoven. The ways in which we experience and conceive of time should therefore also be interpreted in the light of this interconnection. In this particular period, information technologies appear to have the power to redefine the whole of human experience, including our experience of time. After analyzing the close relationship between time and identity, and the multiplicity of temporal dimensions it comprises, referencing social phenomenology, the paper explores the nature of the processes of change that characterize our era—starting from the crisis of the future and the dynamics connected to the acceleration of time. The general aim is to highlight the link between historical times, social times and individual times. It looks at the reflection formulated by J. T. Fraser on the multiplicity of times as it relates to the analytical tools developed by the sociology of time.
Of Gardens and Prosperity
Authors: Walker Paul
Published: March 2014

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), like many other Christians, believe in the importance of human stewardship over the natural world; yet within LDS doctrine, hints of less hierarchical inclusiveness of non-human beings can be found. The interpretation of LDS doctrine relating to the Fall underlie the influences of two LDS presidents, Ezra Taft Benson and Spencer W. Kimball, whose contrasting ideas illustrate that connections among ecology, righteousness, and prosperity continue to be complicated by the progression of technology and globalization in contrast to the frontier and agrarian foundations of the church. A close examination of a frequently cited passage in the Book of Mormon shows how Kimball’s encouragement to plant gardens is more amenable to a “prosperous” spiritual and/or material relationship to the environment than the methods Benson advocated to promote efficient agriculture and general prosperity.
Environmental Conservation and Preservation of Cultural Heritage
Authors: Sarfo-Mensah Paul , Owusu-Bi Akwasi , Awuah-Nyamekye Samuel , Amisah Steve
Published: March 2014

Environmental conservation and preservation of religio-cultural heritage for tourism development in the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area in the Eastern Region of Ghana have been examined in this paper. The location has a rich blend of dramatic landscape, historic relics and traditional cultures. Five traditional divisions make up the traditional area and have magnificent renewable natural resources including forests, waterfalls, rivers, caves and a rich diversity of wildlife and sanctuaries that could be developed further into a tourism destination site for the benefit of the area, in particular, and the state as a whole. The area has a unique cultural heritage, with the chieftaincy institution remaining as the center piece. The annual festivals of the chiefs and people of the traditional area, especially the Odwira festival, are celebrated annually by the people, and this attracts a considerable number of people including foreign tourists to the area. A complex and interrelated combination of factors threatens the further development and conservation of the environmental and cultural heritage of the area for tourism. These threats arise mainly from anthropogenic factors such as farming, forest logging, and bush fires, but also from the weakening of traditional institutions and limited national governmental support. Population-related pressures on land and other natural resources have affected traditional natural resources management. Fallow periods have been reduced and continuous cropping has become common. The growing demand for land and the presence of migrants have extended agriculture to marginal lands, forest reserves and some sacred sites. A number of recommendations have been made to enhance the preservation of the local cultural heritage and environmental conservation. Capacity building, education and public awareness creation, dialogue among various religious groups, collaborative management of natural resources, training and provision of alternative livelihoods have been suggested as options to conserve environmental and cultural heritage to boost environmental conservation and tourism development in the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area.
The Protestant Israelites of Sancerre: Jean de Léry and the Confessional Demarcation of Cannibalism
Authors: Duker Adam Asher
Published: March 2014

Abstract

This article explores how Jean de Léry understood Protestant, Catholic, and Brazilian acts of cannibalism. It argues that Léry constructed a new Huguenot confessional identity in the wake of the Saint Bartholomew’s Day Massacre by equating his own besieged community in Sancerre with the anthropophagous Israelites of the Hebrew Bible. He counts his own people as the worst of all cannibals, for like the ancient Israelites, the Huguenots of Sancerre possessed a superior understanding of God’s will but ate each other nonetheless. Léry makes these judgments by invoking examples of man-eating from the Bible and Josephus, as well as contemporary acts of cannibalism. His identification of the Huguenots with unfaithful Israel represents a break from the more optimistic conceptions of Israelite identity held by Jean Crespin and others prior to the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre. By equating the inhabitants of Sancerre with the cannibals of ancient Israel, Léry extends John Calvin’s sacramental reasoning concerning the linguistic relationship between the sign and the thing signified far beyond its original scope. He does this in order to come to grips with the new reality that the Huguenots, whose fortunes were ascending prior to the Massacre, were now witnessing a decidedly dark turn in what they perceived to be God’s providence.
Law and the Exclusionary Essence of Large-Scale Investments in Sub-Saharan Africa Land
Authors: Ferrando Tomaso
Published: March 2014

