bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Volatile products from mild oxidation of methyl linoleate. Analysis by combined mass spectrometry‐gas chromatography
Authors: Horvat R. J. , McFadden W. H. , NG Hawkins , Black D. R. , Lane W. G. , Teeter R. M.
Published: May 2007

The volatile products from autoxidation of methyl linoleate have been analyzed by combined mass spectrometry‐gas chromatography. The principal components were pentanal, hexanal, amyl formate, methyl octanoate, and substituted dioxolanes. Minor components included esters, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, hydrocarbons, and acetals. Certain unsaturated carbonyl compounds, previously reported, were not detected.
The oxygenated fatty acid of calendula seed oil
Authors: Badami R. C. , Morris L. J.
Published: May 2007

The seed oil ofCalendula officinalisl. contains a monohydroxy acid amounting to some 5% of its component acids. This acid has been isolated and shown to be D‐(+)‐9‐hydroxy‐10,12‐octadecadienoic acid, probably 10‐trans,12‐cis.
Anatomical variation in fatty acid composition and triglyceride distribution in animal depot fats
Authors: Chacko G. K. , Perkins E. G.
Published: May 2007

The fatty acid composition and glyceride distribution of fatty acids in pork, beef and lamb depot fats from different localities within the same animal were determined by a combination of gas liquid chromatography and lipase hydrolysis techniques. The glyceride distribution was calculated according to the method of Vander Wal, based on the 1, 3‐random and 2‐random distribution pattern. Both fatty acid composition and glyceride structure were found to vary depending on the position within the animal from which the depot fat was obtained.
Competitive inhibitions in the metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids studied via the composition of phospholipids, triglycerides and cholesteryl esters of rat tissues
Authors: Garcia Pilar Teresa , Holman Ralph T.
Published: May 2007

Male rats which had been kept on fat‐free diet and which were deficient in essential fatty acids were divided into ten groups. All ten groups received 0.8% of calories of linolenate, and nine received one of three levels of either linoleate, े‐linolenate or arachidonate for a period of six days. The rats were sacrificed, the livers, kidneys and testes were extracted, and the phospholipids, triglycerides and cholesteryl esters were separated by thin‐layer chromatography. The fatty acid composition of each was determined by gas‐liquid chromatography. The inhibition of the metabolism of linolenic acid by linoleate, े‐linolenate and arachidonate was evidenced in all three lipid classes and in all tissues. The activities in suppressing linolenate metabolism were in the order 20:4 >18:3 >18:2.
Effect of internal distributors in a packed column on the steam stripping of hexane from soybean oil
Authors: Arnold Lionel K. , Schutter Ray
Published: May 2007

Internal distributors were designed and installed in a 6‐in. diameter column with an 8‐ft bed of 1/2‐in. berl saddles. The distribution pattern of a liquid (water) flowing down the column was first determined. The distributors picked up the water from the wall of the column and redistributed it towards the center producing definitely better distribution across the column than obtained without them. Steam stripping of hexane from soybean oil was next carried out in the column both with and without the distributors. The residual hexane in the oil varied exponentially with the steam‐oil ratio. Under the experimental conditions 18% less steam was required for comparable stripping with the distributors in the column than without them.
Sesame oil. X1. The stability of vitamin A in sesame oil and in margarine stock containing sesame oil
Authors: Murray Mildred D. , O'Connor Robert T. , Carlos Suarez C. , Bickford W. G.
Published: May 2007

A study has been made of three groups of samples fortified with a vitamin A concentrate—sesame oil, margarine stock, and a mixture of 95% margarine stock and 5% sesame oil—to determine the stability of vitamin A in the presence of sesame oil. The samples were stored at two temperatures and their vitamin A content was measured periodically throughout a period of 42 weeks by an ultraviolet absorption method.

The results show no evidence of vitamin A instability in the three groups of samples after storage at 32°F. for 42 weeks, or in the margarine stock and margarine stock‐sesame oil mixture after storage for the same period of time at 78°–80°F. However the pure sesame oil showed a significant change in vitamin A content at the end of 42 weeks of storage at 78°–80°F. The trend toward instability became evident after 13 to 26 weeks of storage.
Identification of 2‐ethylhexyl hydrogen sebacate in bis(2‐ethylhexyl) sebacate synthetic oils
Authors: Dismukes Edward B.
Published: May 2007

The acid monoester 2‐ethylhexyl hydrogen sebacate has been identified in bis(2‐ethylhexyl) sebacate oils by carrying out a partial separation of components with the solvents Skellysolve C and acetonitrile‐methanol and by examining the infrared spectrum of the fraction contained in the acetonitrile‐methanol phase for the characteristic 1,710‐ and 1,740‐cm.−1 absorption peaks of the monoester.
Production methods for the manufacture of crude tall oil and its subsequent processing
Authors: Barnes E. O. , Potts R. H. , White F. B.
Published: May 2007

The source of crude tall oil and methods to produce the oil have been described. These include acidulation of sulfate pulp, black liquor skimmings, and gravity settling as well as centrifugal means of separation to reduce the lignin content of the product.

