bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sex-biased dispersal promotes adaptive parental effects
Authors: Revardel Emmanuelle , Franc Alain , Petit Rémy J
Published: July 2010

Background

In heterogeneous environments, sex-biased dispersal could lead to environmental adaptive parental effects, with offspring selected to perform in the same way as the parent dispersing least, because this parent is more likely to be locally adapted. We investigate this hypothesis by simulating varying levels of sex-biased dispersal in a patchy environment. The relative advantage of a strategy involving pure maternal (or paternal) inheritance is then compared with a strategy involving classical biparental inheritance in plants and in animals.

Results

We find that the advantage of the uniparental strategy over the biparental strategy is maximal when dispersal is more strongly sex-biased and when dispersal distances of the least mobile sex are much lower than the size of the environmental patches. In plants, only maternal effects can be selected for, in contrast to animals where the evolution of either paternal or maternal effects can be favoured. Moreover, the conditions for environmental adaptive maternal effects to be selected for are more easily fulfilled in plants than in animals.

Conclusions

The study suggests that sex-biased dispersal can help predict the direction and magnitude of environmental adaptive parental effects. However, this depends on the scale of dispersal relative to that of the environment and on the existence of appropriate mechanisms of transmission of environmentally induced traits.
Fathead minnow steroidogenesis: in silico analyses reveals tradeoffs between nominal target efficacy and robustness to cross-talk
Authors: Shoemaker Jason E , Gayen Kalyan , Garcia-Reyero Natàlia , Perkins Edward J , Villeneuve Daniel L , Liu Li , Doyle Francis J
Published: July 2010

Background

Interpreting proteomic and genomic data is a major challenge in predictive ecotoxicology that can be addressed by a systems biology approach. Mathematical modeling provides an organizational platform to consolidate protein dynamics with possible genomic regulation. Here, a model of ovarian steroidogenesis in the fathead minnow,Pimephales promelas, (FHM) is developed to evaluate possible transcriptional regulation of steroid production observed in microarray studies.

Results

The model was developed from literature sources, integrating key signaling components (G-protein and PKA activation) with their ensuing effect on steroid production. The model properly predicted trajectory behavior of estradiol and testosterone when fish were exposed to fadrozole, a specific aromatase inhibitor, but failed to predict the steroid hormone behavior occurring one week post-exposure as well as the increase in steroid levels when the stressor was removed. In vivo microarray data implicated three modes of regulation which may account for over-production of steroids during a depuration phase (when the stressor is removed): P450 enzyme up-regulation, inhibin down-regulation, and luteinizing hormone receptor up-regulation. Simulation studies and sensitivity analysis were used to evaluate each case as possible source of compensation to endocrine stress.

Conclusions

Simulation studies of the testosterone and estradiol response to regulation observed in microarray data supported the hypothesis that the FHM steroidogenesis network compensated for endocrine stress by modulating the sensitivity of the ovarian network to global cues coming from the hypothalamus and pituitary. Model predictions of luteinizing hormone receptor regulation were consistent with depuration and in vitro data. These results challenge the traditional approach to network elucidation in systems biology. Generally, the most sensitive interactions in a network are targeted for further elucidation but microarray evidence shows that homeostatic regulation of the steroidogenic network is likely maintained by a mildly sensitive interaction. We hypothesize that effective network elucidation must consider both the sensitivity of the target as well as the target's robustness to biological noise (in this case, to cross-talk) when identifying possible points of regulation.
Identification of protein-coding and non-coding RNA expression profiles in CD34+and in stromal cells in refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts
Authors: Baratti Mariana O , Moreira Yuri B , Traina Fabiola , Costa Fernando F , Verjovski-Almeida Sergio , Olalla-Saad Sara T
Published: July 2010

Background

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of clonal hematological disorders characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis with morphological evidence of marrow cell dysplasia resulting in peripheral blood cytopenia. Microarray technology has permitted a refined high-throughput mapping of the transcriptional activity in the human genome. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) transcribed from intronic regions of genes are involved in a number of processes related to post-transcriptional control of gene expression, and in the regulation of exon-skipping and intron retention. Characterization of ncRNAs in progenitor cells and stromal cells of MDS patients could be strategic for understanding gene expression regulation in this disease.

Methods

In this study, gene expression profiles of CD34+ cells of 4 patients with MDS of refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts (RARS) subgroup and stromal cells of 3 patients with MDS-RARS were compared with healthy individuals using 44 k combined intron-exon oligoarrays, which included probes for exons of protein-coding genes, and for non-coding RNAs transcribed from intronic regions in either the sense or antisense strands. Real-time RT-PCR was performed to confirm the expression levels of selected transcripts.

Results

In CD34+ cells of MDS-RARS patients, 216 genes were significantly differentially expressed (q-value ≤ 0.01) in comparison to healthy individuals, of which 65 (30%) were non-coding transcripts. In stromal cells of MDS-RARS, 12 genes were significantly differentially expressed (q-value ≤ 0.05) in comparison to healthy individuals, of which 3 (25%) were non-coding transcripts.

