bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seismic reflection surveys in glaciofluvial deposits in Finland
Authors: Okkonen Jarkko , Moisio Kari
Published: September 2015

Shallow seismic reflection surveys were conducted at five different locations in central Finland during the period of 2008–2011 in order to test the applicability of this method and different seismic energy sources in providing accurate images of the underlying seismic structure and geology in unconfined and confined esker aquifers. The depth of the aquifers varied from 15 m to 140 m. Reflections from the water table and the bedrock were generally detected. In the deepest aquifers, several features of the inner structure were visible. In the shallowest aquifer (15 m thick), seismic detection of the stratigraphic units proved difficult. Analysis of the theoretical travel times and the shallow structure suggested that a higher frequency seismic source might have been needed. In the deeper aquifers, reflections near the bedrock were detected, but information regarding their thicknesses could not be obtained. An unsaturated layer with a thickness of 25 m did not completely attenuate the seismic signal, and reflections from the water table and bedrock (~80 m) could still be obtained. For the amount of explosives and the type of vibrator used in this study, explosives generally produced clearer reflections due to the higher signal‐to‐noise ratio compared with the vibrator source. On the other hand, shot‐to‐shot fluctuations in signal‐to‐noise ratio and source irreproducibility were found to be greater for explosives than for the vibrators. Loose lake sediments above the aquifer inhibited seismic energy transmission to the bedrock. In such situations, the use of explosives is recommended in order to obtain clearer reflections from the subsurface soil boundaries.
Microgravity for detecting cavities in an archaeological site in Sardinia (Italy)
Authors: Fais S. , Radogna P.V. , Romoli E. , Matta P. , Klingele E.E.
Published: September 2015

We present a microgravity study over an archaeological site in Sardinia (Italy) subject to local subsidence, which could be correlated with subterranean cavities. Taking into account the local geological conditions and other factors such as topography, the high urbanization of the area, and financial factors, the micro‐gravity method was used to determine the presence of voids and whether these voids are correlated with the local subsidence. A complete Bouguer anomaly map was produced with topography corrections with a density of . The density used for the corrections was determined in the laboratory on samples of the geological formations from the same area.

The gravity anomaly has been further corrected for the effect of massive structures such as walls and isolated blocks. After removing a third‐order polynomial regional trend, the residual anomaly shows small but well‐identified anomalies of circular shapes with amplitudes between and . The anomalies are spatially well correlated with the local subsidence, and a map of the vertical gradient of the residual field shows peaks located exactly over the small anomalies previously cited. Using two‐dimensional qualitative and quantitative modelling, it is possible to assume that the voids are the cause of the anomalies and therefore could be also the cause of the local subsidence.
Optimized arrays for 2D resistivity surveys with combined surface and buried arrays
Authors: Loke M.H. , Kiflu H. , Wilkinson P.B. , Harro D. , Kruse S.
Published: September 2015

The ‘Compare R’ method is used to automatically generate optimized arrays for two‐dimensional resistivity surveys with electrodes arranged along parallel lines on the surface and the subsurface. The resolution at depth is greatly improved by carrying out measurements with at least one line of electrodes below the surface using a direct push installation technique. The performance of the optimized arrays is compared with a standard measurement sequence created manually that was used for previous surveys. Tests were conducted using a synthetic model and a field survey in an area with karst geology that has some ground truth. Both tests show that the optimized arrays have significantly better resolution compared with a standard measurement sequence. We also show that artefacts in the inversion model can be reduced by using higher damping factors near the positions of the subsurface electrodes.
Importance of Endosomal Cathelicidin Degradation To Enhance DNA-Induced Chicken Macrophage Activation
Authors: Coorens Maarten , van Dijk Albert , Bikker Floris , Veldhuizen Edwin J. A. , Haagsman Henk P.
Published: September 2015

Cathelicidins are essential in the protection against invading pathogens through both their direct antimicrobial activity and their immunomodulatory functions. Although cathelicidins are known to modulate activation by several TLR ligands, little is known about their influence on DNA-induced macrophage activation. In this study, we explored the effects of cathelicidins on DNA-induced activation of chicken macrophages and elucidated the intracellular processes underlying these effects. Our results show that chicken cathelicidin (CATH)-2 strongly enhances DNA-induced activation of both chicken and mammalian macrophages because of enhanced endocytosis of DNA–CATH-2 complexes. After endocytosis, DNA is liberated from the complex because of proteolytic breakdown of CATH-2, after which TLR21 is activated. This leads to increased cytokine expression and NO production. Through the interaction with DNA, CATH-2 can play an important role in modulating the immune response at sites of infection. These observations underline the importance of cathelicidins in sensing bacterial products and regulating immune responses.
Mechanism of accommodation: A review of theoretical propositions
Authors: Ovenseri-Ogbomo Godwin O. , Oduntan Olalekan A.
Published: September 2015

