bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multiple-temperature kinetic model for continuum and near continuum flows
Authors: Xu Kun , Liu Hongwei , Jiang Jianzheng
Published: January 2007

A gas-kinetic model with multiple translational temperature for the continuum and near continuum flow simulations is proposed. The main purpose for this work is to derive the generalized Navier-Stokes equations with multiple temperature. It is well recognized that for increasingly rarefied flowfields, the predictions from continuum formulation, such as the Navier-Stokes equations lose accuracy. These inaccuracies may be partially due to the single temperature assumption in the standard Navier-Stokes equations. Here, based on an extended Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook (BGK) model with multiple translational temperature, the numerical scheme for its corresponding Navier-Stokes equations is also constructed. In the current approach, the energy exchange between x, y, and z directions is modeled through the particle collision, and individual energy equation in different direction is obtained. The kinetic model, newly constructed is an enlarged system in comparison with Holway’s ellipsoid statistical BGK model (ES-BGK). The detailed difference is presented in this paper. In the newly derived “Navier-Stokes” equations from the current model, all viscous terms are replaced by the temperature relaxation terms. The relation between the stress and strain in the standard Navier-Stokes equations is recovered only in the limiting case when the flow is close to the equilibrium, such as small temperature differences in different directions. In order to validate the generalized Navier-Stokes equations, we apply them to the study of Couette and Poiseuille flows with a wide range of Knudsen numbers. In the continuum flow regime, the standard Navier-Stokes solutions are precisely recovered. In the near continuum flow regime, the simulation results are compared with the direct simulation Monte Carlo solutions. The anomalous phenomena in the pressure and temperature distributions from the standard Navier-Stokes equations in the Poiseuille flow case at Kn=0.1 are well resolved by the generalized Navier-Stokes equations. This paper clearly shows that many thermal nonequilibrium phenomena in the near continuum flow regime can be well captured by modifying some assumptions in the standard Navier-Stokes equations.
Laser-scanning angle deviation microscopy
Authors: Chiu Ming-Hung , Shih Bo-Yuan , Lai Chih-Wen
Published: January 2007

A microscope manifesting a dynamic range of several microns and an axial (or height) resolution of 1nm is presented. It is based on the method of angle deviation due to nonfocal plane reflection and the application of surface plasmon resonance effect as well as the technique of heterodyne interferometry. The deviation angle and the induced phase difference between two rays are proportional to the departure from the focal plane. Using the common-path heterodyne interferometry to scan the specimen and measure the phase difference distribution, the surface profile would be obtained in real time.
Integrable four-vortex motion on sphere with zero moment of vorticity
Authors: Sakajo Takashi
Published: January 2007

We consider the motion of N vortex points on sphere, called the N-vortex problem, which is a Hamiltonian dynamical system. The three-vortex problem is integrable and its motion has already been resolved. On the other hand, when the moment of vorticity vector, which consists of weighed sums of the vortex positions, is zero at the initial moment, the four-vortex problem is integrable, but it has not been investigated yet. The present paper gives a description of the integrable four-vortex problem with the reduction method to a three-vortex problem used by Aref and Stremler. Moreover, we examine whether the vortex points collide self-similarly in finite time. The four-vortex collapse is proved to be impossible. We consider if it is possible for not all but part of the vortex points to collapse self-similarly. Moreover, we discuss the topological structure of periodic orbits obtained in the present problem.
Electrically tunable defects in metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes
Authors: Park Ji-Yong
Published: January 2007

A defect whose electron transmission probability can be controlled by electric field is intentionally created on a metallic single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) with a voltage pulse from a tip of an atomic force microscope (AFM). Localized characteristics of the created defect are elucidated with local electrical property measurements using an AFM. The result demonstrates that conductance of a metallic SWCNT can be modulated by electric field such as from a back gate with the introduction of a local defect.
Terahertz mixing in MgB2 microbolometers
Authors: Cherednichenko S. , Drakinskiy V. , Ueda K. , Naito M.
Published: January 2007

The authors report on a terahertz (600GHz) mixing experiment with MgB2 microbolometers in the resistive state. The authors observed that for a 20nm film a mixer gain bandwidth of 2.3GHz can be achieved, corresponding to an energy relaxation time of 70ps. The experimental results were analyzed using a two-temperature model. As a result, the phonon escape time of ∼20ps was deduced. At 1.6THz the MgB2 mixer uncorrected noise temperature was 11000K. The obtained results show that MgB2 bolometers are good prospects for the terahertz range as both broadband mixers and fast direct detectors.
Exciton dissociation at donor-acceptor polymer heterojunctions: Quantum nonadiabatic dynamics and effective-mode analysis
Authors: Tamura Hiroyuki , Bittner Eric R. , Burghardt Irene
Published: January 2007

The quantum-dynamical mechanism of photoinduced subpicosecond exciton dissociation and the concomitant formation of a charge-separated state at a semiconducting polymer heterojunction is elucidated. The analysis is based upon a two-state vibronic coupling Hamiltonian including an explicit 24-mode representation of a phonon bath comprising high-frequency (CC stretch) and low-frequency (torsional) modes. The initial relaxation behavior is characterized by coherent oscillations, along with the decay through an extended nonadiabatic coupling region. This region is located in the vicinity of a conical intersection hypersurface. A central ingredient of the analysis is a novel effective mode representation, which highlights the role of the low-frequency modes in the nonadiabatic dynamics. Quantum dynamical simulations were carried out using the multiconfiguration time-dependent Hartree method.
Bacterial flagella-based propulsion and on/off motion control of microscale objects
Authors: Behkam Bahareh , Sitti Metin
Published: January 2007

