bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A STUDY OF INTER‐ETHNIC RELATIONSHIPS: THE GROWING ETHNIC COMPLEXITY IN THE JAPANESE CITY
Authors: Tani Tomio
Published: January 2009

Abstract  In examining the growing inter‐ethnic complexity as an issue of social change in major Japanese cities since the mid‐1980s, it is essential that in addition to learning from the experience of Western society.

this discussion be carried out in the context of research on Korean residents in Japan, and

the analysis include an examination of the inter‐ethnic relationships.

These two essential points have largely been ignored in previous research on the internationalization of the Japanese city. This paper is based on field research from the Ikaino district of Osaka city, which is the largest non‐Japanese “ethnic” community in Japan. The research reveals hitherto neglected aspects of contemporary urban internationalization by examining the Korean community from the point of view of the relationship between the Korean and Japanese communities. We find that:

A Japanese community exists within Ikaino (widely known as “Korea town”).

The Korean and Japanese communities live side by side but emphasize their separate identities.

The only condition which offers hope for cooperation between the two groups is a common feeling of loss and deprivation.

Arguments for and against the employment of unskilled foreign laborers continue to be heard. It is the task of the sociologist to provide an objective, unbiased analysis and to accumulate relevant data, rather than to attempt a quick resolution by supporting one side or the other.
Sibling Configuration and Coresidence of Married Couples with an Older Mother in Japan
Authors: Kojima Hiroshi
Published: January 2009

Abstract  This study aims to clarify the effects of sibling configuration on both current and prospective coresidence of married male household heads with their older mother or mother‐in‐law. Multinomial logit analysis is applied to the data from the 1985 national household survey conducted by the Institute of Population Problems in Tokyo. The analysis is restricted to those heads whose mother and mother‐in‐law are both aged 60 or older and who do not live or plan to live with both mothers.

The results of multinomial logit analysis of current living arrangements show a positive effect of the head's eldest‐son status on coresidence with his mother and a positive effect of the wife's eldest‐daughter status (in the absence of brothers) on coresidence with her mother, which supports the Heir Priority Hypothesis. The positive effects of the wife having older brothers or older sisters on coresidence with the head's mother also supports this hypothesis. On the other hand, the negative effects of the head having younger brothers or younger sisters and the wife being the youngest child, as well as the positive effect of the wife being the oldest child, on coresidence with the head's mother seem to support the House Crowding Hypothesis.

The results of multinomial logit analysis of plans for future living arrangements, controlling for the current living arrangements, also show a similar (positive) effect of the head's eldest‐son status on planned coresidence with his mother, supporting the Heir Priority Hypothesis. The reversed effect of the head having younger sisters on planned coresidence with his mother seems to be consistent with the Gender Role Crowding Hypothesis.
Is the Japanese Mobility Pattern Consistent?: Educational Expansion and its Effects
Authors: Seiyama Kazuo
Published: January 2009

Abstract  Current empirical studies on social mobility generally emphasize an invariance of mobility pattern rather than variance. However, the industrialization thesis has not yet seriously been challenged by those researches, since they are only comparing different countries, not different developmental stages of one country. Besides, those researches have provided virtually no theoretical explanation for the invariance.

This paper is an attempt to provide a longitudinal analysis of Japanese social mobility and to give an explanation for the consistency of mobility pattern found in that analysis. The key factor related to the consistency is the way education mediates the mobility. Our analysis presents a clear and exact picture of the longitudinal effect of educational expansion on the mobility pattern.
KAIGAI‐SHIJO Socialization in Toronto
Authors: Podolsky Momo Kano
Published: January 2009

Abstract  This article is based on a study of kaigai‐shijo (children of Japanese temporary overseas residents) in Toronto, Canada. Although the theme of kikoku‐shijo (returnee children) has been studied in considerable detail by Japanese (and a few American) scholars, the phase that precedes the return to Japan, that is, the children's experience while overseas has been relatively neglected. The article argues that kaigai‐shijo are not only a subject worth studying in their own right, but that understanding their experience is crucial in order to fully appreciate the phenomenon of kikoku‐shijo. The researcher conducted a study of kaigai‐shijo in Toronto, focusing on their patterns of socialization. While taking into account findings from the few previous studies on kaigai‐shijo, this study used concepts from the North American literature on socialization and ethnic groups studies. kaigai‐shijo socialization was thus conceptualized as the combination of two processes: the adoption of host cultural patterns, and the retention of Japanese cultural patterns. Three main variations in kaigai‐shijo socialization were found: 1) ‘Host culture oriented’, 2) Japanese culture‐oriented, and 3) ‘dual’. Some of the most relevant factors in explaining these variations were the age of the child (at the time of departure from Japan and at the time of the research), the parents' strategy of adaptation, and the length of stay in the host country (actual and remaining).
Gender Differences in Attitudes Towards Work Group in the United States and Japan*
Authors: Fujimoto Tetsushi
Published: January 2009

