bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Renewal movements in the Spanish television series
Authors: García-de-Castro Mario
Published: November 2008

The present paper analyzes the results of a qualitative investigation developed by the Spanish public television on the values and characteristics of the national television fiction genre, as well as other aspects of its latest evolution. The conclusions of this qualitative analysis and the audience ratings confirm the hegemony of the genre within the generalist television programming. In the same sense, the paper analyzes its latest tendencies and what is called the last renewal of domestic television fiction.

El presente trabajo analiza los resultados de una investigación cualitativa desarrollada por la televisión pública de España en torno a los valores y características del género de la ficción televisiva nacional, así como otros aspectos de la evolución última del género. Las conclusiones del análisis cualitativo y los datos de audiencia confirman la hegemonía del género dentro de la programación televisiva generalista de nuestro país. De igual forma se analizan sus tendencias más recientes y lo que llega a calificarse como última renovación de la ficción televisiva doméstica que podría denominarse la del hiperrealismo, por sus características extremas.
Multi-screen society: a challenge for media literacy
Authors: Pérez-Tornero José Manuel
Published: November 2008

Conventional television is getting transformed and diversified to adapt to the new requirements and conditions of the new digital contexts. This means deep transformations in the production, distribution and reception systems; in the programs, genres, and contents in general; and in the commercialization channels and financing systems. This work gathers the new challenges of the “multi-screen society” that is appearing in our horizon.

La televisión convencional, en sus inicios medios de comunicación centralizada y de audiencia masiva, se está actualmente transformando y diversificando para acomodarse a las nuevas exigencias y condiciones de los nuevos contextos digitales. Se están produciendo, en este sentido, profundas y progresivas transformaciones en los sistemas de producción, distribución y recepción; en los programas, géneros, y contenidos en general; e incluso en las formas de comercialización y financiación. Este trabajo recoge los nuevos retos de la «sociedad multipantallas» que se abre ya de forma inexorable en nuestro horizonte.
How to educate the gaze and manufacture the news: the citizen in the BBC broadcast information
Authors: Lamuedra-Graván María , Lara-Padilla Tíscar
Published: November 2008

This article analyzes the strategies followed by the BBC channel to legitimize its role as public television through an approach to the citizens and a diversification of contents in order to face the challenge posed by the current fragmentation of audiences. The study is based on interviews with BBC news professionals about their concept of the public and their gaze on citizens. The aim of this paper is to identify ways to help TVE to face the challenge of its legitimating as public service television.

El presente artículo analiza la estrategia de la BBC para legitimar su papel como televisión pública a través de un mayor acercamiento a los ciudadanos y una diversificación de los contenidos ante la creciente fragmentación de audiencias. El estudio se basa en una serie de entrevistas a profesionales de los servicios informativos de la BBC sobre su concepto de público y su mirada sobre los ciudadanos. El propósito de este estudio es identificar fórmulas que puedan ayudar a las televisiones públicas españolas a afrontar, en el actual contexto, el reto de su legitimación como televisión de servicio público.
«Infant television newscast»: learning resource in TV
Authors: Sánchez-Carrero Jacqueline
Published: November 2008

Infant television newscasts are news programs for children and teenagers. In some countries they are among top places. This article will research on the origin of the first television newscasts and will show some of their uses. The format offers an advantage for parents and teachers interested in teaching such important things to children and pupils about television. Due to their short duration it is possible to learn to see and analyze them together with the children. It is an opportunity to know the news and to discover how they are constructed across an entertaining dialogue among adults and children.

Los telediarios infantiles son programas de noticias destinados a niños y adolescentes. En algunos países han logrado posicionarse entre los lugares preferidos por ese tipo de telespectador. Indagar en el origen de los primeros telediarios y mostrar algunas de sus utilidades es el objeto de este trabajo. Así se concluye que el formato ofrece una ventaja a padres y maestros interesados en enseñar a sus hijos y alumnos cuestiones importantes sobre el medio televisivo: por su corta duración se puede aprender a ver y analizar conjuntamente con la infancia. Se trata, sin duda, de una oportunidad para conocer las noticias y descubrir cómo están construidas a través de un diálogo lúdico y entretenido entre adultos y nuevas generaciones.
Pass in language, maths... and TV
Authors: Jiménez-Palacio Tania , Revuelta-Bayod María José
Published: November 2008

A new debate has arrived to the Education System. It deals with the need of an alternative teaching, an education that exceeds the academic traditions and studies the social relations, such as the relationship between media and society. Citizens must access an audiovisual teaching, because it is important to unders-tand how television, radio stations, newspapers, etc., work when they inform us, show us the culture or even build our dreams. People must know about the media’s economic and political interests, and also how the audience could make use of communication mass media.

En el sistema educativo se ha abierto un debate acerca de la importancia de alfabetizar en otros sentidos que sobrepasan la tradición académica y que se adentran en el análisis de relaciones sociales contextualizadas, como puede ser la relación medios de comunicación-sociedad. Las autoras defienden que es importante que los ciudadanos accedan a una alfabetización audiovisual que les permita contar con recursos para entender el funcionamiento de los medios informativos y culturales como fabricantes de sueños, conocer sus intereses como empresas y poderes fácticos que son, captar sus estrategias de manipulación y persuasión, y comprender cómo nosotros, receptores, podemos utilizarlos.
Molekulare Faktoren der katalytischen Selektivität
Authors: Somorjai Gabor A. , Park Jeong Y.
Published: November 2008

