bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anticholinesterase activity of 7‐methoxyflavones isolated from Kaempferia parviflora
Authors: Sawasdee Pattara , Sabphon Chalisa , Sitthiwongwanit Duangporn , Kokpol Udom
Published: July 2009

The rhizome of Kaempferia parviflora or kra‐chai‐dum (in Thai) is used traditionally as a folk medicine. The preliminary cholinesterase inhibitory screening of this plant extract exhibited significant acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory activities. Thirteen known methoxyflavones (1–13) were isolated and their structures were completely elucidated based on NMR analysis and compared with literature reports. Minor compounds 12–13 were reported for the first time from this species. The cholinesterase inhibitory test results showed that the highest potential inhibitors toward AChE and BChE were 5,7,4′‐trimethoxyflavone (6) and 5,7‐dimethoxyflavone (7), respectively, with the percentage inhibitory activity varying over 43–85%. The structure‐activity relationship study led to the conclusion that compounds bearing 5,7‐dimethoxy groups and a free substituent at C‐3 had a significant inhibitory effect at a concentration of 0.1 mg/mL, but those bearing a 5‐hydroxyl group reduced the inhibitory potency. On the other hand, flavones bearing a 3′‐ or 5′‐methoxy group did not influence the inhibitory effect. Interestingly, 5,7‐dimethoxyflavone (7) exhibited strong selectivity for BChE over AChE which may be of great interest to modify as a treatment agent for Alzheimer's disease. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The beta‐carboline alkaloid harmine inhibits BCRP and can reverse resistance to the anticancer drugs mitoxantrone and camptothecin in breast cancer cells
Authors: Ma Yonggang , Wink Michael
Published: July 2009

Multidrug resistance (MDR), mediated by highly expressed ABC transporters, is one of the most important mechanisms in tumor cells. Breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) is a member of the ABC transporter family. This transporter expels different kinds of lipophilic anticancer drugs, which have diffused into the cells. In this study, 96‐well plate based assays and flow cytometry analysis were employed to screen natural products for BCRP inhibition. The beta‐carboline alkaloid harmine inhibited BCRP in a BCRP overexpressing breast cancer cell line (MDA‐MB‐231). Harmine reduced resistance to the anticancer drugs mitoxantrone and camptothecin mediated by BCRP and might be an interesting new reversal agent. Harmine did not inhibit P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp) mediated drug efflux. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
(‐)‐epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate reduces experimental colon injury in rats by regulating macrophage and mast cell
Authors: Mochizuki Miyako , Hasegawa Noboru
Published: July 2009

The ameliorative effect of (‐)‐epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG) on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) induced by ethanol 2,4,6‐trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) was studied in 7‐week‐old male rats. Intestinal lesions were measured as an increase in myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in mucosa. The supplementation of EGCG significantly inhibited MPO activity and histamine levels in the distal colon mucosa. The EGCG inhibited macrophage chemotaxis toward N‐formyl‐l‐methionyl‐l‐leucyl‐l‐phenylalanine in a concentration‐dependent manner. These observations confirmed that EGCG can ameliorate acute experimental colitis by the suppression of mast cells and macrophage activities. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Validating circuit board Interconnect Stress Test preconditioning processes using statistical model comparisons of accelerated test data
Authors: Juarez Joseph M. , White Vicka
Published: July 2009

Interconnect stress testing (IST) is used for acceptance of product by testing coupons fabricated along with the production panels to determine the long‐term reliability of the plated thru‐holes. Prior to in‐service use, the actual production circuit boards are subjected to Circuit Card Assembly processes like soldering components, but simulated on coupons using preconditioning cycles (PCCs). In this paper, the Circuit Card Assembly preconditioning process is compared with IST PCCs. Accelerated test data for this study use IST preconditioning and Re‐Flow Oven preconditioning at an independent company laboratory from coupons supplied by three fabrication suppliers. The data indicate that a Weibull distribution be applied for statistical model comparisons using the likelihood‐ratio test on both types of preconditioning processes with coupons that are then subjected to subsequent in‐service use IST cycles until failure occurs. Results show that using six IST PCCs are statistically equivalent to six Re‐Flow Oven PCCs and thus five IST PCCs currently in use should be reconsidered, but the advantages of effective IST preconditioning lower acceptance costs significantly. In addition, the statistical results are validated by root mean square power calculations. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analysis of computer experiments with multiple noise sources
Authors: Dehlendorff Christian , Kulahci Murat , Andersen Klaus K.
Published: July 2009

In this paper we present a modeling framework for analyzing computer models with two types of variations. The paper is based on a case study of an orthopedic surgical unit, which has both controllable and uncontrollable factors. Our results show that this structure of variation can be modeled effectively with linear mixed effects models and generalized additive models. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Docking and Virtual Screening Using Distributed Grid Technology
Authors: García‐Sosa Alfonso T. , Sild Sulev , Maran Uko
Published: July 2009

Distributed grid technologies are gradually realizing their potential to provide innovative infrastructures for complex scientific and industrial applications in the field of computational chemistry and related application areas. The current paper gives examples of distributed solutions for docking and virtual screening applications in moving the computational paradigms towards collaborative research and grid computing environments. The Chemomentum collaborative computing environment including both hardware and software infrastructure is described. Examples of applications are given i) for docking and virtual screening on multiprotein and multilibrary cases for H5N1 avian influenza and HIV‐1 viruses; and ii) QSAR model building related to HIV‐1 protease activity and aquatic toxicity.
COSMO‐RS as a Predictive Tool for Lipophilicity
Authors: Wittekindt Carsten , Klamt Andreas
Published: July 2009

