bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Philosophy of Action and Philosophy of Religion
Authors: Goetz Stewart 
Published: October 2006

AbstractThe world's major monotheistic religions typically maintain that God freely chose, in the libertarian sense, to create the universe for a reason or purpose. Philosophers of religion often argue that the idea that God makes a free choice to create for a purpose is deeply flawed. In parallel with these philosophers of religion, philosophers of action typically argue that the idea that human beings make free choices to act for purposes is also flawed. I begin my article by briefly summarizing what is involved in the idea of a human agent freely choosing for a purpose. I then examine criticisms of this idea by philosophers of action and suggest how they might plausibly be rebutted. I conclude by suggesting that if these criticisms by philosophers of action are suspect, then there is good reason for thinking that the same or similar criticisms by philosophers of religion are suspect.
Montelukast in allergic rhinitis: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Grainger J. , Drake‐Lee A. 
Published: October 2006

Key points• Allergic rhinitis is common.• This systematic review outlines the evidence regarding montelukast in allergic rhinitis and provides a meta‐analysis of its efficacy.• The evidence suggests that montelukast does reduce nasal symptom score by 3.4% (95% CI: 2.5% to 4.2%) when compared with placebo.• Montelukast is not as effective as topical nasal steroids or antihistamines and should therefore be regarded as second line therapy.• When used, montelukast should be used in combination with an antihistamine.
Defining the stenotic post‐laryngectomy tracheostoma and its impact on the quality of life in laryngectomees: development and validation of a stoma function questionnaire
Authors: Paleri V. , Wight R.G. , Owen S. , Hurren A. , Stafford F.W. 
Published: October 2006

Objectives:  The aims of this study were to identify if: (i) size of stoma contributes to quality of life (QoL) in laryngectomees; (ii) stoma size has an impact on routine stoma care and function; and (iii) an optimal stoma size exists below which patients experience stoma problems.Design:  Cross‐sectional study of laryngectomees.Setting:  Two tertiary care centres.Participants:  Fifty‐seven patients who had undergone total laryngectomy one to five years ago and using tracheo‐oesophageal speech as their primary communication means.Main outcomes measures:  Three main measures were studied: 1 a new study specific questionnaire designed to assess problems with function and care of the end tracheosto‐ ma; 2 QoL as assessed by the head and neck QoL instrument; 3 a precision custom designed sizer to measure the minimum stoma diameter.Results:  The final study‐specific questionnaire contained four items assessing different aspects of stomal function. From raw total scores an overall stomal score was generated. The stoma score was moderately correlated to emotion and speech domains in head and neck Quality of Life questionnaire, indicating that different concepts were being measured. The mean minimum stoma diameter was 15.9 ± 2.9 mm. There was a significant increase in the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve beyond a threshold value of ≥15 mm; smaller sizes were associated with a poorer stoma score (Mann–Whitney test, P < 0.001). No patient found the stoma sizer use distressing.Conclusions:  Size of stoma significantly contributes to QoL in laryngectomees and stomas with minimum diameters of 14 mm or less are associated with adverse effects on routine stoma function. The study‐specific stoma function questionnaire appears to be a useful instrument.
A comparison of endoscopic and microscopic removal of wax: a randomised clinical trial
Authors: Pothier D. D. , Hall C. , Gillett S. 
Published: October 2006