Selektivität – die Bildung eines bestimmten Produkts aus einer Auswahl von thermodynamisch möglichen molekularen Produkten – ist der Schlüssel zur Entwicklung sauberer Prozesse, bei denen keinerlei Nebenprodukte entstehen (“grüne Chemie”). Kleine Unterschiede in den Aktivierungsbarrieren für einzelne Schritte bestimmen, über welchen Reaktionsweg das gewünschte molekulare Produkt gebildet wird (Selektivität), wohingegen die Aktivierungsbarriere der Gesamtreaktion die Umsatzgeschwindigkeiten vorgibt (Aktivität). Kürzlich wurde gezeigt, wie Parameter auf atomarer oder molekularer Ebene abgestimmt werden können – beispielsweise hängen Umsatzgeschwindigkeiten und Selektivitäten von der Größe und Form von Nanopartikeln ab, weil sich die aktiven Zentren auf ihren Oberflächen unterscheiden. Hier rücken wir sieben molekulare Faktoren in den Blickpunkt, die die Selektivität heterogenkatalytischer Reaktionen an Metalleinkristall‐Modelloberflächen und an Kolloidnanopartikeln beeinflussen: die Oberflächenstruktur, Strukturveränderungen durch Adsorbatbindung, die Beweglichkeit des Adsorbats, Reaktionszwischenstufen, die Oberflächenzusammensetzung, der Ladungstransport sowie der Oxidationszustand. Wir stellen die Bedeutung der einzelnen Faktoren anhand von Beispielen heraus und beschreiben, welche Methoden uns zur In‐situ‐Untersuchung ihrer Rolle bei Oberflächenreaktionen zu Gebote stehen.
Highly Active Potential Antituberculotics: 3‐(4‐Alkylphenyl)‐4‐thioxo‐2H‐1,3‐benzoxazine‐2(3H)‐ones and 3‐(4‐Alkylphenyl)‐2H‐1,3‐benzoxazine‐2,4(3H)‐dihiones Substituted in Ring‐B by Halogen
Authors: Waisser Karel , Matyk Josef , Kuneš Jirí , Doležal Rafael , Kaustová Jarmila , Dahse Hans‐Martin
Published: November 2008

A series of 6‐chloro‐3‐(4‐alkylphenyl)‐4‐thioxo‐2H‐1,3‐benzoxazine‐2(3H)‐ones, 7‐chloro‐3‐(4‐alkylphenyl)‐4‐thioxo‐2H‐1,3‐benzoxazine‐2(3H)‐ones, 6‐bromo‐3‐(4‐alkylphenyl)‐4‐thioxo‐2H‐1,3‐benzoxazine‐2(3H)‐ones, 6,8‐dibromo‐3‐(4‐alkylphenyl)‐4‐thioxo‐2H‐1,3‐benzoxazine‐2(3H)‐ones, 6‐chloro‐3‐(4‐alkylphenyl)‐2H‐1,3‐benzoxazine‐2,4(3H)‐dithiones, 7‐chloro‐3‐(4‐alkylphenyl)‐2H‐1,3‐benzoxazine‐2,4(3H)‐dithiones, 6‐bromo‐3‐(4‐alkylphenyl)‐2H‐1,3‐benzoxazine‐2,4(3H)‐dithiones and 6,8‐dibromo‐3‐(4‐alkylphenyl)‐2H‐1,3‐benzoxazine‐2,4(3H)‐dithiones was synthesized. The compounds exhibited in‐vitro activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. kansasii (two strains), and M. avium. 6‐bromo‐3‐(4‐propylphenyl)‐4‐thioxo‐2H‐1,3‐benzoxazin‐2(3H)‐one and 6‐bromo‐3‐(4‐propylphenyl)‐2H‐1,3‐benzoxazin‐2,4(3H)‐dithione are the most active compounds against M. tuberculosis. The activity is similar to isoniazid (INH). The compounds under study have a broad spectrum of activity against potential pathogenic strains. The replacement of the oxo group by thioxo group of 3‐(4‐alkylphenyl)‐2H‐1,3‐benzoxazine‐2,4(3H)‐diones often led to an improvement in the antimycobacterial activity against M. tuberculosis.
Synthesis and Anticonvulsant Activity of 5‐Phenyl‐[1,2,4]‐triazolo[4,3‐a]quinolines
Authors: Guan Li‐Ping , Jin Qing‐Hao , Wang Shou‐Feng , Li Fu‐Nan , Quan Zhe‐Shan
Published: November 2008

A series of novel 5‐phenyl‐[1,2,4]‐triazolo[4,3‐a]quinoline derivatives was synthesized by the cyclization of 2‐chloro‐4‐phenyl‐1,2‐dihydronaphthalene with formohydrazide. The starting material 2‐chloro‐4‐phenyl‐1,2‐dihydronaphthalene was synthesized from ethyl‐3‐oxo‐3‐phenylpropanoate and substituted aniline. Their anticonvulsant activities were evaluated by the maximal electroshock (MES) test and their neurotoxicity was evaluated by the rotarod neurotoxicity test (Tox). The maximal electroshock test showed that 7‐hexyloxy‐5‐phenyl‐[1,2,4]‐triazolo[4,3‐a]quinoline 4f was found to be the most potent compound with an ED50 value of 6.5 mg/kg and a protective index (PI = ED50 / TD50) value of 35.1, which was much higher than the PI of the reference drug phenytoin.
Synthesis and Positive Inotropic Evaluation of 2‐(4‐(4‐Substituted benzyloxy)‐3‐methoxybenzyl)‐1,4‐diazepan‐1‐yl)‐N‐(4,5‐dihydro‐1‐methyl[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3‐a]quinolin‐7‐yl)‐acetamides
Authors: Li Jing‐Yuan , Cui Xun , Liu Xue‐Kun , Hong Lan , Quan Zhe‐Shan , Piao Hu‐Ri
Published: November 2008