The COSMO‐RS method was applied to predict altogether 4155 experimental available values of 12 different hydrocarbon‐water (logPalk) and 1‐n‐octanol‐water (logPow) partition coefficients. The over all results of the correlation between the predicted and experimental partition coefficients demonstrate that COSMO‐RS is able to a priori predict the values of all systems under investigation for almost all organic compounds. As a showcase, the outliers of the hexadecane‐water system were critically assessed. In two cases the prediction could be improved by correcting the underlying chemical structure. The remaining three outliers are due to known problems of seldom elements (germanium compounds) or of insufficient conformational representation of the molecule (crown‐ethers). Finally, ΔlogP which is the difference between (logPow−logPalk) is correlated with the blood‐brain partition coefficient (logBB). On an external test set of 199 compounds the logBB prediction based on ΔlogP is slightly inferior to our existing QSPR model (RMSE: 0.52 vs. 0.46)
Exact computation and asymptotic approximations of 6j symbols: Illustration of their semiclassical limits
Authors: Ragni Mirco , Bitencourt Ana Carla Peixoto , Da S. Ferreira Cristiane , Aquilanti Vincenzo , Anderson Roger W. , Littlejohn Robert G.
Published: July 2009

This article describes a direct method for the exact computation of 3nj symbols from the defining series, and continues discussing properties and asymptotic formulas focusing on the most important case, the 6j symbols or Racah coefficients. Relationships with families of hypergeometric orthogonal polynomials are presented and the asymptotic behavior is studied to account for some of the most relevant features, both from the viewpoints of the basic geometrical significance and as a source of accurate approximation formulas, such as those due to Ponzano and Regge and Schulten and Gordon. Numerical aspects are specifically investigated in detail, regarding the relationship between functions of discrete and of continuous variables, exhibiting the transition in the limit of large angular momenta toward both Wigner's reduced rotation matrices (or Jacobi polynomials) and harmonic oscillators (or Hermite polynomials). © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010
Is Cu involved in prion oligopeptide stability? Experiments and numerical simulations
Authors: Minicozzi V. , Morante S.
Published: July 2009

The high‐sociological impact of neurodegenerative diseases (like Alzheimer disease, Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies, Parkinson disease, etc.) has renewed the interest of researchers in the study of misfolding processes and in particular of the rôle played by metals in plaque formation as their unbalanced concentration can be regarded as a possible concurrent cause of protein aggregation. Metals are essential players in many of the fundamental activities of cells. Storing, metabolism, and trafficking of metals through the cellular membrane and within the cytoplasm are mediated by many proteins via well‐tuned mechanisms because of the toxicity of free ions. In this review article, we summarize the results of the most recent experimental and numerical investigations aimed at understanding the possible rôle of Cu in stabilizing the Prion protein structure and in the formation of protein polymers. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010
Optimized perturbation theory scheme for calculating the interatomic potentials and hyperfine lines shift for heavy atoms in the buffer inert gas
Authors: Malinovskaya S. V. , Glushkov A. V. , Khetselius O. Yu. , Svinarenko A. A. , Mischenko E. V. , Florko T. A.
Published: July 2009

A new relativistic approach, based on the gauge‐invariant perturbation theory (PT), is applied to calculate the interatomic potentials and hyperfine structure line collision shifts for the alkali and lanthanide atoms in an atmosphere of the inert gases. Data on the interatomic potentials and collision shifts for Rb, Cs, and Yb atoms in an atmosphere of the inert gas He are presented. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009
Using an economic framework to inform management of environmental entitlements
Authors: Horne Avril , Stewardson Michael , Freebairn John , McMahon Thomas A.
Published: July 2009

There is much in the scientific literature dealing with methods to determine environmental water requirements in streams. However, most of these methods are suited to long‐term water resource planning and setting regulatory targets. In Australia, the environment is now recognized as a legitimate user of water with its own water entitlement. With this in mind, and in the context of a water market, transparent decisions need to be made as to how best to utilize environmental water reserves on yearly, monthly or even daily basis. Environmental water managers must identify priority flow components and environmental assets. This will call for information on environmental water requirements to be presented in a manner that informs operational decisions. This paper proposes that describing environmental requirements as a function relating to different flow levels, a relationship named here as an environmental response curve, is an important first step in making transparent decisions to achieve the best outcome from limited environmental entitlements. The environmental response curves allow the marginal benefit of water (or value of each additional ML) to the environment to be understood. This allows environmental recommendations to be more readily translated into operational rules. This is not a new environmental flows methodology. The contribution of this paper is representing existing data to allow operational decisions. This paper provides a possible way forward in representing environmental demands for operation of environmental water and highlights areas where our current knowledge falls short. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Changes in abiotic and biotic phosphorus uptake across a gradient of stream condition
Authors: Aldridge Kane T. , Brookes Justin D. , Ganf George G.
Published: July 2009

