bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pseudokinetics arising from the upscaling of geochemical equilibrium
Authors: Binning P. J. , Celia M. A.
Published: July 2008

Multicomponent contaminant transport models in groundwater are typically based on assumptions of local geochemical equilibrium on the grid scale. However, in heterogenous systems there may be significant coupling between transport processes and geochemical equilibrium at smaller than grid block scale. Here various pore‐ and field‐scale examples are considered to illustrate the impact of transport processes on assumptions of geochemical equilibrium. In each example the flow length scales required to reach equilibrium are calculated. It is shown that these can be as large as many meters at the pore scale and kilometers at field scales. The influence of heterogeneity in the distribution of the reactive zones is assessed for the pore‐scale example, and it is shown that patchiness of reactive zones within a pore increases equilibration length, with the length and density of reactive zones, pore radius, and diffusion coefficient all playing a role in the equilibration length. When constructing models of field‐scale problems it may not be reasonable to apply geochemical equilibrium, and it may be necessary to explicitly couple pore‐scale and field‐scale models in a multiscale simulation. A field‐scale example is also shown to illustrate that the upscaling of geochemical equilibrium poses a significant practical problem because we usually do not know the spatial location and distribution of geochemically active sites, and this information is essential input to geochemical transport models.
Smith Receives 2008 Walter Sullivan Award for Excellence in Science Journalism—Features
Authors: Williams Robyn , Smith Richard
Published: July 2008

Richard Smith received the Walter Sullivan Award at the 2008 Joint Assembly Honors Ceremony, which was held on 29 May 2008 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Smith was honored for the documentary film “Crude,” which examines oil's ancient origins and the geology of its formation and explores the potential, unwelcome consequences of oil's prodigious use by industrial society as a fuel and raw material.
Check Your Data Freedom: A Taxonomy to Assess Life Science Database Openness
Authors: Dulong de Rosnay Melanie
Published: July 2008

Molecular biology data are subject to terms of use that vary widely between databases and curating institutions. This research presents a taxonomy of contractual and technical restrictions applicable to databases in life science. It builds upon research led by Science Commons demonstrating why open data and the freedom to integrate facilitates innovation and how this openness can be achieved. The taxonomy describes technical and legal restrictions applicable to life science databases, and its metadata have been used to assess terms of use of databases hosted by Life Science Resource Name (LSRN) Schema. While a few public domain policies are standardized, most terms of use are not harmonized, difficult to understand and impose controls that prevent others from effectively reusing data. Identifying a small number of restrictions allows one to quickly appreciate which databases are open. A checklist for data openness is proposed in order to assist database curators who wish to make their data more open to make sure they do so.
Searching for new units of analysis: firms, dyads and networks
Authors: Lorenzoni Gianni , Ferriani Simone
Published: July 2008

Abstract The article traces the research path taken over the last 20 years by a community of management and organizational scholars that has gradually emerged within the University of Bologna. This group has explored key themes in the realm of industrial districts, networks of firms and the origin of entrepreneurship, and central to this body of work has been a focus on units of analysis other than the single firm or the industry. This search for non‐conventional units of analysis has allowed the community to explain phenomena that have otherwise proved difficult to grasp and decipher. This paper documents the milestones of this journey as it has moved across firms, dyads and networks in search of persuasive explanations of how firms behave at the intersection of transaction and strategic space.
University patenting and scientific productivity: a quantitative study of Italian academic inventors
Authors: Breschi Stefano , Lissoni Francesco , Montobbio Fabio
Published: July 2008

Abstract Based on longitudinal data for a matched sample of 592 Italian academic inventors and controls, the paper explores the impact of patenting on university professors' scientific productivity, as measured by publication and citation counts. Academic inventors, that is, university professors who appear as designated inventors on at least one patent application, publish more and better quality papers than their non‐patenting colleagues, and increase their productivity after patenting. Endogeneity problems are addressed by using instrumental variables and applying inverse probability of treatment weights. The beneficial effect of patenting on publication rates last longer for serial academic inventors. However, the positive effect of patenting on scientific productivity largely differs across scientific fields, being particularly strong only in pharmaceuticals and electronics.
Optical intensity analyses of Er3+:YAlO3
Authors: Sardar Dhiraj K. , Chandrasekharan Sreerenjini , Nash Kelly L. , Gruber John B.
Published: July 2008

Analyses of the optical absorption and emission intensities are performed on Er3+ ions doped into yttrium orthoaluminate YAlO3 to assess this material as a laser source. The Judd–Ofelt model is applied to the room temperature absorption intensities of Er3+ in YAlO3 to obtain the phenomenological intensity parameters: Ω2=1.06×10−20 cm2, Ω4=1.96×10−20 cm2, and Ω6=1.40×10−20 cm2. The intensity parameters are used to determine the radiative decay rates and branching ratios of the Er3+ transitions from the upper multiplet manifolds to the corresponding lower-lying multiplet manifolds L2S+1J of Er3+ in YAlO3. Using the radiative decay rates, radiative lifetimes of 13 excited states have been determined. The room temperature fluorescence lifetime of the Er3+ S43/2→I415/2 transition is measured to be 0.43 ms. Values of emission cross section and peak emission cross section have been obtained for the Er3+ I413/2→I415/2 and S43/2→I415/2 intermanifold transitions. The detailed structure observed in the manifold-to-manifold transitions allows us to identify the Stark splitting of the individual manifolds.
Electroluminescence efficiency enhancement using metal nanoparticles
Authors: Khurgin J. B. , Sun G. , Soref R. A.
Published: July 2008

