bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multiscale analytic continuation approach to nanosystem simulation: Applications to virus electrostatics
Authors: Singharoy Abhishek , Yesnik Anastasia M. , Ortoleva Peter
Published: May 2010

Electrostatic effects in nanosystems are understood via a physical picture built on their multiscale character and the distinct behavior of mobile ions versus charge groups fixed to the nanostructure. The Poisson–Boltzmann equation is nondimensionalized to introduce a factor λ that measures the density of mobile ion charge versus that due to fixed charges; the diffusive smearing and volume exclusion effects of the former tend to diminish its value relative to that from the fixed charges. We introduce the ratio σ of the average nearest-neighbor atom distance to the characteristic size of the features of the nanostructure of interest (e.g., a viral capsomer). We show that a unified treatment (i.e., λ∝σ) and a perturbation expansion around σ=0 yields, through analytic continuation, an approximation to the electrostatic potential of high accuracy and computational efficiency. The approach was analyzed via Padé approximants and demonstrated on viral system electrostatics; it can be generalized to accommodate extended Poisson-Boltzmann models, and has wider applicability to nonequilibrium electrodiffusion and many-particle quantum systems.
Spatially direct and indirect transitions of self-assembled GeSi/Si quantum dots studied by photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy
Authors: Adnane B. , Karlsson K. F. , Hansson G. V. , Holtz P. O. , Ni W.-X.
Published: May 2010

Well-resolved photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectra are reported for self-assembled GeSi dots grown on Si(001) by molecular beam epitaxy. The observation of two excitation resonance peaks is attributed to two different excitation/de-excitation routes of interband optical transitions connected to the spatially direct and indirect recombination processes. It is concluded that two dot populations are addressed by each monitored luminescence energy for the PLE acquisition.
Observation of ferroelectric response in conjugated polymer nanotubes
Authors: Majumdar D. , Saha S. K.
Published: May 2010

Long range charge delocalization usually inhibits ferroelectric response in conjugated polymers. We observe remarkable ferroelectric response (remnant polarization 2.8 μC cm−2) in polyaniline (PANI) nanotubes synthesized by oxidative polymerization technique in methanol medium using anodic alumina (AAO) template. Ferroelectricity in PANI nanotubes arises due to spontaneous polarization caused by hydrogen bonds, created due to charge transfer between methanol molecule and aligned polymer chain. Due to directional growth along the AAO nanochannel, PANI chains are well-aligned and all these dipoles associated with hydrogen bonds are arranged in regular order—exhibiting exceptional ferroelectric response. However, such effect is absent in bulk PANI.
Enhanced light extraction in light-emitting diodes with photonic crystal structure selectively grown on p-GaN
Authors: Cho Chu-Young , Kang Se-Eun , Kim Ki Seok , Lee Sang-Jun , Choi Yong-Seok , Han Sang-Heon , Jung Gun-Young , Park Seong-Ju
Published: May 2010

We report on the properties of green light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with a photonic crystal (PC) structure on p-GaN. A PC structure was fabricated by the selective area epitaxy of p-GaN using SiO2 nanopillars. The electrical characteristics of LEDs with PC were not degraded and the optical output power of green LEDs with PC was increased by 70% at 20 mA of injection current compared with that of conventional LEDs without PC. This enhancement of optical output power was attributed to the improvement in light extraction efficiency by the SiO2/p-GaN PC layer on p-GaN.
Quantifying the dielectric constant of thick insulators using electrostatic force microscopy
Authors: Fumagalli L. , Gramse G. , Esteban-Ferrer D. , Edwards M. A. , Gomila G.
Published: May 2010

Quantitative measurement of the low-frequency dielectric constants of thick insulators at the nanoscale is demonstrated utilizing ac electrostatic force microscopy combined with finite-element calculations based on a truncated cone with hemispherical apex probe geometry. The method is validated on muscovite mica, borosilicate glass, poly(ethylene naphthalate), and poly(methyl methacrylate). The dielectric constants obtained are essentially given by a nanometric volume located at the dielectric-air interface below the tip, independently of the substrate thickness, provided this is on the hundred micrometer-length scale, or larger.
Effect of phase transformation on the converse magnetoelectric properties of a heterostructure of Ni49.2Mn29.6Ga21.2 and 0.7PbMg1/3Nb2/3O3-0.3PbTiO3 crystals
Authors: Zeng M. , Or Siu Wing , Chan Helen Lai Wa
Published: May 2010

We report experimentally and theoretically the effect of phase transformation on the converse magnetoelectric (CME) properties of a heterostructure formed by one layer of piezoelectric 0.7PbMg1/3Nb2/3O3-0.3PbTiO3 (PMN-PT) crystal sandwiched between two layers of ferromagnetic shape memory Ni49.2Mn29.6Ga21.2 (Ni–Mn–Ga) crystal. The CME coefficient (αB) of the heterostructure remains minimally and relatively constant in the martensitic phase (<28 °C), attains its maximum value in the martensitic-austenitic phase transformation (28–39 °C), and decreases gradually with increasing temperature in the austenitic phase (>39 °C). Giant resonance αB of 18.6 G/V is found at 32 °C under a very low bias magnetic field of 150 Oe.
Comparison of optical absorption in Si nanowire and nanoporous Si structures for photovoltaic applications
Authors: Xiong Zhiqiang , Zhao Fangyuan , Yang Jiong , Hu Xinhua
Published: May 2010

