bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A ubiquitous IAs access platform (UIAP) over UPnP
Authors: Huang Chung‐Ming , Lin Ming‐Sian , Wong Hon‐Long
Published: December 2007

The radical development in information technology makes the information appliances (IAs) able to interact and share information using the universal plug and play (UPnP) protocol. Inter‐IA interactions that involve more than one IA do exist in the future digital home network. Nowadays, inter‐IA interactions are developed by system and service providers and are fixed. It is difficult for users to customize their inter‐IA interactions. In this paper, we propose the service interaction script (SIS) language, which is a flow control language for users to customize their own inter‐IA interactions through the Web interfaces in the UPnP home network. Domain‐specific statements for the development of the inter‐IA interactions in SIS are (i) IA access statement, (ii) parallel statement and (iii) interaction event handling statement. On the other hand, the ubiquitous IAs access platform (UIAP) that allows users to use handheld devices to access the IA base on the UPnP protocol is also developed. UIAP provides the Web interfaces, i.e. (i) control panel and (ii) interaction customization panel, for users to access IAs remotely using handheld devices with or without the UPnP capability. The interaction customization panel contains (i) an easy mode and (ii) an advanced mode for users to customize inter‐IA interactions defined by themselves through the Web interfaces using SIS. In the easy mode, inter‐IA interaction customizations are achieved through the Web graphical user interface components and translated into SIS programs; in the advanced mode, users can write SIS programs directly. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effectiveness of multiple pageable page sizes for commercial applications
Authors: Jann Joefon , Dubey Niteesh , Pattnaik Pratap , Burugula R. Sarma
Published: December 2007

This paper investigates the computational characteristics of the software applications that are developed to support typical modern e‐commerce applications. These applications have a significant impact on global commerce, and their influence is expected to continue. We show that the micro‐architectural features of the memory subsystem, assisted by the operating system (such as the use of concurrent pageable page sizes), can significantly improve the performance of these applications. In particular, we show that using 64 kB page size in addition to the default 4 kB page size provides substantial throughput improvements for a typical commercial application (Trade6) without adding any complexity for the application developer or the system administrator. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
SwingStates: adding state machines to Java and the Swing toolkit
Authors: Appert C. , Beaudouin‐Lafon M.
Published: December 2007

This article describes SwingStates, a Java toolkit designed to facilitate the development of graphical user interfaces and bring advanced interaction techniques to the Java platform. SwingStates is based on the use of finite‐state machines specified directly in Java to describe the behavior of interactive systems. State machines can be used to redefine the behavior of existing Swing widgets or, in combination with a new canvas widget that features a rich graphical model, to create brand new widgets. SwingStates also supports arbitrary input devices to implement novel interaction techniques based, for example, on bi‐manual or pressure‐sensitive input. We have used SwingStates in several Master's‐level classes over the past two years and have developed a benchmark approach to evaluate the toolkit in this context. The results demonstrate that SwingStates can be used by non‐expert developers with little training to successfully implement advanced interaction techniques. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Error‐preserving reductions on communication protocols
Authors: Duan Lihua , Chen Jessica
Published: December 2007

Common logical design errors in communication protocols are typically detected through reachability analysis or state‐based model checking techniques. These techniques suffer from a state explosion problem and a variety of methods have been explored to deal with it. In this paper, two transformation rules are proposed to be applied specifically on the specifications of communication protocols to reduce their sizes while preserving common logical design errors. These rules are applied on the specification of each individual process in the protocols before state exploration and thus can be combined with most of the existing reachability analysis or model checking techniques applied during state exploration. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Performance evaluation of an MR damper in building structures considering soil–structure interaction effects
Authors: Lee Sung‐Kyung , Lee Sang‐Hyun , Min Kyung‐Won , Moon Byoung‐Wook , Youn Kyung‐Jo , Hwang Jae‐Seung
Published: December 2007

Since the force generated by a magneto‐rheological (MR) damper has large nonlinearity, the performance of an MR damper is dependent on response characteristics such as frequency and amplitude. Soil–structure interaction (SSI) is generally known to have a large effect on the seismic response of a building structure. In this study, the performance of an MR damper in mitigating the seismic response of a building structure is evaluated considering the SSI effects. First, the performance variance of an MR damper due to the change of the structural natural period is investigated by constructing its normalized response spectrum through the numerical analysis of many earthquake wave records and the natural period of a structure. The variable friction force of an MR damper is normalized by the structural base shear force, and its amplitude and decrement of response are quantitatively evaluated. Then, the response characteristics of the SSI system due to the lengthening of the structural natural period and various soil conditions are numerically evaluated based on the response spectrum analysis. Finally, the numerical results with and without considering the SSI effects are comparatively evaluated for the building structure with an MR damper. The comparison results show that the SSI effect should be considered in order that the undesirable effect of an MR damper on the structural control would not be neglected. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ant‐ and plant‐mediated indirect effects induced by aphid colonization on herbivorous insects on tall goldenrod
Authors: Ando Yoshino , Ohgushi Takayuki
Published: December 2007