Objectives:  Using a microscope to achieve a view of the canal during dewaxing is the most commonly performed method of dewaxing in secondary care, but an endoscope can also be used. We set out to compare endoscopic and microscopic dewaxing.Design:  Randomised clinical trial.Setting:  Otolaryngology Outpatient Department.Participants:  One hundred participants selected sequentially from patients requiring dewaxing of their ears to allow examination of the tympanic membrane. Patients with external or middle ear pathology were excluded.Methods:  Patients were randomly assigned to have dewaxing performed using microinstruments aided by vision with a microscope or an endoscope. All participants who were entered the study completed the study.Main outcome measures:  Levels of pain and discomfort experienced by the participants were assessed by a visual analogue scale (VAS). Difficulty of performing the dewaxing indicated by the endoscopist using a VAS. The length of time taken to perform the dewaxing was also recorded.Results:  Endoscopic dewaxing was less uncomfortable than microscopic dewaxing for patients (VAS median values 5 and 25 respectively; P < 0.002) as well as less painful (VAS median values 3.5 and 10 respectively; P < 0.075). Endoscopic dewaxing was easier to perform than microscopic dewaxing (VAS median values for difficulty were 9 and 20 respectively; P < 0.005) and took less time (mean time for endoscopic dewaxing was 1.8 min versus 3.3 min for microscopic dewaxing (P < 0.001). Ninety‐one per cent of ears could be dewaxed with a Jobson–Horne probe or wax hook.Conclusions:  The cost of an operating microscope suitable for use with dewaxing is approximately 10 times that of a suitable endoscope, dewaxing is a cheaper alternative to microscopic dewaxing that has benefits for the patient and clinician.
Differential Regulation of the Three Methanol Methyltransferase Isozymes in
Methanosarcina acetivorans
C2A
Authors: Bose Arpita , Pritchett Matthew A. , Rother Michael , Metcalf William W. 
Published: October 2006

ABSTRACT

Genetic analysis of the three methanol-specific methyltransferase 1 operons (
mtaCB1
,
mtaCB2
, and
mtaCB3
) in
Methanosarcina acetivorans
led to the suggestion that each of them has a discrete function during growth on methanol, which might be reflected in differential gene regulation (Pritchett and Metcalf, Mol. Microbiol.
56:
1183-1194, 2005). To test this suggestion, reporter gene fusions were constructed for each of the three operons, and their expression was examined under various growth conditions. Expression of the
mtaCB1
and
mtaCB2
fusions was 100-fold and 575-fold higher, respectively, in methanol-grown cells than in trimethylamine (TMA)-grown cells. The
mtaCB3
fusion was expressed at low levels on methanol, TMA, and dimethylamine but was significantly upregulated on monomethylamine and acetate. When TMA- or acetate-grown cultures were shifted to methanol, the
mtaCB1
fusion was expressed most highly during exponential phase, whereas the
mtaCB2
fusion, although strongly induced prior to
mtaCB1
expression, did not reach full expression levels until stationary phase. The
mtaCB3
fusion was transiently expressed prior to entry into exponential phase during a TMA-to-methanol substrate shift experiment. When acetate-grown cells were shifted to medium containing both TMA and methanol, TMA utilization commenced prior to utilization of methanol; however, these two substrates were consumed simultaneously later in growth. Under these conditions expression of the
mtaCB2
and
mtaCB3
fusions was delayed, suggesting that methylamines may repress their expression.
Phototaxis and Impaired Motility in Adenylyl Cyclase and Cyclase Receptor Protein Mutants ofSynechocystissp. Strain PCC 6803
Authors: Bhaya Devaki , Nakasugi Kenlee , Fazeli Fariba , Burriesci Matthew S. 
Published: October 2006

ABSTRACTWe have carefully characterized and reexamined the motility and phototactic responses ofSynechocystissp. adenylyl cyclase (Cya1) and catabolite activator protein (SYCRP1) mutants to different light regimens, glucose, 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea, and cyclic AMP. We find that contrary to earlier reports,cya1andsycrp1mutants are motile and phototactic but are impaired in one particular phase of phototaxis in comparison with wild-typeSynechocystissp.
AmiC Functions as an
N
-Acetylmuramyl-
l
-Alanine Amidase Necessaryfor Cell Separation and Can Promote Autolysis in
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Authors: Garcia Daniel L. , Dillard Joseph P. 
Published: October 2006

