bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Increase in Alphaproteobacteria in association with a polychaete, Capitella sp. I, in the organically enriched sediment
Authors: Kunihiro Tadao , Takasu Hiroyuki , Miyazaki Tomoaki , Uramoto Yuuta , Kinoshita Kyoko , Yodnarasri Supaporn , Hama Daigo , Wada Minoru , Kogure Kazuhiro , Ohwada Kouichi , Tsutsumi Hiroaki
Published: May 2011

We conducted bioremediation experiments on the organically enriched sediment on the sea floor just below a fish farm, introducing artificially mass-cultured colonies of deposit-feeding polychaete, Capitella sp. I. To clarify the association between the Capitella and bacteria on the efficient decomposition of the organic matter in the sediment in the experiments, we tried to identify the bacteria that increased in the microbial community in the sediment with dense patches of the Capitella. The relationship between TOC and quinone content of the sediment as an indicator of the bacterial abundance was not clear, while a significant positive correlation was found between Capitella biomass and quinone content of the sediment. In particular, ubiquinone-10, which is present in members of the class Alphaproteobacteria, increased in the sediment with dense patches of the Capitella. We performed denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analyses to identify the alphaproteobacterial species in the sediment with dense patches of the worm, using two DGGE fragments obtained from the sediment samples and one fragment from the worm body. The sequences of these DGGE fragments were closely related to the specific members of the Roseobacter clade. In the associated system with the Capitella and the bacteria in the organically enriched sediment, the decomposition of the organic matter may proceed rapidly. It is very likely that the Capitella works as a promoter of bacteria in the organically enriched sediment, and feeds the increased bacteria as one of the main foods, while the bacteria decompose the organic matter in the sediment with the assistance of the Capitella.
MSTd Neurons Encode Nonlinear Combinations of Retinal and Extra-retinal Signals
Authors: Brostek Lukas
Published: May 2011

Neuronal activity in the dorsal Medial Superior Temporal area (MSTd) is assumed to depend on both retinal and extra-retinal input. Most of the neurons show activity when presented with a moving large-field visual stimulus. In addition, many MSTd neurons are activated during smooth pursuit eye movements even in the absence of retinal input. However, the interaction between the retinal and extra-retinal input is not yet fully understood.Here we present novel insights regarding the tuning of MSTd neurons for combinations of different input variables using an information-theoretic approach. Neuronal tuning functions can be expressed by the conditional probability of observing a spike given any combination of input variables. However, accurately determining such probabilistic tuning functions from experimental data poses several challenges such as determining the neuronal latencies and finding the combination of input variables which is most related to neuronal activity. Our approach solves these issues by maximizing the mutual information between the probability distributions of spike occurrence and input variables.We analyzed the dependence of MSTd neuronal activity in monkeys on various retinal and extra-retinal signals during presentation of a large-field visual stimulus moving randomly with quasi equally distributed frequencies (white noise). Across the population, neuronal activity depended on different combinations of retinal and extra-retinal input. The interrelation between the input variables exhibited in many cases strong non-linear characteristics. These findings support the hypothesis that MSTd uses a basis function representation for encoding various retinal and extra-retinal signals.
Follistatin and Follistatin Like‐3 Differentially Regulate Adiposity and Glucose Homeostasis
Authors: Brown Melissa L. , Bonomi Lara , Ungerleider Nathan , Zina Jessica , Kimura Fuminori , Mukherjee Abir , Sidis Yisrael , Schneyer Alan
Published: May 2011

Transforming growth factor‐β superfamily ligands, including activin and myostatin, modulate body composition, islet function, and glucose homeostasis. Their bioactivity is controlled by the antagonists follistatin (FST) and FST like‐3 (FSTL3). The hypothesis tested was that FST and FSTL3 have distinct roles in regulating body composition, glucose homeostasis, and islet function through regulation of activin and myostatin bioactivity. Three genetic mutant mouse lines were created. FSTL3 knockout (FSTL3 KO), a mouse line producing only the FST288 isoform (FST288‐only) and a double mutant (2xM) in which the lines were crossed. FST288‐only males were lighter that wild‐type (WT) littermates while FSTL3 KO and 2xM males had reduced perigonadal fat pad weights. However, only 2xM mice had increased whole body fat mass and decreased lean mass by quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR). Fasting glucose levels in FSTL3 WT and KO mice were lower than FST mice in younger animals but were higher in older mice. Serum insulin and pancreatic insulin content in 2xM mice was significantly elevated over other genotypes. Nevertheless, 2xM mice were relatively insulin resistant and glucose intolerant compared to FST288‐only and WT mice. Fractional islet area and proportion of β‐cells/islet were increased in FSTL3 KO and 2xM, but not FST288‐only mice. Despite their larger size, islets from FSTL3 KO and 2xM mice were not functionally enhanced compared to WT mice. These results demonstrate that body composition and glucose homeostasis are differentially regulated by FST and FSTL3 and that their combined loss is associated with increased fat mass and insulin resistance despite elevated insulin production.
Peripheral‐Specific Y2 Receptor Knockdown Protects Mice From High‐Fat Diet‐Induced Obesity
Authors: Shi Yan‐chuan , Lin Shu , Castillo Lesley , Aljanova Aygul , Enriquez Ronaldo F. , Nguyen Amy D. , Baldock Paul A. , Zhang Lei , Bijker Martijn S. , Macia Laurence , Yulyaningsih Ernie , Zhang Hui , Lau Jackie , Sainsbury Amanda , Herzog Herbert
Published: May 2011

