bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Los desafíos a la reunificación de China y Taiwán: la Ley Antisecesión (2005) y el Acuerdo Marco de Cooperación Económica (2010)
Authors: Aranda Isabel Rodríguez
Published: November 2011

El presente artículo tiene por objetivo analizar el problema de la reunificación entre la República Popular China y Taiwán en la última década, en el marco de dos hitos: por un lado, la promulgación de la Ley Antisecesión del 14 de marzo de 2005 y, por otro, la firma del Acuerdo Marco de Cooperación Económica el 30 de junio de 2010.
O processo de integração regional: fronteiras abertas para os trabalhadores do Mercosul
Authors: Camargo Sonia de
Published: November 2011

O que me proponho neste trabalho é discutir o tema da livre circulação dos trabalhadores no Mercosul, levando-se em conta que esta liberdade - diferentemente de outras que aparecem como objetivos essenciais a serem alcançados no processo de integração desta sub-região - não faz parte do texto do Tratado de Assunção, assinado em março de 1991. Esta ausência é reveladora, na medida em que a liberdade de circulação de pessoas constitui um dos elementos que evidencia com maior clareza a existência de um processo de integração, na medida em que afeta diretamente a vida dos cidadãos assegurando seu livre trânsito dentro do bloco e oportunidades iguais entre os nacionais e não nacionais. No texto do referido Tratado, a integração aparece limitada à circulação de capitais, bens e serviços, liberdade assegurada pela eliminação de qualquer medida que possa prejudicá-la. Partindo dessa discussão, pretendo examinar quais os avanços institucionais já alcançados no sentido da criação de políticas que, concretamente, conduzam à abertura de fronteiras entre os países do Mercosul por meio das quais seus cidadãos - neste caso, os trabalhadores - possam se deslocar livremente e residir em seu local de trabalho. Para tanto, acredito que conhecer a experiência da União Europeia possa ser de grande utilidade.
Como saber se as convenções internacionais de meio ambiente realmente funcionam? abordagens teórico-metodológicas sobre a eficácia dos regimes ambientais
Authors: Steiner Andrea Q , Medeiros Marcelo de Almeida
Published: November 2011

As últimas décadas foram marcadas pela grande quantidade de problemas ambientais transfronteiriços e pelo consequente aumento no número de regimes internacionais relacionados. Entretanto, a criação de um regime por si só não garante sua implementação, tampouco a obtenção plena de seus objetivos ou, menos ainda, a resolução do problema. Este fato vem estimulando um debate interessante na academia: os regimes internacionais são realmente eficazes para tratar de questões de meio ambiente? O presente artigo discute os principais métodos de análise da eficácia dos regimes de meio ambiente. Para tanto, delineia questões conceituais gerais sobre a eficácia dos regimes, discute os questionamentos e necessidades metodológicas no caso específico das políticas ambientais internacionais, analisa as principais abordagens utilizadas e apresenta seus achados mais importantes, focando nos fatores que contribuem para a eficácia.
Definition of "Investment": Could a Persistent Objector to the Salini Tests be Found in ICSID Arbitral Practice?
Authors: Martin Antoine
Published: November 2011

With the absence of an explicit definition of the term “investment” under Article 25 of the ICSID and given the general nature of bilateral investment protection treaties (BITs) to this effect, arbitral courts have been faced with the issue of establishing the existence of “investments” while establishing their jurisdiction over several claims. While Fedax v Venezuela and Salini v Morocco provided a fixed set of criteria characteristic of the existence of an “investment,” various debates have taken place in arbitral practice as to how these shall be interpreted. Some decisions for instance considered the Salini criteria as jurisdictional requirements, but others rather relied on flexibility to limit the value of the criteria to a set of purely indicative hallmarks. This comment therefore reviews how the term “investment” has been interpreted and suggests that a persistent objector to the Salini tests might be emphasised.
Fractionation of complex mixtures of naphthenic acids, their characterization and biological activity
Authors: Grbovic Ljubica , Pavlovic Ksenija , Prekodravac Bojana , Kuhajda Ksenija , Kevresan Slavko , Popsavin Mirjana , Milic Jelena , Cirin-Novta Vera
Published: November 2011

Naphthenic acids (NAs) are complex mixtures of cycloaliphatic and
alkyl-substituted acyclic carboxylic acids whose overall characteristics are
determined by the composition of the mixture. A complex mixture of NAs from a
commercial fraction of atmospheric oil of the Vojvodina naphthenic crude
"Velebit" (Serbia) was separated into narrower fractions on the basis of
their acidity. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry analysis of the
fractions showed the occurrence of structural differentiation of acids. By
extraction at pH 3-5, about 50% of the total mass of acids was separated,
consisting predominantly of tricyclic and bicyclic structures. Acids of lower
acidity, (about 22%), separated at pH 9 and 10, and their dominant
constituents were acids with three, four and five rings. A correlation was
found between the dominant structure and the biological activity of NAs of
the fractions. The fraction extracted at pH 8, also with dominant bicyclic
and tricyclic structures, showed the highest auxin and gibberellin
activities.
On genera of polyhedra
Authors: Drozd Yuriy , Kolesnyk Petro
Published: November 2011

