bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Population dynamics of rice leaffolders (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and their natural enemies in irrigated rice in the Philippines
Authors: de Kraker J. , van Huis A. , Heong K.L. , van Lenteren J.C. , Rabbinge R.
Published: November 2007

Populations of rice leaffolders and their natural enemies were studied in eight crops of irrigated rice in Laguna Province, the Philippines. The rice leaffolder complex consisted of three species: Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenée), Marasmia patnalis Bradley and M. exigua Butler. Leaffolder population dynamics were characterized by an egg peak at maximum tillering and a broad larval peak around booting stage. Peak densities ranged from 0.2 to 2.0 larvae per hill. Most larvae originated from immigrant moths and there was no substantial second generation. The seasonal percentage egg parasitism by Trichogramma sp. ranged from 0 to 27%, and percentage larval parasitism from 14 to 56%. The braconid Macrocentrus philippinensis Ashmead was the most commonly reared larval parasitoid. Forty natural enemy taxa that may attack rice leaffolders were identified from suction and sweepnet samples: 24 predator taxa and 16 parasitoid taxa. The estimated survival rates from leaffolder egg to larval stages and between larval stages showed large variation between rice crops, but were not clearly correlated with observed levels of parasitism, natural enemy abundance, or natural enemy to leaffolder ratios. It is suggested that the generally low densities of rice leaffolders in Philippine transplanted rice are caused by their ovipositional preference for crops at the maximum tillering stage, allowing for only one generation, and by high immature mortality caused by the abundant and diverse complex of natural enemies.
Influences of hedgerow intersections and gaps on the movement of carabid beetles
Authors: Joyce K.A. , Holland J.M. , Doncaster C.P.
Published: November 2007

In the fragmented landscape of arable farmland, hedgerows and other non-crop habitats provide refuges of food and shelter for invertebrates, and corridors through which they can move to other habitats. Their role as corridors is likely to depend on their connectivity, both to each other and to other patches of suitable habitat. The effects of connectivity on the carabid beetleNebria brevicollis(Fabricius) were analysed by observing movement between hedgerow intersections (nodes) and the linear section of the hedgerow, and across gaps in the hedgerow. Capture–mark–recapture ofN. brevicollisrevealed a uniformly higher activity at hedgerow nodes than at mid-section strips of comparable area. This is consistent with previous studies of hedgerow fauna including butterflies, plants and birds. Gaps in the hedgerows typically measured 7–9 m and functioned as a passage between fields for farm machinery. These were readily crossed byN. brevicollisas was the hedge bottom. Some movement along the hedgerow was found indicating their use as a corridor.
Isolated fracture of the manubrium of the malleus
Authors: Chien W , McKenna M J , Rosowski J J , Merchant S N
Published: November 2007

Objective:

To describe a series of five patients with isolated fracture of the manubrium of the malleus.

Design:

Retrospective case series.

Subjects:

Five patients aged 44–64 years with isolated fracture of the manubrium who presented to our institution over a five-year period (2000–2005).

Results:

All patients presented with a history of digitally manipulating the external auditory canal, leading to the manubrial fracture, which we presume was due to a suction-type mechanism. Otomicroscopy often revealed a break in the smooth contour of the manubrium. All patients had air–bone gaps on audiometry, especially at higher frequencies. Tympanometry showed hypermobility of the tympanic membrane in four patients who were tested. Laser-Doppler vibrometry revealed increased umbo velocity in four out of five patients. Four patients were treated conservatively. One patient underwent exploratory tympanotomy with successful ossiculoplasty.

Conclusions:

Isolated fracture of the manubrium is a rare condition which may present as sudden-onset hearing loss after digital manipulation of the external auditory canal. The diagnosis can be made on the basis of otomicroscopy, audiometry, tympanometry and laser-Doppler vibrometry. Conservative treatment is often successful.
Identification, imaging, functional assessment and management of congenital coronary arterial abnormalities in children
Authors: Friedman Alan H. , Fogel Mark A. , Stephens Paul , Hellinger Jeffrey C. , Nykanen David G. , Tweddell James , Feltes Timothy F. , Rome Jonathan J.
Published: November 2007

The coronary arteries, the vessels through which both substrate and oxygen are provided to the cardiac muscle, normally arise from paired stems, right and left, each arising from a separate and distinct sinus of the aortic valve. The right coronary artery runs through the right atrioventricular groove, terminating in the majority of instances in the inferior interventricular groove. The main stem of the left coronary artery bifurcates into the anterior descending, or interventricular, and the circumflex branches. Origin of the anterior descending and circumflex arteries from separate orifices from the left sinus of Valsalva occurs in about 1% of the population, while it is also frequent to find the infundibular artery arising as a separate branch from the right sinus of Valsalva.

Anomalies of the coronary arteries can result from rudimentary persistence of an embryologic coronary arterial structure, failure of normal development or normal atrophy as part of development, or misplacement of connection of a an otherwise normal coronary artery. Anomalies, therefore, can be summarized in terms of abnormal origin or course, abnormal number of coronary arteries, lack of patency of the orifice of coronary artery, or abnormal connections of the arteries.

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary trunk occurs with an incidence of approximately 1 in 300,000 children. The degree of left ventricular dysfunction produced likely relates to the development of collateral vessels that arise from the right coronary artery, and provide flow into the left system. Anomalous origin of either the right or the left coronary artery from the opposite sinus of Valsalva can be relatively innocuous, but if the anomalous artery takes an interarterial course between the pulmonary trunk and the aorta, this can underlie sudden death, almost invariably during or immediately following strenuous exercise or competitive sporting events. Distal anomalies of the coronary arteries most commonly involve abnormal connections, or fistulas, between the right or left coronary arterial systems and a chamber or vessel.

