bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
STRUCTURES AND ENERGETICS OF HYDROCARBON MOLECULES IN THE WIDE HYDROGEN CHEMICAL POTENTIAL RANGE
Authors: YAO Y. X. , RARESHIDE C. , CHAN T. L. , WANG C. Z. , HO K. M.
Published: May 2012

We report a collection of lowest-energy structures of hydrocarbon molecules C n H m (n = 6-18, m = 0 - 2n + 2) within the wide hydrogen chemical potential range. The genetic algorithm combined with Brenner's empirical potential is applied for the search. The resultant low-energy structures are further examined by ab initio quantum chemical calculations. The lowest-energy molecules with several additional low-energy structures are classified to four groups according to their structural motifs and the phase diagram with respect to carbon atom number and hydrogen chemical potential is presented. The results provide useful information for identifying the hydrocarbon molecules in the interstellar medium as well as addressing the hydrocarbon-related nanofragment growth in experiments.
A Thermally-Reliable, Low-Resistivity Cu(Ir) and Cu(IrN) Alloy Films for Barrierless Cu Metallization
Authors: Lin Chon-Hsin
Published: May 2012

In this study, copper (Cu) alloy films developed by reactive co-sputtering of Cu with iridium (Ir) in an Ar/N2 atmosphere to render Cu(Ir) and Cu(IrN
x
) seed layers on barrierless Si substrates are found to exhibit great thermal stability, low resistivity, and a good adhesion feature. The Cu(Ir) and Cu(IrN
x
) films are annealed at 650 and 730 °C for 1 h, displaying good thermal stability with low leakage current for the latter and low resistivity values of 4.32 and 2.67 µΩ cm, respectively; no copper silicide formation occurs at the Cu–Si interface. The IrN
x
's thermal stability and low resistivity reveal that the Cu(IrN
x
) is a good candidate for advanced barrierless metallization in forming a new type of interconnect for electronic components, such as capacitors.
Super-Low-k SiOCH Film with Sufficient Film Modulus and High Thermal Stability Formed by Using Admixture Precursor in Neutral-Beam-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition
Authors: Wada Akira , Sasaki Toru , Yasuhara Shigeo , Samukawa Seiji
Published: May 2012

To fabricate a low-k-value interconnect film with a sufficient modulus and high thermal stability, we investigated using an admixture precursor (dimethoxytetramethyldisiloxane and methyltrimethoxysilane) in a neutral beam enhanced chemical vapor deposition (NBECVD) process. It was possible to precisely control the film properties because the NBECVD process can precisely control the molecular level structures, such as the composition ratio of linear and network/cage Si–O structures, by changing the precursor mixture ratio. Experimental results showed that the SiOCH low-kfilm had a super-lowk-value of less than 2.1 and a sufficient modulus of more than 6 GPa. A high thermal stability was also achieved by stacking a 20-nm-thick methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMOS) cap layer on the NBECVD super-low-kfilm.
Thermomechanical Fatigue Performance of Lead-Free Chip Scale Package Assemblies with Fast Cure and Reworkable Capillary Flow Underfills
Authors: Shi Hongbin , Tian Cuihua , Ueda Toshitsugu
Published: May 2012

In this paper, we present the results of temperature cycling test for full and partial capillary flow underfilled lead-free chip scale packages (CSPs), the tests were carried out on the basis of JEDEC standard. Two kinds of representative fast cure and reworkable underfill materials are used in this study, and CSPs without underfills were also tested for comparison. The test results show that the two underfill materials reduce the thermomechanical fatigue performance of CSP assemblies. The underfill with high T
g and storage modulus yielded better performance; indeed, the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) is also very critical to the thermomechanical fatigue performance, but its effects is not so obvious in this study owing to the similar CTEs of the underfills used. In addition, the negative effect of a partial underfill pattern is smaller than that of a full underfill pattern. Failure analysis shows that the dominant failure mode observed is solder cracking near the package and/or printed circuit board pads.
Effect of Groove Pattern of Chemical Mechanical Polishing Pad on Slurry Flow Behavior
Authors: Yamazaki Tsutomu , Doi Toshiro K. , Uneda Michio , Kurokawa Syuhei , Ohnishi Osamu , Seshimo Kiyoshi , Aida Hideo
Published: May 2012

In chemical mechanical polishing (CMP), the slurry flow behavior on the polishing pad is very important both for improving polishing effectiveness and for reducing the slurry consumption. In this study, we aim to evaluate two types of CMP pad that have unique special groove patterns, slurry outflow and inflow pads, for controlling the slurry flow behavior. We describe the effect of the groove patterns on the slurry flow behavior observed using images recorded using a high-speed digital camera. The results of the study indicate several advantages of the proposed pads over the conventional pads from the viewpoint of slurry flow behavior.
Material Survey for a Novel Beam Splitter Separating High-Order Harmonics from High-Average-Power Fundamental Pulses
Authors: Kojima Yosuke , Eilanlou A. Amani , Furukawa Yusuke , Nabekawa Yasuo , Takahashi Eiji J. , Kannari Fumihiko , Midorikawa Katsumi
Published: May 2012

