bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Feeding Larval Red Drum on Microparticulate Diets in a Closed Recirculating Water System1
Authors: Holt G. Joan
Published: April 2007

A feeding protocol was developed for red drum larvae based on combining a commercial microparticulate diet (Kyowa Fry Feed) with live prey (rotifers) in a closed, water reuse system. In five trials, growth and survival were measured on larvae reared on a combination of live and microdiet for 1–5 d and then microdiet alone. Results in each trial were compared to control larvae reared on live rotifers Brachionus plicatilis and brine shrimp nauplii Artemia salinas. The most satisfactory combination was feeding live food and microdiet together for the first five days and then completely discontinuing live prey, eliminating the need to feed brine shrimp to the larvae. Growth rates of larvae fed progressively larger sizes of the microdiet were as good as larvae reared on live prey. Both groups metamorphosed to the juvenile stage at less than one month. Survival rates on the five day live food and microdiet combination were a remarkable 60% from egg to the juvenile stage. The successful weaning of red drum to microdiets paves the way to produce a semipurified diet to test nutrient requirements of larval fish.
Improved Seed Production of Goldstriped Amberjack Seriola lalandi under Hatchery Conditions by Injection of Triiodothyronine (T3) to Broodstock Fish
Authors: Tachihara Katsunori , El‐Zibdeh Mohammad Khalil , Ishimatsu Atsushi , Tagawa Masatomo
Published: April 2007

Survival of the seed of goldstriped amberjack Seriola lalandi was consistently enhanced by intramuscular injection of triiodothyronine (T3) to the broodstock fish at a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight. Survival rates at the time of transfer to net cages (35 d after hatching) were 2.6–5.0% for the T3 treatment while only 0.3–2.1% for the control. Survival rates 36 mo after hatching was estimated to be 12 times higher in the T3‐treated group (1.1%) than in the control (0.09%). T3 concentration in newly spawned eggs increased from control levels of 0.3–1.0 ng/g to 68–127 ng/g 2 d after injection and subsided with successive spawns. T3 concentration in the treated larvae was about 360 times higher than in the control upon hatching (29 np/p vs 0.08 ng/g), but became indistinguishable from the control 6 d after hatching. These results indicate injection of T3 to the broodstock of S. lalndi to be of practical value in aquaculture of the species.
Artificial Propagation of Mutton Snapper Lutjanus analis, A New Candidate Marine Fish Species for Aquaculture
Authors: Watanabe Wade O. , Ellis Eileen P. , Ellis Simon C. , Chaves Juan , Manfredi Christine , Hagood Randolph W. , Sparsis Maria , Arneson Steven
Published: April 2007

Abstract Wild‐caught mutton snapper Lutjanus analis, a high‐value marine food fish species, matured in flow‐through seawater (36 g/L) tanks after 3 yr in captivity. On 31 May 1995, a female with a mean oocyte diameter of 382 μm was injected with human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) (500 IU/kg body wt.) followed 24 h later by a second injection (1,000 IU/kg body wt.). At the time of the second injection, three males were injected with HCG (500 IU/ kg body wt.). Voluntary spawning occurred 33 h after the first injection, with a total of 534, 781 eggs released. Fertilization rate was 75.7%, while average diameter of fertilized eggs was 783 μm. Embryos were stocked in a 30‐m3 outdoor tank at a density of 10.5/L. On day 2 post‐hatching (d2ph), larval density was 8.61 larvae/L, and average notochord length was 2.6 mm. Larvae were fed ss‐type rotifers from dl‐d28ph, Artemia nauplii from 0–08ph, and artificial diets (52–48% protein) from d24‐d38ph. On d38ph, fish averaged 0.308 g and 22.2 mm standard length. Survival (from d2ph) was 14.3%, with a total of 36,900 post‐metamorphic juveniles produced. On d97ph, 1,390 hatchery‐reared juveniles (avg. wt. = 10.5 g) were stocked into two 14.5‐m3 recirculating seawater tanks (695 fish/tank; 48 fish/m3) and fed a 56% protein pellet. After 168 d, fish averaged 140.8 g, with a survival rate of 97.8% and a feed conversion ratio (dry wt./wet wt.) of 1.2. These preliminary results reveal the mutton snapper to be a prime, new candidate species for commercial cultivation.
Spawning Frequency Analysis of Wild and Pond‐Reared Pacific White Shrimp Penaeus vannamei Broodstock under Large‐Scale Hatchery Conditions
Authors: Palacios Elena , Racolta Ilie S. , de la Paz Acuacultores
Published: April 2007

Second generation Penaeus vannamei broodstack, pond‐reared and wild populations, were compared for spawning frequency and several variables associated with reproductive performance. For this purpose, 470 pond‐reared and 237 wild‐caught individually tagged females were stocked with males of the same origin in ten maturation tanks in a commercial hatchery, and several productivity variables were recorded over time. Results of the analysis indicate that wild shrimp had higher mating and spawning frequencies compared to pond‐reared broodstock. The number of nauplii per spawn was higher for wild shrimp, but fertilization and hatching rates were higher for pond‐reared spawners. A larger proportion of nonmating females were found in pond‐reared shrimp; whereas, wild females had a higher potential for multiple matings. The spawn quality (fertilization and hatching rates, percentage of viable spawns, and number of nauplii) in consecutive matings did not decline substantially. The present study indicates that selection of females with multiple spawning capabilities can be an important commercial strategy to improve nauplii production over the short term. Pond‐reared broodstock can be an adequate source for applying this strategy because of their year‐round availability and an overall acceptable reproductive performance.
Comparison of Three Culture Methods for the Intensive Culture of Northern Quahog Seed, Mercenaria mercenaria
Authors: Pfeiffer Timothy J. , Rusch Kelly A.
Published: April 2007