Degraded streams have been shown to retain fewer nutrients than un‐modified streams. The aim of this project was to investigate the relative importance of abiotic and biotic pathways of phosphorus uptake by epilithic communities in un‐modified and modified streams. This was investigated through a series of filterable reactive phosphorus (FRP)‐uptake experiments in two streams of the Torrens River Catchment, South Australia. Total benthic FRP uptake was assessed as the loss of FRP to un‐sterilized epilithic communities (kT), abiotic uptake was the loss to sterilized epilithic communities (kA) and biotic uptake (kB) was the difference between total and abiotic uptake. It was hypothesized that un‐modified reaches would have higher kA and kB than degraded and engineered reaches. Overall, kT, kA and kB were greatest in un‐modified reaches, but this pattern was not consistent across seasons. kT and kB were greatest in the un‐modified reaches in autumn–winter and late spring, but not in winter–spring. Differences in kB were best explained by phosphorus availability in the water column and the period of continuous flow. kA was greatest in the un‐modified reaches in autumn–winter, greatest in the degraded reaches in winter–spring, but similar in the un‐modified reaches and degraded reaches in late spring. kA was most dependent upon the background FRP concentration, but also the attached organic matter in the un‐modified reaches. The project demonstrated that several impacts of changes in land‐use can alter the affinity of biotic and abiotic processes for phosphorus, which will have implications for in‐stream nutrient availability and downstream ecosystems. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fish community structure in natural and engineered habitats in the Kansas River
Authors: White Katherine , Gerken Joseph , Paukert Craig , Makinster Andrew
Published: July 2009

We investigated fish assemblage structure in engineered (rip‐rap) and natural habitats (log jams and mud banks) in the Kansas River USA to determine if natural structures had higher abundance and diversity of fishes at a local spatial scale. A total of 439 randomly selected sites were boat electrofished from May to August 2005 and 2006. Mean species diversity and richness were significantly higher in rip‐rap than log jams and mud banks. Mean relative abundance (CPUE; number of fish collected per hour electrofishing) of six of the 15 most common fishes (>1% of total catch) were most abundant in rip‐rap, two were most abundant in log jams, and none in mud banks. Rip‐rap had the highest relative abundance of fluvial specialist and macrohabitat generalists, whereas mean CPUE of fluvial dependents was highest in log jams. Although a discriminant function analysis indicated that nine size classes (eight species) discriminated among three habitat types, the high misclassification rate (38%) suggested a high degree of fish assemblage overlap among the habitats. Although previous work has suggested that engineered structures (rip‐rap) and urbanization are linked to reduced biotic diversity or reduced growth of fish species, our results suggest that at a local scale rip‐rap may not have the same negative impacts on fish assemblages. Published in 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Model‐based multiplicity estimation of population size
Authors: Laska Eugene M. , Meisner Morris , Wanderling Joseph
Published: July 2009

A survey is conducted atwofKselection units or lists, e.g. health care institutions or weeks in a year, to estimateN, the total number of individuals with particular characteristics. Our estimator utilizes two items determined for each survey participant: the number,u, among thewlists inSand the number,j, among allKlists on which each survey participant appears. In its traditional form, selection units are chosen using probability sampling and the statistical properties of the estimator derive from the sampling mechanism. Here, selection units are purposively chosen to maximize the chance that they are ‘typical’ and a model‐based analysis is used for inference. If the sample is typical, the ML estimators ofNandE(J) are unbiased. If a condition on the second moment ofU/Jis satisfied, the model‐based variance of the estimator ofNbased on a purposively chosen typical sample is smaller than one based on a randomly chosen sample. Methods to test whether the typical assumption is valid using data from the survey are not yet available. The importance of proper selection of the sample to maximize the chance that it is typical and model breakdown does not occur must be emphasized. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Bayesian hierarchical nonlinear model for assessing the association between genetic variation and drug cytotoxicity
Authors: Fridley Brooke L. , Jenkins Gregory , Schaid Daniel J. , Wang Liewei
Published: July 2009

Non‐tumor cell‐based model systems have recently gained interest in pharmacogenetic research as a hypothesis generating tool. The hypotheses generated from these model systems can be followed up in functional studies, or tested in individuals taking the same investigational agents. The current cellular phenotypes (e.g. cytotoxicity) of interest in these studies are based on the effects of an individual dosage of a drug on the cell lines, or a summary of results at many dosages of a drug (e.g. dose that inhibits 50 per cent of cell growth, GI 50 ). A more complete analysis of the impact of genetic variation on all aspects of the dose–response curve may lend additional insight into the pharmacogenomics of a particular drug. This paper illustrates the use of a Bayesian hierarchical nonlinear model for the analysis of pharmacogenomic data with cytotoxicity endpoints. The model is illustrated with cytotoxicity and expression data collected on cell lines from a pharmacogenomic study of the drug gemcitabine. By completing an analysis based on the entire dose–response curve, we were able to detect additional genes that affect not only the GI 50, but also the slope of the curve, which reflects the therapeutic index of the drug. Simulation studies also demonstrate that in comparison with the analyses based on the commonly used summary measure GI 50, investigation of the impact of genetic variation on all aspects of the cytotoxicity dose–response curve is more informative, and more powerful with respect to detecting the effect of gene expression on cytotoxicity. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bayesian inference from incomplete longitudinal data: A simple method to quantify sensitivity to nonignorable dropout
Authors: Xie Hui
Published: July 2009