Abstract

‘Global land grabbing’ represents one of the hottest topics of debate within the areas of developmental and agricultural studies. However, this article claims that a narrow focus on the illegality and consequences of the ‘grabbing’, rather than on large scale investments in land (LaSIL) as a form of economic development which is inherently exclusionary, can be detrimental to the future of small-scale farmers. A short-term perspective overlooks the indirect consequences of industrialization, and legitimizes long-term exclusions and marginalization. Through past and present evidence, this paper demonstrates that LaSIL as competing projects will inevitably produce the abandonment of rural areas, the proletarianization of peasants, and the increase in social inequality, against any possibility for coexistence and harmonious cooperation.
Integrated Water Resource Management, Public Participation and the ‘Rainbow Nation’
Authors: Razzaque Jona , Kleingeld Eloise S.
Published: March 2014

Abstract

This article provides varied examples of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) and public participation interaction in South Africa. It critically examines the inadequate application of IWRM, and shows how the unbalanced interpretations of IWRM as well as a lack of good development practice and participatory rights manifest in negative outcomes for the poorest and most vulnerable. This paper, first, highlights that if decision-makers are primarily fixed on economic concerns, they induce inefficient IWRM framework that fails to balance water as a social, economic and ecological concern. Second: when the state fails to consult people and violate human and environmental rights, court battles ensue between the state and the people. These court cases are generally expensive for both sides and marred with delay. Third: positive outcomes can be attained through multi-stakeholder dialogue platforms which can operate as a sort of conflict resolution mechanism encompassing divergent views, but still offering beneficial outcomes. The frameworks and practical examples set by the Water Dialogues South Africa can facilitate public participation and capacity building if applied at local levels by decision-makers. IWRM with public participation at its heart engenders an ultimate objective for better water sustainability and water security in South Africa.
From Durable Solutions to Holistic Solutions: Prevention of Displacement in Africa
Authors: Kuwali Dan
Published: March 2014

Abstract

The problem of internally displaced persons (IDPs) is prevalent in Africa due to conflicts, development projects, man-made as well as natural disasters that are commonplace on the continent. The Kampala Convention, which is an innovative tool, seeks to provide African States with a roadmap towards long-term solutions to prevent and eradicate the causes of displacement. As such, African States, humanitarian agencies, the African Union and other stakeholders should go beyond durable solutions, which are reactive, and pay more attention to proactive strategies to eradicate the factors that lead to displacement. To do this, there is need to adopt a holistic approach to address the question of IDPs on the continent through a three-tiered strategy that includes; firstly, short-term strategy to protect the IDPs by providing safety and security, freedom of movement as well as basic livelihood to the IDPs; secondly, medium-term strategy to restore IDPs’ dignity and ensure adequate living conditions through return, resettlement, (re)integration, reparation, restitution and rehabilitation; and thirdly, long-term strategy to eradicate root causes of displacement and fostering an environment conducive to respect of human rights, rule of law and good governance.
Emerging Trends and the General Framework for the Exercise of Sentencing Discretion in Botswana
Authors: Malila Ikanyeng S.
Published: March 2014

Abstract

Like other common law jurisdictions, Botswana has, in recent years, seen an increase in the number of interventions by the legislature to structure sentencing powers of judges through primary legislation. This trend has given rise to concerns about the erosion of the sentencing discretion of judges in some quarters. Against this background the present paper outlines and discusses the nature of discretion exercisable by judges in sentencing matters in Botswana and the general framework for the exercise of such powers. The paper argues that despite the recent increase in the volume of mandatory minimum enactments, the general framework for the exercise of discretion in Botswana remains fundamentally unchanged not least because the courts have in some measure reclaimed some of the discretion they had lost as a result of unprecedented expansion in the volume of mandatory minimum legislation in the 1990s. More positively, a recent amendment to the Penal Code restoring some of the judges’ discretion suggests that parliament has come to recognise the need for and importance of greater flexibility in the structure of the sentencing discretion of judges.
Pharmaceutical Patents in Developing Nations: Parallel Importation and the Doctrine of Exhaustion
Authors: McKeith Sarah
Published: March 2014

Abstract

This article examines the impact of parallel importation and the doctrine of patent exhaustion on access to pharmaceutical products in developing nations around the world. Parallel importation is of particular relevance to developing countries given that it is in these countries where medicines are often limited and exorbitant prices can be charged for those drugs that are available. Against this backdrop, this article examines the international legal regulation of patent exhaustion and proposes a solution to the difficulties currently experienced by many developing countries in attempting to use parallel importation to promote public health and improve access to medicines. The solution proposed in this article comprises a regional approach to patent exhaustion, which involves the introduction of complimentary legal and policy measures to the regional framework that currently exists in the developing world. It is argued that this proposal strikes an optimal balance between protecting intellectual property rights and increasing access to medicines that works in the best interests of pharmaceutical patent holders and developing country patent users.
Statelessness and Rights: Protecting the Rights of Nubian Children in Kenya through the African Children’s Committee
Authors: Fokala Elvis , Chenwi Lilian
Published: March 2014