We apply the “effective mode volume” theory to evaluate enhancement of the electroluminescence efficiency of semiconductor emitters placed in the vicinity of isolated metal nanoparticles and their arrays. Using the example of an InGaN∕GaN quantum-well active region positioned in close proximity to Ag nanospheres, we show that while the enhancement due to isolated metal nanoparticles is large, only modest enhancement can be obtained with ordered array of those particles. We further conclude that random assembly of isolated particles holds an advantage over the ordered arrays for light emitting devices of finite area.
Degenerate multiwave mixing using Z-scan technique
Authors: Boudebs G. , Fedus K. , Cassagne C. , Leblond H.
Published: July 2008

This study deals with a multiwave mixing experiment using Z-scan technique. We show that it is possible to simplify the complex degenerate four-wave mixing (DFWM) experimental setup in order to characterize nonlinear materials. One object composed of three circular apertures is used as an input in a 4f coherent imaging system. When the nonlinear material is moved around the focus, we observe the variations of the forward fourth wave at the output as well as other diffracted waves. Experimental and simulated images are presented here to validate our approach. We show also that this method increases significantly the sensitivity of the measurement compared to DFWM. We provide a simple quadratic relation that allows the characterization of the cubic optical nonlinearity.
Silicon–Carbon bond cleavage reactions of
Ansa
tungstenocene compounds: The [Me
2
Si] bridge as a site for metallocene functionalization
Authors: Zachmanoglou Cary E. , Lee Hyosun , Jang Seung Ho , Pang Keliang , Parkin Gerard
Published: July 2008

[Me
2
Si(Cp

Me
2

)
2
]W(H)Cl is obtained via reaction of WCl
6
with a mixture of [Me
2
Si(Cp

Me
2

)
2
]Li
2
and NaBH
4
, from which the dichloride [Me
2
Si(Cp

Me
2

)
2
]WCl
2
is obtained via treatment with CHCl
3
. [Me
2
Si(Cp

Me
2

)
2
]WCl
2
provides a means to access other
ansa
tungstenocene compounds, such as [Me
2
Si(Cp

Me
2

)
2
]WH
2
, [Me
2
Si(Cp

Me
2

)
2
]WMe
2
, and [Me
2
Si(Cp

Me
2

)
2
]WCO. Of most interest, the reactions of [Me
2
Si(Cp

Me
2

)
2
]W(H)Cl with organolithium reagents do not yield simple
ansa
tungstenocene derivatives. Specifically, the reactions of [Me
2
Si(Cp

Me
2

)
2
]W(H)Cl with MeLi, Bu
n
Li, or PhLi result in the formation of mixed-ring tungstenocene compounds resulting from C–Si cleavage and functionalization of the
ansa
bridge, namely (Cp

Me
2

)(η
5
,κ
1
–C
5
H
2
Me
2
SiMe
2
CH
2
)WH, (Cp

Me
2

)[η
5
,κ
1
–C
5
H
2
Me
2
Si(Me)(Bu
n
)CH
2
]WH, and (Cp

Me
2

)[η
5
,κ
1
–C
5
H
2
Me
2
SiMe
2
(C
6
H
4
)]WH, respectively. In contrast to the C–Si cleavage achieved by MeLi, Bu
n
Li, and PhLi, the
ansa
bridge of [Me
2
Si(Cp

Me
2

)
2
]W(H)Cl is inert to Bu
t
Li and the product obtained is the fulvene (“tuck-in”) complex [Me
2
Si(Cp

Me
2

)(η
6
–C
5
MeH
2
CH
2
)]WH derived from dehydrohalogenation.
Revenge and Student Evaluations of Teaching
Authors: Boysen Guy A.
Published: July 2008

One of the biggest concerns about student evaluations of teaching is the positive correlation between them and expected grades. Past research has been unable to clarify if intentional revenge for low grades or a more subtle process such as cognitive dissonance leads to low evaluations. This study included a survey of college students (N = 143) that indicated only 8% of students admitted to taking revenge on evaluations and that they rarely cited low grades as a reason for giving low evaluations. However, an experimental manipulation indicated that students may give a low evaluation if they receive a low grade even when they know that most students are doing well in the course. Overall, revenge appears to be one of the less important factors in predicting student evaluations.
Conquering Mnemonophobia, with Help from Three Practical Measures of Memory and Application
Authors: Carney Russell N. , Levin Joel R.
Published: July 2008

Recent articles in Teaching of Psychology have endorsed the classroom use of various mnemonic techniques. Yet a degree of mnemonophobia ( i.e., fear of using mnemonics) may persist in the minds of some ToP readers due to various lingering misconceptions. In this regard, we conducted 3 practical experiments with college students using the mnemonic keyword method to learn a set of psychological terms (namely, phobias, for which we provide a sample set, along with their mnemonic representations). We examined students' immediate and delayed recall, inference-demanding matching and categorization tests, and backward recall (recall of terms from definitions). On all measures, mnemonic students statistically outperformed control students. These findings provide further support for the use of classroom-based mnemonic techniques.
Demonstrating Experimenter “Ineptitude” as a Means of Teaching Internal and External Validity
Authors: Treadwell Kimberli R. H.
Published: July 2008

