bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Making a link between childhood physical abuse and cancer
Authors: Fuller‐Thomson Esme , Brennenstuhl Sarah
Published: May 2009

BACKGROUND:

Abuse in childhood is associated with many negative adult health outcomes. Only 1 study to date has found an association between childhood abuse and cancer. By using a regionally representative community sample, this preliminary study sought to investigate the association between childhood physical abuse and cancer while controlling for 3 clusters of risk factors: childhood stressors, adult health behaviors, and adult socioeconomic status.

METHODS:

Regional data from the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan were selected from the 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey. Of the 13,092 respondents, 7.4% (n = 1025) reported that they had been physically abused as a child by someone close to them, and 5.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.9‐6.6) reported that they had been diagnosed with cancer by a health professional. The regional level response rate was 84%.

RESULTS:

Childhood physical abuse was associated with 49% higher odds (95% CI, 1.10‐2.01) of cancer when adjusting for age, sex, and race only. The odds ratio decreased only slightly to 47% higher odds (95% CI, 1.05‐1.99) when the model was adjusted for all 3 clusters of risk factors.

CONCLUSIONS:

A significant and highly stable association between childhood physical abuse and cancer was found even when adjusting for 3 clusters of risk factors. Further research focusing on the potential mechanisms linking childhood abuse and cancer is needed. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.
The cancer Support Person's Unmet Needs Survey
Authors: Campbell H. Sharon , Sanson‐Fisher Rob , Taylor‐Brown Jill , Hayward Lynda , Wang X. Sunny , Turner Donna
Published: May 2009

BACKGROUND:

A rigorous psychometric methodology was used to develop a measure of unmet needs for cancer survivors' principal support persons. Principal support person was defined as “someone you can count on and who helps you with your needs.”

METHODS:

Development of the domains and the items followed an extensive literature review, iterative input from support persons, and consultation with health professionals and front‐line staff working with cancer survivors and their supports. Cognitive interviews helped clarify item wording, and the draft questionnaire was reappraised by a group of support persons. The questionnaire was reduced to 90 items and sent to a stratified, random sample of cancer survivors selected from a provincial population‐based cancer registry. They were asked to give the survey to their support person.

RESULTS:

The resulting 78‐item Support Person Unmet Needs Survey has high acceptability, item test‐retest reliability, internal consistency (Chronbach alpha = .990), and face, content, and construct validity. It captures 6 domains of unmet needs and accounts for 73.5% of total variance: Information and Relationship Needs (27 items, 22.1% of variance), Emotional Needs (16 items, 15.2%), Personal Needs (14 items, 14.0%), Work and Finance (8 items, 8.8%), Health Care Access and Continuity (9 items, 8.6%), and Worries About Future (4 items, 4.8%).

CONCLUSIONS:

This instrument will be of use where there is an interest in examining the impact of cancer not only on cancer survivors but also on their identified principal support persons. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.
Formyl‐Porphyrin and Formyl‐Fullerenoporphyrin Building Blocks for the Construction of Multiporphyrin Arrays
Authors: Urbani Maxence , Iehl Julien , Osinska Iwona , Louis Rémy , Holler Michel , Nierengarten Jean‐François
Published: May 2009

A fullerene derivative bearing a benzaldehyde unit has been prepared and used as starting material for the synthesis of a formyl‐fullerenoporphyrin building block. Condensation of this aldehyde with pyrrole in CHCl3 with BF3·Et2O as catalyst followed by p‐chloranil oxidation yielded a pentaporphyrinic scaffold surrounded by four peripheral C60 subunits. By following a similar strategy, a bis‐porphyrin building block bearing an aldehyde function was prepared and used for the construction of a nonaporphyrin array by reaction with pyrrole under typical porphyrin synthesis conditions. Whereas the 1H NMR spectrum recorded at room temperature for the nonaporphyrin system is well defined, the signals recorded under the same conditions for the pentaporphyrin derivative surrounded by four peripheral C60 groups are broad. Indeed, the C60‐pentaporphyrin ensemble appears as a mixture of conformers which equilibrate slowly on the NMR time scale at room temperature.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
A 14th–17th century osteoporotic hip fracture from the Santa Clara‐a‐Velha Convent in Coimbra (Portugal)
Authors: Curate F. , Lopes C. , Cunha E.
Published: May 2009

Osteoporosis is an evocative term for a metabolic disorder characterized by loss of bone mass and organization, which predisposes to fracture. The clinical consequences of osteoporosis lie in the problems associated with it, specifically hip, Colles and vertebral fractures. We present here an extracapsular fracture of the proximal femur in an aged female skeleton from the Santa Clara‐a‐Velha Monastery (14th–17th centuries) in Coimbra, Portugal. This fracture is probably secondary to an osteoporotic disorder. Bone remodeling at the fracture site confirms that this woman survived for a long period after sustaining a fracture of the proximal femur, suggestive of a solid community assistance and support. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ancient DNA (aDNA) studies of man and microbes: general similarities, specific differences
Authors: Taylor G. M. , Mays S. A. , Huggett J. F.
Published: May 2009