ABSTRACT

Neisseria gonorrhoeae
is prone to undergo autolysis under many conditions
not conducive to growth. The role of autolysis during gonococcal
infection is not known, but possible advantages for the bacterial
population include provision of nutrients to a starving population,
modulation of the host immune response by released cell components, and
donation of DNA for natural transformation. Biochemical studies
indicated that an
N
-acetylmuramyl-
l
-alanine amidase
is responsible for cell wall breakdown during autolysis. In order to
better understand autolysis and in hopes of creating a nonautolytic
mutant, we mutated
amiC
, the gene for a putative
peptidoglycan-degrading amidase in
N. gonorrhoeae
.
Characterization of peptidoglycan fragments released during growth
showed that an
amiC
mutant did not produce free disaccharide,
consistent with a role for AmiC as an
N
-acetylmuramyl-
l
-alanine amidase. Compared to the
wild-type parent, the mutant exhibited altered growth characteristics,
including slowed exponential-phase growth, increased turbidity in
stationary phase, and increased colony opacity. Thin-section electron
micrographs showed that mutant cells did not fully separate but grew as
clumps. Complementation of the
amiC
deletion mutant with
wild-type
amiC
restored wild-type growth characteristics and
transparent colony morphology. Overexpression of
amiC
resulted
in increased cell lysis, supporting AmiC's purported function as a
gonococcal autolysin. However,
amiC
mutants still underwent
autolysis in stationary phase, indicating that other gonococcal enzymes
are also involved in this
process.
Blocking Chromosome Translocation during Sporulation ofBacillus subtilisCan Result in Prespore-Specific Activation of σGThat Is Independent of σEand of Engulfment
Authors: Chary Vasant K. , Xenopoulos Panagiotis , Piggot Patrick J. 
Published: October 2006

ABSTRACTFormation of spores byBacillus subtilisis characterized by cell compartment-specific gene expression directed by four RNA polymerase σ factors, which are activated in the order σF-σE-σG-σK. Of these, σGbecomes active in the prespore upon completion of engulfment of the prespore by the mother cell. Transcription of the gene encoding σG,spoIIIG, is directed in the prespore by RNA polymerase containing σFbut also requires the activity of σEin the mother cell. When first formed, σGis not active. Its activation requires expression of additional σE-directed genes, including the genes required for completion of engulfment. Here we report conditions in which σGbecomes active in the prespore in the absence of σEactivity and of completion of engulfment. The conditions are (i) having anspoIIIEmutation, so that only the origin-proximal 30% of the chromosome is translocated into the prespore, and (ii) placingspoIIIGin an origin-proximal location on the chromosome. The main function of the σE-directed regulation appears to be to coordinate σGactivation with the completion of engulfment, not to control the level of σGactivity. It seems plausible that the role of σEin σGactivation is to reverse some inhibitory signal (or signals) in the engulfed prespore, a signal that is not present in thespoIIIEmutant background. It is not clear what the direct activator of σGin the prespore is. Competition for core RNA polymerase between σFand σGis unlikely to be of major importance.
Cross-talk between Language Processes and Overt Motor Behavior in the First 200 msec of Processing
Authors: Boulenger Véronique , Roy Alice C. , Paulignan Yves , Deprez Viviane , Jeannerod Marc , Nazir Tatjana A. 
Published: October 2006

Abstract
A recently emerging view sees language understanding as closely linked to sensory and motor processes. The present study investigates this issue by examining the influence of processing action verbs and concrete nouns on the execution of a reaching movement. Fine-grained analyses of movement kinematics revealed that relative to nouns, processing action verbs significantly affects overt motor performance. Within 200 msec after onset, processing action verbs interferes with a concurrent reaching movement. By contrast, the same words assist reaching movement when processed before movement onset. The cross-talk between language processes and overt motor behavior provides unambiguous evidence that action words and motor action share common cortical representations and could thus suggest that cortical motor regions are indeed involved in action word retrieval.
A Moment to Reflect upon Perceptual Synchrony
Authors: Elliott Mark A. , Shi Zhuanghua , Kelly Sean D. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractHow does neuronal activity bring about the interpretation of visual space in terms of objects or complex perceptual events? If they group, simple visual features can bring about the integration of spikes from neurons responding to different features to within a few milliseconds. Considered as a potential solution to the “binding problem,” it is suggested that neuronal synchronization is the glue for binding together different features of the same object. This idea receives some support from correlated- and periodic-stimulus motion paradigms, both of which suggest that the segregation of a figure from ground is a direct result of the temporal correlation of visual signals. One could say that perception of a highly correlated visual structure permits space to be bound in time. However, on closer analysis, the concept of perceptual synchrony is insufficient to explain the conditions under which events will be seen as simultaneous. Instead, the grouping effects ascribed to perceptual synchrony are better explained in terms of the intervals of time over which stimulus events integrate and seem to occur simultaneously. This point is supported by the equivalence of some of these measures with well-established estimates of the perceptual moment. However, it is time in extension and not the instantaneous that may best describe how seemingly simultaneous features group. This means that studies of perceptual synchrony are insufficient to address the binding problem.
Magnetic Stimulation of the Left Visual Cortex Impairs Expert Word Recognition
Authors: Skarratt Paul A. , Lavidor Michal 
Published: October 2006