Miniaturization of the power source and on-board actuation is the main bottleneck for the development of microscale mobile robots. As a possible solution, this letter proposes the use of flagellar motors inside the intact cell of Serratia marcescens bacteria for controlled propulsion of swimming robotic bodies. The feasibility of the proposed idea is demonstrated by propelling 10μm polystyrene beads at an average speed of 15±6μm∕s by several bacteria randomly attached on their surface. On/off motion control of the bead is achieved by introducing copper ions to stop the bacteria flagellar motors and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid to resume their motion.
The Ability to See Solid Form in Early Infancy
Authors: Cook Michael , Hine Trevor , Williamson Ann
Published: January 2007

The perception of three-dimensional attributes of solid objects by twelve-week-old infants was studied. In the first experiment the rates of habituation of fixation to a cube in a fixed orientation, to one which changed in orientation between presentations, and to a sequence of photographs of cubes in different orientations were determined. Habituation rate was also determined for a photograph of a cube in a fixed orientation. No difference was found between the initial fixation times for solids and photographs, or between the habituation curves for the solids in fixed and varying orientation. For the photographs habituation was much greater for the fixed orientation than the varying orientation condition. These data were interpreted as providing strong evidence that the infants were responding to the stimuli on the basis of their three-dimensional attributes. In the second experiment the same discriminations were examined by a recovery-from-habituation technique. One group was habituated to a cube in a fixed orientation and tested for recovery of fixation to a new orientation. A second group was habituated to a photograph of a cube in a single orientation and tested for recovery to a photograph of a new orientation. Both groups showed recovery and the recovery was the same for both conditions. These data demonstrated that the subjects were, after all, capable of discriminating between different orientations of a solid cube, and they provided no further evidence that the infants were perceiving three-dimensional attributes of the stimuli.
Touch and Vision in Normal and Down's Syndrome Babies
Authors: Lewis Vicky A , Bryant Peter E
Published: January 2007

Two experiments are reported with young Down's syndrome and normal children matched for mental age, sex, and social class. In one, Down's syndrome children performed at chance level on two tactual—visual cross-modal tasks, and only the oldest succeeded with one of two visual—visual within-modal tasks. The normal children performed at above chance level on the visual—visual tasks, and on the tactual—visual tasks the oldest succeeded on two and the youngest on one of the tasks. These results suggest that Down's syndrome children may have some sort of difficulty involving tactual perception. The second experiment examined the effect of touch on visual behaviour. Down's syndrome children and their matched controls looked at pairs of shapes which sometimes could be touched and sometimes could not. In the former condition the Down's syndrome children touched less, and looking and touching was less coordinated than that of normal children. However, both groups made fewer but longer looks when they could touch the shapes. In the light of these results the role of tactual perception in Down's syndrome children is discussed.
A Depth Aftereffect Caused by Viewing a Rotating Ames Window
Authors: Rubin David C
Published: January 2007

After a rotating Ames window has been viewed, a normal test window held diagonal to the subject's line of sight appears to be distorted, having a larger back than front. The effect does not occur if a normal window is rotated or if the test window is held perpendicular to the subject's line of sight.
Saccadic Suppression of Displacement is Strongest in Central Vision
Authors: Bridgeman Bruce , Fisher Brian
Published: January 2007

Perception of target displacement is severely degraded if the displacement occurs during a saccadic eye movement, but the variation of this effect across the visual field is unknown. A small target was displaced from a starting point at the midline, or 10 deg to the right or left, while the eye made a saccade from the 10 deg right position to the 10 deg left position. Saccades were detected and the target displaced on line. Assessed with a signal detection measure, suppression was stronger in central vision than in more peripheral locations for all three subjects. Leftward and rightward displacements yielded equal thresholds. The results complement the findings of others to reveal a picture of perceptual events during saccades, with both deeper saccadic suppression and faster correction of spatial values (the correspondences between retinal position and perceived egocentric direction), favouring more accurate spatial processing in central vision than in the periphery.
Osteotome Technique for Removal of Symptomatic Ear Canal Exostoses
Authors: Hetzler Douglas G.
Published: January 2007

Objectives/Hypothesis: This study was undertaken to assess a transcanal osteotome technique for removing symptomatic ear canal exostoses. Outcome measures included healing rates and the rate of complications.

Study Design: Prospective study in a private practice.

Methods: A straight 1‐mm osteotome and a curved 1‐mm osteotome were used by way of a transcanal approach to incrementally remove obstructive ear canal exostoses. If anterior or superior bone growths were closely approximating the tympanic membrane, they were partially removed with a 1.5 mm cylindrical end‐ and side‐cutting burr. Healing rates were monitored with weekly postoperative visits.