Conclusions

These results demonstrated, for the first time, the differential ncRNA expression profile between MDS-RARS and healthy individuals, in CD34+ cells and stromal cells, suggesting that ncRNAs may play an important role during the development of myelodysplastic syndromes.
ASCO Clinical Practice Guideline on Uses of Serum Tumor Markers in Adult Males With Germ Cell Tumors
Authors: Gilligan Timothy D. , Hayes Daniel F. , Seidenfeld Jerome , Temin Sarah
Published: July 2010

An examination of serum tumor markers for monitoring or surveillance for each histologic germ cell tumor subtype: seminoma and nonseminomatous germ cell tumors.
The importance ofN-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in subtraction of electrosensory reafference in the dorsal nucleus of skates
Authors: Zhang Zhi , Bodznick David
Published: July 2010

The dorsal nucleus of the little skate is a cerebellum-like sensory structure that adaptively filters out predictable electrosensory inputs. The filter's plasticity is mediated by anti-Hebbian associative depression at the synapses between parallel fibers and ascending efferent neurons (AENs). Changes in synaptic strength are indicated by the formation of a cancellation signal which is initiated by co-activation of parallel fibers and AENs, and can be reversed by parallel fiber activity in the absence of AEN activation. In other cerebellum-like sensory structures, the formation of the cancellation signal requires activation of postsynaptic NMDA receptors on the principal neurons. We demonstrate here by immunohistochemistry that the somas and the initial portion of both apical and basal dendrites of the AENs are labeled with antibodies raised against the NR1 subunit of NMDA receptors from a South American electric fish. In in vivo physiological experiments, we show that the formation of the cancellation signal induced by coupling an electrosensory stimulus to ventilatory movements or direct parallel fiber stimulation is blocked when either of the NMDA receptor antagonists 2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV) or MK801 is injected into the molecular layer above the recorded AEN. Blocking NMDA receptors prevented formation of a cancellation signal in 79% (15/19; APV) and 60% (3/5; MK801) of the AENs. This blockage was reversible in 40% (6/15) of the AENs after APV removal. Thus, in the dorsal nucleus, the activity-dependent, long-lasting but reversible change in synaptic strength of the parallel fiber–AEN synapses appears to be an NMDA receptor-dependent process.
In vivo bite and grip forces, morphology and prey-killing behavior of North American accipiters (Accipitridae) and falcons (Falconidae)
Authors: Sustaita Diego , Hertel Fritz
Published: July 2010

Raptors exhibit a diversity of strategies to procure their prey but ultimately kill using their beaks and/or talons. Thus, bite and grip forces are ecologically important variables that have direct survival implications. Whereas hawks rely primarily on their feet for killing prey, falcons tend to employ their beaks. Consequently, falcons are expected to achieve relatively greater bite forces, and hawks are expected to generate relatively greater grip forces. Force estimates predicted from musculoskeletal morphology in a previous study indicated that falcons (Falco spp.) possess greater jaw force capabilities than accipiters (Accipiter spp.) but there were no clear differences in predicted grip-force capacity outside of differences in scaling. The objective of this study was to complement those results with measurements of in vivo forces by inducing captive and wild accipiters and falcons to bite and grasp force transducers. Bite force increased isometrically in both groups whereas grip force tended toward positive allometry. After adjusting for body mass, falcons produced greater bite forces, and accipiters produced greater grip forces. Thus, previous anatomical estimates of forces predicted the expected direction and magnitude of differences in bite forces but the overall greater in vivo grip forces of accipiters deviated from the pattern obtained from biomechanical estimates. Although the scaling relationships were similar between data sets, forces generated by live birds were consistently lower than those predicted from biomechanics. Estimated and in vivo jaw and digital forces were nevertheless correlated, and therefore provide an important link between morphology and killing behavior in these raptors.
On muscle, tendon and high heels
Authors: Csapo R. , Maganaris C. N. , Seynnes O. R. , Narici M. V.
Published: July 2010

Wearing high heels (HH) places the calf muscle–tendon unit (MTU) in a shortened position. As muscles and tendons are highly malleable tissues, chronic use of HH might induce structural and functional changes in the calf MTU. To test this hypothesis, 11 women regularly wearing HH and a control group of 9 women were recruited. Gastrocnemius medialis (GM) fascicle length, pennation angle and physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA), the Achilles' tendon (AT) length, cross-sectional area (CSA) and mechanical properties, and the plantarflexion torque–angle and torque–velocity relationships were assessed in both groups. Shorter GM fascicle lengths were observed in the HH group (49.6±5.7 mm vs 56.0±7.7 mm), resulting in greater tendon-to-fascicle length ratios. Also, because of greater AT CSA, AT stiffness was higher in the HH group (136.2±26.5 N mm–1vs 111.3±20.2 N mm–1). However, no differences in the GM PCSA to AT CSA ratio, torque–angle and torque–velocity relationships were found. We conclude that long-term use of high-heeled shoes induces shortening of the GM muscle fascicles and increases AT stiffness, reducing the ankle's active range of motion. Functionally, these two phenomena seem to counteract each other since no significant differences in static or dynamic torques were observed.
A connective model for the practice-led research exegesis: An analysis of content and structure
Authors: Hamilton Jillian , Jaaniste Luke
Published: July 2010

