bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Two New Fissidens Species (Fissidentaceae) from Tropical Eastern Africa and Fissidens Bessouensis Corb., a Remarkable Species with Fimbriate Leaves and Multicellular Spores
Authors: Bruggeman-Nannenga Maria Alida
Published: July 2013

Fissidens acrophilus Bruggeman-Nannenga, sp. nov. (subgenus Fissidens) from Kenya and Uganda and F. obscurifrons Bruggeman-Nannenga, sp. nov. (subgenus Fissidens?) from Tanzania are newly described and figured. F. obscurifrons is compared to the little known Madeiran F. nobreganus Luisier & P. de la Varde. A revision of F. bessouensis Corb. (subgenus Octodiceras) with description, diagnosis and figures and a discussion including adaptations to an aquatic habitat is presented. Multicellular spores and fimbriate leaf margins are reported in the Fissidentaceae for the first time. Rectification: F. angustelimbatus Mitt. is eliminated from the African flora.
Lejeunea Subelobata and Lejeunea Drummondii (Jungermanniopsida) in Australasia
Authors: Renner Matt A. M.
Published: July 2013

Lejeunea subelobata Carrington & Pearson has been regarded as a synonym of L. drummondii Taylor, but the two species differ in patterns of variation in lobule morphology, shapes of the gynoecial bracteole, female bract underleaf and vegetative underleaves; in stem anatomy, and ecology. Lejeunea subelobata is a rheophyte from south-east Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand that grows primarily as a lithophyte on rock within and around waterways, in association with basicolous substrates particularly basalt, rhyolite and andesite. Lobules in L. subelobata are always explanate, the female bract underleaf is obovate, underleaves are rotund and remote, and the stem medulla has 19-26 cells with small concave trigones. Lejeunea drummondii is, in its current circumscription, an ecologically and morphologically malleable taxon confined to Australia. The relationship between L. drummondii and plants from New Zealand described as L. epiphylla Colenso nom. illeg. requires further investigation.
New and Noteworthy Records of Mosses from Doi (Mt.) Inthanon, Chiang Mai, Chom Tong District, Northern Thailand
Authors: Printarakul Narin , Tan Benito C. , Santanachote Kanya , Akiyama Hiroyuki
Published: July 2013

Mosses new to Thailand (35 species in 29 genera) and new to Doi Inthanon (6 species in 6 genera) are reported based on collections made by the authors. Austinia tenuinervis var. micholitzii W. R. Buck & H. A. Crum, Brotherella nictans (Mitt.) Broth., Chionostomum hainanensis B. C. Tan & Y. Jia, Clastobryopsis muelleri (Dixon) Tixier, Trichosteleum stigmosum Mitt., Micralsopsis complanata (Dixon) W. R. Buck, and Fissidens schwabei Nog. are fully illustrated.
A New Moss Checklist of Negara Brunei Darussalam
Authors: Tan Benito C. , Mohamed Haji
Published: July 2013

A new moss checklist with updated nomenclature is given for the small country of Brunei Darussalam located in the northern part of Borneo. A total of 103 species in 50 genera are now collected and reported. The country’s moss flora is still very much undercollected, judging from our present results: (i) the absence of cosmopolitan and common paleotropical species such as Bryum apiculatum Schwägr., Callicostella papillata (Mont.) Mitt., Funaria hygrometrica Hedw., Isopterygium minutirameum (Müll. Hal.) A. Jaegr., Octoblepharum albidum Hedw. and Philonotis hastata (Duby) Wijk & Margad.; (ii) the absence of widespread families such as Pottiaceae and Ditrichaceae; and (iii) the under-representation of speciose genera such as Ectropothecium, Macromitrium, Thuidium and Trichosteleum, with only one species collected. The incompleteness of our knowledge of the moss flora makes it impossible to assess the country’s endangered moss species.
Do Male and Female Plants Display Different Haplotype Patterns in the Moss Drepanocladus Trifarius (Bryophyta, Amblystegiaceae)?
Authors: Hedenäs Lars , Bisang Irene
Published: July 2013

The moss Drepanocladus trifarius (F. Weber & D. Mohr) Broth. ex Paris was used as a model species for a first evaluation of whether male and female haplotype patterns based on a combination of the nuclear molecular markers ITS and gpd, and the chloroplast rpl16 are congruent or not. In 23 female and 23 male shoots from specimens sampled in Northern and Central Europe, sex was determined either by the presence of sexual branches or by a recently developed molecular marker. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed that a small (6%) and almost significant (p = 0.066) fraction of the variation within the data is due to differences between the genders and that the haplotype diversity is higher among females than among males. No significant differences in haplotype variation were found among geographical regions. The near significant differences between females and males, despite low variation in ITS and rpl16, in this first study ever of potential differences in haplotype variation between genders of dioecious mosses suggests that further investigations of more specimens and more variable molecular markers should be performed. Such studies could potentially reveal patterns of relevance to understanding, for example, immigration routes and to pin-point refugial areas of different significance to the respective genders.
The Bryophyte Diversity of Ljubljana (Slovenia)
Authors: Skudnik Mitja , Sabovljević Aneta , Batič Franc , Sabovljević Marko
Published: July 2013

