bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Food allergy training event for restaurant staff; a pilot evaluation
Authors: Bailey Samuel , Billmeier Kindratt Tiffany , Smith Helen , Reading David
Published: August 2014

A previous cross‐sectional survey highlighted that restaurant staff in Brighton had gaps in their knowledge of food allergy, which could lead to the provision of unsafe meals to food‐allergic customers. A food allergy training event was developed by a multi‐disciplinary team (health service researcher, clinician, teacher and patient group representative) to equip restaurant staff with the knowledge and skills necessary to safely serve food‐allergic customers. This evaluation summarises the training event's impact on participants’ knowledge of food allergy and their satisfaction with the event.

No attendee had previously attended any formal training on food allergy. The percentage of participants who answered all true‐false questions correctly increased from 82% before the training event to 91% afterwards. The percentage of participants who were able to name at least three common allergens increased from 9% to 64%. Both quantitative and qualitative feedback was positive.

Restaurant staff require a good understanding of food allergy to ensure that food‐allergic customers are kept safe, and their restaurants operate within the law. This food allergy training event improved participants’ absolute knowledge of food allergy, and attendees changed practice. Recommendations are made which could improve the impact and uptake of future food allergy training events.
DNA copy number evolution in Drosophila cell lines
Authors: Lee Hangnoh , McManus C Joel , Cho Dong-Yeon , Eaton Matthew , Renda Fioranna , Somma Maria Patrizia , Cherbas Lucy , May Gemma , Powell Sara , Zhang Dayu , Zhan Lijun , Resch Alissa , Andrews Justen , Celniker Susan E , Cherbas Peter , Przytycka Teresa M , Gatti Maurizio , Oliver Brian , Graveley Brenton , MacAlpine David
Published: August 2014

Background

Structural rearrangements of the genome resulting in genic imbalance due to copy number change are often deleterious at the organismal level, but are common in immortalized cell lines and tumors, where they may be an advantage to cells. In order to explore the biological consequences of copy number changes in the Drosophila genome, we resequenced the genomes of 19 tissue-culture cell lines and generated RNA-Seq profiles.

Results

Our work revealed dramatic duplications and deletions in all cell lines. We found three lines of evidence indicating that copy number changes were due to selection during tissue culture. First, we found that copy numbers correlated to maintain stoichiometric balance in protein complexes and biochemical pathways, consistent with the gene balance hypothesis. Second, while most copy number changes were cell line-specific, we identified some copy number changes shared by many of the independent cell lines. These included dramatic recurrence of increased copy number of the PDGF/VEGF receptor, which is also over-expressed in many cancer cells, and of bantam, an anti-apoptosis miRNA. Third, even when copy number changes seemed distinct between lines, there was strong evidence that they supported a common phenotypic outcome. For example, we found that proto-oncogenes were over-represented in one cell line (S2-DRSC), whereas tumor suppressor genes were under-represented in another (Kc167).

Conclusion

Our study illustrates how genome structure changes may contribute to selection of cell lines in vitro. This has implications for other cell-level natural selection progressions, including tumorigenesis.
Generation of transgenic rice with reduced content of major and novel high molecular weight allergens
Authors: Ogo Yuko , Wakasa Yuhya , Hirano Kana , Urisu Atsuo , Matsuda Tsukasa , Takaiwa Fumio
Published: August 2014

Background

Rice seed proteins contain antigens that provoke allergic responses in some individuals with food allergy, particularly in those with cereal allergy, and these antigens can elicit clinical symptoms such as eczema and dermatitis. We previously generated transgenic rice with reduced accumulation of the three major allergens, which dramatically reduced the level of IgE binding from patients’ sera. However, the transgenic rice still possesses allergenic reactivity. Recently, two globulin-like proteins were identified as candidates of novel high molecular weight (HMW) IgE-binding proteins that cause rice allergy.

Results

We identified a glucosidase family encoded by four genes as novel HMW rice allergens based on IgE antibody reactivity from individuals with allergy to rice. To further reduce allergenicity, we generated transgenic rice with reduced accumulation of these HMW allergens. We crossed the rice with reduced HMW allergens and with reduced major allergens, and all major and HMW allergens were substantially reduced in the progeny of the crossed rice. Allergen suppression did not significantly alter accumulation patterns of seed storage proteins and protein folding enzymes. The sera of a portion of patients showed low IgE-binding to the crossed line, suggesting that the crossed line is effective for a portion of patients who are allergic to proteins other than major allergens.

Conclusions

The transgenic rice with reduced levels of all major and HMW allergens is thought to be an option for a portion of allergy patients with hypersensitive responses to various kinds of rice allergens.
Estimated cerebral oxyhemoglobin as a useful indicator of neuroprotection in patients with post-cardiac arrest syndrome: a prospective, multicenter observational study
Authors: Hayashida Kei , Nishiyama Kei , Suzuki Masaru , Abe Takayuki , Orita Tomohiko , Ito Noritoshi , Hori Shingo ,   J-POP Registry Investigators
Published: August 2014

Introduction

Little is known about oxyhemoglobin (oxy-Hb) levels in the cerebral tissue during the development of anoxic and ischemic brain injury. We hypothesized that the estimated cerebral oxy-Hb level, a product of Hb and regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2), determined at hospital arrival may reflect the level of neuroprotection in patients with post-cardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS).

Methods

The Japan Prediction of neurological Outcomes in patients with Post cardiac arrest (J-POP) registry is a prospective, multicenter, cohort study to test whether rSO2 predicts neurologic outcomes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). This study assessed a subgroup of consecutive patients who fulfilled the J-POP registry criteria and successfully achieved return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) from OHCA. The primary outcome measure was the neurologic status at 90 days.

