bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Capillary electrophoresis of acidic oligosaccharides from human milk
Authors: Bao Yuanwu , Newburg David S.
Published: May 2008

Interest in defining the array of oligosaccharides of human milk has been increasing. Pathogens that bind glycans on their host mucosal surfaces may be inhibited by human milk oligosaccharides. It has been postulated that acidic oligosaccharides in human milk may inhibit binding by pathogens that bind acidic glycans in the gut, but testing this hypothesis requires their reliable quantification in milk. Sialyloligosaccharides of human milk have been quantified by HPLC and CE. A recent CE technique uses the MEKC mode with direct detection at 205 nm to resolve and quantify, in the native form, the 12 most dominant sialyloligosaccharides of human milk in a single 35‐min run. The method gives a linear response from 39 to 2500 μg/mL with a coefficient of variation between 2 to 9% and accuracy from 93 to 109%. This was used to detect variation in expression of specific sialyloligosaccharides in milk. Individual sialyloligosaccharide concentrations in milk differ among individual donors and between less and more mature milk. Thus, CE can be used to measure variation in sialyloligosaccharide expression in milk, and thereby test the relationship of this variation‐to‐variation in risk of specific diseases in breastfed infants.
A microfluidic study of mechanisms in the electrophoresis of supercoiled DNA
Authors: Manage Dammika P. , Imriskova‐Sosova Iveta , Glerum D. Moira , Backhouse Christopher J.
Published: May 2008

In this work, microfluidic chips were used to study the electrophoresis of supercoiled DNA (SC DNA) in agarose. This system allowed us to study the electrophoretic and trapping behaviours of SC DNA of various lengths, at various fields and separation distances. Near a critical electric field the DNA is trapped such that the concentration falls exponentially with distance. The trapping of such circular DNA has been explained in terms of the ‘lobster trap’ or ‘impalement’ model where shorter fibres become trapping sites at higher fields, leading to an ongoing (and gradual) increase in trapping with increasing field. By contrast, the present study suggests that under some circumstances the traps have a barrier such that only when the DNA has sufficient energy (at high enough fields) can it become trapped, leading to a sudden transition in behaviours at the critical field. We propose an ‘activated impalement’ mechanism of trapping in which only at sufficiently high fields is the SC DNA impaled and trapped for long times. The critical electric field appears to be inversely proportional to the length of the DNA molecule, suggesting that the force required to impale the SC DNA is constant.
Fumigant antifungal activity of plant essential oils and components from West Indian bay (Pimenta racemosa) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris) oils against two phytopathogenic fungi
Authors: Kim Junheon , Lee Yeon‐Suk , Lee Sang‐Gil , Shin Sang‐Chul , Park Il‐Kwon
Published: May 2008

Commercial plant essential oils obtained from 26 plant species were tested for their antifungal activity against Phytophthora cactorum and Cryponectria parasitica. Good antifungal activity against P. cactorum was achieved with the essential oil derived from thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and bay (Pimenta racemosa) at 28 × 10–3 mg/ml air concentration. Inhibition rates of bay and red thyme were 69.1% and 100%, respectively, at 28 × 10–3 mg/ml air concentration. In a test with C. parasitica, the inhibition rates of bay and red thyme oil were 75.2% and 100%, respectively, at 28 × 10–3 mg/ml air concentration. The inhibition rate of cade (Juniperus oxycedrus) essential oil was 63.0%, but other oils were ≤40%. Analysis by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry led to the identification of 17 and 20 compounds, respectively, in the oils of bay and red thyme. The antifungal activity of the identified compounds was tested individually using standard compounds. Phenol and alcohol compounds were generally more toxic than hydrocarbons. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Long-term outcome of human leukocyte antigen mismatching in liver transplantation: Results of the national institute of diabetes and digestive and kidney diseases liver transplantation database
Authors: Balan Vijayan , Ruppert Kris , Demetris Jake A. , Ledneva Tatiana , Duquesnoy Rene J. , Detre Katherine M. , Wei Yuling L. , Rakela Jorge , Schafer Daniel F. , Roberts John P. , Everhart James E. , Wiesner Russell H.
Published: May 2008

A perfect or nearly perfect human leukocyte antigen (HLA) match has been associated with better immediate and long-term survival of diseased donor kidney transplants. However, the effect of HLA matching for hepatic allografts remains poorly defined. Using data from the National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Liver Transplantation Database, we investigated the association between HLA mismatches and hepatic allograft survival, disease recurrence, and immunosuppression interactions. A, B, and DR loci were used to calculate total mismatch scores of 0 (no mismatches in any loci) to 6 (mismatches in all loci). Seven hundred ninety-nine adults (male, 55%; female, 45%) underwent 883 liver transplants. The 10-year graft survival according to total mismatch score was as follows: 0-2, 60%; 3-4, 54%; and 5-6, 57%. There was a negative effect of mismatching at the A locus on patient survival, with shorter survival for patients with 1 or 2 mismatches compared with 0 mismatches [

P

= 0.05, hazard ratio (HR) = 1.6]. Patients on tacrolimus with 1 or 2 mismatches at B or DR loci appeared to have increased rates of patient and graft survival compared to patients with 0 mismatches, with the appearance of a protective effect of tacrolimus (HR = 0.67). The effect of HLA mismatching was more pronounced on certain disease recurrences. DR-locus mismatch increased recurrence of autoimmune hepatitis (

P

= 0.01, HR = 4.2) and primary biliary cirrhosis (

P

= 0.04, HR = 2). Mismatch in the A locus was associated with more recurrence of hepatitis C virus (

P

= 0.01, HR = 1.6) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (

P

= 0.03, HR = 2.9).