Y2 receptors, particularly those in the brain, have been implicated in neuropeptide Y (NPY)‐mediated effects on energy homeostasis and bone mass. Recent evidence also indicates a role for Y2 receptors in peripheral tissues in this process by promoting adipose tissue accretion; however their effects on energy balance remain unclear. Here, we show that adult‐onset conditional knockdown of Y2 receptors predominantly in peripheral tissues results in protection against diet‐induced obesity accompanied by significantly reduced weight gain, marked reduction in adiposity and improvements in glucose tolerance without any adverse effect on lean mass or bone. These changes occur in association with significant increases in energy expenditure, respiratory exchange ratio, and physical activity and despite concurrent hyperphagia. On a chow diet, knockdown of peripheral Y2 receptors results in increased respiratory exchange ratio and physical activity with no effect on lean or bone mass, but decreases energy expenditure without effecting body weight or food intake. These results suggest that peripheral Y2 receptor signaling is critical in the regulation of oxidative fuel selection and physical activity and protects against the diet‐induced obesity. The lack of effects on bone mass seen in this model further indicates that bone mass is primarily controlled by non‐peripheral Y2 receptors. This study provides evidence that novel drugs that target peripheral rather than central Y2 receptors could provide benefits for the treatment of obesity and glucose intolerance without adverse effects on lean and bone mass, with the additional benefit of avoiding side effects often associated with pharmaceuticals that act on the central nervous system.
Prediction of good glass formers in the Al-Ni-La and Al-Ni-Gd systems using topological instability and electronegativity
Authors: Gargarella P. , de Oliveira M. F. , Kiminami C. S. , Pauly S. , Kühn U. , Bolfarini C. , Botta W. J. , Eckert J.
Published: May 2011

A new criterion has been recently proposed combining the topological instability (λ criterion) and the average electronegativity difference (Δe) among the elements of an alloy to predict and select new glass-forming compositions. In the present work, this criterion (λ.Δe) is applied to the Al-Ni-La and Al-Ni-Gd ternary systems and its predictability is validated using literature data for both systems and additionally, using own experimental data for the Al-La-Ni system. The compositions with a high λ.Δe value found in each ternary system exhibit a very good correlation with the glass-forming ability of different alloys as indicated by their supercooled liquid regions (ΔTx) and their critical casting thicknesses. In the case of the Al-La-Ni system, the alloy with the largest λ.Δe value, La56Al26.5Ni17.5, exhibits the highest glass-forming ability verified for this system. Therefore, the combined λ.Δe criterion is a simple and efficient tool to select new glass-forming compositions in Al-Ni-RE systems.
Numerical simulation and analysis of plasma turbulence the Large Plasma Device
Authors: Umansky M. V. , Popovich P. , Carter T. A. , Friedman B. , Nevins W. M.
Published: May 2011

Turbulence calculations with a 3D collisional fluid plasma model demonstrate qualitative and semi-quantitative similarity to experimental data in the Large Plasma Device [W. Gekelman et al., Rev. Sci. Inst. 62, 2875 (1991)], in particular for the temporal spectra, fluctuations amplitude, spatial correlation length, and radial particle flux. Several experimentally observed features of plasma turbulence are qualitatively reproduced, and quantitative agreement is achieved at the order-of-magnitude level. The calculated turbulence fluctuations have non-Gaussian characteristics, however the radial flux of plasma density is consistent with Bohm diffusion. Electric polarization of density blobs does not appear to play a significant role in the studied case. Turbulence spectra exhibit direct and inverse cascades in both azimuthal and axial wavenumbers and indicate coupling between the drift instability and Kelvin-Helmholtz mode.
Phase and group velocity matching for cumulative harmonic generation in Lamb waves
Authors: Matsuda Naoki , Biwa Shiro
Published: May 2011

Owing to the enhanced sensitivity of nonlinear acoustic methods to material damage, the nonlinear Lamb wave propagation is pertinent to the nondestructive evaluation of platelike structures, and it is typically manifested as generation of higher harmonics. For dispersive waves such as Lamb waves, however, the cumulative growth of harmonics requires that the primary mode and the generated higher harmonic modes possess identical phase and group velocities. In this paper, this issue of the phase and group velocity matching in Lamb waves is explored based on a systematic analysis of the Rayleigh-Lamb frequency equations. The analysis shows that for certain values of the phase velocity, the Rayleigh-Lamb frequency equations are satisfied at equi-spaced frequencies which are multiples of the smallest. Such frequencies, together with the corresponding phase velocities and the Lamb modes, are determined analytically. Four such types of Lamb modes are identified: (i) Lamé modes, (ii) symmetric modes with dominant longitudinal displacements, (iii) intersections of symmetric and antisymmetric modes and (iv) extra Rayleigh modes. For the first three types, it is also established that the primary and the harmonic modes have the same group velocity, and that the surface motion of the plate is featured with vanishing vertical or horizontal displacements. In contrast to these three types, the fourth type only exists for a special range of the transverse to longitudinal wave speeds of the solid. This type is not featured with a common group velocity, and neither of the vertical or horizontal displacement vanishes on the plate surfaces. The obtained results are summarized as tables, and demonstrated graphically on the dispersion curves for aluminum as well as iron plates.
Photocrosslinking of ferroelectric polymers and its application in three-dimensional memory arrays
Authors: van Breemen A. J. J. M. , van der Putten J. B. P. H. , Cai R. , Reimann K. , Marsman A. W. , Willard N. , de Leeuw D. M. , Gelinck G. H.
Published: May 2011