Internal and external validity are key concepts in understanding the scientific method and fostering critical thinking. This article describes a class demonstration of a “botched” experiment to teach validity to undergraduates. Psychology students (N = 75) completed assessments at the beginning of the semester, prior to and immediately following the demonstration, and on an examination. Results indicated that students significantly increased quiz scores across 3 assessment points, scored higher on experimental validity questions on an exam, and increased use of critical thinking skills in a novel application. The demonstration engaged students during class and increased comprehension on the topic of experimental validity.
A ward without walls? District nurses’ perceptions of their workload management priorities and job satisfaction
Authors: Stuart Elaine Haycock , Jarvis Alison , Daniel Katie
Published: July 2008

Aim.  To explore district nurses’ workload management, job satisfaction and the challenges they face.

Background.  This paper reports qualitative findings from a qualitative and quantitative study to identify a district nursing perspective on use of time, challenges and work satisfaction. District nursing is under increasing pressure because of the increasing shift to care in the community, early hospital discharge and changes in demography with an ageing population and more people with chronic illnesses.

Design.  Qualitive.

Method.  The study took place in one Scottish Health Board and data were collected in February and March 2005. The qualitative approach involved a total of 31 district nurses and senior managers in focus group discussions or individual interviews.

Results.  Three main themes were identified: (1) the priorities of district nurses and their views on work unrelated to ‘hands on’ clinical care, (2) aspects of district nursing considered stressful and (3) district nurses’ job satisfaction.

Conclusion.  District nurses and managers agree that caring work with patients is the priority for the service and provides job satisfaction. Many nurses feel overwhelmed by their workload and have little control over the admission of patients to their caseload; they are mainly demand led and therefore reactive care providers. A culture of long hours has developed as district nurses struggle to meet the needs of patients. Feeling devalued lowers satisfaction and Agenda for Change is perceived as de‐valuing the skills of community nurses.

Relevance to clinical practice.  More clerical support is required so district nurses can deliver care to patients. District nurses can better represent their workload and how it is managed through expressing the nature of assessing risk and caring for patients as opposed to defining patients care needs by medical diagnoses. Extending the hours of the full district nursing service would benefit patients and staff.
Transcriptional regulation of plant senescence: from functional genomics to systems biology
Authors: Breeze E. , Harrison E. , Page T. , Warner N. , Shen C. , Zhang C. , Buchanan‐Wollaston V.
Published: July 2008

Leaf senescence is an active process that involves the increased expression of many hundreds of genes. Many putative transcription factors show enhanced transcription during leaf senescence in Arabidopsis and functional analysis of these should help to indicate their role in controlling gene expression during leaf senescence. In this paper, we describe the analysis of knockout insertion mutants in two different senescence‐enhanced genes, one encodes a heat shock transcription factor and the other a zinc finger protein. Plants mutated in these genes show accelerated leaf senescence and reduced tolerance to drought stress, indicating that expression of these genes during senescence has a protective role to maintain viability during this essential developmental process. Analysis of gene expression changes in both mutants compared to the wild‐type plants indicates an increased rate of senescence but does not show clearly the pathway that is dependent on these genes for expression. The complexities of signalling networks in plant stress and the plasticity of plant responses mean that the direct consequences of mutation are very difficult to define. The usefulness of this type of approach to address the burning question of how senescence is regulated is discussed, and an alternative approach aimed at a more global analysis of gene regulation using systems biology methods is described.
Transcription factors regulating leaf senescence in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Balazadeh S. , Riaño‐Pachón D. M. , Mueller‐Roeber B.
Published: July 2008

Senescence is a highly regulated process, eventually leading to cell and tissue disintegration: a physiological process associated with nutrient (e.g. nitrogen) redistribution from leaves to reproductive organs. Senescence is not observed in young leaves, indicating that repressors efficiently act to suppress cell degradation during early leaf development and/or that senescence activators are switched on when a leaf ages. Thus, massive regulatory network re‐wiring likely constitutes an important component of the pre‐senescence process. Transcription factors (TFs) have been shown to be central elements of such regulatory networks. Here, we used quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) analysis to study the expression of 1880 TF genes during pre‐senescence and early‐senescence stages of leaf development, using Arabidopsis thaliana as a model. We show that the expression of 185 TF genes changes when leaves develop from half to fully expanded leaves and finally enter partial senescence. Our analysis identified 41 TF genes that were gradually up‐regulated as leaves progressed through these developmental stages. We also identified 144 TF genes that were down‐regulated during senescence. A considerable number of the senescence‐regulated TF genes were found to respond to abiotic stress, and salt stress appeared to be the major factor controlling their expression. Our data indicate a peculiar fine‐tuning of developmental shifts during late‐leaf development that is controlled by TFs.
Genetics: how the UKPDS contributed to determining the genetic landscape of Type 2 diabetes
Authors: Gloyn A. L. , McCarthy M. I.
Published: July 2008