The study of ancient DNA (aDNA) using molecular methods is an increasingly valuable tactic in bioarchaeology. While this method must be carefully undertaken to ensure that the molecules detected are representative of the ancient sample and not modern contaminates, there is a danger that a ‘one size fits all’ approach to validation will lead to misinterpretation and/or missed opportunities of valuable findings. When comparing human and pathogen aDNA, there are many shared technical means that can ensure best practice. However, there are a number of assumptions that should not be used for both scenarios. We discuss these aspects in reference to a recent article published by this journal and highlight some of the latest advances in molecular detection of ancient pathogen DNA that can further improve this endeavour. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Flammability and thermal degradation of epoxy acrylate modified with phosphorus‐containing compounds
Authors: Chen Xilei , Jiao Chuanmei
Published: May 2009

A series of UV‐curable flame retardant resins was obtained using epoxy acrylate (EA) modified with 1‐oxo‐4‐hydroxymethyl‐2,6,7‐trioxa‐1‐phosphabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (PEPA). The flammability was characterized by limiting the oxygen index (LOI), UL 94 and cone calorimeter, and the thermal degradation of the flame retardant resins was studied using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and real time Fourier transform infrared (RTFTIR). The results indicated that the flame retardant efficiency increases and the heat release rate (HRR) decreases greatly with the content of PEPA. The TG data showed that the modified epoxy acrylates (MEAs) have lower initial decomposition temperatures and higher char residues than pure EA. The RTFTIR study indicates that the MEAs have lower thermal oxidative stability than the pure EA. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Securing a sustainable future through a new global contract between rich and poor
Authors: de Lange Willem J. , Wise Russell M. , Nahman Anton
Published: May 2009

Global sustainable development depends on the capacity of natural, social and economic systems to adapt to external stimuli. However, building this adaptive capacity in the developing world context of sub‐Saharan Africa will require substantial investment in these systems, which most countries in this region simply cannot afford. Given that their social, economic and environmental security depends on developments in developing countries, we argue that developed countries should assume a leading role in making such investments in developing countries, in order to secure their own long‐term well‐being. This will require cooperative governance between developed and developing countries, and targeted investment in a number of key areas. This calls for a new global contract between rich and poor nations in order to achieve global stability and sustainability. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
The social dimension of sustainable development: Defining urban social sustainability
Authors: Dempsey Nicola , Bramley Glen , Power Sinéad , Brown Caroline
Published: May 2009

Sustainable development is a widely used term, which has been increasingly influential on UK planning, housing and urban policy in recent years. Debates about sustainability no longer consider sustainability solely as an environmental concern, but also incorporate economic and social dimensions. However, while a social dimension to sustainability is widely accepted, exactly what this means has not been very clearly defined or agreed. This paper aims to address this disparity through a detailed exploration and definition of the concept of social sustainability within the urban context. The relationship between urban form and social sustainability is explored and two main dimensions of social sustainability are identified and discussed in detail: equitable access and the sustainability of the community itself. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Two Hybrid Compounds Constructed from Vanadate Clusters and Secondary Metal‐Bis(imidazole) Subunits
Authors: Wang Xiuli , Hu Hailiang , Chen Baokuan , Lin Hongyan , Liu Guocheng , Li Jin
Published: May 2009

Two new inorganic–organic vanadate hybrid compounds [Mn(Hbbi)2(V4O12)] (1) and [Cd(Hbbi)2(V4O12)] (2) (bbi = 1,1’‐(1,4‐butanediyl)bis(imidazole)) were hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectroscopy, TG and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The two compounds crystallize in monoclinic system, P21/c space group with a = 8.556(5) Å, b = 10.761(5) Å, c = 16.917(5) Å, β = 93.032(5) o, V = 1555.4(12) Å3, Z = 2, R = 0.0390 for 1 and a = 8.657(5) Å, b = 10.743 (5) Å, c = 16.864 (5) Å, β = 93.81(5)o, V = 1564.9 (12) Å3, Z = 2, R = 0.0717 for 2. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis reveals that the two compounds are isostructural and both consist of one‐dimensional (1D) chains, which are constructed from vanadate anion clusters and [M(Hbbi)2]4+ cation groups [M = MnII (1), CdII (2)]. Moreover, the polymeric chains are ultimately packed into a three‐dimensional (3D) supramolecular framework through C–H···O and N–H···O hydrogen bonding interactions.
Supramolecular Structures with the 2‐Propyl‐4,5‐dicarboxy‐1H‐imidazole Ligand: Hydrothermal Synthesis, Structures, and Photoluminescence
Authors: Li Xiao‐Xu , Wang Ning , Yue Shan‐Tang , Li Zhao‐Yang , Wu Hong‐Yan , Liu Ying‐Liang
Published: May 2009