Since the formal recognition of practice-led research in the 1990s, many higher research degree candidates in art, design and media have submitted creative works along with an accompanying written document or exegesis for examination. Various models for the exegesis have been proposed
in university guidelines and academic texts during the past decade, and students and supervisors have experimented with its contents and structure. With a substantial number of exegeses submitted and archived, it has now become possible to move beyond proposition to empirical analysis. In
this article we present the findings of a content analysis of a large, local sample of submitted exegeses. We identify the emergence of a persistent pattern in the types of content included as well as overall structure. Besides an introduction and conclusion, this pattern includes three main
parts, which can be summarized as situating concepts (conceptual definitions and theories); precedents of practice (traditions and exemplars in the field); and researcher's creative practice (the creative process, the artifacts produced and their value as research). We argue that this model
combines earlier approaches to the exegesis, which oscillated between academic objectivity, by providing a contextual framework for the practice, and personal reflexivity, by providing commentary on the creative practice. But this model is more than simply a hybrid: it provides a dual orientation,
which allows the researcher to both situate their creative practice within a trajectory of research and do justice to its personally invested poetics. By performing the important function of connecting the practice and creative work to a wider emergent field, the model helps to support claims
for a research contribution to the field. We call it a connective model of exegesis.
Measurement and Modeling of Second Phase Precipitation Kinetics in Zirconium Niobium Alloys
Authors: Ivermark Maria , Robson Joseph , Preuss Michael
Published: July 2010

Commercial zirconium alloys contain second phase particles (SPPs) that are precipitated during processing. These particles not only influence mechanical properties but more crucially also have a profound influence on the corrosion performance. To understand how to control evolution and size distribution of SPPs, it is necessary to know how alloy composition and process variables influence the precipitation kinetics. In this work, a detailed study has been performed of the precipitation kinetics in binary Zr-1 wt % Nb, Zr-2.6 wt % Nb, and ternary variants with added iron and tin. A numerical model has also been developed to predict the precipitation kinetics of β-Nb in niobium containing zirconium alloys. Precipitation has been tracked by synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurement of lattice parameter change in the zirconium matrix as solute is removed into SPPs. The X-ray data has been complemented by thermoelectric power measurements. The combination of these two approaches is shown to be effective in quantifying the overall precipitation kinetics of SPPs. The results confirm previous observations that without prior deformation, precipitation kinetics is very sluggish in the binary Zr–Nb system. Deformation accelerates precipitation, and this effect is much stronger for the 1 wt % Nb alloy than for 2.6 wt % Nb, because the supersaturation is least. Ternary additions also have a profound effect on the overall precipitation kinetics. Iron accelerates the rate of niobium loss from solution, whereas tin additions appear to increase the incubation time for the onset of precipitation of niobium.
Transradial percutaneous coronary intervention in acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Komócsi András , Vorobcsuk A. , Aradi D.
Published: July 2010

Although transradial coronary intervention is widely applied for percutaneous procedures, its safety in the setting of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is controversial. The benefit of transradial approach in terms of reducing access site complications is well documented. However, higher rate of procedural failure and longer procedural times reported by some authors raise concerns regarding its applicability in STEMI. Our aim was to review the safety and efficacy of transradial coronary intervention versus transfemoral intervention in acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction. This review focuses on key aspects of safety and efficacy: adverse ischemic and bleeding events, reperfusion times and radiation exposure.
Genome-wide analysis of androgen receptor binding and gene regulation in two CWR22-derived prostate cancer cell lines
Authors: Chen Honglin , Libertini Stephen J , George Michael , Dandekar Satya , Tepper Clifford G , Al-Bataina Bushra , Kung Hsing-Jien , Ghosh Paramita M , Mudryj Maria
Published: July 2010

Prostate carcinoma (CaP) is a heterogeneous multifocal disease where gene expression and regulation are altered not only with disease progression but also between metastatic lesions. The androgen receptor (AR) regulates the growth of metastatic CaPs; however, sensitivity to androgen ablation is short lived, yielding to emergence of castrate-resistant CaP (CRCaP). CRCaP prostate cancers continue to express the AR, a pivotal prostate regulator, but it is not known whether the AR targets similar or different genes in different castrate-resistant cells. In this study, we investigated AR binding and AR-dependent transcription in two related castrate-resistant cell lines derived from androgen-dependent CWR22-relapsed tumors: CWR22Rv1 (Rv1) and CWR-R1 (R1). Expression microarray analysis revealed that R1 and Rv1 cells had significantly different gene expression profiles individually and in response to androgen. In contrast, AR chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) combined with promoter DNA microarrays (ChIP-on-chip) studies showed that they have a similar AR-binding profile. Coupling of the microarray study with ChIP-on-chip analysis identified direct AR targets. The most prominent function of transcripts that were direct AR targets was transcriptional regulation, although only one transcriptional regulator, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein δ, was commonly regulated in both lines. Our results indicate that the AR regulates the expression of different transcripts in the two lines, and demonstrate the versatility of the AR-regulated gene expression program in prostate tumors.
Neighborhood Predictors of Dating Violence Victimization and Perpetration in Young Adulthood: A Multilevel Study
Authors: Jain Sonia , Buka Stephen L. , Subramanian S. V. , Molnar Beth E.
Published: July 2010

Objectives. We examined whether social processes of neighborhoods, such as collective efficacy, during individual's adolescent years affect the likelihood of being involved in physical dating violence during young adulthood.

