bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Isolation and Characterization of a C‐repeat Binding Transcription Factor from Maize
Authors: Wang Lei , Luo Yanzhong , Zhang Lan , Zhao Jun , Hu Zhiqiu , Fan Yunliu , Zhang Chunyi
Published: August 2008

C‐repeat binding proteins (CBFs) are a group of transcription factors that have been proven to be important for stress tolerance in plants. Many of these transcription factors transactivate the promoters of cold‐regulated genes via binding to low temperature‐ or dehydration‐responsive cis‐elements, thus conferring plants cold acclimation. In the present study, we isolated a C‐repeat binding transcription factor from maize using the yeast one‐hybrid system with the C‐repeat motif from the promoter of the Arabidopsis COR15a gene as bait. The isolated transcription factor is highly similar to the Arabidopsis CBF3 in their predicted amino acid sequences, and is therefore designated ZmCBF3. Point mutation analyses of the ZmCBF3‐binding cis‐element revealed (A/G)(C/T)CGAC as the core binding sequence. Expression analyses showed that ZmCBF3 was upregulated by both abscisic acid and low temperature, and was actively expressed during embryogenesis, suggesting that ZmCBF3 plays a role in stress response in maize.
Cold tolerance and cold hardening strategy of the Japanese pine sawyer Monochamus alternatus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)
Authors: Tian Jing , Hao Shu‐Guang , Kong Wei‐Na , Ma Rui‐Yan , Kang Le
Published: August 2008

The Japanese pine sawyer, Monochamus alternatus, is an important pine forest pest and vector transmitting the pine wilt nematode that causes pine wilt disease. Low temperatures in autumn, winter and spring often differentially affect mortality of M. alternatus larvae. In this paper, we mainly compared the differences of mortality and cold hardening of larvae from different seasons, based on supercooling point (SCP) and cumulative probability of individuals freezing (CPIF). The cold hardening of the larvae from autumn, winter and spring seasons were largely different. Correlations between mortality and CPIF of autumn and spring larvae were highest on day 1/4, and gradually decreased with prolonged exposure duration. This beetle's death mainly resulted from freezing in short exposure duration. However, the correlation between mortality and CPIF of winter larvae increased gradually with the prolonged exposure duration. Death did not mainly result from freezing in long exposure duration. Autumn larvae are more susceptible and adaptable than winter and spring larvae. Winter larvae have a slight freeze‐tolerance trend. Our research showed that M. alternatus came into complex cold‐hardening strategies under natural selection. Freeze avoidance is the primary strategy; with prolonged exposure duration to above SCP or < 0 °C, chill tolerance is more important; this is followed by freeze tolerance during harsh winters.
Further compatibility tests of the entomopathogenic fungus Lecanicillium muscarium with conventional insecticide products for control of sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci on poinsettia plants
Authors: Cuthbertson Andrew G. S. , Blackburn Lisa F. , Northing Phil , Luo Weiqi , Cannon Raymond J. C. , Walters Keith F. A.
Published: August 2008

The effect on spore germination of the entomopathogenic fungus Lecanicillium muscarium following direct exposure for 24 h to the insecticides Majestik, Spray Oil, Agri‐50E, Savona and Oberon for the control of both egg and second instar stages of the sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, was determined. Exposure to both Agri‐50E and Oberon was followed by acceptable spore germination. Infectivity rates of L. muscarium on poinsettia foliage in the presence of dry residues of the insecticides were also investigated. No significant detrimental effects on the levels of control of B. tabaci were recorded compared with fungus applied to residue‐free foliage. Sequential application of the chemicals Savona, Spray Oil and Majestik with the fungus all produced mortalities of second instar B. tabaci above 90%. Incorporation of these chemicals with L. muscarium into integrated control programs for B. tabaci is discussed.
THE EFFECTS OF USING ALTERNATIVE SWEETENERS TO SUCROSE ON ICE CREAM QUALITY
Authors: OZDEMIR CIHAT , DAGDEMIR ELIF , OZDEMIR SALIH , SAGDIC OSMAN
Published: August 2008

In this study, seven different ice cream samples were produced using sucrose, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), glucose syrup (GS), honey, sucrose + GS, sucrose + HFCS and sucrose + honey mixtures (1/1). The ice cream samples containing only sucrose were used as control.

The acidity values of the samples with sucrose and GS were lower than those of the others. The viscosity value of the sample containing honey and stored for 15 days was the lowest. When honey together with sucrose (1/1) was added to the ice cream mixture, the viscosity increased. On the other hand, using honey increased the fat destabilization value. The overrun ratio of the sample with sucrose was the highest. The lowest melting ratio was determined in samples containing GS at the beginning of storage period. The melting ratios of the ice creams slightly increased during 15 days of the storage. The highest glucose and fructose amounts were observed in the samples made with honey. Panellists preferred the ice cream samples with sucrose + GS compared to control and the other samples.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Due to increasing consumer demands for low calorie foods, products made with alternative sweeteners have became more popular recently. Changing attitudes in sucrose consumption have heightened because of its causing effect to diabetes and obesity. Therefore there is a need for evaluating the alternative sweeteners. Although there were many studies about ice cream in the literature, there are few studies on using different sugars in ice cream production.
EFFECT OF DIFFERENT STORAGE CONDITIONS ON THE LIPID FRACTION OF A VEGETABLE CREAM
Authors: FERIOLI FEDERICO , CASTAGNETTI GIAN BATTISTA , CABONI MARIA FIORENZA
Published: August 2008