Conclusion:

Mismatching at the A locus decreases patient survival in liver transplant recipients, and mismatching at the DR and A loci affects recurrence of autoimmune liver diseases and hepatitis C, respectively. (Hepatology 2008.)
Characteristics of leadership effectiveness: Implementing change and driving innovation in organizations
Authors: Gilley Ann , Dixon Pamela , Gilley Jerry W.
Published: May 2008

Research indicates that numerous variables impact a leader's effectiveness. In this study, the authors explore leadership effectiveness in driving change and innovation, along with the precursory skills necessary to do so. The findings confirm previously identified low rates of organizational success with change and point to skill deficiencies as a cause. Specifically, the abilities to communicate appropriately and motivate others significantly influence a leader's ability to effectively implement change and drive innovation.
3D reconstruction of high‐resolution STED microscope images
Authors: Punge Annedore , Rizzoli Silvio O. , Jahn Reinhard , Wildanger Jan Dominik , Meyer Lars , Schönle Andreas , Kastrup Lars , Hell Stefan W.
Published: May 2008

Tackling biological problems often involves the imaging and localization of cellular structures on the nanometer scale. Although optical super‐resolution below 100 nm can be readily attained with stimulated emission depletion (STED) and photoswitching microscopy methods, attaining an axial resolution <100 nm with focused light generally required the use of two lenses in a 4Pi configuration or exceptionally bright photochromic fluorophores. Here, we describe a simple technical solution for 3D nanoscopy of fixed samples: biological specimens are fluorescently labeled, embedded in a polymer resin, cut into thin sections, and then imaged via STED microscopy with nanoscale resolution. This approach allows a 3D image reconstruction with a resolution <80 nm in all directions using available state‐of‐the art STED microscopes. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Low‐voltage transmission electron microscopy reveals SV40 viral particles within secretory granules in pancreatic cells
Authors: Bendayan Moise , Gingras Diane , Ziv Ehud , Haviv Yosef S.
Published: May 2008

Novel approach in low voltage transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has revealed the presence of SV40 viral like particles in the secretory zymogen granules and in spherical membrane‐bound dense bodies of SV40 infected pancreatic cells. The presence of SV40 antigen in these cellular compartments was confirmed by immunocytochemistry of the VP1 antigen. Visualization of the viral particles was only possible by examining ultrathin tissue sections with low‐voltage TEM that significantly enhances imaging contrast. Results indicate that following infection of the cell entry and trafficking of the viral particles are present in unique cellular compartments such as ER, dense bodies, and secretory granules. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Glial architecture of the ghost shark (Callorhinchus milii, Holocephali, Chondrichthyes) as revealed by different immunohistochemical markers
Authors: Ari Csilla , Kálmán Mihály
Published: May 2008

This article presents the first study on the glial architecture of a representative species of Holocephali, Callorhinchus milii (ghost shark). Holocephali are a small subclass of Chondrichthyes, with only a few extant genera, and those are considered to have a brain organization more similar to squalomorph sharks than to galeomorph sharks, skates, and rays. Three different astroglial markers—glial fibrillary acidic protein, S‐100 protein, and glutamine synthetase (GS)—were investigated by immunohistochemical methods, applying both diaminobenzidine (DAB) and fluorescent techniques. They revealed similar glial structures, although most of them were detected by immunohistochemical reaction against GS and visualized by DAB. The predominant elements were radial ependymoglia spanning the area between the ventricular and meningeal surfaces, as in squalomorph sharks. Other similar features were the light appearance of myelinated neural tracts devoid of immunoreactivity, and the glial architecture of the reticular formation of the brain stem, cerebellum, and tectum, the latter with recognizable layers. The immunoreactivity of the vascular walls was similar; however, it is believed that different cell types form the blood–brain barrier in chimeras and in elasmobranchs. Some glial structures, however, resembled those of skates, rays, and galeomorph sharks. In C. milii astrocyte‐like elements were observed in the telencephalon, using GS and S‐100, although typical astrocyte‐rich regions were not found. In some areas, especially the telencephalon, not only endfeet but also cell bodies were observed to be attached to the meningeal surface, with processes extending into the brain substance. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 310B:504–519, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
N‐acetylcysteine prevents β‐amyloid toxicity by a stimulatory effect on p35/cyclin‐dependent kinase 5 activity in cultured cortical neurons
Authors: Hsiao Ya‐Hsin , Chen Po‐See , Yeh Shiu‐Hwa , Lin Chia‐Ho , Gean Po‐Wu
Published: May 2008