We consider the stable homotopy category S of polyhedra (finite cell complexes). We say that two polyhedra X,Y are in the same genus and write X ∼ Y if X
p ≅ Y
p for all prime p, where X
p denotes the image of Xin the localized category S
p. We prove that it is equivalent to the stable isomorphism X∨B
0 ≅Y∨B
0, where B
0 is the wedge of all spheres S
n such that π
nS(X) is infinite. We also prove that a stable isomorphism X ∨ X ≅ Y ∨ X implies a stable isomorphism X ≅ Y.
Luminescence age constraints on palaeo-earthquake events along the lingwu fault in the Yinchuan Basin, China
Authors: Wang Xulong , Chai Chizhang , Du Peng , Lei Qiyun , Yin Gongming , Lu Yanchou
Published: November 2011

Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating was applied to sediment samples in order to provide age constraints on the palaeo-earthquake events that are recorded in a trench on the Lingwu fault near Yinchuan on the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, China. Combining seventeen OSL ages with field observations in the trench shows that at least four events took place at this specific site, and that this fault has been active over the past 200 ka.
Long-Term Maintenance of Polysaccharide-Specific Antibodies by IgM-Secreting Cells
Authors: Foote Jeremy B. , Mahmoud Tamer I. , Vale Andre M. , Kearney John F.
Published: November 2011

Many bacteria-associated polysaccharides induce long-lived Ab responses that protect against pathogenic microorganisms. The maintenance of polysaccharide-specific Ab titers may be due to long-lived plasma cells or ongoing Ag-driven B cell activation due to polysaccharide persistence. BALB/c and VHJ558.3 transgenic mice respond to α1→3-dextran (DEX) by generating a peak anti-DEX response at 7 d, followed by maintenance of serum Ab levels for up to 150 d. Analysis of the cellular response to DEX identified a population of short-lived, cyclophosphamide-sensitive DEX-specific plasmablasts in the spleen, and a quiescent, cyclophosphamide-resistant DEX-specific Ab-secreting population in the bone marrow. BrdU pulse-chase experiments demonstrated the longevity of the DEX-specific Ab-secreting population in the bone marrow. Splenic DEX-specific plasmablasts were located in the red pulp with persisting DEX-associated CD11c+ dendritic cells 90 d after immunization, whereas DEX was not detected in the bone marrow after 28 d. Selective depletion of short-lived DEX-specific plasmablasts and memory B1b B cells using cyclophosphamide and anti-CD20 treatment had a minimal impact on the maintenance of serum anti-DEX Abs. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that the maintenance of serum polysaccharide-specific Abs is the result of continuous Ag-driven formation of short-lived plasmablasts in the spleen and a quiescent population of Ab-secreting cells maintained in the bone marrow for a long duration.
Adenosine A2B Receptor Blockade Slows Growth of Bladder and Breast Tumors
Authors: Cekic Caglar , Sag Duygu , Li Yuesheng , Theodorescu Dan , Strieter Robert M. , Linden Joel
Published: November 2011

The accumulation of high levels of adenosine in tumors activates A2A and A2B receptors on immune cells and inhibits their ability to suppress tumor growth. Deletion of adenosine A2A receptors (A2AARs) has been reported to activate antitumor T cells, stimulate dendritic cell (DC) function, and inhibit angiogenesis. In this study, we evaluated the effects of intermittent intratumor injection of a nonselective adenosine receptor antagonist, aminophylline (AMO; theophylline ethylenediamine) and, for the first time to our knowledge, a selective A2BAR antagonist, ATL801. AMO and ATL801 slowed the growth of MB49 bladder and 4T1 breast tumors in syngeneic mice and reduced by 85% metastasizes of breast cancer cells from mammary fat to lung. Based on experiments with A2AAR−/− or adenosine A2B receptor−/− mice, the effect of AMO injection was unexpectedly attributed to A2BAR and not to A2AAR blockade. AMO and ATL801 significantly increased tumor levels of IFN-γ and the IFN-inducible chemokine CXCL10, which is a ligand for CXCR3. This was associated with an increase in activated tumor-infiltrating CXCR3+ T cells and a decrease in endothelial cell precursors within tumors. Tumor growth inhibition by AMO or ATL801 was eliminated in CXCR3−/− mice and RAG1−/− mice that lack mature T cells. In RAG1−/− mice, A2BAR deletion enhanced CD86 expression on CD11b− DCs. Bone marrow chimera experiments demonstrated that CXCR3 and A2BAR expression on bone marrow cells is required for the antitumor effects of AMO. The data suggest that blockade of A2BARs enhances DC activation and CXCR3-dependent antitumor responses.
Black carbon fractal morphology and short-wave radiative impact: a modelling study
Authors: Kahnert M. , Devasthale A.
Published: November 2011