Abstract This study examines gender differences in employees' group orientations on the basis of the United States‐Japan gender comparisons of individual work attitudes. It is hypothesized that the gender differences in work group orientations disappear when workplace structures and styles of supervision are held constant across individual employees in the U.S. and Japan. The results show that the impact of being a woman on work group orientations is relatively small in both countries. At least, the impact of gender on Japanese and American group attitudes does not appear to be powerful enough to reinforce the assertion that gender is an absolute determinant of work attitudes. Although gender‐based arguments can not be fully rejected by the present results, the fact that one is a woman produced only a minimal increment in employees' work group orientations, when men and women worked in similarly structured organizations. The findings, however, indicate that gender differences in work group orientations are not thoroughly reducible to the fact that workplaces are differently structured for the two genders in Japan and the U.S. The possibility of cultural embeddedness of individual affective work orientations is discussed.
Gender Inequality in Authority and Autonomy in the Workplace in Japan, Britain, and the United States*
Authors: Ishida Hiroshi
Published: January 2009

Abstract  This study examines gender inequality in the distribution of various aspects of autonomy and authority in the workplace in Japan, Britain, and the United States. In all three societies, there are clear gender gaps in access to autonomy and authority relations, but the distributions are most unequal in Japan. The main part of this study involves the testing of four hypotheses which attempt to explain gender differences in autonomy and authority. The first hypothesis, which focuses on family responsibilities, receives limited support from the Japanese and British data. Japanese and British women are disadvantaged in obtaining managerial positions and supervising other employees by the presence of children. The human capital explanation of gender inequality in the workplace appears to be supported to some extent in Japan and Britain because gender gaps are reduced when we controlled for Render differences in education, tenure and work experience in these countries. The differential access to managerial positions is an important source of gender inequality in workplace social relations in all three countries. Nonetheless, significant gender gaps remain. especially in the United States. When all these factors (family responsibilities, human capital and managerial positions) are taken together, gender gaps are reduced substantially in Japan. In contrast. persistent gender inequality is found in the United States.
Labor Markets and the Process of Income Attainment in the Multimedia Age
Authors: Ono Hiroshi
Published: January 2009

Abstract  This paper examines several foreseeable scenarios about the effects of information technology on the labor market and the process of individual's income attainment. While I do not intend to exclude other factors, I argue that computer literacy and information literacy are two distinct but complimentary factors, and that they will be the two critical issues in determining the productive capacities of workers in the multimedia age. I view information literacy as a firm‐specific skill, and argue that it will be the key factor in determining the production function of workers within the firm. Computer literacy is viewed as the endowment of information literacy skills. Workers with higher levels of computer literacy will be at an advantage at the time of labor market entry. Further, such workers are more likely to have higher rates of return on firm's investments in information literacy skills. thereby yielding higher productions. Based on the premise that information technology and labor are complementary components which should reveal an increase in the demand for higher skilled workers, I suggest that income differences are likely to widen along the lines of educational attainment and establishment‐size. The “Implications” section (V) of the paper examines several issues for further research in this incipient field of sociology.
Negotiating Gender in Uncertainty: A Mechanism of Women's Marginalization in the Japanese Workplace*
Authors: Konno Minako
Published: January 2009

Abstract  Women have been long absent from important white‐collar positions in large Japanese organizations. Two approaches have been made to understand women's work experiences and career outcomes in these organizations, namely, the structuralist and the rational choice approaches. The underlying assumption of both approaches is that individual women's career orientations are basically fixed and larger factors outside the workplace play central roles to determine women's career outcomes. In order to understand women's work experiences and perspectives more realistically, however, we need to turn our attention to the workplace itself and to examine the mechanisms through which women are constantly marginalized, if inadvertently, in everyday interactions with others. Drawing on a developing perspective that focuses on the dynamic nature of women's career experiences. this paper, based on a case study, demonstrates a major way in which the influences of outside factors, specifically of women's attitude toward work, are in fact reinforced within the workplace. A major component of this mechanism is women's sense of uncertainty generated through their day‐to‐day work lives.
Sociological Determinants of Life Satisfaction in Japan: The Roles of Gender, Family, and Work
Authors: Kamo Yoshinori
Published: January 2009

Abstract  This is one of the first studies on causes and correlates of life satisfaction among Japanese, based on the theoretical framework of Thibaut and Kelley (1959) on satisfaction and a nationally representative sample of Japanese adults. Emphasized are the effects of such demographic variables as gender, marital status, age, and work‐related characteristics on life satisfaction. It is found that Japanese women are more satisfied with their lives than are men on the average. This difference is not explained by the gender difference in employment statuses. When examined for each employment status category, women still show higher life satisfaction than men on the average, except those employed full‐time.

While widowed women show lower life satisfaction, never‐married and divorced men show the same pattern. The detrimental effect of divorce on life satisfaction among women disappears when economic circumstances variables are controlled for. Age is found to be strongly related to life satisfaction, particularly among men. A non‐linear effect of age indicates both family responsibility and job responsibility decrease life satisfaction for Japanese men and women.