We have investigated novel beam splitter (BS) materials to relax thermal issues under irradiation of a high-average-power visible and near infrared (VIS–NIR) laser beam. The material should efficiently reflect a high-order harmonic beam in the extreme ultraviolet (XUV) spectral region and transmit a VIS–NIR fundamental laser beam at a Brewster incidence for the latter beam. We have investigated optical and thermo-mechanical properties of crystalline silicon carbide (SiC), diamond, and rutile since they exhibit high transparency and high index of refraction for a VIS–NIR light. We also address thermal issues of conventional opaque BS materials by measuring their thermal distortion. We have shown that crystalline SiC is the most promising candidate among the other materials because of a high reflectivity for XUV light, as well as an ignorable thermal distortion. The surface flatness of a crystalline SiC plate must be improved to realize an applicable BS in the XUV spectral region.
Adjustable Two-Tier Cache for IPTV Based on Segmented Streaming
Authors: Liang Kai-Chun , Yu Hsiang-Fu
Published: May 2012

Internet protocol TV (IPTV) is a promising Internet killer application, which integrates video, voice, and data onto a single IP network, and offers viewers an innovative set of choices and control over their TV content. To provide high-quality IPTV services, an effective strategy is based on caching. This work proposes a segment-based two-tier caching approach, which divides each video into multiple segments to be cached. This approach also partitions the cache space into two layers, where the first layer mainly caches to-be-played segments and the second layer saves possibly played segments. As the segment access becomes frequent, the proposed approach enlarges the first layer and reduces the second layer, and vice versa. Because requested segments may not be accessed frequently, this work further designs an admission control mechanism to determine whether an incoming segment should be cached or not. The cache architecture takes forward/stop playback into account and may replace the unused segments under the interrupted playback. Finally, we conduct comprehensive simulation experiments to evaluate the performance of the proposed approach. The results show that our approach can yield higher hit ratio than previous work under various environmental parameters.
Sedentary Behavior and Physical Function Decline in Older Women: Findings from the Women's Health Initiative
Authors: Seguin Rebecca , LaMonte Michael , Tinker Lesley , Liu Jingmin , Woods Nancy , Michael Yvonne L. , Bushnell Cheryl , LaCroix Andrea Z.
Published: May 2012

Sedentary behavior is associated with deleterious health outcomes. This study evaluated the association between sedentary time and physical function among postmenopausal women in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study. Data for this prospective cohort study were collected between 1993–1998 (enrollment) and 2009, with an average of 12.3 follow-up years. Analyses included 61,609 women (aged 50–79 years at baseline). Sedentary time was estimated by questionnaire; physical function was measured using the RAND SF-36 physical function scale. Mixed-model analysis of repeated measures was used to estimate the relationship of sedentary time exposures and changes in physical function adjusting for relevant covariates. Compared to women reporting sedentary time of ≤6 hours/day, those with greater amounts of sedentary time (>6–8 hours/day, >8–11 hours/day, >11 hours/day) reported lower physical function between baseline and follow up (coefficient = −0.78, CI = −0.98, −0.57, −1.48, CI = −1.71, −1.25, −3.13, and CI = −3.36, −2.89, respectivelyP<0.001). Sedentary time was strongly associated with diminished physical function and most pronounced among older women and those reporting the greatest sedentary time. Maintaining physical function with age may be improved by pairing messages to limit sedentary activities with those promoting recommended levels of physical activity.
Update: Cytokine Dysregulation in Chronic Nonbacterial Osteomyelitis (CNO)
Authors: Hofmann Sigrun R. , Roesen-Wolff Angela , Hahn Gabriele , Hedrich Christian M.
Published: May 2012

Chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis (CNO) with its most severe form chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) is a non-bacterial osteitis of yet unknown origin. Secondary to the absence of both high-titer autoantibodies and autoreactive T lymphocytes, and the association with other autoimmune diseases, it was recently reclassified as an autoinflammatory disorder of the musculoskeletal system. Since its etiology is largely unknown, the diagnosis is based on clinical criteria, and treatment is empiric and not always successful. In this paper, we summarize recent advances in the understanding of possible etiopathogenetic mechanisms in CNO.
Is There a Role for Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Inhibition in Renal Failure due to Mesangioproliferative Nephrotic Syndrome?
Authors: Trimarchi Hernán , Forrester Mariano , Lombi Fernando , Pomeranz Vanesa , Iriarte Romina , Raña María Soledad , Young Pablo
Published: May 2012