Fatty acids (free and esterified), diglycerides, peroxides and total sterols were determined in a vegetable cream. Cream samples were analyzed when fresh and after storage for 3 and 6 months at 4, 15, 30C and room temperature (10–25C). The product showed a higher amount of unsaturated fatty acids (≈50% of total fatty acids) with respect to milk fat and a low level of cholesterol (<0.01%). The phytosterol content (≈14 mg/100 g of cream) was not high enough to contribute to a decrease in cholesterolemia. Lipid oxidation remained low during storage (peroxides: 2.0–3.0 meq O2/kg of fat), but a small increase was observed at room temperature after 6 months (about 6.0 meq O2/kg of fat). Free fatty acids never exceeded 0.3% of fat. Storage at 4C and 15C delayed lipolysis in comparison to storage at 30C and room temperature.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The analysis of a vegetable cream demonstrated that it was a shelf‐stable product, showing a high stability toward lipid oxidation and lipolysis. Such a product might be employed as vehicle for healthy fat compounds like long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, phytosterols and fat‐soluble vitamins.
PARTIAL REPLACEMENT OF MEAT BY PEA FIBER AND WHEAT FIBER: EFFECT ON THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION, COOKING CHARACTERISTICS AND SENSORY PROPERTIES OF BEEF BURGERS
Authors: BESBES SOUHAIL , ATTIA HAMADI , DEROANNE CLAUDE , MAKNI SAKANDER , BLECKER CHRISTOPHE
Published: August 2008

Pea fiber concentrate (PFC) and wheat fiber concentrate (WFC) were used as dietary fibers in beef burger formulation. These fibers were characterized in terms of chemical composition and techno‐functional properties. WFC and PFC presented similar water‐binding capacity (3.12 g/g and 3.07 g/g, respectively), whereas a higher oil‐binding capacity was observed for WFC (2.89 g/g versus 1.74 g/g). In this study, the level of PFC was fixed at 0.5%, whereas different levels of WFC (0.5%, 1% and 1.5%) were tested. The water‐holding capacity of raw beef burger was significantly higher with the addition of fibers. The use of these dietary fibers in beef burger formulation improves their cooking properties, i.e., increases the cooking yield and decreases the shrinkage, and minimizes production cost without degradation of sensory properties.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The use of dietary fiber and water for meat replacement in beef burger formulation was investigated in order to reduce production costs and to improve nutritional characteristics and cooking properties of beef burgers without affecting sensory properties.
SEASONAL CHANGES IN PROXIMATE COMPOSITION OF ANCHOVY AND STORAGE STABILITY OF ANCHOVY OIL
Authors: BORAN GÖKHAN , BORAN MUHAMMET , KARAÇAM HİKMET
Published: August 2008

Changes in proximate composition of anchovy were investigated during the catching season from October to March. In addition, stability of anchovy oil depending on storage temperature and time were studied. During the recent study, water, fat, protein and ash content of anchovy varied between 65.9–74.0%, 9.0–15.3%, 12.8–16.4% and 1.7–2.2%, respectively. The anchovy oil stored at 4C was found to be unacceptable for consumption at the end of the 90th day of storage according to peroxide, acid, unsaponifiable matter and thiobarbituric acid values. An identical sample stored at−18C was acceptable for 120 days of storage, but eventually became unacceptable after that.

PRACTICAL APLICATIONS

Anchovy has a great economic importance for the Turkish fishery industry. Approximately 42% of the annual catch of anchovy is used in fish meal and oil production in Turkey (SIS 2002). Therefore, the proximate composition of anchovy and seasonal changes have fundamental importance for consumers, manufacturers and wholesalers, because it is important for consumers to know what they eat, for manufacturers to figure out how they manage long storage stability for their products, and for wholesalers to buy equivalent of their payment. An important issue that has attracted attention of the manufacturers is the storage life of fish oil. Therefore, the results presented in this study are expected to be useful for the fish oil industry in Turkey or even in other countries processing anchovy into fish oil.
Europe’s CAP: Changes and Challenges Die europäische GAP: Änderungen und Herausforderungen La PAC européenne : changements et défis
Authors: Fischler Franz
Published: August 2008

Europe’s CAP: Changes and Challenges

Important changes have occurred in the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union. The reforms during my term as EU Commissioner have modernised the CAP and prepared European agriculture and rural areas for the opportunities and challenges we face nowadays. Agenda 2000 established the second pillar of the CAP, a trendsetting step for the development of rural areas and European agricultural policies. Another fundamental reform followed in 2003. The CAP and the latest reforms are now being reviewed and further enhanced in the so‐called ‘Health Check’, which will result in a further improvement of the CAP. Adjustments will be introduced as deemed necessary to further simplify the policy, as well as preparing it for new challenges such as climate change, bioenergy, water management and the protection of biodiversity. At the annual Winter Congress of the Ecosocial Forum Austria a range of well‐known scientists, politicians in the field of Austrian agriculture and representatives of private corporations were invited to discuss these challenges in both an Austrian and global context. A key message from the Congress was that strategies have to be developed to ensure sustainable production of biofuel without deteriorating the food security situation in the Least Developed Countries, where food shortages are predicted to quintuple between 2000 and 2030.
Agricultural Commodity Prices: Perspectives and Policies Landwirtschaftliche Rohstoffpreise: Perspektiven und Politiken Les prix des produits de base agricoles : perspectives et politiques
Authors: Tangermann Stefan
Published: August 2008