The identification and functional characterisation of genetic variants that either cause or predispose to diabetes is a major focus of biomedical research. The molecular basis is now known for the majority of monogenic forms of diabetes arising from pancreatic β‐cell dysfunction; however finding the genetic variants underlying susceptibility to Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) has been a greater technical, statistical and biological challenge. The advent of biology–agnostic approaches made possible by the improved arsenal of research platforms and genetic tools available has increased the number of known T2DM genes dramatically and provided important insights into the pathophysiology of T2DM. Over the past 18 months, the list of T2DM susceptibility genes has grown from three to close to 20, illustrating the substantial progress which has been made. These recent milestones have not only illustrated the limited knowledge we have of the pancreatic β‐cell, but have also reinforced our belief in the involvement of common genetic variants in the genes involved in monogenic forms of diabetes in the susceptibility to T2DM and have clearly shown a primary role for pancreatic β‐cell dysfunction in T2DM. Both of these concepts were explored in the early work of the UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) genetics research groups.
The Hypertension in Diabetes Study (HDS): a catalyst for change
Authors: Williams B.
Published: July 2008

Hypertension is now established as a major risk factor for premature cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in people with Type 2 diabetes and all modern treatment guidelines recommend the routine treatment of hypertension in these patients. However, these developments have been relatively recent. Only a decade ago, outside of small studies in patients with nephropathy, there was little evidence with regard to the efficacy and safety of treating elevated blood pressure in people with Type 2 diabetes. Consequently, for many patients, elevated blood pressure remained undetected and untreated. This changed with the publication of the Hypertension in Diabetes Study (HDS) in 1998. This study revealed that hypertension was very common in people with Type 2 diabetes and demonstrated the dramatic benefits of blood pressure lowering in reducing their risk of major macrovascular and microvascular complications. The unequivocal evidence from this study provided a much‐needed catalyst for change, propelling blood pressure measurement and its treatment to the forefront of risk management in these patients. Many studies have followed and many questions remain with regard to the preferred anti‐hypertensive treatment strategy and optimal treatment targets for blood pressure. In the meantime, many millions of patients with Type 2 diabetes worldwide have benefited and will continue to benefit from the therapeutic insights gained from the treatment of blood pressure in the 1148 patients enrolled in the Hypertension in Diabetes Study in the UK Prospective Diabetes Study.
Global patterns in fruiting seasons
Authors: Ting Steven , Hartley Stephen , Burns K. C.
Published: July 2008

Aim  To identify geographical and climatic correlates of the timing of fruit production in fleshy fruited plant communities.

Location  Global.

Methods  We searched the literature for studies documenting monthly variation in the number of fleshy fruited species bearing ripe fruits in plant communities (i.e. fruit phenologies). From these data, we used circular vector algebra to characterize seasonal peaks in fruit production (mean date, as an angle) and the length of fruiting seasons (as a circular standard deviation). Generalized linear models and circular correlations were used to assess whether latitudinal patterns in fruit phenologies could be explained by variation in temperature, precipitation and actual evapotranspiration (AET).

Results  Dates of peak fruit production and the length of fruiting seasons showed consistent differences with latitude. Annual peaks in fruit production occurred 1 to 3 months after the summer solstice at high‐latitude sites in both hemispheres. Fruiting seasonality increased with latitude, indicating that fruiting seasons were longer in the tropics and shorter toward the poles. AET was the best climatic predictor of fruit phenologies. Annual peaks in fruit production were positively associated with annual peaks in AET and temperature, while fruiting seasons were shorter in areas with pronounced annual variation in AET.

Main conclusions  Global patterns in fruiting seasons are associated with global variation in climate. Across the globe, fleshy fruits are produced after annual periods of elevated water–energy availability. Fruiting seasonality is also more pronounced in areas with strongly seasonal water–energy inputs. Therefore, the timing of reproduction in fleshy fruited plant communities appears to be determined, at least in part, by spatial and temporal variation in energy supplies needed to subsidise plant reproduction.
Climate Change and Global Citizenship
Authors: HARRIS PAUL G.
Published: July 2008

The international climate change regime has failed. Even the most optimistic assessment of action to limit greenhouse pollution in the coming few decades will not prevent calamitous changes in Earth's climate. Arguments for international—that is, interstate—justice that have permeated international negotiations on climate change have been insufficient in fostering robust action by states. Indeed, by diverting all responsibility to states, focusing on international justice has not addressed consumption and pollution by hundreds of millions of affluent people around the world, including many millions living within developing states that have no treaty obligations to limit nationwide pollution. Increasingly, however, it is these individuals that matter: more and more of them who are not now subject to any climate‐related legal obligations are able to afford lifestyles that lead to greenhouse gas emissions and more climate change. This is especially true given the very rapid increase in the numbers of affluent people in the developing world. Bearing this in mind, this article goes beyond the still important questions of international climate justice to explore cosmopolitan or global climate justice. Global justice demands that affluent individuals in both affluent and poor states do much more to limit their pollution of the atmosphere. By being good global citizens, capable persons can help states start the world on a path to reducing the severity of climate change.
Crystal structures of Drosophila mutant translin and characterization of translin variants reveal the structural plasticity of translin proteins
Authors: Gupta Gagan D. , Makde Ravindra D. , Rao Basuthkar J. , Kumar Vinay
Published: July 2008