Methods. Using longitudinal data on 633 urban youths aged 13 to 19 years at baseline and data from their neighborhoods (collected by the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods), we ran multilevel linear regression models separately by gender to assess the association between collective efficacy and physical dating violence victimization and perpetration, controlling for individual covariates, neighborhood poverty, and perceived neighborhood violence.

Results. Females were significantly more likely than were males to be perpetrators of dating violence during young adulthood (38% vs 19%). Multilevel analyses revealed some variation in dating violence at the neighborhood level, partly accounted for by collective efficacy. Collective efficacy was predictive of victimization for males but not females after control for confounders; it was marginally associated with perpetration (P = .07). The effects of collective efficacy varied by neighborhood poverty. Finally, a significant proportion (intraclass correlation = 14%–21%) of the neighborhood-level variation in male perpetration remained unexplained after modeling.

Conclusions. Community-level strategies may be useful in preventing dating violence.
The Potent Lever of Toil: Nursing Development and Exportation in the Postcolonial Philippines
Authors: Brush Barbara L.
Published: July 2010

Although the colonial relationship between the Philippines and the United States precipitated nurse education and migration patterns that exist today, little is known about the factors that sustained them. During the first half of the twentieth century, for example, the Philippines trained its nurse workforce primarily for domestic use. After the country's independence in 1946, however, that practice reversed. Nurse education in the Philippines was driven largely by US market demand in tandem with local messages linking work and nationalism and explicit policies to send nurses abroad. As these ideologies and practices became firmly entrenched, nurse production not only exceeded the country's numerical requirements but focused largely on preparing practitioners for the health care needs of developed nations rather than the public health needs of the indigenous population. This historical trend has important present-day ramifications for the Philippines, whose continued exodus of nurses threatens its public health.
Epidemiology of Tuberculosis Among US- and Foreign-Born Children and Adolescents in the United States, 1994–2007
Authors: Menzies Heather J. , Winston Carla A. , Holtz Timothy H. , Cain Kevin P. , Mac Kenzie William R.
Published: July 2010

Objectives. We examined trends in tuberculosis (TB) cases and case rates among US- and foreign-born children and adolescents and analyzed the potential effect of changes to overseas screening of applicants for immigration to the United States.

Methods. We analyzed TB case data from the National Tuberculosis Surveillance System for 1994 to 2007.

Results. Foreign-born children and adolescents accounted for 31% of 18 659 reported TB cases in persons younger than age 18 years from 1994 to 2007. TB rates declined 44% among foreign-born children and adolescents (20.3 per 100 00 to 11.4 per 100 000 population) and 48% (2.1 per 100 000 to 1.1 per 100 000) among those who were born in the United States. Rates were nearly 20 times as high among foreign-born as among US-born adolescents. Among foreign-born children and adolescents with known month of US entry (88%), more than 20% were diagnosed with TB within 3 months of entry.

Conclusions. Marked disparities in TB morbidity persist between foreign- and US-born children and adolescents. These disparities and the high proportion of TB cases diagnosed shortly after US entry suggest a need for enhanced pre- and postimmigration screening.
Linking Improvements in Health-Related Quality of Life to Reductions in Medicaid Costs Among Students Who Use School-Based Health Centers
Authors: Wade Terrance J. , Guo Jeff Jianfei
Published: July 2010

Objectives. We examined whether improvements in pediatric health-related quality of life (HRQOL) stemming from use of school-based health centers (SBHCs) resulted in lower Medicaid costs.

Methods. We analyzed data on 290 students from a 3-year, longitudinal SBHC evaluation conducted in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 2000 to 2003, including 71 with a mental health diagnosis and 31 with asthma, who had linked Ohio Medicaid records. HRQOL was measured using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. Panel regression examined whether changes in parent-reported and student self-reported HRQOL predicted changes in Medicaid costs.

Results. After adjustment for gender, age, SBHC status, and Medicaid type, we found cost reductions for every 1-point increase of parent-reported total ($36.39; P < .01), physical ($35.36; P < .05), and psychosocial ($25.94; P < .01) HRQOL. Significant cost reductions were also associated with student-reported total ($8.94; P < .05) and psychosocial ($7.79; P < .05) HRQOL increases. These effects were significant among the asthma subgroup but not the mental health subgroup. Physical HRQOL ($6.12; P = .27) effects were not significant.