Abstract
One of the hallmarks of expert reading is the ability to identify arrays of several letters quickly and in parallel. Such length-independent reading has only been found for word stimuli appearing in the right visual hemifield (RVF). With left hemifield presentation (LVF), response times increase as a function of word length. Here we investigated the comparative efficiency with which the two hemispheres are able to recognize visually presented words, as measured by word length effects. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the left occipital cortex disrupted expert processing of the RVF such that a length effect was created (Experiment 1). Right occipital rTMS, on the other hand, had no such effect on RVF words and nor did it modulate the length effect already present in the LVF. Experiment 2 explored the time course of these TMS-induced effects by applying single pulses of TMS at various stimulus-onset asynchronies for the same task. We replicated the TMS-induced length effect for RVF words, but only when a single pulse was applied to the left visual cortex 80 msec after target presentation. This is the first demonstration of TMS-induced impairment producing a word length effect, and as such confirms the specialization of the left hemisphere in word recognition. It is likely that anatomical differences in the pathway linking retinal input to higher level cortical processing drive this effect.
Mental Representation of Verb Meaning: Behavioral and Electrophysiological Evidence
Authors: Li Xuesong , Shu Hua , Liu Youyi , Li Ping 
Published: October 2006

AbstractPrevious psycholinguistic research has debated the nature of the mental representation of verbs and the access of relevant verb information in sentence processing. In this study, we used behavioral and electrophysiological methods to examine the representation of verbs in and out of sentence contexts. In five experiments, word naming and event-related potential (ERP) components were used to measure the speed and the amplitude, respectively, associated with different verb-object combinations that result in different degrees of fit between the verb and its object. Both naming speed and ERP amplitudes (N400) are proven to be sensitive indices of the degree of fit, varying as a function of how well the object fits the verb in terms of selectional restrictions. The results suggest that the semantic features of the verb's arguments are an integral part of the mental representation of verbs, and such information of the verb is accessed and used on-line during sentence processing. Implications of these results are discussed in light of recent computational semantic models that view the lexicon through high-order lexical co-occurrences in language use.
Training for Chairing: A Practical Approach
Authors: Hemery John , Meerts Paul 
Published: October 2006

AbstractThis article draws on the experience of two series of courses in negotiation and chairing, fifty in all, conducted in preparation for the UK and Finnish Presidencies of the European Union, 2005 and 2006. It outlines the concept and design of the programme, and introduces a four-part analysis of the chair's role which provided the intellectual framework for the series. It examines in detail the structure of the courses and the practical exercises which formed the core of the training. A concluding section draws together the lessons learned. The article would be helpful specifically to those preparing officials for the Presidency of the EU, but also for multilateral negotiations more generally, as well as to those interested in the theory and practice of chairing.
Can CGCMs Simulate the Twentieth-Century “Warming Hole” in the Central United States?
Authors: Kunkel Kenneth E. , Liang Xin-Zhong , Zhu Jinhong , Lin Yiruo 
Published: October 2006

