bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous Spectrophotometric Method for Determination of Emtricitabine and Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate in Three-Component Tablet Formulation Containing Rilpivirine Hydrochloride
Authors: Venkatesan S. , Kannappan N.
Published: November 2014

Developing a single analytical method for estimation of individual drug from a multidrug composition is a very challenging task. A complexation, derivatization, extraction, evaporation, and sensitive-free direct UV spectrophotometric method is developed and validated for the simultaneous estimation of some antiviral drugs such as emtricitabine (EMT), tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), and rilpivirine HCl (RPV) in tablet dosage form by Vierordt’s method. The solutions of standard and sample were prepared in methanol. The λmax⁡ for emtricitabine, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, and rilpivirine hydrochloride were 240.8 nm, 257.6 nm, and 305.6 nm, respectively. Calibration curves are linear in the concentration ranges 4–12 μg/ml for EMT, 6–18 μg/ml for TDF, and 0.5–1.5 μg/ml for RPV, respectively. Results of analysis of simultaneous equation method were analyzed and validated for various parameters according to ICH guidelines.
Cellular Levels of Oxidative Stress Affect the Response of Cervical Cancer Cells to Chemotherapeutic Agents
Authors: Filippova Maria , Filippov Valery , Williams Vonetta M. , Zhang Kangling , Kokoza Anatolii , Bashkirova Svetlana , Duerksen-Hughes Penelope
Published: November 2014

Treatment of advanced and relapsed cervical cancer is frequently ineffective, due in large part to chemoresistance. To examine the pathways responsible, we employed the cervical carcinoma-derived SiHa and CaSki cells as cellular models of resistance and sensitivity, respectively, to treatment with chemotherapeutic agents, doxorubicin, and cisplatin. We compared the proteomic profiles of SiHa and CaSki cells and identified pathways with the potential to contribute to the differential response. We then extended these findings by comparing the expression level of genes involved in reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism through the use of a RT-PCR array. The analyses demonstrated that the resistant SiHa cells expressed higher levels of antioxidant enzymes. Decreasing or increasing oxidative stress led to protection or sensitization, respectively, in both cell lines, supporting the idea that cellular levels of oxidative stress affect responsiveness to treatment. Interestingly, doxorubicin and cisplatin induced different profiles of ROS, and these differences appear to contribute to the sensitivity to treatment displayed by cervical cancer cells. Overall, our findings demonstrate that cervical cancer cells display variable profiles with respect to their redox-generating and -adaptive systems, and that these different profiles have the potential to contribute to their responses to treatments with chemotherapy.
A Novel Micro‐Nano Structure Profile Control Agent: Graphene Oxide Dispersion
Authors: Ye Zhong-Bin , Xu Yuan , Chen Hong , Cheng Chen , Han Li-Juan , Xiao Lin
Published: November 2014

Graphite oxide sheet, now referred to as graphene oxide (GO), is the product of chemical exfoliation of graphite and has been known for more than a century. A GO sheet is characterized by two abruptly different length scales; the apparent thickness of the functionalized carbon sheet is approximately 1 nm, but the lateral dimensions can range from a few nanometers to micrometers. In this paper, an improved method for the preparation of graphene oxide within a mild condition is described. We have found that cancelling the high‐temperature stage and prolonging the reaction time of mid‐temperature can improve the efficiency of oxidation process. We utilized FTIR, XRD, Ultraviolet‐visible, TGA, Raman spectrum, and XPS measurements to characterize the successfully synthesized GO. SEM images were employed to reveal the interior microstructure of as‐prepared GO dispersion. We also wondrously found that the GO dispersion could be used as profile control agent in the oilfield water‐flooding. Flooding experiments showed that the GO dispersion has an ability to adjust water injection profile, reduce permeability ratio, and improve conformance factor. So the GO dispersion would have potential applications in oilfield exploitation.
Right Gastroepiploic Artery as an Alternative for Arterial Reconstruction in Living Donor Liver Transplantation
Authors: Steinbrück Klaus , Fernandes Reinaldo , Enne Marcelo , Vasconcelos Rafael , Bento Giuliano , Stoduto Gustavo , Auel Thomas , Pacheco-Moreira Lúcio Filgueiras
Published: November 2014

Background. An adequate blood flow is directly related to graft survival in living donor liver transplantation. However, in some cases, unfavorable conditions prevent the use of the hepatic artery for arterial reconstruction. Herein, we report a case in which the recipient right gastroepiploic artery was used as an option for arterial reconstruction in adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation.Case Report. A 62-year-old woman, with cirrhosis due to hepatitis B associated with hepatocellular carcinoma, was submitted to living donor liver transplantation. During surgery, thrombosis of the hepatic artery with intimal dissection until the celiac trunk was observed, which precluded its use in arterial reconstruction. We decided to use the right gastroepiploic artery for arterial revascularization of the liver graft. Despite the discrepancy in size between donor hepatic artery and recipient right gastroepiploic artery, anastomosis was performed successfully.Conclusions. The use of the right gastroepiploic artery as an alternative for arterial revascularization of the liver graft in living donor liver transplantation should always be considered when the hepatic artery of the recipient cannot be used. For performing this type of procedure, familiarity with microsurgical techniques by the surgical team is necessary.
The Benefit of Pets and Animal-Assisted Therapy to the Health of Older Individuals
Authors: Cherniack E. Paul , Cherniack Ariella R.
Published: November 2014