We numerically study the optical absorption in Si nanowire and nanoporous Si structures that have potential applications in solar cells. It is found that for the same thickness and filling ratio of Si, thin nanoporous structures can have much higher absorption than thin Si nanowire arrays. Above a critical filling ratio of Si (0.25), the nanoporous structures can have higher absorption even than thin films with the same thickness. For solar cells based on thin nanoporous Si structures, the maximal ultimate efficiency occurs when the filling ratio is around 0.3.
The effect of transverse field on fast domain wall dynamics in magnetic microwires
Authors: Richter K. , Varga R. , Badini-Confalonieri G. A. , Vázquez M.
Published: May 2010

We have studied the domain wall longitudinal propagation and its dynamics under the influence of transverse magnetic field in thin magnetic wires. A different behavior was observed for strong and weak transverse fields. In weak transverse field Ht, the domain wall dynamics depends on the direction of Ht. Transverse field applied in one direction increases the Walker limit and shifts the existence of transverse domain wall to higher axial field. Transverse magnetic field applied in opposite direction decreases the Walker limit and favors vortex domain wall even at low fields. Different behavior was obtained in strong transverse field which speeds up the domain wall velocity to its saturation value of 9 km/s independently on the orientation of transverse field.
Diodes with breakdown voltages enhanced by the metal-insulator transition of LaAlO3–SrTiO3 interfaces
Authors: Jany R. , Breitschaft M. , Hammerl G. , Horsche A. , Richter C. , Paetel S. , Mannhart J. , Stucki N. , Reyren N. , Gariglio S. , Zubko P. , Caviglia A. D. , Triscone J.-M.
Published: May 2010

Using the metal-insulator transition that takes place as a function of carrier density at the LaAlO3–SrTiO3 interface, oxide diodes have been fabricated with room-temperature breakdown voltages of up to 200 V. With applied voltage, the capacitance of the diodes changes by a factor of 150. The diodes are robust and operate at temperatures up to 270 C.
In-plane thermal and thermoelectric properties of misfit-layered [(PbSe)0.99]x(WSe2)x superlattice thin films
Authors: Mavrokefalos Anastassios , Lin Qiyin , Beekman Matthew , Seol Jae Hun , Lee Yong J. , Kong Huijun , Pettes Michael T. , Johnson David C. , Shi Li
Published: May 2010

The in-plane thermal conductivity is measured to be three times lower in misfit-layered [(PbSe)0.99]x(WSe2)x superlattice thin films than disordered-layered WSe2 because of interface scattering despite a higher cross-plane value in the former than the latter. While having little effect on the in-plane thermal conductivity, annealing the p-type [(PbSe)0.99]2(WSe2)2 films in Se increases the in-plane Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity because of decreased defect and hole concentrations. Increasing interface density of the annealed films by decreasing x from 4 to 2 has weak influence on the in-plane thermal conductivity but increases the Seebeck coefficient and decreases the room-temperature electrical conductivity.
Seedling competition of lucerne in mixtures with temperate and tropical pasture species
Authors: Boschma S. P. , Lodge G. M. , Harden S.
Published: May 2010

Two replacement series studies were conducted to quantify the competitive ability of seedlings of Medicago sativa (lucerne) sown in mixtures with temperate and tropical species. A temperate mixtures study (Expt 1) consisted of lucerne cv. Genesis sown with each of Phalaris aquatica (phalaris) cv. Atlas PG, Lolium arundinaceum (tall fescue) cv. Resolute MaxP, Cichorium intybus (chicory) cv. Puna, Trifolium subterraneum (subterranean clover) cv. Clare, Austrodanthonia richardsonii (wallaby grass) cv. Taranna and Avena sativa (forage oats) cv. Eurrabie. There was also an additional mixture of chicory and subterranean clover. A tropical grass mixtures study (Expt 2) included Genesis lucerne sown with each of Panicum coloratum var. makarikariense cv. Bambatsi, Dicanthium aristatum cv. Floren, Chloris gayana (Rhodes grass) cv. Katambora, Digitaria eriantha subsp. eriantha cv. Premier and Bothriochloa bladii subsp. glabra cv. Swann.
In Expt 1, lucerne-phalaris mixtures were equally competitive, whereas lucerne-tall fescue mixtures over-yielded. Chicory was aggressive in mixtures with lucerne and subterranean clover; similarly forage oats was more competitive than lucerne. Subterranean clover was competitive against lucerne at harvest 1, but by harvest 2 the low cutting height had reduced its competitiveness. Lucerne was more aggressive than wallaby grass. In Expt 2, all tropical grass-lucerne mixtures over-yielded; however, lucerne was generally more competitive than the grasses, except for Rhodes grass at harvest 1. While our study indicated that mixtures of lucerne seedlings with phalaris or tall fescue may be compatible, mixtures with tropical grasses were more likely to result in lucerne seedling dominance. This competitiveness may be overcome by either spatial or temporal separation and we discuss the concept of using mixtures to exploit environmental niches.
Seamounts are hotspots of pelagic biodiversity in the open ocean
Authors: Morato Telmo , Hoyle Simon D. , Allain Valerie , Nicol Simon J.
Published: May 2010