Abstract. We investigate the impact of the morphological properties of freshly emitted black carbon aerosols on optical properties and on radiative forcing. To this end, we model the optical properties of fractal black carbon aggregates by use of numerically exact solutions to Maxwell's equations within a spectral range from the UVC to the mid-IR. The results are coupled to radiative transfer computations, in which we consider six realistic case studies representing different atmospheric pollution conditions and surface albedos. The spectrally integrated radiative impacts of black carbon are compared for two different fractal morphologies, which brace the range of recently reported experimental observations of black carbon fractal structures. We also gauge our results by performing corresponding calculations based on the homogeneous sphere approximation, which is commonly employed in climate models. We find that at top of atmosphere the aggregate models yield radiative impacts that can be as much as 2 times higher than those based on the homogeneous sphere approximation. An aggregate model with a low fractal dimension can predict a radiative impact that is higher than that obtained with a high fractal dimension by a factor ranging between 1.1–1.6. Although the lower end of this scale seems like a rather small effect, a closer analysis reveals that the single scattering optical properties of more compact and more lacy aggregates differ considerably. In radiative flux computations there can be a partial cancellation due to the opposing effects of different error sources. However, this cancellation effect can strongly depend on atmospheric conditions and is therefore quite unpredictable. We conclude that the fractal morphology of black carbon aerosols and their fractal parameters can have a profound impact on their radiative forcing effect, and that the use of the homogeneous sphere model introduces unacceptably high biases in radiative impact studies. We emphasise that there are other potentially important morphological features that have not been addressed in the present study, such as sintering and coating of freshly emitted black carbon by films of organic material. Finally, we found that the spectral variation of the absorption cross section of black carbon significantly deviates from a simple 1/λ scaling law. We therefore discourage the use of single-wavelength absorption measurements in conjunction with a 1/λ scaling relation in broadband radiative forcing simulations of black carbon.
The genesis of Typhoon Nuri as observed during the Tropical Cyclone Structure 2008 (TCS08) field experiment – Part 2: Observations of the convective environment
Authors: Montgomery M. T. , Smith R. K.
Published: November 2011

Abstract. Analyses of thermodynamic data gathered from airborne dropwindsondes during the Tropical Cyclone Structure (2008) experiment are presented for the disturbance that became Typhoon Nuri. Although previous work has suggested that Nuri formed within the protective recirculating "pouch" region of a westward-propagating wave-like disturbance and implicated rotating deep convective clouds in driving the inflow to spin up the tangential circulation of the system-scale flow, the nature of the thermodynamic environment that supported the genesis remains a topic of debate. During the genesis phase, vertical profiles of virtual potential temperature show little variability between soundings on a particular day and the system-average soundings likewise show a negligible change. There is a tendency also for the lower and middle troposphere to moisten. However, the data show that on the scale of the recirculating region of the disturbance, there was no noticeable reduction of virtual temperature in the lower troposphere, but a small warming (less than 1 K) in the upper troposphere. Vertical profiles of pseudo-equivalent potential temperature, θe, during the genesis show a modestly decreasing deficit of θe in the vertical between the surface and a height of minimum θe (between 3 and 4 km), from 17.5 K to 15.2 K. The findings reported here are consistent with that found for developing disturbances observed in the Pre-Depression Investigation of Cloud Systems in the Tropics (PREDICT) experiment in 2010. Some implications of the findings are discussed.
A new approach to estimate pollutant emissions based on trajectory modelling and its application in the North China Plain
Authors: Xu W. Y. , Zhao C. S. , Liu P. F. , Ran L. , Ma N. , Deng Z. Z. , Lin W. L. , Yan P. , Xu X. B.
Published: November 2011

Abstract. Emission information is crucial for air quality modelling and air quality management. In this study, a new approach based on the understanding of the relationship between emissions and measured pollutant concentrations has been proposed to estimate pollutant emissions and source contributions. The retrieval can be made with single point in-situ measurements combined with backward trajectory analyses. The method takes into consideration the effect of meteorology on pollutant transport when evaluating contributions and is independent of energy statistics, therefore can provide frequent updates on emission information. The spatial coverage can be further improved by using measurements from several sites and combining the derived emission fields. The method was applied to yield the source distributions of black carbon (BC) and CO in the North China Plain (NCP) using in-situ measurements from the HaChi (Haze in China) Campaign and to evaluate contributions from specific areas to local concentrations at the measurement site. Results show that this method can yield a reasonable emission field for the NCP and can directly quantify areal source contributions. Major BC and CO emission source regions are Beijing, the western part of Tianjin and Langfang, Hebei, with Tangshan being an additional important CO emission source area. The source contribution assessment suggests that, aside from local emissions in Wuqing, Tianjin and Hebei S, SW (d < 100 km) are the greatest contributors to measured local concentrations, while emissions from Beijing contribute little during summertime.
Interactions between uptake of amino acids and inorganic nitrogen in wheat plants
Authors: Gioseffi E. , de Neergaard A. , Schjoerring J. K.
Published: November 2011