An I-line photolithography process for ferroelectric polymers is developed. It is based on photocrosslinking using a bisazide photoinitiator. Patterned layers were realized down to 1–2 μm resolution. Crosslinking yields a close-to-insoluble ferroelectric polymer network that counter intuitively has similar ferroelectric properties as a noncrosslinked film. The negative process is used to stack ferroelectric films on top of each other to make three-dimensional cross-bar arrays of nonvolatile ferroelectric capacitor memories.
On the transport coefficients of hydrogen in the inertial confinement fusion regime
Authors: Lambert Flavien , Recoules Vanina , Decoster Alain , Clérouin Jean , Desjarlais Michael
Published: May 2011

Ab initio molecular dynamics is used to compute the thermal and electrical conductivities of hydrogen from 10 to 160 g cm–3 and temperatures up to 800 eV, i.e., thermodynamical conditions relevant to inertial confinement fusion (ICF). The ionic structure is obtained using molecular dynamics simulations based on an orbital-free treatment for the electrons. The transport properties were computed using ab initio simulations in the DFT/LDA approximation. The thermal and electrical conductivities are evaluated using Kubo–Greenwood formulation. Particular attention is paid to the convergence of electronic transport properties with respect to the number of bands and atoms. These calculations are then used to check various analytical models (Hubbard’s, Lee–More’s and Ichimaru’s) widely used in hydrodynamics simulations of ICF capsule implosions. The Lorenz number, which is the ratio between thermal and electrical conductivities, is also computed and compared to the well-known Wiedemann–Franz law in different regimes ranging from the highly degenerate to the kinetic one. This allows us to deduce electrical conductivity from thermal conductivity for analytical model. We find that the coupling of Hubbard and Spitzer models gives a correct description of the behavior of electrical and thermal conductivities in the whole thermodynamic regime.
Positively charged manganese acceptor disclosed by photoluminescence spectra in an n-i-p-i-n heterostructure with a Mn-doped GaAs base
Authors: Shen C. , Wang L. G. , Zheng H. Z. , Zhu H. , Chen L. , Zhao J. H.
Published: May 2011

A type of manganese impurity center with two holes bound in it is disclosed in a lightly Mn-doped base layer of an n-i-p-i-n heterostructure. In addition to the intensively investigated (e, AMn0) peak, a photoluminescence (PL) peak appears at 820.3 nm under zero bias and is continuously shifted to 822.5 nm by negatively biasing the structure. Its circular polarization has the same polarity as PL (e, AMn0), and has a magnetic dependence fitted by a paramagnetic Brillouin function with S = 1/2 and g = 2.09. These observations are consistent with the physical picture that in the AMn+ center both the − 3/2 and the − 1/2 holes occupy the lowest 1S hydrogenic orbit with their spins parallel to each other and antiparallel to the 5/2 local spin of the 3d shell. This spin coupling picture in the AMn+ center has been confirmed by a modified numerical calculation based upon effective mass theory. The feature of the ability to tune the impurity level of the AMn+ center makes it attractive for optically and electrically manipulating local magnetic spins in semiconductors.
Device lifetime improvement of polymer-based bulk heterojunction solar cells by incorporating copper oxide layer at Al cathode
Authors: Wang Mingdong , Xie Fangyan , Xie Weiguang , Zheng Shizhao , Ke Ning , Chen Jian , Zhao Ni , Xu J. B.
Published: May 2011

Organic solar cells are commonly susceptible to degradation in air. We present that insertion of a thin layer of thermally evaporated copper oxide (CuOx) between the organic active layer and the Al cathode can greatly extend the lifetime of P3HT:PCBM based bulk heterojunction solar cells. The performance can be further improved by applying an interfacial bilayer of CuOx/LiF. Our results suggest that the CuOx functions not only as a charge transport layer but also as a protection layer, which prevents formation of thick organic-Al interdiffusion area. This leads to a more air-resistive cathode/organic interface.
Interplay of discharge and gas flow in atmospheric pressure plasma jets
Authors: Jiang Nan , Yang JingLong , He Feng , Cao Zexian
Published: May 2011

Interplay of discharge and gas flow in the atmospheric pressure plasma jets generated with three different discharge modes [N. Jiang, A. L. Ji, and Z. X. Cao, J. Appl. Phys. 106, 013308 (2009); N. Jiang, A. L. Ji, and Z. X. Cao, J. Appl. Phys. 108, 033302 (2010)] has been investigated by simultaneous photographing of both plasma plumes and gas flows in the ambient, with the former being visualized by using an optical schlieren system. Gas flow gains a forward momentum from discharge except for the case of overflow jets at smaller applied voltages. Larger applied voltage implies an elongated plasma jet only for single-electrode mode; for dielectric barrier discharge jet the plume length maximizes at a properly applied voltage. These findings can help understand the underlying processes, and are useful particularly for the economic operation of tiny helium plasma jets and jet arrays.
Drug injection into fat tissue with a laser based microjet injector
Authors: Han Tae-hee , Hah Jung-moo , Yoh Jack J.
Published: May 2011