In an attempt to search for more potent positive inotropic agents, a series of 2‐(4‐(4‐substituted benzyloxy)‐3‐methoxybenzyl)‐1,4‐diazepan‐1‐yl)‐N‐(4,5‐dihydro‐1‐methyl[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3‐a]quinolin‐7‐yl)acetamides was synthesized and their positive inotropic activities were evaluated by measuring left atrium stroke volume on isolated rabbit‐heart preparations. Several compounds showed favorable activity compared with the standard drug Milrinone among which 2‐(4‐(4‐(2‐chlorobenzyloxy)‐3‐methoxybenzyl)‐1,4‐diazepan‐1‐yl)‐N‐(4,5‐dihydro‐1‐methyl‐[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3‐a]quinolin‐7‐yl)acetamide 6e was found to have the most desirable potency with the 6.79 ± 0.18% increased stroke volume (Milrinone: 1.67 ± 0.64%) at a concentration of 1×10–5 M in our in‐vitro study. The chronotropic effects of those compounds having inotropic effects were also evaluated in this work.
Three‐Dimensional Ultralarge‐Pore Ia3d Mesoporous Silica with Various Pore Diameters and Their Application in Biomolecule Immobilization
Authors: Vinu Ajayan , Gokulakrishnan Narasimhan , Balasubramanian Veerappan V. , Alam Sher , Kapoor Mahendra P. , Ariga Katsuhiko , Mori Toshiyuki
Published: November 2008

Highly ordered mesoporous three‐dimensional Ia3d silica (KIT‐6) with different pore diameters has been synthesized by using pluronic P123 as surfactant template and n‐butanol as cosolvent at different synthesis temperatures in a highly acidic medium. The materials were characterized by XRD and N2 adsorption. The synthesis temperature plays a significant role in controlling the pore diameter, surface area, and pore volume of the materials. The material prepared at 150 °C, KIT‐6‐150, has a large pore diameter (11.3 nm) and a high specific pore volume (1.53 cm3 g−1). We also demonstrate immobilization of lysozyme, which is a stable and hard protein, on KIT‐6 materials with different pore diameters. The amount of lysozyme adsorbed on large‐pore KIT‐6 is extremely large (57.2 μmol g−1) and is much higher than that observed for mesoporous silicas MCM‐41, SBA‐15, and KIT‐5, mesoporous carbons, and carbon nanocages. The effect of various parameters such as buffer concentration, adsorption temperature, concentration of the lysozyme, and the textural parameter of the adsorbent on the lysozyme adsorption capacity of KIT‐6 was studied. The amount adsorbed mainly depends on solution pH, ionic strength, adsorption temperature, and pore volume and pore diameter of the adsorbent. The mechanism of adsorption on KIT‐6 under different adsorption conditions is discussed. In addition, the structural stability of lysozyme molecules and the KIT‐6 adsorbent before and after adsorption were investigated by XRD, nitrogen adsorption, and FTIR spectroscopy.
Difluorocarbene Studied with Threshold Photoelectron Spectroscopy (TPES): Measurement of the First Adiabatic Ionization Energy (AIE) of CF2
Authors: Innocenti Fabrizio , Eypper Marie , Lee Edmond P. F. , Stranges Stefano , Mok Daniel K. W. , Chau Foo‐tim , King George C. , Dyke John M.
Published: November 2008

The first photoelectron band of difluorocarbene CF2, has been studied by threshold photoelectron (TPE) spectroscopy. CF2 was prepared by microwave discharge of a flowing mixture of hexafluoropropene, C3F6, and argon. A vibrationally resolved band was observed in which at least twenty‐two components were observed. In the first PE band of CF2, the adiabatic ionization energy differs significantly from the vertical ionization energy because, for the ionization CF2+ (X̃2A1)+e− ← CF2 (X̃1A1), there is an increase in the FCF bond angle (by ≈20°) and a decrease in the CF bond length (by ≈0.7 Å). The adiabatic component was not observed in the experimental TPE spectrum. However, on comparing this spectrum with an ab initio/Franck–Condon simulation of this band, using results from high‐level ab initio calculations, the structure associated with the vibrational components could be assigned. This led to alignment of the experimental TPE spectrum and the computed Franck–Condon envelope, and a determination of the first adiabatic ionization energy of CF2 as (11.362±0.005) eV. From the assignment of the vibrational structure, values were obtained for the harmonic and fundamental frequencies of the symmetric stretching mode (ν1′) and symmetric bending mode (ν2′) in CF2+ (X̃2A1).
Absorption Spectrum of A–T DNA Unraveled by Quantum Mechanical Calculations in Solution on the (dA)2⋅(dT)2 Tetramer
Authors: Santoro Fabrizio , Barone Vincenzo , Improta Roberto
Published: November 2008

The absorption spectrum of A–T DNA is computed for the first time in aqueous solution by means of quantum mechanical calculations performed on realistic models, thereby accounting for both stacking and base pairing interactions and including solvent effects through the polarizable continuum model. The computed and experimental spectra are in close agreement. Our analysis allows the identification of all the electronic transitions hidden in the broad absorption spectrum of A–T DNA, thus determining their most relevant properties and providing an explanation for the most significant experimental features, such as the small blue shift of the band maximum and the appearance of a shoulder on the red wing of the absorption band. The lowest‐energy dark excited state corresponds to a charge‐transfer state between two stacked adenine bases.
Isostructural Potassium and Thallium Salts of Sterically Crowded Thio‐ and Selenophenols: A Structural and Computational Study
Authors: Bubrin Denis , Niemeyer Mark
Published: November 2008