Primary glomerulonephritis stands as the third most important cause of end-stage renal disease, suggesting that appropriate treatment may not be as effective as intended to be. Moreover, proteinuria, the hallmark of glomerular damage and a prognostic marker of renal damage progression, is frequently resistant to thorough control. In addition, proteinuria may be the common end pathway in which different pathogenetic mechanisms may converge. This explains why immunosuppressive and nonimmunosuppressive approaches are partly not sufficient to halt disease progression. One of the commonest causes of primary glomerulonephritis is mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis. Among the triggered intracellular pathways involved in mesangial cell proliferation, the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) plays a critical role in cell growth, in turn regulated by many cytokines, disbalanced by the altered glomerulopathy itself. However, when inhibition of mTOR was studied in rodents and in humans with primary glomerulonephritis the results were contradictory. In light of these controversial data, we propose an explanation for these results, to dilucidate under which circumstances mTOR inhibition should be considered to treat glomerular proteinuria and finally to propose mTOR inhibitors to be prospectively assessed in clinical trials in patients with primary mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis, for which a satisfactory standard immunosuppressive regimen is still pending.
Simplifying Multiproject Scheduling Problem Based on Design Structure Matrix and Its Solution by an Improved aiNet Algorithm
Authors: Ju Chunhua , Chen Tinggui
Published: May 2012

Managing multiple project is a complex task involving the unrelenting pressures of time and cost. Many studies have proposed various tools and techniques for single‐project scheduling; however, the literature further considering multimode or multiproject issues occurring in the real world is rather scarce. In this paper, design structure matrix (DSM) and an improved artificial immune network algorithm (aiNet) are developed to solve a multi‐mode resource‐constrained scheduling problem. Firstly, the DSM is used to simplify the mathematic model of multi‐project scheduling problem. Subsequently, aiNet algorithm comprised of clonal selection, negative selection, and network suppression is adopted to realize the local searching and global searching, which will assure that it has a powerful searching ability and also avoids the possible combinatorial explosion. Finally, the approach is tested on a set of randomly cases generated from ProGen. The computational results validate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm comparing with other famous metaheuristic algorithms such as genetic algorithm (GA), simulated annealing algorithm (SA), and ant colony optimization (ACO).
Optimal Policies for a Finite-Horizon Production Inventory Model
Authors: Benkherouf Lakdere , Boushehri Dalal
Published: May 2012

This paper is concerned with the problem of finding the optimal production schedule for an inventory model with time-varying demand and deteriorating items over a finite planning horizon. This problem is formulated as a mixed-integer nonlinear program with one integer variable. The optimal schedule is shown to exist uniquely under some technical conditions. It is also shown that the objective function of the nonlinear obtained from fixing the integrality constraint is convex as a function of the integer variable. This in turn leads to a simple procedure for finding the optimal production plan.
Antibacterial Activity of Dental Cements Containing Quaternary Ammonium Polyethylenimine Nanoparticles
Authors: Beyth Nurit , Pilo Raphael , Weiss Ervin I.
Published: May 2012

Glass ionomer cements (GICs) are commonly used for cementing full cast crown restorations. Regrettably, although the dental cements fill the gap between the tooth and the crown, bacterial microleakage may occur, resulting in secondary caries. As microleakage cannot be completely prevented, GICs possessing antibacterial properties are in demand. In the present study the antibacterial activity of insoluble, cross‐linked quaternary ammonium polyethylenimine (QPEI) nanoparticles incorporated at 1% w/w in two clinically available GICs were studied. The antibacterial activity was tested against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus casei using the direct contact test (DCT) and the agar diffusion test (ADT). Using the direct contact test, antibacterial activity (P < 0.05) was found in both tested GICs with incorporated QPEI nanoparticles, the effect lasting for at least one month. However, the ADT showed no inhibition halo in the test bacteria, indicating that the antimicrobial nanoparticles do not diffuse into the agar. The results show that the incorporation of QPEI nanoparticles in glass ionomer cements has a long‐lasting antibacterial effect against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus casei. Changing the antibacterial properties of glass ionomer cements by incorporating QPEI antibacterial nanoparticles may prolong the clinical performance of dental crowns.
Angiotensin II, Aldosterone, and Anti-Inflammatory Lymphocytes: Interplay and Therapeutic Opportunities
Authors: Kasal Daniel Arthur B. , Schiffrin Ernesto L.
Published: May 2012

Inflammation is recognized as an important factor in the pathophysiology of hypertension, with the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) playing a key role in the disease. Initially described because of its contribution to extracellular fluid and electrolyte homeostasis, the RAAS has been implicated in endothelial dysfunction, vascular remodeling, oxidative stress, proinflammatory cytokine production, and adhesion molecule synthesis by the vascular wall. Both angiotensin II and aldosterone are involved in these systemic effects, activating innate and adaptive immune responses. This paper highlights some aspects connecting RAAS to the hypertensive phenotype, based on experimental and clinical studies, with emphasis on new findings regarding the contribution of an increasingly studied population of T lymphocytes: the T-regulatory lymphocytes. These cells can suppress inflammation and may exert beneficial vascular effects in animal models of hypertension.
Hall Currents and Heat Transfer Effects on Peristaltic Transport in a Vertical Asymmetric Channel through a Porous Medium
Authors: Abo-Eldahab E. , Barakat E. , Nowar Kh.
Published: May 2012