We studied the indirect effects of an aphid Uroleucon nigrotuberculatum on density and performance of herbivorous insects through tending ants and modification of plant traits on a tall goldenrod Solidago altissima in Japan. To examine ant‐mediated indirect effects of the aphid on the leafhopper and geometrid moth caterpillars, we conducted an experiment in which we manipulated aphid densities. The aphid decreased the density of these herbivorous insects through ant‐mediated indirect effects, because honeydew scattered by the aphid‐attracted ants that then removed them. To examine plant‐mediated indirect effects of the aphid on two temporally separated insects, a scale insect and a grasshopper, we compared the density and performance of these herbivorous insects on aphid‐inoculated plants and aphid‐free plants. Aphid‐induced plant modifications had different effects on the scale insect and grasshopper. The aphid indirectly decreased the density and survivorship of the scale insect. On the other hand, the number of grasshoppers increased as a result of the increased number of leaves and the increased nitrogen content induced by prior aphid feeding. However, aphid infestation did not affect the survival of the grasshopper. Thus, the aphid has large indirect effects on co‐occurring herbivorous insects through the removal behavior of tending ants and on temporally separated herbivorous insects through changes in quality and quantity of the tall goldenrod.
TRPA1 channel activation induces cholecystokinin release via extracellular calcium
Authors: Purhonen A.K. , Louhivuori L.M. , Kiehne K. , Åkerman K.E.O. , Herzig K.H.
Published: December 2007

TRPA1 channels are non‐selective cation channels activated by plant derived pungent products including allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) from mustard. Therefore, possible intestinal secretory functions of these channels were investigated. We detected TRPA1 mRNA in mouse and human duodenal mucosa and in intestinal mouse neuroendocrine STC‐1 cells. Stimulation of STC‐1 cells with AITC increased intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) and significantly stimulated cholecystokinin secretion by 6.7‐fold. AITC induced cholecystokinin release was completely blocked by TRPA1 antagonist ruthenium red and depletion of extracellular calcium and reduced by 36% by nimodipine and nifedipine. This suggests that spices in our daily food might stimulate digestive functions.
Catalase T and Cu, Zn‐superoxide dismutase in the acetic acid‐induced programmed cell death inSaccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Guaragnella Nicoletta , Antonacci Lucia , Giannattasio Sergio , Marra Ersilia , Passarella Salvatore
Published: December 2007

To investigate the role of catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the acetic acid (AA) induced yeast programmed cell death (AA‐PCD), we comparedSaccharomyces cerevisiaecells (C‐Y) and cells individually over‐expressing catalase T (CTT1‐Y) and Cu, Zn‐SOD (SOD1‐Y) with respect to cell survival, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels and enzyme activity as measured up to 200 min after AA treatment. AA‐PCD does not occur in CTT1‐Y, where H2O2levels were lower than in C‐Y and the over‐expressed catalase activity decreased with time. In SOD1‐Y, AA‐PCD was exacerbated; high H2O2levels were found, SOD activity increased early, remaining constanten routeto AA‐PCD, but catalase activity was strongly reduced.
Structure‐guided engineering of the coenzyme specificity of Pseudomonas fluorescens mannitol 2‐dehydrogenase to enable efficient utilization of NAD(H) and NADP(H)
Authors: Bubner Patricia , Klimacek Mario , Nidetzky Bernd
Published: December 2007

The structure of Pseudomonas fluorescens mannitol 2‐dehydrogenase with bound NAD+ leads to the suggestion that the carboxylate group of Asp69 forms a bifurcated hydrogen bond with the 2′ and 3′ hydroxyl groups of the adenosine of NAD+ and contributes to the 400‐fold preference of the enzyme for NAD+ as compared to NADP+. Accordingly, the enzyme with the Asp69
→ Ala substitution was found to use NADP(H) almost as well as wild‐type enzyme uses NAD(H). The Glu68
→ Lys substitution was expected to enhance the electrostatic interaction of the enzyme with the 2′‐phosphate of NADP+. The Glu68
→ Lys:Asp69
→ Ala doubly mutated enzyme showed about a 10‐fold preference for NADP(H) over NAD(H), accompanied by a small decrease in catalytic efficiency for NAD(H)‐dependent reactions as compared to wild‐type enzyme.
Neuroprotection of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor against hypoxic injury in vitro requires activation of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase
Authors: Sun Xiaomei , Zhou Hui , Luo Xiaoli , Li Shengfu , Yu Dan , Hua Jiping , Mu Dezhi , Mao Meng
Published: December 2007

Intrauterine asphyxia is one of the major contributors for perinatal death, mental and physical disorders of surviving children. Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) provides a promising solution to hypoxic injury due to its survival‐promoting effects. In an attempt to identify possible molecular mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective role of BDNF, we studied extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK), phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI‐3‐K) and p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. We demonstrated that BDNF protected cortical neurons against hypoxic injury in vitro via activation of both the ERK and PI‐3‐K pathways but not the p38 MAPK pathway. We also showed that both hypoxic stimuli and exogenous BDNF treatment phosphorylated the cyclic AMP response element‐binding protein (CREB) and that CREB phosphorylation induced by BDNF was mediated via the ERK pathway in cultured cortical neurons.
Religious Authority, Religious Rule
Authors: L'Estrange Seán
Published: December 2007