Abstract. Soil-borne amino acids may constitute a nitrogen (N) source for plants in various terrestrial ecosystems but their importance for total N nutrition is unclear, particularly in nutrient-rich arable soils. One reason for this uncertainty is lack of information on how the absorption of amino acids by plant roots is affected by the simultaneous presence of inorganic N forms. The objective of the present study was to study absorption of glycine (Gly) and glutamine (Gln) by wheat roots and their interactions with nitrate (NO3–) and (NH4+) during uptake. The underlying hypothesis was that amino acids, when present in nutrient solution together with inorganic N, may lead to down-regulation of the inorganic N uptake. Amino acids were enriched with double-labelled 15N and 13C, while NO3– and NH4+ acquisition was determined by their rate of removal from the nutrient solution surrounding the roots. The uptake rates of NO3– and NH4+ did not differ from each other and were about twice as high as the uptake rate of organic N when the different N forms were supplied separately in concentrations of 2 mM. Nevertheless, replacement of 50 % of the inorganic N with organic N was able to restore the N uptake to the same level as that in the presence of only inorganic N. Co-provision of NO3– did not affect glycine uptake, while the presence of glycine down-regulated NO3– uptake. The ratio between 13C and 15N were lower in shoots than in roots and also lower than the theoretical values, reflecting higher C losses via respiratory processes compared to N losses. It is concluded that organic N can constitute a significant N-source for wheat plants and that there is an interaction between the uptake of inorganic and organic nitrogen.
Disconjugacy and Nonoscillation Domains for Nonlinear Singular Interface Problems on Semi-Infinite Time Scales
Authors: Vamsi D. K. K. , Baruah Pallav Kumar
Published: November 2011

We define and discuss the disconjugacy (D) and nonoscillation (N) domains for a pair of dynamic equations along with matching interface conditions on the semi-infinite time scale [0,c]T∪[σ(c),∞]T. We show that these domains are closed and convex subsets of the parameter space ℝn+m. The theory developed is used to discuss the oscillatory behavior of initial and boundary value problems associated with interface problems in the fields of applied elasticity, acoustic wave guides in ocean, and transverse vibrations in strings.
Commemorating Two Centuries of Iodine Research: An Interdisciplinary Overview of Current Research
Authors: Küpper Frithjof C. , Feiters Martin C. , Olofsson Berit , Kaiho Tatsuo , Yanagida Shozo , Zimmermann Michael B. , Carpenter Lucy J. , Luther George W. , Lu Zunli , Jonsson Mats , Kloo Lars
Published: November 2011

Iodine was discovered as a novel element in 1811 during the Napoleonic Wars. To celebrate the bicentennial anniversary of this event we reflect on the history and highlight the many facets of iodine research that have evolved since its discovery. Iodine has an impact on many aspects of life on Earth as well as on human civilization. It is accumulated in high concentrations by marine algae, which are the origin of strong iodine fluxes into the coastal atmosphere which influence climatic processes, and dissolved iodine is considered a biophilic element in marine sediments. Iodine is central to thyroid function in vertebrates, with paramount implications for human health. Iodine can exist in a wide range of oxidation states and it features a diverse supramolecular chemistry. Iodine is amenable to several analytical techniques, and iodine compounds have found widespread use in organic synthesis. Elemental iodine is produced on an industrial scale and has found a wide range of applications in innovative materials, including semiconductors—in particular, in solar cells.
Synthesis and properties of polycarbonate copolymers of trimethylene carbonate and 2‐phenyl‐5,5‐bis(hydroxymethyl) trimethylene carbonate
Authors: Li Zhong‐Mei , Yan Guo‐Ping , Ai Chao‐Wu , Zhang Qiao , Li Liang , Liu Fan , Yu Xiang‐Hua , Zhao Biao
Published: November 2011

The polycarbonate copolymers poly[trimethylene carbonate‐co‐2‐phenyl‐5,5‐bis(hydroxymethyl) trimethylene carbonate] [P(TMC‐co‐PTC)] were synthesized by the ring‐opening polymerization of trimethylene carbonate (TMC) and 2‐phenyl‐5,5‐bis(hydroxymethyl) trimethylene carbonate (PTC) with tin(II) 2‐ethylhexanoate and aluminum isopropoxide as the catalysts. These copolymers were further reduced by a palladium/carbonate (Pd/C; 10%) catalyst to produce partly deprotected copolymers. These two types of copolymers were characterized by 1H‐NMR, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, and an automatic contact angle meter. The influences of the feed molar ratio of the monomers, the catalyst concentration, the reaction time, and the reaction temperature on the copolymerization process were also studied. The copolymerization of the TMC and PTC monomers was a nonideal copolymerization, and the copolymerization reactivity ratio of TMC was higher than that of PTC. In vitro degradation tests indicated that the partly deprotected copolymers possessed faster degradation rates and more hydrophilicity than the corresponding unreduced copolymers. Moreover, the degradation of these two type copolymers increased when the pH value of the buffer solutions decreased. In vitro drug‐release experiments showed that these two types of copolymers had steady drug‐release rates and good controlled release properties. Moreover, the partly deprotected copolymers had faster drug‐release rates than the corresponding unreduced copolymers. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
ChemInform Abstract: Splitting Water with Cobalt
Authors: Artero Vincent , Chavarot‐Kerlidou Murielle , Fontecave Marc
Published: November 2011

Review: ca. 250 refs.
Quantized feedback stabilization of linear discrete‐time systems with constraints
Authors: Zanma Tadanao , Yamamoto Yusuke , Ishida Muneaki
Published: November 2011

This paper addresses the quantization of control systems. The state of the system is quantized by means of a quantizer. In addition, constraints on the input and/or state are considered explicitly. For a linear system with no constraints, some quantized feedback control methods have been proposed. In this paper, a control methodology for a constrained system is proposed. Specifically, the idea of a positively invariant set is introduced so that the performance is improved while the constraints are satisfied. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified through both simulation and experiment. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 178(3): 53–61, 2012; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.21122
Site‐Selective Sonogashira Reactions of 1,4‐Dibromo‐2‐fluorobenzene – Synthesis and Properties of Fluorinated Alkynylbenzenes
Authors: Reimann Sebastian , Sharif Muhammad , Hein Martin , Villinger Alexander , Wittler Kai , Ludwig Ralf , Langer Peter
Published: November 2011

