bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Geometrical isomerization of polyunsaturated fatty acids in physically refined rapeseed oil during plant‐scale deodorization
Authors: Čmolík Jiří , Pokorný Jan , Doležal Marek , Svoboda Zdeněk
Published: June 2007

The effect of the operating temperature (between 220 and 270 °C) on the formation of trans isomers of linoleic and linolenic acids in physically refined rapeseed oil during deodorization in a plant‐scale semicontinuous tray‐type deodorizer (capacity 10 t/h) was investigated. The industrial procedures of physical refining consisted of a two‐step bleaching and deodorization process. The degree of isomerization of linoleic acid ranged from 0.33 to 4.77% and that of linolenic acid from 4.43 to 45.22% between 220 and 270 °C, respectively. A relation between the logarithm of the degree of isomerization and the deodorization temperature can be approximated by statistically highly significant linear functions for both linoleic and linolenic acids. Oleic acid was resistant to the heat‐induced geometrical isomerization. The values found for the ratio between the degrees of isomerization of linolenic and linoleic acids, slightly decreasing with increasing temperature, were equal to 13.6 and 12.9 at 230 and 240 °C, respectively. Two trans isomers of linoleic acid, exclusively with one double bond isomerized into trans configuration, and four trans isomers of linolenic acid, mostly with one double bond isomerized into trans configuration, were determined in deodorized rapeseed oils. Linolenic acid was observed to be the main source responsible for the formation of nearly all trans fatty acids in physically refined rapeseed oil. At 235 °C, a deodorization temperature considered as a reasonable technological compromise, the content of trans fatty acids in plant‐scale physically refined rapeseed oil was less than 1% of total fatty acids, which would be acceptable for further application.
A holistic approach of access to higher education
Authors: Larrance Anneke J.
Published: June 2007

The Associated Colleges of the St. Lawrence Valley's Liberty Partnerships Program provides tutoring, referrals, educational support, advocacy, counseling, social activities, and health and wellness information, as well as supports parental involvement in a holistic approach of access to higher education that serves secondary students in an economically poor rural region of northern New York.
Four New Lariciresinol‐Based Lignan Glycosides from the Roots of Rhus javanica var. roxburghiana
Authors: Ouyang Ming‐An , Wein Yung‐Shung , Kuo Yueh‐Hsiung
Published: June 2007

The four new lariciresinol‐based lignan glycosides, (−)‐lariciresinol 4′‐(6″‐O‐feruloyl‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside) (1), (−)‐lariciresinol 4′‐(4″,6″‐di‐O‐feruloyl‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside) (2), 5,5′‐dimethoxylariciresinol 4′‐(4″,6″‐di‐O‐feruloyl)‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside) (3), and 4‐O‐[α‐(1,2‐dihydroxyethyl)syringyl]‐5,5′‐dimethoxylariciresinol 4′‐(4″,6″‐di‐O‐feruloyl‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside) (4), together with two known ones, lariciresinol 4′‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside) (5) and tortoside B (6), were isolated from the BuOH extract of Rhus javanica var. roxburghiana roots, and their structures were established by means of various spectroscopic techniques.
Biotransformation of p‐Coumaric Acid (=(2E)‐3‐(4‐Hydroxyphenyl)prop‐2‐enoic Acid) by Momordica charantia Peroxidase
Authors: Liu Hai‐Li , Huang Xue‐Feng , Wan Xiang , Kong Ling‐Yi
Published: June 2007

LC/MS3‐Guided biotransformation of p‐coumaric acid (=(2E)‐3‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)prop‐2‐enoic acid; CA) with H2O2/Momordica charantia peroxidase at pH 5.0 and 45° in the presence of acetone has resulted in the isolation of three CA trimers, triCA1 (1), triCA2 (trans‐2), and triCA3 (cis‐2), and seven CA dimers, diCA1–diCA7, i.e., 3–9, among which seven (triCA1–triCA3 and diCA1–diCA4) are new compounds and three (diCA5–diCA7) are known compounds. The structures were established by 2D‐NMR such as HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY measurements. The possible mechanism for the formation of the products is also discussed (Schemes 1–3). This is the first time that the biotansformation of p‐coumaric acid catalyzed by peroxidase in vitro was achieved. Compounds triCA3 (cis‐2), diCA1 (3), diCA5 (7), and diCA7 (9) exhibit a stronger antioxidative activity than the parent CA.
PIK3CAmutation is predictive of poor survival in patients with colorectal cancer
Authors: Kato Shunsuke , Iida Satoru , Higuchi Tetsuro , Ishikawa Toshiaki , Takagi Yoko , Yasuno Masamichi , Enomoto Masayuki , Uetake Hiroyuki , Sugihara Kenichi
Published: June 2007