.The authors studied the bryophyte flora of the city of Ljubljana (Slovenia), recording 104 bryophyte taxa within the inner ring-road of Ljubljana. The specimens were collected from randomly picked sampling sites during different seasons in 2011 and 2012. Interesting records include Barbula convoluta var. commutata (Jur.) Husn., Grimmia trichophylla Grev., Leptobryum pyriforme (Hedw.) Wilson, Phascum cuspidatum Hedw. and Pseudocrossidium hornschuchianum (Schultz) R. H. Zander, species last recorded in Slovenia more than 60 years ago. Some species rare and endangered in Slovenia were also recorded: Syntrichia papillosa (Willson) Jur. and Lunularia cruciata (L.) Lindb. Rhynchostegium rotundifolium (Scop. ex Brid.) Schimp., a moss red-listed Europea-wide, was recorded in the investigated area.
Leishmaniasis in the era of tumor necrosis factor alpha antagonist therapy – a research agenda for Europe
Authors: Zanger P , Gabrysch S
Published: July 2013

A number of published case reports suggest an association of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha antagonist use and manifest leishmaniasis. Despite increasing popularity of antagonising TNF alpha for the treatment of autoimmune disorders, systematic research on the risk of opportunistic leishmaniasis in patients receiving these drugs is lacking. This perspective identifies areas of uncertainty regarding the safety profile of TNF alpha antagonist drugs and their clinical use in patients at risk of leishmaniasis. Then, we reflect on how current pharmacovigilance activities in Europe could be enhanced to help reduce these uncertainties. Our aim is to stimulate a debate about this important drug safety issue with potential consequences for patients receiving TNF alpha antagonists living in or travelling to areas endemic for leishmaniasis.
Molecular typing of Leishmania infantum isolates from a leishmaniasis outbreak in Madrid, Spain, 2009 to 2012
Authors: Chicharro C , Llanes-Acevedo I P , García E , Nieto J , Moreno J , Cruz I
Published: July 2013

Binary file ES_Abstracts_Final_ECDC.txt matches
Re-emergence of leishmaniasis in Spain: community outbreak in Madrid, Spain, 2009 to 2012
Authors: Arce A , Estirado A , Ordobas M , Sevilla S , García N , Moratilla L , de la Fuente S , Martínez A M , Pérez A M , Aránguez E , Iriso A , Sevillano O , Bernal J , Vilas F
Published: July 2013

Since July 2009, there has been a community outbreak of leishmaniasis in the south-west area of the Madrid autonomous community, Spain, affecting residents from four towns that are geographically close together and share extensive park areas. As of December 2012, 446 cases were reported (6 in 2009, 97 in 2010, 196 in 2011 and 147 in 2012), a mean incidence rate of 22.2 per 100,000 inhabitants during July 2009 and December 2012. The mean age was 44 years (range: 2 months to 95 years); 61.0% were male. A total of 68 (15.2%) had immunosuppressive conditions; 160 (35.9%) had visceral leishmaniasis and 286 (64.1%) cutaneous. A total of 421 (94.4%) cases were confirmed. Leishmania infantum was identified as the agent. Monitoring revealed high densities of the vector Phlebotomus perniciosus. The surveillance system for canine leishmaniasis did not detect any increase in prevalence during the period. Environmental control measures have been taken, such as improvements in sanitation and disinsection in the risk areas and control of the overpopulation of Leporidae, as xenodiagnosis studies have shown that hares play a role as active reservoirs. This is the largest reported community outbreak of leishmaniasis in Europe. The discovery of the new reservoir stands out in the multifactorial aetiology of the outbreak. Epidemiological research and environmental intervention measures are continuing.
Mild Aerobic Oxidation of Alcohols Catalysed by Fe2(SO4)3/4-OH-TEMPO/NaNO2
Authors: Shi Xiang-Jun , Qian Jie , Tan Fan-Fan , Yu Chuan-Ming
Published: July 2013

An environmentally friendly catalytic system of Fe2(SO4)3/4-OH-TEMPO/NaNO2 has been developed for aerobic oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes and ketones. The catalytic system allowed efficient and selective oxidation of a wide range of alcohols using oxygen at 1 atmospheric pressure and room temperature. 100% selectivity and excellent conversion rates were observed for benzylic alcohols and cinnamyl alcohol.
Microwave-Assisted Synthesis and Recognition Properties of Chiral Molecular Tweezers Based on Deoxycholic Acid
Authors: Liu Min , Wang Xiaohong , Bi Qingwei , Zhao Zhigang
Published: July 2013

Ten novel methyl 3α-(4-nitrobenzoylhydrazides)-12 α-( L-amino acid carbamates)-cholan-24-oate chiral molecular tweezers based on deoxycholic acid have been easily constructed using microwave irradiation. Their structures were characterised by IR, 1H NMR, MS spectra and elemental analysis and their molecular recognition properties were investigated by UV-Vis spectral titration. The preliminary study indicated that these target compounds possess good selectivity for D/L amino acid methyl esters.
Two New Polyhydroxypregnane Glycosides from the Roots of Cynanchum Otophyllum
Authors: Shi Lin-Mei , Liu Wen-Hong , Yu Qing , Wan Hai-Tong
Published: July 2013

Two new polyhydroxypregnane glycosides, namely cynotophyllosides I-J, were isolated from the roots of Cynan-chum otophyllum, together with three known steroids, namely deacetylmetaplexigenin, sarcostin and hemoside. Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic methods especially 2D NMR techniques) and acid-catalysed hydrolysis.
Synthesis of Dialkyl {(aryl)[2,2-Dimethyl-4-oxo-6-(Piperidin-1-yl)-4H-[1,3]Dioxin-5-yl]Methyl}Phosphonate by Reaction of Meldrum's Acid, Aryl Aldehydes and Trialkyl Phosphites in the Presence of Piperidine
Authors: Khosravi Reza , Hosseini-Tabatabaei Mohammad R. , Forghaniha Ali
Published: July 2013