Results: Two hundred twenty‐one ear canals (140 patients) were consecutively treated with this technique. Healing was achieved at 2 to 8 (average 3.50) weeks, with 90% healed by 4 weeks. There were 4 mobilizations of a full‐thickness segment of anterior bony canal wall; 3 exposures of periosteum anterior to the anterior bony wall; 1 tear of the tympanic membrane requiring a tympanoplasty; 18 anterior and 11 posterior tympanic membrane tears that healed spontaneously; 3 instances of sensorineural hearing decrease; 3 cases of new‐onset postoperative tinnitus; and 1 instance of postoperative positioning vertigo. There were no lacerations of the tympanic membrane by an osteotome, no facial nerve injuries, no soft tissue stenoses of an ear canal, and no skin grafting of an ear canal.

Conclusions: The described technique of using osteotomes transcanal for removal of symptomatic obstructive ear canal exostoses promoted rapid healing and was effective and safe.
Oceanicola nanhaiensis sp. nov., isolated from sediments of the South China Sea
Authors: Gu Jun , Guo Bin , Wang Ya-Nan , Yu Su-Lin , Inamori Ryuhei , Qu Ri , Ye Yu-Guang , Wu Xiao-Lei
Published: January 2007

A Gram-negative, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterium, strain SS011B1-20T, was isolated from sediments of the South China Sea. Growth occurred at NaCl concentrations between 0 and 10 % and at temperatures between 10 and 37 °C. Strain SS011B1-20T contained Q-10 as the major respiratory quinone and C18 : 1
ω7c (81.2 %), C16 : 0 (7.0 %) and C18 : 1 methyl (4.3 %) as the predominant fatty acids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 64.7 mol%. A phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain SS011B1-20T belonged to a clade within the genus Oceanicola in the Alphaproteobacteria, the highest sequence similarities being found with respect to Oceanicola batsensis (96.3 %) and with Oceanicola granulosus (94.9 %). Strain SS011B1-20T could be clearly distinguished from other Oceanicola species on the basis of the genotypic, phenotypic and phylogenetic data. Thus, it is proposed that strain SS011B1-20T represents a novel species of the genus Oceanicola, with the name Oceanicola nanhaiensis sp. nov. The type strain is SS011B1-20T (=LMG 23508T=CGMCC 1.6293T).
Identifying children with neurological impairment and disability in resource‐poor countries
Authors: Mung’ala‐Odera V. , Newton C. R. J. C.
Published: January 2007

Background  The burden of neurological impairment (NI) in children living in resource‐poor countries (RPCs) is unknown. This lack of data is caused by inappropriate case detection techniques. In RPCs, the most appropriate method should be inexpensive, simple, rapid and accurate. This article reviews methods used to identify children with NI and disability in RPCs, evaluating their effectiveness and suitability.

Methods  A search of relevant articles was performed using the National Library of Medicine via PubMed and Medline search engines. In addition, bibliographies of reviews were also browsed to identify additional articles, particularly those from World Health Organization and United Nations sources and from government and unpublished reports. Key phrases used included impairment, disability or handicap and the following terms: identification, screening, prevalence and developing countries. Studies included were those that fulfilled the following criteria; performed in RPCs, presented data in detail to allow reanalysis and provided data on cost and validity of the methods.

Results  Use of the national census, key informants and methods using rapid rural appraisal have low sensitivity and are not able to provide adequate information on diagnostic categories or risk factors. House‐to‐house surveys using questionnaires have high sensitivities (63–100%) in the detection of impairment, but this approach remains relatively expensive and cannot be applied to an entire population (e.g. a region or country) and is thus less useful for assessing the needs of disability. Furthermore, the sensitivity is decreased in the detection of some domains, e.g. cognition.

Conclusions  Most of the approaches used for identifying individuals with NI or disability suffer from inadequacies, the main ones being low sensitivity and underreporting. To assess the burden, nationwide censuses combined with surveys in selected areas of the country may be useful. These systems, however, require validation to establish their suitability.
A study of the association between children’s access to drinking water in primary schools and their fluid intake: can water be ‘cool’ in school?
Authors: Kaushik A. , Mullee M. A. , Bryant T. N. , Hill C. M.
Published: January 2007

Background  Water is essential for health. The ‘Water is Cool in School’ campaign promoted improved drinking water access in UK schools. Implementation has been patchy, and impact has not been studied. The aim of this study is to determine whether fluid intake and frequency of toilet visits are associated with children’s access to drinking water in the classroom.

Methods  A total of 145 schoolchildren in Year 2 (aged 6–7 years) and 153 in Year 5 (aged 9–10 years) classes were studied in six Southampton schools. Total fluid intake and toilet visits were recorded during one school day. Schools were recruited according to drinking policy: ‘prohibited access’ = water prohibited in classroom; ‘limited access’ = water allowed in classroom but not on the desk; and ‘free access’ = water bottle encouraged on the desk. Data were analysed on an intention‐to‐treat basis.

Results  In total, 120 children in prohibited access, 91 in limited access and 87 in free access settings were recruited. Total fluid intake was significantly higher in Year 2 free access schools (geometric mean 293, range 104–953 mL) compared with prohibited access schools (geometric mean 189, range 0–735 mL, P = 0.046), in Year 5 free access schools (geometric mean 489, range 88–1200 mL) compared with prohibited access schools (geometric mean 206, range 0–953 mL, P = 0.001), and in free access versus limited access schools (geometric mean 219, range 0–812 mL, P = 0.003). A total of 81% and 80% of children in prohibited and limited access schools, respectively, consumed below the minimum recommended amount of total fluid at school, compared with 46.5% in the free access schools. In total, 34.6% of children did not use the toilets at all during the school day. There was no trend observed between water access and frequency of toilet visits (median of 1 trip for each group, P = 0.605).