A number of approaches have been utilized for growing bivalve hatchery seed (1 mm) to a size suitable for field planting (< 8 mm) but few have been directly compared. This study evaluated the growth and survival of northern quahog seed in three different culture systems and two different stocking densities. The three systems were: 1) a stacked‐tray unit with downward water flow; 2) traditional upweller culture units with water flowing upward without seed bed expansion; and 3) upweller culture units with water flowing upward at fluidization velocities to provide seed bed expansion. The two stocking densities were 1.0 and 3.0 g whole wet weight clam/cm2 respectively. During each trial period the seed clams were fed a 1% daily ration (% dry weight algae per wet weight clam per day) of the cultured diatom Chaetoceros muelleri. After 14 d of culture at the 1.0 g whole wet weight/cm2 stocking density, seed clams (4.4 ± 0.6 mm initial shell length) under fluidized‐flow condition exhibited better growth (0.54/d), and a greater final shell length (5.9 ± 1.0 mm). At the high density stocking conditions, after 28 d of culture, seed clams (4.2 ± 0.6 mm initial shell length) in the fluidized‐flow culture conditions again exhibited better growth rate (0.031/d) and a greater final shell length (6.0 ± 1.0 mm). The preliminary evaluation of fluidized‐flow for seed clam culture in land‐based nurseries indicates its potential as a suitable alternative to raceway, downwelling, or traditional forced‐flow culture methods.
Sediment Quality in Arkansas Bait Minnow Ponds
Authors: Tepe Yalcin , Boyd Claude E.
Published: April 2007

Sediment cores were collected from 7‐yr‐old, 20‐ to 25‐yr‐old, and 30‐ to 35‐yr‐old ponds at a bait minnow farm at Lonoke, Arkansas, USA. Average depths of soft sediment (S and M horizons) were 8 cm in young ponds, 12 em in intermediate‐age ponds, and 26 cm in old ponds. Organic carbon concentrations in sediment were low to moderate (1–2%) and carbon to nitrogen ratios were wide (20–50). Phosphorus and sulfur concentrations increased as ponds aged. Most of the phosphorus (78.9%) was in organic form, but sulfur was primarily inorganic in form (presumably iron sulfide). There appears to be two major problems associated with sediment accumulation over time. Deep, soft sediment interferes with pond management and especially with harvest. High phosphorus concentration in old sediment may contribute to dense phytoplankton blooms by supplying phosphorus to the water. Sodium nitrate treatment did not increase the rate of sediment organic matter decomposition in laboratory trials and would not be expected to enhance the degradation of sediment organic matter in ponds. The best method for improving the condition of bottoms in older bait minnow ponds probably is to remove the sediment.
Immune Response and Resistance to Stress and Edwardsiella ictaluri Challenge in Channel Catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, Fed Diets Containing Commercial Whole‐Cell Yeast or Yeast Subcomponents
Authors: Welker Thomas L. , Lim Chhorn , Yildirim‐Aksoy Mediha , Shelby Richard , Klesius Phillip H.
Published: March 2007

Dietary supplementation of yeast or yeast subcomponents (YYS) as commercial preparations of β‐glucan (MacroGard®; Biotec‐Mackzymal, Tromsø, Norway; and Betagard A®; Aqua‐In‐Tech, Inc., Seattle, WA, USA), mannan oligosaccharide (Bio‐Mos™ Aqua Grade; Alltech, Nicholasville, KY, USA), or whole‐cell Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Levucell SB20®; Lallemand Animal Nutrition, Milwaukee, WI, USA) at the manufacturer’s recommended levels was evaluated on the physiological performance of juvenile channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. Fish were fed YYS diets for 4 wk, followed by 2 wk of control diet. Fish were sampled at the end of each feeding period (4 and 6 wk) to measure hematological and immune parameters and growth and to determine the effects of dietary β‐glucan on resistance to Edwardsiella ictaluri infection and to low‐water stress (6 wk). Supplementation of YYS in diets did not affect growth performance, hematology, or immune function. Survival from E. ictaluri infection was from 5 to 17.5% higher in fish fed YYS diets than in the control group, but the increases were not significant. Some improvement in stress resistance was observed in YYS‐fed catfish after exposure to low‐water stress. Stress reduction in fish fed diets supplemented with yeast subcomponents has been reported previously, but thus far, no explanation has been proposed for this effect. The present study and the previously published research suggest that dietary YYS supplementation does not appear to improve resistance of channel catfish to E. ictaluri.
Effect of Daily Feeding Ratio on Growth and Body Composition of Subadult Olive Flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, Fed an Extruded Diet during the Summer Season
Authors: Cho Sung Hwoan , Lee Sang‐Mok , Park Byum Hee , Ji Sung Choon , Choi Cheol Young , Lee Jin Hwan , Kim Yi Cheong , Lee Jong Ha , Oh Sung‐Yong
Published: March 2007