A four-component reaction between Meldrum's acid, aryl aldehydes with trialkyl phosphites in the presence of piper-idine has been developed. The reaction affords dialkyl {(aryl)[2,2-dimethyl-4-oxo-6-(piperidin-1-yl)-4 H-[1,3]dioxin-5-yl]methyl}phosphonate in moderate to good yields in a one-pot process.
Iodobenzene-Catalysed Deprotection of Hydrazones using m-Chloroperbenzoic Acid
Authors: Jia Xiao-Chuan , Li Jing , Yu Zhi-Rui , Wang Yu-Hu , Zhou Lei , Yu Yan-Yan
Published: July 2013

Deprotection of phenylhydrazones and tosylhydrazones to their parent aldehydes and ketones has been accomplished using iodobenzene as catalyst in the presence of mCPBA as the terminal oxidant at room temperature. The reaction is general, and the target products can be obtained in good to excellent yields.
Conformally Coupled Inflation
Authors: Faraoni Valerio
Published: July 2013

A massive scalar field in a curved spacetime can propagate along the light cone, a causal pathology, which can, in principle, be eliminated only if the scalar couples conformally to the Ricci curvature of spacetime. This property mandates conformal coupling for the field driving inflation in the early universe. During slow-roll inflation, this coupling can cause super-acceleration and, as a signature, a blue spectrum of primordial gravitational waves.
Post-Transcriptional Regulation of Iron Homeostasis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Martínez-Pastor María , Llanos Rosa , Romero Antonia , Puig Sergi
Published: July 2013

Iron is an essential micronutrient for all eukaryotic organisms because it participates as a redox cofactor in a wide variety of biological processes. Recent studies in Saccharomyces cerevisiae have shown that in response to iron deficiency, an RNA-binding protein denoted Cth2 coordinates a global metabolic rearrangement that aims to optimize iron utilization. The Cth2 protein contains two Cx8Cx5Cx3H tandem zinc fingers (TZFs) that specifically bind to adenosine/uridine-rich elements within the 3' untranslated region of many mRNAs to promote their degradation. The Cth2 protein shuttles between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Once inside the nucleus, Cth2 binds target mRNAs and stimulates alternative 3' end processing. A Cth2/mRNA-containing complex is required for export to the cytoplasm, where the mRNA is degraded by the 5' to 3' degradation pathway. This post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism limits iron utilization in nonessential pathways and activates essential iron-dependent enzymes such as ribonucleotide reductase, which is required for DNA synthesis and repair. Recent findings indicate that the TZF-containing tristetraprolin protein also functions in modulating human iron homeostasis. Elevated iron concentrations can also be detrimental for cells. The Rnt1 RNase III exonuclease protects cells from excess iron by promoting the degradation of a subset of the Fe acquisition system when iron levels rise.
Cinnamtannin B-1 Regulates Cell Proliferation of Spinal Cord Astrocytes and Protects the Cell from Oxygen-Glucose-Serum Deprivation/Reoxygenation-Induced Apoptosis
Authors: Chi Zhiyong , Ma Xueling , Cui Guofeng , Li Mingchao , Li Fuchun
Published: July 2013

Astrocytes are important for protecting neurons in the central nervous system. It has been reported that some antioxidants could protect astrocytes from ischemia/reperfusion-induced dysfunction. Cinnamtannin B-1 is a naturally occurring A-type proanthocyanidin that exhibits anti-oxidant properties. In this study, we investigated the effects of cinnamtannin B-1 on spinal cord astrocytes. Astrocytes were subjected to oxygen-glucose-serum deprivation for eight hours followed by reoxygenation with or without cinnamtannin B-1. We found that cinnamtannin B-1 protected astrocytes from oxygen-glucose-serum deprivation and reoxygenation-induced apoptosis. Concurrently, cinnamtannin B-1 promoted the proliferation of astrocytes whereas the extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK) inhibitor reversed this effect. The results indicated that cinnamtannin B-1 protects astrocytes from oxygen-glucose-serum deprivation/reoxygenation-induced apoptosis by promoting astrocyte proliferation via an ERK pathway. Therefore, as an anti-oxidant, cinnamtannin B-1 might provide extra benefit for astrocyte protection during ischemia/reperfusion in the central nervous system.
Angiogenesis-Related Pathways in the Pathogenesis of Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Gavalas Nikos , Liontos Michalis , Trachana Sofia-Paraskevi , Bagratuni Tina , Arapinis Calliope , Liacos Christine , Dimopoulos Meletios , Bamias Aristotle
Published: July 2013

