bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Room‐temperature synthesis and characterization of porous CeO2 thin films
Authors: Chu Dewei , Masuda Yoshitake , Ohji Tatsuki , Kato Kazumi 
Published: September 2011

AbstractCeO2 thin films with hexagonal‐shaped pores were successfully prepared by a facile electrodeposition at room temperature combined with an etching process. By using electrodeposited ZnO nanorods as a soft template, the morphology, and microstructure of the CeO2 could be controlled. TEM observation indicated that as‐prepared CeO2 film is composed of nanocrystals with average size of several nanometers, while XPS analysis showed the coexistence of Ce3+ and Ce4+ in the film. The photoluminescence properties of CeO2 films were measured, which showed much higher sensitivity compared to bare substrate.
Structural Colors: From Plasmonic to Carbon Nanostructures
Authors: Xu Ting , Shi Haofei , Wu Yi‐Kuei , Kaplan Alex F. , Ok Jong G. , Guo L. Jay 
Published: September 2011

AbstractIn addition to colorant‐based pigmentation, structure is a major contributor to a material's color. In nature, structural color is often caused by the interaction of light with dielectric structures whose dimensions are on the order of visible‐light wavelengths. Different optical interactions including multilayer interference, light scattering, the photonic crystal effect, and combinations thereof give rise to selective transmission or reflection of particular light wavelengths, which leads to the generation of structural color. Recent developments in nanofabrication of plasmonic and carbon nanostructures have opened another efficient way to control light properties at the subwavelength scale, including visible‐light wavelength selection, which can produce structural color. In this Concept, the most relevant and representative achievements demonstrated over the last several years are presented and analyzed. These plasmonic and carbon nanostructures are believed to offer great potential for high‐resolution color displays and spectral filtering applications.
Effects ofn-3 fatty acids, EPAv. DHA, on depressive symptoms, quality of life, memory and executive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a 6-month randomised controlled trial
Authors: Sinn Natalie , Milte Catherine M. , Street Steven J. , Buckley Jonathan D. , Coates Alison M. , Petkov John , Howe Peter R. C. 
Published: September 2011

Depressive symptoms may increase the risk of progressing from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to dementia. Consumption ofn-3 PUFA may alleviate both cognitive decline and depression. The aim of the present study was to investigate the benefits of supplementing a diet withn-3 PUFA, DHA and EPA, for depressive symptoms, quality of life (QOL) and cognition in elderly people with MCI. We conducted a 6-month double-blind, randomised controlled trial. A total of fifty people aged >65 years with MCI were allocated to receive a supplement rich in EPA (1·67 g EPA+0·16 g DHA/d;n17), DHA (1·55 g DHA+0·40 g EPA/d;n18) or then-6 PUFA linoleic acid (LA; 2·2 g/d;n15). Treatment allocation was by minimisation based on age, sex and depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale, GDS). Physiological and cognitive assessments, questionnaires and fatty acid composition of erythrocytes were obtained at baseline and 6 months (completers:n40; EPAn13, DHAn16, LAn11). Compared with the LA group, GDS scores improved in the EPA (P = 0·04) and DHA (P = 0·01) groups and verbal fluency (Initial Letter Fluency) in the DHA group (P = 0·04). Improved GDS scores were correlated with increased DHA plus EPA (r0·39,P = 0·02). Improved self-reported physical health was associated with increased DHA. There were no treatment effects on other cognitive or QOL parameters. Increased intakes of DHA and EPA benefited mental health in older people with MCI. Increasingn-3 PUFA intakes may reduce depressive symptoms and the risk of progressing to dementia. This needs to be investigated in larger, depressed samples with MCI.
Progressive Policy Making in a Conservative Age? Civil Rights and the Politics of Federal Education Standards, Testing, and Accountability
Authors: Rhodes Jesse Hessler 
Published: September 2011