Self‐assembly of the rigid organic ligand 2‐propyl‐4,5‐dicarboxy‐1H‐imidazole (L) with different metal ions (Zn2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Cd2+) led to four new complexes, namely, [M(L)(phen)] [M = Zn (1); Ni (2); Cd (3)] and [Cu(L)(4)] (phen = 1,10‐phenanthroline). Their structures were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analyses, and they were further characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Whereas compounds 1, 2, and 3 are discrete units, hydrogen‐bonding interactions play a vital role in these complexes. Compounds 1 and 2 form one‐dimensional (1D) and two‐dimensional (2D) structures through hydrogen‐bondinginteractions with helical character. In 1, the hydrogen bonds (O–H···O) alternately bridge the MII cations of the discrete units to form a one‐dimensional (1D) infinite helical chain. Complex 2 forms a 2D helical layer through parallel hydrogen bonds (N/O–H···O/N) between two adjacent helical chains. In 3, the hydrogen bonds (N–H···O) connect adjacent discrete units into a ten‐membered ring with extension into a one‐dimensional double‐chain supramolecular structure. Complex 4 is a two‐dimensional gridlike (4,4) topological layer which is extended to a 3D network by hydrogen bonding. The solid‐state fluorescence spectrum of complex 3 was determined.
Depression, anxiety, health‐related quality of life and pain in patients with chronic fibromyalgia and neuropathic pain
Authors: Gormsen Lise , Rosenberg Raben , Bach Flemming W. , Jensen Troels S.
Published: May 2009

Chronic pain is often associated with comorbidities such as anxiety and depression, resulting in a low health‐related quality of life. The mechanisms underlying this association are not clear, but a disturbance in the pain control systems from the brain stem has been suggested. Thirty neuropathic pain (NP) patients, 28 patients with fibromyalgia (FM), and 26 pain‐free age‐ and gender‐matched controls were included and examined with respect to mental distress (self‐rated Symptom Checklist‐92), depression (doctor‐rated Hamilton Depression Scale and self‐rated Major Depression Inventory), and anxiety (doctor‐rated Hamilton Anxiety Scale and self‐rated Anxiety Inventory). In addition, patients assessed their health‐related quality of life (SF‐36). Chronic pain patients with FM and NP had significantly more mental distress including depression and anxiety than healthy controls both by self‐rating and by a professional rating. However, these scores are low compared to other studies on mental distress in chronic pain patients. Only few chronic pain patients meet the diagnostic criteria for depression (NP 3.3%, FM 7.1%), and associations between pain and mental symptoms were only found in the FM group despite similar pain intensities. The findings suggest that different mechanisms are responsible for the development of mood disorders in the two patient groups.
Word‐of‐mouth transmission in settings with multiple opinions: The impact of other opinions on WOM likelihood and valence
Authors: Ryu Gangseog , Han Jin K.
Published: May 2009

Scholars in social psychology and marketing have traditionally examined word‐of‐mouth (WOM) interactions in a dyadic setting, comprised of a WOM‐opinion provider and its recipient. Yet, social interactions also often occur in larger settings, and group‐based research has shown group sizes to affect its member behavior. To this end, we set out to examine WOM transmission in a larger context by introducing a WOM responder, whose role is to provide a second opinion to the WOM recipient. In Experiment 1, we find that social relations in the triad play a key role in WOM transmission. For strong ties, the WOM responder showed little difference in willingness to offer a second opinion irrespective of its congruency with the first opinion. Incongruency with the first opinion, however, reduced the valence of the second opinion. For weak ties, the presence (vs. absence) of first opinion—irrespective of its congruency—increased the likelihood of offering a second opinion and also its valence. We demonstrate that the effects could be attributable to different accessibility of needs for assimilation and differentiation as well as of motivational orientations toward other parties of WOM. Experiment 2 takes a closer look at the conflicting motivations of social influence (normative vs. informational) associated with strong ties, and finds both in operation but to a differing degree. Finally, a follow‐up study addresses the current findings in the context of satisfied/dissatisfied consumers.
Oesophageal foreign body and a double aortic arch: rare dual pathology
Authors: O'Connor T E , Cooney T
Published: May 2009

Objective:

We report the rare case of an oesophageal foreign body which lodged above the site of oesophageal compression by a double aortic arch.

Methods:

Case report and a review of the literature surrounding the classification, embryology, diagnosis and management of vascular rings and slings.

Results:

An eight-month-old male infant presented with symptoms of tracheal compression following ingestion of an oesophageal foreign body. Following removal of the oesophageal foreign body, the infant's symptoms improved initially. However, subsequent recurrence of respiratory symptoms lead to a repeat bronchoscopy and the diagnosis of a coexisting double aortic arch, causing tracheal and oesophageal compression.

Conclusion:

To our knowledge, this is only the second reported case of a double aortic arch being diagnosed in a patient following removal of an oesophageal foreign body.
Trialling an automated passive acoustic detector (T-POD) with Hector's dolphins (Cephalorhynchus hectori)
Authors: Rayment William , Dawson Steve , Slooten Liz
Published: May 2009

Acoustic surveys can have several advantages over visual methods in surveys of cetaceans, although verification is required that novel techniques are effective. The T-POD is an autonomous acoustic data logger with inbuilt filters that can be set to match the click characteristics of the target species. We tested the performance of the T-POD for detecting Hector's dolphins at Flea Bay, Banks Peninsula, New Zealand. Simultaneous visual surveys were conducted from a hillside overlooking the bay, with distances between the T-POD and dolphins measured using a theodolite. Wideband sound recordings confirmed that T-POD detections were echolocation clicks made by Hector's dolphins. Detection probability and click train detection rate decreased with increasing distance, with no detections made beyond 500 m. By fitting detection functions to the probability of detection versus distance we showed that the T-POD effectively detected all dolphin groups within a radius of 198–239 m, depending on the click train categories utilized. The T-POD shows considerable promise as a tool for passive acoustic surveys of Hector's dolphins, with possible applications in studies of distribution, habitat use and echolocation behaviour.
First molecular estimate of sex-ratio of southern right whale calves, Eubalaena australis, for Brazilian waters
Authors: de Oliveira Larissa Rosa , Ott Paulo Henrique , Flores Paulo A.C. , Siciliano Salvatore , de Almeida Raquel Santos , Bonatto Sandro L.
Published: May 2009

The southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) was one of the most intensively hunted whales between the 17th and 20th centuries in the southern hemisphere. Recent estimates indicate that today there are around 7000 whales, representing 5 to 10% of its original population. On the other hand, recent studies estimated that the population that migrates to the Brazilian coast grew by 14% from 1987 to 2003. However, there is no information about sex-ratio for adults or for calves in this region, which is an important parameter for understanding the biology of the species. We present here the first estimate of calves' sex-ratio of southern right whales found along the southern Brazilian coast, one of the most important wintering grounds for the species. Sex was molecularly indentified for 21 biopsies collected from calves between 1998 and 2002, along the coast of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina States, in southern Brazil. The sex-ratio was two females for one male, however, it was not statistically different (χ2 test, α = 0.05; df = 1) from the expected ratio of 1:1. This result is in accordance with the sex-ratio estimated for the species of all ages using external morphology (and behaviour information), as well as for most species of baleen whales.
Seasonality of metazoan ectoparasites in marine European flounderPlatichthys flesus(Teleostei: Pleuronectidae)
Authors: CAVALEIRO F. I. , SANTOS M. J.
Published: May 2009

Seasonal occurrence of metazoan ectoparasites is described for the first time in marine European flounder,Platichthys flesus(L.). The parasitofauna, in this study monitored during 1 year, was found to be similar to that previously recorded for flounder. Moreover, specimens ofCaligussp. Müller, 1785 andLepeophtheirus pectoralis(Copepoda: Caligidae),Acanthochondria cornuta(Copepoda: Chondracanthidae),Holobomolochus confusus(Copepoda: Bomolochidae) andNerocila orbignyi(Isopoda: Cymothoidae), and also, a praniza larva (Isopoda: Gnathiidae), were isolated. From these,L. pectoralisandA. cornutawere the dominant parasites in all samples of flounder, whileCaligussp.,H. confusus,N. orbignyiand the gnathiid praniza seemed to infect the flounder only occasionally. As far as the seasonality of infections is concerned, it differed considerably from that described for estuarine environments. Indeed, both prevalence and abundance ofL. pectoralisandA. cornutareached significant peaks in the summer, whereas the literature identifies the autumn as the season of maximum infection on estuarine flounder. Thus, the former period seems more favourable for the occurrence of epizooties ofL. pectoralisandA. cornutain flounder culturing systems running on seawater and operated in the studied or similar environments.
Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma infection in a metropolitan region of Brazil
Authors: FERNANDES G. C. V. R. , AZEVEDO R. S. , AMAKU M. , YU A. L. F. , MASSAD E.
Published: May 2009

Seroprevalence data from a representative population were used to estimate the annual incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis in São Paulo Metropolitan Region (SPMR). Retrospective anti-toxoplasma IgG serological analysis was conducted to determine age-dependent seroprevalence, force of infection, average age of acquisition of infection and curve of decay of maternally derived antibodies. Seroprevalence was used to calculate the number of new infections. Toxoplasmosis in pregnant women was estimated by total number of deliveries in a given year as a proxy for the number of pregnancies per year. Toxoplasma seroprevalence was 64·9% in women of childbearing age. Average age of acquisition of toxoplasmosis was 10·74 years. The estimated annual incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis varied from 9·5 to 10·6/1000 births in the studied period. The toxoplasmosis seroprevalence model allowed a good incidence estimation of congenital disease in SPMR compared to other published data, indicating that this mathematical approach is useful in calculating the potential demand of congenital disease due to Toxoplasma gondii in a given community.
PRENATAL SCREENING AND DIAGNOSIS OF FETAL CHROMOSOMAL ABNORMALITIES – DILEMMA BETWEEN BEST EVIDENCE-BASED MODEL AND PRACTICABILITY
Authors: LAU TK , LEUNG TY
Published: May 2009

There is little doubt that congenital abnormalities cause significant stresses to the affected children, their parents and the whole family. Such stresses can be physical, psychological, social and financial. To society, the cost of looking after these affected individuals properly can be substantial. In the absence of prenatal screening, birth defects affect approximately 2–4% of newborns, although there are significant variations between populations.
Reducing food insecurity in developing countries through meat production: the potential of the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus)
Authors: Lammers Peter J. , Carlson Sarah L. , Zdorkowski Gretchen A. , Honeyman Mark S.
Published: May 2009