Conclusion  Most children have an inadequate fluid intake in school. Free access to drinking water in class is associated with improved total fluid intake. Primary schools should promote water drinking in class.
Grave acidosis after severe anaphylactic bronchospasm: friend or foe?
Authors: Pytte M. , Opdahl H. , Skaga N. O.
Published: January 2007

In a 20‐year‐old woman with known asthma, anaphylactic bronchospasm induced a grave combined respiratory and metabolic acidosis (pHa 6.66) with marked hypoxaemia (SaO2 45%). The beneficial effects of the rightward shift of the oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve on tissue O2 unloading at such pH was more than offset by the negative effect on SaO2 at the reduced PaO2 (7.0 kPa) found in this patient. This case illustrates the detrimental effect of grave acidosis on arterial blood oxygen content at subnormal PaO2 values, the beneficial effect of a supranormal PaO2 on the SaO2 in such patients, and the rapid remission rate of life‐threatening acidosis and blood lactate after adequate ventilation and tissue oxygenation were secured. The initial treatment of the patient and clinically relevant considerations are discussed.
Transfusion‐related inhibition of cytokines (TRICK). Experimental transfer of neutralizing autoantibodies to interleukin‐6 by plasma transfusions
Authors: Hansen M. B. , Galle P. , Salomo M. , Svenson M. , Dickmeiss E. , Gimsing P.
Published: January 2007

Background  For some unknown reason humans may ‘spontaneously’ produce high amounts of neutralizing autoantibodies to a number of growth factors and cytokines. Reaching a certain high level the antibodies render the person cytokine deficient, mostly without overt clinical manifestations. The autoantibodies in question are detectable in normal immunoglobulin preparations and correspondingly in normal human plasma for transfusion. High affinity neutralizing autoantibodies to interleukin‐6 (aAb‐IL‐6) are present in high titres in 0.1% of plasma from blood donors. Using aAb‐IL‐6 as a model we here report the first study addressing transfer of cytokine autoantibodies with blood components.

Materials and Methods  We transferred high amounts of aAb‐IL‐6 to two patients suffering from end‐stage disease of multiple myeloma. This was done by serial transfusions with normal human plasma highly positive for aAb‐IL‐6. We assessed recovery and kinetics of the transferred aAb‐IL‐6 and exposed how the recipients’ plasma IL‐6 bound to aAb‐IL‐6.

Results  Free IL‐6 was detectable in plasma of the recipients before transfusion. After the first transfusion IL‐6 became immune complexed to aAb‐IL‐6 the molar plasma concentrations of which exceeded total IL‐6 at least 500 times.

Conclusion  The observations signify that high amounts of neutralizing autoantibodies to cytokines (in this context aAb‐IL‐6) are occasionally transferred by transfusion. Although neither beneficial nor obvious detrimental effects of the plasmas were observed in this study our measurements evidently uncover a hitherto unknown form of transfusion‐related immune modulation: transfusion‐related inhibition of cytokines (TRICK). Depending on the cytokine autoantibody in question, the phenomenon might affect immune responses to infection and recovery after stem cell transplantation.
A probabilistic model for multiaxial high cycle fatigue
Authors: DOUDARD C. , HILD F. , CALLOCH S.
Published: January 2007

A probabilistic framework developed to model multiaxial high cycle fatigue tests is proposed. Up to now, with a probabilistic point of view (i.e., Weibull law), models account for the stress heterogeneity effect by introducing the concept of effective volume. It is proposed to extend this concept to multiaxial load histories. It consists in introducing a factor representing the distribution of activated slip directions. The non‐proportionality effect is taken into account with no additional parameter with respect to traditional (i.e., Weibull) probabilistic approaches. The proposed model is validated on a large experimental data base and compared with other models.
Laser peening and shot peening effects on fatigue life and surface roughness of friction stir welded 7075‐T7351 aluminum
Authors: HATAMLEH OMAR , LYONS JED , FORMAN ROYCE
Published: January 2007

The effects of laser peening, shot peening, and a combination of both on the fatigue life of Friction Stir Welds (FSW) was investigated. The fatigue samples consisted of dog bone specimens and the loading was applied in a direction perpendicular to the weld direction. Several laser peening (LP) conditions with different intensities, durations, and peening orders were tested in order to obtain the optimum peening parameters. The surface roughness resulting from various peening techniques was assessed and characterized. The results indicate a significant increase in fatigue life using LP compared to shot peening when tested on their native welded specimens.
Stability of Epidemic Models with Evolution
Authors: Mulone G. , Straughan B. , Wang Wendi
Published: January 2007

Epidemic models are considered where the diffusion of individuals is influenced by intraspecific competition pressures and are weakly affected by different classes. The nonlinear stability of some of the models is proved by introducing new Liapunov functions.
Properties of pyranose dehydrogenase purified from the litter‐degrading fungus Agaricus xanthoderma
Authors: Kujawa Magdalena , Volc Jindrich , Halada Petr , Sedmera Petr , Divne Christina , Sygmund Christoph , Leitner Christian , Peterbauer Clemens , Haltrich Dietmar
Published: January 2007