Bayesian approach has been increasingly used for analyzing longitudinal data. When dropout occurs in the study, analysis often relies on the assumption of ignorable dropout. Because ignorability is a critical and untestable assumption without obtaining additional data or making other unverifiable assumptions, it is important to assess the impact of departures from the ignorability assumption on the key Bayesian inferences. In this paper, we extend the Bayesian index of local sensitivity to non‐ignorability (ISNI) method proposed by Zhang and Heitjan to longitudinal data with dropout. We derive formulas for the Bayesian ISNI when the complete longitudinal data follow a linear mixed‐effect model. The calculation of the index only requires the posterior draws or summary statistics of these draws from the standard analysis of the ignorable model. Thus, our approach avoids fitting any complicated nonignorable model. One can use the method to evaluate which Bayesian parameter estimates or functions of these estimates in a linear mixed‐effect model are susceptible to nonignorable dropout and which ones are not. We illustrate the method using a simulation study and two real examples: rats data set and rheumatoid arthritis clinical trial data set. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dynamic strategic groups: deriving spatial evolutionary paths
Authors: DeSarbo Wayne S. , Grewal Rajdeep , Wang Rui
Published: July 2009

Recent theoretical developments in the domain of strategic groups, specifically those related to cognitive groups and strategic group identity, seem to suggest that strategic group membership is likely to be relatively stable over time and that firms in a strategic group co‐evolve. Yet appropriate data analytic approaches that use information about firms over time to identify stable strategic groups and their evolutionary paths have been lacking. To overcome such limitations, this research proposes a new clusterwise bilinear multidimensional scaling model that can simultaneously identify (1) the number of strategic groups, (2) the dimensions on which the strategic groups are based, and (3) the evolution of the strategy of these groups over time. Our discussion encompasses various alternative model specifications, together with model selection heuristics based on statistical information criteria. An illustration of the proposed methodology using data pertaining to strategic variables for a sample of public banks in the tristate area of New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania across three time periods (1995, 1999, and 2003) identifies two underlying dimensions with five strategic groups that display very different evolutionary paths over time. Post hoc analysis shows pronounced differences in firm performance across the five derived strategic groups. This article concludes with a discussion of the implications of the findings, as well as potential future research directions. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Supra‐photoswitch Involving Sandwiched DNA Base Pairs and Azobenzenes for Light‐Driven Nanostructures and Nanodevices
Authors: Liang Xingguo , Mochizuki Toshio , Asanuma Hiroyuki
Published: July 2009

A supra‐photoswitch is designed for complete ON/OFF switching of DNA hybridization by light irradiation for the purpose of using DNA as a material for building nanostructures. Azobenzenes, attached to D‐threoninols that function as scaffolds, are introduced into each DNA strand after every two natural nucleotides (in the form (NNX)n where N and X represent the natural nucleotide and the azobenzene moiety, respectively). Hybridization of these two modified strands forms a supra‐photoswitch consisting of alternating natural base pairs and azobenzene moieties. In this newly designed sequence, each base pair is sandwiched between two azobenzene moieties and all the azobenzene moieties are separated by base pairs. When the duplex is irradiated by visible light, the azobenzene moieties take the trans form and this duplex is surprisingly stable compared to the corresponding native duplex composed of only natural oligonucleotides. On the other hand, when the azobenzene moieties are isomerized to the cis form by UV light irradiation, the duplex is completely dissociated. Based on this design, a DNA hairpin structure is synthesized that should be closed by visible light irradiation and opened by UV light irradiation at the level of a single molecule. Indeed, perfect ON/OFF photoregulation is attained. This is a promising strategy for the design of supra‐photoswitches such as photoresponsive sticky ends on DNA nanodevices and other nanostructures.
Prenatal sonographic diagnosis of skeletal dysplasias
Authors: Schramm T. , Gloning K. P. , Minderer S. , Daumer‐Haas C. , Hörtnagel K. , Nerlich A. , Tutschek B.
Published: July 2009

Objective

To assess the types and numbers of cases, gestational age at specific prenatal diagnosis and diagnostic accuracy of the diagnosis of skeletal dysplasias in a prenatal population from a single tertiary center.

Methods

This was a retrospective database review of type, prenatal and definitive postnatal diagnoses and gestational age at specific prenatal diagnosis of all cases of skeletal dysplasias from a mixed referral and screening population between 1985 and 2007. Prenatal diagnoses were grouped into ‘correct ultrasound diagnosis’ (complete concordance with postnatal pediatric or pathological findings) or ‘partially correct ultrasound diagnosis’ (skeletal dysplasias found postnatally to be a different one from that diagnosed prenatally).

Results

We included 178 fetuses in this study, of which 176 had a prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of ‘skeletal dysplasia’. In 160 cases the prenatal diagnosis of a skeletal dysplasia was confirmed; two cases with skeletal dysplasias identified postnatally had not been diagnosed prenatally, giving 162 fetuses with skeletal dysplasias in total. There were 23 different classifiable types of skeletal dysplasia. The specific diagnoses based on prenatal ultrasound examination alone were correct in 110/162 (67.9%) cases and partially correct in 50/162 (30.9%) cases, (160/162 overall, 98.8%). In 16 cases, skeletal dysplasia was diagnosed prenatally, but was not confirmed postnatally (n = 12 false positives) or the case was lost to follow‐up (n = 4). The following skeletal dysplasias were recorded: thanatophoric dysplasia (35 diagnosed correctly prenatally of 40 overall), osteogenesis imperfecta (lethal and non‐lethal, 31/35), short‐rib dysplasias (5/10), chondroectodermal dysplasia Ellis‐van Creveld (4/9), achondroplasia (7/9), achondrogenesis (7/8), campomelic dysplasia (6/8), asphyxiating thoracic dysplasia Jeune (3/7), hypochondrogenesis (1/6), diastrophic dysplasia (2/5), chondrodysplasia punctata (2/2), hypophosphatasia (0/2) as well as a further 7/21 cases with rare or unclassifiable skeletal dysplasias.

