bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study Modality and False Recall
Authors: Smith Rebekah E. , Engle Randall W.
Published: May 2010

False memories occur when individuals mistakenly report an event as having taken place when that event did not in fact occur. The DRM ( Deese, 1959 ; Roediger & McDermott, 1995 ) paradigm provides an effective technique for creating and investigating false memories. In this paradigm participants study a list of words (e.g., SOUR, CANDY,…) that are highly associated to a non-presented critical item (e.g., SWEET). The study phase is followed by a test of memory for the study list words. Researchers typically find very high levels of false recall of the critical non-presented item. However, the likelihood of falsely remembering the non-presented critical items can be reduced by presenting studied associates visually rather than auditorally (e.g., Smith & Hunt, 1998 ). This is referred to as the modality effect in false memory. The current study investigated the role of resource availability in the expression of this modality effect in false recall. In Experiment 1 false recall was reduced in the visual study presentation condition relative to the auditory condition for participants with higher working memory capacity, but not for participants with lower working memory capacity. In Experiment 2 the effect of study modality on false recall was eliminated by the addition of a divided attention task at encoding. Both studies support the proposal that resource availability plays a role in the expression of the modality effect in the DRM paradigm ( Smith, Lozito, & Bayen, 2005 ).
Situational Factors Competing for Attention
Authors: Zhang Weiyu , Jeong Se-Hoon , Fishbein† Martin
Published: May 2010

This study investigates how multitasking interacts with levels of sexually explicit content to influence an individual’s ability to recognize TV content. A 2 (multitasking vs. nonmultitasking) by 3 (low, medium, and high sexual content) between-subjects experiment was conducted. The analyses revealed that multitasking not only impaired task performance, but also decreased TV recognition. An inverted-U relationship between degree of sexually explicit content and recognition of TV content was found, but only when subjects were multitasking. In addition, multitasking interfered with subjects’ ability to recognize audio information more than their ability to recognize visual information.
Men and Women Read News Differently
Authors: Sternadori Miglena M. , Wise Kevin
Published: May 2010

This study explored how the structure of written news affects men and women differently in terms of cognition. In a 2 (Structure) × 2 (Story) × 2 (Sex) mixed design, participants read two inverted pyramid and two chronological news stories, each on a different topic. Dependent measures included secondary task reaction times (STRTs), cued recall, recognition accuracy, and text comprehension. Women had slower reaction times than men across stories, but a significant interaction showed their use of cognitive resources was less affected by variations in story structure. These results are discussed in the context of a comprehensibility interpretation of the STRT measure. The findings suggest that the common use of the inverted pyramid structure, which has been criticized as difficult to comprehend, may not explain the decrease in female news readers.
Testing a Universal Tool for Measuring Parasocial Interactions Across Different Situations and Media
Authors: Schramm Holger , Wirth Werner
Published: May 2010

Although research on parasocial interactions (PSI) has over 50 years of tradition, it provides a heterogeneous status of measurements and findings. The challenge for present and future PSI research is to provide measurement standards that are generated, confirmed, and validated across several studies. The present contribution tries to take a first step in this direction by exploring PSI with (1) nonmediated fictional characters (theater), (2) mediated fictional characters (soaps), and (3) mediated nonfictional characters (quiz shows). All three studies are based on the same theory (Two-Level Model of PSI) and on parts of the same corresponding measurement tool (PSI-Process Scales). All in all, the PSI-Process Scales show high usability in all three contexts, with the option to select PSI dimensions and items with respect to the study’s focus. Even in a theater play, the PSI-Process Scales could be applied without any problems and without any changes in the item wordings. The results of the three studies offer new insights into the importance of specific user and persona characteristics for the constitution and intensity of PSI in different media genres.
Acceleration of multiple‐scattering, hyperspectral radiative transfer calculations via low‐streams interpolation
Authors: O'Dell Christopher W.
Published: May 2010

A new generation of near‐infrared instruments, such as the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT) and the ill‐fated Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO), aims to measure concentrations of trace gases through the high‐resolution measurements of spectra of reflected sunlight. Accurate retrievals of trace gas amounts from these data present a computational challenge for the underlying radiative transfer algorithms because these algorithms must simulate the angle‐dependent radiances at high spectral resolution within near‐infrared gas absorption bands in scattering atmospheres. Such calculations can be prohibitively expensive for certain applications. Building upon previous work by others, we describe a simple yet accurate technique to accelerate the radiative transfer of many monochromatic wavelengths in the visible and near infrared. It is tested over a large variety of profile types, including cases with high solar zenith angle, large amounts of atmospheric scattering, highly polarizing, non‐Lambertian surfaces, and bands with overlapping gases. Speed gains of 1–2 orders of magnitude are demonstrated, with typical errors less than 0.1% for most atmospheres and less than 0.5% for even the most challenging cases.
Proteomic aspects of Parachlamydia acanthamoebae infection in Acanthamoeba spp.
Authors: Leitsch David , Köhsler Martina , Marchetti-Deschmann Martina , Deutsch Andrea , Allmaier Günter , König Lena , Sixt Barbara S , Duchêne Michael , Walochnik Julia
Published: May 2010