The identification of biodiversity hotspots and their management for conservation have been hypothesized as effective ways to protect many species. There has been a significant effort to identify and map these areas at a global scale, but the coarse resolution of most datasets masks the small-scale patterns associated with coastal habitats or seamounts. Here we used tuna longline observer data to investigate the role of seamounts in aggregating large pelagic biodiversity and to identify which pelagic species are associated with seamounts. Our analysis indicates that seamounts are hotspots of pelagic biodiversity. Higher species richness was detected in association with seamounts than with coastal or oceanic areas. Seamounts were found to have higher species diversity within 30–40 km of the summit, whereas for sets close to coastal habitat the diversity was lower and fairly constant with distance. Higher probability of capture and higher number of fish caught were detected for some shark, billfish, tuna, and other by-catch species. The study supports hypotheses that seamounts may be areas of special interest for management for marine pelagic predators.
Dynamics of an emerging disease drive large-scale amphibian population extinctions
Authors: Vredenburg Vance T. , Knapp Roland A. , Tunstall Tate S. , Briggs Cheryl J.
Published: May 2010

Epidemiological theory generally suggests that pathogens will not cause host extinctions because the pathogen should fade out when the host population is driven below some threshold density. An emerging infectious disease, chytridiomycosis, caused by the fungal pathogen
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
(Bd) is directly linked to the recent extinction or serious decline of hundreds of amphibian species. Despite continued spread of this pathogen into uninfected areas, the dynamics of the host–pathogen interaction remain unknown. We use fine-scale spatiotemporal data to describe (
i
) the invasion and spread of Bd through three lake basins, each containing multiple populations of the mountain yellow-legged frog, and (
ii
) the accompanying host–pathogen dynamics. Despite intensive sampling, Bd was not detected on frogs in study basins until just before epidemics began. Following Bd arrival in a basin, the disease spread to neighboring populations at ≈700 m/yr in a wave-like pattern until all populations were infected. Within a population, infection prevalence rapidly reached 100% and infection intensity on individual frogs increased in parallel. Frog mass mortality began only when infection intensity reached a critical threshold and repeatedly led to extinction of populations. Our results indicate that the high growth rate and virulence of Bd allow the near-simultaneous infection and buildup of high infection intensities in all host individuals; subsequent host population crashes therefore occur before Bd is limited by density-dependent factors. Preventing infection intensities in host populations from reaching this threshold could provide an effective strategy to avoid the extinction of susceptible amphibian species in the wild.
Vinpocetine inhibits NF-κB–dependent inflammation via an IKK-dependent but PDE-independent mechanism
Authors: Jeon Kye-Im , Xu Xiangbin , Aizawa Toru , Lim Jae Hyang , Jono Hirofumi , Kwon Dong-Seok , Abe Jun-ichi , Berk Bradford C. , Li Jian-Dong , Yan Chen
Published: May 2010

Inflammation is a hallmark of many diseases, such as atherosclerosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, arthritis, infectious diseases, and cancer. Although steroids and cyclooxygenase inhibitors are effective antiinflammatory therapeutical agents, they may cause serious side effects. Therefore, developing unique antiinflammatory agents without significant adverse effects is urgently needed. Vinpocetine, a derivative of the alkaloid vincamine, has long been used for cerebrovascular disorders and cognitive impairment. Its role in inhibiting inflammation, however, remains unexplored. Here, we show that vinpocetine acts as an antiinflammatory agent in vitro and in vivo. In particular, vinpocetine inhibits TNF-α–induced NF-κB activation and the subsequent induction of proinflammatory mediators in multiple cell types, including vascular smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, macrophages, and epithelial cells. We also show that vinpocetine inhibits monocyte adhesion and chemotaxis, which are critical processes during inflammation. Moreover, vinpocetine potently inhibits TNF-α- or LPS-induced up-regulation of proinflammatory mediators, including TNF-α, IL-1β, and macrophage inflammatory protein-2, and decreases interstitial infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in a mouse model of TNF-α- or LPS-induced lung inflammation. Interestingly, vinpocetine inhibits NF-κB–dependent inflammatory responses by directly targeting IKK, independent of its well-known inhibitory effects on phosphodiesterase and Ca
2+
regulation. These studies thus identify vinpocetine as a unique antiinflammatory agent that may be repositioned for the treatment of many inflammatory diseases.
X-ray structure and mechanism of RNA polymerase II stalled at an antineoplastic monofunctional platinum-DNA adduct
Authors: Wang Dong , Zhu Guangyu , Huang Xuhui , Lippard Stephen J.
Published: May 2010