Agricultural Commodity Prices: Perspectives and Policies

World prices of wheat, coarse grains, rice and oilseed crops nearly doubled between 2005 and 2007 and continued to rise into 2008, although some of them later started to fall back. The price increases have been a significant factor driving up the price of food to consumers and the cost of feed for cereal‐based livestock producers. They have drawn heightened attention to problems of food security and hunger, especially for poorer food consumers in developing countries. A major question is whether these price increases reflect a fundamental change in global food markets and an end to the long‐term downward trend in falling real prices of agricultural commodities. Understanding the causes of the recent price increases in the context of long‐term trends is vital in order to identify the appropriate policy responses by governments. This article, based on the latest OECD‐FAO Agricultural Outlook, 2008–2017, focuses on the factors behind the price increases, the medium‐term perspectives, and the appropriate policy responses. Rising food prices is an issue of a truly global nature. A calm, objective response is needed now from individual governments and from international organisations in order to ensure an effective and a coherent global response, and to avoid making a difficult situation worse.
Setting up An Acute Stroke Service
Authors: Reckless Ian , Nagel Simon , Buchan Alastair
Published: August 2008

The administration of intravenous thrombolytic therapy to appropriate patients and the provision of care in a dedicated stroke unit setting form the pillars of evidence-based acute stroke care. Yet, the availability of these interventions remains variable around the world. Many challenges exist for physicians attempting to set up an acute stroke service for the first time. Based upon their experience in three countries, the authors propose 12 key steps in setting up a successful acute stroke service: identify the building blocks understand local funding mechanisms forge partnerships engage senior managers obtain training be inclusive adapt to local surroundings maintain a clinical focus be incremental capitalise on the enthusiasm of others lead from the front; and provide feedback.

The authors then examine some of the specific barriers that may be encountered and offer three historical examples of evidence-based interventions that were slow to be adopted. An acute stroke service is evidence-based and cost effective, yet the ability of patients to access such a service is variable, even in the developed world. By considering 12 common-sense steps, physicians and managers can maximise their chances of setting up a sustainable and successful acute stroke service.
Stroke and atherothrombosis: An Update on the Role of Antiplatelet Therapy
Authors: Alexandrov Andrei V. , Alagona Peter
Published: August 2008

Atherothrombosis is responsible for most acute ischemic manifestations of atherosclerotic disease, including stroke. Individuals with evidence of atherothrombotic disease in one vascular bed have a significant risk of recurrence and show increased vulnerability over time for other manifestations elsewhere in the vasculature. Ischemic event rates for asymptomatic patients with multiple atherothrombotic risk factors appear to be similar to those in patients with documented cardiovascular disease. For example, diabetes mellitus and obesity are found at alarmingly high rates in patients with prior cardiovascular events, including stroke or transient ischemic attacks. Antiplatelet therapy is a key component of atherothrombotic event prevention. The results of the Clopidogrel for High Atherothrombotic Risk and Ischemic Stabilization, Management and Avoidance (CHARISMA) study showed that while dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel may not play a role in primary prevention, post hoc analysis alluded to the possibility of benefit for dual antiplatelet therapy in certain populations of stroke patients. We examined current recommendations for the prevention of atherothrombotic events, focusing on the role of oral antiplatelet agents in patients with ischemic stroke.
Stroke Genetics – Focus on PDE4D Gene
Authors: Munshi Anjana , Kaul Subhash
Published: August 2008

Stroke is a complex disease comprising of a heterogenous group of disorders with multiple risk factors. Genetic predisposition to stroke does occur and has been documented in both animal models and human beings. However, a precise definition of genetic factors responsible for stroke is still lacking because research into the genetic basis of stroke presents some unique challenges. More commonly it seems to be a multifactorial polygenic disorder. Mutations in some candidate genes are likely to predispose or give protection against stroke. Several mutations in various genes have been found to be associated with stroke. However, we have a long way to go before we can accurately pinpoint the genes responsible for multifactorial stroke. Recently, the deCODE group has suggested an association between the phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) gene and the risk of stroke in Icelanders. PDE4D is the first putative gene associated with common polygenic stroke. Specific variants of this gene have been shown to present risk for ischemic stroke in Icelanders. Replication studies in non-Icelanders have yielded variable results. There may be obvious racial differences in the prevalence of these mutations but still many questions remain unsolved regarding the role of PDE4D in stroke development.
Physical inactivity decreases whole body glutamine turnover independently from changes in proteolysis
Authors: Agostini Francesco , Heer Martina , Guarnieri Gianfranco , Biolo Gianni
Published: August 2008