We have investigated a new micro drug jet injector using laser pulse energy. An infrared laser beam of high energy (∼3 J/pulse) is focused inside a driving fluid in a small chamber. The pulse then induces various energy releasing processes, and generates fast microjets through a micronozzle. The elastic membrane of this system plays an important role in transferring mechanical pressure and protecting drug from heat release. In this paper, we offer the sequential images of microjet generation taken by a high speed camera as an evidence of the multiple injections via single pulse. Furthermore, we test the proposed system to penetrate soft animal tissues in order to evaluate its feasibility as an advanced transdermal drug delivery method.
Time-resolved resonant soft x-ray diffraction with free-electron lasers: Femtosecond dynamics across the Verwey transition in magnetite
Authors: Pontius N. , Kachel T. , Schüßler-Langeheine C. , Schlotter W. F. , Beye M. , Sorgenfrei F. , Chang C. F. , Föhlisch A. , Wurth W. , Metcalf P. , Leonov I. , Yaresko A. , Stojanovic N. , Berglund M. , Guerassimova N. , Düsterer S. , Redlin H. , Dürr H. A.
Published: May 2011

Resonant soft x-ray diffraction (RSXD) with femtosecond (fs) time resolution is a powerful tool for disentangling the interplay between different degrees of freedom in strongly correlated electron materials. It allows addressing the coupling of particular degrees of freedom upon an external selective perturbation, e.g., by an optical or infrared laser pulse. Here, we report a time-resolved RSXD experiment from the prototypical correlated electron material magnetite using soft x-ray pulses from the free-electron laser FLASH in Hamburg. We observe ultrafast melting of the charge-orbital order leading to the formation of a transient phase, which has not been observed in equilibrium.
Ambipolar copper phthalocyanine transistors with carbon nanotube array electrodes
Authors: Cicoira Fabio , Coppedé Nicola , Iannotta Salvatore , Martel Richard
Published: May 2011

We report on organic thin film transistors (OTFTs) based on copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) having electrodes consisting of isolated carbon nanotube (CNT) arrays embedded in the organic layer. CuPc OTFT with CNT array electrodes show p-type behavior with Ohmic hole injection, high hole mobility, and enhanced switching characteristics at low voltage. The p-type devices are converted to ambipolar OTFT by vacuum annealing. Despite the large offset between the CNT work function and the CuPc energy levels, electron injection characteristics are also Ohmic. The extension of CNT electrodes to the phthalocyanine family confirms the validity of this contact approach for organic electronic devices.
How the size distribution of magnetic nanoparticles determines their magnetic particle imaging performance
Authors: Eberbeck D. , Wiekhorst F. , Wagner S. , Trahms L.
Published: May 2011

Spatial and temporal resolution of magnetic particle imaging (MPI), a powerful technique for biomedical imaging, depends crucially on the magnetic properties of the magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) tracer. The authors establish the relation of the static and the dynamic magnetization behavior of various MNP preparations to their MPI performance. While MNPs with a mean diameter of 6 nm achieve only 0.2% of the theoretical maximum amplitude of the third harmonic (at 25 kA/m drive field strength), those with 19 nm diameter attain 57%. The good performance of Resovist, a clinically approved contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging, is explained by the presence of MNP aggregates.
Electron beam-induced nanopatterning of multilayer graphene and amorphous carbon films with metal layers
Authors: Rodríguez-Manzo Julio A. , Banhart Florian
Published: May 2011

Thin Co and Ni lamellae grow under electron irradiation of metal crystals supported on multilayer graphene or amorphous carbon films. The lateral growth of a lamella from a source crystal is achieved by directing an electron beam to the periphery of the metal crystal and moving the beam over the surrounding carbon. Patterns of linear, branched, or ringlike metal lamellae can be created. The patterning is carried out in situ in a transmission electron microscope, allowing simultaneous structuring and imaging. The process is driven by the metal-carbon interaction at a beam-activated carbon surface.
Local spin valve effect in lateral (Ga,Mn)As/GaAs spin Esaki diode devices
Authors: Ciorga M. , Wolf C. , Einwanger A. , Utz M. , Schuh D. , Weiss D.
Published: May 2011

We report here on a local spin valve effect observed unambiguously in lateral all-semiconductor all-electrical spin injection devices, employing p+ −(Ga,Mn)As/n+ −GaAs Esaki diode structures as spin aligning contacts. We discuss the observed local spin-valve signal as a result of the interplay between spin-transport-related contribution and the tunneling anisotropic magnetoresistance of the magnetic contacts. The magnitude of the spin-related magnetoresistance change is equal to 30 Ω which is twice the magnitude of the measured non-local signal.
Transmission of weed seed by livestock: a review
Authors: Hogan J. P. , Phillips C. J. C.
Published: May 2011

Weed seeds are readily translocated by livestock by attachment to their coat, by consumption or in vehicles used for transporting them. Livestock transport by land, sea and air is increasing worldwide, which together with increasing livestock production, is anticipated to escalate the risk of weed incursions and displace native flora. There is a particular risk of widespread weed seed dissemination in Australia with its extensive grazing practices and significant amounts of livestock movement. Consumption of weed seeds is largely dependent on grazing management practices, with lax grazing facilitating inflorescence production, the seeds of which may then be consumed if grazing pressure increases. Seed passage through the animal depends on the type of seed and animal intake and is typically 30–70 h. The germination rate of weed seeds is usually reduced by passage through the animal, but faeces in which seed is excreted also have the potential to provide nutrients and moisture to support the germinated plant. Seed viability is largely determined by the type of seed dormancy (particularly the permeability of the seed coat) and the species of livestock. It is concluded that weed seed transmission by livestock is a growing concern that requires addressing at local, national and international levels.
Effects of twin-bearing ewe nutritional treatments on ewe and lamb performance to weaning
Authors: Kenyon P. R. , Pain S. J. , Hutton P. G. , Jenkinson C. M. C. , Morris S. T. , Peterson S. W. , Blair H. T.
Published: May 2011