The influences of Hall currents and heat transfer on peristaltic transport of a Newtonian fluid in a vertical asymmetric channel through
a porous medium are investigated theoretically and graphically under assumptions of low Reynolds number and long wavelength. The flow is investigated in a wave frame of reference moving with the velocity of the wave. Analytical solutions have been obtained for temperature, axial velocity, stream function, pressure gradient, and shear stresses. The trapping phenomenon is discussed. Graphical results are sketched for various embedded parameters and interpreted.
GSK-3: A Bifunctional Role in Cell Death Pathways
Authors: Jacobs Keith M. , Bhave Sandeep R. , Ferraro Daniel J. , Jaboin Jerry J. , Hallahan Dennis E. , Thotala Dinesh
Published: May 2012

Although glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3β) was originally named for its ability to phosphorylate glycogen synthase and regulate glucose metabolism, this multifunctional kinase is presently known to be a key regulator of a wide range of cellular functions. GSK-3βis involved in modulating a variety of functions including cell signaling, growth metabolism, and various transcription factors that determine the survival or death of the organism. Secondary to the role of GSK-3βin various diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, inflammation, diabetes, and cancer, small molecule inhibitors of GSK-3βare gaining significant attention. This paper is primarily focused on addressing the bifunctional or conflicting roles of GSK-3βin both the promotion of cell survival and of apoptosis. GSK-3βhas emerged as an important molecular target for drug development.
Blow‐Up and Global Existence for a Degenerate Parabolic System with Nonlocal Sources
Authors: Zhengqiu Ling , Zejia Wang
Published: May 2012

This paper investigates the blow‐up and global existence of nonnegative solutions for a class of nonlocal degenerate parabolic system. By using the super‐ and subsolution techniques, the critical exponent of the system is determined. That is, if Pc = p1q1 − (m − p2)(n − q2) < 0, then every nonnegative solution is global, whereas if Pc > 0, there are solutions that blowup and others that are global according to the size of initial values u0(x)
and v0(x). When Pc = 0, we show that if the domain is sufficiently small, every nonnegative solution is global while if the domain large enough that is, if it contains a sufficiently large ball, there is no global solution.
A Comparative Study of Carbonate Determination in Human Teeth Using Raman Spectroscopy
Authors: Spizzirri P.G. , Cochrane N.J. , Prawer S. , Reynolds E.C.
Published: May 2012

Carbonate determination in dental apatites such as dentine and enamel is important for studying the dynamics of dental caries and developmental defects of these tissues. Traditionally, these determinations have been performed by acidic digestion with the subsequent measurement of released carbon dioxide gas. As an alternative, Raman spectroscopy has been used for the determination of carbonate in synthetic carbonated apatites with at least four analytical methods published thus far. However, these methods have not been applied to biological apatites. The aim of this comparative study was to test the suitability of these four methods for the determination of B-type carbonate in human enamel and dentine. A method for determining the A-type carbonate content of enamel using the Raman technique is also presented. Raman spectra were obtained from 10 human enamel and dentine samples and analysed with each of the four methods using either a single or multiple ν1(PO43–) band spectral fitting model. Each of the methods resulted in a different determination for the carbonate content when using the same measurement data. The method that used the full-width-at-half-maximum of the ν1(PO43–) band to determine the B-type carbonate concentration was found to be in best agreement with (i) the results (using the acid digestion method) of teeth collected from the same sample population and (ii) previously reported values for both enamel and dentine. The use of a multiple-band spectral fitting model produced the highest determination precision (particularly in the case of dentine).
Origin of a Prenatal Mosaic Supernumerary Neocentromeric Derivative Chromosome 13 Determined by QF-PCR
Authors: Dawson A.J. , Hryshko M. , Konkin D. , Bal S. , Bernier D. , Tomiuk M. , Burnett S. , Frosk P. , Chodirker B.N. , Chun K.
Published: May 2012

Neocentromeres are mitotically stable human derivative centromeres without alpha-satellite DNA which are able to provide stability to rearranged chromosome fragments that would otherwise be acentric and rapidly lost. A female fetus was found to be mosaic for a supernumerary marker chromosome: 47,XX,+mar[3]/46,XX[36]. The marker was identified by fluorescence in situ hybridization and G-band as an inversion duplication of 13q21→13qter, with a neocentromere present at 13q21, in approximately 9% of colonies examined. Parental blood karyotypes were normal. QF-PCR performed on blood samples from both parents and the second amniotic fluid sample showed evidence of a second maternal allele at markers D13S258 (13q21) and D13S628 (13q31–q32), indicating formation at maternal meiosis I/II. This is the first reported case where the detection and origin of a low-level mosaic prenatal neo(13) were confirmed by QF-PCR.
Comparative Genomic Analysis Reveals Novel Facts about Leptospirillum spp. Cytochromes
Authors: Levicán G. , Gómez M.J. , Chávez R. , Orellana O. , Moreno-Paz M. , Parro V.
Published: May 2012