Glutamine synthesis and utilization are strictly linked to energy metabolism and physical activity. To investigate the interaction between bed rest and moderate energy restriction on whole body glutamine kinetics in healthy volunteers, we performed a four‐period study in which each subject randomly underwent a bed rest or ambulatory 14 day period both in eucaloric or hypocaloric (−20% of energy requirement) conditions. Glutamine kinetics were measured by l‐[5‐15N]glutamine and l‐[1‐13C]leucine primed continuous infusions in the postabsorptive state and during a 3 h infusion of a glutamine‐free amino acid mixture (0.13 g amino acids (kg lean body mass (LBM))−1 h−1). Bed rest decreased glutamine de novo synthesis in the postabsorptive state both in eucaloric (from 4.17 ± 0.14 to 3.56 ± 0.13 μmol (kg LBM)−1 min−1; P < 0.001) and in hypocaloric (from 3.79 ± 0.19 to 3.49 ± 0.14 μmol (kg LBM)−1 min−1; P < 0.001) conditions, independently of changes in whole body proteolysis. Bed rest did not affect glutamine clearance. We failed to detect either significant effects of energy intake or energy × activity interactions on glutamine kinetics. Bed rest significantly decreased postabsorptive plasma glutamine concentrations (P < 0.05). Amino acid infusion increased glutamine de novo synthesis rate and plasma glutamine concentrations in all conditions, without significant effects of bed rest or energy levels. We conclude that inactivity is associated with decreased whole body glutamine availability due to down‐regulated de novo synthesis.
Synapsin II and calcium regulate vesicle docking and the cross‐talk between vesicle pools at the mouse motor terminals
Authors: Coleman William L. , Bill Cynthia A. , Simsek‐Duran Fatma , Lonart György , Samigullin Dmitry , Bykhovskaia Maria
Published: August 2008

The synapsins, an abundant and highly conserved family of proteins that associate with synaptic vesicles, have been implicated in regulating the synaptic vesicle cycle. However, it has not been determined whether synapsin directly regulates the number of docked vesicles. Here we document that reducing Ca2+ concentration [Ca2+]o in the extracellular medium from 2 to 0.5 mm led to an approximately 40% decrease in both docked and undocked synaptic vesicles in wild‐type nerve terminals of the mouse diaphragm. The same treatment reduced the number of undocked vesicles in nerve terminals derived from synapsin II gene deleted animals, but surprisingly it did not decrease vesicle docking, indicating that synapsin II inhibits docking of synaptic vesicles at reduced [Ca2+]o. In accordance with the morphological findings, at reduced [Ca2+]o synapsin II (−) terminals had a higher rate of quantal neurotransmitter release. Microinjection of a recombinant synapsin II protein into synapsin II (−) terminals reduced vesicular docking and inhibited quantal release, indicating a direct and selective synapsin II effect for regulating vesicle docking and, in turn, quantal release. To understand why [Ca2+]o has a prominent effect on synapsin function, we investigated the effect of [Ca2+]o on the distribution of synaptic vesicles and on the concentration of intraterminal Ca2+. We found that reduced [Ca2+]o conditions produce a decrease in intracellular Ca2+ and overall vesicle depletion. To explore why at these conditions the role of synapsin II in vesicle docking becomes more prominent, we developed a quantitative model of the vesicle cycle, with a two step synapsin action in stabilizing the vesicle store and regulating vesicle docking. The results of the modelling were in a good agreement with the observed dependence of vesicle distribution on synapsin II and calcium deficiency.
Endothelial dysfunction and reduced antioxidant protection in an animal model of the developmental origins of cardiovascular disease
Authors: Rodford Joanne L. , Torrens Christopher , Siow Richard C. M. , Mann Giovanni E. , Hanson Mark A. , Clough Geraldine F.
Published: August 2008

Endothelial dysfunction underlies cardiovascular disease (CVD) in humans and is reported in animal models of developmental origins of such disease. We have investigated whether impaired antioxidant defences and NO generation underlie the genesis of endothelial dysfunction and operate as part of the normal processes of developmental plasticity regulating the induction of phenotype in the offspring. Female Wistar rats were fed either a control (C, 18% protein) or protein‐restricted (PR, 9% protein) diet throughout pregnancy. Dams and pups were returned to standard laboratory chow post partum. In male offspring, PR resulted in a reduced endothelial responsiveness to acetylcholine (P < 0.05) in resistance arteries, with vascular remodelling evident from a reduction in smooth muscle content. mRNA expression of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) was increased (P < 0.05) but there was no change in mRNA levels of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) or glutamate cysteine ligase (GCL) expression. Interestingly, expression of the antioxidant enzyme haem oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) was reduced in the liver (P < 0.05). Female PR offspring also showed a reduced endothelial responsiveness but exhibited no changes in expression of eNOS, iNOS, soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) or antioxidant genes. Thus, in this model of the developmental origins of CVD, the structure and function of resistance arteries in offspring is altered in complex ways which cannot simply be explained by attenuation in vascular eNOS or in antioxidant protection afforded by GCL or MnSOD. The dysfunction in male offspring may partially be counteracted by an up‐regulation of eNOS expression; however, PR does lead to reduced HO‐1 expression in these offspring, which may affect both their growth and vascular function. Our findings have established that PR induces significant phenotypic changes in male offspring that may be indicative of an adaptive response during development.
Modeling and Measurement of the Dynamic Surface Tension of Surfactant Solutions
Authors: Hasegawa Tomiichi , Karasawa Masahiro , Narumi Takatsune
Published: August 2008