Results

We analyzed data from 495 consecutive comatose survivors who were successfully resuscitated from OHCA, including 119 comatose patients with prehospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC; 24.0%) and 376 cardiac arrests at hospital arrival. In total, 75 patients (15.1%) presented with good neurologic outcomes. Univariate analysis revealed that the cerebral oxy-Hb levels were significantly higher in patients with good outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression using the backward-elimination method confirmed that the oxy-Hb level was a significant predictor of good neurologic outcomes (adjusted odds ratio, 1.27; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.11 to 1.46). Analysis of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) revealed that an oxy-Hb cut-off of 5.5 provided optimal sensitivity and specificity for predicting good neurologic outcomes (AUC, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.83 to 0.91; sensitivity, 77.3%; specificity, 85.6%). The oxy-Hb level appeared to be an excellent prognostic indicator with significant advantages over rSO2 and base excess, according to AUC analysis. The significant trend for good neurologic outcomes was consistent, even in the subgroup of patients who achieved return of spontaneous circulation on hospital arrival (1st quartile, 0; 2nd quartile, 16.7%; 3rd quartile, 29.4%; 4th quartile, 53.3%; P < 0.05).

Conclusions

The cerebral oxy-Hb level may predict neurologic outcomes and is a simple and excellent indicator of neuroprotection in patients with PCAS.

Trial registration

UMIN Clinical Trials Registry UMIN000005065. Registered 1 April 2011.
Imago Mundi, Imago AD, Imago ADNI
Authors: Villemagne Victor L , Kim Seong Yoon , Rowe Christopher C , Iwatsubo Takeshi
Published: August 2014

Since the launch in 2003 of the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) in the USA, ever growing, similarly oriented consortia have been organized and assembled around the world. The various accomplishments of ADNI have contributed substantially to a better understanding of the underlying physiopathology of aging and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). These accomplishments are basically predicated in the trinity of multimodality, standardization and sharing. This multimodality approach can now better identify those subjects with AD-specific traits that are more likely to present cognitive decline in the near future and that might represent the best candidates for smaller but more efficient therapeutic trials - trials that, through gained and shared knowledge, can be more focused on a specific target or a specific stage of the disease process. In summary, data generated from ADNI have helped elucidate some of the pathophysiological mechanisms underpinning aging and AD pathology, while contributing to the international effort in setting the groundwork for biomarker discovery and establishing standards for early diagnosis of AD.
Poly-β-hydroxybutyrate production and management of cardboard industry effluent by new Bacillus sp. NA10
Authors: Bhuwal Anish Kumari , Singh Gulab , Aggarwal Neeraj Kumar , Goyal Varsha , Yadav Anita
Published: August 2014

Background

In the present study, we aim to utilize the ecological diversity of soil for the isolation and screening for poly β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB)-accumulating bacteria and production of cost-effective bioplastic using cardboard industry effluent.

Results

A total of 120 isolates were isolated from different soil samples and a total of 62 isolates showed positive results with Nile blue A staining, a specific dye for PHB granules and 27 isolates produced PHB using cardboard industry effluent. The selected isolate NA10 was identified as Bacillus sp. NA10 by studying its morphological, biochemical, and molecular characteristics. The growth pattern for the microorganism was studied by logistic model and exactly fitted in the model. A maximum cell dry weight (CDW) of 7.8 g l−1 with a PHB concentration of 5.202 g l−1 was obtained when batch cultivation was conducted at 37°C for 72 h, and the PHB content was up to 66.6% and productivity was 0.072 g l−1 h−1 in 2.0 L fermentor. Chemical characterization of the extracted PHB was done by H1NMR, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis to determine the structure, melting point, and molecular mass of the purified PHB. The polymer sheet of extracted polymer was prepared by blending the polymer with starch for packaging applications.

Conclusions

The isolate NA10 can be a good candidate for industrial production of PHB from cardboard industry waste water cost-effectively and ecofriendly.
The Neuroendocrinology of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Authors: Cleare Anthony J.
Published: August 2014

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a common and disabling problem; although most likely of biopsychosocial origin, the nature of the pathophysiological components remains unclear. There has been a wealth of interest in the endocrinology of this condition, which will be reviewed in this article. Most studied has been the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis; although the quality of many studies is poor, the overall balance of evidence points to reduced cortisol output in at least some patients, with some evidence that this is linked to symptom production or persistence. There is evidence for heightened negative feedback and glucocorticoid receptor function and for impaired ACTH and cortisol responses to a variety of challenges. However, there is no evidence for a specific or uniform dysfunction of the HPA axis. Given the many factors that may impinge on the HPA axis in CFS, such as inactivity, sleep disturbance, psychiatric comorbidity, medication, and ongoing stress, it seems likely that HPA axis disturbance is heterogeneous and of multifactorial etiology in CFS. Studies assessing GH, dehydroepiandrostenedione and its sulfate, melatonin, leptin, and neuroendocrine-monoamine interactions are also reviewed. There is some evidence from these studies to suggest alterations of dehydroepiandrostenedione sulfate function and abnormal serotonin function in CFS, but whether these changes are of functional importance remains unclear. To obtain a clearer assessment of the etiological and pathophysiological relevance of endocrine changes in CFS, it is suggested that more prospective cohort studies be undertaken in groups at high risk for CFS, that patients with CFS are followed up into recovery, and that multidimensional assessments are undertaken to unravel the influence of the various confounding factors on the observed endocrine changes in CFS.
Fabrication of Ceria Nanoparticles Incorporated in Porous Coordination Polymer
Authors: Kim Cho Rong , Uemura Takashi , Kitagawa Susumu
Published: August 2014