This article suggests that religion is better understood as a form of rule rather than as a domain of human life naturally distinct from politics and government. Through an examination of an association of Catholic priests active during the 1950s and 1960s, the article suggests that reconceiving religion in terms of authority and rule advances our understanding of the nature of religious power and that of religious discourse and institutions in particular.
Ambiguities and Clichés in the Debate about Public Intellectuals
Authors: Misztal Barbara A.
Published: December 2007

This paper's purpose is to exam Turner's (2006a) thesis that Britain neither produced its own public intellectuals nor a distinctive sociology. It aims to outline difficulties with the logic of Turner's argument rather than to discuss any particular public intellectual in Britain. The paper argues that Turner's claim about the comparative insignificance of public intellectuals in Britain reinforces the myth of British exceptionalism and overlooks the significance of the contribution to the public sphere by intellectuals from other disciplines than sociology. It discusses Turner's assumption that intellectual innovation requires massive disruptive and violent change and suggests that such an assertion is not necessarily supported by studies of the conditions of the production of knowledge. Finally, the paper argues that Turner's anguish at the absence of public intellectuals among sociologists in Britain is symptomatic of New Left thinking that models the idea of the intellectual on Gramsci. In conclusion, the paper asserts that Turner's idea of the intellectual fails to note the tension at the heart of the role of public intellectual–the tension between specialist and non-specialist functions.
Incompatible Visions of Supra-Nationalism: National Identity in Turkey and the European Union
Authors: Aktürk Sener
Published: December 2007

This essay looks at Turkish-EU relations with a specific focus on identity narratives from the Turkish point of view. It outlines Turkey's official national narrative in its Ottoman, Turkic, and Islamic supra-national contexts and compares it with the supranational framework of EU member states' national narratives. According to the official Turkish historiography, Turkey is not part of a European family of nations. Turkey's non-European post-imperial identity is found to be comparable to that of Britain.
Preschoolers use partial letter names to select spellings: Evidence from Portuguese
Authors: POLLO TATIANA CURY , TREIMAN REBECCA , KESSLER BRETT
Published: December 2007

Two studies examined children's use of letter–name spelling strategies when target phoneme sequences match letter names with different degrees of precision. We examined Portuguese-speaking preschoolers' use ofh(which is named /a′ga/ but which never represents those sounds) when spelling words beginning with /ga/ or variants of /ga/. We also looked at use ofq(named /ke/) when spelling /ke/ and /ge/. Children sometimes usedhfor stimuli beginning with /ga/ and /ka/, andqwhen spelling words and nonwords beginning with /ke/ and /ge/ they did not use these letters when stimuli began with other sequences. Thus, their spellings evinced use of letter-name matches primarily when consonant-vowel sequences matched, such that vowels must be exact but consonants could differ in voicing from the target phoneme.
Lipid profile in men and women with different levels of sports participation and physical activity
Authors: Scheers Tineke , Philippaerts Renaat , Langendonck Leen Van , Duquet William , Duvigneaud Nathalie , Matton Lynn , Thomis Martine , Wijndaele Katrien , Lefevre Johan
Published: December 2007

Objective

The purpose of the present study was to analyse the lipid profile in men and women differentiated according to energy expenditure during sports participation (EESPORT), energy expenditure during active leisure time (EEALT) and overall energy expenditure (EETOTAL).

Design

The subjects were grouped by sex, age, EESPORT, EEALT and EETOTAL. Group differences were analysed using analyses of covariance with BMI and alcohol consumption as covariates.

Setting

Physical activity was assessed using the Flemish Physical Activity Computerised Questionnaire. Fasting blood samples were taken to measure total cholesterol (TC), TAG, HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) and the ratio TC:HDL-C.

Subjects

The study sample consisted of 1170 Flemish men and women between 18 and 75 years of age.

Results

Differences in lipid profile were observed in the younger age group (<45 years), all in favour of the most active group. More specifically, when differentiating by EEALT and EETOTAL, men had a healthier lipid profile for TAG, HDL-C and TC:HDL-C. Differentiation according to EESPORT revealed the same significant results except for TAG. In women significant results for HDL-C, LDL-C and TC:HDL-C were found when differentiated by EESPORT.

Conclusions

Men and women <45 years of age with higher levels of energy expenditure due to sport show a better lipid profile than their sedentary counterparts. When differentiating subjects according to energy expenditure during active leisure time or overall energy expenditure, only in men was a healthier lipid profile observed in favour of the most active subjects.
Building up the inactive X chromosome1
Authors: Matarazzo Maria R. , Cerase Andrea , D'Esposito Maurizio
Published: December 2007

The compensation of the different level of transcripts of X‐linked genes in male and female mammals is achieved through X chromosome inactivation, a complex process that differentially regulates the sex chromosomes of female cells. This mechanism has been dissected at evolutionary, genetic and molecular levels: here, we discuss some of the latest examples that illustrate better these intricate connections, focusing particularly on the emerging role of spatial and three‐dimensional chromatin arrangements in the building of this special chromosome, the inactive X chromosome.
Re‐programming of translation following cell stress allows IRES‐mediated translation to predominate
Authors: Spriggs Keith A. , Stoneley Mark , Bushell Martin , Willis Anne E.
Published: December 2007