Although previous studies have indicated that the neuroprotective effect of N‐acetylcysteine (NAC) required activation of the Ras‐extracellular‐signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) pathway, the detailed mechanisms and signal cascades leading to activation ERK are not clear. In the present study, we investigated the effect of NAC on Aβ25–35‐induced neuronal death. Pretreatment of neurons with NAC 1 hr before application of Aβ prevented Aβ‐mediated cell death. NAC increased cyclin‐dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) phosphorylation, an effect that was blocked by Cdk5 inhibitor. The neuroprotective effect of NAC was significantly attenuated by Cdk5 inhibitors or in neurons transfected with Cdk5 or p35 small interfering RNA (siRNA). Conversely, pretreatment of neurons with the calpain inhibitors calpeptin or MDL28170 enhanced the neuroprotective effect of NAC. Aβ25–35 caused a significant decrease in the level of p35, with a concomitant increase in p25, which was completely prevented by NAC. This effect of NAC was blocked by the Cdk5 inhibitors roscovitine and butyrolactone. In addition, NAC increased Cdk5/p35 kinase activity but reduced Cdk5 kinase activity. Aβ25–35 treatment decreased phosphorylated levels of ERK, which could be reversed by NAC. The effect of NAC was completely blocked by Cdk5 inhibitors. NAC reversed the Aβ25–35–induced decrease in the expression of Bcl‐2, which could be blocked by the MAPK kinase (MEK) inhibitor or Cdk5 inhibitors. These results suggest that NAC‐mediated neuroprotection against Aβ toxicity is likely mediated by the p35/Cdk5‐ERKs‐Bcl‐2 signal pathway. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hoxa1 is required for the retinoic acid–induced differentiation of embryonic stem cells into neurons
Authors: Martinez‐Ceballos Eduardo , Gudas Lorraine J.
Published: May 2008

The ability of embryonic stem (ES) cells to differentiate into different cell fates has been extensively evaluated, and several protocols exist for the generation of various types of cells from mouse and human ES cells. We used a differentiation protocol that involves embryoid body formation and all‐trans‐retinoic acid (RA, 5 μM) treatment (EB/5 μM RA) to test the ability of Hoxa1 null ES cells to adopt a neuronal fate. Hoxa1−/− ES cells, when treated in this EB/5 μM RA protocol, failed to differentiate along a neural lineage; Hoxa1−/− ES cells express severalfold lower levels of many neuronal differentiation markers, including nestin, β‐tubulin III, and MAP2, and conversely, higher levels of endodermal differentiation markers (i.e., Sox17, Col4a1) than wild type (Wt) cells. Reintroduction of exogenous Hoxa1, under the control of the metallothionein I promoter, into Hoxa1−/− ES cells restored their capacity to generate neurons. Moreover, overexpression of Sox17, a gene that regulates endodermal differentiation, in Wt ES cells resulted in endodermal differentiation and in a complete abolition of β‐tubulin III expression. Thus, Hoxa1 activity is essential for the neuronal differentiation of ES cells in the presence of all‐trans‐RA, and Hoxa1 may promote neural differentiation by inhibiting Sox17 expression. Pharmacological manipulation of Hoxa1 levels may provide a method for promoting neuronal differentiation for therapeutic uses. Furthermore, because mutations in the Hoxa1 gene can cause autism spectrum disorder in humans, these data also provide important mechanistic insights into the early developmental processes that may result in this disorder. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Protective effects of erythropoietin on tau phosphorylation induced by β‐amyloid
Authors: Sun Zhi‐kun , Yang Hong‐Qi , Pan Jing , Zhen Hong , Wang Zhi‐Quan , Chen Sheng‐Di , Ding Jian‐Qing
Published: May 2008

Neuropathological studies have demonstrated that the presence of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) is one of the most prominent pathologic characteristics of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The microtubule‐associated protein tau is the major component of NFTs, and its abnormal hyperphosphorylation leads to the destabilization of microtubules, impaired axonal transport, and eventual death of the neurons. The hematopoietic cytokine erythropoietin (Epo) is now considered as a viable agent with regard to central nervous system injury in a variety of cellular systems. Here we report that Epo prevented tau hyperphosphorylation in SH‐SY5Y cells exposed to the β‐amyloid peptide and that this effect may depend on the PI3K/Akt‐GSK‐3β pathway. This study provides new molecular insight into the neuroprotective effect of Epo and suggests its possible therapeutic role in the management of AD. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Promoter hypermethylation‐mediated down‐regulation of CXCL12 in human astrocytoma
Authors: Zhou Wei , Jiang Zheng , Song Xianrang , Liu Yonglei , Wen Peie , Guo Yuan , Xu Fenghua , Kong Li , Zhang Pinliang , Han Anqin , Yu Jinming
Published: May 2008