Recent research on the politics of contemporary policymaking has centered the contributions of diverse conservative forces. Conservatives are viewed as the chief proponents of marketizing reforms featuring retrenchment of social programs, privatization of social services, deregulation, and tax reduction, as well as of disciplining policies that impose more stringent behavioral requirements on beneficiaries, employ testing and reporting to monitor recipient performance, and impose sanctions for non-compliance. These developments are often viewed as fostering a less egalitarian politics, especially for historically disadvantaged groups.I examine the rise of standards, testing, accountability, and limited school choice policies in federal education policymaking, which are widely viewed as embodying the same conservative interests and ideologies that have shaped policymaking in other areas. Contrary to this conventional wisdom, I show that certain civil rights organizations, not conservative forces, provided much of the impetus for federal standards, testing, and accountability reforms, which they viewed as measures for raising the achievement of disadvantaged students. Tracing the origins and consequences of these policies, my research reveals that entrepreneurial progressives can achieve significant legislative successes that they believe will accomplish progressive objectives. However, these policy victories have yielded mixed substantive results, and they have also unleashed complex and unanticipated consequences.
Investigating Speech Perception in Children With Dyslexia: Is There Evidence of a Consistent Deficit in Individuals?
Authors: Messaoud-Galusi Souhila , Hazan Valerie , Rosen Stuart 
Published: September 2011

PurposeThe claim that speech perception abilities are impaired in dyslexia was investigated in a group of 62 children with dyslexia and 51 average readers matched in age.MethodTo test whether there was robust evidence of speech perception deficits in children with dyslexia, speech perception in noise and quiet was measured using 8 different tasks involving the identification and discrimination of a complex and highly natural synthetic “bee”–“pea” contrast (copy synthesized from natural models) and the perception of naturally produced words.ResultsChildren with dyslexia, on average, performed more poorly than did average readers in the synthetic syllables identification task in quiet and in across-category discrimination (but not when tested using an adaptive procedure). They did not differ from average readers on 2 tasks of word recognition in noise or identification of synthetic syllables in noise. For all tasks, a majority of individual children with dyslexia performed within norms. Finally, speech perception generally did not correlate with pseudoword reading or phonological processing—the core skills related to dyslexia.ConclusionsOn the tasks and speech stimuli that the authors used, most children with dyslexia did not appear to show a consistent deficit in speech perception.
Neither Ascent nor Decline: “Parvaz” (Flying)
Authors: Djavahery Djavad 
Published: September 2011

Djavad Djavaheri's “Parvaz” (Flying) is a Meditation on the Concept of time and manifold perceptions of it. Does one second mean the same to two pilots, one in a commercial plane and the other in a fighter plane? What does the fighter pilot experience in that fateful moment on which his whole destiny depends— a moment indistinguishable from any other by the pilot in a commercial plane on his routine journey in clement weather? And from men to machines: how do we, in the age of artificial memories, microchips, and nanoseconds, translate time into both power and impotence against a background of cultures, themselves rendered intelligible only by making allowances for ambiguities, nuances, and uncertainties?Closer to the context of this story, consider the situation of a man at the end of his time.
No Way to Treat your Mother: Understanding Petit Jehan de Saintré's Rage
Authors: Emerson Catherine 
Published: September 2011

Abstract
The surprising ending of Antoine de La Sale's fictionalized portrait of Jean de Saintré raises a number of questions concerning both the conduct of the two protagonists and the generic status of the work itself. Although it has been noted that the central relationship is defined in terms of mother and son, previous studies have not recognized the full implications of this reading and the extent to which it can elucidate the questions posed by the closing section. La Sale's writing exploits linguistic ambiguities and his audience's awareness of their multiple meanings to paint a portrait of a relationship that does not cease to be subjected to a maternal paradigm. In doing so, he presents an (albeit restricted) critique of the infantilizing tendencies of courtly society and court combat at the end of the Middle Ages.
Temporal Framing in the
Conte
: From Theoretical Debate to Oral Story Performance
Authors: Carruthers Janice 
Published: September 2011