The free-living but facultatively pathogenic amoebae of the genus Acanthamoeba are frequently infected with bacterial endosymbionts that can have a profound influence on the physiology and viability of their host. Parachlamydia acanthamoebae, a chlamydial endosymbiont in acanthamoebae, is known to be either symbiotic or lytic to its host, depending on the ambient conditions, for example, temperature. Moreover, parachlamydiae can also inhibit the encystment process in Acanthamoeba, an essential survival strategy of their host for the evasion of chemotherapeutic agents, heat, desiccation and radiation. To obtain a more detailed picture of the intracellular interactions of parachlamydiae and acanthamoebae, we studied parachlamydial infection in several Acanthamoeba isolates at the proteomic level by means of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) and mass spectrometry. We observed that P. acanthamoebae can infect all three morphological subtypes of the genus Acanthamoeba and that the proteome pattern of released P. acanthamoebae elementary bodies was always practically identical regardless of the Acanthamoeba strain infected. Moreover, by comparing proteome patterns of encysting cells from infected and uninfected Acanthamoeba cultures, it was shown that encystment is blocked by P. acanthamoebae at a very early stage. Finally, on 2D-gels of purified P. acanthamoebae from culture supernatants, a subunit of the NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase complex, that is, an enzyme that has been described as an indicator for bacterial virulence was identified by a mass spectrometric and bioinformatic approach.
Implications of a threshold failure time and void nucleation on electromigration of copper interconnects
Authors: Filippi R. G. , Wang P.-C. , Brendler A. , Chanda K. , Lloyd J. R.
Published: May 2010

Electromigration results are described for a dual damascene structure with copper metallization and a low-k dielectric material. The failure times follow a 3-parameter lognormal behavior, with a threshold failure time needed to represent the entire failure distribution. We found that the threshold failure time scales differently with current density from the median time to failure, which has significant implications for making reliability predictions. It is shown that the threshold failure time corresponds to damage (presumably voids) nucleation of the electromigration process. The observed current density dependency, along with scanning electron microscopy cross sections of stressed samples and Monte Carlo simulations of failure distributions, suggests that both void nucleation and void growth should be considered for accurate modeling of the electromigration lifetime.
Embedding of “open” superalgebras into affine Kac–Moody superalgebras
Authors: Daboul Claudia , Daboul Jamil , de Montigny Marc
Published: May 2010

We define the concepts of open Lie superalgebras and their closure and study their embedding into affine Kac–Moody (KM) superalgebras. We distinguish between two types of open algebras, whose closures typically yield twisted or untwisted KM superalgebras. We show that the open dynamical symmetry superalgebra S0 of the Dirac theory of the Taub–NUT model, studied by Cotăescu and Visinescu [J. Phys. A 40, 11987 (2007)], cannot be embedded into a twisted KM superalgebra, in contrast to their claim. Our analysis of the above relativistic model reveals the deeper reason of why the hydrogen algebras HN, studied by Daboul and Slodowy, must be “twisted-like” (genuinely and not-genuinely twisted) KM subalgebras.
Investigations of laser-induced damages in fused silica optics using x-ray laser interferometric microscopy
Authors: Margarone D. , Rus B. , Kozlová M. , Nejdl J. , Mocek T. , Homer P. , Polan J. , Stupka M. , Cassou K. , Kazamias S. , Lagron J. C. , Ros D. , Danson C. , Hawkes S.
Published: May 2010

A novel x-ray laser (XRL) application, aimed at understanding the microscopic effects involved in formation of laser-induced damage in optical materials exposed to high-power sub-ns laser pulses, is presented. Standard fused silica substrates with permanent damage threshold below 20 J/cm2, when irradiated by 438 nm laser pulses, were probed in situ by a neonlike zinc XRL at 21.2 nm. The probing beamline employed a double Lloyd’s mirror x-ray interferometer, used in conjunction with an imaging mirror to achieve magnification of ∼8. In conjunction with an array of in situ optical diagnostics, the main question addressed is whether the damage on the rear surface of the beamsplitter is transient or permanent. The second issue, examined by both the x-ray interferometric microscopy and the optical diagnostics, is whether a local rear-surface modification is associated with nonlinear effects such as self-focusing or filamentation of the damaging laser beam in the bulk.
Ion dose, energy, and species dependencies of strain relaxation of SiGe buffer layers fabricated by ion implantation technique
Authors: Hoshi Y. , Sawano K. , Yamada A. , Usami N. , Arimoto K. , Nakagawa K. , Shiraki Y.
Published: May 2010