There is now an overwhelming body of evidence to suggest that internal ribosome entry is required to maintain the expression of specific proteins during patho‐physiological situations when cap‐dependent translation is compromised, for example, following heat shock or during mitosis, hypoxia, differentiation and apoptosis. Translational profiling has been used by several groups to assess the extent to which alternative mechanisms of translation initiation selectively recruit mRNAs to polysomes during cell stress. The data from these studies have shown that under each condition 3–5% of coding mRNAs remain associated with the polysomes. Importantly, the genes identified in each of these studies do not show a significant amount of overlap, suggesting that 10–15% of all mRNAs have the capability for their initiation to occur via alternative mechanism(s).
Comprehensive photoelectron spectroscopic study of anionic clusters of anthracene and its alkyl derivatives: Electronic structures bridging molecules to bulk
Authors: Ando Naoto , Mitsui Masaaki , Nakajima Atsushi
Published: December 2007

The evolution of the electronic structure of molecular aggregates is investigated using anion photoelectron (PE) spectroscopy for anionic clusters of anthracene (Ac) and its alkyl derivatives: 1-methylanthracene (1MA), 2-methylanthracene (2MA), 9-methylanthracene (9MA), 9,10-dimethylanthracene (DMA), and 2-tert-butylanthracene (2TBA). For their monomer anions (n=1), electron affinities are confined to the range from 0.47to0.59eV and are well reproduced by density functional theory calculations, showing the isoelectronic character of these molecules. For cluster anions (n=2–100) of Ac and 2MA, two types of isomers I and II coexist over a wide size range: isomers I and II-1 (4⩽n<30) or isomers I and II-2 (n⩾∼40 for Ac and n⩾∼55 for 2MA). However, for the other alkyl-substituted Ac cluster anions (i.e., 1MA, 9MA, DMA, and 2TBA), only isomer I is exclusively formed, and neither isomer II-1 nor II-2 is observed. The vertical detachment energies (VDEs) of isomer I in all the anionic clusters depend almost linearly on n−1∕3. In contrast, the VDEs of isomers II-1 (n⩾14) and II-2 (n=40–100), appeared only in Ac and 2MA cluster anions, remain constant with n and are ∼0.5eV lower than those of isomer I. The PE spectra revealed the characteristics of each isomer: isomer I possesses a monomeric anion core that is gradually embedded into the interior of the cluster with increasing n. On the other hand, isomers II-1 and II-2 possess a multimeric (perhaps tetrameric) anion core, but they differ in the number of layers from which they are made up; monolayer (isomer II-1) and multilayers (isomer II-2) of a two-dimensionally ordered, finite herringbone-type structure, in which electron attachment produces only little geometrical rearrangement. Moreover, the agreement of the constant VDEs of isomer II-2 with the bulk data demonstrates the largely localized nature of the electronic polarization around the excess charge in a crystal-like environment, where about 50molecules provide a charge stabilization energy comparable to the bulk.
The far-infrared spectra of neutral and cationic niobium clusters: Nb5∕+ to Nb9∕+
Authors: Fielicke André , Ratsch Christian , von Helden Gert , Meijer Gerard
Published: December 2007

Far-infrared absorption spectra of small neutral and cationic niobium clusters containing five to nine Nb atoms have been obtained by multiple photon dissociation spectroscopy of their argon complexes. The experimental far-IR spectra are recorded in the 85–600cm−1 region and cover the range of the structure-specific vibrational fundamentals, i.e., the finger-print range, for these metal clusters. The experiments are accompanied by quantum chemical calculations employing the density-functional theory. A comparison of the experimental and calculated far-IR spectra allows to identify the cluster structures. Although the experimental spectra for clusters containing five, six, eight, and nine Nb atoms are very different for cationic and neutral clusters, the comparison with theory reveals that, nevertheless, the overall geometries for cations and neutrals are very similar, except for Nb60∕+.
Experimental vibrational spectra of gas-phase tantalum cluster cations
Authors: Gruene Philipp , Fielicke André , Meijer Gerard
Published: December 2007

We present gas-phase infrared spectra of tantalum cluster cations containing 6–20 atoms. Infrared multiple photon dissociation of their complexes with argon atoms is used to obtain vibrational spectra in the region between 90 and 305cm−1. Many spectra have features in common with the vibrational spectra of the lighter homologs, vanadium and niobium, pointing to a common cluster growth mechanism.
Calculation of two-dimensional infrared spectra of ultrafast chemical exchange with numerical Langevin simulations
Authors: la Cour Jansen Thomas , Knoester Jasper
Published: December 2007

We combine numerical Langevin simulations with numerical integration of the Schrödinger equation to calculate two-dimensional infrared spectra of ultrafast chemical exchange. This provides a tool to model and interpret such spectra of molecules undergoing chemical processes, such as isomerization and solvent exchange reactions. Two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy has already been used to extract reaction rates for ultrafast chemical reactions. We demonstrate that these spectra are not only sensitive to the rates, but also to the finite duration of the exchange. This is emphasised by comparing with the popular Kubo two-state jump models, which do not account for finite exchange times.
Direct and large-eddy simulations of a pure thermal plume
Authors: Pham M. V. , Plourde F. , Doan K. S.
Published: December 2007