The PI3K‐AKT pathway is activated in a variety of human cancers, resulting in disturbance of cell growth, proliferation and survival. Among the factors affecting the pathway, theK‐Rasmutation andPIK3CAmutation are the most common oncogenic alterations in colorectal cancer. We hypothesized that these two mutations are important in activation of the PI3K pathway and colorectal carcinogenesis. In this study, we aimed to examine the influence ofPIK3CAmutation andK‐Rasmutation on AKT activation, and to clarify whetherPIK3CAmutation,K‐Rasmutation and p‐AKT expression may be used as parameters for predicting prognosis in colorectal cancer. Tissue samples from 158 colorectal cancer patients who underwent surgical resection were examined. The sequences of exon 1 ofK‐Rasand exons 9 and 20 ofPIK3CAwere determined by direct sequencing using genomic DNA extracted from paraffin‐embedded blocks. Activation status of AKT was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining using phospho‐specific AKT antibody (Ser473). Correlation between these factors and clinicopathologic findings/patient survival were examined. As a result,PIK3CAmutation was significantly associated with shorter relapse‐free survival (RFS) in stage II/III patients (p= 0.0216) and shorter disease‐specific survival in all patients (p= 0.0357). In the multivariate analysis,PIK3CAmutation was the only independent and significant prognostic factor for RFS in stage II/III patients (p= 0.0433, HR 2.478). This study revealed the prognostic value ofPIK3CAmutation in colorectal cancer patients. Patients withPIK3CAmutation should be followed up carefully. Moreover, our result suggests that inhibition ofPIK3CAmutant may be a new molecular target therapy. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A meta‐analysis of six prospective studies of falling in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Pickering Ruth M. , Grimbergen Yvette A.M. , Rigney Una , Ashburn Ann , Mazibrada Gordon , Wood Brian , Gray Peggy , Kerr Graham , Bloem Bastiaan R.
Published: June 2007

Recurrent falls are a disabling feature of Parkinson's disease (PD). We have estimated the incidence of falling over a prospective 3 month follow‐up from a large sample size, identified predictors for falling for PD patients repeated this analysis for patients without prior falls, and examined the risk of falling with increasing disease severity. We pooled six prospective studies of falling in PD (n = 473), and examined the predictive power of variables that were common to most studies. The 3‐month fall rate was 46% (95% confidence interval: 38–54%). Interestingly, even among subjects without prior falls, this fall rate was 21% (12–35%). The best predictor of falling was two or more falls in the previous year (sensitivity 68%; specificity 81%). The risk of falling rose as UPDRS increased, to about a 60% chance of falling for UPDRS values 25 to 35, but remained at this level thereafter with a tendency to taper off towards later disease stages. These results confirm the high frequency of falling in PD, as almost 50% of patients fell during a short period of only 3 months. The strongest predictor of falling was prior falls in the preceding year, but even subjects without any prior falls had a considerable risk of sustaining future falls. Disease severity was not a good predictor of falls, possibly due to the complex U‐shaped relation with falls. Early identification of the very first fall therefore remains difficult, and new prediction methods must be developed. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society
A branch‐and‐price algorithm for a targeting problem
Authors: Kwon Ojeong , Lee Kyungsik , Kang Donghan , Park Sungsoo
Published: June 2007

In this paper, we consider a new weapon‐target allocation problem with the objective of minimizing the overall firing cost. The problem is formulated as a nonlinear integer programming model, but it can be transformed into a linear integer programming model. We present a branch‐and‐price algorithm for the problem employing the disaggregated formulation, which has exponentially many columns denoting the feasible allocations of weapon systems to each target. A greedy‐style heuristic is used to get some initial columns to start the column generation. A branching strategy compatible with the pricing problem is also proposed. Computational results using randomly generated data show this approach is promising for the targeting problem. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2007
Expression and function of protein phosphatase PP2A in malignant testicular germ cell tumours
Authors: Schweyer S , Bachem A , Bremmer F , Steinfelder HJ , Soruri A , Wagner W , Pottek T , Thelen P , Hopker WW , Radzun HJ , Fayyazi A
Published: June 2007

Testicular germ cell tumours (TGCT) represent the most common malignancy in young males. We reported previously that two prototype members of the mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) family, the MAPK ERK kinase (MEK) and extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK), are inactive in malignant testicular germ cells and become active after drug stimulation, leading to apoptosis of tumour cells. In this study, we asked whether the protein phosphatase PP2A, a known inhibitor of the MEK–ERK pathway, participates in the proliferation and/or apoptosis of primary TGCT (n= 48) as well as two TGCT cell lines (NTERA and NCCIT). Quantitative RT–PCR, immunohistochemistry, western blot analyses and phosphatase assay indicate that primary TGCT as well as TGCT cell lines express PP2A and that PP2A is active in TGCT cell lines. The inhibition of PP2A by application of two PP2A inhibitors, cantharidic acid (CA) and okadaic acid (OA), results in a significant increase in caspase‐3‐mediated apoptosis of TGCT cell lines. Thereby, PP2A inhibition was accompanied by phosphorylation and activation of MEK and ERK. Functional assays using the MEK inhibitor PD98059 demonstrated that the phosphorylation of MEK and ERK was required for the induction of caspase‐3‐mediated apoptosis of malignant germ cells. Thus, our data suggest that inhibition of PP2A mediates its apoptosis‐inducing effect on TGCT through activation of the MEK–ERK signalling pathway that leads to caspase‐3‐mediated apoptosis of tumour cells. In addition our results support previous observations that PP2A exerts an anti‐apoptotic effect on malignant tumour cells. Copyright © 2007 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis of sulfur‐containing hyperbranched polymers by the bisthiolation polymerization of diethynyl disulfide derivatives
Authors: Nakahashi Akiko , Fujita Masaki , Miyoshi Eisuke , Umeyama Tomokazu , Naka Kensuke , Chujo Yoshiki
Published: June 2007