Translin protein is highly conserved in eukaryotes. Human translin binds both ssDNA and RNA. Its nucleic acid binding site results from a combination of basic regions in the octameric structure. We report here the first biochemical characterization of wild‐type Drosophila melanogaster (drosophila) translin and a chimeric translin, and present 3.5 Å resolution crystal structures of drosophila P168S mutant translin from two crystal forms. The wild‐type drosophila translin most likely exists as an octamer/decamer, and binds to the ssDNA Bcl‐CL1 sequence. In contrast, ssDNA binding‐incompetent drosophila P168S mutant translin exists as a tetramer. The structures of the mutant translin are identical in both crystal forms, and their C‐terminal residues are disordered. The chimeric protein, possessing two nucleic acid binding motifs of drosophila translin, the C‐terminal residues of human translin, and serine at position 168, attains the octameric state and binds to ssDNA. The present studies suggest that the oligomeric status of translin critically influences the DNA binding properties of translin proteins.
Effect of Artemisinins and Amino Alcohol Partner Antimalarials on Mammalian Sarcoendoplasmic Reticulum Calcium Adenosine Triphosphatase Activity
Authors: Toovey Stephen , Bustamante Leyla Y. , Uhlemann Anne‐Catrin , East J. Malcolm , Krishna Sanjeev
Published: July 2008

Abstract:  The aim of this study was to assess the ability of currently deployed antimalarials to inhibit mammalian sarcoendoplasmic reticulum calcium adenosine triphosphatase (SERCA). Artemisinins exert their antiplasmodial action by inhibiting parasite PfATP6, a SERCA enzyme, and possess neurotoxic potential; mefloquine is neurotoxic and inhibits mammalian SERCA, an orthologue of PfATP6. SERCA in rabbit muscle was tested in vitro for inhibition by artemisinin and amino alcohol antimalarials. Significant inhibition of mammalian SERCA, as mean difference from uninhibited, control values was seen with both enantiomers of mefloquine: (+)‐mefloquine (10 µM: –35.83, 95% CI –59.63 to –12.03; 50 µM: –54.06, 95% CI –77.86 to –30.26); (–)‐mefloquine (10 µM: –24.35, 95% CI –41.56 to –7.15; 50 µM: –58.42, 95% CI –75.62 to –41.22); lumefantrine (1 µM: –25.46, 95% CI –45.82 to –5.10; 5 µM –34.83, 95% CI –60.08 to –9.58; 10 µM: –25.80, 95% CI –51.05 to –0.55); desbutyl‐lumefantrine (5 µM: –50.16, 95% CI –84.24 to –16.08); dihydroartemisinin (1 µM: –39.25, 95% CI –63.74 to –14.76; 5 µM: –39.30, 95% CI –64.88 to –13.72). Dihydroartemisinin in higher concentrations (10 µM) stimulated SERCA activity: (+40.90, 95% CI 11.37 to 70.44). No statistically significant inhibition was seen with artemether at 1, 5 and 10 µM. Equimolar combinations of artemether and lumefantrine or of dihydroartemisinin and lumefantrine, when studied at concentrations that inhibit SERCA individually, failed to show any inhibition. Dihydroartemisinin, mefloquine, lumefantrine and desbutyl lumefantrine inhibit mammalian SERCA at periphysiological concentrations, although the neurotoxicity of mefloquine is not wholly attributable to this property. Candidate antimalarials should be screened pre‐clinically for SERCA inhibition.
In vivo Biology and Toxicology of Fullerenes and Their Derivatives
Authors: Nielsen Gunnar Damgård , Roursgaard Martin , Jensen Keld Alstrup , Poulsen Steen Seier , Larsen Søren Thor
Published: July 2008

Abstract:  Fullerenes represent a group of nanoparticles discovered in 1985. They are spherical molecules consisting entirely of carbon atoms (Cx) to which side chains can be added, furnishing compounds with widely different properties. Fullerenes interact with biological systems, for example, by enzyme inhibition, causing phototoxic reactions, being scavengers of reactive oxygen species and free radicals, in addition to being able to initiate free radical reactions. Absorption, distribution and excretion strongly depend on the properties of the side chains. The pristine C60 has a very long biological half‐life, whereas the most water‐soluble derivatives are eliminated from the exposed animals within weeks. A long biological half‐life raises concern about bioaccumulation and long‐term effects. In general, the acute oral, dermal and airway toxicity is low. However, few relevant experimental studies of repeated dose toxicity, reproductive toxicity and carcinogenic effect are available. The data suggest that direct DNA damaging effects are low, but formation of reactive oxygen species may cause inflammation and genetic damage. Apparently, it is dose‐dependent whether a beneficial or an adverse effect occurs.
Characterization of eight microsatellite loci in the Galápagos endemic land snail Bulimulus reibischi, and their cross‐species amplification
Authors: PARENT C. E. , WU S. S‐T. , KEAYS C. A. , CRESPI B. J.
Published: July 2008

