bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psychotic-like experiences in a community sample of 8000 children aged 9 to 11 years: an item response theory analysis
Authors: Laurens K. R. , Hobbs M. J. , Sunderland M. , Green M. J. , Mould G. L.
Published: October 2011

Background

Psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) in the general population are common, particularly in childhood, and may constitute part of a spectrum of normative development. Nevertheless, these experiences confer increased risk for later psychotic disorder, and are associated with poorer health and quality of life.

Method

This study used factor analytic methods to determine the latent structure underlying PLEs, problem behaviours and personal competencies in the general child population, and used item response theory (IRT) to assess the psychometric properties of nine PLE items to determine which items best represented a latent psychotic-like construct (PSY). A total of 7966 children aged 9–11 years, constituting 95% of eligible children, completed self-report questionnaires.

Results

Almost two-thirds of the children endorsed at least one PLE item. Structural analyses identified a unidimensional construct representing psychotic-like severity in the population, the full range of which was well sampled by the nine items. This construct was discriminable from (though correlated with) latent dimensions representing internalizing and externalizing problems. Items assessing visual and auditory hallucination-like experiences provided the most information about PSY; delusion-like experiences identified children at more severe levels of the construct.

Conclusions

Assessing PLEs during middle childhood is feasible and supplements information concerning internalizing and externalizing problems presented by children. The hallucination-like experiences constitute appropriate items to screen the population to identify children who may require further clinical assessment or monitoring. Longitudinal follow-up of the children is required to determine sensitivity and specificity of the PLE items for later psychotic illness.
Which supranational sovereignty? Criminal and socioeconomic justice compared
Authors: ORRÙ ELISA , RONZONI MIRIAM
Published: October 2011

The idea that transnational dynamics challenge the regulatory capacity of the state has hardly ever received as much attention as in contemporary debates. Different voices denounce the crisis of the state and advocate the establishment of supranational institutions with legally coercive power. It is tempting to jump to the conclusion that these voices are concerned with the same cluster of problems. We think that one should resist this temptation. Firstly, not all theproblemspointed out by the advocates of supranational sovereignty are of the same kind and structure. Some concern the need to limit the power of states, whereas others address the almost opposite necessity to support and strengthen their problem-solving capacity through forms of international regulation. Secondly, the correspondingsolutionsare different. In particular, although they may all imply the establishment ofsupranationalinstitutions, not all such institutions need beglobal. The creation of a full-blown global rule of criminal law, for instance, would raise serious concerns of global despotism and cultural imperialism, and we therefore make a case forregionaland context-sensitive solutions in this case. However, problems of supranational socioeconomic justice can only be addressed through global regulatory institutions, for regional institutions would, in this case, only recreate current problems at the interregional level.
Mobilising uncertainty and the making of responsible sovereigns
Authors: AALBERTS TANJA E. , WERNER WOUTER G.
Published: October 2011

The past few decades have witnessed a fundamental change in the perception of threats to the security of states and individuals. Issues of security are no longer primarily framed in terms of threats posed by an identifiable, conventional enemy. Instead, post-Cold War security policies have emphasised the global and radically uncertain nature of threats such as environmental degradation, terrorism and financial risks. What are the implications of this transformation for one of the constitutive principles of international society: state sovereignty? Existing literature has provided two possible answers to this question. The first focuses on the alleged need for states to seek international cooperation and to relax claims of national sovereignty. In Ulrich Beck's terminology, this would amount to a transformation of sovereign states into ‘cosmopolitan states’. The second takes the opposite position: in response to uncertain threats states rely on their sovereign prerogatives to take exceptional measures and set aside provisions of positive law. In Beck's terminology, this would amount to the creation of a ‘surveillance state’. None of these two answers, however, does justice to the complex relation between sovereignty, power and (international) law. As this article will show, the invocation of radical uncertainty has led to a transformation in sovereignty that cannot be captured in terms of the cosmopolitan/surveillance dichotomy. What is at stake is a more fundamental transformation of the way in which sovereignty is used to counter threats. Based on a study of the UN Counterterrorism Committee, this article demonstrates how state sovereignty is used as a governmental technology that aims to create proactive, responsible subjects.
A NORMATIVE THEORY OF THE CLEAN HANDS DEFENSE
Authors: Herstein Ori J.
Published: October 2011

What is the clean hands defense (CHD) normatively about? Courts designate court integrity as the CHD's primary norm. Yet, while the CHD may at times further court integrity, it is not fully aligned with court integrity. In addition to occasionally instrumentally furthering certain goods (e.g., court legitimacy, judge integrity, deterrence), the CHD embodies two judicially undetected norms: retribution andtu quoque(“you too!”).Tu quoquecaptures the moral intuition that wrongdoers are in no position to blame, condemn, or make claims on others who are guilty of similar or related wrongdoing. The CHD shares the structure of thetu quoque: both are doctrines of standing that deflate the illocutionary force (and not the truth-value) of normative speech acts directed against wrongdoers by those guilty of similar or connected wrongdoing. The CHD also exhibits retributive logic: it sanctions plaintiffs by reason of their wrongdoing and manifests the retributive principle that “punishment must fit the crime.”
Plan-View Preparation of TEM Specimens from Thin Films Using Adhesive Tape
Authors: Czigány Zsolt
Published: October 2011

