bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detecting Effects of the Indicated Prevention Programme for Externalizing Problem Behaviour (PEP) on Child Symptoms, Parenting, and Parental Quality of Life in a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Hanisch Charlotte , Freund-Braier Inez , Hautmann Christopher , Jänen Nicola , Plück Julia , Brix Gabriele , Eichelberger Ilka , Döpfner Manfred
Published: December 2009

Background: Behavioural parent training is effective in improving child disruptive behavioural problems in preschool children by increasing parenting competence. The indicated Prevention Programme for Externalizing Problem behaviour (PEP) is a group training programme for parents and kindergarten teachers of children aged 3–6 years with externalizing behavioural problems. Aims: To evaluate the effects of PEP on child problem behaviour, parenting practices, parent-child interactions, and parental quality of life. Method: Parents and kindergarten teachers of 155 children were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 91) and a nontreated control group (n = 64). They rated children's problem behaviour before and after PEP training; parents also reported on their parenting practices and quality of life. Standardized play situations were video-taped and rated for parent-child interactions, e.g. parental warmth. Results: In the intention to treat analysis, mothers of the intervention group described less disruptive child behaviour and better parenting strategies, and showed more parental warmth during a standardized parent-child interaction. Dosage analyses confirmed these results for parents who attended at least five training sessions. Children were also rated to show less behaviour problems by their kindergarten teachers. Conclusions: Training effects were especially positive for parents who attended at least half of the training sessions. Abbreviations: CBCL: Child Behaviour Checklist; CII: Coder Impressions Inventory; DASS: Depression anxiety Stress Scale; HSQ: Home-situation Questionnaire; LSS: Life Satisfaction Scale; OBDT: observed behaviour during the test; PCL: Problem Checklist; PEP: prevention programme for externalizing problem behaviour; PPC: Parent Problem Checklist; PPS: Parent Practices Scale; PS: Parenting Scale; PSBC: Problem Setting and Behaviour checklist; QJPS: Questionnaire on Judging Parental Strains; SEFS: Self-Efficacy Scale; SSC: Social Support Scale; TRF: Caregiver-Teacher Report Form
Self-Help Books for People with Depression: the Role of the Therapeutic Relationship
Authors: Richardson Rachel , Richards David A. , Barkham Michael
Published: December 2009

Background: In the UK, bibliotherapy schemes have become a widespread source of support for people with common mental health disorders such as depression. However, the current evidence suggests that bibliotherapy schemes that are offered without guidance are not effective. It may be possible to improve the effectiveness of self-help books by incorporating into them some of the “common factors” that operate in personal therapeutic encounters, for example therapist responsiveness. Aim: The aim was to test whether and to what extent authors have incorporated common factors into self-help books. Method: A model of how common factors might be incorporated into CBT-based self-help books was developed and a sample of three books were examined against the model criteria. Results: The sampled self-help books were found to have common factors to a greater or lesser extent, but some types of common factors were more prevalent than others. Factors addressing the development and maintenance of the therapeutic alliance were less often apparent. Conclusions: Self-help books have the potential to provide a valuable service to people with depression, but further work is necessary to develop them. It is suggested that future generations of self-help books should pay explicit attention to the use of common factors, in particular developing and investigating how factors such as flexibility, responsiveness and alliance-rupture repair can be woven into the text.
Maternal depression and socio-economic status moderate the parenting style/child obesity association
Authors: Topham Glade L , Page Melanie C , Hubbs-Tait Laura , Rutledge Julie M , Kennedy Tay S , Shriver Lenka , Harrist Amanda W
Published: December 2009

Objective

The purpose of the study was to test the moderating influence of two risk factors, maternal depression and socio-economic status (SES), on the association between authoritarian and permissive parenting styles and child obesity.

Design

Correlational, cross-sectional study. Parenting style was measured with the Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire (PSDQ). Maternal depression was measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). BMI-for-age percentile was used to categorize children by weight status (children with BMI-for-age ≥95th percentile were classified as obese). SES was computed from parent education and occupational status using the four-factor Hollingshead index.

Setting

Rural public schools in a mid-western state in the USA.

Subjects

One hundred and seventy-six mothers of first-grade children (ninety-one boys, eighty-five girls) enrolled in rural public schools.

Results

Both maternal depression and SES were found to moderate the permissive parenting style/child obesity association, but not the authoritarian/child obesity association. For depressed mothers, but not for non-depressed mothers, more permissive parenting was predictive of child obesity. Similarly more permissive parenting was predictive of child obesity among higher SES mothers, but not for lower SES mothers.