Many studies utilizing dogs, cats, birds, fish, and robotic simulations of animals have tried to ascertain the health benefits of pet ownership or animal-assisted therapy in the elderly. Several small unblinded investigations outlined improvements in behavior in demented persons given treatment in the presence of animals. Studies piloting the use of animals in the treatment of depression and schizophrenia have yielded mixed results. Animals may provide intangible benefits to the mental health of older persons, such as relief social isolation and boredom, but these have not been formally studied. Several investigations of the effect of pets on physical health suggest animals can lower blood pressure, and dog walkers partake in more physical activity. Dog walking, in epidemiological studies and few preliminary trials, is associated with lower complication risk among patients with cardiovascular disease. Pets may also have harms: they may be expensive to care for, and their owners are more likely to fall. Theoretically, zoonotic infections and bites can occur, but how often this occurs in the context of pet ownership or animal-assisted therapy is unknown. Despite the poor methodological quality of pet research after decades of study, pet ownership and animal-assisted therapy are likely to continue due to positive subjective feelings many people have toward animals.
Properties of Y‐Shaped PFO‐DBT Nanotubes
Authors: Fakir Muhamad Saipul , Supangat Azzuliani , Sulaiman Khaulah
Published: November 2014

Immersion of template into solution is used to synthesize the Y‐shaped poly[2,7‐(9,9‐dioctylfluorene)‐alt‐4,7‐bis(thiophen‐2‐yl)benzo‐2,1,3‐thiadiazole] (PFO‐DBT) nanotubes. Solution annealing and different aging times (1, 24, and 72 hours) are conducted to synthesize the Y‐shaped PFO‐DBT nanotubes and the effects on the morphological, structural, and optical properties of Y‐shaped PFO‐DBT nanotubes are investigated. The dense, aligned, and elongated Y‐shaped PFO‐DBT nanotubes have been successfully fabricated by aging the PFO‐DBT solution for 72 hours. Enhanced light absorption with less light scattering can be exhibited from the elongated Y‐shaped PFO‐DBT nanotubes. Partial and complete infiltration is governed by 1 hour and 72 hours of aging time, respectively. Preformed nanofibres are initiated by the process of annealing and aging of PFO‐DBT solution. During the aging process, PFO‐DBT nanofibres are formed to coat the pores’ wall and replicated the Y‐branched nanopores for the production of Y‐shaped PFO‐DBT nanotubes. The effects of solution annealing and aging process are essential for the improvement on the morphological, structural, and optical properties of Y‐shaped PFO‐DBT nanotubes.
Association of High Density Lipoprotein with Platelet to Lymphocyte and Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratios in Coronary Artery Disease Patients
Authors: Prajapati Jayesh H. , Sahoo Sibasis , Nikam Tushar , Shah Komal H. , Maheriya Bhumika , Parmar Meena
Published: November 2014

Background. We aimed to evaluate a relationship between platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) with high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients.Methods. A total of 354 patients with angiographically confirmed coronary blockages were enrolled in the study. Hematological indices and lipid profiling data of all the patients were collected.Results. We have observed significant association between HDL and PLR (P=0.008) and NLR (P=0.009); however no significant relationship was obtained with HDL and isolated platelet (P=0.488), neutrophil (P=0.407), and lymphocyte (P=0.952) counts in CAD patients. The association was subjected to gender specific variation as in males PLR (P=0.024) and NLR (P=0.03) were highly elevated in low HDL patients, whereas in females the elevation could not reach the statistically significant level. The PLR (217.47 versus 190.3;P=0.01) and NLR (6.33 versus 5.10;P=0.01) were significantly higher among the patients with acute coronary syndrome. In young patients the PLR (P=0.007) and NLR (P=0.001) were inversely associated with HDL, whereas in older population only NLR (P=0.05) had showed a significant association.Conclusion. We conclude that PLR and NLR are significantly elevated in CAD patients having low HDL levels.
Design and Build of an Electrical Machines’ High Speed Measurement System at Low Cost
Authors: Kontogiannis Constantinos C. , Safacas Athanasios N.
Published: November 2014

The principal objective of this paper is to demonstrate the capability of high speed measurement and acquisition equipment design and build in the laboratory at a very low cost. The presented architecture employees highly integrated market components eliminating thus the complexity of the hardware and software stack. The key element of the proposed system is a Hi-Speed USB to Serial/FIFO development module that is provided with full software and driver support for most popular operating systems. This module takes over every single task needed to get the data from the A/D to the user software gluelessly and transparently, solving this way the most difficult problem in data acquisition systems which is the fast and reliable communication with a host computer. Other ideas tested and included in this document offer Hall Effect measuring solutions using some excellent features and very low cost ICs widely available on the market today.
Temporal Dynamics of Reproduction inHemiramphus brasiliensis(Osteichthyes: Hemiramphidae)
Authors: Oliveira Mônica Rocha de , Chellappa Sathyabama
Published: November 2014