Nutrition of the ewe at various stages of pregnancy is known to affect ewe and offspring performance. However, little is known regarding the potential interactions among differing maternal nutrition regimens in early and mid–late pregnancy. The objective of the present study was to examine the effects and potential interactions of three pastoral nutritional treatments from Day 21 of pregnancy (P21) to P50 (Sub-maintenanceP21–50 (total liveweight change achieved, SMP21-50, –0.15 ± 0.02 kg/day) v. MaintenanceP21–50 (MP21-50,–0.02 ± 0.02 kg/day) v. Ad libitumP21–50 (AdP21-50,0.15 ± 0.02 kg/day) and two pastoral nutritional treatments from P50 to P139 [MaintenanceP50–139 (designed to match change in conceptus mass, total liveweight change achieved, 0.19 ± 0.01 kg/day) v. Ad libitumP50–139 (0.26 ± 0.01 kg/day)] on 382 twin-bearing ewes and their offspring until 91 days after the mid-point of lambing (L91). Ewe liveweight and condition scores in pregnancy and lactation, and lamb liveweights, indices of colostrum uptake and survival were recorded. There were no interactions between nutritional periods for lamb liveweight, apparent colostrum intake and survival, and ewe liveweight, condition score and total weight of lamb per ewe at the end of the study. At L91, ewe nutritional treatment during P21–50 or P50–139 had no effect on either ewe liveweight or body condition score. Ewe nutritional treatment during P21–50 had no effect on lamb birthweight. Lambs born to AdP50–139 ewes were lighter (P < 0.05) than those born to MP50–139 ewes (5.32 ± 0.04 v. 5.48 ± 0.04 kg, respectively). Ewe nutritional treatment during P21–50 or P50–139 had no (P > 0.05) effect on indices of colostrum uptake in lambs at 24–36 h of age. At L91, ewe nutritional treatment during P21–50 or P50–139 had no effect on lamb liveweight, survival or total weight of lamb per ewe. In conclusion, although considerable differences in ewe liveweight were observed during pregnancy, the nutritional treatments had no effect on the production parameters measured at the end of the study. These results indicate, first, that farmers can use early pregnancy as a period to control ewe nutrition when ewes are offered at least pregnancy maintenance levels of nutrition in the mid–late pregnancy period and, second, that there is no advantage from offering twin-bearing ewes a level of nutrition above their pregnancy maintenance requirements in mid–late pregnancy.
Effects of stall dimensions on the welfare of pregnant sows
Authors: Barnett J. L. , Hemsworth P. H. , Butler K. L. , Schirmer B. N. , Borg S. S. , Cronin G. M.
Published: May 2011

The welfare of sows in gestation accommodation, and in particular the use of gestation stalls, is a major issue of concern among the animal-welfare community and pig producers. The objective of the present experiment was to investigate the effects of width (0.6 m v. 0.75 m) and length (2.0 m v. 2.2 m v. 2.4 m) of gestation stalls, plus a tether-stall negative-control treatment, on sow welfare measured via parameters of behaviour, stress physiology, immunology and gait score. The research involved 56 multiparous sows, housed alongside 56 non-experimental sows that were included to facilitate measurement of social behaviour. Posture and social behaviour were recorded after 7 weeks in treatment and animals were surgically catheterised in Week 8 for blood sampling, to measure daytime profiles of cortisol concentrations and responses to an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) challenge. The cell-mediated immune response to a bean extract was examined in Week 9. Sows spent more time standing during 2 h in the morning in 0.75-m- than 0.6-m-wide stalls (P < 0.05). This effect was greatest in 2.0-m-long stalls. Although the angle of head turn by sows was greater in 0.75-m- than 0.6-m-wide stalls (P < 0.001), social interactions were unaffected by stall dimensions. Sows in 0.6-m-wide stalls had lower total (P < 0.01) and free (P < 0.001) cortisol concentrations, reduced responsiveness to ACTH (P < 0.05) and increased immunoresponsiveness (P < 0.05) than did the sows housed in 0.75-m-wide stalls. There was no effect of stall length on total cortisol concentrations; however, free cortisol concentrations were greater in 2.4-m than in both 2.0- and 2.2-m treatments (P < 0.05). Sows in 2.2-m-long stalls showed significantly lower responsiveness to ACTH (P < 0.01), and greater immunoresponsiveness (P < 0.05) than did the sows in 2.0- and 2.4-m-long stalls. There were no interactions between stall width and length. The results indicated lower stress responses in both 0.6-m-wide and to some extent in 2.2-m-long stalls. Although these effects are not intuitively obvious, it is suggested that within the stall dimensions studied, 0.6 m × 2.2 m stalls will minimise stress effects. The opportunity was taken in the present experiment to test the scientific validity of these welfare measures by examining how well the measures predict the welfare status of the animal. Tethers and stalls are expected to provide variation in the welfare status of sows due to variation in the level of restriction and it was found that for four of the six biological variables (basal free and total cortisol concentrations, cortisol response following ACTH injection and deteriorated gait), expected differences were detected for sows housed in stalls (0.6-m width, 2.0-m length) and tethers.
Interactive effects of vegetation, soil moisture and bulk density on depth of burning of thick organic soils
Authors: Benscoter B. W. , Thompson D. K. , Waddington J. M. , Flannigan M. D. , Wotton B. M. , de Groot W. J. , Turetsky M. R.
Published: May 2011