It has recently been demonstrated that CXCL12 is absent in colonic carcinoma, and hypermethylation of CXCL12 contributes to CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling in carcinoma metastasis. However, the role of CXCL12/CXCR4 axis, especially CXCL12, in the regulation of tumor invasiveness is largely still unknown. Using real‐time quantitative RT‐PCR assays, we observed that CXCR4 expression increased with increasing WHO grade in astrocytoma, suggesting that CXCR4 may be a marker of aggressive biological behavior of astrocytoma. Methylation of CXCL12 was detected in 34.2% (26/76) of astrocytomas by methylation‐specific PCR. Epigenetic inactivation of CXCL12 was implicated mainly in low‐grade astrocytomas, via DNA hypermethylation by DNMT1, ‐3A, and ‐3B; 21.1% (16/76) of the astrocytomas showed reduced or lack of CXCL12 expression, in line with epigenetic silencing of gene transcripts. However, it is interesting to note that 61.8% (47/76) of tumors, mainly high‐grade astrocytomas, displayed elevated transcription of CXCL12. The expression levels of CXCL12 mRNA in glioblastomas (WHO grade IV) were significantly higher than in normal brain tissues. In summary, our data show that CXCL12 promoter hypermethylation is an early event in astrocytoma development. However, the high expressions of CXCR4 and CXCL12 in glioblastomas, the more invasive astrocytomas, suggest a different role of CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling axis in astrocytoma progression. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
GPi‐DBS in Huntington's disease: Results on motor function and cognition in a 72‐year‐old case
Authors: Fasano Alfonso , Mazzone Paolo , Piano Carla , Quaranta Davide , Soleti Francesco , Bentivoglio Anna Rita
Published: May 2008

Huntington's disease (HD) produces debilitating motor abnormalities that are poorly responsive to medical therapy. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the posteroventral globus pallidus internus (GPi) may offer a treatment option for patients with diskinetic phenotype and minimal cognitive impairment, but its role in the management of HD remains unclear and to date only two cases have been reported. We report the outcome of GPi‐DBS in a 72‐year‐old man with HD. Stimulation at 130 Hz caused a rapid amelioration of chorea producing the worsening of bradykinesia, whereas 40 Hz stimulation (maintaining constant the total electrical energy delivered) improved chorea while preserving the ability to walk. At 1‐year follow‐up, chorea has completely disappeared; however, the patient was unable to stand and walk. The cognitive profile showed a progressive deterioration, with an extension of deficit from the mainly dysexecutive alterations at baseline to a more diffused cognitive deterioration. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society
Predictors and course of health‐related quality of life in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Forsaa Elin Bjelland , Larsen Jan Petter , Wentzel‐Larsen Tore , Herlofson Karen , Alves Guido
Published: May 2008

We investigated how health related quality of life (HRQL) changes over time in a population‐based cohort of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), and which factors predict a lower level of HRQL in these patients. Of 227 patients with PD assessed at baseline and followed prospectively, information on HRQL‐status was obtained in 111 subjects 4 years and 82 patients 8 years after inclusion. HRQL was measured by the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP). Analyses were conducted using generalized estimating equation models. The NHP total score (P < 0.001) and scores in all NHP dimensions except for sleep worsened significantly during follow‐up. Steepest slope was found for the domain physical mobility (3.16, 95% CI 2.39–3.92), followed by the domains social isolation (2.22, 95% CI 1.52–2.93) and emotional reactions (1.36, 95% CI 0.74–1.97). In addition to follow‐up time, higher Hoehn and Yahr staging, higher Montgomery and Aasberg Depression Rating Scale scores, and presence of insomnia at baseline were associated with lower levels of overall HRQL during follow‐up. We conclude that PD has an increasing impact on HRQL as the disease progresses. During long‐term follow‐up, deterioration in physical mobility was the most important single factor contributing to decline in HRQL in our cohort, although distress of nonmotor character as a whole outweighed the impact of distress in physical mobility on overall HRQL. More advanced disease, higher severity of depressive symptoms, and presence of insomnia were found to be important and independent predictors of poor HRQL. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society
Privacy‐preserving secure relative localization in vehicular networks
Authors: Tang Lei , Hong Xiaoyan , Bradford Phillip G.
Published: May 2008

Relative location information helps build vehicle topology maps. Such maps provide location information of nearby vehicles to drivers. In building a vehicle topology, one must consider various attacks on vehicular networks. Also the localization system should protect the drivers' identity and make it difficult for the adversary to track vehicles. Many techniques have been proposed for relative positioning and location verification. Due to the high speed and the strict security requirements, the existing relative positioning and location verification techniques are not directly applicable to vehicular networks. Hence, we present a scheme called Privacy‐preserving Secure Relative Location Determination (P‐SRLD), which securely determines the relative locations of a set of wirelessly connected vehicles based on the relative locations of each vehicle's surrounding vehicles. P‐SRLD uses cryptographic keys to authenticate location messages and vehicle's cryptographic pseudonym to identify the vehicle to protect vehicle's driver's privacy. To defend against Sybil attacks, P‐SRLD employs registration and relative location message verification mechanisms. It defends wormhole and blackhole attacks by probabilistically monitoring losses of relative location messages. Analysis and simulation results show that P‐SRLD is lightweight and is resilient to Sybil, wormhole and some other attacks. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Coping strategies in chronic fatigue syndrome: outcomes over time
Authors: Johnson Susan K. , Gil‐Rivas Virginia , Schmaling Karen B.
Published: May 2008

This paper examined the contribution of coping strategies and neuroticism to longitudinal outcomes in a tertiary care sample of participants with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Coping strategies and neuroticism were assessed among 93 participants with CFS, and used to predict participants' illness‐related outcomes. Coping by instrumental support was the only strategy associated with clinical outcomes over time: more reliance on instrumental support predicted less vitality over time after accounting for the level of vitality at the index visit. Neuroticism and coping strategies were not associated with fatigue symptoms, physical functioning or role functioning over time. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Moderating effects of coping on the relationship between test anxiety and negative mood
Authors: Stowell Jeffrey R. , Tumminaro Tiffany , Attarwala Muffadal
Published: May 2008