Because of their similar cationic radii, potassium and thallium(I) compounds are usually regarded as closely related. Homologous molecular species containing either K+ or Tl+ are very rare, however. We have synthesized potassium and thallium salts MEAr* [M, E = K, S (2a); K, Se (2b); Tl, S (3a); Tl, Se (3b); Ar* = 2,6‐Trip2C6H3, Trip = 2,4,6‐iPr3C6H2] derived from terphenyl‐substituted thio‐ and selenophenols. In the solid‐state structures of dimeric 2a, 2b, 3a, and 3b additional metal‐ηn–π‐arene interactions to the flanking arms of the terphenyl substituents of different hapticity n are observed. Remarkably, the homologous potassium and thallium complexes 2b and 3b crystallize in isomorphous cells. For 2a, 3a, and model complexes of the composition METph (Tph = C6H4‐2‐Trip) the nature of the M–E and M···C(arene) bonding was studied by density functional theory calculations.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
Mono‐ and Bidentate Benzannulated N‐Heterocyclic Germylenes, Stannylenes and Plumbylenes (Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 33/2008)
Authors: Zabula Alexander V. , Hahn F. Ekkehardt
Published: November 2008

The cover picture shows some selected examples of benzannulated germylenes, stannylenes and plumbylenes and their aggregation behaviour. In addition, some complexes of bidentate bis(germylenes) and bis(stannylenes) are depicted, demonstrating the versatile coordination chemistry of these ligands with transition and main group metals. Details are presented in the Microreview by A. V. Zabula and F. E. Hahn on p. 5165 ff.
News from the 80‐Year‐Old Passerini Variant of the Friedel–Crafts Alkylation of Indole
Authors: Desimoni Giovanni , Faita Giuseppe , Mella Mariella , Toscanini Marco , Boiocchi Massimo
Published: November 2008

The multi‐component Friedel–Crafts alkylation reaction between indole (1), ethyl glyoxylate (2) and anilines (3a–f) gives, in analogy to the protocol of the old Passerini reaction, the expected ethyl 2‐(arylamino)‐2‐(1H‐indol‐3‐yl)acetates 4a–f. When the reactions are catalysed by 5 mol‐% scandium triflate (ScIIITf), however, or when the isolated products 4 are treated under the same conditions, rearrangements involving the arylamino fragments of adducts 4 take place. When the para position of 4 is unsubstituted, ethyl 2‐(2‐aminoaryl)‐2‐(1H‐indol‐3‐yl) acetates 5 are obtained, and their structures were confirmed by the X‐ray crystal structure analysis of 5a. Under milder conditions, ScIIITf gives more complicated products, deriving from 1, 2 and 3 in the ratio of 2:2:1, and these converted into 5. An explanation of the pathway, by which the Passerini adducts 4, coordinated to scandium, undergo the rearrangements, is proposed. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
Platinum‐Catalyzed Cyclization of o‐Alkynyl(oxo)benzenes with Alkenes by 1,2‐Migration of Benzene: Synthesis of 8‐Oxa­bicyclo[3.2.1]octane Derivatives
Authors: Shu Xing‐Zhong , Zhao Shu‐Chun , Ji Ke‐Gong , Zheng Zhao‐Jing , Liu Xue‐Yuan , Liang Yong‐Min
Published: November 2008

An interesting migration of the rigid structure of benzene was observed when propargylic esters were introduced to the cyclization chemistry of o‐alkynyl(oxo)benzene. Various 8‐oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane derivatives with many functional groups could be synthesized from this efficient approach catalyzed by platinum. The high stereo‐ and regioselectivity involved in this transformation was also attractive.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
Immunization with pseudotype baculovirus expressing envelope protein of Japanese encephalitis virus elicits protective immunity in mice
Authors: Li Yaoming , Ye Jing , Cao Shengbo , Xiao Shaobo , Zhao Qian , Liu Xueqin , Jin Meilin , Chen Huanchun
Published: November 2008

Background

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a serious infection and disease in southern and eastern Asia. The design and development of safer and more efficacious vaccines against Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a high‐priority target in the world. Recently, baculovirus pseudotyped with vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSVG) was described as an attractive gene delivery vehicle in mammalian cells and a potential vector for vaccine development. In the present study, we constructed a recombinant pseudotype baculovirus encoding the JEV envelope (E) protein and demonstrated that it could elicit high protective immunity in mice.

Methods

Recombinant pseudotype baculovirus (BV‐G‐E) was generated by inserting JEV E gene fragment into pFastBac‐VSV/G vector. BALB/c mice were immunized with BV‐G‐E and challenged with JEV wild‐type strain. The neutralization antibody, interferon (IFN)‐γ expression and release, and survival rate were analysed and compared with the group of immunized with inactivated vaccine and DNA vaccine (pc‐E) encoding the same gene of JEV.

Results

We demonstrated that intramuscular injections of BV‐G‐E at various doses into mice produced higher levels of JEV‐specific neutralizing antibodies, IFN‐γ and better protective efficacy against a lethal challenge with JEV than that of pc‐E. Furthermore, BV‐G‐E could elicit a higher level of cellular immunity response and provide equal protective efficacy against JEV challenge compared to inactivated vaccine.