DNA is a major target of anticancer drugs. The resulting adducts interfere with key cellular processes, such as transcription, to trigger downstream events responsible for drug activity.cis-Diammine(pyridine)chloroplatinum(II), cDPCP or pyriplatin, is a monofunctional platinum(II) analogue of the widely used anticancer drug cisplatin having significant anticancer properties with a different spectrum of activity. Its novel structure-activity properties hold promise for overcoming drug resistance and improving the spectrum of treatable cancers over those responsive to cisplatin. However, the detailed molecular mechanism by which cells process DNA modified by pyriplatin and related monofunctional complexes is not at all understood. Here we report the structure of a transcribing RNA polymerase II (pol II) complex stalled at a site-specific monofunctional pyriplatin-DNA adduct in the active site. The results reveal a molecular mechanism of pol II transcription inhibition and drug action that is dramatically different from transcription inhibition by cisplatin and UV-induced 1,2-intrastrand cross-links. Our findings provide insight into structure-activity relationships that may apply to the entire family of monofunctional DNA-damaging agents and pave the way for rational improvement of monofunctional platinum anticancer drugs.
Post-eclosion odor experience modifies olfactory receptor neuron coding in
Drosophila
Authors: Iyengar Atulya , Chakraborty Tuhin Subhra , Goswami Sarit Pati , Wu Chun-Fang , Siddiqi Obaid
Published: May 2010

Olfactory responses of
Drosophila
undergo pronounced changes after eclosion. The flies develop attraction to odors to which they are exposed and aversion to other odors. Behavioral adaptation is correlated with changes in the firing pattern of olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). In this article, we present an information-theoretic analysis of the firing pattern of ORNs. Flies reared in a synthetic odorless medium were transferred after eclosion to three different media: (
i
) a synthetic medium relatively devoid of odor cues, (
ii
) synthetic medium infused with a single odorant, and (
iii
) complex cornmeal medium rich in odors. Recordings were made from an identified sensillum (type II), and the Jensen–Shannon divergence (D
JS
) was used to assess quantitatively the differences between ensemble spike responses to different odors. Analysis shows that prolonged exposure to ethyl acetate and several related esters increases sensitivity to these esters but does not improve the ability of the fly to distinguish between them. Flies exposed to cornmeal display varied sensitivity to these odorants and at the same time develop greater capacity to distinguish between odors. Deprivation of odor experience on an odorless synthetic medium leads to a loss of both sensitivity and acuity. Rich olfactory experience thus helps to shape the ORNs response and enhances its discriminative power. The experiments presented here demonstrate an experience-dependent adaptation at the level of the receptor neuron.
Methylation and silencing of miRNA-124 by
EVI1
and self-renewal exhaustion of hematopoietic stem cells in murine myelodysplastic syndrome
Authors: Dickstein Jerome , Senyuk Vitalyi , Premanand Kavitha , Laricchia-Robbio Leopoldo , Xu Peng , Cattaneo Francesca , Fazzina Raffaella , Nucifora Giuseppina
Published: May 2010

By expressing
EVI1
in murine bone marrow (BM), we previously described a myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) model characterized by pancytopenia, dysmegakaryopoiesis, dyserythropoiesis, and BM failure. The mice invariably died 11–14 months after BM transplantation (BMT). Here, we show that a double point mutant EVI1-(1+6Mut), unable to bind Gata1, abrogates the onset of MDS in the mouse and re-establishes normal megakaryopoiesis, erythropoiesis, BM function, and peripheral blood profiles. These normal features were maintained in the reconstituted mice until the study was ended at 21 months after BMT. We also report that
EVI1
deregulates several genes that control cell division and cell self-renewal. In striking contrast, these genes are normalized in the presence of the
EVI1
mutant. Moreover,
EVI1
, but not the
EVI1
mutant, seemingly deregulates these cellular processes by altering miRNA expression. In particular, the silencing of miRNA-124 by DNA methylation is associated with
EVI1
expression, but not that of the
EVI1
mutant, and appears to play a key role in the up-regulation of cell division in murine BM cells and in the hematopoietic cell line 32Dcl3. The results presented here demonstrate that
EVI1
induces MDS in the mouse through two major pathways, both of which require the interaction of EVI1 with other factors: one, results from EVI1–Gata1 interaction, which deregulates erythropoiesis and leads to fatal anemia, whereas the other occurs by interaction of EVI1 with unidentified factors causing perturbation of the cell cycle and self-renewal, as a consequence of silencing miRNA-124 by
EVI1
and, ultimately, ensues in BM failure.
Spatial structure of the head-to-head propagating domain wall in glass-covered FeSiB microwire
Authors: Ekstrom P A , Zhukov A
Published: May 2010

Spatial structure of a domain wall propagating in high-positive-magnetostriction glass-covered microwire was observed using a modified Sixtus–Tonks apparatus. High resolution was achieved by minimizing the size of the pickup coils using single-turn coils wound directly on the surface of glass-coated microwire. Our estimations give the equivalent width of the observed wall ranging from 2.8 to 4 mm in Fe77.5Si7.5B15 microwire having 12 µm core diameter and 40 µm glass diameter. The shape of the induction signal was wider and more rounded for pickup loops placed near the end of the 30 mm long microwire sample, narrower and nearly triangular for a loop at the centre.
The efficiency of coaxial KrCl* excilamps
Authors: Zhuang Xiaobo , Han Qiuyi , Zhang Haojun , Feng Xiangfen , Roth Markus , Rosier Oliver , Zhu Shaolong , Zhang Shanduan
Published: May 2010