Surfactant solutions are usually used under conditions accompanied by transient dynamic surfaces, and therefore the dynamic surface tension (DST) is important in many industrial processes. Theories regarding DST have been developed exclusively on the adsorption theory that molecules are transported from bulk solution to the interface. However, the adsorption theory is not closed and requires another relationship between the interfacial concentration of the adsorbing molecules and the bulk concentration of molecules near and at the surface, which at present is based on assumptions. In addition, DST obtained by the adsorption theory contains several parameters that must be determined beforehand, and it is not simple to use for practical purposes. Here, we propose a new model based on the concept that surfactant molecules rotate during the process reaching the equilibrium surface state, which is different from the conventional adsorption theory, and we obtained a simple expression of DST as a function of the surface age. In addition, an experiment was carried out to determine DST by measuring the period and weight of droplets falling from a capillary. The expression by the proposed model was compared with the results of this experiment and with those reported previously by several other authors, and good agreement was obtained. Furthermore, the characteristic time in the model was shown to be correlated with the concentrations of solutions regardless of the type of solutions examined.
Calculation of DEP and EWOD Forces for Application in Digital Microfluidics
Authors: Young Patrick M. , Mohseni Kamran
Published: August 2008

Two primary methods for electrostatically actuating microdroplets in channels currently exist: dielectrophoresis (DEP) for electrically insulating fluids and electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) for conducting fluids. In each case, a transverse electric field is used to create an electrostatic pressure, giving rise to the transport of individual liquid slugs. This paper examines the nature of the force distribution for both EWOD and DEP actuated droplets. The effects of system parameters such as contact angle and electrode length on the shape of the force density and its net integral are considered. A comparison of the scaling properties of DEP and EWOD for applications in digital microfluidics is presented. The net DEP force is shown to be strongly peaked when a droplet interface is located near the edge of a charged electrode and reduces to the well-known lumped parameter model in the appropriate limits. The effect of electrode spacing is seen to have an inversely proportional effect on the force experienced by the droplet, and the effect of increasing droplet contact angle is observed to increase the net force on the droplet.
Optimization of High Flow Rate Nanoporous Electroosmotic Pump
Authors: Berrouche Y. , Avenas Y. , Schaeffer C. , Wang P. , Chang H.-C.
Published: August 2008

We present a theory for optimizing the thermodynamic efficiency of an electroosmotic (EO) pump with a large surface area highly charged nanoporous silica disk substrate. It was found that the optimum thermodynamic efficiency depends on the temperature, the silica zeta potential, the viscosity, the permittivity, the ion valency, the tortuosity of the nanoporous silica but mainly the effective normalized pore radius of the substrate scaled with respect to the Debye length. Using de-ionized water as the pumping liquid, the optimized EO pump generates a maximum flow rate of 13.6ml∕min at a pressure of 2kPa under an applied voltage of 150V. The power consumed by the pump is less than 0. 4W. The EO pump was designed to eliminate any bubble in the hydraulic circuit such that the pump can be operated continuously without significant degradation in the performance.
Soret Effect for a Ternary Mixture in Porous Cavity: Modeling With Variable Diffusion Coefficients and Viscosity
Authors: Jaber T. J. , Yan Y. , Saghir M. Z.
Published: August 2008

A porous cavity filled with methane (C1), n-butane (nC4), and dodecane (C12) at a pressure of 35.0MPa is used to investigate numerically the flow interaction due to the presence of thermodiffusion and buoyancy forces. A lateral heating condition is applied with the left wall maintained at 10°C and the right wall at 50°C. The molecular diffusion and thermal diffusion coefficients are functions of temperature, concentration, and viscosity of mixture components. It has been found that for permeability below 200md the thermodiffusion is dominant; and above this level, buoyancy convection becomes the dominant mechanism. The variation of viscosity plays an important role on the molecular and thermal diffusion.
“The wise, for cure, on exercise depend”: physical activity interventions in primary care in Wales
Authors: Williams N H
Published: August 2008

Physical inactivity is an important public health problem, which could be addressed by health promotion initiatives in primary care. The interventions most widely available to primary care clinicians are advice/counselling and exercise referral. A review of four systematic reviews found that brief advice from a general practitioner, supported by written materials, has a modest short-term effect on physical activity lasting 6–12 months. Exercise referral schemes have been introduced throughout Wales and the rest of the UK. A systematic review and meta-analysis found that such schemes resulted in a statistically significant increase in the proportion of sedentary people becoming moderately active, but the absolute risk reduction was small, with 17 sedentary people needing to be referred for one to become moderately active. This small effect size could partly be explained by poor rates of uptake and adherence and was not likely to be an efficient use of resources. These findings were in concordance with the guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, which states that schemes should only be recommended if they are part of a properly designed and controlled research study. Since 2007, a national exercise referral scheme is being rolled out throughout Wales in three phases, and is being evaluated in a pragmatic randomised controlled trial comparing exercise referral with an advice booklet.
Linking data to tobacco control program action among students aged 13–15 in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states, 2000–2006
Authors: Sirichotiratana N , Sovann S , Aditama T Y , Krishnan M , Kyaing N N , Miguel-Baquilod M , Hai P T , Sinha D N , Warren C W , Jones N R
Published: August 2008

Background:

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has made tobacco use prevention a primary health issue. All ASEAN countries except Indonesia have ratified the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), the world’s first public health treaty on tobacco control.