The theoretical framework presented in American literature on the subject is largely supported in the present analysis with Japanese data. Rather than absolute levels of economic and/or social indicators, the salience each person places on them is found to be critical for life satisfaction. Given the cognitive definition of satisfaction adopted here which emphasizes comparisons, these results indicate the validity of this theoretical perspective.
Children's Affection Toward Fathers: A Comparison between Japan and the United States
Authors: Ishii‐Kuntz Masako
Published: January 2009

Abstract  Previous studies on fatherhood have focused primarily on the extent of paternal involvement from fathers' point of view and the impact of such involvement on children. These studies report that the level of paternal involvement varies depending on such factors as the fathers' ages, and the mothers' employment hours and income, and that the active participation by fathers has a positive impact on children's emotional and cognitive development. The current study not only focuses on paternal involvement but also on questions rarely addressed in the previous studies. How do children perceive the extent of fathers' involvement with them? Are their perceptions highly correlated with the report made by fathers? Further, how does paternal involvement influence children's affection toward fathers? In this paper, these questions are examined using a cross‐national data collected in Japan and the United States. The major findings of the survey indicate that the levels of paternal involvement perceived by children and fathers are not as strongly correlated as were expected both in Japan and the United States. In both countries, children who spend more time with their fathers and who are younger and girls express more affection toward fathers. A cross‐national difference was found with respect to the impact of social network on children's affection toward fathers.
Socialization and Work in Japan: The Meaning of Adulthood of Men and Women in a Business Context
Authors: Shire Karen A.
Published: January 2009

Abstract  The Japanese term, shakaijin, refers to becoming a social adult, and locates the transition to adulthood in leaving school/university and entering an employment relation. In this paper we explore the role of company socialization in producing social adults. Company socialization is explored through a case study of a securities company, and an additional study of a large bank. New employee training programs are a central socializing event, and bridge the transition from school/university‐to‐work. In this study, events prior to and subsequent to new employee training arc also shown to play key roles in company socialization. Recruitment practices socialize as well as screen job applicants. Regular personal assessments continue socialization throughout the working life cycle. Based on the analyses of socialization in recruitment, training and assessment, two aspects of company socialization in Japan are emphasized. First, company socialization involves gender socialization. Male employees are the main subjects of company socialization, and their induction to social adulthood seeks to generate commitment and social integration to company life. Social adulthood of female employees is defined in connection with future familial roles rather than commitment to work. Second, the meaning of social adulthood for men is fused with acceptance of management goals. Company socialization attempts to align individual attitudes and behaviors with company goals.
Behavior of Victims and Information Processing during the Great Hanshin‐Awaji Earthquake
Authors: Noda Takashi
Published: January 2009

Abstract  The Great Hanshin‐Awaji earthquake revealed the inadequacy of research in the area of information studies. There is a lack of research on the availability of information on daily life which could alleviate suffering during the reconstruction period. The purpose of this paper is to confirm whether residents receive sufficient information to assist them in making rational decisions during the Great Hanshin‐Awaji Earthquake. Our research findings are as follows: (1) People's capacity to send information was very low early in the emergency period. (2) The channel of communication depended on whether people stayed in their own homes or lived elsewhere during the evacuation period. (3) The use of mass media by the aged (both in terms of receiving and sending information) was low. (4) The higher the damage to utilities, the higher was the levels of dissatisfaction with the existing means of information. Most people wished direct communications between the municipality and the victims. (5) Consummatory information on the actual situation was offered effectively by mass media in the stricken area. Similarly important information to support life in the stricken areas was offered by many volunteer groups.
Pulsed Radiofrequency Lesioning of the Suprascapular Nerve for Chronic Shoulder Pain: A Preliminary Report
Authors: Liliang Po-Chou , Lu Kang , Liang Cheng-Loong , Tsai Yu-Duan , Hsieh Ching-Hua , Chen Han-Jung
Published: January 2009

Objective. Chronic shoulder pain is difficult to treat, and the efficacy of most interventions is limited. This study was conducted to evaluate pulsed mode radiofrequency (PRF) lesioning of the suprascapular nerve for treating chronic shoulder pain.

Interventions. Thirteen procedures using PRF lesioning of suprascapular nerve were performed under fluoroscopic guide in 11 patients (13 shoulder joints) with chronic shoulder pain for at least 3 months.

Outcome Measures. The patients were evaluated for pain, shoulder disability function, and medication requirements prior to and after treatment.

Results. At 1-month follow-up assessment, 10 (76.9%) shoulder joints had significant pain relief (visual analog scale ≥ 50% reduction), and at 6-month follow-up assessment, nine (69.2%) still had significant pain relief. The mean VAS score of 11 patients before PRF was 7.5 ± 1.0, and the scores at 1-month and 6-month follow-up were 2.8 ± 2.6 and 2.5 ± 2.8, respectively. A significant pain reduction (P < 0.001) was observed. The mean Shoulder Pain and Disability Index scores at 6-month follow-up also showed a significant decrease compared with pre-PRF (P < 0.001). Medication requirements were evaluated 1 month and 6 months after the PRF. Nine (81.8%) patients had their medication requirement decreased.