Chemolithoautotrophic acidophilic bacteria, which belong to the genus Leptospirillum, can only grow with Fe(II) as electron donor and oxygen as an electron acceptor. Members of this genus play an important role in bioleaching sulfide ores. We used nearly complete genome sequences of Leptospirillum ferrooxidans (group I), Leptospirillum rubarum, Leptospirillum ‘5-way CG’ (group II) and Leptospirillum ferrodiazotrophum (group III) to identify cytochromes that are likely involved in electron transfer chain(s). The results show the presence of genes encoding a number of c-type cytochromes (18–20 genes were identified in each species), as well as bd and cbb3 oxidases. Genes encoding cbb3 oxidase are clustered, with predicted genes involved in cbb3 maturation proteins. Duplication of cbb3 encoding genes (ccoNO) was detected in all four genomes. Interestingly, these micro-organisms also contain genes that potentially encode bc1 and b6f-like complexes organized into two putative operon structures. To date, the Leptospirillum genus includes the only organisms reported to have genes coding for two different bc complexes. This study provides detailed insights into the components of electron transfer chains of Leptospirillum spp., revealing their conservation among leptospirilla groups and suggesting that there may be a single common pathway for electron transport between Fe(II) and oxygen.
The Amino Acid-Polyamine-Organocation Superfamily
Authors: Wong Foon H. , Chen Jonathan S. , Reddy Vamsee , Day Jonathan L. , Shlykov Maksim A. , Wakabayashi Steven T. , Saier, Jr. Milton H.
Published: May 2012

The amino acid-polyamine-organocation (APC) superfamily has been shown to include five recognized families, four of which are specific for amino acids and their derivatives. Recent high-resolution X-ray crystallographic data have shown that four additional transporter families (BCCT, TC No. 2.A.15; SSS, 2.A.21; NSS, 2.A.22; and NCS1, 2.A.39), transporting a wide range of solutes, exhibit sufficiently similar folds to suggest a common evolutionary origin. We have used established statistical methods, based on sequence similarity, to show that these families are, in fact, members of the APC superfamily. We also identify two additional families (NCS2, 2.A.40; SulP, 2.A.53) as being members of this superfamily. Repeat sequences, each having five transmembrane α-helical segments and arising via ancient intragenic duplications, are demonstrated for all of these families, further strengthening the conclusion of homology. The APC superfamily appears to be the second largest superfamily of secondary carriers, the largest being the major facilitator superfamily (MFS). Although the topology of the members of the APC superfamily differs from that of the MFS, both families appear to have arisen from a common ancestral 2 TMS hairpin structure that underwent intragenic triplication followed by loss of a TMS in the APC family, to give the repeat units that are characteristic of these two superfamilies.
Tacrolimus-Induced Rosacea-Like Dermatitis: A Clinical Analysis of 16 Cases Associated with Tacrolimus Ointment Application
Authors: Teraki Yuichi , Hitomi Katsuhiro , Sato Yoshihiro , Izaki Seiichi
Published: May 2012

Background: Recently, reports have indicated that the continuous use of topical calcineurin inhibitors such as tacrolimus may induce rosacea-like dermatitis (RD). Objective and Methods: To assess clinical features of RD associated with tacrolimus, 44 cases of patients diagnosed with RD between 2005 and 2010 at our hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Results: In total, 22 cases were caused by topical steroid use, 8 by topical tacrolimus use, and 8 by consecutive treatment with topical steroids and tacrolimus. Clinical presentation was basically similar among the 3 groups, although the nose was less frequently affected and pustules were rarely observed in the latter 2 sets of cases. Demodex mites were often found in smears of skin lesions from patients with RD caused by steroids and tacrolimus. Treatment with topical metronidazole was effective in most RD patients. Conclusion: Topical tacrolimus is becoming an important cause of RD along with topical steroids.
Molecular Cytogenetic Studies in Strepsirrhine Primates, Dermoptera and Scandentia
Authors: Nie W.
Published: May 2012

Since the first chromosome painting study between human and strepsirrhine primates was performed in 1996, nearly 30 species in Strepsirrhini, Dermoptera and Scandentia have been analyzed by cross-species chromosome painting. Here, the contribution of chromosome painting data to our understanding of primate genome organization, chromosome evolution and the karyotype phylogenetic relationships within strepsirrhine primates, Dermoptera and Scandentia is reviewed. Twenty-six to 43 homologous chromosome segments have been revealed in different species with human chromosome-specific paint probes. Various landmark rearrangements characteristic for each different lineage have been identified, as cytogenetic signatures that potentially unite certain lineages within strepsirrhine primates, Dermoptera and Scandentia.
Effects of pine invasion on anurans assemblage in southern Brazil coastal ponds
Authors: Machado Iberê F. , Moreira Leonardo F.B. , Maltchik Leonardo
Published: May 2012