We discuss the current techniques available for imaging these various lesions, along with their functional assessment, concluding with a summary of current strategies for management.
The influence of Plato, Aristotle, and the ancient Polis on a programme for congenital cardiac surgery: the Virtuous Partnership
Authors: Mavroudis Constantine , Backer Carl L.
Published: November 2007

The problems that exist in maintaining a partnership in paediatric cardiac surgery are considerable. They relate to fairness in allocation of time for leisure, the apportioning of cases between the partners, internal competition between them, financial considerations, and promotion of the ego. In this review, we discuss our own experiences in maintaining a partnership over a period of more than 18 years, relating such a “virtuous partnership” to the writings of Plato and Aristotle, and setting it against the tenets of the ancient Greek polis.

The polis, or city state, came to prominence in ancient Greece during the golden age of Pericles, this period seeing the initial evolution of Western philosophy, as well as numerous other scientific, artistic and architectural advances. The concept of the polis was to create a natural association with its citizens that nurtured all that is best in people, at the same time defining their character. In this respect, according to Plato, the person and the polis are mirror images. Aristotle then expanded this notion to incorporate the various forms of friendship, which he pointed out last only as long as the interrelated pleasure survives.

Using these principles as the point of departure, we argue that cardiac surgeons should respect moral virtue in each other. Extending this process means that we should also respect, and celebrate, our relationships with affiliated physicians, nurses, perfusionists, administrators, and all concerned in the care of children with congenitally malformed hearts. In this way, we create a virtuous partnership for congenital cardiac surgery that promotes all that was good, as engendered in the ancient Greek polis.

As we extend these observations to the modern world, we discuss some of the features that have permitted us to work so well together. One of the most important is a summoning and unwritten tenet that greets us as we enter the operating room, namely “check your ego at the door”. The operative choice should always be dictated by discussion, citations of literature, considered opinions, and relevance to the particular patient. Continuity of care should lead inexorably to the paediatric intensive care unit, where collegial relationships should be maintained with all those working therein. We need to recognize that there are various “captains of the ship”, who must work in harmony so as to bring the best possible care to our patients. We always endeavour to empower others to act on our behalf, based on their experience and training.

Whether we have achieved our desired moral excellence, and produced the completed or perfected friendship, is for others to judge. From our stance, we believe we have created a favourable environment by hard work, unselfish attitudes, and celebration of our mutual accomplishments. We were not the first to forge this kind of professional association, and happily we will not be the last.
Falldarstellung: Psychologische Interventionen bei Morbus Pick
Authors: Fahlböck A. , Abl P. , Uggowitzer C.
Published: November 2007

Zusammenfassung: In dieser Fallbeschreibung wird sowohl die psychologische und neuropsychologische Betreuung eines Patienten mit der Diagnose Morbus Pick als auch die Begleitung seiner Angehörigen dargestellt. Der Verdacht einer frontotemporalen Degeneration, welcher sich nach der ersten neuropsychologischen Untersuchung ergab, wurde Mitte 2005 durch eine PET Untersuchung bestätigt. Seit dieser Zeit befindet sich der Klient mit einigen kurzen Unterbrechungen in psychologischer Betreuung. Es werden hier einige psychologische Interventionen dargestellt, welche die Lebensqualität von Herrn K. und seiner Familie erhöht haben. Für uns stand Herr K. mit seiner Familie im Zentrum der Behandlung und nicht die Diagnose Morbus Pick. Damit wollen wir die Wichtigkeit der psychologischen und neuropsychologischen Betreuung bei rasch fortschreitenden Demenzen hervorheben.
Selbst- und Lebenskonzeptionen schizophren erkrankter Menschen im mittleren und höheren Lebensalter
Authors: Maier Irene , Baumann Urs , Westerhof Gerben J.
Published: November 2007

Zusammenfassung: Ziel dieser Studie war es zu untersuchen, wie in der Gemeinde lebende schizophren Erkrankte (N = 35) im mittleren und höheren Lebensalter (55-69 Jahre) ihre eigene Person und ihre Lebenssituation wahrnehmen und bewerten. Die Erhebung erfolgte anhand verschiedener Rating-Skalen und eines Satzergänzungsverfahrens (SELE). Repräsentative Vergleichsdaten der Allgemeinbevölkerung standen aus dem Deutschen Alters-Survey zur Verfügung. Wichtige Aspekte im Leben der schizophren Erkrankten sind in eingeschränktem Wohlbefinden, negativer Sicht des Körpers und der eigenen Person sowie in der großer Bedeutung von Gesundheit und autonomer Lebensführung zu sehen. Verglichen mit der altersentsprechenden Allgemeinbevölkerung weisen sie ein geringeres Kontrollerleben auf, sind in stärkerem Maße einsam und öfter mit ihrem Leben insgesamt unzufrieden. Vor allem die depressive Symptomatik steht in engem Zusammenhang mit verschiedenen Aspekten der Selbst- und Lebenskonzeptionen. Implikationen der Studienergebnisse zur Verbesserung der psychosozialen Situation ambulant betreuter schizophren Erkrankter im mittleren und höheren Lebensalters werden diskutiert.
Validierung einer deutschsprachigen Version des Body Image Avoidance Questionnaire BIAQ
Authors: Legenbauer Tanja , Vocks Silja , Schütt-Strömel Sabine
Published: November 2007