We purified an extracellular pyranose dehydrogenase (PDH) from the basidiomycete fungus Agaricus xanthoderma using ammonium sulfate fractionation and ion‐exchange and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The native enzyme is a monomeric glycoprotein (5% carbohydrate) containing a covalently bound FAD as its prosthetic group. The PDH polypeptide consists of 575 amino acids and has a molecular mass of 65 400 Da as determined by MALDI MS. On the basis of the primary structure of the mature protein, PDH is a member of the glucose–methanol–choline oxidoreductase family. We constructed a homology model of PDH using the 3D structure of glucose oxidase from Aspergillus niger as a template. This model suggests a novel type of bi‐covalent flavinylation in PDH, 9‐S‐cysteinyl, 8‐α‐N3‐histidyl FAD. The enzyme exhibits a broad sugar substrate tolerance, oxidizing structurally different aldopyranoses including monosaccharides and oligosaccharides as well as glycosides. Its preferred electron donor substrates are d‐glucose, d‐galactose, l‐arabinose, and d‐xylose. As shown by in situ NMR analysis, d‐glucose and d‐galactose are both oxidized at positions C2 and C3, yielding the corresponding didehydroaldoses (diketoaldoses) as the final reaction products. PDH shows no detectable activity with oxygen, and its reactivity towards electron acceptors is rather limited, reducing various substituted benzoquinones and complexed metal ions. The azino‐bis‐(3‐ethylbenzthiazolin‐6‐sulfonic acid) cation radical and the ferricenium ion are the best electron acceptors, as judged by the catalytic efficiencies (kcat/Km). The enzyme may play a role in lignocellulose degradation.
Politics and Historical Imagination
Authors: Perlstein Daniel
Published: January 2007

When I ask students in my educational history and policy courses about the 1954 Brown decision and more broadly about the idea of integration, they recognize that desegregation might be a good strategy to equalize resources but add indignantly that black children certainly do not need to sit next to whites in order to learn. Students of color tend to be more critical of integration than whites, but all have as much difficulty imagining a good integrated school as a good segregated one; all have difficulty imagining the social vision that fueled demands for integration.
Muscle fatigue changes cutaneous suppression of propriospinal drive to human upper limb muscles
Authors: Martin P. G. , Gandevia S. C. , Taylor J. L.
Published: January 2007

Some voluntary drive reaches human upper limb muscles via cervical propriospinal premotoneurones. Stimulation of the superficial radial nerve can inhibit these premotoneurones selectively and the resultant suppression of voluntary drive to motoneurones changes on‐going electromyographic (EMG) activity. We investigated whether muscle fatigue changes this cutaneous‐induced suppression of propriospinal drive to motoneurones of upper limb muscles. EMG was recorded from the extensors and flexors of the wrist and elbow. In the first study (n= 10 subjects), single stimuli (2 × perception threshold; 2PT) to the superficial radial nerve were delivered during contraction of the wrist extensors, before and after sustained fatiguing contractions of wrist extensors. In the second study (n= 10), similar stimuli were applied during elbow extension, before and during fatigue of elbow extensors. In the final study (n= 10), trains of three stimuli (2PT) were delivered during contractions of wrist extensors, before and while they were fatigued. With fatigue of either the wrist or elbow extensors, EMG suppression to single cutaneous stimuli increased significantly (by ∼75%) for the fatigued muscle (P < 0.05). Conversely, in the other muscles, which were coactivated but not principally involved in the task, inhibition decreased or facilitation increased. Trains of stimuli produced greater suppression of on‐going wrist extensor EMG than single stimuli and this difference persisted with fatigue. A control study of the H reflex in extensor carpi radialis showed that the mechanism responsible for the altered EMG suppression in fatigue was not at a motoneurone level. The findings suggest that the proportion of descending drive mediated via the disynaptic propriospinal pathway or the excitability of inhibitory interneurones projecting to propriospinal neurones increases substantially to fatigued muscles, but decreases to other active muscles. This pattern of changes may maintain coordination during multimuscle movements when one group of muscles is fatigued.
Regional recruitment of rat diaphragmatic lymphatics in response to increased pleural or peritoneal fluid load
Authors: Moriondo Andrea , Grimaldi Annalisa , Sciacca Laura , Guidali Maria Luisa , Marcozzi Cristiana , Negrini Daniela
Published: January 2007