Global poverty and food insecurity continue to remain critical issues, especially in rural areas. Developing and fostering agricultural systems that not only require low to moderate amounts of economic capital and few external inputs but also maintain and enhance the resource base of production are key features of sustainable agricultural development. Sustainable agricultural development, including diversifying smallholder production to include livestock, is a pragmatic approach to address both rural poverty and food insecurity. Livestock play important roles in the lives of humans as converters, recyclers and banks of nutrients. Smallholders raise a diversity of livestock species and often raise multiple species simultaneously. High fecundity, diet flexibility and adaptability to a wide range of housing and management approaches are critical traits of livestock species well suited for producing meat for home consumption and marketing in the context of rural smallholders. Swine (Sus scrofa) and chicken (Gallus domesticus) meet many of these criteria and are well known livestock species. This paper examines the potential for a less common species of livestock, guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) to enhance food security and increase household income of rural smallholders. Although cultural acceptance of guinea pig as a source of nutrition and income is less ubiquitous than that of swine, chicken and other species, the biological, ecological and economic advantages of guinea pig deserve further examination by those working to alleviate global poverty and food insecurity.
Die Wertigkeit der Vaginalsonographie in der präoperativen Diagnostik der Adenomyose und tief infiltrierenden Endometriose
Authors: Hudelist  , Keckstein
Published: May 2009

Die Bereicherung der gynäkologischen Untersuchungsverfahren durch die transvaginale Sonographie (TVS) in den letzten zwei Jahrzehnten hat die Erwartungen weit übertroffen. Ein wesentlicher Aspekt ist die hohe Aussagekraft der TVS sowohl bezüglich der Ovarialendometriose als auch der tief infiltrierenden Endometriose (TIE) des Septum rectovaginale und des Rektosigmoids. Ein mit dem sonographischen Erscheinungsbild vertrauter Untersucher kann die Diagnose dank der TVS bereits in der gynäkologischen Praxis stellen. Eine Verkürzung des Symptom-Diagnose-Therapie-Intervalls durch frühzeitige Erkennung und adäquate Therapie kann den Krankheitsverlauf und somit die Lebensqualität der betroffenen Patientin entscheidend beeinflussen. Die operative Therapie der TIE sollte primär an spezialisierten Zentren durchgeführt werden.
Aftershock modeling based on uncertain stress calculations
Authors: Hainzl S. , Enescu B. , Cocco M. , Woessner J. , Catalli F. , Wang R. , Roth F.
Published: May 2009

We discuss the impact of uncertainties in computed coseismic stress perturbations on the seismicity rate changes forecasted through a rate‐ and state‐dependent frictional model. We aim to understand how the variability of Coulomb stress changes affects the correlation between predicted and observed changes in the rate of earthquake production. We use the aftershock activity following the 1992 M7.3 Landers (California) earthquake as a case study. To accomplish these tasks, we first analyze the variability of stress changes resulting from the use of different published slip distributions. We find that the standard deviation of the uncertainty is of the same size as the absolute stress change and that their ratio, the coefficient of variation (CV), is approximately constant in space. This uncertainty has a strong impact on the forecasted aftershock activity if a rate‐and‐state frictional model is considered. We use the early aftershocks to invert for friction parameters and the coefficient of variation by means of the maximum likelihood method. We show that, when the uncertainties are properly taken into account, the inversion yields stable results, which fit the spatiotemporal aftershock sequence. The analysis of the 1992 Landers sequence demonstrates that accounting for realistic uncertainties in stress changes strongly improves the correlation between modeled and observed seismicity rate changes. For this sequence, we measure a friction parameter Aσn ≈ 0.017 MPa and a coefficient of stress variation CV = 0.95.
New satellite mission with old data: Rescuing a unique data set
Authors: Benson Robert F. , Bilitza Dieter
Published: May 2009

We review efforts to save a unique data set and scientific results based on the rescued data. The goal of the project was to produce Alouette 2, ISIS 1, and ISIS 2 digital topside ionograms from selected original seven‐track analog telemetry tapes. This project was initiated to preserve a significant portion of 60 satellite years of analog data, collected between 1962 and 1990, in digital form before the tapes were discarded. More than 1/2 million digital topside ionograms are now available for downloading at http://nssdcftp.gsfc.nasa.gov and for browsing and plotting at http://cdaweb.gsfc.nasa.gov. We illustrate data products, discuss analysis programs, review scientific results based on the digital data, and recognize those who made the project possible. The scientific results include evidence of extremely low altitude ionospheric peak densities at high latitudes, improved and new ionospheric models including one connecting the F2 topside ionosphere and the plasmasphere, transionospheric HF propagation investigations, and new interpretations of sounder‐stimulated plasma emissions that have challenged theorists for decades. The homepage for the ISIS project is at http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/space/isis/isis-status.html.
On groundwater fluctuations, evapotranspiration, and understory removal in riparian corridors
Authors: Martinet Maceo C. , Vivoni Enrique R. , Cleverly James R. , Thibault James R. , Schuetz Jennifer F. , Dahm Clifford N.
Published: May 2009