Accommodation is the process by which the human eye changes its focus to see objects at varying distances from the eye. For nearly 300 years, scientists have investigated and presented various views on the mechanism of accommodation. The purpose of this review is to present both the historical and contemporary theories that underpin the process of accommodation. Keywords such as ocular accommodation, mechanism of accommodation and accommodative mechanism were used to retrieve published material on the subject. Classical propositions by Thomas Young and Hermann von Helmholtz, amongst others, are presented.
Retinal thickness in black and Indian myopic students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal
Authors: Murugan Chanel , Golodza Bomikazi Z. , Pillay Kaveshni , Mthembu Brightness N. , Singh Praneal , Maseko Sibusiso K. , Rampersad Nishanee , Jhetam Siddeeqa
Published: September 2015

Background: It has been suggested that retinal thickness varies with demographic variables. Understanding the influence of demographic variables on retinal thickness could improve our knowledge of risk factors for retinal pathologies. Previous studies have focused exclusively on white and African-American populations, with limited attention to black and Indian populations.Aim: To compare retinal thickness in black and Indian myopic students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).Methods: A cross-sectional comparative research design was used. The study was conducted at UKZN, Westville campus. Retinal thickness was measured in 80 healthy myopic students using the Fourier/spectral domain iVue 100 optical coherence tomographer. Retinal thickness measurements of the right and left eyes showed significant correlations, therefore data from only the right eyes were analysed. Racial and gender variations in retinal thickness of the nine Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) segments were assessed.Results: The mean central foveal thickness in black participants was 238 μm compared with 243 μm in Indian participants (p = 0.06). Indian participants had thicker parafoveal thickness measurements whilst black participants had thicker perifoveal thickness measurements. Male participants had thicker retinal thickness measurements in all nine ETDRS segments than female participants. Central foveal thickness showed no significant correlation with spherical equivalent (r = -0.14, p > 0.05) or axial length (r = 0.09, p > 0.05).Conclusion: The average central foveal thickness was slightly thinner in black and female participants than in Indian and male participants. Optometrists and ophthalmologists should consider these differences when evaluating black and Indian individuals with foveal retinal diseases.
Constructing a non-foundational theological approach to Christian ethics
Authors: Van Oudtshoorn David A.
Published: September 2015

Postmodernism challenges the idea of any foundational truth on which theoretical and operational systems may be built. This has led to a meta-ethical revision of the resuppositions underlying different ethical systems. This article offers a meta-ethical critique of the possibility of constructing a Christian ethical system. It is argued that the general concept of ethics cannot be used as a foundation on which to build any Christian ethical system, as the Christian faith opposes a number of key meta-ethical assumptions for ethics. At the same time Christianity must be careful not to isolate itself from rational ethical debates through succumbing to the temptation of fideism. While the Christian faith may utilise certain ethical categories, and must permit itself to be judged by other ethical systems, it also has to develop its own unique response to reflect the faith, hope and love which the good news of Christ offers to broken sinners in a broken world.
Simulation as a tool for developing knowledge mobilisation strategies: Innovative knowledge transfer in youth services
Authors: Ungar Michael , Whitman Shelly , Hart Angie , Phipps David
Published: September 2015

While there are excellent models of knowledge mobilisation (KMb) that address the opportunity for co-production and sharing of best practice knowledge among human service professionals, it remains unclear whether these models will work in less formal settings like community-based non-government organisations (NGOs) where there are fewer resources for KMb. For three days, 65 policy-makers, senior staff of NGOs, mental health professionals, KMb specialists and youth participated in a set of simulation exercises to problem solve how to mobilise knowledge in less formal settings that provide services to children and youth in challenging contexts (CYCC). Based on simulation exercises used in other settings (such as the deployment of international aid workers), participants were first provided with reports synthesising best practice knowledge relevant to their workplaces. They then engaged in an appreciative inquiry process, and were finally tasked with developing innovative strategies for KMb. Observation notes and exit interviews were used to evaluate the process and assess impact. Findings related to the process of the simulation exercises show the technique of simulation to be useful but that it requires effort to keep participants focused on the task of KMb rather than the content of best practices within a focal population. With regard to developing innovative KMb strategies, findings suggest that service providers in less formal community-based services prefer KMb activities that promote one-to-one relationships, including the participation of youth themselves, who can speak to the effectiveness of the interventions they have experienced. Unexpectedly, the use of electronic communication, including social media, was not viewed very positively by participants. These results suggest that the use of simulation to search for innovative KMb strategies and to problem solve around barriers to KMb has the potential to inform new ways of co-producing and sharing best practice knowledge among human service providers.Keywords: simulation, knowledge mobilisation, high-risk youth, community-based mental health, knowledge brokers, barriers to knowledge exchange
You Winsome, you lose some: Home and hospitality in the Northern Rivers
Authors: Cooke Grayson , Hearn Jim
Published: September 2015