Nanosized ceria was fabricated in the channels of a porous coordination polymer (PCP) by the sol–gel polycondensation of cerium tetraisopropoxide. The resulting composite was characterized by IR, UV–vis, XRD, and XPS measurements, and the obtained ceria was found to be composed of a higher concentration of Ce3+ as compared to that of bulk synthesized ceria. Gas sorption of the composite showed the presence of ceria nanoparticles inside the channels of the PCP, which gave oxygen affinity for the PCP.
N-Alkylation of α-Iminophosphonates and Application to Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons Reaction
Authors: Shimizu Makoto , Tateishi Masasato , Mizota Isao
Published: August 2014

N-Alkylation of α-iminophosphonates with Grignard reagents gives α-N-alkylaminophosphonates. A subsequent Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction of the intermediary α-metalated phosphonate takes place with aldehydes to give enamines. The enamine thus prepared reacts with MVK to give a four-component coupling product.
Measuring the Impacts of Teachers II: Teacher Value-Added and Student Outcomes in Adulthood
Authors: Chetty Raj , Friedman John N. , Rockoff Jonah E.
Published: August 2014

Are teachers' impacts on students' test scores (value-added) a good measure of their quality? This question has sparked debate partly because of a lack of evidence on whether high value-added (VA) teachers improve students' long-term outcomes. Using school district and tax records for more than one million children, we find that students assigned to high-VA teachers are more likely to attend college, earn higher salaries, and are less likely to have children as teenagers. Replacing a teacher whose VA is in the bottom 5 percent with an average teacher would increase the present value of students' lifetime income by approximately $250,000 per classroom. (JEL H75, I21, J24, J45)
Subways, Strikes, and Slowdowns: The Impacts of Public Transit on Traffic Congestion
Authors: Anderson Michael L.
Published: August 2014

Public transit accounts for 1 percent of US passenger miles traveled but attracts strong public support. Using a simple choice model, we predict that transit riders are likely to be individuals who commute along routes with severe roadway delays. These individuals' choices thus have high marginal impacts on congestion. We test this prediction with data from a strike in 2003 by Los Angeles transit workers. Estimating a regression discontinuity design, we find that average highway delay increases 47 percent when transit service ceases. We find that the net benefits of transit systems appear to be much larger than previously believed. (JEL H76, J52, L92, R41)
Wall Street and the Housing Bubble
Authors: Cheng Ing-Haw , Raina Sahil , Xiong Wei
Published: August 2014

We analyze whether midlevel managers in securitized finance were aware of a large-scale housing bubble and a looming crisis in 2004–2006 using their personal home transaction data. We find that the average person in our sample neither timed the market nor were cautious in their home transactions, and did not exhibit awareness of problems in overall housing markets. Certain groups of securitization agents were particularly aggressive in increasing their exposure to housing during this period, suggesting the need to expand the incentives-based view of the crisis to incorporate a role for beliefs. (JEL D14, D83, E32, E44, G01, G21, R31)
Dynamic Free Riding with Irreversible Investments
Authors: Battaglini Marco , Nunnari Salvatore , Palfrey Thomas R.
Published: August 2014

We study the Markov equilibria of a model of free riding in which n infinitely lived agents choose between private consumption and irreversible contributions to a durable public good. We show that the set of equilibrium steady states converges to a unique point as depreciation converges to zero. For any level of depreciation, moreover, the highest steady state converges to the efficient level as agents become increasingly patient. These results are in contrast to the case with reversible investments, where a continuum of inefficient equilibrium steady states exists for any level of depreciation, discount factor, and size of population. (JEL D11, H41)
Pass-Through of Emissions Costs in Electricity Markets
Authors: Fabra Natalia , Reguant Mar
Published: August 2014

We measure the pass-through of emissions costs to electricity prices. We perform both reduced-form and structural estimations based on optimal bidding in this market. Using rich micro-level data, we estimate the channels affecting pass-through in a flexible manner, with minimal functional form assumptions. Contrary to many studies in the general pass-through literature, we find that emissions costs are almost fully passed through to electricity prices. Since electricity is traded through high-frequency auctions for highly inelastic demand, firms have weak incentives to adjust markups after the cost shock. Furthermore, the costs of price adjustment are small. (JEL D44, L11, L94, L98, Q52, Q54)
Nomenclature and typification of the name Crinum balfourii Mast. (Amaryllidaceae)
Authors: Choo Thereis Y.S. , Trias-Blasi Anna , Reveal James L.
Published: August 2014

The bibliographic citation of Crinum balfourii is revised. The species authority has traditionally been attributed to J.G. Baker who described the species in honour of its discoverer, I.B. Balfour, from a flowering specimen cultivated at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England. However, the species name and a brief diagnostic description were published earlier in the horticultural periodical, The Gardeners' Chronicle, edited by M.T. Masters. Determination of Masters's original type material is open to interpretation and the various possibilities are discussed. In light of current evidence, we herein designate a neotype for the species, rendering Baker's name an isonym.
A multi–step comparison of short–read full plastome sequence assembly methods in grasses
Authors: Wysocki William P. , Clark Lynn G. , Kelchner Scot A. , Burke Sean V. , Pires J. Chris , Edger Patrick P. , Mayfield Dustin R. , Triplett Jimmy K. , Columbus J. Travis , Ingram Amanda L. , Duvall Melvin R.
Published: August 2014