Conclusions

Our data demonstrate that BV‐G‐E elicited higher levels of protective immunity compared to DNA vaccine and that pseudotype baculovirus‐mediated gene delivery can be utilized as an alternative strategy to develop new generations of vaccines against JEV infection. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Macromol. Rapid Commun. 22/2008
Authors: Xie Jingwei , Li Xiaoran , Xia Younan
Published: November 2008

Cover: Electrospinning is a powerful tool for generating one‐dimensional nanostructured materials for a range of biomedical applications including controlled release, drug delivery, and tissue engineering. The cover shows images of the schematic of electrospinning setup (upper left), cells with elongated and irregular shape (upper left and down left), and ordered and disordered neurites' outgrowth patterns (upper right and down right) on an aligned and randomly electrospun nanofiber mat. Further details can be found in the article by J. Xie, X. Li, and Y. Xia* on page 1775.
Reducing the quantity of reworked parts in a robotic arc welding process
Authors: Aksoy Burcu , Orbak Âli Yurdun
Published: November 2008

Today, the competitive environment of the knowledge age has been replaced with the competitive environment of the industrial age as the rules of the business world are changing completely. The focused issue is to reach to the knowledge as soon as possible, and to process and apply it rapidly. In this context, one of the important goals that the companies try to reach in order to achieve acceleration is the six sigma philosophy. Six sigma is a fundamental continuous improvement methodology aimed at reducing the variation and waste on processes by utilizing statistical methods and techniques efficiently. Global companies are making noteworthy profits by using this method in their processes. The six sigma methodology focuses on process excellence advantages for companies that apply it, to reach profit, to increase productivity and to have larger market share. In this paper, an application of six sigma methodology for reducing the quantity of rework parts for robotic arc welding process is given. The phases of six sigma and their results are indicated in detail. Furthermore, it is also shown how various techniques of six sigma methodology are applied to achieve financial benefits. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Forbidden reflection based dark field transmission electron microscopy for the evaluation of local lattice distortion in epitaxial thin films
Authors: Takeno S. , Koike M. , Tanaka H. , Kinno T. , Tomita M. , Uesugi F.
Published: November 2008

Recently, we proposed a straightforward imaging technique based on dark field transmission electron microscopy for the evaluation of stress distribution in a small area of interest. The dark field image is formed by a certain forbidden reflection, e.g. in the case of Si, 002 reflection can be used. The intensity distribution of the dark field image is considered to be strongly related to the local lattice distortion. However, the detailed nature of the lattice distortion has been unclear so far. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate our new technique for the Si1−xGex/Si(001) strained structure and show detailed nature of local lattice distortion. For this purpose, focused ion beam (FIB)‐processed transmission electron microscopy (TEM) specimen membrane was used since FIB enables us to make an artificially flat TEM specimen, which simplifies the estimation of the shape factor. We confirmed that lattice distortion with a specific rotational component is induced near the Si1−xGex/Si(001) interface region. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Simple poly(dimethylsiloxane) surface modification to control cell adhesion
Authors: Wu Min‐Hsien
Published: November 2008

Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) has a long history of exploitation in a variety of biological and medical applications. Particularly in the past decade, PDMS has attracted interest as a material for the fabrication of microfluidic biochip. The control of cell adhesion on a PDMS surface is important in many microfluidic applications such as cell culture or cell‐based chemicals/drug testing. Unlike many complicated approaches, this study reports simple methods of PDMS surface modification to effectively inhibit or conversely enhance cell adhesion on a PDMS surface using Pluronic surfactant solution and poly‐L‐lysine, respectively. This research basically succeeded our prior work to further confirm the long‐term capability of 3% Pluronic F68 surfactant to suppress cell adhesion on a PDMS surface over a 6‐day cell culture. Microscopic observation showed that the treated PDMS surface created an unfavorable interface, where chondrocytes seemed to clump together on day 2 and 6 after chondrocyte seeding, and there was no sign of chondrocyte spreading. On the opposite side, results demonstrated that the poly‐L‐lysine‐treated surface significantly increased fibroblast adhesion by 32% in contrast to the untreated PDMS, which is comparable to the commercial cell‐culture‐grade microplate. However, fibronectin treatment did not have such an effect. All these fundamental information is found useful for any PDMS‐related application. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Morphological, Physicochemical and Structural Characteristics of Oxidized Barley and Corn Starches
Authors: Chávez‐Murillo Carolina E. , Wang Ya‐Jane , Bello‐Pérez Luis A.
Published: November 2008

Barley starch was oxidized to different levels and the morphological, physicochemical and structural of the resultant oxidized barley starch were determined and compared with oxidized corn starch at the same oxidation level. The amylose content in oxidized starches decreased with increasing oxidation level, and the extent of decrease was similar for both starch types. No evidences of alteration in morphology and X‐ray diffraction pattern were noted after oxidation. The crystallinity of barley starch increased with increasing oxidation but corn starch displayed a reduced crystallinity at 5% NaOCl. The onset and peak gelatinization temperatures of oxidized starches as measured by differential scanning calorimetry showed a slight increase up to 3% NaOCl and then decreased at 5% NaOCl, whereas gelatinization enthalpy gradually decreased with increasing oxidation level. The melting temperature of retrograded oxidized starches increased with increasing oxidation. Both amylose and amylopectin were degraded during oxidation, but a higher degradation in both components as determined by high‐performance size‐exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) was noted for barley starch than for corn starch. Results of amylopectin chain‐length distribution showed that the proportions of A and B1 chains significantly increased while that of B2+ chains significantly decreased. These results suggest that differences in the structure of barley and corn starches affected their responses to oxidation. Barley starch seemed to be more susceptible to oxidation with more significant reduction in pasting temperature, viscosity, and molecular size than corn starch.
Granule Sizes of Canna (Canna edulis) Starches and their Reactivity Toward Hydration, Enzyme Hydrolysis and Chemical Substitution
Authors: Kasemwong Kittiwut , Piyachomkwan Kuakoon , Wansuksri Rungtiva , Sriroth Klanarong
Published: November 2008

