bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antibacterial behavior of diamond nanoparticles against Escherichia coli
Authors: Beranová Jana , Seydlová Gabriela , Kozak Halyna , Potocký Štěpán , Konopásek Ivo , Kromka Alexander
Published: October 2012

In this study, we investigated the potential antibacterial properties of nanocrystalline diamond. In particular, we tested the effect of diamond nanoparticles (DNPs) on growth of the model gram‐negative bacterium Escherichia coli on solid, nutrient‐rich growth medium. We found that the presence of DNPs on agar plates significantly reduced the colony forming ability of E. coli. The antibacterial effect occurred in a concentration dependent manner and was conditional on the specific ratio of DNPs to the number of bacterial cells.
Synthesis and characterization of peapods and DWCNTs
Authors: Anis B. , Fischer M. , Schreck M. , Haubner K. , Dunsch L. , Kuntscher C. A.
Published: October 2012

We report the synthesis and characterization of C60@SWCNT peapods and double‐walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) derived from the peapods. Single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), C60@SWCNT peapods, and DWCNTs were characterized by Raman and optical spectroscopy. The radial breathing modes (RBMs) of the tubes in C60@SWCNT peapods are shifted to higher energies compared to the RBMs in SWCNTs, while in the case of DWCNTs the RBMs related to the outer tubes are shifted to lower energies compared to SWCNTs. A similar trend is observed for the absorption bands. These results suggest that the filling of the SWCNTs with C60 molecules decreases the average diameter of the electron cloud around the tubes, whereas the filling with an inner tube increases it.
Influence of oxygen and hydrogen treated graphene on cell adhesion in the presence or absence of fetal bovine serum
Authors: Verdanova Martina , Broz Antonin , Kalbac Martin , Kalbacova Marie
Published: October 2012

The influence of differently treated graphene on human osteoblasts after 2 h of incubation with regard to the presence/absence of fetal bovine serum (FBS) was investigated. Cell adhesion plays an important role in further cell fate and it is influenced by cell surrounding. It was found that treatment of graphene (by hydrogen or oxygen) does not play role in number of cells which adhere to substrate after 2 h of incubation. However, it is important for cell size – cells are larger on the hydrogen treated graphene than on the oxygen treated graphene. The presence of FBS is crucial for a type of interaction between cells and their substrate – in the presence of FBS, interactions are mediated by specific proteins and thus formation of focal adhesions (FAs) can occur. However, in the absence of FBS, a contact is carried out by non‐specific bonds without FAs formation. It was observed that cells on graphene samples without FBS have star‐like shape and larger area in contrast to cells adhering with FBS which have round shape and are smaller.
Symmetry of chiral nanotubes: Natural torsion and diffraction evidence
Authors: Vuković Tatjana , Lazić Nataša , Milošević Ivanka , Damnjanović Milan
Published: October 2012

Optimizations performed with geometrical, molecular mechanics, and density functional models show that chiral carbon nanotube configuration is slightly twisted with respect to the rolled‐up geometry. The torsion angle is small, <1° Å−1 for ultrathin tubes, and decreases with tube diameter. The effect can be explained through breaking of local symmetry of the equally distant neighbors in graphene, which is diminished by the torsion. Although, the twist is small, still, we single out features in diffraction patterns which can distinguish between twisted and non‐twisted configurations, at least for narrow single‐walled carbon nanotubes.
Epitaxial phase‐change materials
Authors: Rodenbach Peter , Calarco Raffaella , Perumal Karthick , Katmis Ferhat , Hanke Michael , Proessdorf André , Braun Wolfgang , Giussani Alessandro , Trampert Achim , Riechert Henning , Fons Paul , Kolobov Alexander V.
Published: October 2012

Epitaxial $ {\rm Ge}_{2} {\rm Sb}_{2} {\rm Te}_{5} $ thin layers were successfully grown in the metastable cubic phase on both slightly lattice‐mismatched (GaSb) and highly lattice‐mismatched (Si) templates. The higher quality of the films grown on (111)‐oriented substrates is attributed to the tendency to form layered structures in the stable bulk phase as well as to the nature of distortion in the metastable cubic phase. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Are Better Sleepers More Engaged Workers? A Self‐regulatory Approach to Sleep Hygiene and Work Engagement
Authors: Barber Larissa , Grawitch Matthew J. , Munz David C.
Published: October 2012

Previous research has emphasized facets of both the organizational environment and individual differences as predictors of work engagement. This study explored sleep hygiene as another important behavioural factor that may be related to work engagement. With a sample of 328 adult workers, we tested a multiple mediator model in which sleep hygiene predicts work engagement through one's appraisals of resource depletion stemming from demands (psychological strain) and general self‐regulatory capacity (self‐control). Results indicated that individuals who frequently engaged in poor sleep hygiene behaviours had lower self‐regulatory capacity, experienced higher subjective depletion and were less engaged at work. Additionally, the path from poor sleep hygiene to decreased work engagement was attributed to perceptions of personal resources that are needed to exert self‐regulatory energy at work. This is consistent with current self‐regulatory theories suggesting that individuals have a limited amount of resources to allocate to demands and that the depletion of these resources can lead to stress and lower self‐regulatory functioning in response to other demands. Specifically, poor sleep hygiene results in the loss of self‐regulatory resources needed to be engaged in work tasks by impairing the after‐work recovery process. Practical and research implications regarding sleep hygiene interventions for well‐being and productivity improvement are discussed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Global Convergence of the EM Algorithm for Unconstrained Latent Variable Models with Categorical Indicators
Authors: Weissman Alexander
Published: October 2012