Conclusion

Prenatal diagnosis of skeletal dysplasias can present a considerable diagnostic challenge. However, a meticulous sonographic examination yields high overall detection. In the two most common disorders, thanatophoric dysplasia and osteogenesis imperfecta (25% and 22% of all cases, respectively), typical sonomorphology accounts for the high rates of completely correct prenatal diagnosis (88% and 89%, respectively) at the first diagnostic examination. Copyright © 2009 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Self‐stabilizing minimum connected covers of query regions in sensor networks
Authors: Das Sajal K. , Datta Ajoy K. , Potop‐Butucaru Maria Gradinariu , Patel Rajesh , Yamazaki Ai
Published: July 2009

Sensor networks are mainly used to gather strategic information in various monitored areas. Sensors may be deployed in zones where their internal memory, or the sensors themselves, can be corrupted. Since deployed sensors cannot be easily replaced, network persistence and robustness are the two main issues that have to be addressed while efficiently deploying large scale sensor networks.

The sensing radius of a sensor is the distance within which a sensor can monitor certain events. The communication radius of a sensor is the distance within which a sensor can transmit and receive data. A sensor is said to cover a particular monitored area if a circular area, with radius equal to that sensor's sensing radius, covers that area. A set of sensors is said to be strongly connected if any two sensors in the set can communicate with each other, either directly or indirectly. The goal of forming a minimum connected cover of a query region in sensor networks is to select a subset of nodes that entirely covers a particular monitored area, which is strongly connected, and which does not contain a subset with the same properties. Selecting a minimal number of connected sensors is an NP hard problem. In our work, we address minimality in terms of inclusion.

In this paper, we consider the most general case, wherein every sensor has a different sensing and communication radius. We propose two novel and robust solutions to the minimum connected cover problem that can cope with both transient faults (corruptions of the internal memory of sensors) and sensor crash/join. Also, our proposal includes extended versions which use multi‐hop information.

We also prove the self‐stabilization property of our solutions, both analytically and through extended simulations. A self‐stabilizing system is a system that, when started from an arbitrary state, is always guaranteed to recover following the occurrence of (transient) faults and converge to a desired behavior (legitimate state) in a finite number of steps.Viasimulations, we also conclude that our solutions provide better performance, in terms of coverage, than preexisting self‐stabilizing solutions. Moreover, we observe that multi‐hop solutions produce a better approximation to an optimal cover set. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The comparative analytical performance of the Beagle 2 X‐ray Spectrometer for in situ geochemical analysis on Mars
Authors: Talboys D. L. , Potts P. J. , Fraser G. W. , Butcher G. , Wegrzynek D.
Published: July 2009

The Beagle 2 X‐ray Spectrometer (B2 XRS) instrument was part of the Beagle 2 Mars lander payload and intended to perform in situ geochemical analyses of geological materials on Mars. The analytical performance of a spare version of the B2 XRS was compared with (1) a portable X‐ray fluorescence (PXRF) spectrometer designed to perform terrestrial fieldwork and (2) a laboratory‐based wavelength‐dispersive (WD‐XRF) system used to produce high quality geochemical data. The criteria used to assess the performance were based on fitting precision, accuracy and detection limit, determined from the analysis of international geochemical reference materials. The fitting precision of the B2 XRS and PXRF was found to be in agreement with the Horwitz function (a benchmark relating the analysed concentration of an analyte to its uncertainty) over 4 orders of magnitude of concentration range from 10−1 to 10−5 g/g. The PXRF generally had a better fitting precision than the B2 XRS because of its better resolution. In order of improving accuracy, the spectrometers generally are ranked B2 XRS, PXRF and WD‐XRF for various major and trace elements. A limiting factor in the accuracy of the B2 XRS was the application of the algorithm used for its quantitative analysis. The detection limits for the spectrometers ranked in the same order as the accuracy as a result of improving signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) of elemental peaks, which is a direct consequence of improving resolution between these spectrometers. Overall, the B2 XRS was found to have a favourable analytical performance compared to the benchmark spectrometers, despite having met considerable design constraints and qualification tests as a planetary instrument. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Zur Kristallchemie der Oxometallate des Cadmiums
Authors: Müller‐Buschbaum Hanskarl
Published: July 2009