Variation in and amplification conditions for eight polymorphic microsatellite loci initially identified from Bulimulus akamatus, a pulmonate land snail from Galápagos, are described. Intraspecific polymorphism and heterozygosity of the eight markers were studied in 19 populations of Bulimulus reibischi, a closely related species of B. akamatus. Furthermore, the eight loci were also cross‐amplified in six other closely related bulimulid species. The number of alleles across populations of B. reibischi at six loci is moderate (three to 10), but considerable for two other loci (19 and 20). There is no strong evidence for linkage among any of the loci examined.
GLOBAL CONVERGENCE OF A SPECIAL CASE OF THE DAI–YUAN FAMILY WITHOUT LINE SEARCH
Authors: ZHU HUI , CHEN XIONGDA
Published: July 2008

Conjugate gradient methods are efficient to minimize differentiable objective functions in large dimension spaces. Recently, Dai and Yuan introduced a tree-parameter family of nonlinear conjugate gradient methods and show their convergence. However, line search strategies usually bring computational burden. To overcome this problem, in this paper, we study the global convergence of a special case of three-parameter family(the CD-DY family) in which the line search procedures are replaced by fixed formulae of stepsize.
STABILITY IN QUEUEING NETWORKS VIA THE FINITE DECOMPOSITION PROPERTY
Authors: YILDIRIM UTKU , HASENBEIN JOHN J.
Published: July 2008

Determination of the stability behavior of a queueing network is an important part of analyzing such systems. Gamarnik and Hasenbein (2005) have shown that if a fluid network has the finite decomposition property (FDP) and is not weakly stable, then any queueing network associated with the fluid network is not rate stable. In Gamarnik and Hasenbein's paper, the FDP was demonstrated for two station queueing networks only. In this paper, we show that the property holds for certain classes of queueing networks with any number of stations, thus allowing one to completely analyze the global stability of such queueing networks via the fluid model.
SOLAR NEUTRINOS AND THE JUPITER
Authors: HWANG W-Y. PAUCHY
Published: July 2008

Judging from the fact that the planet Jupiter is bigger in size than the Earth by 103 while is smaller than the Sun by 103, the solar neutrinos, when encounter the Jupiter, may have some visible effects. We estimate how much energy/power carried by solar neutrinos get transferred by this unique process. Solar neutrinos, despite of their feeble neutral weak current interactions, might deposit enough energy in the Jupiter.
USING WEAK-LENSING DILUTION TO MEASURE LIGHT PROPERTIES OF A1689
Authors: MEDEZINSKI ELINOR , BROADHURST TOM , UMETSU KEIICHI , COE DAN
Published: July 2008

Weak-lensing induced by clusters of galaxies can probe the total mass distribution out to the virial radius of the cluster, regardless of the nature of the mass or its dynamical state. To make a robust analysis, the cluster and background galaxy populations need to be separated. The E/S0 sequence of a cluster defines a boundary redward of which a reliable weak-lensing signal can be obtained from background galaxies, uncontaminated by the cluster. Below this limit, the signal is diluted by the proportion of unlensed cluster members. Employing deep Subaru and HST/ACS images of the massive cluster A1689, we use this dilution effect to carefully separate between the cluster members and the background, and thus derive the cluster light profile and luminosity functions to large radius. The light profile of A1689 is found to decline steadily to the limit of the data, r < 2 h−1 Mpc , with a constant slope, d log (L)/d log (r) = −1.12 ± 0.06. We derive a cluster luminosity function with a flat faint-end slope of α = −1.05 ± 0.07, nearly independent of radius and with no faint upturn to Mi′ < −12. The major advantage of this new approach is that no subtraction of far-field background counts is required.
CHAOTIC INFLATION IN SUPERGRAVITY
Authors: YAMAGUCHI MASAHIDE , KADOTA KENJI
Published: July 2008

Even though the chaotic inflation is one of the most popular inflation models for its simple dynamics and compelling resolutions to the initial condition problems, its realization in supergravity has been considered a challenging task. We discuss how the chaotic inflation dominated by the D-term can be induced in supergravity, which would give a new perspective on the inflation model building in supergravity.
MATRIX MODEL FOR POLYAKOV LOOPS, STRING FIELD THEORY IN THE TEMPORAL GAUGE AND WINDING STRING CONDENSATIONS IN ANTI-DE SITTER SPACE
Authors: FURUUCHI KAZUYUKI
Published: July 2008

Closed string field theory is constructed by stochastically quantizing a matrix model for Polyakov loops that describes phases of a large N gauge theory at finite temperature. Coherent states in this string field theory describes winding string condensation which has been expected to cause topology change from thermal AdS geometry to AdS -Schwarzschild black hole geometry. D-branes in this closed string field theory is also discussed. Based on a talk given at CosPA 2007, Taipei.
WEAKLY NONLINEAR PERTURBATIONS OF COSMOLOGICAL FLUIDS: PURE GENERAL RELATIVISTIC EFFECTS
Authors: NOH HYERIM
Published: July 2008