Technological advances have allowed phylogenomic studies of plants, such as full chloroplast genome (plastome) analysis, to become increasingly popular and economically feasible. Although next–generation short–read sequencing allows for full plastomes to be sequenced relatively rapidly, it requires additional attention using software to assemble these reads into comprehensive sequences. Here we compare the use of three de novo assemblers combined with three contig assembly methods. Seven plastome sequences were analyzed. Three of these were Sanger–sequenced. The other four were assembled from short, single–end read files generated from next–generation libraries. These plastomes represented a total of six grass species (Poaceae), one of which was sequenced in duplicate by the two methods to allow direct comparisons for accuracy. Enumeration of missing sequence and ambiguities allowed for assessments of completeness and efficiency. All methods that used de Bruijn–based de novo assemblers were shown to produce assemblies comparable to the Sanger–sequenced plastomes but were not equally efficient. Contig assembly methods that utilized automatable and repeatable processes were generally more efficient and advantageous when applied to larger scale projects with many full plastomes. However, contig assembly methods that were less automatable and required more manual attention did show utility in determining plastomes with lower read depth that were not able to be assembled when automatable procedures were implemented. Although the methods here were used exclusively to generate grass plastomes, these could be applied to other taxonomic groups if previously sequenced plastomes were available. In addition to comparing sequencing methods, a supplemental guide for short–read plastome assembly and applicable scripts were generated for this study.
A Fluid EOQ Model of Perishable Items with Intermittent High and Low Demand Rates
Authors: Boxma Onno , Perry David , Zacks Shelley
Published: August 2014

We consider a stochastic fluid EOQ-type model with demand rates operating in a two-state random environment. This environment alternates between exponentially distributed periods of high demand and generally distributed periods of low demand. The inventory level starts at some level q, and decreases linearly at rate βH during the periods of high demand, and at rate βL < βH at periods of low demand. Refilling of the inventory level to level q is required when the first of two events takes place: Either the buffer level reaches zero, or the buffer content becomes outdated. If such an event occurs during a high demand period, an order is instantaneously placed; otherwise, ordering is postponed until the beginning of the next high demand period.

We determine the steady-state distribution of the inventory level, as well as other quantities of interest such as the distribution of the time until a refill is required. Finally, for a given cost/revenue structure, we determine the long-run average profit, and we consider the problem of choosing q such that the profit is optimized.
Inventory Management in Humanitarian Operations: Impact of Amount, Schedule, and Uncertainty in Funding
Authors: Natarajan Karthik V. , Swaminathan Jayashankar M.
Published: August 2014

Funding for humanitarian operations in the global health sector is highly variable and unpredictable. We study the problem of managing inventory in the presence of funding constraints over a finite planning period. Our goal is to determine the optimal procurement policy given the complexities associated with funding and also to analyze the impact of funding amount, funding schedule, and uncertainty around the funding timing on operations. We use a multiperiod stochastic inventory model with financial constraints and demonstrate that despite the funding complexities, the optimal replenishment policy is a state-independent policy that can be easily implemented. We also provide analytical results and several insights based on our computational study regarding the effect of funding timing uncertainty and variability on the operating costs and fill rates. Among other results, we find that receiving funding early is beneficial in underfinanced systems while avoiding funding delays is critical in fully financed systems. Our analysis also indicates that receiving less overall funding in a timely manner might actually be better than delayed full funding.
Catheter-associated urinary tract infections matter
Authors: Feneley Roger
Published: August 2014

Roger Feneley describes the importance of infection control in catheterization and outlines a brief history of the inherent resistance that the bladder has to infection.
Studien zur visuellen Kultur
Authors: Schade Sigrid , Wenk Silke
Published: August 2014

Studien zu visuellen Kulturen sind transdisziplinär. Sie nehmen Fragestellungen von Cultural, Gender, Queer und Postcolonial Studies ebenso wie Ansätze der Medien- und Kunstwissenschaft auf. Orte und Weisen des Zu-sehen-Gebens, Inszenierungen von (Un-)Sichtbarem und somit auch die Herstellung von Bedeutungen bilden das Forschungsfeld. Im Unterschied zur Bildwissenschaft ist das »Bild« hier nur ein Element in einem Gefüge, das sich über Verhältnisse räumlicher und visueller Ordnungen, in den besonderen Verknüpfungen von Wort und Bild und in den je spezifischen ästhetischen und materialen Eigenschaften ihrer Medien herstellt.__
Creative Networks and the City
Authors: van Heur Bas
Published: August 2014

This book offers a fundamental contribution to the literature on the creative industries and the knowledge-based economy by focusing on three aspects: urban spaces as key sites of capitalist restructuring, creative industries' policies as state technologies aimed at economic exploitation, and the role of networks of aesthetic production in inflecting these tendencies. It simultaneously goes beyond these debates by integrating a concern with the cultural and aesthetic dimensions of the creative industries. As such, the book is relevant to researchers interested in the transdisciplinary project of a cultural political economy of creativity and urban change.
Europa - Antike - Humanismus
Authors: Cancik Hubert
Published: August 2014

»Humanismus« ist ein junger, offener - und daher umstrittener - Begriff. Hubert Cancik zeichnet in diesem Band die Wurzeln des Humanismus nach, die aus Konzepten bestehen, die in Philosophie und Kunst, Ethik und Politik, Wissenschaft und Recht der Antike entwickelt wurden. In von Brüchen und Verwerfungen gekennzeichneten Rezeptionsschüben sind diese in die europäische Geschichte eingegangen und haben beim Aufbau einer zivilen Gesellschaft und der Proklamation der Menschenrechte mitgewirkt. Deren Anspruch, Gemeingut aller Menschen zu sein, unabhängig von Ethnien, Religionen, Klassen und Machtmitteln, ist, so zeigt dieses Buch, die Basis eines kritischen Humanismus, also des Angebots, eine Welt-Gesellschaft menschlich zu denken.
Zwitter beim Namen nennen
Authors: Zehnder Kathrin
Published: August 2014