In oxo/‐vanadates, ‐chromates, ‐wolframates, ‐germanates, for example, Cd2+ appears as cationic part of the crystal structures and shows mainly octahedral coordination by oxygen. It is amazing that CdMoO4 (Scheelite type) and α‐CdUO4 are containing CdO8‐polyhedra. The first mentioned compound shows distorted two times capped trigonal CdO6+2 prisms, in α‐CdUO4 the coordination number eight is realized by CdO8‐cubes. The only one example of sevenfold coordinated Cd2+ is CdV3O7. The compound CaCd2Bi2Nb4O15 shows in the anionic part of the crystal structure Nb4O15 blocks (allocated to the Aurivillius phases). The NbO6‐octahedra network corresponds a yet unknown higher Ruddlesden‐Popper phase too. The so called oxocadmates are formed by the large alkaline metals and barium. For example: BaCdO2; RbCdO2; K2Cd2O3; K6CdO4; Cs2K2Cd3O5 and Cs14Cd9O16. The compositions generally show metal rich compounds stand out due low coordination numbers of the big alkaline metals. On the other hand the oxygen deficit will lead to the smallest possible tetrahedral coordination of Cd2+. Special structural features found in the crystal structure of Cs14Cd9O16 are Cd9O16‐polyhedra blocks. Na2CdO2 is no member of the oxocadmates because of the common statistically distribution of large alkali Na+ and Cd2+ ions at the same point position of oxygen in the Bixbyite (Mn2O3) type. Despite the fact that Cs2K2Cd3O5 is a member of metal rich compounds it shows Cs+ inside a large extremely deformed CsO7‐polyhedron. Cd3Bi10O20 and CaCd2Bi2Nb4O15 are examples of lone pair activity of Bi3+. A special feature of Cd3Bi10O20 is the common use of one lone pair coming from two Bi3+ ions.
A Bromide‐bridged Platinum(II) Complex as Precursor to a Neutral Platinum Compound with a Base‐Stabilized Borylene Ligand
Authors: Braunschweig Holger , Brenner Peter , Radacki Krzysztof
Published: July 2009

The bromide‐bridged dinuclear platinum complex [(Cy3P){Br(Fc)B}Pt(μ‐Br)]2(1) (Fc = ferrocenyl) was synthesized by the abstraction of PCy3 from trans‐[(Cy3P)2Pt{(B(Fc)Br}Br] with concomitant build up of the phosphine borane adduct. This compound was shown to be a precursor for the first neutral base‐stabilized platinum borylene complex cis‐[Br2Pt(PCy3){B(Fc)NC5H4–4‐Me}](2). All compounds were characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy in solution and single crystal crystallographic analysis.
Solvothermal Syntheses and Characterization of New Transition Metal Chalcogenidogermanates [{Co(tepa)}2(μ‐Ge2S6)] and [{M(tepa)}2(μ‐Ge2Se6)] (M = Mn, Fe) (tepa = Tetraethylenepentamine)
Authors: Chen Jiang‐Fang , Jin Qin‐Yan , Pan Ying‐Li , Zhang Yong , Jia Ding‐Xian
Published: July 2009

New transition metal chalcogenidogermanates [{Co(tepa)}2(μ‐Ge2S6)] (1) and [{M(tepa)}2(μ‐Ge2Se6)] (M = Mn (2), Fe (3); tepa = tetraethylenepentamine) were synthesized with GeO2, S(Se) and transition metal chloride as starting materials in tepa under solvothermal conditions. Complexes 1–3 crystallize in isostructural tetragonal space group I41/a. In 1–3, the hexachalcogenidodigermanate anions are composed of two GeS4 or GeSe4 tetrahedra sharing a common edge, and act as bridging ligands by the trans terminal chalcogen atoms to link two [M(tepa)]2+ cations, resulting in neutral complexes. All transition metal ions are in octahedral coordination environment involved in five nitrogen atoms and one chalcogen atom. Hydrogen bonds lead to three‐dimensional networks of [{Co(tepa)}2(μ‐Ge2S6)] and [{M(tepa)}2(μ‐Ge2Se6)] moieties in the crystal structures. TG‐DSC curves show that 1–3 get rid of tepa ligands in 180–400 °C temperature range when heated under nitrogen stream.
Dialkyl‐[5]trovacenylethinylaluminium‐ und –gallium Verbindungen {[5]Trovacenyl = (η7‐C7H7)V(η5‐C5H4‐)} ‐ Zur Frage magnetischer Austauschwechselwirkung über Trenngruppen mit Elektronenmangel‐Bindungssegmenten‡
Authors: Elschenbroich Christoph , Grimme Stefan , Haddadpour Sima , Matar Madhat , Nowotny Mathias , Uhl Werner , Vogelpohl Andreas
Published: July 2009

Treatment of [5]trovacenylethyne, (η7‐C7H7)V(η5‐C5H4–C≡C–H) (1) with dialkylelement hydrides R2E–H (2: E = Al, R = tBu; 3: E = Ga, R = Et; 4: E = Ga, R = tBu) afforded the corresponding alkynyl‐dialkylelement compounds by the release of dihydrogen. The paramagnetic compounds 2 to 4 are dimeric in the solid state with the terminal, anionic carbon atoms of the C≡C triple bonds in the bridging positions. IR spectroscopic investigations reveal that in non‐polar solvents the dimeric form persists. The immeasurably small exchange coupling in 2 to 4 (EPR) must be traced to the electron deficient four‐membered ring, which is part of the spacer. Quantum‐chemical calculations verify the localization of the spin density essentially at the vanadium atoms.
[tBuC(NiPr)2]2Zn as Starting Reagent for Monoamidinate Zinc Complexes {[tBuC(NiPr)2]ZnX}2
Authors: Schmidt Sarah , Schulz Stephan , Bolte Michael
Published: July 2009