A simple plan-view sample preparation technique for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) specimens is proposed for thin films by tearing-off the film with adhesive tape. The demand for very thin samples is highest for nanostructured materials where the structure of 2–5 nm sized features (grains) needs to be resolved; therefore, overlapping of nanometer-sized features should be avoided. The method provides thin areas at the fracture edges of plan-view specimens with thickness in the range of the grain size in the film allowing for artifact free high-resolution TEM imaging. Nanostructured materials typically fracture between the grains providing areas with the thickness of the grain size. Besides the swiftness of the method, the samples are free of surface amorphization artifacts, which can occur in ion beam milling up to 1 nm depth even at low energy ion bombardment. The thin film tear-off technique is demonstrated on a CuMn alloy thin film with grain size of 2 nm.
Climatological characteristics in the extreme hyper-arid region of Pampas de La Joya, Peru. Astrobiological approach in four years of observation: 2004–2008
Authors: Valdivia-Silva Julio E. , Navarro-González Rafael , Fletcher Lauren , Pérez-Montaño Saúl , Condori-Apaza Reneé , Ortega-Gutiérrez Fernando , McKay Christopher
Published: October 2011

This study reports the environmental conditions of temperature, moisture and radiation for four years (May 2004 to July 2008) in the area known as Pampas de La Joya in southern Peru, which recently has been considered as a new Mars analogue. The period of evaluation includes the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) during the months of September 2006 to March 2007, which, despite not having catastrophic effects like its predecessor on 1997–1998, showed an interesting increase in humidity. Our data describe the extreme conditions present in the region and their relationship with the presence of potential habitats that could allow for the survival of micro-organisms. The average environmental temperature was 18.9°C, with a maximum of 35.9°C and a minimum of −4.5°C. The annual average incident solar radiation was 508 W m−2, with high near 1060 W m−2 at noon during the driest period between September and March. The average relative humidity (RH) was 29.5, 20.1 and 20.4% for air, soil and rock, respectively. The RH had higher values at night due to fog during the months of June and August, and during the early morning between December and March. During the months of ENSO event there were four episodes of precipitation (1.1, 1.5, 2.0 and 0.9 mm), of which three increased soil and rock moisture on an average more than 45% and persisted for over 15 days after precipitation, while the atmospheric environment had no significant variations. Finally, quartz rocks and evaporite minerals colonized with micro-organisms were found as the only micro-habitats, in this region, capable of supporting life in this extreme environment.
WTO legality of discriminatory liberalization of internal regulations: role of RTA national treatment
Authors: KIM JONG BUM
Published: October 2011

In this paper, we study the interaction between regionalism and multilateralism by examining the role of national treatment clauses in regional trade agreements (RTAs). We ask whether discriminatory liberalization of internal regulations under RTAs can fulfill the requirements of the GATT Article XXIV defense. In the presence of pre-existing RTAs with RTA national treatment clauses, the GATT Article XXIV defenses for violations of GATT Article I and GATT Article III resulting from preferential liberalization of internal regulations may not succeed because the ‘necessity’ requirement under the Turkey–Textiles Appellate Body test is not likely to be met. The necessity requirement would fail because the RTA party may adopt ‘a reasonable alternative’ of applying the measure non-discriminatorily to all WTO members. RTA national treatment clauses in the pre-existing RTAs may have the effect of binding the RTA parties to liberalize trade-restrictive internal regulations on a non-discriminatory basis.
Mega-structures of the Middle Ages: the construction of religious buildings in Europe and Asia,c.1000–1500
Authors: Prak Maarten
Published: October 2011

How did medieval builders manage to construct some of the tallest structures in the world without access to modern engineering theories? Construction drawings were limited to details and, with only a handful exceptions, manuals for builders only appeared in the late fifteenth century. By implication, the relevant knowledge had to be transferred on a personal basis. Its underlying principles must therefore have been reasonably simple. This article shows how a modular design, combined with on-site experimentation, guided much of the construction work on large projects such as European cathedrals, Middle Eastern mosques, Indian temples, and Chinese pagoda towers.
The Cold War as a historical period: an interpretive essay
Authors: Duara Prasenjit
Published: October 2011

As a historical period, the Cold War may be seen as a rivalry between two nuclear superpowers that threatened global destruction. The rivalry took place within a common frame of reference, in which a new historical relationship between imperialism and nationalism worked in remarkably parallel ways across the superpower divide. The new imperial–national relationship between superpowers and the client states also accommodated developments such as decolonization, multiculturalism, and new ideologies, thus producing a hegemonic configuration characterizing the period. The models of development, structures of clientage, unprecedented militarization of societies, designs of imperial enlightenment, and even many gender and racial/cultural relationships followed similar tracks within, and often between, the two camps. Finally, counter-hegemonic forces emerged in regions of the non-Western world, namely China and some Islamic societies. Did this portend the beginning of the end of a long period of Western hegemony?
Socialist high modernity and global stagnation: a shared history of Brazil and the Soviet Union during the Cold War
Authors: Rupprecht Tobias
Published: October 2011