A variety of alkynyl‐substituted fluorinated benzene derivatives have been prepared by Sonogashira cross‐coupling reactions of 1,4‐dibromo‐2‐fluorobenzene. The reactions proceed with very good site‐selectivity in favor of the 4‐position because of electronic and steric reasons. The regioselectivity is explained by the results of DFT calculations. The absorption and emission (fluorescence) properties of the products, mono‐ and dialkynylated fluorobenzenes, have been studied. In addition, the mesomorphic properties of the products have been investigated by polarization microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. 1,4‐Dialkynyl‐2‐fluorobenzenes show nematic liquid‐crystalline properties over a long phase range.
Writer's cramp: Increased dorsal premotor activity during intended writing
Authors: Delnooz Cathérine C.S. , Helmich Rick C. , Medendorp W.P. , Van de Warrenburg Bart P.C. , Toni Ivan
Published: November 2011

Simple writer's cramp (WC) is a task‐specific form of dystonia, characterized by abnormal movements and postures of the hand during writing. It is extremely task‐specific, since dystonic symptoms can occur when a patient uses a pencil for writing, but not when it is used for sharpening. Maladaptive plasticity, loss of inhibition, and abnormal sensory processing are important pathophysiological elements of WC. However, it remains unclear how those elements can account for its task‐specificity. We used fMRI to isolate cerebral alterations associated with the task‐specificity of simple WC. Subjects (13 simple WC patients, 20 matched controls) imagined grasping a pencil to either write with it or sharpen it. On each trial, we manipulated the pencil's position and the number of imagined movements, while monitoring variations in motor output with electromyography. We show that simple WC is characterized by abnormally increased activity in the dorsal premotor cortex (PMd) when imagined actions are specifically related to writing. This cerebral effect was independent from the known deficits in dystonia in generating focal motor output and in processing somatosensory feedback. This abnormal activity of the PMd suggests that the task‐specific element of simple WC is primarily due to alterations at the planning level, in the computations that transform a desired action outcome into the motor commands leading to that action. These findings open the way for testing the therapeutic value of interventions that take into account the computational substrate of task‐specificity in simple WC, e.g. modulations of PMd activity during the planning phase of writing. Hum Brain Mapp, 2013. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Versatile use of the muscle and nerve sparing latissimus dorsi flap
Authors: Tan Onder , Algan Said , Denktas Kuduban Selma , Cinal Hakan , Barin Ensar Zafer , Ulvi Hizir
Published: November 2011

In this report, we describe the technique of muscle and nerve sparing latissimus dorsi (LD) flap and evaluate the outcomes of reconstruction of various defects with 12 free and 2 pedicled muscle and nerve sparing LD flaps in 14 patients. The LD muscle functions at operated and nonoperated muscles were evaluated clinically and with electroneuromyography. All flaps survived completely but one which had a partial necrosis. The mean follow‐up time was 12.3 months. Adduction and extention ranges of the shoulders were the same bilaterally in all patients. In electroneuromyography, no significant difference was available statistically between the sides. This muscle and nerve sparing latissimus dorsi flap has advantages of thinness, muscle preservation and reliability, and thus can be a good option to other fasciocutaneous flaps in reconstruction surgery. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery, 2012
Duration of Time on Intensive Insulin Therapy Predicts Severe Hypoglycemia in the Surgically Critically Ill Population
Authors: Mowery Nathan T. , Gunter Oliver L. , Kauffmann Rondi M. , Diaz Jose J. , Collier Bryan C. , May Addison K.
Published: November 2011

Background

Hypoglycemia has emerged as a barrier to the practice of intensive insulin therapy. Current literature suggests that hypoglycemia occurs at variable rates and has different effects on outcomes in surgical and medical populations. We sought to determine the incidence, independent predictors, and effect on outcome of severe hypoglycemia (≤ 40 mg/dl) in a surgical population.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was performed on all critically ill surgical patients treated with IIT from October 2004 to February 2007. Euglycemia (goal 80–110 mg/dl) was maintained using automated computerized titration of an insulin infusion. The primary outcome of interest was any episode of severe hypoglycemia (≤40 mg/dl). Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the independent predictors of developing severe hypoglycemia.

Results

A total of 60,298 data entries (1,118 patients) for glucose were analyzed. There were 64 severe hypoglycemic episodes in 52 patients (4.6% of the patients). There was a significant increase in deaths among patients who experienced at least one episode of hypoglycemia when compared with those who did not (26.9% vs. 15.3%, P = 0.03). Logistic regression revealed that the time spent on the protocol was the best predictor of developing a hypoglycemic event when controlling for other known risk factors of hypoglycemia.