Recently we have shown that to the second-order perturbations, the density and velocity perturbation equations of general relativistic zero-pressure, irrotational, single-component fluid in a spatially flat background coincide exactly with the ones known in Newton's theory without using the gravitational potential. Here, we present results relaxing all the assumptions made in the previous works and present the general relativistic correction terms arising due to pressure, multi-component, background spatial curvature, and rotation. We show that even in the multi-component no general relativistic correction terms appear in the zero-pressure, irrotational fluids in a flat background. Thus, the relativistic/Newtonian correspondence of the density and velocity perturbations equations continues even in the multi-component situation. However, the pressure, background curvature, rotation lead to pure general relativistic correction terms to the second order. For the fluid including the pressure, the relativistic corrections appear even in the level of background and linear perturbation equations. In the small-scale limit, to the second order, relativistic equations of density and velocity perturbations including the rotation coincide with the ones in Newton's gravity. We include the cosmological constant in the background world model which is consistent with the currently favored cosmology.
THERMAL PROPERTIES OF UNPARTICLE
Authors: CHEN SHAO-LONG , HE XIAO-GANG , HU XUE-PENG , LIAO YI
Published: July 2008

We report the study1 on the thermal properties of unparticle, a scale invariant sector with a non-trivial infrared fixed point. Unparticle [Formula: see text] with scaling dimension [Formula: see text] has peculiar thermal properties due to its unique phase space structure. We find that the equation of state parameter [Formula: see text], the ratio of pressure to energy density, is given by [Formula: see text] providing a new form of energy in our universe. In an expanding universe, the unparticle energy density [Formula: see text] evolves dramatically differently from that for photons, which makes it possible to have a large unparticle relic density today.
INFLUENCE OF PLASMA COLLECTIVE EFFECTS ON COSMOLOGICAL EVOLUTION
Authors: LAI KWANG-CHANG , CHEN PISIN
Published: July 2008

It is well-known that the universe was in a plasma state both before decoupling and after reionization. However, the conventional wisdom has been that the plasma effects are largely Debye-shielded and can thus be safely ignored when considering large scale evolutions. Recently we showed that large scale structure formation in the universe may actually be suppressed by the plasma collective effect. Indeed, observational data indicate that the conventional theoretical formula tends to overestimate the matter power spectrum at scales k > 1h Mpc −1. In this paper, we further develop our theory through a more thorough and general derivation of the Maxwell-Einstein-Boltzmann equation. In addition to baryon density perturbation post reionization, we apply this general formulation to investigate the possible plasma effect on CMB anisotropy. As expected, while the plasma effect does render an observable effect to the former, its impact on the latter is totally negligible.
2M-BAND INTERLEAVED DFT MODULATED FILTER BANKS WITH PERFECT RECONSTRUCTION
Authors: SHUI PENG-LANG , WANG XIAO-LONG
Published: July 2008

In this paper, we propose a new family of perfect reconstruction (PR) complex filter banks, named interleaved discrete Fourier transform modulated filter banks (Interleaved DFT-FBs). In the filter banks, the analysis filters are generated by interlaced exponential modulating two different analysis prototype filters, and the synthesis filters are generated by two different synthesis prototype filters via the same manner. The filter banks have a simple polyphase structure similar to DFT modulated filter banks (DFT-FBs). More importantly, the proposed Interleaved DFT-FBs can achieve critically sampled PR complex filter bank with FIR analysis and synthesis filters, which is impossible for DFT-FBs. We give and prove the PR condition for 2M-band Interleaved DFT-FBs. Utilizing the result, the design procedure of the prototype filters is presented. In addition, by the theoretic analysis and numerical examples, it is shown that the analysis and synthesis filters cannot simultaneously provide good stopband attenuation for the critically sampled PR Interleaved DFT-FBs. Although the limitation always exits, the filter banks can find applications in some subband coding systems of high bit rate.
SPATIAL, TEMPORAL, AND SEMANTIC MODELS FOR AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE GENERATION: IMPLICATIONS FOR GESTURE GENERATION
Authors: HUENERFAUTH MATT
Published: July 2008

Software to generate animations of American Sign Language (ASL) has important accessibility benefits for the significant number of deaf adults with low levels of written language literacy. We have implemented a prototype software system to generate an important subset of ASL phenomena called "classifier predicates," complex and spatially descriptive types of sentences. The output of this prototype system has been evaluated by native ASL signers. Our generator includes several novel models of 3D space, spatial semantics, and temporal coordination motivated by linguistic properties of ASL. These classifier predicates have several similarities to iconic gestures that often co-occur with spoken language; these two phenomena will be compared. This article explores implications of the design of our system for research in multimodal gesture generation systems. A conceptual model of multimodal communication signals is introduced to show how computational linguistic research on ASL relates to the field of multimodal natural language processing.
THE ROLE OF GESTURE IN DOCUMENT EXPLANATION BY EMBODIED CONVERSATIONAL AGENTS
Authors: BICKMORE TIMOTHY , PFEIFER LAURA , YIN LANGXUAN
Published: July 2008

We describe two empirical studies of how professionals explain documents to lay clients who have varying levels of knowledge about the domain under discussion. We find that hand gestures, and in particular deictic gestures by the professional at various parts of the document play a major role in explanations of documents with clients in face-to-face settings. We describe a preliminary computational model of document explanation by an embodied conversational agent, in which appropriate form and location of hand gestures are used by the agent in explaining a document to a user. Results from a pilot evaluation study indicate that individuals with low levels of domain knowledge prefer receiving explanations from such an agent rather than from a human. Examples are drawn from the healthcare domain, in which research consent forms and hospital discharge instruction forms are used as the documents being explained, and health literacy is used as the measure of client domain knowledge.
AUTOMATIC GENERATION OF GAZE AND GESTURES FOR DIALOGUES BETWEEN EMBODIED CONVERSATIONAL AGENTS
Authors: BREITFUSS WERNER , PRENDINGER HELMUT , ISHIZUKA MITSURU
Published: July 2008