Subsequent processing of the crude tall oil into fractionated fatty acids and rosin has been outlined with suggestions for consideration in all stages of the distillation section of the plant.
Thioesterification of platelet proteins with saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids
Authors: Laposata Michael , Muszbek Laszlo
Published: May 2007

We have demonstrated that more than 20 platelet proteins can be acylated with fatty acids via thioester linkages. These include the glycoprotein IX beta chain of glycoprotein Ib, components of the von Willebrand factor receptor on the platelet surface, P‐selectin, and α subunits of Gz, Gq, and Gi. Our studies have shown that platelet proteins can be posttranslationally acylated in thioester linkages not only with palmitate but with myristate and also with the eicosanoid precursor fatty acids arachidonate and eicosapentaenoate. Thioesterification of platelet proteins with fatty acids other than palmitate may have significant functional consequences for reversible binding of proteins to membranes.
n‐3 fatty acids decrease colonic epithelial cell proliferation in high‐risk bowel mucosa
Authors: Huang Yun‐Ching , Jessup J. Milburn , Forse R. Armour , Flickner Stacy , Pleskow Douglas , Anastopoulos Harry T. , Van Ritter  , Blackburn George L.
Published: May 2007

The n‐3 fatty acids (C20∶5, eicosapentaenoic acid; C22∶6, docosahexaenoic, acid) may be important in the development, growth, and metastasis of colon cancer, a leading cause of death in North America. Patients who have had a bowel neoplasm have a high risk of developing a second neoplasm, and this risk is associated with a high percentage of cells correspond to the S phase of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) labeling in mucosal epithelial cells. To determine the effect of n‐3 fatty acid supplementation on DNA synthesis of rectal mucosa, patients with stage 1 or stage 2 colon carcinoma or adenomatous polyps were randomized to consume either 9 g/d n‐3 fatty acid capsules or 9 g/d placebo capsules. Plasma phospholipid fatty acid analysis and proctoscopic mucosal biopsies were performed at baseline, 3, and 6 mon. Colonic crypts were isolated from the mucosa, disassociated with enzymes, and incubated with BrdUrd, and %S phase was measured by flow cytometry. The plasma phospholipid n‐6/n‐3 ratio was determined by gas chromatography. Supplement compliance was assessed by plasma phospholipid n‐6/n‐3 ratio. Mean capsule consumption in these two group was 82%. Prior to supplementation, there were no significant differences in the %S phase and the plasma n‐6/n‐3 ratio between these groups. Patients whose colonic epithelial cells indicated hyperproliferation at baseline showed a strongly positive correlation to the %S phase of BrdUrd uptake and the n‐6/n‐3 ratio. There was no significant change after n‐3 treatment in patients with low baseline. Those in the placebo group showed no significant difference in n‐6/n‐3 ratio, although there was an increase in the %S phase of BrdUrd uptake at 6 mon. The n‐3 group did not have significant side effects, and polyps were not found after completing 12 mon of n‐3 fatty acid supplementation. This study suggests that n‐3 fatty acid may be a useful chemopreventive agent in some patients as reflected in a plasma biomarker of colon tumor growth and metastasis. A low plasma phospholipid n‐6/n‐3 fatty acid ratio may serve as a nutritional marker that is associated with colonic epithelial cell hyperproliferation in the n‐3‐supplemented group as compared with the placebo group. Characteristics of mucosal proliferation at baseline may be a crucial factor for the effect of n‐3 fatty acid supplementation.
Coulometric determination of organic acids
Authors: Crisler Robert O. , Conlon Ralph D.
Published: May 2007

A system has been devised for the coulometric titration of organic acids in a non‐aqueous medium. The solvent system is benzene‐methanol, 1蝘1, containing LiCl as the electrolyte. The acid is titrated by reducing hydrogen ion at a platinum cathode. The anode reaction involves the formation of AgCl on silver. The endpoint is detected by an antimony‐glass electrode pair and the derivative of the electrode output is used to effect automatic current shut‐off. Alternative reference electrodes are discussed. Usual sample size titrated is 0.01 meq but the method can be applied to both larger and smaller amounts.

The method has been applied to the determination of acid value and free fatty acid in fatty materials. The advantages of the coulometric determination are: 1) No standard solutions are required. 2) The titration is conducted without analyst attention. 3) The technique is simple and rapid.
Foam generation method for evaluating biodegradability
Authors: Bacon Leslie R.
Published: May 2007

Mechanization of a simple laboratory test for foam generation capacity has resulted in a sensitive research tool and a valuable method for investigating biodegradation of surfactants. By standardizing energy input, temperature and other parameters, very acceptably reproducible foam generation capacity and foam decay measurements are obtained.

The method is suitable for organic materials capable of producing foams in aqueous solutions at very low concentrations such as 0.2舑30 mg/liter. It is particularly suitable for individual or mixed surfactants and detergent formulations but has broader scope. It is fully adaptable to River Dieaway and Shake Flask Culture biodegradation test procedures and probably to others. The working range of concentrations is substantially that of interest in studies of water pollution by surfactants, and extends well below that for which most physical and chemical methods are suited. The method is broader in application and in information gained than an analytical method alone can be. The two may but do not necessarily yield parallel results. Both examinations are desirable.
Preparation of the vinyl ester of the diels‐alder adduct of petroselinic acid and hexachlorocyclopentadiene
Authors: Moreau J. P. , Holmes R. L. , Sumrell G.
Published: May 2007