We systematically studied on ion dose, energy, and species dependencies of strain relaxation ratios for SiGe buffer layers fabricated by ion implantation technique where the epitaxial growth of SiGe layers was carried out on Si or Ar ion preimplanted Si substrates. For Si+ implantation, we found that there was an optimal ion-implantation condition to effectively enhance strain relaxation of the SiGe layers, that is, relaxation ratios increased with the ion dose but reduced remarkably when it exceeded a certain critical dose (∼1×1015 cm−2). The drop of relaxation also occurred as the implantation energy increased. Based on simulations and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations, it was concluded that end-of-range (EOR) defects generated by Si+ implantation crucially caused formation of high-density misfit dislocations at the heterointerface, and the observed complicated results were well understood in terms of the position of EOR defects from the heterointerface. We confirmed this conclusion by observing that relaxation ratios monotonically increased as the EOR defects position from the heterointerface was decreased by means of surface etching. On the other hand, for Ar+ implantation, relaxation ratios were seen to increase monotonically with the increase in ion dose without any drop even in the high dose region. Void-related defects formed around projected range of ion implantation were thought to dominate strain relaxation of the SiGe layers differently from Si+ implantation case. This difference in the relaxation mechanism between Si+ and Ar+ implantation was also found in and confirmed by TEM and atomic force microscopy observations.
Electronic properties of BaCuChF (Ch=S,Se,Te) surfaces and BaCuSeF/ZnPc interfaces
Authors: Zakutayev Andriy , Tate Janet , Platt Heather A. S. , Keszler Douglas A. , Hein Corinna , Mayer Thomas , Klein Andreas , Jaegermann Wolfram
Published: May 2010

BaCuChF (Ch=S,Se,Te) surfaces and BaCuSeF interfaces with zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) were studied by photoelectron spectroscopy. BaCuChF compounds oxidize when exposed to ambient atmosphere. Se capping layers were studied as a means to produce representative surfaces for photoelectron spectroscopic measurements. Decapped BaCuSeF surfaces remain O-free and C-free when the Se layer is evaporated but they become F-deficient. The resulting surfaces have work functions of 4.85 eV and Fermi levels located 0.25 eV above the valence band maximum. In situ stepwise deposition of ZnPc on a BaCuSeF film surface produced a chemically inert interface with a hole-injection barrier of 0.11 eV.
Helical edge magnetoplasmon in the quantum Hall effect regime
Authors: Silva Sanderson , Balev O. G.
Published: May 2010

We present the microscopic treatment of edge magnetoplasmons (EMPs) for the regime of not-too-low temperatures defined by the condition ℏωc⪢kBT⪢ℏvg/2ℓ0, where vg is the group velocity of the edge states, ℓ0=ℏ/m∗ωc is the magnetic length and ωc is the cyclotron frequency. We find a weakly damped symmetric mode, named helical EMP, which is localized at the edge states region for filling factors ν=1,2 and very strong dissipation ηT=ξ/kxℓT≳ln(1/kxℓT)⪢1, where the characteristic length ℓT=kBTℓ02/ℏvg⪢ℓ0/2 with ξ being the ratio of the local transverse conductivity to the local Hall conductivity at the edge states and kx is the wave vector along the edge; here other EMP modes are strongly damped. The spatial structure of the helical EMP, transverse to the edge, is strongly modified as the wave propagates along the edge. In the regime of weak dissipation, ηT⪡1, we obtain exactly the damping of the fundamental mode as a function of kx. For ν=4 and weak dissipation we find that the fundamental modes of n=0 and 1 Landau levels are strongly renormalized due to the Coulomb coupling. Renormalization of all these EMPs coming from a metal gate and air half-space is studied.
The demagnetizing field of a nonuniform rectangular prism
Authors: Smith A. , Nielsen K. K. , Christensen D. V. , Bahl C. R. H. , Bjørk R. , Hattel J.
Published: May 2010

The effect of demagnetization on the magnetic properties of a rectangular ferromagnetic prism under nonuniform conditions is investigated. A numerical model for solving the spatially varying internal magnetic field is developed, validated, and applied to relevant cases. The demagnetizing field is solved by an analytical calculation and the coupling between applied field, the demagnetization tensor field, and spatially varying temperature is solved through iteration. We show that the demagnetizing field is of great importance in many cases and that it is necessary to take into account the nonuniformity of the internal field, especially for nonconstant temperature distributions and composite magnetic materials.
All nitride magnetic tunnel junctions based on nitrogen-doped CoFe electrode and AlNx insulating barrier
Authors: Kim Ki Woong , Lee Ja Bin , Shin Il Jae , Koo Ja hyun , Hong Jin Pyo
Published: May 2010

The dependence of the structural and magnetic properties of nitrogen-doped CoFe (CoFeN) films as a function of the nitrogen gas flow rate was analyzed to investigate its potential use as ferromagnetic electrodes in magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs). The addition of a small amount of nitrogen into the CoFe film was strongly associated with the formation of low coercivity and low magnetization in the CoFeN film. We also discuss the electrical and microstructural properties of the as-grown and postannealed CoFeN/AlN/CoFeN MTJs devices developed by using only nitride materials of CoFeN electrodes and AlNx tunneling barriers.
Indirect optical absorption and origin of the emission from β-FeSi2 nanoparticles: Bound exciton (0.809 eV) and band to acceptor impurity (0.795 eV) transitions
Authors: Lang R. , Amaral L. , Meneses E. A.
Published: May 2010