A 10‐wk feeding trial to determine the effect of daily feeding ratio on growth and body composition of subadult olive flounder fed the extruded pellet (EP) was performed during the summer season. Thirteen flounder (an initial body weight of 319 g) per tank were distributed into fifteen 500‐L flow‐through tanks. Five treatments of feeding ratio in 5% decrement were prepared in triplicate: 100 (satiation), 95, 90, 85, and 80% of satiation. Fish in the control group (100% of satiation) were hand‐fed to apparent satiation twice a day. Then, feed allowance in the rest of the four groups was determined based on average feed consumption of fish in the control group. Weight gain of fish fed to 100% of satiation was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of fish fed to 85 and 80% of satiation but not significantly (P > 0.05) different from that of fish fed to 95 and 90% of satiation. Serum total protein, glucose, and glutamic pyruvic transaminase were not significantly (P > 0.05) affected by feeding ratio but triglyceride and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase were. In considering these results, it can be concluded that optimum daily feeding ratio for growth of subadult olive flounder seemed to be 90% of satiation when fish were fed the EP twice a day during the summer season.
Growout of Pacific White Shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei, Stocked into Production Ponds at Three Different Ages
Authors: Zelaya Oscar , Rouse David B. , Davis D. Allen
Published: March 2007

This study was designed to determine the production characteristics of the Pacific white shrimp,Litopenaeusvannamei,stocked into grow‐out ponds at three different sizes and ages. To meet this goal, three groups of postlarvae (PL) were obtained. The first group was placed in a nursery system for 21 d (N21), the second for 14 d (N14), and the third was stocked directly into ponds (DS). Shrimp from each nursery treatment (three tanks per treatment) were pooled and then subdivided for stocking into four replicate 0.1 ha ponds per treatment, another four ponds were stocked directly (DS) with PL8. All 12 ponds were stocked on the same day at a density of approximately 35 PL/m2, and cultured over a 16‐wk period and then drain harvested. After harvest, mean average weights (15.4, 16.9, and 14.9 g), survivals (63, 62, and 64%), FCRs (2.7, 2.5, and 2.7), and average yields (3592, 4005, and 3374 kg/ha) were determined for N21, N14, and DS, respectively. No significant (P > 0.05) differences were observed among treatments. Regardless of nursing time, nursed juveniles did not differ significantly in production characteristics from shrimp stocked directly from the hatchery.
Experimental Studies to Evaluate Larval Survival of the Fire Shrimp, Lysmata debelius, to the Juvenile Stage
Authors: Palmtag Matthew R. , Holt G. Joan
Published: March 2007

Many coral reefs are threatened because of anthropogenic impacts such as destructive fishing methods for marine ornamentals. The marine ornamental industry is currently almost completely dependent upon wild collections. The development of commercially feasible methods to culture ornamental species could help to reduce the need for wild‐collected specimens and reduce pressure on coral reefs. Advances in larval rearing and nutrition would help overcome the bottlenecks that impede the commercial production of many marine ornamental species. This article focuses on research for improving the production of the fire shrimp, Lysmata debelius. Experiments were performed with larval fire shrimp to evaluate (1) the importance of essential fatty acid enrichment of live prey (rotifers and Artemia) and (2) feeding penaeid shrimp muscle tissue to improve survival to metamorphosis. We also provide the fatty acid composition of Day‐1 posthatch fire shrimp larvae. The enrichment of live prey with docosahexaenoic acid did not improve larval growth, survival, or time to metamorphosis, but larvae fed live prey together with pureed penaeid shrimp muscle had survival rates of 9.8 ± 1.2%. The data and protocols developed in this study provide a foundation and baseline for future fire shrimp larval studies.
Gonadal Development and Differentiation in Cultured Juvenile Winter Flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus
Authors: Fairchild Elizabeth A. , Rennels Nathan , Howell W. Huntting , Wells Roger E.
Published: March 2007

Winter flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus, is currently being evaluated as a stock enhancement candidate in New Hampshire, USA; however, little is known about the gonadal development or the sex ratio of cultured juveniles. To determine the size at gonadal differentiation, 327 cultured fish ranging from <20 to 110 mm total length (TL), in 10‐mm‐TL size classes, were examined histologically. Gonads had differentiated into testes and ovaries in fish ≥41 mm TL (98%), whereas the majority of fish (81%) smaller than 40 mm TL possessed undifferentiated gonads. A total of 313 cultured fish >40 mm TL were analyzed for sex ratio. In 2003, 67 females and 164 males were identified, yielding a sex ratio that was significantly skewed toward male (χ2= 40.7, df = 1, P < 0.001). This trend held true when cultured fish were sorted by age and length, with the exception of those fish 61–70 mm TL. This aberration probably was because of a small sample size in this length category. However, in both the 2004 and the 2005 cultured populations, flounder sex did not deviate from a 1:1 ratio (2004 χ2= 0.12, df = 1, P= 0.724 and 2005 χ2= 0.02, df = 1, P= 0.881). The 2003 data suggest that environmental or genetic factors may affect winter flounder sex determination; rearing manipulation studies in the hatchery are needed to confirm this hypothesis.
Spawning of a Captive Population of California Sheephead, Semicossyphus pulcher
Authors: Jirsa Dave , Drawbridge Mark , Stuart Kevin
Published: March 2007

Abstract.— California sheephead are an important commercial and sport fish species in southern California. This study represents the first detailed description of spawning and patterns of egg production in a captive population of California sheephead. In March 2004, females ranged in size from 369 to 430 mm total length (TL) and weighed 0.8–1.5 kg. Males ranged in size from 475 to 510 mm TL and weighed 1.7–2.3 kg. Spawning began in April and continued daily through September and then sporadically through October. Egg production ranged from 1000 to 375,000 eggs/d, with an average of 130,000 eggs/d. Egg production peaked in May at 222,000 eggs/d and decreased throughout the remainder of the season. Total annual fecundity from this group was 1,942,000 eggs/kg female body weight. Egg viability ranged from 0 to 80% with an average of 50%. Viability showed a general increase at the beginning of the season and a decrease at the end of the season. Eggs were 0.9–1.0 mm in diameter and hatched in approximately 48 h at 18–19 C. Hatch rates showed a general decline throughout the season. This study shows that California sheephead will spawn readily in captivity providing thousands of viable eggs daily and lays the groundwork for culture of this species.
Effects of Dietary β‐1,3 Glucan and Feed Stimulants in Juvenile Olive Flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus
Authors: Yoo Gwangyeol , Lee Seunghyung , Kim Young Chul , Okorie Okorie E. , Park Gun Jun , Han Yong Ok , Choi Se‐Min , Kang Ju‐Chan , Sun Mihai , Bai Sungchul C.
Published: March 2007