Vinyl 5‐(1,4,5,6,7,7‐hexachloro‐3‐undecylbicyclo [2.2.1]‐5‐hepten‐2‐yl)‐pentanoate [I] was prepared by the vinylation of the Diels‐Alder adduct ofcis‐6‐octadecenoic (petroselinic) acid and hexachlorocyclopentadiene (HCCPD). The HCCPD adduct of methyl petroselinate was also prepared, and distilled.
Analysis of α‐branched fatty acids by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry
Authors: Foglia T. A. , Heller P. , Dooley C. J.
Published: May 2007

Gas liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry were utilized in combination to identify isomeric α‐branched chain fatty acid methyl esters. In a given isomeric series equivalent chain length, values decreased with increase in the number and size of α‐alkyl substituents. Mass spectra of the α‐monoalkyl derivatives are characterized by prominent McLafferty rearrangement ion peaks, whereas those of the α,α‐dialkyl isomers contain the former ions plus an α‐cleavage ion.
Synthesis of 1,5‐dimethylalkanes, components of insect hydrocarbons
Authors: Sonnet P. E.
Published: May 2007

Two general routes to 1,5‐dimethylalkanes were developed. One of these uses 5‐hydroxy‐2‐pentanone, the other 6‐methyl‐5‐hepten‐2‐one, as a starting material. Although overall yields are only fair, the chemicals employed are inexpensive and the procedures are easily reproduced, thus making such compounds available for study.
Soap‐based detergent formulations. XVI. Surface active sulfosuccinimides
Authors: Micich T. J. , Weil J. K. , Linfield W. M.
Published: May 2007

A series of sodium N‐alkylsulfosuccinimides and N‐acyloxymethylsulfosuccinimides were prepared by reaction of the corresponding N‐alkylmaleimides and N‐acyloxymethylmaleimides with sodium bisulfite in aqueous ethanol. The N‐alkylmaleimides were prepared by dehydration of N‐alkylmaleamic acids with acetic anhydride and fused sodium acetate. The N‐acyloxymethylmaleimides were obtained by reaction of an acyl chloride with N‐methylolmaleimide in a pyridine‐acetone solvent. The surface active properties of the sulfonated derivatives showed them to be efficient lime soap dispersing agents with good calcium ion stability but relatively high Krafft points. The 2 types of compounds exhibited similar detergency characteristics under the conditions employed and were generally comparable to the control on a cotton‐polyester blend when used alone and in a ternary formulation with soap and silicate builder on cotton test cloths.
Flavor and oxidative stability of northern‐grown sunflower seed oil
Authors: List G. R. , Evans C. D. , Moser Helen A.
Published: May 2007

Flavor and oxidative stabilities of a northern‐grown sunflower seed oil were investigated. Taste panel and oxidative evaluations were made on alkali‐refined, deodorized, unbleached samples treated with commercial antioxidant mixtures, phenolic antioxidants, metal scavengers and added trace metals. Similar evaluations were conducted on a sample of the same oil after bleaching. Commercial antioxidant mixtures containing both phenolic antioxidants and a metal scavenger improve the flavor and oxidative stabilities of refined unbleached oil. Although phenolic antioxidants alone improve oxidative stability as measured by the active oxygen method test, flavor stability did not improve significantly for antioxidant‐treated refined, unbleached samples after accelerated storage. Conversely, alkali‐refined and bleached sunflower oil responded to treatment with certain phenolic antioxidants. Although iron and copper are deleterious to oil stability at concentrations of 0.1 ppm, such metal‐inactivating agents as citric acid are effective in improving flavor stability.
The oxidation of 9:10 diketostearic acid by peracetic acid (baeyer and villiger reaction)
Authors: Grindley D. N. , El Sarrag S. A.
Published: May 2007

Diketostearic acid 9:10 is readily and speedily oxidized by peracetic acid, at low temperatures to high yields of azaleic acid and nonanoic acids.
Interpretation of various assays for vitamin a in margarine
Authors: Lehman Robert W.
Published: May 2007

When margarine is fortified with all‐trans vitamin A the assay result, whether obtained by colorimetry or spectrophotometry, should be the same as the biological potency. This paper reports the effects to be expected on each method of assay by some commercial sources of vitamin A that containcis‐isomers. In most cases the biological potencies are less than the potencies predicted by physicochemical procedures. Methods are presented to calculate the extent of assay differences introduced by thesecis‐isomers. Different commercial sources of vitamin A, in an amount required for 15,000 舠biological舡 units, would give values ranging from 15,200 to 20,800 units by 舠blue‐color舡 assay, from 15,100 to 19,000 units by uncorrected extinction coefficient, and from 15,000 to 18,000 units by the USP XVI assay.
Chemical and physical properties of the solid fats in commercial soft margarines
Authors: D’Souza V. , deMan J. M. , deMan L.
Published: May 2007