We investigated the optical absorption of the fundamental band edge and the origin of the emission from β-FeSi2 nanoparticles synthesized by ion-beam-induced epitaxial crystallization of Fe+ implanted SiO2/Si(100) followed by thermal annealing. From micro-Raman scattering and transmission electron microscopy measurements it was possible to attest the formation of strained β-FeSi2 nanoparticles and its structural quality. The optical absorption near the fundamental gap edge of β-FeSi2 nanoparticles evaluated by spectroscopic ellipsometry showed a step structure characteristic of an indirect fundamental gap material. Photoluminescence spectroscopy measurements at each synthesis stage revealed complex emissions in the 0.7–0.9 eV spectral region, with different intensities and morphologies strongly dependent on thermal treatment temperature. Spectral deconvolution into four transition lines at 0.795, 0.809, 0.851, and 0.873 eV was performed. We concluded that the emission at 0.795 eV may be related to a radiative direct transition from the direct conduction band to an acceptor level and that the emission at 0.809 eV derives from a recombination of an indirect bound exciton to this acceptor level of β-FeSi2. Emissions 0.851 and 0.873 eV were confirmed to be typical dislocation-related photoluminescence centers in Si. From the energy balance we determined the fundamental indirect and direct band gap energies to be 0.856 and 0.867 eV, respectively. An illustrative energy band diagram derived from a proposed model to explain the possible transition processes involved is presented.
Particle image velocimetry measurements of vortex rings head-on collision with a heated vertical plate
Authors: Arévalo G. , Hernández R. H. , Nicot C. , Plaza F.
Published: May 2010

We report particle image velocimetry measurements of the collision of a vortex ring with a heated wall kept at constant temperature. We consider the case when both the vortex ring and the thermal boundary layer generated by the vertical heated wall are stable and laminar prior to any interaction. The impingement process can be divided into two parts. (i) A ring-driven stage, where the vortex ring grows in diameter while approaching the wall and therefore it sweeps progressively an increased surface on the wall. (ii) A boundary layer-driven stage, where the vortex ring moves upward due to the thermal convective motion generated by the heated wall. In some cases, the head-on collision triggers the ring’s azimuthal instability as revealed by the formation of vortical structures arranged on a wavy starlike pattern and confirmed by flow visualizations. A single collision generates important velocity gradients and shear stresses along the wall accompanied with the creation of local vorticity normal to the vertical heated wall. Peak wall shear stresses occur near the point of impact of the vortex ring core.
Ion-enhanced oxidation of aluminum as a fundamental surface process during target poisoning in reactive magnetron sputtering
Authors: Kuschel Thomas , von Keudell Achim
Published: May 2010

Plasma deposition of aluminum oxide by reactive magnetron sputtering (RMS) using an aluminum target and argon and oxygen as working gases is an important technological process. The undesired oxidation of the target itself, however, causes the so-called target poisoning, which leads to strong hysteresis effects during RMS operation. The oxidation occurs by chemisorption of oxygen atoms and molecules with a simultaneous ion bombardment being present. This heterogenous surface reaction is studied in a quantified particle beam experiment employing beams of oxygen molecules and argon ions impinging onto an aluminum-coated quartz microbalance. The oxidation and/or sputtering rates are measured with this microbalance and the resulting oxide layers are analyzed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The sticking coefficient of oxygen molecules is determined to 0.015 in the zero coverage limit. The sputtering yields of pure aluminum by argon ions are determined to 0.4, 0.62, and 0.8 at 200, 300, and 400 eV. The variation in the effective sticking coefficient and sputtering yield during the combined impact of argon ions and oxygen molecules is modeled with a set of rate equations. A good agreement is achieved if one postulates an ion-induced surface activation process, which facilitates oxygen chemisorption. This process may be identified with knock-on implantation of surface-bonded oxygen, with an electric-field-driven in-diffusion of oxygen or with an ion-enhanced surface activation process. Based on these fundamental processes, a robust set of balance equations is proposed to describe target poisoning effects in RMS.
Birefringence measurement in polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography using differential-envelope detection method
Authors: Kuo Wen-Chuan , Lin Shey-Chien , Chuang Chung-Yu
Published: May 2010

In this research, we integrated two demodulating logarithmic amplifiers with one differential amplifier for use in a Mach–Zehnder interferometer so as to obtain a two-channel polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography system. Birefringence signals can be acquired using this system along with a differential-envelope detection method. Because the two orthogonal polarizations are common-path propagation, common noise originating from background fluctuations or multiple scattering in turbid media can be reduced to improve the detection sensitivity and accuracy of birefringence measurement. Besides, this simple and effective technique is an analog detection method and is capable of providing high temporal response; it can also help obtain a high time-bandwidth product as compared to the conventional method of using a numerical method with a limited sampling rate. The feasibility of the proposed system is supported by theory and is also shown by performing experiments involving a human vessel, which is a highly scattering medium with weak birefringence.
Equation of state, transport coefficients, and stopping power of dense plasmas from the average-atom model self-consistent approach for astrophysical and laboratory plasmas
Authors: Faussurier Gérald , Blancard Christophe , Cossé Philippe , Renaudin Patrick
Published: May 2010