Methods:

Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) data were collected from representative samples of students in school grades associated with ages 13–15 in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos (Vientiane), Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam (Hanoi).

Results:

Current cigarette smoking ranged from less than 5% (Vietnam and Cambodia) to 20.2% in Malaysia. Current use of tobacco products other than cigarettes was less than 10% in all countries. Boys were significantly more likely than girls to smoke cigarettes or use other tobacco products. Exposure to second-hand smoke in public places was greater than 50%, direct pro-tobacco advertising exposure was greater than 75% and over 10% of students were exposed to indirect advertising. Over 60% of students who currently smoked cigarettes wanted to stop, but 80% who tried to quit in the year prior to the survey failed.

Conclusions:

Efforts to reduce the current and projected harm caused by tobacco use in the ASEAN countries are urgently needed. ASEAN countries need to expand their national comprehensive tobacco prevention and control programs and enforce those laws already passed. Without this effort little reduction can be expected in the burden of chronic diseases and tobacco-related mortality.
Parameterizing age-structured models from a fisheries management perspective
Authors: Martell Steven J.D. , Pine William E. , Walters Carl J.
Published: August 2008

Age-structured models are widely used in fisheries stock assessments and contain two very important parameters that determine the rate and amount of harvest that can be safely taken: the compensation rate in juvenile survival (κ) and the unfished biomass (Bo). These two parameters are often confounded. It is common for relative abundance indices to lack contrast, and the use of informative priors, or fixing at least one of these parameters, is necessary to develop management advice. Providing management advice proceeds by transforming estimates of biological variables such as Boand κ into management variables such as the maximum sustainable yield (C*) and the fishing mortality rate that would achieve this yield (F*). There is no analytical solution for the transformation of Bo, κ to C*, or F* for age-structured models with commonly used stock–recruitment functions and therefore must be done numerically. The opposite transition, however, does have an analytical solution for both the Beverton–Holt and Ricker recruitment models with partial selectivities for all age classes. Use of these analytical solutions allows for age-structured assessment models to be directly parameterized in terms of the management variables C* and F*. The effects of informative priors on C* and F* on the results of the assessment model are completely transparent to management.
Are wild populations ideally distributed? Variations in density-dependent habitat use by age class in juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)
Authors: Gibson A. Jamie F. , Bowlby Heather D. , Amiro Peter G.
Published: August 2008

We examined relationships between abundance and habitat use in three age classes of juvenile Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) in the Stewiacke River, Nova Scotia, Canada. Using stream gradient as a proxy for habitat quality, we used a double half normal function, modified to include density dependence, to model the relationship between habitat quality and fish density. We found that density was asymmetrically distributed around a similar optimum gradient for all three age classes regardless of abundance. Habitat use was highly density-dependent for age-0 and age-1 juveniles, but not for age-2+ salmon. As abundance of age-0 and age-1 salmon increased, their relative density decreased in low-gradient habitat and increased in higher-gradient habitat, although their absolute density increased in all stream gradient categories. Variation in habitat use was consistent with ideal free theory for age-1 juveniles in high-gradient habitat, but not in low-gradient habitat. Age-2+ individuals appeared not to modify their distribution among habitats, even though increasing competition changes the relative benefit of low-gradient habitat in terms of resource acquisition. In contrast, age-1 individuals responded to increased competition by modifying their distribution along the habitat gradient, even though this may have slightly reduced an individual’s potential for growth.
Transoceanic migration rates of young North Pacific albacore, Thunnus alalunga, from conventional tagging data
Authors: Ichinokawa Momoko , Coan, Atilio L. , Takeuchi Yukio
Published: August 2008

This study summarizes US and Japanese historical North Pacific albacore ( Thunnus alalunga) tagging data and uses maximum likelihood methods to estimate seasonal migration rates of young North Pacific albacore. Previous studies related to North Pacific albacore migration have found that the frequency of albacore migrations is difficult to quantify because of inadequate amounts of tags released by the US tagging program in the western Pacific. Use of the combined Japan and US tagging data solves this problem. This study also incorporates specific seasonal migration routes, hypothesized in past qualitative analyses, to avoid overparameterization problems. The estimated migration patterns qualitatively correspond to those from previous studies and suggest the possibility of frequent westward movements and infrequent eastward movements in the North Pacific. This frequent westward movement of young albacore in the North Pacific would correspond to a part of albacore life history in which immature fish recruit into fisheries in the western and eastern Pacific and then gradually move near to their spawning grounds in the central and western Pacific before maturing.
Cone penetration test (CPT) methods for end-bearing assessment of open- and closed-ended driven piles in siliceous sand
Authors: Xu Xiangtao , Schneider James A. , Lehane Barry M.
Published: August 2008