Convergence of the expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm to a global optimum of the marginal log likelihood function for unconstrained latent variable models with categorical indicators is presented. The sufficient conditions under which global convergence of the EM algorithm is attainable are provided in an information-theoretic context by interpreting the EM algorithm as alternating minimization of the Kullback–Leibler divergence between two convex sets. It is shown that these conditions are satisfied by an unconstrained latent class model, yielding an optimal bound against which more highly constrained models may be compared.
Cell Migration after Synovium Graft Interposition at Tendon Repair Site
Authors: Hayashi Masanori , Zhao Chunfeng , An Kai-Nan , Amadio Peter C.
Published: October 2012

Background

We have recently reported that interpositional synovium grafts from tendon sheath have a potential to accelerate tendon healing when implanted at the repair site. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of orientation of the synovium after synovium graft transplantation, by comparing the ability of cells from the visceral and parietal surfaces to migrate into the tendon in a canine tissue culture model.

Methods

The synovium graft was placed within a complete tendon laceration, with either the visceral or parietal surface facing the proximal end of the lacerated tendon. The number of migrating cells was quantified by a cell migration assay. Qualitative immunohistochemistry and confocal laser microscopy were also used at day 10.

Results

Many labeled synovial cells were observed within the tendon to which the visceral surface of the synovium graft was facing. Migrated cells were also observed on the parietal side, but there were fewer cells compared to visceral surface cells. Migrating cells all expressed α-smooth muscle actin.

Conclusion

We found that graft orientation affected cell migration. Whether this finding has clinical significance awaits in vivo study.
Studies on Surfactant–Ionic Liquid Interaction on Clouding Behaviour and Evaluation of Thermodynamic Parameters
Authors: Bhatt Darshak , Maheria Kalpana C. , Parikh Jigisha
Published: October 2012

The present study investigates the effect of tetraethyl ammonium tetrafluoroborate [TEA(BF4)] ionic liquid (IL) on the cloud point (CP) of the following nonionic surfactants in aqueous solution: ter‐octylphenol ethoxylates with 9.5 and 4.5 ethylene oxide groups (abbreviated TOPEO9.5 and TOPEO4.5, respectively), cetyl alcohol ethoxylate with 10 ethylene oxide groups (C16EO10), and sorbitan monolaurate and monooleate both with 20 ethylene oxide groups (SMLEO20 and SMOEO20, respectively) in aqueous solutions. The thermodynamic parameters of these mixtures were calculated at different IL concentrations. The CP of most of the tested nonionic surfactants increased with the increment of IL concentrations with the exception of C16EO10 for which it decreased. The solubility of a nonionic surfactant containing polyoxyethylene (POE) hydrophilic chain was considered as maximum at the CP, hence the thermodynamic parameters were calculated at the same temperature. The results showed that the standard Gibbs free energy (∆GCP0), the enthalpy (∆HCP0) and the entropy (∆SCP0) of the clouding phenomenon were found to be positive for ethoxylated octylphenol and sorbitan esters, whereas ∆HCP0 and ∆SCP0 were found to be negative for C16EO10. It was found that the overall clouding process is endothermic for ethoxylated octylphenol and sorbitan esters and exothermic for C16EO10. For all the studied systems, ∆HCP0 > T∆SCP0 indicated that the process of clouding is guided by both enthalpy and entropy. The positive value of standard Gibbs free energy (∆GCP0) for the all mixed systems indicated that the process proceeds non‐spontaneously. The ∆GCP0 decreased with increasing IL concentration for all the nonionic surfactants; however, it decreased with increasing surfactant concentration for TOPEO9.5, C16EO10, and SMOEO20, and increased with increasing surfactant concentration for TOPEO9.5 and SMLEO20.
Analysis of Sesamin, Asarinin, and Sesamolin by HPLC with Photodiode and Fluorescent Detection and by GC/MS: Application to Sesame Oil and Serum Samples
Authors: Schwertner Harvey A. , Rios Deborah C.
Published: October 2012

New sensitive and specific analytical methods are needed for the analysis of sesamin, asarinin, and sesamolin in sesame seed oils, sesame dietary supplements, as well as in serum samples from clinical studies involving sesamin, asarinin, and sesamolin. The objective of this study was to develop a high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with photodiode array and fluorescent detectors and a gas chromatography mass‐spectrometry (GC/MS) method for the analysis of sesamin, asarinin (episesamin), and sesamolin in sesame oil and in serum samples. Sesame oil samples were extracted with methanol whereas the serum samples were extracted with ethyl acetate or n‐hexane. The individual lignans were analyzed by HPLC using reversed phase C18 columns. Analytical recoveries of sesamin, asarinin, and sesamolin from sesame oil were 92–94 % with two extractions. Recoveries from serum ranged from 87 to 97 %. The limit of quantitation with the fluorometric detector was 0.1 ng compared to 0.1 μg with the PDA detector. The concentrations of sesamin, asarinin, and sesamolin in Orchids and Sigma sesame oil were 0.4, 0, and 0.15 % and 0.19, 0.09, and 0 %, respectively. The identities of the individual lignans obtained by HPLC were confirmed by GC/MS and the concentrations of sesamin, asarinin, and sesamolin obtained with the fluorometric detector correlated with those obtained by GC/MS (r2 = 0.94, P < 0.001). The HPLC and GC/MS methods permit simple and efficient procedures for the analysis of sesamin, asarinin, and sesamolin in sesame oil samples as well as in serum samples.
Biocatalytic Conversion of Coconut Oil to Natural Flavor Esters Optimized with Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Sun Jingcan , Chin Jin Hua , Zhou Weibiao , Yu Bin , Curran Philip , Liu Shao‐Quan
Published: October 2012