The Home Project was a three-year collaborative research project, established through a partnership between Northern Rivers Performing Arts (NORPA) and the School of Arts and Social Sciences (SASS) at Southern Cross University (SCU). The Home Project’s objective was to raise awareness of homelessness in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales through creative arts practice and community engagement activities. The broad project aims were to explore questions of home, homelessness and belonging in Northern Rivers’ communities; to address the experiences of individuals affected by homelessness; and, where appropriate, to provide avenues for public dissemination of the stories of individuals who are or have been without a home. This article discusses the activities undertaken in each year of the project, providing a case study of a community engaged research project involving collaboration between university staff and students, a performing arts organisation and a community service provider. We analyse the development of the project over the three years and discuss the emergence of the theme of ‘hospitality’, which came to frame the project in its latter stages as we focused our activities at the Winsome Hotel, a Heritage listed and iconic Australian hotel that now offers low-cost daily lunches and a short-term accommodation service for marginalised men. This focus on the Winsome Hotel and hospitality gave us, as researchers, a new way to think about the provision of services to people without a home.Keywords: Homelessness, hospitality, creative arts practice, community engagement, NORPA, Southern Cross University
Improving health and education outcomes for children in remote communities: A cross-sector and developmental evaluation approach
Authors: Jones Debra Maria , Lyle David , Brunero Claire , McAllister Lindy , Webb Trish , Riley Stuart
Published: September 2015

Early childhood is one of the most influential developmental life stages. Attainments at this stage will have implications for the quality of life children experience as they transition to adulthood. Children residing in remote Australia are exposed to socioeconomic disadvantage that can contribute to developmental delays and resultant poorer education and health outcomes. Complex contributing factors in far west New South Wales have resulted in children with speech and fine motor skill delays experiencing no to limited access to allied health services for a number of decades. More recently, growing awareness that no single policy, government agency, or program could effectively respond to these complexities or ensure appropriate allied health service access for children in these communities has led to the development of the Allied Health in Outback Schools Program, which has been operational since 2009. The program is underpinned by cross-sector partnerships and a shared aspirational aim to improve the developmental outcomes of children to enhance their later life opportunities. It was identified early that the initiative had the potential to deliver mutually beneficial outcomes for communities and participating partner organisations.Over the last five years the program has been the catalyst for partnership consolidation, expansion and diversification. The developmental evaluation approach to continuous program adaptation and refinement has provided valuable insights that have informed health and education policy and enabled the program to be responsive to changing community needs, emerging policy and funding reforms.This article explores the evolution of the program partnerships, their contribution to program success and longevity, and their capacity to respond to an emergent and dynamic environment. The authors propose that a community-centred and developmental approach to program innovation and implementation in remote locations is required. This is based on the premise that contemporary linear, logic-based policy development and funding allocations, with predetermined program deliverables and outcomes, are no longer capable of responding appropriately to the complexities experienced by remote communities.Keywords: allied health, remote communities, cross-sectoral partnerships, service learning
Research as community-building: Perspectives on the scholarship of engagement
Authors: Checkoway Barry
Published: September 2015

If research were a form of community-building, what would it be? This article addresses this question, as well as some of the personal, professional and institutional issues that it raises for me, as a community worker and university professor. It draws upon a program in a metropolitan area that is simultaneously segregated and diverse, and examines ways of defining the problem, gathering the information and using the results – all the while working with community partners, without whom the work would not be.Keywords: Research, community-building, university-community collaboration
Constraining black carbon aerosol over Asia using OMI aerosol absorption optical depth and the adjoint of GEOS-Chem
Authors: Zhang L. , Henze D. K. , Grell G. A. , Carmichael G. R. , Bousserez N. , Zhang Q. , Torres O. , Ahn C. , Lu Z. , Cao J. , Mao Y.
Published: September 2015

Abstract. Accurate estimates of the emissions and distribution of black carbon (BC) in the region referred to here as Southeastern Asia (70–150° E, 11° S–55° N) are critical to studies of the atmospheric environment and climate change. Analysis of modeled BC concentrations compared to in situ observations indicates levels are underestimated over most of Southeast Asia when using any of four different emission inventories. We thus attempt to reduce uncertainties in BC emissions and improve BC model simulations by developing top-down, spatially resolved, estimates of BC emissions through assimilation of OMI (Ozone Monitoring Instrument) observations of aerosol absorption optical depth (AAOD) with the GEOS-Chem (Goddard Earth Observing System – chemistry) model and its adjoint for April and October 2006. Overwhelming enhancements, up to 500 %, in anthropogenic BC emissions are shown after optimization over broad areas of Southeast Asia in April. In October, the optimization of anthropogenic emissions yields a slight reduction (1–5 %) over India and parts of southern China, while emissions increase by 10–50 % over eastern China. Observational data from in situ measurements and AERONET (Aerosol Robotic Network) observations are used to evaluate the BC inversions and assess the bias between OMI and AERONET AAOD. Low biases in BC concentrations are improved or corrected in most eastern and central sites over China after optimization, while the constrained model still underestimates concentrations in Indian sites in both April and October, possibly as a consequence of low prior emissions. Model resolution errors may contribute up to a factor of 2.5 to the underestimation of surface BC concentrations over northern India. We also compare the optimized results using different anthropogenic emission inventories and discuss the sensitivity of top-down constraints on anthropogenic emissions with respect to biomass burning emissions. In addition, the impacts of brown carbon, the formulation of the observation operator, and different a priori constraints on the optimization are investigated. Overall, despite these limitations and uncertainties, using OMI AAOD to constrain BC sources improves model representation of BC distributions, particularly over China.
Time forecast of a break-off event from a hanging glacier
Authors: Faillettaz J. , Funk M. , Vagliasindi M.
Published: September 2015