Conclusions. Pulsed mode radiofrequency lesioning to suprascapular nerve is a potential treatment option for patients suffering chronic shoulder pain. It provides long-lasting pain relief and decreases pain medication requirements.
EEG stages predict treatment response in experimental status epilepticus
Authors: Wang Norman C. , Good Levi B. , Marsh Steven T. , Treiman David M.
Published: January 2009

Progression of severity in experimental status epilepticus (SE), defined as refractoriness to first‐ and second‐line abortive agents, may be related to a five‐stage progression of electroencephalography (EEG) patterns. This was tested in the lithium–pilocarpine rat SE model. Abortive treatment with diazepam and phenobarbital was given at EEG stages I, III, and V. In stage I, the combination therapy resulted in 100% SE termination. However, stage III corresponded to high treatment resistance (0% abortion) and stage V to an intermediate response (63%). Comparisons of time‐to‐treatment durations showed overlap between stage I and stage III, despite having markedly different response rates to abortive medications. Therefore, EEG patterns reflect the dynamic pathophysiology of SE and can be used as reliable and specific markers to distinguish treatment‐responsive from treatment‐refractory SE more accurately than time alone.
Multiple clear cell trichoblastoma
Authors: Wang Lei , Wang Gang , Yang Li , Gao Tianwen
Published: January 2009

Clear cell trichoblastoma is a very rare neoplasm with follicular differentiation described recently. Only three cases of clear cell trichoblastoma were reported in literature and all of them were presented as single lesion. Here, we report a case of clear cell trichoblastoma with multiple lesions in a child. Two biopsies from the patient showed that the neoplasm was located in the dermis, and step sections showed that they were connected with the follicular infundibulum. The neoplasm was almost made of clear cells that had clear cytoplasm and eccentrically disposed nucleus. At the periphery of the neoplasm, the clear cells showed palisade array with the nucleus at the pole opposite the thick basement membrane, and only a few basal cells were located at the periphery of the neoplasm. Periodic acid‐Schiff stain was almost negative in the clear cells. Immunohistochemistry studies showed the neoplasm stained positive for AE1/AE3 but negative for CAM 5.2, cytokeratin 7, cytokeratin 20, epithelia antigen, carcinoembryonic antigen, epithelial membrane antigen, androgen receptor, S‐100 and CD34. The clinical and histopathological characters suggested the diagnosis of multiple clear cell trichoblastoma. After 20 months’ follow up, the lesions of the patient showed incomplete regression, which is a rare phenomenon in neoplasm with follicular differentiation.
Treatment of severe recalcitrant hidradenitis suppurativa with adalimumab
Authors: Harde Viola , Mrowietz Ulrich
Published: January 2009

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic inflammatory skin disease featuring inflammatory nodules, fistulas and discharge of secretions in the intertriginous regions. Without therapy the disease is chronic and progressive. The most effective treatment is the radical wide excision of the affected areas. Systemic antibiotics, immunosuppressants, oral retinoids or antiandrogens have limited beneficial effects. TNF‐α antagonists may represent a new therapeutic approach for patients suffering from severe hidradenitis suppurativa offering promising positive influence on the disease outcome. In contrast to infliximab and etanercept, there are only few reports describing the use of adalimumab in severe hidradenitis suppurativa. Here we report a case of a patient with severe recalcitrant hidradenitis suppurativa successfully treated with adalimumab.
Romance on the Early Modern Stage
Authors: Mulready Cyrus
Published: January 2009

In Shakespeare studies, the term romance is widely understood to refer to a group of plays from the late period of the Shakespearean canon. In looking at two plays from the period of 1590–1610, Orlando Furioso and the Arthurian romance Tom a Lincoln, this essay identifies an earlier history for the genre. I term this kind of drama ‘stage romance’, a popular genre that originated in the earliest days of the Elizabethan theater. These plays demonstrate the emergence of ‘romance’ out of a global history: the social, intellectual, and economic changes prompted by England's increasing role in an expanding global economy.
Coronary Heart Disease and Dyslipidemia: A Cross‐Sectional Evaluation of Prevalence, Current Treatment, and Clinical Control in a Large Cohort of Spanish High‐Risk Patients: The PRINCEPS Study
Authors: De Rojas Francisco Díaz , De Frutos Trinidad , Ponte Ana , Chacón Joaquin Mateos , Vitale Gustavo C. ,   for the PRINCEPS Investigators
Published: January 2009