A turbulent natural convection flow (Gr=2.2×1010) arising from a heated and finite size source in a quiescent and infinite environment was numerically investigated by means of direct numerical simulation (DNS) and large eddy simulation. Several subgrid-scale models (SGS) were tested and specific attention was paid to dynamic models. The well known dynamic model was compared to the Lagrangian dynamic model which was applied to both dynamic coefficient and turbulent Prandtl number. DNS results show good agreement with experimental results while the Lagrangian dynamic model and especially the extended Lagrangian dynamic model to Prandtl number estimation were found to significantly improve the prediction of pure thermal plume evolution, especially in the turbulent region in which the main turbulent characteristics fitted DNS results. The puffing phenomenon, i.e., unsteady vortex shedding concentration that occurs in the very close vicinity of the finite size source, was not correctly predicted by SGS models but only required sufficient grid resolution.
A three-dimensional magnetometer for motion sensing of a balloon-carried atmospheric measurement package
Authors: Harrison R. G. , Rogers G. W. , Hogan R. J.
Published: December 2007

An instrument is described which carries three orthogonal geomagnetic field sensors on a standard meteorological balloon package, to sense rapid motion and position changes during ascent through the atmosphere. Because of the finite data bandwidth available over the UHF radio link, a burst sampling strategy is adopted. Bursts of 9s of measurements at 3.6Hz are interleaved with periods of slow data telemetry lasting 25s. Calculation of the variability in each channel is used to determine position changes, a method robust to periods of poor radio signals. During three balloon ascents, variability was found repeatedly at similar altitudes, simultaneously in each of three orthogonal sensors carried. This variability is attributed to atmospheric motions. It is found that the vertical sensor is least prone to stray motions, and that the use of two horizontal sensors provides no additional information over a single horizontal sensor.
A probe for in situ, remote, detection of defects in buried plastic natural gas pipelines
Authors: Mathur M. P. , Spenik J. L. , Condon C. M. , Monazam E. R. , Fincham W. L.
Published: December 2007

Several techniques are available to determine the integrity of in situ metal pipeline but very little is available in the literature to determine the integrity of plastic pipelines. Since the decade of the 1970s much of the newly installed gas distribution and transmission lines in the United States are fabricated from polyethylene or other plastic. A probe has been developed to determine the in situ integrity of plastic natural gas pipelines that can be installed on a traversing mechanism (pig) to detect abnormalities in the walls of the plastic natural gas pipeline from the interior. This probe has its own internal power source and can be deployed into existing natural gas supply lines. Utilizing the capacitance parameter, the probe inspects the pipe for flaws and records the data internally which can be retrieved later for analysis.
Direct measurement of the matched spot size in a slow capillary discharge optical waveguide
Authors: Antsiferov Pavel S. , Akdim Mohamed R. , van Dam Herman T.
Published: December 2007

This communication presents direct method for experimental determining the matched spot size in a plasma optical waveguide, created in a slow capillary discharge. It can be used for Laser Wakefield Acceleration experiments in addition to interferometry for fast control of optical properties of discharge plasma. The measurements are done by means of the comparison of the laser beam size at the entrance and at the exit of the plasma channel. They are direct in the sense that the interpretation is made in terms of the refractive index without usage of the information about electron density distribution. The method can be used for matched spot size measurement in conditions of the nonlinear effects (transmission of high power laser pulses).
Influence of the deposition-induced stress on the magnetic properties of magnetostrictive amorphous (Fe80Co20)80B20 multilayers with orthogonal anisotropy
Authors: González-Guerrero Miguel , Prieto José Luis , Sánchez Pedro , Aroca Claudio
Published: December 2007

In this work, we experimentally justify that the control of the mechanical stress induced during the deposition of sputtered amorphous magnetostrictive (Fe80Co20)80B20 allows a custom design of its magnetic properties. FeCoB multilayers have been sputtered on thermal oxide Si substrates with different buffer materials. The crystalline quality and the thermomechanical properties of the buffer layer influence both the coercive and the anisotropy field. Those buffer layers with both high rigidity and poor thermal conductivity do not allow the dissipation of energy of the incoming sputtered material. Therefore, the mechanical stresses related to the deposition process cannot be released, leading to magnetic layers with high easy-axis coercive field and low anisotropy field. This shows that the mechanical stresses accumulated during deposition are a key parameter for the control of coercivity.
Electrical properties of polyethylene/aluminum nanocomposites
Authors: Huang X. Y. , Jiang P. K. , Kim C. U.
Published: December 2007

Understanding electrical properties of polymer nanocomposites is of great significance in order to diagnose and analyze physical and chemical behaviors of the composites as well as their own dielectric properties and can provide valuable data for improving the characteristics of the nanocomposites. In this work, the solution compounding method was used to prepare the polyethylene (PE)/aluminum (Al) nanocomposites. The dielectric permittivity and loss tangent of the PE/Al nanocomposites with different nanofiller loadings were investigated in the broad frequency range from 0.1 Hz to 10 MHz and the direct current (dc) conductivity and the dielectric breakdown strength of the PE/Al nanocomposites were also studied. The research results have shown that the dielectric permittivity shows different behaviors in the low and high frequency range. The permittivity values of the nanocomposites with the nanofiller loading levels of 0−48 wt % are found to show no percolative characteristics in the low frequency range below a few kilohertz whereas they tend to increase with the nanofiller loading increasing up to 24 wt % and show the percolative threshold. dc conductivity and dielectric breakdown strength of the nanocomposite are also observed to have percolation threshold characteristics, but the percolation phenomenon is observed to be rather early in the dielectric breakdown strength measurement than that found in the dielectric permittivity and dc conductivity tests because of the difference of the applied voltage level.
A pressure-based estimate of synthetic jet velocity
Authors: Persoons Tim , O’Donovan Tadhg S.
Published: December 2007