Conclusions. Improvements in pediatric HRQOL translate into lower Medicaid costs, supporting the use of HRQOL as an outcome for evaluating SBHCs.
Family Dog Ownership and Levels of Physical Activity in Childhood: Findings From the Child Heart and Health Study in England
Authors: Owen Christopher G. , Nightingale Claire M. , Rudnicka Alicja R. , Ekelund Ulf , McMinn Alison M. , van Sluijs Esther M. F. , Griffin Simon J. , Cook Derek G. , Whincup Peter H.
Published: July 2010

Dog ownership is associated with higher physical activity levels in adults; whether this association occurs in children is unknown. We used accelerometry to examine physical activity levels in 2065 children aged 9 to 10 years. Children from dog-owning families spent more time in light or moderate to vigorous physical activity and recorded higher levels of activity counts per minute (25; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 6, 44) and steps per day (357; 95% CI = 14, 701) than did children without dogs.
An Outcome Evaluation of the Sources of Strength Suicide Prevention Program Delivered by Adolescent Peer Leaders in High Schools
Authors: Wyman Peter A. , Brown C. Hendricks , LoMurray Mark , Schmeelk-Cone Karen , Petrova Mariya , Yu Qin , Walsh Erin , Tu Xin , Wang Wei
Published: July 2010

Objectives. We examined the effectiveness of the Sources of Strength suicide prevention program in enhancing protective factors among peer leaders trained to conduct schoolwide messaging and among the full population of high school students.

Methods. Eighteen high schools—6 metropolitan and 12 rural—were randomly assigned to immediate intervention or the wait-list control. Surveys were administered at baseline and 4 months after program implementation to 453 peer leaders in all schools and to 2675 students selected as representative of the 12 rural schools.

Results. Training improved the peer leaders' adaptive norms regarding suicide, their connectedness to adults, and their school engagement, with the largest gains for those entering with the least adaptive norms. Trained peer leaders in larger schools were 4 times as likely as were untrained peer leaders to refer a suicidal friend to an adult. Among students, the intervention increased perceptions of adult support for suicidal youths and the acceptability of seeking help. Perception of adult support increased most in students with a history of suicidal ideation.

Conclusions. Sources of Strength is the first suicide prevention program involving peer leaders to enhance protective factors associated with reducing suicide at the school population level.
Supercritical Anti-Solvent Micronization: Control of Morphology and Particle Size
Authors: Reverchon Ernesto , De Marco Iolanda
Published: July 2010

Supercritical antisolvent precipitation has been used to micronize several kinds of materials.
Nanoparticles with mean diameters in the 30-200 nm range and microparticles in the 0.2-20 µm range are the
most frequently obtained morphologies. Sometimes, hollow expanded microparticles with diameters between
about 10 and 200 µm and crystals having various morphologies have been obtained. In this work, the relation
between vapor liquid equilibria and the observed morphologies has been performed; possible formation
mechanisms have been proposed. If the material is precipitated from a supercritical gaseous phase, expanded
microparticles can be obtained; whereas, if the process is carried out at supercritical conditions, there is a
competition between jet break-up and liquid surface tension vanishing characteristic times. If surface tension
disappears before the jet break-up, nanoparticles are formed from a gas plume; otherwise, micrometric droplets
generate spherical micrometric particles.
On some properties of pronormal subgroups
Authors: Kurdachenko Leonid , Pypka Alexsandr , Subbotin Igor
Published: July 2010

New results on tight connections among pronormal, abnormal and contranormal subgroups of a group have been established. In particular, new characteristics of pronormal and abnormal subgroups have been obtained.
Wastefree purification method for potassium brine used in industrial electrochemical processes
Authors: Pisarska Bożenna , Nowak Mariusz
Published: July 2010

Wastefree purification method for potassium brine used in industrial electrochemical processes

A new concept is presented for purifying potassium brine (KCl solution) obtained from technical-grade potassium chloride. This concept is based on the hydroxide/carbonate method of removing ions of alkaline earth metals and on separating SO4
2- ions by means of zirconyl anion exchanger. The purification process provides the following products: purified potassium brine suitable for the manufacture of KClO3 or for further purification and subsequent manufacture of KOH, Cl2 and H2 using membrane cell technology, magnesium and potassium containing agricultural lime (chalk) suitable for neutralizing soil acidity and enriching soil with magnesium and potassium, and technical-grade potassium sulphate containing 99.0 to 99.8% K2SO4.
Spatial analysis of vegetal cover and sediment yield in Tapacurá river catchment based on remote sensing and GIS
Authors: Da Silva Richarde , Santos Celso , Montenegro Suzana , E Silva Leonardo
Published: July 2010

Spatial analysis of vegetal cover and sediment yield in Tapacurá river catchment based on remote sensing and GIS

Mapping and assessment of erosion risk is an important tool for planning of natural resources management, allowing researchers to propose modification in land-use properly and implement more sustainable management strategies in the long-term. The Tapacurá river catchment, located in Pernambuco State, Northeastern Brazil, is one of the planning units for management of water resources of Recife Metropilitan Region (RMR), and it is divided into 12 sub-basins. The objective of this study is to evaluate the spatial variability of vegetal cover and sediment yield in this basin through remote sensing and GIS techniques. Maps of the erosivity (R), erodibility (K), topographic (LS), cover-management (C) and support practice (P) factors were derived from the digital elevation model (DEM), climate database, and soil and NDVI maps, taking into account information available in the literature. In order to validate the simulation process, Sediment Delivery Ratio (SDR) was estimated. The obtained NDVI map showed vegetation loss during the analyzed period, indicating a distinct contrast between loss and gains of vegetation index. The vegetation and sediment yield mapping showed to be a useful tool for environmental monitoring and management, which can provide satisfactory results when jointly used. The results suggest a mean SDR around 0.9 and estimate the sediment yield as 23.98 ton/ha/month.
Spatial and temporal variations of sedimentation rate in the Timah Tasoh Water Reservoir, Perlis, Malaysia
Authors: Rahaman Zullyadini , Ismail Wan
Published: July 2010