»Intersexualität« - Sammelbegriff für eine Reihe von Diagnosen, die das Geschlecht eines Menschen als uneindeutig bestimmen - stellt noch immer ein Tabu dar. Damit geht das Verschweigen der Existenz von intersexuellen Menschen einher: Zwitter haben keinen Namen. Der Verhandlung von Intersexualität im medizinisch- psychologischen Diskurs stellt Kathrin Zehnder den medizinkritischen Gegendiskurs gegenüber, der vor allem die frühe Zuweisung zu einem Geschlecht und die Pathologisierung von Intersexualität kritisiert. Die Studie zeigt: Selbstbestimmung in Bezug auf Körper und Fokussierung leiblicher Erfahrung statt Funktionalität können dem »Zwitter-Sein« zu einer Existenzweise verhelfen.
Workfare als Mindestsicherung
Authors: Brütt Christian
Published: August 2014

Die individuelle Möglichkeit, Notwendigkeit sowie Art und Weise, die eigene Arbeitskraft zur Existenzsicherung zu verkaufen, werden von staatlicher Sozialpolitik geformt. Neu an einer Workfare-Politik ist nicht, dass Einzelne ihre Arbeitskraft verkaufen (müssen). Neu an Workfare sind vielmehr die Rahmenbedingungen, die mit sozialpolitischen Maßnahmen gesetzt werden. Anhand der Entwicklung der Mindestsicherung zeichnet das Buch die Ursprünge, Ansätze und Ausdehnung der Workfare-Logik in der deutschen Sozialhilfe von 1962 bis zu deren voller Blüte im SGB II alias Hartz-IV-Gesetz nach.
Historico-genetic Theory of Culture
Authors: Dux Günter
Published: August 2014

The book focuses on the modern understanding of human life-forms as constructs that followed an evolutionary history. The author thus finds science confronted with two questions: firstly, how the transgression of the virtual threshold between natural and cultural history was possible, secondly, how the socio-cultural constructs were able to develop in the course of history the way they did. The discussion concentrates on the problem of determining a processual logic in the development of societal structures as well as in the development of cognition. The focus of attention is the historico-genetic reconstruction of cognition. The book was originally published in German as »Historisch-genetische Theorie der Kultur« (Weilerswist 2000: Velbrück).
System und Mythos
Authors: Werner Axel Roderich
Published: August 2014

Das filmische Œuvre Peter Greenaways wird in diesem Buch als System im Sinne Niklas Luhmanns beschrieben. Axel Roderich Werner zeigt, wie sich Greenaways mediale Mythologie als Selbstbeobachtung der Medienkultur der gegenwärtigen »Informationsgesellschaft« fassen lässt, die verdichtet in künstlerischen Reflexionsprodukten abläuft - und dabei schließlich auch nach dem Verbleib des »menschlichen Subjektes« fragt. »Cinema is dead - long live cinema.« In dieser Weise beschreibt das »System Peter Greenaway« eine geradezu apokalyptische Mythologie von den Ursprüngen, der Geburt, dem Tod und der Wiederauferstehung des Kinos im Angesicht der Ankunft der digitalen Technologien.
Was heißt historische Verantwortung?
Authors: Tillmanns Jenny
Published: August 2014

Die Auseinandersetzung mit historischem Unrecht ist infolge des Holocaust integraler Bestandteil der politischen Kultur Deutschlands. Aber was bedeutet ein verantwortungsvoller Umgang mit dem Holocaust? Um diese Frage beantworten zu können, müssen verschiedene Dimensionen dessen, was Geschichte ist und was sie bedeutet, berücksichtigt werden. Die Perspektiven auf das historische Unrecht sind von Akteur zu Akteur verschieden. Aus der Perspektive spezifischer Akteure - wie z.B. der Nachfahren von Opfern und Tätern sowie der Geistes- und Sozialwissenschaftler, die sich professionell mit der Vergangenheit auseinandersetzen - sowie aus einer allgemein humanen Perspektive entwirft Jenny Tillmanns ein mehrdimensionales Bild historischer Verantwortung. Das Buch bietet eine komplexe Antwort auf die Frage, was historische Verantwortung ist und wie ihre Praxis aussehen kann.
Fotografie und »Identität«
Authors: Brandes Kerstin
Published: August 2014

Als ein zentrales Medium der visuellen Repräsentation von »Identität« hat die Fotografie in den letzten drei Jahrzehnten einen zunehmend wichtigen Platz auch in künstlerischen Projekten erhalten. Kerstin Brandes fragt nach Möglichkeiten einer emanzipatorischen visuellen Politik und zeigt, wie die Verknüpfung postkolonialer und feministischer Theorien mit Theorien der Fotografie neue Blickweisen auf die Bilder eröffnet. Künstlerische Arbeiten von Barbara Kruger, Carrie Mae Weems, Lorna Simpson u.a. werden dabei nicht als zu analysierende Objekte, sondern als Herausforderung für ebendiese Theorien diskutiert. Der Band bietet zudem eine kritische Revision des gegenwärtigen fotografischen Diskurses.
Genre, Gender und Lustmord
Authors: Gradinari Irina
Published: August 2014