Synthetic jets are used for active flow control and enhanced heat transfer, and are typically generated by an orifice connected to a cavity with movable diaphragm actuator. Low-power operation is achieved by matching actuator and Helmholtz resonance frequencies. This brief communication presents an analytical model derived from simplified gas dynamics, for estimating the synthetic jet velocity and actuator deflection, based on a cavity pressure measurement. Model closure is provided by a damping force in the orifice, which agrees with established pressure loss correlations for steady flow through short ducts. The model is validated against experimental data obtained for an axisymmetric synthetic jet. The valid frequency range extends from zero, over the Helmholtz resonance frequency, up to a geometry-dependent limit frequency. This model presents a reference against which synthetic jet velocity can be calibrated.
Photo-Marangoni convection in a thin liquid film
Authors: Golovin A. A. , Volpert V. A.
Published: December 2007

Marangoni convection caused by a photochemical reaction of the type A⇌hνB in a thin liquid film with deformable interface is studied. A system of two coupled nonlinear evolution equations for the film thickness and the reactant concentration is derived in the long-wave approximation. Linear stability analysis is performed and the conditions for Marangoni convection to occur are obtained. It is shown that the type of instability depends on the ratio of diffusivities of the reactant and the product of the photochemical reaction: If the diffusivities are equal, the instability is always monotonic, while when they are significantly different the instability can be oscillatory. Numerical simulations of the derived system of equations are performed. It is shown that in the case of the monotonic instability, the system develops a spotty pattern that ultimately leads to the film rupture. In the case of oscillatory instability, it is shown that photo-Marangoni convection can result in sustained wavy patterns with a square symmetry.
Nanowetting of rough superhydrophobic surfaces
Authors: Zhang H. , Lamb R. N. , Cookson D. J.
Published: December 2007

Small angle x-ray scattering has been used to investigate the in situ immersive wetting of ultrarough surfaces which exhibit superhydrophobicity with extreme water contact angle (θA=169°). Reduced scattering contrast observed from rough surfaces when partially or totally wetted reveals significant physical differences between superhydrophobic surfaces not otherwise apparent from conventional contact angle measurements.
Tunneling spectroscopy of ultrathin insulating films: CuN on Cu(100)
Authors: Ruggiero C. D. , Choi T. , Gupta J. A.
Published: December 2007

Scanning tunneling microscopy is used to characterize the electronic structure of 1 ML films of CuN on Cu(100). We find that CuN acts as an insulator with a band gap that exceeds 4eV. Measurements of the tunneling barrier height and image potential states indicate that the CuN work function is ∼0.9eV larger than bare Cu. This suggests a significant surface dipole, consistent with charge transfer predicted by theory. Our results indicate that CuN films are useful for controlling the electronic coupling between adsorbates and surface electron density on the nanometer scale.
Calculation of bulk modulus on carbon nitrides with chemical bond method
Authors: Zhang Siyuan , Li Huaiyong , Li Ling , Zhou Shihong
Published: December 2007

The bulk moduli of some superhard materials were calculated by using the chemical bond method. For simple crystals, such as diamonds, c-BN, SiC, Si, BP, and Ge, the calculated results agree with experimental and theoretical values. For crystals of complex structure, such as β-BC2N crystal and various structural C3N4 crystals, the results indicate that their bulk moduli are large, but do not exceed that of diamond.
Conduction regime in innovative carbon nanotube via interconnect architectures
Authors: Coiffic J. C. , Fayolle M. , Maitrejean S. , Foa Torres L. E. F. , Le Poche H.
Published: December 2007

We report on the electrical properties of multiwall carbon nanotube based via interconnects over a broad range of temperature and bias voltage. By using innovating processing techniques, high density nanotube vias have been fabricated from single damascene and double damascene via architectures with diameters down to 140nm. For single damascene structures, resistances as low as 20Ω have been achieved for 300nm via size. Further measurements show that the conductance increases with temperature following an exponential law, which can be interpreted in terms of a disordered quasi-one dimensional conduction regime.
Band gap tuning of Na1−xLaxTa1−xCoxO3 solid solutions for visible light photocatalysis
Authors: Yi Z. G. , Ye J. H.
Published: December 2007