Abstract.— The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of β‐1,3 glucan and a laboratory developed feed stimulant, BAISM, as feed additives for juvenile olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus. Eight experimental diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric and to contain 50.0% crude protein and 16.4 kJ of available energy/g with or without dietary β‐1,3 glucan and BAISM supplementation. β‐1,3 glucan (G) and BAISM (B) were provided at 0% in the control diet (G0B0) and at 0.05% G + 0.45% B (G0.05B0.45), 0.05% G + 0.95% B (G0.05B0.95), 0.1% G + 0.90% B (G0.1B0.9), 0.10% G + 1.90% B (G0.1B1.9), 0.15% G + 1.35% B (G0.15B1.35), 0.15% G + 2.85% B (G0.15B2.85), and 0.30% G + 2.70% B (G0.3B2.7) in experimental diets. After the feeding trial, fish fed G0.1B0.9, G0.1B1.9, and G0.15B1.35 diets had higher percent weight gain (WG), feed efficiency ratio (FER), specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), and condition factor (CF) than those fed G0B0, G0.05B0.45, G0.05B0.95, G0.15B2.85, and G0.3B2.7 diets (P < 0.05); however, there was no significant differences among fish fed G0.1B0.9, G0.1B1.9, and G0.15B1.35 diets. Fish fed G0.1B0.9 and G0.1B1.9 diets had higher chemiluminescent responses (CL) than those fed the other diets (P < 0.05). Lysozyme activity of fish fed G0.1B0.9 diet was significantly higher than that of fish fed the other diets (P < 0.05). These results indicated that the optimum dietary supplementation level of β‐1,3 glucan and BAISM could be approximately 0.10% β‐1,3 glucan + 0.90% BAISM (G0.1B0.9) of diet based on WG, FER, SGR, PER, CF, CL, and lysozyme activity in juvenile olive flounder, P. olivaceus.
Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Vitamins A, D3, E, and C on Yearling Rice Field Eel,Monopterus albus: Serum Indices, Gonad Development, and Metabolism of Calcium and Phosphorus
Authors: Tan Qingsong , He Ruiguo , Xie Shouqi , Xie Congxin , Zhang Shiping
Published: March 2007

Abstract.—The objective of this study was to determine the effect of dietary vitamins A, D3, E, and C on the gonad development, lipid peroxidation, and immune response of yearling rice field eel,Monopterus albus. A 6‐wk feeding trial was designed according to an L16(45) orthogonal design, in which four vitamins, each at four supplementation levels, were arranged. Sixteen diets were mixed with the different vitamin levels and randomly assigned to 16 groups of fish. Increasing dietary vitamin E supplementation level significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased the gonadosomatic index and lowered the serum content of malondialdehyde of rice field eel. Increasing dietary vitamin A and C levels also showed similar effect, but the differences were not statistically significant. Serum immunoglobulin M content increased significantly (P ≤ 0.01) as dietary vitamin C supplementation levels increased. The concentrations of calcium in bones showed significant (P ≤ 0.05) trend with vitamin D3and A supplementation levels, but the bone phosphorus content was not affected by the dietary vitamin levels.
Bilingual Language Processing
Authors: Desmet Timothy , Duyck Wouter
Published: March 2007

This article provides an overview of the psycholinguistic research concerning the processes and representations that bilinguals use while processing language. We review the lexical, semantic, and syntactic levels of bilingual processing. The main conclusion from this review is that the different languages of bilinguals strongly influence each other during processing. Therefore, we end with a brief overview of some recent research about how bilinguals are able to keep this interference under control. Throughout the review we will point towards promising future developments.
GENERATING LONG STREAMS OF 1/fα NOISE
Authors: PLASZCZYNSKI S.
Published: March 2007

We review existing methods for generating long streams of 1/fα noise (0 < α ≤ 2) focusing on the digital filtering of white noise. We detail the formalism to conceive an efficient 1/fα random number generator (white outside some bounds) in order to generate very long streams of noise without an exhaustive computer memory load. For α = 2 it is shown why the process is equivalent to a random-walk and can be obtained simply by a first order filtering of white noise. As soon as α<2 the problem becomes non linear and we show why the exact digital filtering method becomes inefficient. Instead, we work out the formalism of using several 1/f2 filters spaced logarithmically, to approximate the spectrum at the percent level. Finally, from work on logistic maps, we give hints on how to design generators with α > 2. The corresponding software is available from .
A MULTICRITERIA ANALYSIS ON THE STRATEGIES TO OPEN TAIWAN'S MOBILE VIRTUAL NETWORK OPERATORS SERVICES
Authors: FU GUEY LAN , YANG CHYAN , TZENG GWO HSHIUNG
Published: March 2007