The authors assessed a large cohort of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) or at high risk for developing CHD in terms of lipid profile, lipid‐lowering treatment, and attainment of National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) target low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) levels. The investigation was a cross‐sectional study involving Spanish outpatients treated in primary or secondary care facilities. From a total of 26,598 attending patients, 12,128 with CHD or CHD risk equivalents were recruited by 1875 physicians; 49% had CHD and 69% had multiple risk factors. Only 25% of patients attained LDL‐C values <100 mg/dL, 76.6% patients received lipid‐lowering therapy (statins in 95.4% of cases), and 54% of physicians considered that a treatment change was required (the most frequent choice was the addition of ezetimibe to current statin therapy). In this large cohort of high‐risk coronary patients, only 25% attained a target LDL‐C of <100 mg/dL. These results highlight a need for improved patient care and physician awareness/training.
Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci for storm‐petrels
Authors: SUN ZHENGXIN , GÓMEZ‐DÍAZ ELENA , BAILIE ANNA , FRIESEN VICKI
Published: January 2009

Primers were developed for 10 microsatellite loci for two species of Oceanodroma storm‐petrels. Variability was tested in 27 O. castro and 22 O. monteiroi from the Azores, and 24 O. leucorhoa from Norway. At least six loci amplified reliably and were polymorphic in each species. The number of alleles per locus averaged 4.6, and observed heterozygosities averaged 0.41. Most primers also yielded polymerase chain reaction products in O. tethys, O. hornbyi and Pterodroma phaeopygia. These loci are being used to assay population genetic structure in storm‐petrels.
Tri‐ and tetranucleotide microsatellites in dhufish Glaucosoma hebracium (Perciformes)
Authors: BURRIDGE CHRISTOPHER P. , ENGLAND PHILLIP R.
Published: January 2009

Thirteen polymorphic tri‐ and tetranucleotide microsatellite markers are reported for the exploited marine dhufish (Glaucosoma hebracium) from southwestern Australia. Variation was assessed among 48 individuals collected from a single locality. Most loci had 2–5 alleles, although one had more than 20 alleles, with corresponding observed heterozygosities of 0.02–0.81. These loci were also polymorphic in congeneric species.
Self‐Efficacy Mediates Effects of Exposure, Loss of Resources, and Life Stress on Posttraumatic Distress among Trauma Survivors
Authors: Luszczynska Aleksandra , Benight Charles C. , Cieslak Roman , Kissinger Patricia , Reilly Kathleen Heather , Clark Rebecca A.
Published: January 2009

Trauma exposure, loss of resources, and stressful life events are usually listed among key predictors of posttraumatic adaptation. Our studies investigated if self‐efficacy (i.e. beliefs about ability to deal with posttraumatic adversities) mediates the relationships between these peri‐ and post‐traumatic risk factors and mental health. Study 1 investigated these relationships among 50 Hurricane Katrina survivors infected with HIV. Specifically, it was hypothesised that the effects of exposure and loss of resources (measured 1 year after the disaster) on posttraumatic symptoms and general distress (measured 2 years after disaster) would be mediated by self‐efficacy (assessed 1 year after trauma). Study 2, enrolling 70 survivors of motor vehicle accidents, tested the mediating effect of self‐efficacy in the relationship between stressful life events (reported at approximately 7 days after the trauma) and PTSD symptom severity and number (measured 90 days later). Results of both studies confirmed the mediating effects of beliefs about the ability to deal with posttraumatic adversities, whereas the direct effects of trauma exposure, number of stressors, and losses on mental health were negligible. Our findings indicate that although self‐efficacy beliefs are affected by trauma and stressful life events (in particular, balance of negative and positive events), they should facilitate posttraumatic adaptation.
Self‐Efficacy and Planning Predict Dietary Behaviors in Costa Rican and South Korean Women: Two Moderated Mediation Analyses
Authors: Gutiérrez‐Doña Benicio , Lippke Sonia , Renner Britta , Kwon Sunkyo , Schwarzer Ralf
Published: January 2009

Dietary planning is supposed to mediate between intentions and dietary behaviors. However, if a person lacks self‐efficacy, this mediation might fail. A cross‐sectional study in Costa Rica and a longitudinal study in South Korea were designed to examine the moderating role of self‐efficacy in the intention–planning–behavior relationship. Intentions, planning, self‐efficacy, dietary behaviors, and baseline diet were assessed. Study 1 included 245 women; Study 2 included 358 women. Moderated mediation models were specified in which planning served as a mediator between intentions and behavior. Self‐efficacy was specified as a moderator of the intention–planning–behavior relationship. Intentions were translated into dietary behavior by planning. However, levels of self‐efficacy moderated this mediation process: The strength of the mediated effect increased along with levels of self‐efficacy, even when accounting for baseline dietary behaviors. For planning to mediate the intention–behavior relation, people must harbor sufficient levels of self‐efficacy. If they lack self‐efficacy, either intentions are not well translated into planning, or planning is not well translated into behavior. Further research needs to clarify under which circumstances the moderator effect of self‐efficacy operates in the first phase or the second phase of the mediation process.
Stretching Single Talin Rod Molecules Activates Vinculin Binding
Authors: del Rio Armando , Perez-Jimenez Raul , Liu Ruchuan , Roca-Cusachs Pere , Fernandez Julio M. , Sheetz Michael P.
Published: January 2009