This study utilizes 7 years of continuously monitored groundwater‐level data from four sites along the Río Grande riparian corridor in central New Mexico to calculate evapotranspiration from groundwater and assess impacts of understory vegetation removal during a restoration project. Diurnal groundwater fluctuation measurements were used to compare the well‐known White method for estimating evapotranspiration from groundwater (ETg) to colocated measurements of total riparian evapotranspiration (ET) measured using the eddy covariance method. On average, the two methods were linearly correlated and had similar variability, but groundwater hydrograph estimates of ETg tended to be larger than tower ET estimates. Average ETg estimates for two wells at one site ranged from 91.45% to 164.77% of measured tower ET estimates, but were also shown to range from 57.35% to 254.34% at another site. Comparisons between the methods improved with deeper water tables, reduced groundwater and river connectivity, and where soil profiles were dominated by coarse‐sized particles. Using a range of texture‐based estimates of specific yield (Sy) with water table position improves the field application of the White method. River‐induced fluctuations in groundwater increased the variability of ETg measurements. Removal of understory vegetation at one site resulted in a small but significant reduction in diel groundwater fluctuation amplitude of 19–21%. Caution is required when understory vegetation removal is used as a means to decrease overall riparian ET. Diel groundwater fluctuation amplitudes can be useful in gauging the hydrological effects of vegetation removal. Riparian groundwater hydrographs are critical to investigating the hydrologic connectivity between river and shallow groundwater, the temporal patterns of vegetative consumption, and monitoring changes to the vegetation community.
Role of salt sources in density‐dependent flow
Authors: Hidalgo Juan J. , Carrera Jesús , Medina Agustín
Published: May 2009

Flow equation expresses mass conservation for a fluid phase. In density‐dependent problems, fluid consists of at least two components, termed salt and water here. Salt sources are usually properly accounted for when salt is dissolved in water (i.e., as a solute) but are neglected otherwise. An analysis of the effect of neglecting pure salt sources on flow regime and concentration distribution is performed. Two test cases are used to illustrate the issue. The first one is the saltwater bucket problem, which consists of adding salt to an otherwise isolated domain. The second one is the Elder problem. Discrepancies in concentrations are moderate for reasonably small salt mass fractions. However, currently available codes yield head drops in response to the addition of salt because fluid mass is kept constant while its density increases. Such results contradict basic physical principles and lead to an inversion in the flow direction.
Extension of Gutenberg‐Richter distribution to MW −1.3, no lower limit in sight
Authors: Boettcher Margaret S. , McGarr A. , Johnston Malcolm
Published: May 2009

With twelve years of seismic data from TauTona Gold Mine, South Africa, we show that mining‐induced earthquakes follow the Gutenberg‐Richter relation with no scale break down to the completeness level of the catalog, at moment magnitude MW −1.3. Events recorded during relatively quiet hours in 2006 indicate that catalog detection limitations, not earthquake source physics, controlled the previously reported minimum magnitude in this mine. Within the Natural Earthquake Laboratory in South African Mines (NELSAM) experiment's dense seismic array, earthquakes that exhibit shear failure at magnitudes as small as MW −3.9 are observed, but we find no evidence that MW −3.9 represents the minimum magnitude. In contrast to previous work, our results imply small nucleation zones and that earthquake processes in the mine can readily be scaled to those in either laboratory experiments or natural faults.
Spatiotemporal regime of climate and streamflow in the U.S. Great Lakes Basin
Authors: Shmagin Boris , Johnston Carol , Krakauer Nir
Published: May 2009

We analyzed interannual and seasonal regimes of river runoff, precipitation, and air temperature for three nested regions: (1) the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, (2) the U.S. portion of the Great Lakes Basin, and (3) glaciated portions of the northeastern U.S. spanning from the Dakotas to New England. Data sources included historical records of 50 to 105 years duration from 45 USGS gauging stations and 198 U.S. National Climate Network stations, and satellite-derived estimates of global monthly precipitation gridded at 2.5 resolution for 1979-2008 (partly data about precipitations were collected and passed for analysis by Glenn Hodgkins from USGS). We examined the spatiotemporal variability of climate characteristics for these regions as a multidimensional structure obtained from empirical data using factor analysis. The structure consisted of a few (2 to 7) centers of variability for each characteristic, and reflected the diversity of landscapes within the regions examined. Trends and regime shifts for mutual time intervals of river runoff, precipitation and temperature showed different direction of changes. The results obtained at the three scales were generally in agreement.
Syntactic Frames in Fast Mapping Verbs: Effect of Age, Dialect, and Clinical Status
Authors: Johnson Valerie E. , de Villiers Jill G.
Published: May 2009

Purpose

To investigate children’s performance on a fast mapping task. Possible effects across age, dialect group, and clinical status were explored.

Method

Participants between the ages of 4 and 9 saw a series of pictured events and heard novel verbs. The novel verbs were in intransitive, transitive, dative, and complement syntactic frames or argument structures. The children then had to answer questions about the novel verbs that revealed what meaning they had attached to them. The field-testing of a new assessment instrument provided the data for typically developing children and children with language impairment from 2 linguistic communities: (a) mainstream American English speaking and (b) African American English speaking. Strict criteria were used for the 529 participants that defined both their clinical and dialect status.

Results

There were significant effects of age and clinical status on the participants' ability to fast map a novel verb from its argument structure, but no significant effects for dialect.

Conclusions

Regardless of dialect, children with specific language impairment have difficulty using syntactic frames to identify a likely meaning of a novel verb. In addition, the syntactic frames are differentially difficult, with complement structures being particularly hard.
Short-Term Memory (STM) Constraints in Children With Specific Language Impairment (SLI): Are There Differences Between Receptive and Expressive SLI?
Authors: Nickisch Andreas , von Kries Rüdiger
Published: May 2009

Purpose

Specific language impairment (SLI) is assumed to be causally related to deficits in auditory short-term memory (STM). Although verbal STM deficits have been consistently found in SLI, the results of visual STM tests are inconsistent. Do these inconsistencies reflect different study populations of expressive SLI (ELI) and receptive–expressive SLI (R/ELI)?