Abstract. A cold hanging glacier located on the south face of the Grandes Jorasses (Mont Blanc, Italy) broke off on the 23 and 29 September 2014 with a total estimated ice volume of 105 000 m3. Thanks to very accurate surface displacement measurements taken right up to the final break-off, this event could be successfully predicted 10 days in advance, enabling local authorities to take the necessary safety measures. The break-off event also confirmed that surface displacements experience a power law acceleration along with superimposed log-periodic oscillations prior to the final rupture. This paper describes the methods used to achieve a satisfactory time forecast in real time and demonstrates, using a retrospective analysis, their potential for the development of early-warning systems in real time.
Reconstructing glacier mass balances in the Central Andes of Chile and Argentina using local and regional hydro-climatic data
Authors: Masiokas M. H. , Christie D. A. , Le Quesne C. , Pitte P. , Ruiz L. , Villalba R. , Luckman B. H. , Berthier E. , Nussbaumer S. U. , González-Reyes A. , McPhee J. , Barcaza G.
Published: September 2015

Abstract. Despite the great number and variety of glaciers in southern South America, in situ glacier mass balance records are extremely scarce and glacier–climate relationships are still poorly understood in this region. Here we use the longest (> 35 years) and most complete in situ mass balance record, available for glaciar Echaurren Norte in the Andes at ~34° S, to develop a minimal glacier surface mass balance model that relies on nearby monthly precipitation and air temperature data as forcing. This basic model is able to explain 78 % of the variance in the annual glacier mass balance record over the 1978–2013 calibration period. An attribution assessment indicates that precipitation variability constitutes the most important forcing modulating annual glacier mass balances at this site. A regionally-averaged series of mean annual streamflow records from both sides of the Andes is then used to estimate, through simple linear regression, this glacier's annual mass balance variations since 1909. The reconstruction model captures 68 % of the observed glacier mass balance variability and shows three periods of sustained positive mass balances embedded in an overall negative trend totaling almost −42 m w.eq. over the past 105 years. The three periods of sustained positive mass balances (centered in the 1920s–1930s, in the 1980s and in the first decade of the 21st century) coincide with several documented glacier advances in this region. Similar trends observed in other shorter glacier mass balance series suggest the glaciar Echaurren Norte reconstruction is representative of larger-scale conditions and could be useful for more detailed glaciological, hydrological and climatological assessments in this portion of the Andes.
Institutional Religious Accommodation in the US and Europe
Authors: Loobuyck Patrick
Published: September 2015

Institutional Religious Accommodation in the US and Europe

Jean Cohen argues that recent US Supreme Court decisions about institutional accommodation are problematic. She rightly points out that justice and the liberal concept of freedom of consciousness cannot do the work in Hobby Lobby and Hosanna-Tabor: what does the work is a medieval political-theological conception of church immunity and sovereignty. The first part of this commentary sketches how the autonomy of churches and religious associations can be considered from a liberal perspective, avoiding the pitfall of the medieval idea of libertas ecclesiae based on church immunity and sovereignty. The second part discusses the European jurisprudence about institutional accommodation claims and concludes that until now the European Court of Human Rights is more nuanced and its decisions are more in line with liberalism than the US Jurisprudence.
Op het raakvlak van sociale zekerheid en migratierecht
Authors: Oosterom-Staples H.
Published: September 2015

Op het raakvlak van sociale zekerheid en migratierecht. Legaal verblijf als voorwaarde voor toekenning socialezekerheidsprestaties

Hoewel we het graag over het hoofd zien, is het recht op vrij verkeer van personen, zoals verankerd in artikelen 20 en 21 van het VWEU, niet absoluut. Een van de voorwaarden die gesteld wordt aan de uitoefening van dit recht is dat de Unieburger zichzelf financieel kan bedruipen, in migratierechtelijke terminologie: geen beroep doet op de openbare kas. De prejudiciële vraag die het Hof van Justitie in het arrest Brey moet beantwoorden, is of een gastlidstaat voor de toekenning van een uit publieke middelen gefinancierde uitkering aan economisch inactieven de voorwaarde mag stellen dat zij rechtmatig verblijf hebben in die lidstaat. HvJ EU 19 september 2013, zaak C-140/12, Pensionsversichrungsanstalt/Peter Brey, n.n.g.
Voorstel richtlijn netwerkveiligheid als onderdeel van EU cyber security-strategie: naar een open, veilig en betrouwbaar internet?
Authors: Toet J. , Lodder A.R.
Published: September 2015

Voorstel richtlijn netwerkveiligheid als onderdeel van EU cyber security-strategie: naar een open, veilig en betrouwbaar internet?