The molecular mechanism by which a mechanical stimulus is translated into a chemical response in biological systems is still unclear. We show that mechanical stretching of single cytoplasmic proteins can activate binding of other molecules. We used magnetic tweezers, total internal reflection fluorescence, and atomic force microscopy to investigate the effect of force on the interaction between talin, a protein that links liganded membrane integrins to the cytoskeleton, and vinculin, a focal adhesion protein that is activated by talin binding, leading to reorganization of the cytoskeleton. Application of physiologically relevant forces caused stretching of single talin rods that exposed cryptic binding sites for vinculin. Thus in the talin-vinculin system, molecular mechanotransduction can occur by protein binding after exposure of buried binding sites in the talin-vinculin system. Such protein stretching may be a more general mechanism for force transduction.
Response to Comment on "Arsenic(III) Fuels Anoxygenic Photosynthesis in Hot Spring Biofilms from Mono Lake, California"
Authors: Oremland R. S. , Stolz J. F. , Madigan M. , Hollibaugh J. T. , Kulp T. R. , Hoeft S. E. , Fisher J. , Miller L. G. , Culbertson C. W. , Asao M.
Published: January 2009

Schoepp-Cothenet
et al
. bring a welcome conceptual debate to the question of which came first in the course of planetary biological evolution, arsenite [As(III)] oxidation or dissimilatory arsenate [As(V)] reduction. However, we disagree with their reasoning and stand by our original conclusion.
Single Nanocrystals of Platinum Prepared by Partial Dissolution of Au-Pt Nanoalloys
Authors: Schrinner Marc , Ballauff Matthias , Talmon Yeshayahu , Kauffmann Yaron , Thun Jürgen , Möller Michael , Breu Josef
Published: January 2009

Small metal nanoparticles that are also highly crystalline have the potential for showing enhanced catalytic activity. We describe the preparation of single nanocrystals of platinum that are 2 to 3 nanometers in diameter. These particles were generated and immobilized on spherical polyelectrolyte brushes consisting of a polystyrene core (diameter of ∼100 nanometers) onto which long chains of a cationic polyelectrolyte were affixed. In a first step, a nanoalloy of gold and platinum (a solid solution) was generated within the layer of cationic polyelectrolyte chains. In a second step, the gold was slowly and selectively dissolved by cyanide ions in the presence of oxygen. Cryogenic transmission electron microscopy, wide-angle x-ray scattering, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy showed that the resulting platinum nanoparticles are faceted single crystals that remain embedded in the polyelectrolyte-chain layer. The composite systems of the core particles and the platinum single nanocrystals exhibit an excellent colloidal stability, as well as high catalytic activity in hydrogenation reactions in the aqueous phase.
Who Are We?
Authors: Adolphs Ralph
Published: January 2009

Human
. The Science Behind What Makes Us Unique.
By Michael S. Gazzaniga
. Ecco (HarperCollins), New York, 2008. 461 pp. $27.50, C$29.50, £14.99. ISBN 9780060892883.

Writing for the interested public, Gazzaniga marshals recent findings from neuroscience to demonstrate the crucial roles of social interactions and context in the evolution of human mind.
Distinct Profiles of Cytotoxic Granules in Memory CD8 T Cells Correlate with Function, Differentiation Stage, and Antigen Exposure
Authors: Harari Alexandre , Enders Felicitas Bellutti , Cellerai Cristina , Bart Pierre-Alexandre , Pantaleo Giuseppe
Published: January 2009

Cytotoxic CD8 T cells exert their antiviral and antitumor activity primarily through the secretion of cytotoxic granules. Degranulation activity and cytotoxic granules (perforin plus granzymes) generally define CD8 T cells with cytotoxic function. In this study, we have investigated the expression of granzyme K (GrmK) in comparison to that of GrmA, GrmB, and perforin. The expression of the cytotoxic granules was assessed in virus-specific CD8 T cells specific to influenza virus, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), or human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). We observed a dichotomy between GrmK and perforin expression in virus-specific CD8 T cells. The profile in influenza virus-specific CD8 T cells was perforin−GrmB−GrmA+/−GrmK+; in CMV-specific cells, it was perforin+GrmB+GrmA+GrmK−/+; and in EBV- and HIV-1-specific cells, it was perforin−/+GrmB+GrmA+GrmK+. On the basis of the delineation of memory and effector CD8 T cells with CD45RA and CD127, the GrmK+profile was associated with early-stage memory CD8 T-cell differentiation, the perforin+GrmB+GrmA+profile with advanced-stage differentiation, and the GrmB+GrmA+Grmk+profile with intermediate-stage differentiation. Furthermore, perforin and GrmB but not GrmA and GrmK correlated with cytotoxic activity. Finally, changes in antigen exposure in vitro and in vivo during primary HIV-1 infection and vaccination modulated cytotoxic granule profiles. These results advance our understanding of the relationship between distinct profiles of cytotoxic granules in memory CD8 T cells and function, differentiation stage, and antigen exposure.
Identification of Potential Recombination Breakpoints in Human Parechoviruses
Authors: Zoll Jan , Galama Jochem M. D. , van Kuppeveld Frank J. M.
Published: January 2009