The fats of ten Canadian soft margarines were crystallized from acetone at 15°C to obtain the high‐melting glycerides (HMG). The solid fats in the margarines were extracted with isboutanol at 5°C. X‐ray diffraction showed that the canola margarines were in the β crystal form, the soybean and sunflower‐palm‐palm kernel margarines in the β′ form, while those of canola‐palm and another sunflower‐palm‐palm kernel margarines contained a mixture of β′ and β forms. X‐ray diffraction of the isolated solids showed additional short spacings compared with those of the original margarines. Differential scanning calorimetry heating curves of the solids were compared with those of the HMG. The melting temperatures of the HMG were 10°C higher than the solids. It is suggested that the polymorphic behavior of soft margarines is related to the chemical composition of the HMG and the solids. Solids in margarines can also be provided by interesterification of palm oil products.
Sterols and fatty acids of a whisk fernPsilotum nudum
Authors: Akihisa Toshihiro , Kawashima Takeshi , Takahashi Shushichi , Sahashi Norio , Okamoto Takahisa , Niiya Isao , Tamura Toshitake
Published: May 2007

The sterols and fatty acids ofPsilotum nudum were investigated. The 4,4‐dimethyl‐ and 4α‐methylsterol fractions contained 24β‐methyl‐Δ25‐unsaturated sterols,viz., cyclolaudenol and 24β‐methyl‐25‐dehydrolophenol, respectively, as dominant sterols among the other components common in vascular plants. 24‐Methylcholesterol (mixture of C‐24 epimers) and sitosterol constituted the dominant sterols in the 4‐demethylsterol fraction. This is the first identification of 24‐methylene‐5α‐lanost‐8‐en‐3β‐ol, 24β‐methyl‐25‐dehydrolophenol, codisterol, isofucosterol, 24‐methylene‐25‐methylcholesterol and avenasterol in a fern. The major fatty acids were 16:0, 18:1, 18:2, 18:3 and 20:3. In addition, several C20 fatty acids with various unsaturation were found to be present in low concentrations.
Hydrogen‐bonding. Part 22. Characterization of soybean oil and prediction of activity coefficients in soybean oil from inverse gas chromatographic data
Authors: Abraham Michael H. , Whiting Gary S.
Published: May 2007

Previously reported results on twenty‐two gaseous compounds with soybean oil as the stationary gas chromatographic phase have been used to characterize soybean oil in terms of dipolarity/polarizability, hydrogen‐bond basicity and lipophilicity. The solubility of these gases in soybean oil has been factored into components that show exactly the compound‐soybean oil interactions that favor solubility. The same equation used to obtain this information also can be used to predict the gas chromatographic specific retention volume and then the weight‐fraction activity coefficient for numerous other compounds on soybean oil, thus leading to predictions of the solubility behavior of these compounds as bulk liquids with soybean oil.
Nonlinear Transport of Wigner Solid on Superfluid 3He–A
Authors: Ikegami Hiroki , Kono Kimitoshi
Published: May 2007

Electrons trapped on the surface of liquid helium form the Wigner solid accompanied with the periodic surface deformation (dimple lattice). Because of the soft surface, the Wigner solid shows unique nonlinear transport properties. Here we present the results of the nonlinear transport measurements of the Wigner solid on the superfluid 3He A phase at temperatures down to 200 μK in a magnetic field of 0.363 Tesla. The transition from linear to nonlinear behavior is observed as increasing the driving voltage. This behavior is very similar to those previously observed in the B phase and normal phase, and attributable to the deformation of the dimple shape caused by the strong damping of liquid 3He.
ATF5 promotes cell survival through transcriptional activation of Hsp27 in H9c2 cells
Authors: Wang Hongjie , Lin Guiting , Zhang Zhiwen
Published: May 2007

The activating transcription factor (ATF) family comprises a group of basic region‐leucine zipper (bZIP) proteins, which have roles in development, differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis. Here we described that ATF5 could promote cell survival in heat shock stress and identified that heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27) as one of its target gene related to cell survival. The ectopic expression of ATF5 could significantly increase cell tolerance to elevated temperature and the CRE motif played an important role in upregulating Hsp27 gene promoter activity by ATF5. Also, inhibition of Hsp27 expression by RNAi could increase cell death in ATF5 ectopic expressing cells, indicating that Hsp27 involved in ATF5 mediated cell survival. Taken together, our results indicated that ATF5 promoted H9c2 cell survival in heat shock stress at least through activation of Hsp27.
Physician observations and perceptions of positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia: A multinational, cross-sectional survey
Authors: Lecrubier Yves , Perry Richard , Milligan Gary , Leeuwenkamp Oscar , Morlock Robert
Published: May 2007

Purpose

To describe physicians' observations and perceptions of patients with schizophrenia and to obtain information about antipsychotic prescribing practices.

Methods

Psychiatrists in the United States and five European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom) who prescribed antipsychotics for ≥15 patients with schizophrenia within the preceding 3 months provided data on their patients' demographic and clinical characteristics and their antipsychotic prescribing practices and drug attributes influencing treatment choice.

Results

Data were collected from 872 physicians on 6523 patients (85% European, 15% US). Most patients were aged 25–44 years, 63% were men, and 66% were outpatients. About 50% of patients were moderately to grossly dysfunctional; about 50% were unemployed; 34% and 75% were taking conventional or atypical antipsychotics, respectively. Frequently identified positive symptoms included delusions (73%), disordered thought (59%), and hallucinations (59%); common negative symptoms included social withdrawal (54%), impoverished thought (39%), and blunted affect (38%). Reasons for antipsychotic selection included efficacy for positive (90%) or negative symptoms (62%) and tolerability (47%). Inadequate control was reported more frequently for negative (71–77%) than positive (47–60%) symptoms. Adverse events included sedation, weight gain, and extrapyramidal symptoms.