Ovarian Cancer represents the most fatal type of gynecological malignancies. A number of processes are involved in the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer, especially within the tumor microenvironment. Angiogenesis represents a hallmark phenomenon in cancer, and it is responsible for tumor spread and metastasis in ovarian cancer, among other tumor types, as it leads to new blood vessel formation. In recent years angiogenesis has been given considerable attention in order to identify targets for developing effective anti-tumor therapies. Growth factors have been identified to play key roles in driving angiogenesis and, thus, the formation of new blood vessels that assist in “feeding” cancer. Such molecules include the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), the fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and the angiopoietin/Tie2 receptor complex. These proteins are key players in complex molecular pathways within the tumor cell and they have been in the spotlight of the development of anti-angiogenic molecules that may act as stand-alone therapeutics, or in concert with standard treatment regimes such as chemotherapy. The pathways involved in angiogenesis and molecules that have been developed in order to combat angiogenesis are described in this paper.
Affinity Separation of Lectins Using Porous Membranes Immobilized with Glycopolymer Brushes Containing Mannose or N-Acetyl-D-Glucosamine
Authors: Ogata Yutaro , Seto Hirokazu , Murakami Tatsuya , Hoshino Yu , Miura Yoshiko
Published: July 2013

Porous membranes with glycopolymer brushes were prepared as biomaterials for affinity separation. Glycopolymer brushes contained acrylic acid and D-mannose or N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, and were formed on substrates by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization. The presence of glycopolymer brush was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, contact angle, and ellipsometry measurements. The interaction between lectin and the glycopolymer immobilized on glass slides was confirmed using fluorescent-labeled proteins. Glycopolymer-immobilized surfaces exhibited specific adsorption of the corresponding lectin, compared with bovine serum albumin. Lectins were continuously rejected by the glycopolymer-immobilized membranes. When the protein solution was permeated through the glycopolymer-immobilized membrane, bovine serum albumin was not adsorbed on the membrane surface. In contrast, concanavalin A and wheat germ agglutinin were rejected by membranes incorporating D-mannose or N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, respectively. The amounts of adsorbed concanavalin A and wheat germ agglutinin was increased five- and two-fold that of adsorbed bovine serum albumin, respectively.
Collaborative Consumption: Towards a Resource-Saving Consumption Culture
Authors: Leismann Kristin , Schmitt Martina , Rohn Holger , Baedeker Carolin
Published: July 2013

Resource efficiency in production and technological innovations are inadequate for considerably reducing the current use of natural resources. Both social innovations and a complementary and equally valued strategy of sustainable consumption are required: goods must be used longer, and services that support collaborative consumption (CC) patterns must be extended. “Using rather than owning” strategies, such as product sharing, have the potential to conserve resources. Based on the results of different German studies, this article highlights the resource-saving potentials of CC patterns and recommendations proposed for policies and further research questions. The purpose of this paper is to show that a general resource-saving potential can be realized by “use rather than own” schemes, depending on the application field and the framework for implementation. CC is suitable for making a positive contribution to achieving the Factor 10 target by playing an important role in changing consumer patterns.
Automatic Removal of Imperfections and Change Detection for Accurate 3D Urban Cartography by Classification and Incremental Updating
Authors: Aijazi Ahmad , Checchin Paul , Trassoudaine Laurent
Published: July 2013

In this article, we present a new method of automatic 3D urban cartography in which different imperfections are progressively removed by incremental updating, exploiting the concept of multiple passages, using specialized functions. In the proposed method, the 3D point clouds are first classified into three main object classes: permanently static, temporarily static and mobile, using a new point matching technique. The temporarily static and mobile objects are then removed from the 3D point clouds, leaving behind a perforated 3D point cloud of the urban scene. These perforated 3D point clouds obtained from successive passages (in the same place) on different days and at different times are then matched together to complete the 3D urban landscape. The changes occurring in the urban landscape over this period of time are detected and analyzed using cognitive functions of similarity, and the resulting 3D cartography is progressively modified accordingly. The specialized functions introduced help to remove the different imperfections, due to occlusions, misclassifications and different changes occurring in the environment over time, thus ncreasing the robustness of the method. The results, evaluated on real data, demonstrate that not only is the resulting 3D cartography accurate, containing only the exact permanent features free from imperfections, but the method is also suitable for handling large urban scenes.
Re2O7-catalyzed reaction of hemiacetals and aldehydes with O-, S-, and C-nucleophiles
Authors: Sittiwong Wantanee , Richardson Michael W , Schiaffo Charles E , Fisher Thomas J , Dussault Patrick H
Published: July 2013

Re(VII) oxides catalyze the acetalization, monoperoxyacetalization, monothioacetalization and allylation of hemiacetals. The reactions, which take place under mild conditions and at low catalyst loadings, can be conducted using hemiacetals, the corresponding O-silyl ethers, and, in some cases, the acetal dimers. Aldehydes react under similar conditions to furnish good yields of dithioacetals. Reactions of hemiacetals with nitrogen nucleophiles are unsuccessful. 1,2-Dioxolan-3-ols (peroxyhemiacetals) undergo Re(VII)-promoted etherification but not allylation. Hydroperoxyacetals (1-alkoxyhydroperoxides) undergo selective exchange of the alkoxide group in the presence of either Re2O7 or a Brønsted acid.
L'hospitalité, une valeur universelle ?
Authors: Dufourmantelle Anne
Published: July 2013

On peut prendre pour exemple de valeur universelle « l’hospitalité » telle que Derrida nous a aidé à la penser, en montrant comment l’exigence d’hospitalité inconditionnelle doit être mise en rapport avec les conditions d’hospitalité qui définissent les sociétés de droit et leurs échanges. La psychanalyse, en ce sens, est une pratique de l’hospitalité, pas seulement à la folie, mais à la nuit qui nous habite. C’est une ouverture non seulement à l’inconnu mais à un possible désentravement. L’altérité rencontrée dans cet événement est une réserve de liberté et d’accomplissement, nécessaire au surgissement de l’inattendu.
Seul le particulier...
Authors: Blévis Jean-Jacques
Published: July 2013