Conclusions

Maternal depression and SES interact with permissive parenting style to predict child obesity. Future research should examine the relationship among these variables using a longitudinal design.
Heterogeneous large total CO2 abundance in the shallow magmatic system of Kilauea volcano, Hawaii
Authors: Barsanti Michele , Papale Paolo , Barbato David , Moretti Roberto , Boschi Enzo , Hauri Erik , Longo Antonella
Published: December 2009

Due to its very low solubility in silicate melts, CO2 concentrations in melt inclusions (MIs) within crystals are commonly orders of magnitude less than the total concentration in the multiphase magma, strongly limiting the possibility to constrain CO2 abundance based on the dissolved quantities. Here we develop a statistical method to process MI data, which allows analytical uncertainties to be taken into account together with the peculiar features of the local saturation surface. The method developed leads to retrieve total H2O and CO2 concentrations in magma as well as the gas phase abundance at the time of magma crystallization. Application to a set of 29 high‐resolution secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) MI data from a single specimen of the 1842–1844 eruption of Kilauea, Hawaii, reveals the existence of heterogeneous total CO2 abundance, and of at least 2–6 wt % total CO2 in some magma batches, two orders of magnitude higher than the dissolved amounts and 30–50 times more abundant than the corresponding total H2O content. Heterogeneous total volatile concentrations are interpreted as due to a combination of degassing and gas flushing in magma subject to convective motion at shallow depth where P < 100 MPa. In such a view, the magma rising to shallow depth in the volcanic system carries initially a total volatile content ≤1 wt %, corresponding to the determined low total CO2 population, and consistent with previous global estimates. The high CO2 populations correspond to progressive CO2 enrichment due to degassing at low P and flushing from a deep CO2‐rich gas. A total CO2 content >1 wt % is likely to characterize the >30 km deep magma, not represented in the analyzed inclusions, from which a CO2‐rich gas phase exsolves and decouples from the liquid.
Seasonal variability of coastal upwelling and the upwelling front off central Chile
Authors: Letelier Jaime , Pizarro Oscar , Nuñez Sergio
Published: December 2009

We analyze sea surface temperature (SST) and chlorophyll a (Chl a) satellite data to study the seasonal variability of the upwelling off central Chile. Data from an oceanographic cruise are used to illustrate the vertical characteristics of the upwelling front and the geostrophic flow. The mean offshore extension of the SST front in summer is ∼110 km. There, SST changes from ∼13.5°C near the coast to 14.5°–15°C offshore. Hydrographic data show that the thermocline becomes progressively shallower toward the coast but that at a certain distance it abruptly bends to form a horizontal front that extends until ∼50 m depth. Satellite data show that the Chl a decays exponentially offshore, and a concentration of ∼1 mg m−3 indicates the offshore limit of the frontal region. The SST front observed most of the year is absent in winter, when the coastal water is only slightly colder than the oceanic one; however, relatively higher Chl a values remain present near the coast during winter. Northwest of Punta Lavapie (37°15′S), the frontal region is located progressively farther offshore, suggesting that a branch of an equatorward surface jet separates from the coast to form a meander, which is associated with a filament of cold water and an anticyclonic eddy observed frequently in this zone during summer. Hydrographic data show that isotherm and current disturbances related to mesoscale eddies can extend several hundreds of meters below the surface. In contrast, the coastal jet is quite shallow, extending until ∼150 m depth.
Modeling linear kinematic features in pack ice
Authors: Wang Keguang , Wang Caixin
Published: December 2009

In this paper, we investigate the impact of grid resolution and yield conditions on the modeling of linear kinematic features (LKFs) by using a two‐level viscous‐plastic sea ice model. The applied grid resolution is 10, 5, and 2 km, and the applied yield curves are ellipse, modified Coulomb, and curved diamond. Numerical experiments are performed using steady and varying wind fields from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research reanalysis data, and the simulations are compared with the RADARSAT Geophysical Processor System‐derived ice motion data. We find that a sufficiently high grid resolution and an appropriate yield curve are two necessary factors to the successful modeling of LKFs. When the grid resolution is 10 km, only broad bands of LKFs are produced regardless of which yield curve is applied. Increasing the resolution to 2 km generally enhances the modeling of LKFs, although the improvement may differ remarkably depending on the different yield conditions. When the curved diamond yield curve is applied, LKFs may be very well reproduced. The simulated LKFs are more obscure when applying the modified Coulomb yield curve. When the elliptical yield curve is applied, increasing the grid resolution only induces slight improvement in the modeling of LKFs. Even with the 2 km grid resolution, the model still produces broad bands of LKFs.
Response of CO2 exchange in a tussock tundra ecosystem to permafrost thaw and thermokarst development
Authors: Vogel Jason , Schuur Edward A. G. , Trucco Christian , Lee Hanna
Published: December 2009

Climate change in high latitudes can lead to permafrost thaw, which in ice‐rich soils can result in ground subsidence, or thermokarst. In interior Alaska, we examined seasonal and annual ecosystem CO2 exchange using static and automatic chamber measurements in three areas of a moist acidic tundra ecosystem undergoing varying degrees of permafrost thaw and thermokarst development. One site had extensive thermokarst features, and historic aerial photography indicated it was present at least 50 years prior to this study. A second site had a moderate number of thermokarst features that were known to have developed concurrently with permafrost warming that occurred 15 years prior to this study. A third site had a minimal amount of thermokarst development. The areal extent of thermokarst features reflected the seasonal thaw depth. The “extensive” site had the deepest seasonal thaw depth, and the “moderate” site had thaw depths slightly, but not significantly deeper than the site with “minimal” thermokarst development. Greater permafrost thaw corresponded to significantly greater gross primary productivity (GPP) at the moderate and extensive thaw sites as compared to the minimal thaw site. However, greater ecosystem respiration (Reco) during the spring, fall, and winter resulted in the extensive thaw site being a significant net source of CO2 to the atmosphere over 3 years, while the moderate thaw site was a CO2 sink. The minimal thaw site was near CO2 neutral and not significantly different from the extensive thaw site. Thus after permafrost thaw, initial periods of increased GPP and net CO2 uptake could be offset by elevated Reco during the winter, spring, and fall.
Member‐Approved Governance Changes: An Important Watershed in AGU's History
Authors: Grove Timothy L.
Published: December 2009