Het artikel behandelt het voorstel van de Commissie van 7 februari 2013 om een richtlijn in te voeren ter verhoging van het algehele niveau van beveiliging van netwerk- en informatiesystemen in de Europese Unie. Het voorstel vormt een onderdeel van de cyber security-strategie van de Commissie. De auteurs plaatsen kanttekeningen bij (de effectiviteit van) de gekozen maatregelen en de implementatie daarvan in het licht van een uitgebreide beschrijving van de voorliggende problematiek. Zij onderschrijven echter de noodzaak tot het treffen van maatregelen op Europees niveau en sluiten af met hun aanbevelingen ter versterking van het voorstel en de cyber security-strategie.Voorstel voor een Richtlijn van het Europees Parlement en de Raad houdende maatregelen om een hoog gemeenschappelijk niveau van netwerk- en informatiebeveiliging in de Unie te waarborgen, COM(2013)48 final
Transparantie leidt niet vanzelfsprekend tot vertrouwen in de rechtspraak
Authors: Jonkers Petra
Published: September 2015

Transparency does not necessarily increase confidence in the judiciary

Transparency of institutions like the judiciary is often assumed to increase confidence. However, a recent survey concerning opinions about the judiciary showed that in many cases one trusts the judiciary without having any special interest in the judiciary itself. It revealed that confidence in the judiciary depends on various factors like anomy, social trust, general institutional trust, personal experience and feelings about a fair chance in a hypothetical case for court. And transparency will not easily change these factors. Furthermore, providing information can both strengthen and weaken confidence due to the personal backgrounds of those receiving the information. Finally, this paper discusses whether strategic and positive information that is needed to increase confidence allows for drawing one’s own conclusions as transparency promises.
Vertrouwen en wantrouwen in de Belgische justitie en de rol van de krantenberichtgeving
Authors: Mercelis Stien
Published: September 2015

Trust and distrust in the Belgian justice system and the role of newspaper coverage

In this contribution it has been set out that trust in the Belgian justice system cannot be taken for granted. The article contains empirical research on the reporting of newspapers on the Belgian justice system and tries to uncover a possible causal relationship between reading certain newspapers and trust in the justice system. Although it turns out that quality newspapers report on the justice system in a more negative way, readers of popular papers have less trust in the justice system. A direct link between negative reporting and reduced trust was therefore not found. Socio-economic variables and the priming effect on punitive attitudes in popular newspapers are cited as possible explanations.
De nieuwe arbitragewet bezien vanuit het perspectief van de gewone rechter
Authors: van den Nieuwendijk I.P.M.
Published: September 2015

De nieuwe arbitragewet bezien vanuit het perspectief van de gewone rechter

De nieuwe arbitragewet treedt op 1 januari 2015 in werking. Er wordt een overzicht gegeven van de belangrijkste wijzigingen van de arbitragewet vanuit het perspectief van de gewone rechter. Naast de afbakening van de bevoegdheid van de gewone rechter in verband met het bestaan van een geldige arbitrageovereenkomst, heeft de gewone rechter een assisterende rol en een controlerende rol ten aanzien van arbitrage. Aan de orde komen onder andere de plaatsing van het arbitraal beding in algemene voorwaarden op de zwarte lijst, de institutionele wraking, de tenuitvoerlegging en vernietiging van een arbitraal vonnis, de mogelijkheid tot terugverwijzing naar het scheidsgerecht en het overgangsrecht.
Risicogericht toezicht, profiling en Big Data
Authors: Custers Bart
Published: September 2015

Risicogericht toezicht, profiling en Big Data

In deze bijdrage wordt uiteengezet hoe Big Data en risicoprofilering kunnen bijdragen aan de verdere ontwikkeling van risicogericht toezicht houden. Door de aard, omvang en structuur van Big Data schiet menselijke intuïtie tekort om inzicht en overzicht te krijgen. Met behulp van zoekalgoritmen kunnen zonder hypothese of vraagstelling patronen worden gezocht. Dat kan bruikbare risicoprofielen opleveren voor toezichthouders en biedt kansen als selectie-, detectie- of evaluatie-instrument. Er zijn evenwel beperkingen om rekening mee te houden, zoals gevoeligheid voor foutmarges, self-fulfilling prophecies en houdbaarheidsduur van profielen. Menselijke intuïtie, kennis en ervaring zouden daarom een duidelijk rol moeten krijgen in het gebruik van Big Data en risicoprofielen.
Systemic Administration of Human Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Extracellular Vesicles Ameliorates Aspergillus Hyphal Extract-Induced Allergic Airway Inflammation in Immunocompetent Mice
Authors: Cruz Fernanda F. , Borg Zachary D. , Goodwin Meagan , Sokocevic Dino , Wagner Darcy E. , Coffey Amy , Antunes Mariana , Robinson Kristen L. , Mitsialis S. Alex , Kourembanas Stella , Thane Kristen , Hoffman Andrew M. , McKenna David H. , Rocco Patricia R.M. , Weiss Daniel J.
Published: September 2015