Zusammenfassung. Ziel dieser Studie ist die Validierung der deutschsprachigen Übersetzung des Body Image Avoidance Questionnaire (BIAQ). Der 19-Item-Fragebogen ist ein Instrument zur Selbstbeurteilung von Verhaltensweisen, die häufig bei Körperbildstörungen auftreten und mit Sorgen hinsichtlich der physischen Erscheinung einhergehen können. Er erfasst insbesondere körperbezogenes Vermeidungs- und Kontrollverhalten. Die deutschsprachige Version des BIAQ wurde an einer Stichprobe von n = 296 Studentinnen (KG) und n = 64 Frauen mit einer Essstörung (EG) überprüft. Die explorative Faktorenanalyse ergab im Gegensatz zur Originalversion die drei Faktoren “Kleidung“, “Soziale Aktivitäten“ und “Essensbezogenes Kontrollverhalten“. Reliabilität und Trennschärfe sind als gut zu beschreiben. Die Skalen stehen in einem inhaltlichen Zusammenhang mit konvergenten Fragebögen zum Körperbild und zur Essstörungssymptomatik. Die Subskalen des BIAQ trennen zuverlässig zwischen EG und KG. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die deutschsprachige Übersetzung und Modifikation des BIAQ ein reliables und valides Instrument zur Beurteilung von körperbildbezogenem Vermeidungsverhalten ist.
Elterliches Erziehungsverhalten und Sozialverhalten im Grundschulalter
Authors: Franiek Sabine , Reichle Barbara
Published: November 2007

Zusammenfassung. Differenzielle Zusammenhänge zwischen sieben verschiedenen Varianten des Erziehungsverhaltens (inkonsistentes, positives, verantwortungsbewusstes Elternverhalten, Involviertheit, geringes Monitoring, Machtausübung, körperliches Strafen) und vier Varianten des kindlichen Sozialverhaltens (sozial-emotionale Kompetenz, oppositionell-aggressives Verhalten, Hyperaktivität, emotionale Auffälligkeiten) werden untersucht. Dazu wurden 373 Eltern von Kindern im Grundschulalter mittels einer deutschsprachigen erweiterten Version des Alabama Parenting Questionnaire (APQ) zu ihrem Erziehungsverhalten und mittels des Verhaltensbeurteilungsbogens für Vorschulkinder (VBV, Kurzform) zum Sozialverhalten ihrer Kinder befragt. Die Auswertungen wurden für Väter und Mütter getrennt durchgeführt. Es zeigen sich die erwarteten Zusammenhänge: Die Kinder werden als umso sozial kompetenter eingeschätzt, je positiver der elterliche Erziehungsstil ist. Auf Seiten der Mütter besteht ein zusätzlicher positiver Zusammenhang mit Monitoring, auf Seiten der Väter mit dem Verzicht auf körperliche Strafen und inkonsistentes Erziehungsverhalten. Weniger optimale Erziehungsstrategien gehen mit einer niedrigeren sozialen Kompetenz und Verhaltensproblemen einher. Spezifische Beziehungen zeigten sich zwischen oppositionell-aggressivem Verhalten von Kindern und inkonsistentem Disziplinierungsverhalten sowie körperlichem Strafen beider Eltern, bei Müttern zusätzlich mit verantwortungsbewusstem Elternverhalten, bei Vätern mit Machtausübung. Hyperaktives Verhalten der Kinder ging mit inkonsistentem Elternverhalten einher, zusätzlich mit körperlichem Strafen der Mutter und der Ablehnung positiven Elternverhaltens durch den Vater. Emotional auffälliges, internalisierendes Verhalten der Kinder hing mit inkonsistentem Erziehungsstil der Eltern zusammen, bei Vätern zusätzlich mit Machtausübung.
Dyadisches Coping in Selbst- und Fremdwahrnehmung als Prädiktor für Partnerschaftsqualität und Befinden
Authors: Gmelch Simone , Bodenmann Guy
Published: November 2007

Zusammenfassung. Der sozialen Unterstützung durch den Partner kommt ein besonderer Stellenwert zu. Bodenmann (1995 , 2000 ) schlug aus diesem Grund den Ansatz des dyadischen Copings vor, welcher sich in bisherigen Studien als zentraler Prädiktor für Partnerschaftsqualität und -stabilität bewährt hat. Eine Möglichkeit, dyadisches Coping zu erfassen, stellt das Dyadische Coping Inventar (DCI) dar. In diesem Fragebogen schätzen beide Partner ihr eigenes dyadisches Copingverhalten (Selbsteinschätzung) wie auch das beim Partner wahrgenommene Verhalten (Partnerwahrnehmung) ein. Die vorliegende Studie an 443 Paaren bezieht diese vier Perspektiven durch die Bildung von Diskrepanzmaßen (Reziprozitäts-, Equity-, Kongruenzindex) explizit aufeinander und untersucht deren Relevanz in Bezug auf Partnerschaftsqualität und Befinden. Dadurch wird eine neue, genuin dyadische Analysemöglichkeit verwirklicht, die bislang eher vernachlässigt wurde. Die Diskrepanz in den Einschätzungen zeigte sich dabei insgesamt und in besonderer Weise bezüglich der Equitykomponente bedeutsam für Partnerschaftsqualität und Befinden. Die Einschätzungen der Frauen in Bezug auf dyadisches Coping erwiesen sich als etwas relevanter als die der Männer.
Bindung, soziales Netzwerk und soziale Unterstützung bei Jugendlichen
Authors: Laireiter Anton-Rupert , Resch Angela , Sauer Joachim
Published: November 2007