The reproductive aspects ofHemiramphus brasiliensiswere analyzed with a view to verify the temporal dynamics of reproduction. This paper presents data on sex ratio, length at first sexual maturity, macroscopic and histological aspects of gonad development, gonadosomatic index (GSI), reproductive period, and fecundity ofH. brasiliensis. The fishes were captured from the coastal waters of Rio Grande do Norte, northeastern Brazil. Females of this species predominated in the sampled population and were larger in size than the males. The length at the first sexual maturation of males was 20.8 cm and that of females was 21.5 cm. The macroscopic characteristics of the gonads indicated four maturation stages. Histological studies of gonads ofH. brasiliensisshowed six phases of oocyte development and four phases of spermatocyte development. The batch fecundity of this species was 1153 (±258.22) mature oocytes for 50 g body weight of female. The microscopic characteristics of gonad development indicate thatH. brasiliensisis a multiple spawner, presenting a prolonged reproductive period during the whole year, with a peak in the month of April, and is considered as an opportunistic strategist.
Partial Pole Placement in LMI Region
Authors: Ou Liuli , Han Shaobo , Wang Yongji , Dong Shuai , Liu Lei
Published: November 2014

A new approach for pole placement of single-input system is proposed in this paper. Noncritical closed loop poles can be placed arbitrarily in a specified convex region when dominant poles are fixed in anticipant locations. The convex region is expressed in the form of linear matrix inequality (LMI), with which the partial pole placement problem can be solved via convex optimization tools. The validity and applicability of this approach are illustrated by two examples.
Top-Down and Bottom-Up Cues Based Moving Object Detection for Varied Background Video Sequences
Authors: Patel Chirag I. , Garg Sanjay , Zaveri Tanish , Banerjee Asim
Published: November 2014

Moving object detection is a crucial and critical task for any surveillance system. Conventionally, a moving object detection task is performed on the basis of consecutive frame difference or background models which are based on some mathematical aspects or probabilistic approaches. But, these approaches are based on some initial conditions and short amount of time is needed to learn all these models. Also, the bottleneck in all these previous approaches is that they require neat and clean background or need to create a background first by using some approaches and that it is essential to update them regularly to cope with the illuminating changes. In this paper, moving object detection is executed using visual attention where there is no need for background formulation and updates as it is background independent. Many bottom-up approaches and one combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches are proposed in the present paper. The proposed approaches seem more efficient due to inessential requirement of learning background model and due to being independent of previous video frames. Results indicate that the proposed approach works even against slight movements in the background and in various outdoor conditions.
Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy to Probe State- and Trait-Like Conditions in Chronic Tinnitus: A Proof-of-Principle Study
Authors: Schecklmann Martin , Giani Anette , Tupak Sara , Langguth Berthold , Raab Vincent , Polak Thomas , Várallyay Csanád , Harnisch Wilma , Herrmann Martin J. , Fallgatter Andreas J.
Published: November 2014

Objective. Several neuroscience tools showed the involvement of auditory cortex in chronic tinnitus. In this proof-of-principle study we probed the capability of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) for the measurement of brain oxygenation in auditory cortex in dependence from chronic tinnitus and from intervention with transcranial magnetic stimulation.Methods. Twenty-three patients received continuous theta burst stimulation over the left primary auditory cortex in a randomized sham-controlled neuronavigated trial (verum = 12; placebo = 11). Before and after treatment, sound-evoked brain oxygenation in temporal areas was measured with fNIRS. Brain oxygenation was measured once in healthy controls(n=12).Results. Sound-evoked activity in right temporal areas was increased in the patients in contrast to healthy controls. Left-sided temporal activity under the stimulated area changed over the course of the trial; high baseline oxygenation was reduced and vice versa.Conclusions. By demonstrating that rTMS interacts with auditory evoked brain activity, our results confirm earlier electrophysiological findings and indicate the sensitivity of fNIRS for detecting rTMS induced changes in brain activity. Moreover, our findings of trait- and state-related oxygenation changes indicate the potential of fNIRS for the investigation of tinnitus pathophysiology and treatment response.
Policosanol Attenuates Statin‐Induced Increases in Serum Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 When Combined with Atorvastatin
Authors: Guo Yuan-Lin , Xu Rui-Xia , Zhu Cheng-Gang , Wu Na-Qiong , Cui Zhi-Ping , Li Jian-Jun
Published: November 2014