Over the past month, AGU members have made their voices heard, overwhelmingly supporting the Council‐endorsed governance changes reflected in what are now our new bylaws and articles of incorporation. There were more than 11,600 ballots cast, which is a high turnout for an AGU election. Nearly 97% of you voted in favor of these changes. As your leader, I am inspired by your commitment to change.

This vote is an important watershed in AGU's history. It marks the culmination of more than a year's work by leaders throughout the Union to envision a structure that combines sound member fiduciary oversight with even greater attention to our science. The soon‐to‐be‐formed Board of Directors will partner with staff leadership to guide the business of running the $34‐million institution that is AGU. At the same time, the expanded AGU Council will benefit by having not only section leaders but also focus group and key committee leaders as it considers the challenges facing our science and our members. This clear delineation of roles should result in a much more nimble, more member‐ and scientifically responsive organization, well positioned for many years to come.
Nominees for AGU Board of Directors, 2010–2012
Authors: Anonymous
Published: December 2009

The AGU membership recently voted to adopt bylaws to implement a new governance structure (see related article in this issue). One feature of the governance change was to create a new Board of Directors, for which the membership will elect six directors. The election will run from 4 January 2010 through 3 February 2010. Each director will serve a 2‐year term. The AGU Council is pleased to announce the following nominations for director positions on the 2010–2012 Board of Directors
Mode shift in the Indian Ocean climate under global warming stress
Authors: Nakamura Nobuko , Kayanne Hajime , Iijima Hiroko , McClanahan Timothy R. , Behera Swadhin K. , Yamagata Toshio
Published: December 2009

A 115‐year coral record from Kenya has been found to preserve the history of rainfall anomalies in East Africa in relation to global warming‐induced Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) variability. The coral IOD index demonstrates a dominantly decadal periodicity in the early part of the 20th century. This low‐frequency IOD occurred more frequently before 1924 with mostly quasi‐biennial ranging from 18 months to 3 years events since 1960. The mode shift has also coincided with an intensified coupling with Indian summer monsoon rainfall. We suggest that a warming of the western Indian Ocean, which has attenuated and replaced the El Niño/Southern Oscillation effect over the Indian Ocean, has driven the observed shift.
Evidence for significant photochemical production of carbon monoxide by particles in coastal and oligotrophic marine waters
Authors: Xie Huixiang , Zafiriou Oliver C.
Published: December 2009

Carbon monoxide (CO) photoproduction from particulate and chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) was determined in seawater from open‐ocean and coastal areas. In confirmatory tests, poisoned or non‐poisoned filtered and unfiltered blue‐water samples, were exposed to sunlight. CO photoproduction was 21–42% higher in the unfiltered than in the filtered samples. In a more thorough study utilizing concentrated particles prepared by 0.2‐μm cross‐flow filtration, samples containing varying levels of particles were irradiated under simulated solar radiation. Their CO photoproduction rates increased linearly with particle concentration factor. Particulate CO production was 11–35% of CDOM‐based CO production. On an absorbed‐photons basis, the former was 30–108% more efficient than the latter. This study suggests that in both coastal and blue waters these new‐found particulate photoprocesses are of similar biogeochemical importance to the well‐known CDOM photoproduction term.
Impacts of bottom corrugations on a dense Antarctic outflow: NW Ross Sea
Authors: Muench R. D. , Wåhlin A. K. , Özgökmen T. M. , Hallberg R. , Padman L.
Published: December 2009

Prominent seabed corrugations, axially oriented roughly down‐slope, are present along the Antarctic continental slope. We use analytical and numerical model results to assess the potential impact of these corrugations on outflows of dense shelf water that contribute to Antarctic Bottom Water. Down‐slope flow increases with increasing corrugation height and varies with along‐slope wavelength. For parameters appropriate to the northwest Ross Sea, where heights and wavelengths are ∼10–20 m and ∼1.5 km, respectively, we estimate that the corrugations increase the down‐slope transport of dense water, relative to the smooth bottom case, by ∼13%. Corrugations enhance entrainment and reduce along‐slope speed of the dense outflow. Larger amplitude corrugations (∼100 m) observed in other regions may impact outflows elsewhere around the poorly mapped Antarctic continental margin. Our results emphasize the need to consider small‐scale local topography when modeling dense outflows.
High‐resolution in‐situ thermal imaging of microbial mats at El Tatio Geyser, Chile shows coupling between community color and temperature
Authors: Dunckel Anne E. , Cardenas M. Bayani , Sawyer Audrey H. , Bennett Philip C.
Published: December 2009