We explored the moderating effect of exam‐related coping strategies on the relationships between test anxiety, negative mood and salivary cortisol. Fifty undergraduate students participated, with 29 in the academic examination group and 21 in the comparison group. Across groups, worry was associated with higher levels of negative mood before, during and after the exam or homework period. However, avoidance coping moderated this effect such that there was a strong positive relationship between worry and negative mood when avoidance coping was low, but not when avoidance coping has high. Negative mood on the day of the study correlated positively with the number of illness symptoms reported 3 days later. Our results suggest that coping strategies used to deal with academic examination stress dynamically moderate the effects of test anxiety on negative mood. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimizing Conditions for the Purification of Linoleic Acid from Sunflower Oil by Urea Complex Fractionation
Authors: Wu Mingyi , Ding Hui , Wang Song , Xu Shimin
Published: May 2008

The separation and purification of linoleic acid (LA) from sunflower seed oil by urea complex fractionation was studied. Crystallization reaction conditions of urea inclusion were optimized using the response surface method, and the optimal model was developed. Using the linear weighting method of the fitting model for optimization, the optimal balance between the purity and the recovery of LA was obtained. Under optimal conditions, the purity of LA was 87.8%, and the recovery was 83.4% at a urea‐to‐fatty acids ratio (w/w) of 0.94, 95% ethanol‐to‐urea (v/w) of 5.00, a crystallization temperature of 18.0 °C, and a crystallization time of 5.0 h. Verification results revealed that the predicted values from these models were reasonably close to the experimentally observed values.
Mental health of Dutch Peacekeeping Veterans 10-25 years after deployment
Authors: Klaassens Ellen R. , van Veen Tineke , Weerts Jos M.P. , Zitman Frans G.
Published: May 2008

Objective

This report describes the mental health of Dutch peacekeeping veterans, 10--25 years after deployment, and its association with deployment-related traumatic events.

Method

We randomly selected a group of 1046 peacekeeping veterans, who participated in military missions in Lebanon, former Yugoslavia, and various other missions between 1979 and 1997. We sent a questionnaire assessing current levels of psychological distress (Brief Symptom Inventory -- BSI), and a questionnaire assessing trauma related to deployment.

Results

Psychological data were available for 729 veterans. In 83% of the veterans, no significant psychological distress was found, whereas 17% scored above the BSI cut-off for psychopathology. Interestingly, this percentage was equal to that in a non-patient norm group.

Conclusion

From this finding we concluded that 10--25 years post-deployment, Dutch peacekeeping veterans do not show more psychological distress than the general Dutch population. In addition, we did not find a significant association between trauma exposure 10--25 years ago and current BSI scores. Moreover, trauma-exposure explained only 9% of the variance in psychological distress. Thus, although military peacekeeping operations may have a strong impact on the lives of soldiers, in this group of veterans they do not seem to have caused severe psychological distress10--25 years after deployment.
Neoclassical thermal conductivity in ICP plasma at low pressure
Authors: SMIRNOV A.P. , PARK W. , ISTOMIN YA.N. , KOSTOMAROV D.P. , SHEINA E.A. , SHMLEV A. B. , VOLYNETS V. N.
Published: May 2008

The plasma temperature in a new plasma source shows unusual behaviour at low pressures (about 1 mTorr) and high absorbed powers. In Ar plasma at pressures of about 1 mTorr, the electron temperature shows a pronounced maximum inside an electromagnetic accelerator, which is followed by a rapid drop at the boundary between the accelerator region and the main chamber. In this paper a neoclassical thermo-conductivity model based on the analysis of the electron trajectories is proposed to describe the sharp electron temperature profile. Quantitative agreement of the calculated temperature profile with the experiment is observed.
‘Our passion for legality’: international law and imperialism in late nineteenth-century Britain
Authors: SYLVEST CASPER
Published: May 2008

This article deploys a historical analysis of the relationship between law and imperialism to highlight questions about the character and role of international law in global politics. The involvement of two British international lawyers in practices of imperialism in Africa during the late nineteenth century is critically examined: the role of Travers Twiss (1809–1897) in the creation of the Congo Free State and John Westlake’s (1828–1913) support for the South African War. The analysis demonstrates the inescapably political character of international law and the dangers that follow from fusing a particular form of liberal moralism with notions of legal hierarchy. The historical cases raise ethico-political questions, the importance of which is only heightened by the character of contemporary world politics and the attention accorded to international law in recent years.
Leaving Nuremberg: America’s love/hate relationship with international law
Authors: BISHAI LINDA S.
Published: May 2008

The official US attitude towards the prosecution of crimes against humanity and war crimes changed dramatically from the universality of Nuremberg to the exceptionalism of the Rome Treaty negotiation. This article argues that the history of US legal thinking indicates that both stances are the result of a conceptual battle between legal realism and legal idealism – strains of international legal thought that pose a battle of opposites which is never fully resolved into a coherent approach. Although Nuremberg would seem to illustrate the idealist extreme and the abstention from Rome the realist one, in fact both stances were the culmination of intense negotiation and argumentation between the two strains of thought.
Introduction
Authors: Frith Simon , Cloonan Martin
Published: May 2008