This article questions a prevailing bipolarity of traditional Cold War history by examining commonalities and interactions between the Soviet Union and Brazil in the 1950s and 1960s. After outlining the common characteristics of both states around 1960, it analyses the cultural diplomacy of the post-Stalinist Soviet Union towards Brazil. Transforming its hitherto prevailing image as the cradle of world revolution and communist class struggle, the USSR now represented itself as a role model for the quick industrialization of the economy and education of the masses. Many Brazilian intellectuals and political reformers from President Kubitschek to President Goulart shared with the Soviets an interest in what is here called ‘socialist high modernity’. Contacts with the Soviet Union were connected to the putsch and the end of Brazilian democracy in 1964. However, the new military leaders also had their own interests in, and surprisingly good relations with, the stagnating Soviet Union. This was again based on a set of commonalities in the historical development of the two ostensibly idiosyncratic and distant states on either side of the Iron Curtain. Eschewing teleological interpretations of the period and exploring the ideational basis of actors in the conflict, this article – based on new documents from Moscow archives and recently declassified sources from the Brazilian Foreign Ministry – aims to link Cold War historiography to the debates on global history, which have lately neglected both Latin America and eastern Europe.
Quantifying export production in the Southern Ocean: Implications for the Baxs proxy
Authors: Hernandez‐Sanchez Maria T. , Mills Rachel A. , Planquette Hélène , Pancost Richard D. , Hepburn Laura , Salter Ian , FitzGeorge‐Balfour Tania
Published: October 2011

The water column and sedimentary Baxs distribution around the Crozet Plateau is used to decipher the controls and timing of barite formation and to evaluate how export production signals are recorded in sediments underlying a region of natural Fe fertilization within the Fe limited Southern Ocean. Export production estimated from preserved, vertical sedimentary Baxs accumulation rates are compared with published export fluxes assessed from an integrated study of the biological carbon pump to determine the validity of Baxs as a quantitative proxy under different Fe supply conditions typical of the Southern Ocean. Detailed assessment of the geochemical partitioning of Ba in sediments and the lithogenic end‐member allows appropriate correction of the bulk Ba content and determination of the Baxs content of sediments and suspended particles. The upper water column distribution of Baxs is extremely heterogeneous spatially and temporally. Organic carbon/Baxs ratios in deep traps from the Fe fertilized region are similar to other oceanic settings allowing quantification of the inferred carbon export based on established algorithms. There appears to be some decoupling of POC and Ba export in the Fe limited region south of the Plateau. The export production across the Crozet Plateau inferred from the Baxs sedimentary proxy indicates that the Fe fertilized area to the north of the Plateau experiences enhanced export relative to equivalent Southern Ocean settings throughout the Holocene and that this influence may also have impacted the site to the south for significant periods. This interpretation is corroborated by alternative productivity proxies (opal accumulation, 231Paxs/230Thxs). Baxs can be used to quantify export production in complex settings such as naturally Fe‐fertilized (volcanoclastic) areas, providing appropriate lithogenic correction is undertaken, and sediment focusing is corrected for along with evaluation of barite preservation.
Field, experimental, and numerical studies of deformation localization bands
Authors: Petit J.‐P. , Chemenda A.
Published: October 2011

Characterization and Formation Mechanisms of Deformation Localization Bands(Shear, Compaction, and Dilatancy): Field and Experimental Data,Theoretical Analysis and Numerical Models;Montpellier, France, 9–10 May 2011. The origin of fractures and discontinuities in rocks has been for decades a subject of common interest in both the academic world and industry, as these features influence hydrocarbon reservoir production. Fractures (notably joints) and deformation bands are usually analyzed on a separate basis. Joints have commonly been interpreted as mode I fractures susing fracture mechanics, whereas the bifurcation theory has been used for deformation bands. This diversity was called into question by the research carried on by the Geo‐FracNet consortium sponsored by Total and Shell International. New findings (A. I. Chemenda et al., J. Geophys. Res., 116, B04401, doi:10.1029/2010JB008104, 2011, and references therein) suggest that at least a part of joints could have been formed as dilatancy (dilation) bands, i.e., due not to the strong effective tensile stress concentration at the opening fracture tip but to the porosity increase and decohesion (perigranular and/ or intragranular grain breakage) of the material within a band several grains thick. The band (material damage and dilatancy within it) can propagate along the strike without opening and can eventually be opened.
Predicting space climate change
Authors: Balcerak Ernie
Published: October 2011