Microbial mats have spatially heterogeneous structured communities that manifest visually through vibrant color zonation often associated with environmental gradients. We report the first use of high‐resolution thermal infrared imaging to map temperature at four hot springs within the El Tatio Geyser Field, Chile. Thermal images with millimeter resolution show drastic variability and pronounced patterning in temperature, with changes on the order of 30°C within a square decimeter. Paired temperature and visual images show that zones with specific coloration occur within distinct temperature ranges. Unlike previous studies where maximum, minimum, and optimal temperatures for microorganisms are based on isothermally‐controlled laboratory cultures, thermal imaging allows for mapping thousands of temperature values in a natural setting. This allows for efficiently constraining natural temperature bounds for visually distinct mat zones. This approach expands current understanding of thermophilic microbial communities and opens doors for detailed analysis of biophysical controls on microbial ecology.
Westward ionospheric electric field perturbations on the dayside associated with substorm processes
Authors: Wei Y. , Pu Z. , Hong M. , Zong Q. , Ren Z. , Fu S. , Xie L. , Alex S. , Cao X. , Wang J. , Chu X.
Published: December 2009

A controversy has risen in the direction of ionospheric electric field perturbation on the dayside caused by substorm expansion phase in recent years, i.e., eastward or westward. To exclude the effect of interplanetary magnetic field northward turning, the substorms without interplanetary field (IMF) trigger are required to investigate this issue. Previous works, such as that by Huang et al. (2004), showed that the eastward electric field perturbations caused by substorms can be observed. However, our case suggests that some substorms can produce strong westward electric field perturbations and drive westward equatorial electrojets on the dayside ionosphere. This westward electric field is created by an overshielding‐like imbalance state of field‐aligned currents (FACs), Region 2 (R2) FAC greater than Region 1 (R1) FAC, which is built up through R2 FAC enhancement rather than R1 FAC reduction due to IMF northward turning. The substorm processes should be responsible for the westward electric field especially through polar cap shrinkage and magnetic field dipolarization.
Tropospheric tides from 80 to 400 km: Propagation, interannual variability, and solar cycle effects
Authors: Oberheide J. , Forbes J. M. , Häusler K. , Wu Q. , Bruinsma S. L.
Published: December 2009

Recent observations and model simulations demonstrate unequivocally that non‐Sun‐synchronous (nonmigrating) tides due to deep tropical convection produce large longitudinal and local time variations in bulk ionosphere‐thermosphere‐mesosphere properties. We thus stand at an exciting research frontier: understanding how persistent, large‐scale tropospheric weather systems affect the geospace environment. Science challenge questions include: (1) How much of the tropospheric influence is due to tidal propagation directly into the upper thermosphere? (2) How large is the interannual and the solar cycle variability of the tides and what causes them? These questions are addressed using solar maximum to solar minimum tidal wind and temperature analyses from the Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Electrodynamics and Dynamics (TIMED) satellite in the mesosphere/lower thermosphere (MLT), and from the Challenging Minisatellite Payload (CHAMP) satellite at ∼400 km. A physics‐based empirical fit model is used to connect the TIMED with the CHAMP tides, i.e., to close the “thermospheric gap” of current spaceborne observations. Temperature, density, and horizontal and vertical wind results are presented for the important diurnal, eastward, wave number 3 (DE3) tide and may be summarized as follows. (1) Upper thermospheric DE3 tidal winds and temperatures are fully attributable to troposphere forcing. (2) A quasi‐2‐year 15–20% amplitude modulation in the MLT is presumably caused by the QBO. No perceivable solar cycle dependence is found in the MLT region. DE3 amplitudes in the upper thermosphere can increase by a factor of 3 in the zonal wind, by ∼60% in temperature and by a factor of 5 in density, caused by reduced dissipation above 120 km during solar minimum.
Observed El Niño–Southern Oscillation temperature signal in the stratosphere
Authors: Free Melissa , Seidel Dian J.
Published: December 2009

Studies of stratospheric temperature variability typically include seasonal, quasi‐biennial oscillation, solar, and volcanic effects, but the response to El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is less well recognized. Modeling work suggests that ENSO may produce effects on surface climate at high latitudes by interaction with the polar stratosphere, yet until recently, past work has often failed to find a statistically significant ENSO response in polar stratospheric temperature observations. Using zonal mean temperatures from several improved radiosonde data sets beginning in 1958, we show a significant El Niño cooling signal in the tropical stratosphere and warming signal in the Arctic stratosphere in winter. In the tropical stratosphere the difference of more than 1 K between El Niño and La Niña temperatures is similar in magnitude to the tropospheric warming signal. The significant signal, derived from regression analysis, of more than 4 K in the winter Arctic stratosphere is generally largest in the lower stratosphere and extends into the upper troposphere. The signal, with a maximum in late winter, accounts for 14% to 25% of stratospheric temperature variability at 100 mbar in Arctic winter in radiosonde and reanalysis data. Satellite‐derived temperatures show significant El Niño cooling in the tropical stratosphere in boreal winter, but the warming signal in the Arctic stratosphere is not statistically significant in that data set.
On staggered indecomposable Virasoro modules
Authors: Kytölä Kalle , Ridout David
Published: December 2009