The cone penetration test (CPT) has been used as a means of assessing the end bearing of driven piles in sand for many decades. This paper examines the predictive performance of four new such CPT-based methods recently included in the commentary of the 22nd edition of the American Petroleum Institute’s recommended practice for fixed offshore structures. It is demonstrated that the formulations given by one of these methods, referred to as UWA-05, provides better predictions than the three other CPT methods when tested against (i) an existing database of base-capacity measurements, (ii) results from a new series of load tests on small-diameter piles, and (iii) base capacities measured in two recently conducted load tests on 1.5 m diameter pipe piles. It is shown that the UWA-05 has better predictive performance (and hence reliability) as it accounts explicitly for the effects of partial plugging during pipe–pile installation and for variations in CPT resistance in the vicinity of the pile tip.
Axial testing and numerical modeling of square shaft helical piles under compressive and tensile loading
Authors: Livneh Ben , El Naggar M. Hesham
Published: August 2008

Helical piles are increasingly used to support and rehabilitate structures subjected to both tensile and compressive axial loads. This paper presents a detailed investigation into the axial performance of helical piles. The study encompasses 19 full-scale load tests in different soils and numerical modeling using finite element analysis. The ultimate load criteria and load transfer mechanisms for helical piles were examined. In addition, the relationship between the installation effort (torque) and pile capacity was explored to determine its suitability for predicting pile capacity. The piles tested were made of three circular pitched bearing plates welded at a spacing of three helical diameters to a solid-square, slender steel shaft. It is proposed to determine the ultimate pile capacity as the load corresponding to pile head movement equal to 8% of the largest helix diameter plus the pile elastic deflection. A torque correlation factor, KT= 33 m–1for compression and KT= 24 m–1for uplift, was established to relate the ultimate pile capacity to the installation torque. It was found that load transfer to the soil is predominantly through a cylindrical shear failure surface that follows the tapered profile of the interhelices soils and the bearing capacity of the lead helix in the direction of loading.
ATTRACTING BASINS OF VOLUME PRESERVING AUTOMORPHISMS OF ℂk
Authors: PETERS HAN , VIVAS LIZ RAQUEL , WOLD ERLEND FORNÆSS
Published: August 2008

We study topological properties of attracting sets for automorphisms of ℂk. Our main result is that a generic volume preserving automorphism has a hyperbolic fixed point with a dense stable manifold. On the other hand, we show that an attracting set can only contain a neighborhood of the fixed point if it is an attracting fixed point. We will see that the latter does not hold in the non-autonomous setting.
VANISHING AND TOPOLOGICAL SPHERE THEOREMS FOR SUBMANIFOLDS IN A HYPERBOLIC SPACE
Authors: FU HAIPING , XU HONGWEI
Published: August 2008

We extend the vanishing and sphere theorems due to Lawson, Simons, Xin, Shiohama and Xu. By using the techniques of calculus of variations in the geometric measure theory, we prove the vanishing theorem for homology groups of submanifolds in the hyperbolic space Hn(c) with negative constant curvature c. Moreover, we obtain a topological sphere theorem for certain complete submanifolds in Hn(c).
SUPERGRAVITY ON ℝ4 × S1/ℤ2 AND SINGULAR CALABI–YAUS
Authors: McREYNOLDS SEAN
Published: August 2008

We discuss the moduli space singularities that are generally present in five-dimensional vector-coupled supergravity on a spacetime of the form ℝ4 × S1/ℤ2, with vector fields surviving on the ℤ2 fixed planes. The framework of supergravity is necessarily ambiguous when it comes to the non-singular embedding theory, so we focus on those models coming from Calabi–Yau threefold with wrapped membranes.
SOME ENTANGLEMENT FEATURES OF HIGHLY ENTANGLED MULTIQUBIT STATES
Authors: BORRAS A. , CASAS M. , PLASTINO A. R. , PLASTINO A.
Published: August 2008

We explore some basic entanglement features of multiqubit systems that are relevant for the development of algorithms for searching highly entangled states. In particular, we compare the behaviours of multiqubit entanglement measures based (i) on the von Neumann entropy of marginal density matrices and (ii) on the linear entropy of those matrices.
INFORMATION EXTRACTION VERSUS IRREVERSIBILITY IN QUANTUM MEASUREMENT PROCESSES
Authors: BUSCEMI FRANCESCO , HAYASHI MASAHITO , HORODECKI MICHAŁ
Published: August 2008

A quantum measurement process, when non-trivial, is not a closed evolution: the appearance of classical outcomes is usually interpreted as the evidence of some decoherence-like mechanism causing quantum superpositions to degrade into classical mixtures. Such mechanism is due to a net flow of information from the input system (measurement object), through the physical apparatus interacting with the object (measurement probe), into some environment, the latter representing all those degrees of freedom which are not directly accessible by the experimenter. For this reason, the phenomenon of state reduction induced by the measurement process generally entails an irreversible state change. The aim of our contribution is to answer the following questions : how much information a measurement is able to extract? "How much" irreversible is the state reduction due to a particular measurement process? In which way information gain and irreversibility are related?
ASYMPTOTIC ENTANGLEMENT IN OPEN QUANTUM SYSTEMS
Authors: ISAR AURELIAN
Published: August 2008