An increasing number of studies demonstrate that administration of either conditioned media (CM) or extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) derived from bone marrow and other sources are as effective as the MSCs themselves in mitigating inflammation and injury. The goal of the current study was to determine whether xenogeneic administration of CM or EVs from human bone marrow-derived MSCs would be effective in a model of mixed Th2/Th17, neutrophilic-mediated allergic airway inflammation, reflective of severe refractory asthma, induced by repeated mucosal exposure to Aspergillus hyphal extract (AHE) in immunocompetent C57Bl/6 mice. Systemic administration of both CM and EVs isolated from human and murine MSCs, but not human lung fibroblasts, at the onset of antigen challenge in previously sensitized mice significantly ameliorated the AHE-provoked increases in airway hyperreactivity (AHR), lung inflammation, and the antigen-specific CD4 T-cell Th2 and Th17 phenotype. Notably, both CM and EVs from human MSCs (hMSCs) were generally more potent than those from mouse MSCs (mMSCs) in most of the outcome measures. The weak cross-linking agent 1-ethyl-3-[3-dimethylaminopropyl]carbodiimide hydrochloride was found to inhibit release of both soluble mediators and EVs, fully negating effects of systemically administered hMSCs but only partly inhibited the ameliorating effects of mMSCs. These results demonstrate potent xenogeneic effects of CM and EVs from hMSCs in an immunocompetent mouse model of allergic airway inflammation and they also show differences in mechanisms of action of hMSCs versus mMSCs to mitigate AHR and lung inflammation in this model.

Significance

There is a growing experience demonstrating benefit of mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)-based cell therapies in preclinical models of asthma. In the current study, conditioned media (CM) and, in particular, the extracellular vesicle fraction obtained from the CM were as potent as the MSCs themselves in mitigating Th2/Th17-mediated allergic airway inflammation in a mouse model of severe refractory clinical asthma. Moreover, human MSC CM and extracellular vesicles were effective in this immunocompetent mouse model. These data add to a growing scientific basis for initiating clinical trials of MSCs or extracellular vesicles derived from MSCs in severe refractory asthma and provide further insight into the mechanisms by which the MSCs may ameliorate the asthma.
Críticas al modelo jerarquizado de cultura: por un proyecto de democracia cultural para las políticas culturales públicas
Authors: De Souza Marques Marcelo
Published: September 2015

This article aims to present a critical reading of the Hierarchical Model of Culture (HMC) which, based on non-historical notions of culture and rooted in an essentialist and elitist distinction of the judgment of taste, subdivides culture in a hierarchical ranking of classical culture, mass culture and popular culture. By highlighting cultural diversity and the processes of cultural interaction inherent in contemporary societies, it seeks theoretical reflections that suggest public cultural policies from the standpoint of a project of Cultural Democracy for the purpose of democratic radicalization. We have therefore concluded that a Cultural Democracy project for public cultural policies should consider the context of cultural interaction, the different actors involved, the power relations present in the very idea of public cultural policies, and also seek to maximize public participation in political decision-making spaces.
Entre la pediatría, el psicoanálisis y el derecho: apuntes sobre la recepción, reelaboración y difusión del “maltrato infantil” en Argentina
Authors: Grinberg Julieta
Published: September 2015

This article inquires into the way “child abuse” has been constructed as a social problem in Argentina. The papers explores how the issue was first approached in the 1970s by a pediatric community influenced by psychoanalysis and subsequently divulged more broadly, until it became an endeavour in the hands of judicial actors that was destined to transform the way of dealing with the problem. For that purpose, the article is based on an analysis of early studies on the topic and interviews of judicial actors. These analyses suggest that the normative transformations that took place led to the removal of the “abused child” from the criminal environment, as the promoters had proposed, and also made it possible to broaden the spectrum of what could be denounced and, therefore, of what could be treated and controlled.
Nuevas subjetividades y proyecto de vida: jóvenes universitarios de la VII región del Maule, Chile
Authors: Gómez Urrutia Verónica , Royo Urrizola Paulina
Published: September 2015

This article examines the constitution of subjectivities in young people, focusing on two key aspects in the formation of personal identity and in the construction of an individual’s life project: family and work. Based on a survey of university students (N=524) from the Maule region (Chile), it explores some of the most notable changes in young people’s representations of family projects and their relation to paid work. This led us to conclude that due to diversification in the form of the family and destructuring in the organization of paid work, young people, both male and female, are redefining the workplace and the family in their vital projects, and questioning traditional gender roles as well.
Educación, reformas y movimientos universitarios en Colombia: apuestas y frustraciones por un proyecto modernizador en el siglo XX
Authors: Acevedo Tarazona Álvaro
Published: September 2015

This article seeks to characterize the process of educational reform proposed for Colombia in the second half of the 20th century based on the guidelines presented by the Atcon Plan, through a contextual analysis, i.e., without losing sight of the economic, political, social and cultural matters that once framed, hindered and, in many cases, drove each stage of reform. The issue is crucial to understanding the importance of the reform of higher education and its consequences in the creation of a student movement strengthened by the confrontation of political and social interests. One of the conclusions reached with this analysis is that Colombia needed to incorporate a modernizing project of higher education and it took the US university model as its reference point, but the government failed to consider the social consequences that would manifest themselves through protests and marches for one single goal: university autonomy in the consolidation of a national educational project.
“Reparar algo de esta maldita historia”: memorias del pasado negro y narrativa estatal en Argentina
Authors: Monkevicius Paola
Published: September 2015