Lipase (Lipozyme TL IM)‐mediated biocatalysis in a solvent‐free system was effectively employed to convert coconut oil and fusel oil to flavor‐active octanoic acid esters (mainly ethyl‐, butyl‐, isobutyl‐ and (iso)amyl octanoate). Response surface methodology based on five‐level‐three‐factor central composite design was applied to investigate the effects of single and multiple interactive factors on the conversion. Results indicated that the studied independent parameters including reactant molar ratio, enzyme loading and shaking speed were all significant factors that affected the formation of octanoic acid esters during transesterification reaction. According to the developed polynomial model (R2 = 0.947), the optimum transesterification conditions were determined as follows: molar ratio of 3.25:1 (alcohol/oil), enzyme loading of 16.7 % (wt%) and shaking speed of 160 rpm. Under the optimized reaction conditions an average conversion of 62.0 % was achieved which was in reasonable agreement with the predicted value of 64.1 % and about 9.4 mg of ethyl octanoate, 14.4 mg of isobutyl octanoate, 0.3 mg of butyl octanoate and 49.2 mg of (iso)amyl octanoate were produced per gram of coconut oil.
Improving Fatty Acid Composition of Lipids Synthesized by Brachionus plicatilis in Large Scale Experiments
Authors: Birkou Maria , Bokas Dimitris , Aggelis George
Published: October 2012

Nannochloropsis oculata and Chlorella sp. were cultivated in industrial scale bioreactors 300 L, under full sunlight and artificial light during night‐time at various temperatures. The most abundant fatty acids were C18:3n‐3 and C16:0 in Chlorella sp., whereas in N. oculata C16:0, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and C16:1n‐9 were predominant. Brachionus plicatilis cultivated in 2,500‐L tanks on N. oculata, Chlorella sp. and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, was able to de novo synthesize as well as to elongate and desaturate pre‐existing fatty acids in the feed. When fed with S. cerevisiae, B. plicatilis synthesized lipids containing EPA and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), despite the fact that these fatty acids were absent in yeast lipids. Brachionus fed with Nannochloropsis synthesized DHA in non‐negligible quantities. Brachionus enriched with various commercial preparations incorporated into its lipids substrate fatty acids but also synthesized new fatty acids such as C16:1n‐9, C18:1n‐9, C18:2n‐6, EPA and DHA. Neutral lipid was the main lipid fraction while phospholipids predominated over glycolipids plus sphingolipids. The major amounts of EPA and DHA were observed in neutral lipids, noteworthy quantities of these fatty acids were also incorporated into body phospholipids. Interestingly, the high n‐3 fatty acids content of rotifer lipids was retained even after the rotifers were grown in low n‐3 fatty acid media.
Lipase‐Catalyzed Concentration of Stearidonic Acid in Modified Soybean Oil by Partial Hydrolysis
Authors: Kleiner Leslie , Vázquez Luis , Akoh Casimir C.
Published: October 2012

Stearidonic acid (SDA, 18:4 ω‐3) content of modified soybean oil (MSO) containing ~25 % SDA, was increased by lipase‐catalyzed hydrolysis. Four non‐immobilized powdered lipases, Lipase AY 30 (Candida rugosa), Lipase G 50 (Penicillium camembertii), Lipomod™ 34P‐L034P (Candida cylindracea [rugosa]), Lipomod™ 36P‐L036P (Rhizopus oryzae), and an immobilized lipase, Lipozyme RM IM (Rhizomucor miehei) were assessed, at various incubation times, for their ability to hydrolyze MSO and specificity toward SDA. The SDA enriched products contained triacylglycerols (TAG), diacylglycerols (DAG) and monoacylglycerols (MAG). Lipase 34P‐L034P exhibited specificity towards SDA, while Lipase AY was able to discriminate against it. The highest total SDA content (40.9 mol%) was obtained with Amano AY lipase at 4 h incubation (66.2 % hydrolysis). Unhydrolyzed TAG, 1,3‐DAG, 2,3(1)‐DAG, and MAG contained 37.7 (56.4 at the sn‐2 position), 41.6, 51.5 (54.9 at the sn‐2 position), and 49.9 % SDA, respectively. Amano AY lipase was also used to hydrolyze previously SDA‐enriched TAG (48.7 % SDA) obtained from low temperature crystallization of MSO. The highest total SDA content (62.7 mol%) was obtained at 12 h incubation (85.9 % hydrolysis). The SDA contents of unhydrolyzed TAG, 1,3‐DAG, 2,3(1)‐DAG, and MAG were 58.7 (65.7 at the sn‐2 position), 71.2, 70.2 (52.9 at the sn‐2 position), and 59.4 %, respectively.
Preparation and Characterization of Sustainable Polyurethane Foams from Soybean Oils
Authors: Gu Ruijun , Konar Samir , Sain Mohini
Published: October 2012