Conclusions

Intensive insulin therapy can be implemented with a low percentage of patients (4.6%) experiencing severe hypoglycemia. Mortality rate was higher for patients experiencing hypoglycemia. The duration of the time spent on the protocol was the best predictor of hypoglycemia, suggesting that hypoglycemia is a mathematic probability of prolonged illness, not a reflection of illness severity or demographic features.
Specific Measures of Executive Function Predict Cognitive Decline in Older Adults
Authors: Clark Lindsay R. , Schiehser Dawn M. , Weissberger Gali H. , Salmon David P. , Delis Dean C. , Bondi Mark W.
Published: November 2011

Decline in executive function has been noted in the prodromal stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and may presage more global cognitive declines. In this prospective longitudinal study, five measures of executive function were used to predict subsequent global cognitive decline in initially nondemented older adults. Of 71 participants, 15 demonstrated significant decline over a 1-year period on the Dementia Rating Scale (Mattis, 1988) and the remaining participants remained stable. In the year before decline, the decline group performed significantly worse than the no-decline group on two measures of executive function: the Color-Word Interference Test (CWIT; inhibition/switching condition) and Verbal Fluency (VF; switching condition). In contrast, decliners and non-decliners performed similarly on measures of spatial fluency (Design Fluency switching condition), spatial planning (Tower Test), and number-letter switching (Trail Making Test switching condition). Furthermore, the CWIT inhibition-switching measure significantly improved the prediction of decline and no-decline group classification beyond that of learning and memory measures. These findings suggest that some executive function measures requiring inhibition and switching provide predictive utility of subsequent global cognitive decline independent of episodic memory and may further facilitate early detection of dementia. (JINS, 2012, 18, 118–127)
Attenuation coefficients of ultraviolet and photosynthetically active wavelengths in the waters of Heron Reef, Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Authors: Michael Kelvin J. , Veal Cameron J. , Nunez Manuel
Published: November 2011

Variation in subsurface solar radiation has been identified as a second-order factor in coral bleaching. This study examines transmission of radiation at Heron Reef (southern Great Barrier Reef, Australia) testing the hypotheses that spectral transmission is independent of location, season and solar zenith angle. In June and December 2004, 132 underwater irradiance profiles were collected at six ultraviolet wavelengths (305, 313, 320, 340, 380, 395 nm) and photosynthetically-active radiation (PAR) to estimate spectral diffuse attenuation coefficients Kd(λ). Mean Kd(λ) decreased through the ultraviolet spectrum (0.435 m–1 at 305 nm to 0.115 m–1 at 395 nm) whereas mean Kd(PAR) was 0.129 m–1. Ultraviolet Kd(λ) values were highly correlated with each other, but less well correlated with Kd(PAR). Kd(λ) values were larger inside than outside Heron Lagoon, both across all wavelengths and at individual wavelengths. Similarly, Kd(λ) values were significantly larger in December than June. These results are consistent with greater resuspension and transport of particulates in Heron Lagoon at higher wind speeds. Kd(λ) values were not dependent on solar zenith angle. The implications are that location and season must be accounted for when setting Kd(λ) values to calculate spectral irradiances affecting corals at Heron Reef.
Actin cross-linking proteins cortexillin I and II are required for cAMP signaling duringDictyosteliumchemotaxis and development
Authors: Shu Shi , Liu Xiong , Kriebel Paul W. , Daniels Mathew P. , Korn Edward D.
Published: November 2011

Starvation induces Dictyostelium amoebae to secrete cAMP, toward which other amoebae stream, forming multicellular mounds that differentiate and develop into fruiting bodies containing spores. We find that the double deletion of cortexillin (ctx) I and II alters the actin cytoskeleton and substantially inhibits all molecular responses to extracellular cAMP. Synthesis of cAMP receptor and adenylyl cyclase A (ACA) is inhibited, and activation of ACA, RasC, and RasG, phosphorylation of extracellular signal regulated kinase 2, activation of TORC2, and stimulation of actin polymerization and myosin assembly are greatly reduced. As a consequence, cell streaming and development are completely blocked. Expression of ACA–yellow fluorescent protein in the ctxI/ctxII–null cells significantly rescues the wild-type phenotype, indicating that the primary chemotaxis and development defect is the inhibition of ACA synthesis and cAMP production. These results demonstrate the critical importance of a properly organized actin cytoskeleton for cAMP-signaling pathways, chemotaxis, and development in Dictyostelium.
Studies on the interaction between the biocontrol agent, Serratia plymuthica A30, and blackleg‐causing Dickeya sp. (biovar 3) in potato (Solanum tuberosum)
Authors: Czajkowski R. , de Boer W. J. , van Veen J. A. , van der Wolf J. M.
Published: November 2011

Interactions between Serratia plymuthica A30 and a blackleg‐causing biovar 3 Dickeya sp. were examined. In a potato slice assay, S. plymuthica A30 inhibited tissue maceration caused by Dickeya sp. IPO2222 when co‐inoculated at a density at least 10 times greater than that of the pathogen. In glasshouse experiments, population dynamics of the antagonist and of the pathogen in planta were studied by dilution plating and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) using fluorescent protein‐tagged strains. Pathogen‐free minitubers were vacuum‐infiltrated with DsRed‐tagged Dickeya sp. IPO2222 and superficially treated during planting with a water suspension containing GFP‐tagged S. plymuthica A30. A30 reduced the blackleg incidence from 55% to 0%. Both the pathogen and the antagonist colonized the seed potato tubers internally within 1 day post‐inoculation (dpi). Between 1 and 7 dpi, the population of A30 in tubers increased from 101 to c. 103 CFU g−1 and subsequently remained stable until the end of the experiment (28 dpi). Populations of A30 in stems and roots increased from c. 102 to c. 104 CFU g−1 between 7 and 28 dpi. Dilution plating and CLSM studies showed that A30 decreased the density of Dickeya sp. populations in plants. Dilution plating combined with microscopy allowed the enumeration of strain A30 and its visualization in the vascular tissues of stem and roots and in the pith of roots, as well as its adherence to and colonization of the root surface. The implications of these finding for the use of S. plymuthica A30 as a biocontrol agent are discussed.
Tentacular apparatus ultrastructure in the larva of Bolinopsis infundibulum (Lobata: Ctenophora)
Authors: Borisenko Ilya , Ereskovsky Alexander V.
Published: November 2011