Spatial and temporal variations of sedimentation rate in the Timah Tasoh Water Reservoir, Perlis, Malaysia

Human activities such as logging, land conservation, road construction and other disturbances in watersheds will increase erosion rate and thus the amount of sediment transported into the river that reaches lakes, reservoirs and sea. Accelerated sedimentation rate in the reservoir can significantly reduce a reservoir's surface area, eliminating wetland area surrounding the reservoir and shallow the areas near the shore of the reservoir. A study of sedimentation rate in the Timah Tasoh water reservoir was carried out from May 2001 to April 2002 by means of sediment traps. The aim of this study is to determine the spatial and temporal pattern of sedimentation rates in the reservoir. The sediment traps were installed at five different locations in the reservoir and replaced every month. Gross sedimentation rates measured in the sediment traps vary from about an average of 1.4 kg/m2/month or 16.3 kg/m2/yr in the deepest part of the reservoir to about 79.2 kg/m2/yr (monthly average of 6.6 kg/m2/month) and 47.1 kg/m2/yr (monthly average of 3.9 kg/m2/month) near the inlet of the Pelarit River and the Tasoh River respectively. The sedimentation rate near the Pelarit River and the Tasoh River inflow is correlated with the water and suspended sediment discharge in the river, owing to its proximity to the rivers and the flooding effect, mainly during the wet season. The sedimentation rate decreases southward along the reservoir, as a result of increasing distance from the river mouth. The total suspended sediment load of the Upper Pelarit River and the Jarum River flowing into the reservoir is 11.4 × 103 ton/year and 5.41 × 103 ton//year respectively.
Prediction of littoral drift with Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System
Authors: Sabet Masumeh , Naseri Mehdi , Sabet Hosein
Published: July 2010

Prediction of littoral drift with Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System

The amount of sand moving parallel to a coastline forms a prerequisite for many harbor design projects. Such information is currently obtained through various empirical formulae. Despite so many works in the past, an accurate and reliable estimation of the rate of sand drift has still remained a problem. It is a non-linear process and can be described by chaotic time-series. The current study addresses this issue through the use of Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS). ANFIS is about taking an initial fuzzy inference system (FIS) and tuning it with a back propagation algorithm based on the collection of input-output data. ANFIS was developed to predict the sand drift from a variety of causative variables. The structure and algorithm of ANFIS for predicting the rate of sand drift is described. The Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System was validated by confirming its consistency with a database of specified physical process.
Lars Norén's Long Journey into Night
Authors: Gilleman Luc
Published: July 2010

In the 1980s, Swedish playwright Lars Norén wrote three apparently realistic autobiographical plays inspired by O'Neill's Long Day's Journey into Night: Night Is Mother of the Day (1982), Chaos Is Neighbour of God (1983), and Silence (1986). This article focuses mainly on Silence (1986), offering a thematic analysis of the play and discussing the influence of August Strindberg and Eugene O'Neill on its dialogue structure.
Reappropriating the Pace-Egging Tradition: Ewan MacColl's St. George and the Dragon
Authors: Warden Claire
Published: July 2010

Best known as a folk singer, Ewan MacColl wrote upwards of twenty plays; some of his most effective works are his adaptation plays, contemporary dramatic works using canonical playtexts as catalysts. In 1964–65 MacColl wrote a modernized version of the Lancastrian Pace-Egging Play, St. George and the Dragon. Taking this indigenous theatrical form, often associated with the industrial rather than rural landscape, MacColl wrote a play for and about the people, in a specific tradition of urban folk drama. By changing and modifying the traditional play, including new characters, and altering plot, the playwright was able to create a piece that specifically explores some of the key aspects of twentieth-century society. Furthermore, MacColl weaves in a highly politicized narrative thread that culminates in a call for revolutionary change. This unpublished play is a prime example of MacColl's “vandalism” of established forms. This article examines the play, presenting it as a key example of MacColl's experimental aesthetic, a way of appropriating techniques and narrative methods for a new audience, a new society, and a new political objective.
Cranial nerve injury after minor head trauma
Authors: Coello Alejandro Fernández , Canals Andreu Gabarrós , Gonzalez Juan Martino , Martín Juan José Acebes
Published: July 2010

Object

There are no specific studies about cranial nerve (CN) injury following mild head trauma (Glasgow Coma Scale Score 14–15) in the literature. The aim of this analysis was to document the incidence of CN injury after mild head trauma and to correlate the initial CT findings with the final outcome 1 year after injury.