Obwohl er in Kriminalpsychiatrie und Kriminologie als analytische Kategorie längst diskreditiert ist, wird der Lustmord in der Literatur am Leben gehalten. Anhand deutschsprachiger zeitgenössischer Prosawerke (u.a. E. Jelinek, T. Hettche, T. Dorn, M. Kleeberg, P. Süskind) zeigt Irina Gradinari, dass das prekäre Thema nicht nur ein attraktives Motiv ist, sondern auch eine narrative Funktion im Text erfüllt - eine konstitutive Wirkung auf Genre und Gender. Der Lustmord legt die grundlegenden gesellschaftlichen und ästhetischen Strukturen, den Umgang mit dem Körper und mit dem Anderen, Fremden in der Gegenwartskultur frei: als potenzierte Gewaltfantasie - und als ästhetisches Motiv.
Körper Gabe
Authors: Motakef Mona
Published: August 2014

Obwohl bei einer Organspende dem Körper Teile entnommen werden, gilt sie nicht als Tabu, sondern als Inbegriff einer guten Tat. Medizin und Bioethik diagnostizieren, dass es von diesen guten Taten zu wenige gibt und diskutieren, wie der Mangel an Organspenden überwunden werden kann. Mona Motakef entreißt der Perspektive, die nur nach Optimierung fragt, ihre Selbstverständlichkeit. Im Rückgriff auf das soziologische Instrumentarium aus Gouvernementalitäts-, Körper- und Gabenforschung rekonstruiert sie, wie die Verfügbarkeit von Körpern und die Veräußerbarkeit von Subjekten im biopolitischen Diskurs der Organspende verhandelt wird.
Vom Frosch
Authors: Hüppauf Bernd
Published: August 2014

Nichts ist heute dringlicher als die Frage nach unserem Verhältnis zur Natur und insbesondere zum Tier. Ein neues Denken ist vonnöten, das den Menschen und seine Kultur fundamental ökologisch begreift. Die aktuellen Diskurse um Tierphilosophie, Ökologie und Spiegelneuronen geben einer zeitgemäßen Kulturtheorie zu verstehen, dass das Menschsein immer schon von seiner historischen Beziehung zum Tier bestimmt war. Gerade die Kulturgeschichte des Frosches, in dem der Mensch sich selbst nicht wie im Affen narzisstisch wiederzuerkennen vermag, liest sich wie ein Spiegelbild der Geschichte der Zivilisation und ihrer gefährlichen Entfremdung von der Natur: Vom magischen Fruchtbarkeitssymbol in den frühen Kulturen wurde der Frosch im christlichen Mittelalter zum Inbegriff des Bösen und Hässlichen umgedeutet - um schließlich in der wissenschaftlich-technischen Welt als Labortier vernutzt und im ökologischen Desaster vom Aussterben bedroht zu werden. Doch auf dem Höhepunkt der Öko-Krise gibt die Kulturgeschichte des Frosches auch Anlass zur Hoffnung: Im Tierbild der Gegenwart wird der »Ökofrosch« zum Totemtier der Umweltbewegung. Ist er das Zeichen für das Aufbrechen eines neuen, eines wahrhaft ökologischen Zeitalters? Die Kulturgeschichte des Frosches gibt uns nicht weniger zu denken als die Zukunft der Natur.
Nur der Kannibalismus eint uns
Authors: Sperling Katrin H.
Published: August 2014

Die globale Kunstwelt ist ein mehrdimensionaler, diskursiver Raum, in dem sich kulturell unterschiedlich kodierte künstlerische, kunstkritische, kunsttheoretische, kuratorische - und nicht zuletzt ökonomische - Diskursstränge verflechten. In der Verarbeitung diverser sozial- und kulturwissenschaftlicher Theorien und schließlich der Analyse der documenta sowie der dort seit 1992 vertretenen Positionen brasilianischer Künstler_innen gelingt Katrin H. Sperling eine neuartige Perspektive auf das Phänomen der Globalisierung im Kontext zeitgenössischer Kunst: Aus der Verschränkung ethnologischer, soziologischer, kunstwissenschaftlicher und ökonomischer Ansätze mit dem brasilianischen Konzept der kulturellen Anthropophagie ergibt sich ein differenzierter Blick auf globale Verhältnisse jenseits tradierter Binarismen.
Das Ringen um die Zivilgesellschaft in der Türkei
Authors: Al-Rebholz Anil
Published: August 2014

Der Zivilgesellschaftsdiskurs wurde in der Türkei nach dem Militärputsch von 1980 populär. Anil Al-Rebholz fragt, ob das Aufkommen dieses Diskurses als Hinweis auf die Herausbildung von Zivilgesellschaft in der Türkei verstanden werden kann. Dabei wird die politisch-diskursive Praxis vier oppositioneller Gruppen untersucht. In den Interviews mit öffentlich bekannten Intellektuellen sowie mit den Protagonistinnen und Protagonisten dieser Bewegungen wird die Transformation der gesellschaftlichen Wissensproduktion und der politischen Praxis aufgezeigt. Jenseits kulturalistischer und orientalistischer Ansichten wird ein hegemonietheoretischer Ansatz entwickelt, der neue Perspektiven auf die gesellschaftliche Transformation in der Türkei der letzten 30 Jahre ermöglicht.
Stadt denken
Authors: Hausknotz Florentina
Published: August 2014