Polyol derived from soybean oil was made from crude soybean oil by epoxidization and hydroxylation. Soy‐based polyurethane (PU) foams were prepared by the in‐situ reaction of methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) polyurea prepolymer and soy‐based polyol. A free‐rise method was developed to prepare the sustainable PU foams for use in automotive and bedding cushions. In this study, three petroleum‐based PU foams were compared with two soy‐based PU foams in terms of their foam characterizations and properties. Soy‐based PU foams were made with soy‐based polyols with different hydroxyl values. Soy‐based PU foams had higher Tg (glass transition temperature) and worse cryogenic properties than petroleum‐based PU foams. Bio‐foams had lower thermal degradation temperatures in the urethane degradation due to natural molecular chains with lower thermal stability than petroleum skeletons. However, these foams had good thermal degradation at a high temperature stage because of MDI polyurea prepolymer, which had superior thermal stability than toluene diisocyanate adducts in petroleum‐based PU foams. In addition, soy‐based polyol, with high hydroxyl value, contributed PU foam with superior tensile and higher elongation, but lower compressive strength and modulus. Nonetheless, bio‐foam made with high hydroxyl valued soy‐based polyol had smaller and better distributed cell size than that using low hydroxyl soy‐based polyol. Soy‐based polyol with high hydroxyl value also contributed the bio‐foam with thinner cell walls compared to that with low hydroxyl value, whereas, petroleum‐based PU foams had no variations in cell thickness and cell distributions.
Record-Based Block Distribution (RBBD) and weighted set cover scheduling (WSCS) in MapReduce
Authors: Xiao Qiangju , Shang Pengju , Wang Jun
Published: October 2012

The massive increase in data volume with the development of computation capability has outmoded compute-intensive clusters for the analysis of large-scale datasets due to the network bottleneck caused by the large amount of data transferred over the network. Chunk-based storage systems are typical data-intensive clusters introduced to do big data analysis. They split data into blocks of the same predefined size and randomly store them across nodes. These systems adopt the strategy of co-located computing and storage to reduce the network transfer by scheduling computation to the node with the most required data. It performs well when the record as the input of the analysis is mostly on the same node. However, this does not always hold to be true, because there is a gap between the records and the blocks. Blocks are scattered across the data nodes with no regard to the semantics of the record. The current solution overlooks the relationship between the computation unit as a record and the storage unit as a block. For records contained in one block, there is no data transfer to schedule by block locations. On the other hand, in practice, one record could be consisted of several blocks which widely applies to binary files, as a result, extra data transfer is incurred to prepare the input data, because these blocks are randomly stored across the nodes and need to be transferred to the selected compute node. Our contribution is to develop a Record-Based Block Distribution (RBBD) framework for data-intensive analytics to eliminate the gap between records and blocks, reducing the data transfer volume before the analytics are processed. Meanwhile, a weighted set cover scheduling (WSCS) is implemented to further improve the performance of the data-intensive analytics by choosing the best combination of data nodes to perform the computation. Our experiments show that using our RBBD framework and WSCS, the data transfer volume is reduced by an average of 36.37 % and our weighted set covering algorithm outperforms the random algorithm by 51–62 %, with the deviation from the ideal solutions of not more than 6.8 %.
Preference exploration and learning: the role of intensiveness and extensiveness of experience
Authors: Hoeffler Steve , Ariely Dan , West Pat , Duclos Rod
Published: October 2012

In this article, the authors partition the construct of experience into intensiveness (i.e., amount) and extensiveness (i.e., breadth) and examine the impact of the two specific types of experience on preference learning. In the first three studies, the authors' theory that experience can be partitioned into intensiveness (i.e., amount) and extensiveness (i.e., breadth) of experience and that extensiveness has a greater impact on preference learning is supported in environments where prior experience is measured. Further, in study 4 they demonstrate that extensiveness or breadth of experience exerts a larger influence on preference learning in an experiment where each unique type of experience is manipulated as well as measured.
Nonlinear stability of hypersonic flow over a cone with passive porous walls
Authors: Michael Vipin , Stephen Sharon O.
Published: October 2012

This study investigates the nonlinear stability of hypersonic viscous flow over a sharp slender cone with passive porous walls. The attached shock and effect of curvature are taken into account. Asymptotic methods are used for large Reynolds number and large Mach number to examine the viscous modes of instability (first Mack mode), which may be described by a triple-deck structure. A weakly nonlinear stability analysis is carried out allowing an equation for the amplitude of disturbances to be derived. The coefficients of the terms in the amplitude equation are evaluated for axisymmetric and non-axisymmetric disturbances. The stabilizing or destabilizing effect of nonlinearity is found to depend on the cone radius. The presence of porous walls significantly influences the effect of nonlinearity, and results for three types of porous wall (regular, random and mesh microstructure) are compared.
New records of two trypetesid burrowing barnacles (Crustacea: Cirripedia: Acrothoracica: Trypetesidae) and their predation on host hermit crab eggs
Authors: Murphy Angela E. , Williams Jason D.
Published: October 2012