Objective. Statin treatment alone has been demonstrated to significantly increase plasma proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) levels. The effect of policosanol combined with statin on PCSK9 is unknown. Methods. Protocol I: 26 patients with atherosclerosis were randomly assigned to receive either atorvastatin 20 mg/d or policosanol 20 mg/d + atorvastatin 20 mg/d for 8 weeks. Protocol II: 15 healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to either policosanol 20 mg/d or a control group for 12 weeks. Serum levels of PCSK9 were determined at day 0 and the end of each protocol. Results. Protocol I: atorvastatin 20 mg/d significantly increased serum PCSK9 level by 39.4% (256 ± 84 ng/mL versus 357 ± 101 ng/mL, P = 0.002). However, policosanol 20 mg/d + atorvastatin 20 mg/d increased serum PCSK9 level by only 17.4% without statistical significance (264 ± 60 ng/mL versus 310 ± 86 ng/mL, P = 0.184). Protocol II: there was a trend toward decreasing serum PCSK9 levels in the policosanol group (289 ± 71 ng/mL versus 235 ± 46 ng/mL, P = 0.069). Conclusion. Policosanol combined with statin attenuated the statin‐induced increase in serum PCSK9 levels. This finding indicates that policosanol might have a modest effect of lowering serum PCSK9 levels.
Systemic Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Chronic Periodontitis: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Liu Zhiqiang , Liu Yan , Song Yiqing , Zhang Xi , Wang Songlin , Wang Zuomin
Published: November 2014

Oxidative stress biomarkers have been observed in peripheral blood of chronic periodontitis patients; however, their associations with periodontitis were not consistent. This meta-analysis was performed to clarify the associations between chronic periodontitis and oxidative biomarkers in systemic circulation. Electronic searches of PubMed and Embase databases were performed until October 2014 and articles were selected to meet inclusion criteria. Data of oxidative biomarkers levels in peripheral blood of periodontitis patients and periodontal healthy controls were extracted to calculate standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) by using random-effects model. Of 31 eligible articles, 16 articles with available data were included in meta-analysis. Our results showed that periodontitis patients had significantly lower levels of total antioxidant capacity (SMD = −2.02; 95% CI: −3.08, −0.96;P=0.000) and higher levels of malondialdehyde (SMD = 0.99; 95% CI: 0.12, 1.86;P=0.026) and nitric oxide (SMD = 4.98; 95% CI: 2.33, 7.63;P=0.000) than periodontal healthy control. Superoxide dismutase levels between two groups were not significantly different (SMD = −1.72; 95% CI: −3.50, 0.07;P=0.059). In conclusion, our meta-analysis showed that chronic periodontitis is significantly associated with circulating levels of three oxidative stress biomarkers, indicating a role of chronic periodontitis in systemic diseases.
Trends in Short- and Long-Term Survival Among Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Patients Alive at Hospital Arrival
Authors: Wong Michael K.Y. , Morrison Laurie J. , Qiu Feng , Austin Peter C. , Cheskes Sheldon , Dorian Paul , Scales Damon C. , Tu Jack V. , Verbeek P. Richard , Wijeysundera Harindra C. , Ko Dennis T.
Published: November 2014

Background—

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is associated with a poor prognosis and poses a significant burden to the healthcare system, but few studies have evaluated whether OHCA incidence and survival have changed over time.

Methods and Results—

A population-based cohort study was conducted, including 34 291 OHCA patients >20 years of age who were transported alive to the emergency department of an acute-care hospital from April 1, 2002, to March 31, 2012, in Ontario, Canada. Patients with life-threatening trauma and those who died before hospital arrival were excluded. The overall age- and sex-standardized incidence of OHCA patients who were transported alive was 36 cases per 100 000 persons and did not significantly change over the study period. Cardiac risk factor prevalence increased significantly, whereas the rate of most cardiovascular conditions decreased significantly. The 30-day survival improved from 9.4% in 2002 to 13.6% in 2011; 1-year survival improved from 7.7% to 11.8% (
P
<0.001). Patients hospitalized in 2011 were significantly more likely to survive 30 days (adjusted odds ratio, 1.47 [95% CI, 1.22–1.77]) and 1 year (adjusted odds ratio, 1.55 [95% CI, 1.27–1.91]) compared with 2002. A significant interaction between temporal trends in survival improvement and age group was observed in which the improvement in survival was largest in the youngest age groups.

Conclusions—

OHCA patients who were transported alive are increasingly likely to have cardiovascular risk factors but less likely to have previous cardiovascular conditions. The overall incidence of OHCA patients transported to hospital alive did not change over the past decade. Short- and longer-term survival after OHCA has substantially improved, with younger patients experiencing the greatest improvement.
Recent Advances in Catalytic Asymmetric C–C Bond-Forming Reactions to Ketimines Promoted by Metal-Based Catalysts
Authors: Kumagai Naoya , Shibasaki Masakatsu
Published: November 2014

Recent progress (post-2010) in the field of metal-catalyzed asymmetric C–C bond-forming reactions using ketimines as electrophiles is reviewed. Compared with the corresponding aldimines, ketimines generally display less inherent reactivity and the two substituents on the imine carbon hamper prochiral-face-selection for enantioselective reactions. Recent advances with newly developed catalytic systems have resulted in several solutions to these long-standing problems. The construction of tetrasubstituted stereogenic centers is a crucial topic of asymmetric catalysis in the 21st century, and it is becoming increasingly clear that reactions using ketimines as electrophiles become one of the most important routes to access such chemical entities.
Voice of the People: Popular Symposia and the Non-Elite Origins of the Attic Skolia
Authors: Jones Gregory S.
Published: November 2014

summary:
This paper reexamines the known performance contexts of the skolion in light of recent advances in our understanding of sympotic demographics and Greek popular culture, providing a close reading of select songs. In showing that the genre was primarily associated with public festivals and non-elite symposia, I argue that the Attic skolia were originally composed, performed, and transmitted by middling citizens at common symposia. Thus, we may isolate within the extant corpus of Greek literature a rare example of popular poetry that expresses the genuine voice of non-elites who articulated egalitarian views based on isonomia independently of elite sources.
On an Intermittent Subject in Jean-Luc Nancy
Authors: Librett Jeffrey S.
Published: November 2014