The reaction of phenyl propynyl ether and diphenyl disulfide in the presence of 1 mol % tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium as a model reaction of the polymerization of bis(4‐prop‐2‐ynyloxyphenyl) disulfide (1a) gave a Z‐substituted dithioalkene. No E‐substituted dithioalkene was formed in this reaction. The palladium‐catalyzed bisthiolation polymerization of a diethynyl disulfide derivative, 1a, in benzene, was carried out to give a hyperbranched polymer (5a) containing a Z‐substituted dithioalkene unit after reaction for 4 h at 70 °C. From the gel permeation chromatography analysis (chloroform, PSt standards), the number‐average and weight‐average molecular weights of 5a were found to be 8,100 and 57,000, respectively. The structure of 5a was confirmed by 1H and 13C NMR spectra. The obtained polymer was soluble in common organic solvents such as benzene, acetone, and CHCl3. Polymerization for more than 5 h gave insoluble products. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3580–3587, 2007
A structural definition of polymer brushes
Authors: Brittain William J. , Minko Sergiy
Published: June 2007

In this article, we consolidate several literature reports in an attempt to provide a structural definition of a polymer brush as a tethered polymer layer with a high grafting density of polymer chains. We will try to distinguish a brush from grafted polymer layers and coated layers and provide a reasonable approach to the description of the brush regime with a single parameter Σ—reduced grafting density. Furthermore, we will attempt to describe the relevance of this description to applications. This article is timely given the continuing interest relating to brushes on flat substrates, nanoparticles, and the walls of micro‐channels. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3505–3512, 2007
The effect of treatment of cystic fibrosis pulmonary exacerbations on airways and systemic inflammation
Authors: Downey Damian G. , Brockbank Simon , Martin S. Lorraine , Ennis Madeleine , Elborn J. Stuart
Published: June 2007

Background

Chronic infection in cystic fibrosis (CF) and airway inflammation leads to progressive lung injury. Neutrophils are considered to be responsible for the onset and promotion of the inflammatory response within the CF lung. The relationship between infection and inflammation is complex but circulating inflammatory markers may not truly reflect the local inflammatory response in the lung. The aims of this study were to investigate the change of inflammatory biomarkers and cells within sputum and blood before and after intravenous antibiotics for a pulmonary exacerbation of CF.

Methods

Assays included neutrophil elastase (NE) and complex, interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (sICAM‐1), fas ligand (FAS‐L), and TNFr‐1. Analysis of sputum cell differential and absolute cell counts and immunocytochemistry (CD11b and CD95) on sputum and isolated blood neutrophils were carried out.

Results

There were no significant differences in absolute or differential sputum cell counts or sputum sol measurements following antibiotics. There was a significant increase in the percentage of blood neutrophils with minimal CD11b staining, 28 (4.1) mean percentage (SEM) versus 41 (2.9) and a decrease in the percentage showing maximal staining 30 (0.5) versus 15 (2.5). There was a significant increase in the percentage of blood neutrophils without CD95 staining, 43 (5.4) mean percentage versus 52 (5.1).

Conclusion

These data suggest a modifiable systemic response to IV antibiotics but a local sustained inflammatory response in the lung. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2007; 42:729–735. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Composite conversation gesture synthesis using layered planning
Authors: Nakano Atsushi , Hoshino Junichi
Published: June 2007

Automatic generation of gestures linked to conversation is required in CG animation and game creation. When multiple gestures are combined in the conventional method, continuity or matching at the motion level is not considered. As a result, a machinelike impression is produced, such as a return to the upright position each time a gesture is performed. To deal with this problem, this paper proposes a method of composite gesture generation which considers continuity of motion and linkage of gestures and generates more natural conversational motions. As the first step in the proposed method, two different networks that represent the continuity and linkage of gestures are constructed. Then the combinations of gestures which are likely for a given conversational sentence are expanded as a tree, and a plan for the series of conversation motions is generated by evaluating the conversational content and gesture continuity. In the proposed method, composite gestures can be generated with allowance for continuity of motion. Consequently, more humanlike conversational motions can be generated while preserving gestures which are important in transmitting the semantics of the conversation, such as nodding while pointing, or scratching the head with one hand while placing the other hand on the hip. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 38(10): 58–68, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.20532
Media tray: Adaptive cafeteria‐style viewing environment for personalized contents
Authors: Tanaka Kiyoshi , Sasaki Tsutomu , Tonomura Yoshinobu , Nakanishi Tadashi , Babaguchi Noboru
Published: June 2007

In digital broadcasting and recent webcasting, additional data is sometimes broadcast in conjunction with a given program, or value is added by related information using the World Wide Web; however, it is not always the case that the additional information meets the requirements of the user. In this paper we propose a cafeteria‐style viewing environment for viewing contents,Media Tray, that allows each user to create their own viewing style by mixing and matching the services and information they require when viewing a program. Media Tray uses the interface provided to a user in a given visual interactive field to present information to the user and can be operated by the user. By monitoring the state at the visual interactive field via a state transition model, the system can acquire information regarding the user's requests allowing the system to provide information that the user desires. In the system that we have implemented, we enable information to be visualized by using a cafeteria‐style interface that allows information to be combined intuitively and directly and a viewing support application. In evaluation experiments we have confirmed that Media Tray allows the viewing style to be customized and have highlighted the effectiveness of the Media Tray environment. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 38(10): 21–33, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.20569
Oxidation of sunflower oil during storage
Authors: Crapiste Guillermo H. , Brevedan Marta I. V. , Carelli Amalia A.
Published: June 2007