Acrothoracican barnacles of the genusTrypetesaare obligate symbionts of hermit crabs that burrow into the gastropod shells occupied by their hosts. In the present study, hermit crabs were examined for the presence of trypetesids, based on collections from the United States, Jamaica, and the Philippines made between 1997 and 2008. Shells from Jamaica and New York containedTrypetesa lateralis, a trypetesid previously documented from central California.Trypetesa lateralisis redescribed based on light and scanning electron microscopy, showing the presence of an external mantle flap and asymmetrical opercular bars diagnostic for this species. The mean prevalence of trypetesids in Jamaica was 8.3% and most barnacles were associated withCalcinus tibicen; in New York the barnacles were found in 1.6% of shells occupied byPagurus longicarpus. Specimens from the Philippines were identified asTrypetesa spinulosa(formerly known only from Madagascar) based on the presence of their diagnostic orificial palps. The mean prevalence ofT. spinulosain the Philippines was 3.7% and most barnacles were associated withCalcinusspp. Hermit crab eggs were observed in the guts ofT. lateralisfrom Jamaica andT. spinulosafrom the Philippines. In both of these regions the trypetesids were found significantly more often in shells occupied by female hermit crab hosts (80–87% with females). These findings suggest the barnacles be classified as transient parasites. The biology of trypetesids is reviewed and a key to the family is provided. Further studies are needed to determine if egg predation occurs in all trypetesids and the impacts on hosts.
The metabolic fate of ivermectin in host (Ovis aries) and parasite (Haemonchus contortus)
Authors: VOKŘÁL IVAN , JEDLIČKOVÁ VERONIKA , JIRÁSKO ROBERT , STUCHLÍKOVÁ LUCIE , BÁRTÍKOVÁ HANA , SKÁLOVÁ LENKA , LAMKA JIŘÍ , HOLČAPEK MICHAL , SZOTÁKOVÁ BARBORA
Published: October 2012

Ivermectin (IVE), one of the most important anthelmintics, is often used in the treatment of haemonchosis in ruminants. The objective of our work was (1) to find and identify phase I and II metabolites of IVE formed by the Barber's pole worm (Haemonchus contortus), and (2) to compare IVE metabolites in helminths with IVE biotransformation in sheep (Ovis aries) as host species. Ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC/MS/MS) was used for this purpose. During in vitro incubations, microsomes (from adult worms or from ovine liver) and a primary culture of ovine hepatocytes were incubated with IVE. In the ex vivo study, living H. contortus adults were incubated in the presence of 1 μM IVE for 24 h. The results showed that the H. contortus enzymatic system is not able to metabolize IVE. On the other hand, 7 different phase I as well as 9 phase II IVE metabolites were detected in ovine samples using UHPLC/MS/MS analyses. Most of these metabolites have not been described before. Haemonchus contortus is not able to deactivate IVE through biotransformation; therefore, biotransformation does not contribute to the development of IVE-resistance in the Barber's pole worm.
The Origins of Positive Judicial Independence
Authors: Hilbink Lisa
Published: October 2012

A number of comparative judicial scholars have argued that assertions of judicial authority are a function of the level of fragmentation/competition in the formal political sphere. Accordingly, in authoritarian or one-party settings, judges should be deferential to power holders, and in places where political power is divided between branches and/or parties, one would expect to see greater levels of judicial assertiveness. Through a longitudinal, qualitative analysis of one most-likely case (Chile) and one least-likely case (Franco-era Spain) and drawing on a half-dozen other cases from the comparative judicial literature, this article argues that political fragmentation is neither sufficient nor necessary for judges to challenge powerful actors. Instead, it argues that assertive or “positively independent” judicial behavior requires ideational support, in the form of a role conception/professional ideology that gives judges motivation for such behavior. Such professional attitudes are socially and institutionally constituted in a dynamic process that itself shapes judges' perceptions of the opportunities for and obstacles to judicial assertiveness, both within and outside the judiciary.
Vertical Trade Specialization and the Formation of North-South PTAs
Authors: Manger Mark S.
Published: October 2012

During the last two decades, the number of preferential trade agreements (PTAs) grew almost exponentially to over 270 by 2010. A majority of these are agreements between developed and developing countries. Existing models provide little economic rationale for these agreements, but the existing literature lumps North-South PTAs together with other types of trade pacts. This article offers an explanation focused on the movement of less capital-intensive manufacturing from North to South, which in turn stimulates the exchange of similar goods differentiated by unit value—also referred to as vertical intra-industry trade. The North exports more capitalintensive goods, while more labor-intensive goods are produced and traded by the South. This kind of specialization creates incentives for governments to support PTAs. The author tests this model using a new measure of vertical trade specialization and finds strong evidence that such specialization promotes PTA formation. North-South PTAs should therefore be seen as part of a broader shift of manufacturing from high- to middle-income countries.
Fortifying Citizenship: Policy Strategies for Civic Integration in Western Europe
Authors: Goodman Sara Wallace
Published: October 2012