Methods

The authors studied 49 consecutive patients affected by minor head trauma and CN lesions between January 2000 and January 2006. Detailed clinical and neurological examinations as well as CT studies using brain and bone windows were performed in all patients. Based on the CT findings the authors distinguished 3 types of traumatic injury: no lesion, skull base fracture, and other CT abnormalities. Patients were followed up for 1 year after head injury. The authors distinguished 3 grades of clinical recovery from CN palsy: no recovery, partial recovery, and complete recovery.

Results

Posttraumatic single nerve palsy was observed in 38 patients (77.6%), and multiple nerve injuries were observed in 11 (22.4%). Cranial nerves were affected in 62 cases. The most affected CN was the olfactory nerve (CN I), followed by the facial nerve (CN VII) and the oculomotor nerves (CNs III, IV, and VI). When more than 1 CN was involved, the most frequent association was between CNs VII and VIII. One year after head trauma, a CN deficit was present in 26 (81.2%) of the 32 cases with a skull base fracture, 12 (60%) of 20 cases with other CT abnormalities, and 3 (30%) of 10 cases without CT abnormalities.

Conclusions

Trivial head trauma that causes a minor head injury (Glasgow Coma Scale Score 14–15) can result in CN palsies with a similar distribution to moderate or severe head injuries. The CNs associated with the highest incidence of palsy in this study were the olfactory, facial, and oculomotor nerves. The trigeminal and lower CNs were rarely damaged. Oculomotor nerve injury can have a good prognosis, with a greater chance of recovery if no lesion is demonstrated on the initial CT scan.
Regeneration of Ficus glomerata Roxb., using shoot tips and nodal explants
Authors: Hassan AKM Sayeed , Khatun Rahima
Published: July 2010

Shoot tips and nodal explants from in vitro growing seedlings of Ficus glomerata Roxb. (Moraceae). showed best shoot induction (88%) on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l BAP, where maximum number of shoots were produced per culture. In vitro raised shoots rooted well on half strength of MS medium with 2.0 mg/l IBA + 0.1 mg/l NAA. The survival rate of regenerated plantlets was 82%. Key words: Ficus glomerata Roxb.; Shoot proliferation; Micropropagation; Acclimatization DOI: 10.3329/bjb.v39i1.5525Bangladesh J. Bot. 39(1): 47-50, 2010 (June)
Effects of post-anthesis heat stress on stem reserves mobilization, canopy temperature depression and floret sterility of wheat cultivars
Authors: Sikder S , Paul NK
Published: July 2010

Testing of four heat tolerant (Gourab, Sourav, Kanchan and Shatabdi) and two heat sensitive (Sonora and Kalyansona) wheat cultivars under normal and late growing post-anthesis heat stress conditions revealed higher pre-anthesis stem reserves mobilization to the final grain weight and floret sterility in heat sensitive cultivars compared to heat tolerant cultivars. The heat tolerant cultivars showed higher canopy temperature depression than the heat sensitive cultivars in both the growing conditions indicating the higher ability of heat tolerant cultivars to maintain cooler canopy environment than the heat sensitive ones.Key words: Post-anthesis; Heat stress; Floret sterility; Canopy temperature; Mobilization DOI: 10.3329/bjb.v39i1.5526Bangladesh J. Bot. 39(1): 51-55, 2010 (June)
combining ability for yield and yield contributing characters of white jute (Corchorus capsularis L.)
Authors: Khatun Rahima , Sarker RH , Sobhan MA
Published: July 2010

Crosses were made between three varieties and seven accessions of white jute (Corchorus capsularis L.) in all possible combinations to establish 10 × 10 full diallel set. Variances for general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) were significant or highly significant for all the characters indicating additive and non-additive gene actions played predominant role for expression of these characters. The magnitudes of GCA variance were higher than the corresponding SCA variance confirmed the predominance of additive genetic variations for these traits. The variety CVL-1 and Acc. 1831 were good general combiners for plant height, technical height, base diameter, number of nodes, bark weight, fibre weight and stick weight. Crosses, var. CVL-1 × Acc. 1831, Accs. 3695 × 4087, Accs. 1831 × 1833, Accs.1831 × var.CC-45, Acc. 2146 × var. A-38 and Acc. 2146 × var.CC-45 revealed significant positive SCA effect for fibre weight. Significant reciprocal SCA effect was observed in crosses, Accs.1832 × 3695, Accs.1833 × 1831 and Acc. 4087 × var.CVL-1. Crosses, var. CVL-1 × Acc.1831, Accs. 3695 × 4087, Acc.1831 × var.CC-45, Acc.2146 × var.CC-45 and a reciprocal cross, Accs.1833 × 1831 were found to be good specific combiners for bark weight, fibre weight and stick weight. Key words: Combining ability; Fibre yield; White jute DOI: 10.3329/bjb.v39i1.5530Bangladesh J. Bot. 39(1): 79-85, 2010 (June)
Use of Random PCR (RAPD) technology to analyze systematic relationships in terrestrial bladderworts (Utricularia L.)
Authors: Rahman Md Oliur
Published: July 2010