Effects of temperature and oxygen concentration on oxidative deterioration during storage of crude sunflower oils, obtained by pressing and solvent extraction, were studied. Oxidation was monitored through several analytical and chromatographic methods that determine chemical and physical changes or analyze specific oxidation compounds at different stages of the process: peroxide value, p‐anisidine value, free fatty acids, weight gain, total content and distribution of polar compounds, and composition of fatty acids. Extracted oil showed a higher oxidative stability than pressed oil. Oxidative deterioration was strongly dependent on temperature, oxygen availability, and the ratio of exposed surface to sample volume. A kinetic model of two series reactions was developed to represent oxidation rate in terms of peroxide value, the reaction rate constants and their temperature dependence being evaluated by nonlinear regression. Finally, good correlations between the percentage of polar compounds or oxidized triglyceride monomers and the peroxide value were found.
Tumor immunotherapy using bone marrow‐derived dendritic cells overexpressing Toll‐like receptor adaptors
Authors: Akazawa Takashi , Shingai Masashi , Sasai Miwa , Ebihara Takashi , Inoue Norimitsu , Matsumoto Misako , Seya Tsukasa
Published: June 2007

Myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) play an important role in the initiation of immune responses to cancer and infectious diseases. Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) expressed on mDCs recognize microbial products to elicit signals for mDC maturation, including cytokine production, antigen‐presentation and induction of effector cells. TLR agonists work as adjuvants to modulate the function of mDCs. In TLR signaling, MyD88 and TRIF/TICAM‐1 are major TLR adaptor molecules, which when overexpressed are able to transduce downstream signals without TLR stimuli. We successfully introduced the adaptors into mouse bone marrowderived mDCs using lentiviral vectors. Introduction of MyD88 into mDCs in vitro led to the production of IL‐6 and IL‐12p40 while introduction of TICAM‐1 stimulated interferon (IFN)‐alpha production. Expression of TICAM‐1, but not MyD88, in mDCs slightly induced the co‐stimulatory molecule CD86, while significant upregulation of CD86 was observed in response to other TLR stimuli. Both MyD88 and TICAM‐1 augmented allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). Ex vivo mouse spleen cells pre‐exposed to tumor antigen exhibited antitumor cytotoxicity when incubated with MyD88‐ or TICAM‐1‐expressing mDCs. Using mDC adoptive transfer and a syngeneic mouse tumor implant model, we established an antitumor immunotherapy whereby tumor growth is retarded by adaptor‐manipulated mDCs.
Evidence for targeting common siRNA hotspots and GC preference by plant Dicer‐like proteins
Authors: Ho Thien , Wang Hui , Pallett Denise , Dalmay Tamas
Published: June 2007

Small interfering (si)RNAs isolated from Brassica juncea leaves infected by Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) were characterized by cloning and sequencing. The TuMV siRNA population was dominated by 21 and 22‐nt long species originated mainly from the same siRNA hotspots, indicating operational similarity between the plant Dicer‐like (DCL) enzymes. Robust GC bias was observed for TuMV siRNAs versus the virus genome, indicating that DCL was more likely to target GC‐rich regions. Furthermore, dicot micro‐(mi)RNAs displayed higher GC% than their DCL1 substrate RNAs, implicating that the GC bias may be ancient, therefore may be important for the RNAi technology.
High catalytic activity achieved with a mixed manganese–iron site in protein R2 of Chlamydia ribonucleotide reductase
Authors: Voevodskaya Nina , Lendzian Friedhelm , Ehrenberg Anders , Gräslund Astrid
Published: June 2007

Ribonucleotide reductase (class I) contains two components: protein R1 binds the substrate, and protein R2 normally has a diferric site and a tyrosyl free radical needed for catalysis. In Chlamydia trachomatis RNR, protein R2 functions without radical. Enzyme activity studies show that in addition to a diiron cluster, a mixed manganese–iron cluster provides the oxidation equivalent needed to initiate catalysis. An EPR signal was observed from an antiferromagnetically coupled high‐spin Mn(III)–Fe(III) cluster in a catalytic reaction mixture with added inhibitor hydroxyurea. The manganese–iron cluster in protein R2 confers much higher specific activity than the diiron cluster does to the enzyme.
The CO and CN− ligands to the active site Fe in [NiFe]‐hydrogenase of Escherichia coli have different metabolic origins
Authors: Forzi Lucia , Hellwig Petra , Thauer Rudolf K. , Sawers R. Gary
Published: June 2007

The Fe atom in the bimetallic active site of [NiFe]‐hydrogenases has one CO and two cyanide ligands. To determine their metabolic origin, [NiFe]‐hydrogenase‐2 was isolated from Escherichia coli grown in the presence of l‐[ureido‐13C]citrulline, purified and analyzed by infrared spectroscopy. The spectra indicate incorporation of 13C only into the cyanide ligands and not into the CO, showing that cyanide and CO have different metabolic origins. After growth of E. coli in the presence of 13CO only the CO ligand was labelled with 13C. Labelling did not result from an exchange of the intrinsic CO ligand with the exogenous CO.
Identification of trehalose dimycolate (cord factor) in Mycobacterium leprae
Authors: Kai Masanori , Fujita Yukiko , Maeda Yumi , Nakata Noboru , Izumi Shinzo , Yano Ikuya , Makino Masahiko
Published: June 2007