In this paper we introduce a system that automatically adds different types of non-verbal behavior to a given dialogue script between two virtual embodied agents. It allows us to transform a dialogue in text format into an agent behavior script enriched by eye gaze and conversational gesture behavior. The agents' gaze behavior is informed by theories of human face-to-face gaze behavior. Gestures are generated based on the analysis of linguistic and contextual information of the input text. The resulting annotated dialogue script is then transformed into the Multimodal Presentation Markup Language for 3D agents (MPML3D), which controls the multi-modal behavior of animated life-like agents, including facial and body animation and synthetic speech. Using our system makes it very easy to add appropriate non-verbal behavior to a given dialogue text, a task that would otherwise be very cumbersome and time consuming. In order to test the quality of gaze generation, we conducted an empirical study. The results showed that by using our system, the naturalness of the agents' behavior was not increased when compared to randomly selected gaze behavior, but the quality of the communication between the two agents was perceived as significantly enhanced.
Pulmonary applications and toxicity of engineered nanoparticles
Authors: Card Jeffrey W. , Zeldin Darryl C. , Bonner James C. , Nestmann Earle R.
Published: July 2008

Because of their unique physicochemical properties, engineered nanoparticles have the potential to significantly impact respiratory research and medicine by means of improving imaging capability and drug delivery, among other applications. These same properties, however, present potential safety concerns, and there is accumulating evidence to suggest that nanoparticles may exert adverse effects on pulmonary structure and function. The respiratory system is susceptible to injury resulting from inhalation of gases, aerosols, and particles, and also from systemic delivery of drugs, chemicals, and other compounds to the lungs via direct cardiac output to the pulmonary arteries. As such, it is a prime target for the possible toxic effects of engineered nanoparticles. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the potential usefulness of nanoparticles and nanotechnology in respiratory research and medicine and to highlight important issues and recent data pertaining to nanoparticle-related pulmonary toxicity.
A Semiquantitative Scale or Histologic Grading of Articular Cartilage Repair
Authors: Pineda S. , Pollack A. , Stevenson S. , Goldberg V. , Caplan A.
Published: July 2008

This laboratory has developed a semiquantitative scale for grading the natural healing process of defects drilled into articular cartilage. The scale is composed of four parameters: percent filling of the defect, reconstitution of the osteochondral junction, matrix staining and cell morphology; it has a score range from 0 (best) to 14 (worst). The scale was used to evaluate the healing of defects drilled into rabbit knee articular cartilage at 2, 14, 30, 60 and 120 days after surgery. No statistically significant difference in the graded score was found between the two different defect sizes (2.7 and 1.5 mm). However, the differences in score observed between specimens from different sacrifice times were significant (p < 0.01). Currently many investigators are manipulating cartilaginous lesions in an attempt to improve healing, and this scale will provide a means for quantitatively comparing results from control and experimental groups.
Reliability of Clinical Diagnosis of the Symptomatic Vascular Territory in Patients With Recent Transient Ischemic Attack or Minor Stroke
Authors: Flossmann Enrico , Redgrave Jessica N. , Briley Dennis , Rothwell Peter M.
Published: July 2008

Background and Purpose—

Knowledge of the vascular territory of a recent transient ischemic attack or minor stroke determines appropriate investigations and the need for territory-specific interventions such as endarterectomy and stenting. However, there are few published data on the accuracy of clinical assessment of the vascular territory.

Methods—

We studied agreement of clinical diagnosis of vascular territory in consecutive patients with transient ischemic attack or minor stroke with diffusion-weighted MRI who had an acute ischemic lesion(s) in a single vascular territory (determined by a neuroradiologist). Three independent neurologists (one had seen the patients, the others had a clinical summary) diagnosed the most likely vascular territory (carotid or vertebrobasilar) for each patient blind to brain imaging.

Results—

One hundred thirty-three (28.0%) of 476 patients had a high signal lesion on diffusion-weighted imaging of whom 115 (86.5%) had a minor stroke and 18 (13.5%) a transient ischemic attack. Interobserver agreement (kappa statistic) on the territory ranged from 0.46 to 0.60. The agreement with diffusion-weighted imaging was only moderate (observer 1: kappa=0.54, 95% CI=0.36 to 0.72; observer 2: 0.48, 0.31 to 0.64; observer 3: 0.48, 0.28 to 0.67). Only the presence of visual symptoms improved the accuracy of the vascular territory diagnosis (range of kappa: 0.63 to 0.77) but not the presence of motor, speech, or sensory symptoms. Sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of vertebrobasilar territory ranged between 54.2% and 70.8% and 84.4% to 91.7%, respectively.

Conclusions—

The reliability of clinical diagnosis of the vascular territory is only moderate, highlighting the importance of sensitive brain imaging after transient ischemic attack or minor stroke. Further imaging-based research is required to determine the optimal clinical diagnostic criteria for classification of the vascular territory.