The destruction of wetlands due to afforestation areas is a common activity in temperate and subtropical regions in Southern America. The expansion of pine in the Coastal Plain of Southern Brazil is out of control and its impacts on aquatic biodiversity are little known. We tested the following hypotheses: the pine occurrence diminishes the anuran richness and abundance in ponds and it changes the anuran composition; the beta-diversity between pine and native grassland matrix ponds (natural ponds) is determined mainly by nestedness. Sampling was carried out from 2007 to 2009 in five ponds in pine invasion matrix and five ponds in native grassland matrix. The natural ponds showed a greater richness of tadpoles (10 species) than pine ponds (5 species). The mean richness of adults was higher in natural ponds than pine ponds throughout the entire study. The species composition was different between natural and pine ponds, for both adults and tadpoles. Comparing natural ponds with each other and the pine ponds with each other, our results showed that neither nestedness nor turnover was determinant for beta-diversity. However, when natural ponds were compared with pine ones, we found that the contribution of nestedness was higher for the anurans beta-diversity than turnover. Increases in the nestedness mechanism indicated that the pine occurrence results in species loss in Southern Brazil ponds. Since 90% of its wetland has been already affected, the removal ofPinusin the conservation areas in southern Brazil is important to minimize their impacts on aquatic biodiversity.
Rights and What We Owe to Each Other
Authors: Wenar Leif
Published: May 2012

This article evaluates what Scanlon has written on contractualism from the perspective of the theory of rights. It asks: where are the rights within contractualism? And: where is contractualism within the space of rights? Scanlon’s discussions and omissions show the urgency of aligning contractualism (indeed any normative theory) with an adequate analysis of rights. Topics include what rights are, how to tell who has them, and the importance of thinking about the power to change them.
Selecting Ensemble Members to Provide Regional Climate Change Information
Authors: McSweeney Carol F. , Jones Richard G. , Booth Ben B. B.
Published: May 2012

Climate model ensembles, such as the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project, phase 3 (CMIP3), are used to characterize broadscale ranges of projected regional climate change and their impacts. The 17-member Hadley Centre perturbed physics GCM ensemble [Quantifying Uncertainty in Model Predictions (“QUMP”)] extends this capability by including data enabling dynamical downscaling of these ranges, and similar data are now being made available from the CMIP phase 5 (CMIP5) GCMs. These raise new opportunities to provide and apply high-resolution regional climate projections. This study highlights the importance of employing a well-considered sampling strategy from available ensembles to provide scientifically credible information on regional climate change while minimizing the computational complexity of ensemble downscaling.

A subset of the QUMP ensemble is selected for a downscaling program in Vietnam using the Providing Regional Climates for Impacts Studies (PRECIS) regional climate modeling system. Multiannual mean fields from each GCM are assessed with a focus on the Asian summer monsoon, given its importance to proposed applications of the projections. First, the study examines whether any model should be eliminated because significant deficiencies in its simulation may render its future climate projections unrealistic. No evidence is found to eliminate any of the 17 GCMs on these grounds. Second, the range of their future projections is explored and five models that best represent the full range of future climates are identified. The subset characterizes the range of both global and regional responses, and patterns of rainfall response, the wettest and driest projections for Vietnam, and different projected Asian summer monsoon changes. How these ranges of responses compare with those in the CMIP3 ensemble are also assessed, finding differences in both the signal and the spread of results in Southeast Asia.
The Indian Monsoon Circulation Response to El Niño Diabatic Heating
Authors: Jang Youkyoung , Straus David M.
Published: May 2012

The response of the boreal summer mean tropical circulation to anomalies in diabatic heating during the strong El Niño events of 1972, 1987, and 1997 is studied, with particular focus on the Indian region. In experiments with the atmospheric general circulation model of the National Center for Atmospheric Research, anomalous diabatic heating fields are added to the full temperature tendency of the Community Atmosphere Model, version 3 (CAM3). The boundary conditions are specified climatological sea surface temperatures everywhere but over the Indian and western Pacific Oceans, where a slab-ocean model is used. The vertical structure of the added heating is idealized with a single maximum at 600 hPa. The added heating in the experiments was chosen on the basis of the 1972, 1987, and 1997 diabatic heating anomalies in the Pacific and Indian Oceans diagnosed from reanalyses. Integrations extended from May to August with 20 different initial conditions. The 1972 and 1987 experiments produced an anomalous anticyclonic circulation extending westward toward the Indian region, accompanied by negative total (added plus CAM3 produced) diabatic heating anomalies over India. A similar result was obtained for 1997 when only the Pacific Ocean diabatic heating was added. The heating over the central Pacific is shown to be more important than the western Pacific cooling. When the added heating also took into account anomalies over the Indian Ocean, the anomalous anticyclonic circulation weakens, while the total Indian heating anomaly is quite small. These results suggest the importance of the Indian Ocean heating for the 1997 monsoon circulation, but do not constitute a complete explanation since the Indian Ocean heating was given a priori.
Response to “Emergence in Sociology”
Authors: Sawyer R. Keith
Published: May 2012