Glycolipids of Mycobacterium leprae obtained from armadillo tissue nodules infected with the bacteria were analyzed. Mass spectrometric analysis of the glycolipids indicated the presence of trehalose 6,6′‐dimycolate (TDM) together with trehalose 6‐monomycolate (TMM) and phenolic glycolipid‐I (PGL‐I). The analysis showed that M. leprae‐derived TDM and TMM possessed both α‐ and keto‐mycolates centering at C78 in the former and at C81 or 83 in the latter subclasses, respectively. For the first time, MALDI‐TOF mass analyses showed the presence of TDM in M. leprae.
Kinematic and dynamic performance analysis of artificial legged systems
Authors: Silva Manuel F. , Machado J. A. Tenreiro
Published: June 2007

This paper studies the mechanical configuration and the periodic gaits of multi-legged locomotion systems based on its kinematic and dynamic models. The purpose is to determine the system performance during walking, and the best set of locomotion variables that minimize a set of optimization indices. In this perspective, two kinematic and four dynamic indices are formulated to quantitatively measure the performance of the walking robot. The kinematic indices consist of the perturbation analysis and the locomobility measure, and the dynamic performance indices of the walking robot locomotion are the mean absolute density of energy, the mean power density dispersion, the density of power lost and the mean force at the body-legs interface. A set of model-based simulation experiments reveals the system configuration and the type of movements that lead to a better performance, for a specific locomotion mode, from the viewpoint of the proposed indices.
A new geometric approach to characterize the singularity of wheeled mobile robots
Authors: Gracia Luis , Tornero Josep
Published: June 2007

This research presents a new and genericgeometric approachthat characterizes the kinematic singularity of wheeled mobile robots. First, the kinematic models of all the common wheels are obtained:fixed,centered orientable,castor, andSwedish. Then, a procedure for generating robot kinematic models is presented based on the set of wheel equations and thenull spaceconcept. Next,two examplesare developed to illustrate the nongeneric singularity characterization. In order to improve that approach, agenericandpracticalgeometric approach is established to characterize the singularity of any kinematic model of a wheeled mobile robot (WMR). Finally, thesingular configurationsfor many types of mobile robots are depicted employing the proposed approach.
A population-based study relevant to seasonal variations in causes of death in children undergoing surgery for congenital cardiac malformations
Authors: Eskedal Leif T. , Hagemo Petter S. , Eskild Anne , Frøslie Kathrine F. , Seiler Stephen , Thaulow Erik
Published: June 2007

Aims

Our objectives were, first, to study seasonal distribution of perioperative deaths within 30 days after surgery, and late death, in children undergoing surgery for congenitally malformed hearts, and second, to study the causes of late death.

Methods

We analysed a retrospective cohort of 1,753 children with congenital cardiac malformations born and undergoing surgery in the period from 1990 through 2002 with a special focus on the causes of late death. The data was obtained from the registry of congenital cardiac malformations at Rikshospitalet, Oslo, and the Norwegian Medical Birth Registry. The mean follow-up from birth was 8.1 years, with a range from zero to 15.2 years.

Results

During the period of follow-up, 204 (11.6%) of the children died having undergone previous surgery. Of these 124 (7.1%) died in the perioperative period, and 80 (4.5%) were late deaths. There were 56 late deaths during the 6 coldest months, compared with 24 during the 6 warmest months (p < 0.01). There was no significant seasonal variation in perioperative deaths. Respiratory infection was the most common cause of late death, and occurred in 25 children, of whom 24 died during the 6 coldest months. Of the 8 sudden late deaths, 7 occurred during the 6 coldest months. There was no seasonal variation for the other causes of death.

Conclusions

In children undergoing surgery for congenital cardiac malformations in Norway, there is a seasonal variation in late death, with a higher proportion occurring in the coldest months. Death related to respiratory infections predominantly occurs in the winter season, and is the overall most common cause of late death.
Evolution of the Southwest Indian Ridge from 55°45′E to 62°E: Changes in plate‐boundary geometry since 26 Ma
Authors: Baines A. Graham , Cheadle Michael J. , Dick Henry J. B. , Scheirer Allegra Hosford , John Barbara E. , Kusznir Nick J. , Matsumoto Takeshi
Published: June 2007

From 55°45′E to 58°45′E and from 60°30′E to 62°00′E, the ultraslow‐spreading Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR) consists of magmatic spreading segments separated by oblique amagmatic spreading segments, transform faults, and nontransform discontinuities. Off‐axis magnetic and multibeam bathymetric data permit investigation of the evolution of this part of the SWIR. Individual magmatic segments show varying magnitudes and directions of asymmetric spreading, which requires that the shape of the plate boundary has changed significantly over time. In particular, since 26 Ma the Atlantis II transform fault grew by 90 km to reach 199 km, while a 45‐km‐long transform fault at 56°30′E shrank to become an 11 km offset nontransform discontinuity. Conversely, an oblique amagmatic segment at the center of a first‐order spreading segment shows little change in orientation with time. These changes are consistent with the clockwise rotation of two ∼450‐km‐wide first‐order spreading segments between the Gallieni and Melville transform faults (52–60°E) to become more orthogonal to spreading. We suggest that suborthogonal first‐order spreading segments reflect a stable configuration for mid‐ocean ridges that maximizes upwelling rates in the asthenospheric mantle and results in a hotter and weaker ridge‐axis that can more easily accommodate seafloor spreading.
Trends in pan evaporation and reference and actual evapotranspiration across the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Zhang Yongqiang , Liu Changming , Tang Yanhong , Yang Yonghui
Published: June 2007