Zusammenfassung. Bindung spielt eine wichtige Rolle in der Entwicklung einer stabilen Persönlichkeit. Eine ähnliche Funktion ist sozialen Beziehungen zuzuschreiben. Allerdings fehlt bis jetzt eine Analyse der Relation dieser beiden Variablen zueinander, insbesondere bei Jugendlichen. Diesen Mangel soll die vorliegende Arbeit beheben. In einer Querschnittstudie wurden 84 Jugendliche zwischen 14 und 18 Jahren (57% Mädchen) mit einer Bindungsskala (RSQ) und einem Netzwerk- und Unterstützungsinventar (SONET) untersucht. Es wurde die Beziehung zwischen Merkmalen der Bindungssicherheit und der Quantität und Qualität sozialer Netzwerkbeziehungen und der Einfluss des Geschlechts als Moderator zwischen diesen beiden Variablengruppen analysiert. Merkmale der Bindungssicherheit korrelierten nur gering mit den Netzwerkausprägungen. Allerdings konnte gefunden werden, dass Merkmale der Bindungssicherheit bei männlichen Jugendlichen in einer engeren Beziehung zu Netzwerkmerkmalen stehen als bei weiblichen.
Semantic Access in Number Word Translation
Authors: Duyck Wouter , Brysbaert Marc
Published: November 2007

Abstract. The revised hierarchical model of bilingualism (e.g., Kroll & Stewart, 1994 ) assumes that second language (L2) words primarily access semantics through their first language (L1) translation equivalents. Consequently, backward translation from L2 to L1 should not imply semantic access but occurs through lexical wordform associations. However, recent research with Dutch-French bilinguals showed that both backward and forward translation of number words yields a semantic number magnitude effect ( Duyck & Brysbaert, 2004 ), providing evidence for strong form-to-meaning mappings of L2 number words. In two number-word translation experiments with Dutch-English-German trilinguals, the present study investigated whether semantic access in L1-L2 and L1-L3 number-word translation depends on lexical similarity of the languages involved. We found that backward translation from these more similar language pairs to L1 still yields a semantic magnitude effect, whereas forward translation does not, in contrast with the Dutch-French results of Duyck and Brysbaert (2004) . We argue against a dual route model of word translation and suggest that the degree of semantic activation in translation depends on lexical form overlap between translation equivalents.
Strong temperature dependence of the first pressure derivative of isothermal bulk modulus at zero pressure
Authors: Zhang Yigang , Zhao Dapeng , Matsui Masanori , Guo Guangjun
Published: November 2007

The first pressure derivative of isothermal bulk modulus at zero pressure (K′0T) is a key equation of state (EOS) parameter. Its variation with temperature is poorly constrained and may influence the inference of composition and temperature of the deep Earth. In the present study, molecular dynamics simulations are performed to derive the K′0Tof MgO from 300 to 3000 K using directly the definition of K′0Tand without relying on any EOS. The most important finding of the present study is that K′0Tdepends strongly on temperature. The cross derivative ∂2K0T/∂P∂T is found to be 5.1 ± 1.6 × 10−4K−1at 300 K, passing to 9.9 ± 2.7 × 10−4K−1at 1600 K, and reaches 15.1 ± 3.8 × 10−4K−1at 3000 K. The value at 300 K agrees with 3.9 ± 1.0 × 10−4K−1of Isaak (1993) within the uncertainty. The experimental adiabatic cross derivative of Chen et al. (1998), which is 2.7 ± 1.1 × 10−3K−1and often considered too high, is not far from our value of 1.1 ± 0.3 × 10−3K−1at 1600 K when the experimental and calculation uncertainties are considered. The obtained K′0Tare further compared with those from EOS fittings to infer the valid temperature domains of several commonly used EOSs. With this knowledge, the consistency of zero‐pressure isothermal bulk modulus (K0T) from different experimental techniques (direct resonance measurements and fitting isothermal P‐V data by an EOS) is demonstrated.
Recent Northern Hemisphere snow cover extent trends and implications for the snow‐albedo feedback
Authors: Déry Stephen J. , Brown Ross D.
Published: November 2007

Monotonic trend analysis of Northern Hemisphere snow cover extent (SCE) over the period 1972–2006 with the Mann‐Kendall test reveals significant declines in SCE during spring over North America and Eurasia, with lesser declines during winter and some increases in fall SCE. The weekly mean trend attains −1.28, −0.78, and −0.48 × 106 km2 (35 years)−1 over the Northern Hemisphere, North America, and Eurasia, respectively. The standardized SCE time series vary and trend coherently over Eurasia and North America, with evidence of a poleward amplification of decreasing SCE trends during spring. Multiple linear regression analyses reveal a significant dependence of the retreat of the spring continental SCE on latitude and elevation. The poleward amplification is consistent with an enhanced snow‐albedo feedback over northern latitudes that acts to reinforce an initial anomaly in the cryospheric system.
Oceanic gas hydrate instability and dissociation under climate change scenarios
Authors: Reagan Matthew T. , Moridis George J.
Published: November 2007

Global oceanic deposits of methane gas hydrate (clathrate) have been implicated as the main culprit for a repeated, remarkably rapid sequence of global warming effects that occurred during the late Quaternary period. However, the behavior of contemporary oceanic methane hydrate deposits subjected to rapid temperature changes, like those predicted under future climate change scenarios, is poorly understood, and existing studies focus on deep hydrate deposits under equilibrium conditions. In this study, we simulate the dynamic response of several types of oceanic gas hydrate accumulations to temperature changes at the seafloor and assess the potential for methane release into the ecosystem. The results suggest that while many deep hydrate deposits are indeed stable under the influence of rapid seafloor temperature variations, shallow deposits, such as those found in arctic regions or in the Gulf of Mexico, can undergo rapid dissociation and produce significant carbon fluxes over a period of decades.
Was the Mangala Valles system incised by volcanic flows?
Authors: Leverington David W.
Published: November 2007