Das Wissen von der Stadt muss befreien! In diesem Sinne beschäftigt sich Florentina Hausknotz mit der Stadt als Freiraum sowie als Gegenstand der Wissenschaften. Die Philosophie als methodische Verunsicherung nutzend, unternimmt sie den Versuch, Stadt entgegen herrschender Diskurse und Praktiken neu zu denken: als autonomen Raum mit unzähligen Formen der Aneignung. Das Buch geht mit Immanuel Wallerstein das Risiko eines revolutionären Denkens ein und lässt in der Konfrontation von Mike Davis und Hannah Arendt oder Kwasi Wiredu und Gilles Deleuze die Grenzen der Philosophie als akademische Disziplin fraglich werden. Das Wissen von der Stadt passiert im Streben nach befreiender Theorie.
Die Unergründlichkeit des Lebens
Authors: Schürmann Volker
Published: August 2014

Der lebensphilosophische Topos der Unergründlichkeit betont, dass etwas nicht restlos in unserer Verfügungsgewalt steht. Damit sichert er etwa die Unverfügbarkeit (und somit die Würde) der Person - aber auch einen präzisen Begriff von Performativität. Dieser Gewinn des Topos kommt bisher nicht zum Tragen, da er nicht systematisch vor kulturkritisch-irrationalistischen Lesarten geschützt ist. Umgekehrt führt eine bloße Irrationalismus-Kritik zur Verharmlosung und biopolitischen Vereinnahmung: Unergründlichkeit ist mehr und anderes als nie erreichbare Verfügbarkeit. Volker Schürmann macht mit Hegel, Misch und Plessner die Weichenstellungen sichtbar, um dieses Entweder-oder in einer politischen Lesart von Unergründlichkeit unterlaufen zu können.
Rasse in der Ära der Genetik
Authors: Plümecke Tino
Published: August 2014

Die Einteilung von Menschen in Rassen ist eine der umstrittensten Praktiken biologischer Forschung. Doch statt ihres Endes zeichnet sich in den letzten Jahrzehnten eine Renaissance rassifizierter Konzepte ab. Tino Plümeckes detaillierte Studie geht erstmals der Frage nach, wieso Rasse immer wieder Teil modernster Forschungen werden konnte. Analysiert werden die Rassifizierungen in verschiedenen biologischen Disziplinen und die Entwicklungslinien im Kontext genetischer Ansätze. Das Buch führt Kompetenzen aus den Bio- sowie Geistes- und Sozialwissenschaften zusammen und liefert einen Beitrag zur Weiterentwicklung kritischer und intervenierender Wissenschaftsforschung.
Künstlerschamanen
Authors: Riedl Karin
Published: August 2014

»Shaman as superstar« - Jim Morrison und Joseph Beuys entwarfen sich selbst als indigene religiöse Spezialisten. Wie kam es dazu? Mit dieser Frage beginnt eine spannende historische Reise entlang der auf erstaunliche Weise diskursiv verknüpften Entstehungswege der Konzepte »Künstler« und »Schamane«. Sie mündet in eine detailreiche Analyse der höchst individuellen und kreativen Weisen, auf die die beiden Künstler sich die Figur des Schamanen und ihren semantischen Kontext aneigneten und in ihre Werke integrierten - und eröffnet eine ungewohnte Perspektive auf zentrale erkenntnistheoretische Fragen der Ethnologie.
Neugierige Strukturvorschläge im maschinellen Lernen
Authors: Harrach Sebastian
Published: August 2014

Dieser Band beschäftigt sich mit dem maschinellen Lernen - der Autoadaption von algorithmischen Artefakten - als Thema interdisziplinärer Diskurse zu beispielsweise Selbstorganisation oder schwacher künstlicher Intelligenz. Anknüpfend an Heidegger, Goodman und Hubig ermöglicht die Studie einen systematischen interdisziplinären Zugang zu maschinellem Lernen, indem seine Charakteristika - etwa künstliche neuronale Netze oder evolutionäres Lernen - präzise, aber dennoch interdisziplinär verständlich beschrieben werden. Darauf aufbauend nimmt Sebastian Harrach eine technikphilosophische Verortung des maschinellen Lernens vor und geht exemplarisch den Denkrichtungen einer interdisziplinären Diskussion nach.
Von de Gaulle zu Pompidou: Kontinuität und Wandel französischer Außenpolitik im Lichte der Aktenedition „Documents diplomatiques français“
Authors: Lappenküper Ulrich
Published: August 2014

Von de Gaulle zu Pompidou: Kontinuität und Wandel französischer Außenpolitik im Lichte der Aktenedition „Documents diplomatiques français“
Association of maternal blood pressure in pregnancy with blood pressure of their offspring through adolescence
Authors: Royal-Thomas Tamika , McGee Daniel , Sinha Debajyoti , Osmond Clive , Forrester Terrence
Published: August 2014

This article looks at the association of maternal blood pressure with the blood pressure of the offspring from birth to childhood. The Barker hypothesis states that maternal and “in utero” attributes during pregnancy affect a child’s cardiovascular health throughout life. We present an analysis of a unique dataset that consists of three distinct developmental processes: maternal cardiovascular health during pregnancy; fetal development; and child’s cardiovascular health from birth to 14 years. This study explored whether a mother’s blood pressure reading in pregnancy predicts fetal development and determines if this in turn is related to the future cardiovascular health of the child. This article uses data that have been collected prospectively from a Jamaican cohort which involves the following three developmental processes: (1) maternal cardiovascular health during pregnancy which is the blood pressure and anthropometric measurements at seven time-points on the mother during pregnancy; (2) fetal development which consists of ultrasound measurements of the fetus taken at six time-points during pregnancy; and (3) child’s cardiovascular health which consists of the child’s blood pressure measurements at 24 time-points from birth to 14 years. The inter-relationship of these three processes was examined using linear mixed effects models. Our analyses indicated that attributes later in childhood development, such as child’s weight, child’s baseline systolic blood pressure (SBP), age and sex, predict the future cardiovascular health of children. The results also indicated that maternal attributes in pregnancy, such as mother’s baseline SBP and SBP change, predicted significantly child’s SBP over time.
Association of group B streptococcus colonization with early term births
Authors: Hill Alexandria J. , Sanders Alicia , Baillargeon Gwen , Menon Ramkumar
Published: August 2014