Ce texte interroge l’apport spécifique de l’analyse quant à l’approche de l’universel. Le transfert poussé à son point de chute de la croyance en un sujet supposé savoir produit un autre savoir qui, du plus particulier du symptôme, ouvre à une subjectivation paradoxale. De rares rencontres avec certaines œuvres d’art donnent à vivre une expérience très proche de celle-ci : j’évoque comment un film comme Shoah fut pour moi une expérience du même ordre, où la ruine de toute croyance va jusqu’à confronter à l’incroyable même.
Psychanalyse, inconscient, universel et diversité
Authors: Lollo Paolo
Published: July 2013

À travers l’étude du mot universel, l’auteur cherche à comprendre le mécanisme inconscient du surgissement de la parole et met en évidence le rapport énigmatique et créateur entre chiffre et lettre, quantité et qualité. Comme les mots se greffent dans le corps du petit enfant, ainsi la lettre se greffe dans le corps du mot, et le fait vibrer. Ainsi la parole est vivante, comme un corps d’enfant touché par le langage, par la grâce de la lettre. Le mot universel, comme tout mot, renvoie à deux sens opposés qui permettent à la parole de demeurer vivante, de ne pas se figer dans une image, dans une abstraction, dans un concept qui réduit tout à Un. L’universel, possède une force dynamique capable de transformer le réel. Il est créateur puisque symbolique. Comme l’universel, le Logos grec est en mesure de mettre en mouvement le sens dans le réel, à travers une double allégeance faite au signifiant. Ce dernier est donc double, voire pluriel. Une psychanalyse se joue entre ces deux mouvements contenus dans l’universel. Un mouvement d’un logos qui compte, qui chiffre et un autre mouvement d’un logos qui déchiffre, sort du chiffre, pour faire lettre, acte, poiesis , représentation vivante.
Le cinquième élément et la « docte ignorance »
Authors: Cazenave Michel
Published: July 2013

La médecine ayur-védique loin de soigner seulement le corps conduit à une capacité de méditation de l’âme. En tant que théologie mystique, elle a des racines communes avec la pensée grecque. De Aristote à Plotin, et jusqu’à Nicolas de Cues, elle suppose un principe premier, inconnaissable par la seule raison. Ce 5 e élément, dans l’organisation du monde, en assure l’unité « éthérée ».
El discurso literario, propuesta teórica y sistematización: entre planos y voces
Authors: Suárez Pascual María Pilar , Tordesillas Colado Marta
Published: July 2013

En estas páginas deseamos presentar un marco de análisis del discurso literario que pueda integrar las reflexiones —y las herramientas— generadas en el terreno de la lingüistica contemporánea. Para ello, partimos de la concepción del discurso literario como un discurso más, matizado si cabe por la explotación marcada de algunas dinámicas u objetivos específicos que nos llevan a designarlo como literario, al tiempo que le atribuimos la característica de ser un acto de lenguaje. A estos dos principios, le aplicamos la hipótesis esencial según la cual todo discurso presenta un tejido semántico fundamentado por una configuración lingüistica que combina cuatro planos fundamentales: tópico, enunciativo, argumentativo y locutivo. Asimismo, y con el fin de generar un marco de trabajo más amplio, hemos incorporado el plano del imaginario en tanto que perspectiva que sitúa al discurso literario, al discurso en general, en un contexto antropológico y discursivo que permite profundizar en rasgos y mecanismos de su configuración. Este planteamiento teórico se ve acompañado, a modo de ilustración, de una aplicación a Las Coplas a la Muerte de su padre de Jorge Manrique.
«Con llanto en los ojos, / con luto y duelo en el alma»: el moro como forjador identitario en la tradición dramática del levante peninsular
Authors: Sáez Raposo Francisco
Published: July 2013

La fiesta de moros y cristianos de la villa albaceteña de Caudete, una de las más antiguas que se conocen, tiene su origen en una tradición dramática que se remonta a finales del siglo XVI. Ejemplo paradigmático del proceso de creación teatral basado en la reescritura, la obra primigenia se ha ido adaptando a los cambiantes horizontes de expectativas del público hasta conformar los Episodios caudetanos, médula de la actual celebración. Historia, religión, leyenda y literatura se complementan para configurar un fenómeno cultural que trasciende la mera esencia lúdica de un festejo popular. Mediante la figura prototípica del moro se ha moldeado la identidad de una comunidad (y, por extensión, de toda una nación) a partir del concepto de un universo polarizado que la documentación histórica se empeña en refutar.
The Criterion y la cultura española: génesis de una relación. T. S. Eliot, Antonio Marichalar, John B. Trend y la Revista de Occidente
Authors: Garbisu Buesa Margarita
Published: July 2013

Uno de los fundamentos de la revista inglesa The Criterion, fundada en 1922 por el poeta y editor T.S. Eliot y viva hasta 1939, fue su fuerte espíritu universal, que se tradujo en la inclusión en sus páginas de textos y reseñas sobre la cultura de otros países. La presencia de España fue notable, gracias sobre todo a las crónicas enviadas desde Madrid por Antonio Marichalar, a los textos del musicólogo e hispanista inglés John Brande Trend, y a las reseñas que daban noticia de la Revista de Occidente. El objetivo de este trabajo no es estudiar el contenido de estas aportaciones, sino esclarecer el inicio de la relación entre Eliot y quienes hicieron posible en su revista la recepción de la cultura española; para ello, la principal fuente de la que se parte es la extensa correspondencia del poeta inglés.
Vejamen de Alfonso de Batres para la Academia de 1638 (Manuscrito inédito). Estudio y edición crítica
Authors: Julio Teresa
Published: July 2013