The Mangala Valles system of channels heads at one of the graben that comprise Memnonia Fossae, extends northward nearly 1000 km across Noachian and Hesperian highlands, and terminates at basins contiguous with Amazonis Planitia. The Mangala Valles system has previously been interpreted to have formed through one or more catastrophic aqueous floods on the basis of similarities between the characteristics of its channel landforms and those of terrestrial systems, including the Channeled Scabland of Washington. Although aqueous mechanisms for formation of Mangala Valles are broadly congruous with known characteristics of the channel system, an alternative volcanic hypothesis for formation of the system appears to be worthy of consideration on the basis of (1) its consistency with the volcanotectonic nature of the system and (2) commonalities between the basic nature of the system and that of large volcanic channels of the inner solar system. Estimates based on thermal considerations suggest that formation of Mangala Valles could conceivably have taken place through eruption of a lava volume of ∼2 × 105km3, or roughly the total volume of the terrestrial Columbia River Basalt Group. The volcanic hypothesis for formation of Mangala Valles, and a hybrid hypothesis involving formation of Mangala Valles through aqueous processes followed by or in concert with substantial modification of the system by volcanic erosion and deposition, appears viable and worthy of future consideration.
Cloning and pharmacological characterization of the guinea pig P2X7receptor orthologue
Authors: Fonfria E , Clay W C , Levy D S , Goodwin J A , Roman S , Smith G D , Condreay J P , Michel A D
Published: November 2007

Background and purpose:

The human, rat, and mouse P2X7receptors have been previously characterized, and in this study we report the cloning and pharmacological properties of the guinea pig orthologue.

Experimental approach:

A cDNA encoding for the guinea pig P2X7receptor was isolated from a guinea pig brain library. The receptor was expressed in U‐2 OS cells using the BacMam viral expression system. A monoclonal antibody was used to confirm high levels of cell surface expression and the functional properties were determined in ethidium bromide accumulation studies.

Key results:

The predicted guinea pig protein is one amino acid shorter than the human and rat orthologues and over 70% identical to the rat and human receptors. In contrast to human and rat P2X7receptors, 2′‐&3′‐O‐(4benzoylbenzoyl)ATP (BzATP) was a partial agonist of the guinea pig P2X7receptor when compared to ATP and acted as an antagonist in some assays. However, as at other species orthologues, BzATP was more potent than ATP. The guinea pig P2X7receptor possessed higher affinity for 1‐[N,O‐bis(5‐isoquinoline sulphonyl)‐N‐methyl‐L‐tyrosyl]‐4‐phenylpiperazine (KN62), suramin and Coomassie Brilliant Blue than human or rat P2X7receptors suggesting that it is pharmacologically different to other rodent or human P2X7receptors.

Conclusions and implications:

The guinea pig recombinant P2X7receptor displays a number of unique properties that differentiate it from the human, rat and mouse orthologues and this structural and functional information should aid in our understanding of the interaction of agonists and antagonist with the P2X7receptor.

British Journal of Pharmacology(2008)153, 544–556; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707596; published online 26 November 2007
Coherent vortices in high resolution direct numerical simulation of homogeneous isotropic turbulence: A wavelet viewpoint
Authors: Okamoto Naoya , Yoshimatsu Katsunori , Schneider Kai , Farge Marie , Kaneda Yukio
Published: November 2007

Coherent vortices are extracted from data obtained by direct numerical simulation (DNS) of three-dimensional homogeneous isotropic turbulence performed for different Taylor microscale Reynolds numbers, ranging from Reλ=167 to 732, in order to study their role with respect to the flow intermittency. The wavelet-based extraction method assumes that coherent vortices are what remains after denoising, without requiring any template of their shape. Hypotheses are only made on the noise that, as the simplest guess, is considered to be additive, Gaussian, and white. The vorticity vector field is projected onto an orthogonal wavelet basis, and the coefficients whose moduli are larger than a given threshold are reconstructed in physical space, the threshold value depending on the enstrophy and the resolution of the field, which are both known a priori. The DNS dataset, computed with a dealiased pseudospectral method at resolutions N=2563,5123,10243, and 20483, is analyzed. It shows that, as the Reynolds number increases, the percentage of wavelet coefficients representing the coherent vortices decreases; i.e., flow intermittency increases. Although the number of degrees of freedom necessary to track the coherent vortices remains small (e.g., 2.6% of N=20483 for Reλ=732), it preserves the nonlinear dynamics of the flow. It is thus conjectured that using the wavelet representation the number of degrees of freedom to compute fully developed turbulent flows could be reduced in comparison to the standard estimation based on Kolmogorov’s theory.
Magnetic reconnection during collisionless, stressed, X-point collapse using particle-in-cell simulation
Authors: Tsiklauri D. , Haruki T.
Published: November 2007