Calculations of equation of state, transport coefficients, and stopping power of dense plasmas are presented. Theoretical results have been obtained using the first-principles average-atom model self-consistent approach for astrophysical and laboratory plasmas (SCAALP) based on the finite-temperature density-functional theory and the Gibbs–Bogolyubov inequality. Numerical results, comparisons with molecular dynamics, and Monte Carlo simulations and experiments are presented and discussed in the high energy density physics domain including part of the warm dense matter regime. Results show that the average-atom model SCAALP is well suited to describe thermodynamic and transport properties for a wide range of high energy density physics applications.
Formation of core/shell-like ZnSe1−xTex nanocrystals due to equilibrium surface segregation
Authors: Pandey Sumeet C. , Mountziaris T. J. , Venkataraman D. , Maroudas Dimitrios
Published: May 2010

We report results of equilibrium surface segregation in ZnSe1−xTex nanocrystals based on a computational analysis of coupled compositional, structural, and volume relaxation of the nanocrystals that employs Monte Carlo and conjugate-gradient methods according to a first-principles-parameterized description of interatomic interactions. We have determined the equilibrium concentration distribution as a function of nanocrystal size and composition for nanocrystal morphologies that include faceted equilibrium crystal shapes. The results identify the nanoparticle size and composition ranges that allow for self-assembly of core/shell-like nanocrystal structures characterized by a Te-deficient core and a Te-rich shell.
Functional specificity in the human brain: A window into the functional architecture of the mind
Authors: Kanwisher Nancy
Published: May 2010

Is the human mind/brain composed of a set of highly specialized components, each carrying out a specific aspect of human cognition, or is it more of a general-purpose device, in which each component participates in a wide variety of cognitive processes? For nearly two centuries, proponents of specialized organs or modules of the mind and brain—from the phrenologists to Broca to Chomsky and Fodor—have jousted with the proponents of distributed cognitive and neural processing—from Flourens to Lashley to McClelland and Rumelhart. I argue here that research using functional MRI is beginning to answer this long-standing question with new clarity and precision by indicating that at least a few specific aspects of cognition are implemented in brain regions that are highly specialized for that process alone. Cortical regions have been identified that are specialized not only for basic sensory and motor processes but also for the high-level perceptual analysis of faces, places, bodies, visually presented words, and even for the very abstract cognitive function of thinking about another person’s thoughts. I further consider the as-yet unanswered questions of how much of the mind and brain are made up of these functionally specialized components and how they arise developmentally.
Nutritional value of edible wild mushrooms - their roles in meeting the nutritional requirements of people in developing countries.
Authors: Chye FookYee Chye FookYee , Ng XueNi Ng XueNi , Wong JinYi Wong JinYi
Published: May 2010

The wonderful nutritional value and medicinal properties found in edible wild mushrooms have turned this invaluable famine food into an important food source for sustainable malnutrition alleviation in developing countries and a precious source of bioactive compounds for nutraceutical industries. Studies have shown that edible wild mushrooms are not only alternative food sources for malnutrition amelioration but also play an important role in improving the socio-economic status of people in developing countries. The great potential of underutilized edible mushrooms has motivated this review, which reviews the roles and potential of these wild fungi as an important food source for their chemical and nutritional properties in alleviating nutrient deficiencies. Most of the nutritional intervention programmes that integrate edible wild mushrooms or involve the cultivation of mushrooms are still in their infancy. Therefore, complete studies on the toxicological properties, antinutritional factors, bioavailability of nutrients and the effect of thermal treatments on the nutritional value of edible wild mushrooms are needed. Furthermore, this information is important for the establishment of policies on careful exploitation of natural resources for human wealth.
Transmission of methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
from food production animals to humans: a review.
Authors: Broens E. M. , Cleef B. A. G. L. van , Graat E. A. M. , Kluytmans J. A. J. W.
Published: May 2010

International surveillance of antimicrobial use in food animal production shows that methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA), traditionally a human pathogen associated with hospitals, has emerged in the community and animals. Since 1961, MRSA has been causing human infections in hospitals worldwide and a vast majority of them were caused by five major epidemic clones. After 1990, other clones have emerged in the community, leading to infections in relatively young and healthy individuals. The origin of these clones is largely unknown, and extensive diversity among isolates exists. Companion animals have been indicated as a reservoir. However, most studies suggest that they are initially infected by humans and subsequently animals re-colonize humans. More recently, a new zoonotic reservoir in food production animals was found. This involves a specific clone, MRSA ST398, which spreads extensively in animals and is also found in retail meat. It poses a potential threat to public health, as people in contact with food production animals are at much higher risk of colonization. The most probable transmission route seems to be by (in)direct contact, as dust in stables was found positive for MRSA ST398. The role of MRSA ST398 as a food pathogen needs more research. To prevent colonization in humans, it is important to investigate transmission routes and transmission dynamics between animals, between animals and humans and between humans. Collaboration of human and veterinary epidemiologists and microbiologists is needed to identify the implications of this strain for public health and to develop cost-effective control strategies.
Using RT-PCR for plant RNA virus detection.
Authors: Capote N. , Bertolini E. , Cambra M.
Published: May 2010