Abstract

This article explores ‘temporal framing’ in the oral
conte
. The starting point is a recent theoretical debate around the temporal structure of narrative discourse which has highlighted a fundamental tension between the approaches of two of the most influential current theoretical models, one of which is ‘framing theory’. The specific issue concerns the role of temporal adverbials appearing at the head of the clause (e.g. dates, relative temporal adverbials such as
le lendemain
) versus that of temporal ‘connectives’ such as
puis
,
ensuite
, etc. Through an analysis of a corpus of
contes
performed at the Conservatoire contemporain de Littérature Orale, I shall explore temporal framing in the light of this theoretical debate, and shall argue that, as with other types of narrative discourse, framing is primarily a structural rather than a temporal device in oral narrative. In a final section, I shall further argue, using Kintsch's construction-integration model of narrative processing, that framing is fundamental to the cognitive processes involved in oral story performance.
Transfemoral aortic valve implantation under sedation and monitored anaesthetic care – a feasibility study
Authors: Bergmann L. , Kahlert P. , Eggebrecht H. , Frey U. , Peters J. , Kottenberg E. 
Published: September 2011

SummarySurgical aortic valve replacement is the conventional treatment for symptomatic aortic valve stenosis; however, the technique of transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation has recently been developed for older patients at high risk for surgery. We assessed whether this procedure could be safely performed under sedation in 100 patients. Their predicted surgical mortality was 21.6% and mean (SD) age 80 (6.6) years. Sedation was provided by remifentanil infusion (0–0.2 μg.kg−1.min−1) and midazolam (1–3 mg), as required. All patients were closely haemodynamically monitored throughout by an anaesthetist and inotropic drugs administered as indicated by invasive monitoring. Sedation alone was required in 83 patients; in 17 patients sedation had to be converted to general anaesthesia, mainly because of interventional complications (n = 12). All conversions to general anaesthesia occurred after successful valve implantation. Mean (SD) anaesthesia time was 31 (12) min and procedural time 107 (77) min; 30‐day and 1‐year all‐cause mortality were 6% and 13%, respectively. In the majority of patients, transcatheter valve implantation can safely be facilitated by sedation, provided monitoring and drug administration are carried out by an experienced cardiac anaesthetist.You can respond to this article at http://www.anaesthesiacorrespondence.com
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis‐linked mutant VAPB enhances TDP‐43‐induced motor neuronal toxicity
Authors: Suzuki Hiroaki , Matsuoka Masaaki 
Published: September 2011

J. Neurochem. (2011) 119, 1099–1107.AbstractTransactive response DNA‐binding protein‐43 (TDP‐43) has been thought to be generally involved in the pathogenesis of most amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients although it remains undefined how TDP‐43 is involved in the ALS pathogenesis. In this study, we found that a P56S mutant of vesicle‐associated membrane protein‐associated protein B (VAPB), which has been identified to be a familial ALS‐causative protein, potentiated the TDP‐43‐induced motor neuronal cell death, while wild‐type VAPB conversely inhibited it. The P56S‐VAPB‐induced potentiation of the TDP‐43‐induced death was mediated by the up‐regulation of Bim expression at the mRNA level and other undefined mechanisms that leads to the enhancement of Bim and Bax activity. These observations suggest that TDP‐43 and P56S‐VAPB may co‐operate to involve the pathogenesis of ALS.
Do Firms Adjust Their Timely Loss Recognition in Response to Changes in the Banking Industry?
Authors: GORMLEY TODD A. , KIM BONG HWAN , MARTIN XIUMIN 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTThis paper investigates the impact of changes in the banking sector on firms’ timely recognition of economic losses. In particular, we focus on the entry of foreign banks into India during the 1990s, which likely causes an exogenous increase in lender demand for timely loss recognition. Analyzing variation in both the timing and the location of the new foreign banks’ entries, we find that foreign bank entry is associated with more timely loss recognition and this increase is positively related to a firm's subsequent debt levels. The change appears driven by a shift in firms’ incentives to supply additional information to lenders and lenders seem to value this information. The increase in timely loss recognition is also concentrated among firms more dependent on external financing: private firms, smaller firms, and nongroup firms. Overall, our evidence suggests that a firm's accounting choices respond to changes in the banking industry.
An evaluation of the global potential of bioenergy production on degraded lands
Authors: Nijsen Michiel , Smeets Edward , Stehfest Elke , van Vuuren Detlef P. 
Published: September 2011