Magnetic reconnection during collisionless, stressed, X-point collapse was studied using a kinetic, 2.5D, fully electromagnetic, relativistic particle-in-cell numerical code. Two cases of weakly and strongly stressed X-point collapse were considered. Here the descriptors “weakly” and “strongly” refer to 20% and 124% unidirectional spatial compression of the X-point, respectively. In the weakly stressed case, the reconnection rate, defined as the out-of-plane electric field in the X-point (the magnetic null) normalized by the product of external magnetic field and Alfvén speeds, peaks at 0.11, with its average over 1.25 Alfvén times being 0.04. During the peak of the reconnection, electron inflow into the current sheet is mostly concentrated along the separatrices until they deflect from the current sheet on the scale of electron skin depth, with the electron outflow speeds being of the order of the external Alfvén speed. Ion inflow starts to deflect from the current sheet on the ion skin depth scale with the outflow speeds about four times smaller than that of electrons. Electron energy distribution in the current sheet, at the high-energy end of the spectrum, shows a power-law distribution with the index varying in time, attaining a maximal value of −4.1 at the final simulation time step (1.25 Alfvén times). In the strongly stressed case, the magnetic reconnection peak occurs 3.8 times faster and is more efficient. The peak reconnection rate now attains the value 2.5, with the average reconnection rate over 1.25 Alfvén times being 0.5. Plasma inflow into the current sheet is perpendicular to it, with the electron outflow seeds reaching 1.4 Alfvén external Mach number and ions again being about four times slower than electrons. The power-law energy spectrum for the electrons in the current sheet attains now a steeper index of −5.5, a value close to those observed near the X-type region in the Earth’s magnetotail. Within about one Alfvén time, 2% and 20% of the initial magnetic energy is converted into heat and accelerated particle energy in the case of weak and strong stress, respectively. In both cases, during the peak of the reconnection, the quadruple out-of-plane magnetic field is generated, hinting possibly at the Hall regime of the reconnection. These results strongly suggest the importance of the collisionless, stressed X-point collapse as an efficient mechanism of converting magnetic energy into heat and superthermal particle energy.
Structure, dynamics, and phase transitions of tethered membranes: A Monte Carlo simulation study
Authors: Popova Hristina , Milchev Andrey
Published: November 2007

A coarse-grained model of a self-avoiding tethered membrane with hexagonal coordination, embedded in three-dimensional space, is studied by means of extensive Monte Carlo computer simulations. The simulations are performed at various temperatures for membranes with linear size 5⩽L⩽50. We find that the membrane undergoes several folding transitions from a high-temperature flat phase to multiple-folded structure as the temperature is steadily decreased. Using a suitable order parameter and finite size scaling analysis, these phase transitions are shown to be of first order. The equilibrium shape of the membranes is analyzed by calculating the eigenvalues λmax2⩾λmed2⩾λmin2 of the inertia tensor. We present a systematic finite size scaling analysis of the radius of gyration and the eigenvalues of the inertia tensor at different phases of the observed folding transitions. In the high-temperature flat phase, the radius of gyration Rg grows with the linear size of the membrane L as Rg∝Lν, where the exponent ν≈1.0. The eigenvalues of the inertia tensor scale as λmax∝λmed∝Lν and λmin∝Lνmin, whereby the roughness exponent νmin≈0.7. We also find that the time τR of a self-avoiding membrane to diffuse a distance Rg scales as τR∝L2ν+2, which is in good agreement with the theoretical predictions.
Determining the thermal diffusivity in microcalorimeter absorbers and its effect on detector response
Authors: Saab T. , Figueroa-Feliciano E. , Iyomoto N. , Bandler S. R. , Chervenak J. A. , Kelley R. L. , Kilbourne C. A. , Porter F. S. , Sadleir J. E.
Published: November 2007

An x-ray microcalorimeter consists of an absorber and a thermometer connected to each other, and to a heat sink, via well defined thermal conductances. The standard theoretical derivation of energy resolution treats the absorber and thermometer as point elements that are internally isothermal. In reality, the finite size and internal diffusivity of the absorber and thermometer prevents these elements from instantly achieving a uniform temperature, leading to a variation in observed pulse shapes as a function of the interaction’s position within the absorber. These variations result in a distortion of the detector response and a subsequent degradation of the energy resolution. This paper presents diffusivity measurements for x-ray microcalorimeters fabricated at the NASA/GSFC. Using a diffusion model we developed, we show quantitatively how a 2eV Gaussian response is distorted into a non-Gaussian profile roughly 12eV wide at an energy of 6keV for an absorber diffusivity of 104μm2∕μs. We then present a method for eliminating the effect of pulse shape variation on the detector energy response with a modified optimal filter approach.
General connectivity distribution functions for growing networks with preferential attachment of fractional power
Authors: Iguchi Kazumoto , Yamada Hiroaki S.
Published: November 2007

We study the general connectivity distribution functions for growing networks with preferential attachment (PA) of fractional power, Πi∝kα, using Simon’s method. We first show that the heart of the previously known methods of the rate equations for the connectivity distribution functions is nothing but Simon’s method for word problem. Secondly, we show that for the case of fractional α, the Z-transformation of the rate equation provides a fractional differential equation of a new type, which coincides with that for PA with linear power, when α=1. We show that to solve such a fractional differential equation, we need to define a transcendental function Υ(a,b,c;z) that we call upsilon function. Most of all the previously known results are obtained consistently in the framework of a unified theory.
A synchrotron beamline for delivering high purity vacuum ultraviolet photons
Authors: Cavasso Filho R. L. , Homen M. G. P. , Fonseca P. T. , Naves de Brito A.
Published: November 2007