The specific role of the diaphragmatic tendinous and muscular tissues in sustaining lymph formation and propulsion in the diaphragm was studied in 24 anaesthetized spontaneously breathing supine rats. Three experimental protocols were used: (a) control; (b) peritoneal ascitis, induced through an intraperitoneal injection of 100 ml kg−1 of iso‐oncotic saline; and (c) pleural effusion, induced through an intrapleural injection of 6.6 ml kg−1 saline solution. A group of animals (n= 12) was instrumented to measure the hydraulic transdiaphragmatic pressure gradient between the pleural and peritoneal cavities in the three protocols. In the other group (n= 12), the injected iso‐oncotic saline was enriched with 2% fluorescent dextrans (molecular mass = 70 kDa); at 30 min from the injections these animals were suppressed and their diaphragm excised and processed for confocal microscopy analysis. In control conditions, in spite of a favourable peritoneal‐to‐pleural pressure gradient, the majority of the tracer absorbed into the diaphragmatic lymphatic system converges towards the deeper collecting lymphatic ducts. This suggests that diaphragmatic lymph formation mostly depends upon pressure gradients developing between the serosal cavities and the lymphatic vessel lumen. In addition, the tracer distributes to lymph vessels located in the muscular diaphragmatic tissue, suggesting that active muscle contraction, rather than passive tendon stretch, more efficiently enhances local diaphragmatic lymph flow. Vice versa, a prevailing recruitment of the lymphatics of the tendinous diaphragmatic regions was observed in peritoneal ascitis and pleural effusion, suggesting a functional adaptation of the diaphragmatic network to increased draining requirements.
Response to Comments on "A Common Genetic Variant Is Associated with Adult and Childhood Obesity"
Authors: Herbert Alan , Gerry Norman P. , McQueen Matthew B. , Heid Iris M. , Pfeufer Arne , Illig Thomas , Wichmann H.-Erich , Meitinger Thomas , Hunter David , Hu Frank B. , Colditz Graham , Hinney Anke , Hebebrand Johannes , Koberwitz Kerstin , Zhu Xiaofeng , Cooper Richard , Ardlie Kristin , Lyon Helen , Hirschhorn Joel N. , Laird Nan M. , Lenburg Marc E. , Lange Christoph , Christman Michael F.
Published: January 2007

Identification of genetic variants affecting complex traits such as obesity is confounded by many types of bias, especially when effect sizes are small. Given our findings of a positive association between rs7566605 and body mass index in four out of five separate samples, a false positive finding cannot be ruled out with certainty but seems unlikely. Meta-analyses of multiple large studies will help refine the estimate of the effects of rs7566605 on body mass index.
A Systems Approach to Measuring the Binding Energy Landscapes of Transcription Factors
Authors: Maerkl Sebastian J. , Quake Stephen R.
Published: January 2007

A major goal of systems biology is to predict the function of biological networks. Although network topologies have been successfully determined in many cases, the quantitative parameters governing these networks generally have not. Measuring affinities of molecular interactions in high-throughput format remains problematic, especially for transient and low-affinity interactions. We describe a high-throughput microfluidic platform that measures such properties on the basis of mechanical trapping of molecular interactions. With this platform we characterized DNA binding energy landscapes for four eukaryotic transcription factors; these landscapes were used to test basic assumptions about transcription factor binding and to predict their in vivo function.
Draft Genome Sequence of the Sexually Transmitted Pathogen
Trichomonas vaginalis
Authors: Carlton Jane M. , Hirt Robert P. , Silva Joana C. , Delcher Arthur L. , Schatz Michael , Zhao Qi , Wortman Jennifer R. , Bidwell Shelby L. , Alsmark U. Cecilia M. , Besteiro Sébastien , Sicheritz-Ponten Thomas , Noel Christophe J. , Dacks Joel B. , Foster Peter G. , Simillion Cedric , Van de Peer Yves , Miranda-Saavedra Diego , Barton Geoffrey J. , Westrop Gareth D. , Müller Sylke , Dessi Daniele , Fiori Pier Luigi , Ren Qinghu , Paulsen Ian , Zhang Hanbang , Bastida-Corcuera Felix D. , Simoes-Barbosa Augusto , Brown Mark T. , Hayes Richard D. , Mukherjee Mandira , Okumura Cheryl Y. , Schneider Rachel , Smith Alias J. , Vanacova Stepanka , Villalvazo Maria , Haas Brian J. , Pertea Mihaela , Feldblyum Tamara V. , Utterback Terry R. , Shu Chung-Li , Osoegawa Kazutoyo , de Jong Pieter J. , Hrdy Ivan , Horvathova Lenka , Zubacova Zuzana , Dolezal Pavel , Malik Shehre-Banoo , Logsdon John M. , Henze Katrin , Gupta Arti , Wang Ching C. , Dunne Rebecca L. , Upcroft Jacqueline A. , Upcroft Peter , White Owen , Salzberg Steven L. , Tang Petrus , Chiu Cheng-Hsun , Lee Ying-Shiung , Embley T. Martin , Coombs Graham H. , Mottram Jeremy C. , Tachezy Jan , Fraser-Liggett Claire M. , Johnson Patricia J.
Published: January 2007

We describe the genome sequence of the protist
Trichomonas vaginalis
, a sexually transmitted human pathogen. Repeats and transposable elements comprise about two-thirds of the ∼160-megabase genome, reflecting a recent massive expansion of genetic material. This expansion, in conjunction with the shaping of metabolic pathways that likely transpired through lateral gene transfer from bacteria, and amplification of specific gene families implicated in pathogenesis and phagocytosis of host proteins may exemplify adaptations of the parasite during its transition to a urogenital environment. The genome sequence predicts previously unknown functions for the hydrogenosome, which support a common evolutionary origin of this unusual organelle with mitochondria.
NONLINEAR REALIZATION OF THE $\mathcal{N}=2$, D = 6 SUPERGRAVITY
Authors: YILMAZ NEJAT T.
Published: January 2007