Based on a comparison of the phylogeny of two distant regions, evidence has been found for recombination within parechoviruses. However, recombination breakpoints could not be detected in this way. We searched for potential recombination breakpoints in parechovirus by analysis of complete parechovirus sequences, including a newly isolated strain. Bootscan analysis demonstrated that parechoviruses are mosaic viruses build of regions related to corresponding genomic regions of other parechoviruses. With a genetic algorithm for recombination detection, sites for recombination were found. Analysis of partial sequences, as defined by recombination breakpoints, showed phylogenetic segregation between regions.
Field investigation of granular base rehabilitation project incorporating a woven geotextile separation layer, sand, and cement stabilization
Authors: Berthelot Curtis , Marjerison Brent , Gorlick Rock , Podborochynski Diana , Fair Jena , Stuber Erin
Published: January 2009

Full-depth reclamation and cement strengthening has been used successfully to dry and strengthen granular pavements. However, some thin pavements fail due to severe wetting-up of the subgrade, thus requiring additional substructure strengthening and (or) drainage systems. This research investigated the laboratory characterization and in situ field mechanical behaviour of full-depth reclaimed and cement-stabilized granular materials in conjunction with a woven geotextile and sand drainage system. This research showed that the integration of cement-stabilized reclaimed granular materials with a geotextile separation layer and sand drainage system significantly improved the mechanical primary response and climatic durability properties of the reclaimed road structure. The cement-stabilized and geotextile separation–drainage system improved the structural asset management test results from a completely failed road structure to primary plus load-carrying capacity. This research also demonstrated an improved correlation between the mechanistic material constitutive properties of the stabilized aggregate to the end-product field structural assessment relative to conventional California bearing ratio and unconfined compressive strength test results.
Influence of pre-existing vibrations on the dynamic response of medium span bridges
Authors: Rattigan Paraic H. , González Arturo , OBrien Eugene J.
Published: January 2009

Critical static bridge loading scenarios are often expressed in terms of the number of vehicles that are present on the bridge at the time of occurrence of maximum lifetime load effect. For example, 1-truck, 2-truck, 3-truck, or 4-truck events usually govern the critical static loading cases in short and medium span bridges. However, the dynamic increment of load effect associated with these maximum static events may be assessed inaccurately if it is calculated in isolation of the rest of the traffic flow. In other words, a heavy vehicle preceding a critical loading case causes the bridge initial conditions of displacement and acceleration to be nonzero when the critical combination of traffic arrives on the bridge. Failure to consider these pre-existing vibrations will result in inaccurate estimation of dynamic amplification. This paper explores these dynamic effects and, using statistical analyses, outlines the relative importance of pre-existing vibrations in the assessment of total traffic load effects.
Safety performance of longer combination vehicles relative to other articulated trucks
Authors: Regehr Jonathan D. , Montufar Jeannette , Rempel Garreth
Published: January 2009

This article helps improve the understanding about the safety performance of longer combination vehicles (LCVs) relative to other articulated trucks operating on rural highways, using evidence from the Canadian portion of the CANAMEX trade corridor. The analysis reveals that from a collision rate perspective, LCVs as a group have better safety performance than other articulated trucks. Turnpike doubles have the lowest collision rate of all articulated truck types (16 collisions per 100 million vehicle-kilometres of travel or VKT), followed by Rocky Mountain doubles (32 collisions per 100 million VKT). The collision rate for triple trailer combinations (62 collisions per 100 million VKT) is higher than the collision rates for tractor semitrailers (42 collisions per 100 million VKT) and legal-length tractor double trailers (44 collisions per 100 million VKT). These results are an important input for civil engineering and transport policy decisions concerning longer combination vehicle operations.
Mechanical behaviour of a hyperelastic pad for an integrated cross-tie trackwork system
Authors: Kim Yail J. , Campbell T. Ivan , MacDougall Colin , Green Mark F.
Published: January 2009

This paper presents the material characteristics and application of a hyperelastic pad used in an integrated cross-tie trackwork configuration, which is part of an advanced rapid transit (ART) system. The ART vehicle is powered by a linear induction motor (LIM); correspondingly, the steel cross-tie trackwork includes a LIM reaction rail as well as running rails to support the steel-wheeled vehicle. An elastomeric pad is placed under each end of the cross-tie to absorb the dynamic effects from the ART. The pad has been isolated from the integrated cross-tie system and tested to determine its material constants which are necessary for modeling of the cross-tie system. The pad is found to be nearly incompressible and demonstrates hyperelastic behaviour. The Mooney–Rivlin (three-term) model shows the best prediction of the pad behaviour among the five selected hyper-elasticity models and a simplified elastic foundation model also exhibits a reasonable engineering approximation. The contribution of variable pad stiffness values to the size of the required air gap between the LIM and the reaction rail, and to the fatigue life of welded connections in the cross-tie is studied.
SOC test-architecture optimization for the testing of embedded cores and signal-integrity faults on core-external interconnects
Authors: Xu Qiang , Zhang Yubin , Chakrabarty Krishnendu
Published: January 2009