This study investigates the trends followed by MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) in the last three years and analyzes the strategies that can contribute to the success of Taiwan's telecommunications industry and marketing. We apply the method and concept of PATTERN (Planning Assistance Through Technical Evaluation of Relevance Number) to establish relevant systems for searching out the key successful factors of strategies to attract MVNOs. We also use the fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) method for analyzing the different preference of a decision group in the criteria weights and for ranking the alternatives in a fuzzy environment in order to provide a strategy scheme. These results provide a reference to assist telecommunications operators, 3G license owners, potential MVNOs, and equipment manufacturers when working out business plans.
SUPPLY CHAIN COORDINATION WITH CONTRACTS GAME BETWEEN COMPLEMENTARY SUPPLIERS
Authors: DING DING , CHEN JIAN
Published: March 2007

This paper studies a supply chain consisting of two suppliers and an assembler who also acts as a retailer in a single period model. The suppliers provide complementary modules to the assembler and the latter assembles the final products and sells them to meet a stochastic demand. Each supplier can improve his performance by offering a return policy to the assembler while the best contract depends on that offered by the other supplier. We show that the non-cooperative contracts game between the firms has a unique and stable equilibrium in which the optimal return policies happen to fully coordinate the whole channel. Moreover, the suppliers still have the rights to negotiate with the assembler independently to share their profits properly. With such properties, the suppliers are encouraged to offer return policies to the assembler by following a simple rule derived from the favorable equilibrium, which will lead to a win-win-win situation.
FULL-RATE AND LOW-COMPLEXITY SPACE-TIME BLOCK CODING CONCATENATED WITH CHANNEL CODES
Authors: YU XIANGBIN , BI GUANGGUO
Published: March 2007

Space-time block (STB) coding has been an effective transmit diversity technique for combating fading recently. In this paper, a full-rate and low-complexity STB coding scheme with complex orthogonal design for multiple antennas is proposed, and turbo code is employed as channel coding to improve the proposed code scheme performance further. Compared with full-diversity multiple antennas STB coding schemes, the proposed scheme can implement full data rate, partial diversity and a smaller complexity, and has more spatial redundancy information. Moreover, using the proposed scheme can form efficient spatial interleaving, thus performance loss due to partial diversity is effectively compensated by the concatenation of turbo coding. Simulation results show that on the condition of the same system throughput and concatenation of turbo code, the proposed scheme has lower bit error rate (BER) than those low-rate and full-diversity multiple antennas STB coding schemes.
MANAGING EXPECTED RETURN OF INVESTORS: CONVERTIBLE BONDS IN CHINA
Authors: YANG RUYAN , MENG HUI , XU FENG
Published: March 2007

This article studies the market reaction surrounding the announcement of the convertible bonds issuance in Chinese market, and partly explains the difference of influence on underlying securities in mature market such as the US market and emerging market in China. Meanwhile, it reveals how insiders in Chinese market use convertible bonds as a tool to manage the expected return of external investors.
DESIGN A KNOWLEDGE-BASED SYSTEM TO AUTOMATICALLY ASSESS COMMERCIAL WEBSITES
Authors: LI XUE , HUANG WAYNE
Published: March 2007

From an information systems perspective, the assessment of commercial websites can be assessed objectively or subjectively. From a business point of view, they can be assessed quantitatively or qualitatively. This paper describes taxonomy of website assessment approaches and proposes a knowledge-based system approach to evaluate commercial websites effectively. Given a large number of constantly evolving commercial websites on the Internet, our approach shows an efficient way of automatic assessment of commercial websites.
DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
Authors: SHERIDAN DESMOND
Published: March 2007

The last century has witnessed groundbreaking advances in clinical medicine across the entire diagnostic and therapeutic range, but inequities in access to these advances and innovations continue to be a major challenge to our societies.

Innovations are often initiated by "eureka" moments of discovery, but realising their full potential depend on a process of continuous incremental innovation and interaction involving complex networks. When developing systems that reward, encourage, and sustain medical advances, policy makers must recognise four important factors. First, "incremental" and "continuous" innovation is as important as "breakthrough" innovation. Second, investment across the entire innovation process is needed. Third, the ability of physicians to work across a wide range of scientific fields at "the bench and bedside" is critical to continuous innovation. And fourth, final medical advance that can result from an initial discovery may not be obvious and only occur following interaction with experts and innovations in other fields.
DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION IN CANCER MEDICINE
Authors: SIKORA KAROL
Published: March 2007

Great strides have been made in the field of cancer medicine towards understanding the fundamental biology of cancers. Impressive treatments have emerged, resulting in markedly prolonged survival for many patients. These advances mean that, within the next 20 years, cancer could become a chronic disease rather than a death warrant. But that promise depends on sustained investment in innovation, and on society's willingness to pay for that innovation.

Realising this promise might be a problem for Europe where investment in medical science remains low compared to the United States which is driving global innovation in cancer technology (providing 55% of global funding for cancer although it only has 5% of the global cancer population) and where innovation is rewarded.

If Europe is to continue to play a leading role in cancer medicine, it needs greater investment in R&D with an environment that supports and rewards innovation.
INNOVATION MODELS IN THE BIOPHARMACEUTICAL SECTOR
Authors: ATTRIDGE JIM
Published: March 2007

The innovation process in the biopharmaceutical sector is influenced by long business cycles, multiple stakeholders and complex interactions. Early models of the innovation process are inadequate to capture the complexity of innovation in the life sciences sector. In particular, narrow classifications which describe innovations as "radical" or "incremental" are not particularly useful when considered in the context of the complex patterns of interrelated innovations observed in practice.