In this article, certain indecomposable Virasoro modules are studied. Specifically, the Virasoro mode L0 is assumed to be nondiagonalizable, possessing Jordan blocks of rank 2. Moreover, the module is further assumed to have a highest weight submodule, the “left module,” and that the quotient by this submodule yields another highest weight module, the “right module.” Such modules, which have been called staggered, have appeared repeatedly in the logarithmic conformal field theory literature, but their theory has not been explored in full generality. Here, such a theory is developed for the Virasoro algebra using rather elementary techniques. The focus centers on two different but related questions typically encountered in practical studies: How can one identify a given staggered module, and how can one demonstrate the existence of a proposed staggered module. Given just the values of the highest weights of the left and right modules, themselves subject to simple necessary conditions, invariants are defined which together with the knowledge of the left and right modules uniquely identify a staggered module. The possible values of these invariants form a vector space of dimension 0, 1, or 2, and the structures of the left and right modules limit the isomorphism classes of the corresponding staggered modules to an affine subspace (possibly empty). The number of invariants and affine restrictions is purely determined by the structures of the left and right modules. Moreover, in order to facilitate applications, the expressions for the invariants and restrictions are given by formulas as explicit as possible (they generally rely on expressions for Virasoro singular vectors). Finally, the text is liberally peppered throughout with examples illustrating the general concepts. These have been carefully chosen for their physical relevance or for the novel features they exhibit.
Three-dimensional photogrammetric measurement of magnetic field lines in the WEGA stellarator
Authors: Drewelow Peter , Bräuer Torsten , Otte Matthias , Wagner Friedrich , Werner Andreas
Published: December 2009

The magnetic confinement of plasmas in fusion experiments can significantly degrade due to perturbations of the magnetic field. A precise analysis of the magnetic field in a stellarator-type experiment utilizes electrons as test particles following the magnetic field line. The usual fluorescent detector for this electron beam limits the provided information to two-dimensional cut views at certain toroidal positions. However, the technique described in this article allows measuring the three-dimensional structure of the magnetic field by means of close-range photogrammetry. After testing and optimizing the main diagnostic components, measurements of the magnetic field lines were accomplished with a spatial resolution of 5 mm. The results agree with numeric calculations, qualifying this technique as an additional tool to investigate magnetic field configurations in a stellarator. For a possible future application, ways are indicated on how to reduce experimental error sources.
Absolute density-profile tomography of molecular beams using multiphoton ionization
Authors: Schofield N. E. , Paganin D. M. , Bishop A. I.
Published: December 2009

We describe an approach for the absolute density measurement of rotationally symmetric molecular beams via multiphoton ionization. This simple single-projection tomographic technique requires only knowledge of the spatial intensity profile and ionization characteristics of the focused laser beam that probes the pulsed molecular jet. Multiphoton ionization (MPI) of a xenon beam allowed tomographic reconstruction of a two-dimensional density profile with a peak density of (4.2±0.4)×1018 m−3, which was compared with the theoretical predictions of the sudden freeze model. An analytic solution to the Abel transform is derived for Gaussian projected density profiles which greatly simplifies the reconstruction of the absolute radial density. MPI is sufficiently general that this technique can be readily applied to atomic beams with a broad range of chemistries.
Array lead zirconate titanate/glass piezoelectric microcantilevers for real-time detection of Bacillus anthracis with 10 spores/ml sensitivity and 1/1000 selectivity in bacterial mixtures
Authors: McGovern John-Paul , Shih Wei-Heng , Rest Richard F. , Purohit Mitali , Mattiucci Mark , Pourrezaei Kambiz , Onaral Banu , Shih Wan Y.
Published: December 2009

An array of three identical piezoelectric microcantilever sensors (PEMSs) consisting of a lead zirconate titanate layer bonded to a glass layer was fabricated and examined for simultaneous, in situ, real-time, all-electrical detection of Bacillus anthracis (BA) spores in an aqueous suspension using the first longitudinal extension mode of resonance. With anti-BA antibody immobilized on the sensor surfaces all three PEMS exhibited identical BA detection resonance frequency shifts at all tested concentrations, 10–107 spores/ml with a standard deviation of less than 10%. The detection concentration limit of 10 spores/ml was about two orders of magnitude lower than would be permitted by flexural peaks. In blinded-sample testing, the array PEMS detected BA in three samples containing BA: (1) 3.3×103 spores/ml, (2) a mixture of 3.3×103 spores/ml and 3.3×105 S. aureus (SA) and P. aeruginosa (PA) per ml, and (3) a mixture of 3.3×103 spores/ml with 3.3×106 SA+PA/ml. There was no response to a sample containing only 3.3×106 SA+PA/ml. These results illustrate the sensitivity, specificity, reusability, and reliability of array PEMS for in situ, real-time detection of BA spores.
Frequency-resolved optical gating system with a tellurium crystal for characterizing free-electron lasers in the wavelength range of 10–30 μm
Authors: Iijima Hokuto , Nagai Ryoji , Nishimori Nobuyuki , Hajima Ryoichi , Minehara Eisuke J.
Published: December 2009