Conclusions

In this large, multinational, cross-sectional survey, physicians reported that positive symptoms were more common than negative symptoms. Treatment for positive symptoms was more successful than that for negative symptoms, with physicians considering treatment inadequate for >70% of patients with negative symptoms.
Haem and non-haem iron intake through 17 years of adult life of a British Birth Cohort
Authors: Johnston J. , Prynne C. J. , Stephen A. M. , Wadsworth M. E. J.
Published: May 2007

An investigation was carried out to determine whether there were significant changes in the intake of haem and non-haem Fe of adult men and women in the UK from 1982 (aged 36 years) to 1999 (aged 53 years). The 1253 subjects studied were members of the Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and Development; a longitudinal study of a nationally representative cohort of births in 1946. Food intake was recorded in a 5-d diary at age 36 years in 1982, 43 years in 1989 and 53 years in 1999. Outcome measures were mean intakes of total Fe, haem and non-haem Fe, by year, gender and food source. There were significant changes in total Fe, haem Fe and non-haem Fe intake over the three time points. Total Fe intake was significantly higher in 1989 than in 1982 or 1999 for both men and women but haem Fe was significantly lower in 1999 mainly due to a 40 % fall in haem Fe from beef during this period. Haem Fe from processed meats fell by more than 50 % between 1989 and 1999 but that from poultry rose by more than 50 %. Cereal foods remained the most important source of non-haem Fe and the contribution from breakfast cereals rose relative to that of bread over the 17 years. Several factors could be responsible for these changes, particularly the importance of the epidemic of BSE from 1990. The possible advantages of a lower haem Fe intake in older subjects are discussed.
Angiomyoma of buccal vestibule: a rare case with a normal karyotype
Authors: Manor E , Sion-Vardy N , Nash M , Bodner L
Published: May 2007

Angiomyoma is an uncommon, benign, soft tissue tumour characterised by bundles of smooth muscle cells intermixed with numerous vascular channels, which usually develops in the lower extremities. Oral manifestations are quite rare. Most oral cases occur in the lips and tongue; angiomyoma affecting the buccal vestibule is very rare. A case of angiomyoma in the buccal vestibule with a normal karyotype is reported.
Arbitrary amplitude dust-acoustic solitons in a weakly non-ideal plasma with non-thermal ions
Authors: MAHARAJ S. K. , BHARUTHRAM R. , PILLAY S. R.
Published: May 2007

The nonlinear propagation of the dust-acoustic wave is investigated in a weakly non-ideal plasma comprising Boltzmann electrons, non-thermal ions characterized by a non-thermal parameter α and a negatively charged dust fluid. The non-ideal dust fluid is represented by the van der Waals equation of state. Arbitrary amplitude soliton solutions are found to occur for both supersonic and subsonic values of the Mach number. Upper and lower limits of the range of values of α for which solitons exist are examined as a function of the non-ideal parameters associated with the effects of volume reduction and the cohesive forces, for both the supersonic and subsonic cases.
Fugitive women: Slavery and social change in early modern Southeast Asia
Authors: Jones Eric A.
Published: May 2007

Female slaves in VOC-controlled Southeast Asia did not fare well under a legal code which erected a firm partition between free and slave status. This codification imposed a rigid dichotomy for what had been fluid, abstract conceptions of social hierarchy, in effect silting up the flow of underclass mobility. At the same time, conventional relationships between master and slave shifted in the context of a changing economic climate. This article closely narrates the lives of several eighteenth-century female slaves who, left with increasingly fewer options in this new order, resorted to running away.
War, Changing Patterns of Warfare, State Collapse, and Transnational Violence in Afghanistan: 1978–2001
Authors: SIDKY H.
Published: May 2007

The war in Afghanistan was one of the most brutal and long lasting conflicts of the second half of the twentieth century. Anthropologists specializing in Afghanistan who wrote about the war at the time reiterated the United State's Cold War rhetoric rather than provide objective analyses. Others ignored the war altogether. What happened in Afghanistan, and why, and the need for objective reassessments only came to mind after the September 11th attacks. This paper examines the genesis and various permutations of the Afghan war in terms of causal dynamics embedded in the broader interstate relations of the world system and its competing military complexes during the second half of the twentieth century and changes in that system in the post-Cold War period.
On agent technology for e-commerce: trust, security and legal issues
Authors: FASLI MARIA
Published: May 2007

The vision of future electronic marketplaces (e-markets) is that of markets being populated by autonomous intelligent entities—software, trading, e-agents—representing their users or owners and conducting business on their behalf. For this vision to materialize, one fundamental issue that needs to be addressed is that of trust. First, users need to be able to trust that the agents will do what they say they do. Second, they need to be confident that their privacy is protected and that the security risks involved in entrusting agents to perform transactions on their behalf are minimized. Finally, users need to be assured that any legal issues relating to agents trading electronically are fully covered as they are in traditional trading practices. In this paper we consider the barriers for the adoption of agent technology in electronic commerce (e-commerce) which pertain to trust, security and legal issues. We discuss the perceived risks of the use of agents in e-commerce and the fundamental issue of trust in this context. Issues regarding security, and how some of these can be addressed through the use of cryptography, are described. The impact of the use of agent technology on the users' privacy and how it can be both protected as well as hindered by it is also examined. Finally, we discuss the legal issues that arise in agent-mediated e-commerce and discuss the idea of attributing to software agents the status of legal persons or e-persons and the various implications.
A review of associative classification mining
Authors: THABTAH FADI
Published: May 2007