Abstract

The question of statelessness is an incessant challenge in Africa. Stateless persons are often denied basic human rights due to lack of a nationality. The situation of children in Kenya – that are of Nubian descent – is illustrative of the plight faced by stateless persons. The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child has attempted to address this challenge in its first decision, made public in 2011. This article considers this decision, analysing its strengths and weaknesses as well as the potential impact of the decision.
Temporal Externalism and the Normativity of Linguistic Practice
Authors: Rouse Joseph
Published: March 2014

Abstract

Temporal externalists expand Putnam’s and Burge’s semantic externalisms to argue that later uses of words transform the semantic significance (extension or meaning) of earlier uses. Conflicting intuitions about temporal externalism often turn on different conceptions of linguistic practice, which have mostly not been thematically explicated. I defend a version of temporal externalism that replaces the familiar regularist and normative-regulist conceptions of linguistic practice or use. This alternative identifies practices neither by regularities of use, nor by determinate norms governing their constituent performances, but by the ways those performances bear upon and are accountable to one another. Performances are intelligible as part of a larger pattern of practice, but different performances extend that pattern in partially conflicting ways. The essentially anaphoric concepts of “issues” and “stakes” allow us to talk about how alternative extensions of past performance conflict or otherwise mis-align (what is “at issue” in those performances), and what differences it would make to extend the practice in one way rather than another (what is “at stake”). The result is to recognize both the interdependence of linguistic performances, and the open texture of concepts, by situating them within broader patterns of discursive interaction with changing circumstances.
Historical Understanding in China and the West
Authors: Ivanhoe Philip J.
Published: March 2014

Abstract

This essay describes and compares three attempts to provide accounts of the nature of historical consciousness, along with accompanying explanations of how one comes to have historical knowledge. It explores, compares, and contrasts the views of the late Qing dynasty Chinese philosopher Zhang Xuecheng 章學誠 (1738–1801) and two Western philosophers – R.G. Collingwood (1889–1943) and Louis O. Mink (1921–83). These three thinkers all present historical understanding as a distinctive type of knowledge and share the aim of defending the discipline of history as a special, independent field of intellectual endeavor. Aside from analyzing these aspects of their respective theories, this essay aims to stimulate extensive and nuanced comparisons between Chinese and more recent Western forms of historical consciousness. While the comparison presented here is but one way forward, it not only seeks to offer specific insights generated by the comparative project but also to set forth a range of themes worthy of future study. For example, the analysis presented here shows that Zhang’s reflections on how historians relate to the past can contribute to current discussions of epistemic virtues.
Taking a Look at History
Authors: Kindi Vasso
Published: March 2014

Abstract

Ian Hacking urged that philosophers take a look at history. He called his recommendation the “Lockean imperative”. In the present paper I examine how Hacking understands the relation between philosophy and history by concentrating on his 1990 essay “Two kinds of ‘New Historicism’ for philosophers”. In this particular paper Hacking uses the visual metaphor of ‘taking a look’ which can also be found in the work of two other philosophers, Kuhn and Foucault, who are called by Hacking his mentors. I argue that in the work of these three philosophers, as well as in the work of Wittgenstein who has influenced both Hacking and Kuhn, one can find interest and attention to particulars which can be furnished by history, an approach which cultivates a sensibility for difference. I begin by presenting Hacking’s understanding of the relation of history to philosophy and then discuss what the Lockean imperative is. I concentrate on Locke’s understanding of history which differs considerably from the contemporary and end by focusing on the similarities in the work of the aforementioned thinkers.
Stratocumulus-Topped Marine Boundary Layer Processes Revealed by the Absence of Profiler Reflectivity
Authors: Hartten Leslie M. , Johnston Paul E.
Published: March 2014