Abstract
The observed lack of twentieth-century warming in the central United States (CUS), denoted here as the “warming hole,” was examined in 55 simulations driven by external historical forcings and in 19 preindustrial control (unforced) simulations from 18 coupled general circulation models (CGCMs). Twentieth-century CUS trends were positive for the great majority of simulations, but were negative, as observed, for seven simulations. Only a few simulations exhibited the observed rapid rate of warming (cooling) during 1901–40 (1940–79). Those models with multiple runs (identical forcing but different initial conditions) showed considerable intramodel variability with trends varying by up to 1.8°C century−1, suggesting that internal dynamic variability played a major role at the regional scale. The wide range of trend outcomes, particularly for those models with multiple runs, and the small number of simulations similar to observations in both the forced and unforced experiments suggest that the warming hole is not a robust response of contemporary CGCMs to the estimated external forcings. A more likely explanation based on these models is that the observed warming hole involves external forcings combined with internal dynamic variability that is much larger than typically simulated.
The observed CUS temperature variations are positively correlated with North Atlantic (NA) sea surface temperatures (SSTs), and both NA SSTs and CUS temperature are negatively correlated with central equatorial Pacific (CEP) SSTs. Most models simulate rather well the connection between CUS temperature and NA SSTs. However, the teleconnections between NA and CEP SSTS and between CEP SSTs and CUS temperature are poorly simulated and the models produce substantially less NA SST variability than observed, perhaps hampering their ability to reproduce the warming hole.
Defining Intraseasonal Rainfall Variability within the North American Monsoon
Authors: Englehart Phil J. , Douglas Arthur V. 
Published: October 2006

Abstract
This study provides an empirical description of intraseasonal rainfall variability within the North American monsoon (NAM) region. Applying particular definitions to historical daily rainfall observations, it demonstrates that distinct intraseasonal rainfall modes exist and that these modes differ considerably from the monsoon core region in northwest Sonora (SON), California, to its northward extension in southeast Arizona (AZ). To characterize intraseasonal rainfall variability (ISV), separate P-mode principal component (PC) analyses were performed for SON and AZ. The results indicate that in each area, much of the ISV in rainfall can be described by three orthogonal modes. The correlations between ISV modes and total seasonal rainfall reinforce the notion of differing behaviors between the monsoon’s core and extension. For SON all three ISV modes exhibit significant correlation with seasonal rainfall, with the strongest relationship in evidence for the ISV mode, which is related to rainfall intensity. For AZ, total rainfall exhibits the strongest correlation with the ISV mode, which emphasizes season length and rainfall consistency. Examination of longer-period behavior in the ISV modes indicates that, for SON, there is a positive linear trend in intensity, but a countervailing trend toward a shorter monsoon season along with less consistent rainfall in the form of shorter wet spells. For AZ, the evidence for trend in the ISV modes is not nearly as compelling, though one of the modes appears to exhibit distinct multidecadal variability. This study also evaluates teleconnectivity between ENSO, the Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO), and the NAM’s intraseasonal rainfall variability. Results indicate that part of the intraseasonal rainfall variability in both SON and AZ is connected to ENSO while only SON exhibits a teleconnection with the long-period fluctuations of the PDO.
Comparison of Precipitation from Observed Data and General Circulation Models over the Iberian Peninsula
Authors: Nieto Susana , Rodríguez-Puebla Concepción 
Published: October 2006

Abstract
In this paper, the ability of model outputs from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to describe the natural internal variability of precipitation observations is evaluated. The analysis is focused on the Iberian Peninsula for December–February (DJF). The study was performed with observed data from National Meteorological Institutes, reanalysis data from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction–National Center for Atmospheric Research, teleconnection indices, and model simulations. First, the seasonal cycle, mean winter pattern, and tendency for nine model simulations were evaluated. Then, four models were selected to obtain interannual variability and to diagnose the links between precipitation and large-scale circulation. This intercomparison is based on the modes obtained by the empirical orthogonal function (EOF) and spectral analyses to investigate the temporal properties of the most significant spatial patterns. The models well reproduce the observed seasonal cycle and the mean winter pattern; however, they poorly capture the interannual variability found in observed data. To ascertain the reasons for these results, features affecting the precipitation process are considered by analyzing the relationships with the dominant modes of large-scale atmospheric fields, such as sea level pressure, storm activity, jet stream, moisture flux, and teleconnection indices. The precipitation response to the mean flow suggests signs of potential seasonal predictability in DJF.