We have applied the method of dualization to construct the coset realization of the bosonic sector of the [Formula: see text], D = 6 supergravity which is coupled to a tensor multiplet. The bosonic field equations are regained through the Cartan–Maurer equation which the Cartan form satisfies. The first-order formulation of the theory is also obtained as a twisted self-duality condition within the nonlinear coset construction.
SPIN INTERACTION EFFECTS ON MOMENTUM CORRELATIONS FOR IDENTICAL FERMIONS EMITTED IN RELATIVISTIC HEAVY-ION COLLISIONS
Authors: YANG ZHENWEI , CHENG JIANPING , SUN XIANGMING
Published: January 2007

The Hanbury-Brown and Twiss (HBT) effects predict a Bose–Einstein enhancement of the two-particle momentum correlations of identical bosons at small relative momentum. However, the parallel momentum correlations between identical fermions are less argued. The momentum correlations can be altered by many factors, among which the spin interaction effects are discussed in this paper. It is found that the spin interaction plays an important role on the momentum correlations of identical fermions. For spin triplet state, a full Fermi–Dirac suppression represents as expected. On the contrary, a fake Bose–Einstein enhancement shows up for spin singlet state. The measured momentum correlations of fermions could hence provide some hints of spin interactions between them if all other factors such as Coulomb interactions were removed. Spin interactions make it more complicated to extract physical information from momentum correlations between fermions.
QUASI-PERIODIC OSCILLATIONS AND FREQUENCIES IN AN ACCRETION DISK AND COMPARISON WITH THE NUMERICAL RESULTS FROM NON-ROTATING BLACK HOLE COMPUTED BY THE GRH CODE
Authors: DONMEZ ORHAN
Published: January 2007

The shocked wave created on the accretion disk after different physical phenomena (accretion flows with pressure gradients, star-disk interaction etc.) may be responsible observed Quasi Periodic Oscillations (QPOs) in X-ray binaries. We present the set of characteristics frequencies associated with accretion disk around the rotating and non-rotating black holes for one particle case. These persistent frequencies are results of the rotating pattern in an accretion disk. We compare the frequency's from two different numerical results for fluid flow around the non-rotating black hole with one particle case. The numerical results are taken from Refs. 1 and 2 using fully general relativistic hydrodynamical code with non-selfgravitating disk. While the first numerical result has a relativistic tori around the black hole, the second one includes one-armed spiral shock wave produced from star-disk interaction. Some physical modes presented in the QPOs can be excited in numerical simulation of relativistic tori and spiral waves on the accretion disk. The results of these different dynamical structures on the accretion disk responsible for QPOs are discussed in detail.
NEUTRINO MASSES, LEPTON FLAVOR MIXING AND LEPTOGENESIS IN THE MINIMAL SEESAW MODEL
Authors: GUO WAN-LEI , XING ZHI-ZHONG , ZHOU SHUN
Published: January 2007

We present a review of neutrino phenomenology in the minimal seesaw model (MSM), an economical and intriguing extension of the Standard Model with only two heavy right-handed Majorana neutrinos. Given current neutrino oscillation data, the MSM can predict the neutrino mass spectrum and constrain the effective masses of the tritium beta decay and the neutrinoless double-beta decay. We outline five distinct schemes to parameterize the neutrino Yukawa-coupling matrix of the MSM. The lepton flavor mixing and baryogenesis via leptogenesis are investigated in some detail by taking account of possible texture zeros of the Dirac neutrino mass matrix. We derive an upper bound on the CP-violating asymmetry in the decay of the lighter right-handed Majorana neutrino. The effects of the renormalization-group evolution on the neutrino mixing parameters are analyzed, and the correlation between the CP-violating phenomena at low and high energies is highlighted. We show that the observed matter-antimatter asymmetry of the Universe can naturally be interpreted through the resonant leptogenesis mechanism at the TeV scale. The lepton-flavor-violating rare decays, such as μ→e+γ, are also discussed in the supersymmetric extension of the MSM.
MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES ON APPRAISAL TECHNIQUES FOR NEW TECHNOLOGIES: EXAMPLES FROM THE AEROSPACE INDUSTRY
Authors: DISSEL MARCEL , FARRUKH CLARE , PROBERT DAVID , HUNT FRANCIS
Published: January 2007

Appraising the benefits of new technologies is a commonly accepted challenge for any organization and is a prime area for technology management research. A wide variety of methods are available that intend to service this need, such as discounted cash-flow, real options, portfolio methods, roadmapping, etc. However, little evidence exists on who applies these techniques and how they are used in practice. This paper will evaluate the techniques from literature and compare the results with cases from the Aerospace industry. The paper will show that there are two distinct perspectives that can be taken when looking at the valuation process and these perspectives change in the course of the technology's life cycle.
THE SIX FACETS MODEL OF TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT UNDER CONDITIONS OF RAPID CHANGE: A STUDY IN THE PRE-MEDIA SEGMENT OF THE PRINTING INDUSTRY
Authors: PRAKHYA SRI HEMANTH , HULL CLYDE EIRÍKUR
Published: January 2007