Durante el mes de febrero de 1638 se celebraron en el palacio del Buen Retiro las fiestas de Carnestolendas. Entre las actividades programadas, se realizó una academia literaria en la que participaron poetas y cortesanos. De ella se conservan tres vejámenes: el de Alfonso de Batres, el de Antonio Coello y el de Francisco de Rojas Zorrilla.
En el presente artículo se analiza y edita críticamente el vejamen que Batres defendió ante sus majestades en el Salón Real del Retiro el 11 de febrero de 1638.
Adolescent sleep quality measured during leisure activities
Authors: Sexton-Radek Kathy
Published: July 2013

A one-week sleep monitoring by logs and actigraphs in preteens during summer camp was conducted. Campers aged 11-16 attended a two-week day camp that focused on the learning about science. Nine campers agreed to monitor their sleep and have their patterns explained (anonymously) to other campers during the expert lecture by the author. The aim of the study was to identify the sleep quality in an adolescent group. All nine of the sleep logs and actigraphs denoted severe sleep deprivation. The findings from the logs and actigraphs denoted sever sleep deprivation. The expert lecturer provided basic information about sleep per the science designation of the day camp. A follow up session provided strategies to address sleep deprivation
When Mary tells Joseph: A play based on Matthew 1:18–19
Authors: Branch Robin G.
Published: July 2013

This play looks at a summary in Matthew 1:18−19.1 The summary discloses that Joseph learns of Mary’s pregnancy and chooses to divorce her. The play, based on this summary, investigates how he may have learned of her pregnancy, that is, from Mary herself.2 The play combines scholarship and the standard literary features of a drama-character, conflict, plot, setting, point of view, tone and dialogue.3 It includes material from Luke 1, Deuteronomy 22:21–29 and Numbers 30:6–8. The play encourages and engages the imagination of the cast and the audience.4Hierdie toneelstuk handel oor die gedeelte in Matteus 1:18−19, waar Josef uitvind van Maria se swangerskap en besluit om van haar te skei. Die toneelstuk ondersoek die manier waarop hy van haar swangerskap te hore kom, naamlik van Maria self. In die drama word vakkundigheid gekombineer met die tipiese literêre elemente van ‘n karakterspel, naamlik konflik, intrige, uitgangspunte, stemming en dialoog. Dele uit Lukas 1, Deuteronomium 22:21−29 en Numeri 30:6-8 word ook ingesluit. Die verbeelding en betrokkenheid van die rolspelers en die gehoor word deur die toneelstuk aangewakker.
G. Stevens, The Theory of Descriptions: Russell and the Philosophy of Language
Authors: Korhonen Anssi
Published: July 2013

This is a review of G. Stevens. The Theory of Descriptions: Russelland the Philosophy of Language.
D. Bostock, Russell’s Logical Atomism
Authors: Landini Gregory
Published: July 2013

This is review of D. David Bostock. Russell’s Logical Atomism.
Environmental Factors Influencing Epidemic Cholera
Authors: Jutla Antarpreet , Whitcombe Elizabeth , Hasan Nur , Haley Bradd , Akanda Ali , Huq Anwar , Alam Munir , Sack R. Bradley , Colwell Rita
Published: July 2013

Cholera outbreak following the earthquake of 2010 in Haiti has reaffirmed that the disease is a major public health threat. Vibrio cholerae is autochthonous to aquatic environment, hence, it cannot be eradicated but hydroclimatology-based prediction and prevention is an achievable goal. Using data from the 1800s, we describe uniqueness in seasonality and mechanism of occurrence of cholera in the epidemic regions of Asia and Latin America. Epidemic regions are located near regional rivers and are characterized by sporadic outbreaks, which are likely to be initiated during episodes of prevailing warm air temperature with low river flows, creating favorable environmental conditions for growth of cholera bacteria. Heavy rainfall, through inundation or breakdown of sanitary infrastructure, accelerates interaction between contaminated water and human activities, resulting in an epidemic. This causal mechanism is markedly different from endemic cholera where tidal intrusion of seawater carrying bacteria from estuary to inland regions, results in outbreaks.
The General Theory and monetary policy: Investment versus inflation
Authors: Tily Geoff
Published: July 2013

Keynes's theory of investment and the economic cycle is set out. Against this theory it is argued that the current monetary policy framework is not credible. Rather, given its implicit endorsement of financial liberalisation, it is, and has proved, deeply dangerous. Keynes advocated policies aimed at setting a low long-term rate of interest. Financial liberalisation has led to the dear rates that Keynes understood as the cause of the Great Depression. The discussion also examines Keynes's vigilant approach to inflation and argues that the inflation of the 1970s was connected with liberalisation not Keynes. The loss of the central role for investment and the pre-occupation with inflation in post-Keynesian economics is traced. Finally events from the golden age to the present debt-deflation are examined according to this perspective.
Editorial to the Special Issue
Authors: Hein Eckhard , Niechoj Torsten , Truger Achim
Published: July 2013