The objective of this study was to reproduce and validate the association of group B streptococcus (GBS) colonization resulting in early-term birth (37

GBS status of women 18–40 years of age with uncomplicated pregnancies who experienced spontaneous labor and vaginal delivery between 37

Our cohort was 86% Hispanic, with a GBS+ rate of 10%. No difference for mean gestational age at delivery for GBS+ (275.9 days±6.8) vs. GBS– (275.6 days±6.9) was seen (P-value=0.61). Birth weight for GBS+ and GBS– groups were similar (3388.5 g±388.6 vs. 3395.1 g±401.7, P-value=0.86).

In specific evaluation of Hispanic women experiencing spontaneous, term, vaginal delivery, GBS colonization does not result in early-term delivery. This is not consistent with prior data in the African-American and Caucasian population suggesting racial disparity in outcomes related to GBS colonization.
Structural aspects of molecular recognition in the immune system. Part II: Pattern recognition receptors (IUPAC Technical Report)
Authors: Robinson John A. , Moehle Kerstin
Published: August 2014

The vertebrate immune system uses pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) to detect a large variety of molecular signatures (pathogen-associated molecular patterns, PAMPs) from a broad range of different invading pathogens. The PAMPs range in size from relatively small molecules, to others of intermediate size such as bacterial lipopolysaccharide, lipopeptides, and oligosaccharides, to macromolecules such as viral DNA, RNA, and pathogen-derived proteins such as flagellin. Underlying this functional diversity of PRRs is a surprisingly small number of structurally distinct protein folds that include leucine-rich repeats in Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and NOD-like receptors (NLRs), the DExH box helicase domain in RIG-like receptors (RLRs), and C-type lectin domains (CTLDs) in the C-type lectins. Following PAMP recognition by the PRRs, downstream signaling pathways activate the innate immune system to respond to invading pathogenic organisms. The resulting stimulatory response is also vital for a balanced adaptive immune response to the pathogen, mediated by circulating antibodies and/or cytotoxic T cells. However, an aberrant stimulation of the innate immune system can also lead to excessive inflammatory and toxic stress responses. Exciting opportunities are now arising for the design of small synthetic molecules that bind to PRRs and influence downstream signaling pathways. Such molecules can be useful tools to modulate immune responses, for example, as adjuvants to stimulate adaptive immune responses to a vaccine, or as therapeutic agents to dampen aberrant immune responses, such as inflammation. The design of agonists or antagonists of PRRs can now benefit from a surge in knowledge of the 3D structures of PRRs, many in complexes with their natural ligands. This review article describes recent progress in structural studies of PRRs (TLRs, NLRs, CTLs, and RLRs), which is required for an understanding of how they specifically recognize structurally diverse “foreign” PAMPs amongst a background of other “self” molecules, sometimes closely related in structure, that are present in the human body.
Development of Self-compacting Concrete with Good Shape Stability for Slipform Construction
Authors: Breitenbücher R. , Sarmiento D. , Holzmann F.
Published: August 2014

The aim of this research project was to modify a conventional self-compacting concrete (SCC) for use in a slip-form paver. For this purpose, two alternatives were investigated: (1) thixotroping agents (concept A) that were added to the original concrete mix and (2) viscosity-increasing additives (concept B) that were intermixed shortly before the concrete was finally placed to reduce the concrete’s flowability. The investigations were performed preliminarily on pastes and mortars and only subsequently on concretes. For the modification of pastes and mortars, thixotroping additives mainly based on modified starches and modified polymers were used. For modification of the viscosity, superabsorbent polymers and naphthalene sulfonates in combination with polycarboxylate ether (PCE) were considered. The conducted investigations indicated that it is quite difficult to create slip-form SCC using thixotroping additives because the thixotropic effect is reversible and results in a low “green strength” when the concrete is mixed for a second time (e.g., during the delivery and placement process). When superabsorbent polymers and naphthalene sulfonate were added during the concrete placement, the stiffening effect was irreversible.
“In the Church and in the Chapel”
Authors: Zanovello Giovanni
Published: August 2014

Detailed payment records and notes preserved in the Archivio di Stato di Firenze allow us to reconstruct the relationship of music and space in the Florentine church of Santissima Annunziata. In the late fifteenth century different musical styles and repertories came to define ritually the composite space of the church, one of the main houses belonging to the mendicant order of the Servants of Mary.

This special role of music came into focus in the early 1470s and even more in the 1480s, when subsequent priors increased the musical activities, possibly to negotiate the new spatial features of the church after a consequential remodeling. Music thus helped organize key areas that had undergone architectural transformations, linking each part of the building to the specific rituals performed there through special sounds directed at the likely participants.

The remodeling also involved a shift in the balance of power, with private patrons coming to control the virtual totality of the church. Music helped address this problem as well, by acoustically marking and reclaiming certain spaces as the friars' dedicated ritual sites, but also creating in its variety a nuanced representation of the community—both ordained and lay—that frequented the building.