We report on the current status and performance of the toroidal grating monochromator beamline at the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (Laboratório Nacional de Luz Síncrotron). This beamline provides photons in the vacuum ultraviolet and soft x-ray regions from 12to330eV with three interchangeable gratings. We report on the improvement, which allows the possibility of choosing the light polarization degree from linear to almost circular. Here, we also describe the development of a new apparatus, namely, the mirror-inserted harmonic attenuator and calibrating-device with a long length (MIRHACLLE). All beamlines based on diffraction gratings suffer from the problem of high harmonics contaminations to some extent. The MIRHACLLE provides a way to efficiently suppress high harmonics from 25% to 1ppm in a grazing incidence bending magnet beamline. Its principle of operation relays on the absorption of the high energy photons in a gas phase region. It allows negligible high harmonics contamination for photon energies ranging from 12eV to the gas first ionization threshold, 21.6eV, in the case of neon. We also demonstrate the possibility to use this device for energy calibration and resolution evaluation together with any experiment needing its filtering capabilities. The device is also very cost effective compared to other filters presented previously in the literature.
High precision metrology based microwave effective linewidth measurement technique
Authors: Mo Nan , Green Jerome J. , Beitscher Bailey A. , Patton Carl E.
Published: November 2007

A precision microwave effective linewidth measurement technique for magnetic samples has been developed. The measurement utilizes a high-Q cylindrical cavity that contains the sample of interest, a highly stable and programable static magnetic field source, a computer controlled network analyzer for cavity center frequency ωc and quality factor Qc determinations, and the standard metrological substitution ABA method for accurate relative ωc and Qc measurements. Sequential long term ABA measurements show that the time and temperature drifts and random errors are the dominant sources of error, with uncertainties in ωc∕2π and Qc in the range of 50kHz and 25, respectively. The ABA method is applied to eliminate these drifts and minimize the random errors. For measurements over 25 ABA cycles, accuracy is improved to 0.14kHz for ωc∕2π and 3 for Qc. The temperature variation over a single ABA cycle is generally on the order of 10−3–10−5°C and there is no need for any further temperature stabilization or correction measures. The overall uncertainty in the 10GHz effective linewidth determinations for a 3mm diam, 0.5mm thick polycrystalline yttrium iron garnet (YIG) disk is 0.15Oe or less, well below the intrinsic single crystal YIG linewidth. This represents a factor of 10 improvement in measurement accuracy over previous work.
Pi-shape gate polycrystalline silicon thin-film transistor for nonvolatile memory applications
Authors: Chen Shih-Ching , Chang Ting-Chang , Liu Po-Tsun , Wu Yung-Chun , Ko Chin-Cheng , Yang Sidney , Feng Li-Wei , Sze S. M. , Chang Chun-Yen , Lien Chen-Hsin
Published: November 2007

In this work, we studied a pi-shape gate polycrystalline silicon thin-film transistor (poly-Si TFT) with silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS) layers and nanowire channels for the application of electric driver and nonvolatile memory. The proposed pi-gate TFT-SONOS has superior transfer characteristics and its output characteristic also exhibits the high driving current and the suppression of the kink effect. For memory application, the device can provide high program/erase efficiency and large threshold voltage shift under adequate bias operation. The enhanced performance for the pi-gate TFT-SONOS is attributed to the larger effective channel width and the number of channel corners.
Hydrodynamic studies on two traveling wavy foils in tandem arrangement
Authors: Deng Jian , Shao Xue-Ming , Yu Zhao-Sheng
Published: November 2007

In this study, the hydrodynamic interactions between two tandem foils undergoing fishlike swimming motion are investigated numerically by solving the Navier–Stokes equations with the immersed-boundary method. The two foils represent two tandem propellers attached on a concept ship. The thrusts and efficiencies at three typical Strouhal numbers, i.e., St=0.4, 0.6, and 0.8, are investigated. The results show that a fish situated directly behind another one does not always undergo a lower thrust. Whether it experiences a thrust enhancement or reduction depends on the Strouhal number. At a relatively low Strouhal number (e.g., St=0.4), the usual wake drag-reduction effect predominates over the drag-enhancement effect caused by the reverse von Kármán vortices, resulting in a thrust enhancement. The opposite happens at a relatively high Strouhal number (e.g., St=0.8). The downstream fish can benefit from the upstream one by slalom between the vortices rather than through them. For the upstream fish, the thrusts and efficiencies for all Strouhal numbers studied are higher than those for a single fish when the two fish are closely spaced, and approach those for a single fish as the spacing is increased.
In situ investigation of the liquid/solid interface of a block copolymer solution under shear stress using microbeam grazing-incidence small-angle x-ray scattering
Authors: Timmann Andreas , Roth Stephan Volkher , Fischer Steffen , Förster Stephan
Published: November 2007

An aqueous solution of poly(isoprene55-block-ethylene oxide170) was investigated at different temperatures combining rheometry in plate/plate-geometry and microbeam grazing incidence small-angle x-ray scattering. In the vicinity of the rotator plate, we were able to separate the bulk scattering of the solution from the grazing incident signal stemming of the interface and to determine a thickness of an interface layer at the liquid-solid interface. We followed the thickness of the interface layer in situ as a function of shear rate. This kind of measurements can be important to decide if the first micellar layer sicks or slips at the surface under shear.
Optofluidic tuning of photonic crystal band edge lasers
Authors: Bernal Arango Felipe , Christiansen Mads Brøkner , Gersborg-Hansen Morten , Kristensen Anders
Published: November 2007