Galactic cosmic rays and solar energetic particles can be hazardous to humans in space, damage spacecraft and satellites, pose threats to aircraft electronics, and expose aircrew and passengers to radiation. A new study shows that these threats are likely to increase in coming years as the Sun approaches the end of the period of high solar activity known as “grand solar maximum,” which has persisted through the past several decades. High solar activity can help protect the Earth by repelling incoming galactic cosmic rays. Understanding the past record can help scientists predict future conditions.Barnard et al. analyzed a 9300‐year record of galactic cosmic ray and solar activity based on cosmogenic isotopes in ice cores as well as on neutron monitor data. They used this to predict future variations in galactic cosmic ray flux, near‐Earth interplanetary magnetic field, sunspot number, and probability of large solar energetic particle events. The researchers found that the risk of space weather radiation events will likely increase noticeably over the next century compared with recent decades and that lower solar activity will lead to increased galactic cosmic ray levels. (Geophysical Research Letters, doi:10.1029/2011GL048489, 2011)
Crustal extensional faulting triggered by the 2010 Chilean earthquake: The Pichilemu Seismic Sequence
Authors: Farías Marcelo , Comte Diana , Roecker Steven , Carrizo Daniel , Pardo Mario
Published: October 2011

We report a sequence of crustal quakes that began after the Mw = 8.8 thrust‐subduction Maule earthquake that affected the Central Chile margin on 27 February 2010. This activity lasted by several months, having the most important events on 11 March 2010 (Mw = 6.9 and Mw = 7.0) with normal focal mechanisms. Seismicity shows a rupture oriented along a NW‐striking and SW‐dipping normal fault from the surface down to the interplate contact. Seismicity can be correlated with neotectonics extensional structures similarly oriented in the region, which have coexisted with NNE‐SSW reverse faults since the late Pliocene, even though both have older periods of activity since the Paleozoic. This crustal rupture would have been triggered by the high Coulomb stress change produced by the Maule earthquake, enhanced by likely fluid presence along weakened zones of the forearc crust as evidenced by high Vp/Vs ratio. The occurrence of relevant neotectonic activity in coincidence with short‐term deformation suggests a relationship with long‐term tectonic features of this region, which would have been acting as a barrier during the interseismic period, increasing the strain accumulation and triggering contractional faulting in the crust, as well as producing high slip patches during great subduction ruptures favoring triggering of crustal extensional faulting. Crustal faulting in Pichilemu suggests that this kind of events should be considered in seismic hazard analysis despite the absence of historical crustal seismic activity before the Maule earthquake.
One‐dimensional freezing of nonheaving unsaturated soils: Model formulation and similarity solution
Authors: Sheshukov Aleksey Y. , Nieber John L.
Published: October 2011

Freezing of unsaturated soils is associated with the formation of a moving freezing zone and liquid water flow toward the zone. An equilibrium thermodynamic formulation of coupled flow and heat transport in variably saturated partially frozen porous media is developed and a self‐similar solution is derived for the case of a semi‐infinite horizontal porous media column with a constant freezing temperature on one boundary. Solutions to the self‐similar equations are derived using a Runge‐Kutta solution procedure. The solution is found to yield two possible modes distinguished by zones composed of different combinations of ice, liquid water, and air. One of the modes contains three zones: a frozen zone (WI) with just ice and liquid water; a transition zone (AWI) with ice, liquid water, and air; and an unsaturated zone (AW) with liquid water and air. The second mode contains only the WI zone and the AW zone. It is found that the WI zone is a quintessential part of the solution. The AWI zone is found to exist when the advancement of the freezing zone is relatively fast, while it is absent when the zone advances slowly. Predictions of ice saturation and liquid water saturation with the self‐similar solution are compared to published experimental data. Pore pressure is calculated as a linear combination of ice pressure and liquid water pressure, and the calculated figures are used to provide a condition for model limitation in the case of incipient ice lens formation. The developed similarity solution provides insight into the mechanics of liquid water movement and pore filling with ice and the conditions for incipient heaving.
Exploring NAG active site of human CD59 towards discovery of novel activators for treatment of atherosclerosis
Authors: Lakshmi Narayana Rao Challa , Pradhan Dibyabhaba , Umamaheswari Amineni
Published: October 2011

CD59 is a potent inhibitor of the complement membrane attack complex (MAC) action that acts by binding to the C8 and C9 complements of the assembling MAC, thereby preventing incorporation of the multiple copies of C9 required for complete formation of the osmolytic pore. Human CD59 low expression leads to atherosclerosis. Therefore, computational approach methods were implemented herein to design novel activators for CD59. Crystal structure (PDB ID: 1CDR) of CD59 was investigated to locate N-acetyl glucosamine (NAG) active site residues (Leu1, Gln2, Val17, Asn18, Ser20, Ser21, Asp22 and Asp67). CD59 is known for its binding affinity towards NAG and Alpha-L-Fucose, hence, were explored against more than one million entries of Ligand.Info metadatabase to create an in-house library of 708 compounds. Ligand dataset was prepared using LigPrep and filtered based on Lipinski’s rule of five and reactive group constraints. The crystal structure was optimized and energy was minimized applying OPLS force field in Maestro v9.2. Sixty four ligands were found to have binding affinity towards CD59 through virtual screening workflow of Maestro. Two ligands namely mizoribine (-8.56 kcal/mol) and gluconolactone (-8.39 kcal/mol) with better XPG score compared to NAG (-8.02 kcal/mol) were proposed potential CD59 activators. Analysis of docking complexes for both proposed leads revealed a stable hydrogen bond network, good van der Waal interactions and good agreement with NAG binding orientations. Thus, mizoribine and gluconolactone would be useful for developing potential drug molecules for atherosclerosis.
Mizoribin as a inhibitor for leukocyte immunoglobulin receptor sub family A member3
Authors: Sravani Varala , Vani Priyadarshini I , Umamaheswari Amineni
Published: October 2011