The Tibetan Plateau is one of the areas of the world where humans have had a relatively minor impact. The plateau thus provides ideal conditions for investigating evapotranspiration (In this paper, evapotranspiration terms are defined as follows: (1) “Actual evapotranspiration” includes evaporation from water and soil and transpiration from the vegetation of a specific region; (2) “potential evapotranspiration” includes the maximum quantity of water capable of being evaporated from the soil and transpired from the vegetation of a specific surface; (3) “reference evapotranspiration” includes the maximum quantity of water capable of being evaporated from the soil and transpired from a hypothetical reference grass with an assumed height of 0.12 m, a fixed surface resistance of 70 s m−1, and an albedo of 0.23; and (4) “pan evaporation” means evaporation from open circular pans with a diameter of 20 cm.) issues such as temporal trends of evapotranspiration, the pan evaporation paradox, and the complementary relationship hypothesis. We examined Penman‐Monteith reference evapotranspiration and pan evaporation from a 20‐cm pan by using a data set from 75 meteorological observatories across the plateau during the period 1966 to 2003. Actual regional evapotranspiration was estimated in 16 catchments across the plateau during the period 1966 to 2001. Reference evapotranspiration and pan evaporation significantly decreased at 47 and 38% of observatories, respectively, though air temperature at most of sites significantly increased (P < 0.05); wind speed and sunshine hours significantly decreased at 85 and 43% of observatories (P < 0.05). The annual reference evapotranspiration and pan evaporation averaged from all the observatories significantly decreased (P < 0.05) while actual annual evapotranspiration averaged from all the catchments increased (P < 0.1), indicating the existence of a pan evaporation paradox on the plateau. The analysis with a recovered stationary series method showed that decreasing trend in reference evapotranspiration was due to a decrease in wind speed and a decrease in net total radiation, and the increase in air temperature, however, showed little correlation with the declining trends in reference evapotranspiration and pan evaporation. Regional actual evapotranspiration and reference, Penman potential evapotranspiration, or pan evaporation exhibit complementary behavior, which, however, does not support Bouchet’s complementary hypothesis, perhaps because of the very low vapor pressure deficit. The current study suggests that the Bouchet’s complementary relationship needs to be reconsidered at high elevations.
Thermodynamics of irreversible transitions in the oceanic general circulation
Authors: Shimokawa Shinya , Ozawa Hisashi
Published: June 2007

In this study, we investigate a transition process among multiple steady states of oceanic circulation under the same set of boundary conditions, and clarify the relationship between entropy production and the strength and direction of fresh water perturbations. Our results are found to be consistent with “the principle of maximum entropy production (MEP)” in non‐equilibrium thermodynamics, and can be understood in a consistent manner by a concept of “dynamic potential” that regards the rate of entropy production as a kind of thermodynamic potential. MEP could be a general thermodynamic principle that determines the behavior of oceanic circulation in response to external perturbations, leading to a better understanding of abrupt climate changes such as the Younger Dryas event and Dansgaard–Oeschger oscillations.
Thermopower and electrical conductivity of sodium-doped V2O5 thin films
Authors: Iwanaga Shiho , Marciniak Monika , Darling Robert B. , Ohuchi Fumio S.
Published: June 2007

Thermopower and electrical conductivity of sodium-doped vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) thin films synthesized by a solution technique were investigated. An aqueous solution based V2O5 thin film is a good candidate for thin film devices using ink-jet deposition and screen printing techniques. To improve its thermoelectric properties for practical applications, Na was systematically introduced into V2O5 as a dopant to study how it influences the thermoelectric properties. A melt-quench technique was implemented to dope various concentrations of sodium ions into sol-gel solutions, and thin films were fabricated from these. X-ray diffraction showed that the Na doped V2O5 samples dominantly form the crystalline phase β-NaxV2O5. It was shown that by increasing the Na concentration, the electrical conductivity could be increased by a factor of up to ∼104, whereas the Seebeck coefficient decreased only by a half. Direct measurement of the thermoelectric power output verified that the power factor was improved up to 350 times. Temperature dependent characteristics of the electrical conductivity and the temperature independence of Seebeck coefficient, respectively, in a range of temperatures examined, suggested that the transport mechanism was a small polaron hopping type. A significant increase in the electrical conductivity was ascribed to the increase in the polaron population and the reduction of the activation energy due to formation of β-NaxV2O5.
Diffusion on ruffled membrane surfaces
Authors: Naji Ali , Brown Frank L. H.
Published: June 2007

We present a position Langevin equation for overdamped particle motion on rough two-dimensional surfaces. A Brownian dynamics algorithm is suggested to evolve this equation numerically, allowing for the prediction of effective (projected) diffusion coefficients over corrugated surfaces. In the case of static surface roughness, we find that a simple area-scaling prediction for the projected diffusion coefficient leads to seemingly quantitative agreement with numerical results. To study the effect of dynamic surface evolution on the diffusive process, we consider particle diffusion over a thermally fluctuating elastic membrane. Surface fluctuation has the effect of increasing the effective diffusivity toward a limiting annealed-surface value discussed previously. We argue that protein motion over cell surfaces spans a variety of physical regimes, making it impossible to identify a single approximation scheme appropriate to all measurements of interest.
Imaging energy landscapes with concentrated diffusing colloidal probes
Authors: Bahukudumbi Pradipkumar , Bevan Michael A.
Published: June 2007