Associative classification mining is a promising approach in data mining that utilizes the association rule discovery techniques to construct classification systems, also known as associative classifiers. In the last few years, a number of associative classification algorithms have been proposed, i.e. CPAR, CMAR, MCAR, MMAC and others. These algorithms employ several different rule discovery, rule ranking, rule pruning, rule prediction and rule evaluation methods. This paper focuses on surveying and comparing the state-of-the-art associative classification techniques with regards to the above criteria. Finally, future directions in associative classification, such as incremental learning and mining low-quality data sets, are also highlighted in this paper.
Ontologies for probabilistic networks: a case study in the oesophageal-cancer domain
Authors: HELSPER EVELINE M. , VAN DER GAAG LINDA C.
Published: May 2007

Building a probabilistic network for a real-life domain of application is a hard and time-consuming process, which is generally performed with the help of domain experts. As the scope and, hence, the size and complexity of networks are increasing, the need for proper management of the elicited domain knowledge becomes apparent. To study the usefulness of ontologies for this purpose, we constructed an ontology for the domain of oesophageal cancer, based on a real-life probabilistic network for the staging of cancer of the oesophagus and the knowledge elicited for its construction. In this paper, we describe the various components of our ontology and outline the benefits of using ontologies in engineering probabilistic networks.
Ecological and socioeconomic impacts of invasive alien species in island ecosystems
Authors: REASER JAMIE K. , MEYERSON LAURA A. , CRONK QUENTIN , DE POORTER MAJ , ELDREGE L.G. , GREEN EDMUND , KAIRO MOSES , LATASI PEPETUA , MACK RICHARD N. , MAUREMOOTOO JOHN , O'DOWD DENNIS , ORAPA WAREA , SASTROUTOMO SOETIKNO , SAUNDERS ALAN , SHINE CLARE , THRAINSSON SIGURDUR , VAIUTU LELIUA
Published: May 2007

Minimizing the impact of invasive alien species (IAS) on islands and elsewhere requires researchers to provide cogent information on the environmental and socioeconomic consequences of IAS to the public and policy makers. Unfortunately, this information has not been readily available owing to a paucity of scientific research and the failure of the scientific community to make their findings readily available to decision makers. This review explores the vulnerability of islands to biological invasion, reports on environmental and socioeconomic impacts of IAS on islands and provides guidance and information on technical resources that can help minimize the effects of IAS in island ecosystems. This assessment is intended to provide a holistic perspective on island-IAS dynamics, enable biologists and social scientists to identify information gaps that warrant further research and serve as a primer for policy makers seeking to minimize the impact of IAS on island systems. Case studies have been selected to reflect the most scientifically-reliable information on the impacts of IAS on islands. Sufficient evidence has emerged to conclude that IAS are the most significant drivers of population declines and species extinctions in island ecosystems worldwide. Clearly, IAS can also have significant socioeconomic impacts directly (for example human health) and indirectly through their effects on ecosystem goods and services. These impacts are manifest at all ecological levels and affect the poorest, as well as richest, island nations. The measures needed to prevent and minimize the impacts of IAS on island ecosystems are generally known. However, many island nations and territories lack the scientific and technical information, infrastructure and human and financial resources necessary to adequately address the problems caused by IAS. Because every nation is an exporter and importer of goods and services, every nation is also a facilitator and victim of the invasion of alien species. Wealthy nations therefore need to help raise the capacity of island nations and territories to minimize the spread and impact of IAS.
Automated Verification of Weak Equivalence within thesmodelsSystem
Authors: JANHUNEN TOMI , OIKARINEN EMILIA
Published: May 2007

In answer set programming (ASP), a problem at hand is solved by (i) writing a logic program whose answer sets correspond to the solutions of the problem, and by (ii) computing the answer sets of the program using ananswer set solveras a search engine. Typically, a programmer creates a series of gradually improving logic programs for a particular problem when optimizing program length and execution time on a particular solver. This leads the programmer to a meta-level problem of ensuring that the programs are equivalent, i.e., they give rise to the same answer sets. To ease answer set programming at methodological level, we propose a translation-based method for verifying the equivalence of logic programs. The basic idea is to translate logic programsPandQunder consideration into a single logic program EQT(P,Q) whose answer sets (if such exist) yield counter-examples to the equivalence ofPandQ. The method is developed here in a slightly more general setting by taking thevisibilityof atoms properly into account when comparing answer sets. The translation-based approach presented in the paper has been implemented as a translator calledlpeqthat enables the verification of weak equivalence within thesmodelssystem using the same search engine as for the search of models. Our experiments withlpeqandsmodelssuggest that establishing the equivalence of logic programs in this way is in certain cases much faster than naive cross-checking of answer sets.
Energy spectra of X-ray quasi-periodic oscillations in accreting black hole binaries
Authors: Życki P. T. , Sobolewska M. A. , Niedźwiecki A.
Published: May 2007