This special issue of Popular Music has its origins in a seminar organised at the University of Stirling in 2004. This meeting, one of a series on cultural policy, brought together researchers from a number of European countries who were asked to describe state music policy in their respective countries and to reflect on what differences, if any, such policies had made to recent national music history. As the seminar’s organisers, we were interested in a couple of issues: first, how policy approaches to popular music had changed since it first began to appear on the European political agenda in the 1970s; second, how local political and cultural conditions had affected ideas of what popular music policy could or should be.
The state of rock: a history of Finland’s cultural policy and music export
Authors: Mäkelä Janne
Published: May 2008

The Finnish government has historically been active in regulating the practices of popular music. At the same time, the music industry, rock media and musicians have traditionally insisted on markets free from state intervention. This article focuses on the history of the interrelationship between cultural policy and popular music, especially rock exports, in Finland. It argues that the high level of organised forms of culture and the lure of internationalism form the historical basis for the nation-state–popular music relationship in Finland. Following the demands for ‘competitive society’ in the 1990s and the international breakthroughs of Finnish pop and rock music performers after 2000, this relationship has intensified. Contemporary policy is in many ways healthier than in the past, yet it also raises crucial questions about hierarchies and identity relationships in popular music and society.
‘Die perfekte Welle’: possible solutions to the crisis of the international music industry with the help of national language music
Authors: Wolther Irving
Published: May 2008

Is the proportion of German language music in total record sales in Germany a cause for optimism or for concern? This question is very difficult to answer as the national branch of the IFPI only supplies statistics on ‘national repertoire’ and not specifically on ‘national language repertoire’ – and even that covers music sung in any language, not only in German. Since the call for a music quota for radio stations lacks a precise definition (German or German language) there is some reason to suspect that the real aim behind this discussion is not to support German music culture but rather national economic interests. As a matter of fact, the average proportion of German language songs in the charts is currently the highest it has been in the last thirty years.

An analysis of the Top 20 in the national end-of-year charts of various European countries shows that the number of national language songs is generally increasing again after a substantial decline in the 1980s and 1990s. This is the case not only with record sales but also with airplay. This means that the increase cannot only be due to the massive drop in sales of international repertoire caused by file sharing on the Internet.
An update to a Saturnian longitude system based on kilometric radio emissions
Authors: Kurth W. S. , Averkamp T. F. , Gurnett D. A. , Groene J. B. , Lecacheux A.
Published: May 2008

The period of Saturn kilometric radiation modulation as determined by Voyager forms the basis for a longitude system (SLS) recognized by the International Astronomical Union. However, Ulysses and Cassini observations have shown that this modulation period varies by the order of one percent on timescales of a few years and, hence, does not represent the internal rotation period of the planet. A new longitude system was proposed based on ∼2 years of Cassini observations of the kilometric radio emissions and accounts for the variable radio period (SLS2) valid over the time interval from day 001, 2004 through day 240, 2006. Early uses of this longitude system have revealed a number of magnetospheric phenomena which appear to be locked to the radio period, such as variations in the external magnetic field, the plasma density in the inner magnetosphere, and enhanced intensities of energetic ions. Analysis of the radio emissions since the new system was proposed revealed that the radio period continued to evolve, even showing a second, shorter period at times. The subsolar longitude of the peak of Saturn kilometric radio emissions begins to deviate from that given by the SLS2 system almost immediately after the previous analysis interval. Here, we provide a definition for SLS3, an extension to the longitude system valid over the interval from day 001, 2004 through day 222, 2007 based on variable period radio emissions.
Effect of isostasy on dynamical ice sheet modeling: A case study for Eurasia
Authors: van den Berg J. , van de Wal R. S. W. , Milne G. A. , Oerlemans J.
Published: May 2008

Isostatic adjustment is an important process when modeling dynamical ice sheet evolution. A number of different types of Earth model are used to model this process, ranging from models with local or elastic lithospheres with a single relaxation time to account for temporal behavior to self‐gravitating spherically symmetric models of the crust‐mantle system. We performed sensitivity tests to assess the dynamical response of ice sheets to isostatic adjustment. The resulting ice sheet geometries depend on the response times of the system, including the growth rate of ice sheets versus the relaxation time of the Earth. Differences in lithospheric strength cause large differences in the modeled ice sheets, with the largest differences in isostatic adjustment in the vicinity of the ice margins. In addition, we compared predictions based on an often used flexural model with an elastic plate and a single relaxation time to a spherically symmetric self‐gravitating viscoelastic approach. No flexural model was able to reproduce the viscoelastic response completely, due to the fact that the models have an intrinsically different spatial and temporal response. When applied to a full transient glacial cycle in Eurasia, even the best fitting flexural model underestimated the ice volume at the LGM by 30 percent. Our results indicate that the commonly used value of 3000 years for the relaxation time in flexural models is too short for Eurasia by at least 3000 years.
Vertical deformation measurements on the submerged south flank of Kīlauea volcano, Hawai'i reveal seafloor motion associated with volcanic collapse
Authors: Phillips Kathleen A. , Chadwell C. David , Hildebrand John A.
Published: May 2008