Stratocumulus (Sc) clouds occur frequently over the cold waters of the southeastern Pacific Ocean. Data collected during two Pan American Climate Study research cruises in the tropical eastern Pacific illuminate many aspects of this Sc-topped marine boundary layer (MBL). Here the focus is on understanding gaps in detectable wind-profiler reflectivities during two boreal autumn cruises. After rigorous quality control that included applying the Riddle threshold of minimum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) detectability, there are many instances with no measurable atmospheric signals through a depth of up to several hundred meters, often lasting for an hour or more. Rain gauge data from the autumn 2004 cruise are used to calibrate the profiler, which allows SNR to be converted to both equivalent reflectivity and the structure-function parameter of the index of refraction . Profiles of statistics from the two profiler modes (resolutions) highlight the wide range of during a 24-h period and bound the atmosphere’s when low-mode gaps are not mirrored in the high-mode data. Considering the gaps in terms of allows them to be understood as indications of reduced “top down” buoyancy processes and/or reduced turbulent intensity, both of which have been demonstrated by previous researchers to be associated with decoupling within the Sc-topped MBL. A decoupling index calculated from surface and ceilometer data strongly suggests that decoupled conditions were common and that the MBL was coupled when gaps in profiler reflectivity were unlikely. Further study of data from other cruises may lead to a method of using profiler reflectivity as an indicator of decoupled conditions.
Wind-Climate Estimation Based on Mesoscale and Microscale Modeling: Statistical–Dynamical Downscaling for Wind Energy Applications
Authors: Badger Jake , Frank Helmut , Hahmann Andrea N. , Giebel Gregor
Published: March 2014

This paper demonstrates that a statistical–dynamical method can be used to accurately estimate the wind climate at a wind farm site. In particular, postprocessing of mesoscale model output allows an efficient calculation of the local wind climate required for wind resource estimation at a wind turbine site. The method is divided into two parts: 1) preprocessing, in which the configurations for the mesoscale model simulations are determined, and 2) postprocessing, in which the data from the mesoscale simulations are prepared for wind energy application. Results from idealized mesoscale modeling experiments for a challenging wind farm site in northern Spain are presented to support the preprocessing method. Comparisons of modeling results with measurements from the same wind farm site are presented to support the postprocessing method. The crucial element in postprocessing is the bridging of mesoscale modeling data to microscale modeling input data, via a so-called generalization method. With this method, very high-resolution wind resource mapping can be achieved.
An Expanded Dataset of Hurricane Eyewall Sizes and Slopes
Authors: Stern Daniel P. , Brisbois James R. , Nolan David S.
Published: April 2014

Using airborne Doppler radar data from 39 flights into hurricanes from 2004 to 2010, the authors examine the outward slope of the eyewall, revisiting the recent studies of Stern and Nolan. The slope of the radius of maximum winds (RMW) is found to increase nearly linearly with size and is uncorrelated with intensity. The slope of the eyewall absolute angular momentum surface M increases with increasing size (strong correlation) and decreases with increasing intensity (weak to moderate correlation). Two other measures of eyewall slope are also investigated: the 20-dBZ reflectivity isosurface (dBZ20) and the radius of maximum azimuthal-mean updraft (RWMAX). The slopes of both dBZ20 and RWMAX increase with their size. The slope of dBZ20 decreases with intensity, though the correlation is weak, while the slope of RWMAX is uncorrelated with intensity. The absolute angular momentum decreases on average along the RMW by 9% from 2- to 8-km heights. With this larger dataset, the previous results are generally confirmed: the slope of the eyewall is mostly a function of the size of the RMW.

The vertical decay rate of the maximum tangential winds (Vmax) is also reexamined. On average, Vmax decreases by 20% from 2- to 8-km heights, but this varies from 8% to as large as 42%. This percentage decay rate increases with increasing size and decreases with increasing intensity. Three cases are found where Vmax increases with height from 2 to 4 km, which is likely a consequence of unbalanced flow.
Contribution of Tropical Cyclones to Global Very Deep Convection
Authors: Jiang Haiyan , Tao Cheng
Published: March 2014

Based on the 12-yr (1998–2009) Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) precipitation feature (PF) database, both radar and infrared (IR) observations from TRMM are used to quantify the contribution of tropical cyclones (TCs) to very deep convection (VDC) in the tropics and to compare TRMM-derived properties of VDC in TCs and non-TCs. Using a radar-based definition, it is found that the contribution of TCs to total VDC in the tropics is not much higher than the contribution of TCs to total PFs. However, the area-based contribution of TCs to overshooting convection defined by IR is 13.3%, which is much higher than the 3.2% contribution of TCs to total PFs. This helps explain the contradictory results between previous radar-based and IR-based studies and indicates that TCs only contribute disproportionately large amount of overshooting convection containing mainly small ice particles that are barely detected by the TRMM radar. VDC in non-TCs over land has the highest maximum 30- and 40-dBZ height and the strongest ice-scattering signature derived from microwave 85- and 37-GHz observations, while VDC in TCs has the coldest minimum IR brightness temperature and largest overshooting distance and area. This suggests that convection is much more intense in non-TCs over land but is much deeper or colder in TCs. It is found that VDC in TCs usually has smaller environmental shear but larger total precipitable water and convective available potential energy than those in non-TCs. These findings offer evidence that TCs may contribute disproportionately to troposphere-to-stratosphere heat and moisture exchange.