The ability to locally interrogate interactions between particles and energetically patterned surfaces provides essential information to design, control, and optimize template directed self-assembly processes. Although numerous techniques are capable of characterizing local physicochemical surface properties, no current method resolves interactions between colloids and patterned surfaces on the order of the thermal energy kT, which is the inherent energy scale of equilibrium self-assembly processes. Here, the authors describe video microscopy measurements and an inverse Monte Carlo analysis of diffusing colloidal probes as a means to image three dimensional free energy and potential energy landscapes due to physically patterned surfaces. In addition, they also develop a consistent analysis of self-diffusion in inhomogeneous fluids of concentrated diffusing probes on energy landscapes, which is important to the temporal imaging process and to self-assembly kinetics. Extension of the concepts developed in this work suggests a general strategy to image multidimensional and multiscale physical, chemical, and biological surfaces using a variety of diffusing probes (i.e., molecules, macromolecules, nanoparticles, and colloids).
Imaging of InGaN inhomogeneities using visible apertureless near-field scanning optical microscope
Authors: Stebounova Larissa V. , Romanyuk Yaroslav E. , Chen Dongxue , Leone Stephen R.
Published: June 2007

The optical properties of epitaxially grown islands of InGaN are investigated with nanometer-scale spatial resolution using visible apertureless near-field scanning optical microscopy. Scattered light from the tip-sample system is modulated by cantilever oscillations and detected at the third harmonic of the oscillation frequency to distinguish the near-field signal from unwanted scattered background light. Scattered near-field measurements indicate that the as-grown InGaN islanded film may exhibit both inhomogeneous In composition and strain-induced changes that affect the optical signal at 633 and 532nm. Changes are observed in the optical contrast for large three-dimensional InGaN islands (hundreds of nanometers) of the same height. Near-field optical mapping of small grains on a finer scale reveals InGaN composition or strain-induced irregularities in features with heights of only 2nm, which exhibit different near-field signals at 633 and 532nm incident wavelengths. Optical signal contrast from topographic features as small as 30nm is detected.
Effects of isomeric transformation on characteristics of Alq3 amorphous layers prepared by vacuum deposition at various substrate temperatures
Authors: Jian Zhi-An , Luo Ying-Zi , Chung Jia-Ming , Tang Shiow-Jing , Kuo Ming-Chin , Shen Ji-Lin , Chiu Kuan-Cheng , Yang Chu-Shou , Chou Wu-Ching , Dai Chung-Feng , Yeh Jui-Ming
Published: June 2007

Organic tris(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminum (Alq3) amorphous layers are prepared by vacuum deposition at various substrate temperatures Tsub from 30 to 180 °C. The surface morphology and electrical characteristics of these as-deposited layers are studied by atomic force microscopy and current-density versus electric-field (J-E) curves. The temperature dependence of the dark electrical conductivity σ(T) determined from J-E curves is also examined. These experimental results reveal that the surface and electrical properties of Alq3 amorphous layers deposited at Tsub between 90 and 120 °C exhibit an anomalous Tsub dependence. However, this anomalous Tsub dependence is not observed from infrared absorption measurements, and therefore is not the result of chemical degradation. The observed behavior is explained in terms of the property that the vacuum deposition of Alq3 with Tsub between 90 and 120 °C involves a thermal interconversion between meridional and facial Alq3 isomers.
Uptake and translocation of inorganic and methylated arsenic species by plants
Authors: Raab Andrea , Williams Paul N. , Meharg Andrew , Feldmann Jörg
Published: June 2007

Environmental context. The molecular occurrence of arsenic in soils can vary as a result of soil conditions and/or application of arsenic-containing herbicides or fertiliser. Although large amounts of As-containing herbicides are used for different crops, there is still a lack of understanding as to how the molecular form of As determines the uptake of arsenic into plants and, in particular, the translocation into shoot and grain.
Abstract. The uptake and translocation into shoots of arsenate, methylarsonate (MA), and dimethylarsinate (DMA) by 46 different plant species were studied. The plants (n = 3 per As species) were exposed for 24 h to 1 mg of As per litre under identical conditions. Total arsenic was measured in the roots and the shoots by acid digestion and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry from which, besides total As values, root absorption factors and shoot-to-root transfer factors were calculated. As uptake into the root for the different plant species ranged from 1.2 to 95 (μg of As per g of dry weight) for AsV, from 0.9 to 44 for MAV and from 0.8 to 13 for DMAV, whereas in shoots the As concentration ranged from 0.10 to 17 for AsV, 0.1 to 13 for MAV, and 0.2 to 17 for DMAV. The mean root absorption factor for AsV (1.2 to 95%) was five times higher than for DMAV (0.8 to 13%) and 2.5 times higher than for MAV (0.9 to 44%). Although the uptake of arsenic in the form of AsV was significantly higher than that of MAV and DMAV, the translocation of the methylated species was more efficient in most plant species studied. Thus, an exposure of plants to DMAV or MAV can result in higher arsenic concentrations in the shoots than when exposed to AsV. Shoot-to-root transfer factors (TFs) for all plants varied with plant and arsenic species. While AsV had a median TF of 0.09, the TF of DMAV was nearly a factor of 10 higher (0.81). The median TF for MAV was in between (0.30). Although the TF for MAV correlates well with the TF for DMAV, the plants can be separated into two groups according to their TF of DMAV in relation to their TF of AsV. One group can immobilise DMAV in the roots, while the other group translocates DMAV very efficiently into the shoot. The reason for this is as yet unknown.
Coastal marine methyl iodide source and links to new particle formation at Cape Grim during February 2006
Authors: Grose Michael R. , Cainey Jill M. , McMinn Andrew , Gibson John A. E.
Published: June 2007