The boreal biome is characterised by extensive wildfires that frequently burn into the thick organic soils found in many forests and wetlands. Previous studies investigating surface fuel consumption generally have not accounted for variation in the properties of organic soils or how this affects the severity of fuel consumption. We experimentally altered soil moisture profiles of peat monoliths collected from several vegetation types common in boreal bogs and used laboratory burn tests to examine the effects of depth-dependent variation in bulk density and moisture on depth of fuel consumption. Depth of burning ranged from 1 to 17 cm, comparable with observations following natural wildfires. Individually, fuel bulk density and moisture were unreliable predictors of depth of burning. However, they demonstrated a cumulative influence on the thermodynamics of downward combustion propagation. By modifying Van Wagner’s surface fuel consumption model to account for stratigraphic changes in fuel conditions, we were able to accurately predict the maximum depth of fuel consumption for most of the laboratory burn tests. This modified model for predicting the depth of surface fuel consumption in boreal ecosystems may provide a useful framework for informing wildland fire management activities and guiding future development of operational fire behaviour and carbon emission models.
Fire danger estimation from MODIS Enhanced Vegetation Index data: application to Galicia region (north-west Spain)
Authors: Bisquert M. M. , Sánchez J. M. , Caselles V.
Published: May 2011

Galicia, in north-west Spain, is a region especially affected by devastating forest fires. The development of a fire danger prediction model adapted to this particular region is required. In this paper, we focus on changes in the condition of vegetation as an indicator of fire danger. The potential of the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) together with period-of-year to monitor vegetation changes in Galicia is shown. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), onboard the Terra satellite, was chosen for this study. A 6-year dataset of EVI images, from the product MOD13Q1 (16-day composites), together with fire data in a 10 × 10-km grid basis, were used. Logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between the percentage of fire activity and EVI variations together with period-of-year. The results show the ability of the model obtained to discriminate different levels of fire occurrence danger, with an estimation error of ~5%. This remote sensing technique may contribute to improving the efficiency of the currently used fire prevention systems.
Validation of remote sensing of burn severity in south-eastern US ecosystems
Authors: Picotte Joshua J. , Robertson Kevin M.
Published: May 2011

We assessed an existing method of remote sensing of wildland fire burn severity for its applicability in south-eastern USA vegetation types. This method uses Landsat satellite imagery to calculate the Normalised Burn Ratio (NBR) of reflectance bands sensitive to fire effects, and the change in NBR from pre- to post fire (dNBR) to estimate burn severity. To ground-truth ranges of NBR and dNBR that correspond to levels of burn severity, we measured severity using the Composite Burn Index at 731 locations stratified by plant community type, season of measurement, and time since fire. Best-fit curves relating Composite Burn Index to NBR or dNBR were used to determine reflectance value breakpoints that delimit levels of burn severity. Remotely estimated levels of burn severity within 3 months following fire had an average of 78% agreement with ground measurements using NBR and 75% agreement using dNBR. However, percentage agreement varied among habitat types and season of measurement, with either NBR or dNBR being advantageous under specific combinations of conditions. The results suggest this method will be useful for monitoring burned area and burn severity in south-eastern USA vegetation types if the provided recommendations and limitations are considered.
Reducing fuels in the wildland - urban interface: community perceptions of agency fuels treatments
Authors: Toman Eric , Stidham Melanie , Shindler Bruce , McCaffrey Sarah
Published: May 2011

Wildland fires and resulting effects have increased in recent years. Efforts are under way nationwide to proactively manage vegetative conditions to reduce the threat of wildland fires. Public support is critical to the successful implementation of fuels reduction programs, particularly at the wildland–urban interface. This study examines public acceptance of fuels treatments and influencing factors in five neighbourhoods in Oregon and Utah located adjacent to public lands. Support for treatment use was high across locations. Findings suggest citizen trust in agency managers to successfully implement treatment activities is particularly influential on treatment acceptance. Thus, building and maintaining trust with local citizens is an essential element in the successful implementation of fuel management programs.
A cluster of coregulated genes determines TGF-β–induced regulatory T-cell (Treg) dysfunction in NOD mice
Authors: D'Alise Anna Morena , Ergun Ayla , Hill Jonathan A. , Mathis Diane , Benoist Christophe
Published: May 2011