Many partial models of the innovation process which equate innovation to inventive research, patenting and product development fail to recognise that innovation is a cyclical and business-driven process and underscore the final phase of the innovation process, namely, achieving timely market diffusion and adoption of innovations to benefit patients and innovators. Innovation is sustained if it is appropriately rewarded. Investment in the science base alone without appropriate reward system for innovations is unlikely to promote renewed competitiveness in the European biopharmaceutical industry.
PRIME DIVISORS ARE POISSON DISTRIBUTED
Authors: GRANVILLE ANDREW
Published: March 2007

We show that the set of prime factors of almost all integers are "Poisson distributed", and that this remains true (appropriately formulated) even when we restrict the number of prime factors of the integer. Our results have inspired analogous results about the distribution of cycle lengths of permutations.
A POLYNOMIAL ANALOGUE TO THE STERN SEQUENCE
Authors: DILCHER KARL , STOLARSKY KENNETH B.
Published: March 2007

We extend the Stern sequence, sometimes also called Stern's diatomic sequence, to polynomials with coefficients 0 and 1 and derive various properties, including a generating function. A simple iteration for quotients of consecutive terms of the Stern sequence, recently obtained by Moshe Newman, is extended to this polynomial sequence. Finally we establish connections with Stirling numbers and Chebyshev polynomials, extending some results of Carlitz. In the process we also obtain some new results and new proofs for the classical Stern sequence.
CONGRUENCES FOR SUMS OF POWERS OF KLOOSTERMAN SUMS
Authors: CHOI H. TIMOTHY , EVANS RONALD
Published: March 2007

The nth power-moments Snof classical Kloosterman sums (mod p) are known explicitly only for n ≤ 6. In 2002, we conjectured formulas for Sn(mod 4) for each n > 1, valid for all primes p > n. Here we prove these formulas, and give conjectural congruences for Snmodulo some higher powers of 2 for a few small values of n. For example, we conjecture that if p ≡ 17 (mod 120), so that p = 3s2+ 5t2, then [Formula: see text]
SMOOTH NUMBERS IN SHORT INTERVALS
Authors: CROOT ERNIE
Published: March 2007

We show that for any ∊ > 0, there exists c > 0, such that for all x sufficiently large, there are x1/2 ( log x)- log 4 - o(1) integers [Formula: see text], all of whose prime factors are [Formula: see text].
A NEW CLASS OF MODULAR EQUATION FOR WEBER FUNCTIONS
Authors: HART WILLIAM B.
Published: March 2007

We describe the construction of a new type of modular equation for Weber functions. These bear some relationship to Weber's modular equations of the irrational kind. Numerous examples of these equations are explicitly computed. We also obtain some modular equations of the irrational kind which are not present in Weber's work.
COLLISION AND ENERGY TRANSFER BETWEEN C60 FULLERENES IN AN Ar-ATOMS-FILLED CARBON NANOPEAPOD
Authors: SHEN HAIJUN
Published: March 2007

This article has been retracted because it is an English translation of a Chinese paper that was published earlier, with some additional content in the later part. This is inappropriate and violates the scientific rule of anti-plagiarism. We regret that this was not detected before the article was accepted for publication in the journal.
FACILE SYNTHESIS OF COPPER NANOPARTICLE CHAINS
Authors: LIU JIN-KU , LU YI , HU XIAO-JUN , MU JIN
Published: March 2007

The copper nanoparticle chains have been synthesized through a self-assembly process with sodium polymethacylic acid as the template. The resulted nanoparticle chains were 0.8–1.5 μm long, and the composed nanoparticles were about 30 nm in diameter. The self-assembly formation mechanism has been proposed.
ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE OF FINITE-LENGTH CARBON NANOTUBES: CROSSOVER FROM FULLERENES TO NANOTUBES
Authors: OKADA SUSUMU
Published: March 2007

Finite-size effects in armchair (n,n) carbon nanotubes are studied as a function of the tube length by using the generalized tight-binding calculations. End structures of the tubes considered here are caps formed from hemispherical pieces of Ih fullerenes and hydrogen-free open ends. It has been clarified that the dimensionality in electronic structures of the finite-length nanotubes only depends on an aspect ratio of the tube diameter to the length of the cylindrical region. The aspect ratio where the finite-length tubes exhibit one-dimensional properties is found to be about four. The results corroborate that the nanotubes with their length of 10–100 nm experimentally observed could be regarded as one-dimensional electron systems.
THEORY–EXPERIMENT RELATIONSHIP OF THE "SHRINKING HOT GIANT" ROAD OF DYNAMIC FULLERENE SELF-ASSEMBLY IN HOT CARBON VAPOR
Authors: IRLE S. , ZHENG G. , WANG Z. , MOROKUMA K.
Published: March 2007

Though subject to intensive studies, the formation mechanism of buckminsterfullerene C 60 and related higher fullerenes has long evaded discovery. To elucidate their atomistic self-assembly mechanism, we have performed high-temperature quantum chemical molecular dynamics simulations on carbon vapor model systems initially consisting of C 2 molecules. Our simulations reveal a coherent mechanism how highly ordered fullerene cages naturally self-assemble under nonequilibrium conditions, following a series of irreversible processes from the polymerization of C 2 molecules to vibrationally excited giant fullerenes, which then shrink by C 2 evaporation down to the smallest spherical, isolated pentagon rule obeying species C 70 and C 60 as the smallest and kinetically most stable species of the shrinking process. We show that the potential energy surface associated with giant fullerene cage growth, measured by an average cluster curvature, is downhill all the way, and in agreement with high-level energetics from density functional theory. This fullerene formation mechanism is a good example of dynamic self-assembly leading to dissipative structures far from thermodynamic equilibrium, and the "shrinking hot giant" road provides a natural explanation for the observed cage size distributions in a random optimization process consistent with several important experimental observations.
GROWTH OF CARBON NANOTUBES IN ETCHED ION TRACKS IN SILICON OXIDE ON SILICON
Authors: BERDINSKY A. S. , ALEGAONKAR P. S. , LEE H. C. , JUNG J. S. , HAN J. H. , YOO J. B. , FINK D. , CHADDERTON L. T.
Published: March 2007