Borisenko, I. and Ereskovsky, A.V. 2011. Tentacular apparatus ultrastructure in the larva of Bolinopsis infundibulum (Lobata: Ctenophora). —Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 00: 1–10.

Most ctenophores have a tentacular apparatus, which plays some role in their feeding. Tentacle structure has been described in adults of only three ctenophore species, but the larval tentacles have remained completely unstudied. We made a light and electron microscopic study of the tentacular apparatus in the larvae of Bolinopsis infundibulum from the White Sea. The tentacular apparatus of B. infundibulum larvae consists of the tentacle proper and the tentacle root. The former contains terminally differentiated cells, while the latter contains stem cells and cells undergoing differentiation. The core of the tentacle is formed by myocytes, and its epidermis contains colloblasts (hunting cells), wall cells, degenerating cask cells, refractive vesicles, and ciliated sensory cells. Stem cells, colloblasts, and cask cells at various stages of differentiation and putative myocytes progenitors were revealed in the tentacle root. Two different populations of the stem cells in the tentacle root give rise to epidermal (colloblasts and cask cells) and mesogleal (myocytes) cell lines. Nervous elements, glandular cells, and basal lamina were not found. Step‐by‐step differentiation of colloblasts and cask cells is described.
ENERGY: THE CHALLENGES TO AND FROM RELIGION
Authors: Rasmussen Larry L.
Published: November 2011

Abstract Exiting the fossil‐fuel interlude of human history means a long, hard transition, not only for energy sources, uses, and policies, but for religious values as well. How do religious values account with integrity for the primal elements upon which all life depends and by which all energy is conveyed—earth, air, fire, water, light? What challenges do energy policies pose to religious values so that the latter might be judged to be truly Earth‐oriented and Earth‐honoring? Reciprocally, how do shared cross‐cultural, interfaith religious values challenge present and prospective energy policies? How might value orientations, such as asceticism, sacramentalism, mysticism, prophetic and liberative practices, together with wisdom traditions, influence energy practices and policies? The intention of this essay is to surface these two‐way challenges in present debates on energy.
BECOMING BELIEVERS: STUDYING THE CONVERSION PROCESS FROM WITHIN
Authors: Smith Aaron C.T. , Stewart Bob
Published: November 2011

AbstractEmploying an extended case method ethnography (Burawoy 1998), the researcher joined five new members forming a spiritualist's group under the leadership of an experienced advocate. Over a period of eighteen months, the researcher attended all the group's activities and events. Data were collected to reflexively interrogate the process theory of conversion proposed byLewis Rambo (1993). The data revealed conversion to be a multifaceted and dynamic process of cognitive change, mediated by structural, and contextual forces. The results provide a reconceptualization of Rambo's theory, presenting a theoretical expansion of the model emphasizing its mechanisms of action. The paper details the composition of the “Interaction‐Commitment” mechanism, operationalized within four submechanisms emanating from Rambo's roles, rituals, rhetoric, and relationships. This longitudinal study shows that most of the hard work toward conversion occurs before any formal interaction with a conversion advocate. Conversion operates most effectively under conditions of cognitive economy wherein the belief path follows a path of least cognitive expenditure.
Housing Finance Reform and Increasing Socioeconomic Segregation in Mexico
Authors: MONKKONEN PAAVO
Published: November 2011

Changing patterns of urban growth in Latin America have drawn scholars' attention to new forms of socioeconomic segregation. In Mexico, changes in urban development are different from, and perhaps more significant than, elsewhere in the region as they stem principally from the reform and expansion of the country's provident‐fund‐dominated housing finance system. This article examines the impact of the expansion of housing finance on socioeconomic segregation with a series of econometric models, using a unique combination of data on over 100 Mexican cities. Findings show that growth in segregation during the 1990s is strongly associated with the share of new housing purchased under the financing system, as is the change in the share of socioeconomic segregation conditional on the distribution of housing stock. The results highlight a previously unrecognized secondary impact of the new policy, and illustrate the importance of the structure of the housing finance system in the way cities are built and where people live within them.