Foxp3
+
regulatory T cells (Tregs) originate in the thymus, but the Treg phenotype can also be induced in peripheral lymphoid organs or in vitro by stimulation of conventional CD4
+
T cells with IL-2 and TGF-β. There have been divergent reports on the suppressive capacity of these TGF-Treg cells. We find that TGF-Tregs derived from diabetes-prone NOD mice, although expressing normal Foxp3 levels, are uniquely defective in suppressive activity, whereas TGF-Tregs from control strains (B6g7) or ex vivo Tregs from NOD mice all function normally. Most Treg-typical transcripts were shared by NOD or B6g7 TGF-Tregs, except for a small group of differentially expressed genes, including genes relevant for suppressive activity (
Lrrc32
,
Ctla4
, and
Cd73
). Many of these transcripts form a coregulated cluster in a broader analysis of T-cell differentiation. The defect does not map to
idd3
or
idd5
regions. Whereas Treg cells from NOD mice are normal in spleen and lymph nodes, the NOD defect is observed in locations that have been tied to pathogenesis of diabetes (small intestine lamina propria and pancreatic lymph node). Thus, a genetic defect uniquely affects a specific Treg subpopulation in NOD mice, in a manner consistent with a role in determining diabetes susceptibility.
Observation of negative differential mobility and charge packet in polyethylene
Authors: Chen George , Zhao Junwei
Published: May 2011

Charge packet has been observed on many occasions but its physical mechanisms have never been properly understood. One of the models proposed by Lewis et al shows the presence of negative differential mobility with an electric field in semicrystalline polyethylene. In this paper we have observed the negative differential mobility using the transient space charge profile measured by the pulsed electroacoustic technique. By superimposing a short pulse voltage to a dc voltage, it is possible to obtain the velocity of holes at different applied fields. To the best of our knowledge we have for the first time observed negative differential mobility in polyethylene. This observation provides crucial evidence to support Lewis's model and allows one to simulate charge packet and its behaviours.
Multi-band and broadband acoustic metamaterial with resonant structures
Authors: Ding Chang-Lin , Zhao Xiao-Peng
Published: May 2011

We design an acoustic metamaterial (AM) with multi-band of negative modulus composed of different sized split hollow spheres (SHSs). From acoustic transmitted experiment, the AM exhibits simultaneously negative modulus at frequencies 914, 1298 and 1514 Hz. Based on the multi-band designed concept, broadband AM is fabricated by arraying gradually sized SHS. The transmission results indicate that this medium can achieve negative modulus at the frequency range from 900 to 1500 Hz. This kind of broadband AM is very convenient to couple with other structures to gain the double-negative AM.
Correlation of optical energy gap with the nearest neighbour short range order in amorphous V2O5 films
Authors: Dhawan Sahil , Vedeshwar Agnikumar G , Tandon R P
Published: May 2011

The optical and structural properties of well characterized vacuum-evaporated amorphous V2O5 films were studied in the thickness range 5–500 nm. The structural analyses show that V–O, O–O and V–V nearest neighbour distances defining the short range order vary nonlinearly with film thickness. The optical absorption shows thickness-dependent energy gap (E
g) and the nonlinear behaviour of thickness-dependent E
g is similar to that of nearest neighbour distance with film thickness. The E
g correlates linearly very well with all the three nearest neighbour distances. The variation of E
g with film thickness is attributed to the residual stress in the film which causes the changes in short range order. The change in E
g corresponding to the change in V–O distance was found to be 35 eV nm−1. This change is almost three times of that with V–V distance.
On the quantization of zero-weight super dynamical 𝑟-matrices
Authors: Karaali Gizem
Published: May 2011

Solutions of the classical dynamical Yang-Baxter equation on a Lie superalgebra are called super dynamical

r
r

-matrices. A super dynamical

r
r

-matrix

r
r

satisfies the zero weight condition if

[
h
⊗
1
+
1
⊗
h
,
r
(
λ
)
]
=
0
 for all 
h
∈

h

,
λ
∈

h

∗

.

\begin{equation*} [h\otimes 1 + 1 \otimes h, r(\lambda )] = 0 \text { for all } h \in \mathfrak {h}, \lambda \in \mathfrak {h}^*. \end{equation*}

In this paper we explicitly quantize zero-weight super dynamical

r
r

-matrices with zero coupling constant for the Lie superalgebra

g
l

(
m
,
n
)

\mathfrak {gl}(m,n)

. We also answer some questions about super dynamical

R
R

-matrices. In particular, we prove a classification theorem and offer some support for one particular interpretation of the super Hecke condition.
Increasing the gap between descriptional complexity and algorithmic probability
Authors: Day Adam
Published: May 2011

The coding theorem is a fundamental result of algorithmic information theory. A well-known theorem of Gács shows that the analog of the coding theorem fails for continuous sample spaces. This means that descriptional monotonic complexity does not coincide within an additive constant with the negative logarithm of algorithmic probability. Gács’s proof provided a lower bound on the difference between these values. He showed that for infinitely many finite binary strings, this difference was greater than a version of the inverse Ackermann function applied to string length. This paper establishes that this lower bound can be substantially improved. The inverse Ackermann function can be replaced with a function

O
(
log
⁡
(
log
⁡
(
x
)
)
)

O(\operatorname {log}(\operatorname {log}(x)))

. This shows that in continuous sample spaces, descriptional monotonic complexity and algorithmic probability are very different. While this proof builds on the original work by Gács, it does have a number of new features; in particular, the algorithm at the heart of the proof works on sets of strings as opposed to individual strings.
Queen pheromone regulates egg production in a termite
Authors: Yamamoto Yuuka , Matsuura Kenji
Published: May 2011