The spectrum, input power and 222 nm radiant efficiency were measured for coaxial KrCl* excilamps based on a dielectric barrier discharge. The inner tubes of the lamps have an inner/outer diameter (ID/OD) of 14/16 mm. The OD of the outer tubes is 40 mm with wall thicknesses of 1.2, 1.5 or 2.0 mm. The lamps were driven by sinusoidal, rectangular and pulsed electronic control gears (ECGs). The 222 nm radiant power is derived from irradiance, according to the Keitz formula. The input electric power is measured with an oscilloscope, combined with a voltage probe and a current probe. The results show that the maximum efficiency of the 222 nm radiation is 9.2% for a KrCl* excilamp with a wall thickness of 1.2 mm, filled with krypton (198 mbar) and chlorine (2 mbar), driven by a pulsed ECG. The effects of waveform, frequency, wall temperature and transmittance of the tube are discussed. We observe that the filament configuration of the micro-discharges changes for different voltage waveforms. The results of gas composition and pressure show an optimum pressure at 200 mbar and an optimum chlorine percentage around 0.4–1.0%.
Modelling of low energy ion sputtering from oxide surfaces
Authors: Kubart T , Nyberg T , Berg S
Published: May 2010

The main aim of this work is to present a way to estimate the values of surface binding energy for oxides. This is done by fitting results from the binary collisions approximation code Tridyn with data from the reactive sputtering processing curves, as well as the elemental composition obtained from x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Oxide targets of Al, Ti, V, Nb and Ta are studied. The obtained surface binding energies are then used to predict the partial sputtering yields. Anomalously high sputtering yield is observed for the TiO2 target. This is attributed to the high sputtering yield of Ti lower oxides. Such an effect is not observed for the other studied metals. XPS measurement of the oxide targets confirms the formation of suboxides during ion bombardment as well as an oxygen deficient surface in the steady state. These effects are confirmed from the processing curves from the oxide targets showing an elevated sputtering rate in pure argon.
Doping dependence of electrical and thermal conductivity of nanoscale polyaniline thin films
Authors: Jin Jiezhu , Wang Qing , Haque M A
Published: May 2010

We performed simultaneous characterization of electrical and thermal conductivity of 55 nm thick polyaniline (PANI) thin films doped with different levels of camphor sulfonic acids (CSAs). The effect of the doping level is more pronounced on electrical conductivity than on thermal conductivity of PANIs, thereby greatly affecting their ratio that determines the thermoelectric efficiency. At the 60% (the molar ratio of CSA to phenyl-N repeat unit of PANI) doping level, PANI exhibited the maximum electrical and thermal conductivity due to the formation of mostly delocalized structures. Whereas polarons are the charge carriers responsible for the electrical conduction, phonons are believed to play a dominant role in the heat conduction in nanoscale doped PANI thin films.
Influence of aluminium incorporation on the structure of ZrN films deposited at low temperatures
Authors: J J Araiza  , O Sánchez
Published: May 2010

The authors acknowledge that part of the work was also published in the journalVacuum(see J J Araiza, O Sánchez and J M Albella 2009Vacuum831236-9).
Network-Level Measures
Authors: Valente Thomas W.
Published: May 2010

Network level measures are measures calculated on the whole network and provide indicators of network structure. Eight network indicators are reviewed: size, density, reciprocity/mutuality, triadic census/transitivity, average path length, clustering, centralization, and core-periphery. The chapter then reviews two-mode data and closes with a discussion of network level influences on behavior. For example, how does density affect innovation diffusion?
Exponential Random Graph Models, P* and Actor Oriented Models
Authors: Valente Thomas W.
Published: May 2010

This chapter describes in non-technical terms how researchers can determine whether empirical networks exhibit certain structural properties (centrality, triadic transitivity, etc.) using a statistical test. These models are referred to as exponential random graph models (ERGM), named after the technique used to generate simulated networks, which can then be compared to the observed network in order to statistically assess network properties. The chapter provides an exposition of the actor oriented co-evolution model, which extends the cross-sectional ERGM framework to model longitudinal processes. These models can be used to determine what behaviors drive social network evolution, and whether social relationships influence behavioral changes. Public health examples are used throughout to illustrate concepts.
Vygotsky, Luria, and the Social Brain
Authors: Fernyhough Charles
Published: May 2010

This chapter considers the potential value of Vygotsky's and Luria's functional systems approach for our understanding of the developmental linkages between executive functioning and social understanding. It proposes that such linkages are best explained through taking an interfunctional approach to both classes of psychological process, according to which both executive functioning and social understanding are constituted of functional systems developmentally structured by social experience, and shaped by a general transition towards semiotic mediation of cognition and behavior in the preschool years. In addressing the significance of this view for the developing neuroanatomical localization of such functions, this chapter considers these relations in light of Luria's co-constructivist approach to neurodevelopment which allowed for bidirectional causal influences between biology and social environment.
Integration of Photoperiodic Timing and Vernalization inArabidopsis
Authors: Michaels Scott D.
Published: May 2010