Environmental context. Emissions of methyl iodide of a biological origin from inshore and coastal waters can be an important component of the atmospheric budget of iodine. Iodine from this and other sources is important in the natural ozone cycle in the troposphere and stratosphere, and may play a role in the formation of new small particles that can then grow to seed clouds. The specific coastal ecology at each location is important to the magnitude and characteristics of this methyl iodide source.
Abstract. Methyl iodide concentration in seawater and in the air directly above the sea was measured at an inshore site adjacent to the Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station (Cape Grim BAPS) near a bed of Bull Kelp (Durvillaea potatorum) over daylight cycles and along a transect out to 5 km offshore. Most inshore samples had low and variable methyl iodide concentrations in seawater (14.8–57.7 pM) and in air immediately above the sea (2.1–3.8 parts per trillion by volume), with a partial tidal influence. A period of elevated methyl iodide concentration in the water (144.5 pM) and in air above the sea surface (5.5 pptv) was immediately followed by a measurement of new particles at the Cape Grim BAPS. This correlation provided indirect evidence that emission of methyl iodide from kelp is connected to the new particle formation pathway, but there was no evidence of a direct causal link. Elevated levels of atmospheric methyl iodide were not detected at the station (adjacent to the site but on top of a 94-m cliff) at the same time, which suggests the effect was localised above the sea surface. A rapid decrease of methyl iodide out to 5 km suggested that a source at the coastal reef was greater than from pelagic phytoplankton; this source could be the intertidal kelp beds.
Long‐Term Performance of Clarion 1.0 Cochlear Implant Users
Authors: Ruffin Chad V. , Tyler Richard S. , Witt Shelley A. , Dunn Camille C. , Gantz Bruce J. , Rubinstein Jay T.
Published: June 2007

Objective/Hypothesis: To evaluate the long‐term performance of adult Clarion 1.0 cochlear implant users.

Study Design: This was a retrospective, longitudinal study evaluating word discrimination in quiet for 31 adult cochlear implant patients with preimplantation sentence scores of less than 10%.

Methods: The length of the study was 135 months with a mean follow‐up length of 93 (median, 96) months. For the duration of the study, all subjects used the Clarion 1.0 cochlear implant with speech processors programmed for the use of the continuous interleaved sampling strategy.

Results: There was no significant growth or decline in speech perception after 24 months postimplantation unless adverse medical events were experienced. Age at implantation was significantly and substantially negatively correlated (−11% word score per decade, r = 0.68) with most recent score, maximum score, time to maximum score, range of performance, 24‐ to 130‐month mean score, and for any longitudinal data point tested: 3 to 6 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 5 years, and 10 years. There were no age‐related declines in performance. There were no observed correlations between duration of deafness and any of the variables listed above.

Conclusions: The lack of correlation between duration of deafness and performance in a cohort without residual hearing suggests the presence of a strong correlation between age and speech performance with a cochlear implant. That the cochlear implant is a safe therapy for the treatment of profound deafness is supported by the stability of scores through the 10‐year study period as well as a zero rate of device failures or explantation.
The scaling of leaf area and mass: the cost of light interception increases with leaf size
Authors: Milla Rubén , Reich Peter B
Published: June 2007

For leaves, the light-capturing surface area per unit dry mass investment (specific leaf area, SLA) is a key trait from physiological, ecological and biophysical perspectives. To address whether SLA declines with leaf size, as hypothesized due to increasing costs of support in larger leaves, we compiled data on intraspecific variation in leaf dry mass (LM) and leaf surface area (LA) for 6334 leaves of 157 species. We used the power function LM=
α
LA

β

to test whether, within each species, large leaves deploy less surface area per unit dry mass than small leaves. Comparing scaling exponents (
β
) showed that more species had a statistically significant decrease in SLA as leaf size increased (61) than the opposite (7) and the average
β
was significantly greater than 1 (
β
mean
=1.10, 95% CI 1.08–1.13). However, scaling exponents varied markedly from the few species that decreased to the many that increased SLA disproportionately fast as leaf size increased. This variation was unrelated to growth form, ecosystem of origin or climate. The average within-species tendency found here (allometric decrease of SLA with leaf size, averaging 13%) is in accord with concurrent findings on global-scale trends among species, although the substantial scatter around the central tendency suggests that the leaf size dependency does not obligately shape SLA. Nonetheless, the generally greater mass per unit leaf area of larger than smaller leaves directly translates into a greater cost to build and maintain a unit of leaf area, which, all else being equal, should constrain the maximum leaf size displayed.