Plants can be infected by a wide range of viruses that often cause important agronomic, economic and social impacts. Detection of viruses at premature stages of infection is crucial to allow control viral diseases and reduce economic losses. For that reason, the use of rapid, sensitive and accurate detection methods is recommended. Molecular techniques have revolutionized the way of plant virus detection and identification. Retrotranscription (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the 'gold standard' method for virus detection in most laboratories worldwide because of its sensitivity, specificity, simplicity and rapidity. Since its discovery, many versions and continuous improvements of PCR have been developed. Nested and co-operational RT-PCR achieve high sensitivity, decreasing contamination risks and multiplex RT-PCR offer the possibility to detect several targets in one assay. The development of real-time RT-PCR completely revolutionized the way of virus detection and quantitation, contributing enormously to the control of plant virus diseases. Some novel molecular methods such as nucleic acids arrays, isothermal amplification, massive sequencing and biosensors could be applied in the future in most diagnostic laboratories. However, the use of validated and integrated protocols that include molecular techniques combined with serological or biological methods will increase the accuracy and reliability of virus detection. In this review, the main RT-PCR-based methods used for plant virus detection are described and the advantages and drawbacks of each of them are discussed.
Animal feeding trials for assessing GMO safety: answers and questions.
Authors: Malatesta M.
Published: May 2010

The safety assessment of genetically modified (GM) plants and their derived food and feed is nowadays a matter of lively debate. Any nutritional consequence of GM food consumption needs to be considered, both in terms of possible changes in the levels of nutrients in the food itself, and in terms of direct or indirect, immediate or cumulative effects on the overall diet. From this point of view, several potential risks have been taken into consideration by scientists when evaluating the safety of GM organisms (GMOs) by animal feeding trials; in particular, the possibility has been considered that GM food effects might not be due to the introduced gene itself, but to the unintended consequences of its introduction, such as allergy induction, DNA transfer to gastrointestinal flora (including antibiotic resistance), production of toxic compounds (i.e. insecticidal proteins), persistence of herbicide residues in transgenic herbicide-tolerant plants, any kind of unintended effects associated with the expression of recombinant proteins in non-native hosts. In this review, an overview of the literature data is reported on the effects of GMO intake in different animal models, with the scope to outline the state of the art of the scientific research on this subject.
Developments in enhancing efficiency of multiplication of horticultural crops.
Authors: Kaur R. , Sharma D. R.
Published: May 2010

Horticultural crops have a pride of place in daily life and have become an essential component of our diet. To match the demands of the increasing population, horticultural crops must be multiplied at a faster rate. Conventionally, horticultural plants have been produced in farmer-managed nurseries by using traditional plant breeding techniques such as grafting, budding, cutting and seed production, etc. However, in the recent past, propagation through biotechnological approaches has made great contributions towards large-scale production of horticultural plants. Reproducible protocols of plant tissue culture compounded with cost-effective, efficient and evolving technology will benefit the horticulture industry. During the last two decades, numerous multinational companies have made substantial investments in horticulture by deploying tissue culture. The conventional and biotechnological approaches being used for the multiplication of horticultural crops are discussed.
Eco-labelling of wood, and its effectiveness in consumer guidance and conservation.
Authors: Veisten K.
Published: May 2010

Eco-labelling of wood has developed at an increasing rate over the last few decades. This can be regarded as a response to consumers' demand for an intangible attribute of wooden products that certifies origin in sustainably managed forests. Eco-labelling is a way of solving information asymmetry in markets, signalling a production standard that consumers care about, without being able to verify this quality from the product itself. If eco-labels convey correct and sufficient information about forestry practices and forest conservation to the consumers, their willingness to pay price premiums for eco-labelled alternatives will give land owners and forest product suppliers an incentive to provide the demanded environmental quality. To assess the effectiveness of eco-labelling in consumer guidance and conservation, this review article will particularly assess the following: what is the indication from economic literature on the emergence and functionality of eco-labelling; and what characterizes the eco-oriented consumers and what is the range of price premiums they will pay for eco-labelled wood? The review ends with a discussion on alternative approaches to the understanding of eco-labelling and the assessment of its degree of success.
Deposition of hard thin films from HMDSO in atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge
Authors: Trunec D , Zajíčková L , Buršíková V , Studnička F , Sťahel P , Prysiazhnyi V , Peřina V , Houdková J , Navrátil Z , Franta D
Published: May 2010

An atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge burning in nitrogen with a small admixture of hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO) was used for the deposition of thin organosilicon films. The thin films were deposited on glass, silicon and polycarbonate substrates, and the substrate temperature during the deposition process was increased up to values within the range 25–150 °C in order to obtain hard SiO
x
-like thin films. The properties of the discharge were studied by means of optical emission spectroscopy and electrical measurements. The deposited films were characterized by the Rutherford backscattering and elastic recoil detection methods, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy measurements, ellipsometry and the depth sensing indentation technique. It was found that the films' properties depend significantly on the substrate temperature at deposition. An increase in substrate temperature from 25 to 150 °C led to an increase in film hardness from 0.4 to 7 GPa and the film chemical composition changed from CH
x
Si
y
O
z
to SiO
x
H
y
. The films were transparent in the visible range.
Persistence of the prognostic importance of left ventricular systolic function and heart failure after myocardial infarction: 17‐year follow‐up of the TRACE register
Authors: Kümler Thomas , Gislason Gunnar Hilmar , Køber Lars , Torp‐Pedersen Christian
Published: May 2010

Aims

Left ventricular systolic function and presence of heart failure (HF) are important prognostic factors and dictate future therapeutic strategies after myocardial infarction (MI). We evaluated persistence of the prognostic importance of left ventricular dysfunction and HF in consecutive MI patients screened for entry in the Trandolopril Cardiac Evaluation Registry (TRACE) study.