Why have European states introduced mandatory integration requirements for citizenship and permanent residence? There are many studies comparing integration policy and examining the significance of what has been interpreted as a convergent and restrictive “civic turn,” a “retreat from multiculturalism,” and an “inevitable lightening of citizenship.” None of these studies, however, has puzzled over the empirical diversity of integration policy design or presented systematic, comparative explanations for policy variation. This article is the first to develop an argument for what, in fact, amounts to a wealth of variation in civic integration policy (including scope, sequencing, and difficulty). Using a historical institutionalist approach, the author argues that states use mandatory integration to address different membership problems, which are shaped by both existing citizenship policy (whether it is inclusive or exclusive) and political pressure to change it (in other words, the politics of citizenship). She illustrates this argument by focusing on three case studies, applying the argument to a case of unchallenged restrictive retrenchment and continuity (Denmark), to a case of negotiated and thus moderated restriction (Germany), and to a case that recently exhibited both liberal continuity (the United Kingdom, 2001–6) and failed attempts at new restriction (the United Kingdom, 2006–10). These cases show that although states may converge around similar mandatory integration instruments, they may apply them for distinctly different reasons. As a result, new requirements augment rather than alter the major contours of national citizenship policy and the membership association it maintains.
Sino-Capitalism: China's Reemergence and the International Political Economy
Authors: McNally Christopher A.
Published: October 2012

There is little doubt that China's international reemergence represents one of the most significant events in modern history. As China's political economy gains in importance, its interactions with other major political economies will shape global values, institutions, and policies, thereby restructuring the international political economy. Drawing on theories and concepts in comparative capitalism, the author envisages China's reemergence as generating Sino-capitalism—a capitalist system that is already global in reach but one that differs from Anglo-American capitalism in important respects. Sino-capitalism relies more on informal business networks than legal codes and transparent rules. It also assigns the Chinese state a leading role in fostering and guiding capitalist accumulation. Sino-capitalism, ultimately, espouses less trust in free markets and more trust in unitary state rule and social norms of reciprocity, stability, and hierarchy.

After conceptualizing Sino-capitalism's domestic political economy, the author uses the case of China's efforts to internationalize its currency, the yuan or renminbi, to systematically illustrate the multifarious manner in which the domestic logic of Sino-capitalism is expressed at the global level. Rather than presenting a deterministic argument concerning the future international role of China, he argues that China's stance and strategy in the international political economy hew quite closely to Sino-capitalism's hybrid compensatory institutional arrangements on the domestic level: state guidance; flexible and entrepreneurial networks; and global integration. Sino-capitalism therefore represents an emerging system of global capitalism centered on China that is producing a dynamic mix of mutual dependence, symbiosis, competition, and friction with the still dominant Anglo-American model of capitalism.
Ketorolac-associated renal morbidity: risk factors in cardiac surgical infants
Authors: Moffett Brady S. , Cabrera Antonio
Published: October 2012

We aimed to identify the risk factors for acute kidney injury in infants who have received ketorolac after a cardiac surgical procedure by identifying patients with a ≥50% increase in serum creatinine from baseline and matching them by age with three controls that had <50% increase in serum creatinine. Significant differences in primary surgical procedure, baseline serum creatinine, and concomitant aspirin use were noted. We conclude that the concomitant use of aspirin with ketorolac is associated with increased renal morbidity in young post-cardiac surgical infants.
Prosodically conditioned morphological change: preservation vs loss in Early English prefixes
Authors: MOLINEAUX BENJAMIN J.
Published: October 2012

This article explores the motivations behind the loss of a number of Germanic prefixes in the history of English. Using Old and Middle English translations of Boethius’de Consolatione Philosophiaeas a corpus, it is shown that prefix loss is not specific to a single word category, nor to the presence of morphosyntactic characteristics such as prefix separability. This state of affairs cannot be explained by current theories of prefix loss, which are generally restricted to inseparable verbal prefixes. The fact that some prefixes are lost and some are preserved, also argues against an across-the-board grammaticalisation account, based mostly on semantic factors. It is held here that a closer look at the prosodic structure of native prefixes can provide a principled explanation for the entirety of our data. To this effect, the optimisation of a resolved moraic trochee (Dresher & Lahiri, 1991) amid significant restructuring of the language's lexicon had crucial impact on the fate of prefixed words. In particular, Early Middle English would have come to prefer maximal, branching feet, and avoid words with prefixes constituting heavy, non-branching feet. Ultimately, the preservation of prosodic structure led to the loss of heavy monosyllabic prefixes due to stress clash between prefix and root. Light monosyllabic and bisyllabic prefixes, in contrast, were preserved, since no clash occurred. This argument explains the changes in prefixation from a purely prosodic standpoint, hence accounting for the data for both verbal and nominal prefixes, which were heretofore dealt with separately.
Ne+ infinitive constructions in Old English
Authors: VAN BERGEN LINDA
Published: October 2012