This chapter discusses how photoperiod and vernalization pathways contribute to the coordination of flowering in Arabidopsis with seasonal changes in day length and temperature. FRI-containing winter annuals typically germinate in late summer or fall. Even if the days are sufficiently long to induce CO protein accumulation, high levels of FLC act to block the expression of FT, FD, and SOC1, thereby preventing flowering. The plants then overwinter as a vegetative rosette. During this time, vernalization takes place, and the action of VIN3, VRN1, VRN2, VIL1, and LHP1 leads to repressive histone modifications in the chromatin of FLC. This creates an epigenetic repression of FLC that is stable even after temperatures warm in the spring. It is important to note, however, that the suppression of FLC is not sufficient to directly induce flowering. FT and SOC1 are not highly expressed until the days of spring become sufficiently long to induce CO protein accumulation. At that point, with the repression of FLC removed by vernalization, CO can induce the expression of FT. FT protein then moves to the apex where it interacts with FD to activate the expression of SOC1 and the floral meristem-associated genes AP1 and LFY, to trigger the production of flowers. In the embryos formed from these flowers, FLC expression is re-set to high levels, restoring the vernalization requirement in the next generation.
Photoperiodism in Amphibians and Reptiles
Authors: Weil Zachary M. , Crews David
Published: May 2010

This chapter provides a broad overview of photoperiodic regulation of reproductive and nonreproductive responses in amphibians and reptiles. It focuses mostly on laboratory investigations of photoperiodic and seasonal phenomena where environmental factors can be precisely controlled, and the respective contributions of day length and environmental temperature elucidated.
Gap Junctions and the Notion of Electrical Coupling Between Axons
Authors: Roger Roger D. , Whittington Miles A.
Published: May 2010

Gap junctions are an evolutionarily ancient form of intercellular communication, present in a variety of tissues, and essential to life. A variety of types of experimental evidence indicates that gap junctions can occur on axons, and can (at least in some circumstances) permit the spread of action potentials from cell to cell. Very fast oscillations at ~200 Hz occur in hippocampal slices in conditions where chemical synapses are blocked, but requiring gap junctions.
Task Switching: Mechanisms Underlying Rigid vs. Flexible Self-Control
Authors: Meiran Nachshon
Published: May 2010

This chapter reviews the historical and current literature on task switching, focusing primarily on cognitive-behavioral studies on healthy human subjects. It outlines what I see to be widely accepted conclusions. These include the notion that tasks have mental representations (“task sets”) and that a change in this representation results in slowing (although the exact reasons for the slowing are debated). Following Ach (2006/1910), the chapter divides the processes that are currently mentioned in the literature into those making an inner obstacle against a task switch (thus causing rigidity) and those that enable a task switch (thus supporting flexibility). It also discusses some major controversies in the field and suggest that many of these controversies are more apparent than real by pointing out the many issues where a broad consensus exists.
Getting Our Act Together: Toward a General Model of Self-Control
Authors: Magen Eran , Gross James J.
Published: May 2010

Research on self-control has enjoyed tremendous growth over the past few decades, as researchers from a variety of disciplines have tested different self-control techniques in different domains of self-control. The result has been a proliferation of theories, models, and approaches, each offering important, but so far largely unrelated insights. The lack of a unifying framework has been an impediment to the development of an incremental science of self-control, and has left researchers struggling to relate their work to that of others. In this chapter, we present a general model of self-control, which we call the cybernetic process model of self-control. This model integrates two existing models — Cybernetic control theory (Carver & Scheier, 1982) and the process model of emotion-regulation (Gross, 1998b) — and describes the process through which tempting impulses arise and may be regulated. The cybernetic process model of self-control provides a conceptual framework for organizing disparate findings from research on self-control, and serves as a useful aid in selecting and designing appropriate self-control techniques.
Chapter 1 Introduction: Culture, Self-Silencing, and Depression: A Contextual-Relational Perspective
Authors: Jack Dana C. , Ali Alisha
Published: May 2010

This chapter introduces the concept of this international book and the relevance of the self-silencing construct to understanding depression and related problems across cultures, contexts, and populations. The chapter summarizes silencing the self theory and situates the theory among other psychological theories of depression. The authors each describe the research that led them to become interested in the idea of this edited volume in which contributors from a range of different countries and settings explore self-silencing, and they provide a summary of the content of the book. The chapter also presents issues arising from research on self-silencing that raise questions for further investigation as well as ideas that relate self-silencing theory to broader constructs of “culture” and “self.” The authors argue that examining how gender-specific norms and social inequality affect self-silencing within relationships and across cultures is necessary for a fuller understanding of depression and its treatment.
Chapter 7 “I Don't Express My Feelings to Anyone”: How Self-Silencing Relates to Gender and Depression in Nepal
Authors: Jack Dana C. , Pokharel Bindu , Subba Usha
Published: May 2010

This chapter examines how self-silencing and depression are affected in gender-specific ways by the changing social context in Nepal. The authors explore whether self-silencing relates to depression differently in Nepal than it does Western industrialized countries. To examine this question, the authors draw upon data they have collected through three studies in Kathmandu, Nepal. The chapter outlines the findings from these studies, which used interviews, focus groups, and quantitative questionnaires to understand the experiences of depression and self-silencing among Nepalese men and women. The authors argue that gender is an important factor in explaining the risks and consequences associated with self-silencing and depression in Nepal, but also that both men and women are at risk for depression when they silence themselves in attempting to maintain social and familial harmony.
Chapter 19 Silencing the Heart: Women in Treatment for Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Medved Maria I.
Published: May 2010