A four‐year seafloor geodetic study was conducted to measure vertical deformation of the submerged south flank of Kīlauea volcano on the active Hilina slump. The Hilina slump is a site of significant deformation, major earthquakes with ground cracking and associated tsunami. A new technique was developed to measure vertical deformation on the seafloor using pressure sensors in campaign‐style surveys. The data revealed the midslope bench of the offshore slump is uplifting at 9.0 ± 2.4 cm/a, but transitions to no significant deformation on the outer bench and slump toe. Elastic half‐space inverse modeling of these data show that the observed deformation can be fit by seaward slip of 28.1 ± 7.3 cm/a extending from the East rift zone 27.0 ± 0.5 km on a gently island‐dipping decollement fault plane at a depth of approximately 7 km. Modeling suggests that the outer bench is not currently deforming. Because the majority of Kīlauea is submerged, these offshore measurements are necessary to constrain the seaward extent of fault slip and the motion of the outer bench.
Mercury concentrations and foliage/atmosphere fluxes in a maple forest ecosystem in Québec, Canada
Authors: Poissant Laurier , Pilote Martin , Yumvihoze Emmanuel , Lean David
Published: May 2008

This paper presents mercury (Hg) concentrations and foliage/atmosphere fluxes in a maple forest ecosystem in southern Québec, Canada. The average total gaseous mercury (TGM) concentration measured at an open field site was significantly (p < 0.001) higher than that measured at an adjacent maple forest site, some 300 m away (1.40 ng m−3 versus 1.03 ng m−3, respectively). Foliage/atmosphere flux of TGM, measured with a dynamic flux bag device, indicated an average deposition flux of 0.39 ± 0.38 ng m−2 h−1 in the maple tree foliage. Although, bi‐directional Hg fluxes were observed, the compensation point in the maple forest was low (∼0.6 ng m−3) explaining a net Hg deposition process at TGM background levels. Foliage mercury concentrations increased from 8.7 ± 1.5 ng g−1 to 30.8 ± 3.0 ng g−1 during the leaf‐growing season. The average Hg deposition flux was in a similar range to the Hg accumulation rate in the maple tree foliage assuming a foliage productivity rate of 220 g m−2 a−1 (i.e., 0.39 versus 0.55 ng m−2 h−1). Although significant Hg accumulated in foliage, its transport to non‐organic surface topsoil was not significant. When the uptake of mercury measured in this experiment was extrapolated to include all of the maple forest in North America (12.5 million ha), it amounted potentially to more than 600 kg of mercury per year. This represents approximately 0.5% of mercury emissions in Canada and the United States (approximately 120 metric tons).
Distributed energy balance modeling of South Cascade Glacier, Washington and assessment of model uncertainty
Authors: Anslow Faron S. , Hostetler Steven , Bidlake William R. , Clark Peter U.
Published: May 2008

We have developed a physically based, distributed surface energy balance model to simulate glacier mass balance under meteorological and climatological forcing. Here we apply the model to estimate summer ablation on South Cascade Glacier, Washington, for the 2004 and 2005 mass balance seasons. To arrive at optimal mass balance simulations, we investigate and quantify model uncertainty associated with selecting from a range of physical parameter values that are not commonly measured in glaciological mass balance field studies. We optimize the performance of the model by varying values for atmospheric transmissivity, the albedo of surrounding topography, precipitation‐elevation lapse rate, surface roughness for turbulent exchange of momentum, and snow albedo aging coefficient. Of these the snow aging parameter and precipitation lapse rates have the greatest influence on the modeled ablation. We examined model sensitivity to varying parameters by performing an additional 103 realizations with parameters randomly chosen over a ±5% range centered about the optimum values. The best fit suite of model parameters yielded a net balance of −1.69 ± 0.38 m water equivalent (WE) for the 2004 water year and −2.10 ± 0.30 m WE up to 11 September 2005. The 2004 result is within 3% of the measured value. These simulations account for 91% and 93% of the variance in measured ablation for the respective years.
First imaging of corotating interaction regions using the STEREO spacecraft
Authors: Rouillard A. P. , Davies J. A. , Forsyth R. J. , Rees A. , Davis C. J. , Harrison R. A. , Lockwood M. , Bewsher D. , Crothers S. R. , Eyles C. J. , Hapgood M. , Perry C. H.
Published: May 2008

Plasma parcels are observed propagating from the Sun out to the large coronal heights monitored by the Heliospheric Imagers (HI) instruments onboard the NASA STEREO spacecraft during September 2007. The source region of these out‐flowing parcels is found to corotate with the Sun and to be rooted near the western boundary of an equatorial coronal hole. These plasma enhancements evolve during their propagation through the HI cameras' fields of view and only becoming fully developed in the outer camera field of view. We provide evidence that HI is observing the formation of a Corotating Interaction Region (CIR) where fast solar wind from the equatorial coronal hole is interacting with the slow solar wind of the streamer belt located on the western edge of that coronal hole. A dense plasma parcel is also observed near the footpoint of the observed CIR at a distance less than 0.1AU from the Sun where fast wind would have not had time to catch up slow wind. We suggest that this low‐lying plasma enhancement is a plasma parcel which has been disconnected from a helmet streamer and subsequently becomes embedded inside the corotating interaction region.
Crucial structural role for the PH and C1 domains of the Vav1 exchange factor
Authors: Rapley Jonathan , Tybulewicz Victor L J , Rittinger Katrin
Published: May 2008