The occurrence of the Old English negative particlene‘not’ preceding a bare infinitive rather than a finite verb is a largely neglected or overlooked phenomenon. It is attested in constructions withuton‘let's’ and in conjoined clauses with omission of the finite verb (Mitchell 1985). This article discusses evidence gathered mainly from theYork–Toronto–Helsinki Parsed Corpus of Old English Prose, showing that it is a phenomenon that needs to be taken seriously in descriptions and analyses of Old English. It is argued that the factor shared by the two constructions is the lack of an available finite verb forneto attach to. It is also found that the use ofnefor the purpose of negative concord appears to be more variable with infinitives than it is with finite verbs. Whether attachment ofneto a non-finite verb in the absence of a finite one is restricted to bare infinitives is difficult to determine because of the limited evidence relating to other non-finite forms, but there are some indications that use ofnemay have been possible with present participles. Finally, some implications that thene+ infinitive pattern has for the formal analysis of Old English are discussed.
Dietary composition and nutrient content of the New Nordic Diet
Authors: Mithril Charlotte , Dragsted Lars Ove , Meyer Claus , Tetens Inge , Biltoft-Jensen Anja , Astrup Arne
Published: October 2012

Objective

To describe the dietary composition of the New Nordic Diet (NND) and to compare it with the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations (NNR)/Danish Food-based Dietary Guidelines (DFDG) and with the average Danish diet.

Design

Dietary components with clear health-promoting properties included in the DFDG were included in the NND in amounts at least equivalent to those prescribed by the DFDG. The quantities of the other dietary components in the NND were based on scientific arguments for their potential health-promoting properties together with considerations of acceptability, toxicological concerns, availability and the environment. Calculations were conducted for quantifying the dietary and nutrient composition of the NND.

Setting

Denmark.

Subjects

None.

Results

The NND is characterized by a high content of fruits and vegetables (especially berries, cabbages, root vegetables and legumes), fresh herbs, potatoes, plants and mushrooms from the wild countryside, whole grains, nuts, fish and shellfish, seaweed, free-range livestock (including pigs and poultry) and game. Overall, the average daily intakes of macro- and micronutrients in the NND meet the NNR with small adjustments based on evidence of their health-promoting properties.

Conclusions

The NND is a prototype regional diet that takes palatability, health, food culture and the environment into consideration. Regionally appropriate healthy diets could be created on similar principles anywhere in the world.
Front-end HPA/antenna for multi-radio
Authors: Diet Antoine M. , Ribière-Tharaud Nicolas , Villegas Martine , Baudoin Geneviève
Published: October 2012

This paper focuses on multi-radio front-end transmitter, a function implied by cognitive radio (0.5–6 GHz). S and C bands standards (wireless local and metropolitan area networks) present a challenge, due to the signal modulation schemes (orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM)/WCDMA, wideband code division multiple access) dynamic (tens of dBs), driving us to a mandatory transmitter linearization. The idea is to provide frequency, flexibility, and average power control of a multi-radio high-efficiency front end for such signals (polar/envelope elimination and restoration (EER) structure). The study implies antennas design and average power control demonstration. Based on a switched mode power amplifier (PA), a discrete detuning is possible to adapt the PA at both “WiMAX” and “Wifi5” frequencies. This architecture amplifies signals with amplitude information. This is coded here by the ΣΔ/PWM (pulse width modulation) technique, to present a constant envelope signal. The amplitude information is restored by a pass-band radio frequency (RF) filter. The antenna can be designed with a notch, to reduce the filtering constraints (selectivity and standards coexistences) and to help in the restoration of amplitude information. Average power control is illustrated by voltage supply variation and results are a possible dynamic of 9.5 dB. To complete the analysis, the simulation of the propagation channel, including antennas, with CST (free space, line of sight) is imported under AGILENT-ADS.
Validation of the Italian version of the Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST) for bipolar disorder
Authors: Barbato A. , Bossini L. , Calugi S. , D'Avanzo B. , Fagiolini A. , Koukouna D. , Parabiaghi A. , Rapisarda F. , Rucci P. , Vallarino M.
Published: October 2012

Aim.

The Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST) is a useful instrument for the assessment of overall functioning of people with bipolar disorder, showing good psychometric properties. The aim of this study is to validate the Italian version of FAST.

Methods.

Translation and back-translation of the original FAST Spanish version were performed. Participants with bipolar disorder (n = 132) and healthy controls (n = 132) completed the FAST as a part of an assessment package including the Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale and the Young Mania Rating Scale. Internal consistency, inter-rater reliability, construct and discriminant validity were assessed.

Results.

The FAST Italian version showed good internal consistency, inter-rater reliability and discriminant validity. The cut-off discriminating patients from controls was 15, with a sensitivity of 0.79 and a specificity of 0.80. Principal component analysis with oblique rotation showed factor loadings consistent with the a priori structure of the instrument.

Conclusions.