Method

Twenty-one children (ages 6–11) with ELI, 21 with R/ELI, and 21 controls (CG) matched on age and nonverbal intelligence were retrospectively compared with regard to their visual and auditory STM.

Results

ELI children and R/ELI children performed significantly poorer than the CG in auditory-verbal STM tests. On tests for visual STM (symbol sequences), the R/ELI children performed significantly poorer than the CG. For hand movements, children with R/ELI scored slightly poorer compared to both other groups but without reaching statistical significance. Correlation analyses showed significant associations between symbol sequences and receptive language measures. Regression analysis found that the scores of symbol sequences and digit sequences together accounted for 39% of the variance of the receptive language measures, whereas the scores for nonsense syllables accounted for 24% of the variance of the expressive language measures.

Conclusion

R/ELI children appear to have more complex STM deficits, as they showed visual STM constraints in addition to auditory STM constraints.
The tissue diagnostic instrument
Authors: Hansma Paul , Yu Hongmei , Schultz David , Rodriguez Azucena , Yurtsev Eugene A. , Orr Jessica , Tang Simon , Miller Jon , Wallace Joseph , Zok Frank , Li Cheng , Souza Richard , Proctor Alexander , Brimer Davis , Nogues-Solan Xavier , Mellbovsky Leonardo , Peña M. Jesus , Diez-Ferrer Oriol , Mathews Phillip , Randall Connor , Kuo Alfred , Chen Carol , Peters Mathilde , Kohn David , Buckley Jenni , Li Xiaojuan , Pruitt Lisa , Diez-Perez Adolfo , Alliston Tamara , Weaver Valerie , Lotz Jeffrey
Published: May 2009

Tissue mechanical properties reflect extracellular matrix composition and organization, and as such, their changes can be a signature of disease. Examples of such diseases include intervertebral disk degeneration, cancer, atherosclerosis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and tooth decay. Here we introduce the tissue diagnostic instrument (TDI), a device designed to probe the mechanical properties of normal and diseased soft and hard tissues not only in the laboratory but also in patients. The TDI can distinguish between the nucleus and the annulus of spinal disks, between young and degenerated cartilage, and between normal and cancerous mammary glands. It can quantify the elastic modulus and hardness of the wet dentin left in a cavity after excavation. It can perform an indentation test of bone tissue, quantifying the indentation depth increase and other mechanical parameters. With local anesthesia and disposable, sterile, probe assemblies, there has been neither pain nor complications in tests on patients. We anticipate that this unique device will facilitate research on many tissue systems in living organisms, including plants, leading to new insights into disease mechanisms and methods for their early detection.
Nanosecond response of organic solar cells and photodetectors
Authors: Christ Nico S. , Kettlitz Siegfried W. , Valouch Sebastian , Züfle Simon , Gärtner Christian , Punke Martin , Lemmer Uli
Published: May 2009

We examine the impact of various parameters on the transient current density characteristics of organic solar cells and photodetectors by means of numerical simulations. Our self-consistent numerical model treats the dynamics of generated electrons and holes in the framework of a drift-diffusion model. As input parameter for the electric model, the intensity distribution of the incident light is calculated with a transfer-matrix method accounting for interference effects. The results are compared to experimental results. With our approach, we are able to distinguish the influence of different physical effects as they become dominant at different current densities or at different time regimes. This enables us to estimate the electron and hole mobilities separately by fitting the experimental results. Furthermore, space charge effects are identified as being highly important for the transient response of photodetectors.
Cerenkov acoustic-phonon emission generated electrically from a polar semiconductor
Authors: Zhao X. F. , Zhang J. , Chen S. M. , Xu W.
Published: May 2009

We present a systematic theoretical study of the Cerenkov acoustic-phonon emission from a polar semiconductor such as GaAs driven by dc electric field. The drift electron velocity and electron-temperature in the system are determined by solving self-consistently the momentum- and energy-balance equations derived from the Boltzmann equation. The intensity of the phonon emission via piezoelectric and deformation-potential coupling is evaluated on the basis of the energy-balance equation. We find that the electron velocity exceeds the sound velocity in GaAs even when electrons are still in the linear response regime. This implies that the Cerenkov phonon emission can be easily observed in GaAs-based electron gas systems. We also examine the frequency and angular dependence of the acoustic-phonon emission on the applied electric field and find that our results are in line with those observed experimentally. This study is pertinent to electrical generation of acoustic-phonon sources from polar semiconductor systems.
Capture of particles undergoing discrete random walks
Authors: Ziff Robert M. , Majumdar Satya N. , Comtet Alain
Published: May 2009