Reaction of the bisamidinate zinc complex [tBuC(NiPr)2]2Zn (1) with ZnMe2 yielded the corresponding monoamidinate zinc complex {[tBuC(NiPr)2]ZnMe}2 (2). Complex 2 reacts with iodine with formation of {[tBuC(NiPr)2]ZnI}2 (3). Compounds 2 and 3 both adopt dimeric structures in the solid state as was shown by single‐crystal X‐ray analyses. 2 and 3 were characterized by elemental analyses, mass and multinuclear (1H, 13C{1H}) NMR spectroscopy (1H, 13C). In addition, X‐ray crystal structures of 1–3 are reported.
Genetic variability, body characteristics and reproductive parameters of neighbouring rural and urban common kestrel (Falco tinnuculus) populations
Authors: Riegert Jan , Fainová Drahomíra , Bystřická Dagmar
Published: July 2009

We tested the genetic and ecological differences between neighbouring urban and rural populations of common kestrels (Falco tinnuculus) in southern Bohemia. The aims were to (1) assess the genetic variability of the studied kestrel populations using microsatellite markers, (2) check the genetic relatedness of individuals within the urbanization gradient, and (3) compare possible gradients of body characteristics and reproductive parameters on the urbanization gradient. The mean expected allelic polymorphism did not differ among the studied populations, which were not genetically separated (FST = 0.0003, P = 0.781). Also, an individual assignment test did not show a separation of these populations. Urban kestrels that bred in the city centre were indicatively more related than others, and no relationship was found in the rural kestrel population. Kestrel females were heavier towards the city centre, but males did not show this relationship. Nest distance from the city centre had no significant effect on any of the tested reproductive parameters. Our results do not support the notion of genetic differentiation between rural and urban kestrels, but revealed trends in body characteristics and genetic relatedness along the urbanization gradient.
The Rate of Detection of Intravascular Injection in Cervical Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injections With and Without Digital Subtraction Angiography
Authors: McLean James P. , Sigler James D. , Plastaras Christopher T. , Garvan Cynthia Wilson , Rittenberg Joshua D.
Published: July 2009

Objective

To determine whether digital subtraction angiography (DSA) combined with real‐time fluoroscopic imaging improves the detection rate of intravascular injection during cervical transforaminal epidural steroid injections (CTFESIs).

Design

Retrospective analysis.

Setting

Outpatient surgery center.

Participants

A total of 134 subjects with cervical radicular pain who had CTFESIs performed by a single physician between June 9, 2004, and April 23, 2007.

Interventions

One hundred seventy‐seven CTFESIs performed at one or more cervical spinal levels either unilaterally or bilaterally. Procedures performed before September 12, 2005, used fluoroscopic guidance with contrast injection and live imaging to identify intravascular injection. All procedures performed after September 12, 2005, also included DSA.

Main Outcome Measures

Intravascular injection detected during CTFESIs with and without DSA.

Results

Intravascular injection was detected in 17.9% of CTFESIs performed without DSA. By adding DSA technology to the real‐time fluoroscopic imaging procedure, the detection of vascular injection nearly doubled to 32.8%, which was statistically significant (P = .0471).

Conclusions

The use of DSA improves the detection rate of intravascular injection during CTFESIs.
Une forme minimale de coopération
Authors: Paternotte Cédric
Published: July 2009

RÉSUMÉ : La plupart des nombreuses définitions existantes d’une action coopérative en fournissent des conditions suffisantes plutôt que nécessaires. Nous définissons ici une forme minimale de coopération, correspondant aux actions de masse, telles des manifestations. Nous en détaillons les aspects intentionnel, épistémique, stratégique et téléologique, généralement obtenus par affaiblissement spécifique de concepts classiques. Parallèlement, nous soulignons le rôle crucial de concepts issus de la théorie des jeux pour la définition d’une action coopérative. Enfin, nous soutenons que la rationalité d’une action coopérative minimale est cruciale à sa réalisation et pas seulement possible ou souhaitable comme le soutiennent les analyses habituelles.
Wittgenstein et l’«arrière-plan» de l’intentionnalité
Authors: Sauvé Denis
Published: July 2009

RÉSUMÉ : John Searle, Hubert Dreyfus et Charles Taylor défendent la thèse voulant qu’il y ait des formes de «compréhension» ou de «savoir» (ou, peut-être, de «connaissance») qui, contrairement aux formes courantes, ne sont pas de nature représentationnelle ou conceptuelle mais sont plutôt du type des «savoir-faire». Cet article examine l’argument avancé en faveur de cette thèse (l’«argument de la régression», comme il est désigné ici) ainsi que l’affirmation de ces auteurs suivant laquelle les Recherches philosophiques de Wittgenstein démontrent que celui-ci, au moins implicitement, l’acceptait. Les conclusions qui découlent de cet examen sont, d’une part, que l’argument n’est pas concluant et, de l’autre, qu’il aurait été récusé par l’auteur des Recherches.
Carbohydrate remobilization from storage root to leaves after a stress release in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.): experimental and modelling approaches
Authors: LAUNAY M. , GRAUX A.-I. , BRISSON N. , GUERIF M.
Published: July 2009