Monophase solid solutions Na1−xLaxTa1−xCoxO3 (x=0–0.25) were prepared with conventional solid state reactions method. The band gaps of the solid solutions can be tuned to effectively absorb visible light, with varying x value. The Na0.9La0.1Ta0.9Co0.1O3 photocatalyst exhibited the highest performance of H2 evolution (4.34μmol∕h) under visible light irradiation (λ>420nm), whereas no H2 evolution is observed for NaTaO3 under the same conditions. The first principles calculation using generalized gradient approximation revealed that the band gap alteration and the photocatalytic activities of Na1−xLaxTa1−xCoxO3 are mainly due to the hybridization of Co 3d and O 2p orbitals.
Fe–Zr–Nd–Y–B permanent magnet derived from crystallization of bulk amorphous alloy
Authors: Tan Xiaohua , Xu Hui , Bai Qin , Dong Yuanda
Published: December 2007

The microstructure and magnetic properties of Nd2Fe14B∕(Fe3B,α-Fe) nanocomposite magnet derived form crystallization of bulk amorphous Fe68Zr2Y4B21Nd5 alloy, which was prepared by copper mold casting, have been investigated. The obtaining maximum values of Ms, Mr, Hci, and (BH)max annealed at 963K for Fe68Zr2Nd5Y4B21 alloy are 86Am2∕kg, 49Am2∕kg, 380kA∕m, and 43kJ∕m3, respectively. δM plot, high resolution transmission electron microscopy observation, and three-dimensional atom probe technique clarified that the hard magnetic behavior is due to the exchange coupling between soft and hard magnetic nanophases.
Facial Averageness and Attractiveness in an Isolated Population of Hunter-Gatherers
Authors: Apicella Coren L , Little Anthony C , Marlowe Frank W
Published: December 2007

Average faces possess traits that are common to a population. Preferences for averageness have been found in several types of study of both real and computer-manipulated faces. Such preferences have been proposed to be biologically based and thus should be found across human populations, though cross-cultural evidence to date has been limited. In this study we examined preferences for averageness in both the West and in an isolated hunter-gatherer society, the Hadza of Northern Tanzania in Africa. We show that averageness is generally preferred across faces and cultures, but there were no significant preferences for averageness in European faces by Hadza judges. The different visual experience of the two cultures may explain the differences in preferences. While Westerners have visual experience of both European and African faces, the Hadza are limited in their experience of European faces, potentially leading to a lack of preference for averageness in this group because of the lack of a representation of the ‘norm’ of European faces.
Some Robust Higher-Level Percepts for Music
Authors: Watt Roger , Quinn Sandra
Published: December 2007

We explored a range of higher-level percepts in music. Participants were asked to make two-alternative forced-choice judgments of extracts of instrumental music on various dipole categories, such as happy/sad or male/female. The consistency with which each stimulus was judged on a response category across listeners provides an indication of the extent to which the musical percept can be mapped reliably onto that dimension. High consistency would suggest that the response category is related to one of the natural perceptual dimensions for music. We found very high consistency (90% +) for various response categories normally used as descriptions of people (such as male/female and happy/sad). Other types of response category gave much lower consistency. Perhaps our participants are experts in making fine distinctions in person-related categories for almost any stimulus. We tested this with a control experiment where foodstuffs replaced the musical stimuli. We did not find high agreement for person-related categories. The differences between responses to music and food were statistically highly significant.
Thiamine biosynthesis in algae is regulated by riboswitches
Authors: Croft Martin T. , Moulin Michael , Webb Michael E. , Smith Alison G.
Published: December 2007

In bacteria, many genes involved in the biosynthesis of cofactors such as thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) are regulated by ribo switches, regions in the 5′ end of mRNAs to which the cofactor binds, thereby affecting translation and/or transcription. TPP riboswitches have now been identified in fungi, in which they alter mRNA splicing. Here, we show that addition of thiamine to cultures of the model green alga
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
alters splicing of transcripts for the
THI4
and
THIC
genes, encoding the first enzymes of the thiazole and pyrimidine branches of thiamine biosynthesis, respectively, concomitant with an increase in intracellular thiamine and TPP levels. Comparison with
Volvox carteri
, a related alga, revealed highly conserved regions within introns of these genes. Inspection of the sequences identified TPP riboswitch motifs, and RNA transcribed from the regions binds TPP
in vitro
. The
THI4
riboswitch, but not the promoter region, was found to be necessary and sufficient for thiamine to repress expression of a luciferase-encoding reporter construct
in vivo
. The
pyr1
mutant of
C. reinhardtii
, which is resistant to the thiamine analogue pyrithiamine, has a mutation in the
THI4
riboswitch that prevents the
THI4
gene from being repressed by TPP. By the use of these ribo switches, thiamine biosynthesis in
C. reinhardtii
can be effectively regulated at physiological concentrations of the vitamin.
Dynamical magnetostructural properties of
Anabaena
ferredoxin
Authors: Schreiner Eduard , Nair Nisanth N. , Pollet Rodolphe , Staemmler Volker , Marx Dominik
Published: December 2007