Under conditions of rapid or continual technological change, understanding how the transition from old technology to new works is critical to organizational success. We apply the Six Facets Model of technology management to the process innovation challenges faced by the printing industry. This new application of the model yields insights not only into the printing industry but into how the process innovation process can be managed in any industry facing high levels of technological change. Thus, the Six Facets Model is validated in a new, broader setting, suggesting it be widely applied in industries facing significant changes in technology.
Effect of CP-96,345 on the expression of adhesion molecules in acute pancreatitis in mice
Authors: Lau Hon Yen , Bhatia Madhav
Published: January 2007

We investigated the effect of a specific neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) antagonist, CP-96,345, on the regulation of the expression of adhesion molecules ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin, and P-selectin as well as leukocyte recruitment during acute pancreatitis (AP). AP was induced in male Balb/C mice by 10 consecutive hourly intraperitoneal injections of caerulein. In the treatment groups, CP-96,345 was administered at 2.5 mg/kg ip either 30 min before or 1 h after the first caerulein injection. Animals were killed, and the lungs and pancreas were isolated for RNA extraction and RT-PCR or for immunohistochemical staining. mRNA expression of the four adhesion molecules was upregulated in the pancreas during AP. Treatment with CP-96,345 effectively reduced the mRNA expression of P-selectin and E-selectin but not ICAM-1 and VCAM-1. In the lung, ICAM-1, E-selectin, and P-selectin mRNA expression increased during AP. Antagonist treatment suppressed this elevation. Similar expression patterns were seen in the immunohistochemical stainings. Intravital microscopy of the pancreatic microcirculation revealed the effect of CP-96,345 on leukocyte recruitment. The present study provides important information on the relationship between NK1R activation and the regulation of adhesion molecules. Also, this study points to the differential regulation of inflammation in the pancreas and lung with AP.
Hemodynamic responses and c-Fos changes associated with hypotensive hemorrhage: standardizing a protocol for severe hemorrhage in conscious rats
Authors: Ahlgren Joslyn , Porter Karen , Hayward Linda F.
Published: January 2007

The central mechanisms underlying the transition from compensation to decompensation during severe hemorrhage (HEM) are poorly understood. Furthermore, a lack of consistency in HEM protocols exists in the current literature. This study assessed the cardiovascular response and Fos-like immunoreactivity (FLI) in specific brain regions following severe HEM at three rates (2, 1, or 0.5 ml·kg−1·min−1) in conscious rats. Heart rate (HR) and arterial pressure were recorded during the withdrawal of 30% of total blood volume (TBV). Data from animals hemorrhaged at the fast (F-HEM, n = 6), intermediate (I-HEM, n = 7), or slow (S-HEM, n = 7) rates were compared with saline (SAL, n = 5) and hypotensive (hydrazaline-induced, HYDRAZ, n = 5) controls. All HEM rates produced similar degrees of hypotension at the time of 30% TBV withdrawal. All HEM rates also produced bradycardia, but the change in HR was only significant in the F-HEM and I-HEM groups. Associated with I-HEM and F-HEM, but not HYDRAZ treatment were significant increases in FLI in the caudal ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (PAG), the central lateral nucleus of the rostral parabrachial nucleus, and locus coeruleus compared with SAL treatment. I-HEM also induced significant increases in FLI in the dorsomedial PAG, A7 region, and the cuneiform nucleus compared with SAL. S-HEM did not induce any significant change in FLI. Our results suggest that HEM at a rate of 1 ml·kg−1·min−1 may be most useful for investigating the potential role of the rostral brainstem regions in mediating hemorrhagic decompensation in conscious rats.
Exercise training-induced remodeling of paraventricular nucleus (nor)adrenergic innervation in normotensive and hypertensive rats
Authors: Higa-Taniguchi Keila T. , Silva Fabiana C. P. , Silva Helaine M. V. , Michelini Lisete C. , Stern Javier E.
Published: January 2007

Activation of oxytocin (OT)ergic projections from the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) to the nucleus tractus solitarii contributes to cardiovascular adjustments during exercise training (EXT). Moreover, a deficit in this central OTergic pathway is associated with altered cardiovascular function in hypertension. Since PVN catecholaminergic inputs, known to be activated during EXT, modulate PVN cardiovascular-related functions, we aimed here to determine whether remodeling of PVN (nor)adrenergic innervation occurs during EXT and whether this phenomenon is affected by hypertension. Confocal immunofluorescence microscopy and tract tracing were used to quantify changes in (nor)adrenergic innervation density in PVN subnuclei and in identified dorsal vagal complex (DVC) projecting neurons (PVN-DVC) in EXT normotensive [Wistar-Kyoto rat (WKY)] and hypertensive [spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR)] rats. In WKY, EXT increased the density of PVN dopamine β-hydroxylase immunoreactivity (DBHir) (160%). Furthermore, the number and density of DBHir boutons overlapping PVN-DVC OTergic neurons were also increased during EXT (130%), effects that were blunted in SHR. Conversely, while DBHir in the medial parvocellular subnucleus (an area enriched in corticotropin-releasing hormone neurons) was not changed by EXT in WKY, a diminished DBHir was observed in trained SHR. Overall, these data support the concept that the PVN (nor)adrenergic innervation undergoes plastic remodeling during EXT, an effect that is differentially affected during hypertension. The functional implications of PVN (nor)adrenergic remodeling in relation to the central peptidergic control of cardiovascular function during EXT are discussed.