The Leukocyte Immunoglobulin-like Receptors (LILRs) are a family of receptors that was broadly expressed on all leukocytes and have the ability to regulate their function. The increased levels of human LILRA3 in rheumatoid arthritis patients leads to stroke. In quest of designing novel inhibitors against LILRA3 an accurate homology model for the protein was based on crystal structures of 1GOX and 3P2T using Modeller 9V9. The use of multiple templates for structure prediction led us to propose a structure comprising all 439 amino acids of human LILRA3 for the first time. The best model was selected based on GA341 and DOPE score and further assessed through ProSA and PROCHECK. The validated structure was subjected to CASTp analysis ligand binding site determination. N-acetyl-glucosamine (NAG) that has binding affinity towards human LILRA3 was searched for structural analogs from Ligan.Info database. The structural analogs were docked with LILRA3 using Glide v5.7 to propose 17 potential inhibitors with better binding affinity compared to NAG (-7.13 Kcal/mol). Analysis of LILRA3-Lead1 (mizoribin) docking showed best XPGscore of -10.70 Kcal/mol with four hydrogen bonds with Thr425, Glu360, Ser433,Val419. The binding orientations of mizoribin correlated well with NAG binding orientations. Therefore, mizoribin would be encouraging for stroke treatment in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Sonic Layer Depth estimated from XBT temperatures and climatological salinities
Authors: Udaya Bhaskar TVS , Swain Debadatta
Published: October 2011

Sonic layer depth (SLD) plays an important role in antisubmarine warfare in terms of identifying the shadow zones for submarine safe parking. SLD is estimated from sound velocity profiles (SVP) which is in turn obtained from temperature and salinity (T/S) profiles. Given the limited availability of salinity data in comparison to temperature, SVPs need to be obtained from alternate methods. In the present work, to make use of voluminous temperature data sets from XBT, CTD and other source for estimating SLD, we propose a method of utilizing XBT measurements and World Ocean Atlas climatological salinities to compute SVP and then extract SLD. This approach is demonstrated by utilizing T/S data from Argo floats in the Arabian Sea (40° – 80° E and 0 – 30° N). SLD is estimated from SVP obtained from Argo T/S profiles first and again by replacing the Argo salinity with climatological salinity. It is found that in more than 90% of cases, SLD matched exactly, with the root mean square deviation ranging from 3 – 12 m with an average of 7 m.
Which is the Appropriate 3D Visualization Type for Participatory Landscape Planning Workshops? A Portfolio of Their Effectiveness
Authors: Hayek Ulrike Wissen
Published: October 2011

Communication and information are central aspects in participatory spatial planning. This study analyzes the effectiveness of current 3D landscape visualizations in communicating the required spatial information. The focus was on measuring 3D visualizations' effectiveness in participatory planning processes according to the level of various supporting functions for, for example, information processing or achieving the objectives of different planning phases. The effectiveness of abstract and realistic 3D visualization types was tested in case studies using qualitative social – empirical research methods. In order to provide a systematic overview of the results, a portfolio analysis was carried out. The benefit of the visualization types for different planning tasks and their quality of representing the required planning content were evaluated. The results show that the different strengths of both abstract and realistic 3D visualization types are required in participatory workshops. They are especially efficient at motivating stakeholders and enlarging the information base. However, until now they have proved to be less suitable for the development of new ideas and decision making. In particular, the realistic visualization type was ranked as very attractive for the purpose of evaluation, but the representation of the required spatial information needed enhancement. On the basis of the portfolio, focusing further research on optimizing the 3D visualization types for analysis and evaluation tasks is suggested.
Flow-Data Analysis with Geographical Information Systems: A Visual Approach
Authors: Rae Alasdair
Published: October 2011

This paper takes a visual approach to flow-data analysis within geographical information systems, and uses spatial interaction data from the United Kingdom for illustrative purposes. As a subfield within GIS, flow mapping is something of a disciplinary laggard, despite significant advances elsewhere in the field. Therefore, the paper has three main aims. First, the intention is to show how complex spatial interaction data—frequently underutilised—can be converted into meaningful information using a GIS-based, visual approach. Second, it is hoped that the contribution will help popularise the subject and stimulate new research within spatial interaction studies and planning more broadly. The third aspect is to demonstrate that we can gain a better understanding, and knowledge of, complex spatial networks through a visual analytics approach to information generation. The paper begins by exploring some key developments in the presentation of flow data. The main body of the paper is comprised of five key geovisualisations which focus on identifying the various patterns of spatial interaction in the United Kingdom. Finally, some conclusions are drawn and direction for future development are highlighted.
Measuring the Spatial Component of Sense of Place: A Methodology for Research on the Spatial Dynamics of Psychological Experiences of Places
Authors: Jorgensen Bradley S , Stedman Richard C
Published: October 2011