This article examines the ways in which the Argentinian state has reintroduced accounts of black history within a national narrative aimed at incorporating and visibilizating cultural minorities. Specifically, we analyze how new meanings and uses of the “Afro” past are constructed by hegemonic sectors, focusing on the commemoration event held at the National Congress to celebrate Afro-Argentineans’ and Afro-Culture Day for the first time. It seems that this commemoration is an opportunity to analyze new forms of visibilization of the black presence in Argentina since it offers a privileged instance for the installation, circulation and transmission of meanings and practices regarding the past on the part of the various actors involved. Finally, the ethnographic work based on participant observation conducted within the context of the above-mentioned ceremonies allows us to conclude that subordinate forms of memory are updated from hegemonic spaces, empowering alternative versions that are introduced in the public scene and find support even within (and in part of) the state acting as an active interlocutor.
Narrativas femeninas del conflicto armado y la violencia política en Colombia: contar para rehacerse
Authors: Herrera Martha Cecilia , Pertuz Bedoya Carol
Published: September 2015

This article poses interesting possibilities for reflecting on the armed conflict and political violence in Colombia through recovering the voices of a sector that has been excluded from the official history: women. It thus constitutes a look into the voices of women, the starting point of which is centered on a review of some of the features that certain historic events have imprinted on the role of women in political as well as everyday scenarios. Furthermore, it refers to the narratives of some women who have been protagonists in the country’s recent history of political conflict (particularly ex-combatants from insurgent organizations) in order to explore aspects of the configuration of their subjectivities and the formation of memories.
Diet, exercise and mental-wellbeing of healthcare professionals (doctors, dentists and nurses) in Pakistan
Authors: Ahmad Waqas , Taggart Frances , Shafique Muhammad Shoaib , Muzafar Yumna , Abidi Shehnam , Ghani Noor , Malik Zahra , Zahid Tehmina , Waqas Ahmed , Ghaffar Naila
Published: September 2015

Background.“Health is wealth” is a time tested adage. Health becomes more relevant when it comes to professionals whose job is to provide people with services that maintain an optimum state of mental, physical and social well-being. Healthcare professionals (HCP) differ from general population in regards to the nature of their work, stress, burnout etc. which begs the need to have a robust state of health for the ones who provide it to others. We initiated this study to see if healthcare professionals “practice what they preach others.”

Methods.We employed a cross-sectional study design with convenience-sampling technique. Questionnaires were administered directly to the three groups of healthcare professionals (Doctors, Dentists and Nurses) across the province Punjab after their consent. 1,319 healthcare professionals took part in the study (response rate of 87.35). Warwick Edinburg Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS) was used to assess mental wellbeing. USDA Dietary Guidelines-2010 were employed to quantify diet. American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines were employed for the analysis of exercise.

Results.A total of 1,190 healthcare professionals formed the final sample with doctors and nurses forming the major proportion. Out of 1,190 participants onlyonehealthcare professional was found to eat according to USDA Dietary Guidelines; others ate more of protein group and less of fruits, dairy and vegetable groups. 76% did not perform any exercise. 71.5% worked >48 h/week. More than 50% of healthcare professionals were sleeping <7 h/day. WEMWBS score of the entire sample was 47.97 ± 9.53 S.D.

Conclusion.Our findings suggest that healthcare professionals do not practice what they preach. Their mental wellbeing, diet and exercise habits are not up to the mark and should be improved to foster the whole healthcare system for individual and community benefits.
Improved estimates of age, growth and reproduction for the regionally endemic Galapagos sailfin grouperMycteroperca olfax(Jenyns, 1840)
Authors: Usseglio Paolo , Friedlander Alan M. , DeMartini Edward E. , Schuhbauer Anna , Schemmel Eva , Salinas de Léon Pelayo
Published: September 2015

The Galapagos Sailfin grouper,Mycteroperca olfax, locally known as bacalao and listed as vulnerable by the IUCN, is culturally, economically, and ecologically important to the Galapagos archipelago and its people. It is regionally endemic to the Eastern Tropical Pacific, and, while an important fishery resource that has shown substantial declines in recent years, to date no effective management regulations are in place to ensure the sustainability of the Galapagos fishery for this species. Previous estimates of longevity and size at maturity for bacalao are inconsistent with estimates for congeners, which brings into question the accuracy of prior estimates. We set out to assess the age, growth, and reproductive biology of bacalao in order to provide more accurate life history information to inform more effective fisheries management for this species. The oldest fish in our sample was 21 years old, which is 2–3 times greater than previously reported estimates of longevity. Parameter estimates for the von Bertalanffy growth function (k= 0.11,L∞= 110 cm TL, andto= − 1.7 years) show bacalao to grow much slower and attain substantially larger asymptotic maximum length than previous studies. Mean size at maturity (as female) was estimated at 65.3 cm TL, corresponding to a mean age of 6.5 years. We found that sex ratios were extremely female biased (0.009 M:1F), with a large majority of the individuals in our experimental catch being immature (79%). Our results show that bacalao grow slower, live longer, and mature at a much larger size and greater age than previously thought, with very few mature males in the population. These findings have important implications for the fishery of this valuable species and provide the impetus for a long-overdue species management plan to ensure its long-term sustainability.
Al-Fārābī, the Melancholic Thinker and Philosopher Poet
Authors: Pormann Peter E.
Published: September 2015