This essay traces the motif of the "subject" across selected works in Jean-Luc Nancy's oeuvre. From the late 1970s to the 2010s, Nancy has pursued, from multiple points of view, the deconstruction of the metaphysics of the subject. In some important texts, this deconstruction has proceeded by way of an analysis of National Socialist ideology usefully construed as an ultimate form of subject metaphysics. I argue that these texts provide us with important insights not only into the philosophical structure of Nazi ideology but also into the political characteristics of metaphysical doctrines of the subject. (Along the way, I also indicate some limitations of Nancy's discussions of Nazi ideology, concerning certain Christian motifs and anti-Semitism in relation to representation and subjectivity.) And yet Nancy's thinking about the subject is not only negatively or destructively directed. It also involves the repeated attempt to articulate a notion of subjectivity marginally beyond the metaphysical, ideological inscription of the subject qua substantial, self-totalizing, and autonomous presence. In Nancy's work, the subject in a new sense--which I characterize as intermittent--appears as radically multiple, exterior to itself, temporally dispersed, relational, and linguistically involved. This essay pursues the intermittent conceptual development of such an intermittent subject from the earlier, more negatively inflected analyses of the fascist metaphysics of the subject around 1980 to the more constructively oriented thematizations of representation, listening, and faith in the writings from the 1990s into the twenty-first century.
Our Relational World Today: Exploring the Wisdom of St. Bonaventure
Authors: Osborne Kenan
Published: November 2014

It was a major honor to have been invited by F. Edward Coughlin, the Director of the Franciscan Institute, to deliver the 2013 Ignatius Brady Lecture at St. Bonaventure University. Ignatius Brady was a major Franciscan scholar from the Cincinnati province whose academic focus was on the medieval period at the time of Francis and Clare. Ignatius Brady was highly instrumental in making Franciscan Studies a part of the American scene. The lecture, therefore, honors both Edward Coughlin and Ignatius Brady. Unfortunately, due to a sudden illness, I was unable to deliver the lecture. However, the following pages contain the text, and its publication in Franciscan Studies continues to honor Ignatius Brady .
Who Bears the Costs of Climate Change? Evidence from Tunisia
Authors: Wiebelt Manfred , Al-Riffai Perrihan , Breisinger Clemens , Robertson Richard
Published: November 2014

In order to estimate the economic costs of climate change for Tunisia, this paper uses a combination of biophysical and economic models. In addition, the paper draws on the literature to complement the quantitative analysis with policy recommendations on how to adapt to the changing climate. The results bear out the expectation that climate change has a negative but weak overall effect on the Tunisian economy. Decomposing the global and local effects shows that global climate change may benefit the agricultural sector since higher world market prices for agricultural commodities are likely to stimulate export expansion and import substitution. Locally felt climate change, however, is likely to hurt the agricultural sector as lower yields reduce factor productivities and lead to lower incomes and higher food prices. The combined local and global effects are projected to be mostly negative and the costs will have to be carried mainly by urban and richer households. From a policy perspective, the results suggest that Tunisia should try to maximize the benefits from rising global agricultural prices and to minimize (or reverse) declining crop yields at home.
Rubber Acreage Supply Response in Thailand: a Cointegration Approach
Authors: Soontaranurak Kittikorn , Dawson P.J.
Published: November 2014

This paper estimates the acreage supply response of natural rubber in Thailand using cointegration methods. Results show that a unique long-run relationship exists between area planted, the rubber price and the replanting subsidy, and the rubber price is weakly exogenous. The short-run own price elasticity of acreage response is low at 0.04 whereas the corresponding long-run elasticity is 2.24, and the use of pricing policy takes a long lead time to take effect. The acreage elasticity in response to a change in the subsidy is 1.17 and the replanting subsidy is a key driver for increasing rubber production.
Foreign Direct Investment Inflow, Volatility, and Domestic Investment in West Africa
Authors: Eregha P. B.
Published: November 2014

This study empirically examined the effect of foreign direct investment inflow and its volatility on domestic investment in the ECOWAS region as FDI inflow is theoretical recognized as an important catalyst to bridge the Savings gap. The recent Panel Data Cointegration technique of estimation was employed in the study given the possibilities of panel data based studies to be associated with unit root problems as shown by experts in the methodology. Data for the study covered the period 1970-2008 and were extracted from the UN statistics data base and the World Development Indicator, 2009. The results of the empirical analysis revealed that foreign direct investment inflow substituted domestic investment in the West African region. FDI volatility was also found to hamper domestic investment in the region. From policy perspective, since most of the West African countries are faced with poor investment climate and low technical know on the part of the citizenry to harness the spillover effects of FDI inflow, it is therefore recommended that bolstering the investment climate and proper manpower training and development are vital to securing the gains from FDI inflow couple with efforts geared towards attracting FDI to manufacturing sector that is less prone to world price volatility.
Does Informality Impact Formal Sector Firms?: A Case Study from Nicaragua
Authors: Pisani Michael J.
Published: November 2014