Small and large granule fractions were isolated from canna starch (Canna edulis, green leaf cultivar), and their morphology, physicochemical properties, susceptibility towards granular starch hydrolyzing enzymes and chemical reaction with propylene oxide were investigated. Canna starch consisted of a mixed population of large, medium and small granules; the mean of granule diameter was 47.4 μm. The small granules presented round and polygonal shapes, whereas the large granules had oval and elliptical shapes. Significant variations in digestibility of the various granules size by granular starch hydrolyzing enzymes were observed. During the first 24 h, the hydrolysis rate of small granules was higher than that of native and large granule starches. After 72 h, however, the degree of hydrolysis of small granule, large granule and native starches had reached the extent of 19.6%, 32.0% and 27.2%, respectively. The larger the granule size, the higher the MS obtained when modified with propylene oxide, which was due to the higher swelling power of the large granules. The results obtained from this study suggest that small granules had lower water and chemical affinity when compared with the bigger ones. The difference in the reactivity of small and large granules could be presumably attributed to the starch components (amylose and amylopectin) and their organization of glucan chains in ordered and/or less ordered structure of these two fractions.
Amplified fragment length polymorphism used for inter- and intraspecific differentiation of screwworms (Diptera: Calliphoridae)
Authors: Alamalakala L. , Skoda S.R. , Foster J.E.
Published: November 2008

Morphologically, early immature stages of the economically important pest called screwworms,Cochliomyia hominivorax(Coquerel) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), and non-pest secondary screwworms,Cochliomyia macellaria(Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), are nearly indistinguishable. Correct identification is crucial to the ongoing eradication and exclusion program protecting the United States, Mexico and Central America from reinvasion of screwworms persistent in South America and the Caribbean. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) polymerase chain reaction was used to differentiate populations ofC. hominivoraxand to discriminate them fromC. macellaria. Ten primer pairs screened for interspecific discrimination ofC. hominivoraxfromC. macellariashowed 52 discrete bands, allowing the two species to be readily distinguished; divergent branches on resulting dendrograms showed 100% bootstrap support.C. macellariapopulations grouped at the 92% level;C. hominivoraxpopulations grouped at the 68% level. Of the 52 bands, seven were monomorphic for both species, 22 were specific toC. macellaria, ten were present only inC. hominivoraxand the remaining 13 bands differentiatedC. hominivoraxpopulations. Separate studies using ten strains ofC. hominivoraxshowed a higher level of genetic similarity within than between populations. Analyses using 72 bands (19 monomorphic bands, 53 bands grouped all ten strains at the 58% similarity level) resolved seven mutant strains from Mexico (85% similarity level); all ten strains were resolved at the 72% similarity level. Diagnostic bands were identified for species and strain identification. We conclude that AFLP can be a valuable tool for studies of interspecific and intraspecific genetic variation in screwworm populations.
THE DEATH OF A CONSUMER SOCIETY
Authors: Hilton Matthew
Published: November 2008

This paper argues that the meaning of consumer society has changed over the last half century, principally through the prioritisation of choice over access. It does this through an examination of the global consumer movement and a consideration of its successes and failures. It demonstrates that through the movement's own tactics, and the defeats it suffered by opponents of regulation, its earlier emphasis on the right of consumers to enjoy basic needs has given way to a greater focus on choice. Consequently, the changing fortunes of consumer activism around the world both reflect and explain the reorientation of global consumer society over the last few decades.
Quasi-monoenergetic GeV electrons from the interaction of two laser pulses with a gas
Authors: Singh K.P. , Sajal V. , Gupta D.N.
Published: November 2008

A scheme is proposed for the acceleration of electrons generated during the ionization of a gas by two laser pulses. The electrons created from the ionization of neutral atoms near the rising edge of the pulse do not gain sufficient energy. If a prepulse is used before the main pulse then the prepulse removes electrons from the outer shells, and the main laser pulse interacts with the electrons in the inner shells of high atomic number gases, such as krypton and argon. The electrons are generated close to the peak of the main laser pulse and gain energy in GeV with a small spread in the energy and low emittance angle.
Homogenization of the nonlinear Maxwell model of viscoelasticity and of the Prandtl—Reuss model of elastoplasticity
Authors: Visintin Augusto
Published: November 2008

This paper deals with processes in nonlinear inelastic materials whose constitutive behaviour is represented by the inclusion

here we denote by σ the stress tensor, by ε the linearized strain tensor, by B(x) the compliance tensor and by ∂ϕ(·, x) the subdifferential of a convex function ϕ(·, x). This relation accounts for elasto-viscoplasticity, including a nonlinear version of the classical Maxwell model of viscoelasticity and the Prandtl—Reuss model of elastoplasticity.