We demonstrate optofluidic tuning of polymer photonic crystal band edge lasers with an imposed rectangular symmetry. The emission wavelength depends on both lattice constant and cladding refractive index. The emission wavelength is shown to change 1nm with a cladding refractive index change of 10−2. The rectangular symmetry modification alters the emission characteristics of the devices and the relative emission intensities along the symmetry axes depend on cladding refractive index, suggesting a sensor concept based on detection of intensity rather than wavelength.
Molecular beam synthesis and high temperature electrical properties of crystalline ceria thin films
Authors: Tsuchiya Masaru , Bojarczuk Nestor A. , Ramanathan Shriram
Published: November 2007

We report on molecular beam synthesis and high temperature electrical characterization of crystalline ceria thin films. It is found that CeO2 forms a mismatched interface with Al2O3 (0001) with the orientation relation of (111) CeO2‖(0001)Al2O3 and [110] CeO2‖[12¯10]Al2O3. The electrical conductivity was found to be 0.08S∕cm in air and independent of PO2 down to 10−16atm at 1058K. It is likely that the highly oriented nature of the film leads to altered electrical conductivity phenomena at lower oxygen partial pressures.
Line x tester analysis in sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum)
Authors: Tyagi A P , Lal P
Published: November 2007

Combining ability variances and effects were estimated for important agronomic and biochemical traits in sugarcane using line x tester mating design. Five commercially grown varieties and one line from germplasm collection were involved in this study of which three were used as females (lines) and three as males (testers). The six agronomic characters studied were number of millable stalk per stool, stalk diameter, stalk height, weight of millable stalk,
refroctometre brix and plant volume. The five bio-chemical characters studied include polatronic reading (pol), fibre, purity, brix and pure obtainable cane-sugar (POCS). Among the lines, Aiwa and Mana and among the testers Vatu and Mentor were found to be the best general combiners for most of the agronomic and bio-chemical characters. Four out of nine crosses namely Aiwa x Mentor, Kaba x Vatu, Kaba x Yasawa and Mana x Yasawa were found to be the best crosses.
Analysis of Variance for bio-chemical characters showed that only one character (% fibre) was significant. The line x tester interaction was not significant for any of the characters studied. Estimates of variance due to gca and sca and their ratio revealed predominantly non-additive gene action for these characters. Non-additive gene action can be exploited in F1 generation. Development of new hybrid varieties with improved agronomic and bio-chemical characters is therefore suggested.
Algal community composition within territories of the damselfish Stegastes nigricans (Pomacentridae, Labroidei) in Fiji and the Cook Islands
Authors: Zemke-White L W , Beatson E L
Published: November 2007

The species composition of algal assemblages inside territories of the damselfish Stegastes nigricans was examined from Nananu-i-ra Island, Fiji and Rarotonga, Cook Islands. A total of 32 algal species were identified, the majority of them Rhodophytes (24 species). Seven species were unique to Rarotonga, six were unique to Fiji, with the remaining 19 species recorded at both locations. The biodiversity of territories was similar at both locations. The red alga, Herposiphonia secunda, was the most abundant species found, comprising 40.33% � 3.51SE and 33.94% � 3.58SE from Rarotonga and Fiji respectively. Gelidiopsis intricata, Polysiphonia sp., Aglaothamnion cordatum, and various Cyanophytes were also abundant at both locations. As a group, filamentous algae accounted for 70.35% of the algae found within the territories
at all sites. We suggest that if S. nigricans are actively weeding their territories, they are selecting filamentous algae, and particularly Herposiphonia sp. and Polysiphonia sp.
The effect of varying ozone concentration on surface UV-B radiation: a Fiji perspective
Authors: Koshy K , Maata M , Samad A H Q , Sami G , Tabudravu J
Published: November 2007

Projects studying the effect of column ozone levels on UV-B radiation reaching the surface of the Earth as part of a wider global observation of vertical profiling were initiated by NASA/NOAA in the 1990s. A comparison of the changes in UV-B radiation as a function of ozone concentration revealed a negative correlation. We have shown for the first time in Fiji that a similar trend exists but with more scatter. Previous studies at this site (USP) have shown that the atmospheric
concentration of aerosols varies seasonally and this may have a bearing on the scatter of the results.
Elizabeth Miller: Sleuthing the details of the secretory pathway
Authors: Sedwick Caitlin
Published: November 2007

Liz Miller uses biochemistry and chemical and genetic screens in yeast to probe the mechanisms of intracellular protein transport.
Cofilin determines the migration behavior and turning frequency of metastatic cancer cells
Authors: Sidani Mazen , Wessels Deborah , Mouneimne Ghassan , Ghosh Mousumi , Goswami Sumanta , Sarmiento Corina , Wang Weigang , Kuhl Spencer , El-Sibai Mirvat , Backer Jonathan M. , Eddy Robert , Soll David , Condeelis John
Published: November 2007

We have investigated the effects of inhibiting the expression of cofilin to understand its role in protrusion dynamics in metastatic tumor cells, in particular. We show that the suppression of cofilin expression in MTLn3 cells (an apolar randomly moving amoeboid metastatic tumor cell) caused them to extend protrusions from only one pole, elongate, and move rectilinearly. This remarkable transformation was correlated with slower extension of fewer, more stable lamellipodia leading to a reduced turning frequency. Hence, the loss of cofilin caused an amoeboid tumor cell to assume a mesenchymal-type mode of movement. These phenotypes were correlated with the loss of uniform chemotactic sensitivity of the cell surface to EGF stimulation, demonstrating that to chemotax efficiently, a cell must be able to respond to chemotactic stimulation at any region on its surface. The changes in cell shape, directional migration, and turning frequency were related to the re-localization of Arp2/3 complex to one pole of the cell upon suppression of cofilin expression.