This chapter examines how women who are in support groups after myocardial heart infarction are silenced by approaches to treatment that are derived solely from men's experiences with heart disease. It presents evidence of how treatment can address self-silencing in order to facilitate women's positive coping to help them return to health. It discusses the relevance of silencing the self theory in conceptualizing women's experience of cardiovascular disease, particularly in light of the lack of attention given to women's—as opposed to men's—experience of heart disease. Using illustrative case examples, the chapter demonstrates the contradictions between women's needs to focus on their own recovery and to simultaneously meet the needs of those around them. The chapter also describes possible psychosocial approaches for recovery and rehabilitation for women with cardiovascular disease.
Authors' Intentions, Literary Interpretation, and Literary Value
Authors: Davies Stephen
Published: May 2010

This chapter considers three prominent theories of literary interpretation: actual intentionalism (author's intentions constrain how their works are to be interpreted), hypothetical intentionalism (interpretations are justified as those most likely intended by a postulated author), and the value maximizing theory (interpretations presenting the work in the most favourable light are to be preferred). Either intentionalism cannot account for the appropriateness or legitimacy of some interpretations, or it must be weakened to the point that the considerations raised by hypothetical intentionalists and value-maxmizers come into play. Hypothetical intentionalism either reduces to the value-maximizing theory — which provides a more accurate and clearer expression of the position than does hypothetical intentionalism — or it mistakenly attributes to hypothesized intentions the kind of force that attaches only to actual intentions.
Relativism, Vagueness and What is Said
Authors: García‐Carpintero Manuel
Published: May 2010

John MacFarlane has formulated a version of truth-relativism, and has argued for its application in some cases — future contingents, knowledge attributions, and epistemic modals among them. Mark Richard also defends a version of relativism, which he applies to vagueness-inducing features of the semantics of gradable adjectives. On MacFarlane's and Richard's characterization, truth-relativist claims posit a distinctive kind of context-dependence, the dependence of the evaluation of an assertion as true or otherwise on aspects of the context of the evaluation itself — in contrast with the context of the assertion. This chapter follows Evans in distinguishing two forms of truth-relativism: a moderate one concerning the evaluation of contents or propositions, and a radical one concerning the evaluation of acts. It argues against Richard's truth-relativist proposals for gradable adjectives, which are understood to be of the second kind, while accepting a form of moderate content-relativism for those cases.
Principles in Health Economics and Policy
Authors: Olsen Jan Abel
Published: May 2010

Principles in Health Economics and Policy is a concise introduction to health economics and its application to health policy. It introduces the subject of economics, explains the fundamental failures in the market for health care, and discusses the concepts of equity and fairness when applied to health and health care. The book takes a policy-oriented approach, emphasizing the application of economic analysis to universal health policy issues. It explores the key questions facing health policy-makers across the globe right now, such as: how should society intervene in the determinants that affect health? How should health care be financed? How should health care providers be paid? And, how should alternative health care programmes be evaluated when setting priorities? Exercises and suggested readings are included after each chapter.
What makes the market for health care different?
Authors: Olsen Jan Abel
Published: May 2010

Public intervention in the market for health care is based on two quite separate reasons: ‘market failures’ and equity. This chapter explores the nature of market failures, emphasizing the efficiency reasons for regulating health care markets. Exercises and suggested readings are included at the end of the chapter.
Compulsory insurance
Authors: Olsen Jan Abel
Published: May 2010

This chapter discusses private health insurance, social health insurance, and tax-financed health care. These three health insurance systems differ in terms of three Cs: costs, coverage, and choice. Private health insurance is the most costly one to manage. Coverage is limited to people who have taken out insurance, but the choice to do so is of course voluntary. The contrasting system is taxation: it is cheap, it involves universal coverage, but it is compulsory. Social health insurance (SHI) lies between the two contrasting systems, but in practice is quite similar to tax-funded health care on two crucial issues. First, there is no link between size of the individual's contribution and their expected use of health care. Hence, the inefficiencies in the labour market associated with direct taxation would be the same, no matter whether some part of the compulsory taxation is ‘earmarked’ or not. Second, in high-income countries SHI has developed to universal coverage through top-up tax-financed contributions to the sickness funds from the state to cover non-member groups outside the workforce. Exercises and suggested readings are included at the end of the chapter.
Costs and discounting
Authors: Olsen Jan Abel
Published: May 2010

This chapter explores the other two key parameters in the cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness formulae: how to measure costs and the principle of discounting. While cost calculations may sound like a boring technical exercise, discounting health effects is more of a controversial normative issue. Exercises and suggested readings are included at the end of the chapter.
The Form and Matter of the Categorical Imperative
Authors: Guyer Paul
Published: May 2010