Utilizing the 2010 Nicaraguan Enterprise Survey undertaken by the World Bank, I explore the impact of informal sector firm competition upon focal formal sector firms. The impact upon focal formal firms in relation to informal competitive pressures are influenced by firm maturity, firm location, industry sector, firm legal status, perceptions of informality, firm informal heritage, senior level managerial time spent dealing with the governmental regulatory environment, international quality certification, and web presence. Focal formal sector firm competition with registered firms acting in part informally is also explored.
An Empirical Analysis of the Informal Sector in Ghana
Authors: Koto Prosper Senyo
Published: November 2014

This paper examines the determinants of the decision of owners of small enterprises in Ghana to participate in the informal sector at start-up. For enterprises participating in the informal sector, the paper evaluates whether there are linkages with formal sector enterprises, and the determinants of the linkage. Data for the analysis is from the 2013 World Bank Enterprise survey. Using binary choice models, it is evident from the analysis that the informal sector in Ghana is dominated by people who have low levels of education, and hence, do not have otherwise employable skills. Undertaking economic activities in the informal sector becomes a means to survival, and not necessarily an attempt to evade compliance with formal sector regulations. The challenge to policy makers in Ghana is to find the right balance between policies that reduces the costs to enterprises of participating in the informal sector, whiles increasing the benefits for participating in the formal economy.
The Assimilation of Migrant Households in the Urban Areas of A Developing Country
Authors: Acharya Chakra P. , Leon-Gonzalez Roberto
Published: November 2014

This paper explores the economic performance of rural-urban migrant households in the recently flourishing urban areas of Nepal. Using nationally representative primary survey data, we find that upon their arrival, these migrant households have 24 percent less income and 13 percent less consumption than their local counterparts but converge to equal levels of income and consumption after 10 and three years, respectively. Our results suggest that a higher level of education accelerates the speed of assimilation. Compared with the Mountain/Hill regions, migrants in the prosperous Tarai region possess a lower level of welfare upon arrival but exhibit more rapid assimilation.
Women Empowerment and Antenatal Care Utilization in Bangladesh
Authors: Hossain Belayet , Hoque Ahmed A.
Published: November 2014

This study attempts to examine the role of women empowerment in the utilization of antenatal care in Bangladesh. Four dimensions are considered to measure the women empowerment: the highest level of education, freedom of choice/movement, power in the household decision making process and involvement in economic activities. Factor analysis technique is employed to construct the last three dimensions. The probit and the zero-inflated negative binomial regression models are specified and estimated using the 2011 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey data. Results show that all four dimensions of women empowerment contribute positively and significantly to the decision and intensity of utilization of antenatal care in Bangladesh. Findings of the study have a number of policy implications on this issue for a developing country like Bangladesh.
The Value of Unhealthy Eating and the Ethics of Healthy Eating Policies
Authors: Barnhill Anne , King Katherine F. , Kass Nancy , Faden Ruth
Published: November 2014

Unhealthy eating can have value for individuals and groups, even while it has disvalue in virtue of being unhealthy. In this paper, we discuss some ways in which unhealthy eating has value and draw out implications for the ethics of policies limiting access to unhealthy food. Discussing the value and disvalue of unhealthy eating helps identify opportunities for reducing unhealthy eating that has little value, and helps identify opportunities for eliminating trade-offs between health and other values by making unhealthy food experiences healthier without eliminating their value. It also helps us think through when it is ethically acceptable, and when it might be ethically unacceptable, to limit valuable experience in order to promote health. Our discussion of the value and disvalue of eating is offered here as a necessary supplement to the familiar discussion of paternalism, autonomous choice, and public policy.
Fat Stigma and Public Health: A Theoretical Framework and Ethical Analysis
Authors: Abu-Odeh Desiree
Published: November 2014

This paper proposes a theoretical framework for understanding fat stigma and its impact on people’s well-being. It argues that stigma should never be used as a tool to achieve public health ends. Drawing on Bruce Link and Jo Phelan’s 2001 conceptualization of stigma as well as the works of Hilde Lindemann, Paul Benson, and Margaret Urban Walker on identity, positionality, and agency, this paper clarifies the mechanisms by which stigmatizing, oppressive conceptions of overweight and obesity damage identities and diminish moral agency, arguing that the use of obesity-related stigma for public health ends violates the bioethics principles of nonmaleficence, autonomy, and justice.
Social Psychology and the Comic-Book Superhero: A Darwinian Approach
Authors: Carney James , Dunbar Robin , Machin Anna , Dávid-Barrett Tamás , Júnior Mauro Silva
Published: November 2014