In social insects, resource allocation is a key factor that influences colony survival and growth. Optimal allocation to queens and brood is essential for maximum colony productivity, requiring colony members to have information on the total reproductive power in colonies. However, the mechanisms regulating egg production relative to the current labour force for brood care remain poorly known. Recently, a volatile chemical was identified as a termite queen pheromone that inhibits the differentiation of new neotenic reproductives (secondary reproductives developed from nymphs or workers) in
Reticulitermes speratus
. The same volatile chemical is also emitted by eggs. This queen pheromone would therefore be expected to act as an honest message of the reproductive power about queens. In this study, we examined how the queen pheromone influences the reproductive rate of queens in
R. speratus
. We compared the number of eggs produced by each queen between groups with and without exposure to artificial queen pheromone. Exposure to the pheromone resulted in a significant decrease in egg production in both single-queen and multiple-queen groups. This is the first report supporting the role of queen pheromones as a signal regulating colony-level egg production, using synthetically derived compounds in a termite.
The predatory behaviour of the thylacine: Tasmanian tiger or marsupial wolf?
Authors: Figueirido Borja , Janis Christine M.
Published: May 2011

The extinct thylacine (
Thylacinus cynocephalus
) and the extant grey wolf (
Canis lupus
) are textbook examples of convergence between marsupials and placentals. Craniodental studies confirm the thylacine's carnivorous diet, but little attention has been paid to its postcranial skeleton, which would confirm or refute rare eyewitness reports of a more ambushing predatory mode than the pack-hunting pursuit mode of wolves and other large canids. Here we show that thylacines had the elbow morphology typical of an ambush predator, and propose that the ‘Tasmanian tiger’ vernacular name might be more apt than the ‘marsupial wolf’. The ‘
niche overlap hypothesis
’ with dingoes (
Canis lupus dingo
) as a main cause of thylacine extinction in mainland Australia is discussed in the light of this new information.
Bayesian phylogenetic analysis supports an agricultural origin of Japonic languages
Authors: Lee Sean , Hasegawa Toshikazu
Published: May 2011

Languages, like genes, evolve by a process of descent with modification. This striking similarity between biological and linguistic evolution allows us to apply phylogenetic methods to explore how languages, as well as the people who speak them, are related to one another through evolutionary history. Language phylogenies constructed with lexical data have so far revealed population expansions of Austronesian, Indo-European and Bantu speakers. However, how robustly a phylogenetic approach can chart the history of language evolution and what language phylogenies reveal about human prehistory must be investigated more thoroughly on a global scale. Here we report a phylogeny of 59 Japonic languages and dialects. We used this phylogeny to estimate time depth of its root and compared it with the time suggested by an agricultural expansion scenario for Japanese origin. In agreement with the scenario, our results indicate that Japonic languages descended from a common ancestor approximately 2182 years ago. Together with archaeological and biological evidence, our results suggest that the first farmers of Japan had a profound impact on the origins of both people and languages. On a broader level, our results are consistent with a theory that agricultural expansion is the principal factor for shaping global linguistic diversity.
Pulmonary pathology of pandemic influenza A/H1N1 virus (2009)-infected ferrets upon longitudinal evaluation by computed tomography
Authors: Veldhuis Kroeze Edwin J. B. , van Amerongen Geert , Dijkshoorn Marcel L. , Simon James H. , de Waal Leon , Hartmann Ieneke J. C. , Krestin Gabriel P. , Kuiken Thijs , Osterhaus Albert D. M. E. , Stittelaar Koert J.
Published: May 2011

We investigated the development of pulmonary lesions in ferrets by means of computed tomography (CT) following infection with the 2009 pandemic A/H1N1 influenza virus and compared the scans with gross pathology, histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Ground-glass opacities observed by CT scanning in all infected lungs corresponded to areas of alveolar oedema at necropsy. These areas were most pronounced on day 3 and gradually decreased from days 4 to 7 post-infection. This pilot study shows that the non-invasive imaging procedure allows quantification and characterization of influenza-induced pulmonary lesions in living animals under biosafety level 3 conditions and can thus be used in pre-clinical pharmaceutical efficacy studies.
Multiple Roles of WIN3 in Regulating Disease Resistance, Cell Death, and Flowering Time in Arabidopsis
Authors: Wang Guan-Feng , Seabolt Savanna , Hamdoun Safae , Ng Gina , Park Jin , Lu Hua
Published: May 2011

The salicylic acid (SA) regulatory gene HOPW1-1-INTERACTING3 (WIN3) was previously shown to confer resistance to the biotrophic pathogen Pseudomonas syringae. Here, we report that WIN3 controls broad-spectrum disease resistance to the necrotrophic pathogen Botrytis cinerea and contributes to basal defense induced by flg22, a 22-amino acid peptide derived from the conserved region of bacterial flagellin proteins. Genetic analysis indicates that WIN3 acts additively with several known SA regulators, including PHYTOALEXIN DEFICIENT4, NONEXPRESSOR OF PR GENES1 (NPR1), and SA INDUCTION-DEFICIENT2, in regulating SA accumulation, cell death, and/or disease resistance in the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) mutant acd6-1. Interestingly, expression of WIN3 is also dependent on these SA regulators and can be activated by cell death, suggesting that WIN3-mediated signaling is interconnected with those derived from other SA regulators and cell death. Surprisingly, we found that WIN3 and NPR1 synergistically affect flowering time via influencing the expression of flowering regulatory genes FLOWERING LOCUS C and FLOWERING LOCUS T. Taken together, our data reveal that WIN3 represents a novel node in the SA signaling networks to regulate plant defense and flowering time. They also highlight that plant innate immunity and development are closely connected processes, precise regulation of which should be important for the fitness of plants.