AbstractIn this article the global potential of energy crop production on degraded lands was estimated using detailed, spatially explicit data about the area, type and extent of degradation derived from the Global Assessment of Land Degradation Dataset, and by combining this dataset with various spatially explicit data sets. Next, an estimate was made of the possible yield of perennial energy crops on the degraded areas as a function of the type and degree of degradation. Lightly degraded areas were not included, as these areas might be suitable for conventional food production. The total global potential energy production on degraded lands was assessed to be slightly above 150 and 190 EJ yr−1, for grassy and woody energy crops, respectively. Most of this potential, however, is on areas currently classified as forest, cropland or pastoral land, leaving a potential of around 25 and 32 EJ yr−1 on other land cover categories. Most of the potential energy crop production on degraded land is located in developing regions. China has a total potential of 30 EJ yr−1, of which 4 EJ yr−1 from areas classified as other land. Also USA, Brazil, West Africa, East Africa, Russia and India have substantial potentials of 12–18 EJ yr−1, with up to 30% of the potential from areas classified as other land.
Cost-Effectiveness of Community-Based Strategies for Blood Pressure Control in a Low-Income Developing Country
Authors: Jafar Tazeen H. , Islam Muhammad , Bux Rasool , Poulter Neil , Hatcher Juanita , Chaturvedi Nish , Ebrahim Shah , Cosgrove Peter 
Published: September 2011

Background—
Evidence on economically efficient strategies to lower blood pressure (BP) from low- and middle-income countries remains scarce. The Control of Blood Pressure and Risk Attenuation (COBRA) trial randomized 1341 hypertensive subjects in 12 randomly selected communities in Karachi, Pakistan, to 3 intervention programs: (1) combined home health education (HHE) plus trained general practitioner (GP); (2) HHE only; and (3) trained GP only. The comparator was no intervention (or usual care). The reduction in BP was most pronounced in the combined group. The present study examined the cost-effectiveness of these strategies.

Methods and Results—
Total costs were assessed at baseline and 2 years to estimate incremental cost-effectiveness ratios based on (1) intervention cost; (2) cost of physician consultation, medications, diagnostics, changes in lifestyle, and productivity loss; and (3) change in systolic BP. Precision of the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio estimates was assessed by 1000 bootstrapping replications. Bayesian probabilistic sensitivity analysis was also performed. The annual costs per participant associated with the combined HHE plus trained GP, HHE alone, and trained GP alone were $3.99, $3.34, and $0.65, respectively. HHE plus trained GP was the most cost-effective intervention, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $23 (95 confidence interval, 6–99) per mm Hg reduction in systolic BP compared with usual care, and remained so in 97.7 of 1000 bootstrapped replications.

Conclusions—
The combined intervention of HHE plus trained GP is potentially affordable and more cost-effective for BP control than usual care or either strategy alone in some communities in Pakistan, and possibly other countries in Indochina with similar healthcare infrastructure.

Clinical Trial Registration—

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00327574.
Using the WRF Model in an Operational Streamflow Forecast System for the Jordan River
Authors: Givati Amir , Lynn Barry , Liu Yubao , Rimmer Alon 
Published: September 2011

AbstractThe Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model was employed to provide precipitation forecasts during the 2008/09 and 2009/10 winters (wet season) for Israel and the surrounding region where complex terrain dominates. The WRF precipitation prediction has been coupled with the Hydrological Model for Karst Environment (HYMKE) to forecast the upper Jordan River streamflow. The daily WRF precipitation forecasts were verified against the measurements from a dense network of rain gauges in northern and central Israel, and the simulation results using the high-resolution WRF indicated good agreement with the actual measurements. The daily precipitation amount calculated by WRF at rain gauges located in the upper parts of the Jordan River basin showed good agreement with the actual measurements. Numerical experiments were carried out to test the impact of the WRF model resolution and WRF microphysical schemes, to determine an optimal model configuration for this application. Because of orographic forcing in the region, it is necessary to run WRF with a 4–1.3-km grid increment and with sophisticated microphysical schemes that consider liquid water, ice, snow, and graupel to produce quality precipitation predictions. The hydrological modeling system that ingests the high-resolution WRF forecast precipitation produced good results and improved upon the operational streamflow forecast method for the Jordan River that is now in use. The modeling tools presented in this study are used to support the water-resource-assessment process and studies of seasonal hydroclimatic forecasting in this region.
Effects of Urban Surfaces and White Roofs on Global and Regional Climate
Authors: Jacobson Mark Z. , Ten Hoeve John E. 
Published: September 2011