Why is the comic-book superhero such a persistent topic of cultural representation? Citing Dutton’s evolutionary aesthetic, we argue that comic-book superheroes persist because they offer a cultural means of negotiating the gap between the small group size that human beings have evolved a cognitive architecture to deal with, and the much larger group size that is entailed by modern social arrangements. This position implies four predictions: the superhero should (1) exhibit punitive prosociality, (2) be supernatural or quasi-supernatural, (3) be minimally counterintuitive, and (4) display kin-signaling proxies. These predictions are tested against seventeen superhero figures from various comic-book universes.
Feminism Has No Quarrel with Evolutionary Science—Neither Does the Study of Literature: A Reply to Cameron and Gottschall
Authors: Francis Norbert
Published: November 2014

Recent advances in cognitive science have been enriched by integrating findings from research on evolution. This convergence, in turn, has led to greater interest in understanding important domains of competence and ability in the arts and literature. This evolutionary point of view in the study of human creativity promises to shed light on a number of controversies that have come to be stalled for lack of a clear research program and mired in currently fashionable unscientific conjecture. The study of narrative in particular will play an important role in the emerging synthesis between psychology and evolutionary science, laying the groundwork for a new dialogue with creative writers and analysts of literature.
Denis Dutton on Cross-Cultural Aesthetics, Forgery, and Performance
Authors: Knight Deborah
Published: November 2014

I examine three themes central to Denis Dutton’s philosophy of art. To understand the artworks of non-Western cultures, we must understand how to identify what artistic category these works in fact belong to. Though the perceived properties of a work of art do not seem to change when it is revealed to be a forgery, there is a reason why forgeries are “artistic crimes.” In both cases, a “work of art” is not simply the object produced (the painting, for example), but rather the contextualized performance undertaken by the artist that brings about the finished product.
Pride and Prejudice or Family and Flirtation?: Jane Austen’s Depiction of Women’s Mating Strategies
Authors: Kruger Daniel J. , Fisher Maryanne L. , Strout Sarah L. , Clark Shana’e , Lewis Shelby , Wehbe Michelle
Published: November 2014

Jane Austen’s works may be perennially popular because they excel at the three kinds of adaptive advantage that Denis Dutton proposed to explain the pervasiveness of fiction. Based on brief personality sketches assembled from her novels, contemporary readers readily identify her characters’ mating strategies. They accurately match characters to actual behaviors portrayed in the novels, and would interact with the characters in ways that protected their own reproductive interests. Thus, Austen’s character descriptions provide low-cost, low-risk surrogate experiences of encounters with realistic personas, and promote readers’ understanding of others’ motivations and behaviors in order to regulate their own behavior adaptively.
Denis Dutton’s The Art Instinct and the Recovery of Ainu Aesthetics
Authors: Miller Mara
Published: November 2014

Denis Dutton’s The Art Instinct provides a useful framework for analyzing the aesthetics of the Ainu, a small-scale society in northern Japan. In a recent study at Hokkaido University, Ainu artists replicated old, museum-quality Ainu works and reported on their selection, study of the works, replication processes, and discussions with other artists. The replication illustrates the importance of intention in determining the authenticity of works of art, while the artists’ comments demonstrate the applicability of all twelve of Dutton’s “twelve characteristics of art,” and reinforce his conclusion that native viewers of art bring important insights to the perception of artworks.
Life History into Story
Authors: Boyd Brian
Published: November 2014

Life history theory in biology helps prompt the question: Does literature reflect the different phases of human life history equally? And if not, why not? i suggest that it does not. The centrality of sexual love and violent death in literature reflects the two key factors in biological evolution: reproduction and survival. But the very familiarity of these themes poses risks for storytellers. since nothing makes for more arresting unpredictability than conflicting motives in active opposition, stories tend to focus disproportionately on conflicts of wills around love (mate choice and retention) and death (social oppositions and transgressions). Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale offers an illuminating example.
Ustane’s Evolution versus Ayesha’s Immortality in H. Rider Haggard’s She
Authors: Doyle Mark
Published: November 2014

H. Rider Haggard’s adventure story She is a favorite of Freudian critics who focus on the demonic, erotic, immortal Ayesha as a symbol of the “eternal feminine.” They mostly ignore, however, the mortal Ustane, the other powerful woman in She . The sources of Ustane’s strength suggest an ideological reason for her neglect: she reflects biological imperatives, while the immortal Ayesha transcends them. Though the deaths of both women seem to thwart a resolution of these conflicting sources of potency, I contend that evolutionary theory (especially Darwin’s sexual selection) provides a better explanation of feminine power in She than Freudian theory.
Marvelous Plasticity and the Fortunes of Species in The Water-Babies
Authors: Neill Anna
Published: November 2014

In Charles Kingsley’s The Water-Babies , the wild, wicked child who matures into a man of science appears to “recapitulate” the story of the human rise to preeminence in the animal kingdom. Yet Kingsley uses evolutionary thought precisely to attack the notion of biological/ social progress and the suffering it causes. He does so by identifying the impact of the social and physical environment on individual development and inviting us to consider how the physical interaction between developing mind and developing world affects broader patterns of human behavior. Playfully evoking the evolutionary dynamics involving organism, culture, and species-level traits, Kingsley points to a form of extragenetic inheritance prompted by open-ended stories.
What Would Dutton Say about the Paradox of Fiction?
Authors: Irwin William , Johnson David Kyle
Published: November 2014