First paragraph

The world economy is presently suffering from the most severe economic crisis since the Great Depression in the early 1930s. As by now seems to be obvious, the present financial crisis, massive state intervention in the financial markets in order to prevent a melt-down, and fiscal stimulus packages inconceivable even several months ago, mark the failure of an economic policy agenda which might be called ›neo-Liberalism‹. This agenda, broadly speaking, focussed on the deregulation of financial, labour and goods markets and on minimising state intervention. It meant a massive redistribution of income and wealth at the expense of labour and ordinary households, increasing imbalances on the global level and rising financial fragility. The failure of this policy agenda is also a failure of mainstream economic theory which has supported it. In particular those theories which are based on the confidence and firm belief that free markets will be stable and generate a full employment equilibrium – at least in the long run – and that the only role left for macroeconomic policies, in particular monetary policies, is to facilitate and accelerate the adjustment process towards this equilibrium, as for example in the dominating New Consensus Model (NCM), have failed.
Overconsumption, credit rationing and bailout monetary policy: A Minskyan perspective
Authors: Charpe Matthieu , Flaschel Peter , Proaño Christian , Semmler Willi
Published: July 2013

We consider a Keynes-Goodwin model of effective demand and the distributive cycle where workers purchase goods and houses with a marginal propensity significantly larger than one. They therefore need credit, supplied from asset holders, and have to pay interest on their outstanding debt. In this initial situation, the steady state is attracting, while a marginal propensity closer to one makes it repelling. The stable excessive overconsumption case can easily turn from a stable boom to explosiveness and from there through induced processes of credit rationing into a devastating bust. In such a situation the central bank may prevent the worst by acting as creditor of last resort, purchasing loans where otherwise debt default (and bankruptcy regarding house ownership) would occur. This bail-out policy can stabilize the economy and also reduces the loss of homes of worker families.
Fiscal policy and the economics of financial balances
Authors: Zezza Gennaro
Published: July 2013

This paper presents the main features of the macroeconomic model being used at The Levy Economics Institute of Bard College, which has proven to be a useful tool in tracking the current financial and economic crisis. We investigate the connections of the model to the ›New Cambridge‹ approach, and discuss other recent approaches to the evolution of financial balances for all sectors of the economy. We will show the effects of fiscal policy in the model, and its implications for the proposed fiscal stimulus on the US economy. We show that the New Cambridge hypothesis, which claimed that the private sector financial balance would be stable relative to income in the short run, does not hold for the short term in our model, but it does hold for the medium/long term. This implies that the major impact of the fiscal stimulus in the long run will be on the external imbalance, unless other measures are taken.
Von Mises, Kantorovich and in-natura calculation
Authors: Cockshott W. Paul
Published: July 2013

The article reviews the idea of calculation in kind. It is argued that Kantorovich and subsequent mathematicians essentially validated the idea of in-kind calculation. This has not been evident because Kantorovich nowhere deals with the Austrian school and they for their part have ignored him. The article continues by examining improvements in linear optimisation since Kantorovich and the implications these have for economic planning. Finally it discusses the problem of deriving the plan ray in the context of markets for consumer goods.
Global imbalances, the US dollar, and how the crisis at the core of global finance spread to ›self-insuring‹ emerging market economies
Authors: Bibow Jörg
Published: July 2013

This paper investigates the spread of what started as a crisis at the core of the global financial system to emerging economies. While emerging economies had exhibited some resilience through the early stages of the financial turmoil that began in the summer of 2007, they have been hit hard since mid-2008. Their deteriorating fortunes are only partly attributable to the collapse in world trade and sharp drop in commodity prices. Things were made worse by emerging markets' exposure to the turmoil in global finance itself. As ›innocent bystanders‹, even countries that had taken out ›self-insurance‹ proved vulnerable to the global ›sudden stop‹ in capital flows. We critique loanable funds theoretical interpretations of global imbalances and offer an alternative explanation that emphasizes the special status of the US dollar. Instead of taking out even more self-insurance, developing countries should pursue capital account management to enlarge their policy space and reduce external vulnerabilities.
The macroeconomics of pension reform: The case of severance pay reform in Italy
Authors: Cesaratto Sergio
Published: July 2013

In the last two decades Italy implemented a number of reforms of the public pay-as-you-go (PAYG) scheme that curtailed future pensions. Governments therefore felt the need to increase the number of workers contributing to fully funded (FF) schemes to offset the expected fall in public pensions. In the private sector an existing saving fund, the severance pay scheme (Trattamento di fine rapporto or TFR) was used to expand the anaemic existing FF pillar. The macroeconomic content of the reform seems fragile since the economy's amount of precautionary saving has not changed. The question is why a bolder reform aiming at creating an additional new old-age saving scheme has not been attempted by the Italian Government. The answer presumably has to do with troubles surrounding the macroeconomics of pension reforms, in particular the difficulties of setting up a FF scheme from scratch or by diverting resources from an existing PAYG program. Not surprisingly, no reform was attempted in the public sector where the TFR works on a PAYG basis. An ancillary argument to defend the reform relies on presumed higher returns from private pension funds (PFs) compared to the old TFR. In this light, the paper examines the non-exiting financial performance of the PFs. The instability of financial markets, even before the current crises, and the fondness of workers for the old TFR are finally used to explain the low popularity of the reform. All in all, the reform seems to be more in the nature of political window-dressing, consisting in a change in management of an existing saving fund, in order to show that something has been done to preserve the future standard of living of retirees.
The economic policies of the political economy of the Australian patriot and Cambridge economist
Authors: Arestis Philip , Sawyer Malcolm
Published: July 2013