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were selectively grown in etched ion tracks in SiO 2 layers on Si . For this sake, Ni -catalyst nanocrystals were initially deposited within the ion tracks by galvanic deposition. The characteristics of plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD)- and thermal chemical vapor deposition (TCVD)-grown CNTs, such as structural details and length distribution, were investigated. In addition, field emission properties were studied. The analysis revealed that the emerging PECVD-grown CNTs were of cylindrical and/or conical shape and usually had diameters as large as the etched tracks. The exponential length distribution of these CNTs can be well understood by applying a simple defect-growth model. For contrast, many narrow and curled CNTs were found to cluster in spots well separated from each other, after applying TCVD instead of PECVD. The Raman investigations of PECVD-grown CNTs showed that Si – O – C and Si – C phases had formed during the growth of the CNTs. These ion-track-correlated PECVD-grown CNTs open the way for the production of novel 3D nanoelectronic devices based on the TEMPOS concept. These structures are also excellent candidates for experiments on channeling in CNTs. Application as field emitting devices, however, appears unfavorable due to poor mean-field enhancement factors and insufficient stability.
A Copper Ion Conducting Solid Electrolyte by Substitution of Silver in RbAg4 I 5
Authors: Scrosati Bruno
Published: March 2007

Abstract not Available.
A Theoretical Study of Bipolar Porous Electrodes
Authors: Alkire Richard
Published: March 2007

When electrical current passes through a porous metal diaphragm, the potential gradient in the electrolyte can serve to drive an electrochemical reaction provided that reactive species are present. One portion of the metal will act as an anode while the remainder will act as a cathode. A one‐dimensional model is presented for determining how the reaction rate distribution is affected by system parameters including charge‐transfer, resistance of the diaphragm, diffusion of solute species, and forced convection through the diaphragm. The results are presented in a series of dimensionless figures.
Thymulin gene therapy prevents the reduction in circulating gonadotropins induced by thymulin deficiency in mice
Authors: Goya Rodolfo G. , Reggiani Paula C. , Vesenbeckh Silvan M. , Pléau Jean M. , Sosa Yolanda E. , Cónsole Gloria M. , Schade Rüdiger , Henklein Peter , Dardenne Mireille
Published: March 2007

Integrity of the thymus during perinatal life is necessary for a proper maturation of the pituitary-gonadal axis in mice and other mammalian species. Thus congenitally athymic (nude) female mice show significantly reduced levels of circulating gonadotropins, a fact that seems to be causally related to a number of reproductive derangements described in these mutants. Interestingly, a number of in vitro studies suggest that the thymic peptide thymulin may be involved in thymus-pituitary communication. To determine the consequences of low serum thymulin in otherwise normal animals, we induced short (8 days)- and long (33 days)-term thymulin deficiency in C57BL/6 mice by neonatally injecting (intraperitoneally) an anti-thymulin serum and assessed their circulating gonadotropin levels at puberty and thereafter. Control mice received an irrelevant antiserum. Gonadotropins were measured by radioimmunoassay and thymulin by bioassay. Both long- and short-term serum thymulin immunoneutralization resulted in a significant reduction in the serum levels of gonadotropins at 33 and 45 days of age. Subsequently, we injected (intramuscularly) an adenoviral vector harboring a synthetic DNA sequence (5′-ATGCAAGCCAAATCTCAAGGTGGATCCAACTAGTAG-3′) encoding a biologically active analog of thymulin, methionine-FTS, in newborn nude mice (which are thymulin deficient) and measured circulating gonadotropin levels when the animals reached 52 days of age. It was observed that neonatal thymulin gene therapy in the athymic mice restored their serum thymulin levels and prevented the reduction in circulating gonadotropin levels that typically emerges in these mutants after puberty. Our results indicate that thymulin plays a relevant physiological role in the thymus-pituitary-gonadal axis.
Nutritional regulation of adipose tissue apolipoprotein E expression
Authors: Huang Zhi Hua , Luque Raul M. , Kineman Rhonda D. , Mazzone Theodore
Published: March 2007

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) is a multifunctional protein that is highly expressed in human and murine adipose tissue. Endogenous adipocyte apoE expression influences adipocyte triglyceride turnover and modulates the expression of genes involved in lipid synthesis and oxidation. We now demonstrate the regulation of adipose tissue apoE expression by nutritional status in lean and obese mice. Obesity induced by high-fat diet, or by hyperphagia in ob/ob mice, produces significant reduction of adipose tissue apoE expression at the protein and messenger RNA level. Fasting in C57BL/6J mice for 24 h significantly increased apoE protein and messenger RNA levels. In ob/ob mice, transplantation of adipose tissue from lean littermate controls to restore circulating leptin levels produced significant weight loss over 12 wk and also produced an increase in adipose tissue apoE expression. The increase in adipose tissue apoE expression in this model, however, did not require leptin. Adipose tissue apoE was also significantly increased in ob/ob mice after a 48-h fast or after 7 days of caloric restriction. In summary, obesity suppresses adipose tissue apoE expression, whereas fasting or weight loss increases it. From our previous observations, these changes in adipose tissue apoE expression will have significant impact on adipose tissue lipid flux and lipoprotein metabolism. Furthermore, these results suggest adipose tissue apoE participates in defending adipose tissue and organismal energy homeostasis in response to nutritional perturbation.
Melanocortin activation of nucleus of the solitary tract avoids anorectic tachyphylaxis and induces prolonged weight loss
Authors: Li Gang , Zhang Yi , Rodrigues Enda , Zheng DongHang , Matheny Michael , Cheng Kit-Yan , Scarpace Philip J.
Published: March 2007