It is shown that particles undergoing discrete-time jumps in three dimensions, starting at a distance r0 from the center of an adsorbing sphere of radius R, are captured with probability (R−cσ)/r0 for r0⪢R, where c is related to the Fourier transform of the scaled jump distribution and σ is the distribution’s root-mean square jump length. For particles starting on the surface of the sphere, the asymptotic survival probability is nonzero (in contrast to the case of Brownian diffusion) and has a universal behavior σ/(R6) depending only upon σ/R. These results have applications to computer simulations of reaction and aggregation.
Experimental evidence of the kinematic Cosserat effect in dense granular flows
Authors: Ananda K. S. , Patra Jaysree , Nott Prabhu R.
Published: May 2009

To capture shear localization in the flow of dense granular materials in a continuum description, it has earlier been proposed that granular materials be treated as Cosserat, or micropolar, continua. Here, we provide experimental verification of the kinematic Cosserat effect, or the deviation of the particle spin from the material spin induced by the velocity gradient. Contrary to earlier belief, we find this effect to be sizable even outside the shear layers. Remarkably, the particles and material elements spin in opposite directions in flow through a hopper.
Nonlinear cyclotron harmonic absorption
Authors: Seol JaeChun , Hegna C. C. , Callen J. D.
Published: May 2009

Nonlinear oscillations of particle’s energy occur when a particle stays in a resonance zone. In this work, we found that collisionless heating of particles occurs when they pass the microwave beam at first, second, and third harmonic resonances. It is found that the net energy gain of particles from the microwaves is inversely proportional to the wave frequency. It is also found that the net energy gain is dependent on the microwave beam width. The energy gain of particles from a single pass through a resonance zone has been formulated analytically. A numerical calculation has been performed and the results are in good agreement with the analytic calculation. Both analytic and numerical calculations show a strong frequency dependence and a beam width dependence of nonlinear cyclotron resonance heating.
Linear coupling of Alfven waves and acoustic-type modes in dense quantum magnetoplasmas
Authors: Khan S. A. , Saleem H.
Published: May 2009

A coupled dispersion relation of low frequency shear Alfven waves and electrostatic waves in a dense quantum magnetoplasma is derived by using hydrodynamic model. The dispersive contribution of electron quantum effects is discussed for dynamic as well as static ions. The dominant role of electron Fermi pressure is highlighted and its comparison with the quantum pressure arising due to quantum Bohm potential is presented. For illustrative purpose, the results are analyzed numerically. The relevance of present work with the dense astrophysical and laboratory plasmas is pointed out with possible consequences.
Effect of the conceptus on uterine prostaglandin-F2α and prostaglandin-E2 release and synthesis during the periimplantation period in the pig
Authors: Wasielak Marta , Kamińska Katarzyna , Bogacki Marek
Published: May 2009

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of the conceptus on uterine prostaglandin-F2α (PGF2α) and prostaglandin-E2 (PGE2) release and the expression of prostaglandin synthase enzymes during the periimplantation period in the pig. A surgically generated model with conceptuses developing in only one of the uterine horns was created. The highest concentration of PGF2α and PGE2 was found in the gravid uterine horn, compared with the non-gravid horn and the intact horn of cyclic gilts. Endometrial concentration of both PGs in pregnant gilts was elevated regardless of the conceptus in the uterine horn, whereas only myometrial PGE2 concentration increased during pregnancy. Expression of prostaglandin-E2 synthase (mPGES-1) mRNA in the endometrium was upregulated during the oestrous cycle, while protein expression presented a similar pattern to that of PGE2 concentration in the uterine flushings. Prostaglandin-F2α synthase (PGFS) mRNA and protein expression in the endometrium did not differ between pregnancy and oestrous cycle but PGFS mRNA in the myometrium increased during pregnancy both in the gravid and the non-gravid uterine horns. We suggest a local effect of the conceptus on PG release pathways but also a more systemic effect within the whole uterus with regard to PG synthesis and accumulation in uterine tissues.
Elevated water temperature and carbon dioxide concentration increase the growth of a keystone echinoderm
Authors: Gooding Rebecca A. , Harley Christopher D. G. , Tang Emily
Published: May 2009

Anthropogenic climate change poses a serious threat to biodiversity. In marine environments, multiple climate variables, including temperature and CO
2
concentration ([CO
2
]), are changing simultaneously. Although temperature has well-documented ecological effects, and many heavily calcified marine organisms experience reduced growth with increased [CO
2
], little is known about the combined effects of temperature and [CO
2
], particularly on species that are less dependent on calcified shells or skeletons. We manipulated water temperature and [CO
2
] to determine the effects on the sea star
Pisaster ochraceus
, a keystone predator. We found that sea star growth and feeding rates increased with water temperature from 5 °C to 21 °C. A doubling of current [CO
2
] also increased growth rates both with and without a concurrent temperature increase from 12 °C to 15 °C. Increased [CO
2
] also had a positive but nonsignificant effect on sea star feeding rates, suggesting [CO
2
] may be acting directly at the physiological level to increase growth rates. As in past studies of other marine invertebrates, increased [CO
2
] reduced the relative calcified mass in sea stars, although this effect was observed only at the lower experimental temperature. The positive relationship between growth and [CO
2
] found here contrasts with previous studies, most of which have shown negative effects of [CO
2
] on marine species, particularly those that are more heavily calcified than
P. ochraceus
. Our findings demonstrate that increased [CO
2
] will not have direct negative effects on all marine invertebrates, suggesting that predictions of biotic responses to climate change should consider how different types of organisms will respond to changing climatic variables.