A second-harmonic generation frequency-resolved optical gating (SHG-FROG) system has been developed for the complete characterization of laser pulses in the wavelength range of 10–30 μm. A tellurium crystal is used so that spectrally resolved autocorrelation signals with a good signal-to-noise ratio are obtained. Pulses (wavelength ∼22 μm) generated from a free-electron laser are measured by the SHG-FROG system. The SHG intensity profile and the spectrum obtained by FROG measurements are well consistent with those of independent measurements of the pulse length and spectrum. The pulse duration and spectral width determined from the FROG trace are 0.6 ps and 5.2 THz at full width half maximum, respectively.
A combined nanoplasmonic and electrodeless quartz crystal microbalance setup
Authors: Larsson Elin M. , Edvardsson Malin E. M. , Langhammer Christoph , Zorić Igor , Kasemo Bengt
Published: December 2009

We have developed an instrument combining localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) sensing with electrodeless quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D). The two techniques can be run simultaneously, on the same sensor surface, and with the same time resolution and sensitivity as for the individual techniques. The electrodeless QCM eliminates the need to fabricate electrodes on the quartz crystal and gives a large flexibility in choosing the surface structure and coating for both QCM-D and LSPR. The performance is demonstrated for liquid phase measurements of lipid bilayer formation and biorecognition events, and for gas phase measurements of hydrogen uptake/release by palladium nanoparticles. Advantages of using the combined equipment for biomolecular adsorption studies include synchronized information about structural transformations and extraction of molecular (dry) mass and degree of hydration of the adlayer, which cannot be obtained with the individual techniques. In hydrogen storage studies the combined equipment, allows for synchronized measurements of uptake/release kinetics and quantification of stored hydrogen amounts in nanoparticles and films at practically interesting hydrogen pressures and temperatures.
Controlling properties of field effect transistors by intermolecular cross-linking of molecular dipoles
Authors: Paska Yair , Haick Hossam
Published: December 2009

In this study, we show that systematic molecular control over a silicon-on-insulator field effect transistor (SOI-FET) device can be achieved by controlling the Si–O–Si intermolecular interactions between adjacent trichlorosilane molecules. This is attributed to the fact that Si–O–Si intermolecular bonds between the parallel molecular dipoles change the overall charge distribution within the organic layer, and, consequently, alter the channel surface potential. Changes in the potential within the formed monolayer close to the channel alter the source-drain current and, consequently, the transistor threshold (turn on) voltage.
Cleaning of diamond nanoindentation probes with oxygen plasma and carbon dioxide snow
Authors: Morris Dylan J.
Published: December 2009

Diamond nanoindentation probes may perform thousands of indentations over years of service life. There is a broad agreement that the probes need frequent cleaning, but techniques for doing so are mostly anecdotes shared between experimentalists. In preparation for the measurement of the shape of a nanoindentation probe by a scanning probe microscope, cleaning by carbon dioxide snow jets and oxygen plasma was investigated. Repeated indentation on a thumbprint-contaminated surface formed a compound that was very resistant to removal by solvents, CO2 snow, and plasma. CO2 snow cleaning is found to be a generally effective cleaning procedure.
Reducing microwave loss in superconducting resonators due to trapped vortices
Authors: Song C. , DeFeo M. P. , Yu K. , Plourde B. L. T.
Published: December 2009

Microwave resonators with high quality factors have enabled many recent breakthroughs with superconducting qubits and photon detectors, typically operated in shielded environments to reduce the ambient magnetic field. Insufficient shielding or pulsed control fields can introduce vortices, leading to reduced quality factors, although increased pinning can mitigate this effect. A narrow slot etched into the resonator surface provides a straightforward method for pinning enhancement without otherwise affecting the resonator. Resonators patterned with such a slot exhibited over an order of magnitude reduction in the excess loss due to vortices compared with identical resonators from the same film with no slot.
Wetting layer evolution upon quantum dots self-assembly
Authors: Cao Y. Y. , Li X. L. , Yang G. W.
Published: December 2009

A quantitatively thermodynamic model has been established to address the problem of the wetting layer evolution upon the quantum dots (QDs) self-assembly based on the embedded islands. It was found that the mismatch induced by the embedded islands breaks the balance of the strain energies between the islands and the wetting layer, and then results in the island’s volume increasing and the wetting layer’s thickness decreasing for creating a thermodynamic equilibrium upon the QD self-assembly. The stable thickness of the wetting layer can be determined by balancing the strain energies between the islands and the wetting layer. The theoretical results are in agreement with the experiments.
Low voltage blue-phase liquid crystal displays
Authors: Rao Linghui , Ge Zhibing , Wu Shin-Tson , Lee Seung Hee
Published: December 2009