The constitutive law is coupled with the equation of continuum dynamics, and well-posedness is proved for an initial- and boundary-value problem. The function ϕ and the tensor B are then assumed to oscillate periodically with respect to x and, as this period vanishes, a two-scale model of the asymptotic behaviour is derived via Nguetseng's notion of two-scale convergence. A fully homogenized single-scale model is also retrieved, and its equivalence with the two-scale problem is proved. This formulation is non-local in time and is at variance with that based on so-called analogical models that rest on a mean-field-type hypothesis.
Some reiteration results for interpolation methods defined by means of polygons
Authors: Cobos Fernando , Fernández-Cabrera Luz M. , Martín Joaquim
Published: November 2008

We continue the research on reiteration results between interpolation methods associated to polygons and the real method. Applications are given to N-tuples of function spaces, of spaces of bounded linear operators and Banach algebras.
Radially symmetric critical points of non-convex functionals
Authors: Krömmer Stefan , Kielhöfer Hansjörg
Published: November 2008

We investigate critical points of the functional

over a ball in ℝn. Here, W is radially symmetric but not convex. We embed the functional into a family of functionals

where E0,0(u) = E(u). A global bifurcation analysis yields a branch of non-trivial critical points depending on λ and positive ε, where we can set λ = 0. The geometric properties preserved on that branch, due to the maximum principle, prove compactness such that the singular limit as ε ↘ 0 exists. Under natural conditions on W and G the critical point obtained in this way is a minimizer of the original functional. That plan can be carried out only under the restriction of radial symmetry, since the maximum principle applies only to special elliptic equations of fourth order. That restriction, however, is not essential since every minimizer of the functional is radially symmetric.
Multiple solutions for elliptic resonant problems
Authors: Liu Shibo
Published: November 2008

Two non-trivial solutions for semilinear elliptic resonant problems are obtained via the Lyapunov—Schmidt reduction and the three-critical-points theorem. The difficulty that the variational functional does not satisfy the Palais—Smale condition is overcome by taking advantage of the reduction and a careful analysis of the reduced functional.
What kind of Scandinavian? On interrogative noun phrases across North Germanic
Authors: Vangsnes Øystein Alexander
Published: November 2008

A central objective of this paper is to show how much variation there is across Scandinavian with respect to the morphosyntactic form of interrogative noun phrases. The present paper focuses on three main types of such DPs: (i) phrases involving a cognate of English which, (ii) phrases involving the same element as manner ‘how’ (which is morphologically complex and distinct from degree ‘how’), and (iii) phrases involving ‘what’ with or without an overt kind noun. With respect to all of these different types of noun-phrase-internal wh-expressions an interesting pattern seems to emerge: there are reasons to hold that adnominal wh-expressions start out as modifiers, yielding kind-querying noun phrases, and then develop into determiners, yielding token-querying noun phrases. Although further investigations will have to determine whether such a developmental path (or cycle) is quite general in nature, it can be made perfect sense of with reference to grammaticalization triggered by wh-movement which operates on a DP-structure that distinguishes modification from determination in such a way that the locus of determination is higher than modification.
Penguin occupation in the Vestfold Hills
Authors: Huang Tao , Sun Liguang , Wang Yuhong , Zhu Renbin
Published: November 2008

During CHINARE-22 (December 2005–March 2006), we investigated six penguin colonies in the Vestfold Hills, East Antarctica, and collected several penguin ornithogenic sediment cores, samples of fresh guano and modern penguin bone and feather. We selected seven penguin bones and feathers and six sediments from the longest sediment core and performed AMS14C dating. The results indicate that penguins occupied the Vestfold Hills as early as 8500 calibrated years before present (cal. yrbp), following local deglaciation and the formation of the ice free area. This is the first report on the Holocene history of penguins in the Vestfold Hills. As in other areas of Antarctica, penguins occupied this area as soon as local ice retreated and the ice free area formed, and they are very sensitive to climatic and environmental changes. This work provides the foundation for understanding the history of penguins occupation in Vestfold Hills, East Antarctica.
The impact of dairy product consumption on nutrient adequacy and weight of Head Start mothers
Authors: O’Neil Carol E , Nicklas Theresa A , Liu Yan , Franklin Frank A
Published: November 2008

Objective

To assess the relationship of dairy product consumption on diet quality and weight of low-income women.

Setting

Head Start centres in Texas and Alabama, USA.

Design

Cross-sectional study. Women were divided into dairy consumption groups: ≤1, >1 to ≤2 and >2 servings/d. Nutrient intake/diet quality was determined by calculating the percentage meeting the Estimated Average Requirement, guidelines for fat and added sugar, and Mean Adequacy Ratio (MAR). Mean BMI was compared for the dairy consumption groups.

Subjects

Mothers with children in Head Start; 609 African-Americans (43 %), Hispanic-Americans (32 %) and European-Americans (24 %).

Results

Fifteen per cent of participants consumed >2 servings of dairy products and 57 % consumed ≤1 serving of dairy daily. Intakes of protein, vitamin D, riboflavin, P, Ca, K, Mg and Zn were significantly higher in those consuming >2 servings/d. Total SFA were higher and added sugars were lower in those consuming >2 servings of dairy products daily compared with those consuming ≤2 servings/d. Forty-one per cent of women consuming >2 servings of dairy daily had MAR scores under 85 compared with 94 % consuming ≤1 serving/d. Mean BMI was 30·36 kg/m2; there was no association between BMI and dairy product consumption.