Psychometric approaches to measuring sense-of-place variables have focused primarily on the strength of association between individuals and some researcher-defined spatial object. Environmental psychology also has a long tradition of mapping spatial settings and developing methods in natural resource management for measuring the spatial component of sense of place. Our work describes these methods and integrates them with an atittudinal approach that captures individual-level spatial variation and its meaning. We present and demonstrate a complementary data-analysis approach that uses structural equation modelling to integrate the spatial and physical features of places with attitude and behavioural variables. We identify relationships between variables coded from mapping data and attitudes, and demonstrate that this type of spatial data can be modelled using structural equation techniques.
RuCl3·3H2O Catalyzed Tandem Reaction of Alkynylbromides with 2-Aminothiophenols in Water: A Convenient Synthesis of 2-Benzoylbenzothiazoles
Authors: Fan Xuesen , He Yan , Guo Shenghai , Zhang Xinying
Published: October 2011

RuCl3·3H2O catalyzed tandem reaction of alkynyl bromides with 2-aminothiophenols mediated by water is shown to represent a convenient synthesis of 2-benzoylbenzothiazoles. In addition, the Ru(iii) catalyst could be readily recovered and efficiently reused together with water up to three times.
Synthesis, Structural, and Insulin-Enhancing Studies of Oxovanadium(IV) Complexes
Authors: Nejo Adeola A. , Kolawole Gabriel A. , Nejo Ayorinde O. , Segapelo Tebogo V. , Muller Christo J.
Published: October 2011

Oxovanadium(iv) complexes with Schiff bases derived from substituted salicylaldehyde and diamine have been prepared and characterized. 1H NMR and IR spectral data revealed that the symmetrical Schiff base was isolated, and elemental analysis confirmed the purity of all the compounds as formulated. The room-temperature magnetic moments of 1.6–1.8 Bohr magneton for the complexes confirmed that the complexes are VIV complexes, with d1 configuration. Cyclic voltammetry revealed only one quasi-reversible wave for each complex and they all showed redox couples with peak-to-peak separation values (ΔEp) ranging from 76 to 84 mV, indicating a single-step one-electron transfer process. An oral administration of these complexes supplied at a dose of 0.2 mmol kg–1 to streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats elicited a progressive reduction in plasma glucose over 6-h periods. Two of the complexes produced significant and consistent reduction in fasting blood glucose levels over a 6-h monitoring period.
Condom effectiveness: where are we now?
Authors: Crosby Richard , Bounse Sarah
Published: October 2011

After performing a review of prospective cohort evaluations, a focussed assessment of the current knowledge base and methodology pertaining to condom effectiveness against sexually transmissible infections, including HIV, was also conducted. Key observations included the point that studies of condom effectiveness are inherently complex and the potential forms of study bias all generally favour the null hypothesis. Perhaps the most challenging obstacle to rigor in these studies lies in determining which events of condom-protected sex occurred before infection as opposed to after infection when, in fact, infection occurs. This problem leads to misclassification bias; however, other sources of misclassification bias are common. Greater attention to the selection of a recall period, improved precision of self-reported measures, and accounting for condom use errors and problems are critical steps that must occur to promote rigor in these studies. Despite multiple shortcomings, prospective studies of condom effectiveness provide a reasonably favourable evaluation. Subsequent studies, however, should be designed to greatly reduce the error variance that predisposes condom effectiveness studies to type 2 errors that mask the potential value of condoms.
The ‘Glaring’ Place of Prepositions
Authors: Yáñez-Bouza Nuria
Published: October 2011

This paper offers new insights into the 18th-century normative tradition, with special reference to the stigmatisation of preposition stranding. It brings to light the role of Scottish codifiers in contrast to English codifiers: works written by Scots contain more critical comments on the use of end-placed prepositions both quantitatively (in terms of frequency) and qualitatively (more semantic nuances and more condemnatory epithets). The semantic analysis of the data rules out the hypothesis that Scottish authors might have been particularly sensible towards this construction because of its nature as ‘provincial English’ or as a ‘Scotticism’. Rather, the author suggests that it was the ‘New Rhetoric’ movement (1748–1793) in the context of the Scottish Enlightenment that played a vital role in its stigmatisation. The importance of rhetoric as a facet of 18th-century prescriptivism, complementary to grammar, is thus put under the spotlight.
The End of the Jesuit Lexicographic Tradition in Nêhirawêwin
Authors: Bishop John E. , Brousseau Kevin
Published: October 2011

Our knowledge of the Cree dialect continuum has benefited from nearly four centuries of lexicography, the earliest of which saw manuscripts produced by Christian missionaries as tools for evangelization. As esteemed as the extant dictionaries may be, very few indepth studies have been undertaken to assess their value relative to one another and to the historical and modern dialects of the continuum. This study represents one such attempt – a thorough examination of Jesuit Jean-Baptiste de la Brosse’s (1724–1782)Radicum Montanarum Silva(1766–1772), a bilingual Latin manuscript dictionary of the dialects termed Nêhirawêwin by their speakers and Montagnais by the lexicographer. By comparing this dictionary with the three sources used by La Brosse, this paper examines the practice of Jesuit lexicography and reminds us of the pitfalls that arise from an uninformed use of such manuscripts.
Functional evolution of nuclear structure
Authors: Wilson Katherine L. , Dawson Scott C.
Published: October 2011