A mixed quantum/classical investigation of the dynamical magnetostructural properties, that is, “magnetodynamics,” of oxidized
Anabaena
PCC7119 ferredoxin is carried out at room temperature in two distinct conformational states. This protein hosts a [2Fe–2S] cluster in which two iron centers are antiferromagnetically coupled to an overall low-spin electronic ground state that has a genuine multireference character. To study the magnetodynamics of this prosthetic group, an approximate spin projection method is formulated in the framework of density functional theory that allows for multideterminant
ab initio
molecular dynamics simulations to be carried out efficiently. By using this scheme, the influence of both thermal fluctuations and conformational motion on the structure of the [2Fe–2S] cluster and on the dynamics of the antiferromagnetic coupling constant,
J
(
t
), has been investigated. In addition to demonstrating how sensitively the shape of the [2Fe–2S] core itself is affected by hydrogen bonding, the analyses reveal a complex dynamical coupling of
J
to both local vibrations and large-amplitude motion. It is shown that this interplay can be understood in terms of specific vibrational modes and distinct hydrogen-bonding patterns between the iron–sulfur cluster and the protein backbone, respectively. This implies going beyond the Goodenough–Kanamori rules for angular magnetostructural correlations of oxidized iron–sulfur prosthetic groups.
Cold- and exercise-induced peak metabolic rates in tropical birds
Authors: Wiersma Popko , Chappell Mark A. , Williams Joseph B.
Published: December 2007

Compared with temperate birds, tropical birds have low reproductive rates, slow development as nestlings, and long lifespans. These “slow” life history traits are thought to be associated with reduced energy expenditure, or a slow “pace of life.” To test predictions from this hypothesis, we measured exercise-induced peak metabolic rates (PMR
E
) in 45 species of tropical lowland forest birds and compared these data with PMR
E
for three temperate species. We also compared cold-induced PMR (PMR
C
) with PMR
E
in the same individuals of 19 tropical species. Tropical birds had a 39% lower PMR
E
than did the temperate species. In tropical birds, PMR
C
and PMR
E
scaled similarly with body mass (
M
b
), but PMR
E
was 47% higher than PMR
C
. PMR
E
averaged 6.44 × basal metabolic rate (BMR) and PMR
C
averaged 4.52 × BMR. The slope of the equation relating PMR
E
to
M
b
exceeded the slope for the equation for BMR vs.
M
b
, whereas slopes for the equations of PMR
C
and BMR vs.
M
b
did not differ.
M
b
-adjusted residuals of PMR
E
were positively correlated with residual BMR, whereas residual PMR
C
and residual BMR were not correlated. PMR
E
and PMR
C
were not correlated after we corrected for
M
b
. Temperate birds maintained their body temperature at an 8.6°C lower average air temperature than did tropical species. The lower PMR
E
values in tropical species suggest that their suite of life history traits on the slow end of the life history continuum are associated with reduced metabolic rates.
Differential Apaf-1 levels allow cytochrome
c
to induce apoptosis in brain tumors but not in normal neural tissues
Authors: Johnson Carrie E. , Huang Yolanda Y. , Parrish Amanda B. , Smith Michelle I. , Vaughn Allyson E. , Zhang Qian , Wright Kevin M. , Van Dyke Terry , Wechsler-Reya Robert J. , Kornbluth Sally , Deshmukh Mohanish
Published: December 2007

Brain tumors are typically resistant to conventional chemotherapeutics, most of which initiate apoptosis upstream of mitochondrial cytochrome
c
release. In this study, we demonstrate that directly activating apoptosis downstream of the mitochondria, with cytosolic cytochrome
c
, kills brain tumor cells but not normal brain tissue. Specifically, cytosolic cytochrome
c
is sufficient to induce apoptosis in glioblastoma and medulloblastoma cell lines. In contrast, primary neurons from the cerebellum and cortex are remarkably resistant to cytosolic cytochrome
c
. Importantly, tumor tissue from mouse models of both high-grade astrocytoma and medulloblastoma display hypersensitivity to cytochrome
c
when compared with surrounding brain tissue. This differential sensitivity to cytochrome
c
is attributed to high Apaf-1 levels in the tumor tissue compared with low Apaf-1 levels in the adjacent brain tissue. These differences in Apaf-1 abundance correlate with differences in the levels of E2F1, a previously identified activator of Apaf-1 transcription. ChIP assays reveal that E2F1 binds the Apaf-1 promoter specifically in tumor tissue, suggesting that E2F1 contributes to the expression of Apaf-1 in brain tumors. Together, these results demonstrate an unexpected sensitivity of brain tumors to postmitochondrial induction of apoptosis. Moreover, they raise the possibility that this phenomenon could be exploited therapeutically to selectively kill brain cancer cells while sparing the surrounding brain parenchyma.
Universal scaling law of electrical turbulence in the mammalian heart
Authors: Noujaim Sami F. , Berenfeld Omer , Kalifa Jérôme , Cerrone Marina , Nanthakumar Kumaraswamy , Atienza Felipe , Moreno Javier , Mironov Sergey , Jalife José
Published: December 2007

Many biological processes, such as metabolic rate and life span, scale with body mass (BM) according to the universal law of allometric scaling:
Y
=

aBM
b

(
Y
, biological process;
b
, scaling exponent). We investigated whether the temporal properties of ventricular fibrillation (VF), the major cause of sudden and unexpected cardiac death, scale with BM. By using high-resolution optical mapping, numerical simulations and metaanalysis of VF data in 11 mammalian species, we demonstrate that the interbeat interval of VF scales as VF
cycle
length
= 53 × BM
1/4
, spanning more than four orders of magnitude in BM from mouse to horse.