This study confirmed the psychometric properties of FAST and extended its generalization and validity to the Italian population.
A Registry of Adult African American Twins: The Carolina African American Twin Study of Aging
Authors: Whitfield Keith E.
Published: October 2012

Twin studies have seldom addressed ethnicity as one of the possible factors that create unique combinations of genetic and environmental influences. The major objective of the Carolina African American Twin Study of Aging is to identify the proportion of the genetic and environmental sources of individual variation in measures of health and behavioral factors in a sample of adult African Americans. Drawn from birth records from the State of North Carolina, this in-person study used public records to identify a cohort of twins between 22 and 92 years of age (X = 49.82 yrs, SD = 14.62), 39.7% of which were men. Members of non-intact twin pairs and siblings were also recruited to explore alternative models to the classic twin design. To date, the project has contributed to knowledge about blood pressure, forced expiratory volume, chronic illness, body mass index, and waist-hip ratio memory, personality, social, and demographic factors, mortality, and mental health.
The UK Adult Twin Registry (TwinsUK Resource)
Authors: Moayyeri Alireza , Hammond Christopher J. , Hart Deborah J. , Spector Timothy D.
Published: October 2012

TwinsUK is a nation-wide registry of volunteer twins in the United Kingdom, with about 12,000 registered twins (83% female, equal number of monozygotic and dizygotic twins, predominantly middle-aged and older). Over the last 20 years, questionnaire and blood/urine/tissue samples have been collected on over 7,000 subjects, as well as three comprehensive phenotyping assessments in the clinical facilities of the Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London. The primary focus of study has been the genetic basis of healthy aging process and complex diseases, including cardiovascular, metabolic, musculoskeletal, and ophthalmologic disorders. Alongside the detailed clinical, biochemical, behavioral, and socio-economic characterization of the study population, the major strength of TwinsUK is availability of several ‘omics’ technologies for the participants. These include genome-wide scans of single nucleotide variants, next-generation sequencing, exome sequencing, epigenetic markers (MeDIP sequencing), gene expression arrays and RNA sequencing, telomere length measures, metabolomic profiles, and gut flora microbiomics. The scientific community now can freely access parts of the phenotype data from the ‘TwinsUK’, and interested researchers are encouraged to contact us via our Web site (www.twinsuk.ac.uk) for future collaborations.
Establishing a Twin Registry in Guinea-Bissau
Authors: Bjerregaard-Andersen Morten , Gomes Margarida A. , Joaquím Luis C. , Rodrigues Amabelia , Jensen Dorte M. , Christensen Kaare , Benn Christine S. , Aaby Peter , Beck-Nielsen Henning , Sodemann Morten
Published: October 2012

Twins traditionally retain a special status in many African societies. In Guinea-Bissau, twins are often well regarded yet still suffer from a very high mortality, especially in the perinatal and infant period. At the Bandim Health Project, a health and demographic surveillance site, we have recently established one of the first twin registries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Our short-term aim is to describe twin mortality and morbidity in order to design appropriate health interventions. Our long-term goal is a large-scale database to explore the pathogenesis of prevalent diseases; for example, diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, and infectious diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria. A major focus area is also the etiology of low birth weight and how epigenetic processes might modulate the consequences of low birth weight in Sub-Saharan Africa. For this, monozygotic twin studies represent a powerful tool. Though twin studies have been carried out by the Bandim Health Project for more than 30 years, the renewed registry described here was officially established in 2009 and includes both a cohort of newborn twins and a cohort of young and adult twins. Currently more than 1,500 twins are being followed in the two cohorts combined. We believe that the registry holds exciting possibilities and will encourage the establishment of further twin registries across the region.
Understanding temporal rainfall intensity scaling
Authors: Balcerak Ernie
Published: October 2012

Understanding how rainfall intensity scales with time is useful for determining how often and for how long the most intense rainfall bursts are likely to occur. The most common way to study temporal rainfall scaling is to analyze continuous rainfall measurements, including rainstorms and dry interstorm periods. However, Veneziano and Lepore now show that continuous analysis produces spurious results that mainly reflect the alternation of dry and wet periods. Analyzing within‐storm intensity rather than continuous records gives results showing higher intermittency.
The Binalud Mountains: A key piece for the geodynamic puzzle of NE Iran
Authors: Shabanian Esmaeil , Bellier Olivier , Siame Lionel , Abbassi Mohammad R. , Bourlès Didier , Braucher Régis , Farbod Yassaman
Published: October 2012

We applied a combined approach of morphotectonic analyzes of SPOT‐5 satellite images and field surveys complemented by in situ‐produced10Be exposure dating to determine the kinematics and rate of active faulting in the Binalud Mountains bounded by the Neyshabur Fault System to the southwest and the Mashhad Fault Zone to the northeast. Three regional episodes of alluvial surface abandonment were dated at ∼4.8 ka (Q1), ∼105 ka (Q3), and ∼255 ka (S3). Along the Neyshabur Fault System, cumulative offsets recorded by Q3fan surfaces yield slip rates of 2.4 ± 0.5 and 2.8 ± 0.6 mm/yr for right‐lateral and reverse components of active faulting (corresponding to an oblique slip rate of 3.6 ± 1.0 mm/yr), respectively. Reconstructing the cumulative right‐lateral offset recorded by S3surfaces, a maximum slip rate of 1.3 ± 0.1 mm/yr is suggested for the Mashhad Fault Zone. These imply an overall rate of 3.7 ± 0.6 mm/yr for the range‐parallel displacement and an uplift rate of ∼2.8 mm/yr due to the range‐normal shortening (1.6–2.2 mm/yr) during late Quaternary. The Binalud Mountains are deformed as a soft‐linked restraining relay zone, taking up the motion between central Iran and Eurasia at a rate of 4.0 ± 1.3 mm/yr; this translates central Iran in the ∼N340°E direction. Our data favor localized faulting, instead of distributed deformation, at the northeastern boundary of the Arabia‐Eurasia collision zone.