To examine the role of the brain stem melanocortin system in long-term energy regulation, we assessed the effects of overproduction of proopiomelanocortin (POMC) in the caudal brain stem of F344xBN rats with adult-onset obesity. Recombinant adeno-associated viral vector encoding POMC gene was delivered to the nucleus of solitary tract (NTS) in the hindbrain, and food intake, body weight, glucose and fat metabolism, brown adipose tissue thermogenesis, and mRNA levels of neuropeptides and melanocortin receptors were assessed. POMC delivery resulted in sustained reduction in food intake and body weight over 42 days and improved insulin sensitivity. At death, in recombinant adeno-associated viral vector-POMC-treated rats vs. control rats, α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone in NTS increased nearly 21-fold, whereas hypothalamic α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone remained unchanged. Visceral adiposity decreased by 37%; tissue triglyeride content diminished by 26% and 47% in liver and muscle, respectively; serum triglyeride and nonesterified fatty acids were reduced by 35% and 34%, respectively; phosphorylation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase was elevated by 63% in soleus muscle; brown adipose tissue uncoupling protein 1 increased by 30%; and melanocortin 3 receptor expression declined by 60%, whereas neuropeptide Y, agouti-related protein, and MC4 receptor mRNA levels were unchanged in the NTS. In conclusion, POMC overexpression in the NTS produces a characteristic unabated hypophagia that is uniquely different from the anorexic tachyphylaxis following POMC overexpression in the hypothalamus. The sustained anorectic response may result from absence of compensatory elements in the NTS, such as increased agouti-related protein expression, suggesting melanocortin activation of the brain stem may be a viable strategy to alleviate obesity.
Suppression of PPAR-γ attenuates insulin-stimulated glucose uptake by affecting both GLUT1 and GLUT4 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes
Authors: Liao Wei , Nguyen M. T. Audrey , Yoshizaki Takeshi , Favelyukis Svetlana , Patsouris David , Imamura Takeshi , Verma Inder M. , Olefsky Jerrold M.
Published: March 2007

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) plays a critical role in regulating insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis. In this study, we identified highly efficient small interfering RNA (siRNA) sequences and used lentiviral short hairpin RNA and electroporation of siRNAs to deplete PPAR-γ from 3T3-L1 adipocytes to elucidate its role in adipogenesis and insulin signaling. We show that PPAR-γ knockdown prevented adipocyte differentiation but was not required for maintenance of the adipocyte differentiation state after the cells had undergone adipogenesis. We further demonstrate that PPAR-γ suppression reduced insulin-stimulated glucose uptake without affecting the early insulin signaling steps in the adipocytes. Using dual siRNA strategies, we show that this effect of PPAR-γ deletion was mediated by both GLUT4 and GLUT1. Interestingly, PPAR-γ-depleted cells displayed enhanced inflammatory responses to TNF-α stimulation, consistent with a chronic anti-inflammatory effect of endogenous PPAR-γ. In summary, 1) PPAR-γ is essential for the process of adipocyte differentiation but is less necessary for maintenance of the differentiated state, 2) PPAR-γ supports normal insulin-stimulated glucose transport, and 3) endogenous PPAR-γ may play a role in suppression of the inflammatory pathway in 3T3-L1 cells.
Hormonal status affects the progression of STZ-induced diabetes and diabetic renal damage in the VCD mouse model of menopause
Authors: Keck Maggie , Romero-Aleshire Melissa J. , Cai Qi , Hoyer Patricia B. , Brooks Heddwen L.
Published: March 2007

Changes in the estrogen/testosterone balance at menopause may negatively influence the development of diabetic kidney disease. Furthermore, recent studies suggest that changes in hormone levels during perimenopause may influence disease development. Injection of 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD) in B6C3F1mice induces gradual ovarian failure, preserving both the perimenopausal (peri-ovarian failure) and menopausal (post-ovarian failure) periods. To address the impact of the transition into menopause on the development of diabetes and diabetic kidney damage, we used streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in the VCD model of menopause. After 6 wk of STZ-induced diabetes, blood glucose was significantly increased in post-ovarian failure (post-OF) diabetic mice compared with cycling diabetic mice. In peri-ovarian failure (peri-OF) diabetic mice, blood glucose levels trended higher but were not significantly different from cycling diabetic mice, suggesting a continuum of worsening blood glucose across the menopausal transition. Cell proliferation, an early marker of damage in the kidney, was increased in post-OF diabetic mice compared with cycling diabetic mice, as measured by PCNA immunohistochemistry. In post-OF diabetic mice, mRNA abundance of early growth response-1 (Egr-1), collagen-4α1, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 were increased and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 4 (3β-HSD4) and transforming growth factor-β2(TGF-β2) were decreased compared with cycling diabetic mice. In peri-OF diabetic mice, mRNA abundance of Egr-1 and 3β-HSD4 were increased, and TGF-β2was decreased compared with cycling diabetic mice. This study highlights the importance and utility of the VCD model of menopause, as it provides a physiologically relevant system for determining the impact of the menopausal transition on diabetes and diabetic kidney damage.