Methods and results

The study population comprised 6676 MI patients screened for entry into the TRACE study, a double‐blind, randomized, parallel group, placebo‐controlled study of trandolapril vs. placebo in patients with left ventricular dysfunction after MI. In unadjusted analysis, patients with reduced left ventricular function and HF continued to show increased mortality. Landmark analysis and Cox proportional‐hazards models showed that wall motion index (WMI) was a significant prognostic factor until 10 years of follow‐up with hazard ratios ranging between 0.74 [confidence interval (CI) 0.71–0.78] and 0.90 (CI 0.82–0.98) associated with a 12% improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (0.4 WMI units). The prognostic significance of HF persisted for 8 years with hazard ratios between 1.47 (CI 1.21–1.78) and 2.62 (95% CI 2.30–2.98) for the first 8 years.

Conclusion

When assessed during the index MI, WMI and HF carry prognostic information for up to 10 years.
Cardiac β1‐adrenoceptor autoantibodies in human heart disease: rationale and design of the Etiology, Titre‐Course, and Survival (ETiCS) Study
Authors: Deubner Nikolas , Berliner Dominik , Schlipp Angela , Gelbrich Götz , Caforio Alida L.P. , Felix Stephan B. , Fu Michael , Katus Hugo , Angermann Christiane E. , Lohse Martin J. , Ertl Georg , Störk Stefan , Jahns Roland ,   on behalf of the ETiCS‐Study Group
Published: May 2010

Aims

Evidence for a pathophysiologic relevance of autoimmunity in human heart disease has substantially increased over the past years. Conformational autoantibodies stimulating the cardiac β1‐adrenoceptor (β1‐aabs) are considered of importance in heart failure development and clinical pilot studies have shown their prognostic significance in human ‘idiopathic’ cardiomyopathy.

Methods

We recently developed a novel highly sensitive fluorescence‐based functional assay to detect stimulating β1‐aabs. We will use this method to assess Etiology, Titre‐Course, and effect on Survival (ETiCS) of β1‐aabs in a prospective multicentre study with serial follow‐up of patients after a first acute myocarditis or myocardial infarction. Several European core laboratories will jointly study the hypothesis that both disorders may trigger autoimmune reactions leading to the generation of β1‐aabs and/or other heart‐directed aabs. Further, sera from healthy controls and well‐characterized patient cohorts with dilated, ischaemic, or hypertensive cardiomyopathy will be analysed retrospectively for β1‐aab prevalence, incidence, persistence, and/or clearance.

Conclusion

ETiCS is so far the largest clinical diagnostic study projected to address cardiac autoimmunity. It attempts to unravel the pathophysiology of cardiac autoantibody formation and persistence/clearance. ETiCS will enhance current knowledge on autoimmunity in human heart disease and promote endeavours to develop novel therapies targeting cardiac aabs.
Distinct trajectories of fatigue in chronic heart failure and their association with prognosis
Authors: Smith Otto R.F. , Kupper Nina , de Jonge Peter , Denollet Johan
Published: May 2010

Aims

To identify distinct trajectories of fatigue over a 12‐month period and to examine their impact on mortality in chronic heart failure (CHF).

Methods and results

Consecutive CHF patients (n = 310) were assessed at baseline and at 2‐ and 12‐month follow‐up for symptoms of exertion and general fatigue. Latent growth mixture modelling was used to examine the course of fatigue over time. The endpoint was mortality following the 12‐month assessment of fatigue. Over the initial 12‐month follow‐up, six distinct trajectories for exertion fatigue and four distinct trajectories for general fatigue were identified. Beyond the 12‐month follow‐up (mean follow‐up period, 693 days), 50 patients (17%) had died. After controlling for standard risk factors and disease severity, both severe exertion fatigue [hazards ratio (HR) = 2.59, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09–6.16, P = 0.03] and severe general fatigue (HR = 3.20, 95% CI: 1.62–6.31, P = 0.001) trajectories predicted an increased mortality rate (29 vs. 19% and 28 vs. 14%, respectively). The low exertion fatigue trajectory was associated with a decreased mortality risk (3 vs. 19%, HR = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.02–0.93, P = 0.04).

Conclusion

Fatigue trajectories varied across CHF patients and had a differential effect on mortality. Persistent severe fatigue was a predictor of poor prognosis. These results may help identify distinct groups of CHF patients with potentially differential risks of adverse health outcomes.
Predictors of long‐term (4‐year) mortality in elderly and young patients with acute heart failure
Authors: Barsheshet Alon , Shotan Avraham , Cohen Eytan , Garty Moshe , Goldenberg Ilan , Sandach Amir , Behar Solomon , Zimlichman Eyal , Lewis Basil S. , Gottlieb Shmuel ,   for the HFSIS Steering Committee and Investigators
Published: May 2010

Aims

The present study was designed to identify and compare predictors of short‐ and long‐term mortality in elderly and young patients hospitalized with acute heart failure (HF).