The test time for core-external interconnect shorts and opens is typically much less than that for core-internal logic. Therefore, prior work on test-infrastructure design for core-based system-on-a-chip (SOC) has mainly focused on minimizing the test time for core-internal logic. However, as feature sizes shrink for newer process technologies, the test time for signal integrity (SI) faults on interconnects cannot be neglected. The test time for SI faults can be comparable to, or even larger than, the test time for the embedded cores. We investigate the impact of interconnect SI tests on SOC test-architecture design and optimization. A compaction method for SI faults and algorithms for test-architecture optimization are also presented. Experimental results for the ITC'02 benchmarks show that the proposed approach can significantly reduce the overall testing time for core-internal logic and core-external interconnects.
A design automation and power estimation flow for RFID systems
Authors: Dontharaju Swapna , Tung Shenchih , Cain James T. , Mats Leonid , Mickle Marlin H. , Jones Alex K.
Published: January 2009

While RFID has become a ubiquitous technology, there is still a need for RFID systems with different capabilities, protocols, and features depending on the application. This article describes a design automation flow and power estimation technique for fast implementation and design feedback of new RFID systems. Physical layer features are described using
waveform features
, which are used to automatically generate physical layer encoding and decoding hardware blocks.
RFID primitives
to be supported by the tag are enumerated with
RFID macros
and the behavior of each primitive is specified using ANSI-C within the template to automatically generate the tag controller. Case studies implementing widely used standards such as ISO 18000 Part 7 and ISO 18000 Part 6C using this automation technique are presented. The power macromodeling flow demonstrated here is shown to be within 5% to 10% accuracy, while providing results 100 times faster than traditional methods. When eliminating the need for certain features of ISO 18000 Part 6C, the design flow shows that the power required by the implementation is reduced by nearly 50%.
Provably efficient algorithms for resolving temporal and spatial difference constraint violations
Authors: Dasdan Ali
Published: January 2009

A system of difference constraints is a formal model of temporal and spatial constraints in many areas such as scheduling, constraint satisfaction, and layout compaction. During construction of such a system, constraint violations often arise, and they need to be resolved. Previous algorithms for this task fall into two groups: those algorithms that are fast but cannot resolve all violations, and those algorithms that can resolve all violations but are exponentially slow. We propose the first algorithms that are fast as well as able to resolve all violations. Moreover, unlike the previous algorithms, our algorithms support the ordering of violations using their inherent criticality or user-defined priority. We provably and experimentally justify the efficiency and efficacy of our algorithms.
Energy and switch area optimizations for FPGA global routing architectures
Authors: Zhu Yi , Hu Yuanfang , Taylor Michael B. , Cheng Chung-Kuan
Published: January 2009

Low energy and small switch area usage are two important design objectives in FPGA global routing architecture design. This article presents an improved MCF model based CAD flow that performs aggressive optimizations, such as topology and wire style optimization, to reduce the energy and switch area of FPGA global routing architectures. The experiments show that when compared to traditional mesh architecture, the optimized FPGA routing architectures achieve up to 10% to 15% energy savings and up to 20% switch area savings in average for a set of seven benchmark circuits.
Opposite-phase register switching for peak current minimization
Authors: Huang Shih-Hsu , Chang Chia-Ming , Nieh Yow-Tyng
Published: January 2009

In a synchronous sequential circuit, huge current peaks are often observed at the moment of clock transition (since all registers are clocked). Previous works focus on reducing the number of switching registers. However, even though the switching registers are the same, different combinations of switching directions still result in different peak currents. Based on that observation, in this article, we propose an ECO (engineering change order) approach to minimize the peak current by considering the switching directions of registers. Our approach is well suitable for reducing the peak current in IC testing. Experimental data consistently show that our approach works well in practice.
Efficient error detection codes for multiple-bit upset correction in SRAMs with BICS
Authors: Reviriego Pedro , Maestro Juan Antonio
Published: January 2009

Memories are one of the most widely used elements in electronic systems, and their reliability when exposed to Single Events Upsets (SEUs) has been studied extensively. As transistor sizes shrink, Multiple Bits Upsets (MBUs) are becoming an increasingly important factor in the reliability of memories exposed to radiation effects. To address this issue, Built-in Current Sensors (BICS) have recently been applied in conjunction with Single Error Correction/Double Error Detection (SEC-DED) codes to protect memories from MBUs. In this article, this approach is taken one step further, proposing specific codes optimized to be combined with BICS to provide protection against MBUs in memories. By exploiting the locality of errors within an MBU and the error detection and location capabilities of BICS, the proposed codes result in both a better protection level and a reduced cost compared with the existing SEC-DED approach.