Abstract
Land use, vegetation, albedo, and soil-type data are combined in a global model that accounts for roofs and roads at near their actual resolution to quantify the effects of urban surface and white roofs on climate. In 2005, ~0.128% of the earthrsquo;s surface contained urban land cover, half of which was vegetated. Urban land cover was modeled over 20 years to increase gross global warming (warming before cooling due to aerosols and albedo change are accounted for) by 0.06–0.11 K and population-weighted warming by 0.16–0.31 K, based on two simulations under different conditions. As such, the urban heat island (UHI) effect may contribute to 2%–4% of gross global warming, although the uncertainty range is likely larger than the model range presented, and more verification is needed. This may be the first estimate of the UHI effect derived from a global model while considering both UHI local heating and large-scale feedbacks. Previous data estimates of the global UHI, which considered the effect of urban areas but did not treat feedbacks or isolate temperature change due to urban surfaces from other causes of urban temperature change, imply a smaller UHI effect but of similar order. White roofs change surface albedo and affect energy demand. A worldwide conversion to white roofs, accounting for their albedo effect only, was calculated to cool population-weighted temperatures by ~0.02 K but to warm the earth overall by ~0.07 K. White roof local cooling may also affect energy use, thus emissions, a factor not accounted for here. As such, conclusions here regarding white roofs apply only to the assumptions made.
Fluctuating hyperglycaemia increases oxidative stress response in lean rats compared to sustained hyperglycaemia despite lower glycaemic exposure
Authors: Rakipovski Günaj , Raun Kirsten , Lykkesfeldt Jens 
Published: September 2011

Objective: To compare the effect of fluctuating glucose with sustained hyperglycaemia on systemic oxidative stress during 72 h of glucose infusion. Methods: Catheterised male Sprague–Dawley rats were given either a continuous high (CHG), low (CLG) or pulsatile (FLU) infusion of glucose or saline (VEH) for 72 h. Plasma ascorbate oxidation ratio (AOR) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were used as biomarkers of oxidative stress and damage. Results: The FLU group showed significant increases in both plasma AOR and MDA at 48 and 72 h ( p < 0.05 all cases), whereas the CHG group, despite being infused with three times the amount of glucose, only showed increased MDA levels at 72 h time point ( p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our data suggests that fluctuating glucose levels lead to oxidative stress similar to that of sustained hyperglycaemia despite a much lower total glycaemic exposure. Thus, our data supports the notion that fluctuating glucose may be relatively more deleterious than sustained hyperglycaemia.
Preculture of PBMCs at high cell density increases sensitivity of T-cell responses, revealing cytokine release by CD28 superagonist TGN1412
Authors: Römer Paula S. , Berr Susanne , Avota Elita , Na Shin-Young , Battaglia Manuela , ten Berge Ineke , Einsele Hermann , Hünig Thomas 
Published: September 2011

AbstractHuman volunteers receiving TGN1412, a humanized CD28-specific monoclonal antibody, experienced a life-threatening cytokine release syndrome during a recent trial. Preclinical tests using human PBMCs had failed to announce the rapid release of TNF, IFN-γ, and other toxic cytokines in response to this CD28 “superagonist” (CD28SA). CD28SA activate T-lymphocytes by ligating CD28 without overt engagement of the TCR. They do, however, depend on “tonic” TCR signals, which they amplify. Here we show that short-term preculture of PBMCs at high, but not at low, cell density results in massive cytokine release during subsequent stimulation with soluble TGN1412. Restoration of reactivity was cell-contact dependent, involved functional maturation of both monocytes and T cells, was sensitive to blockade by HLA-specific mAb, and was associated with TCR polarization and tyrosine phosphorylation. CD4 effector memory T cells were identified as the main source of proinflammatory cytokines. Importantly, responses to other T-cell activating agents, including microbial antigens, were also enhanced if PBMCs were first allowed to interact under tissue-like conditions. We provide a protocol, which strongly improves reactivity of circulating T cells to soluble stimulants, thereby allowing for more reliable preclinical testing of both activating and inhibitory immunomodulatory drugs.