The Vav family of proteins are guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) for the Rho family of GTPases, which regulate various cellular functions, including T‐cell activation. They contain a catalytic Dbl homology (DH) domain that is invariably followed by a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain, which is often required for catalytic activity. Vav proteins are the first GEFs for which an additional C1 domain is required for full biological activity. Here, we present the structure of a Vav1 fragment comprising the DH–PH–C1 domains bound to Rac1. This structure shows that the PH and C1 domains form a single structural unit that packs against the carboxy‐terminal helix of the DH domain to stabilize its conformation and to promote nucleotide exchange. In contrast to previous reports, this structure shows that there are no direct contacts between the GTPase and C1 domain but instead suggests new mechanisms for the regulation of Vav1 activity.
Urban Growth Processes Joining Cellular Automata and Multiagent Systems. Part 1: Theory and Models
Authors: Vancheri Alberto , Giordano Paolo , Andrey Denise , Albeverio Sergio
Published: May 2008

A new modelling framework for the study of the dynamics of urban systems is proposed. We generalize the notion of cellular automaton, using continuous variables to describe the state of a cell. The time evolution is given by Poisson-distributed stochastic jumps corresponding to urban interactions, with intensities depending on the configuration of the system in a suitable set of neighbourhoods. These interactions result from decision processes of populations of cognitive agents modelled in the framework of fuzzy decision theory. The behaviour of agents is driven by goals and constraints, partially defined using a fuzzy logic formalization of a real estate appraisal method based on the evaluation of the attractiveness of a terrain for different land uses. Randomness of the dynamics is a consequence of the fuzziness of these decisions. Hence the model can be seen as a multiagent system with sound mathematical foundation. For example, the use of a continuum-valued state space enables us to prove that the expectation of state variables verify a system of differential equations, and thus to study the system from a dynamical systems theory perspective. In this paper we present the theoretical setting, leaving the applications to a second paper.
Sustainable Housing Design: Measurement, Motivation, and Management in Sutherland Shire, Sydney, Australia
Authors: Robinson Daniel , Edwards David
Published: May 2008

This paper reports on an in-depth study of the status of sustainable housing design (SHD), in Sutherland Shire, Sydney, Australia. The motives and attitudes of key stakeholders towards SHD were identified. Also investigated was the feasibility of an Ecological Sustainability Index (ESI) developed by Sutherland Shire Council, to assist as a tool for the assessment of residential developments. Residential surveys, reviews of development applications, and interviews with housing professionals all indicated that the status of environmentally sustainable housing in the area was inadequate and was not improving. Despite an overwhelming majority of people supporting the principles and goals of environmental sustainability this did not translate into practice in terms of SHD. This indicates that government education and financial incentives to include SHD features in new homes were not sufficient to affect significantly decisions made by stakeholders during the development process. The findings support the use of simple and flexible sustainability tools such as the ESI in this area, with obvious potential in broader contexts. This study suggests the need for initiatives such as an ESI to provide gradual cumulative environmental benefits towards sustainable cities in Australia and internationally, provided that they receive the necessary political will, and public and local government administrative support for sufficient implementation. The study also raises a wider agenda for interdisciplinary research into sustainable design indices.
VecGCA: A Vector-Based Geographic Cellular Automata Model Allowing Geometric Transformations of Objects
Authors: Moreno Niandry , Ménard André , Marceau Danielle J
Published: May 2008

Cellular automata (CA) can reproduce global patterns and behavior from local interactions of cells and they are used increasingly to simulate complex natural and human systems. Among their attributes are their computational simplicity and their explicit representation of space and time. However, the classic definition of CA limits their application to problems that involve a discrete space, and similar rules and neighborhoods for all cells. In addition, the standard raster-based CA model is sensitive to spatial scale. This paper presents a new vector-based geographic cellular automata model, called the VecGCA model, which defines space as a collection of irregular geographic objects. Each object has a geometric representation (a polygon) that evolves through time according to a transition function that depends on the influence of neighboring polygons. In this model, the neighborhood is defined as the region of influence on each geographic object, and the neighbors are all geographic objects located within the region of influence. An innovative aspect of the VecGCA model is that the procedure allows geometric transformation of objects. The area of a polygon (representing an object) is reduced in the region that is nearest to the neighbor that exerts an influence on it, and the area of that neighbor is increased accordingly. The proposed model was tested with real data and compared with a raster-based CA model to simulate land-use changes in an agroforested area in southern Quebec, Canada. The model was validated using two land-use maps, produced from satellite Landsat Thematic Mapper imagery, which were acquired in 1999 and 2002. The results obtained show that VecGCA can represent well the dynamics in the study area through an adequate evolution of the geometry of the geographic objects which are independent of the cell size, whereas, to generate similar outcomes in the raster-based CA model, a sensitivity analysis must be conducted to determine which cell size is needed. The geometric transformation procedure introduced in the VecGCA model executes the change of shape of a geographic object by changing its state in a portion of its surface, allowing a more realistic representation of the evolution of the landscape.