Methods and results

The risk of in‐hospital, 1‐ and 4‐year mortality was assessed among 2336 acute HF patients in a prospective national survey. Interaction‐term analysis was utilized to identify and compare independent risk factors between elderly (>75 years [n = 1182]) and younger (≤75 years [n = 1154]) study patients. Elderly patients exhibited a 1.8‐fold (P = 0.004), 1.4‐fold (P < 0.001), and 1.7‐fold (P < 0.001) increase in the adjusted risk of in‐hospital, 1‐year, and 4‐year mortality, respectively, as compared with younger patients. Independent risk factors for 4‐year mortality among elderly patients included NYHA functional Class III–IV before admission (HR = 1.46, P < 0.001), systolic blood pressure <115 mmHg (HR = 1.45, P = 0.002), renal dysfunction ([eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2] HR = 1.35, P = 0.002), diabetes mellitus (HR = 1.28, P = 0.006), and anaemia (HR = 1.25, P = 0.012). In the young group, but not in the elderly group, left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) <50% and hyponatraemia (sodium <136 mmol/L) were significant predictors of 4‐year mortality. (LVEF <50%, HR = 1.47 for the young and 1.04 for the elderly, P for interaction = 0.025; hyponatraemia HR = 1.59 for the young and 1.17 for the elderly, P for interaction = 0.035).

Conclusion

Elderly patients exhibit different risk factors for long‐term mortality as compared with young patients with acute HF. In contrast to younger patients, mortality risk in the older population is not decreased among those with preserved LVEF.
The vermetid gastropodDendropoma maximumreduces coral growth and survival
Authors: Shima Jeffrey S. , Osenberg Craig W. , Stier Adrian C.
Published: May 2010

Coral reefs are one of the most diverse systems on the planet; yet, only a small fraction of coral reef species have attracted scientific study. Here, we document strong deleterious effects of an often overlooked species—the vermetid gastropod,Dendropoma maximum—on growth and survival of reef-building corals. Our surveys of vermetids on Moorea (French Polynesia) revealed a negative correlation between the density of vermetids and the per cent cover of live coral. Furthermore, the incidence of flattened coral growth forms was associated with the presence of vermetids. We transplanted and followed the fates of focal colonies of four species of corals on natural reefs where we also manipulated presence/absence of vermetids. Vermetids reduced skeletal growth of focal corals by up to 81 per cent and survival by up to 52 per cent. Susceptibility to vermetids varied among coral species, suggesting that vermetids could shift coral community composition. Our work highlights the potential importance of a poorly studied gastropod to coral dynamics.
Diversity versus disparity and the radiation of modern cetaceans
Authors: Slater Graham J. , Price Samantha A. , Santini Francesco , Alfaro Michael E.
Published: May 2010

Modern whales are frequently described as an adaptive radiation spurred by either the evolution of various key innovations (such as baleen or echolocation) or ecological opportunity following the demise of archaic whales. Recent analyses of diversification rate shifts on molecular phylogenies raise doubts about this interpretation since they find no evidence of increased speciation rates during the early evolution of modern taxa. However, one of the central predictions of ecological adaptive radiation is rapid phenotypic diversification, and the tempo of phenotypic evolution has yet to be quantified in cetaceans. Using a time-calibrated molecular phylogeny of extant cetaceans and a morphological dataset on size, we find evidence that cetacean lineages partitioned size niches early in the evolutionary history of neocetes and that changes in cetacean size are consistent with shifts in dietary strategy. We conclude that the signature of adaptive radiations may be retained within morphological traits even after equilibrium diversity has been reached and high extinction or fluctuations in net diversification have erased any signature of an early burst of diversification in the structure of the phylogeny.
The Thatcher illusion in humans and monkeys
Authors: Dahl Christoph D. , Logothetis Nikos K. , Bülthoff Heinrich H. , Wallraven Christian
Published: May 2010

Primates possess the remarkable ability to differentiate faces of group members and to extract relevant information about the individual directly from the face. Recognition of conspecific faces is achieved by means of holistic processing, i.e. the processing of the face as an unparsed, perceptual whole, rather than as the collection of independent features (part-based processing). The most striking example of holistic processing is the Thatcher illusion. Local changes in facial features are hardly noticeable when the whole face is inverted (rotated 180°), but strikingly grotesque when the face is upright. This effect can be explained by a lack of processing capabilities for locally rotated facial features when the face is turned upside down. Recently, a Thatcher illusion was described in the macaque monkey analogous to that known from human investigations. Using a habituation paradigm combined with eye tracking, we address the critical follow-up questions raised in the aforementioned study to show the Thatcher illusion as a function of the observer's species (humans and macaques), the stimulus' species (humans and macaques) and the level of perceptual expertise (novice, expert).