Jens Greve has accurately summarized nonreductive individualism (NRI) and has made an important contribution to an ongoing discussion concerning individualism, reductionism, and emergentism. Greve’s primary criticism is of my account of downward causation, and he cites Kim’s critique of Fodor by analogy. I argue that my original paper already addressed Kim’s critique, by drawing on other philosophers of mind that Greve does not engage with, to make an argument for downward causation based on wild disjunction. Further, I argue that Greve does not successfully make the case that the issue of the autonomy of the mental level is distinct from the autonomy of the social level. As empirical examples of irreducible emergent group properties, I cite studies of improvisational theater dialogues, and studies of social networks.
Holiness and Justice: Exegetical Comments on 1 Corinthians 11.17-34
Authors: Schottroff Luise
Published: May 2012

The Pauline tradition of the Last Supper is understood here as the handing on of affirmations of hope and remembrance related to Christ, which are inserted into the ritual of Jewish meals. The early Christian celebration of the Lord's Supper is a full community meal which follows the Jewish rite. The conflict in Corinth was generated by the attempt of well-off members of the community to consume their own food and drink during the community meal, separated from the poorer majority of the community. In the view of Paul and other members of the community, this action involves a social injustice which wounds the holiness of the body of Christ. Just as eating and sacrament are linked in the early Christian Lord's Supper, so too are holiness and justice linked.
'Blessed are the Bodies of those who Are Virgins':* Reflections on the Image of Paul in the Acts of Thecla
Authors: Wehn Beate
Published: May 2012

Attention has often been paid to the description of Paul's external appearance in the Acts of Thecla (Acts The. 3), but scarcely at all to the question of how Paul is portrayed in the narrative as a whole. This essay looks on the Acts of Thecla as a historically and theologically significant source for the reconstruction of early Christian developments and conflicts, and attempts to employ the methods of social-historical exegesis to investigate how Paul is depicted on the level of the narrative in his conduct towards Thecla. We discover that the perspective of the narrative is extremely critical. The portrayal of Paul reflects on Pauline and post-Pauline discussions of the image of women and the attribution of particular roles to women in early Christianity. The aim is not so much to reconstruct the historical Paul, but rather to uncover the theological self-contradiction of Paul and of early Christian men, who propagated justice in gender relationships, but did not put this into practice. The analysis of the portrait of Paul in the Acts of Thecla reveals this text to be a critical and theologically independent voice in the early Christian debate about gender hierarchy.
When Smaller Governments Open the Window
Authors: Cassell Mark K. , Mullaly Sarah
Published: May 2012

The vast majority of local governments in the United States have populations with less 5,000. Local government research, particular in the area of e-government, has focused on larger cities. This article addresses the gap in the research but examining empirically the factors that influence the adoption and development of Web sites by smaller local governments.
Conservation Easement Tax Credits
Authors: Taylor Charles D.
Published: May 2012

Public concern about urban sprawl has spurred states to offer incentives for land preservation, such as state income tax credits granted to donors of conservation easements. This study examines the effect of these tax credits on conservation easement donations to regional land trust organizations in the lower forty-eight states during the period from 1994 to 2005. Regression results indicate that a state income tax credit has a statistically significant impact on conservation easement donations only during the initial period of implementation. The results also show that donation rates are significantly impacted by the extent of state park land holdings.
Gaining Support for LEED®-Certified Facilities in Local Government
Authors: Joerke James , Waters Joe , Gavito Georgia
Published: May 2012

In a time of constrained budgets, local governments face increased pressure to justify the value of pursuing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for new construction and building renovations. Since 2004, the Government of Johnson County, Kansas, has made it a practice to LEED-certify the majority of its new facilities and major renovations; it now owns three LEED Gold buildings and is pursuing certification of four new projects. This article will examine the approach that the Johnson County Facilities Management Department took in in planning and constructing its first LEED® building and the manner in which it developed support from elected officials and the public for the project. The article will also address the perception that LEED certification adds substantially to project costs, focus on the value of pursuing LEED certification versus merely constructing “LEED-certifiable” buildings, and summarize the elements that have made the county's sustainable building efforts successful.
Administrators’ Perspectives on Successful Interstate Collaboration
Authors: Hall Jeremy L. , Jennings Edward T.
Published: May 2012

Governance increasingly relies on intergovernmental and intersectoral collaboration in providing public services. This research reports perceptions of state representatives to the multistate collaborative Drug Effectiveness Review Project about the importance of factors influencing successful collaboration. Findings reveal state motivation to collaborate is closely tied to project governance and suggest how future efforts might be structured to achieve success. Among other factors, a disconnect between ends and means allows the process to function objectively; objective production of drug effectiveness information and subjective use of information in state policy decisions are distinct processes, reducing conflict that might otherwise jeopardize project sustainability.
Cultural mediation and the making of the mainstream in postsocialist China
Authors: Bai Ruoyun
Published: May 2012

A case study of Chinese writers and their participation in the development and production of anticorruption dramas, this article uses the theoretical framework of cultural mediation to understand the reformulated role of media professionals in media and cultural production in postsocialist China. It is shown in the article that Chinese media professionals act as cultural brokers to mediate between divergent needs and demands, a key skill that sutures differences and subdues disruptive forces in the rapidly changing Chinese mediascape. The article first describes cultural mediation at the textual, programming and discursive levels, and then interrogates its ideological implications. It argues that while cultural brokerage seems to generate more ideological openness and polysemy, it also perpetuates an ideological bias by re-semanticizing the state ideology via a neoliberal lens.
The ‘sluice-gate’ public sphere and the national DNA database in the UK
Authors: Downey John , Stephens Mike , Flaherty Jan
Published: May 2012