We investigate the energy dependencies of X-ray quasi-periodic oscillations in black hole X-ray binaries. We analyze RXTE data on both the low- and high-frequency QPO. We construct the low-f QPO energy spectra, and demonstrate that they do not contain the thermal disk component, even though the latter is present in the time averaged spectra. The disk thus does not seem to participate in the oscillations. Moreover the QPO spectra are harder than the time averaged spectra when the latter are soft, which can be modeled as a result of modulations occurring in the hot plasma. The QPO spectra are softer than the time averaged spectra when the latter are hard. The absence of the disk component in the QPO spectra is true also for the high-frequency (hecto-Hz) QPO observed in black hole binaries. We compute the QPO spectra expected from the model of disk resonances.
Microquasars: disk–jet coupling in stellar-mass black holes
Authors: Mirabel I. Félix
Published: May 2007

Microquasars provide new insights into: 1) the physics of relativistic jets from black holes, 2) the connection between accretion and ejection, and 3) the physical mechanisms in the formation of stellar-mass black holes. Furthermore, the studies of microquasars in our Galaxy can provide in the future new insights on: 1) a large fraction of the ultraluminous X-ray sources in nearby galaxies, 2) gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) of long duration in distant galaxies, and 3) the physics in the jets of blazars. If jets in GRBs, microquasars and Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) are due to a unique universal magnetohydrodynamic mechanism, synergy of the research on these three different classes of cosmic objects will lead to further progress in black hole physics and astrophysics.
Quasar evolution: black hole mass and accretion rate determination
Authors: Dultzin-Hacyan Deborah , Marziani Paola , Negrete C. Alenka , Sulentic Jack W.
Published: May 2007

Accurate measurements of emission line properties are crucial to understand the physics of the broad line region in quasars. This region consists of warm gas that is closest to the quasar central engine and has not been spatially resolved for almost all sources. We present here an analysis of optical and IR data for a large sample of quasars, covering the Hi Hβ spectral region in the redshift range 0 ≲ z ≲ 2.5. Spectra were interpreted within the framework of the the so-called “eigenvector 1” parameter space, which can be viewed as a tentative H-R diagram for quasars. We stress the lack of spectral evolution in the low ionization lines of quasars, with prominent Fe ii emission also at z ≳ 2. We also show how selection effects influence the ability to find quasars radiating at low Eddington ratio in flux-limited surveys. The quasar similarity at different redshift is probably due to the absence of super-Eddington radiators (at least within the caveats of black hole mass and Eddington ratio determination discussed in this paper) as well as to the limited Eddington ratio range within which quasars seem to radiate.
Local active black hole mass functions
Authors: Greene Jenny E. , Ho Luis C.
Published: May 2007

While black holes (BHs) are apparently a ubiquitous component of the nuclei of local spheroids, their role in galaxy evolution remains largely unknown. The tight correlations between galaxy spheroid properties and BH mass provide an important boundary condition for models of the coevolution of BHs and galaxies. Here we consider another important boundary condition: the local mass function of broad-line active galaxies. We use standard virial mass estimation techniques to examine the distribution of BH masses and accretion rates for active galaxies in the local universe, and we also compare the distribution of BH masses in local broad and narrow-line objects, and find that both populations have a characteristic mass of ∼107M⊙. Most importantly, this is the first BH mass function to consider BH with masses ∼106M⊙. The space density of this important population allows us to place constraints on potential mechanisms for the creation of seed BHs in the early Universe.
Mapping the circumnuclear dust in nearby AGN with MIDI
Authors: Tristram Konrad R. W. , Meisenheimer Klaus , Jaffe Walter , Cotton William D.
Published: May 2007

We observed four nearby AGN with MIDI at the VLTI to investigate the mid-infrared emission from these sources. With our measurements we resolve the dusty structure around the nucleus of the Circinus galaxy. We find two dust components: a hot, small elongated structure with a size of 0.4 pc and a cooler, almost round component with a size of 1.9 pc. We interpret the emission to be originating in a geometrically thick dusty torus oriented perpendicular to the ionisation cone. Hence our finding nicely confirms the unified picture. We also observed the nucleus of Centaurus A and find that 70% of the mid infrared flux originates from an unresolved source with a size of less than 0.2 pc. In this case, the majority of the emission comes from a synchrotron source at the base of the radio jet. Two further galaxies, Mrk 1239 (Seyfert 1) and MCG -05-23-016 (Seyfert 2), also show unresolved mid infrared sources limiting the size of the dust distribution to less than 5 and 2 pc respectively.
The soft X-ray spectrum of PG1211+143
Authors: Pounds K. A. , Page K. L. , Reeves J. N.
Published: May 2007

The narrow line QSO PG1211+143 has been a focus of recent attempts to understand the soft excess in AGN, while the 2001 XMM-Newton observation of this luminous AGN also provided evidence for a massive and energetic outflow. Here we consider a physical link between the energetic outflow and the variable soft excess.
Warped discs and the Unified Scheme
Authors: Lawrence Andrew
Published: May 2007

The standard torus picture for explaining the difference between Type I and Type II AGN is physically unlikely and provides no natural explanation for a number of simple facts - the average covering factor, the broad range of covering factors, and the characteristic reprocessing distance. Parsec scale warped discs are a strong alternative. A very simple “misaligned disc” model produces good agreement with covering factor statistics, but predicts too many off-axis emission line cones. I discuss possible ways to improve such a model.
Search for the event horizon by means of optical observations with high temporal resolution
Authors: Beskin G. , Debur V. , Karpov S. , Plokhotnichenko V. , Biryukov A.
Published: May 2007