Geoff Harcourt has been a thoroughgoing Keynesian committed to the achievement of sustainable (environmental and otherwise) and equitable (nationally and internationally) economic development and growth, and full employment of the available labour force. Achieving such an objective would require, inter alia, the maintenance of a high level of aggregate demand consistent with the full employment of labour, and the provision of sufficient productive capacity to enable that full employment, where sufficient is to be interpreted in terms of quantity, quality and geographical distribution. In this paper the ways in which fiscal policy should be used to sustain high levels of aggregate demand, necessary though not sufficient for full employment, are explored. Geoff has been a long-standing advocate of incomes policies to contain inflation without resorting to demand deflation. We argue that with the failures of inflation targeting, itself based on demand deflation, the need to develop incomes policies should again be on the policy agenda. This is an important ingredient in Geoff Harcourt's economic policy toolkit.
›Cantabrigian Economics‹ and the aggregate production function
Authors: McCombie John S.L.
Published: July 2013

In Cambridge, UK, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, there were some of the most distinguished post-war non-neoclassical economists, which included Nicholas Kaldor, Joan Robinson and Piero Sraffa. The Cambridge capital theory controversies seemed to have been decisively settled in Cambridge, UK's favour, yet no alternative paradigm emerged to challenge the prevailing neoclassical orthodoxy. This paper briefly looks at the reasons for this, including why the Cambridge capital theory debate, despite its important ramifications, is now largely forgotten. The paper concludes by looking at a further problem that vitiates the aggregate production function, resulting from the use of constant-price value data in econometric estimation. This criticism has also been widely ignored.
On Sraffa, post-Keynesian theories of pricing and capitalist competition: Some observations
Authors: Blankenburg Stephanie
Published: July 2013

The paper explores the implications of the 1920s ›cost controversy‹ for heterodox economic theory (here limited to post-Keynesian and Sraffian analysis). It argues that neither neoclassical nor heterodox theories have found viable solutions to the basic dilemma posed by the ›cost controversy‹, namely how to reconcile a general theory of price with that of growth and accumulation. The a priori commitment of neoclassical theory to a symmetric theory of exchange and production means that the impasses met by Walrasian general equilibrium theory and by the New Endogenous Growth Theory cannot be resolved, while also preserving explanatory power. For the case of post-Keynesian and Sraffian theory, it is suggested that, while a claim to »a general theory of everything« is also unsustainable, a reconsideration of the methodological roots of Sraffa's own analysis and of core aspects of classical theories of competition, might open an avenue to providing an empirically relevant heterodox theory of contemporary corporate capitalism.
Path dependency and the interdependences of demand and supply in macroeconomics
Authors: Sawyer Malcolm
Published: July 2013

The paper argues that macroeconomic analysis has to be based on path dependency which is treated as a broader concept than hysteresis. The ways in which path dependency necessarily arises in the context of the dual role of investment on demand and capacity formation are next considered. The effects of demand on the path of the economy are then considered in respect of the operations of the labour market and then technical change. The relationship between the ›short run‹ and the ›long run‹ in the form of the cycle and trend growth are considered leading simple formulations of aspects of such path dependency to postulate the way to consider the growth process.
The simple macroeconomics of fiscal austerity: Public debt, deficits and deficit caps
Authors: Palley Thomas I.
Published: July 2013

This paper explores the macroeconomics of fiscal austerity. A binding budget deficit cap makes the economy more volatile by turning the government budget into an automatic destabilizer. Public debt helps maintain aggregate demand (AD) in the presence of a lower price level because a lower price level increases the real value of public interest payments and also has a positive wealth effect. That makes public debt significantly different from private debt. If the economy is subject to a binding deficit cap public debt may no longer stabilize output. This is because increased real interest payments may be matched by spending cuts, giving rise to a negative balanced budget multiplier.
Composition of public expenditures and macroeconomic performance in the European Union
Authors: Ferreiro Jesus , del Valle Maribel García , Gómez Carmen
Published: July 2013

The objective of the paper is to test the existence of a relationship between the composition of public expenditures and the macroeconomic outcomes (GDP rate of growth, and unemployment and inflation rates) of the European Union member states during the period 1995–2007. We study the existence of clusters of countries with similar structures of public expenditure using multiple factorial analysis and principal component analysis techniques, and we compare the macroeconomic outcomes of the clusters obtained using statistics test of equality of means. The outcomes show that there is no evidence of the existence of a relationship between the structures of the public expenditure and the macroeconomic performances. This leads us to conclude that there is no single optimum model of public spending that warrants the best macroeconomic performance.
Fiscal spending multiplier calculations based on input-output tables – an application to EU member states
Authors: Pusch Toralf
Published: July 2013

Fiscal spending multiplier calculations have attracted considerable attention in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. Much of the current literature is based on VAR estimation methods and DSGE models. In line with the Keynesian literature we argue that many of these models probably underestimate the fiscal spending multiplier in recessions. The income-expenditure model of the fiscal spending multiplier can be seen as a good approximation under these circumstances. In its conventional form this model suffers from an underestimation of the multiplier due to an overestimation of the import intake of domestic absorption. In this article we apply input-output calculus to solve this problem. Multipliers thus derived are comparably high, ranging between 1.4 and 1.8 for many member states of the European Union. GDP drops due to budget consolidation might therefore be substantial in times of crisis.