Habermas’s amendments to his original public sphere thesis have been recognized by a number of media scholars in recent years. His original thesis of a decline or re-feudalization of the public sphere where politics is played out in front of the public has been modified, under the influence of Bernhard Peters’ work, to incorporate the possibility of action from the periphery of the public sphere influencing, if not exclusively determining, decisions made at the administrative core via sluice-gates. There has been limited work, however, on exploring the operation of the sluices in greater detail, and particularly on the role of the mass media in acting as a communication channel between peripheral publics and core elites. The purpose of this article is to do so via a case study of the mass media public debate in the UK about the existence and extent of the national DNA database as it is a prima facie candidate for observing the operation of the sluice-gates.
Exhibiting disasters: Mediation, historicity and spectatorship
Authors: Ekström Anders
Published: May 2012

The main purpose of this article is to draw attention to a long-standing history of exhibiting disasters to distant audiences. In particular, the article explores the transregional imaginaries and cross-temporal connections that emerge from the history of what may be labelled the disaster display or disaster show. This refers to a particular genre of multimedia re-enactments of extreme events that developed in the context of temporary exhibitions and popular amusements in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Disaster displays typically involved visual representations, sound effects, fireworks, lectures and theatrical performances, and invited their audiences to experience a diversity of extreme events, for example distant wars, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, fire fighting and floods. In offering a blend of special effects and the thrills of authenticity, disaster shows copied and competed with, and sometimes incorporated, some of the traits of a variety of attractions in turn-of-the-century popular visual culture, such as serialized wax displays, moving panoramas and early film. The article especially investigates some of these intermedialities but it also discusses how the displays engaged and positioned the audience.
Consumer Preferences for Sustainable Wool Products in the United States
Authors: Peterson Hikaru Hanawa , Hustvedt Gwendolyn M. , Chen Yun-Ju (Kelly)
Published: May 2012

Leading wool suppliers such as Australia began marketing organic wool to counter a decades-long decline in the world wool market. Given the challenge of adopting certified organic practices for wool production in certain parts of the world including the United States, consumer demand for organic wool products relative to alternative production attributes is assessed to explore the feasibility of certifying these attributes. An Internet survey found that most US consumers preferred wool to acrylic; distinguished wool products by origin; valued organic certification less than combined environmental sustainability and animal welfare claims; and lowered their valuation for wool products in response to the information provided on wool attributes.
Does Green Fashion Retailing Make Consumers More Eco-friendly?
Authors: Lee Namhee , Choi Yun Jung , Youn Chorong , Lee Yuri
Published: May 2012

This study focuses on fashion retailers’ as the gatekeepers’ role of encouraging eco-friendly consumption culture, that is, consumption of green products. The purpose of this study is to propose and test a green retailing effect model involving different persuasion routes among green private brand (PB), green marketing campaigns, green consciousness and behavior, and to explore the moderating effect of marketing communication involvement (MCI). The research shows that perception of green PBs has positive impact on consumers’ green behavior. Perception of green campaigns has a significant influence on consumers' green consciousness and indirect impact on consumers’ green behavior. The relationship between consumers’ perception of green campaign and green consciousness is stronger in the low MCI group. The model is helpful in understanding the positive impact of fashion retailers’ green retailing activities on green consumption culture. The result also provides strategic guidelines for retailers about their sustainable retail activities.
Does Alcohol Consumption Exacerbate the Mental Health Consequences of Interpersonal Violence?
Authors: Kaplan Lauren M. , Hill Terrence D. , Mann-Deibert Gini R.
Published: May 2012

Although studies show that interpersonal violence is associated with poorer mental health, few studies specify the conditions under which victimization can be more or less detrimental to psychological well-being. Building on previous research, the authors test whether the association between interpersonal violence and psychological distress is moderated by alcohol consumption. Our analysis of longitudinal data from the Welfare, Children, and Families project suggests that interpersonal violence is more strongly associated with psychological distress in the context of more frequent intoxication. Programs designed to treat the combination of victimization and heavy alcohol consumption may make unique contributions to the well-being of women.
School-Based Sexual Violence Among Female Learners With Mild Intellectual Disability in South Africa
Authors: Phasha Tlakale Nareadi , Nyokangi Doris
Published: May 2012

Following qualitative research methodology, this article presents school-based sexual violence experiences of female learners with mild intellectual disability. A total of 16 learners aged 16 to 24 years participated in the study. The findings revealed that learners with intellectual disability are not immune to school-based sexual violence. Modes of behavior that occurred frequently included touching, threats, and intimidation. School practices that reinforced school-based sexual violence are identified. The findings contradict common misconceptions that people with intellectual disability do not understand what is happening to them. The study recommends that school policies for sexual violence be intensified and learners receive developmentally appropriate sex education.