In the framework of the theory of open systems based on completely positive quantum dynamical semigroups, we solve in the asymptotic long-time regime the master equation for two independent harmonic oscillators interacting with an environment. We give a description of the continuous-variable asymptotic entanglement in terms of the covariance matrix of the considered subsystem for an arbitrary Gaussian input state. Using Peres–Simon necessary and sufficient condition for separability of two-mode Gaussian states, we show that for certain classes of environments the initial state evolves asymptotically to an entangled equilibrium bipartite state, while for other values of the coefficients describing the environment, the asymptotic state is separable. We calculate also the logarithmic negativity characterizing the degree of entanglement of the asymptotic state.
QUANTUM PRECISION LIMITS FOR ANY IMPLEMENTATION OF SINGLE QUBIT GATES UNDER CONSERVATION LAWS
Authors: KARASAWA TOKISHIRO , OZAWA MASANAO , GEA-BANACLOCHE JULIO , NEMOTO KAE
Published: August 2008

A quantum gate is implemented by control interactions between qubits and their ancilla system. It has been shown that the control interactions have possibilities to induce the dynamical decoherence on the qubits if an additive conservation law is assumed in the interactions and the ancilla system is finite. This decoherece put the precision limit on the gate, which cannot be removed from the qubit by optimizing the interaction and the initialization of the ancilla system. In this paper, we give the outline of investigating the precision limit which is formulated by the lower bound of the gate infidelity, one minus the squared fidelity, for an arbitrary self-adjoint gate on a single qubit. We show rigorous lower bounds in terms of the variance of the conserved quantity and a simple geometrical relation between the conservation law to be assumed and the gates to be implemented. We also comment on another approach to provide the precision limit for an arbitrary single qubit gate under a conservation law.
PURE STATE ENTANGLEMENT BETWEEN SEPARATED REGIONS USING IMPENETRABLE BOSONS
Authors: MOLINA-VILAPLANA JAVIER , BOSE SOUGATO , KOREPIN VLADIMIR E.
Published: August 2008

We study a way of establishing a pure entangled state between two segments of a 1D ring using impenetrable bosons. The two bosons are initially simply placed at two positions on the ring which is an unentangled state. After some time evolution, we project the segments to a pure state through coarse grained measurements which ascertain whether there is a particle present in a given segment without revealing any information about its position within the segment. Subject to finding a particle in each segment, we quantify the entanglement established between the segments through the von Neumann entropy of a subsystem. We also investigate whether this entanglement increases with the number of particles and compare the entanglement in dynamical and ground states.
CALCULATING A MAXIMIZER FOR QUANTUM MUTUAL INFORMATION
Authors: DORLAS T. C. , MORGAN C.
Published: August 2008

We obtain a maximizer for the quantum mutual information for classical information sent over the quantum amplitude damping channel. This is achieved by limiting the ensemble of input states to antipodal states, in the calculation of the product state capacity for the channel. We also consider the product state capacity of a convex combination of two memoryless channels and demonstrate in particular that it is in general not given by the minimum of the capacities of the respective memoryless channels.
THERMAL ENHANCEMENT OF ENTANGLEMENT SENSITIVITY TO THE PHASE DIAGRAM IN XY MODEL
Authors: NAKATA YOSHIFUMI , MARKHAM DAMIAN , MURAO MIO
Published: August 2008

To understand multi-partite entanglement of the thermal state in the 1D spin 1/2 XY model with a transverse magnetic field, we investigate the temperature below which the thermal state is certainly entangled. We refer to such a temperature as a threshold temperature. We show that two characteristic lines in the phase diagram at zero temperature of the XY model can be clearly emphasized by the threshold temperature.
DYNAMICAL KICKBACK AND NONCOMMUTING IMPURITIES IN A SPIN CHAIN
Authors: DE FALCO DIEGO , TAMASCELLI DARIO
Published: August 2008

In an interacting continuous time quantum walk, while the walker (the cursor) is moving on a graph, computational primitives (unitary operators associated to the edges) are applied to ancillary qubits (the register). The model with one walker was originally proposed by R. Feynman, who thus anticipated many features of the Continuous Time Quantum Walk (CTWQ) computing paradigm. In this note we examine the behaviour of an interacting CTQW with two walkers and examine the interaction of the walkers with noncommuting primitives. We endow such a walk with a notion of trajectory, in the sense of sample path of an associated Markov process, in order to use such notions as sojourn time and first passage time as heuristic tools for gaining intuition about its behaviour.
The New Corporate Social Responsibility
Authors: Auld Graeme , Bernstein Steven , Cashore Benjamin
Published: August 2008

The last half decade has witnessed a remarkable resurgence of attention among practitioners and scholars to understanding the ability of corporate social responsibility (CSR) to address environmental and social problems. Although significant advances have been made, assessing the forms, types, and impacts on intended objectives is impeded by the conflation of distinct phenomena, which has created misunderstandings about why firms support CSR, and the implications of this support, or lack thereof, for the potential effectiveness of innovative policy options. As a corrective, we offer seven categories that distinguish efforts promoting learning and stakeholder engagement from those requiring direct on-the-ground behavior changes. Better accounting for these differences is critical for promoting a research agenda that focuses on the evolutionary nature of CSR innovations, including whether specific forms are likely to yield marginal or transformative results.