Conclusions

Consumption of dairy products was low and was not associated with BMI in this low-income population. Higher levels of dairy product consumption were associated with higher MAR scores and improved intakes of Ca, K and Mg, which have been identified as shortfall nutrients in the diets of adults.
A framework for the construction of state surfaces of unsaturated soils in the elastic domain
Authors: Devillers P. , El Youssoufi M. S. , Saix C.
Published: November 2008

This paper deals with volume changes of an unsaturated soil in the elastic domain. Two constitutive relations are established in the general framework of unsaturated porous media mechanics. They express the variations of the void ratio e and the water content w with respect to the mean net stress (σ − pg*) and the suction s. Associated with validated experimental results, these relations give access to the construction of the state surface e = f((σ − pg*), s) in the elastic domain. This surface shows two domains: the first, near saturation, is based on the hypothesis of a Biot's coefficient bw equal to 1; the second, for high suctions, is based on an experimental value of bw. Next, a preliminary construction of the state surface Gsw = g((σ − pg*), s) is proposed for a given soil. Although restricted to the elastic domain, these constructions give a new understanding of the suction role in important problems related to overconsolidation, shrinkage, or swelling of unsaturated soils.
Early VLF perturbations caused by lightning EMP‐driven dissociative attachment
Authors: Marshall R. A. , Inan U. S. , Chevalier T. W.
Published: November 2008

We propose a new mechanism for lightning‐induced perturbations to VLF transmitter signals known as Early VLF events. This mechanism involves electron density changes due to electromagnetic pulses (EMP) from successive in‐cloud lightning discharges associated with cloud‐to‐ground discharges (CGs), which are likely the source of continuing current and much of the charge moment change in CGs. Through time‐domain modeling of the EMP we show that a sequence of pulses can produce appreciable density changes in the lower ionosphere, and that these changes are primarily electron losses through dissociative attachment to molecular oxygen. Modeling of the propagating VLF transmitter signal through the disturbed region shows that perturbed regions created by successive horizontal EMPs create measurable amplitude changes.
Wnt signalling at the crossroads of nutritional regulation
Authors: Sethi Jaswinder K. , Vidal-Puig Antonio J.
Published: November 2008

The ability to sense and respond to nutritional cues is among the most fundamental processes that support life in living organisms. At the cellular level, a number of biochemical mechanisms have been proposed to mediate cellular glucose sensing. These include ATP-sensitive potassium channels, AMP-activated protein kinase, activation of PKC (protein kinase C), and flux through the hexosamine pathway. Less well known is how cellularly heterogenous organs couple nutrient availability to prioritization of cell autonomous functions and appropriate growth of the entire organ. Yet what is clear is that when such mechanisms fail or become inappropriately active they can lead to dire consequences such as diabetes, metabolic syndromes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. In this issue of the Biochemical Journal, Anagnostou and Shepherd report the identification of an important link between cellular glucose sensing and the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway in macrophages. Their data strongly indicate that the Wnt/β-catenin pathway of Wnt signalling is responsive to physiological concentrations of nutrients but also suggests that that this system could be inappropriately activated in the diabetic (hyperglycaemic) or other metabolically compromised pathological states. This opens the exciting possibility that organ-selective modulation of Wnt signalling may become an attractive therapeutic target to treat these diseases.
Effects of p-doping on the thermal sensitivity of individual Si nanowires
Authors: Brioude A. , Cornu D. , Miele P. , Mouchet C. , Simonato J.-P , Rouvière E.
Published: November 2008

A gradual downshift and broadening of the Si optical phonon peak was observed by Raman scattering measurements on individual undoped and p-doped silicon nanowire (SiNW) when heated by a laser beam. This dual effect can be interpreted by an induced compressive stress resulting from structural defects. The p-doped SiNW was shown to be the most sensitive to heating and its structure was clearly modified with a large diffusion of gold atoms forming numerous gold nanoparticles.
High concentration effects of neutral-potential-well interface traps on recombination dc current-voltage lineshape in metal-oxide-silicon transistors
Authors: Chen Zuhui , Jie Bin B , Sah Chih-Tang
Published: November 2008

Steady-state Shockley–Read–Hall kinetics is employed to explore the high concentration effect of neutral-potential-well interface traps on the electron-hole recombination direct-current current-voltage (R-DCIV) properties in metal-oxide-silicon field-effect transistors. Extensive calculations include device parameter variations in neutral-trapping-potential-well electron interface-trap density NET (charge states 0 and −1), dopant impurity concentration PIM, oxide thickness Xox, forward source/drain junction bias VPN, and transistor temperature T. It shows significant distortion of the R-DCIV lineshape by the high concentrations of the interface traps. The result suggests that the lineshape distortion observed in past experiments, previously attributed to spatial variation in surface impurity concentration and energy distribution of interface traps in the silicon energy gap, can also arise from interface-trap concentration along surface channel region.
Crossed jet reactive scattering dynamics of F+H2O→HF(v,J)+OH:HF(v,J) product quantum state distributions under single-collision conditions
Authors: Zolot Alexander M. , Nesbitt David J.
Published: November 2008

Reactive scattering dynamics of F+H2O→HF+OH have been investigated under single-collision, crossed, supersonic jet conditions at 5.4(1.3)kcal∕mol, and nascent HF(v,J) rovibrational populations (v⩽2, J⩽17) have been observed via high resolution IR laser absorption methods. Vibrational populations are highly inverted, with 75(2)% and 21(5)% of the observed HF product formed in v=1 and 0, respectively. Small but finite branching [5(1)%] into the v=2 manifold is observed, which is accessible only via the additional center of mass collision energy in the crossed jets. Despite energy constraints associated with substantial vibrational excitation, the reaction dynamics also lead to rotationally hyperthermal HF, with populations observed up to near the energetic limit for each of the v=0,1,2 vibrational manifolds. The trends in these nascent product rovibrational distributions are interpreted in terms of ab initio predictions of a strongly bent, early-barrier transition state and long-range dipole-dipole interactions in the exit channel.