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) based technology RAPD was tested for its applicability and suitability for molecular systematics of terrestrial bladderworts. PCR was carried out and the resultant products were subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis. The banding patterns were compared among ten species of Utricularia. Out of 40 random oligonucleotide primers examined, 16 primers generated distinguishable bands. Cluster analysis, unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) and ordination approach Scatter diagram using Matrix plot were performed based on RAPD fingerprints. The UPGMA and ordination analysis revealed a clear portrayal of systematic relationships in bladderwort species which were concordant with previous studies based on morphology and molecular approaches, indicating the reliability of RAPD markers for estimation of genetic variation and species relationships in Utricularia. Key words: Utricularia; RAPD; PCR; Cluster analysis; Molecular taxonomy DOI: 10.3329/bjb.v39i1.5532Bangladesh J. Bot. 39(1): 97-102, 2010 (June)
The Kinase Mirk/dyrk1B: A Possible Therapeutic Target in Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Friedman Eileen
Published: July 2010

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas are strongly resistant to chemotherapeutic drugs and radiation, underscoring the need for new therapeutic targets, particularly ones which target the numerous out of cycle cancer cells. Analysis of resected tumors for nuclear Ki67 antigen has shown that about 70% of pancreatic cancer cells are out of cycle, some post-mitotic. Other out of cycle cells are in a quiescent, reversible G0 state, resistant to drugs which target dividing cells, with some able to repopulate a tumor. The serine/threonine kinase Mirk/dyrk1B is a downstream effector of oncogenic K-ras, the most common mutation in this cancer. Mirk expression is elevated in quiescent pancreatic cancer cells and mediates their prolonged survival through increasing expression of a cohort of antioxidant genes. Mirk is expressed in about 90% of pancreatic cancers and is amplified in a subset. Mirk appears not to be an essential gene for normal cells from embryonic knockout studies in mice and RNA interference studies on cultured cells, but is upregulated in pancreatic tumor cells. These unusual characteristics suggest that Mirk may be a selective target for therapeutic intervention.
Study on a Two-Dimensional Scanning Micro-Mirror and Its Application in a MOEMS Target Detector
Authors: Zhang Chi , You Zheng , Huang Hu , Li Guanhua
Published: July 2010

A two-dimensional (2D) scanning micro-mirror for target detection and measurement has been developed. This new micro-mirror is used in a MOEMS target detector to replace the conventional scanning detector. The micro-mirror is fabricated by MEMS process and actuated by a piezoelectric actuator. To achieve large deflection angles, the micro-mirror is excited in the resonance modes. It has two degrees of freedom and changes the direction of the emitted laser beam for a regional 2D scanning. For the deflection angles measurement, piezoresistors are integrated in the micro-mirror and the deflection angles of each direction can be detected independently and precisely. Based on the scanning micro-mirror and the phase-shift ranging technology, a MOEMS target detector has been developed in a size of 90 mm × 35 mm × 50 mm. The experiment shows that the target can be detected in the scanning field and the relative range and orientation can be measured by the MOEMS target detector. For the target distance up to 3 m with a field of view about 20º × 20º, the measurement resolution is about 10.2 cm in range, 0.15º in the horizontal direction and 0.22º in the vertical direction for orientation.
MODELLING HETEROGENEOUS TRAFFIC FLOW ON UPGRADES OF INTERCITY ROADS
Authors: Arasan Venkatachalam Thamizh , Arkatkar Shriniwas Shrikant
Published: July 2010

The effect of an upgrade and its length is very significant for traffic flow characteristics. Road traffic in developing countries like India is highly heterogeneous comprising vehicles of wide ranging physical dimensions, weight and dynamic characteristics such as engine power, acceleration rate, etc. Due to these variations, the effect of grade on vehicles in heterogeneous traffic may vary significantly among vehicle categories. Variation in the level of the interaction between vehicles on upgrades may result in different sets of traffic flow characteristics. Hence, it is necessary to model traffic flow on upgrades and study, in depth, changes in traffic flow characteristics with alteration in the magnitude of an upgrade and its length. Computer simulation has emerged as an effective technique for modelling traffic flow due to its capability to account for randomness related to traffic. This study is concerned with applying a simulation model of heterogeneous traffic flow, named HETEROSIM, to study the traffic flow characteristics and performance of different vehicle types on upgrades of different magnitudes.
PREDICTABLE UNCERTAINTY ABOUT TERMINAL OPERATIONS IN THE SEA
Authors: Hess Svjetlana , Hess Mirano
Published: July 2010

This paper considers a problem of planning short term operations in a bulk terminal faced by port management when making tactical decisions. Ship loading and discharging, cargo stocking, the maintenance and service of facility equipment are regular operations of a bulk terminal which is a subsystem of a sea port the conduct of which is subject to difficult‐to‐predict or unforeseen influences. The problem that port management encounters in day to day operations looks into making the best possible plan with the scheduled duration of operations/states and transition instants, considering various internal and external factors influencing terminal performance. A state and transition model is used for deriving effective solutions to obtaining the state order and state transition time of a bulk terminal with an objective of minimizing operational costs. The behaviour of the terminal is tested applying the stochastic and deterministic method.