Les modèles de croissance urbaine en Amérique latine ont évolué, attirant l'attention des chercheurs sur de nouvelles formes de ségrégation socio‐économique. Au Mexique, les changements que présente le développement urbain sont spécifiques, et peut‐être plus significatifs qu'ailleurs, car ils découlent principalement de la réforme et de l'essor du système national de financement des logements dominé par les fonds de prévoyance. Pour examiner comment la progression de ce financement affecte la ségrégation socio‐économique, l'étude utilise plusieurs modèles économétriques appliqués à une combinaison unique de données couvrant plus de cent villes mexicaines. La part des nouveaux logements achetés selon ce système de financement apparait comme un facteur déterminant dans l'accentuation de la ségrégation au cours des années 1990 et dans la proportion de la ségrégation socio‐économique générée par la répartition du parc de logements. Les résultats mettent en avant une conséquence secondaire (négligée jusqu'ici) de la nouvelle politique et illustre combien la structure de financement des logements pèse sur la façon dont les villes sont construites et sur le lieu d'habitation des populations dans ces villes.
Dynamic Regulation of Photoprotection Determines Thermal Tolerance of Two Phylotypes of Symbiodinium Clade A at Two Photon Fluence Rates
Authors: Krämer Wiebke E. , Caamaño‐Ricken Isabel , Richter Claudio , Bischof Kai
Published: November 2011

Coral bleaching is the manifestation of the dysfunction of the symbiosis between scleractinian corals and dinoflagellates of the diverse genus Symbiodinium and is induced by elevated temperatures and high irradiance. We investigated the photophysiological response of two genetically distinct Symbiodinium subtypes within clade A upon exposure to elevated temperatures at two light intensities for 3 weeks. While both subtypes displayed a characteristic photoacclimation to high light (HL) (decrease in light‐harvesting pigments, lower photochemical efficiency of photosystem II, increased xanthophyll pool sizes), the tolerance toward thermal stress clearly differed between the two subtypes. Symbiodinium Ax was highly susceptible to chronic photoinhibition at temperatures ≥30°C, which was exacerbated under HL conditions. A1 showed a capacity for photoacclimation and high thermal tolerance, which might be related to higher cellular concentrations of photoprotective xanthophylls and the low‐molecular antioxidant glutathione (GSx) along with the dynamic regulation of these photoprotective pathways. Whereas HL conditions induced both accumulation of diatoxanthin and GSx, thermal stress further stimulated xanthophyll cycling, which might compensate for diminished amounts of GSx at elevated temperatures. Our results show that the two clade A subtypes clearly differ in their strategies to cope with thermal stress in combination with high irradiance.
Knocking on the Door: Juvenile and Family Courts as a Forum for Facilitating School Attendance and Decreasing Truancy
Authors: Shdaimah Corey , Bryant Virletta , Sander Rebecca L. , Cornelius Llewellyn J.
Published: November 2011

While there is debate about whether courts should be involved in truancy reduction efforts, less recognized is how courts can impact school attendance without lengthening their reach or further penalizing children and families. Courts are already involved with school‐related decision making in child welfare and delinquency cases. This article reports on data from a qualitative study of stakeholder perspectives (N = 64) on school attendance in Maryland. Respondents suggested that courts adopt engagement‐focused approaches to guide their work such as family assessments, school attendance plans, monitoring coordination and delivery of services, and ensuring that agencies meet their obligations to children.
What Drives Biodiversity Changes?
Authors: Crampton James
Published: November 2011

Information transfer analysis elucidates the relationships between past environmental and biodiversity changes.
How Does a Cell Know Its Size?
Authors: Leslie Mitch
Published: November 2011

Researchers have finally begun to identify potential size-sensing mechanisms within cells, but they admit there's still a lot to learn.
Transcription of Genes in the Biosynthetic Pathway for Fumonisin Mycotoxins Is Epigenetically and Differentially Regulated in the Fungal Maize Pathogen Fusarium verticillioides
Authors: Visentin I. , Montis V. , Döll K. , Alabouvette C. , Tamietti G. , Karlovsky P. , Cardinale F.
Published: November 2011

When the fungal pathogen
Gibberella moniliformis
(anamorph,
Fusarium verticillioides
) colonizes maize and maize-based products, it produces class B fumonisin (FB) mycotoxins, which are a significant threat to human and animal health. FB biosynthetic enzymes and accessory proteins are encoded by a set of clustered and cotranscribed genes collectively named FUM, whose molecular regulation is beginning to be unraveled by researchers. FB accumulation correlates with the amount of transcripts from the key FUM genes,
FUM1
,
FUM21
, and
FUM8
. In fungi in general, gene expression is often partially controlled at the chromatin level in secondary metabolism; when this is the case, the deacetylation and acetylation (and other posttranslational modifications) of histones are usually crucial in the regulation of transcription. To assess whether epigenetic factors regulate the FB pathway, we monitored FB production and
FUM1
,
FUM21
, and
FUM8
expression in the presence of a histone deacetylase inhibitor and verified by chromatin immunoprecipitation the relative degree of histone acetylation in the promoter regions of
FUM1
,
FUM21
, and
FUM8
under FB-inducing and noninducing conditions. Moreover, we generated transgenic
F. verticillioides
strains expressing
GFP
under the control of the
FUM1
promoter to determine whether its strength under FB-inducing and noninducing conditions was influenced by its location in the genome. Our results indicate a clear and differential role for chromatin remodeling in the regulation of FUM genes. This epigenetic regulation can be attained through the modulation of histone acetylation at the level of the promoter regions of the key biosynthetic genes
FUM1
and
FUM21
, but less so for
FUM8
.