Carbohydrate remobilization from the sugar beet storage root to support leaf regrowth after release from water stress was demonstrated by experimental and modelling approaches. Experimental trials were carried out in northern France in 1994 and 1995 and in southern France in 2005, in conditions that involved a succession of soil moisture stresses and re-hydrations. Drought stress slowed leaf growth and the subsequent release of stress resulted in regrowth. A second trial showed that after total defoliation, sugar beet was able to produce new leaves. It was assumed that this leaf renewal, observed at drought stress release or after defoliation, relied on the possibility of remobilizing carbohydrates from storage roots to above-ground organs. This assumption was tested through a heuristic modelling approach, involving the STICS crop model and its existing sub-model on remobilization. The relevance of these formalizations for sugar beet was tested on the experimental data to validate the plant behaviour concerning remobilization. The model succeeded in reproducing leaf area index (LAI) dynamic trends and particularly leaf re-growth after drought stress release or defoliation, despite an over-estimation of the drought stress effect involving an inaccurate simulation of the changes in LAI. Nevertheless, the model's ability to forecast accurately above-ground and storage root dry weight, as well as trends in LAI dynamics, showed that the assumptions made about remobilization were able to explain sugar beet behaviour.
The influence of altitude, hydrographic network and season on brown trout parasites in Corsica using indicator species analysis
Authors: Quilchini Y. , Foata J. , Mouillot D. , Mattei J. , Marchand B.
Published: July 2009

The parasites of 484 brown trout,Salmo trutta, were studied between 2004 and 2007. An indicator value (IndVal) method was used for analysis, which combines measures of fidelity and specificity. Because of its resilience to detect changes in abundance, IndVal is an effective ecological bio-indicator. The IndVal method demonstrated that altitude, hydrographic network and season could influence the occurrence of parasite species in brown trout. A randomization test identified three parasite species as having a significant indicator value for altitude (the trematodeNicolla wisniewskii, and the nematodesSpinitectus gordoniandRhabdochona gnedini); five parasite species for hydrographic network (the trematodesNicolla testiobliquum,N. wisniewskii,Plagioporus stefanskii, and the nematodesS. gordoniandR. gnedini) and two parasite species for season (the nematodesS. gordoni, andR. gnedini). Data for species composition and infection levels should help to improve the monitoring and management of parasitism in salmonid populations.
Jahangir as Francis Bacon's Ideal of the King as an Observer and Investigator of Nature
Authors: KOCH EBBA
Published: July 2009

The Mughal Empire is paradigmatic in many of its formulations, and it is epitomised in the persons of its first six padshahs or emperors. The Great Mughals, Grao Mogor, Grand Mogul, Großmogul or Groote Mogul, as the padshahs were known in Europe, have been considered as paragons of rulership. In critical appraisals, which were the prevailing view in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, they were the quintessential Oriental despots, held up as a warning to those rulers in Europe with similar aspirations. One thinks here especially of Francois Bernier's letters of the Mughal court to his French contacts which included Colbert, the minister of Louis XIV (r. 1643-1715). In more sympathetic (and more recent) eyes, such as those of the world-traveller, philosopher and enthusiastic inter-culturalist Count Hermann Keyserling, who was in India in 1911, they were “the grandest rulers brought forth by mankind”. Keyserling came to this conclusion because the Mughals “combined in their personalities so many divers talents: they were men of action, refined diplomats, experienced judges of the human psyche, and at the same time aesthetes and dreamers”. He felt that such a “superior human synthesis” (grossartige Menscheitsynthese) had not shown itself in any European king. Here I discuss to what extent the emperor Jahangir fulfilled Francis Bacon's ideal of the perfect ruler.
Crisis of Authority: Crisis of Islam?
Authors: ROBINSON FRANCIS
Published: July 2009

This essay examines the growing crisis of authority in the Muslim world of the past two hundred years. It is a crisis set in motion by the challenges of Western domination, intensified by those of globalisation, and exacerbated by Muslim attempts to resist them. It is a crisis which has pervaded all aspects of Muslim life, but one which has been felt particularly in the religious arena. Focussing initially on how authoritative religious knowledge was established and sustained down to c. 1800, the essay goes on to examine how this system broke down. It demonstrates the fragmentation of authority as new methods of interpretation emerge, as lay interpreters come forward to challenge the ʿulama, and as the individual human conscience comes to be given an increasingly important role. Consideration is also given to the growth of primary and higher education, the emergence of new electronic media, and the transnational movements of Muslims. The outcome has been the growth of a ‘spectacularly wild growth of interpretation’. It remains an open question as to whether this development is a cause for despair or a source of hope.
A comparison of the Pāli and Chinese versions of the Brāhmaṇa Saṃyutta, a collection of early Buddhist discourses on the priestly Brāhmaṇas
Authors: MUN-KEAT CHOONG
Published: July 2009

This article first briefly examines the textual structure of the Brāhmaṇa Saṃyutta of the Pāli Saṃyutta-nikāya in conjunction with two other versions preserved in Chinese translation in Taishō vol. 2, nos 99 and 100. Then it compares the main teachings contained in the three versions. These three versions of this collection on the subject of the Brāhmaṇas represent three different early Buddhist schools within the Sthavira branch. This comparative study of these three different versions focuses on three major topics: the outcaste, the dharmas that are good for a layperson, and alms. It reveals similarities and significant differences in structure and doctrinal content, thus advancing the historical/critical study of early Buddhist doctrine in this area.