The critical property of the black hole is the presence of the event horizon. It may be detected only by means of the detailed study of the emission features of its surroundings. The temporal resolution of such observations has to be better than ∼ rg/c, and it lies in the 10−6–10s range depending on the black hole mass. In SAO RAS we have developed the MANIA hardware and software complex based on the panoramic photon counter and use it in observations on 6m telescope for the search and investigation of the optical variability on the time scales of 106–103 s of various astronomical objects. We present the hardware and methods used for these photometrical, spectroscopic and polarimetrical observations, the principles and criteria of the object selection. The list of the latter includes objects with featureless optical spectra (DC white dwarfs, blazars) and long microlensing events.

We present the results of the observations of two objects-candidates – long MACHO event MACHO-1999-BLG-22 and radio-loud x-ray source with featureless optical spectrum J1942+10 – on the 6-m telescope in June-July 2006.
SS433 and the nature of ultra-luminous X-ray sources
Authors: Charles P. A. , Barnes A. D. , Casares J. , Clark J. S. , Cornelisse R. , Knigge C. , Steeghs D.
Published: May 2007

The prototypical micro-quasar, SS433, one of the most bizarre objects in the Galaxy, is a weak X-ray source, yet the kinetic energy of its relativistic, precessing jets is vastly greater. In spite of its importance as the nearest example of directly observable relativistic phenomena, we know remarkably little about the nature of this binary system. There are ongoing arguments not only about the mass of the compact object, but even as to whether it is a black hole or a neutron star, an argument that recent high resolution optical spectroscopy has contributed to.

Combined with the INTEGRAL discovery of a new class of highly obscured galactic high-mass X-ray binaries, one of which has been found to precess on a similar timescale to SS433, we suggest that these would indeed be seen by external observers as ULXs, once additional effects such as beaming (either relativistic or geometrical) are included.
The inner workings of early-type galaxies: cores, nuclei and supermassive black holes
Authors: Ferrarese Laura , Côté Patrick
Published: May 2007

Recent years have seen dramatic progress in the study of the core and nuclear properties of galaxies. The structure of the cores has been shown to vary methodically with global and nuclear properties, as cores respond to the mechanisms by which galaxies form/evolve. The dynamical centers of galaxies have been found capable of hosting two seemingly disparate objects: supermassive black holes (SBHs) and compact stellar nuclei. In a drastic departure from previous beliefs, it has been discovered that both structures are common: galaxies lacking SBHs and/or stellar nuclei are the exception, rather than the norm. This review explores the connection between cores, SBHs and stellar nuclei in early-type galaxies, as revealed by the ACS Virgo Cluster Survey.
Radiatively inefficient accretion disks in low-luminosity AGN†
Authors: Macchetto Ferdinando D. , Chiaberge Marco
Published: May 2007

We study a complete and distance-limited sample of 25 LINERs, 21 of which have been imaged with the Hubble Space Telescope to study their physical properties and to compare their radio and optical properties with those of other samples of local AGNs, namely Seyfert galaxies and low-luminosity radio galaxies (LLRG). Our results show that the LINERs population is not homogeneous, as there are two subclasses: i) the first class is similar to LLRG, as it extends the population of radio-loud nuclei to lower luminosities; ii) the second is similar to Seyferts, and extends the properties of radio-quiet nuclei towards the lowest luminosities. The different nature of the various classes of local AGN are best understood when the fraction of the Eddington luminosity they irradiate, Lo/LEdd, is plotted against the nuclear radio-loudness parameter: Seyferts are associated with relatively high radiative efficiencies Lo/LEdd ≳ 104 (and high accretion rates onto low mass black holes); LLRG are associated with low radiative efficiencies (and low accretion rates onto high black hole masses); all LINERs have low radiative efficiency (and accretion rates), and can be radio-loud or radio quiet depending on their black hole mass.
A survey of AGN and supermassive black holes in the COSMOS Survey
Authors: Impey Chris D. , Trump Jon R. , McCarthy Pat J. , Elvis Martin , Huchra John P. , Scoville Nick Z. , Lilly Simon J. , Brusa Marcella , Hasinger Günther , Schinnerer Eva , Capak Peter , Gabor Jared
Published: May 2007

The Cosmic Evolution Survey (COSMOS) is an HST/ACS imaging survey of 2 square degrees centered on RA = 10:00:28.6, Dec = + 02:12:21 (J2000). While the primary goal of the survey is to study evolution of galaxy morphology and large scale structure, an extensive multi-wavelength data set allows for a sensitive survey of AGN. Spectroscopy of optical counterparts to faint X-ray and radio sources is being carried out with the Magallen (Baade) Telescope and the ESO VLT. By achieving ∼80 redshift completeness down to I AB = 3, the eventual yield of AGN will be ∼1100 over the whole field.

Early results on supermassive black holes are described. The goals of the survey include a bolometric census of AGN down to moderate luminosities, the cosmic evolution and fueling history of the central engines, and a study of AGN environments on scales ranging from the host galaxy to clusters and superclusters.