A protrusion electrode structure is proposed to dramatically lower the operation voltage of the emerging blue-phase liquid crystal displays (BP-LCDs). Simulation results indicate that the generated horizontal electric field is not only strong but also penetrates deeply into the bulk LC layer. As a result, a low voltage (∼10 Vrms) and reasonably high transmittance (∼70%) BP-LCD can be achieved. This approach enables the BP-LCDs to be addressed by amorphous silicon thin-film transistors (TFTs). Widespread application of TFT BP-LCDs is foreseeable.
Spot fires: fuel bed flammability and capability of firebrands to ignite fuel beds
Authors: Ganteaume Anne , Lampin-Maillet Corinne , Guijarro Mercedes , Hernando Carmen , Jappiot Marielle , Fonturbel Teresa , Pérez-Gorostiaga Pedro , Vega José A.
Published: December 2009

A series of tests were conducted under laboratory conditions to assess, first, the capacity of several fuel beds to be ignited by firebrands and to sustain a fire and, second, the capability of different types of firebrands to ignite fuel beds. Fuel beds and firebrands were selected among the most common in southern Europe. Regarding fuel bed flammability, results show that grasses are more flammable than litter and, among litters, Pinus species are the most flammable. The increase in bulk density and fuel moisture content involves an increase in the time to ignition, and a decrease in the other flammability parameters. The capability of firebrands to ignite fuel beds is higher when the firebrands drop in the flaming phase and with no air flow than in glowing phase with air flow. Logistic regression models to predict fuel bed ignition probability were developed. As a whole, results show a relationship between ignition probability of fuel bed and type or weight of firebrands. Pinus pinaster cone scale, P. halepensis cone scale, and Eucalyptus globulus leaf and bark can have ignition probabilities at least twice higher than pine bark when falling while in flaming combustion.
Ant-mimicking spider, Myrmarachne species (Araneae:Salticidae), distinguishes its model, the green ant, Oecophylla smaragdina, from a sympatric Batesian O. smaragdina mimic, Riptortus serripes (Hemiptera:Alydidae)
Authors: Ceccarelli Fadia Sara
Published: December 2009

In north Queensland, Australia, the alydid bug Riptortus serripes and the undescribed salticid spider Myrmarachne sp. F are co-occurring visual Batesian mimics of the green tree ant Oecophylla smaragdina. Myrmarachne sp. F lives near ant nests and avoids contact with aggressive worker ants, suggesting that, like other salticids, it can distinguish visually between prey, mates and rivals. An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that Myrmarachne sp. F can distinguish O. smaragdina from its visual mimic, R. serripes. Individual spiders were exposed to individuals of O. smaragdina, R. serripes or a control hemipteran and their interactions video-recorded. For each encounter, the animals’ initial motion and distance apart were recorded, and the spider’s response was categorised. These experiments revealed that Myrmarachne sp. F responded differently to the various species, ‘avoiding’ the ant more frequently than the bug. Further tests are needed to determine whether the spider’s differing reactions to the two species are due to visual or other cues.
Diet of the squirrel glider in a fragmented landscape near Mackay, central Queensland
Authors: Ball Tina , Adams Eddie , Goldingay Ross L.
Published: December 2009

We investigated the diet of the squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) from within a highly fragmented landscape in the northern (tropical) part of its geographic range where information was absent. We analysed 86 faecal samples of 53 gliders from 11 locations and obtained 97 observations of 10 gliders feeding at two locations. Pollen of Eucalyptus/Corymbia was present in 70% and Melaleuca in 20% of faecal samples. Indicators of sap feeding were present in 44% of samples and seeds were present in 14% of samples. Invertebrates, mostly moth larvae, were present in 54% of samples. Observations of gliders feeding revealed that the main food types were invertebrates (36% of observations), nectar and pollen (27% of observations) and sap (26% of observations) of five tree species. Differences in the use of the major food types revealed by the two methods of diet analysis partly reflect site-based differences. Qualitatively, the diet was similar to that described in southern Australia, with confirmation that sap may be important at some locations. Our results reveal the contribution that different tree species make to the diet, which should be used to guide habitat restoration for the squirrel glider in this fragmented landscape.
Sensitivities of marine carbon fluxes to ocean change
Authors: Riebesell Ulf , Körtzinger Arne , Oschlies Andreas
Published: December 2009

Throughout Earth's history, the oceans have played a dominant role in the climate system through the storage and transport of heat and the exchange of water and climate-relevant gases with the atmosphere. The ocean's heat capacity is ≈1,000 times larger than that of the atmosphere, its content of reactive carbon more than 60 times larger. Through a variety of physical, chemical, and biological processes, the ocean acts as a driver of climate variability on time scales ranging from seasonal to interannual to decadal to glacial–interglacial. The same processes will also be involved in future responses of the ocean to global change. Here we assess the responses of the seawater carbonate system and of the ocean's physical and biological carbon pumps to (
i
) ocean warming and the associated changes in vertical mixing and overturning circulation, and (
ii
) ocean acidification and carbonation. Our analysis underscores that many of these responses have the potential for significant feedback to the climate system. Because several of the underlying processes are interlinked and nonlinear, the sign and magnitude of the ocean's carbon cycle feedback to climate change is yet unknown. Understanding these processes and their sensitivities to global change will be crucial to our ability to project future climate change.
Systemic anti-VEGF treatment strongly reduces skin inflammation in a mouse model of psoriasis
Authors: Schonthaler Helia B. , Huggenberger Reto , Wculek Stefanie K. , Detmar Michael , Wagner Erwin F.
Published: December 2009