The evolution of the nucleus, the defining feature of eukaryotic cells, was long shrouded in speculation and mystery. There is now strong evidence that nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) and nuclear membranes coevolved with the endomembrane system, and that the last eukaryotic common ancestor (LECA) had fully functional NPCs. Recent studies have identified many components of the nuclear envelope in living Opisthokonts, the eukaryotic supergroup that includes fungi and metazoan animals. These components include diverse chromatin-binding membrane proteins, and membrane proteins with adhesive lumenal domains that may have contributed to the evolution of nuclear membrane architecture. Further discoveries about the nucleoskeleton suggest that the evolution of nuclear structure was tightly coupled to genome partitioning during mitosis.
Lulu2 regulates the circumferential actomyosin tensile system in epithelial cells through p114RhoGEF
Authors: Nakajima Hiroyuki , Tanoue Takuji
Published: October 2011

Myosin II–driven mechanical forces control epithelial cell shape and morphogenesis. In particular, the circumferential actomyosin belt, which is located along apical cell–cell junctions, regulates many cellular processes. Despite its importance, the molecular mechanisms regulating the belt are not fully understood. In this paper, we characterize Lulu2, a FERM (4.1 protein, ezrin, radixin, moesin) domain–containing molecule homologous to Drosophila melanogaster Yurt, as an important regulator. In epithelial cells, Lulu2 is localized along apical cell–cell boundaries, and Lulu2 depletion by ribonucleic acid interference results in disorganization of the circumferential actomyosin belt. In its regulation of the belt, Lulu2 interacts with and activates p114RhoGEF, a Rho-specific guanine nucleotide exchanging factor (GEF), at apical cell–cell junctions. This interaction is negatively regulated via phosphorylation events in the FERM-adjacent domain of Lulu2 catalyzed by atypical protein kinase C. We further found that Patj, an apical cell polarity regulator, recruits p114RhoGEF to apical cell–cell boundaries via PDZ (PSD-95/Dlg/ZO-1) domain–mediated interaction. These findings therefore reveal a novel molecular system regulating the circumferential actomyosin belt in epithelial cells.
Direct measurement of tissue blood flow and metabolism with diffuse optics
Authors: Mesquita Rickson C. , Durduran Turgut , Yu Guoqiang , Buckley Erin M. , Kim Meeri N. , Zhou Chao , Choe Regine , Sunar Ulas , Yodh Arjun G.
Published: October 2011

Diffuse optics has proven useful for quantitative assessment of tissue oxy- and deoxyhaemoglobin concentrations and, more recently, for measurement of microvascular blood flow. In this paper, we focus on the flow monitoring technique: diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS). Representative clinical and pre-clinical studies from our laboratory illustrate the potential of DCS. Validation of DCS blood flow indices in human brain and muscle is presented. Comparison of DCS with arterial spin-labelled MRI, xenon-CT and Doppler ultrasound shows good agreement (0.50<
r
<0.95) over a wide range of tissue types and source detector distances, corroborating the potential of the method to measure perfusion non-invasively and
in vivo
at the microvasculature level. All-optical measurements of cerebral oxygen metabolism in both rat brain, following middle cerebral artery occlusion, and human brain, during functional activation, are also described. In both situations, the use of combined DCS and diffuse optical spectroscopy/near-infrared spectroscopy to monitor changes in oxygen consumption by the tissue is demonstrated. Finally, recent results spanning from gene expression-induced angiogenic response to stroke care and cancer treatment monitoring are discussed. Collectively, the research illustrates the capability of DCS to quantitatively monitor perfusion from bench to bedside, providing results that match up both with literature findings and with similar experiments performed with other techniques.
Haemoglobin oxygen saturation as a biomarker: the problem and a solution
Authors: Boas David A. , Franceschini Maria Angela
Published: October 2011

Near-infrared spectroscopy measures of haemoglobin oxygen saturation are often used as an indicator of sufficient oxygen delivery to assess injury susceptibility and tissue damage. They have also often been used as a surrogate measure of oxygen metabolism. Unfortunately, these measures have generally failed to provide robust indicators of injury and metabolism. In this paper, we first review when haemoglobin oxygen saturation does work as a robust indicator, and then detail when and why it fails for assessing brain injury and breast cancer. Finally, we discuss the solution to obtain more robust measures of tissue injury and cancer by combining oxygen saturation measurements with measures of blood flow and volume to more accurately estimate oxygen metabolism.
Non-invasive optical imaging of stroke
Authors: Obrig Hellmuth , Steinbrink Jens
Published: October 2011