How is it that humans can react emotionally to fiction when they know it is not real? Following the lead of Denis Dutton in The Art Instinct , we propose a solution to this so-called paradox of fiction. The paradox assumes that our conscious awareness that something is not real should prevent an emotional reaction. But such reactions are often the result of aptly named “mirror neurons” that mimic the brain activity of those around us and cause us to mimic the emotions of others. So because mirror neurons do not distinguish between fiction and reality, we react emotionally to both fiction and reality.
Camus: A Romance Revisited
Authors: Hawes Elizabeth
Published: November 2014

The centennial of Albert Camus is an historic event, and in light of the author’s enduring stature around the world, a triumphal one, but to me it also feels like a tender reunion with an old copain , a very important friend who during the eight years I was writing a book about him absolutely dominated my life. It is a bizarre thing to spend as much time as I did thinking about someone I could never meet, following him around, reading his mail, entering his moods, befriending his friends, day after day, month after month imagining, puzzling, projecting, reflecting, trying to understand the man, who he was, what he was like, how he resembled his work. I had no idea then how intimate a relationship was developing with Camus, or how difficult it would eventually be to disengage from him. I remember one day several years ago looking up at the Cartier-Bresson portrait of Camus that hangs in my study and saying fiercely and out loud, “Go away!” This of course is the tale of a biographer in the throes of postpartum. I track Camus more informally now, but I still miss his daily presence in my life.
Politics, Artistic Merit, and the Posthumous Reputation of Albert Camus
Authors: Lorcin Patricia M.E.
Published: November 2014

The debate on the relationship between artistic merit, politics and reputation has a long history. What seems politically egregious on the part of a artist, musician or writer at a particular moment in time can lead to a reassessment as the politics of the moment are tempered over the years and historical memory takes on a new hue. This article looks at the reputation of Albert Camus and analyses the changes, and reasons for those changes, which have occurred over the past 60 years in the reactions to his politics and work.
To Kill a Human Being: Camus and Capital Punishment
Authors: Morisi Ève
Published: November 2014

“To Kill A Human Being” investigates Albert Camus’s commitment and contribution to the fight against capital punishment. Until recently, the extent, consistency, and multiple facets (literary, philosophical, and political) of this activism were underestimated—and, in some cases, unknown. This essay reconstructs the key phases of the Nobel laureate’s abolitionist itinerary, examines both his personal motivations and the ethical reasoning on which he relied, and presents a multifold corpus and archival findings testifying to his official and unofficial defense of men condemned to death in France, French Algeria, and abroad in contexts as varied as Franco’s dictatorship, WWII and the purges that marked the Libération in France, the Greek Civil War, the repression perpetrated in Eastern Europe under the aegis of Stalinism, and the Algerian War of Independence. Reconsidering the depth and breadth of Camus’s abolitionism allows for a reassessment of the claim that the writer adopted an abstentionist stance during the Algerian conflict. At the same time, this examination enables us to hone our knowledge of the history of twentieth-century abolitionist thought and to appreciate the impact of a major critical reflection on the conception and implementation (or interruption) of lethal justice.]
DENOSUMAB ASSOCIATED WITH BONE DENSITY INCREASE AND CLINICAL IMPROVEMENT IN A LONG-TERM HEMODIALYSIS PATIENT. CASE REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE
Authors: Dusilová Sulková Sylvie , Horáček Jiří , Šafránek Roman , Gorun Petr , Viklický Ondřej , Palička Vladimír
Published: November 2014

Denosumab is a human monoclonal antibody representing a novel therapy of osteoporosis. Contrary to always other antiosteoporotic drugs, it is not contraindicated in advanced chronic kidney disease, as its pharmacokinetic does not differ from patients with normal kidney function. However, published case reports in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients stopped the therapy after single dose because of hypocalcemia. We present a case of successful treatment of osteoporosis in a young hemodialysis patient with repeated denosumab doses.
Large and medium-sized mammals of Carajás National Forest, Pará state, Brazil
Authors: Carvalho Andréa Siqueira , Martins Frederico Drummond , Dutra Francilma Mendes , Gettinger Donald , Martins-Hatano Fernanda , Bergallo Helena De Godoy
Published: November 2014

The Carajás National Forest is located in the Amazonian region, Pará State, Brazil and is part of a mosaic of conservation units comprising over one million hectares. This region has been explored for its mineral reserves, but knowledge of the distribution of animals and plants is lacking. The objective of this paper is to provide a list of the medium and large-sized mammals recorded from the Carajás NF. We used four methods to record mammals: linear transects, camera traps, records of road-killed animals, and opportunistic observations. We recorded 45 species distributed in nine taxonomic orders, eight of them currently on the Brazilian list of threatened species and seven in the IUCN red list. The area has high mammalian diversity and holds 56% of the threatened species known for the State, confirming that the study area is correctly categorized as Extremely High Priority for the conservation of Brazilian biodiversity.