Although
,
vascular remodeling is a hallmark of many chronic inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and psoriasis, anti-vascular strategies to treat these conditions have received little attention to date. We investigated the anti-inflammatory activity of systemic blockade of VEGF-A by the inhibitory monoclonal antibody G6–31, employing a therapeutic trial in a mouse model of psoriasis. Simultaneous deletion of
JunB
and
c-Jun
(DKO*) in the epidermis of adult mice leads to a psoriasis-like phenotype with hyper- and parakeratosis and increased subepidermal vascularization. Moreover, an inflammatory infiltrate and elevated levels of cytokines/chemokines including TNFα, IL-1α/β, IL-6, and the innate immune mediators IL-22, IL-23, IL-23R, and IL-12p40 are detected. Here we show that anti-VEGF antibody treatment of mice already displaying disease symptoms resulted in an overall improvement of the psoriatic lesions leading to a reduction in the number of blood vessels and a significant decrease in the size of dermal blood and lymphatic vessels. Importantly, anti-VEGF–treated mice showed a pronounced reduction of inflammatory cells within the dermis and a normalization of epidermal differentiation. These results demonstrate that systemic blockade of VEGF by an inhibitory antibody might be used to treat patients who have inflammatory skin disorders such as psoriasis.
Global sea level linked to global temperature
Authors: Vermeer Martin , Rahmstorf Stefan
Published: December 2009

We propose a simple relationship linking global sea-level variations on time scales of decades to centuries to global mean temperature. This relationship is tested on synthetic data from a global climate model for the past millennium and the next century. When applied to observed data of sea level and temperature for 1880–2000, and taking into account known anthropogenic hydrologic contributions to sea level, the correlation is >0.99, explaining 98% of the variance. For future global temperature scenarios of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Fourth Assessment Report, the relationship projects a sea-level rise ranging from 75 to 190 cm for the period 1990–2100.
Highly conductive paper for energy-storage devices
Authors: Hu Liangbing , Choi Jang Wook , Yang Yuan , Jeong Sangmoo , La Mantia Fabio , Cui Li-Feng , Cui Yi
Published: December 2009

Paper, invented more than 2,000 years ago and widely used today in our everyday lives, is explored in this study as a platform for energy-storage devices by integration with 1D nanomaterials. Here, we show that commercially available paper can be made highly conductive with a sheet resistance as low as 1 ohm per square (Ω/sq) by using simple solution processes to achieve conformal coating of single-walled carbon nanotube (CNT) and silver nanowire films. Compared with plastics, paper substrates can dramatically improve film adhesion, greatly simplify the coating process, and significantly lower the cost. Supercapacitors based on CNT-conductive paper show excellent performance. When only CNT mass is considered, a specific capacitance of 200 F/g, a specific energy of 30–47 Watt-hour/kilogram (Wh/kg), a specific power of 200,000 W/kg, and a stable cycling life over 40,000 cycles are achieved. These values are much better than those of devices on other flat substrates, such as plastics. Even in a case in which the weight of all of the dead components is considered, a specific energy of 7.5 Wh/kg is achieved. In addition, this conductive paper can be used as an excellent lightweight current collector in lithium-ion batteries to replace the existing metallic counterparts. This work suggests that our conductive paper can be a highly scalable and low-cost solution for high-performance energy storage devices.
The structure of the membrane extrinsic region of bovine ATP synthase
Authors: Rees David M. , Leslie Andrew G. W. , Walker John E.
Published: December 2009

The structure of the complex between bovine mitochondrial F
1
-ATPase and a stator subcomplex has been determined at a resolution of 3.2 Å. The resolved region of the stator contains residues 122–207 of subunit b; residues 5–25 and 35–57 of F
6
; 3 segments of subunit d from residues 30–40, 65–74, and 85–91; and residues 1–146 and 169–189 of the oligomycin sensitivity conferral protein (OSCP). The stator subcomplex represents its membrane distal part, and its structure has been augmented with an earlier structure of a subcomplex containing residues 79–183, 3–123, and 5–70 of subunits b, d, and F
6
, respectively, which extends to the surface of the inner membrane of the mitochondrion. The N-terminal domain of the OSCP links the stator with F
1
-ATPase via α-helical interactions with the N-terminal region of subunit α
E
. Its C-terminal domain makes extensive helix–helix interactions with the C-terminal α-helix of subunit b from residues 190–207. Subunit b extends as a continuous 160-Å long α-helix from residue 188 back to residue 79 near to the surface of the inner mitochondrial membrane. This helix appears to be stiffened by other α-helices in subunits d and F
6
, but the structure can bend inward toward the F
1
domain around residue 146 of subunit b. The linker region between the 2 domains of the OSCP also appears to be flexible, enabling the stator to adjust its shape as it passes over the changing profile of the F
1
domain during a catalytic cycle. The structure of the membrane extrinsic part of bovine ATP synthase is now complete.