The acute onset of a neurological deficit is the key clinical feature of stroke. In most cases, however, pathophysiological changes in the cerebral vasculature precede the event, often by many years. Persisting neurological deficits may also require long-term rehabilitation. Hence, stroke may be considered a chronic disease, and diagnostic and therapeutic efforts must include identification of specific risk factors, and the monitoring of and interventions in the acute and subacute stages, and should aim at a pathophysiologically based approach to optimize the rehabilitative effort. Non-invasive optical techniques have been experimentally used in all three stages of the disease and may complement the established diagnostic and monitoring tools. Here, we provide an overview of studies using the methodology in the context of stroke, and we sketch perspectives of how they may be integrated into the assessment of the highly dynamic pathophysiological processes during the acute and subacute stages of the disease and also during rehabilitation and (secondary) prevention of stroke.
In vivo
optical imaging and dynamic contrast methods for biomedical research
Authors: Hillman Elizabeth M. C. , Amoozegar Cyrus B. , Wang Tracy , McCaslin Addason F. H. , Bouchard Matthew B. , Mansfield James , Levenson Richard M.
Published: October 2011

This paper provides an overview of optical imaging methods commonly applied to basic research applications. Optical imaging is well suited for non-clinical use, since it can exploit an enormous range of endogenous and exogenous forms of contrast that provide information about the structure and function of tissues ranging from single cells to entire organisms. An additional benefit of optical imaging that is often under-exploited is its ability to acquire data at high speeds; a feature that enables it to not only observe static distributions of contrast, but to probe and characterize dynamic events related to physiology, disease progression and acute interventions in real time. The benefits and limitations of
in vivo
optical imaging for biomedical research applications are described, followed by a perspective on future applications of optical imaging for basic research centred on a recently introduced real-time imaging technique called dynamic contrast-enhanced small animal molecular imaging (DyCE).
Establishing the evidence base for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem function in the oil palm landscapes of South East Asia
Authors: Foster William A. , Snaddon Jake L. , Turner Edgar C. , Fayle Tom M. , Cockerill Timothy D. , Ellwood M. D. Farnon , Broad Gavin R. , Chung Arthur Y. C. , Eggleton Paul , Khen Chey Vun , Yusah Kalsum M.
Published: October 2011

The conversion of natural forest to oil palm plantation is a major current threat to the conservation of biodiversity in South East Asia. Most animal taxa decrease in both species richness and abundance on conversion of forest to oil palm, and there is usually a severe loss of forest species. The extent of loss varies significantly across both different taxa and different microhabitats within the oil palm habitat. The principal driver of this loss in diversity is probably the biological and physical simplification of the habitat, but there is little direct evidence for this. The conservation of forest species requires the preservation of large reserves of intact forest, but we must not lose sight of the importance of conserving biodiversity and ecosystem processes within the oil palm habitat itself. We urgently need to carry out research that will establish whether maintaining diversity supports economically and ecologically important processes. There is some evidence that both landscape and local complexity can have positive impacts on biodiversity in the oil palm habitat. By intelligent manipulation of habitat complexity, it could be possible to enhance not only the number of species that can live in oil palm plantations but also their contribution to the healthy functioning of this exceptionally important and widespread landscape.
The atmospheric chemistry of trace gases and particulate matter emitted by different land uses in Borneo
Authors: MacKenzie A. R. , Langford B. , Pugh T. A. M. , Robinson N. , Misztal P. K. , Heard D. E. , Lee J. D. , Lewis A. C. , Jones C. E. , Hopkins J. R. , Phillips G. , Monks P. S. , Karunaharan A. , Hornsby K. E. , Nicolas-Perea V. , Coe H. , Gabey A. M. , Gallagher M. W. , Whalley L. K. , Edwards P. M. , Evans M. J. , Stone D. , Ingham T. , Commane R. , Furneaux K. L. , McQuaid J. B. , Nemitz E. , Seng Yap Kok , Fowler D. , Pyle J. A. , Hewitt C. N.
Published: October 2011

We report measurements of atmospheric composition over a tropical rainforest and over a nearby oil palm plantation in Sabah, Borneo. The primary vegetation in each of the two landscapes emits very different amounts and kinds of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), resulting in distinctive VOC fingerprints in the atmospheric boundary layer for both landscapes. VOCs over the Borneo rainforest are dominated by isoprene and its oxidation products, with a significant additional contribution from monoterpenes. Rather than consuming the main atmospheric oxidant, OH, these high concentrations of VOCs appear to maintain OH, as has been observed previously over Amazonia. The boundary-layer characteristics and mixing ratios of VOCs observed over the Borneo rainforest are different to those measured previously over Amazonia. Compared with the Bornean rainforest, air over the oil palm plantation contains much more isoprene, monoterpenes are relatively less important, and the flower scent, estragole, is prominent. Concentrations of nitrogen oxides are greater above the agro-industrial oil palm landscape than over the rainforest, and this leads to changes in some secondary pollutant mixing ratios (but not, currently, differences in ozone). Secondary organic aerosol over both landscapes shows a significant contribution from isoprene. Primary biological aerosol dominates the super-micrometre aerosol over the rainforest and is likely to be sensitive to land-use change, since the fungal source of the bioaerosol is closely linked to above-ground biodiversity.