This chapter regiments Kant's various formulations of the categorical imperative in the Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals by arguing that the two different versions of what Kant describes as the third formula — the ‘formula of autonomy’ and the ‘formula of the kingdom of ends’ — represent respectively the consequences of the systematic application or ‘complete determination’ of the first two formulas, the ‘formula of autonomy’ representing the systematic application of the ‘formula of universal law’, and the ‘formula of the kingdom of ends’ representing the systematic application of the ‘formula of humanity as an end in itself’.
It Takes Two to Tango: Beyond Reductionism and Non‐Reductionism in the Epistemology of Testimony
Authors: Lackey Jennifer
Published: May 2010

How precisely do we successfully acquire justified belief from either the spoken or written word of others? This question is at the center of the epistemology of testimony, and the current philosophical literature contains only two general options for answering it: reductionism and non-reductionism. While reductionists argue that testimonial justification is reducible to sense perception, memory, and inductive inference, non-reductionists maintain that testimony is just as basic epistemically as these other sources. This chapter challenges the current terms of the debate by, first, showing that there are serious problems afflicting both reductionism and non-reductionism and by, second, suggesting an alternate, hybrid, view of testimonial justification.
Economic Activity and the Advantage Analysis
Authors: Rubini Luca
Published: May 2010

This chapter focuses on the economic activity of governments. The first part deals with the general principle of the market, focusing on the complexities and difficulties involved in the application of the actual benchmarks derived from this paradigm. In the second part, two case-studies explain the relationship between public intervention in the economy and market benchmarks. The attempt is to show — in the current context of redefinition of the roles of public and private actors in the economy — the interplay of two contrasting forces and their critical impact on the advantage analysis. A shift from complexity discourse to outspoken criticism is the subject of the final part. The fundamental critiques about the possibility, consistency and, ultimately, the legitimacy of using market benchmarks to test the economic conduct of public bodies are examined. The chapter concludes by offering a balanced rehabilitation of the market paradigm.
13 Draw
Authors: Piñón Christopher
Published: May 2010

This chapter is concerned with the denotation of the object argument of verbs of creation. Through an examination of the verb draw, Piñón argues that the object of verbs of creation cannot in general denote ordinary individuals. In particular, Piñón argues for three different readings of draw a house, depending on the denotation of the object. Thus, not only ordinary individuals or images of ordinary individuals satisfy the predicate house, but abstract individuals such as house‐depictions and house‐descriptions, which are not necessarily related to ordinary individuals. He distinguishes two different ‘relational’ readings of draw a house, which involve the depiction either of a particular house or of a particular house‐description, from the ‘notional’ reading which involves a general house‐depiction, but no house or house‐description in particular. The argument is based not only on the semantic differences between the three readings, but also on the fact that in some languages (Piñón describes Hungarian) these three readings correspond to three different verbs.
Prepositions and cases in Ancient Greek
Authors: Bortone Pietro
Published: May 2010

Chapter 4 begins the history of Greek prepositions, looking at Homeric and Classical Greek. We see prepositions competing with one another. The new “improper” prepositions ousting old “proper” synonyms, while the semantic contribution and the extent of use of cases was diminishing. Above all, new prepositions were mainly or exclusively spatial.
Drug policy and control at the international level
Authors: Babor Thomas , Caulkins Jonathan , Edwards Griffith , Fischer Benedikt , Foxcroft David , Humphreys Keith , Obot Isidore , Rehm Jürgen , Reuter Peter , Room Robin , Rossow Ingeborg , Strang John
Published: May 2010

This chapter begins with a discussion of the global expansion of psychoactive substance use. It then discusses current international drug control treaties, the implementation of the treaties, the dominant role of the USA, and the effects of the international drug control system.
The variety of national drug policies
Authors: Babor Thomas , Caulkins Jonathan , Edwards Griffith , Fischer Benedikt , Foxcroft David , Humphreys Keith , Obot Isidore , Rehm Jürgen , Reuter Peter , Room Robin , Rossow Ingeborg , Strang John
Published: May 2010

This chapter describes some of the observed policy variation and its sources, so that readers can better understand their own country's choices and how they are framed. It begins by describing the range of drug problems and policies in two very different countries, Mexico and Sweden. These illustrate the interconnections among problems, context, and policies. This is followed by a more parsimonious characterization of the variation in the problems and policies of seven nations: China, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Sweden, the UK, and the USA. All seven have serious drug problems that differ in nature, to which they also have responded in diverse ways. The remainder of the chapter elaborates the nature and consequences of the differences. The principal focus here is on policy variation across countries, but there is also important variation within a country. Laws are unlikely to differ much across states or municipalities, but they may be implemented in very different ways.
Summary and conclusions
Authors: Babor Thomas , Caulkins Jonathan , Edwards Griffith , Fischer Benedikt , Foxcroft David , Humphreys Keith , Obot Isidore , Rehm Jürgen , Reuter Peter , Room Robin , Rossow Ingeborg , Strang John
Published: May 2010

At the beginning of this book it was asserted that drug policy can be improved by greater attention to scientific evidence, and thereby can better serve the public good. To justify that claim, the complex nature of drug use and drug problems was discussed, and different intervention approaches were systematically evaluated. The authors hope that by this point it has become clear that science offers a range of findings which can inform the development of effective drug policy. Nevertheless, the current patchwork of drug policy responses by modern societies and international organizations takes little account of the available research. This chapter explores the implications of this situation for policymakers and practitioners, and presents 10 scientifically grounded conclusions about drug policy.