Some scholars have tried to distinguish between historical fact and legend in the biographical information about al-Fārābī that can be gleaned from medieval Arabic sources; by reinterpreting accounts in the bio-bibliographical literature and by presenting new evidence from a contemporaneous medical source; this article argues that such a distinction is problematic. In the eyes of some of his contemporaries, al-Fārābī exemplified the character type of the melancholic thinker, who succumbs to the disease because of excessive study. Arguing that the poetry attributed to al-Fārābī fits well with the picture that the new medical source paints of him, the article also underscores that the topics of literature are the topics of life, and that it is therefore doubtful whether we will ever be able to disentangle myth from reality in the biographical information about al-Fārābī.
Writing and the Recognition of Customary Law in Premodern India and Java
Authors: Lubin Timothy
Published: September 2015

Explaining what made ancient Greek law unusual, Michael Gagarin observes that most premodern legal cultures “wrote extensive sets (or codes) of laws for academic purposes or propaganda but these were not intended to be accessible to most members of the community and had relatively little effect on the actual operation of the legal system.” This article addresses the implications of writing for customary or regional law in South and Southeast Asia. The textual tradition of Dharmaśāstra (“Hindu law”), which canonizes a particular model of Brahmin customary norms, can certainly be called a “scholarly” exercise, and it was also intended as propaganda for the Brahmanical cosmopolitan world order. But it also formulated a procedural principle to recognize the general validity of other, even divergent, customary norms, though for the most part such rules remained lex non scripta. On the other hand, inscriptions provide evidence that writing was used for diverse legal purposes and offers glimpses of actual legal practice. In these records, customary laws are sometimes laid down as statutes by decree of a ruler or community body, or are simply invoked as long-established customary rules. But even when Dharmaśāstra texts are not directly cited, their influence over the longue durée is discernable in the persistence of śāstric legal categories and terms of art. This influence is even more evident in Java, where legal codes on the Dharmaśāstra model were composed in Javanese, and where the inscriptions came to exhibit a closer connection with śāstric discourse than is found in India.
Sogdian Documents from Khotan, II
Authors: Bo Bi , Sims-Williams Nicholas
Published: September 2015

A group of Sogdian documents from the area of Khotan was recently acquired by Renmin University of China, Beijing. Four economic documents were edited in JAOS 130/4 (2010); the present article, comprising the edition of one complete letter and several fragments of letters, completes the publication of this collection, which adds to a growing body of evidence for the presence of Sogdian-speakers on the trade routes to the south of the Taklamakan desert.
Debates around Jixia
Authors: Weingarten Oliver
Published: September 2015

The character of the scholarly patronage community of Jixia in the Warring States (480–221 B.C.E.) polity of Qi has been hotly debated. Was it indeed an “academy,” as it has been retrospectively dubbed? What kind of activities did resident scholars engage in? What teachings did they propound, what writings did they compose? Following the lead of research by Nathan Sivin and Andrew S. Meyer, the present article does not treat Jixia as an academy proper, but assumes that it was a patronage community sponsored by the Tian/Chen clan. Rather than indulge in more speculations about institutional arrangements and the activities of specific scholars, however, it is argued that intertextual relationships are more likely to shed light on the intellectual concerns of scholars at Jixia. To demonstrate the viability of such an approach, this article analyzes dialogues between King Xuan of Qi (319–301 B.C.E.) and Master Meng in the book Mengzi, demonstrating that they can be divided into hostile and supportive ones, the latter propounding the principle of “sharing pleasures.” Dialogues included in other compilations that advocate the same principle are then shown to be almost invariably associated with Jixia scholars. The notion of sharing pleasures, it is finally argued, was part of a wider political debate on princely wastefulness that was characteristic of Qi and is likewise reflected in such compilations as Guanzi, Yanzi chunqiu, and Liu tao.
Inner Asian Words for Paper and Silk
Authors: Norman Jerry
Published: September 2015

This paper attempts to show that the Shianbei word for ‘paper’ was *qaɣVdu, which is cognate to Written Mongolian qaɣudasu ‘tree bark, sheet of paper’, and that *qaɣVdu was subsequently borrowed into other languages as Sogdian kāγaδā, Persian kaġad, kaġid, Old Turkic qaɣat/qaɣaz and Turkish kâğĭd. The etymology of Greek Séres “China” is also discussed.